#wlw don’t have anything to prove

[nerdyenby]

…

(source)

[katebishopshands]

You Can See Me As A Secret Mission

(Kate Bishop/Reader)

Content: (SMUT, 18+, wlw, top Kate bishop, bottom reader, enemies to lovers, hate sex (kinda??), fake dating/relationship, making out, finger bLASTING, strap on sex, reader has pierced tits because I do)

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Kate bishop has been a pain in your ass since she joined the “new avengers”. Perky, talented, caring, but only you saw what she actually was, a rich girl that always got her way.

After being put on a undercover mission together, will pretending to be in a relationship with her for the sake of the mission push you farther apart, or will it make your realize maybe your feelings are more than meets the eye?

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“Does it always take you this long to get ready?”

Your eye twitched in annoyance as you put the final coat of mascara on your lashes. You knew if you were to walk out of the bathroom you’d see Kate Bishop, sat on the couch, scrolling through her phone looking bored.

You could’ve been paired with anyone on the team. Sam, Bucky..Yelena even. Her experience in the field would be appreciated. But instead you were paired with Kate bishop, the rookie. Clint had said that she was ready to take over his role as sharpshooter on the team but you think he really just wanted to retire. Lucky son of a bitch.

Kate was fine, she was good with a bow and could throw a punch, but she lacked precision. Often going out on her own and putting the whole mission at risk. It was extremely frustrating for someone who had worked most of their late teens and early twenties to be where you were. Her rich girl attitude showed through on more than one occasion, like when she forgot that not everyone didn’t go to a private school for all of their school career, or that most people rely on the subway to go from place to place and don’t get chauffeured.

In return to your shitty attitude to her, Kate had taken a liking to rolling her eyes and scoffing at things you said. Proving to you that she was smarter than you by correcting things you had said, and you most favorite of all, taking any chance she could to embarrass you. The endless nicknames that spew from her lips never ceased to make you want to punch her perfect teeth out.

You needed no further proof that Kate Bishop was an overgrown child, and not ready to be an Avenger.

“I have to look the part, do I not?”, you poked your head around the corner, you were correct with your prediction. Kate rolled her eyes and gave a weak glance up from her phone at you. Her eyes lit up at the sight of you however.She took in your figure, covered in some slinky black dress that showed way too much cleavage for your liking.

You could’ve sworn she licked her lips after she checked you out for what seemed to be the second time. You hated to admit it, but she looked good, too good for your liking.

Gone was the athleisure you normally saw her in, traded in for a black suit, her black undershirt’s top two buttons undone and a thin silver chain was visible hanging over her collarbones. Her hair still up on her usual ponytail and a dark purple polish on her nails. You stared for probably too long than was normal for someone who didn’t like their mission partner.

The two of you were supposed to play the roles of a young millionaire and her fiancé that were interested in purchasing some illegal weapons that were rumored to be made out of vibrainium. Tonight was a party at some exclusive bar for potential clients of the group, so you were to look your best so the two of you could scope out the scene. If your cover was blown tonight, the whole mission would go up in smoke.

Luckily for Kate, the role would come naturally. For you? Not so much. Pretending to be in love with Kate was difficult. Sure she was attractive and funny and considerate for the most part, but you were all business whereas Kate wanted to dilly dally a bit too much. Too different for anything to actually work.

The click of a camera brought you back to your senses.

“Yelena is never going to believe you’re wearing that”, Kate snickers and snaps another picture.

“Kate are you serious!? Cut it out!” You take a step forward and reach for her phone, which she holds out of your reach.

“Aw cmon, you look nice. Gimme a twirl” she gestures a twirling motion with her fingers. she’s sincere with her words, but her actions speak louder as she continues to play keep away with you.

“I’m serious Kate DO NOT send that” you reach across her, cleavage in her face, her phone almost in hand. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think she was looking.

With one slip of your hand off of the arm rest of the couch you were falling. Falling directly into Kate Bishops lap.

The two of you sit in silence for a moment, not sure what to do. Searching each others faces for some sort of answer. You took in beauty marks splashed across her face that you’d never seen before, her full lips slightly parted.

Stormy blue eyes that looked into yours. She was prettier up close. You could smell the expensive perfume she had put on earlier for the first time. She had your stomach doing summersaults. Kate flashes you a million dollar smile and your senses come slamming into you like a semi truck. You’re scrambling back up in an instant before she gets the wrong idea.

“I’ll uh, delete the pictures, sorry for embarrassing you “ she looks like a scolded puppy. She avoids looking at you, choosing to fiddle with the hem of her jacket.

“We’re going to be late”, you say ignoring her apology as you rush over to put on your shoes. Your eyes stayed on the floor as you moved. Kate cleared her throat and readjusted her jacket Trying to brush off what had just happened.

You’re grabbing your purse containing the things you need for the night when you hear Kate rifling through all of her pockets.

“What’s wrong?” You say looking up at her. She’s tapping her her suit pockets aggressively, brows furrowed in concentration.

“We’re missing something”

“I don’t think we are, Kate we’re going to be late and it’s gonna blow our cov-“ Kate pulls something small and shiny out of her pocket with a small “aha!”. Your eyes lock with a diamond engagement ring she’s holding up to the light.

“Can’t blow our cover now can we?” Kate says as she positions herself in front of you on one knee, as If she was proposing. You couldn’t help but roll your eyes as she shook her arms out, and cleared her throat once more.

“Will you do me the honor of making me the happiest girl on the planet, and being my fiancé?” Kate holds out the ring, and looks up at you. Batting her thick eyelashes a few times, lower lip caught in between her teeth as she smirks at you. She’s completely over the top and ridiculous with it, as she is with most things. But it feels a little too real for your liking.

You swallow hard, why were you nervous? You rub your clammy hand down the front of your dress and hold out your hand,Kate obliges and slips the ring on your index finger. She briefly squeezes your hand before she stands back up. You stand there, becoming accustomed to the ring you now bore on your finger.

“We’re gonna be late!!” Kate nags you, mocking your words from earlier. This snaps you out of your thought and you turn around, letting Kate slip a hand on your lower back, not even minding the gesture, as you’re guided out the door.

Kate bishop is going to be the death of you.

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Sam had given you specific instructions that tonight was for observing and surveying what exactly these people had on the market. No contact was supposed to be made with anyone. So here you sat, leaned up against a bar holding some drink that was sweating against your hand and had been for far too long.

The music was loud, it was too dark to see much, except for the few vibrainium weapons that were on pedestals illuminated with a blue light, giving the room a blue hue. You scanned the room once, then twice. Looking for anyone that might be of interest. But as for now, it seemed to be yuppy rich people wanting expensive and deadly toys to play with .

Kate fit right in. You watched her leaned up against the bar across from you, laughing and drinking with two girls that were on either side of you. She wasn’t even doing her job, instead taking the mission as a chance to party. You finished the rest of your drink, slamming it on the bar hard enough to make the remaining ice cubes jostle about.

A strange feeling bubbles in your stomach, one that you almost could call jealousy. Maybe it was that or the expensive tequila that had been in your drink. You smoothed your dress down, starting your way towards Kate and her new comrades. If she was going to not take this job seriously, then you might as well embarrass her a little.

Coming up behind Kate, you latch yourself onto one of her arms. Looking at her with doe eyes. She jumps a bit , but turns slightly to face you.

“There she is!! I was just talking about you!”

She smiles at you, pulling the arm you had grabbed from you and wrapping it around your waist. Kate’s hand found its resting place on your ass as she pulled you into her, giving it a light squeeze. Before you could have any reaction to the previous action, the other of Kate’s hands found its way to your chin. She held your face in place as she leaned down, connecting your lips . A surprised noise escaped your mouth and she deepens the kiss, letting her tongue push into your mouth. You couldn’t do anything but kiss back, not wanting to blow your cover and not wanting to let her win in whatever game she was trying to play.

She pulls away and you’re breathless. Kates face is flushed , eyes wide as she looks from you to her new friends.

“I was just telling these nice girls about how you so badly wanted to come to the party tonight and look at the new catalog they have this season!” Kates demeanor has changed from the goofy archer you normally know, to a socialite who knows what she wants.

“We just LOVE this years catalog, we’ve been buying all the latest models from this company for years!” The blonde across from you says excitedly.

Kate side eyes you, and you pick up what she’s trying to get you to notice. This company isn’t new, They’re just getting sloppy covering up their tracks, letting too many of the wrong people into their inner circle.

The two of you converse for some time more, digging up as much information as you can from the girls. Having moved from the bar to a small area of lounge tables and chairs. You watch as people trickle in and out of the party, some looking more important than others. Your eyes are constantly scanning the world around you.

You’re going to sit in the chair next to Kate when she grabs your hand, yanking you down on top of her. She gives a pat to your thigh and continues talking business with the ever growing crowd of people that surround you. This had somehow turned into Kates mission without you even realizing it.

Two can play at this game, let’s kick it up a notch. You lean back a bit, resting your arm around her shoulders, playing with the ends of her ponytail flirtily. Kate looks up at you and smiles a bit.

She rubs her thumb over your bare thigh in a comforting manner and goes back to the conversation. It’s amazing watching her run the conversation. Somehow knowing just what to say to everyone to get the information she wants out of them. She’s dazzling in the dim light of the party. You could almost get used to this.

“Show them your ring, babe” you’re snapped out of your thoughts by Kate giving you another pat to your thigh.

“Huh?” You blink at her. She shakes her head and laughs a little, her eyes flashing you the “ go along or we’ll blow our cover” look.

“Awh don’t be shy, show them the pretty rock I bought you” she removes your arm from around her shoulders and shows off the glittering ring on your finger.

“Oh my ring of course!” You laugh off your panic and wiggle your fingers in an attempt to show off how shiny the ring actually was. The group is filled with “oohs” and “ahhs” as you show it off, Kate smiling proudly at you the whole time. Your heart swells a bit at the attention. Almost believing for a bit that you’re actually engaged and in love, not in some rich guys warehouse on a mission for work.

You didn’t like Kate bishop. She was aggravating, the definition of a spoiled rich girl. Where were these feelings coming from?

“Where did you two first meet?” A voice from the group catches you off guard. You lock eyes with an older woman who has had way too much plastic surgery done.

“We uh…” Kate starts, you can see her losing her cool. You hadn’t come up with a backstory. Rookie move.

“We actually met in school!” You save the day by stepping in with your quick thinking skills. She lets out a barely noticeable breath of relief it technically wasn’t a lie. You HAD met in a class, a class about hand to hand combat, but a class nonetheless.

“And I guess it was just love at first sight” you say through almost gritted teeth. It pains you to say that, because it wasnt. This wasn’t real love, and you two have never gotten along. Physical attraction maybe, but your personalities continuously clashed.

Kate looks up at you once more, a small smile on her lips, “yeah….love at first sight”.

Your eyes meet each other. Her eyes are soft, pupils blown a bit. She continuously strokes her thumb on your leg. Kates acting is a bit too good for your liking.

A ding from Kate’s phone pulls your attention from each other and the other guests continue to chat amongst themselves. She reads it, biting her lip a little. You scoot yourself closer to her, wrapping your arms around Kate neck and reading the message on her phone.

Party’s over. Get outta there. Put together all information collected and send in a mission report by 9am.

It’s a text from Sam, updating you on what to do next. Kate looks at you, giving you a slightly disappointed look before she plants a kiss on your cheek. It’s a long kiss, one that only lovers share when they know they won’t see each other for a while.

She taps your leg to signal for you to stand up, so You oblige. Kate goes around the circle saying goodbye to the people you had met over the course of the night. You trailing behind her, admiring the way she looked in her suit.

God she was aggravating. Was there anything she wasn’t good at? She could charm people with the bat of her eyelashes. Flirt successfully with strangers. Shoot an arrow with a blindfold across her eyes. She was hot and you hated to admit it. She was perfect and that’s what you hated.

It was like you had come out of a haze now that you were off her lap. You were mad that she had charmed you THAT easily. Just like every other person in the Kate Bishop fanclub. You huff, grabbing her hand and dragging her towards the exit, not wanting to play the roles of young lovers anymore.

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The room was eerily quiet as you both got unready. Fleeting glances towards each other, never meeting the others eyes.

You swallowed hard as you sat down on one of the couches to take off your heels, “Was tongue really necessary?”. You had broken the silence and now there was no going back.

“What?” Kate looked up from fiddling with her shirt buttons.

“The kiss, at the bar. Did you REALLY need to swap spit with me like that ?”

“Well I thought it was funny”

you scoffed at her. In shock that an hour ago you were thinking about how maybe you could get along and maybe have something more.

“You’re insufferable, you know that?” You say with a dirty look in her direction.

“Lyings not a good look on you. The noise you made told me that you were into it”

She laughs at her comment and you roll your eyes, letting a more awkward silence fall over the room.

“I think you might actually like me a little bit, she jokes half to herself and half to you.

She looks over to you, lightly biting her lip a little.

“You seemed a little into the act tonight, that’s all I’m trying to say”

“Shut the fuck up”, you snap at her.

Kate puts her hands up defensively and continues to unbutton her shirt. You sneak a glance at her, catching a look at her toned stomach. It made your face flush a bit before you continued working on unzipping your dress.

The zipper catches midway through your back and you groan. You tug it up and down a few more times in an attempt to free yourself. Kates eyes follow the noise of the zipper and she sees you struggling. She makes her way across the room, her black dress shirt unbuttoned and hanging untucked around her form. The purple lace bra she wore under it being exposed ever so slightly.

You attempted to ignore her, confining to tug on the zipper. But her exposed skin was so tempting to look at.

“Do you need some help?”

“No I don’t need your hel-“, you start to protest her intervention.

“Turn around” Kate demands.

You shut up, listening to her and turning around. Kate sighs and gently moves your hair to one shoulder. Her fingertips are gentle on your exposed back, touching you like you’d break.

You don’t dare to look back at her or else you might do something you regret. You feel her grab the zipper as she begins to work it free.

“Why do you hate me?”

Kate asks casually as she continues her work. It catches you off guard. In the time you’ve known her you’ve never known her to be this blunt. Your voice catches in your throat. The big and bad attitude you had five minutes ago slipping away quickly.

“I don’t hate you”

“Then what’s with the attitude”

You weren’t sure if you were lying or telling the truth when you say you didn’t hate her. The last few hours have been making You rethink everything.

Kate gives a yank to the zipper and it moves freely. Once she’s done you turn to meet her, still holding your dress up. She hasn’t moved, opting to stand and stare at you.

“Kate I-“

What were you going to say? You hated her? She drove you insane? You weren’t even sure anymore. You take a closer step to her,

“You make me feel frustrated. I’m not sure in what way, but I’m frustrated beyond belief by you”

She she searches your face, saying nothing.

“I’m confused, okay? There..are you happy?Did you get what you wanted out of me?” You’re exasperated with her lack of response.

You wait for a response from her for what feels like forever. Her brows are furrowed as she stares at you. You almost could swear that she was looking into your head. You couldn’t decipher what she was thinking. Her blue eyes dark, consumed in consideration. You’re about to walk away when she finally opens her mouth to say something.

“Do you want to find out exactly how I frustrate you?”

She’s close. Closer than you’ve ever been. She’s close and the air is tense, like a bomb ticking about to go off. Her eyes are on your lips, flicking between them and your eyes. She fiddles with a stray piece of hair resting over your shoulder.

“Kate what does that mea-“

She’s grabbing your face, colliding your lips in an explosion of frustrated passion.

You kiss her back hard, harder than you’ve ever kissed anyone before. A whine escapes your mouth. You’re fighting for dominance, and losing pathetically. Your arms are slung over her shoulders. Desperately clawing at her hair.

“Yes-“ you gasp for air when she pulls away, “I want to find out so fucking badly “

Atleast two years of tension had just blown up in your face. Two years of tension that you couldn’t name for the longest time, and now you could.

Kate had upset you so much because you liked her. You liked her giddiness for new things, her almost naivety to how non rich people live. You loved the millions of questions she asked Sam. How she teased you, even if it drove you up the wall. This girl drove you insane and you loved it.

She pounces on you, shoving you up against the nearest wall. Biting at your lip, you submit to her. This was a losing game, there was no point to fighting her. Kate would win, like she always did.

You’re panting when she pulls her mouth off of yours, dragging your bottom lip a little with her. Your unzipped dress finally gives way and falls to the floor. Kates eyes meet yours and then look down to the black dress pooled on the floor. She moans a little, seeing you in just your bra and underwear.

She’s kissing down your neck, leaving little bites in her wake and you’re breathless. Head spinning over the predicament at hand.

“You think I’m insufferable, but..” she trails off, planting a kiss on your collarbone. Her eyes flick up to yours, looking at you through dark lashes.

“The most insufferable thing is how insanely horny you’ve made me all night”

Your breath catches in your throat at her confession. She kisses down the valley of your breasts, her hands gripping your hips. You moan at her actions. A kiss to your ribs, to your stomach, to just above your underwear.

“Kate..”, your hands are caught in her black waves.

“What Princess? No snappy comebacks now?”

Another moan from your mouth. The nickname slips from her mouth so effortlessly, like she had been just waiting to call you it. She was right though, you had nothing to say for once. You looked down at her, Kate’s mouth mere inches from your aching cunt.

She smirks at you, hooking two fingers around the waistband of your underwear.

“Should I take these off?” She asks so innocently. She punctuates her words with a tug on the band. Her blue eyes burn into yours. You nod your head.

“Words please” she’s playing a game with you. Dangling your pleasure right in front of you.

You don’t want to give her the verbal satisfaction. She is still Kate Bishop after all. And she still presses all your buttons. You press your lips into a thin line and stick your chin up hoping she gets the hint. You are not going to use your words. intertwining your fingers with her hair, you give a harsh tug in an effort to show her what you want. Kate moans.

It makes you wetter.

“Oh and I’m the one who’s a spoiled brat” she lets go of your underwear,snapping it back in place and standing at her full height.

“Kate..” you pout at her jutting your lower lip out at her. She wipes her thumb over your lip, keeping it there. She forces you to keep your eyes on her.

You admire her. The freckle that seems to be right under her right eye. The way her eyes are lined with a darker blue than the rest. Her already kiss swollen lips. She’s close to you as she supports herself against the wall. You reach out, running your hand down her abs, almost letting your fingers reach the top button of her slacks. Kate grabs your hand and holds it in place.

“You knew what you were doing tonight” she smirks at you. You look at her through half lidded eyes and smile.

Kate laughs a little at you. It’s crazy hot.

“Sitting on my lap all night,” she removes your hands from her abs, holding them together in front of you, “in that little dress, clinging to me”

She leans close to your ear and whispers in a low voice,

“I am going to fuck you so hard, you won’t be able to walk”

“In your dreams, Bishop”

You had finally found your voice, her charm had worn off. She laughs again. Looking your face up and down.

You’re whining as she crashes your lips together. It’s messy. Teeth clacking here and there, Kate’s hands grabbing at your ass . You’re grabbing at her back, leaving indents where your nails meet her pale skin.

“And everyone at HQ is going to know that you let Kate bishop, the girl you hate, ruin you” That ignited something in you. Your ongoing feud was no secret, and having everyone know you fucked your feelings out was a little too tempting.

She’s kissing down your neck, sucking bruises that will last longer than you want them to.

“And what if I fuck you?”, You pant, grabbing at the back of Kate’s neck.

“I’d like to see you try”

Kate grabs your ass, picking you up quickly and moving you to the nearest bed. She’s reaching behind you to undo your bra.

“Hardly seems fair that I’m almost fully naked

And you still have your pants on”

Kate snorts at your remark, popping the back of your bra and removing it from your body swiftly. Your nipples perk up at the cold air of the hotel room. The metal bars in them glinting in the light, catching Kates eye. She looks at them, briefly licking her lips, and then back to you.

“Is this what you want?”

Kate stares into your eyes as she undoes the top button of her pants. She steps out of them, leaving her in just the matching lace bra, underwear and and her black button up.

“ shirt off too, please” you sit up, batting your eyes at her and jutting out your lower lip in a pout. She shakes her head as she reaches to take the button up off .

“Now you have manners…but remember.. IM the spoiled brat here” she rolls her eyes and throws the bunched up black shirt at you.

You catch it and toss it off the bed, welcoming Kate back as she crawls her way on top of you. She kisses you again , letting her hands explore down your chest. She kneads on your boobs, grabbing fistfuls of each.

You moan into her mouth, pushing your chest into her hands more.

“Eager much?” She pulls away, letting her breathe fan across your face.

“No chance” you laugh at her, your hands grasp both sides of her face as she leans over you. She rolls her eyes at you again, letting one of her hands stroke down to your nipple, where she takes the bar and gives a sharp tug.

You inhale through your teeth holding back a moan, not wanting to give her the satisfaction.

She gives another tug, this time flicking her thumb over the bud of your nipple. She keeps her eyes locked with yours, smirking at you. She’s expecting you to show some sort of reaction.

Your chest lurches forward, seeking more friction from her calloused hands.

The damp spot in your underwear continues to grow as you rub your legs together in an effort to soothe the ache that’s ever growing in your cunt.

She glances down at the movement and looks back to you while biting her lip.

Kate lets her hand travel from your tit, down your stomach and ending right above the elastic to your underwear.

“This where you want me?” One finger slides its way under. You turn your head to the side, not wanting to confirm you wanted her fingers. Lips pressed into a fine line, you say nothing.

She huffs and leans forward, kissing her way up your neck.

“Cmon…you know it’ll feel good” , two fingers push farther down.

You’re holding back moans. Noises only Kate Bishop has been able to elicit from you and you haven’t even fucked yet.

She’s so warm and inviting. You know it would feel so good if she just stuffed her fingers in your cunt and fucked you stupid. But you can’t let her win. She’s always winning, running circles around you.

Kate bites at your earlobe, those two fingers dangerously close to your throbbing cunt.

You whine,not being able to contain the kind anymore. The scent of her lavender body wash looming around you, clouding your better judgement.

“Kate…” you whine her name out. Kate moans at the sound of your voice, needy and desperate.

“Yeah?” She asks, her thumb stroking gentle circles on your skin, a smile on her lips as they’re pressed to your neck.

How could the girl you had hated for so long be treating you so good right now?

“Please…” you whisper out, letting your resolve break.

Kate bishop had won this round.

Those wandering fingers abruptly enter your pussy, earning a loud moan from your mouth.

You jolt upwards, back arching and pressing your nipples against Kate’s lace covered chest. She continues to thrust her fingers in and out of you, occasionally letting her thumb brush up against your clit.

“I told you it’d feel good” she whispers into your ear. You moan at her words, she’s right. It feels fucking fantastic. She’s managing to hit all the spots that make you see stars. Your head leans back, making eye contact with the ceiling as Kate picks up her speed. She’s curling her fingers as she sucks marks down your neck, eventually leaving a few on your breasts.

You grab at her head, threading your fingers into her hair and pull her face into you chest. Kate gives a groan at that as she latches onto one of your nipples. She slides the bar in your nipple around with her tongue, making you groan loudly and tug at the strands of dark hair clutched in your hand.

She continues her ministrations at your core. Every press of her fingers has your eyes rolling back into your skull.

“I’m gonna..”

“You’re gonna what? Cum?” Kate laughs as she pulls off of you. You nod frantically at her. She’s slamming her fingers into you at this point and you’re a moaning mess, only wanting to finish.

Kate’s moving up closer to your face. She presses her forehead against yours, your noses grazing the other.

“Cum on my fingers then”

She thrusts her fingers into your cunt, your juices leaking down her arm.

“Shit, shit Katie”, you’re grabbing at the hand that’s thrusting in and out of you, curling upwards towards her.

Her thumb brushed against your clit, a purposeful circle and you’re unraveling into her.

Her lips find yours again, silencing the pathetic moans that you’re making. Kate moans into you as you finish on her fingers, exactly how she wanted you to. She works you through your orgasm for a moment, giving a few gentle thrusts before pulling her fingers out of you.

You wince a little as her fingers exit you, not letting the grip you had on her wrist go. Kate gently removes your hand from her wrist as she sits up. She gives it a light kiss before she turns her own hand towards her mouth.

Kate locks eyes with you as she slides her tongue up her wrist, collecting your slick before inserting her fingers in her own mouth. She moans a little as she wraps her lips around her fingers, sucking your juice from her fingers for a second before releasing them with a slight ‘pop’.

You blink a couple times, panting. Kate looks at you, and smiles a bit. A cocky, all knowing smile.

“Enjoy the show?” She smirks as she leans back towards you. Her dark hair falls around your face, pieces of it tickling your cheeks.

“Kate Bishop…” you pant a little, looking up at her, “I didn’t know you were such…”, your hands start to explore the plane of her stomach, touching the toned abs that lay there,

“…..a whore”, you smile at her. Your tone laced with malice as you spit out your last word.

Kate scoffs a bit, stopping your hand before you could get your fingers under the waistband of her underwear.

“I could say the same about you, based off the noises you were making”

She gets off the bed, but not before tweaking the jewelry that sat pretty in your nipples. You jump a little, moaning in pleasure.

“Brat”, she says, flashing a smile and laughing slightly before going to her bag and beginning to dig through it.

You sit up a little, admiring the way her purple underwear fits her ass. Your mind wanders to all the times you checked it out during training. God damn Kate bishop and her too tight leggings.

Kates digging goes on for a little too long and your curiosity begins to peak.

“Is your dick in there or something?” You half joke, wanting to know what she was looking for. You laid there, completely exposed to the too cold AC of the hotel room. You already missed Kate being in the bed with you.

“Yeah…Or something” Kate mumbles quietly. The sound of her zipping up her bag catches your attention.

“Kate is that a fucking strap on?”

“You never know when duty is gonna call!”

You sit up slightly, watching as Kate steps into her harness. The purple silicone dick bobs in between her legs, and you swallow slightly.

“You’re ridiculous, you know that, right?”, Kate joins you back on the bed, crawling over you.

“I know I am, and you’re obsessed with me because of it”, she kisses up your neck. Her confidence oozing out of her, you could almost swear you were breathing it in and letting it cloud your mind.

You grab at the ponytail at the back of her head, pulling her mouth off your neck. Kate gives a groan before her blue eyes meet yours.

“I told you I was going to fuck you so hard you wouldn’t be able to walk. I’m a lady of my word”

Kate teases your entrance with her strap, letting it run through your folds.

“Shit Kate..” you half moan half whine as she positions her dick.

“God say that again” Kate moans into your ear . She begins to push her strap into you and you swear you can feel your heartbeat in your throat.

You’re pulling on her ponytail, pulling her head away from you when all Kate wants to do is mark you, claim you as hers.

“Fucking shit Kate..” you repeat, more enthusiastically this time as Kate’s strap finally enters you, fully.

She fills you to the hilt of her strap, your hips almost flush with each another. The base of her dick rubbing sweetly against her clit.

She whines a little, resting her head into the crook of your neck.

“Aw poor baby, do you want to swap?” You coo sarcastically as you rub her back, finding your way to the clasp of her bra.

Kate gives an annoyed groan, punctuated by a hard thrust into your pulsating cunt.

You yelp in surprise, popping the clasps of her bra, watching the straps fall loose around her shoulders. Kate pulls out again and thrusts her hips once more,relishing in the friction she also receives from the motion.

“Just couldn’t keep your hands to yourself, huh?” Kate begins to take off her bra, discarding it to wherever your clothes also lay.

Your hands find her nipples, twisting and pinching them as she snaps her hips into you.

You lean up, swallowing the beautiful whines she’s giving to you as you play with her tits with your mouth.

She kisses you back, letting herself submit to your suddenly surge of dominance.

“So fucking hot..” you mutter as you pull away, letting your eyes drift to Kate’s lust blown pupils, down to where her dick was splitting you in two.

“Could say the same about you” Kate watches your tits bounce with each thrust she gives. Her eyes following the shiny jewelry in your tits. she leans down a bit, taking one of your nipples in her mouth. Her teeth close in one of the bars and she pulls every so gently.

You’re moaning as you grasp at her back, letting your dominant facade fall and letting Kate have the full power once again.

Her hips are slamming into yours, practically humping you like a dog in heat. Your legs wrap around her hips, attempting to put you two closer than you already were.

Kates whining, actually whining. You can see sweat drip down the side of her face, baby hairs sticking to her forehead.

You’re in no better shape. Your back arched up, legs locked around Kate’s waist, sweat traveling down your back and into your asscrack.

“I’m gonna fucking-“ you moan, your sentence not even getting finished as Kate reaches down to rub your clit while continuing her ministrations with her hips.

“Me too…oh my god me too” Kate’s going hard now, chasing her own high. Her thrusts are spastic and uncalculated.

The floodgates open in a minute, and you’re gushing all over Kates cock, and hand once again. A whining, moaning, drooling mess.

She works you through your high, only taking a few more pumps until she’s also finishing. Kate gives a few weak pumps, almost pushing you towards overstimulation before she falls on top of you, leaving her strap on inside.

She gives you a few weak kisses on your chest as you run your fingers through her hair, releasing it from the ponytail.

Kate reached down to remove her strap, making you suck in a breath of air as you an adjust to the feeling.

Once the harness and silicone dick had been removed, she sighs, content as she sinks her face into your chest, fingers rubbing small circles in your stomach.

“I still don’t like you, you know that, right?”, you break the silence first, still playing with Kates dark locks.

“Mhm, and I hate you “ Kate smiles lazily up at you.

You roll your eyes at her. Kate turns to look at you, blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Do you think we have to put this on the mission report to Sam?”

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Kate bishop simp nation, I have returned.

My apologies, this is not proofread in the slightest lmao

[leighcest]

Me, You, & Coffee- That's all I need!

—

1.2k words

claire redfield x fem!reader

tropes: f/f , hurt / comfort , wlw , claire probably has depression or atleast anxiety , angst , fluff , fall fic , love , happy ending , suggested smut

note: hehe my first fic!!! so scary.... rb/likes are appriciated!!! huge thanks to @/vaaaaaiolet for proof reading this!

tags: @rigorwhoring @vaaaaaiolet @angelstargel

The cold air nips at your cheeks, giving them a red hue. Leaves blow around your feet, and the shout of the coffee shop bell rings as you leave. Your chai latte sits in your mouth as you treasure the flavor, deep in thought. Claire hasn’t joined you today or any time since you last got home. You can’t blame her. 

After her mission a few weeks prior, she hasn’t been acting like herself.

You had come home to your girlfriend with a broken arm, not a scene you expected to return to. She had calmed your concerns yet never stopped working, only making an exception for sleep. 

Now, as you gently knock on her office door, Claire mumbles a soft invitation. Her hair, the same color as her bloodshot eyes, was messy. She had been wearing the same red tank top for a week now. Her eyes never diverted from the screen or her bulletin board. You weren’t even sure she knew you were here. Should you call out her name again? 

“I, uh, got your coffee for you, Babe.” You place a gentle hand on her back and kiss her head.

Your heart aches for her. Almost all her hair had fallen out of her ponytail. As you set down her coffee, she smiles and grabs your hand before pressing a soft kiss into the back. You smile at the tenderness before realizing she is continuing to do her dead, thousand-yard stare. As your smile faltered, you noticed small things that had changed in her appearance recently. Her freckled skin had gotten more pale, and her makeup looked old. These small details pushed you over the edge.

“Claire, are you okay?” You crouch to her side. She nods, humming quickly. “You… you look pretty zoned out.” 

Claire keeps her distant look, the one you’ve become oh-so-accustomed to when she comes home from a grueling mission. Claire begins to divert her eyes from looking at the floor. When did she start looking there?

“Claire? Baby?”

She blinks. How long was she zoned out for? Claire pushes her hair back and wipes her palms on her black jeans, the soft denim brushing against her pale skin. 

“Yes, sorry.” She blinks to register what happened in the minute she was zoned out, meeting your concerned look. “Sorry. One more time?” She quickly glances at her work before giving you her undivided attention, clearing her voice.

“I was just saying I got coffee for you,” you repeat with a nervous smile and tensed brows. The small sympathetic act was enough to bloom a smile on Claire’s face.

“Oh. Thanks, sweetheart.” She replies, a faint smile on her face. 

You nod. You can tell that Claire noticed your concerned expression because she furrows her brows and fights off a scoff. 

“You don’t have to be worried about me or anything like that,” she snaps. 

“I’m just…” The words die in your throat. 

The redhead knows her outburst was unneeded, a small guilty expression forming on her face. Lingering eyes make Claire have a migraine. 

A sigh claws its way through your throat. “I’m gonna make lunch,” you manage to shove out, “If you want some.”

Claire nods awkwardly. “Okay.” She looks at you until you look away, then disappears into her work again.

Wobbling into your humble abode, expecting to see Claire waiting for you, you moaned in pain. The lack of your girlfriend proved you incorrect. You knew she had returned from her mission, but maybe she hadn’t? Fear flooded your body as you heard a noise from Claire’s study. 

You pulled out your gun, opening the door to see your beloved girlfriend attempting to work with one hand in a cast.

Before you get the chance to say anything she groans and gets up, revealing herself to you.

“Hey, you’re home!” The redhead smiled, going to hug you as best as possible. 

Her skin felt freezing! She had been wearing a tank top and underwear with the window open on a cold autumn night. You watch as guilt drains into her face.

You blinked at her red sling. “What happened to your arm, babe?” 

A sigh came from her throat. “I, uh. Kinda got thrown into a wall.”

The color quickly drained from your face. “You what?” was the only thing you could mutter out.

“I’m fine now, don’t worry. It's just inconvenient.” 

You bit your tongue. Your reflection appears in Claire’s red spectacles. Your nose is bruised and stained red from blood.

“Do you want to go take a bath? Or shower?” you prompt, both of your usual healing methods after missions. 

Claire rubbed her eyes, clearly overworked. “No, it’s fine. I have some work to finish anyway. Maybe tomorrow?” Worry had bubbled into your chest. 

You hadn’t given it much thought, to your dismay now. Dread had eaten you up. As you stare at Claire now, your throat closes up. Jerking awake, you immediately notice the cold bed.

You manage to get Claire out of the house with the promise of a:

“Coffee/Study Date?” She furrows her eyebrows. 

“Yeah! It’ll be fun.” You chirp back.

The cold air nips at both yours and Claire’s cheeks, giving them a red hue. Leaves blow around your feet, and the shout of the coffee shop bell rings as you leave, connected by your shared scarf and tightly clasped hands.

The two of you sip on the costly coffee you had purchased to make her smile. There was a cartoon character on top drawn in creamer.

As Claire sips her coffee, the wind blows stronger, blowing cream onto her nose. She looks up at you with a sad expression before back down at her coffee. A small giggle expels from your lips at the sight. Claire glares at you.

“Don’t laugh. I spilled my coffee.” Claire whines, leaning into you and bunching up your scarf. “My latte art!” She frowns and complains jokingly. You know you’d buy her a new one in a heartbeat if she asked.

You coo and kiss her on the cheek for condolence, “You’ll survive.” 

Claire laughs, This is the biggest (read: only) smile you’ve seen from her since you got back. She squeezes your hand softly three times. Warmth trickles into your chest, temporarily battling the cold outside. You hum tenderly.

You try to ignore her paranoia, constantly checking your surroundings and flinching. 

Sniffling fills your ears and concern is etched onto your face. Her big, blue eyes look at you, beginning to water slightly. You grab her coffee and set it down on a bench nearby before engulfing her in your arms.

“Hey, hey,” your voice softens, “what's wrong, baby?” 

Claire sniffles in response. She grabs onto you like she’s afraid you’ll disappear if she lets go.

You can’t find words. With precision and gentleness, you redirect the two of you to the bench with her coffee. Her voice trembles and breaks along with the facade of the strong, independent woman you know so well.

 “‘M so, so sorry.” Claire sobs into your shoulder, tears dribbling down your scarf.

Your hand goes to her back to rub it softly. “You have nothing to be sorry about, sweetheart. I need you to talk to me, though.”

“This mission was supposed to be easy. I just needed to build schools and hospitals. But then I discovered more and dug myself farther into this shitty hole I made. I feel like I dug myself into my own grave.” You listen and hold your girlfriend as she cries. “And then when I got home I just have this… this urge to finish it. And then I started to stop acting like myself and I ruined everything we had and I-” 

You look at her, hot tears rolling down her ruby-red cheeks. “You didn’t ruin anything, baby. But I’m gonna need you to take a few deep breaths for me.” Your hand snakes its way up Claire’s frame to cup her face. Shaky breaths make themselves noticed. You ignore all the weird looks and flip people off.

Claire whispers, barely audible over the rustle of trees. “I’m sorry I haven’t been paying attention.” 

“Don’t be. I knew you were going through something. It’s not an excuse, but I knew it was out of character. I’m not mad. As long as I have our coffee dates I'm fine.” Your calm, gentle voice and small giggle lull her into a reassured space. 

“I’ll take you on a fancy date. Maybe give you some special dessert after.” Claire teases, and it is then you realize you are in for a long night.

However, it’s the first time in a long while that your bed is warm, and you know it will stay that way.

note: HAII!! if anyone has tips on formatting lmk cause this is the first time I've really done it! i mainly used ao3 before this. thank you for reading and again thank you SO much to vivi for proofreading:)

[moodymelanist]

Want to write the reverse of your wlw nessian drabble where cas doesn’t realize she’s gay yet but nesta thinks cas stares at her boobs a little too much to be straight

hell yeah I do. hope y’all enjoy this one and happy @nestaarcheronweek day 4 🩷 got the title from tangerine by kehlani hehe

Read on AO3 here!

“Are you going to keep staring down my shirt, or can we get this presentation done?”

Cass startled so badly at Nesta’s words that she nearly knocked over her water, only barely managing to catch the reusable bottle at the last second. “What?”

Cass and Nesta had been paired up as partners for their advanced writing requirement course, and they’d been making steady progress on their presentation in one of the library’s group study rooms. Cass was an education major to Nesta’s political science, and Cass had never been so excited for a group project in her life.

At least, until Nesta had shown up to the library wearing that shirt. It was just a simple, blue, wrap-tie shirt, but between the way it made Nesta’s eyes look even bluer than usual and the way it perfectly cupped her breasts, Cass was having a difficult time staying focused on the task at hand.

“Sorry,” Cass said, hoping her face wasn’t as red as it felt from being called out. She’d thought she was being more discreet, but Nesta had clearly proved that theory wrong. “I was just, uh, zoned out.”

“Were you zoned out the other three times, too?” Nesta fired back without missing a beat.

“I…” Cass trailed off, trying to think of something to say that wouldn’t sound insane. “I just think your shirt is really… cute.”

Nesta Archeron was easily one of the most gorgeous women that Cass had ever seen. With her gray-blue eyes, bronze hair, and amazing fashion sense, Cass spent most of her time wanting to be just like Nesta. Granted, Cass was way too much of a tomboy to pull off even a quarter of Nesta’s wardrobe, but a woman could dream, right? And who better to dream about that Nesta Archeron, especially when she had on a shirt like that?

“Right,” Nesta replied with the most deadpan voice Cass had ever heard. She sighed heavily before shutting her laptop altogether, fixing Cass with a slightly incredulous look. “Are you ever going to get your shit together and ask me out?”

“What?” Cass blurted out, all the blood in her body rushing to her cheeks. God, she hoped her face wasn’t as red as it felt. “I don’t—”

Nesta rolled her eyes. “Cass, I can do this assignment in my sleep. I just wanted to make sure my gaydar was working.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Cass answered. Okay, maybe sometimes she found herself staring way longer than she should’ve when it came to pretty women, but that was just… what everyone did. That didn’t mean she was anything more than a strong ally, no matter how many times she cringed when a man came near her.

“Don’t you?” Nesta asked, cocking an eyebrow. She leaned forward, a victorious little smirk gracing her lips as Cass’ eyes immediately tracked the motion. “Well that’s a yes.”

“It’s not my fault you have a great rack,” Cass blurted out, her brain to mouth filter evaporating altogether.

Nesta snorted. “I’m not making you look at it.”

“If I wasn’t looking, I’d have to be dead,” Cass muttered.

“You’re lucky you’re pretty,” Nesta retorted with a roll of her eyes.

Before Cass could think of a proper reply — Nesta thought she was pretty? — Nesta reached out and grabbed a hold of Cass’ chair, pulling her own so close that there was no room to escape. Not that Cass was feeling particularly inclined to do that, anyway. It was dizzying having Nesta so close; she was pinned under that icy gaze and couldn’t back away even if she wanted to.

Cass didn’t want to.

“I’m going to finish this assignment when I get home,” Nesta said, her voice low and offering no argument. “Give you some time to think about… things.”

“Think about what?” Cass said back. She was hardly breathing as Nesta leaned in even closer, placing her hand on the chair in between Cass’ thighs for balance.

Nesta was close enough now that it would’ve been easy for Cass to lean in and kiss her, and find out if her lips were as soft as they looked. Cass’ lips parted in anticipation, every thought in her mind besides Nesta emptying out like they’d never been there at all, and she was torn between leaning forward to kiss her or letting Nesta continue to order Cass around like she owned her.

What the hell was wrong with her?

“That’s what I thought,” Nesta breathed after a few moments, her lips still dangerously close to Cass’ own. When Nesta laughed quietly at Cass’ reflexive frown, Cass could almost feel the vibrations on her lips, and God wasn’t that a thought. “You’re taking me to dinner tonight.”

“I— okay,” Cass agreed. God, she hoped she didn’t sound as dumbstruck as she felt; Nesta didn’t suffer fools, and Cass wasn’t trying to be one. “Whatever you want.”

Nesta finally leaned forward to press a kiss to Cass’ cheek, pulling back with a smirk. “I think we’ll get along just fine. See you later.”

Cass watched Nesta grab her things and saunter out of the room, the only thought in her head I love when women…

Well. At least one woman, that was for damn sure.

tag list: @perseusannabeth | @bookstantrash | @fieldofdaisiies | @goddess-aelin | @c-e-d-dreamer | @talkfantasytome | @whyisaravenlike-awritingdesk | @sv0430 | @talibunny30 | @unlikelypersonalknight1 | @champanheandluxxury | @lilah-asteria | @burningsnowleopard | @sayosdreams | @readskk | @simpingfornestaarcheron | @bellaful08 | @readergalaxy | @podemechamardek | @pearlfortears | @nerdperson524 | @jmoonjones | @kale-theteaqueen | @autumnbabylon | @hiimheresworld | @illyrianshadowhunter | @dustjacketmusings | @live-the-fangirl-life | @that-little-red-head | @sweet-pea1 | @brieq | @queercontrarian | @jsmelodies | @afflicted-with-wanderlust

[kittyuna]

i’ll leave it all behind

pairing: ayaka x fem reader (438 words)

warnings: angst, no comfort, homophobia

yuna’s notes: this fic is based off of the song “softly” by juhye! i suggest checking her out if you’re looking for some soft, chill, wlw music! :) this is a quick blurb, hope you enjoy! as always, if you want to see something else from me, drop a suggestion in my inbox! ^.^

“you know i’ll always love you.” your name slipped off her tongue with not a tint of negativity. the warmth and passion her words carried was something you were quite accustomed to.

so why? why did it hurt so bad in this moment. “im sorry.” ayaka began. her hands extended to take yours into her. at the gentle contact of her fingers brushing against yours, you pulled away.

tears pooled into your eyes, not daring to spill just yet. “ayaka. why?” was all you could mutter. you knew why, you could tell by the dirty glances and the failed attempt at whispers are you walked down the inazuman streets.

“please, i don’t want to say it again. we just can’t be together anymore.” the kamisato girl looked away, trying to find comfort in something that wasn’t your eyes. for all she saw when she stared into them was pain and confusion.

heartbreak was something you hadn’t experienced before. sure, relationships you had as a kid failed, but those never counted to you. it wasn’t anything serious after all. this. this was serious.

both of you carried a cloak of shyness around, only lifting it in each others presence. she was your first. first kiss, first shoulder to cry on, first hope that your sexuality truly didn’t define you.

and yet, the inazuman public proved that to be true. sure, it was hurtful what you went through. the constant slew of insults, dirty looks, revoked invitations to events. it became incredibly brutal. but, ayaka must have truly had a tough time as well. her status was far higher than yours would ever be after all.

before your thoughts could dive deeper, you felt ayaka cup your hands with hers. wrapping her cold fingers around your oddly warm ones, she pulled your hands up. “my love, when the time comes we will be together again. but for now, for the sake of the reputation of the kamisato clan, i need to leave this all behind.”

as her words ended, she let go of your hands, watching as they harshly fell to your side. the sound of a maid could be heard in the distance, calling out for ayaka. her eyes rested on your broken state before biting her lip to stifle her cries. “goodbye.” ayaka muttered through, running off towards the estate.

you didn’t move. for how long, at this point it was uncertain. the sun had started to slowly rise, the sparkling reflected off of your glazed eyes. emotions drained from your body, hands numb from the crisp air. if only she could have held a place for you.

[k1nky-fool]

The Ace of Swords

Book I: The Devil in the Details

Chapter V: A King Among Gods

Nadia Satrinava x OC, Callisto (wlw)

Warnings: Lucio actually harassing people, sexual harassment implied not detailed, Lucio may canonically respect consent even at his worst, but it does take a while for him to get the hint. More plague, idk how else to explain that this is the plague fic.

Masterlist

(minor author's brag: chapter word count 9k)

Chapter V:

The Autumn ball will be beginning tomorrow, and Callisto is doing an expert job of avoiding Lucio. She’s seen him several times, but the don’t mind me spell is proving itself as a vital base of magic, since it works remarkably well on him. After giving Lyra the charm, Valerius gave her a heavy pouch of gold coins which was a wild overpayment for her regular rates, but that could buy plenty of obscure, imported, herbs, so she wasn’t going to complain. Though, she did however find some trouble locating Nadia. 

There was of course one place she hadn’t checked yet, but she wasn’t sure if Nadia would be alright with her coming into her private tower uninvited. However if Nadia wanted privacy and retreated to the tower of all places, then she must have miscalculated just how desperate Callisto was to speak to her before the portrait session. 

Nadia’s bedroom was locked. Just a mere obstacle for a magician and she had a feeling that Nadia knew that. Callisto pushed through the lock and it was undone in a matter of seconds. She didn’t spend long in her bedroom, feeling like looking too closely while she was alone might be a boundary she didn’t want to cross. She closed her eyes and let her senses guide her along the wall that hid the door until she hit a hidden lever and pulled it. The stone door slid open. 

And of course, Nadia sat inside, toiling away at small, clockwork, toys and contraptions. Chandra was puffed up on the corner of the desk, happily napping the day away. She dispelled the don’t mind me charm to approach. 

“The goddess in her domain.” Callisto jokes, hoping that she didn’t scare her too much yesterday. Her hopes were dashed as soon as Nadia looked at her. The worry and fear was enough to make the guilt sting her chest.

Nadia didn’t say anything as she got up and met her by the water. Warm arms wrapped around Callisto in a desperate embrace. “Please don’t scare me like that again.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m safe.” Callisto promised, embracing her back. 

Nadia separated from her awkwardly after a moment. “So what did you learn?” 

Callisto explained how she met Morrigan from the future, how she stumbled upon the Hanged Man, what he asked her, and how she ended up with the Moon, and what she saw. 

“Well, when you start looking for questions, I suppose you must be careful of what you may find.” Nadia figures. “So have you found an answer? Why did you choose to help me?” She asked. 

Of course Nadia would be curious. “You trusted me, Nadia.” Callisto smiled. “I could have asked Asra, or Julian, hell, I could have even gone to Lyra and asked for her and Valerius to help me. When you invited me in, that night at the consul’s estate, and you asked for my help. You trusted my skills, my intuition, and my choices. It’s the least I can do to return that trust.” 

“Thank you, Callisto.” Nadia smiled. 

“But my journey didn’t end there.” Callisto said. “Last night I ended up back at my gate so I followed the call.” She explains how she met Asra at his gate and that he helped her figure out her answer. But when she gets to the Magician, Nadia’s face turns to concern. 

“The Red Plague is a curse?” Nadia asks in bafflement. 

“Yeah, but as soon as I asked who’s curse it was, they said that was the question we need to figure out.” Callisto says. 

“Which means we likely have the resources to find who this curse belongs to.” Nadia smirked. “We just need to figure out which to utilize.” 

Thoughts of Asra in the gate brought to mind the promise she made. “There’s something more personal I need your help with.” 

“Pray tell.” 

“Have you been to the Coliseum lately?” Callisto asked. 

Nadia’s face turned sour. “I haven’t been there in a while. The games were much too barbaric for me.” 

“A friend of mine is enslaved as a gladiator there. His name is Muriel.” She pleaded. “I know you can’t free him, but maybe you know somewhere he could rest away from the Coliseum.” 

Nadia was surprised, but took it in stride. “I will see what I can do. I suspected you might be a little more selfish when you finally asked me a favor, but you seem to always find a way to perplex me.” 

“I have no use for personal wealth or political power. I'm a magician. If I truly wanted unlimited power and wealth, I have no shortage of avenues to pursue.” Callisto said. “My job has always been to serve my community whether they ask for my help, pay for my help, or don’t even know they’re in danger. I’m just glad that I don’t have to do it alone.” 

“In times like this, I too am grateful to not be facing it alone.” Nadia said, warmly. 

Callisto took a quick look at the time and realized she only had a few more minutes before Lucio and Lyra would need her to attend the last session. “If we intend to root out this curse, we're going to need some time. This isn't the kind of thing I can just ask the cards for.” 

“We need a long game.” Nadia agreed. “If you can't ask the Arcana directly, then perhaps they could guide you to what tools you will need to find your answer.” 

“You have the mind of a magician.” Callisto noted. 

“I am simply considering how to best utilize your talents. Though I admit, you are also often my first choice for a good conversation.” She said. 

Callisto joked as she made her way back down the stairs. “Well, don't make it so hard to find you and you might get a little more good conversation.” 

Through the palace halls and finding another magic doorway, spat her out right at the back of Lucio’s wing, where Lyra spotted her. “You really just pop up everywhere, huh?” 

Lyra’s charm was holding up well. Lyra’s tight, blonde curls were still bouncy, even as most of it was tied back in a braid. Her skin still had its rosy hue, but Callisto remembered what she had looked like yesterday. The only color in her eyes now was their usual green glimmer, but hiding beneath the charm was a single red sclera, dark circles, and sickly pale skin. 

“I have a habit of finding where I need to be.” Callisto commented, walking beside her on their way to the studio. With Lyra hiding her diagnosis from Lucio, she already knew that she’d need to keep Lucio’s attention with something. Unfortunately, she was running out of ways to keep him occupied without giving him too much information. “How’s Valerius doing?” 

“He’s surviving. He’s not one to wear his heart on his sleeve, but I can tell it’s bothering him.” She said, honestly. “Right now, we’re just holding on.” 

“I suppose that’s all there is to hope for.” Callisto said, sitting down as Lyra set up. 

Before Callisto could even shuffle around in her bag for different things to make a spectacle out of, she froze. She could sense something, but it wasn’t Valdemar. This didn’t feel like the usual dread and overwhelming panic that gripped her whenever the Quaestor was near, but she could tell it was a similar sense. 

This time the air became sticky and Callisto’s stomach began to turn. Someone, or more definitely, something nearby, was so repulsive and twisted that the mere existence of it near her made her immediately uncomfortable. “Lucio’s brought company.”

Lyra looked up from her brushes. “Who is it?” 

“I don’t know, just someone… gross? I-It’s not the Quaestor.” It was all Callisto could come up with, but her face must have given enough clues for Lyra to be able to narrow down who she meant immediately. 

“Praetor Vlastomil.” She said, “Oh boy, this will be fun.” 

The feeling was turning into straight up nausea, and ‘fun’ was not sounding like an accurate descriptor. The door blasted open with Lucio’s ego. 

“Count Lucio, right on time, as usual.” Callisto said, knowing full well that he was at least fifteen minutes late at this point. “And you brought a guest!” 

“Oh, yes. I was speaking to Vlastomil about my new Court Magician, and I thought he needs to see you in action.” Lucio boasts. 

It was interesting to Callisto how Lucio seems to be proud that he had ‘found her’ like a possession. His praises were never for Callisto’s skill, it was only ever as a prize piece in some sort of collection. Lucio has his staff pieces, his entourage pieces, his wife piece, and since Callisto is his newest, and shiniest piece, he parades her around to all his other toys like he did something to deserve her time. When this has been nothing but a lesson in endurance for her. 

If anything, every one of his toys was playing a game he didn’t even know about. Everyone in the court was playing for Lucio’s praise, because his approval was directly linked to what one was permitted to do within Vesuvia. Everyone had to compete for his approval, which meant Vlastomil was not here to be amazed by her power, he was here to see what he was competing with. 

However, Callisto realized that this entire game hinged on Lucio getting his way, and she had the chance to throw everyone off when she had the spotlight at the Autumn Ball tomorrow. Though, it might be better if she had the full week of the Autumn Harvest Festival to make more plans with Nadia. This was a plan that could expose the weak points of the Court’s operations, all by just destabilizing Lucio. And she might just have a way to get him to give her more time. 

“I thought for sure you knew I would be giving everyone a top notch performance tomorrow?” Callisto said, jokingly. “Surely the Praetor will be right up front to see it for himself.” 

“You’re singing, not much to see.” Vlastomil giggled to himself. 

“Oh please, Praetor.” Callisto pulled a little bit of light from the globe hanging above Lucio, and transformed it into a butterfly that glowed with changing colors that fluttered around the room. “I’m a magician, and I might only be doing a song, but I would be a poor palace mage if I didn’t make it a spectacle.” 

Lucio was immediately a lot more excited. “How much more can you do?” He asked, definitely not standing still enough for Lyra, but it seems she’s not focused on him right now. 

“I have a show that will fill the entire ballroom with spiraling lights. It’ll be unlike anything ever seen by human eyes.” Now he thinks it’s his idea. 

“Oh, I have to tell the Chamberlain, I can’t waste this on an opener, you need to be my finale.” Lucio laughed, watching the butterfly float around his head. 

“Well, that gives me even more time to make this your most memorable Harvest Festival yet.” Callisto agreed willingly, even noting how much emotional concentration lights like this require. The butterfly was an easy memory to call on. This was the one that aunt Mosyne did to distract her when she was about four or five years old, and was a simple, happy memory to call on for this. But for an entire show, she’d need to concentrate on something much stronger. 

It wasn’t uncommon for her to hum or sing a song to help concentrate on an illusion, but singing something for a crowd would mean she might have to ‘spray and pray’ as Mosyne said referring to her market shows when she was young. Sometimes it’s just easier to just let out every emotion and just shape it like sand. At least now she has about four days to perfect it. 

“Surely you can do more than just some pretty light tricks.” Vlastomil inquired. “Sure, it’s a good skill, but what else can you do?” 

Thankfully, Callisto’s regular tarot rates gave her more than enough experience with skeptics. Having so many charlatans around the square with a tarot deck someone found in their attic was more than enough to make people suspicious about anyone peddling fortunes and fate. 

“Ooh, Callisto, read him a card like you did for me.” Lucio piped up. 

Callisto brought Vlastomil to a nearby tea table, and let him choose where he sat while Lucio watched on. She shuffled the deck in her hands and separated it into three piles. “Choose whichever pile calls to you most.” 

Vlastomil began to reach for the middle pile, but at the last moment, chose the one to his left. 

He hesitates? 

Callisto watched him closely, and he seemed nervous as she shuffled the pile that he chose. Maybe that was just how his face looked, but his eyes were trained, unmovingly, on her hands. She might get more information if she reads more than one card for him. 

It will also give her a chance to begin shaking the court’s cage, and displaying that Lucio does not have their backs. When she makes her move on Lucio during her performance, he’ll have nobody to turn to when he needs them. 

“Pick one of the two stacks.” She instructs and he does so, even as his hand shakes. The remaining thirteen cards are laid out in a circle with one in the center. “Point to the three that will tell me your past, present, and future.” 

“Hmmph, she only read one for me.” Lucio whined in Lyra’s general direction. At least by this point Lyra probably only needed Lucio for brief references for details.

Vlastomil took a quick glance at her face, but he jumped slightly when he saw that she’d been watching him much closer than he’d been watching her. He may be beginning to understand that witches like Callisto and her aunt Mosyne before her, always saw the world with more than just eyes. 

Or perhaps I am far from the first magician he’s met, and he’s right to be scared.

She knew that whatever she found in the cards would reflect Vlastomil’s diseased aura, and she would take the risk of telling him, to his face, in front of Lucio, Lyra, and whatever gods they begged for mercy at the temples once a month. 

When Vlastomil finally chose his three cards, Callisto collected them and swiped away the rest of the cards in a swift movement. The first card that was overturned was the Seven of Swords. Callisto listened closely and the feeling may have been small, like the arcana was scared he might overhear, but she was certain it was readable. “The Seven of Swords. Your past is filled with scheming and manipulation. There wasn’t a problem you stumbled upon that you couldn’t cut a corner to get around. I generally issue a warning with readings like this, you may not like what you hear going forward.” 

“I absolutely want to hear more.” Lucio piped up. In order for this to work, Lucio has to be in charge for a while. 

Callisto turned another card as soon as he said it. “Justice reversed.” She listened closely, but the voice was so weak, she might have not heard it at all if she didn’t have her most grueling training behind her. “You only thrive when others suffer in your presence, Praetor Vlastomil. Something in you is cultivated and nurtured the more uncomfortable you make others.” 

Vlastomil gasped, but Lucio only laughed in response, like this was just silly. “She’s got you pegged, easily.” 

“I’ve read your past and present, Praetor. Are you sure you want to know what your future holds?” She glared him down, even as the light above Lucio began to darken and become more turbulent. And he didn’t answer, because he was too terrified to admit that it was up to Lucio if she read his most protected secrets. 

“Well you can’t stop here, Callisto. I’m on the edge of my seat.” Lucio encouraged her. 

The last card flipped, and she knew this card had much to say to the audience. “The Eight of Swords. Your struggles, misfortunes, troubles, and sorrows will all be a prison of your own making. In the end, you have nobody to blame but yourself, Praetor.” 

“Umm, Callisto. Can I please get my light back?” Lyra finally piped up. 

“Of course, my apologies, to both of you.” She focused back and brought the light back. 

“That was magnificent, Callisto.” Lucio clapped. No matter what, Lucio was always amazed by new theatrics and giving him something to laugh at, embarrasses Vlastomil. He won’t be able to act on that anger until Lucio becomes unbearable. She exists in an untouchable position so long as Lucio and Nadia like her more than the court does. And being in Nadia’s good graces took a substantially more amount of effort. 

“Oh, yes, yes, magnificent!” Vlastomil hastily said, giggling awkwardly to himself, like he himself could play it off as a joke. 

“Well, that was fun. And of course I will give you a chance to have three cards read when you need it most.” Callisto promised Lucio, giving him the majority of the attention for it. 

“But I really want it now!” He cried. 

She hated that she was about to give in like this, but it would be all the more worth it later. No title, as he requested of her. “Lucio, I beg of you, just a little trust. When there are three cards that have any words for you, then I will make sure you know immediately. I wouldn’t count on it taking very long anyway.” She promised him. And she was certain it wouldn’t take long to know what the Arcana had to say to him. 

“Okay, fine. Only because you’re so kind.” He gave in. She might be the only person alive that can get Lucio to do what she wants. This man doesn’t immediately assume ulterior motives until someone has already insulted him.

Lyra piped up as the conversation died out. “Count Lucio, I believe that once this dries, it will be ready to reveal at the Autumn Ball. I think this is the best you’ve ever looked on a canvas.” She said shyly, notably to draw his attention to the portrait instead of her. 

“Now, this is magnificent. I want it covered, nobody is to see this before it’s revealed tomorrow.” Lucio commanded, leaving to change out of his portrait costume, and into his ruling costume. 

Vlastomil and Callisto stayed away from taking a peek at the portrait as Lyra began placing it back into its case. Vlastomil is starting to wring his handkerchief like he’s trying to tear it in half. Something remains troubling him, but he seems too scared to ask. 

“Praetor, if you must ask me a question, do not hold it in.” Callisto said, to which he jumped. 

“You haven’t told me what will become of my babies!” 

Callisto’s intuition told her that there was no possible way he could be talking about actual children of his. It seemed most likely that he meant some sort of pet, since there’s no way Praetor Vlastomil having actual children would get past the gossip circles of Vesuvia. 

“Someone you hold dear?” She asked curiously. 

“My worms!” He said, like it was obvious.  

Without looking away from him with her concerned expression, because she didn’t know how else to react to his ‘worms.’ She spread out her deck in her hands and held it out to him. “Take one out of the deck.” She instructed him. 

When he did so, he turned it around, so Callisto already knew it was really reversed. Callisto took the card from him and listened closely. All she got was an echo of something repeated. “Not fair, not fair!” Above all else, Vlastomil feels cheated. So here, she lied. “The Page of Cups indicates a pleasant surprise. I think the next time you see your worms you may find some good news, Praetor.” 

“Oh, I suppose that’s a relief.” Vlastomil relaxed all at once, though he still kept an eye on heer out of his peripheral. It’s good that he’s on edge. Though, Callisto would be far too foolish to think she was out of trouble by now. 

“Callisto, this clasp isn’t coming undone!” Now she had to resist burning the thing off him. Lyra didn’t look like she envied the position, but Callisto was confident she could handle herself. Lyra wouldn’t leave her here anyway, even if Vlastomil asked her to.

She was thankful that the dressing room wasn’t a cramped space. There was plenty of room for Callisto to remain at an arm’s length from him. The same unlocking spell that she used on Nadia’s door worked to break the clasp off him without even touching him. 

“You’re trying very hard to impress me, Callisto.” Lucio grinned at her, and she did her best to maintain an unmoving, pleasant expression. 

“Lucio, if I’ve impressed you then you have come to that conclusion yourself.” She said, watching him closely. It was clear he was trying to use the clasp as an excuse to speak to her alone, and no doubt that everyone out there had come to that conclusion too. 

Vlastomil might try to get Lyra to leave with him, but not even someone as unassuming as Lyra would let Lucio stay alone with anyone she really cared about for longer than ten minutes. Especially someone she knows does not appreciate Lucio’s more salacious advances. 

“Please, you had Vlastomil pissing himself. You definitely didn’t read me like that.” He chuckled, taking off his overcoat. Callisto tried to not let her discomfort jeopardize gaining any information in his movements and continued watching him. 

“My craft is in being an interpreter of the Arcana’s voices. I only say what aligns with the message the Arcana are trying to get across.” She said. Thankfully Lucio didn’t end up taking off his shirt in front of her, and only changed his coat as both were cut to expose his golden arm that he’s already got all of the ornamentation off of. 

“Don't think I'm an idiot, Callisto, I can tell when someone's pruning my feathers.” He said. “Makes me wonder what you want from me, Magician.” 

“You said it yourself, Lucio. I'm a magician. If I wanted your money or an appointed position of power in Vesuvia, I have no shortage of ways to get that.” Callisto explained, stepping closer to him. “Hell, I got hired by Nadia after meeting her for the first time. Consul Valerius somehow tolerates me, Pontifex Vulgora is itching for a rematch with me, and Praetor Vlastomil reveres me. I'm not an idiot either, Lucio, and I can tell when someone is worth placing in my company. My own choices and work got me here, and my own tenacity will keep me safe and comfortable.” 

“You have my court on a leash, and what?” He chuckles, leaning on the walls to take up as much space as possible, making the room feel a lot smaller for Callisto. “Are you threatening me?” 

“A threat? Of course not. We both already know what happens between us in a fight.” She said, calmly, brushing his ego a little as she knew he would assume she meant that she couldn’t defeat him. “The nature of our relationship is one of comfort. I keep you comfortable, and you keep me comfortable. So long as that keeps happening, I don't see why two great, powerful people shouldn't be allies.” 

It might have been a risk referring to Lucio as an equal, since in most cases, it was more likely that he would take it as an insult. However, it's become more clear to Callisto that Lucio worships magic with an obsession. The wide grin on his face tells her all she needs to know. He takes pride in being compared to people he knows he is weaker than. 

“I like a simple woman, Callisto.” Lucio grinned. 

“Am I Convenient? Maybe. But not simple by any means.” She fired back, and turned to leave, but when a harsh metal hand gripped her wrist to stop her, Callisto’s whole heart dropped into her stomach. 

“Are we going to keep playing this game, Callisto?” He asked, making her skin crawl. 

She turned back and looked him directly in the eyes. “I don’t play games, Lucio. I play with fate.” 

The knock that disturbed their conversation could have only been Lyra. “Are you two alright in there?” 

Lucio’s grip on her loosened, and she took the opportunity to open the door. “Yes, just a stubborn clasp.” Callisto said, making her way out of the dressing room as smoothly as she could. 

Lucio emerged as well, but Lyra was brave enough to place herself between him and Callisto. “Come with me to dinner, Callisto. Vulgora and Volta are so boring without you there.” 

“I actually have some business to discuss with Callisto before she heads off to meet with the Countess.” Lyra said, cheerfully managing to reject him for her. “I’ll remind her to catch up with you later.” 

Lucio seemed a little peeved, but she hadn’t given him much room to refuse her. “Then I’ll see you later, Callisto.” 

When he finally exited and she heard him far enough down the hall, Callisto could finally stop slowing her breath. “Are you alright?” Lyra asked. 

“You saved me just in time. I was running out of ways to let him down easy.” Callisto slowly managed to calm herself down. 

“This isn’t the first time I’ve had to get between Lucio and a friend. Though I was a little more worried that if I left you two alone any longer, only one of you would walk out.” Lyra had always done her best to lighten the spirits of others when they needed it most. 

Callisto couldn’t think of a time she needed it more. “You wouldn’t be able to get the smell of roasted Count out of the studio for a century.” She chuckled, trying not to wonder too much who else she’s had to save from Lucio’s antics. “I’ll be alright.” 

“I don’t know what the purpose of all that was, but I think you have a lot to talk to the Countess about.” Lyra noted. 

“Yes, I do.” Callisto agreed. “Where are you going next?” 

“Dr. Devorak has managed to ease my symptoms fairly well.” She prefaced. “Valerius and I agreed that if I felt strong enough after the portrait session, that we would attempt taking the carriage back to our estate. It’ll be easier for me to rest there. And Dr. Devorak wouldn’t stop assuring me that he knew how to ride a horse if I ever needed his help.” 

Callisto understood. Lyra was looking death in the face and she didn’t want to feel like she was in dangerous waters while she slept. At any moment, someone could come looking for her, and news of her diagnosis could reach Lucio. And Lucio, of course, only made her precious, remaining moments all the more unsettling. “Can I walk with you to the carriage? If Lucio spots me in the hallway, I don’t wanna be alone. I don’t have anything else in my bag for a spell that’ll hide me from him.”

Lyra smiled, and agreed, letting Callisto accompany her down the halls. “I might not make it back in time to see your performance. I’ll make sure Valerius makes it so he can describe it to me.”

“Lyra, if you wanted me to come to your house and give you a personal reenactment, I would be honored.” Callisto told her, only half joking. She would revel in telling Lyra about her wild choice to make an enemy out of Lucio, but maybe she’ll have to rely on Valerius to share that information with her. 

“I’m not sure I’d survive the headache from the lights.” She politely refused, and Callisto wasn’t going to argue with that. “I trust Valerius to pay it justice with his poetic way with words.” 

“I’d say ‘poetic’ is the bare minimum. It always takes me a few minutes to realize when he’s insulted me.” Callisto noted. 

“Trust me, that means he likes you.” Lyra chuckled. “He’s a little less subtle when he’s actually annoyed.” 

“I guess that’s a bit of a relief. Does he just not know how to give a compliment that’s not backhanded?” Callisto asked, genuinely. 

“He does, but he wasn’t comfortable with it until he was already courting me. Really, he’s just too shy to let anyone see he actually likes them, so he just convinces people he only tolerates them.” Lyra agreed, but if there was a single soul in this lifetime that knew a single thing about the consul, it would have to be Lyra. “But for everyone else, you can usually tell when he’s at his limit. The two of you aren’t so different when I really think about it.” 

That took Callisto back a bit. “What makes you say that?” 

“Valerius may hide behind backhanded compliments to mask his care for others, but you use prophecies and ominous warnings to hide your concern for others’.” Lyra said, easily. “It just takes a good eye to realize how you treat the things in your life that you really care about. Especially when giving your readings. It’s pretty easy for me to tell now how different your readings are depending on what the person and situation needs. And when I needed the truth, you told me.” 

“I suppose if anybody is going to know the tricks of my trade, you are… not my last choice.” She joked, earning a weak laugh. “I only say what needs to be known. For some they would crumble under the pressure of the truth, and the cards guide me on what they need to know. Others need to hear nothing but the truth, and I simply tell them what the Arcana say. You’ve never needed my protection, Lyra. If there is any question or concern you have, I will do all I can to answer, or give you the warnings you need to navigate it.” 

“Callisto, we both know I won’t be the one that needs to navigate what happens next.” She said, sadly. “I’m worried about Valerius.” 

“I wouldn’t let him face it alone, Lyra.” Callisto assured her, still remaining mindful of what she said in case someone might overhear. “I might not be able to cure… his sorrows, but I would be a bad friend if I didn’t support you two in any way I can.”

“I appreciate your help. In any way you can give it.” Lyra thanked her as they finally came to the carriage that Valerius was waiting by. 

Both Callisto and Valerius helped her into the carriage. “Consul-...” Callisto began saying, but despite how blank her brain was on what to say to him, it was too late because she already had his attention. “If there’s anything my talents might be able to do for you or Lyra, my skills will only ever be a request away. I know you’ll take care of my friend.” 

Valerius didn’t move at first, let alone say anything. He seemed a little surprised at the very least, but Callisto knew he was always on his best behavior in front of Lyra. Eventually, he held out his arm, in a friendly gesture. Callisto was surprised he wasn’t scared to have physical contact with her since the last time, but she still took the gesture in good faith. 

It was just a courteous grip on their wrists, but reading auras was always easiest with physical contact. Valerius was indeed terrified of what was to come, but the gesture was enough to assure him that he wouldn’t be alone. 

Even as she could feel his emotions pulling on hers like strings, there was still sorrow that gently held him together. However, what it held was a smoldering anger that may have been warm, but would not burn away the only thing he needed it to. 

What Callisto noticed was absent was malice. He didn't have a clue that there may be someone to blame for the death of his wife. If this truly was a curse, there were very few ways that something could create a curse this expansive in this world. And all of them involve either cheating or trespassing a very powerful being, most often, knowingly. Either way, Valerius didn't know there was someone to bring to justice for Lyra's fate.

“Any friend of Lyra’s is a friend of mine.” Was all he said before bidding her farewell, and joining his love in the carriage. 

Callisto felt a little better. That was the nicest thing Valerius has ever said to her. Even if he could only admit they were friends because of Lyra, he still found a way to admit they were friends. She understood why he grew on Lyra, and it wasn’t hard to figure out how Lyra had melted his rough exterior. 

Lyra is someone that always assumes the best in people, and her gentle nature is difficult to break because it has survived much worse than anything the palace could do to it. Her work has always been entirely her own, no matter who her subject was. 

Callisto only hoped that this wasn’t the last time she saw Lyra.

She dodged her way around the palace to avoid any more courtiers and Lucio before she managed to speak with Nadia, swiping a snack from the kitchen on her way around the palace, looking for her. There was barely a single corner that wasn’t full of people working on decorations or attractions around the palace for the week's celebration. 

Eventually, the chamberlain just asked her who she was looking for, and pointed her toward the salon when she asked about the Countess. 

Entering the room, Callisto remembered that this was the room that had a hidden way to observe the private conversations that may be held here. 

Nadia was sitting at the piano, tapping out a beautiful melody on the instrument, but the music abruptly stopped when she noticed Callisto's arrival. The expression on Nadia's face was twisted with concern as she approached. “Are you alright? Vlastomil mentioned that Lucio cornered you in the dressing room and when I couldn't find you or Lucio in the Studio, I feared he might have hurt you.” 

“Lyra had my back.” Callisto explained. “I was scared and running out of ways to let him down gently, but the only thing I was afraid of was having to explain why he's dead. I stalled Lucio long enough that Lyra would be concerned if we stayed in there any longer, because of course I would let my friends know how much I can't stand him.” 

Tension dropped from Nadia's frame as she took Callisto's hands and couldn't bring herself to look up at her face. 

“Nadia, I never would have taken a risk like that if I didn't know someone had my back.” She assured her.

“Callisto, I never wanted you to be a victim of Lucio's antics.” Nadia sighed, definitely blinking tears back to stop from crying. “I may have seen some of his worst sides, but you don't deserve this.” 

“You didn't either, Nadia.” Callisto told her. “I may be new to Lucio, but defending myself from obnoxious men is just old tricks to me.” 

Nadia took a deep breath to calm herself. “He's never been so sick that he’s abandoned consent all together, but I'm not certain what I would put beneath him anymore.” 

“I'm gonna pray that I never find out.” She agreed. “In the case that I might need to get away from him, I am never short of self defensive spells, and Lucio gets to find out what happens when I'm really striking to kill.” 

Nadia relaxed as Callisto managed to pull a hesitant laugh out of her. “Let's try to avoid murder… in general.” 

“I'm not exactly itching for murder, even despite what I've already had to deal with.” Callisto agreed again. “And besides, I think I know how to make things a little easier with our efforts.” 

“Oh?” 

“Come with me.” Callisto pulled her along through the halls. Nadia followed casually, knowing that the salon wasn't the place to be for private conversations. 

Both of them made their way to the contemplation tower where Callisto could finally explain how they were going to expose more of the conspiracy within the Palace. 

“So, there's a few things we need to know before we get to figuring out how this plan works.” Callisto said. 

“Alright, I'm listening.” Nadia said, sitting down on her desk to watch Callisto lose her mind for the next few minutes. 

“In the dungeons, we figured that studying how the plague behaves would tell us how to combat it, and that's sort of true, but only part of the bigger picture of The Red Plague.” Callisto absent-mindedly took out her tarot deck and shuffled it to ease her nerves and keep her focus, as she began pacing back and forth in front of the fountain pool. 

“So the bigger picture is that it behaves like a curse?” Nadia asked. 

“The behavior of a curse is influenced by both whoever makes it and whoever receives it. The good news is that since we know the curse belongs to someone in the palace, we can take what we know about how the plague behaves, and compare it to how members of the court behave.” Callisto rattled off. 

Nadia waited a moment for Callisto to continue before interjecting. “I take it that means there is bad news.” 

“Well…” her shuffling hands slowed and she stopped walking. “Julian and I deduced that the plague is most often triggered by stress. When the infection first begins, it stays dormant in the bloodstream for an indeterminate amount of time. It's not uncommon for the researchers in the dungeons to be infected without anyone knowing, only to be stricken with the second phase when some other tragedy in their life becomes too much for them. Pretty much any traumatic event can be a trigger for the second phase when we know for sure there's nothing we can do but slow down the progression of the disease. We don’t always have a way to detect the plague before the second phase.” 

Nadia nodded, trying to understand even as Callisto took her on this rambling journey. “In order to compare the behavior of the plague to the behavior of the court, we need to put the court under stress.” 

“Exactly!” Callisto was just glad that Nadia could piece together her rampant thoughts. 

“Do you have any plan for how you're going to… stress the court?” Nadia asked.

“I've already started.” Callisto admitted. 

Nadia began catching on to what she meant to do. “You made a trembling fool out of Vlastomil in front of Lucio.” 

“All while Lucio just mocked him.” She said. 

Nadia stood from the desk and paced around slowly herself. “So by turning both yourself and Lucio into a unit against the court, you want to sow discord among them.” 

“That's just the first part of the plan.” She said to Nadia's pleasant surprise. “I managed to get Lucio to move my song performance to the final party of the Autumn Festival. When he wants to look his best in front of an entire audience, I'll piss him off and disappear. Leaving him to try finding literally anyone that wants to hear him bitch about me after we've already destroyed the court's incentive to keep him happy.” 

“Which makes everyone angry and everyone, including you.” Nadia pieced everything together with a little bit of worry. 

“And when everyone's angry and stressed, we get to compare behaviors and figure out who the curse takes after most.” She finished. “I can handle making enemies. And after watching Lucio for… way too many hours a day, I can figure out how to get into his head.” 

“Trust me, it's harder to get yourself out of his head.” Nadia scoffed. “You would think a man so self-absorbed would think more about himself than what others think of him, but it doesn't take much to make him hate you to the point of obsession.” 

“For now, I have to keep him unassuming. Keep upsetting courtiers with him and stroking his ego until the end of the week when I have him right where I want him.” 

“When you have him in a place where he has to consider the only two consequences he actually cares about. Between maintaining his ego as an equal of a power he respects in front of everyone he wants to impress, or immediately becoming violent and risking looking weak in front of everyone he wants to impress.” Nadia mused. “I must say, it's a plan that is beautifully tailored to the court's awful personalities. You may be the first person to ever find a way to get a delayed reaction out of Lucio.” 

“Lucio is an easy man to figure out.” She shrugged off, shuffling through the deck again as she continued to think. “And I have to admit, I was lucky to stumble into a situation where I could strike a wedge between him and Vlastomil. I don't even know where to begin with the other three.” 

“Three?” Nadia questioned. “Are you certain Valerius isn't involved?” 

Callisto had to freeze for a moment as she thought through every word he's ever spoken to her. He doesn't care for long conversations with Lyra, but she's never had a moment that Valerius was tinged with malice, and she's gotten a couple of detailed looks into his emotional state in the last few days. 

“My experience with Valerius hasn't exactly been in… ideal circumstances, but if he really is involved with the court, then he would have to be a magician powerful enough to anticipate what I watch when I speak to him.” Callisto said, and the memory of having Clio spy on him came to mind. “And he would have to be hiding that, plus his conspiracy with Lucio from Lyra, and I'm not sure if I could believe he would hide something like that from her. On top of that, I'm not so sure he knows anything about the plague at all. Which is a little concerning since it’s his job to coordinate plague relief, but the other four aren’t even human, so Valerius is doing surprisingly well considering the state of the court.” 

Nadia nodded as she listened. “I don't know about him being a magician, but what methods have you used to confirm your conclusion?” 

“Intuition.” Callisto said, earning an unimpressed look from Nadia, and silence. “I-I could talk a-about the… mechanics of what informs my i-intuition, but it's not like magic has a logical explanation I can just say that will easily make sense to anyone.” 

Nadia took a deep breath, and Callisto subconsciously mimicked her, basically forcing her to calm herself down. Nadia closed the space between them and took her hands, sitting Callisto down on the desk as she took a seat in her chair. “Then just focus on explaining it to me.” 

She figured it was easier to start from the beginning, thinking back to when she first met him, but it wasn't for very long. “Technically, our dinner with him wasn't actually my first time meeting him. Even if it was brief.” 

“So what was your first impression of the Consul?” Nadia asked curiously. 

“It was only at one of the masquerades. Lyra had recognized me at the ball with Asra and he was with her at the time.” Callisto explained. “Lyra later described how he tends to act more politely at parties, at least before he's had enough to drink, but even back then, I don't know if I would call his aura malicious. It felt more muddy, like Valerius was putting on a face for the public, but I couldn’t blame him for being a little more reserved at a party.” 

“He was there with Lyra.” Nadia pointed out. “I've seen the two of them interact, and I can't deny that Lyra has had a positive influence on him. But if he were hiding something from her back then, would you have felt it?” 

“Yes. Guilt has a really… sour effect when I feel it in someone's aura. It’s impossible to hide if you don’t know the magician reading you. If it's intense, I'll feel it pinch my jaw very suddenly. I've jumped away from customers with a guilty conscience, even if it's never a good look to flinch when reading someone's aura.” Callisto thought on her own experience. “And the next time I had any contact with him was our dinner with him. I asked Lyra for a meeting with him because I wanted to question him on who would be able to give me access to more plague field notes, but after seeing you there without knowing why, I was a little scared to press him too much.” 

“And your impression of him at dinner?” Nadia asked. “I know you spied on him that night, so you were at least a little suspicious of him.” 

Callisto knew she was just trying to get all the same information Callisto had, but trying to explain intuition was never an easy task. She hadn’t had to explain herself like this since she was seventeen and her aunt was still training her. She may have been spying on them, but she knew the impressions she got from their conversation weren’t really material. “I just didn’t know him very well, and considering I met with him and suddenly you didn’t want anybody to know we had already met, I thought you might have known something I didn’t. I made the familiar charm to see if you were right to be cautious around him.” Callisto explained. “And when I did spy on him, he was still with Lyra, but it was also the most words I’ve ever heard him speak. If he somehow doesn’t really hate Lucio, then he should pursue a career in theater.” 

“And yet, if he were hiding something from Lyra, you would not have heard anything about it.” She politely argued. “Do you remember what was said between them?” 

Callisto focused her best to remember that night. There was a reason Callisto didn’t tell her everything she heard. “He was hesitant to speak in front of you, and Lyra vouched for you by telling Valerius that you didn’t like Lucio any more than he did.” She recalled with a little bit of struggle, but it was getting easier the more she thought about it. “His stance was that he couldn’t risk speaking about Lucio in front of you.” 

“Why?” Nadia immediately questioned with bitterness. “And why didn’t you tell me that?” 

“For this exact reason.” Callisto pointed out, gesturing vaguely at Nadia, giving her some pause. “Because as soon as I told you that, you threw out everything else I’ve said, and my better judgment, because your own personal fears got involved. All your questions up until then were reasonable. As soon as your fears took over, it didn’t matter what else I said because you had already come to your own conclusion that what I said was a threat without reminding yourself that if it really were that important, I would have told you the first time you asked me what I heard.” 

Silence filled the room as Nadia pondered on what Callisto had said. “Perhaps I should save my conclusions for after you’ve explained yourself.” She accepted. “I remember that what you did tell me was that Valerius did tell her that Lucio had made deals with the other four courtiers that Valerius kept refusing. Which means that something else must have told you that he did not mean any harm by keeping secrets from me.” 

Callisto nodded. “I didn’t mention it because despite Valerius hating Lucio with a passion, Lyra’s reaction wasn’t to defend you further. Instead she continued like she understood his hesitancy to share what he referred to as Lucio’s ‘personal information’ with you. And today, she told me that she has experience getting between Lucio and her friends.” 

“And you believe Valerius to be the one Lucio’s targeted?” Nadia asked. 

“Yes, because Lucio has never complained about Valerius to me.” Callisto said. “You probably know better than I do that if Valerius has been consistently turning down offers without Lyra’s help, then Lucio would have a lot more colorful things to say about Valerius, regardless of whether or not Lyra is in the room.” 

Nadia accepted that explanation, but paused for a moment. “Callisto, I think it would have just been easier to say you only suspect Valerius is sleeping with my husband.” 

“Well it is a little more complicated than just that, but yes, I do think that if there is any relationship between them, it’s a sparse, sexual one that Lyra doesn’t seem to mind. But she has helped him distance himself from it when he asks.” Callisto agreed. “The more important piece of information to me was that Valerius kept this sexual relationship going, but there was one request that Lucio kept making that Valerius just kept declining any promises, or information about.” 

“The nature of the relationship didn’t matter, only that whatever this request was, Valerius was hesitant to even hear about it.” Nadia figured, thinking a little longer. “Keeping a secret works best when the covering lie is as close to the truth as possible. If he were lying to her, then that’s likely where the truth would end.” 

Callisto understood her concerns, but she was getting a little frustrated that Nadia still wasn’t convinced, as she was running out of evidence for her to consider. “I did read a card for him the same day that I read one card for Lucio and the other four courtiers. Valdemar, Vlastomil, Volta, and Volgora all silenced one Major Arcana each. The most important thing about that is humans can’t do that. At least not without selling everything that makes them human. Valerius’s card spoke pretty damn clearly, so he’s definitely still human in every way that matters, and Lyra being there for it wouldn’t change the tarot reading. I even told Lyra, and she was the one to decide not to tell Valerius what the cards said.” 

“What did the cards say about Valerius?” Nadia asked. 

“I’ll leave out the more personal details, but the Arcana indicated that he would have to face a difficult choice. That isn’t much to go on, but it does confirm that he’s not anywhere near the same kind of being as the other courtiers.” 

Nadia took in Callisto’s reasoning, but wasn’t running out of questions to cover all her bases. “Humor me for a moment, Callisto, but was this reading done before or after he knew Lyra had the plague?” 

“It was less than two hours before he found out.” That didn’t look good for her intuition, but she was certain there was one more reading to consider. “Just today, I read his aura before he took Lyra home. A reading I did today can’t be outdated so quickly, and Lyra being there wouldn’t change it.” 

“And what did you learn?” Nadia asked. 

“Nothing that really surprised me.” Callisto said. “At least nothing that isn’t expected from a man that knows his girlfriend is going to die before the new year. He’s heartbroken, and angry, but there isn’t even a little malice or direction for that anger. Nadia, do you genuinely think that if Valerius knew there was someone to punish for Lyra’s condition, that I wouldn’t have felt something? Maybe not guilt, but at least anger that could be followed to a target?” 

It occurred to Callisto that she was beginning to speak to Nadia as if she were Asra or even Mosyne. Like she expected Nadia to have the same training. Though, it seemed that Nadia was just nice enough to take those questions as rhetorical, when if Callisto had asked Asra the same question, he’d have a few options that could argue against her. 

“Though, guilt can sometimes look like anger contained within the rest of an aura when the subject aims anger at themself.” Callisto rubbed her temples realizing that Nadia may have a point. Valerius might have never tripped any of her warning signs, but he’s somehow managed to wedge himself into a blindspot of Callisto’s senses. “If he’s not innocent, then he’s damn clever. It’s not evidence that he’s innocent, but it’s definitely not evidence that he’s guilty.” 

Nadia agreed, “I wasn’t convinced he’s completely uninvolved, and now it seems that I’m not entirely alone.” She said.

“I don’t want to believe he’s been lying to Lyra for this long.” Callisto said. “Maybe he still hasn’t made any deals. I don’t think he’d betray Lyra so fast after learning she’s got the plague.” 

“Perhaps not, but I want both of us to be sure. I want you to read his cards. Get him alone if you can.” Nadia said, leaning in to speak quieter despite not needing to. “Tell me what you learn.” 

“If he doesn’t want me to read him, then I’m not going to get anything more out of the Arcana than I would reading without him present.” Callisto said, lowering her voice as well. 

“But we will get more out of him if he does want to be read?” Nadia asked. 

“Well, yes. The Arcana give you the same amount of energy you give them.” She confirmed. “If I can get him to want the reading, then I can learn more hidden details. But if the cards I read have no connection to anything else, then that means he’s just not involved.” 

“If your reading truly has no connection to the other courtiers, then I’ll accept that Valerius isn’t involved in whatever is going on.” She said. “Tomorrow, you figure out how to read him while I make arrangements for you to sabotage the other members of the court.” 

“All four of them?” 

“I know them well. It won’t take long.” Nadia assured her. “I suggest you get some rest tonight.” 

“I need to do a magic interrogation of the consul, so I think I need to stop by my shop tonight to be prepared. I’ll probably sleep there too and head for his place tomorrow morning before the celebration starts.” She sighed, hopping off the desk and placing her cards back in her bag. “It’s been a while since I’ve been home.”

“I wouldn’t dream of keeping you.” Nadia smiled. “Anything else I can do for you?” 

“Any news about Muriel?” Callisto asked. 

Nadia’s shoulders lowering was becoming a common sign that bad news was coming. “Lucio wants him to make a spectacle before the festival begins. I can’t get him out of it, but I do have some doctors and a spare bed ready for when he needs to heal and rest.” 

“Thank you, Nadia. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Callisto bid her farewell, and made her way through the Palace, dodging the voices of Lucio, Volta and Volgora as they faded down the hallway. She hustled out of the door and down the pathway that cuts through the palace gardens. 

Callisto held her hand down on the door to her shop and singed the magic seal on the door that would burn a burglar alive. She finally got to just collapse onto her couch and pretend for a moment that everything was normal for just a second. 

It felt too silent to consider normal. There was a rustle around the back room and Callisto was about to start worrying about it until a surprised chirp came from the area. “Clio, where have you been?” 

“A secret.” Her voice came through her mind like a whisper. 

“Why a secret?” Callisto asked as Clio came to her and implored her to go sleep in her own bed instead of on Clio’s midday nap bed. Callisto couldn’t deny her adorable little request. 

“Surprise!” She stated simply. 

“Alright, I guess I’ll just have to wait, hmm?” Callisto asked as she finally got herself into bed. 

“Wait for surprise.” Clio assured her as she curled up beside her to sleep. 

Callisto may have found it difficult to rest with so much running through her mind, but her exhaustion wrapped itself around every one of her bones and pulled her into the deep void of a restless sleep. 

[diakkoday]

DIAKKO DAY 2023!

It’s that time again! The Diakko community is once again uniting to celebrate our favourite little gay witches, and this time, we’re hoping it’s gonna be even bigger and better than last year!

February 1st is an opportunity for all fans of Diakko to post fanfiction, fanart, headcanons, videos, edits, or anything else you can think of focused on Diakko!

We’ve provided some answers to common questions below, but if you have anything else you want to ask, don’t hesitate to send us a message here, or on Twitter.

We’d also like to extend a huge thanks to @yourcutesthope​ for her fantastic art to kick off our countdown hype! If your interested in doing a piece to countdown the weeks to Diakko day, let us know!

How do I participate?

Participating is simple! All you need to do is post whatever Diakko work you create on February 1st, and tag it as #DiakkoDay2023! Tagging this account also makes it easier for us to find your work and share it, and tagging it #diakko, #dianakko, and #LittleWitchAcademia makes it easier for other Diakko fans to find and enjoy your work!

We’ll also be sharing everything over on Twitter! We’ll be using the same #DiakkoDay20223 hashtag, and we also suggest using #Diakko, #LWA_jp, and #ダイアコ on Twitter. Last year, we got plenty of submissions from beyond the English-speaking fandom, so using the internationally recognised hashtags can help spread your work and the event far and wide!

Is there a theme? Are there any rules?

There’s no theme, you can submit whatever you like! This is simply a day to celebrate Diakko!

That said, we won’t be reblogging or retweeting NSFW content. For writers, this means your fic or chapter needs to be rated T or G. For artists, that means no boobs, genitalia, blood/gore, BDSM themes or similar. If you’re not sure if your work falls under these rules, please feel free to shoot us a DM on either Tumblr or Twitter!

Additionally, we would request that writers send us only one fic chapter or oneshot that they wish to be shared. Artists may send collages or comics with multiple images if they so wish, but we’d ask that you send them as a single post to make sharing them easier, thank you!

Why February 1st?

According to the timeline outlined in The Little Witch Academia Chronicles book, the finale of Little Witch Academia most likely takes place on February 1st. And what better day to celebrate Diakko than the day the two of them saved the world! And held hands! In space!

Also no one can prove they didn’t kiss after the camera panned away, OK?

Is this connected to Diakko Week? Why Diakko Day?

Because most ships, especially anime ships, have popular days to celebrate them in their fandoms! These are often fun dates, like combining the two characters’ favourite numbers, or the canonical day they met, so the community figured Diakko needed one too! The great number of submissions last year would seem to agree, and we can’t wait to see what you all have for us this year!

Diakko Week is a separate event that occurs in the summer. Some of the folks involved in organising Diakko Week are also part of the team for Diakko Day (they say hi!), but the two events are distinct (hence our lack of prompts), united primarily by our desire to celebrate our favourite witches.

Is there any way I can get more involved? I’d love to meet more folks from the Diakko community!

Aside from commenting and sharing each other’s posts on the day, you can also join our Discord! Simply add our admin LavMana#0188 and ask about joining the Little Gay Witches! Our community is primarily writers and artists for Diakko and other LWA and wider WLW fandoms, but we have plenty of fans who enjoy hanging out so come say hi!

And that should be everything! Please don’t hesitate to send us an ask if you have any questions, and we’re looking forward to seeing your submissions on February 1st!

[yourleastfavoriteguyinthechairr]

MARVEL SHIP MEME!

(art by ✨moi✨)

FAVE SHIP: sylki! ↓

i personally don’t view this ship as selfcest for multiple reasons, but atp i’m too tired to argue about it, so please don’t give me hate for it, ty :)

LEAST FAVE SHIP: thorki! ↓

it was a tie between thorki and starker, but i ultimately put thorki. look, they’re brothers, and i just don’t see them as anything but.

FAVE COMFORT SHIP: sylki! ↓

technically my fav comfort ship would be me x loki, but i don’t think that counts, so sylki it is! (i love them anyways <3)

FAVE CONTROVERSIAL SHIP: brutasha! ↓

absolutely in no way does natasha romanoff need a man, but that doesn’t make brutasha any less cuter, or an invalid ship. thank you for coming to my ted talk, in this essay i will-

FAVE RARE PAIR: happy x may (happmay)! ↓

happmay is so underrated imo. i can’t find any fanart or ship content about them and it makes me so sad, so i think this legally qualifies as a rare-pair!

PAIR YOU DON’T SHIP, BUT THINK IS CUTE: lokius! ↓

i have zero hate for this ship, i can see why people like it and i respect it.

WEIRDEST SHIP: bugborg! ↓

in all honesty, i don’t really have a ‘weird ship’, soo i suppose bugborg would fall into that spot! imo mantis and nebula would make an adorable couple.

FAVE MLM SHIP: parkner! ↓

ngl this ship is one of the reasons i’m alive rn-- yes there’s never been any on-screen interaction and yes spideychelle is canon and a wonderful ship but if any of y’all cared about canon i doubt y’all would be here- /hj

FAVE WLW SHIP: bishova! ↓

i will die with this ship. that’s it.

ok but they would be so CUTE together PROVE ME WRONG--

FAVE STRAIGHT SHIP: mobius x ravonna (ravonbius)! ↓

ok, so, i wouldn’t die with this ship but i love it nonetheless. tell me there didn’t seem like there was something more than “ friends ” there.

go on, do it. /j

-/-/-/-/-/-

these are simply my ship opinions, please don’t hate on me for them, ty :))

fee free to jump in and add your own marvel shipping opinions on this if you want, just use the blank template below (which is not mine, btw) (or use your own template)! (also, you can just put pictures or words in the boxes, i only drew them bc i wanted to ;p)

[redheadbigshoes]

in one of your posts you wrote: „Comphet would be you not understanding what is attraction when it comes to men, it would be you feeling like puking by even thinking of being with men but still thinking you’re attracted to them. To make myself clear: the mere thought of being with a man sexually and being disgusted isn’t comphet, but if that thought still makes you question whether you’re attracted to men or not is.”

so if i was disgusted and not into dating men would that make me a lesbian? i struggle with understanding my attraction to men tbh, i feel like looking back on most of my male crushes (irl cause i rarely if ever like male celebs or fictional men) they feel fake like not real which i don’t really experience with my women crushes, but also i had like 3/4 crushes on women and non were recent. idk if that matters 😭

you’ve answered an ask from me before and i started to identify as a lesbian, and it feels weird, not in a sense that it feels wrong, just kinds weird, my brain is on a constant battle to prove that i like men and that i like that one guy (which idk. he’s cute and all but everything else about him is either a red flag or an ick, i really liked his style but now he’s basic af and i haven’t thought ab him much since summer started), im afraid im faking, im trying to watch more lesbian/wlw movies or read books or just in general associate myself with lesbian centric content, but it hasn’t been much of help? i feel like i have so much lesbophobia in me for no reason as of have nothing against other lesbians, i feel like i can say lesbian but to say it in mu native language feels dirty, i feel almost predatory for liking women (sexually specifically). anyways sorry for the long post and i hope u have a great day!!

Sexuality can be so difficult to label sometimes. I’ve seen a lot of bi sapphics share they’ve disgusted by men, but that’s mostly because a considerable amount of them are shitty, not because they aren’t attracted to them. It’s a different type of disgust ig.

In your case maybe it’s about understanding rather the disgust you feel is linked to lack of attraction to men or if it’s due to another reason that isn’t connected with attraction/sexuality.

What do you mean when you say the crushes you’ve had on men don’t feel real?

Have you tried talking with a bi sapphic? Sometimes it’s more helpful talking with someone who is attracted to men to understand if you like them or not.

That one guy you mentioned, what do you feel if you try imagining yourself romantically/sexually involved with him? You said he’s a red flag, but if you pretend he’s nice, can you imagine yourself with him and feel something positive by that scenario? Or thinking about it is kinda neutral, like you just don’t care or don’t feel anything at all?

I don’t mind long asks :) I hope you have a nice day too!

[cabeswaterdrowned]

emison, nationalism, time loops

(For the send me a ☕️ + topic ask game)

Emison — I generally like them, not without caveats but the parts of it that are good (by good I mean the more messed up parts) are really good and compelling to me! Have said before that *peak* Emison era to me is 4b-5a. The era when Emily has just learned Ali is alive and is reckoning with all her different complicated feelings about her, trying to tell herself she’s over Ali but then repeatedly acting in ways that prove how much of a simp for her she still is (things like “You always saw the best version of me” “I don’t see that anymore” *proceeds to go to the kissing rock* *gives Paige lengthy speech about how she’s finally over Alison* *stashes money for Alison, meets her in abandoned warehouses and makes sure to dress hot before*) I eat that kind of dichotomy up in general for my ships! And there was great work for Emily as a character there to me, in having a space for her anger and also her messy feelings, and because Alison is now alive but not concretely *back* the writing was still fun and ambiguous regarding her morality, how much of her was real and how much was either performance or the liars in this case Emily specifically projecting onto her.  … And 5a there was really good longing and pining and again, just enough emotional nuance to keep things interesting. The flashbacks in s1-3 are overall good for them too / I enjoy the whole character is haunted by their first love with who they had miscommunications with and the ambiguity will haunt them forever and influence all their future relationships thing so yes I was mostly a fan, but that mid season arc was what really gave me *feels*. And then the show just never did anything interesting again… In general I’ve been vocal about the fact that I almost never like storylines about pregnancy and raising kids for chars and dynamics I like unless the writing does A Lot of work to convince me to like it… so you can imagine that I was Not A Fan of one that was incredibly lazy with a side of bodily autonomy violation (that is never addressed as such…*sigh*) coupled with other issues I have with misogyny and homophobia in pll (and racism too regarding Emily) and how the way *canon era* Emison was ultimately done played into a lot of said issues. Then the perfectionists wise on a watsonian level it’s not that I necessarily hate the divorce, especially since I’m on record as often advocating for divorce for ships I like <3 but the lack of Emily actually being present robs that of the character work potential it could have for both of them, and then on a Doylist level I do Hate the implication that They’re the toxic horrible relationship that can’t be sustained while Ezria and even then other het relationships that aren’t as insidious but still had major problems are totally fine to be together 4 evah *barf*.

So basically the sum of my Emison feelings is that I do like them, aside from maybe Emaya they’re my favorite canon pll ship, but it is one of those ships where I feel a lot of what I like and find interesting about them either wasn’t intentional or wasn’t a priority when it came to the writing. The Emison I would have written >>>. But I do appreciate when the show was aiming for more than a typical cookie cutter wlw ship with them, and I side eye some wholly negative takes on them that dismiss that and why it would appeal to sapphic fans over it not being purely wholesome and sweet.

Nationalism — I don’t think I have any groundbreaking takes on nationalism as a concept, I think the best use of it is advocating for a country’s freedom/independence so it’s not really a useful sentiment for countries like the U.S. or UK etc. that are already recognized / have political power and are more likely to pose harm to ones that don’t and are founded partially on colonialism. My pov on it is as someone who’s a U.S. citizen / born there but spends a fair amount of time in Pakistan because it’s where my family is from but also I obviously have privilege to be mobile in terms of traveling which many don’t … so I guess my stance is as a concept in general nationalism can be neutral or a good thing but for a U.S. context it’s more likely to be negative for the world in general.  

Time Loop — I generally like time loop stories I think they can be really fascinating, I don’t think I actively seek out time loop media but when it turns up in something I like I’ll be excited for it! Some favorites of mine are “Life Serial” the Buffy episode very on brand of me to insert Buffy into the conversation but I think it’s such an underrated episode… and I love “As I Have Always Been” the Agents of SHIELD episode it’s probably in my top 2 for the entire show. SYFY’s The Magicians is a show partially founded on time loops and I enjoy how it plays with / uses them a lot I even enjoy the Margo and Eliot time loop ep in s5 despite really disliking a lot of what’s going on in that last season. And Russian Doll s1 was great I really need to get around to watching s2…. for someone who blogs a lot about tv I am actually very bad at watching things sometimes :/. But there’s a lot of popular time loop media I haven’t seen and/or have no interest in. 

[rebelcharmings]

💖🤮❤️💜🃏?

💖 favourite character?

huge shocker - it’s lizzie🥰🥰🥰. i said this in my previous ask on which character i’m most like, and again it’s bc i find her relatable in a way. but other than that i just . idk love her character sm. i love how she tries to act all tough and like her mother but she’s actually just a sweetheart that wants friends and she just misses her mother and her homeland :(. that being said i love her character in the book just a little bit more than the show bc she feels more unhinged and i love it. and u can also properly see her development from wanting to be this isolated powerful queen to finally opening up to others. in the show i feel like it’s such a jump from her screaming Off With Your Head to everything and then spring unsprung she’s suddenly a sweetie that wants to design clothes for her friends. which isn’t necessarily a criticism bc i get that briar helped her realise she doesn’t have to follow her mother exactly, i just prefer how it’s portrayed in the book more. also am obsessed with her character design it’s just . so good.

🤮 least favourite character?

i’m sorry but.. crystal. just the way she acted was sooo ughhh i’m sorry ik that was the point the fact she’s a spoiled princess but it still annoyed me. like wdym “my pixies always help me when i’m in trouble” GIRL WHO CARES YOURE TWO SECONDS AWAY FROM FALLING TO YOUR DEATH JUST JUMP!!!! and i’ll admit i don’t know much of her original fairytale so i also thought the whole spoiled princess storyline w would’ve felt more satisfying with a character we’ve known for longer.. unless like i said it ties into her story somehow. but yea sorry crystal enjoyers she just ain’t for me

❤️ top 3 royals?

1. lizzie again obviously

2. dexter even tho it doesn’t make sense for him to be a royal but apparently he’s still technically one so . yes him. he’s just a silly guy who wants to prove himself and is also massively down bad for raven. when i read the books, anytime he spoke or was described i was just thinking “Aww i want to squish him”. i especially love his short story of before his legacy year i thought that was cool. wish we could’ve seen more of him being brave or proving himself somehow in the show. also fellow swiftie🤝

3. daring or apple… bc i love analysing both and defending them with my heart bc the show does them soo dirty. daring more so bc apple being a main character means she gets more focus on her motivations and development etc but daring doesn’t . the most ppl see of him in depth is….. epic winters…… if they don’t read the books they don’t get he’s actually a Good Man a bit self obsessed and a himbo but a Good Man who LIKES helping people and does it without hesitation. ppl just Don’t understand daring like i do……. i also love his and apple’s friendship dynamic . peak mlm and wlw solidarity.

💜 top 3 rebels?

1. raven!!! my other fellow swiftie🤝she’s just a cool girl idk what else to say, just love how she’s so unrelenting in her beliefs. even when she wants to sign the book her beliefs don’t change she just doesn’t want anything bad to happen to her friends. and same again when she Does sign the real book. but she’s still just a inherently sweet and nice girl despite it all i love her

2. darling. the charming twins both being my second favs is funny but yea she’s also cool and she is so badass in her book. but also a very considerate person especially when it comes to her brother . love her

3. maddie!! the silliest of girls. the show doesn’t expand on her more than the comic relief best friend but she is soo cool in the book especially when she has to take over for the narrator. that was a fun time. she’s just so cutesy and i love her

🃏 top 3 wonderlandians?

i’m being redundant now but. lizzie, maddie, kitty. there’s not much i haven’t already said for lizzie and maddie, but kitty has always been in my top list of fav eah characters bc i liked her mischievousness and as a kid i thought her powers were so cool too?? i also just like the mischievous cat characters i remember thinking torelai from mh was so cool too

[cantarella]

I love essays, thank you for responding! Some of my own (wlw) mutuals have been rting/reblogging ship stuff for them, like it’s their token “good hetero ship” and I just…. :(

I’ve also seen a number of ppl refuse to acknowledge that Furina and Focalors are the same person. Like, that’s one bitch. Not recognizing that Focalors is Furina’s divinity (now laid to rest) is such a disservice to her character imho. Like, immortality as a kind of “youth” that dies when you finally breach adulthood is what I keep thinking about, among other things. Atp, with Focalors gone, all her memories independent of Furina (I assume this is because of the curse, and a final note of kindness from Focalors so that her humanity doesn’t have to process 2 sets of memories at once. Though the latter is a head canon I guess), Furina and Neuvillette are so horrifically incompatible with each other.

Even IF they didn’t look like father and daughter and even IF the mental age difference wasn’t terrifying… Furina has so much of the world left to learn. She’s still the same person and yet she’s different, that transition is traumatic actually! Not to mention the literal trauma of having the lives of ALL your kin in the palm of your hand that you mentioned.

As for her sq, I thought I was pretty clear that one of the takeaways, after reading the director’s journal, was that Furina is like a big sister/sibling/familial-linkage-of-some-kind to all Fontainians. Despite everything, they are her family, she’d do it all again, because “to be human is to be part of the greatest opera ever known,” and there’s beauty in this life to preserve etc etc. Idk if I’m making any sense tbh, but it’s nice to know at least a few other people understand how to consume media critically 🥹

(Also! When shippers go on and on abt Neuvi paying for Furina’s apartment/things…Clorinde offers to do the same fucking thing. Like, literally offers to find her a new apartment with the apparent fortune she makes from being the champion duelist I guess. But they refuse to acknowledge that. Given, they probably don’t read her character stories or flavor text, but still)

yw! and ouch I can feel that, I'm very picky with who I follow so that didn't happen to me but this pairing is quite inescapable

anyway, that's an interesting take on focalors and furina, which I agree with but only on a symbolic level. yes they're of the same origin, but they're the same only in the way jesus and the holy father are both god. idk if you're familiar with christian doctrine but the focalors furina and neuvillette dynamic is based on the father-son-holy spirit trifecta. maybe I'll do a post on that eventually but in the meantime here's a chart to make it easier

the father (focalors) created the son (furina) in his image, they're both incarnations of god but they're not one or the same being. rukkhadevata explained how this works in the context of teyvat and the irminsul also

furina and focalors share the same nature, though not in the same way rukkhadevata and nahida do as they are reincarnations, but the fact focalors died while furina lives and they don't share memories and experiences proves that in the eyes of the irminsul they're two separate beings with different "fates". which obviously makes furina even more incompatible with neuvi as she was never anything but a frightened young girl and the power and maturity imbalance is so steep it's at a 90° angle

that said, I do believe symbolically focalors' death put an end to furina's adolescence, as a death of the immortal self and of a physical manifestation of the idealized youth

in a similar symbolic way furina is an older sister type of figure to people of fontaine now. she ruled over them for 500 years she obviously cares for them, but only now she can actually learn to know and understand them as herself, and help them in ways furina, not the hydro archon, can

trying to find her own place in the world, distancing herself from her guardian figure and getting help from her friends, achieving enough power to protect herself alone, and literally going out drinking for the first time in her character stories (not that #those people read them anyway I'm sure) which is literally what hyv has been using from the start to show if someone is of age or not, are all steps of someone just stepping into adulthood. trying to ignore all this and say she should go back to working with neuvi and that the vision is him protecting her or putting a claim on her (writing that made me suicidal for half a second) for the sake of a fuckass m/f pairing is an actual insult to both of their characters. it's actually vile to me

anyway I hope the fans explode and die bc they're both illiterate and fans of heterosexuality. like pick a struggle

[thestobingirlie]

i'm loving everyone coming out of the woodwork to get their negative ron@ nce confessions off their chest, so i hope you don't mind mine as well: i think removing steve entirely from both of their perspective's is half the point of the ship, because as much as nancy has desperately needed a friend for years, this is one that wound up being much less about her and much more about her love life

robin and nancy's friction in the library was both because robin is socially awkward and nancy has a short fuse, and also because i think nancy was jealous of robin. they get along better once robin has proved her use to nancy, but also after robin made very clear that she and steve aren't dating. once they got closer, they have smaller background moments that show a more comfortable friendship, but all of their actual conversations are about the case or steve. i DO like stancy, and even i found it out of place and wished their friendship could be more about them (honestly i think stancy would be getting so much less hate rn if the duffers weren't such big fans of the matchmaker trope, but they're freaking obsessed with it)

fandom is always gonna ship two hot people together, especially if there's a tangible but nonthreatening amount of tension to their dynamic, but i think when 90% of their dynamic is about SOMEONE ELSE people start spite shipping, to purposefully re-imagine them when the third character is completely irrelevant

because yeah, the ship really does only work if you completely remove steve's personality and relationship with both robin and nancy. "wlw relationships shouldn't be about men" is true, and i agree with it, and that's how i know ron@ nce is never gonna happen unless it's platonic soulmates steve and robin sharing a girlfriend

good points! and yeah, i actually love that everyone is just venting to me about why they hate r//nance lmao

i do think it sucked that robin and nancy’s friendship became solely about stancy (and i hate the matchmaking trope so much, and it is used continuously throughout st). although, i will say that i think outside of their connections to steve and the upside down, they really don’t have much in common. maybe the duffers realised that, and figured the best way to make them friends is to just make every scene about steve lol

nancy does desperately need a friend, which is why i wish this season had focused more on platonic stancy then romantic. honestly, i don’t have anything against stancy, and if it was written well, i wouldn’t mind it being endgame (though to be fair, i never really care about endgame ships, i can just read fanfic, you know?) i just don’t love that we’re seeing these romantic scenes while jonathan and nancy are still together. but anyway, nancy’s arc hinges on the fact that she needs a platonic relationship, and so does steve’s! both nancy and steve will go through development when they learn they don’t need romantic relationships to be happy.

sorry got off track there, but yeah, i just can’t really buy into r//nance, romantic or otherwise because so much of it is about steve.

don’t get me wrong, i understand why people ship nancy and robin, but to me it just feels more like a crack ship, then a real one. and i love a good ship that has no basis in canon, but when people try and argue that this ship is the only one that makes sense, is when i start not liking it.

and, yeah, exactly like you said, there is no real way to separate r//nance from steve, a lot of characterisation has to be ignored in order for the ship to work. and while wlw ships shouldn’t be about men, i think to try and use that to describe r//nance is nonsensical, and feels like a point they’re making just to make r//nance seem progressive, and anyone that’s against it a horrible person.

[piqued-curiosity]

#misogyny isn’t okay just because you don’t like somebody

but you have shielded the people that was about repeatedly.

Just soon back you were reblogging black pills and telling us, oh stupid bi women, stop getting "hung up on" being called dick worshipers, say you're identical to tims, and having your abuses discredited. Ohh fine you say, maybe she should use nicer words to say same things, but she is very right, listen to the things of real importance not your stupid little rape statistics or whatever. Of course she is not a misogynist no no, she is insightful and it is based that everyone reblogs those things. So you get annoyed at bis because they wont ignore misogyny and biphobia, you don't get annoyed at misogyny or your friends reblogging it. wau!

Then just now you get so angry bisexuals dare say we should not feel shame for any aspect of bisexuality. You pretend that post said "het relationships are oppressed by gay people" so you can move the straw man into the goal posts, but what it actually said was that bisexual people are degraded and internalize shame about OSA, even in het relationships. You ignore how first post was bisexuals telling other bisexuals, and literal example in next post was bi woman saying about herself. Yet you pretend its bisexuals forcing gay people to worship us. Reach.

Could not be that its about how people call us dick worshipers, degenerates, sex beasts without love, kink freaks without boundaries, that is bi womens fault if they get raped for being sluts, and even worse things? all that affects us, gets in our heads? But no of course saying those things is fine against a dick worshiper. Well for us is not fine, we feel pain that our fellow bisexuals internalize those things deep in their hearts and it makes them alone and afraid, only you can think that is evil and homophobic somehow. Hetero relationships are celebrated but that does not mean bisexuals or bisexuality are celebrated by heteros, the statistics on the abuse and everything prove that very much. But no of course you ignore any of that to tell us to go "touch grass" as if hetero world is peace for us. Then when the reality reveals itself and the heteros are - the gasping here! - homophobic, you are first in line to coddle the people that tell us we are playing victim and our rape and other abuse is not real compared to what homosexuals feel.

I do not think you are against misogyny, misogyny is fine against bisexuals you by how treat it. You are not getting angry at misogyny you are getting more angry at bisexuals for not putting up with it. What you are against is seeming of misogyny and only just barely.

Oh my fucking god here we go again.

I apologised. I admitted I was wrong. I meant it. And yet you still come at me like this. Honestly you’re just making it clear that I’ll never be good enough for you. If you have such an issue with me and with accepting that I’m both a human and a learning feminist meaning I will make mistakes, just block me.

This whole time I’ve disagreed with language like “dick worshippers”. I’ve made that clear and I don’t know how many times I have to do so for you to stop pretending I haven’t. And even if I was once out there yelling misogynistic language at bi women (which I was not), me reblogging the post speaking against it should make you think “good, she’s changed”, not “ooo let me tell her off for reblogging a post about the issue I want her to address”???? Talk about not leaving room for growth.

The post you’re referring to…I EXPLICITLY STATED I DISAGREED WITH WHAT YOU ARE MENTIONING. Because I am able to read a text critically, I took the good bits which were the criticism of lesbophobia from bi women (and tbh I think you probably take issue with this too, because how dare we talk about anything other than uwu wlw solidarity), and acknowledged it wasn’t perfect. One of the first things I pointed out in my reblog was that I disagreed with saying bi women and TIMs were the same, so you acting like I agree with that is either you ignoring what I said, or being intentionally obtuse.

I agree bisexuals shouldn’t feel any shame for being bisexual. I also agree that a lot of bisexuals get hilariously pissy when gay people don’t give a shit about their OSA and opposite sex relationships. Tbh I’m actually not sure what specific post you’re talking about here because just tonight I’ve seen so many posts where OSA people cry about their het relationships not being seen as “queer” or “gay enough” or some shit. But look, I don’t believe anyone can truly feel shame regarding OSA, because the whole fucking world celebrates and encourages OSA. And I don’t think any homosexual needs to give even an ounce of compassion to OSA people crying to us about how much they don’t like being OSA, because we’re too busy focusing on the victims of homophobia (before you get angrier with me, I’m talking about both gay and bi victims of homophobia).

If you want to talk about the negative stereotypes about bisexuals, or the degrading language used to discuss specifically bisexual women, then talk about that! I’ll support you! But you can do that without making it about how it’s so so hard to be OSA. Idk maybe you’re talking about some post I’ve forgotten about that I misinterpreted and it really is talking about everything you’re saying and isn’t pulling the “gay people make it so hard to be OSA” card, because I’ve seen a bunch of those posts on my dash recently so they’re fresh in my mind and are what I’m thinking of while responding to this. So just know if that’s the case idk what post you’re talking about, and I’m strictly talking about the kweers who cry about people thinking their m/f relationships are straight, and being upset that gay people don’t want to hear about their OSA.

I know in my heart that I’m against misogyny, you can think what you want of me. But in my humble opinion, I think you have a very black and white perception of me that doesn’t allow for realising mistakes and growing from them.

[heathersproship]

7.) Ship the antis in your fandom like, but you think is hella problematic?

and

8.) Ship that is (presented as) cute in canon/fanon, but you think is problematic anyway.

If you want ofc.

Holy shit I didn't think anyone would ask me anything, thank you so much!!

I'm... so sorry for the oncoming rants. Oh boy lol.

CW for mentions of coercion toward the end

7) Chansaw. Chansaw, Chansaw, Chansaw. Without a sliver of a shadow of a doubt.

Antis like it because WLW, and as we all know, WLW >>>>> HET ALWAYS. And also, WLW is never toxic because they say so, and if you disagree, you're an ugly pedo rape apologist! HET BAAAAAD, WLW GOOOOOOOD! uwu! Because, you see, when a boy pulls your pigtails because he likes you, it's problematic. But when a girl pulls your pigtails because she likes you, suddenly it's all right! Because it's different when it's a GIRL. She's not a BOY, so it's different, see? Because if it's a BOY, it's not gay. It's m/f, not f/f, and it's less valid if it's not f/f don't you know uwu I'm so progressive and if you don't like this specific ship UM you're homophobic 💀💀💀 l + ratio + bozo /S

Never mind the fact there's literally three other girls to choose from, so this is hardly the only wlw ship we have to work with or perish. 5/8 of the students are girls, and Ms. Flem is the only notable adult. Never mind that all Chandler and Veronica do is butt heads the entire time they're on screen together. At least when Veronica got together with J.D., she actually liked him. He had nothing to offer her, yet she still decided he was worth the trouble and only realized she dun goofed later on when he proves he's not exactly safe to be around. Whereas she got with the Heathers specifically for the benefits of popularity, not because she liked them (in the musical, her exact words were "They're solid Teflon - never bothered, never harassed / I would give anything to be like that." Not them. Like that), and she paid for it with her talent of forgery.

I've seen the argument Chansaw is better because Chandler was just a bully, whereas J.D. murdered people. OBVIOUSLY no one is doubting murder is worse than bullying. Right?? That's a given (I hope). But they seem to be forgetting bullying is also bad behavior. Plus, when that's not the question being asked, any attempt to insist that's still the answer just derails and distracts from the point. The question is NOT "whose actions are more bad/who can we deem the WORSER PERSON (and therefore who DESERVES to be HATED MORE)?" but "do their actions paint them as bad people?" Murdering is bad, yes, obviously, but so is being a cunt. Veronica didn't want to murder, but she ALSO didn't want to be an asshole to others, not for shits and giggles, and definitely not to Martha Dunnstock, who's done literally nothing to anyone. I don't see how that's so hard to understand. The scale of the offense doesn't matter because that’s not the point.

8) Again, Chansaw. None of the relationships in Heathers are without some level of problematic bs, but this one kickstarts it. The story wouldn't exist if this relationship was any better than it canonically is.

Heather Chandler treats everyone around her with the utmost contempt, including Veronica Sawyer, and the fact that antis love this ship so much is one of the fandom's biggest ironies. You can't wear the "Mythic Bitch" badge with pride but recoil and screech and desperately try to reframe it as something else when she actually and unapologetically behaves like a bitch. Passing off the toxicity as romantic also goes against anti beliefs since that's romanticizing toxicity, is it not? And insisting she's actually not a bitch because "well um uhm uhhhm ackshually see what happened was like their own personal headcanon dictates she's just mean because like misunderstood uwu and like daddy issues owo and if you don’t agree their interpretation is the only valid one despite blatantly contradicting canon then did you know you're the wrongest person in the whole wide world to ever wrong and also did you know deserve the death?" is like... first of all, headcanons are just headcanons, not canon-canon, and no one has to agree with ones they don’t like, and second of all, we clearly did not watch the same story because that girl has no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

(And no! Her high school junior ass getting coerced into blowing a uni guy in the movie doesn't make her misunderstood! Sympathetic, absolutely. But there's nothing to misunderstand. Adult man pressure girl at party. Girl hate this. Girl mad. Girl mad so girl mean to friend for not getting hurt too. Friend sick. Friend want go home. Girl not let sick friend go since sick friend not hurt like girl was. Sick friend vomit. Girl mad at sick friend more. Friend mad at girl. Girl drop friend. Friend try say sorry. Girl not say sorry back. Girl not care. Friend kill girl. Friend not mean to. Girl dead. What's not to get?

Also no! Her singing her "suicide" note in the musical doesn't mean jack because we all saw her "suicide" was murder (that's literally the premise), and her murderers are writing this note to cover their asses. All the stuff they're making her say is to make it look like she murdered herself so they don't get in trouble. It can't be more obvious than it's shown! I can't believe antis are so desperate to prove they only stan Good People they choose to blatantly ignore concrete evidence of shit going on and try to insist their pure viewing is the universal interpretation of events! There's headcanon and then there's whatever this is!)

[doctorguilty]

I can't take any more of these "what do you mean 'queer sci-fi adventure' isn't a summary? how can I say anything else without spoiling it? what more do you want to hear other than it's gay?" threads like I'll give you a hint, stop making ao3 your only reference in the world for literature. And I don't even mean you need to read a single book on paper in the entire world (as much as that would probably benefit you) but just google some books and learn by example???

I went to Amazon and clicked LGBTQ+ stories, browsed what's popular in a couple genres.

In Sci-Fi and Fantasy, The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune:

Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary life. At forty, he lives in a tiny house with a devious cat and his old records. As a Case Worker at the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth, he spends his days overseeing the well-being of children in government-sanctioned orphanages.

When Linus is unexpectedly summoned by Extremely Upper Management he's given a curious and highly classified assignment: travel to Marsyas Island Orphanage, where six dangerous children reside: a gnome, a sprite, a wyvern, an unidentifiable green blob, a were-Pomeranian, and the Antichrist. Linus must set aside his fears and determine whether or not they’re likely to bring about the end of days.

But the children aren’t the only secret the island keeps. Their caretaker is the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, who will do anything to keep his wards safe. As Arthur and Linus grow closer, long-held secrets are exposed, and Linus must make a choice: destroy a home or watch the world burn.

In Romance, One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston:

For cynical twenty-three-year-old August, moving to New York City is supposed to prove her right: that things like magic and cinematic love stories don’t exist, and the only smart way to go through life is alone. She can’t imagine how waiting tables at a 24-hour pancake diner and moving in with too many weird roommates could possibly change that. And there’s certainly no chance of her subway commute being anything more than a daily trudge through boredom and electrical failures.

But then, there’s this gorgeous girl on the train.

Jane. Dazzling, charming, mysterious, impossible Jane. Jane with her rough edges and swoopy hair and soft smile, showing up in a leather jacket to save August’s day when she needed it most. August’s subway crush becomes the best part of her day, but pretty soon, she discovers there’s one big problem: Jane doesn’t just look like an old school punk rocker. She’s literally displaced in time from the 1970s, and August is going to have to use everything she tried to leave in her own past to help her. Maybe it’s time to start believing in some things, after all.

Do you understand these are very different stories, with different plots, and different tones? Even though they're both about gay characters in with science fiction elements to the story? And the summary doesn't "spoil" the whole story, it tells you what the story is about? That literature isn't meant to be compressed into tropes and tags?

And like, you don't have to write a several paragraph summary like a professional publisher. I could boil this down to, "August doesn't believe in finding love until she meets a stunning punk rock girl named Jane on the train, who looks and acts like someone straight out of the 1970's. Turns out, Jane had a time travel mishap and needs August's help getting back." Those two sentences still tell someone more than "wlw romance with time travel" which could be about, literally almost anything.

Like, please, just take a break from browsing ao3 tags and browse a bookstore or browse books online, learn something, c'mon now