#Library Encounters

[small-z24]

Shadows of Fate 3

Summary:

Y/n, Cassian's shy and quiet sister, prefers to keep to the shadows. Unbeknownst to her, she is Azriel's mate. His shadows are inexplicably drawn to her, and as they grow closer, a slow-burn romance ensues. Cassian, ever protective of his sister, watches over her as the bond between Y/n and Azriel deepens.

Word Count: 966

Warnings: None

Chapter 3: Unseen Bonds

Y/n’s days at the House of Wind had taken on a new rhythm. Each morning, she would retreat to her favorite quiet corners, only to find Azriel already there, his presence a comforting constant. As their bond grew, she found herself feeling more at ease, her anxieties quieted by the soothing presence of Azriel and his shadows.

One afternoon, Y/n was reading in the garden, the vibrant flowers swaying gently in the breeze. She was so engrossed in her book that she didn’t notice Cassian approaching until he was right beside her.

"Hey, little sister," Cassian said, sitting down next to her.

Y/n looked up, a smile spreading across her face. "Hey, Cass. How was training?"

"Grueling, as usual," he replied with a chuckle. "But I wanted to talk to you about something."

Her smile faltered slightly. "What is it?"

Cassian’s expression turned serious. "I’ve been thinking a lot about you and Azriel. I want you to be happy, Y/n, but I also worry about you."

"I know you do," she said softly. "And I appreciate it. But Azriel and I... there’s something special between us. I feel safe with him."

Cassian sighed, his protective instincts warring with his desire to see his sister happy. "I just want to make sure he’s treating you right. That he’s not rushing things."

"He’s not," Y/n assured him. "We’re taking things slow. And he’s been nothing but patient and kind."

Cassian nodded slowly, his gaze softening. "Alright. I’ll try to ease up a bit. Just promise me you’ll come to me if anything feels wrong."

"I promise," she said, squeezing his hand.

Later that evening, Y/n found herself in the library, a place that had become her sanctuary. As she browsed through the shelves, she felt a familiar presence behind her. Turning, she saw Azriel standing there, his shadows curling around him like loyal pets.

"Hello, Y/n," he said, his voice like a warm embrace.

"Hello, Azriel," she replied, a smile lighting up her face. "I was just looking for something new to read."

He stepped closer, his gaze soft and affectionate. "I have something for you." From behind his back, he produced a small, leather-bound journal. "I thought you might like this. It’s empty, so you can fill it with whatever you want."

Y/n took the journal, her eyes widening with delight. "It’s beautiful. Thank you, Azriel."

"I thought you might use it to write down your thoughts or dreams," he said, his eyes never leaving hers. "Or even just to keep track of our adventures together."

Her heart swelled with emotion as she hugged the journal to her chest. "I love it. I’ll cherish it always."

They spent the rest of the evening together, sitting in a secluded corner of the library. Azriel read aloud from one of his favorite books, his deep, melodic voice weaving a spell around them. Y/n listened, her head resting on his shoulder, feeling more at peace than she ever had.

The next morning, Y/n awoke to find a note slipped under her door. Unfolding it, she recognized Azriel’s elegant handwriting.

Meet me in the training grounds at sunrise. I have something I want to show you.

Curiosity piqued, Y/n quickly dressed and made her way to the training grounds. The early morning light bathed the area in a soft, golden glow. Azriel was waiting for her, his shadows already swirling around him in anticipation.

"Good morning," he greeted her, his eyes bright with excitement.

"Good morning," she replied, her heart fluttering at the sight of him. "What’s this about?"

"I wanted to teach you something," he said, holding out his hand. "Come with me."

Y/n took his hand, allowing him to lead her to a more secluded part of the training grounds. There, he produced a pair of slender, beautifully crafted daggers.

"I thought it might be good for you to learn some basic self-defense," he explained. "Just in case."

She looked at the daggers, then back at him, her eyes wide with surprise. "You want to teach me to fight?"

"Not to fight," Azriel corrected gently. "To protect yourself. You don’t have to become a warrior, but knowing how to defend yourself could be useful."

Y/n hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I’ll try."

Azriel smiled, pride and affection shining in his eyes. "Good. Let’s start with the basics."

Over the next hour, he patiently guided her through a series of simple exercises. His touch was always gentle, his instructions clear and encouraging. Y/n found herself enjoying the lessons, the sense of empowerment that came with each successful move.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, they took a break, sitting together on the grass. Azriel handed her a water bottle, his gaze warm and approving.

"You’re doing great," he said. "You have a natural grace."

"Thank you," Y/n replied, feeling a flush of pride. "I didn’t think I could do it."

"I knew you could," he said softly. "You’re stronger than you realize."

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world seemed to fade away. Y/n felt a surge of emotion, a deep, unspoken connection that went beyond words. She reached out, taking Azriel’s hand in hers.

"I’m glad I have you," she whispered. "You make me feel like I can do anything."

"You can," he replied, his voice filled with conviction. "And I’ll be here with you, every step of the way."

As they sat together, hand in hand, Y/n knew that their journey was only just beginning. But with Azriel by her side, she felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, confident in the strength of their bond and the love that had grown between them.

Author's Note: Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter of Y/n and Azriel's story. Feel free to leave comments and let me know your thoughts!

[heilos]

Has anyone else experienced the disconnect of being in your 30's, wanting to get out and meet more people and then realizing that so many other individuals in the general public don't feel like they're also in your same age group even though they are? I can't tell if it's just growing up with the internet since the early 2000's, having interests be so drastically different from the lives of other people outside of what's considered the "norm" or a combo of both.

[2minutetabletop]

The Lost Library by Spectralicy

It's Community Spotlight time! This time bringing long-forgotten lore to your tabletop. Can you navigate the maze, solve its puzzles, and escape this perilous tomb of tomes? 📚

→ Download them here!

[megamindsupremacy]

the visceral fear I just felt finding a tma fic set at MY UNIVERSITY

[queerliblib]

This is a some what strange request for you guys, but what are some of your top queer texts that Libby DOESN'T HAVE. I ask largely because I'm looking to maybe expand my personal library and definitely to have different things to suggest my local library purchases (they just agreed to buy Original Plumbing: The Best of Ten Years of Trans Male Culture). I figure that may also other queers who are Feeling the Urge to Spiral and Want Something Productive to Do could use this.

no, no. thanks for asking. I’m going to be so for real with you

STONE BUTCH BLUES

we can’t get it. it cannot be purchased as an ebook or audiobook. every time we do a survey or ask for feedback there are at least a few people who say something along the lines of ‘can’t believe you, a queer library, don’t have that book’. which like. fair! it’s great! it’s a cornerstone classic! we would love to! we just simply cannot purchase it

HOWEVER the good news is, it’s available FOR FREE at the AUTHOR’S REQUEST from HIR OWN WEBSITE TO DOWNLOAD

also, Faltas: Letters to Everyone in My Hometown Who Isn’t My Rapist by Cecilia Gentili. sadly cannot get that one. None of Richard Siken’s books are available for us to get in Libby either 😔

(congrats on getting Original Plumbing in your local library, also not available on libby)

[shisasan]

How strange. All this is like a dream.

Jorge Luis Borges, The Encounter

originally published 1969

[briabooknerd]

Molly's Treasure

Toby's battle

Emily's dream

Meliza Farndell

[heartofspells]

Here's a radical idea. If you don't like a story the way it is written, write your own instead of shitting over top of everyone else's creations who choose to share their thoughts with you for free. It is literally that easy. Words on a page: GO!

And if you're brave enough to do what countless others have chosen to do just to sit around and get your negative comments on something you did not have to read, you will then be free to tag it however you wish. Tag it so exhaustively that no one has any need to read it at all because - oh my god! - every minute detail exists in the tags! That makes for such a fun read, doesn't it?

That is all.

[throughpatchesofviolet]

Another package came in!! This time, it's the Valentine's merch I pre-ordered, last month (the Meursaults are for @magicbulletego; the Heathcliffs are for me).

Close ups of my Heathcliffs under the cut!

He's so cuuuute!! Cannot believe the seller (@/yuurils on Etsy, or @/chesedfever on Twitter) gave out the whole mini sticker set as freebies--I love all of them so much ... the cuties ...

[isaut]

𝒍𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒚 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒅 𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓— f!reader x captain rex. 1.2k. ao3

sunsets on naboo are pretty, aren't they? it's a shame you have to share it so close yet so far apart. previous. masterlist.

The sunset is nice here. Orange hues that sprawl over the waterfront. The water sparkles, lapping delicately at pebbles, of both stone and seaglass, on the shore. There are birds chirping in the trees, excited for their mothers to return home. The woodland is thick with brush. 

Rex kicks a pebble away with his foot. It clatters as it rolls towards the shore. Looking over his shoulder, Rex is met with a disgustingly sweet vision. General Skywalker– Anakin– has his hands on Senator Amidala’s– Padme’s– waist. Together, they skip rocks over the water, Anakin’s hand guiding hers. The stones skip farther than they should. 

Rex turns back around. He kicks another pebble. 

Some highly dangerous mission he was on. He supposes it is highly classified.

Music from across the bay filters over, faintly. It’s got the same, warm, human tinge the music from the bar had. The same tinge the music off your stereo has. Naboo is gorgeous– from the flora and fauna to the human essence that flows through every aspect of the planet. To the gentle sounds of keys in locks, to the soft translucent of window drapes, to the bitterness of coffee, to the sweetness of lipgloss, to–

Rex doesn’t let himself go there. Not now, at least. Instead, he holds his helmet at his stomach, rubbing his gloved hand over the vision. With the reflection of the sun, he can see himself looking back at him. 

It's the same face he sees everyday. Every moment. 

Rustling coming from the trees catches Rex’s attention. He puts his helmet on, to get a better view. Immediately, the digital mechanics zero in on the approaching figure, heat signatures picking up. 

Rex heads towards the signature. It’s humanoid, not walking on four legs like the various, herbivore fauna that wander these parts. 

Placing his hand on the side of his helmet, he changes the vision mode. Through the green-hued screen, the heat signature rounds the incline. 

If he could, Rex would rub his own eyes with disbelief. You appear to be in work clothes– trousers and a nice tank top with a blazer hooked over your purse. You have two brown paper bags in your hand, one of which has a wine bottle sticking out of it. 

It’s been a bad day. Upon arriving at work today, you had discovered that a whole collection of paintings had been heisted away under the guise of night. The security footage had been wiped, and the security guards had been knocked out. It’s been such a bad day, that you want the company of solitude instead of your friends. Your coworkers were going out for a drink, but you wanted to come to the riverside. Wanted a little bit of nature to comfort you. 

Rounding the corner, you can’t help the exasperated sigh that leaves your lips. Standing in the way between you and your comfort for the evening is a clone trooper. Your throat contracts uncomfortably, stress from the day building up tears. 

Perhaps your view on clone troopers has changed, a little more sympathy since your recent romps. Conversations. They’re more martyrs than human, more sympathetic figurines marched to their death, not by their own choice but by their design. 

But sympathy is nowhere to be found at the moment. The trooper before you is littered in tally marks that you can only begin to fathom what they stand for. Battles won, battles lost, who knows. Frustration bubbles in your throat. The sun is setting– you’ve been working for over twelve hours, and all you want to see is the sun set, eat your to-go pasta and drink the wine straight from the bottle. 

You stop in your tracks. What is a trooper doing here, your neck of the woods? There hasn’t been any reason for there to be military engagement here, not since the Separatists were here years ago. 

When you don’t move, Rex slowly approaches you. He remembers distinctly how you’d described yourself as a pacifist the first time you had met. When you had rested your knees against his thighs and your hair had spilled down your back, leaving your neck and collarbones exposed. 

He watches, with a little bit of horror, as your eyes flit down to the blasters at his side and then your grip on your brown paper bag tightens. He doesn’t even need them, not for this mission. 

The mission. Rex shifts a bit to block your view of the water. He can’t find his voice for a moment. 

It’s weird. You don’t recognize him. Rex doesn’t want to admit to who he is. 

“Hey, uh, you have to turn around,” Rex says. 

Guilt claws at Rex’s throat while he watches your face scrunch up momentarily in dissatisfaction. You adjust your hand placement on the strap of your work back, shifting the leather up further on your shoulder. It’s left behind a little red mark on the open space. 

“Why?” You ask. 

“We’re, uh, there’s classified stuff happening.” It’s not a lie, but it's who he’s telling the lie to that makes Rex freeze up. 

“Here? Of all places?” 

“Uh, I mean, yeah. It’s just, it’s–”

You cut him off with an aggravated huff. 

“This is so fucking stupid,” you mumble under your breath. By the time you got home the sun would have missed its peak stunning expression. You don’t know if you’re cursing your state of mind or if you’re cursing the situation. Perhaps both. 

You raise your hand, the one with the paper bag in it, and press up against your waterline. Flakes of mascara come with your finger when you pull it away. 

“I’m sorry,” Rex says. Are you crying? “It’s a last minute thing.” 

You sniffle. Fuck. How embarrassing. “It’s fine.” It’s not.

There are only more apologies on his tongue. He doesn’t think you want to hear them. 

With one last gaze out towards the sliver of sky you can see through the treeline, you resign yourself to the final nail of your horrible day. With a thick swallow, you nod a few times. 

“Okay, I’m heading out,” you say with a sigh. “Next time, you should post a sign.” 

“It was really last minute, but we’ll, uh, we’ll be sure to do that next time.” He hesitates. Is it bad that he wants to keep you company, even through his disguise? “Uh, let me walk you out.” 

Rolling your shoulders back, you shake your head. “I’m capable on my own.” 

“Are you sure? The sun is setting, it’s getting dark–”

“I’m fine,” you say, a little sharper than you mean to. Rex pretends like it doesn’t hurt. 

“I’m sorry,” Rex says again. 

“Don’t apologize so much. It makes me think you actually feel bad.” 

He does. He feels awful. Of course you would love it here, of course you would want to be by the river, of course, of course, of course. 

You turn and leave, shoulders sagging a bit in defeat. You should have gone out with your coworkers. But you don’t want to talk about work, you just want to stew on it. Just want to sit in silence, feel the wind on your face. 

Rex watches as you go. His throat feels weird, all thick and heavy. He changes his vision, to watch your heat signature slip away into the distance. Back to the warmth and comfort of your home. 

He looks back towards the two heat signatures he’s standing on lookout for. They’re so conjoined, the warm, burnt reds colliding with each other, fading out to a blue that almost appears like an aura. 

Rex swallows. He’s not sure what he’s swallowing. 

He kicks another pebble. 

[small-z24]

Shadows of Fate 6

Summary:

Y/n, Cassian's shy and quiet sister, prefers to keep to the shadows. Unbeknownst to her, she is Azriel's mate. His shadows are inexplicably drawn to her, and as they grow closer, a slow-burn romance ensues. Cassian, ever protective of his sister, watches over her as the bond between Y/n and Azriel deepens.

Word Count: 986

Warnings: Emotional Distress, Tearful Reunion, Mating Bond Realization

Chapter 6: Shadows of Worry

Days turned into weeks, and Y/n found herself struggling with the increasing worry for Azriel. She continued her training and her duties within the Night Court, but her thoughts were never far from him. The nights were the hardest, as she lay awake, imagining the dangers he faced and hoping he would return safely.

One evening, Y/n was in the training yard, working through a set of exercises Azriel had taught her. Cassian watched from a distance, his eyes filled with concern for his sister. As she finished her set, he approached, handing her a water bottle.

"You're getting better," he said with a smile. "Azriel would be proud."

Y/n took the water bottle and nodded, trying to muster a smile. "I hope so."

Cassian’s expression softened. "I know it's hard, Y/n. But he’s one of the best. If anyone can make it back safely, it’s Azriel."

"I know," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just miss him so much."

Cassian pulled her into a hug, his strong arms offering comfort. "We all do. But you need to stay strong. For him."

Y/n nodded against his chest, drawing strength from her brother's presence. "I will. Thank you, Cass."

That night, Y/n found herself unable to sleep once again. She wandered through the halls of the House of Wind, eventually finding herself in the library. The quiet, familiar space brought her a small measure of comfort, and she settled into her favorite corner with a book.

As she read, she felt a presence nearby. Looking up, she saw Rhysand standing in the doorway, his expression gentle. "Mind if I join you?" he asked.

"Of course not," Y/n replied, offering him a small smile.

Rhysand sat down across from her, his gaze thoughtful. "I wanted to check on you. I know this is a difficult time."

"It is," Y/n admitted. "I try to stay busy, but it’s hard not knowing if he’s okay."

Rhysand nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Azriel is resourceful and incredibly skilled. He’ll do everything in his power to come back to you."

"I know," she said softly. "I just... I feel so helpless."

"You're not helpless," Rhysand said firmly. "You're doing everything you can to stay strong. And that means a lot to Azriel. He draws strength from knowing you believe in him."

Y/n looked down, tears welling up in her eyes. "I just wish I could do more."

"You’re doing enough," Rhysand assured her. "And when he returns, he’ll need you to be the strong, resilient person he fell in love with."

Y/n nodded, wiping away her tears. "Thank you, Rhysand. I needed to hear that."

He smiled warmly. "Anytime. We’re all in this together."

Weeks continued to pass, and Y/n found herself developing a routine to cope with Azriel's absence. She trained diligently with Cassian, seeking to improve her skills and find a sense of empowerment. She spent time with Rhysand and Feyre, who offered their own forms of support and distraction.

One evening, as Y/n was sketching in her journal, she heard a commotion outside. Her heart leaped into her throat as she rushed to the balcony, hoping against hope that it was news of Azriel.

To her relief and joy, she saw a familiar figure descending from the sky. Azriel landed gracefully in the courtyard, looking weary but unharmed. Y/n didn’t wait—she ran down the stairs, her heart pounding with anticipation.

When she reached him, Azriel turned just in time to catch her as she threw herself into his arms. "Azriel," she breathed, her voice choked with emotion. "You're back."

He held her tightly, his own relief evident in his eyes. "I'm back," he whispered. "And I missed you more than words can say."

They stood there for a long moment, wrapped in each other's arms, the world around them fading away. Finally, Azriel pulled back slightly, looking down at her with a tender smile. "I kept my promise."

Y/n nodded, tears streaming down her face. "You did. And I never stopped believing you would."

Azriel pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Let's go inside. There’s so much I need to tell you."

Later, as they sat together in the quiet of the library, Azriel recounted his mission. He spoke of the dangers he faced, the information he gathered, and the constant thoughts of Y/n that kept him going. She listened intently, her hand in his, feeling a mix of pride and relief.

When he finished, Azriel looked at her, his eyes filled with love. "I couldn’t have done it without you, Y/n. Knowing you were here, waiting for me, gave me the strength to keep going."

Y/n squeezed his hand, her heart full. "And I’ll always be here for you, Azriel. No matter what."

As they sat in comfortable silence, Y/n felt a strange, tingling sensation in her chest. It started as a warm glow and slowly intensified, spreading through her entire body. She looked up at Azriel, her eyes wide with realization.

"Azriel," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I can feel it... the bond. It's... it's clicking into place."

Azriel's eyes softened with relief and joy. "I've known for a while, but I wanted you to feel it too. To recognize it on your own."

Tears of happiness filled Y/n’s eyes as she reached up to touch his face. "We're mates," she said, the words feeling both strange and right on her lips.

Azriel nodded, his own eyes shining with emotion. "Yes, we are. And nothing will ever change that."

In that moment, the bond between them solidified, an unbreakable connection that transcended time and distance. As they held each other, Y/n knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, bound by a love that was meant to be.

Author's Note: Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter of Y/n and Azriel's story. Feel free to leave comments and let me know your thoughts!

[16woodsequ]

Be me, working at the desk of a public library

Group of 3-4 teenage girls come shuffling up to the desk, one of them holding her hands cupped on front of her.

Teen 1: Do you have any stuffing?

Teen 2: Or paper towels.

Me, a little thrown: Sorry, what?

Teen 1: Do you have any stuffing?

Teen 2: Or paper towels.

Clearly they aren't forthcoming on clarification, so I must probe a bit deeper.

Me: For what?

Teen 1: *opens her palms to reveal an actual egg in her hands* For the duck egg we rescued.

Me: *blinks* Uhh, let me check in the back.

[2minutetabletop]

The Lost Elven Capital

A buried elven castle emerges from the earth, promising untold riches and shrouded in ancient mysteries. Can you navigate the treacherous ruins and uncover the secrets of a lost civilization?

→ Find the full adventure (with bonus battle map) here:

[teaandinanity]

... what kind of ignoramus designed the EA app. Was this designed by a committee of corporate twits with too many business degrees and a complete dearth of common sense? Having to GO ONLINE to enable OFFLINE MODE is the stupidest fucking thing I have ever heard of in my life. Do you know when I need offline mode? Do you, incomprehensible moron from planet idiot who designed this feature? WHEN I DO NOT HAVE GODDAMN INTERNET ACCESS.

In conclusion I hope the fuckwit(s) responsible for this step on a lego and fall down a (short) flight of stairs in front of three people they respect and acquire a RAFT of bruises to both their bodies and egos both, amen.

[binah-beloved]

if you think Binah has insomnia due to nightmares she keeps well hidden and that she and you spend many sleepless nights awake keeping each other company in peaceful darkness clap your hands

[necromycologist]

re: the table thing, when i say it's a passing mention i am BARELY exaggerating, but it's in the redoubtable pali avramapul if you've read that! the guy reverted after a couple of hours, apparently

huh! good to know.. i have not yet read the redoubtable pali avramapul (ive been reading the other books on libby, but they don’t have a copy :/) unfortunately, but i am looking all the more forward to it now !