#half of its memories just fragmented ghosts and most of them cruel

[karliahs]

I just read the Murderbot series for the first time this month and AUGH it is also living in my brain!! And my heart. It’s so good.

solidarity!!! genuinely so much of my brain space rn is being dedicated to just going 🥰😍🥰😍🥰murderbot😍🥰😍🥰😍🥰

unbelievable that i'm expected to go out into the world and make money and do things when i only care about ornery traumatised hypervigilant robots

[ilovelollipopx]

Thresh x reader

Title: Ghosted Memories

Summary: Seeing a familiar face in a fog of memories sure does erase the loneliness 

Warnings: A little angst and bad writing

Hidden from outsiders for many years, the Blessed Isles was dedicated to knowledge, philosophy, and the protection of magical artifacts from across Runeterra. The capital of the Blessed Isles, however, was filled with varying archaeologists, astronomers, and scholars of every conceivable discipline. The Blessed Isles were once a beautiful realm, at least to what you can still remember of it.

 What’s left is just a corrupted fragment of what it used to in its golden days. Where was your place in this? Where you a corrupted soul or a tormenter to the lost pieces of souls?” In truth, you were neither. Unfortunately, when you were in your mid-teens you had been struck with misfortune. Traveling so far to the blessed isles just to seek help from something that seemed to doom many around you. Unfortunately, there was no cure for pure death, instead of locking you away they saw the purity and fear in your heart, teaching to control and keep it under control. For that, you were so gracious and assisted those past scholars with whatever task was place upon you. Perhaps that is what you previously felt, what did it matter now in place of what used to be was a ruin. Those who gave their lives, as well as those who were dragged into unsuspecting chaos, were either lost in time swirling around aimlessly or most became corrupted versions of themselves.

Staring at the gloves covering what has made your life so miserable your brows furrowed, in the end you were left alone once more with yourself and the whispers of agony.Nothing changed much, supposedly would that be a gift of this curse? Not being affected by the curse? Oh how cruel fate was left alone with yourself and nevermore with death around you. A fleeting purpose of life takin away because of greed, grief, and betrayal. Now you a laughing stock embodiment of death once more was left in the prison of souls. 

Taking a breath you continued walking throughout the mist, passing souls alike. Similar to a lost fragmented soul you wondered searching for another purpose. Cold air passed by, another thing you’ve gotten used too. But the feeling of the air, that was much more different. An idling sensation had gone and instead, a sense of dread had pooled, cries of torture filled the air. There was no one to be seen, not even a single soul. Pausing in your steps your eyes fluttered closed focusing in on the distant sounds. A chain being dragged amongst the cobblestone ground, along with it was a burst of defiling laughter that sent chills up your spine, something even the atmosphere couldn’t do. 

This sparked a curiosity a feeling that you wouldn’t have if not given the circumstances. Onward you drifted closer to the noise, the swing of the chain becoming clearer to hear. Once close enough the outline of a figure appeared, its head wasn’t attached to its body and it wore familiar clothing their backside was turned to you. Yet that’s all you had wanted to know, even with you’re death aura you could still be hurt and severely injured by those who lied wake waiting in the mist. 

Not surprised when you tried continuing on past them they already caught your presence. So you stood still as they spoke,

“And where do you think you are going?” they spoke, the voice sounding more masculine so you naturally assumed they were a male.

“I...Im just a soul passing on by” your voice croaked out an answer, nearly forgetting that it had been centuries since you’d talked to someone that wasn’t fully dead or the air around.

His ghastly figure turned straight towards your direction and began walking towards you. 

“Do you think me foolish? I would know the sweet tones of the misery of a soul” his voice seemed more...amused

The short distance he crossed was realized once he got closer to you, and really you honestly didn’t have the energy in you to run. Instead of allowing him to get dangerously close to his face, as you had seen the chain that you had heard earlier, and it wasn’t as simple as you had thought.

At first, he didn’t say anything and you didn’t dare look him in those ghoulish eyes, if it was intimidation it was only half working because you just wanted him to go away. 

A claw-like finger was placed under your chin lifting up your head forcing you to peer into those green misty eyes.

“Something seems...familiar about you” he mumbled tracing the outlines of your face.

Your breath hitched in the back of your throat at the proximity, oddly enough the air didn’t feel suffocating and you really doubt he would hurt you since he seemed to know you. Shoulders slumped gaze burning back into his, a little more out of curiosity than caution. Quickly you went from fearful and cautious to fairly annoyed. 

Smacking his hand away you scoffed,

“Whoever you think I maybe you are probably mistaken.” 

Completely ignoring what you said he snapped his fingers as if he remembered something a menacing smirk somehow forming on his face. Though it didn’t matter as you had already started walking past him. You didn’t get very far before the sound of a chain being thrown was heard and had wrapped around your waist pulling you back to him.

“Where do you think you are going ‘Deaths Incarnate’?” his voice flowed through your ears with an echo.

Brows furrowing in confusion on how he knew the title that was first given to you by those who feared you,

Noticing the perplexed look he spoke,

“Did you really think you could live a peaceful life amongst them? No matter how much you helped, how much you resisted with the gift you were given you were never accepted now were you?” 

The chain wrapped around your waist had long fallen to the side and had been replaced by his clawed hand holding you against his frame as he murmured those things in your ear. As those words drifted into understanding your whole mood shifted once more, you didn’t want to hear about the past and your failed attempt of trying to fit in with society

Shivering against him of resurfaced memories you shook your head,

“What happened is in the past, I don’t know who you are and how you know me but I don’t care”

“Oh, but I guarantee you do dear~ Can’t you remember your lover?” 

Everything that was coming out of his mouth was just getting more and more confusing, sure if he somehow knew about your lover from your time in The Blessed Isles that’d be fine. However most were lost in the king’s ruination so naturally, you had gone searching for him immediately, but all you found was an empty vault and no lover to be found. He was a lowly warden gone by the name of Thresh, both of you being shunned away from those who were considered normal. On the contrary, you didn’t mind his much more sadistic mindset, although he tried a little too many experiments with you.  It took a moment to click all of the information together but once it did you were surprised.

“T...Thresh?” your voice quivered as a name that fell from your lips so long ago had returned.

You wouldn’t deny and be surprised about him being alive, after all, there was nobody, no soul fragment left behind. He had been encountered by the Ruined king so you assumed he cunned his way out, but with no crumbs to pick up on his location you gave up on many years of searching for him.

“The one and only”

Relief flooded through your body, releasing much tension acquired through the years. You didn’t cry, nor did you get angry simply you turned around and placed a head on to his chest even if it was colder than the warm touch you were used too. Instead, you let out an amused chuckle,

“Who would’ve thought that the two of us changed so much huh?” your voice was just above a whisper.

He hugged you closer as well, 

“There is no mortality and morals to hold us back, I simply embraced my true wants, no its time for you to do the same dear”

Whatever he was implying you simply didn’t care, perhaps yes his sadistic ways have evolved into one of a murderer but you didn’t care. Whether you were to join him in his ways or not all you wanted to relish in was his embrace.

Because now you could finally hold his hands without the thought of mortality

[thethistlegirl]

Since I’m not going to be posting a new chapter of Wunderkind for a few weeks, I decided that instead, I’m gonna give you sneak previews of the story that’s the reason I’m on hiatus right now! 

@alchemist-rising @amarilloskies @bands-space-and-monsters-oh-my @boozy-the-ghost @constantbellpepper @impossiblepluto @my-whortleberry-friend @parkerstarks @patriotproblems @sassysarcasticlove @silentheartedone @spider-mac @telltaleclerk @whumpwriterforlife

Angus closes his eyes, but he already knows it’s a lost cause. He’s not sure he wants to fall asleep anyway. Not to more dreams. “It’s my deep regret, Mrs. Robinson, to tell you your husband Adam is missing. He’s presumed turned.”

It’s the same nightmare that’s flickered behind his eyes for the past twelve years. He shudders and takes a deep breath. It’s not good enough anymore to fight back that single moment. There are a thousand others just waiting to take its place.

A cold hand on his shoulder. Two graves, flowers spilling over the freshest one in the kind of wild growth only possible for fae-touched things. Grandda Hamish’s last gift for his beloved daughter. “Come on, Angus. She’s gone. You can’t stay here.”

After Dad disappeared, Mom started to fade, losing the iridescent butterfly-wing shimmer in her eyes, the birdsong joy in her voice. The fae colony Grandda had once belonged to eventually offered to help her, even though they’d banished Hamish for marrying a human. But the truth was, their offer carried its own cruel sting. To the fae, the problem was simple. Memories of Eleanor’s human husband grieved her. So they would vanish. And so would the son who could also remind her of what she had lost. Mom walked away then; she refused to lose Angus too. She said the most human thing in the world was to understand that sometimes, joy and pain are tied too closely together to ever separate. So she stayed, and slowly faded away. And then he was left with Grandda, the only blood family he had left in the world.

He shifts slightly, feeling the silver knife he always carries on his belt pressing uncomfortably into his hip. He should probably take it off, but on nights like this he clings to whatever fragments of home and the past and safety he still has left. Not that I deserve it. All of this is my fault.

He starts to roll over to take the pressure off the knife sheath digging into his side, then remembers the state his back is in. The arm he’s laying on is falling asleep, but if he moves he’s not sure he won’t make enough sound to wake the rest of the team. 

“It’s your own fault. You never learn.”

He closes his eyes, but all he can hear above the hum of the city traffic and the hissing chatter of the air-conditioner, is the voices in his head. “You almost got us all killed. The hunt was a disaster, and it’s your fault. If Chimera decides to bail on us, we all know who’s to blame.”

“Hey, aren’t you Adam Robinson’s kid? Didn’t he marry that Seelie girl?” All it took was one old friend of his father’s, saying the wrong thing in the wrong place, and everything he’d worked so hard to get came crashing down.

He’d made the tiny mistake of signing Silver Blade’s contract with his true name. The hunters were supposed to be the heroes. Dad was one, how could they have been bad or cruel? But the minute Silver Blade realized they’d accidentally acquired a fae, and a contract-bound one no less, he was nothing better than their property.

Shivering, stumbling back to the van after an all night stakeout in December rain. “Get it together. We’ve all got to do whatever it takes. Sometimes it’s just a miserable job. But in the end, we rid the world of a few more of those miserable bastards, and it’s worth it.”

Waking up in a hospital bed, exhausted and soaked with sweat from the fever that just broke. “Sorry to have to be the one to tell you, kid. But your grandfather died two days ago.”

Hands on his shoulders, running down his body, sizing him up. Voices making a deal with Michaels, negotiating the terms of their agreement and bargaining with Angus’s body and soul as if he’s theirs for the taking. “If you don’t do this, we’re never going to find that rogue and a lot of people are going to die. We need what he knows. Now just do your job, Angus.” Stumbling back to his team hours later, hurting and humiliated and terrified, and then ignored as soon as he told them what they wanted to hear.

“Angus. Rekesh nik.” Kill them. A Seelie command he can’t fight back against. Blood on an aspen stake in his hands.  

He jerks upright, panting, out of the half doze he’s slipped into. His back sears with pain, and he muffled a pained gasp into his hand as he rolls onto his stomach, burying his face in his arms to try and muffle the gasping sobs.

[rowanartist]

Fanfiction 2019:

We Are Stars by hollyhawke Thor, Jane, Steve

scent-trigger by Feather (lalaietha) i should read more of the series

When Everything I Want Is More Than You by Q_it ch2 particularly. I might just be in a mood right now

Happy Birthday, Dear Clint! By sharkie335 friends being great friends even if the methods are a bit bizzard to some

i'm Doing Better Than I Ever Was by cpt_winniethepooh comments

You Did so Well for Us by Buckmesideways22 abnormal for me. Not sure how I feel.

Stressrelief and a little more by Fighting_for_creativity Jarvis helps get things going (less weird than that sounds)

Ghost of a Chance by non_tiembo_mala comments

Anything you can do by Buckmesideways22 comments

The Bridge by fluffharpy comments

Release Me by thepinupchemist comments

What a Way to Go by helahler, TaleWorthTelling interesting idea with Steve's different sides. Could be worth pondering.

Fragments by Annawry interesting, identity and memories

Lessons in Taking it Slow by ProgressivelyAgressiveCap patience

ever fallen in love with someone by 1000_directions cute Bucky/Clint punk au

To belong by tussanus_postea cute g rated pern au with Hagrid!!

Brown and Gold by Koren M (CyberMathWitch) Clint Natasha pern au

Dragonminds by QueenSabriel Warning: Incomplete. But cute so far!

Just Like Before by romanticallyinept being relaxed...

lace by Authoress comments

sparks will fly by purpleho bakugo/izuku/todoroki my hero Academia

lingerie by anoneesan short

trick or treat by deck_you cute Halloween party then explicit

Knock next time by Kelly_jo meh, but its short and the end is mildly amusing

Clandestine by kanekiki sweet how they missed each other and supportive friends

the most important meal of the day by RedxRobinYUMM I'm not a big fan of Bakugo but most of the writers I've read write him well and believable

Sit back, relax and enjoy the show by almightydork (earthsmightiestdorks) comments

Three by OwlWanderer adorable awkward Iida - relate?

Closeted by PeachyLesbian unsure

all tied up by Birdschach amusing angry caring bakugo

Late bloomer by NohaIjiachi took them a while but they got there Adrenaline rush by NohaIjiachi um. Kinda a fave

Subscapula by mousapelli quotes in that post. Reminds me of getting together with my boyfriend lol

My Shower is Broken, Can I Use Yours? By multifascinate (talkativelock) amusing

Up the Wall by surveycorpsjean mature, amusing end

Whisper In My Ear by livinglittlelie clever sneaky "wing men" friends

A Haiku by PaleRose i like the haikus

Paint you Wings by All_time_low3st quotes in quote post

Erased but not forgotten by NohaIjiachi much giggling! Better if you read the rest of the series

You Can Leave Your Socks On by CrzA good first time. Oh Izuku knowing what he wants!

The Comfort of Your Touch by CrzA fantasy au

Certain Well-Remembered Lessons by MumblingSage interesting use of the lasso

How To Ride A Horse In The Rain by YanzaDracan comments

Right Place by Raine_Wynd Marvel leverage crossover. Bi guys!

It's a Long Way to Zanzibar by facetofcathy cute, Eliot pov. Leverage

Look For Me by MissGraceOMalley wild ride, kinda slow burn Marvel

try a little tenderness by katertots comfort sex after a long time at work marvel

Untitled (How Does It Feel) by vintageprayers amusing marvel

In A Time of Need by GanGstasGirl kink marvel

Cruel, Cruel World (To Face on Your Own) by Aenaria short friends to loversmarvel

Snugglef*ck by GhostCrumpet amusing marvel

Control by Still_Aliveand_Kicking first in a series, i want to see where it goes marvel

Thunder and Ice by Quarra, TrishArgh much awkward but hilarious squealing plus art Marvel

Dreams by JeanGenie series. Polyamory avengers. marvel

and many more by fartherfaster, sevenfoxes good time with a mix of vibes. Birthdays of marvelmarvel

the many stars that guide us by twistedingenue cute and supportive slow burn marvel

Home Is Wherever I'm With You (a.k.a. Avengers Bonding Time Adventure) by Sunche some nights by Fun marvel

A Lewis and a Half by xfayewrites ADORABLE and very sweet marvel

You Know You Need Me by MizDiablo interesting, not sure i love the overall world but i guess it allows the reader to handle the dom/sub dynamic if they are less aware or open to it as a concept. This focuses on the praise and caring aspect. marvel

Some Nights by Jadzia_Bear slow simmer. marvel

Three Birds and A Stone by xena2210 hot, want the sequel marvel

Don't Stop Me Now by Isa_Iadel aww, long, much cute, and sweet even through tough. marvel

B&B: Bed and Boyfriends by D_21 comments my hero Academia

Got an Issue? Here's a Tissue by Roxi2Star emotional control strugglesmy hero Academia

Kingdoms You Were Promised by Yurusarenai (iwantcandy2) third broght them together in that waymy hero Academia

Deku's Birthday Surprise by SilentJo not my fave pair/trio my hero Academia

bottom bitches by memeingfultrash seriesmy hero Academia

Treat - Fan Art by kurozawa46 fan art marvel

Please - Fan Art by kurozawa46 comments marvel

Keep You Warm by ineachplace simple but sweet marvel

[katharaya]

PROMPT: "[Asra's] greatest fear [is] to wonder if that means he’s bound to lose her again" + rei accepting the devil's bargain in the most recent update

well then. one helping of angst and misery coming up

—

“Yes,” she says, with only the barest hint of hesitation. Her eyes are locked on Faust, curled in on herself in the Devil’s claws.

Oh, Rei, he thinks, of all the proposals you could have said yes to, why this one?

“Reasonable and efficient,” the Devil says, almost crooning. It grates on Asra’s nerves. “I like you, Rei. So refreshing after the last mortal who dealt with me.”

That almost makes Asra laugh. Of course. Of course even the very Devil himself wants to wash his hands of Lucio.

But—

“No,” Asra says, which only makes the Devil smile. He tries to tug Rei back behind him. He wants her nowhere near that smirk. “Rei, you don’t know what the Devil has planned!”

“True enough,” the Devil acquiesces amicably, before his grin turns knife-sharp, twisting something in Asra’s gut. “But it wasn’t your decision to make, Asra.”

Rei looks at him askance, like she’s gauging something, before she turns to the Devil and says, too sweetly, “Will you give us a moment first, please, Mister Devil, sir?” as if she’s merely talking to a customer back at the shop.

The Devil howls in laughter, and for a moment Asra is afraid he’ll squeeze Faust without meaning to. But he just looks back at Rei with an amused baring of his too-sharp teeth.

“Such politeness!” he cackles. “You could stand to learn a thing or two from her, Asra. Very well, Miss Rei—” He glances at Asra as he says this, and Asra bristles. “—you may have your moment, but do not tarry long. We’re on a strict schedule.”

And then Rei curtsies, of all things, which makes the Devil laugh again, and he eases his grip on Faust to a more comfortable but still restricting cradle.

Rei pulls Asra just to the entrance of the clearing, and he rounds on her before she can get out a word.

“Rei, you can’t!” he hisses under his breath. He’s pretty sure the Devil can hear them anyway. “This is—it’s a trap, Rei, I can’t let you do this!”

“He has Faust!” she whispers back. “And I can’t go back on my word now!”

“There has to be some other way!”

“I’ve already decided, Asra,” she says quietly, with the same finality as a lover leaving, as a door slamming shut.

(This is not the first time she’s told him this.)

“No!” He surges forward, cupping her face between his hands. He’s so, so close to crying. “I won’t let you throw your life away again!”

Doesn’t she understand?

He’s shaking now, breathing hard as he rests his forehead against hers. He’s only half here; the other half is back at the shop, three years past, where See if I care! lingers like poison in the air, strangling the I love you he wishes he’d said instead. “I won’t, I won’t,” he whimpers. “Not this time. Not again.”

What cruel circles their lives turn in. He wonders if it was a fluke, that they ever managed to be happy at all.

She eases his hands away, and it feels too much like goodbye that he chokes on a sob, an apology three years too late sticking in his throat. She offers a comforting smile, and he doesn’t want it; he wants her to stay. Doesn’t she understand?

“I will be careful, Asra. And I’ll be back soon.” She kisses him, barely—just a quick touch of lips on lips, light like the brush of a butterfly’s wing. “I won’t be parted from you so easily,” she says, stroking a thumb along his jaw. The joking quirk of her mouth doesn’t feel funny now, not at all. “We’ve not nearly made up enough for lost time.”

“Are we done, then?” the Devil calls, his tone a perfect mimicry of boredom. “Very well, here is your dear Faust.”

She slithers across the grass and into his hands, a trembling shudder running through her as she makes contact with his warmth.

Came to help …

It is a relief beyond words when he feels the magical tether that binds them together snap back into place. “Of course,” he tells her, bumping noses in an old accustomed greeting. She nuzzles at the corner of his eye, and a single teardrop comes away to rest atop her head. “I could never abandon you.”

Rei looks relieved too when he turns to her, wearing a gentle, satisfied smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “Nor you, Rei,” he promises.

(He’s made that mistake once, and it is one time too many.)

“Most heartwarming,” the Devil says, in tones that indicate his heart is still something of a tundra. “However, Rei and I need to settle the other half of our bargain.” And then he grins a grin that could only belong to the devil, offering his arm to her in a mocking caricature of gallantry. “Now then, Rei. Your time and company, if you please.”

Trepidation shows on her features for the first time. When the Devil reaches for her, Asra wonders if he could get away with slapping that hand away.

Don’t touch her! he thinks furiously, but before his mouth can form the words, the Devil pulls Rei toward him and they disappear in a plume of gritty, gray smoke, and Asra almost doubles over sick.

He did it on purpose, Asra reasons with himself, but it doesn’t stop the images of belching furnaces from worming into his mind anyway. He takes the few faltering steps to where her mask had fallen as she vanished, dirt marring the delicate deep blue of the painted kingfisher feathers.

There had been fear in her eyes as she was whisked away. He wonders if she was afraid then, too, when he had left her to her fate.

(Not again, not again, not again—)

When his fingertips brush the wood of the mask, he thinks he hears her calling his name.

“Rei!” he shouts, but he doesn’t even know which direction they’ve gone. “Rei, we’ll find you! I promise!”

Silence. Only the stars are around to hear. If they’re saying anything, he doesn’t know; she never taught him how to listen.

—

He bursts through the greenery of the maze, tumbling into Muriel and Inanna as they round the corner.

“Asra!” Muriel sighs with obvious relief. “You found Faust.” And then he takes in Asra’s disheveled appearance, the wiped-away tear tracks on his cheeks, the kingfisher mask in his hand without a face to wear it. Tightness settles at the corners of his eyes. “Where is she?”

“I—” She’s gone, she’s gone, and I don’t know how to follow— “I don’t know.”

For the second time in his life, Asra looks at his hands, bereft of her touch, and thinks, despairing, we should have run when we had the chance.

He should have learned by now, shouldn’t he? Look at him now, paying for the same fatal mistake, with only a mask without its owner and half a heart left to show for it.

A column of smoke, thick and cloying like a funeral pyre, rises from the center of the garden, before moving unnaturally fast toward the ballroom doors.

“This is bad,” Muriel grumbles, already on Asra’s heels as he sprints back to the Palace, his heart drumming an unsettled staccato beat and his mouth tasting too much like ash.

—

“Faust!” he scolds her, voice cracking high in his panic. “Please don’t run off!”

He reaches her and picks her up, thankfully before she gets stepped on, but she’s crawling agitatedly over his hands, saying Friend! Friend! over and over, something mournful in the voice that echoes in his mind.

I know she’s gone, he thinks frustratedly back at her. That’s why we—

He freezes, feeling the air in front of him shift. Only faintly, like a sigh as someone passes him by, but there’s something lonely about it all the same.

“Rei?” he whispers, afraid to even breathe wrong lest the feeling disappear entirely. The loneliness shivers, urgency drawing an exclamation point desperate for his attention. “No … I can sense you, but—”

Dread draws icy fingers down his spine. You’re somewhere I can’t follow, again.

He focuses his magic, pulling her from the ether like he’d pulled her from the earth, fragment by nail-breaking fragment—a hazy sketch of blue fabric; a daydream of dark hair; a distant memory of brown eyes the color of comfort, of home.

She’s there. He knows she is. He can feel her, like a tiny flicker of sound echoing his own trembling existence. But she’s little more than an outline, a shadow in the water, a monochrome reflection in a glass window on a rainy day. She’s the barest suggestion of a presence drawn in shifting shades of gray, like someone had started painting with the leftover cinder in a cold furnace pit and left their work unfinished. And when he reaches out to touch her—

—she’s smoke and mist, no better than the ghost that had haunted him all those forsaken months when the freezing rain made his very bones shiver. He looks at his hand where it should feel the warmth of her chest, but it’s just—there, hovering uncertain when it meets no resistance, clenched into a fist where her half of his heart should beat.

He knows he can’t afford to panic, kneeling here in the middle of the ballroom floor, but his breathing goes ragged all the same.

I’ve lost you, I’ve lost you is an insidious taunt in his mind. How many times does he have to lose her before the world is satisfied? A hundred? A thousand? Once was already too much. Please, he thinks, not again not again notagainnotagain—

A booming voice rends the air, and Asra comes to the sinking realization that she hasn’t been lost to him so much as stolen—

—just as he comes down the stairs, grinning like an unrepentant thief.

“Dear Vesuvia!” Lucio shouts. His plagued eyes are locked on Asra, like he knows exactly what he did. “Did you think I had left you for good?”

Asra’s world turns plague-violent red, and it’s only the soundless movement of her not-there mouth that stays the spark of fire already building in his hand.