#clearly i cannot stop sharing snippets

[eulogisemeao3]

something from my current wip… she’s a summer baby like me 🍒📷🥤🌊

1.

That’s what they say—love isn’t enough: in all those modernist plays Harry drags him out to, or all those quotes Harry underlines in his books. When they’re in bed late at night and Harry stops the world for a minute with his voice, reciting a passage from his latest read, telling Louis how he can’t understand why love wasn’t enough to save Romeo, or how he worries he’s crazy for thinking that Emily Brontë was right when she said the world would become a stranger without her lover in it. Because that’s how Harry sees the world without Louis in it. He thinks he’s crazy for loving because devotion isn’t a thing for twenty year olds, it’s only for people who have pushed through decades in a loveless marriage. ‘Devoted’ to a life they’re only just enduring.

Louis knows real devotion.

When he’s on his knees in front of Harry, spreading him apart with his tongue in the living room risking his manhood with Harry’s father only just down the hall because Harry had batted his lashes asking for his tongue.

When they’re out and it’s raining, Louis gives Harry his trainers; barefoot in the puddles because Harry can’t walk anymore in his kitten heels.

Louis thinks they’re rewritten the world with their love. Can’t even last an hour before he’s searching for Harry.

— and something light hearted

2.

The diner they pull up to holds a lot of memories. Painted in shiny white paint that’s chipping at the corners, it’s definitely not as high class as the places they usually frequent but this was the place they had their first date. So, yeah, it means something and they love coming here.

Louis orders Harry his favourite vanilla milkshake with twin cherries resting on the thick glob of cream and a stack of pancakes drenched in syrup and dotted with strawberries and other summer berries. Louis gets the breakfast sandwich and, just because he knows how Harry is, a slice of avocado toast drizzled with lemon juice and garnished with sea salt, feta and chilli flakes. Just in case he regrets the sweet dish.

“Wait, photo.”

Impatient, Louis huffs, dropping his fork. “Quickly, baby, I’m hungry.”

Harry snaps a picture of their plates on his camera, then holds it up, at Louis. “Smile, handsome.”

Louis scoffs, but he pulls a face making Harry grin. He takes it off from Harry, waiting for him to pose, a slight pout as he holds a strawberry to his lips.

“Perfect,” he mutters, placing the camera down so they can eat.

The diner is more or less empty, Harry and Louis are the only ones occupying a table.

[writtenbyan-aries]

another one of my fav things u write is when the chat goes crazy so I was wondering if u could do one where y/n and Sam haven’t done a video in a while and the fans create rumors saying that they aren’t friends anymore but they’re secretly saying and Sam surprises the viewers on his live with reader and the chat goes crazy I love when u include that k byeee

I Found Her | Sam Golbach

Warnings: fluff, swearing, slight sexual innuendos, secret relationship (kept from fanbase), rumors about reader

I’m classifying this as a snippet for now.

“Sam.”

“Yeah, baby?” He looks up from his laptop as you walk down the steps, “Did you know that we aren’t friends anymore?”

“I mean..” he turns to look back at you, “Yeah, I kind of did know that.” He chuckles and you walk around to sit on the couch next to him, “Well yeah, but I mean.. here.”

You rest your head on his shoulder and he gives the top a kiss as you smile, “Here.” You hand him your phone, “There’s a thread on this one.”

You reach over, tapping the comment to drop more down, “Then I’ll show you the other comment section on TikTok.”

User1: Has she posted anywhere recently?

User2: right! It’s been almost three months

User3: Has Sam posted anything with her? Commented on anything?

User4: maybe she moved back home? Her and Sam might have split?

User5: @/user4: her and Sam were NEVER together! She’s an old friend from their childhood! Stop spreading false information!

User6: Literally stop. I’m sure y/n is fine!

He nods as he reads down over them, “They have no idea.” He looks over at you, “Is it because you M.I.A on them?”

“Probably. I just deleted the apps off my phone once we started getting, closer, you know.. I wanted to put my all into this, so I figured a social media break would be good.”

“You don’t have to explain yourself to anyone. You know that right? You do what you need to do in order to make yourself happy.” Sam leans in, pressing a kiss to your cheek, “Because they clearly have no idea what they’re talking about.”

You press a kiss to his lips, “As long as I have you, I should be set on happiness.” You smile and he kisses you again, “Maybe we should just come clean.”

“You want to tell them?” You ask as you raise your brows.

“Only if you want to.” Sam whispers, tucking hair behind your ear as you nod, “I need to start posting again anyway.” You let out a sigh, “Okay. How do you want to do it?”

Sam smirks, “I have an idea.”

“Oh no.” You laugh, “Should I be scared?”

He shakes his head, “Just go up and hang out in my room. I’m going to go live. Is Colby awake?” You stand up and shrug, “Not sure, I did hear anything before I came down.”

He nods and stands up, “Okay.” His hands slide up your arms, “Are you sure about this? If you’re not co-“

“I want to be able to kiss you in public and hold your hand. I’m sure about this, baby.” You look up at him and he smiles, “Okay. Now go.”

You nod and walk over to the steps, looking back to see he’s staring at you shaking his head.

“What?” You stop, tuning towards him as you laugh slightly and he shakes his head, “I just.. cannot believe you are mine.”

You smile harder, feeling your cheeks heat up as you finish your way up the steps. You go into the room you share with Sam, sitting on the bed as you wait for whatever’s about to happen, to happen.

A few minutes later, you see a notification on your phone.

[y/n.y/l/n]: samgolbach started a live video. Watch it before it ends!

“Oh my god.” You look at the door, then back to your phone, then one more back and fourth before you get up and walk out of the room.

You sit down on the floor, listening as you hear Sam start, “What’s up everybody? Hello hello.” He pauses, “Just going to wait for a couple more people to drop in before we get started.”

You knew the comments were insane. Sam hasn’t done a solo live in so long.

“Fuck it.” You get up, walking back in and you click on the notification, popping in while Sam is mid sentence, “.. on here and give you guys a little update about Colby and I’s travels lately.”

He smiles when he sees your name pop up, but he tries to not make it a big deal, “So we flew in from Italy, I think it was two days ago now? But that was amazing. That video will be out soon.”

While Sam is talking, you can’t help but stay focused on the comments, scrolling at you read. At first it was comments about Sam and Colby and their videos and stuff, but as soon as you joined, the focus was practically almost turned, which is what Sam wanted.

InstaUser1: WAIT WAIT Y/N DID I SEE THAT CORRECTLY!?

InstaUser2: Can’t wait for the video Sam!!

InstaUser3: @/InstaUser1 I SAW IT TOO!

InstaUser4: wait wait wait y/n is here?

InstaUser5: Sam! Please just tell us if y/n is okay!

“Y/n is okay. We’re still on good terms, I promise.” He glances at the camera, “Yeah, I see everything.” He laughs, shaking his head, “No she’s doing good.”

You laugh slightly, glancing back down to the comments.

InstaUser6: NO what do you MEAN you see everything Samuel?

InstaUser7: PLEASE GOD NO Sam don’t lurk you’ll regret it, just ask Matt Sturniolo

“Colby is sleeping still. I think he’s coming down with something, which means I’ll probably get it.”

“And I’ll end up getting it.” You mumble to yourself.

InstaUser8: Can you tell us where y/n is? Like did she go back home?

InstaUser9: Why did she ghost us? You’re a GHOST HUNTER, Sam! Please help us out!

“I need to go get Colby up anyway. We have a dinner tonight and I haaaate waking his ass up.”

Your heart starts racing as you see Sam walking in the live, “Oh fuck.” You shift around, leaning back against the headboard as you try to look relaxed and like you aren’t panicking on the inside.

You knew he had to get Colby up, but you knew he had unfinished business that he had to attend to first, “Here guys.” He flips the camera around and you watch the screen intently as he reaches for the knob, “Say hi to Colby.”

He pushes open the door and you’re suddenly watching yourself on your phone screen, “Just kidding. It’s y/n! I found her!”

You turn your head from your phone to look at Sam, “You found me!”

“Ghost Hunter Sam strikes again.” Sam says as he walks over to sit on the bed. You laugh, looking back down at the comments.

InstaUser1: I KNEW IT I KNEW IT I KNEW IT

InstaUser8: Oh my god this is so much better

InstaUser10: PLEASE WHAT IS HAPPENING

You lean over, resting your head on Sam’s shoulder, “I took some sudden time off because, well.. something sudden, but not so sudden happened and I just wanted to give it my all, you know?”

Your eyes scan down as the comments flood through on Sam’s screen.

InstaUser11: PLEASE BE TOGETHER.

InstaUser12: IM SOBBING WHAT

InstaUser13: MY TWO FAV PEOPLE WHAT IS GOING ON I-

You laugh, “I guess we should just-“ Sam cuts you off with a kiss and you lay your hand on his cheek, smiling as he pulls away.

“That’s my girlfriend.” Sam laughs as he rests his forehead against your temple, “Alright guys.” He turns his head, keeping it against yours, “I’ll see you all in the next one. I gotta go wake up Colby. Love you all. Catch ya later.”

You smile as Sam ends the live and then he suddenly turn, lunging to push you back onto the bed, “You can come to dinner with us tonight.”

“I sure can, boyfriend.” You scrunch your nose up as you smile and he leans in, “I love you, y/n.”

Your heart skips a beat and you bring your hand up to lay on his neck, “I love you, Sam.” He presses a few kisses to your face before attacking your lips.

He leans back with a sigh, “Wanna help me get Colby up?” You purse your lips together and shake your head, “I have to start getting ready.”

He rolls his eyes before smiling, “Fine, I’ll let it slide.” You go to get up but he stops you, “This time.” You laugh and shake your head, “Mhm. I’m sure I’ll hear that next time, too.”

“Yeah.” Sam nods, “You probably will.” His eyes scan over your body, “So which dress are you wearing?” You bite down on your lip as you glance over at him, “One that’s easy for you to take off of me once we’re back here.”

“Fuck, I love you.”

——

Thank you so much for reading!! I love you all so much!

Likes and reblogs are majorly appreciated!

[greenleaf4stuff]

Of Convenience 3

(all previous parts of "Of Convenience")

Adar x Celebrimbor (silverscars) political marriage AU, 3rd snippet. Officiator found, Adar and Celebrimbor get right down to business and get wed in the uruk camp. However, there is an unforseen hurdle. Celebrimbor ends up being the voice of reason this time around – with unexpectedly nice consequences. (aka, a kiss)

I feel like my muse has lured me in with candy (the political marriage AU idea) and is now holding me captive (making me write more snippets). Not like I have like. 20 ideas in my ideas folder and two other WIPs open or anything like that. Nuh-uh. I feel like I have gotten completely blindsided but – I am having an absolute blast so far?! Let’s see how far this wave will carry me, shall we?

(Also a big huge Thank You to everyone who has commented and liked and reblogged and sent me messages about these snippets, it’s been an absolute delight and I partly credit your lovely encouragement with why I have gotten so invested in this.)

They got through the 'ceremony' much better than Celebrimbor had expected. Between Galadriel's lingering reluctance and their shared lack of in-depth knowledge on how elven marriages were to be officiated, it had taken them a while to work out all the details (Adar had helped out in that regard, to both Celebrimbor’s and Galadriel’s surprise) – and then one of the uruk had demanded the two husbands-to-be add some words that included Adar's children and the marriage's legitimacy among them into the vows.

Safe to say, trying to get Galadriel and the uruk - Glug, if Celebrimbor was not mistaken - to settle down after this had been a bit of a hassle.

But still, they got through it - without cussing, without bloodshed, without attempts on one of the grooms' lives (Celebrimbor was considering Galadriel with newfound respect as he acknowledged that particular feat), and so the smith would count the proceedings as a victory. He'd had very few of those in the last few weeks, and would take it for what it was.

However, when it came to the end of the wedding ceremony, another problem arose:

"No," Adar flatly stated. It caused Celebrimbor to blink in surprise, and Galadriel to glare at the uruk from where she stood next to the two future husbands. Adar's face had hardened into a grimace of disapproval. "There must be a way to circumvent this."

What he was talking about was, of course, the part during which he and Celebrimbor were meant to kiss to seal the marriage. It was a common practice, not just among elves but men and dwarves as well. That Adar either hadn't anticipated it, or would now make such a fuss about it after having championed a political marriage as their primary option of cooperation, was baffling, to say the least.

Celebrimbor knit his eyebrows in confusion, even as Galadriel spoke. "Orc- Uruk. You pushed for this to take place, you cannot possibly think to stop now when we have almost reached an accord and bound the two of you-"

"I will not kiss him," Adar replied. This time, there was steel in his voice. "He accepted a political marriage, not one of passion. He clearly does not want to kiss me. I will not force him into it."

Judging by Galadriel's resulting look, she was taken just as off-guard by Adar's words and the smith was.

Coupled with Adar's strained expression, Celebrimbor couldn't help but feel warm at the other's objections.

The uruk had told him he wouldn't touch Celebrimbor without permission, that he would not force him. This had clearly been important to him, even before he'd fetched Galadriel. That it went so far as to include a kiss to seal their arrangement was doing something to Celebrimbor's stomach, and made him feel unexpectedly safe. Confident, even.

He could see that Galadriel and Adar were ready to get into yet another spat, so the smith stepped forward and slowly – very slowly – raised his hands to Adar's face.

The uruk briefly startled, surprised at the elf's brazen gesture, and it took him some obvious effort to untense again. Still, when Celebrimbor brought his hands up to the his cheeks, the uruk did not withdraw.

The feel of Adar's rough, scarred skin under Celebrimbor's fingertips sent a shock through the smith. The other was warmer than he had expected.

Up this close, Adar had green-blue eyes. And they were so completely focused on the smith that it almost stole his the air from his lungs.

"Adar," he tried, and could have sworn that the other had sucked in a breath as he spoke the uruk's name. "You were right, this arrangement is our best chance to avoid a bloody, gruesome war that would claim the lives of countless people – those of my fellow elves, and your children," he spoke back the uruk's words at him, as if reminding him.

"I trust you not to betray this alliance, and I trust you not to hurt me. You haven't so far. I allow you to-," it wouldn't help his case if his words failed him now. "To kiss me. It is part of the ceremony. It will take but a moment. I am allowing you to do this. Maybe neither of us has a desire for it, but, it is no hardship if done for a lasting peace."

Adar looked torn, mouth pinched and eyebrows furrowed, as he stared at Celebrimbor.

The smith tried again. "If you are holding back only for my sake, you do not have to. Truly. Though if it is because you are having second thoughts-"

"That is not it," the uruk spoke, voice brash, and he needed a moment reign himself in again. Celebrimbor waited with bated breath – his fingers still rested on Adar's cheeks, and the uruk hadn't even made an attempt to grab them or shake them away from his body. "I said I would not force you."

"You are not forcing me," Celebrimbor disputed, and leant closer. He could see Adar's eyes widen as he almost touched their foreheads together. The way the uruk’s mouth unconsciously opened made Celebrimbor feel even warmer, and he pressed forward with his words. "I could imagine far worse choices for a marriage, or even a kiss. You needn't fear for my comfort."

Granted, not exactly the most elegant thing to say to a man who would soon be bound to his side and commandeer a huge, deadly army straight towards Ost-In-Edhil, but it was the best Celebrimbor could come up with – without obviously lying, or giving away how the the thought of kissing Adar did in fact at least stirr something within him. A little.

He'd never just been interested in elves as potential partners, but he'd never thought he'd find himself in the position of kissing an orc- er, uruk.

Nor that he'd be even remotely interested in wanting to.

It was, indeed, a very strange day.

Maybe some of his thoughts had shown on his face, or perhaps his shoddy attempt of making Adar feel at peace had done some good after all, but the uruk eventually dropped his strained expression and exchanged it for a slightly guarded, but more relieved one. He nodded. "If you are sure."

"Surest I will be, considering the circumstances," Celebrimbor said with a tiny laugh, before he sobered again. "Apologies. But yes, I am sure. You may kiss me. Let us do this."

Somehow, his words did the trick, because when the smith leant forward, Adar did the same.

At the edge of his awareness, Celebrimbor could hear Galadriel gasp and the uruk guards make noises of disgust as they – very loudly – turned away from the proceedings.

But all that seemed to fall away when compared to the feeling of touching his lips to Adar's. It was a chaste kiss, just a press of lips really, but it was...surprisingly nice. Adar's lips were softer than Celebrimbor had expected, slightly parted and as warm as his cheeks.

Their noses brushed as the two moved closer together, and after a moment, there was a gauntleted hand on Celebrimbor's shoulder as Adar tried to balance himself. And soon after that, a second hand – slow and cautious – grasped his elbow.

Physical contact, yes, but it was done in such a considerate and respectful way that Celebrimbor hadn't seen it coming. He felt his belly quiver once more, this time more strongly than when he'd first considered what touching Adar might be like. It was hard, not to lean fully into the kiss – into the uruk – and just sink into the touch like he would into a hot bath.

When Adar drew away from the kiss, Celebrimbor realized with a start that he'd closed his eyes some time during it. Judging by how Adar had to reorient himself, he'd likely had the same happen as well.

'Huh,' the smith thought, and followed Adar's example as they untangled their hands from each other. Adar even brushed down the smith's robe before he retracted his hand from Celebrimbor’s elbow, while the elf couldn't help letting his hand touch Adar's hair as he dropped his arms.

It, too, was unexpectedly soft.

Flustered, he turned to Galadriel, ready to have her announce the marriage as officiated.

And felt the need to avert his gaze at the near scandalized, wide-eyed way Galadriel was looking at him, mouth open and all.

'Why isn't Elrond here to witness this? I thought there was absolutely no way to turn Galadriel of the Golden House of Finarfin speechless. He surely won't believe me when I tell him,' Celebrimbor thought, just a touch hysterical.

"That should be it, right? The wedding has been performed," Adar stated. He was once again standing next to the large table in the center of the tent, ready to down another glass of wine. Celebrimbor couldn't help thinking that so much wine before a battle could not be a good idea, but who knew what kind of a tolerance the uruk had.

Truth be told, Celebrimbor could probably use a glass himself, all things considered.

When Adar offered him one unexpectedly a moment later, the smith took it with a surprised but pleased expression, and thanked the other for it. Adar dismissed it, though not unkindly.

Finally, Galadriel found her voice again. Not without a sputter at first, however.

"You are right. You are now bound together. It...it is done."

"Well then. Cheers," was Celebrimbor’s reply to that, stated drily, before he downed his glass. Not the kind of wedding he'd imagined for himself, but well. At least he didn't have to invite Thranduil. That had to count for something, right?

[taegularities]

rid i was reading the candles and flames epilogue and would you be able to share a short snippet of their ‘shenanigans’ when they were dating? like prior to the wedding 😊😊

hehe this is an example of many <3 NOT PROOFREAD LOL

wc: like 500

The alley is dark, but Jungkook's eyes are darker.

This is not what you meant when you said you couldn't wait anymore. Jungkook struggles with keeping his exploring hands to himself; even in public, you're the one reprimanding him, reminding him that he still fosters a reputation that cannot be stained before the wedding.

But will the man listen?

Of course not.

No. What the man will do is press you against the cold brick wall, hiding at this pitch black spot where passersby are rare and coachmen too busy with their carriages. They probably can't see you.

"I should get home," you tell him, albeit under a breathy moan; his tongue, tasting your neck, does that to you. "We should truly go home."

"Mmmh yes. Let's go."

He whispers the words; barely enunciates them. His digits are busy seeking out your neck, lips dropping to your cleavage, and his lower body presses against yours, hungry for reprieve.

And your dress doesn't help; it always frustrated him to no end that you need to sport these heavy robes, veiling all of you under so many layers. Safe to say he is not a fan of contemporary fashion.

"Jungkook, fuck–"

"Talks about tarnishing reputations, but then my angel curses like this?"

He pushes against you, his stiffening cock apparent against your stomach. You want to respond, want to clench your jaw, but his lips wander up just before he can free your nipples, kissing you so hard that your lungs expire.

For a moment, that's all he does – kissing, extracting moans, hums, sighs. His hand slowly works on tugging up your dress, and just when he nearly reaching his goal, you hear two voices approach.

You gasp, pushing your fiancé away from you a little. His body pretty much remains at place before he comes back, shielding your face with his, and then turning towards you.

The voices of two gentlemen near, and then, in just a minute, they're gone again. You exhale a breath of sheer relief, hitting Jungkook's chest in scolding.

"You are too bold. Too impatient."

"I do not know when I will see you again. Your mother has too many preparations going on and wants to..." he begins, fingers back at work. His voice is a whisper. "Take you away from me, doesn't she? Whatever am I going to do without you?"

"Survive the way you did before you knew me."

"But now I do know you. What the fuck was pre-you-Jungkook doing?"

"Suffering. Clearly missing a... very– important part," you voice between heavy inhales.

"That's right."

"I guess you won't stop now either."

His answer arrives within a moment; his body speaks volumes to you. The response is already clear when he finally pushes a forefinger against your panties, immediately delighted by the dampness.

Yet, remembering the devil that he is, you're not surprised when he says–

"We can stop when we're done. Perhaps. Yes?"

[buckleyanddiaz]

WIP snippet

(Buck's POV of friendship, love, and some other things nobody explained to him clearly)

When Buck was seven and just discovering his favorite parts of summer, he'd lost his first friend to Maddie's lab partner. 

"I cannot believe - Evan, wait," Maddie had paused scrubbing at the glass, glancing down at him from the ladder, "you gotta stop shaking it. I'm fine. Just keep a lookout for mom."

"What if you fall?"

"I'm fine," Maddie had repeated, shooting him a quick smile before getting back to the egg stain on the window, "Burns, on the other hand, is clearly not. God, who does this?"

Privately, he'd thought that Sarah was just sad. He knew he would be. Maddie had been her best friend for five years, and now she had a new one. 

He loved Maddie. He didn't know why Maddie would need a new best friend, when Sarah Burns liked her even when Maddie accidentally dropped Sarah's Christmas snow globe while playing. They'd never been able to glue it back. 

He'd liked the way Sarah laughed when Maddie looked worried with the gathered glass on the floor. It was like she found it silly. Like Maddie could never hurt her, broken presents or not. 

Sarah was his friend too. He'd liked to think she was, at least. 

"Are you gonna talk to her?" 

Maddie had paused then, just for a second, just one swipe away from removing any stain of a broken egg on her window. If he thought hard enough, he could remember her carefully clearing her throat. 

"No, it doesn't matter," she'd said and he never understood why she sounded sad, "It's not like it matters. It won't change anything."

Maddie never really explained what could have changed. Her new lab partner's name was also Sara but without the h. Sara Madsen, not Sarah Burns. 

He remembered the Halloween mom thought Maddie lost her mind because she dyed her hair blonde like Sarah. It had been right after Sarah made a new friend over volleyball. Maddie had caught them being close at the locker room, sharing chapstick, she'd said.

Years later, he'd feel silly about not realizing that Maddie had seen them kissing. 

Somewhere around the time when he told Eddie that he had gone on a date with a guy. 

[yours-etc]

WIP WEDNESDAY!!

haven’t posted any of my work in a while and i’ve been grinding out this fic recently and want to share one of my favorite moment so far!! This is not going to be fully posted for a while… but it will be long, trust 🤞

here is a snippet from my Steddie Spider-ManAU 🕷️🕸️💙❤️

~~~~~~~~~~

He stays deathly still, not even wanting to breathe too loud. The roach could be anywhere in his room. Hiding. Waiting to attack.

The front door opens ushering in a wave of gaggling teenager noises. Thank God. Steve takes a deep breath before yelling, “ROBIN I NEED YOU IN MY ROOM ASAP LIKE NOW!”

The chatting quiets for a second, only to return to full volume a second later. Robin rushes in with a shoe in hand, “Where’s the spider?”

“Not a spider,” Steve says, shaking his head, “Roach.”

Robin shreaks running over to the bed to join him, “Steve what the fuck! I never agreed to roaches!”

“We have to kill it together,” he says desperately, “I lost it, and I need moral support right now.”

“Jesus Christ, I am so not going to be helpful, you should not have called me in here. Now I’m stuck and can't leave and we’re going to die from roach infestation.”

”That’s not a thing! Just keep your eyes open for a bug about this big,” Steve says, holding up his thumb.

Robins eyes widen, “Steve that’s fucking huge! What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Steve gapes at her, “Oh yeah, right cause I invited the roach inside? GET REAL! We split the rent therefore this is now both of our problems.”

She glares at him. He glares right back.

Something moves on the wall behind Robin.

Steve pushes Robin behind him, holding out his other hand towards the wall in a stop motion, as if the roach was going to attack.

“Give me the shoe Robin,” Steve says looking at her.

Robin doesn’t look at him, eyes trained on the wall. She doesn’t move.

Steve waits a moment before asking again, “Robin, the shoe please,” he says more urgently.

She doesn't look at him, her mouth opens and closes, she’s searching for words she cannot find. She just points at the wall without a word.

Steve signs, “Yes I know the roach is on the wall, I need the shoe please. To kill it.”

Robin finally speaks up, “You don’t need the shoe,” she turns to him with a horrified look.

Cold showers over Steve. He turns his head to see what she means.

He pauses.

What the fuck?

A spider web pins the roach squished to the wall.

But the web has a tail. That swoops up to meet with Steve’s wrist. He turns his hand over to look at it. It seemed almost attached to him, till he swipes at it with his thumb and it falls softly to the floor.

What the fuck?

“Steve?” Robin whispers behind him.

“No,” he says sternly.

“Steve I think—”

“No.”

“No, really. It like, came out of—”

“That’s impossible Robin.”

“Well clearly it’s not”

”No it is. Because that didn’t just happen.”

“Hey guys?” Max calls from the hallway.

Steve and Robin look at each other in panic. Footsteps make their way down the hall. Nearing closer and closer.

Everything moved in slow motion.

Steve throws his other hand up toward the door.

”Do not come in!” They yell at the same time.

A web.

Shooting out from Steve’s wrist.

Slamming the door closed.

What. The. Fuck.

Robin squeaks, but knows now is not the time to say “I told you so.”

[nocturnalghoul]

Mushy May Day 23: Falling asleep/ watching the other sleep

Rain comes to Swiss after getting high with Mountain. He promises not to fall asleep while they hang out but alas. Some super fluffy Rulti because I love them. Those two are incredibly goofy with one another and you cannot change my mind!

I need it to be known that an outline for this has been sitting in my ideas folder since like early March and I was super excited for an excuse to finally make myself turn it into something. This is also another one that I hope to revisit and bulk out later. Snippet of song at the end is from One & Only by Fortunate Youth. Once again the Rain Chill Vibes playlist is one that you can rip from my cold dead hands.

Words: 669

Rating: Gen/ Everyone

Read below the cut or on AO3 here

Swiss takes in the very high ghoul in front of him, already clambering to snuggle up next to him on his bed. He had been reading a book, but knows that the time for that is now apparently over and quickly marks his place before closing it.

“Now, I can’t help but notice you didn't even share, Raincloud” he teases, already shifting so that Rain can situate himself more comfortably. 

“Mmmm, wasn’t mine to share, babe. You’d have ta bother Mounty ‘bout that.” Rain mumbles as he crawls into Swiss’ lap, accidentally knocking the book out of his hand as he goes. “So whatta you up to?”

“Well I was gonna try to get some reading done, but then a ravishing water ghoul appeared. I guess it’s best that I stop that silly plan and talk to him instead, huh?” 

“Hmmm, wise plan. This water fella’ sounds super handsome, I would hate for him to have to go talk to somebody else.” 

Rain shoots him a playful look, his smile a little overly wide before breaking out into a fit of giggles. Swiss leans over to give him a quick peck on the nose before turning to grab his phone from the nightstand beside him. 

“The playlist I had going was one of the ones you made for me but it’s kinda slow and chill. Let me change it to something a little less sleepy.” Swiss explains, following the small discontent huff Rain had let out at all the wiggling he was doing. 

“No it’s fine, I was enjoying it. Leave it on?” Rain asks gently. Swiss shoots him a quick knowing look. Both of them are well aware of how sleepy Rain gets when he is high in general, and clearly the multi ghoul does not believe for a second that Rain won’t immediately nod off with the music still playing. 

“‘M not gonna fall asleep” Rain lazily asserts, but only gets a singular raised eyebrow in response. 

“Swisstopher K Ghoul, do you doubt my word? Here, I pinky promise!” Rain challenges in fake outrage, face scrunching up in an adorable way that Swiss can't resist. He holds up his pinky and wiggles it at Swiss to prove he means it. 

Swiss hooks their pinkies together then pulls Rain's hand up towards his face. “This sounds serious, I better seal that promise with a kiss” he remarks before kissing both their entwined fingers and the back of Rain’s hand. Rain pouts up at him after taking his hand back, so Swiss gives him one more in between his horns. 

A grand total of 10 minutes passes before Rain’s responses to what Swiss is saying stop making sense as he predictably starts to fall asleep. Swiss knows that if he were to challenge the water ghoul on this, he would blame it on how nicely Swiss is playing with his hair, the comfort of his bed, and his own excellent taste in pleasant music. 

Eventually Rain stops responding completely, letting out a barely audible noise that is either a snore or a gentle purr, Swiss can’t tell. Either way, he continues to play with Rain’s hair as he looks down fondly at him sleeping. 

The water ghoul is smiling even in his sleep, and Swiss is completely entranced by him. He listens to Rain’s soft noises and the music playing from the speaker across the room. 

You know when I sleep at night/ With you, right by my side I'm fine/ Hoping to be forever/ You and Me

The sentiment expressed in the music could not more perfectly encompass the current moment. Swiss thinks he may just have to finally admit that there is something nice about the hypnotically chill playlists Rain makes, even if it’ll inflate the ghouls ego. 

“I’m so happy I get to call you mine, Rainbow” he whispers against the water ghouls hair. Rain snuggles closer in his sleep at the words and for Swiss that's more than enough confirmation that the feeling is mutual.

[k-s-morgan]

︎This is the first time ever I'm writing to a writer as I'm a lil anxious about my English. But after many years of reading your flawless work (TGSTLTH), I really couldn't hold myself anymore; if I stay silent one more second, I'm going to explode from repressed emotions.XD

I'm absolutely going crazy over your storytelling. I think nobody -and I do mean NOBODY- was this close to perfection with the characterization of Sebastian and Ciel. It's like you are working together with Yana herself. You've really managed to catch every aspect of their relationship that made this whole storyline (manga and anime) the way it's been, which seems to be the entire reason why I still can't get over Kuroshitsuji. It's just so dark and dramatic... the bitter power struggle between these two and the way they compete for control —which is pretty entertaining to see when you think about it because both parties are unable to maintain any type of control or authority over the other.

From what I see, this fandom has mixed feelings about S2 of the anime. Some love it, some ignore its whole existence, and some people are okay with it. Unfortunately, I'm the second one. I like the story arcs that are canon to the manga. When I first started to read TGSTLTH, I really thought that fanfic would follow the storyline without S2 in it since you reflect the complexity of the bond they share as a human and demon so prettily. I've always wondered if Ciel, as-twelve-years-old brat, managed to become Sebastian's living hell, how much of a pain in the ass he would be as he grows older. And the plot has several unresolved mysteries that have not been addressed yet. That's why I'm not a big fan of S2; it closes off all the possible ways this story can go as its ending. However, you are the only one who could warm me up to S2; I trust you.

I read the snippets. It was surprising to see Ciel doubting his appearance. I was questioning whether his look-alike was truly superior or if it was just the circumstances influencing his perception. I feel like it's mainly his fear of not being good enough for Sebastian to stay. Which explains his continuous freak-out about the possibility of his soul being unworthy. And I clearly remember Sebastian thinking, "The boy wasn't nearly as pretty" upon seeing him.

Your talent is exceptional and beyond comparison. Please never stop writing. Stay safe...❤❤

B.

Ps. If my English is difficult to read or understand, please feel free to ignore this.

Hi! Please don't worry, your English is absolutely fine! I'm so happy you've been enjoying Those Gentle Slopes so much, and I'm honored that you feel like I did justice to Ciel and Sebastian. They are my favorite characters, and Ciel is probably my most favorite character ever, across all fandoms, so I really treasure the chance to work with them and get such lovely feedback from other readers.

With S2, yes, it created a lot of controversy in the fandom, but also yes, I love it with my whole heart! I always call it a love letter from Sebastian to Ciel. I do have some issues with it, like the exccessive sexualization in general and of Hannah in particular - it feels just awkward sometimes, but the main plot and especially the resolution make me ridiculously happy.

I agree that the bond between a demon and a human is fascinating. I enjoy exploring it a lot, and I so look forward to all the adventures Ciel and Sebastian will have. But I also think that it cannot go on like this forever: even if Ciel got older, sooner or later, something wuld have to give. He'd either die from old age, which would feel like a very underwhelming ending to me, or Sebastian would eat his soul likepromised - but then I'm sure we'd have ended up with the Red Valentine development, where he's lonely, miserable, and missing Ciel. The idea of Ciel becoming a demon in a way that puts such a strain on his relationship with Sebastian - it's like a new life for their bond. So many new conflicts and possibilities could emerge from it - new settings, new events, new power struggles. If you stick around, I really hope you'll like it! And I really appreciate your trust.

And yes, you're absolutely right, Ciel is prettier than his look-alike (at least from how I envision it). Sebastian probably overestimates the difference between them a bit because he's biased in Ciel's favor while Ciel is freaking out because he's been feeling insecure and unworthy for a while at this point, and learning about Sebastian's second contract was just the last blow. These two idiots…

Thank you for your wonderful ask again! I hope you enjoy the next chapter.

[voxofthevoid]

i shall ask once more. \o/ 12, 26, 39 (is there another snippet in stock, void-sama?) and 55! <3

Welcome back 💚

List of questions here

(I should start keeping a list of things people call me on Tumblr...)

12. How does receiving or not receiving feedback/support impact you?

Like I said in response to another of these questions, I am not immune to having expectations...which have admittedly been skewed by hanging around in MCU/stucky (guys, you spoiled me).

Receiving feedback makes me happy, often derangedly happy. There's that simple pleasure in sharing something I made—something I put a lot of time, effort, and joy into—and seeing it have an effect on other people. There's a reason I reread my comments (and Tumblr tags, when applicable) a zillion times.

Not receiving it is predictably disappointing, though the intensity varies a lot with my level of investment in the fandom/ship and, more importantly, the particular story. You know those jokes about how the fics we work most on and are most proud of tend to be less well received than something we throw together in a hurry? Yeah, that's always an...interesting experience.

What feedback doesn't affect is whether I write or what I write. This wasn't the case until last year or so, but now, nearly everything I post is already fully written and being posted on a monthly schedule. It spares me from being discouraged in the middle of writing a fic. Similarly, darkfic tends to not be as popular as fluff or even hurt/comfort, but literally nothing else sparks up my brain like some gourmet fuckery, so nothing's going to make me stop writing those stories.

...holy shit, that got long.

26. Which of your fics would you call your wildest ride?

THE FUCKING KIDNAPPING FIC

I cannot tell you how weird/wild it is that this thing unraveled the way it did. I know I post a lot of multichapters for JJK, but I don't really consider them multichaps as such. More like...six-shots or something (don't ask). I was content poking at porny bits of canon divergence scenarios.

And then @nearalways asked one(1) question: What'd have happened if Yuuji had chosen not to be Sukuna's host when Gojou tells him to choose his hell? We'd also been talking a lot about how dead-eyed and done Yuuji looked in most of his middle school-era flashbacks. Long story very short, I wrote a 119k answer that has done irreparable damage to my sanity and irrevocably changed how I write Gojou in particular.

39. Share a snippet from a WIP

I always have snippets! Especially since I've got some...300k of JJK fic I haven't even posted yet. You can find it under the cut.

55. Of the characters you write for, which is your favorite? Has that choice been swayed at all by your followers/readers’ reactions to certain ones?

Yuuji, hands down. The whole reason I'm even in this fandom is because I adore that kid. I haven't been this fascinated by a shonen MC in ages. Me being me, this does mean I put him through unimaginable horrors though!

And no, not at all. You, uh, might notice that I tend to be very set in my opinions 😂

Snippet here:

Yuuji yanks at the hand pinning him down.

There’s a moment where it works. Gojou’s fingers loosen, and his whole rhythm falters, and Yuuji almost, almost frees himself, wholly intent on flipping them over, but then there’s a soft breath of laughter, and a second hand clamps down on the wrist Yuuji has nearly wrenched free.

He makes a furious final attempt, throwing the whole of his strength into it, but this time, Gojou’s hold doesn’t waver for even a second. He’s grinning down at Yuuji, the devil on his lips.

“Devious,” Gojou tells him; it sounds like a compliment. “You’ve grown stronger, Yuuji—much, much stronger.”

And that sounds like pure sex.

Yuuji’s hips buck up helplessly, and Gojou bears down against him, pinning him there too.

“Clearly,” Yuuji hisses through clenched teeth, “not enough.”

“I’m a different kind of beast,” Gojou says easily. His eyes grow heavy-lidded. “But one day soon, Yuuji, you’ll be able to hurt me. Really hurt me. Won’t that be fun?”

Yuuji’s brain is abruptly yanked away from his dick and shoved back into his skull. “What? No! I don’t want that!”

“Of course you do,” Gojou says, laughing. “You will. It’s alright. I’ll let you.”

“Gojou-sensei—”

“But that’s for later. What do you want right now, Yuuji?”

“You,” Yuuji says incredulously, a thousand meanings packed into that one word.

Gojou’s eyes narrow, a different kind of heat than the look he shot Yuuji before. “Don’t cop out on me now. What were you going to do, Yuuji?”

“Fucking—” Yuuji lifts his head just to slam it down on the mattress; it’s not satisfying at all. “I want to fucking touch you! What else!”

“Cute,” Gojou says, his smile growing wider and more unhinged at Yuuji’s growl. “Where, Yuuji? How? I’ve only been gone for nineteen days, but you already forgot the game. I trained you better than this.”

[lukisoda]

Sonder Achivement, Denouement the Goal Warning. Suicidal thoughts, violence, unreliable narrator SPOILERS.

This is a small snippet of what I plan to write. And that is the 'What if Wei Wuxian wasn't revived' This isn't how the actual story will go (probably, because I am personally unsure of how I wrote this... This was done late at night, and for some reason, I deemed that this could very much happen. Realistically speaking, I don't see it happening, however, I don't want this to go down the drain.), but I still wish to share it nonetheless. (I don't know if I'll do Wei Wuxian not being revived, or him just completely forgetting his life...Both are interesting.)

Okay- I won't keep you.

Mo Xuanyue was planning on doing the ritual, really. He just wanted to take one last look around before he gave himself up. Only for a little, then he would do this. Only one look at this godforsaken place. And then the all-mighty Yiling Patriarch will take revenge for him because he is weak, tired, and exhausted. No, he doesn’t want to live. All that matters is that they all die. Perish. Because he is tired and cannot do it himself. Nie Huaisang has reminded him of the means for it. It takes so little. His blood- some cuts. And then his life. That doesn’t matter though. Compared to Yiling Patriarch his life is nothing. So why is he wasting time like this? It is late, no one should be awake, perfect time to finally get this over with. He can rest after. 

Yet, the feeling in his chest won’t let up. Why can he think clearly now? Why won’t his chest let this get done? He wants this to happen. Who cares if he dies or lives- he has no family. No one to care, to bother when an evil spirit takes his body. When he gives himself up. Why does he hurt now. WHY NOW. He was fine with this. Right? Death is the best option for him- he can’t get his sweet revenge for himself, but he - he CAN. Why is his breath uneven? Why can he think so clearly now- why does he need to think of this

He doesn’t want to think 

please stop it please never stops them. He can, He the all-mighty can. Rest, he wants to rest right? Where are his legs bringing him? Yes, he wants to rest, so he should return and do it. 

Something dropped onto the ground. Someone dropped onto the floor. Poor them. They know how it feels like to fall now, shame no one knocked them onto it like they do to him all the time. His face feels hot, his eyes mainly, something wet started falling from them too. His hand started hitting something, Since when was he facing the ground? Since when was his hand repeatedly hitting the ground under him? It all stopped suddenly. Expect the wetness. Falling, it kept, it falling, the small drops of water. It falling what, water falling. It was falling. It water falling. Words aren’t making sense- What water falling- Is it raining? It must be. His body felt wrong oh so wrong it felt. It felt like his skin wasn’t his. If he wasn’t about to sacrifice himself, he would have probably skinned himself. Maybe then he’d feel good. It had to be cold because his body was shaking. It was raining, so it made sense that it was cold. Cold. Cold. Always cold. Expect when he was at Lanling- But that is long gone, he cannot go back, no he was driven out. Now he feels sick for liking him- ahah- so very sick very very - yet he does ahah- his ‘family’ is right about few things. But they will suffer either way. That is the only right way. And he, he will die for it. Suddenly something warm was placed on his back. A voice, very light, sweet. He doesn't hear such voices. this felt alien. Wrong. “Are you alright xiǎo huǒzi?” Someone crouched next to him. Why was he on the ground? What has that person said? Why is there a hand on his shoulder? A HAND ON HIS SHOULDER. He quickly scrambled away. This person had white robes, very white robes. Expect the deep red seeping through. Spot on their left shoulder, stomach - there was a lot of red. Even on their face. It wasn’t make-up like he has over his eyes, nor some fabric. And yet a smile was planted on their lips. Lips that too were messed up with red. Red, red on the white, white like a peony. Dirtied with red. Why smile at him? Yet they smile, their long hair very messed up, dark hair messed up, just like their robes. “Do you need help? It’s not safe out here at this time.” Sweet and light yet so very forced. They were barely crouching. He recognised pain, he knows pain by heart, but he usually doesn’t see it in others. Because they cause his pain, they don’t know the pain. They just know how to cause it, but never experience it. That’s why they must pay, that is why he must give up his life, his everything and get revenge. All so they know pain. 

This person, is also in pain, so why are they taking their time to bother with him? A soon-dead man walking? Due to no answer being given, the smile disappeared. Staring, why stare at him? They struggled to stand, good. They will leave him and he will go do what he must. “Do you…have somewhere to stay?” Why ask? How does it matter. A laugh, someone was laughing. No wonder, his life was a big joke after all. But that stranger seemed to think otherwise. 

“...Come, I’ll get you somewhere safe at the very least.” Now they sounded raspy. Red was coughed from their mouth but they prevented it from falling to the ground with a hand. While the other was stretched out in front of him. He cowered away. He was going to get hit even by a stranger now! what a world it is he lives in- well, at least he won’t be here for much longer, soon the Yiling Patriarch will have his body. And he will rest, his head feels full, but it won’t after. His chest won’t hurt, won’t feel so tense, so iffy. But nothing hit him. No pain came. Are they waiting till he drops his guard so it hurts even more? 

“Nevermind. Please follow.” No hit. No pain. He looked back, the person was slowly dragging themselves towards an inn. Waiting. Who were they waiting for? Why was his body moving now? Where were his legs going? Why was it still wet. His cheeks, why do they feel wet? The person continued walking. And Mo Xuanyu did too. Leg raised, moved, landed, then the other did the same, placing itself a bit before the one from before. Why though? This isn’t the right way. He needs to go back. Why is his body not listening?

It took a bit, but the inn owner did open the door. Seeing him and the stranger, he took them both in. It’s late, that man should have been sleeping. They probably woke him up, yet he didn’t yell at them, hit them, or anything. Just took them in. Maybe he was waiting till they got comfortable to beat them both. That’s probably it. 

But nothing came even after a while. He just brought bandages for the two of them. Even helped the stranger patch themselves up. While he sat. Loud, his head was loud and everything was wrong but right and he was tired and he couldn’t stop thinking while he had nothing on his mind. Just babbles. Loud babbles. Nothing made sense in his head. 

There were noises, and words being said. But he couldn’t grasp them. Couldn’t- Can’t. He can’t. Because he is tired and he should have been resting by now. Forever. But he is still here. And these people aren’t screaming at him, calling him names or hitting him. He is sitting there, other people with him and he is hurting but at the same time isn’t. Because no one is hurting him right now, but he still feels pain. Why did he come here? He could have been resting. Just like Nie Huaisang said, the Yiling patriarch can get revenge for him, he can rest forever if he just gives up his body. He doesn’t need to feel pain. But does he really want that? He doesn’t realize someone is shaking his shoulder. Tired, he is tired, he is hurting and he doesn’t want to hurt but he does and he hates it. He hates his so-called family, he hates pain and he hates feeling tired. He hates his eyes his face his skin everything. Because he is hurting. He is hurting and no one is there ever. Ever there for him. Just him and his hurt. His thoughts. Thoughts that are not even thoughts. Because his head is loud and full but makes no sense. Is it so much to feel lightheaded? Have nothing on mind? Feel no pain? His body was shaking, someone was shaking him but he didn’t understand why. It wasn’t painful. It wasn’t rough it was just a slight shake and after a bit another shake. The voices didn’t stop. But the voices weren’t his own. No, they couldn’t because they didn’t sound mean or impolite. It reminded him of someone. Oh, but he hated that man. He hated him. He hated himself for liking him even despite that. But, the Yiling Patriarch will deal with this for him too, surely. And even if he doesn’t at least he won’t be here to think about it anymore. Because he will be gone. And the Yiling Patriarch will return. 

He doesn’t know when he lost consciousness, but he woke up in a room unfamiliar to him. In a bed that was far too comfortable for someone like him. And yesterday’s events were blurry and he didn’t know what happened and his breathing started getting uneven and he wanted to go back and just end it all already. He got up. He got up. But before he could leave he noticed the white-clothed stranger from yesterday sitting in a chair that was next to the bed he was in before. Their clothes were still bloody and their hair a mess. Bags were under their eyes. 

He stopped. And he didn’t know why. Why did he stop? He stared at the stranger. Cultivator. This was likely a cultivator, probably a rouge one, since they didn’t wear any uniform, or were from some small clan and that is why he didn’t recognise their robes. Did they stay by his side the entire night? No, why would anyone want to stay by his side? Then they woke up and he wanted to run out of the room. Get as far as possible, but they woke up too quickly and spoke even faster. “You’re awake, good.” Their voice was still rough, but there was still this odd tone. He heard it at times, but he doesn’t anymore. So this felt wrong. As if they were speaking to someone else. But it was just them in the room. “Are you alright? Do you remember what happened last night?” How would he answer that? If he says he doesn’t would they get mad? If he says he does would they hit him for wasting their time? What does it matter? He is gonna leave in a bit and then he is not gonna be anymore. Mo Xuanyu nodded once in response. Backing towards the door. Because he will flee. He will run and he won’t look back and then he will offer his body to the all-mighty Yiling Patriarch. “Wait, don’t leave yet. Clearly, you aren’t –” They got up and went towards him, but their leg gave out and they fell to the ground with a grunt. Fear spiked within. Hha- they fell, they fell because they tried coming to him. So now they will hit him- They will hurt him like his ‘family’ because they fell because of him. He himself got to the floor and covered his head, smiling. Small silent laughs and sobs could be heard. He couldn’t tell if it was him, but it probably was. Who else would it be?

But a while passed and no pain came. He didn’t dare look to see what was happening for a while longer, however in the end he did. And he was met with a strange look from the stranger. They looked concerned. He didn’t get why. Should he have just taken the beating like a man? Well, sorry, but at least he will try to make his suffering less painful if he can. After all, being manly was never his strong side. “I..Won’t hurt you, I promise. I wouldn’t be able to even if I wanted to, just look at me.” They smiled slightly. Yet they looked like they were in pain. Why would they try to make him feel better when they are also in pain? Why did it matter to him if they were in pain, he was too. He suffered, he felt pain too, so why did that bother him? His head hurt. He didn’t want to think anymore. Yet he still thought. He thought and his thoughts were endless. And even when he wanted to rest, he couldn’t because he is stuck here. And there is a cultivator here, he cannot do the ritual with someone like that around. So he stays silent and he just stares at them back. Why would someone show him sympathy or empathy? This is sketchy and he doesn’t like it. He doesn’t like many things, he realizes as of late. But what is there to like? Should he enjoy the pain he is subjected to? The embarrassment? No. He will stop feeling all of it soon anyway…Right. He won’t feel anything soon, that is good. Good. His head won’t be so full all the time… “I can escort you back home if you have one at least…If I can’t help else how.” Still, they spoke nicely with him. Maybe this is because they don’t recognise him? The second they realize who he is they will probably be mean to him too. So- He should just- “I’m Mo Xuanyu.” The reply came quickly. “Heard. That doesn’t mean I cannot want to help you.” He didn’t know what to do. Sobs, he heard sobs. They were hurting themselves, it was clear. They hurt, red was pooling from them not too long ago and yet they wanted to help him, a lunatic. He wanted to hate them for that. He wanted to hate them for understanding somehow- for somehow being capable of wanting to help even though they knew what freak he was. But how does one hate someone like that? So the sobbing continued. His eyes were hot, his nose runny. Everything felt bad. He just wanted to perish. Oh, how he wanted to sleep forever but the fear has caught on after a while. He was determined- but that faded. He wanted revenge- he did. He hates these people more than anything- But shouldn’t he get to watch them suffer? When he gives up his body it’s over. He- He won’t be able to witness their suffering. He wants to see it. He wants to see them pay for what they did to him. But he is also weak. He is so very weak. If he gives up his body, his revenge is set in stone. He just won’t be there to see it. He wants to see it- but you can’t have it all. 

Is it worth it if he can’t see it though? It’s his revenge. He wants to see them suffer, and beg for mercy, and forgiveness, just like he has. Only to be granted none and then perish. He wants to see the pain on their face. The despair. Their life draining away. He deserves to see it. He does. Not some Yiling Patriarch who has nothing to do with him. If demonic cultivation is the only way to get revenge, why doesn’t he learn it himself. If a demonic cultivator is needed for this, HE will be the cultivator. Maybe not the all-mighty grandmaster- but he will take this on by himself. After all, he knows some things. With time and effort- he will get there. Revenge tastes the sweetest when it’s earned, right? So this will be the sweetest revenge ever committed in the world. And it will be his own. What exactly happened, hah, he doesn’t know, wouldn’t care anyway. Outside, he was outside, it was no longer dark. Sun was in the sky. Laughter filled the street and his legs moved and people were staring. And staring and staring. That is all they do. Stare. Doesn’t matter, won’t matter. 

Because he, he will get what he deserves. And they, they will pay. By his hands and his thoughts. 

[dearlawdimasimp]

okAyy i've been meaning to post this as a whole but since I cannot construct anything past this scene atm, i'll share this to y'all. I want to share this bc why not, and i am still a lil reluctant on the deity i chose bc it might affect me along the way bUT! I am willing to take the risk atm and say that Filipinx!Reader is the warrior of the Goddess of War and Poison, Ynaguinid, of the Visayan region.

They became the deity's warrior bc their ancestors were one, but ever since Magellan's arrival, the tradition and acceptance of reader's bloodline of Ynaguinid's blessings stopped. But after dear reader found out, they did not hesitate to pick back up the mantle and be the warrior Ynaguinid needed.

The fic below is just the snippet of the fic..and idea of a scene of how reader and Marc would interact now that they are maskless after figthing side-by-side w/o fully knowing each other and who's under the mask....and idk what to do past this bc i wanted this to be a Khonshu x Filipinx!reader at first but now i think im gonna make this one into a Marc Spector & Steven Grant x Filipinx!reader(might also be Jake Lockley but we'll see if i can squeeze out ideas from that)

OKAY ENOUGH ABOUT ME LMAO UNTO THE SHORT FIC

"Do they have meanings?" Curiosity laces Marc's tone. 

Your head slightly tilted to the side, brows furrowing as you wait for him to clarify his question. Did he meant your mask-

"The tats..I mean.." He clears his throat as he shifts in his seat,  "You don't have to answer if it makes you uncomfortable." He quickly adds, raising his palm a little as he reassures you.

Ahhh..of course, what else would it be? It is the most distinctive feature on your face after all.

"It's okay, I'm comfortable to answer that. To you, anyways. You know my side-job, which would make explaining this-" you gesture your tattoos- "a whole lotta easier to talk about." You offer him a smile as you carefully sat up, feeling a little better now. 

Marc was about to reprimand you from doing so, but you dismiss him with a smile, "It's fine, it doesn't take me too long to heal." You cross your legs and face the gwapito*.

"So, uh..in my region's ancient culture- like pre-colonial and all- the tattoo generally used to be accessories for women. For men, however," you glance at the back of your hand, "it signifies their bravery for killing an enemy. The placement and amount tells how many they have killed in their lifetime." You look up at him through your lashes, and his brows are slightly raised as his eyes roam on your exposed tattoos, you can see the gears in his mind turning as he connects the dots.

"Once you've killed a foe, you will be tattooed manually by an assigned and skillful person and it usually starts from the ankle up to your leg." You tug your shoes off and show him the inked skin, thick black inks running straight up your leg, less thick ones beside it and thin ones that are zigzagged in pattern. "I forgot what each line was called but uh..yeah they have names." You continue as you show your other leg. 

Marc studies the black streaks and patterns on your skin, it is old and has healed quite beautifully. You didn't realize that you have stared off at the far distance as memories flash before your eyes. It took you a while but when you felt that small tingle when you feel eyes on you, you came back to the present. You glance at Marc, his worry might not be oozing but you were able to perceive it.

"I'm fine-" You huff, raising your leg and placing your feet on the couch to rest your chin on your knee.

"You're clearly not." 

"I am. I really am. I'm just…reminiscing is all."

"Reminiscing something painful equates to, not fine."

"Yes the memory was painful but it was also satisfying on my part so, I'm fine."

You were remembering your family's faces after they saw the tattoo. Tattoos are a big taboo in present times in your country. They called you cruel names and hurtful words were thrown and the end was you were thrown out of the household. All of these horrible things happened in less than an hour but you were smilling. Because damn did it felt gratifying to be the "disappointment" in the family when you were the pride of your ancestors.

"I'm fine. I assure you." You give him a sincere smile and even reach out for his hand. An offer for comfort, for him or for yourself or for you both, you did not know.

He looked utterly unconvinced but still took your hand, in which you gave a gentle squeeze. Thanking him for how considerate he was before continuing the Visayan ancient culture lesson, awkwardly letting him go since you really didn't want to make him uncomfortable and make him think you were a creep. 

Marc didn't want to let you go too, but he did not say it, afraid of severing the tiny bond you two were making as you spent time together. Maskless and vulnerable. Away from danger and in the comfort of his home. Not facing enemies as you spoke. 

"The face tells the same story, but, face tatts are 'restricted to the bravest and toughest heroes', a direct quote from Yna herself."

"Yna, you mean..?"

"Ynaguinid. Yes."

It was silent. Marc gives you a thoughtful stare as you return it with a neutral one, leaning back to the couch as you let him process the information you just gave him while waiting for his reaction.

"Is it still applied traditionally in your case or does Ynaguinid just.." he waves his fingers in the air, "-magically put it on you after you killed someone?"

You chuckle, "That's what I was thinking when she told me that I have to get tattooed, just like my ancestors- the warriors before me- to show my bravery and truly embrace that I am a descendant of Ynaguinid's warriors. But nooooo.." you laugh out the vowel, "I have to actually get it traditionally which is using a needle that is lodged in stick, dip it to the ink then hit the back of the needle-stick to the imprint the ink to the skin." You scrunch your nose as you feel the feeling of the process at this moment as you talk about it.

Marc can only imagine how it feels as he had never got any tattoos in his life. His brows were scrunched as he tried to picture out the process. 

"It kinda looks like you're nailing a wall but instead of a wall its skin-"

"Okay, okay. I get it. I get it now." He took a deep breath and exhaled, nodding as he crossed his arms. "Did- does it hurt?"

"Like a bitch. The first time I received one," You uncross your legs, raise your right foot and rotate it, showing him the drawing on your ankle, "I cried when the needle first hit my skin, it was my very first tattoo after all, and fuck did it feel like I was getting crucified or somethin." 

You chortle seeing the man's eyes widen a smidge and lean back, "I also got a very high fever after the whole process, which was not done by one sitting, and thought I was going to die at that moment. Although my ancestors and Ynaguinid were by my side the whole time, I did not stop sobbing and was about to run away from Apo Whang-od and never return again." You laughed at the end of your sentence, seeing the ridiculousness now but you were actually terrified for your life when you did get your first tattoo. Your warriorification as Gen-Z-ers would say.

Marc, although chuckled along with you, was worried about hearing the hurtful process and aftermath of the tradition. But seeing as you laughed it off, he just shakes his head with a conceding laugh.

"Overtime, the pain has lessened," gesturing your leg and bicep, "but when I received this snake jaw tattoo?-" you point at your jaw that has the said tattoo. It ran from the bottom of your ears down and met the middle of your chin, resembling the lower jaw of a cobra, "Nah!* I really thought I died then came back to life." You shake your head and look to the side, trying to contain your laughter seeing the raised brows of Marc after hearing your hyperbole, biting both your lips with a lopsided smile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*gwapito = handsome

*Nah! = a Cebuano expression that is kinda like a scoff, but it could also be used for other things. In this scenario, it is used like a "You won't believe it!" expression.

~~~

Yeah... i rlly wanted Filipinx!reader to have tatts akjsjsjs Sidapa was a cool idea too, being the God of the Dead and (based on some stories) the god that courted Bulan, one of the God of the Moons, bc..ya know..yeah you get it.. But what i wanted my reader to be kinda didn't align to Sidapa's character....I KNOWWW i could've like..made something up but it didnt really sit right for me so I changed him to Ynaguinid. plus she's a badass too so :)

If you guys have any ideas you want to share or suggestions or just wanna chat, feel free to comment or talk anonymously (if you want to) in my ask box. I rlly need some creative juices

ALSO IDEAS FOR TITLE PLEASEEEE😭

[thebreathofthewild]

i very much prefer the story of breath of the wild to the alternate timeline we got in age of calamity. not because i’m a timeline purist, i don’t really care much whether it splits off or not, but what DOES matter to me in a story (next to the plot itself) is mainly characterization, relationships and theme.

my main issue with age of calamity’s story isn’t just what they changed... it’s what they DIDN’T change, which then didn’t fit with the new stuff they’d written.

breath of the wild’s story is, in my mind, far from perfect, but it has a consistent, vibe, flow, and a character arc for princess zelda that i believe. more than an individual arc, it’s also a relationship arc with link. the development of that relationship is a key driver of the plot.

in age of calamity... despite reaching the same conclusion - that zelda saves link, her love for him activates her power - that development is absent.

i rewatched all the memories from botw and its like. bro. age of calamity can't even begin to compare. their relationship in botw has an arc.

every scene they're in together serves a purpose to establish a new relationship status or milestone. zelda goes through a Bunch of emotions about link: first quiet resentment, then Louder resentment at how he’s doing better at his role than she is at hers, then full-on ANGY, then admiration, mixed with guilt and regret for having lashed out that way to someone who would save her anyway...

from then, she humbly tries to be nicer through tending link’s wounds. she allows herself to be more playful and goof off with him, then Actually Opens Up about her insecurities - displaying true vulnerability when they're caught in the rain together. we know from zelda’s diary that link also shares his own troubles with her, and that she was trying to get him to open up was well. 

then, zelda’s excitingly sharing more hobbies (ancient tech) and hoping that maybe, just maybe, her research can substitute her lack of powers. in the same scene, link gets to witness a true relationship milestone: a parent yelling at your friend/gf in front of you. then zelda shows Even More vulnerability as she has a meltdown about her fears & insecurities at the spring of power in front of him (knowing he's there & not afraid to show him). at this point, she even allows herself to be angry at her dad, instead of solely blaming herself. 

then she gains further appreciation for link teaching her how to handle horses (and says she’s trying to be a bit more empathetic to the horse, as a metaphor for her being nicer to link and more selfless in general), sharing her faint hope for mt lanayru...  then that hope is crushed, and zelda decides to stay by link’s side (instead of urbosa hiding her) regardless of danger.

the calamity strikes. they flee together - which leads to zelda having a total beakdown, as the others die and link’s the only one she has left. the mix of guilt, despair and grief becomes too much, so she leans on him, both physically and emotionally, and he is always there to comfort her. 

THEN, finally, zelda has reached a point of loving link enough to be able to save his life, knowing he will do the same someday. which he does, and in the epilogue, she acknowledges both the pain of the past and how (because him remembering her is what unlocks this ending) he is a big part of the reason why she can accept herself now, even with her power fading & her role fulfilled.

that's an ARC, baby! 

i have my problems with botw as an overall narrative (especially its muddled messaging on whether zelda should be forced to have this traditional role), but i cannot fault how carefully they built the zelink relationship step-by-step without taking shortcuts. in these brief snippets, you see just enough to understand how zelda went from almost hating link to truly loving him.

by contrast... here’s the AoC zelink arc, despite having 3x the cutscene runtime: zelda feels quietly insecure, but doesn’t take it out on link. link saves her, as a bodyguard is supposed to. they exchange glances. they don’t talk / bond. link saves zelda again. they exchange glances. they don’t talk / bond... they flee together. then she saves link out of “love.”

that’s it. that’s literally it. 

AoC-zelink go from two (2) Meaningful Glances to zelda activating her powers, because of a bodyguard she has not spent one real second bonding with. 

link saving zelda was a turning point for their relationship in botw, yes - but here’s the key difference: it was a starting point, not the end destination. it made zelda re-evaluate how she saw link, because she was a dick to him first. THAT prompts her to try to understand someone who was kind and selfless despite how poorly she treated him. which leads to many scenes of them bonding more.

so, hot take: the real, original sin here which almost all of these issues grow from, is that they didn’t let zelda be flawed in age of calamity. 

because age of calamity-zelda was never a jerk to link, she has no reason to go out of her way to be nicer and get to know him when he saves her anyway. that’s just standard bodyguard stuff, and that’s all it’s allowed to be. they don’t share private moments of vulnerability. they don’t share at all, really.

because of this, their relationship - which became its own, organic thing in botw - is never allowed to grow. it stays knight & princess without any real flavor to it. 

i think this could be avoided if age of calamity-zelda was as strong of a character as botw-zelda was. neither is like, a literary masterpiece, but there’s a clear contrast. both are insecure and want to stop ganon, but... that’s all AoC-zelda is allowed to be, until she’s suddenly a Perfect Badass Goddess with no personality other than shouting “for hyrule!”

botw zelda didn’t just have that central insecurity. she has hobbies, she goofs off, she gets angry at people, she starts out with a huge inferiority complex towards link. she can be selfish and rebellious and clearly likes research more for its own sake than its ability to stop the calamity. she becomes nicer over time and more compassionate (unlike age of calamity, which treats it as given that she was always “boundlessly” compassionate), but that’s where she got because link was nice to her, not where she started out. 

and all of this fits into theme. age of calamity is a power fantasy in a notoriously over-the-top warriors franchise. its all about self-empowerment and looking good while kicking ass. breath of the wild is about exploration, slowly piecing together what happened 100 years ago and moving past grief into hope for the future.

i’ll put it this way - botw zelda had an arc to become a better person. aoc zelda only ever became a more powerful person.

[darkandstormyart]

Xicheng fic recs

(figured i might make a list of my own)

(to be expanded as i dig out more treasure/remember stuff)

in no particular order:

Deep as the Yearning Night by FreckledStarKnight

“At first, it was pure chance. The second time was accidental. And the third time? Well, they say the third time’s the charm, after all. Lan Xichen discovers that Jiang Wanyin sings beautifully and is immediately enamored by it. His pursuit of Jiang Wanyin’s secret talent leads to a discovery and a series of events that he did not anticipate at all. Not that he’s complaining, of course. He got what he came for and more. Or, how two sect leaders get together through the song called love. CQL-verse.“

post-seclusion lxc

trying to get jc to sing

bonus lxc & jin ling feels i hadn’t considered before

cute

Always use protection by hesselives

“In which Lan Wangji attempts to hire a new bodyguard for his older brother, a well-known traveling exorcist. Jiang Wanyin doesn’t even make his carefully considered list of Top Ten Candidates, and yet here he is.

Lots of wandering in the countryside, distant yelling, and mildly inconvenient spirits.”

bodyguard au

honestly just really intersting worldbuilding

Rewrite the stars by Arashii

“Five great kingdoms have been fighting for years and when the kingdom of Yunmeng is destroyed, the Crown Prince Jiang Cheng vanishes.In Gusu, Lan Xichen makes an offer impossible for Jiang Cheng to refuse. His life or revenge? There’s only one option and Jiang Cheng swears loyalty to the man he hated the most his whole life, the Crown Prince of Gusu, Lan Xichen himself.Written for XiChengFest2020 - Day 4“

ROYALTY AU ROYALTY AU

enemies to lovers!

flashbacks! i love flashbacks so much ohmygod

No paths are bound by Arashii

“In seclusion, Lan Huan has the support of a ghost no one has seen since the massacre of Yunmeng Jiang. His feelings start changing with the often visits and conversations they share. Before Lan Huan can confess though, he ascends, leaving everything and everyone behind him.

Two hundred years later, back to the Human Realm and without powers, the Martial God Zewu-Jun has a mission to uphold. His Heavenly Calamity started. The clues are little and the support comes in the most unexpected form, the current Ghost King: Sandu Shengshou. Now they need to stick together to contain a menace that is slowly growing.“

TGCF AU TGCF AU

ghost king jiang cheng come on

doesn’t follow tgcf plot, just the setup so no spoilers

jiang cheng gets the dogs and the xichen he deserves

once upon a dream by cafedeolla

“Xicheng soulmate AU

An au where your dreams are small snippets of your soulmate’s day. They’d show small things like buying coffee, reading a book, or hanging out with people from their perspective.

The problem was that people always have expectations and Jiang Cheng knows he always falls short of them. Time and time again.“

soulmate au, but being soulmates is more a problem than a solution

misunderstandingssss all over the place

now with a squel (in progress?)

Lan Furen series by jagaimocchi

“Jiang Cheng leaves Lotus Pier before the Wen Internment Camp and before the destruction of his home. When he meets Lan Xichen on the run from the Wens after the burning of Cloud Recesses, his plan to live a peaceful life away from cultivation sects is quickly derailed. Now, free to make his own choices, he cannot find it in himself to leave the other man's side.

With love, patience and time, Jiang Cheng finds his own happiness and peace with his past.“

have you ever wanted a fic where jiang cheng peaces out from home in search for a better life, bc he’s Had Enough??? jags got you covered

adorable xicheng

good uncle-dad-figure Lan Qiren

ongoing <3

Just around the riverbend by JungleJelly

“One day.

Jiang Cheng just wanted one day of peace and quiet, away from home, away from his responsibilities, away from his idiot brother and his nutcases of a mother and father. Just a few hours alone — him and a boat and nothing else.

Clearly, that was too much to ask for.”

now with a new story in the series which is adorable too!!!

mermaid!lxc need i say more?

Bad ideas (where they lead) by JungleJelly

“Jiang Cheng is a busy man. Fortunately, he is also a huge pushover when it comes to his sister, so when she recommends that he start doing yoga, he agrees pretty easily.Featuring Lan Xichen in yoga pants, Jiang Cheng’s inability to handle a crush, and, perhaps most importantly, a big fluffy dog.“

done for 2020 MXTX MiniBang

yoga instructor Lan Xichen

Jiang Cheng is: struggling with a crush on the yoga guy from youtube & very angry about that

If there’s a price for rotten judgement by TheWanderingHeart

“All Jiang Cheng wants to do is, well... his job, really. Other than that? Keep the city safe, keep his nephew alive, keep his sanity intact (if possible).

So when his brother calls with unexpected news, he knows all of that is about to fly out of the window.

***

[Every instinct is telling him don’t ask, you don’t want to know. By this point, Nie HuaiSang has scooted closer to listen. Jiang Cheng takes a steadying breath and pulls out his antacids. “What did you do?”]”

superhero au, come on

jc just trying to do his job in peace

(he can’t)

i love it so much oh my god *sobs*

The Form of Boneless Ice by TheWanderingHeart

“Mythical beasts have long ago been driven to extinction by the gentry — hunted for sport, but more importantly for their magical cores. Since then, there remains only one creature that has never been caught. The Jiang’s retreated a long time ago. Abandoning land altogether, they sought safety where the humans could not reach.It all comes to a head though, purely by chance. (Or is it by fate that a spontaneous decision allows for them to meet? If fate were a rock!) Jiang Cheng suddenly finds his whole life balanced on the head of a pin — on the flimsy promise of a human boy. In his opinion, things cannot possibly get worse!(But then they do when the Wens decide it’s finally time to search for the elusive merpeople, and suddenly nowhere is safe.)“

there she goes again, with another beautiful xicheng story full of awwww and mythology

actually one of the first xicheng fics i read

i chose it because there were mermaids

painfully accurate takes on Jiang family dynamics

kids! lots of kids!

Let me Slytherin to Your Heart by TheWanderingHeart

“Jiang Cheng never thought he'd return to Hogwarts, but in hindsight, he probably should have known that someday he would.With his nephew about to start school, he reluctantly takes his good friend's bad parenting? career? advice and ends up tumbling head-first back into the madness that he hoped he'd left behind... and rediscovering some feelings he thought he'd left behind too.“

Harry Potter au!

just really fecking cute

lots of snakes

[I am not going to link all of Jo’s fics, though I probably could, just my 3 favourites. UOSB is there by default]

Talent Hunt Crew Finds Angry Guy Shouting On College Campus, Recruits Him For Vocal Projection Abilities by oh_fudgecakes

“Jiang Cheng, resident Angry Guy and heir to a conglomerate empire, has never been the apple of his father’s eye. Quashed under the shadow of his brilliant brother, the music prodigy Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng sees his chance to turn things around when he is recruited by the All-Stars Lan Talent Hunt. One problem: he can’t sing to save his goddamn life.As he struggles to develop his nascent singing abilities, Jiang Cheng finds himself sucked into the whirlwind drama of reality TV, helped along by his adoring siblings, his irritable vocal coach Wen Qing, and strangely enough, the unfairly attractive host of the All-Stars Lan Talent Hunt, Lan Xichen. Somewhere in the glare of the stage lights and an unexpected first love, Jiang Cheng stumbles upon the thing he was searching for all along: the courage to dream — and to attempt the impossible.“

done for 2019 MXTX Big Bang

uuuuuuuuuuh i might have cried maybe

heartwarming? painful at times? lots of family love?

slowburn xicheng being lovely

The Provenence of Hope series by velithya

“A chance meeting on a night hunt sets a course of events into motion that will change everything. Featuring Xicheng getting together, recovery for Lan Xichen, healing for Jiang Cheng, and always, always, hope.“

got everything. feels. hope. love. ~~healing~~

A Small Measure of Peace by Sandstone112

“With his brother in seclusion, Lan Xichen finds himself in temporary custody of his nephew with little to no expertise in the child-raising department. Uncertain and alone, Zewu-Jun is willing to do everything to be the person Yuan needs—even if it means inviting Sandu Shengshou to a playdate.“

a loooot of adorable family times with jc and lxc taking care of their nephews

good grandpa lqr!

canon but fixed and less painful

🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋if you wish to avoid scurvy:🍋🍋🍋🍋🍋

Some day I’m gonna make you mine series by locketofyourhair

xicheng getting together through the years

friends with benefits but the real benefits are the friends we made along the way

Take me over (take me tonight) by velithya

jiang cheng has a tattoo and lan xichen doesn’t stand a chance

i'd be the sweet feeling of release (mankind now dreams of) by piyo13

two bros, chilling in a cave, no feet apart because they don’t want to lose their cultivation powers what are you gonna do

haven’t read yet and shame on me, but AM GONNA:

Upon Our Silver Bridge by TheWanderingHeart obviously

““When the path ignites a soul, there's no remaining in place. The foot touches ground, but not for long.” ― Hakim Sanai

**

Lan Xichen's sorrows have caught the attention of something. Unlike the adventures and foes they have faced before, there is no obvious enemy here to defeat. If this is the same thing they thought had taken Nie Mingjue's life, then he believes it is fated for him to die as well. Nothing can stop the black fire when it wants to burn.Jiang Cheng is sure his part in this is over. Wei Wuxian is back, his grand adventure concluded, and he'd never been at the centre of it anyway. So what does it matter what happens to him in the end? Slowly, he will come to realise that there will always be a battle to fight, a story to tell, a choice to make, and there is no such thing as an end to anything.“

it was difficult to do things in 2020 and few i regret not doing more than not reading uosb yet :’(

i will tho

Emergency Help Wanted by piyo13

“EMERGENCY HELP WANTED I lied when I got my job. I told them I had a kid so I could leave early from work to pick him up from daycare, take him to doctor's appointments, and occasionally miss a day when he's sick. Long story short, I'm in too deep. I didn't think it through. Looking to rent a kid for bring your child to work day. Must be a boy ages four to six, longish dark hair, likes soccer. Must also be artistic as the macaroni noodle paintings I made seem a little advanced for his age. Also, I will pay extra for someone willing to play the role of husband when dropping him off. He's a prosecuting attorney who often brings his work home. Message me for further details. Serious inquiries only.“

Running Our Hands Through Embers by MarvelousMar

“If asked, Jiang Cheng would compare falling in love with Lan Xichen to a moth inevitably drawn to a flame.It burned.***In which Jiang Cheng discovers that even death can't help him escape from his trauma, so he embarks on a quest to save the people he loves, fix what he can, make the love of his life fall for him, and maybe, somewhere along the way, do a little bit of healing.”

The Beginner’s Guide to Moving On by InvincibleMel

gone from ao3, but i think there’s a link with a pdf going around

[drwcn]

midnight sun [snippet 16], following [14]

the cursed fem!wwx au no on asked for.

↦

Bichen landed on the ground with a dull thud, followed swiftly by the knees of its master.

Lan Wangji knelt before Wei Wuxian and Jiang Yan, his face as white as the robes on his back. Incredibly, though not a single hair on that perfectly coiffed head was out of place, he seemed...worn.

"Why?"

Wei Wuxian wished she could look away from his devastated expression, wished she could take back all the terrible accusations her brother had said. She shifted Yan'er in her arms, holding her closer, all the while realizing that there was no hiding the consequences of her actions. "Lan Zhan, I -"

She used to have nightmares just like this, except Yan'er was a lot smaller and there weren't as many unrelated witnesses to the absolute mess she'd made of her life. Back then her nightmares were all the same: the Burial Mount overtaken, faceless Lan disciples ripping Yan'er away, the Silence Charm robbing her of her voice. And Lan Zhan...the Lan Wangji in her dreams only ever said one thing:

Come back to Gusu with me.

Wei Wuxian never been more certain of anything than the decision to give her daughter over to Jiang Cheng. Except then at Nevernight, when Lan Zhan reached for her over the edge, when he held on even when there was nothing left of her to hold onto, there was a moment when she doubted herself. Maybe...maybe she should've trusted him.

Because that's the crux of the matter, isn't it? That she didn't trust him. Now she knew she should have, but it was too late; she had already hurt him. The wound that had been inflicted by her keeping a secret of this magnitude, of this nature, could never be undone.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't." Lan Wangji shook his head, eyes squeezed shut. "Don't apologize. I cannot accept it. Wei Ying," He swallowed thickly, words failing him. "Why won't you blame me? Hate me?"

"Lan Zhan..." Lan Zhan looked gutted. Wei Wuxian felt sick.

"You should hate me. It's what I deserve. Everything that happened —"

"—Was my choice." She grabbed his shoulder with one hand to stop him. He raised his eyes to her, tearfully red and distraught. "I was young and proud and foolish. I chose to stay on the demonic path; I didn't want to be vulnerable, to be powerless. I chose to take refuge at the Burial Mount with the Wen remnants, chose to make enemies of the all the clans. I meant what I said before; you shouldn't blame yourself for my mistakes, Lan Zhan. You don't owe me anything."

But Lan Wangji couldn't seem to be appeased. "But at Phoenix Mountain, I was a brute —"

"— and I was willing then too. More than willing."

Wei Wuxian was vaguely aware of raised eyebrows and dropped jaws somewhere in the background, and of the silhouette of a drained Zewu-jun looking heavenward for aid. She hastily pressed her fingertips against Lan Wangji's lips, silencing him with a gentle touch before he could share with their audience - including his brother and hers - exactly how many rolls in the grass they'd taken together.

Because of course he must be horrified with himself, especially when Jiang Cheng had framed their relations in such...well, scandalous terms. But Wei Wuxian remembered the events of that day clearly, and was confident no fault could be found with Lan Wangji. She had incensed him into a fight, goading him until he had drawn his sword. And when she pulled him against herself, opened her collar and hiked up her hem, she had wanted it rough, and he hadn't been gentle.

Everything about Lan Wangji was warmth, was power, was light. The pain and pleasure of their coupling, twisted together, searing and rhythmic, filled her to the brim and numbed the vast nothingness - the terrible bottomless void - where her golden core had once burned aglow.

At least Jin Zixuan was a good man - the upstanding kind who married the woman he claimed to love. What about you, Lan Wangji? Was she not pure enough for you, is that it? The great Yiling Laozu, a demonic seductress who'd lain with dozens of young men for their yang energy! I suppose you must've been worried about your reputation if this tryst of yours got out.

Jiang Cheng's words stung, but what else was Lan Wangji supposed to have believed? There was no shortage of cultivators claiming to have bedded her (and survived) back in the days, and Wei Wuxian herself had done nothing to salvage her reputation. In fact she had done the exact opposite, playing into the lies and sparing no efforts to self-sabotage.

Unimpressive, Lan Zhan, even the Jin disciples gave it to me better.

"Lan Zhan, I don't regret what happened at Phoenix Mountain." Wei Wuxian lowered her eyes, running her thumb over the back of Jiang Yan's hand gently. "You're not beholden to me in any way. Don't listen to Jiang Cheng; you haven't...violated anything. Do not feel as though I am your debt, or your duty."

"Wei Ying," Lan Wangji reached for her then, his warm palm curling over her jaw, fingers threading through her hair and cupping her nape. Wei Wuxian found herself utterly incapable of looking away from that earnest, pleading gaze. "Jin Guangyao was right about one thing: he had my life in his hands. I thought that after Phoenix Mountain, you'd decided that you didn't...that I wasn't what you preferred. But I swear to you, I do not care how many there have been before me. I would be perfectly content being your hundredth, if it meant it I could be your last."

"L-Lan Zhan...." Suddenly, Wei Wuxian couldn't see, because the rush of relief and elation had overwhelmed her vision with tears. They were falling uninhibitedly before she could channel the will to stop herself.

"Oh for fuck's sake!!" Exclaimed Jiang Cheng all of the sudden. "How do you not get it still?!"

"Wangji," Lan Xichen spoke up too, having pulled himself together long enough to come to terms with his new reality. "I think what Jiang-zongzhu meant is that there was no one before you —”

"— or after you, you stupid fuck!"

"Yes, that too. The point is, Wei-gu'niang had been a maiden when you two...well, that is - at the hunt..." He cast a weary glance at a red-faced, incredulous Jin Ling (having a teenage crisis of his own no doubt) and trailed off awkwardly.

Eyes saucer-wide, Lan Wangji's grew even more distressed than before. He'd always known that his actions back then — taking liberties with a lady in such brazen, brutish manners without follow-through — could not be measured to that of a true righteous gentleman, but now...

It really is no wonder Jiang Wanyin wanted to gut him with Sandu.

"Wei Ying —"

"It's alright," said Wei Wuxian, even as the tears fell. "我是你的人，只是你的人，这样不好吗？” I'm yours, only yours, isn't it better this way?

Lan Wangji felt shattered. "...Mine? Then why have I done nothing for you and taken everything? Tell me how I could possibly atone for such egregious pain?!"

Wei Wuxian shook her head, chuckling softly at the bittersweet, "There was no pain. Not any that mattered. Not when you were you, and I was me. And besides," She glanced down at the unconscious adolescent in her arms, peacefully asleep under the effect of Wei Wuxian's talismen. "You gave me Yan'er."

(Jiang Yan really wasn't that injured, just a bit stunned by the rebound of her own spiritual energy, but Wei Wuxian figured that sparing her from having to suffer through the imminent fallout was the kinder option.)

Lan Wangji reached out a trembling hand to brush back the dark hair from his daughter's temple. "No. You brought her into this world. You gave her life. She is your gift to me, and she is perfection. Thank you."

"Lan Zhan..."

"You've suffered, Wei Ying. But no more." His hand closed over her own that held Jiang Yan's.

Finally the three of them, together at last.

Wei Wuxian smiled. "It was worth it."

[perlen-gold]

For the WIP game: Varric ... (I'm bracing myself for feels) 😭

Man 🌹 @kourvo after the last snippet, you're one brave lion! 🦁

(I shared a snippet of this recently for WIP Wednesday XD but this time I’m sharing the whole chapter as it’s one of the short ones! Once again, it’s an excerpt from my longfic Ablaze)

💗💛💜  Thank you so much again for asking about all these WIPs! 💗💛💜   

I certainly didn't expect it!

Varric shoves, not hard, but hard enough for Hawke to feel his back collide with the battlements.

“What the blight was all the about, Hawke?” Varric half-grunts, half-yells, his voice rasping in his throat.

Hawke’s dirt-streaked hand misses his eyes, rubs against his face and beard instead.

“’Go, I will cover you? Corypheus is my responsibility?’ Andraste’s bloody tits, seriously, Hawke?”

Varric is heaving hard, huge intakes of breath.

“You would have died, you stupid bastard!” Drained, Varric slouches against the rampart of Adamant fortress, sliding down until he comes to sit on the ground, hunched over his chest. “What about Kirkwall? What about the rest of us? What about Fenris, for Maker’s sake?”

He does not look at Varric.

“Under pressure, I start swearing and write stories and you are sarcastic to the point of ridiculousness and bust some asses! That is how we cope, Hawke, and dying in the fucking Fade is not one of our mechanisms!” Then Varric voiced what Hawke was thinking. “Are you mental, Hawke?”

Hawke passes a trembling hand over his eyes, the other still grinding his bearded cheek, frantically, his mouth, chin, neck. His moving eyes dart around, unfocused.

In his chest, his breath tears around. It comes in long, hard, heaving draws.

“I cannot …,” Hawke breathes, half of his face hidden in one hand . “I cannot … –“ He stops speaking when the voice flees his throat, leaving it all raw and hurting.

 Slowly, Varric watches him crumple, too, collapse, slumped to the ground, his bent back supported by the fortress’ jetstone walls. They do not look at each other, not speak, simply sit there, stooped, the tips of their grime-stained boots essentially touching. Their gaze falls to the ground, hijacked there, drawn into themselves.

For a while there is naught but silence, broken solely by their heavy breathing.

“Makes our first trip into the fade look like a holiday, huh?” Varric mumbles at length. “I still vote against taking a room there.”

“Yes. Too much vermin.” The weight of Hawke’s forehead presses upon his bruised knuckles.

“I should have come sooner,” he then says, calmly.

Varric wretches his gaze from the ground. “I told you not to, remember?”

 “You should not have been alone in this, Varric.”

“Maker’s breath, I was begging you to stay away,” Varric mutters, his hands all over his pale, face, “and I am glad I did. I even wrestled Cassandra for your honor.”

A remote smile tugged at Hawke’s lips. His forehead came away from his arms to rest his head against the dark, battle-stained walls.

“Would have loved watching that. And place bets.”

“On the lying dwarf or the crazed sword-lady?”

“Not saying.”

Varric’s mouth twitches but he looks away.

“That clearly says ‘the most handsome dwarf in Skyhold’.”

“You are forgetting I fancy people with tall swords.”

A small, short-breathed laughter, cleft and cupped, escapes Varric’s throat. Hawke grunts then, hoarse. “You should not have been alone in this, Varric.”

Absent-minded, Varric motions nervelessly, a tiny shaking of his head, eyes focusing on no exact point somewhere to Hawke’s left in the fuliginous night.

“Thanks. But this is no story for heroes.” An inenarrable emotion passes over his face, quick and aching. “Did you really see spiders in there?” he almost whispers.

Varric looks at his hands in his lap. “If Bartrand and I had not found it … if we had never set out for the blighted Deep Roads … if we had not been so greedy … if we had never found the idol –“

“I went to the Deep Roads as well, remember?” Hawke interjected in a sharp voice, “There was no way we could have foreseen this. No,” wearily Hawke rubs is face again, sensing dirt, blood and sweat under the pads of his trembling fingers, “if anything, Corypheus is my fault. I swear, I thought we had killed him, I really did. If my father – “

“Don’t you start on this again,” Varric snapped angrily with an irked lift of his head, “I was there as well, remember? He sure looked as dead as you can possibly be!”

Fraught with exhaustion, breathing hard and shallow, the two of them laid back their heads, their gazes losing focus once more.

“All spiders?” asks Varric, after some time, softly.

A spasm, like the sudden rupture of a very tightened string, scuds across Hawke’s features. Eventually, he nods, throat too tight to speak. “And … them.”

They stare into the smoky, bluish-gray night sky.

“I have never seen you fight with someone before.” Varric’s mouth twisted, an edge of caution smoothing out his voice. “Well, severe a few limbs here and there and pierce a few egos, but never actually argue. You are no quarreler, Hawke.  Maker knows, I have rarely witnessed you become angry ever before. “

After these words they look at each other, memories kindled like fire-lit projectiles illuminating the battle-worn night. Hawke wipes at his face again while his other hand travels to his chest, rubbing it as over smooth stone, as if trying to ease a pain within his ravaging breath inside his chest.

“Strout … was a good man.” Hawke’s words come slow, cautious, placed like dulled tiles on crumbling earth. Varric looks up to see a grimace sunder Hawke’s gray, pinched features as a discordant tune. Threaded with self-disgust. And something almost like shame. “I should not have talked to him the way I did. He deserved better. My manners never exceed in the presence of good men.” Hawke adds, a cracked smile passing between Varric and him like a secret gift, a twinkling in their eyes, before it passes away.

Hawke rubs his beard and face again, massaging his jaw with a slow-moving vigorousness bordering on real pain. Then, he laboriously climbs to his feet.

“I told the Inquisitor I would go to Weisshaupt. Someone must warn the other Wardens,” he says contemplatively, almost unattentive, absent-minded. A fast shrewdness passes over Varric’s face while he fixes his gaze at him as Hawke speaks.

The air presses its cold smoke-mouths against their faces. Hawke’s gaze lingers on Varric like moon-lit clouds on a dark pool , long and intense. “Come with me, Varric.”

“Thanks for the offer,” Varric mumbles, suddenly almost inaudibly, his slow glimpse falling upon his hands still resting in his lap, with defiant defeat. “But I am in this. Something tells me I need to stay where I am. At least for the time being. Someone must write down all this shit, I guess. Maybe I will compose an ode or something.”

Reaching out, Hawke simply nods and without further ado his slightly calloused, smoke-streaked hand, willfully steady now, comes to rest in front of Varric. “The weirdest shit I have ever seen.”

Varric lets out his breath as if had been holding it within his sunken chest. Then, an inconspicuous smile darting over his canny eyes, he seizes Hawke’s proffered hand and Varric too rises to his feet. “All of it.”

“Answer this one question, Hawke,” he continues, their hands still clasped around each other, firmly so, “Cross my heart! How in the blight did you coax Fenris into staying behind? Cut the petty excuses, we both know he would rather have killed himself than remaining behind wherever you go, Hawke, let alone let you walk into peril on your own – and we also both know that he is the single most obstinate elf in the world which is saying something. Mind you, I am glad he was not with us in there. Maker knows, our angsty elf does not need to be hunted by more demons.”

Momentarily, Varric halts there as he notices something else streak across Hawke’s face, the skin beneath his beard whitening, blanching, paling. Hawke could feel Varric’s grip unobtrusively tighten, a seriousness shining forth in his mahogany eyes. “Also, you look heartsick to the bone. Tell me. How did you do it?”

Hawke’s gaze flees to wander over the rampages and battlements, unhearing of the voices in the night, the shouts of those who fought, the cries of the wounded, the jubilation of survivors.

Finally, he bends one knee to kneel down.

Thus they embrace, on the half-shattered parapet of iron-black Adamant fortress. In a swirl of desertic coldness, shrouded and obscured in battle-spiraled fumes midst a barren, hissing wasteland, verging on a harsh-steep cliff just above the gaping chasm in perpetual danger of falling. Varric accepting his silence and thereby reaching beyond it. Varric’s fingers clawing into the fabric on Hawke’s shoulders and Hawke tightening his arms, his hold around Varric.

“Sorry … about before …,” Varric mutters all but inaudibly.

“I felt a little breeze stirring up there. Was that you?” Hawke ponders, a smile in his words, Varric's snort in its wake.

“Take care, my friend,” murmurs Hawke softly and he can feel Varric’s mouth stretch into something he cannot see. “You too, Hawke.”

When he somewhat loosens his hold, Hawke grips Varric’s shoulder. “Do write to Fenris for me, will you?” he asks hoarsely, his mouth almost too dry to speak. “He … he should be back in Kirkwall by now.”

“And once again a smart dwarf rescues another human’s sorry bottom,” Varric gives a deliberate sigh as he hastily wipes his sleeve across his eyes, “Ah, but you know I cannot refuse you anything. You do look lovelorn, you realize, Hawke? It is pitiful.”

Hawke forces a low chuckle. “Another human who would be lost without his dwarf.”

“We are helpers.”

Varric’s grip clenches once more around his cloak before he taps Hawke’s shoulder with the rim of his fist. “Don’t die, Hawke.” Then, taking a deep breath, “This really is no story for heroes.”

“It is good we are no heroes, then,” retorts Hawke, a hint of the old mischief twinkling in his eyes and Varric lets out a short, breathless laughter as they break apart.

“See you in Kirkwall, Hawke.”

And Hawke, standing upright, holds his gaze, teeth clenched, the corners of his mouth twisted into a crooked though genuine smile. “See you in Kirkwall, Varric.”

On the very first step of the spiraling staircase leading down into the battered watchtower Hawke passes a mirror, cracked, partially burst, half a spider’s web. Beneath the layer of blood-soot, iron-strained, the features of the man he catches sight of remain hidden. Smudged as a line of ink slipped, scratched wildly across the parchment. 

It is the face of a man who looks as though he does not know where he is.

Or what to do.

Or whom he is looking at.

(Excerpt from 'Ablaze')

[waiting4inspiration]

I’d be interested to see how Loki reacts to his first taste of chocolate or sugar.

Or maybe an energy drink like Red Bull. He’s tasting colors and seeing sounds, kinda like a cat with catnip 😝

August Snippets Masterlist

You walk into your apartment, a grocery bag full of unhealthy things like sweets, chocolates, and a couple of energy drinks. You're not sure if Loki will eat these things but you didn't but them with him in mind. Now that you think about it, you'll most likely hide this from him so that you don't have to share at all.

When you walk into the kitchen, you see discarded can of Red Bull on the counter. But you know for a fact that you didn't finish this can. Hell, you didn't even open it. Placing the bag on the counter, you go to the fridge, curious to see something.

"Loki!" you call out when you see exactly what you expected. The two Red Bull energy drinks you had left in your fridge this morning are now gone.

But he doesn't respond.

Walking into the living room, you see Loki laying on the couch, staring up at the ceiling with his hand in the air tracing imaginary shapes, and with the other can of Red Bull in his other hand. "Loki," you call with a stern voice, folding your arms over your chest as he turns his head to look at you. "You drank my last two Red Bulls."

"I was thirsty and it was the only available beverage," he states, an ecstatic smile growing on his face as he looks back up at the ceiling.

"There is a tap. And if you turn it on, water comes out of it." He doesn't respond to that. He just continues to stare into the air, smiling at something you clearly cannot see. "Loki," you call, starting to get irritated with him now.

"I've seen you drinking this stuff before and never knew why. But now I see why you do," he says, making you frown. "Does it always make see the sounds around you? Or is it different for everyone?"

See sounds? You're so confused as to what he's talking about. But as you come to the realization that this is his first time drinking an energy drink and him being a God, he must have different reactions to certain things than humans do, your face falls. "Oh, dear lord, I shouldn't have brought more," you whisper to yourself, thinking about what it could possibly do to Loki if he has more and more. It would probably make you bankrupt if he becomes addicted to the stuff.

Hearing your words, Loki shoots up from his lying position and looks at you with glee in his eyes. "There is more?" he asks like an excited kid, jumping to his feet and rushing past you and into the kitchen.

It takes you a couple of seconds to rush after him, shouting at him to stop when you hear him scratching through the bag because you're sure that you don't want to find out how he's going to react to sweets and chocolates.

And he sure as hell isn't going to eat everything that you had brought for yourself.

Snippets Tags- @simsadventures @cruelfvkingsummer @moonie-flower101 @rinkashirikitateku @louisolos @ivarthebloodyking @encounterthepast @youbloodymadgenius @buckysjuicyplums @noseyrosey1597