#words by vienna teng

[actiaslunaris]

There once was a time I was sure of the bond...

[seaofolives]

🎭 #torokatober2024 day 23/31: family 🎻

Trowa had wanted to give him his space. But when his birth certificate falls from his hands so Quatre can hide his face behind them, he finally crosses the distance and brings his arms around his shaking frame.

“He didn’t…” Quatre gasps deeply. “Didn’t even tell me that I was his son…his real son. Couldn’t even be bothered while he was still alive…!” And perhaps nothing hurts more, so he just laughs it off, tears still spilling.

Trowa kisses his hair. It’s the only thing he can do for this man who’d been living a lie his whole life.

find the list of prompts here!

[trans-xianxian]

a single log bridge til its dark is indeed not bad

stray italian greyhound, vienna teng / I hear a symphony, cody fry / agua viva, clarice lispector / handle with care, jodi picoult / summer, safia elhillo / pride and prejudice, jane austin / always, spellling / love like ghosts, lord huron / @/filmnoirsbian / the carnivorous lamb, agustín gomez-arcos / I'm not calling you a liar, florence and the machine / samson, regina spektor / jamie anderson / angnes, glass animals / the color of pomegranates, dir. sergei parajanov / turtles all the way down, sammy copley / the night we met, lord huron / mouth full of forevers, clementine von radics / the epic of gilgamesh, trans. herbert mason / caitlyn siehl / questions for ada, ijeoma umebinyuo / grief lessons: four plays by euripides, trans. anne carson / night lement in hergla, leila chatti / salma deera / love song, rainer maria rilke, trans. stephen mitchell / it's only time, the magnetic fields / your love finds its eay back, sierra demulder / art of style, jean cocteau / work song, hozier / the collected poetry 1968-1998, nikki giovanni / coffee and cigarettes, sade andria zabala / ticket taker, the low anthem / little dogs rhapsody in the night, mary oliver / giovanni's room, james baldwin / writing prompts for the broken hearted, eden robinson / essays in love, alain de botton / ono no komachi and izumi shikibu, translated by jane hirshfield and mariko aratani / my love love mine all mine, mitski / beast at every threshold, natalie wee / yves olade / @/ojibwa / last words from montmartre, qiu miaojin / I've been waiting for you, abba / the orange, wendy cope / george macdonald

[starrylothcat]

Quiet Love

Crosshair x Gender Neutral!Reader One-Shot

Summary: Crosshair pops the question 💍

Warnings: None? Feelings, some angst, sappiness. Softy soft Crosshair. Some kissy. Reader not described. AU Crosshair is on Pabu and wants to marry you. He deserves it. In the context of my fic a cycle = a year. 1200 words

Author’s Note: Idk I just have Crosshair feels. Song inspo when I was writing this: Eric’s Song by Vienna Teng 🫶

Hope you enjoy and let me know what you think! Also we need happier Crosshair gifs 😭😂

Strange how I fit into you // There's a distance erased with the greatest of ease // Strange how you fit into me // A gentle warmth filling the deepest of needs

The sun was sinking below the horizon, scattering magnificent hues of purples, pinks, and reds over the ocean. A slight breeze carried the smell of salty air and distant rain. Puffy thunderheads were forming high in the atmosphere, promising tropical showers.

You and Crosshair were sitting quietly, watching the sun disappear as stars blinked into existence above.

You were good at this, embracing stillness, savoring one another’s quiet presence.

After so long being at war, living in a Galaxy that was torn apart and was still being pieced back together, quiet is now calm.

Quiet is peace.

Quiet is love.

Four cycles have passed since you first saw Crosshair on the island.

Four cycles of being drawn to one another by an invisible force, filling the holes in your hearts that you never thought would close. Finding solace in one another’s company, finding forgiveness where you thought there was none.

He was afraid at first, when he realized his feelings for you. Frightened if he let you get close, his darkness and fears would spread like a disease and corrupt you. He was a broken man, his past still weighing heavy on his soul, even after the forgiveness of his family.

Slowly, the gracious and patient light that radiated from you burned through his shadows and he let you in. You both tread carefully at first, but as time went on, and more of his walls came down, the more he let himself fall for you.

Your love was a quiet one, but it was strong. It didn’t need to be loud.

Whether it was his hand on the small of your back when you were in public, or having a cup of caf ready for you in the morning exactly how you liked. How he’d worship your body behind closed doors, confessing his desires and need for you, quiet admissions from his heart, trusting you with his most vulnerable self.

Crosshair felt at his pocket as you sat, you not noticing as you watched the sunset. A ring was hidden in his pocket, something that he’s had for some time.

You held his heart and entire being in your hands. He knew you didn’t need a ring from him to realize his devotion to you. He didn’t either.

But you were willing to accept and help heal the heavy burden that was his heart and his love.

It was all he could do to let you know that you were his forever.

If you said yes.

A dark part of him wondered if this was all a dream, too good to be true. How could someone want to be with him, after all that he’s done? He wasn’t the best with words, but he was trying. He hoped it was enough.

You felt Crosshair’s arm snake around your shoulder, pulling you closer into him. He usually saved acts of affection like this when you were truly alone, but the veranda you had found was tucked away. You wouldn’t be bothered any time soon.

You leaned your head on his shoulder, your shoulders pressed together, the sun slowly fading in the distance. You looked at him, giving him a soft smile.

“It’s beautiful.” You uttered, bringing your hand over his that was draped over your shoulder.

“Hm.” Crosshair grunted in agreement, glancing down at you, the dimming sunlight casting a warm glow over your skin. You brushed your lips against his, content in this moment. Crosshair accepted your kiss, deepening it by leaning more toward you.

His hand that was free secretly slipped down to his side to his pocket. You didn’t notice what he was doing, too lost in his kiss. Crosshair pulled away from you, knowing it was now or never. His arm left your shoulder, leaning away from you slightly. That’s when you noticed he was holding something out to you in his hand.

You stared, taking a moment to realize what he was holding. It was small and shiny. You focused your eyes and realized it was a ring.

You gawked, trying to process what he was offering to you, and why.

The gears turned in your head, your mouth opening and closing, at a loss for words.

Was he…was this?

“C-Crosshair?” You whispered, your voice shaking, looking between him and the ring. “What…what is this?”

He didn’t say anything as you continued to gaze at the ring, not wanting to misinterpret the gesture.

“I’m not getting down on one knee if that’s what you’re expecting.” He grumbled, shifting in his seated position, waiting for your answer.

Tears filled the sides of your eyes, his words solidifying exactly what he was asking you.

And he was doing it in the most Crosshair way possible.

“Crosshair, are you asking me to marry you?” Your voice was hoarse, your heart pounding in your chest.

Crosshair rolled his eyes, yet his expression was soft.

“Yes, why else would I be giving this to you?”

He held the ring out further, gesturing for you to take it.

You gently took the ring from his hands, turning it in your fingers.

Embedded in the band was a jewel in your favorite color, catching the light of the setting sun.

“How long have you…?”

“Are you saying yes or not?”

You looked at him, seeing him intensely waiting, his eyes locked on yours. Was there a hint of nervousness deep in his eyes?

You gripped the ring in your hand, knowing your answer without a second thought. You slung your arms around his neck, pulling him into a flaming kiss.

“Yes! Crosshair, yes!” You gasped against his lips as his moved just as passionately against yours. You could swear you felt a weight lift off his shoulders, his body relaxing.

Tears were streaming down your cheeks as you kissed, his arms wrapping around you. Begrudgingly, you pulled away after what seemed like hours, realizing you were still grasping the ring in your hand.

“I love you.” You whispered as your lips left his. He squeezed you tighter. “I know.” You released him from your embrace, looking at the ring again in your hand, and looking back at him. You couldn’t help the wide smile on your face, though tears were still wetting your cheeks.

“Don’t get sappy on me.” He whispered, bringing a hand to wipe the tears from your face.

You huffed, grinning. “You’re calling me sappy?”

Crosshair chuckled, a rare small smile gracing his face, his sharp features softening momentarily.

“Well, are you going to put it on me properly?” You asked. Crosshair’s smile turned signature sly smirk as he took the ring from you.

With a gentleness only he could show you, Crosshair took your hand, sliding the ring on your finger.

It fit perfectly.

“Does anyone know?” You wondered, admiring how it looked, happiness flooding your entire being.

“Wrecker knows. Which means everyone does since he can’t keep a secret.”

You laughed as you leaned against him, both of you looking back at the sky, the sun now almost completely set. You placed your newly ringed hand on his thigh, his own hand covering yours.

You continued to sit silently, the last rays of light fading beyond the horizon. Nothing more needed to be said.

Quiet is peace.

Quiet is love.

@wanderer-six @pb-jellybeans

[carmarriage]

make you my home ☆ a solmates fanmix

if i could fly into the heavens, i'd rearrange the stars and see if maybe with a shift in planets, the fates could bring you next to me

i've just been thinking about them nonstop for the past couple months. they're so easy to mix for too. the parallels, your honor!!!!

fifteen tracks; listen in listed order and enjoy!

listen on 8tracks or spotify ☆ tracklist under the cut

i. this must be the place (talking heads cover) — miles fisher home is where i want to be, but i guess i'm already there / i come home, she lifted up her wings / guess that this must be the place!

ii. 7 stars — the apples in stereo seven stars in the sky, in the sky / you're feeling sociable / silver stars in your eyes, in your eye / you feel emotional / and you don't even know my name, and i know every constellation

iii. take me to you (feat. jake joyce) — mom's home asked me if i'm from around here, i said "no, far far away" / that was a long time ago, i wish i could stay in that day

iv. man on the moon — zella day i had a dream that the sun in the sky / was feeling so lonely, it started to cry / the rain on our window kept us inside / all of the morning and into the night

v. turn on the sunshine — suckers when these feelings arise, i'm turning on the sunshine / i could never describe, your lovin' is a goldmine / i'd like a little more time to spend inside your goldmine

vi. unseen girl — emily brown my love is holding out for an unseen girl / she's written in the stars, she's the end of the world / he waits for her to hold him in her golden arm / she knows the magic word that keeps him safe from harm

vii. ancient mars — the zolas several billion golden years ago, i lost a planet that i loved to the cold / civilization bloomed, and then it erodes, and that's it / oh, my ancient mars

viii. i was an island — john-allison weiss i was a fighter, and i was so brave / but i lowered my sword when you held me and swore you'd stay, stay, stay / oh.

ix. like the dawn — the oh hellos you were the brightest shade of sun i had ever seen / and your skin was gilded with the gold of the richest king / and like the dawn, you woke the world inside of me / you were the brightest shade of sun when i saw you

x. mountain on fire — zoey van goey i see his silhouette sitting on the rock at night, where stars should be instead / please come down, my fire-breathing monster / i will wait, wading in cold water

xi. venus — sleeping at last i was a billion little pieces 'til you pulled me into focus / astronomy in reverse; it was me who was discovered / and suddenly, i see you

xii. and the sun will shine only for us — lizard kisses after it's said and done, things will end just as they've begun / and you'll be my only one, you're as gold as the setting sun

xiii. i will — mitski i will take good care of you, i will take good care of you / everything you feel is good, if you would only let you / i will wash your hair at night and dry it off with care / i will see your body bare, and still i will live here

xiv. never look away — vienna teng let me uncover the silver in your dark hair, the weight of your bones / i want to witness the beauty of your repair, the shape you've grown / for you are made of nebulas and novas and night sky, oh / you're made of memories you bury or live by, oh, oh

xv. the sun and the moon — annalise emerick i used to be so scared, and i'd sing about terrible things / but you, you make it so easy; your love gave me my wings / 'cause you are the sun and i am the moon / you shine so bright and i like the night / baby, we fit together just right / you are the sun and i'll be your moon

[nshtn]

NSHTN Personality Sheet! (aka Incendiary Dano Riddler, or Incendi)

Music Vibes to Match > Ambience: 3 Tonal Tracks without Lyrics SHE - DIGITAL AMBIENT DESIGNS - BOOT DBOKEY - ASMR TOPRE KEYBOARD [LEOPOLD FC660C 45g] MINDFULNESS ON MONDAYS - CALMING UNDERGROUND LAKE Negative: 5 Tracks with Lyrics and 'Negative' Themes KEYGEN CHURCH - NEL NOME DEL CODICE

MY LIFE WITH THE THRILL KILL KULT - THE DEVIL DOES DRUGS

AYESHA EROTICA - SYNTHETIC [Slowed + Reverb]

VIENNA TENG - THE HYMN OF ACXIOM

KASANE TETO COVER - AISHITE! AISHITE! AISHITE!

>>Footnotes:

|BUSDRIVER - EAT RICH

|AESOP ROCK - DOG AT THE DOOR

|LAURA LES - HAUNTED

Positive: 5 Tracks with Lyrics and 'Positive' Themes BUSDRIVER - NEW AQUARIUM

OR[G]Y - OPTICON

COMBICHRIST - THIS SHIT WILL F C U K YOU UP

GABEMTNZ - GLITCH IN YOUR HEART

KAYLA RAE - MAD?

>>Footnotes:

|POWERCYAN - DISCIPLES OF THE NIGHT

|DORIAN ELECTRA - DADDY LIKE!

|DUAL CORE - HOSTAGE DOWN

Favorite Foods > Three comfort, three healthy, three high class Comfort: - Poptarts - Pizza - Goldfish Healthy: - Carrots - Steamed Zucchini - Sweet Potato Fries High Class: - Salmon with Lump Crab - Hambone Pea Soup with Herbs - Herb-Roasted Multicolor Potatoes

Political affiliation, beliefs overview > How do these beliefs affect their daily life? General Far left anarchosocialist. Anti 'three letter associations'. Pseudoskeptic. Atheist. 'Positive' Strong believer in personal freedoms. Water and housing should be mandatory for all. Workers should unionize. All people deserve plenty of time off to handle their needs. Government is shackles. 'Negative' - get spicy A bit of a tech bro. Poses a legible threat to people with power. Anti-psychiatry with an unfair bias to doctors. Overly-positive outlook on deeply illicit substances (also uses them). Anti-theocratic, headache to people who are religious. Privacy paranoid.

Personality > What words describe them? Contemplative, intelligent, shy, hypomanic, paranoid, unstable, obsessive, hyper-empathetic, witty, cynical, touch-deprived.

Game Vibes > Five games that have their vibe NIGHTDIVE - SYSTEM SHOCK DRIZZLY BEAR - HACKMUD CREATURES LABS - CREATURES: DOCKING STATION FACEPUNCH - GARRY'S MOD CHUCKLEFISH - STARBOUND

Collage Vibes > Cite your sources! Square image board collage.

img: herbs | vines | latte | code 1 | code 2 | keys

tagging: @danosrosegarden @sweetums0kitty

[fandomanimatic-tournament]

The Bracket is Finally Here!

Spotify playlist with (almost) all songs in the tournament

Remember you can leave propaganda for any of these songs in the ask box both before and during the polls

(The image kinda smushed it all together but there's a written version at the bottom)

Written matches under the cut:

(Parenthesis on the song title: Additions to the title or other titles commonly used for the song in animations and animatics) ([blank]: a placeholder for a word that might variate in the title according to the animatic, usually a character's name)

Bracket 1, Side A:

You'll be back - Hamilton Musical VS. Wolf in Sheep's Clothing - Set it Off

I cut myself (shaving) - Talkshow Boy VS. Curses - The Crane Wives

Kiss Me, Son of God - They Might Be Giants VS. Open Up Your Eyes - My Little Pony: friendship is magic

Your Stupid Face - Kaden MacKay VS. Ready as I'll ever be - Tangled the series

Sincerely, Me - Dear Evan Hansen Musical VS. Promiseland - MIKA

Wine Red - The Hush Sound VS. Once Upon a December - Anastasia (Movie)

Everything at Once - Lenka VS. Little Miss Perfect - Written by Joriah Kwamé

Good for you - Dear Evan Hansen Musical VS. Never love an Anchor - The Crane Wives

Cupid - Jack Stauber VS. The other side - The Greatest Showman Musical

Eight Wonder - Lemon Demon VS. How bad can I be? - The Lorax (Movie)

Just Take My Wallet - Jack Stauber VS. Blue Lips - Regina Spektor

Baby Hotline - Jack Stauber VS. Tongues and Teeth - The Crane Wives

Poison - Cavetown VS. I'm the Bad Guy - Wonder Over Yonder / Caleb Hyles cover

Partners in Crime - Set It Off VS. It's tough to be a God - The Road to El Dorado (Movie)

Are You Satisfied? - MARINA VS. Brave as a Noun - AJJ The Band

Me, you and Steve - Garfunkel and Oates VS. Oh No! - MARINA

Bracket 1, Side B:

It took me by Surprise - Maria Mena VS. Father - The Front Bottoms

Hayloft - Mother Mother VS. When You're Evil - Voltaire

I Know I'm a Wolf - Young Heretics VS. Ordinary - Written by Joriah Kwamé

Anything you can do - Annie Get Your Gun Musical VS. Left Brain, Right Brain - Bo Burnham

Christmas Kids - Roar VS. I Know Those Eyes / This Man is Dead - Thomas Borchert

The Dismemberment Song - Blue Kid VS. Allies or Enemies - The Crane Wives

Turn the Lights off - Tally Hall VS. Boys will be Bugs - Cavetown

Ghosting - Mother Mother VS. Villain - Stella Jang

Defying Gravity - Wicked Musical VS. Soldier, Poet, King - The Oh Hellos

Crossing the Line - Tangled the Series VS. Runs in the Family - Amanda Palmer

Everybody Talks - Neon Trees VS. Under My Skin - Jukebox The Ghost

Saint Bernard - Lincoln VS. Line Without a Hook - Ricky Montgomery

The History of Wrong Guys - Kinky Boots Musical VS. Order Made ([blank]'s Order Made) - RADWIMPS

Charlie's Inferno ([blank]'s Inferno) - That Handsome Devil VS. Lemon Boy - Cavetown

Ultimately - Khai Dreams VS. Who Are You, Really? - Mikky Ekko

The Zombie Song - Stephanie Mabey VS. When He Sees Me - Waitress Musical

Bracket 2, Side A:

Interlude IV - Zach Callison VS. Honey, I'm Home - GHOST

Little Lion Man (Not your fault) - Mumford & Sons VS. Confrontation - Jekyll and Hyde, the Gothic Musical Thriller

The Other Side of Paradise - Glass Animals VS. I Won't Say (I'm in Love) - Disney's Hercules

El Muchacho de los Ojos Tristes - Jeanette VS. Feelings are Fatal - Mxmtoon

The Religion of Loneliness (Lonely Religion) - Syudou VS. Ikanaide - Soraru and Mafumafu

The Killing Kind - Marianas Trench VS. Touch-Tone Telephone - Lemon Demon

A Good Song Never Dies - Saint Motel VS. Achilles Come Down - Gang Of Youths

If you were gay - Avenue Q Musical VS. My R ([Blank]'s R) - KurageP / cover by Rachie

Stray Italian Greyhound - Vienna Teng VS. No Children (I hope we both die) - The Mountain Goats

I can't decide ([Blank] can't decide) - Scissor Sisters VS. OO is a receiver ([Blank] is a receiver) - Ura Commander-P

A Sadness Runs Through Him - The Hoosiers VS. You're Gonna Go Far, Kid - The Offspring

Dr Sunshine is Dead - Will Wood and the Tapeworms VS. A Crow's Trial (A [blank]'s Trial) - Vane

The Riddle - Scarlett Pimpernel Musical VS. Crush - Tessa Violet

Be Nice To Me - The Front Bottoms VS. My Ordinary Life - The Living Tombstone

Sweet Talk - Saint Motel VS. I do adore - Mindy Gledhill

I wish you liked girls - Abbey Glover / I wish you liked boys - Cover by Jasper Isaac VS. Like Real People Do - Hozier

Bracket 2, Side B:

Stronger Than You - Steven Universe VS. Hurts Like Hell - Fleurie

Emperor's New Clothes - Panic! at the Disco VS. Butch 4 Butch (Sweetheart's Piano) - Rio Romero

Two Birds - Regina Spektor VS. Amnesia Was Her Name - Lemon Demon

Love Like You - Steven Universe VS. Escapism - Steven Universe

Everything Stays - Adventure Time VS. This day Aria - My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

My Whole Family ([blank]'s Whole Family think they're gay) - Bo Burnham VS. Popular - Wicked Musical

The Bro Duet - Written by Alexander Sage Oyen VS. Cabinet Man - Lemon Demon

Self-inflicted Achromatic - Nekobolo VS. Welcome To The Internet - Bo Burnham

The Moon Will Sing - The Crane Wives VS. Dream Sweet in Sea Major - Miracle Musical

What is This Feeling? - Wicked Musical VS. There! Right there! (Is [blank] Gay or European?) - Legally Blonde the Musical

Goodbye (Look who's inside again) - Bo Burnham VS. This is Home - Cavetown

Pad Thai - Jack Stauber VS. How Far We've Come - Matchbox 20

The Mind Electric - Miracle Musical VS. The Nowhere King - Centaurworld

Rät - Penelope Scott VS. Therefore You and Me - TadanoCo / E ve cover

Fish in a Birdcage - Fish in a Birdcage VS. Devil's Train - The Lab Rats

The Game of Life - Yuzuhico VS. Dust and Ashes - Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 Musical

[arisenreborn]

maybe it means nothing, but...

Word Count: 644 Characters: Reverie (Arisen), Rann (Pawn) AO3: (link)

smh at pawns walking all the time. Reverie is sick of it, too. important to mention though: no other pawns were neglected in the making of this fic, it's just the two of them traveling. ^^

“You aren’t truly going to walk the entire way, are you?” Reverie asked, lips pursed in a pout. She sat on her knees on the oxcarts bench, elbows tucked against the railing beneath her chin to face him as he walked alongside. 

“I am quite all right, you needn’t worry for me, master.” Came Rann’s answer, head tucked in a subtle bow. “This way, I shall be better prepared to dispatch any threats that may come our way. You,” he moved his eyes towards her, “ought to rest.”

Her cheeks puffed up a little more, brow furrowing. She was good at fighting a pout, but this time she was sorely losing.

“There are guards hired for that exact purpose, besides it’s not as if I’ll sleep through all the shouting.” The last part she said in a lower voice, rolling her eyes with a sideward glance at the cart driver. 

“And more importantly,” her gaze swept back over to him, “You should also get some rest. Being well-rested would serve me better than exhausting yourself unnecessarily, don’t you think?” 

Sometimes the only way to win him over was with a bit of logic.

“Please?” And a bit of pouting. She batted her eyelashes. 

Rann took a moment to look sufficiently flabbergasted, never knowing quite what to make of the twisted-up knots in his stomach when she looked at him like that. But at last he shook his head and relented.

“Very well… If you insist.” 

"I do." She said with a nod, turning back around in her seat and looking quite pleased with herself.

He slowed his stride to move up along the back of the cart, climbing on and taking a spot beside her - and feeling awkward every step of the way. It felt as though the guards watched him every step of the way, and he felt a pang of self-conscious guilt as he sat. 

A feeling that was, however, quickly swept away by surprise as Reverie scooted closer to him. 

“Ahh, I knew it.” Smiling wide with eyes shut, she looked all-too-much like the cat that had caught the canary, while she leaned to rest her head against his shoulder. “You’re the perfect height.” 

Exhaling slowly, he took note of the feeling not unlike ‘relief’ that flowed through him; such ease and simple joy. There were times he noticed, very rarely, when she would say something to deflect from her embarrassment - times when her face glowed a warm red, as it did now. 

It’d have been easy to play along with her remark, or perhaps even to tease her, and feign offense at ‘being used’. But instead he leaned towards her slightly, raising a hand to brush a stray strand of hair back from her face.

“If you wanted me closer, you needed only to say so.” He told her quietly, a warmth thrumming in his breast. 

Her eyes shot open briefly with a look of shock at being so openly caught, but she quickly squeezed them shut again and pressed the side of her head into his shoulder more. The red in her cheeks had spread to the tips of her ears. 

“I’ll… keep that in mind…” She mumbled, and he simply hummed in approval. 

It was not too much longer before the embarrassed tension in her shoulders began to melt, and her breathing slowed to a sleepy rhythm he was familiar with. For a long while he watched her; the curl of her eyelashes, the subtle part of her lips - the strand of hair that rebelled time and time again. 

Then, for a while he watched the skies and the land move around them. He took note of the guards, finding their watchfulness of their surroundings to be satisfactory. And then, at last, he tilted his head to rest atop hers, and let himself drift to gentle slumber.

The title comes from the song 'Recessional' by Vienna Teng and the lyrics go:

In the terminal she sleeps on my shoulder Hair falling forward, mouth all askew Fluorescent announcements beat their wings overhead: "Passengers missing, we're looking for you." And she dreams through the noise, her weight against me Face pressed into the corduroy grooves Maybe it means nothing, maybe it means nothing Maybe it means nothing, but I'm afraid to move

[mymblesbuir]

Kalluzeb Playlist

I've put together a playlist, on Spotify [here] and YouTube Music [here], following Kallus & Zeb's relationship from bitter enemies, through Kallus joining the rebellion, them falling in love, all the way to their happily ever after on Lira San. The majority are from Kallus' POV but not all. There's a very wide range of genres and styles haha

Here are the tracks (with individual YouTube video links), some relevant lyrics from each and my thoughts on including them!

1. 1000 Points of Hate - Anthrax "I hate you and you hate me"

Pretty much self explanatory, this is where they just plain hate each other.

2. Love the Way You Hate Me - Like A Storm "I'd rather be a sinner than a slave / I'd rather be an outcast than just bow down and obey [...] I love the way you hate me"

Still about hating each other, with a hint of why this time. This one's more from Zeb's POV as a Rebel.

3. Bitter Rivals - Sleigh Bells "You are my bitter rival / But I need you for survival"

Obligatory 'Honorable Ones' forced-to-work-together track.

4. Violently (Your Words Hit Me) - Hue & Cry "Wrapped in a cold world of my own devising [...] Violently, you came to me / Said I could be / A different man, a different man [...] A frozen survivor [...] But you chipped away until some poor soul appeared"

Okay, this whole song is so them, it was really hard not to just paste the entire lyrics here. If you don't listen to any of the rest of these please listen to this one.

5. Dare You to Move - Switchfoot "Welcome to resistance / The tension is here / Between who you are and who you could be [...] Maybe redemption has stories to tell"

Another Zeb POV one. Switchfoot are a Christian band so this is probably meant to be about Christian salvation but I don't care, it fits.

6. Metalingus - Alter Bridge "The time has come to change my ways [...] Could you set me free"

I came across this one on a tumblr post by @mayawakening saying what a Kallus song it is and she's so right about it!

7. For Good (from "Wicked") - Collabro "Because I knew you / I have been changed for good [...] And now whatever way our stories end / I know you have re-written mine by being my friend"

I mean come on. I couldn't not put this one! (I picked this cover just because I particularly enjoyed the sound of it.)

8. Stray Italian Greyhound - Vienna Teng "But you had to come along, didn't you? / Tear down the doors / Throw open windows [...] This feeling calls for everything I can't afford to know / Is possible now"

Here we have Kallus realising he has deeper feelings for Zeb but not being at all prepared for them!

9. Hanging By A Moment - Lifehouse "I'm desperate for changing / Starving for truth [...] I'm falling even more in love with you"

I struggled with where to place this in the order — the opening lines feel like they should come earlier, but the chorus has to come after the Feelings Realisation, so I put it here.

10. Beautiful Surprise - India.Arie "Whatever it is you came to teach me / I am here to learn it [...] You are inspiration to my life / You are the reason why I smile / You are a beautiful surprise"

Kallus definitely never expected to befriend Zeb, let alone fall in love!

11. Don't Deserve You - Plumb "Your heart was golden, how am I the one / That you've chosen to love? / I still can't believe that you're right next to me / After all that I've done"

Another one I think is supposed to be about God (all the "you"s are capitalised in lyrics listings), but hey, Kallus pretty much worships Zeb, right?

12. Gravity - Vienna Teng "Hey love / That's the name we've long held back / From the core of truth [...] This is the fate you've carved on me"

I don't know, this one just makes me think of them early in their romantic relationship somehow.

13. Head Over Feet - Alanis Morissette "You've already won me over in spite of me [...] I've never felt this healthy before"

Probably neither of them have ever really had a happy healthy relationship before... Kallus certainly hasn't!

14. Too Good to be True - Kacey Musgraves "Please don't make me regret / Opening up that part of myself [...] Please don't be too good to be true"

I think it would take Kallus a long time to stop being in disbelief at Zeb actually loving him back.

15. If I'm Unworthy - Blake Mills "My time before was wasted [...] What if I'm unworthy of the power I hold over you"

Poor Kallus still feeling undeserving.

16. Music of My Heart - Gloria Estefan ft. *NSYNC "Helped me to free the me inside [...] You opened my eyes / You opened the door / To something I'd never known before [...] You got through when no one else could reach me"

Another pretty self-explanatory one I think!

17. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now - Starship "Let 'em say we're crazy / What do they know? / Put your arms around me / Baby, don't ever let go"

I'm sure a lot of people thought Zeb was crazy to ever fall for Kallus, but that's not gonna stop him.

18. We've Only Just Begun - Carpenters "Sharing horizons that are new to us [...] We'll find a place where there's room to grow"

Married life on Lira San time <3

[nelkey]

Since I read orv, the song Say Uncle by Vienna Teng has been assaulting me with feelings because my mind kept changing the lyrics to orv-relevant ones until I recorded it, and honestly, I'm quite happy with the result, so I'm sharing it with the rest of orv tumblr!

Lyrics and original song under the cut

Everyone agrees it came too soon It was only meant to be an intersection You kept fear of death in the back pocket of your jeans In the palm of your hand, affection It came like a sudden gust of wind Leaving them, bewildered, to ask how I recall each time you left you said we'd meet again The irony is only bitter now These days everyone cries, "say old dream" They want to tell your story lest it die For this your sons and widow gather with us at the table To form a healing circle for our new demise These days everyone cries, "say old friend" I write down the memories quickly as I can Add them to the ending we all dream in our minds Your soul dispersed, we shall keep the man I close my eyes and hope they do not fade These remnants of a voice and of a smile Pages of memories written down in ink Like your life unfolding line by line A fierce embrace, a word of thanks A cheerful whistle and your gaze upon our heads Somehow these pieces must bring back the man you were Though the world, it claims your stories in the sky These days everyone cries, "say old dream" They want to tell your story lest it die For this your sons and widow gather with us at the table To form a healing circle for our new demise These days everyone cries, "say old friend" I write down the memories quickly as I can Add them to the ending we all dream in our minds Your soul dispersed, we shall keep the man These days everyone cries, "say old dream" They want to tell your story lest it die For this your sons and widow gather with us at the table To form a healing circle for our new demise These days everyone cries, "say old friend" I write down the memories quickly as I can Add them to the ending we all dream in our minds Your soul dispersed, we shall keep the man

And this is the original song by Vienna Teng

[cherrypikkins]

Some more FE3H OC things with Kitt Burgess (they/them)

I've assigned song lyrics to some of their supports :3 See more below and enjoy! And if you have an OC, feel free to do a similar activity.

Edelgard: When the moon is lookin' down / Shine that light up for your ground / I'm flyin' up to let you see / That the shadow cast is me /

"Birds" - Imagine Dragons

Felix: I may be soft in your palm / But I'll soon go hungry for a fight / and I will not let you win

"Fast As You Can" - Fiona Apple

Bernadetta: But you had to come along didn't you / Tear down the doors / Throw open windows / Oh, if you knew just what a fool you have made me

"Stray Italian Greyhound" - Vienna Teng

Hapi: Everyone will say that we're crazy / And that we won't last / Everyone will tell us / Alone that we are better off

"Faint of Heart" - Tegan And Sara

Lysithea: And it's a long way forward / So trust in me / I'll give them shelter like you've done for me

"Shelter" - Porter Robinson & Madeon

Marianne: I won't let you drown / when the water's pulling you in / I'll keep fighting, I'll keep fighting / The rain's going to follow you wherever you go

"Silver Lining" - Hurts

Claude: And if the ocean should freeze / Before we've sailed all the seas / I will drop to my knees / Until Poseidon agrees

"Islands" - Hey Ocean!

Seteth: My dear old friend, take me for a spin / Two wolves in the dark, running in the wind / I'm letting go, but I've never felt better / Passing by all the monsters in my head /

"Slow and Steady" - Of Monsters and Men

Flayn: And anybody can be anything / Make no mistake / If you tell yourself you're broken / Then you just might break

"Nothing Missing" - Natalie Imbruglia

Jeritza: Dress me in red and throw your roses / And I'll rankle the beasts with words / It's a graceless dance of epithets / We learn to make someone hurt

"Take Me To War" - The Crane Wives

Sylvain:

So without you now, where would I be? / When I was broke you covered me / Our actions speak in a heavenly / Substitute for a conversation

"Paths in the Sky" - Metric

Linhardt: 'Cause I wanna follow / Just let me follow / I promise I don't scare, don't scare easy / Ain't much I haven't seen

"Hello Hello" - Missy Higgins

Byleth: Thank the stars it's Friday / I'm burning like a fire gone wild on Saturday / Guess I won't be coming to church on Sunday

"Waiting for Love" - Avicii

Solo: But now that you're gone / I have to move on / Seems like everyone just smiles staring at the sun

"Gales of Song" - Kylie McNeill

Shez:

We got too big for the cage / you locked us up in / Let's mark this down as the day / that we started something

"Running with the Wild Things" - Against the Current

Rhea:

I know the border lines we drew between us / Keep the weapons down / Keep the wounded safe

"Antebellum" - Vienna Teng

[shootingstarpilot]

"by our own hands or none" and/or "a sudden burst of sunlight" because the first one sounds ominous and the second solidifies even more for me your good taste in music -bumbledees' nonfandom account

BUMBLEDEES HI FRIEND <333

Oooh, okay, so for "a sudden burst of sunlight-"

Listen, you know what first kiss dynamic I'm really a sucker for? It's when two people know each other so well- they've settled into a life together, they love each other even if perhaps the words haven't been spoken yet, but they both know it so that's not even that important- and they're leaving for the day, one of them bends down, steals something off the other's plate, and they're both laughing and soft and it's just so easy to lean in, and they don't even really realize what's just happened because it's just such an easy and natural next step, and it's only after one of them has left and is halfway down the hallway that they both realize at once-

Yeah. That.

And now, for "by our own hands or none-" because it's you, I'll share something that relates to Certain Things Shared In Comments:

"You can leave now," Needle continues. Gentle. Coaxing. "You can leave now, and still be the hero. The one who got a brother out." Helix wants him out of the crossfire. He wants him safe, he wants him gone, but his tongue is furred to the roof of his mouth and he cannot say a single word- Needle's smile sharpens. "Or you can push your luck," he says cheerfully, "and I'll gut you like a fish and dump your body off the catwalk." "You wouldn't-" "Wouldn't I?" "He's my brother-" "Doesn't look like you're his, though, not from where I'm standing. And batchmates aren't worth shit if they're not brothers too, that's what Stitch said." "You-" "Me. You don't get to trade one life for another, Zygo, that's not how it works. You got him out, you got him to us, and I'd kill someone for you if that's what it took to thank you- but that doesn't obligate absolution." Zygo takes a step forward, hands curling into fists, and Helix finds his voice at last.

ALSO. HELL YEAH VIENNA TENG. I ALWAYS GET SO DISPROPORTIONATELY EXCITED WHEN I FIND SOMEONE THAT SHARES MY TASTE IN MUSIC <333

[rizaposting]

Rating: T Words: 3,049 Relationship: Royai, Riza Hawkeye/Roy Mustang Tags: Canon: Fullmetal Alchemist 2003, Songfic, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Falling in love, Unhealthy coping mechanisms, Non-explicit mentions of sex, Depictions of mental illness

Summary: "The first time she sets to changing the bandages on his face, Roy stops her with a hand on her wrist. His hair had hung over his face as he turned away from her and warned her that it was ugly. The raw flesh and the clipped bone. Riza doesn't know how to express to him that she doesn’t care about the physical damage, that she is just so happy that he is alive that it makes her hands tremble. In the end, she brushes his hair to the side and meets his gaze without flinching as the gauze falls away."

After the coup against Bradley, something blooms between them during Roy's recovery. But there is only so much that love can heal.

(Inspired by the song "Antebellum" by Vienna Teng)

[hadassahriv]

Fic Master List: Tian Ya Ke

I did a master list for my TWEWY fics, so now it's time to cover my other fandom: Tian Ya Ke. I appeared from the void with a fic in March 2022 and have written five more fics, one of them 65,000 words long, since then.

Strange how certain the journey (9,850 words) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Wen Kexing/Zhou Zishu Characters: Wen Kexing, Zhou Zishu, Jing Beiyuan, Wu Xi (Qi Ye), Zhang Chengling Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Established Relationship, Canon-Typical Use of Husband and Wife (Faraway Wanderers), Jealousy, Switching, Stories within Stories, Spoilers for TYK and QY, Non-Graphic Violence, Slight Canon Divergence Summary: When Wen Kexing watches Zhou Zishu and Jing Beiyuan together, he can see Lord Zhou. He never asked Zhou Zishu about his past before, but now they have time and maybe . . . maybe he wants to know. His feelings about Lord Seventh have nothing to do with it. - Storytelling as an act of love.

Notes: The fic that served as my introduction to the fandom. I had never even spoken to a single TYK fan and just showed up one day with 10k words of WenZhou in hand. TYK, QY, slight (mostly implied) canon divergence re: the WenZhou relationship timeline, and the beginning of it all.

We all write our own endings (3,710 words) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Wen Kexing/Zhou Zishu Characters: Zhou Zishu, Wen Kexing Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, First Time, Developing Relationship, Mid-Canon, Canon-Typical Use of Husband and Wife (Faraway Wanderers), Spoilers for TYK and QY Summary: If I die, would it not be a loss for you?   In Zhou Zishu's experience, sex can be a currency, or a weapon. In this moment, with Wen Kexing, it's neither. - A point of divergence.

Notes: The canon divergence prequel to my first TYK fic, jumping off from the end of chapter 63. This is where I was officially writing a series, but all of the stories are pretty loosely linked and could be read standalone. It's also where I decided that every fic in the series would have a title from a Vienna Teng song, for no reason in particular.

For we are a woven thread (9,135 words) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Wen Kexing/Zhou Zishu Characters: Wen Kexing, Zhou Zishu, Zhang Chengling Additional Tags: Post-Canon, Established Relationship, Canon-Typical Use of Husband and Wife (Faraway Wanderers), Families of Choice, Murder Mystery, Small Town Horrors Summary: It should be just another night in a small jianghu town. And it would be, if not for the murders. Even backwater towns on the edge of nowhere have secrets. - A ghost story, of sorts.

Notes: This story is an interesting one for me because it has some dialogue exchanges I am particularly proud of, but gets the least attention of any of my TYK fics. That happens sometimes and I don't mind. But if you do read and enjoy it, I'm glad!

Uncover the weight of your bones (6,651 words) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Wen Kexing/Zhou Zishu Characters: Wen Kexing, Zhou Zishu, Jing Beiyuan, Wu Xi (Qi Ye), Zhang Chengling Additional Tags: Established Relationship, Missing Scene, Slight Canon Divergence, Spoilers for TYK and QY, Post-Siege of Ghost Valley, Canon-Typical Use of Husband and Wife (Faraway Wanderers), Nails of Seven Torments (Faraway Wanderers), Hurt/Comfort Summary: On Mount Changming, Wen Kexing cares for Zhou Zishu—and fears for him—as they prepare for the removal of the nails. A human experience and therefore one that Wen Kexing, so recently a ghost, finds himself laughably unprepared for. - Love in the spaces between.

Notes: This fic is me filling in some of the scenes we don't get at the end of the novel. This one is the most closely linked to the canon divergence, because it happens before the extras, so should ideally be read within the continuity of the series. But I respect a rebel, if you don't feel like doing that.

Of a tender history (2,503 words) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Wen Kexing/Zhou Zishu Characters: Wen Kexing, Zhou Zishu, Zhang Chengling Additional Tags: Established Relationship, Post-Canon, Top Wen Kexing/Bottom Zhou Zishu, Canon-Typical Use of Husband and Wife (Faraway Wanderers), Married Sex Summary: To live is a peculiar thing. Or: Wen Kexing and Zhou Zishu, in moments.

Notes: This is my gift fic for MT, from the Immortal Wanderers exchange, and not related to the other stories. Post-canon WenZhou with non-linear storytelling, which is something I really enjoy writing. Nothing heavy in this one—it's mostly WenZhou being happy together.

From Halfway Along (65,334 words) Chapters: 21/21 Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Wen Kexing/Zhou Zishu Characters: Wen Kexing, Zhou Zishu, Gu Xiang (Faraway Wanderers), Zhang Chengling, Jing Beiyuan, Wu Xi (Qi Ye), Cao Weining Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Science Fiction, Space Opera, Developing Relationship, Art Crime, Human Experimentation (mostly voluntary), corporate warfare, Canon-Typical Talk of Death and Dying, Canon-Typical Use of Husband and Wife (Faraway Wanderers), Extensive World Building, Families of Choice, Telepathy Summary: After dedicating years to the service of an empire, Zhou Zishu has walked away to spend what's left of his life wandering the galaxy. And if that freedom has come at a cost . . . doesn't everything? His plans did not include getting entangled with a dangerous man on a mission of his own. A man who not only looks at him, but sees.

Notes: I left this for the end of the list—the WenZhou space opera AU novel no one asked for but I was delighted to deliver. If I am known for anything in the TYK fandom, it's this fic. It is very much a Hadassah Story, with a lot of hallmarks of my style and sensibilities. I also structured it like a TV show, with cold opens in every chapter but (by design) one. I used to work in entertainment and From Halfway Along probably shows it more than any of my other fics.

[dancingwiththefae]

hi there! for the song fic thing, if you’re up to it, how about geraskier and stray italian greyhound by vienna teng?

Hi sorry this took a while <3

This song is great, the lyrics are so playful. I went more with the theme of the song for this one.

modern au, no warnings

wc: 1.1k

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

Jaskier stared down at his coffee cup. He was running late but he couldn't bring himself to move any faster. He wasn't paying much attention to his surroundings as he dragged his feet to work, too pre-occupied with how much he wanted to be going anywhere else. Which was probably why he crashed straight into the hulking mass in front of him. He let out a noise of surprise as he crashed into the man in front of him. When they pulled apart, Jaskier gasped in horror at the coffee drenching the man's shirt.

“Oh fuck. Oh gods. I'm so sorry-”

He looked up from the stain that was continuing to grow and suddenly words stopped. His mind halted in its tracks. Of course he ran straight into the most terrifying and attractive man he had ever seen. White hair pulled back into a bun. Warm, honey eyes that stared back at him in a frown. And Jaskier had gone and spilled coffee all down his shirt. Gods, he was such an idiot. He was either going to die of embarrassment or get a punch to the face and he wasn't sure which option was worse.

“I'll uh- I'll buy you a new shirt? Or something?” He checked the time in a panic. “Oh fuck I am so late. Just- just-”

He had no idea what to do. The man hadn't said a word but he also hadn't received a punch in the gut so that was something.

“Here.”

Jaskier shucked off his jacket and handed it over. With bemusement, the man took it. He looked it over before looking back at him. He huffed what Jaskier assumed to be in amusement and put it on. It was a little tight, and did not match his style at all, but at least it fit. And it hid the enormous stain decorating the front of his shirt.

“Suits you,” he couldn't help but comment. The barest hint of a smile appeared on the man's face and Jaskier wondered what he'd look like when he laughed.

“Give me your number.”

It was the first words he'd spoken and had caught Jaskier completely off-guard.

“What?”

The man sighed.

“Your number,” he repeated, “so I can return this.”

His voice was like gravel. He would be lying if he said it wasn't doing anything for him. It took him a moment to actually process what he had just said.

“Oh. Oh yes, of course.” He fished his phone out from his pocket. “I'm Jaskier, by the way.”

“Geralt.”

They exchanged numbers and then the next second Geralt was gone, off to continue his day while Jaskier stood there wondering what the hell had just happened. And then he remembered that he was exceptionally late.

He spent the rest of the day in a daze. He was sure people had spoken to him and he had responded, but he couldn't recall any of the conversation. His mind was firmly stuck on the events of the morning, cycling through embarrassment, excitement and the inconvenient urge to hit on him. Which was ridiculous, really. Sorry about your shirt, how about we go for a drink? No one in their right mind would go for that. Besides, he'd grown used to being alone.

***

“What are you wearing?”

Ciri spotted him as soon as he walked through the door, eyes raking over him with a confused amusement. With a huff, he unbuttoned the jacket and dropped it onto the sofa. Her amusement only grew when she spotted the sizeable stain he was sporting.

“What the fuck happened to you?”

“Language,” he scolded. “Some idiot ran into me on the way to work this morning.”

“And he gave you his jacket?” She queried, rubbing her thumb across the rainbow pin on the collar. It was the first time he really looked at it. Faded denim and covered in patches and pins that Geralt could only assume were bands that he had never heard of. It was- well, it suited the man he met this morning. It certainly wasn't his style. Too clean for a start.

“So, what did he look like? This idiot?”

Ciri held a smirk that was all too-knowing for a teenager.

“Tall, dark hair,” Geralt shrugged.

“Handsome?”

Handsome? He had only saw him for a few minutes at most. Though he did remember shockingly blue eyes that looked at him. Really looked at him. Most people averted their gaze around him. There was panic in them, but more so at the situation than directed at him. He remembered how his cheeks had flushed when he finally looked up at Geralt.

“He was...fine.”

“A compliment, coming from you,” Ciri replied with an arch of her brow.

“I'm not talking about this with you.” He wagged a finger at her and left the room to change.

***

It's Geralt. Are you free friday to return the jacket?

“Who are you texting?”

Ciri appeared from behind him, trying to peek over his shoulder at his phone. He covered it on instinct.

“Jaskier,” he replied, “about the jacket.”

“Oh, he has a name now, does he?”

Geralt rolled his eyes in response. Ciri didn't know what she was talking about. She'd obviously been reading too much fiction and now her head was filled with romance. And then Jaskier responded.

“I think he's flirting with me.” His voice didn't betray the mild panic that had set in but Ciri picked up on it anyway.

“So flirt back. What's the worst that could happen?” she teased gently.

Geralt stared down at the phone in his hand with a frown.

“You've been alone too long,” Ciri sighed, and left him to it.

Maybe he had. He was used to everything going a certain way. He was used to it just being himself and Ciri. To people judging him harshly by his appearance. And yet, here he was. Being flirted with by a complete fool who had quite literally crashed into his life. Geralt wasn't usually one for spontaneity. But maybe today he was.

***

It's Geralt. Are you free friday to return the jacket?

Jaskier stared at his phone, and then at the half empty wine bottle in front of him. Maybe if was in a clearer frame of mind he would have responded politely and a little more formally. However, he'd had a long day and was finally feeling relaxed, the warmth of the wine settling inside him. So instead, he decided to be bold.

Sure, I'm free. How about we grab some coffee too? I promise I won't spill it on you this time.

As soon as he sent it, he regretted it. Could he even joke about it? He didn't know this man, other than the one very brief and equally disastrous encounter when they met. Geralt might not see the funny side of it. There was no way he would agree.

Sure. I'll pay as long as I don't come home wearing it.

Well, that was something. He filled his glass with a small smile. He sat back in his chair and watched his phone light up with another text from Geralt. He couldn't wait for friday.

[redheadgleek]

come with me while the light is gold on the hill and our day has hours left to go there’s a place I’m told might be standing still out beyond the field of headstones

you don’t have to tell a tidy story you don’t need a home for every hole you can just sit in the river, let the river run to you you don’t need to trace your last ancestor you don’t need a family name of old you can just sit in the river, let the river run you through

come with me while the fennel shades the sourgrass and the coyotes stretch out in the sun there’s a manzanita rising beyond the pass that long ago sheltered something I’d begun

you don’t have to tell a tidy story you don’t need a home for every hole you can just sit in the river, let the river rush to you you don’t need to find and lose true love you don’t need a twisting in your soul you can just sit in the river, let the river run you through you can just do a thing that you get the idea to do

come with me while the wildfires keep their distance and your time, unlike mine, has years to go we’ll stand before the shutter, prove our shared existence a museum of the rain that feeds the river flow

you don’t have to tell a tidy story you don’t need a home for every hole you can just sit in the river, let the river run to you and maybe only ruin comes of everything that once was our whole world but someone may run with a thing we had the idea to do

so come on let’s search among the strangers and the souvenirs how gorgeous and grand you have grown sit with me among the branches of this chandelier while flesh and blood remain between our bones and I will show you the most precious thing I own

~released September 19, 2023 Music & lyrics by Vienna Teng, based on words by Dave Eggers