#the snippet is technically sfw

[biowaredisasterbisexual]

Seven Sentence Sunday Friday

Thanks for the tag, @rook-laidir!

Excerpt from one of the many one-shots in the beta/editing phases (so not beta’d or fully edited yet) below the cut!

Tagging: anyone who wants to! But I’ll tap @mageofquandrix, @taashyvashedan, @hyperions-light, @thedissonantverses, @swamp-jello, and @gallusneve if they’re interested!

The first touch of his lips was gentle, careful, and not what she needed. Neve grasped his arms as she deepened the kiss and pulled him more firmly against her. She felt his grip on her hips tighten, and this…this was better, so much better. She tasted that undefinable thing that made him him, and lightening seemed to spark as he ran his tongue over her lower lip. She made a soft sound of pleasure and could feel him tremble. But it still wasn’t enough.

More.

[i-write-what-i-want-when-i-want]

Artemis' Curse (WIP)

Female!Reader x TP!Link (can also be taken as any version of Link tho)

Everyone knew of the epic tales of heroes taking the crest of flames to fight against the evils of the land. But very few know of the curse the holy relic held.

A fire emblem-inspired AU (i.e. I borrow concepts and take creative liberties purely for self-indulgence)

Edit 06/14/25: Chapter 1 is now posted

.

"So that's the hero," you murmur to yourself, gaze directed at said male as he bashfully accepts playful claps to his back from his friends? Brothers-in-arms? You're not sure. 

"That’s right, your highness," your attendant confirms beside you—and by the gods, were you relieved to be reunited with her, to know that you weren't alone in this mess. "He goes by the name of Link." 

You let the sound of his name shape your mouth, testing the syllables just to get the feel of it, to familiarize it. Unbidden, you recall the tale of the curse, idly wondering if you, too, would fall victim to its grasp. 

Just as quickly as it came, you banish the thought—there would be no room nor opportunity for love to bloom, not when your duties would pull you both to opposite sides of the battlefield. He, to the front, leading the charge with his sword and the crest of flames you've surrendered to him. You, to makeshift tents serving as meeting rooms to plan for the war and everything that came after. If there would be an after. If you would even live to see that after. 

No, the curse—if it was even real—would not claim you as it had your ancestors, you conclude. It's with that thought that you let yourself glance over his silhouette and quietly acknowledge that perhaps in another life, if you weren’t who you were and he wasn't who he was, perhaps there would be a chance for the curse to take hold of you. 

That you would fall in love with the easy way smiles came to him, the sturdiness of his presence and the strength of both his character and body—even now, you can recall the warmth he exuded as he held you close after saving you from falling. 

But that was not this life, you tell yourself. You are strangers to each other here and that was all you would ever be.

And so you let that thought rest, packed away in the dark corners of your mind to be forgotten until some years later, when whim might take you and guide the thought back into your hands to reminisce on times long past.

[suzukiblu]

WIP WEDNESDAY GAME

Slimmed-down post/rules, but originally taken from @/kedreeva.

It’s WIP Wednesday! This week we're just doin' some random WIPs picked via Ko-fi poll, two sfw and one not, plus two dealer's choice options picked by me, one sfw and one not. I was gonna just do one dealer's choice but naw we ball, went with one of each, hah.

Here’s how it works:

I will post the file names of five WIPs, and will also post a snippet of new content from one of them to get the ball rolling.

Send me an ask with the name of one of the listed WIPs and I will write you a minimum of three sentences in that WIP in response!

Multiple requests are fine, but please send them in separate asks. Just a little easier for me to fill them that way, and also easier for people to read through the WIP tags smoothly later.

If you’re reading this, you’re invited!

WIP names:

interdimensional kidnapping via Robin (( chrono || non-chrono ))

Robin gets nested (( chrono || non-chrono ))

hereditary behaviors (( chrono || non-chrono ))

mirror mirror (( chrono || non-chrono ))

the Core Four gangs up on Kon's objectification kink (( chrono || non-chrono ))

snippet from “interdimensional kidnapping via Robin”:

“Okay, so to start, vital question: you ever heard of mise en place, kiddo?” Bernard asks, and Ellie frowns up at him in confusion, and Tim decides to just take the opportunity to start wrapping up his injuries. At least the ribs, anyway, which isn’t going to feel very good but he would really rather leave things with Bernard and Ellie to settle in a bit. He’s definitely not going to leave them alone right now–he doesn’t want Ellie to get nervous or scared, being left with . . . okay, Tim is also technically a stranger to Ellie, admittedly, but at least he’s slightly less of one. Like, he bought the kid pancakes, if nothing else. Pancakes and hot chocolate. 

Also he saved him from a horrible basement lab run by the worst version of Lex Luthor that Tim himself is personally aware of, but that’s a little much to expect a kid to really process first thing, so: pancakes, yeah. Pancakes are a much easier thing for a chronological four month-old/physiological ten year-old to process, he figures.

[drksanctuary]

DRK-SANCTUARY'S WIP/FIC MASTERPOST:

FINISHED/ WORKS IN PROGRESS:

BANDITS AND SHERIFFS:

Completed western AU for the PJO BigBang back in 2014. Around 50k words, collaboration with @thomas-life. Fictional "western setting" not historically accurate American west.

Original post for it HERE.

Link to Fic on Ao3: HERE

Title art HERE.

Character art HERE.

LIFTING THE MIST CURSE COMIC

(Mist Comic): A fan comic that chronicles an alternate timeline where Nico Meets Al after the event of BoO. Al comes to CHB to have people help him Lift the Mist Curse. (Rated M)

Chapter 1 HERE.

Miscellaneous Mist Comic:

Sketches

Excerpt with Al and Dionysus

nicobaster comic "Oreo Meme"

Nicobaster fluff scene

Dreams "amv" comic.

SON OF MAGIC VOLUME 2

(SoM V2): similar to mist comic Al and Nico meet after BoO (but waaay after in their early to mid 20's). Al is mired in the Olympian Underground/black market, Nico who is just trying to be a good camp recruiter gets dragged into Al's problems, but he kinda likes it. (Rated M)

Chapter 1 (TBD)

Miscellaneous SoM V2:

Post with better context

cover sketch draft

misc sketches and context

Al's updated club outfit

Silly meme

Excerpt from (likely) chapt 2

THE NEW GOLDEN AGE (Titan AU)

Al and Nico meet during the titan war, Titans end up winning with the help of the Giants. Like PJO but infinitely more YA novel about it. (Rated T)

Prologue: A03 post and link HERE, Regular Tumblr Post HERE

Chapter 1: HERE

Chapter 2: HERE

MAKING YOUR MARK ON ME (Tattoo AU) (EXPLICIT)

AU where Nico and Al meet as adults well after the wars. Alabaster Torrington owns a Magical Tattoo Parlor/Magic Shop. Nico di Angelo is a frequent customer, but when Nico goes there this time, it’s not for business… it’s for pleasure. (Rated E for language and sexual content. You have been warned)

Chapt 1 SFW (just the picture): HERE

Sketch of Alabaster SFW: HERE

Chapter 1: NFSW (Pic and fic) tumblr post HERE and Ao3 link HERE (rated M, really)

Chapter 2 (Actually rated E): on Ao3: HERE

HIDDEN GEM CAFE

technically the fic is a little fluff piece entirely written by @thomas-life not me but I drew the picture. link HERE. (Rated G)

CAMP CHTHONIC

More AN RP blog than a fic but if i do fics they will be posted on the sideblog: @campchthonic

OUT OF TARTARUS

A comic we started after the release of Mark of Athena. Nico escapes tartarus and immediately runs onto Alabaster. (rated T)

Chpt 1 Part 1/Pages 1-10 HERE

Chpt 1 Part 2/Pages 11-20 HERE

Chpt 1 Part 3/Pages 21-27 HERE

Chpt 2 Part 1/Pages 28-37 HERE

Chpt 2 Part 2/Pages 38-47 Pages HERE

Chapt 2 Part 3/Pages 38-57 (and bonus pg 58 posted later) HERE

A PIECE OUT OF PLACE

Victorian AU Jasico and Bianca/Alabaster (i know its odd but trust me it made sense). also i know, NOT NICOBASTER??? wha??? (Also rated M)

Jasico Week Picture And Summary HERE

Jasico Dramatic Kiss pic HERE

Jasico steamy scene pg 1 and 2 (kind of NSFW) HERE

Victorian Sketches HERE

Victorian Sketches (old) has Piper bc it was before we changed it to Bianca HERE

Cute Jasico Sketches HERE

Victorian Jasico Meet-cute HERE

Jason and the wolves HERE

SNIPPET FIC/IDEA DUMPS

CHTHONIC CAMP AU (fanfic for a fanfic)

Not to be confused with the camp Chthonic blog above these are all the links for stuff I did for my interpretations and headcanons and AUs for @gutsybitsies Chthonic Camp AU. Their original fic HERE.

Jason and Nico and Al. HERE.

Nicobaster ficlet. HERE

Nicobaster looking bamf. HERE.

Alabaster being extra: HERE

ANCIENT CHTHONIC NICOBASTER (rated M)

"But your highness our love is forbidden" pic. HERE

APHRODITE NICO/THEMIS AL

Original post: HERE

Post with Drew (Nico's sister): HERE

Aprodite!Nico and Mars!Jason: HERE

JACKSON HOUSE NICOBASTER (rated M ig)

Idea post HERE

Nicobaster sketches for the AU: HERE

SLUT AU (rated M)

Idea post HERE

NICOBASTER FANFIC TO ORIGINAL WORK PIPELINE

MEDIEVAL PJO (KnightSlayer)

"A bastard shall be king." ....So reads the Prophecy of the Ages. But with a war on the horizon and Hazel to feed, Nico has more to worry about than kings and their bands of upper class sycophants. That is, until Percy comes along, and suddenly he finds himself right in the middle of it all... (rated M)

Ao3 link: HERE

Al and Nico Meeting: HERE

Nico and Percy (kiss). HERE (might be considered mature by some)

Nico backstory. HERE (rated M for Violence)

Chapt Pictures i had planned. HERE

Ball Sketches HERE

Nico Backstory 2 (sad) HERE

Nico and Percy Thestral encounter HERE

Miscellaneous Medieval AU Nico Sketches: Sketch 1 HERE, Sketch 2 HERE, Sketch 3 HERE.

MERMAID AU (Through the Sea Glass)

Like "the little mermaid" but with extra fantasy world building and the prince (Nico) ACTUALLY falls in love with the Sea Witch (Alabaster) instead of the mermaid (Percy) rated G

Summary with pictures HERE

Octokind Alabaster HERE

PHANTOM AU - (Phantom Haven)

Nico's near-death experience endows him with powers and now he has to be a Savior which means he has to fight phantoms to keep people safe which would be a doable job, BUT that's not the only task of a Savior. He also has to uphold the integrity of the Savior System (ugh),Do good deeds and report them to his supervisor (double ugh), train his Lumen (dead eyed little thing doesn't like to listen to him so...ugh again!) and last but definitely not least he has to dedicate his life to figuring out how to use his endowment to cure a great societal problem... to perform... a MIRACLE TM. (yikes on bikes, no pressure). Will he be able to live up to the expectations of greatness that has been thrust upon him? or will he fail?

Character concepts 1-6 HERE

Character concepts 7-8 HERE

CHIP AU - (No original title yet)

Modern Human AU in which an aimless Nico's life is changed for the better when someone abandons their little baby girl (Hazel) on the steps of the refurbished fire house he now lives in. Years later he finds a little kid named Frank and adopts him as well. Now he just needs to navigate life as a single parent which he is mostly fine with until Bianca tries to set him up with her fiance's best friend (Alabaster). Will this romance stay the casual fling it started as or could it blossom into something more? (Rated M)

NIco with bb hazel HERE

CHURCH AU - (no original title yet)

An AU where Nico sells his soul to save his family from dying, when he meets his untimely death however he finds that Hell is not what he expected, its a quarry, and is he does his quotas, he can ascend the ranks, and even make it to heaven. Each Level comes with its own set of rules. The level right before heaven, which requires Demons to go to earth to collect evil humors that taint people's souls, has the MOST rules. With him being unable to see his family, not knowing what he's doing, and finding out that his childhood friend has grown into a handsome...Preist in training?!? Nico finds that he can't keep the all of the rules straight, especially because he's not. (Rated M)

Nico as a Demon pic HERE

There's quite a few more AUs but the above shows most of them.

If you'd like to know more about the above or about the ones not mentioned please subscribe to "Nicobaster premium" for the low low price of Free.99! And if you are 18 or older and interested I also have Nicobaster Premium 18+ (for the same price for all your smutty needs. Tee Hee!)

That's all, Nicobaster Houshold!...FOR NOW!

OTHER MASTERPOSTS

MISCELLANEOUS NICOBASTER - Here

ALABASTER BEING BBG - Here

[gojo-mochi]

Open Collab For December/January (Since I posted this late haha!)

What's Dilfcember?

Dilf or (Dad I Like to Fuck) is a month for Dilfs of course! All and any kind of Dilfs are invited. Even if they're not technically a dilf, if they have daddy energy they're invited.

Rules and Outline:

❥Daddy Long Dick is landing down in December/January and I want you to help me greet them~

❥Any length of writing is fine~

❥Have to be a Dilf! (Even if it not canon) Gilf are also encouraged...

❥NSFW/SFW/DARK CONTENT is all Allowed! Just make sure to tag accordingly~

❥Open to any Dilfs from JJK or OP~

❥Open Limit for any characters~ Go wild!

❥Does not have to be Mutuals with me to Join!

❥Joining Ends Dec 31st

❥Submission deadline will be end of January/Start of Feb~ (to give people some time)

How to Join:

Comment or Message me with the Dilf you want to bag and a small outline/plot of the story. Include if it going to be NSFW/SFW/DARK CONTENT.

❥Snippet of a submission:

Hello! I would like to write for Toxic!Dilf!Shanks, it would dark content theme, and it would be about Shanks secretly fucking his son's best friend

The Current Line up!!!!!

Softy~ (@gojo-mochi)

ᥫ᭡. Single Dads AU W/Neighbor Reader: Starring~

ᥫ᭡. Choso with little bro Yuji and getting lost in the snowstorm (SFW)

ᥫ᭡. Geto with Mimiko and Nanako taking them to see christmas lights (SFW)

ᥫ᭡. Gojo with Megumi and Tsumiki (SFW) TBA LATER (IMSORRY)

ᥫ᭡."Working hard or hardly working?" You keep running into the hot apartmnet Dilf right after he's done working out... Gym!Dilf Zoro (NSFW)

ᥫ᭡."You're the father?!" You were supposed to babysit Yuuji today but instead you found a stranger in Choso's house...Dilf!Kenjaku (Dark Con) (NSFW)

ᥫ᭡. "Tell me your secrets, & I'll give you my heart" Toji scambling to find the perfect Christmas gift for you but things keeps going awry Dilf!Toji (SFW)

Cille~ (@bby-deerling)

ᥫ᭡. "Meeting your best friend's deadbeat dad for the first time~ Dilf!Buggy (NSFW)

ᥫ᭡. Read here!

Pris~ (@sleepymarimo)

ᥫ᭡. "white christmas" Little megumi has been asking for a baby brother or sister, while you’ve been wanting a white christmas. toji thinks he can do both this year! Dilf!Toji (NSFW)

ᥫ᭡. "under the mistletoe" Little brother yuji has been wanting you to get with choso for a while, so he takes matters into his own hands. (SFW) BigBro!Choso

Honey~ (@honeysworld-offanfiction)

ᥫ᭡. You find out your bf cheats on you. Crying is how your father’s friends, Rayleigh & Edward, find you. Since your dad is away unable to console you, his friends help you instead. Dilf!Rayleigh & Dilf!Edward (Dark Con) (NSFW) (Incest Play)

Stephis~ (@stephisokay)

ᥫ᭡. You’ve never visited your friends home before, he’s always so hesitant. But when he does for a friendly game, you find his dad. DILF!Sukuna (Dark Con) (NSFW)

Poison~ (@anystalker707)

ᥫ᭡. Reader is down but Crocidle is here to try cheer you up~ Dilf!Crocodile (SFW)

ᥫ᭡. Read here!

Instagram Banner by@cafekitsune

[crispyanonartnsfw]

sorry, still no new art, work has me tired af and I can't keep posting rushed sketches that I'm gonna end up hating (I'm SSSO tempted to delete some stuff lmao) but I have lots of wips and I'll be patient with myself and concentrate on those !! anyway-

Today I'm here to blabber about one thing that I've basically already storyboarded but Idk if it will ever see the light of day: a Sambastian coming of age(?) comic. I'm just going to put this idea into the world..

Mind you, it's really nothing crazy, but it's long enough to require a lot of commitment - that would mean not drawing anything else for a while, and idk if I'm able to do that while having the attention span of a goldfish when it comes to drawing only one thing at a time.

I could post page by page as I finish them, but my original (maybe too ambitious) idea was to make a Sambastian-centric fanzine to publish all at once, with the various chapters interspersed by some miscellaneous content. I looove the idea of creating an old-style printable zine, I'm just a big nerd for these things and I like printed paper. Realistically thought, the single-page posts are more accessible.

Technically it's an AU because it diverges slightly from the canon SDV universe, mostly in the timeline of the various families moving to Pelican Town. Also it adds to the relationships that all characters have with each other, to what school/uni they attended and stuff like that - which aren't as in-depth within the game.

The story per se is very simple: it follows Sebastian and Sam going from teenagers to adults, their struggles, the ups and downs in their friendship and eventually their romantic relationship. Basically it's the lead-up to Older!Sambastian. It also features other SDV characters such as Alex and Abigail (I would love to have them all if I ever expand on it). It's obviously SFW until they are adults, even if their experiences get mentioned and questioned...just know there is some Seb/Alex and Sam/Penny action lol. It's also quite different from what I've done up until now because this story it's angsty, like, very much so. TW worthy. Uncharted territory fr.

By the way I know I said it's long but it's not actually THAT long for now (15 pages?). The story is made up of snippets from different moments, like little windows in their life (for example there are a couple of scenes set in their first year of high school, but the following one it's set in their third year - some jumps are longer than others). At the same time this type of narration allows me to go back and add missing moments very easily if I ever actually finish this comic and wish to further expand on it.

I don't even know if anyone would be interested in this - except for me and like three darling mutuals who tolerate my ideas - but it would be such a cool thing to dooo ughh 😩😩😩 anyone who volunteers to be my benefactor so I can focus on fictional characters like god intended?? Maybe on a beach with a Campari?? I don't ask of much tbh

[ramblingoak]

Mini Golf and Kisses

Mushy May in Lucifer's Hollow: Day 7 - First Kiss

Mountain x Rain

This fic is set in an alternate universe in a town called Lucifer's Hollow. For Mushy May I'll be using the prompts to post little snippets of life for the humans and ghouls that live there 💙 Thank you to @forlorn-crows for putting Mushy May together!

~ In Lucifer's Hollow Mountain has a little farm and sells flowers at the local farmer's market. Rain meets him there while selling his art. ~

Warnings: none, sfw, 700 words and thank you to @ghuleh-recs for the dividers!

Mountain didn’t want the night to end.

He drove back to Rain’s as slow as he thought he could get away with.  Taking his time at each stop sign and skipping the main road through town to take the long way.  When he snuck a glance over at Rain the water ghoul had a little smile on his face so Mountain didn’t think he minded.  When they’d finally pulled into Rain’s driveway, Mountain couldn’t bring himself to speak.  He didn’t want to do anything to break the spell of the night.

It was Rain that finally ended up being the brave one to speak first.   

“I had a really great time tonight Mountain.”

He resisted the urge to pump his fist in the air but barely, instead he kept his hands on the steering wheel.  Mountain was afraid if he took them off Rain would see how badly they were shaking from his nerves.

“I did too.”  He turned to give Rain a soft smile, appreciating once again how good he looked in Mountain’s sweater.  After a moment the smile turned into a smirk and he couldn’t help but tease him.  “Despite you cheating.”

“I’m never going to live that down am I?”  

Rain was looking at him with such fondness it made Mountain’s heart ache.  He’d give anything to be able to see that look every day from here on out.

“Cheating at mini golf is a shameful thing.  I’ll need to put a notice out in the paper about it.  Warn everyone in town.”  Mountain couldn’t help but grin when Rain rolled his eyes.  “No one will ever want to take you on a date there.”

For a second something sad seemed to flit across Rain’s face but it was gone before Mountain blinked.  He muttered an old Ghoulish curse under his breath while he reached over and took one of Rain’s hands.  Mountain marveled again at how soft they were, at how delicate.  They were just as lovely as the rest of him.

“I need to apologize for a couple of things.”

Mountain raised an eyebrow at Rain’s words, squeezing the ghoul’s fingers to try and reassure him.

“Apologize for what?  You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“Well, only one apology is for you.  Technically.”  Rain took a deep breath and Mountain squeezed his hand again.  “I’m afraid you won’t be getting your sweater back.  Ever.”

Mountain couldn’t stop the pleased grin from forming on his face even if he tried.  He also couldn’t stop the rumbling deep in his chest, something old and primal coming to life at the thought of Rain keeping something of his.  Something he made with his own hands.

“I’d be ok with that.”

“Good, because it’s very soft and warm.  And it smells like you.”

Their eyes connected in the dark, the only light that illuminated them was from some fairy lights Rain had dangling along his front porch.  

“What was the other apology?”

“That one isn’t for you, it’s for my mom.”  Mountain raised an eyebrow, curious as to why the water ghoul was bringing his mom up right now of all times.  Rain turned towards him, scooting a little closer on the bench seat.  His eyes were bright and so blue as he looked up into Mountain’s, his next words whispered like a dark confession.  “I always promised her I’d never put out on a first date.”

That rumbling was back, louder this time and Mountain found himself tugging on the hand he was still holding.  Tugging until Rain was practically in his lap.  He reached up and cupped Rain’s face, gently stroking a thumb along his cheekbone.  

“I’m sure she’ll forgive you.”

“I think so too.”  Rain leaned closer until there was barely any room between them.  “Mountain?”

“Yes?”

“I need you to kiss me now.”

Mountain didn’t even hesitate, he cradled Rain’s head in his hands and brought their lips together.  The kiss was perfect just like Rain, just like their date had been, just like all the times they had spent together so far…

And just like the rest of their lives together would be.

If you'd like to be added/removed from the tag list (or if I accidentally left your name off) of this fic or any of my others please leave a comment or send me a dm! Thank you 💙

My Masterlist ~ My Archive of our Own ~ My Ko-Fi Tip Jar

More fics in the Tales From Lucifer's Hollow masterpost

[mermaidslabyrinth]

I want to talk about OCs! Tell me something about Rhaegerys that you haven't shared yet!😃

I want to talk about OCs! Tell me something about Rhaegerys that you haven't shared yet!

Thank you so very much for this question. Just like anyone, I can prattle on about my OC about any subject. Some I may have to think a moment on others I have thought on a while and have answers ready to go. I've filled out three alphabets about him, 2 sfw ones and the nsfw one that floats around tumblr. They helped me figure him out more.

A forewarning: Rhagerys’s story is rather dark in certain areas. (Mental manipulation, emotional manipulation, physical abuse, incest that is not normal by Targaryen standards, probably other things I’m missing) I haven’t gotten to them yet in writing. But they’re on the horizon. Idk how it truly started but tbh if it wasn’t there, Rhagerys wouldn’t be who he is today. He more than likely wouldn’t exist beyond a thought and a few snippets. It’s the meat of his story and if I took that away it would be bare bones. Rhagerys is precious to me and his story means a lot to me. Rhagerys is the first OC that I have truly cared about. His story has a happy ending. It just takes a while for him to get there.

Now, I have a lot of thoughts of Rhagerys I haven't revealed. I wasn't too sure on what to focus on. I gave a few tidbits but decided on a topic I have hinted at a lot but haven't really gone into details.

Some are trivial like: Rhagerys would love to know what it's like to be carried princess style but at his height and weight compared to his siblings (and Aemond) he knows that will more than likely never happen. Although Aegon drunkenly does offer to try while Rhagerys is at King's Landing.

Others are part of the plot I have yet to reveal: Like why Rhagerys isn't technically “banned” from Driftmark, Rhaenys would prefer him not to visit.

While some are a bit dark and I don't think too many people want to read: Like a VERY dubious consent moment between Daemon and Rhagerys when he is 16. Which sets the stage to a moment in Rhagerys's life that changes him. It's debatable whether it's for good or bad.

With Rhagerys there will be times you love him, strongly dislike (maybe hate) him, pity him.

Love: Like when he plays with the little children of both families. When he gets his siblings and cousins to play a game of a mixture of tag and hide and seek. When he helps/coax Aemond doing things with him that Aemond refused to do publicly (play tag/hide and seek, dancing, genuinely smiling/laughing)

Hate: Like when Rhage uses the same manipulation tactics on Aegon that Daemon used on him. Or during Luke's funeral Rhage was laid up recovering from an injury and he cared much more about having sex with Aemond than his stepbrother's death and the somber event that was happening elsewhere on Dragonstone.

Pity: Like when one dinner he refuses to eat the lamb, he hates lamb and goat, so Daemon makes him sit at the table until he does. About an hour and half later Daemon sees that Rhage hasn't touched the meat so he makes him go to his chambers. Where a little later Daemon appears with the now very cold lamb and makes Rhage finish his meal. After he does Daemon promises Rhagerys that he doesn't have to eat lamb or goat again.

But I settled on something I haven't talked about at all. That is his time at King's Landing with the family in 134 AC (fifth month to seventh month) when he is 18. So I can show little highlights that will make it into the story while others will either be one shots or just part of the outline never to be seen by anyone but me. I mean the outline of their time at King's Landing is 25 pages in my word document. Here's a very abridged moments.

Again, my story goes by the timeline I created.

Also in my story Viserys isn't as sick as he is in the show, I use the book version of his health for my story. However, those three months he does go down hill.

The reason they go to King's Landing in the spring of 134 AC is for two reasons. The first is to celebrate the “defeat” of the Triarchy in the Stepstones and the Stepstones becoming a part of the crown (again for the time being). The second is because of Vaemond using that time to strike and get to be named as Lord of the Tide instead of Luke since Corlys hangs between life and death during that time.

But mostly this:

Daemon is a petty bitch about why they’re there and will be very cunty the whole time during their stay.

Anyway, Viserys has a month long celebration for the victory and for his daughter and her family coming to visit after six years. Many of the prominent Houses attend. Including some of Rhagerys's Belmore family comes to visit in Lady Jeyne's stead. The Houses show up about a week later (around day 10).

The family still have the dinner like in the show but the little tiff doesn't make the families split again.

Here's Little Highlights From Their Time:

Day 9: Rhagerys has sword matches between Cole and Aemond. Rhagerys unnerves Cole by smearing his own blood down his chin and neck. Bites the man and wins by “fighting dirty” as Cole says. Rhage and Aemond go for a bit but Rhage wins by improvising. That helps the spark between them grow more than it already has.

Day 10: Rhagerys and Aemond have sex for the first time

Day 11: There is a midday feast where Rhagerys dances with all the eligible girls of the prominent Houses between the ages 7-13. That night he dances with the eligible ladies of the prominent Houses between the ages 14-20. All times were for the Houses to put their daughters forward for consideration for betrothal to Rhage. He is quite tired by night’s end.

Day 12: The royal family have mid morning/lunch together. Rhage plays with the five young children and gets run RAGGED by them. That's where Rhagerys and Jaehaera get “married”.

Day 18: Masque ball. After the dance, Rhage gets Aemond to dance with him in the privacy of his chambers, to stand in the rain with him, have sex in the rain. Rhage sees Aemond without his eyepatch for the first time. Because Rhage wanted to earn Aemond's trust and respect.

Day 23: Viserys asks Rhage about the tourney that will be held for 5 days. Daemon states that Rhage will enter the one-on-one sword fight and the lists. Unknown to Rhage.

Day 27: Rhage makes it to the finals of the one-on-one sword fight. His opponent is Gwayne Hightower. It's an even match, with Gwayne just having the upper hand, until Gwayne reveals something to Rhage. Which makes Rhage, well, rage and dislocates Gwayne's shoulder. Winning in a dubious way.

Day 28: Rhage enters the lists. In the fourth round a man from House Royce is knocked from his horse and wants to continue the challenge. The man says something that makes Rhage absolutely lose it and black out. I won't say what he does but it's not pretty. He makes it to the finals of the lists and wins. He crowns Jaehaera as the Queen of Love and Beauty. He is also knighted by Viserys. And gains the name “The People's Prince”.

Day 33: Aegon gets Rhage, Aemond, and Jace to play “Boasts and Bluffs” (like Never Have I Ever). Rhage agreed as long as it didn't turn crass. He lost and Jace won. The punishment was that he had to be Jace's “servant” for the whole of the next day.

Day 40: A pivotal moment in Rhage and Aemond's relationship happens where the two become entirely devoted to one another.

Day 49: It's Rhaena's name day. Rhage organizes a play to be performed for her. There is dancing and merriment as well. Rhage takes Rhaena for a ride on Starsong the next day.

Day 56: Rhage gets roped into spending the whole day with Jaehaerys, Aegon, and Viserys. Playing games, with their toys, reads to them, takes the boys for a ride on Starsong, plus whatever the boys wanted to do. They talk him into letting them spend the night in his chambers. Rhage barely got any sleep because he would check on the boys every few hours.

Day 58: Rhage spends the day with Jaehaera since he did so with the boys two days prior. Plays games, dolls, reads to her, has a tea party, takes her on Starsong, had dinner with her.

Day 60: Rhage and Aemond go to an island (that is part of my story). Later that night they have a makeshift Valyrian wedding. It's not legal but that doesn't matter to them. They are forever connected, from that night on.

That's as much as I can give away. My outline is much more detailed but I don't want to write too much or show my hand. I have an outline created for each decade that the story takes place. Some are really detailed (130-150 AC time period) others are just highlights because they are not that important to my story.

[livingmeatloaf]

Out of Context WIP Game

It's tax season again, so I'm reviving this game.

Rules: Pick a bunch of your WIPs and summarize them as badly as possible, then ask your followers to vote on which one they’d be most likely to read. Multiple/all/none options are completely optional.

I'll make a post with a chunk of text for WIP Wednesday from whichever document wins!

And / Or you can send me an ask me with the summary and I'll tell you about it, maybe share a snippet or some behind the scenes~

Feel free to make guesses about the fandoms/characters involved lol I'd love to see if anyone can guess them correctly

And if there isn't much written for the winner, well I'll have to write a bit!

No tags, if you want to do it have at it; this is mostly for me tbh

[quinnnfabrgay-writes]

wip wednesday & last line

thank you for the tags @almostfoxglove @kedsandtubesocks @perotovar 🥰🥰🥰

writing has been haaaaaaaaaard, but i've been cracking away at some things (albeit extremely slowly). i figured i would combine the two and give two different snippets... since technically the last line i wrote was for something i'm not actively working on atm, i just didn't want to forget the idea lmao (cw: last line snippet references drugging)

current wip: locked out of heaven - sub!din djarin x domme!reader (sfw snippet)

Bringing him back to the now, so much time has passed since that first time and yet his heart beats as widly as it did that day he first crossed the threshold of your chambers.

A once guarded and reserved beskar-clad warrior, now willingly kneeling at your feet clad in nothing put a pair of thin linen pants, waiting with bated breath for your next order.

last line: i'ma let y'all guess what this is for 😘

"You wanted this so bad you just had to drug me, huh? Now you’re gonna fuckin' take it."

np tags: @jolapeno @sp00kymulderr @whocaresstillthelouvre @mysterious-moonstruck-musings @ozarkthedog @cavillscurls @guiltyasdave @pedgito @hauntedhowlett-writes @for-a-longlongtime @slimybeth69 @corazondebeskar-reads @wannab-urs @clawdeewritesfanfic @djarins-cyare @djarinmuse

[atsadi-shenanigans]

Fic Master List

(Banner gif done by the amazing @britonell)

My AO3 profile:

It’s all BG3!!!

Holy fuck people made art 🥹:

Drunk Batstarion by @britonell

Eleanor by @lyzelky

Eleanor and Astarion, sitting on a bench by @britonell once again 💜

Eleanors! by @shierke

Astarion is trying to flirt (critical fail) commissioned by @sasseffects and drawn/rendered/colored by @squirrelcurls and @vipermenace

Eleanor and Astarion in their matching outfits! Bonus: Astarion being a total shit. By @lyzelky (😭)

Tent Scene from WSWB chapter 9 commissioned by @allymcfee and created by @summerwarlock

Also Tent Scene from WSWB, commissioned by @allymcfee and created by @crunchyncrumbly

NSFW?

Astarion and Eleanor by @mutualcombat (with more detailed pic of the softness)

Snippets:

Tiddy Cuddles - actually SFW. Batstarion never walks anywhere ever again when he can get uppies.

One Shots (All of them are rated E smutfics):

Stuffing - an entry for Wanksgiving 2023, sexually explicit. Ties into Feeding Alligators.

All I Want for Solstice - happy holidays 2023, have some fluffy smut! Eleanor tries to spread holiday cheer. Astarion tries to spread Eleanor's legs. Rated very much E for explicit sexual content. Technically a two-shot, but whatev.

Valentine’s Day Special - Roses are red, violets are blue, blah blah I’d like to fuck you. Or: Astarion bought a toy. Eleanor wants to give him a night he won’t forget. ASTARION GETS PEGGED.

You Could Just Ask - Astarion is terrible about communicating what he wants. But Eleanor is getting good at translating gremlin. ASTARION GETS PEGGED AGAIN. The man is a MENACE.

Something Full-Bodied and Red - Aunt Flo comes to visit Eleanor. Astarion is thrilled to make her acquaintance.

Tightrope and Lace - Astarion has a proposition: you’d look lovely in rope. And you shouldn’t be the only one who gets to dress for the occasion.

A Misuse of Potions - Pt. 1: Astarion has a plan. A nice, simple plan. His love has been gone for almost a tenday, but now she's back, and he needs her to obliterate him in the best way possible.

Long fics:

All are rated E for sexual content, language, and violence.

Feeding Alligators - Completed:

Turns out, it’s not heart disease that gets you. Not a car crash, the second coming, or even a plain old slip in the shower that removes you from this mortal coil. It’s motherfucking aliens. Your Uncle Randy would be so proud. Or: two losers cheat, stab, and flirt their way to a win.

What Shall We Become - Completed

After tripping a mad wizard’s trap, Astarion—now blinded—must navigate the Underdark with Eleanor back to their crew. These two shitheads must cheat, stab, and flirt their way through flooded caves, monsters, and something hunting them in the dark. All while very confusing feelings begin to muddle up Astarion’s Very Simple plan.

Fingers Sifting Black Earth - In Progress

Astarion’s coming to your tent every night with honeyed nothings on his tongue. Trouble is, you’re starting to smell hints of bullshit. The closer y’all get, the further apart you feel. And then there’s the fucking brainworm cult. These two losers must cheat, stab, and flirt their way to the heart of a cult. And to…whatever it is between them.

[lokimobius]

Seven Sentence Sunday

It's that time of the week again!

Thank you for tagging me @elodiah @kcscribbler @loki-is-my-kink-awakening @mystic-voyager

Technically this is 9 sentences but I don't play by the rules. Yet again, I'm only working on this damn fic and I haven't really made much progress! This snippet is sfw, but sex is mentioned.

His previous relationships had been purely casual and revolved around sex. He and his partners both used sex as a transaction, chasing their own pleasure and doing it as quickly as possible. It was never emotional. No words were spoken, and he thought that was how he liked it. He had been so closed off to his emotions at the time that he hadn’t realised that he’d desired something more—something intimate, full of affection and love. He felt vulnerable, but now he realised that, with Mobius, vulnerability wasn’t a weakness. “Do you want this, Mobius? With me?” Mobius took his face in his hands and gazed into his eyes. “Loki, I love you—every part of you, completely, wholeheartedly. I want this. I want it so much, gods, you have no idea.” He laughed, tracing his thumb across Loki’s jaw, soothing any and all nerves out of his system. 

I don't know who has and hasn't been tagged but no pressure tagging @thosegayoldmen @in-my-loki-feels @devilbearingtrouble @rins-love-wins @kusakichan15

[screamingmandrakes]

An excerpt from a Dead Dove WIP

This fic is not extremely underage, that is my hard limit in dead dove and i will never write or nor do i read it. it jumps through the years of voldemort’s life and all explicit content happens when tom is a teenager/young adult. this fic, however, does have themes of accidental grooming, pseudo-incest and sexual assault. It’s one of those ‘Hermione raises Tom’ fics, except it goes incredibly wrong because Tom is fucked up (AKA: I’m pushing my mommy kink agenda)

Written for @april-17-rose and @maplebalderdash ✨ name taken from happy house, a song by one of my favorite bands siouxsie and the banshees.

This snippet is SFW!

The mattress sinks beneath her as Tom clumsily moves around. She shuts her eyes, willing for sleep to come and take her. For a moment, it almost does: the exhaustion from using her magic lulls her halfway there on its own and the weariness of dealing with Tom only exacerbates it. She relaxes against her pillowing, just about to sleep —

Hermione stiffens as she feels Tom snuggle up against her back. His small frame is warm but feeble – bony – and in that moment of surprise, Hermione can't help but feel a twinge of pity for him. But pity doesn’t overpower her discomfort, so she remains uncomfortably stiff.

Tom makes a tiny, hurt sound.

“Sorry,” he whispers. “Sorry, Mother.”

Shock slams into her like a battering ram, stealing her breath away. Mother? Mother? The words echo in her mind, reverberating between her ears. She’s not Lord Voldemort’s mother, no, no, no. Hermione isn’t anybody’s mother, last she checked she never even technically graduated school. Despite his hurt, Tom continues to snuggle her and she can do nothing but lay there as she processes his words.

It was bound to happen, wasn’t it? For her to become his mother?

Hermione blinks at the wall, nausea churning acidly in her stomach. Minutes pass in silence, and neither Hermione nor Tom drifts into sleep. He presses against her back, clinging as close as he possibly can, yet the tension in his body is not one of a sleeping boy. It’s after another ten creeps by that she caves in.

She says nothing, but Tom understands to let go of her as she turns herself on the mattress. She adjusts the covers, setting onto her back before resignedly opening her arm to Tom. With a soft, but happy expression, he crawls into her arms, resting his head over her heartbeat. Hermione sighs, slipping her hand into his hair and rubbing his back with the other.

“Goodnight, Tom.”

Relaxing against her, he replies, “Goodnight, Mother.”

[wellbelesbian]

WIP Wednesday and AO3 Wrapped Tag

hello all! thanks for the tags @ic3-que3n @bookish-bogwitch @thewholelemon @ileadacharmedlife and @forabeatofadrum! it's technically thursday by now, but time is fake, so here's a bit of a wip i'm working on.

i honestly have no iea if i'll ever finish and post this fic, but i wanted to at least make a start on getting this idea out of my head and onto a page. it's a smut fic, though don't worry, this snippet is completely SFW, because as usual when i sit down to write porn with minimal plot, the next thing i know i've churned out five pages of set-up.

By the time I leave the bathroom, Baz is already on the other side of the room, by the bar, speaking to Katy in a clearly apologetic manner. As she pats him on the arm, he glances my way and flashes me the quickest of conspiratorial smiles.

Which abruptly falls as the father of the bride tips back in his seat and spills red wine all over his expensive cream shirt. Everyone falls silent for a moment, and then Katy groans.

“Oh my god, dad!” She pulls the man back to his feet as he drunkenly chuckles. “I’m so sorry.” She says to Baz, whose face is rapidly flickering between all the stages of grief, before folding backover and catching on anger. If looks could kill, we’d have a red wedding on our hands.

He turns on his heel and walks out without a word, which is probably the best I could ask for, given the circumstances.

(the character of Katy is an OC, i just used the first name that came to mind tbh)

but enough of that, what's AO3 Wrapped, you ask? well, as you probably know, spotify wrapped has arrived! i posted mine earlier, and while looking through the tag i saw this post and loved the template, so i decided to change it ever so slightly to be for this year's ao3 stats!

here's the result! are my chapter titles too long, or does this just not have much space? whatever the case, i had to shorten them. but yeah, the categories are the POVs i wrote the most, my fics with the highest hits, my total word count, and the fandom i wrote the most for this year.

i thought i'd share it here and tag some friends, in case anyone else wants to do it! even if you're not tagged, fel free to do this! you don't need to stick to the same categories and if you're an artist, maybe put your favourite piece as the picture! (i just used my ao3 pfp, my goat Dottie)

tags: @j-nipper-95 @artsyunderstudy @prettygoododds @aroace-genderfluid-sheep @imagineacoolusername @confused-bi-queer @bazzybelle @theearlgreymage @aristocratic-otter @larkral @hushed-chorus @martsonmars @ivelovedhimthroughworse @blackberrysummerblog @fatalfangirl @ebbpettier @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @cutestkilla @youarenevertooold @alleycat0306 @alexalexinii @shemakesmeforget @shrekgogurt and @carryonsimoncarryonbaz

[delicateartisantrash]

Chapter Excerpt: LS Book 2 - WTCBS

I sure FUCKING HOPE this is a book 2 excerpt or imma actually die of thirst

;) the scene snippet itself is technically sfw.... but seeing as it's the intro the smut scene with Knockout, it carries overt sexual themes.

I decided to share this one on my tumblr for everyone instead of the Ko-fi as a monthly reward perk, because i waaaaaasn't quite sure if it'd be allowed on there, so enjoy another preview ;3

Snippet below the cut~

You freeze in front of the kitchen sink at the sound of quiet, familiar mechanical noises behind you, followed by the softest --tink-k, tink-k, tink-k-- of Knockout’s pedes on the tile. The faint notes of alien music his engine and mechanical systems make would go unnoticed by most, but your sensitive ears pick it up over the white noise of your household. The water’s still running, the soap is still tipped over the sponge you’re now possibly squeezing too tightly in one hand, and yet you still feel like time has completely stopped.

“Well, now,” he purrs quietly, that familiar, suave tone doing dangerous things to your insides as you try to keep your breathing calm, try not to give away just how badly you-- “Look at you, getting all wet in front of me.”

You suck in a sharp breath.

How does he make a PUN sound SEXY?

“Th-the uh, dishes left party, s-so I’m rubbing the plating. Plates. DISHES!” you squeak out and stars above if there’s mercy in the world, he’ll stop doing this to you, stop tormenting you, stop dragging it out.

You can’t tell. You can’t fucking tell anymore if he’s flirting with you or if he thinks he’s just being funny. How do you know it’s real? How do you know you’re not gonna flop on your face like a moron and maybe ruin the coolest, most meaningful and weird and absurd but you don’t care you fucking treasure it friendship you have? There’s a glaring hole of logic and self-fulfilling doom prophecy there if you were to look hard enough, but you’re… frozen with fear over the idea of said doom prophecy.

You’re terrified to make the first move, even as every movement and biological function of your body plainly broadcasts your turmoil and desire to the space man behind you who’s perfectly aware of every tic. Even when you’ve already told him exactly how down you are to fuck. You’d gotten… the most fucking non-answer encouragement without commitment you’d ever heard in your life.

Your heart is thundering in your chest, your knees are starting to feel weak, you have to consciously remind yourself to resume breathing, and the muscles below your belly are twisting into knots.

Knockout takes a single step closer to you.

Tink-k.

You let out a shaky breath, trying to force your mouth to work, to cut through the thick tension suffocating you and squeezing a problem out into your pants that wasn’t there thirty seconds ago.

Tink-k.

He chuckles, light and low. You feel warm, dry air puff over the back of your neck ,and your eyes screw shut as you shiver.

Tink-k.

He stops.

“Shameless,” he comments in a mellow tone that has no right sounding so suave or so packed, like he just shoved a whole paragraph of dirty dialogue into a single word. What should be an accusation of condemnation sounds very much like a compliment.

Or a warning.

[witchypandamonium]

A Knight's Honor

A collection of Luis/Reader snippets

This chapter: the lab. Luis and Leon fulfill their promises to you & Ashley.

Chapter 2 of ? Occurs during Chapter 15-16 of game 4,788 words, SFW No warnings Tags: Luis x f!Reader | AU | Luis lives

ao3

The ride to Saddler’s island wasn’t too bad, at least at first. Efrain’s boat was exactly what you expected of a smuggler’s ship–a little ramshackle, patched and pieced together with spare parts, but fast as the wind and draped in a tarp painted to blend in with the brackish waters of the sea. He’d even had enough to spare that he’d made a little den for “Huey” (turns out he’d been the one taking care of the stray, and he was loathe to leave the dog to fend for himself) to feel more secure on clearly his first boat ride.

Your left arm was bound to your chest to prevent further injury should you forget and attempt to use it, as well as to try and deaden the pain a bit (Tylenol could only do so much). It was, admittedly, a little annoying and hugely inconvenient, but you’d rather suffer through it, using all of that proprietary Umbrella drug on Luis’s much more serious wound, than to split it and risk his life further down the line. The healthy color in his skin and pep in his step returning after your shared rest was all you’d needed to be secure in your choice.

When the island came into sight through the mist and spray, however, Ef were forced to pull up to a small outcropping of rocks, still hundreds of meters from the shore, and cut all but the smallest engine. “Saddler’s eye may be focused on the American,” the merchant explained, “but from the radio chatter I’ve managed to tap into, they still have a small contingent on the towers watching the coast. If we follow this archipelago and keep down the noise, we should be able to slip in without detection.”

The thought of Saddler taking control of you again made your nerves buzz like a hive of bees in your chest, clutching your wounded left hand even tighter to your chest. You prayed he and Luis were right, that Leon was really putting pressure on Saddler as he grew ever closer to taking Ashley back; too much pressure for the cult leader to notice one little outlier sneaking in right under his nose.

Two broad arms enclosed you from behind as Luis, sensing your anxiety, pulled you against him. “It’s alright, querida,” he murmured against your temple. “We’re almost there. Then we can finally get rid of that damn plaga. You’re almost free.”

Giving one of his hands a grateful squeeze, you focused on taking a few calming deep breaths and quashing those intrusive thoughts that were convinced of your failure. Yes, the odds seemed impossible, but you had to try. Even if there was only a slight chance, it was still a chance–0.00000001-to-1 odds was technically better than 0-to-1.

“How do you feel?” that raspy voice continued, softer, gentler.

Terrified. But of course he meant physically, medically.  “O-okay… a little pressure in my head, but… nothing too out of the ordinary.”

“Good. Hopefully it will stay that way, but Saddler had been experimenting on ways to influence acceleration of the maturation of the plaga when I escaped. We don’t know what he’ll do if he starts getting desperate.”

Great, staying calm was impossible now. You had to keep your eyes focused on the waves lapping against the rocks to keep from dissolving into a nervous wreck.

“Calmaté,” he squeezed you tighter, holding your trembling hand in his, “Ef and I know a route through the sea caves that leads to a cove right under Saddler’s castle. We can take one of the hidden maintenance walkways straight up to my lab–barely anyone uses them. No patrols, no cameras. We’ll be in before they even have a chance to notice.”

You knew he was trying to reassure you, and you so desperately wanted to do as he said, but you just couldn’t shake that feeling of wrongness, that crawling sensation under your skin that increased whenever you neared an area of increased plaga influence–perhaps specifically whenever you drew close to one of the entities possessing the dominant strain. The nausea, the subtle feeling of intoxication, the way the dark coloring of your veins intensified…

You watched the darkness of a vein on the inside of your wrist beginning to pulse to your heartbeat, almost meditative, losing all sense of time, when suddenly darkness fell over you. You realized that you’d successfully reached the island and slipped into one of the cave passages he’d talked about. It was almost beautiful, the way the light refracted off the water and danced along the sparkling stalactites on the cave ceiling. Almost. The water was too brackish, smelling of rot, and occasionally you’d spot a rivulet of black ichor seeping down the rock walls rather than water. And it was too quiet, you realized–not a single sea bird call could be heard, no doubt all dead from disease or plaga predation long ago. Occasionally you’d hear the pop of distant gunfire, a few bursts, then all would fall silent again. Odd how it brought you a bit of comfort–it meant Leon was still alive and fighting his way to Ashley.

Luis was the first to hop off the boat when you reached the “cove”, really a thin strip of sand barely big enough to fit a grown man lying down, holding out a hand to help you with a little chivalrous quirk to his smile. The sand was slippery with slime, a little worn channel stained red from the drainage water flowing from a heavily-rusted pipe at shin-height that jutted out from a narrow passage chiseled in the rocks.

“No wonder no one uses them,” you couldn’t help but chuckle, glad you had at least a little humor left.

It seemed to ease Luis’s mind a little as well, the scientist giving you an encouraging pat on the back as he gestured to Efrain. “One last time–radio check?”

The smuggler held one speaker of the old headset to his ear, eyes narrowing beneath the shadows of his hood. “Chatter’s gone quiet, which means Saddler’s probably using the hivemind exclusively now. Either he’s gotten wise to third-party intruders or Leon’s really putting the screws to him. Last I heard there was trouble going on at the base of the mountain. Odds are the American’s managed to break through the gate to the keep.”

“Knowing Leon? Por supuesto,” Luis chuckled, giving you a reassuring wink. Stepping up into the crevice that was just big enough for him, he held out his hand, “Alright, stay close.”

You didn’t let go, even as you stepped into the darkness.

The passage was almost pitch black, even when your eyes adjusted, only the occasional weak red light giving you any idea of your surroundings. It was a disorienting, suffocating maze, the air thick as water (you hoped it was just water) seeped from unseen cracks and dripped slowly down the mineral-coated, rough-hewn stone walls, but Luis marched ahead confidently, never for a moment hesitating at each intersection.

Not knowing how far sound would carry, nor how thick the walls were, you whispered, “You memorize the route?”

“Absolutamente,” he replied with a brief glance back at you, tone similarly hushed but still playful–something you were beginning to learn he did on purpose to ease your nerves whenever fear or doubt started creeping in. “This was my way out. Time was of the essence–I only had a few hours at most to get somewhere safe before Saddler realized I’d removed the plaga.”

Sometimes you almost forgot just how smart Luis was–the flirting and light-hearted joking were quite effective smokescreens. His gentle, reassuring squeeze of your hand told you quite plainly he understood and didn’t mind.

The column of light that materialized ahead of you was almost a welcome relief. Almost. Problem was what it illuminated.

A ladder.

This was going to be tough.

“Almost there. Normally I’d say ‘after you’,” Luis murmured as he removed the bandages pinning your arm to your chest, “but I think you’re going to need me up above with a safety line, hm?”

“Sounds like a plan.”

Thankfully a quick search revealed a rope hanging from a nearby pipe, and after one end was secured to the waist of the Spaniard and the other to you, the both of you began the ascent.

Hooking your elbow on the rungs worked well enough, but it was a bit of an ordeal, your wet shoes slipping while trying to step up more than once. Still, right hand gripping white-knuckled as you clung so hard with your left arm you were sure to have bruises on your ribs, you managed to avoid testing the strength of Luis’s knot-tying. You were so focused on following the very deliberate order of operations required for safe ascent–step, right hand, left elbow, step, repeat–that you didn’t notice the faint whispering on the peripheral of your senses, nor the pressure beginning to build behind your eyes (nor the occasional opportunity to check out Luis’s ass). It was only when you finally reached the top level, Luis gently lifting you by the waist to help you onto the platform, that your ears started to ring.

…my flock…

“You alright, ¿mija?”

You felt something warm under your nose, reaching up to realize it was bleeding. “Something’s wrong…”

Just over Luis’s shoulder, you saw two bright, pale blue eyes floating behind him. The area was well-lit and plainly empty, yet the gaze stared defiantly into your soul.

The American… kill…

A moment later the pulse hit you like a freight train.

You’d felt it once before, shortly after you’d entered Ramón’s castle. It was weaker then, when an ominous cultist in red robes had compelled the rapid growth of the other cultists’ parasites, the horrifying, bloated worms bursting their hosts’ heads as they continued to puppet their bodies toward you. Those plaga had already matured enough to completely control their hosts before, however. This… the agony, the twitching of your muscles as something worked to control them, the oddly intoxicating brain-fog, the voice. You knew instantly.

Saddler.

He must not reach the girl! Rise, my flock! Stop him at all costs!

You were only vaguely aware of your collapse, seizing as all your neurons fired at once, body struggling to override the various chemicals and electrical signals the parasite pumped into you as it began to seize control, tearing its way to your spinal column. As though underwater, you barely heard Luis’s muffled voice, the panic the only thing you managed to make out.

Not like this! You didn’t want to turn into one of those things! You didn’t want everything you to effectively die as a creature locked you inside your own body, a puppet at the mercy of one madman’s aspirations. Did the ganados even know what they were doing? Were they forced to watch as their bodies moved on their own, poorly mimicking mundane life routines and murdering any poor innocent that got in the way? Or did they die slowly, painfully, the internal damage too much, unable to even cry out as their entire essence was slowly donned by this foul creature as some grotesque disguise? You didn’t want to find out which nightmare was to be your fate. Please, no!

And then a cold wave washed over you, starting as but a pinpoint of light in the dark, bloody sea you were drowning in, but it spread quickly. But rather than scooping you from the foul, roiling waters, it was like being cast from one ocean into another, then being held under. At least it was quiet, the overwhelming susurrus dying away as the lightning firing throughout your body fizzled, leaving you exhaustedly adrift with only the pounding of your own pulse in your ears.

The suppressant. The last little bastion of conscious thought in the corner of your mind was amazed that it was at all effective at this point. You couldn’t make much out after that. The agony of something ripping through you, sinking its claws into your very molecules, was replaced with a pulsing soreness, like you’d just finished the most intense workout of your life.

Anything outside of yourself came through a thick, syrupy filter; blurry, echoing, smearing.

You were floating barely above the surface of a mercury ocean, light reflecting off the ripples of liquid silver, obscuring much else from perception.

Murky figures in black robes hung like upside-down statues, passing one after the other like pillars in some submerged cathedral.

A low thudding, the distant, rhythmic thunk like that of an axe hitting wood, sounded somewhere beyond your deadened heartbeat, the gavel of some divine magistrate delivering judgment.

Carried by the waters, you were laid upon a plinth of stone as the waves washed the entrails of some dead, mighty sea serpent, across you. First one, then another, and another, until you couldn’t move beneath them.

Three suns rose in the misty gray sky, flitting like fireflies across the heavens. They brightened, then, until all you could see was white.

And then you were filled with a new agony, burning from the inside out, reality jumping from surreal and mildly unsettling to stark, pinpoint-clear pain. You knew you were screaming, but you could barely hear it above the shrill buzzing that had swallowed all. You couldn’t move, held down as you were, couldn’t escape this lance of pure, tortuous sunlight as it struck a void of writhing darkness lodged inside you like shards of glass. Shrieking, shattering, combusting. The only thing that anchored you, saving you from getting lost in the pain, was a strong hand gripping yours, keeping you from digging your nails into your wounded palm or tearing open the stitches, barely in the periphery of your perception. A lighthouse in a dark, foggy night.

Then, just like that, it was over. You had never felt so drained before in your life, wrung dry and pummeled into a fine powder. The last thing you heard before blessed darkness took you was a familiar voice gasping,

“İGracias a Dios!”

•••

You awoke slowly, hazy, formless dream and reality blending together as your senses slowly recalibrated after such a traumatizing experience. The first thing you could properly discern (other than the full-body soreness) was that same warm hand holding yours, a soft, familiar voice mumbling barely audible Spanish. Eyes cracking open, the bright, clinical light of the lab was almost painful, the world a bright, hazy mess for several moments. As things began to focus, you slowly turned your head to see Luis seated at your bedside, holding your bandaged hand between his as he rested his forehead against it. You could somewhat understand what he was whispering, recognizing the words enough to discern them as Catholic prayers.

“After all that’s happened…” your voice felt like sandpaper, but you had to say something—he looked so pitiful, “…I’m amazed you still believe in a god, let alone pray to him.”

Luis’s head snapped up, eyes glistening but bright as a smile uncharacteristically lacking of any sass or flirtiness bloomed across his face, almost as blinding as the lab lights.

“I’d pray to anything that’d bring you back to me, querida,” he rumbled, voice as sweet as syrup.

You couldn’t help but snort. “Maybe a poor choice of words when we’re in the heart of a cult compound.”

“Not when we’re finally safe in their blind spot.”

Trying to sit up suddenly in shock and excitement earned you a wave of lightheadedness and Luis’s gentle hand guiding you back down to the bed you’d been deposited on. That brief angle, however, did allow you to see a very important face—one you feared you might not ever see again.

“Ashley!”

The President’s daughter traipsed over with a grin like pure sunshine, her skin finally a healthy peach tone completely devoid of any dark veins. “How are you feeling?”

“Not as good as you,” you chuckled wryly, not even trying to hide your envy.

“You hit your head pretty hard back there, mija,” Luis crooned, affectionately brushing the hair from your face as he tapped the bandage wrapped around your forehead. “Mild concussion, I’d say.”

Well that certainly tracked with the hallucinations you’d experienced earlier. You hadn’t even noticed the wraps until he pointed them out to you. “What about Leon?”

“Never better.”

You almost shot back up again, though Luis anticipated this and was already holding up a scolding finger and tutting sternly. And so you simply craned your neck to see the agent look up from the papers he was studying on a nearby table, similarly looking hale and healthy, gifting you with a rare, subtle smile. “Glad to see you finally awake.”

It was hard to quite make sense of what you were seeing and what this meant—most likely thanks to the concussion. “How long was I out?” If you were all together again, and this was indeed Luis’s lab, then that meant…

You were all cured.

The answer of “Thankfully only about an hour,” from Luis was barely registered as a wave of emotions washed over you, each vying for control in an almost overwhelming rush. It was hard to even realize that you were crying as one thought managed to push to the forefront:

You’d done it.

You were safe, and all of you were alive.

“No no no no, cariño,” There was a hint of panic in the Spaniard’s eyes as he gently brushed away your tears with calloused thumbs, the kind of vicarious distress of a parent upset to see their child upset.

…or a lover.

No, you chalk that one up to the concussion—the likelihood of that was even lower than you all surviving this.

Ashley joined Luis in calming you with a gentle hand stroking your arm, a much-needed diving-line that helped guide you back to the surface. “You okay?”

“We did it?” you whimpered.

“We did it,” Baby Eagle confirmed with a squeeze of your shoulder.

“Not quite.”

A part of you wanted to roll your eyes (though it probably would’ve made you nauseous; Luis did so in your stead, muttering a clipped “Oye, time and place, Sancho!”). Leave it to Leon to be the party pooper. But by now you knew full-well just how reliable the agent’s instincts were and understood that he wasn’t so much pessimistic as realistic. First he analyzed the problem, and then he always presented a solution.

So you know he’d continue. “Saddler may not have control over us anymore, but he’s still a threat. I’m going to take care of the psychopath once and for all.” The satisfying sound of pistols being primed rang through the lab as he clearly prepared for a confrontation. “Luis, meanwhile, is going to get you and Ashley to evac.”

“And he’ll be right behind us once he’s done,” the Spaniard added, anticipating your protest. “We’ve got it all planned out—Leon’s got the map, Efrain’s got enough explosives rigged to convince Saddler’s private army that American backup’s finally arrived from the east, while I get you two señoritas to his boat at the western dock. All you need to do is take it easy.”

You couldn’t help but feel there were still a few loose ends swinging in the proverbial wind. “Weren’t you trying to negotiate an exchange with someone for escape before all of this? What about them?”

He clicked his tongue and shook his head. “I’m sure they can take care of themselves. Besides, I lost the goods thanks to Leon’s old buddy back in the caves. Ef will get us out of here for a US pardon. Trust me.”

While you couldn’t help but still be anxious, you did trust him, so you bit back any further objections.

As Leon headed for the door, Ashley stepped away to reach Efrain on the comm, leaving you and Luis alone for one last quiet moment.

His hands were still cupping your face, thumbs idly stroking your cheekbones. “I promised I’d get you out of here,” he murmured gently, “just like I promised I wouldn’t let you turn into one of them. We’re almost there, mija.”

And then he was leaning down to brush the softest of kisses to your forehead, quickly, barely more than a peck. Had his touch not kept you anchored in reality, you’d have been certain you were hallucinating. That couldn’t have been real. He couldn’t… You reached up to catch him before he could retreat too far, analyzing every micro-emotion that flashed in those gray eyes.

Surprise. Confusion. Realization.

Hope.

Amor. He’d said amor then, back in the foreman’s office. You hadn’t imagined it in your exhaustion. And his eyes said it again now, clear as a bell, amidst that shock identical to yours that you could feel the same.

Slowly you pulled him back, giving him every chance to stop you.

He didn’t. Not even when your lips touched his.

In fact, he leaned in, head tilting to better slot against you as his fingers crept to your hairline. It was relatively chaste, barely a hint of moisture felt, but it was like a fatal crack splitting a mighty dam in two; the completing of a circuit that launched a thousand fireworks. Luis, seemingly unwilling to bear parting from you for more than a breath, hissed a heated “Ay, mi vida,” before he swiftly closed the distance again, this time with searing intensity. You readily yielded to his tongue, welcoming him into the cavern of your mouth as you arched off the bed, desperate for more contact he was all too happy to provide, one large hand at the small of your back as he supported his weight above you on his opposite forearm. His scent washed over you–leather, tobacco, sandalwood, and traces of gunpowder–giving a pleasant, dreamy haze to your already floaty senses. You could be quite content to get lost in this moment forever, but the fingertips creeping just under the hem of your shirt whispered heated promises of more; of adoration showered upon you until the stars burst, just as soon as you were away from this place.

It felt at once too long and too short when you finally broke apart for air, a different kind of tears welling your eyes as they met his bright, shining quicksilver ones.

“Is this real?” you whispered, weak voice quivering in a mix of disbelief and joy.

Luis chuckled, the sound kindling a fire in your chest so warm you knew it’d never go out–your heart would become dependent on it. “After all that’s happened,” his smile took on that wry slant that had charmed you from the very start, mischief in his voice as he turned your words back on you, “I’m surprised this is what you have trouble believing.”

You clapped a hand on his face and shoved him away with a scoff, regretting rolling your eyes as you confirmed your hypothesis—it immediately made you dizzy.

He simply laughed good-naturedly and sat back in his chair, saying in a voice loud enough for Leon and Ashley to hear, “Alright, let’s get you two señoritas out of here,” adding in a lower, hushed tone for just you, “so I can show you just how real this is…” subtly adjusting his pants to relieve some… discomfort as he stood.

Your head went blank as your face went hot. How the fuck did he manage to do that? This wasn’t the first time he made something that could be misconstrued as creepily lewd instead so subtly hot that it short-circuited you. You’d always brushed it off, however–he was just a flirty guy, after all, and certainly would never be seriously interested in you.

And now here he was, his lascivious smirk tempered by the earnest adoration in his eyes as he offered a hand gallantly to help you up, even kissing the back of yours afterwards like a proper knight. You’d gone through hell, but it seemed you’d come out the other side with something… wonderful.

Now wasn’t the time, however. Now you had to concentrate on standing upright without swaying too much as you heard Ashley say into the comm, “Hit it.” You felt the vibration in the floor before the sound of a distant, muffled explosion caught up to it, triggering an immediate alarm that bathed you in red as sirens blared.

Leon, standing at the ready by the eastern door, met your eyes one last time. His trained neutral expression was oddly warm, comforting as only Leon could make it. Then, with a sharp nod, he was gone.

Fear immediately started bubbling up in you again, but Luis was right beside you in an instant, arm at your back to keep you steady and usher you through after him. Ashley then took his place as he drew his Red 9 and took the lead to heroically guide the three of you to the docks.

The distraction worked–the remarkably short route was empty of any opposition, and in what felt like no time at all you were being helped back into Efrain’s boat, the smuggler still cackling to himself about what a panic he’d stirred up. No, what ended up being the most difficult was the waiting afterwards. Retreating from the docks to anchor as close to the northern cliffs as they safely could, somewhere they wouldn’t be seen unless the witness was standing right at the edge, they had to sit in perfect silence, praying that Leon would be successful in whatever he’d planned to do to neutralize Saddler.

When the alarm stopped, you started fidgeting. When the gunshots started up again, you were trembling, welcoming the shelter of your knight’s arms–his coat was even opened up for you to burrow further within, perhaps because he thought you might also be shivering from the cold oceanic wind (a real possibility, but your head was too scrambled to really isolate any one sensation or emotion). Ashley was remarkably calm, brow barely creased in concern, as she kept her eyes squarely trained on the northern platform; the lack of a concussion probably helped, though being the President’s daughter she no doubt was already familiar with dealing with crises.

The roar that came next, however, made the whole boat flinch. You caught a glimpse of a massive, bladed tentacle thrash over the platform before you drew quickly back to the safety of Luis’s coat, pressing as close to his warm chest as you possibly could, screwing your eyes shut tight.

Trust him, you kept repeating to yourself, trust him trust him trust him. For once Saddler’s angry–that’s a good sign. Just trust him.

One shot. Two. Three.

Another roar.

Then silence fell again.

How exactly you missed the sound of the helicopter that approached the platform, you weren’t sure. You felt more than heard Luis’s chuckle. “I knew it,” he muttered to himself.

When another explosion hit, Ef quickly barking, “That’s not mine!” the panic started again. It soon became apparent that there were more being set off in a massive chain that stood to potentially level the whole keep. The smuggler was so desperate to get the anchor up that he was aiding the winch with his own hands, no doubt giving himself some pretty bad rope burn for his troubles, but it helped them gun the engine to a safe distance that much quicker.

But wait…

Was… was that the sound of another boat engine? It wasn’t the helicopter–it seemed to have vanished just as suddenly as it had appeared, the smoke covering its escape. You built up the courage to peek out from your jacket shelter.

Leon!

It was Leon! Shooting out from some hidden cave, the agent just managed to outpace the island’s collapse on a pilfered jet ski, none to worse for wear. A rare bright, boyish smile broke through his look of concern and concentration as he spotted you all–the last thing you saw clearly before your vision was swimming in tears again.

He did it.

You were free.

The evening was a blur after that. You remembered crying and cheering and so many hugs. Leon must have managed to contact whatever secret service department he was working for, as at some point you were intercepted by a Navy ship of some sort, which passed you to a carrier, where two helicopters were waiting–one for Ashley, the other for the rest of you. The last thing you remembered was dimly marveling at how fast the aircraft was before you fell asleep, Luis never once letting you go.