#drabbles [endless chapters for an endless adventure]

[vixlenxe]

Giggling away at her vanity, Ivy can see the reflection of her fiancé in it's mirror, as he loosely tied a bowtie around his collar. The Warrior of Light's chuckles drawing his attentions as he did.

"Am I tying this wrong?" Haurchefant could only ask, unsure what the laugher was for, & it was the only think that he could think of. And she only shook her head. "You brother will have a fit seeing you've tied your collar that way." Funny, how Ivy only said 'your brother', considering he had two, but knew exactly which of whom she meant. Only one of his brothers was uptight in that regard, & it was certainly not the younger.

"Artoirel will learn to let it slide, unless he wishes to skip the family dinner he arranged." That made Ivy truly laugh. She knew Artoirel nearly as well as Haurchefant, & he wouldn't do such a thing, just merely be upset his half-brother & get over it. It was just a small dinner for the Fortemps to catch up with their so-to-be sister & daughter in law, the didn't need to dress to the nines in their best wears, as if this was some ball. It was enough to make Ivy slip back into her old red off-shoulder Ishgardian dress & mind her choice of jewelry & makeup, a little red lipstick & some golden earrings, but not much more. Oh, right! Her necklace, long & slender digits quickly shifted through her vanity drawers, plucking out a long black box, inscribed with the name 'Ivy de Fortemps' upon it. Her gold chain pearl necklace. It would be perfect. To wear this along with her ring, & show her father & brother in laws the many ways she & Haurchefant adored each other.

The man in question, of course, saw Ivy as she withdrew that familiar box from her vanity, & the sight of her putting that necklace on with propose, with the ring he had also chosen for her still on her finger, made his heart burst in his chest.

"Are you going to wear that, lumière étoiles?" The knight asked, voice only filled with hopeful delight, after striding over closer to her & resting his large hands on the sides of her shoulders. "Is there any reason I shouldn't?" The warrior retorted with her own question, a smile reflecting in the mirror as she clipped the necklace in place around her neck. "Goodness no, you can wear anything you please, & look positively splendid all the while!" He beamed. "It merely... fills me with so much joy to see on you, along side your ring."

The honest confession made Ivy's eyes drift towards Haruchefant's own hand in the mirror's reflection. And indeed, there sat his own ring, the mirror to her own, the sign that this man was hers & hers alone. It made her heart flutter like the wings of a butterfly.

"... You know what, now is as good a time as any." And, as if on a sudden note, Ivy switched gears, once more leaning over to look through the drawers of her vanity, searching for something that had the taller elezen's interest pecked by her choice of words. 'Now is as good a time as any'? What in Halone name did she have hidden away?

From one of her drawers, Ivy plucked out a black box, similar to the other she had withdrew, but not quite as long, & with a bold letter 'H' engraved on it in silver print. With it in hand, she stood up from her chair before the mirror, walked around it & presented it to her beloved. Haurchefant blinked at the box, & then at Ivy.

"I was saving this for a special occasion, but this seems more then special enough." The Warrior of Light smiled. "For you." And then held out the box to the knight.

The visual in itself of the situation drew back memories from Ivy's own nameday. And though he dared not hope for such an act in return, he also knew the woman before him better then most & it was jaw dropping. But he kept his composer, taking the box from Ivy & opening it.

The interior had been careful lined with threads of silver in swirling fashions, dots of white crossing it, giving the image of a snowstorm to the inside of the box, but the true blessing lay at the center. A silver feather brooch aligned with small diamonds & with a small white pearl clinging to it's stem. A silver feather pearl brooch.

Haurchefant's mouth could only hang open for a lengthy pause. In both, admiring the beauty of this lovely piece of jewelry, but also knowing well what the gem of choice meant & why she choose it. "By The Fury... Ivy... Ivy, it is beautiful." He words leave him in awe-struck breaths. "When did you..." "During the Blossom Festival." The shorter elezen smiled as she began. "I decided to make the most of my time on the island, I've been wanting to get you a pearl too since you gave me this one." Her hand drifted over her necklace, rubbing the center pearl between her fingers. "Being there in Makoto to dance at the Festival was the prefect time. The council was overeager to show me towards their best pearl sellers when I mentioned it after meeting with them." Her head tilted as her smiled cracked a bit & became a bit cheeky. "I choose a silver feather for my Knight of the Silver Fuller."

His smiled returned full bright hearing of this all, mumbling a 'but of course' to himself. Ivy always makes the most of everything. "I love it, Ivy. Positively adore it! I can not possibly thank you enough for this loving & gracious gift."

The warrior's ocean eyes glowed with a swell of love, hands reaching up & cupping her husband-to-be's cheeks, nothing but the sweet adoration the two had for each other reflecting in teal & blue orbs.

"If you want to thank me, you can wear it to your family's dinner." Ivy suggested to him.

"A splendid idea!" And Haurchefant agreed ever so eagerly, leaning his head down to share a loving kiss with his beloved. He knew already the questions such a gem would raise. The Fortemps were rich house & no stranger to gemstones of varying kinds, but pearls in Ishgard were a rarity, & Haurchefant knew his father, if not Emmanellain, would sure to be curious.

Thus did Ivy pluck the brooch from it's rest place, smoothing out an area on Haurchefant's chosen vest with her hand, before carefully pinning it to the article to his person. A proud smile filling both of their lips, & a clutter of butterflies in their chest springing free.

"Thank you, lumière étoiles. I love you."

"I love you too... my silver feather~"

[choicesficwriterscreations]

CFWC F/AotWeek Mar 3 - 9, 2024

✒️= Fanfic | 📱= Text Fics/Edits | 🎨 = Fanart Ⓜ️ = Mature Content 18+ | 🔥 = Explicit/NSFW 18+ 🏳️‍🌈 = LGBTQIA |🔹Submitted by creator

BACHELORETTE PARTY

Gardenia in Blossom ✒️🏳️‍🌈🔹| BP NB!MC - @aallotarenunelma

BLADES OF LIGHT AND SHADOW

Blades Full Listing Week Ending March 9, 2024

BLOODBOUND

Hide Me In Thy Wounds - Part 2/2 ✒️🔹| Gaius Augustine x MC - @gaiuskamilah

CRIMES OF PASSION

Crimes of Passion Drabble ✒️🔹| m!Trystan Thorne x F!MC by @lilyoffandoms for @storyofmychoices

Gabriel Rose 🎨🏳️‍🌈 by @lilyoffandoms

Home Without Part 3 ✒️🔹| m! Trystan Thorne x F!MC by @thosehallowedhalls

Kiss and Say Goodbye 🎨🔹| m!Trystan Thorne x F!MC by @/artbyainna (C: @jerzwriter)

Lilah Rose (COP F!MC) 🎨by @lilyoffandoms for @storyofmychoices

Royalty Over Loyalty ✒️| f!Trystan Thorne x M!MC - @kwaj115

Trystan Thorne Fanart 🎨by @lilyoffandoms

What Doesn't Killy You (Series) ✒️| Sebastyan Thorne, Marguerite Thorne, Trystan Thorne - @choices-ceri Chapter 2

THE CURSED HEART

Kieran x F!MC Fanart 🎨by @bri1234

Oleander Fanart 🎨 by @artbyalz

ENDLESS SUMMER

Never Had a Friend Like Me: Part 1 ✒️ | Diego Soto & MC - @marmolady

GUINEVERE

Lancelot du Lac 🎨🏳️‍🌈by @lilyoffandoms

IMMORTAL DESIRES

Cas Harlow x OC Fanart 🎨 by @sadxlee

Cas Harlow x OC Fanart 2 🎨 by @sadxlee

Esme (ID F!MC) 🎨 by @artbyalz

IT LIVES WITHIN

Freesia Gaze ✒️🔹| Abel Flints x F!MC - @aallotarenunelma

LAWS OF ATTRACTION

Martin Vanderweil Fanart 🎨🏳️‍🌈 by @oh-so-youre-a-nerd

The Three Fates 🎨🏳️‍🌈| Original Characters - @oh-so-youre-a-nerd

MOTHER OF THE YEAR

Levi & Lily Fanart 🎨by @lilyoffandoms for @storyofmychoices

Zoey 🎨 by @lilyoffandoms

MULTIPLE STORIES

Choices MCS 🎨by @cassiopeiacorvus

NIGHTBOUND

Forever Royal ✒️🔹| Nik Ryder x F!MC - @ladylamrian

OPEN HEART

Open Heart Full List Week Ending March 9, 2024

QUEEN B

I'm Not Needed, Never Will I Be ✒️🏳️‍🌈| Ina Kingsley x MC - @kwaj115

RED CARPET DIARIES

Classic Hollywood Glamour 🎨| Thomas Hunt by @oh-so-youre-a-nerd for @storyofmychoices

Happiest of Birthdays 🎨| Thomas Hunt x F!OC by @weetlebeetle (C: @theartoflovingthomashunt)

THE ROYAL ROMANCE

Best Kept Secrets (Series) ✒️Ⓜ️🔹| Liam Rys x F!OC - @ao719 Chapter 19: Built to Last

Cinderfella's Adventures in Cordonia (Series) ✒️🏳️‍🌈| Liam Rys x M!MC - @justcallmefox89 Chapter 20

Hirbawi ✒️Ⓜ️🔹| Drake Walker x MC - @petiteboheme

Maxwell Beaumont x MC 🎨by @bombomangooo

Princesa Real (Series) ✒️| Liam Rys x MC - @belencha77 Chapter 1: El Amor no Existe Chapter 2: Erase Una Vez 🔹

The Royal Romance: Once Upon a Time (Chapter 2) ✒️| Liam Rys x MC - @fadingreveries

SUNKISSED

You're Always Going to be a Wildflower ✒️🔹| Nate, F!MC - @aallotarenunelma

THE UNEXPECTED HEIRESS

Christie Jane Hayes (MC) 🎨@lilyoffandoms for @storyofmychoices

WISHFUL THINKING

Amaryllis Bliss ✒️🏳️‍🌈🔹| Jamie Lewis x F!MC - @aallotarenunelma

[late-to-the-fandom]

Rumours report Prince Renathal and his former Maw Walker can currently be found in the Dragon Isles. How did they get there and what are they up to? Work in Progress! These are all my Post-Shadowlands stories of Renathal and the (former) Maw Walker starting with the introduction of her name (in A Maw Walker by Any Other Name), the original plotline story explaining how they left the Shadowlands for Azeroth (A Wend in the Shadows) and their various adventures in the Dragon Isles (And there was only one dragon!) Runs a spectrum of ratings from G to E. Read the series on Ao3 here.

A Maw Walker By Any Other Name (Prologue)

What is the Dark Prince to call his lover now her career in Maw walking has come to an end? In which I finally get around to revealing the Maw Walker's name, so I don't have to call her that throughout the sequel. Takes place before A Wend in the Shadows proper. Rated T for implied sexual scenarios | 1,288 words

A Wend in the Shadows

Something’s afoot in Revendreth, and the Dark Prince Renathal is determined to discover what. Is it the rumoured rebellion, the Master of the realm himself, or his mysterious mortal guest?  Click here to read the series on Ao3.

Chapter One: The Master Awaits "In spite of everything Renathal's primary senses were telling him, an ominous warning still lurked underneath. There was something indefinably wrong about how he had woken up today."

Chapter Two: The Lay of the Land "Centuries - epochs, even - of endless, unvaried routine, and suddenly the Dark Prince of Revendreth found himself up to his ragged ears in mysteries."

Chapter Three: The Endmire "But it was not what loomed above them that made Renathal’s cold skin crawl. It was what lurked below them. The unnatural chill that crept through his veins even before his booted feet touched the ground."

Chapter Four: Anima Awakening "An ache had awoken within Renathal that had nothing to do with the Endmire, an urge he had fought to keep quelled for many centuries with creditable success; and which, with three scattered encounters and hardly an effort on her part, Elisewin, the Master’s singularly sinful mortal, had brought roaring back to life."

Chapter Five: The Proper Punishment "It felt more, the Dark Prince reflected as he led the mortal into Darkwall Tower, like hosting a foreign dignitary than punishing a penitent soul."

Chapter Six: Home Improvement "Renathal was flirting with disaster. Quite literally. And as long as flirting was where he kept it, he and Elisewin would both be safe."

Chapter Seven: Formal Refreshments "Discipline bid him go no further. Renathal swept it ruthlessly aside. There was no reason not to take what he wanted now. Elisewin would soon be gone. The least they both deserved was to enjoy themselves before the end."

Chapter Eight: Safe in the Shadows "Renathal would have stormed up to the castle then and there and demanded answers of Denathrius, refused to leave until he had them, were it not for the… extenuating circumstances…"

Chapter Nine: Into the Light "Elisewin was singular, but she did not - could not - understand. That Renathal had waited steadfastly for eternity and finally had everything he wanted."

Chapter 10: Mix, Mingle, and Meddle "Renathal was determined not to let anyone or anything - even the Sire - ruin the happiness he had only begun to savour."

Chapter 11: An Invitation to Treachery "In a different, not-so-distant time in his history, Renathal might have enjoyed, perhaps even instigated, such a rebellion; the challenge of outright revolt against the creator of the realm did hold a certain contumacious appeal."

Chapter 12: Rebels on the Road “ 'Relies on a lot of risky assumptions, this plan.' 'Why, my dear,” said Renathal with lavish humour. “Since when is the Dark Prince of Revendreth’s consort afraid of a little risk?' "

Small Bites - Drabbles from Wend in the Shadows

Time - DWC July 29 Drabble - Shameless flirting between Renathal and Elisewin. Takes place between chapters 5 and 6. Chandelier, Crimson, Chaos - Writing Prompt. Takes place between chapters 5 and 6. Acquired Taste - EXPLICIT SMUT. Takes place in the middle of chapter 8. Nightmare - Arguments, angst, and POV shift practice. Another Interruption - EXPLICIT SMUT. Takes place between chapters 9 and 10. Aftermath - Writing warmup taking place after chapter 7.

And there was only one dragon! - Renathal & the (former) Maw Walker's Tales from the Dragon Isles

Orgrimmar - In which the Prince of Revendreth arrives in Azeroth. Ruby Lifeshrine - In which Elisewin makes a case for completing quests in geographic rather than campaign order. The Obsidian Throne - In which Renathal and Elisewin determine their loyalties. The Ohn'Ahran Plains - In which a certain centaur couple has a wedding, illuminating new possibilities for Renathal and his former Maw Walker. The Waking Shores - In which Elisewin has the more difficult time acclimating to certain customs in the Dragon Isles. Algeth'ar Academy - In which Renathal and Elisewin interact with a certain familiar sounding NPC. The Temporal Conflux - In which Renathal and Elisewin discover a mutual temptation. Iskaara - In which Renathal indulges. Vakthros - In which Elisewin is too slow, and Renathal finally has a good reason to destroy Raszageth. Valdraaken - In which Renathal and Elisewin enjoy a well-deserved break. Orgimmar, Again - In which our heroes return to Azeroth and await their next adventure.

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Friday, September 22

OLAF: Barmaid! Bring me stronger ale, and some plump, succulent babies to eat. XANDER: I'm gonna run and get Buffy. (pats Spike on the shoulder) Or maybe you could fight him. SPIKE: Yeah, I could do that, but I'm paralyzed with not caring very much. OLAF: (pointing at Spike) You there! (walks up to Spike and Xander) Do you know where there are babies? SPIKE: (to Xander) What do you think, the hospital?

~~Triangle~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Shadowed Suspicion Omake 9 by madimpossibledreamer (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure xover, T)

Electric by coprime (Oz/Richie Ryan, Highlander xover, G)

Birthday Blues by RavenLove12 (Buffy/Spike, T)

Recruiting by arcanedreamer [older work] (Xander, Sam Winchester, Supernatural xover, G)

Birthday Blues by RavenLove12 (Buffy/Spike, R)

[Chaptered Fiction]

presence - Ch. 3 by The_Eclectic_Bookworm (Giles/Jenny, G)

Third Time's the Charm - Ch. 3 by Removes_and_Cleans_Glasses_00, Skyson (Buffy/Giles, T) COMPLETE!

What a mess ! - Ch. 1-2 by LeaVuillaume25 (Buffy/Spike, Willow/Tara, Not Rated) COMPLETE!

The destiny of Wiccas - Ch. 10 by Bl4ckHunter (Willow, Buffy, Dawn, others, Charmed xover, T) COMPLETE!

The Other Woman - Ch. 16 by aliceinwonderbra (Buffy/Faith, E) COMPLETE!

A Love That Defies Space and Time - Ch. 9 by Spikelover4ever (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

New Normal - Ch. 10 by holetoledo (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)

Presumably Dead Arm - Ch. 18 by tragic (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Encased by Sunshine - Ch. 25 by acb6293 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The Neighbor's Point of View - Ch. 45 by the_big_bad (Buffy/Spike, PG)

Buffy's Spooky Birthday - Ch. 3 by VeroNyxK84 (Buffy/Spike, R)

Fine incisions - Ch. 3 by Desicat (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)

A Place in the Sun - Ch. 20 by honeygirl51885 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Encased in Sunshine - Ch. 25 by Acb6293 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Manip: Keep Your Enemies Closer - Ch. 2 by disco-tea (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)

Gifset: endless list of favorite characters - (12/∞) -> Anya Jenkins by lopeirce (Anya, worksafe)

Gifset: SPUFFY + 🍯 [honey] by detectivedawnsummers (Buffy/Spike, mostly worksafe has kissing)

Artwork: felt like posting a bunch of btvs/ats doodles... commissions open! by artsying-ifer (Angel, Darla, Connor, Buffy, worksafe)

Artwork: ❤️ BTVS 514. Crush ❤️ by tmcarlee (various, worksafe)

[Reviews & Recaps]

season 1 episode 1: welcome to the hellmouth by slut-jpeg

Reasons I love AMENDS--Season 3 Episode 10 by kipcarson37

My thoughts on Angel season 5 by Quiet-Living8975

PODCAST: 5.22 Not Fade Away by Angel on Top

[Community Announcements]

Seasonal_Spuffy: News About the Next Round of Seasonal_Spuffy

Seasonal_Spuffy: News About the Next Round of Seasonal_Spuffy

[Fandom Discussions]

Spuffy Realizations: Seasons 2-4 by marilyn-not-monroe

What is the Buffy fandom's general opinion of the Romani? [stereotypes and Jenny] updated by various

btvs memes to start your day off with :) by No_Performance223

Feel no shame! Honestly, how many times have you watched/rewatched the ENTIRE Buffy series? by akabocha

What was the Buffy community like as it aired? by notyourusualjmv

"I think people want to hate Xander rather than understand his trauma. Not saying what he did was ok but people seem not to care." by kipcarson37

Xander did not want marry Anya by Brodes87

POLL: Who was more annoying? by Midnightwitch92

Would Dawn kicking Buffy out of the house in Empty Places been more justified if...? by Mavakor

Buffy's speech in Get it Done - Thoughts? by ThrowRARAw

Reactions to Gunn signing the sarcophagus in by duvet-cover

Cordelia Watching Doyle‘s tape for angel investigations by Ok_Nature2869

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

PHOTOS: J. August Richards [who played Gunn] posted on Instagram [Alyson, Alexis, Joss]

PUBLICATION: SAG-AFTRA can't tell performers not to work on Dancing With The Stars, despite WGA pressure [DWTS is not struck by SAG-AFTRA, although it is struck by WGA] by Sam Barsanti with AV Club

PUBLICATION: 'Dancing With the Stars' nearing a delay [due to WGA pressure and one participant pausing his participation] by Kyle Moss with yahoo!entertainment

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

Join the editor team :)

[strawwritesfic]

Bucky Barnes x Female!Former Addict!Reader: Tastes a Little Like Freedom, a Little Like Fear [Ch. 2]

Summary: [Name] has finally got her life on track. She’s been clean a year, has a full time job, and recently moved into an apartment that is actually fit to live in. To prove something to herself, she visits the Smithsonian exhibit on Captain America…only to run into someone a little familiar. Adopting a fellow addict is one thing. Accidentally adopting a recovering brainwashed Nazi super soldier is another. [Name]’s life is about to run off track worse than ever before, but there could be a reward at the end if she can just hang on for the bumpy ride.

Challenge:  “100 Drabbles Adventure” challenge by SubtleQuirk on Lunaescence Archives.

Ratings/Warnings: M (foul language; sexual references; references to previous drug addiction and continued struggles with drug addiction; torture; mind control; dehumanization; threatening behavior of a man towards a woman; not canon compliant past Winter Soldier; set post-Winter Soldier and pre-Civil War)

Pairings: Bucky Barnes x Female!Reader

Tag List: @imaginesfire​; @ginger-swag-rapunzel​

Master List

Chapter 2: Misunderstanding

“Checking things out” translated to aimless wandering through the building. Something you had noticed since deciding once and for all that you wanted to get clean was that being alone was hard. Being with people was hard. The best you could do as a compromise was hang out in public where there were people around you, but not with you. Some days–like that day–you wished you didn’t have those feelings anymore. You did. Probably always would. Recovery was a lifelong process, and you wanted to disappoint yourself just as much as you wanted to disappoint Karen and Kat and Georgianna.

If you hadn’t promised to be home, you might have stayed at the Smithsonian until it closed. There was plenty to look at that didn’t pertain to your father or his past, and sitting on the occasional bench to listen people passing by made for a pleasant distraction. None of the passersby wanted to ask you questions more difficult than “Can you take a picture of us?”

It was good to remind yourself that other people existed out there living happy, normal lives, and that you were now well enough to join them. Still, upsetting Kat by not being where you said you’d be when you’d said you’d be there wasn’t a good plan unless you had a death wish. You exited the museum long before anyone came over the intercom to tell you to.

Pausing at the entrance, you pulled on your jacket. Clusters of families set off toward cars and taxis and subways. Now that the sun had set entirely, it was a little chilly outside, but not chilly enough to convince you to take any of those to your own destination. Your apartment wasn’t very far away. The exercise might get you more in the mood to eat, too.

You set out as you tugged your hood up to keep your ears protected from the lingering spring cold. Images from the day’s adventure drifted through your head as you did. It was hard to believe that your father had ever been that young, or any of the various “uncles” you’d had growing up. It was one thing to hear about their lives, forced to sit on the couch for endless hours looking at photographs, but quite another to see just how much of an impact they had on the rest of the world. Somewhere deep within your chest, you felt a stirring of pride. The sensation had been long missing from your life. Its return felt almost comforting.

A sort of quiet clunk interrupted your reverie. You were passing an alleyway between a couple of old brick buildings hung with rusty fire escapes, and the noise startled you. Probably it was nothing, but maybe it was a mugger. Showing up at home with your face bloodied up would do nothing for your case with your friends. Your muscles tensed as you turned swiftly in the direction of the noise, expecting an attack that you already knew you were too late to prevent.

For the second time that night, you were surprised to find yourself in very close proximity to someone when you’d thought you’d been alone. More surprising still was that this was the exact same person from before. You might have thought you’d picked up a stalker, if it wasn’t for the fact that he was leaning against the dumpster and shivering violently.

“Hello,” you said awkwardly, and then immediately winced. Because trying to talk to him had worked out so well the first time. Obviously small talk was the answer to this situation.

As usual, the man did not bother to respond. In fact, you weren’t entirely sure he knew you were there. His blue eyes were fixed at a point above your shoulder–and his teeth were gritted as though he were in a massive amount of pain. This, more than anything, jarred you to action.

You took one step forward.

His eyes immediately snapped onto your movement. Maybe it was a trick of the orange light coming off the nearby streetlamp, but they didn’t exactly appear focused. Both his hands balled into fists.

Quickly, you lifted your own hands, palms toward him.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” you said slowly.

The man neither relaxed nor stiffened further.

Once about fifteen seconds had passed, you licked your lips and drew a little closer. “Are you hurt? Do you need me to call an ambulance?”

His mouth half opened; you caught a few flicks of his pink tongue. The only sound that came out of him, however, was a sort of grunt. It was a grunt clear enough to discern as a “no.”

You were by then close enough to see his features better. His skin was very pale and covered in a thin sheen of sweat. His eyes kept flicking all around, never focusing on any one thing for more than two seconds. The smell coming off him wasn’t particularly good either.

“Wow,” you breathed. “You’re not doing well, are you?”

This was not a terribly kind thing to say, and you winced again hearing the words pop out of your mouth. For all you knew, the human being in front of you wanted just as badly as you did to make something of himself. Maybe this was a relapse. Even if it wasn’t, he was still a human being, and deserved kinder language. Whoever he was, he only drew in a long shuddering breath in answer.

For a long moment, you chewed your lower lip. You couldn’t take your eyes off of him for fear that he would disappear again. In this sort of state, he could do some serious damage to people or property or himself. He could also do some serious damage to you, which was why your next sentence was quite possibly the stupidest you had uttered in weeks:

“Come with me.”

His eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly, but you took this as a sign that the man at least understood you. Unfortunately, a millisecond later, he grabbed his bag and practically hurled himself against the alley wall–all without even bothering to stand.

You sighed and pressed your hair off your forehead. He had not accepted your offer; it was time to head home, call it a day, and let him get on with his life. Bringing someone you could only presume was a user into your apartment was just asking for you to get in enormous trouble. Only…

Only you’d been there. How many times had you ended up outside in the cold, unable to figure out how to get home, afraid of being found out, shaking too hard to even move? You couldn’t just leave him like this. Maybe the fact that he looked like one of your dad’s old war buddies had something to do with it, but you knew that if you moved on, you’d be up all night worried about him getting into trouble, or ending up dead, or both.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” you said again, and then very slowly settled yourself down right where you stood. “Look, I know this is sort of presumptuous of me, but I’ve been in your shoes. You don’t want to go to the hospital like this. I get it. There’s a couch at my place. You can crash on it ‘til this is out of your system. See about rehab or something tomorrow morning. I won’t call the police.”

‘Unless you do something to endanger me or the people in my apartment building,’ you added silently in your head–but you didn’t think the man would appreciate that addition. He probably either already figured you wouldn’t keep your promise in the face of a physical attack…or was planning to murder you in your sleep and ransack your place anyway.

He only continued to stare at you, like you’d grown a second head or something.

You nibbled on your lower lip some more as you stared right back. The bags underneath his eyes looked painful. Something told you there was more wrong with this guy than the drugs running through his system. Again you thought it would be a better plan to move along. What would Georgianna and Karen say if they found him in your apartment? It wasn’t as though you could hide him in your closet. Once he passed out, you doubted you’d be able to move him anywhere yourself.

Five minutes later, and all you had got from the man was a subtle loosening of his joints. His expression had calmed down for the most part. In fact, his staring was starting to get a little disconcerting. Whatever was going on, you couldn’t sit there for the rest of the night. If your friends found your apartment empty, they might assume the worst, and you couldn’t handle an intervention that night. At last, you closed your eyes, sighed, and got to your feet.

“Well, good luck,” you said.

He continued to watch you entirely silently.

You lifted a hand and pointed toward the opposite street “There’s a shelter a few blocks down. For when you’ve come down a bit.”

Still nothing. You turned back around so as to avoid looking at him when you turned the corner. You weren’t sure you could handle that; you might start to tear up. ‘Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,’ you thought, setting off at a much quicker pace toward your apartment. Not once did you look back, afraid that you might return to that alley if you did. People turned to drugs for all sorts of reasons. That guy might have needed someone. Clearly that someone wasn’t you.

Probably you should have looked back. It might have prevented you screaming when you turned to shut the door behind you and found him standing right outside.

[dindjarindiaries]

DIN DJARIN WEEKLY FIC REC #1

This week’s fic rec (January 24th to January 30th) is here! Below the cut, you can find a wide selection of Din Djarin fics to read, whether they’re multi-part, one-shots, drabbles, prompts, or headcanons. I challenge you to provide these writers with feedback if you choose to read their fic!

You can start submitting next week’s fic rec here.

MULTI-PART FICS

Space Cowboy by @punkrock-writer​​

summary: A Girl is teleported from her hotel room, and dropped onto the floor of the Razor Crest. Chaos ensues as she tries to convince The Mandalorian not to freeze her in carbonite, and do her best to find her place in the endless Void of space.

pairing: Din Djarin x F!oc

warnings/rating: Mature. Canon typical violence. Lots of swearing.

genres: angst, fluff, hurt/comfort

submitter comments: Hi this is my first fic, you can find it on AO3 also. I’d really appreciate some feedback or any ideas because I have a hard time figuring out if I’m doing the right thing😂 Thank you for doing this.

Touch by @magicrowiswritingstuff​​

summary: It seems so unfair that he is able to touch you and send shivers down your spine when you’re not.

pairing: Din Djarin x female!reader

warnings/rating: A bit of violence and injury/blood

genre: fluff

submitter comments: Just wanna say that I really love this idea and am excited to browse through all the recommended stories on Sunday! <3

Ciryc Ca’tra (Cold Night Sky) by @javi-djarins​​ (Ao3: brianmay_be)

summary: When you crash-land on a frozen planet on your way to Trask to find the Frog Lady’s husband and more Mandalorians, you and Din work together to keep the Crest afloat and keep your little family safe.

pairing: Din Djarin x wife!reader

warnings/rating: G

genres: fluff, hurt/comfort

submitter comments: She may be adding an epilogue that contains some smut, but right now all of the chapters are rated G!

Blossom by @dinthisisthe-wayson​​

summary: Alone.  You felt like you had no purpose in such a powerful galaxy, being the bystander is what you felt was the only thing you were good at.  But when a warrior with a child extend a helping hand.  You take it.  Not knowing that you will no longer be alone for the rest of your time in the universe. Not knowing that your place in the galaxy will be much bigger than you expected.  And just like any flower, you will blossom. In more ways than one.

pairing: Din Djarin x Reader

warnings/rating: Teen and Up, violence and language

genres: angst, fluff

submitter comments: N/A

Narudar by @zapsalis-d​​​

summary: You, an experienced bounty hunter working for the Bounty Hunter’s Guild, have found it difficult to sustain yourself lately, requiring more and more credits after each hunt to be able to buy your basic needs. Yet with so many members of the Guild, high rewards were tough to find. Until you’re given a bounty with the prize being something extremely valuable – beskar. During your hunt, you bump into an old enemy you were just so tired of fighting. On your attempt to finally get rid of him once and for all, he found out a secret you wished he hadn’t and now you don’t have any other choice than to team up with him, whether you like it or not. The both of you thought it would be simple. Deliver the quarry, split the reward between the two, and hopefully never see each other again. Oh, how you were wrong.

pairing: Din djarin x female reader

warnings/rating: Rated t for now (but im not sure if that writer will change that in the future or not)

genres: angst, fluff

submitter comments: N/A

Connection by @beskarhearts​​

summary: Din Djarin and you were very similar. You both were closed off from everybody and had on masks of your own. But, when the universe brings you and Din together, you form a connection you didn’t know you two could have.

pairing: Din Djarin x f!reader

warnings/rating: Cursing, family members passing away (think that’s about it so far)

genres: angst, fluff

submitter comments: N/A

Homeward Bound by TheStarvingWriter (Ao3)

summary: After Luke Skywalker takes Grogu, Din Djarin is adrift. He attempts to find solace in his old ways of bounty hunting, but he feels like an imposter—a shell of his former self, roaming around in a suit of beskar that no longer feels like his own. When a visit to Coruscant leads him to a Seer who tells him that Grogu is in danger, however, everything changes. Now, it’s a race to find his kid and return him home, before he truly loses him forever.

pairing: Din Djarin and Grogu (father/son)

warnings/rating: Teen and Up Audiences 

genres: angst, hurt/comfort

submitter comments: The writing of this is phenomenal. The way they write Din is fantastic and the angst is insane. There will be eventual reunion and each chapter leaves you wanting more. 158288483/10 recommended!!!

the light of stars by @tiffdawg

summary: In pursuit of the Child’s people, the mysterious Jedi, Din Djarin and his foundling find hope in a woman who shares the kid’s strange powers. Newly partnered with the Mandalorian, you are trained in the ways of the Force, but you’re no Jedi. You’re just trying to find your place in the galaxy.

pairing: din djarin x reader

warnings/rating: hurt/comfort, sexism, mild injury, mild language, angst, kissing

genres: angst, fluff, hurt/comfort

submitter comments: N/A

ONE-SHOTS

Only for You by @firstofficerwiggles​​

summary: You like to sing and it ends up bringing you closer to the Mandalorian. Events take place sometime between Seasons 1 and 2. It’s pretty much fluff with a teeny bit of story. Still has plot though :)

pairing: Mandalorian x female reader

warnings/rating: Rated: G, Warnings: None

genre: fluff

submitter comments: I hope you like it!

Getting Through This by Whumptastic (Ao3)

summary: Din has a hard time dealing with Grogu’s leaving, and like a true friend Cara offers support.

pairing: Din and Cara but only as best friends

warnings/rating: none really, lots of crying/sad vibes tho

genre: hurt/comfort

submitter comments: N/A

Fifty Four by @themand0lorian​

summary: Reader gets a drunken holo from Din, based on Pedro Pascal's 24 hour play monologue (linked in fic)

pairing: Din Djarin x gn!Reader (no Y/N)

warnings/rating: E

genres: angst, fluff

submitter comments: N/A

Reassurance by @galaxysgal​ (Ao3: imjusttheoutgoingsidekick)

summary: You worry about Din and his recklessness during and after the events of Morak and the two of you have a small chat about it.

pairing: din djarin x gn!reader

warnings/rating: PG, major spoilers for The Mandalorian Chapter 15, canon typical violence, near death experience (for Din), some swear words (both sw swears and regular english ones lol)

genres: angst, fluff, hurt/comfort

submitter comments: since it's up on tumblr and ao3 i wasnt sure which link/acc name to give so I just gave both :)

ni kar’tayli gar darasuum by @pumpkin-stars

summary: Din was friends with another foundling as a child, they never saw each other’s faces, both shrouded in beskar from everyone. But feelings form from actions and words, not sight. AKA Din gets married to someone equally touchstarved.

pairing: Din/Reader (no pronouns)

warnings/rating: safe for everyone - warnings for (happy) crying, and it's my first attempt at a star wars fic so the finer details might be a bit dodgy

genre: fluff

submitter comments: i love your fics! i'm still new to the fandom but you seem so sweet and this is a really good idea/thing that you're doing! xx

The Vexatious Nine by Balsamique (Ao3)

summary: While searching for more of his kind on the desolate planet of Karth, a blizzard traps the Mandalorian, the child and seven lodgers in an isolated stopover. When one of the lodgers is mysteriously murdered, it’s up to the Mandalorian to catch the killer before they can claim their next victim. But as the storm thickens, so does the mystery — and this isn’t a problem he can shoot his way out of.

pairing: N/A

warnings/rating: General Audiences

genres: Action/Adventure, Murder Mystery

submitter comments: Author's name on Ao3 is Balsamique. On Tumblr it's first-order-media-department.

what happened to you? by @lesbisoka​

summary: After the events of Episode 8 (S1), Din returns to Sorgan to recover. Omera finds him in a less than ideal state.

pairing: din djarin x omera

warnings/rating: General Audiences, no archive warnings apply

genre: hurt/comfort

submitter comments: N/A

Sprained by @kesskirata​

summary: Rebel spy reader is injured and can’t make her meet up with The Mandalorian

pairing: The Mandalorian x reader 

warnings/rating: none

genres: angst, fluff, hurt/comfort

submitter comments: N/A

Over the Moon by gobuyastarwars (Ao3)

summary: Din and Grogu travel with Boba Fett and Fennec Shand for a time. The Mandalorian, Boba, Fennec, and Grogu stop to refuel and find an unpromising tourist attraction nearby– an amusement park. Din doesn't want to go into the amusement park, but Boba and Grogu do.

pairing: Din and Grogu

warnings/rating: Gen, no warnings

genre: fluff

submitter comments: N/A

You can start submitting next week’s fic rec here.

[bayonettas-left-eye]

Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Bayonetta (Video Games) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Bayonetta/Jeanne (Bayonetta), Cereza/Jeanne (Bayonetta) Characters: Bayonetta (Bayonetta), Jeanne (Bayonetta), Cereza (Bayonetta), Rodin (Bayonetta), Luka (Bayonetta), Rosa (Bayonetta), Balder (Bayonetta), Enzo (Bayonetta) Additional Tags: Slow Burn, Romance, Eventual Romance, Fluff and Smut, Action/Adventure, Action, Action & Romance, Humor, Bisexual Female Character, LGBTQ Themes Summary:

Theoretical physics suggest that each alternative action that can be taken spawns into existence a new universe. The multiverse is proposed to be composed of these many diverging timelines, each created with every infinitesimal decision made by every being in the world.

It's theoretical for a reason. But not totally incorrect.

A split created during the events of Bayonetta 1 creates two seperate timelines; two Bayonettas, two Jeannes, endless trouble.

As the world around Bayonetta slowly begins to collapse from the loss of the Eyes of the World, she and her companions are blindsided by the arrival of a new set of faces...or are they?

Two of the same become one with a difference as Bayonetta sets out with another version of herself to correct a grievous series of events and yet again bring peace and order to her world...and then some.

Hello BayoJeanne fandom! You may have read my fic, Reconciliation, about one or two years ago (I don't remember when it was that I posted it). Originally, Reconciliation was the drunk brainchild of my sleep deprived, over worked, moderately frustrated self; it was born from a silly, simple drabble, and the first chapter is, indeed, very short, and very riddled with syntax that's just...ok.

I had no outline, and only the barest of inclinations when I wrote it, and it therefore, did not make it past three chapters. Returning to that story is difficult for me because it was written during a time where I had lost a lot of my lust to write. I struggled with syntax and diction, and often found myself rewriting chapters. I disliked the characterization of our leading ladies as well, but struggled to find the time or passion to correct it.

I'm in a much better standing now.

Through the Eyes of the World will be an approximately 20 Chapter long fanfiction that sets out to imitate what fans believe Bayonetta 3 may be about...with the addition of some much wanted romance between our two (or in this case, four) leading women.

It will be updated on a monthly basis, with the goal being one to three chapters per month, and perhaps just over a year of writing. Unlike Reconciliation, I do have a proper outline formulated for this story, so the chances of me abandoning it are much smaller. I hope you all will enjoy it!

[avarkriss]

Mobile Masterlist

Javier Peña

House of Wolves: inspired by House of Wolves by My Chemical Romance. Javier Peña has a terrible day at work, and really needs you to work it out of him. 18+ only

Salt:  You want to do tequila shots and Javier is all too happy to oblige; as is the case typical of tequila, smut follows. 18+ only

Bend Over and Swallow:  You have the hiccups, and Javier has a… creative way to help you get rid of them. 18+ only

Fury: You do something dumb and Javier gets very angry with you; smut ensues 18+ only

Tranqui: Javier is upset again and you can think of one way to help him feel better: nothing but the butt (may be read as a one shot or a follow-up to Fury) 18+ only 

New Rules: You’ve got rules about seeing Javier, but no matter what you do, you always seem to break them. 18+ only

Kiss and Make Up:  You and Javier finally work out that unspoken thing between the two of you (may be read as a one shot but should be read as a follow up to New Rules). 18+ only

Princesa: You’re the new photographer for the DEA and Javier, being older than you, really enjoys the power play. 18+ only

ready, aim, fire:  Peña, Carrillo, and you work out some tension after a stressful day in the field (18+ only, very very NSFW)

The Reconciliation Series: Javier Peña has always been a little bit of a sasshole, and he was no different at the DEA training academy. While there he met Mariana Ramirez, a young woman that would help shape him for years to come.

Chapter One: First Introductions

Chapter Two: Making Friends (18+ only)

Chapter Three: The Deal (18+ only)

Chapter Four: The Break (18+ only, please heed all warnings)

Chapter Five: New Places

Chapter Six: The Plan

Chapter Seven: The Reconciliation

Javier Drabbles

easy like sunday morning: It’s a lazy Sunday morning and you’re supposed to be sleeping in, but Javier has other ideas and decides to wake you up in the best way possible. 18+ only

Sniffles: You’re sick and Javier takes care of you (pure fluff)

Bad: Javier has been away for a few days and asked you to wait for him, but you couldn't. 18+ only

Cold: You're caught in some bad weather, but Javier has a solution (pure fluff)

Snuff:  Javier Peña is a broken man and it is all your fault (borderline M rating for potentially upsetting material)

The Mandalorian

Runner: You literally run into the Mandolorian and are thrust into child care. When Mando comes to pick the kid up, you take his invitation to join his adventures and smut ensues. 18+ only

Stay:  A sequel to Runner, this may also be read as a one-shot. You and Mando are ambushed (again), and you let him take his stress out on you. 18+ only (this has a soft ending but the middle is rough and definitely not for everybody, if that makes you uncomfortable, you can read the beginning/end and skip the smut in the middle). 18+ only

Soft: Some soft domestic Mandalorian, may also be read as another part to Runner, absolutely no warnings except fluffy feelings.

Self Exploration:  a fem!Mando AU where the reader is out on a dangerous mission to find a bounty, only to discover the the bounty is a clone of yourself before engaging in some…righteous self exploration 18+ only

Self Exploration 2.0:  A fem!mando Clone AU where the reader is out on another mission, only to find another clone. Things get handled differently this time. 18+ only

Din Drabbles 

Mine: You and Din have been together for some time now, and he wants the whole universe to know who his girl is. 18+ only

Touch: I think the requester said it best: "we all need and deserve shy but eager Mando ready to touch and be touched in this fine quarantine night.” 18+ only

Frankie “Catfish” Morales

Marshmallow Fluff:  Frankie, Santi, and you rent a cabin for a Fourth of July break and after some skinny dipping and an incident with a marshmallow, things between you and your two best guys get very hot. 18+ only

Poppies Don’t Bleed:  You are the field medic on a dangerous mission in the Helmand province; unfortunately the mission goes awry and Frankie holds your life in his hands. 18+ only for blood and violence

Frankie Drabbles

Small Town:  You and Frankie are best friends, but his feelings for your run a little bit deeper than friendship (fluff with a lil’ angst and a kiss) 

Anniversary: You have an anniversary surprise planned for Frankie (fluff)

Homecoming: Frankie and you are distraught while he is away on the mission; all he wants to do is get home (a lot of angst and some fluff) 

Works in Progress: if there is a hyperlink, it will take you to the teaser/preview :)

Endless Summer: a soft Frankie multi-part; flushing out a few cute, sweet chapters and will hopefully have the first out to you soon 

I Don’t Care: Poe Dameron is an arrogant prick with major BDE 

Touch p2: a follow up to that Mando drabble Touch 

Artist: an extension on a short Mando drabble I wrote - this isn’t definite, but I’m playing with it (probably plot, not porn)

The Reconciliation Series: completed Javier series, currently working on a reader insert adaptation (may just get posted to ao3 once I make one, but I’ll put the link here) 

Wanna get tagged in anything? Just CLICK HERE and tell me what you want to get tagged in!

[crystalliccs]

          FEELINGS TOWARDS THE PLAYER’S CHARACTER

Note: In case you do not like this ship I highly suggest you to NOT read this. This is my personal headcanon which takes ONLY effect in my drabbles and/or plotted and approved threads. I will not write him with these heavy romantic feelings in normal asks, non-plotted threads or when I do not get the approval of the mun; which also includes other muses besides the WoL, in order to not make people uncomfortable. I wrote this gender neutrally, since I believe the gender of the character has no influence on his feelings. ________________________

As young boy, branded to be the sole bearer of the Eye of the Allag of his father’s sired children, he had little in common with anyone else. He grew up mostly by himself, never having any friends to accompany him on his path of growing older – often only exchanging words with his father who knew of his fate. Who had to tell him the very truth his father had once told him whilst being a child himself. Unsurprisingly the young boy started to acknowledge strength and heroism more than anyone else; reading much about the heroes of eld whilst he relentlessly studied to unravel the very truth of his eye. His fascination for the Warrior of Light, the one hero as people had told him, mostly had his origin in his endless interest of such individuals. After all, in his young and reckless naivety, he was also striving to become one like them.

As their paths crossed over and over again, however, he soon realized that all of his skills – the many hours he had spent honing his proficiency with the bow – had been all for naught. His entire existence seemed pale in front of the one hero; and in some way he came to terms with it that his true destiny laid elsewhere. For two decades he had pondered why he bore the sanguine hue, what his destiny meant him to do; and as the opportunity rose to finally grab it, he did. ( See also: my drabble.)

Back then his feelings for the warrior of light had been naught but platonic – tremendously respectful even – remembering their kind confidence, their encouraging words. Without them believing in him, he doubted he could have done what he ultimately did. Yet the deep impact of these memories led his path further as soon as he was awakened in a long distant future; seeing naught but the destruction of the world he once loved, hearing naught but the very tales of these people he had once known – dead and cold. Naturally he had not expected to ever see them again – or to even open his eyes ever again for that matter – but learning of so much he had missed, of events which could have been prevented, utterly pained him. His mind, still young and naïve, suddenly had to face so many horrendous memories which attempted to break his very soul.

Like so many other of that age, however, he found hope and comfort in the many tales people still told each other during the chaotic, hopeless nights. And there was only one name which kept being muttered; the very name of the hero he once knew – his friend. Whilst opening the doors of the Crystal Towers for the researchers of that timeline, assisting them in fulfilling the final plans Cid had left for them prior his own death, G’raha also studied history itself; the many heroic deeds his friend had done during his slumber. Seeing the people’s smiles in these dark times, when naught more but a single spark was giving them hope, it was his hero’s smile he saw in them; the same determination, the very same resolve. Even generations later their kindness had reached their hearts; had given them strength to stand tall and stare at the endless abyss of the end of their beloved world. It reminded him of the very words he had received himself. The kindness they had granted him.

His feelings for a person long dead – one so very precious to him now, finally being able to see clearly what was in front of him – made him to believe once more. Albeit he also once more regretted – even mourned – the little time they had spent together. Had he truly been so very blind, concerned over his eyes and destiny that he had not noticed long ago? Had this excitement of his to discover the truth of the ancient Allag blinded him so that he had not noticed his feelings far sooner? And still, the outcome wouldn’t have changed. If he had not sealed himself away so very quickly, wouldn’t his friends found a way to stop him? Seeing the destruction of the Eighth Umbral Calamity with his own eyes, listening about Cid’s struggles in his final years to give hope of rewriting their history once more, he did not wish for them to end this way. If his sacrifice could help to prevent it, he would do it again and again – for all eternity.

As he travelled to the First within the Crystal Tower, missing the expected final days of this shard by almost an entire century, the young man immediately began to prepare the inevitable. And all this time, for longer than a lifetime, he could indeed watch them from afar – see it with his own eyes, although not with them directly, what the hero had done for their world. Perchance he should not have watched them as much as he had, but to see their face was rather calming and…inspiring. It did not take him long to know what he truly felt; that this ephemeral, painful and yet so very beautiful love for them resided inside his heart. So many times he wished to share their fate; if only to lift the burden on their shoulders for a little. He wished he could speak to them, openly, like they once did. He wished… to be with them.

However, knowing that his blooming feelings are unrequited – and futile, as he was also well aware – he had banished the chapter of his emotions inside his very heart, in the darkest corner he could possibly find.  After all who was he to so deeply love the one person who ignited the spark of hope in people’s hearts? The one person who had touched the souls of so many with their endless kindness and warmth? And albeit he truly wished for them to find happiness, after everything they had done, endured and sacrificed – no matter what their heart desired – he could not imagine that he could give them what they truly deserved. Not the very way he was now – and, truthfully, this was the only path he could take which ultimately lead them to a future full of hope.

He could not permit his own feelings to become an obstacle, preventing him from doing what needed to be done. What if his affections would transform into a leash, which kept them from spreading the spark of hope among the people? An unforgiveable thought, indeed – one which had troubled him many nights until he realized that he had to bury it all. Everything he felt - everything he imagined them to become for merely a moment - could not be allowed to exist. Not even for a day, not even merely in a fragment of time itself. Had they not suffered enough already? Losing so many, dear and unfamiliar faces, whilst he slept his imprisoned slumber? He could not beg his destiny to be changed; as he knew, deep within his soul, that it was the only way.

If the hero learned of this hopelessness which he had borne for so many years until letting these emotions wander off to the oblivion of his very own heart, would they pity him? Would they attempt to comfort him ere leaving once again? Knowing them all too well, after the short adventure they had together during the times of NOAH and the ninety years of watching them through the rift of the worlds, he was quite certain they would, kind as they are. But he would never experience such blessing; knowing that rising their awareness of his affections would only increase their suffering along the way. Another tragedy he wanted to prevent, as there had been too much of it already.

He had never intended to survive saving their worlds – he had never intended to become more than Unei and Doga, merely shades of their originals who both were long lost in their history. He never needed to be given a name; be called a hero. All he had ever wanted ever since he understood his destiny was to carry on those hopes, these dreams the people had entrusted to him after awakening him from his deep slumber – at the end of their world and time. He was the only one who could remember and honor them; who would remember the many generations to come who had not seen a future brighter than the rubble in front of their very eyes.

It was for this very reason he concealed his identity; less to deceive than preventing them to stray away from their path. Even if he revealed his face underneath the cowl, would they truly remember? The years he had been slipped from their memories and mind, only to be replaced by far greater souls than his own? Like this one noble knight of Ishgard who had sacrificed his very life for them? Oh, how much he wished to be able to do the very same – as final act of kindness, of redemption. One last proof of his feelings ere he finally could rest for all eternity. Nay, the man believed they would not remember him being more than a brief acquaintance. And he could hardly resent them for forgetting him. It was him who had lived more than an entire life to see what they had done to history, to the future and to hope. It was only him who had followed their movements, their impactful decisions. How could he not feel the way he did? After all they had done? The words of encouragement - of acknowledgement – he had received from them personally, long in the past?

He also did it for them. All of it. Bearing the heavy burden by himself, if he had to – bearing the dead’s dreams and hopes lest they had to bear them alone again since no one else could. And nonetheless… He had to ask them of so much. He had to ask them to suffer once again, to go through so much pain because of this plan of his. What else could he do than watching over them, remembering them to rest when needed? To give them support without ever voicing what his heart wanted to yell out loudly? Truthfully, to not reveal any of it was certainly the best approach, or so he thought.

His own humanity had been long sacrificed to the very beacon of hope, the Crystal Tower – one long century ere he could even face his beloved again. He far from being the one he used to be – the reckless young man who thought not so much about the future. The crystallization of his body became gradually worse over the years, spreading with each ticking of the passing time. It was not his high age which made him to painfully realize the limits of his current body – ultimately still bearing the very body of his twentyfour years old self – but the coldness he could feel filling his very limbs. By the time his hero, his true inspiration, was summoned to the First almost his entire upper body half, including his entire right arm, back, neck and parts of his thighs were already covered in the crystalline masses. It was the inevitable truth that he was unlike Emet-Selch not immortal; that he kept losing more of his humanity by each passing day. That ultimately, one day, his entire body would have transformed to cold azure blue, ending his very throbbing heart.

With the current state of his body his dependence on being present inside the Crystal Tower itself became almost inevitable, as staying too far from it was gradually worsening the pain and weakening his abilities. One century ago he might have freely wandered for several days without noticing any significant changes within him, but nowadays even one single day fatigued his entire existence. He did not dwell in any illusions about his condition – it was more severe than he allowed anyone to see. It was all a matter of time; the few years he might have left – years, he had never thought to see to begin with. Years, in which he might still be able to enjoy the face of his beloved for a bit longer ere he had to retreat fully, lest anyone would notice that he was standing at the brink of his own death. No, this was none such sight he wanted to give anyone dear to him; whether it was his hero or Lyna, who had become family to him.

For the same reason he kept silence once, he decided to keep this as another secret. He never wanted to be saved; he only wanted them to find happiness – somewhere, in a long distant future mayhap, even if it was not with him at their side. And oh, how much he would be able to stand there with them… And yet, he never wished for his own happiness. It was enough to see those around him smiling at a better, brighter future. It was enough for him to know…that mayhap someday, the hero he so much loved, could finally lay down to rest. Even if it meant to let his own feelings to rot and wither.

___________

Additional details concerning the end of Shadowbringers.

His resolve was certainly unbroken as he helped the Scions and his hero to create this gigantic Talos to reach the peak of Mountain Gulg – however, the strains and the amount of time he had spend outside the Crystal Tower clearly started to show despite his best efforts to keep them hidden. When he left Amity in haste, lest than more people noticed his condition, his fatigue claimed him and granted him the very same dream he always dreamt when closing his eyes on rare occasions. Through his awakened blood could always hear them – the many whispers, the laments, the hopes, the prayers of the ancient Allag who now resided inside his very soul. He did not expect the hero to find him resting, however, and as he awoke a rather pleasant opportunity rose. Truthfully, he had not expected to ever find time to sit with them ere he would finally close his eyes for all eternity.

Mayhap, only in this very moment, when he could clearly see the spark of concern inside their kind eyes, the slumbering part of his love and affection awakened. Knowing the hero would not leave without knowing that he was indeed well, he revealed for the very first time what he wished to conceal. The truth he had kept a secret for a long hundred years. The condition of his body, this one dream he wished to come true. Asking them to sit with him was bold, indeed, but perchance this was indeed the last time they would speak. The final time he could hear their voice…The final time he could listen to them speaking of the future they would create – together.

Oddly enough, he had also not expected the question to ever be returned. To be asked what he wanted to do once this was all over, knowing full well that his final day had arrived. Yet the very truth could not leave his lips, even now – only parts of it. Letting them see naught more but a glimpse of his true feelings, speaking about all the things his heart desired to do with them…How happy it would make him. Those were the only words of affection he could allow himself to voice, albeit he shouldn’t have – one they even might learn to understand, given the time.

He would rather die as villain than as hero, knowing full well that those are easier forgotten and forsaken. After Innocence defeat, G’raha fully intended to take his secret with him to the grave – all of his feelings, his plans for the never arriving future. And yet, perchance by some cruel twist of his destiny, as his identity laid bare in front of anyone, the feelings he had contained deep inside started to burst out like a raging wave. Knowing that this very spell would claim his life, leaving no time for long explanations, he laid bare of what he had hidden for so long. Final words of encouragement like he had once received from them – one final goodbye for the person he loved…Yet his life did not end just yet, with Emet-Selch preventing him to complete his spell.

As he was ultimately rescued from the Tempest, however, hearing for the very first time since one hundred years to be called by his true name once again – by the person who was the dearest to his heart – he could no longer hold back the emotions. How long had he been waiting for this moment he knew would never come? To be recognized, to be remembered? Did the hero truly remember the words he had muttered three long years ago to them as he sealed himself away? Had they…kept the memories as dear as he did, all the time? Always?

And albeit the joy filled his heart, preventing him to do more than to just smile at them whenever their gazes met each other from now on, he would keep the secret. Asking for naught more of them besides being remembered.

[companionjones]

Long/Short Distance Relationship (1/4)

Pairing: Modern!Homeless!Jack Kelly x Reader

Fandom: Newsies

Summary: You go to New York City for the first time on a school trip, and you meet a very kind boy.

Warnings: Angst

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4  Extra

*******

    New York City was just as you’d always imagined it: endless, stunning, and loud. You loved it. You, a freshman in high school, were visiting the city for the first time on a school trip with your music department.

    Walking the streets was exhilarating for you, and having no chaperone made the feeling even better. All you needed to do was stay in your small group of five students, and check in with everyone else much later at the theater you were seeing a show in.

    Suddenly, you were knocked to the ground. It wasn’t the first time someone had bumped into you that day, but it was certainly the most violent.

    However, the boy didn’t mean to collide with you. “Oh! I’m so sorry,” he immediately apologized, and offered you a hand to help you up.

    “No, it’s okay,” you brushed off, back on your feet, “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

    The boy flashed a smile, but he seemed to have gotten lost in your eyes. He fell out of his trance. “Uh, Jack. Jack Kelly,” the boy introduced himself.

    You shook his hand and gave your own name.

    He politely noted, “That’s a very pretty name. So, you from around here?”

    “No,” you shook your head lightly, “I’m coming down from Vermont.”

    Jack was surprised by the location. “Vermont! That’s a ways away.”

    His odd way of speaking made you chuckle. “Yeah, it is.”

    Kelly asked how long you would be in town, and your answer was that your group was in the city only for the day.

    “Well, if you want, I could show you around,” Jack proposed, “I know the city better than anyone, and honestly you’re not seeing much if you stay this close to Times Square.”

    The offer took you off guard. “Oh. I might have to get back to...” you were about say ‘my group,’ but you glanced in their direction to find that they hadn’t noticed you had parted. Come to think of it, they had almost left you behind at a few locations. You started to think, maybe no one would notice if you went on your own adventure for a few hours. You would just need to be back for the show. “You know what? I would love to.”

    Jack was elated at your decision. “Great!” he exclaimed, “I have so much to show you! Come on, I want you to meet Miss Medda.”

    “Pleasure to see ya,” a teenage boy tilted his cap to Jack a few hours later as you and Kelly passed him.

    Jack returned the gesture.

    “How do you know so many people here? And why are they all our age?” you wondered.

    He tried to play it off as just coincidence, but you weren’t buying it.

    Eventually, Jack gave in, “There’s something about me that you don’t know about.”

    “Okay...”

    Jack cringed, “But I’m afraid that once you find out, you won’t like me anymore.”

    “Whoa, who said I liked you in the first place?” you joked. Upon seeing that Jack wasn’t lightening up, you assured, “I don’t judge, Jack. You can tell me.”

    Groaning in reluctant defeat, Jack then nodded, “Fine. Follow me.”

    He led you to an abandoned building. You were cautious at first, but you eased up when you saw the inside didn’t hold a heroine den. Instead, there were teenage boys all over the place. Some were reading, others were playing cards. The point was, there were tons of them.

    Jack took you up to the roof where there were a couple shabby beds matching the ones you’d seen in other rooms. “The fact of the matter is, we’re all orphans. Me and the boys, this is where we live. None of us wanted to be in the system.”

    “Oh.”

    He kept his gaze to the ground and sighed, “I could take you back if you want.”

    “I don’t want to leave,” you stated as if it was obvious.

    Jack’s eyes met yours. “Really?”

    “Yes. This place isn’t the most conventional, but you guys seem happy. Plus, I like hanging out with you.”

    He was astonished. “Ha! I like you t--HANGING OUT WITH YOU. I like hanging out with you, too.”

    You laughed at the poor attempt at a save, but you interrupted yourself when you caught sight of the sunset. “...Whoa,” you whispered, and wandered closer. “It looks so beautiful from up here.”

    Jack agreed, “I know. The views up here are amazing.” He wasn’t looking at the sunset.

    A few minutes of comfortable silence passed, and you noticed Jack wasn’t next to you. Instead, he was sitting a few feet away with some colored pencils and a sketch pad.

    “What are you doing?” You tilted your head to the side as you watched him.

    Upon seeing that you had looked away from the sunset, Jack instructed, “Wait. Look back. I’m almost done.”

    Questioningly, you followed his orders.

    After about five more minutes, you were about to ask Jack if he was finished. However, realization hit you. You checked your phone for the time. “Oh no. Jack we have to go. The show I’m supposed to be seeing starts in, like, ten minutes!”

    Jack was on his feet. “Okay. What theatre is it in? Amsterdam? I know a short cut. Follow me.” He took your hand and led you across rooftops and alleyways to the theater.

    The show was amazing, but you would have much rather seen it with Jack. He hand’t left your mind the whole performance.

    Once the show was over, you got the devastating news that your bus was waiting outside the theater--it would be leaving immediately. You thought you wouldn’t have a chance to say goodbye to Jack.

    You were wrong, however. Jack was the first person you saw when you exited the theater.

    “Jack!” you exclaimed, relieved. You rushed forward to hug him. “I’m leaving. I’m sorry.”

    He was upset. “Oh...It’s okay. I...uh...It was amazing to meet you.”

    You hugged him again, and relished in the feeling of being in his arms.

    Suddenly, he pulled away. “I have something for you.” Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper.

    Unfolding it, you found the drawing that Jack was working on earlier that day. You were the subject of the artwork, and the sunset’s colors were perfectly reflected onto your face.

    “Jack...” you whispered breathlessly. You gently placed your hand on his cheek to pull him in for a kiss.

    He was shocked at first, but then Jack stepped closer to you while moving his hands to your hips.

    The kiss you shared was passionate, despite how little time you had spent with one another. Your arms snaked themselves around his neck while Jack went for a better angle.

    You stopped for a moment, but then you both seemed to remember that you were leaving, so you and Jack grew desperate. The second kiss was intense. You knew that if Jack wasn’t holding you, your legs would have given out.

    The wonderful moment was interrupted when your teacher demanded you get on the bus. “Where’d you even find this kid?” Your teacher rolled his eyes and went to take his seat.

    “Here.” With shaking hands, you took a picture of Jack’s drawing on your phone, and then handed the illustration back to him. “So we don’t forget each other,” you explained.

    Jack caught your hand before you pulled it away. It was the same hand he had shaken earlier that day. Jack kissed the back of it. “I know I will never forget about you.”

    You were about to respond, but you were told again to get on the bus. Opting against words, you kissed his cheek and finally got on the vehicle that would take you away from him. You sat in the back, and you watched Jack fade from your sight.

*******

Author’s Note: Thank you so much for reading! Fill up that heart and reblog if you liked it. I also would love a comment if you have the time. If you would like to read more, I have more fics about Newsies over on my page. You should check it out. Also, REQUESTS ARE OPEN. I take requests for one-shots, drabbles, multi-chapters, headcannons and preferences. No smut, please. I write for a variety of fandoms. If you’re wondering if I write for a specific fandom, please ask me. Have a nice day, night, or whatever time it is for you.<3

[vixlenxe]

Her sleep is peaceful despite all disposition, despite the beating she had taken. Despite earlier having surrendered her own body & soul to Diabolos, the darkness she held within & at bay for years now, her slumber was peaceful. Person tucked away in the Meghaduta, her mind wandered far in her sleep, playing back memories from her past. Her life before the adventure, to it's start, all the way to the now.

Tiffanie watched it all race by in the dream. From her earliest memories or Ivy arguing with her parents, to her departure from Ishgard, to her return to stop the Dragonsong War, to the day Diabolos & Tiffanie became one entity, to Ala Mhigo, to being transferred to The First, to battling Emet Selch, then Elidibus, then returning to The Source to battle the Lunar Primals, the Towers of Zot, going to the moon, The Final Days, Ultima Thule & giving herself up to make Ivy a path, battling Despair at the edge of the universe... & then adventuring to the Void & merging with Diabolos of her own will so that they might be beaten & seperate at last. So many adventures... so many trials... in them all, one thing always remained.

Ivy, her sister. Always returning to her side. Even after learning to fight for herself, Ivy always returned to her sister, no matter how much time passed.

'Tiffanie! Tiffanie! I am here for you! We are all here for you!'

This memory in itself was hazy, but the words cut through the fog like a knife through butter.

'I'm sorry I let you down in the past, I'm sorry I left you alone when you needed me just to save myself! I'm sorry! And I swear I will not leave you now! I promise I will save you!'

A recent & bitter memory that both brought tears into ocean eyes & filled her chest with a flurry of hope & warmth. Even as the sound of battle grew louder behind the weighted speech.

'My sister, I love you, you're family loves you, we all love you, & we are all waiting for you to come home!'

The clashing of swords & shields rang louder, nearly overshadowing the desperate call. The dark sneering of what one would call a demon, she would called Diabolos rung free in her mind.

'Family?! What would you know of family?! The Warrior of Darkness's own father & mother do not want her!'

'You are not your father's daughter, or your mother's daughter, you are your sister's sister. You are my sister, Tiffanie! You are my chosen family, I chose you, & I will always love you! I want you with me in this future we've created for our star. I want you to pen the next chapter in our story! I want to see the future with you!'

The shriveling of the voidsent cursed, but the Warrior of Light spoke as if she were talking only to Tiffanie, as if she were the only one who mattered. Her love for her family was all that mattered. And when the sounds of battle dimmed, still did only one person remain.

As the final blow is about to be struck, you must call out to her with all your might.

'TIFFANIE!!!'

...

"You're Ivy, she loves you very much."

Tiffanie shared a glace over her shoulder, the apparition of Styx's shade appearing there. Sharing this conversation with her in her dreamscape.

"There's no doubt of that, yes."

Styx tilted her head to the side.

"So, why have you denied yourself that love until now? Or any love for that matter? Even if you thought it pointless with Diabolos threatening to make your life a short one, you know in the end, that is still their choice."

"..."

She looked down & shallowed bitterly, despite there being nothing in her mouth to shallow, & took a deep breath as those tears she'd been holding on her eyelids fell.

"... I believed I was undeserving. Even after all I accomplished, how strong I've grown, how sure I've become, I always believed I did not deserve anyone's love. ... After all... my own father & mother did not love me... if I can not deserve the love of my own parents... then why did I deserve anyone else's?"

The shade was silent, allowing that piercing cry from Ivy to replay in the dreamscape. A desperate cry of someone in pain, in agony from having to do battle with someone they cared so much for, but also so full of their love & hope that they are doing the right thing. The younger sister's tear came harder, each drop echoing when they fell from her face & hit the floor she conquered within her mind. It also sounded like rain.

"You can not expect love from ones incapable of such."

The shade spoke at last.

"My dear shard, it is not that you are undeserving of love, for you so very much are, you simply can not expect it from those incapable of love. Never once has your parents fostered or grown love within them, they know not of such an emotion & do not care too."

Styx placed her hand on Tiffanie's shoulder.

"Nor should you want their love by now. Not only are you deserving of love, but you deserve better then whatever cheap imitation of such beauty they could ever muster up."

".......... This is what... everyone has been trying to tell me... for years.... Why... why did it take so long for it to full register now?"

"Indoctrination is not unseated in a day. It's been years, but I think you finally reached the acceptance stage of grief."

Styx smiled. As the realty swept into Tiffanie like the rain of tears that played in her head. She knew this deep down, deep in her soul, but acceptance was a difficult mistress. But maybe... maybe it's time she truly accept it. She... deserves love.

"Say it to yourself. You need to hear it."

"... It's..." Arms closed around herself, holding herself tightly, the sound of rain quietly slowly as she mustered the words. She needed to hear them from herself, to tell herself the truth. To put the ink of this chapter to rest.

"... It's... It's not my fault. I... I deserve the love I am given."

And begin a new one.

"... And...?"

The rain cleared in the pause, a deep breath released at the same time Tiffanie had no clue she was holding.

"And... now that... my own life is mine again... I will learn to accept it."

The orange-red glow of the sunrise shined over the horizon.

[ao3feed-taakitz]

They Call It Inspiration

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2Yc4p8C

by allonsy_gabriel

There’s fantasy-country music playing from the kitchen. It’s some fucking—fucking fantasy-Rascal Flatts or some shit, and if Taako listens closely, he can hear someone humming along as they chop up, like, probably vegetables or something.

The chops are quick, clean, precise and steady by the sound of it, and Taako can’t help but smile.

Lup.

 (Welcome to the TAZ dumping ground, your ficlet collection for the modren era. Join me as I take my endless Feelings about a fucking DnD comedy podcast and turn them alchemy-like into shitty drabbles about all our favourite fantasy dumbasses. Updates whenever. Summary blurb pertains to newest chapter.)

Words: 839, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: The Adventure Zone (Podcast)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Gen, M/M

Characters: Taako (The Adventure Zone), Lup (The Adventure Zone), Everyone else mentioned

Relationships: Lup & Taako (The Adventure Zone), Kravitz/Taako (The Adventure Zone), Angus McDonald & Taako, Taako (The Adventure Zone) & Everyone

Additional Tags: Family, Family Feels, Families of Choice, Fluff, Domestic Fluff, Home, home as a concept, Attempt at Humor, Taako v. Feeling Actual Emotions, Happy, Family Dinners, Post-Episode: e067-069 Story and Song Parts 1-3, Short & Sweet, this may just end up being my TAZ story dumping ground, get all your useless TAZ fluff here, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, Tags May Change

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2Yc4p8C

[beerecordings]

Without Knowing How or When or Where

A Wilford and Dark drabble for fun! Honestly if anyone here followed me for Mark egos content I am sorry it has been months since the Eric fic lol

Anyway there’s a part two to this if people want to see it and I’ll probably write a couple more cause I love Wilford Warfstache just an unbelievable amount. Titles are from Neruda but I’ll explain that in another chapter cause I am, as they say, a histrionic disaster.

Find part two here

The first time he meets the darkness, he is in Arizona and the warm night sky spins above him in an endless flotation of stars, staring down, watching over him as they always have.

He's drunk as much as he can be drunk anymore, and he's stumbling down the street with a beautiful girl under his arm, breathing in her warm sweat and rainy perfume smell. He presses his mouth into her dark coiled hair and says something that makes her laugh, hard and honest, her white teeth shining in the starlight. She wraps an arm around his waist and together they are stumbling, traveling, laughing, lost and found together, if only for a couple hours.

Gunshots in the alley two blocks ahead. Someone screams. The girl – Adriana? Alice? – stops short at his side, gasping and gripping his arm. For his part, Wilford isn't all that alarmed.

“Don't be frightened, my dear.” He steps forward, his palm drumming a pleasant rhythm against the inside of his coat pocket, where an old pistol seethes steel into his dead-shot fingertips. “Just sounds like a bit of a tiff.”

“Warren, that was a gunshot. I'm calling the police.”

She's left him behind, but he hardly notices. The taste of gunpowder makes his chest ache for a fight, not that his knuckles ever swell up with victory or his mouth ever fills with triumphant blood anymore. Still, he loves the sensation of making someone else's flesh bruise.

Another gunshot resounds like a black firework set off too close to the ground. Ariel screams even as the 911 operator answers her call. “Yes, hi, I'm on 4th street uptown and there's gunshots – two gunshots, yes, no, I haven't seen anyone – Warren! Come away!”

“Perhaps you'd better get out of here, darling,” he hums, entranced by a strange light on the sidewalk, blue and red against the shadowy silhouettes of buildings and cars and streetlights. “Seems to be some trouble ahead.”

“Warren! Don't be fucking stupid. Dammit, I'm leaving! Don't get hurt!”

He laughs. She was a fun girl, he thinks, listening to her footsteps disappear behind him. Maybe a little neurotic, evidently quite frightened of a little harmless gunfire, but nevertheless, a fun girl. The sort of girl you could take on a grand adventure, like he and his little blackbird used to run off on. Was that really so long ago?

Coming to stand in the mouth of the alleyway illuminates Wilford in the stuttering light of a half-broken streetlamp, turning his dark hair gold and his brown eyes black. Fifteen feet away stands the darkness, like a dog in the shadows.

There is no light on that familiar old silhouette, that hunched and seething thing, all black except its flickering eyes, white one moment and mismatched blue and red the next. It spasms, only when Wilford blinks, only when Wilford begins to look away, revealing for the tiniest slivers of time that something like fury or agony or maybe both together dwells and gasps and struggles within its shattered chest. There are two corpses laid out at its feet.

Blood drizzles like a snake down the alleyway.

“Well, hey there, gorgeous,” Wilford whispers, his mouth curving into a smile. “Aren't you having some fun tonight?”

He steps forward. Bracelets click on his wrists. He brushes overgrown hair from his warm, dangerous eyes.

The darkness watches. Pants. Shows its white teeth, the canines just a little overgrown.

“I didn't mean to interrupt,” Wilford smiles, squelching blood beneath his feet. “Only I love a good fight, you know. And now I see you, I'm sure we've met before, haven't we, doll?”

To his delight, the darkness seems to relax, standing up straighter and shifting onto its heels. It stretches its neck and Wilford is sure he catches a glimpse of a man's face, so much like his own, but so other as well, so familiar and so strange, so old and so new. There's a slight shakiness to the way it holds itself.

“I do know you,” Wilford murmurs, his smile fading the closer he comes. “I'm sorry, I forget things... I wish I could place you... I'm sure we've met, haven't we, little ghost? What do I call you?”

Dark shoots him in the chest.

Wilford looks down and bursts into laughter, and the darkness, dropping the silver gun it had taken from the men that tried to kill it, flees like a streetcat approached too quickly. Delighted, Wilford darts to the end of the alley in search of it, but the shuddering body and its shadow coat is gone into the blackness all around him.

“Left so soon?” he asks, his heart sinking.

He glances around, but no one is there but the old stars in the sky above him. Wilford slams his hand into the brick of the building beside him, sighing and tucking back his mussed hair. He's alone again, without the shadow so familiar, but its image – black and shuddering – stays close to his eyes.

“What a wild time you and I must have had together,” he mumbles. “What a wonderful, wild time we must have had together, my dear.”

The police come and cover him in blue and red. They try to arrest him, but like the darkness itself, he knows how to disappear, and soon he is wandering again, singing and dancing, pulling partners to his side and covering them in kisses, fighting and flirting and drinking every night he gets the chance, but none of it is enough to drive the encounter in the alleyway from his mind.

“Little ghost,” he says to the sky sometimes, on the nights when he is all alone, and nothing is easy to remember but shadow and staircases, bloodshed and blackbirds, and the heavy ticking of an unrelenting grandfather clock. “When will I get to see you again, old friend? Or were you only ever a memory I was trying so hard to remember? You, like everything else, have slipped away from me, and will not return no matter how often I call out.”

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Thursday, May 18th and Friday, May 19th

GILES: Grave robbing? That's new. Interesting. (comes back down to the table) BUFFY: I KNOW you meant to say gross and disturbing. GILES: Yes, yes, yes of course. Uh, terrible thing. Must, must put a stop to it. Dammit.

~~Some Assembly Required~~

The Sunnydale Herald is looking for at least one new editor. Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! Find out more here.

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

A Case of Kidnapping by Zab Jade (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Poem: Wet Ink by thewiggins (Buffy/Spike, PG)

Wardrobe Malfunction by badly_knitted (Buffy, demon, PG)

Fairy Tale or Not by Apache Firecat (Buffy/Spike, PG)

Jenna Summers Witch-in-Training by CaribbeanTrinidadian (Buffy, multi xover, G with violence)

i think my life might be better if i lived in colorado by gallifreyanlostintheuniverse (Buffy/Faith/Spike, G)

Angels and Slayers Cross Paths by Darksidedawn (Dogma xover, G)

La Vie En Rose by violettathepiratequeen (Buffy/Spike, PG)

La Vie En Rose by violettathepiratequeen (Buffy/Spike, PG)

[Chaptered Fiction]

Savage Beauty - Ch. 12 by speakr2customrs (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Shadowed Suspicion - Ch. 388 by madimpossibledreamer (Ensemble, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure xover, T)

Let Me Help You, Let Me Hurt You - Ch. 1 by Redbone135 (Buffy/Spike, M)

Buffy the Dragon - Ch. 1-18 by TheBatmanPersona (Buffy/Faith, T)

Vampire/Slayer - Ch. 11 by Nonkosherian (Buffy/Faith, Dawn, The Groosalugg, T) COMPLETE!

A Time to Every Purpose - Ch. 5 by Joan963z (Buffy/Spike, Jenny/Giles, M) COMPLETE!

Snippets - Ch. 2 by KJMoran (Jenny/Giles, M) COMPLETE!

Accidental Finds - Ch. 4 by calikocat (Xander, Psych and Teen Wolf xover, T) COMPLETE!

Off My Rocker - Ch. 12-13 by desicat (Buffy/Spike/Drusilla, T with multiple warnings) COMPLETE!

Reweaving Time - Ch. 1 by Joan963z (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Sineya Rambles - Ch. 5 by Desicat (Buffy/Spike, R)

Sineya Rambles - Ch. 4 by Desicat (Buffy/Spike, R)

A Place in the Sun - Ch. 7 by honeygirl51885 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Exquisite Complications: Part 1 - Ch. 4 by yellowb, Kanita, JayeMaru, incendie, SzmattyCat, MillennialCryBaby, BewitchedXx, ClowniestLivEver (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

To All We Guard - Ch. 3 by simmony (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The Neighbor's Point of View - Ch. 11 by the_big_bad (Buffy/Spike, PG)

A Family Room at the Heartbreak Hotel - Ch. 4 by Julikobold (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

From Hell with Love - Ch. 9 by temporarytitle (Buffy/Spike, R)

Better the Devil You Know - Ch. 22 by SlayrGrl (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

The Witch’s Gift - Ch. 14 by RavenLove12 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

Scoobies in Neptune - Ch. 23 by Buffyworldbuilder (Buffy, Dawn, Veronica Mars xover, FR7)

Living is Easy…Being Happy is Hard - Ch. 24 by Luna (Buffy, Mercy Thompson Series xover, FR15)

One Step Away - Ch. 10 by flootzavut (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

The Joker and the Queen - Ch. 3 by TheSunnySlayer (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Ch. 7 by VeroNyxK84 (Buffy/Spike, R)

Dawn the Vampire Slayer - Ch. 11 by LJ94 (Buffy/Spike, R)

Sparks - Ch. 9 by Dusty (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)

A Family Room at the Heartbreak Hotel - Ch. 4 by Julikobold (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

These Endless Days - Ch. 8 by violettathepiratequeen (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)

[Images, Audio & Video]

Artwork: Are You Ready for a Brand New Beat? by facethestrange (Lorne, worksafe)

Color Graphic: Color Personality Graphic of Spike & Buffy. I plan on doing more characters. by Captainoats88 (Spike, Buffy, worksafe)

Artwork: Quick sketch of Spike from Buffy, one of my first problematic blond vampire crushes by PoisonedRedBerry via dontkillspike (Spike, worksafe)

[Reviews & Recaps]

PODCAST: Beep Me 7.17 – "Lies My Parents Told Me" - by Daniel

[Fandom Discussions]

"Why does everyone in this house think I'm still in love with Spike?" updated by various

SoS: Favourite Willow scenes by nightshade

Discussion of 5.22 "Not Fade Away" [ATS] by thrasherpix and hoponlilmama

POLL: [your thoughts on] 19 year Anniversary of Not Fade Away [ATS finale] by Brenna_Lynn

[discussion of] New Buffy The Last Vampire Slayer Miniseries Announced.(08/2023 launch) by BAF and others

Graduation Day by PuckRobin

pls help [James Marsters thoughts] by primordialsouptheory

"Crush" by aeryn1227

Wanted to share these! [uncredited fanart] by Impossible_Raisin926

My search is complete! [all comics] by MaximusJCat

I know Dawn gets a lot of hate, but I wanted to show her some love... by MsBenovanStanchiano

Seen Sarah in Scream 2, seeing it for the first:) by Relevant-Mission27

why didn’t they try to break Angel’s curse? by GayDHD_

Season 5 cancellation [WB cancelled BTVS or bidding war?] by Brenna_Lynn

I think Buffy is one of the very few movies/TV shows with an actually interesting protagonist who is also a good person! by Buffvamporigfan

Would Angel/Buffy have broken up… [in S3 if hypotheticals...] by sugarintheboots

Olivia as Giles love interest is confusing me, what’s up with her? by MadeofJasminetea

what would you turn the energy into that becomes Dawn in the show? by CharlieOak86868686

my newest tattoo :) [Buffy tattoo discussion] by ukwnsrc

Buffy in letterbox format [discussion of aspect ratio formats] by baroqueen1755

my favourite episode isn't a typical pick: I Only Have Eyes For You (s2e19) by Cleopatra_Buttons

A mega edit of all Angel's flashbacks, in chronological order? [vid links in comments] by diet_donatella

S2 Ep14 - Does Willow get a pass? by Normal-Appearance982

are vampires responsible for what they did when they didn't have a soul? by Darth_Azazoth

Buffy killed Angel? by DifficultRice7075

So, I was watching Lindsey's evil hand episode and had a thought... by scrapqueen

[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]

PUBLICATION: Cordelia Chase: Buffy's Unexpectedly Inspirational Mean Girl by Gillian Bennett at Paste Magazine

PUBLICATION: New Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series Is All About Buffy's Replacement [comics] by Brandon Schreur at CBR

Submit a link to be included in the newsletter!

[marvelous-avengers]

New York City

Steve Rogers Tours America

a/n: this first chapter is dedicated to my beautiful friend @sweetboybucky for their endless support and love and pushing me to write this. i love you and i thank you darling, it all means the world to me. 

i’m excited to write this because i love to travel and have been to a lot of states in the US myself. there won’t be a chapter for each state, but rather a look into a road trip that you get to take part in. because this is a drabble series, i hope it will be easier to write and update. please let me know what you think!

summary: Infinity War never happened and everyone is happy. There are no more battles, no more fighting. Once the reader discovers that Steve hasn’t really seen the country he had been fighting for, they take it upon themselves to show it to him. With a couple of tagalongs, because Steve can’t really leave Bucky and Sam unsupervised, right?

pairing: Steve Rogers x reader, with (platonic) Bucky Barnes and Sam Wilson

warnings: fluff, a curse or two, sassy friends

(gif not mine)

“Are you ready?”

Steve turns from the trunk of the car and sees you, sunglasses on and hands on your waist. Your smile is big and smug and he couldn’t be happier.

“I sure am,” he replies, stepping up to you and placing his hands on your hips. He moves a stray piece of hair out of your face, tucking it behind your ear. “Are you ready?”

“Are you kidding me? I was born ready.” You scoff, raising an eyebrow at him. A cocky smirk breaks his lips, and you bite your bottom lip, wrapping your arms around his waist and tug him closer. You look up, almost shy, and Steve thinks that it’s so sweet. “But honestly, I’m really really excited for this trip with you.”

Steve’s grin softens and he tips your face up to press a chaste kiss to your lips. When he pulls back, his smile is wide and he rubs a hand down your back. “I know. I’m really excited to.”

The love of going on road trips had been in your heart for quite some time, long before you and Steve had started dating. It was something you had been used to as a growing child, something you did with your parents every once in a while. You loved traveling and experiencing new places, loved it even more when you were surrounded by people you cared about.

After dating for awhile and your trip to Pennsylvania just a couple of weeks ago, Steve had confessed that he had never done anything like that before, let alone a road trip.

“Buck and I used to hitch rides to the beach and Coney Island, but that was about it,” he explained after you stared at him with wide eyes from across the couch.

“What about your USO tour?” You asked, still confused about how this man, this beautiful and strong man, has seen very little of his own country, the very place he was a symbol of.

Steve only chuckled and brought you closer to him, pulling your legs over his lap. “Don’t get to see many sights when you’re selling bail bonds during the war, darling.”

So for the next two weeks, you made it your personal mission to research, plan and execute a massive road trip around the country, showcasing the best parts of it. The coasts, the Rocky Mountains, the Red Rocks, Yellowstone and Old Faithful, Devil’s Tower–anything and everything you could find. You kept it a surprise and when you were finally ready, you were practically bouncing on the bed. You presented him with a road map already marked out with highlighter and notations, babbling on about your trip. He was speechless and gave you the biggest hug he could muster as you giggled nonstop. You were prepped and packed within a couple of days, ready for your adventure.

Steve just had one request.

“Hey, are you lovebirds ready or should we come back later?”

You roll your eyes and hear a quiet smack followed by an “Ow!” and some bickering. You raise an eyebrow up at Steve, who’s smiling sheepishly at you.

“I love you,” he says lightly, giving you another quick kiss before loosening his hold on you.

“Yeah, yeah, I love you, too.” You shake your head at him and turn to face Bucky and Sam, each carrying their bags and some snacks. You lift your head slightly, looking them up and down, hands on your hips. Your eyes flit between theirs, mustering your most serious expression. “I love you two, but you better not ruin this adventure by killing each other, because I won’t have it. We are going to have fun.”

“Your idea of fun is being locked in a car with the three of us for hours on end?” Bucky teased with a quirk of his lip, eyes bright in the morning sun.

You raised an eyebrow higher. “The two of you weren’t in the original equation, but if you ask nicely, maybe I’ll let you in my car so you can join Steve and I.”

Sam let out a quiet “burn” and you pointed an accusing finger at him. “And you, birdman, you better play nice too. Don’t fuck with my road trip or I’ll tie you to the roof without your wings and fly you like a kite.”

He salutes you a little teasingly, smirk on his lips as he tried (and failed) to take you seriously. He never could. But honestly, you couldn’t either. “Yes, ma’am.”

You could barely contain your excitement as you nod at them and turn back around, smiling brighter than the sun. “Then let’s go!”

Steve’s smile is wide, watching as you help the two men pile their stuff into the car, talking about cities and landmarks on the road. Once you all were settled, you in the driver’s seat, Steve in the passenger and Bucky and Sam in the back, you turn to him, one hand on the wheel as you start the car and put it into gear with the other.

“Are you ready?” you repeat yourself from earlier, eyes shining with excitement, smile wide, foot careful on the break pedal.

Steve lets out a breath, taking a quick moment for himself to take you in. Take it all in–the bags, the map in his hand, your camera, Sam and Bucky, you, the open road in front of him. His heart feels light and so whole.

He smiles just as wide as you are, and nods.

He is so fucking ready. 

tags: 

@sweetboybucky @barnesrogersvstheworld @tropicalcap @buckyofthemyscira @shynara51 @buckybarneshairpullingkink @huburtle @sarcasticallysarah @dsakita @fictiontrustandpixiedust @iris-suoh @iamthemaskhewears @linnyrero7-blog @just-add-butter 

[dekiruherodeku]

FANTASY DRABBLE: REMEMBER YOUR ORIGINS (VI)

[ Chapter VI: Another Shaman. ]

Seems like having two unexpected outsiders was all it took for this village’s two months-long suffering to finally end. With the mechanical weapons out of their hands and thoroughly destroyed, the bandits were no longer any sort of threat big enough to ward off the entire village’s wrath. How they and their village elder were going to deal with them, though, Deku figured best not to pry. He didn’t aim to stick around for long anyways, not when he’s already used up a whole month and a half just to get here. As the more docile villagers expressed their sincerest gratitude towards their saviors, he simply bowed his head bashfully in reciprocated thanks, the wanderer reciprocating theirs as well. Hospitality was immediately underway to the best of the villagers’ abilities with what they even have left. If Deku had to be honest, though, it should be this person, this shaman, getting all the credit here and not him. He was legitimately going to get killed had they not even stepped in and intervened.

And speaking of this shaman, he watched as they hovered a hand over Deku’s leg, feeling his muscle fibers mend itself while they quietly guided the elements to help him recover. It was.. really strange meeting yet another shaman after knowing only one for so long, especially when the only shaman he knew just barely understood the concepts of being one herself. Meeting an actual, in-tuned shaman was something entirely different. This person flourished with the aura now that they’ve allowed it to be identified. Being so close to just the mere presence of its source.. He couldn’t put his awestruck reaction to words. They didn’t need to concentrate or pray in order to guide the elements like Yuu did... It’s like their very motion of the hand was loved by the elements themselves.

“Surprised?” When they finally spoke up, it nearly jolted his body back into reality. A tinge of embarrassment tickled his cheeks as he bashfully stuttered a bit. “K--Kinda, yeah,” he answered back. “You’re---Y-You’re an.. actual shaman, aren’t you?” The question brought a pleased, even slightly amused smile there on their face, and they stood themself up as their responded back with a question of their own.

“Astonishing, isn’t it? Coming face-to-face with the full potentials of an adept shaman, especially after knowing one for so long...” When Deku’s expression instinctively grew surprised, they simply chuckled, extending a hand for him to accept before the words could even reach his throat.

“I am Hlomir. A shaman much like Yuuraraka, right down to our very lineage. I think I should first apologize for not being of help in the beginning. I actually ended up expending a lot of stamina the day before and was on the verge of passing out. That elderly couple and their little grandson secretly took me in to help, but they ended up getting in trouble because of me.” They smiled again thereafter, though, appreciative of the freelancer’s presence. “Fortunately, I didn’t have to worry. I requested a premonition that night, and knew that you’d be arriving to save the village... Really, you never fail to interest me, Deku.”

At the mention of his name, the freelancer sort of had a curiously pensive reaction to his face. He’s still yet to introduce himself, after all. Knowing he’d arrive here; knowing his name; even knowing Yuu and her backgrounds regarding Shamanism is something that’d take anybody by surprise. Shamans are so scarcely encountered by nowadays... Although he knew that they were naturally adept in Prophetic magic, seeing its actual potential to this degree was just.. incredible. Just how far or expansive did their prophetic magic reach? How much do they even exactly know? Better yet, an all-too-familiar question anyone would think in this situation even popped into his head: if Hlomir knows so much of what’s to come in the world’s timeline, then don’t they even do anything with the information they’ve gathered? The only instance he’s seen answering this question is Yuu herself --- Yuu fled from her slave owner after receiving a grave premonition, so wouldn’t that mean she’s making use of her prophecies? Better yet, is that considered taboo?

Hlomir could see all the questions flashing through his mind in the split second he reacted to his name again. They couldn’t really blame him, either --- Shamanism and Prophetic Magic were mysteriously spiritual by concept after all. Their expression softened forgivingly as Deku eventually accepted their extended hand to get up, soon bringing their hands together behind their back to laced their fingers together once free.

“You know... Usually, shamans are naturally respectful of the world’s natural order. It’s just in our nature not to abuse these powers gifted to us by the gods. ‘Everything you do, everything you learn; it will always come back to you tenfold in the end.’ The saying is usually often like that, we’re always aware of karma in its varying forms, the opposite ends and flipped sides of the same coin. Without really thinking much of it, we unconsciously advocate world balance.”

“It’s just that humanity is a fickle little thing... We may be shamans and exaggeratedly rumored to be the descendants of the gods, but we’re also still humans in the end. We’re bound to trip up, and we’re bound to be both victims and culprits of the immoralities of men... And sometimes, that’s just how we’re destined to be.”

Deku stared at this wandering shaman in wonder. “... What about you?” “Hm?” “What drives you to do the things you do?”

The two of them had been idly walking around the village by now, somewhat inspecting here and there in the middle of their conversation just to make sure the villagers were doing okay again. Deku’s inquiry had Hlomir pausing in their tracks, and they aimlessly peered up at the treetops a bit as they figured how best to word their response.

“... I guess.. on a general perspective, it’d be curiosity.” They drew their gaze back onto the young man, and smiled at their own answer. “I wanted to see just how far this world would become. I’ve watched the changes that’d occur, and witness the evolution of generations after generations...” Intrigued by the sudden notion, they added a trot to their pace alongside the freelancer. “Tell me, how old do you think I am?”

The question sort of caught the adventurer off-guard, making him blink a few times while scrambling his brains just to guess based on the wandering shaman’s looks. “U-Uhh... T--Twenty-three?” Their amused giggle in response only made him a bit more lost.

“Three-hundred and fifty-seven, actually!” “---Wh--What---?!” His astonished exclamation brought Deku’s walking to a complete stop. “B-B--But you don’t even look the part!” “Of course not!” Hlomir heartily replied. “Why would I make my clones look anything like that?” “C--Clones?”

The cream-haired shaman happily nodded their head before gesturing for Deku to resume following along. “I sealed away my original body in secret once I knew I’d no longer be able to continue my travels. It’s a combination of magic types* which would obviously take years to collectively master, but I’ve learned to transfer bits of myself into empty replicas in the chambers I reside. All my clones have a limited amount of time, and the maintenance itself is exhausting in addition to the rest of my magic being subconsciously fueled and filtered left and right, but I still continue to be born into this world again and again... Watching, observing, learning, even occasionally maintaining. I even use Void Magic just to observe on a greater scale, which was surprisingly easy given the composition of my aura. All because of my curiosity. A rather purposeful curiosity, really.”

Slowly, Deku began to grows equal parts interested and suspicious. The more he dwelled on it, the more it seemed as though Hlomir always acted with well-thought intent in every act. They were playing their part in a greater picture, conscious of the effects of their existence. Something about this person was more than just their being as another shaman. Hlomir honestly just felt so.. otherworldly. Deku’s walking slowed to a stop. The two of them reached the outskirts of the village without even meaning to. He stared at the back of the shaman’s figure with a bit of seriousness in his eyes.

“Hlomir... Why are you really here?” 

Hlomir eventually slowed to a stop, standing there with their back still facing him while a curious little smile inched at the corners of their mouth. They tilted their head up a bit, their gaze now finally able to peer up at the sky, before their lips finally parted in reply to the freelancer’s question. “... You know, if I have to guess how much time I still have left, I’d say I have just a couple of more rebirths before my actually body finally reaches the end of its prolonged lifespan... I’ve spent three hundred-and-a-half years watching this world turn, and of all those times I’ve witnessed destruction, it’s this era I became most attentive towards in many of my premonitions.” When they finally turned to their body to face Deku, their face made an expression that held their greatest, sincerest form of a sad smile yet. “I’ve become scared for the outcome of this world, Deku. I’m scared for this world that I’ve unknowingly grew fond of like it’s my own child.”

Soft, tender eyes lowered at the grass beneath them as hints of anguish lurked from within. Even with the smile, even with this optimistic-looking facade, their figure had grown melancholic altogether with pity and endless anxiety filling up their heart. “Yuu is not the only shaman who received that grave premonition... I’m certain the others have sensed a foreboding shift in the air one way or another themselves -- a massive imbalance is drawing near. I’m hoping my efforts in keeping the Decay at bay is actually making a difference. The thought of my existence withering away when the natural order of the world has begun to go awry... I couldn’t bear it. I’ve sought through countless future visions, every possible route where hope was in sight; i scoured through the past to gather what hints i could ever possibly find; and in all those mind-breaking, sanity-unwinding instances, I witnessed only one.”

The ancient shaman finally lifted their eyes to look at Deku, and it finally seemed to sink into him just how important this meeting even was for them. He was witnessing someone playing all their cards in an all-or-nothing act of desperation. This person prayed for a future that they could finally rest in peace knowing it was secured. Something like apprehensive bewilderment slowly settled in his stomach, and his eyes momentarily lowered to stare down at the ground just to process the things he’s learned.

“Deku... There’s a reason why you were chosen to house the will-bearing artifact known as One for All. Your actions, your spirit.. your involvement with UA Guild weigh so much more than you’d ever know.” “That’s why...” “You mustn’t let it consume you, Deku.” “You must stay strong.”

Confusion arose, and the freelancer snapped his attention back up in an attempt to question what Hlomir meant. The only thing is, they had instantly gone and disappeared without a trace. All that was left was their lingering message in their wake, the shaman already moving along through the spectral planes to resume their mission.

... Huh. So that’s why they had expended the majority of their stamina prior to arriving at the village.

[ Previous: Chapter V, Expected Encounter. ] [ Next: Chapter VII, Changes. ]

*Note: magic types being used while not entirely limited to: Life, Death, Blood, Transformation