#Chapter 21 Preview

[kiliinstinct]

Did Someone Ask For a Flame's Desire Chapter 21 Preview?

Cause I got it. Right here. Just for you!

“He escaped.” It wasn’t a question. Erza froze, gaze tilting as she considered his approach. Rather than ask him about his abandoned patrol, she nodded, deftly pointing down the path. “Freed’s magic was taken.” She explained, face going pale at the sight of the blaze overheard, “I told him to rest.” He nodded and rushed past her, noting the baffled expression that flashed across her face when he did. Now wasn’t the time for too many questions, beckoning her to follow, his steps gathered speed while sparks fizzled beneath his feet. “Keep up.” The order was quick. Laxus was quicker. Magic surged through his veins as static crackled in his hair. The speed boost sent him through the edge of the village and to the next treeline with ease. If he noticed Erza’s own rise of magic, buffing her to keep pace with him, he gave no sign. He said to keep up. If she couldn’t manage it, that was her problem.  While he skipped most of the beaten path and the terrain from his own abilities, Erza’s fast steps pattered behind him, rushing through the grass and underbrush as they entered the line of trees heading up the hill. He knew these woods. All of them did, but it had been years since he’d last gone this way. The underbrush was thick with spring over growth and smelled of freshly bloomed blossoms, but the faint scent of electricity followed behind him, mixing with the strong smell of ash and dust that began to billow through the forest.  Whatever Natsu was doing, it was making enough of an impression at least. It created the perfect beacon, with the illumination filtering through the trees, they could see their path clearly. Except a different light, from Laxus’ peripheral, gave him pause. It wasn’t the harsh light of heat and fire, but a gentle glow through the trees, closer to the beaten path, and heading their way.  Laxus hadn’t expected Lucy to come barreling through the trees, grass and twigs stuck in her hair and clothes, eyes wide in a panic. Her cane was missing, but she moved with the barest hint of a limp, gasping for breath as she did. Erza took action instantly, moving forward to catch the girl in her arms, revealing the magically altered outfit that glittered upon her skin- a speed increased spell, Laxus noted.  “Erza!” Lucy gasped, wheezing for air between words, “Kage is.. He-” Erza tutted under her breath, awkwardly patting the top of Lucy’s head in an attempt to assure her. “We know. We were on our way.  Where’s Natsu?” Laxus felt an unwanted shiver run up his spine, making the tall man cringe as Lucy’s eyes welled with tears and sparks of .. something, prickled along her fingers. It was then he realized the light was coming from her, almost reflecting the blistering heat above them, and sprinkles of magic swirled around her knee, holding her up. Had she unlocked her abilities then? Catching the way she coughed, face sweating in exertion, it seemed not.  “I couldn’t.. I tried,” Her words were too jumped to make sense, whining in frustration, Lucy pinched the skin of her arm hard enough to bruise, wincing as tears trailed down her face. “I can’t control it.. Th-the magic. I… have it, but it’s not.. “ the light fluctuated, almost dimming and her nose scrunched together, focusing to keep it intact. “Natsu told me to get help. He’s still up there, but-” “But…? Erza prompted, coaxing Lucy to continue, eyes flickering down to the magic swirling at Lucy’s feet before meeting her gaze again. “Is he in danger?” “Kage cut his throat-!” The panic began to rise in her voice, “I’m sorry I-.. help him, please!”

[phoenixtakaramono]

Chariot and Wolf - Chapter 1 Preview (Part 1/ ?)

(Note: this comes from an earlier draft, so there might or might not be some small changes in the final version that’ll be uploaded to AO3 once the prologue is done.)

CONTEXT

Sneak-Peek:

Fate had always been in the realm of the gods, though even the gods were subject to it.

For as much as mankind, immortals, and gods believed they were the masters of their destiny and could control the little things in life, with those small decisions adding up to the everyday, the overall shape of their lives were not theirs to decide. They were at the mercy of the Moirai—the three Fates who weaved their futures from their spindles on their craftsman’s loom and snipped life threads short. From the beginning, the Fates determined which souls would be born, the course of events, what kind of lives they would live, and for how many days. It was always ever thus.

It was during the month of Hekatombaion, during the important Panathenaic Games held every four years to honor the goddess Athena, when Queen Anticlea fell into labor, sending all into an uproar. On a warm midsummer night, dark and moonless, the midwives, along with the queen’s female relatives and friends tending to her through the moving image of eternity, finally heard the wails of a healthy baby boy.

They had delivered the firstborn son of an Argonaut, King Laertes and his wife, Queen Anticlea.

Their kingdom, at last, had a legitimate heir.

Whilst the exhausted queen slept, the wet-nurse, a dark-haired woman who wore a kekryphalos—a wide-woven woven caul secured around the front of the head, with a pouch in the back where the majority of her hair was tucked inside the elastic cap—presented the sleeping newborn prince before the queen’s honored parents.

The honored servant was named Eurycleia; she had been sold to King Laertes as a young girl, having been treated as an honored servant in his household for many years, that she was almost regarded as the king’s second wife. However Laertes never had Eurycleia attend to him in the bed, out of respect for his principal wife whom he loved. As his trusted servant, Eurycleia had been tasked to attend to the baby’s needs during the queen’s postpartum recovery.

When the servant Eurycleia took this soft delicate creature into her arms, holding him with the utmost care and delicacy, she found herself seized with emotion. Eurycleia fell into a daze looking at the tiny sleeping face peeking from the blue swaddling cloth. Her heart swelled. Although he had been born from another woman’s womb, at this very moment, she felt a mother’s unconditional love wash over her.

Stepping forward, very gently Eurycleia laid the tender sleeping prince upon the aged Autolycus’ knees and addressed respectfully, “The Wolf Itself, Autolykos, you who have dared to battle wits against the craftiest of men, King Sisyphus, may you find a name to give to your child's own child; for he has much been prayed for.” She didn’t dare suggest a name to him, for it was neither her place nor did they share any blood ties, but she could provide a gentle hint.

Wearing a handsome wolf pelt draped over one shoulder, Autolycus, fleet-footed and fleet of fingers, cradled his grandson who had surprised everyone and whose sudden birth sent all into a flurry of panic. He scrutinized him. Looking at the wisps of soft dark down on the infant’s head, it was still much too early to tell whom this child would take after in appearance, whether it was his birth mother or his royal father—or perhaps someone else in their ancestry. But the prince’s penchant for trickery proved innate—perhaps an influence of the child’s great-grandfather. Peering at the infant’s ruddy cheeks, the old Autolycus was once again confronted with the disappointing reality that his family could not have the fortune of ichor running golden through their veins. Only red mortal blood.

Grazing his thumb over the child’s eyelid, he suddenly recalled the servants’ secret whisperings. The prince had been born with marigold eyes. Just like their daughter’s. Just like his. The sort that picked up whatever hue was near. Like a creek dappled in morning light, a dirty stain of gold, darkening into a warm brown around the two innermost black eclipses.

In the past, Autolycus had the dubious honor of being visited, and rewarded for his faithful sacrifices to him, by his swift-footed father with his gold wand, who’d been absent most of his life; glimpsed a glimmer of marigold beneath his shadowed features. There'd been a hint of twisted playfulness which had softened some of the immortal’s merciless edges, lending his youthful beauty a trace of humanness. There was something there, in the defined angles and deep shadows cast over the Messenger God’s marble-like face, the sharp line of his smooth clean shaven jaw, the two wicked slashes of his lips, the hollows of his cheeks, and a pair of eyes the color of pure unsullied ichor which glowed bright gold beneath the wide brim of his winged hat.

But just like strong wine which had been diluted with water, the more and more bloodlines would mix into theirs, the more watered down their bloodline would be. Autolycus’ own sons, as well as his two daughters, Anticlea and Polymede, and now this grandchild, proved evidence of that. None of his children could do something he found as simple as changing horned cattle into hornless ones and brown cows into white ones. Perhaps this was the fate of all borned demigods, who weren’t immortal, destined to live out a life more mortal than divine. There’d come a time in the distant future when the strength of their gifts faded, when a descendant from their bloodline would be no different from that of any other Achaean.

“Since I have angered many, both men and women,” Autolycus announced, in a moment of pure sardonic pique, "as I am a legendary untouchable thief hated by all, let the name of the child be ‘Odysseus.’” Lifting the infant higher with both hands, Autolykos told the future king, “I have high hopes for you, little Odysseus.”

Eurycleia bowed her head. To be wroth against, to be angry or cause hate—a fierce name, strong in meaning, bestowed as an honor to himself. The name betrayed the weight of Autolycus’ expectations and the value he placed on his grandson.

It was said that the Three Sisters of Fate spun a person’s destiny within three nights of their birth. The first sister, Clotho, a young maiden on the left, spun the fibres of a child’s life while in the womb into a single thread, from her distaff onto her spindle. The older and more matronly sister in the center, Lachesis, held the rod used to measure their golden thread of life, for the length of a child’s life, experiences, and the number of tribulations they were predestined to face were determined from her fingers. Then came Atropos—cronely, haggardly, old. Inevitable. The sister whom most were frightened by, for in her gnarled hand held the terrible shears used to cut the thread of life, choosing the manner and time of his or her death. Once cut, the soul would be sent into the Underworld to receive judgement and discharged to one of three destinations: Elysium, for the righteous souls who were to be rewarded; Tartarus, for the vicious souls who were to be punished; and the Fields of Asphodel, for the mediocre and ordinary. Feared by mortals and gods alike, the sisters pressed together to preside over a person’s fate—a prophecy foretold, their past, present, and future set in stone.

Odysseus was King Laertes’ firstborn son, born by the legitimate wife. So long as the king of Ithaca Laertes did not give sire to another son, and the prince suffered neither misfortune nor committed any unforgivable crimes, the course of this child’s destiny had already been charted out for him.

Three nights later, dark storm clouds rolled into Ithaca, heralded by dazzling claps of thunder and lightning that boasted an ocean of tears. The old Autolycus awoke with a start.

“Dear…?” his wife murmured drowsily.

Whatever Autolycus had been about to say to reassure her was interrupted when a flash of blistering color lifted the veil of darkness. His ears rang with the deafening unearthly screech of an eagle. There was a dangerous edge to the cry, like a thunderstorm about to erupt.

Like a bolt of lightning, the fine embroidered bedcover was flung off and Autolycus prostrated himself on the floor. He bellowed, “Zeus, O’ Wise King of the Gods, I heed your prophetic warnings! I give eternal thanks for your consideration and the everlasting grace you have shown to me and my family!”

Deep in Autolycus’ ambrosial sleep, he had dreamt Zeus had flown into his bedchambers in the guise of a large golden eagle, landing on the bedrest above the old swindler’s head. Sharp talons curled, majestic wings folded, a strong yellow beak preened his flight feathers. In the dream from heaven, disguised as a bird of prey, the god proclaimed in a deep, authoritative thunder clap: “Master of Thieves, Autolycus, do you dare sleep now when I come to you bearing a message? Listen closely now, for you are my messenger son’s son and, as far-off as I can be, I care about you and feel compassion.”

Like peering through a fog, Autolycus witnessed a war, and a fatal anger that would bring countless sorrows on the Achaeans, sending the souls of many valiant warriors to Hades, their bodies left behind as spoils for dogs and carrion birds on the broad-paved roads. He then witnessed the mightiest of all, aegis-bearing Zeus, he of the far-thundering voice, seated upon his throne composed of clouds at the gleaming Olympus, looking troubled; inclining his shadowed brow upon ambrosial locks, the Cloud-Lord thunderously forbade the company of gods from interfering in the quarrel of mortals.

Autolycus saw a massive wooden horse being wheeled into a city’s thick fortified gates, and forty soldiers pouring out of the large, hollowed underbelly in the dead of night to push the gates open. He beheld Odysseus—handsome, long-haired, and proud—commanding six hundred men to glory. He saw his grandson, looking fresh and bright after the war, setting sail homeward bound—and the innumerous sufferings he endured. The incidents, and the faces of many, flashed before Autolycus’ eyes like a series of quick lightning bolts.

A cave and the one-eyed monster that lived inside it—a horrid creature, not like a human being at all, but resembling a rugged mountain crag piercing the sky—dashed six of Odysseus’ men to the ground with his club until their brains splattered, tearing their corpse from limb from limb, gorging on their flesh, bones, and entrails; of Odysseus later thrusting a club of olive-wood in the ashes, and then having his men aim it straight and true, sharpened at the tip, into the cyclops’ eye—throwing his weight upon the beam from above, whirling the fiery-sharpened point in the socket like how a man would bore a ship’s timber with a drill, while those below kept it spinning with the thong, as the eyeball burned and boiling blood bubbled around the red hot beam; Autolycus’ ears deafened hearing the pained, earth-shattering roar whilst the surrounding flock of rams, well-fed and thick of fleece, brayed in fright; the monster’s crying had attracted the other savage cyclops who lived in the headlands near him.

In another flash, Autolycus was on a cliffside, and he saw what he assumed to be the silhouette of his grandson from a distance, joined by his crewmates who hastily set sail from the beaches. Dwarfing Autolycus in height, the blinded ogre had stretched both hands out to the starry heaven; his voice rumbled like two boulders grating together, praying to the lord Poseidon—that if he were the god’s true begotten son—to grant a curse upon “the valiant warrior, Odysseus, the sacker of cities and son of Laertes, who lives in Ithaca,” to never reach his home alive. Or that if it were Odysseus’ fate to see his friends, to derail the man’s voyage for as long as he could, for the captain to suffer greatly after losing all of his men, and to let him reach his home only in another man’s ship, and to find trouble in his own house. Curse after curse after curse spilled forth. And Poseidon heard his prayer.

Zeus hurled his bolt—and this time Autolycus opened his eyes to see the earth-encircling Poseidon commanding a giant whirlpool. Autolycus’ breath drew tight in his chest. Who could stand the weight of a god’s wrath? A titan towering over the twelve ships, Poseidon calmly declared to them their death sentence. With a majestic sweep of his divine trident, the black ocean swelled up into monstrous giant horses, surging over eleven ships—before crashing down, swallowing the screams of more than five-hundred crewmen. Autolycus watched as Odysseus’ face crumbled in despair. Over the sleet-like spray of salt water and sound of waves rocking the only ship spared, they could hear the god’s vindictive hiss: “Forty-three left under your command….”

“Cousin, Father Zeus; and you other everlasting and blessed gods,” a clear voice suddenly rang out. Loud, energetic, eager. The violent seas had vanished, replaced by sunlight, shining and radiant. Autolycus would recognize that voice anywhere, having pilfered a dagger from the god: Helios the Sun, the one who saw everything. The god threatened, “I ask you to punish the companions of Odysseus, son of Laertes; for they outrageously killed my cattle, in whom I always delighted on my way up into the starry heaven, or when I turned back again from heaven toward earth. I demand just recompensation for my cattle, or you will see me go down to Hades’ and give my light to dead men!”

A bolt of lightning hurled blinded his vision—and this time Autolycus was overlooking his grandson from high above, up in the black clouds. From Zeus’ perspective, as judge, jury, and executioner. Odysseus looked wretched and disheveled, the bloodstain on his tunic blooming like a carnelian flower. “Choose.” Addressing Odysseus, Zeus’s voice was deep, like a storm coming, but gentle, like the rain ending. The god’s sonorous voice echoed through the hollow place of sorrow, reverberating in everyone’s eardrums. “Someone’s gotta die today and you have got the final say….” The last syllable was stretched long, a cruelty masked behind gaiety.

Another flash—and this time Autolycus was astonished to see the familiar tall figure of Athena, beloved daughter of Zeus, marching up to the imposing throne constructed of wispy cumulus clouds. Her voice boomed with authority in the sacred place, coming to Odysseus’ aid, pleading her case before Zeus to release him and to allow the pitiful king of Ithaca to return home. Her voice melded with five other opposing voices who engaged her, turn by turn, in fierce debate. That was all Autolycus was allowed to hear before his vision darkened, and he almost leapt with fright suddenly seeing the helmeted Athena brazenly point her bronze-tipped spear up at a furious Zeus.

The image of Zeus’ daughter raising her weapon against her heavenly father, this great primordial being whose form eclipsed the entire sky, in defense of Autolycus’ grandson, was seared into Autolycus’ eyes. Beholding the god’s true terrible form, Autolycus remembered the stories of the mad Titan, Kronos—he who mated his older sister Rhea—whose blood flowed in Zeus’ veins, as well as his ancestry with the Titans Ouranos, the sky, and Gaia, the earth. The goddess’ noble figure was the last thing he saw before his vision burned bright and a shroud of absolute darkness soon came falling down.

After the last vision, Zeus fell uncannily silent. In the absence of light, the darkness held a presence that was all the more felt because it was not seen. Autolycus heard the distant sound of waves striking the shore, forceful and strong and as constant as the deepest ocean currents; and it was as though the pounding of his heart was keeping in time with the sea’s great tides—the sound a familiar comfort, and every seafarer’s nightmare. A looming danger unable to mitigate.

“…That clever grandson of yours will run afoul of many great gods. These are a mere trifle I have deemed significant and allowed you to see.” The eagle lifted his beak from his feathers. Gazed at Autolycus with eyes blazing with golden ichor. “Odysseus of Ithaca is a man born to trouble. However his fate is to become a fine king of counsel, charged with an army, on whom responsibility so rests. He will go to engineer a clever trick so heinous, the war cannot be won without his strategy, contributions that thereby make him essential for it is fated that Troy will fall. As I will have decreed that us immortal gods cannot interfere in the war, I have effectively tied my own hands—for once I give my nod, my word can never be recalled; to prove true and fulfilled. Heed my only warning, Autolycus, as my wish is to preserve the sanctity of the natural divine order. Hold fast to this, remember all, when honey-tongued sleep frees you.”

With this, the eagle departed in a shower of golden sparks. When Autolycus woke, the divine voice was still ringing in his ears.

At present, he could feel his body ache; the cold floor was unforgiving on his old bones and stiff joints. Dread donned Autolycus’ troubled brow now that he was no longer constrained by sleep’s inability to doubt. Why give him, a thief who’d boasted he could steal undetected from the gods themselves, the grace of a divine vision? Why him—and not somebody else? Autolycus’ cunning mind raced, pondering Zeus’ intentions.

Could it be…? For Zeus to personally descend instead of sending down a messenger, did this not indicate that the god somewhat recognized their unacknowledged familial ties? Although Autolycus’ blood ran crimson, his relationship to the immortal gods of Olympus could be considered the strongest amongst his wives and children, for the blood of Hermes directly flowed through his veins. Disguising his warning as an omen, was their divine ancestor showing consideration for his children’s mortal descendants—however distant and negligible their relation might be, as neither Autolycus nor his children nor children’s children sprung from Zeus’ loins directly?

He heard his wife slip out from the comfort of the warm covers; her warm hands slipped underneath to support her kneeling husband from underneath his elbows. He snapped out of his thoughts. His pulse still thundering from the prophetic dream, gripping his wife by her arms, Autolycus announced feverously, “Beloved Amphithea, come with me to seek an audience with our daughter. We must make haste! For I have seen her son’s future!”

The old woman, seized with fear, obeyed her husband.

That night, Autolycus and Amphithea held an assembly with their daughter and their son-in-law. Listening to Autolycus recount his prophetic vision of an incoming war, Queen Anticlea—a woman of exemplary virtue and chastity—and King Laertes who was a man of honor, wisdom, courage, and a straightforward personality, were, understandably, afraid. Afraid for the state of their kingdom—and for their son. These secret discussions which rolled into the early hours of the next day, behind closed doors, would later come to define Odysseus’ life and rewrite history.

Yet, for all their preparation and well-laid plans, not once did it occur to them, if a person’s fate was something that could be so easily redirected. For, on Odysseus’ glimmering thread, the tribulations which Lachesis had woven for him remained untouched. The innumerous fibres twisted together to form one long golden strand coiled even tighter, strengthening some more.

XXXXXXXXXX

For young children, the passage of time was always particularly noticeable. They went from being tiny, unable to see the world clearly, to sitting, crawling, and then evolving to exploring the world on their short little legs.

In the blink of an eye, Odysseus transformed from a baby who smelled like milk, to a cheerful, rambunctious rascal at just three years old. Like all boys his age, he liked to climb trees, explore, jump, run around, and disappear. The prince was an exceptionally curious troublemaker who gave the servants in the palace many headaches; they were nearly driven to their wit’s end working tirelessly around the clock to find the young prince in every new hiding spot he’d managed to procure for himself in the palace grounds, or having to wait until Odysseus exhausted himself from playing before they could finally put the escape artist to bed.

Several Achaean elders who’d been called into assembly one day had remarked to the king, just like their own offspring, nephews, or grandsons, that perhaps the mind of the legitimate crown prince wasn’t being stimulated enough, which was causing the prince to act out in mischief. The young Odysseus was already showing signs that he was brighter than a majority of boys his age. The solution was to exhaust the reserves of all that untapped energy and funnel it into alternative outlets. With some effort, there was still a chance to correct his ways. Confronted with his son’s penchant for stirring up trouble, Laertes decided to move the matter of the prince’s formal education up much earlier.

It was a principle that bullying others was always better than being bullied.

But should Odysseus be taught well, he would be more likely to grow into a ruler who could distinguish right from wrong. Doting on a child too much could be detrimental to their own growth. Princes who had some talent but didn’t like to study, and were pampered by the household, should he continue this way, would either end up a waste—or a playboy who only knew a life of debauchery. Empires often declined because of a muddle-headed ruler who prioritized pleasures instead of overseeing their kingdom and government affairs.

It ought to be observed that children who were not well-educated struggled to make a name for themselves outside their parents. Looking at Odysseus’ robustness, both parents thought having the prince learn military skills early would also help him get a head start on training his discipline, with the added benefit of shaping his mind—and his physique. For that, they turned to the precedent set by the Spartans. Whilst most Spartan sons waited till they were seven-years old to leave their home and begin their military education at the Agoge, Odysseus reported to the training grounds at the tender age of five—when his grasp over his motor control skills was sufficient enough to hold a wooden practice sword for a long duration without accidentally hurting himself. The Achaean hired as Odysseus’ instructor was a strict retired general; he told the impressionable Odysseus that although Achaean boys were only expected to receive military training for two years in their adolescence, he wouldn’t take it easy on Odysseus just because of his age or status.

Thus, so began Odysseus’ new hellish life.

Not only was he tested on soldier formations and military tactics, he was expected to be well-versed over an assortment of weapons. Spears. Javelins. Sword and shield. Bows. Slings. Horseback riding. Practical skills that any commander needed to know, for the battlefield was a cruel place that eviscerated little boys like him. Every day was a new kind of military drill; Odysseus’ enthusiasm waned when the general started their first lesson off by having him swing his wooden sword in the air repetitively.

It was only when he could swing a sword five hundred times, without break, that they would move onto the next lesson: archery—a lesson that Odysseus had been looking forward to, for he had heard the story of how Laertes and the other hunters who had come from kingdoms worldwide joined hands in the expedition to hunt down the monstrous Calydonian Boar which’d been sent by the angered goddess Artemis. Every year, to celebrate the accomplishment, Laertes had made it the Ithacan tradition to host a hunting expedition for all able men and young men alike to hunt down the wild boars of the region. Whatever expectations Odysseus initially had burned down to cinders when he was handed a bow by his dogmatic teacher and told he wouldn’t be allowed to touch a single arrow until the young prince learned how to string all manners of bow.

Although Laertes was no longer young, he was still vigorous. In addition to the military instructor, Laertes hired private tutors—among them a notable philosopher—to educate the young prince in a wide range of subjects, including philosophy, mathematics, and the sciences. As Odysseus was the crown prince, he required a more specialized curriculum tailored to his specific interests and to prime him for his future.

Learning required patience. The small kingdom of Ithaca had a history of maritime trade and travel, farming and animal husbandry—as well as the gods they were to worship. When the subject matter was interesting and the time was short, Odyessus was the model bright student. When the instructor droned on, he would fall into a drowsy state while listening and needed to force himself to stay awake. It was manageable in short bursts but gradually, over time, Odyessus couldn’t sit still, as if there were countless invisible nails under his bottom.

The pressures of having gone from having the freedom to play whenever he wanted, to a heavy workload and schedule that even adult men would balk at was not an easy adjustment period for any child. So, Odysseus rebelled; he played truant. His young and tender face had carried unswerving determination. One night, Odysseus snuck out of the palace with a plan to pick pretty seashells down at the white-shore sands; for he craftily knew his mom would treat him better once Laertes and Anticlea inevitably discovered that he’d been caught slacking off from his studies again. It was an ingenious plan!

This time, he did not go diving to pick up shells. The blood of a seafarer must run strong in Odysseus for he adored the water. He didn’t understand why his parents and grandparents looked a little nervous each time he said he would be careful playing down at the beaches. In daylight, the embrace of the sea felt warm and comforting after the initial cold shock plunging into the water. He loved how it flowed against his hair like it was being brushed and seeing the more curious fishes swimming up to him, their tails and fins kissing his nose, startling him into laughter, which released tiny bubbles of air. But, seeing as he’d snuck out with the guards and servants remaining unaware of the prince’s late-night escapade, he was pressed for time. Swimming at this late hour would just be asking for trouble.

Sifting his fingers through the sand, picking up seashells and turning them left and right for close inspection, Odysseus had put a handful away in his pouch when he thought he heard a nicker. Surprised, he peeked from his hiding spot behind a rock—and gasped aloud! For, out on the shoreline, he saw the mesmerizing sight of a stampede of majestic stallions galloping across the currents on their blue hooves; even more astonishing, their bodies were composed entirely out of water!

Seeing them, Odysseus’ eyes burned bright. He was treated to a sight of seeing these water horses race wildly across the surface of water, stirring up a spray of saltwater with each powerful kick, before the stampede suddenly launched themselves into the air at a turn, diving right back into the ocean with a loud splash.

…Poseidon?

Odysseus’ gaze was thoughtful. When he later returned that night with his precious cargo, the entire palace had been in an uproar—for the prince was not in his bed and had snuck out! His father had pulled him aside that night and bent him over his knees, spanking him until his bottom glowed red and Odysseus cried out. After that, Odysseus became less rowdy and much more well-behaved, obediently attending his lessons.

Unknowingly, his mood brightened along with the weather, as if something weighing on his heart had vanished. His heart felt a bit lighter—because now he had a purpose to work towards.

[deus-ex-mona]

monthly reminder that it’s ✨ok✨ to not have friends~~~~

[applesfallingfromblondehair]

preview 👏🏻 preview 👏🏻 preview plssss

and preview number 3 :)

“Yeah, fine, we’re in,” Matty echoes. “So wait—you’re both staying here now?”

“I guess we are?” Ross says tentatively, biting back the rest of his question: do you mind? He doesn’t need to ask: he’s well aware Matty does. He minds very much indeed. “Might join later though, like I said.”

Matty hums low in his throat, his expression unreadable. “Hmm. Alright, then. You pop a coupla painkillers, that’ll help. And you keep an eye on him, yeah?”

John brings his right hand to his forehead, saluting Matty. “Yes, sir.”

“Matty, come on,” Jamie nudges him from outside. “It’s bloody freezing here and I’m gasping for a pint.”

“Okay okay,” Matty concedes. “Be good, you two,” he says as he’s stepping out the door. Or maybe he doesn’t say it. Maybe Ross just reads it in his eyes.

[mydearestbeloved]

Masterlist 🦋✨️

My Writings' Guide:

Red: Incomplete / Editing / Drafts

Blue: Complete

Chapters: In chronological order

Unknown: Not in any particular order

⚠️Please mind the Content Warnings put in place, especially for Mature*-related posts.

[ Reader discretion advised. ] ⚠️

_____

Solo Leveling

Trial Player AU

Status: Ongoing

Preview: Daydream

Chapters: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27], To be continued . . .

Unknown: [Nighttime Musings], [?.2], [?.3], [Happy Birthday, Jinwoo], [The You I Love], [Same AU, Different Stages]

Related Asks:

TP!Reader's powers explained: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]

How I write this series: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12]

Miscellaneous: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7*], [8], [9], [10], [11*], [12], [13*], [14*], [15], [16]

Illustrations/Fanarts: [1], [2], [3]

Inspirations: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13]

Others: [1], [2], [3], [4], [4.5], [5], [6]

Recent Updates:

Added fight scene in the draft of chapter 6, parts of the original moved to draft of chapter 5 [13/11/2024]

Added more details in the draft of chapter 10, parts of the original moved to draft of chapter 11 [16/11/2024]

-----

Want to know more about my stories? Or share anything else? Feel free to ask and I shall answer them in the tag: #Hollow's Talks

[yeonmuse]

˗ˏˋSUMMARY ´ˎ˗ Park Sunghoon doesn’t usually like getting close to new people, but when a little girl shows up to his place of work in need of skating lessons he finds himself getting oddly close to her older sister. Now he’s starting to realize himself developing some uncontainable feelings while having to teach not only her little sister to skate, but her as well.

ᥫ᭡ f!reader x Park Sunghoon ── 𝒢enre. Uni au. fluff, non idol enha. feats. ot7 [reqs are closed] ᝰ.ᐟ 𝓁ibrary ⛸️

ૢ CASTING ༉ ot7 Enhypen. THE GANG ot9 andteam, lesserafim chaewon, katseye manon. READERS FRIENDS boynextdoor woonhak, boynextdoor leehan, blackswan fatou, loona jinsoul, theboyz chanhee, txt yeonjun, pamalaaam as mari. HONORABLE MENTIONS theboyz sunwoo, soloist alexa.

⍣ ೋ AUTHORS NOTES . This is part of admins Enhypen University Special Event. This series also has slight connections to every series in said event so occasionally characters from the other members chapters may appear in this series as well.

TAGLIST IS CLOSED❕ 🏷️ | SERIES PREVIEW

ღ GENRE smau & written parts, fluff|slight angst, acquaintance to lovers, non idol enhypen, university enha, crack tweets & texts. 3rd person reader pov

CHARACTER PROFILES › ENHA & FRIENDS | READER & FRIENDS | HONORABLE MENTIONS

1 › prince of the ice

2 › let’s go bears

3 › UOA vs DVU

4 › take this L

5 › aint no party like a yeonjun party

6 › fuck you sim jaeyun and nishimura riki

7 › park sunghoon

8 › jinsouls shayla

9 › I’m sorry

10 › you did what ??

11 › case of the stolen teammates

12 › three thousand dollars

13 › @/princeoftheice followed you !

14 › failed ransom

15 › the zamwhati?

16 › according to google 🤓☝️

17 › am i literally stupid ?

18 › should I flea the country ?

19 › im cooked

20 › soft hands

21 › swimmin with the fishes

22 › snowed in

23 › Fuck you mother nature

24 › sweatpea?

25 › skate night

26 › yn and sunghoon sitting in a tree

27 › place your bets

28 › im so screwed

29 › this isnt a kdrama

30 › happy soobin day

31 › nurse shes out again

32 › mr lonely and the girl with infinite homework

33 › you like krabby patties don’t you squidward

34 › wonder about you

35 › ice cream you scream we’re all screaming

36 › jealously jealousy

37 › the club is calling

38 › liquid courage

39 › dont fuck this up

40 › sweater weather

41 › bitchless activities

42 › ending: Merry Christmas

[fasyofficial]

Lumen - Book 1

In The Light Of The Fireflies

Chapter 4 - page 10/21

LUMEN - FANFICTION BELONGS TO @supdudes95 , THE STORY IS NOT MINE, SUPDUDES PAGE FOR THE AO3 LINK, FIC UPDATES AND DRAWINGS

————————————————————

Heya!!

I wanted to wait to have at least 10 pages before posting here!

(If you want a preview you can follow me on Bluesky @/fasyofficial.bsky.social)

SO, hyperfixating with this fic since…. Well, now its like 2 weeks kind of, I’m deeply in love with it and i wait for the updates like a puppy.

If you search for a funny, heartwarming, stunning and mesmerizing fic Lumen is for you! Have fun everybody!

[ch33z3grits]

Crimson Obsessions | Masterlist

pairing: Aaron Pierre as Terry Richmond x Justine Skye as Camille DeWaterson summary: After a steamy encounter with a sinfully handsome man in New Orleans, Camille DeWaterson returns to her life as a soon-to-be-married paralegal in Houston, Texas. But the incident becomes difficult to forget when the otherworldly stranger waltzes into her law firm, bringing a series of strange and enticing events with him. Terrence “Terry” Richmond, is an incredibly disciplined, calculating, and ambitious individual, at least… that’s what he is to the average mortal. But in reality, he’s a bloodthirsty supernatural with a keen interest for money, power, and beautiful women. When the gorgeous Camille DeWaterson slips from his grasp one fateful night in New Orleans, he vows to track her down and make her his bride. It doesn’t matter to him that she already has a fiancé or a commitment to join two families together. He isn’t going to rest until she belongs to him… body, mind and soul.

a/n: hello! below are the links to my first (and probably last lol) series on Tumblr. If you love supernatural story lines, the villain gets the girl trope, black ocs, or Aaron Pierre in general, I hope you'll enjoy this piece! updates will be every Friday :)

(also will be including a running playlist to much the chapters)

preview | pt. one | pt. two | pt. three | pt. four | pt. five | pt. six | pt. seven | pt. eight | pt. nine | pt. ten | pt. eleven | pt. twelve

playlist:

Drugs-UPSAHL

She-Tyler, the Creator

Can't Get You Out of My Head-Kylie Minogue

Excitement-Trippie Redd

No Heart-21 Savage

Next Lifetime-Erykah Badu

You Right-Doja Cat

I Luv Your Girl-The Dream

Streets-Doja Cat

Dark Red-Steve Lacy

Love on the Brain-Rihanna

I Put A Spell On You-Nina Simone

Baby Boy-Beyonce ft. Sean Paul

House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls- The Weeknd

Floor 555-XXXTENTACION

I'm Tired-Labrinth, Zendaya

Toxic-Britney Spears

When Will I See You Smile Again?-BBD

All I Want is You-Miguel, J. Cole

Honesty-Pink Sweat$

Kiss it Better-Rihanna

Skin-Mac Miller

Fantasy-Mariah Carey and ODB

I'm Sprung-T-Pain

Come Live With Me Angel-Marvin Gaye

Not Allowed-TV Girl

Lagrimas Negras-Celia

Tunnel Vision-Kodak Black

[almostfoxglove]

SEE YOU AT THREE

chapter twenty-one: LIFTOFF

🌟 a no-outbreak!joel miller series 🌟

RATING: Explicit (18+ only) | PAIRING: Joel x ofc (reader format/pov) WORD COUNT: 8.8k CW: Brief description of a panic attack.

read from the beginning | series masterlist | main masterlist

SUMMARY: You and Joel prepare for your trip as your families catch on.

CHAPTER PREVIEW:

There’s something he isn’t saying, and you know what it is. Or you think you do. You’re pretty sure. From the frame of your hands, a palm on each of his cheeks, his jaw knots as he nods. Silent confirmation if you’ve ever seen it, his meaning plain in his eyes. Those dark pools of bronze and umber that could melt you with a single look seem to clear. Not a brightening, a clarity. He is okay. And at least for right now, part of the reason is you. You could tell him right here in his bedroom. Sarah’s at soccer practice. You have the time.  It looks like he wants to tell you.

read chapter 21 on ao3.

💌 you can follow @foxglovenotifs and turn on notifications or subscribe on ao3 to get alerts for future updates!

dividers by @thecutestgrotto

[ynsvnte]

Mr. Yang, Is that you?: Masterlist

Synopsis: You were playing Roblox until you started having beef with one player that goes by the name “mryangslays193” determined to beat the player in the game. What happens if you go to class and find out it’s your crush Yang Jungwon who is the owner of the account ..?

Pairing: crush!jungwon x fem!reader

Featuring: Sunoo & Niki, Zb1 Gyuvin, kep1er youngeun, weeekly jaehee, IVE Liz.

Genre: classmates to friends to lovers, crack, fluff, angst, Roblox, smau, college au

Warnings: swearing, mean jokes, teasing, kms/kys jokes, individual warnings will be added.

Status: completed

Started: March 7 Ended: June 6

Taglist: Closed

Notes: hey… 😏 Roblox theme bc Roblox 4 life. Umm I just finished my last smau that took 3 MONTHSSSS (shouldn’t have) ummm I excited where this one goes and I hope it doesn’t take long like ttsd 🙄 written chapters like usual

Profiles: BADDIES 🤺 , SHEva love club, privs

Chapters:

Preview

1. Sleek the weak

2. AYO WHAT THE-

3. Mr Yang Yang better watch out

4. He wants MEEE

5. HE IS WHO!?!

6. Nah I’m out

7. Crack and Snap

8. Yandere era

9. Uh oh stinky

10. On my soul

11. So you’ll admit it?

12. RAHH (in smol)

13. Bro needs to be stopped

14. I.h.h.a

15. NEW HAIR NEW TEE NEW MAN!? — written and smau

16. won = sad

17. ALPHA!! 🤡💀

18. Please tell me.. — written

19. NO NOT YOU

20. EYES WIDE OPEN!!

21. Back up 🗣️🔥

22. Punch a guy

23. Roblox 2gether

24. nervy and nerdy — written

25. If it had been me-

26. PAUSE HUH-

27. Mr. Yang Yang approved

28. Bittersweat — written

29. Forever and 4vr

30. good 2 know 👍

End

© ynsvnte copyright 2024

[thecousinsdangereux]

short fuse if you light my fire [21/?]

pairing: Yelena/Kate (Hawkeye)

rating: T (for now)

chapter word count: 9,496

summary: Yelena decides to go to college. It just so happens to be the same one Kate Bishop attends.

preview: 

She glances sharply to the right, openly rolling her eyes at a boy in a tie-dye sweatshirt who’s leaning against the wall across from them, talking with his friends and occasionally eyeing them with an obvious leer. “Don’t be an asshole,” Yelena calls, cupping her mouth with her palm to make sure she’s heard. The boy flinches, but she waits for him to look away completely before turning back to Kate with a pleased grin. “Thought you didn’t mind when people noticed what’s obvious,” Kate murmurs. “Mmm, no. I don’t mind when you notice what’s obvious.” Kate blinks. Her mouth opens slightly. There’s a slight flush to her cheeks, one that Yelena has consistently noticed appearing whenever Kate drinks more than a beer. “Well. Thanks for that,” Kate says, finally, and then doesn’t say anything else, opting to take a long drink from her cup. (The fourth finger of her right hand makes a little indent in the cheap plastic when she lifts it, and Yelena’s gaze catches on the glint of green: the ring Kate never fails to wear now.) “You can notice me too, if you want.”

chapter link: AO3

playlist link: SPOTIFY

[acute-crashout-jeyuso]

About Me:

Ry here!

Welcome to my chaotic little corner of the internet.

28 | Texas born & raised | Latina ✨ | Lifelong WWE fan (since the Attitude Era, brooo) | Proud college junior majoring in Social Work | Absolute Quentin Tarantino stan. I write dark romance, emotional mess, and character-driven fiction where love feels like survival and nobody escapes without scars. Expect:

• morally gray characters

• obsession, betrayal, and trauma

• slow burns and explosive payoffs

• cinematic vibes and emotional gut-punches

• way too much dialogue (I love it, sorry not sorry)

Wrestling fanfiction is my specialty.

• Long-form stories? Exclusively on AO3

• Blurbs, concepts, and previews? Exclusive to Tumblr

If you like your fiction messy, raw, and real—you’re in the right place. Stick around. I’m gonna hurt you in the best way.. but you’re gonna love it 🥹❤️

https://archiveofourown.org/users/acutecrashoutjeyuso

Masterlists ⬇️

COMPLETED:

Between the Ropes Trilogy is a collection of three fanfics accumulating 615k words over the course of September 2024 to March 2025. The premise is Jey and Rhea’s love begins in secrecy, a dangerous spark that grows into an undeniable force, challenging family, loyalty, and the life they’ve always known. As they fight for each other, past traumas and unresolved demons resurface, threatening to tear them apart just as they prepare to welcome a new life. But love comes at a cost, and when tragedy strikes, Jey is left to raise their son alone while Rhea struggles to survive. Separated by grief, guilt, and the weight of their choices, they must each decide whether love is strong enough to withstand the ultimate test—or if their story was doomed from the start?

Possession is a short story of over 122k words spanning over 21 chapters. Its premise is: When Jey Uso is sidelined by a severe injury, his girlfriend Rhea Ripley is paired with his twin brother, Jimmy, to compete as a team. Their growing in-ring chemistry soon extends outside the ring, complicating relationships as Jimmy’s professional admiration turns into an unhealthy obsession. WWE capitalizes on their dynamic for a storyline, fueling Jimmy’s possessiveness and straining Rhea’s bond with Jey. Caught between the brothers and the pressures of WWE’s narrative, Rhea faces tough choices that blur the line between fiction and reality, threatening her relationship and career. Will Jey and Rhea’s connection survive the chaos?

Marilyn Monroe: This fanfic is loosely based off of Ryan's time in several mental health institutions as a teenager and her trauma bonding with an ex partner who is now deceased after his battle with depression. Some events in this fanfiction have been dramatized or changed for added effect. Marilyn Monroe has become Ryan's most popular fanfic with over 1k hits on A03 and multiple notes on Tumblr. Marilyn Monroe features a warning pasted at each chapter of the certain themes it deals with. Its premise is: Jey and Rhea are two broken souls who meet at a support group after separate suicide attempts. They form an intense, volatile connection, finding solace in each other’s pain. But as their relationship deepens, they realize their love could either pull them toward healing or push them further into their destructive tendencies.

Back To Black is Ryan's first ever Usocest fic created in secrecy. It was started on March 9th and completed June 18th. It's premise is: In the shadows of forbidden love and reckless desire, Jey Uso is ensnared. After witnessing his twin/lover, Jimmy, in betrayal’s embrace, Jey spirals into the arms of his own cousin Roman, where solace morphs into a dark addiction. As the truth claws its way toward the surface, whispers of suspicion and manipulation tighten their grip. In this game of concealed passions, every heart is at risk—and the impending revelation threatens to leave no soul unscarred.

Across the Ropes is a failed 10 chapter story focusing on Zilla Fatu and a original character. This originally planned to be a 20 chapter story but with the final chapter of Checkmate being published, Ryan chose not to continue this story.

RE:MEMORY is a grief piece. It's premise is What if the person you loved the most died—and you didn’t have to let them go? After losing his wife Rhea just 43 days into their marriage, Joshua Fatu receives a mysterious VR device that allows him to relive his memories with her in perfect detail. But as he falls deeper into the simulation, the line between grief and obsession begins to blur. Love doesn’t bring people back without taking something in return… and when you reach into the afterlife, something always reaches back. RE: Memory has begun.

ON-GOING:

No Church in the Wild is a 40-chapter, multi-decade psychological drama that follows Jimmy and Jey Uso from age 18 to 39 as they navigate a forbidden, obsessive relationship hidden beneath their wrestling careers. Split into four major acts (2003–present), the story explores themes like codependency, taboo, jealousy, religious guilt, and emotional decay. It's messy, haunting, and deeply intimate. There are no leaks, no twinswapping, and no abuse—just toxic love, heavy denial, and a bond that refuses to die, no matter who they marry or how far they run.

The Strata Trilogy: is a planned trilogy preparing to last from February 2025 to December 2025 at the most. This is next trilogy that Ryan herself has curated with several outlines and plans for this type of dynamic. Its premise is: Demi Bennett thought she was just indulging in a secret affair with Joe Anoa’i, but when he presents her with a contract, she quickly learns that desire comes at a cost—her autonomy. Now bound to his rules, she quickly learns that Obedience isn’t optional; it’s enforced. Struggling to learn the dynamics of the Fatu brothers and with Paul Heyman managing her life as efficiently as he does Joe’s career, Demi realizes she isn’t just his lover—she’s owned. As she navigates the depths of submission, one question lingers—was this truly her choice, or did she belong to him from the start?

The Fatus: loosely based of Ryan's fascination with American crime families, The Sopranos, Weeds and Goodfellas, this was number one picked fanfic to begin Ryan's summer fics. It only features one chapter as of 03/23/2025 with it's anticipated return in July. This fanfic follows Jey Uso, the head of a powerful Samoan crime family, as he struggles to balance the ruthless demands of his empire with the pressures of family life. His wife, Rhea, enjoys the privileges of being a mob wife but refuses to be just a silent partner-she's as cunning and dangerous as Jey, making her both his greatest ally and his biggest challenge. As rival factions, federal investigations, and betrayal threaten their reign, Jey and Rhea must navigate shifting loyalties and moral dilemmas while keeping their marriage from crumbling under the weight of their empire. In a world where power is everything, can love survive, or will the Fatu legacy destroy them both?

6WITCH: is a short story planning to last up to 25 to 30 chapters at the most. 6witch (pronouced Switch) was the second voted fanfic in polls that Ryan curated in last February. This fanfic explores the complex and passionate relationship between Jey Uso, Rhea Ripley, and Damian Priest, who form a secret throuple amid the pressures of their high-profile lives. As they navigate their forbidden love, the trio faces intense public scrutiny, having to carefully conceal their relationship from both the media and the public eye. As their bond deepens, they must find ways to balance their feelings with the constant fear of exposure, all while dealing with the challenges of jealousy, secrecy, and the tension of keeping their love hidden. Will they be able to protect their unconventional relationship from the world, or will the weight of society's judgment tear them apart?

📌 Blurbs & One Shot Masterlists

Blurbs and One Shots are a way for Ryan to take short breaks from her long-form fics and prevent burnout. If she can see it, she can write it! She has written for The Bloodline, The Judgment Day, Sami Zayn, and more.

Legend

💕= Smut

😂= Comedy

❤️= Fluffy

🙃= Angst

🩵= Romance

Higher - Rolleigns 💕

Gone Fishin' - Liv/Jey❤️

Friendly Competition - Solo/Rhea😂❤️

Jump - Roman/Rhea🙃

We Belong Together - Jhea🩵🙃

Hogtie - Roman/Reader💕

Get Your Ass Back Home - Rhea/Dom/Liv 🙃

Vegas - The Judgement Day & The Bloodline 😂

The Infamous Book Club - Jey/Solo/Rhea 😂

Lion's Kiss - Roman/Damian 🙃🩵

Farm Antics - Sami/Jey 🩵😂🏳️‍🌈

All The Stars - Sami/Solo 🙃🩵🏳️‍🌈

For Us - The Tongans/Reader/Jimmy 🙃

Safe - Jacob Fatu/Reader 🙃

Torn - Solo/Reader/Roman - slight 🙃💕

Control - Solo/Rhea/Jey slight 💕

Rhea for a day - Solo/Rhea/Jey 🩵😂

Crashout Jey Uso - slight Jhea 🙃

Crossing my Fingers - Sami/Jey 🙃🩵🏳️‍🌈

After Hours - Professor Jey/Reader 🙃🩵

Rock Your Hips... please and thank you - The Judgement Day/The Bloodline 😂

Tulips - Damian/Rhea 🩵❤️🙃

Watch Me - Rhea/Liv/Dom 🙃🩵

Don’t Forget About Us - Solo x Rhea 🙃🩵

Never Enough - Rhea Ripley 🙃

Rhea and Jey go to the movies - Jhea 😂

When You Can’t Feel - L4B 🙃🩵

Surprises - Damian x Rhea ❤️🩵

Fall of Him - slight Damian and Roman but not important. 🙃

Get Your Fuckin Ass Back Home - Jey x Brat!Reader 💕

Same Damn Time - Jimmy Uso x Reader x Damian Priest 💕

National Anthem - Jey Uso x Reader 💕🙃

The Teaching Assistant - Jimmy Uso x Reader 💕

Rub - Jey Uso x Reader 💕

D U Down - Jhea 💕

Enough - Jey Uso x PlusSize!Reader 💕🙃

Grind on Me - Jey Uso x Reader💕

Soundcheck - Dominik Mysterio x Reader💕

Freak - Jimmy Uso x Reader💕

Just Friends - Jey Uso x Liv Morgan 💕

Drunk In Love - Jhea 💕

HISS - Jhea 💕🐶🐾

How Many Licks? — Jimmy Uso x Reader💕

The Shaggy Uso - Jhea 😂❤️

The Sunflower Uso - Jhea 😂❤️

The Karaoke Uso - Jhea 😂❤️

The Labubu Uso - Jhea 😂❤️

The Mariachi Uso - Jhea 😂❤️

The Rockband Uso - Jhea 😂❤️

Ride Wit Me - Jhea 💕

Look Back At It - Jey Uso x Randy Orton 🏳️‍🌈💕

This lovely introduction is written by Josie A. Love you Ryan!

[scifibabee]

Scifibabe's '24 Kinktober Masterlist

hi y'all, so stoked to have you here!

below are links to each day’s prompt with a brief preview of the fics. click the links to find full summaries, relevant tags, and the ao3 link :)

xoxoxo,

Grace

Oct. 1: Handjobs – Caught In His Desire

ft. Hannibal providing his particular brand of "help" while Will's mind is on fire

Oct. 2: Voyeurism – Press Play for Horror

ft. a sex tape left for Jack, they flip!, and a bonus Jimmy + Zeller appearance

Oct. 3: Public Sex – Neon Desire

ft. bathroom sex, and top Will/bottom Hannibal

Oct. 4: Sensory Deprivation – In Hannibal's Hands

ft. autistic Will, an established relationship, and coming untouched

Oct. 5: Rough Sex – Where It Hurts

ft. vulnerable bottom Hannibal and protective top Will

Oct. 6: Anonymous Sex – Predators in the Night

ft. alternate first meeting, dark Will, top Hannibal, and more bathroom sex

Oct. 7: Virgin – Seduced for the First Time

ft. fun use of Will's empathy, top Hannibal, and a light daddy kink

Oct. 8: Cock Warming – Where Thought Dissolves

ft. agitated Will, Dom Hannibal, and subspace as therapy

Oct. 9: Praise Kink – Devour You Whole

ft. manipulation, Hannibal catching feelings, and insecure Will

Oct. 10: Face Sitting/Overstimulation – Not So Fast

ft. needy omega Hannibal, and sleepy but enthusiastic alpha Will

Oct. 11: Knife Play – Want to Feel You from the Inside

ft. what if Will showed up at Hannibal's after being released from the BSHCI with a knife instead of a gun?

Oct. 12: Breath Play/Dirty Talk – Breathless Submission

ft. under-negotiated kink but everybody has a good time anyway

Oct. 13: Aftercare – In the Quiet I Am Yours

ft. an established relationship and Will gently surfacing from subspace

Oct. 14: Collaring – In the Temple of Our Minds

ft. a collaring ceremony in their shared memory palace

Oct. 15: Teasing – Just a Touch

ft. Will stuck in a vehicle with Jack and Alana while Hannibal sends him provocative texts

Oct. 16: Nipple Play – Marveling at a Spoon

ft. stoned Hannibal, need i say more?

Oct. 17: Period Sex – Where Flesh Bleeds and Hungers

ft. trans Will, some mild gender dysphoria, and a Hannibal all too eager to make his Will feel better

Oct. 18: Massaging – Gentle Revelations

ft. non-sexual intimacy and vulnerable Hannibal

Oct. 19: Fisting – Hush Now

ft. daddy!Will, need i say more?

Oct. 20: Cuckolding – After Everything We've Been Through

ft. a woman who looks suspiciously like Alana, straight smut (stick with me pls), possessive Hannibal, and Will crying during sex.

Oct. 21: Bath Sex – Something Sacred

ft. mute Hannibal recovering from his wounds post-fall and a very tender Will

Oct. 22: Thigh Fucking – Vocal

ft. a shared motel room with only one bed, a darker Will, and bonus best friend Bev POV

Oct. 23: Breeding – In Our Own Way

ft. Will matching Hannibal's freak

Oct. 24: Somnophilia – call it love (because it is)

ft. Hannibal being creepy set sometime during S1

Oct. 25: Pussy Slapping – Count

ft. Will's been naughty!! with another appearance of trans Will :)

Oct. 26: Pegging – A Hollow Imitation

ft. an intense level of pining, Molly being a great sport, and Will coming to some rather obvious conclusions

Oct. 27: Hate Sex – Into the Abyss

ft. feral, animalistic sex following a violent altercation, and top Will

Oct. 28: Impact Play – Hurt Me

ft. Will needing release after a long day and Hannibal being only too happy to provide

Oct. 29: Branding – Blade Kissed Flesh

ft. a very possessive Will Graham and a happy-to-go-along-with-it Hannibal Lecter

Oct. 30: Sex Pollen – Into the Woods

Chapter 1, Chapter 2

ft. magical realism, Will's Becoming, and a lot of outdoor sex

Oct. 31: Free for All – I'm So Hot

ft. SELF-CEST and hand wave-y time travel stuff

[applesfallingfromblondehair]

yes preview pls 🫣🫣🫣

an innocent one to start off:

When he flips his phone closed, Ross is left listening to the silence around him. A silence full of sounds. A silence that reminds him of a heated debate they all had as a band about a year ago, when Matty gathered them all to make them listen to John Cage’s 4’33”—essentially four minutes and thirty-three seconds of silence, designed to make the listener aware of every sound around them and bring them to the realisation that perfect silence does not actually exist. Ross recalls how fascinated George was, immediately getting the concept even before Matty could begin to explain it. And also how absolutely outraged Hann got when Matty pressed stop, after the track had ended. How he said that was time he would never get back. Ross glanced between him and Matty, then, and effortlessly pointed out to Hann that every second of his life is time he would never get back. Matty looked at him enthralled, and Hann tackled Matty to the floor and called him a twat.

He holds on to that feeling as he finishes packing, abandons himself in it. His mates, their love for music, Matty’s love for him and its roots that probably dig a lot deeper than he’s ever allowed himself to hope. That’s all that matters, really.

:)

[lunaatthezoo]

The Light Between Sin & Salvation: Chapter 21

Here's jealous and possessive Az, you goddamn animals.

Chapter 21: Only You

Summary: Jealousy finds Az in an aggressive way. Beron's deadline comes closer and closer.

CW: sexual possessiveness (?)

Preview:

Beads of sweat were dripping off locks of Az’s hair as he used his good arm to throw punch after punch at Cass’s upraised hands. They had been boxing for an hour already out on the deck, and both had stripped their shirts. Az felt the impact of his punch reverberate through his arm and god it felt good. 

Not as good as fucking Elain that morning had felt, of course. Nothing in the entire goddamn infinite universe could ever feel that good. Nor the unreal fucking blowjobs she had treated as oxygen while she was on her period. But he did love boxing. 

Cass grunted as Az landed a particularly hard hook to his glove. “Jesus, are you trying to dislocate my shoulder?” Cass asked, shaking his arm out and motioning for a pause. 

Az used his bare arm to wipe some sweat from his forehead before it stung his eyes. He cracked a half-grin at his brother. “Already tapping out?”

Cass rolled his eyes. “No, but I would like a turn to throw.” 

Az chuckled and jerked his chin in invitation, raising his gloved hands up before him. Cass started in with a uppercut-hook-jab combination, executing powerful, precise blows. Az was quick and sneaky in the ring, but Cass was pure brute strength and determination. 

They worked in silence for a few minutes until Cass switched his stance, practicing a new combination. “I think I might be in love with Nesta.” 

Continue on Ao3

tag list (comment to be added!): @elrielobsessed @julesvanslutta @lesolehabitantdelalune @totallyfadedpeach-blog

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S-Classes that I Raised/My S-Class Hunters information post

내가 키운 S급들 | S-Classes that I Raised (“SCTIR”) is a completed 1,165 chapter Korean fantasy webnovel on Munpia, Naver, Ridibooks, and Kakao by 근서 | Geunseo that has been adapted into an ongoing manhwa/webcomic (My S-Class Hunters) (though the manhwa is on hiatus at the moment after the conclusion of season 1). The second cover art is by onlyraii. The novel is published by 제이플미디어 | JAYPLEMEDIA.

Manhwa adaptation summary: "Yoojin is an F-ranker overshadowed by his little brother, an S-ranker. All he does is get in his brother’s way, causing trouble wherever he goes. When a seemingly routine dungeon raid goes wrong and costs Yoojin his brother’s life, Yoojin decides to use the wish granted by clearing the dungeon to reset his timeline. The plan was to lead a quiet life from now on… but now it turns out he can help other people become S-rankers?! Maybe this is Yoojin’s chance at building his own entourage of powerful metahumans… but it may be easier said than done." - Naver Webtoon

SCTIR the webnovel has an 858-episode main story, a 14-episode Epilogue [1], a completed 167-episode Side Story (sequel) and a 128-episode Epilogue [2] (sequel). It was first published on June 29th, 2018 (Munpia), and the final episode of Epilogue [2] was released on May 8th, 2025.

The main story and epilogue were reformatted into 35 ebooks (Naver, Ridibooks, Kakao), which began publication on May 1st, 2020, and the ebooks have interior illustrations from 비완 | Biwan for volumes 1-14 and a few other artists for the other 21 volumes. Here's a post on some of the interior art that JPLE has shared online.

The ebooks also have extra scenes in various places and possible revisions, which differs from what is available in the individual episodes. The Korean ebooks also began being released in paperback in November 2024.

A guide for reading SCTIR on Munpia and Naver (this is meant for another fandom, but it's also designed to work for anyone who wants to read any similar works on Munpia and Naver).

This is meant to be a collective post for information on the novel and manhwa, as well as translations, which will update as new information comes up.

Geunseo

Geunseo is the author of the webnovel. Back in mid-2022, Geunseo replied to questions from readers in a very long Q&A, which folks shared on various platforms.

Translations of the webnovel

There is no official English translation of the webnovel, though there are a few fan translators, but most are just people putting the episodes through machine translators ("MTL") and sharing those online, or doing modified/partial MTL, which involves MTL most/all of the episode and doing partial translation/editing on the results. There is also a lot of confusion because people tend to MTL the individual episodes, not the revised ebooks, so folks reading one but not the other one are going to have different understandings of the story.

Side Stories/Sequels

There are two side stories for SCTIR, both of which are sequels to the part that came before. The order is main story (not an official name, it's just the regular story) > Epilogue [1] > Side Story > Epilogue [2]. Side Story and Epilogue are only available on Naver for some reason.

SCTIR manhwa, My S-Class Hunters

SCTIR's manhwa adaptation is published on Naver Comics / Naver Series, began publication on November 15th, 2021, and is 153 episodes long. There's a trailer from right before it released on YouTube.

The manhwa is adapted by 제이플미디어 | JAYPLEMEDIA, with principle art by 비완 | Biwan, and the head of storyboard is seri. Other crew on the team include 징개 JINGGAE | JING_GAE (assistant direction), 김피로(KPR) | tired_kim, and 한흔 | hanheunhan. A lot of the crew share previews and behind the scenes material on their twitters. Although the manhwa is very far behind the novel, the crew are generally novel fans (Biwan did art for the ebooks, after all), and they will also sometimes do fanart for recent episodes of Side Story/Afterward, so be wary if you want to avoid spoilers. The manhwa currently stops in volume 7 of the novel, around episode 168.

The manhwa also differs in many ways from the novel, which is normal for an adaptation. Changes include some chronological reorganization of events, expansion of certain characters and relationships, some modifications to skills, additional scenes, etc.

The original Korean updates weekly on Naver on Tuesdays around 10:30-11:00 AM ET, though it's currently on hiatus after the conclusion of season 1. Most translations are currently some ways behind the original Korean, so they have a bit to catch up on during the hiatus if they're ongoing.

The English translation updates weekly at 9 PM ET on Wednesdays on Webtoon, and at 00:00 ET on Wednesdays on Tappytoon. The Webtoon version is free to read, but the last several episodes are paywalled, and these episodes can be accessed by cookies (the currency on Webtoon). Guide for how to read for free on Tappytoon. SCTIR's manhwa is also available online in French (though it seems to be on a hiatus since 2022), German, Japanese (俺が育てたS級たち), Spanish (Los clase S que crié), and Thai.

April Fool's Day Jokes

Both the novel and manhwa teams, like a lot of Webtoon manhwa teams, usually do a joke post for April Fool's Day.

The 2022 joke post for the novel was seemingly a parody of the then-unreleased novel cover by onlyraii. The 2022 joke post for the manhwa was a magical girl Yoohyun parody.

The 2023 joke post for the manhwa was Yoojin, Yerim, Yoohyun, and Peace making heart signs.

The 2024 joke post for the manhwa was to have most of the cast become dinosaurs.