#The Mended Drum

[aeshnacyanea2000]

The Mended Drum had traditionally gone in for, well, traditional pub games, such as dominoes, darts and Stabbing People In The Back And Taking All Their Money.

-- Terry Pratchett - Soul Music

[mendedrum]

I am rereading The Colour of Magic. I laughed so hard when I realized that The Mended Drum used to be called The Broken Drum and that it burst into flames coz the owner wanted to get the building insurance (that Twoflower sold him) back. Now that I've read 15 discworld books it just felt like a lifetime away.

.......

Edit 11/07/2023

This is from Discworld Pyramids

[dimity-lawn]

[beyourselfchulanmaria]

🎧 Listen to 誘惑 temptation, a playlist by chu-lan-maria on #SoundCloud ♫ ◠‿◠ hope you'll like it.

我真正愛的人很少，覺得有好感的人更少。 我對這個世界看得越多，就越不滿意； 就所有人類性格都是不一致的，每一天都證實了我的信念，以及能夠對外觀的優點或感官寄予很少的依賴。

There are few people whom I really love, and still fewer of whom I think well. The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of merit or sense.

— Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice 《傲慢與偏見》

(PS. I don’t own any music and songs right, I just make the playlist for listening easily and enjoy all musicians your works and love to share it only. all copyright belongs to musician & singer. If you want me do delete yours from the playlist, please tell me then I will do it. Blessings! Thanks! Lan~*)

📌 photo: unkown sorry. (If you know who's the photographer tell me please. Thanks.)

[chefoshawott]

Idk if they or anyone else make something like this and sells them, but the Discworld Emporium should make book nooks because I don't have the skill to design and make my own.

[zahrlandsollies]

my oath of the ancients paladin's

more oath of the ancients than paladin

to ad&d vets with lawns and plans for flooorida

he's been with good so long that it's his laaaw

it's the only song his bones know, the only floor on which they falllll

and ain't that lawwww, ain't that lawwww

he doesn't go right on the right road,

he raises his hands when it's riiiiiight

conviction and time's what makes him divineeeee

conviction and time's what makes him divineeeee

and that spear that parts through the light of seluneeee

she's only chaotic when he needs a booooooooon

[moons-cadence]

happy birthday to hesitant alien thanks gerard for worsening my emotional state (i am 90% joking) anyways obligatory tags full of lyrics time

[northernolddragon]

"You called me a friend. Now broken bones will stay on the mend. Or decompose. Believe, you and me it's more than drums. I'll burn your ship alive. I'm coming home."

[mistydeyes]

just a cute little moment with ghost i was hoping u could write pls 🤭

imagine simon being gone on a mission and your house was feeling so empty and lonely.

So..... you decide to adopt a dog from the shelter to mend your loneliness and waited to surprise him with the new addition to the riley family!

On the other hand, Simon felt terrible for leaving you for months on end. To keep you company and protected, he brings home *drum roll pls*

another dog!!

The look on both of your faces when he comes through the door with dog in his arms and you with a little pup on your lap already 😭😭

(hope this isn't confusing lmao)

AHHH this is so cute and precious! love simon being a dog person fr fr

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summary: With Simon gone on some unknown mission, you decide to welcome a new member to the family. However, despite how much you love the friendly little guy, Simon has other ideas on pets.

pairing: Simon "Ghost" Riley x reader

warnings: none :)

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"Hi, Simon," you smiled through the phone. "Hello, love, how are you?" he asked and you relaxed into the plush blanket on the couch. "Mhmm, same old, same old," you said, trailing off towards the end as if you had something to hide, "but how have you been, haven't heard any updates." You bit your lip as the line went quiet for a moment, you kicked your feet slightly in anticipation. "Something you want to talk about? Sorry, it's been a while since we've gotten stable service," he said, a soft kindness in his whisper. Before you could reply, a soft bark resounded through your shared flat as a car drove down your lane. "What was that?" Simon asked suddenly, "Someone's dog get loose?" As your newest and surprise addition to the Riley family came running to your side, you struggled to hold the phone and settle him down with soft pats and belly rubs. You hadn't intentionally wanted to adopt a dog without Simon but something about the young pup at the local adoption center made your heart melt. Plus you were no stranger to managing a new pet. However, your failure to answer gave Simon a full assumption as to the current state of your home.

"Did-did you adopt a dog?" he asked almost holding his breath, "please, just tell me." With that, the secret was out and you silently cursed your all too observational fiancé. "I'm sorry," you blurted out, "it's just too lonely without you here and you know how the colder seasons make me feel." You tried to calm your excuses by cuddling up to your big-eyed, gentle Golden Shepherd but were immediately off put by the sudden laugh filling your ears from the other line. "Please tell me it's at least a guard dog breed," he said between laughs and you felt your held breath relax. "Um you could say that," you replied as you smiled down to the bundle of fur curled up to your side, "he can be menacing at times." "To the mail carrier or actual intruders?" he joked a slight hint of sarcasm on his tongue. "I'll send you a photo so you can judge for yourself," you huffed but before the conversation could continue any further, you heard the call suddenly drop.

You pouted a bit as you looked down at Bones, your newest companion for the coming months. "Smile for your dad," you said happily before sending the picture off to Simon to see eventually. At the end of the week, your phone dinged with an incoming message. "golden shepherds are not guard dogs." it said simply and you were sure to spam him with more photos of you and Bones' latest adventures.

You lazily lounged around the flat as you looked at your phone's calendar. Simon's mission had been extended 6 more months from his initial departure date and since that update, you had heard little since. You put down your phone dejectedly before filling up Bones' bowl of food and water. As you turned with the bowl in hand, you practically jumped when the door knob turned. Bones ran towards it rapidly as you chased after him, nearly colliding with your kitchen island. "Easy now," you commanded sharply, pulling him by his collar. "Guess he is a guard dog after all," a familiar voice spoke and your eyes met with Simon's. You immediately jumped to him, wrapping your arms around his neck as he levied a cardboard box into his other arm. As you reunited after many long months, you were monetarily blinded to the small bundle of fur peeking out from the top. "What's this, Simon?" you asked as you paused your barrage of kisses. "Look for yourself," he smirked, putting the box in your hand. Inside, a small Belgian Malinois began to lick your face. As you laughed giddily at the affections, Simon led you to the couch with Bones following cautiously. "Since you don't have much of a scary one here," he said pausing to pat Bones on the head, "thought he and you could use a companion." You nodded as you put the small puppy in your lap. "Well now that we have two children," you said turning to him, "you better be staying for a while now, Riley."

[girlkisser13]

cool about it

"but i'm trying to forget about it" "feeling like i'm breaking a sweat about it" "wishing you would kindly get out of my head about it" "telling myself one day i'll forget about it" "knowing that it probably isn't true"

pairings: leo valdez x afab!reader

warnings/tags: fluff with a hint of angst. best friend leo.

summary: "if you even feel half the way i do about you..."

leo had always been good at fixing things. mending broken gadgets and constructing new inventions from mere scraps was second nature to him. but right now, as the morning sun filtered through the windows of cabin 9, casting long shadows on his half-finished projects, leo was wrestling with something he couldn’t fix, couldn’t build, couldn’t even figure out.

he hadn’t slept. not even a wink. his eyes stung from staying up, but that wasn’t the worst part. the worst part was that every time he closed his eyes, he could see last night. the faint glow of the fire in bunker 9. the hum of his latest invention. and then you, standing in front of him, close enough to touch, holding a plate of food with a worried look in your eyes because he’d skipped dinner. again.

his fingers drummed against the workbench, trying to distract himself. anything to take his mind off the kiss. that kiss. he couldn’t stop replaying it. the way you’d looked at him, concerned and sweet. how he’d leaned in, almost as if pulled by some invisible force, his lips meeting yours without a second thought. it had been quick, just a soft press, but it was enough to set his heart racing. and when he pulled away, your sibling had come looking for you, breaking the moment, and leo had been left standing there, dazed, as you were dragged away to help with some urgent task.

now, as the sunlight crept into the corners of the cabin, leo wished he could just flip a switch in his brain and shut down these thoughts. maybe you’d been surprised. maybe you’d wanted him to kiss you. or maybe— more likely— you hadn’t. maybe you were just being nice, and he’d gone and made everything awkward. the more he thought about it, the more he convinced himself that it was the latter. you were probably just being a good friend, and he’d ruined everything.

"idiot," he muttered to himself, raking a hand through his curly hair. "she’s your best friend. what were you thinking?"

he grabbed a wrench and turned back to his project, something half-finished that looked like a mechanical bird. he tightened a few bolts, but his thoughts kept wandering back to you. he had to talk to you. he had to apologize before this thing went any further, before he lost you for good. he took a deep breath, wiped his hands on his jeans, and scribbled a quick note on a piece of scrap paper.

meet me at bunker 9. please? –leo

at breakfast, he spotted you sitting with your siblings. you were laughing at something one of them said, looking completely normal, as if nothing had happened. as if he hadn’t kissed you. his heart pounded as he walked past your table and slipped the note into your hand. you looked up, surprised, but he was already turning away, heading for the door.

you showed up at bunker 9 about an hour later. he was waiting, nervously pacing back and forth. when he saw you step through the door, he stopped and stood there, unsure of how to begin. you looked as calm and collected as ever, but leo knew you well enough to see the flicker of uncertainty in your eyes.

"you wanted to see me?" you asked, closing the door behind you. the bunker was quiet except for the soft whir of a cooling fan and the faint crackling of his project on the workbench.

he opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. he swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. "yeah, i… i wanted to talk to you about last night," he finally managed. "i, uh… i’m really sorry. for kissing you, i mean. i wasn’t thinking. i know you probably didn’t want that, and… i just… i’m sorry."

your expression didn’t change, but he could see your hands tense slightly at your sides. he felt his heart sink. of course. you were going to tell him that it was a mistake, that he’d crossed a line.

"leo," you said softly. "it’s okay. i think we just got caught up in the moment. you were tired, and i probably looked like i needed kissing or something."

his stomach twisted. "so, you don’t…" he trailed off, unsure how to finish that sentence.

you offered a small smile. "leo, you had been working all day. it’s not surprising if you were feeling a little out of it."

he nodded, his heart heavy. he knew you were letting him down gently, trying to keep the peace. that was just like you. always thinking of others, even when it hurt.

a silence stretched between you, awkward and heavy. you shifted slightly, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. "is that all you wanted to talk to me about?" you asked, your voice sounding casual. but he could hear the faint trace of hope in your tone, and it almost broke his heart. you wanted him to say more, to give you some reason to stay. but he couldn’t do that. not when he was sure he’d already messed everything up.

"yeah," he said, forcing himself to nod. "that’s all. i just… i know you have a lot to do with it being cabin inspection day and all. you should probably go."

you hesitated, looking like you wanted to say something, but then you nodded. "right. i should get going." you turned to leave, and he watched you walk away, his heart aching with each step you took.

and then, just as you reached the door, he couldn’t hold it in anymore. "wait!" he called out, rushing forward. you stopped, turning back to face him, your eyes wide with surprise.

he grabbed your hand, pulling you back toward him. before he could talk himself out of it, he leaned in and kissed you again. this time, it wasn’t a mistake. it wasn’t some impulsive action he couldn’t control. this time, he knew exactly what he was doing. he felt you tense for a second, then relax against him, your hands resting on his shoulders.

when he pulled away, he kept his face close to yours, his forehead touching yours. "i meant it," he whispered, his voice shaky. "i meant to kiss you. both times."

you looked up at him, searching his eyes. "what?"

he took a deep breath, his heart pounding. "i’ve been trying to be cool about it, you know? i’ve tried to act like it’s not a big deal, like it’s just whatever, but it is. i haven’t been able to get that kiss out of my head. i can’t stop thinking about you, about us. i know it’s stupid, and i know i should just let it go, but… i can’t."

you felt your heart racing at his words, still processing everything he was saying. you searched his eyes for clarity. "leo, what are you saying?"

he took a deep breath, his heart pounding. "i'm saying that i’ve been in love with you since... i don't know. since forever, i guess. since pretty much the moment i saw you. you're the best friend i've ever had, and i know i don't deserve you, but... if you even feel half the way that i do..."

you were silent for a moment, and his heart sank. he was about to pull away, to let you go and tell you it was okay if you didn’t feel the same. but then you spoke.

"i don’t," you said, and his world stopped. he felt like he was falling, everything crashing down around him.

but then you smiled, a soft, shy smile that made his heart skip a beat. "i don’t feel half the way you do, leo," you continued, your voice trembling. "i feel it ten times more."

his eyes widened, hope flooding through him. "you… you mean that?"

you nodded. "i mean it, leo. i've been in love with you for so long, but i never thought you’d feel the same way."

he laughed, the sound full of relief and joy. "gods, we’re a couple of idiots, aren’t we?"

you laughed too, and his heart soared at the sound. he pulled you into his arms, holding you close, his head resting on top of yours. he could feel your heartbeat against his chest, strong and steady, matching his own.

"i’m still sorry for last night," he murmured into your hair. "not for kissing you, but for not saying this sooner."

you pulled back, looking up at him with a smile. "well, you’re saying it now. that’s what matters."

he grinned, his heart feeling lighter than it had in years. he kissed you again, and this time, he knew it wasn’t a mistake. this time, it was real.

[alyrasturnz]

dude your fics are so long (no offense tho)

pls write a SHORT matt fic where he argues with reader but like apologies the day after

so angst but with a good ending

 ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎STAY STAY STAY

❐ summary » matt and y/n found themselves entangled in a vehement altercation, leading matt to depart in a tempestuous manner, leaving their emotions in a state of disarray. as the hours slowly unfolded, y/n was left in solitude, her mind consumed by introspection. she came to the profound realization that, despite the conflict, her deepest desire was to remain united with matt, understanding that their love was an enduring force, resilient enough to withstand any discord.

❐ pairings » toxic!matt x fem!reader

❐ warnings » arguing

❐ a/n && w/c » is this short enough 😭 it took me soo long to actually start a taglist and i dont even know why • 2.37k

"i can't believe you did that," you said, your voice shaking with anger as your hands clenched into fists, your eyes narrowing. "do you even care about us?"

your bedroom was dim, the only light coming from the single lit candle casting flickering shadows on the walls, creating a dance of light and darkness. the soft glow of the lamp on your bedside table added a gentle, warm hue, bathing the room in a serene and tranquil ambiance.

the interplay of these two light sources created an almost ethereal atmosphere, making the room feel like a sanctuary from the outside world.

the candle's flame wavered slightly with each breath of air, while the lamp's steady glow provided a comforting contrast. together, they painted a picture of calm and quiet, a perfect retreat from the day's chaos.

matt's eyes narrowed, his face a mask of frustration, the tension evident in every line. "of course, i care!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with a mix of anger and hurt. "but what you did was completely out of line," he continued, his words sharp and cutting, each syllable layered with the weight of his disappointment.

you felt your frustration bubbling over, unable to hold back the torrent of emotions. "out of line? you never listen to me!" you exclaimed, your voice trembling with a blend of anger and desperation. "you just brush off everything i say like it doesn't matter," you continued, each word dripping with the accumulated weight of countless ignored conversations, the intensity of your feelings painting the air with a palpable tension.

matt took a step closer, his voice rising with intensity, each word charged with emotion. "that's not true, and you know it," he asserted, his tone a mixture of frustration and earnestness.

"i'm always trying to make things work, but you keep pushing me away," he continued, his words laden with the weight of his efforts and the pain of feeling perpetually shut out, the space between you now filled with an almost palpable tension.

you shook your head, tears welling up in your eyes, the sorrow evident in your trembling voice. "you never show any emotion," you said, the words escaping like a pained whisper. "it's like you don't even care if we're together or not," you continued, each syllable heavy with the weight of your unspoken fears and the aching void of perceived indifference, creating a chasm of misunderstanding between you.

matt's fists clenched at his sides, his anger barely contained, a storm brewing just beneath the surface. "you think i don't care?" he retorted, his voice a mix of frustration and hurt. "i stay up at night worrying about us, trying to figure out how to fix things. but you... you're always looking for a fight," he continued, his words charged with the anguish of sleepless nights and the relentless effort to mend what felt irreparably broken, painting a picture of a man on the brink of emotional exhaustion.

your anger flared, heart pounding in your chest like a war drum. "maybe because i'm tired of feeling like i'm the only one who gives a damn!" you exclaimed, your voice quivering with the intensity of your emotions. "you never fight for us, matt. you just stand there and let things fall apart," you continued, each word a dagger of frustration, cutting through the silence, revealing the raw pain of feeling perpetually alone in the struggle to salvage your relationship.

matt's face turned red with frustration, his voice growing louder, echoing with the intensity of his emotions. "and what do you want me to do? beg? plead?" he exclaimed, his words sharp and desperate. "i'm doing everything i can, but it's never enough for you!" he continued, the anguish in his voice revealing the depths of his efforts and the torment of feeling perpetually inadequate, like a man caught in an endless struggle against an unyielding tide.

you felt your heart breaking, the weight of your words hanging in the air like a dense fog. "i just want you to show that you care, to show that this relationship means something to you," you said, your voice trembling with a mix of hope and despair, each word a fragile plea for validation and a testament to the emotional investment you had poured into the fragile fabric of your connection.

matt's eyes flashed with a tumultuous mix of anger and hurt, a storm brewing behind them. "you think i don't show it?" he retorted, his voice tinged with a raw edge. "every day i'm here, trying to make things better, but you never see it. you only see what you want to see," he continued, each word laden with the weight of unacknowledged efforts and the simmering frustration of being perpetually misunderstood, painting a portrait of a man desperate for his silent battles to be recognized.

you took a deep breath, your voice trembling like a leaf in a storm. "i see someone who doesn't know how to communicate, someone who hides behind their anger instead of facing the problems," you said, each word a mirror reflecting the silent struggles and unspoken truths, revealing the deep chasm of unaddressed issues that lay between you, like shadows cast by a setting sun.

matt's jaw tightened, his voice cold and distant, like a winter's chill. "and i see someone who can't appreciate the effort i put in. someone who thinks everything revolves around their feelings," he responded, his words cutting through the air like shards of ice, revealing the deep-seated frustration and the growing divide in their perspectives, each syllable a testament to the widening gulf of unacknowledged sacrifices and perceived self-centeredness.

your frustration boiled over, tears streaming down your face like rivers carving through a desolate landscape. "maybe if you actually talked to me instead of shutting down, we wouldn't be in this mess!" you cried, your voice a tempest of raw emotion, each word a desperate plea for connection and understanding, echoing the chasm of unresolved conflicts and the longing for open communication.

matt turned away, his voice strained and low, like the distant rumble of thunder. "i can't do this right now. i need some space," he murmured, each word heavy with the weight of emotional exhaustion and the silent plea for solitude, as if the very act of speaking was a burden too great to bear in that moment.

before you could respond, he stormed off, leaving you standing there, the argument unresolved and the air thick with tension, like a storm cloud that refuses to break. each step he took echoed the unresolved discord, leaving behind an atmosphere laden with unspoken words and the heavy silence of lingering conflict.

»--•--«

you paced around your room, your phone in your hands, like a restless spirit trapped within a confined space. every step you took mirrored the turmoil within, the device in your grasp a silent witness to your inner conflict and the unrelenting cycle of thoughts swirling in your mind.

the screen cast its glow on your face as you contemplated sending matt a text message. the soft luminescence highlighted the furrows of your brow, a testament to your inner turmoil. you wanted to resolve the fight you had yesterday, for you believed that leaving a conflict unresolved was like allowing a wound to fester, deepening the rift and eroding the foundation of understanding and trust.

you let out a sigh, swallowing your pride as you sent the message. it was as though you were casting a fragile olive branch across a chasm, each word a delicate thread weaving through the tapestry of your strained relationship, seeking to mend the frayed edges with humility and hope.

“hey, i’m sorry for how things ended last night. can we talk?”

the thing was, you didn't want to break up with him. the mere thought of severing that bond felt more daunting than dangling yourself off a cliff, where the precipice represented the abyss of life without him, a void you couldn't fathom enduring.

he wasn't like the other guys you dated; he was a rare gem of compassion and understanding. his presence was like a gentle breeze that soothed your soul, a stark contrast to the tempestuous winds that had blown through your past relationships.

before matt, you had only ever dated self-indulgent men who projected their problems onto you. they were akin to tempestuous gales, relentless in their pursuit of emotional dominance, leaving you battered and drained.

each relationship felt like navigating through an unending storm, where you were the anchor weighed down by their ceaseless torrents of negativity and self-absorption.

their issues became your burdens, overshadowing your own needs and desires, until matt appeared like a beacon of light, guiding you away from the darkness.

he took the time to meticulously commit to memory the intricate tapestry of your being—your deepest fears, loftiest hopes, and most cherished dreams. his attentiveness was akin to an artist studying every nuance of a masterpiece, ensuring that each brushstroke captured the essence of your soul with unparalleled precision and care.

you cherished every moment spent in his company, for he possessed an uncanny ability to articulate words that resonated deeply within you, effortlessly evoking smiles and laughter. the prospect of spending your entire life in his presence, basking in the warmth of his wisdom and the comfort of his companionship, seemed far from undesirable; it felt like a serene and fulfilling journey.

minutes stretch into what feels like an eternity as you anxiously await a response. just as the tendrils of despair begin to take hold, a sudden knock at the door shatters the silence. you open it to find matt standing there, still clad in his hockey gear, helmet in hand, his face flushed and glistening from the exertion of practice.

"okay, let’s talk,” he intones, his voice imbued with sincerity, his eyes delving deeply into yours with a searching intensity.

you step aside to let him enter, your heart pounding with a tumultuous rhythm. as he crosses the threshold, you feel a mixture of relief and apprehension. "i'm scared, matt. last night was our biggest argument, and you are the best boyfriend i have ever had. i'm scared for us... and i just want you to stay," you whisper, your voice barely audible, trembling with the weight of your fears and hopes intertwined. your eyes search his face for reassurance, while your hands nervously fidget with the hem of your shirt.

matt sets his helmet down with a deliberate gentleness, his footsteps echoing softly as he walks over to you. his expression softens, the tension in his features melting away. "i'm here," he murmurs, taking your hands in his, the warmth of his touch offering a fleeting comfort. "i'm sorry too. i don't want to leave things unresolved." his voice carries a weight of sincerity, each word carefully chosen to bridge the chasm that had formed between you.

you move to the living room, each step heavy with the remnants of last night's tension. as you sit down on the couch, the air still thick with unresolved emotions, the urgency in matt's arrival brings a glimmer of hope. he looks at you, his eyes filled with a fierce determination. "i rushed over because i realized how important this is to me. i don't want to lose you," he declares, his voice imbued with a raw honesty that cuts through the lingering unease.

you nod, tears welling up in your eyes, shimmering like fragile glass. "i don't want to lose you either. we need to find a way to communicate better, to truly understand each other," you say, your voice quivering with the intensity of your emotions. each word is a plea, a delicate thread reaching out to weave a stronger bond between you both.

matt takes a deep breath, his voice steady and resolute. "i know i can be stubborn sometimes, and i hate that i made you feel like i wasn't listening," he says, each word carefully measured. "i want to change that." his gaze remains unwavering, a silent promise reflected in his eyes, as if he is willing to dismantle his own walls brick by brick for the sake of your connection.

you squeeze his hand, your heart aching with the desire to bridge the chasm that lies between you. "and i need to work on not shutting down when things get tough," you admit, your voice tinged with vulnerability. "we both have things to improve, but i believe we can do it." your words hang in the air, a testament to your shared commitment to growth and understanding.

you sit in silence for a moment, the weight of your words settling like a gentle snowfall. matt reaches out, his fingers tenderly brushing a strand of hair from your face. "you mean the world to me," he murmurs, his voice a soft caress. "i don't want a single fight to make us forget that." his words are a balm, soothing the raw edges of your heart and reaffirming the depth of your connection.

you lean into his touch, feeling the warmth of his hand against your cheek as a comforting embrace. "i feel the same way," you whisper, your voice filled with a quiet resolve. "let's promise to always come back to each other, no matter what." your words are a solemn vow, a beacon of hope in the midst of uncertainty, binding your hearts with an unbreakable thread of commitment.

matt nods, his eyes filled with a newfound resolve, a spark of determination igniting within them. "i promise," he declares, his voice steady and unwavering. "from now on, we'll face everything together." his words are an oath, a pledge to stand united against the trials that may come, fortifying the bond that holds you both.

in that moment, bathed in the golden embrace of the morning light, you both know that you are ready to face your challenges head-on, united in your unwavering commitment to each other. the river of your relationship may be turbulent at times, but like the river shaping the stone, your love will only grow stronger through adversity. each trial and tribulation will carve deeper grooves of understanding and resilience, fortifying the bond that holds you together.

taglist @imwetforyourmom @meatballzerz69 @bandanamatt @pinkishpearls @thedangerousalleyway @sturniolo-0bsessed @muchloveforhacker @stinkytinkywinky @jetameivous @everleiqh

[aeshnacyanea2000]

'The Mended Drum?' said Lias. 'They throw axes!' 'We'd be safe there. The Guild won't play in there,' said Glod. 'Well, yah, dey lose members in there. Their members lose members,' said Lias.

-- Terry Pratchett - Soul Music

[dreaming-medium]

Animals Without Direction Masterlist

Cover Art by @seochngbin 🤍❤️🖤

Ao3 Link - Latest Update (September 17th) - Chapter Forty

⚔️ Updates every Thursday ⚔️

(On a brief “hiatus”— updates infrequent due to life) Character Descriptions World Map ot8 x reader Stray Kids Fantasy!AU 18+ MDNI

WARNINGS: THIS STORY CONTAINS HEAVY THEMES OF VIOLENCE, GENOCIDE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, HATE CRIMES, AND OTHER SENSITIVE TOPICS.

Tags: Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Swordfighting, Magic, Eventual Smut, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Fluff and Smut, Romance, Adventure, Fighting, High Fantast, Slow Burn, Extremely Slow Burn, Plot Heavy

Summary:

“No.” Your voice was stern, your eyes didn’t even look up from the plate in front of you. A healthy helping of roasted potatoes being pushed around by the metal fork in your hand.

“I am offering you a hefty sum of gold,” the man’s voice pleaded with you.

“I am well aware of the amount you offer, but you must think me mad to go anywhere near Miroh.”

“Thrice the amount, then.”

You paused.

Swallowing your mouthful of food, you placed your fork back on the table; tonguing your cheek and shifting on your seat.

Individually, you cracked each knuckle on both hands, your mind reeling.

“Explain the job to me once more.”

Chapter One - Thrice The Amount Chapter Two - Stained Glass Window Chapter Three - Red and Gold Throw Pillows Chapter Four - Sword Sparks Chapter Five - Careful, Merchant Chapter Six - Aye, My Lord Chapter Seven - Decree Chapter Eight - Twenty Laps Chapter Nine - Clear Your Plate Chapter Ten - By First Light Chapter Eleven - Permitted to Die Chapter Twelve - Rest Chapter Thirteen - Jump Chapter Fourteen - Quite Certain Chapter Fifteen - Serendipitously Chapter Sixteen - Make it in Three Chapter Seventeen - Hang in There Chapter Eighteen - Sunshine in the Night Chapter Nineteen - Dance Lessons Chapter Twenty - While Dancing Chapter Twenty One - Mend Chapter Twenty Two - Of Course Chapter Twenty Three - Tea With Sugar Chapter Twenty Four - Dagger Chapter Twenty Five - The Gracious Host Chapter Twenty Six - The Dove Waltz Chapter Twenty Seven - Imported Cigars Chapter Twenty Eight - Use Chapter Twenty-Nine - Between Two Walls Chapter Thirty - Missed You Chapter Thirty-One - Bonfire Chapter Thirty-Two - Music of the World Chapter Thirty-Three - Stay Here Chapter Thirty-Four - Ward Chapter Thirty-Five - Sunset Chapter Thirty-Six - Drums Chapter Thirty-Seven - The Horn of Miroh Chapter Thirty-Eight - Four Hundred and Thirteen Chapter Thirty-Nine - By The Six Chapter Forty - Mortal's Touch

[dimity-lawn]

[stcknpoke]

Kiss Me Silly

content Arthur Morgan x reader, established relationship, fluffiest fluff that this rusty old hopeless romantic could write. First fic I’ve written in years, please be nice! Reader welcomes Arthur back home after he’s been away on a mission, suggestive ending.

Word Count: 1270 | AO3

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

The past few days had been a painful waiting game. Many of the men, including your dearest Arthur, had been away with no word on when they’d be back. The days hadn’t been any different than usual; the same monotonous chores driven by Miss Grimshaw’s ever-present nagging, the same mystery stew, the same gossip with the girls. It was the nights that wore down on your soul like a drip, slowly but surely eroding away its own path on a boulder. The quiet of the half-empty camp and the missing heartbeat from your bed were the drip, and the path they wore on you was the fear and the doubt. Only at night was it quiet enough for those ugly thoughts to simmer in your mind; thoughts of Arthur shot down and lying dead somewhere. Thoughts of your big, strong man, who always protected everyone else, being unable to protect himself anymore.

The creeping fingers of night were just beginning to take hold of the land, raking away the last remnants of sunset from the sky. You sat next to Abigail, talking just to keep busy, mending one of Arthur’s shirts as you spoke. You could tell John’s lingering absence was wearing on her. She had confided in you the fears that it brought back to her, the way it reminded her of when he had left. The pair of you tried to chat as usual, but in the tense atmosphere any attempt at small talk came out stilted and awkward. Eventually, Abigail left to put Jack to sleep, leaving you with just your thoughts. Your thoughts, and the shirt that you kept scrunching and unscrunching between your fists. It was Arthur’s, and it needed badly to be stitched up. It was an easy enough patch job, it could have taken just 20 minutes to fix, but you had been avoiding changing anything from the way he had left it. So you dawdled, lazily pulling the thread along the torn edges, wasting time to stop and inhale the scent of smoke and sweat, wasting even more time scrunching it as you absentmindedly did now. It wasn’t until the needle pricked into the palm of your hand that you were reminded of the task that you were so close to finishing in the dying light.

A short while later, after just a bit more forlorn procrastination, the shirt was finally good as new. The sun had dipped low beyond the horizon and the sky had blackened, illuminated only by the campfire. The night’s symphony was in full swing; frogs croaking, crickets chirping, a soft breeze that rustled the leaves in a way it could only do under the cover of darkness. Breaking through the predictable night sounds came a deep and irregular drumming, the beating of hooves on the path. Your heartbeat began to quicken as the drumming grew nearer, with both fear of the unknown and anticipation for the expected. Each second drew on like hours, but quickly the horses reached camp and at once the heartbeat of camp returned. You raced toward Arthur, who barely had time to dismount his horse before your arms were thrown around him. Had it been any other man, the enthusiastic impact may have caused him to sway; but Arthur’s burly frame stood strong against the earth, arms returning your embrace.

“Whoah there, batterin’ ram.” he chuckled low under his breath, fatigue creeping in against the edges of his amusement.

You backed away to study his face, his features tired but smiling down at you. “Sorry, just missed ya is all.” you exhaled softly, wasting no time in embracing the man once again. This time, however, your hands clasping behind his shoulders were met with a sharp sting permeating your palm. Recoiling in surprise, you looked at the palm to see the sewing needle from the shirt you were still holding lodged deep into the palm of your hand. “Shit” you cursed under your breath.

Arthur gently took your hand. “C’mere,” he spoke as he looked at the needle. With one smooth motion he removed the metal from the skin. He lifted the palm of your hand to his lips. “All better.” he murmured against your skin, somewhere between a whisper and a kiss. 

He still held your hand firmly in his, but you raised the mended shirt that you still held in your other hand. “Fixed your shirt.” you said as you raised it, its existence somehow proof of its new quality. Arthur only hummed in acknowledgement as he moved to kiss your wrist. 

The edge of camp where you had run to him was empty now, the other men having left to reunite with the campfire. You took a step towards Arthur, becoming aware of the isolation that the darkness offered. Arms draped over his shoulders and around his neck, you leaned upwards to plant a soft kiss to his jawline. After days on the road, his face scratched your lips in a way it hadn’t before. “I missed you.” you whispered against his shoulder , tracing a finger over the spot on his chin where the hair never grew.

He pulled you tighter into his embrace. “I hate to’ leave ya’.” It was his way of returning your sentiment. 

Your lips followed where your hand had traced, leaving a tender kiss against a long-healed scar. “I know…” you exhaled, cupping his square jaw in his hands. You trailed your soft and pouty lips across his face, weathered and scratchy from his stubble. Peppering kisses across his face; from his temples to his chin, the wrinkled outer corners of his eyes to the bent bridge of his nose. The corners of his mouth, but deliberately avoiding his lips. Every scar, proof of pain, was overpowered by merciful love.

He held you, a tender embrace between terrible people, as he guided your chin with his index finger and his thumb. He met your lips with the kind of comfortable familiarity one rarely finds, even in one's own self. Your lips interlocked together, as if they were puzzle pieces made to fit the other pair. How had life passed by before you had known each other? The lingering taste of tobacco and wild mint clung to him, his lips tasted like home. His rough fingers brushed across your cheek as he moved to hold you by the face, savouring his turn to take in the beauty that he had missed while away. Gazing into your heavily-lidded eyes, obscured in the darkness by thick lashes, he brushed a calloused thumb against your plush lower lip as he leaned in to kiss you once more.

You were a strange pair; two outlaws surrounded by a world of death and hurt and somehow it was the comfort of life that sprang forth whenever your spirits met. Though the grim reaper seemed to be your stalker, and Arthur’s closest business partner, darkness and death turned a blind eye to this love. Like a sense of yin and yang, there was some purity left in the blackened hearts of this world. The pair of you weren’t so different, just two souls forced to do wrong in this world. Together, it finally felt like you were doing something right.

Arthur leaned his head away from your lips to speak. “Been away for so long,” he started, brushing a strand of hair away from your eyes. “I wanna do more than jus’ kiss ya’.” he smirked. 

You grabbed him by the hand, “Well then, Mr. Morgan, I think you are in for a lucky night.” you teased back, guiding him to his tent.

[spookypete-94]

Dark Horse-Matching Bands

Chapter 8 (Final Chapter)

PriceXFem!Reader

Reader is a single mother, working double shifts at a restaurant. Father of the child starts to become a problem while reader is at work and Price offers a solution. Slight age gap between reader around 25 and Price around 35.

This is it! This chapter is lots of fluff, happy ending. After this is completed plan on working some more Simon things and then have an idea of returning to this, but writing it through Price's POV. Will be darker in influence than this one however. Think our Captain is a little more selfish then what this story portrays. Kind of like the other half of the coin thing.

Thank you all for taking the time and reading this series, just really wanted to do something sweet. <3 I truly do appreciate this fanbase and its readers.

Adrenaline had worn off by the time you had reached your bed. Body heavy like someone had tucked concrete into it making relief fill you by the time you had hit your pillow. After it all, you really thought sleep was going to be hard… but honestly it was the easiest that had been delivered to you all night.

In fact, when you woke up in the morning, you felt so far out of it. Honestly, you probably could have slept for another 5 hours. Finally forcing yourself to come to, you realized it was your phone vibrating on the nightstand. Quickly picking it up, you palmed it until it answered.

“Mornin’, lovie.” Your heart mended and melted at the voice.

“John.”

“How’d you sleep love?”

“Honestly… not terrible.”

“Best you have in a while, huh.” He had wanted it to sound like a question, but instead it came out as a matter-of-fact statement. You both know why you slept so well. You had no reason to fear anymore. Your biggest fear was dead.

“Yeah… How’s Abel?”

“Still sleepin’, him, Johnny and Kyle stayed up late telling ghost stories.” There was a joke hidden somewhere in there, sleep just kept it hidden from you.

“He catch any fish?” You asked instead.

“He did, learned to clean them too. Had a proper day of teaching with him.”

It made you smile. The idea of Abel spending time with a male figure that was teaching him real life lessons.

“Good.”

“I’ll have him call you when he wakes up. Think you should probably go make a cuppa’ and turn the news on for now love.” A hint. An order what had been done last night.

“Ok, see you in a while John.”

Finally doing what he advised, you sat with a cup of coffee in your hands steam still rising off the top. The remote was on the table in front of you, parallel with the TV.

It seemed so far away and the thought of picking it up to turn the TV on almost too heavy for you. Like the concrete from last night had returned all at once. A heavy breath in, you reached for it, powering it on and flipping on the news.

The very first headline BODY HAS BEEN FOUND.

Instantly, you shut your eyes, seeing the murder scene all over once again in your small bathroom. Forcing them back open, you watched. Listening intently while the newscaster explained that a male body had been found in an alleyway after what looked like a bar fight gone wrong.

The face was so mangled from a beer bottle they assumed; they were having a hard time identifying the victim. Your heart pounded so loudly, Blood trying to reach your head filling your ears, rushing like an ocean and beating like a drum. You had done this. You had destroyed any facial recognition of him… all by your hand. The thoughts came in like a flood. The father of your child. What kind of monster were you?

A loud knocking on your door brought you back, making you jump and spill coffee down the front of John’s shirt. Quickly jumping up to look through the peephole, two officers stood waiting. Like the good girl you were, you opened the door for them.

“Morning Ma’am, may we come in?” They politely asked. Giving a wide birth on the door, you obliged.

“We’re here to notify you of some news…”

Afternoon had rolled around. You sat outside waiting for their vehicle to pull up. John had kept his promise to you, and Abel had called you shortly after the officers left. After Abel had passed the phone back to your husband he asked about your visitors. Finding it strange that you had not told John about the officers stopping by yet to give you a death notification, you still told him about it.

 One of the officers had known John, his name Alex Keller, a detective for the force. Alex had called you by your maiden name, politely you corrected him and explained how you were freshly married, what your new name was and who you married.

“Have known John for a long time. Good man.”

Maybe Alex had called John to let him know he met you and what had happened…

Seemingly they asked a few questions about your personal life with your ex. How long you had known him, how you had known him. The basic stuff. News to you however, your ex had been estranged from his family for years now. He had no relationship with them whatsoever. They had tried to reach out to his parents, but they had cut him off due to behavioral problems. How ironic his own knew what kind of person he was and chose to do nothing about it. All the officers were looking for was a few answers and a place to do a proper death notification.

“Do you see it possible that he could have been in involved in a bar fight?”

“Yes,” you honestly nodded.

“Did he have anger problems?”

“Yes.”

From there you told the tale of the physical and verbal abuse from the very beginning… all the way to his untimely end.

“Well Mrs. Price, we are sorry for your loss. At this time, it is still under investigation, but it appears to us that he was involved in a bar fight. Was attacked with a beer bottle and then strangled. His wallet was left behind with his ID, but nothing else in it. It looks to be a murder and mugging. Here’s our contact if you need anything else from us.”

It seemed so routine for them, like they had expected this outcome from you already. The innocent baby momma rid of the evil that plagues her and her child. Towards the end, it was like someone had held up a seashell to your ear. You could hear the conversation… but it was like they were so far away at the same time. Shock was settling in. Thankfully it wasn’t long after that, they had left your humble abode. Pleasantries exchanged and not even a suspect on the list…  How was this possible?

And there you sat on the porch, waiting in a chair outside… Counting your lucky stars you were not placed in a jumpsuit behind bars. Still wearing the guilt all the same. Your happiness finally arriving on 4 wheels as a little boy jumped out to greet you.

“Mom!”

John had stopped to pick up dinner. Your favorite to try to cheer you up and thank you for letting him go on a trip shortly after you were married.

Finding the words finally at the dinner table, you explained to him to the best of your ability about his father passing.

Abel took it in stride. Yes, he was hurt and disturbed someone could do this his father, but he was the sweet boy you had raised after all. Abel did start asking a few questions, where John thankfully took over for you. He could tell it was hard for you to lie to Abel about what had really happened. It was something you would never ever tell him, wanting to take it to your grave now. John and his boys being the only ones who knew what had happened. Of course, none of them saw the sin in it like you did, they only saw justice. Simon, in fact telling you once that if was not you that really killed him, it was Ghost himself that had. Like it was a joke, trying to make you feel better. All it could do was place a sad smile on your lips.

“Worlds better of without him.” John had grumbled into your ear once you were both settled into bed, hand rubbing up and down your sides. That was the moment you tried to explain to John, it was not the fact that it was the man that had hurt you over and over since you were a teenager, but the fact it was a human life in general.

“Happens every day. Eventually bad behavior is answered one way or another.”

“But it makes me bad too.” You argued in a whispered hiss to him.

“No, it makes you a mother willing to defend what is hers. You really expect me to believe that you were goin’ to let him take you away from Abel and I? He paid his consequence. We could have worked it out like adults.” His hand had found your ring finger on your left-hand stroking over his mother’s band, something he seemed to do when you or he needed soothed.

Reaching for his hand, you realized it had a wedding band in return. Pulling it up out of the sheets glancing at it, knowing you had not given him one yet. It was opal on set in gold that matched yours.

“Had it made with the stone that Abel got on his field trip. The maker rushed it for me so we could match.”

“It’s pretty…” you whispered, holding it up yours. Husband and Wife finally made whole. Married for convenience for you, convenience you would ironically not need any more since your ex was dead.

It wouldn’t change anything for you though, you would pick John over and over in this lifetime and the next. He had shown you loyalty and love in a time and place no other stranger would… Except the other three of John’s that made it clear they envied their Captain that is. Who knew a group of men could care so much for a woman in dire need of it. Perhaps soldiers made the best lovers when created correctly? Who knew.

Life had changed so much in just a few years. Thinking back, you had always just pictured yourself working and slaving away at the diner. Yes, you were grateful for it, but a part of you would always want more for yourself and Abel. Here it finally was. In a new strong and sturdy house John had built for you. Working part time at the diner now, home at night with Abel and John. Sometimes John would be gone for months at a time, not always able to communicate with you either. Worry sometimes would fill your mind, but he always found his way back to you.

On one of his returns, he had given you a child. Now round with his seed, ready to pop he sat with you at the hospital. This time was entirely different. Instead of having to do it alone here John was with you. Not able to go to every appointment, he at least made the milestone ones. When worry and panic would rise within you from the pregnancy, he would quell it down. Thumb rubbing across your wedding band making you reach for his to do the same. Life was perfect. Honestly it left you confused on what exactly you had done to deserve such an outcome, but maybe if you didn’t question it, whatever greater force was out there would let you keep it.

Being thankful rewarded you with a healthy, beautiful little girl, a branch off John’s tree. Her bright blue eyes identical to his with his heavy brown locks. After all John had given you, you let him name her. A man of pattern and devotion, he named her after his mother. Sarah. So here you sat… babe bundled into a blanket in a rocking chair watching John and Abel out in the yard. No longer haunted, you were protected and loved. More importantly though, Abel and Sarah would be defended for their childhood. Something that was not provided to you or John.

Life is good.

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