#started book of dreams last year but didn't finish it before the year's end

[voluptuarian]

Tagged by @ravenkings (😘😘) to post 9 books I'm planning to read in 2023. I am also concentrating on making some progress on my To Read pile this year, so most of these are books I've already gotten my hands on, but haven't gotten around to reading (or just haven't finished) yet.

tagging: @kecharitomene, @thelovelygods, @a-story-teller, @iskarieot, @morgainelefaey

[readychilledwine]

hi, i’ve recently found your blog + wow, you’re writing is amazing! i have an idea for i would like to request, i hope that’s okay.

reader has just came home from book club w nesta, gwen and emerie at the house of wind. reader is mated to az - they’re been mated for about a few years. still reader has met nesta, reader almost always has her nose in a book - smutty book to be exact. reader is kinda embarrassed by this bc she wasn’t one to read smutty books before meeting nesta. az is starting to question why reader is always so invested in a book or why he has hardly seen reader for the last couple of weeks. az picks up the book reader is currently reading behind reader’s back & starts to get a little jealous maybe? az may confront reader about the book? i’m not to sure about the ending, but i do know az would do something like asking reader what their favorite scene & they could reenact it or something of that nature. i could totally see az teasing reader just a little bit as well.

i love for you to put your own spin on this. thank you 🩷🩷🩷

Book Boyfriend

Summary - Azriel has gotten a little tired of your reading habits.

Warnings - Az is a kind of a dick

A/n - I went the spicy mad Az route, and don't worry. Per Liz tradition, it's open for another part.

Azriel could have burned the damn book in your hands. You hadn't set it down in 3 days.

3 fucking days of you and Nesta curled into each other, drinking Rhysand's expensive wine, reading that stupid thick book.

He knew you loved to read. Books and book related gifts had been his go-to gifts for you since the mating bond snapped 100 years ago. But the obsession since Ness was made was unbearable.

He never had to fight for your attention until now. He felt a shoulder brush his. "Ah, they're in the "We don't want Cassian to know we're reading smut," pose."

Azriel froze, feeling down the bond and trying to get to your end. You had it locked down, but there was a soft blush on your and Nesta's cheeks. "How do you know its smut?"

Cassian sighed. "It's all they read, Azzy. Have you not noticed?"

His shadows darkened. You had hardly kissed or touched him in 3 days in favor of a smut novel? He could show you things, do things, most authors would only think of in their sick dreams.

He felt himself paling under Cassian's gaze. Was he not pleasing you anymore? Was he not performing to your expectations? You always seemed content, spent, and overjoyed when you two had sex.

"I need a fucking drink." Azriel stormed away. Slamming the door to your shared chambers shut. He took on look at the crystal whiskey decanter and decided to drink until you came to the room.

Azriel woke up to soft footsteps and the feeling of a blanket getting laid across him. He heard you sigh, falling into bed, then that faint creak of an unbroken in book spine opening.

Meaning you had a new book. A new smut novel to ignore him with. A new fake boyfriend to imagine between your thighs.

Azriel stood on shaking legs, and he went to bed. Watching as you snapped to book shut and set it on your nightstand title down. "Did I wake you?"

"Yup." He curled into the bed facing away from you. It was childish, but if you weren't happy, you could have just told him instead of replacing him.

When he woke up, raging headache and all, you were gone. But the book wasn't. He reached over and grabbed it, cracking the spine out of spite. 55 chapters in, and Azriel was bored. If he tried to fuck you on a table covered in paint, you'd glare at him about the mess. About getting paint 1000 places you shouldn't.

So why the hell were you reading a book about it?

It was late into the evening when you returned. Azriel had finished the book, marking specific things he wanted to confront you about. He didn't stand as the door opened, didn't greet you as you came in with a few bags. You were all smiles, dolled up in a pretty dress. Your hair was loosely curled, and makeup was done.

"Where the fuck have you been?" It came out as harsh as he expected it to. "I take a week off and you have hardly spent time with me."

He watched you jump, eyes going wide as you took a few steps back. "Nesta wanted to go into town. We lost track of time. I-"

"Lost track of time? Aren't you the female who taught Rhysand how to properly track the stars and sun?" He stalked toward you, book in hand. "Did you two go to find more vitriol like this?" He held it up, watching as your cheeks flushed and you went to reach for it.

"Azriel-"

He lifted it above his head. "You haven't touched me in weeks. You've kissed me maybe once. Hell, yesterday you were content to leave me on the damn couch. I can see why though, you're sitting here getting your needs met by some fictional fae lord instead of me. If you aren't happy anymore just tell me."

Shock hit your face slowly, mind whirling and emotions pouring into him from the bond. "Azriel, it's a book. Not another male."

That wasn't enough for him. "And how many times have you pleasured yourself to this book? Thinking about the main character between your thighs?"

You sighed. "To that one? Not a single time. I haven't gotten to read it and you already damaged the spine." The sadness in your voice made him pause, lowering the book until you could grab it.

You were always so gentle with your books, caring for them and placing them somewhere safe. Bookmarks never sat in them for too long out of fear of damage. He watched you stroke the spine, going to the bookshelf and placing it in the spot it would belong in to match your color based organization.

"Is this really about a book, or is something else going on?" You wouldn't look at him, wouldn't say his name. He could hear the soft tremble. "I'm sorry I made a friend. I'm sorry I've been spending time with Nesta instead of you. But she gets it. She gets how feeling like you don't belong in this family feels," a stab to his chest. "She gets how feeling out of place among you all feels," the stab turning into a gapping wound that had him leaning against the couch. "She gets what it's like to have a mate that is busy and expects you to be here waiting."

You had ripped his heart out. In 100 years, this had never come up. There had never been signs. "Y/n-"

He watched in silence as you held a hand up, moving to grab some clothes and a hair brush. "I'm going to sleep in a guest room tonight. This could have been turned into something beautiful, Az. We could have used these books to inspire fun in our bedroom," your hand ran along that damaged book. "Instead, you disrespected my belongings, accused me of an unthinkable act, and made this about your fragile ego."

You left the room, silence falling in the wake. Azriel stared at the book he had damaged. It was a first edition. A soft shade of blue with swirls of darkness. He walked to it, head hung in shame.

It was an escape. A way for you to cope with your feelings. No different than him training, and he had ruined it.

And now, he checked his calendar, he had 4 days to make it up to you before he, Cassian, and Nesta were gone for a month.

Leaving you alone all over again with nothing but an empty house and a book boyfriend.

General tag list:

@hnyclover @glitterypirateduck @slytherinindisguise @mischiefmanager @bloodicka @starsinyourseyes @the-sweet-psycho

@mariahoedt @rinalouu @sarawritestories @starryhiraeth @starswholistenanddreamsanswered

Azriel Taglist:

@elle4404

💕 As always, comment or message me if you'd like to be added to a taglist💕

[becausesomething]

A cold heart cannot be warmed (Law x Reader)

Sinopse:

After the worst generation has conquered the long-awaited new era, the long-awaited future arrives for everyone. Where dreams can finally be realized and lived. However, there are hearts that are stuck in the cold of the past, which not even the warmest love is capable of melting.

WC: 2K

Relationship established between Law and Reader. It unfolds after the new era has been conquered and established.

"You can leave it, I'll finish cleaning the kitchen", I take the cloth that Sachi had in his hand and continue what he was doing. However, both he and Penguin didn't like leaving things half done so they finish what they were doing, leaving only the tables to clean.

"I'll take the food to the captain, he forgot again" Penguin was starting to place some plates of onigri leftovers on a tray. I let out a loud sigh "If he's hungry he'll show up, it's not like we're still in a fight against time, he might as well remember that his crew still exists...", unfortunately the words end up coming out in a slightly more aggressive tone than I liked. "Calm down, we know how he is, he just gets lost in his own world", he continues what he was doing but Sachi stops him, and then comes to meet me and puts his hand on my shoulder "Tomorrow we will arrive in Lvneel, we will be on land will bring good things" I grab his hand and look towards them both, in the vague hope of finding some comfort from the loneliness I felt, before returning to focus on what I was doing "How many times have I heard broken promises... I could understand when we had the objectives until the new era arrived, and after a lot of effort and struggles we manage to see this new world". I feel their eyes on me and that feeling that once again caused unnecessary concern, "Sorry, I'm just tired, and you know how I get when I spend too much time inside the polar tang. Go and rest, when I finish this I'll take you him what you prepared Penguin". In unison, they say see you tomorrow and don't forget to rest, and leave that space, lefting me alone. I sit down heavily in my chair, slump onto the table, and let out the sounds of frustration.

It has been 2 years since the crew was almost annihilated in the confrontation with Blackbeard, if it wasn't for everyone's quick action and teamwork to save Law and escape. After a few months, we met the Straw Hats again and a new alliance was formed to defeat him. 1 year ago, Luffy became the pirate king and we lost the race to find the one piece. However, no one could be sad because that person was the breath of hope that the world needed. And in a matter of weeks more changes began to happen within the crew of the heart pirates.Ikaku discovered she was pregnant, and with Hakugan they decided it was time to settle down, start building a new life, dedicate themselves to their new family and went to live on an island in the South Blue. It was a huge celebration with the birth of that girl, who was going to be a disgrace for her parents, it also meant a farewell that weighed heavily on everyone's hearts. 

This was followed by Uni's unexpected wedding, which was the result of falling in love at first sight, and it all happened so quickly that it left everyone amazed that he would give up everything for love despite knowing that it was always what he secretly believed and wanted. Jean Bart was the last to follow his own path, after being inspired by Usopp's stories and seeing the island of Elbaf with his own eyes.

My relationship with Law matured, and we spent so many nights in the room or on the deck, when we weren't submerged, talking about our own future, all the challenges we went through, after seeing cycle's close and trying to deal with the departure of the companions who were our family. It's something that brought us even closer together and fought readjustment. However, he managed to remain even more distant than before, spending days locked in his office with books and research, looking for the best island that the heart pirates could call their own. I tried my best to bring him to reality and I know that he saw and heard me, until he entered into that cycle again. No matter how much effort, affection and understanding he showed, I felt that it was often in vain and I needed something concrete and solid."Let's find an island and start building our future, maybe our own family, the time has come", those were the words that echoed in my mind, that kept the fire in my heart alive, that kept me fighting for what tomorrow would bring us.But no island was enough. We continued to be pirates in an era of conquering a name that we already had, but with each mission that appeared, it was where he put all his effort into compensating for the emptiness that sometimes weighed on the submarine. We continued to follow our captain with the same passion, but those words changed something in me. I wanted to experience the future that we could only dream of a few years ago, but that now was finally possible.

The sound of a chair being dragged next to me and a warm hug bring me back to reality. His arms wrap around and pull me against him, "You're lost in your world again, what's the reason this time?" I wanted to scream that it was him, but the words were stuck in my throat and an unexpected cry took over. I comfort myself in that hug, in an attempt to stop the tears that are already falling. "Why are you crying, sweetie? Did something happen?", I squeezed him tighter before placing a light kiss on his lips. "I'm here in a wait that never ends, being understanding and like everyone else dealing with the silence that came with their departure. My heart screams for the future you promised but that is never good enough for you", the fingers wipe away my tears, making my body shiver with that touch that I fell in love with, in the same circumstances I found myself in now. "I promise it will be the last island we visit and then I will make a decision", the look was sincere but I could hear the uncertainty in his voice, however it comforted me that he came looking for me and hugged me.I could protest those words, but we would get into an unnecessary conversation again, and I wasn't the only one who knew because it seemed like he was reading me at that moment. "What do you say if we go to the control room and expel Bepo?", he raises his eyebrow, that malicious smile appears, my weak point where I wasn't able to maintain my position.

That person to whom I gave my heart and who showed and helped me reach my potential as a crew member and wife of the death surgeon, was now in front of me arguing with Bepo. He explained it in the simplest way and without going into details to leave us alone, but you could see the veins of the little patience he had, and no matter how much time they shared, he wanted to maintain his friend's innocence. "Bepo, we want the space because we're going to make love with that magnificent view", the pale skin turns red and the hands quickly hide the features in the cap, while Bepo just puts his paws on his face happily and smiles to leave the space, but before saying some of his aye-captain to Law, leaving him now even more frustrated. "tsc, can't you be less direct?!", I grab his hand and pull him towards me, like the first day I met him I kept getting lost in those grey eyes "You know I don't, besides it's not that the reason we came here and you asked to leave us alone?" He returns the attack and grabs my waist "I need you!", his lips close to mine with a determination to only let go again to breathe as needed.

We had spent the last four days on the island, and I honestly felt like this place had always been my home. The characteristics of the island, the climate, the different cities reminded me of the island where I was born. The residents welcomed us from the moment we set foot on land, which only increased that feeling. Our name lived up to us and with those smiles, I knew that our legacy would go continue in history.

I was returning from the city along the paths laid out in the forest when in seconds I found myself on the deck of the Polar Tang thanks to his room "What took you so long? We have to leave in a few hours" I place my hand on his face and intertwine our fingers with the other "I need you, but I am no longer able to postpone a future that you don't want to come... For me, it has arrived and we are anchored in it. Law, I love you, and I know you love me too. In all the conversations about the future, I really wanted to believe that it was what we both wanted, but your actions say otherwise. Nothing will ever be enough because deep down you don't want to be stuck in one place or really build a family with me, because you're afraid that everything will disappear in a matter of hours and you'll be alone", shock takes over his features but I feel him squeezing his fingers and that confirms the words. "It's okay, I understand. Facing change is anything but easy, however, our friends who we consider family are choosing their own path, as they were always supposed to. I will never forget...", "No, it's not okay! Don't even think about finishing that sentence... I just need more time to consider, find a place for all of us", "This choice isn't up to you, it's up to each one of us" I hug him and give him time until he separates us.

"I need to experience the reality that you have always told me about, both in the past and in the future. My decision has been made", I held back the tears with all the strength I had left. Obviously I didn't want our story to end there, but I also couldn't stand being aimless and what I wanted not to be taken seriously."Don't leave me. It's true, I'm afraid and I'm terrified every time we stop on an island because of what happened now. You are my strength, and the one who always made me look forward. Please...", he grabs my wrist and forces me to look at him, which makes me can't take it anymore and my body gives in to the emotion "I have to think about myself. You're here, but loneliness has also started to take part when you go in search of excuses that only exist in your head. I can't stand feeling this way and having to hold on to the moments when you remember that I exist" I try to let go and calm the crying that made me feel like the worst person in the world. "This is hard enough, but I've always been honest with you", "Is this really what you want? Staying here?" In one of his affectionate gestures, he wipes my tears and leaves a heavy kiss on my lips, before hugging me "You are the woman of my life, I really love you for the person you are".

Promises that he would after those words were made but never fulfilled. Days gave into weeks, which became months, and ended up years. The heart pirates continued to exist, being a family that met from time to time, but without their captain who made the choice to isolate himself from the world.

It was Corazon's love that made Law become a death surgeon, it was the passion he experienced with the woman that he thought we would share his life forever, overcome the greatest battles and ghosts of his life. But both were still not enough when it came to facing the fear of a past that had left marks on a heart, which was in a closed safe in the office of a yellow submarine that continued to sail aimlessly.

Find more stories here and here xoxo

english is not my first language, even thought I use it more than my native tongue. I try my best to adapt it 🫣

[consistentsquash]

What are your top 10 snarry favorite fics?

Hiya! I feel like my top 10 changes depending on my mood. Snarry fandom has a lot of great fics. Sorry for slowness but life was kind of crazy.

I like fics with a lot of magic/whimsy/darker vibes. A big fan of canon divergence because Snape needs to live! Dubcon with bittersweet ending but also they need to be in love.

My super subjective top 12 which is going to change in like 5 minutes because I am a flake. It's going to be in two parts for reasons... also chronological because why not!

first part

A Bittersweet Potion by alchemia and bugland. This is like the only oldschool Snarry that works for me now because my reading tastes changed a lot. I got lots of bookmarked chapters I reread. Just love the fic. So crazy creative. Also crazy. This started in 2002 iirc.. So really, really old. WIP!

In Between Days by atrata. I really like this. A lot of things won't work for new readers because it was written before the books finished. But it's peak Snape before the big canon reveals and has a lot of ambiguity in his characterization. This is 2005 so you can kind of see their dynamic developing like the middle books.

Morior Animus by Vain. OMG. I read MCD but I don't normally reread it a lot. This fic though. It's got MCD but it's super beautiful and the premise of the fic is just incredible. snarry games fic. A lot of my favs are from that collection. A lot of fics in that time get super creative because the books were still going on. 2006 before DH iirc.

This Boy's Life by pir8fancier. This is my fav fic from the author. The fic is just ultra intense. So we get to see the whole Lily situation. I reread this one a lot. 2007.

When the Rose and the Fire Are One by @perverse-idyll. So this fic burned me out on Snarry. Especially on Snape characterization. Sometimes you just read a fic which says literally everything you wanted about the characters and you don't feel like reading that pairing again? So that was me with this fic. I just didn't read a lot of Snarry after this. also Snarry games. 2008

second part

part two of my favs are from more recent years after I got over that fic…

6. a certain optimism by @hippocrates460. The fic which got me back into Snarry bigtime! Love the Snape POV so much! It's kind of not that common in Snarry fics to get Snape POV. This one is brilliant. It feels like something from a different life, more now than when it had been decades since he’d last heard it. 2019

7. The Measure of A Man by @ac1d6urn. Gosh the intensity. I just. But also really healing and love the feels. Super cathartic vibes. I reread this fic a lot. It's got a great Harry characterization. One of the best honestly. A lot of Snarry fics don't really go into Harry. This fic is Harry's fic! <;3 2019

8. Close Encounters by @likelightinglass and bleedcolor - I am a big sucker for mysterious identity slow build and this is 100% that fic. Lots of classic tropes with ultra perfect execution! Kind of a comfort read for me honestly. 2019

9. Green Grow the Rushes, O by eldritcher - I am a big fan of magical worlds and imagery. Omg this fic! It's like a fever dream. Really lucid, really intense but also like a Van Gogh painting. Somehow plays it straight and also gets mythological at the same time. The fic that made me fall in love with reading aloud. Musical like whoa. There is only the moon and bright Venus to greet them. Severus heals Harry with song and spell. He fucks Harry until he is drained of fear and fury. 2021

10. Suspiria by @ripeteeth - A big fan of the 2nd person POV! Also unicorn rare. But omg I love it in this fic. It adds insane levels of intense for a pretty intense premise. You can really feel the mental spirals. Snape POV! Super ambitious and really, really delivers on that. Why does he look at you? Perhaps it’s in penance. 2021

11. Realisations by @titconao3 - A big fan of 1st person POV but it's like unicorn level rare now. This fic rocks the 1st person POV. Also Harry POV. I mean that's like 2x levels of ambitious :D But it works great. I really love this postwar setting and the pacing. Feels really organic. Oh, since then, I’ve had the biggest, most doomed crush on the most unlikely, the most unreachable man. 2022

12. Contempt by @danpuff-ao3 - Gosh. This is like Old school Snarry but like with really tight pacing. It sucks you in and you just have to go with it. It goes to some crazy places. Which is what I want from Snarry! They need to be crazy :D. Also the summary is literally Snarry ship manifesto Harry hates Snape, and he always will. (He will, won’t he?) 2022

[snek-panini]

I participated in Renegade Bindery's Binderary challenge this past February, and since it ended about two weeks ago it's probably time for me to start posting photos of the finished books, yeah? I made eleven books this year, many of which were multi-volume sets, and I'm going to start with the one that I had the most trouble with, Jane Austen's Persuasion. This project was nothing but trouble, and honestly every time I look at it I see nothing but its flaws. The cover is Allure book cloth from Hollander's (wisteria color; I bought it for another project last year and had a lot left over) with gold metallic HTV for the title and graphics. The last project I did with these materials was a dream; the cloth took HTV like a champ, better than any other project I'd done, and yet this time with the same roll of cloth and type/brand of HTV I couldn't get it to stick. You can see two spots where it's gone on crooked in the above photo, and below the cut you can see additional problems with the spine:

Yikes. It is peeling. I read the book once and it is peeling. I've never had this problem before; it won't always stick at first, but once I get it to stick it stays that way. Not this time.

Top view, with the endbands I sewed that have their cores visible. Again, not a problem I've had before but was a recurring theme this binderary; several of my Binderary books have it. Also platinum silk moire endpapers that were really hard to photograph and have both a wrinkle and a glue stain. It's my first time working with silk moire and I'm not sure I'm a fan, but three of the other books I made also have it and I didn't have nearly so may issues with them. So I think this book may have just been cursed. It's not pictured but the ribbon bookmark developed some kind of mysterious dark smudge in the middle somewhere between me gluing it in and me taking these photos. I do not know how this happened. The gilding went well though. That I can say.

Couple of images of the typeset. I had to print the title page twice because it came out streaky the first time. I actually really like the typeset, which is what makes the rest of the issues with this bind so frustrating. It's pretty! I did well on that part! I wanted the exterior to be just as pretty and I'm upset that it's not!

Fun fact: Persuasion was actually my least favorite Austen when I first read it. But I was in my early twenties then, and I thought it would be fun to bind myself a pretty copy since I didn't own one, and reread it and maybe have different feelings about it now I'm on the other side of thirty. And I did reread it after binding, and I do like it better, and I'm sad that the exterior parts didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. Half the reason I bind public domain stuff is so I can show off my skills to IRL people who aren't in fandom, and not have to explain what fanfiction is or why it has so many dicks in it, and there were so many issues here that I don't even want to do that.

The good news is that this was the low point of binderary and most of the other books gave me results I like better. I'm still doing titles for a lot of them, so we'll see how fast I can get them done and photographed, but I've definitely got more books in store in the near future.

[teecupangel]

oh man as someone who has been in an isekai/transmigrator binge and as someone who ADORES throwing desmond in various eras/dimensions/worlds/universes the isekai desmond thing tickles both my fancies (and the ridiculously longass title made me cackle because thats too on point with isekai).

but i got to ask: would they have an isekai system? would there be a kind of animus-like game system for desmond to help him? would it appear with the other poor unfortunate assassins who got isekaid?

also i'm now having brainworms thinking that the soul swap round robin happened because it's, like, minerva's calculations trying to keep the timeline in check because it's a timeline where the solar flare was kept in check. and maybe one of desmond's ancestors died too soon (bets on altair) and the system scrambled and tried to ctrl+z it but plopped the wrong soul and now *another* assassin is accidentally dead so they plop another soul (the wrong one, of course) which all leads to desmond being plopped in ezio's body

I’m glad you enjoyed the longass title. It really gives off a Japanese isekai lightnovel vibe, doesn’t it? XD

I would like to include this addition from @seelezeit from the LegAss idea:

Ok but consider: Desmond -> Ezio -> Altair, Ezio's slot was open bc he went into Altair's slot. Or even Desmond -> Connor -> Ezio -> Altair but thats more a stretch

Desmond transmigrated to Ratonhnhaké:ton’s ‘story’ just screams:

But this could work?

Desmond gets transmigrated into Ratonhnhaké:ton after he got hit by Truck-kun, trying to cross the pedestrian lane (the light was green!) while looking at his phone because he got a notification that Abstergo is releasing a DLC for their latest game “Washington and the Wolf”.

Ratonhnhaké:ton gets transmigrated to Ezio Auditore’s life while he was asleep after finishing a book chronicling Ezio Auditore’s accomplishments as an Assassin (possibly written by Claudia Auditore but Achilles can’t be sure).

Ezio gets transmigrated as Altaïr after he lost consciousness while reading Altaïr’s journal before going to the ship that will sail him as close to Masyaf as possible.

To make it harder for them to not get involved and care for the people around them, they get transmigrated as children around 4ish years old after a fever that threatened their life. This way, there will be time for them to start to love the people around them and try to change their fates.

What happened to Altaïr?

He is the origin of the isekai system that appears before the Assassins and Desmond similar to the Architect from Solo Leveling or the Tower Master from SSS Class Revival Hunter. Or maybe he would be in a position similar to the Oldest Dream with the three being his sponsored ‘incarnation’? How about both? Let's go with both XD

Regardless, Altaïr appears before them by using the game mechanics that Desmond is more familiar with. To be more exact, he used the games as his basis to ‘communicate’ with the three he had unintentionally pulled from the future.

How?

Well… During the last few years of Altaïr’s life, he learns of the Isus’ plan to use his descendant to save the world. He would have left it alone since he learned the plan was to ‘guide and nurture’ his descendant and reward him after saving the world by letting him choose the future he wishes humanity to have, believing his descendant would do the right thing and give humanity the chance to make their own future.

Then he learned of the glitching probabilities of the future because the Isus did not take in consideration the actions of other humans, only focusing on ensuring that certain humans take specific actions.

Two names are given the highest priority to stay the course:

Ezio Auditore.

Ratonhnhaké:ton.

The more Altaïr finds out about these Isus and their plan, of how they played with the lives of people like puppets forced to play a tragedy over and over again, only to end in failure because they didn't care about the thoughts and desires of other humans…

Altaïr decided to destroy the Calculations.

The Calculations isn’t time itself nor is it destiny.

It is a shackle.

It is the barriers on the roads that promises that death lies beyond but lies, hiding alternative routes.

Would those routes be better than the Calculation being used by the Isus?

Altaïr didn’t know.

But, at least, this way…

They would all be free to choose their own future.

They would have what Altaïr didn’t have.

“Choice”.

Unfortunately, this ‘wish’ contradicted itself.

Because if one was to give them complete freedom to do what they wished, to be unshackled by the Calculations...

They risk the possibility of not being born in the first place.

Ezio’s actions, free from the Calculations, could lead him to not having Flavia, destroying the bloodline that Ratonhnhaké:ton would have been part of.

Ratonhnhaké:ton’s action, in turn, could lead to destroying the bloodline that Desmond would become part of.

Altaïr’s wish to ‘free’ them contradicts itself because that freedom could cause the disappearance of the people he wished to be ‘free’.

This causes an ERROR in the very fabric of time and space and Altaïr paid the price.

His very existence was wrenched from time and now he sits in an empty throne as the Overseer. Of course, his disappearance in the timeline must be fixed and that is how Ezio gets transmigrated into his time. This would cause Ezio to disappear in his original time so Ratonhnhaké:ton was pulled to take up his empty space. Desmond was pulled to fill up Ratonhnhaké:ton’s place.

And Desmond Miles’ place?

That future is no longer available. Everything after the day Desmond wakes up in Ratonhnhaké:ton’s place no longer exist.

It has been sacrificed.

To give Altaïr enough power over time and space to help the three men he had unintentionally taken out of their proper place.

A system similar to a video game interface was his only way of communication. A way to help them without taking too much power from 252 years-worth of history and probability that had been given to him.

The quests given to them lessen the price necessary to give them the rewards.

The calculation of their stats and the necessity of experience to level up creates a way to quantify how many ‘seconds’ would be taken from his reserve of history and probability to be given to them.

The ‘in-game’ shop they can access with points they receive from doing quests or even just doing mundane things have items that are priced by how many seconds they would take from Altaïr’s reserve of history and probability to materialized in their time. The points they get? They’re from the same reserve and the points are returned to the reserve when they buy something.

Unless… they use those points to add more stats instead.

Altaïr is playing a dangerous games, making the shop have objects that they would want in an attempt to ensure that he would have enough reserves to continue to help them while giving them the option to make themselves stronger faster than doing any quests he gives.

He cannot give a direct message. It would take years off the reserve just to send a short message.

So all he can do is use the system to help them.

To guide them.

To nurture them.

For them to choose a future for themselves in this new life they have been given.

[luminouslune]

Happily Ever After

Pairing: K x reader

Genre: fluff, romance, humor

A/N: I have two more exams to go y'all😭

Summary: Everyone you knew have already had their happily ever after, or are already living it, but what about you? When's your happily ever after? It comes soon after a boy you drew in your ordinary sketchbook mysteriously came to life.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being here<3"

I was finishing up college exams this week. It was my last year at the University, and I was absolutely ready to leave that school. 11:48. It was starting to get late. The moonlight creeping through my curtains. The only source of light besides my desk lamp. I was already staying up longer than I had intended.

I've been studying for this math exam since this evening and I felt like I wasn't getting anywhere. I sighed to myself, feeling hopeless. "I can't do this." I whispered to myself. I closed the heavy math book I had been studying with and pushed it away.

Highlighters, pens, and sticky notes littered my desk. I decided to take small breather and pulled my sketch book out of my drawer. Drawing had always been my favorite thing to do. I didn't start doing it on my own though, before I had no interest in it.

The reason I had started to draw or even do art in general was because of my older brother. As a kid I looked up to him so much that I wanted to do whatever he did. I sighed, sketching out a body. I wasn't quite sure who I was drawing exactly, but I just went with it.

Eventually I was too lost in my thoughts to even fully realize what I had drawn. A boy, no one I knew but I suppose just a character I designed. I named him K. I wrote an entire backstory for him, decided his age, personality, his motives.

I sketched on his final details, in his hair and outfit. Holding the sketchbook in front of me, I smiled. I was genuinely proud of myself for stepping outside my comfort zone with my art. Signed, Y/n. 12/14/23.

I leaned back on my chair, feeling a lot more calm than I had been previously when studying. The soft breeze outside could be heard from my room, making me realize how silent it was.

I stared up at my ceiling silently, feeling myself slip out of consciousness, eventually dozing off..

CRASH.

I quickly sat up from chair and looked around. Spotting slight movement from the floor near my bed, I stood up and made my way towards the door, ready to dart down the hall. "Ouch.." I heard a deep yet gentle voice speak. "H-hello..?" I saw him stand up, towering over everything in my room. He's tall. Really tall.

"Who are you? What're you doing in my room?" I said, grabbing a pen and pointing it towards him. Yeah, like that was gonna do anything. "Put the pen down before you hurt yourself princess." He said, unamused, taking the pen from my hand with no effort. "Princess?" I questioned him, unimpressed and quite frankly disgusted by the name.

He smirked and shrugged. "Names K, by the way, and I have no clue how I ended up here, I swear I was just in my room.." He said, rubbing his neck sheepishly. "K..? As in like..." I cut myself off and quickly went to my sketchbook, flipping through the pages. It's gone. The picture I drew of him was gone.

I looked back up at the boy, still a bit confused and shooken up. "What? How? When? Why?" I asked myself, not knowing what was happening. "Just chill, I'm sure there's a logical explanation for this." He said, casually sitting on my bed. "Oh god, I think I'm a witch or something. Or am I just going insane? I could be dreaming.."

I said, trying to think of all of the reasons that this could be happening. "I can assure you that you're not dreaming." He said, looking at me with a straight face. "Punch me." I said, walking up to him. "Excuse me?" He said, looking at me like I was insane. "You heard me, I need you to prove that I'm not dreaming or going insane." I said.

He rolled his eyes. "I'm not gonna punch you." He said, crossing his arms over his chest. I sighed and sat down next to him on the bed. "What the hell am I supposed to say to people who have never seen you before?" I asked. "Just say that I'm your boyfriend!" He said, rather too unbothered by the words that came out of his mouth.

I looked at him, my eyes widened and pink staining my cheeks. "What..?" I asked in shock. "Uhm, okay, K, not to be that girl or anything but, there is no way that people are gonna believe that I was able to pull a guy like you." I said looking at him, shaking my head.

"The hell's a guy like me? And why not? You're gorgeous." He said, smirking over at me. I felt myself grow warm at the comment and looked away for a second. "You're going to university with me tomorrow." I said, going out the hall to take some clothes from my brothers room and gave it to K.

"You're wearing that tomorrow okay?" I said, looking up at him. He smirked and nodded. "Anything for you Angel." He said with a flirty tone. I rolled my eyes but I couldn't stop myself from smiling a bit. He went into my closet to change and then he walked back out.

"You have good fashion taste, I should have you as my stylist." He said. "Stylist...? Oh yeah-i forgot I kinda wrote you as an idol.. " I said, whispering the last part. He went back into my closet, looking through my clothes. "If you're about to be my girlfriend, I'm gonna need you to match outfits with me." He said with a grin.

I laughed a little. "Fine." I replied, giving in to his request. K changed into some PJ's and I set both of our outfits out, ready for tomorrow. "You can sleep on my bed if you want, I don't mind sleeping on the couch." I said. "No, I don't mind sharing the bed. Plus I'm not about to let you sleep on a couch." He said with a soft grin.

We both layed down silently. I stared into the darkness feeling myself start to smile a bit, I didn't realize how warm it could be with someone else in the bed with me, and I loved the company to tell the truth.. I felt K pull my against him, his face against my neck. I felt myself grow flustered but in the best way possible, I fell asleep with a small smile on my face.

Happily ever after?

©luminouslune

[arcade-writing]

Softer nights

Nsfw 🍋

Pairing: Morpheus x GN! Reader

Warning: some angst, sex to make up for argument, teasing, unprotected sex, kinda public sex then goes private, thigh fucking, silent treatment, nipple play, slight cock warming, soft sex (kinda), rough sex with feelings

Writers block really has hands. I'm battling artist block too which is fun - sorry if this isn't as good as my others. It's been awhile since I've wrote something but thank you for requesting regardless. Hopefully this will help me start a writing groove and I can finish the many drafts I got saved

You were warned about his stubbornness. The burdened dream lord had a fist of iron. Whilst he tried to undo centuries upon centuries of behavior it didn't stop how hurtful his words could be. After all, he was a man who spoke when necessary. Only with purpose. He did not dance around his meanings. All his words meant something.

It's why it made your heart ache when he finally spoke.

"You're just a human ." He frowned, merely pointing it out but it still stung.

"Does that Matter? I want to be here, with YOU, with them-!"

"Humans do not belong in the dreaming beyond their visits."

"Does my time here mean nothing to you? I thought....." You couldn't finish your sentence. Biting your lip as your hands became fists. Tears stinging your eyes as you let out a shaky breath. "I thought I was supposed to be your lover."

"You are, that Is why I insist on your departure." Dream wouldn't yield. He couldn't see how his words hurt. After all, your perspectives were so different. He had all the time in the world and you didn't. It hung over you like an anvil.

Shooting him a small glare you twisted on your heel. Unable to keep your composure as every emotion threatened to spill. You felt foolish. To think you meant something to someone as primordial as him. He calls you his lover yet wants you to leave? He never came to your realm to see you. You felt as if you were merely a spec upon the vast universe, the dreams that wove each life together. To think you considered he wanted you beyond anything as a tourist in his realm.

Every since you were able to free roam within his realm you believed your strange encounters with him meant something. Each dream lingering longer in your mind as he showed you the endless possibilities of the imagination. Slowly, becoming closer to him. Ever so slowly. You've laid yourself bare before him and he has taken you - body and soul. Stolen every breath. But here he looked at you as if you were a clueless child trying to demand the world.

"Fine, i see my company is unwanted, goodnight Dream lord."

That was the last he saw of you that night. Anytime you ended back in his realm he only met your cold shoulder. The castle overwhelmed with an icy chill after your arrival. You didn't speak to him. Not once. Favouring speaking to his raven than him. Spending all your time with Matthew, growing quite whenever you noticed him lurking. It was petty, you know that. Childish even. But you needed to him to see what his words do. You deserved at least an explanation for his rudeness but he was just as stubborn as you. Far more patient. He could do this for millions of years but you couldn't. You didn't have that time. No, you felt your resistance falter the longer you slept. Just seeing his lips pout and those sparkling eyes of his made your walls crumble.

You were horribly whipped for him.

"I have upset you, you no longer smile at me like you use to."

"Starlight -" he tried once more. Looming behind you. No other presence in sight. You refused to look at him, pulling a book from the shelf. His hands glided across your skin, traveling up from your stomach to where your heart fluttered under it's bone cage. It's been so days - if not a week since he last touch you. You don't know what upset you more, his stubborn nature or how weak he made you.

You continued to ignore him, flicking through the book before putting it back in its place.

"Deprived me of your presence and joy, the castle has grown cold without your warmth." His hands continued to wander. His lips finding your shoulder as you fiddled and tugged at books. His eyes watched you as you tried to swallow your feelings. Not wanting to give in so easily.

"But worst of all, you don't dare to speak in my presence." His voice came out as a low growl. Something hard pressed to your ass as his grip grew tighter.

"I detest it the most of all these punishment's."

"Speak to me and I'll ravish you - utterly worship your body." One hand stayed on your hip to keep it steady whilst the other went to your nipple. Brushing his fingers against the sensitive bud through your clothes.

You had to bite your lip as your eyes flickered down. Spotting his cock slip between your thighs, subconsciously squeezing your thighs around him. He let out an amused hum knowing he had your attention. How your body eagerly wanted more of him despite your stubbornness. As soon as you heard that you quickly went to grab another book but only found yourself latching to the shelf. Swallowing any noise that threatened to come out as he began to move. It felt as if you had no clothes on; having to look down to double check. You could feel his cock perfectly as it rubbed and nudged at your sex.

"Just give me one word, my love."

But you couldn't give in. You wanted him to apologize. To just let you be by his side. Despite your needs you wanted nothing more than him to keep touching you like this. It's been too long since you felt this flurry of pleasure. You were utterly ruined; your hand wasn't even comparable to how Morpheus could make you feel.

A gasp escaped you as he pinched your hardened bud. Too far into your own head to even realize he's rolled your shirt up to reveal your chest. You slapped your hand over your mouth as more little noises left you. His thrusts growing more desperate as he leaned back, bringing you with him. The new angle giving you exactly the friction you needed to see stars.

Distant footsteps made you both become rigid. But Morpheus remained relentless though more stiff. His precum dripping from his aching cock as he slammed his hips into your ass. Lowering his head to press his lips to your ear.

"One word, my love." He reminded. Your face was burning as the footsteps grew closer. It could be Mervyn coming to clean the library or worse lucienne coming up the stairs to return to her duties.

"Unless you wish to be spotted like this."

You knew he would never allow you to be seen like this. Whilst he could be shameless he was also possessive. Even if you said nothing you knew he would transport you somewhere else or disappear himself and make you look presentable. The section option made you let out a small whimper.

"Morpheus-"

"I only spoke the truth, the last time humanity joined my realm millions were striped of their lives, their families, I do not wish the same for you."

As soon as his name left your lips he was whispering sweet words into your ear as the room faded. His chambers welcoming you with lavender and spices. You blinked and suddenly you were laying on his bed. plush and warm. Far from the library and anyone who could see you. He stood at the edge of the bed, watching you lay there as you panted. His eyes softening as he finally met your gaze.

Dream's hand cupped your face ever so gently. He loomed over you as you pulled yourself up. Your words sat on the tip of your tongue. Your heart swelling as you finally allowed yourself to lean into his touch. Meeting him halfway as he pressed his lips to yours. Electricity burst from your thundering heart as your lips melded together. Your hands finding their way into his onyx locks.

"This is my home....you are my family...." Your voice came out soft as soon as you parted. Surprised he could even hear you.

"You are here, are you not? Enjoy what you have there are only so many dreams your kind can have."

"That's why I want to be here, I don't want to let you go."

"Then embrace me, hold me."

Clutching his black coat as you inhaled the scent of galaxies unknown. You couldn't describe how he smelt truthfully. There were no words to describe it but you felt your senses gulp and drown, Unable to take anymore as he cradled you.

"I have missed your touch, my love." He breathed out.

A gasp left you as you felt the pleasant chill of his room. Dream's hands trailing along your body, your clothes disappearing under his fingertips. Leaving only specs of stardust on your skin.

"Radiant." Morpheus leaned down, kissing your chest as he soaked in the sight of you. Glowing under the candle light. Shining like the night sky - absolutely perfect.

You tugged him closer as your legs wrapped around his waist. Enjoying the warmth he provided as he held you close to his chest. You didn't even realize his own clothes were gone until you tried to tug on his coat. Feeling his cock prod at your thigh, you adjusted your hips as he aligned himself with your entrance, slowing pushing in as you whined.

"Please Dream-" you whined. Rolling your hips, trying to find some friction. "You said you'd ravish me."

Sex with Morpheus was always magical. Just perfect for you in every way. Stretching you out just right. Knew every sensitive spot to make you cry out. Leaving you feeling starved for more but never unsatisfied. You moaned as he hit that special spot. The tip of his cock kissing it as he completely bottomed out. Trembling fingers tugged at his scalp as you pressed your body closer to him. But he didn't move. Just held you close as if his life depended on it.

It felt silly when you said it, it seemed he agreed as he let out a small chuckle. Holding your thighs now as he slowly pulled his hips back. "As you wish."

He thrusted forward with one harsh slam. His cock slamming into your g-spot making you scream. Your hands aimlessly clutched at his body, unable to find a place to secure yourself as he kept pounding into you. Choking on your own noises as you were left silent with parted lips.

His hands remained on your thighs but there were wisps of touch along your skin. Shadowy hands emerging from the darkness as they grabbed and squeezed at your body. Two cupping your chest as they plucked and tweaked at your nipples. Another started to play with your sex, rolling it's thumb over the most sensitive part.

His nose grazed your cheek, giving you a small kiss. "Silent again? Have I displeased you? Not giving you every ounce of pleasure." You could hear the smug smile in his voice. It made you clench around him tighter as he kept up his brutal thrusts.

"MORP-HEUS-!" you cried out his name, gasping for breath as stars invaded your vision. Your legs were shaking as you felt your climax roaring towards you.

"This intensity, it is my love for you, remember that." He whispered. His lips soft and gentle as he left small pecks all over your face. Letting his long lashes flutter on your cheek.

"Please please please-! please please please -!! Oh fuck -!" Throwing your head back as the hands kept playing with your body. Doubling all your pleasure as Morpheus remained relentless. Clutching his hair once more as each moan that left you rattled the walls.

With that final push you gasped as your vision went white. Your orgasm crashing down as you hugged him tight. It didn't take long for Dream to follow after, burying his face into your neck as his hips jerked. Thick ropes spilling inside you as he slowly pumped it in further. Both of collapsing as soon as your high faded. Keeping each other bound as your limbs tangled. Breathing in his otherworldly scent as your eyes began to flutter; tired from the rollercoaster of highs and lows of today.

As you began to slip from his realm he kissed and sucked on your throat. Painting it with marks that made you whimper.

"So you'll be reminded of me." Was all he said before you slipped away. Darkness overcoming you as you began to stir in your real bed.

Waking up was always the worst part. But you felt that warm glow follow you from your dreams to reality. Having to peel your blanket off you as your skin was coated in white. A wet patch visible in your trousers from your excitement. Usually, you'd be too focused on your embarrassment to think of anything else but you only wobbled your way to the bathroom. Smiling as you saw the love bites he left you.

[purity-town]

Been a little while since I last answered some asks, so -- replies below the cut!

Here ya go! Also tossed it in my sta.sh in case Tumblr crunches it.

Aha, don't worry, Chris! You'll get to experience plenty of horrors soon that'll validate your weird dreams!

All things considered, Chris is handling things pretty well right now, but I think he'd still accept a hug!

I whipped out my extensive comic collection (four of The Adventure Zone graphic novels) to get some inspiration for this! Those books tend to have a pretty basic back cover with a couple of the main/supporting characters tossed onto it, and I can see something similar working for Purity Town considering how many NPCs there are overall in the game (even though the number we've actually seen in the comic up to this point is much lower)!

:D Thanks for reading! I can't always manage to finish pages on time, but I do my best and I'm glad y'all're enjoying updates.

My first experience learning about the whole Guide/WoF thing was...I think a Stampy Cat video years before I even knew what Terraria really was. I assumed it was the scary final boss of the game, and didn't think anything more on it for half a decade. And then 1.4 came along and I got incredibly attached to the character. That's just how it goes!

For what it's worth, I will make the disclaimer: while I find it interesting to push characters and write how they react as they crack, at the end of the day, I do write happy endings. And there's plenty of room for more happy one-shots in the AO3 fic!

I kept the monsters in a sketch/low-detail/silhouetted style mostly to emphasize that Chris' dreams were strange and imprecise, but it was still cool to play around with monster designs a bit! Translating designs from the game version to comic characters can be weird because you need to account for the game expecting you to always see them from a particular angle -- the Wall of Flesh is the most extreme/obvious example of this. When we get to seeing more of Plantera proper I'll definitely have to brush up on my flower-drawing skills, haha.

I haven't actually built it out in a Terraria world proper! The world used in the blog header is a screenshot from the world I first beat the game in.

As far as a general description goes, the main town is located in a forest biome with the snowy-mountains-and-lake background. In the main area of town is the tavern and the nurse's clinic, plus the (now abandoned) clothier's store. Andrew also lives in the forest town, though slightly up-hill from it, so that he has to walk through some trees before he gets into the town square itself.

For the most part I imagine characters living in the biome they prefer in-game (with exceptions for those who like the Hallow), though the bulk of folks live in the Purity Town. The settlements in the other biomes are smaller, since having the pylons means you can go wherever you need to go for business quite easily.

Thanks! Terraria has some crazy lore once you start digging into it -- I think it'd be really cool to see "Zullie the Witch"-style lore deep dives just going ham on the minutiae of NPC interactions and Bestiary entries.

But in any case, getting to take all of that and work it into the comic here and there is good fun :D

Thank you!! I had a lot of fun with this chapter's cover, especially with the lighting and the border around the top. The Aether/shimmer stuff and the more glowy critters like faelings and prismatic lacewings are just such a delight to draw, haha.

[ofliterarynature]

NOVEMBER 2023 WRAP UP

[ loved liked ok no thanks (reread) DNF ]

The Moonstone • Chaos Terminal • (The Raven Boys) • The Ghosts of Trappist • (Fugitive Telemetry) • From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler • The Art of Destiny • The Bell in the Fog • (Exit Strategy) • Who Goes There? • Salt Magic Skin Magic • The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up • (Dracula) • (Rogue Protocol) • The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store • The Boneshaker • The Archive Undying • (The Scorpio Races) • Camilla

Total: 18 (audiobook: 15 / ebook: 3)

I started my month off by finishing my reread of The Scorpio Races on November 1, as is right and proper :) This has consistently been my favorite of Maggie's books, and it never feels right the years that I haven't reread it. I think I hit the right method this year and rather than binging it or following a structured reread (which would be cool, if you could match the timeline of the book) I listened to the audiobook on and off throughout Oct and finished it off in one last burst one the 1st. I think this is some of Maggie's best writing, but I also admit I am no longer able to judge this one objectively and will save you all the sales pitch for now :)

The Archive Undying was...confusing. It wasn't that I couldn't follow what was happening on the sentence level or in the immediate present, but try zooming out to the larger picture and I was lost. It was hazy, very much like a fever dream. I would not be opposed to trying some of the author's other work in the future, but I have no interest in revisiting this book/series, and wouldn't really recommend.

The Boneshaker has been sitting on my bookshelf for years ever since I picked it up at a library book sale, and it's managed to survive every shelf purge since. And I'm glad it did! It's a strange MG/YA book about a girl, her bicycle, a small western town just off a crossroads, a snakeoil salesman, his medicine show, and deals with the devil. It was fascinating! I've been almost tempted to send a copy to Sydnee McElroy just for fun. I will definitely be investigating the author's other series.

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store - I got tempted into this one because the Book Riot Podcast couldn't stop singing it's praises, and then it started making some of the year end/best of lists and... it's ok I guess? I don't really get the hype, tbh, and I got close to DNFing because it just wasn't interesting. I was at least forewarned that the "murder mystery" in the marketing was overblown, but I am here to tell you to ignore its existence completely. There is no mystery, there isn't really even a murder, and it doesn't happen until the end of the book anyway. I fully admit this was just not a book for me, and anyone who wants to read it I wish you well.

Not much to say about my Murderbot reread, other than choosing to give the audiobooks a break and rereading in a text format was an excellent choice, I really feel like I've picked up on a lot of things I didn't before, and it gives me time to think about things (I have some questions about the actual irl existence of rogue secunits, tbh). This is my second full time trough the series, and I think Exit Strategy is maybe the weakest solo link in the original quartet, but that makes me very happy to have the newer books as well. And I have to say it, FUGITIVE TELEMETRY IS BETTER IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.

Dracula Daily wrapped up this month, so I'm probably not the only one to have Dracula show up on their reading list. I listened to most of it via RE: Dracula, which I appreciated so much for helping keep me on track this year. I probably won't follow along next year, but big thanks to everyone for helping me learn to enjoy a book I hated both times I had to read it for school! I'll still be percolating that Greenwing & Dart AU somewhere in the back of my mind in the meantime.

I picked up the idea of "sparking joy" from the general internet and have found it hugely helpful in letting go of things in life, so I've been meaning to pick up The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up for a while, and was finally spurred into it when I picked up a copy at goodwill. I found some actionable advice in Kondo's method, but sooo much of the book felt like a sales pitch on how following this method could fix everything wrong in your life (and I mean *everything*). It left a very bad taste in my mouth - I think a workbook or checklist could be useful, but wouldn't recommend the book itself.

Salt Magic Skin Magic is a historical fantasy with magic, adventure, and a gay romance, which is so entirely in my wheelhouse. It hit all the same points I tend to find/enjoy in KJ Charles' work, and I had such a good time reading this - no surprise, apparently she helped edit this! Thanks to the HOTE discord group for reccing this one, I'll definitely be checking out some of the author's other work!

If you didn't know, Who Goes There? is the short story that the movie The Thing was based on - which I have not seen, but I went on a brief dive into antarctic exploration/horror in anticipation of this month's book club (All the White Spaces, which I actually read for last month but that meeting got delayed) and this popped up pretty quickly. It was available from the library and short, so why not?! The beginning felt a little rough, but I would have loved to see the tension of the main plot drawn out even longer. Liked this a lot better than the actual book club book, but I don't know that I'll watch any of the adaptations.

The Bell in the Fog - Lavender House sequel! I was so glad when this was announced; I love queer books, historical books, a mystery with a lead who actually does some detecting, and a character trying to find themselves and their community? Absolute catnip for me. It also doesn't pull its punches about the violence and injustices faced by the queer community, so it's definitely a bit darker than my usual tastes and will have to try hard to make it onto my favorites list. But if the author continues to write these I will absolutely pick them up.

The Art of Destiny - bless the library for not dragging their heels on the audiobook for this sequel, but lucky me, they did finally add the first book in time for me to get them both in the same year. Unlucky me, this does not appear to be the end of this series D: third book when??? Anyway, I won't deny that these books move a little slowly, but when they move, they move. If you want a big fantasy that's diverse, funny, cartoonish but epically violent, has a cast of all ages, and centers it's story on non-romantic relationships - this is so good, come join me in wailing for a book 3 announcement.

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler has lived in the back of my mind for a while as a favorite childhood book of a booklr friend who is sadly no longer on tumblr, but who I say hi to occasionally on other sites - anyways, I found a copy at goodwill and took it as a sign. This one's for you, Lourdes! If I'd found this as a kid, I probably would have reread it a lot, that's how I was too lol. For now, it was a fine read, but I don't think it'll have a lasting hold. Any fans interested in more middle grade about fine art might check out the Chasing Vermeer series by Blue Balliett.

The Ghosts of Trappist - I think it's impossible for me to not enjoy myself reading this series (NeoG), but this one was a bit of a backslide from the improvements in book 2. On one hand - a very ambitious plot, probably the least soap-operaish of the bunch, and I loved the emotional arcs (and the possible ART/murderbot reference?). On the other - over a dozen pov characters is too too many. my god. I think a tighter focus could have done a world of good, but if this is also where the series wraps up I'd be totally satisfied. I'll definitely check out the author's other series.

I admit, rereading The Scorpio Races sparked something in me and now I'm determined to set off on a full Maggie Stiefvater read/reread, starting with The Raven Boys. I really loved this when it first came out, but my interested petered out as the series progressed and I started college, and I haven't touched the spinoff yet. My impression from the first book is still that Maggie's writing is so goddam beautiful. Her sentences make me want to weep, but for me there's so much focus on the line that I'm constantly losing track of the big picture. I'm still enjoying myself, but I feel like I'm coasting a lot on nostalgia and aesthetic between moments of a story - though is it me, or does she write a lot in scenes/vignettes, rather than a constant flowing story? I've found some success in centering myself by imagining the scenes as depicted by a CW supernatural teen show of my high school years and it's quite lovely, actually - I can't believe the TV show plans got dropped and never picked up again. We'll have to see how the rest of the series goes.

Genuinely, I can't believe that I read Station Eternity earlier this year and that the sequel, Chaos Terminal, is out already. Despite liking the author's first book (Six Wakes) and normally liking the tropes they're playing with here, I did not like the first book. No idea why I read the second one then (hope?), but it was better, definitely! I still didn't like it. No idea if I'll finally call it quits on this series or get lured into another one if it gets written.

The Moonstone was an unexpected surprise! I made it to November still 2 books short on my 6 classics challenge and panicked when the first one ended up dnf'd - what if this one was bad too??? But I really should know better, give me a half decent mystery and entertaining characters, and I'll be fine. And it was epistolary! I had a good time groaning over all of the characters foibles and quirks, even if I spent the whole time just going, Hey Guys? you could avoid all of this if you just let the nice Indian men have their diamond back. Good fun if you like a mystery and have some patience.

My only DNF this month was the previously mentioned classic - from the moment I decided on a classics challenge, I knew I wanted to try something by Frances Burney given how much I liked her novel Evelina. Unfortunately for me, the only one the library had on audiobook was Camilla... and it was 37 hours long. I gave it a shot, but only made it about 3 hours in. I really do applaud Burney for her ability to create characters who are intentionally/unintentionally causing harm even if they sometimes have the best of intentions. It's absurd, truly, but I'm not in a place I can take that right now - especially since the victims were children, and it happened *repeatedly*. I think if I was to try this one again I'd need to take it slowly in small parts.

Am I horribly wrong about anything? Do you have any classics you'd recommend for next year?

[taichoushadow]

Walk me through your garden - a Yoo Taeyang imagine

A/N : happy 4th anniversary @yootaesowl 🤎 let's double it and then double it again.

Word count: will be added later.

Warnings: fluff, a bit suggestive so 18 + it is.

Summary: you and Taeyang just relax after a long day, enjoying the golden hour.

With your hand clasped in his, Taeyang leads you through the garden that you and him worked on for years to get to it where it's now.

You spot the bench under the oak tree and smile when Taeyang wipes the seat before he guides you to sit down, him quickly following and he grabs your legs to pull over his. "The cushions you bought feel like clouds under my butt." Taeyang says as he fully settles comfortable onto the bench.

At this spot - Taeyang surprised you with a couple of months ago - you can clearly see the garden in its full bloom. The pink peonies sway in the later summer wind, the petals glowing with the last drops of rain that look like little diamonds as the evening sun peaks before it fully sets for the day.

The peonies were the first flowers you and Taeyang planted. Taeyang at first said that it might be better to create a plan of what to plant and where to plant. Normally, you would have agreed - being someone that likes to plan ahead, this time you declined, shaking your head while telling him you knew where you wanted to plant your favourite flowers and then to go from there. It was fair to say that your boyfriend was surprised, he tilted his head to the side in confusion and knocked with his knuckle on the side of your head. "is it really you?"

You rolled your eyes at that and laughed, swatting his hand away, playfully so. "Yes, you should know that I know what I am doing." You told him, reaching for the package that had been standing on the table. Removing the tape, you showed him the seeds you bought online and he went through the packages like it were pages of a book he was reading. With a chuckle, he handed the seeds back to you and threw his arms around your waist, you automatically took a step forward. "I didn't say anything." He said with a grin, tugging you just a little closer to have that perfect distance to place a kiss right between your eyes. "as expected of my girl."

After that, project garden had started, most of the time you had been planting, digging your hands into the earth while Taeyang was away for any group activities and whenever he finished most of the time it was already past midnight. Going to work was most often than not before 7 a.m. too so in the end it was mostly you who worked on the garden. It's not that you minded, you loved working with plants and flowers, searching for any bird baths to place among the flora.

And now you're here, sitting on the bench Taeyang surprised you with after he finally got a break, together with him, enjoying the last couple of hours of the setting sun, waiting until the cool late summer breeze brings some relief.

Taeyang's hand sweeps up and down your leg, you watch how his eyes take in the sight, lingering on the bumblebees that enjoy their desert at the lavender café and you giggle. "Do you think it's a 3 star one?" you ask him, switching your leg with the other and that catches his attention when he feels his hand slip from your skin.

"Huh?" he sounds confused, his gaze now focused on you and his fingers find the rythym back you dared to disturb is what he silently tells you with the way he squeezes the flesh of your thigh.

You however, ask him again. "the meal they have." You motion with your head to the bumblebees that don't seem to care what's happening around them as they just buzz around their meal.

"The meal?" Taeyang repeats confused, turning his attention to where you're nodding to and it's then that it clicks and he sighs, pressing his lips together as not to smile, knowing you've caught him dreaming away.

"So? What ya think?"

He hums at that, gripping the skin right beneath your thigh before he hoists you up against him with his arm behind your back, and you scoff in amusement at the obvious display of strength he loves to show you.

With your chest pressed against his ribs, your eyes find the delicious sight of his bicep. One that he loves to flex, knowing that you sometimes (well, let's be honest here.. all the time when it's freshly on display for you) lose any train of thoughts and just kiss him until you both run out of breath to only lose yourselves in eachother right after.

"I think my meal is better than all those worthless Michelin stars restaurants get." Taeyang's voice sounds lower than before and you feel his hand traveling down and you sigh out when his fingers lightly dig into flesh of your ass.

With a fake gasp, you put your hand on his chest in shock, putting distance - as much as that's possible with his arm wrapped around you - between you as if the statement he just made was outrageous to say. "better than any Michelin star restaurant? How dare you?! Apologize to my lavender right now."

Taeyang throws his head back in laughter at your response and pulls you back to him with his hand on your shoulder to pat your cheek lovingly with a chuckle. "You'd hate that your lavender would be associated with any Michelin star." He reminds you, aware that you were joking around.

"Atleast you leave me fully satisfied, you know. Something a restaurant like that can't do."

You gasp his name and squeal when his hand glides past the pipe of your shorts and pokes your covered with underwear lips. "This right here is better than any restaurant in the world. It's like walking through this garden."

Taeyang sighs in satisfaction at the thought of his favourite meal and dips his head down to leave light kisses across your neck. It truly is like walking through this garden.

When you started to work in the yard, Taeyang felt guilty he wasn't there much to help with all his schedules his company dropped on him. Every day that he came home late at night, he purposely walked through it to see it coming to live more and more.

It really felt like walking through your soul, every plant, every flower was a puzzle piece that came together bit by bit, everyday. And now that the puzzle was done, all he could see was you.

"Hmm. Taeyang." You hummed, your hands running through his hair as you delighted yourself in his touch and looked up at him the moment he pulled back and cupped your face into his hands.

"You know I love you, right?"

You hummed again, tracing the outline of his nose before you told him you loved him too. "something I don't hesitate about."

Taeyang's smile is gentle, his face glowing in the last minutes of the setting sun. "I love you." You tell him again, pulling him down a little to place a soft kiss on his lips.

"This right here-" Taeyang waves his hand around, indicating the whole garden and the house at the back "-would be nothing without you. All of this is beautiful only because you're the one that touched it, only because you're here with me."

Left speechless, all you can do is wrap your arms around him and rest your head ontop of his chest. He too, wraps his arms around you and you both enjoy the picture it paints.

He knows you were never one to really pay attention to paintings but he also knows that if you'd receive this feeling painted in exactly the view he has now, it would proudly be displayed on the desk in the hallway.

Yeah, he undoubtedly wants to walk through this garden with you forever, his hand clasped in yours.

[sonny-whorezik]

haiii ... like a week short of a month since i left everything.... i just wanted to use as Journal and catch up before i do Fully return to social media, gettin rid of the app after this post yet again:

has . been . rough. grief has been consistent the last month from my best friend and now ex leaving me, losing that new job due to being physically sick from grief and being unemployed an additional month, my best best friend my dog, sage, passed away last friday and although i left to drive to kansas i just didn't make it in time. She has wind chimes over her grave and passed listening to the sound of the wind chime my great grandma left for me. two days after her passing marked the First Full Year since my grandpa passed away, i had a dream the night before where we drove around looking at christmas lights with people no longer in my life and he just looked so so sad. i am consistently physically alone; i facetime a couple friends but i go outside alone, sleep/wake up alone, eat alone, this has been going on since i left arizona in november Most of my time is spent completely alone.

ive tried new habits. i meditate and stretch in the morning and night. i read a page a day of a stoicism book my dad got me last year with a propeller hat. i see a therapist weekly, wake up earlier, even floss now. The complete back to back to back grief has left me no choice but to just Do Something. while i would Love to share something with someone its best i reserve it to myself, yet here i am vacantly sharing my last month to who knows who...

my friend invited me to see stop making sense last night in a farther town, showed the original film not the remastered and general admission was all standing and everyone acted as if it was a real concert dancing and singing. this was my 6th time seeing it in a theater. did not cry once yet celebrated the experience i have had and although i will never have anything quite like i did with someone quite like them, at least i had it for a good portion of my life. had to devote this must be the place to myself, foreign. to be completely transparent, i do miss them every day. i do not cry like i used to, i dont let myself get consumed by thought and feeling, ive grown more desensitized as time has passed, but i still miss them of course. i consistently see things that remind me of them even when theyre not on my mind and when sage died i wanted to reach out so terribly; reminisce of the fort we built where she slept with us and i had no one to talk to but my mom who was with her til the end. i didnt. i havent reached out. it is not my place given they were the one to leave i just will not keep reaching out and chasing someone who sounded so blatantly apathetic on our last phone call. i tell myself it was just a form of self preservation to them but yknow. like. that's it, i have no choice but to experience grief with self compassion and continue on, wherever that goes.

i may be starting TMS treatment , having magnets zap my brain 5 days a week, 6 weeks. i see a cardiologist on the 30th since my chest frequently hurts and both ekgs have concerns in the pause between beats. my pulse at resting is consistently around 120 yet my blood pressure is fine; who knows. well i guess ill know actually in 10 days. im finishing a vape, got a full pack of cigarettes ive yet to touch yet plan to quit smoking here soon in hopes it helps. maybe after my pack to eliminate temptation yet not waste my money... i bought it an hour before sage passed. i barely drink coffee and dont use energy drinks anymore i do what i can for my heart now.

atticus still sleeps with me, most nights. sometimes he wanders the living room when i cant sleep. im almost halfway through galapagos. i washed my sheets for the first time since buying them in august. im very much alone and this is all fine i tell myself. the stoicism has encouraged me to alter my perspective on things more rationally as opposed to the wired self deprecating and depression-based "take everything personally" thought processes ive had for 18 years. im on my phone significantly less and i even wrote a piece on piano i may share after this post. ive been transposing it to cello, my grandma requested.

i have no interest in perusing anyone anytime soon still, whether its still too early or what i think i do just Need to do these things alone for a while. ive never found sole stability in others, i learned this at 6 with my dad, yet while outside aid would help, it is not a requirement to live however. forgive me for how long this is and for leaving once again there are a few of you i used to talk to daily and now ive just got a few contacts in my phone.

despite chronic mental illness, mourning, loneliness, you name it, ive never taken this approach before. i will typically have a suicide attempt yet here i am doing a pancake stretch and ommm-ing every morning. i keep as busy as i can, today i went through every single thing i own to sort donations and the day before i deep cleaned. there is a box wrapped in a blanket of some of the things that remind me of them. i went through it today and brought out some things like the books theyve given me, it doesnt hurt as much anymore to remember. im donating the mugs i never gave them and the one theyd use at my house when theyd come over. all their letters havent been reread yet sit in between the photo of us in the cave. it was nice to see. i am so honored they let me, of all people, share these experiences with them. i am more thankful it happened then miserable itll never happen again; at least i had it for a while. i say this yet if a year passes and i hear from them, i would love to reconnect: hear how their life has been, what they've been doing, how their family is and if they are doing better. if this has helped. while for 6 years i believed they were really it for me, whether we ever dated or not ive always considered them the only one who Really Knew who i was, how i worked, you name it. although im "moving on" by taking care of myself more, it is upsetting to admit if i ever have a chance again, id take it in a heartbeat. i say this yet still believe Even if i do never get a chance, that's okay too. While i would, i dont anticipate it, rely on it, sit in denial "theyll surely come back," its alright if they never do. i live each day as if they never will yet to my core do know that i would try again

a knee ways .. i hope you, whoever reads, is doing okay, that you feel alright and what not. you dont have to feel good every day, but at the least alright i hope ... not sure if/when ill come back maybe just once a month im unsure yet .was just in a solid enough state to do this for a moment . wish you all well ,

[deke-rivers-1957]

Wild in the Country Review

As the 2nd 20th Century Fox picture in a row, Elvis was given a second chance to prove his skills as an actor. While this does include songs, it's clear the movie isn't meant to be a comedy. Based on the book, The Lost Country, this film also had some issues with development. The biggest issue that directly impacted the film involved the script. Several scriptwriters were hired/fired before filming had begun. According to the Philip, his main screenplay writer was fired with only half of the script complete. Despite not wanting to take on the task, Dunne ended up having to finish writing it himself. There was also an issue involving the script itself in that test audiences hated the suicide scene in which Ms. Sperry didn't survive, so similar to Love Me Tender the ending had to be re-filmed.

Released before Blue Hawaii was even filmed, this is the last movie made during Elvis' 1st Hollywood phase (acting development). Given the success of GI Blues and the eventual success of Blue Hawaii, this was the last time for several years that Elvis got a serious role. Will the critics be correct by calling this an over reach on Elvis' part, or did Hollywood make a mistake by pulling the plug on his acting dream too soon? Let's find out.

The title song is good and should be an indication of what the tone of the movie will be. There's a somber, sad tone to it which should indicate that this will be a serious, tragic movie. Whether it will have a happy ending or not would be left ambiguous and serves as a hook for the viewers

We get a pretty good set up of story and introduction to all of the characters. Glenn's first session with Ms. Sperry is an amazing showcasing of Elvis' acting. You can feel his connection with Glenn when talking about his deceased mother and what he had to struggle with. So far so good in establishing a connection with your main characters.

We get introduced to one of his love interests in Betty Lee. They're childhood sweethearts and you can tell they still have feelings for each other. "I Slipped, I Stumbled, I Fell" seems to reflect Glenn still holding a torch for her and wanting to break the tension. Did it need to absolutely be in the movie, no. I don't think it's needed to have them driving from one place to another since it doesn't really add anything.

After Glenn gets into a confrontation with Cliff he's told by Ms. Sperry to start journaling his feelings. We also hear how Ms. Sperry can't just help Cliff because she has had relations with his father. She establishes the concept of there being this sense of ethics regarding her ability to counsel individuals.

Despite having feelings for Betty Lee, we find out that Glenn also has feelings of lust for his cousin. He even sings "In My Way" to her and again the song itself is good, I just don't care for how it's used in the context of the movie. Noreen is meant to represent the bad girl, the "forbidden fruit" if you will and we find out that her father wants her to marry Glenn so she can be "an honest woman".

This in combination with the drunk scene is where the film loses me. I don't see a reason for the story to progress along the way that it does. We find out that Glenn knew about his uncle's plan to trap him into marrying Noreen and he still gave into his lust for her by getting drunk. I just don't get it and to me it feels like the story forced it to happen so we can have drama. I understand the conflict of Glenn having to pick between the good girl and the bad girl, but it's executed poorly.

At this point the movie is just dragging through it's story. We get a scene of Glenn having to resist Noreen again before he runs off with Ms. Sperry in trying to get him into college somewhere. They're on their way home and sing "Husky Dusky Day". This song has no reason to be here and is just filler. I get that it's meant to establish a chemistry but this is a therapist and her patient. There shouldn't be any chemistry between them based on what she said earlier.

I know it seems like I'm skipping over a lot of movie, but it's because I have nothing to say. At this point in the movie I know where the story is going and I no longer feel engaged enough to feel anymore connected with the characters.

I know this will be controversial but I did not like this scene. Acting wise yes this is some of Elvis' best work. The problem's that the actual context of the scene rubs me the wrong way. I understand that this type of relationship does happen but as Ms. Sperry tries to explain to Glenn and has explained earlier in the film, it isn't ethical.

While this is a relationship between two adults, it's still unethical for a therapist to be doing this with her patient. Which she knows and did it anyway. When an otherwise mature, intellectual character makes a decision that they knew was bad from the start, I no longer see them as a genuinely flawed character. It feels forced in that because this is a "drama" we need to have tension. It makes sense for these feelings to exist on Glenn's side. I don't blame him for having such feelings as it feels in character for him to cling onto someone who feels stable enough. My problem is that Ms. Sperry likes him back and has this huge struggle to not "give into her lust". I don't get it and I don't think I ever will get it. It leaves me feeling turned off and disconnected.

This scene in particular is an example of feeling disconnected from the characters. I don't feel bad for Ms. Sperry willingly doing something she knew was wrong. While I do agree that the town went too far in assuming the extent of their relationship, she also very well knew that there was an element of truth to it. Yes she didn't outright sleep with Glenn but she would be an outright liar if she said she didn't return his feelings in any way. She threw away her own sense of ethics her job requires and she discredited herself because of it. I know test audiences didn't like the original ending because they thought it was too tragic, but the original ending would've been way better given the tone of the movie. This is meant to be a serious film where characters face consequences for their actions regardless of the extent of their crime. What would make for a beautifully tragic end but to have a woman to commit suicide because the entire town believes in a complete lie? Glenn feeling guilty for what happened decides to continue his progress and fulfill his mother's dream of going to college.

Am I being cold and overly judgmental? Probably, but when you have characters you just don't feel any sense of sympathy towards there isn't anything else you can say outside of question their decisions. The writers didn't have any idea on how to make what their predecessor wrote mesh together. It very much shows here as I felt that the story was completely disjointed and quite frankly boring as some scenes either didn't need to exist or went on too long.

I'm sorry to say this but this movie just didn't vibe with me at all. Glenn's character arc was sloppy and I wasn't able to fall in love with any of the characters. The songs were good on their own but outside of the intro it dragged the film. That to me is the biggest failure of the movie: the story wasn't engaging enough to justify its length. Given what I shared above about the background of the movie, this felt like a movie that was thrown together with no solid vision. The writer's didn't know where they were going with the story but they had to put something together despite it not being they're best work.

Therefore I'm giving this film a 7/10. It's not necessarily bad, but I found myself feeling disappointed. This story was just way to messy and didn't pass my vibe test. However, I think if you're able to get past the issues I brought up, this would be an enjoyably different Elvis experience.

AN: Thank you to @xanatenshi and the people who voted for this movie. Sorry if anyone who reads this feels like this was a let down. I genuinely hope to put out a better review next month.

Tagging: @arrolyn1114, @thedaisymaisy, @that-hotdog, @peaceloveelvis, @imaginationlast, @fuzzymusic94, @helen06dreamer, @sfull12345, @alittlemoreelvis, @lynettethemadscientist, @motht-eeth, @ash-omalley, @spooky-hazex, @teamnefarious, @blighted-star, @ab4eva, @oh-my-front-door, @father-of-2cats, @stormie-ryan23, @yksuwyksud, @tacozebra051, @alienelvisobsession, @vintageoldsoul, @ohmygiddd, @lovininapinkcadillac, @stephthestallion, @mistyspresley, @bisexualwvtson, @ahundredlifetime, @karel-in-wonderland, @elvispresleywife, @georgefairbrother, @moonchild-daniella, @musiclover712, @worldofyns, @sillybookmarks, @g00d2balive, @leighpc, @generoustreemystic, @peskybedtime, @thetaoofzoe, @renegadewarrior, @vintagepresley, @tupelomiss, @myradiaz, @pinkcaddyconfessions, @kiankiwi, @presley72elvis, @delulubutidontcare, @januarypresley1969, @livelaughelvis, @all-hookedup-on-elvis, @slayingjd, @ilivebecauseiamforced, @dusintv, @cattcb, @jaqueline19997, @richardslady121, @iloveelvis2, @lett-them-eatt-cake, @if-i-can-dream-of-elvis, and @lookingforrainbows.

[merlot-and-chardonnay]

A Lark Among the Wolves and Dragons: Chapter 26

Chapter 25

Masterlist

If any of you lot are mad at me about how the last chapter ended, I get the feeling y'all hadn't read or finished reading the Witcher books. If you don't have them available, then I'd recommend reading a summary online. Also, I'm getting into the witcher video game territory from this point, so the story of the Lady of Larks and the White Wolf is still not over (if you've not played the games, I'd recommend watching clips on YouTube...also I'd REALLY recommend playing the games).

Also mentions of menstruation.

"Aemma?" Lucerys gently approaches the princess who was laying in the bed, caught in a state of depression, eyes dry for the first time in day, though it may not last long.

Ever since reading that message, after learning about the death of her mother, whom she had not seen for ten years, was killed in a Rivian pogrom, Aemma had spent her recent days locked up in her chambers, caught in a state between crying, screaming, and laying on her bed in a depressed stated. When the news had become common knowledge in the keep, the royal family was understanding and had given the young princess space and time to grieve her loss.

Alicent was prepared to postpone the nameday feast, but Aemond insisted the feast be cancelled altogether, on grounds that this was not the time for celebrations. Alicent had argued that this was still the prince's nameday, but Aemond assured he was fine with the feast not happening this year; it just didn't feel right to be setting up any festivities now when the princess was still mourning.

At this moment, days have started to turn into weeks, and nothing and no one could seem to console the daughter of Prince Daemon by the Lady of Larks. Whenever someone did come to check up on her, be it family or servants, they would notice the princess had taken to dressing in black, like she was prepared for a funeral. They would also take notice of the princess's disheveled state and dark circles under her eyes like she has not had a decent night's sleep for a while now. The servants had also taken notice that her food was often left untouched. 

There was truth in this observation: Aemma could not sleep at night no matter how much she tried. Every time she closed her eyes, she would dream she was in Rivia, or whatever Rivia looked like in her head (courtesy of the Continental geography texts she's read once or twice), and she would see the pogrom happen before her eyes. She would dream of people dead or dying as they were torn by the angry mobs...and among those that were running and panicking, she would see her mother standing out in the middle, lute in hand. "Mother!" Aemma would call out in her sleep, "MOTHER! RUN!" But her mother could not hear her, and no matter how fast Aemma ran, she could never catch up to her mother. Then, the witcher would appear, grabbing (y/n) by her throat, lifting her up till her feet were off the ground...and as she would struggle in the White Wolf's grasp, he would take his sword and plunge it into her heart.

Aemma would wake up every time this part of her nightmare occurred. She would then lay in bed the rest of the night, unable to sleep. The following mornings, Aemma would remain in bed, still tired, and having no appetite to break her fast whenever the servants brought tea and food.

"Aemma!" she finally hears Luke call her name as he's been doing repeatedly the last few minutes. Aemma turned around in her bed to see the little boy with a plate in hand that contained a slice of cake, "Luke?" "I brought some cake," Luke explains, setting it by the bedside, "It's honey cake, just the way you like it. I thought, maybe it might cheer you up a bit." "That is...really sweet of you, Luke," Aemma nods, sitting up, "but I'm not all that hungry right now." "But, Aemma, it's honey cake," Luke insists, "you like honey cake, it always makes you happy."

"Lucerys?" Luke turns around to see his mother and 'father' by at the door. Luke runs over to Rhaenyra, "she won't eat the honey cake I gave her," he says, sad tone in his voice. "Yes, little love, I know," Rhaenyra nods. "I don't understand," Luke admits, "why is Aemma so sad?" "She did just lose her mother," Laenor points out, "how would you feel if you lost your own mother right now?" Luke thinks about it, and nods, knowing he would feel the exact same way, "I hope I never lose you then, mother."

"Let me try talking to her," Rhaenyra whispers to her son, ushering him over to Laenor who escorts the boy out of the room.

Rhaenyra sat down on the side of the bed next to Aemma, who did not make eye contact with her older cousin. The older princess had to take a few deep breaths, feeling the weight of her current pregnancy which was due to end within the next several weeks, "It was tragic, what happened to your mother," Rhaenyra speaks, "she did not deserve such a fate. She was a good woman. She brought much joy and laughter to this court, she was a gifted troubaritz, a talented singer, something she had clearly passed onto you." Aemma said nothing, and still did not look Rhaenyra in the eye. Rhaenyra placed a comforting hand over Aemma's, "your mother loved you very much," she continues, "and I know it is a difficult time for you now...but you'll have to keep living your life sooner or later. This neglect of yourself...it won't bring her back, and she wouldn't want to see you like this." "I can't stop thinking about her," Aemma admits, shaking her head, feeling fresh tears slip out of her eyes, "I can't stop thinking about how she could've died, even when I sleep. All I can do is lie awake at night in this bed and stare into the canopy, reliving the nightmare of her fighting for her life on those streets. How could people be so cruel? It's not fair!"

"No, you're right," Rhaenyra agrees, "it's not fair." Aemma looked up, facing her cousin, "is this what you felt when your mother passed?" "...more or less," Rhaenyra admits, "her loss and the loss of the son she bore...it was heavily felt by both my father and myself. And I grieved for her too, much so that I was scared to live my life as she did, thinking I might meet a similar fate." "How did you not become so scared anymore?" Aemma asks. "I didn't," Rhaenyra shrugs, "but your father had talked some sense into me, I suppose. He said this is a tragic world, but if we close ourselves off from it in fear, we forsake the best parts of what the world has to offer."

Aemma noticed the way Rhaenyra was rubbing her swollen belly after speaking those words. So far the older princess had been pregnant twice, and both terms were successful. Aemma wasn't blind though; she knew what people said in court along with the salacious looks and whispers when the subject of Jace and Luke was brought up, and she could see it as well. Rhaenyra was enjoying what the world had to offer in the form of Ser Harwin Strong while her husband enjoyed life's offers in the form of wine, wealth, and the intimate company of handsome knights.

"Do you think this next one will be a boy?" Aemma inquires. "The maesters deem it highly likely," Rhaenyra answers, "their last predictions have come true so far, but for once I hope they would be wrong. I wouldn't mind raising a daughter for a change."

For the first time in weeks, Aemma smiled, albeit a small one, and Rhaenyra gave her a side hug. Shortly after Rhaenyra left her chambers, Aemma stood up and called for servants to help her bathe and dress for the day. She still wasn't fully done mourning, but at the same time Aemma didn't want to close herself off completely, especially when she knew deep down this what her mother would want.

While getting ready, though, Aemma felt a weird sensation in her middle region, like an odd pain. She's had stomach aches before from overeating or when she was hungry, but it wasn't quite that. She had been feeling somewhat drowsy since this morning; she'd had initially dismissed it thinking it was probably due to her lack of sleep, but if that was the case, she would've felt this sensation a long time ago.

-----------------------

"Aemma!" Luke exclaimed, running over to greet his cousin with a hug, "you're here!"

The boys had been in the middle of sword training when Aemma had decided to come outside. Also, Ivan had taken part of the sword training as well; the boy had shown he had talent in that area and was brought to the training fields with the princes under Ser Criston. Ivan was a fast learner, besting first Luke, then Jace, and Aegon, and even Aemond during sparring sessions. There had began to be talks that maybe Ivan would do well to become a squire either for Ser Criston, or even Ser Laenor. The boys had also come to accept Ivan into their circle, even Aemond though he still was of the belief that Ivan was hiding something.

In the present, Aemma was still dressed in black, but her hair was brushed and she was wearing her new necklace. "I didn't think you would leave you chambers again," Luke says, squeezing Aemma some more. "Yes, Luke, I'm...here," Aemma grunts out, "maybe not much longer if I can't breathe." "Oh, sorry," Luke pulls away, "did you eat the cake?" "I had a couple bites," Aemma admits, "it was delicious." Luke smiled at that.

"Aemma," Aemond runs over to his cousin, "are you feeling better?" "A little," Aemma admits, which she was thanks to Rhaenyra's pep talk, though the physical sensation in her lower abdomen wasn't quite helping, "It was a nice day, I thought some fresh air would do me some good."  Jace and Ivan join in to greet Aemma, but Aegon stayed behind.

Aegon hadn't gone to see Aemma at all since she found out about her mother's death, much to the dismay of Alicent, who often scolded her son for not even making an effort to comfort his future queen. Aegon didn't really handle drama and tears all that well (ironic as that may seem), it didn't seem in his best interests to visit Aemma when she was self-confined to her room in her depressed state. Now that she was out in public once more, Aegon had a feeling his mother was going to make him make up for his absence and be there for his betrothed.

After spending some time with the boys, Aemma saw Helaena was sitting outside, reading a book. The princess went to join her cousin. "You came out," Helaena said with a smile while also keeping her attention on a butterfly that landed on her book, "I heard what happened. Will you be well, Aemma?" "I may not feel so well right now," Aemma admits, mostly because she was still grieving, but also because that pain sensation in her lower abdomen hadn't faded like she expected it to; in fact, the pain was waxing and waning throughout the day, and it was making her feel bloated. "I will be, Helaena," Aemma assures, "it may take some time, at least that is what I was told."

"The Lark and Wolf are running with the Hunt," Helaena states in a monotone voice as she coaxes the butterfly into her hand, "only the Swallow can save them from their fate."

Aemma gave Helaena a strange look, though the younger princess did not seem to notice. "Helaena, do you ever remember what you say half the time?" Aemma decides to ask. "What was that?" Helaena looks up to Aemma, giving her an innocent look. "Never mind," Aemma decides to shrug off, trying to ignore the bloating sensation.

"Aemma?" Aegon says, walking up slowly to the girls. Aemma averted her gaze away from Aegon, not really in the mood to hear any empty words or false promises he would state whenever his mother would talk him into spending time with her. Aegon stood there awkwardly as he musters up the words, "uh, I hope you are doing well today." Aemma said nothing, she didn't even bother to look up at her older cousin the way she used to when they were children, "Uh, maybe some dragon riding today might do you some good," Aegon continues, "it might do Cirillia some good too...she probably misses you. And Sunfyre, I'm sure-"

"Aegon, just...save your empty words," Aemma says in a low tone, "you clearly don't want to be here and, frankly, I don't want you near me right now either." "That's not-" "Just go, Aegon!" Aemma snaps, "I don't want anything to do with you right now! Can you not take a hint?!" Aegon was taken aback; he's seen Aemma cross with him before, but she's never talk to him like that in that tone. Even when she slapped him back at the docks, she never actually raised her voice at him. Having nothing to say, Aegon turns around and eagerly walks away.

"Do you still want to go dragon riding?" Helaena asks, bringing Aemma out of her state of ire. "I uh...ooh," Aemma groans, "I'm not sure that's a good idea right now. Maybe I'm not feeling as well as I thought. At least not well enough to go riding." "Let me take you back inside," Helaena offers.

--------------------------

Once inside, Aemma made her way back to her chambers, now laying on the bed once more, but this time she was doubled over in pain.

The servants came to bring tea and food again, hoping Aemma would have enough appetite to eat this time around. One servant looked over to see something peculiar on the sheets. "Princess?" the servant speaks, "are you...?" Aemma gave a strange look and looked to see where the servant was looking on the bed, exactly where she was sitting. Blood spots were on the sheets. They were small and Aemma lifted her skirts slightly to see her thighs were lightly stained with blood. Aemma was about to panic at first, but then realized what this meant.

The princess then looked over to the servant, feeling a tad awkward, "I uh...I think I'm going to need a cloth for this." The serving girl nodded and went to do just that.

Aemma knew then this was it, the day she had been waiting for, somewhat reluctantly. From this moment on, she would be seen in the eyes of her family and the court as a woman.

-----------------------------------------------------

A little later in the afternoon, Aemma had sat down to sip some tea; the princess had taken a hot bath, both to soothe what she now knew were cramps that were associated with moon's blood and to clean the blood off her thighs. Once word had spread that Aemma had gone through her first flowering, a maester had sent a special tea to Aemma to soothe her cramping pains.

Aemma heard a knock at the door after she sipped the tea, "Come!" "Princess," she hears Alicent's voice as she walks in and takes a seat next to Aemma, "I heard from the maester. Congratulations are in order, it would seem." "Thank you, your Grace," Aemma nods with a soft tone. "Do you know what this means, Aemma?" Alicent asks. "I am a woman now," Aemma answers, "I can wed Prince Aegon and bare his children."

"Yes," Alicent nods, "you will become his wife and have his children...and you will become his future queen as well." Aemma looked up to Alicent, surprise, "but the king made princess Rhaenyra heir to the Iron Throne," she points out. "Rhaenyra may be Viserys' oldest child," Alicent agrees, "but Aegon is his firstborn son. In the eyes of the Westerosi lords and the common folk, he will be expected to succeed your uncle as king." "But...I don't understand," Aemma shakes her head, "my uncle has never changed the line of succession, even after Aegon was born. He is king, his word is law, the people surely would see that Rhaenyra is his named heir, they can't-" "Aemma!" Alicent raises her voice, only to take a deep breath before she said something she would later regret.

Alicent decides to take a different approach, "you know your history, Aemma. Do you remember what was taught to you about your great grandsire, the late King Jaehaerys?" Aemma nods before she answers, "he ascended the throne after the untimely death of Maegor the Cruel, at the age of fourteen. Fourteen years. That's...that's how old I am right now." "Go on," Alicent presses. "Jaehaerys was known as the Conciliator at the start of his reign," Aemma continues, "he married his sister, the Good Queen Alysanne. They had many children together, two of them being my grandparents Prince Baelon and Princess Alyssa. His two oldest living sons perished in two different tragedies, and his third was a reclusive archmaester who spent his days buried in his books at the Citadel. With the line of succession called into question, the king had called for a great gathering at Harenhal, known as the Great Council of 101, to decide who would next sit the Iron Throne. There were two names that were truly considered: my uncle Viserys...and his cousin the Princess Rhaenys."

"I don't believe I need to tell you who the Great Council had chosen in the end," Alicent says, "even though Rhaenys, a woman, was Jaehaerys' eldest living descendent, the lords had chosen Viserys as their next king. The ancient law of the Andals had established long ago that the rights of the son will supersede those of a daughter. The Great Council further solidified this ancient tradition, and it will be the same for Aegon and Rhaenyra." "But in Dorne, the first born always inherits their parent's possessions and wealth, regardless of sex," Aemma points out. "This is not Dorne," Alicent points back.

"Well, maybe it should be!" Aemma snaps, "Rhaenyra is the king's eldest, and he made her his heir. So just because she is a woman, she should be overlooked? Because of some ancient law and tradition? Even those can change. In Westeros, many of the Lords had long exercised the rights of First Night, an ancient tradition that had been carried out since the time of the Andals and First Men, but after Queen Alysanne listened to the plights of women in the North who sought out her council, she spoke to King Jaehaerys, and he had the First Night tradition abolished thereafter. Why can't the current king overrule the Andals' archaic law that would see Rhaenyra disinherited from her birthright?" 

"Don't be so naive, Aemma," Alicent scolds, "as I've said before, the people will expect Aegon to succeed his father, not Rhaenyra...and the princess knows this. Even now, she has come to see Aegon as a challenge to her claim...and she will see you in the same light once you are wed." "...What?" Aemma looks to the queen confused. "Once you wed Aegon, Rhaenyra will see you as an extension of Aegon's challenge to the throne," Alicent explains, "you, and the children you will have with him. Should Rhaenyra ascend the throne, all your lives may become forfeit." "....No," Aemma shakes her head in denial, "No, she...she wouldn't do that, she would never." "I know this hard to accept," Alicent says, tone still serious, though she tried to be more comforting, "but it is the truth, and you are no longer a child. However kind Rhaenyra may be to you now, it won't last forever." "No...no....NO! It's not true! You're lying!" Aemma stands up to face the queen in angry tears, "Rhaenyra is my cousin, our family, she would never do anything so vile as to slay her own kin!" "You do not know the things she is capable of," Alicent says with a somber tone, "but I do." 

Tears in her eyes, still refusing to believe the queen, Aemma runs out of the room.

In her state of anger and sadness, Aemma did not look where she was running, and she bumped into Ivan the moment she turned the corner, with enough force to knock the both of them down.

"Ow!" Aemma groans, rubbing her nose, and looked to see who she bumped into, "Ivan! Oh, I am so sorry I-" her eyes widen to what she saw. Ivan's headband had moved slightly, exposing his ears.

Ivan gave Aemma a confused look to her surprising, but he he felt and noticed his headband was out of place. The secret he'd kept hidden since first sailing to Westeros all those ears ago was out in front of the princess.

"Ivan? Your ears, they're...you're an elf?"

Chapter 26.5

[filminghere]

15 People, 15 Questions

Tagged by @norashelley. Thank you so much for the tag, Rose! I won't tag 15 people, but anyone who wants to do this, please feel free! I'll tag @sonnet77 @glamourofyesteryear @ladybegood @audreytotter @valsemelancolique @summers-in-hollywood and @oldhollywoodholla

1. Are you named after anyone?

Technically, the Biblical figure (mother of John the Baptist & cousin of Mary, the mother of Christ).

2. When was the last time you cried?

Earlier today while I was reading! I cry very easily when I watch movies/videos, read books, hear touching stories, etc. Today though, I cried for a very odd reason (I didn't cry because something in the story touched me, which is usually why I cry while reading a book; I actually cried because I related too hard to the protag).

3. Do you have kids?

No.

4. What sports do you play/have you played?

I did a lot of sports during elementary school that I was bad at lol. I was never good at anything athletic. The sports I did the longest were swimming and tae kwon do (was at least able to get a first degree black belt before quitting).

5. Do you use sarcasm?

Hm, not too often, I don't think. My problem is that I'm too honest/blunt; I don't have the wit to be able to use sarcasm 😅.

6. What’s the first thing you notice about people?

Their face. And the thing I notice first about their face is their nose. I focus a lot on nose shapes lol.

7. What’s your eye color?

Dark, dark, dark brown

8. Scary movies or happy endings?

Happy endings 100%!!! I'm not scared of scary movies, but I really don't enjoy them.

9. Any talents?

Art

10. Where were you born?

In a hospital in the United States of America haha

11. What are your hobbies?

Watching movies, reading books, writing, video editing

12. Do you have any pets?

No. I had two Zebra finches until pretty recently, but then one of them died, and I didn't want to get another finch (Zebra finches shouldn't be alone). We actually had gotten another finch after one died a few years back, and I didn't want to be in an endless cycle of getting a new finch every time one of them died. It was too emotionally taxing, and honestly, I don't think I'm a very good pet owner. I don't think I'm someone who personally wants to put in the time and care you should put into raising pets, so we gave the living finch away to a woman who owns several Zebra finches. And to be clear, it's not that we bought the birds and regretted them! They were given to my family because the original owner just had too many birds. I liked them a lot and wish I could've done more for them; I didn't really put serious care into them until later on, and I regret that a lot now. But the living finch is doing well in his new home now.

13. How tall are you?

5'2"

14. Favorite subject in school?

Literature. I did not have the capacity to pay attention during any class except in lit class because I enjoy reading and talking about books.

15. Dream job?

As of now, it's to be a children's novelist-illustrator (I don't want to say a writer-illustrator because I think that gives the impression that I want to write picture books, but I actually want to write middle grade novels with illustrations in them 😂). I finished a manuscript for a book a few months back, but it's taking me FOREVER to do the illustration part. So who knows when I'll actually finish it and if I'll actually be able to put it out...

Unrealistically, I really want to be a criminal investigator, but I don't think I have any of the skills needed for that kind of a job. And I know most criminal investigators start out as cops, and I know I don't have the skills to be a cop lol.

[echoandreflections]

Behind The Scenes

Percabeth, Baking show Au, Multichapter fic

Summary:

"After a long hiatus, the famous 'Baking With Olympus' is finally back. This time, with a new roster full of your favorite celebrities. Like always, expect drama, friendships, and lots of sweets."

(Also available on wattpad and Ao3)

Prologue:

The lights faltered one last time as the cheering got louder. Sweat and perfume mingled in the music charged air. People talked and danced all around the stage, almost swallowing what was left of the music with their own voice.

Annabeth smiled to herself, looking at the people chanting her name for the last time before she was led backstage. The last notes of the song still ringing in her head, she thanked the staff for their help, proposing to go celebrate the official end of the world tour over dinner in the next few days.

Her world tour.

She bit her cheek to stop herself from yelling out in excitement. This was it. All that she ever ever worked for had finally led her to this moment.

The countless hours in the recording room. The negotiations to get her songs publishized. The fight with her mother. It had all led somewhere. She hadn't wasted the opportunity she was given.

After one of her songs was featured in the acclaimed adaptation of the Odysee and had gone viral on social media a few years ago, she was propelled into stardom practically overnight. It hadn't been easy being in the eye of the media at the ripe age of seventeen but Annabeth wouldn't trade it for almost anything.

Almost.

Because what she really needed right now was a break. Yeah, being able to live her dream was fun and all but the constant moving for her concert was really starting to take a toll on her. She had barely slept at night for the last week, not being able to get used to the difference in time zones between Paris and New York. The skillfully hidden bags under her eyes could attest to that. She swore that if the paparazzi didn't kill her, then the jet lag definitely would.

But this was all over now.

She was free from all obligations for the next year. She made sure of it when she talked with her manager last month. The pop-star had practically threatened him that if he dared book her for more activities she would make him regret. The genuine fear in his eyes told her that she was pretty much assured a year long rest. Her reaction was probably a bit exagererated but needed.

Annabeth sighed as she opened the door to her changing room, sinking into the first chair she found without even thinking. The wooden legs creeked under her weight but she payed no mind to it. The chair could crumble under her weight for all she cared, she was almost emotionally bonded to it now. There was no way in hell she was moving. Her feet were aching and she wasn't sure if the painful thumping in her head was caused by the loud music, dehydration, or a strange mix of both.

She leaned towards the last option.

The sound of the door opening made Annabeth look over her shoulder, at the room entrance. A dark haired woman walked in the room without bothering knocking. She gave one look at Annabeth a look that immediately makes her heart drop right down to her stomach.

Her best friend, Piper, had tried meeting her for a few months now but their schedule had never really matched up due to Annabeth flying around the world while Piper had to stay at New York to finish training for next year's Olympics. So when she discovered that both of them would be in New York at the same time, Piper had insisted on accompanying Annabeth to her last concert of the tour.

She cleared her throat. "So I have a good and a bad news", Piper attempts a reassuring smile but dropped it as soon as she realized that it didn't seem to reassure her friend. "Which one do you want first?"

-"Just hit me with the bad news", Annabeth said, her voice still hoarse from the hours of singing.

-"I'll give you the good news first anyway" Piper took a step closer, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I think we can both agree that this tour has been a huge sucess. You're trending on twitter right as we speak and your fans are already requesting another tour but..."

-"But?"

Piper looked away."Remember a few months ago? When you promised Grover that you'll be a part of whatever tv show he was working on when he was done with his last show. You know.. to thank him for putting your Song in The Odysee movie and-"

-"I know that already. What does this have anything to do with the bad news?"

-"Well Grover just called your manager to tell you that he was finally done with all preparations"

-"Okay? Why are you the one telling me this instead of my manager?" Annabeth frowned in confusion "And you still haven't answered my question. Why is this bad news?"

-"Annabeth," Piper looked serious now "You're not getting the year off. Grover needs you to start filming in three weeks. Annabeth froze.

She stared at Piper, mouth left slightly open

Yep, now both her heart and her stomach had dropped, which was probably quite unhealthy. If she ever gets the time, she should probably get it checked out. Yet another reason to take time off, Annabeth thought to herself. Maybe if she just closed her eyes, it would all turn out to be a nightmare and she would wake up?

-"Beth..? Beth?" The brunette shook her friend by the shoulder. "Don't stay silent. You're scaring me right now."

Annabeth blinked, letting out a breath she was keeping and looked up at her friend.

-"Do remind me on why you're the one telling me this news instead of… I don't know, my manager?" Her voice was calm. A perfect contrast to the storm brewing behind her eyes. Piper gulped. "Well, Michel said something about being scared of telling you himself and that maybe the blow would be less...uhm.. impactful? If I was the one telling you?" She gives her a sheepish smile, taking a step back.

-"I see" Annabeth nodded, her stare turning blank.

-"How do you feel?"

-"As well as someone that just got told they got their vacation taken away." she sighs

Sitting down in the couch in front of her, Piper pursed her lips, "Maybe you can just tell Grover that you can't do it anymore? I am sure he would understand."

Annabeth shook her head, "No. After all that he did for me, what type of friend would I be if I got out of our agreement at the last minute? I have to go through with it"

-"What type of show is it anyway?" Piper raised an eyebrow, mindlessly passing a hand through her hair.

-"A baking show..."

Whatever sound she expected coming from her friend, Piper choking on her laugh felt the most insulting one. Her friend clutched her stomach with one hand while slapping the other on her mouth, a mix of badly hidden giggles and deep breath escaping her mouth.

-"Oh come on!" Annabeth frowned, the illusion of her anger quickly broken by the smile tugging at her lips at Piper's reaction. "I haven't burned anything in years for your information.

Piper sat back up, throwing a complicit look at the woman in front of her.

-"Yeah, because you're not allowed within a three meter radius of an oven. Don't think I don't remember your mother forbidding you from even entering the kitchen when we were teens." The dark haired woman laughs, tears blurring her vision.

-"Fine" Annabeth rolls her eyes."Maybe. Just maybe, I should've thought of that before signing the contract with groover." She crossed her arms, "Kind of too late to regret now anyways."

So what if Annabeth couldn't bake to save her own life? It wasn't her fault that she always gets distracted when the food is in the oven, leading more often than not for the fire alarm to be the thing reminding her of whatever monstrosity she left in the oven. Not that she will admit it to anyone else than Piper or Thalia. Both women had to eat salty, burned cake for their birthdays because as it turns out, salt and sugar can get easily confused with one another if not careful.

-"Well you got three weeks to start and try to get your skills to improve a bit. Hopefully you'll use that smart brain of yours in the meantime and learn some recipes or at the very least how not to mix up sugar and salt."

Annabeth nodded, not bothering to refute the last statement. There's no point in feeling defeated, she could very well rest on the days where she wasn't filming. And knowing Grover, he probably made sure the schedule was reasonable.

What's the worst thing that could happen on a baking show anyway? Getting ridiculed? That didn't scare her. If being in the eyes of the media taught her anything, it's that no amount of awkward or embarrassing moments couldn't be made into an endearing 7 minutes compilation of her doing something stupid on Youtube. She learned years ago that camera crews had a thing for catching her at her worst. . . . The paper fell out from between her fingers as she tried taking it out of the box. She huffed ,but picked another one, one closer to her. The camera focused on her reaction, waiting for her to reveal the color in the small envelope. She tore open the side of it, letting the blue confetti scatter to the ground around her feet as the other contestant cheered.

-”Blue team!” Someone yelled out from behind her.

Annabeth looked around. Expecting the pretty girl she caught a glimpse of in a blue dress to come up to her. Cheers and music made her dizzy. The sound resonated in her head as she saw a tall man walk toward her. The polite smile on her face dropped at his view.

Of course she would get paired up with him out of everyone. The sorry joke that is her life just had to take another ridiculous turn.

He stops in front of her, extending his hand with a welcoming smile.

She should have never agreed to participate in this baking show.

“Percy Jackson. Happy to finally meet you Annabeth Chase. Let’s work well together.”

Maybe she should burn down this kitchen.