#'and they'll resolve anything right there and then'

[svtskneecaps]

dude i fucking love how this server has communication as its premise and built into its fucking core. i fucking love that. bc it's one thing to be like 'this server is about multilingual communication and cultural exchange!!' bc that could present in any NUMBER of ways but like. with the federation and the eggs and a common shared goal they all decided WE ARE A TEAM. and like, ok,

when baghera was sus of jaiden because of the thing when pomme died and jaiden had been the reason baghera left her side for the only time that day, i wasn't even worried. i wasn't worried bc i was like "we just wait. because i know they will TALK TO EACH OTHER." and I WAS RIGHT. TWO DAYS LATER IT WAS ALL CLEARED UP AND BAGHERA WAS HELPING HER OUT WITH CUCURUCHO

and the ordo theoritas is functionally a secret organization. it would be SO EASY to gatekeep the lore, on grounds of "the federation is always watching and anyone could be a spy" and yet the ordo theoritas says that, like bad SAYS THAT, says OUT LOUD, "anyone could be a traitor" and then turns around and goes "hey person i've had a few days' worth of conversations with, here's a detailed rundown of everything we've learned about the island's mysteries, and the secret location of the ordo base". SOFIA was supposed to be secret from everyone, and for a little bit she was. but now like, the ordo theoritas is showing her to everyone. it would be SO EASY to hide things and to gatekeep things but they just. don't do it. here's the supercomputer!!!! don't forget to grab her waystone so you can come back anytime!!!

bad learns something. "i need to tell forever/cellbit/baghera". forever figures out a new way to protect the eggs, and he gets it to everyone within days. cucurucho tries to have a secret conversation and the entire server knows about it almost instantly and there are three people buried in the walls reading the subtitles and giving each other meaningful glances

i love it. i love it. miscommunication plotlines drive me up the fucking wall and the fact that i wasn't even SCARED when jaiden and baghera could easily have angled into an angsty tangled web of that and instead just MET WITH EACH OTHER AND EXPLAINED EVERYTHING AND CLEARED THE AIR ALMOST IMMEDIATELY was so fucking breathtaking. and this is a multilingual server. this is a MULTILINGUAL SERVER. i love it. i love it so much i want to cry. it's a server for communication and people Communicate, it would have been SO EASY to slip into monolingual factions and stick to the familiar but they DIDN'T. they DIDN'T. WE GET TO HAVE A THEORY TABLE WITH SO MANY LANGUAGES SITTING AROUND IT. we get to have conspiracy walls in every language!!!! idk sometimes i forget how fucking CRAZY all this is, like the scale of what they've accomplished

so yea thank you to quackity and the qsmp admins for this, and thank you to the streamers for hearing 'this is about connections' and taking it ENTIRELY to heart, and also thank you to whoever the fuck decided to give quackity's school class the job to look after a fucking egg to learn about parenting. bc holy shit. holy shit.

[tearskillstardust]

; GENSHIN MEN WHO ARE VERY PATIENT WHEN IT COMES TO HANDLING YOU

NSFW; 18+ content and themes ahead, minors DO NOT INTERACT.

all legally aged genshin men; gender-neutral reader. interacting with the following content is a free choice for all readers. the author does not take any responsibility for the repercussions.

— GENSHIN MEN WHO CHUCKLE WHEN YOU TRY TO RILE THEM UP. who know that if they did that treatment right back, you won't be able to take it. who know of your innocence and naivete when it comes to matters like these. who know that you underestimate the strength of men, of him, to be acting like that. who know they can have you completely at their own mercy but still chose to laugh and smile.

— men who slowly advance towards you. who are not obvious but not ignorable either. who know they'll startle you if they're direct or too rough about it— so they keep themself in check and move slowly. a brush against the thigh, a swift kiss on the neck— then all of a sudden, bright purple marks that blend in your essence, polluting you with their sin forever. yet you laugh merely when they ask if you're fine.

— men who know how to make you wait. who know how to keep you in the dark about when they will do anything properly. who press softly against your plush skin, and mutter gently— 'just a little more, love,' but little is never really little, and they know that you know it. who smirk when they see your patience, your willingness to wait and you smirk back in return at their sheer boldness.

— men who are so used to being in control that they can't take it when you're guiding them, telling them around. who know what you want and can't take it when you pretend that they don't. who immediately break all barriers of patience and rush all in, giving all you want at once. who rub gently, and bite harshly at all the right places—making sure that when you reminisce the night, you'll be aching to the core because no one can bring you pure pleasure the way they do.

— men who keep you at edge until the end, and then thrust in suddenly, harshly and make you cry out in mixed parts pain and pleasure. who treat you right and give the aftercare you deserve, filled with a lot of smiles and gentle touches on their part for being able to take them.

ayato, itto, baizhu, cyno, wanderer, capitano, dottore, heizou, wriothesley, zhongli

— GENSHIN MEN WHO HAVE A LOT OF SELF-CONTROL. men who are not easy to arouse or be slept with. who will keep their patience even if they are already your partner, who give you your time and take theirs. except that they are perfectly aware that you don't need time anymore, you need them. but after one point of time, it becomes a funny little game for them about who confesses their desire first.

— men who are willing to give everything you want and need but need you to ask them for it. who tell you that 'obviously, darling, you never said it to me directly, so how was i supposed to know?', and then smile that mischievous slop-sided smirk that makes you want to punch them and kiss them at the same time.

— men who take you to bed when you outright confess, no filter on your desire. who take it slow and steady initially, but their own impatience and desire shows as soon as you give them the signal. who wanted for your own patience to break, for your resolve of stubbornness to crumble to tatters as they claimed you whole; first metaphorically, now physically.

— men who let you know they are worth the wait. who kiss, bite, and leave marks all over you. who thrust at the pace you want them to. who are understanding enough of your pain initially but then can't take it after a few thrusts and become swift with it, doing you undone— uncoiling the pure energy inside of you and letting you mark them, taint their red with your blue.

— men who adjust to you, your pain and pleasure. who place themselves last and become so happy even at the smallest of things you do for their pleasure. who love it when you leave scratches and they then stare at them in the mirror and get all cocky about their skill in the matter. who love watching your small frame under them as you held on, tears flowing nonstop. who can't help but get poetic— who think of this intimate act as a meeting of your divine energies, who hug you after they slept with you and tell you how much they love you.

— men who make your wait worth the effort.

al haitham, diluc, kaeya, kazuha, neuvillette, pantalone, childe, thoma, xiao

— GENSHIN MEN WHO UNKNOWINGLY GIVE YOU HOT AND COLD TREATMENT. men who laugh and flirt with you, whisper what they would make you do if only you let them claim you; and then next moment, are back to their childlike innocence and theatrics. who pretend they weren't just dirty talking with you; who smile coyly when you stare, irritated. who love you more than you love them perhaps, but they still hold themselves back, oblivious of your own impatience.

— men who are fond of theatrics. who like pulling strings behind the curtains and putting up a show in front of them. who are the ballerina and you her admirer, who are persephone and you her hades, who are bright, and soft and quintessential and you can't help but desire to, feel a need to corrupt them wholly with your essence.

— men who want you to consume them whole. who are unaware of your thoughts, your desires and want to feel the sin of your lips on theirs, your skin against theirs in the dance of intimacy they wish to have with you. who stare at you as though they want you to take them, crush them with roses and decorate yourself with them. who would love to be your adornment, the one who enhance your beauty and serenity, unaware entirely of your own sin.

— so you do. they want you to consume them? alright. men who whine gently and cry when you claim them, your hand as though burning against their skin, desire flooding like a wildfire through their foliage veins. who ask you for more but can barely take it; who know your wild side, your purity and sin that combine together to form the paradox that is you— a being whose purity can never be doubted, and yet your own angel wings have never been any shade lighter than black.

— men who want to be claimed, be tainted. who are golden inside out, corruptible only by you, only when they want to be.

aether, albedo, kaveh, tighnari, venti

[overandundertarot]

Glimpse of a Cute and Comforting Moment Between You and Your Future Spouse.

Let's take a sneak peak into a moment between you and your future spouse that will bring you some comfort right now!

Piles 1-3

Pile 1

Cards; 5 of cups reversed, The magician, 10 of cups reversed. Ouuu pile 1 this moment may come after a fight or just an overcharged, intense situation. Your future spouse would be feeling so emotional but you would be calm throughout, offering comfort and guidance. You are an optimistic person, you'll be thinking of how to make the best of what's happening. You may also have short hair. You could also try brainstorming with them. To them, it feels like anything can workout as long as you're by their side. They'll be thinking; damn! I'm so glad i have them on my side. They just think you're so dependable and honestly you're their emotional support. I'm getting that after this moment they might feel like they were underappreciating you before and become determined to cherish you properly going forward. A lot of whats coming forward is how your spouse feels for you and views you, they adore you! And in this moment they're feeling the full force of that adoration, even though they may not have realised it themselves before this. I'm seeing you two sitting down, close together; could be cuddling, but definitely holding hands. It would be a silent moment and they would just be staring at your face so hard, trying to comit it to memory. In this moment you give them the strength to go on, you're their comfort. For some this could be before you enter the relationship and this moment is what's going to endear you to your future spouse and make them start seeing you in a romantic light! They'll be freshly out of a breakup and think that the perfect person for them was here all along, im sensing that you may intuitively understand this as well and also start persuing them. You were waiting for a chance! You're quite sly pile one lmao.

Pile 2

Cards; 8 of pentacles, 5 of swords reversed, Justice. You and your fs are very much partners in crime. You work very well together. This moment is at a time of success for both of you. For you pile 2 though, you may be feeling a sense of loss, kind of like this success is bittersweet. The journey to where you are at the time of this moment was not easy, but you were determined to get through. It feels like because you were hurt in the past, you were worried about the situatuation but your future spouse is more practical and they're telling saying something like; "If you put in the work of course you'll get the results." Lmao, they may be quite stern faced and a no nonsense kind of person. Either way, it's a moment that you'll share with your community as well as one that you will both be absolutely engrossed in. You won't be thinking about anything else. I'm getting that you both are very involved in the welfare of others and this may be connected to both of your careers, like a philanthropist couple. For some, this could be a proposal amongst friends and family and you'll be so surprised, bursting into tears saying something like "I can't beleive this!" and your spouse would be disgruntled because to them it was very obvious that a quality relationship was built and that you were the one for them. It will feel like things are clicking into place for both of you. Confirmations/signs for this pile could be aries or leo, air signs and birds, law, mesmirising eyes and the night sky.

Pile 3

Cards; 4 of wands, 8 of wands, knight of cups. This is a pivotal moment for the expansion of your relationship. It will feel much worse in the moment than it will actually be. Your future spouse is so playful pile 3. They may appear unserious and withdrawn meanwhile you get jealous and insecure because of this. To be honest, both of your attitudes are quite different from the outcome of the situation. This may be a misunderstanding that resolves itself through sheer luck and coincidence. Your spouse is a dreamer, someone who loves to keep their head in the clouds but are afraid of attachment, meanwhile you feel too much and don't know how to translate that properly to other people so your feelings can come off as too much or simply not sincerely. Despite this you still end up in a successful relationship together and hold on strong. Regardless of that, this is a moment of separation. Your spouse may be interacting with someone which makes you jealous. It's clear that in this moment you decide to move on, your fs may attempt to chase but it just brings about a bigger misunderstanding. There's so much pining between you two, it's unreal. Your love story is filled with twists and turns. It's like evrytime you try to seek comfort from your friend as about your relationship they may be thinking,"What happened NOW?!" This is a moment that you both look back on, later in your relationship and laugh about. "Gosh, we were so stupid!" Confirmations for this pile are birds, all the cards I pulled for this pile had birds on them.

***

Thanks for participating in this pick a pile reading! Any feedback would be awesome :)

[thorne1435]

I wish that the people men listen to when they're feeling desperate and unwanted actually thought that they were worth anything.

You hear manosphere types talk about how the value of women is inherent and the value of men is something that has to be earned, and...in a weird way, it breaks my heart. Because I know that somewhere in the world there is some lonely desperate man who really just needs someone to give a shit about him, and he's finding shit like Jordan Peterson clips and Andrew Tate misogynist 101 advice. And, like...they're desperate. So they believe them. And they're just going to make them more bitter and lonely and sad and it's not going to end in some "billionaire sigma male grindset" it's going to end in a false resolve to achieve it, and then an overwhelming rush of despair and depression that, in all likelihood, they'll drown out by playing some video games, masturbating, and going to bed.

They're not going to feel a sense of purpose, they're just going to feel justified about how isolated and depressed they feel, and that's simply because listening to some old man who doesn't like women that much tell you that women have it all and you have nothing and that you have to work for the right to be considered "valuable" is just not the solution to their problems. The solution is social integration, and that is hard to achieve in this shitty capitalist society where everyone is at each others' throats.

But that message doesn't get through to men. They never see it. They only see Jordan Peterson and Andrew Tate, telling them that they need to muster up some inherent urge to work and become valuable that these boys don't really feel so much as hope that they'll start feeling.

And y'know...I just wish someone could get to them before the manosphere did, and tell them that they are valuable inherently, and that they don't have to work or fuck or lead to contribute to society. That we as human beings contribute to our society by thinking, by talking, by doing things that humans do passively in their existence. That men and women alike contribute by being alive. And that you don't have to earn the right to do so.

[howdoesagrapewrites]

I think it's angst time >:)

Maybe Pav and Gayatri are having their first-ever serious couple argument, and Reader just happens to walk in the room at the wrong time, causing them to either snap or yell at you. Or maybe Readers teasing goes too far, and feelings get hurt?

Maybe there could even be a chase scene, I think that would be pretty fun :3

(Anyways, this is the first pavitr gayatri anon, I've decided to name myself "Partly Cloudy Anon" based on the current weather here lmao. The Yandere Pav and Gayatri honestly had been kicking my legs!! I really love you you emphasized they weren't just lovesick for you, but also for each other!

Most yandere couples I've read had them be normal about each other and while that is fun to read, there's just something so intriguing about Pavitr and Gayatri being just as yandere for each other just as they are for the reader. I can't really put a word to it right now, but I'm just so invested in them <3. I've been rambling for quite a while now, so have a good day!)

-Partly Cloudy Anon

𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙖 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙗𝙡𝙖𝙯𝙚

Cw: Poly!gn!reader x Pavitr Prabhakar x Gayatri Singh, arguing, aged up!characters, gaslighting, manipulation, toxic relationship,

Notes: For the most part is not yandere, but I imagined this as the moment the relationship would become more consuming eventually leading to the things I said in the yandere headcanons.

Thank you so much for your words 🥺 and I'm happy you picked an anon name, sorry if this took kinda long, I hope you have a nice day<3

You came back from work, took the key from your pocket and before you opened the door, you heard your partners raising their voices, this isn't an unfamiliar noise to get to, but this time you didn't heard any laughs along with it, you entered the doorway and as you came to the hall, the words being _yelled_ instead of spoken became more clear, you stood worried in the doorway outside of the room

"You don't understand what I'm trying to even say! You don't want to listen!"

"Maybe I don't want to listen because it's all shit excuses!"

You slightly flinched at their voices being so aggressive, you figured it'd be best if you left for a bit until they solved whatever they had going on, so you walked towards the front door, moving carefully. The fighting seemed to get closer, but you heard one particularly loud yell, it was Pavitr's.

"I don't want to hear anything from you!" The door was slammed

You cursed your luck as you stood very rigid and still while Pavitr approached. "Y/N... Are you going away?" His voice cracked and he sounded out of breath, he reached for your wrist, never hurting it. Gayatri followed him "What do you mean she's going away?" She sounded so hurt, almost mad.

You spoke, calmly, afraid they'll get you in between of what they were fighting again, you never head them had an argument before, in all the years you were together, but this one seemed bad, and you'd hate to take sides, you were dating both and loved them both, and it was okay if they had disagreements sometimes, but you didn't want to think about what would happen if it escalated. "I want you to resolve your differences, I really don't want to be in between" fear flashed past their eyes, so you quickly shut down what they were thinking "I mean going somewhere else for the afternoon, I'll be back, I'm not leaving"

Pavitr's grip became tighter.

"But you are, you are leaving." He said shakily

"You can't leave, I- it's not my fault, you can't leave if I-" Gayatri's sweet voice sounded darker than ever

You've never seen him like this, and it started upsetting you "You don't decide when I leave, I told I'll be back" you stand firm, setting a boundary, you shake your hand hoping he'll let you go, but he doesn't, he just stares at you.

Gayatri looks at you with the same souless expression. "Don't." It's all she says

"Let me go!" You are bewildered at both their sudden change of demeanor, and how rapidly they forgot their feud.

You violently shake your hand and Pavitr lets go out of surprise, you hurry to the door and start running outside, you never thought you'd have run from your loving partners, your highschool sweethearts. You run towards the street market, hopefully it'll be easier to hide.

You feel them running towards you, they see you disappear into the crowded street, Pavitr feels the urge to run and run no matter what, until he finds you, but he refuses to leave Gayatri behind, she's slowly dancing on the edge of goal-directed apathy and losing her mind, at one moment she begs her boyfriend to find you no matter what, but then she sees him get away and fears for abandonment, she needs him close, she loves, she can't lose him, she doesn't care for an argument, she doesn't even care for morals, she cares about having the people she loves by her side. Always by her side

You heard them get close, you moves in circles, waves, careful mentally choreographed steps, with so much intricacy it felt like you were dancing. Like a tango, no, not like that, you weren't being seduced, you were getting chased. Like a cueca, you evaded, dodged their advances, while they ran and showed their might, their craving to have you.

You reached a dark alley, and you realized there was no way out, you reached the end, you turned your back to the wall and looked at both in the eye, Gayatri's usually slicked and perfectly styled hair was now sweaty and messy, Pavitr's golden retriever smile was now a manic gaze and tensed muscles. You stand on your feet firm, straightened spine, talking with authority, hiding the knot of complicated feelings you had building inside you.

"I won't love you anymore if you hurt me. I want an explanation to why you chased me down the streets like I'm a runaway prisoner."

"We won't hurt you, we just wanted to talk"

"You think you can fight and take it out on me? Is this what this is about? Because you seem pretty damn close since you started chasing me"

"We'll never do that, I was scared, we were scares you wouldn't love us because we were loud and mean, it was just a disagreement, you didn't do anything wrong, Y/N" your boyfriend was so sickeningly sweet you would have find him cute if not for the obsessive dark look in his brown eyes, paired with his buff figure blocking your way, keeping you from escaping.

"You just ran into the street, we were worried, right Pav? You were erratic, we thought you could hurt yourself" Gayatri sounded so genuinely concerned you could believe her if you hadn't been there. "Relationships have bumps, meeri jaan, that doesn't mean you can run away like that" she came closer, you flinched.

"I'm sorry we triggered you, we should've known better, knowing everything you went through" she was using the things you told her, the things you trusted her to know "but as you see, we worked it out, we just want you back so we can talk about it" she held your hand in hers, oh so delicately.

You mourned for your lovers, for the truly beautiful love you had, for the ones that wouldn't snap at you for being near the door, wouldn't gaslight you and treat you like you were stupid or crazy, for the ones that wouldn't make you feel small, unworthy. And you looked at them now, nothing left of them.

They couldn't have changed just one day, and you wonder when the switch truly went off, when does a man become a monster?

[jelzorz]

174.

The Celestial elves say no. Of course they say no. Callum doesn't know what else he expected. Did he really think they could just waltz into the Star Scraper and ask to borrow the Nova Blade and a handful of quasar diamonds, and then get them, no questions asked?

His head still hurts from that vision, that dream that felt far too much like that time he'd collapsed after doing Dark Magic for the first time, and though he and Rayla have been granted a room for their trouble, the Nova Blade is still out of reach, and those quasar diamonds are embedded into that crown the blind priest refused to share. Rayla is lying on the bed, her eyes staring blankly at the ceiling of stars, dazed and a little defeated, he thinks, because those diamonds are the only way to free her parents, and they'll never get them, not like this, and meanwhile the sword—

Callum makes a face. He's been pacing up and down the length of the room for about twenty minutes because there is... one more thing they could try. One last chance to obtain the weapon that might save them all and the jewels that would free her parents. It's just... not a particularly bright idea. Not a very legal one, even here.

"What are you thinking?" asks Rayla at last. She sits up in the bed, wary, exhausted, like even she doubts their mission here is one they can complete. "You've been pacing for ages. Want to share with the class?"

Callum presses his lips together. "I don't know," he says after a moment. "I just... We need that sword and those diamonds, there's got to be a way to convince them—"

Rayla lets out a hollow laugh. "Yeah, no. I don't think there's anything we could say to change their minds."

"Yeah, but—"

She flops back down. "I dunno, Callum," she mumbles. "I want to get my parents out of those coins so bad, and I know you want that sword to use against Aaravos but... I don't think there's anything else we can do here. They've made it clear it's not happening and I... don't want to get my hopes up for nothing."

He grimaces then, hating how hopeless she sounds, hating the wobble in her voice and the way it makes his heart ache in ways he will never be able to explain. There's still that last resort, isn't there? The final chance to get everything they need in one go, with permission or without it, and it all comes down to what they are and aren't willing to do.

But that would mean—

He shakes his head. No. It's stupid. It's dangerous. It would bring the wrath of the Celestial elves right to Katolis' doorstep. Ezran would be furious, but it would also mean...

He glances at Rayla, at the way her eyes are dull and unseeing with resignation. His heart stutters for her, for the thought of her happily reunited with the people she loves most, the brilliance of her smile and the love she deserves.

Hasn't she done enough for everyone? Hasn't she sacrificed enough to get just one good thing?

"Don't give up yet," he decides. His resolve feels like steel and jelly at the same time, like he would do this for her, no question about it but ony as long as he doesn't give himself the time to think twice. Rayla turns her head to him, confused, daring to hope, and Callum closes his fingers into fists at his side, refusing go home empty handed, refusing to let Rayla down like so many others before him.

"Get your stuff together," he says. "Wait for me here. When I get back, you gotta be ready to run."

She narrows her eyes at him. "Callum."

"You trust me, right?"

She sits up slowly, suspicious of him, of the resolve in his eyes. "Yes," she says after a moment.

He swallows, his nerve wavering, just for a moment. Then he nods and clenches his jaw tight. "Back in a minute," he mutters, wrenching the door open before he can change his mind.

He would do anything for her. He's done worse.

Stealing is not the furthest he can fall.

[lickingthywounds]

You know I love familiar/lover caretakers as much as the next guy, but I'm such a sucker for caretakers who are complete strangers.

A caretaker who only meets whumpee when they've finally escaped and, in the haste to get away, run right into them — bruised and bloody, begging for help with incoherent babbles, maybe even with whumper in hot pursuit — caretaker decides right then and there that they'll do anything to protect whumpee

A caretaker who's acquaintances with whumper and upon seeing whumpee, decides that they're getting them out tonight.

bonus points if whumpee wasn't supposed to be noticed in the first place and/or risked making themselves known if only to catch the attention of someone, anyone, who might help them

bonus bonus points if that rescue/escape attempt fails and they become a whumpee too — but still resolve to care after the other

A caretaker who sees whumpee and whumper out in public and just knows something isn't right, and makes it their personal goal to get to the bottom of it and ensure whumpee's safety despite not even knowing their name

A caretaker who gets picked up as the last victim of a whumper, but the second they meet the other whumpees they decide, no, this ends here, and are the igniting voice that convinces the whumpees to rise up against whumper, and then afterward taking them all in as one big family (the Caretaker to Team Leader pipeline, if you will)

Just!! Caretakers who have no reason to help, but still take one look at whumpee(s) and choose to risk everything for them

[yanderes-galore]

If it's okay can I request Transformers Prime Megatron with your prompts 2, 11, and 44 with a human reader?

Of course! @okchijt and I came up with the plot for this one so hopefully it came out great after I fleshed things out :) This takes place a little after you're first abducted by Megatron.

Yandere! TFP! Megatron Prompts 2, 11, 44

"It's an honor for someone such as me to take you in and love you!"

"I'd crush their heart in front of you if it meant you'd only love me!"

"Your tongue is so sharp... wouldn't it be a shame if I had to silence it?"

Pairing: Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Cybertronian/Human pairing, Obsession, Torture mentioned, Threats, Kidnapping, Manipulation, Slight OOC Megatron, Forced relationship.

The fact humans were capable of such resolve both intrigued yet infuriated Megatron. How long had it been for you? Weeks? Months? It didn't really matter to him.

All he knows is for such a small thing you're resilient. Starscream has been sent to your cell on The Nemesis for a long time now. Despite the pain inflicted on your fleshy body, you refuse to talk or give up any info on the Autobots.

Starscream yet again kept disappointing Megatron. To think he's unable to make such a human talk is inconceivable. You're human, you should be cracking by now.

It's almost impressive really, even if it's pointless. Compared to most humans you never know when to quit. It's a trait that shows loyalty... to the wrong cause.

Despite your annoying stubborn behavior, Megatron found himself intrigued by you. Your traits frustrate him yet draw him in. He wants to know what makes you tick.

He oversees your interrogations, watching as you're either shocked or yelled at. Even through extreme psychological stress and threats you refuse to betray Prime. Megatron is almost jealous at such loyalty.

If only some of the Decepticons besides Soundwave and Shockwave show such loyalty.

Such intrigue prompts the Decepticon to remove Starscream from the job of interrogation. No, this was now between you and him. Your resistance is a trait Megatron wants to utilize... perhaps he can make a deal with you.

Megatron notices the confusion in your gaze when he steps in. A grin is on his face as you show slight weakness for just a moment. You quickly swap to a more defiant gaze right as Megatron locks the cell behind him.

"So you're the human that's been giving Starscream hell? I should thank you for that, actually. However, you aren't getting away with that when it comes to me." Megatron begins, observing your reactions carefully through his optics.

"We'll see about that..." You grumble just enough for the Decepticon to hear.

"Yes, we'll see..." Megatron begins. "We'll see what happens to your friends and family when you don't give up the Autobots. Even if you don't give the answer now... we'll find them. I don't mind extinguishing their spark in front of you."

Megatron sees fear flicker in your eyes at the threat but you still don't relent. Starscream, as much as he hates to see it, was right. In a sense....

"Think about this instead, for being a human you could make a great Decepticon."

He sees your face contort into disgust.

"I'm not telling you anything! Just as I have multiple times before! Let me go... kill me... it doesn't matter just as you said. I'll never tell you about the Autobots. They're my family, they care for me and they'll find me!"

Megatron felt his Energon heat at the fact you're defending the Autobots. The Autobots are scum... the fact you still stick by them on his turf sets him off. He was even starting to consider sparing you as a Decepticon if you've survived months of torment!

You needed to crack... now.

"I'd crush their heart in front of you if it meant you'd only love me!" The Decepticon roars, revealing a key factor of his intentions.

After the outburst there's silence. You stare wide-eyed at Megatron as he glares down at you. Megatron does realize what he said and takes a moment to ponder. It's a bit degrading to himself to stoop down to liking a human this much but... you're an exception. Perhaps while watching you and growing annoyed he was just in denial about such a fact.

Either way it appears he can use this as leverage.

You still appear to be processing the accidental confession. It's a surprise to him too. The silence is deafening as you try to process the disturbing confession given by your captor.

"Love me...?" You say in nearly a whisper. "How could a monster such as you love me? Didn't you say you hated humans?"

Megatron tries to search for an answer, momentarily distracted by his own confession and your questions. You're pushing him in a corner. It's surprising how fast you swap the power in your favor even if it's for a moment.

You really are something special.

"Go on, answer!" You growl. "If you said you hate my kind, what makes you think a confession such as that will make me love you?"

Megatron is silent, watching you bark at him like an angry dog. You are quite brave yet stupid to fight someone like him. It's what he likes about you... yet it stings slightly.

His silence prompts you to continue.

"The likelihood of me loving you, if that is truly what you want, is about as likely as you beating the Autobots!"

Megatron takes note of the grin on your face. You're enjoying the power trip. You haven't been on control of your situation for a long time now. You're reveling in the momentary power.

He'll put an end to that, you've asked enough questions already.

"It's an honor for someone such as me to take you in and love you!" Megatron counters. "Mocking me is a poor decision. You are not the one in power here."

He hates that you somehow have such an effect on him. He could squish you with his claws but he doesn't. No... he "cares" too much, huh?

You take notice due to being such a perceptive human.

"You have one last chance to cooperate. Things will only get worse from here if you continue." Megatron warns. He's already being too merciful with you as his. You only smile sweetly.

"You couldn't hurt me... you LOVE me, don't you-"

*SLAM*

The noise of Megatron's fist puncturing the wall rings in your ears. You have a look of fearful surprise on your face when you catch a look of Megatron's blazing red optics on you. Only now to you shut up, realizing playing with your captor really won't at all be like Starscream.

Megatron's deathly silent as he lowers himself to snatch you up in his hand. You now begin to shake, losing the confidence you once had. So much for the tough act....

It seems only now you understand the power imbalance between you two.

"Your tongue is so sharp... wouldn't it be a shame if I had to silence it?" Megatron mocks, grinning when he sees you tremble in his hand. "You need to learn your place. You're still a human after all."

For once, you're shocked into silence. You can tell by the gaze in Megatron's eyes that you've sealed your fate. He isn't going to kill you, at least you think....

He's going to put you through hell and back for trying to mess around with him. You wish you held your tongue. What were you thinking, mocking Megatron as a human?

You can only guess it'll be much worse than when you misbehaved around Starscream.

Even if he did say he "loved" you.

[writingquestionsanswered]

Anonymous asked: I struggle with motivation to write and figuring out what I want to happen in my story. I'm really good at picking out tropes, understanding character motivation, seeing where the story is going, recognising good writing, etc. I often have dreams that are full-fledged, complex stories, so I know the creativity is there. It's just, for some reason, when it's my intent to create, nothing happens. I get stuck thinking 'they'll see this coming' or 'this wouldn't work', and I can't figure out how I want it to go. So, I feel like I'm pretty good at stories... when I'm not trying? And i dont know how to do it without trying. I hope this makes sense lol

Struggling with Motivation and Direction

Being able to recognize good stories and dream up good story ideas is a great place to start, but there's more to writing a good story than ideas, tropes, and character motivation. Stories revolve around conflict (internal, external, or both) and the protagonist's pursuit of a goal that will resolve that conflict. Stories have structure... they go through specific phases (setup, rising action, falling action, denouement) and hit specific plot points (hook, inciting incident, midpoint, climax)... and sometimes more specific phases and plot points (there are all different theories on what those are). And through all of these phases and plot points, your character is growing and/or changing (and or changing the people/world around them) while in pursuit of their goal/resolution to the conflict.

There are some writers who can come up with an idea that instantly includes all of those important phases and plot points, and they can sit down over whatever period of time and almost effortlessly hammer out a first draft. However, that is not the case for most writers or most stories. Most stories require some level of plotting or planning ahead of time to work out what happens in all of those specific phases and plot points, and what the character has to do in order to resolve the conflict, and figure out how the resulting events cause your character to change and/or grow/and/or change the people/world around them. Some writers do the bare minimum amount of pre-planning, but then they push through that work as they write, figuring everything out as they go. It's anything but effortless. It's really hard work.

And the thing is, you will probably figure out that you're a planner--meaning that you generally need to put whatever amount of plotting/planning into a story before you write--or you're a pantser--meaning that you do a minimal amount of planning ahead of time but take the time as you're writing to figure things out. Or you may find it depends on the story you're writing. Either way, don't give up just because a story isn't naturally falling out of your fingertips onto the page. Stories are like lumps of clay that you want to turn into a beautiful sculpture. You're not going to pinch here, pull there, and voila. It takes a lot of time and effort to shape them into the thing you want them to be. And sure... there are sculptors who can sit down and create a gorgeous sculpture out of a lump of clay in mere moments, but for most it's not that easy. Same with writing.

So, don't give up. You're right where you need to be. Spend some more time learning about how stories work. (You can look through the posts on my Plot & Story Structure master list to start with.) Read a lot, and when you read, see if you can pick out the different story phases and plot points. Analyze stories you love to see how you work. Author K.M. Weiland has a story structure database that pulls apart popular stories and breaks them down into all those different pieces. There are also a lot of great videos on YouTube about story structure and plotting.

Ultimately, keep at it. You'll get there!!!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

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[raidendeeznuts123]

There's not nearly enough yandere entity content on the internet. An eldritch creature who has control over a realm of their own making as well its inhabitants? One that very much already abducts others into aforementioned place for its own desires? That's a lot of potential. Are you even allowed in matches? Do you have immunity? What about The Fog itself, which changes according to the entity's subconscious desires? I'd like to imagine the entity infecting it's killers with such emotions. With you on the line, the killers have never performed so efficiently. The entity enjoys your reactions to each of it's many horrors, but...it has its jealous streaks. You don't talk to anyone not because you're scared, but because you don't want to see those horrible claws bursting out of their body and the light leaving their eyes as soon as the entity decides it's had enough with others touching what's theirs. You're a walking legend to the survivors; you may be in the same faction as them, but you are nowhere near the same. For starters, you're always. there. Even in matches you weren't supposed to be in. The entity doesn't let you interfere with the match, of course, but it has to instill fear into you somehow, right? Come on, it could tell you were bored waiting at the campfire all day. If you are chosen to participate in a match? Everyone knows the outcome. You're basically useless, having to hide the majority of the match because of how the entity's obsessive behavior influences the killers. Some killers do business as usual, others immediately resolve to track you down. One thing's always a constant, though; once they catch wind of you, they'll forget about anything else. But hey, if you play your cards well...at least you can be a good distraction, right? Sometimes your teammates try to help; other times they ditch you immediately. No hard feelings; you understand their need to survive, and they understand how you have no choice but to be dead weight in every match you participate in.

New survivors are informed about you as soon as they're informed about everything else; killers are left to figure it out for themselves on the rare occasions that you're actually in a match. Your freedoms are constantly changing; the entity is a fickle being, after all. Some days you're allowed to scower areas beyond what anyone else in the realm has ever seen, and other days you're unable to move from your bed, the hold the entity has on you unrelenting for a good chunk of the afternoon and well into the evening, your only source of entertainment the visions the entity allows you and the undecipherable whispers filling your head.

[rayrayvan]

The great war

Pairing: Shuri x fem!reader

Warning: Mentions of drowning, abduction, death, angst, and spoilers.

Marital problems have been surfacing since T’Challa, Shuri’s brother, died.

She’s been busy and distant with you. She Barely left the lab. Although you were known to be the most patient and understanding person, you were at your limit now.

Fights and arguments arise. It ranges from silly which can be resolved in a day to more serious which would last for a week. Now was one of those intense fights you both have.

As you enter the lab, you told all scientists to leave you two “What are doing?” She asked with annoyance “I’m here to talk to you” You told her “About what? What is it about this time? Cause all I’m hearing from you is how I left a dirty cup in the sink or how I come I never went out with you. Now tell me what complaint you have installed from me again” She angrily said “It’s different” You replied to her, matching her tone “What is different about this time? You know you’ve be-“” Why didn’t you tell me about your mission with Okoye” You opened up to her “Because you’ll make a big fuss out of it and maybe this mission would work,” She said fully facing you right now “Fuss? I worry about your safety and what would work?” You asked her slightly confused about what she told you “Maybe this mission would give us some space from one another. We’ve been fighting over the silliest things and sometimes ignore each other for a day or even a week” She explained

It wasn’t only you two who knows about your fights, it’s the whole palace and maybe she’s right, maybe this mission would give you time to think through things “Okay, I understand” You agreed to what she told you “Come on don’t do this” She said because she knows what’s going on in your head right now “I didn’t do anything, I simply agreed to what you want and I’ll allow it cause you’re right, we need space from one another cause all we’ve been doing is fight each other” You bow your head down to not let her see the tears that's falling in your face "Sthandwa, not like this" She pleaded you "No, no Shuri you're right, it's fine to take the time you need really" You sniffled and hastily wipe the tears that are still at bay.

You faced her with a lip-tight smile "I just want you to be safe okay?" You placed your right hand on her cheek and she leaned into your touch " Wait for me okay?" She asked and you nodded. When you can't keep the tears at bay anymore, you hugged her tight "We'll fix this, okay, tell we'll fix this" You pleaded in her ear. Her own heart was breaking and she hugged you back "We will" She whispered in your ear. She rubbed her hand on your back in a comforting manner as you sobbed. When you eventually calm down, you pulled away slightly but never let her go. She raised both her hands and place them on either side of your cheek. She leaned her forehead to press against yours, intimate but you know what it meant, 'goodbye for now'

"I'll be back okay" She kisses your forehead, longer than it should have and when she pulled away, she pulled away from your grasp and walked away from where you were standing. Okoye was waiting outside, waiting for the princess so that they'll get going.

As she leaves you inside the lab, your knees became weak which caused you to fall. You wept even harder, holding your chest tighter. Of course, the Queen saw your interactions with your daughter, and when she said goodbye to her daughter, she went inside and approached you. She bent down and hugged you close, wrapping you in her arms "Shhh, she'll be back little one" She tried to comfort you and she pulled you up because you have to be strong and that this is only a patchy road that every couple experiences. That day was dreadful for both of you.

==========∞==========∞=============

"What?!" You shouted upon learning that Shuri and the scientist were abducted by this, sea God. You were inside the throne room, standing beside Queen Ramonda " You were with her, how could you let this happen?" You asked the General "My queen, my lady, they were too powerful. I've tried to strike all of them with my spear thinking I killed them but they would be alive again" Okoye tried to explain her side "You failed to protect the princess, you convinced me to let the princess come with you when I said no. You are stripped down from your title until further notice" Okoye stood stunned and when the Dora Milage stump their spears in unison, it was clear that her role as General was done. She tried to gaze upon you, but like the Queen, your gaze held anger. You felt angry and guilty, guilty of not being able to protect your wife, and now she's held captive by this Talokan people.

When the council was released, you were about to walk out when the Queen called out for you "We will need help" She said and you question her where "Let's go to Haiti" That's all she said "Prepare the aircraft" She told you and you nodded. You were still questioned as to who she wanted to meet in Haiti but you have a strong feeling that you know who it was.

==========∞==========∞=============

"She's amazing," Riri said as Shuri was done telling her about you "I know, that's why I married her" Shuri proudly say but was quickly deflated "I miss her," She said. Shuri didn't want to share about your problems and what both of you were facing right now. "Well I'm not an expert but I asked my grandma what was the secret to a long-lasting marriage, she simply said, "it's a secret that only the couple knows" which kinda made sense but hey I was a kid back then," Riri told her. Her grandma is right, the secret is just between you two.

As she gets quieter, she thought of the happy days. The day you two got married. It was after the blip, she proposed to you after you both returned after being snapped. Afraid of losing you again. As she got deeper, she remembered the fights. She thought about it and you were so patient with her, but she was abusing that. She never realized how she abused the patience you held for her and those fights were a sign that the thread was running thin now.

Oh, how she wishes she could go to you right now and hug you tight. Her train of thought was broken when a Talokan guard was shot dead. Riri and Shuri sat up to see who it was. "Nakia, this could cause war" Shuri angrily told her "Your mother and your wife are looking for you right now," Nakia said and rushed the two of them to escape.

==========∞==========∞=============

When Grio announced the arrival of the three, you couldn't help but rush to Shuri. You slammed your body against hers and hugged her tight. When you pulled away you spoke, "I'm glad you're safe, are you hurt? Did they hurt you?" You frantically asked and searched everywhere if there was a sign of injury "No but I'm here now" She assured you and she placed both her hands against each side of your cheek and caresses them to know she was here and well. You smiled genuinely that time and wrapped your arms again to hold her again. She hugged you back with one hand on your waist and the other on the back of your head. You were glad she was safe and here in your arms.

When she introduced you to Riri, she guided you to her with her hand around your waist. "You must be Y/N, your girl talks about you a lot," Riri said which made Shuri shush her. You chuckled of course and chat with Riri. She tells you about what happened and that she's sorry for what she did. You love talking to her and as Shuri stood by your side, looking over you and it's like how she felt at the beginning of your relationship. She's falling in love with you all over again, she couldn't help but lean in and kiss your forehead.

==========∞==========∞=============

Shuri explained how there's a possibility of a war happening. The four of you were at the throne room finding a strategy to end this war when suddenly, sounds of surging waters and screams were heard in the city. Shuri volunteered to go to the city and save people as many as she could.

As the three of you were standing inside the throne room, looking for Kukulkaan, you saw him looking for something and when he saw what he was looking for, he approached it.

He flies over to where the three of you were located. You know what he wants so you stood a little closer to where the Queen was and stood beside her. "He wants me, so take Riri to safe a place," She says but you weren't having it. Your wife was kidnapped, and you didn't want any harm to be brought upon the family anymore, so you called Riri to take the Queen away. But the three of you halted when Namor stared at the three of you and when his gaze went to Riri, he turned around and flew away. "Riri now, take the queen to a safe location now" You commanded "What about you?" Riri asked "I'll hold him off but for now, go," You said as you saw Namor flying back and holding a lot of water bombs in his hands. "We can't leave you here" The Queen called out for you but before you could reply, you felt water gushing inside the throne room. Namor has thrown all the bombs before you could even attack him.

Shuri saw the scene unfold and told Okoye to drive faster to get to you and her mother. “Okoye faster now!” Shouted the former general.

You took the blow and the three of you sunk into the depths of the water. When you eventually gained consciousness and saw the Queen and Riri who had fallen with you, you swam towards them and held them to swim back to the surface. Along the way, the queen regained her conscious back and helped you swim back up.

When you three reached the surface area, the queen helped Riri up, but slowly you lose consciousness and when dark spots begin to invade your vision, you lost it completely. Suddenly, Nakia arrived so she helped the Queen to save both of you. When Shuri arrived, she saw her mother well, but when her eyes fell on who Nakia was saving, her heart sank. She tried to reach towards you, but M'baku was there and held her tight "Sthandwa, don't do this to me now!" She screamed as Nakia was still trying to save you. Riri started coughing the water out, so the Queen turned her sideways.

"Y/N you can't do this to me, not now!" She screamed again. Queen Ramonda was quick to hold her daughter down, but Shuri wasn't calming down anytime soon until she hears you cough out the water in your system.

"Come back Y/N!" She screamed again, desperate to be by your side, trying to flee out of M'baku and her mother's grip. "Help me, Sthandwa!" She screamed over and over again as Nakia attempted to save you.

a/n: correct me cause I know there are a lot of errors but I missed them.

[flightyquinn]

Letting Players Feel Smart in Combat

or, "Running Encounters with an Information Economy"

PREAMBLE: Something that frustrated me for a long time as a player in TTRPGs was how hard it could be to guess enemy tactics. There are a lot of things that you can do with good tactics, but a lot of the time you lack the information to use those tactics. For example, setting up a prepared action to counterspell just wastes your turn if nobody tries to cast anything. This can be especially frustrating when you're up first in the initiative, and don't have much more than just a description of who/what you're fighting to go off of.

AN ANECDOTE: One day I decided to try an experiment. Each round of combat was supposed to be happening in the same six seconds of elapsed time, right? So, the next time I went first, I asked my GM if I could see what the enemies were doing - everything was happening at the same time, so I should be able to read their body language, the directions they were starting to move, and where they were looking to get an idea of how they were going to act, right?

As I honestly had been expecting, my GM said no. It wasn't their turn yet, so they weren't doing anything yet. I resolved that I did not want to run my own games that way, so I came up with some ways that when I ran a game, I could help my players to not be going into battle completely blind.

THE POINT: Tipping players off to enemy tactics is just good GMing. When they get a "read" on an enemy, they'll feel like an absolute genius. When the party plans for what the enemy will do and uses tactics to put the odds in their favor, they will lose their minds over how cool they feel. Here's a couple things I do to make that happen.

The first is giving enemies tells for what they're planning, which sounds simple, but actually requires a change to how encounters are typically run. Basically, you should know what an enemy will do before their turn, and typically at the end of the last one. Then you narrate them doing something to hint at that as part of their action. For example, a dragon might inhale deeply before using its breath weapon, or a manticore might slowly go from lashing its tail from side to side to holding it stiff as it prepares to launch a volley of spikes.

You don't have to stay committed to a course of action once you've given a tell, but if the players do something that would cause an enemy to reconsider its tactics (or determine them, if you hadn't decided anything for it yet), that's another time to give a tell. For instance, you might have already described a dire wolf lowering on its haunches as it starts stalking toward the ranger, ready to pounce, when the halfling rogue stops taking cover behind the fighter. In that case, you might describe the dire wolf shifting its stance, licking its lips as it turns its attention to this weaker-looking prey.

There's no need to give a tell for every action, of course. That would get taxing for you, and tedious for the party. Generously sprinkling in clues as to key things enemies want to do can keep players engaged, and help them break through the indecision about what to do with their own turns, though.

That brings me to my other trick. If you read the anecdote section above, this is something I came up with as a direct result of that. I decided to add a special action type that is just for the players, the "Observe Action". Every player gets one Observe Action on each of their turns that they can use in a number of ways to get more information about the conditions on the battlefield, or to gain an advantage.

The first use is just applying their skills in the normal way. If they could use a skill to recall information about a particular creature, they now do this as an Observe Action. This one is technically an explicit nerf in Pathfinder, since recalling is stated to be no action, but I find that most groups only check on one monster at a time anyway, and on the occasions when they don't, starting combat with check spam just slows the action down, so I include it. It usually doesn't hurt anything, and having it on the list can actually remind players that doing this is a thing they can do in the first place.

The second is also more or less a bookkeeping task, and that's using informational magic, like the Detect spells. It doesn't change the cast time, but once the spell is up, any further focus to gain more information uses their Observe Action. This is mostly just to remind players they can have these going while they fight, but I do also make any part of using the spell once cast that would normally be a Standard Action into an Observe instead, as a small bonus.

The third use, and the first truly new option, is to "read" a group. This is similar to recalling information, but allows for some different questions to be asked. Use these as a baseline.

Who has the highest/lowest HP?

Who can deal the most damage with physical attacks.

Who has the highest bonus to hit?

General "lean" of the group's alignment. (Most common alignment component on a single axis.)

How challenging does this fight look? (General CR range of the encounter, described as Easy, Average, Challenging, etc...)

Individual with the highest/lowest value in a particular ability score.

Highest/lowest value in a particular saving throw.

Basically, this option is there to help players decide who to focus their attention on. Let them use it for whatever will help them get a better idea of who or what they're facing. Let them ask their main question up-front before rolling to establish the check (whatever skill and DC seems appropriate), but let them ask additional questions after if they get a high roll.

It goes hand in hand with the last option, which is gauging intent. This one should probably be done with Insight/Sense Motive, and it just comes down to that original question. What's going to happen next?

The first way this can work is that the player focuses on a specific enemy, and gets a sense of what that enemy specifically intends to do. In other words, the player tells you who they want to get a "tell" for, and if they succeed, you give it to them.

Alternatively, the player might ask if anyone in the enemy group is about to take a specific action. For example, "Is the cleric about to get targeted." or "Does anyone look like they're going to call for backup?" So basically, instead of focusing on the behavior of one individual, the player is staying alert for a particular situation. Don't let the players get too broad with this one, of course, but it's okay to be a little generous with what they can ask about.

Even more than when I advised it above, if someone successfully gauges the intent of their enemy, and that intent changes, let them know. You should treat a success as them continuing to be alert to what they were observing for until their next turn.

I also toyed with the idea of letting players use their Observation to look for openings to improve their chance of hitting, or for a weak spot to do more damage. I like the idea of this, but felt like it stepped on the toes of other, existing options too much, and would be too tempting to players over the other uses. So I decided to keep Observation Actions as purely a source of information, and not directly pumping numbers. Still, if it sounds like it would work for you, try it out.

For everyone who read this incredibly long post of mine, I hope it helps you out. I haven't done a post like this in a long time, and I really appreciate you taking the time to read it. If these rules improve anyone else's games, hearing that would really make my day.

[sarucane]

Do we just keep telling the same story forever? Meta on OFMD S1E7 "This is Happening"

In this S1E7, two characters--Ed and Jim--have to answer a simple question: Am I ready to tell a diferent story?

At the start of the episode, Ed's framing his time on Stede's ship as "sitting idle." He's thinking about preparing for the next adventure, whatever that may be--the next chapter in a story he knows and understands. Because there are rules. A ship has only one captain.

When Stede tries to prove that Ed can tell the next chapter in that story without leaving the Revenge, Ed is pretty unapologetic in his disdain. But he does come along, even while moaning and complaining.

And Stede's just trying to tell the same story, too. What he imagines a pirate's tale is supposed to be, not what it actually is. He doesn't recognize the difference between nonsense and truth, he's so caught up in "entertaining" Ed that he doesn't realize he needs to feed Ed.

But in fairness to Stede, Ed has a poor grip on what he really wants as well. When he fantasizes as he flirts with Stede, he's not imagining a swashbuckling adventure. He's imagining opening a restaurant. He's half in his old life, and half out.

Lucius, the unemotional observer, figures all this out of course.

He sees that Ed is absolutely very receptive to Stede, and that Stede is crazy about Ed. But Ed is caught up in who he's been, without seriously considering how to move forward in this story he's in now. So Lucius confronts Ed. He points out that Ed's story as it is going now ends one way: pain and loneliness. And he asks if Ed wants that.

Stede didn't want Ed to leave, so he told a story about treasure hunting. And Ed doesn't want to leave and be alone again, so he tells the story too. And by telling that story together, Ed and Stede find their way to the same place: beginning a new chapter. Imagining a life they can live together, without devaluing or overwriting anything that came before.

It sounds nice, although it's shallow (Ed's not going to be happy as a pirate, Stede is bad at telling this pirate's story and he'll never be a successful traditional pirate). But it's still a hopeful story, because they're still moving forward. Right on the edge of telling a different story.

And resolving in the opposite direction is Jim's plot. Jim's story is relentlessly upbeat and funny in this ep, but it's a tragedy through and through. Jim, like Ed, is half in their old life and half out. Has been with Olu for more than a year, without actually doing anything, while keeping him at a distance.

And it turns out they were "raised by a nun to be a killing machine." That Nana projected all her own trauma and righteousness onto Jim, and passed cruel judgement when Jim says that they already killed "the only one that matters." When Jim suggests that they might have moved on, and be ready to tell another story.

Jim regresses in this episode. They let Olu walk away instead of telling a new story with him, one where he's their family. They take the petrified orange as a sign that they should go back to being who Nana told them they were, to being obsessed with revenge. But really, it's more like a warning of what they'll become if they cling to the same old story.

It's sad. And it's a painful foreshadowing of what awaits Ed and Stede when they falter on the path forward, when they think their past defines their future. When they tell someone else's story, instead of their own.

[balkanradfem]

I started reading the book 'Pests' by Bethany Brookshire. I thought it would be a book filled with information on how to protect your garden without causing any harm to animals. I could not have been more wrong, but soon it didn't matter, because I was drawn in immediately. This book is written by a brilliant scientist, who presents to you, the history, the data, the results and the cultural context of pests all around the world. It starts with squirrels, but then goes on to talk about pythons, pigeons, cats, rats, mice, frogs, coyotes, wolves, elephants, dogs, raccoons, deer, bears – and how they've been seen as a pest, most often for no fault of their own.

I learned about the numerous ways people in the past have created a 'pest' problem for themselves, and how they went on resolving it, and honestly I was shocked  at the most of it. I did not know that human scientists developed specific plagues for animals in order to get rid of them. I also had no idea how quickly humans turned the perception of a certain animal from 'useful' to 'pest', without even realizing they're responsible for the behaviour of the animal in the first place. Also the number of times humans have attempted to introduce a predator in order to get rid of an invasive species – only to immediately cause a new invasive species, absolutely incredible.

I was surprised to find out that some specific animals could be pests at all, for example, elephants. Absorbing the information presented to me thus far, I thought elephants were nothing short of wonderful and welcome in anyone's life – but, the story describes them eating the entire fields worth of grain, in only one night. And due to their size, they're unstoppable. They've destroyed houses, and even killed people, as a result of trying to get to the food. The elephants are a protected species, so the locals have been forced to develop different way of co-existing, namely, to stop growing grain and try to find different ways of survival and sustenance. There have been numerous other attempts to protect the fields from them, but how would you protect anything from an elephant? The only thing they're scared of, are bees. And if there's food to be gained, they'll overcome the fear of the bees too.

Did you know that if mice multiply too much, they'll have a mice plague that will wipe them out, without human interference?  Mice and rats are described as the animals closest to us – because they live where we live, eat what we eat, and learn whatever it takes to find their way in the land of humans. And it seems, we have the same problems as well.

One of my favourite little piece of knowledge in this book: the scientists studying the snakes in a lab name the snakes after Slytherins – so they have Snape, Draco, Crabbe, Goyle, and Bellatrix. It was amazing to listen about Snape the snake.

The author of this book is incredibly unbiased, and shows her love for every animal mentioned, but also understanding and compassion for people who have felt wronged, violated, helpless and cornered by the animal, and how awful it feels to not be able to protect their homes and livelihoods from an animal invading their territory. In author's mind, the animals are not at fault, because all they've been trying to do is survive, get to the source of food, for them this is foraging. For us, it's nature taking from us what we intended for ourselves.

The problem of seeing animals as pests, comes often from the perception of us being the dominating species, and having the right to remove or introduce or change animals, by how convenient and pleasing we find them. She sourced the problems from negative experiences, loss, violation and danger, but also from culture, colonialism, religion, behaviours of the people around us. Most children have no concept of danger or pests – babies in a study would reach out curiously seeing a picture of snake. Perception of which animal is good and which one is bad, comes with culture, experience and the behaviour of everyone else around it. And our collective perception comes from whether the animal is rare, whether it lives close to us, if we have to adjust our lives because of it or not, if we have had negative experiences or not, whether it can hurt us, whether we have something the animal wants (food) and tries to get from us.

I recommend this book to anyone who'd like to know more about the history of humans trying to live alongside – or refusing to live alongside certain animals. And anyone dealing with any kind of pest, or just not understanding why animals act the way they do around humans.

I come out from reading this, feeling no more wise on how to keep the pests out – except for, don't leave the food outside the house where animals can get to it, that's the #1 reason for most scenarios – but feeling way more understanding and at ease about animals that are perceived as pests. I know solutions  that have been tried to deal with them, I know what didn't work, and I know how badly some collective solutions can become. I understand we need to find a way to live with them as our neighbours, not enemies, not violators of our property. And most often, just being responsible about where you leave your food, how much animals you tempt to come close to you, how you reward them for interacting with you, is more than a half of the solution.

[separatist-apologist]

Lying In Between The Memories

You could call it paradise but it looks just like hell to me

Summary: Following the blood rite, Gwyneth Berdara can't shake the memories of a life long-gone.

The shadowsinger can't seem to move on after five centuries of loving the same woman.

Together, they'll have to carve a new path forward.

Read on AO3 | Previous Chapter

[ongoing TW for Sexual Assault]

The tension in the room was so thick, Gwyn could have cut it with a knife. Azriel looked wild and somehow pained, his expressions shifting second to second along with what must have been his chaotic thoughts. She exhaled a breath and pressed a hand to his chest, which seemed to strengthen some unknowable resolve.

“Everything will be fine,” she began, wondering if she was reassuring him or herself. “We’ll talk to Eris—”

“Let me take you home,” Azriel interrupted. Gwyn nearly screamed out loud. Of course that was his solution. Of course he’d think she should go back to Prythian, leaving him to deal with whatever the Vanserras wanted while she sat in a library.

“Are you serious right now?” she asked, taking a step away from him. Crossing his arms over his chest, it was clear that yes, Azriel was very serious. 

“The Vanserras are dangerous,” Azriel said, his voice pitched lower than was typical. “You don’t know what you’re dealing with.”

“Oh, but you do? I’m dangerous, Az, and I can handle myself just fine. If you want to go home so badly, be my guest. I won’t stop you. But I’m staying.”

“Gwyn—”

“No. No. I can’t…I won’t do this with you, Azriel. Either you mean it when you say you care about me—that you trust me, or you don’t. Decide. Right now. Either we’re equals or we’re not and I just want to know where I stand with you.”

This was it and Gwyn knew it. Whatever Azriel said would determine how they moved forward—if they moved forward at all. After everything that had happened between them, it seemed almost cruel to provide him with an ultimatum, but Gwyn wasn’t going back. She wasn’t going to hide in the library, lost in her regrets and wishing things could be different. They were different. 

She was different. 

There was no point following through on the promises she’d just been willing to make if Azriel was never going to make good on his. Why train her, why teach her to use weapons or how to take the likes of him down if every time there was danger, Azriel was going to swoop in and hide her away?

What was his problem? 

There clearly was one, because the only reasonable answer was to immediately assure her that he trusted her. Not war with himself between what he actually wanted—she assumed that was her returning to Velaris—and knowing that if he took her back, she’d never see him again. Gwyn’s heart thudded in her throat against the long stretch of silence.

“I—” His throat bobbed, working against whatever emotion he was swallowing. “I’m sorry—I…I’m scared.”

The admission hung between them. Azriel was so many things to Gwyn and frightened was never one of them. Azriel wasn’t afraid of anything, including death. How many stories had she heard of him running head long into battle, damning the consequences? What could he possibly be afraid of when surely Eris Vanserra was no threat to the likes of him?

“Eris is all talk,” she dismissed, sliding around him in an effort to clear her senses. She could still feel his rigid cock held in her hand and if she wasn’t careful, she’d make Eris wait on them.

Presumably, for hours. 

It was a good plan—one she would have succeeded in, had Azriel not followed just behind her. Dragging a hand through his hair with frustration, Azriel growled, “He has plenty of bite—don’t let his pretty face fool you.”

“Oh, is it pretty? I hadn’t noticed,” she said with too much innuendo. She hadn’t meant to be so suggestive, though she also didn’t mind that soft growl that slipped from Azriel’s throat. He’d always been a little territorial—obnoxiously so, if she was being honest—but now? This was why she hadn’t wanted to sleep with him. He was going to take things too far. 

That should have bothered her, but right then, Gwyn wanted Azriel to take things too far. It was the worst possible time, in the worst possible place, and she couldn’t really focus on the threat of the Vanserra’s because Azriel was staring down at her with eyes so dark there might have been no color to them at all. Just endless pools of starless night threatening to devour her. 

Azriel cocked his head to the side, all animal, and Gwyn knew right then, that he could scent what she wasn’t trying to conceal. He didn’t seem to breathe as she dared to come closer, pressing her hand to his still chest. 

“I don’t care about Eris Vanserra,” she murmured, peering up at him through dark lashes. “Lock the door. He can wait.”

“Gwyn,” he whispered, his voice hoarse.

She didn’t think she could take it if he told her no. Her pride certainly could not withstand that level of rejection no matter how valid it was. Gwyn was tempted to say something to him that might change his mind, but right then she felt nervous. Too vulnerable for speech, too embarrassed to do anything but remain rooted in place as the realization of what she’d said swept over her.

Oh. Oh no. 

She was becoming the thing she’d sworn she wouldn’t be. Resolve slammed into her, stealing her spine as the memory of all those months training washed back over her. The recognition that this, right here, was why she had to quit training with him. Why she needed to step away before he did any more irreversible damage to herself. 

Oblivious to her racing thoughts, perhaps to her detriment, Azriel grabbed her upper arm the moment she started to step back and without a word, pressed his mouth to her own. She’d expected hunger and heat—not desperation to greet her. His other arm wound around her waist, holding her so tightly there was nowhere to go. That was by design, though Gwyn had nowhere she wanted to go.

There were a million things to be afraid of, but this right here—and the way she felt about him? That was, perhaps, the most terrifying thing. Instinct warred between walking away from him again and staying where she was, letting go and giving in, pulling and pushing until Gwyn was muddled and confused.

And yet there was clarity in that kiss. Reason, among the madness, was found in his lips. She didn’t realize they were moving, that she was taking steps toward something until Azriel was pulling her into his lap, himself seated on that sofa. 

“If I start,” he breathed, trailing his mouth over her jaw and down her neck, “I won’t be able to stop.” Something twanged within her—something old, something primal. “Good,” she replied, raking her fingers through his dark hair. 

“You deserve better than this,” he said, scarred hands coming to cup her face so she had to look at him. “Better than a rushed coupling so I can race off to deal with Eris. Wait for me. For tonight,” he added, a plea to his words. 

Wrapping her fingers around his wrists, Gwyn met that hungry, desperate gaze. “Together?”

“We’ll do everything together,” he swore softly, a lethal menace to those words. “Let someone try and stop us.”

Gwyn kissed him again, unable to deny what she felt or what was happening between them. Love. 

This was love. 

Somewhere between swearing she’d never train with him again and looking into those hazel eyes swearing he’d do everything with her if she wanted. Goosebumps erupted over her arms, drawing ice through her fingers. She was excited and she was scared all at once. Dread and elation pooled in her gut though Gwyn did a good job of concealing both. Azriel didn’t seem alarmed by what he saw, at any rate. 

“Can you stand?” she asked when Azriel shifted his hips, revealing the hard cock just beneath.

Closing his eyes, head tipped back, he breathed, “Give me a moment. If I think about Vanserra long enough, it’ll pass.”

Gwyn tried to slide off his lap, and was too delighted when he tightened his grip, holding her tight. “You hate him so much. Why?”

Azriel looked up at the ceiling. “He’s a bastard.”

“That’s not a real reason. Tell me.”

“When I was young—in my twenties—Eris was engaged to Mor.”

The words hung between them for a moment, weighty as Azriel considered what he wanted to say. This was ancient, then. Old, unfinished business between them that Azriel had never forgotten. 

He didn’t look at her as he added, “I was in love with her.”

Oh. 

Gwyn could see Mor so clearly in her mind right then. Beautiful in such an easy, effortless way. All that golden hair, her beautiful eyes…and the way she’d been looking at Emerie, she reminded herself before jealousy could fully take root. It was impossible, though, not to compare herself to Mor. Not to imagine Azriel with his fingers curled around Mor’s waist, his lips against her neck—

“Mor was never interested in me,” Azriel continued, blazing through this confession like he needed to say it. “But I thought, back then at least…maybe…it didn’t matter. She was engaged to Eris and Rhys could do nothing about it. Wouldn’t do anything about it,” Azriel added, as if that were important to the story or to him. Gwyn certainly wasn’t going to wade into that old fight, though she saw there were leftover scars that had healed poorly. 

“Mor took things into her own hands—she came to our camp in Illyria and she slept with Cassian. Virginity…it’s…it’s important in the Autumn Court. It’s an old custom for females of nobility and a point of pride for males. Mor decided if no one would help her, she would do what we’d always done—she’d help herself.”

“You slept with her?” Gwyn questioned, her blood turning to ice. She didn’t think she could stand knowing that Azriel had both loved her and slept with her, unfair as it was. This was centuries old, a drama older than her, than her parents, and likely her grandparents. 

Azriel shook his head. “No. I told you…she never wanted me. She went to Cassian. Everyone knew. It was an open secret in the camp, and secrets like that are hard to keep. There was no love lost between the three of us and the rest of the Illyrian’s, who already felt we were given special treatment because we were so close to the High Lord. Someone told Keir—but rumor had already begun to spread around Hewn City and Beron knew before Keir could control the situation.”

Azriel took a breath as if he needed to control himself. Gwyn swore she could feel his rage somehow, though maybe it was just her own anger as she imagined what it must have been like for Mor back then. Sold, by her own parents, like she was mere cattle for breeding. Knowing that she had no good options and still trying to do something that gave her agency. 

“Keir nailed a note to Mor’s womb and dumped her into Autumn letting them know she was their problem now,” Azriel whispered, his voice lethal. Whatever Gwyn had been imagining paled in comparison to the reality. 

“Eris could have helped her. He found her before me—we weren’t allowed to step foot into Autumn so we had to wait. Cassian, Rhys and I…we were patrolling sections of the border between Autumn, Summer, Spring, and Winter. Flying overhead, trying to find her, we—we were going to get her even if it started a war. But it was Eris who found her first. Who saw how injured she was, who could have helped. He left her there, where I found her hours later and…” 

Azriel fell silent, eyes glazed as he relived that moment. As he considered what it still meant to him and the hatred he’d never be able to let go of. 

“He’ll say he couldn’t intervene. That it was better, politically, to look the other way while I stalked across that border and brought her into Summer. But the truth is Eris is a coward, too scared to do anything that might endanger him, first. He’d let his brothers die, he’d let his mother suffer, and he’d see the rest of the world burn to keep himself safe first and I hate him for it.”

There was nothing else to say. Even if Gwyn did have a defense for Eris—and she didn’t—she wouldn’t have offered it up to Azriel. There were other questions she had, questions that felt too embarrassing to ask.

Are you still in love with Mor? 

She swallowed that one, terrified he’d say yes. What had happened, in the aftermath? She’d never wanted him, so maybe nothing at all…but had something? And did he know they’d had a whole dinner in Velaris right before Gwyn left specifically trying to catch Mor’s attention because Emerie thought she was beautiful? 

Questions better left for another time.

“So how do we play this?” she asked instead, because she wanted to be a team more than she wanted to plumb the depths of his life before her. Gwyn simply had to trust that, at least here and now, she was the only female Azriel cared about. That whatever feelings he had for Mor had fizzled over the years until only friendship remained. Perhaps when Eris was gone, and they were back in Velaris.

Or maybe Gwyn would tell Nesta all this and they could compare notes. Did she know Cassian had slept with Mor? Did she even care? Gwyn couldn’t imagine Nesta being cool about it, but what did she truly know? Nesta and Cassian were mates and that changed things.

“Carefully,” Azriel said after a moment, his expression wiped clean of its former fury. “Eris’s weapons are his words. Give him nothing to work with, let him back himself into a corner. And we can’t kill him.”

“Are you saying that to me or yourself?”

“Is there a difference?” he murmured without any awareness of what he was implying. “Knives stay under the skirts.”

“I’m tired of dresses,” Gwyn mumbled, swinging her legs off him to stand. 

“I’ll have you out of them soon enough.”

He couldn’t see the grin that spread over her face, though he likely knew the heat spreading through her. Gwyn merely waved her hand.

“Big words, Shadowsinger.”

AZRIEL:

Unlike Eris, Azriel didn’t need a mask for his boredom. He was bored—irritated, even, made worse by Gwyn sitting close enough his knee was touching hers. Fully clothed when her perfect hand had been wrapped around his cock and she’d been all but begging him to take her. Gods, Azriel couldn’t focus on a smug word leaving Eris’s mouth. And Eris knew it. Knew what Gwyn hadn’t yet figured out, putting a countdown on a conversation Azriel wasn’t sure how to have. He’d just gotten her to open up to him and Eris was going to wreck it all before Azriel built the sort of intimacy he was certain he needed.

All he knew for certain was the information had to come from him rather than Eris Vanserra. Gwyn, lovely, perfect Gwyn, was doing the hard work of making small talk with Eris. She’d put on her most charming demeanor and Azriel wondered if she wasn’t playing dumb on purpose. Eris, on the other hand, had a gleam in his eye reminiscent of a wolf unaware his sheep was really a dragon in disguise. 

“I’ve never been to Autumn,” Gwyn was saying, tucking a long piece of that cinnamon colored hair behind an arched ear.

Azriel was in love with her and gods, but he wanted to tell her so badly it made his teeth ache. She played Eris so well—hadn’t the first born son been told Gwyn was a scholar from the Night Court? And wouldn’t he assume she was smarter than the average High Fae? But Eris was buying her bright eyed, too-idealistic act which left Azriel left to play the brooding bodyguard. That was a role he knew all too well, at least. And Eris had the decency to keep his eyes fully on Gwyn’s beautiful face rather than let it drift.

Azriel might have abandoned his no violence policy had Eris not managed this. He had one hand clenched beneath the table, nails digging into his palm to keep himself from squeezing the life from Eris’s smug, imperious eyes.

As Eris described Autumn to an enraptured Gwyn, Azriel’s thoughts once again drifted to his mate. He needed to tell her. It was a last ditch attempt, sleeping with her and hoping it snapped for her then. Azriel knew that had worked for Cassian in theory. Nesta had felt it…and chose not to acknowledge it.

He might go insane if that happened to him and Gwyn. So focused on his inner thoughts, Azriel nearly missed Gwyn’s sweet, “Is the High Lord joining us?”

“He’s around,” Eris replied with a bored wave of his hand. “I’m certain he’s looking for Helion—”

“Helion?” Azriel interrupted. Helion arriving had Rhys written all over it. Eris’s eyes shifted, that smile sharpening at the corners. Fuck. Azriel hadn’t meant to say anything at all. 

“Did your High Lord not inform you? Fascinating given how long you’ve been here…”

Azriel didn’t respond, leaving Gwyn to scramble. Without missing a beat, she threw that sunny smile on her face and said, “We’re only here for the library. I can’t remember the last time the prince stopped by to say hello. I’m sure he’s too busy for us.”

Eris glanced up at Azriel, two lines of concern creasing between his brow. “You haven’t seen him?”

“In at least a week,” Gwyn replied without betraying her real question. “Perhaps we will now that more emissaries from Prythian are visiting.”

“I was under the impression–” Eris stopped himself before he could finish that thought. Gwyn glanced “Well. I suppose we’ll all learn together, won’t we?”

Gwyn’s smile never wavered. “It’ll be nice to get to know all the new courts. We could keep in touch.”

Eris was clearly lost in his own thoughts, eyes drifting across the room. Azriel turned his head to look, curious what had drawn Eris’s attention from the cat and mouse game happening at their current table. Helion had sauntered in, every inch the Day Court High Lord in his white draped robe and the gold jewelry adorning his gleaming bronze skin. Something about him was striking right then—an expression Azriel had seen once before, though he couldn’t remember when.

Eris’s upper lip had curled with distaste, his dislike plain against his features. Flanked on either side of the High Lord were two others—a rather beautiful blonde with a book tucked beneath her arm and a male with the same onyx colored hair as the High Lord. Both wore azure clothes, their eyes lined with kohl.

The trio didn’t spare Night and Autumn a second look, making their way toward the high table. Eris didn’t take his eyes off them until they were fully behind them, though his expression was inscrutable. Still, it was something. It shouldn’t have surprised Azriel that Eris didn’t like any of the other courts, nor was it really worth following up on, and yet he would have been a poor spymaster if he didn’t order his shadows after both Helion and Eris.

After all, Eris and Helion would likely be trying to spy on him, too. The High Lords loved their secrets almost as much as they loved their games. Whatever was going on between Autumn and Day was for them—not Night. Azriel and Gwyn were nearly done, besides. She merely needed to finish her cypher for the two to return with her stolen book on Koschei. They didn’t need anything else—not really. Though, it occurred to him right then that his shadow had never returned from Koschei’s lake. 

Strange.

He’d need to follow up on that. 

Azriel was distracted and couldn’t even pretend he didn’t know why. If he’d come alone he’d be on top of all of this and right then, Azriel wondered if Rhys hadn’t suspected. Of all the people…of everyone who could have come, Rhys had insisted it be Gwyn. Untested. Unknown. Azriel’s mate. Had his brother suspected? 

No.

No, Rhys would have warned him surely. Or, at the very least, put them in a better environment. Though…Azriel remembered all the shenanigans Rhys had gotten up to with Feyre around and oblivious. Maybe not. Azriel was spinning himself in circles, unable to focus and he knew he wouldn’t until Gwyn knew, too.

At least then he could free himself of the indecision. Get back to working—throw himself into it, even, if need be. He’d always been good at distracting himself, and this would be no exception. He had centuries of practice with Mor, though Azriel suspected this would be infinitely more painful.

Pain was home, though. He lived there, loved there—worshiped at its altar. 

Glancing at Eris, Azriel wondered if the prince of Autumn didn’t understand that, in some strange way. He almost felt pity, catching a familiar look of yearning streak across Eris’s features—gone so quickly Azriel could have lied to himself and said he imagined it. 

“Did you want something, Eris?” Azriel demanded, ignoring the cooling food on his plate.

Eris offered a fox’s smile. “Only the pleasure of your stimulating company.”

Gwyn never broke character, which was more than Azriel could boast. She merely continued eating, pretending this was a normal conversation between normal people. Friends, even. Eris stood, though, catching the eye of his father striding into the room with the king.

“Bye!” she called after Eris’s retreating back before adding, “Prick,” under her breath.

“You were charming,” Azriel said from the side of his mouth, noting how neither father or son deigned to look in his direction. Why would they? He was merely a bastard born Illyrian, after all. Trash, as far as they were concerned. 

“Isn’t that why I’m here? To smooth out your edges?” she teased and gods, he wanted her so badly it was making a fool of him.

“More than you know,” he replied, pulling his wings tighter against his body to keep them from flaring outward. Not that anyone would understand what that meant, and still it was probably better not to have a preening, territorial Illyrian stomping about the dining hall.

He needed to get them both out which was harder than he thought it would be given Gwyn was fixated on the missing prince. “Where is Kai, do you think?” she asked when Azriel stood, unconcerned himself. Who cared? Kai’s absence was the only good thing that had happened lately, utterly eradicating any competition to Gwyn Azriel might have had.

After all, he wasn’t convinced he could compete with a prince. 

She would have realized, had Kai stuck around, the choices being offered. Would have realized she could live easier with Kai than she ever could in Velaris, no matter how much she loved it. And Azriel had nearly convinced himself that she would have chosen Kai—because why would anyone choose him when there was another option readily available—until Gwyn murmured, “I miss Nesta and Emerie.”

Walking down the hall with her, Azriel glanced down at Gwyn, his expression inviting her to continue. 

“It’s just…I would have told them about Eris, and we would have laughed about how pathetic he is. And I’ll bet Nesta knows something about that courtier from Day he was staring at—”

“What courtier?” Azriel demanded, his shadows swirling around his shoulders.

“The blonde. You didn’t see? He had tragedy written all over him when she came in.”

He didn’t need to tell the shadow slinking away what to do. If Gwyn thought she saw something—however absurd it felt—then Azriel would follow up on it. 

“We’ll be home soon enough,” Azriel said, pulling their shared door open so she could sweep in, still a princess, even if all she had was him. “You can tell Nesta and Emerie everything then.”

“Everything?” Gwyn challenged, crossing her arms over her chest to stare him down. 

“Most things,” Azriel amended. “Nesta tells Cassian too much and I don’t need him knowing what I do when he’s not around.”

“Why would he care?” Gwyn pressed, but Azriel didn’t want to talk about Cassian for another moment. Didn’t want to think about Cassian. This was as good of a moment as he was going to get, he reasoned. There would never be any time better, at least while they were in this palace. 

Azriel didn’t answer, unwilling to admit Cassian would find it all absurdly funny much in the same way he and Rhys had a good laugh over Cassian’s trouble with Nesta, and how Cassian and Azriel had been so amused by how oblivious Feyre had been to Rhys’s obvious affection.

They weren’t blood brothers.

But stupidity ran between them like a cord, strong as any mating bond. Reaching for her face, Azriel kissed her before she could say another word, hoping to pick up where they’d left off just before Eris had so rudely interrupted them.

He hadn’t forgotten the pleasure of her soft hand gripping his aching cock, nor could he erase the look in her eyes from his memory. That sultry look was enough to drive him to his knees, to make him beg, crawl, plead. He’d do anything she demanded and more simply because it was her lips speaking the words. 

She didn’t protest, melting against the leather of his armor he was now desperate to get rid himself of. Instead, Gwyn kissed him back, hoisting herself up on tiptoes until Azriel said fuck it and lifted her into the air, if only for an excuse to put his hands on her ass. 

He was brainless by the time he managed to walk them into his bed chamber, made weak by her tongue stroking his own and her fingers in his hair. Had he ever been so aroused? So desperate? So excited? Azriel racked his brain for an answer but none came. There was only those teal eyes, that freckled skin.

“Is this happening?” she asked him, her breath warm against his cheek.

“If you want me, I’m yours,” he replied, saying the only words that came to him. 

Stroking his cheek, Gwyn looked down at him, her hair forming a curtain around them. “I want you. You’re mine.”

A groan slipped from behind his lips, their gazes locked. 

They were doing this.

“I’m yours,” he repeated.

I’m yours. 

[the-hole-in-terzos-shoe]

The Papa You Belong To

Papa Emeritus III (Terzo) x Assistant Reader (mostly GN but with feminine Italian pet names)

Warnings: a little cussing, a little spiciness at the end, but I think that's it 🥰

Word Count: 2.0k

This was inspired by the monthly challenge prompt we have going in the discord, and since I have Terzo brainrot lately, here ya go, ghesties!!!! The prompt:

"It definitely wasn't love at first sight, but you were starting to see them in a new light..."

(Sorry I don't remember where I got the photo EEEEE!!!! Please feel free to credit the original poster if you know where it comes from!)

"That 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘥!!!" you shout, shoving your face in your hands in frustration.

"Hey! How could you talk about Papa like that?!" your friend scolds you.

"Because it's what he is, damnit! He's infuriating! Selfish, conceited, cocky! You try being around him all day and see how you feel at the end of it," you huff.

"You're being ridiculous. You should be grateful to have such a position! Being Papa's assistant? Do you know how many people at this Abbey would kill to be in your shoes?"

"Just because it's a good position doesn't mean I can't be frustrated over it," you remind your friend. And you really can't believe the way they're acting over this right now. Why can't they just take your side on this? It's not like they'll get brownie points for standing up for that idiot; he's not even here right now! Plus, don't they realize there's a reason the last assistant left?!

𝘚𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥.... 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘫𝘰𝘣? 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘐'𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭?

You sit at your desk, still stewing over what had turned into an argument between you and your best friend the night before.

• • •

"I'm out for lunch," Terzo calls out, walking past you but stopping before closing the door behind him. He pops his head back in and asks, "Shall I bring something back for you, cara?"

"No, I'm okay. Thank you," you respond, voice sounding about as small as you feel.

The moment the door clicks closed, your resolve breaks, sobbing out all your feelings from the night before. The frustration over this job, over 𝘩𝘪𝘮, and now feeling like no one is on your side.

𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘐𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳'𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶-

Hearing the door handle jiggle, you sit up, sniffling and attempting to wipe the tears from your cheeks... but to no avail.

"Mi scusi, I forgot my-" Terzo pauses upon seeing your red and puffy face. Quietly whispering your name, he asks, "Why do you cry, tesoro? Are you hurt?" He comes right over, taking your hand and kneeling next to you.

"Just my feelings," you scoff, rolling your eyes. "Don't worry about me, Papa, it's nothing," you try to dismiss his concern.

"Nonsense, Sorella, you can tell me anything. I can't have my assistant in a bad mood, sì? Nothing will get done; it will be a total mess," he offers you a small smile.

You give in, chuckling a bit at his flattery. "It- it's just my friend, Papa. I went to them about something that was bothering me, and they didn't take my side. They played the devil's advocate, if you will, and they told me I was being ungrateful... It just bothered me. We've never butted heads like that before."

"Hmm, I see," he says softly, squeezing your hand. "I face this with i miei fratelli all the time..."

𝘖𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

"They always think their problems are bigger than mine, so they act the way your friend has. Perhaps your friend has something hidden beneath the surface they haven't revealed, hm, bella mia?"

You couldn't believe your ears. Terzo and your friend take each other's side really well for only having met in the confessional. Squeezing your eyes shut, you fight back more tears, feeling defeated.

"Oh, no, no, no, I've said the wrong thing... Please don't cry, dolce ragazza. What can Papa do to help?" He scrambles to get you a tissue, moving to sit on the edge of your desk in the process.

"It's okay, Papa," you take the tissue from him, wiping your cheeks, "Maybe I'm being unreasonable..."

"Not at all, my child. Let us try again, okie dokie?" He gently lifts your chin with his fingers, "Tell me what is bothering you, what you went to your friend about."

You avert your eyes, pursing your lips, "I'm not sure you want to hear about that..."

"I'm sure I've heard much worse," he chucks.

You toss the idea around in your mind... Perhaps you could just talk to him directly about his behavior. He's a grown man and maybe it would do him some good to hear your criticism. Or worst case scenario, you'll get fired, which is fine because you were already going to quit.

Drawing in a deep breath, you look up at him as calmly as possible, "It was, well... It was about you."

A rare occurrence, Terzo falls silent, his eyebrows quirking up awkwardly as if that was the last thing he expected you to say.

"I know it's my job to be your assistant, and I know that you're Papa, the most important person in our church... But you act so arrogant; you can be condescending sometimes. It's very hard for me to support someone who isn't being a great leader to others," you pause, searching his eyes, when you decide to continue, whether to save face or because you need to say it, you aren't sure, "I've seen how kind you can be, in the way you check on me or ask me if I want anything for lunch, but that should be extended to everyone in your flock, Papa, not just those close to you."

There's a long pause while Terzo mulls over your words. It's difficult not to fill the silence with more explanations, but you remain quiet, having taken his gloved hand at some point and gently rubbing his knuckles.

"You are right to be upset, cara mia... I have been an insufferable asshole since becoming Papa. You deserve better from me, as well as the congregation. You've seen right through my act, making myself out to be harsh like il mio fratello... or at least in an attempt to follow in his footsteps," the last part comes out quietly as he hangs his head, clearly feeling shame over the way he's acted. "Ovviamente, I have a very valuable asset in you, tesoro; not many people can find it within themselves to be so forthright with their Papa."

You stand up in front of him, tears threatening you again over seeing him so vulnerable. Mere inches from his face, you assert in a hushed tone, "You don't have to be like your brother to be a good Papa." Surprising even yourself, you lean forward, tucking your arms under his in a hug.

Gently, he wraps his arms around you, pressing your bodies firmly against one another. When his soft lips leave a quick peck on your cheek, your whole face flushes, and you feel an urgent need to change the subject. "I'm really sorry I made you late to your lunch, Papa," you offer, straightening up and smoothing down your blouse.

He laughs, having forgotten about it entirely, "Is okay, amore, we order takeout, sì?" Heading over to his desk in the next room, he picks up the desk phone, hooking it on his shoulder.

"You mean I'm not fired?" you ask, leaning against the doorframe to his office.

"Of course not, cara mia," he mutters with a smirk before firing off several entrees to the person on the other end of the line.

• • •

In the following weeks, Terzo became insufferable for an entirely new set of reasons, such as the way a stray lock of hair falls on his forehead when he's working, the tone of his arms when he rolls up the sleeves on his expensive button down shirt, the dusting of chest hair when he leaves the top few buttons undone...

He'd had a complete attitude shift, and it had really lifted everyone's morale around the Abbey. Work was getting done earlier in the day, which meant more free time for all the Siblings; everything was sparkling clean and people were kinder to one another. It was as if springtime had come to the ministry, even without a shifting of seasons.

"You know, cara, I never properly said grazie for setting me on the straight and narrow," Terzo says, not looking up from the work on his desk.

Today, you're on the leather loveseat by the window in his office, sorting through things that need to pass over his desk. Perking up at the sound of his voice, you smile at him as he tosses a glance at you over his shoulder, that natural scowl making his eyes really pop.

Reaching into a desk drawer and shuffling around some papers, he pulls out a small velvet bag, before shutting the drawer and pushing the chair from under his desk. Slowly, he stands, waltzing over to sit next to you.

He looks so handsome like this with his shirt untucked, hair lazily swept back, a softer demeanor than he carried before; this more at-ease look suits him well.

"Amore?" he gets your attention, the nickname bringing a bit of a blush to your cheeks. Smiling softly, he offers you the purple drawstring bag.

"Papa... I can't take this. I was just angry and being a bitch..." you mumble. Although Terzo had done a complete 180 these last few weeks, you still felt bad for what you'd said to him, the way you had complained about him.

"Little bird, it was not easy for you to say what you said to me. It was not easy for me to hear it. But you were right, and you've made me a better Papa for my congregation." He pauses, fiddling with the small pouch, "And I hope... I hope to be seen as a better man in your eyes. So take this, please."

Upon his second try, you take the velvet pouch, face softening at his words. Pulling the drawstring open, you're met with a medium sized leather jewelry box, and inside a necklace he had made just for you. The charm was made to match the embroidered Grucifix that adorns the suit coat he wears on stage, with a beautiful little faceted amethyst in the center. "Terzo..." you breath out.

The use of his name makes a smile tug at his lips, and he leans forward to cup your cheek with one hand as the other tucks some hair behind your ear, "So everyone will know which Papa you belong to."

You look up meeting his eyes, "Thank you, Papa," you whisper. In another beat, you've placed the necklace in his hands, turning your back to him and scooping your hair up so he can clasp the necklace on you.

"There," he mumbles, kicking his foot up onto the couch and sliding you back between his legs.

The feeling of his chest against your back and his hands on your waist has your heart speeding up; you'd never been close to him like this before. When you feel his warm breath next to your ear, whispering words of how beautiful you look in the necklace, your head is spinning.

Carefully, as if you'd scare him away, you place your hands on his thighs that encircle you, squeezing lightly.

Wrapping his arms fully around you, he places a delicate kiss to your neck, just below your ear. When you let out a sigh, that's his sign to continue.

Your eyes flutter closed as his lips explore your sensitive skin, until you can't take it anymore. Suddenly, you turn your head, catching his lips against yours.

His hands roam your body, heat quickly rising between the two of you. As his fingers lace with yours atop his thigh, he slides your hand back, creeping slowly up his thigh to land on the stiff bulge in his trousers. "Look what you do to me, amore," he nips at your ear, earning a wanton moan from you.

"Papa..." your voice quivers, "Show me who I belong to."