#Fae King Loki

[sjsmith56]

The Fae Elements, Part 3 - Escape

Summary: Buck saves Sage from two more attacks by the Dark Overlord, deciding to take her to a hideaway known only to a handful of people.

Length: 5 K

Characters: Buck, Sage, Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson, Hope, Maria, Thor, Loki.

Warnings: A misunderstanding between Hope and Buck that involves Sage, evidence of some tension between Buck and Loki.

Author notes: The image of fae Bucky was created by the author using Microsoft Copilot app in Designer mode. The woman depicted was what the AI repeatedly designed with the parameters I specified. It’s persistence in not making her more generic was trying.

<<Part 2

🌳 🪽🌕

Buck was as good as his word. A gentle knock on my door before sunrise roused me. My clothes were returned to me, but Maria assured me I could keep the tunic and leggings, reasoning it would be more comfortable for travelling. He met me for breakfast then led me to an opening to that broad valley I saw through the library window. After handing me my purse, car and apartment keys, he asked me to trust him. Just like when he carried me away from danger, Buck told me to sleep. When I awoke, I was standing in front of my building, with him at my side.

“Magic?”

He nodded. “If you don’t mind, I would like to escort you to your door, just for my own peace of mind. Your car was already brought back to your parking stall, and your apartment checked then but my people were unable to stay as there was trouble.” I frowned but he just smiled. “Do not be concerned. Shall we go up?”

The doorman greeted me but acted like Buck wasn’t there, so I assumed he had made himself invisible to everyone except me. On the elevator up to my floor I thought of something.

“Your two princes, Steve and Sam, were they invisible to the others in the courtroom?”

“No, they were visible. If anyone questioned them, they would identify themselves as lobbyists for Gaia Life. They are my eyes and ears in Washington, although I find myself here more often than not. Before the 20th century I rarely appeared in public. Since the 1950s I have been more visible, although not always recognized. I can look quite ordinary and forgettable to most mortals when I am seen.”

The elevator stopped at my floor, and I stepped off, only for Buck to touch my arm and step in front of me. He put his finger on his lips as we got closer, then looked carefully at my door.

“There is an enchantment on your door and not from one of my people. It has a burnt smell.”

I took a deep breath and could sense it, almost like walking outside and getting a whiff of smoke that smelled like sulphur. It wasn’t pleasant. Holding his hands up to my door he placed them over the seam between the door and the frame, without touching it. A glow appeared from his fingertips and sought entrance into my apartment, seeping inside. We waited as he seemed to listen then the seams glowed, and the light flowed back into his fingers.

“It’s safe to open the door but I suspect someone was inside,” he said. “Be prepared.”

Unlocking the door, I pushed it open, where the burnt smell was definitely worse. Buck stepped inside with me, and we walked into the living room. Everything seemed alright, then I saw the orchid on the carpet, its flowers snapped off the stem and scattered. With a muttering sound Buck picked it up, cradling it in his hand.

“They must have seen the card and known it was a gift from me,” he said, an incensed look evident in his eyes. “I’m more concerned that they know where you live. Did you store sensitive information here?”

“No, I left everything at the office,” I replied. “Although, my work laptop was in my briefcase. I don’t see that here. I should check the other rooms.”

He accompanied me to my bedroom, where my briefcase was open on the bed. My laptop wasn’t in it.

“Pack a bag,” he ordered calmly. “You’re not safe here. We have a safe house in Washington. Sam and Steve live there and can provide security for you. Is there someone you should contact about the laptop?”

I nodded. “My boss. I need my laptop for my court appearance today. He’ll have to file for a delay until I get the information back. Everything on it could still be in my cloud account which is encrypted.”

A tilt and small shake of his head told me that magic likely trumped any encryption that protected my work, but I had to try to save it. Placing the call on speaker while I changed into jeans and a T-shirt, I told my boss about being attacked the previous night, then my apartment being broken into, and laptop stolen. To say he was upset was an understatement. He was livid, especially that I hadn’t called the police. Buck must have been able to hear the conversation from the living room because he was suddenly in front of me and gestured for my phone.

“Mr. Larson, James Barnes of Gaia Life here,” he said, while I laced up my boots and put on a jacket. “Yes, that James Barnes. My people intervened on behalf of Ms. Hawthorne last night and we kept her safe. The decision not to call the police was mine, as we aren’t dealing with amateurs. They have eyes and ears everywhere and her location would have been compromised if we called the police in. Could you please file for a delay on Ms. Hawthorne’s court appearance today? If you can possibly protect your own servers and isolate them from the cloud you may have a chance to protect your data.” He paused as my boss said something. Looking at me with a grim smile he nodded. “My security people will see to Ms. Hawthorne’s safety, I promise. Her wellbeing is important to us. Thank you for your understanding. Good luck in protecting your data.”

Handing my phone back to me, he stepped to my closet looking for a bag, bringing it out and placing it on the bed.

“Packing, right,” I said, quickly going to my dresser and starting with the essentials, of underwear first.

“Stick with casual wear as your boss understands you won’t be in for a while,” he said. “Do you have any more hearings scheduled this coming week?”

I shook my head as other than the preliminary one today, I was supposed to focus my attention on getting more evidence against HYDRA Mining. While I packed more clothes he stood in front of the bedroom window, looking out, then turned around to me suddenly.

“We have to go, now,” he said. “They know we’re here and they’re coming.”

I shoved everything inside then grabbed my purse and stuffed it inside the bag. Placing the strap crossways over my body I tightened it so that it wouldn’t slip off. He stood in front of my door and placed his hands against it, making it glow all over, then took me by the hand and out onto my balcony. Suddenly, a set of wings appeared on his back, and he lifted me up bridal style.

“No time to put you to sleep for this ride,” he said apologetically. “Place one arm around my neck and grasp the strap on my jacket with the other, firmly. Don’t panic, don’t look down, and close your eyes if it gets to be too much.”

A pounding at the door of my apartment could be heard even out on the balcony and he stepped up onto the railing, balancing precariously on it, although he made it look easy. Just as several men with red eyes wearing dark hoodies burst through my door he leaped off and swooped down in a dive before his wings began to flap, lifting us up over the nearby buildings and away from the intruders. I watched his face as he carried me away, almost awestruck at the level of intensity he showed as he effortlessly carried me higher, into the clouds. Once we were no longer visible to the men on the balcony, he looked at me, his concern evident.

“Are you alright?” I nodded, watching only him as we soared through the sky. “You’re handling the flight well. If you become my mate, you’ll get your own wings.”

“Were you angels once?”

I blushed, thinking it was a stupid question to ask, but he smiled, seemingly amused.

“Related, but different,” he explained. “We have mates and families. They don’t as they devote their entire being to something greater. It makes some of them … grumpy. We both fight the darkness but during the troubles many of them were reluctant to protect us as they can’t hide their differences like we can. It’s a sore point for some of my kind.”

We started descending and broke through the clouds. We were still in Washington and heading towards what looked like a park on a hill. As we got closer, I could see a shimmering light that we flew through, revealing a gated mansion with a large courtyard. The two men from the courtroom, Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson, were waiting there as we landed.

“They broke in just as I set off,” said Buck, as he set me down, his wings disappearing as soon as he did. “I didn’t have time to put Sage to sleep for the trip, but she handled it well.”

“More evidence that she is to be your mate,” said Steve, receiving a warning look from Buck. “Sorry, I just think she’s the one.” This time I gave him a similar look. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be talking about you as if you’re not here when you’re standing in front of me.”

“Have our people recovered her laptop data?” Bucky asked before turning to me. “You already sensed we can telepathically communicate with each other. I passed on the information about your laptop going missing.”

“Yes, our operative was at your office, helping your tech people access it,” said Sam. “She thought she recovered almost everything. We’ve also confirmed that the attackers last night were connected to Rumlow. He’s a dark fae, who works for HYDRA Mining and their lawyer, who you faced in the hearing yesterday.”

“Pierce,” I said. “There was a dark-haired man with him yesterday, who looked quite intimidating. My assistant said he was one of their high-ranking executives.”

“That’s Rumlow,” confirmed Buck. “He’s likely the one who sent the attackers to your apartment.”

“Are we safe here?” I asked, suddenly feeling vulnerable out in the open like we were.

“Very but not completely,” replied Buck, then he looked at the two princes. “Call in more security and have them onsite here.”

“Already on their way from the stronghold,” said Sam. “That’s where you were last night.”

I nodded, realizing that part was for me. With his hand lightly on my back, Buck guided me inside the mansion. It was an incredible place, like something out of a beautiful homes' magazine, full of light. A dark-haired woman came out from a doorway.

“Hope, this is Sage Hawthorne,” he said. “She was attacked last night by some of the Horde. They attacked again at her apartment this morning, but I was able to bring her here. Can you show her to a room?”

“You’re the daughter of Fern and Matthew,” she stated, glancing at my necklace. “As a descendant of Lilith, are you to be mated with our king?”

“No,” he spoke immediately. “I made the offer, but she rejected it and I respect her reasons.”

“Then I don’t understand why she is here,” replied the woman, looking surprised. “If she has rejected the offer and you’ve accepted that, then she is no longer your concern. She opens herself up to the Dark Overlord, to be aligned with the dark fae.”

Buck looked concerned at being questioned by the woman, as if he wasn’t in command. She apparently wanted some sort of explanation. He turned to me.

“Sage, you can be turned if the Horde take you to their master,” he said. “Forgive me for not telling you. The ritual that I described to you can be used by both light and dark fae, although their ritual has darker aspects to it. If you will not be my mate, then I must make sure that you don’t become the mate of the Dark Overlord.” He looked meaningfully at Hope. “I would not wish their ritual on anyone. Sage is under my protection. Once the summer solstice has passed her magic can be scattered to the winds and she will be safe for all time.”

“That’s a month away,” I replied. “You were going to keep me a prisoner until then?”

“No, of course not. I was going to keep you safe as best I could. I meant what I said about respecting your decision not to be my queen. The Dark Overlord would not. He would force you to mate with him, binding you and your power to him. You would have no free will with him, being only a conduit for his power and lust.”

“Unlike you,” I said, a little sarcastically, making him frown.

“I would never force you.” His eyes seemed to blaze with a blue light. “If you had accepted me, I would freely share my power with you, and help you develop your own. You would be at my side, not under my heel. It would be a life well lived. Since you refused my offer, I wished only to keep you safe until the danger to you passed.”

“A gilded cage is still a cage,” I replied. “Even if it’s only for a month.”

He shook his head, then watched as Hope led me up the grand staircase. She didn’t say anything as we ascended the stairs, before opening the last door before a set of double doors at the end of a hallway. As I stepped inside, she didn’t leave right away. Instead, she once again looked at my necklace, as if it meant something to her.

“Would you rather the king leaves you to be taken by the Horde? Is that how you repay what he sacrificed for your mother and father?”

I dropped my bag off on the bed and walked up to her.

“What are you talking about?”

She smiled sadly. “He never breathed a word about it, did he?” She looked out the door for a moment then closed it. “You know he wished to court your mother, but she and your father had already sealed their marriage, giving their hearts and souls to each other. After meeting them, he knew he couldn’t interfere in their love even though it was within the powers of his magic to do so. Instead, he used his own life force to keep them hidden from the Horde and their master. The chances of them having a daughter with the gift was high so he hid your family, dampening your mother’s gift, and likely yours so neither of you were targeted. The Dark Overlord would have had no problem slaying your father and taking her for his own. You saw the king at the funeral of your father, when he should have been visible only to your mother.”

“Yes, I saw him. I still don’t understand.”

“Because his spell protected your mother and any girl children, he should have sensed your powers, but he didn’t. It’s likely your powers were latent, only appearing after a time of great emotion, the death of your father. When they were noticed, at the moment he was aware you could see him, it would be like a beacon from a lighthouse, shining in the night, as bright as the moon, visible not just to him but to any fae king or overlord, light or dark. Did the king give you a gift?”

“Yes, he left an orchid in my apartment that night,” I replied. “It was beautiful. Whoever broke into my place destroyed it.”

Taking my hand in hers, she squeezed it. “The orchid was a talisman, to mark you as under his protection. The king is right to protect you. He’s the only one who will respect your autonomy. Believe that. Why did you reject his offer?”

I looked away, unsure about whether to answer but she demanded to know again.

“Because he didn’t offer his love,” I said. “I want a love as great as what my parents had, but he said he was incapable of it.”

“Of course he would say that.” She shook her head again. “He probably believes it. But he does have feelings for you. It’s why he’s protecting you. By the laws of our kind, he offered you marriage and you rejected him. As king he had the right to enchant you to accept him, but he didn’t because that’s not the type of fae he is. To enchant a descendant of Lilith into accepting him would be an insult to her legacy. He wants you but on your terms.”

“How do you know this? Are you a descendant of Lilith?”

She smiled. “Yes, I am but I also know him very well. I am his daughter. My mother was his last wife, Daere. He told you of her, didn’t he?”

I nodded, remembering the sadness in his eyes as he briefly explained what happened to her. There was so much more to their story, as Hope told me how her mother and father ruled side by side. But when Daere’s aging mortal sister was accused of witchcraft, they were unable to rescue her in time. She was hung and it broke his wife’s heart. A year later she had completely faded away, and Buck retreated from the world of men for more than 150 years. It was more information that provided the missing pieces of the fae king as it seemed Buck didn’t want to influence me one way or another.

Hope tilted her head slightly and stood up, having received a telepathic message. “Lunch has been prepared. Please join us.”

We went down that grand staircase and into a large dining room. There were half a dozen people there and apparently a half dozen more who were patrolling the property. I recognized Maria again from the stronghold and received a smile from her in return. Buck approached me, offering me his hand.

“Are you alright?”

I glanced at Hope. “Better, now that I have more information.”

“I didn’t want to inundate you with too much.” He kissed my hand. “I will try not to keep anything more from you.” He turned to the others. “You already met Maria, Steve and Sam. These two princes are Thor and Loki. They are from the Norwegian kingdom of our larger fae population.” I raised my eyebrows at their names, associating them with the Norse gods. Buck nodded his head understanding my reaction. “They are one and the same.”

Thor stepped forward, taking my hand in his large grip and kissing it gently. “Lady Sage, you are very much like your mother. I am sorry for your loss. Your father was a good friend to many in the fae world.”

“I’m not privy to what he did, other than Buck held him in the highest regard,” I replied. “Perhaps you can tell me more at lunch.”

“It would be my pleasure.”

His voice rumbled deeply, sounding like distant thunder and I wondered if he had been there at the time I was first attacked, remembering the sound of thunder in the distance. As if he read my mind, he smiled and winked. Loki was suddenly in front of me, his approach so stealthy that I stepped back in surprise. He also touched my hand, raising it to his lips, but his touch felt cooler, almost icy. Although he spoke kindly to me, I had the sense his words were for show.

“Your power is evident, Ms. Hawthorne. Our king is right to keep you under his personal protection for you would be a powerful addition to either side of the fae.”

I glanced at Buck, who said nothing, but his jaw was clenched in a way that I could see a muscle just above his jaw twitch. There was an undercurrent of uneasiness at either Loki’s words or the man himself. Slowly, I withdrew my hand from his, and stepped closer to Buck, hopefully indicating my preference to associate myself with him. Loki just tilted his head and stepped back, seemingly unperturbed. The last person stepped forward, a petite woman with long reddish hair. Although I didn’t get a good look at her before I was pretty sure she was the woman who descended upon the men who attacked me, and I brought it up.

“I am Wanda,” she replied. “I was there.” She glanced at my neck. “You took advantage of the fae healing pools, I see. The Horde are not subtle in their touch.”

I raised my hand to it instinctively but said nothing. Maria led us all to the dining room then left to coordinate the serving of lunch. I watched her leave, wondering at her role, since this was the third different place I had seen her in.

“She’s not a servant,” said Buck, leaning close to me. “In many ways she’s like a concierge or a personal assistant, handling all sorts of tasks for us that require a more human presence.”

The door to the kitchen banged open and Maria rushed out.

“We have reports of a contingent of the Horde massing outside the barrier. I don’t know how they knew about this place. It shouldn’t have been possible for them to detect it. Our people outside are preparing for an attack.”

Thor stood up immediately. “Loki and I will go assist them.” He looked at Buck. “I think it’s time you and Lady Sage went underground. If you are as prepared as our king, you have places to hide that even your own people don’t know about. I would suggest you go there.” Offering his forearm to the king he placed his other hand on Buck’s shoulder. “Go, take Lady Sage to safety. All of us here will hold off the Horde.”

Taking my hand Buck led me to the grand staircase. Hope followed us as the others went outside to fight against the intruders. We stopped at my room to pick up my bag then went out to a rooftop terrace. Booming sounds from the perimeter of the property reverberated back to us.

“They’re throwing all sorts of spells on the barrier,” said Hope. “They could break through. Father, you have to go.”

“I should at least tell you where,” he replied, looking at his daughter with concern.

“No, if I don’t know, I can’t tell them.” Her eyes teared up as she glanced at me. “Allow yourself to love again. Mother would want it.”

They hugged and she stepped back a considerable distance as he focused on me, while his wings materialized.

“Stand very close to me, hug me,” he ordered. “We’ll fly eventually, but my wings will protect you as we teleport.” I looked up at him, surprised. “It’s a quicker way and leaves less of a trail to track. We’ll teleport several times until I’m sure we’re clear. Close your eyes if you get dizzy as it can be confusing if you’re not used to it.”

Doing as I was told I pressed myself into his body, feeling the warmth radiating from him as I wrapped my arms around him. His wings enclosed me, and I looked up in time to see him relax and close his eyes. The sky disappeared and we were in a roaring tunnel of wind, light, and sound. Even though he said to close my eyes, I held him tighter and peeked out from where my head was pressed into his chest. Then it suddenly stopped, and we were on a beach, somewhere in the tropics. He opened his eyes and looked down at me.

“You alright?”

A rushing sound made him aware of another teleportation in process but before he could send us on another leg, it stopped, and a person appeared, one of the Horde, based on his red eyes. Stepping in front of me, Buck reacted to the flash of a sword, as the weapon was swung at him. He produced his own sword out of thin air and advanced on the man. As they fought, I could hear another teleport in process as the rushing sound grew louder. When it stopped Loki was there and he immediately drew his own sword, calling to Buck.

“Take her,” he called. “I’ve got this one.”

Rushing towards the pair he inserted himself into the fight, enough so that Buck could return to me and enclose me again in his wings. Instantly, we were transported, landing on a cargo ship in the ocean. Without stopping he teleported again and this time we arrived on a country road in the middle of a rainstorm.

“Last one!”

Buck teleported once more, and we ended up on a path in a forest. Drawing me into the shadows of several large trees we waited for some time, then he listened, closing his eyes for several long moments.

“I think we shook them,” he said, looking at me. “There’s no sign of any teleportation disturbances nearby.” He looked up at the sky. “We’ll have to walk a bit until we get to the barrier but once we pass through it, we can fly the rest of the way. It won’t be for long.”

Offering to take my bag, we started walking along the trail. It wasn’t a well-worn path, but it was noticeable. It made me wonder if others used it. I cleared my throat to ask but Buck spoke.

“It’s used by wildlife,” he said. “We’re pretty deep in a large forest preserve, surrounded by several different waterways. I stayed here before and have kept a sizeable portion hidden with magic. The animals are the only ones who use this as they aren’t corruptible, not like people.” He looked at me. “When we get to the boundary, you’ll have to hold my hand to cross.”

“We’ll be alone?”

“Yes. It’s a sanctuary.” He stopped, then took a breath. “This is where I came with my daughter after Daere died. I stayed here in mourning, alone for about 150 years give or take a few times when my attention was required elsewhere.” He started walking then stopped again. “They shouldn’t have found us in Washington, but they did. Either they found a way to track us, or someone betrayed us. Do you have your cell phone?”

“Yeah, but it’s dead. I forgot to bring my charging cord and it was dead when you gave me my purse at the stronghold.”

“Show me.”

Taking my bag from him, I opened it up and pulled my purse out, opening it. He took my cell phone from me and held it in the palm of one hand while placing the other over it. For a few moments it glowed then he nodded his head and handed it back.

“It wasn’t your phone as it was dead before it was brought to the stronghold. Which means it was a person.”

“Does anyone know about this place we’re going to?”

“My children and a couple of others,” he answered. “It’s not them.”

“Maybe they want you out of the way so they can be king or queen,” I said.

“It doesn’t work that way, not for the fae world. Candidates are selected and meet in a sacred place where a sacred tree picks one to be king or queen. I was chosen over four others. If any of the other’s objected, they would have been cast out for the tree’s choice is said to be sacred.”

“Do you know who the others were?”

“Yes, you met Loki. The others were from other families in this kingdom, and they publicly accepted the decision. Even though Loki’s family’s kingdom is in Norway the sacred tree sometimes chooses from elsewhere. It brings new bloodlines in. If I had faded away after Daere died there would have been a new choosing. Sometimes I’m surprised I didn’t fade away. I grieved for a long time.” He sighed then picked up my bag and began walking again. “The Dark Overlord is a dark fae and he is behind this. He covets your power.”

We reached a clearing and Buck handed my bag back to me, to sling over my shoulder. Taking my hand, he walked slowly forward, keeping me close. The scene shimmered and glowed then we were through what I assume was the boundary, although it looked the same inside. Picking me up once more he launched himself into the sky and we flew for about half an hour, before he swooped in among some more trees and we landed in front of a very rustic but pretty cottage with moss on the roof. He looked up at it for several long moments with a soft but sad expression on his face.

“I built this, with my own two hands, after Daere died,” he said quietly. “This is where I lived with Hope while I grieved her. Only my children and some trusted friends have been here. You’re one of only a few mortals to even be within the boundary. There is only one bed now, but I will sleep on the sofa and honour your autonomy for as long as we are here, Sage. You have my word.”

Well, this was going to be interesting. So far, Buck had made a lot of effort to keep me safe. Although he hadn’t lied to me, I was certain there were things he hadn’t told me. Whether it was privileged information, or he was keeping me safe by limiting my knowledge of his world didn’t really matter. I trusted him and felt safe in this isolated hideaway. My only real concern was that being in close proximity to him, and only him, might result in my own feelings becoming more than trust. If I fell in love with him, the possibility of living an extended and privileged life with him was appealing. His courtship of me, might become something much more permanent.

Part 4>>

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[fermentedfanfics]

the cottage on the hill.

hey cuties here’s another au fic, i feel like aus are the only things i write these days?? i just have a lot of ideas i want to insert loki into lmfao. ummmm i simply did no research on this genre whatsoever so i’m really sorry if it kind of sucks or is a little all over the place?? let me know what y’all think! <3 also, there’s going to be instances of mentioning of reader’s father’s initials on items, it will be done so as (F.I) thank you cuuuttiiiieeessss. this fic series is explicit and for 18+ audiences, minors dni.

summary: reader lives in the hills outside her local village, close to the fae border. after a fateful encounter with a black cat, she accidentally invites the fae king into her home. warnings: (for future chapters) fem!reader, smut, fear kink, praise kink, piv sex, unprotected sex, different time era, kinda obsessed loki? not kinda, he is obsessed, i’ll add more as the series progresses. word count: 4.1k tag list: @colorsunimaginable @huntress-artemiss (please reply below if you want to be added to the tag list for this fic series!) part two (will link once posted.)

“You should move into the village.”

You’ve heard the sentence plenty of times, over and over again– and at this point it’s a nuisance. But the old woman in front of you, her serious tone, you know you cannot laugh and wave her off. Not Meredith. Your fingers dig into the handle of your woven basket, placing four nice, round apples (the last of her order) into her hands– she sharply thrusts the six copper and one silver coins it cost her into your hands. “The hills are not safe.” Meredith grumbles, her one eye that hasn’t gone blind is shooting beady daggers into your soul.

You thickly gulp and shakily nod your head, tucking the coins into the small pack sewn to the hip of your dress. “Yes, Meredith. I’m making arrangements.” You lie, and she knows you’re lying to drop the topic. But before she can barrage you again with eerie warnings of your home, your heels have turned and you’re on your way. You thank her profusely of her patronage, but you must be on your way. Household chores and the lot.

You’ve actually not much to do today, but you desperately do not wish to sit and listen to Meredith and her outlandish stories of the fae. You were smarter than she thought, you knew to stay home and never wander. Ever since the passing of your father, the village has grown more concerned about you living in the hills all by yourself.

With nothing much else going on in their lives, it’s expectant for them to bud their noses into other’s lives and gossip– you didn’t think this much though.

“Y/N!” Gareth, a tall townsman that you’ve found yourself day-dreaming about on multiple occasions, catches your attention just as you are to leave the village. His frame towers you, and his dirty blond hair is messy from work, sticking to his forehead in the sweltering heat of the day. “Heading home already?” He muses.

You smile, nodding slightly. “Only a few deliveries today.” Gareth looks you over, your basket almost empty, odd for someone about to head home. “May I walk you?” He offers, but before you can even think you’re declining his offer and absconding.

You aren’t sure what possesses you to isolate yourself from the town, but ever since your father’s passing you’ve found yourself uncomfortable with any sort of bonding the people of the village offer you. Even from someone you fancy.

It’s an hour's time from your home to the village, you hope to be home before the sun sets. While you aren’t afraid of walking home in the dark, your trusty dagger tucked to your hip and out of sight, you also didn’t want to deal with the troubles night brought. The warm, summer wind kissed your cheeks and cooled the sweat forming on your forehead, thankful you weren’t nearly as heated as you could be.

Following the brown beated trail from your house to the village, you kept notes of your surroundings. The birds that flew ahead, the rabbits that hopped around you– if you had your traps you’d make the effort to catch some for dinner. You thought of tempting one with kindness and taking your blade to it, but you didn’t want to waste daylight.

The forests around you whispered ancient tongues directed towards everything but you about you, just as they were taught to. Where you were, who you spoke with, what you were doing– they knew far too well who would be asking these questions. But they didn’t have to, he was already there– watching.

You listened to the crunching of the leaves and sticks below your feet, enjoying the day's walk. If you were in your right mind, you would have taken Gareth up on his offer to walk you home, but there was something different. Something wrong. You could feel it in your gut, and your father always told you to never ignore a gut feeling.

Picking up your pace, the strange feeling relaxed a bit as you could see the faded, moss-overgrown roof of your home. You could practically feel the comfort of your rocking chair once the stone fencing of your house came into view, shoulders slumping. 

Digging into your basket, you pulled an apple from it. Turning it to the side, you eyed the small, brown, bruise that made the woman that you tried to sell it turn it away. You felt lucky the apples trees lining the forest near your home had decided to bear fruit this soon, but a bit bitter at the expectations from the villagers. The trees were there when you were born, they weren’t going to be perfect every year.

Pulling your dagger from it’s sheath, you carefully cut the bruise from it and began to cut the apple in half, then into quarters and so on. You were left with dingy, but still edible apple slices, popping them into your mouth as you completed your trip. The sweet juice was satisfying.

Without warning, a sudden loud chatter pulled you from your thoughts. Your dagger slipped from your hands from the startle, looking down to see a beautiful, sleek black cat staring at you. He seemingly came from no where, or at least snuck up on you while you hadn’t noticed. “Oh!”

He was possibly the most beautiful cat you’ve ever seen in your life, your heart instantly swelling. Black cats were a parah amongst the villagers, harbringers of bad luck, death, and everything terrible. It wasn’t uncommon to see the instant death of black cats– it was one of the reasons you didn’t want to move to the village.

Squatting to your knees, you held your hand out to the cat, beckoning it. “Hello pretty kitty..” A smile curled to your lips as he dipped his head into your palm, purring. Oh, what a way to end the day. However, just as quickly as he turned sweet, he instantly turned sour.

The cat snapped at your hand, nipping your palm with his sharp teeth. You shouted, wincing in pain as you fell back onto your backside. “Fuck!” You cursed, looking down at the small bite mark in your hand, light dribbles of blood pooling from the wound. Well, suppose there was a reason people were wary of black cats.

Before you could react, he swiftly picked your dagger into his mouth, blade hanging out. In an instant, he was a black blur in the wind. “No! No, no, no– please!” Your voice immediately cracked, standing to your feet in an instant to chase. But it was no use, the minute the cat ducked behind the apple trees and into the forest your run came to a stuttering halt. Your chest rose, a burning sensation flaming across your skin and tears pricking your eyes.

Your father’s dagger, his prized dagger– the one he made himself and gifted you just days before his untimely death, it was gone. Just like that. Falling onto your bottom once more, you heaved at the sky. “Fuck!!” You shouted.

What would a cat want with a dagger anyway?

It was dark by the time you picked yourself help and dragged yourself into your home, tears streaking your cheeks. You cried hard and long in front of those trees, your grief gripping you by the throat with a strong vice. You’d thought you were okay. Yes, you were broken by your father’s death, alone with no one to protect or love you– but you’d stopped the crying weeks ago!

You were frustrated at how easily your sobs came back due to something so simple. Sniffling, you closed and locked your wooden door before heading to the kitchen. You needed to eat. A solemn expression settled on your face, and the ache that grew in your chest hummed painfully.

A soup would do good tonight, something comforting to pull you from this rut. Grabbing two large, chunky potatoes from the sack in the corner of your kitchen you placed them on the counter, ready to cut. Instinctively, you reached for your dagger to use and gasped when you felt it’s emptiness.

Shit.

Tears welled again, and your crumpled to the floor like a wet rag. Nothing had ever hurt so much.

Your little home filled with the sounds of your moaning sobs, weak sniffles and frustrated screams. You felt like a child having a tantrum, and all you wanted was your father. But even he couldn’t come to help.

You cried yourself to a short slumber.

Thump. Thump. Thump!

You jolted. Eyes bleary from the tears, you confusedly blinked them. Was that the door? Pushing yourself up off the floor, you wiped your wet face with the sleeve of your dress. Seems you didn’t sleep that long, it was still dark outside– just how late into the night was it?

Thump. Thump. Thump!

“Gods! Who…who would be here..?” You whispered to yourself, picking yourself up off the floor as you tried to make yourself look presentable and not like you hadn’t just crumpled into a mess of a woman. Wiping your hair from your face, you quickly rounded the corner of your kitchen to your front door.

The strange feeling that fluttered your stomach on your walk home returned, making you hesitate in opening the door. Unsure of the feeling, you took a step back from the door, staring at it warily. Perhaps you had heard wrong?

Thump. Thump. Thump!

Christ your candles were still lit, they knew you were home. You didn’t wish to deal with an intruder or burgler, let alone someone coming in to do you harm. You didn’t have your dagger, but you surely had your kitchen knives.

Running back to the kitchen, you quickly grabbed one and slid back to the door. Hiding it behind the door, you finally slid the wood slab that kept it locked away and creeked it open, peaking your head out. “..Yes?” Your voice wavered slightly.

You were surprised at the stature of the stranger in front of you, noting how you actively had to look up. He wore a hooded cape that hid most of his upper torso, the hood settled atop his head and slightly covering his face. It was dingy and slightly torn, little holes littering hte hems indicating how long he’d been using it for. His boots were covered in mud, as if he traveled far. You squinted your eyes at him.

“Can I help you, sir?”

“My lady,” He grinned, cunning and wicked. Your stomach twisted.

“I’m terribly sorry to bother you so late into the night, but, I was passing– and noticed the initials etched into your home.” Despite his attire, he was eloquently spoken. You gripped your knife tighter, trying to keep a calm face.

“Are you perhaps, F.I?”

“I am. What is it to you?” You were stern, this caused him to chuckle. It was deep, almost mesmerizing.

“Then, I believe this belongs to you.”

The stranger then reached his hand out, and you tensed. You were expecting something terrible; a curse, a dagger ready to rob, anything bad that would befall you and make you meet your end tonight. You were correct, in a sense, but the dagger in his hand made you gasp.

You didn’t even think when you dropped the knife, the clatter not reaching your ears as you opened your door wider and grabbing it from his much larger hands. “My dagger!” You heaved, the smile of relief that washed over your features make him smile wider.

The handle was carved beautifully out of wood, wrapped in a thin leather for grip. But in the blade, an engraving stood out. F.I. Your father’s dagger was back in your hands. “Gods! I never thought I’d see this again. Sir, thank you! Where did you ever find it?” Your wide eyes looked back up at him.

“Well, I found it quite odd to see a cat carrying such a thing. It dropped it when I scared it, so I kept it– just in case. And on my travels to the next village over,” He motioned towards the one you had just came back from. “I saw your home, and your initials.”

Your heart raced with excitement and joy, pure, unbridled joy. The sadness you had felt had washed away, and was replaced with a happy melancholy. Your father was still gone, but it was like he’d returned home.

Your fingers grazed the blade, looking it over. It was undamaged, surprisingly. “How could I ever thank you?” You whispered, your mistake.

The stranger held back his wide smile, sharp teeth gritting with delight. He knew not to get too excited, not too giddy. Good things come to those who are patient afterall.

Dipping his head slightly, he cleared his throat. “If it’s no trouble to you, madam, would you be so kind as to offer this traveller a meal? To ready him for his continued travels?” He innocently asked.

Looking up at him, you thickly swallowed. A stranger, in your home. Your mind, body, and soul were on different paths. Your gut said no, turn him away and call it a night. But, your heart, oh your weakness. He had kindly given you back your beloved dagger, even though he could have kept it for himself because of how well it was made. A meal was nothing to you, nothing.

Biting your lip, you peaked at the knife on the ground. Norns. “Yes!” You almost shouted, clearing your throat. “One moment.”

When you shut the door of your house, you looked down at the dagger for a moment before tucking it into it’s sheath on your hip. You picked up the knife that had made it’s way to the floor and tried your quickest to put it back into the kitchen. You hadn’t even started dinner, but the soup you were to make would do just fine.

Back to the door, you opened it and this time fully opened it, allowing the stranger access to your home. “Please, come in.” You offered with a wry smile.

The stranger graciously accepted your offer, stepping into your small, cozy little home. Your scent engulfed him, and he had to turn away from you for a moment. You’d already turned your back to him, heading back to the kitchen. “There’s not many places to sit, other than the table and my chair. Feel free to get comfortable if you wish, I’ll be making dinner then.” You wave your hand at him.

He takes your advice and melts into your chair, almost radiating in the fact that it was yours. He was delighted, gleeful in fact. You’d been much dumber than he expected, but it was with charm. Your back turned to him, he greedily took in your backside and bottom as you began to chop away at vegetables; potatoes, carrots, peppers– anything to add to the soup. It wasn’t going to be much.

“So, my lady. What does F.I stand for?” He mused.

You bit your lip, rolling your shoulders slightly. “I’ll admit that I lied to you. They are my father’s initials, not mine.” You admitted, dumping the potatoes into a pot of water you had prepped before you fell asleep. You’d have to go out and get some chicken feet to add flavor so you weren’t just feeding him vegetables and water.

“Ahhh, a little liar on my hands?”

“Well, I didn’t know who you were!” You defended yourself.

“And your name?”

“What about it?”

He grinned, so you were a tad bit informed. “May I have it?” His question was so simple, and very innocent. He was good at making your skin crawl, your forehead sweat, and your abdomen warm. Strange, indeed. You remembered what Meredith told you. Never give your name to a stranger, they’ll take it for good. “No..” You sighed.

You jumped when he burst into laughter, haughty and loud. You’d almost nicked yourself with the knife when he did, looking over your shoulder with confusion. “You are very smart, madam! Suppose I should stop testing you.” Testing for what? You wondered.

“What is your name, my lady?” He finally asked, like a normal person. You were beginning to believe he wasn’t a normal person, and the thought alone made you shudder. “What is yours?” You asked instead.

“Loki.”

“Loki?” You reiterated, it was a foreign name certainly. One you’ve never heard.

He liked the way his name rolled off your tongue, and the fact that you simply didn’t realize who he was by name only elated him. Were humans forgetting? Becoming more stupid? Loki revelled in the thought of what the future would bring.

“Yes, Loki. Now I’ve told you mine, you must tell me yours!”

You chewed on your bottom lip. “Y/N.” You huffed curtly.

Loki already knew your name, the trees whispered your secrets to him. It’s why he knew everything about you, why he loved you.

“I must step out to my coop for an ingredient, try not to mess with anything.” You simply stated as you walked across from your kitchen to the back door by the chair he had so comfortably plopped himself in. You wiped your hands onto your apron before opening the door and stepping out. You just needed some chicken feet.

When you returned, you instantly noticed Loki was no longer in the seat he was in. Before you could panic, you finally noticed him leaning over the pot of water and vegetables. 

“I told you not to mess with anything.” You almost scolded him, a hint of faux-ire in your voice. You tossed the chicken feet you’d acquired into the water, looking up at him. He seemed dissatisfied with what you were making, and it made you upset. Sure he returned your dagger, but he was a guest and you were genuinely going out of your way to feed him.

No traveller would be this picky.

“I was wondering if you’d planned on feeding me just water and vegetables.” He taunted.

“And I was just thinking no traveller would be this picky.”

His silence chilled you to your core as you picked up the pot, huffing at it’s weight. You struggled to bring it over to the fire hole in the center of your home. With effort, you were able to plop the pot right over the fire– it would be a bit before it was done. This left you with some time with Loki, and your skin itched at the idea.

You melted at the dining table your father had also made, a soft sigh escaping your lips. Loki joined you, sitting across. His hood was still on, despite his comfort in your chair he had not made any advances to relax.

“Where do you hail from, Loki?” You finally asked him a question, one you should have asked long ago. The strange feeling in your gut did not leave whatsoever, in fact it only worsened. The hairs on the back of your neck stood when he was near, and his voice sent chilly vibrations throughout your body. You weren’t quite sure if you were afraid, or attracted to him.

“Asgard, and I assume you hail here?”

You couldn’t tell if Loki was lying or not. With everything he said, you just weren’t sure what to take at face value. It was what bothered you the most about him, he was a wall you seemingly couldn’t knock down. You weren’t sure you wanted to.

“Yes. My whole life.” You admitted.

“And where is your father?” The question stung, and Loki knew it did.

You’d remembered and grieved your father’s death far too many times today, your face said it all. Nose slightly scrunched, brows furrowed in such a miserable sense– it almost made Loki want to jump from where he was and hold you.

With watery eyes, you coughed slightly to cover it. You looked away, over to the pot checking it hadn’t boiled over. “He’s dead.” You quaked. This night wasn’t how you planned and you wanted it to end instantly.

But looking over his figure, his large hands with long, delicate fingers– he’d overpower you easily should the night go awry. You admit you were scared of Loki, deeply afraid. His mere presence evoked a trigger in your flight or fight responses, and you wanted to fly.

“That is a shame truly, to leave a lovely daughter all alone. With no one.”

His words were a stab to the heart, breaking you down. You abruptly stood from your seat, clearing your throat. “The..soup.” You motioned over to it, your excuse for leaving. Hastily making your way over, you grabbed a large wooden spoon from the kitchen and began to stir. It finished much faster than you anticipated, but you were glad it was. The sooner he ate, the sooner he left– right?

Loki watched you carefully as you walked from the kitchen to the pot again like a ghost, two bowls in hand. You first filled his, the broth a nice brown-ish colour from the cooked chicken– and when you handed it to him you held up your hand for one moment.

You returned from the kitchen with a loaf of bread, breaking a piece for him. He gratefully took it. You then made your own bowl and joined him once again at the table, exhausted. Loki ripped a piece off the bread you’d given him, dipping it into the hot liquid before taking a bite. A hum escaped his chest, as if he were a starved man eating for the first time in weeks.

Starved but picky? His strange aura eluded you. “Much better than I expected, this will get me through the night, madam.” He grinned, almost as if he wanted to taunt you to anger– to do something not in your right mind.

What was the point in sharing names if he was just going to call you madam and lady? You weren’t even a lady, the state of your home made that clear. Tearing off a piece of bread, you silently dipped it into your soup and took a bite. Much to your surprise, he was right.

The soup was delightfully flavourful, instantly warming your core. Your mouth watered as you swallowed the broth soaked bread, picking up one of the smaller wooden spoons you’d grabbed for the two of you to eat with. You scooped up a chunk of potato, slurping it down with a bite of bread and as you chewed you began to realize there was something off about the soup.

You wanted to panic, to stop eating, but you didn’t. You kept eating it, because it was delicious. It was the most delicious soup you’d ever made, and you were a pretty good cook. Your mind ran wild with how something so simply put together tasted so good that you didn’t notice Loki had finished, and was watching you devour the soup and bread like you were the one starved.

When you finished the soup, you couldn’t stop the sigh of content that released from your chest. You felt warm, fuzzy, and sleepy. A tired you’d never felt before. You chalked it up to eating such a hot dinner on such an emotional night, but you knew you were going to sleep heavily afterwards. You looked forward to it.

Loki standing up pulled you from your daze, your tired eyes looking up at him. “Thank you for the meal, my lady. But I must take to the night.” He told you holding out his hand. Without much thought, you slipped your hand into his. Loki brought your knuckles to his lips, placing a chaste kiss upon them. Your brows flew up in surprise at the sentiment, the skin where he’d kissed feeling hot as well as your cheeks and ears. This was unexpected.

“Oh, it’s alright– please.” You awkwardly pulled your hand from his, stepping aside to lead him to the door. A part of you was jumping with glee that he was leaving so soon.

“If it’s no mind to you, when I am finish with my duties in the village, may this traveller come back for another meal tomorrow night?”

His question did not have time to linger before you agreed without thinking, wishing you’d bit your tongue. With a grin, Loki let himself out and was gone into the night. You closed the door, sliding the lock into place.

You stared at the door for a moment, then wavered to the bedroom in the back– it was your father’s bedroom now turned yours. You plopped into the bed, softly grunting as your body collided with the fluffy blanket. Your body was burning, and your head was elsewhere. That soup did a number on you, and as you thought back to seeing Loki leaning over the pot, you drifted into a deep slumber for the rest of the night.

[somedaylazysomeday]

SomedayLazySomeday's Masterlist

Hey, friends! Here is the collection of everything I’ve written up to this point. Fics have their own page to keep things neat, and those links are posted under the media to which they belong. 

All fics feature a female reader with minimal physical description and no use of ‘Y/N’. All of these works are rated mature or explicit and are not intended for minors. Please take note of the warnings listed on the chapter links for each fic.

Thanks for reading and enjoy!

- Ink 

Arcane (2021) 

Good Intentions - Silco x fem!reader. - 54.7k words. Reader runs a charitable organization, the Haven, which seeks to help people overcome their Shimmer addiction. Silco soon takes an intense interest in the Haven and the woman who operates it.

Noisy - Viktor x fem!reader.  - 7.2k words. Reader is a student at the Piltover Academy and lives in student housing, one floor below Viktor. He’s a bit of an insomniac… and a noisy one at that.

Avengers (2012) 

Cold - Loki x fem!reader. - 3k words. Reader is in a casual physical relationship with Loki. When she attends a party at Avengers Tower with someone else, he’s bothered by the idea that she’s ashamed of him. Themes of jealousy and minor monsterfucking.

Beetlejuice  

A Deal with a Demon - Beetlejuice x fem!reader. - 13.3k words. Reader is a witch who’s a little down on her luck. She summons a demon for help, but he turns out to be very different from what she expected. Themes of magic, desperation, and monsterfucking.

Black Sails  

Captured - Captain Charles Vane x fem!reader.  - 9.1k words. Reader disguised herself as a man to cross the ocean, but her ship was captured by pirates who brought her on as a member of their crew. Vane eventually figures out the truth. Dub-con themes in Part One; mind the warnings!

The Boondock Saints 

Na Buachaillí - Murphy MacManus x fem!reader, Connor MacManus x fem!reader. - 13k words. Reader is a high school science teacher working temp jobs over Christmas break to help pay for her divorce. 

Ex Machina (2015) 

Winner Take All - Nathan Bateman x fem!reader.  - 11.6k words. Reader knows Nathan from MIT, and they constantly run into each other during trivia night at a local bar. Enemies to friends to lovers vibes.

The Gray Man (2022)

Paranoid - Lloyd Hansen x fem!reader. - 9.7k words. Reader runs into Lloyd and he takes a liking to her. She can’t say the same for him. Dark!fic with themes of non-con. Mind the warnings on this one!

The Hobbit 

Dexterity - Thorin Oakenshield x fem!reader. - 14.6k words. Reader sells wool at Erebor’s markets and is familiar with the king, handsome and aloof. But Thorin rapidly warms up when a storm forces her to stay in Erebor overnight…

A Boon - Elvenking Thranduil x fem!reader. - 20.2k words. Reader owns a bar in Lake-Town and is very unimpressed with the Elvenking, even as he slowly works to win her over. Enemies to lovers vibes.

Labyrinth 

Dreams - Jareth x fem!reader.  - 7.7k words. Reader wished away her college roommate, beat the labyrinth, and resisted the Goblin King. But he isn’t done with her yet… Themes of dark fae, magic, and predator/prey.

Random Jareth Fics - Jareth x fem!reader - 6.8k words. Reader is a teacher who was wished away by a young student. She becomes Jareth’s eyes and ears in the human world, working to keep his legend alive. Over time, she becomes less human, but an occasional need still arises.

Narcos

Informant - Javier Peña x fem!reader. - 2.3k words. Reader has some information about Pablo Escobar and ends up making a different sort of deal. (Similar in tone to Oaths, but I hadn’t quite figured out how to write Javier Peña’s character yet.)

Oaths - Javier Peña x fem!reader. - 11.5k words. Reader is a nurse who treats the Escobar family. She turns information over to the DEA, though she doesn’t care for the agent assigned to her case.

Matter of Perspective - Captain Horacio Carrillo x fem!reader.  - 9.6k words. Reader works for the DEA in Columbia and accompanies the Search Bloc to prove one of her theories. Enemies to lovers vibes.

Southern Vampire Mysteries/True Blood

Blood Donor - Eric Northman x fem!reader.  - 2.4k words. Reader is a were-animal working for the vampires of a town Eric is visiting. You are sent to feed him. 

Star Wars 

Target Acquired - Jango Fett x fem!reader. - 9.6k words. Reader is a bounty hunter who often finds herself in direct competition with Jango Fett. They have a deal: whoever catches the bounty sets the terms of their night together.

Pursuit - Boba Fett x fem!reader.  - 6.5k words. Reader is a bounty Boba finds, but she must convince him to let her go… even if they both know it’s only temporary. 

Star Wars: The Bad Batch 

Hunted - Hunter x fem!reader. - 7.3k words. Reader works with the Bad Batch. She has a crush on Hunter that seems one-sided… until a chance encounter with a mysterious substance on a mission. Sex pollen and themes of predator/prey. 

Aim - Crosshair x fem!reader. - 9.9k words. Reader works with the Bad Batch and gets stranded with Crosshair after a mission. They won’t make it back to the Havoc Marauder without blowing off some steam. Enemies to lovers vibes in both parts. 

Experiment - Tech x fem!reader. - 3.5k words. Tech thinks he can’t be distracted from his work. Reader bets that isn’t true, and she’s willing to prove it.

Stretch - Wrecker x fem!reader.  - 13.5k words. Reader and Wrecker are a strong couple, but there are some challenges that come with dating someone so physically large. 

Different, But Still Good - TBB!Echo x fem!reader.  - 3.4k words. Reader is a sex-positive asexual, unbothered by the ways Echo was changed during his time with the Separatists. They’re both a little surprised when he volunteers to help on an unusually needy day. 

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Bitten - Commander Wolffe x fem!reader.  - 13.4k words. Reader has a crush on Broadside, a pilot with the 501st. When it isn’t returned, a helpful stranger encourages her to let Wolffe provide a distraction.

Tied Up in You - Commander Fox x fem!reader. - 9.8k words. Established relationship between Fox and Reader. Sickeningly sweet glimpses at a loving, unlikely relationship.

Misbehaving - Commander Cody x fem!reader.  - 9.2k words. Reader is in a relationship with Cody. Their relationship is one of control and boundaries, but they’re both willing and ready to test each other.

Star Wars: Legends

Bodyguard - Alpha-17 x fem!reader.  - 9.2k words. Reader is a Senatorial aide, assigned to work for a hated senator who endangers both of their lives with his politics. Fortunately, Alpha is sent to keep them safe.

Gar Cyare Spice Fics - Alpha-17 x fem!reader. - 6.8k words. Assorted spicy chapters of an ongoing fic on my main blog. (Gar Cyare by WanderingInkSplot) Established relationship between Alpha and the fem!reader.

The Boys

Hooked - Billy Butcher x fem!reader. - 8k words. Reader is a tow truck driver sent to tow Butcher's car. He's less than pleased.

The Walking Dead 

Arm Candy - Negan x fem!reader.  - 18k words. Reader is a Savior and a prospective wife. Negan likes to show her off at meetings, but he is easily the most distracted person in the room.

[so-i-grudgingly-joined-this-site]

Part 6: “I reject your reality, and substitute my own”: Maybe There is Hope After All

Note: this is a part of my essay "The Awkward Meta-Tragedy of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman", see [here] for the masterpost of all links, reading order, and content warnings.

Well, despite everything the author might have possibly intended, I still do care about Morpheus and his fate.  To paraphrase Ludo’s 2008 album title, “He’s awful, I love him.”

                And that’s part of why the most common interpretation of his ending—as both a fully planned suicide and a tragedy—disturbed me so much.  At best I could metaphorically “scoot” it around to interpret it as a traditional tragedy where his fatal flaw was his inability to seek help/treatment or cope with his issues, and thus the warning to the audience is a positive one to seek help if you’re struggling.  Once again, though, given the way depression sometimes works, that still feels vaguely close to victim-blaming.

                Another way to get around the unfortunate implications would be if his death was not, in fact, a carefully planned suicide.  Maybe he just fucked up enough that eventually the various things he fucked up all stacked properly to be his downfall without any intent involved?  But, that does raise the huge question of who got Loki to kidnap Daniel, provoking Lyta and thus causing the rest of the dominoes to topple.  In the suicide interpretation it’s implied to be Morpheus himself who intentionally set the situation in place; without that explanation that’s an odd open thread left.  But still, an accidental buildup of issues rather than intentional suicide would make things a lot less uncomfortable.  Somehow, “you can do everything you can to change and still have negative and destructive consequences come your way” or “you can try your best and still fail” feels more reassuring than the alternative of “he did change, but he still decided to die—in the end, it didn’t even matter.”

Totally replacing a dead loved one still feels weird, regardless of their manner of death; I don’t think there’s any way around that.   But, at least if it was not a suicide, then it doesn’t validate the “my family would be better off without me” sentiments that might be present in suicidal ideation.

And then, there’s the theories about how Morpheus might not be dead—at least not completely—and that he might have found peace and happiness outside of oblivion after all.

One major factor is the fact that Hob dreams about seeing Morpheus and Destruction together after the events of The Wake.  While Hob himself dismisses it as “just a dream,” there’s the fact that both Morpheus in-universe and Neil Gaiman out-of-universe both insist that dreams in this series are never “just a dream.”  Combine that with what I pointed out about “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and how the story is meant to let the fae live on despite leaving Earth, and it paints an interesting possible picture.

Maybe Morpheus did find a way to leave his job after all.  To live on as something else, as Morpheus rather than Dream of the Endless, as a dream or a story or a memory or a friendship, but no matter what, separate from the responsibilities that so stressed him—and with a responsible and eager successor to take up the reins in his place.  Maybe Hob’s example of living through everything even showed him that changing with the times is possible.  Just walking away like Destruction did wasn’t an option for him, and not just because Morpheus felt he couldn’t abandon his realm without leaving someone to be responsible.  He also couldn’t just walk away because, probably, it wouldn’t be dramatic enough!

Come on, Morpheus is a (possibly literal) Drama King; of course he’s not going to quit quietly.  Plus, he knows from Destruction’s example that just leaving also leaves open an eternity of the other universal powers trying to nag you into going back.  What’s more dramatic, and conveniently going to prevent anyone from coming after you, than making sure everyone thinks you’re dead?

Or, well, actually dying.  Sort of.  I have no doubt that some aspect of Morpheus died.  Perhaps the aspect that was Dream of the Endless, died, but, as I mentioned, left Morpheus to live on separately in some other form.  “You cannot kill an idea” can go both ways; it can mean that we’re not supposed to care that Morpheus is dead, or it can mean that Morpheus lives on.  He, as an independent identity, with a specific name he has chosen, is also an idea.  If the question is “change or die,” it obscures the fact that this is also a universe where people can change by death.

Heck, there’s even an example in this series of people deciding to finally live upon finding themselves post-life.  Chapter 4 of Season of Mists introduces the Dead Boy Detectives.  At first, much like “Façade,” this chapter seems to have little to do with the overarching story; besides showing how bad it is to have the formerly hell-bound dead returning to Earth and featuring a cameo by Death, there’s little to connect it to the primary narrative.  The majority of it is just about two random boys dealing with supernatural bullies, and both ending up having been murdered by the bullies at the end.  But, the story ends on the fact that they choose to “make the most of their afterlives.”  They leave behind the crappy situation assigned to them by their circumstances by living on in a new form (in the boys’ case, ghosts).  If two random kids can do it, why can’t Morpheus do the same?

Actually, there’s a whole lot of events in Season of Mists that I’ve seen propped up as evidence that Morpheus was settling his circumstances to prepare for his suicide, but I believe can just as easily be interpreted otherwise.  It could either be him setting up backup plans in case of his accidental imprisonment or death, or even intentional preparations for a successor to take over for him when he dramatically retires rather than straight-up dies.  I could fill an entire other essay with that evidence; I planned to include it here but my page count is already far exceeding what I intended, so I’ll save that for a possible later time.  If anyone reading made it this far, let me know if you’d like to read that!

So, do I believe in these more optimistic interpretations of the ending?  In terms of authorial intent, I’m not sure.  I think there’s certainly a reason everything seemed so shockingly pessimistic at first read, and possibly that was the intent.  The books were written at a different time, when the author was at a different place in his life.  But stories are also about belief.  And when the author straight up says that it’s open to interpretation, well… I’d rather choose to believe that this grand, sweeping, thought-provoking narrative isn’t about an irredeemable depressed asshole being rewarded for suicide, with the reader being scolded for caring. 

Perhaps asking whether or not that’s “true” is missing the point.

[fernthewhimsical]

Prayer a Day, part 1

For October I decided to give myself a little challenge, and started writing one prayer per day. I made a list of all the deities and entities that I honour in my practice, and am steadily working through that list. Here are the first eight prayers (or poems), to Cernunnos, Baduhenna, Nehalennia, Wolf, Elen of the Ways, Nemetona, Freyr, and Loki.

Cernunnos Lord of the liminal, the in-between The place between life and death, man and woman, hunter and hunted Lord of the cycles of life, of both ancient moss covered forests, and hallowed burial mounds King to all who live in your realms, plant and animal, witch and Fae, and all that lies in between. I honour you

Baduhenna I call on you, Ravenwitch You, who fights with magic and madness Who defends with sword and shield Valkyrie Goddess of Frisia I call on you, Mistqueen You, who holds the secrets of magic who’s the sovereign of the land Daughter of the Morrigan I call on you, Rootwoman You, who connects us to our past, Who reminds us of our power Defender of the marsh forest I call on you, Baduhenna Be with me

Nehalennia Stuurvrouw, Oogstmoeder, Vrouwe van de Zee. Ik drijf if uw golven, Draag mij met u mee

Steerswoman, Harvestmom, Lady of the Sea, I float in your waves, Lady, carry me

(to the tune of Horned One, Lover, Son)

Wolf Run with me ‘neath shining moon, and howl to the Silver Lady Roam with me ‘neath warming sun, and show me the hidden way Rest with me ‘neath shading tree, as I watch the young cubs play Revel with me ‘neath starlit sky, as humanity slips away Roar with me ‘neath watchful eyes, and join the hunt for prey

Elen of the Ways Lady of journeys, within and without Guide me to myself, to my inner light Lead the way, to a better me Show me where to go Show me the next step Elen of the Labyrinth be with me

Nemetona Leaf-crowned guardian of the grove She who protects boundaries of land, home, and person She who is one with the earth with the trees, flowers, and plants Bark-skinned warden of sacred places I honour you

Freyr Golden sunlight upon golden grain Warmth of the heartlight Communities chosen and born We take what is needed, and share what we have We fight for those who cannot, and raise their voices high We love with all our hearts, and celebrate humanity Golden Freyr who guards us, and provides for us all I honour you

Loki Change-bringer, Flamehaired deity of mischief, You who break chains, and social conventions Who burns what is old, to grow what is new Who brings a smile, and bright ringing laughter Who gives strength to the weird, the outcasts and the queer I love and honour you

[twistedoverbloat]

Demigod Yuu

You can choose whatever god parent you want for them it up to you. But just how would the boys react to Yuu saying “ Oh yeah I’m half god”

I wanna make the God Ares or Athena or they got claimed by Hades? Or even the other different region god's like Norse?

Bc it would make sense since they got into so much and still be alive. Imagine that the different boys are now panicking bc one of the great 7 claims you-

Riddle holy shit your half god- WHY ARE YOU SO CALM-

Trey he paused then looked at the treats he made "So do you want these or-" You take them, his brain then caught up and flipped out.

Cater he screamed and then asked which god is your parent. Posted about this and tagged Idia.

Ace though you were joking but you gave him the look. He freaked bc he made fun of a god's child.

Deuce fist thought you hit your head but then after explaining he had stars in his eyes as he asked about the different gods.

Leona wasn't paying attention and thought you were lying then you showed off how you can summon weapons and level the ground with ease that's when he asked if your stronger then Malleus.

Ruggie rolled his eyes saying yeah and I'm adopted by the Lion King. You then explain that you are a god's child and show him your parent's mark and summoned a weapon. He passed out then asked for money and what else you can do.

Jack he thought it was so fucking cool. He wanted to spare with you now for real.

Azul shitting his pants bc he tried to con a child of god. Let's say it was Loki's child he tried to con. Shitting his pants bc they are the child of a trickster god so he could never get them in a con even if he tried his best. Even worse if it's the god of the sea.

Jade like Azul he is shitting his pants bc holy shit the god of the sea's child was fighting his boss and him plus his brother. He then understood why you were so ballsy with fighting Floyd.

Floyd wanted a rematch and see who is stronger. News flash you got his ass the second the fight started.

Kalim doesn't see you any different just seeing that you can party hard. Like let's say your Dionysus's child. He wants to party long and hard with you now.

Jamil shitting his pants bc he tried to throw you in the cold and almost killed your cat. He is begging for forgiveness in his head but you tell him you don't care but if he did it again you will fight him.

Vil so your the child of Aphrodite the most beautiful god? HOW FUCKING- He was very jelly when he saw how pretty you were and makes sense you are Aphrodite child. He asks what skin care routine she uses but you laugh and say none.

Rook so your the child of the goddess of the hunt? Wanna go hunt a student with him? If you the child of the beauty god he'll sing praises for you and treat you like you a full god.

Epel thinks it's fucking cool and your the child of a fertility god? Does that mean you can grow anything with a wave of a hand?? He want's you to train him since your stronger then everyone else here.

Idia shitting his pants, ripping down the walls, begging for forgiveness and waiting to be smitten by the god in question. You tell him your dad Hades doesn't care but if he tries that shit again he's getting dragged down to Tartarus.

SPOILER FOR CHAP 6

He might ask if your dad can bring Ortho back for him.

Ortho kinda knew since he scanned you one time when you were hurt and saw you had different stats then everyone else doesn't really care since he's not fully human either.

Malleus he asks how long your life span is and you tell him pretty long since your half god. Is happy and doesn't care what god claims you since he knows you don't judge him so he won't judge you.

Lilia kinda knew since you gave off a smell that Malleus couldn't figure out. He's seen mortals with a god parent so he didn't really care. Is happy Malleus will have a life long friend now.

Silver he doesn't really care his dad is a fae and he works for a fae prince he's seen a lot in his life time. Happy that Malleus will have a friend that will stay around for a long time.

Sebek panicked bc he berated a god's child. You tell him it's fine just don't do it please and he agree's so now he has a life long friend along with Malleus.

[eilidh-eternal]

You are an incredible author. Metanoia is everything!!! I'm so obsessed with the characters, you write them all so well and they each really have their own voice! Thank you for sharing this incredible story with us 💖 I was wondering, what are your favorite books, and why? 💕Sending love

I’m injecting this ask into my veins😭 framing it and adding it to the collection🖤

Comments like this make me pinch myself, astonishedpikachu.jpg vibes, jaw on the floor, absolutely dumbstruck. I feel so lucky to be a part of this community and I’m so glad you’re enjoying the story 🫶🏻

Gonna be real with you anon, I do not read as often as I would like to🥲 I was a much more avid reader several years ago so I’ll share some recs from my All Time list of faves

Shadow and Bone, Six of Crows and King of Scars. Leigh Bardugo creates such beautiful, complex worlds and characters and Netflix butchered all of them and I cannot recommend her enough! She really had me rooting for the villain in a way I haven’t since Loki circa 2013

I also enjoyed The Cruel Prince. Holly Black has a very interesting take on traditional fae mythology and the emotional depth of her characters, the development they go through, and the themes she explores through them are the centerpieces of her stories. She also doesn’t shy away from darker themes common with the fae/unseelie and this was very much the beginning of my love for dark romance and horror in general🖤

Graceling is another one that’s stuck with me. I read it a long time ago, and it was the first series that really got me into high fantasy. Beautiful world, strong fmc, lots of personal growth and challenging the mc’s perception of the world they live in. I love when authors pick their characters and their ideologies apart🖤

[shamrockqueen]

I’m really getting into this idea of fae king Loki and frost fairies 🩵🩵🩵🩵

[sjsmith56]

The Fae Elements, Part 5 - Battle

Summary: The safety of the sanctuary is breached setting up a deadly battle between Buck and Rumlow.

Length: 4.8 K

Characters: Buck, Sage, Rumlow, Thor, Hope

Warnings: Violence causing death, death of an adult child, grief.

Author notes: The images displayed in the banner above were created by the author using Microsoft Copilot app, in Designer mode.

<<Part 4

⛈️🪽🗡️

A thunderstorm came that night, along with a heavy rain. The flashes and booms frightened me, and I clutched at Buck, fearing that the cottage would be struck or that a tree would come crashing down upon us.

"Don't be afraid," he murmured, his warm body my only comfort. "Thor is sending thunderstorms to many places. Dark fae don't like the water in any form, but especially in one that flows. The rains from this storm will swell the rivers making it impossible for them to cross. They won't venture out in it, either."

His soft caresses and gentle kisses helped allay my fears enough for me to fall asleep. When I awoke in the morning it was still raining but it was a soft and comforting gentle rain; it's thrumming on the roof a reminder that I was safe in the arms of my lover. How I loved thinking of Buck in that way. The way our bodies were intertwined in the soft bed under the window was the stuff of fantasies. Almost as if he heard my thoughts Buck roused and opened his eyes, turning his head towards me.

"Good morning," he rumbled, before kissing my forehead and looking outside. "Looks like we get to stay in bed for a while."

"Was that something the fae king ordered?" I asked.

"Well, I might have let it slip that you accepted my proposal," he grinned. "My council were pretty sure you would."

"In all of the fantasy books I read I never heard of a fae king having a council. Is that an unusual thing?"

"I brought it up when I was first made fae king." He shifted to his side so that he could look at me while he played with my hair. "Having spent so long living in the mortal world with my father I wasn't sure I knew enough to rule by myself." I looked at him questioningly. "My mother asked my father to raise me and teach me how he lived. She was ... different, even among fae kind. I sometimes wonder if she had the "second sight," the ability to see into the future.  I spent my first 40 years with him until he died. Twenty-five years later I was called as a candidate. It was unprecedented for a half-fae and one so young to be chosen. I presented the thought of a council to advise me to the sacred tree, and it selected trustworthy fae to it. I've been told I'm a good king, a natural leader."

"Is she still alive?"

"No, she truly loved my father and followed him just a few years after his death. She was already over 400 years of age, considered old for many fae. Rulers draw power from the earth, sky and water so it lengthens our life span. Thor is the only one who is older than I am, as his bloodline has the gift of longevity. He has been part of my council since the beginning. Even Loki, as his brother, hasn't lived as long, as he is from a different bloodline, the Frost Giants. He was orphaned as a baby and adopted into Thor's family. You probably noticed his touch was cooler."

"Is everything alright between you two?" I asked. "I sensed some tension when he greeted me."

"That's just because he fancies himself as irresistible." He lowered his lips to mine to kiss me. "He's quite the flirt and has bedded many, both mortal and fae. I ... I was pleased to see you seemed immune to his charms."

"For a brief time, I thought he might be the Dark Overlord," I said. "Then he showed up at the beach and I realized I was wrong."

"I suspected Rumlow of being the one for some time," said Buck. He sighed. "We have a past. I knew him during the troubles. For a fae, he seemed remarkably unconcerned when several were accused of being in league with the dark one. He defended some individuals more than he defended others, including Daere's sister. It was obvious, in retrospect. All this time he's been rebuilding his powers and his personal wealth. You know I'm not really a billionaire. It all belongs to Gaia Life. I get a substantial salary as "CEO", but my actual worth is considerably less." He smiled. "Just in case you were marrying me for my money."

I smiled back at him as we kissed. "If you were a regular man, not a fae, what would you do?"

He took his time thinking of an answer as he shifted to look up at the ceiling of the bedroom, the sound of the gentle rain in the background.

"A carpenter," he finally said. "Not the type that builds houses, although I could do that and enjoy it. I would make furniture, creating something beautiful and functional out of wood. It's kind of how I relax now. I go into the forest and look for newly fallen trees, dragging them here and stripping them of their bark. After that I cut them into planks or lumber and let them dry. Once they've dried enough, I can build something out of it. I built this bed, the dressers, and cupboards and bookshelves downstairs."

Shifting so he was laying on his side he gazed at me, occasionally stroking my hair or arm. It didn't take long before he was hovering over me and I had the vision of him, the same one that I had after he asked me out to dinner. Except his hair was already loose, and I ran my hand through it just before he lowered his lips to mine. When his lips explored more of my body, it was uncanny how he knew what I liked. Every part of my being was alight with desire for him as he brought me closer to ecstasy. With the soft light of the grey skies falling on the bed, and the sound of the rain adding to the romantic ambience it felt like I was in the middle of a great love story. Here in his retreat in the middle of the forest, we were free to be our authentic selves, without the responsibility of our callings, or the fear of outside forces.

Even as we released our bodies to the bliss that we brought out of each other there was something that kept telling me it was all an enchantment, something fragile that could be lost before it ever had a chance to begin. The strangest part of it was that I was more afraid for Buck than I was for myself. He mentioned his mother having "second sight", a term I understood to mean a form of clairvoyance. Was I experiencing that for myself? Because somewhere, at the edge of my mind, at the perimeter of my thoughts was another vision of me hovering over Buck, as the colour drained from his face and his eyes lost their inner light. It was a vision that only came out after I saw Rumlow transform the night before. I never told Buck that I thought I had a vision of his death, which frightened me more than any thought of the Dark Overlord coming for me. I'm sure he knew because our lovemaking that morning was so gentle, yet so passionate it was like he was trying to convince me that I had nothing to worry about it.

Over the next while Buck schooled me in the ways of the fae, teaching me how to use my existing powers to listen to the life forces of my surroundings. I could hear the sound of wings high above me in the air, or the scratch of a mouse, as it dragged a nut into its den. It was all part of the unseen life around us in the forest. We did receive updates, either by thoughts shared between Buck and his council, or by the occasional nighttime visit of Sam, Steve, or Hope. I started getting up for those, joining Buck outside as he communed with the night, when the cycle of the moon waning was followed by the darkness of the new moon. They brought news of the preparations for our marriage ceremony. Hope told me more about my part in the ceremony and how my body would change in the 24 hours of that longest day and shortest night. In the evenings, our quiet time by the fireplace was followed by more passion in the bedroom, passion that I had always longed for before I met Buck.

There was one thing that hadn't yet happened but when I brought it up, Buck smiled and agreed that it was time. It was the week before we were to be married and he had yet to show me his true form. Standing in front of me, outside in the sun, shirtless, I watched as his tattoos and wings visibly changed in front of me. His wings changed first, into something more ethereal, with smaller finer feathers that were delicate in appearance. His tattoo changed to that of a single great tree, its textured roots extending below his navel, while the trunk extended up over his abdomen then spread into branches over his chest and shoulders, then down his arms. The raised texture of the tattoo pulsed as if the tree itself was living. Around us, the daylight had darkened, reminding me of a solar eclipse, and I could see stars behind him. A blue glow became visible in his eyes, tattoo and wings, pulsing with an otherworldly energy. His ears elongated taking the shape of those of an elf, followed by the sprouting of small branches from his head. It was beautiful, as it showed his love for the forest.

"This is my true self," he said, his blue eyes focused on me. "I am the spirit of the forest. It's safety and wellbeing are my greatest concern. Throughout the ages I have helped the mortals who respected this space, sharing its gifts with them, sheltering them under the thick canopies when they have been lost, hiding them when they were troubled. When the religion of the One came my ancestors were called pagan, yet they adapted some of our beliefs into their own because we worshipped creation as they did, at the beginning. Now they worship profit, sacrificing this world for their need for riches."

I came closer, tentatively touching his tree tattoo, watching as his face reacted to my touch. Then he smiled at me and pressed his lips into my neck, breathing his warmth into the place where my own pulse beat. Somehow, we were suddenly unclothed, and I was lying on a soft bed of moss, this otherworldly being of incredible beauty looking down on me, making me feel I was the centre of his existence. We made love in the middle of the forest, giving and taking pleasure with each other.

On the next day, a cloudy one, we hiked for a couple of hours, ending up at a natural hot spring, bubbling out of a rock formation. The water cascaded down into several levels of pools. Although it smelled of sulphur it was a more natural scent than the one that lingered in my apartment after the Horde were there. We undressed and sat in one of the warm pools for an hour, making love, then basking in its warmth before drying off and getting dressed again. Buck flew us back, taking the opportunity to share a bird's eye view of his haven. On our return he prepared to cut some more wood, so I took the opportunity to forage for mushrooms, greens, and nuts for our dinner. Just as I was satisfied with my haul, I began the return to the cottage, then stopped for I could smell the burnt sulphurous smell of the man who attacked me. At the same time, I heard a tortured cry from the direction of the cottage. Turning, I saw a pair of red eyes, only this time they were in the head of a wolf-like beast. It's low growl, deep from within its throat, struck a chord of fear in me.

"Buck," I thought. "Help. I'm in trouble."

"Beloved. I'm coming."

Slowly, I backed away from the beast, taking care not to stumble, for I was certain it would leap at me. It was slow going, as I didn't want to look away, afraid if I did it would attack. It was joined by two others, and they stalked me with an intent that was obvious. Just as I had reached a part of the forest where I would have to look elsewhere to step safely, I heard Buck's voice in my head.

"I'm coming in by wing. Leave the food."

The sound of his great wings flapping while he slowed to reach me, signalled me to drop the basket and I did so, as Buck grasped me around the waist and lifted me straight up in the air. Immediately, all three beasts launched themselves at us, and Buck shot up even higher, so we were out of their reach. Just as he was about to turn, a dark winged figure attacked him from above, and he almost dropped me.

"Hold on," he said, as he swooped away from the winged creature and flew towards a flowing river with an island in the middle. "Its beasts won't go into the water. I'm going to have to fight so as soon as I let you go, run for cover while I protect your retreat."

Several times he had to swerve to avoid the attack of the dark figure that flew with us. Then suddenly, we were over the island and Buck dropped me from a height of several feet, then turned to meet the attacker again. I ran for a hidden space in a rock formation, watching as the two of them grappled in the air. The creature, covered in thick leathery skin of a dark grey colour, with the addition of black feathers on parts of its wing, several horns sprouting from its head, long black hair, and claws for fingers was relentless in its assault on Buck. Whenever one of them slammed into the ground I could feel the reverberations through the terrain. It was both exhilarating and frightening at the same time.

The sounds of howls from across the river drew attention to the presence of the wolf-like beasts that had cornered me in the forest. As Buck said, they didn't try to cross the flowing water, but did transform into their human shape, revealing them to be part of the Horde, which meant the winged attacker was likely Rumlow. He answered his underlings, landing on the ground and facing Buck with his wings unfurled. A carved black weapon appeared in his hand, seeming to be part sword and part staff.

"Well, Barnes, I told your little slut that I would find a way into your haven," he sneered. "You thought your magic was strong enough to keep me out but my claim on her is stronger than yours."

Buck landed also, with a look of pure and desperate fury. I watched as his clothing transformed into battle gear. His arms and body were covered in chain mail, with a protective silver-grey metal armour adorned with beautiful symmetrical etchings, while his knees and shins were protected with coverings of the same metal. A sword magically appeared in his hand, looking remarkably comfortable in his grip.

"Your claim was thrown out years ago," he replied, in a voice that seethed with anger. "She has been under my protection since she was a child."

"She is the reincarnation of my bride!" Rumlow roared in anger. "I want her back."

"She was never your bride by choice," stated Buck, his blue eyes flashing. "You kidnapped her, forced her to eat your food to be beholden to you, then abused her until she took her own life. The sacred tree decreed it so."

"That's a lie!"

"You're the liar." Buck shifted so that he was blocking the path towards me. "You were supposed to perform 13 tasks to even be considered a suitor. Too much work for a dark fae so you broke the law and just took her against her will. The sacred hawthorn assigned me to be Sage's protector and I will do my duty to my last breath."

"So be it," answered Rumlow, leaping towards Buck with his weapon overhead. "You will die as easily as your spawn did."

The clash of metal on metal made a great sound that hurt my ears and I covered them with my hands, as the two men swung their weapons at each other over and over again. Rumlow was bigger and perhaps stronger, but Buck was quicker and more skilled as a fighter, drawing blood several times as he scored the arms and legs of the bigger fae. When the black-coloured ichor hit the ground, it sizzled and burned a hole in the grasses, an indicator of the toxicity that filled the dark fae. Several times they grappled together, punching each other with a force that probably could have shattered a great tree. Then one or the other would stagger back before regaining a foothold and trying to sweep the legs of the other out from under them, hoping to get the advantage by having them on the ground. At one point, I heard a distinct cracking sound emanate from Buck's left side and he winced in agony, as he went down on one knee, protecting that side with his bent arm. A cruel smile erupted on Rumlow's face, and he focussed on hitting Buck repeatedly in the same spot.

"NO!" I cried out and suddenly several rocks the size of my fist flew through the air, hitting Rumlow in the shoulder and head.

He roared at the distraction and stepped back, giving Buck an opening. He raised himself and thrust his sword into the other man's abdomen, burying it right up to the hilt. The black blood spurted out from the wound and Rumlow went down on one knee. Pulling the sword out, Buck thrust it in again, this time into the heart and a shriek like nothing I ever heard flew out of Rumlow's mouth.

"Sage, look away!"

I looked at Buck, at the fury in his face, and he commanded me again to look away. A terrible sound of flesh and bone being torn apart reached my ears and I covered them for it was a sound I never wanted to hear again. After a few moments, I dared to look and saw Buck standing over the body of Rumlow, black blood dripping from what looked like the heart he held in his hand. He dropped it and fell to one knee, just as a thunderbolt flew down from the sky, hitting the ground and revealing Thor, Sam, Steve and Hope. She came to me while the others went to Buck, immediately helping him to the river, where they physically removed his clothes and Thor carried him into the water.

"Why are they doing that?" I asked, suddenly afraid, recalling the vision I had of him dying.

"He needs cleansing from the kill," said Hope. "A dark fae's blood has evil properties that can infect him like a fever. Removing the heart is the only way to kill a dark fae overlord, which meant Buck had to reach inside Rumlow's body to get it. Flowing water is the only way to cleanse him of the effects of the blood." She looked across the river, seeing the bodies of the Horde. She made a small sign in the air with her hand that left a blue/green mark in the air. "Their souls have been released from their slavery. Each will face the creator before being allowed to move on. Come, we can return to the stronghold now. You will be safer there. My father needs to receive treatment in the healing pool."

While Steve and Sam covered Buck in a cloak, Thor raised a hammer to the sky and brought lightning down on the body of Rumlow, burning it into ash. Then he went across the river and did the same to the three bodies over there. Leaping back to the island, he looked kindly at me.

"I sense you have more questions," he said, sombrely. "Hold them for now until we take care of our king. He is weak from all that he was required to do to protect you and from the battle. You will have answers, I promise."

Hope led me closer to the others, with Sam and Steve supporting Buck between them. The three of them enclosed us with their wings, then Thor raised his hammer to the sky once more, bringing lightning down upon us. That enclosed us in a tunnel of light that we sped along for several long seconds, stopping on the same spot at the stronghold where we left several weeks before. Several attendants waited for us. A gurney was produced for Buck, and they wheeled him away, presumably to the healing pool, while I was led to a different room than where I was before. This one was larger, richly appointed, but still had that magnificent view of the valley.

"There are clothes in the closet for you, Lady Sage," said the attendant, a blonde woman I had never seen before. "When you have changed, I will be waiting to take you to the dining room where the council awaits your presence for dinner."

After quickly showering and getting dressed I opened the door and found her waiting. She smiled but said nothing as she led me down one of those hallways lit by the glowing walls, until we came to a large glass walled room with a large dining table. It looked out over the valley, making me wonder if every room in the stronghold looked out over it. I counted a dozen people waiting for me, none of them Buck, making me the 13th. I wondered if that was an omen for something bad.

"Lady Sage, please don't be alarmed," said Thor. "Our king is still healing in the pool but will be there for some time replenishing his energy. Join us and make our number equal the full council."

"But that's 13," I said. "It's an unlucky number."

"To the followers of the one god, yes," he replied. "To the fae, it isn't as it is a sacred number for many reasons."

"I don't understand," I replied.

"I know, but it is not unlucky to us. Please, sit and we will attempt to enlighten you."

As the meal was served, and the wine poured, I learned that 13 is considered lucky in many mythologies including pagan and Norse ones. Associated with the menstrual cycle of a woman, of which there were 13 cycles in a year, the same as lunar cycles, it symbolized fertility. Their council, since it followed the pagan way, had to be made up of 13 individuals, usually including the king. Also associated with fertility was the hawthorn tree, of which my last name was based on. It was connected to the source of my powers, as I wasn't just a descendant of Lilith, I was apparently a descendant of the first fae king, Hawthorn, who planted the tree and imbued it with the powers of the forest, then with his own spirit after his death. Even though I was mortal, I apparently had a stronger bloodline than many of the council.

"What does that all mean?" I asked. "Buck said during the fight with Rumlow that he was assigned to be my protector by the sacred hawthorn. He accused Rumlow of stealing an ancestor of mine and forcing her to be his wife."

"It's true," said Thor. "When the first fae king Hawthorn moved on, his spirit stayed with the tree. He has looked out for his descendants ever since. Each king vows to protect the descendants of that Hawthorn as part of their covenant with the light fae. Your father was a descendant of him, and so was protected by Buck. His cancer could not be healed in our healing pools but could by the laying on of the hands of the king. But to do so meant Buck's ability to protect you would be weakened. Your father declined the offer, sacrificing his life for you, Sage. He wanted to keep you safe above all else. Buck had already gifted you the pendant you wear, which was also a sacrifice, in a sense. It meant that your parents were agreeing to you becoming his wife; a protective bond as strong as any magic, even if you're not aware of it. Buck had little choice in the matter, as his powers were stretched thinly, protecting you, your family, the light fae, the stronghold, the sanctuaries he created, and many other areas he felt responsible for. He took so much on, more than we were aware. But he is at heart a protector and felt it was his duty. Even though the pendant gave him the right to claim you as his bride, it was always your choice. He would not have forced himself on you, unlike Rumlow."

"Rumlow presented himself as a suitor for an ancestor of yours," added Hope. "Each suitor was to perform 13 tasks as proof of their integrity. Instead, he secretly kidnapped her, took her to his home and didn't feed her hunger or her thirst for several days. When he finally offered her food, she took it, effectively giving herself to him willingly, even though it wasn't done honestly. He was not a good mate, and she tried many times to escape his reach, succeeding only when she killed herself. The sacred tree ruled he must be cast out and his powers removed as his crime made him a blight on our kind. That was likely when he offered himself to the Dark Overlord of the time. He lived as a mortal, his longevity being the only fae quality he retained. When Rumlow reappeared as the owner of HYDRA Mining in the 1950s Buck became more visible in the mortal world, concerned about the man's activities. When Buck found your mother, he was concerned about Rumlow trying to kidnap her to reacquire his powers. The realization of your father's bloodline made protecting you even more important. Rumlow would have stripped you of all your powers, keeping you as little more than a concubine, subject to his perversions."

It was frightening to consider what would have happened if Rumlow had taken me that night or had killed Buck during the battle. A cough from Loki brought my attention back to the council.

"You must tell her the rest," he said, solemnly. "It is her right to know, especially now that her powers have begun manifesting before the marriage ceremony and the Solstice rituals. Now that the king knows how Rumlow found them, she must be informed to provide him comfort." He looked at me. "We're aware you were able to hit Rumlow with rocks using your powers. It means your powers are considerable."

Hope swallowed noticeably. "My brother, Richard, the youngest of my father's children, was taken," she said, sadly. "Even though he gave up his fae powers to live as a mortal he still had a bond with my father. He was slain in a ritual that only a dark overlord could perform so that your location could be determined. Then the barrier to the sanctuary was breached with a single thought from another location. Although we thought Rumlow was the Dark Overlord, he was not, as he was already outside the sanctuary waiting for the breach while we searched for Richard before they harmed him. A dark fae prisoner told us Rumlow was a familiar, the overlord's champion. It means the Dark Overlord is someone else, but we don't know who, except that he still lives. I'm sorry, but you're still in danger."

My first thought was Buck, and I left the dining room, running through the hallways, trying to find the healing pool. No matter which way I turned I was led back to the room I left when I first arrived, so I entered the door, finding him curled up on the bed. His grief-stricken face showed that he knew about his son, and I laid next to him, covering him with my arms. As he wept for the loss of his mortal son, I held him, trying to soothe him to the best of my abilities. It was even more important that we go through with the Solstice ritual now. My life depended on it and so did his, I suspected.

Part 6>>

Series masterlist

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[fermentedfanfics]

oh fuck cottagecore slowburn with loki as a fae king and reader a simple farm woman who accidentally invites him into her home i'm itching to write this!!!!!!!!

[ludinusdaleth]

I think I'll go for 4, 5 and 24—dealer's choice as to which of Artagan, Ludinus or Ira (or any npc, really. They don't get enough love.)

oh you have no idea the can of warms you've opened, lol.... i will happily do all 3!

this got so long i actually had to put a read more:

4. If you could put this character in any other media, be it a book, a movie, anything, what would you put them in?

artagan - it isnt media per say but i really want to set him loose in our own reality and see what he'd do (there have been some hints i think, if half-jokingly said, that hes been here - boy do i think about that often.)

ira - we really should just let him star in his own horror movie. you could put him in a guillermo del toro film, and no one would bat an eye.

ludinus - i want to see how lud would react to faerun. a world so close to his own, but where the weave of magic is directly controlled by a god. there is an odd dichotomy in that faerun is more controlled than exandria and yet breaking that universe's laws are infinitely easier, and i think he would fall into obsession with that.

5. What's the first song that comes to mind when you think about them?

so.... im gonna (un)ashamedly plug my playlists for them here.... please ignore that they can go as long as twelve fucking hours.... ill try to narrow down specific songs that REALLY hit about them, though.

artagan - "within you" by david bowie, from labyrinth, is a perfect fit. not only is arti based on jareth but the song's meaning directly ties into him & jester. jareth is terrified of being nothing more than a lost concept, a lost celebrity crush made fae king, as sarah is metaphorically maturing. "how you turn my world, you precious thing/You starve and near exhaust me/Everything I've done, I've done for you/I move the stars for no one..." i mean, c'mon. "family of me" by ben folds, "celebrity status" by mariana's trench, "lapis lazuli" by the oh hellos, and "due west" by kelsey lu also really hit as arti songs for me.

ira - "mad iqs" by i dont know how but they found me is a really good song for ira's hatred of ludinus. "a mask of my own face" by lemon demon is self explanatory and far too specific, due to his fascination with ashton's mask of him, with the song mentioning "dancing with all the bells". he would go wild for and try to emulate "thriller" by michael jackson or "i cant decide" by the scissor sisters.

ludinus - if i did a speedpaint of lud, id set it to "science fiction" by church of the cosmic skull. "and all the people, they stood on their chairs, and they stared, at the man with the silver hair/taken the findings of the science man/raising his hands to the air!/so he's making the minds up of the millions, and they'd never deny that he's right/cause he's taken a prize of many a size/if ever he dies he'll have a tombstone of a very high height". "brutus" by the buttress is ABSOLUTELY a ruby vanguard trio song and i even used it in my art of them before. "all history is vengeance" by brad derrick from the eso soundtrack is what goes through my head at the malleus key. "blood upon the snow" by hozier & "never look away" by vienna teng also really work for him. i think "survivors guilt" by emily axford (yeah, prism) also has lyrics FAR too tailored to him - "i see you in my dreams/young, and brave, and pre-calamity/i will tell you a story/i will be the voice you lost too soon/because even in your absence, even in your death/im still your moon".

24. What other character from another fandom of yours that reminds you of them?

(i wouldnt say im in the fandoms for all of these, but)

artagan - i think it somewhat obvious he's based off of jareth in labyrinth - his voice is basically david bowie's singing voice. to a lesser but still strong degree he's very much marvel's loki, down to the voice - if, honestly, an infinitely better take on the trickster god. as a past extreme loki fan the pipeline is there for sure.

ira - ashley said she & matt based fearne's story off a guillermo del toro film and i can see that in many fae this go-round, especially ira. he is basically a doug jones character. it's very easy to compare him to creepypastas like the russian sleep experiment or slenderman, too.

ludinus - he has some heavy similarities to emperor belos of owl house, vyrthur of tes, prince nuada from hellboy, and other characters who fit the archetype of a white-haired, ancient, pale elven (or elven passing) man, from a different time, who murders & (in some cases) colonizes to exact vengeance on gods, humans, or similar entities he feels have destroyed those around him. characters clearly in the wrong but who do bring up important topics of the endless cycle of brutality they were caught in, mixed with their privelege in every other circumstance. he also reminds me of mannimarco of tes. they look exactly alike and both shadow run an empire, somewhat in cahoots and yet at odds with a balding white haired pale human man within that same empire. oh! and fëanor from the silmarillion.

thanks for asking! sorry this is so long, floodgates are opened when i discuss men i wish were my fictional partners, lol.

[inspiringraisin]

The Missed Potential of Luka (and why he's the best character in Bayonetta 3)

So I finished playing Bayonetta 3 last night as of writing this post, right? I��m not going to go into specifics about the plot, but I was spoiled early on about Viola. It didn’t ruin the story for me–I actually enjoyed it a lot more knowing who she was. I didn’t really care about Dr. Sigird or Singularity. While they’re not dealbreakers (RIP Jeanne), I was more here for the characters and their emotional journeys. 

This isn’t about Viola. 

This is about Luka.  

Luka is, unironically, my favourite Bayonetta character. I fell in love with him the first time in Bayonetta 1, liked him in Bayonetta 2, and then fell in love again during Bayonetta 3. I was shocked at how much development he got, because he actually felt like a somewhat active participant in that story, rather than a tacked on nobody in the second who is just there because he’s supposed to. 

Luka as a fae king, Lukaron? Love it. Evil Adam? Sure, why not? Big puppy? Instantly love it. Someone please give him some Excedrin wrapped in cheese, please. 

Anyway, to me, it felt like he didn’t do much in Bayonetta 2. Besides giving some lore dumps, the pages scattered about, and dragging Loki up to the mountain, he wasn’t that involved in the overarching story. I can’t say the same for Bayonetta 1, and especially Bayonetta 3. 

In Bayonetta 1, he was trying to find the murderer of his father, and that was resolved in that game. It’s a bit of a shame it never came up again, but it doesn’t really need to. He was someone that knew a few answers to Bayonetta’s questions, but not all of them. I liked them working together. Didn’t love him staring at her boobs near the end, but it never really came up again, so I’m chalking it up as a dubious writing choice before Bayonetta really took off. 

Bayonetta 3, though? He got so much more interesting development and involvement with the plot? I was so on board with his stained-glass-Catholic-beastmode-werewolf worm, Stryder. When we found out about that in the Ancient Egypt level, I was so on board, and it tied into Viola’s pixie powers. Ya’ll, I was screaming, crying, throwing up when he said he’d always love Viola and Bayonetta. It made me hella emotional. 

An aside, but I wished Bayonetta had some Lumen Sage powers from Baldur, so this was the closest thing to that for me. To me it makes sense Viola would have bits of both powers, as she seems she doesn’t have complete Umbra Witch powers, as she can’t summon/doesn’t want to/doesn’t need to summon Cheshire with her hair. 

Relating to Luka’s character development is the discourse surrounding the ending. Comphet was thrown around a lot. Compulsory Heterosexuality, also known as ‘comphet’, is the assumption that everyone is born straight, or should be straight. I can understand being disappointed by the ending, but I didn’t find it to be comphet. 

If you factor in the development Luka and Bayonetta have in Bayonetta 1 and 2 (irregardless if those games actually happened in Bayonetta 3 before the fact), they’ve known each other for a long time and care about each other. I was so into Bayonetta trying to save Luka at the end of Bayonetta 3 and turning him back from Stryder, AND the fact he does help you in the final boss. That is personally how I read Bayonetta 3 because I played the previous 2 games. 

I would consider BayoLuka to be comphet if they had no development or chemistry whats-so–ever. But they do. Luka literally went to hell with Bayonetta at the end of Bayonetta 3 because she died. It wasn’t like they were forced together at the end to make it a happy ending. I thought she was going to be forced into a relationship with him to make sure Viola exists in the future, that’s how bad I assumed the ‘comphet’ to be. It wasn’t. 

THIS IS ALSO IGNORING THE FACT HE LOVES VIOLA! YOU CAN’T TELL ME HE’D LOVE HIS DAUGHTER SO MUCH!!! The fact that he went after Viola first before Bayonetta at the end, possibly at the extent of Bayonetta’s life? Divine. I was hooting and hollering in delight watching him struggle to decide before he made his decision to save Viola. It was delightfully bittersweet and angsty. Incredible. While I’m normally not a fan of hamfisting established characters' children into media, I thought Viola was handled well. I loved her. 

Like, I dunno. You can be disappointed BayoJeanne isn’t canon, but you can’t ignore Bayonetta and Luka have and had have chemistry. No one (at least, recently that I have found) bats an eyelash about Link and Zelda (and Ganon) being linked to each other by fate with the number of people that ship Link and Zelda. It just feels hypocritical in this sense with the themes of family and motherhood/fatherhood in the three Bayonetta games. 

TO BE FAIR, I will admit the sudden development between them was a bit jarring, but I was into it. Again, I somewhat blame him being sidelined a bit in Bayonetta 2 overall, but I enjoyed he and Bayonetta were already familiar with each other in 3. Maybe it would have been better to see more development of them before the story took place, or in a different universe (i.e. Viola’s parents), but it’s not overly relevant. 

I was scrolling the Bayonetta AO3 page and found most people shipped BayoJeanne, but found very few recent fics about Luka. Hell, I made a Luka & Viola tag. There was none! At least, maybe there were so few fics it didn’t add the tag yet. 

Regardless, to me the fandom hates and is scared of Luka for basically no reason. I like Jeanne a lot, too, and she has chemistry, but crying comphet erases bisexual/pansexual people. Let alone the fact Bayonetta has 2 hands, and can love both Jeanne and Luka. I’m not sure fully where it comes from, but I am not going to let my boy be slandered on my watch. You don't think he's eating her out in hell in between being tortured? Please

TDLR: Read my fic about Luka and Viola please

[fernthewhimsical]

Fern's (new) introduction to the Gleaming Grove

The Gleaming Grove is the name I use for my personal pantheon. It is a mix of historical, unrecorded, and constructed deities that I have been honouring for a little over a year now. Some of these deities have been in my life for quite a bit longer, some even right from the start.

Through personal interactions with these deities I have gotten to know them beyond what is historically known. This is called UPG, or Unverified Personal Gnosis. So please, keep in mind that these are my personal interpretations of these deities. Also, as I walk this path and learn more about myself and about these deities, the pantheon might change.

Now, allow me to introduce you.

Cernunnos: Horned Hunter – historical and unrecorded Gaulish deity of the forest, of animals and the hunt. He is the leader of the Wild Hunt and the King of the Fae. He is the god of the liminal, the in between. The cycles of nature – death, decay, and life again.

Nehalennia: Wildmother – historical Dutch deity of nature, the sea, harvest. She guides travelers over sea, guiding them with her stars, or with profitable winds. She is the tempest and the storm, but also the cooling breeze on a hot day. She is the deity of agriculture, especially orchards. Her travel over the sea also includes being a psycho-pomp, guiding those who have passed to their afterlife.

Baduhenna: Rootwoman – historical Dutch deity of the forest, magic, and war. They protect the sacred places and fight against any who wishes to take it away. Protects the oppressed and gives them the tools and power to fight against their oppressors, in both weapons and magic.

Elen of the Ways: Wayfarer – historical or constructed deity of roads and pathways, of journeys both physical and spiritual. She guides us with her lit lantern when we are lost. Labyrinths are dedicated to her, especially as a way to travel inward. She protects us when we travel and nudges us in the right direction of where we need to be. An antlered deity carrying a lantern and surrounded by green.

Nemetona: Sanctuary – historical Gaulish deity of sacred spaces. Protector of boundaries. Both the sacred spaces we creating when practicing witchcraft, as the sacred spaces that are our home and our personal boundaries.

Avalon - Lady of Avalon. Goddess of healing, magic, apples, and harvest. Queen of the Fae, keeper and protector of magic.

Hearthlight – unrecorded and constructed deity of home, hearth, and community. Protects the home and hearth, provides and guards warmth and love in the home. Connections and community. Sharing what you have and taking what you need. Perhaps a mantle shared between different deities

Loki: Trickster – historical Norse deity of mischief, change, laughter. God of the outcasts, challenges societal norms and brings necessary change.

Venaris: Lady of Flowers – unrecorded deity of spring, of flowers, love, joy, mirth, and art. Beauty, music, poetry and inspiration. She invites us to dance to the tune of the seasons, to stop and smell the roses, and see the small wonders around us. Is related to Eostre/Ostra and Meda

Liyesa: The Iridescent One – historical and constructed deity of beauty, self love and -acceptance, freedom. She teaches us there is beauty in all of us, and helps us learn to love and accept ourselves as we are. Breaker of Chains, she guides us to break free of the chains society and our own perfectionism throw around us. She grants us second chances should we need them.

Holle: the Veiled Silence – constructed and historical Dutch deity of silence, of winter and of secrets. She is the silence of snowfall. She urges us into contemplation and introspection, and what secrets mean and how to keep them.

Arawn - historical Welsh deity of the Underworld, the wild hunt, loyalty, and honour. King of the Fae and Lord of the Dead. Also called Gwyn.

Ashka: Ashkeeper – unrecorded deity of the dead, graveyards, and memories. Gathers and keeps the memories we have of those who have passed. Keeps the ‘souls’ safe until they are ready to continue to wherever they choose their afterlife to be.

the Morrigan: Crowmother – historical Irish deity of war, magic, and sovereignty. She is connected to Baduhenna both through historical sources and my own interaction with both.

Mona: Moonmother – historical deity of the Moon, magic, the night. Bringer of change and moving through cycles. Mother/sister to Starsister. Void created the stars, Herta (the Earth) and the moon. We gave them life in the form of divinity. Moon came first, and she inspired humans to give her a sister/daughter.

Stēra: Stardancer – unrecorded deity of the stars and the night sky, of navigation and of hope. A light in the dark, a guide to lead us home. She dances across the sky, leaving a trail of stars behind.

Herta/Arda: Greenmother – historical Dutch deity of the Earth, nature, growth, and harvest. Her day was called “Hartjesdag” or “Heart’s Day” and was a day for collecting magical herbs to bless the home.

Gahella: Void/Creation – The emptiness from which anything can be created (chaos in Latin) The depth of space. The Divine Chaosyne. Void is the emptiness that was here before the big bang. The void from which creation springs forth. They are the darkness between the stars that birth the galaxies and starfields. Chaos is needed to keep things from getting stagnant, and is the catalyst for change.

Werda: Wordweaver – unrecorded deity of words, stories, magic. Muse of writing. They spark the inspirational spark and guide the words on paper. They are the keepers of knowledge, both mundane and magical.

Lycke: Lotweaver – unrecorded deity of fate, luck, and the tapestry of life. They weave the threads of life, guide and watch over them. Fate is not set in stone, choices and such will always have an influence on the tapestry.

Klaithe: Craftweaver – unrecorded deity of creativity, artistry, and artisans. The joy of creation for the sake of creation. The inspirational spark that is within all of us. The need to express our true selves in our own ways.

Spirits honoured in my practice: the Good Neighbours, Alven, Merfolk, Dragon, Unicorn. My ancestors of blood and bone, land, heart, spirit, and craft. The spirit of Wolf and Crow.

[Updated March 9 2024]

[indirecticn]

ROLEPLAY HISTORY !

the rules are simple ! post characters you’d like to roleplay as, have roleplayed as, and might bring back. then tag ten people to do the same (if you can’t think of ten, just write down however many you can and tag that number of people).

CURRENT MUSE/S :

Loki [marvel] - only truly active one lol

Thor at @madeworth [marvel]

Nobody Owens @graveycrd [ the graveyard book]

Eros @amcrist [myth]

Matt Murdock @mttmrdck [Marvel]

Gefen Penzig @agentwhatevs[OC]

Barry Allen @zooomies [DC]

Sigyn @pekkt [myth]

WANT TO WRITE

Jonathan Pine [The Night Manager]

All manner of OCs [you guys have NO idea...]

HAVE WRITTEN

Cassie [animorphs]

Rachel [animorphs]

Jeff Winger [Community]

Rapunzel [Tangled]

James Bond [James Bond Craig era]

Darcy Lewis [Marvel]

Jane Foster [Marvel]

Steve Rogers [Marvel]

Clint Barton [Marvel]

Tony Stark [Marvel]

Jamie Madrox [Marvel]

Boom Boom [Marvel]

Lila Cheney [Marvel]

Gambit [Marvel]

Wolverine [Marvel]

Nightcrawler [Marvel]

Pete Wisdom [Marvel]

King Arthur [LoTS Film]

Odin [myth]

Frigga [myth]

Baldr [myth]

Hades [myth]

Psyche [myth]

Basil Brooks [Cyborg OC]

Jude Lee [Technomancer OC]

Thad [Fae OC]

Dagr Ackr [Myth/legend OC]

Remy [ Werewolf OC]

Astraea [Witch/Southern Gothic OC]

Gad [Vampire OC]

Rory [Southie boston witch OC]

Daithi [Fae OC]

WOULD WRITE AGAIN

Any of them probably.

tagged by : no one

tagging : whoever

[johannestevans]

what’s your favorite story you’ve ever written (or top 3-5 if you can’t pick one)?

Ah, you know, Anon, every few months someone asks me this, and every few months the answer is completely different, because it just depends what I'm in the mood for lately.

The benefit of being an ADHD-autistic workaholic obsessed with writing is that I write a huge array of different stories, I've written literally thousands of them; the drawback is that I forget a lot of it once I've written it, and I move on to other things, and only remember it when I look back.

And that's even if I was good at picking favourites in the first place, which I'm not!

Divine Bodies and Gellert's New Job are regular favourites of mine, but others I'm far less consistent on.

Of my original short stories, of which there are a few hundred, these are my favourites right this moment, having scrolled through, and those that I'm most proud of:

Gellert’s New Job — 21k, rated M. MB. Gellert Osgodby has worked as a business manager for the King family for nearly a decade when an error in judgement brings his employment to an abrupt end. Lucien Pike, a rival kingpin, employs his services instead. On Medium / / On Patreon.

Divine Bodies — 9k. MB. The god Freyr expects good work from his priests, but gives good rewards. Magical HRT for a loyal trans masc priest! Featuring Esben. On Medium / / On Patreon.

Confession and Penance — 11k, rated E, MB. A priest takes a hands-on approach to addressing a worshiper’s poor working habits.Tiernan, a manipulative workaholic who only ever relaxes during Mass services, is taken aside by Father Mullen when it all gets to be a bit too much. D/s, BDSM-approach to enforcing self-care, spanking, painplay, bit of a priest kink but it doesn’t go into that aspect too much, faith. Also some anal. On Medium / / On Patreon.

Agreements and Curses — 20k, rated M, MB. A young man is dispatched to a fae land and joins the princes’ retinue. As part of an exchange program between the magical city from which he hails and the fae island state of Einsamal, a young man is sent as a child to explore fable and adventure, and in the process falls in love with one of the princes. The prince, a child of Loki, faces his own trials. With Princes Loptr and Fenris, Boniface Nottingham, and Loki. On Medium / / On Patreon.

The Widower’s Garden — 12.5k, Rated M, MB. After a man is widowed, his husband begins to appear at the foot of his garden every night. Content warnings for horror, violence, trauma, infidelity, nasty guys being nasty. On Medium / / On Patreon.