#but because the description was all sanguine that’s what I picked

[sozila]

convalescence. (sukuna x reader)

synopsis: convalescence noun. time spent recovering from an illness or medical treatment; recuperation. ryomen s. itadori was a disease that infected every part of your life, and you didn’t notice until it was too late.

pairing: best friend's older brother!ryomen s. itadori x pre-med uni student!fem reader.

warnings: explicit content eventually, mdni. mentions of underage drinking, descriptive sexual activities. masterlist | previous | next

you are on: incubation. (part one) a/n:

hello!! my name is sozila, and this is my first ever work on tumblr/ao3 so bear with me if my writing seems a little elementary :,) let me know what you think, esp if it's constructive feedback! i've been a huge fic reader since i was 11, if that's any solace <3 (i'm in my second year of college now lmao) this piece really just came to me because i craved older brother sukuna and breezed through every fic with him in it. also, i wanted to incorporate parts of my college experience and hence the allegory to infectious diseases, i promise i'll hash it out adequately soon haha <3 also to note: i'm aware this chapter is rather short, but i intend to make longer chapters as the story continues! until then, here's a little bit of what i have :) enjoy!

ao3 link here.

incubation. (part one) you were 2 years into being best friends with yuuji itadori before you saw him. an idea of him was created in your head through a web of yuuji’s descriptions, megumi’s mild irritations. nobara’s hot-cold opinion that “he’s an insufferable asshole, but those tattoos do numbers on girls”. some part of you felt allured by the mystery of his identity, even though you knew exactly who he was. at least, as much as you could from the near-empty instagram account and pictures from yuuji’s childhood littering the apartment.

it was odd you didn’t meet until now, but university had other plans for you. it made sense though— as a pre-med student, you didn’t have much time to hang out or go to frat parties, as much as nobara complained about your lack of thrill for wilding out. you digressed, but promised as soon as you secured an internship you’d maybe allow a bottle of vodka on you, in the comfort of your shared apartment. yuuji and megumi never held your busy schedule against you; which you genuinely appreciated. you loved that whenever you did get to see them, things picked up right where you left off.

which is why you were surprised at the very least to be met with someone you knew yet were so unfamiliar with standing before you when you knocked on yuuji’s door.

“you one of yuu’s new leeches or what?”

your brows furrowed a little more at the jab on your character, but you utter nothing as you take in the fact ryomen itadori isn’t a mythical brother your best friend made up. he looks exactly like the lockscreen picture on yuuji’s phone, save for a couple new tattoos on his face and arms. his hair was a mix between a mean undercut and ivy league, sporting the same pink hue of his younger brother’s. a simple silver chain hung on his neck which drew you downwards to his chest. he was definitely built much bigger and wider than yuuji. coarse, and just.. raw. you register you’ve been staring at this man clad only in a wife pleaser and joggers for an inappropriately long time and clear your throat, straightening, holding your bag a little closer as if it was going to disappear with a glance of his sanguine eyes.

“you gonna stand there all day, or should i close the door on ya?”

his gruff voice now laced with irritation led you to match his demeanor. you give him a wry, plastered smile and push past him. he lets you, surprisingly.

“can’t really go in with you blocking the entire entryway, asshole.”

he doesn’t acknowledge the blatant insult and walks towards the kitchen. your nose catches it first- he was cooking something really good. suddenly, he yells over his shoulder while he stirs the pot.

“yuuji c’mon, i’m not babysitting for your ass!”

the thomp-thomp-thomps of yuuji’s footsteps follow with him hurrying down the stairs and he flashes a dorky smile to you. “sorry, sorry! you met my lovely best friend then, aniki?”

he grunts without turning around. you didn’t even consider this a conservation, but yuuji seemed unphased by his wet-blanket personality. guess older brotherhood looked like this. yuuji flits around the stove where he’s working to stick a finger in the pot and steal a taste, which sukuna smacked him upside the head for.

rubbing the back of head, yuuji then turns and faces you to give your arms a little squeeze. “megs is running a little late from swim team practice, but he’ll be here soon. ryo made dinner for us though!” he quips brightly.

with a whip of his head and a withering look, you deduced sukuna wasn’t aware of this information, but grumbled to himself. you made out a “motherfucker” and “freeloader” in his long curse.

you pull your happy-go-lucky friend a little out of earshot and bring him to your level to whisper harshly. “yuu, i don’t want to inconvenience your brother.. he already seems pissed i exist,” you murmur. your gaze returns to the giant man in the kitchen and something tickles in your chest. immediately he slaps your shoulder and chortles, as if you told him something outlandish. “don’t even worry! he acts like that all the time, he just doesn’t know you well enough yet.”

you weren’t sure you even wanted him to.

it was 7:30 when you heard the ring of the doorbell and your head lifts from the snug placement you took on the couch. sukuna had already slipped away upstairs so yuuji answers this time, much to your dismay. you lament internally that megumi wouldn’t face the same frosty welcome as you did. you hear two voices instead of just the one you expected and crane over to see a certain red headed girl you knew. she beams upon noticing your peeking form. “you’re here early, miss i-have-no-time-for-my-beloved-friends,” quicker than you could react, she was already beelining to jump on you with a smothering hug.

you try to muster a clear response but get muffled by her puffy knit sweatshirt. “if you checked your phone you’d know i told you!” you push your computer out of reach so it wouldn’t be swept in the tornado that was nobara kugisaki.

megumi had already taken a seat on the rug beside yuuji, deep in conversation about winter finals. however, it became evident it was more megumi lecturing yuuji on course material and the latter looking more confused and stressed by the second.

you move nobara enough to clap your hands and catch their attention.

“if you guys utter the word ‘exams’ one more time, i swear will explode.”

nobara snorts above you and knocks on your head. “look who’s talking. is your memory shot to hell or do you not remember all the times you bring it up yourself?”

“she literally did this afternoon,” yuuji mumbles with a pout. you throw a decorative pillow at him.

“hey! don’t forget i literally made your study schedule for you. and even the studious want a little break,” you defend with a huff. nobara d’awws and squishes your cheeks. “my poor little baby! however did you survive.”

“you guys suck. i deserve nothing but love and affection.”

yuuji rolls his eyes and whines. “oh my goood, yes we love you and appreciate you, hugs kisses rainbows blah blah— i wanna watch a movie already!”

you giggle at his antics as nobara pushes off you, walking to the unabashedly large TV and starts filing through yuuji’s big movie bookshelf. “what are we feeling tonight? fast and furious, ladybird, jigsaw..”

after a couple minutes you all agree on midsommar, which you protested but lost in a 3 to 1 vote (democracy is a joke). you could never sleep properly after a good horror movie, hence you always watched them during the daytime. but because your friends were evil, namely nobara, you had to endure some at night and ended up sleepless and jumpy. “if you can’t sleep, just slip in with me tonight,” nobara counters with a dismissive wave. while you knew neither nobara nor her girlfriend, maki, would bat an eye because of their long friendship with you, you worried for your own well-being. nobara was a huge kicker in her sleep (she denies this profusely). too many times after a night out you’d wake up on the floor with bruises on your side while nobara dozed peacefully, starfish-ed on the bed. you sigh and accept your fate.

the movie ends up being just as if not more unsettling than you expected. you knew nobara clocked out much earlier than you thought when you heard no reaction to the bear scene (never getting that image out of your brain, you fear). you stretch your neck to assess who’s out. beyond the dirty plates on the coffee table from the dinner sukuna “made” for you all, you can make out yuuji cradled into megumi’s chest, snoring lightly. the urchin haired boy didn’t stir much either, so you peel from nobara’s vice-like grip on you to throw a blanket over the two of them. out of the corner of your eye, you see yuuji cuddle into megumi a little more, a small smile on his dozing face. god, you eagerly await the day they could be honest about their feelings. you step back around quietly to adjust nobara on the couch into a more comfortable position.

to navigate out with a better light you fish your jeans for your phone but to your dismay, are met with empty pockets. it didn’t help that your nerves on high alert and the living room was lit only by the glow from the tv. something straight out of a horror movie. genuinely fuck my life. you frown as you crouch down to feel around underneath the couch. after a few minutes of helpless padding later, the task seemed fruitless and you began to retreat to yuuji’s room. nothing could prepare you to feel a big, cold hand palm your shoulder. you freeze, your spine going icy. is this how i’m going to die? swiveling faster than your mind could compute you almost let out a bloodcurdling shriek, only to be met with the same cold hand pressing your mouth shut.

“are you fuckin’ mental?”

sanguine eyes bore back into yours and you fight the urge to bite the hand pressing on you. the audacity of this guy was baffling, really.

you shove him off and glare pointedly.

“me? i’m mental? says the dick who decided to sneak up on someone and grab them like a fucking serial killer!”

you jab a finger on his chest, seething in a whisper. his chest, in reality, was much harder than you anticipated and your finger probably hurt more than the attack on him.

a step. he’s closer to you and now in possession of said finger.

“i lightly tapped you. the rest was damage control, sweetheart.”

“sweetheart?”

“i can’t call you that?”

“how about you don’t call me anything, ever? thanks.”

“makes sense that i can’t call you. got your phone, and all.”

your mouth drops a little. “what?” he snickers. “if you weren’t so busy trying to curse me into the next domain, you’d realize i’ve had your phone in my hand this whole time. fuckin’ idiot.”

lo and behold, your phone was nestled in his raised hand, looking much smaller than you remembered. or was it that his hand was just that large in comparison? how big was this guy, really? part of you wanted to stop everything and just ask him to hold different objects and compare how they perceived in his grasp. but reality struck and you recall this is the same guy who just scared the living daylights out of you.

you yank it out of his stupid mammoth hand, ripping his grasp on you in the process and take a step back. you were awfully close to one another upon closer inspection.

“not an idiot, by the way. 4.0 gpa doesn’t exactly scream stupid.”

“idiocy applies to everyone, sweetheart. regardless of how much you dick ride your textbooks.”

every word that left his mouth had a lilt to it. the laughter in his eyes, his head cocked to the side.. he was messing with you and relished it. that pissed you off. who the fuck was he to decide who you were? what you stood for? you had barely known this imaginary-but-actually-real brother for a couple hours, and here he was insulting and teasing you all in one gift-wrapped present. what gave him the confidence to be so insufferable? and better yet, what could you do to stomp it out?

“go to hell, sukuna.”

you were unwilling to stay in his irritating presence for a moment more. your face was stony and unrelenting, your foot tapping incessantly in impatience. you wanted to slap his face off, but thankfully for him, your best friends were in dreamland just a few feet away.

“goodnight, idiot.”

your feet padded angrily up the stairs and you could still feel those dark sanguine eyes boring into your skull and all over your body. you decided that imaginary or not, yuuji itadori's older brother was the most pompous asshole you've ever had the displeasure of meeting. you didn’t get hit with your skin radiating heat until you closed the door of yuujii’s bedroom behind you. question is, was it anger or arousal?

... she never told me her name.

omg light banter... guys i really love slowburn so sexy time isn't guaranteed soon :( once i've outlined it i'll add specific explicit warnings and maybe you'll get a glimpse of what i envision for you and sukuna aaaaa :) for tumblr, i'll have a navi/masterlist up in a little!

peace luv bathtub!!!

© sozila 2024, all rights reserved. please do not plagiarize, translate, or repost any of my work on other mediums or sites. cross-posted on ao3 and tumblr under same alias.

[miquella-everywhere]

Miquella Theory: The Blood of a Demigod

As I progress through my journey to catalogue the location of every Lily, Butterfly and any sort of connection to the young Demigod Miquella, I began noticing something very strange...

Whenever I encountered a Miquella's Lily, no matter where it may be, every-so often I noticed that there was an Arteria Leaf close by...

At first I brushed it off, didn't think much of it, but then it started happening more and more frequently to the point where it couldn't be just a coincidence.

This is Elden Ring afterall, and I'm on the hunt for Lily's to dig into the lore of a character with zero dialogue 😂 These Arteria Leaves being so close by definitely has some meaning.

So my first thought was of Mohg. The Omen bastard child of Queen Marika and kidnapper of Miquella. So that makes sense; wherever you find a Miquella's Lily an Arteria Leaf is looming close by, paralleling the twisted one-sided relationship between the two half-siblings.

Creepy... But lorewise very accurate.

But then I started thinking some more... And then it started to become more and more apparent to me that this goes even deeper than just Mohg.

Mohg proclaims himself as the so called "Lord of Blood" thanks to his connection to the Formless Mother, but what if he's not the only Demigod with a proficiency for blood? What if Miquella is a natural-born master at controlling the nature of blood?

The item description of the Arteria Leaf describes it as "exceedingly rare to find," Now we all have made jokes about how they are certainly not exceedingly rare to find lmao But this brings to mind only three other items that you can pick up that have the exact same description....

All items directly related to Miquella... All items that are exceedingly rare to find...

And then you dig deeper into Miquella's own lore and, what was it that they watered the sapling Haligtree with???? That's right.

Their own blood.

Not to mention the existence of the Sacramental Buds where Miquella has literally managed to cultivate their own blood.

And then you read the item descriptions of the only two items that call for Sacramental Buds in order to craft:

So then this means that Miquella's blood potentially has the ability to both heal and bewitch.... Intriguing 🤔

But then I noticed something else about Miquella that supports this blood theory even more: On the statues depicting Miquella they all seem to have very pronounced veins on their arms, indicating that they have an abundance of blood within them (and also that they may be left handed 🤷)

So at this point, with all the evidence layed out- to say that Miquella has an unspoken affinity for blood and the arcane isn't too much of a stretch. But unfortunately thanks to Mohg and his Sanguine followers, Miquella's Divine and Holy blood has been twisted and fetishized for their own purposes.

And now, this next part might be a bit of a stretch, but another theory I have about Miquella is about the origins of Unalloyed Gold... Well, perhaps Unalloyed Gold is actually derived from Miquella's blood?

I say this because the only item in the game that can alleviate the build up of Scarlet Rot(aside from the Needle) is the Preserving Boluses that specifically requires Sacramental Buds to craft, instead of, oddly enough, a Miquella's Lily, which is apparently made of unalloyed gold... a red herring perhaps? 🤔

And then there's this one item in the game that caught my attention, that really makes me scratch my brain, and that item is the common Beast Blood:

If simple beast's blood has small specs of gold within it then what about the blood of a higher being? What about the blood of Miquella the Unalloyed?

The ichor of the eternally young Demigod.

(Also the fact that the Arteria Leaf is described as having a faint pulse makes me think that maybe it's Miquella's pulse, proving that in the cocoon they are indeed, not dead, but only dreaming, with their heart beating oh-so slowly in their slumber :)

[xalygatorx]

Unbound | Chapter 16, "Full of Surprises"

Áine Ts'sambra—a wayward half-drow bard with a painful past—has her world upended when she's snatched up by a Nautiloid ship and furnished with a tadpole to the brain. In her journey to remove the infestation before it can turn her and her newfound companions illithid, she not only finds that their solution has more layers to parse through than she can count, but that a particular vampire in her party does as well.

Unbound is an ongoing generally SFW medium-burn romance based in the world of Baldur's Gate 3 between Astarion and a female OC. Any NSFW content will be marked in the Warnings section. Contains angst, fluff, explorations of trauma, spice, graphic fantasy violence, and a guaranteed happy ending.

For anything additional on what to expect (and not expect), check the preface post.

Summary: The party sets up camp with the myconids, resting before doing the Sovereign a favor. They meet the other colony guests—a hobgoblin, a mind flayer, and a sanguine alchemist. Astarion is put in a position to stand up for himself (and Áine has an opportunity to stand up for him as well). Astarion is honest with Áine about his complicated relationship with intimacy and about what spurred their affair in the first place. The pair decide where they’ll go from there.  

Pairing: Astarion x Fem!OC

Warnings: Descriptions (in-depth but not graphic) of Astarion’s sexual trauma; early Araj appearance (we will still probably run into her at Moonrise later); fluff; comfort/hurt; angst; trauma; flashbacks and descriptions of physical anxiety responses and feeling triggered; blood & blood-drinking; lightly proofread

Word Count: 8k

Listening to: Quiet the Monsters - Victoria Carbol

A/N: Just want to quickly say thank you so much for all the comments, feedback, and kind words on Unbound, it helps the headspace a lot and it means the world to my sappy little heart. x

Áine’s heavy rucksack hitting the ground caused a blossom of tiny, glimmering bioluminescent spores to rise in a small puff from the base. The cloud also subsequently caused Áine to sneeze. The bard frowned at the discovery, shaking her head as she rifled through her bag for a health potion, thinking how she’d never live it down if she was half-drow and somehow allergic to the fungal flora of the Underdark.

“That was precious,” Shadowheart remarked on the sound of Áine’s half-muffled sneeze, earning a glower from the bard. “Have what you need to heal up?”

“I should,” Áine said, her fingertips skimming the side of one of the glass bottles she was searching for. She plucked it out and checked it before uncapping it to take a long sip. “I just got knocked around really. I’ll be glad when that burrowing monstrosity stops retreating every time we almost kill it.”

“Indeed,” she sighed, rubbing her hand along her arm as a turquoise glow emitted from her palm. “Between that and the minotaurs, a clan of agreeable mushroom folk was a welcome find. Although I could do without the strange voices that keep projecting into my head.”

“Other than the usual ones, you mean?” Áine teased her, earning an eyeroll. 

The bard glanced across the little foothills they’d stumbled upon, the different levels connected by toadstools as big as trees. It felt like a sort of haven, perhaps because it was the first time since they’d left the Selûnite outpost that she’d felt like she could relax a little. Unless that godsdamned bulette came back, but the myconids seemed to maintain this area firmly for themselves and she hadn’t seen any evidence of the thing disrupting the dirt through their settlement.

“Tell me you didn’t pick up another ‘hero’s quest’ side job from that creature on the roll,” Astarion grumbled as he walked to join them, already exasperated because he knew Áine and of course she’d said they’d help someone else. Yet another useless venture for gnomes this time of all things.

“Astarion,” she murmured, her tone scolding. “It won’t kill us to help her.”

“Well, it might,” Shadowheart posited with a shrug.

“See?” Astarion griped, gesturing toward the cleric. “Someone with sense. Imagine.”

Áine glared between them, her lover and her best friend teamed up against her. Unbelievable. “We’re going that way anyway to cull those slavers for Spaw,” she pointed out. “And it’s not like I take these things on for free. We need the extra coin.” She sighed as she set her bag back down, placing the empty potion bottle next to it. “Especially after I suck it up and stock us back up on supplies.”

“And where do you plan to do that?” Shadowheart asked, glancing around and finding the area just as shopless as she’d first assumed.

Áine nodded toward the side of the settlement where a studious hobgoblin worked over a table. “I’d like to see if he has anything to trade. There was a drow over there too who might be worth speaking to. She looked like she had some alchemy equipment,” she said as she got her coin pouch from her hip and took a tally, mentally preparing herself for inflated Underdark prices.

“You’re going back over there? Where the mind flayer is?” Shadowheart demanded. 

“Sure,” Áine said, shrugging when she met Shadowheart’s skeptical eyes. “They seemed perfectly fine for being a mind flayer. And vegetarian.” 

“Ugh, fine,” Shadowheart sighed. “Just be careful. And here.” She took a handful of coins from her purse and put them in Áine’s palm. “To help with the potion restock.”

“Thanks,” Áine said, looking at a pouting Astarion. “You coming?”

The vampire made a noncommittal grunt in his throat, which she just took to be a yes.

“Can I come?” Karlach piped up nearby. “I’m bored to tears.”

Áine laughed as she led the way from their campsite, ending up with an entourage of Karlach, Wyll, Astarion, and Scratch. She dropped her hand to her side and stroked Scratch’s ears as he trotted alongside her, just pleased to be among his friends. As she drew close, she said, “Erm, Blurg? You wouldn’t happen to have anything you’d want to trade, would you?”

“A curious mind would never refuse to peruse,” the hobgoblin said amenibly. “What are you looking for? And what can you offer?”

“Some basic supplies and medicinal tonics are what we seek,” Áine explained. “To trade we have a bit of gold, some odds and ends, and at least one charming smile.” When he looked at her, she jokingly gestured to Wyll and said, “That’s his specialty.”

Wyll smirked, laughing when Astarion gave a disgruntled huff in Áine’s direction that she ignored. 

“In the way of supplies, I do tend to overstock for myself so I would be happy to trade something of that ilk with you,” he suggested. “Let me have a look at the ‘odds and ends’ and if nothing strikes, gold always sits well.”

Áine got out the items she’d collected for bartering purposes to let him have a look. As he stooped over the array to have a gander, she heard Karlach hiss to get her attention. “‘Ey, soldier,” she said, nodding just down the wall toward the female drow that Áine had seen earlier. “She looks more like the potiony type. Might be worth asking her?”

Wyll pulled a face when he followed Karlach’s gesture. “Hmph, an underelf?” he mumbled.

“Gods’ sakes, Wyll,” Karlach chastised him, making Áine smirk to herself. “You do recall that Áine’s half-drow, right?”

Wyll blushed with the appropriate amount of chagrin. “Right. Sorry, Áine,” he mumbled.

“That’ll be Araj over there,” Blurg said absently as he picked out a couple of things from Áine’s stash and gathered some supply packs to offer for compensation. When Áine agreed to the trade, he pocketed the trinkets and said to Karlach and Wyll, “She would be a good ask for your tonics and elixirs, but she does follow more of a…specialty than most alchemists I’ve met.”

“Hopefully she’s not opposed to half-bloods,” Áine sighed, already readying herself to be condescended to. “Thank you, this helps us a lot.”

“Thank you,” he said. “And good luck with your tadpole dilemma.”

It was refreshing to not be balked at for having a parasite in her brain, which wasn’t a thought or feeling Áine had ever thought she’d experience before her abduction. Karlach and Wyll led the way to Araj’s setup while Astarion fell in step with Áine, lowering his voice to chat with her as he was curious as to what she’d decided to part with. They paused their conversation with murmured “later”s and a sneaky brush of hands when they caught up with Wyll and Karlach, who had just gotten the drow’s attention.

“Ah,” she huffed, looking at Áine with undisguised speculation. “Half-human, I assume?”

Here it comes. “Indeed, but I prefer to go by Áine,” she said dryly. Astarion and Karlach snickered, both trying to hide it at least until they got whatever potions they could get from her. Their efforts only grew more difficult when they made eye contact just to see the other in equal shambles.

“How lovely,” the drow alchemist purred and Áine wasn’t sure if Araj referred to her name or her genetics. Either way, it was preferable to another person telling her that she’d muddied her lineage. “Araj Oblodra, trader in blood and the sanguineous arts. It is a pleasure to stand before a True Soul if what I caught of your conversation next door is accurate.” Her garnet eyes slid toward Astarion. “And your pale companion, of course.”

A blood alchemist? she wondered, both intrigued and alarmed. She’d never heard of such a thing. And, it seemed, an Absolutist nut at that. “You know of the Absolute?” Áine asked, playing into the narrative seamlessly. She tried to ignore how Araj took in Astarion like he was on offer with the rest of their wares.

“Who does not, this side of Faerûn?” Araj mused. Based on everyone they’d met, Áine couldn’t disagree with her. “I’d like to offer you my services if you’re willing?”

Áine’s expression turned bewildered. “If I’m willing? What exactly are you offering?”

“As I said, I trade in blood and the potions that can be wrung from it,” the drow said. “I’m more than happy to make one for you…if you’ll honor me with your blood. With one drop, I can brew a potent potion just for you. The rest, I keep for myself.”

“What sort of potion?” Áine asked, considering it more now that she knew the alchemist was only after a drop. Although she did wonder what she’d want with the “rest” she mentioned keeping. Research probably.

“No idea!” Araj exclaimed, enthused by not knowing. “But it will be unique to you—your blood essence and the Absolute’s blessing intertwined. We can learn exactly what that means together.”

“Hmm…,” Áine hummed, her curiosity getting the better of her. “Alright.”

“Just a little prick and it’s all over,” Araj assured her as she reached for Áine’s hand. She created a tiny incision in her fingertip, methodically milking the wound over a vial. 

Áine shifted uncomfortably, flicking her eyes up toward the ceiling to ignore the procedure. It was wild how blood didn’t bother her whatsoever when it was on a battlefield but as soon as it was something as sterile as a medical process, her stomach turned. She’d even gotten used to Astarion drinking her blood somewhat, but just barely. Half the time she had to just pretend he was necking her a little too roughly. She supposed that wasn’t not the case.

Araj took the vial and turned to her tools and glass implements, the gurgling of boiling, steaming liquids amplifying as she started to create a brew. Subconsciously, Áine popped her bleeding finger into her mouth to hasten the clotting, only glancing toward Astarion after she did. He was giving her a withering look that made her smirk around her fingertip. 

“Later,” she mouthed after freeing her digit and Astarion’s annoyed glance faded, satisfied with the compromise.

“And there we are!” Araj proclaimed as she turned around and offered a corked flask to Áine. “All of your best traits in a bottle. Use it well.”

“Thank you,” Áine said, smirking as she added, “I think. Maybe we should wait to see what it does before I thank you.” Araj chuckled and Áine asked further, “Would you have anything pre-brewed that you’d want to sell? I know it’s not your focus, but we’re hoping to restock on some basic stuff for the road.”

She gestured toward a cluster of bottles set aside from her workspace. “I have a hodgepodge of elixirs and potions just over there if you’d like a look,” she suggested. “Some extra stock from my journey. Some of that gold back would be a positive.”

“I’ll take a look, thanks,” Áine said, pocketing her pricked hand so she didn’t touch anything that might infect the little cut before she could clean it back at camp. She stepped over to the cluster of potions, lifting a bottle here and there to check for labels. With her back turned, Araj’s attention drifted again.

Astarion noticed Araj’s hungry stare and his eyes narrowed, glancing fleetingly toward his companions. Áine and Karlach were hunched over the bottles and Wyll stood nearby, staring down the path while lost in thought. Astarion cleared his throat and continued to avoid Araj, but he could feel her eyes on him, rooting him to the spot and peeling him apart. He hated it.

Áine, not seeing a wink of what was happening just over her shoulder, was a little startled when Araj spoke again. And then deeply unsettled by what she said. “Perhaps there is one more thing we could discuss…,” Araj mused, her eyes still hooked into Astarion. “Your friend.”

Astarion’s jaw tightened, his posture rigid. Áine, Karlach, and Wyll all looked over from what they were doing but Áine was the one to speak. “Um… Excuse me?” she asked.

“He’s a vampire, no? One of their spawn at least.” She spat the word like a curse. 

“Oh, don’t worry,” Astarion swiftly said, his mask fully up. “We’re all friends under the Absolute. I won’t bite.”

“Oh, I’d prefer if you did,” Araj countered. All their eyes had gone a little round at that and Áine’s expression remained bewildered as Araj turned to her. “He belongs to you, I assume?”

Astarion faltered, hiding it well. Suddenly he was little more than a slave again and that old, familiar dread started to creep in. Meanwhile, something in Áine began to unhinge.

Her eyes narrowed, hoping she was just being dense and misunderstanding the woman’s question. “...He belongs to himself. If you have questions for him, you can direct those questions to him,” she said in a hard voice. Astarion’s eyes darted toward Áine’s bristling tone, vulnerability flashing through his eyes faster than light.

Araj gave an amused hum. “I’m sure he really believes that… How utterly adorable.” She slanted her gaze back to Astarion. “Do you have a name, spawn?”

“A-Astarion, but hold on!” Astarion stammered, holding his hands out in front of him.

“Good,” she purred back to him for, as she saw it, following her order. “Now, Astarion, I’ve dreamed of being bitten by a vampire since I was a young girl.”

“I’m sorry,” he muttered, his voice creeping a note higher in disbelief, “you want to be bitten?”

Áine was watching the exchange with discomfort. Araj had struck her in odd ways when they’d first spoken, but now she felt genuinely disturbed. And oddly a faint twinge of jealousy. Maybe because most of the times Astarion had bitten her at this point had been mingled with something more intimate or maybe because it would be the first time outside of a quick chomp during a fight that he elected to drink from someone that wasn’t her. 

It was an odd train of thought, so she abandoned it and continued to listen in while she placed a couple of bottles she’d set aside to buy back into the original cluster. She’d scrape up ingredients and make her own healing draughts if Araj was their only option for the stuff.

“To feel your life’s blood slipping away?” Araj mused, her tone painting the experience as a sensual one. She’d heard of a vampire’s bite being fetishized but it was something completely different to see it in real time. “To dance on the edge between life and death? Yes. I want it.” 

Infuriating Áine further, Araj turned to speak to her again as if she were Astarion’s keeper. “I’ll even compensate you. Whatever vials you require from that pile plus a potion of legendary power that forever increases the strength of the one who consumes it.” She slid her gaze back to Astarion, who stiffened beneath it. “It’s not for sale. But it’s yours…if you bite me.”

Áine wasn’t entirely sure what he’d do, but it did surprise her a little when Astarion said without a second thought, “I will have to decline.”

“Excuse me?” Araj laughed, incredulous. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and you’re squandering it.”

“I gave you my answer,” Astarion gritted, something disgustingly close to fear rising in his chest. The compulsion to obey his master. The demand to use his body, his entire being, in bent form to his sire’s will. This wasn’t the same, but he felt its echoes.

Offended and blustering, Araj directed her next words at Áine. “Ugh, can’t you talk some sense into your obstinate charge?!”

Astarion dared a look at his lover. Áine’s eyes were colder than he’d ever seen them as she inhaled a deep, steadying breath and leaned away from the table to face Araj. Her anger was barely contained. “He said no,” she growled.

“How very disappointing,” Araj murmured. “Right. Well, then I suppose gold will—”

“Keep your wares,” the bard muttered, leading Wyll and Karlach back toward Astarion and Araj. His tension eased a bit once they were back in his proximity. “And keep to yourself. Come near him again unbidden and that dealing, you will have with me.”

Araj tsked at Áine. “I’d always heard half-breeds were feral,” she spat.

A dangerous smile crossed Áine’s mouth, her eyes boring into Araj’s. “Would you like to find out for yourself?” she asked, positively saccharine.

Araj’s face flickered with a twinge of fear and she huffed, looking toward Karlach and Wyll. Finding no sympathy on their faces, she muttered a few choice words in elvish and turned away from them, back to her work. Áine had half a mind to teach her a lesson, but she forced her burning gaze away from the alchemist’s back and whistled for Scratch before leading them all back to camp.

Astarion was more than relieved to be away from the drow, his jaw finally unclenching when they were a few paces back down the path. 

“The audacity!” Wyll was exclaiming, absolutely floored by what had just happened. “What a horrible woman!”

“Proud of you for sticking up for yourself, Fangs,” Karlach said, equal parts agitated and fired up in her protectiveness. “That was fucked.”

Astarion found himself relaxing further at Wyll and Karlach’s praise and validation, his gaze lingering on Áine walking just ahead of them with Scratch. Her shoulders were still rigid, proverbial hackles still up, and her hands were balled into fists at her sides. 

He would’ve done it if she’d asked, he realized, even with his autonomy returned. Even if he’d been left to Araj wearing him down, he may have buckled despite how positively fetid the drow’s blood had smelled. He’d had so little opportunity to make his own choices unpunished in this life that the word “no” had felt foreign on his tongue every time he’d said it back there.

Even at the offer of a potion that would’ve arguably been quite useful for their cause, she hadn’t hesitated. Hadn’t questioned why he didn’t want to bite the drow. Hadn’t expressed an ounce of disappointment or inconvenience when he’d opted out. He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen her so deadly angry either.

They arrived back to camp and Scratch immediately bounded off to find the owlbear cub, who was sitting next to Halsin with a dopey expression on its young face. They’d become fast friends and it was adorable. It did little to calm Áine’s ire at the moment, but only because the flames were burning so high. 

How dare she?! Suddenly she could empathize with Astarion’s impulse to go back out to the woods and kill Gale after originally deciding not to—not because of anything to do with Gale but because it was taking everything in her not to go back to that table and reduce Araj to resemble her own nasty spread of potion ingredients. Half-breed comments be damned, she wanted to kill her for placing Astarion in even a semblance of one of the situations he’d finally escaped.

Muttering under her breath, Áine slammed the supply packs down next to her rucksack. Methodically, she started to paw through the pack to put back the bits that Blurg had passed on and do some updated inventory. It was necessary and it gave her something to do. The stuff she’d gotten from Blurg seemed good and that would get them through their trip to track down the duergar at least. If they rationed a little more harshly, then—

“Ahem.”

The meek intrusion jarred her from her scattered thoughts, and she looked up over her shoulder, finding Astarion lingering behind her and fiddling with his fingers. “Do you have a moment?” he asked, obviously anxious.

“For you?” she suggested, getting to her feet and brushing off her pants as she turned to face him. “Any moment you’d like.” Had she ever seen him so timid?

“I, uh…,” he began, faltering. His voice was soft and emotionally raw. It did funny things to her heart. “I want to thank you.”

Áine’s brow creased. “For what?”

“For what you said,” Astarion replied, “whilst I was in front of that vile drow. All my years serving under my master, what I felt about what I was doing…it never mattered.” He sighed. “You could’ve asked me to do the same just then. To throw myself at her, what I wanted be damned. I likely would have done it, you know.”

Áine frowned. “Astarion, I would never.”

“I know,” he reassured her, his voice gentle. He was silent for a long moment, seeming quietly overwhelmed. “...And I’m grateful.” He made an impatient sound as he waved his sentimentality away and, gesturing, said, “It would’ve been so easy just to bite her! To just go along with what I was being told to do. A moment of disgust to force myself through and then I could’ve carried on, just like before.”

Áine’s brow crumpled. “Isn’t that what you’ve been hoping to leave behind?” she ventured to ask. “What could possess you to repeat the motions now?”

“Repeat the motions,” he repeated in his head. You’ve no idea how close you are to the truth. The thought made him sullen and panicked for their eventual conversation about just that. 

“Habit perhaps,” Astarion said on a sigh. “It was all I knew for a very, very long time. Even still, amongst, well friends I suppose, it’s difficult not to expect a trap in every question. A punishment for every wrong answer. The illusion of choice. In any case, that made me realize that despite being ‘free,’ I’ve still been living as if I’m not in many ways.”

Áine listened, nodding slowly as she processed his answer. She remembered her first couple of years out in the world on her own. 

Everything had felt like a trap. She’d been utterly paranoid out of her mind. Every too-friendly face she met, she’d met with suspicion. She’d run any time someone got too close to her and veered firmly away from anywhere that could’ve been described as “bustling,” but she’d been terrified when she was completely alone too, a sickly member of a herd to be picked off. 

It had been the worst those first few months, her old strength and left shoulder shattered along with her sense of identity. He was in one piece physically, but he was only about a month or so out from his escape. She couldn’t imagine he’d felt safe a moment since. And in Áine’s experience, she wasn’t so sure he’d truly feel safe for quite some time. Ten years later, she still didn’t.

Astarion watched the understanding soften her features and could only hope that it would carry over into harder topics. Knowing he’d back down if he didn’t, he asked, “May we talk later tonight?”

“Later?” Áine asked, tilting her head. “We can—”

“Later would be best, if that’s alright, my dear,” he suggested, knowing she would offer to have their conversation now. He could see in her face that his request worried her.

Slowly, Áine nodded. “Sure. I guess…just come get me when you’re ready.”

“I will,” he promised and it held none of his usual sensual spin he liked to put on everything. He nodded toward her pricked finger. “How is your hand?”

Áine smirked as it all came around to blood again, extending her hand and raising her fingertip for his inspection. “It’s fine, but I do wish I hadn’t given her a damn thing now,” she said, the edge back in her tone.

Astarion’s eyes flickered down to the small clotted cut on her finger, leaning in closer to examine it and taking her hand in his to bring it to his eye level. Áine smirked, expecting him to reopen it and take a sip—she’d promised after all—possibly with the addition of making it an innuendo. 

However, when she braced for the sting of his fangs as he dropped his mouth to her cut, she was surprised when all he did was kiss it. She saw his craving in the way his pupils dilated and his nostrils flared at the scent, but he didn’t try to partake. 

“Perhaps get a salve on it, darling,” he suggested while Áine still watched him, bemused.

“Sure,” she said, watching him step away with a mix of confusion and affection. He was acting strangely, but she didn’t quite feel as if it were the sort of “strange” he’d be acting if he intended to end things later. 

But, if not that, then what?

Reassuring herself that Astarion’s wasn’t the behavior of someone who was soon to end a relationship sufficed to steady Áine’s nerves through the evening. There was no “breaking up” when they’d never been exclusive, she kept reminding herself. Even if she’d felt exclusive with him the moment she’d realized there was a mutual interest between them, nothing had been spoken into existence. She’d just leaned in too far and fallen. 

She knew how she was with these sorts of things—at the inception of a crush, she was all-in. That wasn’t the norm.

Áine did her damnedest to not let her anxieties creep out in the open, too. As much as this was eating away at her, something had eaten away at Astarion enough for him to ask her specifically for a time that they could speak. There was something on his mind, too. 

Knowing she’d just wear a rut on her tent floor, Áine took up her usual spot near the fire. She was without her lute, but the myconids’ melodies interwoven in the spores around them felt like more than enough of a nightly treat for the ears. She laid back on the dirt, her fingertips tracing faint patterns in the deep earthen soil and her eyes cast toward the black ceiling overhead serving for a sky. She marinated in her thoughts and the interesting flow of the unearthly music in her mind until Astarion’s beautiful face peering over her blessedly cut her overthinking short. 

She smirked up at him and shifted one of her hands behind her head. “Huh. A star in the Underdark,” she mused aloud, making him smile and roll his eyes. “How poetic.”

“Aren’t the romantic advances and suave pickup lines meant to be my job?” Astarion asked as he sat down next to her, his gaze following hers to skim the towering caverns.

“Mm, we can take shifts,” Áine said, nonplussed by his grumbling. Subconsciously, she moved one of her hands over to gently rub his back, but she stopped herself shy of his shirt when she remembered his scars. When she looked at his face, she saw he was already observing her dilemma. “Sorry. Instinct,” she said as she started to tuck her hand back under her head.

“What instinct exactly?” he asked. 

“Uh,” Áine mumbled, suddenly flustered at having to put her silly little notions into words. “I was going to rub your back. Didn’t fully think it through. Unless…that sounds interesting?”

Astarion was amused by something, whether it was her tone or her wording. He thought over her offer before giving her a measured nod. “You may try if you’d like.”

With care, Áine laid her hand against his clothed back, feeling the faint shudder that rippled through him. “As ever, just say the word,” she murmured, her voice and her touch tender as she began stroking his back, beginning with small predictable circles. Her heart broke as she felt the raised lines of his scars through the fabric of his shirt. “True vampire” rules be damned, she’d bleed Cazador on his own palace steps if they ever crossed paths.

He interrupted her ferocious thoughts when he said, “I think the others have all taken to bed… I mentioned it earlier, but I think we need to talk.”

Áine’s hand stilled against the small of his back, almost feeling stupid for having it resting there now. Her throat suddenly dry, she asked, “Is here okay or did you want to go somewhere else?”

Astarion shook his head. He wanted to keep this on neutral ground rather than in one of their tents. Just in case. “No, here is fine.”

Áine’s brow creased, her eyes speculative. “...Are you alright?”

“Oh yes, I’m fine,” Astarion quickly said. “I just… Well, I feel awful.”

Áine’s chest felt like it was constricting. Here it comes, she chided herself. You got in too deep, as always. Well, actually opposite of always. Regardless, just as much of a fuck-up. She drew a breath and sat up, pulling her knees toward her chest and looking at his profile. “I’m listening?”

Astarion seemed almost scared to look at her, which she couldn’t comprehend. But he still made himself do so, sitting on his knees and turning his entire body toward her. When he met her eyes, she read the precise fear there that she’d anticipated, but she couldn’t imagine the why of it. His attention faltered for a split-second as he studied her face and seemingly without thinking, he mumbled a dumbfounded, “Gods, you’re beautiful…”

He cleared his throat too harshly and coughed against his fist, creating even more confusion in Áine than before along with a bright blush in her cheeks. “Mmf, no, that’s—it’s true but that’s not what I mean to discuss,” he scrambled. He was so uncharacteristically scattered that she may have laughed were she not frightened of whatever he was about to drop on her. 

Astarion found the wherewithal to continue after searching himself for that singular selfless bone left in his body. He couldn’t bear to lose her, but it wasn’t solely his choice in the matter. Not anymore.

“Right. Look. I had…a plan. A nice simple plan. And that plan…well, it’s been my most solid strategy for the past 200 years. Never played for myself, but for Cazador.” As ever, he sneered the name like a curse. The shadows beneath his eyes seemed to darken further as he spoke. “We’ve spoken of the torture, of the compulsion, of the rancid vermin and insect-based diets… There was…much more.

“My ‘duties’ to Cazador entailed bringing him the most beautiful souls I could lure his way from the streets of Baldur’s Gate,” Astarion explained, his eyes far away. “I was meant to do so…with my body. With sweet words and promises and sex. From a tavern corner, from an alleyway, it didn’t matter. What happened to me, what I wanted…none of it mattered. I was a puppet with my orders and I served those souls on silver from the time I could be let off the leash to prowl the city proper. I was told time and time again that my body was all I was good for until I believed it. I still find myself believing it. It’s my only token of trade.

“I may have been free of Cazador from the time the mind flayers snatched me up, but I’ve been realizing that I’m working in the same patterns. Less and less over time, but my survival instincts still default to those old methods. Whatever worked, whatever kept me alive since I wasn’t permitted to die. 

“All that to say, I…needed help. When you found me, I needed protection. And therein hatched the plan,” he drew a sharp, anxious intake of unnecessary breath. Áine sat stone-still and just listened, dread still coating her stomach. 

“My ‘simple’ plan…was to seduce you. Sleep with you. Manipulate your feelings so you’d never turn on me. At least until I didn’t need your help any longer,” Astarion said, a panicked chuckle passing his lips. “It was easy. Instinctive. Habits from two centuries of charming people kicked in. All you had to do…was fall for it.” 

His voice cracked as he forced himself to keep looking at her when he wanted to run and bury himself back in the grave. “And all I had to do…was not fall for you. Which I think we both know is where my nice, simple plan fell apart.”

Astarion’s throat worked as his hands rose from resting against his knees and gestured toward her as if pained. “You… Áine, you are incredible. You deserve something real,” he said, swallowing hard. “I want us to be something real.”

He stopped speaking and Áine knew that he was waiting for her to say something now. She could feel the preemptive tears pooling against her lashes, her nails picking anxiously at her shirt sleeve. She was relieved that it wasn’t over, that she hadn’t done something wrong, but…there was still that sense of betrayal, too. 

The signals she’d gotten from him since that night had been real, she knew that, but before… Well, she’d just been stupid before then, was that what she was to take from this? Shadowheart had been absolutely correct in warning her against his advances at that time and she’d just hopped too-willing and wine-flushed into his lap. And she realized the gutting feeling she was experiencing wasn’t necessarily betrayal or anything to do with him, it was embarrassment at her own actions. It was shame. More than that, she was devastated for him and his past.

Áine drew in a shaky breath and asked slowly, “...So the nights we spent together… They didn’t mean anything?” Gods above, don’t you dare cry now, she chided herself. Her inner voice almost didn’t sound like herself in that moment. You weak little thing, why must you always cry?!

“Of course they did, that’s the point!” he said emphatically, his hands twitching like they ached to take hers. “Or…part of it anyway.” Astarion pushed down a grumble of frustration. “Áine, being close to someone—any kind of intimacy—was something I performed to lure people back for him.” His brows canted upward and she saw the heartache in his eyes unmasked. “Even though I know things are different between us, being with someone still feels…tainted. It still brings up those feelings of disgust and loathing. Sporadically, most days. Other days, constantly.

“I don’t know how else to be with someone… No matter how much I’d like to,” he confessed. “And I would like to. It terrifies me sometimes how much. But I fear misjudging my own capabilities after being so thoroughly broken and taking us down a path leading to ruin. I fear hurting you in trying to do the opposite. But I want to…if you still do or ever did.” Astarion sighed again and it sounded a mix of morose and relieved. “However, I couldn’t keep this from you any longer, as much as telling you felt like a form of sabotage. It would have been unfair to you for me to keep this up.”

Áine’s musings to Shadowheart that night at the party bubbled up in her memory. Of fretting over a similar yet completely different fear. That she would ruin what was between them before it ever began. And now here he was, fretting he’d ruin what they had after it had begun but before it truly blossomed. They were quite a pair.

The bard leveled her gaze at him, unable to help the tears that she tried to manage by swiping her sleeve against her face. “I care about you,” she murmured, the tension in her throat coming through in her tone. “Deeply. But you know that.”

Astarion frowned. He did know that. Firsthand thanks to the tadpole. And in every gesture, every compliment, and every kind touch she’d graced him with, romantic and platonic both. “I do.”

“What do you want?” Áine asked him point blank, sniffling a little as she tried to get her weepiness under control. 

The question, as ever, took him off guard. “I…,” he hesitated. “I don’t know. It’s been so long since I’ve had to decide what I wanted.” Astarion’s resolve seemed to renew in the square of his shoulders and the intensity in his gaze as he said, “I—I want to try. With you. If you’ll have me after all this, that is.”

Áine tilted her head a touch. “Astarion, if this is too much for where you’re at right now, I’ve told you before that those ‘friend-based feelings’ exist,” she said. “They’ve been well and truly archived, but I could dig them back out. I hate the idea of worsening the things you’re feeling because you mean to appease me with this.”

“Darling, I don’t mean to appease you. Or at least that’s not my sole reasoning,” he said, his rebuke gentle. “I’ve meant all I’ve said. I want us to be something real. If you can forgive me.” Something crossed his mind then. “Most of my unpleasant reactions arise when it comes to sex specifically. What we’ve done otherwise, I never needed or felt compelled to do before. That’s all new to me. And it’s wonderful.”

Áine nodded slowly, thinking. “So it would be helpful to you if we didn’t for a while? Have sex, I mean.”

Astarion pulled a face. “That seems a poor bargain for you, doesn’t it?”

“Not if it’s not for you,” Áine answered in kind.

“I think I just don’t want you to think of me in terms of sex. I don’t know if I want anyone to,” he admitted, giving a frustrated tsk at his own verbiage. “I don’t quite know what I’m saying anymore, I don’t know how I can expect you to understand if I—”

“No, I…,” Áine murmured, “I get it. More than you might expect.” She held his gaze, searching and vulnerable. “You’re more to me than your body, Astarion. You always have been. And if you don’t want to, then we won’t.”

Astarion looked a mixture of guilty and unsure. “I want to be clear that I do find you unbearably attractive,” he murmured. “And that every time that we have slept together thus far, I’ve wanted to. Even the first time got swept into an emotional affair for me as soon as it started. I just tried to deny it. Clearly, that didn’t work.” He chuckled. “But I do feel awful when those memories resurface while we’re together. So…as tough as it may be to abstain…”

Áine nodded in agreement. “It sounds like perhaps you need some time. And that’s okay. Have as long as you’d like.”

“Does that mean then that you’ll stay with me?” he ventured to ask, hope laying bare in his eyes. “Despite everything I’ve put you through? Everything I’m unsure I can give you?”

“The original intention set aside, you’ve not put me through much of anything,” she pointed out. “The rest unfolds with time if we let it. Believe me when I say that the pause on sex doesn’t bother me. I’ve always been strange in that way. At least it’s finally working to someone’s benefit.”

“Strange?” he repeated. “In what sense?”

Áine shrugged and it was her turn to be embarrassed again. “Most people seem to want more in that regard than I ever have. I’ve spent years trying to understand it, but it’s just how I’m wired,” she explained, her gaze falling to her kneecaps. “I only want to do those sorts of things with someone I care for. I don’t really experience attraction otherwise. Things like one-night stands or romps with strangers have never appealed to me. So, at least in comparison to everyone else I’ve ever met, I’m a bit strange.”

Astarion measured her response. It added more context to his understanding of how she liked to navigate her relationships at least—he’d thought she was just one for long-term love interests in a general sense, but she couldn’t feel attraction unless she was invested, it seemed. And now knowing that her “yes” that night at the party had also meant she already cared for him so much… 

“I see,” he said, pensive as he looked her over and noted the way her eyes timidly shifted away from being studied. “I may not have always felt that way, but at least now, after everything… I find that relatable.”

She offered him a faint smile. “You’d be the first.”

Astarion inched forward, cautiously reaching out and taking one of her hands. He looked at her to ensure that he wasn’t doing anything out of turn, reassured as she squeezed his hand. “Honestly,” he murmured, an almost giddy smile touching his lips, “I have no idea what we’re doing. Or what comes next.” He smoothed his thumb against her knuckles, his other hand coming to stroke along the veins lining the back of her hand. “But this? This is nice.”

Áine’s features softened. “It is.” She sighed and gestured toward herself with her free hand. “Come here, you sweet man,” she mumbled, pulling him into her lap when he shimmied forward, starved for affection but not sure what she wanted him to do.

Astarion laughed, wary of letting his full weight rest against her. “I’ll crush you, you cheeky little pup,” he mumbled, but ultimately relaxed and let his cheek rest against the top of her head. He was infinitely grateful for the comfort of her arms around him. She still wanted him. He could hardly fathom it.

“I’d like to see you try,” she muttered in response to his fretting, gratified when he leaned into her and nuzzled her hair. It almost brought tears to her eyes again how adorable he could be when it was just them. He’d already come such a long way in opening up around her and she only wished that it would continue, more for his sake than hers. She just felt honored to witness it. “I’m pretty sturdy still, even if I’ve been out of rank for a while.”

“No doubt,” he murmured against her crown. “But could you take a vampire? Now that, my darling, is the most interesting question.”

Áine tilted her head back to peer up at him, a challenge gleaming in her eyes. “Spar with me some time and find out. Just for fun.”

Astarion snorted softly and dropped a kiss to the tip of her nose. “Deal.” 

It still sent him reeling that he could engage in physical affection, in touch, without it needing to be sexual. It was intimate yet not carnal. When what held him back or sent him into quiet dissociation wasn’t a years-old trigger or that familiar bile of self-loathing, he sometimes found himself holding back because he defaulted to sex as a means to express all degrees of affection and wanting. He didn’t want to “default” to anything with her—he needed to form new inclinations like seeking a handhold (which he was getting better at) or a hug.

Astarion briefly remembered telling Karlach just weeks ago that he wasn’t a hugger and scoffed softly at his foolishness. Perhaps he wasn’t with anyone but Áine, but at least in that regard, so far he was. As if to prove it to himself or practice new motions, he raised his arms from his lap and looped them around her shoulders, pulling her close. Her arms tightened around his waist, one of her hands tracing up and down his side. 

In his euphoria, he felt some startling words start to bubble up from his heart, but he stalled them before they could tumble out. Red eyes widened and, out of her view, Astarion found himself reeling all over again with new things to fret over. Gods, she truly has been sent to ruin me.

“I would stay like this all night,” Áine said, jarring him from his panic, “but I don’t think my back would ever recover if we did.” Her features grew serious as she pulled back to look at him. “Thank you, by the way. For trusting me. Again.”

Awkwardly, Astarion inclined his head, his mouth opening and closing like he’d considered something to say and thought better of it. Áine took his silence with grace—it was hard to open up. He huffed a sigh and surprised her when he said, “Well, thank you. For… Well. Everything.” Astarion met her eyes, his expression a bit more dreamy. “You’re…well, you’re full of surprises. Aren’t you.”

It wasn’t particularly a question and it made Áine’s blush return. They sat like that a while longer until it was clear that Áine wasn’t long for this conscious world and Astarion finally moved and let her up. She was brushing herself off when she glanced up and found Astarion hesitating near his tent, looking like he wanted to say something again. She took a glance around and guessed at what ailed him, asking, “Do you…want to cohabitate tonight?”

“I do,” Astarion said, combing a nervous hand through his curls. “But just…that. I’m sorry, I just…think we’re correct in taking a break from sex.” He sighed, his brow furrowed in pained frustration as he looked at the ground. “I’ve made this far more difficult than it should be.”

“You haven’t,” Áine assured him gently. “Even if we weren’t holding off, it’s not like that’s something we have to do every night anyway.” He peeked at her, looking unsure. “Just get comfortable, I’m going to grab a couple of things and I’ll be in. Alright?”

Astarion nodded and cleared his throat before he ducked into his tent. He hardly knew how this was helpful, he was just finding new ways to hate himself by putting her through this. No matter what she said, the guilt still hung over him, thick and suffocating. How long until she realized he wasn’t all she seemed to think? How long until she saw the full extent of the baggage he brought with him everywhere he went?

Áine didn’t take long to return to his side and he looked up to see her toting a few of the plush pillows from her tent and her blanket. He smirked at her, but the expression didn’t touch his eyes, and he could only be glad that her darkvision didn’t seem to be as good as his. 

“Moving in?” he teased her as she set down the pillows and arranged them to accommodate them both.

“Problem?” she countered, collapsing on her work when she was satisfied.

“I suppose not,” he allowed. In reality, his dead heart was full to bursting.

“Good,” Áine remarked through a yawn as she got comfortable. She’d staked her spot confidently, but in truth, she’d worried about overstepping. His teasing put her somewhat at ease, but she still wasn’t sure what he was comfortable with. They were firmly back to testing the waters, which was always unnerving, but she didn’t mind because it was him.

They were silent for a while after Astarion laid down next to her and Áine was sure he’d gone into reverie until she heard him tentatively say her name. “Yes?” she asked, her immediate worry apparent in her voice.

“I…,” Astarion began and then retreated. “Hm, nevermind, darling, I’m sorry.”

Her brow furrowed. “Um… You sure?” she asked.

Another long pause. Astarion cleared his throat and murmured, “Would it be alright if… If I held you again? The way we did the other night?” 

Áine smiled, blinking back tears as she turned on her side to reach out and pull him close. They adjusted around each other until they were in a perfect tangle again. This time, however, because Áine sensed perhaps he was the one needing to be held, she gathered him into her arms and kissed his forehead. He rested his head against her chest and felt something close to peace as he listened to her heart.

Gods above, she’d broken him. He considered that with some measure of horror as he felt tears well up in his eyes, tears he buried against her chest and in the crook of her neck. Her warmth and her pulse sang to him like her evening serenades and he sank into her with all the reverence of a prayer. 

He was almost startled when she spoke again, pausing in tracing his little patterns against her back. “You can still drink from me tonight if you want to,” she mumbled, sounding utterly content and almost half-asleep.

Astarion’s brows rose. “I can?” he replied, giving an embarrassed cough to belatedly cover how shocked he sounded. “I mean, I… I just thought…” I’m not holding my end of our bargain anymore, he finished in his mind alone, not sure how to speak the words. How is this possibly fair to you?

As if reading his mind, Áine laughed softly and kissed his hair as her fingertips traced against the nape of his neck and the finer hairs there. “Nothing about this has ever been transactional, darling,” she murmured and he noticed that she didn’t put her usual spin of mimicking his drawl on the endearment. Perhaps she was too tired, but it sent a little thrill through him nonetheless. “And it certainly isn’t going to start being transactional now.”

A sigh eased from his chest. He considered thanking her but thought better of adding yet another one to the pile of the night, wary of those words of gratitude growing overused. Instead, he kissed across her neck before he bit down across his old marks, his eyes rolling back and his snowy lashes fluttering in ecstasy as her essence wept past his lips.

He was careful to stop well before he would’ve even caused her to feel lightheaded, but after licking the wounds closed, he drew back just to make sure she was okay…only to find her sound asleep. 

Bleeding Hells, I refuse to start crying again, he swore inwardly, raising his fingertips to gently trace her features. To trust him enough to doze off while he was fangs-deep in her was…

…well it felt hardly deserved, but he’d never before felt such a tender ache in his chest.

Next chapter: Chapter 17, "Get Up"

[quasiquack666]

I haven't used Tumblr in years so I keep forgetting that it's a great place to share the shitstorms in my head. And I have many shitstorms

Anyways, I've been working on thoughts for a Beautiful Monsters (Jex Lane) x Eleceed (Webcomic) crossover. Although it's pretty much Eleceed characters in the BeMo lore

Side tangent, but wow if Eleceed had even half the worldbuilding of BeMo, it would be such a phenomenal webcomic

Note for Eleceed fans who read this: Do not pick up BeMo unless you're willing to wait for the series continuation LMAO. Blood Prince has been pending for six years (since 2018), this is your warning in case this post gets you interested in the books

Kayden: Vampire Lord — Kayden would definitely be a vampire lord for this crossover. Probably has like three blood pouches. As for his age, I'm thinking at least around Prescott's age, 3000+ years — For his vampire lord ability, I think wings suits him. On the other hand, I could take an argument for him having an ability similar to Karlene (Hound Mistress) where he turns into a bunch of shadow cats. In this case, the cats would be these massive creepy things with long fangs and are basically intangible unless Kayden makes them tangible (for example, during the moment he strikes). Extremely hard to deal with and kill — Kayden is well-known as a particularly brutal lord who is constantly looking for fights. Incubi/Hunters do not want to cross paths with him, but even other Vampires and allied Shifters likely stay away — He lived a solitary lifestyle in an underground cavern before finding Jiwoo — Kayden's sire is long dead, likely killed during the Sanguine Dominar attacks, or during the last Demon Incursion — He and Kartein are ex-lovers separated by the vampire-incubus war. They're both old enough to have caught the tail end of the peace between the two species, when neither species fought. But soon after the Sanguine Dominar came along, then the war started, and the rest is history. They secretly still find each other hot but it's been hard to reconnect with the war still going on

Jiwoo: Vampire — In this crossover, Jiwoo was born a human. Yujeong remains human, but after some incident, Jiwoo nearly dies and Kayden saves his 'life' by turning him into a vampire. Jiwoo took care of injured Kayden, so this is Kayden's repayment — As Kayden's sired child, Jiwoo is fairly powerful for his age even with one blood pouch. Once he turns into a lord, maybe he can become one with the shadows and sneak around. Or perhaps he gains wings and is the fastest flier — Kayden is extremely protective of his sired child, as any sire is. Jiwoo is sweet and bright for a vampire, and still longs to see the sunrises. Kayden wishes to get him a dayring so he can walk in the sun again, but due to their rarity it's not going to be easy

Kartein: Incubus — Kartein's species was the first I thought of! He's definitely incubus, an old one past his third transformation. Kartein is around Kayden's age at 3000+ — He has the ability to scan and is able to push his soavik power into other incubi to feed them (as a reference to his healing in Eleceed) — Kartein is also a warrior incubus, in reference to his combat abilities in Eleceed. He's a pretty average size there, about seven feet tall. His horns and wings are white at the roots and yellow at the ends, with the slightest hint of light blue at the very tips — Also I hate that all descriptions of Malarath fit Kartein as well. I considered making them related in this crossover, but that's so evil to Kartein (but maybe I should just for laughs). If I did though, I'd make him a cousin or something. Because making him Malarath's son/grandson is way too evil — "He was tall and thin with high, arrogant cheekbones. He had smooth, golden hair that fell long past his shoulders. His eyes were the palest blue [he] had ever seen". Do you see what I mean? That could literally be describing Kartein or Malarath and you would never know the difference

Pluton: Wolf Shifter — Of course, Pluton has to be the wolf shifter. Which, in fact, is different from a werewolf in BeMo lore — Pluton is also quite old for a shifter and managed to survive into modern day despite the shifter wipeout — Not that much is revealed on shifters in the BeMo lore yet, so I can't say a lot here

Wooin: Witch — He's the apprentice witch to Delein (who is also a witch). He has a lot of control over his magic despite his young age

Iseul: Wolf Shifter — A wolf like Pluton. Very cute, for a wolf

Jisuk: Vampire — Jiwoo's first vampire friend. Jisuk is a fair bit older than Jiwoo though, closer to 100 years old — He challenges Jiwoo and helps make him strong enough to defend himself in this new world

Jiyoung: Vampire Lord — Jisuk's older sired sister (they share a sire). She's a relatively young but powerful lord, maybe 400-500 years old or so — She's a typical lord with wings as her lord ability — Perhaps she is an ex-Hunter, which makes her particularly effective against the incubi-hunter side

Subin: ??? — Frankly, I am unsure for Subin. The lore for BeMo is somewhat lacking on the vampire side, so it's hard to think of other species that the vampires get along with (so she could be friends with Jiwoo). It's pretty much just other vamps, shifters, witches, and gargoyles. And she ain't no gargoyle for sure LOL. Then who knows when Blood Prince is coming out, so I might just leave her undetermined for now — Then again, I could make her a succubus so their group could represent some peace between different species. In this case, she would be about Jisuk's age. Her horns and wings would be black at the root, grey in the middle, and ice blue at the tips

Gestella: Vampire Lord — A lord older than Kayden and super powerful (maybe 3500+). Her lord ability is the ability to turn into smoke and choke out her enemies, poison the smoke, or generally harm with that

Inhyuk: Human — A human who serves Jiyoung's household willingly. He's old for a human and had his life extended by Jiyoung's sire, and now Jiyoung herself. He's maybe about 800+ years old

Jurion: Incubus — Heir to the Patrick household, also a warrior incubus, between seven and eight feet tall. His horns and wings are deep blue at the roots and fade to bright green at the tips — He's very much a simp for Jiyoung even though he knows it's wrong due to the war. Even so, he's yearned for her for at least a century (he's a little older than Jiyoung, maybe 600-700 years old)

[kookaburra1701]

Summer WIP tag game!

I was tagged by @thana-topsy, I am so excited about what might happen with Halfway to the Sky, I am 💓vibrating💓 and also 👀 at a potential Dark Brotherhood story

I tag @ms-katonic-of-tamriel @mswhich @canonicallymoriche

1) Describe one creative WIP project you’re planning to work on over the summer.

I am working on a trilogy of novel-length fics called Wives of Shor (WIP snippet here: Moth to Flame.) It's a fic that started out as a pastiche of bodice-ripper romances starring Kaidan and Lucien Flavius getting sex-pollened by Sanguine, but it has become a tale about loving someone from an entirely different background than you, having a crisis of faith, and learning how to move on and live a good life when you've done unspeakably terrible things in the past.

I'm planning on having the entire first novel written out + at least most of first drafts of the second and third before beginning to post, so it will be awhile.

OK the game says one but screw that here's some other WIPs I'd like to chip away at, even if they aren't my highest priority:

A Wives of Shor prequel that explains why Lucien only made it to Falkreath before deciding that he REALLY needed some protection on the road.

A fic that explains why there's a bandit trapped in a hay bale in Swindler's Den when a) hay bales require industrial machinery to produce and b) who the hell was baling hay inside a cave. It will also explore the character of Ennis, the goat farmer in Rorikstead, and his relationships with other characters from Rorikstead.

Because I Could Not Stop for Death a short-ish novella that explores how Thane Bryling navigates the transition of being ruled by High King Torygg to his young bride, Elisif the Fair. It was inspired after I noticed that the Holy 80s High School Movie Girl Trinity of Jock-Prep-Goth was present in Bryling, Elisif, and Sybille Stentor. (Yes, all the chapter titles are Emily Dickinson poems ha ha)

I'd really like to get the full summary/outline of a fic my friend TheInducer and I yes-anded into existence. It involves a retelling of the Odyssey by way of Mor Khazgur needing to find a new Chief after theirs went missing. TheInducer did a great write-up on the theory we came up with on r/teslore: Durak is (probably) from Mor Khazgur.

And of course, I continue to hope I will be seized once again by the fit of utter depravity that caused me to write 2K words of Sanguine/Hermaeus Mora tentacle porn a few months ago called La☆Blue Daedra so I can actually finish it and inflict it on the rest of fandom.

2) Rec a book:

The Search for Delicious by Natalie Babbitt. Her first novel is often overlooked by more celebrated/literary ones like Tuck Everlasting but to me this book is the quintessential fantasy story, and it's a very fast read without sacrificing vivid world building and descriptions. Here's my favorite, I think about it whenever I'm struggling with trying to describe something:

There was a lovely greenish glow in the forest, a glow pierced everywhere by tree trunks like fingers thrust into an aquarium full of tinted water; and Gaylen slipped between them like a small fish. With the trees all around him and the rain dancing on the leaves high over his head, he felt as if he were going deeper and deeper into a world that existed tranquil and quite separate from the one he had left behind.

3) Rec a fic:

I have an entire bookmark collection of The Elder Scrolls fic recs!

If I must pick one for this tag game, it would be Like Lightning by Jotting Prosaist. This fic single-handedly changed my opinion on 2nd person POV. It's absolutely masterful and I couldn't imagine experiencing the story it tells any other way. Mind the warnings, it goes to some very raw places.

4) Rec music:

Uh, my musical taste is...eclectic. I guess right now I've been on an early European music and metal kick, so I guess Corvus Corax fits the bill.

5) Share one piece of advice.

Floss daily, check your fire extinguishers and smoke alarms twice a year.

[ruthlesslistener]

i thought about what could be the omen curse could mean but i dont reach a conclusion, i expect this can be legible and i answer any doubt and expand more discutions

i am not sure omen had connection to the crucible, while you get 2 crucible talisman and other with the omenkiller at albinauric village ,their wraiths/curse deal holy damage and they are resistent to holy if compared to skeletons and revenants, but common omen never drop old fangs(misbegotten,lion guardian, boar, at least accord fextralife) or buddling horn(deer, sheep and ancestor followers but they get one likely from hunting animals, they doesnt posses horns and use headbands decorated with horns). outside morgott and mohg , could be argue none other aspect of crucible common omen enemies posses besides horns. mohg and morgott are the only omens, i believe, that use bloodflame and had 5 fingers insted of 4 for some reason i dont know, can be argue fromsoft devs doesnt want to spend more time creting diferent omen models, because the horned omens's horns had a really bad texture, but why there 4 diferent models for misbegottens?

other horned creatures are sanguine nobles and mohgwyn palace albinaurics, they problably got like that because of their connection with mohg/formless mother/blood oath. i think they arent born like that.

cursed blood item description 'Throw at enemies to douse them in accursed blood, causing summoned spirits to assail them with a rabid fervor. A childhood memory of the Lord of Blood.' i first interpreted this being the components to omen blood because they are called accursed, the effect of spirit ashes gaining red eyes and target a particular enemy like wraith are atracted to omens, but this theory had a lot holes, to make cursed blood pot is nedeed bloodrose (something that is imply to grown in places with festering blood what i especule to be formless mother blood because o fthe item description of festering bloody fing an the fact it had horns similar to sanguine nobles ones and sanguine nobles drop bloodroses) and beast blood('Fresh beast blood, glinting with gold.{..} Found by hunting carivorous beasts.This glimmering blood never rots or decays.') but again omens doesnt drop beast blood, beast lure doesnt affect them what make this whole theory nonsense.

togheter with wraith callers omens can cast wraith, wraiths being spirits of those die when cursed, for omen at least, by seedbed curse, , from note:revenant, wraith callers and revenants can be harmed from healing spells because they are cursed, and they are weak to holy damage, but omen doesnt, wraiths from wraith callers deal maagic damage insted of holy that can be argue their curses difere from ach others. i can think of deathblight from death lightning incantation that i believe being lighning damagge and deathblight, the eclipse shotel weapon art deal i think holy damage with deathblight, and yes revenants portals all had similar black and yellow color.

aparently revenants ai are called horriblenessgrub(https://youtu.be/MYV4QLEBkwo?t=101) maybe in dlc will had a next stae of these creatures and maybe more about wraiths and curses

That's a pretty solid theory! Ngl, it made me sit down for a few days and ponder about my own interpretation of the lore, fitting what you said to the canon and comparing it against what I picked up from it. It's made me reconsider how the Omens might work- good theorycrafting!

I still think that they're linked to the Crucible, as the spell glyph used for Mohg and Morgott's shackles is the Aspects of the Crucible rune, but now I'm starting to think that the 'Omen Curse' is the innate crucible magic of the Erdtree attempting to bless infants with Misbegotten features that is warped by the Greater Will's scorn of anything that is 'impure'. There's a strong source of conflict between the inherent nature of the Erdtree (life, growing wild in all forms) and that of the Greater Will (strict order and seperation through any means necessary) after all, and the fact that Omen children and Misbegotten are still being born implies that they are inherently natural mutations despite the scorn from the Golden Order. The seedbed curse likely resulted from the dissonance between natural-born Omen children and the Greater Will preventing them from returning to the Erdtree to be reborn, similar to how deathblight/roots resulted from the Erdtree not knowing what to do with Godwyn's corpse. The main reason why I think there's a dissonance going on is because of Morgott's transformation after death- he loses his omen features, yet his body dissolves into golden light, indicating acceptance by the Erdtree. So in order for him to be allowed to return to the Erdtree's roots, he first had to be clensed of his 'curse', indicating a barrier formed by the Greater Will for thinking of the Omen as 'unclean'. Likewise, Omen horns grow in a wild tangle that looks quite a bit like a tree's branches growing in untamed, gnarled patterns, which I think is supposed to be intentional. Just like how the deathroot items grow into the shape of Godwyn's eyes, as a sort of grotesque fusion of Death (a power severed from the Elden Ring and banished from the Lands Between as a scourge against the Golden Order, similar to the Primordial Crucible) with the Erdtree, the wild tangle of horns and animal features on a human body feel like the Crucible's magic attempting to shine through in the creation of new life, but is being choked and warped because it no longer fits within the Golden Order. The misbegotten are a pretty numerous race of beings, so it would make sense for them to still persist (they're capable of interbreeding, likely), but the Omen are different in that they're SUPPOSED to be spontaneously born as a human with features of the Crucible, similar to a Misbegotten, but the Greater Will no longer allows it.

As for the stuff with their accursed blood and the Formless Mother, I think it likely that the Formless Mother took on the Omen in the Shunning-Grounds as her people because there were no other options available. The Greater Will is hostile to other gods, so many of the outer gods we meet are hungry for worshipers and champions to get themselves a chance against the Erdtree. A group of people condemned by the Greater Will makes for a perfect follower cult to counter its totalitarian rule, as we see with how enamored Mohg is with the Formless Mother. Simply awakening any latent power within them and shaping it to her own magic under the guise of it being 'accursed' would totally net followers. As for the 'accursed blood' that attracts the wrath of spirits, I think that can be explained by the fact that the Omen are not allowed to be reborn through the Erdtree via the Greater Will's design, and so they are plagued by fiendish nightmares as a result of being severed from their creator, and are perhaps capable of using their shunned magic to attract the wrath of spirits

(Also yeah I think Fromsoft was just on a time crunch for multiple omen models, hence why the ones in the Shunning-Grounds look so different from Morgott and Mohg and so on. Likely each Omen is its own unique thing because they're not born from pairings of particular misbegotten, but from random births, which is very hard to translate in-game. Morgott and Mohg being twins yet looking so damn different is good enough evidence of it for me).

So tdlr: I still think that the Omen curse is directly linked to the Primordial Crucible, as a sort of in-between of misbegotten and humans, but that interference with the Greater Will and tampering of the Formless Mother has, over the years, turned it into something more curse-like than a blessing, thus cementing the idea that the Omen are cursed when they're really not. It's a sort of seldf-fufilling prophecy; what was once seen as a blessing was then shunned, the phsyical and magical condition of the shunned grew worse from the neglect, those who condemned them in turn see this as validation for their cruel actions, and what was once a blessing is now fully a curse, warped by outside pressures and systematic abuse

Don't really have much to say about the revenants, though. My impression was that they were people who were reborn wrong via the Erdtree and then automatically shunned by the Greater Will for it, turning their blessings into curses despite it not being their fault. 'S about it though, they don't really interest me too much

[beneaththebrim]

How is the Priest fandom? Are you enjoying it? I’ve been wondering if I should pick up works beyond MXTX’s but it also seems daunting for some reason.

The eng-speaking Priest fandom is definitely smaller than the MXTX one, and it mainly exists on twitter. There’s a Priest discord server, but only mods can generate invites to it–they want to keep the server pretty close-knit.

That being said, since it is a smaller fandom, it is pretty friendly, if quiet at times.

I’ve definitely been enjoying Priest’s writing. She writes in more of a literary style than MXTX–although I would classify MXTX’s books as R18, they are written in more of a YA style, whereas Priest uses more poetic allusions, philosophy, and politics. Her writing, too, is very poetic in itself. I also feel like her characters *pop*: they don’t ever feel like archetypes; they feel like real people. And her plots, oh man her plots–they are so intricately woven.

And the knives man, the KNIVES

I should probably mention that Priest doesn’t write explicit sex scenes, but there are fade-to-blacks, so like, her characters fuck, just not on screen.

Anyway, I’ve been reading four of her books: Qi Ye (Lord Seventh), Tianya Ke (Faraway Wanderers), Liu Yao: the Revitalization of the Fuyao Sect, and Sha Po Lang.

(Note: I’m not planning on reading any of her modern setting books where one of the main characters is a cop, just fyi, so I can’t give any info on, like, Zhenhun (Guardian) or Mo Du)

But anyway, I can give an overview of the four books I’m reading, as well as links to the translations:

Qi Ye (jjwxc)

Court drama with supernatural elements. Lots of scheming. Main theme is fate/people’s ability to alter their fate.

(MC description courtesy of jimorlas): Main character is Jing Beiyuan, a genius and a good boy who is fucking tired as shit because he’s 7 incarnations deep and they all sucked and his 7th has taken him right back to the terrible 1st one. He’s here to protect his land and support the prince who screwed him over but who is good for the country, but also he just wants to nap ok. He’s sleepy after several centuries of this shit.

And, as for the romantic lead, who doesn’t get revealed until Ch.6, so slight spoiler: Wu Xi, the soon-to-be Great Sorcerer of Nanjiang, a melancholic OP warrior-shaman who’s far from home and more likely to make friends with animals than people, but warms up to our sanguine protag. Meanwhile JBY is constantly terrorizing all WX’s many, many pets which could very easily kill him instantly, and repays WX the favor of ensuring that he doesn’t die an early death by nicknaming him “Little Venom.” Their ship name is xiyuan.

Translations (78 chapters total): Ch. 1-5, Ch. 6, Ch. 7, Ch.8-31

The wattpad tl updates about once every couple weeks.

Tianya Ke (jjwxc)

Sequel to Qi Ye, typical wuxia setting. There’s trouble in the jianghu, and various powerful characters from around the realm are drawn into a treasure hunt, the object of which is rooted in an old conflict. Main themes are freedom, greed, and making amends for what’s happened in the past.

Tianya Ke’s a lot of fun–the main couple, wenzhou, are constantly bickering and bantering. Main character is sarcastic and scarred ex-spy Zhou Zishu who doesn’t have long to live. Somehow he’s dragged into a situation where he has to protect a helpless, wooden-headed kid (Zhang Chengling) from multiple assassination attempts, all while the jianghu is imploding around them, everyone searching for the mysterious ‘lapis armor’ that can supposedly grant anyone’s deepest wish. He didn’t sign up for this!! He just wanted to go sightsee for his last three years!!! He’s not your shifu, goddammit!

Romantic lead is Wen Kexing, a slut (well, until he meets ZZS) and a clown (especially after meeting ZZS 😏 ) who’s definitely very shady behind his 🤡 persona. I feel like their dynamic can be summed up in this twitter post I made (based on an actual scene from the novel):

WKX: Kill? :) What are you talking about?:) I wouldn’t kill a chicken :))))

~Five seconds later~

WKX, investigating a corpse: lmao these bones look like chicken bones when I’m done with em amirite AYYY

ZZS: *looks into camera like he’s on the office*

Translations (78 chapters total): Ch.1-30, Ch.31-53 by Liyou (see pinned thread for drive folder)

The Liyou translation updates about once every week or two.

Liu Yao: the Revitalization of the Fuyao Sect (jjwxc)

Wuxia/xianxia, found family. A man who appears to be a half-dead weasel spirit takes in five unruly kids and teaches them cultivation on the run-down Fuyao mountain. But, before they can grow up, they are wrenched from their home and are forced to scatter over the next century, gathering power and teasing out the causes of Fuyao’s decline. Upon reuniting, an imminent question looms over their heads: What are they willing to sacrifice in order to return home?

Main themes: Sacrifice, the isolation that comes with power, whether cultivating to immortality is worth it. Lots of Daoist philosophy in this one (it’s probably my favorite c-novel so far). Here’s a line that murdered me: Perhaps the epitome of ascension is when one can pass without regrets. 🙃🙃🙃

The main ship, mingqian, is between the narcissistic, wealthy dashixiong, Yan Zhengming, and his cold, chuuni & judgmental sanshidi, Cheng Qian (the MC). They’re very protective of each other and their sect siblings.

There’s also a tragic side-ship (ruchun) involving their shifu, but I won’t say much about that, as it involves some big spoilers.

The other disciples are:

CQ’s ershixiong, Li Yun, ie MY BOY MY GEEKY TOAD BOY/the voice of reason,

CQ’s sishidi, Han Yuan, ie oh boy we got a lot to unpack here but basically he’s… complicated, and

CQ’s wushimei, Han Tan, the half-yao baby of the bunch who has EXCELLENT FASHION SENSE SHUT UP DASHIXIONG

Translations (109 chapters total): Ch.1-33, Ch.34-56, Ch.35-81, extra 3 (ruchun-centric, can be read after Ch.77)

The rustycol tl updates about once a month.

Sha Po Lang (jjwxc)

Steampunk, sort of a ‘what if the Industrial Revolution happened during the Song or Ming Dynasty?’ setting. Politics & war; main plot is resisting European attempts at colonization, as well as fortifying Da Liang (the name of the ruling dynasty) to adjust to the changing times (a shift from agrarian to factory labor, the development of fiat currency, breaking up the power of prominent aristocratic families). SPL gave me a more charitable view of Legalist philosophy, as well :P There’s a wee bit of fantasy, but the exact amount is up to reader interpretation.

Main themes:

Change–what is lost with the past, and how can a nation adapt to the inevitable flow of time and technology without becoming like an automaton that keeps moving despite holding only a corpse inside?

Loyalty–the various relationships and conflicts between personal attachments and commitment to one’s country.

Legacy–imagine seeing a train for the first time, and wondering how history will remember you.

The main character is Chang Geng, the son of the emperor and a barbarian consort ‘goddess’ who was sent as tribute to Da Liang. For the first fourteen years of his life, however, he’s made to believe he’s a simple country boy. Not only that, but his aunt tortures him and places a curse on him, which gives him terrible nightmares and will eventually cause him to go insane. Chang Geng’s coming-of-age happens along with Da Liang’s, and his changing identities, tempered by trauma, mirror the changes Da Liang must undergo in order to survive.

The romantic interest is the commander of Da Liang’s army, Gu Yun, who starts out as Chang Geng’s adoptive father (there’s a 7-8 year age difference, but nothing happens until CG is 20, and CG is the pursuer–for sure avoid SPL if this squicks you out, but I’ll just say that the parts of their relationship that have issues are addressed and resolved with care; that being said, CG has an undeniable daddy kink).

Gu Yun was poisoned as a child and is mostly blind and deaf as a result, but drinks medicine that allows him to temporarily regain his senses. Initially, Gu Yun is pretty much forced to lay down his life for his country at every juncture, but Chang Geng’s entrance into his life gives him new purpose.

Translations (128 chapters total): Ch.1, Ch.2-128 & 10/15 extras (that’s right, the main story is done being translated!)

I also HIGHLY recommend the audio drama: S1, S2, S3, which can be bought for about $15. There are English translations up to S2E5, but it follows the book closely enough that after jumping off from the English subbed versions, you can follow along pretty closely with the wattpad translation/mtling (ie, ‘Translate this page’) the audio drama page, which has subtitles if you keep the barrage on.

Also, if you like to read essays for fun as much as I like to write them, I wrote a meta about the theme of loyalty in Sha Po Lang here.

[nvvermore]

Songbird vs Rattlesnake

People get mean when the chips are down, and Amaryllis and Vesper were no exception to the rule.

words: 2115

cw: fighting, descriptions of burns/cuts/blood, manipulation, abuse, misgendering/deadnaming (for context, this is set in a period before anyone had ever come out)

—

“Hey Mal,” the greeting is snarled from behind directly behind Amaryllis. Whirling around reveals Veronique, leaning against the wall, nonchalant, positioned like she’d been just waiting for them to pass by. They wouldn’t be surprised to learn that was the case.

“What do you want?” they spit back. Really, they didn’t have the capacity for her antics today. Amaryllis hated being caught off-guard by their sister, anxiety now bubbling in the pit of their chest.

“Wow, I can’t simply seek out my baby sister for a little chat?”

Her arms are folded over her chest, and Amaryllis notes she’s in her riding clothes; her long, violet hair had been braided back, knee-high riding boots giving her short stature a boost, and well-tailored jodhpurs and dark riding jacket perfectly in place, not a wrinkle in sight. Clearly, she hadn’t come from the stables.

“No, you can’t.” 

Veronique couldn’t, because her days of sitting and chatting pleasantly with Amaryllis were far behind them. They couldn’t imagine a single reason why she’d have a sudden change of heart.

“Gods, you really are such a fucking diva,” she pushed herself away from the wall, “I get it, the precious little songbird has much more important things to do than entertain the likes of me.”

“All I do is entertain the likes of you. That’s the only reason anyone keeps me around.”

“And you don’t even appreciate it.”

“Why would I appreciate being treated no different from a circus animal?” Kept in a cage and only let out to play for a selfish crowd, then shoved back in until the next show.

“I don’t know what the hell they all see in you,” she began to close the distance between them. Despite Amaryllis being the one who towered over her, they were intimidated. It was hard not to be. Though they wouldn’t let it show, even if Veronique surely knew the unease they instilled. “You get the entire crowd's love and attention and yet you don’t even give a damn about it!”

“You’re right, I don’t. It’s all just smoke and mirrors; I couldn’t possibly care any less.”

“You’re insufferable!”

Veronique was right before them now, had to tilt her head all the way up to look at them properly, but it didn’t detract from her imposing aura. Amaryllis returned their ice-blue glare, refusing to falter before her.

Over the years they’d gotten better at standing up to her; or at least standing their ground when she taunted them. Amaryllis didn’t like fighting— with anyone— especially not someone so unpredictable. Someone who, despite how illogical the feeling was, they loved. Someone who was supposed to love them, and possibly did once, but had been ruthlessly turned against them.

Veronique was never hostile to them before Amaryllis had started to take the stage; she might have been the only person who was nice to them who didn’t have to be. As a child their concept of ‘nice’ had been skewed, sure, but they were certain no one was forcing Veronique’s hand when Amaryllis would stumble upon her stargazing in the estate‘s gardens.

 She’d invite them to sit and tell them all about the constellations. Or point out the bush nearby full of lilac-colored hydrangeas, and how they were her favorite. She’d explained how they symbolized heartlessness, and all flowers had a special meaning. Once, long before they ever saw themself as ‘Amaryllis’ or even a them, they’d asked her what the scarlett flowers in the garden meant, to which she replied ‘pride’.

The siblings were only six years apart in age, ten and sixteen around the time in question, but Amaryllis thought she was so much older and wiser. So gentle compared to the rest of the family, a trait they admired and constantly tried to emulate. 

Amaryllis wasn’t allowed at parties, but that didn’t stop them from eavesdropping, inspired by the way everyone in the room seemed to gravitate towards Veronique. Showering her with compliments on her excellent riding form or her perfect aim with a bow, and how every word made her smile shine as bright as the stars she’d pointed out to them. They had very little understanding of familial relationships— and most social situations— and how they were supposed to work, but they understood that she was their big sister, and it made them happy to see her happy.

And then Amaryllis’s talent was exploited, and everything shifted. So they knew very well why Veronique hated them so much. The spotlight that once illuminated her belonged to them now, involuntarily snatching it away from her. And unfortunately for the both of them, their parents had made sure it was not a beam large enough to share. 

Amaryllis was wracked with guilt at first, but it faded along with Veronique’s kindness towards them. After a while, they stopped feeling guilty. It wasn’t their fault, and like Amaryllis, her anger should have been directed at their parents who’d decided to pit them against each other. With every new act of disdain, the interactions they’d shared as children became irreparably tainted. It began to make sense why she favored hydrangeas, with their callous meaning.

“It must run in the family,” Amaryllis folded their arms in front of their chest. Clearly mimicking her posture, Veronique didn’t look pleased.

“Yea, on your mother’s side.”

The jab was misplaced, Amaryllis didn’t know their birth mother and never had; and when they gave no reaction Veronique scowled. Despite all her intimidation, she’d never been good at masking her expression. Before Amaryllis could retort at all, they were shoved backwards, just barely keeping their balance from the harsh action.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

“You! That’s what’s wrong with me. You! You’ve ruined everything for me! Always have!”

“It’s not like I had much of a choice, take it up with my superiors.”

Another shove, and another, and then Amaryllis was thrown against the wall and Veronique’s hands were circling around their neck. Their hands shoot to seize her wrists, nails digging into her skin as they attempt to pull her away. She’s strong, strong enough to hold Amaryllis a good inch off of the ground.

Their toes point down, reaching, but brush uselessly against the marble flooring. Amaryllis doesn’t want to fight back but there’s little choice, she’s actually trying to cut off their air. With regret even now, they slam a knee up into her stomach and she lurches back. Veronique is a skilled fighter, a star athlete, but now she’s angry and distracted and has left herself open in the process.

Their other knee slams into the floor as they’re dropped, and Amaryllis thanks their perfect breath control for the fact they aren’t breathless in the slightest. Veronique isn’t hurt, just surprised and irate. It wasn’t as if they had any other option, but Amaryllis may as well have just jabbed an already riled up rattlesnake with a stick.

“What the fuck? Escalating from tormenting me, to what? Attempted murder?”

Unhearing, she bends down to unsheathe a dagger from her boot. Certainly, they’re royally screwed. Amaryllis could keep up with a frenzied and unarmed Veronique, but they’re no match for her armed.

Amaryllis rises and quickly backs down the corridor, not sure if it's better to keep their eyes on her or turn and make a run for it. They’re cursing themself for not spending more time learning combat magic. Maybe they could charm her, but they’re terrified and unfocused, and when they open their mouth to scream, nothing comes out. The only things that could be heard were the clicking of boots against the tiling and Amaryllis’s rapid heartbeat.

In the blink of an eye Veronique is caught up to them, and effortlessly lands a kick to their chest that sends them crashing to the floor. Then she’s on them, pinning them to the floor, eyes dark and dagger poised with intention. Their hands catch her wrists again, and there’s a power struggle over the blade’s proximity to Amaryllis’s neck. They flail and kick but it’s no use; Veronique knows how to keep someone down, and is dense with muscle that makes her heavy.

“If you’re so miserable, let me do you a favor and put you out of it.”

It wasn’t a joke, it never had been, but the revelation sunk further the closer Veronique’s blade came to its mark. Amaryllis let their head fall back to the flood as the struggle continued, desperate to conjure up something, anything, to get out of this impasse. But they were afraid to the point of tears, already so tired, and magic didn’t come easy in such a state.

If they so much as took too deep a breath or flinched, the tip of the dagger would graze their nose. They weren’t trained for this, their stamina was impressive but they didn’t use it for fighting, but Veronique was trained for this. Amaryllis’s eyes fluttered shut and they wondered if it would be so horrible to just give in; she wasn’t wrong, they were miserable.

Just when they were debating on letting go, a raucous scream rang out and Amaryllis recoiled. They had thought it might have been their voice, but then they felt the sharp sting of the dagger slicing their cheek open as Veronique was dropping the knife and jolting away from them.

“You witch,”

Distantly, Amaryllis noted how warm their hands felt, and when they opened their eyes to the view of their palms turned searing sanguine, like iron fresh from the forge. A gasp falls from their lips, but the motion tells their brain the pain wasn’t coming from their hands. Slowly, they pick up a faint, but repulsive scent, and as their shock fades, they start to put the pieces together. 

The screams were still sounding, and when they finally looked to Veronique, there were angry, bright red handprints burned into her wrists; enough to cause notable damage, but too little to have damaged the nerves. Somehow, at the last possible second, Amaryllis had mustered up magic capable of drastically heating up their palms. They weren’t even entirely sure if they had even known such a thing was possible.

It saved them, but it felt wrong. Never before had Amaryllis used their magic for something so destructive. The worst they’d ever done was place harmless charms on ‘noble’ guests. Despite Veronique’s full intention to gut them, they felt a conflict stirring, and for a moment wondered if they were capable of any healing.

Suddenly Veronique was approaching, and Amaryllis sat up and snatched up the dagger that had been abandoned nearby. As they held it, their touch began to rapidly heat the metal, and soon enough the weapon complemented their hands. There was a low hiss as their blood that had decorated the blade heated too, boiling away and leaving it congealed. Amaryllis was shaking and crying and bleeding, but they were unyielding as they turned the dagger on its owner.

Amaryllis watched her face carefully, telling themself they were prepared for her next move, so when something in her expression shifted, they saw. Like she had been in a trance, captivated by her rage and misplaced hatred, and it just hit her exactly what she’d done. Veronique gasped, the tears that had come from the burns now falling for completely different reasons. Frantically her eyes flitted between the red of Amaryllis’s eyes, the red of the wound marring their pale skin, the red of the blade leveled at her.

“Mal…” she choked out, and then she was dashing down the hall, gone as abruptly as she had seemed to appear.

Then, a scoff sounded from behind Amaryllis and they spun around, still on edge. Standing a few feet away, looking thoroughly disappointed, was the madame. She looked down upon her ward, bloodied and on the floor, and rolled her eyes.

“What a pity,” she said simply, and in that moment, Amaryllis reconsidered their stance on violence. “I had assumed she was more capable, but perhaps I had too much faith in her.”

It was the first true confirmation Amaryllis had of the woman’s crime; her carefully planned manipulation had fallen short, and she couldn’t even pretend to act like it was an accident.

“Get yourself cleaned up,” she ordered, and then left without another glance.

After that day, even long after the cut across Amaryllis’s freckled face had healed and faded into an unsightly scar, they never saw very much of Veronique again. Sometimes at night— however illogical it was— they’d find themself at the hydrangea bush in the garden, eyes trained on the stars, wishing they’d both been dealt a different hand in life.

—

[that0negayslytherin]

For the writing asks: ☺️😏😂💬✏️

☺️- a line that made you feel a fluffy happiness

Benji looks up at him. The sentence bursts from his mouth, glittering confetti over a shining sea. “Will you be my boyfriend?” His cheeks match the cotton pink of the sky, eyes absorbing all of the citrusy oranges and yellows.

Victor’s inner world gradiates with the sky, a spread of emotions from peace to utter turmoil. His heart catches at the yearning on Benji’s face.

“Of course I will,” he says, kissing Benji again. The evening is getting cold, the wind picking up, threatening to lift them off their feet as they tangle their lips. Victor wishes he could bottle this levity, a glass case stoppered with a sunset swear to return. 

Maybe someday, he can kiss Benji like this anywhere he wants.

{GTFA, ch.5: Celestial}

😏- your most risky line

(honestly there is so much from fresh hell that would work here but this is also one that made me laugh when i wrote it so it applies to the next question as well lmao)

“Well, it’s been real,” Benji says. He stands and returns the chair to its place.

Mia gives Victor a suspicious look through the screen. “Right, we’re interrupting something, aren’t we?”

“No, you’re not,” Victor insists, but from his bed where he’s flopped once again, Benji calls out, “I’m just a hole, sir!”

Victor’s face catches fire; he buries it in his hands to douse the heat. “I’m just gonna. Um.”

“Good night, boys!” Lake says, sounding amused. “Be safe.”

{Fresh Hell, ch. 1}

😂- a line that made you laugh out loud

(i skimmed through some of this fic because i remember there were some funny moments and this made me chuckle so!! plus this vampire!benji au deserves more love imo <3)

He combs his favorite young vampire forum—Fangs for the Memories, what a stupid name—to see if anybody has advice on how to keep hiding one’s vampirism from a significant other, but almost all of the advice is along the lines of: fuck it, turn them too, vampire love is sexy!

But this is so beyond out of the question it might as well be a different rhetorical sentence structure altogether.

{Starved, Sanguine, Smitten}

💬- describe one of your completed works in three words

hmmmmm. ok fun game now you have to guess which is which. i feel like “victor needs therapy” can apply to several things ive written. another one: “dying is sexy.” also “cookies solve everything.” (are these too obvious?? fun anyway maybe)

✏️- favorite part about writing

SO HARD. for fic writing in particular, interacting with and hearing from readers has always been one of the driving forces for me, aside from the fact that i just love to write. i also love putting my own personal spin on characters and pushing them beyond what we know about them from canon!! and i love language so finding opportunities to craft really beautiful descriptions and use strong imagery is also a highlight for me <3

send me writing asks!!

[edengarden]

Hiiii!!! I'd like to request a regular matchup pls 😌 (idk of I can request one or two shows at at time so if it's possible can you do for both bnha & haikyuu? If not then just haikyuu is fine with me)

Appearance: I'm fem, black, 5'1, slightly athletic & curvy-ish figure (lol), short? (mid-neck) hair, straight, dark brown eyes, size 9 shoe size (idek why I'm adding this lmao)

Personality stuff: infp-t, Hufflepuff, Taurus sun, scorpio moon, sanguine, chaotic good, ambivert, a BuzzFeed quiz told me I'm a Pinto bean (do what you will with that info jdskdj)

Positive traits/qualities:

I'm super enthusiastic!! I love hyping people up and being energetic in general! I'm always down to try new things and have fun! If anyone is not feeling appreciated I'm ready to make sure they know that they're a queen/king and they're amazing!!!

I'm optimistic! I like to look at the brighter side of things and I always try my best to find a silver lining in any situation! Positive thinking helps me get through tough spots in my life because there's always hope for something better in the future!!

I'm observant!! I usually like to sit quietly and observe my surroundings. Especially in a new environment. Irl I like to read people's body language to asses their mood so ik how to approach them lol. I also do little things like remembering what they (friends/family) like to order at restaurants or something they pointed out at random that they liked. (Idk if I'm making sense lol)

Negative traits/flaws:

I'm annoying. Sometimes I just like being a little shit and cause mischief (being the youngest child does that to a person) but I think sometimes I'm too enthusiastic/energetic that it can be seen as obnoxious/annoying so I usually try and tone it down so I don't bother people...

I'm argumentative. When I have something to say I have to speak up. I try not to step on any toes but I can't help but argue with someone when our views on something clash. I like hearing different sides of debates though so I always give others a chance to talk. I don't go picking fights but if I feel like my opinion is being disregarded/not heard I will argue until it's known!!

I'm forgetful. Sure I'll remember random stuff like 'what my friend said in that one coffee shop last year' but important things like appointments? Birthdays? Assignment due dates? Idk her 😭 I try my best to write anything important down cause my memory is a selective sieve and it'll keep the most useless/random shit.

Hobbies: I love: Reading, writing, listening to music, learning languages, playing saxophone (I'm still learning tho lol), swimming, watching anime and cooking!

Music taste: any type of rock (punk rock, grunge, j-rock, metal), pop, kpop, RnB, jazz, dubstep, lofi hip hop, rap, bangers from: Elvis, the beach boys, Khalid, Ateez, Kendrick Lamar, p!atd, mcr, fallout boy, Nirvana, BTS, mxmtoon, Marianas trench, twenty one pilots, stray kids, Jay Park, crush, Dreamcatcher, Skrillex, MJ, troye sivan etc

Traits I look for: idk kind, funny/fun, loving/lovable, loyal (idk I ain't picky)

Traits I don't like: (nobody's perfect, just don't be a racist, xenophobic, sexist asshole lol)

Fun facts:

I love playing PC games! Might purchase a gaming pc in the future!

I have four piercings! Just my lobes and an industrial atm but I'm definitely gonna get more done!!

I might get some tattoos too one day :D

I wanna learn how to ride a bike (motorcycle)!!

My love language is touch! I live for hand holding, cuddling, hugging, tickle fights and more!! 🥺

I love learning new stuff and rn I'm learning how to draw, paint, play music on sax, a new language and new recipes! :3

I hope that's enough!! Tell me if you need more! Pls take ur time and stay safe!! Hope you are having an amazing day/night!!!! 💙✨

AAH I’M A SAX PLAYER TOO!!!! I love sax, I love sax, I love jazz?? I love growl notes. Sax is amazing, bless sax. Sax quartets are so fun

Also! I only accept one fandom and one type of matchup per ask, but if you want to get a bnha one as well, you can always send your description through again!! (I like doing it this way bc I feel like it’s fair for everyone?? Also if I lose my progress I don’t have as much lost)

Also WOW do you remind me of my self (we’re both Taurus suns hahahah)!! I have to note everything down in my calendar and reminders because I forget everything that’s not necessary for a grade. It’s insane!!

By the way your request was so well done?? So organized?? Wow, kudos to you bro!! I love it

I’d match you up with... GOSHIKI!!

Omg when I saw your qualities and flaws I was like I HAVE TO I HAVE TO I HAVE TOOOO

The way you fire that boy up is damn near DANGEROUS. But he loves you so much for it!! Oh my god you’re his daily dose of serotonin, oxytocin, endorphins, EVERYTHING. Goshiki can be hard on himself sometimes though, and he really needs someone who’s able to point out the good in a bad (or mediocre) situation. After a while, he’ll really try to have that kind of mindset for himself. In a way, you’re his idol. He admires you so much; you’re all he talks about, aside from his plans of becoming an ace. Also, you somehow know him better than he knows himself. You’ll point out his tiniest habits and he’s just like ??i do that?? Oh wow I DO do that—

He really really hopes you pick up the technique side of volleyball when you watch him play because he totally wants you to tell him what he can fix!! No, he’s not neglecting his coach it’s just that?? You’re there?? And he loves getting your feedback because it’s so validating. HE ALSO THINKS YOUR LOVE FOR LEARNING NEW THINGS IS SO COOL?? It rubs off on him, now he wants to know all about your hobbies and if he can like,, participate in them with you. He’s a bit competitive and as soon as you tell him you play sax he’s got his mind set on learning the saxophone solo from Money. Please help him, he’s not gonna be able to-

Overall?? You’re Goshiki’s Equal (yeah that’s how he thought of you before he realized he had a Crush), and he respects you and he loves you so much. The team tries to tease him for it but lo and behold; his eyes just light up and he could talk about you for HOURS. Tendou learned Not To Mention The One around Goshiki.

Songs!!!

- Money, Pink Floyd (Goshiki started listening to it religiously for the Solo. He didn’t even get discouraged and you’re surprised by that)

- Cradles, Sub Urban

- Burial (feat. Pusha T, Moody Good & TrollPhace), Yogi & Skrillex (buddy thinks this is the epitome of Hype)

- Blackout, David Bowie

[impalialarmy]

B A S I C S

Full name: Ash Michael Langford

Nickname: Just Ash

Gender: Male

Age: 28

Height: 5′8

Sexuality: Bisexual

Pronouns: he/him/his

Temperament: Sanguine

Zodiac: Pisces

O T H E R

Family: Rebecca Langford (mother), Aaron Langford (father)

Birthplace: Wayhaven

Job: Detective with the Wayhaven PD & human liaison to “The Agency”

Phobias: Seeing his own blood makes him nauseous after the incident with Murphy.

Guilty Pleasures: Sour Candies in particular, he’s always got some on him.

Hobbies: Reading; both fiction and nonfiction (probably scientific journals he and Verda pick apart together). He’s got his own vegetable patch in his little garden. Enjoys trying to cultivate and breed different plant species. Learning new languages is also a favourite way to pass time.

Languages: English, Spanish, French and Latin. Total Polyglot.

M O R A L S

Morality Alignment: Neutral Good

Sins: Pride/Wrath <– Something Adam likes to bring out

Virtues: Justice/Charity

T H I S  O R  T H A T

introvert / extrovert

organized / disorganized

close-minded / open-minded

calm / anxious / restless

disagreeable / agreeable / in between

cautious / reckless / in between

patient / impatient

outspoken / reserved

leader / follower / flexible

empathetic / unempathetic

optimistic / pessimistic / realistic

traditional / modern / in between

hard-working / lazy / in between

R E L A T I O N S H I P S

OTP: Adam/Ash

BroTP: Ash/Felix

DESCRIPTION

Raven haired and hazel eyed, Ash Langford tends to leave an impression.

A vibrant man who’s openly friendly and very perceptive to other peoples emotions. He’s warm and easy going but he’s also got a shrewdness to him which is why his career as a detective took off so quickly. Curiosity shapes many parts of Ash’s life as he always finds some new topic to bury his nose in; from languages to botany to medieval pottery.

At university he studied organic chemistry, but despite his degree he still went into law enforcement when it was suggested to him. Even though he always dreamed of leaving Wayhaven he couldn’t help but be drawn back to the town and it’s people; as well as the career that took his fathers life. Perhaps he stayed to become a detective to add some meaning to his fathers death.  

Despite his intelligence, there’s certainly a scatterbrained aspect to him, his office is so completely disorganised Tina gets headaches when she sits in there for too long.

His first encounter with Unit Bravo was a mixed bag to say the least.

Eventually he ended up building solid relationships with the entirety of the team. Nate and Felix both get along great with him. Ash’s mischievous temperament rises to the challenge whenever Felix has some wacky idea; and Nate’s sincerity is greatly appreciated by Ash, and they often find their ideals lining up exceptionally well.

Mason didn’t leave much of an impression on Ash at first, other than his incessant smoking in his damn office. After working together for a few months as a team, Ash came to realise the importance of Mason working in the team. How he fought without hesitation for his teammates against Murphy, even when the chance of coming out alive was so low.

Mason also came to appreciate the way Ash never backed down from conflict, how he’d always throw a punch back whenever someone tried to step on him.

Speaking of conflict, his first meeting with Adam did not go well at all, he quickly learned that the other man brings out the fiery side in him. Ash couldn’t stand Commander Du Mortain at first; horrified by his arrogance and bull-headed personality. Adams open hostility led to a number of blow out fights between the two, since Ash would certainly not let this man talk down to him in such condescending a way. Especially not at his precinct.

However, eventually Ash saw the better side of Adam; the one thats loyal and deeply devoted to those he cares about. As they found common ground they began getting along, finding mutual appreciation in each others perseverance and skill. Their vastly different personalities actually balanced the other out, making them mesh incredibly well when they actually listened to each other.

Ash also enjoys teasing Adam, trying to push his buttons and see what kind of reaction he can get. However, he has far too much pride to openly flirt with him, that would mean defeat in this battle of wits. Adam seemingly takes joy in riling up the other man from time to time as well; throwing little jibes just to see the way Ash’s eyes narrow and how his nose crinkles.

Even after their relationship had become a positive one, they still have genuine, heated arguments frequently enough that it strains Ash. The secretive and controlling side of Adam is something that bothers him more than he cares to admit.  

Deep down Ash knows just how much Adam cares for him; and how much he himself reciprocates those feelings. It’s something he would never bring up from fear of Adams reaction. Not that he would ever admit that.

Also, yes he dated Bobby in college, and no he doesn’t know why he did it either.

F U N   F A C T S

1.       After Ash’s penultimate fight with Bobby that led to the latter finally getting kicked out; Ash set fire to his £400 cashmere blazer while standing on the balcony as Bobby watched in horror. He still doesn’t feel bad.

2.       Ash and Verda once got so incredibly hammered while peer reviewing someone’s scientific paper on forensic toxicology, that they ended their review by calling the authors a bunch of half brained pillocks who wouldn’t know the difference between NADH and NADPH if it swung a bat in their face. Verda is currently barred from writing anything for the Journal of Forensic Science.

3.       Ash is extremely allergic to any type of nut. A first date with a very handsome lawyer ended with Ash viciously throwing up over the dinner table after two mouthfuls of contaminated food. The lawyer still ended up sleeping with him.

4.       During a fight with Adam, Ash once got so angry that he burst a blood vessel in his eye. Adam immediately tried to call the Agency paramedics, which just started another fight.

5.       Once while driving he accidentally hit a woodpecker that flew into his front window. He was late to work that day because cried for 30 minutes in his car on the side of the road. At the station when Tina asked him what was wrong, he told her that Douglas had given him a PB&J sandwich.

6. Ash has Adam listed in his phone as COMMANDER ANGST in all caps.

7.       After finding out that Adam hated puns, Ash made it his personal mission to find the most obnoxiously lame puns known to man. He and Felix have competitions who can make the most in the shortest amount of time. Once Ash made a pun so bad Adam accidentally punched a hole in the wall of his office.

8.       When Tane hit on him during his first meeting with Unit Alpha, Ash was 1000% into it. He did not appreciate Adams cock-blocking.

9.       Felix loves asking Ash about random topics and listening to him waffle on for ages about the most obscure aspects of human history and culture. While Adam pretends it annoying, he secretly loves listening to them as well.

10.   Ash did in fact attack Mason with a fire extinguisher after he lit a cigarette in his office one too many times.  

Template by @lavellanpls

[nettisivustakatsoja]

Tests!

I stole this post from @deadpanbatman​ .

(Sidenote: personalitymax.com has tests for Myers-Briggs (Personality Type), Multiple Intelligences and Brain Lateralisation so you don’t need to go looking for them separately. The rest I just googled and picked the first one that seemed “credible”.).

Let’s get to know me better. Some of these tests I’ve never taken before.

Zodiac Sign: Aries | Taurus | Gemini | Cancer | Leo | Virgo | Libra | Scorpio | Sagittarius | Capricorn | Aquarius | Pisces |

Myers-Briggs: ESFP | ISFP | ESTP | ISTP | ESTJ | ISTJ | ESFJ | ISFJ | ENFJ | INFJ | ENFP | INFP | ENTP | INTP | ENTJ | INTJ |

(Usually I’m ENTP, but this test said INTP) - Which makes sense, because I don’t really fit well in Extrovert-Introvert division. I think I’m more ambivert.)

Life Path Number: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 22 | 33

(I’m not really fan of numerology, but i shit you not, 3 is the number that follows me.)

Four Temperaments: Sanguine | Melancholic | Choleric | Phlegmatic

Enneagram: The Reformer (Type 1) | The Helper (Type 2) | The Achiever (Type 3) | The Individualist (Type 4) | The Thinker (Type 5) | The Loyalist (Type 6) | The Enthusiast (Type 7) | The Leader (Type 8) | The Peacemaker (Type 9) |

(For this one you don’t really need to take a test, just read the descriptions and see what describes you the best. Enneagram’s idea is to help you understand your overall well-being. I did however, and it said 5 was strongest and 8 next.)

Celtic Zodiac: Birch (The Achiever) | Rowan (The Thinker) | Ash (The Enchanter) | Alder (The Trailblazer) | Willow (The Observer) | Hawthrone (The Illusionist) | Oak (The Stabilizer) | Holly (The Ruler) | Hazel (The Knower) | Vine (The Equalizer) | Ivy (The Survivor) | Reed (The Inquisitor) | Elder (The Seeker) |

(Okay, this is new astrology stuff for me.)

Celtic Animal Sign: Stag/Deer | Cat | Cow/Bull | Horse | Butterfly | Adder/Snake | Seahorse | Fish/Salmon | Wolf/Hound | Fox | Wren | Swan | Falcon/Hawk |

(I think this is celtic equivalent to pisces. Never really felt it much)

Soul Type: Hunter | Caregiver | Creator | Thinker | Helper | Educator | Performer | Leader | Spiritualist |

(If this is same as enneagram, it is probably thinker. I really didn’t take the test because i’m getting tired answering same questions over and over again.)

Hogwarts House: Gryffindor | Hufflepuff | Ravenclaw | Slytherin |

(Usually I’m Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. Depends on test.)

The Animal in You: Lion | Tiger | Dolphin | Bear | Wild Cat | Fox | Weasel | Badger | Dog | Otter | Wolf | Sea Lion | Wild Dog | Walrus | Gorilla | Deer | Rhinoceros | Hippo | Sable | Horse | Sheep | Mountain Goat | Warthog | Zebra | Baboon | Elephant | Bison | Giraffe | Cottontail | Mole | Bat | Porcupine | Beaver | Prairie Dog | Shrew | Mouse | Eagle | Rooster | Owl | Swan | Peacock | Vulture | Penguin | Crocodile | Snake |

(Okay...)

Archetypes: Creative | Athlete | Rebel | Caregiver | Visionary | Royal | Performer | Spiritual | Tastemaker | Explorer | Advocate | Intellectual |

(Int 40%, crea 30% and vis 30 % According to https://www.archetypes.com/)

Brain Lateralisation Test: Left | Right |

(Very slightly right. 51%.) I’d like to keep here the addition from a brain nerd: “I don’t like the myth that right brain is artistic and left brain is all logic. The brain is divided into multiple lobes, and most of them work together. There’s not much research on whether people use their left or right hemisphere more than the other– other than people with brain damage. All in all the brain is very malleable, and it develops in response to whatever it’s exposed to. I got 50/50, but leaning more to the right (54%). That doesn’t tell you that my right hemisphere is dominant, it just tells you that I like arts and problem-solving. Brain nerd over and out.”

Cerebral Personality Test: 1-10% | 11-20% | 21-30% | 31-40% |41-50% | 51-60% | 61-70% | 71-80% | 81-90% | 91-100% | (Didn’t find a test which would not make me misgender myself, so...¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )

Multiple Intelligences Test: Kinaesthetic | Linguistic | Logical | Interpersonal | Intrapersonal | Musical | Visual/Spatial | Naturalistic |

(16%, 14% Those pie slices were quite equal.)

Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (Primary Psychopathy): 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5

I’m tagging @neekkis​, @kvartsi​, @ruttotohtori​, @echo-from-the-void​, @drev-the-procrastinator​, @alkonjonossa​, @evakkorotta​, @lintujasukissa​, anyone ready for some procrastinating time.

[ssjkallion]

Remember that Time I said I would Show You that mock trope page I made?

Here it is. 

IT’S ALL FOR FUN! And I do include references to actual RP’s, so you might find yourself in here lol!

Might as well post it here too for mobile purposes.

Kallion: 

A Saiyan time patroller from Planet Vegeta.

Action Survivor: Just barely survived Planet Vegeta’s destruction due to being marooned on another planet.

Survivors Guilt: Big time, though she tends to play it off, if not outright denying that she has it. Kallion has…issues about the circumstances of her survival.

Innocent Blue Eyes: Compared to the more common dark eyes of other Saiyans, emphasizing her gentle nature.

Fish Out Of Temporal Water: Was born several years before Planet Vegeta’s destruction, but is now living in Conton City nearly a century later. Though she’s happy now, her early days at the time patrol made for a difficult adjustment.

Brooding Boy, Gentle Girl: Gentle girl to Giblet’s Brooding Boy.

Involuntary Shapeshifting: As any Saiyan who still has their tail, one look at the full moon will have her turning into a Great Ape in no time.

My Species Doth Protest Too Much: Downplayed, and largely averted. Kallion points out that while she was always far more gentle than what was typically expected of Saiyans, and she lacked that ruthless killer instinct, she is still a battle-crazed idiot. On the other hand, she theorizes that her experiences weren’t all that unique to begin with. I.e: Gine and Tarble.

All Girls Want Bad Boys: Between Giblet and, yes, technically Trunks as well, Kallion seems to have a type. The real kicker is that she doesn’t escape this platonically either– Bardock is a hell of a father figure to have. She even lampshades this herself; “How come I only ever get attached to emotionally constipated men?”

Scars are Forever: A prominent one on her left cheek. It’s unknown exactly what the circumstances were, but she assumed she got it while a Great Ape. Countless others are scattered all over her body as well.

Intergenerational Friendship: With Bardock, her mentor. He also happened to be her father’s best friend.

Proud Warrior Race Guy: Saiyan!

Sole Survivor: Of her crew, who left her behind and returned to planet Vegeta on Frieza’s orders. Needless to say, she was lucky to be abandoned.

Tyke Bomb: Typical of most Saiyan children.

Golden Super Power Mode: Super Saiyan, naturally

Did You Just Punch Out Cthulhu?: It’s in the job description.

Dating Catwoman: Her and Giblet.

Action Mom: In the future, having kids doesn’t slow her down at all.

Mama Bear: Becomes fiercely protective of her baby boy Keel, a trait which only continues to grow in the future.

All-Loving Hero: Willing to give most people and creatures alike the benefit of the doubt….save for Frieza, Mira, Cell, Towa…obvious villains aside. Also loves animals.

Bad Powers, Good People: Being a Saiyan, she has a natural unlimited potential for battle and power. Along with the added layer of being able to turn into a vicious giant ape. Yet, she’s kind and mellow.

She’s Got Legs: Muscular and flexible.

Nice Girl: In spite of being a full blooded Saiyan of the PTO age, she’s kind hearted and easy going. Kallion, in general, has a difficult time hurting people unless pushed. Granted, she can be surprisingly short tempered.

The Apprentice: To Chronoa, as well as Bardock, and eventually Shallot.

Archenemy: Considers hers to be Towa, Frieza, and Suuja.

Badass Adorable: 5ft of Saiyan rage.

Bare Your Midriff: Typically in her casual attire.

Berserk Button: Good hearted as she may be, Kallion is still a short tempered Saiyan. What gets her is usually picking at her insecurities, insulting Chronoa or Trunks, making even the slightest threat toward her children, or dragging innocent people into conflicts.  

Big Eater: Saiyan!

Blood Knight: Again, Saiyan!

Came Back Strong: As with every Saiyan, coming back from the brink of death brings with it a hefty power-up known as a zenkai boost.

11th-Hour Ranger: Her job as an elite time patroller.

Glass Cannon

Huge Guy, Tiny Girl: Being all of 5ft, she’s this standing next to most of the men she knows. Special mention goes to Arugla, Taeta, Scaro, Giblet, Bardock, Trunks…

Lightning Bruiser: Speed is her greatest advantage due to her size.

Platonic Life-Partners: With Arugla, Taeta, Scaro, and debatably Trunks.

UST: With Trunks. There’s an obvious attraction, and she trusts him more than anyone.

Slap Slap Kiss: However, her and Giblet….

Opposites Attract: Her and Giblet again.

Slasher Smile: Often right before a fight.

Tranquil Fury: The first time she went Super Saiyan.

Token Good Teammate: Didn’t end well…kind of.

Took a Level in Badass: Gained a significant amount of confidence during her time in Conton City.

Wild Child: From age 6 to 12, after being marooned on a swampy planet by her old crew. When it became obvious that no one else was left to come get her, she fended for herself.

Blue is Heroic: Blue eyes, blue clothing, blue armor…

Defends Against Their Own Kind: Technically, whenever she’s fighting against a rogue saiyan in history.

Determinator: Can get to wonderfully self destructive levels.

Pregnant Badass: Hell, she’s confused as to why she’s apparently supposed to stop fighting after finding out she’s pregnant with Keel.

Socially Awkward Hero: Spending your formative years as a feral child will do that to a girl.

Idiot Hero: Socially awkward, romantically oblivious, no sense of self preservation? Yeah.

Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: So, your crew abandons you to die. Then THEY end up dying, you live and get stronger, and end of recruited by an elite time force where you get to work with the greatest heroes in history. Thanks, old crew!

Recruited From The Gutter: Found as a wild 12 year old girl living on a backwater planet with little intelligent life besides herself.

Undying Loyalty/I Owe You My Life: To Chronoa, Trunks, and the Time Patrol. Kallion is incredibly grateful for the second chance they gave her.

Wacky Parent, Serious Child: The wacky parent to the much more serious minded Keel.

Because You Were Nice To Me: What sparks Giblet’s attraction to her, along with the fact that she was never afraid of him. This trope is also the initial reason for her crush on Trunks.

Villainous Crush: Again, Giblet.

First Kiss: Giblet again!

Friend to All Children: Even before having her own, she had a soft spot for children and got along with them well.

Child From the Future: Keel, her equivalent of the Toki Toki City/XV1 Hero. Not that she initially knows.

Back-To-Back Badass: With Arugla, Taeta, and Trunks typically.

Desperately Craves Affection: Downplayed, but still there.

The Power of Friendship: Comes with the territory

Remember That You Trust Me

All Of The Other Reindeer

Motor Mouth: Usually when she’s nervous or meeting someone new.

Lady of War: It’s in the blood, after all.

Four-Temperament Ensemble: Sanguine

Beware the Nice Ones

Like A Daughter To Me: Bardock refers to her like this almost word for word.

Freudian Trio: The Id

Innocent Fanservice Girl: Has no qualms with people seeing her naked, and doesn’t understand why others would be offended by her being nude in her own home or bathroom.

Attack! Attack! Attack!

Wide-Eyed Idealist: To a point.

Too Hungry To Be Polite

Stupid Good: Hooooooo boy.

The Pollyanna

Paralyzing Fear of Sexuality: Due to growing up alone, her knowledge of sex and things related to it is slim to none. As a result, actually experiencing those feelings causes her to momentarily freeze and panic. She gets better.

Oblivious to Love: Related to the above. Romantic gestures tend to fly over her head unless it’s spelled out.

Insecure Love Interest: Which directly feeds into the above two examples.

Battle Aura: Yellow or purple.

Strong Family Resemblance: Her mother’s spitting image. In teen Keel’s timeline, she has a daughter of her own who looks just like her as well.  

Stepford Smiler: Type 1: “The character seems to be happy, cheerful, is always smiling, and seems to live a perfect life - but inside they are melancholic, if not outright depressed.”

Sink-or-Swim Mentor: Bardock, who has no problem beating her into the dirt during their very first training session.

Verbal Tic: Has a habit of ending sentences with “yeah?” and “ya know?”, as well as starting with common sentence fillers like “well,” or “uh”. Ya know?

Obfuscating Stupidity: Kallion is a weird case. While she’s uneducated and misses innuendo, she can be very intuitive. There’s also her habit of dodging uncomfortable questions by acting like she doesn’t understand. To quote Mariko; “Sometimes I wonder if you play dumb, or…”

Did you think I can’t feel?: Rips into Giblet with this almost word for word after he still accuses her of using and manipulating him for the Time Patrol.  

Dead Guy Junior: Not her, but her son is named for the only member of her crew who was kind to her– and died as a result.

Book Dumb: She is very much uneducated, due to her circumstances. Learning to read was never a priority until she was 12.

Red Oni, Blue Oni: The red to Android 22's blue, but the blue to Mariko's red.

(To be added on continually whenever I think of another or as I see fit! FOR FUN!)

[ludacryst]

Survey Says..

1: How tall or short do you wish you were? I'm 5'3, but I sometimes wish I was shorter because of how cute it can be in a relationship. I've watched too much anime, okay?

2: What’s your dream pet? (Real or not) Well, @warpedbelief didn't help me figuring this out because his dragon idea was really cool. However... I'll just stick with cats. I love cats. (I also love dragons..)

3: Do you have a favorite clothing style? Comfortable. Lol. I mostly wear PJs.

4: What was your favorite video game growing up? Final Fantasy series in general. 7 & 9 Specifically. My heart was always with Zelda ALTTP though.

5: What three things/people do you think of most each day: Erwin, Wiggles, PoF (Power of Friendship, so my friends/family.)

6: If you had a warning label, what would yours say? Caution : Speaks her mind far too often. No filter. Bossy af. Does not cave easily.

7: What is your opinion on [insert person/thing here]? I don't know.

8: What is your Greek personality type? [Sanguine, Phlegmatic, Choleric, or Melancholic] Melancholic.

9: Are you ticklish? .....No...?....(Yes)

10: Are you allergic to anything? Lots of stuff. There's a list uploaded somewhere.

11: What’s your sexuality? Heteronormative Bisexual. I used to call it straight with a twist until I figured out there was an actual term for it. Basically, I'm emotionally attracted to men and commonly see myself in a relationship with men. (My Husband, HI.) However, I have similar attractions physically to women, but have never seen myself in a relationship with one other than physically.

12: Do you prefer tea, coffee, or cocoa? Cocoa or Tea, but I'll drink any of em.

13: Are you a cat or dog person? Cat. 1000% They're chill just like me... once they're older.

14: Would you rather be a vampire, elf, or merperson? Elf, probably. I love nature, I hate being allergic to it though.

15: Do you have a favorite Youtuber? Nah, I just skim youtube from time to time, no favorite.

16: How tall are you? 5'3.

17: If you had to change your name, what would you change it to? I'd probably keep it in the realm it's already in. So, I'm Crystal. I go by Crys (Chris) so probably Christina.. or anything that could shorten it to Chris of sorts. It's just me.

18: How much do you weigh? 175-190, depends on if I've ate fast food recently or not. More averaged at 186, but it's jumped a lot the past few months. Goal weight is 125.

19: Do you believe in ghosts/spirits? Sure. I don't disbelieve. Had a thing when i was a kid a few times that make me think something exists.. whether or not we know what it is.

20: Do you like space or the ocean more? Space. Stars. I love water don't get me wrong, but I'm more curious about what we can't physically reach.

21: Are you religious? Nah.

22: Pet peeves? Liars, people who try to grind my gears, people saying "I'm going to do it just to spite you." I'm tired of toxicity of people.

23: Would you rather be nocturnal or diurnal [opposite of nocturnal]? Diurnal. I'm defaulted to Nocturnal, so just eat some edibles and we're in bed by 10pm! :)

24: Favorite constellation? Leo ;)

25: Favorite star? Sirius, it shines the brightest.

26: Do you like ball-jointed dolls? I don't like dolls. They're creepy.

27: Any phobias or fears? Irrational : Dolls, Being around people. Rational : Heights, Closed Spaces t-t

28: Do you think global warming is real? Fucking. Is this seriously a question? Of course it's real.

29: Do you believe in reincarnation? I actually like to. It gives me hope there's something after death.

30: Favorite movie? I'm not sure I have a favorite movie...

31: Do you get scared easily? Nah, but I love a good jump scare.

32: How many pets have you own in your lifetime? Christina - My first doggie, passed away when I was in 4th grade. She was a mini collie~ Alexi - My green/yellow parakeet. Passed away at roughly 2-3 years old. Jiggy - My gray/white beautiful DHS big boi kitty. (2006-2016) Momma - My loving calico who picked me over everyone. ;o;  (2006-2018) Wiggles - Adopted from my family, he's a tyrant! He loves his dad more than me tho... [rude] (2016-???)

33: Blog rate? [You’ll rate the blog of the one who’s asking.] You CC please.

34: What is a color that calms you? Blue. Blue is always relaxing, especially softer/darker blues.

35: Where would you like to travel and/or live? Travel wise, I want to visit a lot of places. Germany, UK, Canada... more specifically Niagara Falls.. Live wise, if I could, I'd live in Canada. However... I just want to live in the midwest, or east, somewhere more affordable in the US.

36: Where were you born? Ohio!

37: What is your eye color? Blue-gray.

38: Introvert or extrovert? 1000% introverted.

39: Do you believe in horoscopes and zodiacs? I think they're amusing as fuck. I don't believe/follow them 100%. I do like to imagine what it would be like if they were right though. I follow zodiac stuff way more than horoscope.

40: Hugs or kisses? xoxoxo - Preferably hugs, they're for everyone! *HUGS*

41: Who is someone you would like to see/visit right now? Scotty! ( @warpedbelief )

42: Who is someone you love deeply? @hyphenhero - My husbando.

43: Any piercings you want? I really dunno any more. The only one I've been considering lately is Daith.

44: Do you like tattoos and piercings? I don't dislike tattoos and piercings.

45: Do you smoke or have you ever done so? Cigarettes are disgusting. Be more descriptive of your "smoking." I have marijuana vapes I enjoy.

46: Talk about your crush, if you have one! Well, I married him.

47: What is a sound you really hate? Anything pitchy. My ears have been killing me the past year or so.

48: A sound you really love? Meow.

49: Can you do a backflip? HAHAHA No.

50: Can you do the splits? Almost did them on accident the other day. It really hurt. (No)

51: Favorite actor and/or actress? Do voice actors count? Because then I'm between two. Johnny Yong Bosch and Matt Mercer.

52: Favorite movie? Wasn't this asked already? I don't have one.

53: How are you feeling right now? Tired.

54: What color would you like your hair to be right now? I really want to bleach it blonde again.

55: When did you feel happiest? Maybe when we first moved into our second apartment? The rent was cheaper, it was nice. I miss freedom. Though, I also miss having a full guild of friends and getting along and having fun together.. Man I'm getting old.

56: Something that calms you down? Marijuana primarily. Hugs. Kittens.

57: Have any mental disorders? [Only ask this if you know the user doesn’t mind!] Anxiety, Depression, Memory issues xD Honestly you should just ask if there's stuff NOT wrong with me.

58: What does your URL mean? It's a nickname a friend gave me 11 years ago. Holy crap. It's been 11 years.

59: What three words describe you the most? Sassy, Bratty, Mom-ish.

60: Do you believe in evolution? Yes.

61: What makes you unfollow a blog? Too much spam/boring content. Stuff I'm not interested in. Sometimes inactivity for years.

62: What makes you follow a blog? Stuff I'm interested in typically.

63: Favorite kind of person: People I can just talk to about anything. I like to talk. I don't like to be pestered and felt bad about not responding right away. I enjoy helping people. So I'm mostly a listener. I like to talk about stuff we're mutually interested in. Sometimes I love people I can debate with but not hate after (reasonable debates.) I guess I'm going to be that guy and copy what my friend said.. "Engaging, but not too much that I’m constantly tired. I like doing nothing, but doing nothing with the right person."

64: Favorite animal(s): Cats. All the cats.

65: Name three of your favorite blogs. I don't really actively follow any specific blog in particular! :x

66: Favorite emoticon: :smirk: (use it on discord... though if you played maplestory, it's an F3 equivalent... )

67: Favorite meme: You said that tho?

68: What is your MBTI personality type? INFJ-T

69: What is your star sign? Leo

70: Can your dog roll over on command, if you have a dog? No dog, but you'd be damn right to guess I'd train them.

71: What outfit out of all your clothes do you like to wear the most? Any of the fluffy pjs with a thin tank top.

72: Post a selfie or two? https://ludacryst.tumblr.com/tagged/me https://ludacryst.tumblr.com/tagged/wedding

73: Do you have platform shoes? Nah. I don't have heels either.

74: What is one random but interesting fact about yourself? My memory is absolutely shit in most situations.  However, in certain and RANDOM AF situations it can be clear as day. If I want to learn/remember something? Forget about it. If I could not care less about something? You'll be damn straight I'll remember it.

75: Can you do a front flip? Lol, no.

76: Do you like birds? Yeah, cept the annoying high pitched ones T_T

77: Do you like to swim? I used to love to. I can't really be in the sun for long any more though.

78: Is swimming or ice skating more fun to you? Never been Ice Skating! Always wanted to try. I'd probably equally enjoy both.

79: Something you wish didn’t exist: Mosquitoes, Cancer, Violence. On the violence part... It's mostly guns. If we had swordsman style fights - It'd be more interesting.

80: Some thing you wish did exist: Cures to incurables. Cancer, Epilepsy, Autism, etc. (I'm an epilepsy survivor.)

81: Piercings you have? Had an eyebrow piercing, lost it the same month I got it to pink eye.

82: Something you really enjoy doing: Watching television. I miss reading. I have a hard time focusing on reading now.

83: Favorite person to talk to: I have 3! Erwin (@hyphenhero) - My husband~ and my friends Scott (@warpedbelief)  and Brandon.

84: What was your first impression of Tumblr? What the fuck is this and why do people use it? inb4 I replaced wordpress with it.

85: How many followers do you have? I don't really check. My Tumblr is mostly for me... and I just restarted fresh these past few months.

86: Can you run a mile within ten minutes? Maybe if I tried. Used to be able to run one in 6.

87: Do your socks always match? Yeah.

88: Can you touch your toes and keep your legs straight completely? HA, Never could.

89: What are your birthstones? Peridot, Sardonyx, Spinel

90: If you were an animal, which one would you be? Cat? Yes. Spoil me.

91: If a flower could aesthetically represent you, what kind would it be? Tulips.

92: A store you hate? Umm.... I don't know if I avoid any stores in particular....

93: How many cups of coffee can you drink in one day? 1-2. My stomach gets pretty upset.

94: Would you rather be able to fly or read minds? Fly. Definitely. I get lost in my own mind enough.

95: Do you like to wear camo? Situationally.

96: Winter or summer? Winter 100%. Hate the heat. Love the snow.

97: How long can you hold your breath for? I don't know. Like 30 seconds maybe?

98: Least favorite person? They who will not be named. It gives them too much attention.

99: Someone you look up to: I used to look up to my mom a lot. Now I'm more-so my own person, I just do what I can to do right by me and my hubby.

100: A store you love? Uhm.. Any cheap store... I don't really have a favorite. I guess amazon for saving me gas?

101: Favorite type of shoes Skechers.

102: Where do you live? California.

103: Are you a vegetarian or vegan? If so, why? Nah. I love ham too much.

104: What is your favorite mineral or gem? Cubic Zirconia actually. It's so undervalued but so pretty.

105: Do you drink milk? Used to. Not really much any more.

106: Do you like bugs? Sometimes. But not in the house.

107: Do you like spiders? Sure, they get rid of the bad bugs.

108: Something you get paranoid about? Being followed. Bugs crawling on me.

109: Can you draw: Used to be able to. Not any more.

110: Nosiest question you have ever been asked? I don't know, I usually tell people anything they ask lol.

111: A question you hate being asked? Any question I had previously already answered, and they just weren't paying attention. Anything related to me/my own working/schooling.

112: Ever been bitten by a spider? Not that I can remember.

113: Do you like the sound of waves at the beach? Yeah, it's really relaxing.

114: Do you prefer cloudy or sunny days? Cloudy, 100%

115: Someone you’d like to kiss or cuddle right now: I would like to cuddle Momma right now.. Why you gotta go and make a girl sad for survey thing? (My calico that passed away last year..)

116: Favorite cloud type: Cumulus, Cumulonimbus, and Nimbostratus. Yes I googled them for their names.

117: What color do you wish the sky was? I honestly love the colors the sky is/can be, especially at sunrise and sunset.

118: Do you have freckles? Yes, but you can only see them when I have a tan. So to anyone who hasn't seen me since I was 10, you'd never know I had them.

119: Favorite thing about a person: How they treat people. If they're kind to animals. Eyes. Definitely eyes.

120: Fruits or vegetables? Fruits @_@

121: Something you want to do right now: Play Zelda - BoTW on Hard - but... I'm lazy.

122: Is the ocean or sky prettier? Ocean. But they look best together.

123: Sweet or sour foods? Candies or actual food? Food, sweet. Candies, sour.

124: Bright or dim lights? Dim as you can go without causing me to have seizures over tiny little things.

125: Do you believe in a certain magical creature? I wish. Dragons would rock my world.

126: Something you hate about Tumblr: Yahoo owning it.

127: Something you love about Tumblr: The freedom it USED to have.

128: What do you think about the least? I dunno, I think about it the least... so it won't naturally come to me.

129: What would you want written on your tombstone? Carpe Diem ....heheheh.

130: Who would you like to punch in the face right now? Why would I name them? Again with the attention thing.

131: What is something you love but also hate about yourself? My Epilepsy. It's shown me who really gives a fuck about me, but also it's taken a lot from me.

132: Do you smile with your teeth showing for pictures? No, I hate my teeth.

133: Computer or TV? Computer, it offers more.

134: Do you like roller coasters? Never been on one, definitely want to try.

135: Do you get motion sickness or seasickness? Sometimes motion sickness, never got seasick tho.

136: Are your ears lobed or attached? Attatched.

137: Do you believe in karma? I like to believe in Karma, but I really feel like people don't get their just desserts :(

138: On a scale of 1-10, how attractive would you say you are? -5

139: What nicknames do you have/have had? Crys, Crysti, Cryssi, Crysii, Ludacryst, Toxie, Punky, there's probably more but effort.

140: Did you have any pretend or imaginary friends? I am unsure.

141: Have you ever seen a therapist/shrink? Yes. More than one therapist.

142: Would you say you are a good or bad influence to others? Yes.

143: Do you prefer giving or receiving gifts/help? Giving.

144: What makes you angry? Lots of little things. Dumb things. Mostly the way medical/doctors are here... Our president... a lot of things really.

145: How many languages do you speak fluently? I can barely manage English, you want me to learn more?!

146: Do you prefer boys, girls, and/or non-binaries? I kinda answered this earlier.

147: Are you androgynous? No.

148: Favorite physical thing about yourself: My eye color.

149: Favorite thing about your personality: I'm more willing to let people go if they make my life worse. I used to be terrible at that.

150: Name three people you would like to talk to right now in person. My Mom, Scooter, Matt Mercer.. (shh)

151: If you could go back into time and live in one era, which would you choose? ANY ERA WITH KNIGHTS AND KINGDOMS AND WEEEEEEE............ (I like a lot of oldie based shows.)

152: Do you like BuzzFeed? Eh.

153: How did you meet your spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend/partner? [If you have one.] MapleStory. Not even remotely kidding.

154: Do you like to kiss others’ foreheads or hands for platonic reasons? Yes. I'm a very touchy person if I trust the person. I prefer hugs on most though. Forehead is pretty sentimental to me.

155: Do you like to play with others’ hair? Sometimes, yeah.

156: What embarrasses you? My teeth, my weight, a lot of things.

157: Something that makes you nervous/anxious: People. Crowds. Planes. Heights. New Doctors.

158: Biggest lie you have ever told: If it's the biggest lie I've ever told, do you think I'm going to out myself on social media?

159: How many people are you following? Fuck if I know... I'm too lazy to check.

160: How many posts do you have on your blog(s)? See #159

161: How many drafts do you have on your blog(s)? See #159

162: How many likes do you have on your blog(s)? See #159

163: Last time you cried and why: It's been over a lot of things. My health, my families health, my cat, hurting myself, etc.

164: Do you have long or short hair? Medium?

165: Longest your hair has ever been: Just below my shoulders.

166: Why do you like, dislike, or have neutral feelings about religion? Neutral mostly, because you can't prove or disprove a god exists. Just because you haven't seen something does that mean it's not there? Also, just because you believe in something, does it mean that it exists really? I'm agnostic. Though Wicca seems like a more reasonable religion in most aspects (I've dabbled in research, I hope that doesn't offend anyone.)

167: Do you really care how the universe and world was created? Not really. I just care if it's gonna blow up before I die.

168: Do you like to wear makeup? Like? Not usually, it just helps me feel a little better sometimes.

169: Can you stand on your hands or head for more than thirty seconds? Nope.

170: Did you answer the questions you were asked truthfully? As much as I could.

[kittae]

Bal Masqué (M)

Pairing: Jimin x reader

Genre: Smut, vampire!au, fantasy, elements inspired by True Blood

Word count: 5438

Warnings: mentions of blood, graphic sexual descriptions, mentions of Jungkook and Taehyung

A/N: i wasted a lot of time on this shitty header, but i hope you’ll still enjoy reading this because i enjoyed the hell out of writing it! unedited so please excuse any mistakes for now!

MASTERLIST

→ Halloween prompts masterlist

→ Halloween prompts WIPs

It was the most excessive thing you had ever witnessed in your entire life, there was no doubt about that. The decadent ballroom was astonishing in itself with its rococo interior, marble floors and staircases leading to balconies with velvet curtains that could be closed for anyone with money who needed some privacy if the party didn’t offer enough excitement on its own. In every corner there were clattering fountains, more champagne than water, and butlers standing to your disposal whether you were in need of a luxurious mask in case you hadn’t brought one, or a fix of something more...stimulating.

Events like these made you feel terribly out of place, making you wonder what a girl who lives in a one bedroom apartment in the back street of a rough neighbourhood was doing between greek statues made flesh in expensive couture ball gowns and diamond embroidered masks. It was ironic, really, how you played a dangerous game with your life to get a taste of the life of the rich and famous and then feel less than a puny ant when you did.

“You look ravishing tonight.” two cool arms curling around your cinched waist and a pair of puffy lips grazing the shell of your ear startled you out of your pondering thoughts. “Mmm, I could just eat you up.”

And your date had finally arrived as well, it seemed.

“I’m sure you could.” you rolled your eyes before turning around in his arms until your chests were firmly pressed together, your bosom threatening to burst out of your already way too tight corset when he added extra pressure by pulling you impossibly closer, making you gasp for air in the process.

“And be sure i would, my little strawberry.” he emphasized the husky words dripping with desire by dipping his head into the crook of your neck to graze his teeth along the skin, a shiver running down your spine and causing him to smirk in satisfaction.

Trying to gain back some composure by clearing your throat, although it may not have been the best idea drawing more attention to that particular part of your body, you made an attempt to appear unaffected when you were clearly, definitely, incredibly affected.

“I like your costume, Jimin. Very original.”

You eyed the perfectly black attire, undoubtedly made of only the finest materials and the most dazzling names stitched on the labels on the inside, the cape in a red and black combo the blonde and most of all sickeningly handsome male in front of you was wearing. It was very obvious which character he was supposed to be, in contrast with you, who looked like his midnight snack at best. And that’s exactly why he picked out the blood red silk dress for you, complete with a set of jewels you didn’t even want to know the value of because you feared you’d throw yourself from the balcony in shock, and the very risqué lingerie you were wearing underneath. It wasn’t only meant to be pretty, oh no. It was fundamentally essential that you could not, would not, take two steps on your ridiculously high heels without feeling like you’d faint and breathing became a luxury much rather than a natural function of the human body.

The corset was laced so tightly it pretty much cut off your blood circulation in one part of your chest, and your veins were almost bursting in another. It made your cheeks and your breasts flush a bright red underneath your skin and left your head in a constant state of haziness, and you knew your companion had chosen your outfit with care and utmost thought.

“Not as much as i like yours…” he purred as his fingers danced across the swell of your breasts, as light as a feather, “and i decided on this costume out of convenience...With you looking like this, how am i supposed to keep my fangs to myself?”

He was right, the annual Halloween Ball was the perfect excuse for not having to hide who he was, which would’ve been difficult considering his fangs tend to just pop out whenever he starts feeling aroused.

“Let me guess, my dress is red so it won’t show when you spill my own blood all over myself?”

“Mmm, i love it when you talk dirty to me, baby,” he chuckled darkly, the deep scarlet of his eyes so captivating you didn’t notice his hand climbing up from your bust to curl its fingers around your throat instead, “but i’d save the pleasantries for later tonight, if i were you, unless you want this to happen right here and now.”

To anyone else, the shade of red covering his irises appeared to be nothing more than just a pair of very high quality colored lenses, but you knew how perfectly real they were. You knew how they could make your mind empty and replace your thoughts with only those Jimin wanted you to have, as easy as cleaning out a box of old and boring toys and filling them with brand new ones. You were aware of the power he had over you, how he could rob you of your sanity with a whisper and make you forget your own name, should you stare into those sanguine orbs for a second too long. Most of all, you would never forget the way they would bleed into blackness right before he would bare his sharp teeth to sink them into your paper thin skin and feast on your blood, which he solemnly swears is the best he’d ever tasted in his roughly one thousand years of roaming this earth. You decided to take it as a compliment.

“Now, you look like you could use a refreshment,’ he mused, “i can hear you swallowing every five seconds and i’m afraid this night will be a short one if you keep that going.”

Upon hearing his words, you only then realized the texture of your throat was close to that of sandpaper and your mouth went dry from taking deep gulps of air at a time in an attempt not to faint in the first hour you’ve been attending the party. A cool drink did sound really good.

When you got to the bar, you thought it might as well have been a very fancy liquor store. There was just so much alcohol. So much. Many of the bottles on the shelves you had never seen, names you had never heard of. All those colours...It was enthralling. You would’ve stood there slack-jawed for much longer if Jimin hadn’t closed your mouth by tapping your chin with his finger.

“What do you want, babe? Don’t drink those melon shots again though, i don’t like what it does with the taste of your blood. It’s a bad comb-”

“Jiminie? I thought it was you!” a foreign, baritone voice suddenly sounded from behind you.

You would’ve laughed at the way Jimin’s eyes almost bugged out of his sockets if it wasn’t for the sheer look of panic washing over his face, his features darkening dangerously for only a split second before he slowly turned around to meet the face that belonged to the voice, with a perfectly bright smile plastered on his plush lips.

“Taehyung! Didn’t expect to see you here tonight!” Jimin greeted the taller man enthusiastically, his voice loud and a pitch you’d never witnessed before as he slapped the stranger’s shoulder in a familiar manner, and did you hear it wrong or was he giggling?! It was almost comical to you, this side of him you found very amusing since it was so vastly different from the dominant vampire who always wanted to be in control. Interesting.

The stranger was undoubtedly the most gorgeous man you’d ever seen in your entire life and considering you were in the company of Jimin, that meant a lot. He was so tall, his ash hair a perfect example of sexy bed hair with its untrimmed length and messy curls and the clothes he was wearing looked like designer pajamas and a peignoir you could pay five years of your rent with. His face looked like it could’ve been sculpted by ten Michelangelos, and even then it wouldn’t do it any justice. He was just oozing pure luxury and you never knew anyone could look this ostentatious.

“Ah well, you know, you can’t keep running from me, little brother,” Taehyung granted him a boxy smile as he grabbed Jimin’s shoulders to gently shake him back and forth, and your heart took a leap.

Both men suddenly turned their attention to you, their eyes flying to your chest and if you didn’t know any better, you’d guess they were checking out your décolleté. But you did know better, and in that moment you realized that this beautiful man, this Taehyung, was also a creature of the night.

“It’s only been a couple of centuries… and stop calling me your little brother Tae, i’m older than you.”

“For the last time Jimin, human age doesn’t count.” the older vampire rolled with his eyes before they scanned your body from bottom to top until they were staring right into yours, a tiny smirk tugging on his lips when he brought the glass of bourbon on the rocks between them. “Who’s this lovely lady at your side, by the way? Care to introduce me?”

Jimin’s grip around your waist tightened, for as far as you could feel any of it through the suffocating corset, and a low growl quietly erupted from deep inside his chest.

“She’s mine, that’s all you need to know.”

Tae's long earring dangled back and forth when he shook his head with a light-hearted snicker, “Still haven’t lost the possessiveness, I see? You should join a nest, I’ve been saying that for over five hundred years. Loosen up, live a little. Might be good for you, brother.”

“Nests are disgusting. Besides, shouldn't you focus on your own human? You haven't even introduced your newest plaything.” Jimin quipped, tilting his head to look at the shirtless man shyly hiding behind Taehyung.

“Plaything?” Taehyung gasped indignantly, clutching the younger male to his chest in a tight, protective hug, “Kookie and I are in love!”

“Really? You went from telling me to join a nest to saying you’re in love with a human in the span of ten seconds, Taehyung.” Jimin deadpanned before going over his brother’s companion’s form, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion when he eyed the tight black boxer briefs, the separate white collar and black bow tie and...well there wasn’t much other clothing to consider, was there? “Why aren’t you wearing cl- i mean, what is your costume supposed to be...Kookie?”

The dark-haired young man looked flustered, not having expected to be acknowledged or spoken to directly by anyone other than Taehyung, much less his hot brother. You guessed he must be feeling the same way you were. You were just two humans, being dragged along by two ridiculously good-looking vampires at a decadent masquerade halloween ball. You almost felt bad for him for having to walk around such an event half naked, but then you tried to breathe and remembered that, oh yeah, you couldn’t. That damn corset. You’d trade costumes with him in a heartbeat.

“I’m...well...i’m a...a-” he stuttered quietly, cheeks flushed a bright pink as he looked at the ground because Jimin’s gaze got too intense. You’d been there, too.

“He’s a bunny.” Taehyung swooped in matter-of-factly, pointing at the headband with rabbit ears on top of his lover’s head. “Duh.”

“Ohh, like a playboy bunny?” you finally spoke for the first time since Taehyung joined you.

“See! Strawberry shortcake here gets it! You haven’t been walking this earth for over a thousand years to have such poor knowledge of costumes, Jimin. He’s a playboy bunny and i’m Hugh Hefner.”

“You just made that up, didn’t you? Just admit you needed an excuse to go to this party in pajamas and have your Kookie here walk around as naked as possible without having people ask too many questions.”

“Says the one who went as himself with the addition of a tasteless cape and dressed his partner up like his own personal lollipop.” Taehyung countered his brother’s witty remark before turning to you to fleetingly caress your cheek, knowing it would rile Jimin up all the more. “No offense, sweetheart, you make a great sucking stick.”

You wanted to feel offended but he wasn’t exactly wrong, was he? Also, just the way those words sounded in his low, velvet voice was so charming you almost took them as a compliment. Your skin burned where he’d touched you as you witnessed the banter between the two vampire brothers, and judging from the look on Jimin’s face, you could tell this wasn’t the first time this had occurred. How could it be when they’ve known each other for so long?

“Well, if you’ll excuse us, my sucking stick and i are going to dance.” Jimin gently took your hand with a wry smile before bowing curtly to his brother. “It was nice seeing you again, Taehyung. You too Kookie, don’t catch a cold.”

You could only just watch the bunny boy’s face get flushed again as he muttered a quiet “Thank you” under his breath and notice Taehyung wink at you mischievously before Jimin pulled you away and lead you to the enormous dance floor.

He had such a sturdy pace going there, you found it difficult to keep up in your five inch heels as you swerved through the crowd of swirling bodies, masked faces and bellowing gowns when they spun around with the music until he found an empty spot, where he could pull you so close not even a hair would fit in between your bodies.

“Are you upset?” you asked, observing the way his eyebrows frowned in a tense manner, how his lips were tightly pressed together when he ignored your words as he started swaying left and right in circles, having a tight grip on your waist and hand and pulling you along. “Jimin, we’re dracula and his sucking stick, not Fred and Ginger, remember?”

“You’re my bride! Can you not use that ass cactus’ words to describe yourself?”

“I thought it was funny.”

Jimin’s jaw muscle twitched slightly. “Just follow my lead and you’ll be fine.”

Before you even had the time to open your mouth to protest and tell him you didn’t have a single rhythmical bone in your body whatsoever, he quite literally swept you off your feet. Surprisingly enough, the two of you easily flowed in rhythm with the song, a complete orchestra on a huge balcony upstairs providing the magical music the faceless crowd spun and twirled to on the already packed dance floor.

When they set in a seductive tune, you didn’t have to do much. Jimin strung you along in the right direction at the right time, like you were his little puppet. Yet sweat trickled down your spine and your cleavage, the room feeling unbearably hot all of a sudden when it seemed like all the oxygen in the air started to evaporate. With another backwards bow before Jimin pulled you back up against his chest, you felt your breath getting knocked out of your lungs and your head spinning violently, like you were on a carousel.

“Jimin…” you gasped, your eyes rolling back when they started seeing black spots everywhere. Your ribs felt like they were going to break in their cage and your insides squeezed to mush. You couldn’t take it much longer. “Corset...can’t- can’t b-breathe…”

The blonde looked puzzled, as if he didn’t understand what you were trying to say. “What?” “Too ti...tight.” you slurred weakly. “Take it off...now…”

Jimin wildly looked around him, contemplating what to do. When he felt you swaying in his arms, on the verge of fainting, his fingers laced themselves into the tight web of threads on your back and pulled, the material ripping to shreds and freeing your aching lungs from its confines.

“Let’s get you out of here.” he spoke softly as he picked you up, ironically enough, bridal-style to make his way through the crowd of masks.

You were still groggy from the momentary suffocation, your eyelids lazily blinking while taking in your surroundings, degraded to blurry patches and muted sounds. It felt like Jimin was walking up stairs. You didn’t really care, you were glad you could breathe again.

“Honestly woman, who laced you in so impossibly tight? If i had known i’d have done it myself-”

You wanted to remind him of the fact he sent his female secretary, also a vampire, to help you get dressed before the party. She’d been around for a while and told you to just suck it up, quite literally. But just as you parted your lips, Jimin pushed the heavy curtain of a balcony to the side and your eyes fell on something that just rendered you speechless.

You immediately recognized the gorgeous profile as that of Taehyung, whom you’ve met only shortly before, but in between two muscular, naked thighs, belonging to a panting and moaning Kookie. As he laid there, legs spread and chest heaving while his lover’s tongue danced across his sensitive skin, or rather the purple flowers blooming underneath, he let his head fall back on the armrest of the sofa they nestled themselves into, bunny ears askew on his head. It was truly a sinful sight.

When you gasped, whether in surprise or arousal you weren’t sure, Taehyung slowly turned his head towards where Jimin was still holding you by the curtain, as if he only now noticed your presence for the first time. His sharp fangs shimmered when he grinned in the dark of the privacy of the balcony booth, the revelry downstairs only distant background noise.

“Why brother, if you wanted to join, you could’ve just said so.” he purred, stroking the younger male’s bruised up thighs as he spoke and watching the latter shiver in delight, something hard and distinct twitching in his tight boxer briefs. “Hurry though, Kookie’s getting impatient.”

“No, thank you.” Jimin countered through gritted teeth, but not before dipping the words in a coat of distaste.

Taehyung tsked in disapproval, shaking his head. “Always so vanilla. In that case, this booth is occupied, so if you don’t mind?”

You watched him get back to his ministrations like he never got interrupted in the first place and when he licked a long, wet stripe across his Kookie’s clothed erection, Jimin took it as your cue to leave.

He brought you to the last balcony at the end of the hallway, and it felt like he teleported you there in the blink of an eye. In some way, it was true. When he laid you down on the sofa much like the one you saw one seriously fucked out and admittedly really hot young man moaning in ecstasy only a few seconds ago, you still seemed to have trouble breathing even though the corset no longer cut off your air supply.

“Why is your heart racing like that? Shouldn’t it be slower if you only just fainted?” Jimin wondered out loud, his brows furrowing in confusion but quickly raising in surprise when you pulled him down by his collar for a quick and messy kiss.

“Take off my dress.” your whispered words touched his lips, making him subconsciously chase after them.

“Is it still too tight?”

“No.”

There it was. The black of his pupils bleeding into his irises. The sign, the startshot. His lips parted slightly and you could make out the pointy ends of his fangs just a little bit. You recalled how he skimmed his fingers over your breasts to subtly wrap them around your throat instead earlier tonight when he was repeating the gesture in this very moment, where your eyes locked even though his were only a bottomless pit.

“You’re thirsty.” you remarked, knowing all too well the tell-tale signs of surfacing veins branching out underneath his skin from his eyes to his cheekbones.

“Not for blood, i’m not.” he answered, slowly guiding the inflexible fabric of the corset off your bust until the hem grazed your nipples, sensitive and hard from watching the short scene between the two lovers before and the angel of darkness being consumed with lust right now in front of you. Human and vampire. The exact same position you were in.

You let your head fall back with a sigh, willfully exposing your neck to him. “I can see that you are.” your voice thick with want and fingers grazing his slightly unbuttoned shirt at the top of his chest to feel his defined pecs while your own arousal trickled down your thighs.

“Do you take me for a baby vamp, darling?” he mused, a low snicker resonating through his nevertheless burning throat. “I think you underestimate my ability to be ascetic...when i need to be. Making a mess out of you is just so much fun, though.”

All the while he spoke, he skillfully undressed you. The complex draperies had no secrets for his experienced fingers and you silently wondered how many of these dresses he’s had between them, queens and duchesses alike, before they finally disrobed your humble body this very moment.

“I thought we were going to have a drink,” his hands moved from your waist down to your hips when he lowered his lips to your ear, “then dance through at least five songs to get you riled up enough,” he grabbed your thighs and slowly spread them apart, “but that wasn’t necessary, was it? Hm? Someone else already did that for me, didn’t he?”

His fingers swiftly disappeared between your thighs to brush your sex through your matching red lace panties, causing a shiver to run down your spine in delight and impatience, the touch granting momentary satisfaction but so fleeting it only left you wanting more.

“You’re dripping through your pretty panties, baby,” he cooed, putting more pressure on your throbbing clit, but still not giving you the satisfaction of his fingers on your naked skin, let alone inside you. “Did Taehyung do this to my little strawberry? Did you see how good he was making Kookie feel and did you cream your underwear like this as a result?”

You nodded frantically, too light-headed to form words when you felt him slide the fabric to the side to softly graze your lower lips, making you hiss in sensitivity and bucking your hips up to meet his touch.

“Look at you, so eager… You want me to do to you what you saw my brother do to Kookie earlier, yes? Or did you want me to say yes when he asked to join? Have him touch you like this,” he dipped a single finger shallowly inside, resisting the urge to let it get sucked in by your greedy pussy, “Instead of me?”

You were on the verge of tears, so desperate for anything he wanted to give you, recalling the sinful scene of Taehyung sucking bruises into the younger man’s sturdy thighs and a wave of arousal shooting through your core once more.

“P-please, Jimin,” you swallowed thickly, wrapping a leg around his hip and carding a hand through his soft, blonde hair.

“I can see the images in your head,” he murmured, nipping at the skin of your neck before laving his tongue over the faint mark he left behind and simultaneously, finally pushing his finger further until it curled against your walls. “He really left an impression, didn’t he?”

You wanted to deny it, the slight bitterness in his voice not going by unnoticed and you didn’t want to upset him any further. But you couldn’t. You couldn’t make your mind lie even if your lips could, and he saw everything. You wanted Jimin so bad, but you couldn’t get the image of the two gorgeous boys, one nestled in between the other’s legs as he laid there fucked out and begging to be had. You couldn’t help it and whatever may have happened between the two vampire brothers in the past, you felt like you struck a nerve.

“I-I don’t-” you began, breathlessly, but Jimin quickly helped by adding a second digit and making you gasp, your body squirming under his touch while he casually continued to cover your neck in kisses.

“You want to reenact what we saw?” he suddenly proposed, the silken words whispered in your ear striking sparks along your flesh, your temperature rising rapidly from the pleasure inflicted by his fingers languidly moving inside you, “Would you like that, sweetheart? Hm?”

You nodded again, so hard you thought you were going to sprain your neck and Jimin snickered under his breath before he retracted his fingers from within your tight core. You whined at the loss of contact, but the disappointment got soothed when he lowered himself between your legs, kissing his way down your torso until he reached the place you needed his kisses the most. Of course, that would be too easy.

“Remember this?” he grinned, the pearly white of his fangs setting off strongly against the darkness of the isolated balcony and your memory instantly making a connection with the moment Taehyung turned his head to meet the two of you standing there, watching him. Your breath instantly hitched.

Jimin chuckled humorlessly, tightening his grip on the flesh of your thighs before his lips descended there as well. “Yeah, you do. Keep your eyes on me, darling.”

Before you knew what he meant, he started sucking harsh hickeys into your skin, granting you the confusing pleasure and pain you knew his lips could inflict on your flesh and making you throw your head back in bliss. He wouldn’t stop until you were covered in red and purple stains, the only flowers that would bring you joy the ones blossoming underneath your skin. Every time he finished making one bloom, he soothed it with his soft tongue.

“Such a lovely bouquet.” he hummed distractedly, your eyes glued to his face as he inhaled your scent, the scent of your blood surfacing but not quite enough to taste it.

“Jimin, please…” you tried again, irrationally hoping he’d look into your head to know what you wanted, but you knew him better than that. You couldn’t stop watching him as he completely ruined your skin in the best way possible, your desire for him to take you the strongest it’s ever been.

Your only answer was a soft chuckle before his lips left your thighs to go in a more central direction, licking his way up the front of your drenched panties. A high-pitched mewl rolled off your tongue while his circled around your clothed clit, your hips rolling to keep him going, to express your neediness somehow.

“This is where it ended, remember?” Jimin interrupted your moment, the smirk evident in his voice.

“No...No, please, keep going!” you begged, pitifully whining as you tangled your fingers into his blonde strands, tugging just a little because you knew that’s what he liked.

“Hmm? Are you sure? You want me to pick up where he left off?”

You’d honestly already half forgotten about how this was supposed to be a reenactment of what you saw Taehyung do to Kookie, but you knew Jimin was just doing this to mess with you. You knew he could see inside your mind and know Taehyung had already left a long time ago. That’s been his goal all along.

“Yes, yes!” you whimpered impatiently, locking his head in between your thighs and almost smothering him against your aching pussy, making him giggle in delight. You never knew a vampire who was so happy to please. “Please, Jimin...”

“Mmm, you want me to devour your juicy little cunt, don’t you sweetheart?” he asked you softly, his velvety voice compelling you to give him an answer if it wasn’t for his tongue drawing patterns against your lowers lips and his fingers playing with the edge of your panties distracting you. You wouldn’t even know he was talking about such dirty things just going off by how he said them.

“Ye-yes, please.”

It was all you managed to get past your lips before a moan slipped from in between them when Jimin’s wet muscle suddenly found your bare skin, your panties gone in the fraction of a second when he ripped them to shreds. He dove in like he’d been waiting just as eagerly as you have, although he probably had a lot more self-restraint.

He wasted no time in letting his fingers join while his lips closed themselves around your little bundle of nerves, suckling on it as his fingers slid inside to fill you up.

“F-fuck...Jimin…” you panted as you let wave after wave of incredible pleasure wash over you, the particularly hard sucks around your little nub shooting through your nerves like electric shocks and having been so wound up for what seemed to have been eons, you felt yourself getting there embarrassingly fast. He just managed to push all the right buttons, his fingers prodding and stroking at your sweet spot while your swollen clit throbbed inside his mouth as he continued sucking and licking with varying pressure and driving you wild.

“Jimin! I’m-i’m not gonna-gonna be able to-”

As if he knew what you were going to say, that you were getting dangerously close, and he probably did, his lips left your nub with a lewd, wet sucking sound, only to move a few inches to the left to reach your inner thigh to bear his fangs and sink them into your flesh. The sharp sting and sudden, overwhelming pain that followed was the last push you needed to come hard, your arousal covering his fingers still guiding you through your mind-blowing and confusing pain-induced orgasm as your blood started to flow inside his mouth, his soft lips somewhat soothing the painful wounds as they brushed over your skin while he eagerly drank every drop. Your mind was empty save for the image of Jimin feeding himself before you, the blood leaving your body no longer painful but a strange, pleasurable feeling that left your head light and hazy, your chest heaving with the aftermath of an orgasm that knocked the wind out of you.

He didn’t go overboard. He never did, as a vampire of his age and experience should. He only needed a little, and even then it was more for the taste than to nurture himself. You’d expected him to heal you right away and call it a day, but he went straight for your core again.

“Jimin!” you gasped, surprised, when he locked his lips with yours down below and greedily licked up anything you spilled, his tongue dancing over your skin and making sure to clean everything up.

“Dinner and dessert.” he chuckled with a last kiss to your center before he pushed himself up on his elbows to hover over you, making a tiny incision in his index finger by pushing it against the tip of his fang before spreading a little of his blood onto the wounds on your thighs. They closed miraculously quick, your skin healed like nothing had ever happened.

You smiled, satisfied, although you felt spent. Jimin tended to have that effect on you, and you absolutely loved it.

“I hope you’re not too tired, sweetheart.” he purred as he slowly kissed around your chest, sometimes stopping to nip at one of your nipples. “The night is still young… And you know what your blood does to me, don’t you, baby?”

Your eyes widened in realization, and when Jimin rolled his hips between yours for you to feel his painfully hard cock through his pants, you knew this was going to be a long night. For you, and probably Kookie, too.

[ilovehighhats]

Facets of Perfection, ch. 13

What a delay, huh? Work is cruel this year, don’t let me start on that.

Well, on with the story!

On Monday Victoria woke up to a soft tune from her cell phone, and an echo of a whooping cough. She sighed heavily, turning in her bed, already dreading the talk that was in store for her.

There was no denying the fact that Selina had the flu. Of course, she insisted it was nothing, just a simple cold, just an ordinary infection that would clear with some ibuprofen. No one believed her, and it turned out impossible to force her to stay home.

Victoria had a stern talk with Bruce, under the guise of helping Cassie attach ribbons to the candy glass ornaments. She chastised him for not pressuring Selina enough to make her skip work. He argued that they were putting in extra hours only for the few days before Christmas, and then they planned to take two weeks off to spend some quality family time.

It sounded weak to Vic’s ears, but Bruce seemed sanguine that all would work out the way he had planned.

In the end, they all went their separate ways as was scheduled - Waynes drove to work in separate cars, Vic and Bane took the kids to school in the jeep.

After leaving Cassie and Tim with the teachers, and fending another onslaught of admiration towards Bane (this time there was some sneaky touching), Vic persuaded him to go shopping earlier than last week. She planned on doing some chores and ambushing Selina in the evening to make her stay home until the end of the week.

They pulled up to the supermarket parking lot, and chatted amiably strolling through the aisles.

“What do you say, mac’n’cheese for dinner tonight?” Victoria asked, reading the label on a chunk of Red Leister.

“Why not. Just add some protein,” Bane said, pushing the cart lazily, his eyes gliding over rows of products before him.

“Oh, protein…” Victoria chuckled, drawing the last word out like a haunting moan. “Is chicken breast okay?”

“It’s acceptable, yes.” Bane nodded, unshaken with her teasing. “You wouldn’t want it to be too fat.”

“Oh, I don’t know. Someone told me lately I could use some more cushioning around my bones.”

“Are you this easily affected by other people?”

“Not usually,” she said. Then she turned around to face him and spread her arms. “Only if the affecting party seems reasonable in his comments.”

“I may have been rash in my initial assessment,” Bane admitted begrudgingly.

“And what made you change your mind?” Vic asked, bending over to get a bag of peas from the freezer. She grinned, when there was a soft chuckle behind her. She did put on an especially tight pair of jeans this morning, and she exchanged her coat for a short jacket.

“You can be very… Persuasive.” Bane admitted. “I hope you know where you're going with this.”

The peas thunked wetly on the bottom of the cart when Vic carelessly threw them in.

“Do you think I have a plan?” She asked, grinning up insolently at Bane.

“Don’t you?”

Her head shook the fringe falling down over her eyes. Vic impatiently brushed it away before she turned around to lead the way.

“I don’t like planning,” she threw over her shoulder.

“I see.”

“You’re a man of lists and schedules, right?”

“As much as any other guy,” Bane murmured, checking something on his phone.

Victoria climbed on her tiptoes and peeked over his arm. There was a grocery list on the screen.

“You don’t say.” Her laugh was warm and lacked the usual undertone of ridicule she used towards him. “Tell me, do you have me on any of those checklists?”

Bane stared at her blankly, his cheeks getting pinkish by the minute.

Victoria’s eyebrows rose up in astonishment.

“You know, the truce thing? I was supposed to help you. You have to tell me when you’ll need my assistance.”

“That. Right. Of course,” Bane said and cleared his throat.

“You know, if you want to use me, go ahead. I just want a head’s up.”

The card stopped abruptly in the middle of an aisle.

When Victoria turned back Bane was immersed in reading the instructions on a package of hot chocolate.

“Well?”

“I’ll tell you when the time comes.”

“Suit yourself,” she said, an enigmatic smile on her face.

They barely spoke after that, but Bane could feer Vic’s eyes on him when he chatted with the staff over the counter of deli display and st the till.

The gears of his mind worked overtime, unnoticeable to everyone around.

When they finished he put the bags in the trunk and closed the lid. Then he froze for a moment, staring into the distance.

The gears screeched to a halt, then picked up their work, the speed twice as fast as before.

“What are you looking at?” Victoria approached him from behind.

“Nothing in particular,” Bane lied.

“Huh. Oh look, there’s the motel. You think you’d be staying there if Sel and Bruce didn’t take you in?”

“Probably.”

“Lucky you.” She laughed and slid onto the passenger seat.

“Indeed,” Bane muttered to himself.

Perhaps he should get a room there… Just in case.

oOo

The day passed without any problems.

Bane fed the kids when they were brought back home, then he played with them and Ace in the yard.  While they built a snowman Victoria dusted the ground floor to the tune of Christmas songs.

Selina came from work drained and with a fever, so Vic packed her into bed to rest. Shortly after that Bruce also returned, drained and sniffling, and swapped with Bane, allowing the guest to get to his evening workout on schedule.

Victoria busied herself in the kitchen, humming together with Dean Martin, enchanting snow to keep falling. And it did, fat, fluffy flakes falling down elegantly in the still air, hushing everything in sight and thickening the cover of white on the roofs.

With the dinner cooking in the oven and kids playing under Bruce’s sleepy eye in the living room, Victoria only had to notify Bane that the meal would soon be ready.

She went out to the backyard without a jacket or a scarf, only in old sneakers she left by the kitchen door just in case of something like that. A quick jog towards the garage and back. Because that’s exactly what she had in mind. Just get there like she did the day before, say her piece and get back.

She really didn't mean to be a creep. Never before had she noticed any voyeuristic inclinations in herself.

But the moment she glimpsed Bane’s body through the little window by the garage door her feet refused to move further.

She watched him, transfixed, indifferent towards the snow softly landing on her hair and clothes.

Contrary to yesterday’s workout, tonight Bane was shirtless. His skin glistened slightly with perspiration, the moist gleam bringing out the shape of muscles working as he moved. They were emphasized as it was, but now, bunched up to perform the exercise, they gave him an appearance of a machine made of sinew and flesh. Like clockwork, he slowly squatted low and shot up quickly to his full height, enormous thighs propelling him up seemingly without effort. His back was ramrod straight, the deep valley of his spine marred only with a thick rope of scar tissue. Victoria focused on the proud way he held his chest forward, as he moved from the rack towards another bar waiting on the floor beside him.

Nonchalantly, he drank something from an opaque bottle, throwing his head back a bit. The dimples at his shoulder blades made her mind numb.

Victoria’s mouth watered. Vaguely, she realized she should have felt cold from standing motionless in the yard.

But then, Bane loaded the bar and bent down to pull it up, and all thoughts flew out of Vic's head. She noticed the weight itself and marvelled at the ease with which he yanked the load off the ground. His arms looked like tree trunks, thickened with the muscles straining to carry the enormous load he held.

Apparently few reps of that were enough because he sat down then and looked at his phone.

Vic realized he was probably nearly done, and what’s worse - he soon would be going back home. Her friendly idea to give him a head’s up before dinner backfired splendidly, but no one but her needed to know. She just had to get back home before he did.

It wasn’t easy to just go, because he soon straightened and started on his pull-ups.

Victoria forcibly made herself turn on her heel and started towards the kitchen door. She was restless, grinning stupidly and still a bit flushed from watching Bane.

She figured two turns around the backyard should help her blood to cool down, and get her back home just in time to avoid meeting the man himself before dinner. So, she set on walking around, her pace brisk and purposeful.

Every step was straightening her resolve. She was not into big man-apes. She was not into walls of muscles and brute strength. She was definitely not into piercing eyes and steely gaze. Nope. Not at all. Her type was set from the high school. An artist and intellectual, sophisticated and elegant. Muscles and cargo pants didn't fit that description, not one bit.

She found herself before the kitchen door, but couldn't get in. Whenever she breathed she remembered the way Bane gulped in a big breath and braced before coming down and up from a squat. Or she thought of the flex of his biceps when he pulled himself up on bars protruding from the lifting station, all terrifying three hundred fifty pounds of him moving towards the ceiling and down as if it was nothing.

This was no use. She groaned and pressed the balls of her hands into her eyes. If only it would be possible to wipe out the things she saw!

“Are you in pain?”

The mocking lilt in Bane’s voice didn’t let a room to doubt of his intentions. He was making fun of her. Did he know she was watching him exercise?

His face was unreadable when Vic twisted around to answer him.

“I’m fine, thank you. Something got into my eye.”

“I see.”

There was an intensity in his eyes, something primal and threatening. That one short sentence was enough to make Vic take a step back.

Bane followed, keeping the distance between them uncomfortably small.

“Are you in a habit of standing alone in the yard at night?”

She scoffed but took another step towards the door.

“It’s barely an evening.”

“It’s dark.”

Was there… Huskiness in his voice?

“What, are you dangerous?” Vic tried to make light of what he implied.

It didn't work out too well. He took another step towards her, forcing her to flatten her back against the wall of the house if she wanted to avoid actual skin contact with him. Her palms flattened on the rough panelling.

She shivered when he replied.

“Extremely.”

One word. It was all he needed to do, just say one word, hiss it out actually, to make her dizzy. In an instant the effervescent thrill of desire coursed through Vic's blood. Her brain disconnected from her mouth apparently, because next thing she said was,

“Can I touch them?”

That visibly confused Bane. To be fair, Vic looked surprised by her own question as well.

“Them?” Bane asked.

“Your biceps. I used to read about muscles being as stiff as stones, watched dozens of statues, but it always seemed like an exaggeration. So, you’re the best specimen I ever met to test that theory. I think. May I touch?”

Bane actually smiled. He smacked his lips as if he wanted to say something, but eventually licked his bottom lip and bit on it for a little while. And grinned with an obnoxious amount of satisfaction.

Vic spaced out. That mouth was in itself too beautiful to be on someone this brutish and burly. It did belong on a statue of a Greek god or something.

“Go on,” he said eventually.

“Oh, okay,” Vic breathed out.

Her hand reached up, but she hesitated just before she touched his skin. Waves of heat radiated off him, and she felt her cheeks getting warmer. His arm was shrouded by a black shirt that clung to his body. Shamelessly close to his body. It was the only thing between his skin and hers. The only thing keeping his power contained, so to speak.

The second Vic’s fingers touched Bane's body he tightened his palms into fists and swallowed. She traced the outline of his bicep with just her fingertips at first. But then she pressed her whole palm and fingers hard into his flesh. The muscle was taut and hard, even when relaxed. It wasn’t exactly like a rock. Warm skin moving over the ball of pure power resting just beneath it. She had to slide a bit closer and use the weight of her body to test the extent of its rigidness.

“Oh. God,” she moaned out with the effort. And then she repeated it, more breathlessly, when he flexed the muscle right under her palm. It was solid, unyielding, and radiated heat. So incredibly hot it made Vic feel bothered, like a ball of fire was slowly smouldering in her belly.

“I've got some other stiff muscles that would make you say that,” Bane grunted with a grin.

“Oh! God!”

It was all she could say before she ran off back into the house, giggling like a teenager.

Bane chuckled. It was stupid, but he enjoyed himself immensely.

"Really, Bane?"

Bruce's silhouette emerged from the darkness of the front yard, Ace at his side.

The mercenary looked at him dispassionately.

"Out of respect for my children and this home... Don't do anything… risky in here."

"I wouldn't."

"Good."

Wayne gestured towards the dog, giving him the signal to run loose.

"I like your kids." Bane said begrudgingly. "I wish for them to stay innocent as long as possible."

"I understand." There was a minute pause, a shift in the atmosphere. "Look, the results should be back before Christmas. Whatever they say, Sel and I want you to stay until New Years."

"Thank you."

"Any word on the assignment?"

"Not yet." Banes' mouth quirked up in one corner. "Are you getting impatient, Wayne?"

"Selina. She wants to act."

"She relinquished her rights to do that."

"I know. She knows. Still..."

"You have a responsibility towards the children."

"I know. I don't want them to suffer through what we had to go through."

"Remember that."

"Every day of  my life I remember how my childhood looked."

Bane bit his tongue, swallowing what he wanted to say. There was no need to compare which of them suffered more. The only thing that mattered now, was to protect what was built upon all the ruin.