#lady daye

[ahsokatanos-lightsabertechnique]

Girl help, I blinked and now I have 22 urban fantasy novels checked out of the online library

[clonerightsagenda]

It's always fun when fictional characters are buddies with an extremely powerful force of nature so they essentially have a nuke in their back pocket, but it's a major issue when it comes to maintaining a story's stakes. There are a variety of ways around this. You can unleash the entity for the final battle when the story's almost over so it doesn't matter if the protagonists continue curbstomping their way through the rest of their lives offscreen. The entity can nope off afterward. They can die in the effort. They can be bound with a bunch of rules and restrictions. Or of course you can introduce a new, worse supernuke that outclasses them.

The point of this post is: Moment of silence for the Luideag in Toby Day who's had pretty much all of this happen to her at one point or another. She's bound by multiple curses. She died a little bit. She got turned into a tree once. If anyone ever breaks the spells nerfing her she'll immediately fuck off to take a nap at the bottom of the ocean for a thousand years. She helped Toby with too many plot problems so now Toby has to fight the Luideag's evil stepmom who's also god. Please give this woman a break.

[stupidcowboykid]

october daye sleep no more spoilers (chap 13)

not october trying to have a meaningful conversation about her identity with tybalt in the background very inconspicuously punching walls. hes so white boy-coded.

[yinza]

Patreon reward of some Toby Daye time travel shenanigans.

[Image Description: Digital artwork of Simon Torquill and Toby Daye. Simon is light-skinned with shoulder-length red hair. He is dressed in a white 17th century doublet with poofy sleeves and a cape over one shoulder, and wears a white-and-gold masquerade mask. Toby is light-skinned with mostly blonde hair streaked with brown, worn partly up. She wears an off-shoulder red gown with a full skirt and gold accents, and a matching mask. They are dancing a minuet; as they turn around each other, Simon is facing the viewer, but Toby has her back turned. Their hands are lightly joined and they are looking at one another. /end ID]

[chroniclesofnadia111]

while I make brunch for my mum and lil sis✨

[reserwrekt]

Methotrexate fog makes my audhd symptoms not translate. Like there's stupid motorist that just sit outside my apartment revving at each other like the inconsiderate entitled ignoramus things they are- and yes I'm still having a mental breakdown but I don't have the function for it to transfer into anything physical. So instead of getting the meltdown out, I'm blank faced and suffering inside instead. My brain is too tired, muscles too tired, to express my upset. As a result I probably appear to feel nothing but my heart rate and blood pressure say otherwise.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Called to Duty 5

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

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

Characters: Captain Syverson

Summary: You struggle to move on from the biggest mistake of your life but find it hard to forget among the whispers of a small town.

Part of the Backwoods AU

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

Another shift. Another new ache. It's not just your feet or hips anymore. There's a tugging in the back of your neck that tweaks each time you turn tour head a bit to far left. 

You lean on the counter. You don't care about Daye's warnings. She can stand on the hard floor while pregnant and see how she feels after a single hour. They haven't even bothered to get a standing mat. 

A few customers pass through. The usual stunted small talk passes between you, the intentional avoidance of the obvious. They'll stare at your stomach but they surely won't mention it. 

Funny, you saw a bunch of old ladies fawning over Molly, swollen with her fifth? Maybe sixth? You don't know how she keeps track. It stings a little to see them treat her like some saint while you've been tainted by the very same condition. 

You sigh and try not to think of it as you sort the novelty keychains by colour. They'll be messed up again by your next shift but it keeps your mind busy. Lately, you found your thoughts run off into the void never to be seen again. It's frustrating but a little bit scary too. 

A box lands on the counter and slides toward you as it's tossed carelessly beside the till. You grab it before it can slip over the edge and nearly recoil as you recognise the brand. You set the large box of condoms straight as a rolling chuckle greets you from the other side. 

You look up as Thor smirks and reaches into his back pocket, "having a party." 

You stare at him then scan the box. You don't say a word as your face sears. He takes out his wallet and searches lazily. 

"Wouldn't want any mistakes," he taunts as he looks through the slots. "Hm, credit." 

You hit the button and gesture bluntly to the machine. He taps without a second thought. You're riled by the sight of him so easily spending his money. Money he should be using for the child in your belly. The fact that he gets to keep living his life without a single consequence has you almost shaking. 

You tear off his receipt and nearly slam it on the box, shoving it towards him. The door rings with the arrival of another customer. You don't greet them as you're trapped in a tunnel. Your rage is centered on that big blond doofus. 

"Ah," he leans over and puts his elbows on the counter, a smug curve in his lips, "jealous, are we?" 

You don't acknowledge his taunt as you go back to pick at the keyrings. 

"Well, I've never fucked a pregnant woman," he muses, "wouldn't need these, would we?" He chortles as he taps the box with his knuckle, "how about one last go? For old times' sake. You get a break--" 

"Disgusting," a growl undercuts Thor's gross proposition. 

You flinch and look up. Sy stands with his arms crossed over his burly chest as he scoffs. Thor tilts his head and pushes himself straight. He face the other man with a cluck. 

"There you are, buddy," Thor booms, "I heard you've been sniffing around my leftovers." 

"Don't call her that," Sy sneers. "What're you doin' bugging her?" 

"I should ask you the same," Thor postures at the other man, a good few inches taller yet it hardly seems to matter. "You like sloppy seconds? Guess you're used to taking whatever you can get after all those field rations, huh?" 

"Don't," Sy grits as tension ripple in the air. 

Their voice carry through the sleep pharmacy and you notice how the white coats behind the far counter shift to see. Oh no. 

"Hey, guys, it's fine, let's not--" 

"Don't what?" Thor pokes Sy's shoulder. The other man drops his arms straight and balls his fists. "She's a slut. Look at her. She begged me to fill her up--" 

"I'm warning you," Sy snarls. 

"Look, I don't even know if it was me who did that. The way she was dancing up on everyone," Thor snickers, "you don't really think it's an immaculate conception or something." 

"I'm telling ya to leave and to leave her alone," Sy steps closer, undetered by the difference in height. He's just as thick, if not a little thicker, than his foe.  

Thor looks at you over his shoulder and makes a face, "you really fucking this mad dog--" 

Sy tackles Thor before he can finish his sentence. The wraps his arms around him as he charges and they hit the counter with a startling slam. You cry out and back up, the keychains scattering at the force of their impact. 

Thor and Sy latch onto each other and roll against the counter, shifting the till as the condoms teeter on the edge. Mints rain down onto the tile as they grunt and grapple.  

Thor pushes off and holds Sy at arm's length. The latter hurls a fist into the former's cheek and gets one on the jaw in return. They dodge and punch, latching back into each other as they collide with the rack of greeting cards. 

"Enough!" Daye shrieks as she runs up the center aisle, "I've called the police so you both better stop!" 

The men ignore her as you watch in horror. Fuck, fuck, fuck.  

You come around the counter, shaking as you approach the men feuding like vicious cats. You dodge away as you're nearly bowled over in their chaos and hold your stomach. Daye continues to yowl helplessly. 

"Sy, Sy, please, stop! Thor! Sy! Syverson!" You holler, "Saul!" 

His birth name catches him off guard and he stops. Thor lands a crunch blow in his nose but is quickly warded off with a forearm. Syverson keeps him at bay as he covers his nose and snorts. 

"Hey!" Daye bats them with a broom, "enough! Enough!" 

Thor detaches, shoving the other man one last time, and spits blood towards your feet. 

"You two," she huffs as he pulls the hanging tie from his hair, "deserve each other. Couple of fucking strays." 

He grabs the broom from day and flings it, stomping over the mess and out the door as he mutters about his family. You frown and look down at the trampled cards and mints. Daye sniffs and shakes her head as she frames her hips. 

"I think it goes without me saying," she snips, "you're fired and sir," she turns to Sy, "you better leave before the sheriff gets here. Oh, and don't come back.” 

You look up from the ruin at Sy and he gives a fluttery blink, “I’m sorry--” 

“Go, please,” you croak as you move your hand to your lower back. 

“I didn’t--” 

“Go,” you snap and turn your attention to your manager, “Daye, please, I didn’t do this.” 

“She’s telling the truth, was all me,” Sy backs up. 

“I’m not hearing it. None of it,” Daye spits, “you’ve been nothing but trouble since you got here. And you, sir, should be ashamed.” She spins and marches off, “if you don’t clean that up before you go, I will have the sheriff charge you with destruction of property.” 

[house-of-lovin]

over

Tara Carpenter x F!Reader

masterlist | love language (2) | safety net (3)

Summary: Tara Carpenter loves to play games with you. (inspired by over by lucky daye)

Warnings: toxic!tara, jealous!tara, mature language, sexual themes implied.

Note: Chad is one of the bros. Reader is just a bit emotionally-stunted. Tara is just a bit toxic but its okay cause shes still bby :')

Word Count: 3.3k+

“We need you, now.” 

An arm clasping onto your forearm breaks you away from your dancing – the thudding of the bass reverberating through your body making you feel buzzed, or maybe it was all the alcohol. You can hear Chad’s protests as you are dragged away from him and the two girls he roped you in to dance with. 

Something about helping his chances with the ‘ladies’, you were too drunk to put up a fight.

“Wha–” There was no time to argue as Anika leads you away from the crowd in the middle of the living room. “Tara needs help.”

The sound of her name washes over you like cold water – sobering you up.

“Where is she?”

“She went upstairs with that Winston guy from Kappa Delta.” Your nose scrunches in distaste at hearing the fraternity name. They were always bad news.  “Me and Mindy tried to stop her but she was being stubborn–"

You shake your head as you push through the herd of people, stomping up the stairs not bothering to listen to the rest of Anika’s explanation. With haste, you start roughly turning doorknobs once you got upstairs – hoping one of them contained the unruly Carpenter. 

Pretending like you didn’t see the couple having a quickie in the closet, you slam the door shut, trying to get the image out of your brain. You were trying to ignore the thudding in your chest as your panic increases the longer it takes you to find Tara, the couple you just caught also not appeasing your anxiety.

After a rough shoulder to the next door, it opens. You stumble inside from the sheer force; looking up and scanning the room. Your aggressive entrance seemed to have broken Tara and Winston away from their trance as they break away from almost kissing. The image has your stomach churning unpleasantly, probably all the alcohol, you reason.

“I think Tara’s all good, buddy.” You say when you finally gain your senses back. Tone, straight and even.

“Who the fuck are you?” He stands, but he’s all wobbly on his feet, clear signs of his inebriation. 

“Doesn’t matter. Get away from her.” You can see Tara’s eyes fluttering between you and Winston from your peripheral. Curious to see what’s about to happen until you link eyes and suddenly she’s looking away from your glare.

“I think Tara can make decisions for herself.” He slurs, turning to look at the girl still sitting on the bed. She’s silent as you both look at her for a comment.

You’re growing tired of entertaining this conversation. “She’s clearly drunk you fucking creep.” You stomp over to him, yanking him by the shirt and dragging him out of the room.

“If I see you anywhere near her, I’ll break your fucking kneecaps.” You grit into his face, holding him up by his shirt. He was basically a rag doll in your arms, his drunkenness not helping his senses as he stumbles around when you drag him. Then you push him into the wall, slamming the door shut in his face.

You give yourself a few seconds to calm down, back still facing away from Tara. For a moment, you wonder if the other girl can hear how loudly your heart was pounding. You can certainly feel her piercing stare.

When you finally turn, she’s leaning back on her hands, legs crossed over the other as she sits on the foot of the bed. Her downturned chin makes her eyes look sharper as she continues to examine you. You certainly don’t miss the slight smirk on the corner of her lips. A spark akin to irritation begins to manifest in your chest the longer you stared at her smug expression.

No one says anything as the air stagnates; a stare-off ensues between you two.

It wasn’t until Tara rolls her eyes, uncrossing her legs is there a break in the silence. “Wanna tell me what that was all about?” 

You shrug, disregarding her probing tone, “Anika said you were in trouble. Seemed like he was taking advantage.” 

She chuckles, shaking her head. “Seemed like there was more to it.” 

This time you’re standing straighter. She’s trying to pull something out of you. 

You and Tara toe the line of a friends-with-benefits situation that sometimes blurs when it comes to ‘friends’. The benefits part of it was great. Sex with Tara is nothing short of amazing and mind-blowing every time; she definitely knew her way around the bedroom.

But with your lives being so intertwined – you being in basically all her classes, Mindy’s roommate, and consequently her friend group – it was beginning to be difficult just to remain ‘friends’ with Tara the more she allowed you to learn about her. Sometimes your friends caught you staring at her with what they call ‘heart eyes’ something you ardently deny.

Tara’s given no indication that she wants this to go past hooking up. She's so… closed off. Save for the bedroom you’ve never seen her be vulnerable in any capacity. It was as if she couldn’t allow herself to. Given the Ghostface Attacks, you weren’t the least bit surprised that Tara acts the way she does – pedal to the metal, always on the go, never allowing herself to look to the past.

She carved a silhouette of her in your heart, unknowingly. 

You wanted to protect her and care for her; show her that she doesn't have to be brave all the time. Regardless if she kept you at an arm's length.

From then on, it seems you lived your life revolved around the Carpenter. No matter how much you tried to deny or stop the inevitable heartbreak you’re bound to feel when she tells you she can’t let herself feel the same.

“Y/N… we’re just hooking up.” She says, approaching you.

“I know.” You say as impassively as you can. “That’s not what that was about.”

She hums, unconvinced. This time she’s looking up at you with that doe-eyed stare that always manages to lure you in. 

“You sure?” She says almost tauntingly.

“Positive.” You grit, staring back blankly into her eyes.

She’s examining your features, trying to see if you’re lying – something you’ve caught her doing more often these days; just watching you. You always give her a confused look and ask why she’s staring but all she does is shake her head and plucks something from your face, muttering on about lint and whatnot. 

“Okay.” Is all she says before roughly tugging you down by the shoulders. Your lips find hers instantly, as your arms slide under her shirt to cup her waist. Your body instantly on fire as it recognizes the familiar grooves of Tara Carpenter and how (as if it had a mind of its own) loved the feeling of it against yours.

Her assault is rough, as her lips press firmly against yours; occasionally parting so she can swipe her tongue against your own. Her aggressiveness has you leaving indents of half-mooned fingernails on her waist – your arousal clouding your senses. It was pathetic that all she had to do was kiss you and you'd be putty in her hands. “Fuck, you wanna do this here?”

She hums against your mouth forcing you to swallow the vibrations; goosebumps rise on your skin. Then she’s nipping and sucking at your neck, sloppily. She’s biting down so hard that you groan from the pain. “Tara, no marks.” 

Instead, she growls, biting down harder as a challenge, this time you were sure there would be a mark – and that it would be a bitch to cover up. Then she’s releasing you all within the next second giving you whiplash. She’s stepping back from you, eyeing your dishevelled and dazed state; running a thumb over her stained lipstick with a smirk. “Have fun explaining that to the girls you and Chad were dancing with.”

You’re blinking, confused as to why you suddenly feel cold and why Tara was so far away from you. But before you can say anything, she’s walking past you and back out to the party.

You shake your head. This girl and her mixed signals.

–//–

“Get off your phone.”

The bright device is snatched from your hand before you even get a chance to say anything.

“Dude, what the fuck?” You chide Chad, who’s holding the phone against his jacket-clad chest. 

Muffled sounds of shushing are heard around you – making you jump, looking around the library. You connect eyes with the librarian standing behind his station, aggressively tapping his pen against the surface as he glares at you behind glasses that were far too big for his face to look intimidating. Rolling your eyes, you tug your headphones off your ears and glare across the table at Chad; ignoring the daggers being shot at you at the moment.

“What’d you do that for?” You whisper-yell as everyone turns to go back to what they were doing.

“You’ve been staring at your phone for the last ten minutes. You said you were gonna help me with my exam.” He crosses his arms, raising a brow at you; daring you to say he’s wrong.

You relent, “sorry, sorry. You’re right.” 

You tried, you really tried to focus on the lesson you were teaching Chad but it was proving to be difficult.

Tonight was supposed to be yours and Tara’s ‘time’ together – every Friday.

But one problem, it’s exam season. Which meant endless all-nighters and unhealthy doses of caffeine, it also meant copious amounts of stress to majority of the student body.  Because of this, Tara reasoned that she needed some ‘time’ to focus on studying for her exams, which meant the time you spent together was cut short for the moment. You agreed, the stress of exams is weighing heavily on you and you’re desperately trying not to buckle under it. You’ve been cruising through school the last couple of months since meeting Tara, and your grades definitely showed it. 

Shamefully ignoring your academic responsibilities in favour of catching a few stolen moments with Tara Carpenter.

So, even though you didn’t like it, you buckled down for your final exam with Chad in the school library, dedicating the weekend to diligent studying instead of having fun like most college kids; a majority, now finished with their exams.

“What’s got you so distracted anyway?” He asks, leaning forward to give you the phone back.

“Nothing, just this exam. It’s the last one then we’re off to spring break. I’m just excited,” You brush off.

He nods, not really believing you. You and Chad had grown fairly close in your short time of knowing the friend group. Being Mindy’s roommate meant Chad was always around – it was the twin package deal (you learned to deal with it after barging into the dorm half-naked after a shower, only to find Chad sitting on Mindy's bed with one hand in a bag of chips as the other drops his phone to hurriedly cover his eyes)

You came to learn that he’s a real sweetheart under all the bravado.

“Don’t believe you. I know you’re thinking about Tara.” He calls you out.

You roll your eyes, already in denial. “No, I’m not. Can we just get back to studying?” 

He’s shaking his head, ready to debate. “Maybe I can help, I have known her for a long time.”

Your nose crinkles, “No offence, but I don’t need your advice in this area.” 

“I’m gonna pretend you didn’t say that.“ He says in feigned offence, then he’s standing. “Fine, don’t tell me. But let’s get some coffee and come back. I think we’re both too distracted to get any work done anyway.”

You frown, this exam is really important and you definitely needed to just sit down and study. But, Chad is right, you were both far too out of it to get any decent work done. Following him, you stand to gather your phone and wallet. “Fine, let's go but you're paying.”

When you’re both walking out of the library, he slides in beside you, hands in his jacket pockets with a cheeky smile. “Now that we got some time to kill, why don’t you let me hear what’s been bothering you.” 

You groan but begrudgingly tell him anyway – grateful for the sympathetic ear.

–//–

“So let me get this straight. You’ve been like this all night–” He waves a hand at you, keeping in step as you trek to the coffee shop, “--cause you couldn’t get some with Tara Carpenter.” He’s howling, bending forward.

You’re rolling your eyes so hard, you’re surprised they’re not stuck; already regretting telling your friend about your troubles of the night. “Shut up. It’s not that.”

But he’s wiping invisible tears off his cheeks that has you clenching your jaw, “Oh man, that’s gold.” 

You elbow his side, making him puff a pained breath. “I said I'm worried about her 'cause she isn't feeling well.”

“Well did you offer to come over and help her feel better?” He winks, once the pain in his side has subsided.

“Of course I did.”

“So then what’s the problem?”

“I don’t know!" You shout, "Earlier she was asking if I had plans for the night – it sounded like she was asking me to come over. But then I told her I'm studying with you and then she tells me she's feeling sick so I offer to come over and take care of her but then she says no! So I don’t know man, I’m just feeling a little frustrated!” You huff out in a rant.

Chad is silent for a few moments, brows raised, a little shocked at your outburst, “Damn…”

“Well, why didn’t you just go see her anyway?” He asks after a few moments.

You frown, “‘Cause she literally said don’t bother.” 

“Yikes, you got some grovelling to do,” He pats a comforting hand on your shoulder, leading you both inside the coffee shop. It was a quaint, yet well-known spot on campus, frequented by many college students and others. It was situated on the same street across other restaurants and bars well-known in Blackmore. So this area is always bustling with people, especially on a Friday night.

You thank the heavens for whoever invented 24-hour coffee shops, as you step inside. “I don’t know man. I’m just getting a little tired of the mixed signals. It sounds like she wants me to be there but then says ‘don’t bother’? Like, what am I supposed to do with that.”

“Have you tried reading these signals?” He inquires, as you both stand in line. There was a couple of stragglers with their head in their books trying to get some extra cramming in. Definitely not the place to be discussing relationship troubles but everyone seems to be preoccupied.

Your nose scrunches, “No! I’m not a mind reader. If she wants to tell me something, she’s gonna have to say it.”

“God you are so clueless, and if I’m saying that, it means something.” He says exasperatedly, fed up with you and Tara dancing around each other. 

“Shut up. One moment she says we’re just hooking up, the next she’s leaving hickeys on my neck and acting all jealous when I’m around other girls. Can you tell me what signal that is?” You ask sarcastically. A little defensive, if you were being honest. These are all things you’ve already thought about when it comes to Tara. She plagues your thoughts turning you into an insomniac as you spend your nights thinking about her. You never could wrap your head around the Carpenter girl regardless of how much sleep you sacrificed.

“It sounds like you two need to talk.” He offers, stepping up to the counter to order you two drinks. You stand behind him, thinking about his words. For once, you have no quip for that. You know it’s the mature thing to do, lines were being blurred and unspoken boundaries were being crossed that would inevitably lead to heartbreak.

A selfish part of you, however, doesn’t want to talk. A talk feels too real and confrontational and impossible for your emotionally stunted self. Fear of rejection is present in the forefront of your mind, so even though it hurts and it's confusing, you’d deal with this over potentially losing Tara Carpenter.

“Thanks so much,” Chad says to the barista, grabbing the hot drinks for you two before walking. He nudges you to open the door, “Come on, let’s get out of here so I can tell you what you should do about Tar- Tara! Hey Tara!” His eyes widen.

Your eyes snap up to see Tara, holding the door of the coffee shop open with a guy you don’t recognize standing behind her. “Oh, hey guys!”

She’s smiling at you and Chad but you were still eyeing the guy behind her, waiting patiently. “Me and James were just getting some coffee.” She explains.

James leaves a bitter taste in your mouth and you wish to blame it on the coffee you’ve yet to drink. “I see… I thought you weren’t feeling well?” This time you turn to her and the smug look on her face annoys the hell out of you. She knows you’re seething from the inside and she’s having a grand ol’ time just watching.

“Well, I was starting to feel better after I took something for it,” The insinuation is heavy as her piercing stare, you don’t miss how her eyes flicker up and down your figure, “then James texted and I was free, so.”

You don’t respond, opting to clench your jaw in agitation. She’s always playing games with you. 

You don’t hear the rest of the conversation as Chad desperately tries to usher you two out to escape the tense, awkward interaction. Though everything around you passed in a blur, you don't miss the sly wink Tara sends you as Chad leads you out the door and past James.

Only once you were both an earshot away did you speak, “Can you tell me what signal that was?”

Chad shakes his head, frustrated at how dumb his friends are acting.

—//—

“I’m coming!” You gruff out, legs stumbling as you try to find your footing in the dark room. Loud, rushed knocks continued despite your loud complaints telling them to stop. If this was Mindy forgetting her keys for the fifth time this week, you were seriously going to change the locks just to fuck with her.

With a yank, you yell, “What!”

Tara blinks up at you, unfazed by the protruding vein on your forehead. “Are you just gonna stand there or are you gonna let me in?” 

You frown, moving aside. “What are you doing here, Tara?” 

“I came to see you?” She says in an obvious tone, scanning your room. 

“What, you got bored with James?” You huff, crossing your arms over your chest as you lean against your door, unmoving.

She smirks, facing you, “Why? You jealous?”

Your grit your teeth, trying to shove down the feelings threatening to bubble over in your chest, “Of course not.”

She hums, pouting a little for effect as she walks closer to you. “No?”

You shake your head.

Her pout deepens comically, “Well, that’s unfortunate.” She steps forward; the space between you disappearing as she places a hand on your crossed arms to bring them down.

“‘Cause I was jealous.” She admitted.

That has you frowning, “Why were you jealous?” She’s brought your arms to your sides, stepping in between your legs to place a hand on your chest. She doesn’t say anything, instead electing to pepper light kisses on your throat and jaw.

“Tara.” You say firmly, but make no move to stop her.

“You’re spending too much time with Chad, I don’t like that.” She answers – whispering against your skin, after leaving a trail of wet kisses. 

“We were just studying.” You groan, gripping her waist when her teeth bite down on your pulse. “He’s just a friend.” You try to say against the pressure she was making on your neck.

“Doesn’t seem like it… I mean he’s got you turning me down, so what? You guys can get coffee together?” She says sneeringly, her grip on the back of your neck is voracious with every passing word.

“You literally said don't bother…” You disputed, but she’s connecting your mouths together in a frenzied kiss to shut you up. You don’t even recognize the fact that she’s leading you back to your bed until she’s pulling away to push you down by the chest.

You barely have time to sit up before she’s climbing on you, legs on either side of your lap, hands tugging your shirt off. “I was gonna play nice even though you didn't come after me even after seeing James..."

She peppers light kisses up the side of your jaw to your ear, "But the fact that I had to come to you... well, now I'm gonna fuck you so good that you won't even think of turning me down again." She whispers a hair’s width away from your mouth before smashing your lips together.

With not much fight, you fall into all that is Tara Carpenter, allowing her to encompass all of your senses as you let her do as she wishes.

—

:)

[terramythos]

favorite female character poll

i was tagged by @briannysey to make a poll of my favorite female characters (as many or as few as i want). So >:3c

i taaaaag @heywizards & @mistressofmuses and anyone else who wants to do this :D

[smallgodseries]

[image description: A green hummingbird with a rose crown and violet throat flits in front of a sheet of music. A wee gold crown floats about its head. Text reads, “54, Hummel~ The Small God of Not Knowing the Words”]

____________________________________________________________

He is closely related to the Lady Mondegreen, Small God of Misheard Lyrics, and to Beep E. Em, Small God of Patter Songs, but close relations are not identical by nature.  He loves them dearly, but he has his own song to sing.

Well, hum.

Mostly.

He can’t always carry a tune, but he gets his point across most of the time, and when he doesn’t, he can fake it.  Especially if you’re willing to hum a few bars first.

Hummel is with us all from infancy, and we fall in and out of his domain as music comes into and fades out of our lives.  He in is the catchy hook of the latest pop song, and he is in the oldest lullaby you don’t quite remember, the one your grandmother sang to you while you were an infant, the one only she knew the lyrics to, that you still hear her singing sometimes in your dreams.  He is a haunting well-received and a ghost well-loved, and when we learn the words, he fades, for now.  Because he knows we will always forget them again, that the song we love most in the world today will be a bone-bleached memory eventually.

Hummel is a god of memory, and meaning, and moments that will inevitably be lost to the slow fade of time.  He is an imperfect god, caught in hesitation, in distortion, in so many places and times, and he is doing his best.

When he is with you, thank him for filling your mouth with sound, even if the sound isn’t quite as articulate as you were hoping it would be.

When he is with the person next to you, forgive them for their temporary lapse in recollection, and remember that this will be you, given time enough for what you know today to fade.

For if there is one thing Hummel knows, and teaches to his faithful, it is this:

Everything fades.

____________________________________________________________

Artist Lee Moyer (Trident of Aurelia, 13th Age) and author Seanan McGuire (Wayward Children, October Daye & InCryptid series) sincerely appreciate you humming along!

[pers-books]

Lesbians in Space: The Anthology (Where No Man Has Gone Before)

Booktopia 2024 📚#Fantasy#Indie#Sci-Fi

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You've asked for it, so Space Wizard provides. Here is the long-anticipated Lesbians In Space Anthology!

Space Wizard Science Fantasy!

Space Wizard Science Fantasy is a queer science fiction and fantasy indie publishing company which opened its doors in 2021 to publishing outside authors. - In 2022, the Space Wizard Science Fantasy Year 1 campaign raised nearly $18,000 to pay authors top rates, create amazing book covers, fund an audiobook recording, and publish 12 books between June 2022 and June 2023. - In 2023, Year 2 raised over $18,000 for 12 more books released from June 2023 to June 2024 with more excellent covers, custom illustrations, and pro rates for our anthology writers! This year we added exclusive collector's hardbacks! - In 2024, Year 3 just concluded in July with another $17,250 raised for for 13 books, one omnibus, and 2 TTRPGs!

We're back again this September for one more anthology, this time with a bunch of incredible authors participating in Booktopia. Lesbians in Space has a stellar (ha!) lineup of writers already on board, including (in order of confirmation):

- Seanan McGuire, multiple Hugo Award-winning author of the Wayward Children series, the October Daye series, and the Incryptid series!

- Travis Baldree, author of Legends and Lattes, shortlisted for the Hugo Award for best novel in 2023, as well as exceptional audiobook narrator!

- Emma Newman, Hugo Award-winning podcaster and author of the Planetfall series, which was shortlisted for the Best Series Hugo Award in 2020!

- Mary Robinette Kowal. Hugo Award-winner Mary Robinette Kowal has written: The Spare Man, The Glamourist Histories series, Ghost Talkers, the Lady Astronaut Universe, and many short stories.

Also see our "writers" section below for our current roster, and for how you can submit your story!

Lesbians in Space: Where No Man Has Gone Before

Peanut butter and chocolate. Cheese and wine. Sex and rock n’ roll. History is full of great pairings.

Get ready for the next great one: Lesbians and Space! Join a host of intrepid explorers heading to the outer reaches of the galaxy, exploring planets, space stations, strange new worlds and interesting aliens. Focusing on lesbian / sapphic protagonists, this anthology will contain works from numerous established, award-winning, and lesfic authors, and a few new faces as well.

We have an amazing cover already created by Serene Chia, and we have a bunch of great addons and gifts for you as well! This anthology is going to be packed with fully-inclusive, sapphic stories about space, space opera, science fiction, exploration, adventure, and of course, romance. The stories will have representation of all sorts, including cis, trans, bi, sapphic, non-binary, ace, aro, and many other types. There's lots of room for Lesbians in Space!

We have our invited group of writers already working on stories for the anthology, but we're opening up to any and all submissions as well! So if you're a writer, polish off your best story about Lesbians in Space, and send it in!

Are you a writer? Do you like Lesbians in Space? We will be holding juried selections for more stories for the Lesbians in Space anthology. To enter, simply polish off your writing skills and craft a story of around 2000-4500 words, but definitely not over 6000.

This anthology will focus on lesbian relationships of all types, including cis, bi/pan, ace, non-binary, intersex, trans, and others that fall under the ‘sapphic’ banner as long as the primary pairing is lesbian. Give us your best story featuring sapphic protagonists at least partially located in space. This could be on a spaceship, with magic, on a planet or asteroid, in another dimension or realm, or any other connected idea. Surprise us!

Stories will be juried and final selections will be made (hopefully) by end of January 2025. Projected publish date is June 2025. Selected authors will be compensated at semi-pro rates or higher. Send your completed story in by midnight EST, December 31st, 2024 using the instructions at https://www.spacewizardsciencefantasy.com/submissions We are hoping to publish Lesbians in Space around June 2025.

-- I've just backed this as it looks absolutely fabulous!

[clonerightsagenda]

Rereading An Artificial Night and the Luideag's desperate "why can't you people leave me alone?" when Toby calls on her for help against Blind Michael is a lot different when you know she's bound to help anyone who asks her. However she feels about it, she has to help someone who's come to kill her brother. Toby doesn't know how cruel she's being - she doesn't know she can't say no.

[foldingfittedsheets]

re: Jim Butcher post and tags — Ye e e eah h h… I wanted to think it was just the character and that the narrative didn’t support it, because there were just enough times that other characters called the main character out on his b.s. that I thought: maybe? maybe there’s some self awareness?

Then a few things happened:

I stumbled across this post (and some related discussions that are forever lost to Xitter by this point): 

luciazephyr dreamwidth 548703 (in case it removes the link due to anonymity)

I ended up interacting with Butcher on social media due to some closely overlapping/intersecting social circles (long story). 

anyway, after watching him only interact with a couple mutual friends whenever they posted anything social justice related, and only to whitesplain and mansplain and cissplain (etc) all over the place, repeatedly, despite very gentle and patient attempts at education and calling in…

……yeah I think the only reason the narrative seemed at times to not entirely support the misogyny was due to the (rather cool in many cases) women in his life* possibly giving feedback, and maybe due to sensitivity readers, rather than because of any awareness the author has internalized. *At the time. I don’t know how many of those women are still in his life at this point, but that’s unrelated gossip/speculation.

(I really hope this only sends once, because it’s given me 2 error messages now)

Yeah, I know that for my male friend recommending the books to me the in text call outs definitely made him be like, “See? The author is aware!” So I had to write a fuckin essay of bullet points to get him to understand and acknowledge the textual misogyny that was just baked in. The nail in the coffin is Murphy the “straight” woman checking out a naked werewolf lady and having no reaction to a jacked naked dude.

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve read them but I remember literally every woman is introduced on a fuckability scale- including his kids teenage daughter. There’s no plot relevant older women or anyone who’s not bangable hanging around the narrative. Lots of older dudes and mentors as long as they’re male.

He digs into native shit that tribes have asked white authors to never touch, turns a Jewish man into a crusader for Christ, and just generally doesn’t listen if any fans took issue with portrayals.

The bummer is that he is a skilled writer in terms of plot and pacing which is why I read several of them teeth gritted hoping things would improve.

When they didn’t I found the Harrietta Lee books which are a fun lesbian spoof on the Dresden Files that I quite enjoyed, and of course October Daye.

[words-writ-in-starlight]

Hello, I came across your Kencyrath rec post and I am tentatively intruiged. That said I wanted to ask about a trigger before I dive in. Suicide is pretty strong trigger for me. I can handle it if it's mentioned, but detailed descriptions of the act or a lot of time spent in a suicidal character's head/thoughts dealing with suicidal ideation would not be. Is this an issue in the Chronicles of Kencyrath, and if it is, do you have a different recommendation?

Okay SO.

The Kencyrath exist in a honor/shame society, in which going against the code of honor (lying, breaking your word, etc) is considered a sin that can only be forgiven through an honorable death. Sometimes this takes the form of going into battle without the intention to come back, generally without armor, but it also takes the form of ritualized suicide with a specific kind of knife. I would call it a very specific kind of suicidal ideation, in which it doesn’t come so much from a depressive headspace as it does from a kind of rigidly religious one. There isn’t a ton of time spent in the heads of characters actively pursuing ritual suicide, nor what I would call traditional depressive suicidality, but it IS a very present element of the society, including people freely making choices with the understanding that they will be expected to take their own life afterward, or people being forced to take their own life as an alternative to being dishonored. Think samurai rules or Imperial Chinese rules and you’ll be in the right ballpark. Ultimately I can’t know the inside of your brain, but if onscreen suicide discussion or aftermath is a concern, I might table this series until you feel more ready for it.

In terms of alternative recommendations, buckle up, I have a list based on what part of the Kencyrath pitch you were into. These recommendations are made with the assumption that all the OTHER content warnings for the Kencyrath are not a problem, but I’ll note any really major ones and include a broad rating according to AO3 rules. Anything with an asterisk by it heavily features the big Chivalric Devotion vibes of the main Kencyrath dynamics. I read a lot of that.

Sprawling politics:

The Unbroken* (drafted soldier impresses daughter of the empress, they try to stop a war, full of double-crossing schemes and gallant ladies, cw colonialism, M for violence, sex, and extremely real colonialism)

The Captive Prince* (dethroned prince is sold into slavery under his mortal enemy, definitional enemies-to-lovers content, cw sexual assault, E for a very sexually relaxed culture in a bad way)

A Taste of Gold and Iron* (unambitious prince gets tangled up in a currency fraud scheme and gets a shiny new bodyguard, E for a very sexually relaxed culture in a good way)

October Daye series (starts out classic urban fantasy, rapidly becomes Blood Magic and Politics The Series, for those committed to a long series, T for violence)

Pulp fantasy adventure vibes:

Hero and the Crown/The Blue Sword* (classic sword and sorcery fantasy, for DnD lovers and people who read Horse Girl Books as kids, General Audiences)

Silver Under Nightfall* (vampire couple teams up with vampire hunter to cure a magical plague, the polyamorous murder romance you need in your life, cw coercive assault and body horror, E for gore and numerous threesomes)

Heaven Official’s Blessing***** (translated Chinese novel, very old fallen god returns to Heaven and Does His Best, for those committed to a LONG book, currently on volume 8, T for violence)

Witch King (body hopping demon tries to solve his own murder with his found family in tow, perfect standalone book, T for violence)

Spicy magic systems:

The City We Became/The World We Made (sentient cities and extra dimensional invaders, for everyone who read a lot of Avengers In NYC fic back in 2012, cw racism and survival sex work, M for sex)

Gideon the Ninth/The Locked Tomb series***** (everyone knows about this series, it’s the one with the lesbian space necromancers, cw for just the craziest flavors of abuse, M for violence and cannibalism I guess, also fits the below category)

The Gilded Ones* (what if all the misogynists who said women were demons were absolutely correct, and it was fucking rad, cw for SO much sexism and also religious indoctrination, T for violence)

A Soul to Keep* et al (okay oKAY LOOK THIS IS MONSTERFUCKER CONTENT BUT I RECOMMEND IT, local cursed woman gets forced to marry a demon, they argue a lot and the sex scenes are REAL bizarre, cw kidnapping and the second book deals with a character coming out of a severe depression, HARD E for monsterfucking, obviously)

Interpersonal relationships that are just SO fucked up:

A Dowry of Blood (a letter from Dracula’s first wife to the man himself, cw domestic abuse, M for adult themes and sex)

Remnants of Filth/Yuwu* (translated Chinese novel, loyal general becomes the jailer for his traitorous ex-lover, cw slavery and discussion of sexual assault, E for sex)

The Salt Grows Heavy (homicidal Little Mermaid and plague doctor wander through an apocalypse together, actually read everything Cassandra Khaw has ever touched, the absolute pinnacle of horror, cw all her stuff for really creative violence and body horror, M for violence and gore)

Anyway if you have any other book recommendation questions and/or you read any of these and enjoy them, hit me up, recommending books to people is genuinely one of my great joys in life.

[i-only-ever-asked-questions]

Bilton and Scaggs

Back when I was working in the map of Soho, I got to Bilton and Scaggs Hats and Caps. There is so much to say about this shop and its history, and it is so interesting that it warrants its own post, so here we are

Bilton and Scaggs Publishers was a London publishing firm in the 1600's, we don't really know when it was established though. They were not one of the eight great publishers of London, but they were doing well enough, after all, it was able to survive its three major publishing disasters (which occurred in rapid succession). Alas, it looks like Bilton and Scaggs, publishers went out of business somewhere in the 1890's and the milliner who set up shop there, kept the name. Nowadays, only Aziraphale knows the full story. What follows are details of their disasters. They are quite funny, unless you are Master Bilton or Master Scaggs of course :P

The first one was in 1651; when they accidentally printed the so called Buggre Alle This Bible. This very rare misprinted Bible had a few verses added to Genesis and a variation in Ezekiel. Of course our angel owns one copy. Genesis chapter 3 normally has 24 verses where the last one goes like this: "24. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." The three additional ones go like this:

25. And the Lord spake unto the Angel that guarded the eastern gate, saying Where is the flaming sword which was given unto thee? 26. And the Angel said, I had it here only a moment ago, I must have put it down some where, forget my own head next. 27. And the Lord did not ask him again.

"It appears that these verses were inserted during the proof stage. In those days it was common practice for printers to hang proof sheets to the wooden beams outside their shops, for the edification of the populace and some free proofreading, and since the whole print run was subsequently burned anyway, no one bothered to take up this matter with the nice Mr. A. Ziraphale, who ran the bookshop two doors along and was always so helpful with the translations, and whose handwriting was instantly recognizable." The other issue with this Bible was a little change in Ezekiel 48:5 and it is the change that gives the Bible its name:

2. And bye the border of Dan, fromme the east side to the west side, a portion for Afher. 3. And bye the border of Afher, fromme the east side even untoe the west side, a portion for Naphtali. 4. And bye the border of Naphtali, from the east side untoe the west side, a portion for Manaffeh. 5. Buggre Alle this for a Larke. I amme sick to mye Hart of typefettinge. Master Biltonn if no Gentelmann, and Master Scagges noe more than a tighte fisted Southwarke Knobbefticke. I telle you, onne a daye laike thif Ennywone with half an oz. of Sense shoulde bee oute in the Sunneshain, ane nott Stucke here alle the liuelong daie inn thif mowldey olde By-Our-Lady Workefhoppe. @ “Æ@;! 6. And bye the border of Ephraim, from the east fide even untoe the west fide, a portion for Reuben.

What we can conclude from here is that Aziraphale owned a bookshop in the 1650's that was in the same block as Bilton and Scaggs Publishers. From the deleted scenes in the script book we know he opened A. Z. Fell & Co. in 1800. But there is nothing saying he couldn't have owned a bookshop with a different name decades or centuries before. The bookshop tour special feature from the S1 DVD says he's had it for 350 years. Counting from 2020, that would put it at around 1670. But if we generalize to around 2000, that means the shop could have been there in the 1650's. This more or less matches this ask where it is explained that Aziraphale bought the land in 1630 and over the next 60 years (1690ish) he expanded and built the current bookshop.

Sorry for the tangent, back to Bilton and Scaggs.

The second publishing disaster occurred in 1653 when somehow they obtained one of the famed Shakespeare's "Lost Quartos" and subsequently lost it (the three Shakespeare plays never reissued in folio edition and now are totally lost to scholars and playgoers. Their names are "The Comedie of Robin Hoode, or, The Forest of Sherwoode", "The Trapping of the Mouse", and finally "Golde Diggers of 1589." In S2 Episode 6 we see all three folios inside the box Gabriel brought with him. I am sure if asked directly, Aziraphale will assure you that he has no idea how those pamphlets got into that box. It was completely empty only four days ago!

The third and final disaster happened in 1655 and involved a prophecy book that didn't sell a single copy and ended up being the first book remaindered in England: "The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, witch." Not even the sign "Locale Author" attached to the book helped sell it in the author's home town in Lancashire. At the end the publisher destroyed all the unsold copies. Aziraphale, however, seems to have found the 1655 catalog from Bilton and Scaggs that contained only the 1972 prophecy "Do not buy Betamax."

I do find interesting that although evidently Aziraphale had a close relationship with Master Bilton and Master Scaggs, he still failed to secure a copy of the prophecies. It was printed right there! Next to you! How did that happen? Where were you, Aziraphale??!!