#i'm sorry i have a problem with torturing every character i get my hands on

[yellowskarmory]

Assemble GGY

more short fics! woo! torturing characters! maybe that doesn't need an exclamation point... (first thing i've posted in like half a year lol, it was mostly written when i was very exhausted but i think it's good enough to read, this is also in my drabbles post on ao3) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gregory panted, close to tears, as he ran into the room. Freddy had somehow kept his signal alive, able to send a message to him as he ran up to the catwalks.

Come in, Gregory. Can you hear me? I still have a signal. Get to the Fazer Blast booth, use the security desk. Turn them against VANNY.

He didn’t know how he was supposed to do that, but he would figure it out, no matter what. Vanny hadn’t been on the catwalks when he got on them.

As he ran into the room, he didn’t actively hear any footsteps, which was good. If he could figure out something… Oh! There was a button detached from the desk! That had to be it! Then– “Hee hee hee!” Gregory whipped his head around, grabbing the button, and there stood Vanny. Not now! I’m so close! She was laughing maniacally at him, and Gregory backed up, quickly backing into a corner. Vanny was treating this like a game, and it gave Gregory time to think. He felt the button in his palm, and remembered what Vanny had done to summon the S.T.A.F.F. bots.

Vanny had the high ground, and in her hand, she had a button? Freddy was on the bridge, ahead of him, and neither knew what to say. The bunny lady gave them a cartoonish wave, before pressing the button and ordering the bots to “Disassemble Freddy.”

The memory was vivid, despite having to play through his mind in an instant. He knew what he had to do now. As Vanny slowly stepped forwards, he hit the button, making the only order he knew would work.

“Disassemble Vanny.”

Vanny instantly panicked, as STAFF bots swarmed her.

The screams were horrifying. Gregory never wanted to hear them again.

However, Gregory was finally safe, at least physically. Mentally, he’d be scarred for a long time after seeing someone get ripped to pieces in front of him (even if they were trying to kill him), but he would be okay.

Or, he would’ve been, had the arcade machine not been in the office. A voice suddenly came from it, glitchy and not quite human or robotic.

“Back to your old ways, I see.”

Gregory startled, looking around for the source of the voice. It took a bit for the meaning of whatever had spoken to kick in, but when it did… he was mad. Too mad to pay attention to the fact that the arcade machine had flickered on.

“What do you mean my old ways? I’m not a murderer!” “Oh, but you are… I suppose you have forgotten those therapists you had? All five of them?” Tendrils of purple light snaked from the arcade machine towards Gregory, but he was too angry at the voice to notice.

“What therapists? I didn’t need any therapists!” Gregory retorted, still angry, but also confused.

”Hmm, no memory of that. Do you remember Tony? A curious kid, investigating the arcade machines here.”

“Why would I forget about Tony? He’s my friend.” Gregory’s anger was turning to confusion as he forgot the initial reason behind these questions.

“What about your parents?” “Why would I tell you?” Irritation rose in Gregory, arising from confusion about what this voice was and the constant questions it asked him.

“What is the last thing you remember from before today?” The voice spoke up again, clearly satisfied with the question it asked. Gregory tried to think back to what he’d done yesterday, but… he didn’t remember any of yesterday. Or the day before that. Or the day before that. Actively racking his brain, the most he’d remembered across the past two years were random flashes of memories, and that was it.

“Why are you asking this?” Gregory tried to sound confident, but his voice came out shaky.

“Oh, I’m just trying to figure out how successful the possession was.” The voice laughed afterwards, as if it admitting to controlling Gregory was something funny it could do with no repercussions.

And, if Gregory stayed frozen in place out of shock like he was now, there would be no repercussions, and it’d be right. Unfortunately, the very clear danger signs going off in his mind weren’t enough to get him to unfreeze, not even when the tendrils of light made contact with him.

“You know, while controlled, you did murder five therapists. You did kill your friend Tony. And you killed your own parents. Now, you have nothing to go back to, and nobody to come and save you, with Freddy destroyed and at our whim to be fixed. It’s not like you’d have any hope to be okay again, but that’s fine, because you’re coming with me again.”

OR “You know, while you were controlled, you did murder five therapists. You did kill your friend Tony. And you killed your own parents. Now, you have nobody to go back to, and nobody to come and save you, with Freddy destroyed and at our whim to be fixed, and it’s all your fault. You will never be okay again; your best option would be to come with me anyway, but it’s not a choice.”

And with that, Gregory’s mind went purple, then blank, as he passed out on the floor.

[frenchgremlim1808]

Why Midori is such a breath of fresh air or how to actually write a Villain.

So the awaited essay, the winner of the FrenchGremlin polls of laziness finally has come! It took some time but it’s finally over. If your choice didn’t get chosen that’s okay! I’ll repost a new poll with old and newer options. Please reblog this one i put a lot of time in it, it's like, five pages long over a silly goose. Also sorry for the grammar i sucks and i'm not native. So let’s begin:

(also here is the link to the video format)

So first let’s make things clear, What IS a villain?

“A villain is a character whose evil actions or motives are important to the plot.” That is why I do want to make a difference between a villain and an antagonist, an antagonist is a character who are a plot devices that creates obstruction to the protagonist. That means that a villain is forced to be an antagonist while an antagonist is not forced to be a villain. For example shin is an antagonist but not a villain, he is driven by selfish desires which are themselves fueled by fear anger and loss, he is the protagonist of his own story and is a sympathetic character despite it all, and Midori is just a bitch. Midori falls under multiple stereotypes of villains. Such as “the mastermind”, “evil incarnate” (lmao),”related to the protagonist” etc. Midori is evil, there is no denying in this, he is purely evil, and he doesn’t have a sad weepy backstory, he doesn’t feel empathy towards other, he is a despicable piece of shit who ruined so many lives. I won’t list everything but here is a list of his crimes, murder, assault, domestic abuse, grooming, verbal abuse, and torture, crimes against humanity lmao, stalking, violent crimes, and participation in a cult. And his worst crime is being a pussy bitch of course. So now that we have put the bases up let’s really begin.

Hollywood has a hate boner against villains and I hate them for that.

Recently Hollywood decided that pure evil bad guys is actually a bad thing, so now they decided to do stupid side story with them, to give them ”””depth””” since I guess how could we like those villains since they are bad. A great example of this is the Disney remakes which I loathe so much oh god I hate them. So first they did a maleficient it was okay honestly, then they did a freaking cruella movie where her mom gets killed by Dalmatians, that’s not a joke, in the peter and wendy movie that nobody saw they decided to have made the captain hook be a lost boy who was abandoned by the lost boys and peter, oh also they decided that PETER CUT HIS HANDS OFF AND LEFT HIM TO DIE BECAUSE HOOK WANTED TO SEE HIS FAMILY. They are going to do a freaking mufasa movie, in no time I can’t wait to have a Ursula movie where it’s discovered that ariel killed all of her family in cold blood or something’s. So you might say what’s the problem? I mean isn’t that supposed to make the story more interesting. No, no it doesn’t, because first they take all of the character personality traits and throw them in the bin, second they are supposed to be the vilain in a musical animated movies, I am not against complex villain, I love them, but by doing this, the original character doesn’t exist anymore. Just create original content with new interesting characters instead of doing stuff like this. Also it’s kind of funny than in all of those interpretation they take all the fun and sucks it out, what do I mean by fun, the gayness, Disney vilain are fun because they are camp, they are fabulous extravagant extra in all the ways possible, and that’s the reason we liked them. Not every character needs something super deep, like “my family was burned down at the stake and my dog was eaten by my ex”, sometimes we just like bad fun people, they are the story, and Hollywood hating them so bad just bothers me a lot. Also now the new thing is to not have a villain at all which can works in some narrative but not all of them, it gets boring after a while. In the past people were angry that villains are bland, but now I kind of miss it. While I will critique villains who have no purpose outside of being evil that’s dumb, like for example Voldemort is bland like white bread because his only motivation is being evil, but evil people do exist compared to what some Hollywood writers think, they should know. So that’s why I will put a difference between evil villains and villains whose only purpose is being evil; we loved Disney villains but they still had motivations, goals, reasons that to them a least were worth everything. World domination isn’t enough, why do you want world domination, what is the true reason deep in your heart, is it an inferiority complex, is it a savior complex fuelled by xenophobic beliefs.

That is how to write a pure evil villain, evil people exist all over the world, but I have never seen one who doesn’t have they own reasons to be so bad, it doesn’t excuse their actions nor really explains them. We do not want justifications we want explanations. If you are justifying evil behavior then do it, but don’t claim that it is a pure evil character. A pure evil character can be fun, can be interesting, he can be deep, it’s all about balancing all of their traits to truly make them greats. Which is why midori succeeds while current villains fail. Current stupid remake/spin off try to justify the behavior because they feel like this is what the audience wants, but it’s not what we need. So I will defend to the grave evil villains.

Creating an evil villain doesn’t make them boring guys.

Why the heck does big budget movies have either the blandest protagonist or the blandest villains sometimes both, like I said evil people do exist but comically evil character only works in satire not in a serious multiple millions of dollar movie. Example that boring ass avatar movie, the one with blue people, none of the characters are interesting the villain is one note. The lords of the rings also suffers from that, but I don’t care because the protagonist are so awesome that sauron being personality less doesn’t matter. Also sauron is more of a force of nature villains so it’s not the same. The recent kingsman movie has a bland one note villain, there is nothing entertaining, funny, about him he’s just evil, borrrrring. Every Disney remakes depiction of the characters are boring. I just feel bored out of my mind. Atla one of my favorite shows of all time has a main villain that’s kinda one note, Ozai, but he is actually intimidating guy, azula is the superior character, but I wouldn’t consider her a villain she is an antagonist though. I honestly don’t get why Hollywood thinks that just creating a character with no personality and whose only goals is to be evil is good.

So back to midori for a second, here is my question, when midori was on screen did you ever feel bored? Never right! Because despite midori being an evil character he has an actual personality, he’s fun, you want to punch him in the balls. Because midori has other personality traits than evil, midori is petty, childish, extremely intelligent, controlling, a natural manipulator, he is a trickster, he doesn’t seem to get some social norms, he is narcissistic, easily angry, and fears death etc See how I counted a lot of traits, traits that in other character would works, midori has positive traits, and I think that is the best thing nankidai could have ever done, midori has traits that a regular person could have. Which is why if I put midori in any settings his character would work.

Example, instead of a death game the cast is under the sea to discover the insane wildlife and supernatural stuff happening, what would midori do in this situation? Well he would very passionate about finding all of what’s happening, he’ll do anything to find out, even sometime sacrificing others, not only will he try to find what’s happening, but he is also going to try to find a way to make this discovery favour him in the end. Or let’s imagine it’s a vampire situation, where a vampire attacks  the city, midori would try to stop it, not because he cares, but to experiment on them to get their biology and finds the real secret of immortality since he fears death.

Here is my second advice, after creating your character try to imagine them in another completely different situation, like normal life, or a fantasy world, ask yourself the question what would they do in that environment? If you can find a real complete explanation of their actions then yes your character has multiples dimensions if not try thinking about it again. Some example of questions I do want to point out are some like “if my character had all the power in the world what would they do first or”, “if my character had only a day left to live what would they do”

Why is Current media incapable of creating good threats like bruhhhh.

Okay so first of all let’s talk about stakes in a story, let’s say you are watching a slasher movie, slowly the cast gets slimmed down and people die in horrible ways, that should set stakes right ? Well if the villain is an absolute buffoon who makes the stupidest actions and decisions in the world, you wouldn’t feel intimidated at all because despite what the filmmaker might try to say the plot armor will NEVER make a character intimidating. It’s just like a detective character who just seems to know everything without a thought, well you won’t really fear the character failing. Worse is the the final girl, who is for some reason always escaping the slasher guy by pure luck every time, she is shown as incompetent but still she survives, which make the villain seem completely incapable so now you feel nothing.

To avoid this filmmaker often use techniques such has unpredictability, I mean good I mean good ones, for example instead of immediately seeing whose going to survive because the black guys always dies first and the virgin white woman is the last survivor, change the status quo, make us think that this character is obviously safe while they actually aren’t at all. Or actually make them menacing by SHOWING to the audience how horrible dangerous they can be. Which is why SHOW DON’T TELL is so important, telling us how dangerous someone can be only to see them get beaten to death at the end of the movie makes us feel nothing.

Midori felt like a impossible person to beat, he is smart, had twenty plans in advance, even in situation where the cast felt like they might have a chance he was always armed, just like the gun he promised to use or the rocket punch. When they felt like they were finally advancing, he put obstacle in their ways, such as the collar game or the moment he put the collar on explode mode for  ranmaru. The entire point in the murder game was to make time pass, it took a long time for the cast top realize that this whole time they were losing precious time not realizing that the dummies were the real problem. The characters that made you feel the most hopeless were the dummies, if you won by killing midori they would die, but if you lost you might lose people you love (keiji or gin). It felt hopeless because they were no solutions in the end. That creates tension so that creates stakes. If we were told how dangerous unpredictable sou was then it wouldn’t hit the same, we are shown that he is that terrible. There is a scene ingame where bbg shin ai tells us that midori tortured and like to destroy people. That’s exposition so TELL, but do you why it works, because we are SHOWN before his behavior. Midori felt unbeatable, so the fact that we were shown his weakness such has his petty behavior, hatred of minors, and fear of death, for the first time it feels like there is a chance that we might survive this. And still after he isn’t shown has an incompetent buffoon, he is one, but the narrative doesn’t show us that he is.

What is also consider is good to make the audience feel actual stakes is to first really develop well the main characters, how can we feel worry for a character if we don’t know them, the audience need to feels emotional connection to the main cast to actually care. You can use things such has moments where there is nothing special happening just character talking getting to know them. Make us feel why we need to care about them possibly losing, instead of being indifferent. Or I don’t know maybe make an entire spin off game where we get to have the cast talk to each other and seeing dynamics between character that died early to get them a chance to shine and make their death even more tragic, or even make mini episodes of characters who only got a single chapter to show off their characteristic, to get us to know them better? But that’s just a silly idea of course, wink, and wink.

My favorite thing about Midori is that he is actually pathetic, like really pathetic, but weirdly realistic?

Midori is the most pathetic character in the cast, yes more than shin, shin is leagues less pathetic. No I’m not saying that midori is not intimidating or scary, I would piss myself if I saw him. He’s a scary guy. But if you look at him more closely you can see that he is a baby brat in a big boy suit.

So let’s start by something clear, Sou Hiyori clearly displays antisocial behavior, or in common terms he is a psychopath/sociopath, this illness is very badly seen in medias, I am not saying that people who lacks empathy like him are inherently bad, he is, a lot of people with antisocial behavior actually suffers a lot and have a difficult life. Sou real issues is not his antisocial behavior, it’s his narcissism and god complex. Sou feels the need to HAVE CONTROL over others, he like the feeling of being in power, he sees the rest of the world has beneath him, toys for his pleasure. He says that he “really like humans” because despite it all he seems to put himself in a different categories than regular people, they are beneath him. When he loses control his calm and cool behavior disappears and we see his true face, a grown man who has throws a tantrum like a baby. One of the best representation of this is midori views on the cast:

Midori hates kanna, like no jokes he has beef with her, a fourteen years old, actually he has beef with a lot of people in the cast. Midori views emotional people has weak, people who are loving optimistic as beneath him and useless. He preferred when sara was cruel and horrible, that’s what he loved about her, he liked seeing her scary emotionless side. But Kanna, kanna is everything he hates. A crybaby who not only puts the group in harmony, is a source of hope in general, is the reason he near got to have closure with shin (killing him), he views kanna as “not fun shin”. We have many proofs for this, if you type the word kanna kizuchi he says this: “Poor Kanna'd weep! I think a more worthless name would be better for someone like me” He mocks her, but also himself (I’lll come back on this later), he calls her worthless. Also in the electric charge minigame, when he can choose who to shocks he chooses two people in particular, kanna who he hates and hinako who ruined his fun by giving the cast a chance in saving ranmaru. But he does also says mean spirited stuff to other people, qtaro and gin. He also says some sarcastic comments about nao and joe, saying that it’s such a shame that they died so young. But you might say why kanna especially? Because he is a petty baby who is jealous of kanna, Yes jealous, of kanna, a fourteen years old. Because he feels like she stole his hubby wubby shin away from him…. God I hate him. And you know what that make him a pathetic idiot, after the scene where kanna beats his ass, he’s all mad and like “uhh I’m going to pout I wanted you to cry like a lot, now I’m gonna cry”. An that’s actually god, because it humanize him, he wants need thoughts, he isn’t one note, and that’s the most important!

Sou is a villain but before that he is a character, a fully developed character, and THAT’S WHAT MAKE HIM GREAT, Sou works because he works realistically, I mean if you forget the robot part, it’s easy to imagine a narcissist man child who needs to feel in power towards other, so his main prey are young vulnerable people.Which leads me to my next point:

Sou is a failure like really, and we aren’t sad for him.

Sou failed everything he worked on, he failed to get the paper from alice, he failed whith shin since he had to leave earlier than he thought he would leave, because of his mistake he lost his position in the death game, then he failed to kill gin or keiji, and then he died like an idiot losing his cool and acting like a toddler. And he knows it that why he is a bit self-hating (he should be). And yet none of us feel any sympathy towards him, why? Because sou is one of the most despicable guy in existence. He is a disgusting pervert, sadistic asshole, and abusive narcissistic cunt who thinks he is better than everyone. From the bottom of my heart I hate him sooooo much he is literally the character I hate the most in existence. He abused shin, ruined keiji’s life, traumatized the entire cast, literally assaulted sara like he physically assaulted her. He mocked nao and joe and kugie life as useless. He is an obsessive jerk AND I HATE HIM. And you know what…… It’s good. Like I actually feel a lot of emotions when I think about him, he fuels me with anger and disgust, and if your characters can make me feel that much rage then you did it, you created an actual perfect character. Hiyori is such a shit person that I think about him a lot, writers shouldn’t be scared to make a character such hittable assholes, example bojack horseman in bojack horseman is the vilest man on earth and I love it, because I genuinely hate him. Just like I genuinely love kanna, like really I really love her, I in the same time despise midori so bad. We hate him because he is horrible to good people that WE KNOW AND CARE ABOUT, not random npcs. There is a lot of… disgusting implications in his story with shin that I will not talk about it makes me really uncomfortable right now. SO HERE IS A VERY TACKY TRANSITION TO TALK ABOUT WHY I HATE JUNKO FROM DANGANRONPA.

Junko is boring, that’s it, she is boring, not funny not interesting, she is a fetish, she is the biggest Mary sue on earth, she is a gross character made to make fun of people with disabilities and queer people. Her only traits is being crazy, that’s it. I wouldn’t call midori that crazy actually, he’s methodical calculated, and precise. Crazyness is a term for people who aren’t in control of their actions and delusional about reality, sou is not crazy, he knows what he is doing, he is in full control, while characters like shin should actually be consider crazy, like shin is actually crazy but sou isn’t.

Conclusion:

Sou is a breath of fresh air, because nankidai had the balls to write an actually interesting deep and threatening character AND make him a villain. He didn’t fall into the trap of making him have a sad backstory or good motives, sou is just selfish, that’s all he is. He make him a fun entertaining guy who you absolutely hates, he made him threatening and at the same time a complete doofus. He made him humane and pathetic.

But the thing that make me love nankidai the most is this

The fact that he actually killed him that takes courage as a writer to just end a character THAT WAY, which is why midori will never come back alive he is forever dead. And that take a lot of talents as a writer to just take one of the most important characters and just get him drilled to death in the anus, like dammn nankidai you are a savage. That fact alone makes him one of the best characters in game, I hate him as a person, but has a character he is a masterpiece.

Though Kanna could solo him

this was posted as a video on my blog this is mainly so people who don't want to stay there reading a 24 minute video of my stuttering can have a bit of quiet

[darsynia]

Hand(s) Off | Ch1: Agony

(Steve Rogers/f!Reader sex pollen-esque multichapter)

STORY MASTERLIST | STEVE MASTERLIST | NEXT

Summary: Bucky Barnes is the most important person in your life. When he confesses to you that he lives at the Avengers tower, and the 'Steve' you've been hearing about for months is actually Steve Rogers, you think that nothing can top that revelation-- and then you find yourself trapped in Captain America's bedroom getting a second-hand dose of NYC's favorite new aphrodisiac, Mistress.

Length | Warnings: 3,271 | None this chapter; story will contain explicit sex descriptions and situations, MINORS DNI

Note: I want to make clear that I'm treating the issues of consent with sensitivity. This is not even a dubious consent story in my eyes; the choices these characters make are kind, as clear-eyed as possible under the circumstances, and respectful-- in fact, that's what causes problems for Steve and Dee in the long run. I do want to be clear though: there will be sexual stuff in this story. I'm not teasing you. It won't be clinical or tortured :)

Fill: Adoptable 'Pheremones' from @allcapsbingo

Tags (please request!): @starryeyes2000 @munstysmind @ronearoundblindly @chickensarentcheap @themaradaniels @tiny-anne @deepbatched @nekoannie-chan

Excerpt:

“You grew up with Captain America?” you ask, impressed. Bucky Barnes can really keep a secret.

“Not at all. I grew up with Steve. Skinny, brave Steve. Never backed down from a fight, and now he doesn’t have to. C’mon,” he says, nodding toward the Avengers tower that’s visible in the distance.

There’s something in the back of your mind that’s important, something-- “Oh my God, Bucky!” you gasp, almost stumbling in your shock. “I dragged you to that trivia night, and you did so badly on the Avengers questions! You let me answer the all Captain America ones myself! I totally went on and on about how wonderful and handsome Steve Rogers is. I talked about his ass-- and he’s your best friend?”

“You squeak any higher you’re going to start catching the attention of every purse dog in the city,” Bucky teases gruffly. You shoot a look over, noticing that he’s trying not to grin.

“You jerk!” you say, nudging his right arm with your left elbow. “Were you feeling me out?”

Bucky starts cough-laughing. “You’re going to have to define that one for me.”

Chapter One: Agony

He’s falling and you can’t do anything about it.

Bucky’s shirt catches on a stub of a branch on the way down. You, the child whose balloon he was retrieving, and the kid’s mother all rush over when he lands in a heap.

“Oh my god, are you--” the mom starts to say.

“Here you go, kid. Hold tight, I’m not going after it again,” Bucky interrupts, hauling himself to his feet. 

“Wow! That looks like it didn’t hurt at all!” the kid says.

“It hurts. Everything hurts. I’m just trying to impress her.” He nods in your direction.

Even though it makes you crack up (because he’s absolutely not), this seems to do the trick. The mom takes a minute to tie a more secure knot in the balloon string before smiling nervously at the two of you and leading her son away.

“I’m sorry,” you wince, taking a picture of the hand-sized rip at Bucky’s armpit that reveals the metal of his arm underneath. You’ve never seen the whole thing, but you’ve felt the arm through his sleeve a couple of times.

“Why are you sorry? You told me not to do it.”

“I’m sorry to have been right?”

“Yeah, okay,” he says grimly, scowling at the phone you handed him and reaching around to feel the edges of the tear. “It shows the join, doesn’t it?”

You’ve been trying not to look, because, yeah, it does. The skin edging the metal graft looks burned and painful, definitely not appropriate for your museum plans. Bucky takes in your uncomfortable nod and his jaw clenches.

“We don’t have to go,” you offer.

“We’re going. I just have to…” He trails off, twisting the shirt around to get a better look. The two of you had decided to take the long way through the park. There’s about an hour before the interactive exhibit opens, but it’s the last day. He wouldn’t even tell you how he got the tickets.

“Okay, what if we swing by a corner store so I can grab a sewing kit--”

Bucky interrupts in a firm voice. “No need to waste the money. I’ll head back home to change; we can get a taxi from there. It’s a bit of a walk.” He shrugs the shirt back into position and starts back the way you’d come.

You have to jog to catch up. “That works.” There are a million things you want to say, but it’s Bucky who speaks first, after fifteen minutes of silence. The two of you reach a crosswalk, and he stops you with his left arm, which in your opinion is a choice.

“Spit it out.”

“You were keeping things separate. You shouldn’t change your mind unless you want to,” you say quietly. He’d said he wanted to keep this friendship to himself for a while, with no connection to the past, and no expectation for the future. You’d found that unexpectedly refreshing at the time, and you still do.

“I’ve been thinking about that,” Bucky says. “It’s time. I probably would have sat on it for another month anyway.”

It’s been a six month journey from friendly to friends to close friends for the two of you, and it’s only been two months since he’d opened up about his agonizing past. You don’t know everything yet, and that’s okay. You might never know. As long as Bucky knows he can trust you, that’s what matters.

The light changes, and he guides you across, his body language more relaxed now. Still, you want to make things as easy for him as possible.

“I can wait in the lobby--”

“Shit. That won’t help,” Bucky says, coming to a complete stop in the middle of the sidewalk. “Did you ever look me up?”

“No! You asked me not to.”

He looks at you like you’re some sort of rare creature for a minute, and a slow, appreciative smile grows on his face. You get it-- when he’d told you his actual birthdate, that he’d gone missing in the 40’s, you’d been tempted. But… when someone with a medically engineered metal arm asks you not to poke around in his past, you don’t. Not if you care about him.

“There was a good reason for that, I’m assuming?”

Bucky’s chuckle is deep and amused. “Yeah. I ah, live with the Avengers. Steve’s last name is Rogers. Steve Rogers.”

You’ve heard all about his best friend Steve, enough to feel affection for the man without ever having met him-- but this is not what you were expecting. At all.

“You grew up with Captain America?” you ask, impressed. Bucky Barnes can really keep a secret.

“Not at all. I grew up with Steve. Skinny, brave Steve. Never backed down from a fight, and now he doesn’t have to. C’mon,” he says, nodding toward the Avengers tower that’s visible in the distance.

There’s something in the back of your mind that’s important, something-- “Oh my God, Bucky!” you gasp, almost stumbling in your shock. “I dragged you to that trivia night, and you did so badly on the Avengers questions! You let me answer the all Captain America ones myself! I totally went on and on about how wonderful and handsome Steve Rogers is. I talked about his ass-- and he’s your best friend?”

“You squeak any higher you’re going to start catching the attention of every purse dog in the city,” Bucky teases gruffly. You shoot a look over, noticing that he’s trying not to grin.

“You jerk!” you say, nudging his right arm with your left elbow. “Were you feeling me out?”

Bucky starts cough-laughing. “You’re going to have to define that one for me.”

“--stop by, that’s all I ask. Redwing would love it,” Sam grins as he opens the door to Tony’s lab.

“I’ll try, but did you have to say it like that?” Steve groans before heading into Dr. Banner’s workspace right next door. A new street drug named Mistress has been causing concern, and with SHIELD still in transition, the government has called on the scientific wing of the Avengers to help figure out how to combat the substance. 

Mistress is an aphrodisiac, a potent one. Banner’s preliminary tests show that it’s likely not of Earth origin, which has slowed down their testing considerably due to safety concerns. That’s where Steve comes in; Bruce thinks his fast metabolism could be the key to figuring the stuff out without putting too many others at risk. That and his lack of a romantic partner. 

Apparently the drug enhances a person’s desire to have sex to a strong need, strong enough that there’s no data on what happens if they don’t. The stuff reportedly burns through people, causing dangerous fevers that have officials fearful that someone’s going to get dosed and killed, not to mention the consent issues.

“Hey, Steve,” Banner says. “I don’t know if you’ve met Doctor Lyonne?”

“I haven’t. First or last name?” Steve asks the attractive female doctor.

“Oh, nice one. ‘Lyonne’ is my married name, though. Sorry to possibly disappoint,” she says easily.

Banner smiles at Steve’s wave-off gesture and says, “I’ll leave you two experts to the interpersonal stuff.” He ignores them in favor of a large glass jar with a bunch of warning labels stuck to it. The liquid inside is clear, and all signs point to it being the drug in question. “All right,” Bruce finally says, stepping away and scratching out about four things on his clipboard. “The plan is to expose you in measured doses and observe the results. It’s pretty volatile-- works if ingested, soaks into the skin, and we think it’s capable of being aerosolized under certain conditions. Drinking it will be the most controlled method, so Dr. Lyonne is setting up dosing cups for me. She’s got a class to teach in about forty minutes, so--”

“That’s his delicate way of saying I’ll be out of your hair and unable to observe anything you’ll be going through over the course of the tests,” Lyonne interrupts.

The door that joins the two labs swings open before Steve can respond, and Tony leans his head in. He’s wearing one of his Iron Man suits. “Before you ramp up Icy Hot here, can I show you my new toy?”

“This is a segue to a sex toy joke, Steve. Retreat, retreat!” Sam calls out from behind Tony.

“I’m wounded!” Tony says, muttering, “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that first.” He walks in and grins, holding up his left arm. “Check it out. Nav is still a little spotty, but--”

Steve watches as a shape lifts up from Tony’s bicep area on the suit, similar to Redwing but oval and smaller. 

“Tony, I’d be happy to look at it pretty much any other time, but--”

“You have the whole rest of the day blocked out, Bruce, just give me this!”

The friendship between Stark and Banner always makes Steve nervous. They are the closest aligned in terms of work ethic and smarts, but farthest apart in temperament-- and that’s before the Hulk is brought into play. Steve inches closer to the large glass jug of Mistress as Tony gesticulates wildly, sending the drone careening around the room.

It starts beeping.

“Shit!” Tony shouts. “Uh… apparently something I did set the self-destruct?”

“Why does your drone have a self destruct, Tony?” 

Bruce sounds incredulous and angry, and Steve doesn’t have his shield. As though Tony had set up the whole situation for maximum drama, the thing is headed straight for the jug. Steve lunges to protect it as Bruce maneuvers himself to take the explosion for the team. Someone screams for JARVIS to lock down the building.

Steve lifts the drug container high, meaning to leap out of the way with it, but there’s nowhere to go. The drone’s explosive impact brings forth the Hulk-- which sends Steve and the jug flying backwards into the lab equipment.

Things turn a bit surreal when you enter the tower. Bucky takes you to a secret side entrance (to avoid the press, he says) but when he gets into the elevator, he seems confused when he can’t talk to it. You’re just about to make a Star Trek joke when he explains there’s usually an artificial intelligence that runs the building, but it’s not responding.

You’re used to pretty much anything apartment-related being out of order, so you’re not fazed. Once inside his apartment, you point out that there’s a sticky note on the opposite side of the door, and Bucky grabs it, his brows furrowing as he reads.

“Shit,” he grins, holding up the note. “Stay here? You’re not authorized for this area.”

“Better hurry!” The tickets for the exhibit are for 1:30, and it’s already 12:50. With a nod, he jogs back into the hallway toward the elevator, and just like that you’re alone in Bucky’s apartment.

It is immediately apparent that he doesn’t live here alone. Underneath a coat rack with multiple jackets is a shoe tray with at least five pairs of shoes in two different sizes. The living room is cozy and lived-in; you see the familiar sight of a bottle of Bucky’s favorite beer sitting on an end-table-- right beside a coaster.

You’re about to reach for it when an alarm sounds, accompanied by an urgent voice.

=Tier One protection activated. Retreat to an interior room and wait for further instructions. Attention: Tier One protection activated. Retreat to an interior room and wait for further instructions.=

You freeze in fear for a few seconds, but when the instruction repeats a few seconds later, you hear a grinding noise in the wall. It’s frightening enough that you dart into the hallway and inside the first open door. The reason for the sound becomes terrifyingly clear a few seconds later as a metal panel encased in the doorframe slides down, too quickly for you to slip out underneath it.

The room turns pitch black in the space between one frightened breath and the next.

After taking a minute to listen for danger, you make your way by feel to the far wall, looking for the light switch. On the way, you trip over something that turns out to be a pair of men’s slippers. You’re glad to let your eyes adjust to the light as you put them back, but when you straighten up, you immediately feel like you’re trespassing somewhere you do not belong.

The room is neat as hell, the kind of tidiness that must come from enjoying a clean space rather than a sense of obligation. However, you soon reassess: this is lived in, less frighteningly neat than well-designed. Everything has its place. It’s different from the easy chaos that Bucky has shown on the few times he’s slept over after movie marathons, so you’re pretty sure this isn’t his room. That, and the white cat plushie you gave him that he swears lives on his dresser? Isn’t there.

Instead, the tray with grooming materials in front of a small mirror are the only objects on the dresser top. There’s a low bookshelf next to an easy chair whose footrest has a worn-in divot. The nightstand is equally neat and functional, with a slightly askew sketchbook hinting that the room’s occupant is an artist.

Unfortunately, these observations are making you more nervous, not less. An intrusive thought that the alarm could be about a fire and there’s literally no way out sends you into a frenzy of banging on the inexorable metal slab. 

“Hello?? HELLO!? Please let me out, please, please let me out!” you scream, slamming your fists against the damned barrier until your hands hurt. You’re crying and frantic and yelling, and suddenly there’s someone else on the other side of the door also yelling, and in the next few minutes everything happens at once. 

You can’t see anything through your tears and fear; all you know is the feel and sound of strong hands and a soothing voice that isn’t Bucky but it should be. That thought sends you into more frightened tears, because he’ll be worried, he’ll be upset, and it might send him into a spiral like the one from a few months ago when he finally explained about his past.

Then, awfully, the grinding sound is back and the warm hands are gone.

You hear several shouted, imperative commands before the man falls silent. He’d set you down in a huddle on the bed wrapped in a blanket, and you kind of… drift back into awareness surrounded by the strong scent of coconut, with a not-unpleasant buzz of awareness deep in your gut.

You pull the blanket closer before you recognize it. You’d been working on it during the first few movie nights you and Bucky had shared, and he’d bought it as a gift for his best friend. That’s what brings you fully back to yourself: you’d handmade the thing that’s warming you up. You’ll be able to tell Bucky that. It’ll help, when the time comes.

Taking in a long, deep breath, you look around, expecting, since you’re no longer alone, to see anything but a metal panel completely covering the door. You’re wrong. There’s damage to the frame, as though someone had pried the previous slab out of the way-- but there’s once again a solid-looking metal barrier between you and freedom.

“Are you okay?” It’s Captain Am-- Rogers. Steve. Bucky’s Steve.

The unreality of your situation is fully hitting you now.

“That’s what you’re going with? Not ‘who are you?’ or ‘funny story about the door…’”

Rogers says, “I did. You were too upset to answer.” He’s tense, clearly uncomfortable, and his clothes are soaked. You wonder if that’s the source of the strange fruity smell. 

“Dee. I’m Dee.” It’s short for Chickadee, your stage-name-turned-favorite-nickname. You think you see recognition in his eyes. “Bucky needed to change his shirt. I didn’t mean-- you have to believe me, I never would have come in here, but he said he would just be a minute, and then a voice told me to hide and…” You’re babbling, but you feel like you’re out of your mind. Of all the people in the world, you’d probably pick Captain America as the one person you’d want to know that you’re eating your vegetables and being polite to your elders, that you wouldn’t invade someone’s private space. “Did something happen to the building?” you ask in a small voice.

“No, this--” Rogers winces. “Bucky asked for extra security or he wouldn’t move in. To slow him down.”

“The Soldier,” you whisper, closing your eyes tightly.

He makes a noise of understanding, then a louder, angry sound. “Everything has gone the exact worst-- I’m sorry,” he grits out. “I’m sorry.”

The depth to his voice prompts a heated curl of attraction that warms you from the inside out. It’s unexpected and strange, given the fear and confusion that’s ruled your reactions in the past minutes.

“I think I should be asking if you are okay.”

Rogers is looking at the floor now, his hands fisted in his pockets. “I was exposed to a… chemical. Tried to do everything right: activated security protocols, set the apartment Dark so I didn’t say or do anything I’d regret before the brain fog set in.”

“What happens when the brain fog sets in?” you whisper, sensing that the answer is what has this man’s body stiff as a board, in contrast with his broken and worried tone.

“How close are you with Buck?” Rogers lifts his head and the intensity in his eyes shoots you with an arrow of concern.

You lift your chin. “Truthfully? I consider him my best friend, why?”

“There’s nothing… more?”

There have been times, multiple times, when you’ve thought about it. But Bucky Barnes is a multifaceted man, and you don’t want to sully his progress towards becoming whole again by making things complicated.

“No,” you say, feeling heat in your chest from the look of understanding in his eyes. Your pause was unintentionally illustrative. “Why?”

“It’s important that I be honest with you: the building is on lockdown, its governing AI is too busy monitoring the Hulk to get us out of this room, and the chemical I was exposed to is Mistress.” He sounds like a soldier reciting battle parameters.

The name sounds familiar, but you can’t place it. Suddenly, you feel too vulnerable on the bed, his bed, so you slide over to the edge in preparation for getting up. The action bares your legs to mid-thigh, and Rogers immediately turns his back on you and hits the wall with the flat of his hand. 

That’s when you remember where you’d heard that name. Mistress. The aphrodisiac is the reason many women have flocked to your cousin’s restaurant to hang out, instead of at bars. Many establishments are offering complimentary test kits so their customers can ensure there’s no residue in their food and drinks. It’s become fashionable to carry around your own cups, just in case. Some bars are actually trying to skip requiring women to pay a cover charge, desperate to return to the status quo. Drinks containing coconut aren’t even served anymore, thanks to the scent association.

“Shit, I’m sorry!” you blurt out, rushing over to the easy chair and covering yourself with the blanket. Jesus, the whole room reeks of coconut. He’s practically steeped in the stuff. “What can I do?”

Steve Rogers’ voice is husky, but pained. “Don’t let today be your first impression of me.”

Next chapter...

[lilacwisps]

How about Hogwarts Legacy boys reaction to f!MC trying to tease/turn them on in public? Assuming they are in a relationship.

Sure, nonnie 💜

These include Sebastian, Ominis and Garreth, if you'd like other characters please let me know.

Sebastian:

The late morning Charms is as boring as can be expected - that is, until a note from MC lands on Sebastian's desk. Sebastian glances at MC, who appears to be quite taken with the lesson to pay him any attention and flips over the note.

"So unfortunate you had detention last night - I missed you. Luckily, during my last excursion to the Restricted Section, I found a very peculiar muggle book that kept me company. This little excerpt made me think of you."

Sebastian frowns - he had no idea that there were muggle books in the Restricted Section, but, as usual, his curiosity gets the better of him, and he unwraps the note. It's a page torn out from a book, and on it - a single image, man and woman locked in an embrace and…

Instantly, color rushes to his face, and he crumples the paper before he can even think. The picture is pure filth - but he'd be lying if he said it didn't send his heart racing. The coy smile on MC's lips when their gazes finally meet doesn't help the situation at all - heat instantly pools low in Sebatian's stomach, making it very hard to concentrate on the lesson.

His mind keeps conjuring the picture from the book. More than anything, he wants to get MC alone, so he can show her just how much he enjoyed it - hell, perhaps, they can even recreate it, if she's up for it…

To his chagrin, it's not as easy as he'd hoped. Professor Ronen stops Sebastian and Ominis right after class to talk about their last assignment, so the next time Sebastian sees MC, it's at lunch in the Great Hall. They sit next to each other, but that hardly helps Sebastian, as every brush of her hand against his or when their knees touch under the table makes him think of the picture - and of just how desperately he needs some alone time with her.

"MC, can we speak privately?" he asks, leaning over to her as the lunch draws to a close.

"What do you want to talk about?" MC asks, looking at him through her eyelashes.

"I think you know," Sebastian murmurs, but MC only smiles sweetly.

"Do I? I'm not so sure. Sorry, whatever this is, it will have to wait till later - I'm going to be late for Arithmancy."

Neither her soft tone nor innocent gaze fool Sebastian - if anything, it only fans his ardor. He can hardly remember anything that happens during his afternoon classes, his mind consumed with MC and that damned picture she'd sent him, wondering what that position would feel like - and, inevitably, his body responds to those thoughts. For a moment, he considers cutting class and heading back to his dorm to handle his rather pressing problem, but he decides against it. MC has started this, and he was going to see it through.

He almost forgets that the two of them have detention together after classes for breaking into the Restricted Section the week before. To his surprise, it's not Madam Scribner who oversees the detention, but rather the groundskeeper Moon.

"Just…just do your homework and be quiet," the groundskeeper tells them, "I don't have time for this right now with these damned demiguises."

Sitting next to MC feels a little like torture - especially when she bites the tip of her quill pensively as she stares at the parchment, and all Sebastian can think of is her lips around his… But it gets worse. Groundskeeper Moon disappears behind the shelves when MC turns to Sebastian.

"I'm having issues figuring this one out," she says, sliding a book closer to him, "Do you mind helping me?"

At first blush, it appears to be their Transfiguration textbook, but the moment Sebastian looks closer, the words start to blur on the page. Next thing he knows, he's looking at half a dozen of quite…explicit pictures, just like the one she'd sent him earlier in the Charms class. Warmth rises in his cheeks, and all he can do is just look at MC.

Before he can say anything, Moon reappears from behind the shelf.

"These damned demiguises… Listen, you two - I have some matters to attend to, but I'll be back quick - just keep doing your homework and be quiet."

"I'm all out of parchment," MC says, "And I'm still not finished with my Transfigurations essay."

"Just grab some on the desk over there," Moon says, pointing over to the table in the corner.

With that, he heads to the exit. Sebastian glances around - they are in a secluded area of the library, and there aren't a lot of people, so they could probably get away with this. And besides, he'd be lying if he said he doesn't find the risk of getting caught at least a little bit thrilling. MC's still picking up new parchment when Sebastian gets up and heads toward her.

"So then," he wraps his arms around her waist from behind and leans close, letting his breath ghost her neck, "What was it you needed my help with? You'd like some assistance recreating those illustrations, is that it?"

MC turns around and steps back, leaning against the table.

"I don't know what you are talking about," she murmurs, looking at him through half-lidded eyes.

"You can drop the act," Sebastian says, leaning closer, his lips almost touching hers, "Playing coy will get you nowhere."

"Are you sure?" MC chuckles, hopping up and settling on the desk, "Because it looks like I'm exactly where I want to be."

Sebastian remembers the half dozen illustrations on the page - in one of them, the woman was seated on the table, and the man…

"Well played," he laughs, drawing her in for a kiss, "So then, shall we start from that?"

"I'd like that - and, then, perhaps, we could do whichever one piqued your interest - if you'll be up for it then, of course."

"Shall I remind you who tapped out the last time?" Sebastian chuckles darkly, his hand tugging up the hem of her skirt.

"What can I say - unlike some people, I know when to stop," MC laughs, pulling him in for another kiss.

Ominis:

Since the early morning, Ominis has been quite distracted. For some reason, MC has been acting a lot more affectionately than usual. Typically, the extent of MC's affection would be holding his hand as she and Ominis walked from class to class, resting her head on his shoulder when she got tired from studying at the library, and, on occasion, interlacing their fingers under the desk during a particularly boring class.

That day, however, it seems MC was intent on taking every opportunity to brush up against Ominis or to touch him. Ominis would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy MC touching him - sometimes way more than was appropriate - yet he could not help but feel a little annoyed at just how much MC's touches distract him, bringing up the memories of the past nights that make him yearn for more.

It seems MC only gets more handsy as the day progresses. As they sit together during lunch, a moment doesn't pass without a brush of her arm against his or their knees touching under the table. It's a strange kind of torment for Ominis - he doesn't want her to stop touching him, but at the same time, he absolutely loathes just how flushed and flustered these little gestures make him. Especially since they are not alone, and others can see them.

It almost frustrates him just how much MC's simple touches are setting his very soul aflame - but what frustrates him even more is that they won't be able to get any alone time until much later in the day - they still have three more classes to attend and an Astronomy group project in the evening with Amit and Everett. Ominis takes a deep, shaky breath, trying to calm his racing heart - it works for all of thirty seconds until MC leans close, pressing her side against his as she reaches for the pitcher of pumpkin juice.

Ominis can only hope to Merlin that he'll make it through the lunch without doing something stupid - something Sebastian would definitely do if he were in his place - but it seems this isn't his lucky day.

"Ominis," MC exhales softly as she leans close enough for her breath to ghost his neck. Instantly, Ominis's mind races with memories of the last time she'd said his name like that. Hot blush rises in his cheeks as he feels his body reacting to the memory. "Could you pass me the treacle tart? It's to your left," MC continues.

Ominis blinks, confused - it takes an embarrassingly long moment before he realizes what MC just said.

"Yes, of course," he says hastily, passing her the plate.

Ominis knows that after lunch, they'll go to separate classes - he has Ancient Runes, and MC has Arithmancy - and he hopes it would give him enough time to compose himself. They walk out of the Great Hall together and up the Grand Staircase - in his years at Hogwarts, Ominis has completely memorized the routes from the Great Hall to all his classes - when MC stops.

"I can't believe this damned robe unclasped again," she complains, "Ominis, can you please help me? I cannot seem to figure this out."

"Of course," Ominis replies softly.

He's had his fair share of struggles with the Hogwarts uniform in his early years at the school and can sympathize with MC. Carefully reaching forward, he locates MC's shoulder before moving to the robe's clasps at her throat.

"All done," he says with a smile.

Suddenly, the stone rumbles under their feet as the stairs shift, and he can feel that MC is off balance. Before she falls, he reaches over to steady her. His right arm lands on her shoulder, but his left one misses the target, grazing her collarbone before accidentally sliding lower…

Instantly, crimson blush blooms on Ominis's cheeks. He's touched her in various states of undress many times before, but he would never dream of groping her like that in public.

"I'm so sorry," he apologizes profusely, his face burning with embarrassment.

"It's alright," MC chuckles, "Well, I'll see you after class."

Ominis had hoped that being away from MC for a little bit - and the mortifying incident on the staircase - would help him get ahold of himself, yet, somehow, it only made the situation worse. Try as he might, he cannot focus on the Ancient Runes. Instead, his mind incessantly conjures up memories of how MC felt against him the other night, of the way she called his name.

By the time he arrives at the library to work on the group project for Astronomy with MC, Amit, and Everett, Ominis is all but counting down the seconds till he and MC can finally be alone. The first twenty minutes pass without any incidents, and Ominis almost breathes a sigh of relief - he doesn't think he could handle MC teasing him much longer - and then, suddenly, he feels MC's hand high up on his thigh. His breath catches in his throat, and his heart beats staccato as her hand slides higher.

"For this part, we'll need "Of Moon Phases and Constellations"," Amit notes, suddenly distracting both Ominis and MC.

"Do you know where it is in the library?" MC asks

"I'm not sure," Amit says, "I've seen it both in the Astronomy stacks on the first and the second floor. MC, Ominis, would you mind checking on the second floor? Everett and I will look here."

They head upstairs - Ominis's wand is helpful for a task like this one, but the search still takes a moment since he's never held that book before.

"Found it yet?" MC leans close, her lips almost touching his ear as her warm breath sends shivers down Ominis's spine.

He cannot take this teasing anymore.

"MC, now that we are alone," he murmurs, moving towards her, "There's something I've been wanting to do all day…"

"Hmm?" she hums, openly delighted, "And what would that be?"

"I wanted to ask - must you be like this?" Ominis finishes sternly, catching MC off guard.

"I suppose I must," MC answers finally, and he can almost feel her pouting, "Since I've been trying to get your attention all day - clearly, without much success."

Ominis cannot help but chuckle as he shifts closer, "Well, now that you've got my undivided attention, what do you intend to do with it?"

"I could think of a thing or two," MC drawls, content, "How about we head right to the Undercroft?"

"Galdy," Ominis says, closing the distance and ghosting MC's lips with a featherlight kiss that makes her reach after him when he pulls away, "But not until the project is done."

"Ugh, you are terrible for making me wait that long," MC sighs.

"Says the person who's been getting me worked up and making me wait all day," Ominis chuckles.

"You know you liked it."

"That I did - and I'm about to show you just how much."

Garreth:

When a note from MC lands in front of Garreth during lunch, he's rather intrigued.

"I'd like your help with a potion after classes - if you are up for it," the note reads. A little cryptic - MC didn't bother elaborating just what kind of potions she needs help with - but Garreth finds surprises to be quite exciting.

Looking over to where MC sits at her house table, Garreth catches her gaze and smiles. MC smiles back momentarily - before turning her attention back to her rice pudding. It's not in Garreth's habit to watch people eat, and yet he finds the dedication with which MC cleans off her spoon, making sure that there's not a drop of pudding left, to be a little more engaging than he should.

That is, until MC meets his eyes again and proceeds to lick her spoon, not breaking the eye contact. Instantly, bright blush burns on Garreth's cheeks as his mind helpfully conjures up the images from just two nights prior - when she looked at him just the same as her tongue diligently…

Garreth shakes his head, trying to chase away the thoughts, but it's far too late - his treacherous body is already reacting to the images his mind so helpfully provides. It takes more strength than he'd like to admit to look away from MC, who appears quite taken with her rice pudding, but he cannot be exactly sitting at his house table fantasizing of all the ways MC's mouth… No.

He feels a little guilty - MC's just enjoying her food in peace, and all he can think about is, well, that. It's almost embarrassing the hold she has on his mind, heart, and body - but Garreth would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy it, at least a little.

By the end of the lunch, he finally manages to calm his racing heart. As he gets up from his seat, he sees MC walk through the doors, heading for the Entrance Hall, and hurries to catch up with her. He finds MC sitting in a small alcove by the window, looking through a notebook in her hands.

"Ah, Garreth," she smiles, noticing him, "There you are - I've been waiting for you."

"I received your note," Garreth says, coming closer, "What is it that you needed my help with?"

"I found an intriguing potion - and I tried making it yesterday, but it seems I must have done something wrong - so I was hoping you could lend me your expertise," MC replies, looking at him through her eyelashes as she hands him her notebook, "Here, that's the recipe."

Garreth takes the notebook and glances through MC's writing - the ingredients and the recipe sound oddly familiar. It takes a moment until suddenly he realizes - it's an aphrodisiac potion, a very potent one.

"You…made this yesterday?" he asks, his mouth suddenly dry.

"Yes," MC replies calmly, "I was bored yesterday evening when you were in detention, so I figured I'd go to the Room of Requirements and try brewing something fun. Although, as I said, I don't think it came out as strong as it was meant to be - the effects wore off after only twenty minutes. If you flip a few pages, you'll see I wrote down the entire timeline…"

"You took notes as you were under the effects of the potion?" Garreth asks, wide-eyed.

"Of course - how else would I know if the results were successful," MC smiles sweetly as she gets up from her seat, "I have to go to Herbology now, but you can keep the notebook - maybe if you read through my notes, you can see where I went wrong."

"Alright," Garreth replies, his head almost spinning as he tries to chase away the images of MC that his treacherous mind keeps trying to conjure.

"I'm sure with your expert guidance, I can get this potion to work just as intended," MC leans in, looking at him through her eyelashes, "And afterward, perhaps, we could try it together, just to make sure it works?"

Garreth isn't sure how he makes it to Transfiguration - and, once in class, he absolutely cannot focus, his mind consumed with one thing - MC's notebook. He knows he should not read it - the thought of her using an aphrodisiac potion is alone enough to make him want to cut class and head to his dorm room for some privacy, and if he got to read her notes…

Curiosity, as always, gets the better of Garreth. During the short break between his two afternoon classes, he gives in. MC's writing starts innocent enough, with her discussing the color and flavor of the potion and the way it made her feel warm and tingly when she took it. What follows is filth - pure, unadulterated filth - and Garreth cannot get enough of it.

She has a way with words, Garreth will give her that - he's almost painfully aroused after reading just a few sentences. Though, if she was only a fraction as eloquent, he's sure he'd enjoy it all the same - how could he not when she'd meticulously detailed all the things she wished he did to her as she touched herself?

By the time Potions - the last class of the day - rolls around, Garreth can hardly contain himself. When he sees MC outside the Potions classroom, and she smiles at him that sweet, faux-innocent smile, he knows he won't make it through the lesson.

"You know," he says, grasping MC's wrist, "Why don't we skip this class and work on that potion you showed me earlier?"

"Oh?" MC smiles, "Well, I don't see why not."

Once they are in the Room of Requirements, Garreth draws her in for a deep, passionate kiss.

"Hold on now," MC laughs, pulling away, "This part is for after we try the potion."

"Well, you should blame your notes," Garreth replies, drawing her in for another kiss, "Reading that made every aphrodisiac potion pale in comparison."

"Oh my," MC chuckles, "Perhaps, I could read you some of my favorite excerpts before we start then? You know, for science."

Garreth's all too happy to oblige.

[lokisprettygirl]

Lose me to Love you (Loki x Female Reader) (AU) (18+)

Read Chapter 29 here / Series Masterlist

Chapter 30

Summary: You tell Loki about the night you saw your mother dying.

Trigger Warning: 18+, Mention of torture and psychological trauma, discussion of mental health, Smutty smut, degradation, unprotected sex, Description of rape and assault, panic attack, violence against women, Extreme dark themes, Sexual abuse, physical abuse, public sex, Rough violent sex, 18+, Steamy stuff, age difference ,Rough language, mention of suicide, talk of virginity and slut shaming, manipulative behaviour, mention of trauma, smut, toxic relationship between main characters. Dark themes, cult stuff

"Baby wake up, you have to get ready for the audition" he brought the breakfast in his room, after what you had said to him last night he knew he had to make you open up to him somehow, he didn't even know how you had kept it all in for all these years. Looking at your face now he understood that you remembered it, that you remembered what you had shared with him. He placed the tray down on the bedside drawer so you crawled on your knees and opened your arms so he could hug you, your eyes were welled up with tears and it broke his heart.

"Dadddy" you sniffled so he immediately wrapped his arms around your waist and hugged you as tightly as he could.

"What's wrong baby? What's bothering you hmm?" He cooed in your ears but you continued to sob like a child. You were there for him everytime he felt so weak and vulnerable so he just wanted to do the same, he didn't want to do anything or say anything that would hurt you in the slightest.

"I'm sorry i yelled last night, I'm sorry" you mumbled between your cries and his grip around you tightened, he picked you up effortlessly by curling your legs around his waist and then he cradled you like a child until you stopped crying.

"It's okay baby we can scream at each other, it's not a big deal, it's bound to happen sometimes" he kissed your temples over and over again so you nodded. You didn't want to hurt him or make him upset, he was everything you had in life and now that your relationship with him had changed you didn't want to do anything that would make him love you any less.

He took you to the bathroom and made you brush your teeth then he scrubbed your back while you showered, you put on a robe and he wrapped your hair in a towel before he brought you back into the room, you didn't want to eat but he forced a few bites in, the pancakes he made were yummy.

Once your hair was dried you laid down on the bed again so he sat down at the edge, leaning himself on his elbows, his fingers scratched your scalp gently.

"I don't feel good"

"It's okay we don't have to go, it's just an audition" he assured you,

"Okay.. cuddle me?" You opened your arms again so he smiled and pulled you on top of him, you hid your face between the crook of his neck and sighed deeply.

"Do you want to talk about it baby?"

You looked up at him as he said that.

"I don't know what to say" you sat up on the bed so he mirrored your movement, he could tell this was difficult for you and he wanted to make it as easy as possible.

"You know i..that's how I felt about my past and what happened to me and I thought sharing with you would make it your problem instead of just my problem" your eyes teared up at the statement. His voice was so soft, he kept his hand curled around your neck so he could continue to caress your scalp, you felt so safe and taken care of. You didn't recognise this Loki sometimes, he had changed a little in the past few months but the change was for good, he wasn't reclusive or mean, he was trying to communicate with you and you couldn't have been more grateful.

"But every of those moments where I opened to you it just felt lighter and lighter, it may not fix everything but it would be a start and I want to help you feel the way you have made me feel, that's all" you hugged him as tightly as you could and you couldn't stop sobbing, he didn't stop you either.

"You won't send me away? Promise me you'll keep me here with you" your broken voice made his heart ache in the worst possible ways.

"I couldn't even think of that sweetheart, I'd never ever hurt you like that" he rocked you back and forth gently and allowed you to let it all out. There's no way he'd ever abandon you like that, no matter what happens you would always have him, for better or for worse "A few years ago you had a nightmare and I don't know what you saw but I lost you in your head for more than a day" you pulled away from him and stared at him as he said that. What did he mean?

"I don't understand "

"I don't either but you had..I don't know how to describe it but you had lost yourself for a while. You were acting like a child, you had become that girl I knew at the center, same voice, same mannerism, it was like the adult you had disappeared somewhere" your mouth opened in disbelief as he said that. That's probably what used to happen in the orphanage and that's why they sent you to the hospital to get treated.

"It happened only once?" You questioned him so he nodded.

"Just once"

"Were you scared?"

"I was scared of losing you"

You hugged him again as he said that.

"Do you think I'm crazy?" You sniffled, that's what people thought of you at the orphanage, that's why you barely had any friends. The crazy cult girl.

"No no no ..no baby..you're just hurt, you need to process what you have seen, you need to share darling, keeping it all bottled in is only causing you harm" He wished he was more eloquent than this, he really hoped you'd open up to him about the trauma, he didn't want you to suffer alone anymore.

"Okay daddy.. I love you"

He held you as tightly as he could, nothing mattered to him in that moment, you were his whole fucking world and he'd never allow anyone to hurt you again.

"You want to talk?" He asked you as he pulled away so you nodded "After your mother died I found you in the room all alone, you seemed okay, you said mommy went for a vacation, were you lying?" He asked you so you shook your head.

"I just hoped that it was a nightmare, whatever I saw..I forgot because I thought it was a nightmare..that's what I wanted it to be"

He placed his hands on your cheeks, his thumb continued to wipe your tears.

"What did you see? How?"

Your mommy had told you to stay hidden in the closet, she strictly warned you to not come out no matter what happens, she said to you that she was going on a vacation for a while and Brother James would come to pick her up. You didn't know why she wanted you to hide, you didn't want to hide, you wanted to go with her on the vacation, you wanted to take lolo as well.

"Mommyy please take me. Can lolo come too?" You tugged on her jeans and she wiped her tears before she bent dy down to your level.

"No pumpkin, I'm sorry but you can't come, okay? But lolo will be here, he'll take care of you I promise..now you remember what I need you to do right?" She asked you so you nodded.

"Okay go hide babygirl" she told you so you hid in the closet, she had earplugs that she put in your ears. You didn't know why so you took it out immediately once she closed the door.

Just a minute later you heard the knock on the door. It was brother James and Clint.

"Come with us, Master wants to see you" you heard one of their voice and then other one spoke

"Where's the girl?" He asked her

"She's with Loki, he's taking care of her" Clint chuckled at the response

"Well I hope he's not ravishing your little girl, she needs to remain pure for the ritual"

"Watch your mouth, that's my daughter and he treats her the same"

You heard your mommy raising her voice, you knew brother Clint was using bad words, this didn't feel right, they grabbed her arm and took her away and as you heard their footsteps fading you got out of the closet and followed them. They were all going into the woods, mommy always told you to not go in there at nights because it was dangerous then why was she going there?

You followed them but stayed hidden from their view, if mommy would have seen you she would have gotten upset. When they reached the middle of the woods you saw the burning lights and torches so you hid behind a tree.

Whatever you saw afterwards still haunted you whenever you had a nightmare about that night. They had hung her from the tree by her hands and they slowly tortured her with fire. You heard her screams for so long but you felt frozen on your spot, you couldn't even scream or do anything to protect her, you felt scared and at one point her eyes met yours. She pleaded you with her eyes for you to stay quiet while they continued to hurt her and then everything got quiet. She stopped screaming, stopped struggling, her eyes closed, she wasn't looking at you anymore. She was gone and you did nothing to save her, you could have gone back, you could have called for help, could have called lolo or brother Thor, he liked mommy but you did nothing. Nothing. You let your mommy die.

"I see her face looking at me, begging for help and I just stood there, did nothing lolo ..I did nothing" you broke into another fit of cries and he couldn't stop his own tears. He thought at least you were protected from their cruelty but how wrong was he? They had scarred you for life, gave you such mental images that he knew you'd never be able to forget in your life.

"You know she loved you right? She loved you so much, she never would have wanted you to see such a thing, and she definitely would never blame you for not helping her" That innocent child shouldn't have witnessed such a horrific crime that took away her own mother, no wonder your mind tried so hard to block the incident all these tears. He remembered the night they had killed her, him and Thor both were participating in another sex ritual at the time. The reason why he wasn't there to protect any of you, even if he would have been there he didn't think he was powerful enough to do anything.

"But why didn't I do anything lolo? Whyyyyy?" You sniffled between your words and it took everything in him to stay strong at the moment but he had to be strong for you.

"You were just a child, just a baby, you couldn't have done anything, it took me so long to build the courage to even seek for help. I'm sorry baby, I'm sorry she suffered so much but it wasn't your fault"

You clutched onto him and sobbed in his arms until your tears went dry and then you fell asleep just like that. He was scared for you, he didn't want to lose you again, he couldn't even bear the thought of not having you around him. He laid against the headboard and kept stroking your back with his fingers, he truly wished he hadn't waited so long to call for help, if he was quicker, your mother would still be here, she'd have raised you properly, she trusted him to keep you safe but he didn't really do a really good job.

About an hour later when you woke up you stared at him for a while, he was relieved to see you be okay, he stroked your cheek with the back of his fingers, your face looked all puffy and swollen but he'd be lying if he said you weren't the prettiest girl he had ever laid his eyes upon. You climbed on top of his lap with your legs on either side of his waist and kissed him with utmost desperation, he responded with equal intensity. He wasn't wrong, you did feel lighter, you couldn't explain it but sharing that trauma with him made you feel as if he was there too now with you, you didn't feel scared of your own memory any longer.

"Love me daddyy pleasssee" you whispered into his ears so he sat up and laid you down underneath him as quickly as he could. You asked him to love you and not fuck you so he was going to love you the way you wanted to be loved at the moment.

"How are you feeling, little girl?" He whispered between the kisses so you cupped his cheeks and pulled him away a little,

"Thank you"

"For what?"

"For existing and then choosing to be my everything in the whole world" he smiled before he kissed you again.

"Did your mother really think I thought of you as my daughter?" You chuckled as he said that,

"I think that's what's she liked to believe"

He untied the strings of the robe and fortunately he was already shirtless so you didn't have to put much effort, you pulled him closer, you just wanted to feel all his weight on top of your body, his scent already intoxicated you but you felt as if it wasn't enough, at one point you feared even having his cock inside won't be enough, you just wanted to be submerged with in him, if obsession had a face it would definitely be yours.

Your hands sneaked under his pants and he lowered them down his legs slowly, his cock rubbed against your lips and it made you moan into his mouth.

"I miss her..alot" you mumbled as he shoved his cock inside your dripping entrance, probably wasn't the best time to mention her but you wanted to get it off your chest while the best man in the universe was making love to you. Everytime you thought of her your heart felt heavy and you just wanted to cry, that's why you never even wanted to mention her but it's not fair to him especially after what he told you about you losing your mind for a whole day, that can't be good.

Remembering her felt like the worst pain in the world but with him around you just knew you'd be okay.

His pace slowed down and he cupped your cheeks, his upper body tilted upwards so he could keep his eyes on your face

"I know baby and it's okay to miss her, you're supposed to do that, she was your mommy, you loved her and she loved you the most" your eyes teared up as he mumbled.

"Do you miss her?"

"I truly do..I'm sure she'd hate this though" he chuckled as he gestured towards his cock pumping in and out of you.

"I don't think so" you bit on your lips as you smiled, your cheeks went warm at his touch and his heart fluttered at the sight. He loved you so much it was humanly impossible for him to express it in words or actions alike. Sometimes he didn't even feel like one.

"She'd love us being together, you're the best of the best, she always knew that"

He leaned down to kiss your forehead before he picked up the pace, fast but not fast enough to make you crumble so soon, he wanted you to enjoy this feeling for a little longer.

"I love you" he whispered in your ear and it made you gasp a little, you weren't expecting it, you kind of liked that he didn't say it alot because everytime he did it always felt surreal and magical. There was no better feeling than hearing him confess his love for you "What if I get lost in my head again? I don't want that" you asked him as the thought terrified you. You never wanted him to sent you away whenever you felt like that.

"You will still have me sweet buttons, you'd never be alone again I promise..me and you for life yeah?"

You nodded desperately as he said that.

After that sweet love making he made lunch for you both and he wanted to pamper you just a bit more so he took you out for dinner and ice cream. However unlike last time, he didn't allow you to get out of his sight even for a second. He was extremely stressed about James and Clint running loose in the city, he wondered what they were up to and if Odin was the one involved in the escape then he feared that he was already close to finishing the ritual, there was only one problem. He actually didn't have a sacrifice this time so Loki couldn't really figure out what that bastard was upto.

When you two came back home you played the movie you two were watching yesterday.

"Did you think about the documentary?" You turned your head to the side to look at him as you were sitting between his legs.

"You wanna do it?" He asked you as he fed you a piece of popcorn, you thought about it for a few seconds before you nodded "Okay then we will do it" you squealed and hugged him tightly as he said that. It all came down to your happiness and he'd allow you to do whatever you wanted. Sex scenes and nude photoshoots were still off limits though.

"You think people would take it well?" You questioned.

"I don't know baby, i sure got quite a few women who don't like me very much now" he chuckled

"It's okay, they'd probably understand why you were the way you were" he shrugged as you said that. It didn't really matter to him what the world thought of him, all he cared about was one person and that was you "Besides I'm interested in Thor and Jane, maybe they should clear the misunderstanding, I feel like she still likes him"

He hummed as you said that, he always felt that he was blessed to find you, unfortunately Thor never had anyone, and he didn't even want to imagine how it was like living with their delusional mother all these years.

When you fell asleep in his arms he picked you up and took you to the bedroom.

Things seemed okay at the moment but he knew it won't last for long. It never did afterall.

"Saw them out and about, hand in hand, we need to find a new bait, there's no way she's still pure, master" Clint said to Odin and James agreed with him. All these years they had followed Odin like a puppy because he promised them a freedom from this planet and an immortal life at Asgard, the picture their master painted was too lavish and otherworldly to give up. They did all his dirty work, even went to prison for him, this time they desperately needed to finish the ritual.

Odin laughed as he heard that.

"Find another child for me" he ordered Clint so he bent down on his knees to show respect. He then turned his attention towards James.

"And you.. you bring the girl for me, pure or not, it doesn't matter. I'll make them both suffer until they're begging me to kill them"

👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿👿

Taglist: if I am not able to tag you please check your settings

@annoyingsweetsstranger @whylokiissocute @loki-s-wife @fraoid3 @siggytumbles @crzyplantladyvibes @stupidthoughtsinwriting @vickie5446 @wheredafandomat @mcufan72 @xxntiimulti @loz-3 @dishahaldar @mcdesij @scram1326 @elthreetimes @army24--7 @sinsandguilt @holotacopeely @huntress-artemiss @blog-the-lilly @disneyismyworldforever @bunny24sstuff @kats72 @somewiseguy @asgardianprincess1050 @multifandom-world8 @loki-laufeyson-1054 @daddylokisqueen @lulubelle814

@itsybitchylittlewitchy @rogerrhqpsody @praq123

[dean-winchester-is-a-warrior]

Well...That Happened...

Reactions and Thoughts For Episode 8 Under the Cut:

Hey, so my initial feeling about the episode honestly is that I'm really disappointed. Hated how the final fight went down. I feel like they handled the whole SB thing badly from the beginning. I feel like they (MM, Starlight and the show itself) put him on the same level of horrific as HL, and I'm sorry, but that just isn't true. (Although I do understand MM's motivations.)

Now SB is a racist, chauvinistic, rage-filled asshole. But HL is all that and a MILLION times worse!! Soldier Boy at least seems human, he's shown restraint a few times. (at least since he's been back from Russia) He has at least paid a debt for his crimes with 40 years of torture. Homelander has done NONE of that!!

Literally, SB may have been manageable, maybe his experiences in Russia changed him a bit. Who knows, but I feel like there was at least some wiggle room with him, somewhere to go. HL has proven time and again that he is incapable of being stopped. He's done every sadistic, horrific thing under the sun, but somehow SB was the one that absolutely had to be taken out?

They could have really used him against HL and from the beginning Starlight and MM acted like HL was just a secondary problem to SB! When it was 100% the other way around.

And what?!!! Butcher and Homelander worked together for a minute against Soldier Boy?

(x)

I get they were trying to protect Ryan, but I felt like that was kind of out of nowhere too. I didn't feel like HL's sudden, unswerving love for his son was earned. Obviously it's gonna be an easily overturned love too, as soon as Ryan does something HL feels is a "betrayal" he'll try to take him out too.

Anyway, I'm glad SB isn't dead, but I just feel like his character was kind of wasted. I LOVE his character and not just cause I want him to fuck me five ways from Sunday, but because I just think there's SO much more they could do with him.

In my mind the only way to redeem things is if in the end SB and Ryan team up, with the Boys of course and take out HL for good.

Things I really enjoyed about the episode:

Frenchie finally standing up for himself, being awkwardly badass and Kimiko cheering him on. 😍😍

Maeve kicking ass and freeing herself from the van.

Maeve not losing sight of the mission and kicking HL's ass.

Maeve faking her death and getting to go live a powers-free life with Elena.

Ashley helping her get away with it.

Noir's death scene literally made me cry. Obviously he's done some truly awful things too, but I really liked his character, and to watch his little woodland friends comfort him as he died just ripped my heart out. But that whole scene between HL and BN was incredibly well-done.

The scene between Butcher and SB talking about SB's father, and how it shows there's more than one kind of abuse. Jensen's INCREDIBLE acting in that scene.

Hughie making the right decision, not taking the V, and HELPING Starlight instead of trying to save her.

MM's scene with Janine. That was absolutely beautiful and a PERFECT example of what real strength and masculinity looks like. It was truly wonderful, when Janine puts her hand over his to help stop the ticks, and says, "You're my hero, Daddy." Ugh!!! ALL the tears! 😭😭😭

This line from Hughie when he's talking about his Dad, "He wasn't weak. I just...I didn't know what strength was." Truth. Hughie speaking absolute truth!

Starlight officially joining the boys, although I've disagreed with her and found her incredibly frustrating for most of the season. 😄😄

I've loved this season, overall, and even though I didn't like what went down in the end (If we need more proof that they went after the wrong fucking Supe, we can look to HL's actions in the final scene and the beginning of Ryan's corruption!) I'm still VERY excited for next season. I'm worried about Butcher, of course. I feel like the only way to save him might be to give him real V. Which will be an interesting dilemma for him! And we've got Neuman as the candidate for VP, yikes!!

So, bring on S4.

[heyitschartic]

Tagged by @vikugnavikugna

coke or pepsi? You know I love coke, but in terms of soda I'll have a diet pepsi.

disney or dreamworks? Dreamworks

coffee or tea? I drink like seven coffees a day

books or movies? BOOKS. I love movies, but books are so fun.

windows or mac? Windows, fuck Mac!!!!!!!

dc or marvel? I don't really like comics in general, but my gf loves the BatFam so I'll go DC

x-box or playstation? Playstation easy

dragon age or mass effect? I don't like either

night owl or early riser? I wake up at 6am every single day

cards or chess? Chess, but I always lose at it

chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate for taste, vanilla for smell

vans or converse? Vans

Lavellan, Trevelyan, Cadash, or Adaar? Who?????

fluff or angst? You KNOW I love angst

beach or forest? Ooooo I think I have to go forest

dogs or cats? Cats all day (sorry Illidan)

clear skies or rain? I lvoe days with just that slight drizzle of rain

cooking or eating out? Eating out tf??? Who is picking cooking

spicy food or mild food? SPICY

halloween/samhain or solstice/yule/christmas? HALLOWEEN MY FAV HOLIDAY

would you rather forever be a little too cold or a little too hot? I live in Minnesota, I already made that decision

if you could have a superpower, what would it be? I think I'd have to go with Boensaw's power from the hit Canadian web serial Worm

animation or live action? Animation

paragon or renegade? Evil 😈

baths or showers? Baaaaaath, I love a nice bath

team cap or team ironman? Hate Iron man, at least cap is likeable I have never found Tony Stark interesting or entertaining and Captain America just has thay sort of scruffy charm

fantasy or sci-fi? Fantasy

do you have three or four favourite quotes, if so what are they? This would get too long so Ill post one: 'What are we going to do, Dogger?'It seemed a reasonable question. After all he had been through, surely Dogger knew something of hopeless situations. 'We shall wait upon tomorrow,' he said. 'But--what if tomorrow is worse than today?' 'Then we shall wait upon the day after tomorrow.' 'And so forth?' I asked. 'And so forth,' Dogger said.

youtube or netflix? Youtube

[REDACTED] you couldn't get that out of me under torture

when do you feel accomplished? When I accomplish something that I've been working at for a long time, especially something that means a lot to me

star wars or star trek? Star Trek, easily. Star wars is like two good movies and a game, at best

paperback books or hardcover books? Hardcover, nothing feels as good in your hands

to live in a world without literature or without music? Without literature, sorry. I just couldnt live without something to listen and dance to.

who was the last person to make you laugh? Hard to remember, it was either my gf, bug, or Peri

city or countryside? City, I want to have things to do

favorite chips? Salt and vinegar

pants or dresses? Dresses, you can't force me to wear pants anymore

libraries or museums? Museums just because they're so much more of a trip

character driven stories or plot driven stories? Character driven, almost always. That's always the stuff that digs into me more

bookmarks or folding pages? Bookmarks Jesus christ what kind of freak folds pages

Dream job? Honestly, I'm kind of in my dream job already. Doing scientific research on fun and interesting problems every day. If it wasn't that, I think it would be writing. I love writing, but I don't have enough time for it sadly.

What gives you comfort? A good book, a lover's touch, warm blankets and soft animals, the quiet sound of the city waking up, good food and fine alcohol.

what are some of your favorite song lyrics? One for the money, two for the better green 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine

favorite ice cream flavor ever? PEANUT BUTTER that or cookie dough.

first fandom? No surprise but it was the Ranma 1/2 fandom, for obvious reasons a young Chart was ENTHRALLED by that concept

Your desert island band? Otoboke Beaver cause I'd be pissed

As for who I'm tagging.... @cpericardium @bug4932 @skitter-queen @rainfrazier get to work

[bawdabaw]

Snippet of writing to show my skillz. This is from the story @thatsmyfetish and I are writing, Of Suds and Fine Suit Coats about Unseelie mobsters. I'm drawing it to turn it into an online comic.

Holmgren is the leader, a rogue prince of the Dark Court and he owns a restaurant called the Babadock in the city of Vestal, New York. It was recently hit for robbery by some vampires and this scene is him dealing with the problem. Cade, Pastel, and Devon are Unseelie on the crew. Simon Morgan is the new kid, a human and sidhe-seer, and he's Fetty's character.

Reblog, like, comment, or message me or @thatsmyfetish ! Anons accepted. Just enjoy!

It'd been a long night. First, huntin' the basterds down, then questioning and punishing them. After all, it was extremely unlikely that a plan to hit the Babadock would have gone underway without a whisper filtering through the Otherworld channels. And Holmgren had bargains with those he expected to keep him abreast of any such hints and gossip. 

His suspicion that his own men had been bought off had proven correct. Two sidhe sat tied in chairs, wings broken, faces and bodies a mess of bloody cuts, burns, and shadow bites. Both dead, heads lolling on their necks, loose and lifeless, merely sitting up straight because of the structure of the chairs they were strapped to.

A third sidhe, a pixie, sat still alive, trembling in his restraints, sobbing bloody and pleading for forgiveness. His wings were broken and he was bruised heavily from the beating he'd taken. "It were oh-oh-only three days, m'lord," the pixie whimpered sadly. "I needed the money and it was only supposed to be a burglary.... I figured, it were you...what could they possibly do? Nobody can hurt the Dark Bargainer... They'd get caught and killed and no one would be the wiser. I'd have the money and nothin' bad would happen..."

Striding up to him, in a button up shirt, collar undone and sleeves rolled up, Holmgren smoked placidly, looking down at the pitiful, fearful creature with dispassion and apathy. "Ye thought wrong, Galen. After all, our bargain wasn't a choose and tell type of arrangement. Ye owed me all yer secrets, all yer knowledge. Every murmuring ye had on the street was supposed to be mine. And ye broke it."

Smoke in a slender snake curled up from his spiced cig as he reached down to touch the brand of 3 bats marking Galen's chest, laying exposed by his torn open shirt. "I release ye from my debt...and my protection. We are nothing to each other now."

A kick in the balls to the pixie who's face crumpled and he wept in humiliation and sorry, knowing he'd failed. After all, Holmgren could have taken retribution through the mark if he wanted. The contract obeyed his will and the boundaries he had set. The fact that he removed it meant Galen wasn't even worthy of paying the price the normal way. Letting go of the pixie, Holmgren looked over his head to the fiery standing behind him and merely nodded. Then he stepped back and turned away as Cade reached forward to grasp the pixie on the side of the neck and a burst of hot light and flames came from where his skin touched the little Unseelie. The pixie screamed as he was burned, finally going quiet and slumping when he was dead, the side of his neck and shoulder just a mass of smoking, melted flesh, bits of it charred in the shape of Cade's long fingered hand.

Finishing his cigarette, Holmgren started to put on his suit jacket again. "Don't call the cleaners fer this. If their contacts among the blood suckers learn they were tortured and killed for information, it might show our hand too early. And everyone knows I use the brownies. Best to keep the cleanup as tight as we can."

"Aye," Pastel said, with only the barest sigh. It was gonna be a night of hard work but he was here for it. "I'll make sure they'll never be found."

"Take Morgan with ye."

"The new kid? ...Devon can dig holes faster."

"I don't care about speed. I want him involved. See how he does with handling the dead," Holmgren said, drawing one last time on his cig before flicking it away.

Cade grinned, "Ye think he'll get sick? Get a bit shy?"

Holmgren shrugged, smirking as well. "He might. It'd be a simple test of his resolve for this kind of business. Also, I want ye to get a read on him, pix. Ask him questions, get him to loosen a bit, see who he is underneath, yeah?"

Pastel nodded, itching the back of his head. "Soft interrogation. The kind where he doesn't even realize. I gotcha. Anything I'm looking for?"

"Just anything off or that doesn't sit right," Holmgren said with another shrug. "Report everything to me, afterwards."

Agreeing to that, the pix was left to deal with the bodies but his first order of business was to text the human.

*Yo Morgan! I need your help with work tonight! Dress in street clothes. I'm pickign you up in half hour!*

When Pastel showed up to Simon's place, he pulled up in a thick, black SUV, his high riding baby with the roomy back. Pastel wore an olive green bomber jacket, jeans, blue and yellow shirt, with a newsboy cap on his head. Not the most disguising of gear but enough to make him not stand out. Despite the nice ride, candy wrappers littered the front of the vehicle and Pastel was eating dark chocolate caramel pieces(basically sticky caramel squares with silky chocolate creme inside) from the console between seats. Behind him and behind the last bench seat in the back, the bodies of the three fae laid piled together, laying on plastic sheets. On the backseat were several large kettlebell weights with folded up lengths of rope ready for use. Two for each body.

[sizhui]

Honestly i do see your point with the post about fanfiction, but on the other hand having been in fandom spaces since very young (probably too young to be honest) I've just come to absolutely distrust fanfic writers (especially on ao3 because well. I'm sure you're well aware of the culture on that site) because on multiple occasions i have been hit by random unexpected graphic (very clearly fetishistic) depictions of abuse in works that seemed pretty solid otherwise based on the summary alone; incest fans are especially egregious for including that aspect with no warning whatsoever in what seems like an otherwise interesting story about two brothers from the summary alone, so like... as much as i agree that we don't need to tag every single generally harmless detail of a story because it significantly dumbs it down and ruins the experience it's also true that whenever i have branched out and tried reading stories that seemed interesting from the summary alone and had a minimal amount of tags i ended up getting bitten by one of my biggest triggers so i feel like... i might as well just read actual published literature (which i do regularly for fun and for school) when seeking something more challenging and with unexpected elements since the culture around fanfiction is just too rancid for me to trust fic writers to tag the appropriate amount and not just deliberately hide "problematic" (=abuse fetish) elements to jumpscare people for fun. So it's like yeah you have a point but it's a bit of a conundrum since a lot of fic writers aren't actually into this to say anything constructive. I'm sorry if it's worded badly English isn't my first language and my tone sometimes doesn't come off great through text so I'm not accusing you of anything or being confrontational. Anyway i hope you have a good day o7

I get you honestly, but I purposefully didn't touch upon the toxic, abusive CULTURE around fanfic and ao3 which actively protects harmful fetishizers and real abusers too - because that's a whole other very serious conversation to be had. My post sought to discuss fanfic purely as a type of watered-down, half-premade story and how it affects the way readers interact with original fiction. I did not discuss the huge problems with illegal content being hosted on fanfic sites because to do that i would have to sit down and write for a long time with utmost concentration, which I have neither time nor will for rn.

I will however say that if my post came off as "keep reading solely fanfic, just without tags, to chaenge yourself" then i failed to express myself correctly. I absolutely meant to convey that the primary focus of every reader should be published original fiction and nonfiction, because the things you can get out of them you won't find in any fic, since the fic culture and system is already established and truthfully a 3 note post will never affect it.

However, though I too havr major triggers, I am not averse to the practice of writing fanfic. I firmly believe that there are just as many perverse individuals among writers of original stories as there are among fanfic writers - abuse fetishism isn't unique to people who write about cartoons, they just got themselves a huge website where they can publish their works for free and expose an audience to it, so the problem gapes open and very obvious. However, there are thousands of people who use writing as outlets for their sick sexual fantasies who have never touched fandom spaces - it's just that you'll more rarely stumble upon their works because it's not as easy to publish them professionally (though look at shit like a song of ice and fire... i find it just as distasteful as some third grade torture porn fic) in conclusion, I don't really think that fandom spaces breed weirdos, i think they just give them an outlet and a spotlight. I may be biased because i've been into writing character studies and alternate endings to stories i liked since i was young, i just dont elevate those so much and call them proper literature and hide behind them like annoying ao3 aunties do.

[ruby-whistler]

cw Abuse mention

Is it normal for this fandom to strawman arguments about anaylsis in regards to a character? Specifically around c!Dream?

I swear, I have seen at least 5+ posts on my Dashboard about how "every c!Dream apologist can't seem to make an analysis without dismissing how much abuse he's put c!Tommy through" and most of the time, they're vagueing arguments about the torture in prison and people making arguments about it's unfair treatment.

Or how when people talk about how harmful c!Tommy's actions can be in regarding a certain era, there's "always a c!Dream apologist dismissing exile".

Where are these apologists??? Does this fandom just say "Nuance only applies to every situation, except c!Dream's situations."?

I have never entered a fandom where I've had to see people put as a disclaimer: "I'm an abuse victim/I don't condone the abuse c!Dream has done/[Insert thing about how they don't condone abusive actions]" and it really feels like people just can't learn to have a discussion without dulling down words and their meanings.

I'm just getting sick of it.

adding this one from wayy back (sorry i am so bad at answering asks) because it's about the same thing.

[ cw - rant, twitter, negativity and mentions of mental health ]

so uh - yeah, basically? some people just take anything positive about c!dream or just analysis of the character and go :

"well :/ that's kinda bad :/ i mean what about c!tommy :/ have you stopped to think about c!tommy :/ what about exle :/ have you forgotten about it? :/ you need to rewatch the parts of lore with c!tommy in them because it seems like you forgot about them :/ idk seems kinda like victim blaming to me :/ you never mentioned c!tommy? yeah but :/ are you saying he doesn't matter? :/ are you ignoring it? :/ are you excusing it? :/" LIKE HHH CAN YOU NOT

if you don't like c!dream then if you analyse him with that bias in mind i'm sorry but you're gonna get skewed results. and then you're gonna look at people considering his story objectively and go >:0 well that's not true because!! i hate him and i am morally superior for that!

*head in hands* i am so tired. and let's not talk about the twitter takes on here, perhaps? no one on dreblr ever said the arguments people talk about in here. can you say "dsmptwt dream apologists" or something?? god it gets really uncomfortable.

people see any analysis that doesn't fit their view of "c!dream all bad" and they just twist anyone's words to make them seem as uncomfortable as possible. sometimes i wish i could just go "ew what the hell?? i never said that how could you even come up with something like that, that's horrible. you disgust me" in response because it really feels like weaponising heavy real life topics on the internet *coughcoughpreformativeactivismcough* to gain a moral high ground, and just. no. no. i. no. please stop it's making me sick.

it's like people see the word "c!dream" and all nuance constantly gets erased from their brains and they lose all reading comprehension.

sorry for the rant - a lot of this has been getting,, better, here on tumblr, i think? but i've been here for a while and saw a lot of stuff and it's just so exhausting. pretty much every c!dream anti i know of is like this and i just. i would've quit a long time ago if it wasn't for my friends because it's horrible for my already awful mental state. like really. not good. not healthy. and yes i have it worse because i'm not doing well but these are problems that shouldn't exist. man.

[silentmagi]

I posted 34,777 times in 2021

2317 posts created (7%)

32460 posts reblogged (93%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 14.0 posts.

I added 5,850 tags in 2021

#fanfic summaries - 2268 posts

#my hero academia - 575 posts

#boku no hero academia - 574 posts

#mha - 560 posts

#bnha - 552 posts

#izuku midoriya - 395 posts

#miraculous ladybug - 339 posts

#rwby - 309 posts

#ruby rose - 141 posts

#marinette dupain-cheng - 137 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#seriously? why didn't the youma ever use board games to suck the life force? i have seen more people get intense over them than video games

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

Dragonslayer + Phoenix: “Branwen Girls Have a Type”

As Tai sipped his morning coffee, he pondered the picture that his daughter Ruby had sent him, with Yang training with that blonde haired boy. That got him to thinking about his own wild maned love, and realized Qrow had been right... Branwen Women have a Type.

These are fun, more please. If you want to take one of these, please just link me!

41 notes • Posted 2021-07-21 00:04:17 GMT

#4

Wednesday x Lydia in “The Slowest Addams Courtship In Family History”

It was going into the tenth week of dating, and Wednesday was finding herself enjoying the slow torture of to courtship, keeping their stolen kiss in the heat of the moment a secret for the time being.

It was interesting, having a long courtship, and the sitting somewhere, reading while holding one another were actually fun dates.

She could see this going on for months, maybe even years of delectable torment.

The chaos compels.

If you want to write one of these, please just link me!

45 notes • Posted 2021-08-28 18:43:12 GMT

#3

Marigold x Chat Noir x Ladybug!Kagami in "Finally!"

Marigold and Chat Noir, along with the vast majority of Paris, are sick of Scarlet Lady's schtick. Even Tikki is sick of her.

So after a particularly grueling fight with Hawkmoth, for the two real heroes at least, Master Fu is delivered a cussing, swearing, and squirming girl in a burlap sack.

Knowing that he cannot break the bond he's seeing form with the two young heroes, but that they still needed a Ladybug, he decides to find them someone to help as a better partner.

And slip Chloe some forgetfulness potions... a lot of them...

Kagami is unloading her bag at home when she comes across a strange box.

These are fun, more please. If you want to take one of these, please just link me!

I am so... so very sorry @zoe-oneesama

48 notes • Posted 2021-06-30 20:27:04 GMT

#2

My Legend of Vox Machina Support rewards came in today. Look at it all. Pins, Letter Openers, Shoulder Bag, Wall Art (stickers but I'm hanging it up as one).

72 notes • Posted 2021-08-21 02:25:11 GMT

#1

Adrigaminette in My Kleptomaniac Girlfriend, my Oblivious Boyfriend, and Me

After having spent the day with both of her dates, Kagami had noticed that there were some... habits that they had. Things would mysteriously vanish around Marinette to appear on her person later as if it had always been there, she had picked the lock to the closet when they had been locked inside, and had no problem reciting what every one of her classmates was doing down to 5 minute intervals.

On the other hand, Adrien would miss all of this, and smile happily. She was pretty sure Paris could crumble around him, and he'd be lost to what was happening.

But she knew that the most important thing Marinette stole would be kisses in the dark as they cuddle, and Adrien was oblivious because he was thinking of sweet surprises he could do for them.

Oh well, at least her blade would have a lot of practice if anyone else caught on.

The chaos compels.

If you want to write one of these, please just link me!

95 notes • Posted 2021-08-10 01:04:08 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

[itmighthavebeenintentional]

We've Got Tonight - Ch 5

Summary: “It’s not your job to do this, Andy. You make people happy. I was in the diner all of ten minutes, and you knew exactly how to get me to smile. You do normal, real things like garden and sing karaoke. Saving the world is my job, Sam’s job. Sometimes it’s even Cas’s job, but it’s not yours.”

Inspired by Bob Seger’s “We’ve Got Tonight”

Warnings: Major Character Death, More Major Character Deaths (sort of?), higher than show level violence, blood, light smutting, language, demons, apocalypse, inferred suicide, cult activity.

18+ ONLY, MINORS DO NOT PROCEED

Author’s Note: This story is set hazily around season 8. Just squint a little, and it’ll settle in somewhere. I wrote this story after certain big revelations in the show, but before other big ones; you’ll most likely be able to tell which. I play with time a bit in the story itself, so if things seem out of order, they are. Hopefully, by the end, all the pieces will fit together.

What the hell, let’s give it a shot.

Image and major edits by the incomparable @there-must-be-a-lock . Heavy editing and cheering by @thoughtslikeaminefield . Thank you both so much.

This chapter in particular is dedicated to @foxyjwls007 . If I'm going to torture you with something, it's not going to be a cliffhanger. I'm going out of town for two weeks, so you get an update early since I won't be able to post while I'm away. Thank you for the encouragement.

In case you missed it: Chapter 4 ItMightHaveBeenIntentional’s Masterlist

...

We’ve Got Tonight

Chapter 5

“Miss? Miss? Hey, are you okay?”

A hand grips Andy’s arm, firm but polite, and she jerks to, almost losing her footing. It’s been a long day already, and she still has two hours before she can go home, shower, and put her feet up for a little while before karaoke at the Brass Monkey starts up.

Maybe I can even fit in a nap, she thinks excitedly. But first, gotta wake up and make it through the rest of my shift.

Of course, if she hadn’t been tossing and turning all night from a crazy dream, she wouldn’t be as tired as she is now, but that’s neither here nor there. And it doesn’t help that she can’t even remember the stupid dream. It was really long, though, and there was blood and books and…someone...

“Can I get a refill over here?”

One hour, forty-seven minutes, and twenty-two seconds to go. She can do this.

The minutes crawl, though, and it’s all she can do to stay on her feet and focus. The lunch crowd has long since thinned, and she’s about to ask if she can maybe take off a little early when the door chimes, and she catches the tail end of the entering customers’ conversation.

“Could you at least consider putting something green on your plate? Like, ever? Broccoli won’t kill you.”

“I’ve already told you, I’m getting breakfast since you didn’t wake me up early enough to eat a decent one this morning. Pancakes, bacon, and coffee, which, I might add, grows on a tree, so it counts as a plant. That’s balanced enough for me. You like broccoli; knock yourself out, Jolly Green.”

“Sam isn’t green, Dean. Is your vision faulty? Perhaps we should get your eyes examined. Or you could try carrots along with the broccoli. Carrots are supposed to improve vision.”

No. No, no, no, she thinks, her mind whirling frantically. It was a dream, they can’t be here. This is...this is how it started, and...

She turns, and there they are, Sam and Dean dolled up in their clean, pressed feds suits and Cas looking just as rumpled and bewildered as she suddenly remembers. They seat themselves at an empty table in her section, but any thoughts of leaving early evaporated the second she heard their voices.

Every moment of the dream, every minute of those four weeks comes screaming back, cramming each terror-laden, tension-ridden second into her mind so fast she actually does stumble and has to grab the back of a nearby booth to keep from hitting the worn-out linoleum.

“It...hasn’t happened yet.”

“I’m sorry, did you say something? Hey, hey, hold on there. Are you okay?”

Then Sam’s hand is supporting her elbow, helping her straighten up, and she looks up into his concerned eyes, unable to express how glad she is just to see him breathing. Behind him, Dean and Cas are arguing about something trivial, wonderfully animated and alive and completely unaware of her.

“I’m sorry, hun, it’s just been a long shift. Gimme a minute to grab some waters and menus, and I’ll be right over.” Sam accepts her flimsy excuse at face value, and why wouldn’t he? He hasn’t lived with her for the better part of a month, hasn’t saved her life once, hasn’t tried to save the world with her. He doesn’t know her at all.

Why should he question a strange waitress in a strange diner who says she’s had a long day? He’s met hundreds of women just like her, maybe thousands, and he’s got no reason to question a completely legitimate statement.

She rushes into the back to find the coldest water possible to splash on her face. Her reflection gapes back at her from the staff bathroom mirror as the enormity of her situation begins to dawn on her.

Why? Why is this happening? Either she actually lived through those weeks and is somehow getting a do-over, or she dreamed the whole thing and is getting a shot to fix things from this end. But why? And how?

How in the hell?

Think, Andrea, think. It was real. It will be real. It hasn’t happened yet. You haven’t screwed everything up yet. You have to fix this. But how? How can I fix it when I screwed everything up so very badly last time?

Just...think. Think. Start small. Try to stop it before it happens. But...the cult. Crowley said they were real. They found me before, they’ll find me again. I could talk to Sam and Dean and Cas about what's going to happen. They’ve been through enough insanity in their lives that I actually have a pretty good shot at convincing them.

She stares into the mirror, racking her brain for every helpful detail she learned during her time with the Winchesters.

They're already investigating all the break-ins hereabouts; those were the cultists looking for me in the first place. Then they find me, take me, bleed me, and start the apocalypse. The boys could stop the ritual before it even happens.

Her reflection in the mirror frowns, unconvinced the solution could possibly be that easy.

But the literature, the books, it’s all still out there. Someone else could find it, could come after me. My blood is the problem. I’m the key. As long as I’m around, someone could still use me to end everything. Crowley can still use me to get to them. Think. You’ve got to actually stop everything and save them this time.

Her eyes widen as realization dawns. The world can’t make it without the Winchesters. There’s only one way out of this.

Fifteen minutes later, she sets a fresh green salad in front of Sam before dropping a towering stack of steaming pancakes in front of Dean.

“Fresh pot of coffee coming off in two, be right back with your refills. Need any more butter or syrup, hun? How ‘bout a couple of extra pieces of bacon on the house?”

“Don’t encourage him, please,” Sam groans. Dean slaps his brother on the back of the head, sending Sam’s coiffed hair into a tizzy of disarray. Sam swipes back at his brother, who waves off Sam’s attempts at retaliation like he’s swatting a fly.

“You shut your pie hole. She said free bacon. That makes her a queen.” He turns his most charming smile on her, glancing down at her name tag then back up to meet her gaze squarely. The crinkles around his eyes deepen with his grin. “Andrea, is it?”

“Andy,” she corrects automatically, and she can’t help her answering smile. He throws her a wink that clearly says he knows he’s cheesy but it's all part of his irresistible charm.

She doesn’t disagree.

“You are a goddess, Andy. I love you, and you need to know that.”

“You don’t,” she says, only just managing to keep her voice and smile level, “but you could.” His answering laugh sends a twinge through her chest, and if she clenches her jaw a little around her smile, she figures she’s entitled.

When the men finally finish eating, she offers a slip of paper to Dean, while Sam pretends he isn’t rolling his eyes.

“There’s a karaoke competition at the Brass Monkey tonight. Winner gets tab on the house for a week. Interested in maybe meeting up there around ten or so? We could have a drink, sing a song, and see where the rest of the night takes us.”

He grins and takes the slip from her with sure fingers. She’s certain he has her number memorized before the paper even retains his prints, but he makes a special show of tucking it safely into his pocket.

“Dean, do you think it wise to allow yourself to be so distracted when we’re in the middle of an investigation?”

And without even realizing it, Cas gives her the perfect opening.

“Oh, you boys investigating all the break-ins hereabouts? Were they too much for our local boys to handle? Listen, hun, my friend was one of the ladies whose house got broken into. If you want to stick around for a few minutes, I can fill you in on what I know and send you her way. Would that help?”

Castiel’s eyebrows lift in surprise, and he is clearly pleased with his first-rate investigating skills. “That would help immensely, Miss Andrea. Thank you.”

She can’t believe her luck at such a perfect lead-in, and she runs with it.

“Now that I think about it, the shop next door mentioned something about their alarm getting tripped a few nights in a row. Maybe I could talk to your friend while you two check it out? And I’ll see you tonight, Dean? Ten o’clock?”

Dean’s grin softens, and she can see the faintest tinge of red along his cheeks. She didn’t notice it the first time around, and now she wishes she’d paid more attention. Then the brothers leave, and she’s alone with the angel. ...

Chapter 6

[poormeowmeowcollector]

Spooked, But Not In A Good Way

Warnings: panic attacks, meltdowns, sensory overload

Characters: Loki, Tony Stark

Summary: inspired by this post. Loki is always hiding when on the tower, but agrees to be on the Halloween party. Until things go bad.

Notes: Yes, Thor and Loki are autistic in my headcannon. Yes, I use the word autistic, as an autistic person. And, yes, I will bite you if you attack me because of those things. Tagging @consultingcriminalatyourservice.

Getting along with the new members of the team is not as hard as Tony imagined. Wanda and Sam are pretty okay, and Bucky is somewhat silent but not a problem. Loki's another story…

When Thor brought him here, fresh from a battle and with blood on his chest and back, he promised that Loki's quiet. And, holy shit, no one expected Loki being so introverted. It's a miracle if he appears on the "family tables", as Steve calls them. It's not hard to even forget that he's here, he's either off to a mission or locked in his room.

And even after he was proved to be mind controlled during the attack and declared innocent in every single court he was dragged into, he still didn't feel comfortable enough to be with anyone other than Thor, and maybe Bucky.

But Thor managed to convince him to come over to the Halloween party. And Loki even got dressed up, with a historically accurate costume of Dracula. He was just sitting on the bar, sipping on his wine and fidgeting with his fingers, but being in a room crowded with people and loud music was a huge step.

"Hey, Count," Tony yells as he walks closer, trying to make his voice louder than the music. Loki jerks in his seat, almost spilling his drink, before he smiles at Tony. "Oh sorry, did I scare you?" He asks, lowering his voice since he's closer.

"No… it's just, I was drifting off," Loki mutters, his voice just heard with all the noise. Tony nods and sits beside him, even though the Han Solo suit is quite tight around his waist.

"Again, thank you. Goodnight," He smiles. Tony smiles back and mutters a goodnight before leaving and closing the door. He doesn't even go back to the party, he just drags his feet to his room and crushes on the bed, falling asleep the moment his head touches his pillow.

"You know, it's good you're here…" He hums, letting a small smile. Loki makes a small throaty sound, releasing his left hand to take a sip of his wine.

"You can thank Thor for this… if it were on me, I would be still locked in my room," He scoffs a bit, forming a small smile for a brief moment.

"Still, it's nice seeing you out. You know, it almost feels like you aren't here," Tony admits. Loki does lower his eyes for s moment, the air around him getting cold. Shit, this shouldn't have happened.

"Yes… it's not that I don't like being with you… but…" He clenchs his jaw while taking, his hands holding his ears.

Before Tony can say or do anything, Loki vanishes. But he leaves a path of cold air behind him. Tony follows it to the bathroom, seeing Loki sitting on the floor in a loose fatal position, his hands covering both his ears and eyes.

Tony sits down in front of him, letting plenty of air between them. He can feel the vibrations of the bass on the floor. "Loki, bud, can you hear me?" He asks, his voice carefully low. Loki doesn't react, but he doesn't flinch either.

Tony leans his hand to Loki's knee, squeezing just enough to show that he's here. It's probably the noise. That's why Loki's always hiding, the tower is too damn loud. And being here must be a torture for him. Just the thought of how he let Loki tolerate this in silence makes Tony's stomach twist.

"Too loud…" Loki mutters, his hands pressing his ears harder and harder. Tony can feel the air in his lungs getting thinner. No, he doesn't need a panic attack now. Not while his friends is like this.

"Do…" He tries to bring air in his lungs, but it seems impossible. "How can I help?" He manages to ask. Loki raises his hand and stares at him with watery eyes. Then, he throws himself into a tight hug, breathing heavily for the next moments.

And Tony starts gasping for air.

Loki lets go of the embrace, but still holds Tony's hands. Tony lifts his head, seeing Loki breathing slowly, green smoke making the air visible. He's trying to instruct him to breathe. But why isn't he speaking?

Tony follows the instructions, feeling his lungs slowly filling with air. And Loki's hands start getting colder again as the music from the central room gets louder.

"Hey, hey. It's ok. Do you want to go somewhere quiet?" Tony asks, squeezing Loki's hands. He nods, letting Tony's hands go as they both stand up. Loki leads the way to his room, Tony beside him and still trying to compose himself, watching as Loki's fingers attack each other.

As soon as Loki opens the door to his room, Tony storms in and opens the closest window, poking his head out and trying to breathe in the cold air. Fresh air from outside always helps with his panic attacks.

"Was it that bad?" Loki asks, his voice low. Tony turns to face him and smiles. Speaking after a meltdown is a good thing, right? Loki is sitting on his bed, his makeup fading where tears dripped and still stimming with his hands, but he added lip chewing on the game too.

"No… Not really. Can I ask, is this why you're hiding in here all the time?" Tony's voice gets louder, more like him. Loki nods, looking down at his hands. Tony sits beside him on the bed, careful not to invade his personal space.

"Look, buddy, I'm sorry. We should have asked about this when you came here. It's stupid thinking that humans and Jötnar have the same hearing," He rumbles. This time, Loki lets a small scoff again.

"It's not a Jötnar thing, nor an Æsir one. I guess I'm the only one like this. And, there's nothing to apologize for. You didn't do something wrong and I thought Earth would be more quiet that Asgard," He corrects Tony, a faint smile on his lips. So, aliens can be on the spectrum too?

"Whatever, but making you an outcast is still not good… Hey, do you happen to know what your triggers are? I can make the tower more accessible," Tony suggests. He sees a light appearing in Loki's eyes as he turns his face around and stares right into Tony's eyes.

"Loud noises, mostly. They are painful. Sudden things too. And, intense smells, they make both me and Thor nauseous," He smiles. Maybe he wasn't asked this question before.

"Thor? He's in the spectrum too?"

Loki lets his eyebrows tangle with each other and his smile fade. "What spectrum?"

"I'm really not the man to explain this, but, he is sensitive too?" He corrects the answer. And, to this, Loki makes a nod.

"He likes things louder, but yes. Except for the smells, of course," He shrugs one shoulder.

"Great. I can make you some sound cancelling headphones, you decorate them, obviously, and keep the tower more quiet. How does it sound?" He asks, smiling widely. Loki lets his smile turn to a grin.

"Keep talking dirty," He purrs. Tony would make a move back, if the aroace flag wasn't hanging behind them.

"And, in case you get one of those fits again, what helps, usually?"

"Someone holding me down. Thor used to do it when we were small and it kind of sticked. You can tell the others too, if you like." He relaxes his face again, leaning back on the wall, his eyes still pinned on Tony.

"Good. And, when I get one of mine again, can you just give me space to breathe? They usually fade away after I manage to take a few deep ones,"

Loki hums at Tony's answer, a green light making his boots disappear as he pulls his legs on the bed. "Thanks you a lot, Tony… But, those things tend to be tiring, so, I think I might crash," He breaks eye contact, his hands stimming again.

"Yeah, same with the panic attacks. So, can you be at the lab tomorrow? I'll make sure the machines are quiet and I need your help to make the headphones," Tony gets up, allowing Loki to spread his long feet on the bed.

[shijiujun]

Hi! Is it okay to ask you for a small advice? I started reading Thousand Autumns recently (currently on chapters ~85-88) and I'm having a bit of a problem with Yan Wushi's character. I am so turned off by his behavior towards SQ for the whole novel up to this point and I just wonder - is it gonna get better...? I can't stand seeing him openly abusing SQ and treating him like shit, I'm sorry (1)

I know he's evil and it's expected of him to be bad but with future romance prospect I'm really struggling to like the relationship between him and SQ; and if in the first half of the novel I didn't expect big changes, now I keep hoping to see something different from him but I'm not seeing much. He keeps treating SQ horribly. I'm not sure if I can forgive him for what he's done and has no remorse whatsoever - (2)

- abusing SQ and manipulating him, using him as an experiment as if he's a toy to play with; selling him to a r*pist knowing he'll be tortured to death...! And after everything that happend I still barely see anything good in his attitude towards SQ. I can't help but think SQ deserves so much better. I suppose I should try to have some hope for the upcoming chapters to be better? Is it worth it to continue reading or nothing will change? Excuse me for writing so much, Thank you

---

Heya! Oooof okay so you’re totally valid, Yan Wushi isn’t like a character for everyone - so let me break it down with the first part and then the second part where his attitude turns for the better XD

Spoilers under the cut

Before SQ goes to save him:

Yan Wushi does have a goal which is to play mind games with Shen Qiao and (1) throw him into despair (2) try to see if Shen Qiao is a worthy opponent - sure, he’s an asshole with an agenda of his own. YWS doesn’t believe that there is any good in anyone - he thinks Shen Qiao is a hypocrite and that everyone will turn evil given the right circumstances, and so YWS doesn’t trust anyone, or even considers anyone as an equal to him.

He wants to see Shen Qiao become evil basically and does everything he can to direct him towards that but I’d say his actions (with two exceptions) fit his character and the two motives above pretty well and I’m not sure I’d count it as abuse (based on my understanding of abuse, feel free to disagree). I think it’s easy to forget that Shen Qiao is not delusional or naive or ‘innocent’, and he does not paint YWS as some saviour or a friend (at least in the beginning) - he knows who YWS is, knows that he’s insane, not compassionate, totally evil etc. even from the start the moment he realizes that YWS and his disciple lied to him.

1. He lies to Shen Qiao that he’s his shizun, and then sends him to kill someone, but he’s not there to enforce it

2. Throws him out on the streets without his memories, but Shen Qiao is anything but a weak youngling, once again, YWS doesn’t do anything to him

3. YWS turns up at the temple and has Shen Qiao read the scripture - SQ’s not sure what’s going on at first but he more or less figures it out, but also the scripture reading inadvertently helps to heal him (and YWS knows this)

4. YWS flirts with Shen Qiao for a reaction for a while, he’s not genuine of course, but Shen Qiao knows he’s not genuine

5. YWS doesn’t help Shen Qiao out when he’s faced with an opponent while he’s still injured just to see how long Shen Qiao can hold out for - but firstly, Shen Qiao never really expected him to help in the first place, because he has no delusions about the man - and YWS ends up helping anyway, of course not out of the kindness of his heart, but I don’t see why I should hold that against him XD

6. Stands by and watches as Shen Qiao and his shidi Yu Ai have their confrontation - Sure, he’s there to watch the drama, but it’s Shen Qiao who makes the decision to go with him - the lesser of two evils

7. Forces Shen Qiao to fight him while he’s still injured because he wants to see if Shen Qiao’s recovery level has reached a certain point, enough to be an adversary worth dealing with - yes, he’s forcing Shen Qiao to fight when he’s still blind and weak, but throughout the fight you realize that YWS is right - it’s that very battle that basically lets SQ recover his previous abilities by a bit. He’s not hurting SQ for the fun of it (out of sadism or shit) - he purely (or evil-ly) wants to know if SQ is every bit of the skilled warrior he’s heard about 

The exceptions are these: (1) When he plants the demonic seed thing in his heart (2) When he trades SQ to Sang Jing Xing for his sword, knowing full well that SJX has a habit of sexually torturing his prisoners - I feel like YWS was almost warming up to SQ when his habit of distrust and everything kicked in and he reverted back to his cynical self - Not an excuse for what he did though, because yes Shen Qiao especially didn’t want the demonic seed thing firstly (and YWS knows this), and then he despaired at being left to SJX. This is the incident that has SQ basically give up on YWS and allows him to erase any notion of him ever becoming friends with YWS. I’m also rather curious how exactly SQ kind of like got over this - but in the settings of the book, I guess it’s explained away with (1) SQ actually fully recovering as a result of this incident (2) SQ has a big heart, and forgives YWS after - but whether or not that’s convincing, that’s up to every reader.

After SQ goes to save him:

1. So after the SJX incident - where he chose to self-destruct and die, taking SJX along with him but ended up surviving and being able to cultivate properly again from the start (previously he couldn’t because he could only recover to a certain extent as there was some blockage etc., but the blast in this incident clears the blockage) - and after he’s sort of recovered like 50-75%, he hears of an ambush on YWS by the leaders of like 5 other sects, and decides to go forward to save him 

2. Not because he harbours any like delusions on YWS, but to show him that despite all YWS has done to him (especially with SJX), SQ is still SQ, and he still adheres to his own principles, that YWS did not make him change his mind about being good basically

3. YWS’s views of him starts to change because of this - YWS has never found someone with this much grit to stick to his own principles etc., to still be kind and righteous basically despite being betrayed again and again. Of course this does not excuse the fact that YWS did indeed deliberately leave him to a potentially painful death with SJX - and SQ doesn’t forget either. 

4. SQ saves YWS, and then his heart melts because while YWS is recovering from the ambush, he has two other personalities that show up - so YWS when he was much younger, then YWS when he was a teenager, and YWS now. So YWS as a kid and teen are more trusting and open, and SQ likes kid YWS a lot (like as kid brother), and now-YWS wakes up occasionally from the switch in personas, he realizes that SQ likes kid-YWS and starts thinking about why SQ hates him and likes his kid self.

5. Even then, YWS still does try to jump ship once and leave SQ and other evil people behind in a dangerous cave, but thankfully teen/kid-YWS personas fight to turn up in time, and then YWS goes back for SQ

6. SQ knows this - he doesn’t think YWS has had a sudden change of heart or shit, and knows full well that if it was now-YWS, if kid-YWS didn’t turn up, he would probably be left to think about how to leave the cave on his own

7. YWS’s behaviour towards SQ does a 180 - now that he knows he cannot sway SQ, he starts to listen to SQ, and despite all the barbs on the surface, even if he disagrees with SQ’s positive outlook, he makes an effort to contribute and consider SQ’s opinion even if he doesn’t, intrinsically, believe in it. Starts putting himself in front of SQ, and of course SQ doesn’t believe this all the way to the end, where he realizes that he actually, just that tiny little bit, has started liking YWS and doesn’t want him to die.

8. Then they confirm their relationship in the extras, and YWS does do that hot-and-cold thing once so SQ figures out his feelings for him properly - It’s SQ that initiates the confirmation at the end I think

---

I think at some level, YWS cannot stand how naive Shen Qiao is, and some of the things that he’s leading Shen Qiao to think about/discover are valid - And throughout the book it’s proven true - SQ is kind to Chen Jing, but Chen Jing sells him out (not just once but thrice). He’s kind to and has always doted on Yu Ai, but Yu Ai sells him out too. The elders in his sect - some of them obviously turned to Yu Ai over him despite SQ never having given them reason to doubt him. I don’t think YWS is being deliberately cruel (or abusive) - he’s forcing SQ to look at reality, a reality that YWS sees and lives in.

He always asks Shen Qiao why he trusts others so easily, and afterwards, Shen Qiao does admit that YWS is right in this aspect - he won’t give up his ideals and how he gives everyone the benefit of the doubt, but through YWS, he realizes he needs to be able to think ahead to protect himself and the ppl around him.

Doesn’t excuse the SJX thing YWS did, and I’m sure SQ doesn’t conveniently forget about that either, but in terms of how/why they got together, I guess it’s because despite everything they do know each other best, and are soulmates (tho not only in the sugar-spice-and-everything-nice way i.e. SQ does think YWS is handsome and YWS thinks SQ is the cutest thing ever later). SQ has seen the worst of YWS, and YWS has seen the worst of him - and SQ is made to realize that what he was before was not the best path he could go on because of YWS, but he adjusts his attitude slightly and holds on to his ideals sufficiently. 

On the other hand, YWS still does not believe everyone except his Ah Qiao can truly say they’re good and keep to it in every way, still thinks the worst of a lot of people if not all, but he stops to consider SQ’s POV and input now, whose opinions and every action now mean more to him than anything else ever will. Of course he has to prove himself and earn SQ’s trust back, but I guess he also doesn’t expect SQ to reciprocate, even after he developed feelings for SQ, knowing full well that he’s a mofo and SQ has every right to hate him after all he did.

They don’t fix each other, they’re not each other’s salvations, but they fit and come sort of to a truce, despite having differing views and principles.

Manipulation? Sure, but I think we forget that Shen Qiao is not a victim (except the part where he’s given to SJX) and his agency in every situation is apparent - He’s pretty clear-minded, he knows what Yan Wushi is doing, knows what his character is like, knows that he’s doing/saying things all to get a reaction out of him. He doesn’t expect YWS to help him either, because he knows YWS is here for fun and games. He doesn’t go along with YWS just because, either. He just made a wrong call by trusting that YWS reciprocated his feelings of friendship (not that it’s his fault at all), but that is certainly a moment of weakness he probably regrets.

---

In summary, I personally wasn’t all that put off by YWS’s behaviour, altho I agree the SJX incident is pretty much unforgivable. For me I read this more from the SQ perspective, because his strength shines in every moment and interaction with YWS and overshadows YWS by a lot, which is why the end makes sense to me.

In response to your question - yes YWS does get better when he’s finally totally convinced that SQ is not a hypocrite (although yeah it takes him a while to get there). And for me it’s nice to see Shen Qiao figure out himself, and also his feelings for YWS after, but also never once compromising himself for YWS.

But YWS is definitely less palatable than most other characters in danmei, so it’s natural if you dislike him and remain unconvinced! It happens XD If you hate this, I suggest you try Wu Shuang! Set in the same universe and timeline, and actually doesn’t have much angst - full on bantering between the main CP, constant veiled insults etc.

[giorno-plays-piano]

You were all I wanted Part 3

Pairing: mob!Peter Parker x plus-sized!Reader

Warnings: yandere, obsession, swearing, human trafficking, mentions of non-con, minor character’s death.

Words: 1600.

Summary: You are bought by the head of Stark crime family for a kid he cares about.

Part 1

Part 2

P.S. Peter is an adult!

This chapter turned out to be shorter, but it's still pretty eventful. Hope you're going to like it <3

___________

"But what... what if he won't like me? What if he'll take me away?" You sobbed, panic taking over you as you imagined Tony Stark pressing a gun to your forehead.

"No, he'd never do that." Peter left a little kiss behind your ear. "Mr. Stark doesn't take the gifts he's made back. You don't have to be afraid of that."

You sniffed at his words. That's what you were now. A gift. A possession. A pet whose job was keeping its master happy. You had to be grateful you were given to someone like Peter, at least. You didn't know whether he would always treat you kindly, but as of now he had never threatened to hurt you. You could only pray for him to fancy you so he wouldn't throw you away like some garbage - apparently, Tony Stark treated his women exactly like that.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up in the first place. Of course, you got upset." Peter cuddled with you some more, but you weren't sure whether he was being sincere. Wasn't he sending you a clear message?

Don't go against me or you'll end just like her.

"Oh, I have an idea. Let's go out! Do you wanna see the movie or something?"

You did your best to wipe away your tears and stared at the boy, perplexed. "What?"

"We have a nice little cinema not far from here. We could go right now, just let me check what they've having today."

"But didn't you say I can't leave this place?"

"I meant without me." He showed you the same smug smirk Stark was wearing all the time, and you lowered your gaze to Peter's chest instead. "With me close you can go wherever you want to."

Funny thing to say. In thruth, you could go wherever he wanted to take you.

"Wow, they're having Beyond Darkness in 30 min! We gotta go, you'll loooove this."

"Sure."

In five minutes you were already hurrying after Peter and trying to look nowhere but your shoes. Regardless of what was there in Stark's Tower, you didn't want to see it, not even mentioning all those guys with guns scattered across the building. Peter was saying his hello to each and every one of them as if he were some mafia's social butterfly.

Whatever. You knew Peter was Tony's favorite not because he had a pretty face. You had never particularly asked what his role in all this was, but it was obviously something way bigger than running errands for the gang. Maybe it was better to never figure it out.

"Hey girl, wanna have fun?" Somebody to your left asked you, and you flinched involuntarily, keeping your head low.

Peter stopped in the very same second and sent the stranger a hard look.

"Mike, you offer my girl drugs one more time and I'm gonna shoot your cute little brother in the leg, you hear me?"

You raised your eyes to Peter's smiling face and regretted it immediately. There was something so dark in his gaze you wanted to turn around and run until you were back to your room, hiding somewhere in the corner.

"Shit! Sorry, Spidey!" The guy's high-pitched voice sounded frightened. "Didn't know you got a girl!"

"Yeah, yeah, see you later, we're kind of busy now." Peter grabbed your hand and pulled you away, heading to the exit. "I forgot to mention before that we don't do drugs. At all. They're good for business, but not for us, ok, Baby?"

"Yes, Peter." You answered and kept chewing your lips, thinking of all the things he had just said. You suspected him to be more ruthless when you weren't around, but never to such extent. How damn scary was real Peter Parker?

"And don't worry, I'd never shoot his brother in whatever part of his body." The boy said it like it was something obvious and you didn't even need to pay attention to it.

Why then did that guy look completely horrified?

When you had finally stepped outside and felt the wind playing with your hair you were ready to cry. Just walking out of the Tower was a fucking torture.

It was already dark, and you pulled the zipper on your pretty blue jacket up, going almost shoulder to shoulder with Peter. Normally you'd be at least a little scared to walk the streets of a big city at night, but the guy your mother had warned you about was already holding your hand.

The place the boy brought you to was truly small but cozy with nice vintage red seats, the delicious smell of caramel popcorn spreading everywhere. It turned out that the movie was something in between Star Wars and Star Trek, which wasn't surprising because Peter was a sucker for anything related to sci-fi. Anyway, it wasn't bad and you actually enjoyed watching it. The movie helped you to keep your mind off your earlier encounter with the drug trafficker and the words Peter said.

The only way to live like that and stay sane was to turn a blind eye to anything that happened around, you thought. It was cowardly and revolting, but what could you do against one of the most, if not the most, dangerous gangs in New York? Surely, even if by some miracle you could flee the Tower and go to police, would they really be willing to help you? No, they would return you to Mr. Stark. You were a hundred percent sure he got it covered.

"Are you feeling tired, Baby?"

You snapped out of your thoughts and looked at Peter who smiled at you so lovingly it could make any girl cry.

"Just a little bit."

"Want me to give you a massage when we gonna get home?" His expression quickly turned devious, and he winked at you.

Yeah, great, now you'd have him fucking you before your knees were giving out. The kid had such stamina he could be an Olympic athlete, no less.

"Aw, I love when you blush like that." Chuckling, he put his arm around your shoulders and inched closer to give you a quick peck on the lips. You forced youself to enjoy his little signs of affection and start thinking you ought to be thankful he wasn't into heavy BDSM practices or something like that.

While you two were kissing again, you heard someone's loud footsteps as if this person just jumped out of the corner, and then there was a hateful outburst, "Stay were you are. Your wallets, quick!"

You froze, your hands getting cold as you stared at the face of a guy standing in front of you with a knife in his hands. He was clearly unstable, sick - you could see the dark circles around his eyes, the unhealthy color of his skin, and his greasy hair sticking to his forehead. You didn't know what was wrong with him, but he was twice bigger than Peter. The guy would probably have no problem with slicing both him and you into pieces if you didn't comply.

"I said g-"

"You gotta be fucking kidding me." Peter let out a frustrated sigh before you heard the loud sound of the gun firing.

There was a little black hole in the guy's chest, blood seeping through his dirty white t-shirt and coloring it in a beautiful deep ruby color. You could see the confusion in the eyes of the stranger, his mouth half-open. Slowly, he went down before his legs gave out and he landed at the ground with a loud thud. He didn't move after that.

"Come on, attacking a couple of high shoolers? You're such a psycho, man. Who were you gonna go after us? Kids?" Peter rolled his eyes and hid the gun under his bomber, turning away from the man he murdered and shouting to someone behind him. "It's ok, people! It's just me, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man! Calm down, go home, it's late!"

You were still staring at the large pool of blood spreading beneath the body of a stranger - lack of light made it look like it was an odd black liquid. Before you could take your eyes elsewhere, you felt bile quickly going up your throat and vomitted, moving to lean your hand on the wall of a building. He killed him. Peter killed him. You didn't even see him pulling out the gun.

"Oh Baby, I'm so sorry." The boy gently held back your hair when you threw up again, feeling scared, disgusted, feverish and cold at the same time. "That's why I don't like drugs and what they do to people. That shithead lost his mind, you see? No sane guy would ever jump on me or my girl like that."

Despite him being so tender, you couldn't even turn your head to look at him as you started shaking from his touch.

You kept emptying your stomach a few more minutes before Peter softly wiped your mouth with his handkerchief and took your arm, walking you back to the Tower and saying all those unnecessary things about how terrible some people are and how everyone has to take care in the dangerous world they're living in. You didn't hear half of that, but you cared little for his chattering.

Peter had shot the man without showing even the slightest regret. He'd shoot you the same way if you ever turned against him - he was Stark's favourite, after all.

__________

Tags: @finleyjayne @alexakeyloveloki  ​@helenaeisenhower @villanellevi @hurricanerin @void-hoechlin @abyssaint @msruchita @opheliadawnwalker3

[callmeunstable]

Angels & Demons - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Characters: Reader, Godling, Savilla, Jaskier

Summary: After finding a friendin Jaskier their friendship get tested. Unsure of the danger ahead Alva tries her best to live in the village.

Warnings: Cursing, Blood, Death

Words: 2.000+

A/N: Hey! This is the fourth part of my fic. It took really long this time due to personal problems. I’m sorry but it probably will happen again. Thank you for you patience and enjoy!

Disclaimer: GIF’s and PNG’s are taken from Tumblr and are not mine! Credits to the creators!

Tags: @marvelbrat @charliestuff

Song: 

“Did ya hear the rumors?”

“The folks are saying the Nilfgaards want to overrule Cintra.”

“That’s never been a secret, mate. Cintra will fall and we all know that.”

“Got to hell. Our Lioness is strong. Don’t ya ever doubt her skill.”

These were the latest accusations browsing around the village. Cintra, the kingdom Alva was currently staying, was about to fall. The men were right when they're saying that. Even Savilla was under tension these days. She said they could arrive any day by now. 

The Lioness was the Queen of this state. Calanthe of Cintra, known also as the "Lioness of Cintra" and "Ard Rhena" called by the Elders. The mother of Pavetta, and grandmother of Ciri. She was known for her bravery and beauty. That is at least what she figured while serving in the tavern. She heard tons of rumors but couldn’t understand what that meant for her.

Sevilla had already started packing the most important goods and she collected all the money she received. Rarely spending anything except for once. She bought two horses. They weren’t expensive she said and necessary for traveling. 

When the Nilfgaards want to overrule Cintra the will stop here. Their town was called Walen. It’s close to the capital of Cintra. Where the Queen and the King had their castle. It may be a small village but you will get everything you need in this town. Food, animals, tailors, and a blacksmith.

Overall this village was not a poorly town. It had more than enough money to keep everyone well fed through the winter, which was a rare thing in this century. They didn’t necessarily depend on other nearby villages. They made everything they could need by themselves. Sevilla already had a plan figured out. James was still living in his forest and promised to alert them directly if he’d see something unusual and he would try to save them some time. In the beginning, Alva didn’t understand why the had to take all these precautions until the mage explained it to her. The Nilfgaardian Army was strong and powerful. They raided villages, stole their good, and raped the women. Their goal was to overrule Cintra, which means they wouldn’t hesitate to torture the people living here to receive any information they would mark as useful.

It was horrible and disgusting but it was the way this world worked. You have to protect yourself because nobody else will.

The job at the tavern kept her busy. It was quite fun now that Jaskier decided to stay. She liked his singing and his humor, even if sometimes he’d get on her nerves. He was flirting with every woman he could come across and needless to say, it didn’t stay with flirting if the girl agreed.

Gladly Jaskier understood rather quickly not to tease Alva's patience because she didn’t care about the girly behavior this world was used to. She was quick with grabbing any nearby object and chasing the bard with it. Once or twice even with his lute.

She would consider them both as good friends, which is why she was asking the bard about his plans when the Niflgaards arrive. “They don’t scare me. I’m not scared of anything. I could even get some new stories to tell in my songs.”

The bard was sometimes naive but he assured Alva that he knew what was coming and that he will be prepared.

Another day another workday for Alva. It was all peaceful and quiet, especially in the mornings. She liked that shift a lot. But not today. She was the first server to enter and she quickly realized that. Dozens of mugs were laying on the floor, bear and gin spilled everywhere.

“Was there a party I don’t know about?” Alva let that question settle in the room, soon recognizing that no one was there to talk to.

“All right, fuck all of you then.”

“Why you gotta be so mean all the time?” 

The mumbling sound of Jaskier's voice broke the silence and Alva spotted his hat in one of the corners of the room. The rest was hidden behind a barrel. He looked rather ruff. His Jacket was thrown on the chair beside him and his shirt was unbuttoned pretty far down. Thankfully he had his pants still on.

“Because you're sleeping quietly in your corner while I have to scrub the floor that you probably spilled you drink on.” Alva throws her bag at Jaskier, hitting him right in the belly.

“That was uncalled for. And to be exact it wasn’t only me. The men last night were enormously friendly and gave everyone a drink for free. Let me tell you it was fantastic.”

“Glad to hear you had a good time. Did you earn more than usual.”

“Probably. Can’t remember if I shall be completely honest.”

That sounded like typical Jaskier. 

Alva grabbed some towels and a bucket, filling it with water and soap. She dipped one into the liquid and searched for her target. Jaskier was standing a few meters away. His back was facing her.

“Don’t you know that turning your back to someone is just plain rude.” And with these words, the towel was being thrown, right on Jaskier's head. But the bard didn’t seem to mind the wet cloth sitting on top of his head.

“What the hell are you doing Jaskier?” The girl made her way over to him, to take a look at the interesting thing Jaskier was concentrated on. 

She didn’t like was she was seeing. Jaskier had opened her bag and grabbed one of her leather notebooks, Sevilla gave her exactly 3 of them, so she could keep track of this world and for anything else, Alva wanted to write down.

“You lied to me!” Jaskier let out an offended sigh. “You are a bard yourself and you didn’t tell me? I'm deeply offended, Alva.”

Alva tried to snatch the book out of his hands, unsuccessfully. “Jaskier, I will kick your ass! Give it back!” Jaskier was probably about 1 ½ head taller than Alva. That made it far more difficult.

“Why would I? These are amazing. Why did you hide them from me?”

“I’m not a bard Jaskier. I just like to write songs, get it?”

“You have to sing for me sometime or at least allow me to use some of your poetry.”

“For Christ's Sake Jaskier give me the book or I will kick you in your balls and that is a promise.”

Jaskier's shocked eyes stared her blank in the face. “No need to threaten me. But I've heard worse than that.” The bard still didn’t give the book back. Alva was struggling to get hold of his arm, that he held far up in the air. 

“That’s so romantic. May I quote ‘I've been hiding for so long, these feelings they’re not gone, can I tell anyone?’ What a poet you are little girl.”

“Jaskier I’m begging you, please stop!” Alva knew what the next line read. And she knew in which time frame she was captured. This will not end well.

“Why this is adorable! ’Afraid of what they'll say, so I push them away. I'm acting so strange.’ Does someone have a crush on good ol’ Jaskier?”

“Jaskier you don’t want to read further trust me.” Alva stopped reaching for her journal. It wouldn’t change what would happen next, she was too small and Jaskier to stubborn.

“’ They're so pretty it hurts. I'm not talking 'bout boys, I'm talking 'bout’ … oh.” There it was. Would he hate her now? Was she about to be abandoned from this village? She had no idea what would happen next.

“I’m sorry, Alva. I didn’t me to intrude your privacy.” Jaskier looked ashamed. That was a surprising sight. He quietly closed the book and handed it to her. She grabbed it and stuffed it bag in her back.

“You’re not going to tell anyone, are you?”

“No, don’t be afraid. I don’t mind that. It’s just a bummer, I thought you had a swarm for myself. I guess I was wrong.” Jaskier let out a friendly laugh and scratched the back of his head.

“Wait, you don’t hate me?”

“Why would I? I mean I’m fond of women myself so why would I blame you? I’m just a little bit disappointed. I thought maybe I had a chance to win you over, at least for a night.”

Alva punched Jaskier softly in his side. 

“You’re a douche. But if you want to know. I still think men are attractive. But in my opinion, women are as well. So why exactly decide?” Alva tried her best to explain Jaskier with the easiest way that she’s bisexual.

“Does that mean I still have a chance of winning you over?” Jaskier's typical smirk was setting and he wiggled with his eyebrows.

“Technically yes, but no thanks.”

“That was disappointing.”

The day went quietly after this. Alva was happy about the fact that Jaskier didn’t mind her sexuality at all. He was indeed a great friend. He kept it a secret as he promised. And he didn’t change one bit.

A couple of weeks later they were walking back from the village that was next to Walen. It was a one-day march but it didn’t bother them. Sevilla sent Alva to get herbs she ran out of and Jaskier gladly announced himself as her companion. He didn’t want her to get lost and a woman should never walk alone, in his opinion.

It was only about a half an hour walk left, they were just arriving in the forest of James when they saw black smoke rising from the direction they were heading. “What the hell?” Alva didn’t understand what that was supposed to be. It was new to her that the village people used smoke signals.

“That’s not good.” Jaskier started to run, Alva behind him. What’s happening? “Why are we running?”, called Alva so Jaskier was able to hear her through the cracking branches they were running over.

“I think Nilfgaard reached Walen! Hurry!”

Anxiety was crawling up her throat. This couldn’t be real. Sevilla warned her but she never took it that seriously. She thought this would never happen.

“Alva!” The familiar voice of James was ringing in her head. The Godling used this method a lot to talk to Alva without needing to be seen.

“What is happening, James?” “Nilfgaard raided the village not even ten minutes ago. You need to run away! Not in the direction of the village! It will be your death!” The Godling was panicking like a child. His voice sounded helpless.

“I have to make it. I need to see if Sevilla is okay. Can you shield us? I beg you, James.” Alva needed to flee with Sevilla, she was not going to leave her there. “I try my best. But there are too many. You won't have much time.”

“I don’t need long, just help us!”

In the far Sevilla's house came in sight. It looked like normal, only the pots and jar outside the house were broken.

“Be quiet. I saw some soldiers not far from here. It's Nilfgaard. We have to leave!” Jaskier was pushing her in a bush, trying to have at least a little bit of cover. Screams and cries became audible. Uncontrolled and painful.

“Sevilla had a plan. I need to get her. We have horses. You can come with us Jaskier. But I need to get Sevilla, do you understand?” Alva was determined. 

She was not going to leave her. She was like a mother to her, all this time. She gave her a home when anyone else would have left her to die. The girl pushed the fabric of her dress aside, grabbing the hidden dagger.

“You are crazy! Going in there.”

“You will not stop me.”

“Alright then. Let’s go, you crazy girl. When we die, at least we’ll die together.”

They were slowly approaching the cottage. Trying to make out any sound.

“There is no one around you. You can enter.” James was back in her head. Alva didn’t hesitate anymore, breaking through the door.

It was horrifying. Everything was broken. All of the herbs were ripped out of their pots. All of their clothing was laying ripped on the floor. The fireplace was burning and tons of papers were stuffed into it.

But the worst thing was yet to come. Sevilla was laying on her stomach. The back part of an arrow was sticking out of her back.

“Sevilla!” The girl let out a shrieking scream. Jaskier quickly covered her mouth and held her in his arms. 

The was so much blood. All of her clothes were colored in a dark red. She wasn’t moving anymore.

“Alva, you need to listen to me.” Jaskier was grabbing her face and trying to get her to focus. “I know this is hard but you have to grief later. She wouldn’t want you to die here. You told me she protected you, I understand. But we have to leave.”

Alva was frozen, not even noticing her tears falling to the floor. “I can't keep them away much longer Alva!” A panicked voice ripped her out of her trance state. 

She wouldn’t want her to die. She has to live for her. “T- The rug. Under the rug.” Jaskier pushed the carpet aside and a hatch became visible.

Jaskier opened it and there were 6 bags stuffed together. Each of them grabbed three.

Alva was still looking at the corpse of Sevilla. She was lost in this world once again. No help to escape it.

“The horses! Where are they, Alva?” Jaskier started to panic like the girl. 

“Behind the house in the shed.”

Both ran outside, with a last glance at the mage they left. The horses were still outside, visibly unsettled.

“Help me saddle them. Hurry up!” They fixed the straps and secured the bags. While doing that a not fell out of the pockets attached to the saddle. Quickly picking it up she stuffed it on the inside of her pants. 

“You need to ride with this dress. Are you able to do that?” Jaskier wanted to make sure the girl stayed focused. It was the most important thing at the moment.

“N-no, I can't. B-but.” She held up her dagger and sliced the fabric of her legs. Ripping every single part of it off her body. Anger was building up in her body. “Stop that! We don’t have time for one of your outbreaks. Get up! Now!” Jaskier helped the girl on the horse and fastly climbed on the other one.

The horses picked up on speed. They could sense that they were in a dangerous situation. Alva looked back at the small village she called her home. But now she has to travel into the unknown with a bard my her side.