#Alexi Conman

[mermaidsirennikita]

I don't usually read college romance books because they don't work for me. But I love Kristen Callihan so I read her Game On series. And it's so good. I love all the books but the hook up is my favourite. You should read them if you haven't. If you have though, can you recommend some contemporary romances. God knows I only trust your recommendation. We have similar tastes.

I have read those, and I enjoy them quite a bit! Also not a huge fan of college romances (though I guess, to be fair, those dip out of college fairly quickly) but I like those, especially the first two. (The Friend Zone is my favorite of the bunch—and I typically dislike friends to lovers.)

Some great contemporaries (outside of erotic romance, which is like... my favorite kind of contemporary, lol):

You, Again by Kate Goldbeck. I really like this one! It's a genderflipped When Harry Met Sally retelling with an uptight chef who just wants to settle down with someone and a freewheeling standup comedian. They meet when they realize that they're both sleeping with the same woman, are sorta enemies for years, then become friends after her marriage falls apart. It's funny, it has heart, there's a lot of "the lines of this friendship are ridiculously blurred". Again, a rare friends to lovers that works!

The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn. This is Kate's most recent release, and while I do like Georgie, All Along and totally get the hype, this one is probably my favorite I've read of hers (I'm not SUPER well-read with Kate yet though, I need to work on that). It's about sisters who go on this road trip with a famous podcaster and her protegee (who happens to be a HUGE ex football player who's quiet and secretly has heart aplenty) to find their mother, who ran off with a notorious conman years ago. There's a lot of like... quiet romance in this one. Very original, too.

Alexis Hall is always a rec of mine, but Glitterland is one of my favorites of his. It's a m/m romance in which a snarky, jaded formerly successful writer hooks up with a glittery sparkly random and then they accidentally spend a weekend together, and sort of unintentionally end up in a relationship despite being total opposites? Super emotional and super hilarious. One of my favorite depictions of bipolar disorder.

Forget Me Not and Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto. Ooooh so good. Forget Me Not is about a wedding planner who's very afraid of emotional intimacy having to work with a florist she used to hook up with (before she broke his heart) on a high profile wedding, and Not Another Love Song is about rival classical musicians competing for the same first chair spot. While he's obsessively composing songs about her. PERF.

Chef's Kiss and Triple Sec by TJ Alexander. Chef's Kiss is about a broke woman getting roped into helping this French guy who's like, the heir to his giant rich restaurant family, complete this ancestral cooking challenge... And they're fake dating... And he's paying her to be his fake girlfrined... It's wild lol. Another bonus: they're both trans, which is super hard to find in romance. Triple Sec is a poly romcom about a bartender who starts dating this sparkly lawyer lady, with the twist being that the sparkly lawyer lady has a spouse and they're very ethically poly. But then the bartender and the spouse also start having some unresolved tension... GREAT. Love this one. Very hot, very emotional, but also funny? Really into TJ Alexander.

The Next Best Fling by Gabriella Gamez. A recent release, in which a librarian who's long been in love with her best friend finds out he's gotten engaged... And then walks in on his BROTHER rehearsing a spiel to the new fiancee, confessing his love. Which leads to her fake dating the brother, which leads again to them being in a real situationship. Great book, has some awesome stuff about library issues happening right now, some of my favorite plus size rep in a while, and... he tosses her around a bit.

I looove Kylie Scott. In general, recommend her Stage Dive series about a rock band and their loves and lives. My favorites are Lead and Deep, but I'd recommend reading them in order for the full effect—those two especially have some payoff factors. I also really like her recent lightly magical contemporaries, like The Last Days of Lilah Goodluck (the heroine is told she's dying imminently by a psychic who also gives her a lot of other accurate predictions... including the name of her soulmate, and a man with that name just showed up, and he's the gruff ILLEGITIMATE SON OF THE KING OF ENGLAND LMAO).

Kennedy Ryan is one of my favorite authors—her All the King's Men duology is a rather dramatic, high stakes contemporary (the heroine is a Navajo activist turned political consultant who finds herself running the campaign of a billionaire's son... after having a torrid affair with his brother years ago). I also looove Reel, which is about a famous director finding his muse in an up and coming actress as they fall in love on set.

Sierra Simone and Julie Murphy's Christmas Notch series is finishing this September, and I can't recommend them enough. You can read them close to the holiday or not, but they're basically these super hot, super funny, and super emotional romances about sex workers, Hallmark-style Christmas movies, and this weird little Christmas-themed town. Some of my favorite contemporaries ever.

Tracey Livesay's Duchess books are so fun!! Must be read in order, kicks off with American Royalty, which is about a nerdy, camera-shy, uptight Prince of England organizing a charity concert which calls in a famous American rapper... and the attraction is ELECTRIC. It's been pitched as "what if Harry and Meghan were Harry and MEGAN (Thee Stallion)" and honestly... accurate in the best possible way.

Annika Martin's Billionaires of Manhattan series is soooo funny, yet they also come through with some emotional serves? The Billionaire's Wake-up-Call-Girl is still my favorite, though I also love The Billionaire's Fake Fiancee. And in general it's really fun.

Reckless by Stella Rhys is so good! I should really read more of her. It's basically about a boss and his assistant/Girl Friday/work wife beginning a situationship after she finds out her fiance is cheating on her. The plot isn't revolutionary, but you FEEEEL a lot and it's super hot.

Of course I love Helen Hoang's books, starting with The Kiss Quotient. So very good. I'd also recommend Angelina M. Lopez, especially Lush Money. And if you want more Kristen Callihan, her VIP series is also really good (I'd skip the first book though personally—Managed, however, is FABULOUS).

[downthetubes]

In Review: Futurequake 2017 (The "Idea Space" Issue)

In Review: Futurequake 2017 (The “Idea Space” Issue)

Furuequake 2017 – cover art by: Romain Brun, colour by Julien Brun The Book: FutureQuake 2017 is back to brighten the boring, Inspire the indolent and render the jaded jubilant! Within the 100 page issue witness 18 possible futures including the latest instalment of the astounding epic, “Idea Space”. The Review: I’ve been promising to finish this review of the latest FutureQuake special for…

[officialleehadan]

Taken Home

Confidence Scheme

+++

Will took Venganza back to his house.

“It’s an opportunity,” Will had told Alexis over the phone while he had their medical tam look over Venganza. The blood turned out to be from a shallow, but long cut down his arm. It didn’t need stitches, so Medical cleaned it, bandaged it, and sent him on his way. “He doesn’t have a Vanessa at home to talk him into working with us, but I can fix that right now if we’re fast. This is our chance to show him we’re the right people to side with. He needs to know that we aren’t going to just arrest him because we can.”

“You had better be right about this,” Alexis told him dubiously, but he already knew that she was going to let him do what he wanted this time. Venganza was too valuable a resource, and he was spooked right now. Someone was after him, with guns, and he had only barely escaped. “If he bolts on us, we’re never gonna see him again.”

“I know,” Will assured her, although there was a real chance that Venganza would do exactly that. It was his job to keep it from happening. “I do know, but I also know that if I give him safe harbor right now, he’s going to be a lot more willing to work with us later.”

“Are you sure?”

“Don’t tell me you’re doubting Vanessa’s ability to bring a thief in from the cold.”

Alexis had laughed, but she hadn’t argued, either. Smart woman. Vanessa could rule the world if she felt like it. Venganza wouldn’t know what hit him. Will texted Vanessa, who was almost certainly stress-baking, as she always did when he got an emergency call, and headed home with a thief in his front seat, still bundled up in his coat.

“So, what’s it to be?” Venganza asked once they were on the road, in the privacy of the car. He was looking less frantic, but still cornered, and he had put on a southern drawl to hide behind. Will didn’t love that, but there wasn’t much to be done about it right now. Not until he could get Venganza home and be certain of their safety. “The Department of Justice, to pay for my crimes? Witness protection? A quiet vanishing in an alley somewhere?”

Oh boy. He really wasn’t in a good headspace if that was what he was expecting.

“Well,’ Will said, careful to keep any pretense of practiced soothing out of his voice. It wouldn’t work on someone who knew accents and voices as well as Venganza, and would probably spook him more. “My wife tends to stress-bake, and she likes chocolate, so I’m betting there’s brownies at home, but she might be making bread. I can take you to the DoJ if you want, but my guest room is more comfortable.”

“You’re joking,” Venganza said, apparently stunned back into that northwest accent all at once. He stared at Will with a conman’s eye for details and a magician’s eye for cold reading, and his mouth dropped open. “You’re not joking. You’re actually taking me back to your house.”

“It’s not the dinner date I imagined, with lasagna and all,” Will said and gave him a grin that made Venganza huff something like a pained laugh. “But I figure box brownies are better than handcuffs.”

“I like handcuffs.”

“I’m not putting you in handcuffs until your arm heals up, no matter how pretty you ask.”

The joking, and the flirting, did the job that assurances hadn’t, and Venganza finally relaxed back into the car seat. He was probably too amped up on adrenaline to feel it, but he was going to hurt tomorrow, thanks to the muscle strain of hanging off a building. His arm shouldn’t get wet, but Will was tempted to try and talk him into taking a bath.

Maybe he would leave that to Vanessa. She was better at that sort of thing than he was.

The drive back to his house wasn’t a long one, even given that he was following traffic laws this time, and deliberately taking corners gently to try and keep from jostling Venganza’s bad arm.

“How do you want me to introduce you to Vanessa?” Will asked when they turned the corner on to his street. “She’ll respect whatever name you give her. Doesn’t have to be your own.”

“Leonardo is fine,” Venganza said. Will winced internally and corrected himself in his head. He should really get used to calling the thief by his chosen name. He had been quiet for most of the ride. Coming down from his brush with death, probably. “Good as anything. You called me Leo on the phone.”

“Heat of the moment,” Will joked and pulled into his driveway. The house was far too expensive for a DoJ agent, but Alexis knew perfectly well that he had assets he wasn’t going to give up when he changed sides. The house had been a wedding gift for Vanessa, and she knew exactly how he paid for it. That was enough for him. It did come with an underground garage, rare in the city, and a comfortable four-bedroom house, with a substantial yard for Vanessa to garden in. The security system was the best money could buy. “Come on. I don’t want you outside for long. I don’t think we were followed, but I’m not discounting the possibility.”

“Think I’ve been shot at enough for the day,” Leonardo agreed wryly and managed to get out of the car with a minimum of fuss. Will waited for him, and then headed up the stairs towards the kitchen and inside. “Cowboy, you sure you want me in your home?”

“If he hadn’t brought you home, I would have yelled at him.”

As Will suspected, Vanessa was in the kitchen, which rather looked like a bomb had gone off. There were two empty boxes of brownie mix on the counter, and Vanessa was working some kind of dough. Herb bread, Will suspected. She liked to make bread when she needed something to hit. At the sight of them, she wiped her hands on her apron and came over immediately.

Leonardo looked like he had been hit over the head with a bat. Will could sympathize. He felt the same way whenever he saw Vanessa. Right now, she looked like a goddess, with her linen apron and her dark hair pulled back in a messy bun.

“Brownies are just about done,” she told Leonardo and paused to steal a kiss from Will on the way. “Will, take him upstairs. He’s not as broad in the shoulders as you, but you’re about the same height. I’m sure you have something that will fit. Oh, what do you want me to call you?”

“Leo’s fine,” Leonardo said, still mostly dumbstruck. Vanessa smiled at him. Will’s knees went a little weak, but they always did that when his wife smiled. Leonardo visibly had no idea how to handle a woman who was so utterly confident in herself. “Nice to meet you, Missus Payne.”

“Vanessa,” she corrected him with a smile that showed her dimples and nodded to Will pointedly. Marching orders issued, he began herding Leonardo towards the stairs up to the bedrooms. “Go get cleaned up. There will be brownies with ice cream when you’re done.”

+++

Confidence Scheme:

Deliberately Careless (Subscriber Only!)

Pure Guess

Phone Trace (Subscriber Only!)

De Vinci Terrace (Subscriber Only!)

Criminal Portraiture (Subscriber Only!)

Evidence Report

Bring a Crowbar

Proposal Lasagna

Hang from a Ledge

Taken Home

Oath Named (New!)

+++

MASTERLIST

[rexscanonwife]

Self Ship Positivity

I might be getting to this a bit late, but I wanted to take a moment to shout out some of the amazing people I've met in this community who I'm proud to call friends and am lucky to know! ❤ ; w ;

@xeensbin XENA how can I even begin to say how much I love you and how much you mean to me?? You're one of my dearest friends and I'm so happy to have had the chance to know and to still have the chance to keep you in my life. Your art, Your writing, your ships, I've admired them all for so long but the one I admire the most is the amazing person behind them all 💘💘💘

@tired-tactician JULIAAAA I love youuu!! You've been an amazing friend and supporter for so long and I consider you one of my best friends ever?? You and Reigen are legitimately one of my otps, it makes me so happy getting to listen to you gush about your somft conman and I'm really happy we met! ; w ;

@snagg-ships LOUUU you're always there for me ready to lend a listening ear or some kind words and somehow we've managed to be into the same niche things a few times in a row 😂 you're funny, talented, passionate, and I only want good things for you! You're a wonderful person and you deserve wonderful things in life 💕💕

@space-sweetheart Alexys you're just a big ol' sweetheart and overall a delight to be around! You made a dark time in my life much nicer and I'm so happy to be your friend. Thank you for listening to me ramble about things or for occasionally lending me a hand by getting a commission! Your boys love you SO so much!

@sugarmilk-ships Lottie I love you SO much!! You're wonderful and sweet and kind of a gremlin and i would never have you any other way 😂 your ships are all wonderful and well thought out and even though we don't talk often I love when we do! ❤

@wispy-selfship-eden Mai I've watched you grow into a wonderful and capable young woman and I'm so honored to be your friend and even call you my sister! You can come to me for ANYTHING at all, wether it be advice or to talk about your harem of beautiful boys and I know you'd do the same for me!! 💖💖💖

I'm dumb so if i forget to add you don't take it personally I'm just braindead atm but here's to everyone who inspires me every day with their kindness and their wonderful ships: @lildreamysoul @qdc-anna @noraselfinsert @cemetery-lovestory @husband-of-lucoa @ilyafucker @cherubsoda @threshprince @space-and-sea @musical-selfshipper @meowstic-ships @atomic-shipping @kay--doodless @alotta-lovin @sundewsunset

[jackfallows]

My “Top 9” said more about Instagram’s algorithms than about anything I actually achieved in 2019, so here are my personal highlights instead! I did a bunch of events, exhibiting my work, doing talks, live art and, in a workshop first, prop weathering! I’ve been getting more adventurous with my model making and turned out a miniature Anna, a hare, a hot air balloon, two busts, a building and a couple gifts to boot! I had the tremendous honour of collaborating with Alexi Conman, @stevelarder @jmiltondraws @soph.robin and D Newman on the three-part Cryptogram mini-series “The Stone Leaves”. I put out a compilation of my favourite tunes I’ve written/recorded over the years and started a podcast. I spent a lot of time hanging out with my munchkin and watching him get more awesome every day. I collaborated with @logiclocks on a custom issue of Cryptogram to accompany one of their escape rooms and I carried on knocking out the regular series on an almost-monthly basis too. It was a busy year with lots of ups and downs and 2020 is shaping up to be just as rammed and unpredictable. So massive thanks to everyone who helped me survive, showed their support and allowed me to make work I’m legitimately stoked on. Happy New Year! . . . #cryptogrampuzzlepost #puzzles #ciphers #codes #riddles #spells #witchcraft #alchemy #ritual #magic #folkhorror #folkhorrorrevival #illustration #storytelling #mailgame #zines #selfpublishing #tarot #occult #puzzlebox #puzzlesubscription #puzzlestory #smallpress #playbymail #boardgames #escaperoom #chooseyourownadventure #roleplayinggames #tabletopgames #southerngothic https://www.instagram.com/p/B60XP1kHjt-/?igshid=pa0s159eephk

[stevelarder]

My contributor copies of Cryptogram Puzzle Post, issues 2.1 and 2.2 (Spring) are up and available from my Etsy Shop (link in bio). It's come out beautifully thanks to @footprintworkerscoop and I'm chuffed my cover illustrations get to be a part od this project. Details below... Created by @jack_fallows, Cryptogram Puzzle Post is a monthly bundle of interlinking puzzles, codes, ciphers, riddles, spells and illusions inspired by witchcraft and alchemy; designed to conjure an intriguing and meditative reaction in the gamer and art appreciator alike. Each issue stands alone and contains a series of numbered puzzles (i-vii). The solution to the first puzzle will give you a clue about how to solve the second and so on until you reach a final answer. Submit your answer to the e-mail to check its accuracy; or submit it with the other two envelope’s answers from this season to unlock a secret art prize. The envelopes are roughly A5-size and full-colour laser printed and the interior pages are all two-colour risograph prints. All envelopes will be packed in a standard mail envelope when orders are sent. The second of the guest-created mini series 'The Stone Leaves', which will run Mar-June 2019. This extra special season is its own stand-alone micro adventure, taking place in the Cryptogram universe but following a new character - Otto, a reclusive magic user who is coaxed out of retirement. Written and designed by Alexi Conman, the series also features cover illustrations by Steve Larder and, in this particular instalment, internal illustrations by D Newman and cover colours by Jack Fallows. As this is a stand-alone arc, it is perfect for first time readers. But seasoned readers will also be rewarded with backstory relevant to our main storyline. What will this mean for Anna's story when we return to her in June? Read to find out! #cryptogrampuzzlepost #puzzles #ciphers #codes #riddles #spells #witchcraft #alchemy #ritual #magic #folkhorror #folkhorrorrevival #illustration storytelling #mailgame #zines #selfpublishing #tarot #occult #puzzlebox #puzzlesubscription #puzzlestory #smallpress #playbymail #boardgames #escaperoom #chooseyourownadventure #rpg https://www.instagram.com/p/ByiYnQJp-mv/?igshid=10mayhu759md9

[jnewellcomicsportfolio]

Story by Alexi Conman, Art James Newell for Comic Creatives UK Anthology

[beingstacey]

Castle, Bones, Parks and Recreation and Scorpion :D!

Thank you Elizabeth <3 <3Castlemy favoritie male character: Castle - wild theories and excited writer brain.my favorite female character: Alexis in the early seasons.my otp: Ryan and Elizabeth or Ryan and Stacey ;)my notp: Don’t have onemy other ships: Castle/Beckett Esposito/Lanie Castle/Familymy least favorite character: Don’t have one.my favorite season/episode: 2.04 (Fool me Once - the conman that keeps going one), 2.22 (Food to Die For - Beckett’s friend who runs the restaurant), 3.05 (Anatomy of a Murder - this one would be my top favourite, plus it has a McSteamy reference), 5.04 (Murder He Wrote - also some of Ryan’s best outfits), 6.05 (Time Will Tell - Morgan from Chuck as the time traveller), 7.13 (I, Witness because Ryan says ‘Her name’s Stacey, she’s fantastic).who i would date off the show: Ryan (you knew this already)Parks and Recmy favoritie male character: Benmy favorite female character: Lesliemy otp: Leslie/Benmy notp: Ann/Tom - that was just weirdmy other ships: Ann/Chris Andy/Aprilmy least favorite character: Not a character but the bad treatment of Jerry overall really got to me.my favorite season/episode: I can’t pick out a favourite. I watched it all at once so it’s a bit of a blur.who i would date off the show: I don’t want to date anyone specific but it would be nice to have what Leslie and Ben have.Scorpion

my favoritie male character: Sylvestermy favorite female character: Happymy otp: QUINTISmy notp: Don’t have onemy other ships: lowkey Paige/Waltermy least favorite character: I don’t really have one but Walter annoys me a little bit sometimes. I don’t dislike him but sometimes I feel like it’s the same point over and overmy favorite season/episode: I don’t know the titles, when Happy is lost in the ice, when they save the little boy at the beach and the girl in bubble.who i would date off the show: Hmm … I guess Sly.

[sophiarose1816]

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading? #57

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week.  It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye’s Blog   and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date. And here we are!

What Did I Read This Last Week?

How the White Trash Zombie Got Her Groove Back by Diana Rowland

#4 White Trash Zombie

Urban Fantasy

Angel and the gang hit the Big Apple to save their friends.  Good action and interesting reveals.

Pet Trade by Carol Van Natta

#3.5 Central Galactic Concordance

Sci Fi Romance

This is a re-read, but it was as stellar as ever.  Loved the exotic pets, the in depth characters and exciting plot.

Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, Narrated by Michael Crouch

#1 Creekwood

YA M/M Contemporary Romance

Secret correspondence lover, a blackmailer, and growing up!  Endearing story.

Embrace the Passion by SE Smith, Anna Hacket, Ruby Lionsdrake, Veronica Scott, Pauline Baird Jones, Carol Van Natta, Tiffany Roberts, Alexis Glynn Latner, ED Walker, JC Hay, and Kyndra Hatch

#3 Pets in Space

Sci-Fi Romance, Anthology

Fabulous variety pack of novellas.  Many familiar authors, some new to me, but no duds in the group.

The Dragon and the Pearl by Jeannie Lin

#2 Tang Dynasty

Historical Romance

Enemies to lovers, political intrigue, and a warlord vs a courtesan in a colorful and lavish Asian setting.

Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, full cast

#1 Aurora Chronicles

YA Sci Fi

Underdog, misfit crew out to unravels some secrets and save the galaxy from a cunning evil villain. 

Slightly Sinful by Mary Balogh

#5 Bedwyn Saga

Historical Romance

Amnesia, Battle of Waterloo, brothel, conman, and a fake mates romance all rolled into this fab story.

Fatal Finds in Nuala by Harriet Steel

#4 Inspector de Silva mystery

Historical Cozy Mystery

Shanti and Jane play archeologist while trying to solve a villager’s murder that is the tip of the artifact.

Eun Na and the Phantom by Erica Laurie

Fantasy Romance, Korean Folk Tale

Myth and legend are brought together in this enchanting and sweet Korean folk tale variation that allows a village girl to save a cursed man through love and a young idle lordling and a village shaman the same with the efforts and whimsical aid of the dragons.

The Early Cases of Hercule Poirot by Agatha Christie

Historical Mystery

Fun reading these 25 short story mystery classics.

WHAT AM I READING NOW?

Wolf Rain by Nalini Singh

#3 Psy-Changeling Trinity, #18 Psy-Changeling

Paranormal Romance

WHAT WILL I READ NEXT?

White Trash Zombie Gone Wild by Diana Rowland

#5 White Trash Zombie

Urban Fantasy

[horrorpatch]

Comic Crypt: Something Wicked Vol. 2019 Preview!

Comic Crypt: Something Wicked Vol. 2019 Preview!

Something Wicked Vol. 2019

From the edge of existence, Something Wicked returns to remind you of what awaits the unwary…

Written by Karl Brandt, Adam Breen, Nick Bryan, Alexi Conman, David Conway, more… Art by Daniel Bell, Brett Burbridge, Steven Denton, Uwe DeWitt, Conan Fiori-McPhee, More… Pencils – Samrat Das Cover by Will Pickering Lettered by Bolt-01, Will Pickering, Edward Whatley Edited…

[helloannehass]

The Superpower of the Conman | Alexis Conran | TEDxBerlin

[immortal-vampireprosecutor]

Alexander bid farewell to Ria when a customer asked her for a bouquet of roses. He had to pick up the coffee he had ordered from Zander before heading to the flower shop and Iris ran off amongst the flowers when Ria put her down. He hadn’t noticed the commotion behind him as he ran into his sister and Udup in the Tea Shop that Ria also owned.

Udup as always seemed to hate him for liking his sister so he was as usual cold and silent. Alexis did all the talking before he had to take leave to head to work on time. What he hadn’t been expecting was to meet another immortal, and one he was not familiar with at all. There were meetings amongst the immortals and he had never seen, nor felt, this woman at one.

Alexis would better know than he would. He would consult her later but for now he simply put on a smile and doled out the coffee to Levi and Eren, then Hanji and Connie when they finally showed up. He wasn’t surprised in the slightest because he had already predicted this outcome. However, he misjudged the amount of coffee he should have brought. He’ll go get more later though.

It wasn’t long after they had the meeting after Lucy showed up that the mini Armin in Erwin’s pocket climbed up his shoulder and signaled him to go somewhere private. Since the video conference was over he signaled Levi that he was stepping out for a moment before heading up to the roof. Once up there he locked the door behind him and listened intently to everything that mini Armin was sharing with him.

Erwin knew simply from listening that Armin didn’t know he was there but still he listened in silence. He hadn’t heard Armin’s voice since he moved out. Without so much as a goodbye he packed up his things and left him in that house all alone. It wasn’t as if he wasn’t used to it, at least he was used to it before. Now he wasn’t sure how to go back.

Hadn’t Armin left him? Wasn’t he supposed to figure out how to live without him? What good was not being able to die when you can’t even protect the one person in the world you want to protect most. There wasn’t much Erwin was good at when it came to relationships but he was damn sure he had never downgraded Armin a day in his life.

He was rather offended that Armin could even think that. Erwin on the other hand had been called a faithless cheater, a player, and a conman. He had been none of those things since before they even met. He had never been in a relationship before Armin so there was no way he could be a cheater in the first place. Sure he had had sex before, but he had never been in an actual relationship until he had met Armin.

Erwin had grown tired of the party scene in his seventies and decided to focus solely on work. He and Levi joined the Reverie Royal Army where they served for the next forty years. Through their forty years in service they rose to the highest ranks of the military on their own merit though once Levi had grown tired of it they left military service.

Over the course of the following years Levi led him into a vast assortment of careers, started businesses, attended colleges, earned degrees and doctorates, until their paths finally led them to where they are right now. Levi chose to be a prosecutor and Erwin had chosen to become a cop. That was where he was since then. He was already working as a cop when he met Armin.

Levi had known him longer than Erwin had because Levi had known Eren’s parents before he was born. Erwin met Armin a few years ago when he was helping Levi look after Eren and his sisters. Erwin actually took his time asking Armin out and then they took their time dating, something he had never done before.

Armin had been sweet, kind, and gentle. Levi warned him that Armin was hiding a side of himself from Erwin’s eyes but Erwin didn’t care. There is no side of him that could ever make him stop wanting to be with him. He still wanted to be with him even now. Even after finding out. Even after seeing him kill two men in cold blood. The men he had found out were violent criminals anyways but that hadn’t mattered to him.

What had mattered to him had been the sudden, heart stopping fear that took root in his soul that he was going to have to spend an eternity without him. Now he couldn’t escape from that fear and he couldn’t share it with Armin because Armin seemed to think there was nothing that he was afraid of since he couldn’t die. How could Erwin show Armin that he was terrified of losing him?

Ever since learning that Armin was actually a criminal he and Levi had chased in their past, which was apparently how Levi and him had met, he had been terrified that something was going to happen to Armin. That maybe something would happen to get him caught. He knew Armin would never go down without a fight and demi-god or not Armin could still die if he was mortally wounded.

That was what he feared the most. That Armin would get into a fight whether to keep his freedom or something related to his criminal activities and he would get mortally wounded. What Erwin fears most is living an eternity without the only person he wants to spend the rest of his life with. That fear has been ruling his life ever since he found out about Armin’s dark side.

Erwin stood there for a while after mini Armin had gone silent with his beloved’s voice. He drug his fingers through his hair controlling the urge to scream at the top of his lungs. With a deep breath he straightened his suit and tie, then he closed his eyes and took another steadying breath. Mini Armin tapped his neck signalling that it was time to head back inside. Mini Armin returned to his place in the inside breast pocket of Erwin’s suit.

Connie, Hanji, and Medical Examiner Chan had disappeared while he was busy up on the roof. Alexander had returned the kid that he had taken from Lucy before he left up to the roof, yet he was no where to be seen. Kenta had also disappeared and Prosecutor Park had left with some females he had assumed were her friends from the sound of their conversation.

Lucy was busy writing up the three boys for their vandalism, Levi was watching Eren like a hawk since he had been drinking with Armin last night. He didn’t need to even ask mini Armin if it was true or not, not that he would tell him anyways. He wasn’t successful in his job just because of his good looks. He knew very well the only person who could get Eren to drink catnip laced booze on a work night happens to be Armin.

________________________________________________________________

Alexander had been on top of the world this morning after Ria had finally accepted calling him by his first name. He had rode that wave of happiness until Lucy brought him aside after the video conference with their new bosses and informed him of how he picked up the three boys. Alexander looked them over and knew the answer to his next question before Lucy had even answered it.

“I’ll find out what they were doing. Which one is in charge? He’ll know more than the other two.” Alexander asked eyeing the kid in the hoodie and shorts before Lucy pointed him out.

Nodding to Lucy he walked over to the kid with a confident stride and dragged him to his feet and went in search of a room he could control. It didn’t take long for Alexander to find the right room. He drug him into an interrogation room, using magic he sealed off the main room and the observation room from anyone entering or exiting, then he pulled out his phone and held up a finger to the kid who had been spouting obscenities at him as he drug him in here from the bullpen.

Using his phone he hacked into the security feeds and put them on a loop of him playing around on the phone while the kid looked at him with a silent but pissed off expression. Once the feeds were on a loop he put his phone away and set his ice cold eyes upon the boy. Never piss off a King, even if that King so happens to be a gentleman to the core.

There were just somethings that Alexander couldn’t be a gentleman about and those things generally involved the safety of the people most precious to him. Currently those things involved Ria Imani and Iris Von Drehle, especially since both of those two could be mortally wounded and taken from this world in the cruelest of fashions.

Alexander remembered the day his sister was first scarred, it was the day Lily had died and she had rescued Iris from harm. He would have killed those men had Levi not stopped him at the time. Lily had been like a little sister to him alongside Alexis. He had been happy for her when he heard she had eloped and gotten pregnant with a mortal’s child.

Levi and Erwin had taken care of that whole mess and kept what really happened to Lily a secret and helped Alexis in adopting Iris when he had finally gotten their grandfather’s consent. He had to take on an enormous responsibility that day but he never regretted it for a second and his sister still had no idea of how things had turned out this way.

The day Iris became a Von Drehle was the day that Alexander took on the title of The Immortal King. It was his family’s sole responsibility to govern all immortals and to punish those who committed heinous acts such as serial rapists and murderers. Since there were less than three thousand immortals in the world it wasn’t as hard as a task as many thought. It was similar to running a kingdom however the kingdom was spread out across the entire world.

Every year they held a grand ball. All Immortals are invited to come and most generally do but there are always immortals that can’t make it some years and some that decline for decades at a time. Not only that but he wasn’t that old by immortal standards and when his Grandfather had retired and their parents had to take his place everyone assumed that his grandfather would once again claim the crown.

Alexander drew in a slow even breath as he met the boy’s vicious gaze. His was no longer the warm and friendly gaze his loved ones knew. It was the cold calculating gaze of someone contemplating murder. When he spoke his deep rich voice cut through the air like a hot scalpel cutting through butter.

“I am going to give you the chance to make this real easy on yourself and come clean otherwise I am going to make this the most terrifying five minutes of your entire life that will leave you an empty shell and terrified to leave your parents attic. So choose. Who was it that paid you to harass the Tea and Flower Shops?” Alexander said carefully keeping hold of the boy’s with his own gaze and his hand gripping his face in a iron grip not letting him look away.

After a semi-long pause the kid started spilling everything because he had apparently figured out that Alexander was not bluffing his threat but was in fact completely serious about it. Alexander was impressed the kid didn’t piss himself but didn’t actually mention that fact. Holding up his finger once again he pulled out his phone and removed the loop before taking the kid by the arm again.

Alexander returned the kid, who was much more quiet and obedient than before, to Lucy so that he could finish processing him. He signaled for Kenta to follow him because he was going to head back over to the shops and pick up more coffee for everyone and he only had two hands. However, he paused for a moment pointing a finger at the kid and then gesturing to his friends as well.

“Remember this day the next time you idiot even think about pulling some dumb shit like this again. If you ever get into criminal activities again... I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth and make good on my promise. Got it?” He asked the kid who couldn’t seem to answer yes quick enough.

“Good. You better remember that. I suggest you keep your friends in line too or they’ll meet the same fate.” He said warningly before leaving the station to head over to the shops with Kenta.

________________________________________________________________

Since this morning Levi has smelt booze and catnip all over Eren so he knew for a fact he had been drinking all night with Armin again. Since it was catnip laced Levi had been keeping an eye on his all morning because he knew the catnip wasn’t out of his system yet. Which wasn’t a good thing because he had a tendency to start taking his clothes off.

Hanji only laced his drinks when Levi was drinking with them and since he wasn’t there he could rule her out as the culprit especially since she came in hungover with Connie. Sometimes he was lucky and the most Eren would do was space out so he hoped that today was one of those day. Eren though seemed to think he didn’t notice him giving Erwin dirty looks too.

He noticed every single one, mostly only because every fiber of his being was acutely aware of Eren’s every breath. It had been that way ever since Eren was born. Levi had the sneaking suspicion that he had imprinted on Eren when he was born. He could play whatever role Eren needed him to play. However, since Eren entered high school it has been more difficult for him to keep his distance.

Levi wanted Eren to have a normal life and to date people, he didn’t want Eren shackled to him because he had imprinted on Eren and there would never be another person in Levi’s life aside from Eren. Once he had imprinted on Eren his fate had been sealed to only ever love Eren even if he might not love him back. He was afraid their bond was influencing Eren and turning away from anyone he might be able to make a life with.

There was something about him that Eren didn’t know. A secret he had been keeping for the past three years. During a case three years ago Levi had been attacked when chasing down a suspect. He had been bitten and turned into a vampire despite being a dragon. Now he held both elements within him of the supernatural. He was both Dragon and Vampire.

Eren however only knew about the Dragon part, not the Vampire part. Since he held both he wasn’t restricted to some of the things that Vampires were. Vampires couldn’t eat human food without getting sick, where as Levi could eat human food he simply received no benefit from eating it aside from the taste. The only thing that could sustain his life now was blood, and as disgusting as it is to his vampire senses it was the thing that tastes the best to him.

Levi has to be even more careful around Eren now because there are often times where he wants to drink his blood. Eren’s blood is always the most tempting to him and it terrifies him. Then again a lot of things about Eren are tempting to him, like his mouth, his voice, that ass. Levi could barely control himself when they were living together, so for Eren’s safety he had moved out.

The last thing Levi wanted to do was to hurt Eren so he controlled himself and held himself back from doing something that might make Eren hate him for the rest of his life. When Erwin came back from the roof after the meeting he saw that look cross Eren’s face again as Erwin went to his desk that Levi happened to be occupying at that particular moment.

“Drinks after work?” Erwin asked as he grabbed a file out of his bag by Levi’s feet.

“Sure.” Was Levi’s tight lipped response.

Drinks and Erwin spilling his guts to the wrong fucking person again. Levi hated being the middle man between two friends who were in a relationship. Levi had met Armin on a case about twenty-seven years ago, two years before Eren had been born. Even though Armin was a criminal the two of them ended up becoming friends and it was through Armin that Levi had met Eren’s parents.

It was shortly after Erena was born that Levi ended up becoming the guardian of the three kids. It was Eren’s stubbornness that made him become the guardian of his sisters when he finally turned eighteen. Levi had still stayed on to help him out too until three years ago when that incident happened. After that Levi hadn’t been able to trust himself around Eren.

Levi remained lounging in the bullpen keeping an eye on Eren, he was there still when Armin showed up with a shit ton of candy for Eren. He couldn’t help the scowl that crossed his features when Armin offered to bring him food.

“No thanks.” He said looking in he opposite direction. Armin knew about the whole vampire thing, as well as the fact that he gets no nutrients from it. Armin also knew fully well the only food he would eat now was Eren’s.

Erwin was clearly distracted and strangely quiet when Armin arrived. He of course greeted Armin which he did no matter what but usually he would have lectured Armin about getting Eren drunk on a work night there was no such lecture leaving his lips today. Levi wondered what had gotten under Erwin’s skin that he was so out of it and wanting to drink tonight even though they had work tomorrow themselves.

“I would love that.” Erwin replied softly meeting Armin’s gaze with his own. He could tell that Armin’s smile wasn’t really a smile for him and all that he could return right now was acceptance of his offer. He didn’t even have the strength to fake a smile.

Levi would have paid it more attention had Eren not said something about dressing him up like a woman. Dressing Levi himself up as a woman. His focus zeroed back in on Eren’s conversation.d 

When Armin started spouting off about getting Eren in trouble, which was his favorite button of Levi’s to push, he shoved out of Erwin’s seat and went after him to get some damn answers. He couldn’t help that Eren’s safety would always be his highest priority. He had even had to stop Eren from killing some scumbags who had kidnapped his sisters when they couldn’t capture him.

Levi had killed them though, he wouldn’t let Eren become a murder. Not even over scum like them. That was a line he could never let Eren cross. The line going from being a victim to being a murderer, it was a hard line but one he would guard Eren against for the rest of his existence. He watched out for Eren’s sisters too. Even Mikasa’s girlfriend Sasha was under his protection.

His own siblings seemed to get along well with Eren and the girls. They hadn’t met Ignis yet though that was only because their parents had only recently let her join them here in Korea while they went off on their sixth honeymoon. They seemed to have one every time they had a kid taken off their hands. First it had been Leah, then Isabel, then Lucifer, and now Ignis.

As the eldest Levi had to look after the other but since Lucy is of age and living with Lee and Izzy they got the responsibility for looking after the youngest now. In fact up until Ignis all of the younger siblings had looked up to Levi most of all. Ignis though doted like crazy on Lucy the way Izzy use to do to him. In fact she use to hate Eren with a passion, thinking he was stealing her big brother.

She didn’t hate him anymore. He’s grown on her now though. It didn’t happen overnight either, it took Izzy a long time to warm up to Eren but since then Eren has become the only person she lets touch Levi in her presence. Now she even drags Eren out shopping with her, most of the time she forces Levi to wear things that Eren picked out whether they were for women or not. He had the sneaking suspicion she was taking pictures of it too. He had yet to find them.

“Hey Eren, what the hell were you two up to this time?” Levi asked irritated by Armin.

Eren had that vacant expression on his face again. All he did was stare at him with blank eyes as if his mind had drifted off somewhere. Scowling he snapped his fingers in front of his face. After about five minutes of a dopey ass grin spreading across Eren’s face he finally took him by the arm and led him up to his office. Locking the door behind him he sat Eren down on the couch in there and pulled one of the chairs in front of his desk over to sit in front of him.

“Eren! Oi! Brat! Snap out of it! Oi!” He called out snapping his fingers in front of Eren’s face. Alexander needed to hurry the hell back with that fucking coffee.

Once Eren’s gaze slowly focused back on his Levi raised an eyebrow and waved his hand in Eren’s face. When he was finally sure Eren was actually looking at him again he dropped his hand into his lap.

“This is why I tell you not to drink that shit when you have work the next day. You and Armin don’t know how to quit... Now what the hell is this about me and a dress?” Levi demanded after lightly lecturing Eren. He was sort of curious about what Eren had been daydreaming about to have that grin on his face.

________________________________________________________________

With Kenta in tow Alexander made his way back to the shops where Alexis was already busily working to tidy up the place with Iris’s help of course. The little blonde always wanted to help her mama and whenever there was small things for her to help out with she was right there. Iris of course was the first on to spot her uncle and ran straight to him jumping up into his arms with a layer of dirt covering the cutie from head to toe.

“Look Uncle! I’m helping Mama!” She exclaimed holding up her armful of crushed flowers.

“I see! You’re doing a great job.” He said with a smile and kissed her forehead before setting her back down so that she could go about her helping.

“Kenta, tell Zander we’ll need at least eight specials apiece for Zoe and Eren. They were drinking late last night. Also tell him I asked him for four multi-pack trays. He’ll know what I mean. Order anything you like, oh and tell him to add a few rounds of snacks as well... I’ll call Lucy and have him join us up here to carry things when he’s finished.” He said giving Kenta a list of things to do while he talked to his sister.

Smiling Kenta took his list and his leave of Alexander to make his way into the tea shop to go talk with Zander. He wasn’t surprised that Zander had come up with special blends of coffee for both his sister and Eren to combat their drunkenness. He bowed respectfully to Prosecutor Park and her friends who were seated at a nearby table.

Zander’s smiling face appeared in the kitchen window to greet him as he read off the list of things that Alexander had wanted. He had been worried the two of them wouldn’t be able to carry it all he had been relieved when Alexander said he’d call Levi’s little brother Lucifer to help them out. He was looking forward to working with both brothers.

Levi though would always hold a special place for Kenta. He wouldn’t have survived some parts of his life had it not been for Levi. In fact, he held a lot of respect and admiration for Levi. He had been one of the reasons why Kenta had chosen to become a cop in the first place. Then when Levi went from being not only his role model but his friend he had earned his loyalty as well.

Alexander took his sister aside speaking to her for a long moment he was stunned by a remark she had made about being relieved that Alexander would be staying at the shop with Ria for the foreseeable future. He was a bit dumbfounded by the remark and took a long moment to respond to it.

“Wait who is doing what now?” Alexander asked staring at his little sister.

“Didn’t Ria ask you to stay at the tea shop with her until all of this matter is put to bed? I didn’t think you’d turn her down and let her stay here all by herself...” She said to him looking shocked as if he had lost all his morals.

“I would do no such thing and no she did not mention this to me this morning. I only just found out about people bothering her thanks to Lucy. He brought in the three boys you beat up. I interrogated the leader of those brats and found out that they were hired to try and force Ria to sell the property the shops sit on.” He said giving Alexis a rather offended look at her questioning his personality like that.

“Sorry, I should have known you could never turn her down. I’m glad you’re on board. Ah, and since Udup will be all alone at their house he can come stay with me and Iris at the mansion. He can help me with that damn class project and Iris would love it. Do you mind?” She asked with hopeful eyes. She knew he couldn’t say no to her.

“Of course I don’t mind. Whatever makes my girls happiest.” Alexander said with a smile too her and kissed her forehead before leaving her to her cleaning.

Waving to his sister and ruffling Iris’s hair as he passed by Alexander went in search of Ria just to make sure she was really okay with Alexis’s plan and that it wasn’t just suddenly being sprung on her. He knows his sister and that is something she would do to the two of them. She was a meddlesome thing but he loved her none the less for it.

“Ria!” Alexander called out with a brilliant smile that only she could bring to his face when he finally found her. “Alexis has informed me that I shall be staying with you above the tea shop until this business with some land sharks is taken care of... You do know about it right? She’s not just trying to trick you into agreeing with it is she?” He asked a bit worriedly. He wanted Ria to actually want him to be there.

[jackfallows]

Now that I’ve gifted this I can share some pictures! I sculpted this little bust of Otto from The Stone Leaves (the guest mini series of Cryptogram) to say thank you to its author, puzzle designer and all-round megababe Alexi Conman! I’ll be posting up process pics and an in-depth breakdown of how I made it on my Patreon this coming week :) . . . #sculpture #sculpey #miniature #bust #weathering #modelmaking #cryptogrampuzzlepost #puzzles #ciphers #codes #riddles #spells #witchcraft #alchemy #ritual #magic #folkhorror #illustration #storytelling #occult #puzzlestory #smallpress #playbymail #boardgames #escaperoom #chooseyourownadventure #roleplayinggames #tabletopgames https://www.instagram.com/p/B0toQksH79w/?igshid=3sd478c28l9f

[downthetubes]

FutureQuake returns, bursting with talent and great stories

FutureQuake returns, bursting with talent and great stories

Art by Matt Soffe

  FutureQuake is back! Wrapped in a stunning cover by Matt Soffe, the finest talents in the British small press are here again to save you from the boredom of a miserable March as we wait for some sign of Winter’s passing.

This terrific, jam-packed anthology includes…

Final Cut by writer Gary Chudleigh and artist Rui Mendes

Final Status by writer Umar Ditta and artist Marc…

[jnewellcomicsportfolio]

Story by Alexi Conman, Art James Newell for Comic Creatives UK Anthology

[jackfallows]

Yo! Have you been to the shiny new Cryptogram website yet? Did you know there are freebies, a gallery, a podcast and now this lovely little reader’s guide that Stone Leaves writer Alexi Conman put together?? Check out cryptogrampuzzlepost.com to soak in all that goodness. . . . #cryptogrampuzzlepost #puzzles #ciphers #codes #riddles #spells #witchcraft #alchemy #ritual #magic #folkhorror #folkhorrorrevival #illustration #storytelling #mailgame #zines #selfpublishing #tarot #occult #puzzlebox #puzzlesubscription #puzzlestory #smallpress #playbymail #boardgames #escaperoom #chooseyourownadventure #roleplayinggames #tabletopgames #southerngothic https://www.instagram.com/p/B2rE-ZuH76B/?igshid=rkpjo7s93ee