#rough snippet

[thisnameisnotspokenfor]

ROUGH Chapter Snippet

I know I said I was on hiatus- but when inspo hits, it hits, and I mean, I've been feeling it lately- so the chapter might come out later this week)) Maybe. I hope you enjoy lol.

Music filled the air as she felt her finger gently glide against the surface of the now glowing water.

 The warmth of the sun and the water filled her, a wonderful change from the dark and dreary world they’d left behind. To say that the whole ordeal had left her in disbelief would be an understatement, but for now, she was alive and that was all that mattered. 

A sudden movement from beside her caught her attention as she watched fish of all shapes happily swim by them. A few even leaped into the air as the drops of shimmering water cascaded behind them. She chuckled, shielding her eyes from the water as Valentino pleated, gesturing his hoof down towards the side where a whale arose. 

“Whoa,” she whispered, catching sight of her reflection in his eyes before he sprayed water into the air and promptly disappeared into the sea once more.

“Valentino did you see that?!” she excitedly called as the goat nodded. “That was a Fin Whale! I didn’t know they swam by here this time of year! I never realized how big they were in person. Did you see how he looked at us? It was like we were ants!!” Valentino pleated, nodding in agreement with her as the castle and several ships came into view.

She could recognize one of the nearer ones as belonging to Silver’s and judging from the sounds of music and chatter that emerged from it, she was willing to bet that she’d been right.

“We’re here,” she told the dolphin-shaped star beneath her, feeling as he obediently began to slow, allowing her to take in the view once more. 

Against the sparkling sea and golden warm hues of the midday sky, there was no denying how beautiful the scene before her was. A beauty that she’d admitted had been hard to spot in the official’s meeting rooms or the dreary stone walls of her study. 

The star beneath her slipped from her grasp, nearly plunging her into the sea once more, before she’d felt hands hold her up, and the star’s smiling face greet her once more.

“Whoa!” she called, surprise filling her as he easily lifted most of her body out of the water. It was so easy to forget how strong he truly was when he wasn’t that much taller than her. 

He chuckled, gently releasing his hold on her, before reaching to pull off a piece of seaweed that had comfortably settled itself across the bridge of his nose. “Ugh,” he groaned, his face twisting in disgust as Asha laughed, taking his hand as he pulled her towards himself. “It seems as if I’m never safe from seaweed, regardless of where I go!” 

“You’ve had previous encounters with it?” she teased, trying to ignore how warm he had felt and how close they were to each other. 

“Far more than I care to remember,” he sighed, his upper half sinking beneath the water as his hair covered his eyes. But that didn’t stop him from turning towards her as he began, “So-,”

“So what?” she repeated, unsure of why she’d felt her heart skip a beat as she felt his hand wrap around her waist.

“Aren’t you going to admit that I was right? I told you that spending the day with me wouldn’t be bad!”

She frowned, quietly cursing how a strange heat had spread across her face. As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. Between the discovery of the city and her father’s journals, there was no way she could truthfully say that she was having anything close to what she’d consider a bad day. But that hadn’t meant that she was going to give the already smug-looking star the benefit of knowing he’d been right all along.

So she’d decided to pull a page from the star’s own playbook and quickly change the subject. “Hey Cepheus, you know how you said those buildings in the city were all inspired by star architecture right?”

He nodded, watching as she pointed towards the castle.

“What about the castle? Does it look like it took any inspiration from star architecture?” 

Much to her expectations, the star had shaken his head. “No, no that building is far too young and small for that.”

“Small? I’m sorry- the castle is small to you?”

“In comparison to a star’s castle? Yes. Of course, we have to have different-sized castles to accommodate our true forms, Asha. I doubt a low-ranking member of the court could fit into that castle, much less an alpha star,” he shuddered. “so the ones we have exclusively for stars are far bigger than the ones we build for human visitation and viewing.” 

“You guys let humans visit your palaces?”

He nodded, rising and falling with the tide as he held her. “Yeah. The astronomers who served closely under the alpha stars would frequent there when needed…”

“Were they beautiful?” she implored, looking from him to the sky. “The castles I mean.”

“Very,” he breathed. “And they still are. The alpha stars own several palaces across their domains, but they’re all beautiful.” 

“Have you seen them all?”

“I’ve visited most on occasion,” The alpha stars let star peasants visit their castles on occasion. Hmm, maybe the stars were more progressive than she thought. But then again, she wouldn’t be shocked if the term ‘peasant’ was another thing she could add to her list of interspecies cultural differences. 

“Do you have a particular favorite castle?” she inquired if only to distract herself from her impending questions.

Cepheus hummed thoughtfully as the pinkish-golden hues of his eyes met hers. “Hmm, they’re all beautiful in their own ways, but if I had to pick one, I think I’d give it to the Cerulean court’s castles, or more specifically- the Cygnus castle..”

“The Cygnus castle? Is that in the Cygnus constellation?”

He nodded, a pleasant smile making its way onto his face. “It is. My favorite castle there is the one that sits on the very edge of the domain,” he lifted a hand from the water and pointed to the sky. “You can see the waves from what we call the ocean, gather there. It was a gift from the stars of the sea constellations a few eons back that’s quite sentimental to us,” he sighed, the very edges of his lips quirking upwards in nostalgia. “But It’s always been a very beautiful place to go. Both for its history and its myths.”

“Really? Like what kind of myths?”

“Well…” he started carefully, as he brushed his hair from his eyes. “There’s one that says that if a star wishes to change their fate, they should go and visit those waters…It’s how they believe Deneb, one of the older alpha stars ended up unexpectedly meeting her soul mate when she was promised to another…Personally, I never saw much weight to it…until recently…” 

“Really?” she swam forward, too curious to feel embarrassed as she closed the distance between them even more. “I thought you said you never desired or wanted  for anything more.”

“And I don’t-,” he retorted, evidently not appreciating her question. “I was there for other reasons…sentimental ones if you will, it had nothing to do with what the glowing waters could or couldn’t do for me.”

“Hmm…So, what made you change your mind?” 

His voice trailed off as he turned his gaze upwards into the sky. “Well…I was there right before you wished on me.”

She blinked in surprise. “You were?”

He nodded, this time facing her. “I was.”

“So you think that me wishing on you is an act of fate itself? Really?”

He shrugged, “maybe? But who knows, I didn’t expect anyone to wish on me.” She was silent, as he thoughtfully continued, “One second I was with the others, talking to them, and then the next thing I know, all I can hear is your voice, and it was all that mattered to me in that moment.”

‘Was it?’ she wanted to ask. Of course, it was. He was a wishing star, granting wishes was the sole purpose of his existence, and as soon as he granted her wish he would disappear just as quickly as he came.  That was what she wanted, right? So why had the thought in and of itself, had filled her with an emotion that she couldn’t quite identify? 

She sighed, closing her eyes as she tried to reason. They were from two different worlds. Worlds that by all means were no longer connected. The best they could be was friends. The best she could be to him was a friend, one that she wasn’t sure if he’d remember in a few more years, regardless of- “BAAAAA-,’ screeched Valentino as he leaped into her arms and nearly on top of her.

“Valentino?!” she exclaimed as the star let her go. “What’s gotten into you?!”

The goat pleated before gesturing towards an incoming fin that was rapidly headed straight towards them.

“Shark,” Asha said, her brain barely comprehending what she’d seen until it neared.  “SHARK!?” she screamed, swimming backward.

“Where?” Cepheus asked, turning towards the direction of the incoming shark as it lifted its head out of the water. No sooner had the shark’s eyes met his than she saw the shark come to an abrupt halt before quickly taking off in the direction that it had quickly come from.

Had he-...A shark?!

She exchanged glances with Valentino, who was just as stunned as she was before the star turned back to her, smiling innocently as he’d proudly declared, “Apex Predator.”

“Hahahahahaha!” she erupted into laughter, feeling her stomach hurt as the star neared her, joining in her laughter as well. In all her years at the sea, she’d never seen a shark swim so fast, not even from whales or dolphins that had threatened to kill it. Tears welled in her eyes, as she wrapped her arms around the star. 

Had she not been laughing so hard, perhaps she would’ve noticed that the trio was no longer alone. But unfortunately for her, her discovery would come in the form of a familiar voice cut through the echoes of her laughter, “Asha-,” 

Wait.

Her laughter was cut short as she spun around, facing the familiar sight of Silver’s ship mere yards behind them. The captain stood overhead with the eyes of his prying crew and friends, all looking down to observe the trio as she saw her grandfather frown.

“Asha,” he spoke again.

“Saba?!” she screeched, shoving herself off of Cepheus. How had she not noticed the ship approaching?! Had she been so distracted by the star that-

No. What was she saying?! She couldn’t be distracted by Cepheus he wasn’t even in his star form!

“Saba I can explain, I swear-,” she cried as the sounds of the sailor’s laughter filled her ears. Oh God, how was she going to explain this?!

Her grandfather shook his head, sighing, as Capella pleated from his side, “Yep…my bloodline is doomed….”

[inkpotsprite]

Working on yet another Titan's Tower AU, but this time with a Duke shaped twist.

[taintandviolent]

very rough draft so be quiet i haven't seen it yet and i'm already doing it. if anyone betted that I wasn't gonna... y'all are LOSERS

[astriiformes]

Diving back into my old transmasculine werewolf essay as preparation for the symposium talk I'm giving tomorrow and god. I vividly remember a harrowing evening nearly four years ago spent poring over Rowling's blog post in which she railed about "rapid-onset gender dysphoria" as research for this paper, and it's harrowing in a different way to read it (the essay, not the blog post, I don't hate myself) this week of all weeks.

Really just... everything about the context of this paper feels so different now. I'm going to have an uncomfortable amount to talk about. At least it's ultimately a talk about how to find comfort in the monstrous, but still. What a time to be giving it.

[jittersbitters]

Ive hit 4K and taking a break to eat. Have another Vik x reader smut snippet while I wait for more coffee to brew (its only midnight). On that 2nd cup and my drink isn't the only thing getting steamy.

Part 3 is already being outlined and I'm thinking Heimerdinger's lab or Hoskels house 🤭

Part 1 Here

“In.” His thumb started to stroke between my shoulder blades as his breath fanned the side of my face, voice a low thrum in my ear. My breath hitched as I felt myself gravitate toward him, eyeing him from the corners of my vision. My heart starting to make its nervous ascent up my throat again. “What?” “It’s incautious.” His corrected with a self-satisfied smile, delighting in my surprise as his hand shifted up to thumb at the cord wrapping around my neck to hold up the front of my dress. He played with it, running the finger along the stack, his hand resting at the base of my neck. Holding me gently as he guided me away from the increasingly crowded table, deliberately closing any lingering distance between us as our sides came together. “How do you say…” We were so close he only needed to murmur, “The student becomes the master.” A rush of heat coursed through me, breath hitching in my throat. The cord around my neck felt suddenly too tight, and I weakly pulled with it in search of relief. His thumb slid under the cords in response, relieving some of the pressure from the back. Simultaneously, pulling them into my throat, the contrast made my insides twist and flutter. Did he know just what he was doing? “Viktor—"

I seemed to have devolved in the tags. Read at your own risk teehee

[naught-skull]

fill me up with so many pups that i can't move, can't resist at all when you hold my legs open and hips up and pump another load into me. i'm so close to giving birth that your cock feels extra big in my sensitive hole and i can't stop from screaming and cumming around your dick before you're even close to finished. keep fucking me hard until i've cum so many times that i'm exhausted and begging you to stop, but you're not done yet and there's nothing I can actually do about it~

[keydekyie]

The Drover's Shadow

[closeups and possible book IV snippet below the cut]

742 words, no content warnings

✦•······················•✦•······················•✦

The little valley was cut through by a river that had carved out a sandy, pebbly ravine. On the far side, trundling along like little bundles of fuzz in the wind, was a drove of wegs. Their piggy snouts were turned up in caution to the wind, and their robe-clad drover strode among them with a bent crook. The drover stopped and stared when Ruyak came into sight, letting the drove shuffle past along the grassy hill.

Kaelin waved in greeting, and after a hesitant moment, the drover raised the crook in return.

It was a sizable drove, at least two dozen head, and probably large enough for two drovers, or at least a drover with a rodi for help, but the wegs were led obediently enough by their singular drover, and seemed perfectly willing to continue on their way in the opposite direction Ruyak was heading.

“They’re going up into the highlands for the season,” Kaelin said to Ruyak conversationally. “The cold air makes the fleece thicker.”

Ruyak didn’t reply, just kept moving at a steady pace.

“Did you ever see droves in your family’s territory?”

“Sometimes,” Ruyak muttered, and his tone was startlingly bleak. Kaelin sensed an uncomfortable subject, and so steered away from it.

“We’ll be coming to the Dakatin valley soon. The finest wool in Kellabor comes from there. The blends and techniques to make it are a trade secret, supposedly, but I’ve heard the only secret is the silk they mix in. My new nightgown is Dakatin wool.”

“It does seem very nice,” Ruyak mumbled.

“Those wegs’ wool will go to make something quite fine. They look very healthy.”

“Are they harvested at the end of the season, then?”

“Harvested? Oh, wegs aren’t killed for their wool, no. They’re shorn once a year, sometimes twice depending on the breed, I think. Although, they do make for good meat, especially if they’re grazed in forests. And their skins make excellent cloaks. So they are sometimes butchered for those reasons. But most are just shorn.”

Ruyak nodded in understanding, then a moment later he shook with a derisive laugh. “If us Kanai were smart, we’d be making good trade with drovers. Safe grazing in exchange for a bit of wool every season.” Ruyak grew somber again. “I’ve heard drovers singing in the mountains. Sometimes their roden sang with them, and even the wegs would squeal along on bright mornings. Not good singers, wegs.”

“I don’t imagine so,” Kaelin chuckled. “Enthusiastic, though.”

“Very.” Ruyak glanced back at the drover again with a smile, and slowly came to a stop, watching that lone human figure among the cloud of white wegs. Ruyak’s face twisted into a pained grimace. Worrying? Imagining the drover walking into danger up in the mountains? Where the forest’s many guardians were ready to snuff them out at the slightest provocation?

“I’m sorry to say it, Ruyak,” Kaelin murmured, “but you’re going to frighten that drover staring like that.”

“Augh, you’re right.” He shook off, as though he’d been doused with water, then turned and continued on his way. “I wasn’t thinking.”

Obviously he’d been thinking quite hard, just then, but perhaps not about that in particular. Kaelin could sense his change of mood like a storm rolling in. She knew exactly why the clouds were gathering. It was entirely possible the last weg drover Ruyak had been so close to had not survived the encounter.

“Drovers are sensible,” Kaelin told him. “They know the places that are safe.”

Ruyak pinned his ears and said nothing. Not a good sign.

So Kaelin went on, “Humans that go up into the wild places don’t venture there ignorant of the danger. They know what they are risking.”

“Then why would they risk it?”

“For their livelihoods, seeking their fortunes. Money, I mean. Or food for themselves, but usually not. Not if they are going far enough into the wilderness to meet the likes of you.”

Ruyak thought about that for a long moment, and the drover and wegs passed out of sight into the trees, each white, fluffy weg quietly vanishing. “I… I truly wish I could believe that, but I don’t think all of them…”

“Drovers know it too. We all know. As children we’re taught songs and stories and rhymes. We all know someone who never came back. Everyone knows that when you step into the dark, you might not step back out again.”

[woobiedoovo]

Stan was in love once, forty or so odd years ago, when he was just a boy who didn’t even know what love was.

At that age, love was the person who made you smile. Love was the person who you’d wake up to every morning. Love was the boy whose glasses always slid down his nose because they were one size too big. Love would hold Stan’s hand in his as they dreamed about sailing around the world.

Love, as he got older, got more complicated. Love became something he’d toss and turn to at night, afraid that when he closed his eyes he would see the boy who still meant the word love. Love, as he got older, seemed to slip between his fingers. The harder he held on, the more it seemed to fade.

Love, it seemed, didn’t love Stan the way he loved it.

Love was harsh and cruel, yet he still loved it. To others, love was something soft and warm. But to Stan, Love was something he couldn’t imagine, not anymore. Love was far away, on a long abandoned swing set, telling stories about pirates, treasure, and adventure. Love was something between two boys whose dreams were just that, dreams.

Stan was in love once.

[thisnameisnotspokenfor]

Another chapter snippet

@yurikalonesome Ceph if he was a school teacher I guess lol

“Good evening! Has everyone been enjoying the party?” she asked as Mrs Alina translated her words, eliciting a cheer from the crowd. “Good!” Lady Allard called, clasping her hands together. “Now as many of you might not know, it’s a tradition in Ischanian culture, that before the start of each celebration, there must be a story! Do we have any volunteers?”

A low murmur passed through the crowd as several people exchanged glances.

“Anyone?” Lady Allard asked. 

“I volunteer-,” came a voice from beside her as silence fell over the crowd and several pairs of heads turned, searching for the source of the voice seated next to Asha.

“Cepheus?” she stammered, as the smiling star examined the silver-colored trees he’d sewn into the cape. “You’re going to tell a story?”

“This I’ve got to hear,” her grandfather grumbled as he seated himself a few feet away. 

“Hey, aren’t you Asha’s acquaintance?” Edda asked as the children began to gather around.

“No Edda,” Asha cleared her throat as she shut her father’s journal. “Cepheus is a friend.”

“Friend?” Edda repeated before suspiciously squinting at her. “That’s not what you said last time-,”

“What kind of story are you gonna tell us?” Thatcher interrupted, which promptly earned him a glare from Eda. “It's not some lovey-dovey fairy tale with kissing is it?” 

Cepheus shook his head, laughing “No, it’s just an old nursery tale that takes place in a forest.”

“Are there any unicorns there?” Phoebe shyly asked as she held her doll close.

The star smiled, “I don’t see why not, after all, it is a magical forest!”

“A magical forest?”  Diego asked, looking somewhat interested. 

“Yes, and it begins like all good tales do, with a child in this forest. Now no one is quite sure of the circumstances that brought this little boy to the forest. But what they did know was that he’d lived in it for as long as he could, teaching himself to survive and terrorize all those who came across him -,”

“Was he a prince?” Eda interrupted.

“I- excuse me?!” the star stopped this time looking mildly offended.

“I asked if he was a prince,” repeated Eda as if she hadn’t been speaking to a being that could easily erase her existence. “Most people don’t just leave their children in the middle of the forest if they’re not some kind of royalty.”

“Hansel and Gretel would like to have a word with you-,” Asha interjected as Eda scowled.

“She’s right,” Cepheus nodded. “You don’t have to be royalty to be stranded in the woods. And as such, for the sake of my story, our main character is not royalty.” The choir of groans that followed from the children was nearly astounding as the star’s eyes widened. “Goodness, the classism is strong with all of you. Why must the protagonist be royalty?”

“Because the royals are always the ones who get the cool powers and adventures!” Kelsie excitedly exclaimed.

“Just like the king!” Diego added as a choir of agreement arose from the crowd. 

“Yeah!” Thatcher nodded. “How else do you think he got to slaughter all of those sta-,”

“Thatcher!” Asha and her grandfather scolded in unison. She’d glanced at her grandfather, partially shocked at his interjection before the crowd’s murmurs began to increase in volume once more. 

Nervously she’d glanced at the star, doing her best to gauge his reaction. She’d expected swift retribution, or worse, but to her relief, neither was apparent on the star’s face.

His lips had been pressed into a thin line as he placed his sewing needles down and blankly stared.  There’d been nothing particularly threatening or emotional about his stare, but it had been enough to make everyone excluding her grandfather shift uncomfortably.  “May I continue?” he asked quietly as the children nodded. “Thank you.”

[inkpotsprite]

A deleted scene from my work "Cats and Communion."

[uniquethingtastemaker]

@thatweirdomidas made one small comment to convince me to post the little Rafayel x Reader section I have for a fanfic, despite it not being perfect lol. Pls tell me if you think the writing is still good even though I know there are areas to be improved upon with this section. The overall fanfic idea is still loose, but I have a better sense of what kind of Reader I want to pair Rafayel with. Also, this is before they start dating. Without further ado, here's the section!!

You blast into the Wanderer in front of you. The familiar kickback of your guns ripples through your arms. Then, your phone rings.

Gorgeous singing flows out from the speaker, gracing the battlefield with its song. It’s obvious who it is. You created a specific ringtone just for him.

You stop shooting long enough to take out one of your earbuds and pop it in. You answer the call. 

“Hey, babe, what’s up?” you question, unloading on a Glimmerblade.

Rafayel barely listens to you as he starts to whine. “I’ve been hospital—”

Then, he hears the background noise. 

“Are you in the middle of a battle?” he asks, concerned and bewildered. 

“Yep, but don’t worry about it. I’m vigilant as always. I picked up because you’re important to me, pearl. I know my limits. If something goes sideways, I’ll refocus on the battle,” you reassure, using the new pet name you picked out. “Now, did you just say you got hospitalized? What happened, and which hospital? I’m coming over as soon as I finish this.”

The other side of the line is quiet. You don’t know what he’s thinking as you hone in on the Wanderer in front of you. You doubt Rafayel got into anything major based on his tone. It seems more like a ploy for attention. 

After getting to know the painter, you learned that he’s an anxious person who needs constant reassurance that you haven’t left him. It’s subtle, but it’s enough that you noticed it. Therefore, you make a point to be consistent to reassure him. For some reason, he picked you to be his anchor. You also have a strange pull to him, so you don’t mind being be the moon to his tide. 

Then, your fighting partner does something stupid. You weren’t assigned to Xavier this time. Jenna claimed that the two of you should teach some of the others, since you both have better combat experience. It would’ve been fine if you didn’t want this day to end.

“2 o’clock!!” you shout to him. 

Your voice has a hint of irritation. You pause, remembering Rafayel is still on the line. He’s sensitive to your emotions, so you clarify. 

“Sorry, babe. That wasn’t for you. People are being idiots again,” you apologize as your tone softens. “There might be intermittent yelling. I’ll try to warn you, but I might not have time. If that’s gonna bother you, I can call afterward.”

You vaguely hear him take a deep, shaky breath. It gets overshadowed by your bullets. It takes him a moment to respond. 

“Call me afterward,” Rafayel replies. 

His tone is breathless before he shifts it to a playful voice. The facade isn’t very secure, though. 

“I don’t want you dying because I’m distracting you,” the artist jokes. 

You hum with a smile. “Talk to you soon, Raf.” 

You cut off the line and start berating your partner. 

“Keep up the momentum of your claymore and push it against something! You don’t want it to run behind you! How did you even pass the practical exams?!!”

(i think it's cute. What do you think? Some obvious things could be improved upon. However, if you're not looking at it from a writer's perspective, then it's pretty good. Leave your thoughts in the comments! Do you like this kind of Reader with Rafayel?)

[divorcedmoonlight]

I couldn’t get this out of my head after @mid-sweettalk said Glinda got her “I’m Not That Girl” moment in She’s Perfect. I know this has been done a couple times, but each time it’s a little different and I love that.

So here’s an I’m Not That Girl rewrite (with all changes in pink) from Glinda’s perspective. She’s arrived back at Shiz after summer break, ready to tell Elphaba that she loves her, only to find that Fiyero beat her to it.

Hands touch, eyes meet

Sudden silence, sudden heat

Hearts keep in a giddy whirl

She could be that one

But I’m not that girl

Don’t dream too far

Don’t lose sight of who you are

Don’t remember that rush of joy

She could be that one

I’m not that girl

Every so often, we long to steal

To the land of what-might-have-been

But that doesn’t soften the ache we feel

When reality sets back in

Blithe smile, lithe limb

She’s who’s winsome, she wants him

Bright smile and lots of fun

That’s the boy she chose

And Heaven knows

I’m not that one

Don’t wish, don’t start

Wishing only wounds the heart

She wasn’t born for the rose and pearl

But this girl I know,

I love her so

Mm-mm

I want that girl

[neon-kazoo]

A Simple Mistake

(A little drabble based on a YouTube short I watched by brittanyrcoates, captions from the video at the end)

“Sorry I’m late, traffic was crazy.”

Sidekick swung open the door with a careless push. The metal creaked and groaned in response as they swept into the room. They spotted their mentor standing in shadow peering out the window, so they quickly approached to get a hold of the situation. They scanned outside the window, locating what they presumed to be the target easily; a figure partially concealed on the opposite rooftop.

It matched what the hero had sent in their summons. Meet at the old textile plant, new info places Villain on the rooftop across after 4.

“Is that him? Is that the villain?” They questioned while practically pressed against the glass. They didn’t want to risk taking their eyes off him for even a second, lest he take the opportunity to slip away and disappear. Like he usually did.

“No,” their mentor spoke, and it startled Sidekick enough that they started to turn around. “That would be me.”

A heavy hand landed on their shoulder as their eyes widened in pure horror.

Belatedly, Sidekick realized their mistake. Info placing Villain at the textile plant, meet on the rooftop.

“I guess I know who’s on the roof, then.”

Sidekick swallowed. Hard.

Villain leisurely glanced out the windows, framed with rusted and flaking metal. Sidekick stood stiff and darted their eyes around the abandoned room.

Unable to protest, they were pulled deeper into the plant and further into the darkness by the very same villain they were meant to be spying on.

Next time, they would be sure to read much more carefully.

(Video captions: The new sidekick arriving late and going to the wrong location/“Is that the villain?”/“No, I’m the villain.”/Before realizing they’re standing beside the villain they were sent to spy on/*realizing their mistake*/“shhhh.”)

[darethshirl]

solas/felassan, historical au (ancient greece)

The baby goat in Felassan's arms still smelled of milk.

He firmed his grasp against its instinctive kicking, let it bleat against his chest. It had submitted so easily to Felassan's hands when he'd plucked it from between its brethren, unaware of what was coming for it. So innocent. So trusting. So completely unsuspecting of what was happening beyond the confines of its mother's shed.

Animals are the lucky ones, Felassan thought to himself, a bitter dollop of philosophy. What does knowledge bring to a man other than suffering?

Still, he made his way down the path mechanically, his sandaled feet stomping against the packed dirt road. The noon sun was merciless, beating down against Felassan's head like the very hand of Elgar'nan himself. Felassan ignored the meager shade offered by the olive trees, swaying so peacefully in the breeze, and kept walking. He only had eyes for his goal. For the temple.

Under the sun's bright and glorious light, Mythal's temple gleamed like a jewel with no peer, perfect and unblemished. In truth there were cracks in the columns, Felassan knew, scraggly grass blades pushing up through the flawed mosaic floor. But from here, from this distance, all flaws were hidden. The marble gleamed, bleached white, expensive. Mythal's statue rose overhead in awesome proportions, inhumanly large, the pinnacle of engineering ingenuity and artistic talent. Her outstretched arm beckoned all devotees to come to her. Or perhaps just commanded them.

Felassan climbed steps weighed-down by the passage of so many other feet. As he approached the top Solas came into view, his expression hidden by the sun's glare. He was wearing his full priest regalia, with the azure-blue chiton and the golden brooch. He had his arms crossed behind his back. Even faceless, he looked somber.

Felassan stopped. He extended his arms, the goat an offering. A rebuke. Solas closed the distance and took it in his own arms, avoiding Felassan's gaze. He hushed at the animal, spoke to it softly. He rubbed a thumb between it's milky eyes, affectionate as any parent.

Then he gently, benignly and oh-so-kindly, set it on the sacrificial altar.

Felassan pressed his lips together. He watched Solas's back, observed every ripple of motion in his muscles. "Quite the sorry sacrifice, this little runt," he said into the pious silence, even though he promised himself he wouldn't. Even though it was useless. "Perhaps the goddess will be displeased. Insulted, even."

Solas made to look back—then stopped himself, an aborted motion. "The All-Mother loves us," he said, and infuriatingly, he sounded like he believed it. "She would not begrudge any offering honestly made, even a paltry one. All she asks of us is our devotion."

"And is that enough?" Felassan pressed, angry and unwilling to hide it.

Solas stood silent, his shoulders bowing and he stared down. The goat bleated, squirmed—but it couldn't more far enough. Solas had it under his palm, secure and trapped. "It will have to be," he said.

And raised his knife.

[naught-skull]

oh...fuck it feels so big...it hurts please it hurts ithurtsithurtsithurts...ah ah ah...i'm sorry i'm sorry...please pull it out i'll be good i promise...you're so big in me i can't take it...at least go slower please...ow ow ow...please finish it hurts

[muzzlemouths]

Apologies if this has been asked already, but is there any chance we might get to see what those conversations between sun and moon were like? I just started reading (Don't) Fear the Reaper and now that I know they talk when Sun is quiet, I can't help but wonder what's being said.

When I eventually get around to writing the follow-up fic (which will explore the story from Sun's pov) you'll get to see each and every conversation they had!

Since I'm not sure when that will be (and I have a rough version of what it might look like already written up in my notes) I'll go ahead and drop it here for you to chew on in the meantime :3

This conversation occurs in their personal cabin when y/n first finds out about Moon's existence. I've left the original lines in for context, but they'll be indented so you know what is and isn't internal.

“We?” You watch with growing curiosity as he freezes in place and winces, like he’s just been caught in a lie.

“Sun—”

“I know, I know.”

“Fix it.”

There it is, again. That distant expression like his mind is somewhere else entirely. You aren’t sure if robots are capable of internal monologue, but if they are, his must be pretty intense for the absolutely guilty expression he wears before smothering it with another mocked up smile.  “Me and…Moon,” he answers, voice pitifully small. 

“What are you doing?”

“It’s better to be honest, isn’t it? They’re going to find out eventually.”

“No. No. You’re going to say something you shouldn’t.”

“I can handle myself in a conversation just fine, thank you very much. I have so fa—”

“You don’t know when to shut up.”

His smile falters, eyes panicked like a child being scolded.

Moon. You recognize the name from the conversation with Oscar earlier, how scared he had looked from the mere mention of it. You aren’t entirely sure how to navigate this situation, but if this Moon has everyone up in arms, there must be a good reason for it, right? “Is he…dangerous?” 

“....Well? Am I?”

“Oh, now you want me to talk?”

“Just thought they should know all the grisly details, since you seem keen on being truthful.”

Sun hesitates to answer. He bides his time by tending to your ankle, instead. Carefully drawing your shoe away like a reverse cinderella, then gently turning your ankle in all directions to get a feel for the damage. 

“You’re not being fair.”

“Go on, tell them.”

“I don’t think that’s a good ide—”

“Tell them how I butchered her. How I didn’t stop until her pulse flickered under my hand.”

“Moon—”

“Tell them how much I regret letting go.”

“I—”

“Tell them how often we think about her blood caking our palms. How relieving it felt to finally—”

“It doesn’t feel broken,” he tells you. 

“Don’t ignore me.”

“I think you might have just twisted it. Should be in tip-top shape by morning!” He faces you with that telltale smile once more, only for it to droop significantly when you don’t immediately mirror his relief. It’s not the answer you’re waiting for. 

“Hypocrite.” Moon snarls. “Cornered yourself. Now you’re the animal stuck in a trap.”

“Little rabbit…” he sighs. “You are very, very lucky, you know. This could have been much worse.”

Pebbles climb in your throat, brought on by his words. Each bigger than the last and taking up space where you need to breathe. They rattle with every inhale, collecting in great heaps the longer he fits you with that emotionless stare. You don’t think he’s referring to your ankle, anymore.

“Cruel. Warning a rabbit with one foot already in a trap.”

“They’re smarter than you think.”

“It’s too late to save them.”

“...I know.”

“Then why bother?”

A twig snaps just outside the door, relieving you of his piercing gaze as his neck wrenches to follow it. Just a squirrel.  “Sun, I—” “Anyone can be dangerous,” he whispers, eyes still zeroed in on the animal.

“Caaareful.”

“I told you, it’s better to be honest," Sun's optics twitch ever briefly. "They ought to know it isn’t you they should fear.”