#and Bryce washing Hunt

[merymoonbeam]

Thin places – The Void – Cauldron – Elriel

So in hofas we learned about thin places...

“No,” Aidas agreed. “But Helena knew that Midgard possessed its own magic. A raw, weaker sort of magic than that in her home world, but one that could be potent in high concentrations. She learned that it flowed across the world in great highways, natural conduits for magic.” “Ley lines,” Bryce breathed. Aidas nodded. “These lines are capable of moving magic, but also carrying communications across great distances.” Like those between the Gates of Crescent City, the way she’d spoken to Danika the day she’d made the Drop. “There are ley lines across the whole of the universe. And the planets—like Midgard, like Hel, like the home world of the Fae—atop those lines are joined by time and space and the Void itself. It thins the veils separating us. The Asteri have long chosen worlds that are on the ley lines for that exact purpose. It made it easier to move between them, to colonize those planets. There are certain places on each of these worlds where the most ley lines overlap, and thus the barrier between worlds is at its weakest.” Everything slotted together. “Thin places,” Bryce said with sudden certainty. “Precisely,” Apollion answered for Aidas with an approving nod. “The Northern Rift, the Southern Rift—both lie atop a tremendous knot of ley lines. And while those under Avallen are not as strong, the island is unique as a thin place thanks to the presence of black salt—which ties it to Hel.” “And the mists?” Hunt asked. “What’s the deal with them?” “The mists are a result of the ley lines’ power,” Aidas said. “They’re an indication of a thin place. Hoping to find a ley line strong enough to help her transfer and hide Theia’s power, Helena sent a fleet of Fae with earth magic to scour every misty place they could find on Midgard. When they told her of a place wreathed in mists so thick they could not pierce them, Helena went to investigate. The mists parted for her—as if they had been waiting. She found the small network of caves on Avallen … and the black salt beneath the surface.” (hofas)

It is long but what we get from this is that

Ley lines are used for moving magic and...communication between worlds

Ley lines are joined by time and space and void

The mist is a big give away for thin places

So how all of this connect to Elain and Cauldron?

When Elain got out of the cauldron...the water was "smokey"

And as if it had been tipped by invisible hands, the Cauldron turned on its side. More water than seemed possible dumped out in a cascade. Black, smoke-coated water. And Elain, as if she’d been thrown by a wave, washed onto the stones facedown. (Acomaf)

Maybe it is not smoke but mist...as in Cauldron is a thin place?

When Feyre threw the book of breathings into the Cauldron...it went to Crescent City. How? We dont know. is it bc Cauldron being a thin place between worlds?

Also Cauldron has "void in it"

I managed to stand. To take one step before I felt it. The … thing in the Cauldron. Or lack of it. It was lack and substance, absence and presence. And … it was leaking into the world.I dared a step toward it. And what I beheld in those ruins of the Cauldron… It was a void. But also not a void—a growth.It did not belong here. Belong anywhere. (Acowar)

And who cauldron is obsessed with? Elain...a seer.

In my mystics&seers post I talked about the connection between void and elain more. But in the same post I talked about Mystics and seer connection and they seem to be the same.

In hosab mystics are described like this

The old male cut in, as if he hadn’t heard a word of their hissed argument. “Most astronomers and mystics have been put out of business these days, you know. Thanks to fancy tech. And self-righteous busybodies like you,” he spat toward Bryce. She snarled at him, the sound more primal Fae than she liked, but he waved that hateful, ring-encrusted hand toward the mystics in their pools. “They were the original interweb. Any answer you wish to know, they can find it, without having to wade through the slog of nonsense out there.”

And we know how one of the mystics "went" to hel and talked one of the hel princes.

what do we know about ley lines? 👇🏻

“These lines are capable of moving magic, but also carrying communications across great distances.” Like those between the Gates of Crescent City, the way she’d spoken to Danika the day she’d made the Drop.

So what if ley lines and being mystic/seer is connected? Did that mystic use the ley lines? As in they are the communication between worlds?

And we have world walkers...

“The black salt only repels the Asteri; the mists repel everyone else. But certain people, with certain gifts, can access the power of thin places—on any world. World-walkers.” Aidas gestured gracefully to Bryce. “You are one of them. So were Helena and Theia. Their natural abilities lent themselves to moving through the mists.”

Theia was one of them.

In myths theia is:

Theia (/ˈθiːə/; Ancient Greek: Θεία, romanized: Theía, lit. 'divine', also rendered Thea or Thia), also called Euryphaessa (Ancient Greek: Εὐρυφάεσσα) "wide-shining", is one of the twelve Titans, the children of the earth goddess Gaia and the sky god Uranus in Greek mythology. She is the Greek goddess of sight and vision, and by extension the goddess who endowed gold, silver, and gems with their brilliance and intrinsic value.

Maybe sight and thin places/ley lines are more connected than we think?

Also I have been fascinated by this all this time but we have "pocket" realms or any pocket related thing...theia can do it, rhys can do it, apollion and maybe...azriel?

With theia we see this:

By the grace of the Mother, she was paranoid enough about any new allies or companions that she hid the Horn and Harp. She created a pocket of nothingness, she told me, and stashed them there. Only she could access that pocket of nothingness—only she could retrieve the Horn and Harp from its depths. (Hofas)

with apollion we have this:

The seventh and most lethal of the demon princes of Hel was in his mind- “I am not in your mind, though your thoughts ripple toward me like your world's radio waves. You and I are in a place between our worlds. A pocket-realm, as it were.”

Acomaf rhys:

Rhys reached into a bag I hadn’t realized he’d been carrying—no, one he’d summoned from whatever pocket between realms he used for storage.

And with azriel we have this:

Azriel didn’t give them a chance to exchange another word before murmuring shadows swept around them. Nesta couldn’t help clinging to Azriel, gleaning on some innate level that if she let go, she would tumble through this space between places and be lost forever.

We always known azriel's type of winnowing is different...BUT HOW DIFFERENT?

Also side note...Fionn probably has Shadow powers bc Helena and Silene both have shadow and starborn power so them taking the shadow from fionn is possible. I went into more detail about elriel connection to fionn in this post you can read it there.

So...pocket realms maybe they can somehow access space between the worlds? Thin places maybe connected to it?

Also side note this is maybe kinda crack but elriel scene also has "space between"

I saw the painting in my mind: the lovely fawn, blooming spring vibrant behind her. Standing before Death, shadows and terrors lurking over his shoulder. Light and dark, the space between their bodies a blend of the two. The only bridge of connection … that knife.

Maybe Im reading into it but the fact that the only connection "the space between" them is TT...THE KNIFE THAT CAN UNDO THINGS...the knife with gwydion can create Void. The void that is connected with the ley lines/thin places.

The end. 🫡💜

[acourtofthought]

Just to address a few things first -

I love Feysand together and I don't hold their (Rhys's) past mistakes against them.

The way Tamlin spoke to Feyre at the High Lords meeting was petty and childish.

But for those who claim Lucien's actions with Hybern are unforgiveable and therefore will forever make it impossible for Elain to forgive him in order to accept their bond, I think we should compare two scenarios:

Rhys admits that he forced Feyre into their bargain as a way to defy Amarantha, a way to get back at Tamlin, and yes, a way to keep Feyre alive. Feyre acknowledges that she was a pawn in his schemes yet still fell in love with him.

Versus:

Lucien had no idea the sisters would be brought into things, that was all Ianthe.

He tells both Feyre and Elain that what happened was a mistake, that the sisters being brought in and how things went down was not their plan. One of Lucien's main goals was to try and save Feyre.

Rhys, in comparison, admits that it was his plan to use Feyre as a pawn to serve his purpose. There were aspects that benefitted her but most of it was for himself and his people.

Tamlin and Lucien believed Feyre was being brain washed and tortured, something she let Lucien continue believing when he found her in the woods, when she felt it was more important to protect the secret of who Rhys was under his mask. So they worked with Hybern in exactly the same way Rhys worked with Amarantha, with the end goal of protecting Feyre and helping their people:

The differences in these scenarios are:

Lucien and Tamlin never used Feyre or her sisters as a pawn versus Rhys who actively used Feyre as one. For good reasons yes but it doesn't change the facts.

There was no "Ianthe" in Rhys's situation. Rhys, as High Lord, made the decisions on his own and did not risk betrayal by sharing his schemes with others. He clearly made the smarter play compared to Tamlin who trusted Ianthe but.....

Lucien never liked Ianthe. Never really trusted her, never wanted her around. Just as Cassian, Az, etc. followed their HLs orders to hide Feyre's pregnancy, just as Amren and Mor chose to keep the mating bond a secret from Feyre, just as the IC all hid the information about Nesta's made weapons from her, those under a HL are subject to following the orders of said HL. It didn't matter if Lucien agreed with Tamlin about Hybern, about Ianthe, he had no power to challenge him. In the end, the decision to do what they did was not his call.

I think everyone in this fandom knows that the events of Hybern would truly not stand in the way of an Elucien endgame.

When Rhys used Feyre as a pawn on multiple occasions.

When Cassian told Nesta that everyone hated her and initially hid the knowledge of the swords from her.

When Bryce initially thought Hunt betrayed her in CC1.

When Rowan punched Aelin in the face and told her the world would have been better had she died as a child.

When Feyre fell in love with Tamlin even after he kidnapped her.

When Ruhn fell in love with Lidia despite the sins she committed for the Asteri.

I think everyone knows Elain's current behavior towards Lucien is not preventing an Elucien endgame.

Not when Nesta told Cassian she wanted nothing to do with him and slept with other males.

Not when Feyre was initially afraid of Rhys, said the night she kissed Tamlin was the happiest of her life, admits she wanted Rhys even UTM yet still accepted Tamlin's proposal.

Not when Yrene thought Chaol was to blame (by association) for the death of her family.

Not when you consider what Elide believed about Lorcans loyalty to Maeve.

Not when Aedion found out about Lysandra and Aelin's plot to deceive him in marriage and children.

Given the history of SJMs writing, there is nothing preventing an Elucien endgame aside from Elain's reticence over the bond and when an author like Diana Gabaldon turned an unwanted arranged marriage (for Claire) into a love story that has one of SJMs favorite male love interests, I think Elucien is going to be just fine.

[quinlarhouseholdresident]

Bryce hate?? Over Hunt?? (HOFAS)

I’d say I’m usually Hunt’s biggest defender but the fact that I’m truly seeing people hate Bryce for a fight that lasted 1 day? She pushed aside his feelings??? I had to go back to her POV because no. Her actual thoughts:

“But each of us made choices that led us to all this. The weight of that’s not only on you, and it isn’t—”

“I don’t want to talk about this.” He started walking toward the center of the room.

“Hunt,” she started. He kept walking, wings tucking in tight.

Pushing aside his feelings looks a lot like her trying to address it and him not. 🤔

“That’s the old Umbra Mortis talking,” Bryce said, fumbling for humor amid the cold wash of pain and worry at his words, his dead tone.

Not having the right words. Feeling hurt for what he’s going through. Hmm, careless indeed. 🤔

But maybe it was that need to protect her that was leading to the guilt, the fear devouring him whole.

She’d meant every word she’d said to him—it wasn’t good enough for him to go along with things. She needed Hunt, all of him, fighting at her side. She didn’t know how to convey that. How to make him understand and embrace that.

Her acknowledging the root of his worries and not knowing how to communicate better but it all stemming from care.

Here’s her literally apologizing:

“I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “For being a dick to you about what you’re going through.”

“I apologize for everything I said to you about getting over it,” she went on.

💀

One spat that was resolved. Hunt didn’t die from 1 outburst. Can a girl be stressed? Can a girl be imperfect? Can a girl make mistakes? Can a girl apologize and be forgiven? Y’all love keeping FMCs in a box. It’s weird.

[acourtofkindness]

Thank you for sending in all the stories, here you can find the collection! Some of these are one-shots, some are longer stories, just click your way through them and also check out their other fics!

A Ballad of Thorns & Roses: How the High Lord of Spring told his Tale (Feylin/Tamcien)

by @positivelyruined When Tamlin, the High Lord of the Spring Court of Prythian, finds the clock counting down to his final battle with Amarantha — two things push him into action: the sudden death and bloody sacrifice of his friend Andras and the fierce vexation of his close friend Lucien. With no more time to waste, he offers shelter to the one person that he should despise the most — the girl who murdered Andras. His heart has been bleeding for a decade. Will their connection be enough to break the bond that holds the Spring Court captive, or will this burning love only spurn Tamlin’s heart? In this tale as old as time, only time will tell.

Spirit Meets the Bones (Eris x OC)

by @lucienarcheron Eris and Iris. Son of a high lord. Daughter of a fiend. An arranged marriage brought them together and beneath all the hate, the two are more alike than they’d like to be.

To Dust Or To Gold (Neris)

by @queercontrarian Eris calls in his bargain with Rhysand: he wants Nesta to join him in the Autumn Court to help him in his scheme to bring down his father.

Flame of Autumn (Eris x OC)

by @climbthemountain2020 "He quashed his hope like a bug beneath his heel. They would meet, marry, and produce a child. How hard could it possibly be to copulate and wash his hands of it? It’s not like he hadn’t regularly found release in the hundreds of years of living. This one would just be attached to him a bit more legally." Eris Vanserra is forced into a marriage with a magic-less daughter of Autumn from a strong bloodline. Despite his best efforts to remain apathetic, the universe has other plans.

A Court of Threads & Daises (Lucien x Tamlin)

by @shi-daisy Tragedy almost struck the Spring Court when Tamlin Evergreen tried to take his own life. Lucien Vanserra manages to save his former Lord, but not his power. Now that the Spring Court has a new High Lord and the horrors of war are behind them, both Tamlin and Lucien agree to help the new heir navigate court life and attempt to rebuild the broken Spring Court, along with healing themselves. They weren't expecting to fall back in love in the process.

A Court of Song and Desolation (Tamlin x Lucien)

by @achaotichuman With his Court in ruins and everyone gone, Tamlin lives amongst the broken pieces of his Court and has no intentions of changing that. Lucien, however, will not stand to leave his oldest friend alone. When Lucien takes Tamlin back to the human lands, they discover a darkness coming for Prythian. If something does not stop it, it will completely rewrite the way Faeries and humans alike live as they know it.

Of Hearts and Swords (Feysand, Nessian, Manorian, Quinlar, etc.)

by @QueenofNightmares (on ao3) 5 years have passed since Bryce Quinlan fought the Asteri—and lost. 5 years since the Horn in her back was then used to permanently open the gates between worlds. Midgard, Erilea, and Prythian are now in open war--the reunited Fae of each world working together to fight the Asteri. But much has changed in the war-ravaged years that have passed. The Crochan Witchclan fights alongside the Valkyries. Hunt Athalar has sought day and night for a way to bring Bryce back from the dead and end this war. And the beloved High Lady of the Night Court--Feyre Archeron-- left Prythian for Erilea, just after their Inner Circle was cleaved apart forever by a newcomer. As war rages on, the Asteri have found an unlikely ally in Prythian--one that might turn the fortunes of battle against the Fae. This is an alternate ending to CC3 (HOFAS) where the Asteri win. Bryce was killed in the conflict that followed and the Horn in her back was then used to permanently open the gates. It will follow each of the main character ships (Feysand, Nessian, Rowaelin, Lysaedion, Manorian, Quinlar, etc.) as well as introduce some new ones for some other beloved characters (Azriel, Fenrys). Lots of relationship angst with a happy ending.

Flame of Autumn (Eris x OC)

by @climbthemountain2020 Eris Vanserra is forced into a marriage with a magic-less daughter of Autumn from a strong bloodline. Despite his best efforts to remain apathetic, the universe has other plans.

Beyond (Helion x LoA)

by @areyoudreaminof The Lady of Autumn has agreed to come live at the Day Court, though she seems hesitant. Can Helion convince her that she belongs at his side?

[whitenight11007]

This has been floating around in my mind. Let’s see if anyone else agrees.

So Sarah j Maas books are obviously ✨amazing✨. There are three scenes one in each series that really strikes the characters.

They all include water. They all include our main heroes. And they all see the true face of the other.

In TOG Aelin just had her burn out (HoF) and got dunked in water repeatedly. This is the entire scene where Rowan sees her back and flies away in horror. That’s really when Rowan stars seeing her as more than a spoiled brat. As someone who survived and lost. As a true Fae not a pathetic human. It’s not when he falls in love with her but I feel like this is where it really starts.

In ACOTAR feyre had just heard Rhys’s backstory and accepted the bond. (Chapter 55 👀❤️‍🔥🥫) they were washing each other and thats when they say when they fell in love with the other person. That’s when they fully give to their feelings and realize they would die and kill and torture for the other. That’s when they realize that they were always meant to be. It’s such a sweet healing scene (and 🌶️🌶️🌶️ too!) and brings a important aspect to the book that’s vital to Feyre’s journey.

And in CC it’s the very first book. Hunt has just murdered three innocents and is taking a shower. He’s numb to the world and to his emotions. And as Bryce walks in it’s real pity she has on the Shadow of Death real sympathy. Because she was also in that place. This is where she starts seeing him as more then him mask, more then his job, more then a just another angel. She cared for him in a way that no one cared for her.

In all of these a huge part of their stories and lives are at play here. They’re all broken but healing. This is such a cool thing about Sarah j Maas. She’s written so many books and it all comes back to one thing. Hope.

And that is why I will keep reading her for years to come.

[gwyns]

“Three brothers x three sisters is boring and predictable but fated mates isn’t?”

Sarah herself is a fated mates writer. She had Abraxos get a mate, and joked that the House of Wind needed a mate. Sarah loves her mates. Sarah loves love. If Sarah didn’t write about fated mates being endgame for the past 16 books (I think that’s how many she has?) then things would be different. I don’t know if this is true, but apparently Bryce’s love interest want originally Hunt, but Sarah changed it and made them become mates. That tells me plenty. Girlie loves the fated mates trope (and many romance authors do as well - they also love banter).

here's how i see it, both are predictable tropes because like you said, sjm is a fated mates author. however, only one is boring to me and it's definitely not the one where predestined soulmates that were crafted by the universe specifically for one another end up together

e/riel, to me, is good on paper. in theory, they should be serving and making me go feral but they don't... why? because they lack chemistry. the only thing we have from them is that they wanted to fuck at one point, ok??? where's the yearning, the pining? and not the pining e/riels claim az had, he was jealous and horny yes but not because of elain herself. that's not true jane austen inspired pining, and i fear my man lucien is the only one who can deliver as well as a jane austen written man

also, something they never talk about is how it was ELAIN who gave the necklace back. if elain gave two shits about a relationship with az, she would've kept it. but no, she did the 1800s equivalent of ghosting. in my opinion, she washed her hands of the situation, and whatever was going on with az, entirely

yes! sjm said she originally had a different love interest for bryce but once she and hunt met, she knew they were meant to be together. i must admit, i'm really curious about who bryce's original love interest was since i can't imagine either of them with another person ever. ugh i love quinlar so much 😩

but spilllll anon. finding your true love aka your mate is a sjm staple, i adore the soulmates trope and i know many others do too, like hello?? that's why we're here lol. e/riels are genuinely so weird... they expect a woman to throw away her brand and what she wants simply because they're bored of it? well, go away! go find something else you'll enjoy more

[theladyofbloodshed]

I've seen that you're anti rhysand and like crescent city to a certain level so, as I barely trust stans, I wanted to ask you: what do you think about Lidia? Because there are some very strange opinions about her. I've seen people who say Azriel never did anything wrong, calling her all sorts of names and I can't stop thinking that she and Az practically have the same job so... that sounds a bit of double standards, also the thing with mask is literally what rhysand does and while people adore him for that, they seem to hate her and think that her being a double agent is bs. So what do you think?

As it’s me, you will get a very long answer.

i was so pleasantly surprised by cc1. I don’t really go for urban fantasy and thought it was be horrendous but I enjoyed it. I actually really liked Bryce and I LOVED hunt.

Book 2 was not it. Bryce turned into aelin and everybody wants to sleep with her because she’s so hot and so clever and so amazing.

I will be honest, I have little interest in ruhn x lidia. As soon as Lidia was mentioned as a super beautiful blonde who is the Enemy™️- who happened to be sister of ruhn’s arranged bride - I knew she’d be Day and it’s so predictable. I’m bored of it.

Lidia is just Rhys in a different font at this point but I suppose she is risking more and is in more danger. Rhys had no reason to become amarantha’s lapdog when he hid Velaris and the IC from everybody’s memory. He had nothing to protect??? Nobody knew any of it existed???

Lidia seems to be dealt a worse hand having to leave the witches as she’s a shifter and should be queen but lost that birth right. The SA she experiences is more graphic in text but I’m sure it will be waved away and she’ll be hyper sexual like all sjm characters. (The mind sex was weird I didn’t like it). Embedding herself into the group and being a spy is far riskier than Rhys becoming close to amarantha to do absolutely nothing ???? At least lidia is passing intel over. And as far as I can remember, lidia doesn’t have a Velaris to return to when it’s over. She’s in this life for the long haul.

On the whole, as a character she’s fine, but that character has been done to death. Give me a character like Zuko from ATLA who is a villain and has an amazing arc where they learn and grow and redeem themselves.

I am so tired of “they are a villain!!! Ha ha just kidding they’re actually the World’s Best Person (because beautiful people can’t be bad!) and they’re doing all this evil stuff because they’re actually good!!! It’s all an act!! They are good!!!”

Give me an evil person who learns how to be good over time who regrets their decisions

Stop washing it away because you can’t commit to making them do bad things

I think this is why I like Azriel because he’s fucked up, he knows he is, everybody knows he is and it’s just 🤷🏻‍♀️ that’s Azriel! I really hope they don’t then say actually there was another secret shadow singer who tortures people, Azriel just tricked them all! He’s really an angel who has never hurt anybody 😊 I want him to regret, I want him to grow

[storyofmychoices]

I haven't done a WIP or Sunday Six post in FOREVER... but I'm hoping maybe if I go back to it and share some snippets I'm working on, I'll actually have the motivation to finish any of them. So this is my submission for @choicesficwriterscreations's Sunday Six but also things I would like to work on for @wip-wipeout-weekend. I would LOVE to spend the weekend writing. I don't know if I can make the time, but I want to try.

The Bogart Diaries: Painter's Tape Challenge (working title)

Pairing: Thomas Hunt x Alex Spencer Book: Red Carpet Diaries Rating: General

Thomas followed the sound of her voice toward the kitchen. However, before he could inquire into the cause of the commotion, he darted backward, avoiding the path of Bogart charging toward an obstacle that he cleanly hopped over.

"Dare I ask what it is that you are doing?" He took a hesitant step forward once the path was cleared. His brow arched at the three strips of blue tape strewn between the kitchen island and a row of cabinets.

"Bogart's doing the painter's tape challenge," Alex offered. She scratched the black lab on the head before reaching once more for the roll of tape.

"Should I know what that means?"

Alex and Bogart shared a knowing look. Of course, their favorite Luddite would not be in the know of the latest social media pet challenges. She smiled inquisitively and shook her head. "Probably not."

Summer Rain (working title)

Pairing: Thomas Hunt x Alex Spencer Book: Red Carpet Diaries Rating: General

Alex focused on the pitter-patter of the summer rain tapping against the window panes of the sunroom. Its soft rhythm created a serene soundtrack. There was something about the rain that always quieted her thoughts. She nuzzled further into his neck, his familiar scent washing over her. A smile pulled on her lips. Her body melted into his as he hugged her closer. Everything was perfect. 

Untitled: Repairman RolePlay

Pairing: (Dom!)Levi Schuler x Laura Day Book: Mother of the Year Rating: Mature/Explicit A/N: Requested by @lorirwritesfanfic from ages ago (sorry!)

"Alright," Levi tightened the last fitting. He closed the washing machine's lid and gave it a gentle tap. "It should work now."

"Is that so?" Laura sucked the corner of her lower lip as she waited for him to notice her change in attire. "What do I owe you?" "What do you mean, what do you owe me?" His words trailed off as he turned toward her. His eyes raked down her near-naked form; only a silk robe drawn loosely at the waist separated her from him.

"I must owe you something, Mr. Repairman," she batted her lashes at him. "I forget to go to the bank… perhaps we can come to another arrangement?"

Levi swallowed hard, running his thumb across his lips. She looked so damn innocent standing there, offering herself to him. His eyes darkened with lust. "I'm sure we can figure something out. Would you like to inspect my work?"

Untitled: CoffeeShop AU

Pairing: Levi Schuler x Laura Day Book: Mother of the Year Rating: General

"No, no, no." It almost seemed like slow motion as Laura tried to save the carefully balanced bags and items in her grasp, but they still crashed to the floor before she could do anything about it. 

Her lip quivered, her head hanging low. She breathed deeply, searching for the strength to keep going. She reached for her purse, shoving her belongings that had spilled out back into it. Her determination not to cry on their first day in a new town was the only thing keeping the dam of tears from breaking.

"You can do this. You can do this," Laura repeated, gathering the last of Lily's school supplies that had tumbled from their bags. "For Lily." She drew in a deep breath, gathering the last of the objects that poured out. 

With her head held high, she reached for the door to the coffee shop but found it open. 

"Allow me."  

"Oh, thank you." Laura moved forward hesitantly, trying to avoid the gaze of the handsome stranger.

Untitled: CoffeeShopAU

Pairing: Bryce Lahela x Olivia Hadley Book: Open Heart Rating: General

"You gonna talk to her?" Jackie elbowed her coworker lost in thought.

"What?" Bryce shook his head in confusion as if coming out of a trance. "Who?"

"The redhead you've been staring at with nauseating puppy dog eyes for the past fifteen minutes."

"I wasn't staring!"

"Dude, you've been staring at her every day for the past two weeks since she started coming in to do her work here."

"I have not!"

"I hate to agree with Jackie, but you do. You kind of lose yourself when you look at her," Sienna chimed in with a soft smile. "It's kind of romantic. I wish someone would look at me like that…You should definitely go talk to her."

Bryce glanced once more in her direction before turning away and busying himself behind the counter despite not having any new customers.

"You're an idiot."

In Love and War (working title)

Pairing: Bryce Lahela x Olivia Hadley Book: Open Heart Rating: General A/N: Finishing this is my #1 goal for the WIP weekend. It's not even going to be a long fic, just a drabble. 🤦‍♀️

His eyes widened as an arm shot out of the darkness tugging him toward her. “What are you doing?”

Before he could finish the thought, she backed him into a dark corner, hidden from view from those running past, looking for their next target. Her body slid against his, her arms snaking around his neck, pulling his lips toward hers, kissing him hungrily.

His brow quirked up at the sudden public affection. It’s not what he expected, but he’d never turn down the taste of her lips against his.

I also have CoffeeShopAUs for Thomas x Alex and Ethan x Ellie but I'm not ready to share those yet!

[lovealexhunt]

2022: ☆ January ☆ February ☆ March ☆ April ☆ May ☆ June  ☆ ☆July☆ August ☆ September ☆ October ☆

Thomas Hunt x Alex Spencer  [HollywoodU]  [Red Carpet Diaries]

An Evening Drive: Thomas and Alex take an evening drive to get away from the city.

The Bogart Diaries #34: Bone Appétit: Alex pitches a new idea for a project to Thomas

The Bogart Diaries #35: The Painter’s Tape Challenge: Alex has a special challenge for Bogart based on a new social media game for dogs.

Bryce Lahela x Olivia Hadley[Open Heart]

An Early Morning Proposition: Bryce wakes Olivia up early to hit the gym. (drabble + insta edits)

Between the Falling Leaves: Bryce and Olivia take a walk in the Public Garden. [Art]

Mal Volari x Daenarya [Blades of Light and Shadow]

Plot? What Plot?: Mal is gorgeous and Daenarya wants sex. (As the title implies there is no plot, just smut). 18+ Only

Levi Schuler x Laura Day [Mother of the Year]

Services Rendered: Laura needs her washing machine repaired but forgot to go to the bank. Luckily, Levi is willing to accept other forms of payment for his services. 18+ Only

Commissions, sketches, and edits below the cut

☆ Threep Chibi Art by @weetlebeetle

☆ Mal x Daenarya sketch art by @rosefuckinggenuis

☆ Bryce x Olivia kissing under the falling leaves by @/irdeinfierno on Instagram ---Choices Official sharing the art

☆ Emo Drake Chibi Art by @weetlebeetle

☆ Thomas and Alex Chibi Kiss by @weetlebeetle

☆ Bryce x Olivia hug sketch by @rosefuckinggenius

☆Thomas x Alex: A Quiet afternoon reading The Princess Bride by @/artbyainna on Instagram

☆ Headcanon/Drabble ideas for Thomas/Alex, Bryce/Olivia , Ethan/Ellie, + Mal/Daenarya

☆ Pixel Hunt Art (my attempt)

☆ WIP snippets

☆ Ask: If Olivia didn't become a doctor what would she be?

☆ Self-Care Ideas

I feel like I'm missing things, but I can't remember what else I did this month. This may be updated if I can figure it out! 💖

Thank you for your love and support always, I know I say it all the time, but I mean it... I really can't say thank you enough. It truly means so much to me! 💖💖💖

[mistwraiths]

3 stars

WHAT EVEN WAS THIS? Major spoilers ahead.

I heard somewhere that SJM rewrote HOFAS and I feel like maybe that's why this book feels not as good, like Curse For True Love did with Stephanie Garber. House of Flame and Shadow is by all means a decent and engaging book, I read through it extremely fast, but there is something unsatisfying about it all.

This book felt a lot like Bryce goes to this location and learns a bunch of information, meets up with people to explain said information, and then goes to another location to get more information, wash rinse repeat. Why is this book FULL of info dumps with the reasoning being "oh you weren't ready" or whatever. For the majority of this book, I kept thinking why is all these side characters just hanging out in the scenes with Bryce because they aren't important??? Bryce could have been alone in the majority of her scenes and things would have been the same.

HOFAS felt super plot driven which felt a little different from SJM's usual more character driven stories. I didn't feel or recognize much development of any character in this third book. If anything, Bryce felt a little more colder, a little more bloodthirsty than normal. I felt like she felt out of character with a little Aelin-level schemes because Bryce has always notoriously hasn't been a BIG thinker or plan ahead. The girl who didn't pay attention to Fae rules and customs and got herself in trouble; the girl who asked a criminal to find a boy and was shocked when said criminal did any means necessary and killed people? Bryce, who cares deeply about babies and children, told a mother worried about her kidnapped sons to let go of her baggage?? Bryce who has always been pretty understanding emotions and "we're a team he gets me" tells Hunt who is struggling to get over it??? There's just some weird things that felt off here. Especially when Bryce tells Hunt who NEVER wanted to a part of the fight, who still showed up anyway that "its like you don't wanna be here". NO HE DIDN'T WANT TO!!!!

Tharion and Ithan, I enjoyed their characters in the first and second books. But they were completely a drag in this one. For almost 60-70% of the story, it was repetitive and boring and just brought the mood down. Tharion's story gets better when Sathia joins up and I love her, I hope we see more of her. Ithan's story was mostly nonsense. What the fuck was the point of the Viper Queen and Sigrid. It was so obvious where his story was headed but we had to do inane circles and waste stupid time to get there. By the time Ithan finally became Prime I daresay I couldn't care and don't think he truly deserves it. Give it to Perry. She cares about the wolves.

I LOVE Lidia and Ruhn, they were a bright spot in this book, but I do think we deserved more of them and their romance. HOSAB kind of touched it but they deserved more. And Ruhn shooting Lidia was absolutely stupid in my opinion. They're Vanir, don't they heal fast???? Stupid! Lidia deserved to be more furious at him for that.

Bryce and Hunt felt off too, and I think because they didn't 100% (in my opinion) discuss or go back over their arguments. They needed to talk and move through together but they both seemed to afraid to do so. Plus, the reunion between Bryce and Hunt was 100% disappointing. Hunt felt a little sidelined here too in my opinion, his lightning was helpful but like that's it? And when he pulls an Iron Man: eyeroll.

One of my biggest problems is that we get constantly told how bad ass Fury Axtar is and she gets SIDELINED? Here??? As a babysitter??? Juniper who yelled and held the doors as long as they could during book 1 gets sidelined too. This series has been about female friendship too so why?????

Hypaxia could fix way too many problems too easily. Antidote was easily, TOO EASILY solved. Hypaxia just casually bringing people back from the dead and then easily toppling over the Under-King was so eye-rolling.

The whole battle was just really easy? In SJM's books I never once worry about main characters and that really kills the big stakes mood. KILL CHARACTERS AND LEAVE THEM DEAD!!!!! Big main characters. The Bryce and Rigelus grappling in front of a black hole in space was just very ridiculous, and Hunt in a mech suit grabbing her in space felt silly. It's ACOWAR all over again with Bryce coming back to life too.

I do think the crossover was done well. I love that it was pretty much only Nesta and Azriel. But tell me why it takes Rhys so damn long to get to the House of Wind??? He can't fucking winnow?? Nesta was just a huge highlight and I loved the moments with Ember and her.

Also: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE COMM CRYSTAL RUHN DROPPED IN BRYCE'S POCKET? IS IT IN PRYTHIAN? WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THE LIBRARY OF PARTHOS?? WHAT WAS THE POINT ABOUT JOINING THE BLADES IF SHE COULD SUMMON A BLACK HOLE? REALLY HUNT'S DICK BEING TOO BIG TO FIT UNDERWEAR IS THE STUPIDEST THING. WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THE HARPY COMING BACK TO BE LITERALLY DEAD IN SECONDS? WHAT WAS THE POINT OF ARIADNE AND THE DRAGONFIRE CAN HARM PRINCES OF HEL? WHAT WAS THE POINT OF ADOPTING COOPER TO LEAVE HIM BEHIND??? BAXIAN SERVED NO PURPOSE??? THE DUOLINGO MAGIC BEAN??? SINCE WHEN DID ACOTAR HAVE THAT BUT NO C-SECTION KNOWLEDGE.

I did enjoy this book, I know people struggled with the jumping around but I really did enjoy it.

[myfriendscallmeraba]

I was rewatching B-99 and this really reminded me of Rowaelin, Feysand and Quinlar🥺😂

[choicesjuly2023challenge]

Week 2 Masterlist

Blades of Light and Shadow Blades AU (?) Drabble | Tyril x OC (Maiele) & Mal x OC (Daenarya) | by @lilyoffandoms

Crimes of Passion How To Crush Your Enemies | Trystan Thorne x f!MC (Nora Rose) | by @inlocusmads

Desire & Decorum Personal Favorite | Part 2: Favourite Part(s) | Prince Hamid x f!MC (Daphne) & Annabelle Parsons x f!OC (Veronica) | by @lorirwritesfanfic

Hollywood U Fordbidden Romance | Thomas Hunt x f!MC (Alex Spencer) | by @theartoflovingthomashunt

Stretch Break | Thomas Hunt x f!MC (Alex Hunt) | by @theartoflovingthomashunt

Open Heart A New Day Dawns | Bryce Lahela x f!OC (Olivia Hadley) | by @storyofmychoices

Doubts | Ethan Ramsey x f!MC (Cassie Valentine) | by @liaromancewriter

Gamer Vivi | f!OC (Vivien Hernandez) | by @peonyblossom

Happy Birthday, Dr. Ramsey | Ethan Ramsey x f!MC (Cassie Valentine) | by @liaromancewriter

Just a Kiss | Ethan Ramsey x f!MC (Kaycee McClennan) | by @jerzwriter

New Adventures | Tobias Carrick x f!MC (Casey MacTavish) | by @jerzwriter

Right Up My Alley | Ethan Ramsey x f!MC (Ellie Shepherd) | by @storyofmychoices 

Risky Business... | Ethan Ramsey x f!MC (Kaycee McClennan) | by @jerzwriter

The Doctor's Farewell | Ethan Ramsey x f!MC (Jane Fletcher) | by @inlocusmads

Vivien Hernandez Edit | f!OC (Vivien Hernandez) | by @peonyblossom

Washed Up | Tobias Carrick & Bryce Lahela | by @jerzwriter

What Happened in Vegas | Chapter 2: Indecent Proposal | Ethan Ramsey x f!MC (Casey MacTavish) | by @jerzwriter

What Happens in Vegas | Ethan Ramsey x f!MC (Cassie Valentine) | by @liaromancewriter

Wake the Dead Wound Care | Troy Hassan x f!MC (Astraea Callen) | by @storyofmychoices

[whimsicallyreading]

(Masterlist)

His Wings-

Hunt loves his wings, but he hates all that having them entails.

In the air, they feel like freedom. The ability to escape, to glide over the crowded streets of Lunathion and see the world from a different perspective. On the ground? They are an ultra hassle.

Each feather acted as a nerve receptor straight to his spine. People know better than to touch an angel’s wings, will even actively make space for them in crowded areas. Especially his, as no one is ever in the mood to have the Umbra Mortis at their throat.

That didn’t stop it from occasionally happening, a shoulder would brush against them and send a shock through his body. A piece of debris caught in his feathers. Chairs squished them uncomfortably against his back.

Not to mention Hunt has had them cut from his body twice and blown off once.

It’s safe to say he’s thoroughly touch adverse.

So when Bryce reaches around and tugs a wing over her body like a damn blanket the rush of warmth that washes over him makes no sense.

It’s not even pleasure. Just an overwhelming contentedness at seeing her tucked under his wing like he’s a freaking mother goose.

She perks up at his scowling face and gives him that insufferable little smile that drives him crazy, “What? It’s softer than any blanket we own and its right here.”

Hunt can’t help the little grin when she says our blankets. That acknowledgement that this was his home now as well. “So that’s why you keep me around? I’m conveniently hot?”

He’s noticed in the evenings when they got home from work and watched their trash TV together that she snuggled particularly close. Her bed had a thousand different blankets on it, so it didn’t surprise him Bryce saw his wings as portable, plush throws.

What did surprise him was that he didn’t mind a damn bit.

“No. You cook really well, too.” Bryce laughs, the tips of her little fangs flashing in the TV light and Hunt has to resist the urge to kiss her right then.

Instead, he pulls her closer to his side and wraps his wing around them tighter. The sigh of satisfaction she gives is enough to melt him. “I think, you just like being close to me.” Hunt whispers into Bryce’s ear.

She nuzzles her cold nose into his shoulder and a tuft of red hair stick to his face. Hunt thinks she’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. “You aren’t wrong.”

He’s not wrong. Hunt kisses the side of her head.

He’s. Not. Wrong. Bryce bobs up and pecks his lips before burrowing back into her feathery nest.

He’s the Shadow of Death. A harbinger of misery and destruction. The failed general. An omen of ruin.

Yet this brave, stupid female looks at him like he’s the the sun. Better yet? She looks at him likes he’s just a male. A friend. Someone worth caring about.

Bryce wants him around.

Hunt wishes he could go back to himself all those years ago, when he was being dissected in the asteri’s dungeons, or playing his part as Sandriel’s dog, and show him the pictures on his phone. Pictures of his life with Bryce.

Bryce who was waiting for him before either of them ever knew it.

Those years would have flown by if he knew. He would have felt a lot lighter. Because everything he did was worth it now that he knew Bryce was at the end waiting for him.

Even if she used his wings like her personal quilt.

“You are lucky that I love you,” Hunt says quietly with a dopey-ass smile on his face.

“I am.” She says right back, even as her eyelids droop with sleep. “I really am.”

Together, they fall asleep on the couch with a wolf couple making out on the screen. Hunt will wake the next day with a crick in his neck and his right wing numb. Bryce will complain his shoulder is too hard and that if bruised her face.

Then the next evening they will do it again.

Hopefully on a bed this time instead of the couch. Because Bryce was his northern star and he would follow her. Whether it be into battle or through the daily monotony of modern life.

Because no matter where they were, or what they did, she lit up his life like no one else had before.

Okay, this may be the fluffiest thing I’ve ever written. I hope you enjoy the break from my usual angst 😂

Remember prompts for this are open! If you would like to be added to a CC tag list just let me know!

[himbodiaz]

for the brutally honest ship thing: Elriel from ACOTAR aaaand BryceHunt if you've read Crescent City 👀

okay i got some others but they're 911 so i'm answering this first <3

i don't like elriel, at all. like, even before acosf was published, i tried getting into the ship because a lot of my twitter mutuals were into it, but i just found it kinda boring? and then acosf came along, and like, i know a lot of people like the ship because of how they view azriel as a way that elain can make a choice when so many were taken from her, but (SPOILER) there’s a scene in the book where azriel doesn’t even let elain know that there’s a choice she can make. he just decides that she doesn’t get to know. (END SPOILER) also, to keep it vague, the way that azriel thinks about elain in his bonus chapter made me really uncomfortable. and the light/dark thing was already done in the series with feysand, so i don't really see the need to have it happen again, especially when there are much more interesting and new dynamics to explore with other ships

on the other hand, i haven't reread cc since the first time in like 2020, but i adore brycehunt. just the way they were able to help each other grow so much? and you can tell how much they support and deeply care about each other. that scene, when hunt is trying to keep bryce alive while she goes through the drop?? bryce helping to wash hunt in the shower after he had to do his work as the umbra mortis?? man they are just so freaking good for each other. i know a lot of people are scared that sjm is going to pull the first-love-interest switch out on us, but i really do believe that brycehunt is endgame

send me a ship and i’ll give you my brutally honest opinion on it

[courtney181116]

I’m not saying Hunt is endgame but Bryce did wash his hair AND wings......

[wesperxfeysand]

Reasons I think bryce and hunt are endgame:

- When bryce made him the apology food and gave it to him it obviously meant a lot to him like the feysand scene

- the shower scene, bryce washes his hair with lavender soap rowan/aelin

- When he's in deep unending shit again rowan/aelin

- the weird non speaking eye communication thingy

Can anyone think of anymore parallels with mates