#revenge which i am listening to now for the first time. i need to learn more about this stuff maybe ill listen to the evanescence album tha

[doctorwhoisadhd]

there's a certain quality the harmonies of like... early to mid 2000s alt rock has. which i am obsessed with... like i wanna do that. i NEED to figure out how to write harmonies that sound like that

[justkending]

It's just a hobby. (Drabble)

Summary: You took up a new hobby, and Dean likes to poke and tease you for it, but you feel the need to seek a little revenge for the constant joking. 

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader

Word Count: 3300+

A/N: I started this during the summer when I started five different crocheting projects (ADHD carried my summer hobbies) and decided to finish it before school started back up. I am currently still writing Found Memories, but I have to put a pause on it as the first month of school tends to take a lot of my time away from hobbies like writing… I’m moving to teach 8th-grade English this year and could use all the energy you’re all willing to send my way! Anyway, I hope you enjoy this short story, and I’m happy to have the inspiration to write for Dean again :)

(Also, this is the closest to smut I think I've ever written...)

_______

“Seriously?” Dean grumbled as he looked in the rearview mirror seeing me pulling yarn to untangle a knot I had created. 

Knowing where he was going with his normal banter, I just laughed and continued to focus on the craft in front of me. 

“I pulled this out like 20 minutes ago. How are you just now noticing?”

“I’m watching the road,” he argued, and I rolled my eyes. As always, he had been sneaking glances to the back of the cab at me every other minute. “The hunt wasn’t even 40 minutes away from the bunker. Why did you bring that?” 

“Why do you listen to the same three Led Zeppelin songs when you're upset about a hunt?” I countered, and he opened his mouth to disagree, but I answered for him to skip the sarcastic conversation brewing. “Comfort Dean. It’s all about comfort.”

“Why are you so weirded out by a normal hobby?” Sam jumped in, smirking, and sporting one of the many beanies I had made him with said hobby, which he had come to love. He looked down at a newspaper in his lap, no doubt already scoping out a new hunt. 

“It’s not-” Dean stumbled on his answer. “I’m not weirded out by it. It’s just not a hobby I imagine someone like Y/N taking up.” 

“You just described why you’re weirded out by it,” Sam looked at him with a blank stare. 

He ignored him and rolled his eyes. 

“What kind of people do you imagine the crocheting community to be full of?” I smiled, still looking down at my hands and knowing his answer already. 

“Grandmas,” he replied almost immediately. 

“Hmm,” I hummed as if surprised by his confession, even if it was wrong. “Well, if that’s the case, I’ll stop wasting my talents on things for you.” 

I could see his eyes shoot up in the mirror and a look of regret ghost over his green orbs. 

Dean liked to make a big deal about this particular hobby I had started up a little over six months ago. I think a part of him just liked to tease me about it, but deep down, I knew he was proud of my growth. He was just bad at voicing it.

The first things I ever crocheted were just simple squares in different stitch work to learn a variety of them better. Those squares became washcloths and, surprisingly, were still used daily in the kitchen. 

I learned to make bags, socks, hats, sweaters, stuffed animals, and even a few blankets. 

“Just 30 minutes ago, you took down five security guards, wrestled three teenage vampires, and booby-trapped half of his nest. Now you’re crocheting a sweater for Charlie that says, ‘What’s up bitches?’ in the backseat. Mind you, with blood still smeared on your face,” he raised an eyebrow at me in the mirror. 

I looked up and leaned toward the front to get a better look at myself. 

“Oh, shit, I thought I got it all,” I groaned, seeing a smear on the side of my face I must have missed. 

“It doesn’t add up,” he shook his head, but I could see a joking smile on his lips. 

“Much to your surprise Dean, girls can have more than one personality trait. I know you boys are all, ‘Ugh, monsters! Kill, kill, kill! I need a scotch in my hand and The God Father playing on loop in the background to show how manly I-’

“Hey,” Sam cut me off and looked at me with his sad puppy dog eyes. “I’m on your side.”

“You’re right… You also like to read and share fun facts,” I winked, touseling his hair and getting a scoff of a laugh as he swatted my hand away. “See how hurtful it can be when you forget our brains have the capacity to do more than one thing?” I turned back to Dean with my arms crossed on the bench seat in front of me. 

“I don’t think you're incapable of having more than one interest in life; I just think it’s interesting that you chose a 90-year-old women's side gig as your hobby,” Dean countered, pulling into the garage. 

“Well, if you can’t appreciate it, then you can’t have the gifts my hard work creates,” I huffed, gathering my things and sliding back to the door as Dean parked the car.

Once the car was in park, I was the first out. I wasn’t actually mad at him, I was a hundred percent messing with him, but he deserved it for teasing me this long about it when I knew he loved everything I had made him this far. 

He had a favorite blanket that he preferred to sleep with now. He had a nice sweater he wore around the bunker when he was cold. He had a few pairs of socks he preferred over store-bought ones. He even had a miniature plush Batman figurine that sat on his desk that I had learned to crochet just for him.

“Y/N, you don’t mean that!” he called after me, standing in the door on the driver's side of the Impala and shouting over the roof of it where I was walking inside. 

“We'll find out soon,” I yelled back, never turning around. 

The next three days, I teased him like he had me about this whole ordeal, but in my own way. 

When we were cooking in the kitchen or doing dishes, if he grabbed one of the squares that now acted as our kitchen hand towels, I would steal it from his hands and say, “Sorry, merchandise can only be used by those who value it.” 

With which he would respond, “Wait! I need that!” with his hands drenched in water after washing his hands. 

Just for extra measure, I took all the towels and moved them to a new place only Sam and I knew. He was happy to join in on my little prank, and every time he had one, he made sure Dean saw him with it. 

“Where did you get that?” Dean would jump up from wherever he was and march over to him to try and steal it. 

“Only the VIP customers have access to these,” Sam would wave it above his head out of reach of Dean. 

Another time, after a hunt, it was freezing in our motel room, where the heater barely worked, and the hotel didn't have enough blankets. Luckily I had one packed in the trunk of Baby, and I used it for extra coverage.

Even though Dean and I shared a bed, I wrapped it around me as I slept and said, “Sucks that you hate this so much, or else I’d share with you…”

He stared at me with complete annoyance when I gave him an exaggerated “Oh well” face before stealing it all for myself. 

I did, however, wake up to sharing it, but only because he had stolen it, and I was too tired to fight him about it.

I think one of my favorite times I rebuked him of his privileges was when he was wearing a pair of socks I had made him for Christmas around the house. I may have gotten a little more intense than I needed to, but the look on his face made it worth it.

He had come into the movie room to binge a few episodes of a new series I got him hooked on, and after he called me in to watch with him, I noticed the specific socks he had on. 

I grinned once my brain had formulated a plan to make him regret ever giving me hell for a hobby he obviously loved himself.

“Claire said there was a show called Love Island we should watch. I have no clue what it’s about, but she said it was popular and what the kids are watching now,” Dean conversed as he grabbed the remote from the table and stood with a blanket (not one of mine, as I had relocated all of them so he couldn’t find them) around his shoulders. 

He was in the perfect position for my plan. 

I walked over and, instead of facing the TV, stood right in front of him and looked up at him. 

“You know what we could do?” I whispered in a low and sultry voice, bringing my hand up to his chest and inching my fingers up to the collar of his t-shirt before pulling at it gently. His eyes instantly darkened, and he was frozen in his place. 

“Wh-What, uh, what can we do?” he stammered out. Even after three years of dating, he still got nervous. I loved it. 

“I think you know what,” I said, tiptoeing upward to quietly say in his ear, bringing my hand from his chest to the back of his neck, softly pulling him closer to me. 

“I think I have an idea,” he replied more confidently, immediately bringing his free hand to my waist and squeezing it. 

I could have faltered there, but I held strong. I was going to make him pay for all his little ‘grandma’ jokes he had sent my way the last few months. 

I pulled back, sending him a smirk that I knew revved him up. He returned it with his own and started leaning down, forgetting his grip on the blanket and remote. Now both of his hands sat on my hips with a stronghold. 

Before he could lean down any further, I pushed him backward harshly on the couch, and at first, he was shocked, then he was excited. 

Slouched into the cushion, looking up at me, his tongue came out to lick his lips and ended with a bite to his lower lip as he eyed me up and down as I stood over him. 

“Dear God, Y/N,” he hummed under his breath. 

I guess it helped that I was wearing some of my shorter PJ shorts, ones he had told me were his favorites, and a shirt that was cropped and slightly falling off my shoulder.

He had a thing for me being in a disheveled manner like this. Reminded him of how I looked after we fucked around, and he held pride knowing he played a part in the kind of glow I gave off. 

I wasn’t sure how long I could do this without failing myself on the original mission. I came here to fuck with him, and now he was the fucker. Or at least he was going to be if I didn’t follow through with my plan in the next minute. 

“You know, you should be happy you were by the couch,” I smiled, stepping to him and strategically bringing my legs to straddle his hips teasingly. 

His breath hitched at that, and I knew I had regained the upper hand. 

“Oh yeah? Why’s that?” he hummed as he admired my hands pressing into his chest as I leaned in, bringing myself closer to him. 

“I was about to take you wherever I found you,” I whispered, looking him dead in the eyes with a soft smile. I looked him up and down and bit the inside of my cheek. That seemed to trigger his hands back to my hips instantly. This time a much more possessive lock on them. 

“I don’t know where this is coming from, but I can’t complain,” he said lowly, and I knew he was hooked. Now it was time for revenge. 

“Can I ask you a question?” I hummed, running my finger lightly over his hair down to his jaw, using the tip of it to push his chin up so I could see his eyes better. 

“Please,” he buzzed, drunk with lust. 

“Hmm,” I hummed, smiling more, dropping my gaze to his lips, then back at his eyes where he was drowning in dopamine by our current position. “Those socks you have on?” He didn’t catch on immediately and just furrowed his eyes as he processed what I asked. “They look familiar.” 

I leaned back from my seat, still straddling his hips, but not with nearly as much pressure as before. 

“What-” Dean started, but it dawned on him mid-thought. His eyes went from ready to tear my clothes off to annoyed realization. “Seriously.” 

“What?” I feigned ignorance and stood up, repositioning myself between his legs, both hands on his knees as I looked at him and leaned over. 

He couldn’t tell which way this was going for him, and that was the point. I was still winning this little game. 

I eased myself lower, squatting with my knees going into the couch and in between his thighs. My hands went flat on his knees and slowly started working up his thighs. 

“I can’t tell what you’re doing here, Y/N,” he said in a breathy voice. I watched as he tried to control himself, looking up away from me but not being able to help react to my hands on him. 

“I’m not doing anything,” I said in a voice that made him lower his nervous wandering eyes back to me. The amount of green in his eyes disappeared slowly. 

“You’re teasing me,” he said shortly as if he was worried his voice would tremble if he didn’t get it out quickly. 

“Maybe, maybe not,” I shrugged with a pursed lip before bringing my hands slowly back down his legs. 

“You’re mad at me,” he stuttered the last word when my hands worked their way back up, but further up than before.

“Now, why would you think that?” I tutted, shaking my head with an exaggerated look of hurt. 

All he could do was take a slow, deep breath in as I tilted my head and smiled devilishly at him.

“Don’t.” 

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t play innocent.” 

I grinned.

“You and I both know I’m far from that…” My tone was darker than before but in a seductive and tempting manner. 

He couldn’t hold back anymore. He shot up from his slouched position and leaned forward, grabbing my forearms in his hands and pulling me up in his lap with his nose mere inches from my own. 

“If your goal was to make me suffer, you won,” he whispered so quietly; if I wasn't this close, I wouldn't have heard it. He tilted his head up just enough for our noses to brush before pulling back. 

“Keep it together, girl… Keep it fucking together,” I repeated in my head. 

“Did I? Or am I just getting started?” I snarked, and that caused the new grip on my thigh to tighten, and I almost groaned at the pressure. 

“Don’t start a war you can’t win,” he smirked, feeling as though he possessed the power. 

Two can play that game. 

I smiled, bringing my free hand up and tracing it behind his ear before wrapping it slowly around the back of his neck. I brought his face closer to mine but stopped right when I could feel the brush of his lips. 

Our chests were pressed into each other, and I could feel his heart rate pick up. Perfect. 

I nudged our noses again and smiled as his eyes closed, and he naturally and lazily chased my lips. 

I rocked my hips in a measured manner, placed perfectly in the middle of his lap, and he sucked in a breath at the friction.

“Women don’t start wars. They finish them,” I whispered before promptly standing up and, in a swift motion, yanking the socks he had on off and walking to the exit. 

“Y/N!” I could hear his shout from the couch from where I knew he was with a full hard-on, unable to move just yet. 

“This granny is going to bed!” I shouted, speed-walking to my room in case he decided to run after me. 

“You little-!” the shout still seemed far behind me, and I quickly shut my bedroom door and locked it. 

Thankfully, I think I left him incapacitated for a second, and he didn’t follow me immediately. 

I actually didn’t hear from him for the rest of the night. I hoped I didn’t upset him, but also, the whole reason I had done what I had was because he had become a little ass about my favorite hobby. I don’t mind the jokes, but after a while, you want a pat on the back for learning something new. Especially from someone you care about. 

I went ahead and did my normal nighttime routine and got into bed before I started to read a book. I must have dozed off while reading because I woke up to the lights out, my book on the end table, and Dean crawling into the other side of the bed. 

Before I could say anything, his arms came around my waist, and he pulled me to his core. He was in his boxers and one of his soft t-shirts I made him wear to bed. 

For the record, I was perfectly fine with him in no shirt (or pants, for that matter), but when he did wear a shirt, I made him put on a certain kind cause his band and certain graphic tee ones were itchy on me when we cuddled. 

He took a deep sigh and nuzzled his face into the crevice between my neck and shoulder, one of his favorite places. 

“Why’d you lock your door?” he asked, already knowing I had woken up. 

He had definitely picked the lock.

“I thought you were going to hunt me down, and I forgot to unlock it,” I replied sleepily. 

There was silence for a minute, and eventually, he spoke up, whispering in my ear his apology. 

“I’m sorry.” 

“Why?” I sighed with a winning grin he couldn't see, knowing why but playing coy anyway. 

“I’m sorry I haven’t told you how much I appreciate your brain,” he answered. 

That was not what I expected, but I was intrigued. 

“Hmmm,” I smiled, moving my hands to his that were wrapped around my ribs and nuzzling my backside closer to him. “Don’t stop now; you’re on a roll.” 

He laughed and invited my attempt to fit into him like a puzzle piece.

“You’re ambitious with everything you want to learn to do, and I don’t tell you enough how much of a turn-on that is,” he hummed, rubbing his head into mine and peppering a kiss on my neck here and there. “And I know you know how much I love the skills you gain, but sometimes I’m bad about just saying how impressive you are to me.” 

“You like my crocheting skills, Winchester,” I chuckled, turning my body to face him now and throwing one of my legs over his hips, pulling back in some. “Just say it.” 

“I love your crocheting skills,” he replied with a wide grin and brought a hand up to move the stray hairs that fell on my face. “I love your baking and cooking. I love your impressive TV show-binging skills. I love the random facts you have stored in that beautiful brain of yours. I love your surprisingly nerdy side of Marvel and superheroes. I love your attempt at being a gardener.”

“Hey, I have three plants that are thriving right now!” I argued, poking a finger in his chest, which he grabbed and kissed the tip of. 

“I love everything you’re passionate about,” he finished off. “I don’t tell you enough, and sometimes I like to see that face you give me when I tease you.” I gave him a look. “Maybe more than sometimes… But! I do love all those things and more about you, Y/N.” 

“I don’t doubt it,” I replied, scooting in closer. “But it is nice to hear it from those captivating lips of yours.” 

“Yeah?” 

“Yeah.” 

We started smiling at each other, and I couldn’t help but feel a little guilty about earlier. 

“I’m sorry I teased you,” I sighed, moving to where I was embedded in his chest, and he wrapped himself back around me. 

“Don’t be. I deserved it,” he replied, chin on my head before he bent down and kissed the top of it. “I will say, though, I’ve never been mad about seeing that side of you.” 

“What side?” I looked up at him. 

“Don’t act like you didn’t know what you were doing,” he chuckled, pulling my head back to him. 

“Yeah, you’re right,” I agreed after a minute. “Hey.”

“Hm?” 

“You’re my favorite person. You know that, right?” 

“Feelings are very much mutual,” he answered, caressing a hand up and down my back. 

“Good. I’d have to kill you with one of my knitting needles if you said otherwise. Who said needleworking wasn’t dangerous, right?”

My Lovelies Forever:

@natura1phenomenon @lauravicente​ @kakakatey @traceyaudette @notyourtypicalrose  @laneygthememequeen @awesome-badass-cafeteria-sauce @sandlee44 @thorne93 @thefaithfulwriter @marvelfansworld @essie1876 @greyeyedsmile14 @capsiclehan  @xostephanie @averyrogers83 @awesomenursingstudent @gh0stgurl @cs-please @carls1022 @jjlevin @rainbowkisses31 @carls1022 @anise-d-castle6 @deannotmoose @their-bibliophile @kitkatd7 @willowbleedsonpaper @mariaenchanted @snffbeebee @couldabeenamermaid @rebekahdawkins @alyispunk @drakelover78 @caruhleener

Supernatural Tags:

@flamencodiva @hobby27 @sucker-for-dean @deans-baby-momma @squirrelgirl67 @death-unbecomes-you @snffbeebee @jerkbitchidjitassbutt @spnbaby-67 @akshi8278 @musiclovinchic93 @vicmc624 @carryon-doctor-lock @perpetualabsurdity @herscrunchiehairtie @spnwoman @shamelesslydean @monkeymcpoopoo @winchestergirl82 @luciathewinchestergirl @deansyahtzee @thatgirl1456 @sucker-for-dean @atomicloverdonkeyperson @screechingartisancashbailiff @akshi8278 @supernatural3002

[greatestwizardofthisage]

assigning each of the bad kids a taylor swift era because i am feeling deprived of tswift content now that she's on break from the eras tour

Kristen: Fearless. I can't even explain why, but to me that album is just so sunny and in my mind it fits Kristen perfectly. I think maybe it's because Fearless was one of the first album I ever really loved, then when I was older the rerecording is what got me back into tswift and I can totally see Kristen going through a similar journey with it where maybe she loves it as a kid but then stops listening to it as she distances herself from her childhood/family, only to fall in love with it again later on. Also I feel like the country vibes fit her well. (She would also LOVE betty but she would pretend it's a lesbian anthem)

Gorgug: Ok this feels controversial but he's a Lover stan. I just fully belive that to his core Gorgug is a lover not a hater and he would un ironically love Lover. Like to me that album is all about having gone through some bad shit and choosing to only carry forward the best of it? And that fits with my perception of Gorgug. ALSO the end of afterglow 'I want to be defined by the things that I love, not the things that I hate, or the things that haunt me in the middle of the night' just feels very Gorgug coded to me dont ask me why. However if you've seen any of my other posts about music and the bad kids you know that I wholeheartedly believe Gorgug loves all music so I think he'd be hard pressed to choose a favourite album.

Riz: Midnights. And not just because this kid never sleeps. Bassically I really couldn't decide which album he would listen to because none of them really fit, but then I started thinking about specific lyrics and I think Midnights has the most that he could relate to. I mean 'no one wanted to play with me as a little kid so I've been scheming like a criminal ever since' is about him. You can't change my mind. I do think though that Riz is definitely more invested in all the easter eggs and firguring out which album is coming next over actually listening to her music. Like he would for sure be among the first to figure out all her clues.

Fabian: 1989 and Folklore. I fully to the bottom of my heart belive that until his sophmore year Fabian would exclusivly be listening to pop music, sea shanties, and weird elven music. So obviously he would love the greatest pop album ever made. He wouldn't listen to Folklore until post sophmore character development. Also he would For Sure learn the choreography for the dance in the background of Dress on the Rep tour and recreat it perfectly using his sheet.

Fig: Speak Now. I mean do I even need to explain this? It's the perfect album for Fig. It's the kind of thing she would have loved when she was in her Preppy Cheerleader phase, but it has just enough of that pop punk influence that I feel like she could still appreciate it when she's older. I feel like she would definitly take issue with some of the misogynistic lyrics used in some of the songs, and would be all for the lyric change in Better Than Revenge. Also as I've mentioned many times before, Fig would love Paramore, and would LOVE Castles Crumbling. Like you're going to sit here and tell me that lines like 'They used to cheer when they saw my face, Now I fear I have fallen from grace' + 'Their faith was strong, but I pushed it too far, I held that grudge 'til it tore me apart' + 'Ones I loved tried to help, so I ran them off, And here I sit alone, behind walls of regret' + 'People look at me like I'm a monster, Now they're screaming at the palace front gates, used to chant my name, Now they're screaming that they hate me, Never wanted you to hate me' weren't written by Figueroth Faeth? I also just think songs like Never Grow Up and Long Live would perfectly fit with her not so secret sentimental streak.

Adaine: Evermore and Folklore. I think theres just a sort of elegence to these albums that really reminds me of Adaine. I also think theres so much vulnerability in them and a lot of the songs touch on feelings of not being good enough for others (mirrorball, tolerate it, this is me trying, right where you left me) that I think she could relate to not from a romantic relationship standpoint but from all the expectations placed on her by her parents. I also think that although these are probably the most low key of tswifts albums, they have some good angry songs (no body no crime, illicit affairs, mad woman) that she would definitly love. But yeah this is mostly based on aesthetics. Evermore and Folklore were albums written with a quill and Adaine is the kind of girl to appreciate this.

[nobodynobodyno]

bad buddy fandom getting-to-know-you meme!

tagged by @lamonnaie, meme created by @fiercynn

Thank you so much for the tag, I love this idea! 💛

note: i consider "fanworks" to pretty much everything people create related to a fandom, including but not limited to meta/analysis/discussion, gifs, fanvids/edits/fancams, filk, fanart, fanfic, fan food, fan crafts, etc. please include this note with the meme unless you have a different definition!

name and whatever you want to share about yourself

Hi! I'm Diana, I use she/her pronouns, I'm in my early twenties and I love reading and writing fics 😁

when did you watch bad buddy/join the fandom?

I started watching right before the finale aired, I think. I binged the whole thing and then watched episode 12 shortly after! But I only joined the fandom later, after a rewatch that made me see the show in a different light.

favorite ship(s) Pat/Pran, Ink/Pa, Wai/Korn, I love them all 🙈

favorite character(s) Pat and Pran

Pran because I relate to him and Pat because... I mean, he's perfect? Isn't he?

favorite episode(s) This one is hard, probably episode 5 when we switched to Pat's pov because I love how he wasted no time confessing to Pran after learning how he felt about him, and also episode 10 because it has my favourite scene in the whole show, will get to that one in a minute

favorite scene(s)  The scene where Pran breaks down in Pat's arms on the rooftop 😭 That's actually the scene that got me into this show, a friend showed it to me and I was like, I have to watch this now! And I did, and ugh, I love how they're both hurting so much but Pat is trying to be strong for Pran and how Pran is being vulnerable with Pat for the first time in their relationship (probably) I love all of that! An honorable mention would be the scene in episode 4 where Pran starts crying after Pat tells him that he likes Ink (Can you tell I love angst?) And of course, the kiss, but everyone has already talked about the kiss.

one thing you would change about the show if you could

The fact that Pran apologised to Wai after Wai outed them in front of the whole school, like excuse me? And also the whole Pat-getting-shot-with-a-tiny-gun plot, which is a consequence of the Wai thing because they needed to redeem Wai, I guess, and I didn't like any of that, lol.

what are your some of your favorite fanworks made by other people

There are so many fics I love but I am going to resume to 5 in no particular order:

once more to see you by maywitherspoon where Pat finds a way to contact Pran before they start university and thus get reunited sooner, and let me tell you, it's amazing!

breathe by concerningcardigancollection where Pran is allergic to peanuts and almost dies, I love hurt/comfort fics and I love the way Pat is written here!

Cruel Summer by Frosche, Lothewriterofstories this one is pure pain. But I love pain, and it's a beautiful kind of pain, so definitely worth reading!

you can hear it in the silence by threewontons I call this the baby shark fic in my mind, it's a lovely soulmate au set in a world where soulmates can hear the songs the other person is listening to. I think it's such a unique take on soulmate aus and I love it!

don't go wasting your emotion by fiercynn a canon divergence au where Pat sees Pran crying in episode 4, I love canon divergence aus and this one is so sweet!

I also looove @kornswasianguyswag's fanart! Go send them some love!

(if you create fanworks) what are your favorite fanworks that you’ve made?

This is my ao3 account, I've written quite a few fics for bad buddy, I don't know if I could pick a favourite one 🤔 maybe this one because it's inspired by "Love, Rosie" and that movie is very dear to me. I'm also having a lot of fun writing my current wip where they are strangers and Pran is trying to seduce Pat is order to get revenge for his friends 🤭

a song that makes you think of bbs (the ones in the show don’t count lol)

Again, I have so many... every song I listen to makes me think of bbs, lol

Can I say Tilly Birds - คิด(แต่ไม่)ถึง (Same Page?) ? It wasn't in the show, it was in the mock trailer! And it always makes me think of them. And also Mitski - Francis Forever, it's like it was written by Pran during the years they were apart!

idk anything else you want us to know?

I'd love to make more bbs friends, so don't hesitate to dm me! 😁

I am going to tag @dropthedemiurge, @catboyjosten @feralmuskyscentedhoepran @non-binarypal7 and anyone else who sees this and wants to do it!

[vlion]

Could I please request poly blackbonnet x fem reader smut?

The Kraken, The Lighthouse, and The Siren (Edward Teach/Stede Bonnet/Female Reader)

Author’s Note*: Thank you so much for your request, I hope you enjoy! I traveled and then got COVID throughout the process of writing this so I apologize for the delay. I feel like I'm incapable of writing smut without plot, so hopefully the little backstory and build-up I included is cohesive and adds to the experience. I also see and love all the requests in my inbox (requests are still closed at this time), and I will get to work on them soon. Thanks again!

*I also wanted to say that I received some...interesting comments and messages when I announced this fic. I personally view Ed and Stede as bisexual, as I identify this way, and I find it comforting to believe that two of my favorite characters may identify the same way as I. Yes, this is technically a headcannon, and I acknowledge this, but I believe the way that each character is represented in ofmd is done so in a fluid manner, allowing for open discourse and creation around the topic. I felt the need to say this to respond indirectly to the messages I received, and I wanted to let you all know that I am constantly learning and listening to what each of you have to say. I am grateful to have built my own following in a corner of the internet where we can all be open and supportive of each other. Thank you all for being here, and I look forward to writing for you more!

Link to AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/40400847

Content Warnings/General Themes: ⚠ 18+ content: by reading this you affirm you are over the age of 18 years or over the age of maturity as stated in your regional or local guidelines. AFAB! Female-Identifying Reader (female pronouns/terms of endearment used), Bi! Edward Teach/Blackbeard, Bi! Stede Bonnet, making out, love confessions, mentions of eating/refusing food, oral (male/female receiving), 'Captain' kink, spit kink, dom/sub undertones, very slight hurt/comfort, threesome, p-in-v smut, lots of swearing, choking

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 9,434 (oh my god)

It had all happened so fast.

You had been taken in as a stowaway aboard the Revenge by none other than the Gentleman Pirate, after he found you stranded at sea. Your previous captain and crew had nearly thrown you overboard after finding out your ‘secret identity’, muttering something about how it was bad luck to even have you on board in the first place. You felt rightfully frustrated at this policy–you had just as much right to be there as any of them, not to mention the fact that you had saved their asses countless times and sacrificed your own true identity for the sake of simply being on the ship.

Whatever, they were just sexist assholes; at least, that’s what the so-called ‘Blackbeard’ had said to you upon your arrival at your new home at sea. Both he and his ‘co-captain’–because apparently that was a thing–were quick to assure you that you were welcome on the Revenge, no matter your background. Stede had been the one to ensure that you were comfortable in your new surroundings, introducing you to the other crew and even setting aside some clothes for you to wear and letting you crash on his couch, as everything you had accumulated over the years was left behind on the other ship.

You were surprised at their kindness, as you had heard mixed rumors about each of them. Blackbeard–or Ed, as you now knew him as–certainly had a reputation that made you a bit hesitant to get close to him. The same was true for Stede as well, but for all the opposite reasons. While Ed was painted as some sort of relentless killer, Stede had been described as an amateur, who had paid his way to piracy. You now knew those things weren’t entirely true, and each of them amounted to much more than their reputations. And to be honest, you couldn’t help but feel drawn to the ways in which they prove those generalizations to be inaccurate. Seeing Blackbeard engage in crew bonding exercises, and Captain Bonnet order people around, never fails to make you smile. And turn you on. But that was a whole different story.

Recently, tensions had been high amongst the crew of the Revenge. With your previous crew still holding a grudge, as well as the English Crown constantly on all of your asses for, well, existing; nearly everyone was on edge. Even Stede, who was usually able to be a source of guidance and light during difficult situations, had confined himself to his room, trying to determine the best course of action. Seeing him like that, in such a state of panic and uncertainty, it made you want to do something–anything–to get him out of that headspace.

As Stede continued to isolate himself, you eventually shared your thoughts with Ed, and he agreed that something needed to be done. Over the course of a week or so, the two of you had gathered up supplies at various trading posts, and gained insight about a private island that had apparently been captured by a mutual friend of yours, who gladly allowed you entry–of course, after Ed had threatened the man in order to ensure that he wasn’t leading you and the rest of the crew into a trap. The man had insisted he was telling the truth and you had to believe him–especially after Ed had nearly broken the poor guy's wrist after pinning him against a wall over the course of the–very heated–conversation. It was hot as fuck.

Maybe that was why you let him kiss you the night you returned from your little escapade. Actually, it was more like an all-out makeout session, complete with lip-biting and the occasional gasp for air. You had been preparing to cook a feast that was sure to keep everyone well fed for however long you were to stay anchored at the island, and just as you left it to cook you were greeted with a hungry-looking Ed in the doorway of the galley. Of course, in the moment, you didn’t realize just what he was actually hungry for–even offering to cook him something to hold him over until dinner. The smug bastard had actually belly-laughed at that, refusing your offer but asking if he could kiss you instead, making heat flood to your cheeks.

How in the everloving fuck did you not pick up on Blackbeard trying to flirt with you? Regardless, you gave into his request, and that’s how you found yourself perched atop the counter with Ed between your legs, his hands wandering across the top half of your body as you lost yourself in his lips and soft touches.

You were pretty sure multiple crew members had walked in on the two of you, probably chatting among themselves about the scene they had–unknowingly–committed themselves to. It was quite a sight–you, the innocent stowaway, caged in by the big bad Blackbeard, his lips molding to yours while his leather-clad lower half pressed into your core.

Eventually, he was the one who broke the kiss, mumbling something about how he was needed on the upper deck, and with one final peck on the lips, he was off. You checked on the food and covered it, setting it aside for later. You took a portion of it out and tasted it, before placing a serving into a bowl just as you had done for the past couple nights.

During Stede’s ‘retreat’ of sorts, he had often neglected to eat, always offering some type of excuse or claiming that he was too busy. You were grateful, however, that Stede did eat when you brought him food. You always stayed with him when he ate, allowing him to share whatever thoughts had crossed his mind as of recently regardless of the fact that you generally saw him three times a day or more. You couldn’t help but feel protective of him, constantly checking on him and ensuring he was alright. One day in particular, when he clearly didn’t want anything to do with, well, anything, you laid with him and soothed him as best you could, holding his hand when he started overthinking and entering into a state of crisis, as well as sharing some stories from your childhood and listening to his.

Yeah, so basically, you had fallen for Stede. And now Ed, apparently, if your impromptu makeout session meant anything. Besides the reputation-based rumors you had heard upon boarding the ship, you had also heard that the two men may have been more than just friends. You observed firsthand the selfless way in which they seemed to care for each other, not to mention the lingering stares and small moments of intimacy they would share in passing. Cosmically, it all seemed right to you–like the three of you fit together. The only thing you wished was that you were included in their little…whatever they had going on. Stede and Ed were like two opposite ends of a spectrum, the Kraken and the Lighthouse, with you, the Siren, balancing them out in the middle–a perfect combination of rigidity and debonair.

It just made sense; which may have been why you shared your thoughts with Stede in the first place. You had shared a few drinks with him one night, trying to make him laugh despite all the things on his mind, and casually let it slip that you could see yourself with him and Ed. Both of you laughed off the idea, but part of you wished that he took your feelings to heart and perhaps even acted on them.

At least you had Ed–kind of; if you could count randomly making out in the kitchen as something.

You were drawn out of your thoughts as you approached the door to yours and Stede’s shared room, knocking in a pattern that Stede knew as yours.

“Come in!” You heard through the door, in Stede’s distinct inflection. You were glad to hear he still had the chipper, optimistic tone of voice you had come to love even when he was left to his own devices.

“How’s it going tonight, Captain?” You asked him, and he smiled at the term of authority-turned nickname you often used.

“Not too bad, but I certainly missed my favorite meal-delivery person–who also happens to be my roommate and personal chef!” He said, eyes warm as you approached him and handed him his dinner.

“Not to burst your bubble or anything, Stede, but today I cooked for everyone. I don’t think that makes me–”

“Yeah, I heard. Ed told me all about it.” He said, in a relatively serious and knowing tone.

Your eyes widened. Helping out on the upper deck, my ass, you thought, recalling the bullshit excuse Ed had given you earlier.

“Listen…Stede…what happened between me and Ed, it was a heat of the moment thing,” you started, carefully gauging his reaction as you went on. “I don’t even know if I have fully processed it myself, and I know I love spending time with you as well, and I heard the two of you are also kinda a thing-”

“Darling, I’m not mad. I was the one who told Ed to make a move in the first place.” He said, nonchalantly taking a bite of his meal.

Your brow furrowed as you took a moment to collect yourself. “Wait…seriously?” You cautiously sat down next to Stede as he continued to eat, who paused slightly to nod his head, confirming your suspicions.

He raised the fork he was using to eat and gestured towards you as he spoke once more. “Poor Ed couldn’t get you off his mind and came to me for advice and obviously because I have such a great track-record of relationships under my belt, I told him to do whatever felt right, which was apparently to corner you in the kitchen and make out like teenagers, if I heard him correctly?”

You snorted at the description he gave, realizing how accurate it truly was. You took a moment to lock eyes with Stede, finding comfort in the earnest and sincere look he had on his face. You reached out and placed a hand on his cheek, figuring that you should probably tell him how you felt if you already made it to–at least–second base with his other half.

“Stede, I…” You let your hand slide down to his shoulder, offering some pressure to work his tense muscles.

“Go on darling, I’m listening.” He offered, placing his dish out of the way so you could have his full attention.

“I really like you. Both of you. And, like, I think you know but also I didn’t know how this was going to work,” you said, gesturing between you, him, and an imaginary third-party. “Ed and I were planning something to cheer you up, and I think he caught on during all that and I honestly should have told you–”

Stede cut you off once again, this time with his lips on yours. Even though you had been affectionate with him before and more physically comfortable with him as you shared a room with him, you found yourself shocked at his sudden advance. You welcomed it, obviously, but you almost couldn’t believe that you were really kissing Stede.

As you deepened the kiss, you noticed his style of kissing was far more gentle and rhythmic than Ed’s more chaotic and sloppy method. Stede took the time to really feel the curve of your lips on his own, savoring the lingering taste of sugar and dough that had come as a result of you tasting the meal you had just prepared.

You moved to sit on his lap, straddling his thighs while he moved his lips to your neck and jaw. You gasped at the action, not expecting him to kiss you in those sensitive regions. You softly ran your hands along his shoulders and back, massaging and rubbing what you could reach. This was certainly a way to relieve some of his stress, that’s for sure.

Just as you started to get into a good rhythm, Stede pulled back, looking up at you with one of the most genuine smiles you had seen on him since he entered his funk.

“I would love to sit here and do this with you all night, my love, but we should rest up for tomorrow–we’ve got a big day ahead of us.”

You tilted your head to the side and furrowed your brow, curious as to what he was on about.

At your quizzical response, Stede continued. “We’re dropping anchor at the island tomorrow, remember?” You rolled your eyes at Ed’s lack of ability to keep his mouth shut. “Yeah, Ed let that slip too,” he continued, “...and…hopefully you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of suggesting that you, Ed, and I get our own private bungalow…if you catch my drift.” He said, waving his eyebrows at the last bit.

Yeah, you totally caught his drift. Now all you had to do was survive through the night and following day without going completely weak at the knees.

~

You awoke the next morning feeling literally better than ever. The ship was anchored at a lovely part of the island that allowed you to see white sand and clear water for miles, with a few living spaces and natural flora strewn about. Stede had woken you up with a kiss on the forehead, before letting you know he was going to scope out the island with Ed and a few others. You had taken your time in getting ready, dolling yourself up a bit to embrace the relaxing vibes.

As you made your way onto solid land–after greeting a rather cheerful Lucius and sharing a few words with Jim–you nearly tripped over your feet when your eyes locked onto the scene unfolding in front of you.

Stede and Ed were doing what you could only describe as ‘frolicking’ in the water along the beach. Your eyes immediately traveled to Ed’s bare chest, and the various tattoos that adorned his body. He hadn’t seen you yet, so luckily he couldn’t embarrass you about ogling over him just yet, but you couldn’t seem to take your eyes off of him in the meantime.

That is, until Stede came into view. He emerged from the water, looking like the culmination of every fantasy you had had about the seemingly innocent man. Unlike Ed, he had chosen to leave his white undershirt on, with the top buttons undone. The way his broad chest glistened in the sunlight with droplets of water and slightest hint of sweat, as well as how the transparency of the wet shirt allowed you to see his form, had you clenching your thighs together and swallowing the saliva that had unknowingly accumulated in your mouth.

Damn, they were hot. And come to think of it–you were too. The heat index had to be skyrocketing on this particular day, and the sun reflecting off the crashing waves did little to cool you. With another swallow for good measure, you began your descent down the sloped beach, leaving your shoes in the sand as you approached the two men in the water.

“Hello darling! We were just wondering when you might turn up,” Stede said, flashing his signature smile in your direction.

“Yeah, I was starting to think you blew us off to go hang out with Jim or some shit,” Ed added.

You rolled your eyes, stepping closer to the two men. “First of all, there is other important…business…that Jim can get up to on their own other than ‘hanging out’ with me, thank you very much,” you said, gesturing at the person in question to further what you were saying. “And second,” you continued, glancing between the two men, “I wanted to see what you two were up to.”

Ed pursed his lips and let out a huff. “Hmm, that’s funny.”

“What?” You shot back.

He turned to face you. “Nothing, I’m just trying to figure out where in that little speech of yours that you were going to explain why you were drooling over us a minute ago,” Ed said, with a cocky, shit-eating grin on his face.

Your eyes widened, and if Stede hadn’t been there as well you would have seriously considered slapping the look straight off of Ed’s face. Or kissing it off. Or both.

Stede moved to stand between you and the other man. “Now, now, Ed. Stop teasing Y/N! We’re supposed to be relaxing, remember?!” You couldn’t help but realize how much Stede looked like a father scolding his rambunctious child at that moment. Sometimes you forgot the man was a father outside of his life of piracy, and to be honest, you couldn’t help but find that rather–

Ed interrupted your thoughts. “Well Y/N certainly seems to be relaxing, if you know what I mean...”

You moved past Stede so that you were face to face with Ed. “Edward Teach, you are going to fucking GET IT!” You said, highlighting your statement with an–almost comically lackluster–splash.

Ed feigned surprise, using a hand to cover his open mouth. “Yeah? Don’t start something you aren’t going to finish, sweetheart,” he said, hesitating before doing anything in response. The action itself was kind of cute, but you weren’t in the mood for cute–you were out for blood.

“You should tell yourself that,” you said with a sly smile, before lunging towards him and splashing him a few times in rapid succession, noticing the way Stede seemed to be debating between running for the hills and stepping between the two of you once more. As Stede opted for a sort-of middle ground where he almost seemed to be supervising the two of you, Ed had begun splashing you in response, effectively soaking your upper half. Of course, you had opted to wear a blouse similar to the one Stede was currently wearing (as he had loaned it to you upon arrival), so you were certain the two men in front of you were getting quite the view of your form.

You closed your eyes as Ed’s splashes became too overwhelming, and you missed the way each of the men followed the curve of your body as you raised your hands above your head in surrender and said “that’s enough!”

With one final flick of water which earned him a look of annoyance from you, Ed halted his actions.

You lowered your arms and wiped any remaining water from your face and eyes, shaking your arms and upper body to try and dry what you could. Stede approached you at this point, his hand connecting with your cheek as he angled your head up so his eyes could meet yours.

“Did he go too hard on you?” He innocently asked, but you couldn’t help but laugh at the innuendo that the statement insinuated. Stede smiled in response, rubbing your cheek with his thumb. Of course, the sweet moment was interrupted by the grey-haired pirate who you nearly forgot was standing near you.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t help but feel like I’m interrupting something here…” he said, and you were reminded that you hadn’t had the chance to tell him about the moment you shared with Stede the previous night. Your fears, however, were relieved by Stede chuckling and inviting Ed to join the two of you, which led you to assume that Stede had already filled him in.

You reached out for Ed as he approached you, stroking your hand up and down his toned arm when he was within reach. “For the record, I was only staring earlier because I enjoy seeing the mighty Blackbeard frolicking on the beach in my free time.”

He laughed a genuine laugh at that. “Sure, Y/N, you keep telling yourself that. Whatever you have to do to sleep at night.”

You glanced between him and Stede before speaking again. “Right…so about sleeping…” you broached, and once you received confused looks from each of them, you continued on. “Stede told me about our…uh…sleeping arrangements tonight…”

“And, let me guess, you can’t stop thinking about what’s to come?” Stede added, as if he was reading your mind.

You nodded, suddenly feeling a little flustered at both your close proximity to the two men as well as from the effects of the warm sun on your skin. You saw Ed smirk out of the corner of your eye at your admission, and then felt him walk up behind you and wrap his arms around your middle.

“Is this okay?” He asked, moving your hair to the side to reveal your neck.

“Of course,” you responded, locking eyes with Stede as Ed started kissing your neck and jaw. As you moved your head to the side to allow him better access, you locked eyes with Stede, who had moved to be directly in front of you. “Can I touch you?” You asked him, and were immediately met with him frantically nodding.

As Ed reached around to untuck the shirt you were wearing to access your skin underneath, you reached your own hands up to where Stede’s shirt had opened, and ran your fingers over his bare chest. You stroked your hands up and down, then used the collar of his shirt to pull him in for a kiss.

You moved to deepen the kiss, effectively sandwiching yourself between the two men, and you could sense the raw, primal desire each of the men had for you. You could also feel it in the way Stede’s kiss was all teeth and tongue, and how Ed’s tightening pants behind you rubbed against your ass.

You pulled away from Stede but continued your actions with your hands, turning your head to be in line with Ed’s ear. “When was the last time you had a proper fuck?” You asked him, kissing his earlobe as you waited for a response.

“Wouldn’t you like to know, sweetheart?” He nearly growled, accentuating his statement by gripping your hips tightly. “Do you think about me like that? Think about us, like that? Huh?”

You opened your mouth to respond but were cut off by an obscenely loud–and incredibly inconvenient–whistle from behind you. You, Ed, and Stede were off each other in an instant, heads whipping towards the source of the sound. What you weren’t prepared for, was to see nearly the entire crew of the Revenge making their way towards you.

Stede greeted his crew with a wave, making his way towards them and beckoning you over in the process.

Yeah, this was going to be a long day.

~

The night had fallen, as had your heart, after the events of the day. Besides the obligatory vacation and crew festivities that kept you busy, you couldn’t help but anxiously await the anticipated events of the night.

Stede and Ed had their fun with you nearly the entire day, mostly through lingering touches and hushed conversations, doing nothing to make the time spent with the crew pass any quicker. You had eventually called it quits as the sun began to set, excusing yourself as you headed towards your rather luxurious living quarters for the night, which is where you found yourself now.

You glanced up from where you were perched on perhaps the largest bed you had ever seen. From your position, you could see the gorgeous living room that had greeted you upon arrival, as well as the kitchen and stairs to the guest room. You assumed that you would be sleeping there tonight, but upon locating the bed that nearly swallowed you whole, you figured that you and your two companions could all fit here.

A knock at the front door had you up in an instant. The knock was accompanied by an “anybody home?” that was far too chipper to be anyone other than Stede.

You opened the door once you reached it, smiling upon realizing that Ed had tagged along with Stede. “Hey boys!” You greeted, backing up to allow them inside. What you didn’t anticipate, however, was for Ed to barge in before Stede and push you up against the nearest wall, his hands finding your hips while his lips found yours. It was a filthy kiss, clearly only initiated to bring about…something more. Something that you had been thinking about for the better part of your time with the captains of the Revenge.

You pulled back–much to Ed’s dismay–and immediately cradled his face as you began to speak, hearing Stede approach you from behind, similar to the position you found yourself in just hours ago.

“So…” you droned on, angling yourself so that you could get a look at both men.

“So…” Stede replied, smirking at your sudden bashfulness.

Ed grunted and gripped your hips, drawing your attention back to him. “Do you want this sweetheart?” He asked sweetly, genuine concern in his eyes. “Want us?” He added, before leaning back to gauge your reaction.

You looked between him and Stede with a smirk, before responding. “I’ve wanted this for longer than you could ever know.”

Stede raised an eyebrow at that. “Is that right?” He asked, smoothing a hand down your side and resting it on Ed’s hand. You were starting to get used to being sandwiched between the two men, especially when you caught the tender look shared between them as you let out a sigh of contentment and nodded.

“Care to share your thoughts with the class, Y/N?” Ed teased, his grip on your hips tightening.

You bit your lip and pulled away, their hands falling away from your body. “What if I showed you, instead?” You asked, reaching a hand out for each of them to take. Stede obliged, intertwining his fingers with yours and leading you towards the bedroom, while Ed settled for a slight slap on your ass and followed closely behind.

You were quick to push Stede onto the bed, straddling him while you helped him take off his–many–layers. You heard Ed doing the same behind you, and were greeted by him in just his leather pants, and you were not modest in the way you checked him out.

He opened his mouth to speak but you were quick to stop him. “Ed, I swear if you are about to ask me if I ‘like what I see’ I will literally make you sit and watch while me and Stede-”

He cut you off with a chuckle. “Woah. I was actually going to ask if you wanted to suck my dick, but now that I know that you’re into voyeurism, I might just take you up on that offer.”

Your face dropped and you rolled your eyes, and you were about to turn your attention back to a now shirtless Stede when you felt a strong grip on your chin. Ed angled your face to turn back towards his, his eyes now hooded and dark.

“Did you just fucking roll your eyes at me?” He questioned, and you felt your heart drop at his words. You had never seen Ed in what he and Stede referred to as ‘Blackbeard Mode,’ and now that it was fully on display you couldn’t help but feel a little scared…but also incredibly turned on.

The grip on your chin loosed, only for Ed to move it to your neck. “Answer me!” Ed demanded, which nearly sent you into a panic–a sexy, heart racing type of panic.

“Yeah, I did.” You mumbled under your breath.

Ed narrowed his eyes. “What was that?” He asked.

You cleared your throat as best you could given your current position, and felt Stede’s hands slide delicately up your back to relax you. You caved at their actions, softening as you let down your guard. “I did Ed, I’m sorry...” you replied, louder than your previous statement.

Ed removed his hand from your neck, stroking it down your cheek softly. “Don’t apologize, sweetheart–I’m just fuckin’ with you. You know I like the difficult ones.” At your confused look, he nodded towards the other man before adding, “just ask Stede. That man has the mouth of a sailor…pun fully intended,” he said with a wink, nearly making you roll your eyes again and defeat the entire purpose of…whatever the hell this was.

Instead, your eyes widened slightly at the new information, before turning back to Stede. “Is it true, Stede?” You asked, still slightly taken aback that the seemingly innocent blonde was something else entirely in bed.

He responded by pulling your hips towards him, and angling you so that your core could grind against his erection, leaning in so he could speak into your ear. “I guess you’ll have to find out, darling.” He said in a voice you nearly didn’t recognize, before continuing. “Also, that’s ‘Captain’ to you, missy.”

You pulled back and shared a look with Ed to see if Stede was serious or not, and when Ed didn’t roll his eyes or make a comment, you knew you were in for an interesting night.

You rolled your hips on Stede’s hardening cock, moaning at the feeling and the way his lips parted to do the same, before responding. “Alright Captain, you gonna show me what you’re made of, or keep teasing me all night?”

At that, Ed reached around your body and began removing your clothes, probably after realizing you still had on at least two more layers than they did. Stede busied himself with attacking your neck with his lips, continuing to grind you down in his lap while Ed did the same from behind you. You could feel your panties nearly soaking through at this point, your core throbbing for more attention.

As if he could read your mind, Ed pulled you away from Stede–not without a whine from you, of course–and sat you on the bed next to the blonde. You turned to face Stede, taking in how truly gorgeous the man is, prompting you to lean forward to kiss him, immediately opening your mouth to allow your tongues to collide. It was sloppy, drool threatening to spill out of your mouth and probably his too, but it was just what you needed at the moment. Oh, and certainly the hand that was slowly snaking its way into your pants currently.

You opened your eyes to try and get a better view of how the other man was touching you, but a firm hand came up to keep you focused on your kiss. “Focus on Stede for me, sweetheart,” Ed began, “I want to taste this sweet pussy and make you feel good.” You moaned, before he continued. “Can you let me do that for you, baby?”

You nodded frantically, parting your legs for him and allowing him to remove your pants. You could feel him playing with the waistband of your panties and he sunk down between your legs. As you felt his lips on your inner thighs and clothed center, you took the opportunity to stroke Stede’s inner thigh, feeling him tense slightly then relax into your touch. Just as you had done for Ed, Stede widened his legs, allowing you access into his trousers. You pulled back from your kiss with him, bringing your forehead to his as you longed for more of the closeness you had established with him.

You moved to continue your actions, stroking your hands along Stede’s lower stomach, halting when you felt Ed pull down your panties and quickly move to connect himself with your core. His lips were on your clit, sucking and kissing the swollen bud, as his fingers came up to find your soaken hole. He slowly slid two fingers into your pussy, setting a slow but steady pace as you braced yourself on Stede’s thighs.

Ed pulled back, his fingers fully replacing his mouth as he gauged your reaction to his actions thus far. “God…you’re so fucking soaked, Y/N. Do you want to make Stede feel good while I make you cum?”

You hesitated before responding, not because you were unsure of your answer but because his fingers were hitting all the right spots at the moment. His rough hands only added to the sensation, and you felt like you had to restrain yourself from fully getting off on his hand.

Stede picked up on your inability to form a response, and gripped your hands where they were resting on his thighs. He looked at Ed and there seemed to be a mutual understanding, and then Ed’s hands were off of you, gaining your attention.

You opened your mouth to protest, but Ed was already standing in front of Stede, offering the other man his fingers that had just been inside of you.

When you say that you nearly passed out from the scene that was unfolding in front of you, you were definitely not exaggerating. Stede leaned forward, gripping Ed’s hand at the wrist and guiding his fingers into his mouth. He wrapped his lips around the digits, tongue flicking out to taste your slick, and you literally had to cross your legs to keep from orgasming on the spot. To make matters worse, Stede opened his eyes and made eye contact with first Ed then you, and let out a moan, as though he was tasting his own personal cocktail of ambrosia.

Stede released Ed’s fingers, and you felt yourself being moved by Ed so that you were kneeling perpendicular to where Stede was sitting on the edge of the bed, with your head near his lap. Ed positioned himself behind you, and you missed the way he licked his lips and leaned down as you focused on Stede’s pleasure. Gingerly, you reached for Stede’s trousers and briefs once more, pulling them down enough to free his now throbbing cock. You looked up at Stede shyly, his eyebrows drawn together in concentration as he flashed you a soft smile before he spoke. “Go ahead, darling.”

To encourage you further, Ed took this opportunity to attack your pussy with his tongue. You were super glad he decided to shave his beard only a few days ago, as the slight burn of the stubble contrasted with his wet, soft tongue felt amazing in between your legs. Before you became overwhelmed with the sensation once again, you reached forward and took Stede’s cock in your hand. It barely fit in just one of your hands, which you discovered as you started to jerk off his shaft.

“Give me your hand, darling,” Stede said, and you obliged. “Good girl,” he added once you moved to comply. You kept one hand moving on his dick while you reached out your other one, which the man took and brought to his mouth. Just as Ed started eating you out like a starved man, Stede spit into your open hand, then guided it back down to join your other hand. The action itself was filthy in nature, making you buck your hips into Ed’s mouth and increase the rate at which you jerked Stede off. He gasped at the action, and you could feel him holding his hips back to resist rutting up into your hands.

“Fuck, that feels good,” Stede said, before adding, “Is Ed going to make you cum, sweetheart?” He leaned his head back slightly to toss some of his hair out of his face, before looking down at you for a response.

“Yes, shit, gonna cum soon–” You were cut off by a slap on your ass by Ed, causing you to jolt forward and come face to face with Stede’s cock. You better positioned yourself on Stede’s thighs, leaning forward to take the tip into your mouth. You could feel that Ed added his fingers back into your pussy somewhere during this process, and the familiar heat in your core ramping up as he continued his actions.

You removed one hand from Stede’s cock as you took him deeper into your mouth, using it to massage his balls. You could feel a combination of your spit and Stede’s precum sliding down his shaft to meet your hand, earning you a moan from the man above you. Upon hearing his sighs of pleasure, you let out one of your own, making Stede buck his hips and egging Ed’s attack on your pussy on further.

“Gonna cum, Y/N? With my face buried in your pussy, and your mouth around your Captain’s cock? Let it all go baby…” Ed said, and with that, you were seeing stars. You were glad you had Stede’s dick in your mouth, as the moans that threatened to slip out as you rode your high were–mostly–stifled.

Ed continued to lick and kiss your cunt as you came down, while Stede reluctantly pulled you off his cock. When you moved to take him back into your mouth, he reached out a hand to stop you, offering a merciful smile.

“Sorry, sweetheart, you’re just a little too good at that is all,” he explained with a grin, and you felt Ed move behind you.

“I’m assuming you enjoyed that, huh, sweetheart?” Ed said, kneeling next to you and giving you a kiss on the cheek. You couldn’t resist turning your head to kiss him on the mouth, tasting yourself on his tongue.

He pulled back before you could deepen the kiss too much, looking at you with hooded eyes, similar to the way he did earlier. “God…who would’ve guessed that sweet Y/N was this filthy…” He teased, hand coming up to grip your cheeks and open your mouth. “Stick out your tongue for me, yeah?”

You did what he asked without hesitation, face still in Ed’s grasp, and he spit into your mouth. He released his grip and watched as you swallowed, using your eagerness as a sign to continue on with the events of the night.

“So…” Ed began, “Stede and I were talking…”

“And we wanted to leave it up to you before we went any further.” Stede interjected, a look of concern on his face.

You looked between them for what felt like the hundredth time this evening, and could see the love they had to share staring straight back at you. You knew, even prior to what had already occurred, that if there was anyone you wanted to do something like…whatever this was with, it would be them. Not only had they been there for you at one of your darkest times, but they had become sources of empowerment and support in the relatively short amount of time you knew them. Which is why you were confident in what you moved to say next.

“Ed…” You began, cupping his cheek then turning to Stede and doing the same. “Stede…” Both men leaned into your touch and listened intently. “There’s literally no one I would rather be doing this with. Both of you heard my call, took me by the hand, and led me to where I am today.” Both of their faces softened at your confession, and you placed your hands back into your lap.

Ed cleared his throat, breaking the short silence. “So, uh…we gonna fuck or not?”

You moved to straddle him, giggling at his statement. “Isn’t that literally what we were just doing?” You asked, rolling your hips over his still clothed erection.

“You haven’t even seen the slightest of what I’m capable of.” He replied, the brooding look returning to his face. This time, however, you weren’t having it, and saw through his dark façade.

“Okay, Blackbeard.” You said, rolling your eyes at his statement for added effect. He did not like that.

With a slap to your ass–and a glare from Stede–Ed repositioned you to perch atop his leg, leaning down towards your ear. “Fuck, I love it when you call me that.” You nearly rolled your eyes again–of course he did. “Now be a good girl and get off on my leg, then we can give you what you really want.”

You did what he asked, but not without adding, “what I really want? You mean your love and devotion?”

Ed snorted at that, gripping your waist tighter and grinding you harder into his lap. “I think you need something to shut you up.” He said, grunting whenever you came in contact with his dick.

You raised an eyebrow at that and shared a look with Stede, who was watching this all unfold with an eager expression. He looked gorgeous from this angle, his hair all disheveled and his body on full display.

You halted the movement of your hips, hearing Ed let out a frustrated grunt. “I want both of you, so bad…” You said, matter-of-factly.

“How do you want us?” Stede asked, his concerned nature making itself known.

You felt yourself blush at the question, again not expecting something of such a suggestive nature falling out of Stede’s lips. That being said, he literally just revealed his apparent “Captain” kink to you so maybe you were too quick to judge what Stede was or wasn’t capable of saying.

Shaking yourself out of your thoughts, you focused on what exactly was being asked of you. You honestly wanted nothing more than for each of the men to pound you into the mattress of this probably far too nice and boutique bed of yours, but a part of you deep down really wanted Stede to be the first of the two to get to know you so intimately. After all, he had done so much to take care of you as you had done for him–it just felt right.

Once you made up your mind–after also reminding yourself that you have all night–you voiced your thoughts. “Stede, I want you…” you began, looking down at your core before flicking your eyes back to the other man. “And Ed, I–”

He caught your drift immediately and finished your statement. “You want me to fuck your mouth, is that right?”

“Fuck, yeah.” You responded, too horny to say something witty in response.

At that, Stede stood and allowed you to move up and lay with your head dangling off the bed, giving yourself a perfect view of Ed’s lower half. You reached out and gripped what you could of his waist, pulling him closer to you. You felt the bed dip as Stede hovered over you, feeling his hands go to your shirt to finally remove it.

“May I?” He asked–ever the gentleman. You nodded, and you helped him pull the article of clothing off of you. You could feel Ed shifting behind you, and if you could see him attempting to wiggle out of his tight pants you would have probably bursted out laughing. You were distracted, however, by Stede’s hesitation as his hands hovered over your bra. Your eyes met his, and you gave a slight nod, reaching for his hand with your own and guiding it to the point at which the garment was connected to your body. He tenderly removed it from you, allowing it to fall to the floor and reveal your upper half to him.

As Stede leaned down to caress your breasts, you turned your head to be greeted with Ed’s unconcealed dick. To say that he was big would be an understatement–the man was seriously packing. No wonder he walked around like he owned the place, with a dick like that–

“Open your mouth for me.” He said, drawing you out of your–borderline objectifying–thoughts. You complied, and the heavy tip of his dick was in your mouth in an instant. You could taste the small amount of precum that had collected, making your mouth water.

You moved to position yourself at a better angle, but were stopped by Ed’s firm hands near your neck. You looked up at him as well as you could with your head upside down, and the determined look on his face was enough to suggest that he wanted you to lie back and enjoy yourself while he took the reins.

You were more than happy to comply, and focused on the sensations Stede was providing while Ed ensured that you were in a comfortable position and continued to stroke the tip of his dick on your open tongue. Stede’s hands slowly moved down your chest and stroked your hips, his lips also ghosting kisses down your abdomen.

As you felt Stede’s hands approach your core, you opened your legs wider to accommodate his form between your legs and to give him better access. You felt him chuckle at your actions, his lips now dangerously close to where you wanted him most. Well, a certain part of him.

“Stede…” you whined, feeling Ed pull back slightly as you spoke. Stede looked up at you eagerly, stopping short and expecting you to continue. When you didn't, he shifted once more so he was level with your face.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Is everything alright?” He asked, already knowing the answer.

You nodded, his hand stroking your cheek as you gave him a pleading look. “I want you…”

He nuzzled your nose with his own and smiled, before replying. “Then it’s me you shall have.”

You moved again to accommodate his form, feeling him situate himself between your legs. He reached down and pumped his shaft a few times, sighing as his hand came in contact with his tender skin. You relaxed and leaned your head back once again, signaling that you were ready for them.

You closed your eyes, focusing on the sensations you were experiencing, missing the glance Stede and Ed shared above you. After sharing a nod, the two men were quick to spring into action.

You felt Stede enter you first, the drag of his shaft along your walls slowly stretching your hole and hitting all the right places inside of you. You clenched around his cock once he was fully seated inside of you, moaning as his fingers ghosted over your clit. “You like that, darling?” He asked, beginning to set a slow, yet steady pace.

“Fuck yes!” You responded, smirking at him before adding “Captain.”

He grunted at that, picking up the pace and in turn, rocking the bed you were perched on. You silently prayed that all of the other crew members had settled down and weren’t looking for either of their captains, because the scene currently unfolding would probably make even the most rugged pirate say a prayer; unless their name was ‘Stede’ or ‘Ed,’ apparently.

Speaking of the devil, Ed saw your moment of quiet contemplation as an opportunity to grip your jaw, angling you once more to better suit his needs. You smiled at him before sticking out your tongue, prompting him to smirk back then lean down and spit as he had before, this time using it as added slick as he guided his cock back into your mouth.

Stede’s gentle, yet determined thrusts, and Ed’s rough and messy use of your mouth combined in a perfect tango which had you reaching your peak in seconds.

Ed could see the way your body was convulsing and twisting, clenching on Stede’s cock and drooling on his own. “You fucking like that, Y/N?” He asked, his hips working his cock against your tongue and down your throat. You moaned around his cock in response, egging him on more.

With a light slap to your cheek, he continued. “Fuck yeah you do, ohmygod–we should’ve done this so much sooner..”

Stede glanced up at that, tossing his–now disheveled–blonde locks out of his face. “I was thinking the same thing,” he said, gently, prompting Ed to lean down and meet his lips. You saw the two men deepen the kiss above you, and in that moment, everything felt so right. You finally had the two men who took you in, cared for you, and allowed you to care for them in return right where you wanted them, and you fucking loved it. Your sweet, kind Stede, who never failed to be gentle with you even when he was at his lowest, was making you feel better than you ever imagined, while your edgy, yet kind-hearted Ed allowed you to treat him how he deserved. It was everything you had been searching for–your hidden treasure, and you had been led to them as a personal treasure of their own.

Stede’s thrusts eventually became more irregular, and you could feel his cock throbbing in your core, signaling that he was close. Ed had opted to glide his shaft on top of your wet mouth and tongue, using you like his own personal toy. It was messy–filthy even, but you fucking loved it. You especially loved it when Ed used his free hand to play with one of your breasts, using some drool that had collected around your mouth as slick to play with your hard bud. Stede brought a hand up as well and did the same and you thanked every deity you could think of for allowing your paths to cross.

Shockingly, it was Ed who voiced his thoughts first. “Fuck, Stede, Y/N, I’m close.”

Stede slowed his thrusts a bit–earning a whine from you–and took a moment to catch his breath. “Fuck, me too.” He sat back on his knees, leaving just his tip inside you, and glanced down at you. “How are you doing, sweetheart? Getting close?”

You nodded, and felt the coil in your stomach threatening to snap as Stede drew the tip of his cock out and around your slick hole and clit. “Wanna c-cum, for you. Both of you.”

“I know you do darling, but I’m afraid I can’t hold out for much longer…” Stede responded, gripping the base of his shaft to try and hold off his orgasm.

“I can…” Ed cockily replied, easing his dick out of your mouth.

You sat up, noticing how suddenly empty you felt as you did, and turned to look Ed in the eyes. “And what if I don’t believe you?” You asked with wild eyes, hoping he would take the bait.

“Why don’t you lie on your stomach and find out for yourself, slut?” He gritted back, and you could’ve lost it right then and there, but your anticipation for what he proposed outweighed your need to orgasm without him inside you.

“Ed!?” Stede chirped in, likely as an attempt to come to your defense. When he saw the smirk on your face and look of desire in your eyes, however, his own eyes widened a bit, and he understood that the term hadn’t entirely pissed you off–in fact, it had had the opposite effect.

Stede huffed before allowing you to follow Ed’s orders and reposition yourself. “And I thought I was into some interesting things…”

As Ed settled behind you after your position replicated what he had asked of you, you turned your head to follow Stede as he sat at the head of the bed in front of you, giggling at his admission. “What kinds of things, Captain?” You asked, sure to use his favorite nickname.

Stede rolled his eyes and fixed his hair before smiling down at you. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

You smiled, moving to respond once more, but were cut off by Ed entering you with no warning. Your soft pussy gripped him tight, wetness coating his throbbing shaft. He could feel that you were pretty well stretched from Stede, and didn’t take much time in working you up to a hard and fast rhythm that had you moaning.

Still, through the haze of horniness that had accumulated, you felt the urge to reach for the blonde-haired man in front of you, taking all of what you could of his member into your mouth. He gasped, not expecting you to do so as Ed was literally pounding you into the mattress, but welcomed it nonetheless.

Ed slapped your ass as he saw what you were doing to Stede, pinching and massaging it as he picked up his pace even more. “Look at you, Y/N, being split open by us. Fuck, you’re so good-”

“Such a good girl…” Stede continued after Ed became a moaning mess, making you clench down on Ed’s leaking cock. You took Stede’s slick cock deeper into your mouth, tears threatening to spill as you started properly sucking him off. You could taste the saltiness of his precum mixing with the saliva of your mouth, and looked up at him through your lashes as you felt one of his hands move to your throat. It was mainly to support your neck and to guide you where he needed you, but the slight pressure made your pussy throb and turned you on even more–if that’s even possible.

It turns out it was, because when Ed brought a hand down to your clit you were done for. You looked up at Stede with desperation in your eyes, and he knew immediately that you were rapidly approaching your peak.

“Shit, Ed, Y/N’s nearly there…” Stede announced, his tone suggesting that you were not alone in your predicament.

“Yeah? Gonna cum with us inside you?” Ed said, and you moaned around Stede’s cock as a response, fucking back into Ed as he hit your G-spot with every thrust. That, combined with the way he flicked at your clit and the delicious pressure of Stede’s cock on your tongue and hand on your throat finally sent you over the edge. You nearly collapsed as your orgasm rode through you, your hole gripping Ed tight and nearly all of your muscles convulsing in the process. It felt like heaven.

“Mmm, gripping me so tight…gonna cum…” Ed slurred, before gingerly pulling out and releasing on your hole and thighs.

Stede was not far behind, and you reached a hand up to stroke what you couldn’t fit in your mouth, causing him to thrust slowly as pleasure started to overcome his senses. “I’m so close, pretty girl,” he said, and you felt the bed shift behind you. You focused on licking and sucking all that you could, locking eyes with Stede as his breathing increased and cock started to leak more.

You felt his balls tighten as he continued to thrust, and just as he let go you felt a set of hands pull your hair back and stroke along your skin. You closed your eyes and swallowed all that he had to give, savoring the taste that was so distinctly Stede. You shamelessly moaned at the sensation, earning a chuckle from both men; prompting you to come back down to Earth. Stede carefully removed his spent shaft from your mouth, using a finger to wipe a bit of drool and his release from the corners of your mouth. He tucked himself back into his trousers and settled into the bed, gesturing for you to do the same. When you went to move and realized your hair was still pulled back, you turned to the side and were greeted with a grinning Ed who was now playing with your hair that was in his grip.

You cleared your throat to get his attention, but when his gaze remained on his fingers in your hair, you spoke. “You gonna play with that forever, or come cuddle?” You asked, cheekily.

He halted his action and removed his hands with a huff. “Fine…but only if I get to be the big spoon.”

You crawled into Stede’s arms speedily, positioning yourself with your back to him and arms open wide. “Well shit. Looks like that position has already been filled.”

Ed pouted, crossing his arms and taking in your inviting form, but ultimately sighing and laying in your arms. To egg him on more–something you started to enjoy more and more–you replicated his previous actions and began playing with his hair.

He turned around and narrowed his eyes before speaking. “I hate you.”

You kissed him on the temple, and raised one of Stede’s hands from around your waist to your lips and did the same. “Love you too.”

~

taglist: @conthesatanist

[jackoshadows]

This is just going to come off as me hating on Sansa, but if anything makes me believe that George would kill her off it would be the fact that she's had such little growth over the series in terms of actually learning/being taught politics. I always see people greatly overestimating her intelligence and accomplishments so it's hard for me to believe she's meant to outsmart LF. We only have two books left and she isn't even questioning him yet. She definitely could get that development but it would be weird for George to wait until the last two books to do so. I think it's more likely she has a part in it instead of being the sole reason. Her story has always seemed more about showing others plotting and adding suspense because she doesn't fully grasp the situation rather than being actively involved herself. That's just my thoughts on it though.

While GRRM has talked extensively of the lack of the 5 year gap with respect to Arya and Bran (He mentions in interviews of specifically wanting an older Arya and Bran Stark) IMO, the character most affected by the loss of the gap is Sansa, who really needed that time jump and off page development because the author has not written in an organic growth over several books for her.

Which is why I felt that even the Alayne TWoW sample chapter comes off as sudden, jarring and out of place with a newly confident Sansa flirting with Harry and talking about how much she loved the Vale and felt alive there. Seems to be a bit of a disconnect with how her last AFfC chapter ended. Still, I do think that with two books left, Sansa will start quickly connecting the dots - she has to for GRRM to wind up the LF character and plots there.

I do think GRRM intends for Sansa to take LF down, even if she ends up dying in the attempt. Sansa's been closely connected to the character since book one, there's the parallels between Sansa and Lysa (mirroring the parallels between Arya and Lyanna), the Sansa/Catelyn connection wrt LF and LF being one of the important human antagonists of the series. Sansa is an important POV character that keeps the reader connected to Littlefinger until GRRM decides that his story is done.

Which is why I am in the minority of opinion that it's Sansa and Ladystoneheart that are going to end up meeting/interacting through the Riverlands/Littlefinger story, first because I really, really want Catelyn/LSH to have a role in taking down LF (Revenge is a dish best served cold and I love vengeance!) and secondly in interviews GRRM has hinted at there being some kind conflict brewing between Emmon Frey and Littlefinger over being Lord of the Riverlands.

The Vale is closer to the Riverlands than Braavos and Arya in the Riverlands would be a retread of her ACoK/ASoS plot when she has more plot important things to do in the North - IMO. I am listening to AFfC right now and even Brienne's story there already feels like a retread of Arya's narrative themes in the Riverlands.

That said, if Arya does end up going back to the Riverlands for whatever reason - for ex. when she is helping/leading Northerners fleeing the Others or to figure out the food situation for the starving North - it could also be here where she and Sansa settle their differences after a reunion with LSH.

[nohoney]

k… could we please get a Drabble ab this scenario? Pretty please with cherry on top 😭 I am loving the angst train so MUCH! Thank you so much for hurting us more like this babe <3

https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/nohoney/722969405344055296

the ask

y’all love the angst train

It’s intentional to hurt you but it’s never intentional to make you miserable. It’s one thing to see that pained look on your face and try to move on, and it’s a whole other thing to see you laying in bed all day and be so upset with them.

They can admit it… they went too far.

“Baby… please get out of bed. You don’t have to leave the room if you don’t want to, just at least get up for a little.” Keigo’s voice is gentle as he tries to coax you to get up. His hand is warm on your shoulder and he pressed a small kiss to your temple but you don’t have a reaction to his affection. “I’ll come back in a few minutes, okay?”

You give him a noncommittal hum in response, pulling the blanket back over your shoulder since he pulled it away.

Touya and Keigo had been taking turns to try to get you out of bed since your bender had ended. For three days straight you were up, awake on adderall to keep you focused and cocaine to keep you a little perked up. You were trying to keep yourself distracted from all the cheating. When they finally noticed that you weren’t actually resting or eating or taking any pause, they took away the coke and the adderall and you were forced to crash. Right now you’re on day four of having not left the apartment, you called in sick for the three classes you’re taking for the semester, two of which are online.

Keigo runs his hand down his face and sighs into his palm when he leaves the bedroom. Touya is on the balcony and chain smoking his stress away. The both of them know that they fucked up. Revenge cheating the one time was one thing, but they both just couldn’t stop the thrill of seeing you so hurt every time they came back to you.

Now look where they are after being selfish.

“Do you want to go this time?” Keigo asks as he comes out to the balcony. Touya offers the cigarette he’s smoking to him, heaving a heavy sigh and unsure if there’s anything different he could say from what he’s already tried. Plus he couldn’t stand it that you wouldn’t turn around to face him.

But he couldn’t really let Keigo do all the work of trying to get you up. “I’ll try…” he sighs more to himself.

When Touya opens the door, he sees you go under the covers and hide. It’s a pretty big indicator that you’re getting more upset the more they visit you in the room without you needing to say anything to them. He doesn’t like to hear you sniffle under the covers though.

“Doll, you know we can’t have you stay in bed any longer.” Touya says as he approaches the bed, “You need to get up. We can talk about what happened.”

He’ll say sorry to you for hurting you so badly. He just felt so betrayed after learning that you’d been messaging Shigaraki behind his back. It was too easy to hurt you and he just wanted you to feel as bad as he felt when they found out. It was barely about the cocaine you were sniffing behind his back; he just didn’t want you to need anyone else but him for anything.

You’re his whole world and he only wants to exist for you.

Muffled words are heard beneath the blanket and Touya strains his ears to listen to what you said. He asks you to say it again but you give him silence. “Come on, I’m fucking trying here! Every goddamn day, I’m begging you to be up on your feet! To fucking look at me!” Touya expresses his frustration.

It hurts him to have hurt you this badly but he also doesn’t know how to dress and fix the wounds he gave you in the first place.

“(Name),” Touya kneels on the side of the bed and pulls at the blanket to reveal you, “look at me!”

Just look at him.

It’s all he wants.

Look at him so that he knows he hasn’t lost you.

And you do.

Slowly you sit up and look at Touya.

You have an angry, heartbroken gaze set on him. Your jaw is tense and like so many memories he has of you, you try to refuse to let yourself cry. When you get that look on your face, trying to be defiant against your own emotions, it’s when you’re just about to collapse.

He’s relieved.

All your emotions, your jealousy and anger and happiness, they all belong to him.

“My baby, my gorgeous baby…” Touya speaks, feeling a little bit of weight lift off his shoulders, “You’re fucking beautiful when you’re mad at me. You’re my little crybaby.”

He dares to crawl onto the bed and catches your hand when you try to hit him. You protest and tell him to leave you alone, to fuck off and go away but he invades your space. “God, I need you so badly baby. You know they were nothing to me. They’re always nothing. Let me make it up-“

You manage to shake his hand off your wrist and you slap Touya in the face. You’ve hardly eaten so even putting all your energy into that one hit drains you fast. It made you lightheaded so you’re forced to lay back down on the bed. Your angry, teary gaze remains on him though.

“Are the two of you fighting?” Keigo comes in to find the blankets pulled off the bed and Touya with his cheek red, “Touya, don’t antagonize her. We’re supposed to be making up.”

“I was trying, but she doesn’t want to.” Touya grumbles, ignoring the sting on his cheek.

“What makes you think I want to fuck either of you after the week of hell you gave me?” You speak angrily to them, the most words you’ve said since a few days ago, “The two of you are awful to me.”

“We’re sorry, okay? We only did it because you hurt us first.”

They know and they’re sorry, but only because you started it.

They crowd your space, ignoring your curses and with no energy in you, you have a difficult time trying to push them away. You know your boys and how their guilt trips them up. The easiest way to harm them the most was for you to self destruct. To go on a bender until you either passed out or they finally noticed and forced you off.

When it comes down to it, they’re always going to end up saving you from yourself. Sometimes you’d wish that they leave you to spiral, like after that huge fight, so you could indulge in all the bad things you want with no supervision. But knowing that they’d agonize over you, coddle you or beg you just to bring you back from the brink of your self destructive habits…

It does remind you again that they do love you.

It’s all you want from them.

[asha-mage]

The Warrior in the Woods [RWBY]

>:C

[Send me in an Ask with one my WIP titles from this post, and I'll post a snippet of it and tell you a bit about it!]

Listen. Listen. It's ON THE LIST okay. I just have to work more on my posted WIPs first. Also probably need to rewatch RWBY at some point.

This is my 'Jaune and Adam are stranded together in the frozen tundras of northern Anima circa v5 au and have to work together to survive, causing Jaune to learn Adam's messy history and get a new perspective on him, and forcing Adam to question a lot of his assumptions about the cruelty of the world now that he has his lowest point and finally encountering someone who seems to just be good in a uncomplicated straightforward way, but is a human which runs so hard against Adam's lived experience that he doesn't know how to deal with it' au

(I wonder sometimes if my inability to sum up my ideas in a succulent fashion is why so many of my works use references and song lyrics as working titles)

Anyways-

Jaune stood there, staring at Adam who lay on the ground, motionless. The snow had not stopped falling, if anything the storm was growing more intense as the moments passed and Adam’s body started to collect a light dusting of snow, his gray clothing quickly covered in a layer of faint sparkling white. Jaune could faintly hear the strident cries of the huge Strix, likely still circling up there somewhere overhead. And the huge Cereian would be  back for revenge as well, soon enough. Jaune’s best chance was to find shelter in the castle and wait them both out, while his Aura recovered. But if he had to drag an unconscious Adam on his shoulders while he did that, his chances of making it through the next few hours would go down sharply. But Adam’s chances of surviving if Jaune left him here, were nothing. You don’t owe him anything. He only worked with you to save his own skin, then only with his teeth clenched the whole time. Jaune told himself. He tried to kill you. He dropped you to your death. He ambushed you while you were fighting Grimm. He helped Salem at Beacon and Haven, and has probably killed dozens, maybe hundreds of innocent people. He hurt Blake. He hurt Yang. He wants to hurt everyone. No one is here to judge you, and if they were they wouldn’t. He’s a monster. But you are a Huntsmen. A voice that sounded a lot like Pyrrha’s whispered in the back of his mind. And Huntsmen do not leave people to die. Jaune exhaled and forced his feet to walk forward. He leaned over to dust off some of the snow from Adam’s body, and gave a start as he realized the blindfold had fallen the rest of the way off, exposing his left eye. The pale skin around it was twisted and gnarled red as if it had been burned, the darkest pieces raised into rough ridges that spelled something out. SDC. Schnee Dust Company. Jaune felt his skin prickle, his stomach lurching in horror at the sight. So this was why he had worn the Grimm Mask, and then the blindfold. Before Jaune could stop himself he had reached out to thumb open the eye, and instead of icy blue a pale milky white iris and pupil stared back at him, filmed over the way a corpse’s eye was filmed over, the whites so blood shot they seemed red. Jaune pulled back his hand as if burned and felt the urge to shiver for reasons that had nothing to do with the cold. He steeled himself, and gently as he could manage, rewrapped the blindfold around Adam’s eyes. He had chosen not to show this to the world, and Jaune felt the need to respect that. Then he lifted the other man into his arms, feeling a stab of surprise at how light he was, and set out to look for a place they could shelter, before the cold and the Grimm killed them both.

I've always had this weird soft spot for Adam/Jaune, because I genuinely think their dynamic could be fascinating and challenging to both characters, and also I am huge sucker for dark knight x paladin style relationships (Someone whose power is draw from anger and rage at a unjust cruel world, who can believe in their strength to see them safe, and a person whose power is drawn from an ideal, tirelessly working to create a world where their isn't suffering and pain and refusing to let either thing burn them down- delicious). I defiantly want to return to this work and flesh it out properly. Probably will once Vol 10 finally drops and I descend back into RWBY hell.

[tsundere-isopods]

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what Frenchie gains from a relationship with Izzy. (Yes, I am still dealing with the Brainrot.) I’m putting a read more because this thing got away from me and I didn’t mean to write an entire essay to get to my point.

It always is the same for what Izzy gets out of the relationship: Someone to work through emotional baggage, someone who isn’t afraid to touch him, someone who isn’t actually afraid of him period. Frenchie gives Izzy peace and that’s an important thing for Izzy’s development.

But, the question that isn’t answered most of the time: What does Frenchie get? A common answer is learning how to fight for himself. He gets safety from everyone else on the ship who would otherwise want to hurt him (in the cases of Blackbeard’s Revenge without any of his crew.) Don’t you think he deserves more?

Frenchie is a good character. He’s funny, he’s kind, he’s always there to help a friend when they need it. He’s crazy good at people, both reading them and manipulating them. He’s gotten along incredibly well so far without help from Izzy. He doesn’t really have a desire or need to take on charity cases. (Sorry, but a lot of the Oiuzzy fics out there make Izzy out like a charity case where a hug can solve all of his problems.)

What Frenchie brings to the table in every headcanon/fic/meta-analysis I have read vastly outweighs what Izzy does. And I also feels that is disingenuous to Izzy. Izzy has been under Blackbeard for years. He commands respect and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. But, you know what makes a good First Mate who has a Captain that goes through ‘moods’? The ability to judge situations, make choices to protect his men, and listen to them.

Now, I’m not saying I don’t enjoy Izzy-centered fics that have these two. But, even some of the Frenchie-centered ones are about Izzy and what he gains. Not Frenchie and what he gains. Relationships don’t work if only one person gets something out of it.

Can I make a suggestion for every shipper out there who writes fanfics? Take that first line of spoken dialog that Frenchie has: “Bottle it up?” and run with it. This man has lived a life in service. He was probably taught to not be seen or heard because he was the “Help”. He’s never known freedom and even on the ship, there is freedom but we only ever see him close to Olu, Roach, and John. And even then, we don’t see them super close like we see everyone else. He’s also alone, with no one he can really talk to, if he even knows how to talk to people about the things in his head. Look at how everyone reacts to his superstitions. I have a lot of headcanons on Frenchie and I am trying so hard to not put them here. But, slavery has had a huge effect on him. You can tell when he stands in front of anyone who isn’t one of the crew. Slouched posture, no eye contact, deferring others to speak for him. We don’t see that in the French episode because he’s got the support of Olu and the rest of the slaves on the ship. And he takes great joy in screwing everyone else over. But, as a whole, he watches and weighs the situations until there is something for him there. He’s wicked smart and most people just forget how crafty he is when it comes to people.

Me, personally? I think that Frenchie should get the same thing Izzy does. He gets someone to soothe his fears. A person who will listen to him, like really listen. Beyond all of the crystals and sea monsters, listen to what frightens him. And Izzy can’t solve or erase all of those fears, but he can listen. Which is what Frenchie deserves. He also deserves someone who wouldn’t hesitate to pick up a gift because it made them think of him. Someone who offers acts of service without expecting anything in return. He can defend himself (well, sort of, my boy is really clumsy) and has made friends with everyone on the ship, but he doesn’t have real closeness with anyone but John.

Everyone finds Frenchie funny. But, we know from just that simple first piece of spoken dialogue that he bottles everything up to stay that funny, goofy guy. Izzy sees through that. Every time. It gets better the closer they get. And Izzy doesn’t do feelings but he does fucking listen. He might not be able to fix the situation, but he hears everything and he thinks about it. He plots and schemes and eventually, he comes back with a solution. Izzy does his best to make Frenchie better. I love the idea of Izzy teaching him to sword fight as much as the next person, but Izzy would also find the time to fix the ‘weak link’ on the crew because that’s what a good First Mate does. Make him show patience that he has to have. Traditional ships were made of seasoned sailors and boys looking to run away from something. It would have been Izzy’s job to assess and help every single one of them survive. Because a weak crew is a dead crew. And that’s not acceptable. But, that shouldn’t be all he brings to the table.

The reason a lot of people like Izzy’s character is because he’s such a bastard. And the reason a lot of people like Frenchie is because he is so lovable. I love this dynamic in a lot of different ways. Frenchie and Izzy works. They are good for each other because they help the other one remember or feel human. They listen to each other about the things the other one can’t or won’t tell anyone else. They help cover each other’s weak points.

Now, please, someone give me a fic where Izzy gives Frenchie some kind of protection amulet because it will protect him from whatever thing Frenchie is so afraid of that he won’t leave the cabin without it being after they’ve gotten together. Or, where Izzy wakes him up from a nightmare and when Frenchie tells him it’s nothing, he coaxes it out of him so he can go back to sleep because that’s what a First Mate does. Where Izzy is the first one to pursue and finds that Frenchie needs someone to keep him grounded, and God does Izzy want to make him feel tethered to something. Don’t just make Izzy-centered fics. Please. For the love of all things holy. Make Izzy just as good for Frenchie as Frenchie is for Izzy.

[teenagedkraken]

✒️🎉🌓👀🎲🥂

✒️ the muse's canon

//I love this movie a lot. Does it have issues? Of course. But that goes for any film out there. I know I'm in the minority when I say I whole-heartedly love the canon of the film. Most people either want the Nerissa twist retconned or the film just deleted entirely for the sake of their Chelby shipping. Meanwhile I would like to see canon be used as a jumping off point for greater stories. I would rather focus on the world of RGTK than a single ship that wasn't ever going to happen in canon anyway.

🎉 the fan favorite character of my muse's canon

//Lord, I don't want this just be a whole rant thing because I do love Chelsea. But I'm so sick and tired of people literally turning her into the thing the movie mocked and made fun of. She is a villain. That's what she was made to be as. In every iteration of RGTK, from the darker mature story to the OG pitch Chelsea is the antagonist. That's her role. Like, I don't mind her becoming the fanon version of herself. That's called character development. But outright erasing her antagonist-ism just so you can supplant your need for shipping is just UGH. And it really sucks man because she's such a fun character on screen. She is. I love her!

🌓 crossovers

Crossovers? Love them. Adore them!! Tumblr is the perfect place for the most bizarre rp crossovers. I remember a long time ago when I played Dr. Doofenshmirtz and he ended up meeting Rick Sanchez. It was hilarious because Rick was flabbergasted over how Doof was simultaneously smarter and dumber than him at the same time. Or back in my Ratchet and Clank days where we had this crossover thread with Sonic characters where Emperor Tachyon faced off against a lombax OC and Knuckles from Sonic. Ahh, memories. But yeah, crossovers are always welcomed here!

👀 dash commentary

//It's a fun little thing! Admittedly I don't do it as much as I used too. But I feel like that mostly stems from how different tumblr acts now compared to how it used to be in the better days.

🎲 ask memes and sentence starters

//Outside of just making greeters, they're the best way to show someone you're interested. Or you're just curious to learn more about someone's muse and how they work! Good stuff, yeah!

🥂 my favorite part of the canon

//Giant monsters! Listen, I am a sucker for kaiju. It's kind of what pulled me into RGTK in the first place. And you're telling me I get four giant kaiju's in this film??? And one of them is a mermaid? Something we usually don't see?? Sign me the heck up!

And we see so many other monster statues down in the kraken kingdom and other monsters are name dropped in the art book! There's so much potential for other kaiju's in RGTK's world!!

And you know what? The Nerissa twist. But I should give some context for it. I went into this film pretty blind. I didn't watch any of the trailers. I knew it was coming out and had a vague idea of what it might be. So, I go and see it. I'm enjoying it so far. We get to the half way point where Chelsea's like, 'My mother died trying to get it.' and in my head I'm like, 'AHA. I've got this film figured out. She's gonna use the trident to get revenge for her mother. Finish what her mom started in a sort of way.'

But then we get to the final act and 'Lol, actually I am Nerissa.' which genuinely took me by surprise. I didn't expect that. Ya got me good movie. I didn't see that part coming, props to you. And then when I watched it again knowing she's Nerissa, it just makes her retroactively more evil and I love it.

[ryttu3k]

So this next update is from the Gauntlet of Shar through to the end of act 2 and I have *checks* 690 caps so. This'll go fine.

We head into the (creepy, creepy) Gauntlet. Well, first the tomb, which confirmed a theory, then to the Gauntlet. Shadowheart talks about the tasks required to become a Dark Justiciar and everyone exchanges nervous glances hearing about a sacrifice, because. It's fine. This is fine, right.

I feel the highlighted text is basically the arc line for every companion story.

Just going to transcribe this bit because... image limit, but there was a very interesting exchange between Shadowheart and Halsin here:

Shadowheart: "Lady Shar… so many must have toiled to make a visage so grand. It's beautiful…" Halsin: "Shar's armies of destruction arose from within these halls." Shadowheart: "Those who do not listen to the reason of Lady Shar's words must instead feel the keenness of her blade." Halsin: "You sound like a student - reciting words for a test without considering their meaning." Shadowheart: "I've considered them plenty. Besides, Lady Shar favours actions over words. Try it out, sometime."

Huh!

Balthazar confirmed for creepy. "We're still close. She's in a jar on the shelf over there :)"

Did the first trial, the invisible path one. Shadowheart died several times. I savescummed and used a guide until I got it right. Next, the battle with the orthon. Not sure if it was a glitch but I didn't even get the chance to talk to the guy, alas. Wyll came in very handy here, since he levelled up to 11 just in time to learn a portal spell, so we could basically sneak up.

Astarion: "The orthon is nothing. I'll have my satisfaction when Raphael makes good on his word." Tae: "Repeat after me: Thank you for helping me, it was very kind." Astarion: "Hmm. Hrmmm. Thank you for helping me, it was very kind :|"

Marvellous facial expression here. But no disapproval!

Then, speak of the devil - here's Raphael, here to deliver his promise to Astarion, telling him what the scars mean. tfw you find out you have an infernal pact meant to kill you and elevate your abuser of two centuries to extreme never-before-seen power.

Astarion: "Hmm…" Tae: "Cazador is a piece of shit. We're going to stop him." Astarion: "Do you think it's so simple?" Tae: "You'll never be free while Cazador lives." Astarion: "I hate how right you are. I knew he wouldn't leave me alone even when I was just another wretched toy for him to play with. But if I'm the key to this power he craves, he'll hunt me to the ends of Faerûn. I need to take the fight to him. And I need you to help me." Tae: "Of course I'll help. We'll hunt him down and kill him." Astarion: "Thank you."

Yeah I am thinking thoughts about that, "I need you to help me" part and the, "I'm not used to asking for help and being met with, well... help" line (when Raphael reveals his scars). Yeah, he's scared out of his mind over what Cazador has the power to do to him, and it could just be sheer desperation, but it could also be that he is starting to trust his friends.

One of my favourite parts, now - the companions have their say. My favourite response is from Karlach, as seen in this post, but they're all. So good <3 Fuck you, Cazador, you're not touching our friend! Here's all of them:

Karlach: "Wish I could say I was surprised about Cazador's pact. Where blood, death, and betrayal parade, you can bet your arse a devil is riding grand marshal. We're going to keep Astarion safe. On my life, Cazador won't touch him."

Lae'zel: "Full-fledged vampires are not so easily slain. Astarion's master will be no exception. Fortunate for him, slaying monstrous fanatics is a pastime of ours."

Gale: "I can't imagine how Astarion must be feeling. The terms of your own condemnation carved into your skin… A monster's actions. And monsters do not deserve such power as that ritual promised. When the time comes, Astarion will have his revenge, I'm sure. And it will be richly deserved."

Shadowheart: "It seems like Cazador used Astarion's flesh not as a canvas, but as a contract. We haven't heard the last of this, I'll wager."

Wyll: "Our very own vampire's the missing pawn in his master's deadly game. Now how about we go and reverse Cazador's fortunes?"

Back to the Gauntlet! We complete the other two trials, albeit not just with Shadowheart - Astarion does the sneaking one on his own, and, well, the whole squad goes in for the duplicate one, haha. Then... it's time to jump into the Shadowfell, to find this relic to stop Ketheric, and for Shadowheart to do the last part of the Gauntlet, to become a Dark Justiciar.

Naturally, it doesn't run smoothly. Shadowheart declares that Balthazar has interfered in Shar's plans for too long, and it's time for a fight! We beat him, and that leaves... Shadowheart, to face off with the relic keeping Ketheric alive, and her intended sacrifice to become a Dark Justiciar: Aylin, the Nightsong, daughter of Selûne.

Funny how those things so often coincide. Training the weapons of Shar on the undying body of her own niece, and also the one directly connected with the plot.

Had to do a reset here, because I was nooot going to pass that DC 30 persuasion check (the correct method is to trust Shadowheart to her own actions, let Aylin talk to her, then pass the now-DC 21 check. If you talk to her after failing the DC 30 one, you have to fight and kill her. Not ideal!!). Still had to ask a pointed question, though - "Is this what you truly want?"

(Arc words!!)

Shadowheart is convinced - and hurls the spear she received from the Gauntlet into the void. Then freaks a little because oh god oh fuck she defied her goddess.

Aylin proceeds to steal the show by producing a shining set of armour and a big set of wings, nbd you see that all the time. She gives Shadowheart a Selûnite spear to replace the one she discarded, and then gives the next mission:

Onwards! We return to the outside of the Gauntlet - only to find that in those few seconds, Shadowheart has been blocked from leaving by Shar then tortured and banished holy shit ;_;

Larian why did you not give me an option to say, "You're not alone, you'll never have to be alone again, you have us"? ;_; Once again, the companions can voice that, but damn, I really wanted to tell her. Here are their comments:

Halsin: "Shar's ire has shaken Shadowheart… and yet she goes on. There is untold strength there, I feel."

Wyll: "She called Shadowheart 'nothing'. But I know better than that. She is something. She is worthy, she is strong. She is Shadowheart. Nothing can take the her from her. Not even a goddess."

Astarion: "I suppose it was only a matter of time until Shar took vengeance. For the Lady of Loss, she does not like losing."

Karlach: "I hate seeing Shadowheart suffer like this. All for doing the right thing. It's up to us to look after her now. If she needs a rest, we carry her. If she needs a hand, she has ours. If she needs ears, we've got four between us. Whatever she needs."

Lae'zel: "Shadowheart suffers. You might be surprised, but - it pains me to see."

Gale: "Poor Shadowheart. The gods are nothing if not vindictive in their vengeance."

Best lines here go to Karlach (again) and Wyll. So much love and support! And even Lae'zel!

Still, there's a fight ahead! We hurry back to Moonrise Tower, where there are fights ahead, battling our way to the top to get to Ketheric. Tae tries to extend mercy, understanding what happened to his wife; neither Ketheric nor Aylin are having it, and Ketheric strikes out. Tae and the others are saved with the Prism - and that, unfortunately, reveals that, yes, Tae has the Prism.

Whoops.

(I really like this cap the lighting is so pretty here.)

Big fight. Followed by big tentacle. Followed by big complaint.

Sorry Astarion you may need some new boots after that.

Lae'zel: "We must be ready to confront the elder brain. One presides over every ghaik colony." Astarion: "No problem. And what does this old brain look like?" Lae'zel: "A hovering mass of grey matter, sprouted with lethal tentacles and oozing cerebrospinal fluid?" Astarion, having a day: "Right!! Good!! Glad I asked!!!"

First up, a meeting with Chop. This is... depressing. Free at last, Chop.

Also free: kitty :) Welcome back, Us!

Also depressing: the fact that there are letters to the Absolute from children oh god what the fuck.

Over to the tadpoling centre, where we find Zariel's asset - Mizora herself. Who proceeds to say she'll free Wyll... within the next six months or so. Man c'mon.

To mixed approval (Shadowheart and Halsin's) and disapproval (Lae'zel and Astarion's), we also free the others in the tanks. This includes Zevlor, and Fist members - and a few fully-grown newborn Mind Flayers whoops.

Win the battle, talk to Zevlor to work out what the actual fuck happened. It's not pretty, but Tae tries to be understanding.

Another excursion, this time to some kind of lab. Get a neat sword! There are some interesting brain jars we can interact with, genuinely curious to see what response you'd get from the brain jars from the Nautilus. Oh well. Get a nice permanent boost to Int rolls!

Into the depths of the colony, then, where Gortash fled to. He's there, yes - as are Orin, a pale, creepy-looking woman, and... Enver Gortash, the one who betrayed Karlach to Zariel.

They reveal, then, the Absolute - an Elder Brain, controlled by an immensely powerful Netherese crown, controlled by the three stones the trio hold.

Gale prepares to carry out Mystra's orders; Tae is only just able to talk him down, convinced there's another way. (My graphics were not having it at this point.)

Gale: "Look at that crown. It radiates with power unlike anything I've ever seen. To have it… to hold… If only I could… But I can't… This is it. I must do as Mystra commands." Tae: "Gale, you cannot do this. You can't condemn us to death." Gale: "What choice do I have? More than just a goddess counts on my courage: whole worlds hang in the balance." Tae: "Trust me, Gale. We'll find another way." Gale: "I do trust you. More than myself right now. Perhaps even more than Mystra. I… I have no desire to end your life, you know that. To end it… To struggle on… It is a grave choice you're making for us both, but if it must be so - very well, I'll stand down to stand by you."

;_; Literally the only reason he doesn't kill himself at a goddess's command is because a friend asks him to. God that's so sad. (And I'm sure that crown thing won't come back in any way, I'm sure!)

Controlling the elder brain, they infect their prisoner - Duke Ravengard, Wyll's father. Orin and Gortash leave with the newly-infected Duke, ready to start the attack on Baldur's Gate, and that leaves us with Ketheric, and the newly imprisoned Aylin restoring his immortality. Time for a major battle to free Aylin and take Ketheric down!

Which succeeds, up until, well...

I call this cap 'well, that escalated'.

Anyway I'm really glad that I had the mod that let me have all nine characters (plus Aylin) fighting because the Ketheric-as-apostle monster thing had 181 HP. Aylin goes in on him to finish him off with extreme prejudice (Lae'zel, the closest at hand, had this expression I can only called 'scaroused'), Tae takes the stone from Ketheric's armour, and we finally meet the Dream Visitor in the flesh.

They reveal who the three are - Ketheric was the Chosen of Myrkul, Lord of Bones. From the way Orin spoke, she's a follower of Bhaal, God of Murder. And Gortash is a follower of Bane, God of Tyranny. This is what the Absolute is - an enslaved elder brain manipulated into service by the Chosen of the Dead Three.

So nbd!!

We leave the ship, get back to Moonrise Towers. Karlach is Not Pleased to learn Gortash's involvement. Which is. Understandable.

Yeah we're definitely going to kick his ass.

Gale's also having some thoughts - about that Netherese crown the elder brain was wearing. He decides they'll check out Sorcerous Sundries in Baldur's Gate. Still a bit concerned here, Gale!!

Wyll gives us our next destination - Wyrm's Rock fortress. All roads to Baldur's Gate lead to it - and it's also headquarters for the Flaming Fist, led by one Duke Ravengard. Probably a good idea to prevent him opening the doors for the Absolute's army! He also opens up about his past, about why he made a pact with Mizora. He was only seventeen at the time...

Karlach: "She never stops, does she. Not for a second."

Also at Moonrise Towers - Withers. He has... concerning things to say about their opponents.

Good to hear!!

Some happiness - a reunion between Aylin, and her lover, Isobel. With Isobel's father and Aylin's captor, Ketheric, now gone, each believing the other was dead, they can finally be together again <3

They head off to, er, "take succour in one another's bodies and words" ("Aylin 😳"), and we catch up with Alfira, who's here with a lot of the others from the Last Light. She wants to write a song for the kids to enjoy, but needs another Bard, and where will she find one of those?

Tae pretty much scruffs Astarion and shoves him Alfira-wards. God bless multiclass mods :)

Astarion earns 3g :)

We talk to Art Cullagh. He's doing better. Not entirely sure what he thinks of the modern-day Flaming Fist, but Duke Ravengard seems to be a good sort. He'll wait to see Thaniel when he fully wakes up, and then... yeah, who knows?

Back to camp! We have a lot of interesting conversations. One with Astarion, about what he plans to do with the ritual - he admits he's tempted, and if it means sacrificing his siblings...

Astarion: "I never saw myself as a banisher of shadows. I was always more a 'lurker in', historically." Tae: "I wanted to ask about Cazador's ritual. You must be thinking about it?" Astarion: "The thing that will decide my fate forevermore? Yes, it has been on my mind!! Why~?" Tae: "All that power - you must be tempted to take it for yourself." Astarion: "Well, of course I've thought about it. If I completed the ritual instead of Cazador, I'd get all that power. And I could walk in the sun without fear I'd turn into a mind flayer." Tae: "And the souls that need to be sacrificed?" Astarion: "I don't relish it, but my siblings lured thousands of people to their deaths over the years. I doubt Baldur's Gate would miss them. Of course, I don't even know if I could complete the ritual. It may be impossible - but it certainly is tempting."

In-character-wise, I kind of wanted to have Tae like... set up the acknowledgement that, yes, it's tempting. It also comes with a whopping cost. Just gotta think about that.

Talked to Karlach about Gortach. He is, in her words, an evil, evil bastard and we're going to kick his arse into the hells.

Talked to Halsin about Thaniel. He and Oliver are both recovering - what will happen next depends on them. They may return to be one - but Halsin kind of hopes they won't. It's always nice to have a friend. (An interesting note: Halsin says he has everything he wants, now, "But perhaps there is more than I want." Tae... does not touch that with a barge pole, because they've pretty firmly placed Halsin in the category of 'You remind me of my Grandpa :)' and they are Not Going There! Wyll's expressed interest, Halsin, go try him.)

Shadowheart is... doing okay.

She'll be okay <3

Conversations with Isobel, who talks about how she met Aylin, and Aylin, who is Extremely Dramatic, but also she's a demigod who just killed her tormentor of a hundred years and been reunited with her "mate most high, darling Isobel", so we'll allow it XD Aylin is Selûne's gift to aid the world in the fight against the Dead Three, which. Handy!

And onwards to Baldur's Gate! The Dream Visitor speaks to Tae again, instructing them to gather their allies, especially when they get to the city. "Baldur's Gate may not know it yet, but its fate is bound to ours."

One last obstacle before leaving Reithwin - a Githyanki patrol. We're warned by the artefact Voss left us, and are able to fight them off. Lae'zel gets very Intense.

"It is as we knew. My people have turned their blades against us. They will emerge from the shadows and descend from the skies. And we will grant them their only just fate: death."

I can't wait until she punches Vlaakith in the face.

Next stop: Act 3, and Baldur's Gate!

[astraaltiora]

The Planes of Euthymia

Summary: On his thirteenth birthday, Heizou found his brother's murdered body, splayed over in blood, and on his hands was a straight razor that was named the cause of death. The incident was closed, and the findings of the local police station called it a "suicide" and moved on.

Ten years have passed and Heizou was now a full-fledged commissioned detective of the Tenryou Commission. Ten years have gone by without a word or a lead, all he had to start with is his gut and his intuition. His brother's case wasn't a suicide--no, it was far from it. His brother was murdered and he was going to prove it.

It took Heizou years to finally start his investigation. He learned early and fast that if he wanted someone to listen to what he had to say, he would need to earn his stripes. He needed to work hard and be legitimate, because no one would listen to a 13 year old child, screaming 'foul' play. He's tried that before, and all he got were deaf ears and pity.

Heizou didn't need pity. He needed revenge. He needed justice. If the police would not bring it to him, then he would take it himself. If need be, he would be the very blade of justice.

"Doushin Shikanoin." Chief of Police Kujou Sara was already dreading this, but a deal was a deal. Heizou did graduate at the top of his class and "Madam Kujou Sara" does not go back on her word.

"Congratulations on your graduation." She said with worried sound underneath her problematic sigh. She placed a slim file over the young Doushin's desk and narrowed at him. "Your reward. The closed case of the Shikanoin Clan's successor. I am sure you know about this."

Heizou grinned at him with a knowing smile. "Ruled as a self-harm case. No leads. The crime scene was at the bathroom of the Shikanoin successor's private room. The only suspect was the victim's younger brother, age 13. Traumatized when he found the victim's body splayed out over the bathroom."

"Heizou." Sara softened and held back the file with her hand and hardened gaze. "You do not need to work on this. This is a closed case."

The young detective could only shrug. "See. That's exactly why I need to work on this, Madam. There's something off about this case and I would prove it."

There was no fighting Heizou, especially when his teeth had sunk in completely into a case. Heizou would push and push, dig and dig--he would get the bottom of things and that was a fact. All Sara could do now... was to give him the support she could give.

"Then, promise me that you seek help, when needed." Sara took a pencil from his desk and wrote down an address for Heizou to see. "There have no leads as to this case, however... leads are not always found, at times... they're bought. Good luck, Doushin. Submit your report by the end of the week."

Heizou eyed the address with a bright glint of his eye and nodded. "Roger."

---

10 years ago

Heizou hated how his brother had commercialised the family art. Fudou Style Martial Arts was a family heirloom, it was a treasure passed down from the first of their clan. It was not a commodity, but the very first time it was offered to the public of Inazuma, it became the central form of income for their family. Then, they began to expand with through association, conglomerates, funding began to arise before them. It was Heizou's brother that took the opportunity and become the upstart and up-and-coming influential figure from humble origins in Higi, Yashiori.

The dream was to settle into Inazuma City and establish themselves. They have already gone through sponsorships through Martial Arts competitions, it was easy to delve into other things like games and animation, movies that used the Fuduo style arts. They were in for a global success. The Shikanoin name would be known, that was his brother's dream. Which his brother passionately chased, when he moved into Inazuma City and left Heizou alone in the husk of a home in Higi.

Their father had been difficult, increasingly so. He didn't want the expansion, at first. But his tune changed from the very first few checks and sums of gold and mora that were brought to their doorsteps. His father was principled, he did understand that their martial arts was something sacred; however, he favour Heizou's elder brother more for the success they finally attained.

Which led to countless of fights at home. At times, Heizou would be too mad to even go home. It was a good thing that Inazuma City was only two ferry boats away. Even though he and his brother don't particularly see eye to eye, he didn't want to start an argument he couldn't win and his brother would let him a room, at the least.

"Aniki?" Heizou had entered the room and sat on the comfortable couches of the penthouse his brother lived in. "Aniki!"

The secretaries had told him that the 'President' is at his room. He didn't want to be disturbed and had been hard a work for the release of a new branch of their company. It seemed that his brother had been working on something else aside from animation and the video games that were based on their family's arts. Whatever it was, had his brother working overtime for the entire week.

Heizou understood how passionate his brother could be, but he didn't think he would lock out everybody to 'work' on some project. At the very most, maybe he would spend days over it, but still need second opinions from his peers. This avoidance and elusiveness, it's something that didn't quite sit well with Heizou.

"Aniki...?" Heizou padded around the large penthouse in search for his brother. He moved along the desk that had piles and piles of paperwork. He walked through the messy lounge couches and the coffee tables with a singular mug set over it.

Heizou kept his voice to himself, he sensed something amiss and immediately felt wary about it. He quietly inspected the room, searching for his brother--searching for a sense of life--but found an eerie quiet instead. A panic settled over him, as he walked into his brother's bathroom and the absolutely deplorable sight before him. His brother had drowned in his own blood, the straight razor in his hand with his neck slashed open. Heizou forgot how it was to feel at the time, he knew he screamed--he knew he cried, that he made noise so loud that sent the entire building in panic, but... at that moment he couldn't recall anything else aside from the view of his brother's dead body.

the attendants had tried to call him him back, to pull him away from his brother, but all Heizou was able to do was to hysterically push them way. He kicked and screamed, he used his martial arts to beat people away from getting to his brother's body. He hugged him, his entire body drenched in the same blood. He cried and cried, and cried for as long as he could. Until the police was able to restrain him, until he was asked to stay quietly on the side of the room instead, because Heizou wouldn't leave at all. He wanted to watch, to know what happened.

Hours and hours it took, until daylight was shifted through the window, when the police declared the incident a case of 'suicide'. Heizou immediately disagreed.

"He's murdered!" Heizou shouted. "He wouldn't kill himself!"

No one listened. No one cared. No one would give him the chance too speak at the time.

"... I know my brother." He mumbled to himself. "He's an asshole and he thinks I'm a burden but... He wouldn't kill himself."

He wouldn't.

Heizou was certain. He didn't know how to prove it, what would be the best evidence to prove his words. But he swore that he wold figure this case out, he would clear his brother's name and he make the murderer pay. He already had a lead, after all.

How could a red maple leaf end up in a city of Sakura Blossoms?

---

Present day

People have to understand that though Doushin Shikanoin has lauded himself as a child genius, he is not infallible. His intuition has been his compass, ever dependable and always leading him to the right direction. The only direction that he would stand by. Even if… it leads him straight to the most expensive red light district in all of Teyvat.

'Seriously, Sara?!' Heizou had thought to himself.

Sara had pulled him aside, before he went on his merry way to investigate. She said cryptic words that didn't  mean much to anyone else, but Heizou was different.  Sara knew the Doushin's eccentricities would pick up on her little cues… however, Heizou never thought the cues would lead him straight into the heart of the most lucrative and exclusive night club anyone could see in their lives.

'I could literally feel my pocket bleed and I'm just breathing the air  close by! Man alive! Is the air here made out of gold!?'

The hesitancy came not from his unwillingness or lack of interest. It came from the heavy moans of his dying wallet, his gigantic pride that completely refused to beg back for his successorship (and the money). Every step he took forward was a groan and shoved into his impending bankruptcy.

When his fated steps led him to the doors of this sleek designed, high brow night club, he could finally read the sign that was supposedly the name of this distinguished establishment: Plane of Euthymia.

"… How presumptuous." He noted. Then again, I'll be living in Euthymia in debt to pay off these prices—whoa. 5,000 Mora for a glass!? Man alive!

"Welcome, welcome! I see you have an eye for quality goods! Come, come! Those drinks are just poorly priced—the top shelf choices are here, Mr. Client!"

If the prices out front was close to shocking to new Doushin, the prices by the concierge would have disassociate  from his body. He was so, so, so close turning back and just forgetting whatever possibilities of a lead this robbery extortion has. But. But… his intuition was pinging him, and every bit of nerve, hair and invisible limb held him back from turning away.

Heizou lifted his head up to see the ostentatiously young attendant. (There are child labor laws at place here, whoever owns this is bound to get sued). 'No. Look again, Shikanoin', his mind urged, and like clockwork his peridot eyes turned to a magnifying glass. Each facet, each unseen wrinkle, and every small inconsequential factor was observed. Taken in. Then, by deduction, he could rightly and confidently say—

"You're 41 years old. Lived by the desert outskirts if Sumeru for give or take 10 to 11 years. Your face is young, but the gashes in yours says a lot. The wrinkles hidden by careful and routime placement of make up, says otherwise. And… aside from that, your mannerisms. They talk of an age, long before what age you want to portray."

The young-looking concierge had her brows up in shock, before she huffed and swiveled in her pink bouncing seat. "Dori does not appreciate a smartass, so why don't you shimmy your way outta Euthymia, Mr. Prick!" "Jinni. What did I say about your temper?" A tall and rather built man step into the small sleek lobby. He was dressed in sengoku clothing, fit for a Ronin beyond control of a master. Blonde with a smirk that could send a thousand ships to the depths of the ocean.

He bowed his head to Heizou and offered him a welcoming greeting. "It is good to see you, Doushin Shikanoin.  We have told Jinni-san to watch her temper, but it seems that it still needs work. I do apologize for her words, make no mistake you are quite welcome here."

"It appears I am in an awkward position of not knowing who I am speaking to, while you seem to have been expecting me." Heizou folded his arms over his chest, the anxiety peeled off his skin as his reverberating need to settle his curiosity covered him. "Tell me, has my reputation grown so bold?"

"You have always caught our eye here in Euthymia." The blonde man chuckled. "We take heed in those presences that could dwarf a storm."

Heizou lifted his brow, eyes sparkled in interest. "I did not know I was so well liked."

"You are not." The blonde guffawed in a hearty boisterous laugh. "Apologies to you, Doushin. I am the purveyor of the Plane of Euthymia, we do not use names here… as a means to protect client privacy, we wrap ourselves in mystery that even names are kept."

"What do I refer to you then, Mr. Purveyor?"

He grinned and placed a hand over the dark and expensive marble table of the concierge. "Call signs are not free, Doushin. If you want to know, the price must be set." Heizou snorted at the bait. It was already obvious what his choice would be. Everyone in that room knew he'd take it. He was already knee deep into a dark ocean, what could a black abyssal ocean do to him anyway?

"How much?" Heizou grumbled and took out his very slim, very (nearly) empty wallet. I guess it's begging the old man then…

It was the third time this tall blonde had laughed at him, and Heizou knew he had not said anything funny. Honestly, this blonde's one-sided amusement is making him pout.

"Calm down, dear presumptive client." He smiled and pointed to the papers that Dori had on hand. "Today is on the house. All I need is a callsign from you and we shall get going with your tour."

A … callsign? Heizou frowned. He wasn't good with names. He wasn't particularly creative with nicknames either. It was either a jab at an ego, or a tease. He never came up with a name—much less a callsign to be known as!

"I… uh… I… can I pass on that?" Heizou stammered, hand up to his head in an awkward head scratch. "Since its just a tour, maybe I can give mine… if I do decide to become a member."

The blonde's eyes widened; disbelief shone over his irises. As if the words Heizou said were something of a joke to him. He relented in his shock and could only shake his head, while saying 'alright, alright. Suit yourself' as he led Heizou to a lift that went down instead of up.

"Since you do not have a name, Doushin, then… whoever meets your fancy here, is also entitled to the same." He snickered. "No call sign, no names. No reservations."

Heizou rolled his eyes. He would never. Never—in his entire life—pay for company! More so about their names! It just… wasn't his thing. He wouldn't need names to remember, this is all just… a means to an end.

"If that is all, then I have nothing to lose." Heizou said with a huff of confidence. "I do not think I would need Euthymia's services in that way. So, thanks, but no thanks." The lift dragged them down to a lower level of Euthymia. The Purveyor seemed pretty amicable and excitable. He told Heizou every bit that there would be to know about the high-brow night club, the levels that were meant to imitate inhibitions--paradise, a safe haven for proclivities of the rich, influential, and powerful. That is what Euthymia offers, a paradise in the middle of a city. An escape from reality.

"I have told you of the seven planes." The man turned to him and pressed the button for the 'second' plane. "However, as a policy of privacy and security, access the planes beyond the second, would require actual membership. I do apologize for this, but you may… find something for you in the Second Plane. It is the Plane of 'Delight', there seems to be something for everyone here."

Now. Heizou was not a skeptic, not by any means. He wanted to believe he could be starry-eyed when he wants to be. He would say he was more dreamer than cold-blooded analyzer, but everyone that knew him would say otherwise. So, every now and then, Heizou's instincts would recoil and fight back. They would rebel from his logical box of connected relativity, and make their way to a realm he would not frequent.

This. This was one such moment.

As the doors of the lift opened, the Plane of Delight was expose to him. It was a very big and spacious night club, with a stage that was lit up in a bright and warm lights, private booths that were filled up by twos or threes, partners and apparent lovers. The Plane was exactly as it was entitled--it was 'delight' in all of sense of the word. Everyone appeared lovestruck, as if the love of their lives just manifested right before them. Heizou would have clicked his tongue and shook his head--he would have, had he not been caught staring into the striking ruby red eyes of a platinum blonde, playfully sat at table, smiling and laughing at another person's joke--

"--See something you like?" The tour guide beside him asked.

Heizou gulped and felt his hands sweat. His heart race just a little more than usual as he gazed up at the smirking blonde that caught him red-handed.

"I suppose one hour would be enough. My treat, Doushin." the man laughed and called waved at the platinum blonde with stunning--incredibly stunning!--ruby eyes.

"You are in luck. His services are usually very expensive. Let me get you both a booth."

---

One should know that staring is such an unhealthy habit. Especially, when someone isn't even part of their little 'private' community. Then again, this has always been the case, when Tomo needed to acquire new fodder to his system. Kazuha would just have to grin and bear it, what kind of looks, depraved thoughts, and eccentricities this green-eyed newcomer would have. He hopes—oh, God, he just hopes—that he wouldn't be as excessively bad as the last time. He doesn't think he could play nice, if he would get constantly and embarrassingly hit on by a lustful idiot that couldn't keep his hands to himself.

… Hm. Though, it is … curious to note that he at least looks nice.

Kazuha plastered on a smile over his face. He's perfected this side of the job now, he's practically stone cold underneath, but he would show this boy a thing or two, if he goes against the rules.

"An hour." Tomo said to him in a hurried whisper. A hand over his shoulder. "You know what to do, hmm?"

Of course, he did. He had only to give this extremely stoic and equally stony lookinf gentleman a taste of ecstasy tonight—and by the looks of it, he would not take a as long as an hour. This boy couldn't stop staring, all he needed was to guide him down the rabbit hole and keep him there.

"Man alive. This is a little awkward." The boy said with a nervousness only evident with the slight shake of his voice. "Look, I… these booths appear to be for intimate and… private things, I just want you to know that I'm not like that!"

Kazuha's eyes fail not to react. His brows lifted high up as he pondered the innocent little confession this newcomer had just done. He tried not to laugh, but failed miserably.

A smile played over his lips. This innocent child. How adorable.

"Does that mean you want the stage for us. I didn't take you to be so bold." He reached out to touch his face and glide his hand to the curve of his cheek. "I would agree, but "free access" only gets us a booth, the stage is a membership benefit."

'That was not what I meant!' Heizou's face flushed pink really quickly. The touch on his face burned which made him want to move away from it, but at the same time, seek for it.

"I am fine with the booth then!" He said without thinking. The situation itself was already awkward. His response turned it even more so.

He cleared his throat and shook his head, trying to get his composure (and dignity) back. He came here for a reason, and this reason did not include being intimate with one of the employees of the establishment.

"As I've said, I'm not like that. I have no intention of doing intimate things with you." He tried to keep his voice steady, but he was sure this person heard the slight tremble in his voice at the beginning.

Somehow, the clear declaration was an insult. But, at least not all people that enter Euthymia is a money-sack of depravity. Kazuha should be happy, he didn't want to be intimate with him too, anyway.

He narrowed his eyes and pulled away; a slight pout settled over his face. "I suppose rejection is humbling. Might I ask the reason for you stare is, if it was not to have me?"

His eyes widen at the expression the other had in front of him. Was he offended by the honest statement Heizou had said? He shouldn't be. If anything, he was being respectful.

"Ah, for that, I apologize. I didn't mean to be rude and stare." He said with a slight shake of his head and released a sigh. "I only found you..." He hummed as he thought of the right word to describe what he felt upon seeing him. He had definitely caught his eye. "...interesting."

"… In… Interesting?" Kazuha repeated with a small laugh.

It was not what they would say about him. Boys in their suits, with their money and prestige, the last thing they would call him was interesting. It wasn't an insult, but it could have easily been one.

He sat on the booth close to the newcomer and tilted his head at him. "What is it exactly you find interesting?"

Heizou could list many things of why he found the other interesting. One would be his looks that, honestly, caught Heizou's eyes. But he was sure the other had already been told about his looks many times before. It would be impossible if he wasn't. Instead, Heizou goes for the one he thinks was his number one reason.

"Hmm. Well, you don't seem to be the type to work here, yet here you are." He tilted his head at him.

"Oh?" He titled his head to the side and smiled sweetly at him. "Do you not find me attractive enough to be your delight?"

"That is not what I meant!" He immediately said to take the thought away, though belatedly realized that his response obviously told that he found the other attractive. "You don't seem to be the type that would work here."

His cheek lifts up to the side, this newcomer seemed to be quite more interesting that he thought. He is perceptive, perhaps the boy works for the law--but then again, Kazuha wouldn't know. "Your fame is carried by the winds. Would you not do me the honor of being deduced, Detective?"

"You want to be?" He raised an eyebrow at him, surprised and intrigued. "Not many ask for this, especially from me… Erm… I didn't catch your name."

And just like that, Heizou was back to this awkward situation where he had been talking to this very good looking fellow, yet he didn't even know his name. It was already embarrassing to have been caught and called rude for staring. Now he was being rude, again, for not even knowing what to call this ruby eyed stunning person.

"You don't have one." Kazuha chuckled. "Euthymia has rules. You cannot ask for what you cannot give.

"Which means you wouldn't give me a name?" He concluded with his arms crossed in front of his chest. "A call sign, then? That's what you call it, right?

He hummed; eyes raised up in thought as he shook his head. The Doushin speaks as if was not part of them—the 'you'—which meant, Kazuha was not egging the new mark on enough. Perhaps, it is not by words this newcomer would crumble for, maybe it is action.

"Let me ask you one thing." Kazuha stood up from the booth and walked over to his side. He smiled happily and took a seat directly beside him. Skin to skin. Arm to arm. Kazuha shifted his hand to place over the other’s thigh. "What has been your preference?"

His eyes immediately moved to look at the hand over his thigh, eyes wide and eyebrows raised. It wouldn't take a genius to know what this beautiful man was doing. It's a shame he couldn't call him by his name.

"My preference..." He involuntarily gulped, unsure why he was suddenly nervous when he was only being asked a question. It wasn't an unexpected question to ask either. He was in the Plane of Delight after all.

"This is the first I've had someone of the same gender place a hand on my thigh."

"I meant that as your choice of drink." Kazuha laughed a little too hard, bemused and taken.

"I assure you this hand would not move anywhere you do not feel comfortable with."

"You should've been more specific with your questions." His lips formed into a frown to hide his embarrassment. Though he may have not hidden it well with how the tip of his ears turned red.

"I would be fine with a glass of water." He answered while his eyes glanced at the hand on his thigh every now and then.

“Forgive me. I’ll be more clear.” His lips lift up to the side, his hand slips from his thigh to his knee. He leaned in close and hovered over his lips. “Is your preference in drinks, as simple as water?”

His face instantly flushed red as he instinctively moved back, making as much space as he could between the two of them.

"Y-Yes." He stuttered before clearing his throat. "Water is fine."

Kazuha rolled his eyes and leaned further in, so much so that the bashful boy reached the end of the box. He was trapped and Kazuha was looming.

"Water." He pressed closer and scoffed. "Alright, water then. But you have to do something for me"

"What is it?" He asked while watching the other carefully. He was too close that Heizou already had his back pressed against the wall behind him, but there was still this small space between them. "And why do I have to do it?"

Kazuha lifted his brow at him. Testing, scrutinizing… and basically, confused with the true intent and nature of what this very person before him is here for; why Tomo was one to particulate that he be the one to 'entertain' and hook him to the services they have here.

He shut his eyes, his shoulders relaxed and pulled away with a disinterested sigh. "A person that does not want a drink in a place for drinkers and guilty-pleasures. I would want to say you catch my interest, but I do not see reason to lie."

A move back. And another, until Kazuha had stood up from the booth with little to no interest in his eyes. He did not want to persuade someone who was not here to be persuaded, he did need to be a cause of corruption of an innocent soul. He would best walk away from here.

"I will ask for your water, good prospective client." He chuckled and lifted his eyes to stare narrowly at him. "If you would ask for reason, then I have no interest in you."

"Hmm. So this is how you work." He concluded with a hum and a hand under his chin as he stared at the other's retreating form. "You were tasked to convince me to take this membership by going through these seductive means. If I do not budge, you would pull away and have someone else take your place."

He tilted his head to the side. "Something tells me that despite your experience, this is not the kind of work you actually do."

"I did not say someone else would."

Kazuha lifted his eyes back at him. An unimpressed expression fits his face, before he pulled lets out a breath and a kind smile.

"You are not worth the trouble."

"That is what you think, and I respect that." He nodded his head and stood up, a smile also on his face.

"Well, I should get going then. I would thank you for your time. It has been entertaining and the place looks nice. Perhaps I would consider the membership, but as it stands, I am still not convinced I would get what I want here." He shook his head and let out a sigh.

"Though you have taken my interest as I do want to get to know you more." He shrugged. "But since I am 'not worth the trouble', I suppose that means I am not welcomed here."

"Good." Kazuha responded, a smirk over his lips. A happy feeling fell to his stomach as he pondered what to do before this predicament. I do have enough clients to life me a lifetime or two.

"I do not wish to make you feel that you are unwelcome, but there may be others that would suit your innocence. I am not a right partner for you."

"Hmm. But what if I want you to be my partner?" He tilted his head at him. "Would you really deny me?"

Kazuha stared at him, amused with himself. "... You do not know what you're asking for. Turn away, little doe."

"Ah, but won't you show me?" He asked with a smile on his face along with a curious expression. "And little doe... Hmm... Is this what you would call me?

"It's what I call anyone that walks into a ravenous wood." He replied and turned away, as planned.

He didn't mind what kind of punishment he would get, if he couldn't sign this man. Whatever he's in for, whatever Tomo is after for with him; they would have to do that without him.

Although... it does bring a lot to his mind, what does a person so innocent and so kind, doing in a place of filth and dirt like this place?

It was a shame that this beautiful man had nothing to do with him. It would've been nice to see him again after this, but it was highly unlikely. Unless Heizou came back, there was no chance he would see that man with the stunning eyes again.

His reason for coming to the establishment was momentarily forgotten. He got distracted with the other that he wasn't able to survey the area as much as he wanted. Though from what he had gathered so far, this place was sought for by many known and unknown figures. Heizou would find information if he played his cards right.

But if he were to come back, he would need to sign that membership. In doing so, seeing that ruby eyed male again wouldn't be so impossible as he had thought. Oh, and gathering information that would to lead, too, wouldn't be so unattainable.

"I suppose I would need to sign a contract then." He sighed and shrugged his shoulders, before making his way back down to the reception area.

"What?" Kazuha couldn't help but sound so gobsmacked.

He literally turned Heizou away, he told him to run and run away fast from Euthymia and yet… he still wanted to sign that damned contract. His internal frustration crunched his body and sent his hand flying to yank the smaller boy back.

"What did you just say?" The voice he used lowered, more gruff as the frustration played over his lips. "Forgive me. I had thought you would be smart about this."

"I am." He tilted his head at him, then gave him a smile. "I see that you disagree with my decision, but I have my reasons."

He pulled away from his hold, noticing how the other's expression turned displeased. Heizou was confused. Wasn't this expected outcome?

"And isn't this the outcome that you want after all that you did? To have me convinced to have the membership."

There was nothing in his actions that would have Heizou even think to commit to a membership. He wasn't even charming, he was being obviously obnoxious and yet…

"I would strongly suggest that you re-think this." Kazuha clicked his tongue and turned away.

"Hmm. If you want me to re-think this, you should give me a reason." He said at the other's retreating back

He was doing his job (very badly, at that, with intention) because a few minutes with the guy, brought a surge of guilt flow into Kazuha like a broken dam. Water was his first choice of drink, in a place already way too out of his price range. Where his expense have already been told to be "on the house", he chose a free drink. What kind of innocent soul would ask this?

There was no reason for the boy to continue on in Euthymia, but Kazuha also knows it was a lost cause to convince him otherwise.

"Well. If you seem that convinced, then suit yourself." He said and walked right away and left him.

Kazuha was not going to get wrapped up in another corruption of an innocent case. He's already done his time for that.

He's already grieved.

[kayura-sanada]

I'm curious what your thoughts on the Exiled Prince dlc? Do you think it's worth buying?

Okay. Okay, so you're talking to someone who played Dragon Age 2 all the way through before the DLC came out, then played it again afterward. So I'm actually going to compare some things here that anyone who came into the game with both at the same time might not know.

The first time I played DA2, I was completely thrown by what Anders did. I'd been in the mindset of 'something's going to happen to make me finally take Meredith down, because this is a video game,' and when that something happened, it happened in a way I didn't expect, and it threw me. I was in a state of shock when I first played the game, and I found myself having a sudden influx of reactions from the characters I'd grown to love, all of them demanding a response. Yet after they all spoke, I got to speak one-on-one with Anders. I got the chance to listen to him.

Yet I was in such shock that I honestly felt as if I'd missed crucial pieces of information. My ability to logic things out and think critically had taken a serious blow. (Yes, I sound ridiculous, but Dragon Age sucks me in completely, wholeheartedly, which is what I ask for from stories and what I will always positively respond to.)

So when the DLC came out and I realized I had something new to add to the story, I was hyped not only to see the new content, but to go back in and really think about what's happening in the world, not with the idea of the world being a video game but with the idea of it being real. And I did so hoping to really get to listen to Anders and hear everything he had to say to me.

And then. Sebastian.

He was the only thing added, by the way. A character who looked good - and indeed, that's mostly what I hear from his fans, that he's good-looking and a prince - but had a personality that immediately grinded on my last nerve.

Okay, so. Let me also say that I am an atheist, and I also was an admin on a Facebook page for some years, and I've dealt with a lot of proselytizing.

So here was a new character, the only one who romanced only one gender in the entire game, and the first thing I learn about him is that he wants to become a priest because he thinks that will affect more lives than him becoming king.

I just.

Unfortunately, the beginning of his story isn't strong, since he just asks you to clear out some groups of enemies and nothing really happens in the first act. In the second, we get a little bit more from him, and I pushed him into becoming king because obviously you can affect more lives that way!

But, uh. Hmm.

Anyway, he ignores me and says he's going to become a priest because he's gotten his revenge and doesn't want anything more, so gee, why even both asking, Sebastian.

But you know what? All of this didn't turn me off to him as a character. It was interesting to listen to his extremely anti-mage, proselytizing, sanctimonious drivel, because I like to learn the arguments of my enemies and again, I don't need the character to agree with me for me to see the worth in them as a character. (Though I'll admit, when I heard him say a child was murdered by a magister so Fenris could see it and want to stop it made me see red.) I consider him to be the voice of the Chantry, spouting off about helping others while also talking about how mages should all be killed.

But.

Man, when that Chantry blew up and Sebastian started wailing, I understood where he was coming from. This was the voice of the victim that I wanted to hear.

But damn. Not that much.

I went to Anders, looking forward to this above all else. He started talking to me, and I was all ears, wanting to understand.

But Sebastian. Would not. Stop screaming.

"I know what I did was wrong. There's nothing you can say to me that I haven't already said to myself."

"Why?!?! Why, Maker, why?!?! Elthina was a good person!! Why?!?!"

"I asked her to do something. I asked her to help-"

"Kill him! Kill him now! Stop talking to him! Why are you listening to him? He obviously deserves to die!"

"But she didn't listen. Meredith has gotten away with-"

"Stop talking to him! Kill him or I will! You will die for this, Anders! I'll become a king and send an army to Kirkwall (thus causing at least as much innocent death as I condemn you for causing)!"

Me at this point: Shut. UP!!!!

Anyway, there was a hilarious picture someone made that I sadly can't find anymore, in which Sebastian makes his "either kill him or I'll do it" quote, and their Hawke responds, "then I'll uninstall you.

"Stupid DLC."

And, uh. That's kind of my opinion on it, too.

(tl;dr: I didn't like the DLC, but I value anything I can get from Dragon Age and its worldbuilding, so I would say it's worth watching but probably not spending much money [or any money, preferably] on. It's brought up a few times in DA:I, and you might have some 'aha! That's a reference to Sebastian!' moments, but you can live without that. Trust me.)

[a-story-with-no-end]

So I decided to do a ranking of my favourite Taylor Swift albums. If there is an existing Taylors Version I'm gonna rank that instead of the old version. I am also taking Deluxe songs into consideration. This is just my opinion.

10. Folklore

I can enjoy Folklore and really appreciate it for what it is and lyrically it's probably one of her best albums. But I think I listened to the whole thing like once. There are some songs that I listen to from time to time but I rarely choose to listen to this album as a whole. The style of the songs just isn't my cup of tea.

9. evermore

I prefer the sister album evermore. I really enjoy listening to Willow as well as No body no crime. Especially the last one is so fun to me which probably makes no sense because it's about unaliving someone. But I also learned to appreciate songs like gold rush, champagne problems and tolerate it.

8. Red TV

I just don't listen to the album as a whole a lot. There are songs on this album I really like and I listen to regulary for example Red and I bet you think about me and songs I listen to semi-regulary like I knew you were trouble but I think I enjoy her other albums more.

7. Fearless TV

There was a period of time I didn't listen to the album a lot but the past few weeks I find myself listening to it more and more. Maybe the album will be higher in my rankings in a few weeks.

6. Debut

Objectively speaking her self titled album isn't the best but it's the one that makes me the happiest. Some of the songs on these albums make me want to dance and I don't like to dance but I'm forgetting about it when I listen to it. This album just hits different for me.

5. Speak Now

I enjoy a lot of these songs and it's impressive that she wrote this whole album alone at such a young age (of course excluding If this was a movie which was now moved to Fearless TV). I just have to say I am really excited for the rerecording.

4. Lover

Aesthetically speaking this album won. I am the Lover aesthetic and I am so sad I wasn't a fan during the release. But even if we talk only about the songs it's a really good album in my opinion. I love how many happy songs she put in there. I love Paper Rings, I love London Boy but I also love songs like The Man. And in my opinion Me! doesn't deserve the hate it gets. Maybe it isn't the best lyrically but it's fun, she's happy not everything has to be a lyrical masterpeace to enjoy it.

3. 1989

This is a no skip album. It's fun, I love the lyrics and she sounds amazing on it. Pop perfection. No need to add anything here.

2. Midnights

Midnights was my first release as a Swiftie so maybe I am a bit biased. I feel like nearly everyone can find something on this album they like. You like fun songs? Here listen to Karma. You want something darker? Here listen to vigilante shit. You want something calmer? Try listening to Sweet nothing. You want to cry your heart out? Anti-Hero is right there.

1. reputation

I like two types of songs the most. The angry ones that sometimes involve fantasizing about revenge and beautiful love songs. This album is the best of both worlds to me. We've got these angry songs like LWYMMD or I did something bad but in contrast to that her song Dress, especially the bridge of the song, describes romance in the most beautiful way. reputation got my heart and I am very excited for the rerecordings and vault tracks.

[rogue-durin-16]

MATCHUP FOR:

@luna-says-stuff

I wanted to send in a Stranger Things request, if that is okay with you. I’ll try to make this short enough, but let’s see where we end. My pronouns are she/her, I am bisexual, and 18+. My most defying traits are probably that I am a cat person, I am obsessed with learning new stuff about things I’ll never use (mythology, true crime, paranormal etc.), and I consider myself a huge nerd. I love walking through bookstores, I collect doctor Martens, lp’s, band shirts, fantasy books, and my closet only exists out of Happy Socks and Christmas socks. This is no joke. You literally cannot find a pair of black socks, even if you dusted off the abandoned corners. Big fan of holidays. There is no such thing as a subtle Christmas, or a subtle Halloween. We have to go all out for that one, boss.

I can be rather impatient, immature, and I tend to procrastinate and run away from responsibilities for as long as I can. I can’t sit quietly to save my life, so I always need to busy my hands. I draw, I paint, I sculpt, I do embroidery, but most of all; I consider myself a writer. I love writing as much as I love to read. I can rant about the things I love for hours, and will not know how to stop (ask me about Tolkien’s works, I dare you). I also cannot stand people chewing. I lose my mind when it’s something crunchy. I absolutely hate it and I can’t explain why.

A toxic trait is that I saw Queen live and I will never let anyone forget. I love going to concerts, and I thankfully have a music taste which allows me to go to concerts often. (Hardrock, classic rock, heavy metal, and - occasionally - death metal, but a very specific corner. Still no fan of the screaming)

From Stranger Things I Ship You With:

Robin Buckley

Ship Dynamic:

The Chaotic Duo™

Quote:

«Meeting you was like listening to a song for the first time and knowing it would be my favorite.»

I can and will elaborate but also you two just go inexplicably well together, everyone shut up.

First things first, while you give an outcast vibe, it's not punk outcast like Eddie, it's more of a "I'm kinda weird and unfit for society's standards for 'cool' so I don't exist for popular kids", which inevitably makes you gravitate towards Robin.

Only that the 'hey we got interests in common, we should bond to survive' turns into 'you're like my favorite person now'.

I kinda see you two being pretty much aloof towards each other at first because meh, forced proximity by standing in the same corner socially speaking but is a true bond worth the effort?

YES IT IS.

While you two got the same general vibe (and by that I mean would definitely befriend you both), you're not even close to being the same.

Robin 100% pulls a face when you tell her about your music taste. You make it your mission to get her to at least try every hard rock subgenre.

She obviously can't say no to you, so as a revenge, she makes you listen to every song of artists like The Bangles and Stevie Nicks.

It becomes a tradition to go and meet up under the bleachers to listen to each other's music tapes during lunch break. I'm not talking about sitting quietly and listening, I'm talking about turning on the dramatic antics and making a full ass spoken essay about what you think of the songs.

You two might or might not enjoy whatever the other brings in the mixtape, but nonetheless you'll tease the hell out of each other.

Enriching each other's music taste as lifestyle.

First time you kiss you're both listening to music and it's very romantic but also very awkward because ✨it's the eighties✨ and you're ✨two girls kissing under the bleachers✨.

Mind you, I don't think either of you would have come out to the other, so it just sort of happens and then it's panic time. You're good tho.

You two don't start dating straight away, Robin wants to go down the old-fashioned, romantic way and take you on a thousand thoughtful dates to make you swoon. Devoted simp queen.

You sketched Robin in class once and she didn't even know how to function after that. Now you draw her a lot when she's not looking because the way this lanky lesbian goes (⁠⊙⁠_⁠◎⁠) is priceless.

Bookstore dates with a lot of bickering because you go for our fantasy Lord and linguistics King J. R. R. Tolkien and she goes for fucking Anthony Olcott????

You two make fun of each other's taste CONSTANTLY but ultimately end up giving it a try and actually enjoying it.

Two energy cannonballs. In this house we don't do control, we only do chaos. You're a menace when you're outside. Be gay do crime etc.

Steve is like, Robin's #1 hypeman in this relationship. He actually pushes her to ask you to be her girlfriend.

Robin buys you weird socks. Once she made fun of your Christmas socks collection and then bought you a pair with that vibe. And then another. And another. And—

This woman hangs anything you create from the wall. Painting? Hung. Rough sketch? Hung. A piece of fabric you randomly embroidered? Hung.

She loves to read whatever you write and actively encourages you to publish it somewhere.

She writes too. Mostly poems. She won't EVER tell you tho because omg so embarrassing going full on Sappho for you.

You probably find the poems at some point because she's a messy queen and you constantly snoop around at her place.

Listening to true crime stories and going to the library to dig into a very specific topic randomly is something you two do constantly and it's just as endearing as it is worrying, because no one —and I mean NO ONE— who's mentally okay runs to the library on a weekend to investigate about sighted UFOs in the last five years just because.

Robin keeping your immaturity and procrastination in check with an iron fist, and you doing the same for her.

Matching costumes for the win.

Robin isn't super big on holidays but she goes out of the way for you.

You say you saw Queen live, I say the two of you saw it and will NEVER let ANYONE forget about it. So sexy of you.

You're that odd couple everyone ships.

[multistoty]

He had more story than time to tell it - but she supposed that's true for all of them. Grief is forever. It doesn't go away; it becomes part of you, step for step, breath for breath. But she wouldn’t go too far, too many kind hearts turn cold every day. Why did Aemond have to say it? Husband and lost should not at all fit in the same world. Aegon shouldn’t lie unbreathing on the floor because he was some predestined king he had never wanted to be. Alicent had made her always self conscious though she had confidence who she was. Now, she had to be a queen even when that role was Thusnelda. Someone to keep it all from crumbling even if she felt bone tired. Plus, she was terrified of hurting him further. It had taken everything to get her sister in the bed roll next to her husband. But the silence until he woke again had bothered her. The silence without Aegon’s nagging. The silence of a brother so broken she had been terrified he was lost to it all. She needed Aemond. Needed her first confidant. Thank the gods for both of them. They needed this. She would not bring up the bartering of marriage on their first conversation without him. Without. Such a hard word to realize and have living in your skin. But there was a standard with which she expected of herself. Sometimes she feels as though there are two helaena's, one coasting directly on top of the other: the superficial her, who nods when she's supposed to nod and says what she's supposed to say, and some other, deeper part, the part that worries and dreams… Most of the time they move along in sync and she hardly notices the split, but sometimes it feels as though she’s two whole different people and could rip apart at any second.It's like a razor blade edging its way through her organs, shredding her, all she can think is: It will kill her, it will kill her, it will kill her. But maybe happiness isn't in the choosing. Maybe it's in the fiction, in the pretending: that wherever we have ended up is where we intended to be all along.Who knows? Maybe they’re right. Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings. Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.But we have chosen a different road. And in the end that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.We are even free to choose the wrong thing. She’d learned to get really good at this - say one thing when I'm thinking about something else, act like she was listening when she was not, pretend to be calm and happy when she was really freaking out. It's one of the skills you perfect as you get older. Now though, she stepped further into his line of sight. Letting the soft blanket of his words help create the torrent at bay for a moment. It had taken so long to convince her sister to sleep that she should have known better, but caring for someone else and doing something only helped when her world felt so meaningless and unchanged and different.There were so many people relying on them. Yet, he was speaking with her like a brother and not a king. “I don’t want to hurt you further by my closeness. I am uncertain how badly you are injured and I need to hear you drone on to me for years to come.- I’m shared. But I am a mother and a sister and Rhaenyra knows that my husband- that Aegon is now free. Even if she isn’t behind this,I have to figure out how to stop her from descending upon us. Upon you. Thusnelda is ready for revenge. As much as I want it, I am struggling with allowing myself it. I want to be stone though I feel like sand dragging us to different places with only the picture of solidity lost to despair. I guess the eye bags and swaying were still in your repertoire of cataloguing. I will take care of myself - soon, brother of mine. I feel as if I failed him. That sword could so easily be buried in my chest. I could have fought harder even though I know it was useless. They weren’t leaving without his heart ceasing beating. Thusnelda has kept me going. And you standing. I had to hear you speak coherently.”

@power-over-one-eye