#august writing challenge

[random-writerings]

Rosa Diaz x fem!Reader - Flower Shop AU

Rosa Diaz is late to a friend's surprise party and she was supposed to bring the flowers. In a moment of panic, she rushes into the first flower shop she sees. Your flower shop.

You calmly ask her what kind of flowers her friend likes and, as you arrange the bouquet, Rosa can't help but notice how beautiful you are. But she's still late and the others might not be able to stall her friend for much longer. She leaves with her flowers and you think that will be the last you see of her.

But she comes back again. She can't help it. She makes up some excuse about needing more flowers for an office party. She does this several more times, just looking for a reason to see you again.

And everyday you hope to hear the roaring of her motorbike as she parks outside. You always love it when she comes into your shop. She makes you laugh when she tells stories about her co-workers at the police department.

But you're both too shy to make a move, until Rosa's co-workers decide to take matters into their own hands ...

[themerlinlibrary]

August Writing Challenge

This August, TML is hosting a little daily prompt challenge in which the idea is for participants to write a fic a day! For questions, you can visit the fest-channel directly on the Discord, where Elena (who is the primary host for this challenge) is happy to help you out!

This challenge encourages stories about all Merlin characters, ships, ratings, and genres.

We follow DLDR, SALS, and YKINMKATO. Tags are your best friend. Please read and use tags accordingly.

This is a free-stress challenge. Don’t force yourself into writing or drawing. It is only for fun!

Writers

Write a fic (500-1000 words) using the prompt of the day! You are NOT required to participate for all 31 days. Write a couple, a bunch, or all 31 prompts. Skip some, switch them up, or combine multiple prompts at once.

Don’t like today’s prompt? Use one of our 5 alternate prompts.

Artists

Draw a sketch, a complete art, whatever you feel like. Same as for authors, you are not required to participate for all 31 days. Write a couple, a bunch, or all 31 prompts. Skip some, switch them up, or combine multiple prompts at once.

Posting

For posting fanworks, there is an AO3 collection here

For reblogs tag this tumblr @themerlinlibrary so we can share your posts

We can’t wait to see what you create!

–––

[cynthia39100]

@themerlinlibrary August Writing Challenge

Prompt 3: Royalty

Merlin & Arthur

Arthur x Gwen (They break up at the beginning.)

AO3 link

(A little Modern Royalty AU fic. I had little knowledge and imagination of royalty so bear with me... and I swear I'm not purposefully using Gwen and Arthur's broken relationship as an opening every time. )

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

Arthur should have seen this coming. 

He was in his bedroom in Windsor, holding a sobbing Gwen. She was saying how she loved him and how hard she’d tried and that she couldn’t do it anymore. 

“ I’m not royalty, Arthur. I thought I could learn to become one, but I will never be. You deserved a better wife who can support you through all odds. People… ” She trailed off, but Arthur knew what she didn’t say. People deserved a proper queen. They always did. Arthur was born to serve the people after all. 

Arthur comforted her with random words while feeling hollow and unreal. Everything was like a scene in the movie. He was just an observer. 

His whole life was like it, wasn’t it? There were always rules, traditions and scripts to follow. Every word, every action was properly designed and calculated by a group of “writers”. Because there is always someone watching. Because it’s his duty to be the perfect Prince people expected. 

It’s better now, of course. Rules became more flexible, and some old traditions no longer applied. He could date a peasant girl and even consider marrying her, as long as she adapted to the culture and duties of a royal family. 

He didn’t realise that was the most difficult part. 

Whenever Gwen stood by him, He felt that he finally had a little freedom and control in his life. Gwen must have felt the contrary. Arthur could only offer her wealth and title, neither was what Gwen needed in life. 

And so he let go of Gwen, told her it was alright, and sent for staff outside the room to escort her out. Arthur didn’t bother to chase out Merlin who silently sneaked in. He just lay on his bed, determined not to react to any of Merlin’s comforting words. Surprisingly, Merlin didn’t do his usual cheering or rambling to distract him, only standing beside the door like a security guard. 

Arthur supposed Merlin still knew when to leave him alone. Or he for once just didn’t know what to say. 

“ Don’t stand there like an idiot. Don’t you have more productive things to do? Writing my break-up announcement for one.” Arthur finally spoke up, couldn’t tolerate the silence. 

“ I already asked George to do it.” 

Another silent moment passed. Merlin was still standing beside the door, and Arthur was still lying on the bed. 

“ Am I wrong not to listen to Father and marry Elena?” 

“ It’s 21 century. Even the prince is allowed to choose his partner.” 

“ Gwen backed off. I’ve refused all the legitimate noblewomen in the country. What if I can’t find another one? What about the succession?” 

“ I’m sure Morgana will be happy to succeed. Actually, it should be Mordred. Have you met him recently? He has grown quite a lot.” 

“ And I’m just going to become this lonely old king?”

“ Well… on the bright side, you still got me.”  

Arthur finally surged up from the bed, looked at Merlin incredulously. 

“ Is that supposed to cheer me up?” 

“ Thought it might.” Merlin shrugged unapologetically while showing his iconic goofy smile. 

“ You really are an idiot,” Arthur said exasperatedly, but he turned to cover the smile he couldn’t quite suppress. 

Merlin seemed to sense the smile anyway. His voice became lighter and more cheerful. 

“ Since Your Highness feels better now, your father wants to meet you whenever you are ready. Do you want me to notify His Majesty?” 

Arthur sighed and got off the bed. He didn’t want to face his father, but the sooner it was done, the better. 

Merlin opened the door and was about to leave, but Arthur called him back. 

“ Aren’t you coming with me?” 

Merlin winced. “ The King is horrifying.” 

“ And you’re going to leave me alone? Right after you swore to serve me forever?”

“ I did not!” 

“ Yes, you did. Anyway, It’s your prince’s order.” 

Merlin mumbled some inaudible insults under his breath, and Arthur smiled again. It seemed that whether he could find a new love or not, he would always have his best friend hanging around. It made the future just a little less horrifying.

[foxywrites]

Role Reversal/Time Travel AU || to burn for your love

to burn for your love - chapter three || Prompt: Day 18 - Time Travel

Chuuya leaves after the flags dies, taking the hand that Murase has offered him and Dazai is left behind to watch as he becomes one with the light, shining brighter than any sun that he has ever caught sight of- till he no longer has to anymore.

The first time Chuuya leaves, he does it alone- the second time, however, he finds himself dragging Dazai along.

RATING; Not Rated

CHAPTER; 3/3

CHAPTER WARNINGS; Talks about the dead, graveyard's, excessive drinking, unhealthy coping mechanisms' (ignoring life, pushing yourself into work, excessive drinking)

FANDOM: 文豪ストレイドッグス | Bungou Stray Dogs

RELATIONSHIPS/PAIRINGS; Dazai Osamu/Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs), Dazai Osamu & Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs), Armed Detective Agency Ensemble & Dazai Osamu (Bungou Stray Dogs), Armed Detective Agency Ensemble & Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs)

CHARACTERS; Dazai Osamu (Bungou Stray Dogs), Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs), Armed Detective Agency Ensemble (Bungou Stray Dogs), Nakajima Atsushi (Bungou Stray Dogs), Akutagawa Ryuunosuke (Bungou Stray Dogs), Oda Sakunosuke (Bungou Stray Dogs)

ADDITIONAL TAGS; Armed Detective Agency Member Oda Sakunosuke (Bungou Stray Dogs), Armed Detective Agency Member Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs), Armed Detective Agency Member Akutagawa Ryuunosuke (Bungou Stray Dogs), Alternate Universe - Role Reversal, Nakahara Chuuya Leaves the Port Mafia (Bungou Stray Dogs), Alternate Universe - Dazai Osamu Remains with the Port Mafia (Bungou Stray Dogs), Not Actually Unrequited Love, Suffering Dazai Osamu (Bungou Stray Dogs), Temporary Character Death, Time Travel Fix -It

ANY FANDOM ANGST BINGO PROMPT || @anyfandomangstbingo

- Reason to Believe - Rod Stewart

ANY FANDOM FLUFF BINGO PROMPT || @anyfandomfluffbingo

- Reunion

[deity-prompts]

“I think the map is leading us in circles.”

Tribute

Running eyeliner

“It’s refreshing to finally see you make a mistake.”

“I don’t usually get motion sick but— oh, I think I’m gonna puke.”

Necessary theft

Backfired

Damage control

Flirting

“Why did you pretend to not know me?”

Tasteless

A hole in a shoe

A change in appearance

Proof checking

“Sand gets everywhere.”

Wanderlust

Levitating

Broken glass

Misdirection

A poorly healed injury

“This haircut makes me feel like a douchebag.”

Blinding

“You said you’d go with me.” “I lied.”

Dance sequence

Uniforms

Battle of the wits

“Believe it or not, I’m not always in the mood to murder people.”

Italy

Consequences

Collector’s edition

Too subtle

Also see:

2021 August writing challenge

Writing challenge masterlist

Prompts masterlist

[skyderman]

Dormouse Antique Emporium

Day 9 of @2soulscollide's August writing challenge words: >1000

Dormouse Antique Emporium sat on the corner of Hudson and Mill, where it idly watched passersby like a little old lady on her porch (and gossiped with the smoke shop next door about the fifth cafe to occupy the building across the street). The corner of Hudson and Mill was a remnant of the old town, where the road was still bricked and architecture stagnated, and where the modern city had grown up around it like weeds, threatening to out-compete the Old Guard. But Dormouse was as resilient as any grass, and stubborn too, despite it all.

The owner of Dormouse, or “caretaker” as she referred to herself, was one Ethel Thomas, ninety years old and not showing any signs of throwing in the towel yet. She knew exactly the value of everything in the store, and kept a careful watch over it all. Well, perhaps “watch” wasn’t quite accurate. Her vision had been gone for about fifteen years, but that had only increased the sharpness of her hearing. And she wasn’t alone, either. Her deputy, James, was a crumpled brown tabby that looked to be about as old as Ethel was, and twice as cunning. He patrolled the store diligently, and would report to Ethel immediately if anything was amiss.

James brushed my leg and let forth a meow that sounded like a radio catching dead air. I knew better than to try to scratch him; he’d only return the favor with toothy malice. Instead I greeted him with my voice and closed the door behind me.

“Is that Trey I hear?” said Ethel from her nest of a checkout desk hidden behind about three shelves of china and silver.

“That it is,” I said, folding my sunglasses into my pocket. James escorted me to Ethel’s counter. “Evening, ma’am.”

“I told you to stop calling me that, son,” Ethel complained as I pulled up a creaky wooden chair and sat down.

“Sorry,” I said, “I just can’t resist showing my elders respect.”

“Bah. You’re terrorizing me.” She broke into a wry smile. “So what’s the news?”

“Crisis averted, thankfully. As soon as Gina heard what the landlord had been asking for she went up there personally and gave him a good talking to. I heard there was a rather threatening umbrella involved.”

“So good old Frank’s will stay open another year,” Ethel chuckled. “That Gina is a storm, she is.”

“You can say that again.”

Ethel laughed and asked me about my family. Then she asked me to fix her radio, which I had taken a look at last week, but the damn thing had the durability of a glass panel being moved during a car chase. When I finished with the last screw, I noticed Ethel was giving me a funny look.

“What?” I said. “Is there grease on my face?”

Ethel hummed knowingly. “A whole streak of it.” She laughed like an aching tree when I pulled out my pocket mirror only to find that old hag had lied. Then she arched an eyebrow in my general direction, and I could feel the mystical waves of old lady energy filling the room before she even opened her mouth. She said, “Did you know you used to be a sea captain in a past life?”

“Huh?”

“I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Don’t say I never did anything for you.”

I had never heard Ethel speak so seriously before. Even the sarcastic comment seemed to hold a genuine weight underneath it. It felt like she was about to tell me something very important. Wow, I thought. She must have been really upset about the radio.

Hand close to her chest, Ethel pointed vaguely past me. I looked over my shoulder. There was a tall mirror, leaned against a beam, that had been there since I first discovered this place. It was ornate but not gaudy, full length with a golden frame. “There’s a reason I keep that particular mirror across from me,” said Ethel. “It’s the only thing I can see clearly these days. What do you see?”

I squinted at the mirror. It looked normal to me, completely at home among the fur coats and vintage furniture. Maybe Ethel was finally losing what little remained of her marbles.

“I see myself, I guess,” I said cautiously.

“No, no, look closer. But don’t stare at it. You have better eyes, you might have to unfocus them a little.”

I did as she said, and suddenly my image changed. Where once had sat a fashionable and handsome young man now appeared a man with a picturesque white beard and a somber face wearing a navy coat and ship captain’s hat. I could hardly believe my eyes. As I lifted my arm, so did the man. I waved and he moved exactly the same way.

I looked back at Ethel, speechless.

“Do you see it?”

“Um. Yes,” I managed. And then, “What?”

“I told you, Trey, past lives. Keep up.”

I looked back at my grizzled reflection. It was hard to tell under his captain’s hat, and because of the way I blurred my vision, but I could swear that he winked at me.

“That’s probably why you’re so good with the radio,” Ethel hummed, settling into her chair.

“You’re keeping a magic mirror?”

“Yes, yes, now don’t go telling anyone,” the old lady said. “Or I’ll ban you. Now do you have any other questions?”

I rubbed my forehead. “What do you see?”

“Amelia Earhart. And James was President Lincoln.”

“He’s what?!”

“See for yourself, son.”

Luckily, James was nowhere to be found. I’m not sure if I could handle Abraham Lincoln on all fours, slinking around an antique shop. I had so many questions, and turned to Ethel with my mouth hanging open.

But Ethel had decided she was overdue for her midday nap.

~~~

general writing taglist: @oakbagel @othercaliforniasaga @tonninseteli @creacherkeeper (lemme know if you want to be added or removed!)

[wreckerslula99]

#3: Running eyeliner

August writing challenge

Prompt 3: Running eyeliner

Word count: 5,503

CW: Sexual assault (non-consensual kissing & touching), victim blaming, rape culture?, sexualization, objectification, this happens to Ahsoka and she is a minor! (Around 16 in this)

SUMMARY: Ahsoka is on an undercover mission with Senator Padmé Amidala and Captain Rex, who is posing as Ahsoka's personal bodyguard. When Ahsoka meets a familiar face, things go great at first, but go downhill real fast.

NOTES: I suck at summaries and this is also 3 days late. Wrote most of this at my summer job again. Let me know your thoughts!

PLEASE TELL ME IF I MISSED ANY WARNINGS!

AO3 link

AWC23 - Masterlist

To say that Ahsoka felt out of place was the biggest understatement in the galaxy. Usually she was great at adapting to different situations, but she felt quite at a loss in the one she found herself now. The long, sky blue dress she was wearing went all the way down to the floor and felt rather constricting. It sat snugly around her upper body and flowed freely down from her waist. At the top of it were thick straps holding it up on her shoulders, and the cut of it was a square that exposed just a little bit of cleavage. Despite how unusual and slightly uncomfortable it was to wear, Ahsoka couldn’t deny that it was beautiful. There was a beautiful, vaguely floral pattern embroidered all over it in this shimmery, slightly brighter blue thread. Ahsoka couldn’t stop running her hands over the fabric. It felt expensive, and she had never worn anything like it. Padmé had borrowed it to her and had made Ahsoka sit down in a cushioned chair by a vanity to do her make-up. Another foreign sensation which she had never experienced before. 

Now she was wearing subtle eyeliner with mascara on her curled eyelashes, some lipstick and this shimmery powder on her cheekbones and nose, which Padmé had called ‘highlighter’. After that, Ahsoka watched Padmé do her own make-up, adding a few things like ‘foundation’ and ‘blush’ which she hadn’t put on Ahsoka. Hair was an odd thing, Ahsoka had thought as she watched Padmé comb hers, divide it and braid some parts of it before putting it all into a rather complicated up-do. Padmé then opened a box filled with jewelry and picked our pieces for Ahsoka and herself. Since Ahsoka didn’t have ears, she only wore a necklace. With some help putting it on from Padmé, Ahsoka couldn’t stop staring at herself in the mirror. The silver necklace had a sky blue jewel hanging from it, which beautifully matched the dress she was wearing. 

After that they had gotten dressed and then they left together with Padmé’s security detail and Rex, who had been assigned on Ahsoka’s mission with her. Which brought them to the fanciest restaurant they had ever seen, Padmé walking inside like she was used to it. Ahsoka looked around, eyes wide with wonder and curiosity. She quickly schooled her expression, remembering that she needed to look like she was used to this luxury. Her assignment was to pose as a good family friend of Padmé’s, who was interested in getting her system to become neutral and join the Council of Neutral Systems. Rex was there to pose as her personal bodyguard, though he didn’t need to pretend much to fill that role. The goal of the mission was to identify a Separatist mole who has been gathering Republic intel through the Council of Neutral Systems. 

Inside the restaurant were several senators, as the restaurant had been specifically rented out for the senatorial dinner. Padmé immediately spotted Duchess Satine and excused herself, going over to greet her. This left Ahsoka and Rex standing alone together like the odd ones out.

“Ahsoka?” A voice asked from behind her, and the Padawan turned around to face Lux Bonteri. 

“Bonteri?” She asks, surprised at his presence. 

“It’s been so long,” he smiled at her, stepping forward and sweeping her into a hug. 

Ahsoka froze, surprised at the sudden gesture and overwhelming bout of friendliness. She awkwardly stepped out of the hug, an unsure smile on her face, watching as his eyes trail over her. 

“What are you doing here?” She asks. 

“I could ask you the same,” Lux chuckles. “You know, I’m actually a senator.”

Ahsoka rolls her eyes, her smile slowly growing more confident. “Well, I’m sorry, Mr. Senator, but you weren’t the only one invited.”

“Would you like to sit together? I can give you some recommendations on the menu,” he asks with a grin on his face. 

“Sure,” Ahsoka shrugs, glancing at Rex to make sure he follows her. 

He nodded back at her and she shot Lux a smile before turning towards the large table in the middle of the restaurant. Ahsoka jumped slightly when a hand was suddenly placed on her lower back, giving her a gentle push forward as if to guide her to the right seats. The girl looked over at Lux, who simply smiled at her and continued leading her through the crowd. At first she thought the touch was a bit odd and slightly uncomfortable, but she reminded herself that she needed to keep up appearances and that it might be some fancy courtesy she has no idea about. 

“Here,” Lux says, reluctantly pulling his hand away in a way that made his fingers brush her waist and she held back a small shiver. 

He pulled out a chair at the table for her, waiting for her to sit down before pushing it back in and seating himself next to her. He unfolded the napkin that was placed on the table and put it in his lap, nudging Ahsoka slightly so she would copy him. The napkin was made of thick, stiff fabric and its edges had swirls embroidered on them, much like Ahsoka’s dress. 

“You look like you have no idea what you’re doing,” Lux notes teasingly. 

“I’ve never been in a place like this,” Ahsoka says quietly. “I’ve never worn a dress like this, or even make-up. This goes against pretty much everything I was taught growing up.”

“Well, I think it suits you,” Lux says and Ahsoka looks very taken aback at this. 

“Oh, uhm, thanks?” She says, mentally face-palming, wondering where her confidence went. “I’m mainly just here as Padmé’s chaperone.”

He seems to believe her lie, making her shoulders relax slightly. Lux glances back at Rex who was standing further away by the wall, his eyes roaming the room with a stoic expression on his face. 

“Who’s the big guy?” Lux asks and Ahsoka snorts, following his gaze back to Rex, who sends her a small nod upon noticing her eyes on him. 

“He is my personal bodyguard,” Ahsoka grins, turning back to Lux. “He’s here to keep me safe.”

“Good, since we both know you’re hardly capable of taking care of yourself, Jedi,” Lux joined her joke, though lowered his voice so that no one would overhear him call her a Jedi, which she was thankful for. 

Ahsoka chuckled, relaxing even more. She could do this, she just had to get through this dinner. And maybe it would even be fun with Lux at her side. He surely seems to have matured.

Dinner consisted of small portions of artistically arranged food that looked almost too pretty to eat. Since she’s a carnivore, she only ordered meat. Much to her surprise, there were several different sections in the menu for different species. Lux helped her find the togruta section and Ahsoka almost felt herself tear up a bit at the nostalgia of a few of the dishes and how their names were written in small togruti underneath the aurebesh. 

The food had been good, although she thought she distinctly remembered a few things tasting much better back on Shili. More specifically, the food her aga’meht made. 

After dinner, Ahsoka was about to head over to Padmé when Lux cleared his throat beside her. She looked at him, slightly raising an eyebrow marking. 

“I was wondering if you wanted to meet up later for a stroll in the royal park? It is quite beautiful,” Lux says, something shining in his eyes that Ahsoka can’t quite place. 

“Uhm, sure? I’ll just have to check with Senator Amidala,” she says. 

“Alright, well, let me give you my comm number so you can just comm me when you’re sure,” he smiles, taking her communicator from her hand and putting in his number. “There you go. I hope I get to see you later. It was nice to meet you again.”

“You too,” Ahsoka smiled and gets pulled in for another surprise hug. 

Lux’s arms snake around her waist, his hands resting on her lower back and pressing her closer to him. Ahsoka awkwardly pats his back and then steps away from the hug once again. 

“Well, I suppose I’ll see you later,” she automatically says before she can stop herself

She doesn’t miss the way his face lights up and quickly turns around to find Padmé. Spotting her chatting with Satine over by the entrance, she quickly makes her way over to them with Rex following her. 

“Oh, hello, Ahsoka,” the Duchess smiles as soon as she sees her. “It’s been some time, how you’ve grown!”

Ahsoka chuckles softly. “It has, but you, mz lady, haven’t aged a day.”

“Kids these days have such good manners,” Satine sighs to Padmé, who laughs in response. “I’ve got to go, but if there is another opportunity during the duration of your trip, I’d love to meet you again, Ahsoka.”

“I’d love that as well,” Ahsoka smiles kindly and Satine leaves. 

“You seem to have had a good time,” Padmé says from beside her and Ahsoka turns to see a knowing, almost mischievous smile on her face. 

“Yeah, I guess it wasn’t too boring after all,” Ahsoka shrugged as they exited the restaurant. 

“You and Bonteri seem to have gotten over your previous aversities to each other,” Padmé says casually. 

“It seems he grew up a bit,” Ahsoka said just as casually as Rex hailed them a taxi. “He wants to meet up in the royal park this evening.”

“Really?” Padmé raises an eyebrow at her before getting in the taxi, to which Rex was holding the door open for them. 

“Thanks, Rex,” Ahsoka says with a small smile as she gets in the taxi after Padmé. 

“Well? Are you going?” The Senator asks curiously. 

“I don’t know, should I?” Ahsoka fidgets with her hands in her lap. 

“Yes!” Padmé squeals. “Don’t tell Anakin I’m encouraging you, but I think it sounds nice! You can get to know each other a little.”

“I’m not sure, I mean, I do have a mission to see through,” Ahsoka chews slightly on the inside of her cheek. 

“Well, then think of it this way; Lux used to be a Separatist. Maybe he’s the mole,” Padmé said, a grin on her face. 

“Alright, alright, I’ll go,” Ahsoka pushes down the urge to roll her eyes. 

She pulls out her communicator and messages Lux, asking what time he wants to meet up and where. He answers quickly, telling her to meet him at 10:30 by the south entrance to the royal park. It was almost 10:20, so Padmé, who had been reading over Ahsoka’s shoulder, suggested they drop Ahsoka off there and walk back to the hotel, seeing as it was only one and a half clicks away from the park. Ahsoka didn’t know why, but she felt nervous. 

They drop her off at the gate to the park and as soon as she steps out of the taxi, she spots Lux already inside, waving to her. She turns around to close the door and is briefly interrupted by Padmé. 

“Have fun!” She grins and Ahsoka doesn’t answer, only closes the door. 

With sweaty palms, she walks over to the boy waiting for her. He comes up to meet her by the gate. 

“I’m so glad you could come,” he tells her and she smiles shyly at him. “Come on, this way.”

They start walking down one of the paths leading into the park. The sky was already pitch black, the only light coming from the tall lamps placed every few meters along the path. 

“I wanted to apologize,” Lux says all of a sudden and Ahsoka’s eyebrow markings shoot up from surprise. “For being a childish asshole when we first met. I’ve… grown up now. Realized a few things.”

“It’s alright, I forgive you,” Ahsoka says in a teasing voice, bumping her fist gently against his bicep. “I’m sorry about your mom. That can’t have been easy. She was a very nice woman.”

Ahsoka looks over at Lux to see a solemn look on his face. They had made it to a wooden bridge going over a small river and Lux stops, walking closer to the railing. The orange light from the lamps reflected beautifully onto the river and Ahsoka went up next to him to gaze down at it. Not even paying attention to how close they’re standing to each other, the Padawan leans her forearms onto the railing. Lux is staring at her from the side, but she’s still focused on the calm water beneath them.

“What about your parents?” He breaks the silence.

“Well, Force-sensitives leave their families when they’re only toddlers to join the Jedi Order and receive training,” Ahsoka explains. “I remember flashes of my parents, of my homeplanet, of the food and culture there, and our village. My parents are both dead, and I’ve made my peace with that.”

She turns her head to look at him, careful not to show any emotion on her face. Which didn’t work when Lux suddenly moves forward and presses his lips onto hers. 

Ahsoka is thrown slightly off balance from the force of it, and his hand comes up to cup her face while the other makes contact with her waist, running down to rest on her hip and pull her in closer. The young togruta’s eyes widen as her brain slowly registers what’s happening and her limbs unfreeze. Putting her hands up to his chest, she tries to push him off of herself, but he backs her into the railing, as if he doesn’t notice that she doesn’t want this. His hand is caressing her hip, rubbing along the side of her upper thigh and Ahsoka curses the dress for being so kriffing impossible to move in. To kick someone off of yourself. She tries to say something but he keeps kissing her, using her attempt at opening her mouth to speak to slip his tongue past her lips and into her mouth. 

When the hand on her cheek runs down her neck, down her collarbone and grazes the top of her breasts while the other hand moves to squeeze her behind, Ahsoka finally fully snaps out of the shock paralyzing her limbs and bites down hard on Lux’s lip. 

“Ow! What the kriff is wrong with you?!” He exclaims angrily, stumbling back and holding his hand up to his bleeding lip. 

“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with you!” Ahsoka yells back, tears burning in her eyes, her face growing hot. 

“What do you mean ‘what’s wrong with me’?” Lux asks angrily, pulling out a handkerchief to dab at his bleeding lip while Ahsoka feels her breathing speed up and tears close to spilling. 

“You just kissed me!” Is all she can say, even though he did a little more than just kiss her.

“And? Ahsoka, did you seriously think I invited you out with me tonight because I just wanted to talk?” He scoffs in disbelief. 

“What else?!” She yells, voice reaching a few almost hysterical notes 

In return, he only stares at her like she’s stupid. She feels pretty stupid right about now. 

“Ahsoka, please don’t tell me you’re that dumb,” he spits out, still holding his handkerchief to his lip. “Just- ugh, why did you bite me?! That kriffing hurt, all I did was kiss you!”

“I didn’t ask you to kiss me!” She cries out, throwing up her hands at her sides to drive home her point. “I didn’t want you to kiss me!”

“Then why did you even say yes to meeting up with me? Gods, you’re such a tease,” he grumbles. 

“Why are you talking like this is my fault?!” She blinks away her tears, feeling anger bubble up inside of her. 

“Because you’re the one who bit me! Kark, aren’t you togs venomous?!” He asks with wide eyes. 

“Oh, yeah, you’re gonna drop dead real soon,” Ahsoka hisses back, practically shaking with rage. “And I bit you because you wouldn’t take a gucking hint and stop kissing me! I bit you because you were touching me where I didn’t want to be kriffing touched!”

“Well, how was I supposed to know that?!”

“I don’t know, maybe ask?” Ahsoka yells. “Maybe think for one second and ask yourself what me trying to push you off of me could possibly mean!”

“I should’ve known telling you how I feel would be a bad idea,” he sighs and rolls his eyes. 

“You haven’t told me anything! You just grabbed me and kissed me!” Ahsoka feels the energy leaving her body the longer the conversation goes on and tears build in her eyes again as shame overcomes her. “I didn’t want you to kiss me.”

“Why not?! What, am I so bad after all?” He steps closer which makes Ahsoka step back into the railing.

She felt trapped and near tears. “Please, calm down and do not take another step closer to me.”

“Why? You scared that the Separatist scumbag is going to hurt you?” Lux asked angrily. 

“No, I just don’t want to have to hurt you!”

“That’s ridiculous, Soka,” he scoffs, stepping even closer. 

“Don’t call me that,” she grits out. “And get away from me before I break your nose.”

“Why are you fighting this so much? You know you like me back, why wouldn’t you? Why else would you agree to talk to me alone and get so close to me? Why else would you act like that around me?”

“Like what?” Ahsoka asks exasperatedly, tired of being told the different ways of how this was her fault. 

“Like- like you want me to kiss you!” Lux shouts at her. “Like you want me! You were always walking around in that little dress and swaying your hips at me! You can’t blame me for the way you led me on!” 

“Led you on?!” Ahsoka repeats in disbelief. “I didn’t do any of that! And you don’t have the right to just… just take my body like it’s yours because of what I wear or how I act, or — ugh! — whatever the hell it is you think!”

“Ahsoka, you’re making it sound like I assaulted you or something. It was just a kiss!” Lux is talking to her like she’s crazy and she hates it. “If anything, you assaulted me!”

“What?” Ahsoka stares at him. “Maybe because you did assault me?! Kissing and touching someone without their consent is assault!”

“Oh, for the love of- would you stop being so dramatic?!” Lux runs a hand through his hair and steps even closer but Ahsoka isn’t paying attention. 

“I’m being dramatic?!”

“Yes! You basically asked for this! I’m surprised no one else has tried you yet with the way you saunter about! Gods, do you even know what you do to men, Ahsoka? Are you aware of how kriffing hot you are? Of course I’d want to kiss you! Why are you still so surprised over this whole thing?!”

Ahsoka feels nauseous, his words ringing in her montrals. The tears keep building in her eyes but she refuses to let them fall, especially not in front of him. Shaking her head at the boy in front of her, she turns around to walk away from him. 

“Ahsoka-,” Lux’s hand grabs onto her wrist tightly and he pulls her back. “Why are you so upset?!”

“Don’t touch me! She cries out, ripping her wrist out of his bruising grip. “I don’t even know why you’re still talking to me like you’ll change my mind or something!”

The look on his face says it all, and it hurts, everything hurts. 

“Oh, Force, you really thought you were going to get me to change my mind, didn't you?!”

“Ahsoka, you can’t blame me! I really like you, and any man would jump at the chance to… uhm, be with you.”

“That doesn’t mean I want them to!” She shouts in his face. 

“Oh, yeah? You don’t dress like that because you don’t want any attention whatsoever, Ahsoka!”

“How exactly do I dress?! What is so wrong with the way I dress that you suddenly can’t bring yourself to respect me?!” 

She remembers his lingering gaze on her, the way he had looked her up and down the first time they met. She remembers rolling her eyes in him and saying that no matter if Separatist or Republican, boys are all the same. She has never been more scared of that discovery than now. 

“I do respect you! It’s just natural to get distracted when someone looks so… so…”

“Just spit it out!” Ahsoka yells, and she already knows she’ll regret it. 

“So fuckable!” Lux exclaims and she physically shrinks back at his words. “Like I said, you have no idea how hot you are and you’re not exactly leaving much to the imagination! That’s not fair.”

Without another word, Ahsoka spins around and starts walking away. Her body is thrumming with disgust, shame and betrayal and she doesn’t know what to do with herself.

“Ahsoka, wait! Gods, do you have to be such a sensitive bitch about it?!”

Her fist connects with his face before she can even properly think about her aim. Lux staggers back, holding his nose and Ahsoka takes that moment to run away before he can say anything else. And before the tears start falling from her eyes. 

Running in the dress was near impossible and once she reached the park gate she slowed down, grabbing the hem of her dress and pulling with all her might, ripping a slit right up the skirt. No way was she going to be able to run all the way to the hotel with the skirt restricting her movements. She didn’t want to risk any chance of Lux being able to catch up to her if he decided to try. 

Ahsoka starts running, thankful that she had worn her boots underneath her dress instead of the uncomfortable and impractical shoes Padmé wore. The tears she had been trying to hold in were now running freely down her face and Ahsoka wonders if the make-up she’s wearing is waterproof. 

It is well past 11 by the time Ahsoka quietly opens the door to the apartment she was staying in with Padmé, Rex and the rest of Padmé’s security and handmaidens. She makes sure to close the door softly behind herself, so as to not alert anyone, and locks it quickly behind herself. Breathing heavily, her shoulders shaking with the sobs she’s holding in. Turning around, she jumps when she sees a large figure moving towards her in the dark, not having expected anyone to be up at this time. 

“Commander? Is everything alright?” The voice undoubtedly belongs to Rex, an incredible softness to it. 

He steps closer towards her, but halts about an arm’s length away. 

“Y-yeah,” Ahsoka lies, hoping he can’t see her tears. 

“Sorry if I’m overstepping here, Commander, but you don’t sound alright,” he says and steps to the side, reaching his hand over to the wall to turn the lights up slightly. “Yeah, you don’t exactly look alright either.”

“I’m fine, I just want to go to bed,” Ahsoka's voice wobbles slightly and she reaches up to wipe away the wetness on her face, black streaks on her hands when she retracts them. 

“Are you hurt?” 

“No,” her fist throbs dully in protest. 

Rex looks the Padawan up and down thoughtfully, scanning her for injuries and Ahsoka feels herself start to shake as she remembers Lux’s words. What if Rex thought about her like that?

“Ahsoka, please let me help you,” he says gently, voice barely above a whisper. “Tell me what’s going on.”

Biting her lip, a faint taste of Lux’s blood making itself present in her mouth, Ahsoka’s hands start shaking. 

“I don’t-,” her voice cracks and her face scrunches up, then crumbles, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks. 

The clone opens his arms and steps closer towards her, inviting her in. She hesitates, but eventually lets herself fall into his chest. Wrapping her arms around his torso, he wraps his around her shoulders. That small difference between him and Lux alone took a large weight off her chest. He holds her close but entirely differently from how Lux had, gently stroking her rear lek to comfort her. Ahsoka cries until she can’t anymore, and then pulls away once she realizes she has smeared her make-up all over his shirt. 

“Sorry,” she mumbles and Rex just shakes his head. 

“Don’t worry about it,” he says softly. “Come, let’s sit down.”

He guides her over to the sofa, his hand hovering in between her shoulder blades. Also entirely different from Lux. They sat down on the fancy sofa together and Ahsoka leaned her head onto Rex’s shoulder. For a few moments they both stay silent and unmoving, Ahsoka trying to calm herself down and gather the courage to figure out how to talk to Rex about this. 

“Have you ever… kissed anyone?” Ahsoka asks timidly and can feel by the way he slightly straightens up that the question surprised him. 

“No,” Rex answers honestly. “I know a lot of the men do go out and… find partners to spend their nights with, but I’ve never really been interested in that sort of thing. Or had the time. Why do you ask?”

Ahsoka bites her lip, heart beating fast as she can’t find a better way to word her thoughts and nervously awaiting the answer. “Do… do any of the men… do they want to… kiss me?”

Rex splutters in surprise. “I’d sure give them a piece of mind if they ever expressed anything like that!”

He shakes his head and Ahsoka looks up at him, seeing an expression of disgust and protectiveness at the thought on his face. It reassures her, gives her the small boost of confidence she needed. 

“Lux kissed me,” she says after a few moments of silence. “I didn’t want him to do that.”

Ahsoka looks away from her Captain again. Fresh tears start rolling down her cheeks and her bottom lip trembles slightly. 

“He said-,” she stops herself, realizing that she can’t bring herself to repeat it. “He doesn’t even see me as a person, Rex. He just sees me as some… he just wants to…”

Gently, leaving her room to move back, Rex pulls her into another hug. Ahsoka buries her face in his chest. The clone rubs his hand up and down her arm in a comforting manner.

“I don’t want men to look at me like he does,” she whispers sadly. 

From the way his grip on her slightly tightens, Ahsoka can tell he’s outraged at what he’s hearing, but trying his hardest to stay calm for her. She can feel it in the Force too, the anger radiating off of him. 

“I’m so sorry you had to experience that,” he says with overwhelming sincerity. “Do you want to report him?”

Ahsoka quickly shakes her head, pulling away from the hug to look at Rex. “I sort of bit his lip and maybe kind of broke his nose.”

“Good, that di’kut deserves it,” Rex says firmly, though there was a slight aura of ‘proud’ directed at her. “Did he just kiss you or did he do anything else?”

“Uhm, not really much else,” Ahsoka said, looking down at her hands. “He… he touched me a bit… intimately, but then it was just mostly the things he said afterwards that really… stuck with me.”

“What did he say?” Rex asks, unsure whether he should ask Ahsoka where he touched her. 

The long tear up the skirt of her dress wasn’t exactly very reassuring, but Rex tried not to jump to conclusions. He watched as Ahsoka frowned, eyebrow markings drawn together and corners of her lips turned down slightly. 

“Pretty much just yelled about how I bit him and how I was being dramatic and that I led him on,” Ahsoka says in one breath. “And he… well, he said that I should’ve expected it because of the way I act and dress, or something like that, like he kept talking like it was my fault. He said… that I shouldn’t be so shocked and that he’s surprised that no one has ‘tried’ me before.”

“What,” Rex blurts out. “Sorry, it’s just- don’t listen to a word he said, alright? None of this was your fault. It will always be his fault, anyone who dares touch you without your permission in a way that makes you uncomfortable is always at fault, never you.”

Ahsoka nods, eyes glistening and chewing on her lip again. The blonde clone watched her fidget for a moment, then remembered something she said earlier which finally clicked in his head. 

“Is what he said the reason you asked if any of the men want to kiss you?” He asks slowly. 

“Yeah,” Ahsoka whispers. “It’s just… he really got into my head, I think. I mean, I’m not stupid, or naive. I notice when men stare at me and it’s not like I’ve never been catcalled before or anything, I mean I know women have it hard and that togruta especially are a very… sexualized species. But to have it said to my face was just so… like, I thought he was nice. I thought he was just being nice, but he wanted something out of it, and it made me wonder how many others are just nice because they want something from me. How many others are willing to just… take my body like it’s theirs.”

Her bottom lip quivers and she squeezes her eyes shut as tears fill them again. When they spill, Ahsoka presses her fists into her eyes and lowers her head. Rex keeps a steady, comforting hand on her trembling upper back, taking in everything she said. It was a lot. He wasn’t sure what to say, or if there even was anything he could say, so he stayed silent and just let her cry. 

Once the tears slowed until they eventually stopped, Rex pulled himself together to ask her one last question. 

“Can you tell me where he touched you?”

Ahsoka stiffened slightly, wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand and sniffling slightly. Rex was just about to apologize for overstepping when she nodded and lifted her hand to show him. 

“He… well, he just kissed me out of nowhere and put one hand on my cheek, and the other went… went from my waist to my, uh, my hip,” Ahsoka said, hands trembling as she pointed at herself where Lux’s touch still lingered. “Then when he got a bit more… aggressive, he started… he started sliding his hand down, like this…”

She hovered her hand several centimeters above her skin, showing the trail he went from her check, over the side of her neck, down her collarbone and to the top of her breasts. “A-and his other hand went, um, went behind me to grab me there.”

Letting her hands fall back into her lap, her cheeks burning hot with shame, Ahsoka avoids Rex’s eyes by staring at the floor. 

“I see,” he says, his voice sounding pained. “I’m sorry that happened, that must’ve been scary. So he didn’t rip your dress, then?”

“No, that was me,” Ahsoka admitted. “I couldn’t run well enough in it, so I tore up the skirt. I was scared he would follow me. Do you think Senator Amidala will be mad that I ruined her dress?”

She looks up at him with big, worried eyes, still glistening with tears. Rex’s face softens and a small, reassuring smile tugs at the corners of his lips. 

“No, I don’t think so. I think she would be proud to know how well you handled yourself, and would rather you tear up her dress than put yourself in further danger,” he tells her honestly and she relaxes slightly, letting out the small breath she had been holding in. 

“Alright, yeah, you’re probably right,” Ahsoka nods, then lets out a small yawn. 

“I think it’s best if you get to bed,” Rex tells her, smiling fondly. “We can talk more tomorrow, figure out how to make sure Bonteri won’t come anywhere near you for the rest of this mission. You should consider telling Senator Amidala as well. I’m sure she’d understand.”

“I think so too,” Ahsoka says, a tinge of sadness in her voice. “That sounds good. Thank you for being here for me, and for letting me talk about what happened.”

“You can always count on me, vod’ika,” Rex’s brown eyes are warm and filled with sincerity and love, and Ahsoka found herself believing him. “And you can always come to me whenever you feel unsafe or need to talk or need help, alright?”

Ahsoka nods, throwing her arms around him for another hug. “Thanks, sa’daar.”

—

Togruti translations:

Aga’meht — Grandmother (literally “old mother” since there is no known translation for grandmother)

Sa’daar — Brother

— 

Mando’a translations:

Di’kut — Idiot, useless individual, waste of space

Vod’ika — Affectionate way to refer to ones sibling

[shadyelizabeth]

8.08. GARDEN PARTY

Harry looked down out of the picture window in Draco’s old bedroom at the Manor’s backyard, which had been transformed into a floral wonderland. Flowers of all shapes, sizes, and colors decorated the yard, in giant vases, as centerpieces, and hung around the mouths of the white wedding tents that had been raised. Each tent was strung with fairy lights by actual fairies who were floating freely around the space. The sun was shining high in the bright, blue sky with no clouds in sight.

Dozens of fashionably dressed witches and wizards were mingling, sipping glasses of something light and fizzy. The flutes were enchanted to automatically refill themselves when empty, and by the braying laughter filtering up through the thick glass, he knew some people were well into their third or fourth drinks.

He recognized a few faces, some from the Ministry and some from the press, but the rest were strangers to him. And yet, all of them were here for him and Draco, waiting for them to make their grand entrance. 

In the years since the war ended, Harry had taken back his privacy. The wizarding world would always know him as “The Boy Who Lived” but that didn’t mean they needed to know his every move, especially as an adult. He knew certain things would be unavoidable, like when he took a job as an Auror or what team he was supporting at the Quidditch World Cup, but he took extra measures to make sure no one ever followed him home or was able to report on the mundane things, like what he purchased on his weekly trips to the market. He controlled his own narrative now.

Which was why the press didn’t know about his and Draco’s relationship until they were ready. They’d taken things so slow at the beginning, figuring out if the lust between them was anything more than carnal attraction or not. Even after they’d agreed to get to know each other as Harry and Draco, instead of Potter and Malfoy, they waited a couple more months before “getting caught” holding hands in public, fully prepared to make headlines for weeks, if not months. 

However, having that control for so long left him unprepared for Narcissa Malfoy and the Malfoy family traditions.

Tucking a finger underneath his collar, Harry gently tugged, suddenly feeling like his dress shirt was choking him.

As if sensing his distress, Draco’s arms wrapped around Harry’s waist. His head rested softly on his shoulder. Harry leaned back into his warm embrace. 

Pressing a soft kiss to his temple, Draco said, “I’m sorry about all of this.”

“I’m assuming this isn’t your fault. Unless you specifically told your mum to plan this societal debut.”

“No.” Draco chuckled. “I did not, but I’ve also never been good at denying Mother’s wishes. I should have been more stern in letting her know you were uncomfortable with this type of attention. To her credit, though, she did keep the guest list small.”

Harry felt his eyes bulge. Craning his head to look up at his boyfriend, he said, “You call this small?!”

“Yes.” He nodded. “The previous guest list had three hundred people on it. I talked her down to under one.”

He sighed heavily through his nose. 

When Draco had told him his mother was planning a garden party to officially announce their relationship (because, apparently, it wasn’t legitimate before now), Harry had thought it was a joke, but Draco had shrugged sheepishly. The Malfoys had a long list of old family traditions, and if Harry intended to have a future with Draco, he would have to get used to events like this. Thankfully, this was the only one for now where he was a guest of honor.

“We don’t have to stay long,” Draco said, giving him a small squeeze. “We just have to make a few rounds and introductions. Let Mother get through her sappy speech about how happy she is for us and how you’re a part of the family now, and when we get home”–he nibbled on his earlobe–“I promise to make it up to you.”

Resigned, Harry said, “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”

>>>>>>>

Things were going better than Harry had expected. Draco had been by his side since they’d descended the stairs, and he’d kept a hand on Harry at all times, whether it was on the small of his back, an arm wrapped around his waist, or their fingers laced together. His touch offered a steady stream of comfort.

Having checked their reflections in the mirror before leaving the room, he knew the picture they made. With his black curls and inky black dress robes that shifted like the night sky when he moved and Draco in his sparkling silver suit and with the signature platinum-blonde Malfoy hair, they looked like yin and yang, a contrast of dark and light. (Of course, Harry hadn’t had any say in how they were styled this afternoon.)

Now that they were on the grounds, Harry was in awe of his surroundings. The flowers were so vibrant he had to wonder if magic had helped grow them. There were bouquets of red and white roses, the reds like rubies, and the whites as bright as freshly fallen snow. There were large, blossoming sunflowers and a spectrum of purple flowers, from light, powdery lilac to deep, royal indigo. Flowers he’d never seen before sprung up from the grass in prismatic patches, and the smell was unlike anything he’d ever experienced before even though Draco liked experimenting with floral scents. 

They made their rounds, stopping to chat with anyone who stopped them or waved them aside. Many of the guests were parents of his former classmates. He could see the similarities in their facial features–in the slope of a nose or the curve of someone’s smile. Draco was content doing most of the talking, but some people wanted to hear from him directly.

Some wanted to talk about his job. Everyone knew being an Auror wasn’t for the faint of heart. If his life hadn’t been what it was, he’s sure he would have chosen a different profession, but not even having fought Voldemort had prepared him for some of the horrors he saw on the job. He tried to keep being an Auror separate from his personal life, politely declining to answer any questions outside of how things were going and how much longer he saw himself in the position.

A couple of women wanted to gossip, asking if there were any plans for a wedding in the near future and if they had thought about having kids. Those were conversations he and Draco had yet to have, so he could answer truthfully. When they needled him for more information, asking how he personally felt about wanting kids and what that would mean if Draco didn’t feel the same, he let himself get pulled away.

Even though the war had been over for almost ten years now, the parents who pulled him aside wanted to thank him for his sacrifice, which wasn’t anything new. People had been approaching him for years issuing the same sentiment, and despite the time that’d passed, he still hadn’t quite figured out how to respond. It wasn’t as if he’d volunteered to be Voldermort’s counter. Participating in the war hadn’t been a choice for him, which was why accepting their gratitude never felt right–and why, as soon as he finished talking to the parents of a Hufflepuff from his year, he “excused himself to the loo”. 

He dodged anyone and any questions he could, never stopping but smiling politely and saying he had to use the restroom, but as soon as he found a quiet, unpopulated corner, he removed his glasses and wiped a hand down his face, taking a few deep breaths to center himself. 

After a few minutes and a small pep talk with himself, Harry set off down the hall looking for an actual washroom. He’d only been to the Manor a handful of times, and it was large enough that he still hadn’t learned his full way around.

He opened one door on the left side of the hall that seemed to be separate from the others, but it turned out to be a storage closet of some sort, full of fur coats and boxes and something that rattled in the corner where the light didn’t reach. He quickly shut the door and walked a few more meters before trying another one, but just as his hand reached for the handle, he could see the door was already cracked open. Leaning in, a voice could be heard from inside, saying his name.

“–thought that Harry Potter was a sissy?”

“As much time as he supposedly spent with Dumbledore, is there really any surprise?”

Harry’s blood turned to ice; his stomach curdled.

“The Malfoy boy came as no shock. He’s always been a little too dainty if you ask me.”

The other voice hummed in agreement.

“And this whole party celebrating their so-called love is a disgrace. The two of them parading around, holding hands, like it’s normal for two lads to get on? I don’t care if Potter did save the wizarding world. If he takes a prick up–”

Harry slammed the door shut and took off back the way he’d come, not wanting to hear the rest of that conversation.

Without really paying attention to where he was going, he somehow ended up back in Draco’s old bedroom. His hands were shaking when he closed the door.

He and Draco had had a long talk about how people might react to their relationship once they went public. Draco had come out soon after the war. People were always going to judge him for being a Death Eater. He figured they might as well judge his whole self.

As expected, he’d faced increased backlash. Those who yelled at and heckled him for his involvement with the Dark Lord tagged on derogatory slurs. Draco hadn’t let it affect him; living in fear of dying every day had given him a thick skin, and even though their relationship was coming more than five years later, he warned Harry he could face the same scrutiny, regardless of who he was.

Harry had always known it would happen one day. If Dumbledore wasn’t able to escape the debasement even in death, Harry knew he wouldn’t be able to, but maybe a small part of him thought he could, if only because it hadn’t happened yet. 

He wasn’t sure how long he’d been absent from the party when Draco found him. His expression must have been bleak because he immediately fell to his knees in front of him and asked, “What’s wrong, love?”

He shook his head, unable to meet Draco’s eyes. “Nothing. It’s dumb. It–it’s stupid.”

“Harry.” Draco tucked a finger under his chin and gently raised his head. “What happened?”

He sighed. “I accidentally overheard two wizards talking about us. They were saying some crude things, and–”

Giving Harry’s thigh a gentle squeeze, Draco said, “Say no more. I’m sorry you had to hear that. Did you–”

“No.” Harry shook his head. “I was angry, but I think I was mostly shocked even though you warned me. You told me it would happen one day.”

Draco softly rubbed the inside of his knee with his thumb. “And yet, you’re still never quite ready when it does.” Standing up, he placed a soft kiss on Harry’s forehead. Holding out his hand, he said, “Let’s get out of here.”

“But what about the party?” He glanced out the window where the event was still going strong. “And your mum?”

“Forget the party. We’ve said enough hellos. We’ll miss her speech, but she’ll undeniably recite it for us later.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes.” His silver eyes sparkled in the sunlight shining through the window. “Let’s go home.”

AUGUST MASTERPOST

[godestof3worlds]

Title -  Have You Ever Seen Something So Wonderful

Summary - What happens deep below the sea?

Fandom - Voltron Legendary Defender (VLD)

Relationships - Keith/Allura

Prompts - @mfbingo (Love at First Sight) / @fandombingo (Kosmo) / @julybreakbingo [Pre-July Break] (Royalty) / @julybreakbingo (Scared of Thunder) / @taylorswiftbingo ("You'e so gorgeous") / @augustwritingchallenge (Underwater AU) / @kalluraisendgame (Sword & Sorcery and Healing)

Below the cut are the bingo cards themselves.

[dump-o-whump]

Red Market — 3.25: Artist’s Muse

giggles (also @augustwritingchallenge)

content: bondage, use of ‘sir’ and ‘master’, use of ‘pet’, implied human trafficking, begging, broken bones, slapping

•

Leo woke up in a strange position. He was splayed in an X shape, suspended in the air by ropes hanging from the ceiling, barely upright by the balance of gravity. His newest owner was sat under him, grinning. He was holding a paintbrush and sitting behind an easel. There were paints surrounding him, all in soft ivory tones like that of Leo’s skin.

He was about to paint him.

Leo screamed. All he had wanted in his captivity was to be hidden. That was all he asked for. He would be good, he would do anything, just don’t show him to the world.

He couldn’t handle it if anyone saw him like this. It terrified him more than any punishment he’d ever been given, chilled him down to the bone, earned immediate tears. And this was a painting. His torture would be preserved forever. His owner would probably show off the artwork to whoever would look, proudly parading Leo’s agony. Everyone he’d ever cared about would see. Everyone would know he was weak.

He sobbed hoarsely.

“You’re so pretty like that, love,” Leo’s new owner cooed as he leant over the easel and looked him uncomfortably in the eyes. “Stay there. You’re beautiful.”

“N-No! Get me down!” Leo screamed.

He didn’t expect to and he didn’t mean to, but he did. He had only fought back to Master once. After that day, after that punishment, he vowed to himself to never defy again. He would just take it and be good and pray that he wouldn’t be hurt too badly. But everything was different now. He was scared, just like he had been when Master took him. He didn’t escape that time, but maybe — just maybe — he could now.

So he fought against his bonds and screamed at the top of his lungs. “Fuck you! Get these off me, you fucking sicko! I’m not gonna be your- your muse!”

Leo’s new owner cracked a thin smile. “So, that’s how you wanna be,” He growled, voice low. He pulled a lever and Leo’s ropes went slack, sending him careening towards the cold stone floor. He screamed out in shock and pain.

“No!” He managed. The ropes snapped taut just before he hit the ground, sending him into a daze. Pain exploded from his arms and legs. In his confusion, it took him a second to realise. The bones in his limbs had shattered on the impact. He let out a broken shriek of agony.

“So you want to be difficult? I’ll make it difficult.” His owner hissed. He smacked Leo round the face, hard, as he sobbed.

Every single piece of dignity Leo had regained suddenly crumbled. “No! I-I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to- please, make it stop, please-“

“That’s what I thought.” He pushed the lever back up and sent Leo reeling back to the ceiling, head still spinning.

“No… p-please, no…” Leo managed between frantic breaths. His limbs were in excruciating pain, his head felt like a shaken-up beehive, and his heart-rate was spiking.

His owner flashed a grin and prepared his paintbrush. “Ah, that’s the pose I wanted.”

•

leo <33 i love to torture this innocent little man. he doesn’t deserve any of this and i love it!! :))

taglist (i guess?? /vpos): @whumpsday

[random-writerings]

Fitzsimmons - Teachers AU

• After Fitzsimmons retire, they live their idyllic life in a cottage in Perthshire with little Alya

• But when she's old enough to go to school, they get kinda bored

• They miss the thrill and excitement of working at S.H.I.E.L.D.

• Hell, they miss just having something to do all day

• So they decide to teach at S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy

• It's the best of both worlds; they stay informed about the goings-on in S.H.I.E.L.D., but they're far enough away from action that they can still claim they're retired

• Another upside is that they get to see their friends more often

• Of course the S.H.I.E.L.D. Science Academy is very excited to welcome them back

• They get a little embarrassed when students gush over them and their work, both in the field and the scientific papers they've published

• But eventually the excitement dies down and the students begin to love them as teachers rather than famous S.H.I.E.L.D. agents

• And after a while, what started out as a way to keep their brilliant, fast-paced brains occupied, becomes something they genuinely enjoy

• They love having a steady routine again

• Getting ready for work in the morning while also getting Alya ready for school feels so right, so normal

• Jemma makes them all lunch everyday, and of course she gives Fitz his beloved prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella sandwich with a hint of homemade pesto aioli

• They're also those teachers that have hundreds of mugs from students

• Fitz’s favourite mug is shaped like a monkey, with the tail forming the handle

• Jemma can't pick a favourite (“they were all chosen with care!”) but she really likes ones with science puns

• Even though they don't see each other much during work, they still love working together

• They run assignment ideas and exam questions by each other all the time

• They spend their evenings in comfortable silence marking papers and drinking hot chocolate

• Jemma is a very organised and professional teacher

• She plans lessons months in advance, has an extensive booklist for students that somehow keeps growing, and has made many posters and handouts about lab safety

• She also colour codes everything

• Her preparedness can sometimes intimidate new students but the older students reassure them that she's actually a very caring teacher

• She has lots of extra stationary and chargers that she can lend to students

• Even though she sets a lot of challenging assignments, she always finds the time to help out those who are struggling

• And she writes detailed notes summarising each lesson in case a student is ill or can't make it to class

• These are not used very often because students love attending her classes

• She's so passionate about her subject and she inspires that passion in others

• She also finds very fun and interesting ways to explain things and she's patient with students, offering extra study sessions for those who still don't quite get it

• She's not much of a sharer, preferring to stay focussed on the lesson, so her students know very little about her

• They know that she's married and that she adores her husband and daughter

• But that's pretty much it (apart from stuff on her S.H.I.E.L.D. file, like how she joined the Academy at 17 years old)

• Meanwhile, Fitz is total opposite

• He definitely plans his lessons, but they do tend to go off topic a bit

• It's not his fault that a student asked an interesting question and he had to find out right there and then if it was possible

• The students love how chaotic his lessons are and they end up learning so much more through the experiments than they would by just listening to his lectures

• He also has the messiest handwriting in the world, especially when he has an idea and has to write it down quickly before he forgets

• So he usually types things out and prints them off

• He starts off the year with neat folders and everything arranged nicely but a few weeks later everything is super messy but he insists he has a system

• He also overshares a lot

• And I mean, a lot

• He talks for ages about his badass and super smart wife and shows the class cute photos of Alya (with guest appearances from the other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents which are endlessly amusing to the students)

• “I've never seen Agent May smile before. She's always so serious, I didn't think she could.”

• “I knew Director Mackenzie was secretly a softie. Look at how tiny Alya is when he holds her!”

• But sometimes, these photos bring up hard to answer questions

• “Dr Fitz, is that Agent Daniel Sousa having a tea party with your daughter? I thought he was dead?”

• “Uhh, he is. That man is … uh, just a … family friend. They just look very similar.”

• “Yeah and what about that guy? I'm sure that's former Director Coulson, who is also dead.”

• “Uhhhh …”

• He always tells himself to be more careful which photos he shows the class, but he always forgets

• A lot of the photos also include Jemma but because there's not much crossover between engineering students and biochem students, most of the class don't recognise her

• The few students that do recognise her decide not to say anything because they know Jemma likes to keep her personal life private and they respect that

• They also think it's kinda funny that no one else has worked it out yet because it's so obvious once you know

[miraculousmaker]

Chapter 22 of Spider-Valerie is up on AO3!

Miguel/spiderwoman OC, based off the monthly prompts you can find in my repost. Ft Norman Osborn as a much more stable, loved boi (he’s 20 in this) and Steven Strange, along with Anne Weying.

Rife with all sorts of things, as follows:

Nightmarish torture, besties bein besties, birds, tension, food, blood drinking, courtroom drama, stress, spiderverse shenanigans, and smut.

go check it out!

[cynthia39100]

@themerlinlibrary August Writing Challenge

Prompt 18: " He is my friend" " So was I"

Morgana & Merlin

A Servant of Two Masters rewrite

AO3

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

“ You must kill Arthur Pendragon,” Morgana hissed and pressed the Fomorroh head upon Merlin’s neck.

Chained in Morgana’s hovel and about to be planted with an evil snake head, Merlin decided that enough was enough. His eyes shone and the chain was blasted into pieces. The force pushed Morgana away and she cried out in surprise. Merlin turned to her, his eyes cold.

Morgana was too stunned to move at first. Her face went from disbelief to betrayal, and finally fury. She shouted out spells, but Merlin deflected the flying weapons and fireballs without uttering a word. A hint of fear crept onto Morgana’s face, but she quickly gathered her composure.

“ All these years you have kept this big secret. And you called me a traitor!” Morgana sneered.

“ I never betray Camelot.”

“ But you betray your kin! You kept me in the dark when I was afraid of my own power. You poisoned me, and you killed my sister. I would have already brought magic back to Camelot were it not for you!”

Merlin didn’t let his guilt and sorrow show. He didn’t remember how many nights he had woken up from the nightmares. He wondered several times if he could have prevented Morgana from turning evil. If he told Morgana what he was, or talked to her more before poisoning her. Maybe Morgana would still turn evil, and Merlin would be in worse situation. He would never know.

“ I’m sorry I had to leave you in Morgause’s hand. I didn’t know what she taught you, but hurting innocent people is not the way to bring magic back. ” Merlin said.

“ They are not innocent. They refused to accept the rightful ruler of Camelot.”

Merlin laughed incredulously. “ You are not the rightful ruler. It is always Arthur, and he is a far better king than you ever could be.”

“ Even if he would chop your head off if he learned your little secret?”

Merlin flinched, and Morgana smiled with satisfaction. But Merlin took a deep breath and lift his jaw with determination.

“ It doesn’t matter. Arthur will be a great king, and I won’t let any harm come to him.”

Morgana’s face fell in disdain. “ Why are you so loyal to Arthur?” she asked.

“ He is my friend.”

“ So was I!” Morgana spitted out venomously.

Merlin looked at her sadly. He could still remember vividly the sight of her when they first met. She had been beautiful and elegant and had taken his breath away. Merlin had been drawn to her even more after that for her fierce compassion and bravery. He had felt honoured to be called her friend.

“ So were you,” Merlin agreed, “ but not anymore. You’ve made your choice, and I’ve made mine.”

Merlin’s eyes shone one last time. A sword pierced through Morgana’s chest from the back. Her face froze in shock, reminding Merlin of the last time he tried to kill her. Merlin blinked his tears away. He didn’t have the right.

He prayed that in the next life, the two of them could be friends again.

[soursagas]

Cosset*ೃ༄

AUgust writing challenge day 9: Coffee Shop

yes this is late but better late than never lmao now my phone will be thrown across the Pacific Ocean after hitting post

Content: Captivity, pet whump, nonhuman whump, multiple whumpers/whumpees, implied sleep deprivation, burns

It would’ve been a strange request.

But as they walked down the impossibly large mansion, the Master led them to…what looked like a tiny—almost cute—little coffee shop; they realized that this shouldn’t seem out of the ordinary, given some of the many other rooms.

“Alright.  Better get work!” Master wore a slight smile towards them, and walked away; not awaiting a response.

There was a big list taped to the counter, each step with some visuals was listed.  Surprisingly (or perhaps, unsurprisingly) one cabinet held all the necessary ingredients.  They took out the coffee grinder, measured the beans, and poured them in.  

It took longer than they would’ve hoped, but they still felt a sense of accomplishment while they looked at the steam coming out of the mug.  They went to flavour it with the sweetener left in the cabinet.  Having prepared the coffee, they picked up the hot coffee mug with their bare hands.  Suppressing the urge to immediately put it back down they began speed-walking their way to Master’s office, hoping they’d be there.  They wondered, with the list of steps taped down, would this be a regular thing?  Compared to some of the other…tasks, this would be easy.  Hopefully.

“So”–master began– “a sweet little pet recently acted up” 

They silently continued walking as Master continued, showing the slightest bit of interest, but listening intently.

“You know what happens when pets misbehave,” they nodded, they knew what punishments could entail.  However, punishments and rewards were individualized to the pet, to an extent of course.  A mug of hot coffee could be a punishment as much as a reward for a pet, although they weren’t so sure about ‘reward’ with this particular pet.  

Master opened the door to the cell on the left.  The pet that lay had obviously only been here a week at most, his skin mostly clear of any injuries.  Although his wrists were bloody and bruised, likely a result of too much struggling.  His clothes seemed a bit dirty, but not too bad.  He held his hands close to his chest but was careful not to brush his shirt’s fabric.  They looked at Master expectantly.  “The coffee?”–They signed–“for him?” Gesturing toward the man laying across from them.  

“Yes, my Sweet here has told me of his exhaustion,” they looked over him with a hint of sympathy “I was hoping you would help him wake up a bit”

They faced Master with a bit of a crooked smile.  “Of course”

”Wake up a bit?” Any hope he had of being allowed to sleep diminished.  As he looked up at them, he saw…coffee? 

Coffee? He doubted that would do much to help with his exhaustion.  He hasn't slept in days.  He looked up drowsily, but fearful nonetheless.  The..person? Creature? Definitely not human with their pointed ears, standing over the pet.  Looking closely, he saw a collar with an outline of a heart at the center, around their neck.  Master had mentioned those vaguely, he couldn't remember exactly what they'd said, and there was no inscription or anything that could give away what it meant.  He had never directly interacted with them, only seen glimpses of them when they were near Master; Master being the only one he’s interacted with for the past week.  

They set the mug down in front of him.  “For you” they affirmed.

He did a double take and slowly moved his hands to grasp the mug.  Sparing a glance at the person (creature? being?) above them; he saw them biting their lip in a small smile.  He caught sight of a fang poking out, and quickly averted his gaze; the last thing he wanted was to seem rude and give them a reason to be upset.  Looking down he saw what he thought to be a tail; it was difficult to make it out in the dim light.  They shifted from foot to foot and he immediately grabbed the mug, not wanting them to become impatient.  Holding it close and tight—attempting to ignore the heat of the mug; He faced them again.  

Not even a second after he had grabbed it, their tail came into full view from behind them.  The tip of it goes to the base of the mug, and with one swish flick, spills the drink over his red wrists, and down his chest.

The pet screamed.  The ceramic mug fell from his hands, cracking in front of him; splitting chips into his legs.  He couldn’t pay attention to it, too focused on the searing pain in his wrists.  Terror clouded his mind as he frantically waved his wrists back and forth; tears spilling out of his eyes.  He needed to try something—anything to relieve the burning agony.  Pain flared up his body, but he was too lost in it to do much other than cry out.  He was barely aware enough to notice them pick up the mug and leave.

Master - they/them (for now)

The pet - he/him

The Other One - they/them

[foxywrites]

at least the war is over (chapter one)

at least the war is over - chapter one || Prompt: Day 20 - reconnection

In meursault Dazai closes his eyes in his ex partners arms. Chuuya is dead-set on keeping him alive thoug-, he isn't letting him runaway this time, never again.

RATING; General Audiences

CHAPTER; 1/4

STORY WARNINGS; gory descriptions, suicidal mindset, dehumanization, descriptions of injuries, probably inaccurate medical treatment, Bungou Stray Dog’s Chapter 107 spoilers

FANDOM: 文豪ストレイドッグス | Bungou Stray Dogs

RELATIONSHIPS/PAIRINGS; Dazai Osamu & Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs), (can also be interpreted as Romantic), Dazai Osamu/Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs), Armed Detective Agency Ensemble & Dazai Osamu (Bungou Stray Dogs), Armed Detective Agency Ensemble & Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs), Dazai Osamu & Nakajima Atsushi (Bungou Stray Dogs), Akutagawa Ryuunosuke & Dazai Osamu (Bungou Stray Dogs)

CHARACTERS; Dazai Osamu (Bungou Stray Dogs), Chuuya Nakahara (Bungou Stray Dogs), Armed Detective Agency Ensemble (Bungou Stray Dogs)

ADDITIONAL TAGS; Dazai Osamu Needs a Hug (Bungou Stray Dogs), Bungou Stray Dogs Chapter 107: In The Small Room part 3 section 1, Bungou Stray Dogs Chapter 107: In the Small Room Part 3 Section 1 Spoilers, Broken Bones, Suffering Dazai Osamu (Bungou Stray Dogs), Dazai Osamu Has a Bad Time (Bungou Stray Dogs), References to Depression, Dazai Osamu is a Mess (Bungou Stray Dogs), Caring Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs), Armed Detective Agency Member Nakahara Chuuya (Bungou Stray Dogs), Comatose Dazai Osamu, Dazai Osamu-centric (Bungou Stray Dogs)

BAD THINGS HAPPEN BINGO PROMPTS || @badthingshappenbingo

- Internal Bleeding

ANY FANDOM ANGST BINGO PROMPTS || @anyfandomangstbingo

- Free Space

ANY FANDOM DARK BINGO PROMPTS || @anyfandomdarkbingo

- Doesn't Realise They've Been Injured

[alltid-og-for-evig]

AU-gust day two: Hizzie

"By the end of class, she's drawn Lizzie's profile with that little smile on her face. Its the first completed thing she's drawn in weeks."

Read here: