#wizarding world of whump

[whumpitlikeyoumeanit]

I'm thinking about writing a HP fic with Voldie living with the Malfoys and treating them like garbage. Do you have any headcannons or ideas you'd wanna see in something like that?

<3 Best AU

You can't go wrong with turning Draco into a ferret as punishment / torture. I have him with a small gold birdcage in the parlour he lives in as a ferret =D (That would be really stressful to a ferret, don't do it to a real one, animal cruelty PSA)

Voldemort can give people false memories / horrifying visions when he wants to torture them without making them useless to him, so that's fun to play with.

Lucius being really messed up and traumatised from the year spent with the Dementors. Lucius being on the same level as Wormtail. Lucius showing surprise depth and actually trying to protect his family, granted that Voldemort's never actually going to let that work without making it abundantly clear he can do whatever he wants and is just ~allowing~ it...

On that note, cruel choices and Voldemort using them against each other. Things like "I let your failure of a son live, but now you're asking to be allowed a wand as well? Well, I suppose if you want that more..." or "Lord Voldemort is magnanimous; decide between you who will be punished for this". Forcing Lucius to Crucio Draco (because they all know if he doesn't Draco'll be killed). I'd say forcing Draco to Crucio one of his parents but I genuinely don't think he could. Could force him to try and then be punished for it.

Nagini. Just.... Nagini. Completely terrifying. You know she needs to eat a person every month or two.

Snape doing whatever he can to help without blowing his cover.

Bellatrix trying to get Narcissa to come to Voldemort's side and abandon her family, even offering to get rid of the family holding her back, but also Bellatrix being absolutely ready and willing to hurt Narcissa if Voldemort even hints he would like that.

Normally I leave Narcissa relatively unscathed... well, no, she's scathed, but she's less actively tortured. 🤔 Of the twice I've written something adjacent to this AU, once I had her mind controlled and kept by Rabastan, and the other I had her badly injured while trying to help Draco escape (oh, yeah, another trope: Narcissa trying to help Draco escape) and sent to the hospital. Both times I had her get out of the house and join up with the good guys and be on the other side in the final battle. Interesting trend I hadn't recognised in myself. I know you like female whumpees, though, so you have a whole world of "She comes from good Pureblood stock and it's a shame to waste it" at your fingertips, if you want to get that uncomfortable with it.

The absolute terror of knowing Voldemort can read your mind whenever he wants and will know everything you do and everything you say and everything you think.

Voldemort is such a good villain for absolutely terrorising the poor dears.

[questions-about-blorbos]

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[auroragehenna]

The only AI I tolerate is the talking hat of Hogwarts.

[melpomenelamusa]

Melpómene´s whump stories archive

To celebrate the new year, I've decided to share with you some of my favorite whump stories I read this year as a thank you to all the authors who share a little bit of their world with us 💜✨

My plan is to update this list annually and have it function as a sort of personal archive for me, hehe, but you can use it too if you'd like! 😁

Melpómene's personal favorites:

🩸Shattered (by @oddsconvert): An anti-human-blood-drinking vampire doctor tries to save the life of a human who for years was the bloodbag of a vampire I really hate.

🔪Total $hit$how (by @befuddled-calico-whump): 5 misfits escaping prison for their criminal records are hired by a mysterious organization to stop another mysterious, but more evil, sci-fi organization (Benji, my son).

🩸Blood and tears (by @whumpisgoodwhumpislife): A little half-vampire is suffering too much and a human decides to take care of him and protect him (They are both my babies).

🪄Forsaken (by @inhurtandincomfort): A young wizard, condemned by a pact he made with a misterious entity in the past, is trained and used as a living weapon by a malevolent institution in a fantasy world. Ft. some loser boy mad scientist.

🎣In troubled water (by @whumpisgoodwhumpislife): A little mer anglerfish suffers. That's it. Also known as "my poor fish baby".

⛅Worthless (by @livelaughwhump): The best example of "trauma changes you". (P.S. When I catch you, Christian...).

Others amazing stories I've read/I'm reading:

📸Smile for the camera! (by @morning-star-whump ): A boy is kidnapped by a psychopath from the deep web. His parents and his little boyfriend try to find him (Andre Vazquez is the best character).

👑Darius & Mianu (by @geode-crystal): A traumatized prince and his faithful knight/boyfriend want to live happily ever after, but something always happens.

👹The Bahkauv (by @deluxewhump): Three friends decide to buy a magical creature to study; but what seemed like nothing more than a monster or an animal may turn out to be a companion.

⚡Overloaded (by @fleur-a-whump): The son of a supervillain wants to join the good guys, but discovers that "heroes" can be just as cruel as villains.

⚓Voyagers (by @sorrowful-hyacinth): A jerk sea captain captures a jerk mermaid prince and they torture each other. They both deserve it because they're such bastards, but you also feel bad for them and it's complicated.

⛓️A taste of your own medicine (by @oddsconvert): Whumper gets kidnapped and torture along with his ex-whumpee by an even evil whumper. Only one person is having fun here.

👨‍👦With me (by @greatgigintheskiess): A bitter guy living in the woods accidentally rescues a little boy who escaped from an evil laboratory. Parental caretaker my beloved.

🪐Humanity Collector (by @rabbit-flaying): A cosmic creature who likes to collect human things decides to add a real human to its collection (A cosmic horror one-shot).

🧵Writemas 2024 (by @tildeathiwillwrite): A woman suffers the mysterious death (or murder?) of her husband. This is the kind of story I would love to read in a printed book and recommend to my entire family.

🦌Whumpcember 2024 (by @kabie-whump): An evil wizard has turned Santa's reindeer into humans, who now have to live with their new bodies. A series of shorts with very interesting and cute characters that I definitely need to keep reading if I could.

🪢My favorite stories by @writinglittlepains: Speedster, Aleksander's Plight and Sweet Fins are my favorites!

⚖️Guilt & Revenge (by @what-if-i-just-did): A traumatized ex-bully is kidnapped by the kids he used to bully as a kid because he couldn't afford therapy and is brutally tortured by those who actually happened to be the ones who needed therapy.

���We Are TroubleD (by @whumpty-dumpty-doo): Two best friends are kidnapped by a guy who originally planned to capture one of them for ransom, but now is just torturing them for fun.

⛈️Ventis and friends (by @kabie-whump): A half draconic half air elemental and his varied adventures in a fantasy world *kindly slaps Ventis* This bad boy can fit so much trauma in him.

🛡️Drusus & Keme (by @whumperofworlds): Don´t know why it took me so long to add the whumpable husbands to the list. There´s whump! And fluffy married love! And used as bait!

🪦Curse of Withering (by @sir-fenris): A magical boy with the power to kill everything he touches is imprisoned and used as a living military weapon.

🎀Pretty whumpee (by @string-of-broken-hearts): Pretty whumpe and carewhumper. I really need to know the context, I'm so intrigued.

👿Karma's B*tch (by @whumpthusiast): A pathetic guy kidnaps the wrong woman and now it backfired.

👥Group Whumpees (by @haro-whumps): A young man inherits his eccentric aunt's house after her death and discovers that she had enslaved and tortured five servants. It's now his job to try to restore them to a sense of humanity.

🧜‍♀️Fish out of water (by @bilightningwhumper): The unluckiest mermaid I know. This story gives me the vibes of a dramatic soap opera, in a good way.

[shadowgast-recs-weekly]

Featuring Eiselcross and Aeor: A Fanfiction Rec List

This week, we have Eiselcross/Aeor! Check under the cut for 7 fics that are set in the strange and icy land of Eiselcross, and don't forget to comment and kudos if you like them!

Like a Steel Trap by kaeda (12519, Explicit)

Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek figures out just how much Caleb knows (and just how much that turns him on).

Reccer says: Elaborates on the Kryn culture and capitalizes on the feats that make Caleb just that much extra. Just two wizards seducing each other with their brains.

In the Dark with No Stars to Guide by Somestreptomyces (46532, Teen)

Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek hopes to learn more about Caleb as they travel through Aeor together.

Reccer says: It's a great fic that pays a lot of attention to the worldbuilding and journeying, with a lot of introspection combined in with it. It's a really wonderful, cozy and longer read!

Like the love that discovered the sin by bloodredribbon (4960, Explicit)

Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

"When the wizards meet up in Aeor, Essek is woefully underdressed for the weather. Out of concern for his Kryn-friend's extremities, Caleb offers to help, with unforeseen (horny) consequences."

Reccer says: I liked it!

Hold Me Close, Cut Me Deep by CatgirlTheCrazy (14192, Mature)

Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Whilst investigating in Aeor, Essek gets Charmed by an Incubus wearing Caleb's face. The real Caleb goes to desperate lengths to save him

Reccer says: The best kind of whump, with a really sweet ending. It hurts so good!

Through The Frightening Door by Prolix (228,371 (but ongoing; currently at 34/40 ch), Explicit)

Reccer's Content Notes: canon typical violence, i’d say — so if that’s graphic, then graphic, but i wouldn’t say it’s more so than anything else

Post-C2 longfic. Ongoing. Essek POV. The classic Aeor exploration slow burn relationship study genre of fic, but the highest degree of Aeor exploration & slow burn & relationship study conceivable.

Reccer says: look. i’ve read a lot of shadowgast, and i’m picky about my shadowgast to boot. this is honestly the best characterization of their dynamic, the most interesting depiction of aeor, and the most well-written work i can remember reading — and there are some good fics out there, too! but prolix might solo em all for me, and the fic is not even done yet! if you’re someone who looks for legitimately good writing (like actually legitimately very good!!!), realistic, thoughtful characterization of both our boys (and the cameos we get of the other nein) and how they develop post campaign, an in-depth relationship study that lets things grow naturally and doesn’t manufacture drama/angst when unnecessary in order to rush OR delay developments unbelievably, as well as a frankly disconcertingly fleshed out version of aeor w/ insanely detailed, unique, innovative, meaningful, and thorough world-building, go read this fic. go now. it’s still updating! get in on the ground floor!

Snowed In in Aeor by bardlock (1133, Mature)

Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

While trekking through Aeor, Essek and Eadwulf get separated from Caleb and have to spend the night together when they’re out of spell slots to Teleport. It gives Essek plenty of time to think about the situation… and Eadwulf is no stranger to having to cuddle up with others for warmth.

Reccer says: The fic is a WIP, but I’m loving the previews that have been posted in AifL! The first chapter alone has me really excited for this fic, and I’m really intrigued by this exploration of Bren/Eadwulf vs. Caleb/Essek through Essek’s viewpoint of it.

The following fic received two recs!

Gravity, and all that's born within by SkyScribbles (163598, Teen)

Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Wizards returning to Aeor and realising not everything is as they left it while coming to terms with everything that has happened between them.

Reccer 1 says: I really enjoy the way the relationship develops, and the fantastic original characters.

Reccer 2 says: Quite literally my favourite fic I’ve ever read. The characters are perfectly voiced and the antagonists are complex and deep. The writing is so incredibly smart, it stands with the source material in terms of depth and development. I reread it every couple of months!

This is one of our weekly communally-generated shadowgast rec lists. Every week we announce a new theme and allow anyone to submit a fic recommendation.

And hey, anyone includes you!

Next week, we'll be featuring fics from Caleb's POV!

Any fics coming to mind? Well, then use this form to submit!

[jacquitries]

hi !! could you write a regulus black whump-style story where reader gets hurt because of him/to protect him and he finds out ?? take it in any direction you'd like to, there's just a massive drought of angst and you're a magnificent writer !!

My heart. :((( Thank you so so so much!! Angst hurts to write but no pain no gain I guess. :< Hope you like it! All For You | R.B.

A dangerous mission gone wrong leads to unexpected revelations between old friends, forced to confront their hidden feelings and the choices they've made in the shadow of war.

𓆘 𓆚𓆚𓆚𓆚𓆚 𓆘 𓆚𓆚𓆚𓆚𓆚 𓆘 𓆚𓆚𓆚𓆚𓆚 𓆘 𓆚𓆚𓆚𓆚𓆚 𓆘

The shuffle of your footsteps echoed against the unnervingly quiet hallways of Malfoy Manor. You barely registered the ache in your ribs, the searing pain in your leg — injuries sustained in a confrontation you never should have been part of — but you carried on, determined to do what needed to be done.

The mission tasked to you was relatively simple. Retrieve information from a wizard who had grown too careless of his activities. He was a means to an end, a part of the Dark Lord’s plan. To be disposed of once his purpose was served. The job, you had thought, would be swift. It wasn’t. And now, here you are injured, the gash on your arm staining the sleeve of your robes as you limped down the long corridor, hoping to make it to the meeting room before the blood loss overwhelmed you.

You were no stranger to pain. A Slytherin born to parents who were as steeped in the Dark Lord’s cause as they were in their own prideful lineage, it had always been clear that survival would depend on knowing when to fight and when to retreat. And you had learned long ago that there was a balance to everything, a sharp edge to every secret.

It was the secret that pained you now — Regulus Black. Your oldest friend. The boy who had stood by you since first year, who had understood the pressure of the world placed on those like you. The connection between you was inevitable, born of shared blood and ambition, of mutual understanding. And yet, you both had secrets, buried deeply, unspoken. You knew what he was. A Death Eater. You had known for years. But you never said anything. Not to him. Not to anyone. You played along, kept up the pretense that you were nothing more than the dutiful daughter of your family, someone who abided by the rules of the world that had been built for people like you.

But there had been moments of doubt. Doubts about whether you could stand by and do nothing while he was forced to shoulder burdens that neither of you should have had to carry. So, you had made your choice. Without him ever knowing, you’d taken up your own secret role in Voldemort’s ranks. You couldn’t bear to see Regulus bear the weight alone. The thought of him suffering, of him being used as a tool by a madman, twisted your heart. So, you had done what you could, undertaken tasks to lighten his load, to protect him in your own way.

It was for him that you had agreed to take on this dangerous mission tonight. He hadn’t asked you to. He wouldn’t have. But you had always been there for him, in ways others couldn’t understand. Now, you stand battered and bruised, carrying the pain of your choices, of the unseen sacrifices made to protect him.

You were so lost in your thoughts that you didn’t hear the footsteps until they stopped just behind you, a soft intake of breath that froze you in place.

“Y/N,” a voice spoke from the shadows. It was Regulus, his tone heavy, tight with concern.

You stiffened, a sharp panic shooting through you. You weren’t ready for him to see you in this state. He wasn’t supposed to know. You took a deep breath and turned, forcing a mask of calm on your face.

“I—” you began, but the words caught in your throat as the pain in your leg flared again.

Regulus was quicker than you, his arm outstretched to steady you before you could collapse. His grey eyes scanned you, noting the blood on your robes, the unnatural pallor of your face. His lips parted, but he didn’t say anything. Not yet.

With a barely contained curse, he drew you close, his hand at your elbow, and before you could protest, he murmured, “Hold on.”

There was a flash of movement—everything blurred in an instant—and with a sharp crack, the world around you twisted and contorted, the familiar sights of Malfoy Manor vanishing in an eerie swirl of space and time.

When the world settled, you found yourself in an unfamiliar, dimly lit hallway. It took you a moment to register your surroundings. It was the cold, grimy walls of 12 Grimmauld Place.

His gaze flicked down to your leg, and then to the gash on your arm, blood soaking through your robes. His brow furrowed in concern, and without a word, he quickly pulled you further into a darker corner of the house, away from prying eyes.

He knelt beside you, eyes scanning over the extent of your injury. His hands, usually steady, were now trembling slightly as he reached for his cloak. “Stay still,” he murmured, pulling out a small, tarnished tin from a hidden pocket. It was filled with a thick, dark ointment — a salve you both knew would help, but only so much. Regulus had always carried it on him, knowing that magical healing wasn’t always the answer when it came to more serious, deeper injuries.

You winced as he gently applied the salve to your leg, the sting sharp, but bearable. The pain in your side was far worse, though, and the blood still oozed from the gash on your arm despite his quick actions. He didn’t look at you as he worked, his brow furrowed in concentration.

“You were supposed to stay away,” he cut in, his voice uncharacteristically raw. “I didn’t—God, Y/N, I didn’t want this. I didn’t want you anywhere near this life, near Voldemort. You shouldn’t have been involved.”

You bit your lip, your throat tight. “I couldn’t sit back, Reg. I couldn’t let you—let them use you like this. So I did what I had to do. To protect you. To protect us.”

There was a moment of silence, then Regulus gave a harsh, bitter laugh, but it was a sound without joy. “You think this protects me? You think becoming one of them would protect me?”

“You don’t understand—” You couldn’t finish the sentence. The pain overwhelmed you, a sharp, burning ache that stole your breath away.

Regulus’ face softened in that rare way you saw only when you were alone with him. His hand reached for your shoulder, steadying you, and you couldn’t hide the pain in your eyes as he gently turned you to face him.

“You’ve been taking my tasks,” he whispered, his words cutting deeper than the injury in your side. “Haven’t you? You’ve been doing the things I’ve been ordered to do, the things I never wanted to put on you.”

You nodded, too exhausted to argue. He didn’t need words to understand what had happened, but the weight of realization hit him hard. There was a flicker of betrayal in his eyes, quickly masked by guilt. He hadn’t known, and now, he wished he had.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered, his voice breaking for the first time. His eyes hardened, a dark promise settling within them. “I’m going to bring it all down. I won’t let him do this to you — or to anyone else. I’ll end it.”

You swallowed hard, shaking your head weakly. “No, Regulus... You don’t—”

He interrupted you. His hands moved to cup your face. His thumb brushed against your cheek as though memorizing the feel of you. “You’ve been doing this for me, haven’t you? All this time.”

You closed your eyes, fighting the tears that threatened to spill. “I couldn’t let you carry this alone. I couldn’t.”

The strain of holding everything in finally broke, and you let out a choked sob, leaning into him for support. But as your vision blurred, you saw the fire in Regulus’ eyes. Something fierce. Something unwavering.

“I’ll end this. I’ll end it all for you. I’ll burn it all to the ground if I have to,” he swore, his voice low but resolute. “And I’ll protect you from now on. No more secrets. No more lies.”

You let out a shaky breath, basking in his steady presence, feeling the weight of your shared burdens, and for the first time in a long time, you allowed yourself to believe that perhaps you nor Regulus didn't have to face this battle alone.

[swissmissficrecs]

A-Z Johnlock Tropes

This time it's all the tropes in my favorite fics! Limited to one fic per author, and I tried to include other authors than on my A-Z classics list.

A lternate Universe(s) - A Vintage Exceptionally to Your Liking by EmmyAngua (95K, E): A love story across alternate dimensions.

B DSM - Shames and Praises by s0mmerspr0ssen (51K, E): D/s AU with Dom!John / sub!Sherlock.

C rossover - More Things Than Are Dreamt Of by 1electricpirate (37K, M-E): HP crossover with Wizard!John / Muggle!Sherlock.

D omesticity - Where Else Would I Be? by cwb (34K, E): Retirement in Sussex with flashbacks.

E stablished Relationship - Breakable Not Broken by MissDavis (227K, E): Dealing with permanent injury together.

F uture - Software Malfunction by tiger_in_the_flightdeck (16K, E): Sherlock is a Companion android with a malfunction.

G en - The Green Blade by verityburns (72K, T): Serial killer casefic.

H istorical - The Beast of Baskerville by Mildredandbobbin (74K, E): 15th Century/fairy tale AU.

I llness - On Pins and Needles by 7PercentSolution, J_Baillier (588K, G-E): Sherlock contracts Guillain-Barré syndrome.

J ealousy - White Knight by DiscordantWords (69K, M): Sherlock fakes a relationship with Janine, to John's distress.

K idfic - Intentions by KeelieThompson1 (216K, G-M): Sherlock discovers he is the father of 10-year-old John.

L ongfic - Sketchy by serpentynka (876K, E): Johnlock and Mycroft/OMC slow-burn casefic(s).

M agical Realism - Shatter the Darkness (Let the Light In) by MojoFlower (109K, E): Sherlock is a djinn.

N SFW - The Great Sex Olympics of 221B by XistentialAngst (58K, E): Sherlock and John compete to see who's better at sex.

O megaverse - The Illusion of Control by starrysummernights (253K, E): Alpha!Sherlock / Omega!Johnwith mpreg.

P arentlock - The James Holmes Chronicles by prettyvk (338K, T-E): Sherlock and John raise Moriarty's son.

Q ueer Representation - The Adventure of the Consulting Woman by DancingGrimm (56K, E): Trans character assists in a case.

R etirement - Through the Clouds by Mazarin221b (20K, E): Sherlock and John retire to Sussex.

S oulmates - Colors by Quesarasara (140K, E): When you meet your soulmate, you finally see the world in color.

T eenlock - The Frost is All Over by Chryse (148K, E): 19th-century AU, Sherlock is an Earl's son and John is a commoner.

U ndercover - Corpus Hominis by mycapeisplaid (47K, E): Posing as a couple at a spa retreat.

V ampires - Bleed Me Out by antietamfalls (87K, E): Vampire!Sherlock with whump, hurt/comfort, and fluff.

W hump - All the Best and Brightest Creatures by wordstrings (188K, E): Moriarty is back and out for blood.

X enomorphism - Names for the Galaxy by evadne (191K, E): 22nd-century Alien!Sherlock.

Y enta* - May Your Heart Purr Like A Bumblebee by destinationtoast (14K, M): Harry helps Johnlock happen.

Z oomorphism** - The Horse and His Doctor by khorazir (128K, T): Vet!John and Horse!Sherlock.

*Used here to mean a female character playing matchmaker. Y-word tropes are hard, you guys!

**Not sure this is technically correct, but I'm using it here to mean fics in which a character has animal form. Z-word fanfic tropes are also hard and I already used zombies on my previous list!

[allthingswhumpyandangsty]

WRITING PROMPTS INSPIRED BY JOHNNY DEPP'S CHARACTERS

Captain Jack Sparrow

whumpee getting seasick.

whumpee was captured by pirates.

whumpee was forced to walk on a plank.

whumpee was saved by a pirate.

whumpee was wounded after a fight against a kraken, caretaker has to do their best to heal them with what equipment they have when they're in the middle of the sea.

Gellert Grindelwald

magic whump my beloved.

whumpee found a portal that transported them to a fantasy world where magic and wizards are real, but what will whumpee do when everyone in that world thinks whumpee is the dark magic wielder and tries to hunt them down?

human caretaker found a wounded wolf in need of help so they took him home, unaware that the wolf is in fact a human who was cursed by a witch.

caretaker has to travel into the dark forest and make a deal with a witch in exchange for a medicine that will heal whumpees from the plague. but can the witch be trusted?

Sweeney Todd

a mystery befalls a secluded village when a new barber moved in; people just start disappearing with no trace, but this bakery’s pies are at least distractingly good.

misunderstood whumper who is seen as a cold blooded monster, but what people don’t see is the pain whumper has been carrying with them for years after having their family taken away from them by an actual whumper who turned the misunderstood whumper into a “monster” they’ve become.

whumpee with a deep slash on their throat. can they make it out alive?

whumpee was adopted by caretakers, but what will they do when they start sensing there’s something wrong with caretakers? can they really trust caretakers to take care of them, or should they escape before they become one of those “missing people” too?

Edward Scissorhands

whumpee was born with scissors for hands and kept from the outside world their entire life. despite their “scary” appearance, they’re actually a sweetheart who’s never harmed a fly.

innocent whumpee!!!! whumpee with a childlike nature. whumpee who’s a cinnamon roll. whumpee who literally actually has never done anything wrong ever in their life.

whumpee who’s too innocent for this world.

whumpee who doesn’t understand the concept of “bad people”.

as endearing as whumpee’s naivety is, there are people who want to take advantage of their innocence.

Willy Wonka

whumpee got lost in a chocolate factory that’s believed by the public to have been shut down for years, only for whumpee to realize the factory has in fact always been open upon entering.

whumpee fell into a chocolate bath.

magic chocolate with the ability to transform and shapeshift those who ate it.

[bottan-blobbington]

Get to know the author

Thanks for tagging me, @loni4ever! :D

1. How many works on AO3? 18

2. Total AO3 wordcount? 329,774 - I started publishing in May 2024, so I'm proud of that.

3. Top 5 fics by kudos?

The Hollow Heart (Frostiron whump - WIP) Loki doesn’t die in Svartalfheim, but it’s a close thing. Instead he walks between worlds to an enemy’s doorstep—which turns out to be his best chance at survival.

The Wild Blue Yonder (Thorki questfic) After the botched coronation, Thor and Loki get trapped on Jötunheim. Or: The one where Thor gets cursed and turns into a Frost Giant.

Marrying up (Thor & Loki crack) Loki tells the story of Thor marrying a Giant. Thor would prefer that he didn't.

The Talent (Frostiron wizard AU) 1920. London’s magical society is dying. Plague sweeps the streets and monsters lurk in shadowed alleyways.

Like Ships That Collide in the Night (Frostiron crack) The one where Tony Stark turns into the Midgard serpent and Loki has to whisk him away to save Thor from himself.

4. What fandoms do you write for? Just Loki (MCU) at the moment, but I'm super excited to finish my reread of Realm of the Elderlings and writing unhinged mental-bond porn of those people. <3

5. Do you respond to comments? Almost always! I love talking to readers! <3

6. Fic with the angstiest ending? Winters Eight (All Teeth: Part II) ... just wow. I WAS GOING THROUGH IT AND NEEDED THAT CRAP OUT OF MY SYSTEM OKAY. It's also one of the early ones, so I won't vouch for the quality. >.>

7. Fic with the happiest ending? Probably Like Ships That Collide in the Night.

8. Do you get hate? Sometimes! Nothing where people don't paddle back when I tell them that they're being weird in my comment section, so far.

9. Do you write smut? Sure do!

10. Have you ever co-written a fic? Not that I remember ... I illustrated a few!

11. All time favourite ship? Going by number of bookmarks on AO3, apparently it's: 1. Thorki, 2. JohnLock, 3. ... Destiel? How did that happen?? I don't even got here???

12. WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? Yeah ... the first thing I wrote for Loki was supposed to have another three installments to the series. I've genuinely lost interest and my writing has improved to the point of being incongruous. I've always meant to finish it, but I doubt I will.

13. Writing strengths? Humor, I've been told! I've also been getting a lot of lovely feedback on my dialogue/characterization, recently. <3

14. Writing weaknesses? Right now, I'm working on my plotting skills; my subplots always turn into a snarl at the three-quarter point and I want to get better at that. And I tend to drop too much description in dialogue-heavy scenes, oops.

These are always fun. I know at ton of my mutes are writing! So anyone interested, please feel tagged! :D <3

[whumpitlikeyoumeanit]

The subtle dehumanisation that a Muggle wouldn't understand, of casually using magic on another witch or wizard.

Instead of engaging in conversation, or even telling someone to be quiet, just Silence them.

Instead of going around someone, just summon or levitate their clothes to move them around, or use a jinx to knock them aside.

Someone annoying you? Just suspend them in midair.

Is someone being too weepy and bringing down the mood? Apply a Cheering Charm and get back to the party.

These are things that are all easily accomplished, but just socially Not Done. These are things you do to an object, not a person.

[maracujatangerine]

I woke up thinking about this so I'm asking! How would Cory fair if, for some unimaginable reason, Lydia had no choice but to have Wayland watch him for the weekend??

84. Unfortunate Circumstances

CW: NSFW, non-con, institutionalised slavery, dehumanisation, box boy universe, pet whump

“Of course, dearest. You and Lydia should enjoy your girls’ weekend together and I’ll keep an eye on the pets.”

“Are you sure you are all right with looking after Cory-boy, too?”

“No problem, Ceci. It isn’t more than right considering your friend took care of Brutus for our trip. We should help her in return.”

Mistress Cecilia pouted prettily.

”But that sounds so boring and full of drudgery, dear. Perhaps I should stay to keep you company?”

Wayland gave Cecilia an affectionate kiss. “Don’t you worry! I’ll have some fun too. I might have a few friends over tonight.”

“That sounds better.” She wrapped him in a quick hug. “See you in a couple of days!” Looking at Absalom, Brutus and Coriander all kneeling in line, she added. “Be good, pets.”

And then she was out of the door.

*

Handcuffs clinked as Wayland locked Cory’s hands behind the pet’s back. Then, he pushed him down to kneel on the cold floor. Brutus watched helplessly as Coriander, naked, lowered his head. His scarred back, the vulnerable arc of his spine, the blonde hair falling freely around his face. The fair-haired pet looked… broken.

Wayland rubbed his hands together, grinning.

”Don’t worry your sweet little head, pet. We are going to have fun together. First, Absalom is going to make you feel so good. He is a wizard with that mouth of his. He knows exactly what to do.” He smiled languidly. “And then, Brutus here, will take you from behind.”

Wayland reached up and patted Brutus’ upper arm a couple of times. Just like you would pat your horse or your hunting dog. For once, Brutus didn’t feel the elation that praise from his Master usually gave. Instead, he felt a sick, cold dread roiling in his stomach.

“You’re going to pop some pills, boy.” Wayland said. “So that you can stay nice and hard for a long, long time.” He chuckled to himself. “This will be a show for me and the lads to enjoy. I have heard from Cecilia that your dear Mistress Lydia doesn’t even play with her boy toy.” He spat. “Just what you could expect from that fridgid bitch, am I right?”

He reached out to smooth over Coriander’s hair in a mock caress, only to violently fist his hand into the silken, blonde tresses and force the shivering pet’s head up. Tears glimmered in Cory’s grey eyes, catching the lamplight, but the pet did not let them fall.

“Hmm.” Wayland almost purred at the sight. “But that should mean that you are nice and tight.” He laughed. “Perhaps too nice a treat for a simple guard dog, maybe all of us should have you? Brutus can get his chance when we are all done.”

He looked up, behind Brutus’ shoulder. “What do you think, Absalom? You little whore. I’m sure you have all the experience in the world when it comes to these matters, don’t you?”

The romantic gracefully sidestepped Brutus’ hulking form and sashayed into the room. When he passed the guard dog, he turned his head and locked eyes with Brutus. The eye contact somehow electrifying, meaningful, as if he wanted to share a message. But Brutus had no idea what Absalom meant to convey, and the moment passed.

“That’s right, Master.” Absalom stepped close to Wayland, let his hand glide lightly down the bigger man’s chest. He looked up at him through his eyelashes. “But..” Absalom said slowly. “Why would you bother with these… amateurs?” The pet tilted his head upwards, as if inviting a kiss. “I can give you and your friends all the entertainment you need.”

He turned his head slowly towards the door. Again, that meaningful glance towards Brutus. An expression of urgency flickering over his face, only to be completely erased when Absalom looked up towards Wayland again. “You can send them away.” He suggested, coyly. “We can have some privacy to enjoy ourselves before your friends arrive.”

“Aha, I know what you want.” Wayland said. “You just want to have the chance to curry some extra favour for yourself.” He laughed. “That’s kind of sly. Smart for a pet, at least.” He grabbed Absalom’s chin, forcing the pet’s head further upwards. “It will be fun playing with you. But me and the lads, we probably want some novelty as well.”

He looked over all the three pets with a calculating expression that chilled Brutus’ blood.

”Maybe..” he said, and the glint in his eyes held no hint of clemency or compassion. “Maybe I’ll just take all three of you at once.”

Brutus awoke, heart still beating fast with fear. The familiarity of the sparse room. The shapes of his weights on the rack at the end of his bed, each of them glistening silver in the light from the street lamps. The hard cot beneath him. It all brought him back to reality.

Coriander was safe, at home, with his owner. Absalom probably asleep upstairs.

It had all just been a dream. But the uneasy feeling stayed with Brutus for a long time.

*

The ‘it was just a dream’-trope is a bit of a cheap cop-out, I agree. Sorry about that. ☺️

I don’t think Lydia would ever leave Coriander with Wayland. She would rather leave him to stay home alone.

Thank you for the fun ‘what-if’-inspiration, Anon! ✨💖✨ (I love getting asks, but I am very slow in responding to them.)

*

Tag List Part 1: @cupcakes-and-pain @whump-em @whumpzone @wh-wh-whu @neuro-whump @carnagecardinal @cowboy-anon @whump-me-all-night-long @redwingedwhump @myst-in-the-mirror @haro-whumps @eatyourdamnpears @bloodsweatandpotato @pinkraindropsfell @whumptywhumpdump @theydy-cringeworthy @whump-in-progress @whumpsy-daisy @nicolepascaline @whumpcreations @briars7 @shiningstarofwinter @whumppsychology @alex-ember @miss-kitty-whumptastic @whumpy-writings @in-patient-princess @youtube-fandoms-bands @goblinchildindabog @mazeish @distinctlywhumpthing @inpainandsuffering @canniboylism @icannotweave @incoherent-introspection @kim-poce @broken-typewriter @the-monarch-whumperfly @whumpers-inc @grizzlie70 @lil-whumper @writingbackwards-blog @sunflower1000 @wingedwhump @thecitythatdoesntsleep @thingsthatgo-whump-inthenight @onlybadendings @rabass @wolfeyedwitch @melancholy-in-the-morning

[beanarie]

Comfort Fanfic Recs

tagged by @rcmclachlan

Rules: What are your old school comfort fics? The ones from fandoms that haven't been active in yeeeaaars, but you've read so many times you can practically quote them.

this took a hundred years because i started rereading everything lmao

in case of emergency by @amindamazed

elementary. A is the foremost scholar of joan and sherlock characterization and this is my favorite example.

That Burns a Building Down by embroiderama

white collar. neal's custody is taken over by beau bridges, who takes him to dc, cuts him off from pretty much any contact with the outside world, and makes him live in his furnished basement under constant threat of prison if he ever steps out of line. i first read this during lockdown and it was so unbelievably cathartic.

a safe way home by jojo

magnificent seven the series. it's about an assault and the aftermath. this author took wild, unexpected swings with characterization and dialogue that i've never seen anywhere else, while retaining what drew me about the source material (found family amongst seven dickheads).

crossroads by mitzi

magnificent seven the series. this baby can fit so much presumed dead in it, you have no idea. half the group spends most of the 300k story thinking the other half is dead and that it's sorta their fault and it's so good.

snake in the grass by nottasha

magnificent seven the series. it's just pure unadulterated whump.

across by affinity8

highlander the series. so highlander the movie was like there's these dudes with swords who can live forever if they don't get their heads cut off. then the sequel was like they're aliens actually, and are sort of reincarnated with the exact same names and personalities on earth which they don't remember until they do. and everyone hated that. but affinity8 took this unserious bong rip of a plot development, tied it into the most emotionally resonant parts of the show, and then made it make sense. she's a wizard. she also did a series about where immortals come from without the planet zeist which i consider canon.

blind sight by valerie j

x-men comics (i know they're alive and well, but the 90s-00s were a very different beast, shh). iceman joins the thieves guild, gambit becomes the head of the new york city chapter, and then bastion sets off operation zero tolerance, removing everyone's mutant powers. i keep coming back to this because the execution of ozt is intricate and terrifying to multiple pov characters. also the author essentially gave remy daredevil sight (infrared/heat-based, rather than motion or whatever tf matt has) at a time when any weakness could get him and an entire powerless x-team killed.

kinda mooks by kaylee

x-men comics. shortly after gambit was revealed to have been complicit in the morlock massacre and rogue left him to die in antarctica about it, he returned to the team. and that's the point where the author has him begin a relationship with iceman, who by contrast is fully embedded in and trusted by the x-men. this series is just really, really amazing character work and their love story makes me feral.

tagging @sanguinarysanguinity @amindamazed @setmeatopthepyre @livelaughlou @bidisasterevankinard @ambernotember @peppermintquartz @peapodbond @jujuberry136

[sofiadragon]

Chapters: 9/9

Fandom: Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Relationships: Harry Potter & Severus Snape

Characters: Harry Potter, Severus Snape, George Weasley, Fred Weasley, Order of the Phoenix, Molly Weasley

Additional Tags: Worldbuilding, Drama, Wizarding Politics (Harry Potter), Wizarding Culture (Harry Potter), Wizarding World (Harry Potter), Book 5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Canon Divergence - Post-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Good Severus Snape, Wizarding Traditions (Harry Potter), Misguided Albus Dumbledore, Well-Meaning Albus Dumbledore, Protective Molly Weasley, Pureblood Culture (Harry Potter), Mentor Severus Snape, Mental Health Issues, Therapy, Minor whump, Hospitalization, Recovery, Horcrux Destruction, Harry Potter is a Horcrux, Goth Severus Snape, References to Drugs, Questioning Harry Potter, Gay Severus Snape, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, POV Severus Snape, Paris (City), Harry Potter Gets Therapy

Series: Part 1 of Magic and Bluejays

Summary:

Harry Potter reacts much differently to the Dementor attack on his cousin and it causes a cascade of changes in the lives of everyone he knows. He runs away to France to escape the English Ministry's bias and gets a solicitor (lawyer) to deal with his legal issues. Part one of a book 5 re-write that can be read stand-alone.

Featuring: Snape's POV. People making decisions for Harry without talking to him about it first. The Horcrux in his head influencing Harry's mind. Professional psychologists/mind healers doing good work. Snape using cannibus.

He would not go back to Privet Drive without bringing the law. He’d lose his temper and end up in Azkaban. Even with aurors at his back, he was likely to hex dear old Tuney into next week if he had to interact with her again. The fines would be worth it.

[shadowgast-recs-weekly]

Whump: A Shadowgast Rec List

This week, we have whump! Check under the cut for 16 fics featuring all sorts of hurt just in time for whumptober, and don't forget to comment and kudos if you like them!

Stronger together by Bob fish & enemytosleep (11000, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: Graphic Depictions of Violence

Essek joins tm9 on an adventure … and his inexperience shows.

Reccer says: The outsider’s view of tm9 is fun, and it does a great job of exploring Essek’s struggles at this stage of the campaign. Bonus points for happy Caleb.

The Fullness of Time by Cers (162.788, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: Choose Not to Warn

Caleb and Essek travel through time after narrowly escaping death in aeor. Their journey has unexpected consequences and Essek ends up trapped between timelines, facing a fate worse than death.

Reccer says: Just when you think everything is fine and all challenges have been overcome, this story hits you with a mean left hook. 10/10 would sob my heart out again

it's strange what desire will make foolish people do by GammaRey (3479, General) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek gets injured after the Lucien fight and Caleb takes care of him

Reccer says: short and sweet!

proof by contradiction by Chrome (19620, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: Graphic Depictions of Violence

Beauregard asks for Dairon's help freeing a friend held captive by the Cerberus Assembly. They and Essek work together to escape.

Reccer says: A wonderful look into Dairon's character and perspective. The glimpsed she sees of the Nein's relationships with Essek are so wonderful. I find myself rereading the ending in paticular over and over again. Though shadowgast is not the focus of the fic, what we see of it has definitely inspired how i view their relationship to outsiders.

The Mind and The Malady by SaltCore (38945, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: Graphic Depictions of Violence

Essek has to endure the Aeor delve with the Mighty Nein whilst suffering from hanahaki.

Reccer says: A classic amongst Shadowgast fics, honestly. All of it is so good, but I'm particularly fond of the in-universe explanation for Exandrian hanahaki and I still think about Caleb and Essek's conversation at the end of the fic all the time.

some things time can't fix by Chrome (25930, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: None

Daemon AU - Essek is arrested for treason. The Dynasty severs the daemons of prisoners before executing them so they can’t be reborn.

Reccer says: Oh man there is so much emotion packed in. The world we see is fascinating, and it is such a painful ride seeing the development of Essek’s situation.

as if through a prism by wanderinghooves (30812, General) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek and Caleb have a terrible time in Aeor.

Reccer says: Incredible character study, very well written. I Very strongly recommend it!

Slow In The Tide by SaltCore (3853, Teen) Reccer's Content Notes: Drowning

Essek makes a decision during a fight with Uk'atoa's minions. Essek doesn't know how to swim.

Reccer says: I liked it!

bow shock by SaltCore (4615, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: Graphic Depictions of Violence

Caleb is attacked by a Volstrucker. Essek rescues him.

Reccer says: Essek’s ruthlessness is extremely my jam.

Mourning Sun and Falling Star by LuckyOwlsFoot (21338, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: Major Character Death, Graphic Depictions of Violence

A whumptastic time in Aeor, part 2.

Reccer says: These cursed ruins can fit so much hurt/comfort in them.

heliopause by SaltCore (5035, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: Graphic Depictions of Violence

Essek is attacked by Dynasty assassins. Caleb rescues him.

Reccer says: A lot of evocative details and a hopeful ending.

Crush by flashhwing (3672, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: Choose Not to Warn, Serious Injury, Light Suffocation, Temporary Paralysis

While in Aeor, the wizards get caught in a tunnel collapse. Essek is able to avoid getting trapped, but Caleb isn't so lucky.

Reccer says: The way spacing is utilized is fantastic for building the atmosphere of the fic and showcasing just how long Caleb spends trapped. The Sendings and dynamic between Caleb and Essek are so delicious, just top-tier hurt/comfort with heavy emphasis on the hurt.

all that it took (for the dream to break) by neinofthem (greekphilosophress) (1851, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: Graphic Depictions of Violence

essek in the Dungeon, slowly taken apart physically and mentally

Reccer says: Makes me cry every time. Short but packed with emotion.

Hold Me Close, Cut Me Deep by CatgirlTheCrazy (14192, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: No Content Notes

Essek stumbles across a dangerous entity in Aeor that takes the form of Caleb. Obviously, terrible things ensue and they are forced to make some difficult decisions.

Reccer says: The pre-relationship pining, inadvertently severely injuring each other and the resulting guilt from that, having to make life or death decisions that deeply affect their relationship, incubi, very nice recovery feels with some hurt/comfort. What more could you ask for?

Reports of my safety have been greatly exaggerated by ghosttopiary (59343, General) Reccer's Content Notes: Graphic Depictions of Violence

Ludinus kidnaps Essek to use him as bait to trap the Nein. Essek refuses to comply.

Reccer says: lotta hurt lotta comfort

The following fic received two recs!

Tomb of Rust by LuckyOwlsFoot (23682, Mature) Reccer's Content Notes: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Strangulation, Drowning, PTSD and Panic Attacks, Serious Injury

The wizards go to Aeor and things go far worse than they could've possibly imagined.

Reccer 1 says: These cursed ruins can fit so much hurt/comfort in them. Reccer 2 says: There are several scenes from this fic and its sequel that will haunt me until the day I die and I mean that in the most complimentary sense. Everything that could go wrong for the wizards does and in many ways you will not expect going into the fic. Excellent whump, excellent plot twists and developments, and also excellent moments of comfort between Caleb and Essek in the midst of all their suffering!

This is one of our weekly communally-generated shadowgast rec lists. Every week we announce a new theme and allow anyone to submit a fic recommendation. 

And hey, anyone includes you!

Next week, we'll be featuring fics that include or feature cultural differences! Big or small, they can both be sweet or lead to confusion. Either way, it makes for wonderful fics

Any fics coming to mind? Well, then use this form to submit!

[aceofwhump]

The duck walked up to the lemonade stand and he said to the man running the stand…HEY! *bum bum bum*

GOT ANY DRACO WHUMP?

Nonny!! You've come to the right place! Not only have I got some gifsets, I literally just finished reading this amazing fic and I've several others I think you'll enjoy! So, *pours you a big tall glass of Draco whump* Enjoy!

For gifsets (and more) please check out my Draco Malfoy tag here: https://aceofwhump.tumblr.com/tagged/draco%20malfoy

Here is the fic I just caught up on (it's ongoing!!). TW for torture, conditioning, abuse (physical, emotional and sexual), mpreg (the pregnancy part is in the past though).

The Way Out by VickiiMelissa Summary: For a moment Harry thought he was looking at a doll, or chillingly, a dead body. Then Harry spotted the subtle rise and fall of his chest. Harry looked up at the merchant, his expression mildly perplexed and a little annoyed. “What is this?” It was a little difficult for Harry to downplay his surprise. Just three years after the battle for Hogwarts against Voldemort’s forces, Draco Malfoy had gone missing from the home he shared with his mother. Missing for six years, and now here he was.

And some more good fics! Note that I tend to read post Hogwarts fics but there's a few year 8 fics too. Mix of Drarry and Dramoine too:

Happily Forsworn by Elpin for alafaye Summary: Ten years have passed since Draco Malfoy took the Dark Mark. The war is long over, and Draco has been banished to the muggle world. As he and several other Death Eaters start to feel a burning pain, they realise that for some unknown reason, the Dark Mark has awoken, and it's slowly killing them.

my thoughts are the cold kind by lopingloup Summary: There's something wrong with Draco Malfoy and as hard as he tries to hide his failings, Harry Potter seems determined to unearth him.

All Those Broken Pieces by DarkFloralLove Summary: He wasn't pardoned like many other wizards and witches. He was sentenced to five years of Azkaban. After those five years, he didn't know who he was or what to do with his life. Group sessions with a mind healer and other f*cked up people, a social occupation in a bookshop and a parole officer who brought back all kinds of memories… He wasn't at Azkaban anymore, but he still did not feel free. He felt broken, like pieces of glass, scattered all over the floor, in a house that wasn't his home.

Bad Luck by Phoenix_18 Summary: Draco's ill, and miserable and a total mess. Harry is in love with him and needs to take care of him for a couple of days.

I don't know how by donnarafiki Summary: Draco's nightmares are so horrible that he now doesn't sleep at all anymore, instead he lives of pepper up potions, working deep into the night. Until at one point Harry can't take it anymore, and confronts him about it. Turns out they have more in common than they think.

I asked for death but instead I'm awake by orphan_account Summary: When it all just gets to be too much, Draco lets his emotions drip out from his arms, but when he decides to let his life drip out too, who should come along but Potter, ruining everything as usual

and in the darkness, there's light by fuechsli Summary: Unexpectedly, Hogwarts' Eight Year leads to more than the chance to get away from everything just for one more year. It's also the chance to find to oneself, to heal and move on, find forgiveness and maybe even love. It's up to Draco whether to take it or not.

We Sleep In Pairs by darkestbliss Summary: We do not blame flowers for their death. But when Draco’s magic dies after the War, he struggles to forgive himself, and it’s going to take far more than striking up a companionship with Harry Potter for him to heal.

Worthless by LovellLukas Summary: Draco's lips quiver as he desperately tries to hold in his anguish. He admonishes himself for being so weak. He hates himself for it. He hates himself for many reasons. He feels worthless. He knows it's true. He is worthless.

Inaudax by 136108 Summary: Draco Malfoy was not scared, because he was a Malfoy. Malfoys didn't get scared. After all, it was only a boggart.

[crazymcwritesalot]

Trick or treat!

I'm glad you're still at my door waiting for a treat after 4 days... Please come in, have some tea, you must be freezing!

Here's something I've found on an old USB key. It's some Helen whump, don't think I've ever published it. Here you go :) :

It might not be an easy adjustment exactly, but Helen has to admit that having nothing to do on Sundays is somehow less unpleasant than she had first thought it would be when Will had forced her to promise she would drop the habit of working 24/7, bent on controlling everything that was being done in her sanctuary, looking over her employees' shoulder. She smiles. When had her protégé acquired this new self-confidence, she wonders? He had left her with no choice but to subscribe to the schedule he had established, and even Henry had been at a loss for words, his gaze going from his friend to his boss in silent merriment, waiting for her to react according to her standards.

But she had promised Will she would let him be her associate. She couldn't discard his first proof of leadership. That would have put a damper on his mood as well as on their relationship.

So she is there, in the library, one of the only places where she cannot be accused of working, yet a more suited place than her bedroom, where she has always felt it was indecent to be if you didn't want to sleep or write private letters. Can't blame a three hundred and plus woman for being old-fashioned, right?

She belongs in this room like an ancient urn belongs in a museum. She has seen some of the books carefully placed on the shelves in the process of being written, has inspired some even. She understands most of them because she has lived through their context. She has seen the general opinion shift around some of them, as if some authors had been born in the wrong era, a century too soon... She shares that feeling too. Born too soon and now too old. She has never found the century in which she felt right.

She has avoided the History section carefully – living through the twentieth century twice��has left her with a kind of allergy to it – moving swiftly towards her own dedicated space in a corner, where an artificial fireplace keeps a small relaxation area warm. The space is intimate, surrounded by curved bookcases loaded with her favorite books: costly signed copies of first editions, mostly, but also old manuscripts, scientific thesis, unfinished novels she had been left with after some of her friends' deaths... More recent things too. Harry Potter is snuggled between Albert's Relativity and H.G's War of the World, and she's sure her two friends would have loved the young wizard.

Today though, she's not exactly there for the comfort brought by her literary friends; from where she sits in her leather armchair, she can watch Nikola work at leisure. She found him a few hours ago when she arrived, looking for a book that could have distracted her from the irresistible itch to go to her office and finish paperwork. She has read Kafka's Metamorphosis once again, thinking she would have taken some pleasure in leaving the man finish his transformation into a freaking Cillobar had she known what a compromising mess his novel would create.

Nikola hasn't moved an inch since page one. He is still lying face up on the sofa in his eternal three piece suit, his head resting in the palm of his hands. She has to focus on his chest to see it slowly rise and fall with each breath he takes, but she knows better than to think he's sleeping. No. He is either trying to break the defenses of her new wine cellar – it had taken her decades to find a suitable system of locks that would resist at least two weeks under his relentless scrutiny – or he was working on an invention.

She knows he is aware of her, peacefully gazing at him. Two world wars and a host of enemies have sharpened his animal instincts. She knows. She has not had a single night of sound sleep herself since the first time she has had to spend a night beyond enemy lines. She was a ninja sleeper, as Henry said.

Nikola is perfectly relaxed. Maybe her presence is as soothing to him as his is to her. He knows she would not let him be throttled while... She feels a thrill travel across her body, from her abdomen to her scalp. She might be witnessing the birth of Tesla's next groundbreaking invention.

“Dear, your thoughts are awfully loud.”

Helen is startled out of her reverie by Nikola's voice, and just like that the silence is broken. He is not complaining though. He is only stating a fact: there's something on her mind and he senses it in the way her heart throbs erratically.

She sighs, and her shoulders relax. Had they been tense? She had not even noticed.

“Sometimes it feels like you know me inside and out.” She begins with a sad smile.

The only movement betraying his attention is the raise of an eyebrow above his closed eyes.

“I know. It feels like we met only yesterday. And yet I know you so well...” He says, half sarcastically, offended by the fact that yes, she just implied that most of the time, she feels like he doesn't know her so much.

Helen is lost in thoughts, and she doesn't realize she has hurt his ego.

“Do you?” she asks, absentmindedly.

“I know you enough to tell that idleness is bad for your mood. You have too much time to think. You should do yoga. Take cooking classes, whatever floats your boat so long as you don't keep on sitting around with your morbid thoughts.”

Helen lets out an exhalation that sounds somewhere between a snort and a sob, and that has Nikola opening his eyes to look at her.

“I'm dead serious. Why do you think churches used to be crammed on Sabbaths back in the good old days?”.

She cracks a smile, albeit a sad one. They are back to their old dynamic as if nothing has happened just before the explosion. Oh he has talked about the kiss first hand, even before she could open her mouth to welcome him to their new home. We didn't have time for a proper goodbye speech and yet I must admit you made your exit really classy. Plus, stealing me a goodbye kiss when I had stolen a hello one from you in Rome? Nice touch. A tad too tragic maybe, but still satisfying from the literary perspective.

That and the way it had made her carefully prepared speech sink at the bottom of her memory had been enough to convince her that neither of them was ready to take their relationship to the next level. Still, she feels a discrepancy quietly lying between how she feels and how she acts around him. It seems like a huge distance is keeping them apart and he isn't even aware of it. Why would he, when he hasn't spent more than a century out of time, keeping away from her as much as possible?

“No one seems to see how much I have changed since I've reintegrated this time-line.” She sighs suddenly.

It's not like her to speak so freely to Nikola, but she desperately needs to let everything out. She only hopes he will understand.

“I don't recognize you. I'd swear you used to work on Sundays. Not that I liked it, it made you boring.” He points out.

She closes her eyes and shakes her head, biting her bottom lip, and that's when Nikola understands he cannot brush the subject away with his trademark sarcasm. A shadow crosses his face. He knows what she's been through more than she realizes.

“Seriously Helen, what's a century or two between us?”