#destinies upturned

[destinies-upturned]

Hi, I'm Xenon and welcome to the Tumblr for Destinies Upturned, another one of my AUs.

This time, it's a write-up! Originally it started out a Soundcloud only AU but then I just. Got way too many ideas. And a certain Underfell obsessed piece of currency really inspired me... So what is it about you ask?

Destinies Upturned is a Roleshift AU where the swaps have absolutely no connection with each other, and if they do it is purely coincidental! This is just one of those wacky ideas I turned into a reality.

Anyway, go check out the write-up! Part 1 and 2 are ready to read!

P.S. You can also send questions to members of the cast that appear in the write-up, because ask blogs are always fun!

[octuscle]

Gringo Life

Carlos was breathing heavily. Today, his destiny might be decided. The savings of many years of hard work had been spent on Carlos's trip to the United States today. He was to meet the smuggler in a village not far from the border crossing. Carlos was to come without luggage, without papers. Only with the clothes on his back. Of course, that sounded strange, but Carlos did as he was told. He wore his best clothes. He had gotten himself a new hat. He looked hot. He was an alpha paisa! He would make a career for himself in the land of the gringos.

At the agreed meeting point, a man was standing next to a surprisingly clean new pickup. He looked like something out of a bad college jock comedy. Stars and Stripes tank top over a muscular, tanned torso. The buzz cut hidden under an upturned cap, powerful legs in tight jeans that also accentuated an impressive bulge at the crotch. Feet in dusty biker boots. He spat a bit of chewing tobacco on the street. “Carlos?” he asked. Carlos nodded with a dry mouth. “Good, then let's go.” With the little English he knew, Carlos asked where he should hide in this car. Probably not in the open loading area. The guy laughed and said that Carlos had booked a first-class ticket. You don't hide with this ticket. With this ticket, you drive the car into a better life yourself. He threw the car keys to Carlos and went to the passenger door. “Are you serious?” Carlos asked. He was already much more fluent than a few minutes ago. “You drive, I choose the music. By the way, I'm Zack!” Carlos climbed into the car. He had never sat in such a big and new and expensive car, let alone driven it. “You know how to drive an automatic, bro?” Zack asked. Carlos shook his head. “You'll learn!”

It was hot. Zack had turned off the air conditioning and rolled up the windows. Carlos had no idea which buttons to press to change that. He didn't want to ask Zack. Zack had turned up the music loud and was enthusiastically singing along to songs Carlos didn't know. He was sweating. He ran his hand over his neck. His mullet was soaked in sweat! “Coke?” Zack asked, opening what was obviously a cooled compartment in the center armrest. ‘Holy cow, dude! You're like, a total lifesaver! Thank you, fam!’ Carlos replied. With a heavy Spanish accent. But in fluent English!

“12 kilometers to the border” was written on a sign. Damn metric system, Carlos thought to himself. How many miles was that now? 10? Or more like 20? He drummed on the steering wheel to the beat of Chris Young's ‘Young Love & Saturday Nights.’ The muscles in his forearms twitched, making his tattoos dance. Zack opened the windows. The wind blew up Carlos' cut-off tank top. It felt damn good on his sweaty skin. At the end of the road, the border station appeared. Carlos took a deep breath. He slowed down. He rolled up to the Mexican border guard's hut. Zack handed Carlos two passports, which Carlos passed on. The officer only glanced through the window. He had to stand on tiptoe to see not only Carlos but also Zack in the big car. He stamped both passports and wished them a safe journey. Carlos breathed a sigh of relief. Although he knew that leaving Mexico was the easy part. Now came the entry into the USA. The officer could be a brother of Zack. Muscular, short-cropped hair, a tight, perfectly fitting uniform. He bared two rows of immaculate Hollywood-white teeth. “Welcome back to the USA!” he said as Carlos handed him the two passports. “What was the reason for your stay in Mexico?” “We were there to get wasted and hook up, y'all! Get ready for some wild times!” said Zack. The officer said that was indeed the best thing about Latinos. “Which one of you is Charles?” Silence… Zack nudged Carlos in the side. Carlos jumped and said, “My friends call me Chuck, Officer!” Zack grinned. The border guard looked at Carlos and then at the passport. Then he asked Carlos to take off his hat. Shit, the hat, Carlos thought. Of course, with it he looked like a wetback. He felt for the hat. There was no hat. He took off his trucker cap. His long blond hair fell into his face. He pushed it back. The border guard grinned and said that with short hair, Chuck would look less like a girl. He stamped the two passports and handed them back to Chuck in the car.

“So, what did I tell you?” said Zack. “Easier than stealing candy from a baby.” Chuck replied that he had obviously lost the bet. He wouldn't have believed in his life that the guy wasn't checking the back of the pickup. There were six kegs of the finest smuggled tequila rocking on the truck bed. “Dude,” Zack said. “Didn't you see the way the officer was staring at you? If you had told him you had the tequila on the truck bed, he would have let us through. The main thing is that you smile at him once.” Chuck kneaded the bulge in his torn jeans. Hell yes, the officer had been hot. But the load of his balls was reserved for Zack today. He had lost a bet, so Zack was allowed to suck him off in the repair shop. Chuck could only hope that the border guard was back on duty on the next trip to Mexico.

Chuck and Zack had been best bros since they first got kicked out of college together for drug smuggling. Behind the facade of the auto repair shop, they smuggled various things across the border. In both directions. It was lucrative. And each time they bet on whether they'd get caught or not. The loser had to empty his balls into one of the other's holes. They were rarely caught. For some reason, Chuck spoke fluent gutter Spanish like a construction worker. He didn't know when or where he'd learned it himself. That usually helped with problems at the border. And if that wasn't enough, a blowjob had been enough to get him out. Life was great.

Pics by @ki-kink

[gamerwithamonocle]

Cool Hades 2 Character Design Thing!

First off, new god art looks amazing! I am so excited to see a some of the ones that didn’t make it into the last game appear here! Now onto a cool thing about Moros’ character design I noticed and how it’s probably tied into the game’s themes!

He’s got little references to his sisters, the Fates, in his design. (and also to the Fate aesthetic as a whole I guess.) Moros is one of Nyx’s many kids along with the Fates, Thanatos, Hypnos, Charon, Nemesis... ect. However, he and the Fates are a little more closely associated with each other than he is with his other siblings.

His little sash had three symbols on it that resemble (left to right) a spool of thread, ye old scissors/shears, and a spindle. These match the Fate sisters’ roles as Spinner (spindle for a spinning wheel), Allotter (determines how much thread of life goes into each person’s spool), and Upturning (or the one that cuts the thread). 

His sword also appears to be made to look like a sewing needle to complete the whole Fate family sewing aesthetic. Moros himself is the Fates’ older brother and is associated with impeding doom and generally bad times destinies, being the one who kinda leads people to them. SO it makes sense that he would have a needle to guide people’s strings.

Also he’s standing next to what I assume is this game’s Fated List of Minor Prophecies, which was written by the Fates for Zagreus in the first game, as well as what’s probably a scrying pool. Maybe he has missions like killing a certain type of enemy however many times given his domain?

I think it’s really cool that in a game where Kronos, Titan of Time, is the main big bad has all these gods whose domain revolve around prophecies, fate, and inevitability gunning against him is hilarious given he got screwed by fate before. I mean, Apollo god of prophecy and oracles is also here. Honestly, this is just a great cast for a game genre that’s all about running through RNG floors in endless loops. I’m so excited!

[laxmiree]

[CN] MLQC’s Lucien Wonderful Moments Date English Translation

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!! ⚠️

This post contains a detailed spoiler for a date that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free to notify me if there are any mistakes in the translation~

Lucien boops Snowball's nose, his tone hinting at jealousy.

"You've been praising this little guy a lot."

"Pfft, is Professor Lucien jealous?"

Translation under the cut!

[Notes from Lux: Here’s the CN video link if anyone wants to follow along with his Voice Acting.]

A car moves slowly on the vibrant countryside road, joyful laughter spilling out of its windows from time to time.

Lucien casually rests his hand on the steering wheel, looking ahead, and quickly comes up with a Chinese idiom.

Lucien: The victory is in the bag. (shèng quàn zài wò)

MC: Idiom with wò… crouching tigers and hidden dragons! (wò hǔ cáng lóng! - 卧虎藏龙 - fig. mean talented individuals hiding their talent)

Lucien: Just a reminder to this beautiful contestant, this phrase was already said during our first round of the idiom chain game.

MC: Then, how about… I control my destiny! (wǒ mìng yóu wǒ - 我命由我- a phrase, not an idiom)

Lucien: [chuckles] That doesn't seem to be an idiom. Is Miss Producer starting to cheat?

Lucien tilts his head and looks at me with a smile. I sheepishly stick out my tongue, wracking my brain as I search through my vocabulary.

The gentle spring breeze seeps through the gaps of the car window. Looking at those cunning eyes, I have a sudden inspiration and break into a sweet smile.

MC: I like you~ (wǒ xǐhuān nǐ~)

Lucien's demeanor briefly halts for half a beat as though he doesn't expect my answer. But then, the smile on his lips grows bigger.

The warm afternoon sunshine reflects brightly in his upturned eyes, making them look particularly beautiful.

Lucien: [chuckles, then sighs] This is the most sophisticated cheating I've ever seen, so I concede defeat.

I cheer joyfully, but before I can utter a word, an electronic broadcast interrupts me.

"Distance to the next highway toll booth is 1.5 kilometers ahead.���

I glance at the phone screen and see it shows another hour and a half to the camping village.

Lucien suggested this camping trip to an ecologically pristine village with beautiful scenery, though the only downside is that the journey was a bit long.

I turn to look at Lucien, who appears to be in a good mood, and can't resist asking the small question that's been lingering on my mind.

MC: Lucien, what made you suddenly want to take me to this camping village?

Lucien: It was recommended by a colleague from the research center. I heard the scenery there is nice and worth a visit.

Lucien: I originally wanted to find an opportunity to spend time with you, and just last weekend we went to see a play, which gave me a very legitimate reason to invite you on a date—

Lucien: To create “beautiful moments”.

He deliberately emphasizes the words "beautiful moments", causing me to momentary pause as a recent memory quickly floods into my mind.

—[Flashback Start]—

At the entrance of the theater last weekend.

Lucien and I walked out of the theater hand in hand. I was still sniffling, lost in the storyline of the performance we just watched, unwilling to let it go.

Just as I was about to wipe away the tears at the corner of my eye, a warm hand handed me a tissue and gently dabbed it beneath my eyes.

Lucien: [gently] If this little audience member keeps crying, I'll have to go find the production team for an explanation.

MC: I'm just really moved by the play...

MC: At first, when I saw the protagonist growing up under the shadow of his mother's depression, I thought he would fall into despair.

MC: But he was able to diligently record the beautiful moments in life and ultimately salvaged himself...

MC: I just tried to put myself in his shoes, and it's really hard to be as optimistic as the protagonist, so I couldn't stop my tears.

Under Lucien's gentle gaze, I rambled on and on, completing my "review" of the play. He patiently wiped the corners of my eyes and offered a comforting smile.

Lucien: I actually think the lady by my side also has a pair of eyes that can discover the beauty of life everywhere.

His sincere praise caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but feel a little buoyed by it. My heart, which had been saddened by the protagonist's struggles, also eased a bit.

MC: If I had a "Book of Beautiful Moments," the first thing I would record is how Professor Lucien always generously praises me~

Lucien chuckled softly, and the strands of hair hanging over his forehead swayed gently in front of his thick lashes.

Lucien: [chuckles] I'm just stating facts. She shares the beauty of the sky with me and finds satisfaction in good weather...

Lucien: —Isn't that kind of you very much like the protagonist?

MC: Then next time I discover something beautiful, I'll make sure to record it promptly.

MC: Let's see if I can fill several volumes of "Wonderful Moments" just like the protagonist!

—[Flashback Ends]—

I casually remarked and thought it was nothing but a joke, yet Lucien silently remembered it in his heart. I come to my senses and blink.

MC: So, the reason you suddenly decided to take me out to play is to create more wonderful moments in my life?

Lucien: I wonder if it's because I'm not "competent" enough that you don't have much to record, so I deliberately created this opportunity.

Lucien: Of course, it's also to show myself off a bit.

He adopts a tone of pretended grievance that stirs a feeling of itchiness in my heart, I suppress the curve of my lips, nodding in mock annoyance.

MC: Well, in light of your "timely remedy," I'll reluctantly start recording officially!

✂———————–

MC: ...Lucien takes me camping;

MC: Before we set off, Lucien made me a cup of hot chocolate.

MC: While playing the idiom chain game, Lucien deliberately went easy on me...

As I speak, I open the Notes app on my phone and mutter to myself, recording a dozen or so entries. But as I continue to write, I suddenly feel something is amiss.

MC: Wait a minute, why do all these "wonderful moments" have Professor Lucien's shadow? I'm starting to suspect that I have a “love-brain”*...

[T/N: "恋爱脑" (love brain) is a Chinese internet buzzword that refers to a mindset that puts love first above everything. It refers to individuals who are deeply in love and often become consumed by their emotions, making it difficult for them to think about anything else. This phenomenon is characterized by extreme devotion to their lover, often leading to uncontrollable emotional dependence and intense desires to be with the other person... If anything, from the way Lucien takes her casual remarks seriously and uses them as a reason to hang out with her, this word describes Lucien more LOL]

Lucien: [with a pretending-don’t-to-know-anything tone] Oh, really?

Lucien is amused by my muttering, and a hint of sly self-satisfaction shines in his long and narrow eyes.

Lucien: [chuckles] It seems the Great Producer has already fallen into my sweet trap.

Lucien: Because my goal is to dominate your today's "wonderful moments" list through this trip.

MC: Hmph, then I won't let you succeed. Right now, I'm going to come up with something completely unrelated to you.

As I speak, I catch a glimpse of a white shadow flashing in front of the car. But before I can react, Lucien has already hit the brakes.

[Sounds of the car suddenly braking]

Almost simultaneously, a strong arm instinctively protects me in front of my chest.

Lucien: ...Are you okay?

He removes his sunglasses and swiftly scans me with his gaze as if confirming whether I'm injured.

I stare blankly ahead. After a moment of daze, there's no movement in front of the car, and my heart leaps into my throat.

MC: I, I'm okay...

MC: Lu, Lucien... Did something just rush onto the road?

Lucien: I'll go down and take a look first. Stay in the car and don't move.

He smooths out my disheveled bangs and then gets out of the car after turning on the hazard lights.

Through the windshield, I see him quickly walk to the front of the car. His gaze instantly shifts downward, as if he's spotted something, and he crouches down.

Did we really hit something?

Just as I nervously stretch my neck and am about to get out of the car to take a look, Lucien suddenly stands up, cradling a bundle of white fluff in his arms.

MC: Eh?

I take a closer look and can't help but exclaim in delight—

It's an adorable little Pomeranian!

Under my expectant gaze, Lucien quickly gets back into the car with the little Pomeranian in his arms, then raises the pup's paw and waves it at me.

MC: Hello there, cutie! How did you end up on the road?

Lucien: This little fellow must have gotten lost. I didn't see anyone else outside the car.

I follow Lucien's gaze out the window. The road is very quiet, there's no sign of anyone around.

MC: Is it injured?

Lucien: It wasn't hit just now. When I got out to check, it was still some distance from the front of the car. It's probably just a little startled.

As if understanding, the Pomeranian snuggles its face into Lucien's palm coquettishly. Its dewy eyes shift between Lucien and me, softening my heart.

I tentatively reach out my hand towards its nose, intending to let it get accustomed to my scent before attempting to pet its little head.

However, as soon as I reach out my hand, the little fellow enthusiastically licks my fingers. In the next moment, it leaps over the center console and goes straight into my arms.

MC: Wow, what a good little doggy!

MC: And it looks very clean, not like a stray dog... Could it be lost?

Lucien leans in and turns the collar of the small Pomeranian, discovering a small round tag. On it, it reads "Snowball*" and a string of numbers.

[T/N: the pet name, "雪糕" (xuě gāo), actually means "ice cream bar/popsicle"  LOL. I take some liberty in translating the pup name because “雪” (xuě) word alone means “snow” (while “糕” (gao) means cake). Imagine that this fluffy white bundle looks like a snowball so I give the pup that name :D]

MC: "Snowball"? Is that its name?

Lucien: Mm, below should be the owner's phone number. Let me try contacting them. Maybe the owner hasn't gone far.

Lucien takes out his phone as he speaks and quickly gets connected. After briefly explaining the situation, a wave of gratitude comes from the other end of the line.

??: Thank you so much! I stopped at the service area for a break and took the pup out of the car for a walk. I forgot to bring it back into the car.

??: I've already turned back onto the highway. I'll be there in about forty minutes!

??: Will it delay you?

Lucien doesn't respond, he just looks up at me and gestures with his eyes, as if asking for my opinion. I quickly nod in agreement.

[asking for opinion from the family leader.jpg]

Lucien: No, it won't. Then let's meet at the nearest gas station to the toll booth on the highway.

After a brief conversation, he hangs up the phone and shakes his head at me helplessly.

Lucien: [smiles helplessly] Looks like our journey might be delayed for a bit.

MC: What a careless owner! How could they forget such an adorable little dog?

I affectionately rub Snowball's head. It seems to whimper aggrievedly, then it straightens up, leans against me, and licks my cheek.

The adorable and silly look melts my heart once again. I exaggerate by placing my hand over my heart, then I scoop Snowball into my arms and give it a tight cuddle.

MC: Lucien, it's just too cute.

Upon seeing this, Lucien boops Snowball's nose, his tone hinting at jealousy.

Lucien: You've been praising this little guy since earlier until now for so many times.

MC: Pfft, is Professor Lucien feeling jealous?

Lucien: After all, I was the one who wanted to make a good impression today, but I didn’t expect to be outshone by this "little attention-seeker".

MC: I think, it's actually quite timely that Snowball showed up.

I mischievously wink at him and raise Snowball triumphantly.

MC: Just when I couldn't think of any beautiful moments unrelated to you.

MC: The appearance of this cute little fellow right now just fills that gap perfectly~

Lucien: Is that so?

Lucien presses his lips together thoughtfully, his clean fingertips lightly tapping on the steering wheel. He puts his sunglasses back on and, as if on a whim, starts the car again.

Lucien: Buckle up your seatbelt, let's go.

MC: Huh? Where are we going? Aren't we supposed to wait for Snowball's owner?

Lucien: MC's words just aroused my desire to win.

Lucien: In order not to lose to this little fellow, I have to put in some extra effort during these forty minutes of waiting.

Lucien: Before that, let's go find some more unexpected wonderful moments.

✂———————–

Ten minutes later, Lucien drives us to a countryside field.

The golden sunlight blankets the emerald green grass, while wisps of light mist hover amidst the sea of green.

Excitedly, I hop out of the car while holding Snowball, and find myself unable to tear my eyes away from the beautiful scenery for a moment.

MC: It's so beautiful! Lucien, how did you know there's a place like this nearby?

Lucien: We passed by here when Miss Producer was fully focused on playing the idiom chain game just now.

Lucien: The meeting point I arranged with Snowball's owner is very close to here, so it was convenient to stop by on the way.

MC: [sweats] What? During that intense idiom chain game just now, you still managed to notice the scenery on the sides of the road?

Upon hearing this, Lucien seriously crosses his arms, one hand supporting his chin as if deep in thought.

Lucien: Hmm, after all, even in such a tense moment, Miss Producer didn't forget to use "sweet words" to bribe her opponent.

MC: Pfft-

I can't help but laugh, but Snowball in my arms suddenly wriggles restlessly, as if trying to break free from my embrace.

MC: Do you want to go down and play?

I carefully place Snowball on the ground. It sniffs around with its tiny nose and then happily starts running around us.

MC: [laughs cheerfully] Hahaha, Snowball, you're so fearless, don't you?

MC: Even after such a day full of twists and turns, you can still play so happily!

Lucien: A puppy's mind is very simple.

Lucien: Perhaps in its eyes, it simply unexpectedly took a risk to venture into an unfamiliar place and met with a beautiful and empathetic Jiejie (big sister) who understands it well.

Lucien: And now, this Jiejie has brought it to a playground where it can run freely, so why can't it be happy?

MC: Oh, come on, it's definitely the credit of this reasonable and understanding handsome Gege (big brother).

I jokingly gesture with my hand, but as I watch Snowball's carefree figure, I can't help but ponder Lucien's words with a thoughtful expression.

MC: That being said, it seems like any simple thing can easily make a puppy happy.

MC: Whether it's the company of its owner, a friendly pat from a stranger, a passing butterfly, or even just a small treat...

MC: I often see videos of dogs being scolded by their owners. One moment, they're scared out of their wits…

MC: Then, the next moment, as soon as their owners call their names with a smile, they instantly become happy again.

MC: So, is life filled with beautiful moments everywhere in the eyes of a puppy?

As we talk, Snowball runs around a nearby grassy area and then returns to Lucien's feet, panting. It looks like it's tired from playing and eagerly starts pawing at his pants.

Lucien cooperatively lifts it, and it comfortably stretches lazily in his arms, then leans against his arm and rests.

Lucien pats its head, his expression somewhat resigned.

Lucien: I originally wanted to create a "wonderful moment" for MC, but it seems like Snowball is the one enjoying it more.

MC: Indeed, we should learn from puppies and embrace the spirit of enjoying every moment. I can't let Snowball beat me~

As I say this, I take a deep breath, and the fresh air instantly fills my heart.

MC: So pleasant... If it weren't for the tight schedule and better scenery waiting for us, I'd want to camp right here.

Lucien looks at me upon hearing this, seeming to contemplate something. After a moment, he gently places Snowball into my arms and gives me a mysterious wink.

Lucien: I've received the classmate's wish, please wait a moment.

He walks around to the back of the car, opens the trunk, and folds down all the rear seats, creating a spacious area.

[Lucien’s car being an SUV is really useful in times like this huh-]

Then, he hangs the small decorative lanterns that were initially used for the tent on the roof of the car. Finally, he shakes out a small thin blanket and spreads it on top.

After finishing all this, he bends slightly and makes a gentlemanly invitation gesture.

Lucien: Please, have a seat.

MC: This is...

Lucien: Our time is indeed limited, not enough to set up a proper tent.

Lucien: So we'll have to use this "temporary camping spot" instead, I hope you two* don’t disdain it.

[T/N: He actually uses 小朋友 (literally means: child) as the term of endearment to refer both of them (so the more literal translation should be “I hope the two children don’t disdain it”). I change it for an obvious reason here, but I swear it’s not as bad as the english language makes it to be-]

I stand still for a moment as his intention dawns on me. Pink bubbles seem to bubble up in my chest, making my heart move up and down in the ripples it causes.

I compliantly put on airs, playing along with his gesture as I cradle Snowball and settle into the car.

MC: Can you see a look of "disdain" on our faces?

I raise Snowball, showing a coy and obedient look at Lucien. Snowball, oblivious to the situation, cooperatively wags its tail and barks cheerfully at Lucien twice.

Lucien chuckles softly, then takes off his sunglasses with one hand, his gaze shifting between Snowball and me.

The vast expanse of clouds above his head begins to slowly drift away, revealing the warm and radiant sunshine.

His deep gaze is imbued by the golden sky, revealing a hint of childlike innocence and simple contentment.

Lucien: Indeed, I can't see it, because I can only see two adorable faces.

His doting tone is unreserved, and I satisfactorily squint my eyes, my heart full of joy.

MC: This one-of-a-kind camping area, with Professor Lucien's intention behind it, is priceless and worth more than any amount of money.

MC: I cherish it so much; how could I possibly disdain it?

Snowball seems to understand my words. With a "woof", he jumps down and happily rolls around on the blanket.

Both Lucien and I are amused by its adorable appearance. A gentle breeze blows by, and my entire heart feels light as if it's strolling in the clouds.

Our gazes lock into each other, and this tranquil moment is so beautiful that I truly want to record it in some way.

But I don't take out my phone to make a note. Instead, I instinctively reach out and gently pull Lucien to sit beside me.

The warmth beside me makes me unconsciously lean closer. I nuzzle his shoulder clingily, my heart filled with softness.

MC: Professor Lucien, you've succeeded.

MC: Now my mind is filled with countless wonderful moments, and each of these moments is related to you-

MC: Me leaning on your shoulder, your scent filling my senses, and us sharing this unexpected encounter of scenery together...

MC: And even if these moments aren't intentionally recorded by me, it's okay.

MC: Because every little thing that has been happening with you has already integrated into my world since a long time ago.

The breath above my head becomes even more gentle and elongated. Lucien enfolds me in his arms, his warm breath almost as if it's seeping into the depths of my heart.

Lucien: I am honored to be part of all the “wonderful moments” of Miss MC.

Lucien: As the sole recipient of this “award”, I will remain humble and continue to work hard, bringing her even more happiness.

I smile in his arms, but suddenly, I think of something and pull myself away from him a bit.

MC: But it's not fair, I've listed so many 'wonderful moments' of my own. How come you haven't shared a single one with me?

Lucien seems taken aback by my sudden mention of this. He is struck silent for a moment, then a flicker of wounded expression crosses his face.

Lucien: Perhaps because I thought even if I didn't say anything, MC would know what I’m thinking—

Lucien: My "list of wonderful moments" is very simple, so simple that it has only one item.

Lucien: Now, do you still need me to tell you this one and only item?

He stares steadily into my eyes, with an irreplaceable radiance that ebbs and flows in the depths of his gaze.

I softly laugh, and my entire heart feels as transparent and bright as if it has been meticulously polished.

MC: No need.

I shook my head, the stray hair on my forehead bringing a slightly unbearable itch, gently brushing against my heart along with the gentle spring breeze.

I gently cup his cheek in the palm of my hand, and the world becomes unusually quiet, only the sound of two hearts beating can be heard.

MC: You don't need to say anything.

Because in those beautiful eyes, I only see myself.

————Fin———–

[Bonus Phone Call - Want it Now]

Lucien: Hello? Are you busy?

MC: So, I was about to take a lunch break—I was just thinking about you, and then your call came.

Lucien: It seems like there's always some kind of wonderful little tacit understanding between us.

Lucien: Then tell me about it.

MC: Haha, here's the thing. The company's pet club is planning a charity event.

MC: They plan to sell some handmade items and donate the proceeds to animal shelters. But I don't have any inspiration for what to make at the moment...

Lucien: Mm... I just received a delivery that might be helpful to you.

Lucien: The owner of Snowball sent us some things as a thank you. There are small felt keychains shaped like Snowball, as well as cartoon-style standees and cross-stitch fridge magnets.

Lucien: Looking at the note in the delivery box, it seems that the owner of Snowball designed them personally and also has the same ones at home.

Lucien: Perhaps we can also make some similar small items.

MC: Wow! They actually make these for their pet? The owner of Snowball is so thoughtful.

Lucien: You can tell that Snowball is truly cherished, so its owner makes these everyday little things, wanting its presence to fill every corner of their home.

MC: Hmm... Just like how my phone screensaver is you, and all the photos hanging around the home are of you?

Lucien: If what you're saying is that feeling of 'even when you're not around, I still want to see you first thing’...

Lucien: Then we're the same.

MC: I have another idea, I wonder if Professor Lucien shares the same idea as me.

Lucien: Hm?

MC: Even though my screensaver and chat background are pictures of you... I still want to see you right now.

Lucien: What a coincidence, I was thinking the same thing. So I've already brought your favorite milk tea and the Snowball keychain, and I'm on my way to see you.

Lucien: I checked the navigation, and the route from the research institute to your company is very smooth.

Lucien: In twenty minutes, both of our wishes will come true.

[a-constant-gay-panic]

Can I make a request for soft!dom Eddie Munson x fem!Reader with prompts angst #7 "wake up, please!" and smut #19 "shh it's alright. I'll take care of you." Maybe where the reader is almost taken by Vecna and they're both so emotional after that they just HAVE TO fuck! Peas and carrots! ❤️❤️❤️

Close Call

masterlist

pairing: soft!dom eddie munson x fem!henderson reader

summary: after you have a frightful near death experience at the hands of vecna, eddie can't hide his true feelings for you anymore and he decides to show you just how much you mean to him. 

warnings: a little bit of swearing, smut, porn with a lot of plot basically, unprotected sex (wrap it before you tap it people!), angst, slight s4 spoilers but if you haven't watched it by now, what are you doing?

word count: 2.3k

a/n: here’s your eddie munson fic @... sorry it took such a long time!   it’s been a while since i saw season 4 so vecna’s parts may not be fully accurate and for that i apologies. just go with the flow and ignore it if his words seem uncharacteristic-  i am a firm believer in the eddie x henderson!reader trope and i won't apologies for it nor will i apologies for the ending. i’m in a angsty mood 

the song used in this fic is called "The Day Before You Came" by ABBA, i do not own it in any way shape or form. all rights to the original artists.

— — — — — X — — — — — 

your heart beats frantically and blood pounds painfully loud in your ears as you feel your body give into exhaustion. you slump to the ground as he approaches you, slowly, tauntingly, knowing that he’s won yet again. you gasp for breath as a vine wraps around your throat, your air flow being constricted as you’re forced up and into the air. 

“you can’t escape it y/n. you can't escape your destiny.” vecna’s words ring in your ears as tears stream down your face. “you and your friends will all die. there’s no stopping me.” 

you can practically feel his breath ghost over your face as he stands in front of you, ready to make his promise of killing you a reality. thoughts of your friends and how you’ve let them down cloud your mind. your heart aches as you think of not seeing your brother, dustin, again. your own regrets make another wave of tears roll down your dirty and scraped face and your mind wanders to eddie. although you’ve never admitted it, you've grown extremely fond of the local freak, admiring his bond with dustin. 

“say your goodbyes, y/n.” vecna mutters, his hand slowly rising to hover over your upturned face. your eyes close and you hold your breath, waiting for your end… that is, until a soft yet recognisable melody seemingly drifts through the red, overcast sky of the upsidedown. 

“must have left my house at eight, because i always do

   my train, i'm certain, left the station just when it was due

   i must have read the morning paper going into town

   and having gotten through the editorial no doubt i must have frowned” 

your eyes open and you see vecna's hand is still, extended in the air above you but his face is turned to the side. you can almost feel his annoyance and rage at the sudden interruption. 

“i must have made my desk around a quarter after nine 

   with letters to be read, and heaps of papers waiting to be signed 

   i must have gone to lunch at half past twelve or so

   the usual place, the usual bunch

   and still on top of this i'm pretty sure it must have rained 

   the day before you came” 

your breath comes out ragged as you remember dancing to this daily with dustin and later eddie. the thought of them alone is enough to make you claw at the vines around your neck, desperate to see them one last time. 

“i must have lit my seventh cigarette at half past two

   and at the time i never even noticed i was blue  

   i must have kept on dragging through the business of the day

   without really knowing anything, i hid a part of me away”

you look behind vecna and notice a gate open up, figures which appear to be your friends on the other side. you start to kick and thrash, the urge to escape becoming even stronger. you couldn't let them down, you couldn't let yourself down. you refused to give in to him just yet. 

you see eddie cradling your body and you can almost hear the words which he seems to be screaming at your limp form. 

“wake up, please! please y/n, wake up!” 

his cries are enough to light a fire inside you and you suddenly remember the lighter in your pocket, courtesy of eddie himself. 

your hand blindly reaches into the back pocket of your jeans and you pull out a zippo, flipping it open on your leg and lighting it in the same movement. you raise your shaking hand and the flame licks at the vines keeping you in place. vecna looks at you sharply as your body falls to the ground, the vines unravelling when they feel the fire.

you drag yourself back as he stalks closer. “trying to escape is futile.” you continue to move further away from him, the sound of ABBA continuing to break the eerie silence. your hands sting from the roughness of the ground, your face is covered in dirt and dust and your voice is hoarse yet you find the strength to mutter, “i don't care. i'm not dying today, you bastard.”

with that, you muster up all your energy and make a run for it. tripping and stumbling over vines which try to slow your run but you refuse to let him win. your eyes are set on the image of eddie cradling your body in his arms while dustin kneels next to him.  

objects fall from the sky in attempts to block your escape but you make detours around them, trying your best to run as fast as your sore legs could carry you. your breaths come out in pained huffs, chest screaming at the lack of oxygen you’re getting. 

‘damn me for being so unfit.’ you think to yourself. 

you can almost feel your escape, relief starting to fill your whole body. you hear a loud rumble as the ground beneath you starts to shake, vecna’s shouts echoing in your mind as you jump through the gate, the soft melody coming to an end and darkness consuming your every sense. 

“and turning out the light 

   i must have yawned and cuddled up for yet another night 

   and rattling on the roof i must have heard the sound of rain

   the day before you came.” 

— — — — — X — — — — — 

a warm sensation fills your tired body and light floods your vision as you force your eyes open. you realise that you’re laying on your bed, your familiar bedroom wallpaper a clear indicator as to where you are. you gaze at the faces staring down at you, each with a worried expression plastered on their face. 

“i feel like shit.” you croak out and dustin laughs despite the tears which cloud his vision. “really? you almost died and that’s what you have to say?” steve deadpans and you chuckle before breaking out in a fit of coughs as you try to sit up. “sorry mama steve.” you tease him in an attempt to cover up how sore you were. 

“hey, at least she’s not dead!” robin defends you as she chases after steve who’s walking away, not ready to deal with you. nancy smiles softly at you before kneeling on your bed and giving you a gentle hug. “i’m glad you’re ok, y/n… don't scare us like that again.” she says as she pulls away. you give her a lopsided grin, “i’ll try not to get killed again, i swear.” she shakes her head at you before standing and walking towards the bickering pair who are standing outside your room. 

you turn your head and your eyes lock onto eddie’s, his face is red and his eyes are puffy, clear evidence that he’s been crying. “hey eddie.” you mutter. “hey…” he trails off, kneeling on the ground with his arms resting on your mattress. his eyes wander your fragile frame, inspecting you closely for any possible injuries.

you turn away from him and dustin is the next one to tackle you in a hug. “are you ok? are you hurt? what happened?” he throws question after question at you, all while keeping you in his vice-like embrace. “i’m fine alright? nothing happened.” you reassure him. he lets you go and eyes you suspiciously. “really, i'm ok.” you sigh. 

dustin doesn’t seem to believe you but he lets it slide when he looks at eddie who is still staring at you in a daze. pulling you into another hug, he whispers, “talk to him. he was panicking the most out of all of us.” 

with those words, he stands up and smiles. “glad to have my annoying big sister back.” he calls as he walks over to the other 3 who seem to be in a heated discussion about god knows what. 

“i’m sorry.” you mutter into the silence, the tension between you and eddie is thick and feels suffocating. he seems to snap out of it and looks at you in confusion. “why are you sorry?” you smile sadly at him, unconsciously grabbing his hand to play with the rings on his fingers. “sorry for worrying you… for leaving you like that.” your voice is small and it makes his heart clench. 

“you have nothing to be sorry for… i’m sorry that i couldn't save you.” his words make you shake your head. “no, you did… the thought of you was enough to keep me from giving up…” you glance at him and see his mouth hanging open before quickly adding, “the thought of you, dustin and the others kept me going…” 

neither of you noticed how silent it went, nor did you notice that your 4 friends had been listening to your conversation and decided it’d be best to leave the two of you alone together, closing the door behind them to give you some privacy.

“y/n… i-” he cut himself off. your eyes bore into his, an expectant look on your face. “i’m happy that you’re safe now.” he mumbles. you sit there in silence, deep down hoping for him to say something else… the three words you want to say to him and want him to say to you. 

‘i love you’ 

eddie’s eyes snap towards you and you feel your face heat up, realising that you said it out loud. 

“what?” he asks dumbfounded. “i… i love you.” you whisper, figuring that there’s no going back now. you close your eyes and hang your head low, embarrassment coursing through your veins. that is, until you feel a pair of lips against your own. your shock wears off quickly as you kiss him back, pouring all your emotions out into that single kiss. 

“i love you too… so much it hurts.” he breaths into your ear as you pull away for air. 

“are you hurt anywhere?” his voice is worried as he eyes the bruises around your neck caused by the vines. you shake your head, “i’m fine. how many times am i going to have to say-” 

his lips against yours cuts you off and you intertwine your fingers in his hair. soon enough, you find yourself lying underneath him, his chest pressed against yours as he glides his tongue over your lips, silently asking for permission. you allow him access and hum in pleasure as he explores every crevice of your mouth. 

breaking away for oxygen, his lips travel down your throat and press soft kisses to the bruised skin and you bite your lip in an attempt to silence your sounds. he moves up to your ear and his breath fans over it, causing shivers to run down your spine and a quiet whimper to escape.

“shh, it’s alright. i’ll take care of you.”

his hands slowly start wandering lower and lower, raising the hem of your shirt before sneaking underneath it and stroking your soft stomach. “i love you so much.” he whispers before he helps you sit up and pull the shirt over your head. your hands move to his jacket and tug on it, silently asking him to take it off. 

he complies and soon enough, both of you are bare chested. his rough hands rub and sooth every part of your exposed flesh before his lips find home on your breasts. soft bites and kisses being left in his wake, he moves lower until he reaches the waistband of your pants. “may i?” he asks and you nod in response. 

just moments later the two of you are as bare as the day you were born, his arms wrapped around you in a loving embrace as he mutters sweet nothings into your ears. you gasp in pain and pleasure as you feel him enter you, your walls squeezing him tightly and your breaths becoming more laboured. 

his hips still as you wrap your arms around his neck and bury your face into it. “move… please…” you whisper after a while of adjusting to the feeling of  him inside you, 

soon enough, soft moans and grunts fill your room, mixing together to form a symphony of sounds which makes your head spin. eddie’s thrusts are gentle and steady paced, fulfilling his promise to take care of you as your mind goes foggy from the pleasure he’s giving you. 

“please… please eddie.” you whimper, not exactly sure what you’re asking for. he however seems to know and his hand ghosts over your body before coming in contact with your clit. “i’m here… let go, i’ve got you.” he coos as he quickens the pace of his fingers against you. you squirm underneath him and pull his face towards yours, placing a desperate and feverish kiss on his lips. 

this action almost pushes him over the edge and he pulls away from your kiss. “let go… come on, y/n… i’m right here.” his words make your eyes roll back as you feel the knot in your stomach tighten. “come for me.” he whispers and that's all it takes for your body to give in. your mind is clouded with pleasure and your vision goes white as you come undone underneath him. 

he groans and pulls out from you, releasing onto your stomach before his body slumps against yours. jagged pants are all that can be heard from the both of you as you come down from your high. eddie stands with shaky legs and walks to your bathroom to grab a warm cloth to wipe you down. he helps you up and carries you to the bathroom in order for you to use it. 

slowly placing you back onto your bed once you’re both cleaned up, he engulfs you in a hug. 

“i love you.” he says as he places a loving kiss onto the top of your head. you smile and manage to get out, “i love you too.” before sleep overcomes you, eddie following suit.

you couldn’t be happier than you were in that moment. if only you knew that you’d never be that happy again… if you had known what the future held, you wouldn't have fallen in love with eddie munson.

you wouldn't have fallen in love with a dead man.  

— — — — — X — — — — — 

[velvetwyrme]

More character designs for Distilling Destiny! This time, they are side characters (the Masked Merchants!) You can find the lineup of main characters here!

[Design notes under the cut! Plus extra worldbuilding notes!]

First off! Design notes!

I feel like it's pretty obvious which skeletons these 3 are meant to parallel LMAO.

The overall designs are inspired by some of the NPC Merchants my cowriter and I discussed while planning out the fic (Beedle from LoZ, and Zacharie from OFF)

Zacharie was the inspiration for giving them masks, and Beedle is why the Knight-Shopkeep has his big backpack as well as why the masks have horns! (... Like a horned stag beetle? It's a stretch but shhh)

The Cart Merchant's cart is intended to look kind of like Sans' sentry station!

I was debating whether the cart would have parts that could fold out/be stuck in the ground to extend it, but then I thought... if he had them, he'd be too lazy to set them up anyway.

This way he can just ride around in it and not have to worry about lugging his stuff around like the others.

The Knight-Shopkeep's got two feathers in his hat like the Bard does ;]

I was going to give the Knight-Shopkeep a big hammer, but a sword looked cooler with the pose LMAO

The Knight-Shopkeep also has another horn hidden under his hat!

He sells potions and cooking ingredients! (In the fic, Blue is studying health + culinary science...)

The Shady Merchant has a golden horn instead of a gold tooth

The fur around the Shady Merchant's shoulder is a reference to what he trades, but it's also supposed to represent Red's fluffy jacket.

I gave him a sack because I thought it was funny. I almost made him the type to open up his jacket and try to sell you watches or something, but it didn't really work out, and this design fits a lot better.

That sigil is meant to be his own personal "signature", made up of aspects of his mask, as well as his kingdom, but The Cart Merchant is lazy and uses shorthand. The proper symbol would be something like an actual ❤️ shape. In universe, the larger heart shape made up by both parts is purely a coincidence. The G on the other banner is just a currency sign (like $, €, ¥, £).

AND NOW...

Here's some MORE lore tidbits that (probably) won't get mentioned in the fic, because they are just weird worldbuilding things that I've thought of but aren't really relevant in any of the discussions!!:

The Cart Merchant will try to scam you probably. (5G? i meant 50G.)

The furs and pelts the Shady Merchant procures are incredibly high quality- but he almost exclusively trades for other material supplies or information instead of gold.

I actually started trying to figure out a numeric system for this world, and it was at that point I realised I was getting lost in the sauce and thinking too much about worldbuilding.

HOWEVER, SAYING THAT... I was thinking that an upturned heart (spade) would be the symbol for 1, the v/shorthand heart shape would also double (haha) as the sign for 2. The clover (club) would be 3 and the diamond would be 4.

THAT came about because I was thinking about there being a myth/fable about the 4 (main) kingdoms having been created in that order (spade, heart, club, diamond).

The merchant masks are kind of like clown faces, in the way that there is a record of every single mask to make sure that there are no two that are the same. (Two masks may have the same horns, but different markings, and vice versa.)

The number of horns on a mask depends on which kingdom they come from. Sometimes prongs are also used instead of separate horns. (e.g. a merchant from the "Diamond"/Fourth kingdom may have 4 seperate horns, or 2 horns with 2 points each.)

Markings vary, but generally they too will be themed around the kingdom they hail from.

This is part of why the Shady Merchant is so shady- he has no marking/s, and his horns are... well, he claims to be from the second kingdom.

[perhaps-in-anotherdream]

[CN] Victor’s Carbon Pen and Glass Bead Event (Day 6)

⌚ This post contains detailed spoilers for content yet to be released on the global server! ⌚

✦ thursday || friday || saturday || sunday || monday || tuesday || wednesday

【High School Affiliated to Loveland University Second Year (Section 1) Semester Schedule - Tuesday】

✄┈┈┈┈┈┈

[MATH]:

Beginning with the morning self-study session, Old Gao naturally walks into the classroom, naturally hands out an impromptu quiz, and naturally starts grading the papers.

“Where’s Empress Dowager Hu? Has Old Gao ‘usurped the throne’?”

Victor remains as immovable as a mountain. After coming up with a tentative answer to the questions in his heart, he immediately takes out the exercise books for the other subjects–– realizing that if he doesn’t start now, he won’t have any opportunity to write throughout the day.

“Our Vic seems to be working hard. He’s even expanding into other subjects in the morning math study session.”

Old Gao unfolds the exam papers with a bright smile, “Children, your homeroom teacher is on leave today, so you’re all mine.”

“And of course, the evening self-study session also belongs to me.”

—

[MATH]:

Observing Old Gao’s extraordinarily casual explanation of the complex question and his naturally upturned lips, Victor very cautiously and deliberately marks this question— 

There’s an 80% chance it will appear in the end-of-month exam.

—

[SPORTS]:

Strange Tales of Loveland High School Five (V):

Upon the completion of the weekly one-kilometer fitness test, the running track would give rise to peculiar species contorted in various poses.

Pale and gasping for air, they would be in desperate need of water. Yet, among them would be rare individuals with handsome and exquisite appearances who would continue to carry themselves with grace.

“Whew, still alive.”

The next second, Victor’s face turns slightly pale. He notices the PE teacher bringing out the sit-and-reach apparatus.

—

[PHYSICS]:

After enduring an exceptionally dreadful “knowledge oppression,” Victor decides to broadcast some relaxing content during today’s lunchtime radio session.

In harmony with the melodious Symphony No. 41 in C Major, he begins reading excerpts from the Homeric epics.

—

[CHEMISTRY]:

“A and B might have an innate tendency to react when brought together, although the time for their reaction differs. C and D will never yield any results no matter how long they’re together, and E needs to be catalyzed to have any connection with F. 

Many things in the world are like this, and in reality, human connections follow the same principle. You require a significant amount of destiny to have that serendipity with someone.”

Hearing the teacher say this, Victor’s mind is filled with a distant silhouette.

—

[CHINESE]:

“Sir Vic, do you really think the world will end in 2012?”

“What do you think the apocalypse would look like?”

Victor doesn’t say anything. He simply reaches into his desk and takes out a math book in a very natural manner.

Amidst a chorus of agonized groans, that man walks in once again.

If the apocalypse were to happen, it would probably be a day filled with eight consecutive math classes.

—

[ENGLISH]:

A comforting listening test.

Brother Ying, in a rare feat, has managed to secure the computer lab,  so he assigns something practical for everyone to do.

—

[BIOLOGY]:

The power that erupts from silence should not be underestimated. 

— After the teacher’s first burst of anger, the biology class has a 100% attendance rate.

—

──────

✧ next stop: Wednesday

─────────

[riddlesrhymesandfear]

Riddler, Scarecrow, and Mad Hatter headcannons for when they are put into an Escape Room with their crush. The assigning of pairs for the escape rooms are completely random, and by son coincidence they got put in the same one. How'd they react?

Summary: Mad Hatter, Riddler, and Scarecrow being randomly assigned to their crush in an escape room. (2nd person/ gender neutral)

A/n: I'd like to be the first to say that I'be never been in an escape room, so I apologize if any of these seem far-fetched. However, I was interested and had some minor ideas. And I may had gotten a little ahead of myself with Jonathan’s.. :))

*cutlass is a sword that was commonly used by sailors and pirates through 17th-19th century.

||> Mad Hatter

It must be fate—destiny's work, it must think you two are meant for each other! That's what Jervis thinks, but has some semblance of thinking skills to keep that to himself, even if it's very obvious how delighted he is to have been randomly paired up with you for the escape room.

He is one of those rare people that can actually multitask, so while he's going around the room with you looking for clues, he's chattering absently. It's nice, even if it may be a little distracting for you.

"—And you wouldn't believe the time it took, fixing the chips on my cards after that whole mess! It would've taken less effort to make new ones, of course, but they still had some use to them. You understand what I mean, don't you?"

You nod your head in response, pulling out on of the books from the bookshelf. The clue from the desk pointed over here, so surely it had to be one of these books— You stiffened upon feeling Jervis' hand on your arm, his other hand's forefinger out and running along the spines of the other books on a shelf higher. "What was the clue again?" he asked, eyes running along the titles on the binds before he looked at you.

Blinking away the surprise from a moment ago, you returned your gaze to the book in your hands. "'Among neighbors in a makeshift-complex, one stands alone with its call to adventure,'" you quoted, thumbing the cover of the book before sliding it back into its slot. Jervis hummed in reply, his hand leaving your shoulder to tap his cheek as he pondered. Your gaze flitted between the titles, before stopping at one in particular—above the title was a small illustration of a cutlass* near the top of the spine.

There was slight amusement on your face as you heard Jervis gasp right beside you, the man grinning as you opened the hardcover to reveal a sticky note on the first picture. "We've found the next clue!"

||> Riddler

Not sure if there's necessarily a "[clenches fist] Let's goooo!" meme, but if there is, Edward is internally the imbodiment of that. Not only is he in his element, but his crush is there, too.

He totally uses the situation to impress you, upturning clues left and right. You have to tell him that you're supposed to be looking for clues too, before he realizes. Despite his ego and trying to impress you, he's fun to work with, especially if you're skilled at escape rooms. There's plenty of times when you've both figured out a clue at the same time, or you figured it out before he did.

He says he was "handing it to you," [the clue] but you know better.

Conversation is exchanged while you and Edward look for teh next clue, suggesting possible answers back and forth. It wasn't long before you returned to the middle of the room, where a key inside a locked, transparent box laid on the center table. You had tried fiddling with it at the start of the session to see if you could find a loophole before abandoing it to look for the password.

"If you think messing with that box is going to give you the answer, then I'm afraid you're sorely mistaken," Edward says with a laugh. He's at the bookshelf adjacent to the door you both stepped into at the start of the round, slotting out and in the books and materials on the shelves in hopes he'd find a clue. A slip of paper, or some numbers scratched into the back—something to answer the four-digit code on the box.

You rolled your eyes, stepping away from the box before glancing around the room. Each bookshelf had been searched and moved for clues, each cabinet opened and rummaged through—your eyes flitted to the mirror across the room, some of the light from the lamps and the ceiling light reflecting off it. Nothing appeared off, merely reflecting the view before it, and yet you stepped forward, squinting for anything that appeared off.

Then it hit you: faint numbers mirrored from the wall behind you, barely noticeable if it weren't for the mirror and just the right lighting. You shrugged it off as discoloration at first, but you knew better now that the numbers 4, 2, 9, and 6 stared right at you. "Found you."

||> Scarecrow

I doubt Jonathan would've showed up to an escape room of his own accord, so maybe Edward or another rogue somehow talked him into it. Who knows how it came to be—all that matters is that he's there, and he's been paired up with you by random.

Jonathan is put together for the most part—except that he's a wreck on the inside, his default intimidation dampered by the heavy awkward vibes around him as you and him go around looking for clues. It's quiet, mumbling about where the clues could be and searching on your own.

When the first clue is found you two start working together, actually communicating with each other and thinking on the clues.

"42—that couldn't be a code or something, could it?" you ask, rummaging through a desk for anything that could hint to what the number was for. The escape room you were in practically screamed Jonathan's name—it was dark for the most part, save for a sole vintage lamp in the center of the room that bled light to the corners of the room, and was academic in aesthetic.

Jonathan stood facing the walls, studying them and the neighboring decor as he pondered over the clue. Just earlier the two of you uncovered a key from inside the desk, but it was far too small to fit into the keyhole for the door they needed to get through. His gaze drew toward a bookself, skimming over its contents boredly before he rose an eyebrow; while many of the books shelved were in an unusual manner with the spines facing inward rather than out, on the bottom shelf multiple books were shelved properly.

He kneeled down before the bookshelf and ran his finger over one book before pulling it out. It was an old book, but looked nothing out of the ordinary. He shelved it back the way it was previously, before repeating the action once more, twice more, before pulling out the fourth of the five. It was a hardcover with a book latch over the fore edge that required a key—a small one, he noted, as he glanced to wear the key was set on the desk you had abandoned to see what he had found.

“Found something?”

He hummed in response, standing up and you watched as he took the key from the desk and poked it into the book’s latch, unlocking it before opening the hardcover a few pages in. He flipped more pages before stopping at one, trailing his forefinger down the text before pausing half the page down, and looking up. You cocked your head slightly as you followed his gaze, coming to a halt at a painting of a tree and a group of black birds. “Jonathan?” you asked, looking at him once more as he moved, handing the book to you before making his way towards the painting. Your gaze fell to the book, skimming the pages for a moment to come across a line of text—she stood before a painting of ravens and a tree—only to look up as Jonathan unhooked the painting from the wall, turned it around, and revealed a key taped to its back.

[4e7her]

a drop of silver in a sky of stars - character descriptions:

descriptions under the cut. read on ao3 or quotev.

fenrir osain verdandi:

the comet.

name breakdown: fenrir - the wolf that will doom the world to ragnarok. osain - fawn or baby deer. verdandi - destiny. 

fenrir has wavy jet black hair that reaches his chest, typically tied to the side in a braid. it's messy, even with repeated attempts from the servants to keep it neat and tidy. his eyes are like molten silver, swirling mercury hidden behind messy bangs and slitted pupils. 

underneath his left eye, he has two beauty marks, centered and directly below each other. his braid typically rests over his left shoulder, and it's not uncommon for him to try and hide his face behind his messy hair. the side pieces of his bangs go down to about the middle of his neck - if you get the chance to see behind his hair, you'd notice that he has an industrial piercing on his right ear.

his nose is crooked from repeated breaks, and he has a thin silvery scar going straight across his neck. besides that, his face and neck are largely unmarred, a contrast from the rest of his body. burns stretch across his arms and shoulders, typically hidden behind the clothes he wears, with various other scars all across his body. 

verdandi family:

moralis ivor verdandi:

pluto.

name breakdown: moralis - river. ivor - forest warrior. verdandi - destiny.

straight black hair that he doesn't take much time to style, simply pushing it out of his face as much as possible. he has dark golden eyes, fox-like and intimidating, with a defined jawline and almost permanently furrowed eyebrows. as a swordmaster, he's broad, cutting an overpowering figure that often draws attention - even more so with the extravagance that he dresses with, the wealth just another symbol of their families influence. he has a beauty mark below the right of his jaw, close to his ear. 

siani atasi verdandi:

nyx. 

name breakdown: siani - gift from god. atasi - blue flower. verdandi - destiny. 

silvery wavy blue hair went down almost all the way to her ankles, with similarly colored eyes that were commonly upturned as she smiled wolfishly. she easily put on the air of a weak woman when it served her, but she couldn't have been so one-dimensional if she were to keep up with moralis. her maiden name was signe - meaning victorious. it suited her well. 

olwyn eirlys verdandi: 

cerberus' first head. 

name breakdown: olwyn -  white footprint. eirlys - snowdrop. verdandi - destiny. 

short wavy black hair, cut at an angle, with bangs mostly grown out and pushed out of her face. she has a beauty mark on her chin, under the right side of her lips, with gold-platinum eyes that seems to have flecks of blue in the center. her pupils are slitted, as are all verdandi's. she has an image worthy of her family reputation, though easy to amuse, contrasting her first impression. she's often seen wearing a form-fitting knights uniform with a harness slung over her chest to hold her sword to her back. 

caerwyn emrys verdandi: 

cerberus' third head. 

name breakdown: caerwyn - white fortress. emrys - immortal. verdandi - destiny. 

straight, dusky light blue hair that he can't seem to keep from touching, messing it up quickly even when it's styled nicely. he's often compared to the late duchess for it, the only child with her coloration, though his rose gold eyes carry the metallic glint of the verdandi family. he's not quite as broad as most other knights, finding it difficult to bulk up so heavily, but he does just fine with the build he has. he has one beauty mark above his right eyebrow and another under the left side of his lips.

revna blodwyn verdandi: 

cerberus' second head.

name breakdown: revna - raven. blodwyn - white flower. verdandi - destiny. 

she has waist-length straight black hair that turns silvery towards the ends, often gently curled. she's meticulous in her appearance, gunmetal black eyes hiding far more than she would ever say. she's taken to her father's tendency of dressing more ornately than perhaps strictly necessary, a dark rose blooming across high society. she's not often seen without her falcons, raised and trained by her careful hand. revna is a powerful enemy to make, controlling strings from the shadows, carefully manicured hands scheming situations as she needs. she has a beauty mark above the right side of her lips.

love interests: 

aeron caelfael euryn ingvar:

the sun. 

name breakdown: aeron - celtic god of battle and slaughter. caelfael - battle prince. euryn - gold. ingvar - protected by yngvi, god of prosperity and sunshine.

shining golden hair falls from his head, earning him the middle name that he fought so hard to gain. his eyes are a deep red, pools of blood that only reflect the name that he's made for himself. he does his best to look good, positioning himself higher and higher above those that once looked down on him, making them reflect on all that they've done as he puts them back into their place. between him and rhain, the people of the helix empire don't quite know which is better. around fenrir, he's pathetic and puppylike, but that quickly falls away to the frigid bloodstained prince he's known to be around anyone and everyone else. 

rhain madoc hefin ingvar:

the moon. 

name breakdown: rhain - spear. madoc - fortunate. hefin - warm, summer. ingvar - protected by yngvi, god of prosperity and sunshine.

rhain has textured black hair and red eyes bright like rose petals, or perhaps the crimson of a fresh wound. he's chiseled and strict, more muscular in build than his brother, with familiarity in almost every weapon. he used everything that he could get his hands on in the battlefield, after all. he has a twisted personality, just like euryn and everyone else in the palace, and see's his younger half-brothers attempts to frustrate him as nothing more than a childish tantrum. he likes annoying and 'pranking' people, amusing himself with his own sadistic tendencies. 

ceri:

styx. 

name breakdown: ceri - to love. 

details to be added. 

eldrid stigganndr skuld:

saturn.

name breakdown: eldrid - beautiful fire. stiggandr - wanderer. skuld - fate. 

details to be added. 

seren mereid sunniva: 

uranus.

name breakdown: seren - star. mereid - pearl. sunniva - sun gift, a saint who fled to norway.

details to be added. 

talesin ciaran hemlock: 

mercury.

name breakdown: talesin - noble. ciaran - dark. hemlock - a poisonous flowering plant. 

details to be added. 

side characters:

diedre:

​​​​​​​hydra.

name breakdown: sorrowful.

diedre has tanned olive skin (i could not find a face claim with darker skin. many apologies.) and a short pale green bob with almost soulless dark brown eyes, constantly watching how things unfold around her. her build is muscled and toned, with an assortment of small scars carefully hidden away. she's often simply described as 'hard to read'. the maid uniform she wears hides far more weapons than one might expect. originally, she followed the verdandi grand duchy as a whole, but has shifted her priorities to fenrir alone. 

hati:

hati, the wolf that chases the moon. 

typically very calm, hati only has a temper when it comes to protecting fenrir or arguing with skoll. he has medium length soft pink hair that covers half his face, styled just as neatly as he dresses. it is very rare to see him out of uniform. his eyes are a soft purple and he has a strong work ethic, anticipating every fenrir's every need. 

skoll:

skoll, the wolf that chases the sun. 

defaulting to grumpy and argumentative, skoll is kind only to fenrir and rarely hati. he has short navy hair with a messy cut, jagged edges making it difficult to style. he has pale yellow eyes that seem to brighten when he does find it in himself to get serious. skoll is lazy and often modifies his uniform or disregards it entirely. 

avalon:

​​​​​​​name breakdown: island of apples.

a rather simple girl, avalon has brown hair that's almost always tied up, starting as a braid from her crown that leads to a high ponytail at the back of her head. she has bright, innocent blue eyes, and works at the verdandi family villa located in the capital. pitying and empathetic - on the younger side. 

hywel deinel: 

​​​​​​​name breakdown: hywel - eminent. deinel - judge. 

young for his position, hywel is a tired man with dark brown hair and light brown eyes, serious in his work above all else. many of the other servants gossip about him, but he is faithful to his job and seems to consider himself above matters of the heart. moralis works him to the bone.

more to be added.

[every-character-ever-poll]

WEEK FOUR LINEUP

Some minor changes this week, we have officially retired the SEE RESULTS option on the polls, down to five options. I probably won't be adding any new options unless there's a very good reason or high demand, so I'm sorry to the people who have asked for a "I know them and I love them with all my heart, positive cannot contain the love I have for them" option. With that being said, here is this week's lineup!

Mimi - Your Imaginary Friend

Tsubasa Arihara - Cinderella Nine

Tablet - Commodity Clash

Fox Alistair - RWBY

Alan B'Stard - The New Statesman

Sportacus - LazyTown

Tougou Mimori - Yuuki Yuuna is a Hero & Washio Sumi is a Hero

Rottytops - Shantae

Naomasa Tsukauchi - Boku no Hero Academia

Hagumi Hanamoto - Honey and Clover

Bellringer - Toontown Corporate Clash

Tarlach - Mabinogi

Ata Ibusuki - Binan Koukou Chikyuu Boueibu Happy Kiss

J - Heat Guy J

Mami Tomoe - Madoka Magica

Rocket Raccoon - Marvel Cinematic Universe

Princess Elle - Hirogaru Sky Precure

Phèdre nó Delaunay - Kushiel's Legacy series

Rex Mohs - Scott the Woz

Eileen Roberts - Regular Show

Waluigi - Super Mario

Rick - Denpa Men

Great Sage - Miitopia

Sidon - Legend of Zelda

John F. Kennedy - Clone High

Greg Heffley - Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Martin - Wii Sports

Yellow Face - Battle for Dream Island

Eraser - Battle for Dream Island

9-Volt - WarioWare

Luigi - Super Mario

Milo Murphy - Milo Murphy's Law

Rigby - Regular Show

Holidog - Holiday World

Jerry Attricks - Scott the Woz

Jeb Jab - Scott the Woz

Peter Griffin - Family Guy

Baljeet Tjinder - Phineas and Ferb

Gary - Regular Show

Skelly - I Spy Spooky Mansion

Max Schnell - Cars 2

Charley - Incredibox

10th Doctor - Doctor Who

Mii Brawler - Super Smash Bros

Miles Morales - Into and Across the Spiderverse

Party Phil - Wii Party

Lego Joker - Lego Batman

Knife - Inanimate Insanity

Fusk and Vorte - Hitmen for Destiny

Chaika Trabant - Hitsugi no Chaika

Jesse Pinkman - Breaking Bad

Agent - Penguinronpa

Squelch - Denpa Men

Muscle Man - Regular Show

Fuuta Kajiyama - MILGRAM

Jonathan Phaedrus / Prof - The Reckoners

David Charleston - The Reckoners

Spensa - Skyward

M-Bot - Skyward

Chet Starfinder - Skyward

Sirius Gibson - Witch’s Heart

Guy Montag - Fahrenheit 451

Zachary Zatara - DC Comics

Kento - Payday 2

The Shapeshifter - The Odd Squad

Akane Kurashiki - Zero Escape Trilogy

Letitia "Letty" Price - Babel

The Last Son of Alcatraz - The Monument Mythos

Lily - Duolingo

Ohio - The United States of America

Myne - Ascendance of a Bookworm

Rani - Disney Fairies

Agrael/Raelag - Heroes of Might and Magic

Donna - RErideD: Tokigoe no Derrida

Kasane Teto - Vocaloid

Martin the Warrior - Redwall

Colombo - Colombo

Sonny Wortzik - Dog Day Afternoon

Butch Cassidy - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid

Blondie - The Good The Bad and The Ugly

Prior Walter - Angels in America

Dark - Nowhere

Reona West - PriPara

Shax Lied - Mairimashita! Iruma-Kun

Villager - Minecraft

Wahanly Shume - Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar

Qifrey - Witch Hat Atelier

Marvin - In Trousers

Mr. Bungee - A New Brain

Mayor Mingus - Dialtown

KAITO - Vocaloid

Almond - Postknight 2

Serial Designation V - Murder Drones

Flint - Postknight 2

Magnolia - Postknight 2

Nobara Kugisaki - Jujutsu Kaisen

Snufkin - The Moomins

Ikabod Kee - The Upturned

The Professor - Hailey's On It!

Chimumu - Waccha PriMagi

Mia Taylor - Love Live

[destinies-upturned]

Destinies Upturned now has a dedicated Soundcloud account, which comes with updated tracks and two new ones!

Oh, and if you hadn't noticed, Part 3 is ready to read! Has been for a while, I may or may not have forgotten to tell you all... whoops.

Anyway, enjoy!

[tears-and-smiles-ao3]

What He Deserves

Geraskier, rated T, cw: angst

Geralt stared at the Dandelion poking out through the slowly melting ice, and his heart sank.

Yet another reminder, a message from destiny herself.

Clenching his hands around Roach's reins, Geralt pulled his horse forward and away from the obnoxiously bright flower that reminded him of Jaskier.

You sent him away. Told him you didn't want him, that he was at fault for every wrong in your life.

He wasn't, though, and Geralt knew that. The only person at fault that day was him. Not Yen and certainly not Jaskier.

Melitele, Geralt missed him. Just like that sunshine personified flower, Jaskier could light up a room, fill any moment with so much chatter and laughter that Geralt couldn't help the small upturn in his lips.

You sent him away. You deserve to feel this pain and more.

Geralt swallowed hard and closed his eyes. He deserved this hurt. Gods, Jaskier should scream at him, tell him how shit of a friend he'd been.

He'd take anything if it meant Jaskier would be back in his life, but Geralt couldn't gather enough courage to face him.

Coward.

He was. He knew that inner voice was right. Maybe that's why he fought with destiny.

Roach huffed and Geralt's eyes snapped open. A cart laden with goods was up ahead, one of its wheels bent and twisted.

It couldn't be fixed, Geralt knew that without getting any closer, and he doubted the person would want a witcher's help, even if they are in the middle of nowhere.

Ask, you cretin.

Geralt sighed. Squaring his shoulders, he walked towards the cart with intentions of helping if asked.

The man had a mop of brown hair and a blue shirt. He cursed and kicked the dirt beside the cart. For a second, Geralt thought it was going to him, Jaskier, but why would the bard be a cart driver?

If it was him, would you just walk away like the monster you are?

That made Geralt stop still. Would he? If Jaskier was in danger, would he just walk away because it was too much for his heart to bear if he was rejected?

Always running away from your problems.

No. He wouldn't do that. He didn't want Jaskier to be hurt.

You did it anyway.

Yes, he did it anyway. Fuck.

Walking forward again, he watched the irate man kicking the cart.

Roach snorted, and Geralt had to agree. Kicking the thing wouldn't help. Not at all.

"Fucking piece of shit," the man grumbled under his breath. He leaned over the cart, head bowed and not paying any attention to the world around him.

When he finally notices that Geralt is right there beside him, he jumps, squeaking loudly.

"Holy- balls," the man swears. One of his hands rests above his heart as it thuds fast in his chest.

"Your wheel is broken," Geralt says, pointing at said thing like the man hadn't noticed.

"Bleeding tits, I know that," the man growls, kicking the wheel once more. "How on earth can I get everything to town before nightfall?"

Geralt frowned.

Sunset was in two hours.

The wheel was broken, it wasn't going anywhere. Not in its current state.

It needed something to keep the broken part from bending.

Geralt scratched his head, staring at the wood, while the man ranted in the background. Words bled into one another, with little room for breathing. It was impressive, even if Geralt couldn’t admit it.

It must've made something ping in his head, because suddenly he stood up, knowing exactly what to do.

He could use willow to twist in between the spokes. It wouldn't last long, and the cart would still lurch. He would have to walk beside the cart and adjust it as they went, but maybe it would keep it steady enough for the journey.

"I have an idea. I won't be long," Geralt said. It shut the man up, who looked at him like he was mad, but he nodded his understanding.

It was only when Geralt wandered over to the river, knife out to cut some willow branches, that he realised.

See how much you miss him. It would be him filling your life with endless chatter, and see how it helped today. You never should have sent him away.

Geralt dropped his head, staring at the muddy riverbank. He was a fool and a coward and he deserved every harsh word.

It was only the truth.

Stripping the willow branches was easy. Threading them through the wheel spokes wasn't hard either.

Persuading the man to move the cart and try it was, though. He folded his arms across his chest and outright refused.

"What if Maise here gets hurt?" the man pointed to his horse.

Geralt's eyebrows rose, but he accepted the man had a point.

"Roach will do it. Means I can walk beside her and make sure the wheel is okay."

He half assumed there would be more complaining, but now that Geralt was fully in charge of this expedition, and the man’s horse wasn't involved, he seemed content to walk ahead and lead them to town.

It was a long trip. Sunset had gone down ages ago, and they'd had to stop three times so far.

He could see the town ahead. Probably half an hour more to walk.

Roach was tired, and bored. Geralt couldn't blame his girl. Petting her mane, he urged her forward once more.

She grumbled, but Geralt slipped her a sugar lump and she went happily, smelling more in his pocket.

"That's it, girl. We are almost there," he said encouragingly.

It had been tough on her. He might have to stay in the town two nights to make sure Roach got enough of a rest.

The town gates came into view. The man dutifully ran forward, calling on the guards and explaining why they were late, and please open the gates, thank you.

Geralt was impressed. He was charming, like Jaskier.

Jaskier can do better than you.

Yes, he definitely could. It didn't stop Geralt's heart from hurting.

When the gates opened, Geralt was relieved. It would mean Roach could stay at a proper stable. She deserved it, even if he didn't deserve any comforts.

Once inside, the man directed them to his house. Geralt could have stood back and let the man empty his wares himself, but he just couldn't. He helped.

After that, the man led them to the centre of town, over to the woodworker. The shop wouldn't open till the morning, but the man pulled out the willow branches and the cart slumped once more.

"Can't be too careful," he explained.

It wasn't going anywhere. Anyone who tried would be heard a mile off in this quiet town.

"Is there a tavern? Stables?" Geralt asked.

"Yeah, up ahead," the man pointed northwards. "The Ice Maiden, a great tavern."

Geralt huffed a laugh, and the man patted him on his shoulder.

"Don't let the name fool ya, it's a great place. Very friendly. Come on, I'll show ya."

Nodding, Geralt walked behind the man, Roach in tow. It didn't take long to get there, lively music playing inside.

"Stables are round to the right. I'll let the innkeeper know you'll be needing a bed for the night."

"Thanks," Geralt said, nodding his head in agreement.

He found the stables easily. There was one stall left, so the place must be busy. A mark of a good tavern, but not one that would be quiet.

You liked the noise earlier.

He did. The noise had helped him think, and he had a lot of thinking to do.

Like, how could he apologise to Jaskier, let the bard rant and then allow him to walk away.

It was the only way Geralt could see it working. Any other ideas about the bard staying, or accepting his apology, seemed like fantasy.

You're a fool.

Swallowing hard, Geralt focused on getting Roach sorted. He gave her a few more sugar lumps and she settled, calmly grazing on the feed Geralt laid out.

He took his time, though he knew he shouldn't. The man might have persuaded the innkeeper, but when they saw he was a witcher, they might not feel as happy about letting him stay.

He couldn't put it off forever.

It was definitely times like this that Geralt missed Jaskier the most.

Walking round to the front door, Geralt almost wanted to be denied the luxury of a soft bed and be forced to sleep out in the stables near Roach.

Just at the door, Geralt stopped, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. He could do this. He’d faced hate before. The worst that would happen wasn’t that bad, after all.

The music was muffled, a lulling sound that reminded him so much of Jaskier.

Of the sing-songy twit, as Yennefer had said one time.

The voice sounded so familiar. Geralt could almost let himself believe that it was his bard.

He’s not your bard.

He’s not. If he was at any point, he never would be again.

He’d fucked up. He deserved this pain. It was his to bear.

Sighing to himself, Geralt pushed open the door. The music hit him in the face like a ton of bricks.

There on the stage was Jaskier. His hair was longer. He was wearing a hat. Gone was his usual attire of bright colours, and instead he wore a burgundy coat and a gold waistcoat.

The bard danced around the tables, singing into people’s faces. The audience cheered, singing along with him, and Geralt could almost smile at seeing Jaskier in his element.

That was until he heard it.

“At the end of my days when I’m through

“No word that I’ve written will ring quite as true as ‘burn’

“‘Burn, butcher, burn’.”

No. Fuck. Jaskier couldn't be singing those words. He couldn't mean them.

He does. He means every single one of them because it’s what you are.

Geralt crumbled, his armour clanging against the stone and sawdust floor. The noise was deafening in his ears.

The singing stopped abruptly, but the music carried on for a few more beats. Then silence filled the space.

Someone was walking towards him. Someone was standing in front of him.

Geralt risked looking up into the blue eyes he knew he would meet.

Fuck, there was Jaskier, and there were tears in his eyes.

How could he have caused this? Why had he said those things to his bard?

You're pathetic. Snivelling on the ground when you should be kneeling, begging for forgiveness. Forgiveness you won't get, but have to ask for anyway.

Right. Geralt closed his eyes for a second, then got up onto his knees.

"Jaskier," he began, but he didn't get to say anything else.

"I'm not doing this here," Jaskier whispered loudly. "Get up."

Shaking his head, Geralt remained where he was, hand reaching up in pleading.

“Tell me to go, and I will.”

“Get up,” Jaskier hissed, leaning over and talking in a low voice directly into his ear. “I’ll tell you to go when I’m ready. Follow me.”

The bard didn’t wait for him to say anything. Jaskier just walked past him, like he meant nothing, and truly that is what he was worth.

Butcher. Killer. Monster.

He was all of them. Helping one man with his cart didn’t change what he’d done. It never would.

A public flogging is what he deserved. It wouldn’t hurt, not really, his healing wouldn’t allow for it to hurt much, but it would bring him low, where he belonged.

Everyone’s eyes were on him. He didn’t dare look up, but he could feel them on him. He stood up, eyes trained on the ground, and turned around.

That’s when the whispers started.

“It’s him. The one the bard sings about. Jaskier should throw him out on his ear.”

“I’d have kicked him out the second he stepped in, if I’d known. How can he hurt Jaskier that way?”

How, wasn’t the best question. He’d hurt Jaskier because nothing good or nice should ever be within his grasp. It all just turns to dust.

Why he’d hurt Jaskier, well, he knew the answer to that, too.

Geralt kept on walking, letting the whispers fill his mind. When he got to the stairs, he looked up and there was Jaskier.

His sad eyes. A distressed look on his face.

Jaskier turned, walking up the stairs. Geralt followed him, every step creaking unbearably as they made their ascent. It felt like it took forever, like the whole world had ended and it was just Jaskier, unbelievably, and him at the end of time.

Fanciful nonsense.

“Get in and shut the door,” Jaskier ordered when they reached the door of his room.

Geralt obeyed, quicker than he expected. This was it. This was the moment Geralt would get everything he deserved and more.

“I’m sorry,” he started apologising, but when he looked up, Jaskier’s angry expression made him stop talking.

“You hurt me, Geralt. I spent all my life trying to help you, make people see the good in you, and you hurt me.”

Jaskier stepped back, his legs hitting against the bed and forcing him to stop.

“I just wanted you to like me, to see me as a friend, and you couldn’t even do that. What was so unlikable in me that you had to do that? Huh? Why did you let me hang around, then discard me on a mountain. A fucking mountain, Geralt.”

He was shouting now. Everyone downstairs would hear, not that Geralt minded. They already thought the worst of him.

“Got nothing to say. Typical.”

Jaskier turned around, his shoulders shaking.

Fuck, I made him cry.

Not for the first time.

No, not for the first time. Jaskier had been hurt so much by him and yet here he was, hurting him all over again.

“Jaskier, I don’t want you to cry. Not over me.”

The bard whipped around at speed. He stepped forward, pointing a finger into his chest.

“You don’t get to choose how I feel,” he snapped. “You never cared. Why care now?”

Geralt let himself be pushed backwards till his back hit the door. “I’m- Jaskier, I-”

“Fuck off, witcher.”

“Please,” Geralt pleaded, dropping to his knees. “Please, I need you.”

Jaskier scoffed. “Sure, that’s how you get me back, telling me you need me. Leave. I’m over this.”

Those eyes weren’t cruel. They were begging Geralt to do as he was asked. Even now, Jaskier didn’t think he had the right to ask this, but he did, and more.

“Okay,” Geralt acquiesced, standing up. “I’ll give you some space, but tomorrow, would you see Roach? She misses you.”

That gave Jaskier pause. A small smile appeared on his lips for a second, then disappeared. His face deathly pale with exhaustion.

“Yes, okay,” Jaskier agreed. “Just, leave me alone tonight.”

It takes everything in Geralt to nod and leave the room. He’s barely closed the door when he hears Jaskier sobbing.

He doesn’t even notice the glares from the tavern patrons as he leaves.

All he does is lay his bedroll outside Roach’s pen and try his best to fall asleep.

Images of a dandelion poking through the ice fills his mind.

Destiny had brought him here. He shouldn’t hope. He shouldn’t.

He couldn’t help it.

Fuck.

[sexysilverstrider]

SGAO | Unrequited Destiny 1

   Aoi was an amazing girl with an astounding caliber.

   Everyone knew who she was. From the day she stepped foot inside Naranja Academy, she made her name through countless victories and charming personality. Her academic status was pretty good. Though she didn’t rank first in subjects, her grades were more than enough to impress teachers and lecturers. If she chose to further her studies, any university was more than happy to endorse her. Her battle prowess rivalled Nemona’s, and Aoi had attracted many sponsors at the early age of 14 when she was known to be the first ever person to actually defeat the school president.

   Those sponsorship offers only multiplied when she became the second trainer to reach champion status in Paldea.

   Her battle talent wasn’t the only thing that caught people’s attention. From the gleaming shine of her upturned black eyes to the dazzling shade of her deep maroon hair, almost everyone would be entranced by her. Her smile was pleasant to many, and Aoi made sure to show it often. Sometimes it’s accompanied with a low laugh. Sometimes it’s accompanied with husky voice. The combination alone sent boys and girls aflutter. From the valiant shouts in the commands of her battles to the lovely laugh in whatever conversation she was in, people could watch and listen for days.

   And her eyes.

   Though eyes were usually shielded by sunglasses, none could deny the breathtaking sparkle that shined under the bright sunlight. That sparkle only intensified whenever she was in a battle, and everyone in school would flock and gather just to see such a handsome sight. It became a habit for Aoi to wink cheekily at the audience. And this action once caused an exciting uproar that teachers and prefects had to sometimes pacify before it got more chaotic.

   Aoi did get a lecture from the teachers after the battle when she first did that.

   As guilty and embarrassed as she was, she promised not to do it again—much.

   Given her talent and personality, it wasn’t a wonder that Aoi would get confessions every now and then. She remembered the first confession she had ever gotten; it was from a girl in the next class. In truth, Aoi remembered being stumped and stunned to be receiving a confession in the first 4 months she had been enrolled in the school. The girl was absolutely adorable, and the way her cheeks flushed really did made her chest ache just for a bit.

   But Aoi knew she didn’t have any real feelings for the fellow schoolmate.

   As flattered as she was, she knew she wouldn’t make the right girlfriend for her. She barely knew the girl. She knew it wouldn’t be fair to treat her like a guinea pig to see whether or not her own feelings were romantic or not. So, with a deep breath, Aoi politely turned her down and requested if it was okay for them to become friends instead.

   It was nerve-wrecking for Aoi, especially when the girl’s eyes started to water.

   Thankfully, after a few weeks of awkward glances in the school corridor, the girl was comfortable enough to stay as friends. That day, Aoi felt extremely relieved as she never liked the idea of people hating or despising her.

   However, that relief was short-lived when she got another confession the week after.

   This time, it was a boy, one who was a year older than her. Aoi was just as surprised, but she remained composed from the previous confession and turned him down as well. The actions left the boy heartbroken. But once again, after a few weeks of the same awkward encounters, the boy got over it and treated Aoi like any other schoolmate.

   And then Aoi received another.

   And another.

   And another.

   Once she reached 15, it had already become a routine of her usual life.

   But no matter how it went or who it was, her heart remained closed, tucked and hidden like a flower who longed for sunshine.

   Even in her treasure hunt, Aoi still bumped into her classmates and schoolmates. They still declared how amazing and lovely she was, and that they cheered for her whenever she was battling a gym leader. Aoi was flattered and frankly, a bit shy when she knew people still admired her despite the fact that she technically wasn’t on school grounds anymore.

   Penny said that ‘people admiring her’ was an understatement; Aoi had a fan club, after all.

   But hey, if it didn’t bother people and it in fact made others happy and occupied, who was she to complain?

   Aoi was an amazing girl who was loved and respected by many people.

   Unfortunately, she would soon realize not everyone held same respect and admiration for her.

   Especially when it was someone whom her heart was ready to bloom for.

[marypsue]

Blood will out for WIP game?

[from this meme]

Thank you for asking about this one, because it's one I haven't really talked about on here and I'm very glad to have the excuse!

I wrote Lost in the Shadow of the Vampire, which is one of the most self-indulgent things I've ever posted: a piece of semi-meta semi-fan-fiction, where a (fictional) actress working on a (fictional) reboot-slash-sequel to 1987 cult classic The Lost Boys starts to suspect that one of her costars is actually becoming a vampire like the ones in the movie. It was a complete blast to write, and I had so much fun figuring out what the fictional reboot-slash-sequel would be about that I decided that I'd just go ahead and write it.

Since the premise is that this is a movie, a 2015-ish all-female reboot slash sequel ignoring all the other sequels, I tried to come up with a plot hook that would let me introduce new leads and change the time period, while honouring the vibe (without just ripping off the plot of the original) and calling back to the original, but also respecting which actors from the original would actually be likely to come back (and which actors from the original are still, uh. Alive). Also, I wanted a girl gang of vampires who have unfuckwithable style and vibes.

So. The premise of Blood Will Out is that, shortly after she turns eighteen, Kate Fischer, the biological daughter of Star and Michael Emerson, starts turning into a vampire. Since she was adopted as a baby and has had no contact with her bio family until very recently, she has absolutely no idea what's going on - but her sister Jamie does. And, because of what Jamie had thought was a very convincing blog-form webnovel and interactive ARG but is now looking like it's actually just the blog of an actual real-life vampire hunter, they have a line of communication to one Edgar Frog.

Unfortunately, this ends up raising more questions than answers. Was there something sinister behind the string of tragedies that struck Kate's birth family and left her orphaned? Was her becoming a half-vampire really biological destiny, or does someone have plans for her? And, once she finds herself drawn into the orbit of a trio of captivating vampires who're more than willing to accept her as one of their own, does she even want to go back to human? Will Jamie get her sister back, or lose her forever?

Does the world need another female-OC-centric TLB fic? Who knows? Who cares? I haven't written one yet, and I'm having fun. (Also, I have a big reveal in mind for the third act that I haven't seen anyone do before, and is positively evil. I'm excited about it.)

I've posted one small sample here, but here, have another:

“Where the hell were you.”

Kate closes her eyes for a second. Like she’s tired. Jamie knows better than to buy that. It’s past midnight. This is prime Kate active hours.

“I’m serious, Kate. I woke up – alone, in a strange city, in California, by the way – and you were just gone. No note, no text, your phone here on the desk -”

Kate sounds defensive, not meeting Jamie’s eyes. Good. She should feel guilty. “Don’t shit yourself. You fell asleep. I was bored. I took a little walk.”

“A little walk down to the Boardwalk, Kate?”

And now Kate doesn’t look like she feels guilty at all. Just kind of flatly angry. Jamie absolutely doesn’t feel a little silver wiggle of apprehension about that. “So what if it was?”

Jamie can’t find words. So instead, she settles for letting her face and her upturned hands do the asking for her. “So what if – Kate. Kate. We agreed. Neither of us goes down there alone. Do I need to remind you that you had to lock yourself in your room for nine solid hours because you accidentally saw a nosebleed? Do you know how many people -”

“Nobody died and I didn’t eat anybody,” Kate snaps, yanking out the chair by the little desk and dropping into it with her front pressed against its back and her legs splayed out to either side. She presses her chin into her hands on the top of the chair back, so the next words come out as a muffled grumble. “Not like you could’ve stopped me if you had been there, anyway.”

The silence that descends around and between them is abrupt and icy.

Kate shifts uncomfortably in the chair, looking everywhere but at Jamie. Like she knows she’s crossed a line. But she doesn’t seem any too ready to apologise for it. “I know you don’t like thinking about it, Jay. But it’s true. If I did go off the deep end -”

Jamie only realises she’s been frozen perfectly still in place when she tries to unclaw her hand from around the TV remote. “I wouldn’t let you. I won’t let you.”

“Jamie…” Kate’s eyes shutter, for a moment, before she finally looks Jamie in the eye again. “You could get hurt. I. Might hurt you.”

Jamie meets her gaze with one of her own, steady and, she hopes, fearless. “You won’t.”

Kate breaks first. She shuts her eyes, rolls her head back on her shoulders, and grips the chair back, leaning back as far as her arms’ reach will let her. “Ugh. Do you think Mom’s found our note yet?”

In answer, Jamie holds up her phone. Kate flops her head forward again so she can look under her mess of dark curls and see the notifications that fill up the screen. Can see that Jamie’s had fifty-eight missed calls and a hundred and two unread texts.

“I think she’s found it,” Jamie cracks.

Kate groans, long and deep and heartfelt, and lets her head flop backwards again.

She starts getting out her laptop as Jamie’s crawling back into bed. Jamie watches her face, the hard set of her stare, as she sets it up on the desk and boots it up. Now that Kate’s back, the wild anger – and the fear that had driven it – are starting to settle again. But there’s a slow, deep, sucking dread starting to take their place. The matter-of-fact coldness, the who-cares attitude earlier – that’s not Kate. At least, not the Kate Jamie knows. And the longer this goes on, the more often this new, cold version of Kate seems to slip to the surface.

But. Even this new, cold version of Kate still doesn’t want Jamie to get hurt.

That has to count for something.

“Kate?” Jamie says, pulling the covers up around her head so she’s looking at her sister through a tunnel of duvet.

Kate makes a wordless noise of acknowledgment without looking up from the laptop screen.

“You’re going to go back to the Boardwalk without me, aren’t you.”

That actually does get Kate to turn around. To look Jamie in the eye. “Jamie -”

Jamie doesn’t give her a chance to speak. She doesn’t really want to hear her sister talk about losing control again. But more than that, she just doesn’t want to have to hear Kate lie to her. She doesn’t want to know if Kate could do it with her eyes steady on Jamie’s and not a hint of guilt in her face or her voice. “Not tonight, okay? Just…don’t go back there again tonight.”

Kate rolls her bottom lip between her teeth, something in her stare softening.

“Not tonight,” she agrees. “Everything’s shut down by now, anyway. Now come on, Jay. It’s almost one AM. You’ve gotta be up early tomorrow if we’re gonna have any time before dawn makes me useless.”

“Your messed-up sleep schedule’s rubbing off on me,” Jamie grumbles good-naturedly, as she lets her head sink back into the pillow and her eyes drift shut. The bed’s never felt so warm, so soft. Despite her nap earlier, she really is tired.

“Oh shit, I hope not,” Kate says, sounding worried. And then, warmly, “G’night, Jamie. Get some sleep.”

Jamie drifts off to the sound of her sister’s fingers tick-tick-ticking over the laptop’s keys.

[mylostlenora]

more queer (mostly sapphic) books on my tbr pt. 2!🤍🤍

1. Solita, Vivien Rainn

“Sadie is her name, and she is passing through the motions of a life soaked through with the stench of death. Grief-ridden nightmares plague her every sleepless night, only to continue into the day when she awakens to the burden of running her family’s centuries-old estate:

The Hacienda Espinosa, a yawning, black-wooded beast of a mansion nestled in the jungles of the Philippines' Palawan Island, a house that offers Sadie nothing but a perpetual reminder of what once was, what can never be again. She is alone, save for the sound of her own lonely, broken heartbeat—that is until the day she hears another. And it’s coming from beneath the floorboards.

Unearthing what was left to rot beneath the house, Sadie realizes her fatal mistake; the dark secret was never buried to be forgotten. It was buried to be sealed away.

It’s no mortal, no man, but the Hacienda’s first owner—a demon.

And he’s nothing like she expects.

It’s only through facing the past and her buried fears can Sadie find salvation as she upturns the Hacienda’s twisted roots, roots born from the faith and fire of the conquistas, the Spaniards who came from distant shores, bringing with them not only their God, but also their demons.”

2. In the Roses of Pieria, Anna Burke

“When Clara Eden is offered a job as an archivist working for eccentric estate owner Agatha Montague, she thinks her prayers have been answered. Soon, she finds herself sucked into the world of her research, captivated by a romantic correspondence thousands of years old. But as her feelings for her employer’s assistant, Fiadh, deepen, so too does her suspicion that something about Agatha Montague isn’t quite right. Unfortunately for Clara, by the time her suspicions are confirmed, it is far too late to run.”

3. The Deep, Rivers Solomon

“Yetu holds the memories for her people—water-dwelling descendants of pregnant African slave women thrown overboard by slave owners—who live idyllic lives in the deep. Their past, too traumatic to be remembered regularly is forgotten by everyone, save one—the historian. This demanding role has been bestowed on Yetu.

Yetu remembers for everyone, and the memories, painful and wonderful, traumatic and terrible and miraculous, are destroying her. And so, she flees to the surface escaping the memories, the expectations, and the responsibilities—and discovers a world her people left behind long ago.

Yetu will learn more than she ever expected about her own past—and about the future of her people. If they are all to survive, they’ll need to reclaim the memories, reclaim their identity—and own who they really are.”

4. Our Share of The Night, Mariana Enriquez

“A young father and son set out on a road trip, devastated by the death of the wife and mother they both loved. United in grief, the pair travel to her ancestral home, where they must confront the terrifying legacy she has bequeathed: a family called the Order that commits unspeakable acts in search of immortality.

For Gaspar, the son, this maniacal cult is his destiny. As the Order tries to pull him into their evil, he and his father take flight, attempting to outrun a powerful clan that will do anything to ensure its own survival. But how far will Gaspar’s father go to protect his child? And can anyone escape their fate?

Moving back and forth in time, from London in the swinging 1960s to the brutal years of Argentina’s military dictatorship and its turbulent aftermath, Our Share of Night is a novel like no other: a family story, a ghost story, a story of the occult and the supernatural, a book about the complexities of love and longing with queer subplots and themes. This is the masterwork of one of Latin America’s most original novelists, “a mesmerizing writer,” says Dave Eggers, “who demands to be read.”

5. The Gilda Stories, Jewelle Gomez

“This remarkable novel begins in 1850s Louisiana, where Gilda escapes slavery and learns about freedom while working in a brothel. After being initiated into eternal life as one who "shares the blood" by two women there, Gilda spends the next two hundred years searching for a place to call home. An instant lesbian classic when it was first published in 1991, The Gilda Stories has endured as an auspiciously prescient book in its explorations of blackness, radical ecology, re-definitions of family, and yes, the erotic potential of the vampire story.”

6. To Be Devoured, Sara Tantlinger

“What does carrion taste like? Andi has to know. The vultures circling outside her home taunt and invite her to come understand the secrets hiding in their banquet of decay. Fascination morphs into an obsessive need to know what the vultures know. Andi turns to Dr. Fawning, but even the therapist cannot help her comprehend the secrets she's buried beneath anger-induced blackouts.Her girlfriend, Luna, tries to help Andi battle her inner darkness and infatuation with the vultures. However, the desire to taste dead flesh, to stitch together wings of her own and become one with the flock sends Andi down a twisted, unforgivable path. Once she understands the secrets the vultures conceal, she must decide between abandoning the birds of prey or risk turning her loved ones into nothing more than meals to be devoured." Sara Tantlinger's To Be Devoured capitalizes on our macabre preoccupation with the uglier side of nature, with love that topples into obsession, and with madness that is strangely beautiful in its barbarity.”

[lunejump]

Made up a Legend of Zelda era :)

So, this is based in the au/theory(?) of Rauru and Sonia being the first king and queen of a New Hyrule, refounded after it got destroyed for the nth time. So the other games (minus botw and totk) happened before the Zonai existed. This era happens between Rauru and Sonia's Hyrule and the BOTW/TOTK era.

So! The original goal of this was to have Zelda and Link just look really fucking weird and eldritch lmao. They're very close to respectively Hylia and the Hero's Spirit, not in a good way, and are excessively devoted to their bit of the Triforce, their patron Golden Goddess and their destiny/fate. Both of them have very large ears from being closer to Zonai DNA.

Link is the 15 years old holder of the Sword That Seals The Darkness. He wears the traditional green guarb of the Hero and has the Hylian Shield. The "drops" under his eyes are actually moles, and his eyes are like. Dark hazel. Almost brown, but not quite brown.

He can hear Fi, despite her not really wanting to talk to him. He found the Sword right before the story starts (15 years old) and knows how to wield her perfectly, despite not fighting before. He always had strange dreams, recounting pasts lives of people who look like him, but he didn't know what it meant. He also always hears his name being called, and realizes only after meeting Zelda that she was the one calling. And talking about her...

Zelda is 21 years old. She's been the Queen of Hyrule since she was 16, as her parents passed early. Her ears are even larger than normal hylians and they're upturned. Her pupils are tear shaped and golden, and one can see present, past and future in them. Mainly, she has a reputation for being real fucking weird. She's not very expressive, she always looks like she's having visions or something (she might be). She sometimes asks to be called Hylia, which is considered a power trip by some but respected by most Hyruleans for fear of being banished. Zelda banishes many people in fear of the Triforce of Power and Demise's reincarnation. When she's being weird, some people claim to see a halo around her head or wings of stone and gold behind her back. Zelda has full power on her powers of Sealing, Light and Time and gets visions of the future/past. She also has a very strong link (haha) to the Hero.

After Link finds the Mastersword, Zelda calls him to the castle, and requires him to stay with her at all times. Link finds her strange and has a generally strange feeling about her, but he follows her anyways. Zelda uses her powers to keep her place as Queen and make sure she and her knight are safe. She's fearful and Link can see it, despite her insisting she is Wise and she knows what she's doing.

Ganondorf is, opposite to Zelda and Link, very normal. She's the 20 years old best friend of the current Gerudo Cheiftain, and her bodyguard. She can't hear Demise or Hylia, she can't hear Zelda either, despite her reaching to find the Spirit of Demise. The mark on her forehead is a birthmark. Her ears are round, which isn't an immediate tell of her identity because Gerudo people are a mix of pointy and round ears. As for her name, I think Ganondorf is a pretty frequent name given, and the Gerudo didn't just go okay no one call your daughters Ganondorf anymore y'all, because come on. It's like if I told yall to never call any kid Donald ever again.

Passing on to the actual story, what happens is that due to their actions, Ganondorf and Zelda stop deserving their respective Triforce, and instead get the other's value : understand, Zelda obtains the Triforce of Power (as she doesn't act Wise but seeks Power and will do anything obtain it, which impresses Din), and Ganondorf the Triforce of Wisdom (as she has the Wisdom of staying out of the Queen's business and generally is Wise in how she protects her charge and doesn't care about Power). From then on, Link stops hearing Zelda and starts hearing Ganondorf, and runs from Central Hyrule to seek her. Zelda starts fearing Link then, and sends guards everywhere to kill him and whoever he's with. Ganondorf doesn't really like Link at first, but she feels a connection with him and immediately wants to protect him when she sees the Queen wants him dead.

Basically, Zelda is kind of the antagonist, but at the end she's sort of reasoned by Ganondorf, who tells her that for once they haven't been reincarnated in ways that make them try to kill each other, it'd be truly stupid to still try and do it anyways. Zelda was so terrified by the legends she'd been told and the visions she had that she was sure that evil was coming and that she would have to defend herself, no matter how violently.

So yeah this is the AU. I think this Link could be the Hero of Sunlight, both because of his time in the desert with Ganondorf and his affinity with holy light.