#otp: at a great precipice

[gale-sized-hole]

Vissenta and Gale don’t stay adventurers forever. I like to think they return to Waterdeep after some years of traveling and enjoy all the quiet comforts of home. And each other. Especially each other.

(Yes, this is based on that one shot of Arwen and Aragorn, I couldn’t help myself when I saw it again recently.)

[merryfortune]

not with a bang but a whimper (oh no, absolutely not)

Written for Year of the OTP 2023

Prompts: Couples Costume | Text Messaging | Identity Shenanigans | “You can’t bench me!” | Lightning | Sports Team AU

Title: not with a bang but a whimper (oh no, absolutely not)

Ship: Respectfulshipping | Ryoken/Spectre

Ship 2: Rockdustshipping | Earth/Ryoken/Spectre

Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh! Vrains

Rating: T

Word Count: 4,211

Tags: Post-Canon, Humour, Developing Relationship, Sexual References

   Oh no.

   Absolutely not.

   Ryoken could already foresee all the ways this could go wrong. 

   They had already come so close, so far, and now he was destined to watch it all fall to pieces again. That was his fate. The prolonged suffering of six, innocent children because the powers that be wanted to funnel their torture into the creation of six artificial intelligences that had the potential to wreak havoc in the world. They were meant to help. What they truly intended was the destruction of humanity instead.

   They had seen it with Lightning, with Ai. Now there was the chance they were going to see it over and over again with Flame. With Aqua. With Windy. And yes, even with Earth. He was certain. This was the precipice of yet another apocalypse. It was not a question of when but rather which one? Which Ignis would crack first and call forth abominations of nature and technology which was most fitting to their attribute?

   Ryoken had no clue but he was certain. That is what they were seeing now that not only all six Ignis were back but they had even been gifted SOLtiS android bodies. Oh gosh, oh God. this could only go wrong, coming down in flames and embers, with cities tumbling down and towns wiped off the map.

   He was certain.

   What Spectre, however, saw was something far gentler. Far softer. Far kinder. He, for one, was over the moon that not only was Earth back, he was happy to be back with him for the very first time.

   Where Ryoken saw fire and brimstone, the ugliness he was seeing in all actuality… was far from it. He wouldn’t want to call his partner and lover ugly, after all but there had to be a line in the sand somewhere. Surely. This was not at all what he was predicting would go wrong but it should have been up there.

   The appearance of SOLtiS Earth’s android body… Well, he wasn’t really good at designing a humanistic persona for himself. So, he decided that downloading and using Spectre’s Link VRAINS avatar then assimilating it through his Ignis Code and his own, eccentric sense of fashion was a great idea. However, Spectre’s Link VRAINS avatar was also just his day-to-day appearance in the flesh and blood.

   Oh no.

   Absolutely not.

   Ryoken was already living in all the ways that could go wrong.

   For example, the most apocalyptic thing he could do in this situation was… Say, if he annoyed Spectre and got into a petty fight with him which was big enough to blow up into an argument and cause him to storm off. That would be bad. What would be worse however is, when Ryoken - who started the fight - was ready to apologise… if he apologised to the wrong person. Yes, wouldn’t that be something?

   After an hour of fuming, Ryoken was finally able to see straight.

   Or so he thought.

   He found Spectre in the sunroom - naturally, it was one of his favourite places since it got a lot of light and he was a plant in theory but not practice - holed up with a book. He looked content as his eyes - startlingly blue, nigh fluorescent - as they scanned the pages and Ryoken marched up to him. 

   His heart hammered and he did his best to deliver a rehearsed speech of apology.

   “Spectre,” he said, “I am so sorry. I shouldn’t have raised my voice at you. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to blow up over a little thing and stress isn’t an excuse. I will try to be more mindful in future.”

   Ryoken’s tone was awkward and mechanical. Leaving out bits and pieces, not just of what he had done and what Spectre had done and what they had done together but other parts of the speech he had wanted to give too. It had been eloquent in his mind up until he had gotten his mouth involved but it was passionate and it was genuine.

   He just hoped Spectre thought so, too.

   Except, it wasn’t Spectre who was in front of him.

   It was Earth and Earth looked petrified. Earth awkwardly pulled down his turtleneck to reveal the cyan notch on his throat. Really, Ryoken should have noticed sooner but in his state of disarray, he had not and now he felt thousands of times worse than he had before.

   Just what kind of a godawful lover was he if he couldn’t tell the difference between Spectre and Earth? Human and artificial intelligence respectively? He began to sweat bullets.

   Luckily for him, his apology did make it to the right person. Spectre laughed at Ryoken’s expense from the doorway.

   “I thought I might find you here,” Spectre teased, “well, apology accepted, Ryoken-sama. I shouldn’t have pushed your buttons but alas. It comes with the territory of being too close, don’t you think?”

   “Yes, I couldn’t agree more.” Ryoken said and he turned around to meet Spectre’s gaze.

   It was oddly jovial. He found Ryoken’s little mishap adorable. It was written all over his smarmy face as he leaned on the threshold of the sunroom.

   Earth, meanwhile, let go of a sigh. He didn’t need to do it but he did regardless. It felt good to exhale the tension that he had felt out of nowhere and to have it released equally out of nowhere. He hadn’t even been aware that Spectre and Ryoken were fighting…

   But all's well that ends well. Besides, it's not like this sort of thing could happen twice, right…? Where identities as vastly different as Earth and Spectre would be mistaken for one another. And by Ryoken of all people. That should surely be impossible, right?

   Both Ryoken and Earth thought so.

   Yes, well, they both thought wrong, now didn’t they?

   In Ryoken’s defence, he had gone from one extreme to another. From being ragingly wide awake to being the complete opposite: dead tired. Basically unconscious. Eyes fully closed, despite being open - only because he needed to get to bed first so he could be fully unconscious in deep sleep. 

   Further in Ryoken’s defence, the last incident with him mistaking Earth for Spectre happened weeks ago. Everyone involved had practically forgotten. Though practically was not totally.

   See, Ryoken had had a very busy day. Events in the Link VRAINS were goldmines for glitches and bad behaviour so he and the other Knights were kept on their toes acting as insurance and security for SOL Tech. They were worked to the bone keeping the new code from collapsing in on itself as new users logged in and some of them made it their mission to stretch that spaghetti as far as it could.

   Everyone was tired and had done their part to earn their non-blood money paycheque. The Lieutenants had dropped like flies hours ago and so had Spectre, or so Ryoken recalled but it was so hazy. He was such a hardass, especially on himself so he had given up last.

   Or again. So he thought. Or maybe Spectre had just gotten up to get some water, or even some tea. He was standing in the kitchen, after all, and only had the stove’s overhead light on. 

   Ryoken smiled to himself as he stumbled in on this little scene in his tired delirium. It had all the beginnings of something quite domestic, he thought as he yawned and shuffled closer. Maybe if he sulked up to Spectre, he would get a late night treat, too. Though not a natal tea drinker, preferring coffee usually, if Spectre was making some, he wouldn’t mind.

   Ryoken snaked his hand along Spectre’s waist and cuddled in. Ryoken all but purred as he kissed Spectre’s face as he slid in beside him. He looked over the stove and yup, Spectre was making a treat for himself: warmed milk. It smelt heavenly now that he was so close to Spectre but there was something else aside from the homely scent of the warmed milk.

   It was more synthetic than organic. Like plastic or silicon. And now that Ryoken really thought about it, Spectre’s cheek which he had just kissed felt rather cold on his lips and Ryoken’s heart stopped.

   “Ryoken-dono… you need to stop doing this.” Earth said, mortified.

   Though not nearly as mortified as Ryoken.

   Ryoken stepped aside and groaned. Well, he was wide awake now. His previously stopped heart then began to hammer in his chest as his stomach squirmed and he felt his face heat up.

   “Why in the world are you making warmed milk at this hour?” Ryoken asked. There was plenty he could have asked but that somehow got through the deluge first.

   “Funnily enough, because Spectre asked me to. He said you would want some before you joined him in bed.” Earth said. “Well… do you want some?” Though as he said that, the milk boiled over and that delicious scent of it burned immediately.

   “I’m right, Ignis.” Ryoken said. “Good night.”

   “Good night, Ryoken-dono.” Earth bade him.

   His voice was gentle and so uniquely his own. Worse still, he really did mean it. He wanted Ryoken to rest well. Clearly he needed it - and Ryoken agreed. Except his brain was going into overdrive with obsession.

   Whilst Spectre laid in bed next to himself, sleeping blissfully like a baby, Ryoken was busy with all his theories and factoids. He was wide awake. His mind was spiralling. He was still mortified and he could still the feel the sensation of his lips on Earth’s artificial skin.

   It was disgusting. Yet the funny thing about disgust was how close to intrigue it was. It felt like cheating on Spectre. With another Spectre, who really wasn’t him because Earth was his own creature and this was it. This was going to be the straw that broke Ryoken’s back because he really, really did not want this to go any further than it already had.

   So, the following morning, Ryoken assembled his two look-alike troublemakers.

   “Okay. That’s it.” Ryoken announced. “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me but so now seems as good an occasion as any to finally do something about this problem before it becomes an even bigger problem because I don’t know about you guys. But things seem to happen unluckily in threes for us. Let’s not risk it.” 

   Ryoken’s voice was frantic, short and choppy but Spectre couldn’t say that he wasn’t raising a good point. However, it was not him whom Ryoken prompted next. 

   “Earth.” 

   “Yes?” Earth was startled out of his skin as he promptly replied to Ryoken calling his name.

   “We need to do something about this whole… situation.” Ryoken said and he indicated what he considered the whole situation.

   Which happened to be all of Earth from the shoulders up which was where he took his homage to Spectre a bit too far. It was not kind nor thoughtful. It was definitely not tasteful. It was awful. He was a literal twin in visage to his Origin and Ryoken had had enough of it. 

   Apologising to an Ignis, kissing an Ignis, Ryoken was going mad! That was the last straw. No one needed to look like an episode of “dating or siblings”. Least of all Spectre and his Ignis. Or at least that’s what Ryoken thought. 

   “I think he looks fine the way he is.” Spectre growled from beside Ryoken, eyeing him warily.

   “Spectre, I love you, but I cannot take another day of accidentally mistaking you for him and vice-versa.” Ryoken said, he sounded as though he was hanging on by a thread. His words came out desperately through gritted teeth. “I have had enough. Earth, please, cooperate. Let us design you something. Please. For the sake of my sanity.”

   Earth looked pleadingly up at Spectre and fidgeted with his hands, “If it is causing an inconvenience to Ryoken-dono… I don’t mind.”

   “Ugh, fine.” Spectre said, petulantly, even stamping his foot.

   “Thank you.” Ryoken replied, relieved.

   “Do, um, do your best. Thank you.” Earth said and he bowed his head.

   When he completed his bow and returned to his straight-backed pose sitting down, he was kind enough to get up the avatar customisation panel with a flick of his hands to activate it. He relinquished the circular, cyan hologram to Ryoken and Spectre leaned over his shoulder.

   “So, do you have a design in mind or are you going to wing it?” Spectre asked. “Because I have seen what you do when you wing it…”

   “I was thirteen!” Ryoken grouched. “But yes, I think I have something more suitable for the Earth Ignis in mind.”

   “You're not going to turn him into our child are you?” Spectre asked.

   “No, because that is something you would do and cause all new problems. The Earth Ignis has his own identity and personality. There, I will admit…” Ryoken spoke whilst he played and toyed with the toggles and sliders presented to him, he didn’t even look up as his voice trailed off so oddly fond. “His character has come to be my favourite of the six. Steady, reliable, quiet. He is easier to get along with some I shall not name.”

   Both Earth and Spectre perked up at that as that was the nicest thing Ryoken had said about Earth. Or any of the Ignis for that matter. 

   Spectre’s expression broke into a smile and Earth exhibited flashes of excitement between how Ryoken manipulated the parameters of his appearance before… voila. It had likely taken Ryoken all of fifteen-twenty minutes with light chatter and conversation.

   Earth was nervous but assuaged by Spectre’s expressions. No longer a mirror of each other, he still reflected well and given how impressed he was, Earth had a good feeling that Ryoken had done well. The other Ignis might have warned him that this was a ploy to humiliate him in some petty revenge - for stealing his father’s attention away from him, for being the ultimate partner and soulbond to Spectre, etcetera - but Earth had trust. He wanted to believe the best in people. Even Ryoken.

   “There we go.” Ryoken said. “Spectre, do you approve?”

   “He looks marvellous.” Spectre said, gooey and eager to gush over how Earth looked.

   “M-May I see?” Earth asked.

   “Yes, here you go.” Ryoken replied.

   He flicked the hologram back to Earth and Earth cautiously put his finger on the next screen button. The character creator gave way to a mirror and Earth’s eyes lit up. They were still blue, which made him happy, but no longer was the rest of him Spectre’s borrowed avatar. He was entirely his own self. Not his old self, his Ignis self, obviously but he still recognised himself in it.

   “I had the unique privilege of watching you grow, now I can do this for you.” Ryoken mused. “Perhaps you will grow further from this. Perhaps not.”

   Spectre chuckled by his side. He recognised that airy, detached tone of Ryoken’s. It was the one he used when he was trying to seem cool but instead, Spectre found it cute.

   Earth looked deeper into his SOLtiS appearance. His hair had been styled differently, opposite to how it had before. The side fringe which once framed the left side of his face now framed the right. He was still somewhat Spectre like but it was no longer so on the nose. Speaking of which, his nose was reminiscent of Spectre’s but chunkier, somehow. His facial structure in general had become chunkier or generally more square.

   He had been given aesthetic, superficial scars, too, no doubt to remind him of his vivisection. How cruel. Yet it made him look “cool” as one of which cut through his eyebrows. His eyebrows were knitted and inverted and more importantly, a deep orange. His hair was no longer silver but also orange albeit with chocolate brown and forest green streaks. 

   He was his own “person” now and he was entranced by that concept.

   “Thank you, Ryoken-dono,” Earth said, sounding breathless, “I really like it.”

   “Me too.” Spectre added.

   He leaned over and swept Earth’s fringe over his scalp. He carded his fingers through the “wig” of it and kissed Earth’s forehead. Earth blushed. And Ryoken fumed, a little bit jealous. He had done the hard work of styling Earth after all.

   Spectre pulled back and kissed Ryoken’s cheek also, “You did a good job.”

   That was more like it, Ryoken smiled like the cat who got the cream. That was that problem solved and crisis averted. No more mistaking Spectre and Earth or, heaven forbid, vice versa.

   Except, just like how a butterfly could flutter its wings on one side of the planet and cause a tornado on the other side, other, unexpected consequences arose from the decision of giving Earth a more customised avatar. Not immediately but about a month later. Once everyone had adjusted to seeing Spectre and only Spectre around and Earth had gotten used to his new persona.

   As it would turn out, Earth wasn’t just giving heart attacks to Ryoken. He was giving them out to the Lieutenants as well. And even his fellow kin and their Origins and their Origins’ friends. Ryoken, as it turned out, was a mouthpiece for many when it came to getting him a new appearance. The Lieutenants were much, much more pleased with just having one Spectre floating around and so.

   Armageddon had not yet occurred because Earth had gotten a makeover - or even a human persona to begin with. The world was not about to split open with earthquakes nor did tectonic plates shift unexpectedly. It was quiet, just like how Ryoken and the other Knights of Hanoi liked it these days.

   Thus if anything, the makeover had brought them all closer. Messages were now far better at getting to the right recipient now that there was no confusion of who was who between Earth and Spectre. They even felt more comfortable going out and about as a pair, both with the other Ignis and victims of the Lost Incident. It was oddly sweet, even, to see them sitting close to one another on the lounge or even holding hands at zebra crossings or the like.

   It was good to see them all get along, actually.

   Really, that’s all Ryoken could ever ask for. To see his charges settle in and get along, they truly helped one another, even when they bickered or argued just as much as when they bantered and had fun together. It was nice to see the majority of them resume being able to duel for fun amongst one another in front of Kusanagi’s hot dog wagon. Ryoken couldn’t help be fond, even when the Ignis popped their heads in.

   Also, dare he even think it, but Ryoken even felt that he had grown somewhat closer to Earth now that he could properly discern him as his own being independent of Spectre. It was just little bits and things, like him helping out with the dishes or things like that.

   It really seemed like, for once, all was calm and all was bright.

   But alas. Ryoken was ever vigilant and for good reason. Even when he was sleeping. Because that’s when it struck him. If he’d ever had dreams about Earth, he may not have noticed because he had been using Spectre’s face. 

   It was just another night. Simple, no arguments beforehand, just the common platitudes of seeing each other in the morning again the usual routine of checking the network and then brushing his teeth. Yet for some reason, these circumstances that typically brewed into restful, dreamless sleep, Ryoken found himself dreaming of someone in particular as he dreamt of… Earth.

   All whilst cuddling Spectre in bed.

   Ryoken woke with a start and he was opting to not remember the specifics of the dream but his forceful, self-determined waking was enough to rouse Spectre.

   “Are you okay?” Spectre asked, his voice was thick as he pawed at his face. Worry began to permeate his face, even in the shadows. He knew Ryoken was far more prone to nightmares and overthinking than him.

   “Y-Yeah, its okay, it's just…” Ryoken mumbled.

   Spectre glanced down at him and smirked. Ryoken pulled hard over the blankets but the implication was enough.

   “You had a dream about me?” Spectre flirted.

   “Kind of…?” Ryoken confessed. Not a lie. He was very certain Spectre was caught up somewhere in all that.

   That was not the response that Spectre had been expecting. His brows began to furrow but luckily, Ryoken got in quick to save himself.

   “You and Earth.” Ryoken clarified. Again, kind of. 

   “Oh, well in that case, that’s fine.” Spectre said.

   “That’s… fine?” Ryoken echoed.

   “He’s my Ignis, why wouldn’t it be fine?” Spectre asked in turn. “I mean, I’ve dreamt about him in that way, and even in my waking hours…”

   “Wait, you’ve what?!” Ryoken exclaimed.

   Finally. It was happening. The Earth Ignis was doing something to rock his world. Starting small by ruining his relationship with his partner, quite clearly. Not the robot uprising he was quite expecting. But, well, the Ignis had to start somewhere and given how socially awkward he was, no wonder he would start small by dismantling the trust and respect between the leader of the Knights of Hanoi and the second-in-command. Or maybe that socially awkward shtick was just a ruse.

   Ryoken’s mind raced as Spectre stared at him. Shocked and surprised.

   “Wait, you’ve got a problem with that?” Spectre said, panic rising. “I assumed because you were okay with me wanting to be closer to him.”

   “Oh.” Ryoken said.

   “Oh indeed.” Spectre agreed.

   They were silent with one another. Upright in bed and they both sort of turned to face each other. Ryoken turned a light on however, on the lamp. It illuminated them both and a portion of the master bedroom. 

   “Is this a conversation for the morning, maybe?” Spectre suggested. “Because, um, I’m really happy to see you and Earth getting along better. Like, when you suggested that he upgraded his avatar, it was nice to see you do something to bond. It got my hopes up, I won’t lie.”

   Ryoken couldn’t believe his ears. His jealous and possessive Spectre, okay with sharing and being shared. He’d had no idea. He just hadn’t been seeing it because he’d had such a stick up his ass about Earth. And now here he was blushing like a virgin thinking about his gritted teeth observations about Spectre and Earth.

   They’d been more distant to one another prior because the use of Spectre’s avatar had tethered them in an unexpected way. It was an honour but not a refuge. Now they were cuddly. And hand holding. And doing or talking about goodness knows what else when they were out with trowels in the gardening.

   And here Ryoken was, too. With a strange, budding attraction that he couldn’t deny and couldn’t pretend it was because he hadn’t noticed a cyan notch on Earth’s neck.

   “I think this is a morning conversation. With Earth.” Spectre decided for himself and Ryoken. He smiled and tucked a curl behind his ear. “It’ll be painful, and awkward, like pulling teeth but I think it’ll be worth it. It’d mean a lot to try. I-It's not that weird, like Ai and Yu-”

   “Don’t mention them.” Ryoken said, whining, really, and he hid his face behind his hands. He knew things were going to get way too weird at that kind of namedrop. 

   Spectre laughed at his expense. They both knew it was a very Earth thing to do.  It seemed that Ryoken didn’t just teach habits, he could absorb them, too. He leaned in and kissed Ryoken’s cheek. His lips were warm. And, more importantly, real. So here Ryoken was, thinking of Earth even when he wasn’t here and couldn’t be mistaken for Spectre.

   “Let’s just go back to bed for now and talk in the morning.” Spectre said.

   “Fine by me.” Ryoken said.

   Spectre reached across him and Ryoken ducked down, forced back into the soft of the bed. Spectre tapped the lamp’s base and darkness ensued immediately. He wriggled back into his side of the bed and his hand snaked down Ryoken’s arm. He cuddled into the crook of Ryoken’s neck and shoulders and fell back asleep all but immediately.

   Ryoken was once more wide awake and plagued by visions of all the way this could go wrong. Armageddon was going to be a lot more personal than senseless destruction. It was, instead, going to be awkward chit-chat and talking about his feelings and his other least favourite social niceties to get straight to the point. He realised now the world was not going to end with a bang but a whimper.

   And, oh no. 

   Absolutely not. 

  Spectre was right. Ryoken was wrong. And Earth was somewhere in the middle, blissfully unaware that they had been talking behind his back about the best way for him to live a domestic life in between them. One which forewent all the fire and brimstone that Ryoken had been predicting and ergo, unable to see the peace and the serenity through all his anxieties.

[shadowsong26fic]

Coming Attractions!

First Monday of the month (and year!) so here we go!

I'll tag an Open Question Night onto this, too--anything I've posted about here or on AO3 is fair game! I do take prompts but am not necessarily quick to fill them lol.

A little different than the others, since it's January and that means Resolutions of a sort, lol. But first, a quick regular post:

BSG Fic:

Didn't write or post any, but I did podfic for a few Galactica Big Bang/Mini Bang fics, and that was a lot of fun! I had a great time running the event, and am looking forward to doing it again next year (and maybe writing for it as well lol).

If I do write, the two ideas that are foremost in my brain right now (that would work for the event; as opposed to crossovers and/or projects that are Way beyond the scope of an event like this) are:

The Blood of Angry Men Zarek character study in the form of him looking back on his life as he faces his execution after the mutiny. Partly about the question of where does he land on the spectrum of actually believing his rhetoric vs. using it/the way people believe in him to achieve power; partly about this really great quote of his from Kobol along the lines of "it's a lot harder to get blood on your hands than to wash it off later"; partly about his relationships with his inner circle/followers (there would be some stuff about before he went to prison; about Gaeta; about the friend of his who died on Kobol whose name escapes me).

Percussive Maintenance Joke title that would Not remain lol. But yeah this is basically...so, that bit in Downloaded, where Sam is trapped in the exploded parking garage with Boomer, Caprica, and Three insert tangent about 'are there one, two, or three significant Threes it is Unclear' and he gets knocked out like three times? What if. What if all those concussions. What if they unlocked his memories. Probably building up to where he is before he has to be hybridized if not there initially but. What If. (The problem with this one is it miiiiiight also be out of scope, also there's the moment he wakes up and then going back to the school and having a Chat with Philosopher!Cavil and then...not sure where to go from there.)

I also really genuinely do want to get TOB off the ground this year (I know I keep saying that but). And maybe one of the crossover ideas I have floating around in my head, but We'll See. Hopefully I'll have Something out this month (but I'm also waffling a little on How I want to start it--I think it probably makes the most sense to just go in show order and bounce back and forth between the Pegasus and Galactica plotlines once I get all the miniseries setup out of the way there is so much setup omg but every so often I ask myself 'but do I really want to do that? XD)

Also, since I Obviously fell way behind and didn't finish the Year of the OTP project, I'll pick that up and do the rest this year XD

Star Wars fic:

Going back and forth about participating in SWBB this year. I need to actually get on that because deadline for signups is on the 10th, lol. If I do participate it would be the one I planned to do last year (Anakin never joined the Order and meets Ahsoka halfway through the Clone Wars) but never got off the ground.

Note about OTP fills applies here as well, lol.

Also hoping to finally dive back into Precipice this year, so fingers crossed lol.

Other Fandoms (mostly Les Mis, LBR):

I do plan on doing Pod_Together again later in the year because I generally have fun doing it! Will probably adjust my fandoms list though because I keep getting matched on secondary/tertiary fandoms and while stretching myself to write for them is fun, I'd like to do something a little less Stretchy this year if possible, haha.

And I will be updating P&J, I promise XD I know where it's going, and I know what Ari is going to learn, though the specific order/circumstances in which the information comes out I'm still sorting out exactly when and how. (I think there are going to be some Previously Unpublished Letters when Ari gets to the Marseille exhibit about Thierry that give a Name to J, but I'm not sure if Ari's going to go there first or go to Dover or Paris first. And then Calais which is Relevant and Important). Goal is to get At Least one more chapter out this month.

Provenance will come when I finish that--it fills in the gaps Ari can't because Certain People decided to Burn All Their Correspondence, lol.

And then I'm also working on Acheron which is a Groundhog Day AU that I'm excited for. May or may not be other things coming in this fandom, we'll see XD

I do also want to get back to Incinctus and/or other Castlevania ideas I had. May be rewatching that series and/or finally watching Nocturne to jumpstart my brain? So maybe that'll happen this month but it's definitely a lower priority than the other things.

Original Fic:

I think I had a fairly good year where this is concerned? Year of the OTP plus a series of anniversary challenges on Rainbowfic got me to put out a fair amount! Hopefully next year will also be good (I do still have to finish the Year of the OTP for the three ships I was doing here as well, lol.)

...yep, that pretty much sums it up!

So, on to Resolutions! So to speak.

2023 goals:

Post at least arc 8 (and ideally also part 9) in Precipice!Verse as well as at least half of the Preludes stories. ....nope. XD

Write at least 10k of origfic content. Nearly doubled my goal with about 18.7k words!

Complete SWBB and participate in at least one other challenge/exchange Half-completed--I ended up dropping out as a writer from SWBB, but I did Pod_Together and also Ran GBB so XD

Continue posting Incinctus and start posting The Other Battlestar and at least one other non-challenge fic project. Well, I didn't do Incinctus or TOB, but I did do other non-challenge fic projects? Lol XD

Write at least one holiday fic (Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween, New Year’s, Etc.) and post on the appropriate day I actually did do this!

Bonus Goal: Update the origfic archives already. Bonus Goal #2: I have at least one half-finished AU outline I should actually finish and post that. And maybe update the Ventress and Luke time-travel one Yeaaaah neither of these got done, either XD

2024 Goals:

[basically repeating myself, NGL XD]

Get back into Precipice; post at least three chapters of Protectors and at least one Preludes one-shot.

Write at least 10k of origfic content.

Participate in at least two challenges/exchanges.

Start posting The Other Battlestar; complete P&J; and start or post at least one other non-challenge fic project.

Complete the Year of the OTP fills.

Bonus Goal: Write at least one holiday fic (Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Halloween, New Year's, etc.) and post on the appropriate day Bonus Goal #2: Update origfic archives Bonus Goal #3: Post at least one AU Outline.

[kitkatpancakestack]

I teeter on the precipice of otp greatness this fall. Sharpwin has left the harbor, Chenford is making waves, Buddie is gaining traction. The way I could have it all. 1/3 ain't bad but let's go for that perfect trifecta.

[p4lparker]

Practice Makes Perfect;

Put up a poll on who you all think Y/N should end up with... and John B is getting none of the love!  But you guys want a poly relationship with the OTP... we’ll see!  I just want to say thank you so, so much for reading this! I really appreciate it! And if you guys ever want to talk to me or chat or anything.. I’m game!  I’m also going to try and put together a Prompt list for you guys to request stuff from in between my series’ that I plan on writing..  If you have any requests based on songs or anything.. send em in and I’ll give it a bash!! 

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                                                  Gentle Hands;

                 You weren’t sure what woke you; whether it be the heavy arm draped around your middle, the breath fanning across your neck and brushing the hair that had loosened itself from your braids against your skin, the birds chirruping loudly or the blinding sunlight beaming through the open curtains. Or maybe it was the accumulation of all of that? Or possibly it was the plush lips scattering kisses across the top of your shoulder. You sighed happily an wriggled closer to the heat radiating from behind you- a smile tugging at you lips- feeling all kinds of fuzzy, butterflies fluttering madly in your stomach, you felt him wrapped around you- his bare chest pressing to your back. His entire body molded against the back of yours.

               “Good Morning..” He whispered against your skin, barely letting his lip leave you- his nose brushing against you; he couldn’t get enough of you, and he wasn’t sure he ever would, or if he would ever want to let you go. The way you felt pressed against him, was the most content he’d felt in months. Especially since his father had disappeared- you made the empty husk of a house feel like a home once more; you and JJ. He felt like that’s all he would ever need.

               You giggled at the feeling of his soft lips tickling against you skin. You tried to wriggle around so you could face him, but his arm just held you fast- lips still attacking any skin they could come into contact with. Until he let his arm unwrap from around you- he let you roll onto your back before hovering overtop of you, his toned arms holding him above you. His sandy brown hair dangled around his face and tickled your blushing cheeks, as he pecked at your face instead, leaving a kiss teasingly close to your lips.

               “I changed my mind… It’s a great morning!” He whispered- his eyes scanning your face, his own lips smiling cheesily at you. “You look perfect by the way.” His eyes held a sincerity that made you want to hide your face from him- he was gazing at you, there was something else lingering in there, something you couldn’t place. You bottom lip tucking itself between your lips as you stared at eachother.

               “Shut up!” You whined bringing your hands up to hide your face from his grinning face. He laughed and nuzzled his face into the crook of your neck.

               “Seriously, I mean it.. Naked is a good look for you, in fact I think it’s the best look. And I think you should wear it more…” John B teased, as he let his lips lazily kiss against your own. You felt a heat rush up your body- not only from the embarrassment of his comments but also at the feeling of his lips meeting yours and your skin. You felt your body react to him immediately; hands tracing up his smooth back to tangle in his hair, one of your legs hitching around his hip and pulling him closer to you as you both got lost in the feeling of lips meeting lips. Tongues meeting tongue and teeth nibbling. You could feel a swirling sensation in your stomach and a slickness begin to settle between your thighs- you couldn’t help but buck against him slightly trying to create some kind of friction in hopes of relieving some of the pressure building.

               “Like all the time… Clothes should never be an option for you again..” his voice was husky and breathing ragged as he continued to let his lips- the fire spread trough your body, where his skin met yours it felt like an electric current was thrumming. You felt your nipples pucker as they brushed against the hard planes of his chest. You sighed as his lips found their way to the column of you neck. Kissing, licking and nibbling his marks into your skin- when he was sure there would be evidence he had been there he pulled back to admire his work; eyes lighting up as he saw the purple bruises blossoming over your skin like petals on a vibrant bloom. His Cheshire cat grin was contagious and you could feel your own lips tugging up to follow his own, tugging on his hair and pulling his lips to your own once more. Giggling at the rough noise to leave his lips, but kissing him all the same.

               And dear lord, you could never get bored of this boys lips. They were perfect. Chapped but soft, teasing but careful- just right, making you feel like a character form a children’s book. One of his hands ventured down your now familiar body; tickling and grazing against your skin. Teasing up and down your waist before his fingers found the hardened peak of your nipple; he brushed over it carefully before rolling it under the pads of his fingers. Pulling back to watch your face as he pinched at the peak. Tugging at the sensitive bud- his eyes wide and scrutinising your blissed out expression, before dropping his lips to your chest, wrapping them around the bud and nibbling before laving his tongue over it soon after. His efforts were rewarded by you bucking your hips in to his and the loud moan that echoed around the room. You found yourself getting lost in him once more, his hair tickling against your flushed skin as he ventured down your body, peppering kisses as he went- differing soft and sloppy until he landed on his destination. Lips suckling and teeth nibbling obvious marks into the tops of your thighs before his lips delved in. Tongue swiping against your slick slit, gathering some of your juices as it flowed from you- letting his tongue explore your folds, laving them with attention. Your breathing hitched and moans flew from your mouth as you fell deeper in to the pleasure. You could feel his tongue circle your most sensitive nerves, before his plush lips closed around it- pulling it into his warm and talented mouth, his teeth nipping gently, only heightening the arousal and pleasure sweeping through your body. You could feel the coil begin to knot itself within your lower stomach- tightening as he pushed you closer to the precipice of pleasure. John B was figuring you out, and he was enjoying every moment of it- he was learning if he moved his tongue slowly within you and then added his fingers when you least expected it, you would tug and pull harshly on his hair, and it drove him mad- the sounds that slipped from your lips fuelled him on, as he moved himself into the mattress, not even embarrassed as he could feel himself chasing his own high, knowing it wouldn’t be long.

               His fingers slipped within you easily and pumped quickly, nothing like the languid laps of his tongue against your clit. He pulled his fingers out of you and pushing them back in rapidly, crooking them to hit you at a new angle- one that made you moan his name desperately and fist his hair as he pushed you over the edge. Legs going numb and shaking all at the same time. You were a panting shaking mess when he lifted his face from you, after cleaning you to his satisfaction- he was smirking at you as he shuffled up slightly and rest his chin on your stomach as your tried to calm your racing heart and laboured breathing.

               “Definitely the best morning.. I think we should stay here and let me do that all day long..” John B stated lifting one eyebrow as he continued to smile cockily at you. You shook your head lifting your hands to hide your burning face. “That sounds like the best plan I’ve ever heard!” He laughed peppering kisses along your hips and lower stomach.

               “I thought Pope was the brains and came up with the plans..” You laughed- his head lifted from you quickly, face a picture, eyes wide mouth slightly agape.

               “Okay. One; please don’t talk about Pope when I still have your taste on my tongue.. And Two; I come up with plenty of good plans, like the one previously mentioned..” John B stated as his fingers found their way to your waist and began tickling the soft skin there. You giggles spurred him on and his fingers were relentless in their onslaught. He was still wedged between your thighs, most of his weight resting on his elbows, as he dropped his lips to your lower stomach as it quaked with laughter, he pursed his lips and blew a raspberry on to the skin- making you laugh louder as your hands tried to pry his away. When you were a gasping mess; laughter tears leaking down your face, mouth gaping wide but no sound escaping you he stopped. Moving himself up to hover over you on his hands and knees pressing a kiss to your forehead as you calmed. He moved his face level with yours, ghosting his lips across your own before pressing his forehead against your own. The room had silenced, and that was when you heard it; the incessant buzzing of your phone on the floor beside the bed, you sighed and let a hand drop from the mattress blindly groping for the device. Your fingers brushed against it and pulled it towards you, peeking at the notifications; there were a couple of messages from Kie, and you pushed the boy smothering you with pecks once more away from you. He frowned as your hand pushed against his chest, but he sat back on his feet regardless.

               “So much for your genius plan..” You stated showing him the messages, reminding you of your extra shift at The Wreck. He puffed air into his cheeks, looking like a puffer fish and let the air out nodding, with a forlorn look in his eyes. He grabbed the phone from your hand and tossed it behind him on the bed and kissed you quickly once more, before gripping your hands and tugging you to sit up with him, his arms wrapping you up in him and holding you close.

               “Alright… it was a genius plan, but I have a better one… You can only leave this bed on one condition..” John B sighed pouting his full lips at you, you rolled your eyes but nodded gesturing for him to continue. “You can only leave this bed to do boring work as long as you wear the shirt you were changing into last night!” He stated, staring you down- hazel eyes alight with mischief, an eyebrow arched at you challengingly and his lips teasing a grin he was trying to hold back. You thought it over for a moment before shaking your head.

               “I can’t wear your clothes John B, remember the rules. We can’t tell the others. You and JJ came up with the rules in the first place.” You stated pushing him off you and rolling to gather the abandoned shirt on the floor. A part of you longing to wear his shirt but the other part of you scared that the smartest two of your ‘family’ would work out the whole situation.

               “I said wear my shirt… not tattoo our agreement on your forehead. Besides, you look amazing wearing my clothes- its like you have a part of me with you all day even though I can’t be wrapped around you, my shirt can be… And now I’m jealous of my shirt..” John B started strong, rolling his eyes, but by the end of his last sentence he was frowning in such a cute way. You bit your lip to suppress the giggle waiting to erupt. Your fingers were playing with the collar of the shirt- thumb brushing over it gently. You turned to see him still flopped on the bed- pouting like a toddler and you could feel yourself nodding before you even realised you were doing so. He sat up and whooped, rushing from the bed to grab you around the middle and spin you in a circle. You patted his shoulder and rolled your eyes at his antics- he pressed a sloppy kiss to your cheek before letting you down but not letting you go; his eyes glancing over your naked body once more. A hungry look settling in his eyes, as you pushed him away and began collecting your clothes. Dragging them on; the bikini from the day before, along with your now dry shorts and converse- before pushing your arms through his stripey shirt. John B came and stood behind you, sliding his arms around your waist and buttoning it up for you- his chin resting on your shoulder. He buttoned half of the buttons and left the shirt open from just below your bikini top, slapping your hands away as you tried to do more up- after his hands slapped at you a few times, you just let them be, allowing John B to have his way again. You moved on to take your hair from its haphazard braids; leaving your hair in a wavy mass. He was just beginning to leave kisses on your neck again, groaning as he caught sight of you in his shirt in the mirror- when a loud honking came from outside the ramshackle building. You bent at the hips and pushed away from him, prying his needy hands from your body. Once you were free you ran from his bedroom and through the house towards the covered in porch- you could hear him following behind you, laughing at your antics. you continued to run out the wooden home and towards the Jeep Kie was situated in and leaning on the horn. Just as you were pulling the door open he had made it to the path leading up to the chateau.

               You clamboured into the car before pulling your body out of the sun roof- raising your hand to your forehead you gave him a two fingered salute as Kie began to drive away. John B clutched at his heart dramatically and you laughed- Kie taking one hand from the wheel to pull you back in to the now moving vehicle and into your seat.

               “Seatbelt… cause apparently you wanna kill yourself..” She grumbled, you laughed- rolling your eyes but doing as she said non-the-less. Kie turned her face to you, a questioning look painted on her beautiful face- which you happily ignored in favour of playing around with the radio controls. She sighed at you ignoring her but allowed you, your privacy; besides, that display could have just been friendly, she needed more evidence before she confronted you with her theories. Once the pair of you got to The Wreck- you were both whisked up in work. It was a busy day- the earlier days of summer usually were, not that the busyness eased off any during the summer, but the first week the staff were exhausted by closing. You and Kie were rushing around from the get-go; taking orders, filling them, cleaning and clearing tables. You and Kie had a system; and were able to manoeuvre around each other as if dancing in a ballroom. Pirouetting around each other and customers with full trays of food and drinks. Mr C offering you both high fives as you passed at a job well done- you both dancing an swaying to the beat of the happy tunes playing form the speakers. The breakfast rush had been and gone- allowing you all to breath a small sigh of relief, but it didn’t last long as you all glanced at the clock; the lunchtime rush was imminent. You laughed as Kie ran a hand through her curly tresses and tugged. And so the dance began again; you both dashing around each other carefully. You were helping an elderly couple pay for their meal when John B and JJ strolled through the doors and plonked themselves down at the counter in front of you.

               As you took the couples payment and they left you a hefty tip- which you’d share with Kie as it was way too much- you raised a brow to the two boys who were trying to smile ‘innocently’ at you, and you felt nerves settle in your stomach. You turned to the two, and just stared- trying to channel as much of Kie’s attitude as you could.

               “What can I getcha boys?” You asked, when Mrs C looked over at you, the boys looked at you questioningly at your change in demeanour- you tilted your head and smiled widening your eyes, and they seemed to get the message. Laughing as they turned to wave at Kie’s Mom before ordering fries and shakes a piece. You nodded and sent the order to the kitchen, before wandering back to them. As you stood in front of them and began wiping down the counter top; JJ held up a hand, you let your eyes look at the dangerous and familiar key chain dangling from his hand.

               “What the hell JJ… Your dad is gonna kill you!” You whispered frantically, your body going cold but sweating at the same time. JJ just shrugged and smirked.

               “The asshole raided my cash-stash.. so I’ve temporarily misappropriated the Phantom keys as collateral..” He stated, there was a shadow in his eyes- which chilled you, John B just smiled.

               “We’re gonna take her for a spin tomorrow.. You, me , Jay, Pope and Kie.. Pogues in style baby!” John B laughed, it was obvious that he probably hadn’t helped JJ with this particular scheme, but he was supporting it which was just as dangerous. You had an unsettling feeling seat itself within you, as you stared helplessly at John B, who shook his head slightly. Just as you saw their order be put on the side to be delivered to them; Pope walked through the door and Mr C placed a hand on your shoulder and nudged his head to where Kie was clearing your usually booth. You smiled gratefully at the older man before leading the boys to the booth, Pope stopping off to give his order to Mr C on his way past. John B slid into one side of the booth, tugging on your hand and pulling you in after him- JJ then shoving you closer to the brunette as he slid in after you; leaving you sandwiched between the two. Kie raised a brow but followed Pope into the other side regardless- and shortly after you were all seated comfortably, Mr C delivered food to the table; fries and shake for JJ and John B, chicken nuggets for you with a coke, Kie a veggie burger and pepsi and Pope had a sub. JJ reached for the Mayo and John B reached for the ketchup, both squeezing some from the bottles on to your plate- the two sauces touching, before JJ reached over and mixed the two together for you with a fry. John B reached a fry over and dipped it into the pink sauce before popping it into your mouth and wrapping an arm around you.

               A cough brought your attention from the nuggets in front of you; you looked to Kie and she stared at you, brows raised, eyes wide, and chin pointing to her chest. You could feel the heat race through you, as you felt her gaze focused on you and JJ hand squeezed your thigh under the table. Pope also looked at you, like he was trying to figure something out. And you quickly looked away from the pair and tried to focus on the food. The two boys either side of you either pretended not to notice the inquisitive pair in front of you or they simply ignored it. JJ offering you his shake to sip from- and the meal continued with only mild discomfort for you; as JJ let his finger draw aimlessly on your thigh under the table and John B let his fingers twist in to your hair. It was only when a small food fight started between JJ, Pope and John B did Mr C come over to you all and tell you and Kie your break was over. You waved the boys off as they were leaving the blonde and the brunette of the group blowing you and Kie obnoxious kisses over their shoulders- you held up both hands and flipped them the bird before slipping back into work mode; and with that the afternoon rush began, progressing in a similar way to the busy morning.

               By the time the end of your shift rolled around and Kie had dropped you off back at home- you felt dead on your feet. You barely registered the fact that your dad’s car was in the driveway. You moved like a zombie through the house; having a sleepy and barely coherent conversation with your dad, who pushed you up the stairs. You sluggishly moved your way through your shower- yawning all the while. You stumbled back to your room and pulled on a shirt which definitely wasn’t yours, the deep arm holes clueing you in as to who it belonged to. After tugging it on and a pair of underwear sleepily you then flopped on to the bed and let unconsciousness claim you.

   You awoke later in the night- mouth feeling dry and a desperate thirst in need of quenching, so you trudged your way downstairs- turning on a few lights to aid your venture to get a bottle of water, when the condensed bottle was gripped loosely in your hand a tap at the back door nearly made you drop the slippery bottle. You turned and tried to look through the glass panes in the door, you could see a shadowy figure lurking in the darkness- you stepped cautiously towards the door brandishing your bottle as a weapon. You stepped towards the glass door, one hand hovering over the handle to check it was locked when you caught sight of familiar blonde hair. You sighed out relieved and unlocked the door- before pocking your head out into the muggy air.

“JJ? What are you doing here?” You whisper shouted, as he stepped forwards and came out of the shadows to stand infront of you. You could barely make his features out as your eyes strained to adjust to the lack of light. But you could hear him sniffle slightly as he let his body fall into yours- your arms immediately lifting to wrap around his shaking form, you dragged him inside and urged him to follow you. You let him go as you locked the door once more and turned to the lights and flicked them on; the air that had been in your lungs left you in a painful rush as you took in the sight of the blonde boy. He stood before you, hood covering his hair mostly but the sides and font stuck out wildly, his face almost unrecognisable under all he swelling, bruises and cuts that littered his usually beautiful face. You could see he was favouring one side of his body; he was leaning to the right and your heart clenched as your foggy mind connected the dots.

“Hey.. You should see the other guy..” JJ muttered and tried to smile- it came out more like a grimace as the movement made blood seep from his split lip, so he tried to huff out a laugh- that also failed as he winced obviously clutching his arm to his ribs. After staring briefly you moved around the room collecting supplies; ointments, alcohol wipes and a few butterfly strips- pushing him in to a chair and you kneeled before him.  You shook your head and bit your lip as you began to try and first aid him to the best of your minimal ability. He hissed and groaned slightly as the alcohol wipes made contact with the weeping cuts on his face, and he tried to keep from flinching as your gentle fingers rubbed bruise ointment into his delicate skin. You were trying to keep your hands gentle; not wanting to cause anymore injury or pain for the Maybank boy. Your heart felt like it was breaking for him, as the shadowy sadness settled within his baby blues.

“JJ… What happened?” You whispered to him- words feeling as if they were getting stuck in your throat as it constricted. He looked into your eyes before turning away from you- the shame rolling off his body in waves, not calming like the ones he loved to surf- these waves felt roiling and harsh.

“You should be saying ’I told you so!’, cause you were right.. My dad found out I’d took the Phantom keys and he didn’t take to kindly to that- so he showed me just how much he appreciated it..” JJ muttered, there was a bitterness to his words and eyes as he spoke- and it made you want to both cringe away from him and wrap him in your arms tightly. Your breath hitched and you could feel our head shaking back and forth.

“I never want to be right about that.. ever..” You whispered back, your voice simply not strong enough, as your bottom lip quavered, you sank your teeth into it to stop its wobbling. Before you could stop yourself, you wrapped your arms around his neck and you dragged him towards you, and he didn’t resist- letting you engulf him, he needed to feel you- he needed to be surrounded by you. When you made contact with him- he pulled you from your knees and into him, continuing to tug and pull at you until you were sat in his lap- legs and arms holding him close; as he nuzzled his nose into the skin of your neck, breathing you in. You let him drown in you and felt large dollops of water drip onto your skin. Pulling back, you lifted your hands to his face, lifting it to your level and staring into his tear-filed eyes; you kissed his stained and bruised cheeks, before moving to his lips trying to pour everything you felt into it. When you parted, you just gazed at each other, and breathed. You placed a delicate kiss to his forehead before standing from his lap and unwrapping yourself from him- clasping your hands together, you pulled him behind you, he followed you without question- though you gave one anyway.

“Come to my room… The ‘Sheriff’ is in so I can’t very well leave you to sleep in here..” you murmured over your shoulder,  as you moved around the room and cleared up after yourselves- before dragging him up the creaky stairs and into your room. He closed it softly behind him and shuffled to the bed behind you. You let go of his hand and moved to lay on the bed, throwing the covers away and opening your arms for him to crawl into, which he did. He laid on his stomach- as you laid on your back, he got comfy; arms snaking around your waist, head resting on your stomach and his chin tucked into his bicep. You let your fingers trail through his salty tresses, twisting- both of your breathing in time and calm. You were beginning to believe the blonde had fallen to sleep as he was still, but just as the thought flittered through your mind you felt his lips press into you, his lips meeting the worn and soft t-shirt material that covered your body. After that first contact, his lips began a dance across your stomach, his fingers gently rooking the shirt from your torso so he could get at your skin. He nuzzled his face in to the bare skin of your stomach- before sitting up abruptly and tugging his own hoodie and shirt off, he laid himself back down- and let his body contour to your own. The heat from his skin nearly overwhelmed you, it was already a sticky evening and his added warmth was almost stifling, but you bit your tongue and allowed him to soak you in.

You were wrapped around each other; and you felt content. You felt his ring clad fingers explore your skin; soft like the wings of a butterfly, barely ghosting over you, tracing unrecognisable patterns, lines and swirls. The feeling of his calloused fingertips was dizzying, especially when accompanied by him being pressed against you- and his scent enveloping you. His face again met your skin and his lips began to worship you once more. His kisses were mainly focused on your shoulders and neck before venturing to your own lips. At first it was a simple brush of a barely there kiss- but soon his lips became more fervent- more desperate in his attempts to taste you. His tongue sweeping against your bottom lip begging for entrance, and who were you to refuse him. His kisses were needy and imploring you, searching for something. He was a flurry of hands and lips and movement, and he was simply intoxicating to you. You were like putty in his hands- melting at his touch, and completely malleable to his whim. His lips trailed down your neck and his fingers danced across the band of your underwear- heat rising between you, the air felt heady- the passion growing between you palpable. Those calloused tips dipped below the elasticated band and teased you, slithering through your soaked slit. As his hands wandered, so did yours; through his salted hair, up and down his slightly sweaty back, tickling around his waist before trekking along his abs- them flexing as your own delicate fingers explored. The slipped lower and ran along the band of his own bottoms making his breath hitch as he pulled from your lips to stare at you wide eyed.

“We go at my speed? Show me how to love you…” you whispered, scared he would say no and reject you. Scared of the unknown, scared it was too much too soon. You were only just beginning your journey with him and John B; but you wanted, no needed to show him that hands can love as well as hate.

“You don’t have to do this.. This was all about you remember..” He whispered back, voice wavering and breath coming out in short pants. You shook your head and smiled in what you hoped was a reassuring manner- before holding his bruised face carefully between your hands and kissing him gently on the lips. He pressed himself against you from lips to hips, his body weighing on you in a comforting manner- as your hands began to wander once more. You dragged one hand from the curves of his lower back to slip between you both; fingertips and palm flush against his taut and toned stomach, abdominal muscles flexing as he felt the contact. His breathing was erratic as the kiss you shared became more passion fuelled. Your fingers lingered on the waist band of his shorts, tracing along it before moving cautiously to the button holding them closed. Your fingers trembled slightly and fumbled the button through the hole before dipping to the zipper below and easing it down. You hand grazing against him- he gasped at the slight contact, dropping his forehead onto your shoulder as he panted lightly. Your heart was racing, but you weren’t sure whether it was to do with the boy falling apart above you at the slightest touch or if it was to do with the nerves building within. You let your fingers dance across him; trying to explore him, he was hard and pushing against the confines of his boxers and shorts, there was a heat radiating from him and he felt large- which intimidated you. His lips began nibbling and sucking into your shoulder and neck as you became braver.

Your hand cupping more firmly and giving an experimental squeeze through the last couple layers of his clothing. Before sliding up and into the soft material of his boxers; at the first contact you almost withdrew, the skin here was softer than you imagined or cared to think about. You gently tugged your hands from him and pushed him off you; he looked startled and his own hands moved to re-fasten his shorts, thinking you’d changed your mind. But you slapped his hands away and pushed him to lie on the bed- kicking a leg over his hips and pressing yourself into him. lips attaching to his and kissing him fully and whole-heartedly. You moved your hips over him and let one of your hands drop from his shoulders to his waistband again, shuffling off him and lower down his body as you tugged his boxers and shorts to follow- leaving them to rest on his thighs. You looked at him and felt your eyes widen, and your mouth go dry. There he lay in all his glory; he laid against his stomach, the tip was a rosy colour- the middle glistening as drops of pre-cum gathered. You bit your lip and lifted your eyes from him, to look at JJ in the face. He in turn was watching you closely, a matching rosy colour on his cheeks as below.

“How can I make you feel good?” You whispered as your cheeks flushed more red. JJ just stared at you wide eyed with a small smile on his face.

“M-maybe use your fingers to touch the top.. you need to make me wet..” JJ stumbled over his words, and you giggled lightly before following his instructions- you used the pads of your index and middle fingers to spread the wetness over as much of him as possible, but he didn’t seem wet enough yet. So you removed your fingers and slipped them into your mouth tentatively- getting a small taste of him, and it wasn’t unpleasant, in fact you wondered if he’d let you taste him fully at some point. You looked to JJ for approval as you licked your hand; fingertip to heel of your palm, JJ watched blue eyes dark and wide- mouth dropped open and cheeks rosy. You moved your hand towards him, his hand wrapping you around him, and squeezing before moving your hand slowly along the length of him from base to tip. The change in him was almost instantaneous; he fisted his other hand in your sheets below him and his teeth clamped down on his bottom lip harshly. You were entranced by him, his hair seemed even more wild as it splayed against your pillow- some tendrils tickling against his forehead. His hand continued to move your up and down, showing you how to hold him- how tightly to squeeze. When you reached the tip once more, your thumb swept over it again to collect the liquid leaking there. He moaned at the contact and it gave you a boost in confidence you didn’t expect; you pushed his hand away from yours with the unoccupied one. And you took over; you hand moved over him at a leisurely pace, allowing you to familiarize yourself with him and the amazing sounds slipping from his slightly chapped lips.

“F-f-faster p-please?” His voice was needy and heady, and you could do nothing but comply. You picked up the pace, hand running over him quickly, thumb tracing over the tip from time to time. Your eyes left his member and looked towards him; his face was screwed up in the most glorious way you’d ever seen, eyes pinched closed, bottom lip clutched between his teeth tightly- though it didn’t stop the delicious noises escaping him and echoing throughout your room. And his moans and groans only spurred you on, you couldn’t tell who wanted the climax more; him or yourself. As you watched him with rapt attention; taking note of how he whined when you altered your angle slightly. You felt your own excitements and arousal simmer within your blood- he was just so breathtakingly beautiful like this…

 You wished he could stay like this forever. But it was coming to an end, and soon it appeared- if the whimpers and pants coming from him were any indication. Your hand never slowed, but your fingers flexed, squeezing him slightly more. And with a twist of your wrist- you weren’t quite sure what made you do it, but it was appreciated greatly. As his stomach clenched and his knuckles wrapped around the bed sheets turned white- he let out an almost sinful noise, deep from his throat that had you gasping and ravishing his lips with your own. And then he stiffened as hot spurts of him dotted along the palm and back of your hand. Your lips were lazily and sloppily kissing each other- tongues and teeth meeting languidly. His hands twisted into your hair and held you against his lips and his body- he needed you close to ground him once more. His breathing calmed along with the kissing it became less needy, and more like gentle pecks. He reached for his abandoned t-shirt blindly as he kept you pressed against him lips- his need for constant contact made your heart swell and melt all at the same time. He gripped the shirt with one hand, collected your other one and wiped away the evidence of what had just passed between the two of you. Once he was content you’d been cleaned enough, he pressed a chaste kiss against your lips, and continued to wriggle his shorts down his legs and pull up his boxers. Before he settled back into the bed beside you and tugging you close. He wrapped his arms around your waist and settled his head on your stomach, once more brushing his lips against you. Your fingers tangling in his blonde tresses and twisting gently until both of your breathing slowed and sleep over took you both.

____________________________________________________

Taglist:

@fobobozobo​  @nikki082489  @softkidinlove  @poguesforlife   @belledutchess   @yourforeveryoungblog   @brilliantbecca94        @n1ghtsh4d3-67      @Lasnaro      @whoreforouterbanks @kaelyn-lobrutto24

[kunstpause-archive]

2019 Writer’s Round-Up

@elveny tagged me in this and I have an equally hard time calculating things like word counts. There was a time when I kept track of it almost religiously but that somehow stopped sometime in 2018. It’s especially useless when writing so many things together - there are chapters by now where I honestly can’t tell anymore who wrote what paragraph. Plus we edit each other... It’s hard! But I’ll try my best. 

tagging @curiousthimble​ @captainderyn​ @tishinada​ @illegiblewords​ @midnightprelude​ @anchanted-one​ @defira85​ and everyone of my followers who is a writer - I always forget someone bc of squirrel brain - please don’t feel excluded and feel free to tag me back

Word count

So this is going to be a bit of an estimate.

I saw from Julie’s post that we have written about 422821 words so far on our long fic - some of it is obsolete by now bc we re-did so much and some of it is in very early planning.

And apparently we’ve written another 134024 words for our DAI OT3 Adriene Hawke/Amara Lavellan/Iron Bull and for the Hawke Twins in Skyhold. We actually had a quite laid out plan for that story and I love what we have so farbut we changed soooo much in den DA2 story and went into different directions with basically all characters that we will have to redo most of this when the time comes... (A reason why we both promised ourselves to write more chronologically - we got tired of rewriting our own stuff constantly...)

On my own I did some AU stories (namely the coffee shop au (10k) to the DA2 story and a crime/spy au (currently 60k) which I have stopped posting bc I need to change something towards the very end and I kinda feel I need to redo more chapters before that slightly as well. It is almost finished though. I guess it has about 4-5k words missing and is on my to-do list for 2020).  I also re-wrote a part of my DAI story, We overcome the night. (Inquisitor/Iron Bull) which is basically a small prequel for that DAI story with elveny. (35k)

Then I started an swtor story that isn’t published yet that sits at 10k

And I dipped my toes into some Dos2 and FFXIV (the latter one isn’t really published yet, also it isn’t done.)

Together with prompts and the fictober bits and small things here or there I think the stuff that I wrote on my own sits at about 200.000 words, give or take. together with the shared stuff I’ve written somewhere between 450.000 and 500.000 words this year in total.

Number of smut scenes

I wanna say “not that many” but then I went an had a look... About 25 - not all of them published yet.And most of them are very story driven, there is only a handful for the smut itself.

New things I tried this year

I went into the realm of Coffee Shop AUs for our DA2 story. And I had loads of fun with it. A follow-up for the DAI characters and a sorta side story for my Warden/Leliana OTP from DAO is loosely planned. Elveny wrote a very sweet roomate au in the same setting. (We can’t even AU on our own!)

I tried out some horror and psychological stuff in our Fictober AU as well as wrote quite a few different characters for the first time.

And I went into totally new fandoms this year, namely Dos2 and FFXIV. Though especially with FFXIV it feels sorta like tip of the iceberg. I will definitely plan and write more for that.)

Favourite thing I wrote this year

This is really hard. Because I am really happy about several things. But a few that I am especially fond of:

This short fic about Fane from Dos2

This chapter from the Fictober AU where I went totally out of character from my own writing both style and topic wise

This little fan-fanfiction I wrote for @elveny ‘s Lyssa (again, experimenting with another style)

Favourite fic I read this year

Family is what you make of it by @elveny - It was so sweet an humorous - I adored every minute of it

The wrong Warden by @curiousthimble - I am still not caught up bc I had a period of about 3 months where I couldn’t concentrate on reading anything but I am more than halfway there and I love this story. The characterisations are so spot on and the dynamics between the characters are wonderful. Not to mention a really great and interesting OC

Moments in time by @captainderyn - LOTRO! One of my very original internet fandoms and her stories and ocs are so damn lovely! It was surprisingly easy to get quite invested into both her ocs - the one shots range from funny and fluffy to sad and there is so much feeling in it.

Stalemate by @illegiblewords - I did not see those feels coming. Especially not with such an absolute rarepair and in a way I never even considered before. Single-handily opened my eyes to an amazing dynamic and just made me yell at my screen with emotions.

Writing goals for 2020

So many... Finally finish the crime au thingy. Write more FFXIV stuff. Continue on Precipice of Change, potentially finish it. (Which will be hard bc I love this universe a lot.) Write the very intense Tranquil AU to that universe. (Parts of it exist already) Write more for DAO. Get better and or consistent with answering prompts. (They are usually so much fun but the right headspace... you know?) Experiment more with style. Write something that makes @elveny either laugh or cry - both fine by me.

Words of Thanks

The most important ones have to go to Julie/elveny - for being my constant writing companion, for being my best friend and overall one of the most amazing people that I know. You encourage me, you give me ideas and you take my own ideas and make them better and I am so happy you are in my life! To many more years together!

Thank you for all the amazing people who beta (or have beated) for me or us. @edencalder @knallbart @curiousthimble and @cornfedcryptid as of late

And special thanks to @anchanted-one for going over something for us and for always leaving encouraging comments and @captainderyn for the really heartfelt feedback

[dragonnan]

Mega Multi-Fandom Rec List Part 2

DISCLAIMER!!!

I will miss certain people; probably a lot of people. It’s inevitable.  3 reasons.  I haven’t read every fic in every fandom.  2, I haven’t managed to bookmark every fic out there.  3, I am not involved with every fandom.  The fandoms in my list are the ones I personally and currently am involved in which have enough fics to rec that they are worth the time linking below.

So bear with me.

4-ish - I tend to cling pretty tight to both hurt/comfort (whump) as well as canon.  I’m not hugely into romance save for maybe 1 or two couples and, again, I lean hard on whatever is either canon or VERY strongly implied OTP.  I don’t rec porn (nothing against it I just avoid it when it comes to anything that might have an underage audience).

Finally, anything I rec that may contain triggering subject matter I will tag as well as I can so heed the warnings where appropriate!

Note: I have also included some of my work below.  For a complete collection of my stories you can find them at the following links:   dragonnan’s Psych fics dragonnan’s A03 fics

Sherlock (BBC)

Gen 

Redemption by sgam76 The Knight Shift by dragonnan for tunes84  5 Times Sherlock wanted his big brother to carry him + 1 time he wouldn't admit it by SailorChibi Scenes From Recovery by maryagrawatson for Boton Cold Comfort by maryagrawatson An Act Of Rebellion by afteriwake for GlowingMechanicalHeart, Dreamin  The Precipice by takethesky87 Road to Freedom by Ariane_DeVere English as a Foreign Language by standbygo  Proportionate Response by babydrache Landscape With The Fall Of Icarus by CaitlinFairchild (Warning: Rape/non-con)  Recorded by Morgan_Stuart (Warnings: Torture, Implied Character Deaths)  I've Got You Now by ready_to_kick_some_ass No Flowers by GraceHolmes  An Interesting Puzzle by awanderingbard When Your Belly's in the Trench by Morgan_Stuart  Idle Gossip by Arnie  Extraction by Basser Flinch by Salr323  Trust Thy Doctor by becausemycroft (Unfinished)  Of Monsters by Basser Dangerous Mould by Benfan  Never That Easy by Kerkerian No Incentive So Great by thisprettywren You Were Never Supposed To Leave by Ballykissangel (Character Death - Not Sherlock or John)  No More Miracles by whitchry9 (Major Character Death)  Appearances Can Be Deceiving by SailorChibi (Warning: Rape/non-con)  The Most Awful Thing by whitchry9 Wrong by impulsereader Triage by Morgan_Stuart Lessons Learned by Morgan_Stuart Croatia-Water-Blue by hollyesque (Warning: Rape/non-con)  Hopeless Wanderer by Cyane (orphan_account) The Triple Bluff by SarahKnight  Something Broken by GhyllWyne Fractured by radculas Constantly by thesignsofserbia  In Arduis Fidelis by Salr323 Rule of Law by thesignsofserbia  Sound of Silence by SailorChibi Never Have I Ever by awanderingbard  Lost for Words by awanderingbard Fallout by Salr323 Following On by Loopy456 Oubliette by CherryBlossomTide Unforgettable by tenderly_wicked A Cure for the Final Problem by Saasan (Major Character Death)  He's Had This Nightmare Before by mirroredLife  he Holiday by Scriblit (Warning: Rape/non-con)  Paying Back by Dayja  Harmless Things by J_Baillier  It takes John Watson to save your life. by Sparkypip  Comatose by Sparkypip Everything Will Be Okay by great_big_worm (Warning: Rape/non-con)  Seek Out The Unworthy by squire  The Shallow End by hollyesque War Crimes by mossologist (Warning: Rape/non-con)  Illation by hollyesque Crushing Fears by Amaya_Ramiel Pressure by Tammany Unthinkable by Lindentreeisle (Captainblue) (Warning: Rape/non-con)  A Smelly Affair by dioscureantwins for Yitzock  Do Your Research by dioscureantwins for CherryBlossomTide (Child Abuse)  Proxy by CherryBlossomTide (Child Abuse)  Pipe Song by Mistress_Siana (Warning: Rape/non-con | Violence)  It's Not The Violin by copperbadge The Tiger and the Shark by dragonnan (Warning: Rape/non-con) 

Sherlolly

Down and Shaking When I Think I Lose by satin_doll for OhAine, GettingOverGreta A New Project by rachel614 (orphan_account)  Sherlollipops - Til Death by MizJoely Everything and More by rachel614 (orphan_account) I've Learned to Lose You by Ukthxbye for Writingwife83 These Scars We Kiss by rachel614 (orphan_account) (Warning: Includes discussions of self-harm)  A Vicious Motivator by darnedchild The Shadow of What Will Be by versarilaetus The Last Meal by theSapphireSky The Healing of Sherlock Holmes by honeycakes  Insomnia by katiebuttercup Chasing Paradise by Chibiness87 It's My Party by Mouse9 The Adventure of the Left Shoe by Jolie_Black TMI (Too Much Information) by GarudaDreamsOfRain  Handsome In Her Eyes by afteriwake Little Bird by Caffeine_faerie The Price of Sentiment by Mouse9 The Admirer by howterrifying  Dial M for Molly by dragonnan 

More Sherlolly recs can be found HERE

Series

Scheherezade ‘verse, A Felicitous Natal Celebration, and With a Little Help From My Friends Series’ by sgam76:   Sherlock is home, he and John are returning to cases, and all’s right with the world–right? But a series of minor mishaps and injuries makes two things very clear to his friends and family: first, Sherlock’s time away wasn’t the grand adventure everyone has assumed it was; and second, that time has left Sherlock with a legacy that’s bleeding into his life today. Sherlock is Not Okay, and it’s not going away. 

NOTE: These stories are not written in the order with which they occur.  They are all part of the same universe and dovetail amongst one another.  You can read them in whatever order you which - though I strongly advise beginning with Scheherezade as nothing else will quite make sense without that history.

A Felicitous Natal Celebration - Past fic

A Felicitous Natal Celebration Excursions and Alarums First Things First All Along the Watchtower TLS and the Sloane Ranger Happy Not Happy Christmas

Scheherezade ‘verse Scheherezade   A Pox on All Your Houses  Interlude in December - Note: Part 3 is a chapter taken from the org fic and posted as a one-shot.   [PodFic] Scheherezade by DefinitelyNotPie, sgam76   A Long Walk Down a Dusty Road  These Old Shades  Larceny, Lawlessness and Opium - Note: These events take place sometime during the ORG story

With a Little Help From My Friends - future fic With a Little Help From My Friends  Aftermath 

Reset Universe Series by maryagrawatson: After dealing with the Moriarty threat, Sherlock was still sent on his mission... Eleven Months Reset (Warning: Rape/non-con referenced as well as Attempted Rape)  Cracked

Sherlock Holmes (RDJ Movies)

Alive by Sharmain The Case Of The Drowning Evidence by StarkRogers Ability, Neutralized by PeaceHeather Buried Alive by drjohnhwatson Identifying the Ripper by WayWardWonderer (More of a Classic Doyle Style)  Eloquence in Motion by donutsweeper Damage by ancalime8301 A Most Belligerent Patient by kayliemalinza Associations by ancalime8301 A Matter of Precaution by moogsthewriter

Psych

Never could get the hang of Tuesdays by Liviapenn Snail Mail Sucks - Next Time, Send Me a Text by SydneyWoo I See Your Hubris...and I'll Raise You Fifty by SydneyWoo And Then The World Blew Up by SydneyWoo (Minor Character Death) Shall We Play a Game? by JR88fan Testing, Testing, One, Two, Ouch! by PapayaK This is not the Karma You're Looking For by eideann The Ticket by Kirei Latent by InsaneTrollLogic (Major Character Death) Exposed by Syncop8ed Rhythm

A Very Risky Proposition by aakira Chest Pains by AmeliaReddy The Last Man At The End Of The World by watanuki_sama A Whisper to the Living by Xparrot (Major Character Death)  Where There is Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth by dragonnan (Warnings for Blood/Gore and Horror)  You Say My Brain's Bleeding Like It's a Bad Thing by Kansas42 Stuck in an Office with You by PeterPanic Hostage Taking 101 by Syncop8ed Rhythm  The Shassiter Friendship Club by NoirCat  Suffer the Night by dragonnan  Giving Shelter to Midnight Ramblers by JR88fan Happy Halloween by NoirCat  Fathers and Sons Felonious and Otherwise by Okapi  Grace by Silence  Statement Time by NoirCat   I Don't Know How to Say Goodbye by Psychrulz (Major Character Death)  Or Is It Trust? by windscryer (Crossover w/ SPN)  Father Figures by Kirei  You Give Me Fever by dragonnan  Shawn and the Friendly Neighborhood Stalker by Nixa Jane I Would Do Anything for Love; Even That by dragonnan for mortma1984  Lingering Chill by s_c (Major Character Death)  Metal So Strong Doesn't Last Very Long by Sky Pad  An Almost World by Oldach Dreaming (Major Character Death)  Obsession by dragonnan Through Moonbeams Softly by brightblue All Nighter by dragonnan  The Seed of Doubt by Collegekid06  The Five Stages of Henry Spencer by Collegekid06   101. Dead Man's Float by MusicalLuna  Fun in the Woods with Buzz McNabb by centipede  Don't Eat the Crab by Raych Better Off Decapitated by dragonnan 

More Psych recs can be found HERE

Series

Fractures Series by VampKira: (Warnings for Child Abuse, Rape/Incest, Violent Disturbing Imagery, and Horror)  The fun filled saga of the Spencer men’s warped family dynamic and dragging their friends, co-workers, and acquaintances along for the ride.  Fractures (Part 1)  Corpses, Curses, and Cops, Oh My (Part 2)  Scars (Part 3) (Incomplete)  

What’s The Chance? Series by lapsus_calami:  The bad guy from their recent case forces Shawn and Gus to play a game of Russian Roulette. It’s about as fun as it sounds. Which is to say not fun at all.  There’s A Sixteen Percent Chance That At Least One Of Us Is Going To Die (Part 1)  There's A Thirty Two Percent Chance That At Least One Of Us Will Need Therapy (Part 2) 

A *Really* Dangerous Mind Series by Psychrulz:  Everyone knows Shawn has a tendency to get distracted. When he misses a clue and a murderer almost gets away, Chief Vick has had enough. She orders Shawn to get help and fix the problem- or else. Naturally, nothing with Shawn is ever that simple. When the fix turns out to be worse than the problem, the lives of his entire team are put in danger.  A Bitter Pill (Part 1)  Pitch Black (Part 2) 

Moonlighting Series by Redwolffclaw:  Psych/Moonlight Crossover Series - Shawn meets vampire Private Eye Mick St. John in this series where Shawn has to learn to live unlife as a newly turned vampire. Who knew being a vampire, psychic, consultant, detective, boyfriend, and best friend would be so hard?  No Such Thing As Psychics (Part 1)  12:04 Wake Up Call (Part 1.5)  Out of the Past, and Into the Fire (Part 2)  Love Lasts Forever, but Sanity Has a Shelf Life (Part 3)  Click- To Catch A Vampire (Part 4)  Hard To Believe It Will Be Okay Series by silverluna:  Carlton Lassiter is having a horribly bad day, and it’s only going to get worse.  Hard To Believe It Will Be Okay (Part 1)  Where Do We Go From Here? (Part 2)  The Spencers of Santa Barbara Series by JR88fan :  When Uncle Jack comes to town, one thing is certain: life won’t be boring.  This particular visit is no exception.  Throw in some video games, a treasure hunt, a case of benitoite gemstones worth millions, and a pair of sinister brothers who will stop at nothing to acquire those gemstones, and the Spencer men quickly find themselves in over their heads.  The Spencers of Santa Barbara: The Curse of Benitoite (Part 1)  Jack and Jill Went Up the Hill (Part 2) 

A Road Through Abbadon Series by Am_I_Zombie: (Warnings for Major Character Deaths, Violent Disturbing Imagery, and Horror)  Shawn Spencer works out his place in a rapidly changing environment. It is apocalypse season after all.  A Road Through Abbadon (Part 1)  A Funny Thing Happened On the Way Into Hell (Part 2)  A Rest Stop at the Edge of Madness (Part 3) (incomplete) 

Choose It Or Lose It Series by Texasartchick:  Lassiter’s dream comes true when he accidentally obtains indisputable evidence that Shawn is a fake.  Fortunately for Shawn and Gus, Lassie doesn’t know what he has yet, sparking a desperate race against time.   Can our dynamic duo sneak the evidence away from Lassiter before he discovers that he literally holds control over the future of Psych - and possibly Shawn’s freedom - in his hands?  Choose It Or Lose It (Part 1)  It Can Happen (Part 2)  Stir Crazy (Part 3)  This Stalker Thing Kind Of Sucks (Part 4)  The Ties That Bind (Part 5)  Helmets Not Included (Part 6)  The Spencer Syndrome (Part 7)  A Very BAMF! Lassie Fic (Part 8)  Night of the Rodentia (Part 9) (Unfinished) 

Doctor Who

Creature Fear by goodbye2pisces (Tenth Doctor)  Xeno by Laurawrzz (Tenth Doctor) Then My Mind Went Dark by the_magpie (Tenth Doctor) (Warning: Rape/non-con)  How to Live by misscam (Tenth Doctor)  A Coward Dies A Thousand Times by sashet (Tenth Doctor)  let the echo shake it all apart by sequence_fairy (Tenth Doctor) (Warning: Rape/non-con)  Time With Mother by Laurawrzz (Tenth Doctor)  A Step in the Right Direction by flutterflap (Tenth Doctor)  Voiceless by Veldeia (Tenth Doctor)  Beneath the Midnight Sky by HiddenTreasures for badwolfrun (Tenth Doctor)  Novi et Veteris by IuvenesCor (Twelfth Doctor)  Spinach Shock by Goldy, mrv3000 (Tenth Doctor)  Were He Not Romeo Called by Butterfly (Tenth Doctor)  The Devil You Know by rosa_acicularis (Duplicate Tenth Doctor)  Canvassing the Limits of Domesticity by Queen of the Castle (queen_of_the_castle_77) (Duplicate Tenth Doctor)  The Difference by themuslimbarbie (Duplicate Tenth Doctor)  The Old Have Bad Dreams by kashinoha (Eleventh Doctor)  Transfixion by tardisjournal (Eleventh Doctor)  Family Emergency by sahiya (Eleventh Doctor)  Vacation, Interrupted by shyday (Tenth Doctor)  What Is Essential by eve11 (Eleventh Doctor)  Let Her Under Your Skin, Into Your Heart by starlingnight (Eleventh Doctor)  Balance of Power by eve11 (Eleventh Doctor) 

Part 1: MCU - Iron Man, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Avengers

[markoftheasphodel]

Shadows of Valentia Top 10 Honorable Mentions: Mathilda, Forsyth, Jesse

As with the small, tight-knit, and vivid cast of FE8 there are few playable characters in FE15 I dislike. 

The new characters added to the Gaiden cast fail to elevate the material in any damn way; I pity Faye and prefer to forget about the Worst Plot Twist in Valentia. Deen is the character who most runs against the grain of my bias but I can recruit Sonya and let him rot. Kamui is a big step up from Deen but not really my thing. Everyone else? I like 'em or love 'em. Mae, Leon, Gray, Sonya, Valbar, Tatiana, Boey...

And then there are the Archanea crossover characters (Pegasisters and Zeke) for whom I can't really do a standalone ranking. Zeke in particular is great but it doesn't feel entirely fair to stack him against the homegrown Valentia gang when the full weight of his character is bound up in what he was and will (briefly) again be. Same goes for the Pegasisters, with Est in particular existing in the cross-hairs of what the Archanea Saga has in store for her. Everything they do and say is shaded by irony-- characters on the precipice of hell who don't know it and so bicker and bubble like they always do.

So let's leave them to focus on some stand-outs who don't quite make my Top 10 at present.

Mathilda

“Now stand back while I unleash the seven hells upon these pitiful fools!”

Why so low a rank for the battle goddess of Valentia? Brave knight, loving wife, caring older sister figure to Clair? Well, she suffers a bit in comparison to her family (Clive and Clair) who are messier and more interesting IMO and get more presence as characters with plot armor. Mathilda can die (boy, can she) and so there's a bit less to work with main game. At least she gets some Rise of the Deliverance screentime. Anyway, she's basically great, I'm pleased the Legendary Knight of Valentia has been dusted off so she can be appreciated alongside the big boys on horsies, and I'm not going to complain about her ending at this point in time.

Forsyth

“Well then… S-so be it. I shall stay here and stand watch over the hideout with honor and…um…”

The relentless and relentlessly entertaining Green Soldier just doesn't hit the high notes of his comrades in the Deliverance RGB Trio aka Clive's Gay Entourage. He actually made a bit of an impression in OG Gaiden with his infodump scene, back when he was a fuschia-haired waif, but reboot!Forsyth has been reengineered to give Gaiden the red knight/green knight dynamic it never had by juxtaposing him with Lukas while his bond with Python is both entertaining and provides some of the class-warfare juice to the inner conflict ripping Zofia apart. He's amusing in the game, his DLC supports are good, but often he's comic relief that doesn't know he's comic relief-- for all that the script appears to draw a point of comparison between Lukas the cold-blooded advisor and FE13's Frederick, Forsyth's running with Frederick's vibe of overzealous quirkiness. If he thought distributing nude posters of Clive would inspire the troops, he'd do it. And Python would help him, laughing up his sleeve the entire time. They're my newfound OTP in this game but Forsyth just works best bouncing off other characters.

Jesse

“Turns out trying to take on a group of slavers single-handed is a terrible idea. Anyway, that’s my story—what’s yours?”

I was fond of Jesse back in OG Gaiden. I hate moody swordbastards but Jesse's not on that wavelength; I liked him for getting in trouble while trying to help Est and for having the mojo to carve out a kingdom within the land mass of the One Kingdom. I figured he might actually make a decent future partner for Est once she bailed on Archanea, thereby making Est queen of a lot of sand. Then reboot Jesse shows up, a rogue with a mop of blond hair, a lot of skin on display, and a firm dimpled chin, like FE4′s Beowolf updated from brute muscle on a horse to a swingin' dude who hits on everyone and everything up to and including a statue of Mila. He’s charming, cheerful, and surprisingly ambitious; his solution to the class conflicts in Valentia is to make a kingdom with no nobles, no commons, just mercenaries ready to work for the highest bidder. And then he up and does it. Jesse's heart is in the right place but I don't want to know where his dick's been... hopefully nowhere near Est.

Also he’s a Saber fanboy. That’s adorable. He’s got taste.

[gale-sized-hole]

maybe you’re the knight who saved my life

-“Etienne,” Y Kant Tori Read

Inspired by The Meeting On The Turret Stairs

[gale-sized-hole]

Lay on hands.

[gale-sized-hole]

Long rest.

full image

[gale-sized-hole]

Still drawing new kisses from my already massive folder of screencaps.

[gale-sized-hole]

Mage hands. So many mage hands. (Link to full under cut.)

And a good old fashioned pegging, of course.

[gale-sized-hole]

The safest crop I can manage of my latest VisGale sketching.

Don’t forget to treat your wizard right

[gale-sized-hole]

Just some kissing sketches.

[gale-sized-hole]

Your honor they’re in love