#How to tame Gilbert

[theimaginativelyreticent]

How to Tame a Beast [Gilbert von Obsidian Party Event]

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

His POV

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[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞-𝐭𝐨-𝐎𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 (𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟑)

Translations may not always capture the exact nuances or tone of the original text. Expect grammatical errors and inaccuracies. Not proofread.

Just as Roderich warned, Gilbert wasn't in a good mood.

Though he wore a smile, his crimson eyes held no trace of amusement.

(His anger was suffocating.)

(He's usually nice to me, but this was the infamous tyrant feared across the entire continent—a ruthless beast who has destroyed countless nations.)

(It's no wonder the whole castle is trembling when someone like him is angry.)

(That's why he's always left alone.)

Forcing my fear down, I took a step closer.

The moment I did, Gilbert looked away and stared out the window.

Gilbert: "Sometimes, I get so unbelievably pissed that I can't control my mood."

Gilbert: "I've gotten better compared to before, but I still don't feel like being nice to anyone."

Gilbert: "Staying here alone is one of the few acts of sincerity and goodwill I can offer."

Emma: "I apologize for trampling on that goodwill. But I know what you're angry about."

Gilbert: "Yeah? So Roderich told you, huh? That guy really has a soft spot for little rabbits like you."

(That was painful to hear.)

------------Flashback-----------

Roderich: "There was a report about a criminal organization involved in child trafficking operating across an entire region. We launched a raid and seized their base, but what we found when we stormed in was a scene too horrific to describe."

Roderich: "Meanwhile, the adults had been living in luxury off the money they made from selling those children."

Roderich: "It was one of the most grotesque displays of corruption in recent years, and Prince Gilbert was utterly enraged. You can guess what happened next."

---------Flashback Ends--------

(Gilbert is someone who gets angry for the sake of others.)

(He's a good guy at heart, but the angrier he gets, the less human he seems.)

This wasn't the first time he had faced something that drove him into a rage. He had always dealt with it alone.

Every time he got lost in his rage, his faith in love and kindness faded, shaping him into the beast he had become.

(It's been a long time since he's looked this much like a beast.)

Just like the first time we met, the fear of not knowing what he’d do next and the suffocating pressure gnawed at my heart.

Gilbert glanced at me, a smirk curling on his lips.

Gilbert: "Ahaha, you're shaking. Scared, aren't you? If you want to run, now's your chance."

Emma: "Even if I'm scared, I won't. That's what it means to be your fiancée."

(What's the right thing to do in moments like this?)

(I don't know, but if this cycle of rage is what keeps him from feeling loneliness, then I—)

Emma: "I won't leave you alone right now."

Emma: "I'm here to turn the beast back into a man."

(If he's been through things that make him doubt love, then I have to prove to him that love is not just an illusion.)

Gilbert: "I'm not in the mood to entertain your selfishness."

Emma: "I'm not backing down today."

------------Flashback-----------

Gilbert: "If you really want to tie down a villain, you don't beg—you control."

---------Flashback Ends--------

(Now isn't the time for 'I can't' or 'It's impossible.')

Emma: "Gil."

The moment I called his name, he finally turned to face me.

Without hesitation, I grabbed his face with both hands and kissed him.

He bit my lip right away, but I didn't pull back. Even though it hurt, I kissed him even harder.

The warmth from my lips seeped into his cold ones, bringing back a trace of humanity in him.

(But this isn't enough. Not even close.)

Gilbert: "You really think you can tame me, little rabbit?"

Emma: "You're the one who taught me how."

Gilbert: "I don't think you can do much with that trembling body of yours."

His hand rested against my neck.

He wasn't choking me, but just the mere fact that he held my life in his grasp made the trembling worse.

Emma: "It's just nerves."

Gilbert: "Heh?"

Emma: "For now, why don't we go back to your room?"

Gilbert: "So you can do something embarrassing?"

Emma: "That's right."

Gilbert: "Ahaha, you really think I'd listen to you?"

Emma: "If you won't listen, I'll just have to make you."

I straddled his lap, pinning him in place, and pressed another kiss to his lips.

At the same time, I let my fingers graze his ear, teasing it just enough to get a reaction.

(His ears are sensitive.)

Gilbert: "So you're really gonna pull this on me now?"

Gilbert: "You must have a death wish."

(..........)

The pressure on me grew even heavier, making it hard to breathe.

The fact that his killing intent and overwhelming presence hadn't faded in the slightest made me wonder—was this really just anger, or was he testing me?

(If that's the case, I can't back down now.)

Emma: "If you don't like it, then do what I ask."

I brought my lips close to his ear and nibbled it gently.

But before I could go any further, his cold fingers traced the nape of my neck, sending a shiver down my spine.

Gilbert: "Tell me, little rabbit, do you really want me to take my anger out on you that badly?"

He buried his face in the crook of my neck and sank his teeth into my skin, making me whimper.

Savoring my reaction, he ran his tongue over the spot, and my heartbeat pounded so hard I couldn't tell if it was from fear or something else entirely.

Gilbert: "After seeing that kind of corruption, I can't help but wonder… just how long will you be able to stay kind to me?"

Gilbert: "How long will you be able to love me?"

(I knew it.)

Emma: "If you're just going to sit there brooding, then take it all out on me as much as you want."

Emma: "No matter what you think, I'd rather have it that way."

(Because as long as you're taking your anger out on me, it means there's still a part of you that wants to believe in love.)

(Just how many times has Gilbert been let down by humanity like this?)

I ran my fingers through his hair, then pulled him into another embrace.

Gilbert: "In that case, I guess you could take me back to my room. It's not like I can take my frustration out on you here, right?"

I led the tense beast back to his room, then let my clothes slip to the floor, showing my resolve.

I pushed aside the hesitation creeping in and faced him directly.

The moment I did, he gently grabbed the back of my neck and pushed me face-down onto the bed.

Gilbert: "You know, I think you've got the wrong idea about something."

Gilbert: "When I said take control, I didn't mean making someone lose all sense of reason."

Emma: "Huh? Then what do you—ah!"

Part 1 ╎ Part 2 ╎ Part 3 ╎ Part 4

[mythographers]

In Season 2, Galadriel's autonomy is consistently undermined. Her voice is silenced, she is mansplained, and choices are removed from her hands. Her authority is diminished by being demoted from leadership roles and by giving up Nenya, which forces Adar to bargain with Elrond instead of her. When Adar tells her to be silent while he deals with Elrond, it shows her reduced autonomy. The men in the room bargain over her and over her ring. She is a bargaining piece, no different from the ring she gave up.

In Season 1, Galadriel was exiled because she was seen as irrational, broken. A ‘mad woman’ whose defiance could no longer be tolerated by the elves. As noted in feminist literary criticism, Madwoman in the Attic, women who step outside societal norms are framed as unstable and cast out. 

When Galadriel was exiled, she defied male authority when she leapt from the ship.

In Season 2, she obeys because her previous defiance of male authority was the root of her mistake. Madwoman in the Attic notes women who challenge authority must either be tamed/retrained or erased. Galadriel’s autonomy is restricted until she admits her mistakes and accepts the role the narrative gives her. She must be humbled and self-reflective, aligning with the male authority she once defied. Only then can she confront and resist Sauron.

Galadriel is allowed to defy Sauron because he falls outside the bounds of legitimate male authority. As the villain, he is an external threat to the social order. But when she challenges men who represent the accepted order, her defiance is framed as transgressive, something that must be corrected. Feminist critique notes women’s agency is only valued when it aligns with what male authority approves of, and their power is only admired when it fits within those boundaries.

The shift from Galadriel’s exile to her submission in Season 2 highlights how narratives often force women to ‘learn their place.’ She reenters the fold after she is no longer a threat to the social order.

It’s easy to challenge Sauron’s views because the narrative opposes him, but what the narrative frames as 'right' shouldn’t be beyond scrutiny. Cultural biases shape storytelling. When stories about women are written by men, their internalized biases shape those narratives.

Galadriel is the only female character in this storyline and the focus on her mistake and how it reflects on her person is disproportionate. While Galadriel is made to reflect on her character flaws that led to Sauron’s rise, Celebrimbor is spared similar narrative condemnation of his person. He dies, but it is triumphant. Morfydd Clark once said she loved that Galadriel didn’t know shame. But Galadriel in S2 was shamed for who she was. 

Throughout history, stories have often reinforced the idea that women must know their place in society—subdued, obedient, and in harmony with male authority. In works like Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, defiant women were 'tamed' to conform to societal expectations.

In Game of Thrones, Daenerys Targaryen’s defiance of male advisors like Tyrion and Jon Snow coincides with her descent into 'Mad Dany,' framed as uncontrollable and ultimately killed by Jon. When she aligned with their expectations, her power was admired. But once she stepped outside their approval, the narrative eliminated her. She went mad so her death was justified.

With a new season, I hope Galadriel’s autonomy is intact, regardless of whether she aligns with the expectations of others.

“a life of feminine submission, of “contemplative purity,” is a life of silence, a life that has no pen and no story, while a life of female rebellion, of “significant action,” is a life that must be silenced, a life whose monstrous pen tells a terrible story.” - The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination by Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar

[traumasurvivorshelpingsurvivors]

Struggling with self-compassion?

Recommended Reading:

Bluth, K. (2017). The Self-Compassion Workbook for Teens: Mindfulness and Compassion Skills to Overcome Self-Criticism and Embrace Who You Are. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.

Brach, T. (2003) Radical Acceptance: Embracing your life with the heart of a Buddha. New York: Bantam.

Brach, T. (2020). Radical Compassion. NY: Penguin.

Brown, B. (2010). The Gifts of Imperfection. Center City, MN: Hazelden.

Desmond, T. (2015). Self-Compassion in Psychotherapy: Mindfulness-Based Practices for Healing and Transformation. Norton.

Germer, C. K. (2009). The mindful path to self-compassion: Freeing yourself from destructive thoughts and emotions. New York: Guilford Press.

Germer, C. K. & Neff, K. D. (2019). Teaching the Mindful Self-Compassion program: A guide for professionals.  New York: Guilford Press.

Gilbert, P. (2009). The compassionate mind. London: Constable.

Hickman, S. (2021).  Self-Compassion for Dummies. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.

Neff, K. D. & Germer, C. K (2018). The Mindful Self-Compassion workbook: A proven way to accept yourself, find inner strength, and thrive.  New York: Guilford Press.

Neff, K. D. (2021). Fierce Self-Compassion: How Women Can Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Their Power, and Thrive. New York:  Harper Wave.

Neff, K. D. (2011).  Self-Compassion: The proven power of being kind to yourself.  New York:  William Morrow.

Pollak, S. (2019). Self-Compassion for Parents: Nurture your child by caring for yourself. New York: Guildford Press.

Shapiro, S. (2020).  Good Morning I Love You.  Boulder, Sounds True.

Silberstein-Tirch, L. (2019) How to Be Nice to Yourself: The Everyday Guide to Self Compassion. San Antonio, TX: Althea Press

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Beltzner, E. (2019).  How to tame the tumbles:  The mindful and compassionate way.  Ontario: Mosaic Press.

Garcia, G. (2017). Listening with My Heart: A story of kindness and self-compassion. Gabi Garcia Books.

Marlowe, S. (2016). My new best friend. Summerville, MA: Wisdom Publications.

O’Leary, W.  (2023).  It’s OK: Being kind to yourself when things feel hard.  Bala Kids.

Source

[scummy-writes]

The Obsidian ballroom is so rarely used for it's intended purpose. Instead, it had been home to brutal displays of corrupt nobility, and only in its recent years had that filth been scrubbed clean, ordered by the last prince of the Obsidian family. A man who spent countless days in his childhood wishing to be able to dance in such a room with his beloved. Spending long evenings learning each dance, practicing to become perfect for his future bride. Who finally, finally, was able to live out that dream.

With a heavy creak, embellished doors slowly open, drawing giggles and shushing into the wide room. Little hands push as hard as they might against the oak doors, before bigger, gloved hands push the rest of it open. Within moments, a small gasp rings out, followed by hurried steps out to the middle of the floor. It's followed by Gilbert's, along with the thump of his cane.

The young Obsidian princess looks around the room with bright eyes, twirling to take in all the windows and decor have to offer. At last, she stops to look at her father, excitement gleaming.

"You'll really teach me?"

"I don't lie, little bunny." He teases, unlatching his cloak to set aside for now, "your uncle Roderic says you've been doing well on your studies, and I always follow through on my promises."

Giddy, she bounces in place for a few seconds, getting her burst of excitement tamed, "how will you teach me?"

Gilbert smiles, standing in front of his daughter with his hand outstretched, bowing slightly with an arm behind him. She giggles, mimicking him in a curtsy before taking his hand with her smaller one. In seconds, Gilbert draws her closer, chuckling as he encourages her to place her feet on top of his.

"Hold on, and pay attention to how your feet move. Remember the pacing."

With a carefulness no one would have expected from the man with countless bodies lay to rest in his past, he steps around the ballroom with his daughter in tow, counting the steps in a quiet one, two, three before dissolving into humming a tune with the same pattern.

His daughter clutches tightly, smile never leaving her face. It's only when he picks her up to twirl her that she erupts into laughter again. At last, they take a moment to rest, attention caught by the view the room brings.

Gilbert pats her on the head lightly, musing privately about the history of this room, now washed away by the memories of his loved ones.

"Where's mama?"

"She's busy making a surprise gift for me, but don't tell her that I know," he presses a finger to his lips, smiling when she nods in agreement, "why do you ask?"

"Can I watch you and mama dance? I promise I won't interupt! I bet I can even play my violin for you to dance to!"

"Hehe, of course. But we'll have lots of kisses while doing so."

"Ewww, gross!" She pulls a face, and the two of them dissolve into laughter.

i just thought it was a cute idea.

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[memoria-99]

IkePri routes short comments and personal rankings

* All of these are my personal thoughts.

1st Gilbert

Traumatized villain with death wish. Not a fun route, relatively heavy plots, twisted romance, but a good "villain" route. Emma has real great mentality and very brave, loved how she handled the situation and the relationship. Also the best adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast" theme.

2nd Clavis (Tie)

Four-dimensional troublemaker. The first half was funny thanks to all sorts of weird events and the second half was interesting to see dealing stuff this guy was secretly doing. I liked the romance and chemistry between the two. Emma was very cool and proactive.

2nd Silvio (Tie)

Sharp tongued, materialistic brat. Endless bickering between the two was overall fun to read and though there were moments that I wanted to punch this guy, eventually grew to like him. Used to wonder why so many people love this brat but I get why. Loved how sassy Emma was too.

3rd Nokto

Sly playboy. I think I like these kind of foxy character. Has a sad past. I liked the route because the guy was very smart and Emma was quite cool. What I didn't like was that the romance seemed to be leaning toward too erotic after the two became official.

4th Yves

Star-crossed tsundere kitty. The guy himself was very cute, and the romance between the two was cute and heartwarming as well. But they are both grown ass adults in their 20s and yet their romance was like that of teens.... why.

5th Chevalier

Coldhearted genius. The second best adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast" theme. I liked the process of Emma taming him. But didn't quite like that the guy has the upperhand still. This was the only route that Emma didn't call her suitor only by given name till the very end, so...

6th Licht

Severely depressed one. I liked the heavy story and realistic romance. But, although he's kind he has almost no self-esteem, is a master of self-deprecation, and his past is seriously dark, making me feel depressed as well. I know he's loved by many, but just not my cup of tea.

7th Leon

Charismatic, good-natured brother type. Typical fairytale prince. Has a sad past, but speaking of past, there're handful who are worse than him here... The most ordinary route. I don't remember much honestly.

8th Keith

Double personality. One is very kind and the other is rather bratty. Whole premise itself was interesting but two are so different... and made the romance look like a weird love triangle.

9th Rio

Loyal doggo who always loves Emma. But the route was kinda disappointing, I think it's only meaningful in a way that his love met a happy ending for once.

10th Sariel

Felt more like a "common route" in other games where romance does not exist. I didn't see much meaningful interaction between the two. At least I liked that Emma did best in her role as Belle in this route, but that's all.

11th Jin

Seriously remember nothing about the route except that it was very boring.

12th Luke

A sleepy bear turned into a crazy bear.

PLUS

1. I love the ways "sinner" LIs are written in this game, including Gilbert and Licht, and how Emma deals with those. Instead of trying to just reassure it's okay don't let that bother you, she's like "I know what you did cannot be forgiven, nothing can change that, but I'll embrace even that part of you and lead you to step forward"

2. I love that in the two bastards' route Emma ended up 'winning' them. In Gilbert's it was mentioned that he's the one who was conquered, and Silvio's he thought that it looks like he's the one with the collar.

[princess-pray-a]

Characters: Gilbert, Chevalier, Clavis reader

Paring: Gilbert X reader

Words count: 750

Synopsis : Clavis and KING Chevalier visit Obsidian as Rhodolite representative on birth of Gilbert and former belles (your) child. As Gilbert let's them meet the baby they both witness something that leaves them surprised and smiling in the end .

Gilbert holds his little baby just so precious, his eyes so soft on her his bloodlust gone the room felt so calm like a shrine ! Everyone including Clavis and Chevalier could feel that the conqueror beast was conquered by a little kid , something not even the most genius of men could do . His smile is so care free as he gazes at his little daughter . “ My little tiny bunny , you look soo much like your mother , let daddy protect you ok !?” He speaks to her his tone coated in honey, after coming out from his world of happiness a joy after being a father for the first time Gilbert glances at Clavis and Chevalier .” Fufu look how cute is my daughter Chev I bet you are jealous but you too have been an uncle , And Clavis I hope you won’t drag my little one into your pranks ! But I am assured you will help me like a good friend won’t you !?”. “ The mood grew slightly tense as Clavis understood who it was before him . The conqueror beast was a beast after all now a protective one . Chevalier heaved a sigh “ Ridiculous, I don’t care”. He was almost going to leave the room when Gilbert blocked his way out .” Aha nope nope atleast have a look at her , no wait fufu hold her see for yourself how charming she is!” With the gleeful smile Gilbert hands his daughter to Chevalier , Chevalier who was clearly annoyed now holds the infant with somewhat awkward clumsy handle on her yet being careful not to hurt or drop the little one . When he gazes at her face her brown doe like eyes sparkle and a giggle escapes her lips while her hands extends towards him, trying to grab him , Chevalier who always had even adults cowering at his intense icy gaze felt a sense of warmth and surprise at how this baby was clearly enjoying herself held by a man known as brutal beast , it probably was because she herself was the daughter of the women with the most beautiful heart in rodholite “ BELLE” and the conqueror beast as her father. Chevalier smiled a little the same soft smile he rarely showed some selected people . “ Ah Chev smiled ! Wow she even won over the brutal beast “. Clavis exclaimed . “ hhaha didn’t I say you Clavis … she “ Gilbert was trying to explain about how wonderful his daughter is when he got interrupted, he couldn’t believe his ears “ ma.. ma … mama” his little baby was looking towards the door while held by chevalier, there stood the love of his life mother of his daughter , you , THE WOMEN. WHO ONCE WAS BELLE. That was your daughters first words . You and Gilbert rushed to her but she was not done yet . “ pa.. pa .. papa fuuup “ she called gilbert. Chev holding the baby didn’t know what to do . He was confused why were both you and Gilbert acting so strange its just some words by a baby while Gilbert and you both were tongue tied and almost going to burst to tears. “That’s our baby’s first time speaking “ Gilbert spoke softly . Now he gets it getting to witness a child’s first time speaking is definitely something to behold he realized how warm Gilbert gaze felt . But what he didn’t anticipate was the child’s next move .“ cheu, chewu, chev “ she called out to him with her so precious smile . How could someone so small be so courageous . It wasn’t anything big but it was big for chevalier it was Important for him. And not only him she glance at Clavis and started calling out to him as well “ clai, clavi, Claveshee “ . Now it was Clavis’s turn to run to Chevaliers side “ dearie me ! You are definitely dangerous taming 3 beasts as soon as you start speaking How am i going to leave your side when you call out to me soo lovingly !you are going to be more courageous than your mother who married the world wide disaster !”Captivating the brutal beast , the conqueror beast and the pleasure loving beast all at once with her charms your little baby was definitely was an enigma who was to turn the world upside down ! . You thought as Chevalier handed you your baby while Gilbert pressed a kiss to your forehead ! While the four of you made your way to the gardens to witness something even more wonderful with you little life in arms.

THE END …

A/N CONGRATULATIONS ON MAKING TO THE END ! I was soo much in awwe with the new card for gilbert in jp where emma has been changed to kid it made me write it💓💓💫😌 my hearttt feels blessed hope you like it !!

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[the-scribe-and-her-scribbles]

I tried to choose one part that I wanted you to talk about but they're all so good I couldn't choose 😭 So instead, here's a ⭐ to talk about the part you've been dying to talk about

Warning! This gets steamy towards the end!!!

----------

I think I really want to talk about feral!Gilbert.

I have a lot of thought on how I wanted to write the Fae/unseen folk. I wanted the fae-folk to have something off about them. Just that when a human were to look at them for long enough you could catch a glimpse of something else, or maybe a lack of something, like how the closer you look the less you actually see.

I wanted it to be very clear that Gilbert is not human. He’s a fae, a creature, a monster. Not some fairy prince.

In the unseen seen world, Gilbert’s body and soul are at home, so to speak, so he has an easy time holding in his true form, especially when he’s around you.

In fact most civilized fae are able to hold back the feral creatures the the wild magic makes them, even if for some it’s harder then others.

He loves you. And he loves you in a way that is gentle for his kind, with soft touches and vigilant eyes that keep you safe in their view. These are the tame parts of him, the places he keep separate from what the wild magic makes him, the parts he’s kept alive only for you. He loves you, and he doesn't want to upset you, so the charming, almost normal side of him is still of use to him.

But he's still fae, he's still a monster, and this means he loves you in all the dark and sharp ways too.

He would never hurt you, his soul wouldn’t let him, but his soul also drives him towards you like a wounded animal on bloody paws. His limbs bloody and aching, pain at the back of his mind as he throws himself, drags himself closer to you.

He’s a fae and you're his soulmate, his other half, so your his.

(Why couldn’t he keep you? He’d keep you safe, oh so safe. And well fed and well fucked. You’d love it if you were his. He would bring you any clothing or jewelry you could think of, he’d build you a library where you could sit and read forever, he’s even go get you that half-fae, Basil, that you met in Arbourly, to bring you novels from that human world you love so much. There is nothing he wouldn’t do for you if it meant he could keep you, so let him, let him, l̴̰̮͎͈͠e̴̩̰̥̋̍̐̏t̴̝̱̒̿ ̷͕̚ḫ̴̱̤̗́i̷̩͛̍��́͝m̵̮̓.)

If Maus does manage to get back to her human world, Gilbert isn't staying behind. Just because you're back home, doesn't mean your free of him.

Unlike in the Unseen world, Gilbert has a much harder time blending in. He rarely ever had to visit before you, and the mortal air messes with him. When his magic seeps out, its far more noticeable. His pale form seems to flicker in and out when not looking directly at him. You can almost see something else in his place, darker and smokey, whipping away at the edges like ash.

And Gilbert acts different too... more intense. He's almost aways there, following you. Either from far back behind you, (you think he like pretending to stalk you) or right at your side, holding your arm in his and helping you to where you need to go.

He's lingering, appearing in your room and around corners, unable to keep his hands to himself. He's rubbing his hands up the sides of your arm and whispering soft things to you. Other times, he's grabbing at you (you can swear you feel claws when he does.) He's still kind, just protective? possessive? Nipping at your cheeks and neck. If you aren't wearing gloves, he's even kissing and nipping your wrists. Muttering about how 'they(???) keep coming loose', how he'll have to give you more.

So he gives you things. Kisses and affections, small trinkets and foods, because he's a fae, and they gain little tethers with the humans they give favours too. He doesn't do it to lord over you or control you, just to protect you, keep tied to you, strengthen the ties that he already has from your deal you made all that time ago, and to protect your soul-tie.

It makes that dark thing inside him purr (you swear you've felt it one or twice). All those golden string, the single red one of your fates intertwined.

Make no mistake Reader, Gilbert has no intention of letting you go anywhere without him. You're his. He knows this, and you know this. But he's also yours. And he tells you this often.

"You can go anywhere, Maus," he whispers, hot breath (unnaturally so) fanning on the space behind your ear. You whine out at him and Gilbert can't stop himself from pressing you further into one of the bookshelves behind you counter of your father's store. Your skirt is hiked up around your waist, his hips pressed to your center with your knees help up by his arms. "But I'll follow you. I'm yours, hum? Say it, say I'm yours, say you love me, Schatz." He kisses you again and when you pulls away, you nod your head. You're whole body is as if its been set aflame. The lovely strings tied to your soul tug and pull in the most delicious way.

"Your mine, Gilbert. I love you," and as the words leave your mouth, his eyes burn brightly with devotion. "Thank you, Maus."

You smile into the next kiss.

-----

This was not edited. Forgive me for errors!!!

I am heavily inspired by @ghouljams portrayal of the Fae (especially soul ties. I think its such a great way to describe fae deals!!!) I wish I had their works to read when I was starting my Fae au years ago, because I agree with them so much. If you like Call of Duty, and like Fae AU's , you’ll love their stuff!

Tags???: @jtownraindancer @redrosesociety1 @xxruinaxx

[imma-devil]

Girls & Boys - blurb

Pairings: Oberyn Martell x fem!reader x Ellaria Sand, Matt Murdock x fem!reader x Elektra Natchios, Damon Salvatore x fem!reader x Elena Gilbert,

Warnings: NSFW (Minors dni)

Tags: Threesomes (MFF), Bisexual [used as an umbrella term], switch!reader, food play, cunnilingus, fingering, shifting position, fainting, multiple orgasms, praise, degradation, bruises, making out, cum eating, oral fixation?, love bites, choking, finger fucking, cum shower, first time, teasing, little to no proofreading.

Word Count: 1,287

A/N: I have fed my bisexual fantasies, I will sleep good tonight. My third piece for Lazy Ghouls Spooktober under prompt 'threesomes.'

You can not take my work or translate it without my permission. This piece of fiction is mine, and only the characters belong to their original creators.

Oberyn Martell and Ellaria Sand

Both are vocal with their praises in adoration of you. 

Oberyn is far more doting in his praise, opting to whisper how good you make him feel in your ear or compliment your beauty while you ride him. When he’s between your legs, he likes to smother the compliments that flow from his lips into your clavicle… his Dornish accent growing heavier with each second he comes closer to release. 

Ellaria is different. She throws out compliments with the energy of a command, intertwining demeaning language in between. “You’re so good to me my pretty little whore~” she’d usher out between aches and moans as she rode your tongue. 

Oberyn and Ellaria both chose you, but let’s be honest… Ellaria is the one who really picked you. Oberyn loves all women and is willing to please the many if granted the choice. He treats you nicely, but it’s Ellaria who acts as if you belong to her. She parades you for all to see like you’re a prize. 

Ellaria often likes to watch Oberyn have his way with you. But you’re not innocent, you purposely give her lustful glances or all-out keep eye contact with Ellaria; no matter if Oberyn’s hips are snapping into yours or if he’s spending endless minutes between your legs tending to your core. 

When you do this, Ellaria more than likely just observes and smirks at your playful nature. But sometimes, if you push her too far, she’ll shamelessly lift her dress to toy with her heat with her fingers. She’ll make sure you can both hear her moans. 

Once Oberyn has worked you over the edge more than enough times, he’ll tend to his wife. He’d bend her over your torso, making sure you feel every thrust no matter how exhausted you are. 

When he cums, he makes sure to pull out so he can share his spend amongst you two. His ropes of cum coating Ellaria’s back and your tits. For good measure, he’d swipe through the white coat with his two fingers, just so that he could find it a place on your tongue. 

When one of your many escapades is finished, Ellaria feeds fruit platters by hand into Oberyn's mouth. But, don’t feel left out. Oberyn will be sure to cradle the ripe grapes or strawberry slivers between his teeth so that he can share them with you. He likes the taste mixture when he kisses you. 

Ellaria will get jealous. She’ll take over, kissing you so longingly that the night begins again. She’ll repeat mantras between heated breaths, “Mine” “You’re mine, little viper.”

Oberyn will watch contentedly for a little while before joining in on the fun. 

Matthew Murdock and Elektra Natchios

Matt will definitely be in a mood when you three finally get it on for the first time. He gets quiet, thrumming with energy that he can barely contain. Unable to quell the devil within him, especially with all the history that rests between him and Elektra. 

Elektra, who on the battlefield acts like a wild panther, is tamed to a house cat when under the attention of both you and Matt. She becomes pliable under Matt’s rough hands and reduced to whimpers when you work her sensitive bud with your tongue. 

Elektra becomes increasingly more sensitive with Matt’s hand around her throat, his hips rolling to meet hers, dragging out a moan from her lips with every thrust. After all, Matt typically liked to take things slow, opting to savor it. 

Matt would fight off release at the glide of your tongue on his shaft, prodding at his head in sparse intervals each time he unsheaths himself from Elektra’s cunt.

A frequent position revisited by the group has you on your back in missionary for Matt; Elekra mounting you with her back arched and ass presented. Matt plows into you from this position, his hands marking deep bruises into your hips. All while your hand reaches around Elektra’s thigh, plunging two fingers into her eager pussy. Elektra would be fucked dizzy from your fingers, trying to ground herself by latching her lips onto yours. 

Once you’d cum more than one time from Matt’s cock, he would switch to Elektra, fucking up into her with a speed that left her breathless. She wouldn’t be able to think, especially with you rubbing tight circles onto her clit. 

After Elektra cums, likely for a fourth or fifth time, she quite literally passes out. Every time this happens, you and Matt often dote on her. The two of you cleaning up, especially when looking after her. Matt would have a content smile resting peacefully upon his lips. 

Any time the three of you have sex, it likely ends in you and Matt having idle conversation before you all sleep the night off. When you wake, Elektra always makes a show of wearing Matt’s shirt. The article of clothing often looks like a dress on her tiny frame. 

Elektra would return to her sharp flirtations and witty remarks as if nothing happened. But you and Matt both know that you could reel her in with a few simple moves. 

Damon and Elena 

Elena is needy. The only way this works is if you accommodate that. So, be ready to have to direct your energy towards her in any relationship, including physical. But, lucky for you, Elena actually was okay with a threesome with her boyfriend’s best friend. Funnily enough, it was her idea. It would also be her first time with a partner of the same sex, as well as her first time having a threesome. 

When things started off, Damon sat in audience with a glass of bourbon; the buttons of his black shirt undone as he slumped into the couch. He mirrors a separate couch, there seated are you and Elena.

She kneels in front of you, her hands pressing into her thighs in a clear display of anxiousness. Even the rock music that plays faintly in the background doesn’t ease her nerves. 

You ask for her permission with every move; allowing you to comb your fingers through the silkiness of her straight hair, lifting her chin in a delicate hold, and placing cautious kisses on her plush lips. Eventually, her hands migrate to drape over your shoulders, signaling a slight release of her hesitancy. 

It's not long before Damon abandons his empty glass to sit behind her, gently kneading his fingers into her dainty shoulder blades. His mouth found its spot against the pulse point of her neck, leaving pink blemishes as he traveled up the length of her fair skin to linger below her jaw. 

Elena lifts her head to offer him room, growing heavy on her shoulders. You decide to reflect his actions, following what Damon knows to already be successful in wooing the Gilbert girl. Elena shivers at the sensation, not used to the second person. A faint whimper makes its way past her lips, to which you and Damon both smile.  

As the night progresses, you end up behind Elena’s back, the two of you lying on Damon’s bed in the boarding house. You support her weight as she leans into you. Damon stands at the bedpost, between her legs. He’s purposeful with his languid thrusts, which you accent with your fingers on Elena’s clit. Your other hand traces the curves of her body, slowly traversing the smoothness of her skin. 

Elena likes being pampered, and it shows in the arousal coating her legs. 

“Look at how wet you are,” Damon boasts with a mischievous glint. 

Elena is silent besides the moans that fill the room like a song, hiding her face behind her hands in embarrassment.

[waterparksdrama]

ok track by track review of Intellectual Property. GO!

as you wish anon. be warned this is literally like one of maybe 4 times i've listened to this album in full again

st*rfucker - a bit too saccharine on first listen but it has better replay value as time goes on. the beginning of the shoehorned jesus lyrics and the continuation of limo imagery to represent fame which is actually fitting admittedly bc just like a limo that is supposed to represent glamour and celebrity living, they are just as widespread and accessible as him and aren't really that glamorous at all. also this is me saying again wow he complains a lot about fame for someone who isn't really that famous. i still hate the cutoff at the end bc. cmon man. 7/10

real super dark - ok i did like the gilbert gottfried inspired melody i think that's fun actually. the song lyrics? uhhhhhh. just more complaining. if you have listened to any of the albums since fandom you are not missing much there other than the otto serial killer jokes he has inserted here? which is a choice i guess. instrumental is great tho. i feel incredibly stupid listening to a lot of the other parts of the song tho. 7/10

funeral grey - god i can't bear listening to this one on my own i'm sorry. live it's fine, but the studio recording i would rather kill myself than listen to again. IT'S SO ANNOYING. the terrible overenunciated vocals. awsten's attempt at humor by writing these wattpad fic lyrics that make me cringe to my core because i know there's a part of him being genuine. the one direction ripoff hook because he managed to get one of 1d's actual songwriters to help write the track. the only saving grace is the ending but at that point it's too late for any redemption. 2/10

brainwashed - ironically this was written with the 1d guy again and. i'm actually fine with this one LOL. it's simple and lowkey so it's considerably less annoying than funeral grey. considering awsten said the lyrics on this album were hypersexual, but it's 2023 so this is fairly tame, it just makes me wonder how much he has repressed in his psyche. 6/10

2 best friends - ok now we're back to simple annoying. if you tune out the lyrics enough, it sounds like disney channel filler music. but it's actually about ~~sExxxx~~ hahahahaha everything about this album so far is like reading fanfics clearly written by middle schoolers. awsten's sad about his situationship so he goes out with his 2 best friends to forget but it doesn't work :( but he could just fuck his friends bc it wouldn't hurt to try at this point. hey what if this was what the song was actually about that because in travis' insane songfic he made jawn and awsten hook up during this chapter #neverforget #riptravisficeventhoughmebitchingontumblrmadehimkillit 4/10

end of the water (feel) - hearing awsten try to hit those high notes reminded me of people saying brendon straining on his high notes on the last panic tour was like hearing a dog that needed to be shot out back for its own good. this is very obviously a charlie puth ripoff to the t because not only does he hit high notes that no man should ever reach, but i'm pretty sure the verse instrumentals rip off "light switch" by charlie. anyways more of "ughhhhh i'm not getting a text backkkkkk" that makes me want to throw awsten's phone into the pacific. i still don't know why kurtis conner is here and how this is supposed to relate to any of this at all. also actually now that i'm crossing checking the genius pages for these, the descriptions for these songs make them sound much better than they actually are lol. 3/10

self-sabotage - this one is mid on it's own but funny because i remember the amount of twitter discourse this song has spawned. "awsten's being toxic and misogynistic" did we not listen to some of the songs off fandom "awsten has bpd" what if he just sucks sometimes. the memories of this are more memorable than the song itself. 5/10

ritual - remember when i found out the soundbyte at the beginning was from an aids psa. good times. fine song other than the shoehorned soundbyte. the entire song is just a repetition of the verses and chorus like a ~~ritual~~ spooky! i like the flair vincente void adds with his screams i feel like this feature makes more sense because it's a song about protecting yourself from the doctrines of religion that harmed you when you were growing up and apparently vincente has known awsten since he was 13???? only thing i hate is the corpse ripoff ending so much so that i have a personal version where i edited that out. 8/10

fuck about it - BORINGGGGGG OH MY GODD. if you've heard one blackbear feature, congrats you've heard them all because they all sound the same and blackbear adds no energy whatsoever. he made a bayside instrumental sound boring you really can't underestimate him. anyways back to the song itself; the situationship has dissolved into pure sex and disinterest and annoyance outside of that and with the way awsten sounds like he plans having hate sex, i don't think he's ever had hate sex before. there's the ending synth i think is fun and that's the only reason this gets a point at all. 1/10

closer - it's a sweet song but um. haven't we heard this in a way before? *cough cough 21 questions* i think this is the closest (lol) parx comes to at a return to pre-fandom form, but when i listen to the chords too much i'm just like "did he lowkey rip off that one smashing pumpkins song". anyways it's just about needing to be closer to someone or ending the relationship completely. simple but effective but not nearly as effective as 21 questions for me sorry. 7/10

a night out on earth - ok i had physical tickets to the last tour bc i won them on idobi so i was like "THIS SONG BETTER BE AT LEAST DECENT BC I STILL HANG UP THE TICKET WITH THIS NAME" and it was at the least. it's like. a good waterparks song, but i feel like i've heard it already? my mind goes back to see you in the future but for these i can't tell who's ripping off who more lol. yeah i feel like other than some interesting production here and there it's a rehash of shit we already heard before. shoehorned religious lyric. fake ass band guys. "i turn my agony into songs and people only like when i'm hurt". "i've been dead since 2016" (part two). "i'm evil now. idgaf. wat ever."

and then i think the part that makes me go awwww but also confuses me is the im a natural blue radio interview snippet? like why does this all tie in together now. geoff's not even here bro how is this the only release where otto's the only one namedropped when awsten hasn't even named dropped him until last album. 80% the album is about some random relationship how is this supposed to tie into all of these.

idk i feel like i've just had this on my mind when when of my mutuals made their own analysis on awsten's mindsets towards life and said how he uses fear as motivation but his perfectionism keeps him from using failure as an editor and how this song was the peak example of this; the rehash of the same ideas over and over because despite his stubbornness, despite "ultimately -not- giving in to the perception that you’re worth ‘Demonizing'", he never confronts the problem for real, just compartmentalizes the problem away and doesn't truly overcome the root of his problems. that's what i feel like manifests in this album for me to be put off by it at its core. nothing ever changes, he just finds a new situation to complain at. maybe that's also why his fans never change even as new ones come though. maybe that's why we also stay stagnant in this with him.

again i get it, he's a public figure; if he did dive too deep into this and didn't choose to generalize the lyrics for his own sake, he would probably end up incriminating himself way too much and have a hard time performing some of these songs. but i can't help but wonder. if he's truly getting over a mental obstacle like that, or keeps himself so set on the future that he ignores the problems he never solved. like he always does. like he always seems to be doomed to. anyways, 7/10 song.

all in all, it's an album that tries to reach a concept of coming to terms with your sexuality and religious trauma all entwined in fame but in reality it's mostly just about a sucky situationship and awsten complaining again while putting in random religious references sometimes and the beginning and ending are about fame. my hot takes are: tennis imagery = gay sex, there's not enough of a distinction between "soulsucker" and awsten to make "album lore" when the overarching concept of parx's discography is "awsten's life sucks", and darth vader is luke's father. - iz

[theimaginativelyreticent]

Ikemen Prince - Gilbert von Obsidian

I haven't uploaded/attached all the stories yet but I have everything listed here. But for some events, just Epilogues.

Collection Event:

Stuck With You - Main Story // His POV

IkePri 2024 Election Event

Christmas with You

Make Me Your Sinner

Story Event:

Forever with You

Dreams of a Beast [3rd Anniversary] - Chp 1 || Chp 2 || Chp 3 || Epilogue

Beast in Heat

Haunted Night - Chp1 || Chap 2 || Premium End || Epilogue

Birthdday Story

Make Me Feel Alive

Birthday Story Set 2nd Year

Party Event

How to Tame a Beast

💗💗Ikepri MasterList 💗💗 Main Masterlist 💗💗

[chatterbox-juice]

Juno is important. according to AJHQ on their insta, Juno is NOT an alpha but an ancient hero, which is interesting, because if Juno isn't an alpha, then canonically the arctic wolves has no alpha. for my AU, i've been considering reviving Juno, not because of author's bias, but because narratively, Juno is THE protector of Balloosh, the newest land added to the game. and I don't want to create an Arctic wolf alpha bc

A: shamans can't create anymore shamans after the phantoms (which i'm changing a bit)

B: that's boring

C: the implications of bringing someone from the past back to the present is somewhat horrifying

but yeah, Juno is OLDER than the shamans, and in my au I said "nuh-uh" because I couldn't think of a way of Juno being older that fits the timeline. correction, I just didn't like it.

in the game, they have two major connections to presumably (100%) dead alphas; Star and Fang, the direwolf and sabertooth alphas respectively. Fang is unimportant, and Star is mildly more important than Fang.

Now, while Balloosh really shines in the Juno Era to the Hexagram Era, it existed as far back as the Culture Era, if we're talking about it being established. the land Balloosh was established on most likely existed in the early history eras.

but anyway, to make sense of Peck, Greely, Gilbert, Liza, Graham, and Cosmo being the original six shamans, Star and Fang will no longer be shamans. they'll be important figures, like pack leaders (did sabertooths and direwolves form packs??), but not shamans. Juno doesn't exist here.

Star and Fang are older than the six in terms of age, just to establish that. Juno is younger in age. So how does Juno come to exist?

they're a gift from Mira. prior to this, Star and Fang joined their packs together and wandered just like that, a massive culmination of canine and feline. this most likely takes place in the Dominion Era, so collaboration between different species was unheard of. Star, Fang, and their pack was shunned, pushed to the far marshlands, but Mira had a sort of respect for it. so she gifted them Juno in the form of a feather.

this is also why Juno is nonbinary. they weren't created with a gender. (also they didn't feel entirely comfortable with gendered pronouns later in life)

these marshlands would also later become Balloosh, founded by Star, Fang, and Juno.

but anyway, Star carries around the feather with a piece of twine, treating it as the second coming of God, whilst Fang leads the pack with one of the leaders fixated on a feather. Fang found it redundant, and he always scolded Star for it, but Star herself did not care about what he had to say. Mira respected them. Respected them! if it wasn't obvious, this is from Star's point of view. to Fang, he acknowledged the feather as a gift, but felt that Mira's attention was fleeting. ultimately, in some way, shape, or form, he wasn't entirely wrong.

one day, during the Settlement Era, the feather glowed as bright as the sun, and soon it grew legs, and fur, and ears, and oh god it's a pup now. this pup was baby Juno, the arctic wolf born from a feather. Star and Fang became parents, almost. they were both a bit feral for Juno more tame demeanor, but they loved Star and Fang nonetheless.

[crimsonlyinglilly]

Familiar Faces - Accepting and researching past lives, Part 2

Summary: Elijah Gilbert has been haunted by dreams of other lives as long as he remembers, but now with the appearance of the Salvatore brother he may finally get some answers.

----

Zach watches as the girl flees, suddenly aware that his death was literally inches away, that Elijah was upstairs alone, that’s when he remembers Stefan’s “Never mention him around Damon.” and does just that.

Couldn’t make it worse.

Why not have his last words be the mystery that had haunted him for the last twenty-ish years.

“Elijah Salvatore!” he managed to shout as he lost his hold on the door and was thrown against the opposite wall.

To his eternal surprise Damon froze looking at him from the open door for a moment.

“What did you say?” Damon hissed, as he dragged him by his shirt up stopping inches from his face instead of killing him.

“Elijah Salvatore.” he repeated, “He remember his past lives but why was he born into the Gilbert family?”

“Past lives?” Damon hissed, never more than a predator than this moment, Zach thought, “how many have you found?”

“The-three after your brother, all born into the Salvatore family.” he managed to tame his stutter, dragging this out was actually making it worse, “the last died just over seventeen years ago.”

“Then a pair of twins were born, one bearing his name.” Damon finished, “why do you think he remembers?”

“EJ’s nightmares,” He explained “i heard from the Gilberts that Elijah had them and when he was ten, he repeated part of EJ last letter to me.” he doesn’t add that the boy had also slipped up and used Z something only E.J had ever used to call him.

“Whose EJ, Zach?” Damon asked as he stepped a back, allowing Zach to stand if he wanted to get any closer to a starving beast, Zach stayed on the floor

“My cousi-” Zach started before being interrupted.  

“BROTHER.” Another voice joined them; they both turned to look to see Elijah standing at the end of the hall, at the bottom of the steps. “Half brother, Zach, why didn’t you ever tell me?”

“Elijah run!” he shouted, throwing himself at Damon, who knocked him aside.

“Whoa,” Damon said hand up stepping away from Zach as if he was the dangerous one, “Calm down, I'm not going to hurt Eli,” he said it as if the idea was ridiculous, as if his Elijah hadn’t been buried in an unmarked grave to be dug up by his bastard brother a decade later. “How much do you remember Elijah?” Damon asked, turning his complete attention to the teenager.

“Bits and pieces of anything, nothing complete.” Elijah replied oddly calm in the situation, Zach felt himself panic as Elijah walked towards them “the further back the harder to recall they normally are but you and Stefan made that life solid.”

Even stranger was Damon stepping back into the cell as Elijah got close enough to offer Zach a hand.

“What did I interrupt?” Elijah asked as he looked between them, Zach took the hand and attempted to step between them but Elijah stepped back keeping himself between them, Zach had a horrible feeling that Elijah was attempting to protect him, “and why are you grey Dam?”

“Why don’t you let Zach stay between us Eli, just until we get upstairs and I can get a drink.” Damon said and Zach couldn’t stop himself as he stared in shock.

“Right,” Elijah agreed, and Zach never thought he’d be pleased at the fact he was standing this close to Damon in narrow hallway but with Elijah who was also EJ, who's blood wasn’t laced with Vervain, next to him, he’d hug the vampire if he slowed him down. The next words however drew him short “you keep human blood upstairs?”

“Stefan has to have some bunny somewhere-” Damon started but Zach cut him off.

“You're not surprised by any of this?” Zach could help himself as he asked, apparently getting Damon’s agreement as watched the vampire’s brow furrow as he looked at the teenager.

“I think I was one in my first life, maybe that's why i was cursed.” Elijah wondered, “Things start making more sense when I give up trying to deny them.” he added in explanation with a shrug.

Zach swallowed as his long buried guilt suddenly reappeared, EJ hadn’t been delusional, his dad had locked up a child and Zach had left him there to be drugged until he had taken his own life.

“E.J. i’m so-”

“No Zach, it was too much as a kid.” Elijah shook his head as he looked at him “the life I had before EJ wasn’t good in any way, those memories, at that age. I was going to hurt or do worse to someone or myself.”

“But later-”

“I’m sorry, I needed distance, I'm not sure anything could have saved me in that life.” 

Elijah stared up at him with wide eyes, as he told him, Zach thought back to his baby cousin the tiny hand reaching for him and holding on always too tight, E.J had always been doomed.

If it hurt him to think that, what was it like for Elijah, what was it like to know you had no chance and to still remembered living that hopelessness.

And to remember what had caused it?

What on earth happened to him in the years of his life before EJ was born that had left that sort of mental mark.

There was barely twenty years between the death of Elijah. S. and E.J's birth.

“Eli,” Damon started slowly looking between them “Once I'm fed you're going to tell me all your lives and if anyone of those that hurt you are still alive I'm going to kill them.” he finished with a promise.

It was the first time Zach felt anything close to similar to Damon.

“I don’t need you to kill them," Elijah shook his head, apparently  unphased by the offer of murder, Zach had a feeling it wasn't because he didn't believe Damon would do it. "I want you to help me figure out how I can stop this?”

“Stop what?” he asked before could stop himself.

“Remembering" the teenager shrugged, looking very much like a typical teenager if not for the urgency in his eyes, Elijah was very good at control his expressions but you could always tell what he was feeling but his eyes, it was the same, E.J at six or Elijah at seventeen, "or being reborn; every life adds more memories, and it’s making it worse.”

“I could turn you?” Damon offered,

“No” Zach snapped,

“How fond of Zach are you?” Damon asked Elijah with a smile before returning his gaze to glare at Zach.

“As I am of Aunt Jenna, Jeremy and Caroline?” Elijah explained not even blinking at the open threat, Zach looked at the boy in shock, yes he had been all EJ had but he was well aware of how bad he had been, no visits but letter and rare phone calls, to be placed next to his current family and friends who hadn't failed him felt undeserved. “I’d been very angry if you killed him.”

“How angry?” Damon asked again as the finally made it out of the cellar that he had been sure he would have died in, as Damon glared at Zach.

Zach glared back.

“Stefan becoming my favourite older brother angry.” Elijah finished shortly, “I'm already mad at what you did to Caroline.” he added before continuing with, “Besides that doesn’t matter, I can't be turned.”

“What?” Damon asked and he snapped his head back to look back at him, Elijah's glaze looked slightly vacant, something he did remember the few time he had asked his cousin to describe his dreams, as he explained

“I’ve died three times where a vampire was pushed a bloodied wrist to my mouth and yet those lives ended and I started anew.” he swallowed as he blinked the memories away.

"Maybe they gave you the blood too late." Damon offered, telling Zach that Elijah was right in how he could have been turned.

"The first that may have been the case but both those after- I have a feeling they were older and quick enough that I should have turned." Elijah paled suddenly, "Thankfully I didn't after the last one." he muttered to himself.

'I think I was one in my first life,' Elijah had said, he meant he was a vampire in his first life, one that had to have come before Damon and Stefan's younger brother.

Zach may have the least amount of knowledge about vampires then, but he did have a good enough about his family history.

He also knows having a staving vampire with control issues around a person not on Vervain wasn't a great idea even with Damon's claim that he would hurt Elijah.

He still noticed the way Damon eyes darted to Elijah’s neck as they moved further into the natural light.

“Damon, go and get some of Stefan’s supply. You already know where it is, don't you?” he told him, Damon blinked at him.

“Who are you to start telling me what to do Zach?” Damon asked incredulously

“Someone who has already found four of Elijah’s lives,” he replied, using something he knew he had over Damon from his first question, “you can join us in the library when you're not tempted to kill either of us?”

“You, always Zach.” Damon smirked.

“Dam, go please” Elijah asked, and Zach watched in amazement as Damon did as he was asked with only a soft smile send toward Elijah. 

“Thanks Z.” EJ told him the old nickname was so natural that for a moment Zach wondered if he had really died down there. then he kept speaking and reminded Zach why his live wasn't simple “I really didn’t want to redo having my throat torn out with my other brother.”

‘What?’ He thought in mild panic as he watched him walk away.

Other that meant Stefan had been the one not Damon. Suddenly Stefan demand to not speak of him made sense, it was the same reason Zach had tried not to think of his cousin, guilt.

—--

Elijah had returned to the library, his apparently once father’s journal sat where he had left it, with his phone next to it telling him in a text that Jenna’s slime had asked for dinner tonight at their house.

He wondered if he could get away with staying here, tonight part of him wondering if his old room was free before he had to question which room he was thinking about.

It was strange how much calmer it was thinking about them now he had accepted it, there wasn’t even a need to find a high to escape it that he had for the last two lives.

Sure it wasn’t all great, Elena was dating a vampire, he was going to need to explain all of this to her and Bonnie and Caroline, who had been attacked and used by one.

By his brother, his brothers were now dangers to his family.

It had been so easy to tell Damon to leave Zach alone but as he stood alone in the library he was suddenly aware how while he had his powers, the rest of the people he loved didn’t have the same protection, Bonnie might have after training but Caroline and Vicki had been already been attacked.

Vicki had almost been killed, could have been, Tanner and others had been.

Bonnie and Elena had been upset at Tanner's death, Elijah hadn't felt the same, was that because of his lives or was he just a bad person?

Before he let himself think about that too much Zach joined him in the library with two boxes.

Damon followed as he and Zack started taking papers out the boxes, he looked better, less grey but glaring at the glass of blood he brought with him like it had personally offended him.

“You know you could drink from my wrist” Elijah offered after he watched Damon make a face at the blood in front of him

“NO!” twin voices rose to meet him.

“I could bleed into a glass.” he tried again.

“NO.” It was repeated.

He winced as his words repeated, he turned to Zach.

“Sorry that was insensitive.” he said, Zach didn’t say anything

“Why was it insensitive?” Damon asked, glass empty save for the stain.

“That was how I killed myself last time.” he said, watching as the both flinched at his words.

“And the time before that?”

“Tortured to death by a vampire with a grudge.” 

“What?” both of them asked, Damon with rage, Zach with bewilderment.

“He knew me, from before all this, i think.” he explained, “and no Damon you can’t kill his he’s far older than you, stronger.” he told him before Damon could ask who his mouth was forming word he knew he should have kept to himself. “Besides I won.”

“How do you win at being tortured to death?” Zach asked weakly as Damon fumed at his vengeance denied.

Both were looking at him so he forced himself to explain.

“I never broke, and he lost me in the end, he had the perfect tool in several ways but aloud his temper to break and lost it-me.” he told them with a smile.

They both stared at him in different states of horror.

“Right. So what have you got Zach?” he asked as he pulled his collection of notebooks free, “We can match them with what I've gotten.”

[scummy-writes]

I love gilbert. I finished mc's pov of the How To Tame A Beast story and I love him... i love how hes frustrated at people too scared to be more independent with their reports LMAO. But also him sighing about everything all dramatically.

And the sleight of hand tricks. I cant gorget that. Mc trying to learn them too...cute...

I am very curious on how he punished walter and roderic though. On call with RJ we guessed he'd likely dock walter's pay. But what about roderic???

Maybe he made him train a shitton. I legit cant figure out serious answers.

[malka-lisitsa]

I heard E got a nose job. Was it to look less like K? Or more?

You know you love me

Xoxo

Gossip Girl

"Cute, but too tame. I'm talking more like-"

"Mystic falls has an abundance of two things, con artists and idiots. Take the fair Caroline Forbes for instance. She puts on a brave face and struts around like she owns the place but in reality shes so desperate for attention she threw herself at the first bad boy who told her she was pretty. Look how that turned out for her, him being a self hating asshole with a god complex must have really thrown a wrench in your plans of restoring your self worth didn't it honey? That and the whole vampire thing.

Then theres miss Gilbert. The biggest Con artist of them all. She likes to play the moral high ground but whos making the morality rules Miss Gilbert? You? For someone so adamant about choice you sure took your brothers away. Its ok though right? Because Elena Gilbert did it, and everyone KNOWS Elena Gilbert has the last say in everything."

"If I was so inclined I wouldn't be writing lies just to stir the pot.... why bother, when the truth is so much juicer?"

[ghelgheli]

The Stuff I Read in September 2023

Stuff I Extra Liked Is Bold

Books

Orphans of the Sky, Robert A. Heinlein

Starship Troopers, Robert A. Heinlein

Revenant Gun, Yoon Ha Lee

All Systems Red, Martha Wells

Artificial Condition, Martha Wells

Rogue Protocol, Martha Wells

Exit Strategy, Martha Wells

Friendship Poems, ed. Peter Washington

Introduction to Linear Algebra, ch. 1-3, Gilbert Strang

Manga (mostly yuri [really all yuri])

Yagate Kimi ni Naru / Bloom Into You, Nio Nakatani

Kaketa Tsuki to Dōnattsu / Doughnuts Under a Crescent Moon, Shio Usui

Onna Tomodachi to Kekkon Shitemita / Trying Out Marriage With My Female Friend, Shio Usui

Kimi no Tame ni Sekai wa Aru / The World Exists for You, Shio Usui

Teiji ni Agaretara / If We Leave on the Dot, Ayu Inui

Nikurashii Hodo Aishiteru / I Love You So Much I Hate You, Ayu Inui

Tsukiatte Agetemo Ī Kana / How Do We Relationship? Tamifull

Himegoto - Juukyuusai no Seifuku / Uniforms at the Age of Nineteen, Ryou Minenami

Colorless Girl, Honami Shirono

Short Fiction

It gets so lonely here, ebi-hime [itch.io]

Aye, and Gomorrah, Samuel R. Delaney [strange horizons]

Evolutionary Game Theory

Red Queen and Red King Effects in cultural agent-based modeling: Hawk Dove Binary and Systemic Discrimination, S. M. Amadae & Christopher J. Watts [doi]

The Evolution of Social Norms, H. Peyton Young [doi]

The Checkerboard Model of Social Interaction, James Sakoda [doi]

Dynamic Models of Segregation, Thomas C. Schelling [doi]

Towards a Unified Science of Cultural Evolution, Alex Mesoudi, Andrew Whiten, Kevin N. Laland [doi]

Is Human Cultural Evolution Darwinian? Alex Mesoudi, Andrew Whiten, Kevin N. Laland [doi]

Gender/Sexuality/Queer Stuff (up to several degrees removed)

Re-orienting Desire: The Gay International and the Arab World, Joseph Massad [link]

The Empire of Sexuality, Joseph Massad (interview) [link]

The Bare Bones of Sex, Anne Fausto-Sterling [jstor]

On the Biology of Sexed Subjects, Helen Keane & Marsha Rosengarten [doi]

Vacation Cruises: Or, the Homoerotics of Orientalism, Joseph A. Boone [jstor]

Romancing the Transgender Native: Rethinking the Use of the “Third Gender” Concept, Evan B. Towle & Lynn M. Morgan [doi]

Scientific Racism and the Emergence of the Homosexual Body, Siobhan Somerville [jstor]

White Sexual Imperialism: A Theory of Asian Feminist Jurisprudence, Sunny Woan [link]

Haunted by the 1990s: Queer Theory’s Affective Histories, Kadji Amin [jstor]

Annoying Anthro

The Sexual Division of Labor, Rebecca B. Bird, Brian F. Codding [researchgate]

Factors in the Division of Labor by Sex: A Cross-Cultural Analysis, George P. Murdock & Caterina Provost [jstor]

Biosocial Construction of Sex Differences and Similarities in Behavior, Wendy Wood & Alice H. Eagly [doi]

Political Theory

Some critics argue that the Internal Colony Theory is outdated. Here’s why they’re wrong, Patrick D. Anderson [link]

Toward a New Theory of Internal Colonialism, Charles Pinderhughes [link]

The Anatomy of Iranian Racism: Reflections on the Root Causes of South Azerbaijans Resistance Movement, Alireza Asgharzadeh [link]

The veil or a brother's life: French manipulations of Muslim women's images during the Algerian War, 1954–62, Elizabeth Perego [doi]

A Difficulty in the Concept of Social Welfare, Kenneth J. Arrow [jstor]

Manipulation of Voting Schemes: A General Result, Allan Gibbard [jstor]

China Has Billionaires, Roderic Day [redsails]

Other

Conversations I Can't Have, Cassandra Byers Harvin [proquest]

Earth system impacts of the European arrival and Great Dying in the Americas after 1492, Alexander Koch et al. [doi]

Why prisons are not “The New Asylums”, Liat Ben-Moshe [doi]

Uses of Value Judgments in Science: A General Argument, with Lessons from a Case Study of Feminist Research on Divorce, Elizabeth Anderson [doi]

Boundary Issues, Lily Scherlis [link]