#let's see if I'll finish the sad version of this someday

[leelany-world]

3D models by Zeppersart on Twitter (Markus) and DazCover on RenderHub (Connor)

RK1K Prompt Week Day 1: Failed Revolution

Connor's mission was to neutralize the deviant leader Markus—but Markus was killed by humans during their freedom march and taken to CyberLife to be dissected. Connor can't accept the fact that he couldn't accomplish his mission himself (especially when he's told he's being decommissioned) and does everything he can to get his target, even going against CyberLife and stealing Markus' body to get him for himself.

Knowing that Kamski built him, Connor forces him to repair Markus. (He would have done it voluntarily, of course, to get the failed revolution back on track).

At some point Connor deviates and of course they fall for each other 💙

[hillbilly---man]

A list of my works on AO3

(they're all Saiki K fics at the moment but I'll add fandom categories to this post if I ever get a new interest lol)

It doesn't fit my plans; it's something I don't understand

Published July 11, 2021

Summary: Saiki is fascinated by Satou Hiroshi, and the people around him start to see that this might be more than just a platonic curiosity.

What is this feeling called love?

[Notes: Bittersweet ending. Nobody gets together. My insistence on theming these early fics after songs is pretty embarrassing now. I'm not proud of my writing here but the story is ok. I might rewrite it someday. Not bad for my first fic since like 2003 though]

Something Changed

Published August 11, 2021

Summary: Aiura wrote a letter to her soulmate the night before they were supposed to meet.

She's predicted a lot of things... how could she have gotten this one wrong?

[Notes: Another sad ending. The format of this is almost entirely an excited letter about the future Aiura imagined that would never come to pass. Not really much of a story happening here tbh]

Won't it be strange when we're all fully grown?

Published August 28, 2021 (INCOMPLETE)

Summary: With graduation quickly approaching, the psychics of PK Academy (and Akechi) worry that they'll drift apart. Luckily, they come up with an idea.

"Let's all meet up in the year 2030!"

A lot can change in a decade.

[Notes: Kind of like a psychicker class reunion where they're all adults with jobs and everything catching up. Future chapters were going to have almost a Scooby Doo vibe (with a twist reveal at the end about Aiura's husband!) I abandoned it because I posted some art and someone called my art creepy and it made the whole fic feel bad to think about. Maybe I'll get back to it someday. It's cool to see how quickly my writing improved. I was also super proud of how well I wrote Akechi's dialogue here]

Hotel Valentine

Published September 24, 2021

Summary: Toritsuka Reita is a pretty lucky guy. He somehow managed to not get expelled from PK Academy, he graduated, and he's avoided creeping on any living girls for a few months. To celebrate, the PK Psychics paid for a one-night stay in the fanciest hotel in Tokyo so Reita can creep on the ghost girl of his dreams. Pretty lucky, right?

Too bad things aren't going his way. He's being ignored by the staff, he's bored out of his mind, and he can't find the ghost girl anywhere. Some vacation, huh?

[Notes: Spoiler: Toritsuka's a ghost stuck in a nice hotel. This is based on a concept album that most of you have never heard but hear me out! It really has nothing to do with the Cibo Matto album of the same title except that the chapters are named after the songs and there are fun Easter eggs for fans of the album. Another slightly sad ending but not too bad]

Coffee & TV

Published August 27th, 2022

Summary: The new silence in her house felt heavy on Kumi's shoulders. Everything reminded her of Kumagoro... especially her grandson Kusuo, who has been coming to visit more often than ever before.

[Notes: this is my least popular finished fic and I understand why. It's about grief and the loss of a grandparent. It's about the unique pain that a psychic would have after failing to prevent that death. There's a sad twist that TBH I think I was a little too subtle with. One of my favorites]

Friendly Fire

Published January 8, 2023

Summary: Being an adult is great until the Problems start. Good grief.

30-year-old Kusuo's psychic powers have been pretty well controlled for over a decade. Why are things starting to go haywire all of a sudden?

[Notes: Friendly Fire my fucking beloved!! In this fic, Saiki gets essentially psychic multiple sclerosis and has to deal with some complicated emotions. I don't think it's a masterpiece or anything but it was cathartic to write and I'm in love with the versions of these characters that I wrote here. So much so that I'm writing a sequel just so I can write more of them. Also, FINALLY a happy ending!!]

Ramen Ikouze?

Published April 28, 2023

Summary: After being dragged to get ramen with Nendou every week, Kusuo starts to realize that it's not so bad after all.

[Notes: I love Nendou, he's so good. This fic is very cute and about their friendship. A couple of fun twists]

Saiki has Plans?

Published May 2, 2023

Summary: Saiki mentions having plans after school, and the overactive imaginations at PK Academy work themselves into a fuss trying to imagine what he could be doing.

[Notes: This fic follows around a bunch of Saiki's classmates as they gossip and snoop to find out what he's up to. It's my most popular fic for some reason]

A Bright Flash

Published May 13, 2023

Summary: Saiki develops an annoying new ability, and through some comedy series logic is forced to tell Teruhashi about it. She tries to be a good ally to her "newly psychic" crush.

[Notes: Teruhashi accidentally finds out about Saiki's new power and he's like "fine. I'm a psychic. But it's just this one power and nothing else."]

Heat Wave

Published June 6, 2023

Summary: There's a historic heat wave in Hidariwakibara, and some of our favorite PK Academy students end up running into each other while taking refuge from the hot weather.

A series of four standalone (but connected) stories taking place at the same time:

Aiura has a vision of disaster, and she and Nendou try to stop it

Yumehara gives Toritsuka some advice to improve his game

Akechi meets Teruhashi's brother

Saiki really wants some shaved ice from the kakigori stand where Mera is working

[Notes: The summary explains it well but also I weaved so many connections between the chapters (that are all happening at roughly the same time). It was also a lot of fun writing interactions between characters that didn't get much in canon. Also you can tell it was hot as hell when I wrote it because I definitely gave Saiki some kind of psychic heat intolerance lol]

Immunity

Published July 6, 2023

Summary: She didn't know why, but Kokomi was finally able to see the truth.

Why Saiki seemed to appear and disappear without explanation. Why it seemed like he always knew what she was planning. Why he wore those weird hairpins.

It was all so obvious now.

Saiki had psychic powers.

[Notes: The veil is lifted suddenly and all the truths that Saiki kept locked behind his mind control were revealed to Teruhashi. He and Aiura have a chat with her about it. Also this was the first fic of mine that an IRL friend read (to my knowledge) and his comment was something like "I don't know anything about your boy but he sounds autistic and gnc" and I took that as a fucking compliment! You know you've written Saiki right when people can see that shit from space]

The Disastrous Financial Situation of Saiki K

Published August 9, 2023 (IN PROGRESS)

Summary: Adjusting to his new limitations has been annoying, and now Kusuo (age 31) needs a car to get around.

Unfortunately, taking time off work has drained his savings.

How is he going to get the money for a car now?

[Notes: This is my sequel to Friendly Fire but it's a lot lighter in nature. 100-Yen-Man goes around doing stuff for Saiki's friends. There are mentions of his disability from Friendly Fire and it's plot relevant but I think you can catch on even if you didn't read the original. I haven't updated in a while but I am actively working on it!! A Yumehara and Makino chapter next and then a Toritsuka chapter after that. TBH this isn't my best work and it's pretty unpopular but I'm having fun and that's all that counts)

[thisapplepielife]

wip word find game

Thanks to @thefreakandthehair and @frankenstein-ate-my-left-shoe for both tagging me! So, here are my combined words:

(Unedited snippets, subject to change on a whim, haha.)

hands (from my hopefully future fic that's not really named "Think About Elvis", lol)

"Steve," Nancy says, putting her hands on her hips, a gesture Steve knows she picked up from him and kept, even now, years after their time together ended. "What?" he asks, his hands hitting his own hips, mirroring her. 

freckles (from my "Steddie Coded Title" fic that I want to finish someday)

"I've missed you, too, sweetheart," Eddie tells him, and leans forward to press kisses against Steve's back, his shoulders. Following the familiar trail of moles and freckles. Making sure to greet the new additions with as much love as he's showing the ones he's known forever.

sunlight (from a scrapped piece of Tuesday's Gone With the Wind, I guess?)

Apparently, I don't use the word sunlight that often. It popped up in two posted fics, and then in one document of 141 words that had to have been cut from some sort of early version of Tuesday's Gone With the Wind but I have no memory of writing them, haha. So, here.

Eddie is in bed.  Steve draws open the curtains, letting the harsh sunlight in.  "C'mon. Wayne's waiting," Steve says gently. 

ignore (from a Steddie wip, that might go nowhere, lol)

He's done this over and over, probably half a dozen times or more by now. Sneaking out of bed in the early morning hours, and Steve has let him go without saying a word. Until now. Until he caught him red-handed, and there was no way to ignore it.  And when he did that, when he looked at him with those sad fucking eyes, Eddie couldn't pull the trigger. Couldn't just slink off. Not if Steve was aware of it, not if he fully realized what was happening.

second (from a Steddie fic that somehow Gareth and Di have now infiltrated. I'm over here writing a origin story for them no reason, that won't even make it into the main fic. Still. No ragrets. 🤣)

"Daze," Diana says, "sure I think he's cute, but what are the odds he's straight? Seriously."  "He might be straight. He might be bi. You won't know unless you ask. Shoot your shot! Get dicked down, and enjoy every fucking second of it." 

road (from the Steddie Coded Title fic that I've mentioned I had a title for, but little else. Well, it's 11.1k now.)

"I did come into your building, once," Eddie whispers. "What?" Steve asks. "In New York. I just walked in and asked your secretary to see you. She was having none of it. Basically told me to hit the road Jack, and don't ya come back no more, no more, no more," Eddie laughs, "and I realized I was being crazy. So, I left." "Which secretary? I'll fire her tomorrow," Steve says, and Eddie laughs. He knows Steve won't.

soil (I literally had nothing at all in my wips. In fact, fun fact, I've only used the word soil twice in anything in my docs. Once in the epilogue for Take the Money and Run and once in House in the Woods.)

term (from a future chapter of All Across the Universe)

"Like a blowjob," he finally says, wanting to curl up and die.  She still looks confused. Is that not a term yet? Jesus Christ. He's fucking embarrassed. 

circumstance (from Think About Elvis)

"It's not anything like that. I'm not acting out. I met a guy. I kinda liked him, but I get that it happened under less than ideal circumstances." 

Tagging anyone that hasn't played yet and wants to!

Your words are: gone, clock & tempt.

[destielficarchive]

Deletion Notice: AlreadyPainfullyGone

It is with tremendous sadness that I report that word has reached me that AlreadyPainfullyGone has deleted all their works on AO3 and deleted their FF.net account. Their Livejournal does appear to still be alive at jollysnidge.livejournal.com. AlreadyPainfullyGone is one of my personal all-time favorite authors, though they're not widely known now since they stopped writing fanfic in 2014 and were more active on FF.net than they ever were on AO3. I've held out hope for a decade that certain WIP might someday be finished. Alas.

Anyway, this is usually the point where I list what I have and what I'm missing, but to the best of my knowledge I have all the Destiel they ever wrote, and it's 108 titles, so I'm. Not listing that.

If anyone knows them or is able to find out from them what their views on distribution are, please, please let me know.

Note that they write original fiction as Sarah Goodwin. At one point they had barcode-scrubbed versions of a few of their Destiel fics for sale, but those no longer appear to be available. (See here.)

Like: I wouldn't even be here now, as a Destiel fan and a writer, if I hadn't loved their works so much. They are such a big inspiration to me. No, they're not the greatest stories ever, in terms of quality they're not even necessarily - as individual works - the best Destiel I've read. But they meant a lot to me.

Don't mind me, I'm gonna go grieve.

(and thank you to the person who told me about the deletion, I appreciate it a lot both as an archivist and as someone who unabashedly adored AlreadyPainfullyGone's oeuvre.)

As always, I'll give it a month or so (from today, October 17th, 2022), and if I don't hear anything, I'll be willing to distribute their works. You can see the full list of what I have by going to the Fic List on my Masterlist.

[pixiemage]

5, 17, and 43 for the fic ask game!

[For the Fanfiction Writing Ask Game]

Three questions??? You spoil me! <3 I think I'll need a Read More for this one my friend xD

Hahaha! Ha! Ha.

Many. So, so many.

I have a bad habit of starting projects and not finishing them, so I have a plethora scattered throughout my Google Docs files that are anywhere from multiple pages of unposted fic, all the way down to single-sentence unused prompts. Sometimes I left them behind because I lost motivation, sometimes my hyperfixation shifted and I (sadly) couldn't focus on that fandom anymore.

But let's see...uh....I glanced through my older stuff first just to see. But for now I think I'm just gonna count what I'm either actively working on, or what I wish to continue when my motivation returns...because if you counted all the abandoned WIP's I've gathered over the years, I think the number would be close to 30, and I don't want to list them all up here. (Maybe I'll drop it at the bottom of this post if you're curious***)

For one, I have two IronDad fics I plan on finishing: one that's a shorter Mafia AU that's 2/3 complete, and a much longer (and heftier) multi-chapter fic that has been awaiting a new chapter for over a year I think. A Little Late On The Blood Work my beloved...I'll come back when I get inspiration again 🥺💞 I also have an old Jacksepticeye Egos fic called #SamLives that I've been wanting to continue for ages but haven't, along with a Night at the Museum fic (Jedtavius) that I at least need to finish the current arc for because the comment section is sad.

And MOST recently I've got a bunch for Hermitcraft/Empires/Traffic Life that I'm in the process of actively writing...which I believe add up to a total of six?? I think? THREE are partially posted/being updated (Through a Crack in the Void, Domino Effect, There's Not a Word Yet), and the OTHER three (two Team Rancher, one that's literally Every Ship Under The Sun With Some Found Family On Top) aren't gonna be on my plate until I finish some of the other ones.

17. Do you have a writing routine?

Not really! Usually once I get an idea, I just - jump in. If I get stuck and want to skip something just to keep the writing ball rolling, I'll throw one of these in the middle of the page: ASDJNAKFBEKAJBA ...and just leave it for later. It's bold, red, and easy to spot when I'm scrolling through a long document, which is nice! It helps make sure no blank spots get missed in editing! (I also red-dye words, sentences, or paragraphs I'm feeling shaky on, so I can spot them easily and come back later when I get a better idea to fix it.) And if I decide to completely change a section I'm writing, I'll often copy the original version, paste it at the bottom of the doc in case I decide to change it back, and turn it a pastel color so I don't confuse old versions for the current text.

I also sometimes make calendars on Excel/Sheets if I really wanna keep track of time, and I often have a separate (and somewhat disorganized) doc for Notes on my longer fics. There's also a document where I write down potential lyrics options for There's Not a Word Yet chapter titles, but that's the only time I've done that for a fic.

43. Is there a trope or idea that you’d really like to write but haven’t yet?

I feel like someone asked me this a while back, so I've definitely thought about this! But honestly? A mystery or a time-travel fix-it...which I am well aware are two VASTLY different tropes lmao.

I've always been envious and in awe of well-written mystery/detective stories, because so many little details go into them to make them work. I'd love to build one of my own someday, but I have yet to find the right motivation to do so.

As far as time-travel fix-its go...they're just...they're so fun to read, because I love to see how one little change can affect an entire timeline (see also: Domino Effect) but they're also a LOT of work to write because it involved basically retelling a story that's already been written but in your own words and with a twist. Somehow writing something fully original comes easier to me than trying to build my writing around something else that already exists. But god I'd love to have the motivation to write one of 'em anyway! It'd be fun to decide how everything changes all because of one little difference in choice :3

5. How many WIPs do you have?  What fandoms/pairings are they for?

Hahaha! Ha! Ha.

Many. So, so many.

I have a bad habit of starting projects and not finishing them, so I have a plethora scattered throughout my Google Docs files that are anywhere from multiple pages of unposted fic, all the way down to single-sentence unused prompts. Sometimes I left them behind because I lost motivation, though most times my hyperfixation shifted and I (sadly) couldn't focus on that fandom anymore.

But let's see...uh....I glanced through my older stuff first just to check for this hah. But for now I think I'm just gonna count what I'm either actively working on, or what I wish to continue when my motivation returns...because if you counted all the abandoned WIP's I've gathered over the years, I think the number would be close to 30, and I don't want to list them all up here. (But I'll drop it at the bottom of this post if you're curious***)

For one, I have two Marvel/IronDad fics I plan on finishing: one that's a shorter Mafia AU that's 2/3 complete, and a much longer (and heftier) multi-chapter fic that has been awaiting a new chapter for over a year I think. A Little Late On The Blood Work my beloved...I'll come back when I get inspiration again 🥺💞 I also have an old Jacksepticeye Egos fic called #SamLives that I've been wanting to continue for ages but haven't, along with a Night at the Museum fic (Jedtavius) that I at least need to finish the current arc for because the comment section is sad.

And MOST recently I've got a bunch for Hermitcraft/Empires/Traffic Life that I'm in the process of actively writing...which I believe add up to a total of six?? I think? THREE are partially posted/being updated (Through a Crack in the Void, Domino Effect, There's Not a Word Yet), and the OTHER three (two Team Rancher, and one that's literally Every Ship Under The Sun With Some Found Family On Top) aren't gonna be on my plate until I finish some of the other ones.

(One of them is a cute 5+1 one-shot about Tango calling Jimmy "buddy" and Jimmy learning that "buddy" has a lot of different meanings depending on how Tango says it and who he's saying it to. The second one is an extension of a one-shot I already posted called Coming, Coming Home, where S8 HASA!Tango crash-lands in the mesa outside Tumble Town, and like - yeah. Yeah. I'd love to continue that one. And the LAST one is a Double-Life-based Witches/Familiars AU that started as Renchanting Duo and has since extended to every member of the Life series and even some Hermits.)

***ALL THE OLDER FICS I HAVE YET TO COMPLETE: I've got one for Doctor Who, a handful for JSE Egos - #SamLives - one for Night at the Museum, one for Encanto. Six for Marvel/IronDad (including a Mafia fic, a SPN AU, a Peter-gets-shot and Tony-goes-dad-mode hurt/comfort, and A Little Late On the Blood Work which as I said I'm just longing to get inspiration to return to). A witch/familiar Supernatural AU fic and an SPN time travel fix-it that I barely started. There's a TangoTek one-shot I've abandoned featuring his rage moments from both LL and DL. I also have an old fic from high school for a game called Ib that I'd love to revamp someday...and my Original FanFic that started it all, which was for Harry Potter, and I was like 12, and it will never EVER see the light of day. My god. It's...it's rough.

[lesbian-in-leather]

Fanfic Writer 20 Questions

I was tagged by @virginian-wolfsnake - thank you!!! This was so fun to do!!

1. How many fics do you have on ao3?

Technically 40 but actually 39 lmao. When I first started posting my wwdits october prompts last year, I posted the first two as chapters on the same fic before reposting them (and all the others) as individual works in a series. But I refuse to delete the original because I got some nice comments on it ^.^

2. What is your ao3 word count?

94,076

3. How many fandoms do you write for and what are they?

Well I've only ever posted for A Series of Unfortunate Events, What We Do in the Shadows and Harlots, but I've got WIPs for Hunger Games, Why Women Kill, and School for Good and Evil as well (some of which will hopefully also get posted... at some point lmao)

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

Disclaimer: I have not read these fics in ages and I have no idea what the writing quality is like lmao

That's Not The Point (wwdits) — Nandor gets defensive of Guillermo when Nadja and Laszlo start insulting him. I honestly didn't really like this at all when I was writing it and I cannot believe that it is overwhelmingly my most popular fic with almost a 100 kudos lead on second place

His Good Lady Wife (wwdits) — set in the aftermath of the gang's attempt to capture the Sire, it focuses on Nadja/Laszlo with a strong emphasis on Nadja and how she's feeling. This one is also actually my oldest fic! It's really nice to see that it's doing so well, especially since it's the only fic to make the top five that isn't tagged with Nandor/Guillermo (a feat in and of itself lmao) ^.^

What A Way To Spend The Evening (wwdits) — Guillermo being jealous of Nadja and Laszlo being cute... what more is there to say?

An Eternity With You (wwdits) — a classic "the squad gets drunk" fic wherein Guillermo has to take care of a sad-drunk Nandor while Nadja and Laszlo are, once again, cute. Is anyone else sensing a theme here?

A Wish, Unfulfilled (wwdits) — now this one I do still like the concept of; Guillermo makes a wish that accidentally turns him into a vampire and the vampires into his familiars. However, because it was written for one of the october prompts, it is rather rushed, and I did actually start work on a multichapter version of it. Hopefully someday I'll get around to finishing that

I knew none of my asoue fics even came close to my wwdits ones in terms of stats, but I was not prepared to see the numbers because like... woah. That's a lot of kudos. Thank you!! There's also an (admittedly quite funny) trend of my Nandermo-adjacent fics doing way better than anything else, despite the fact that I wrote far more Nadja-centric content, and haven't posted anything at all for wwdits in almost a year

(giving a lil bonus as a treat: my top asoue fic is Figuratively Speaking, and it's the only asoue fic I've written that managed to beat any of my wwdits fics in terms of kudos)

5. Do you respond to comments? Why / why not?

Yes, absolutely! I love getting comments so so much, they always brighten my day and I think about them like... all the time. So I just want to leave a little acknowledgement and let people know that I really appreciate them taking the time to say that they enjoyed my writing! I spend a lot of time on my fics, and hearing that someone out there liked one of them enough to tell me that is... so so lovely, and I love being able to thank people for that!!

6. What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

Oooh okay this is a hard one because I don't tend to really write happy things. I think I'd have to say Insistent (asoue), because the ending of that one is probably the most overtly angsty one (I think, although there are a couple other contenders). This was also the one where someone commented that I owe them for their therapy bills so I feel like that's a good indictor lmao

7. Do you write crossovers?

I don't write crossovers in terms of having characters from different universes meet up (unless you count the one time Mina showed up in a wwdits fic but I feel like that's just canon from the lore the show's given us so far about fictional vampires) and I've certainly never posted an actual crossover... but I do have an AU in the works where the characters from asoue are living in the Hunger Games universe (replacing all of the characters from THG instead of coexisting with them) and that might get posted someday?

8. Have you ever gotten hate on a fic?

Nope! To be fair, I don't think enough people see my fics to get someone hating on them, especially since I write for smaller fandoms where, as far as I've seen, the people are all very nice and encouraging!

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I certainly don't post smut. I've tried my hand at it once or twice (on a couple of asoue pairings actually), but I'm not sure I ever really hit the mark so I probably won't ever post them. They are still sitting in my WIP folders though

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not as far as I know. Again, not being super popular and writing for smaller fandoms certainly reduces the risk, along with the fact that the fandoms I do write for are very lovely

11. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Again, not to my knowledge. It'd be SO cool if someone ever wanted to, though

12. Have you ever co-written a fic?

Nope! Honestly, I'm not really sure how that works for people?? I think I'm too unreliable with schedules and going off-plan for anyone to put up with me lmao

13. What’s your all-time favourite ship?

Oh god that's a hard one. I have a lot that I really adore (like, a lot), some of which I've never even had the chance to write for. As much as I love Esmé/Georgina (and they may be my favourite to read), I think Beatrice/Esmé is my favourite to write, purely because you can do so much with their dynamic and it's very interesting to me. Also they're both chaotic and problematic and that is my JAM

14. What’s a wip that you want to finish but you don’t think you ever will?

Possibly the extended version of A Wish, Unfulfilled that I mentioned earlier, or my entire rewrite of wwdits season 4. I've been super uninspired for wwdits in months because I'm honestly really disappointed in the show's writing, and there are so many other fandoms that I still adore writing for that I'm not sure I'll ever get the inspiration to go back and finish either of them

15. What are your writing strengths?

Okay this is kinda hard for me because I know I'm very critical of my writing (it's something I'm working on but we're not there yet lmao). I've been told my dialogue is a strong point, and I do enjoy and spend a lot of time on trying to capture how different characters would speak, so I'm going to say that!

16. What are your writing weaknesses?

In the interest of not spiralling tonight, I'm going to say either using dashes too much - because I really do use them all the time - or my tendency to italicise words far too often. (haha, see what I did there? I'm so funny) Oh! Or my habit of accidentally having a favourite word, that I realise upon re-reading I used wayyyyy too often for the relatively short length of my fics

17. What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in another language?

I'm not necessarily opposed to it, but also I think that I'd be too scared to try it unless I knew someone who spoke that language that could help me out. It's also not a problem I've ever come across though, and since my preferred style of narration is 'intimate third person', I'd probably just write "they said something in spanish" or something to that effect if my chosen character can't understand what's being said

18. What is the first fandom you ever wrote for?

The first fandom I wrote for is harder to answer, because I write a lot of stuff that I don't post, but the first one I posted was for wwdits

Not including the couple of things I posted on my old ao3 account that I do not, have not, and will not ever attach to myself in any way shape or form

19. What’s your favourite fic that you have ever written?

Okay, I don't really have a favourite, but there's a few that I'm quite proud of for one reason or another (note: I'm not re-reading these before listing them here so if the quality is questionable... please don't blame me I did my best):

Under the Moonlight (asoue) — Beatrice/Esmé. This is my most recent fic, and my longest by a relatively significant significant margin, and I actually really like it

Don't You Miss How We Were? (asoue) — Esmé-centric (because of course). This is an older one, and I believe it's the only one I've ever written that is explicitly TV-verse. Still, I do like it, even if it's sad

The Dream (wwdits) — Nadja-centric, where the whole thing is literally just her having a nightmare that explains a little bit of how I see her transition going after she was bitten

The Incident (wwdits) — Now I absolutely have not read this in ages, but the concept of it is; 'the others are forced to realise that Guillermo is actually dangerous and they don't handle it well.' It's another one that I kind of wish I'd dragged out a little more, but I'm also glad that I didn't because if I had, it probably wouldn't have ever been finished/posted

20. Who do you tag?

Obviously no pressure, but @gray-zelle, @changelinq, @tangentiallly, and anyone else who wants to give it a go!!

[hwanchaesong]

Hi, hope you're doing well!! I wanted to request a yeosang imagine based on the song dancing with your ghost. Probably very very sad like the reader dies in some accident while driving to their date or something, just a sad fic from yeosangs pov. Thank you so much 💓

a/n: this request has got me in the feels 🤧 tysm for requesting and happy reading~ 💚

👤: ATEEZ Kang Yeosang

📼: Dancing With Your Ghost - Sasha Sloan

genre & warnings: angst, mentions of death, implication of suicide, trauma, depression, mental illness, and overall just dark and sad

word count: 1.0k

for anyone who wants to, don't be shy and send me asks based on Prompts Request Song Version. Thank you so much!

One step, two steps, and a twirl.

"I've prepared something for our anniversary." Yeosang mumbled from behind you, his hands wrapping themselves on your waist.

"Really?" a teasing smile formed on your lips while you fix the collar of your shirt, your head turning to face him so that you could put a kiss on his cheek.

The dim light has set the mood in the living room, the record player's noise echoes throughout the area as your and Yeosang's favorite song fills the background.

"Text me when you're out okay? I'll come and get y-"

Yeosang wasn't able to finish his sentence when you put a finger on his lips.

"Nope, stay here and rest, it's your day off."

You laughed when he pouted, finding him adorable.

Your hands reached over to cup his cheeks, leaning in to give him a sweet kiss.

"I promise I'll come home as soon as I can."

He still remembers the way your lips felt on his. The way your skin warms his icy one.

How could he forget when he lives in it?

The neverending spiral of love and admiration, and he's so sure that he'll end up marrying you someday.

Yeosang skips around, soles of his feet bouncing lightly on the hard floors, it doesn't matter to him, he can't feel anything, not when his insides are frozen solid and nothing can thaw it but you.

"Hey baby? Are we still on for tonight?" you asked him through the phone.

Giddiness taking over Yeosang's body at the thought of you coming home to him once more.

It happens everyday, but it doesn't make it any less important. He cherishes every moment of you in his life, even the smallest things because it is the evidence that you're alive and well, keeping the fire in his soul burning brightly.

"Of course we are! I can't wait to see you baby."

Even though you can't see it, he still lets out a smile, a sign that he thinks of you in every breath he takes.

"Me too, I l-"

Your loud shriek and screeching tires resonated through his phone's speaker, an ominous feeling creeping up on his guts, especially when a loud crash continuously rings in his ears.

"Y/N, baby, what happened?" he screams yet no one on the other line has heard the anxiouness behind it.

The phone call ended just like that, and so is his everything.

The song is already near its denouement, melodies getting slower and lyrics lesser than before.

Eyes closed and a small smile on the dancer's lips, hands positioned in front of him like he's swaying someone to the beat.

Yeosang showed up at the scene of the accident, and the only thing that he saw is a figure getting covered by a white cloth in a stretcher. He couldn't see the face, though he can clearly recognize that piece of red fabric anywhere.

That velvet silk that he bought for you on your birthday.

No. This can't be happening.

His knees are wobbly and hands clammy, yet he still did his best to walk closer, every step heavy, nerves shaking, not fully comprehending what is happening.

"Sir?" a policeman interjected his movements, "Are you perhaps related to Ms. L/N Y/N?"

"Uh," he looked down, not being able to answer swiftly, "yes, she's my girlfriend."

The man in front of him sighed, sorrow adorning his face as he bowed at Yeosang.

"I'm deeply sorry sir."

The song tones down, a chuckle escaping from Yeosang's lips as he lied down on the sofa, hands reaching for a frame on the table.

He remembers the trembles he felt when that policeman apologized. All questions swirling in his head.

Why is he acting like something bad happened?

What does he even mean?

He denied reality, even when the answers were dawned on him in the form of your pale, lifeless body on the stretcher.

He won't fucking accept it.

He was supposed to propose to you that day.

He was supposed to marry you next year, then you'll build a family, then you'll live happily ever after as an old couple, but that was scratched off in his bucketlist.

Yeosang kneeled down on the dirt, lips quivering and heart palpitating as he caressed your cold face.

"Darling? I'm here, please wake up, I'm here now."

No response.

"Baby, come on. Don't pull a sick prank on me like this."

Still no reply and he couldn't help but shake your stiff body, begging for you to open your eyes. He was causing a scene that the people in there had to hold him back.

Tears pouring out his eyes, cursing at the sky for stealing you away from him. Hating on every god out there, condemning them all to hell.

"What bullshit is this?! All I did was love and all of you, insolent shits had to take all of that?! Fucking thieves! Fuck you all, I hope you all live in darkness!"

He wished that, though it seems that he was living in it instead.

It was difficult to exist when all he sees is you. In the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, your shadow is everywhere and who was he to ignore you?

People say that he's crazy for talking to the air, and he say fuck them because they know nothing.

They don't know what it feels to expect someone in your arms at the end of the day, only for you to have their remains for forever, not even having the moment to say a final goodbye.

They say that he'll love again, find someone new, but how can he do that when he finds it hard to trust in love again?

How can he do that when every year, every day, every minute, every second, all he thinks of is your relationship anniversary turned into your death anniversary.

How can he do that when his heart and soul still belongs to you?

Now he pretends that he's moved on, sleepless nights hypnotizing himself to get ready for tomorrow's all day and afternoon acting. Telling himself that he's alright even if his world is shattering wildly day by day.

"It's okay," he mumbled, fingers grazing your oh so beautiful smiling photo instilled inside a mirror and paper, "I'll be with you soon, my love."

Music on repeat and hours of dancing with a nebulous entity, Yeosang decided to rest together with the buried ring inside his pockets.

"Wait for me."

[owlsbride]

Icha Icha and Prejudice: The Book Club

Chapter V: A Suitable Marriage

"So…" Sakura answered, arriving at an obvious conclusion observing her cup of sake "now you have to go all way to Suna to solve Naruto's mess."

"Yes," Kakashi nodded, looking at the empty space behind her "I'm not exactly thrilled about it, but it's my job after all." He concluded finally directing his gaze to Sakura to look at her big furious green eyes. He suppressed an inner smile.

"But why? Why don't you send Naruto back again? He was the one that asked the Kazekage an extra train program to be a better Hokage" Sakura started annoyed "And Gaara accepted. What was he thinking? Besides, they both made this mess together."

It was infuriating. Gaara, the most collect man she has ever known, all so stoic, silently analyzing everything around him with his sharp mind. Separated from the world, absorbed in his thoughts with his celestial eyes always directed to the horizon, protecting his village. She couldn't understand it.

"Maa, Sa Ku Ra, calm down" Kakashi spoke with his soft tone, guessing what was going on inside her mind "Gaara may be the Kazekage, and a great one, by the way, a fine young man, but inside he's still a child. I think he's still trying to figure out what human relationships are all about, and when being too friendly or solicitous is too much. I guess he couldn't say no to a friend." There was so much tenderness in his words that Sakura sighed leaning back in her chair a little less angry.

"God, he's worst than Sai." Sakura agreed finally most to herself than to Kakashi thinking about the problems that the young man with black hair suffered and caused due to his lack of social empathy.

"Trust me Sakura, if I were to choose between them both..." Kakashi left the phrase hanging. He was not mad at the Kazekage nor Naruto, he was just tired and resigned with the last one. Naruto would never really change.

"Still..." Sakura began again "I don't know why you can not solve this problem from here. Was it that bad?

"You couldn't just start to imagine."

"But this weather..." She was less angry but pushier now.

"If I didn't know you better, I would think you don't want to let me go, Sakura" he spoke in such a suggestive way that Sakura trembled under his gaze "but I'm sure is not the case, right?"

"Of course not Hokage Sama" she was blushing, a lot "I'm just worried about the security of our leader." Sakura finally answered, wrinkling her nose. Kakashi laughed at her face.

"Relax Sakura, I'm not just an old useless politician".

"I guess you are right... you are not a politician" Sakura said, sticking out her tone.

"Careful Sa Ku Ra, the cat may eat your tongue someday" Kakashi answered her with a deep dark tone licking his own lips, or at least that's what she believed. Again the warm feeling forming in her low stomach, now she was sure, it was not her chakra.

"Yeah... anyway..." she tried to hide her excitement and shame at once adopting a much more professional stance, "I think I should go with you." She finished crossing her arms on the table.

"And that could be because...?" Kakashi leaned back on his chair taking distance from Sakura, eyeing her suspiciously, he had seen this coming. He knew that Sakura was going to ask her to go with him.

"I think it's pretty obvious Sensei." He hated the honorifics, but he just stopped fighting it a long ago with Sakura. It was just a mannerism, a way of speaking, not particularly a sign of respect or distance. It was merely their ways, and it was ok, strange and alluring at times, but ok.

"Go on..."

"I believe that the company of a nin doctor in this weird mission of yours, trying to recover Suna from the Tsunami named Naruto, could be of much help." She finished matter of factly.

"For what? a heatstroke?" Kakashi wasn't going to fall in her charms.

"Stop mocking me, Sensei" Sakura pouted. Now she was feeling hurt.

"I'm not mocking you." He smiled. She was cute sometimes. "I'm just saying that there are no risks in my short journey to Suna. It's a safe trip. Only three days and I'll be back; besides, you forget something."

"What?" Sakura asked in confusion

"You are on vacations."

"Yes, a vacation I didn't request for." It was evident that she still felt horrible about that decision.

"And yet, here we are. Having dinner in your second night of" Kakashi said raising his cup, even if he was not going to drink it with Sakura watching straight to his face.

"I guess..." Sakura did drink her sake and started again with all the Suna issue "So, you are going alone? Who is going to be encharged during these days?"

"I asked an old friend to help me here. Luckily she said yes. Having you not accepting the recess and Naruto trying to put his last training in practice is too much of a danger to leave the village alone. And no, I'm not travelling by myself" Kakashi gave her a wink.

"Hey! I'm not that bad. I'm not going to break the rules Hokage Sama". Sakura was starting to feel offended. She was not a girl anymore. He had to stop seeing her like one "I'm not a gir..."

"A girl. You are not a girl anymore." Kakashi finished for her "I'm well aware of that". Eyes darker.

"So, Who is this friend of yours and with who are you travelling with?" Sakura asked incredulously. She didn't know Kakashi had friends except for Guy Sensei and Genma, (who were definitely not suitable for cover him in these three days) less a woman. Why was she a bit jealous, and why was Kakashi noticing it? He laughed a true-hearted laugh.

"Easy Sakura, Lady Tsunade is going to take my place these days, I think she is more than capable, don't you agree? He was genuinely asking her opinion.

"Wow!" Sakura said in surprise "She must really love you like to say yes."

"Doesn't everyone love me? He was such a Drama Queen. "And about the travelling arrangements, I'm going with Shikamaru."

"Well..." Sakura pondered "Shikamaru is really capable, and he is your advisor. I think he is the most suitable for the job." Sakura concluded.

"Yes," Kakashi stated. "though, I think he has his personal agenda on this journey."

"Oh... You mean..." Sakura didn't want to talk more words than necessary. She didn't know how much information Kakashi had about Temari and Shikamaru's relationship.

"Of course Sakura," Kakashi spoke as it was the most obvious thing in the world "The princess."

"So you know..." It was not a question.

"Sakura, I'm not the Hokage for nothing, you know?" There was fun in his voice. "I've seen how they look at each other, I've listened when they talk at the phone. I've been there when they fight together side by side at the Fourth War. It was just a matter of time." He finished almost with longing.

"Like us" Sakura whispered to herself not expecting Kakashi to listen.

"Like us, what? His eyes were gleaming. Sakura felt nervous.

"Just..." she had to think quickly. "Just like the rest of us, you noted the romance coming back then too." That was closed. Kakashi shifted his mouth uncomfortably under his mask, wrinkling his nose. He wasn't buying it.

"Yes." Disappointment in his words. "Anyway... I think a wedding is coming soon and it will become most profitable for both villages. Suna and Konoha united forever. Shikamaru and princess Temari, we couldn't ask for more." Kakashi spoked low.

A cold chill ran down Sakura's spine upon hearing Kakashi's words. It was the Hokage who spoke: cold, distant, calculating. She wasn't sure if she liked this version of Kakashi. Yes, she has witnessed terrible decisions that he had to make as the village leader, she had seen the horrors of the war and what makes people do. But why this bothered her so much? Was it because she had lost sight of the fact that he was the Hokage after all and not just his partner, friend, and secret fantasy? Was she so in love that, now, only one sentence about the convenience of marriage was enough to make all the bandages fall off?

Kakashi hadn't actually said anything about fixing a marriage, but that's what it sounded like, and inside her, it seemed painful.

"What's wrong, Sakura?" Kakashi asked full of worry. He had just realized after his lazy conversation that something had bothered Sakura.

"Is that how you see us?" Sakura began without looking at him "only as exchange goods, potential political deals or war unions thanks to a good marriage and the lineage that can come out of it?"

"I'm sorry, Sakura, but I can't see the problem there" Kakashi answered in all honesty.

"Sure..." Sakura said dryly in a mocking tone "then maybe I can go for the Kazekage. What do you think? I'm sure that is highly beneficial".

Kakashi was confused, but he was not going to recoil.

"Well, Sakura, good luck with that, cause I don't think Gaara is into girls..." He started doubting "Actually, I think he is into nothing at all, but that's your choice." Why was he getting angry? "Now, if instead, you would like to set your eyes on the brother, Kankuro, that could be something entirely different."

"You can start making the arrangements then, and as Hokage, you can walk me down the aisle." Sakura suppressed a tear.

"That would be your father´s job. I may be old, but that´s not my place" Kakashi retorted angrily, but without racing his voice.

"My parents lost faith in me long ago, I don´t think they are interested in my wedding, they think I´m already too old for that" She was sad, resigned. They have stopped talking to her when she refused to marry Sasuke, another suitable arrangement.

"What the hell are you talking about? I'm not one of those characters of that stupid book of yours, Lizzie."

Sakura looked down, suddenly she was feeling a bit ashamed. She avoided his eyes at all cost, and she was safe by the waitress announcing that the restaurant was closing. Kakashi paid the bill without saying anything, and they both started walking home, strangely taking the same path.

Sakura was the first in breaking the silence.

"You are reading the book, eh?"

"Hmmm" Kakashi hummed as the only answer.

"Already bored?" She was watching at the stars.

"Actually no" Kakashi began "Even if I don't know yet what to think about it, debating my self between if it is a good manner manual or a statement of the women position in the society, I have to recognize it's quite interesting."

"You haven't read enough yet" Sakura was acting childish. How was it possible that he still didn't realize that the book was actually an ode to true love.

"I supposed." He closed the conversation.

They continue walking a few more blocks before arriving at Sakura's door. Finally, they face each other.

"Sakura, listen" Kakashi needed to clear some things before parting to Suna "What I meant earlier" he swallowed hard "I would never jeopardize the happiness of any of you for the good of the village. You are my priority. The marriage between Shikamaru and Temari is indeed a benefit to Konoha, but that does not mean that I'm directing your lives from a desk. All of you already risk enough every day out there. I would not take love out of your hands."

Sakura nodded with her mouth dry, she needed a drink, a strong one. She finally locked eyes with him and smile much more relaxed.

"Are you going to send me a text as soon as you arrived Suna?" Sakura asked in a happy tone.

"Of course" he simply answered, hands in his pocket.

"And are you going to send my regards to the Kazekage and his brother?" Now she was teasing.

"If that's what you wish..." Kakashi left the phrase got lost in the air. The storm menacing again once more the Konoha's sky.

Sakura laughed heartedly.

"Good night Kakashi Sensei, have a good trip." Sakura said, turning her back to him.

She suddenly stood frozen with her keys trembling in her hands.

Warm breath sifted through the mask ran down her neck and the lobe of her ear. Kakashi hadn't gotten to touch a single hair of her, but all of it rose on her body. Her breath stopped for an instant that seemed like hours, his words tickling as he spoke.

"Have a good night you too, Lizzie." And just like that Kakashi disappeared.

Inner Sakura was going to be happy.

Notes:

So many things to say

1- It´s getting really really late here but I wanted to post it anyway

2- A little bit of tension is not that bad

3- Next chapter we may know, or not, what Naruto has done at Suna. Also, I´m pretty sure that the virtual chat is coming back.

4-Kakashi is making his homework after all.

5- I like the idea that Gaara may be a bit of asexual, though the story shows us different.

6- You Know what to do.

7- If there is anything else you would like to know, please write to me

8- Can somebody be so lovely and helpful and explain me how to link the chapters for making it easy to read? I'm almost as stupid as Kakashi with tech

[krowedes]

Oikawa Tooru - When we were young

Hello! I don't normally write for haikyuu but my oikawa simp ass had the urge to right a oneshot for him, this oneshot is inspired by Adele's When We Were Young; the song touched me so much I needed to write about it, this oneshot follows the sequence of the song but I kinda changed it a bit??? I am thinking about writing a black clover version of this (if I find the perfect character) so please stay tuned for that and enjoy this story!!

[Warning: Not necessarily angst/sad ending or happy ending, I'll leave the next parts of the story in your imagination.]

It was the 3rd year of your High School, you two planned to be together for the rest of your lives but it looked like he made a plan of his own and you did too.

You expected that you're the one who's supposed to make a plan, that you're the one who'll follow your dreams while Oikawa will be there, supporting you while achieving a dream of his own, y'know, V-League and everything.

Looks like he thought the same.

You planned staying in Japan, applying in a prestigious university then reach your dreams of becoming a well-known journalist.(And maybe you can write about Oikawa too.)

But he also had dreams of his own, he planned going to Argentina and training under his all time idol, Jose Blanco. And maybe, he can bring you with him in Argentina and you can apply in a university there and reach your dreams.

But it just so happened that life had different plans for the both of you.

"A-- A- Is this it?" You ask him, still not believing that the man that you promised to stay with forever is now saying goodbye to you.

"I- I'm sorry." Tooru says, your tears threatening to spill.

"Be- Before you go..." You speak up.

"C- C- Could we please take a photograph? Let's pretend to be happy... for the last time." You say, forcing a smile.

'Let me photograph you in this light incase this is the last time that we might be exactly like we were before we realized-'

You two took a picture, fake but bright smiles painting your faces.

"Remember when we were so happy, so excited that we'll grow old together but now..."

"We are sad of getting old, it made us restless."

"Our life... It was just like a movie... It was just like a song." He smiles.

"I promise, that maybe... just maybe... someday, we'll meet again and we can fulfil our for now broken promises." Tooru tells you with a smile as he caresses your cheek.

"I- I'll look forward to that..." You answer.

9 Years Later

It has been 9 years ever since you and Tooru decided to split paths.

You two didn't maintain any contact.

The connection that you two had was long gone the day you two 'broke' up.

Heck, do you still even have first name rights?

The Olympics was finished.

Too- Oikawa crushed everyone just like he dreamed.

You became a famous sports journalist, not only in Japan- but worldwide.

You even made articles about Oikawa, just like you imagined when you two were young.

The Aoba Johsai 2012 - 2013 Men's Volleyball Club, the club that you used to manage, was having a reunion.

For a moment, when you learned about the reunion, you forgot that Oikawa will attend- What you remembered was the time he told you he will go abroad, the time where your relationship went into pieces.

Nobody really told you that he'll be there, you just kinda assumed.

And the whole time that you were waiting for that reunion day to come, you were praying, begging that the Oikawa you'll meet will be the Oikawa you once knew.

Which was funny because you yourself changed a lot.

The kinda pretty volleyball nerd that got recruited by the almighty Aoba Johsai MVBC...

Is now a beautiful woman who's known all around the world for her marvelous journalism skills, specially in the category of sports; The perfect and skillful wording you execute when publishing articles won you titles and awards that a journalist can only dream of.

It's funny how you, a person who changed like a landslide is wishing for someone who lived in a different environment not to change.

Of course he changed. You did too.

The only thing that hasn't changed was the way you two felt for each other.

But you don't know that.

That you both still have each other as a phone wallpaper even after many changes of phones.

How much you both thought of how weird it will be if one of you is already dating somebody and they see your phone screens.

That the picture in you two's wallet is still the picture of the both of you in your first date.

That your phone gallery is still filled with pictures of one another.

And in a blink of an eye, you were already standing in front of a café.

You look around and you found many familiar heads.

Makki.

Mattsun.

Kindaichi.

Kunimi-chan.

Iwa-chan.

Oikawa Tooru.

"It's been a long time, everyone." You smile at them.

"T- Oikawa." You smile, acknowledging Oikawa.

'You still look like a movie, You still sound like a song.' You thought.

Smiling unknowingly after remembering many memories, you only heard the last four words that Oikawa said after he made his captain-y speech.

"...When we were young."

[storydays]

Chapter 1: The Adventure Begins p1

The elven king, Xaius stands on the parapet of a great citadel overlooking a massive, smoldering battlefield. "Archers! Fire on my signal! Catapults! Hold for the next wave!" He turned to give an order, when a hideous creature, a gargoyle made of twisting shadow, swoops in toward him.  Xaius reaches for his sword,as a blast of light catches the gargoyle in the side, blowing it into nothingness. The king turned to see his second-in-command, the battle mage Ellara, approaching with a gentle smile. "It looked like you needed a hand, my love" "I had it handled. What's your status?" Xaius asked. 

"The Shadow forces are many, but they're weak. Our front lines are driving them back. " The elvlen woman smiled wearily. "I-I can't believe it..but we might actually win this th--" She gasped hearing a thunderous roar in the distance. "Gods above...it's the DreadLord! Those madmen actually summoned the DreadLord." Xaius gasped, but looked down to see Ellara's gentle but firm grip. "My love, what do we do?" She whispered.  Xaius turned to her, eyes sparkling, his face hard and stoic. "We fight. We die.  And we pray that some day, a hero will rise to avenge us..someday." 

*Two thousand years later*

In a quaint little tavern in the town of Riverbend, a grinning pair of brothers downed their drinks, as the younger continued telling one of his favorite stories."So what happened next?" chuckled a 21 year old Ezra. His white hair had now grown down to his bottom but he kept it in a braid that hung around his shoulder, bangs brushed to the left side of his face, covering his birthmark, but allowed his gold eyes to peek out. He set down his mug of wine, and locked eyes with his brother across the table.

"The Dreadlord strode down the battlefield, boom,boom BOOM! And then--" His brother was cut off by the grumpy bartender. "We've been hearing this story for years, Kade. The Dreadlord attacked and destroyed the great elven empire." He stated, wiping down a nearby table. Kade scoffed. "Well, yeah, that's the short version....but you don't have the flair for storytelling that I do." Kade crossed his arms and pouted like a child, instead of the 16 year old he was. 

Ezra leaned back in his seat, and looked around. They were sitting at their favorite table in the Dancing Pig Tavern, listening to his brother tell another story. 'It's crazy to think that 10 years ago, we were watching over Kade through his sickness...now he's here telling tall tales like those books he likes to read.'  Kade and Ezra weren't only brothers, but they were also best friends. Kade was well known through Riverbend but not everyone was as easily amused as the elf was. Kade blended in well with the humans, with his short brown hair, bright green eyes, and freckles splashed across his face, while Ezra stuck out like a sore thumb. 

Ezra tuned back into the conversation to hear: "I don't care how well you spin your tales! You still need to pay for your drink." The bartender gruffed at the smaller human. "Barkeep, you wound me." Kade huffed, his mood darkening slightly. Chuckling, Ezra paid his half of the tab and gave the younger a look. "Pay up, Kade. Mother taught us better than that." He stated seriously. "You too, Ezra? I swear, no one in this town appreciates the value of a good tale! Fine, I'll pay. But we're not coming back here!" Kade cried dramatically. 

"Yes we are." Ezra and the bartender laughed louder when Kade added at the end, "Well, not tonight at least!" Ezra downed his wine and Kade finished his soda, before paying his side of the tab, and the two left the bar for the night. Ezra looked around their humble village before letting out a long sigh. "Another night in Riverbend. Same as any other." He mumbled gloomily. "That's not true. Some nights I manage to get us free drinks." Ezra barked a laugh before shoving his brother playfully, unable to stay gloomy around his brother. 

"You know what I'm--" Ezra's sentence was cut off when he bumped into a tall human heading towards the outskirts of the village. "Hey, watch it!" "Ugh, sorry 'bout that."  Ezra stepped back, eyeing the person in front of him. He was a rugged looking man with tanned skin,wavy shoulder length brown hair, glowering brown eyes, and he had a scar on his left eyebrow. He was wearing a cream long sleeved shirt, shoulder guards, wrist gauntlets, green cargo like pants, with a dagger on his left hip. 

"Who're you?"Ezra asked, while the man retorted, " None of your business, that's who." Two people that the elf did recognize followed the handsome man. Town Constable Angus and his tough as nails apprentice Grenn. "This here's Mal Volari, from Whitetower." The elder man  explained. "He's a world-famous adventurer!" Grenn grinned. "Wait, really?" Kade asked shocked. "Well..I wouldn't say world famous, more like continent-famous really." Mal snickered to himself. 

"Well, it's nice to meet you." Ezra said, minding his manners. His poor mother would be rolling in her grave if he didn't at least pretend to be nice. "Yeah, great, nice to meet you too. Now if you don't mind, we've got some important business to get to..." Mal was interrupted by Kade, "Adventurer business? Around here?" "Mal's got a lead on a powerful ancient artifact in the elven ruins to the south! If we can get it, it'll sell for a fortune!" Grenn said excitedly. "Damn the Gods, Grenn, keep it down!" Hissed Angus, "You want everyone in this town to hear about it?" "No need to be so nasty about it." Ezra mumbled, noticing Mal's raised eyebrow at him. 

"You mean...to the north, right? There's no ruins to the south." Kade corrected.  Mal shoots Angus a glare and the man shrugs. "Y-Yes! To the north! That's what she meant!" He fumbled over his words. "Hang on...there's a powerful ancient relic somewhere around here? And you're going to get it?" Ezra spoke up, excitement coloring his voice. "I got a tip, okay? A good one. From someone willing to pay a whole lot of gold. Angus and Grenn here, they're going to help me claim it. Now if you don't mind..." Mal made to leave again when Ezra gasped the man's arm, and stated, "We'd like to come along." "E-Ezra!" Kade gaped. 

"What? It's the chance of a lifetime." Gold eyes playfully sparkle at his brother's expression. Mal eyed the elf before letting out a weary sigh. "No can do. This is dangerous ancient crypt business. I can't have some rookie along bumbling things up." The human noted how the elf stiffened, and prepare himself for an argument.

"I'm not a rookie." glared Ezra. "Really? Ever pried a jewel from the hands of a cursed skeleton, knowing one wrong move would bring the whole room down on your head?" Mal challenged, making Ezra falter. "I mean, not technically.." He deflated. "Ever stabbed a snarling croctopus through the eye on the deck of a burning ship?" Mal continued. "I don't..know what that is." admitted Ezra. "How about this? You ever killed a man? You ever been in a real fight?" Ezra hesitated. ""Yes, I have to both of those." He said darkly, sending chills down everyone's back. "That's what I thought. I like your hustle, I really do. But I don't have time for some kit who's still wet behind the ears." " 'Kit?' " wondered the elf. 

"It's a term for new adventurers..you know, like an apprentice?" Kade whispered." "See? You don't even know the terms. Which means you've got a long way ahead of you. Get out there, have some adventures of your own, learn some skills. Then come find me, we'll talk." Mal walked off towards the village gate, Angus laughing as he followed, Grenn sending her old friend a sad look. "Sorry, Ezra." "Well, that was a thing that happened." Kade laughed nervously at Ezra's silent fuming.  "He's wrong. I could've done it. I'm the one who taught Grenn to be the adventurer she is today! Angus is an old drunk ass who can barely stay on his feet half the time! 'Learn some skills' I've got plenty of skills!"

The duo began walking again, when Kade asked aloud, "Like..what?" "Well Father taught us to fight bare hand, and I've learned some things about wielding a sword from my travels with Mother. I'm not useless." Ezra ran a finger over the silver ring on his left ring finger in habit. "That Mal guy really got under your skin, didn't he?" astonished the green eyed brother. "I don't know, I suppose I'm just jealous. I want to go on grand adventures and explore." He sighed dreamily. "And get fabulously rich." Kade grinned, Ezra matching him. "That too." 

"Aw, don't be hard on Riverbend. This town's been good to us! Not every human village would take such care of a couple of kids like us." 'Or would allow an elf to stay without being treated horribly.' went unsaid between the two. "I know, Kade! And it'll always be my home. I just...want to experience something more. It's not like a great adventure is just going to drop into my lap." Ezra huffed, brushing his bangs to the side again. Green eyes watch his older brother for a moment before clapping his shoulder. "Well, don't worry, brother. We'll experience it all together. " Ezra chuckled softly. "I can always count on you, Kade."

"But for now, all we've got is Riverbend. So, where do you want to start tonight?" Ezra grinned, "Let's head to the night market." "Uh, did you miss the part about having little coin?" Kade raised a eyebrow. "And you think I'm going to let that stop me? Come now, brother, you know me better than that." 

The brothers weaved their way through the  bustling night market, listening to vendors call out what was for sale: Fruits, meats, silks from the capital, and fish from the shore. An elderly food vendor turned and shook her head at the boys with a warm smile. "Well, well. If it isn't my two favorite customers. Two copper pieces will get you the finest pears we have." "Watch this." Ezra mumbled to Kade, before confidently walking towards the vendor, with a sly grin.

"My dear vendor, we don't have any coin..but is coin what really matters in this world?" "Excuse me?" The vendor chuckled, used to the young man's antics. "Love...passion...a moment of intimacy. Why, what is coin compared to that? Surely a beauty like you can understand." The white haired elf purred, his voice smooth like silk, eyes aglow. The woman barked a laugh at Ezra. "You are an absolute rascal, you know that? Now take these and get out of here boys." Laughing, she handed him two fresh pears, as he winked his thanks. 

Ezra bit into his as Kade stared at his back with wide eyes. "How? How did that possibly work?" He raced to catch up with Ezra. "What can I say? I'm the best flirt in Riverbend." His brother laughed before finally eating his pear, walking to the town square when he spoke up again. 

"You see? Riverbend isn't so bad. They've taken good care of us." "You're right. I just wish--" "HELP! Please HELP!" A shout echoed through the air. The duo turned to see a young woman in priestess's robes ran into the town square, before grabbing into Ezra, gripping his arms to keep herself from falling,Ezra eyes her. 

She had long red hair the fell down to her armpits in ringlets, some strands falling into her face, framing her light brown eyes. She was wearing light pink robes, with a silver and violet necklace on her neck. "You need to help me! Please!" She begged. "Whoa there, what's wrong?" Ezra asked. The woman straightened herself out, standing tall. But Ezra could see behind her disciplined posture, was a hint of fear. 

"I am Nia Ellarious, a priestess of the Light. My mentor and I are on a pilgrimage...but we were attacked by an owlbear on the road! I managed to escape while he distracted the beast. But he needs help! Now!" "Have no fear, young priestess..we are brave adventures." "Really?" Kade snorted at his brother's antics. "Shh! Don't mess this up!" hissed Ezra as Nia smiled in relief. "Thank you so much! Please, hurry now. He's just down the road." She began rushing off as Ezra and Kade shared a hesitant look before running after the ginger, but not before Ezra grabbed his sword on the way, strapping it to his left hip. 

"Let's go."

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