#but it's similar enough that it's worth bringing up anyways i feel

[starboundsingularities]

what if i told you i'm making this a series

similar posts: 0 | 1

[dcxdpdabbles]

Cave boy Danny. What if he offhandedly mentions his parents being THERE (as in not dead) and being Doctors (not the same kind of doctors Bruce's parents are) and things like that and doesn't realize that the batfam starts thinking that this? This is what's different with this Bruce. He didn't lose his parents and thus does not grow up wanting vengeance, and his parents are similar in personalities but in a different field!

Now Danny is still as casual young Bruce as ever but the others are just freeking out around him.

Things are strange for a while. Danny knows that his actions have caused the Waynes to be....wary around him. Even Jason- who honestly threw a whole ass parade for Gotham in celebration of Joker's death- seemed to be tense around him.

Danny can't really say he blames them. He still doesn't know why Phantom reacted the way it did- a bit alarming. His ghost side marked Joker as a threat from the moment it laid eyes on him- a threat that could not and would not be reasoned with.

His ghost -half attacked, knowing that Joker's existence threatened his core. A core that was created from the desire to keep his friends safe at the moment of his death. (He had known he would die the moment the portal's electricity hit him- and Danny had not been mournful of his end but rather horrified that Tucker or Sam could have followed him to the afterlife. His last thought as a human was Please let me live long enough to keep them safe.)

Never has that happened before- not even when faced with Vlad or Dan. It was strange to watch Phantom attack and not be in equal amounts of control within his body.

Phantom has always felt a part of him but also not. Danny had once tried to explain it to Jaz, only to end up frustrated when she tried to paint Phantom as a different personality that shared the mind-space with Danny.

Danny knows Phantom isn't like that.

He's not another person- Phantom is Danny in the same sense that Danny is alive but dead. For the same reason, Danny is the flipped color scheme of Phantom. They are one, just viewed differently.

Or maybe they saw the world differently?

It's hard to say and even harder to put into words.

The closest Danny could come to explain was an example Tucker gave him. Someone is the same but acts ultimately differently online, even when they aren't trying to catfish someone.

It's the fact they are behind a screen that gives them just the extra amount of courage. Tuck had said.

Ancients, he misses Tuck. His ship is not ready to venture into his Ghost Zone- hell, if Danny is honest, it's barely able to move. He is trying his best to get it working, but it's slow going. Too slow, even with Wayne's generosity.

"Master Brucie," Alfred started, pausing just within the doorframe of Danny's room until invited in. He does that now, keeping to his manners as though Danny was a guest of the Waynes. Not someone who he can be so familiar with.

It stings to know his killing had lost him the right to be treated as a stranger when Alfred had always treated him as young Bruce Wayne the moment he was found.

"Yes?" He asks, trying to smile. It falls flat, but it's worth the effort.

Alfred's face stays impassive, and Danny tries to tell himself that he doesn't care. He's not a young Bruce Wayne. He wants nothing to do with the Wyanes'.

"There are more gifts for you." The bulter says. "Shall I bring them to your room?"

Danny has received a lot of fan mail since his actions were leaked to the public. Everyone knew that Joker was taken out by Danny Kane. And there wasn't a single person in Gotham who hadn't been hurt or known someone injured by the madman.

He is being praised as a hero.

For murder.

Danny can't find it in himself to feel guilty about it. Joker needed to die. He had too many chances to change, and too many people got hurt.

"That's okay. I'll go downstairs and look through them. I feel like watching a movie anyway." He shrugs his shoulders while strolling to the door in his lazy stride.

Alfred steps out of his way, bowing ever so slightly. "Very good sir."

Sir.

That stings.

Danny doesn't bring it up or mention that Alfred keeps a safe space between them. Not enough that it would be rude, but definitely one of a servant following a master instead of a man who thought him the younger version of his son.

When they arrive at the room, he is surprised to find a white shipping cart filled to the brim with packages and letters waiting for him. Standing beside the cart, flipping through the envelopes, is Tim.

He has yet to see much of Tim. Not since Danny proved his doubts weren't as unfound as Danny actively tried to convince the other teen of.

No time like the present.

"Hey, Tim." He calls just to mentally get the other prepared for his approach. As expected, Tim whips around with a narrow eye-ed glare that does nothing to hide his distaste for Danny. Alfred follows them into the room but stays by the door at an appropriate distance. "Anything good?"

"Good, how?" Tim bites, and Danny fights to not roll his eyes.

"I don't know. Maybe a letter from my mom saying I'm a good boy or another football from dad-"

"I beg your pardon?" Alfred cuts him off- which, okay, that's never happened before. The butler has never overstepped his position- even when they thought him harmless little Brucie- to talk over him.

Danny turns to find the man pasty white, looking both cautiously overjoyed and wishful. "Did you make a joke about your parents, Master Brucie?"

"Ugh, Yeah? Why?"

"Young sir, are- are your parents alive?"

Danny is floored by the choked-up emotion in that one sentence that all he can do is nod. Tim drops the package he was checking over, his jaw slacked, and staring at Danny like having parents was the answer of the universe.

"Thomas and Martha Wayne are alive in your universe.." Tim all but breaths. "They are alive and have more than one kid."

"Why is that a big deal?" Danny asks, unable to himself. "What happened to Bruce's parents here?"

"Master Thomas was a doctor," Alfred says, ignoring Danny's question. But he now hears the answer in the past tense when referring to Bruce's parents. "Is he still in your world?"

"Yes, and so is my mom." PHD doctors, but they don't need to know that.

"That's why you like this." Tim slumps into the chair closest to him. Danny is mightily alarmed that he seems pale now. "That's why you don't know anything about Batman. He was never inspired. You....you really are a civilian."

Danny will deny that he fleed the room when Tim burst into tears till the day he died. He does not look back even when Alfred yells for his return. He has outstayed his welcome.

He slips into his room, grabs anything not nailed down with any form of technology, and then activates his intangibility. He sinks down down, and down, to the caves. He knows where the Bats work, knows where to go from his nights where he tried to work on ship.

He flies in that direction, knowing he will never see the Waynes again. Not after realizing how much pain his lies have unwillingly caused.

Master Post Link

[itstatartdump]

So like most people on here I had been watching Watcher since they started their channel, and like most others I was surprised/concerned at the announcement that they're starting a streaming service. After checking out the site and looking close at their YouTube, this feels destined to fail.

I'll go through my thoughts.

They don't currently post enough to justify the paywall

Over the past year, they have posted between 4 to 9 videos a month. That is a decent amount for most YouTube channels, but for a streaming service that is way to low. For $5.99 a month, getting only 4 episodes is not a good deal when other services give you more for less.

What makes this problem worse it that...

They only produce one show at a time

Whenever Watcher releases a shows, they only have that show running. During a series of Mystery Files, they only upload Mystery Files. During a series of Too Many Spirits, they only upload Too Many Spirits. Now this isn't the case all the time, when they have smaller productions they usually release a similar size production along with it.

If we go back to the issue of only getting 4 episodes, this means that you can be paying $5.99 a month to access 4 episodes of a show that you don't enjoy.

These two issues would be less detrimental if it wasn't for the fact that...

They backpedalled removing their YouTube back catalogue

Lets be real, not only were they originally going to remove their YouTube content, It was the only way I could see this being worth the price.

Yes, they say that they aren't removing it, but if you read the full article it say's that "The company originally told Variety that Watcher would eventually remove all of its videos from YouTube".

Their original plan WAS to make all their content exclusive to streaming, the problem was that everyone new this was a scummy idea and they gaslit their audience into thinking they weren't doing that. But that now leaves them with a streaming service where all they offer is 4 episodes of a show per month and a back catalogue that is free on a more well known platform.

The big question I have is...

How are they going to make more content

This is something that I feel should be addressed, they are a small production studio who are trying to "creating television-caliber, unscripted series in the digital space" (direct quote from their YouTube Description). They need more content per month to make this service worth while, how are they going to do that?

Will they push out multiple small budget, easy to film, YouTube like content that bring up the overall upload count which may cause them and their employees to crunch and burn out.

Or are they going to produce several higher budget, TV-calibre shows that would each be more expensive than they can afford to make.

Not sure if this was coherent but thanks for reading anyway.

(sidenote)

While I agree that Steven is getting a huge bulk of the anger that should also be applied to Shane and Ryan, I also have to acknowledge that the first announced show after saying they need money being his travel show is not helping.

[gtsdreamer2]

Beach Gate

April 12th. The day they told everyone to stay out of the water. It was all over the news for weeks. They were releasing a small amount of radiation waste into the ocean. Scientists ran hundreds of simulations about how the water would be safe just one day after the release. Something about dispersement and currents. What they hadn't calculated were the hungry organisms in the water that would feed on the radiation and mutate.

Sebast was relaxing in his chair on the beach. He was on holiday and figured a lazy afternoon at the beach would be the best use for the beautiful day that it was. The beach was moderately crowded, but it was a school day, so it was mostly adults relaxing and enjoyimg the water. Sebast was reading the daily paper, but couldn't help but steal glances at all of the beautiful bikini-clad women that he was fortunate to be surrounded by on this clear, sunny day. He started to dose off while reading the article about a strange algal bloom that scientists were only just starting to study. As he slept, the water all along the shore suddenly began to glow a dark purple as the irradiated algae began to flood in. Woman and men alike were quickly covered in the bloom. As the beach goers exited the shimmering sea, two things became apparent. Firstly, the algae seemed to slip and slide off the men and children before receding back into the ocean. Secondly, the purple globs seemed to congregate and cover only the women, sticking to them and binding to their skin. At first they tried their best to remove the unwelcome algae, but as the masses of purple microfauna began to completely coat the women, their demeanor quickly changed from panic to pleasure.

Sebast awoke, startled as the screams turned to moans around him. Looking to the woman closest to him, he could only watch in fascination as she spasmed on the ground. Mashing her hands over her body, she forcefully massaged the purple goop against her skin. Slowly the algae was being absorbed into her and the irradiated creatures caused her body to swell and grow, which only seemed to fuel her pleasure.

"Fuck, this feels amazing!" She cried out, quickly breaking free of her inadequate clothing. All around him similar situations were playing out. The women began to surge in size at varying paces depending on how much algae they had been in contact with. Some women quickly realized this and ran back into the ocean, scooping up massive handfuls of the creatures and lathering them onto themselves. As the women on the beach began to only break the ten foot mark, those in the sea were quickly doubling and tripling that as their increased volume gave the algae more space to bind to.

Sebast watched as a hierarchy quickly formed. The massive women in the ocean were now big enough to block the much smaller women from growing any larger. This led to the woman that was closest to him coming up to him with a children's pail. She towered above him while she batted her long lashes. "Um, could you take this into the water and bring me more of that purple stuff? I want to be bigger and I promise I'll give you a big reward!" She pressed her chest together as she stuck out both her arms to hand Sebast the pail. He eagerly took it and waited for an opportunity. As one of the monstrously large women in the water started fighting over resources with another one, he made a dash for the shoreline, quickly scooping up a bucket's worth of algae. One of the titanesses watched playfully as Sebast delivered the pail. The woman eagerly dumped it over herself and rubbed it into her skin, quickly gaining a meager two feet in height. "I'll never catch up to those goddesses at this rate. Thanks anyway sweetie." She said, kissing him on the cheek.

The biggest of the sea queens laughed at the mini-giantess's attempt to gain some size. "That was pathetic." She taunted. "Watch and learn." The tide was forced outward as the kaiju sized woman lowered herself into the sea, leaving only her nose above the waterline. Suddenly she opened her mouth and sucked in hundreds of gallons of seawater and all the algae with it. Great volumes of purple water filled her cheeks as she gained another hundred feet in only a few moments. She moaned through her closed mouth, careful not to lose any growth fuel until it had all been absorbed into her. When her growth finally slowed, she sprayed clear water at all the onlookers that were now even further dwarfed by her.

"What a rush!" She boomed, her voice resonating for miles against the tiny eardrums it came across. At her new size, she had no trouble throwing the closest women to her size out onto the beach. "This is all mine!" She roared, throwing her arms out and scooping miles of purple onto her skin, which rose above the water higher and higher. She groped her massive chest and rubbed herself all over in a display of pure carnal dominance. Sebast just watched in awe as the women that were still much larger than him cowered before this ascending goddess. He turned to the one who he had helped grow and grabbed her hand. "Let's get out of here before she crushes us all!" He said, showing her another pail full of algae. She giggled before lifting him up and scurrying off somewhere safer.

[jaegeraether]

Sunsets and footballers (Part 46)

Lucy Bronze x Reader (41) & Alexia Putellas x Character (10)

Masterlist (other parts here)

((**Happy 2024!!**))

“And you just left?”

Ridley shrugged. There were sat at a café Ridley was introducing her to, waiting to order.

“It sounds like a good night…”

“It was.”

“And she forgave you?”

“She said she did.”

“And you shared dessert!” YFN’s eyes were basically hearts. “That’s adorable.”

“She can’t eat too unhealthily during season.”

“Don’t go making excuses now, Riddles, she wanted to share.”

Ridley sighed, the heat of the Spanish sun shining down onto her face. Her sunglasses could only do so much. She’d dressed for the pool they were going to be bathing around at Lucy’s place, black shorts and a loose, see-through white button up shirt with a black bikini underneath. She always took advantage of her days off by spending them in the sun or doing activities. She was much more excited to spend it with her Blue though. She looked over at her little smiling face, her dimples on show. She was also dressed for the pool and wearing quite a similar outfit, though with one of Lucy’s button ups, from the looks of it. She wasn’t quite as tanned as she’d been when they’d last seen each other in Australia, though. The UK would do that to you. She seemed much happier though. Happiness suited her. Lucy suited her.

“What’re you thinking?”

“Spain suits you.”

Her face flashed a happy surprise as her smile widened, and she pretended it didn’t. “You think?”

“Yes.”

“Lucy loves it here…” She said, looking around them at the people who were so much more placid and in less of a rush than the UK. “Reminds me of Australia.”

“Do you think she’ll stay at Barca?”

“She wants to, but her knee…she doesn’t know how much longer she can keep going.”

“You know, anyone in her position would have quit years ago already. Her work ethic is impressive.”

“I know. I find it hard to believe she wanted me of all people…I’m really proud of her.”

“Don’t discount your worth, Blue. She’s very, very lucky to have you. I guarantee you bring her a lot of love and security that she’s never had before.”

Ridley had always been honest, though she knew where it was necessary. She also was incredibly good at understanding people. Even though YFN knew this, it still didn’t stop her partially freezing at Ridley’s words. She understood them to their core, and that’s only after meeting Lucy once.

The waiter came over, then. He was cute, polite, his hair was a wavy light brown mess and he gave them both the most genuine smile as he pushed the glasses up the bridge his nose. He was exactly Ridley’s type. She leant back in her chair to get a better look at him, not worried that she was obvious about it. She could feel YFN’s eyes roll and the man’s naivety slowly being replaced by his testosterone as he realised she liked him. He blushed lightly and gave a little, nervous laugh that made her want him even more.

“Good morning, my name is Christian, what can I get for you today?” He asked, his voice so Spanish that she knew he didn’t speak English. She assumed he was new to the café as Ridley hadn’t seen him before.

“Torrijas and pan con tomate, both to share. A café cortado for me, and an apple juice for my friend, please.” Ridley replied in perfect Spanish, ordering for the two before they’d even looked at the menus. YFN didn’t mind, she was used to it, and Ridley knew exactly what she wanted anyways.

She handed the menus over with a smile she knew would catch him off guard. She could hear a little nervous breath as he took them, able to compose himself enough to nod at both before he left. She watched as he went. She was going to rock his fucking world.

“Ridley…” YFN chastised. She was the only person in the world who’d not be encouraging at something like that. She kept Ridley’s morals intact, which is one of the reasons she loved her so much. Also, hearing her actual name from her lips meant she was in trouble.

“He’s cute.” She murmured, still looking.

“Poor form.”

“I’m not in a relationship.”

“And what about the conversation we were just having?”

“Alexia and I aren’t dating.”

“But you want to be.”

“Wanting and doing are two entirely different concepts. Maybe I just want to fuck her and my brain is pretending it’s in love with her.”

“You know that’s not true. Yes, you obviously want to have sex with her. But you’ve had the opportunity, and you haven’t really… that night doesn’t count. You know she makes you feel differently. I hear the way you talk about her.”

That interested Ridley. She thought she’d done a good job of being nonchalant when speaking about the hazel-eyed footballer.

“I don’t owe her anything.”

“You keep telling yourself that, Riddles.”

Ridley hated when YFN was disappointed with her, which was a rarity. Did she owe her something, she wondered? For the feelings Alexia made her feel? For the feelings Ridley made Alexia feel? For the tension? For the unsaid acknowledgement from them both at dinner the other night that they could be something more?

Argh, emotions, her thoughts muttered. This is why she avoided them because they were always so fucking complicated. She wasn’t bad at them necessarily, she just avidly avoided them, so it was funny that the person closest to her in the world, the one sitting on the other side of the table, was the complete opposite.

“Any plans for tonight?” She asked, changing the subject.

“Lucy is organising a meet up for the Barca team to introduce me,” she said, her disappointment gone and her smile back. So she’d be with Alexia tonight. As if reading her thoughts, “I’m not sure who’s going. Lucy’s handling all of it.”

“Mmn. And this dress you need is for which event?”

“Uh…GQ Awards?”

“In London? How did you manage that?” She was surprised, and a little suspicious.

“My boss knows people.”

“Mmnhmn.” Again, the suspicion, but she didn’t push. “Date?”

“Solo.”

“To help Jordan and Leah, right?”

YFN had mentioned it was to support her ‘friends’ but hadn’t mentioned who. Though, she didn’t seem surprised that Ridley had made a correct assumption.

“Cheeky, but yes.”

“Okay, solo, representing your business, celebrity awards…obviously we need something sexy. It’s the Man of the Year awards so everybody will be dressing more masculine, even the women. Expect suits everywhere. So I’m thinking we go opposite and make you look so sexy that the men will want you on their arms.”

“I don’t want to go too crazy..”

“It’s okay, baby, I know exactly what you need.” Their drinks and food arrived then; the server just as nervous as previously. Ridley shot him another grin that had him tripping over his feet as he left. “And you said Jordan wants an outfit too?”

“Only if we find something nice. She’s been busy with training and doesn’t want to ask Leah.” She slid her phone over the table for Ridley. “This is what Leah is wearing.”

“Fuck me, she’s stunning. We can find something to match that. Jordan has a gorgeous figure. If Leah is in a dress, is Jordan happy with a suit?”

“I think she’d prefer a suit to be honest…”

“Perfect, I already have something in mind.”

“I also have her sizing-” The look Ridley shot her was almost offended. She was good at sizing. “Never mind, now what are these?”

“Apple juice for the drink. These are torrijas which are essentially a sweet cinnamon sugar French toast, but the Spanish way. They tend to get offended at that description, though. I know you like your sweet things. And this is pan con tomate which is a very popular dish in Spain where you have bread, usually ciabatta, which you brush with olive oil and toast before rubbing garlic cloves over the bread and then spreading the tomato on top. If I were to liken it to anything, it would be closest to bruschetta, just with tomato puree and it’s simpler.” She gestured to the tables around them, most of which had the same. “It’s very popular in Catalonia.”

“I feel like falling in love with Spain is inevitable at this point.”

Ridley allowed herself a chuckle. “Well, you’ll always have a home with me.” She let herself pause to see YFN’s smile. “If you’re used to naked people, that is.”

YFN groaned.

“What? You’ve seen me naked.” Ridley teased.

“You know, I think the noise would be the deal-breaker.”

She shrugged. “I soundproof. And then there’s the gags-”

Ridley was stopped by a small torrija launched in her general direction which she caught with ease and bit into as if it were meant for her.

They finished up their brunch and of course Ridley collected the server’s number before they left, much to YFN’s disapproval. Ridley made sure YFN had all of the attention and care she needed when they chose a dress. By the end of it, even she admitted it was stunning. It was a simple, charcoal grey satin dress which curved down around her body, hugging all of the right places. It was a spaghetti strap and low back to accentuate one of her best features, her back, and those dimples at the bottom. The design was so elegant and simplistic that even YFN loved it. They played around with hairstyles, Ridley eventually convincing her that a minimal boho side-braid would be the best with the dress the show off her collarbone on one side. They picked out jewellery, a simple silver necklace and a few rings along with an exquisite silver flower ear cuff. YFN had said she’d never felt so beautiful in her life. Ridley was proud of that. She loved putting confidence into others, especially YFN.

During her fittings and talks to the staff, Ridley had been doing some shopping of her own, amongst which was a suit for Jordan to wear. It was expensive, but money had never been a factor for Ridley as she purchased everything they’d chosen that day, including YFN’s items before she’d even had a chance. Ridley had YFN tell Jordan that she had a full outfit picked out for her as she drove them to lunch by the beach. A dip in the water was tempting, but they were already both hanging out for the pool at home. A lazy day, just with each other’s company.

“Do you mind if we pick up Chiquito on the way to yours?” Ridley had asked.

“He won’t fight with Narla?”

“He doesn’t fight with anyone unless it’s for my attention.”

“Okay, then.”

Chiquito was Ridley’s cat. He was a young, grey Turkish Angora that she’d rescued during her recent contract in Dubai. Due to the weather, he was a lot less furry than others of the same breed and being Ridley’s pet, he was quite used to all things outdoors including swimming. Unusual for a cat. They say pets are like their owners, and in that aspect he was, along with being the cuddliest cat on the planet according to Ridley. YFN had not met him yet, though.

They stopped by Ridley’s house, which she’d only seen in photos. It was massive. To own a house in Spain, you needed to be well off, let alone to own a house of that size. It was typical Spanish architecture, and from the state of it and the Spanish gardens, it was obvious she had people to take care of it. Inside, it was still original with a modern twist. The attention to detail was incredible, she knew Ridley must have had a lot of input into the intricacies of the place. Everything was so neat and tidy and…Ridley. Chiquito greeted them at the door, excited to meet someone new. He let YFN pick him up and cuddle him while Ridley showed her around the house. The outdoor area and pool were stunning. YFN’s jaw dropped. She knew Ridley was rich, but she had no idea how rich. She was scared to look in the garage.

“Why don’t we just swim here?” She laughed as she stared.

Ridley shrugged. “We can. Isn’t Lucy picking you up from your apartment, though?”

Your apartment, she’d said. A Ridley way of saying she approved of their relationship which was more important to her than she realised. “I can just give her this address.”

“Okay, it’s settled. We’ll stay here then.”

Two people rounded the corner then and YFN jumped.

“It’s okay,” Ridley laughed. “It’s just my housekeeper and caretaker. Blue, this is Maria and Mateo.”

She waved while Ridley introduced them to her in Spanish. They were a cute, older couple who looked happy to see someone other than one of Ridley’s casuals. Ridley asked them something in Spanish and they nodded, getting to work.

“They live in the guest house,” she said. “They look after the place 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. I’m practically just their guest who’s home on occasion.”

“They seem lovely. What did you ask them?”

“I just told them to expect more company and asked if we could have some snacks out by the pool.”

Ridley was similar to Lucy, always hungry, because she was always working out. She showed her around the entire place, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms, gym, kitchen, living areas and she even had a music room. Ridley loved her music. She’d always played when they were younger.

“Do you remember any of the guitar I taught you?” She asked.

“Some I think?”

Ridley grinned and picked up an acoustic guitar, handing it to her, before taking her favourite since high school, a cream coloured Sterling Cutlass. Ridley took a few more things including an amp out by the pool with them and set them up. YFN texted Lucy the address before they settled in for a swim and a play. Watching Chiquito get in the water and swim was one of the strangest things she’d ever seen, and it was hilarious to see him all soaked as he got out. They sun-baked for a while in their bikini’s and had a few jam sessions, the music coming back to YFN. Ridley could tell how much she’d missed it and the calm that came with it that she enjoyed. Snacks, guitars, swimming, Chiquito. It was perfect. They’d lost track of time, the sun getting lower in the sky. YFN was sprawled out on her sunbed in her bikini and open button up, eyes closed and listening to Ridley as she jammed to a song. Ridley was proud of her musical intelligence, following flows and creating her own melodies. She was sitting partially cross-legged on her sunbed, also in her bikini and button up, Bose headphones on and head moving to the sounds she was improvising. They had Spotify playing popular songs that she was improvising solos to, eyes closed and in her happy place. Chiquito was by her foot, now fluffy again with the sun drying his fur, curled up with his paw draped over her foot. He was a touchy cat.

She was in the middle of a solo to The Chain by Fleetwood Mac, one of her favourite songs, when a grape hit her head. She was undisturbed and reached for it, popping it into her mouth before another one hit her and she got the hint, her eyes opening to a sight she hadn’t expected.

Lucy was there. With Ona Batlle. And Keira Walsh. And Alexia.

Alexia would have been lying if she said she wasn’t turned on by the sight of Ridley jamming away in her bikini. YFN threw a grape at her, impacting her temple but she didn’t flinch, she stayed in her zone, even popping the grape into her mouth as her fingers expertly navigated her instrument. She opened her eyes at the second grape, though, her eyes immediately finding Alexia with a grin before they roamed over the others she was with. She popped the second grape in her mouth and tilted her head, pulling her headphones down around her neck.

“What in the world of football lesbians do we have here?”

Another grape hit her head. This one was thrown by Lucy, though, from her spot on the bottom of YFN’s sunbed.

“Are you secret royalty?” Lucy asked.

“No, just materialistic, I guess.”

Lucy chuckled at that and Alexia could tell they were already good friends. “I brought a few people, I hope you don’t mind. I drove them all to practise this morning.”

YFN was standing, introducing herself to Keira and Ona. Keira was happy to meet her, hugs and all. Ona was a little quieter than usual, Alexia realised. It had been last minute that they’d diverted and she hadn’t realised YFN would be here, she supposed.

“The more, the merrier.”

“The pool looks tempting. I would ask for a swim, but the sun is setting and we don’t have bikini’s.”

“I wouldn’t be opposed to a little skinny dipping, Bronze,” she replied with a wink.

“Riddlessss…” Came the warning from YFN. “Play nice.”

Ridley put her hands up in a gesture of submission. “Party wrecker.”

YFN rolled her eyes. “Ona, Keira, this is Ridley, Ridley, this is half of the Barca team,” she said with a laugh. It was a happy sound that made Lucy turn around just to look at her. She stepped forward and put a hand on her girlfriend’s shoulder where she sat. “And you already know Lucy and Alexia.”

Ridley gave a wave. “Hola. And this is Chiquito. Welcome to our home.” She gestured around her as she picked up the little grey cat. “Have you come to take my friend away?”

Ridley stood then, most of her body on show. Alexia couldn’t physically help but stare at her. So many scars she hadn’t noticed before. And…tattoos? Ridley wandered over closer to the group, not bothering to close the button up like YFN had. With a body like that, she didn’t blame her.

“Sure have. I hear you helped YFN find a dress for Friday?”

“Not ‘helped’.” YFN said. “She did everything. And accessories. And hair. And Jordan’s outfit also. I can’t wait for you to see it!” She gushed leaning further onto Lucy. Alexia knew she didn’t mean to be so touchy in front of Ona, it was just how they were together. Thinking that, she remembered Ridley’s fingertips on her hand at the restaurant the other night, her lips on her cheek as she said goodbye, her fingertips rubbing her clit into her orgasm and through it-

“La Reina?”

That pulled her from her daze, her eyes immediately locking with Ridley’s.

“Si?”

“Are you okay with it?”

“With what…?”

Ridley’s smile and eyebrow raise made her feel like she knew she was the reason she was so distracted. That stunning face. Alexia was…nervous. It was an unusual feeling.

“I asked Ridley if she wanted to come tonight and she only will if you’re okay with it.” Lucy responded. She was standing now, one arm around YFN’s hip.

Alexia cleared her throat quietly and responded quickly trying to not be so obvious about wanting exactly that. “Si…yes I’m okay with it.”

Alexia tore her gaze off of Ridley, finding anything else. Her eyes fell on YFN who was biting her lip and Alexia wondered what she was thinking before she spoke. “We can meet you at the bar if you want?”

Ah, she must have been thinking about an awkward car ride sitting between Ona and Keira.

“Your clothes…” Lucy reminded her.

“I have plenty of clothes here. Many different sizes. We’ll find something cute for her to wear.” Ridley was confident.

Alexia wondered exactly why she had so many clothes, and her brain immediately thought of women she had over. Was it for them?

“It is…a boy?” Ona asked in broken English, stepping closer to Ridley and looking at Chiquito.

“Si.” She took a small step forward for Ona to pat. Ona was very much an animal lover. Keira stepped forward also when she realised how cuddly he was.

“How old is he?” She asked.

“Just turned one.”

“You adopted him?”

“She rescued him while she was in Dubai,” YFN answered for her.

Ridley rescued him? The thought of her seeing the little cat and wanting to take him home to Spain moved something in her. Her heart softened. He was very much obsessed with his mum, from the way he looked at her. Alexia felt a sadness in her stomach for her Pomeranian, Nala, who she’d recently lost. She pushed that emotion aside and gave way to the next which surprisingly was a deep jealousy, watching both Ona and Keira so close to Ridley, brushing up against her as they patted Chiquito in her arms. Keira stepped back first, being more of a dog than a cat person and even while Ona was still patting him, he looked over at Alexia and extended a paw in a stretch, slowly blinking. She thought she was going crazy, thinking he was gesturing to her when Ridley caught her attention.

“I think he wants to meet you.”

Alexia hesitated, not allowing herself to look up at Ridley just yet, for fear of daydreaming or doing something stupid again. She stepped towards the cat who was leaning into Ona’s hands, though looking at the Barca captain as she came so close she was almost touching Ridley. She stroked her fingertips through his soft, longish grey hair, noticing there wasn’t much of him. He was still a baby. And he was adorable.

“He’s intelligent, no?” She asked in Spanish.

“Si, very much so,” Ridley replied in perfect Spanish.

Ona’s head shot up. “You speak Spanish?”

“Of course, I live and work here.”

“Most people don’t bother to learn.”

She shrugged. “You learnt English, no? It’s rude to move to a country and not try to learn the language.”

“Wow, your Spanish is so good!” She complimented, listening to it roll off of her tongue. Ridley smirked at her and that jealously hit Alexia hard again. Very, very hard. So hard she felt sick and took a step back. She looked over at Lucy who’s eyes widened as she noticed.

“Okay, should we stop patting Ridley’s cat and go?” It was a deliberate sexual innuendo, obvious enough to earn her a slap on the arm by YFN. They grinned at each other.

“I’ll see you there. Text me the address.”

“Actually, we’re going to Javier’s bar…” Alexia said.

“Javier?” Ridley seemed confused and the look in her eye was almost as if she would back out. Alexia wasn’t surprised, she would have a lot of people flirting with her there. She couldn’t imagine she’d get through the night without spending some time up in one of the private rooms with someone.

“Is that okay?” YFN asked, a hand going onto her friend’s arm.

“Si,” she replied, pulled from her thoughts, her eyes finding Alexia’s. “Yes, we’ll see you there.”

Alexia was sitting on a bar stool, her leg bouncing as they waited. All of the Barca girls were there and having a good time. It was the middle of the week, so they weren’t drinking, just having dinner and chatting away. A hand touched her knee gently and she turned to Lucy who was giving her a look. A look that said ‘calm down, everything is okay.’

“They’ll be here soon.”

They’d arrived earlier, and Alexia knew that. Just as she said that, they walked through the door. She knew that because of the regulars greeting Ridley, and Lucy’s head snapping to watch YFN like she sensed she was there. Lucy stood automatically and Alexia couldn’t help but chuckle. They were just as bad as each other. While Ridley was tied up with some of the staff and regulars, Lucy introduced YFN around the table. Alexia forced herself to talk to Mapi and Ingrid across from her, distracting herself. She’d only lost sight of Ridley for a few minutes when the hair on her neck tingled and she smelled her perfume as she came up behind her.

“Is this seat taken?” She asked in Spanish.

Alexia shook her head as Ridley took a seat to her left, but not before introducing herself to Mapi and Ingrid over their table who gave Alexia a look. It was common knowledge around the team by now of Alexia’s ‘crush’. The ‘one who made her so grumpy’ Oshoala had said.

“Alexia!” Came another voice from behind her. She turned in her seat and grinned at Javier who had his arms outstretched as he came in for a hug and a kiss on either cheek. “Ridley was telling me about how your friends are dating…small world, yes?” He laughed.

“Apparently so,” she grumbled.

He laughed again at that. Javier was not stupid. He knew people. Not of people. But…people. What made them tick. It’s what made him so good at his job. “Servers will be around soon, I’m heading off for an early night, I just wanted to say hello first.”

“Sexy date?” Ridley asked.

“Oh baby, you know it. I’m going to blow his socks off.”

They shared a hand clap and a cheeky look between them. Javier said his goodbyes and left, but not before slipping something to Ridley that she caught out of the corner of her eye. Her stomach sank. Was it a room key, so she could fuck someone?

Lucy and YFN returned to their seats on the right side of Alexia, Lucy grabbing the bottom of YFN’s chair and dragging it right up against hers. Cute. Although Ridley wasn’t as close, she was very aware that she was right next to her, no matter where she looked.

“Alexia?” A small voice came from behind her.

She turned in her chair to see a young girl in a Barca jersey holding up a little teddy. Alexia took it out of politeness.

“Hola. Would you like me to sign this?” She asked in Spanish with a smile.

“No, that’s a present for you. Could I get a photo?”

Alexia smiled and nodded. She knelt down next to the girl and held the teddy up, one arm going around her as her mother took a photo of both of them.

“Thank you for my teddy, it’s very cute.”

“Her name is Nala.” Alexia hesitated, not able to find words. “Because you lost Nala.”

The melancholy must have been written on her face because her mother stepped forwards putting her hands on her daughter’s shoulders. “I’m so sorry, Alexia. She heard you lost Nala and wanted to give you something…I hope it’s okay?”

“Y..yes.” She replied, her voice cracking. “Yes of course, sorry, you caught me off guard. Thank you for this.” The last part was directed to the girl who smiled.

She watched them as they walked off and she returned to her barstool, holding the teddy to her with one arm. Nala. Fingertips touched her hand. She looked at Ridley who had lost all cheekiness, her eyes sincere.

“Are you okay?” The question was soft and just between the pair.

Alexia nodded. “Si, thank you.”

“She’s cute,” she murmured, looking at the teddy.

Her fingertips left her then and the skin where they were became cold.

The rest of the night was full of good talks, and a few awkward moments. Ona had been unable to stop her eyes wandering to Lucy, and it was obvious to everyone at the table besides her. YFN made her way around to talk to different people, Ridley mingling also. Ona had been flirting with Ridley and Alexia wondered if it was intentional, or just to distract herself from Lucy. From what she’d seen, Ridley had been polite about it, but that hadn’t stopped the jealousy. They all moved around, not really keeping their seats as they spoke to each other. Alexia kept her little teddy close so it wouldn’t be covered in drinks or food.

“Ridley!”

Ridley turned, so did Alexia who was a few people down from her. He was a handsome guy who’d had a few to drink, and he spoke to Ridley like he knew her.

“Hola.”

“It’s me!” He said in Spanish with a slur.

She tilted her head.

“Max?”

“Oh! Max. Hola.” She seemed uninterested and as if he’d interrupted them, which he had. Still, her reaction caught Alexia off guard because she was usually nice to everyone.

He frowned. “I thought you’d be more excited to see me.”

“I’m with friends, Max. Is everything okay?”

“I just wanted to know if you’re free.”

“Clearly not.”

Another frown. “I’m beginning to think you don’t like me…”

“I’ve told you multiple times in the past that I don’t.”

“Come on baby.” He grabbed her jaw. “I wanna see what that mouth can do.”

Alexia took a step forwards but stopped as YFN grabbed her arm. “She’s got this.” She murmured.

Ridley slapped his hand away. “My mouth can do a lot of things…” She teased.

“Like what baby?”

“Like hurt your feelings. Now fuck off.”

He didn’t take it well and his jaw flexed as Ridley turned her back on him. A woman came over and grabbed his arm, dragging him away before returning and grabbing Ridley, spinning her around.

Ridley groaned. “What in the one mutual friend do you want?”

“That’s my boyfriend.”

“I’m sorry. Do you need a therapist? I have a great one I can recommend.”

A few of the Barca girls chuckled under their breath, enjoying the show.

“Fuck you. He’s a great guy! He was just being nice!”

“You see a lot of potential in a guy who obviously sleeps on a mattress on the floor.”

Alexia coughed to cover a laugh and from the side of Ridley’s mouth smirking, she knew she heard it.

“You’re just a fucking-”

“Uh uh.” Ridley cut off. “Before you try to hurt my feelings, take into account that I don’t have any, and that you probably do. Now go back to your boyfriend and maybe give him some attention so he’ll stop trying to pick up women in the bar like he does every other night.”

“He does not.”

She shrugged. “Just warning you. Have fun.”

“He’s…he just like sex. He’s the reason I’m happy.”

“Good for you. I’m the reason a lot of people drink heavily. Now fuck off before I call security.”

She raised her hand, gesturing to the security guard watching them. The woman looked over and thought about it until she gave up and walked away. Ridley nodded to the security guard who nodded back and kept an eye on them.

Ridley turned back around to the applause of the Barca girls and Alexia would be lying if she said she wasn’t incredibly turned on. Apparently Ona was also as she leant in and shared a chuckle with her about the ordeal. Alexia turned away but couldn’t find a distraction anywhere. Across from her, Mapi and Ingrid were kissing, and to her right, YFN and Lucy were getting closer, talking lowly with their eyes loving each other. She couldn’t be mad, but she was. So mad. Behind the madness she could feel loneliness and sadness. She looked at the time. 9pm. They had training tomorrow.

“I’m going to head off,” she murmured thinking no one would hear. They did.

“Already?” Lucy asked before looking at the time, her eyes widening and turning to YFN. “We need to get you to bed.”

YFN had an early flight.

“We’ll come too,” Mapi nodded.

“I want to stay,” Ona said, but it was directed more at Ridley. Her eyes flicked to Lucy and back though.

Alexia didn’t even want to hear the response, thinking about the room key in her pocket. She stood and said her goodbyes, holding her teddy close as she walked out with Lucy, YFN, Mapi, Ingrid, and a few others.

“Who needs a lift?” Lucy asked.

Alexia, Mapi and Ingrid put their hand up for that. Oshoala offered to take Patri and Keira home while Caroline and Marta were going together.

On the way to the car, they were approached by two young men wanting autographs. Alexia had seen them before, and knew they didn’t care about them, they just used their autographs to make money. The Barca girls brushed them off but they were insistent. One of them was going for Lucy and pushed YFN out of the way. She stumbled and fell to her knees.

Lucy saw red and shoved him away, helping YFN back onto her feet, putting her behind her protectively. “Get the fuck away from her.”

He put his hands up and backed away, Lucy waiting until far enough away to look at YFN’s scraped hands. She put her in the passenger side and closed the door, holding the rear door open for the others. Ingrid jumped in and Mapi was shoving the other insistent guy away before he got to the Norwegian. Alexia was last, and obviously his prime target.

“Alexia!” He held out something for her to sign. She ducked her head kept walking to the car. “What, so you’ll only sign it if I’m a girl? Typical lesbian.”

What he said was disgusting, but it wasn’t something she hadn’t heard before. She kept walking to the car as he backed away, though he seemed to change his mind and before she got to the car, he snatched the teddy from her arms and ran away.

“No!” She yelled after him. Nala. He jumped into the car his friend was in, both laughing as they started the engine. Alexia knew better than to pursue in case she was hurt and just stood there, her arm still outstretched a little from when she’d tried to stop him. She couldn’t help the tears that fell from her eyes. A hand touched her arm and she turned. Ridley. One look at her face and Ridley’s jaw flexed, her expression changing to something Alexia hadn’t seen before. Ridley ran to their car as they started it up and grabbed the door handle. It was locked. They stuck their finger up at her and started to drive off. She ran with them and that’s when she smashed the front window in with her fist. It took a few tries and Alexia gasped when she watched it, knowing how much it must have hurt. The guys yelled and hit the brakes as she leant through the window and grabbed the teddy. She left them there, and wandered back over to Alexia, her anger disappearing as she did so. The car sped off behind her. Alexia looked wide eyed at Ridley as she handed the teddy back to her as if it was nothing.

“Some things can’t be replaced.” She murmured, not meeting her eyes.

Alexia’s lips trembled and she wiped the tears from her eyes, taking it and holding it close to her. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now, can you drive my car to hospital please? I broke my hand.”

[imaginedisish]

illicit affairs (Din Djarin x fem!Reader)

A/N: Hey guys!! Here's the Din fic I said I'd post lol. It's not my favorite I've ever written, but I think it's good enough to post. It's very clearly written around "illicit affairs" by Taylor Swift LOL. It's very similar to my cardigan fic so if you liked that you'll like this. Anyway, feel free to request something. Enjoy!

Summary: You're supposed to be training with Luke, but your secret affair with Din is worth the risk of losing everything you've worked for.

Warnings: SMUT! 18+, like literally right under the cut LOL (oral f!receiving). Cursing, lots of angst, Luke is in this for two seconds idk if you need a warning ab that, Jedi!Reader, cheating on the Jedi code LOL, maybe violence? that's it.

Word Count: 2,473 (much shorter than normal lol)

You always found yourself here, lights out, flush against his chest in the rickety bunk on his ship that you had once shared with him.

“So fucking perfect.” His voice is lush without his modulator – you noticed it that first time he took his helmet off in the darkness. His hands roam over every curve, every inch of your body as he sinks down in between your legs. His palms press against your inner thighs, parting them, leaving a trail of soft kisses as he makes his way towards your cunt.

You whimper as his mouth finally meets where you need him most. “F-fuck,” You sigh, letting your head fall back onto the pillow. He laps at you like he’s starving, but you were the hungry one, the needy one. Maker, you missed him, feeling his mouth on you like this.

“Doing so good for me, mesh’la.” His voice reverberates against your core as he spreads your slick with his fingertips. “Tastes so good…” He trails off, his tongue flicks against your clit as he thrusts his fingers deep inside you. He needs this just as much as you, the feeling of you clenching around him, writhing under him, in his bunk, no one else’s.

Your back arches off the thin mattress as Din takes your core into his mouth, sucking roughly. “D-Din,” You’re calling his name out like it’s some ancient prayer, some age-old hymn. “S-so close…”

His fingers pump faster, pushing deeper inside you with each thrust. “Such a good girl,” He mumbles against you, his tongue swirling with more pressure than it was before. He secretly wishes he could turn the lights on. He genuinely mulls over the idea in his head. You were worth seeing, worth watching, worth breaking his creed for.

“I’m g-gonna…” You can’t finish your sentence, your hips shaking as they slightly lift off the bed. Tears prick at the corners of your eyes as your walls flutter around his fingers.

“That’s it, sweet girl,” Din soothes. “I’ve got you, always got you.” Fuck. It’s too much. Your core aches with overstimulation as you fall apart around him, each wave of pleasure more overwhelming than the last. You grip the sheets beneath you, your nails clutching the fabric  practically hard enough to leave holes behind. This is what he did to you.

And you couldn’t live without it.

He slowly slips his fingers from you, lapping at you a few more times before finally pulling away. You’re still shaking underneath him. It was impossible not to. He settles back in, hovering over you, bringing a hand up to your cheek, pressing a chaste kiss against your lips. He wraps you up in his arms, keeping you held tightly to him as if you’d choose to leave if he let you go.

That would be impossible. You’d have to be pulled from him, pried away by some outside source. You’d never willingly leave. But you knew you had to. These moments were fleeting, effervescent. You were loving on borrowed time, on lies and in hidden forests where no one could see.

Take the road less traveled by Tell yourself you can always stop What started in beautiful rooms Ends with meetings in parking lots

“Are you alright, cyare?” He asks, his fingers trailing down your spine, leaving goosebumps in their wake. You wish they’d still be there later on, when he was gone. At least then you’d have something that told you he had touched you today.

All you can muster is a soft hum. You were already consumed deep in the thought that you’d have to leave in just a few minutes. It wasn’t fair. None of this ever was. But you both had duties, lifestyles you clung to. You figured that it would end one of two ways: with or without him. And whatever happens in between simply happens. But with every time he lands on Ossus, somewhere you think Luke won’t be able to feel or find him, you become less accepting of those fifty-fifty odds.

And you’re sick at the thought that you could end up without him.

He knows what your silence means. It happens every time. “You have to leave, don’t you?” He asks, his arms seemingly pulling you even tighter against him.

You shut your eyes tightly, forcing your tears back shamefully. This wasn’t how this was supposed to go. You were never supposed to fall for him. Din had brought you to Ossus so that you could train with Luke, so that you could make something of yourself. With that came leaving him behind, saying goodbye to whatever relationship you two shared. And now here you were, breaking the only rules Luke and the Jedi had for the third time this month.

Stupid fucking rules.

“I don’t get it,” You whisper, pushing your face into his chest, hiding from the truth, from your responsibilities. “How does he do it?” It’s more of an attack than it is a question. Luke was almost inhuman, a droid. No bonds, no connections, no pull towards the darkness, no questioning what he was doing, no love for someone he couldn’t have. He was perfect. Granted, he had more experience than you, and you weren’t to blame for what the Inquisitors had done to you as a child, but you figured it would be easier than this.

You press your ear to Din’s chest, listening to his heartbeat, looking for more physical proof that he was really there. “That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?” He asks tentatively. “To learn?”

You nod once, twice, and before you can nod a third time, a thought smacks you in the face. “Maybe I don’t want to learn.”

“You have to,” Is all he says in return. You can’t help but be surprised by his words.

You lift your head from his chest, pushing yourself up onto your arms to stare into his eyes as if you could even see them. “Who says I have to if I d-,”

He cuts you off before you can get another word in. “Me.” There’s a beat of silence, an air of conflict settling within the confines of the bunk.

You shake your head. “And why is that?” You question incredulously.

“Because you’re meant for so much more than just me.”

“Din I-,” You don’t know what to say, or how to say it. He couldn’t possibly be more wrong. In the darkness he pushes himself up and out of the bunk. You hear him take a few steps against the metal floors of the Crest before picking up his helmet. With a click and a hiss his face disappears behind the beskar. You follow him into the hull, the lights practically blinding you as he turns them on.

“You’re wrong, you know,” You insist, staying on his heels as he walks towards his armor. You watch as he keeps silent, tugging his flight suit over his boxers before dawning himself in his glimmering metal shell. Just an hour ago you had watched him take it all off.

Din turns back towards you once he’s finished. “I’m the problem.” You can hear him struggle as the words fall from his lips, as if he had to force them out.

You want to scream. Not this. Not now. “Why is this happening?” You don’t mean for your voice to sound as cold or as distant as it does. “What changed?”

“Luke was right.”

“A-about what?” You stutter. But you know what’s coming.

“About you needing to be alone t-to do this,” Din starts, pacing the hull as he contemplates what to say next. “I’m bad for you, whatever this is, it’s bad for you.” He pauses, stopping in his tracks to face you. “I can see it in your eyes right now.”

The words sting, searing your heart, slicing it in two. An imaginary string breaks in the background of the universe, severing the connection between you and the beskar clad man just a few feet away from you. But now he felt millions of lightyears away.

“Din, please, I lo-,”

“Don’t, don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

Your nostrils flare a bit as you bite back those three words. Why give them to someone who doesn’t want to hear them anyway?

You choke back your tears, grabbing the rest of your clothes from the floor, dressing yourself in your robes in a hurried huff. You don’t want him to see you cry. You don’t want him to see when your anger gets the best of you later and you burn down a forest because you can. That’s what drove him away from you in the first place.

You stop to turn to face him as you approach the ramp. How are you supposed to say goodbye?

“Is this really what you want?” You ask, opening the ramp with the press of a button.

“No.” Din’s familiar modulated voice echoes against the walls of the Crest. “But it’s what’s best for you.”

You swallow harshly, doing your best to keep yourself from sobbing. “What’s best for me is what I want.” You can feel the tears streaming down your cheeks uncontrollably, but your voice is still somehow strong. “And all I’ve ever wanted is you.” The confession rattles you to your bones, even though you had planned to say it from the very second you met Din. “I love you; I really do.”

You walk down the ramp and deep into the forest before you let yourself fall apart.

And that's the thing about illicit affairs And clandestine meetings and longing stares It's born from just one single glance But it dies, and it dies, and it dies A million little times

Luke knew something was off when you got back to the temple.

He asked you why you looked so tired, why your eyes were teary.

Went for a run, was all you could manage.

He asked why you wouldn’t touch your food.

Not hungry.

And then you went away to hide in the little hut you called home. But this wasn’t home, Din was. You didn’t come out. To be honest you didn’t plan to, ever. You’d hide away here forever if you could. You felt sick to your stomach. You weren’t sure how you were supposed to move on from this. Being a Jedi wasn’t your great love. It wasn’t saving the galaxy. It never would be.

It was him. He was your greatest love of all.

A knock at your door makes you jump. You sniffle, wiping your eyes with a vigor you didn’t know you had. You’re more than positive you’ve only irritated them more, made them more bloodshot than they had been seconds ago.

You shuffle begrudgingly over to the door, hesitating before twisting the handle. Your heart sinks when you see it’s just Luke. Who else did you think it would be? Din is gone.

“What?” There it is, that anger again. After all, this was his fault. He’s the reason Din left, the reason you’re here in the first place.

There’s a small smile on his lips. It’s nonjudgmental, completely at peace. “Why are you still here?”

“What are you talking about, Luke?” You furrow your brows, but the touch he leaves on your shoulder indicates that he knows more than you think he does.

“He’s still in the forest, where he was this morning.” It’s matter-of-fact, as if he’s known from the second all of this started. And that’s when it hits you: it’s true, he has known this whole time. “Doesn’t have the heart to leave. He can’t stop thinking about you.”

Your eyes widen as Luke turns around and walks back towards his hut. “But-,”

He cuts you off, turning towards you, looking at you as if he was taking you in for the last time. There’s that smile again, the one that says Don’t worry kid, I forgive you. “He won’t leave this planet without you, but you’ll leave without finishing your training.”

“But Luke, what if I-,”

He cuts you off again. He closes his eyes for a moment, as if he’s feeling out for you, reading you. “There’s conflict in you, but it’s balanced. Self-assured.” He opens his eyes. “Something I’ll never have.”

You take a deep breath, and nod. Balance. It’s something you’re surprised you feel sure about. Something he’ll never have. Closure.

“Thank you, Luke.”

And before he can respond, you’re sprinting into the forest. You can feel your lungs burning in your chest, threatening to be coughed up with each stride you take. But you don’t care, not when he’s still here, not when he can’t leave without you, live without you.

You take the same turn you always did to get to the Crest, and as if it was always meant to be, Din is in front of you, stopped in his tracks.

You didn’t even have to chase after him. He was going to come back to you.

“Din,” You whisper, slowly walking towards him. He reaches out his gloved hand and you take it willingly, without any hesitation. After all, you were his. He could have any part of you that he wanted, and you’d give it away willingly.

He looks at you through his helmet, but it isn’t enough. He needs more. He needs to see you, for you to see him.

With his free hand, he presses a button. And again, there’s that familiar hiss. You instinctively shut your eyes like you had so many times before.

“No, please look, cyar’ika.” It’s not just a request, it’s a plea, to give you something no one else save for his son has ever had the privilege of seeing and living afterwards to remember.

Your eyes flutter open. His brown eyes meet yours, his perfect lips curling into a smile. “You’re beautiful,” You whisper, your words almost entirely unintelligible as you stare up at him in awe. Beautiful and perfect don’t even begin to describe him. He’s something else completely, something unique to him.

“I’m sorry,” His voice cracks, his normal confidence washed away with every inhibition and ounce of control you two had ever shared.

You inch closer to him, your chest flush against his just like it was earlier today. He brings his forehead down to meet yours. You shut your eyes, letting your tears run freely down your cheeks. “Don’t be,” Is all you can manage to croak out.

“I should’ve told you how much I love you,” He says, pulling away from you, his eyes raking over your body as if this will be the last time he ever sees you. But it’s just the beginning.

“So tell me now.”

And you know damn well For you, I would ruin myself A million little times

[stinkypeanutbutter]

sbg sleepover hcs because I’m silly

Aiden brings a butt ton of junk food. Tyler balances it out with the healthy crap so they don’t get diabetes.

With a LOT of bargaining, and I mean a lot, they come up with hairstyles for Ashlyn. It’s only rarely she gives in, but it makes the sleepover worth while.

sleeps at Aidens house the most just cause it’s huge, and huge means lots of hiding spaces, and it also means getting lost easily (Taylor)

they have like scheduled calendars for each movie night on who gets to choose. It goes in some kind of order depending on who went first last time.

Aiden and Taylor choose the horror or drama movies, Tyler goes for comedy, believe it or not. Logan goes for any genre of sci - fi or fantasy (he also loves doctor who) , ben likes to put on musicals ( bless him) , and ash doesn’t have a preferred taste, but she really likes disaster movies ( and comedies with Tyler sometimes. Taylor also loves kids movies like trolls, MLP, uhhh idk any 😭)

aiden also puts on the weirdest things he could find. Put on human centipede once, got banned from picking movies for the next 4 nights

dinner ? They just order pizza or burgers. If they’re feeling adventurous, they make something together ( 60/40 chance of succeeding )

Probably do contests and play random board games. Aiden has a ton of them because he would play in his sad little room against himself when he was feeling energetic. ( help )

Tyler forgets his crap sometimes, so he just borrows from the others like a loser

They tell spooky stories at like 11pm just so when the clock hits twelve they drop down and become paranoid about everything

despite not speaking, Ben tells the best scary stories and it’s hilarious cause he’ll go out of his way and plant some fake audios around the house ( or ARE they ? 😦 )

ashlyn would keep her braids in no matter what, even if they keep getting stepped or rolled on or pulled or -

sleeping ? They plan on staying up after 12 ofc, but when they do fall asleep it’s kinda a mess . Ben sleep like he’s about to be dropped into his grave, at least so he’s able to react quick enough to whatever might be bad in the area . Logan sleeps like a caterpillar in its chrysalis stage , unless with the group , then he kinda just lays on his side if he’s comfy . Tyler likes sleeping on his stomach cause he’s afraid something might punch a hole through it again, so just in case . . Taylor hugs things in her sleep. Don’t matter who, just be her stuffed animal for a while and she’ll let you go and roll on her side. Aiden has a similar issue. But he only does this cause he never really had anything to actually cuddle up on besides his pillow so. . he’ll hug on to whoever is closest ( Ash or Ben ) . They don’t mind it , I mean Ash gets trapped but she’ll deal with it later. If no one is around or close enough, he’ll just curl up into a little ball like he did when he was younger ( habit ).

Pancakes in the morning let’s gooo !!!!!!! Most of them collectively use a bunch of whipped cream . I mean , who doesn’t ? Lame - o’s. Aiden likes to see how many pancakes he can stack on top on eachother before it falls

No pancakes ? Cereal it is . Ash likes Frosted Flakes cause of the texture, and how they don’t crunch as loud when you chew em. Plus, they’re tasty. Taylor got them captain crunch and lucky charms. Tyler likes Honey Nut Cheerios cause he’s basic , but can’t resist honeycombs . . Cause he’s still basic . ( They slap tho idc what y’all say 🫠 ) Logan prefers fruity pebbles ( me fr ) or cinnamon taste crunch . Ben doesn’t eat too much cereal, but he likes rice Krispys cause their soft on his throat. Aiden likes whatever, he’s probably gonna add random crap in it anyway lol

that last part wasn’t really a sleepover headcanon but uhms ignore that 😅😅😅😿

[thana-topsy]

Ok I gotta come out and say it. I envy you. Like, to a painful extent. The amount of people you get interested in your characters, how you're incredibly skilled in both visual art AND writing, how readers your fics have. I absolutely adore your work, but seeing it fills me with so much envy it's honestly ridiculous.

Did you deal with similar feelings towards other creators when you started writing fic by any chance? If so, how did you deal with those feelings? I feel genuinely stuck feeling worthless about my fics. I'm not as verbose with my language despite over 10 years of writing under my belt and it seems as though my plots don't interest people as much either. So I feel like there's just nothing of worth about any of my work.

I know that this is a lot to dump on you, but I felt like I would burst keeping this all in. Much love to you and I hope you have a wonderful New Year!

Hey there my friend, I've been sitting with this all day trying to decide how I want to answer you. I genuinely appreciate your honesty, because I know this is a familiar feeling for a lot of people, myself included.

I remember when I first rejoined Tumblr in early 2019, desperately trying to find anyone to talk to about TES, I would look at all these blogs gettings asks about their OCs like they were little celebrities and feel envy and longing. Now, when these feelings start to bubble up, I force myself to take a break from sharing my work, be it art or writing, if only to remind myself why I'm creating it and who I'm creating it for: myself. I know it sounds cheesy, and I probably sound like a broken record, but genuinely I just do this because it's bursting out of my skull. But I won't lie and say the engagement and the support doesn't have a big impact on my motivation. I love sharing with people and getting an enthusiastic response.

I think something people might not realize, or maybe they just forget, is that I used to write a lot of smut. Like...a lot of smut. (I still do). Hahaha and it doesn't get a lot of comments or engagement, but it does draw a lot of eyes. Once my smut stories started taking on heavier plotlines, a comment I'd get a lot was "came for the porn, stayed for the plot." And I wasn't writing smut because I thought it would get me an audience, I was just horny LMAO. But it encouraged me to branch out and experiment with the types of stories I was telling.

Anyways, art is another big part of it, yes. But that also didn't get a lot of engagement in the beginning, and my skills were rusty as hell. I was getting maybe 15 notes on here, 30 likes on instagram. But that didn't really matter to me, I was just insane with inspiration. I'd reach out to people and ask to do art trades, got ghosted a lot, made some good friends, (some people who are still my good friends to this day!). But it took a lot of risks, and I made a lot of accidental enemies and learned a lot of hard lessons. But having visuals to go with the stories I'm writing is like advertisement in its own way. I'm just lucky enough to hyperfixate on this shit like it's my lifeblood. I've always obsessively drawn my favorite characters, ever since I was a wee bab. Long before social media was a factor or the words "content creator" even existed.

And I think that's what it all comes back to. Above all else, do what you do with unbridled joy. If someone else finds joy alongside you, all the better! Even if it's just one person. Take risks, make friends, make enemies, draw that blorbo unapologetically and with wild abandon. Love what you create, even when it's bad. Even when it makes you cringe years later, don't delete it. Even when people try to find every reason to hate what you do and who you are. Don't stop.

Every act of creation is bringing something into the world that didn't exist before you made it. And that alone gives it worth.

Happy New Year!

[parkkiablah]

Peaceful for once - pt. 2 (Zevlor x Tav)

part 1 part 3

(Just Zevlor comforting tav after they had a nightmare!)

You probably had barely slept more than an hour when you woke up again. The nightmare you just had made you sit up straight in bed while letting out a short scream.

'Hopefully not loud enough to wake the others', were your first thoughts as you rubbed your face.

Your skin sticky with sweat as the nightmare didn't bring the peaceful sleep you were hoping for.

Your life hadn't been easy since you were on the Nautiloid but the pressure you felt lately to get ready for the worst fight of your life was getting unbearable.

"Are you alright?", you heard a sleepy voice say closeby.

You instantly knew who it was just by his voice alone, no matter how sleepy he sounded.

"Just a nightmare. Sorry for waking you, Zevlor."

He was still sitting on his bed a few meters away, his feet on the ground like he was ready to jump out of bed if you needed him to.

"It's no problem at all. If you want to talk about it, I'm right here.", he said quietly.

In the dark of the room you were glad for your darkvision, as you otherwise would never have the opportunity to see him like this. His hair messily hanging around his face and just seeing him without his heavy armor was something you barely saw before.

Even on the other days he kept his armor on as long as he possibly could and you thought it was just part of him being overly cautious and being ready in case someone attacked us.

The shirt he was wearing to sleep hanging loosely around his shoulders, revealing parts of his skin. Some of the typical tiefling ridges visible for your eyes as well as a scar reaching across his collarbone.

"I don't think its worth talking about it, it's not the first time I've had it.", you responded honestly.

You had similar nightmares for a while now, all related to you not being able to save your friends from whatever enemy you were fighting at the moment.

"Even more of a reason to talk about it if it's not the first time you had it." He wasn't wrong, but you felt silly for being so bothered by simple nightmares.

You let out a heavy sigh as you looked down at your hands.

"I know it's just a nightmare, I just can't help being affected by it. Most of the time I see any of my friends die as I was unable to save them. Tonight it was you who died on my dream, so talking to you actually does help right now."

You weren't uncomfortable telling him, yet it still made you feel weird. Just the thought of him dying in front of you is something you didn't want to experience.

"I'm glad to help with something as simple as talking.", he said, a smile on his face. "You know I owe you my life not just once, you never failed at saving me for sure."

"You give me too much credit for that, I was never alone when I was helping and you were not the only one I was trying to rescue."

"Stop being so humble. You could try saying you just killed the goblins to save Halsin in hopes for a cure, but you definitely didn't just stumble across me back at Moonrise towers. I know the others did tell you about me failing to guide them to Baldurs Gate safely, yet you chose to save me anyways. And yet with all of that you still apologize for simply waking me with your nightmare."

His eyes were on you while he was speaking and you know he was right.

Ever since you met him back at the grove you knew he had a good heart and you kept looking out for him.

Of course you grew fond of the other tieflings too, but there was something about him that always made you feel comfortable.

When you heard of what happened at the shadowcursed lands, you instantly knew something was wrong and you had to find him.

"Well of course I would look for you. I would never forgive myself if I hadn't tried everything."

"I hope there will be a day I get the chance to help you for once as I can't pay the debt I have with you already."

"You saved me from the bad thoughts the nightmare put on my mind tonight, so no debt you would have to pay anyways.", you said as you smiled at him.

"Your whole lifetime would have to be filled with nightmares to even get close to the amount of help I got from you, which is obviously not something I would hope for."

"So you are offering to sleep next to me for the rest of my lifetime?"

You had no idea where you found the sudden confidence to ask this, but you blamed it on how comfortable you got in conversations with him.

"I uh-..", he stuttered as obviously he wasn't expecting that kind of response. He laughed quietly but still looked down and you knew you caught him off guard. "My dear, we both know you could easily find better company for that."

"I would disagree on that.", you told him.

"Can you stop talking now? Some people are trying to sleep here! You can continue flirting tomorrow.", you heard Astarion say from the other side of the room.

"Shhhhh! You ruined their moment!", Karlach whispered and you couldn't help but laugh.

You were really glad for Zevlors lack of darkvision, so you could hide away the blush on your face easily.

Yes, they made that situation as awkward as it could possibly get, but honestly you wouldn't have it any other way.

(I couldn't stop myself from writing some more about zevlor, he seriously has my heart 😭 hope you enjoyed reading it!)

[bloogers-boogers]

Forbidden Power AU. This AU focuses on Michael, it's the end of all Creation, all thanks to Lucifer's Spawn. Michael's final attempt to fix everything is to Disturb their father Only To Discover that his father is dead and has been dead for what looks like years there is still hope his father may be dead but his Authority can still be used... All angels authorities are held in Halos and God is no exception... Michael has a halo So he can go back and fix everything... The issue is the darkness in his heart, his Desire for the First man... Originally he was going to leave Almost everything unchanged...but this is an Opportunity he never did get or never should have had...can he stay on the noble path...ya No Michael has bin the good boy all his Existence and he will continue to be the good boy But he will be so when it comes to Adam and make Adam Exactly how he wants him to be

Hopefully this ask is for me and not mistaken for another blog shsiwbdjiwe do not get me wrong I love the guitarhero ship but I haven't posted anything about them aside from the drawing I made for @/ironbatpaperturtle (and my adamsapple fic) so I have a feeling that maybe this ask wasn't for me 😭

I should tho... like write more of them cause ngl I really like them together but my whole view on those two is far different than @/ironbatpaperturtle's Michael and Adam ahdjendiw

BUT if this anon is for me then I appreciate you for sharing me your au whdjwkdjdwoek 💖 now, with all that said let me proceed on actually answering you.

Omygod. Okay first, I think the God being dead for the longest period is such an interesting concept I read something similar like this before in a fic (adamsapple) called 'the devil you know /by anglotron' so I like it, kinda explains why angels would be put in so much work (do drastic choices) if God isn't there to guide them and solve things for them or just get involved but I also love the concept of him not giving a f*ck shjsiahdwiwbs after Lucifer's fall/betrayal he was just left hopeless for anything; his most "perfect creation" (Adam) corrupted by evil and then his most "perfect angel" turned out to have been the one to bring said corruption. (he may still care for Michael and Jesus tho but like it's hard for him to care about the rest) and letting all his children figure it out themselves (poor Sera), like, I can picture him just as depressed like Lucifer in the show issisofksos but unlike him who copes with making ducks, God just lays in the couch mopping about how disappointed in humanity he is and how "perfect" everything was before he planted the damn apple on earth, while he bosses Michael and maybe Metatron too (tho with him he's a lot more harsher bc he was previously human and he's kinda just bitter about them in general, but he's proven his worth enough) around to bring him shit like ice cream or junk food (tho he could easily just summoned all those things he subconsciously just wants company and Michael is there to bring it to him the only angel that has not yet disappointed/maintain loyal to him). So yeah.

Anyways — I still like the concept of God actually being dead. Like when you say Michael has a halo do you meant like he holds on to God's halo? Cause that's kinda cool af, imagine him just holding on to the halo of God (maybe even pitifully hopeful their father would return 'saving it for him') so he just has the halo on him and everyone just "oh shit this motherfucker really could just end it all if he wanted to" but Michael just doesn't cause 'with great power holds big responsibility' type of mentality and I think it'd be funny if Lucifer confronts heaven and is in a determined search for Michael to provoke him and remind him he's still the most perfect of all God's creation (mosty just salty as hell bc Michael cast him to hell lmao) and then when he finds Michael he like comes up with a taunting comment about how bad heaven turned out to be Yada Yada that neither realm is perfect or better than the other, and BAM suddenly his eyes drifted to Michael's head and recognizes the halo.

"Is that—...!"

"Yeah," Michael simply states defeated in his chair, unfazed by his brother arrival, from all the chaos going on, his people being murder, just, done, "father's gone, Lucifer."

So they just stare at eochother in silence, Lucifer with a stunned almost hurt expression and Michael with a nonchalant one. After the realization hitting him like a truck Lucifer realizes there was no end to the chaos released to all realms after Charlie unintentionally brought it to them if God wasn't there to fix it all...

Fear overwhelming him now cause he was kinda chilled out about the whole thing knowingly God would have to intervene soon because heaven was also being attacked by evil- but now realizing he's dead, it like hits him hard, mostly worried for his daughter's fate more than anything else.

Then, another thing hits him, "wait! What aren't you doing anything?! You can fix this, Michael! You have father's power, we can-"

Michael lifts his hand to signal him to stop, "I'm not planning to do anything."

"WHAT?!! Do you realize your people are also being attacked!"

"Your daughter brought this among ourselves, now, she must find her way to solve it."

"But she won't be-"

"Silence. If she was able to bring it to us then she's more than capable of putting it back. If not, that's no longer my problem"

"YOU-!"

"No, Lucifer," he stands up, the power of God emitting through his aura, the millions of eyes on him, big six graceful wings extended to show their full on glory, eyes bright like the intensity of a star. His voice was much more deeper and cold, distant, detached, "I lost everything because of your silly dream of free will, and now redemption. Look at where it lead us, prove me wrong this time, if it doesn't succeed then it was meant to be that way. Accept your fate.

I would create something new, something different. Something that won't betray its kind. No longer you existing. It will be perfect."

Lucifer felt so tiny now. That was no longer the brother he once knew. Not the caring, gentle, protective fiercely warrior that he once was.

Only filled with rage, grief and pain.

Michael... is dead too.

But anyways with all that, somehow lets say both Charlie and Lucifer mange to remind Michael of his love for the countless souls left at his hands to care and protect. And I dunno maybe a song too ahdhdiqgsjahsia and what gets the cake is Michael seeing Adam alive, behind the two, who somewhat stumble across their intervention in a 'bad timing'.

"Hey bitch you forgot your tampon— oh shit! Wrong room," Adam (now sinner) appears at the door oblivious of the whole deal.

"Adam!" Charlie shouted annoyed as they were already, almost, having a heartfelt moment between her father and Michael.

Michael eyes watered, "ADAM!" He pushes past Charlie and Lucifer who are now just confused as fuck seeing how Michael (filled with new growing hope) crushes Adam in a big hug with all the intensity of his power and somehow it was till so gentle and careful that it didn't kill Adam.

And the first man just there struggling to get loose while also suffocating.

Idk I just like Michael still having to be the hero even in circumstances where he doesn't want to. So the universe just grants him a purpose for he to keep following up God's title for him. If he wasn't gonna do shit because he lost Adam? Then BAM! Sinner Adam is now a thing so keep your ass moving Michael!

Michael now wants to fix things up to keep Adam safe; his new purpose (reason) on protecting heaven, his people and the countless souls God left him in charge with.

[daryldamnson]

Corroded coffin makes it big, like sabbath big, and (after making sure that Wayne has been taken care of) Eddie starts spoiling you, buying you mountainsnof luxuries that he could only wish to give you when you first started dating. You have to remind Eddie that you fell in love with him and the small moments together, the money has never been an issue, you're favourite memories are the ones lying on top of Eddie's trailer stargazing and talking about nothing and everything

god he's so soft i want to kiss all of his insecurities away, thanks for requesting!

tw for one mention of alcoholism and abuse (in reference to eddie's parents), insecure!eddie, fem!reader coded but only in terms of dress/skirt wearing, 0.7k

title from primadonna by marina and the diamonds

“Baby, I don’t need this, you know that, right?”

It’s the dress you’d barely eyed up in the store window you’d walked past last week.  A while ago, back when touring meant bars with cheap beers and busking in city centres, you’d have paid it a little more attention - yearned over it a little more.

Nowadays, a pretty dress was just a pretty dress.  You had plenty of pretty dresses, and cute skirts, and tight tops, and fashionably ripped jeans.  That’s not to mention the veritable rainbow of shoes and matching handbags that had their own closet at the home Eddie had proudly presented to you after his first album had skyrocketed the charts.

“I can afford to give you anything you want now,” Eddie’s careful to make the distinction, ringed hand reaching out to land gently over yours.  “I just…  I want you to have everything you want.”

His voice is all too earnest in a way that makes your heart break.

“The dress is nice, Eddie,” you concede, smiling softly at him.  “It’s lovely, even.  But you know what I really want?”

You’ve known him long enough to know what that look in his eyes means.

Despite the confident façade he’d kept up since he’d first started high school, only exacerbated by crowds of fans and hit songs, Eddie could be a pretty insecure guy.

Most of it seemed to stem from his parents; disinterested at best - his mother had been more captivated by the bottle than her child, abusive at worst - his father had a similar predilection for alcohol that led to screamed insults and thrown fists.  Eddie had found a home - and a real father - in Wayne, but the damage had already been done.

He struggled to believe anybody could truly know him and love him anyway.  Love him because of that.  And even once he’d accepted that perhaps they did, he found it was all too easy to imagine them walking away, deciding he wasn’t worth the hassle or the effort.

So he bought things.

Years ago, in the times of garage band practices and one-bedroom trailers, he’d channelled this anxiety into mixtapes, and plucked wildflowers, and too many blankets, and always having your favourite drinks stocked.

You think of stargazing, and cheap beer, and horror movies smuggled from Family Video by Steve.  You think of the collection of ‘cool’ rocks in your jewellery box, and the annotations he’d made in between the lines so you’d think about him when you read your favourite book.  You think of personalised mixtapes with almost too much Sabbath, and him excitedly telling you about his plans for a new campaign, and the way his lips twitch when he sleeps.  You think of his uncontrollable hair, and his tattoos, and his heart.

“Anything,” he promises, wide brown eyes looking back at you almost desperately, and you know he means it.

“You.”  There’s a beat of silence as you bring up a hand to cup his cheek, leaning forward a little to hold his gaze.  “I just want you.  That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

It seems to take him by surprise despite how often you tell him this.  You watch his throat bob as he swallows, lips parting slightly.  “I…” he starts, voice cracking a little on the single syllable.  “You have me.  Always.”

You steadfastly do not mention the glassy shine that has taken over his eyes, but you feel your own mist up in response anyway.

“Then I’m good.  I’m happy.  I don’t need anything else.”

You say it like there’s nothing more obvious in the world.  Probably because to you there isn’t.

He lets out a pleased laugh, more a breath of air than anything else, as he rests his forehead against yours and closes his eyes.

“Well,” you begin, a teasing lilt to your voice, “actually, I could do with a kiss as well.”

You pout your lips a little and look at him with the most pitiful gaze you can muster without breaking into a smile.

Eddie has no such qualms and his lips part into one of those grins where his dimples show, and his eyes crease, and you just feel warm.

“I think I can swing for that,” he murmurs, already moving in to press his lips against yours.

[starsreminisce]

So, there are plenty of opinions and compelling arguments about whose book is next. I've reached a point where I just want to express some thoughts. I haven't made a decision because my feelings shift every time I consider it.

Personally, just knowing a new book is on the way excites me. I'm sure that even when CC3 comes out, I'll be hunting for crumbs like a broke cokehead – which brings me to my next point.

Maasverse spoilers under the cut.

The next book will be responsible for bridging ACOTAR to CC for readers who follow ACOTAR exclusively. We still have ACOTAR readers wondering if Elriel(!!!!!) will be tasked to find the 4th dread trove, despite it being revealed in CC. The ACOTAR subreddit gets asked every day about what series/book to read after ACOTAR.

There is a crucial element that SJM needed to establish in HoFaS, something that couldn't be addressed in ACOTAR. This is particularly significant, especially when she wrote two CC books consecutively. The context within Prythian needed to be set up in HoFaS before it could seamlessly progress into ACOTAR.

Prison Island/Dusk Court? Illyrian descendants? Avellan fae? All Trove items accounted for? Truth-Teller? Koschei's origins?

Gwynriel makes sense to me because they have the most tie-in to CC. This would help in segueing from Nesta in ACOSF to Truth-Teller's importance in HoFAS, continuing the story with Azriel and Gwyn. It's worth noting that Gwyn felt Aidas in ACOSF, and she is now closer to Nesta than Elain is. Additionally, her role as Merrill's researcher and her interest in the 26 worlds, coupled with her heritage from both grandparents, likely plays a part here. Notably, CC has shown an underwater civilization, which adds to the anticipation of Gwyn's storyline.

Elucien makes sense to me because who best to catch a reader up who does not know about CC than two characters who aren't directly involved with it at all.

Elain was not present when Bryce arrived. She sure as hell is not going to walk in after Rhys introduced himself. I would think that for a moment as huge as a visitor from another world would assemble all members of the IC. We have Mor’s reasoning why she might not be there. We don’t have Elain’s, especially after "doing whatever it takes for this court."

This does help set up for a tandem read where Elain and Lucien move similarly to how Chaol marks what Aelin is doing in ToD or, at best, making it similar to how the context would change if someone were to read HoSaB then ACOSF.

I also have personal reasons why I want one over the other. Elucien because I'm starving for it, but Gwynriel because the fandom has been so out of pocket about Azriel's love life, with Bryciels still being pushed despite SJM's clear reaction to the question. Do I want to suffer through another 18-24 months of half-baked fanfic-based theories that Elucien's book is like Feylin in ACOTAR? Fuck that shit.

There are still many factors to consider because we don't know how involved Bryce would be in Velaris, who all is going to be involved, how involved Azriel is going to be (is the reason we had his POV in ACOSF is because his POV will be featured in HoFaS, like the bonus chapter?), how is Truth-Teller connected to all of this, and most importantly, how CC3 will end now that we know their worlds are connected.

Even then, I still don't know if that would be enough to draw a good conclusion and we might not have long anyway before the next book is announced.

[differenteagletragedy]

Hi, I was wondering if you would be comfortable doing headcanons of a adult (similar age to Cliff) mc x Cliff and mc becoming like a step-parent to Cove? Feel free to ignore if you’re not comfortable doing this, thanks

I am SO comfortable doing this, love Cliff so so much!

-- Cliff wouldn't date until Cove was out of the house, or at least in his later teen years. He felt SO BAD uprooting his life with the divorce, he wouldn't dare risk it to be selfish enough to get into a relationship.

-- The only way he WOULD get into a relationship with Cove still at home is if he had his express approval, and even then he wouldn't bring you around a lot at first. He's just going to be so incredibly cautious with Cove, he's his number one priority.

-- Anyway, all this means that Cliff is going to be mid to late 30s when you get together, hope that's cool :)

-- He wouldn't really be looking for a relationship either, so you're really gonna have to take the lead here at first. But listen -- he is going to be so sweet. You won't even believe it.

-- Maybe you're a friend of Pam or Noelani's, or maybe you meet him at his shop. You don't even have to be sporty like that, though you could be! You could also be looking for a gift for a sporty friend, taking a scuba lesson with someone, etc. etc. Anyway, you meet and he is smitten, but it has been A LONG TIME since he was in a relationship, and even then it wasn't a good one. And before that he was a teenager.

-- He made some mistakes in his marriage, some huge ones, but he learned from them, and he'd never ever repeat him.

-- Ok so this is going to be the slowest slow burn you have ever heard of in your life, but he is SO worth the wait.

-- This is because he's worried about hurting Cove, he's worried about not doing right by you, he thinks you deserve better than some guy who's never managed to maintain a healthy romantic relationship in his life. But he just likes you so much, and it's been forever since he's felt this way. It feels nice!

-- Put those moves on him, MC, you need to be really clear here that you like him and want to be with him because he's not going to move forward otherwise.

-- So we're talking like 2-3 months of just getting to know each other, more months of dating, like specifically going out. He might go back to your place, but it would have to be a while for him to feel comfortable with that. After several months of this, talking more and more, being more open about your feelings, then he can finally settle down a little bit and let you in more.

-- Still super slowly though. The first time Cliff invites you over to his house is when Cove is gone in the summer staying with Kyra, absolutely no chance of him walking in. He cooks you dinner. You don't stay the night, but maybe by the end of Cove's visit you do.

*someone please write the spicy interlude here, it would be so good*

-- This is when he might bring the topic up to Cove, when he's for sure this is a real thing that he wants very much to go somewhere very seriouus.

-- Cove would be older here, like I think baby Cove would have had an issue with Cliff dating, but at like 16, 17, he's fine with it. He wants his dad to be happy! Cliff would have told him about you sort of in passing, nothing in big detail, but he'd sit him down and explain that he has very deep feelings for you and ask if he'd like to meet you. Cove would be fine with this I think, but he'd probably want to have across the street bestie/significant other over.

-- Cliff cooks everyone dinner. You have heard so much about Cove. So, so much. You've seen pictures and videos. Cliff is the proudest dad that ever was, and tbh if you're going to be with him, you're going to have to love that. So you do! He's the biggest sweetheart you've ever met.

-- Things are a bit awkward, it is Cove after all, but they're ok. And so a while later, maybe after a few weeks, Cliff invites you over again.

-- This part goes on for a while too. You never stay over when Cove is there, and he never stays over at your place either, he wouldn't want to leave Cove alone like that. So after a while, Cove will sit him down and let him know that it's ok. Cliff doesn't have to hold back on his account. If he wants you to come over more often, that's fine. If he spends the night in the house alone every once in a while, that's fine too, he's a big boy and he's got moms across the street.

-- So really, either way you cut it, I don't think you'd ever live with Cliff while Cove is still at home. The timeline just wouldn't work out. But parenting doesn't end when a kid turns 18, and neither does good stepparenting! Once Cove moves out on his own and establishes himself, and Cliff is confident that his baby bird has fully left the nest, then there's going to be a shift.

-- Please come over more often, or invite him over, whatever, he just wants to be with you. He's been cautious for months/years, but he is so ridiculously in love with you.

-- He's not going to leave the house in Sunset Bird, so he'll ask you to move in with him. Please do! He'll think about marriage for a loooong time before finally proposing -- he'd never make those same mistakes that he made with Kyra, but you deserve the best and he needs to feel confident that he's it before taking that step.

-- What if you and Cliff give Cove a little baby sibling. Something to think about!

-- Cove is never going to treat you like he treats Cliff and Kyra, and that's fine. Especially as he gets older though, he's so grateful that you found his dad and found it in your heart to love him. It makes him so happy to know that even now that he's left home, Cliff still has someone there to take care of.

[vivitheanimaxen]

there's another ranchers/zits/giggs au story concept in my head i've been playing with, so let's-- just call this a demo.

Feel free to send asks or just give general feedback, not only will it help me to flesh out the au more, it'll also give me more ideas on where to go. I've seen similar aus out there, but nothing quite like this one-- or having all the same concepts as this one. If people like it, I might turn it into an actual longfic. but i tend to run out of steam on my longfics (mostly due to a lack of interaction tbh. if no one else is excited about my au, then it's not worth pursuing, right? but that's my problem and something I have to work through myself, not something for anyone else to fix)

Anyway.

This is a thing.

The moment Jimmy laid eyes on Tango, he knew something was-- off-- about him.

They'd met him in a tavern, in the small town that lay below the abandoned Deepfrost Citadel. Jimmy's adventuring troupe had been commissioned with finding an artifact in the Citadel, and bringing it back to its rightful owner. The bounty offered would be enough to pay off the troupe's debts and much much more. When they'd asked around for any sort of maps, or a guide, the tavern keeper had pointed them over to Tango.

"He's the only one to have ever made it out of that cursed place alive." The dwarf had told them, pointing to where their future guide was sitting in the corner, "If you want a guide, he's the only one who can."

Jimmy's sense for danger had shivered up his spine and stolen his breath the moment he looked over. But-- no one in his troupe paid any attention to him anyway.

Besides, the negotiations had gone well, Tango seemed amical enough, and no one else seemed to have a problem with him. It was only Jimmy, and his overzealous avian anxiety. They would pay Tango half his fee up front, and half when they got back to the village safely.

It took them half a week to get up to the Citadel, and that was with the help and knowledge of Tango as their guide. Jimmy kept him at arms' length, not quite knowing why but deciding to trust his gut on this one. Tango was dangerous, in a way that he couldn't figure out. He'd brought it up to the others in his troupe, but none of them believed him. They all loved Tango. He was clever, quick to laugh and even quicker to crack a joke, and ever so useful.

By the time they made it to the door of the Citadel, Tango had become an invaluable member of the troupe.

Tango disappeared that first night, spent barricaded in an outlying tower and hoping not to freeze to death. Jimmy had been on watch, and between one glance and the next, Tango hadn't been in his bedroll anymore.

But-- he'd been right back in the morning, acting like Jimmy didn't know what he was talking about.

It was the little things that kept setting Jimmy on edge. Tango knew a little too much about the Citadel, he'd found the 'hidden' door to the crypts too easily, had pushed the troupe to descend into the depths faster than was safe, not letting them scout it with a familiar like they normally would. He could pick the locks almost like he had a silent knock spell in his fingers, and somehow knew his way through the maze of icy caverns like the back of his hand.

And every night, after everyone was asleep, he disappeared. Jimmy was the only one who noticed. No one else believed him either, did they just-- not notice the empty bedroll when they were on watch?

When they finally believed him, it wasn't until Tango disappeared for good. One morning, he just-- didn't come back.

Then the monsters started appearing.

One thing lead to another as they pressed deeper and deeper into the dungeon under the Citadel, icy crypts full of wraiths and furry beasts morphing into wet caverns covered in mushrooms and a pirate ship complete with it's undead crew; leading down into black mines that had supposedly been blocked off by cave ins over a hundred years ago-- and before they knew it they'd lost a member of the troupe-- their healer-- and then they were tripping tail over teakettle into a maze so dark and cold that even those in the troupe with darkvision couldn't see.

It spat them out into a chamber not unlike the throne room found mirrored high above in the Deepfrost Citadel. It was full of gold and magic and things that would make any adventurer drool at the prospect of having them to keep.

Jimmy hadn't felt 'safe'-- not since he'd first met Tango in that tavern all those weeks ago-- but the sense of someone watching them stayed his hand.

The rest of the troupe had gotten busy, plundering everything in reach and searching for the artifact they'd been sent to collect.

But not Jimmy.

When asked why he wasn't stuffing his pockets with gold, he waved off the troupe with the excuse of keeping watch. After all, there were the monsters to contend with still--

Tango's giggle seemed to come from everywhere at once.

"Oh, you really should have listened to poor, sweet Jimmy when you had the chance~"

And suddenly Tango was there, on the throne in the center of the room, but instead of the blond, brown-eyed and rough-hewn guide they'd come to know and trust, it was a creature made of frost and shadows.

Jimmy's heart dropped out his stomach.

"Dragon--!"

Oh, they were dead.

Scratch that. Apparently everyone but Jimmy was dead.

Not like that was much better.

[jmagnabo92]

Oscar knew.

He totally knew that Alex was bi long before Henry showed up at the Lake House. I suspect he knew since Alex was fifteen because he brings up Luna and 'having a lot in common'.

Let's look at their conversation at the Lake House:

First, he brings up Luna and the similarities between Alex and Luna.

We know from Luna's teasing in the earlier in the book that he was definitely suspecting/was pretty sure that Alex was bi. He teases him about Henry being a looker way at the start.

Oscar, here, says 'you could learn a lot from him and you have a lot in common'. Alex himself says that he wanted to be like Luna multiple times throughout the book.

Anyway, Oscar talks about how hard the lack of acceptance was for Luna... I think he says this because he's kind of leaning into... he understands that Alex might be hesitant to say something and why Henry's been hiding as well.

He says all that and then waits for Alex to open up and tell him - Hey I'm bi and I have a boyfriend.

He doesn't. So Oscar is like "Alright - well, he's better than most of the guys your sister has brought home and the girls you've brought home" and Alex is like "WHAT?"

It's a very supportive and slightly subtle way to be like - yeah, I know and support you.

It's really obvious that Henry was worried about coming out - because he KNEW that he wouldn't be accepted, but we DO see Alex worry a little more sublty.

It's the way that he didn't tell June despite how close they are until June tells HIM that she knows. It's the way that Zahra had to give him an ultimatum to get him to tell Ellen. It's the way that he invited Henry to the Lake House, but in this conversation, doesn't offer up that he's with Henry, Oscar has to say "hey I approve" without being told.

Alex doesn't really think of himself as in the closet or having to come out, but he did and it's just interesting.

Anyway, Oscar says "It's not a surprise, not to him. I see you."

Back to the start of the post, Oscar probably knew when he sent Alex to work with Luna, and he probably figured having Luna around would help Alex feel comfortable enough to know that he wouldn't be met with the same lack of acceptance as Luna or Henry.

It really makes me like Oscar. We don't get a lot of him, but there's something special about this entire scene. Especially since he goes on to tell Alex that even if it blows up (Ala him and Ellen), it could still be worth it.

I feel like this is what makes it easier for Alex to tell Henry he loves him (even if it doesn't quite work out that weekend). I also think it's part of the reason that Alex goes to Kensington and fights, as well.

Anyway, I really like this scene.

[faeryarchives]

scarabia with a yoimiya-like gender neutral s/o!

a talented pyrotechnician filled with uncompromising childish innocence and fiery passion as they excels in their craft of creating fireworks that symbolize people's hopes and dreams.

: ̗̀➛ kalim al-asim

"ohayoooo kalim! ah, this is great! i feel so relaxed all over, i could almost float away. so anyways, what are we going to do today?"

if people didn't know that you aren't the prefect at all - they would've thought that you and kalim are related in someway because damn you just radiate sunshine energy ☀️

you are like two peas in a pods! if you feel very happy then kalim feels happy too, when kalim is feeling down you feel very sad

"sil told me that you were looking down earlier so i snuck out and brought you here!"

"is that a fire- woah it became so many goldfish fireworks!"

yeah you guys were caught by jamil when you almost put the whole garden on fire but hey that's worth a shot and kalim is smiling again

would absolutely fight because you guys love each other more war 🥺

"i love you kalim!"

"i love you more!"

"no i love you more."

it ends up with you hugging each other but you still love him more

despite having similar personality with kalim, you would still prevent him from doing any reckless decisions

after knowing that you are good with kids, kalim would bring you back to his hometown along with grim to meet his parents and siblings and they end up loving you too much that they didn't want you to go back home 😵‍💫

"(naaaaaaame) can't you stay with us and play?"

"henchmen quick lets escape!"

"noooooo! (name) is my partner don't take them away from me we are going back!"

"hahahaha... hey kids how about this, when i come back again we will play a lot okay?"

they eventually agreed after you give them some of your handmade keychain of your signature goldfish tattoo ueueu

every time nrc would hold school events, crowley would always ask you to be in charge of the fireworks team and of cource you agree to it which leads to kalim being very supportive and happy for you

"oh my gosh let's go (nicknaaaame)! do you want some snacks? are thirsty? hungry? or maybe tired do you want me to hug you to give you energy or a ki-"

"ok i have seen enough pda for today, let's go we are in charge of decorating our dorm. goodluck prefect."

definitely would watch the fireworks on the magic carpet with you and kalim in each others' arms watching your precious work go up and bring smiles and amazement to your friends

"i finally realize what fireworks symbolize for me."

"oh? what is it then?"

"it's a secret." this caused kalim to let out a long whine and hugging you closer making you laugh at his antics. deep inside, what really fireworks symbolize for you - is feeling the love and appreciation people shows while enjoying your passion and work.

: ̗̀➛ jamil viper

no words can say how much jamil is proud to be your boyfriend because you were just amazing in every aspect

without him knowing, the vice dorm leader find himself more at ease after boyfriend - even smiling more often

"ne ne jamil, if we've got nothing else to do, why don't i tell you a story?"

"hmm? sure thing, i just finished cooking lunch for the four of us later."

"sweet~! did you know that back in my wor-"

adores your stories, it never fails to put a smile on his face and it always got stuck in his mind that leads to kalim being surprised when jamil started chuckling after looking at some goldfish on display

even though he loves you so much, jamil couldn't help but feel strict whenever you forget to do your tasks especially when they are due an hour of tomorrow.

jamil 🥺💜: your alchemy assignment is due tomorrow did you do it already?

(nickname) 😎🌺: of course i did!

news flash, you did not do the assignment

and jamil heard from grim you did it an hour before your alchemy class but hey you got a perfect score!

he adores the way you would try to put on some of your hair clips on his usual braids

don't tell him but your contact number on his phone is the one where he is smiling while holding your festival pouch

whenever you two got alone time, you would either be dancing with jamil in a slow dance or have him teach you street dancing

"is it like this?"

"which on= wait no you are about to fall!" by the time you realize it, jamil saved your fall by catching you with a relieved sigh.

"um hehe? nice catch?"

much to his surprise, you brought back a parrot with you when you texted him that you have something important to say

"why do you have a parrot."

"ok its a funny story but hear me out."

it turns out the important thing was saving the parrot from a certain hunter and you decided to bring it back with you since the parrot reminds you of jamil and it became your child, it was very spoiled making grim let out complains

overall? the viper is so glad to have a very understanding and amazing partner like you and he couldn't wait for you to meet his sister.

"i feel like you an najima would get along great."

"ooooh! maybe i will ask her about your childhood pict-"

"no."

sometimes i just want to cry because i almost finish this like three hours ago but then the page reloaded by itself and i didn't get to save 😭 i hope you guys enjoyed ~