#adventure awaits (basics)

[undefeatablesin]

Happy SOTE day everyone we are 4.5 hours from launch here and I am just about ready to keel over with excitement amen ✨️

[libertys-lovers]

[yailtsv]

Day 6

December Baby - pazzi!moms

Sum: celebrating Rory’s first birthday with the UConn team

Warnings: fluff, talks of death,a little bit of sadness maybe?

Note: this was so cute to write 🥹 I hope you guys like it

Happy Holidays!! I hope everyone has safe travels

Pair: Pazzi x daughter!oc (Rory)

Wc: 2.5k

My masterlist Rorys masterlist

Rory’s now been in Paige and Azzi’s care for 1 month and a few days, it’s definitely been an adjustment but they’re getting the hang of it. Geno and CD made some adjustments with the team dorm rooms so Paige and Azzi could have their own with Rory, and it’s been amazing not having to worry about waking up Jana, Allie, Ice, or Morgan when Rory was having trouble sleeping or waking up with nightmares.

Although they are in a separate dorm they’re still in the same building as the team, so the team comes to visit basically every day or p & a goes to one of their dorms with Rory. They are all basically raising Rory and Paige and Azzi couldn’t be more grateful and blessed to have this many people willing to help them with this new adventure.

See Rory is their goddaughter, p & a share a mutual friend - Kayden. Her and her husband sadly passed away in a car accident in October, and with p&a being her godmother’s they were to get custody of Rory unless they said they couldn’t do it - which wasn’t an option. Yes Paige and Azzi are public athletes with huge followings and eyes on them but they were not gonna let Rory go into the system, but they also weren’t gonna let the internet get to her.

Yes the internet knows she’s their goddaughter and p&a have and still do occasionally post her same with all the UConn girls - the only rule is that they all cover Rory’s face. Paige and Azzi want to be able to control what the internet sees of Rory and currently they themselves aren’t comfortable posting her face on the internet so no one does - and if anyone does they always use an emoji to cover her face.

Today is Rory’s first birthday and it’s already a special day, but Paige and Azzi are also gaint sentimental people and are trying their absolute hardest to make it more special even if Rory won’t remember it - and it just so happens to also be the teams annual christmas party at Genos.

So the plan is to eat breakfast, open the gifts that p & a bought for Rory, then just spend time together for a few hours before they start getting ready to leave for Genos at 4:30. Paige and Azzi decided to let Rory sleep in a little as she had a rough night but it’s currently 10:45am and breakfast is fresh off the stove - which leads us to now.

“Good morning princess, happy birthday” Azzi says while rubbing Rory’s stomach trying to wake her up. Rory just grumbles in her sleep putting her fists to her eyes and rubbing and then starts trying to turn around “baby it’s time to wake up. I made your favorite breakfast and Paigey is in the living room with a few surprises for you.” Azzi says now rubbing Rory’s sides knowing Rory always has a tough time with waking up.

Rory grumbles again and slowly opens her eyes “There’s my beautiful princess, hi” Azzi says picking Rory up and holding her to her front. Rory just cuddles closer to Azzi wrapping an arm around her bicep and the other gripping her shirt. “You wanna go see Paigey? She has some surprises for you.” Azzi says already starting to walk to the door not awaiting Rory’s response because she can’t talk yet.

“Hi baby” Paige says standing up as Azzi walks into the living room and starts walking towards Azzi to meet her in the middle. Rory lifts her head up from resting underneath Azzis chin and un grips Azzis shirt, reaching that hand out to Paige.

Paige took the hint and picked Rory up from Azzi’s arms “good morning sweetheart, happy birthday” Paige says kissing Rory on the forehead and starting to rub her back. Rory just snuggles into Paige’s neck with her hand also gripping onto P’s shirt.

“Let’s get you some food hm?” Azzi says rubbing Rory’s back when she passes Paige to get to the kitchen - making Paige follow behind her and sit down at the dining table holding Rory on her lap.

“Here ya go” Azzi says placing two paper plates in front of Paige - one for her and one with food cut up into tiny pieces for Rory. “Thank you mama” Paige says leaning up and kissing Azzi “mhm you’re welcome” Azzi responds while going back to the kitchen to get her own plate, before sitting next to Paige at the table.————————————————————-After breakfast Paige and Azzi helped Rory open her gifts from them - which Rory was not impressed by that whole ordeal, she just wanted the toys immediately.

And once that was completed they all played with Rory’s new toys for a little bit before turning on a Disney movie, deciding to have a movie marathon before they have to get ready to go to Genos house.

When it reached 3pm that’s when they ended the movie marathon, deciding on Paige giving Rory a bath while Azzi picks up their mess and then also takes a shower and gets dressed into grinch pj pants and a black shirt - then switching off with Paige getting Rory dressed into a fuzzy bear onesie while Paige takes a shower then gets dressed in the same pjs as Azzi. —————————————————————They have now been at Genos for around 25 minutes. Geno immediately took Rory once P & A walked in and took her to the kitchen letting her try so many different desserts his wife had made. Paige and Azzi knew she was gonna get a sugar rush but decided to let Rory have fun - but they know they will definitely regret letting her eat so much sugar later.

After around another 20 minutes or so everyone has finally arrived. The team decided to do Secret Santa this year so they didn’t all have to buy 16+ gifts each - but apparently that rule didn’t apply to Rory because they all walked through that door with at least two presents each for Rory - not including geno, cd, and their spouses. Using the excuse “we’re celebrating Christmas and her birthday, we get to spoil her”

Dinner came first, Genos wife made a delicious lasagna with a salad and breadsticks. Geno & CD have been taking turns with Rory all night and completely ignoring all the other UConn girl’s asking to hold Ro.

Rory was currently sitting on Genos lap at the head of the dining table with him carefully feeding her “Are you sure you don’t want me to take her? Your foods gonna get cold” Azzi says towards Geno making him look up from feeding Rory a small piece of a breadstick. “I’m sure. Eat your food. I got Rory, she’s fine.” Geno says while Rory slaps his hand (more like taps his hand) telling him that she wants more food, making Azzi, Paige, and everyone laugh at Rory’s way of telling coach to shut up and feed her. ————————————————————-After dinner was presents. Paige, Aubrey, and Ayanna volunteered to pass out all the presents with Rory having two separate piles of gifts. 1 wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper and the other wrapped in birthday wrapping paper. Both piles were giant - actually giant doesn’t even describe it. Blame Geno and CD there the rich ones.

“Guys…” Azzi starts in a disappointed voice “This is to much, we can’t accept all this” Paige finished for Azzi, both looking at the giant piles of gifts in front of them all for their goddaughter.

“You can and you will, or you can run laps at practice for 4 months” Geno says looking at them and then shrugging. Paige and Azzi look at each other communicating with their eyes on what to do in this situation - deciding they’d rather not run laps for 4 months on top of their already grueling practices.

Everyone took turns on opening their gifts, lots of laughs and cry’s and eventually hugs once the secret santas came clean about who they got. Then it was Rory’s turn - automatically meaning Paige and Azzi’s turn because Rory does not know what’s happening right now.

Opening all of her gifts took at least 2 hours alone and P&A are extremely grateful for it to be over. Rory got a lot of clothes she can grow into along with shoes, toys, books, Jana made her two blankets, basically you name it and there’s at least one of that thing…thanks Geno,CD, and UConn Girls

Paige decided to load up what Rory wasn’t playing with in the car now so she didn’t have to do it tomorrow morning, after she came back in from the second trip she saw all the girls starting to pick up Rory’s gifts and start walking towards the front door “thank you” Paige says gratefully while they walk to her car

“I mean it is all of our faults she has this many gifts in the first place” Aubrey says walking past Paige. Paige laughs at that and grabs more gifts takings them to the car. ————————————————————-After some time of just talking, playing games, or playing with Rory’s toys, CD and Geno get up randomly and just walk into the kitchen without saying anything making everyone stare at the kitchen entry confused.

Geno eventually comes out carrying Rory’s high chair that he bought for Rory back in October when she was first put in P & A’s custody, and a table cloth. He spreads out the table cloth on the floor and then puts the high chair right in the center - all with every UConn girly staring at him like he’s crazy.

He then turns off all the light’s making the only lighting be the Christmas tree, candles, and the random Christmas lights hung around the house. “What is happening” kk whispers to Ice making her just shrug

CD then starts walking back into the room carrying a small cake with a number 1 candle, lit up and starts singing happy birthday with geno also starting to sing the song.

All of the UConn girls quickly jump in making Paige and Azzi look at each other knowing what’s about to happen and sigh. Paige grabs Rory from in front of her feet and sets her on her lap, quickly unzipping her bear onesie to leave her in her diaper. Paige then stands up placing Rory on her hip - making Azzi also stand up and they walk around the couch and to the high chair. Paige places Rory down in the seat and buckles her up and then steps backwards a little bit to Azzi.

All of the girls also made their way around the couch holding up their phones and recording - p&a doing the same. Once the song concludes CD places the cake on the tray in front of Rory - her immediately sticking her hand into the side of the cake and bringing it to her face. CD immediately grabs the burning candle out of the cake and blows it out so Rory doesn’t get hurt.

They all record Rory punching the cake with her fist and then bringing her fist to her face, making an absolute mess all over her, the high chair, and the table cloth.

After some time Rory seems to be not interested in the cake anymore so Paige lifts the messy baby out of the high chair and starts carrying her to the bathroom to wash Rory up.

While Paige is doing that the UConn girls decide to tag team the mess and all pick it up together while the adults go and pack up the leftover food and clean up the kitchen. ——————————————————————It’s now 12:30am, Geno and his wife went up to bed hours ago and CD and her husband are in one of the guest bedrooms but all the UConn girls are in the living room talking. Rory’s asleep on Azzi’s chest hugging onto her while Paige is sitting next them with her arm wrapped around the back of Azzi’s neck. “You guys are good at this” Jana says after a few moments of silence “for real bro, your guys lives changed completely one day and you guys have just been handling it like it’s just another road to cross” KK cuts in

“Right?! I thought you guys would’ve been panicking and not know what to do when she got here, but here you guys are” Ice say’s with Aubrey and Ayanna cutting in with their agreement to that statement

“Couldn’t have done it without you guys” Paige says looking at the girls while her head is tilted on Azzi’s “yes you could have, you guys have gone through so many things together, I didn’t have any doubt that you guys could be the best family for this grieving baby” Caroline said making all the girls say some sort of agreement

“I speak for all of us “freshies”, we haven’t personally known you guys as much as the others have, but your relationship is one of the most beautiful stories and strongest too. I full believe you could have done it without us, but we will never know because you’re always gonna have us. “ Kaitlyn says with Sarah, Allie & Morgan nodding along

“They’re all right, you guys are great at this whole parenting stuff - even when you had to do this during such a hard time for the three of you.” Ashlynn adds in “what did we do to deserve you guys omg” Azzi says freeing one of her hands from Rory’s back and lifting it to her face and wiping some tears

“You guys deserve the world and more” Ayanna says with the girls agreeing with her.———————————————————Everyone’s asleep now minus Paige and Azzi. They’re laying on the bed in their guest room on their sides facing each other with Rory asleep in between them “I can’t believe she’s one.” Azzi starts saying “I can’t believe she’s one and Kayden and Max aren’t here to see where she goes in life” Azzi says drawing slow shapes on Rory’s stomach

“I get it. I’ve been struggling with the fact that they weren’t gonna be able to celebrate her first birthday since they passed. Actually it’s really more of ‘all the milestones they’re gonna miss’ that I’ve been struggling with.” Paige starts “They’re never going the hear her talk, see her walk for the first time, celebrate her birthdays with her, watch her do something she loves, watch her graduate, watch her fall in love and get married, watch her be a mother. They won’t get to know anything about their daughter or what she looks like, and that fact is absolutely devastating to me.”

Azzi doesn’t know how to respond to that so they both just sit in silence watching Rory sleep peacefully “We need to tell her about her parents as soon as she understands the words we’re saying” Azzi says still watching Rory and drawing shapes on her stomach “as soon as we can” Paige promises leaning over and kissing Azzi

[foone]

whats your favourite narnia book if you have one

Since I grew up as an autistic christian, I have many Narnia Opinions!

So, my favorite book for it's own reasons is probably The Magician's Nephew. I'm always a slut for worldbuilding and backstory and that novel is basically just only that. Some guy we know from another book goes on an adventure and in the process gets to be involved with the creation of one world and the destruction of another? kick-ass.

Best book to adapt? The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. 1988 BBC version, 1979 Cartoon version, 2005 theatrical? All good, in their own ways. The BBC version is just perfectly 80s and the costumes are amazing (because they are costumes! they did all the monsters by sticking a guy in a big costume and I love it), the cartoon version captures the fucking whimsy of a story where SANTA SHOWS UP AND GIVES EVERYONE PRESENTS and the first person to offer any serious lore about the situation is named MR BEAVER. And the 2005 film has the big battles and CGI and Tilda Swinton as the White Witch which is... so much. I love them all.

But the best book adaptation is the 1990 BBC The Silver Chair. Hands down. It's got Tom Baker's Puddleglum, Warwick Davis playing an owl, 0£ BBC budget greenscreened giants (MULTIPLE TIMES), a group of people discovering IT'S A COOKBOOK and one of them being offended by the cookbook saying they don't taste very good, the bad guy turning into a giant rubber snake. a witch trying to gaslight some humans into believing the sun is a myth, and the ultimate salvation of Eustace Scrubb: a boy who almost deserved being named that.

And since I can't not list basically everything Narnia ever made, BBC's 1989 Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is pretty good too. It's a fun "road movie", in that it's an odyssey into a fictional Mysterious Ocean of Here There Be Dragons.

Lotta hits in that one. It's also got a "collect the macguffins!" plot where they're trying to collect the Seven Lost Lords.

But yeah, it's like... the first Island gets them a lord and they get to end slavery. Next up, Dragon TF island (The dragon is Greed... but it's also just a literal fucking dragon). Next, Gold TF island. Gold, it turns out, makes you go insane in your lust for wealth, even if you're already a Prince of a whole country. The gold is Greed, but it will also just fucking kill you because you'll be turned into gold.

Then it's the island of the ugly invisible one-foot guys and it turns out they cast a spell to turn invisible so no one could see how they're ugly but they're not ugly, they just think they are? and then it goes "HEY LUCY COMPARE YOURSELF TO YOUR OLDER SISTER" and she's like "I'm ugly.... unlike her. Maybe I should use magic to STEAL HER BEAUTY?!" and it's like, wow. Is there maybe a theme here about self-esteem in your appearance? and Clive Officemax Lewis is over there going I'LL NEVER TELL.

Anyway it's got the good line about how the Wizard in charge of the ugly invisible one-footed pogo-idiots is that how he eagerly awaits the day that they can be ruled by wisdom, instead of magic. It's a fun approach to magic: it's something that is a shortcut, a crutch, and it's a poor replacement for Wisdom, even when used by "the good guys". Tell me, Mr. FedexKinkos-Lewis, do you have any opinions on the complicated relationship between Christianity and magic? oh, you do? I never would have guessed!

They also find The Island Where Dreams Come True. They don't land there, they just fish a screaming man out of the ocean who is trying to escape it. The sailors hear it's The Island Where Dreams Come True and are like "wow, I could have my own ship!" and he yells no, you fools, not dreams like your wishes and imaginations, your actual dreams come true on this island.

and everyone agrees: Get us the fuck away from this island and lets never return.

Anyway I'm not gonna talk about THE ENTIRE MOVIE/BOOK but it's got a great weirdness at the end where they reach the end of the world (which is flat. It's okay, this is Narnia, a completely different world with different physical rules than Earth), and it's a waterfall, but a waterfall going up?

It turns out Heaven is on the other side of it. They turn around, but the anthropomorphic mouse is like "ehh, I'll take that journey" and becomes the Elijah of Aslan's Country, their equivalent of heaven.

Narnia, won't you?

[herdarkestnightelegance]

"Careful, I Bite"

My First - Part 1/3

Pairing: Astarion/ AFAB!Tav (you)

Warnings/tags: 18+, virginity, vulnerability, sexual tension, mature conversations and flirting, vaginal masturbation, explicit sexual fantasies (PiV), Act 1 spoilers

Length: ~ 5.5k words (they just keep getting longer, don’t they?)

Summary: Unable to resist his charms, you grow close with your handome, vampiric travel companion. Very close. The thing is just ... you've never been with anyone before ...

A/N: It's happening! My first venture into 🌶️ territory! Please know: No PHD thesis ever had this much lively back and forth and discussion as this fic! Thank you @nyx-knox for being the GOAT of beta-readers on what is basically group-project at his point and for your constant support and reassurance 🩷

Taglist: @wilteddreamsofbaldursgate , @littlelovelore, @onlyancunin @chaoticbardlady99 @ancuninfiles

:::::::

You have never felt this weird kind of nervousness before. 

It’s not the kind of suspense you feel before entering a dungeon full of goblins. It’s not the kind of pressure you feel when the eyes of your companions turn to you, awaiting a decision. No. This is a different, unfamiliar kind of stimulation to your nerves. It’s warm, yet tingly, it’s at the back of your mind constantly, making you smile one moment, then shake your head the next trying to escape the feeling. You find it increasingly difficult to think of anything else, even now while you are sitting on a log, warming yourself on your camp’s little fire. This has been going on for a few days now. And it’s entirely Astarion’s fault.

Astarion. The charming, flirty and admirably witty Vampire you’ve found yourself increasingly drawn to more and more with each passing day.

If you’re being honest … you kinda hated him when you first met. Headbutting him in the face was less than what he deserved for putting a knife to your throat! But you quickly understood that he was simply being cautious, scared, just as you’ve all been.

Everyone had been on edge the entire time as you tackled a whole cascade of challenges on your ongoing quest to find a cure: stopping druid rituals, fighting hags and harpies, vanquishing a whole camp of goblins. But throughout all of those adventures, you had noticed Astarion slowly gravitating towards you, closer and closer. And you found that you, too, were gravitating towards him. Which scared the absolute shit out of you.

When you woke up with his handsome face so close to yours that one night, you almost jumped out of your skin. His cool body hovering over yours, his breath on your neck … it immediately sent your mind - and your body - into overdrive.

Honestly? When you learned he was a vampire and that he was simply trying to drink your blood, you were almost relieved. Or … were you disappointed? You couldn’t tell. Because what you thought was going on for a split second was that Astarion - strange, intriguing Astarion - was actually trying to kiss you. And you didn’t entirely hate that thought? Right on the contrary! 

The thing was just that, well, you have never actually been kissed by anyone before.

While you were no stranger to pleasure, knowing full well how to take excellent care of yourself, you have never been in this position. With another person this close to you while you lay on your back. So many things raced through your mind when that admittedly devastatingly beautiful man knelt so close to you. You wanted to slide out from under him as quickly as you could. You wanted to slap him for not asking to kiss you first. And you also wanted him to pin you down on your bedroll and succeed in stealing that kiss from you. So badly. 

That thought was pushed to the side, though, when he revealed his vampiric nature to you. For the first time since you met on that beach, you felt like you were glimpsing a bit of him, the real him beneath that debonair facade. And you liked that he was confiding in you specifically. Those ruby eyes pleading for your help, his urgent voice trying to explain his situation, and his disarming charm, asking if you could trust him just a little further. Even though you were angry that he didn’t ask before he tried biting you, you knew you would have said yes if he had. And then …

“Let’s make ourselves comfortable, shall we?”

Your heart was racing a thousand beats an hour when you laid down back on your bedroll. You felt your cheeks flush, mixed with a tingling, cool nervous sensation on your skin. When Astarion leaned over you once more, one arm on each side of your head, you caught your breath. This felt so intimidating … so intimate. You felt exposed, excited, nervous, scared. And you wanted this. This was so unlike you. It was far more usual for you to be refusing the physical advances of others. But you didn’t want to refuse him. In fact, for the first time, you felt the exact opposite of your usual inclination. You wanted to allow him closer.

Astarion took up your entire field of vision, or at least it felt like all you could see was him. The way he held your gaze steadily made it impossible to look anywhere else. He had a soft, reassuring and thankful smile on his lips … and next thing you knew his fangs were piercing your skin. 

It hurt. At least for a moment. Your mind was racing, trying to take all of this in, all these new sensations: The ice-cold feeling of his fangs inside you, his body on top of yours, his cool lips touching and sucking on your warm skin, his increasingly heavy breathing so close to your ear, the pain … and the pleasure. 

When you felt him gently cupping the back of your head, you were about ready to actually kiss him. Feeling pressure building in your core, your legs began pressing together of their own volition, causing little jolts of lust to course through you as you felt a familiar heat rising between your thighs. You desperately wanted to wrap your arms around him, to sink your fingers into those beautiful white curls of his, give in to that delicious pain, wanting him to do more, to go further.

But instead you felt your head go woozy, snapping you out of your thoughts. No, this was too much. So you told him to stop, pushed him away gently yet firmly. You were panting, and so was he. He looked so radiant at that moment, so strong. It made you forget the pain in your neck, the way the world spun around you. He looked so happy, and you did that for him.

When Astarion turned around to leave, he stopped and thanked you, telling you he wouldn’t forget this gift you have given him. And you knew, neither would you. How in the Hells were you supposed to sleep now? After that? After you felt the weight of his body on yours, felt his soft lips on your skin, after being so close you smelled the slight perfume of … something herbal and citrusy? Gods!

You laid back down on your bedroll and for at least an hour you couldn’t sleep, your companions breathing calmly around you, unaware of what had happened. All you could think about was the image of Astarion, that little smile right before he bit into your neck, his hand caressing the back of your hair ever so slightly… 

You let out a sharp breath, feeling the slickness between your thighs. Might as well ... 

You unlaced the front of your trousers, looking around to your sleeping companions, who mercifully had either their backs turned or at least their heads facing away from you. You would just have to get this over with quickly. Biting your lips, you made yourself comfortable once more. 

Practiced fingers slid below the fabric and to the folds between your legs, finding them already wet and ready for some much-needed attention. You closed your eyes and sighed as you began touching yourself, massaging your clit as you had done many times before. The thing that was new, though, was the image in your mind: 

Ruby eyes piercing into yours with a desire so fierce it almost takes your breath away. You're lying naked next to the fire, a pale, equally naked, slender body between your open legs. And then the feeling of fangs penetrating your skin as Astarion’s cock penetrates you. A delighted smile flickered across your lips, both in your dream and in real life. “Look at you, my sweet Darling.” Astarion’s voice purrs into your ear, as he thrusts himself all the way into you, stretching you deliciously. “You are taking me so well.” Slowly he begins to roll his hips, knowing how to move just the way you want it, his thrusts quickly growing faster.

The pace of your own fingers grew faster alongside your fantasies, as you imagined what it would be like having him inside you, fucking you, filling you completely. A little whimper escaped your lips, it was hard to stay silent with your imagination running wild. 

“Gods, you’re so tight, my love,” he says as he spreads your legs even further, exposing you, watching your juices run down the inside of your thighs, angling himself perfectly to be able to fuck you even deeper, harder, more. He wants you, just as you want him. It’s almost too much, your inexperienced body barely able to handle his expert movements. And you feel the familiar coil tightening inside you. “Astarion …” you whisper, desperately holding on to his soft white curls.

“Yes, my love?”, he asks, kissing the small wounds he’s made on your neck.

“Cum … cum inside me ... please,” you beg between his hard thrusts, as you feel yourself edging towards your climax. And just as the both of you come undone in unison, and you feel him unloading his thick seed inside of you, he bites down on your neck once more, causing you to moan out his name - and it’s music to the pale Elf’s pointy ears.

Unable to stop it, a little moan escaped you in the real world as well. Slapping your free hand over your mouth, you are pretty sure it really was his name that escaped your lips into the silent night around you. But the surprise at your own sound was swept away by the waves of your orgasm as it rolled through you, causing your hips to quiver a few times, before your breath began to calm, and you fell into relaxed bliss. 

You pulled your hand free from your pants and wiped it on the grass next to your bedroll, feeling a lot more relaxed. Wouldn’t that be something, you thought as you lay down on your side. Actually getting closer to the mysterious vampire, getting to know the person you glimpsed a bit of today. Closing your eyes, you thought that, yes, you would really like that. 

Oh no. You felt your stomach drop in surprise and your eyes shot open in realization. You wanted to get to know the real him? You wanted to get closer to him? You wanted to be more… intimate with him? It was then that it dawned on you… you were slowly but surely starting to fall for the disarming vampire. 

Fuck.

:::::::

His blood was just starting to slow from his hunt, but his vampiric senses were still alert, sharper than usual. So Astarion’s pointed ears heard it before he even reached the camp. The rustling of the bedroll, the rapid breathing, the suppressed whimpers. Somebody was having a bit of fun.

Making sure to stay concealed by the darkness of the treeline, he looked towards the figures lying by the fire. Oh? Not wanting to disturb the vision before him, he stopped moving. Had anyone looked in his direction, they would have seen his eyes reflecting the soft light of the camp-fire like two tiny round mirrors. What do we have here? His ruby eyes locked onto Tav as they tried to keep their pleasured movement on the bedroll to a minimum. What a delicious sight that was. 

Astarion had known Tav had gotten quite attached to him, most likely falling for his wit and charm - and obviously his looks - as most did. Otherwise, why would they have allowed him to drink from them? And it was amazing, drinking from them, too. Astarion licked his lips at the memory. Tasting the blood of a thinking being, tasting them. It had been … so intimate. Better than he had ever imagined. He usually only pretended to enjoy the closeness of other people. But not Tav. He couldn’t have picked a better person to be his first.

Frankly, he even enjoyed their company, such as it was. And he knew they enjoyed his company as well. But this? This was a display he hadn’t anticipated. At least not yet.

Shaking his head ever so slightly in disbelief, Astarion was almost impressed by the bold endeavor: Tav, pleasuring themselves out in the open by the campfire? Sure, everyone was asleep, but anyone could awaken any moment from their little moans and catch those fingers dancing amongst their folds. If Tav was this desperate to release their need for him after he’d fed from them earlier in the night, they must desperately want him. A scheming grin grew on his face as he realized… This could work.

He was sure the others in the camp would know about his condition by morning. And knowing full well that people don’t trust vampires - perhaps understandably - he needed to be sure Tav was on his side. Tav was their fearless leader and fierce protector. They may have unwillingly slipped into that role, but they had sway with and the trust of everyone in camp, including him if he was being honest. If Tav kept him under their wing… he wouldn’t get flocked or kicked out. He’d be the first one protected, heard out in every conversation, involved in every plan the group made, and therefore… powerful by association. Safe.

All it would take would be what he had done for 200 years already: some casual seduction and an offer for one night of mind-blowing ecstasy to lock himself into that kind of ideal position. 

Tav’s breathing grew faster then, the smell of their arousal and pumping blood slowly beginning to fill Astarion’s head, breaking his concentration for a moment, his attention now fully on the show in front of him. It was then, as Tav climaxed, trying to suppress a moan, that Astarion heard it. Clear as day. Between the whimpering and exhalation: His name, cried from their lips.

And just like that… Astarion had laid out his nice, simple plan. Oh this would be easy.

:::::::

The next morning you could barely bring yourself to look him in the eye. He was your - almost - innocent traveling companion, and you had thought of him for your dirty little fantasy. You knew this was going to drive you crazy! So you promised yourself you would stop this, trying to cushion the fall as you were definitely falling for him. But when Astarion asked you how you’ve been feeling after the bite, with his trademark smile and his charming words, your nice, simple plan fell apart instantly when you heard yourself offer your neck to him again for tonight. As he happily accepted, your heart leapt in your chest.

Things only progressed from there. Between your party’s adventures, the fighting, tending to each other's wounds, laughing with (and sometimes about) Gale, and watching Shadowheart and Lae’zel bickering with each other, you and Astarion … connected. As you began to share your stories, laugh more at each other’s quippy jokes, indulge in witty banter with every conversation that sparked between you two, you started to see more of that man that you had glimpsed that night he first bit you. Beneath the well-crafted, snarky, and charismatic facade was someone who had endured horrors you couldn’t even imagine. Beneath his undeniably stunning looks, you saw the whole picture - the flawed, broken, resilient, complex person that he was. You began caring for him so deeply, more and more each day. You were falling for him… oh, you were falling for him hard.

Many nights you spent taking care of the desire that Astarion had been fueling inside of you. It was almost embarrassing how much you were pining for him, each night in your bedroll by the fire or in your tent, where you so often wound up with shaky legs and wet fingers. You imagined his hands were the ones roaming over your body, knowing every sensitive spot, his fingers sliding inside you, curling just right, making you gasp and shiver with pleasure. And his voice in your ear, whispering all the filthy things he wants to do to you, will do to you. He was inside your head, and you truly began to yearn for him to be inside your body, too.

Oh, how your body reacted to him whenever he was close and Gods, you really hoped he could not sense it. When he chose to sit next to you by the fire, even though there was plenty of space elsewhere, you imagined his hand sliding around your neck to pull you into a deep, passionate kiss. When he would pick pieces of foliage - or goblin guts - from your hair or stand so very close to you while helping you into your armor, you imagined him pulling you behind the closest tree and taking you right there and then. And the fact that he was so openly, outrageously flirtatious with you, and only you, saying all the right things at the right time, didn’t help either. It drove you crazy with confusion, with adoration and with desire.

So when a celebration was in order after your party had succeeded in vanquishing the entirety of the goblin camp and its leaders, you found yourself sauntering over to Astarion’s tent. You were nervous, more so than ever, but there was a strange confidence roaring within you. With spirits so high, the blood still running hot from today’s victory, you felt this might be the night. You wanted it to be. And you wanted it to be with Astarion.

You were sipping from his wine bottle to calm your nerves, when he actually, finally, suggested that the two of you could make your own entertainment. It was like the surrounding music faded away, replaced by the sound of your blood pumping in your ears. The honeyed words from Astarion’s beautiful lips promised you things that made your knees weak.This was what you wanted, what you had been waiting for.

So … you agreed. 

Part of you even appreciated that he made it clear where the both of you stood at all times. He told you that he liked you, that he came to enjoy the whole package, assured you that if you wanted to - and you did - the two of you could lose yourself in your own little piece of nowhere. But he never promised it would be a committed arrangement. And honestly, with the tadpole inside your head, the descent into the Underdark before you and with the whole party looking to you as their leader, you kind of appreciated that there were no strings attached.

When you found yourself walking through the trees and brush towards the clearing after everyone had gone to bed, you felt equal parts excited and nervous. Yes, you wanted to do this, you wanted for your first time to be with Astarion, but that didn’t mean you weren’t scared as all Hells. From everything he’d told you, from the way he came on to you, there was no question as to how experienced he was and what he expected to happen tonight. “And I do mean sex, to be clear. We’ve waited long enough.” And that you had indeed. You’d waited long to find a man you felt this good with, this close and attracted to. 

So when you stepped into the clearing and Astarion came out from behind the tree trunk bare chested in only his breeches, your mouth ran dry at the sight of him. Gods, he was the most beautiful person you have ever seen.

“There you are…”, he said, and your whole body trembled at the sultry sound of his voice. You could see it already - lying on the soft grass beneath him, under the stars, allowing him to kiss you, touch you, trusting him to take you places you’ve only ever been in your wildest fantasies. “I’ve been waiting…”, he continued. “...Waiting, since the moment I set eyes on you. Waiting to have you.” 

His voice was so deep and sensual - but suddenly the nervousness in the back of your mind began to overwhelm you. Had he? Had he really been waiting for you? Your already pounding heart began skipping a few beats at a time, fluttering at the thought. What if … you disappointed him? What if he left this clearing tonight feeling as though the wait hadn’t been worth it?

And just like that, you were not so sure about this anymore. Oh no.

You couldn’t do this, could you? Look at him! He’s beautiful! Were you beautiful enough for him? Why was he even looking into your direction with Shadowheart and Wyll around? You’re absolutely no match for them. And he clearly knows what he’s doing and what he’s expecting is likely far more than you can give. What in the Hells could you possibly offer him? What if he didn’t like being with a novice like you? What if he didn’t like what he saw when you lay naked in front of him? Gods, you wanted him! But how much fun and pleasure would you be able to realistically provide for him, really? After all, you had no idea what to do, you have never even kissed anyone before!

You looked up into those ruby eyes, looking for reassurance, for safety, and found them… painfully devoid of that spark you came to love. You froze. His beautiful words suddenly felt so flat, calculated, and practiced. You didn’t know if it was your sudden wave of nerves preventing you from going through with this, but you knew then at that moment… this wasn’t right. No, he didn’t truly want this.

“Hold on - I’m not sure about this,” you quickly said. That seemed to bring Astarion back to you - but not in the way you would have liked.

“Then what are you doing here?” Astarion’s surprising shift in demeanor caught you off guard. You took a step back, not expecting him to talk to you in that tone. His voice almost sounded condescending, indignant. Just like that, your walls that the vampire had managed to take down brick by brick over the past weeks began rising back up again. “I thought we had an … understanding.” You took another step back when Astarion’s whole posture changed, going from seductive to dismissive. As if, now that he couldn’t have you, he had no use for you anymore and by doing so he tapped straight into your biggest worry with pinpoint precision. You felt the impossible urge to explain, to salvage whatever tonight would have been.

 “I-I know, I’m sorry …”, you stammered helplessly. “It’s just… Do you really want to do this?” Astarion tilted his head, his frown deepening. 

“Now why would you think I didn’t, after all this?” He sounded irritated as he flung his arms wide, gesturing to nothing in particular.

“I don’t know. Maybe you feel like you have to do this? Like - as payback for me letting you drink from me? Because I promise, you don’t have to, I don’t need anything in return.” 

Astarion crossed his arms and cocked his hip, sneering down at you.

“Listen, just say the word and we can call it a night.” You were desperately looking for the right words, only for Astarion to speak before you could say anything. “But if you want to back out, don’t use me as an excuse for it. You’ve wasted enough of my time already.” 

His words felt like a slap in the face.

“I’m just not sure if I can give you what you are expecting, what you want.” Gods, you hated how desperate your voice sounded.

“But why? What exactly is your problem?”Astarion kept pushing and something inside you snapped.

“Because I’ve never DONE any of this before, alright?!”

The words exploded right out of you. The amount of emotions you were feeling at that moment was overwhelming: anger at him, disappointment in yourself, sadness about how this night suddenly took such a turn. You stared at him, breathing hard, your cheeks flushing. Neither of you spoke, Astarion only looking at you with an unreadable expression on his face. 

“I… I am going back to camp,” you eventually said before finally forcing yourself to turn and leave. 

Gods.

This had been a disaster. This was not how this should have gone! This should have been a night - your first night - of passion, exploration and fun with this Elf you truly cared for - and who now was most certainly angry and annoyed with you for ruining his night. Did you overthink it? Should you have just gone through with it? What if whatever you and Astarion had built over the course of these last few weeks was now shattered beyond repair? How could you have pushed him away in a moment that should have been so pleasurable, so intimate? 

Getting sleep was not easy that night. And the next day, you and Astarion didn’t exchange a single word. You knew your companions noticed. They knew something was going on between the two of you - but they were kind enough to let the matter rest and not ask you about it as you packed up your belongings and headed towards the empty Goblin Camp to enter the Underdark. With all enemies already vanquished, the day was uneventful, which made the silence between you and the vampire seem even more deafening.

:::::::

How, how could he have missed that? Astarion couldn’t get that question out of his head.

It was the one question that had been whirling around in his head all day while the party had continued towards the Underdark, tensely ignoring the silence between him and Tav, who usually were bantering lightheartedly all the time. 

Astarion watched them as they suggested setting up the camp for the night, the last night under the open sky for who knew how long.

How had he not picked up on Tav’s inexperience? He normally could smell a virgin from miles away! He knew the shy looks, the aversion to touch and his advances. But Tav? They threw him for such a loop! They gravitated towards him. And honestly … he liked that.

Besides, he figured virgins didn’t understand pleasure, didn’t know how to pleasure themselves. But Tav obviously did! He had heard them moan his name, seen proof of their knowledge of their own body with his own eye. But most importantly: proof of their desire for him.

Astarion’s mind whirled as he paced in his tent. Why did they have to tell him that? 

It should have been so easy. It should have been a plain-and-simple, routine night of sex and pleasure for Tav. But now they had to throw him that little piece of information about themselves and… Astarion stopped pacing. He’d sworn off virgins long ago. That kind of innocence, it was too rare in the world. And after stealing it once from that sweet, darling boy… he’d sworn he’d never steal it from anyone else ever again. So he had learned to recognize and avoid virgins. His meager, unnoticeable act of disobedience to his former Master. It was the only thing he was proud of - if he could even call it that. 

And, gods, the things he threw in Tav’s face? Shaming them for hesitating? What the fuck was he thinking? Their fierce leader, who stormed into a hag’s swamp with no hesitation, had hesitated before him. And instead of guiding them … he had scolded them, even humiliated them. Astarion felt ashamed of himself - something he had never wanted to feel again, now that he was free. But he felt it nonetheless. He had to apologize. It didn’t matter that he snapped at them in frustration because he saw his plan crumble, because he was scared, because he was … disappointed. If he was honest with himself.

Because he was. He was disappointed that Tav wanted to back out. The realization hit him with a force he did not see coming. Yes, seducing them was part of his plan. Yes, he had used all his favorite lines at them. And also … yes, he would have liked to sleep with them. A feeling he had not felt in … gods know how long.

Tav had been so nervous, their heart beating so quickly and loudly Astarion had heard it before they had stepped onto the clearing. They were opening up to him. Trusting him. And he? He would have taken that trust and used it. He truly was a monster. Tav didn’t deserve this. Despite how last night went … he cared for them. His eyebrows flew up as he realized just how true that thought was.

He cared for them.

Shit.

:::::::

You sit by the fire, pondering last night’s fiasco and today’s unpleasant silence. Seeing how you’ve got the second watch, you should probably be more vigilant, but your thoughts keep going back to last night. Which is probably why you don’t hear Astarion approach.

“Hello, my dear.”, he says in a low, almost careful tone, pulling you from your thoughts. You look up at him, not sure what to expect. “Do you mind if I sit?” He motions towards the log you are sitting on, toward the place beside you that he took many nights. Always choosing to be close to you instead of choosing any of the free logs. You shift to the side, making room for him. Again, feeling him so close to you, his arm brushing yours, it sets your whole body on high alert. You still want him - but you aren’t so sure he really wants you anymore, or if you’re ready to forget the way he spoke to you. But regardless of the horrid tone he had taken you still feel that guilt and shame for letting him down.

“I’m… sorry about last night.”, you eventually say, even though part of you wants to wait for him to apologize first. He turns to face you.

“Whatever are you sorry for?” he asks, a bit surprised.

“For backing out last night. I know we had an agreement and it’s not that I didn’t want to, you know? It’s just … ” with a deep sigh you turn your eyes towards him, and you are glad to see that spark in them once again, that spark that was missing last night. “I’ll be honest, ok? I like you. I like you a lot, and … I would have loved to have spent last night with you. But … I also know I don't have much to offer you, in terms of sex. We’ve all been under a lot of stress lately, so I understand you probably wanted to let off some steam … and I’m sorry I messed that up for you.” Cheeks burning with embarrassment, you turn your gaze back to the fire. You sit in silence for a moment before Astarion speaks. 

“No. You have no reason to apologize for anything, my dear. I was quite out of line, inexcusably so. I should have relented the moment you had any doubt. I… apologize.” His words make you look towards him once more. Never had you heard Astarion apologize before, to anyone at camp, for that matter. “And I will do my best to refrain from feeding into this … thing between us, if it truly makes you uncomfortable. I will cease my flirtations, I promise.”

“What? No, please don’t?” you say quickly, unable to stop a shy smile from appearing on your face. “I … quite like your flirtations. And I wanted to spend the night with you, you know. I still do. But … let me ask you … ” The pale Elf patiently waits for you to find the right words. “Do you really want to sleep with me?” Astarion’s eyebrows go up, that surprised expression returning to his exquisite face. 

“Darling,” Astarion’s tone is affectionate, reassuring, and hearing him call you this pet name with that sweet voice of his makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. “Are you really asking me that, after all I did? All I’ve said to you?” There is a slight edge to his voice now, though you can’t pinpoint what it is. He smiles at you with one corner of his mouth raised slightly and you half expect him to laugh, but Astarion falls uncharacteristically quiet, so you speak.

“Answer the question.” The amused smile on Astarion’s immaculate face disappears and gives way to a look of seriousness, of sincerity.

“Yes. I do,” he says in a low but firm voice. “Very much so.”

Relief floods your entire body, the tension you felt all day melting from you.

“Then … may we start over?”, you ask timidly with a smile on your face. Astarion answers with a gentle smile of his own.

“My dear. There is nothing I’d like more.”

[aventurineswife]

Hello, Rinnie!!! (⁠◍⁠•⁠ᴗ⁠•⁠◍⁠)⁠✧⁠*⁠。

I'm making this request because I had this idea for a while, and I'm going to take advantage of the fact that requests are open!   ⁠\⁠(⁠^⁠ω⁠^⁠\⁠ ⁠)

It's about Aventurine and the reader's little daughter, Kaia! (⁠＾⁠∇⁠＾⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠♪

Going with the request, it consists of the reader being pregnant with Aventurine, basically expecting another baby, Kaia who had been curiously observing her mom/dad/renny's whole process.

One day while the reader is making breakfast, Aventurine is feeding Kaia, who was distracted and decides to ask a question: "Yaya(dad)...How are babies made?" Which makes the reader stop cooking and turn to look at Kaia with a disturbed expression.

You can continue it! I want to see the excuse Aventurine would say about that topic!! ヘ⁠(⁠￣⁠ω⁠￣⁠ヘ⁠)

-💤🩵 anon

Made of Stardust and Dreams

Summary: A peaceful morning in your home takes a humorous turn when your curious daughter asks Aventurine the age-old question: "How are babies made?" As you prepare breakfast and await his response, Aventurine handles the delicate situation with his trademark charm and whimsical storytelling, turning an awkward moment into a magical tale for his little one.

Tags: Aventurine x Reader, Pregnancy, Father-Daughter Bonding, Lighthearted, Wholesome.

The morning sun filtered through the curtains of your shared home, casting warm golden rays on the polished wooden floors. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling eggs filled the air as you busied yourself in the kitchen. Your growing belly, cradled by a soft cotton dress, made your movements slower but no less graceful. Aventurine, seated at the dining table, wore his usual relaxed grin as he fed your lively daughter a spoonful of oatmeal.

Your daughter, barely five years old and a curious little whirlwind, swung her legs under the table, her eyes—so much like her father's—sparkling with mischief. She giggled as Aventurine made an exaggerated show of flying the spoon like an airship into her mouth.

"Open wide, darling, the adventurers need a place to dock!" Aventurine said with dramatic flair.

The spoon landed safely, and she chewed happily, her little hands gripping the edge of the table. Then, without warning, she tilted her head and fixed Aventurine with a thoughtful stare.

“Daddy…” she began, her voice innocent and filled with that unique brand of curiosity only a child could muster.

“Yes, my little gem?” Aventurine replied, setting the spoon down and folding his hands under his chin, his smile widening as he anticipated her next question.

“How are babies made?”

Your hand froze mid-flip, the spatula hovering over the pan. Slowly, you turned, your face caught somewhere between shock and amusement, though leaning heavily toward the former. Aventurine’s grin didn’t falter, though you could see the faintest twitch of surprise in his brow.

“Well,” he began smoothly, leaning back in his chair as though preparing for one of his infamous gambits. “That’s quite the question, isn’t it?”

Your daughter nodded solemnly, completely unaware of the storm she’d just unleashed. You, on the other hand, narrowed your eyes at Aventurine, silently pleading for him to tread carefully.

He winked at you—a silent message that said I’ve got this.

“You see,” Aventurine started, his tone light and theatrical, “when two very special people love each other very much, they make a wish.”

“A wish?” your daughter repeated, eyes wide.

“That’s right!” Aventurine leaned closer, dropping his voice into a conspiratorial whisper. “A very powerful wish, so powerful that it calls to the stars above and asks them to send down a tiny piece of magic. That magic grows and grows until—poof!—it becomes a baby.”

Your daughter gasped, utterly enraptured. “Magic made me?”

“Of course,” Aventurine said, ruffling her hair. “You’re made of stardust and dreams, my little treasure. And your sibling will be too.”

Relief flooded through you as you turned back to the stove, hiding your amused smile. Leave it to Aventurine to spin a tale so whimsical that even the trickiest of questions became a storybook moment.

“But…” your daughter piped up again, and you stifled a laugh, sensing trouble.

Aventurine raised a brow. “But?”

“Where do the stars find the magic?” she asked, her tone serious.

Aventurine hesitated for the briefest moment, his charismatic facade cracking ever so slightly as he glanced at you for help. You turned, unable to resist the opportunity to tease him.

“Yes, darling, where do the stars find the magic?” you echoed, crossing your arms with a smirk.

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Ah, well, you see, that’s a secret only the stars themselves know,” he said, smoothly recovering. “But they always find just the right amount for every little one they send.”

Your daughter beamed, satisfied with the answer, and Aventurine shot you a triumphant look, his grin smug.

As breakfast continued, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, your daughter’s innocent curiosity giving way to chatter about her toys and plans for the day. But as Aventurine caught your eye across the table, a flicker of warmth passed between you—a silent acknowledgment of the life you’d built together, the family you were growing, and the tiny miracles that made it all worthwhile.

Later, as you sat on the couch with your daughter curled up beside you and Aventurine’s arm draped protectively around your shoulders, you couldn’t help but think that, for all his risks and gambles, he’d hit the jackpot where it mattered most.

[rpgsandbox]

The 10 Most Anticipated TTRPGs For 2025!

EN World’s annual vote on the most anticipated titles of the coming year, and yes, some games have appeared on this list in previous years.

10) Starfinder 2E (Paizo Publishing) The Starfinder Playtest Rulebook brings Starfinder into a new age of compatibility, as Starfinder switches to using the same rules engine that powers the popular Second Edition of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Inside this playtest for the new edition, you’ll find six new classes, 10 ancestries, new skills, new feats, futuristic equipment including augmentations and upgrades, new science-fantasy spells, and more!

9) Alien - Evolved Edition (Free League) Expanded and updated core rules and a new cinematic scenario for the award-winning RPG from Free League and 20th Century Studios. Based upon feedback from thousands of players over five years of adventures, the Evolved Edition of the Core Rulebook delivers an updated and streamlined version of the ALIEN RPG fans know and love, along with additional new artwork, new content, and a variety of new tools for players and Game Mothers alike, all fully compatible with previous releases and game material.

8) 13th Age 2nd Edition (Pelgrane Press) A New Edition of the Award-Winning Heroic Fantasy Game! The coolest and most fun parts of traditional d20-rolling fantasy gaming plus story-focused rules, now with updated class and kin powers, fearsome new abilities for your favorite monsters, and revamped icon connection mechanics!

13th Age 2E has been in this chart three years running! In both 2023 and 2024 it came 3rd in the poll!

7) Coriolis: The Great Dark (Free League) Free League's original sci-fi RPG returns. Join expeditions to faraway stars and delve deep into ancient ruins.

6) Dolmenwood (Necrotic Gnome) Dolmenwood is a fantasy adventure game set in a lavishly detailed world inspired by the fairy tales and eerie folklore of the British Isles. Like traditional fairy tales, Dolmenwood blends the dark and whimsical, the wondrous and weird.

This is Dolmenwood's second appearance in this chart, coming in at #5 last year!

5) Terry Pratchett's Discworld: Adventures in Ankh-Morpork (Modiphius) Adventures in Ankh-Morpork, the Discworld tabletop roleplaying game, catapults you onto the streets of the Big Wahoonie, and once you've dusted yourself off you can adventure to your heart's content. With imagination and some shiny math rocks at your fingertips, your story on the Disc awaits. Based on the popular Discworld fantasy series by Sir Terry Pratchett, Adventures in Ankh-Morpork is an officially licensed tabletop roleplaying game set in its most recognisable city, complete with Sir Terry's iconic wit, humour, and humanistic satire.

4) Draw Steel (MCDM) A Fantasy RPG where your character starts, at level 1, already a hero. Maybe even locally famous! You might meet in a tavern, or start in the middle of the action! Whether you’re a group of local heroes sent to investigate mysterious goings-on in the nearby haunted wood, or famous mercenaries plotting and scheming in the big city, the MCDM RPG makes building adventures and fighting monsters fun. Basically, any adventure or story you’re running in your current Fantasy RPG, you can do that in this game. Just, in a more straightforward and fun way, unburdened by sacred cows from the 1970s.

3) Daggerheart (Darrington Press) Daggerheart is a fantasy tabletop roleplaying game of brave heroics and vibrant worlds that are built together with your gaming group. Create a shared story with your adventuring party, and shape your world through rich, long-term campaign play.

2) Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere (Brotherwise Games) The Cosmere® RPG is a "living" RPG that will grow as Brandon Sanderson writes new novels and expands his universe. This original system is designed to tell standalone stories in the Stormlight™ or Mistborn® Settings -- or sweeping Worldhopper™ campaigns that move between different worlds and realms!

1) Legend in the Mist (Son of Oak) A rustic fantasy tabletop RPG based on the acclaimed City of Mist. Spin a fireside tale of unlikely villagers setting out on a quest into a greater unknown world, rife with peril and mystery, in the vein of The Lord of the Rings, The Wheel of Time, Princess Mononoke, and many other classic fantasy stories, or create your own legendary realms with the game’s open-ended system.

[lady-of-tearshed]

Rude awakening

A/N: Here's a little treat while you wait for the Azriel fic that's coming this week.

Summary: Eris has to, once again, bring Lucien along with him on the long-awaited date planned with you. He can't help but wonder how having a child with you would look like...

Word count: 961

Warnings: Based on true event 🤣 maybe like slight angst.

The house had been cleaned and now smells delightful, you were wearing the pretty red dress Eris had gifted you on your last birthday, and you managed to do your hair and makeup perfectly… Everything was perfect for your long-awaited planned date. You and Eris haven’t been able to have much time together in the last few years, Beron delegated more and more responsibilities to his heir and eldest son since Lucien's birth.

Beron was supposed to be out on duty in Summer Court for the week, which assured you and Eris to be able to enjoy a peaceful date at your little cabin you called your house without him worrying about Lucien’s safety, since the little one would be safely tucked in his mother’s arms back at home. 

 Adorable little Lulu brought a lot of tension between the High Lord of Autumn and his mate unconsciously. The eldest of now six brothers felt a huge sense of responsibility towards the new addition to the Vanserra family.

His other brothers couldn’t care less about the youngling. No one would have thought that Eris Vanserra, older than the toddler by a little more than a century, would be the first one to rush to little Lucien and cover his ears, taking him out of the house on a fun adventure he would tell him when a fight would burst inside the Forest House. 

You basically run to open the door when a soft knock resonates on the wooden surface. No words can describe the surprise, and just very slight disappointment, when Eris shows up with an overjoyed Lucien sitting on his shoulders.

“Y/N! Y/N!” Lucien squirms on Eris's shoulders, making him groan in annoyance when his sibling tugs on his dark auburn hair. 

Lucien leans little grabby hands down to you, motioning you to pick him up into your arms. Eris leans forward slowly, leaving a quick peck on your lips, as you pick up Lucien from his shoulders.

You spin the toddler in your arms, which makes him burst into laughter. You kiss his pink cheeks before putting him down on the ground. “Hi, Lulu.”

As soon as the youngling's feet hit the ground, he rushes to the living room and stares at your fish tank, like he always does when Eris brings him with him here. 

“It’s fine, Eris. Really. You don’t have to explain yet…” You whisper and give him one last quick peck before pulling away reluctantly from his strong and warm embrace. You both didn’t want Lucien to know about the reason he and Eris needed to head out of the Forest House for at least a few hours.

You move from the door to let Eris walk into the house. His eyebrows are slightly furrowed as he takes in the sight of you. He wipes a hand on his hand and you can clearly sense his stress and annoyance. You stroke his forearm slowly and move his hand from his face. He grins sadly down at you and kisses your lips slowly, sighing against them while he enjoys the taste he had missed for far too long.

“Y/N… I’m so sorry… He came back earlier from Summer Court and-” 

—

The two of them are sitting down at the table, and you hum a song softly while scrubbing the dishes from the dinner the three of you just shared. Eris and Lucien were both drawing a portrait of each other, with the crucial rule of not looking at the other contestant's paper before their ‘masterpiece’ was done.

You dry your hands on the towel and look over Lucien's shoulder at his… interesting portrait of his older brother.

“Oh! I forgot something.” Lucien then turns his head to you and frowns. “Hey! No peeking!”

“I’m not a contestant though…” You can’t help but giggle at the youngling's serious face.

“Oh. Yeah. You’re right.” He says before sticking his tongue back out, concentrating on his drawing. 

You walk around the table and lean over Eris' shoulder to stare at his drawing. The portrait was a picture-perfect representation of Lucien.

“Wow… It’s pretty,” you whisper and kiss the shell of his ear, making his cheek heat slightly at your praise. “You should see the ones I draw of you…” You purr seductively into his neck.

“Oh yeah? Guess you’ll need to bring them over so I can judge that by myself. Next date, maybe?” He smiles and looks at Lucien's serious face, concentrating on his drawing. “Gods… makes me want to have kids with you when the three of us spend time like that…” 

You chuckle and quickly lean to capture his lips, but Lucien's voice stops you from doing so.

“Done!” Lucien shouts and lifts his paper in the air.

He slides down his chair and runs to Eris to wave the paper inches from his face. His big brother scrunches his nose and slightly moves the paper away from his face to take a good look at the drawing.

You clasp your hand on your mouth to prevent a wave of laughter from exploding. You understood what ‘something’ Lucien had almost forgotten to add to Eris' portrait… 

Eris' finger drags to the corner of his brow and frowns. “Is it that noticeable..?”

“Well, I can see it’s on your face! Mama says we have pimples when we stress too much. That’s why I have none!” Lucien speaks up, smiling brightly. 

It’s all too much to contain your laughter. You burst into laughter, holding your painful stomach, unable to stop laughing at Lucien’s innocence and pure honesty. “What did you say about wanting children now, Er?”

Eris only rolls his eyes and thanks his little brother for the drawing.

A/N: Yeah. It happened. We brought my boyfriend's half-sister to the restaurant for her 8th birthday (they have an 11 years age gap), and they were having a drawing contest on paper aprons while we waited for our meals. She drew him with literally the ONLY pimple he had. 🤣 And I was like, "Lol. THAT'S what having kids is like!!"

[kathlare]

call it what you want

Lando Norris x Amelie Dayman

Summary: Amelie’s 23rd birthday was a whirlwind of emotions. After an exhilarating performance on her tour in Toronto, she celebrated with her team, but the night felt bittersweet, far from her family and the person she truly wanted to be with. Just when she was starting to settle into the evening, a surprise awaited her.

Wordcount: 5.4 k

Warnings: smut

full masterlist // request over here!

September 25th, 2024 - Toronto, Canada

liked by schecoperez, maxfewtrell, and others

landonorris: Happy 23rd to my sunshine ☀️🎉 I’m not saying you get hotter every year… but it’s getting a little out of hand. 🔥 So lucky to have you as my partner, my best friend, and the one who can make me smile even when I’m acting all serious. You make life way more fun, and I can’t wait for more adventures with you. ❤️ But seriously, I’ll take this as my birthday present—getting to call you mine. 😏

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fanofamelie: Awww, Lando really knows how to make us all cry with this post. 😭💛 Happy birthday to the girl who stole our hearts! 🔥

ameliedayman: @landonorris Awwww, you’re gonna make me cry! Thank you, my love 😘❤️

maxfewtrell: The way Lando’s got the most romantic captions for Amelie, like we didn’t know he was that soft 🥲😂 → landonorris: @maxfewtrell Don’t act like you don’t have your soft moments too, mate 😏

callumdayman: She’s lucky? Nah, mate, YOU'RE the lucky one to have my sister! 😏 → landonorris: @callumdayman You’re not wrong, Callum. Got a keeper here! 😅

lilyzneimer: Amelie, you’re getting more stunning by the year! Can’t wait to see you 😍 → ameliedayman: @lilyzneimer Thanks, Lily! You're always the best at hyping me up ❤️

fanoflandonorris: Lando’s basically telling us all Amelie’s his forever with this post 😂💘

carlossainz55: OK, Lando, we get it, you’re obsessed 😂 But seriously, Amelie, happy birthday! → ameliedayman: @carlossainz55 Thank you! And Lando? Obsessed? Nah 😏

oscarpiastri: Lando’s captions got me second-guessing my own relationship game 😬 → landonorris: @oscarpiastri Nah, don’t worry, mate—yours is just as good! 😜

schecoperez: Man, you’re showing off your soft side, huh? 🥲 → landonorris: @schecoperez Gotta let the world know how much she means to me, bro 😎

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Amelie stood backstage, the vibrant lights of the concert hall still dancing in her mind. Her band and dancers were all smiles, catching their breath after an unforgettable show. The audience’s energy was infectious, and the adrenaline from the performance still buzzed through her veins. She had just turned 23, but the day had felt strangely ordinary in the chaos of the tour—until now.

She wiped the sweat from her forehead, flashing her team a tired but genuine smile. —Great show, guys. Let’s get ready to hit the road again tomorrow. But tonight…— Her voice trailed off, as the reality of her birthday seemed to hit her. She was in Toronto, away from her family, and she knew Lando was likely in Singapore.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she pulled it out, expecting to see a message from her mom or one of her siblings. Instead, it was a simple text from Lando.

Lan🧡: I’m so proud of you, Ames. Happy birthday. Hope you’re enjoying yourself. You deserve it. Can’t wait to see you soon. 💛

She put her phone down on the counter in her dressing room, distracted, trying to shake the thoughts away.

Just then, her tour manager, Nadine, knocked and poked her head in.

—Hey, birthday girl. Your team's waiting to head out. I think you deserve a proper celebration tonight. You up for it?—

Amelie nodded, offering a small smile.

—Yeah, sure. Let’s just grab some dinner, and then I’ll crash.—

Nadine raised an eyebrow. —Are you sure? Because I’ve heard rumors of an amazing place nearby. The band and dancers are all excited to go. Let’s make tonight memorable. You deserve it.—

With a sigh, Amelie relented. She wasn’t going to fight it—she was surrounded by people who cared for her, and it would be nice to get out for a bit.

As they walked into the chic, dimly lit restaurant, Amelie felt the warmth of her crew's energy surrounding her. The chatter, the clinking of glasses, and the soothing music created an atmosphere she could get lost in. She was wearing a stunning yellow dress, one that hugged her figure and shimmered in the ambient light. Her hair was styled loosely, waves cascading down her shoulders. The color of the dress seemed to match the brightness of her smile, but inside, she still felt a bit of that quiet ache.

The restaurant was buzzing with laughter and conversation as Amelie walked in, her heels clicking softly on the marble floor. The team had already found their seats at a large round table, all of them raising their glasses in a toast as she approached.

—To the birthday girl!— Nadine called out, a glass of wine in hand.

—To Amelie!— the band and dancers chimed in unison, their smiles wide and genuine.

Amelie couldn’t help but laugh, her heart swelling with warmth. She had spent countless hours on stage and in rehearsals with this group of people, and despite being away from her family, they made her feel at home. She returned their cheers, feeling the love in every clink of the glass.

As the night went on, Amelie found herself laughing more than she had in days. The food was amazing, the company even better, and the tension that had built up from the long tour seemed to melt away with each passing moment. Her dress sparkled under the dim lights, and every compliment she received made her feel like she was glowing.

But just as she was starting to forget the quiet ache she’d been carrying inside all night, something unexpected happened.

A voice—a familiar one—sounded behind her.

—Fuck, you look absolutely stunning.—

Amelie froze. The voice was so unmistakable, it sent a wave of shock and excitement rushing through her. She turned around slowly, her heart racing, and there he was. Lando.

Her breath hitched in her throat. He was standing there, his signature grin on his face, his eyes sparkling with that mischievous gleam that always made her heart skip a beat.

He took a step closer, his smile softening as he saw the tears welling up in her eyes.

—You’re here,— Amelie whispered, her voice trembling slightly. Her chest tightened as emotions she hadn’t realized she’d been holding back suddenly broke free.

—Of course, I’m here. It’s your birthday, Ames,— Lando said, his tone light, though his eyes softened with tenderness. He opened his arms, and before she could even process what was happening, Amelie found herself in his embrace.

—Don’t cry,— he whispered against her hair, his voice a soothing balm to the ache in her heart. —You know I can’t handle it when you cry.—

Amelie pulled back slightly, just enough to look at him. Her eyes were glistening, her cheeks flushed from the tears, but her smile was as bright as ever.

—You’re such an idiot,— she said, laughing through the tears. —I can’t believe you’re here.—

Lando chuckled, brushing a stray tear from her cheek. —Well, I had to come. How could I let you celebrate without me?—

Her team watched the exchange with smiles, some of them pulling out their phones to capture the moment. It felt almost surreal, like a dream she didn’t want to wake up from.

—Alright, alright,— Lando continued, pulling back and taking her by the shoulders. —Turn around. Let me just say—shit, you look hot in that dress.—

Amelie laughed softly, her face flushing at the compliment. —You’ve always had a way with words,— she teased, twirling a little for him, the yellow dress swirling around her legs. The soft fabric shimmered under the dim lights, and for a second, it felt like they were the only two people in the room.

Lando gave her a mock skeptical look, raising an eyebrow. —You know,— he said, taking her hand and pulling her closer again, his tone low and playful, —I’d say something more, but I’m trying to be a gentleman tonight.—

Amelie raised an eyebrow in return, giving him a cheeky grin. —You know,— she replied, her voice dropping to match his playful tone, —you can take that dress off me later, if you want.—

Lando’s eyes widened just slightly, his grin growing even wider. —You’re killing me, Ames.— He leaned down to kiss her forehead, his lips lingering for a moment as if to reassure her that all of this—the surprise, the warmth, the laughter—was real.

As the night continued, Lando and Amelie shared lighthearted conversations with her band and dancers, but there was an undeniable chemistry between them that no one could ignore. He was right there beside her, effortlessly fitting in with her crew, making jokes and laughing, but all the while, his attention remained on her.

The evening flowed effortlessly, the conversations at the table a perfect mix of humor and love. Every time Amelie laughed, Lando couldn’t help but smile. He was still marveling at how stunning she looked in that yellow dress, how vibrant and radiant her energy was. Even through the playful banter, there was a soft, undeniable connection between them—a chemistry that neither of them could deny.

As the dinner progressed, Lando stayed close, his knee brushing hers under the table every so often, sending shivers up her spine. He’d whisper flirtatious comments in her ear when no one was looking, his voice low and teasing, making her heart race.

—You know, I’m really enjoying the view tonight,— Lando murmured, his breath warm against her neck. —But I think I might like to see you out of that dress. Just a little more... private, you know?—

Amelie’s breath hitched, her eyes flicking to his with a mischievous spark. She turned her face toward him, their lips just inches apart. —Keep it up, and I might just make you wait a little longer,— she teased, her fingers lightly grazing the back of his hand.

Lando’s grin widened, but he leaned in closer, his lips brushing against her neck as he whispered, —I think I can handle waiting a little longer. But just so you know, I’m not good at it.—

The night carried on with a playful energy that only seemed to intensify the closer Lando and Amelie got. Despite the teasing, the flirty exchanges, and the lingering touches under the table, there was an undeniable sweetness in the way they interacted. The night was a perfect blend of fun, celebration, and the kind of intimacy that came from knowing each other so deeply.

As the evening drew to a close, the group made their way back to the hotel. Lando stayed close to Amelie, his hand brushing against hers, his playful smirk never far from his lips. She felt lighter than she had all day, her heart swelling not just from the fun of the night but from the fact that he had come all this way just to be with her on her birthday.

The hotel suite was quiet, save for the soft hum of the city outside. Amelie and Lando stepped inside, their laughter still echoing from their shared moments at the restaurant. Her band and dancers had gone to their rooms, leaving her and Lando alone. The weight of the night, the surprise, the emotions that had stirred inside her, all felt overwhelming, and she was grateful for the space.

Amelie walked toward the windows, gazing out at the shimmering city lights of Toronto. She sighed, feeling a calm settle over her as Lando stepped up behind her, his presence as familiar and comforting as ever.

—You didn’t have to come, Lando,— she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. —This... this is everything I needed.—

Lando smiled behind her, his hands finding her waist, pulling her gently into his chest. —Of course, I had to come,— he said with his usual playful grin. —You think I’d miss celebrating your birthday? And you know I can’t stay away from you for too long.—

Amelie’s heart fluttered at his words, and she leaned back into him, her hands resting over his. The moment felt intimate, warm, like a piece of their world that no one else could see. It was rare, this kind of quiet between them, but it felt right.

She turned in his arms to face him, her fingers lightly brushing against his chest as she looked up at him. The chemistry was undeniable, even in the softness of this moment. She swallowed, a lump forming in her throat as her emotions swirled. —I missed you,— she admitted, her voice thick with sentiment.

Lando’s expression softened, and he cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing away the tear that had escaped her eye. —I missed you too, Ames,— he murmured, leaning in to kiss her forehead softly. His lips lingered there for a moment, and when he pulled away, his eyes held a tenderness that made her heart skip.

Lando stepped back slightly, and with a teasing grin, he reached into his jacket pocket.

—I’ve got something for you,— he said, his voice low but filled with anticipation.

Amelie raised an eyebrow. —A birthday present? You didn’t have to...—

— I know,— he interrupted, his tone playful. — But I wanted to.—

He handed it to her with a smile, his eyes lighting up with anticipation. —Happy birthday, Ames,— he said softly.

Amelie looked down at the small, velvet box in her hands, feeling a flutter of excitement rise in her chest. She looked up at Lando, her eyes searching his face for some hint of what was inside. His grin only deepened, his gaze soft but filled with the kind of warmth that made her heart race.

—Go on, open it,— he urged, his voice low, almost a whisper.

Amelie carefully opened the box, revealing a delicate necklace inside. The pendant was a polished, gold "L," sleek and elegant. She gasped softly, her fingers tracing the letters, her breath catching in her throat. It was simple, yet stunning, the kind of piece that would be treasured forever.

Lando’s eyes sparkled as he watched her reaction, his grin widening. —I know it’s not much,— he said, his voice soft and a little vulnerable. —But I thought… maybe it could be a reminder. A reminder that no matter how far apart we are, you always have a piece of me with you.—

Her eyes met Lando’s, and for a moment, everything else faded. —It’s perfect,— she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. She looked at him, a smile breaking through the tears still glistening on her cheeks. —I love it, Lando. I really do.—

Lando’s face softened, and he stepped closer to her. —I'm glad.— His voice was gentle, but there was a hint of mischief lurking beneath the surface. —But I think you’re forgetting something.—

Amelie tilted her head, puzzled, as he pulled something from his pocket with a grin that sent a flutter through her chest. He held up a keychain, a simple black leather one, but attached to it was a small, gold letter "A."

Her eyes widened, the realization hitting her immediately. —You’ve got an ‘A’?—

—Of course,— Lando said with a wink, his gaze intense as he closed the distance between them. —We’ve always been connected, Ames.—

Her heart skipped a beat as she processed his words, the warmth of the moment wrapping around her like a cozy blanket. She raised her hand and touched the "L" necklace again, her fingers brushing against the cool metal, feeling the connection between them deepening with each passing second.

—You’re killing me with all this sweetness,— she murmured, looking up at him through her lashes. —But I’m not complaining.—

Lando chuckled, his eyes glimmering with a mixture of affection and playful desire. —Well, I think we both know how much I love to make you melt,— he teased, his voice dropping to a lower, more intimate tone. He leaned in, brushing a kiss against her temple before his lips moved toward her ear. —But if you want me to stop, you’re gonna have to stop looking at me like that.—

Amelie felt the heat rise in her cheeks as she turned her face slightly, their lips now only a breath apart. —You really can’t keep your hands off me, can you?— she teased, her voice soft, with a flirtatious edge that made Lando grin even wider.

—I’ve been trying,— he whispered, his lips brushing against her neck, —but you just make it so damn hard.—

Her breath hitched at the feel of his lips on her skin, the familiar warmth of his body pressing closer to hers. She tilted her head, giving him more access, her hands threading through his hair as a quiet moan escaped her lips. —Maybe… you should stop trying,— she whispered back, her voice thick with longing.

Lando’s breath hitched at her words, his fingers gently brushing against the back of her neck. The playful, teasing energy between them shifted, becoming something deeper, more urgent. His lips found her neck once again, the kiss sending shivers down her spine. He pulled back for just a moment, looking into her eyes with that irresistible mischievous glint that always made her heart race.

—You’re trouble,— he whispered, his voice a little rougher now, the underlying desire evident.

Before Amelie could respond, Lando’s lips captured hers in a kiss that was deep, slow, and full of longing. She melted into him, her body responding instinctively to his touch. The kiss was a perfect balance of passion and tenderness, a reminder of everything that had brought them to this moment.

--------------

liked by stelladayman, pietra.pilao, and others

ameliedayman: 💛

View all 84,596 comments

landonorris: FIRST

landonorris: Happy birthday to my favorite person 💛 Love you more than words can say! You looked incredible tonight 😘 → ameliedayman: @landonorris You’re too sweet! But you’re right… I did look amazing 😏💖

stelladayman: You’re a literal goddess, happy birthday! 💛👑 → ameliedayman: @stelladayman You're making me blush, sis! Thank you 😘💖

fanofamelie: You’re KILLING that dress, girl 🔥🔥💛

lilyzneimer: Birthday queen vibes. That dress is EVERYTHING. 👑✨ → ameliedayman: @lilyzneimer Stop, you're making me blush! 😳💕

alex_albon: Lando’s eyes: 👀 Amelie: 💛 → landonorris: @alex_albon Hey, I gotta make sure she knows I’m the lucky one here 😎

landosgirl_1: Lando really out here looking like he won the jackpot with you 😏💯

alex_sainz55: Lando’s gonna have to start putting “don’t touch my girl” signs up everywhere 😂

alexwolffofficial: The queen’s day 💛🎉 Hope you had the best time, Amelie! Miss youuu 🥳 → ameliedayman: @alexwolffofficial Love youuuu! Can’t wait to see you soon! 😘💛

tatemcrae: Happy bday, Amelie!! You’re a whole vibe!! 🥳💖✨ Miss you already!! → ameliedayman: @tatemcrae You’re the best, Tate! Let’s party soon!! 😏💛

madisonbeer: Happy birthday, girl!!! You look gorgeous as always 💖💛 → ameliedayman: @madisonbeer You’re too kind, Mads! Let’s celebrate soon 😘

papayadreamin: HOLY SHIT GIRL!!!!

alexandrasaintmleux: Birthday queen!! Hope you’re having the best time 💛🔥✨ → ameliedayman: @alexandrasaintmleux You know it’s been a vibe! Miss youuu!! 😘

f1squadgirl: Lando won... for real

dualipa: Happy bday, babe!! Can’t wait to celebrate with you soon 💛🔥 → ameliedayman: @dualipa Let’s goooo! You’re the best!! 😘💛

--------------

The lingering warmth of Lando’s kiss still tingled on Amelie’s lips as she moved towards the bathroom. The yellow dress, which had felt so celebratory just hours ago, now felt a little heavy, a reminder of the whirlwind of the day. She sighed contentedly, the image of Lando’s surprised and loving face replaying in her mind.

As she began to unfasten the delicate buttons down the back of the dress, she felt a familiar presence behind her. Lando’s arms wrapped around her waist, his chin resting softly on her shoulder. His lips trailed along the curve of her neck, sending a shiver of delight down her spine.

—I’ve prepared a bath for us,— he murmured against her skin, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through her. —Thought we could both use a little… unwinding.—

Amelie leaned back into his embrace, a soft smile gracing her lips. —That sounds perfect, Lan.— She turned in his arms, her hands finding his. —Lead the way.—

He took her hand, his eyes filled with a tenderness that made her heart melt, and guided her towards the spacious bathroom. The room was filled with the soothing scent of lavender and the soft glow of candles flickering around the large, claw-footed tub. Steam curled invitingly from the water’s surface.

They stood for a moment, their hands still intertwined, simply looking at each other, a silent understanding passing between them. Then, without a word, they began to undress, their movements slow and deliberate, each touch a gentle expression of their closeness.

The warmth of the water enveloped them as they eased into the tub, their bodies fitting together naturally. The initial moments were quiet and peaceful, a comfortable silence as they each washed the remnants of the day away. Lando gently soaped her back, his touch lingering, and Amelie returned the favor, her fingers tracing the lines of his shoulders.

But the quiet intimacy soon stirred a deeper longing. Lando turned, his hands framing Amelie’s face, his eyes filled with a familiar passion. He leaned in, his lips meeting hers in a kiss that started softly, a gentle exploration, before deepening into something more urgent, more demanding.

He pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her waist, and with a fluid movement, he lifted her and settled her onto his lap, her legs straddling his in the warm water. Amelie laughed softly against his lips, the sensation of his hardness pressing against her thigh undeniable.

—Someone’s excited,— she teased, a playful grin on her face.

Lando’s grip tightened on her waist, his eyes darkening with desire. —Only for you, mi amor,— he murmured, his voice husky.

Amelie’s laughter softened into a sigh as she reached a hand under the water, her fingers gently stroking him. —I guess someone missed me,— she joked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Lando groaned, his head falling back against the rim of the tub. —Fuck off, Amelie,— he breathed out, but the heat in his gaze betrayed the intensity of his desire.

Amelie’s playful strokes continued, her touch both teasing and incredibly arousing. Lando’s hands roamed freely over her body, his fingers tracing the delicate curve of her jawline, the slope of her shoulders, the fullness of her breasts. He peppered her neck and jaw with soft, fervent kisses, his breath warm against her skin.

—God, Ames,— he murmured, his voice thick with longing, —I missed you so fucking much. Every second we’re apart feels like forever.— He moved lower, his lips finding the sensitive skin of her collarbone, then trailing down towards her breasts. He laved at one nipple, and Amelie gasped, her fingers tightening in his hair.

—Lan,— she breathed, her head falling back, giving him more access.

He continued his sensual assault, his hands now cupping her breasts, his thumbs teasing her nipples until they were hard and aching. He whispered against her skin, a litany of dirty words and praises that he knew drove her wild.

—You feel so good, baby,— he groaned, his lips moving back up to her ear. —So soft, so wet… I just want to bury myself inside you, feel you wrapped around me.—

Amelie’s breath hitched, her body already thrumming with need. She shifted on his lap, the friction against his hardness making her ache even more. Her hand continued its rhythmic dance beneath the water, her gaze locked with his, a silent conversation of pure desire passing between them.

—You always know exactly what to say,— she whispered, her voice husky with arousal. —You know how to make me… crazy.—

Lando smirked, his eyes dark and possessive. —That’s because you’re mine, mi amor. And I know every little thing that makes you come undone.— He leaned in, his teeth gently nipping at her earlobe, making her gasp. —And tonight, birthday girl, I’m going to make you come undone again… and again… until you’re nothing but a quivering mess in my arms.—

He shifted her slightly on his lap, aligning their bodies. The warm water swirled around them as he slowly sank into her, the tightness gripping him instantly.

—Fuck,— he groaned, his hands gripping her waist. —You’re as tight as I remember.—

Amelie arched her back, a low moan escaping her lips. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper. Lando began to move, his hands guiding her up and down, the water sloshing over the sides of the tub and onto the tiled floor, but neither of them cared.

—Oh, Lando,— Amelie gasped, the Spanish words tumbling out in a rush of pure sensation. —Más… faster…—

Her moans echoed in the steamy bathroom, each one driving Lando further to the edge. He increased his pace, his movements becoming more urgent, more demanding. The rhythmic sounds of their bodies moving together mingled with the splashing water, creating a symphony of pure, unadulterated passion.

Their frantic pace threatened to bring them both to a swift climax, but Lando, wanting to prolong the exquisite torture, decided to change their position. With a groan, he pulled himself out of her, the sudden absence leaving Amelie breathless and wanting.

He helped her stand, his hands gripping her waist, his eyes never leaving hers. The water streamed down their slick bodies, the air thick with the scent of lavender and their mingled desire. Lando stood up after her, his gaze possessive as he lifted her effortlessly into his arms.

His intention was to carry her to the bed, to continue their lovemaking in the soft sheets, but the moment he pulled her up and was about to take a step, Amelie’s hands framed his face, and she started kissing his jaw, her lips soft and insistent.

He stopped midway, his legs suddenly feeling weak. The pull of her lips, the heat of her body against his, was too potent to ignore. With a groan, he shifted his grip, his hands sliding down her back to cup her buttocks. He pressed her back against the cool tiles of the wall, his body aligning with hers once more.

Without breaking the kiss, he thrust himself back inside her, the deep connection igniting a fresh wave of intense pleasure. Amelie cried out, her legs wrapping tighter around his waist, her moans echoing against the bathroom walls.

This time, there was a raw urgency to their movements, a primal need to be closer, deeper. Lando’s thrusts were hard and unwavering, each one sending shockwaves of sensation through both of them. Amelie met his rhythm, her body arching against his, her nails digging lightly into his shoulders.

—Lando!— she gasped, her voice thick with passion. —Oh, fuck, that’s so good.—

He could feel her tightening around him, the unmistakable signs that she was nearing her peak. He pushed harder, deeper, his own release just moments away. But he wanted to savor this, to watch her come apart in his arms.

With a final, powerful thrust, he pulled himself out of her, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He kissed her temple, his lips lingering on her damp skin. Then, gently, he laid her carefully on the soft sheets of the bed, his gaze tender as he looked at her flushed face and heavy-lidded eyes. For a fleeting second, Amelie thought he was going to leave to grab a towel or something to clean them up.

But then, she felt his hands on her legs, gently but firmly dragging her towards the edge of the bed. Her eyes widened in surprise as she realized his intention. He knelt between her open thighs, his gaze intense and unwavering.

The next sensation was overwhelming, all-consuming. His warm mouth enveloped her, his tongue flicking and swirling, sending immediate and intense pleasure coursing through her. She gasped, her hands tangling in his hair, her hips lifting instinctively against his mouth. It was almost too much, the sensitivity heightened from their time in the water, every touch sending shockwaves through her body.

—Lando… oh, God, Lando,— she cried out, her voice barely a whisper, her body arching off the bed as the waves of pleasure crashed over her.

Amelie tried to shift, to pull away from the intense pleasure, her hands gripping his shoulders. —It’s… too much,— she gasped, her breath coming in short, sharp bursts. —Feels… so good… but… too much…—

Lando’s hands tightened on her thighs, holding her firmly in place, preventing her from moving. His lips continued their relentless assault, his tongue driving her wild.

—Shhh, baby,— he murmured against her slick flesh, his voice low and possessive. —Don’t you dare try to get away from me. I’m going to make you come as many times as I damn well please. You’re mine tonight, remember?—

His words, both possessive and filthy, sent another wave of heat crashing through her. The intensity was almost unbearable, but the pleasure was so exquisite, so all-consuming, that she couldn’t deny the thrill that coursed through her veins. She moaned, her body surrendering to his ministrations, the protests dying in her throat.

The sensations built and built, each flick of his tongue, each gentle suction, pushing her closer and closer to the edge. Her body trembled uncontrollably, her breath coming in ragged gasps. And then, the first wave hit her, a series of sharp, intense contractions that wracked her body. She cried out, her back arching off the bed, her fingers digging into Lando’s hair.

But he didn’t stop. He continued his relentless assault, his mouth working its magic until the next wave hit her, even stronger than the first. Tears streamed down her face, a mixture of pure pleasure and the overwhelming intensity of the sensations. She was completely lost, completely consumed by him.

—That’s it, baby,— Lando murmured against her, his voice thick with satisfaction. —Let it all go for me. You feel so fucking good.—

As the tremors subsided, leaving her weak and utterly spent, Lando’s lips trailed up her thighs, across her stomach, until he found her mouth. He kissed her deeply, a slow, tender kiss that spoke of the intimacy they had just shared.

—Another one?— Amelie whispered, her voice still shaky, her body still humming with the aftershocks of her orgasm.

Lando’s eyes darkened with renewed desire. —Definitely another one.—

He shifted, positioning himself between her legs once more, sliding back inside her with a slow, deliberate thrust.

—Fuck, Ames,— he groaned, his hands gripping her hips. —You’ve never felt this tight.—

He began to move, his thrusts deep and powerful, each one eliciting a cry of pure passion from Amelie. The rhythm was primal, urgent, their bodies moving together in a desperate dance of pleasure.

Amelie cried out, her head thrashing against the pillows as the waves of pleasure washed over her again. Her body tightened around Lando, her nails digging into his back as she neared her peak once more. Just as she felt the familiar contractions building, a new sensation, unexpected and intense, flooded her body. A surprised gasp escaped her lips as she felt a release unlike anything she had experienced before.

Lando, sensing the change, paused, his eyes widening as he saw the unmistakable sign.

—Holy shit, baby,— he breathed out, his voice filled with awe and a fresh wave of arousal. —You squirted.—

The sight of her release sent a jolt of pure electricity through him. His grip tightened on her hips, his own desire reaching a fever pitch. Without another word, he shifted her onto her hands and knees, his hands gripping her waist.

He thrust into her from behind, the angle hitting a new, exquisitely sensitive spot. Amelie cried out, her moans echoing in the room.

—Oh, Lando!— she gasped, her voice raw with pleasure. —Dios mío… it feels so good…—

He drove into her again and again, his movements hard and relentless, pushing her closer and closer to the edge. He could feel her body clenching around him, the unmistakable signs that she was about to come again.

And then, it happened again. Another wave of intense pleasure washed over Amelie, and she squirted, the warm liquid splashing against his skin and the sheets.

Lando pulled out of her at the exact moment he saw it, his eyes wide with disbelief and a primal surge of desire.

—Holy shit, baby,— he repeated, his voice thick with lust. —You squirted… again.—

The sight of her release, the knowledge that he had driven her to such heights of pleasure, sent him spiraling over the edge. With a guttural roar, he thrust into her one last time, his own orgasm ripping through him as Amelie’s body convulsed around him, her own climax echoing his. She squirted one more time, the final confirmation of the explosive pleasure they had shared.

He collapsed on top of her, his body shuddering, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He buried his face in her neck, his lips brushing against her damp skin.

—Happy birthday, baby,— he murmured, his voice thick with exhaustion and utter satisfaction.

[palmolli]

SKSW ZELINK IS MY ROMAN EMPIRE!!!!

So I've already made a post like this, but like... sksw Zelink makes me violently ill. But like in a good way. They are an existential NIGHTMARE. And they drive me ABAOLUTKEKEY INSANE.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Here's basically how I view it:

Zelda was supposed to be the main character. Not Link. Link was basically just the love interest in her story. It's the Legend of Zelda, not Link, lol. In the game itself, Link was never supposed to fight Demise, he wasn't even supposed to be the one to use the triforce. Hylia reincarnated into a mortal for the sole reason of using the power of the Triforce against Demise's wrath. Link was only supposed to be a fallback plan. Yet they both fell for each other.

Imagine being Link. Your best friend in the whole wide world goes missing one day. She was basically all you had. You saw it happen and you couldn't do anything about it. You keep replaying the scene in your head over and over again, wishing you could've just caught her hand. But you couldn't. Then you learn she's still alive. There's still hope to get the one light in your life back. You don't hesitate to take up the sword. Losing your best friend is more horrifying than whatever awaits you on the surface. You follow her through old temples, slaying beasts left and right, and when you finally catch up to her, her words break your heart and explode your brain. She's really a goddess reborn. And you, nothing but her chosen hero. You still love her, and it hurts.

Imagine being Zelda. You've just fallen from the world you once knew. You're lost and confused. Only guided by a mysterious yet familiar stranger. You're told you're not who you thought you were. The life you were so familiar with shatters before your eyes. The girl you thought you were shatters with it. A piece of that life follows you down. Turns out he was just a pawn in your game. You used the person you love. But he doesn't care. He's willing to shed blood for your sake. Whether it's his or another's. It scares you. You don't exactly know why. Maybe it's because he was the only familiar thing in this new world, but now he's changed. He's no longer that lazy boy you had to drag out of his bed since you were just kids. He's no longer the boy you had to speak up for because he was too shy to do so with his own voice. You still love him, and it hurts.

PLEEEAAAZESSEEE AAUUUUUUGHHHH, I NEED TO SQUEEZE THEM LIKE DOG TOYS NOOOWWWWWW.

LIKE SERIOUSLY, BARELY ANYONE TALKS ABOUT THE ACTUAL DEPTHS OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP. EVERY EDIT OF THEM JUST TURNS INTO "ahaha, we get reincarnated to love each other in every lifetime!!! Teehee!!"

NO. SHUT UP!!!!! It is SO much more than that to me. The COMPLEXITIES. The CONFLICT. THE EXISTENTIAL DREAD.

They're the only Link and Zelda pair aware of the cycle. They were the very first. They planted the seed for what eventually grew into Hyrule. They lived and died with the knowledge that their people would never know peace. They are essentially the Adam and Eve of Hylian lore. That has never been explored in the Zelda canon, and it pisses me off sm.

ALSOOOO the very idea of once being a GOD in a past life and having the memories of one... it's almost incomprehensible. Same with dating said used to be God. If you try too hard to wrap your head around it, it'll unravel your mind. That is genuinely some kinda form of existential horror or something. Arrrrghhhhhhhh... they make me so violent...

Also... Zelda's soul is still divine. Link's isn't. What happens to them after death? Do NOT reply with "Oh, they get reincarnated as the other future Zeldas and Links!" Because... there's literally in game evidence of two Zeldas and two Links existing at once, which wouldn't be possible if they were the same person reincarnated. One. Botw Zelda and the Hylia statues. Two. The hero's shade and tp Link??? THREE. The og Zelda and the adventure of Link Zelda.

Hylia still exists after Skyward Sword... but where's her Link? Did he pass on and leave her behind? I genuinely don't think he would do that. I think Hylia's ghost is sealed away in the Sacred Realm, because the golden three thought she was too weak to exist in the normal realm. Separating her from her Link. He still lingers, somewhere... but she can't find him. Though she sees his face in every child that wields the blade he had cherished so dearly. She sees his face in every single one of their daughters that shares her name.

I think I could go on for hours, actually. I am so NOT normal about them.

[mind-player]

Little Escape

Basically, Tav getting addicted to organizing loot as a means of a short little escape from the horrors they've seen. Astarion thought that it would be fine, however, if it didn't get to the point where they started to neglect their own needs.

He decides that perhaps a break is in order.

Words: 957

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Astarion kept stealing annoyed glances above his book at you from where he stood in front of his tent. Everyone gathered around Gale with bowls and bread, all banter and grateful sounds for long-awaited food. 

Conversely, you kept fussing around with the loot everyone snatched from earlier that day. You were sorting through it with piles of books, letters, potions, and poisons surrounding your little area. Your tongue stuck out in concentration as you created a new pile of unenchanted armor and useless trinkets that could be sold to the next trader they came across on another adventure. 

"Tav! Come and get your food!" Karlach thankfully called, probably pitying how you were usually always the last soul to eat (only thanks to Astarion cutting in and saving you a bowl) because you'd never even noticed the smell of food in the air. 

Suppose loot wasn't occupying your mind. In that case, it was filling canteens and waterskins, sharpening and polishing everyone's weapons, doing laundry, brewing potions, or burying your nose in a text you found that day- anything that made you forget everything around you. 

Astarion honestly wondered if you even had a stomach sometimes. Or a need for sleep. 

You blinked and glanced up from your fort of loot, shaking your head, and Astarion almost rolled his eyes to the back of his skull. 

"I've gotta get through this first."

"They're doing it yet again. I wonder if it's just my cooking," Gale sadly pondered aloud as he poured a bowl for you anyway. 

"It's not that; Tav just gets lost in things sometimes," Shadowheart told him, not really as a reassurance, but more just as a matter of fact. 

"I will say that they keep a very organized camp because of it," Lae'zel stated, grabbing your bowl and walking over to place it next to you. 

You mumbled a quick thanks as you organized the books neatly into a chest, moving on to put some helpful scrolls into a pouch, potions the same. And, of course, as Astarion predicted, you ignored it for about ten minutes before he decided that you might like a lukewarm meal over a cold one that night. 

Astarion closed his book and made his way over, leaning against an enormous chest. You didn't even notice his presence or stare, you busy bee. 

"Would you like some help?" he offered, which was rare. 

At first, he thought you didn't hear him, as you were too lost in picking through some enchanted jewelry. But you eventually glanced up at him, tilting your head a little at the vision of him. 

"No, thank you." 

Then Astarion's eyebrow twitched as Wyll called over his shoulder, "I've tried that one before!"

The vampire ignored him and tried once again because, of course, he was just as stubborn as you were, dammit. 

"Are you sure, Tav? This is a pretty infrequent opportunity to finally put me to work around here. Would you like to eat? Bathe? Rest? You know, basic things that everyone needs but you somehow neglect?" 

You blinked and grabbed a circlet, raising it to inspect, unanswering. Were you really ignoring Astarion now? 

Astarion huffed and muttered under his breath, "Fine. Enjoy your frigid stew. That is if you even eat it."

"Wait," you called, standing from your spot and swaying a little. 

Astarion glared at you, but his expression slowly slipped away the closer you came toward him. Your eyes finally focused as you fixed the golden circlet atop his head. Your fingers brushed some of his white curls to the side as you took in his entire face. 

His cursed undead heart would've been beating out of his chest at the sudden sight of you and your eyes on him, only him. It was like your attention was always there, with the corners of your lips rising into an appreciative smile. 

"Beautiful," you told him, completely engrossing his attention in you once again. The dark circles under your eyes, the dirt and blood spatter on your skin, and your frazzled hair from a hard day fought. Every part is endearing, especially compared to how much you did for everyone else and maybe for yourself despite your fatigue. 

This adventure only offered some bouts of control, but most days, it just didn't. If there was something to make you forget those chaotic moments, painful moments, in getting lost in these things, then Astarion reasoned it wasn't so bad- if even for a moment.

But he'll be damned if he was going to let you deprive yourself of your needs. 

"You're quite sly, you know that?" Astarion asked, grinning back. 

"Why, I have no clue what you're talking about," you replied with that cheeky smile that Astarion secretly adored. You gestured to the enchantments and said, "You can help me put these somewhere for everyone to look through tomorrow." 

"And what exactly do I get in return?" he asked. "Aside from these cherished adornments."

You weren't surprised by those words. Astarion was sure you already knew he wasn't going to give. 

"I'm not quite sure. What would you like then?" 

You wanted to hear him say it, and he would have indulged you if it meant you finally understood how important it is to take care of yourself.

"There's many things I'd like. For starters, you could finally eat that sorry bowl of stew. Otherwise, the entire camp has to suffer Gale's river of tears." 

"I heard that!" the wizard crankily hollered all the way over from his tent. You glanced over at the table and noticed everyone had finished eating by then and returned to their bedrolls. 

"That was the point!" Astarion announced before turning to you. "Think you can manage that, darling?" 

[oldschoolfrp]

Zargon awaits beneath The Lost City -- Kevin Glint updates the look of a classic encounter from module B4, first drawn by Jim Holloway:

Quests from the Infinite Staircase (July 16, 2024) will include 5e conversions of 6 D&D/AD&D adventures from the 1980s:

B4: The Lost City by Tom Moldvay (1982, originally for Moldvay's version of Basic D&D)

UK4: When a Star Falls by Graeme Morris (1984, originally for AD&D)

UK1: Beyond the Crystal Cave by Dave J Brown, Tom Kirby, and Graeme Morris (1983, AD&D)

I3: Pharaoh by Tracy and Laura Hickman (1982, AD&D)

S4: The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth by Gary Gygax (1982, AD&D)

S3: Expedition to the Barrier Peaks by Gary Gygax (1980, AD&D)

[defiblover27]

Simulation

In the bustling corridors of the underfunded hospital, a faded flyer catches the eye of passersby, its corners curling with age. "Volunteers Needed for Trauma Training Exercise," it boldly proclaims, beckoning those with a sense of adventure or altruism to step forward and lend their aid.

Among those drawn to the call is a 24-year-old woman, her determination evident in the set of her jaw as she approaches the hospital's trauma director. They exchange a brief but earnest conversation, the young volunteer expressing her willingness to participate in the training exercise while voicing her concerns about her comfort level with certain procedures.

"I'm eager to help in any way I can," she explains, her voice tinged with a mix of nervousness and resolve. "But I'll admit, I'm a bit apprehensive about some of the more invasive procedures. I'm comfortable with basic first aid and CPR, but I'm not sure I'm ready for things like intubation or defibrillation."

The trauma director nods understandingly, his expression one of reassurance rather than judgment. "That's perfectly understandable," he replies, his tone gentle yet firm. "Your safety and comfort are our top priorities. We'll tailor the scenario to suit your preferences and ensure you're only asked to participate in tasks you feel comfortable with."

With a sense of relief washing over her, the young volunteer nods gratefully, grateful for the understanding and support offered by the trauma director. Together, they discuss her role in the upcoming training exercise, mapping out a scenario that challenges her skills without pushing her beyond her limits.

Preparing the volunteer for the trauma training exercise is a meticulous process, undertaken with care and attention to detail to ensure her safety and comfort throughout the simulation.

As she arrives at the hospital, the volunteer is greeted by a team of trained professionals who guide her through each step of the preparation process. They lead her to a private changing area, where a set of hospital scrubs awaits her. With gentle encouragement, they assist her in disrobing, providing her with disposable undergarments to wear beneath the scrubs for modesty and hygiene.

Once dressed, the volunteer takes a seat as a makeup artist meticulously applies special effects makeup to simulate the injuries she will portray during the exercise. With a steady hand and an artist's eye for detail, they create realistic bruises, lacerations, and abrasions, transforming the volunteer's appearance into that of a trauma patient in need of urgent medical attention.

As the makeup artist works their magic, other members of the preparation team gather the necessary equipment for the simulation. They retrieve a backboard from its storage location, laying it out on a nearby gurney in anticipation of the volunteer's arrival. Alongside the backboard, they arrange a cervical collar (C-collar) and an inflatable orange brace designed to stabilize her right leg.

With the makeup application complete, the volunteer is guided to the gurney, where she lies down with a sense of trepidation mingled with excitement. The preparation team surrounds her, their movements practiced and precise as they secure her to the backboard with straps, ensuring she remains stable and secure throughout the simulation.

Next, they carefully position the cervical collar around her neck, adjusting it to provide support without impeding her breathing or movement. With gentle yet firm hands, they slide the inflatable orange brace into place around her right leg, inflating it to the appropriate level to immobilize the limb and prevent further injury.

As the final touches are made, the volunteer takes a deep breath, steeling herself for the challenges that lie ahead. Though she may be nervous, she knows she is in capable hands, surrounded by a team of professionals dedicated to her well-being. With a nod of affirmation, she signals her readiness to begin, eager to play her part in the training exercise and contribute to the hospital's ongoing mission of saving lives.

The simulation begins with the trauma team gathered around the gurney, their expressions grave as they assess the condition of the patient lying before them. The young woman, named Emily, is 24 years old, her face drawn with pain as she struggles to maintain consciousness amidst the chaos of the emergency room.

Emily's injuries are extensive, the result of a harrowing car accident that left her trapped in the wreckage for hours before help arrived. She presents with multiple traumatic injuries, including a deep laceration on her forehead, contusions and bruising across her chest and abdomen, and a visibly deformed right leg.

As the medical team conducts their initial assessment, Emily groans softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she describes the events leading up to the accident. She recalls the screech of tires and the sickening crunch of metal as her car careened off the road, the world spinning in a dizzying blur before everything went dark.

Her breathing is shallow and labored, punctuated by gasps of pain as she struggles to draw air into her damaged lungs. A rapid pulse races beneath her clammy skin, a testament to the body's instinctive response to trauma as it fights to stay alive against overwhelming odds.

The trauma team works quickly and methodically, their movements a synchronized dance of urgency and precision as they address each of Emily's injuries in turn. They apply pressure to the gaping wound on her forehead, staunching the flow of blood with sterile dressings and medical tape.

Meanwhile, others attend to her chest and abdomen, palpating for signs of internal injury while monitoring her vital signs for any indication of deterioration. X-rays are ordered to assess the extent of her injuries, with the medical team bracing themselves for the possibility of life-threatening complications hidden beneath the surface.

Throughout the simulation, Emily remains conscious but disoriented, her grip on reality tenuous as she grapples with the enormity of what has happened. She reaches out for reassurance, her eyes searching the faces of the medical team for a glimmer of hope in the midst of her darkest hour.

As the simulation progresses, the trauma team springs into action with renewed determination, their focus unwavering as they fight to stabilize Emily's condition and save her life. Though the road ahead may be long and fraught with uncertainty, they refuse to give up hope, drawing strength from their collective commitment to excellence in the face of adversity.

As the simulation progresses, the trauma director approaches Emily with solemnity, his voice gentle yet firm as he explains the next phase of the exercise. "Emily," he begins, his tone tinged with empathy, "in just a moment, we'll be simulating a critical event. We'll need to simulate your heart stopping. We'll need to cut open your shirt to begin chest compressions, and we'll place an ambu bag over your mouth and nose. You should remain still and 'lifeless' during this process. You may choose to close your eyes or keep them open."

Emily nods in understanding, her heart pounding in her chest as she braces herself for what's to come. With a deep breath, she closes her eyes, surrendering herself to the immersive experience of the simulation.

The trauma team springs into action with practiced efficiency, their movements choreographed to perfection as they simulate the onset of cardiac arrest. With a swift motion, they cut open Emily's shirt, exposing her chest to the harsh glare of the overhead lights. A sense of vulnerability washes over her, but she remains steadfast in her commitment to the exercise.

Chest compressions begin in earnest, the rhythmic thud echoing through the trauma room as the medical team works tirelessly to restore circulation to Emily's failing heart. An ambu bag is placed over her mouth and nose, delivering precious oxygen to her struggling lungs with each squeeze of the bag.

Amidst the chaos, Emily lies perfectly still, her body limp and unresponsive as she embraces the role of a patient in cardiac arrest. Though her mind races with adrenaline-fueled anticipation, she remains focused on maintaining the illusion of lifelessness, drawing upon her training and instincts to convey the gravity of the situation.

As the simulation unfolds, Emily finds herself enveloped in a surreal sense of suspended animation, her senses heightened as she navigates the fine line between reality and simulation. With each passing moment, she grows more deeply immersed in the role, her commitment unwavering as she plays her part in the collective effort to save lives and improve patient outcomes.

In the tense silence of the trauma room, Emily waits with bated breath, her entire being poised on the precipice of uncertainty. Though the outcome remains uncertain, she knows she is surrounded by a team of dedicated professionals committed to her well-being, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice to ensure her safety and success in the simulation.

As the simulation progresses and Emily remains in her role, the trauma director approaches her once more, his demeanor compassionate yet resolute. "Emily," he says softly, "we need to simulate defibrillation and the removal of the rest of your clothing. Are you okay with that?"

Emily meets the trauma director's gaze with a steady nod, her determination shining through the mask of simulated injuries. "Yes," she replies, her voice steady despite the rising tide of nerves coursing through her veins. "I'm ready."

With Emily's consent secured, the trauma team prepares to take the simulation to the next level. The room hums with a sense of purpose as equipment is brought forth, including the defibrillator paddles and a privacy screen to shield Emily from prying eyes.

With practiced hands, the trauma team carefully removes the remainder of Emily's clothing, revealing her body in its entirety to the stark fluorescent lights of the trauma room. Emily feels a pang of vulnerability wash over her, but she remains steadfast in her commitment to the exercise, drawing strength from the knowledge that she is surrounded by a team of professionals dedicated to her well-being.

As the final pieces of clothing are set aside, the trauma director approaches Emily once more, his expression one of reassurance as he prepares her for the next phase of the simulation. "Emily," he says, his voice gentle yet authoritative, "we're going to simulate defibrillation now. You'll feel a brief shock, but it's perfectly safe. Are you ready?"

Emily nods, her heart racing with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. "I'm ready," she affirms, her voice a whisper in the stillness of the trauma room.

With a sense of purpose, the trauma team positions the defibrillator paddles against Emily's bare chest, their gloved hands steady as they prepare to deliver the simulated shock. A hush falls over the room as the trauma director counts down, his voice a steady cadence in the tense silence.

"Clear," he calls out, his command echoing through the trauma room.

In the next instant, Emily feels a jolt of electricity course through her body, sending a shiver down her spine as her muscles twitch in response to the simulated shock. Though the sensation is fleeting, it leaves her breathless with adrenaline, her senses heightened as she remains poised on the brink of uncertainty.

As the simulation continues, Emily finds herself drawn deeper into the immersive experience, her commitment unwavering as she navigates the challenges presented by the training exercise. Though the road ahead may be fraught with obstacles, she knows she is surrounded by a team of dedicated professionals ready to guide her every step of the way, ensuring her safety and success in the simulation.

As the simulation progresses, the trauma team continues their relentless efforts to resuscitate Emily, their movements a blur of urgency as they alternate between chest compressions, defibrillations, and the administration of resuscitation drugs.

With each compression, Emily feels the pressure against her chest, a rhythmic reminder of the tireless dedication of the medical team fighting to bring her back from the brink. The defibrillator paddles crackle with energy as they deliver simulated shocks, each one sending a jolt of electricity coursing through her body in a desperate bid to restart her faltering heart.

Amidst the chaos, the trauma director calls out the duration of Emily's cardiac arrest, his voice a steady anchor in the storm of uncertainty. "Five minutes," he intones, his words a stark reminder of the precious seconds slipping away with each passing moment.

The medical team works with practiced efficiency, their movements synchronized as they administer resuscitation drugs in a last-ditch effort to revive Emily's failing heart. The air is thick with tension as they watch for any signs of response, their collective gaze fixed on the monitor displaying Emily's vital signs.

Minutes stretch into eternity as the trauma team refuses to yield to despair, their determination unwavering in the face of overwhelming odds. With each passing moment, Emily feels herself drawn deeper into the immersive experience of the simulation, her senses attuned to the ebb and flow of life and death unfolding around her.

Though the outcome remains uncertain, Emily knows she is in capable hands, surrounded by a team of dedicated professionals committed to her well-being. As she lies in the midst of the simulated cardiac arrest, she draws upon her training and instincts to convey the gravity of the situation, embracing her role with a sense of purpose and determination that belies the simulated injuries adorning her body.

In the stillness of the trauma room, Emily waits with bated breath, her entire being poised on the razor's edge of uncertainty. Though the road ahead may be fraught with obstacles, she remains steadfast in her commitment to the simulation, ready to face whatever challenges lie in store with courage and resilience.

As the simulation intensifies, a sense of unease washes over Emily, a peculiar sensation prickling at the edges of her consciousness. Though she tries to push aside the feeling, dismissing it as a product of the immersive experience, a growing sense of dread gnaws at the pit of her stomach.

Unbeknownst to Emily or the trauma team, a medical student, eager to prove themselves in their new environment, has made a critical error. In their haste to assist with the simulation, they mistakenly administered a vial of real epinephrine instead of the simulated medication, a grave oversight that goes unnoticed amidst the chaos of the trauma room.

As the potent drug courses through Emily's veins, she feels a surge of adrenaline flood her system, her heart racing with an intensity that surpasses the bounds of the simulation. A sense of disorientation washes over her, her senses overwhelmed by the sudden onslaught of physiological responses triggered by the real medication.

Despite the mounting alarm bells ringing in her mind, Emily says nothing, her voice lost amidst the cacophony of the trauma room as the medical team continues their efforts to resuscitate her. With each passing moment, her condition deteriorates, her heartbeat growing erratic as she teeters on the brink of true cardiac arrest.

In a cruel twist of fate, Emily's worst fears are realized as she plunges into the depths of a genuine cardiac arrest, her body succumbing to the deadly grip of arrhythmia. The trauma team, unaware of the unfolding crisis, presses on with their simulated interventions, their attention focused solely on the task at hand.

As Emily's consciousness fades into darkness, she realizes with a sinking heart that she is no longer a participant in a training exercise but a patient in desperate need of salvation. Though the realization comes too late to alter the course of events, she clings to a flicker of hope, praying for a miracle to save her from the abyss of death that looms ever closer with each passing second.

As the trauma director attempts to speak to Emily, a sense of urgency grips him as he notices her lack of response. His brow furrows with concern as he leans in closer, his voice tinged with desperation as he calls out her name. "Emily, can you hear me? Emily?"

There is no response, no flicker of recognition in Emily's glassy eyes as they stare blankly ahead. Panic begins to rise within the trauma director's chest as he realizes something is terribly wrong. With trembling hands, he reaches for Emily's wrist, his fingers searching for the reassuring throb of a pulse beneath her skin.

His heart sinks as he feels nothing but stillness, his worst fears confirmed in the absence of the vital sign he had hoped to find. In a state of shock, he checks for a pulse again, this time beneath the cervical collar, but the result remains the same—Emily is in cardiac arrest.

A sense of urgency washes over the trauma director as he springs into action, his training kicking in as he directs the medical team to shift their focus from simulation to reality. "She's in cardiac arrest!" he declares, his voice cutting through the chaos of the trauma room. "Start chest compressions, now!"

With practiced efficiency, the trauma team pivots to the new reality before them, their movements swift and sure as they initiate CPR in a desperate bid to revive Emily's failing heart. Each compression is a prayer whispered into the void, a plea for a miracle to breathe life back into the stillness that surrounds them.

As the trauma room buzzes with frenetic energy, the trauma director's mind races with a million questions, each one more pressing than the last. How could this have happened? What went wrong? But amidst the chaos, there is no time for answers, only action as they fight to save Emily's life against overwhelming odds.

In the midst of the turmoil, Emily lies motionless, her body a canvas for the frantic efforts of the medical team as they work tirelessly to bring her back from the brink. Though the road ahead may be fraught with uncertainty, they refuse to give up hope, drawing upon their training and expertise to navigate the stormy seas of cardiac arrest and guide Emily safely back to shore.

As the resuscitation attempts continue, the trauma room pulses with urgency, the rhythm of chest compressions driving the frantic tempo of the medical team's efforts to revive Emily. With each compression, her body sways from side to side, the force of the compressions causing her breasts to shake in a stark reminder of the gravity of the situation.

Amidst the chaos, the trauma team remains undeterred, their focus unwavering as they prepare to escalate their interventions in a desperate bid to save Emily's life. With a sense of grim determination, they gel the paddles and charge them with electricity, the anticipation hanging heavy in the air as they prepare to deliver a shock to Emily's bare chest.

In a moment fraught with tension, the paddles are placed on Emily's skin, their cold metal surface a stark contrast to the warmth of her flesh. With a silent prayer on their lips, the medical team braces themselves as they prepare to unleash the full force of the defibrillator in a last-ditch effort to restart Emily's faltering heart.

A heartbeat later, the trauma room is awash with blinding light and crackling energy as the paddles deliver their shock, coursing through Emily's body in a desperate bid to jolt her heart back into rhythm. The room holds its breath as the monitor displays the outcome, the fate of Emily's life hanging in the balance with each passing moment.

But despite their best efforts, the monitor remains stubbornly flatline, a grim testament to the stubbornness of death in the face of human intervention. With a heavy heart, the trauma team presses on, their resolve unshaken as they refuse to yield to despair.

In a final act of desperation, the medical team moves to intubate Emily, their hands steady as they guide the endotracheal tube into her airway, securing her breathing and allowing for the administration of life-saving medications

As the resuscitation efforts persist, the passage of time weighs heavily on the trauma room, each minute stretching into eternity as the medical team fights desperately to revive Emily. Over thirty agonizing minutes tick by, marked by the relentless rhythm of chest compressions and the mechanical whir of life-saving equipment.

Despite their tireless efforts, Emily's condition continues to deteriorate before their eyes. Her once rosy complexion fades to a pallid shade of gray, her skin growing cold to the touch as the chill of death creeps inexorably into the room. The gel from the defibrillator paddles glistens on her bare chest, a stark reminder of the futile battle being waged against the icy grip of mortality.

A bruise blossoms between Emily's breasts, a grim testament to the force of the chest compressions that have been administered in a desperate bid to restore her failing circulation. Her eyes remain wide open, staring blankly into the void as if searching for answers that will never come.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, the trauma team pauses momentarily, their hands hovering over Emily's motionless form as they perform a vital signs check. With a heavy heart, they prepare to confirm what they already fear to be true—that Emily is beyond saving, her journey on this mortal coil drawing to a tragic and untimely end.

A cardiac ultrasound reveals the harsh reality of Emily's condition, the images on the monitor painting a bleak portrait of irreversible cardiac damage. Her heart lies still within her chest, a silent sentinel to the finality of death's embrace.

[sorryimananti-romantic]

Ateez Masterlist - Discography Ver.

Basically ateez's tracklist but with the ffs linked! click on the song and you'll be led to the content which will have a detailed description + warnings of its own. enjoy <3 and special thanks to @eightmakesonebraincell for helping me out with the formatting! (PLAYS = word count, CREDITS = description). P.S: for reactions, requests and headcanons, pls refer to the masterlist here <3

TOTAL STREAMS (WC): 1009,378~ (as of 04/02/25)

TREASURE EP.1: All to Zero

# Title

1 Intro: Long Journey

2 해적왕 (Pirate King)

3 Treasure

4 Twilight

5 Stay

YEOSANG (ft. princess!reader) 18,692 PLAYS CREDITS: royal au where yeosang is an archer and he replaces your tutor and keeps your secret, joins you in finding some adventure in life and eventually, helps you find true love.

6 My Way

MINGI (ft. princess!reader) 18,619 PLAYS CREDITS: royal au where mingi is your bodyguard and you, the princess, travel to the enemy nation to expose the schemes of your betrothed, risking your life when you can't hold back your feelings for your guard anymore.

TREASURE EP.2: Zero to One

# Title

1 HALA HALA (Hearts Awakened, Live Alive)

MINGI (ft. human!reader) 26,976 PLAYS CREDITS: fantasy au where the shadow demon is cursed to share a body with mingi. mingi encounters you when you run away from home and you decide to stick with him. you start falling for both the demon and mingi but tragic consequences await you as you learn more about the curse.

2 Say My Name

3 Desire

4 Light

SEONGHWA (ft. chemist!reader) 32,159 PLAYS CREDITS: mafia au where seonghwa, the drug lord, gets possessed by an angel when you conduct an experiment to steal the angel's essence to enhance your drugs. the angel falls in love with the devil- you- but your heart remains conflicted between the angel and seonghwa.

5 Promise

YUNHO (ft. princess!reader) 23,068 PLAYS CREDITS: royal au where you, princess of eden, find yourself in an arranged marriage with prince yunho of wonderland and find your homelands at war with each other, making you wonder what will become of your marriage esp when you fall for him.

TREASURE EP.3: One To All

# Title

1 Utopia

2 Illusion

3 Crescent

SAN (ft. bodyguard/assassin!reader) 17,274 PLAYS CREDITS: royal/fantasy au where san is the prince and you are hired to be his bodyguard and personal assassin as he travels to eden to uncover secrets and a possible betrayal.

4 Wave

MINGI (ft. teacher!reader) 7,881 PLAYS CREDITS: high school-ish au where you both are teachers and accompany students to a one week trip as per your suggestion, experiencing your own high school romance

5 Aurora

YUNHO (ft. spy!reader) 26,543 PLAYS CREDITS war au where you are a spy/cryptographer in the enemy nation and meet yunho, skilled strategist and cryptographer, win his favour to get on his team so you can eventually get to the medical research department to expose their plans, but fall in love with him in the process, fearing the day he'll learn your true identity.

6 Dancing Like Butterfly Wings

TREASURE EP.FIN: All To Action

# Title

1 Wonderland

2 Dazzling Light

YEOSANG (ft. human!reader) 26,709 PLAYS CREDITS: fantasy au where yeosang is an angel on his last mission and you, a mere human, messes his mission making him stay for longer than he'd like... until he starts actually liking it (and you) and finds himself in a life-threatening situation.

3 안개 (Mist)

SAN (ft. mediator!oc) 53,807 PLAYS CREDITS: supernatural au where the oc, seohyun, is a mediator- someone who can see and interact with the dead and helps them move on. she befriends san and together, they navigate through a journey of danger and thrill, heartbreak and love, and tragedy that drives them worlds apart.

4 Win

WOOYOUNG (ft. princess/assassin reader) 42,555 PLAYS CREDITS: royal au where wooyoung is an envoy from utopia, also undercover, and finds out your identity. a secret shared, you try to prevent utopia from taking your homeland while he helps though you can't help but question his loyalty multiple times- even when you're falling for each other.

5 If Without You

WOOYOUNG (ft. reader) 14,449 PLAYS CREDITS: best friends to lovers au where your childhood friend wooyoung moves in with you as he adjusts to the city and you try to get used to his presence without revealing your romantic feelings for him.

6 친구 (THANK U)

7 Sunrise

SAN (ft. soldier!reader) 29,895 PLAYS CREDITS: you and san are majors in the special forces. you think the idea of romance while being in the military is stupid for a number of reasons, but san thinks otherwise and decides to prove his point, making you question your beliefs.

8 걸어가고 있어 (WITH U)

TREASURE EPILOGUE : Action To Answer

# Title

1 Answer

2 지평선 (Horizon)

SAN (ft. oc) 100,725 PLAYS CREDITS: royal/fantasy au where san, faerie prince of earth, finds gaeul who came back from the dead as a part of a darkling's evil schemes, her magic now unnatural and dark. san realises he might be connected to gaeul in unimaginable ways, the bond they share serving as both their salvation and demise. SPINOFF (TAKE ME HOME)

3 Star 1117

WOOYOUNG (ft. alienoid!reader) 26,332 PLAYS CREDITS: space apocalypse au where wooyoung the human from earth gets arrested in the temporal nexus galaxy by you and joins you on a mission to attempt to save the galaxy and find star 1117, while also teaching you the meaning of 'home is where the heart is'.

4 Precious

5 Outro: Long Journey

TREASURE EP. Map To Answer

# Title

1 Declaration

2 Better

YEOSANG (ft. reader) 9,302 PLAYS CREDITS: enemies to lovers au where you belong to rival gangs but find yourselves at the mercy of a common enemy and have no choice but to rely on each other and address your confusing feelings for each other.

ZERO : FEVER Part.1

# Title

1 Dear Diary: 2016.07.29

2 FEVER

3 THANXX

4 지평선춤을 춰 (TO THE BEAT)

5 INCEPTION

6 Good Lil Boy

WOOYOUNG (ft. princess!reader) 23,785 PLAYS CREDITS: royal au where you meet prince wooyoung, your best friend and your worst enemy, at a retreat in another kingdom and you start to cross personal boundaries with each other in the name of bets, unable to keep your hands off each other.

7 One Day At A Time

YUNHO, SEONGHWA (ft. reader) 18,565 PLAYS CREDITS: royal/war? au where seonghwa and yunho are both the king's trusted guards and best friends. you fell for seonghwa, married and had a daughter with him before losing him forever. later, you fall for yunho- a loving father to your daughter and a husband who gave you enough space and time to grieve and fall for him.

ZERO : FEVER Part.2

# Title

1 불놀이야 Fireworks (I’m the One)

HONGJOONG (ft. reader) 25,903 PLAYS CREDITS: royal au where prince hongjoong holds a selection- 30 eligible candidates from the kingdom competing against each other, one of which would be his wife and the future princess. you're only a translator to one of the candidates but you catch his eye.

2 선도부 (The Leaders)

ATEEZ (ft. reader) ??? PLAYS (tba) CREDITS: mafia au where you join eight seemingly-refined gentlemen against a war with the elites as you navigate the dark world of manipulation, connections, dirty politics and illegal dealings with information that could crumble the very foundations of your homeland.

3 Time of Love

JONGHO (ft. reader) 19,800 PLAYS CREDITS: friends to lovers au where jongho is your brother's best friend (yeosang) and the three of you share a living space. you catch up with jongho and your feelings for him resurface with all their might.

4 Take Me Home

SEONGHWA (ft. oc) 155,416 PLAYS CREDITS: royal/fantasy au where yena (oc) with a magical block on her memories goes on a journey to uncover her past, encountering the eight faerie princes and learning her identity and fighting against an evil scheme as she falls for prince seonghwa of dark, a love that transcends the boundaries of time, space and magic.

5 Celebrate

Into the A to Z

# Title

1 Still Here

Dreamers

# Title

1 Dreamers

2 Blue Summer

Season Songs

# Title

1 바다 보러 갈래? (Be My Lover)

2 여름날의 겨울동화 (White Love)

HONGJOONG (ft. fireprincess!reader) 24,832 PLAYS CREDITS: fantasy au where hongjoong is the ice prince and sets a neverending winter in the land and you, the fire princess, find him trapped. as you team up against the threats on your lives, you make unexpected friends and find love.

3 검은 고양이 네로 (The Black Cat Nero)

ZERO : FEVER Part.3

# Title

1 Eternal Sunshine

HONGJOONG (ft. reader) 23,393 PLAYS CREDITS: you and hongjoong meet on the train and instantly connect, becoming friends and more, but you're both plagued by a past that you can't remember, and when you start digging into it you realise that your pasts may be connected and the situation might be graver than you thought.

2 Feeling Like I Do

YUNHO (ft. reader) 4,671 PLAYS CREDITS: you and yunho have been best friends since forever and neighbours for a while, and you find it harder with each passing day to hide your feelings for him.

3 Deja Vu

SEONGHWA (ft. reader) 22,281 PLAYS CREDITS: past life/reincarnation au where seonghwa was hades and you were persephone and in the present, seonghwa is a detective and you are a florist and you meet during his case investigation, your encounters making you relive your memories from your past life.

4 ROCKY

5 All About You

6 Not Too Late (밤하늘)

ZERO : FEVER EPILOGUE

# Title

1 야간비행 (Turbulence)

2 Be With You

SEONGHWA (ft. spy/defector!reader) 23,593 PLAYS CREDITS: royal au where you're a spy for the king but he tainted your name and imprisoned you in the enemy nation as a defector, imprisoning your sister as leverage. once you run, you encounter seonghwa- the king's right hand- save his life and use him to get to the castle, wondering if he'll still love you when he learns the truth.

3 The Letter

4 멋 (The Real) (흥 : 興 Heung Ver.)

5 Outro : Over the Horizon

Don't Stop

# Title

1 Don't Stop

BEYOND : ZERO

# Title

1 The King

THE WORLD EP.1 : MOVEMENT

# Title

1 Propaganda

2 Sector 1

3 Cyberpunk

JONGHO (ft. programmer!reader) 23,750 PLAYS CREDITS: you're a programmer in the eden droid project and you find your boyfriend jongho as the droid assigned for you to 'fix'- you wonder if it was just an awful conincidence. you run away with him so you can turn him back to human but it starts going wrong and you find yourself learning shocking truths as you make plans for the downfall of the project.

4 Guerrilla

YUNHO (ft. writer!reader) 27,902 PLAYS CREDITS: he's a doctor, part time serial killer/vigilante. you're a gore crime fiction writer. you move in with him despite the strict and strange rules and somehow, you both end up falling for each other amidst lies, secrets, past traumas and a detective who suspects you.

5 The Ring

6 WDIG (Where Do I Go)

JONGHO (ft. reader) 23,701 PLAYS CREDITS: royal au where jongho is hired as your bodyguard under your father's order bc you are a gossip-dealer who owns hotel crescent. with your father as your opposition when you support two different princes of two different nations at war, you wonder where jongho's loyalty lie.

7 New World

HONGJOONG (ft. royalphysician!reader) 27,397 PLAYS CREDITS: royal au where hongjoong is the crown prince and you're the royal physician to the king and you strike a deal with him- you'd kill the king for him to speed up his coronation while he grant you some benefits. you start getting greedy with each other though and things take a dark turn.

THE WORLD EP.PARADIGM

# Title

1 Intro: Siren

YEOSANG (ft. sirenhunter!reader) 27,894 PLAYS CREDITS: enemies to lovers au where yeosang is a siren and you're immune to a siren's call. while you help each other get your respective revenge and overcome a curse that starts turning you into a siren, you find that yeosang isn't the monster you thought all sirens to be.

2 Paradigm

3 Outro: Liberty

SPIN OFF : FROM THE WITNESS

# Title

1 Halazia

2 Outro: Blue Bird

LIMITLESS

# Title

1 Limitless

SAN (ft. queen!reader) 28,912 PLAYS CREDITS: you're the princess of utopia, queen of eden by marriage to the king. for a whole year of marriage, you've taken his abuse but you're planning his downfall and you find an unexpected ally in the king's right hand choi san. he not only helps you plan but also shows you how it is like to be truly loved and wanted.

2 Diamond

[readbycrow]

What's the first step on your next adventure?

3-10-2024 - Pick A Card

The images are in order of the cards below. The images just help pick which card is your answer. Pick an image, find the card, receive your answer. Hope to give some senses of reassurance and direction. Life really is just a series of adventures, some more fun than others.

Citrus - In a strange twist of fate, your next step is to wait. It's so easy to jump on a bandwagon or give into FOMO. It's truly a test of patience to just let the world go by for a minute. You might be someone who dives head first into the deep end on everything, and, while sometimes that can serve you well, that's not the course of action you need here. The devil is in the details with your life right now. You need to sort out some of the finer points and come up with a solid plan on how to proceed forward. This will be frustrating, and you might try to push forward before you're ready. There will be push back if you do. This is a time to take your time.

Cherries - The next adventure awaits, you just have to figure out which one it is. There's plenty of opportunities afoot in your life, and you find yourself in a position to take one. It's a matter of deciding what. The choice is truly yours, but some outside motivators may pull you one way or the other. There are also more things available if you're willing to put in time and effort into learning something new. A few basics in a new skill or a whole deep dive might lead you right where you're being called. The world is truly your oyster right now, and there's very little to hold you back from making your dreams a reality.

Berries - Your first step to your next big adventure is to let go of some things. You're worried, scared, and feeling hopeless. Maybe it's getting hard to sleep at night. That's okay. These things happen to a lot of people. Whether a chemical imbalance, trauma, or long-term stress has put you here, you deserve care and recognition of your problems. The worst is over, and what's left is what's inside of you. Be kind to yourself while you figure this out. There's no rushing, and there's plenty of people willing to help you if you reach out. This will pass or become manageable. You will be back on track soon.

Hello! Welcome to the bottom of the post. This crow just wants to let you know that it will pull a free card for you if you send an ask to its blog! It does trades of unwanted things for a card. If you don’t specify a question, the card will be about what you’ve given up. Feel free to check the pinned post for more information. The crow also does more professional readings on ko-fi! Apologies for the absence, the Crow changed nests! It and it's companions are now settling into a new space, and it is a lovely one!

[whimsicalmirah]

Starting over on here feels weird. I haven’t posted on tumblr since my college days in the 2010’s. It’s interesting how a lot of us end up going back to the basics. I’ll post to the void for now and to one lovely magical being I met through the costuming community. I’ll share my first photo of 2025 after cutting my hair. This year has been one of the roughest years yet, but more adventures await. We shall see.