#from said market aunties

[lanliingwang]

I feel like every time Arjuna goes out shopping at a market in a singularity, all the market aunties find him extremely endearing in his earnestness and politeness tbh

[agayconcept]

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[surielstea]

Free of Duty

Based on this request.

Pairing: Azriel x Fem!Reader

Summary: Reader and Azriel spend their first night away from their kids in The Cabin.

Warnings: SMUT | Minors DNI | 18+ only | p in v | oral (f-receiving) | dirty talk | slight degradation | slight praise | rough sex | controlled orgasm | breeding kink | shadow play |

5.8k words

"Where are we going mama?" Melaina asks, holding my dress in her fist as she peers up at me. I was preoccupied with doing my hair though there was little I could do to salvage it so inevitably I gave up, wearing it in my usual style.

"We're going to auntie Feyre's." I squat down and pick the two year old up, propping her on my hip as I put on a shimmering lip gloss.

"Will uncle Cass be there!" She asks enthusiastically, her wings ruffling in excitement. "Probably not Laina, but Nyx will be there to play with you and your brother." I offer her a warm smile. Her disappointment of the news about Cassian quickly diminishes when I mention her favorite cousin. "Uncle Rhys will be there then?" Her dark brows shoot up and I nod with a loving look. "Mhm." I reply. "You guys will have a playdate while your dad and I go on our own date." I boop her nose and she rears back with a giggle. "I wanna go with you and dad too." She swings her legs from side to side, watching as I cleaned up my vanity with my freehand, her much smaller one helping me put my lipgloss back in its pouch.

"I’d love that but I'm sure Nyx has something planned for you and Kiran." I say, leaving the bathroom and tapping off the mage lights. "Auntie Feyre even said she went to the market and bought everything to make cookies." I inform and her hazel eyes widen. I have to blink to make sure it wasn't Azriel's eyes looking at me, she truly is the carbon copy of my mate. But her attitude couldn't have been more evidently me. Vice versa for Kiran, if there was a boy version of me it'd be my son. Az was convinced both kids looked exactly like me but I couldn't pick out one feature our daughter inherited from me aside from the natural femininity every girl possessed.

"Az, honey are you ready?" I call to the male, walking out of the hall with Melaina in my arms. I spot him kneeled on the floor, tying Kiran's shoes who was preoccupied playing with one of the spymaster’s shadows. I set Laina down and she rushes up to her Father, tackling his back with her expert climbing skills. The shadows leave Kiran and speed toward me, rushing around my dress and making the silk skirt twirl. "You look like a princess mama!" Kiran gasps and a bright smile curves my features.

"And dad's your knight and shining armor." He smiled brightly. I walk towards the boy, mirroring his grin. "I think your father has been telling you too many bedtime stories." I ruffle his hair and he snickers. I look to my mate as he reaches back and gets ahold of our daughter, she cackles brightly as he flips her around and tosses her onto the couch.

"She's going to get hurt." I warn the shadow singer. "Again! Again!" Laina jumps on the couch as she practically demands her father to throw her into the roof. I release a soft sigh. "We have to go Laina, but when we come back I’ll make sure to toss you all you want." He tickles her sides and she squeals, squirming away from him and to the other side of me, both the kids now leaning against my legs, my hands coming to their heads and combing my fingers through their pitch black hair.

Azriel looks at me, his eyes widening the slightest fraction. The shadow that always remains by his side leaves him, only to weave through my hair. "Ready?" I tilt my head at him. He blinks, as if he's at a loss for words. His eyes flick from mine to our two children's, then back up to mine. I'd never seen hazel hold more devotion until now, eyes shining with something that made my heart ache.

"Azriel?" I prompt with a gentle tone. He seems to break free of his stupor, taking two long legged strides forward before cupping my cheeks and pulling me in for a soft kiss. Both the children groan and stuff their faces into my skirt, muttering something about cooties. I smile against his lips but he doesn't seem to want to back away any time soon, his hand slipping into my hair and holding me onto his lips until I have to physically press a hand to his chest and push him away. He hums in satisfaction, resting his forehead against mine. "How is it that I got so lucky?" He wonders rhetorically. "We're going to be late." I ignore his comment that makes me flush pink.

"Mama c'mon!" Laina pulls at my hand and I lean down, picking her up yet again. Azriel does the same with Kiran. "Close your eyes okay Laina?" I bring my hand up to her cheek and she nods, squinting them shut before clinging onto me tightly. "Ready." I say to the male beside me, intertwining our fingers with my free hand.

Azriel wasted no time in shadow-walking the four of us, entering the dark realm briefly. Laina shivered at the cold, squeezing around me tighter. "You're okay." I whisper, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. I look over to Kiran only to find him marveling at the dark realm, utterly fascinated at the way the black swirled around us.

My mate was as quick as he could be in pulling us back into the light for Melaina's sake. She's never liked the dark, always been afraid of it. Kiran however might as well have been labeled a vampire, as a baby he'd cry and wail if even a sliver of light seeped into his bedroom in the morning. I knew it pained Azriel to see our daughter so afraid of his own power, but some part of me believed  he enjoyed showing Laina that there was nothing to be afraid of, that the dark can be your friend when there's nothing else, that he'll always be there when there's nothing else.

"Okay, all done." I let go of Azriel's hand in order to lift Laina from my shoulder. "Do you wanna ring the doorbell?" I offer and the light in her eyes returns. She nods with fervor and I smile, placing her down onto the lawn as she races up the porch, Kiran quickly scurrying after her.

"Kiran was right, you do look like a princess," Azriel slips his scarred hand back into mine. "I’m glad you’re my knight in shining armor then." I bump his shoulder playfully and he smiles, the casual intimacy making my heart feel like it was expanding.

The door swings open, revealing a four year old Nyx and his mother. The twins invite themselves in, running through the large house to Nyx's room. "Thank you for this." I look to my high lady and she smiles as if to say it's no problem. "It's honestly not too much work, they distract each other." Feyre shrugs, moving from the doorway and inviting the both of us inside. I step passed the threshold, the house warm like a mothers embrace.

"They ate before we came so it's only dinner they need, and neither of them napped today so they'll be passed out by eight—" I begin before my mates scarred hand comes to my shoulder. I clamp my mouth shut and look to him. "Feyre's raised a kid before my love." He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I release a soft sigh, this is the first time I've ever left the children for longer than a few hours— every what if? thought coursing through my mind.

"I understand," Feyre says and I look to her. "Or do you not remember the first time I left Nyx overnight?" She arched her brow. A small smile curves my lips as I remember the way she managed to check in every five minutes on any updates using her daemati powers. "Right, thank you again." I pull her in for a hug and she returns the action quickly, her warm spirit relaxing every nerve in my body.

"Aunt Fey!" Kiran comes toddling down the hallway with the two other kids trailing behind him. "What is it hon’?" She breaks from the hug to look at the boy. "Can we go outside?" He bounces on his toes excitedly. "Say goodbye to your mom first and then we can." She nods and they do as told.

Kiran attacks me in a hug, latching onto my legs. I grin and bend down, placing a soft kiss to his forehead. "We'll be back in the morning, have fun okay?" I say and he nods his head eagerly before walking over to his father who watched us intently. Melaina wrapped her arms around my neck tightly, hugging me like she didn't want me to go. "I wish I could come on the date too." Laina pouts as she pulls away. "Well my date unfortunately doesn't have cookies like yours does." I hum and her eyes light up with delight, a big smile coming to her face, two little dimples creasing her cheeks. Same as her father.

I tuck her hair behind her ears, short black strands that came down to her chin. When she cut it she claimed she wanted to look more like her Aunt Amren, which somehow made the Amren herself crack a small smile. "If you get too scared of the dark just cuddle in with your brother alright?" I tilt my head and she nods with a bobble of her head. "Okay, I'll see you in the morning my dear." I lean forward and press a kiss to her cheek. Kiran comes back to me, tugging at Laina's hand and angling for outside. "I love you both, have fun okay?" I raise my brows at them like it's a command. They both agree before rushing off toward the backyard with Nyx.

"I'll see you tomorrow." I smile toward Feyre, intertwining my hand with Azriels. "I'll have a bottle of wine waiting." She cheekily grinned and I returned it. "Alright, c'mon." The shadow singer leads me toward the front door. "Thank you!" I call to the high lady once again before Azriel gets me out the door and away from the wards.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

"It's weird being without them." I mutter across the table to my mate, a plate of freshly made food just set in front of me. "I feel like apart of me is missing." I look down at my figure as if I've forgotten my purse at home. Azriel reaches forward and intertwines our hands. "I can remember a time when it was just me and you." He hums as I trail the tip of my finger down the streams of white scarring his hand. "Feels like a century since it's been only us." I sigh, my shoulders falling as if a weight had lifted from them. "It's been a very long two years." I mumble and he gives me a warm smile, the candle light flickering over his sharp features.

The restaurant we stayed in was one of the nicest in Velaris. It held an elegant atmosphere, navy colored walls with a ceiling made entirely out of glass, allowing you to peer up and see the night sky's perfect full moon that illuminated the entire place, the only other lighting is the tall, skinny candles at each of the tables creating a cozy ambiance. The furnishings were more comfortable than the ones at our own home and the ornate dishes were golden rimmed. Some old part of me wanted to say we couldn't afford something like this, but we could. With the outlandish salary Rhys supplies both of us, we had enough to buy this entire restaurant with extra to spare.

"Sooner or later they're going to be teenagers." Azriel grumbles and it pains me to think about. Life moved so fast, the childhood phase is the shortest stage of a faeries life. I couldn’t help but think that I’d blink and they’d be full grown adults. "Laina will start getting boy's attention." I sing in a teasing tune and Azriel's gaze hardens. "Yeah right, she won't be dating until I'm dead." He leans back in his chair defensively. I have no doubt that her two uncles have the same thoughts as well.

She's the only girl, so far, though it's been up in the air whether or not Cassian and Nesta would be having babes. But at the moment, Melaina seemed to be the sole heart of all three males and it had become their mission to protect her at all costs, little do they know it'll be Mor and I sneaking her into parties.

I smile at the idea, looking to him. "What are you thinking about?" He narrows his eyes on me curiously, shadows swirling up my ankles. I debate telling him the truth or not but decide on changing the subject entirely. "We're going to be alone tonight for the first time in a while," I hum. "I might have a small surprise for when we get home." I shrug and his eyes glow like he's about to winnow us straight back to the house. I ignore the lust in his gaze and pick up my fork, flicking my eyes up to him then back down to my plate. "You can't just say that and then expect me to go on." He grumbled, grabbing his own utensil. "Can't I?" A smirk tugs at my lips and he glowers in reply, watching as I dig into my warm meal.

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

"Can we fly?" I plead, pulling at my mates hand as we stroll down the cobblestones toward The Cabin, which we needed to winnow to otherwise we wouldn’t be able to make it before sunrise. "Flying takes a long time too my love," He said matter of factly, "Just for a few minutes, please?" I wrap my free arm around his bicep and he gives me a contemplated look but I know I've got him hooked. "Then we can winnow, promise." I squeeze his hand and he releases a long sigh before stopping in his tracks and opening his arms out for me.

I waste no time in jumping straight into them, latching my arms behind his head and securing my legs at his torso, his hands coming under my thighs to support me. "Ready?" He arches a brow and I nod with a giddy smile. He stifles his own grin before the boom of his wings blasted us up into the air. I shrieked and held onto him tighter, my chest flush against his— afraid I might slip from his grasp.

His large arms held me tighter, tucking me close as I stared down below us, the buildings growing smaller and smaller as we flew higher. My breath hitched when noticing how far we are from the ground. "You always want me to fly you but every time we do you seem so scared." He intones and I snuggle closer into his neck. "I forget I'm scared of heights." I mumble into his skin, clenching my eyes shut. "I won't drop you." His voice is stern as if he had to convince me. "I know." I hum. "Do you want me to put you down?" He offers and I shake my head.

"Sooner or later our kids will be flying too," I say. "I don't want to be left out." I explain and he chuckles. "I'm pretty sure you don’t want to be apart of flying lessons." He informs and I roll my eyes. "You are not pushing our children off a cliff." I rule as if it wasn't a given. "How else will they learn?" His brows crease like he knows no other way. "Just because that's how you learned doesn't mean that’s how they need to learn." I grumble. "But as long as you don't send them to Windhaven I won't complain." I sigh. He bristles at the idea. "I'd never send Laina there." He mutters.

"I hate that place." I bite out. I know at one point it felt like heaven to Azriel, to be out of a cell and finally able to be a kid. Even if that meant being at a place where you get lashings as encouragements, it was better than that windowless prison. "But I think our daughter would be ruling that place in a week's time." I snort, making light of the idea. He didn't reply, which told me he didn't want to dwell on it any longer than he already has.

I rest my head back down onto his shoulder, staring at the three mountains in the distance, stars twinkling above them, shimmering in the dark night like they're trying to get me to notice them. I turn my head to look toward where we’re going, spotting the two twin peaks in the distance where I knew the Cabin sat between, a promise of warmth and security lied there and I decided I had enough cold wind and tall heights for the night.

"You can winnow us now." I state. "Thank you for flying me." I add and he presses a kiss to the top of my head. "Anytime." His arms squeeze tighter around me before he's pulling us from the sky and down onto the ground.

Darkness envelops us, taking us from one realm to another before we’re directly in front of the cabin.

I release a content sigh as he sets me down onto the ground, his wings stretching out before tucking behind him again. I march up the pathway to the front door, undoing whatever protection wards Rhys put on this house. I open the door and step into the foyer, Azriel following after me.

I kick off my heels and allow the warm air to comfort me as I waltz further into The Cabin, my dress swishing around me as I turn to find Azriel plopping down onto the couch, his head lying on the armrest while his long legs hung over the edge. “C’mere.” He reaches towards me, shadows pushing at my back so I can find my way to him. He grabs me by the hand as soon as I’m in reach then yanks me down onto him. I gasp and slam a hand into his chest, attempting to catch myself. A smile curves his features as I settle atop him, my arms coming around his neck while his hold remains roaming my waist.

I stuff my face into the crook of his neck, cuddling into him further. “I missed you.” I mumble. “You see me everyday.” He chuckled, his hand coming higher to my back as he spoke. “I miss just us.” I correct. “I miss just us too” My mate sighs and I pick my head up, looking at his sharp features, running the tip of my finger down his nose, across his jawline, over his brow; all while he stares up at me with all too much love in his eyes. “You’re so pretty.” I hum softly, tilting my head at him. He reaches up and tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “I was going to say the same thing about you.” He looks up at me like I’m the only person on the continent, and I know his eyes aren’t the color of the ocean but I can’t help myself from drowning in them.

I lean down and press a kiss to his lips and it was lovely. No distractions, no duties or things I needed to worry about, and no children. Just him and I. He chases me back to him when I pull away and I smile into it, pressing my chest to his as I press him impossibly closer. His tongue swipes over my bottom lip and a small gasp slips from my lips, I quickly open my mouth a little wider and allow his entrance. His tongue passes my lips and explores every inch it can find, swirling around my own tongue before flicking it out. I whine when he starts to rear back, granting him an open mouth kiss, he hums against me, his hand snaking up to the nape of my neck and tugging me closer.

I pull away and he allows me to, our pants from lack of air fill the room and a drunken smile spreads over my lips as I look down at him. “Can I have that small surprise now?” He asks in between breaths. “Bedroom.” I utter. “I’ll show you in the bedroom.” I explain. His eyes glow golden and he wraps his arms tighter around me before standing up, my legs fastening around his torso as he carries us down the hall and into the first bedroom he comes across.

I kiss him again, his eyes flutter shut and he turns, pressing my back against the door and shutting it, his tongue dips into my mouth yet again, eager to taste me. I untwine my legs and slowly settle my feet down onto the ground. “Go sit on the bed.” I whisper against his lips. He nods but doesn’t dare break the kiss, his hands on my waist pulling me with him as he guides us both back to the mattress.

He settles down onto the bed and I back away from the kiss, shadows swirling around my back and slowly unzipping my cobalt blue dress, the silk dipping from my shoulders as I pull the straps off. I leisurely strip myself from the clothing and his eyes swallow every new inch of skin I reveal before letting it fall entirely to pool at my feet. He swallows thickly as his eyes rake all the way back up my figure, taking in the lacy lingerie set I wore just for him, the light blue material hugging every curve and dip of my body, delicate lace cupping over my most sacred areas and he looked as if he was about to tear the garments to shreds.

After a few moments of just allowing him to stare I step forward, settling my hands on his shoulders and taking a seat on his lap, straddling his hips. His scarred hands immediately come to my hips, fingers digging into my plush skin as a repercussion of his restraint. “Az,” I call. His eyes flick back up to mine and I dig my nails into his shoulders. “I need you.” I sigh out, winding my hips down onto his only to find how hard he is beneath me.

He wastes no time in flipping us over, pushing us up the bed so my head comes down to rest on the pillows. His forearms on either side of my head as he hovers over me. One of my hands comes to his bicep, my nails digging into the muscle as I feel his heavy member press down onto me. My other hand weaves into his hair, combing my fingers through it as he begins attacking my neck, every bare inch he can reach becomes his to claim and his only, marking and biting and sucking with all the fervor in his body. I release soft moans as I grind my hips up onto him, showing him how badly I needed him.

“Fuck, Az I’m begging you.” I whisper, pulling at a tuft of his dark hair in my fist. He detaches from his suction on my neck, looking up at me with half lidded eyes before he’s dipping further down, kissing a line through my breasts, down my ribs and past my navel until his lips reach my panty line. My breath catches in my throat as his hand latches onto the expensive material and he tears them straight off of me, his strength too much to control as he rips the lace into two and discards them off elsewhere.

“Azriel,” I cry out as he presses a kiss to just above where I wanted him. He smiles against my skin and I whimper, brows creasing as he teases the area. He stared right at my core, I attempt to squeeze my legs shut in embarrassment but shadows twine around my ankles and I’m suddenly strapped down onto the bed, incapable of moving my legs— so instead I begin to writhe, rolling my hips in need of any form of friction. “Please.” I sigh out breathlessly. He maintains eye contact with me as his head moves down and his tongue drags right through my neglected folds. I release a soft cry at the feeling, clenching around nothing as I slowly grind my hips up onto his face, his nose rubbing at my clit which drags a moan from the base of my throat.

He swipes his tongue lower, making contact with my slit and I groused with pure need. “Az.” My voice is a pitiful whisper, both of my hands now pulling at his dark locks. He growls at the sound of his name on my lips, the rough noise against my core sending vibrations up my spine and I mewl. At the distraction he takes his chance to thrust his tongue deep into my entrance.

My brows clench together at the sudden pleasure, hips stop grinding now that he did all the work for me, flicking his tongue in and out of me. “Gods, y’so good at that.” I pant in need of more. Shadows guide my legs over his shoulders as he feasted on me as if he hadn’t eaten for weeks and was on the brink of starvation, that I was his only source of life and he needed to ravage me, to consume me entirely. Dark tendrils swirl to the apex of my thighs, their touch teasingly cold as they flowed closer and closer to my most sensitive area.

A shriek escapes me as they find my clit, circulating tightly around the area, pulling moan after moan from me. The mix of the shadows and his tongue has my legs clenching around my mates head, forcing him deeper into me and his tongue finally finds that perfect spot. “Fuck, there.” I whine, pulling at his hair. His fingers press into my plush thighs hard enough to bruise as I chase my release.

“Az— need to cum.” I whimper and in reply he delves into me deeper, drinking every drop of my slick as it seeps out of me. Then he does something utterly wicked with his tongue, twisting it sharply right on that bundle of nerves and I find my release. Wailing at the intense feeling as ecstasy flooded into my very bones. In a moment of pure relief my legs begin to shake, shadows guiding them off of the spymaster’s shoulders and down onto the bedsheets I’ve soaked with my own arousal.

He leaves my entrance and move to my folds, lapping up any juices as shadows slowly leave my clit and his tongue does light kitten licks through my aching cunt, savoring the taste of me in his mouth as he does so.

He licks his lips once he fully backs away, coming back up to hover above me before crashing his lips down onto mine, allowing me to taste myself on his tongue as he slides it into my mouth the same way he had just done with my sex. I buck my hips up onto the rough material of his pants, already in need of his attention.

“Fuck me.” I plead against his mouth with a soft murmur. “Want it rough, Az.” I whine and he backs away from my lips at the request. “Then get on your knees.” He commands in a voice that could only belong to one of the most feared men in the Night Court. I scramble to do as he says, my thighs aching as I flip around and hike myself up onto all fours. “Fuck, you’re so good for me.” He presses a kiss to the top of my spine, his large hands rubbing over the curve of my ass. “Please Az, need your cock.” I beg and he plans to give me exactly what I want.

There’s a ruffle of clothes behind me but I’m too distracted by the feeling of his shadows unclasping my bra, slipping it off of my shoulders and carrying it over to the rest of my discarded garments. Calloused hands cup my now exposed breasts, massaging them as his thick shaft presses into my folds and I can’t help but rub myself on his length, lubing him needfully. One of his hands leaves my breast, splaying across my skin as it traveled all the way down, further and further until reaching his own sex and aligning it with my entrance.

He places a gentle kiss against my shoulder blade before pushing the head of his heavy cock inside of me. I grip the sheets under my hands as I adjust to the wide stretch. “Fuck,” I sigh out as he slowly drives deeper and deeper. I whine out his name as he pulls to the tip then fills me up further than before. “Harder,” I grunt out. “Need more.” My mumble seems to reach him because next thing I know he’s picking up the pace, shoving himself into me inch by inch, filling me up to the brim.

He hits that perfect spongy spot and I gasp in pure pleasure. “Right there, fuck— right there.” I moan out and he smiles against the sweaty skin of my shoulder. “I’m barely halfway, baby.” He informs and my stomach flutters. I swallow thickly, forgetting how long he is and gods he was already in so deep, thrusting into me as hard as he could and splitting me into two. I scream as he continues to abuse that sensitive spot, pushing past it and stretching me around him, molding me to him as he marveled at how tightly I clenched his thick member.

I choke out a sob as his hips finally meet mine and I know he’s entirely sheathed inside of me. He stays there for a moment, delighting in the feeling of my walls contracting around him so perfectly. “That’s it love, taking me so well.” He hums and I nod in a pitiful attempt to please him, show him I’ll agree to whatever he wants as long as he continues to fuck me senseless.

He pulled all the way out to his tip, his cock gleaming in my slick and just as I was about to whine for more he snaps his hips and his heavy balls slap against my folds, striking home as he continues to pummel me with his length over and over again. My arms supporting me, buckle, and my head falls into the pillows. He groans at the new position, hitting so much deeper now. His hand went to my hair and he pushed my face into the mattress making breathing a laborious task but gods did it make it all so much better.

“You’re such a good girl,” He groans. “Just a perfect sleeve f’me aren’t you?” I reply with a mewl into the pillows. He grips my hair tighter and yanks me up, my back flush against his bare chest. “Say it.” He demands, his mouth finding purchase at my neck, hands sliding up to grope my breasts. “I’m just a perfect sleeve for you, Az.” I mumble helplessly, my mind blank as he fucks any coherent thoughts out of me. He twitches inside of me at the way I sound, so needy for anything he’s willing to give.

“Please, m’gonna cum.” I warn and he only knocks into me harsher, more forceful each time he shoved his sex into me. I pulse around him, my clit throbbing as shadows slip between my legs to soothe it, cold tendrils rolling over the puffy area. “Already?” He taunts and I nod with a pathetic whimper, my head falling back to rest against his collarbone, his thrusts not letting up for even a moment, instead going faster, forcing me to hold back from my merciless release, not allowing me to reach that high until he says I can.

“Azriel— s’too much I can’t.” I cry, tears brimming my eyes as he pounds every last inch of him farther into me. “You can baby, so take it like the good girl you are.” He commands and a tear slips from my eyes, his rough hands squeezing my breasts harder at the sound of my sobs.

He continues his relentless treatment, biting at my neck and adding so much more to the pleasure of it all. It’s been years since he’s fucked me like this, since he’s claimed me as his.

“Breed me.” I beg. He twitches inside of me at the lewd words. “Yeah?” He whispers into the shell of my ear. “You want me to fill you full of my cum?” He asks and I nod, relishing every drag of his cock along my walls. “Want me to get your belly round again, get your tits leaking from this cock?” Again I nod, it’s all I can do to refrain from begging him to let me have my beckoning orgasm. I grind my hips down onto him at his filthy words but the movements do nothing to soothe the ache rooting deep inside of me.

“Fuck,” His forehead rests against my shoulder as I wind down on him particularly hard. “You can cum.” He allows. It takes little time before my orgasm sprouts in the pit of my abdomen, spreading through my core and down to my jolting legs. He thrusts hard into me as I suck all of him in, walls fluttering around his cock and soon he was injecting every last drop of his seed into me.

Our noises filled the room as his warm release soothed every nerve in my body. He removed himself from me after a few thrusts, his cum dripping out of me and down onto my thighs messily. “You did so good.” He praises, guiding me down onto my back as he lays me down onto the pillows.

I release a soft sigh as he wraps his hold around my back and sinks his weight down between my legs, his chest flush against my breasts.

“Can you take more?” He asks in a soft voice, one that told me if I said no he’d be okay with it. But I didn’t know the next time we’d get the chance to be like this with each other again, so I nodded my head yes. “Mhm.” I utter and he smiles into my neck, kissing up the column of my throat while hardening again and I have remember the full extent of what I’ve got myself into.

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[nerinefy]

FOREVER YOURS, TRULY...! — NEW YEAR'S SPECIAL PART I

PART II — JING YUAN (TO BE FOLLOWED)

★ synopsis: during a stroll, you find yourself facing him- the love of your life, down on one knee as the clock strikes 12 and the striking lights of the fireworks dance across the sky. despite the blaring noises heard in the background, there is only one thing you hear, "will you be with me? now and forever...?"

★ details: pronouns: you/yours | imagine | fluff | 700+ words

★ DAN HENG ★

You and the Astral Express Crew decided to visit Aurum Alley for their latest festivities for the new year. Due to all the stellaron catching and unrelated side quests along the way, you have never had the chance to explore the rich variety of goods sold throughout the market. Holding hands, you and Dan Heng went and strolled through the bustling streets. It was still quite a gentle and intimate moment despite the rush the alley was filled with. It wasn't often you two had the time to loosen up and think about each other's warmth and presence.

"Oh look, I've been meaning to try those new snacks they have at Tall Auntie's!" March 7th, who in fact was also there the whole time, informed the two of you. "I'll go buy some so sadly I'll have to leave you two here. I mean, not that it's your losses..." She grinned and winked at the two of you while pointing finger guns. "So am I coming or...?" Caelus asks. The pink-haired girl stared at him, annoyed before grabbing his hand with a tug, "we'll be off then," she said as they slowly disappeared into the crowd. In turn, Dan Heng sighed at the two's antics but then turned his face to look at you, squeezing your hand slightly.

With a deep breath, he asks, "Would you like to go somewhere?"

You tilt your head, "Why? Where? And uh...aren't you forgetting the-"

"Do you trust me?" he interrupts the string of thoughts you're blurting out in confusion.

You pinch the bridge of your nose, "I guess they're fine on their own. The blind leading the blind."

He chuckles lightly, "They'll be Welt's problem now sadly." He then leads you towards a secluded place up and near the beautiful shimmering skies.

"Woah, where did you find this place? The view's majestic!" You ask in astonishment, your eyes shining even brighter than the stars above.

"I think I've seen this place somewhere in his memories, and I thought I'd like to show it to you too..." He answered, his eyes wandering towards the sky. "I just realized that...all of these missions we go to...it was just- it was different..." He begins. "Right after you came and traveled with us...everything changed. You gave me more purpose in this life and I'm so grateful for the color you've spread in this world, in our world. Dire situations still give me hope and unwanted circumstances still give me the push to go on...all because of you. Going through all these expeditions and knowing you're there by my side, fills me with ease I've never felt before. You gave me a new home, a place of serenity and security...all in your arms. I know I've been blabbering too much, so I'll stop and get straight to the point..." He says as he slowly gets down on one knee, revealing the small velvet box he's been holding onto the whole time. Sweat dripped down his forehead and his palms began to get shaky despite the snow falling around you- that's the effect you have on him. You gasp as you realize, tears forming in your eyes. "I may not promise forever, but 'til the end of our lives...may I be yours and will you be mine?"

You then grabbed him by the collar to lift him and kissed him, lip to lip, skin to skin, as the fireworks began shooting up to the sky. "I don't want to spend the new year with you." You mumble in between kisses, the man in front of you then wrinkles his forehead in disappointment. "I want to spend my whole life with you..." you giggle as he sighs in relief.

"Happy New Year, my love..." he mutters, a faint blush tainting his pale skin. Click You look from the sides in surprise as you see the crew standing in awe.

"Sorry Dan Heng, we couldn't help it! We just had to..." March 7th says, still holding the camera up near her eye, and Caelus smiling at the two of you.

"Congratulations...I hope we still see you two after the wedding," Welt says while giving you a nod of approval.

"I hope not to see you all after this..." Dan Heng sighs, hiding a chuckle under his breath. With that, you feel a squeeze on your hand once more, and you're reminded that you're not alone anymore. He's forever yours, truly.

©nerinefy 2023-2024 all rights reserved. do not plagiarize, repost, or translate.

[junipers-archive]

Worth It

Word Count: 630

Includes: fluff, (Husband/Dad!Spence x reader.) You find out about Spencers collection of photos of your daughter Lily! There are practically thousands. He doesn't see the problem.

"Spencer!" You say aghast at the number of pictures he had of your one year old daughter Lily. You had been taking selfies, as you regularly did so he could make you his wallpaper. But then you had stumbled upon the numerous amount of photos taken of her while sleeping, playing with her toys, walking and so on.

He came grinning into the room with said baby in his arms, he had just changed her into her yellow duckling onesie in the spirit of easter.

"Yea baby?" but he wasn't even looking at you too absorbed in playing peekaboo with Lily. He sat down on the play-rug nearby.

Wanting to see more you only giggled as said "You're too much.". Continuing to mindlessly scroll through the photos in a daze, smiling till your face hurt as you eventually got to the selfies he'd taken with your daughter.

Most of them blurred as you saw picture by picture she had tried to grab the phone from him.

When you were about to ask him why he kept the ones that were so blurred, Penelope texted. All it said was "8 photos sent" on the notification icon, and you looked over quickly,

"Hey Spence, Penelope just sent you a text, looks like a lot of photos."

Handing him the phone, to which he took excitedly, he opened it and began tapping rapidly at the screen, then turning it to lily who was facing him while she attempted to pull his sock of with her little hands.

"Look baby, thats you, yes it is, such a pretty girl! Your Auntie Penelope just sent me more!" to which she responded by giggling and tapping at his knees.

You couldn't help but laugh with her as you took a seat next to them.

"Spence you have an addiction to taking photos of our daughter." You informed him.

He looked at you as if he had been struck. "I do not."

You proceeded to grab his phone and go to the album you'd found filled with a myriad of nearly identical photos of her face. "There are thousands of these."

He pouted as he tried grabbing for the phone,"No there aren't"

"Some of them you can't even recognize her! And those selfies, do you really need an 80 photo play-by-play of her grabbing your phone?"

He was not taking it. "Yes, actually, she's the most adorable person ever! I need them...all of them."

You rolled your eyes playfully, crawling over to Lily who had wandered as far as her little limbs could take her.

Picking her up while you stood you carried her to the kitchen while cooing, "Your daddy's obsessed with you! Yes he is! He loves so much!I'm surprised he hasn't run out of storage!"

While you started meal prepping with Lily resting on your hip you could hear Spencer slowly almost anxiously on his way to you.

"Yea about that...I kinda sorta maybe...bought a new phone."

"Spencer!"You couldn't believe him, but at the same time you strangely understood as you looked down at the gorgeous girl that you were proud to call your daughter.

"Mommy's gonna strangle daddy, yes she is! She's also gonna get control of the remote for the rest of the month, uh huh!"

Spencer walked over to you, grumbling about how it was really an investment in Lily, lifting her from your arms and taking out a foreign phone from his pocket which you assumed was the newest on the market.

But whatever agitation you felt slipped away as your heart warmed, the view of the love of your life playing with your daughter while simultaneously taking terribly blurry photos and whispering to her, "So worth it." really did make it worth it.

[theplottdump]

ＳＩＤＥ ＰＬＯＴＴ - Ｇ Ａ Ｍ ＥＰＬＡＹ ＳＰＡ Ｍ - 𝙶𝚎𝚗 𝟼: 𝚅𝚊𝚕 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚍 -

Dear Journal -

Things are going pretty well! I know the watcher is working on Auntie Poppy's story right now, so I don't mind giving you an update on all the goings and comings and goings again.

A few days ago was TV season Premiere Day, Daddy was working so he missed it. Dad said we could tape it so he could watch it later. He also got a really silly GTW illness that went away before the show was even over. The best way to get better when you're sick- waiting for the buff to expire.

Good Dad got back after I fell asleep, must have been kinda boring for evil dad watching the same show over again.

The next day Auntie Poppy invited Daddy to Tomarang for lunch. (that's in EP 15 btdubs)

He asked her if she ever wanted kids as a joke just to see the face she made- I get it, there's a lot of sciencey stuff and tubes involved.

But since the night market didn't open til - y'know night, the watcher got bored waiting and we got to have a family dinner! Leanne made Samosa Soup 😋

The Day After was like SO RAINY- I hate rainy days. Outdoors is where all the good stuff is. Dad and Leanne had to fly all the way to Mt. Komorebi for a League of Evil Meeting. He told me they're working on wiping all the CAS nose shadows from existence.

Daddy knows how much I hate rainy days- but he always seems to find a way to make things better.

We ended up building this massive blanket fort in the lounge!!! It was really cool actually- we played my sims racers together!

Daddy's really bad at video games 🤣 he says it's cause he grew up unplayed, but it's totally a skill issue cause I'm amazing at them 😎

Then Dad and Leanne got home- I thought they'd be SOOPER MAD- Dad hates it when we move around the furniture in the lounge. But we all ended up watching Lost Dog's Way Home 4 together.

I guess rainy days aren't so bad sometimes. That's all for now journal!! See you later!

Sunny Plott 🌻

[holylulusworld]

One Summer Night - Kinktober 13

Summary: You meet a charismatic man at the farmer’s market.

Pairing: Cult!Leader Thor Odinson x fem!Reader

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: seduction, desire, smut, unprotected sex, needy reader, public sex/kinda public claiming, voyeurism

Square 3 filled for @anyfandomangstbingo: Square 3: Cult AU

Kink: Sex Cult

Kinktober vs Flufftober 2023

The first time you saw him he walked through a field of yellow wildflowers. He looked like he was out of this world. Chest bare, barefoot and his shaggy hair blowing freely in the wind.

He looked up at the blue sky, and let the sun kiss his skin.

For a moment you watched the man until more people joined him.

Mostly women who looked like they were hypnotized by his beauty, or something else. You didn’t know. 

Eyes glued to the man you watched him run one hand over his naked chest while the other gently touched the flowers.

You dropped your gaze the moment his eyes found yours. He smiled and plugged a flower to tug it behind his ear.

It looked like he was watching you and your heart thundered in your chest. He walked toward you, as your feet felt like you were frozen to the ground.

The spell he held over you was broken when your aunt called your name and grabbed your arm. 

“Y/N, don’t you ever get involved with that…hippie. He’s no good and means trouble. Everyone knows he’s the leader of a sex cult or shit.”

“Sex cult?” you glanced at the beautiful man standing only a few feet away from you. He smirked and studied your face as your aunt tried to drag you away. “Stay away from my niece. You won’t get her too!”

He raised his hands in surrender, making things worse for you. Your eyes dropped to his abs, leading you down to the prominent erection he didn’t even try to hide.

“Little wildflower, if you are ever free of that woman, come see me,” he spoke to you. You shuddered and clutched your hands to your sides.

It felt like his words went straight to your heart, running through your body to reach a much lower region… 

“Y/A/N, it’s the farmer’s market, not an enemy base,” you rolled your eyes as your aunt scrunched up her nose. Unlike you, she never liked spending time at the farmer’s market. “How about I get everything we will need for the pie festival, and you can go home and rest?”

“My bench in the garden is waiting for me,” she considered your suggestion. Your aunt feels responsible for you, even though, you are an adult, and a grown woman. 

“Alright,” you clapped your hands. “I didn’t come here to spend my vacation with you to sit around and do nothing. Let me handle this.”

“Don’t stay here too long,” your aunt said. “Uh-and don’t talk to strangers. If that bastard shows up, ignore him. Do not get too close to him. He comes here every summer, looking for God knows what.”

“Auntie,” you sighed but smiled at her. “I’m a grown woman, you know.”

“You’re still the little girl I raised,” she tutted and patted your cheek. “Stay out of trouble, young lady.”

You grinned. She won’t ever change, and you love her for it.

“Wildflower,” you felt his presence before you heard his voice call for you. The man in the wildflower field suddenly stood right in front of you. 

That day, he was wearing an unbuttoned button-up shirt. He was still barefoot and looked like the hippie your aunt called him, but you’d call the shirt progress.

“Mr.,” frowning you realized you didn’t know his name. “Sorry, I don’t know your name,” feeling your cheeks heat up you let him take your hand to press a soft kiss to your knuckles.

That feeling overwhelmed you once again. This time it went straight to your lower half, making you soak your panties.

“Names are only...,” he cupped your chin to tilt your head, humming as your eyes fluttered shut, “for the people with no fantasy. You can call me anything you want to.”

“I prefer a name,” you murmured but allowed him to stroke your cheek with his knuckles. “Please…”

“Thor, little wildflower. That’s the name the immortals gave me when they created me to bring sun, love, and new life to this world.”

You giggled at his words. Your aunt was right. Thor did sound like the leader of some cult. But this didn’t stop you from dreaming of offering your body and soul to this man.

“My name is Y/N.”

“No. Your name is Sif, my Goddess and future mother of my children. We will bring love and hope to this rotten world, my little wildflower.”

“No…I’m Y/N.” You tried to open your eyes, but it was so hard to fight the warmth on your cheek from his hand.

“You are my fate,” he murmured as he dipped his head to press his lips to yours. Your eyes snapped open, and you wrapped your arms around his neck, almost pouncing on Thor to taste more of him. “Come with me and meet my companions. They can hardly wait to get to know you.”

“I can’t,” you whispered. “My aunt is waiting for me.” You looked up to Thor, the personalized sin. “She warned me to get involved with you.”

“Of course, she did,” he purred against your lips. “You’ll come to me, sooner than later. I’ve chosen you to become my mate for the coming eons…”

“Y/N, what’s wrong with you today?” Your aunt watched you poke the pie on your plate. “Are you not hungry? Do you want to go home?”

“Did you ever feel deeply for a person you just met?” You glanced at your aunt before dropping your eyes to your hands. “With your heart, body, and soul?”

“What did that man do to you?” She shook her head. “Please don’t tell me you fell for him too. He ruined so many girls. Every summer he comes over to our little town like a force of nature. He seduces women here and there only to disappear until the next summer.”

“He didn’t do a thing. We didn’t do a thing,” you spluttered. “I was wondering if you felt like this too when you were younger. He means trouble, so much I know. But I can’t help it. I’m drawn to him.”

You met Thor again only a few days later. This time he came to your aunt’s garden and talked you into following him to the wildflower field.

Walking next to him, fingertips touching the yellow wildflowers you tried not to think too much.

“Come with me. The moon is right,” he said, grabbing your hand to guide you toward a secret place.  A spot you never set foot in before.

Thor led you toward a wild of pink orchids, protected by large oaks. 

In the middle of the field stood a statue. It looked like a God. Its right arm stretched towards heaven, the other one holding a large hammer. 

“Where are we?” you whispered as his companions stepped toward the statue. They all kneeled and placed a pink orchid to the statue’s feet, mumbling words you didn’t understand. “Thor, what are they doing?”

Your eyes grew wide when the women and men stripped each other bare. “Just watch my little wildflower. And if you are ready, we will join them.”

Gasping you had to watch them all gather around the statue. This time they didn’t pray. This time they start to chant a name and move their body to music only they seem to hear. It was beautiful and terrifying at the same time how they chanted themselves into a trance-like status.

For a moment, it seemed like the statue smiled down at you. You blinked a few times to be sure you didn’t imagine things but its face remained stoic.

“What are they doing?” 

“They call for me, my wildflower. They want us to unite to bring eternal summer, love, and fertility back to this town,” he wrapped his arms around you. “Give yourself to me.”

“Give myself to you.” 

He started to sway to music you couldn’t hear, but your body moved on its own. You let him slide the straps of your dress down. It fell to the ground, but you didn’t care.

“You’re meant to be mine,” he whispered in your ear while guiding your body, making you dance with him. “You’re going to be mine forever.”

The people turned their attention toward you and Thor. They cheered him on as he slid your panties down and ripped your bra off of your chest. 

“Look at my bride,” he shouted out a victory cry. “She’s going to be my mate.”

You felt like you were lost in limbo, his arms the only anchor keeping you in this world. He picked you up, carrying you toward the statue.

You’re not sure it happened, but the flowers seemed to form a bed. Thor placed you on the flowers and spread your legs. 

You heard gasps and chants but all you could focus on was Thor taking off his clothes. He looked down at you, nodding in approval when you spread your legs.

His blue eyes seemed to sparkle when he laid with you. He took his rightful place between your thighs, claiming what he told you was his all along.

Thor sank into you, inch per glorious inch. He whispered gentle words, but his hands roughly pinned your wrist down, keeping you immobile as he started to move inside of you.

“All-father, watch me claim my bride,” he chanted while his hips mercilessly crashed into yours. You were writhing underneath him, crying at the intense pleasure he forced you to endure. “She’s my goddess. Give me your blessings.”

Lightning hit the ground right next to your head, but you didn’t care. Your body craved something more than survival.

“Thor,” you began to meet his thrusts, encouraging him to take you harder. “More…deeper…I’m yours.”

“Thor, our god.” The crowd began to chant. They kneeled next to you, watching you and Thor unite. “Give her your seed.”

Thor gripped your thighs, spreading you wider to watch his cock slide in and out of your dripping cunt. He growled like a feral animal.

“Have my seed, my little wildflower,” his features softened, and he released your wrist, allowing you to touch him. “Cum for me. I want to feel your pleasure.”

“Oh…I’m gonna cum,” your hands move to his back to hold tight onto Thor. 

His warmth filled you, but he didn’t let up. Thor pushed into you, over and over again until you tightened around him. 

Your eyes sparkled, and your skin began to glow. It felt like your body wasn’t yours any longer. Thor now owned it, but you didn’t mind.

“Watch my goddess transform into her true form.”

He slipped out of you, smiling down at your trembling body. 

“All-father, give her your blessing,” he chanted as another lightning hit the ground next to you. You felt like you began to float, and maybe you did.

You still don’t know. 

Blinding light covered your whole body and wrapped you in its warmth until you felt nothing but love.

You sank back down on the bed of pink orchids, eyes fluttering shut.  

“Yes. All-father.” Thor chanted even harder. “Please allow me to make her mine completely...”

That’s how you became the goddess of fertility, ruling this world alongside your lover. Thor, God of love, thunder, and summer.

From that night on, you walked this world with your mate, bringing summer, love, and fertility to the people.

Tags in reblog.

[elf-kid2]

Modern Witchers

So this contractor drives into this tiny town, way out in the sticks, in the kind of beat-up white van used by many tradesman, and allegedly favored by murderous kidnappers.

He's got white hair that you're not sure is bleached or not, strange eyes short manners. Maybe (probably) he kinda gives you the creeps. White van, stranger-danger, big guy with muscles, and all. Bad vibes.

But you've got a problem, no denying: there's SOMETHING in those woods that doesn't belong there, and recently, when the local boys went to DO something about it... that SOMETHING went from killing livestock, to killing people to. And you know, once those types of creatures get a taste for human blood... best to deal with it sooner, rather than later. Hence, the out-of-town contractor.

Witchers specialize in hunting monsters, after all.

Better to put together a fundraiser to pay the (frankly, outrageous) fees now, then to have to pay all that later, plus the surcharge for beasts that've killed multiple people, plus pulling together the funds for more funerals.

A stitch in time save nine, as the saying goes.

He's got a musician hitchhiking with him, which you weren't expecting. Some hapless hitchhiker with a dufflebag over his shoulder, and a guitar on his back, who got lost on the way to Vegas, or Nashville, or wherever it is starry-eyed musicians go to Make It Big, these days.

Auntie said that any hitchhiker with sense'd be better off walking down a lonely road, instead of getting into a van like that, driven by a man like that. But I guess it takes all kinds of kinds, and that musician hadn't been murdered yet, so make of that what you will.

Anyhow, the musician started busking in the farmer's market-- some decent covers, a few original songs, and some kind of surprisingly catchy jingle for the contractor who'd given him a lift into town. It was pretty good; live music is always a treat when you can get it, and it'd been a while since the last Bluegrass Festival.

He knew how to charm people, work the crowd, how to ask for "donations to the fine arts" without being irritating about it. People dropped cash, and pennies, and quarters, into his open guitar case, at any rate.

I reckon he scraped together at least enough for lunch, form himself'n his friend. Witchers are surly and stingy as anything, y'know, so I wondered why he wasn't covering the meal, with how much he'd charged for slaying the monster...

...But I overheard mention of how he'd had to get that van fixed up at Joe's Auto-Mechanics, over by the old factory in the valley-- and everyone knows that Joe's Auto'll charge three times what the repairs are worth, with parts that cost ten times as much as they oughtta. Lord knows, those scammers'd be out of business, if there were any better options within 50 miles of their shop!

And that is why if you think your truck's getting ready to break down, you should try an' make sure it breaks down closer to home. And also why I figure it makes sense that even a Witcher'd be short on cash, after dealing with 'em.

Anyway, the Witcher spoke with the Sheriff, and he went out monster-hunting that night.

Meanwhile, that hitchhiking musician was playing at the local bar, and let me tell you-- he was pretty damn good! Played a few drinking-songs, and the kind of songs you can't play in front of the kiddos at Farmer's Market, played some catchy tunes that had people dancing and clapping along...!

I particularly enjoyed the murder-ballad about the woman who turned into a vengeful fire-monster when she found out her man was messing around with other women. Very clever wordplay, "flames of desire lighting up your funeral pyre!" Good stuff.

Then the Witcher came in-- fresh from the contract, and half-covered in mud and blood! Barkeep wouldn't even let him sit down until he'd hosed off the worst of it, out back!

Musician-- Jaskier, he called himself-- raised a toast to a successful hunt, and another to monster-hunters who let loving families sleep safely, and rowdy drunks stumble home un-eaten, and soon enough somebody was buying that Witcher a drink, and the barkeep gave him a plate of food on the house, and it was good times all around!

Beats toasting newly-dead friends, and drinking to forget the monsters at the door, any day.

The thing is, this is a small town. Not a lot of people come visit, and if they do, they're generally staying with family. Which is to say, there aren't any motels around here.

Now, that contractor, that Witcher, he'd asked around, beforehand, about what was available, in terms of overnight accomodations-- which, let's be honest, isn't much around here. Come morning, I saw that beat-up van parked outside the Rosebud Bed & Breakfast.

Now Rosebud's is a nice place, a respectable establishment, but we all know they've had some trouble since that big storm last month, when a tree smashed through the roof! Las I checked, that Bed & Breakfast only had the one bed fit for guests to sleep in!

Might've been a rather one-sided bidding war, or a tight fit, with two out-of-towners vying for a roof overhead, that night. But that's none of my business.

Jaskier the musician left town with the Witcher-- Geralt Rivera, I think the name was-- same as he came in. Well, makes sense that he wouldn't want to stay long enough to put down roots, a young musician on a mission to see the world and/or become rich and famous.

The Witcher, Geralt, did good work with the monster, too. I guess that's why they're the experts... Some folks are talking about having what's left of the beasty taxidermy'd, did you know? Might make a decent tourist attraction, or a decoration for Town Hall, or something. I don't know.

Anyway, all that's to say... don't let anybody tell you there's not still a need for Witchers, in the modern day.

[tsunami-of-tears]

Breaking Traditions

Poly+ ACOTAR Week 2024 - Day 6 (Celebration)

Cazriel x Healer Reader

Summary: Not wanting to be ganged up on during the annual snowball fight with his brothers - Rhys introduces some new rules. 

Pairing Masterlist

Wordcount: 1K

Warnings: Reader feeling self-conscious, Cassian and Azriel are so sweet though.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ:

Reader

The first Winter Solstice with your new family was upon you. You never celebrated the holiday in the Spring Court, but were buzzing with anticipation for the annual event after hearing the stories from your mates. They spoke of previous Solstices with so much joy, and you couldn’t wait to start making special memories with them. 

It’s the week before the holiday. Velaris is coated in a blanket of snow, while faelights and festive decorations adorn the houses and shopfronts throughout the city. You walk through the winding streets admiring the sights, bundled in many layers to keep out the winter chill. Music plays out across the market squares along with the sound of laughter as both children and adults play in the snow and go about their preparations. 

You were finishing up some shopping before making your way to the River House for a family dinner. 

Feyre greets you upon your arrival with Nyx standing by her legs. He takes your hand, chattering away about the toys he wants to get for Solstice as Feyre escorts you to the lounge where everyone has already gathered. 

Both Cassian and Azriel smile and sit up as you enter and take your usual seat between them, Nyx lets go of your hand to sit with his Auntie Elain. Azriel’s shadows swirl around you in greeting, the one he keeps with you at all times hurries back to its master to report on your outing.

Cassian leans over to whisper something filthy in your ear – he could use the bond but you both enjoy the possibility of someone else hearing – as Rhys clears his throat. He gives Cassian a pointed stare before turning to address the room. 

“As you all know, my brothers and I compete in an annual snowball fight. With the mating bond now in place between them, it wouldn’t be fair to continue the tradition the way it stands.”

Cassian and Azriel both call out their objections. “We’ve been doing this every year since we were children. We can’t just stop!!” “I think someone is afraid of competition…”

Rhys gives his brothers a feline grin, “I never said anything about stopping. I was merely suggesting a slight change in the rules.” 

“Okay Rhys, can you stop with the dramatics and get to the point?” Cassian mutters. 

Rhys sighs, picking at a strand on his lapel. “I propose that this year we play in teams. Cassian, Azriel and Y/N can be one team, playing for bragging rights against myself, Feyre Darling and Mor.” 

You lock eyes with Feyre and Mor who are too shocked to speak, none of you saw this change of rules coming. Cassian cheers beside you, turning your attention to his wide smile. 

You speak down the bond to both of your mates. ‘You’re both at a disadvantage, I’m not as strong as the others.’ 

Azriel reassures you silently, his hand resting on your thigh. ‘Don’t worry angel, we have a week to prepare.’

“As our family grows we can keep adjusting the teams,” Rhys says, reaching down to ruffle Nyx’s hair, the boy scrunches his nose at his father.

“Wow, Illyrians can change their ways,” Mor smirks. “I’ll pass on the naked birchin bonding though.” 

Your eyes widen. In all their stories, your mates had neglected that part. You can feel their gaze on you. ‘That’s the part we’re most looking forward to.’

————

Cassian and Azriel tried their best to get you ready for the snowball fight but you’d never seen snow before this Winter, and with only a week to practise you were unsurprisingly underprepared. 

You stayed out of most of the action, helping to replenish the snowball stockpiles with the help of the shadows and your mates keeping you shielded from the brunt of the attacks. 

Somehow, you still managed to come out on top. 

The scoring system seemed arbitrary and you weren’t sure how they kept track of the points or declared a winner. You decided you’d have to offer some suggestions before the next Solstice, but you wouldn’t argue the results this time.

Azriel carries you on his shoulders as he and Cassian perform their victory chant, white clouds floating from their mouths in the brisk air. Now that the battle is over, you all make your way inside to escape the frigid temperatures. Mor and Feyre trail behind with a crestfallen Rhys.

A fire roars to life in the hearth as you enter your shared bedroom in the cabin. You raise your hands in an attempt to warm your icy fingers but it’s no use. 

“Come here angel, we have a better remedy for the cold,” Azriel says, helping you remove your sodden clothes before taking off his own. 

Your eyes fall on your naked form in the mirror. Goosebumps cover your skin in between the many silvery scars courtesy of the Human Queens. You had become accustomed to Cassian and Azriel seeing them, but the thought of being so exposed in front of anyone else had your anxiety growing.

You must have been screaming your feelings down the bond, as Cassian is by your side a heartbeat later. He takes your hand in his, which is somehow warm despite the day in the snow. He kisses the back of your palm, meeting your eyes in the mirror. “Each one shows how brave you are,” he murmurs. 

A moment later, Azriel is behind you, holding up a robe to cover yourself with and a sad, understanding smile on his face. You put your arms through the holes and Cassian helps to fasten the tie around you. He holds your face gently and leans down to give you a sweet kiss. “We’re both so proud of you,” he whispers against your lips. “You don’t have to do this next part if you don’t want to.” 

“It’s a tradition, I wouldn’t miss it.” 

Cassian kisses you again softly. “Just tell us if you want to leave, okay?” 

“Okay,” you agree, taking the hand of each of your mates in yours. “Let’s get warmed up,” you grin. 

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ:

A/N: I had planned to add some steamy birchin smut featuring Feyre x Reader but it’s just not coming together how I’d like it to. I’m feeling so frustrated with myself ☹️ I’ll leave this open to a potential Part 2 but no promises xx

Tags ♡ @littlestw01f @impossibelle @dream-alittlebiggerdarling @the-wall-willow @xasael @lilah-asteria @saltedcoffeescotch @mybestfriendmademe @coolepowersthings @therealmoonstone

[throwingmetothelions]

Cam Boy HC - Bad Omens

So I got a request from an anon about like … phone sex or virtual sex or something and it was lowkey stumping me. Then I thought about cam boys. Then I think it was @badhedonist that said something about cam boys and that confirmed that I needed to give y’all my headcanons about this. Auntie V doesn’t work for a week so prepare to be sick of me. TW: mentions of sex work, voyeurism, exhibitionism. WE SUPPORT SEX WORKERS IN THIS HOUSE DONT START WITH ME.

Noah (StopTheFuckingCar) - He started cam work out of what he saw as a necessity. He was 20 when his girlfriend at the time suggested it.

“It’s just like … there’s a market for the tattoos and the long hair and shit. You pretend like the camera isn’t on. Ignore the chat or whatever … but making quick money from jerking off can’t hurt, ya know? Make some gas money for tour,” she told him as she pulled up the site. She mumbled something about sharing the link around her circle, something about bitches always wanting her man and having the opportunity.

Quick money for tour.

Just a few times.

He made the username … some old band lyric that came to mind. Made sure his tattooed skin and the ends of his hair were visible in the camera. Black ink scattered over a moonlight-pale belly. He shook like a goddamn leaf the first time he started the show.

Ignore the chat. Ignore the camera.

I think Noah muted it all. Didn’t want to hear the clink and cling of people sending money, or liking it. Didn’t want to think that people were watching him.

The shit ya do for a handful of Slim Jim’s and some fucking apple juice, man.

His nervously twitching hand wrapped around the base of his dick and squeezed around. Hard. His neck rolled and Noah’s head fell back as he felt the blood flow.

Do what you normally do.

Noah reached over himself with his right hand and grabbed the bottle of “Lavender Champagne” lotion his girl kept on the bedside. He’d never really needed lube or lotion before as leaning his head down and spitting on his cock was, well, acceptable to him … but maybe not to one of the twenty-seven people watching. The cold lotion ripped a hiss from his clenched teeth, but his head fell right back into its previous position as the slick slide of his fist passed over the head.

Holy fuck.

Noah couldn’t hold the tiny gasping moans that left his open mouth. The heinously obscene sound of his cock being worked over made the blood rush to the tips of his ears. His heartbeat was present in his dick as he jerked himself faster and tightened that grip at the end of each stroke.

“Oooo shit,” it’s high pitched and it comes with a quick roll of his hips.

At this point, he really was entirely lost in the self-pleasure. The cam didn’t exist. Hell, the laptop could’ve flown off the bed and he wouldn’t have known because the way his toes were curling and his ass was grinding into the mattress before arching off again? Pure pandemonium in his melting brain.

“I’m so goddamn close,” he whimpers as he almost reflexively closes his legs at the intensity. He hasn’t jacked off like this since he was a fuckin’ teenager, and maybe that isn’t even true. He definitely hadn’t hit the point where anyone could walk in and see and he’d make eye contact and continue in a long time. Seriously. It could’ve been Jesus and every single disciple he had. All nine or whatever, Noah thinks.

“Can I - can I cum? I really need to fucking cum,” he whines and thrashes his head around on the pillow, and who he’s talking to? Not even he knows that. Noah might bite his lip until it bleeds if he doesn’t bust soon. His left hand shoots out from under the blanket to grip on to as much of the bed as he can grab. “I’ve gotta … oh … uh,” his moans get progressively louder as he cums so hard that the ropes hit him on his fucking neck. His eyes flutter back open and the bright light of the still rolling screen is a violent reminder.

Frantic and unable tell what is lotion and what is semen, Noah hits a key and stops the camera abruptly.

74 viewers. A full chat log. 4 private messages. A shit load of coins or some shit - he never checked how the currency works.

MommyAlicia: I like the way you beg pretty baby xx

Throwitallaway: Do you take requests?? I’ve never cum so fast.

XXXXTinkerbell: I’ll be following you bc this was fucking hottt

Noah catches his breath, blinks a few times, and he cannot hide the small upturn in the corner of his mouth.

Nicholas (OdachiDaddy) - Nick wasn’t new to this. He’d been using cam work as a means of play for about a year now. It all started as something he jumped in on once with Noah.

“Emo Twink Boyfriends Jack Off In The Living Room Before Pizza Guy Comes Over” was a fucking hit, and Nicholas had never made 150 bucks that fast.

He started his own shit. Quick nickname. Tagged Noah for the views.

See, Nicholas was always good at math. He knew that slowly tugging on his leaking cock plus a little dirty talk specifically catered to those housewives that weren’t getting enough from their men meant dollars (and lube) in his hand.

“If you were here I’d let you lick all of this up,” he muses as he shows the camera a bead of precum he’s swiped off the tip. He brought his thumb to his bottom lip before dragging it across and moaning under his breath.

The money counter dinged away.

He ran his tattooed fingers over his hip and continued to twist his wrist over the head as he adjusted himself into a sitting position.

CherryBomb14: God ur so hot I want you to put a baby in meee

His mind works quick. Her profile picture shows that she’s older … he takes a risk.

“Again? Make you a mom again? Come sit on this cock and we can discuss details,” he chuckles as he bites his lower lip and nods his head back a little.

The money counter clinks so many times he can’t count it. Bingo.

Not that he was ever this bold with real life partners, not always. He’s been a creative all his life though. Nick knew what they wanted to hear, and he let it flow while he put on a show for them.

“If you’re watching alone feel free to - fuck. Feel free to play along. I know you need to cum. I know work was hard. Just … you can reach down and rub on that clit a little? For me?,” he strokes his cock as he makes direct eye contact with the camera. “I know you’ll do it for me because I know you’re soaked. Go ahead and fucking check sweetheart,” he groans as he feels the pool of heat building in his gut.

Nobody needed to know about the unnecessarily long hours spent scrolling through porn, reading Reddit posts, and letting his own filthy mindbox scroll away that it took to curate the dirty mouth that got him in the top 5% of male performers. Hell … whatever got him there, right?

Nicholas pauses to spit in his hand before continuing. As much as he did this for his loyal viewers, anyone in his position would be .9 seconds away from blowing a load all over themselves if they fucked their fist the way he did.

“It’s … it doesn’t feel like your pussy. I want your pussy,” he licks over his bottom lip as his head falls back and his mouth parts with a silent scream.

Feeling his end near he does what he’s known for … call it a finishing move or some shit. “I’m gonna give you my cum - where do you want it, huh? Can I fill it up? I’m gonna fill it up,” he cums all over his hand with a loud grunt and a harsh snap of his hips. He likes to ride it out by ghosting his fingertips along his shaft … plays with his cum a little, much to the enjoyment of the 322 viewers he has.

“Ugh. That was a good one … holy shit,” he lets out an exasperated sigh as he swipes at his forehead with his clean hand. “Alright, y’all know the speech. Meet me back here on uhm … meet back on Wednesday at 7 pm Pacific and we’ll help each other out again, hmm? Night night,” he smiles and turns the camera off before tucking himself away.

Nicholas slowly got up from the couch and went to go take a shower with thoughts of next week’s theme bouncing around in his skull.

Folio (RideItLikeYouStoleIt) - He got introduced to the sex work world through Nicholas and Noah when he forced them to explain why they needed him to dress up like a Pizza Hut worker, knock on the door of Noah’s house and ask them if they ordered the extra-large meat lovers with stuffed crust.

He looked at them like they’d lost their goddamn marbles, but he couldn’t help but think about how they made 300 bucks in 15 minutes and all they did was jerk off (which Folio was quite good at) for a handful of people.

See, Folio has a specific niche. A role he’s taken on. His brand, if you will.

There’s a religious following of about 400 viewers that pay to watch him do cum tributes. It’s all very structured. The money hits his account by the end of the day on Thursday, and on Friday morning he prints the pictures that his paying viewers sent in. Sometimes it’s just a face, sometimes it’s their ass cheeks spread wide and inviting for him, and sometimes it’s their pussies that they’re parting open with two fingers.

“I’d pound away at this cunt until its fucking raw, I swear to god,” he grunts as he quickly works his hand over his dick. “I wish you could sit this pretty pussy on my face babe,” he groans as he teases the tip.

The coins clank away as the camera rolls. The view is his nipples down and he’s standing up while holding the photo in his left hand. His chin pins his shirt up so the viewers get a clear shot of the eagle he has tattooed across his heaving chest.

“Is this what you wanted? I’ve been saving all this cum for you - shit. I wanna paint that ass with it,” he moans as he feels the warmth rise up his torso.

Folio had a fascination with cum tributes before he even knew what they were. He was a simple man. Flipping through a motorcycle mag and seeing a girl sitting on a bike was enough for that night to end with a few pages you couldn’t turn anymore. If he could profit off of something he was already accustomed to … why the fuck not?

Throwaway395: I might have to send one next week omg

StopTheFuckingCar: You should! He can cum more than once ;)

If he wasn’t so fucking close to the edge Nick might have laughed at Noah because yeah. The weed does that to him. That’s part of why he decided to capitalize on his abilities.

“God I’m gonna cum so fucking hard,” he grunts as the money counter chimes again. And with a loud groan that’s been ripped from his lungs, he does. He paints the perfect picture. Gets the paper all messy and cum covered … rubs it in with the tip of his dick.

“Thank you so much for sending that in,” he smiles as he holds it up to the camera. He shows off his work for a second, “alright. Now up next we haaaave … Ms.KatieLove. I’m gonna grab some water and we’ll get into it,” he chuckles as he blows a kiss at the camera.

Jolly (TheDoorsUnlocked) - Oh Jolly. Jolly didn’t get introduced to this by any of the boys. His own dark perverse fantasies brought him in front of his monitor three nights a week.

Jolly doesn’t touch himself unless it’s on cam. That’s bible.

The thrill of getting caught was one that hung over him for years. Something about touring and being close to others. Something about having to jack off with an almost fully dry hand to keep the sounds down, but secretly hoping that the accidental moans would send someone knocking on the venue’s broom closet door.

He makes a ritual of it. He greets his fans with a soft and warm voice. Jolly pans over to the window and opens the curtains up, and then pans back around to show them that his bedroom door is unlocked. He sits in his computer chair and he pulls his cock free from his sweatpants.

“So,” he says as he strokes himself in long languid succession, “my roommates have a few people over and I was thinking about like,” he bites his lower lip in thought. “I was thinking like what if someone gave them bad directions to the bathroom and they walked up here and just … fuck that feels nice - they just walked in on me getting off like this,” he tilts his head to the side as his jaw clicks.

“What if you were here? And what if we were fucking really slow under the covers? If they walked in would you make me stop, or could I grind against that pussy while they ask me what the WiFi password is,” Jolly can’t help but apply extra pressure when he rhythmically squeezes the head of his dick at the thought.

Living in a house full of sex workers really meant that he could text them the exact time that he needed them to knock on the door, or the exact time he wanted one of them to shout and ask if he was ready to go to the grocery store yet. His fans loved those brief oh shit moments.

SasukesWifey: what if someone is leaving the party and they look up into your window? I would run right back inside ugh

“Don’t tease me like that,” he hisses as his dick spills a little more precum. Of course Jolly has tint on his windows and no one can see in, but they didn’t need to know that. “I need to cum but I gotta stay quiet. Oh my god,” he breathes out.

OdachiDaddy: FUCKIN’ CAUGHT. IM COMING UP UPSTAIRS DAWG. YOU SAID YOU WERE WORKING ON A SONG.

The coins start flowing like lava.

Jollys eyes blow wide as his pace quickens. Nicholas threatening to blow the door wide open was all it took for him to cum all over his stomach.

“Shit shit shit,” he groaned out as he squeezed the last drops of cum from his dick.

Just as the money counter stops furiously clinking, Jolly shoves himself back into his pants (and curses quietly because he knows that cumstain will show straight through) and sits back as the door opens up.

“Whaaaatcha doin,” Nicholas asks in a singsong voice.

Firefly_21: oooo who is he 👀

Jolly mouths a solid “shut up,” at the camera before raising his eyebrows.

He hangs his head in his hands and laughs as a smile breaks out over his reddened cheeks.

“Well … stand up bro. We got burgers down there. Come on … get up,” Nicholas yanks on his hand with a wicked smirk as Jolly clicks out of the session.

[mariaofdoranelle]

Mistletinder

Masterlist

Merry Christmas/Yulemas, @writtenonreceipts! I hope this fic finds you well. I was so happy when I got you in the draw because I admire you so much, and I hope you have as much fun reading your gift as I had writing it ❤️

@rowaelinscourt thank you for organizing the secret Santa!

Warnings: moderate alcohol intake

Words: 4,7k

“This is gonna bite you in the ass someday, you know?” Sellene reproached from behind the steering wheel. Her friend couldn’t see what Aelin was doing on her phone, but somehow she knew.

“Shh!” Aelin looked behind her to check on the girls, but they were still sound asleep. At the age of four, if they listened to any curse word, it’d be forever until they stopped repeating it over and over again. At least, from what she was told, the Whitethorn family was used to small children and their demands. It was the whole reason why she was spending Yulemas with them, after all.

Aelin and Maisie were on their own now, and when Sellene all but dragged them to her family’s farm because of all the kids and animals, it was hard to argue. After the year from hell they had, a nice Yulemas was the least she could do for Maisie.

“You’re avoiding the subject,” Sellene insisted.

“Yes. Because I don’t wanna talk about it.”

“But you sure seem to want to keep doing it, huh?”

When you’re broke after your divorce and your business isn’t thriving, ain’t it funny what you’ll do?

On one drunken night amidst her separation, Aelin downloaded Tinder and scheduled a date on the bookstore café she owned. But when she freaked out and canceled right after the guy—Archer—arrived, she could only watch from her mezzanine office, amazed, as he stuffed his face with baked goods and left with two books.

After that, luring people from Tinder into Fireheart Books & Cafe was just a small part of her marketing plan. And the most unethical one.

“It’s a lucrative strategy,” Aelin said, feeling defensive.

“That you don’t need anymore.” Sellene rolled her eyes. “Didn’t you just butcher the anthropology section to fit more tables?”

Yes. For the same reason Aelin added sidewalk dining tables. “Your point is?”

“Did you at least give someone a try while you’re at it?”

Once. Just one person that made her actually enjoy the execution of her plan, even extending it so she’d talk to him more before ghosting. Conversation flowed, and Aelin had already gone on some dates at that point after her separation, but she wasn’t naïve enough to think she’d find love on Tinder.

“That app is a lost cause, Sel.”

“Doesn’t mean you can’t find some good hot dates.” Her friend wiggled her eyebrows. “I know I did.”

Aelin managed to muffle her laughter with one hand so the two sleeping beauties on the back wouldn’t wake up. She brushed her daughter’s chestnut hair away from her face, watching the way she leaned on her friend during their nap. Maisie and Bree were thick as thieves in preschool and, as single moms, Aelin and Sellene would frequently help each other out.

Sellene has a hot date? Auntie Ae and Maisie will happily have Bree for a sleepover.

Aelin is busy at the book shop? Auntie Sel and Bree can drop Maisie there when school is over.

Sellene was godsend this year, and listening to her rant about her love life was just one of the fun perks of being so close to her. If the few dates Aelin went to this year actually happened, it was because her friend insisted.

“So, how’s that thing with Ilias again?” Aelin said, desperate to change the subject.

A groan. “You will not believe what he texted me this morning…”

Aelin let her friend go on about her situationship, a little relieved that she wasn’t the focus of the conversation anymore.

Truth was, she was a little anxious about this Yulemas. Sellene guaranteed that her family was too big for Aelin to intrude in something intimate, and the Whitethorns were properly notified about her stay, but that nagging feeling that her and Maisie were crashing the party wouldn’t go.

After they got to the farm, it was a while before they reached the house.

When Sellene told her about all the family traditions and how homey it was, Aelin expected an old farmhouse of sorts. To be honest, she didn’t think much about how the house would look, but she definitely wasn’t expecting a classic-looking manor with an exterior made of white stone.

A blonde woman showed up on the porch before Sel parked the car, then she ran inside and came back, tugging a man by the arm. By that time, they were already leaving the car with their bags, but the older couple still insisted on helping them.

Rory and Owen, her friend’s aunt and uncle, as they introduced themselves. Aelin’s introduction was brief, since Sellene filled her family in on who she was beforehand, but they still made small talk. Though she wasn’t paying much attention, too caught up on the similarity between Sellene and Owen. Her friend joked about some strong traits running in her family, but this was uncanny.

“Genetics, huh?” Sellene said, a teasing grin on her face.

Aelin was staring, wasn’t she? Oops. “Yes, genetics.” She turned to Owen. “I can’t believe you’re not even her father!”

Rory laughed and urged them inside. “Come on, darling, there’s a lot of silver hair and green eyes for you to compare.” She smirked before she added, “And if you happen to like it, my son is single. Thirty-one, stable job, goes to the gym a lot—“

“Auntie,” Sellene reproached.

The matron frowned. “I’m not being very smooth, am I?”

Her husband gave her two gentle taps on the shoulder. “You’re never smooth at matchmaking, darling.”

Rory gave Aelin an apologetic smile before continuing, “We’re stuck with some housework right now, but if you can wait—“

“I’ll show her around,” Sellene said, waving her aunt off.

“Alright, then. Pick any empty room you’d like.” Rory turned to Aelin. “You and your little one are the most welcome, make yourselves at home,” she said with a beam before scurrying away to the kitchen.

And about Aelin’s little one: where the hell was she?

Sellene leaned closer to Aelin and murmured, “But you can totally flirt with my cousins if you’d like. There’s a whole bunch of them for you to pick.”

“I don’t think I’ll have time for that, but thanks.” Not that she wants to, but it’ll become a hard no if she’ll have to wrangle Maisie all the time.

“I saw them coming inside.” Sellene tugged Aelin. “Don’t worry, she’s safe here.”

“Your house is not.” At least not with her four-year-old on the loose.

The two women dropped their bags by the entrance and ran around looking for them, calling their names. Aelin couldn’t register much other than white walls and wooden furniture, her mind filled with what could Maisie possibly break in this small time frame, and how much it costs.

Aelin’s worry was peaking when she listened to her daughter’s voice coming from another porch, this one attached to the living room.

"Do you do your tattoos alone, or does your mom help you too?"

The man blinked, confused, until Maisie showed him the few Barbie bubblegum tattoos on her forearm. She gave it a pointed look, then to the many tattoos he had on his left arm, taking most of the limb.

Aelin decided it was best to make herself known, introduce yourself, and see if this stranger needed rescuing from her curious preschooler. She couldn’t see this man’s face from her point-of-view, but she had an inkling of who he could be because of his—shocker—silver hair.

“Maisie!” She called from afar, “I was looking for—“

The words died in her throat when she recognized the man before her. Aelin’s core felt ice-cold all of a sudden, despite the dangerous pounding of her heart. There was no way in hell this was happening, and she blamed Tinder for not requiring users to use their last name there.

“Aelin.” He made a point of looking at his bare wrist, as if checking the time. “I think you’re a bit late for our date.”

˜˜

Upstairs, in the safety of her bedroom, Sellene had the gall to cackle.

Aelin glared at her. “Could you not?”

Before ten minutes ago, her friend was absolutely clueless to the fact that Aelin and Rowan knew each other, just like she had no clue that Sellene and Rowan are cousins. But it saved her, since the woman walked into that porch and spared Aelin from doing any talking.

“Alright, lemme just…” Sellene turned away, as if Aelin couldn’t see her friend’s shoulders shaking from behind. Then she took a deep breath and turned back around. “Alright.” A twitch on the corner of her lips that was quickly concealed. “But you said you liked him?”

“That’s not the point!” Aelin said, pacing in the empty space between the bed and the wall.

Chatting with Rowan was nice, and she may have indulged in conversation with him more than she usually lets herself, but Aelin felt so drained after her divorce. She let herself be dragged to dates sometimes, but she didn’t have it in herself to fully face the dating scene again.

Sellene rolled her eyes and threw herself on the bed. “That’s the key point, actually. It’ll define our entire course of action.”

“Nope. Our course of action is whatever protects Maisie from this mess.”

Aelin was so afraid of fucking up Maisie’s Yulemas when she got here, she didn’t realize she’d potentially fucked up even before arriving. Her throat felt thick just to think of it.

Sellene squeezed her hand. “He’s not gonna cause a scandal or anything, Rowan’s not like that.”

“He’s not going to tell your incredibly welcoming family that I’m actually a cold-hearted milf that stood him up and ghosted?”

“Okay,” Sel trailed, grimacing. “He’s not like that, but he is a bit of a gossip, so…”

Aelin sat on the edge of the bed and groaned, her face resting in both hands. Whether he had a big mouth or not, she needed to fix this. Because she couldn’t put Maisie’s Yulemas in jeopardy, yes, but also because Rowan deserves an apology.

Truth is, Aelin never felt tempted to give a chance to the guys she chatted with, because everyone she met on Tinder could be classified as one of: a chronic manwhore, overall gross, or gross for a single but relevant reason, or a misogynist bigot. And sometimes she even liked to leave them stranded, especially when they fell into the latter category.

Usually, Aelin just acted flirty enough to let the guy think something other than coffee would happen, that way he’d run to their ‘date’ without wasting more of their time.

But there were exceptions, of course, and Rowan was one of them. He wasn’t exactly chatty, but she still found herself texting him back and forth late at night for almost two weeks. When he oh-so-gently requested to meet her in person after dropping some hints about it here and there to no avail, she knew she had to cut this short.

It was just business, or so she told herself when it was time to cancel the plans that were never bound to happen. Aelin didn’t have space in her life for much else.

But now the girls, Rowan and a few other Whitethorns were off to see the baby goats and some other kid-friendly farm animals, which gave Aelin a small time frame to plan her next move.

Sellene got up from her bed, nothing but determination on her face. “Here’s what we’re gonna do: we’ll wait downstairs. When they come back, I’ll keep an eye on Maisie while you scurry him away to apologize.”

This was the lamest plan Aelin has ever gotten into. “I expected better scheming from you.”

“No scheming this time,” her friend warned, “just tell him the truth.”

And that was what Aelin kept in mind, as she waited with Sel in the kitchen under the disguise of chatting with Rory.

The kids barreled into the room a while later, chatting about the farm animals they saw, petted, or even fed. Rowan lingered on the other side of the kitchen, carefully avoiding Aelin’s eyes while he rectified the little one’s exaggerated stories with things like actually, no goat charged at them, they just wail all the time.

Despite the high excitement, Maisie’s attention drifted when she noticed the batch of gingerbread men coming off the oven.

“My grandma makes gingerbread people too,” she said to Rory, then frowned. “Do you know my grandma?”

Aelin’s heart squeezed at the sight. She was hoping to keep Maisie’s mind off her father’s family these holidays.

“I’m afraid not, honey. Is she from Doranelle too?”

“No, she lives very, very, very far. I need to get on a plane to see her.”

“That’s very far indeed.” Rory chuckled. “What’s she doing this year?”

Maisie shrugged. “I don’t know. I can’t have Yulemas with Daddy this year because he’s stuck in prison.”

The room fell silent, all eyes on her little girl’s outcast expression as Aelin’s face grew impossibly hot. Gods, her daughter sure had a way with words.

“Because he’s a prison psychologist,” Aelin amended, to everyone’s relief, by the way their shoulders collectively relaxed.

Chaol wasn’t seeing his daughter these holidays because he was too busy in the Southern Continent with his girlfriend—former mistress—but there was no way Aelin was telling her little girl that. Work was the go-to excuse to why he missed so many bi-monthly visitations, and it worked for Yulemas too.

One day, Maisie would understand that Aelin has been a single mom since long before her divorce. That didn’t mean she wouldn’t try to postpone said realization for as long as she could.

“Oh, how silly of me! I forgot to get rosemary.” Rory changed the subject when silence reigned, thank Mala. The time when Chaol was a touchy subject was long gone, but people still tiptoed around it with her.

The woman continued, “Aelin, darling, could you get me some, please?”

“Sure…” she trailed, looking around. “Where can I—“

“Rowan will show you the garden,” Rory quipped.

And Aelin thought that getting him alone for a moment would be tricky. Clearly, she underestimated his mother.

Rowan glared at the older woman, but she didn’t waver. Instead, the more that odd exchange lasted, the more Rory seemed to enjoy forcing her son to spend time with someone he clearly didn’t want around.

Fuck, Aelin needed to fix this immediately.

He gestured to the open back door in the kitchen, and led her to a kitchen garden close to the house.

Sunshine glanced off the leaves which vegetables, herbs and fruit grew, and Aelin wished she could enjoy its beauty more. The smell of fresh herbs and sound of the leaves shuddering were the only soothing things, given the conversation she had ahead.

She waited for him to make a start, to no avail. Perhaps he did, earlier today when she first saw him, right before Sellene walked in and they pretended that first exchange didn’t happen.

“I’m sorry.”

Rowan’s step faltered for a second. He gave her a curt nod, and continued his stroll towards the rosemary shrubs.

She continued, “I shouldn’t have stood you up, it was really shitty of me and I totally deserve it if you hate me right now.” A pause. “But I was hoping we could put this aside for Yulemas, you know? Being in the same house and all.”

“Alright,” he said while slowly nodding, and Aelin’s shoulders loosened up with relief for a moment, until he finally looked her in the eye and added, “I'll go easy on you if you tell me what happened.”

“I told you, I’ve been having a hard time dating after my—“

“Yeah, you told me that in your apology text, but I feel like there’s something missing.”

He got her there. It was true, but not the ugly truth.

“Remember the shop I asked you to meet me at?”

He nodded.

“I own it. And my Tinder account is strictly for… cash inflow.”

This time, he fully stopped. He studied Aelin with widened eyes, and after judging the seriousness in her expression, he laughed. It was loud and full, overpowering the gentle flutter of the leaves and birds’ wings around them.

He kneeled by the shrub, snapped a few branches with his fingers, and it was just then that Aelin realized they had already arrived at their destination.

“You’re not mad?”

Rowan shrugged, and she wanted to read his expression so bad, but he had his back to her, still working on his mother’s rosemary. “I guess should be mad. I’m definitely impressed. It’s a very clever move.”

Aelin didn’t know if she should thank him or not. “But are we cool?”

He chuckled, something more amicable in his eyes this time, when he turned around. “Yes, sure. It was just online dating. Do you know how often people get ghosted? I wasn’t gonna start a riot because of that.”

“‘Kay, thanks.” He was being such a nice sport, his forgiveness only worsened the guilt she felt. “And though you’re right about that, I’d be totally mad and petty if someone stood me up. Just saying.”

“I wasn’t mad that you stood me up—“

Aelin sent him a cut-the-bullshit look.

He sighed and continued, “Alright, I was upset. Not mad. What actually made me mad is that you ghosted me after that.”

She stopped mid-stride, her head tilted. This made absolutely no sense. Rowan broke eye contact to rearrange the branches inside the small bag, making his fingers busy for a small moment of awkward silence that lasted a lifetime in Aelin’s head.

“I liked you, Aelin. You didn’t have to do that for me to visit your coffee shop.”

Aelin didn’t want to think about why his words stung, but they did.

˜˜

Engaging in conversation at dinner would be a lot easier if Maisie was eating, not showing Bree magic tricks.

She placed a french fry on the table, between her and her friend. “Now close your eyes,” Maisie commanded. When her friend complied, she shoved the fry in her mouth and said, “Ta-da!”

Bree opened her eyes, and the loud gasp she let out after noticing the fry was gone gave Aelin a good chuckle.

“Do it again!” Sellene’s daughter said, clapping her hands.

“Maybe you could do it with the cucumber this time?” Aelin cut in.

Maisie turned to her mother with all seriousness a four-year-old can muster. “Mommy, it’s Friday. We only eat fries.”

Being the little entertainer she is, the people near Maisie laughed, not for the first time this dinner. Including Rowan, who sat next to Sellene, almost in front of her. It was weird, hearing his laughter instead of reading a “haha”. A good weird. Still weird. For Mala’s sake, she needs to sort her feelings out.

“You are such a silly goose,” her friend said, fondness filling her eyes.

“No, Auntie Sel, you are a silly goose. I’m a silly gosling.” The little girl took her time pronouncing each syllable of the last word, careful to get it right.

Aelin’s mouth was ajar as she stared at her. “Where did you learn that?”

“Wowan.” Maisie said, beaming. “We’re bestest friends now because he’s an animal doctor, and he promised to show me all his animal friends so I can be friends with them too.”

“Is that so?” Aelin plastered on a smile, hoping it wasn’t too strained. It didn’t go unnoticed that he was nice enough to Maisie for her to consider him her new ‘bestest friend’, even before Aelin apologized. Fuck, she needed to unpack this later.

When she dared a glance at Rowan, he looked a little stiff, but still gave her a quick, close-lipped smile. “She likes the baby goats.”

Aelin would know. Maisie talked about them all day.

“Wowan, I’ll do a magic trick.”

He turned his full attention towards Maisie.

She continued, “Did you see me do it before?”

“Yes.”

“Try to forget.”

“I can’t do it, Maisie, I saw you do that trick too many times.” He leaned back on his chair, a lazy smirk on. “But I haven’t seen you make the cucumber disappear.”

She jolted on her seat, put a cucumber slice on the table, pointed a finger at Rowan and yelled, “Close your eyes!”

When he complied, Maisie ate that cucumber with a ferocity Aelin had never seen before.

“Dear Mala,” Rowan said when he opened his eyes, feigning shock. “Do it again.”

And that’s how he convinced her to eat every single vegetable on her plate. Fuck, he sure knows how to woo a single mom.

Not woo, Aelin chastised herself. Rowan said he liked her. In the past tense. Which should be a relief, but this wasn’t how she felt as she watched him smile at her daughter and make her have fun while eating healthy.

Rowan stole a glance at her, but Aelin had her eyes on him already. He swallowed, likely unsure of what to do after being caught staring while she was already staring.

Thank you, she mouthed so Maisie wouldn’t hear. To her surprise, his eyes softened, and he gave her a small smile.

Relief finally washed over her, when Aelin realized that the awkwardness in his expression had vanished.

˜˜

As predicted, Maisie was so hyper Aelin didn’t manage to properly enjoy the farm herself. But she didn’t mind it, since her daughter was the whole purpose of this trip. Besides, sometimes watching the kids play could be better than TV.

“I wanted to go out to eat with you, not you and your baby!” Maisie’s arms flailed around as she tried to explain her frustration.

Bree clutched her doll to her chest, a wounded look on her face. “But I can’t leave my baby alone!”

Rowan, who was just passing by the living room, froze when he registered what was going on. He turned to Aelin, confusion written all over his face, and discreetly sat by her side on the couch.

“Everything alright?”

Aelin pointed at the tea party toy set near the girls. “They’re at a pretend restaurant, eating pretend food and talking about their pretend jobs.” A pause so she wouldn’t start laughing here and there. “Maisie was expecting a girls’ night, but Bree brought her baby with her.”

“Oh, I see.” Aelin’s gaze swept over him for a minute, and it was unfair how good his pine-green eyes looked when they were filled with amusement like this. “Whose side are you on?”

“I’m getting popcorn. You?”

“I don’t know,” he murmured, “I think this is a very complex issue. We can’t read it under a Manichaean view.”

Aelin chuckled, and they fell into comfortable silence while watching the girls. Rowan’s pine scent hit her senses, but it was the chilly wind coming from the window that made her shiver.

“You cold?”

She shrugged. “Not that much.”

Rowan stood up. “I’ll warm us up.”

“You’re getting a blanket?”

“Better,” Rowan said, a troublesome glint in his eyes. “Wine.”

Not as effective as a blanket, but definitely more fun.

“Merlot?” He suggested with his head tilted.

Unbelievable. Aelin briefly mentioned her favorite type of wine to this man over text in a late night conversation, and he still remembered it weeks later.

Rowan seemed to misread her silence, his expression becoming guarded. “But I can share the bottle with Enda if you don’t feel like it.”

Aelin’s gaze quickly turned to her daughter before she focused back on him. “Can it wait until after Maisie’s bedtime?”

Rowan took a step back with a grin on, and his eyes wouldn’t leave Aelin. “I’ll get the snacks ready.”

After wrangling Maisie around the house a little more and putting her to bed, Aelin found herself in the same living room as before. However, this time, the tea party set on the table was replaced by a small charcuterie board and two glasses of red wine.

They talked about their lives for hours. Now it was nearing midnight, and none of them seemed to grow tired of each other’s companies. It was just easy like that with him, and she knew it. Too easy, was what Aelin told herself in her office as she let him down. Too easy to be true, and not the delusion of a lonely twenty-nine-year-old divorcée.

Aelin had so many reasons why she couldn’t give Rowan a real chance, but she couldn’t remember a single one of them right now. Actually, she could remember, they just felt… small.

Too bad she was too late.

“And you never thought to move back here? Being a vet and all?”

Rowan sipped his wine. “I’ve lived in the city since I was a teenager, my whole life’s there. But I visit a lot.”

“And your cousins?”

“Not as much, but Yulemas is always here.” He cocked his head, his expression shifting as he grinned at her. “Though the company is usually much less good-looking.”

Aelin blinked. She stared at the glass of wine. It was her second, and Aelin knew her limits. She wasn’t even tipsy. It couldn’t be.

“Rowan Whitethorn… are you flirting with me?”

“Yes, I’ve been trying for a while.” A pause. “Is it working?”

Wow. She looked around, mind racing and empty at the same time. A turned-off TV. Potted plants with fairy lights on. A mistletoe. Gifts under a tree.

Rowan was flirting with her.

Rowan, Maisie’s new “bestest friend”. Kind, attentive Rowan who remembered her favorite wine and looked as delicious as the Focaccia bread he stole from the kitchen for her.

Rowan, who seemed to give her a second chance even when she didn’t deserve it.

“It’s working, yeah.”

He didn’t dare say a word after her response, and neither did she. He leaned forward, barely blinking as he tried to meet her eye.

Aelin needed to say something. She wanted to say something else, but it was hard to do it while she felt her old resolutions shatter like a wall of glass.

Going on shitty date after shitty date so she could find someone reasonably good, until something happened and she had to go back to the stream of shitty dates? No, meeting new people was a hard no for now.

But it was different when she had already met someone, right? Aelin wasn’t ready to give dating a chance, but she was more than willing to give Rowan a chance.

She got up and tugged Rowan’s hand.

“What?”

Aelin tugged on it again, so he got up from the couch too. Wordlessly, she led him to a spot right under the beam that divided the living room and the hallway.

She pointed at the mistletoe above them. “Oh, look.”

“Wow.”

“I definitely didn’t see that and drag you here.”

“And my mother definitely didn’t fill the house with mistletoes tonight because she’s in love with you and Maisie.”

“Really? I hadn’t noticed,” she lied.

“So surprising.”

“Shocking.”

“Can I kiss you now?”

“Absolu—”

Rowan pulled their lips together, cupping her face with both hands while she wrapped her arms around him. Their lips brushed together, and it was almost unfair how soft he felt. He gently nipped hers so Aelin would open up to him, and the kiss was sweet and hungry at the same time. His hands traveled down her neck and arms, making her shiver, until he reached her waist and tugged her closer.

Well, fuck. If Aelin didn’t have any doubts about giving this a chance anymore, she didn’t know what to call it now. A negative amount of doubts? Anyway, her mind was jello. Aelin couldn’t know where this was going, but she knew she’d let it happen now. No more holding back.

Rowan broke the kiss and put their foreheads together, breathlessly breathing her in with closed eyes.

“If I ask you out on another date, will you show up this time?”

“Yes,” Aelin said, right before her parted lips morphed into a teasing smirk. “And I might even delete Tinder, depending on how large your coffee order is.”

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[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Silver Lining 3

Warnings: non/dubcon, speech impediment, bullying and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

Characters: silverfox!Bucky Barnes

Summary: You have an unpleasant encounter with an older man.

My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.

As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging.

"So your sister will be coming by next week with the little ones," your mother declares as you stand at the sink, scrubbing away the remnants of roast beef and potato. "You'll get to play auntie for the day."

"Mhmm," you nod, "what about Justin?"

"Oh, your brother's down visiting with his fiance's family. He said he'd try to make if for Christmas Eve but you know how her family is."

You sniff and pretend to know. You really don't. It's all hearsay to you. You don't hear much from either siblings; they have lives, you just happen to be related.

"S-sounds great," you utter as you put another plate in the rack.

"Oh, honey, you should just use the dishwasher," she says.

"It's f-f-fine, this works," you insist.

"Well, what about you? What are you up to?" She leans on the counter.

"I..." you don't know what to say. You need a lie, anything to appease her. Your brother's engaged, your sister has the white picket fence and you have nothing, "oh, I h-have a job interview."

"You do?" She sounds thoroughly disbelieving.

"Uh, yeah, w-well," you stammer through, trying not to give away your deceit, "since n-no one wants to h-hire me in my f-field, I f-found something new."

"That's exciting," she chimes, "what is it?"

"Uh, I w-want to see i-if it turns out b-before I say," you give a tight-lipped smile, "don't want to d-disappoint you again."

"Sweetie, you're not a disappointment," she hums, "I'm always happy to see you trying."

You look down at the sink and shrug. Behind that comment is the inference that you weren't trying before. That you haven't been. The long nights with vivid nightmares don't exactly motivate you and you've been all but blacklisted as an executive assistant. Even admin roles aren't responding. Even if you do get a bite, the job market is drawn out and tedious.

"Thanks, mom."

"Just... try not to mope around the kids," she chides, "it's Christmas."

You flutter your lashes, "sure, mom."

That's what you are to everyone; weak, pathetic, useless. No, don't do that. You'll make another appointment with Lisa, she always knows what to do.

☕️

Well, this is it. A last resort. One of those freelancing websites that pays pennies. It's better than nothing and will keep you from having too big a gap on your resume. You could easily do the writing gigs, easy money for transcription. You apply to a few of those and scroll on.

You sit up as you see a particular posting that interest you. Oddly enough, the pay isn't half bad. It's also labeled as 'may lead to ongoing work'. Well, well, well, now that's something.

You click into the posting for 'Podcast Script Writer' and review the details. A sample is required for application and lucky enough, you have lots of those hanging around. If it wasn't for your stammer, you'd have an episode done by now. You deleted enough recordings to the point of giving up. Well, this is a solution. You can get your work out there without having to embarrass yourself.

You go through the application, putting in your info and editing a draft before attaching it to the application. You just hope it's thorough enough. You never really let anyone else see and hitting submit makes your stomach flip. With the final click, you close your laptop and quickly get up. Alright, you're not going to dwell on it. If you hear anything, you'll worry then.

You try to read but can't focus. It just makes you think of the posting and your application. Oh jeez, imagine you're rejected but worse, they tell you you've done everything wrong.

Appointment! You can't forget that. You login to the app and put in a request for a Zoom appointment that week. Alright, you're getting things done, you can't say you've done nothing.

You put a video on your phone and lean it on the pop out grip, propping it up on your mattress to watch the compilation of sitcom moments cut together on Youtube. Your mind wanders and your eyes begin to sag as the day shrouds you in fatigue. You slip into a shallow doze as the glare of the screen flickers over you.

The distant clack of keyboards and clicking of mouses needles behind your ears. It's as if you're trapped in a bubble of silence, all colours and noised dampened by the unseen wall. You shudder as you hear his voice, the only thing that's clear. Your name crawls up behind the shell of your ear with his breath as his hands settle on your hips. Your body aches as every muscles tightens and your bones lock in place. Please, no, not again...

"Sir..." you try to speak but nothing comes out. He's always tugging your skirt up, his hand is around your throat. You close your eyes as tears stain your cheeks.

You wake with a start, your phone black as the battery's drained from neglect. You sit up and pant, looking around your dark bedroom, the moonlight limning shadows sinisterly. You gulp and fall back, watching the ceiling as the tears rise in reality and sting your eyes.

If you'd just said no. A simple word. Even you can manage that.

You lay for a while until your restlessness boils over. You get up and plug in your phone. The screen lights up as you rub your eye socket and yawn. There's an email notification in the taskbar. Probably more ads for things you can't afford.

You pull down the menu but find ‘Application Update’ emblazoned across the notification. Oh wow, that was fast. You keep yourself from tapping on the email.

You don't know if you can handle another rejection. You'd rather languish in the uncertainty. You've been doing so for so long, it almost feels safe.

[captaincvans]

Empire

Pairing: Shelby Brothers x Shelby!Sister

Summary: The Shelby brothers are ready to set the world on fire to ensure that their youngest sister would be safe.

Warnings: Nothing but fluff here! Maybe a case of creepy dude, but the Shelby brothers shut that down reals quick.

Word Count: 1.6k

Author’s Note: I have another Shelby!Reader fic in my drafts, but that might take longer to post. I'm still debating to have multiple parts or whether I just want to post one long fic.

The Shelby brothers made their way to the market with their youngest sister in tow. It was supposed to be a more pleasant visit, hence why the brothers thought nothing to let the 7 year-old tag along with them. The little Shelby held on to Tommy’s hand, tugging at it when she saw the rows of shiny red apples that were being sold in the vendor behind the ones that her brothers were talking to. 

“Tommy, I want an apple.” She tugged on his hand, pointing to the vendor. He glanced at the distance, nodding his head. 

“Stay where I can see you.” 

“Okay!” she nodded excitedly, running off. She stared in awe at the amount of apples, and furrowed her eyebrows in concentration to pick the best apple. She wanted to get extra apples for her family so she started picking the best ones and collecting them in her arms. 

“And what the fuck do you think you’re doing?” the seller growled. 

“I wanna buy 5 apples, mister!” she responded. “And Auntie Polly said that’s a bad word.” 

“And where’s your money, little girl?” 

“I-In my pocket.” She tried reaching for her pockets when the man grabbed her arm and slammed it on the small counter, making her drop all the apples she was holding in her small arms. She was standing on her toes, the counter being far taller than her, and the edge digging into her frail arm. “Wh-What are you doing?” 

“I’ve known little thieves like you to be a liar as well.”

“I’m not a thief!” She took out her little bag of coins. “S-See? I have the money!” 

He took the bag, grinning at the contents before pocketing it. “Girl’s got money, eh? You probably stole them from some poor lad and I hate thieves more than anything.” He slowly pulled out a butcher knife, ignoring her whimpers.

“N-No- please! I wasn’t gonna steal anything- I s-swear!” 

“Yea you won’t be stealing anymore with one hand-”

“TOMMY! Tommy- Help!” The girl could only scream for her big brother, squirming away from his grip. 

The Shelby brothers whipped their head at the source of the screams, their eyes widening at the sight of their baby sister being held like a criminal with a man about to bring down a knife to her pure, untouched skin. They all ran, and if it wasn’t for their sister’s close proximity to the man, they would’ve already shot him dead. 

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Tommy asked, his voice eerily calm.

“M-Mr. Shelby- I- I didn’t know she was-”  The man held up his arms, dropping his knife and trying to not aggravate the pissed-off man in front of him. 

“T-Tommy,” the little Shelby cried, running up to her big brother. Arthur and John had already made their way inside the vendor, grabbing the man to make sure he wouldn’t do anything else. Tommy picked her up, eyes narrowing at the man as he felt her shake in his arms. 

“Tell me what happened, love.” He pulled his head back as she instinctively tried to wrap her arms around them and burrows her head in the crook of his neck. He grabbed her right arm, scanning the rest of her body for injuries as she talked and noting the scratches she got from trying to pry her arm away from the man’s grip.

“I-I wanted to buy a few apples for us, b-but the man said I was trying to steal. I gave him my horsey purse but he wouldn’t believe me!” Arthur patted the man down in search for the little bag and threw it to Tommy’s ready hand. 

“Right, then.” He picked up a nice apple, handing it to her, and walking away. He adjusted his grip on her so that he was carrying her more like a baby as he knew the second they turned away, Arthur and John would make quick work of that man. 

“I-I was so-so scared, Tommy,” she sobbed. Her little hands, wiping away the tears that couldn’t seem to stop falling. 

“It’s okay, love. I won’t let anything happen to you, okay?” 

“He wanted to cut my hand off!” she exclaimed, sobbing even more. 

Tommy was seething in anger, wanting nothing more than to kill the man who would expose his baby sister to the dangerous world that he worked so hard to protect her from. Alas, he knew she needed her older brother and not the ruthless leader of the Peaky Blinder. “You know we would never let that happen, love. They would have to go through all of us before even touching a hair on your head.” 

They made their way to their home, Tommy giving the apple to one of the maids with instructions to clean it up and slice them for Y/N, and to get Polly. He took her to the kitchen, putting her on the table. He gently took her arm, assessing the damage .

“Hurts,” she mumbled, her sobs quieting down to a whimper. 

“Polly’ll take care of it.” He rubbed her back comfortingly, leaning down to give her forehead a kiss. 

“What’s going on here?” Polly asked, gasping at the sight of Y/N’s arm and her teary eyes. “Oh my poor girl. What happened to you?”

“A mean man tried to cut my hand off, Aunt Polly! I was so scared!” she wailed, lifting her arms and wanting to be comforted. 

The older woman and Tommy shared a look one that said it was being taken care of at the moment. Tommy took her in his arms, sitting down on the table as Polly took the other seat with an emergency kit with her. The little Shelby tried being strong while her Aunt cleaned up the wound, making sure there wasn’t any splinters before wrapping it up. 

“There you go, darling. All cleaned up and better. There’s nothing we can do about bruises but they will go away eventually.” 

“Okay” she said quietly. “Thank you, Aunt Polly.” She fell back against Tommy’s chest, the adrenaline was fading and she could barely keep her eyes open. “Thank you, Tommy… for saving me.” 

“You never have to thank me for that.” Tommy spoke quietly to comfort her. “I know you’re tired, love, but you gotta eat something.” It was past the time Y/N should be eating breakfast as they were supposed to buy fresh fruits for her breakfast in the morning. He motioned for one of the kitchen staff to place the plate in front of them. 

“Okay.”

Tommy pulled the plate closer to her so she could easily reach for the apples from his lap. He rested his chin lightly on her head, placing small kisses here and there to comfort her. He heard the front door open and waited for the inevitable loud entrance his brothers were going to make. 

“He’s taken care of,” Arthur said in his signature gravelly voice. “He’s never gonna bother her again.”

“How are you, love?” John asked, looking at the bandage on her arm. 

She shrugged her shoulders, eating another slice of apple. It didn’t take her long to finish the apple, her hunger beating out her tiredness. She cuddled closer to Tommy’s chest, the adrenaline fading and she was left with the crash. “Nap?” She looked over at her brothers and aunt for permission.

“Go sleep, darling,” Tommy nodded, kissing her head once more and positioning her more comfortably on his lap.

In a few seconds she was out, and the rest of the family was left to process the events.

“Fuck,” John muttered. “I was gonna skin the man alive.” 

“No more,” Tommy said decisively. “She’s never going anywhere without us anymore.” 

“Agreed.” Arthur nodded his head.  

“Now c’mon, boys. Your world is no place for a little child,” Polly chided.

“A child,” Tommy repeated as almost a growl. “There are too many goddamn fuckers who would have no problem hurting a child, Pol. We have to send out a message. Anyone who dares to even breathe in her direction wrong will have to deal with the Peaky fucking Blinders.” The girl in his lap shifted, and he quickly softened his voice, rocking her a bit. “It’s okay, love.”

If they didn’t know Tommy any better, it would’ve been a comical sight to see him change tune so quickly. Alas, the gang leader decided the conversation was over and carried his sister to his office. The rest of the family dispersing to their own work. The second oldest Shelby had always found comfort in having Y/N near him when he worked. She didn’t mind the occasional yelling and swearing when he was working, and instead focused on whatever was entertaining her at the moment. She was a quiet child, not as rambunctious as her older brothers Finn and John. Most of the time, she would draw or colour pictures, but as she is getting older, Polly had given her a few book to get started on her studies. He placed her on the couch, putting his jacket as a blanket on her tiny body, but before he could get very far she started whimpering and thrashing her arms around. Tommy’s heart broke witnessing his baby sister’s first nightmare, and picked her up again. He decided to keep her in his arms while he worked, ignoring the fact that he would only be able to use one hand as the other would ensure Y/N remained on his lap. He was used to having her on his lap as he worked or in family meetings when he knew she wouldn’t be exposed to their dirty world. A smile crept up on his face as he remember the days she would play with the buttons of his jacket or his pocket watch while he ran the meeting, her presence alone able to settle any tension in the room.

“Nothing will hurt you, I swear it.” Tommy was going to build an empire for his sister, and there was nothing that was going to stand in the way.

[fruitfullofmalice]

Okay so I’ve finally got my thoughts together. I’ve been watching the show the day each episode came out, within the hour and I am a very very big fan of the books. HOWEVER, there are many aspects of the show I loved, but I’m going to focus on my main critiques. 1. In all of the marketing campaigns, everyone had said that this was an absolutely faithful adaptation. That though there were a few changes, they were minimal. That was not true at all. Every single episode had some minor or major change, and I enjoyed some of them, and was pissed about others.

2. The shows pacing and decision making in the writer’s room made my teeth itch. They are talking and talking and talking to explain everything, and I want to be SHOWN, which is like the main point of TV. The talking also leads into my next point:

3. These characters were not allowed to have “flaws”. They knew everything going into it, and there was no sense of wonder, no build up, and no sense of discovery because these are kids. I was so disappointed every time Annabeth was deprived of being soft (like crying over Cerberus) or naive, at Aunty Em’s. They just didn’t seem natural enough. And this critique has nothing to do with the acting. I think the acting was phenomenal, but the writing left things to be desired. And I’m sort of wondering if they were worried about displaying characters of color in a “negative” manner.

4. There were many many changes that made absolutely no sense to me. I think it has to do with the fact that this show takes its self so seriously. One of the reasons PJO was so popular is because of how funny and engaging it was. And the show, apart from a couple jokes here and there, just lacked it. There were some scenes where I honestly thought the movie had done better.

5. Episode 7. They changed so much, and the characters were made to be so flat. I know that the kids are meant to have all this background knowledge, but god do I wish they were allowed to be dumb. This was my cracking point.

Overall, I am very very very much hoping for a season two. The actors and the books deserve it. I loved so many parts of this show, but I truly am begging they fix at least a couple of these things. That is all I need.

(Also Disney, you’re absolute cowards for not making the Charon scene fun. I don’t care how much you want good publicity for not paying your workers well but this was cheap and so horribly hidden).

[missygoesmeow]

missy's tips for honour mode :) (it's very long I'm sorry) (oh and here be many spoilers) (but pictures too!)

please note I am not a pro gamer or anything. I sucked so bad when I first started this game (I had no idea wtf I was doing). Like seriously. I didn't know what an action was. what a bonus action was. "No movement left". WHAT DO YOU MEAN NO MOVEMENT LEFT. I had played DnD once before.

I literally bought this game because of Astarion.

I usually play one game and that is Overwatch. the only other time I stopped playing OW was to play Resident Evil: Village because of Lady D. vampire marketing works on me. specifically evil vampire. damn u Neil and Maggie.

if you have any questions about a specific boss or something feel free to ask! I didn't fight everyone though - like I did not do House of Grief because I didn't need to and also it's hard :)

I think a lot of it just came on down to...

ANYWAY. letsa go! this is very rambling!

Like I said in my reply to anon, the best tip is to do tactician FIRST. You’ll get destroyed otherwise. I didn’t finish my tactician run but I did get to act 3 and I did most boss fights (Gortash, Raphael, Cazador). Bosses have legendary actions in tactician and it’s fucking annoying. All the homies hate radiant retort….

Another tip is fucking collect everything. It’s hard to get gold and certain potion ingredients later on. Potion of Speed (you need hyena ears for this) is the BEST. I used them for my Ketheric fight (second phase) and killed him in three turns. I also used them for the final fight and used one or two with Raphael and Orin.

Smokepowder Barrels. I think people call this Barrelmancy? I didn't use them much. I hoarded them for one reason and one reason only.

To blow Raphael.

His soul pillar towers that is. To blow up his pillars. His big long pillars.

Okay I'm done.

(also I did use three in my last fight against the brain - popped them next to it and blew 'em up) Elixir of Bloodlust - sooooo handy with Astarion!

Invisibility Potion is a must - I used this to escape fights when three people were deaded (this happened a few times😅) and get my good friend Withers to bring them back.

bonus tip: don't go into a fight with half your spell slots because you think "she'll be right". she won't be...as seen above

HOLY FUCK WITHERS. You can pickpocket Withers. I used Astarion to get our money back anytime I resurrected, changed class or got a hireling - he doesn’t care if you fail either, just keep trying.

DON'T BE DUMB LIKE MISSY Don't be like me, don't half pay attention in cut scenes and accidentally press the wrong dialogue option. Or else your good friend Lae'zel will turn on you and you will have A Bad Time.

Gale has a stressful day💗

The githyanki are scary and actually now that I think about it, those were usually the fights I had to run away from like a leetle biatch.

Halsin has a stressful day 💗

I forgot that Psionic Backlash is like a thing that does damage and that if your entire worm filled party does it and the person you are casting is at like...say 19 health...they will die because that is not Passive Damage.

And then Jaheira will leave because you murdered her friend.

Oopsie.

(I lost Shart, Lae'Zel and Jaheira in this run) GENERAL STUFF

Always surprise the enemy if you can, it’s a massive advantage!

Get the eye from Volo. This run was not about looking pretty, it was about getting any advantage I could get. Let that man poke out your eyeball. And make sure it’s your Tav, you will mostly likely swap companions and it’s just better if it’s you. It's helpful in a lot of fights but especially Auntie Ethel

Become half illithid. I did this with my Tav, Gale and Minthara. Astarion was a little bitch about it so I didn’t give it to him but I wish I had made him do it.

She looks Not Great but she can fly (sorry Astarion but Z'hera only likes pussy)

Being able to fly is just SO helpful and cull the weak is OP! Also mmmmm worms :)

MY BUILD/PARTY

A Giant Woman (my tiefling) as a Paladin - Oath of Vengeance.

I broke my oath when I ascended Astarion but you can just get it back. Oathbreaker is still good (that’s what I was in my tactician run) but I wanted my channel divinity charges. I started with the Everburn Blade from the cambion Commander Zhalk on the Nautaloid (when you get Shart, give her the Command Spell and use “Drop” so you can just yoink it off him and save a fight). My final weapon was the Nyrulna which you can get in Act 3 at the Circus. To get this you must pickpocket the genie to take his ring and then play his game. He will accuse you of cheating and send you somewher. The prize at the end is this weapon. I love it. I just went invisible and walked through, I didn’t fight the creatures there.

Astarion - the classic gloomstalker/assasin. I had one level assasin and then did 6 levels ranger before going back to assassin. So he was 6 levels in each. With him ascended, he does INSANE damage. I never swap out that vamp, he’s too useful.

Shart/Minthara - I lost Shart in the Shadowfell - wouldn't let her murder Dame Aylin.

a simpler time. before I killed my beloved and my brain was full of worms.

I had to fight her (it was very sad). I changed her class to Life of Domain Cleric. I then made Minthara my cleric when Shart died (same build). She replaced my lover and my cleric <3

i love my new evil girlfriend

Gale - Evocation Wizard so I didn’t change him at all!

he's so hopeful. and Z'hera is very gay.

TIPS FOR POTIONS

If it’s throwable (like invisibility) group the gang together to throw one on the ground to get you all - saves using multiple.

Potion of Speed has an effect called lethargic that is active for one round after the potion ends. This means you miss a turn. HOWEVER! If you drink another one on the last active round of the potion, your Tav will become lethargic immediately and next round you’ll be fine :) I did this for the Ketheric fight.

It’s also helpful (because of lethargic) to not have all characters take the potion in the same round (if you give it to everyone). I never did, I usually gave them to Gale and my Tav.

I hoarded so many scrolls. I had so many dimension door scrolls at the end.

I did get the Necromancy of Thay and did all the things. And then I never used it :)

BIGGEST TIP ONCE YOU'VE UNLOCKING LEVEL 6 SPELL SLOT WITH CLERIC (ALSO AVAILABLE WITH DRUID)

I saw this on reddit! Pretty much what I did was get a hireling - Cleric - and have that Cleric cast Heroes' Feast on my party.

The affected entity is immune to Diseases, Poisons, and being Frightened, it makes all Wisdom Saving throws with Advantage, and its maximum Hit Points are increased by 12

Lasts until long rest!! I also then cast Freedom of Movement on everyone in the party. I then cast Warding Bond on someone - usually Gale because he's a squishy boy :) If I knew it was a BIG FIGHT! I got another Cleric to cast Warding Bond on another party member.

you can see Heroes' Feast (the condition is called Thoroughly Stuffed) and Freedom of Movement. These all last until long rest!

Pretty much any other companions were respeced as Cleric (though I made Jaheira a Wizard same as Gale so I could use her). I did this so that I could use Divine Intervention multiple times within the game!

I used Opulent Revival and nothing else

KEEP IN MIND.

anything can kill you in honour mode. even an elevator.

it crushed me. somehow.

thanks Larian

(if you want proper guides definitely go to Reddit!)

[nillegible]

(Part 7 of Stay, the MY time travel fic. Well, Chronologically follows Part 3, But you can read them any which way! Read the others using: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7)

“I can take a hint, you know,” says Qin Su a few days later. “I’m not going to keep chasing you if you’re not interested, you didn’t have to tell my father to interfere.”

“I. I did not do such a thing, Qin-guniang,” says Meng Yao.

She glares at him as if to divine how truthful he was being. An interesting precaution but ultimately futile. She wouldn’t ever be able to see through him if he chose to deceive her. “I suppose I’ll believe you,” she says. “Meng-shidi should know that I had the most uncomfortable discussion with my father today. Since it’s your fault – regardless of what you told anyone – you owe me!”

“This Meng Yao has little to offer, but is yours to command regardless,” he says, sweetly.

“Then call me Su-shjie. If you’re part of my sect, you should act like it.”

“Alright, shijie,” says Meng Yao with a smile, hoping that she’ll accept it.

“Better,” she says approvingly. Then, lighter, “It is hard to stay angry, Meng-shidi’spractically weaponized those dimples.” It startles a genuine laugh out of him. She really was the loveliest person; proof that Jin Guangshan’s seed was not all rotten.

“This Meng Yao will find Su-shijie to continue our conversation later? I’m to help demonstrate muffling talismans for the junior disciples today.”

“Of course, go on! I’ll see you later!” The last is a promise, she obviously intends to see it through.

It hurts a little less when he nods and agrees, before hurrying to the class he was meant to help with. They could be friends, this time.

This time, Meng Yao wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

(This time, he wouldn’t hurt her.)

---

If everyone else is also strangely kind to him for a few weeks after, then Meng Yao doesn’t really notice, nor make the connection, until he’s following Su-shijie and two of her friends on a trip to the market. He’s being used mostly to hold packages; the girls had picked up quite a lot of novels; more than fit into the few qiankun bags they had brought with them.

“Apologies to Meng-shidi, we didn’t think we’d be stopping here,” they’d said, or something along those lines, at four different places already.

Aside from the packages, he was only occasionally consulted over the appearance or worth of some small trinkets – one of the youngest disciples had recently received a sword, and they wished to give her gifts for the occasion – but as Meng Yao’s being treated to snacks as an apology for every hour the trip extends, he barely minds. He is free for the day and it’s almost fun.

Li Feilong finds a green ribbon, almost exactly of a shade to match with official Nie robes. Huaisang would like that, he thinks, just as she says, “Oh, doesn’t this look lovely?” holding it out. She wraps it around her wrist to observe the colour.

“Feilong-shimei’s partiality is showing again,” ribs Qin Su, eyeing the other wares, and picking a midnight-blue one for herself.

“Shijie,” Li Feilong huffs, before releasing the ribbon, saying under her breath, “But he is handsome, I don’t know how he’s only ranked seventh on that blasted list.”

“We’ve all heard it before, Feilong-shijie,” laughs Lin Biao. “Well, I suppose Meng-shidi hasn’t.”

“Meng-shidi!” says, Li Feilong suddenly, whirling towards him. “You used to be Sect Leader Nie’s deputy, were you not? Come, tell me if this colour truly matches his robes,” she says, and Meng Yao steps closer even though he’s sure it is close enough.

“It would be hard to tell them apart,” he says. “Though such a light silk would be more Nie-gongzi’s style than Nie-zongzhu’s. He doesn’t know if it’s because Nie Mingjue’s cultivation was so advanced that he could not tell the weight of his robes, but his silks were heavy.

“That doesn’t matter, thanks, shidi! Auntie, may I have three lengths of this, please?”

“Three lengths, Shimei?”

“Hush, Shijie. I’ll wear it to the hunt on Phoenix mountain, next season! I can edge my cuffs with it, to match.”

The three women pick out other ribbons as well, a pretty pale periwinkle, a few yellows and roses, and some Qin-sect blues. Meng Yao finds his eyes being drawn to the green ribbon again and again. He can’t really believe that he thought that, so what if Huaisang would like it? There was no shortage of green silk in Qinghe, and Meng Yao is no longer... no longer beholden to him.

Some habits were clearly hard to break, that is all, and ‘Huaisang would like that,’ is a decade long habit, that led to him buying multiple pretty things for him. Fans yes, for birthdays, but he’d spoiled him with other things, too.

Meng Yao had always treated him like a child, and somehow missed what was right in front of his face.

It doesn’t stop Meng Yao from buying a length of it before they leave, as well as some colours of thread to go with it. He slips it all into his sleeve, and pretends not to notice the curious looks that he gets form his three companions.

“Shall we return then?” he asks.

“Just a few boxes of tanghulu for mother, and then we can go,” Qin Su decides, and they nod, trailing after her.

On the way back, Qin Su asks, voice mild enough that he’s instantly on guard, “Will Yao-shidi be wearing a green ribbon to the hunt as well?”

Wait, what? When on earth had he given her that impression?

“This shidi will of course be in Sect colours,” he says, while he frantically tries to pick out how this misunderstanding had come about. “The ribbon is for a gift.”

“Oh, of course,” says Qin Su.

“At least agree with me that Nie-zongzhu should be ranked higher, Meng-shidi,” says Li Feilong, from behind them. Meng Yao had assumed they were not listening, and when he quickly glances behind them, Lin Biao is elbowing her, trying to shut her up.

Oh?

Too startled by the byplay and its potential implications, he demurs politely, “I have no opinion on the matter, Feilong-shijie.” Then he smirks, “But I do know why the ranking is in the order that it is!”

Lin Biao gasps, and bounds closer. “You know who makes the rankings?” Conversation neatly diverted, Meng Yao spends the rest of the walk back coyly refusing to reveal his source – not that a drunk Huaisang in the future, confessing to ranking Jin Zixuan above Wei Wuxian just to see Wei Wuxian’s face, and putting his brother seventh because he had to be somewhere is much of a source – and the three ladies graciously allow for the change in topic.

If he returns to his room and skips dinner that night, well, he had been treated to a lot of snacks that afternoon. And it gives him time to try to figure out how exactly he’d convinced Sect Leader Qin that he was a cutsleeve. (He pretends that this is pressing enough that he doesn’t need to think about the green ribbon he’d bought so impulsively, and shoves it beneath his simple sewing kit.)

---

Meng Yao very very cautiously observes his disciple-siblings over the course of the next few weeks, but except for two offhand comments – quickly shushed – no one comments on his supposed inclination for cutting his sleeve. He’s a little bemused but after some thought and delicate probing, he works out the evidence for their “deduction”. In addition to his unexpected rejection of Qin Su, there was the matter of his apparent fear of Jin Guangshan; who was well known for his intolerance for such “deviancy” within his sect.

It's so absurdly sensible a conclusion to draw from the limited evidence available that Meng Yao has no defence to offer. Surely it made more sense than Meng Yao having returned from the future.

And most importantly: no one cared. They were trying to be kind.

If he didn't know better he would think he had developed a second golden core; so warm is the feeling that fills him up and settles in.