#game with the curse of 1 million tags

[lesbian-reaper]

it's 1 am wtf am i doing

[peachylynnie]

when you have a crush on a fictional character

word count: 200-300 per lead contains: lads men x reader, established relationship, headcanons on crack, jealousy (they have beef with a fictional character), some plushies were harmed in the making of this post, lots of manga spoilers, cursing, violence, and links to images/videos (so you know what the characters look like) a/n: i had so much fun making this. it's ironic too since THEY'RE fictional. listen, it was either this or ur kpop bias (im missing taehyung like a mf). again, bc these are headcanons, i'm not saying i'm right. reblogs and comments are always appreciated! tagged: @vvintqz (another xavier headcanon) lads masterlist

xavier

gojo satoru from jujutsu kaisen (manga spoilers below)

thought you would enjoy the series since the two of you watch a lot of anime together

but now he regrets suggesting it.

he regrets mentioning the manga too

since the damned character wears a fucking compression shirt in the manga

he swears if he hears the words "my glorious blue eyed king" leave your mouth one more time

he's going to slice your gojo plushie into a million pieces with his sword (he thinks shoving it under the bed is already too much of a mercy)

why are there so many "no lube, no protection" comments under every gojo instagram post?

why are you liking every single one of them?! (you like them bc it's funny, but he is NOT amused)

will glare at you so hard if you ask him to cosplay

would honestly rather cosplay lumiere

this man is scowling whenever gojo appears on the screen

arms crossed, lips pouted, hand reaching for the sword type shit

turned off the TV when that one breathing scene came on (i had to link it)

jumped for joy when he died though lmao

never has he ever been so happy to see a literal body cut in half

you're just sitting there mortified while he's all sunshine and rainbows

he wants to find the author and give him a big hug

xavier ���� gege #1 gojo haters

zayne

sakusa kiyoomi from haikyuu (manga spoilers below)

he honestly doesn't know how to react at first

a volleyball player who acts like a jerk, has less than TWO minutes of screentime, and wears NEON attire? (he respects his obsession with hygiene though)

actually questions you at one point

"is that your type?" "do you want me to be like that?" "are you into volleyball players?"

you have to explain it's not like that at all, you just think he's cool

that assures him a bit

but when you start reading the manga

his worries return ten-fold

not only because the character appears more

but because the character doesn't wear neon anymore and has compression sleeves (that's HIS thing)

frowns when he looms over your shoulder

and sees you screenshot EVERY PANEL he appears in (is this a thing or am i the only one)

gets so confused as to why you're referring to the character as omi whenever you call your friend who's an atsumu girlie (i'm an osamu girlie)

he's half grateful the msby black jackals (he begrudgingly learned the team name from you) haven't been animated yet

his face is priceless when he walks into the shared bedroom

and sees a sakusa plushie there

wants to freeze it with his evol

instead he just awkwardly picks it up and makes it face the wall (he doesn't want to see you upset)

rafayel

brant from wuthering waves

"YOU LIKE A PIRATE WHEN THERE'S A WHOLE MERMAN RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU?!"

he's so sulky and petty about it

bashes the character whenever he has the chance

"he's a pirate, i bet he smells bad."

"ew, why does he talk like that?"

"he can summon a giant anchor? big deal. i can summon an entire ocean."

you find this situation really funny

since the whole reason you like brant in the first place is BECAUSE he reminds you of rafayel

it's the theatrical mannerisms and flashy outfits (the sea too)

but you don't tell him that (he'll probably act more offended anyway)

whenever he catches you playing the game

he sighs dramatically and falls on the couch

head on your lap and trying to distract you from the game

"replaced by a stinky pirate, how could this be?"

"can't believe you're playing a game when there's a hot, rideable fishie right in front of you"

he's flabbergasted when you reach for your wallet

"wait, IT'S A GACHA GAME?!"

cue him running around with your wallet and you chasing after him

"no way, cutie. last time you spent like fifty dollars on identity v for some skin."

when you try to correct him that it was for a danganronpa collab (and that it was less than fifty dollars)

he snatches your phone

now he's running with both your wallet and your phone in hand

sylus

yomi from gokurakugai (manga spoilers below)

listen

you started the manga because the character LOOKS LIKE him (just hair down)

he has silver hair, red eyes, and composed mannerisms

literally when you see the panel of him appearing with a jacket hanging from his shoulders along with some slacks shoes

you have to sigh because

you are NOT beating the allegations

the "i have a type" allegations

sylus is honestly amused

see he would actually READ the manga

not even online

he would buy physical copies of it

and have it in your bookshelf

since he knows how much you HATE the pop-up ads on the website you use to read

also because he wants to see what you're so excited about

so imagine your face when you walk into your shared bedroom

and see your boyfriend in all of his gorgeous glory

wearing his signature bathrobe

a wine glass in one hand and...

THE MANGA IN ANOTHER?!

THE ONE WHERE YOMI IS ON THE COVER TOO?!

he chuckles at your dumbfounded expression before standing up and walking towards you (the manga's still in his hand btw)

"what's wrong, sweetie? i thought you liked this series, given how much you've searched for this character on pinterest."

you gulp when he pins his hand on the wall

"would you like me to wear my hair down?"

caleb

chrollo lucilfer from hunter x hunter (manga spoilers below)

see the other guys are...relatively grateful these characters are fictional

this guy actually WISHES this bastard of a character was real

why?

so he can plummet him into the ground

because why are you squealing every time this pale, grown ass man with a tattoo on his forehead and an open fur coat appears on the screen???

here's the thing

caleb was excited to start this show with you since he heard it's good

and it is!

he loves the nen system, has a soft spot for killua, and would honestly kill for gon

but now, whenever you suggest watching the show, he's grumbling and insisting you guys watch something else

he would rather die than tell you this

but one time

he slicked his hair back in front of the mirror to see if he looks like him (oh the aura loss)

he also read the manga

but only to see how often chrollo appears so he can be prepared

was excited for the hisoka vs. chrollo fight (since he's hoping the latter dies)

actually enjoyed it too since both characters used their abilities so creatively

threw his phone when hisoka lost

and punched your chrollo plushie with his metal arm

you made him buy you another one

a/n: not me exposing all of my fictional crushes. here are some other characters i considered: seba natsuki, kei uzuki (sakamoto days), levi ackerman (aot), phainon (hsr), yoru (gokurakugai), beom tae ha (tears on a withered flower), theo lapileon (my in laws are obsessed with me), shinso hitoshi, dabi (bnha), choso kamo (jjk) (my beloved), and reigen arataka (mp 100) (solely for shits and giggles).

[aethon-recs]

30 Tomarrymort Recs for 2024 — Completed Multi-Chapter Fics (Part 1)

Happy new year, and what a year 2024 was for the Tomarrymort ship! 🤍 We went from close to 13,000 fics in the beginning of 2024 to over 15,000 fics in the ship tag by the end of the year. How incredible is that!?

I've split up my 2024 year-end recs into 3 parts: (1) Completed Multi-Chapter Fics, (2) One-Shots, (3) WIPs. Here is Part 1 of the list: Completed Multi-Chapter Fics.

Please enjoy these 1.5 million words of completed Tomarrymort fic from 2024!

*

A Dangerous Game by @cybrid (E, 322k, complete)

Tom Riddle opens the Chamber of Secrets in Harry’s fifth year at Hogwarts. After a botched attempt to extract the Horcrux in Harry’s scar leaves their souls tied together, Tom is forced to kidnap him when he makes his escape. A story of Horcrux hunting, adventure and unwilling attraction.

Anabiosis by @itsevanffs (E, 39k, complete)

The school is… unprotected. Voldemort gets resurrected early, and learns this very quickly. Harry Potter likes his new teacher: he's a pretty man in his early thirties with a kind smile and dark hair and eyes - and he doesn't seem to hate him, unlike all the other teachers.

aurora polaris by @aglassroseneverfades (E, 217k, complete)

Harry does not give up the Horcrux when he dies. Moved by compassion, he embraces it instead. What follows next, he could not predict. He’s not sure he ever really had a choice in the matter. The world Harry wakes up to is not like the one he remembers. And his captor is neither the same as he was, nor as different as he would like.

Change Me by @valkyrie-chemist (E, 17k, complete)

Harry Potter had grown up listening to tales of the cursed Lord Voldemort. Trapped in his mysterious manor, the man—the monster—was said to be crueler and more hungry than Death itself. So why then, Harry thought, was the groundskeeper still alive? What sway did Tom Riddle have over Lord Voldemort to stay his wicked hand when Harry had so brazenly trespassed on his lands? Whatever it was, it was not enough. For try as he might, not even Tom could persuade the monster to let Harry leave. That is, Tom challenged, if Harry even wanted to.

Creatures of the Dark we are by @hikarimeroperiddle (E, 28k, complete)

Banished to his cupboard at age 4, Harry learns to listen only to the Voice in his head. Its teachings warp all Harry could have become until no more than dark magic and devotion remains. Visions of a wraith with red eyes complicate matters, especially when Harry and the Voice follow it to Hogwarts so Master can get his hands on the Philosopher’s Stone. Harry can do magic. He can’t do people.

death cheater (are you?) by regulus_little_mermaid (E, 14k, complete)

Tom tries to understand: just because a stranger saves your life a few times doesn't mean you can fall in love with him.

Dulce Et Decorum Est Mori by beetaker (E, 135k, complete)

“I'm glad it's both of us,” Harry said, green eyes somehow greener, the natural brightness in him turning incandescent. “I'm glad we're going together.” “We'll always go together,” Tom said, knowing it as fact, unable to imagine anything different. Wherever he went, Harry was sure to follow. It'd been that way forever. It would surely always be that way.

Extenuating Circumstances by Origin_Of_Symmetry (M, 87k, complete)

“You’re really quite a delight, Harry. I can’t believe I went weeks thinking you were useless and boring.” Somehow, unwittingly, Harry finds himself engaged to Tom Riddle. He’s not entirely sure how that happened.

friend of the devil (a friend of mine) by @shyinsunlight (E, 28k, complete)

There’s something very unsettling about Tom Riddle. Cedric can’t put a finger on it. Whether it’s the way he moves, all long limbs and eerie fluidity, the dissecting gaze he follows them with, or the way he speaks, with an accent that doesn’t match his manners. Maybe it’s how he drinks in Harry’s presence like a religious zealot, or how his eyes wander over Harry’s body as if he’s seen the skin and flesh underneath before.

gaming buddies by @reggieblk (M, 19k, complete)

All it takes is a rude comment under a YouTube video for Harry and Tom to meet their best friend and, incidentally, the love of their lives. Through thousands of hours of playing Minecraft together, getting to know each other, and finally meeting in real life, it was inevitable they'd fall in love.

Hearthstone Abbey by @ramabear (E, 116k, complete)

Harry follows Thomas Gaunt into his world much like he stepped onto Diagon Alley that first time, wide-eyed and full of wonder. He has no idea what exactly this world has in store for him, but he knows that with Thomas at his side, he is safe and happy for the first time in his whole life. There is someone who will always be there for him, always look after him, always care for him and everything Thomas does just proves that to be true.

In the Shape of Fear, Erised by @rowena-rain (E, 19k, complete)

Harry sneaks into Lupin’s office late at night, determined to banish his recurring nightmares of a certain devastatingly handsome future Dark Lord once and for all. But things quickly spiral into depravity, and before he knows it, Harry is getting thoroughly railed by a boggart in the form of Diary Tom Riddle... Or is it?

in the silence by @satflesk22 (E, 48k, complete)

There's a new student at Hogwarts. And, for some reason, he's decided he's going to be Tom Riddle's best friend. Tom, immortal aspiring Dark Lord, apparently has no say in the matter.

In Their Absence by @mosiva (E, 35k, complete)

“Weird place to hang out, mate,” Harry said, more to break the oppressive silence. There was nothing but the thick hedges, the faintest whisper of a breeze, the grey sky overhead, and Voldemort. “You believe this to be a dream,” Voldemort rasped. “You always were foolish.”

Kudosed, Bookmarked, Subscribed by @maquira713 (E, 79k, complete)

By day, Harry works as a lowly assistant to his boss: the cruel, controlling Tom Riddle. By night, he lives, breathes, and writes fanfiction. And when he's not writing, he's obsessing over the work of his favorite Ao3 author: Lord_Voldemort_. So, of course, it’s only a matter of time before Harry gets caught reading Voldemort’s latest fanfiction at work… by none other than his boss.

Machine Men by @izharmilgram (E, 5k, complete)

Harry discovers Lord Voldemort is transgender, and he's really fucking hung up about it.

rage, rage (against the dying of the light) by MerleBlanc (M, 17k, complete)

1978. Voldemort is winning, bored, and his immortality secured. When a mysterious man appears out of thin air to oppose his Death Eaters, he is more than intrigued by whom the newspapers now nickname the Good Samaritan. Except someone is also stealing his horcruxes one by one, and he has never felt more threatened in his life. Or: Harry just lost his wife, made a deal with Death, travelled from the future to gain back his mortality, and decided to fuck a timeline.

see you soon by @duplicitywrites (E, 9k, complete)

It’s summer, which explains why Tom has all this free time to visit Harry’s flat and place of work, but it does not explain how Tom knows, with unerring accuracy, where Harry is at any given moment. Harry has checked with his coworkers—Tom only ever shows up at Fortescue’s when Harry is the manager on shift.

Shiver, Lustre, Skin by @monsieurclavier (M, 9k, complete)

Harry goes undercover as a bargirl at one of Tom Riddle’s exclusive clubs. Tom has her figured out in approximately one second. Or: In which Tom is a badass Wizarding mob boss and an incorrigible lesbian flirt, and Harry—sassy newbie Auror and secret virgin—is just Tom’s type.

something precious by @mosiva  (E, 16k, complete)

“Fine,” Harry said, giving in to curiosity as he always did. “What is it?” Tom shook the vial, letting the liquid catch the light and send rays scattering over his hand and face. “It’s a love potion,” he said.

Still Into You by @moontearpensfic (E, 29k, complete)

Harry has a stalker. If only he noticed sooner.

Sugar Soaked by @teaandsweaters9 (E, 46k, complete)

Seducing Hepzibah Smith out of her most precious belongings should have been simple. Spend time with her, charm her, drain her for all she’s worth, and move on. Unfortunately for Tom Riddle, Harry Potter, professional savior and amateur waiter, has other plans.

the only heaven by iwasborntired (M, 11k, complete)

“You,” Ginny swallows, and her voice sounds jagged, waves crashing against an uneven shore. “You called out for him, in your sleep.” He does not need her to finish. He knows. It is sick and festered and rotten, and it is true. In the blanket of night, in his dreams, Harry Potter starves. His mouth forms the supplication, a secret scalds the air, and his soul, then and now and always, calls out for Tom Riddle. It is only fair, after so long spent stitched into the fabric of one other.

the righteous dead by @aspengray (T, 40k, complete)

Harry is resurrected, sewn together with thread and magic. He remembers nothing except that he loves his savior, a man named Voldemort.

Thin Skin by @iseliljathedreamer (E, 15k, complete)

The war ended with a conditional surrender where the most powerful wizard alive signed his freedom away for 100 years to a boy of 17 armed with a basilisk tooth and a putrid, poisoned pool, in exchange for secrecy and eternal life. But that was years ago now. Harry thought he'd never get used to having Voldemort living in his house, but he did. Time is a miracle-worker beyond all human comprehension, and yet, there are wounds it remains to heal. Quite literally.

Tom Riddle's DIY Disaster by @sri-verse (E, 13k, complete)

Harry and Tom were the closest two people could be. They always shared everything, no secrets between them.  So, when Tom told Harry about his last orgasm, why was Harry acting all weird? It was granted that Tom would think of him.

Trenches by @shadow-of-the-eclipse (T, 82k, complete)

"Maybe you should kill them," Harry says. He's sitting perched on the stairs, hands clasped together, green eyes watching Tom and his irritating year mates. His form is hazy around the edges, an almost translucent quality to his image. "I can't just kill people," Tom says. "Not in public.” Role-Reversal where Harry is the Dark Lord and Tom Riddle is the Boy-Who-Survived.

two ways of being: the noun & the verb by cycloalkane (NR, 8k, complete)

Potter is finishing up with his sketch of the craniofacial structure. There is still more of his body to go, and more sessions left, and Tom cannot be sure whether he wants the precise drawings to be more or less—true, at all, if he could even describe them as untruthful. They aren’t beautiful as Tom is in the mirror, but they are still, undeniably, him, with the eye of someone learning to cut people apart and look beneath their skin, still bloodless yet, and—well.

What quickens me is the violence in thee by @i-dream-of-libraries (M, 17k, complete)

Harry is sold at auction to a man who is clearly in some kind of disguise - Lord Riddle isn't as charming as he looks, and the way he looks at Harry...

You By The Shore by @blackseatwenty (E, 19k, complete)

Harry's grown on the island his whole life. He fell in love with a stranger standing alone by the shore. Or is it crazy to believe in love at first sight?

*

[demie90s]

Paige Bueckers x fem!Reader x Caitlin Clark

Shameless Rivalry

MASTERLIST | MORE | MORE Part 2

Summary:It started with a viral interview. Asked for your top 5 celebrity crushes, you answered without hesitation-Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark, tied for #1.

Genre: Sports romance, love triangle, rivals-to-lovers, college basketball chaos

Warnings: Heavy flirtation, cursing, tension so thick you could drown in it, emotional whiplash, reader folding for two dangerous women

Word Count~ 1k

Vibe: Camila Cabello's Shameless in a jersey. Obsession, competition, and soft filth hidden behind sweet smiles and game-day uniforms.

It’s content,” they said.

Your team—your label, your brand girlies, your best friend who handles your TikTok—they set up a fake media day backdrop and filmed you answering fan questions. You were half-drunk on bubble tea and fame, sitting in front of a ring light in a hoodie and gold chains, giving dramatic answers to dumb shit.

And then came the question.

“Top five celeb crushes. Go.”

You grinned. Chewed your gum. Thought about lying.

Then you leaned forward and said it like gospel.

“Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark. Tied for number one.”

They cackled. You winked. The TikTok got posted the same night. And within 12 hours?

Over 15 million views.

People were stitching it. Debating it. Tagging them both in your comments like you weren’t gonna see. Like they weren’t gonna see. But the real chaos didn’t start ‘til Caitlin reposted it with a winky face.

And Paige liked it. And now?

It’s Iowa vs. UConn week. And you are the problem.

⸻

You pull up to the game like it’s a red carpet. Which, for you, it kinda is.

Skin-tight designer tank. Oversized dark blue jean. Your signature chain with the little diamond “y/n” glinting in the lights. A coat slung over your shoulder like you don’t care about anything but fashion and front row power.

Everyone’s watching. Cameras catch your entrance like you’re here to headline. You’re not. You’re here to haunt.

⸻

First quarter. It’s barely started and Paige already checked the sideline twice.

You don’t wave. Just smirk. Cross your legs slow. Adjust your lip gloss like you know exactly how you look.

Because you do.

Caitlin’s on the other side. Scanning the stands mid-play. She sees you. Grins. Immediately hits a no-look assist like it’s nothing.

Game on.

⸻

Second quarter.

Caitlin fouls near your side and damn near lands in your lap. You hold out your hand without thinking.

“Need help?”

She grabs it. Holds on a second too long. Leans in like she’s adjusting her jersey.

“Still tied for first?” she whispers.

You raise an eyebrow. She smirks and jogs back to the line.

⸻

Halftime. UConn’s up.

You’re backstage, sipping something green from a straw, talking to one of the assistant coaches when Paige passes you in the tunnel.

You nod. She slows. Looks you up and down. Eyes linger on your lips.

“You always dress like this for games?” she asks.

“Only when I’m being watched.”

She smiles. Not sweet. Sharp.

“Careful. Might get you benched.”

“I’m not the one playing, baby.”

That shuts her up. She walks off with her shoulders tight, her jaw set. You feel hot.

⸻

Third quarter is nasty.

Both girls are playing out of their minds—dropping threes, making passes, locking up on defense like they’ve got something to prove.

Spoiler: they do. And it’s you. Every time Paige hits a bucket, she looks your way. Every time Caitlin scores, she points.

You’re trying to keep cool. But your legs are crossed tight and your throat’s dry and your manager literally whispers:

“You’re the final boss.”

⸻

Fourth quarter. The game’s tied. Timeout. And somehow, somehow, they both walk near you. Different sidelines. Different teams. Same plan.

Paige gets close and leans down like she’s fixing her shoe. Doesn’t even look at you when she says:

“What’re you doing after this?”

Then she walks off. Caitlin comes by ten seconds later, sweaty and smug, brushing a towel over her neck.

“Tell Paige not to wait up.”

You let out a laugh—quiet, choked, stunned. Because it’s not a game anymore. Not for them. Not for you. And this isn’t over.

Caitlin – Day One

I’m not obsessed. I just haven’t stopped thinking about her for three days.

I scroll past her story again—she posted some blurry, close-up pic in a hoodie, and I stared at it like it held answers. It didn’t. Just her lips, glossed, smirking like she already knew what she was doing to me.

I liked the pic. Unliked. Liked again.

Tweeted right after.

“Tell me what you want and I’ll break the scoreboard trying.”

It gets traction. People assume it’s about the game. It’s not. It’s about her. It’s always about her now.

I sit in my car an extra 20 minutes after practice. Just refreshing her profile.

I almost post a pic of the hoodie she complimented two games ago. Caption it “yours looks better though.” I don’t. I save it in drafts.

My stomach’s been tight since the game. Like I lost something. Like Paige already knew I would.

Paige - Day two

She’s tweeting again. Caitlin, I mean. Cryptic thirst mixed with vague dominance.

I’m not impressed.

I’ve been watching her spiral for a day and a half, and honestly? It’s cute. I decide to start my own war.

My Instagram story goes up around 11 p.m. Black screen. Just audio.

“Let Me Love You” playing low. The Mario one. That chorus hits, and I add a single white heart. Then tag no one. But everyone knows.

Twenty minutes later, I post a picture. Me, half-turned, shirt riding up just enough. Caption?

“Don’t look too long.”

The comments go crazy. I open her profile. Her. Not Caitlin.

She hasn’t posted since the game. But her views on my story? Top 5. Always.

I DM her.

“So we tied, huh?”

No reply. Yet.

But I know she saw it. I know she’s watching me now, too.

Caitlin – Day Three

She’s playing dirty. The thirst traps. The song. The DM. Paige wants to win this in public. But me? I want her in person.

I text my manager first thing: “Can we lock in a promo with Nike or literally anyone she’s working with?”

It takes two hours.Then I get a yes.

Some shoot. Something casual. They want creators and athletes and “relevant faces.” They said her name before I could.

I said yes before they finished. I don’t even ask what the campaign’s about. I don’t care. As long as I’m in the same room as her again.

I’m gonna look her in the eye and remind her who really saw her first.

Paige – Day Four

She signed on to the promo.

The same one I just begged my agent to get me into under the excuse of “increased visibility.” It worked. Barely.

I don’t even need this campaign. But if Caitlin thinks she can just schedule herself into her orbit and win her back like that?

Nah. I show up early.

Hair done. Outfit cute. Lip gloss on. Laces tight. I walk into that set like it’s a runway and don’t even ask where my trailer is. I already know.

Then I hear Caitlin’s voice down the hall. She’s laughing. I walk in. And there she is.

In the makeup chair. Looking at me through the mirror like I’ve been in her head too.

I drop my bag.

“What, no warmup before we start fighting over her again?”

She laughs. But it’s not friendly.

My POV

They’re both here. Same promo shoot. Same room. And neither of them knew the other would show up.

I watch them from the back of the set, pretending I’m checking lighting cues.

Caitlin’s bouncing a basketball like it’s a stress relief tool. Paige keeps adjusting her crop top like she’s making sure I’m looking.

I sip my matcha. Tilt my head.

“Are y’all okay?”

Neither answers.

But they both turn and look at me like I’m the only win that matters.

I should’ve known better.

I thought showing up early would save me from the drama. Do my set. Smile for the camera. Bounce. But then Paige walked in like she was the camera. Looking fine as hell. All attitude. Not even trying to act like Caitlin wasn’t already in the building.

She saw me and smiled like she knew exactly what she was doing.

Then waved me over with that smug-ass smirk.

I sighed. But yeah—I went. She barely let me speak before launching in.

“I just think it’s funny how she only shows up when you’re around.”

I blinked. “You mean Caitlin?”

Paige scoffed. “Obviously. She’s never even cared about this brand until now. But one little interview and suddenly she’s front row again?”

I stared at her. “You flew in this morning.”

“Yeah, for you. I’m consistent.”

I rolled my eyes so hard my soul almost left my body.

“She’s fake humble, you know that? All soft-spoken until someone else wants what she wants. Then she’s a menace. I mean, look at her—she’s been staring over here the whole time like I stole her lunch.”

I turned my head. Caitlin was, in fact, staring. She smiled when we locked eyes.

I looked back at Paige, deadpan. “You done?”

She grinned. “Not even close. But I’ll let you go make her jealous for a minute.”

I should’ve walked away.

But no—I went to Caitlin next. Because I’m stupid. Because curiosity is a disease.

She was near the wardrobe racks, acting like she wasn’t watching my every move. I didn’t even say anything yet and she pulled me behind the curtain like we were about to commit a crime.

“She touch you?”

I blinked. “Are you serious?”

Caitlin tilted her head, eyes scanning mine. “I’m just asking. She gets real handsy when she thinks she’s winning.”

I exhaled through my nose. “You flew out to do a shoot with a brand you don’t even wear. And you’re mad Paige touched my arm?”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she smiled. Slow. Sharp.

“I didn’t have to post a thirst trap to get your attention. I just had to show up.”

My brows lifted. “Wow.”

“I’m just saying. One of us knows how to talk to you. The other just stares and hopes it works.”

I laughed. Out loud. She looked smug for half a second until I turned and walked off mid-sentence.

I was done.

Not even halfway through the day and they were already trying to weaponize me like I was a prize to be fought over. Whispers. Glances. Comments loud enough to be overheard. They weren’t even being slick anymore.

So I dipped.

Told the assistant I needed air and never came back. Let them fight over an empty room.

I got a coffee. Put on my playlist. Texted my team “y’all are never setting me up again.”

Because I am not the problem here. They are. And I’m not choosing shit…Until they figure out how to act.

——————————————-——————————————-

@draculara-vonvamp

[sukunatoes]

Sanguine Masterlist

True Form Ryomen Sukuna x Female Reader

San•guine

[adjective]

1. optimistic to the point of seeming oblivious or naive

2. blood-red in color

3. bloodthirsty

Synopsis: Everything is in shambles following the Culling Games. Millions of residents are displaced, cursed spirits roam free, and the sorcerers are being stretched beyond their limits. It had been years since you’ve done any work as a jujutsu sorcerer. However when an old friend calls, you find yourself back in the midst of it all and somehow you end up with the most daunting mission imaginable — finding and eliminating The King of Curses, Ryomen Sukuna.

[An AU where everyone, including both Sukuna and Gojo, survives the Shinjuku Showdown]

Content: Enemies to lovers, post Shinjuku Showdown AU, no use of y/n, extremely toxic relationship dynamics, power imbalance, reader is a jujutsu sorcerer, angst, fluff, smut, eventual smut, slowburn, sukuna will have two cocks, tobacco use, alcohol use, canon typical violence, graphic depictions of violence, blood, action, fight scenes, cursed spirits, lots of lore, more tags to be added, each chapter tagged individually

Status: Ongoing (11/45 Chapters)

Story can also be found here on ao3.

18+ ONLY, MDNI

1. An Unfortunate Twist of Fate

2. An Unbreakable Vow

3. Petrichor

4. Intentions

5. Cursed Reckoning

6. Inconvenience

7. What Lies Beneath The Surface

8. The Looking Glass

9. The Ritual

10. Spilt Sake

11. The Price of Pleasure

12. The Moonlight’s Illumination [Coming Soon]

[griefabyss69]

Vulture

Have this fic I started working on months ago, it's still unfinished but it's 10 chapters already! If you've been playing along with my WIP games, you'll recognize this by its working title: Quiet House. I'm ready to start sharing it, it might have slow updates depending on how my life is in the next few months, but the story isn't too complicated to follow along with!

Steddie - Rated: E - CW: Absent/bad parenting

Tags: Tags will be added as story progesses, Post-Vecna (Stranger Things), Slow Burn, Getting Together, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Everybody Lives

[ AO3 ]

Chapters 1 & 2 are posted!

Summary

Another ending, another aftermath—and then, somehow, another ending, aftermath pending.

Steve's exhausted, but his friends don't mind. In fact, there's someone who holds him up with steady shoulders and cuts through his malaise. He just has to have self control so he doesn't kiss him and scare him away. That gets harder when Eddie gives him something special—something Steve becomes a little bit obsessed with.

Excerpt

The exhaustion feels like an insurmountable curse, but... it'll go away. Eventually.

A pair of his favorite jeans can't get rid of bruises and scrapes and the ringing in his ears, but he can put them on and pretend the flesh inside of them hasn't been desecrated like the graffitied walls of an abandoned building. Then it's a soft t-shirt, not his favorite and not something with a tidy collar, but his skin is raw in some places and he's not ready to deal with the claustrophobia of bandages unless he absolutely has to. Besides, most of it's just more of the same old on his back, a place that's hard to get at and a place that's already fucked up with scars.

He has to laugh, thinking about what his mom would say about them.

___

The phone call is short, quick like getting stabbed by a million demo-teeth or perhaps a needle full of weird drugs.

There are no pretty lights on the ceiling though, except for the way the tears in his eyes make everything look gauzy and smeared.

It's not an end—the Harringtons are too smart for that—but Steve feels the same kind of peaceful acceptance as he did one of the times he thought he was bleeding out on the ground somewhere. The impossible ultimatum sits heavy in his gut like a stone, and he makes a snap decision all at once.

[tansypawz]

the 🦐 please,, shrimpo hcs if you will

shrip !! -he/him -trans man and panromantic.and some type of arospec -has multiple mantis shrimp features, including the rainbow colors and strong punches and such -he taught himself how to use makeup to hide his colors because he doesnt like them. not only are they embarrassing to him but also it hurts him to look in the mirror. one time finn accidentally caught him while he was working on his makeup and ended up yapping for like an hour about how cool he was and whatever and shrimpo was just like GGET OU🔇🔇🔇[it did make him think about his mantis shrimp features and helped him not be as ashamed/unhappy with them as before. he still hates the bright colors tho and finn was obv very respectful about his choice to still cover that up] -continuing off of the part in last headcanon where i said looking at all his colors gives him a headache.he has very sensitive eyesight. everything is bright and saturated to him and he has a headache half the time. the dialogue he has with teagan about hating her dress is out of genuine distress because its way too sparkly and shiny for him so if he looks in teagans general direction he gets cursed with 1 million migraine. after teagan realized what was happening she started wearing less shiny dresses so they wouldnt hurt shrimpo so much. and he appreciates the gesture but hes taking that to the grave [do not tag this as shrimptea/soysauce please /gen] -hes not safe from the ocdemons. one specific compulsion of his is to scratch/wipe off anywhere people come in physical contact with him. like if someone accidentally bumps into him he will scratch/wipe the area with his hand. this does not apply to touch he initiates though [yeah im projecting some of my stuff onto him shh it ok] -being a mantis shrimp and all hes.Very strong. the only reason why he has ass stats ingame is because he REALLY doesnt wanna be there. if he actually wanted to he would be cracked at the game trust me on this -hates coming out of his room when kids are visiting. all they do is yell at him and be mean. theyre often worse bullies than he is :( -extremely random headcanon but he really likes the drummer duel minigame from rhythm heaven ds -has overheard some people say they could "fix him" [not in the romance way. i mean like parents talking about "disciplining him" as if he was some stupid brat child] and it made him even more unwilling to come out of his room when theres guests in gardenview. -lip scar that he refuses to talk about. he doesnt remember where he got it from

[alpha-hydra]

Tag Game - Fic Edition!

Share the first lines of ten of your latest fanfic (Or up to if you have fewer) and tag ten people.

>>OR!!!

Anyone who sees this and wants to play too!!! Consider yourself tagged!

ty for tagging @detta-pica [here] and @hollow-lime-green [here]!!!

I will take any opportunity to talk about writing, especially first lines! I'm desperately in love with opening scenes even if most of mine I'm not super happy with my own </3 I chalk it up to being too impatient to post hahahaha

I've been writing for roughly a million billion years so at least I know what works for me to keep me interested in writing; i hope they've worked for the people who read my fics, too.

I'll start at the most recent and go backwards. It's funny bc I wrote #1 literally four days ago, but before that, I'm pretty sure my last ten works have been all jjk-related.

1. Welcome Home (Naruto Fandom, kkgai)

Kakashi slips back into Konoha an hour before sunrise, the full moon painting the walls around the village bone-white.

Unfortunately this one I should have spent a bit more time on except to get the full points for the challenge I needed it complete and posted in three hours so. Maybe one day I'll get back to it.

The rest are below the cut, since this got a touch out of hand 😅😅

2. Parable of the Violent

NiJedha falls to the Imperial Army when Suguru turns ten. He wakes with a wretched sob when the slaughter begins, nauseous from the force of his tears. There is no moonlight to offer Suguru comfort that night, and darkness squeezes into the edges of the Force from the slaughter, thousands of lights in the Holy City snuffed out in an instant. The Kyber echoes in Suguru’s skull, shrieking in dismay as swirling grey clouds of fear roll through the city like miasma. So loud, the Kyber wails. It hurts.

Parable of the Violent, my beloved. The rhythm, the vibes, the star-wars-adjacentness of it all. God, I really need to finish that fic.

This opening works for me bc the mystery is a little bit in the premise: we know kind of how a Star Wars AU would properly map onto stsg, so subverting our expectation is a fun way to begin, I think :)

3. Everything Carries Me to You

“I think I was a god in my past life. A demon, maybe.” Beside him, Suguru snorts. Satoru doesn’t bother sitting up; tilting his head on the grass instead. In his periphery, he can only just see the dark shape of Suguru’s head mirroring the movement. Under the shade of a giant oak tree, Satoru frowns. “Sure, Satoru.” “I’m serious!” But how else could Satoru describe it? The power in his veins; the destruction, the blood? Suguru dead by his hand? Who else but a horrible, vengeful god would do that?

A bit long, but I don't think it works as well without a smidge of context. I'm not super happy with this beginning, but it gets the job done ig.

4. & Trouble Deaf Heaven

Suguru wakes with a gasp, hanging upside down in the escape pod, every part of his body throbbing in pain. The silver of his console swims in and out of focus, and everything feels underwater for a long moment, until the pounding and screaming from the other side of his pod-bay door forces him to focus. Three shapes appear along the dirtied viewing port, vaguely familiar.

Action, action, action. @hollow-lime-green, i'm sorry! I have read name of the wind i promise! Sometimes fics start out with a strong character and sometimes they start with the action, is all and sadly i am more of an action writer these days UwU

But in all honesty with this i couldn't be bothered with the setup because it's all baked into the rest of the fic, so we get the character stuff later!

5. Unbearable to be Parted

Once in a millennia, a curse rises with the power to upend the entire natural world. Once in a millennia of millennia, two of these curses are born, an omen to the universe when they exist together. Bringers of the end of times, two of these special grade curses.

The fucking. THe WoRM FIC. I'm never living this guy down. The fucking melodrama. The atmosphere! Ugh i hate that i love this fic so much.

6. We'll be Home

“So, how did your meeting with your long-lost-twin-brother go?” Nobara asks him as they make their way across the quad.

7. And All the Dead Lie Down

Gojo Satoru doesn't sleep these days. He tells people he doesn't need to do it much anymore, and it's even mostly true. Reversed Curse Technique can keep his brains from frying while running Infinity non-stop, and it also keeps his brain from frying when he goes without sleep for four or five or six, or even nine days. It's not particularly pleasant; he's more addled, paranoid, and scatterbrained the longer he deprives himself of it, but no one knows nor cares about that. For one, he's not been in the business of divulging his weaknesses since Suguru left. For another, no one cares about the state of his mental health so long as The Strongest Sorcerer can still do his job. So. Satoru doesn't sleep, and no one asks him about it or calls him out on it. And no one needs to know the why of it; that Satoru hates sleeping these days because all he does is dream of Suguru.

This opening is so hard for me. i need it to set the premise, but it's not very interesting to me. It's a character-driven opening, which may be why I struggle with it, but it's not even fun about that. I tried to make it subtly about how burnt-out Satoru is, but I'm not sure it comes across on a re-read. idk. IDK!

8. Liminal Space (One Piece!!!)

The sun has slowly started setting on the fourth day of Wano's freedom. Out in the streets of the Flower Capital, the civilians haven't stopped crying and cheering, as if they were praising the coming of a messiah. Kid supposes that the idea isn't completely untrue, the more that he thinks about it. The coming of their long-dead Shogun's heir, the toppling of a regime, and even Straw Hat Luffy— It's annoying to think about, more annoying to admit even in the safety of his own mind, but Straw Hat Luffy? That is someone who might wear a title like Messiah, who might wear a name like God on his shoulders with ease. The dumb bastard would probably even laugh about it. 

A rare one piece fic!!! Love this one! It was for a zine so i was particularly careful with my words, and even then I couldn't help but drop my love of my rubber boy into the fic, despite it not even being about him.

please please please read one piece please please please watch one piece please i know it's too long i know the art style is weird please please haha what i'm so normal anyways

9. believe him.

You don't know how you got here, but you remember that you're in danger. You don't know why you remember that, but it feels important. You're in danger. There's a single flickering bulb on the concrete ceiling. Enough light to streak across the opposite wall, where you read Believe Him written in what you hope is crumbling, cracking spray paint.

ohohoho we're getting to the weird experimental shit. This fic was written for a Halloween prompt. It's so fun! It's deeply fucked in the head :) IDK if it's a great first line but the 2nd person does a lot of heavy lifting here

10. Letter, Central Jujutsu Museum of History

OBJECT DETAILS A letter written by Fushiguro Megumi, the Ten Shadows-User, ca. 2018 Credit Donation by the Zenn'in Estate in 2038 Record ID IMG_FM-GS_2016

Image description: A letter originally left on a grave, with some wear and tear already present when the document was donated to the museum. The grave has been identified as belonging to Gojo Satoru and Getou Suguru, two Special Grade Sorcerers from the Second Age of Jujutsu. Significant as the first mention of Clan Leader Zenn'in Maki, who with the help of her only surviving relative, Fushiguro Megumi, bearer of the Ten Shadows Technique, helped bring society into the Renaissance Era of Jujutsu. Penned by Fushiguro, the letter reads as follows:

This one I think is best served by it's summary, but I've put it and the opening bc. Ok mostly bc I'm super biased for this fic; it's hands down my favorite fic I've written. Possibly ever? Epistolary fanfictions, my beloveds!!!

Lastly, do i even know ten people???

@molten-rainbows @revenantghost @werewolves-and-winchesters @mangobubletea @starrysunrises @kbstories @kittywritesfic @hjemne @tenshinokorin

[blutopaz15]

Get to Know Fanfic Authors

saw this on my dash, bringing it to the TDP corner of the world!

1. How many works on AO3? 74

2. Total AO3 word count? 479,641...approaching half a million!!!

3. Top 5 fics by kudos:

call it what you want

drawn to you

the very first night

next time

absolutely smitten (wild to me that this long abandoned modern au is on this list!)

4. What fandoms do you write for? Literally JUST The Dragon Prince :) (I tried my hand at some long-ago-deleted ATLA fic way back in the day.)

5. Do you respond to comments? I try, I swear, but...sometimes life is just. A lot.

6. Fic with the angsty ending? Uh...well...I left cursed unfinished and that's quite angsty. drawn to you is also quite angst but I don't think it really count as an angsty ending because obvs we know Rayla comes back <3 I guess love like you could be a contender since it ends right before the end of TTM...

7. Fic with the happiest ending? Most of them!!! I'm gonna go with like we're made of starlight because it's canonverse starscraper sandwiches and it doesn't get much happier than that!

8. Do you get hate? Not directly to me, but you know how Twitter can be...

9. Do you write smut? So very much.

10. Do you write crossovers? I haven't, no. I can't think of anything I'd be compelled to WRITE a crossover for. I could certainly be convinced to READ a crossover. (Am currently reading Sunrise on the Reaping and I would EAT UP a well-written rayllumy Hunger Games fic.)

11. Ever had a fic stolen? No, omg 😭

12. Ever had a fic translated? Also no.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic? Yesss!! @mistenflute and I have our ttm baby au!

14. All time favorite ship? It's rayllum, bby <3 kataang and robstar are some others I've gone through obsessions with!

15. WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? God, all of them? Just kidding. Maybe craft store au? I really doubt I'm going to finish it. It got too big for it's britches.

16. Writing strengths? sentence-to-sentence flow! I think I do a good job of making sure pretty much everything links together.

17. Writing weaknesses? uh. exploding word count? not very succinct? extremely verbose? Also...I literally don't write things with actual plot because I don't trust my creativity to not be stupid, lol. Character work, one-shots, and internal conflict, my beloveds!!!

18. Thoughts on mixed language dialogue? I don't think I have an opinion?

19. First fandom you wrote for? I wrote like two ATLA oneshots back in the day...

20. Favorite Fic you’ve ever written? I'm going to go for one not mentioned yet here, which is clean slate (post s3, pre ttm, rayllum in katolis). I really love call it what you want, as well, but clean slate is like...ALWAYS in the back of my mind. Sweet sweet katolis rayllum.....<3

Tagging 5 folks! @zuppizup @a-very-sparkly-nerd @jedidragonwarriorqueen @numptypylon @konmaao3

[setmeatopthepyre]

9-1-1 tag game

so uhh I was tagged in this by a whole bunch of people (thank you!) ages ago but I kept. forgetting about it (sorry). so here we go! also heads up I am terrible at choosing a favorite anything bc I hate picking just one thing so. yeah.

tagged by @iphyslitterator @sorryimlatecapt @epiphainie @kinardtk @beanarie @sugdenlovesdingle

Rules: answer your opinion on these nine topics, then tag nine other people to give their opinion as well

Favorite Character: Buck / Chimney / Tommy / Karen

Character You Relate to the Most: personality wise, Chimney and Buck (also for the late bi awakening & adhd) with a side of Tommy socially. but also Eddie when he gets to be silly. I feel his dumb joke delivery in my soul.

Favorite Episode: I'm gonna go with my favorite from each season to ease the burden of choosing The Favorite(s) a little. so. uh. sorry for the wall of text lmao.

S1 E1: Pilot. It's got a little bit of everything and fuckboy buck is everything to me.

S2 E6: Dosed and E12: Chimney Begins. E6: I love a healthy mix of goofy shenanigans and angst, and the pageant scene is so fucking funny every single time. E12: I also love chimney (and tommy) and chimney begins is just such a fantastic episode. kenny is so good in it. there's eli! there's angst and joy and just such a satisfying emotional arc. it feels like a million things happen but nothing feels rushed and nothing drags. it gets weirdly trippy towards the end. it's great.

S3 E17: Powerless. this was a tough one bc s3 has a ton of episodes where I love some parts and dislike others, so they tend to balance out. but this episode has some fun calls and some really human moments I like, plus the angst of bobby listening to athena fight over the radio? goddd.

S4 E5: Buck Begins and E12: Treasure Hunt. what can I say, buck (and buckley sibling) backstory and love me anyway. also, shenanigans.

S5 E13: Fear-o-Phobia. mann there's so much angst but it doesn't drag or feel overdone and we really dig into the meat of some of their psyches and it's so messy.

S6 E7: Cursed and E11: In Another Life. E7: felisa and eddie had such good chemistry alright? also silly curse stuff and the buck sperm donation shenanigans! jesus I still can't believe that's a storyline we got. E11: yeah ok so I like buck-centric storylines (especially buck-and-bobby!). coma dream! chimney who is just on board right away! evil buck! angry bobby! yeaah!

S7 E4: Buck, Bothered and Bewildered and E5: You Don't Know Me. E4 for obvious reasons (the bachelor opening had me double checking I'd downloaded the wrong show, there's joshmaddiechimney shenanigans, there's harbor tour!!, tommy tommy tommy's so cool!!, buck acting a complete fool, eddie being an oblivious dumbass, ravi!, the top gun throwback basketball scene! the kiss!!), though god that call with the mistaken identity and the storyline with athena and harry are rough. not bad, just rough. and E5 has some of my absolute favorite scenes, like the 'so tell me about the hot pilot' scene between maddie and buck. it might be my most rewatched scene, period.

S8a E1: Buzzkill and E5: Masks. mann, I remember the optimism I had in e1! there's silliness, there's interesting plot being set up, there's still hope for the future, there's fun interactions... and E5 for obvious reasons but also because it just felt like a kind of old school fun theme episode with just the right amount of cheese.

Hottest Take: Season Six Was Good, Actually. idk i've seen a lot of people dislike it but I... don't know why? there's a few storylines I don't care about as much but there's some really fun episodes. oh on that note, the sperm donation storyline had a lot of potential and I'm sad we didn't get more of it. it could've been such a cool way to dive into different dynamics between characters we don't really know! there could've been baby shenanigans! medium-warm take bc I think a lot of people in my circles agree with it, but taylor is an incredibly interesting character (and they should've kept her on!). in my heart, there is a version of 9-1-1 where taylor didn't disappear after the break up but stayed as a recurring character and becomes best frenemies with buck (and eddie!) and it would be sooo good and provide sooo many fun plot opportunities. perhaps my hottest take: I think we as a fandom may be making too big of a deal about eddie moving to el paso. we don't even know if he's actually going. the looking at houses was a product placement and the show just loooooves to zig instead of zag it's more likely to me that eddie is gone for like one week so buck can be isolated for the maddie storyline and then he's back.

Favorite Lone Star Character: marjan, carlos, judd, grace (especially judd and grace together), paul. to just stare at: carlos and tommy.

Favorite Ship: bucktommy (and for lone star: tarlos and judd/grace)

Most Underrated Character: josh. underutilized by the show: karen, josh, eddie, chimney. i want karen & chimney to have plots outside of their romantic relationships, dammit. they both have unexplored depths! and let josh do more than give quippy lines and be the gay best friend/coworker. also i think there's so much potential in eddie as a character that is barely touched on and it keeps circling back to vague handwavy trauma which can be interesting but needs more room to get to be interesting imo.

Most Underrated Ship: (chimney begins-era) chimtommy, also eddietommy. so much opportunity for a game of emotional repression and comphet chicken.

One Thing You'd Love to See: where's that tommytommytommytommytommy gif? also see: underutilized characters. I'd love to see 118 side character shenanigans. just one episode with no mains (or they're on screen for like a minute).

lmao this became such a long post so uh enjoy. once I get going with opinions I just don't stop and like I said I can't pick favorites. :') not tagging bc I think everyone & their mom already got tagged ages ago but if you do want to be tagged go for it or send me a message & I'll tag you sneaky like.

[flowercrowngods]

find the word (tag game)

tagged by the ever lovely @finntheehumaneater and @mentallyundone, thank you lovelies 🤍

🌷 rules: search your WIPs and attach a snippet to share. tag however many people you want, and give them 5 new words to search their WIPs for

🌷my words:

1) ache, tear, sob, grip, and scream (finn i'm kissing your heart) 2) heat, shut, insane, tight, over (pb you're insane for this 🫶)

incidentally, i can pull all these excerpts out of my current wip, which is i'll try. i'll try. (but i couldn't be better) chapter 12 that i'm finally working on again!!! so that's cool.

🌷 your words: heavy, heart, breathe, chest, hurt

🌷 tagging: @cxwzkeys @skiddit @aphroditestummyrolls @tboyeddie @aringofsalt @steddieas-shegoes @henderdads @sevenpumpkins @cheatghost @klausinamarink @subbaculture

snippets under the cut

ache

Ice and despair wove around the migraine pains that wreck through him like bolts of lightning, and keep him on the ground. The searing pain gets buried beneath a bone-deep ache of frozen skin along unmoving limbs, forcing Steve to realise just how tired he really is. How he can’t keep his eyes open much longer — but it’s fine, he decides, because the world above him, around him, beneath him, is made of blackness anyway, the treetops barely standing pit against the night-sky anymore. 

tear

Easy kid. Like hell! Try, he wants to say, to scream, to fucking tear into him. Try, and tell me it’s easy!  “Steve,” he says then, and it’s not so easy now, huh? “Steve, you’re safe. Sit down. You’re scaring her.”  Jaw clenched, fists balled, body rigid, the words take a while to reach him, to trickle through the haze of anger and destruction.

sob

Anger and tension leave his body, the blazing flame extinguished by a single tear on a too-young face, and he crouches down with a choked-off sigh the same instant that she starts towards him, falling into his arms with a heart-wrenching sob. Nothing in the world can make you get used to a little girl crying into you, sobbing and clinging to your cold, wet, soaked clothes, and Steve feels his heart tearing in two again and again until there are a million pieces that are not for him to piece together again. He holds her through it, presses her to his chest with weak arms, his skin tingling with the warmth still only just returning to him — but flooding, too, with red-hot guilt and shame and the need to apologise forever and ever. 

grip

He can’t make out Hopper’s eyes in the dark, but he looks up anyway, pretends he can see them.  “Hey, kid,” the man says, quiet and slow. He’s got a tight grip on the door knob, and even the darkness isn’t enough to hide how unsure he looks.

scream

But the arms around him are firm, uncaring of the scream lodged in his throat and the heavy boulders of guilt and grief and I miss you, I miss you, I miss you so deep in the pit of his stomach, it’s a miracle the world doesn’t cave in beneath him. 

heat

Because El is crying, and Hopper is cursing under his breath, cursing him and stupid fucking teenagers.  Let’s just be stupid teenagers.  The world comes back with crashing force, and Steve shoves away from the heat, away from the table, feeling seconds away from bolting again. From punching again. From screaming again.

shut

But that was a month ago. They’re different people now, it seems.  Steve says nothing, lets the anger boil beneath his skin, lets the fire grow bigger and more powerful by the second. Where before he was sure he was about to snap, about to tell Hopper everything because he was exhausted and tired enough to just let the questions come as they would, he’s now shut that part of himself away, locked up and safe from Hopper’s stupid accusations. “But you will if you don’t tell me–”

insane

“Owens told me everything only began right before the girl left, and he had nothing on you, so there’s… There’s not really a way for you to know all that. To just, just expect it. To know where things would go down. It doesn’t make sense to me. But, frankly, nothing does anymore.”  Another sigh. Then he’s crouching down, almost at eye level with Steve even in the dark of the room.  “You said– Yesterday, you said you’re going insane. Remember? Well, I think I’m right there with you, actually. And I think I need some answers.”

tight

“Hey, kid,” the man says, quiet and slow. He’s got a tight grip on the door knob, and even the darkness isn’t enough to hide how unsure he looks.  “Hi.” Steve’s not sure where they stand. If Hopper will throw him out now. If he’ll throw more accusations at him, or if he did a little more digging on him and present him with a file that’ll self-destruct in five seconds or some shit.

over

He smiles as he lets her warmth wash over him, not entirely sure if it’s a memory or a vision before he realises that She‘s here. It’s real, she’s here!  He sinks into her warmth, not quite awake enough to listen to her rambles about something or other, just happy to have this. To have her; her scent in his nose, the woody notes of the perfume he gave her for her birthday sitting pleasantly in his nose, her hair tickling his cheek as she’s murmuring something, fighting sleep, pretending to be wide awake even though Steve told her to shut up and sleep three, five, ten minutes ago already.

[basedonconjecture]

Writer’s Tag Game

thank you @flowersforthemachines & @mythals-whore for the tagsss 🥹

five things you might find in a story of mine:

1. Birds. I didn’t actually recognize this as a thing that happens consistently until early last year but I use birds a ton. Literally or as a device or in some other way, they’re almost always making their way into my writing somewhere.

2. Characters who don’t say what they mean / intentionally use words in a way that’s not quite lying but isn’t honest, either. I am a professed lover of miscommunication and this is an element that I find myself doing a lot. We shan’t examine what that says about meeeee

3. Introspection that borders on navel gazing. I just -clenches fist- love writing characters as they observe the world around them and overthink their own problems a million different ways. Rich internal lives? No, no. Some of those bitches live in graves they dug for themselves with the worms while others are roaming the halls of a decrepit Victorian mansion with a cursed portrait reflecting their true selves. (A rare few have cozy cottages in their heads where nothing bad happens.)

4. At least (1) super complicated familial relationship. If it’s on page, it tends to be siblings, and parental figures haunt the narrative. Most of the time though… it’s both.

5. uhhhhhhh… grief :’) sometimes it’s part of the plot, other times it’s hidden in the pockets

If you see this and haven’t done it I am tagging YOU

[welcometololaland]

20 Questions aka. Oversharing on the Internet version 92840938

Thanks for the tag @rmd-writes - how did you know i didn't feel like doing work?

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

excluding the ones i've flagged for deletion (when i get around to it) - 46.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

972,000 and i'm going to hit a million by the end of the year! i have one co-written collab so we can subtract about 30k (ish) from that total (but with ALTA i'll still make a milly woohoo).

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Red, White & Royal Blue, 911 Lone Star, Top Gun Maverick (occasionally)

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

ah man this kills me because it excludes my most beloved fic (love game lol). in descending order:

Speak for Yourself (RWRB, my very first fic for that fandom! 2021 me in her study writing a random 3k first chapter could never have imagined being this lucky)

The Ring-In (with @dustratcentral) (911 Lone Star, this fic makes me feel like my Tarlos writing has gotten worse instead of better lmao)

Fifty First Dates (RWRB)

(Not) A Cinderella Story (RWRB)

Cursed is a State of Mind (with @dustratcentral) (RWRB, just about to hit 1k! there's something magical about an ifyoustay collab apparently)

jeez i never realised how RWRB heavy that is...

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Always. You put in the effort to comment on my work, I'm gonna put in the effort to reply to you. I appreciate comments so much, even if they're just emojis or one line or whatever. I appreciate every single one of them (except the mean ones).

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I don't usually go here, but I think it has to be Contaminated (RWRB).

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

99% of my fics have happy endings (except for the fic above lol) but I'd say the happiest ending is in (Un)Professional Services because they're So. In. Love. and they just *spoiler* together and they're about to *spoiler*.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Rarely and I usually ignore it or delete it (so there's no point doing it).

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

A Lot. Usually served with a heavy side of feelings - I like it when the smut drives the plot, when it helps the characters have those Oh Shit realisations. I'm also a sucker for explicit, enthusiastic consent.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

I have written like 30% of a RWRB/Lone Star crossover that may never see the light of day because I keep forgetting about it.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

If I have, I don't know about it.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes! I've had a few of my fics translated by incredible people! Phonography, Warm Whispers and Baby, Make Your Move have all been translated and can be found above. I'm fine with people translating my fics, so long as they're linked to the original and remain on ao3.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes and I love it. I want to do it more often! @rmd-writes collab was an amazing experience. i've also loved working with @dustratcentral on so many of my more unhinged works.

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

I don't think I can choose between Alex/Henry and TK/Carlos.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

Probably that damn crossover, unless there's like significant interest in me finishing it lmao.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Oh no. giving myself a compliment help. I would say worldbuilding. dialogue/banter. gratuitous feelings during sex.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

exposition. being concise. overwriting to the max @three-drink-amy (this is an attack on you as well but we are we).

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

i've done it before but to be honest i'm scared to. 1) i don't want to get it wrong. 2) i don't want to annoy my very talented friends that can speak other languages by asking them 10 billion questions lol.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

...I plead the 5th.

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

Love Game. I don't care that it's not as popular. it's my child. Also, ALTA (because of the many tears that went into it). We are bonded by trauma.

open tag on this one and also calling: @reyesstrand @strandnreyes @heartstringsduet @alrightbuckaroo @three-drink-amy @goodways @iboatedhere @wandering-night19 @birdclowns @liminalmemories21 @indomitable-love @clottedcreamfudge @sherryvalli @cha-melodius @cricketnationrise @carlos-in-glasses @bonheur-cafe @theghostofashton @orchidscript @lemonlyman-dotcom @kiwiana-writes @freneticfloetry @sunshinestrand @nelsonnicholas @tailoredshirt @cold-blooded-jelly-doughnut @lightningboltreader @hippolotamus @dumbpeachjuice @tellmegoodbye @ladytessa74 @louisii-reyes-strand @beautifulhigh @athousandrooms @villiageidiot @inflarescent @marjansmarwani @safeashousespdf @tintagel-or-cockleshells @sanjuwrites @lilythesilly @kiloskywalker @noxsoulmate

[jjsstars]

kiraweek2023: Day 1, Kitsune Attributes

|| for @kirayukimuraappreciation event

|| tags : kira’s able to full shift to fox form but can also halfway shift like the werewolves do, pet names, kira & theo, the puppy pack, scott

“That’s really disappointing.” Kira huffs and crosses her arms over her chest, the game she was just playing with Mason and Liam crashed on all three of their computers, meaning they all lost. It’s been almost four hours of nonstop playing to try and beat Hayden and Theo and now- nothing. All of it for nothing.

“Awe don’t look so down fire fox, you can beat us next time.” Theo teases with a grin and hand reaching to assumingely pet at Kira’s head but she ducks away before he can.

“We’ve already spent half a day playing and were just about to beat you.” He hums, an amused smile on his face as he leans his head against his hand, the others are all staring too, though they look a little more confused. Kira isn’t sure what they’re looking at.

“Such a shame. Maybe Scott can help you win next time.” Theo’s head nods towards where Scott and Corey are walking into the library, the towns library, they’ve all decided the schools library is obviously cursed and should definitely be avoided.

“Hey guys- uh what’s going on?” Scott’s eyes blow wide the second he’s in front of the table the five are sat at, Corey looking even more taken back.

“We were about to beat Hayden and Theo but our games crashed.” They hum along and slide into the two empty seats beside Theo and Hayden, eyes not leaving Kira as they move. She suddenly feels self conscious that maybe there’s something in her teeth or that her hairs messed up somehow, she can’t think of another reason to why they’re all staring.

“Can you guys stop looking at me?” Everyone but Theo quickly drops their heads and mutters out a sorry, Raeken only grins wider, hand reaching out for Kira again but she lets him this time. Maybe he was trying to fix whatever the problem is earlier and she stopped him.

“Hm softer than mine are.” His head tips to the side and fingers scratch gently at Kira’s ear. Her fox ear. Oh god her full fox ears are out in public, in front of the pack, she hasn’t talked to them about her shifting yet.

“Oh um- yeah- yeah they’re soft.” She blushes furiously but Theo only keeps smiling, petting at her ear like he’s done this a million times before. In his defense, it is helping her calm down a bit.

“Guessing they don’t know you can go full fox mode.” The others who are dead silent but quickly move their eyes away from Kira when she looks at them.

“It’s new. I don’t have great control over it yet.” Which is how every single part of being a kitsune has felt, she wishes there was a manual to follow or something, just to give her some sliver of guidance.

“I can give you some tips.” Theo assures and lets his hand fall away from Kira’s ear. She’d be lying if she didn’t say she was a small bit disappointed at the lack of attention, she didn’t know getting her ears scratched would feel so good.

“Are you guys going to keep staring?” She can feel how her ears peel back in nervousness, hands fidgeting in her lap as she tries to make her ears go back to normal, though she knows it’s really no use.

“Sorry, no, no of course not. Uh- what game were you guys playing?” Scott startles himself back to reality which thankfully makes the others start to look away and Hayden start to explain the game they were playing to Corey and Scott.

Kira briefly wonders if she’s going to have to get used to being stared at like that a lot? Theo doesn’t shift a lot around the pack, nor does Malia or Derek, but if she’s already halfway shifting due to lack of control maybe she won’t have a choice. The lore she dug up about kitsune’s shifting to a full fox form did little to nothing to help her understand how to get herself from one form to the other.

|| Theo : stop overthinking, we can take a ride to the woods after this and I’ll give you some advice

The text dings on Kira’s phone makes her smile, she gives a reserved nod to Raeken before turning to the conversation at hand. Hopefully Theo will be more helpful than the lore she read; but she can about her kitsune problems later, she needs to try and relax for now.

[abarbaricyalp]

WIP Game

Thanks for the tag @funsized-loser !!!! Please, everyone who wants to add on to this post, feel free! I love reading people's WIPs! This is from the next (hopefully) fic I'm posting! I'm so close to finishing it, I can almost taste it. It's called Tell It To The Bees (and the birds)

There was a bulletin board in the lobby of the building, across from the bank of mailboxes. It was supposed to be for building wide notices–fire inspections, water outages, that kind of thing. Mostly it was full of passive-aggressive notes about the cleanliness of the dog park and the fact that trash bags weren’t supposed to be left in the hallway for any length of time.

Bucky thought about leaving a note inquiring towards the bird coop, but he 1) didn’t want to get someone else in trouble and 2) more importantly, didn’t want to get himself in trouble. He reread a note about someone on the third floor who apparently habitually burned things in the oven as someone stood at the mailboxes.

“Hey, 203,” they called over.

Bucky startled slightly and turned around. His bland, friendly smile fell away as he realized who was there. “Wilson,” he greeted through his teeth. “I thought you worked Thursdays.”

Sam Wilson was in 205, the unit that shared a bedroom wall with Bucky’s bedroom. It wasn’t that Wilson was having rough, hot sex and reminding Bucky that he wasn’t. It was just that Wilson made a million other noises all through the night and then had the audacity to leave notes on Bucky’s door about singing in the shower.

Well. And there was the time Bucky accidentally kind of ruined their shared pipes by washing hair product down the sink. But that was an accident!

“It is definitely Friday,” Sam snorted. He continued to dig in his mailbox, freeing a large envelope that had been rolled and folded to fit into the small metal tray. “Hey, I’ve had gumbo stewing all day, if you wanna come over for dinner,” he added.

That was another thing he had the audacity with. He was always inviting Bucky over like he was some orphan to feed. Bucky didn’t even remember what off-handed, one-time remark he’d made about something smelling good before Wilson was all over him with invitations. It was so underhanded when they already clearly had a rivalry. Bucky could cook. He kept himself fed. Just because everything Sam made really did smell so damn good didn’t mean Bucky was always looking for food.

“Uh, no, thanks,” he said. “I’m actually on my way out to a ther–” Bucky cut himself off. He knew Sam worked at the VA as some kind of counselor, but that didn’t mean he wanted his nemesis to know just how deep his issues ran. Not that therapy was a bad thing. For, like, anyone else. Bucky was different. And Sam would know that. Sam would know exactly what kind of fucked up Bucky was. “I’m going out with friends.”

Sam raised an eyebrow and made a show of checking the watch he always wore. “At four in the afternoon? I can leave it on the stove a while longer. Come over when you get back.”

“Not really the kind of night where I’m planning on coming back,” Bucky lied.

Judging by the way Sam’s eyebrow rose even higher, he also clocked it as a lie. “Alright, man. Don’t gotta brag. Have fun or whatever.”

Bucky nodded, tripped over his feet when he couldn’t decide if he should be going to the building door or back to his apartment. Sam did an admirable job of hiding his snort.

“Later, 203,” he called over his shoulder as he ducked into the stairwell.

Bucky banged his head against the bulletin board and cursed his whole damn existence.

[plumsaffron]

Miracubozos roast pt. 11:

Why the hell is Mari/bat even a thing? It makes no sense one bit. It’s one of the worst crossover ships in existence! Marinette wouldn’t last long under Damian bc he’d effing maul her like his canon counterpart? Besides, other fandoms’ crossover ships have more compatibility and consistency!

A lot of DC fans are givin’ y’all the side eye for being a pesky plague…

Even other fans of series/franchises don’t like you people, they had enough of your shit! *bombastic side eye en masse by the sane ppl*

“Ayo wtf is up with these people mixing their crap with ours!?” “I dunno man but this ain’t making sense one bit!” “Why is that thing still even around?” “Oh my god bro… it’s like the Loud House fandom again… people refusing to let it go after an infamous episode.” “They better not bring their shit on my feed! They claim to be positive folks but that’s a lot of hatred on just one character!” “Could y’all please include the appropriate tags, my user block/mute list is so long that it could be at novel length!”

I see why some to most crossover content creators seriously refuse to include that show! Cuz they know not to attract you miracuviruses! Y’all would just bombard the poor creators with your stupid ass ridiculous requests just to satisfy your sick fantasy of Lila being hurt and killed!

The miracumethheads really are that hooked by their salt bomb fics LMAO!

Ayo, Thomas Asstruc is a pathetic POS who has an actual family yet imagines Marinette as his “virtual daughter” with his ex, hence the same names. Coincidence? I think not!

Oh my god even the Gacha content creators are doing ML salt! I can excuse a lil cringy fun, reaction type or even a meme/music vid but the infamous “abused child” plots for canon characters with already stable families irk me to no end!

Once again, you’re wrong about me.

Our franchise has so many sponsors and rewards.

Haven’t you seen that we’re number 1 in ratings tv events, number 1 on netflix in 2020, 170 million products sold, and so much more.

We’re going beyond Buzz Lightyear.

(Enough of that disaster of pretending to be Tommy game.)

Anyways...

I have no clue why they why that Mari Bat Meth fic/ship thing exists. I suppose it’s the curse of losers with their shipfuel and probably people hating Marinette’s friends/enemies. Whatever they feel would empower/free/satisfy Marinette, I suppose, and strange romance. They must love creating counter productive crap.

Them to do whatever it takes and spread their plague across other series so they can make believe they regained sanity somehow.

Sometimes I wonder, why is it so hard for people to let go of something so simple? The pleasure of snorting salt fics. Making infamous episode(s) out to be like they were such things put them on life support. Seems so many have no life or nothing better to do or look forward to doing.

And then losers giving themselves some Lila illness fetish/kink or granting themselves something rattling in their ears or mind known as Lila Tinnitus Seethe Disorder as excuse to fling or seek cruel and unusual punishment (worse is I know 3 more characters that go do this crap)

Yep miraculous salt methdemic infecting gacha life too.