#wow i havent written in a while that really hit the spot

[the-drunken-huntsman]

Hiii arr u willing to answer all the TES months asks for Aneis and Murza and Dire please please please :} I know that's a Lot so if u want to skip over some that is totally understandable hehe

Morning Star - What was the first thing you gave your OC? Name, backstory, design, etc

Aneis: I guess technically the first thing I gave her was her name, even though I've since changed the spelling. I had liked the name Anais before picking up Skyrim (even though I was pronouncing it wrong lol) and had used it for my PC in Pokémon Sword and one of my SDV saves so I just used it again when I started Skyrim. Also side note, I've never watched The Amazing World of Gumball before today while babysitting and I had no clue that was the little sister's name.

Murza: The first thing I came up with for her was just a vague concept. I wanted to play around with mismatched race/class, so of course the first thing I wanted was an orc mage. The second thing I decided for her was that she was gonna be trans because hell yeah.

Dire: The first thing I came up with for him was also a vague concept. I had wanted to make a chaotic evil demigod type character and even though he's changed a lot since initial concept I figured the best way to achieve that would be to make him a demiprince. I wanted him to be kind of conniving and sly and settled on making him the son of Clavicus to get there. Originally he was going to be another one of Aneis' companions who was tagging along just for the vain glory of being a part of the dragonborn's adventures but you know how OCs sometimes seem to have a mind of their own and he eventually got to where he is now :)

Sun's Dawn - Does your OC have a love interest? What is their relationship like?

Aneis: Aneis was always a pretty promiscuous person. She knew she'd have to make Teldryn another one of her conquests from the first moment she saw him without the helmet. They hooked up a few times while traveling on Solstheim, but while going through Nchardak trying to get to the Black Book, he used his whole body to shield her from an automaton that had caught her off guard and that was it, she was done. That night in Severin Manor she sits him down and is like. Look, don't be alarmed and please don't leave because I still need you to guide me around this gods forsaken island. But I think I'm in love with you. To which Teldryn is like

Murza: You know the "me doing whatever my hot witch wife wants" meme? That's Murza and Endurys. However before they were married they were the epitome of idiots in love. Just stupid long stares and longing sighs in camp at night until one day Aneis snaps and shoves them in an inn room together and yells at them to not come out until they've fucked all the yearning out.

Dire: Dire is aroace do no romantic interests for him! But his absolute favorite people in the world are his little cousins and his little brother

First Seed - Does your OC have any enemies or rivals? How did these rivalries start?

Aneis: I know there's lots of people who read into the LDB's relationship to Miraak and how tragic his story is and blah blah blah, he makes my blood boil so Aneis feels the exact same way. As opposed to any other big bad she faces, (Harkon is Serana's White Whale before anyone else, Ulfric had to go for the well-being of the people in her opinion, and defeating Alduin was more for the people she loved and needed to protect than anything else) Miraak makes it personal for her, acting like some sort of sibling rival to her when Akatosh is nothing more to her than a perverted puppet master playing with her fate. She actually loathes any of the Dovah who call her sister without having earned that respect from her first (like Paarthurnax and Odahviing have). As far as she's concerned she only has one father and he never used her to clean up his messes, he gave his life trying to protect his homeland from the Dominion.

Murza: I've been wanting to play around with the concept of Savos Aren being the big bad of the College Quest line as opposed to Ancano. Like Ancano is still evil and shit, but like, Aren was actually in league with him the whole time. He needed the Thalmor's resources to get him to the Eye and the Staff and the second he has what he needs he betrays their shaky alliance. Anyway yeah I think Murza would kinda always be wary of Savos and it would also legitimize her succeeding him as opposed to any other member of the staff if she's the one who was able to fell him.

Dire: I wouldn't say Dire had any real enemies or rivals. I'm kinda keeping his story once he goes adventuring on his own open because of TES:VI supposedly being eminent and I might want to use him in that game. So as of right now, in the Skyrim timeline, he's just a lil guy? Who could hate that?

Rain's Hand - Can your OC use magic? If so what Schools?

Aneis: Aneis knows three spells: close wounds, clairvoyance, and muffle. All taught to her by her father as they're the most useful out in the wild while tracking prey. She can also do a bit of fire magic, but nothing more than just enough to light a campfire. She might later learn heal undead for the sake of Serana though.

Murza: I'm not sure what to say for her. She's the arch mage of course she uses magic. I guess she is particularly adept at conjuration, being a follower of Malacath and having a half daedric son

Dire: Dire would mostly be adept with alteration and illusion, but also conjuration because duh. I could see him as a very small child, using alteration to make his toys move without touching them, a slightly older child summoning small beasts from oblivion to play with (maybe even Uncle Barbas), and when his cousins are babies, using illusion to calm them down and keep them entertained.

Second Seed - Is your OC an alchemist? What do they excel at making?

Aneis: Araneth, Aneis' mother, was an apothecary. In the same way her father passed his hunting prowess to her, her mother also tried to give her as much of her knowledge as she could as well. She didn't much get it or appreciate it while her mother was alive, but later in life she put the effort into actually trying to understand her mother's teachings. She eventually becomes about as skilled as your average professional alchemist.

Murza: Gonna preface this with the fact that I still consider alchemy a school of magic even though it counts as a thief's skill in Skyrim. Anyway I think it would be the one school to slip her grasp. It's just too... material. Breaking an enemy's mind with a flick of her wrist? Summoning a sword from Oblivion that weighs nothing in hand but can slice through trees? Those are the kinds of esoteric things that Murza understands. Plants that need to be boiled at a certain temperature and creatures' innards that need to be removed in an exact precise manner? May as well be Dwemeris to her.

Dire: Dire is like his mother in that alchemy is just too far over his head. But he isn't as frustrated about his lack of comprehension as she is. Why would he need to worry about mixing potions when he can just find them well and good for the taking in every dungeon in Tamriel?

Mid Year - Does your OC have a favourite celebration? Do they celebrate holidays?

Aneis: Hircine's summoning day is a very special time for her. She always spends days hunting before hand, trying to gather as much a variety of pelts and trophies as she can for her offering. This is even though, as his champion, they are definitely not necessary, the woman fells dragons in his name. However she always prepares as much as she can for him, and once summoned she always has the same simple request for him. To deliver a message to her family in the Hunting Grounds, that she loves them, and misses them, and hopes she is making them proud.

Murza: Murza always tries to make it a point to be home at Lakeview Manor for the Witches Fest. She loves seeing the children dressed up and doing little tricks to entertain them. (This goes along with the headcanon that Lakeview Manor would eventually have a little village crop up around it)

Dire: He would very much enjoy the Jester's Festival, but his absolute favorite is Clavicus' summoning day. I've joked before that it's the only time he gets to play catch with his dad, but since he is also a small aspect of Vile in and of himself, I think the whole day he'd just feel a little closer to Oblivion and it makes him feel whole.

Sun's Height - What is your OC's favourite shop, in any of the games; what do they buy the most of?

Aneis: Aneis adores The Drunken Huntsman. Anoriath is a very talented fletcher and Elrindir is always game to swap hunting stories. They make the whole establishment feel like what she's been missing from Valenwood all these years away, even as a wooded building. They're probably the only people in Tamriel she trusts to service her family bow.

Murza: Murza actually likes hanging around Tel Mithryn. Neloth always has interesting, useful things to sell to her and she suspects he likes her company as she's much quicker to catch onto his teachings than his actual apprentice (sorry, Talvas).

Dire: Even though Enthir's displeasure at having a child on college grounds was always well known to Dire, he still likes bugging him to show him all the weird, cool things he has for sale, which he has no intention of buying. Just looking and maybe a little swiping to play with later.

Last Seed - What weapon does your OC use? Who taught them how to use it?

Aneis: Aneis' main weapons are her family's heirloom bow and the battleaxe gifted to her by Balgruuf. Her father taught her how to shoot and she's self taught with the axe. She'd honestly never touched a two handed weapon in her life before but she thought the nords might think it a great insult for her to not use a weapon gifted to her by the Jarl, so she just swung it around until she found what felt good and did the most damage.

Murza: Murza got her base knowledge of magic from Atub, but growing up in the stronghold she was also expected to learn to swing a sword. Though the swords she uses now are less... mundane. She uses summoned weapons. Idk if that got across lol.

Dire: Dire has had a natural affinity for magic since birth but he hones his craft under the tutelage of his mother and the other professors of Winterhold.

Hearthfire - Does your OC have a family (blood or found)? Who are they closest to?

I can answer this generally for all three characters. The whole of the found family (the people who live at Lakeview Manor) are Aneis, Murza, Teldryn, Endurys, Dire, Hab, Cinuri, Braiel, and the dogs, Sable and Merc. Aneis and Murza are closest to each other platonically, and though he'd never admit it, Dire is closest to Cinuri, she's his best friend.

Frost Fall - Where is your OC's primary residence? What city is there favourite?

Aneis: Aneis knows most of the Bosmer living in Skyrim find The Rift to be the closest approximate to their homeland, she finds the quite, backwoods nature of Falkreath reminds her much more of the area she grew up in. Of course she loves her quite little life on the homestead, surrounded by all her loved ones.

Murza: Technically, Murza's main residence is the college, but she tends not to spend much time there, mainly because she gets lonely. Endurys hates the cold having grown up in the shit hole of Eastmarch and avoids the college as much as possible and Aneis only goes if she's asked to specifically by Murza. So she ends up spending most of her year in Lakeview.

Dire: His parents have determined its much better for him to grow up in an actual stable home surrounded by actual stable adults, so most of his childhood is spent in Lakeview. However, once in a while, Murza will bring him with her on her trips to the college and he loves it. So many places to explore and get into trouble and so many people to bug until they relent and teach him something new.

Sun's Dusk - Is your OC religious? If so, who do they follow?

Aneis: Aneis' grandmother was a priestess of Hircine, her father a priest, and the rest of her family devotees. Their whole devotion is based on having such hunting prowess on their own, they have no need for the gift of the beast blood. This of course culminated in Aneis literally being born to be the greatest hunter of the greatest prey, the Last Dragonborn.

Murza: Murza has always felt like an outsider, even within her own tribe growing up, so she finds a lot of solace in the tenants of Malacath. She also keeps a quiet reverence for Dibella, as her priestesses were the ones who helped her become her most true self.

Dire: Dire doesn't really necessarily worship Clavicus Vile, he just kinda has this air of thankfulness around the subject of his daedric parent. After all it is through his connection to Oblivion that he is able to help so many people and keep his family together in the afterlife.

Evening Star - When is your OC's birthday?

Aneis: 27th of Hearthfire, 4E 153

Murza: 21st of Sun's Dusk, 4E 165

Dire: 30th of Mid Year, 4E 206

[70sgolden]

^ emphasis on the sometimes.

FIC REC MASTERLIST

here are my favorite h fics/blurbs/series/oneshots (in no specific order)

i havent been writing in a while bc im insecure lmao but here are a list of extremely talented people that always hit the spot <3

••••••••••

scorpio season (series) - @trulymadlysydney

rating: M

tags: fluff, smut, angst, ghost!harry, supernatural

love this series so much! as a scorpio i felt v special and this series made me laugh, cry, and thirst wow

plot: Harry is the ghost that haunts the sorority house, Misty is the only one who can see him, and Scorpio season is far too short.

••••••••••

citrine (series) - @moonchildstyles

rating: M

tags: fluff, smut, supernatural, witch!harry

changed my life wow i’m a witch myself and witchcraft was depicted very beautifully and i live this series so much!

plot: harrys a witch and he hasnt really been around people in a long time and the one day this girl stumbles upon his house and harry’s pretty sure hes fucked

••••••••••

a series of firsts (series) - @harrywritingsbyme

rating: M

tags: smut, some fluff

plot: a series of firsts between harry and y/n

HOT JUST HOT (; ANYTHING WRITTEN BY THIS WRITER IS JUST HOT <3

••••••••••

love you, that’s all (oneshot) - @hsluna

rating: PG

tags: fluff, very fucking cute

made my heart go boom

plot: Y/N and Harry have only been dating for a little and he tells her that he loves her for the first time.

••••••••••

bratty (blurb) - @haroldloverboy

rating: M

tags: SMUT

one of my go-tos for smutty blurbs it was really hard choosing one cause she has so many!

plot: in which Harry doesn’t like bratty girls and Y/N can be quite the beggar

••••••••••

panic attack (oneshot) - @muffindaddystyles

rating: PG

tags: angst, fluff at the end

i loved this so much!! very heartwarming

plot: Where you got a panic attack while attending a lecture at University and Harry’s out of reach.

••••••••••

tarnish (series) - @hes-writer

rating: PG

tags: angst, mentions of vomiting

anything written by this user is simply magical! i always feel in the story when reading their work. so good that i subscribed to the patreon even tho im broke lmao

plot: y/n finds a letter with a heartbreaking revelation

••••••••••

so… the weather?’ (oneshot/blurb??) - @perksofhs

rating: G

tags: fluff, cute

i love reading things with famous!reader soo this hit

plot: (ask) harry and famous reader are in a talk show and he has a crush on her. Maybe he accidentally hurts her while playing a game and he feels awful about it orrr maybe the host put a video where harry says that the reader is his crush and he gets nervous and embarrassed.

••••••••••

you get me closer to god (series) - @darthstyles

rating: M

tags: smut, dom!harry, mentions of guns/blood/violence, dom/sub dynamics, daddy kink, rough sex, various edgeplay

LOVE shit like this sm!! reminds me of the older wattpad days but this writing is actually good lmao. twelve parts so it’ll last you a good week and tht also means it’s rereadable (im gonna do it tn!)

plot : the daughter of a mob boss, after unrest in the underworld of america, moves to london under the protection of one of her father’s english associates, harry, head of london’s largest crime family.

••••••••••

demon harry oneshot - @jawllines

tags: demon!harry, smut in pt2

anything that this user posts is gold!! definitely posting more of their work on here because they come up with such unique and well-rounded concepts which is hard to come by in my opinion.

plot: harry is a demon and y/n is cute

••••••••••

hades!harry (series) - @adashofniallandasprinkleoflunacy

rating: M

tags: au, hades!harry, smut, fluff, angst

love aus so much!

plot: kinda self explanatory. hades!harry masterlist with different concepts that you’ll love!

••••••••••

feel it (oneshot) - @harrywritingsbyme

rating: FILTHY

tags: pain kink, degrading, spit, choking, daddy kink, size kink, more lmao

IM SWEATING. THIS SHIT WAS POWERFUL.

plot: y/n wants h to fuck her shit up and she gets just that. amen.

••••••••••

the tipping point (oneshot) - @floralsatin

rating: SAD

tags: angst, ANGST, ANGST.

tw// death and grieving

so well written and so fucking heartbreaking. i decided to put this in this list mid-read so you know it’ll fuck u up.

plot: “The final shove off the cliff of sanity.”

DEFINITELY MORE TO COME I READ A LOT! I’LL ADD TO THIS LIST AS I READ AND YOU CAN SENS SUBMISSIONS IN MY INBOX AND I’LL REVIEW!!

[machinegunbun]

2

The house you eventually park in front of is much like yours, just a bit bigger, since Colson didn't live alone. The sound of sirens outside is carried almost melodically in the freezing wind. You soak it all in, wondering about who else in this city felt so far from home and yet right in the thick of it.

"She's a beaut, huh?" Colson quips, motioning to the steps, "but at least we got it to ourselves tonight," his grin could stretch a city mile.

Once inside, Colson immediately turns on a nearby heater and clears the couch, grabbing his RAW tray off the busted up coffee table, almost muscle memory, it seems, for both of you. You lay a fat sack down on the rolling tray as he sweeps the papers out of the way.

"Damn, do you really got glaucoma?" He snorts, untwisting the top. "No wonder I can smell it thru your backpack." He is all smiles while he breaks it down. "Have a seat, make yourself at home," he offers, pointing to the couch cushion free next to him.

You sit down on the very edge, causing Colson to stop in his tracks.

"Aw, come on, don't do me like that," he pouts, pulling a folded blanket from the chair to his left. "I got blankies," he teased, knowing how drafty all these houses are the heater won't cut it. "I said, make yourself at home," he playfully insists, and unexpectedly, he grabs your thigh to pull you so close, you can feel the heat emitting from his jeans.

He continues as if nothing had even happened, luxurious tongue peeking out to seal the blunt. So you wrap the blanket across your laps, and act nonchalant, too, trying to force the lump in your throat all the way down.

"A backwoods, that's classic," you offer as a change of subject, watching mesmerized as the ambient lighting and warm tones of the fake flames of the heater danced across his chiseled face. Godddd, why couldn't you control yourself?

Colson smirked before running a lighter across it. "Only the best for my guest."

The two of you sit cozy under the blanket for a short period of time, passively hitting the blunt and savoring before passing, while Colson rigged up a speaker. As the hip hop played softly, you felt your muscles relax a bit, most they had in 6 years.

Colson began probing you with his eyes again, like he was about to start 20 questions back up.

"So, you're not really from around here, are you?" He digs, pressing a thigh against yours to turn to face you better.

"Ah, no," you say, nodding

"From....?" He prompts, rolling his hand before passing the blunt.

"Down South," you're ashamed the more you divulge.

Colson pulls a face. "You don't have an accent, though," he contests.

"Got rid of it," you shrug. "People think you're stupid," you smile back.

Colson takes a hand and begins rubbing your thigh softly, as if to comfort you, although he can feel the tension increasing doing just the opposite. "I wouldn't think you're stupid, at all," he husks quietly, serious.

You don't want to make a sound for fear it will come out as a squeak.

"Look, I would ask what brings you all the way out here, but..." He trails off before hitting the blunt hard. "I'm a blunt motherfucker, so I'll just say it. I know about the..." He is swallowing the wrong words, struggling despite his frankness. "Well, the whole crew knows about the... The statutory situation," he whispers, like someone is listening. "You don't really talk to nobody, so.. They got curious. There's... There's lots of articles."

You almost disassociate, so he takes it as a sign to continue.

"I couldn't imagine. So, if I'm making you uncomfortable..." He begins to look worried, the desire to backpedal immediately written across his face.

You physically snap back, and force him to stop leaning away from you.

"You're blunt, huh?" You ask, now trying to comfort him.

"Yeah. I'm sorry," he relaxes into your touch, though.

"You don't have any chains or ropes here, so I'm not here by force," you smile, darkly, almost transported back to 15 again.

Colson winces, sympathetically, before shaking his head (to no doubt clear images) the articles he had read that paint an all too vivid picture out of his mind like an etch a sketch.

"Look, I ... I really wanted to get to know you, and... Everybody told me it was a bad idea, you know? Like I would fuck up your life. But I just really can't resist, you seem so cool, so sweet," Colson trails off, realizing in your vulnerable state he had began being too vulnerable as well.

"Thanks. I know that sounds stupid, but, most people... Well, most guys, avoid me like the plague."

Colson melts back into the couch, into your warmth surrounding you, before beginning to pull a cigarette out for each of you. He passes it to you, so intuitive to how on edge you're feeling. He knows you too well already.

"You don't have to be scared, you know," you remind him, "you can keep playing 20 questions." You're joking but serious. "I've possibly purposefully not made any friends here yet. I salute you breaking the ice AND addressing the elephant in the room," you admit. "I like cutting thru the bullshit."

Colson takes a thoughtful drag from his cigarette while formulating his next question.

" okay," he sounds more at ease, "do you have a boyfriend?" He risks, wincing at how insensitive it sounds, but he correctly got the impression it was forgiven and you wanted to move forward exactly as he intended originally.

"Oooh, no, actually," you giggle at the spicy question. "Other than, the, ya know... Situation, shall I say, never been with a man before." You're shocked at how honest you're being.

Colson can't help his jaw dropping. "How... How old are--you're still a virgin??" He is stumbling over his words.

"21, and, yeah," you choke out, sudden shyness taking over.

It was so refreshing he considered you a virgin still that you could die on the spot.

"Whoa. Just.... Damn," Colson stuttered, as the etch a sketch cleaned his slate once again. Hopefully be was clearing thoughts of how tight you must be still, not how damaged you are.

"Do, um," he clears his throat while putting out his cigarette, "what kind of tattoos and piercings do you have?"

"None, of either, actually," you admit, eyes hungrily scanning Colson's inked up neck.

It seems he can't believe his ears.

"Are you.. Holy shit, no way? Prove it," he challenges.

You shrug the blanket and flannel off to expose your belly, shoulders, and lift your crop top to show nothing on collar bones. Colson looks like he would spit if he had water he was drinking. He wasn't expecting you to show him anything for real.

He lifts a tentative hand to your cheek to brush your hair behind the ear, "wow, no ear piercings, either. You're magical," he says heavily. "You're younger than me, by, like, a lot, but anyone... like you, I never would have guessed..."

You realize now that his knuckles still lay resting on your cheek, stroking it softly, and he'll be able to feel them burning red hot with embarrassment and desire The shame, because you've never done this before, never been so close and intimate with someone, and the desire as well for the same reason.

"You're better than I ever even imagined," he admits before falling silent, soaking up your reaction fully,

Colson breaks the silence first. "I want to kiss you," he states, voice dripping with lust, and cracking slightly.

As you place a hand over his much larger on your cheek, he takes this as a sign to keep going. Leaning forward, foreheads almost touching, Colson licks his lips and scans your face hungrily.

"Can I?" He prompts, impatient, pupils blown, and jaw tight with anticipation.

You feel like you barely nod, hand dropping off of his, before he grabs it tightly to put it around his neck.

"Like this, let me show you," he whispers, lips ghosting yours.

In one Swift motion he slides a hand under your lower back in order to lay you down gently on the couch, hovering above you, on the edge of deranged with desire, like a wolf standing over a downed deer. You figure Colson has never had to exhibit this much self control before.

"I wanna defile you, take your innocence," he rasps, thumb finding its way to your bottom lip, stroking gently, opening your mouth ever so slightly. "I want it to be mine, I've wanted this for so long," he smiles, his rock hard cock pressing with a ungodly heat against your pubic bone. He's not even hiding anything anymore, using your exposed tummy and clothed pussy to hump and grind softly in order take the edge off.

"Can I touch you?" He asks desperately, biting his lip so hard you thought it might bleed. "I want to help you relax a little," Colson whispers, though you imagine it's just as much for him as it is you.

"Anything you want, Cols." You're almost choking.

He lets out a dark laugh at this, and in an instant his hands feel like they're all over you, exploring, finally coming to rest at your jugular, feeling the intense pounding underneath his fingertips.

"You're scared?" It's a question as much as it is a statement. "Or turned on?" Colson raises a brow, other hand massaging your thigh, slowly curling it around his waist, positioning and posing you like a ragdoll, your body defeated and limp to his touches. You are in a state of bliss and fear. "Maybe both," he concludes, smirking.

At this you close your eyes, expecting any second to wake up from this all too familiar dream, as you've pined for your coworker possibly even longer than he has.

Suddenly, Colson is at your ear, breath hot and desperate. "Don't be scared babydoll, you're in good hands," he reassures, nipping at your earlobe in such a way it sends a shiver all throughout your body. "I... Will go... Slowww," he teases out painstakingly, "slow as you need me to," he adds gently.

It was then you were startled into the reality of the situation by the sound of his belt coming undone, soft noises as it is expertly slipped out of his belt loops in one, fluid motion. Colson feels you panic underneath him, and he is quick to respond to this.

—-

Havent had a chance to read it yet but i wanted yall to have fhis lmfaoo. A gift from bigblakdix to me to you

[ponyregrets]

ok fantasy again but this time someone gets accidentally hit with an honesty spell! you havent done that one before right? youve written so many things that despite the fact that ive read it all at least twice mostly 3 or 4 times i still struggle to keep track

I have not written that! And I ended up tweaking it a bit so it’s Bellamy and Clarke taking truth serum as part of a bet but whatev. Set at a generic magical high school equivalent, fyi.

AO3!

Of course, it's Murphy's idea.

"Griffin wouldn't make it a day, telling everyone the truth."

It's not like Bellamy disagrees. Clarke Griffin is one of those people who lives off of half-truths and insinuations. He's not sure how much she outright lies, but she absolutely massages the truth until it says what she wants it to say.

And sometimes it does piss Bellamy off, but in a guilty way, because he does the same thing, and it's easy to dislike people for reminding him of things he doesn't always love about himself.

It should be easy to dislike Clarke for all sorts of things. He has a list a mile long of things she does that piss him off. And yet, somehow, he can't quite talk himself around to actually hating her. Not even close.

It's the kind of personal failing he has not intention of telling anyone else about, so he smirks at Murphy and says, "Yeah, she'd probably die right on the spot."

"That's what I'm saying," says Murphy. He holds up a vial and shakes it, grinning. "Truth serum. Think you could get it in her food?"

The thing is, Bellamy knows he could. He argues with Clarke all the time, often at meals, and he wouldn't have any trouble slipping it into her drink or her food or something while he was doing it. Clarke isn't always that observant when she's busy fighting with him. He'd have no trouble at all.

And everyone is watching him, which means he that he can't not do it. Not without saying that he thinks it's a dick move and Clarke doesn't deserve it. No one deserves it, if he's really honest. Which he isn't, because honesty, true honesty, the kind that comes from potions and spells, the kind that you can't get out of, that kind of honesty is fucked up. Even the most honest people tell lies. And Clarke isn't the most honest person, of course. It's not like Murphy is wrong to think she'd suffer under truth serum. But Bellamy doesn't know what an honest Clarke Griffin looks like, and he's honestly a little afraid to know.

But he's not going to tell Murphy that.

So he takes the vial with a smirk. "Yeah," he says. "I bet I can get her to take it."

*

Clarke is sitting alone at breakfast the next morning, all her attention on a book, and she keeps missing her tea cup when she tries to pick it up because she's not paying any attention. He could slip the serum in without her even knowing he was there, let alone the potion.

Still, there's a large part of Bellamy that likes Clarke. Much larger than the part of himself that doesn't like her. He doesn't want to, because she's the golden girl, the rich, perfect princess who's never had to work a day in her life. But after three years in school together, he's realized that even though she doesn't have to work, she does. Clarke is the real deal, and even if she's privileged, she's smart and capable and good. Bellamy isn't her friend, doesn't know how to be, but--honestly, sometimes he wishes he could figure it out.

Which is why he sits down next to her and puts the vial between them, blocked by his own body, so Murphy won't be able to see that he's showing Clarke.

"I'm busy," she says, not looking at him. "Whatever you want, I'm not interested."

"Really?"

She does look up then, just to glare at him. "What makes you think I'd be interested in anything you have to say?"

"Your spirit of adventure."

Her eyes flick down to the vial. "You aren't seriously trying to get me high, are you?"

"Think of it more as a wager. Twenty-four hours, no lies."

Clarke picks up the vial, gives it a pensive shake. "It's not much of a bet if we can't lie," she says. "That's not actually a challenge."

"Which one of us lasts longer," he says. "Before we decide to play sick instead of being honest."

She puts the vial back down on the table. "Why don't you just tell me what's really going on?"

It's basically what he was expecting, and he leans in close. "Look, I know I'm an asshole, but I'm not enough of an asshole to force you to tell the truth. That's dangerous, if you don't know about it. But Murphy came up with this, and he thinks I'm here, sneaking this into your drink to mess with you. So--"

"So you're going to take it too?" she asks. "That's your solution? Have you thought about just saying no? He's your underling, right? Aren't you supposed to be in control of them?"

He shrugs. "Maybe I'm curious what it looks like, if Clarke Griffin actually tells the truth."

She considers the vial. "What do I get? If I last longer than you."

"What do you want?"

She drums her fingers on the table. "Ancient Languages."

"What about them?"

"That's my worst class. I could get by the last few years, but this year is--it's bad. Once we get out of memorization and into theory, I suck. I could use some help, and I know you're the teacher's pet."

His heart does some odd things in his chest. Clarke can ask him for anything, and she's asking him for help. With her homework.

It takes a real effort to not grin.

"Yeah, I can do that."

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"It's a bet. What do you want?"

"Enchantments," he says. It feels fair; that's his worst subject, the same as Ancient Languages is for Clarke. And if her reward is going to involve spending time with him, his is going to involve spending time with her too.

"Yeah, you suck at Enchantments."

"So, if I lose, you help me with Enchantments."

Clarke takes the vial out of his hand, toying with it thoughtfully. "Whoever can last longer?"

"It'll be gone in twenty-four hours. So, yeah. Whichever one of us can be in public longer."

"Deal," she says, and takes off the top of the vial to take a long sip.

When she hands it back, Bellamy toys with the idea of not taking it, but he's not that kind of asshole. They have an agreement, and he's sticking with it.

He finishes the potion and stuffs the empty vial in his pocket. "Are you feeling it?" he asks.

"I think so. You?"

His stomach is all knots and swirls. It's a little alarming. "Definitely." He exhales. "Okay. Well--have a good day?"

"You too. But--" She worries her lip. "We should pick a meeting time. Tonight. Before it wears off. So we'll be honest about how long we could last."

"Oh, yeah. Uh--eleven?" he offers. "By the lake? I assume you can sneak out."

"Yeah, I can make it. See you tonight, Bellamy."

"And in class," he points out. "Unless you're bailing before first period."

"You wish." She opens her book. "Much as I'd like to keep arguing with you, you should go. I have to study."

It can't be a lie; it's not possible. Clarke Griffin would genuinely like to keep arguing with him.

"Hope you do well on whatever you're studying for," he says, just as truthfully, and steals her apple as he goes.

It's probably going to be an incredibly shitty day. But he still can't help grinning.

*

The problem with truth serums is not that they make you tell the truth. Bellamy lies while (technically) telling the truth all the time. It's easy to deceive without lying, and truth serums are designed to prevent that. From what he's read, you can tell a half truth, and then the serum will just make you spit out the rest.

Which is why the first person he goes to is Miller.

"I need you to keep Murphy away from me today."

Miller raises his eyebrows. "Yeah? Why?"

"Because I bet Clarke I'd last longer on truth serum than she would."

"What does that even mean?"

"Not much," Bellamy admits. He nearly adds honestly, but it's redundant. "I said one of us was going to give up and decide we couldn't interact with people, but we're both too stubborn, so we're both going to last the whole day, no problem."

There's a pause. "Okay, start over. Why did you take it?"

"Because I wanted to be fair," he says. And then the words just--swell in his mouth. He can't quite explain it. He didn't even think he wasn't telling the whole truth, but the serum disagreed. "I wanted her to take it, but I couldn't just sneak it into her breakfast, I'd be an asshole. She had to agree."

Miller is kind of staring at him, unimpressed, and Bellamy can't blame him. But all he says is, "Hey, did you want to make out with me sophomore year?"

"Yeah."

"Fuck, I knew it. I should have asked."

Bellamy snorts. "So, you're going to help, right?"

"Yeah. I've got your back."

*

Third period, Raven Reyes sits down next to him and says, "So, you have to tell me the truth about everything, right?"

"Yeah. Clarke told you?"

"I assume you have someone watching your back to make sure you don't get fucked over by this too."

"Miller. But here you are, so he's not doing a good job."

"Maybe he just knows I'm trustworthy."

Bellamy snorts, but what comes out of his mouth is is, "Yeah, he knows I don't care about telling you anything." Raven's cool. She's not going to fuck him over.

That makes her laugh. "Wow, you really are whammied, huh?"

"I assumed you tested it on Clarke."

"Obviously. But maybe you were fucking with her."

"I wouldn't do that," he says. "Not with something like this." Something about the statement makes him feel odd, and he clears his throat. "What did you ask her? To see if it worked."

"See, I didn't take a truth potion, so I don't have to tell you." She considers. "You planning to ask Clarke any asshole shit?"

"Not planning to," he says. "It's not like we talk much, most days. But I told Miller to keep Murphy away from her. You might want to help with that. It was his idea to give her the serum, so he might try something."

"Does he know you took it?"

"No. You think I want Murphy to have full access to everything I've ever thought?"

"You should really reconsider your personal relationships," says Raven, tapping her jaw. "It's pretty fucked up that you trust me and Clarke more with your total honesty than someone who's supposed to be one of your best friends."

"If I knew how to be friends with Clarke, I'd be doing it," he says, and then clamps his mouth shut, like that would actually work. But apparently that's sufficient truth on the subject. Nothing else spills out.

"You know you're a dumbass, right?" Raven asks, finally.

"Yeah," he says, without any assistance from the serum. "I know."

*

He goes outside for lunch, away from his regular table, and he's only there for a few minutes before Clarke sits down across from him. She looks less frazzled than she did this morning, and he doesn't think he has to smile at her, but he wants to, and he might as well be honest about it.

"Hey. How was your test?"

"It was a presentation. It went pretty well, but you know you're majorly advantaged in this thing, right?"

"I know," he says. "But I'm not sure what specifically you mean."

"I had a Q and A session after my presentation," she says, and he winces. "Yeah. It wasn't that obvious, and Professor Pike just told me that while he valued my honesty about how much time I'd put into the project and how late I was up working on it, I didn't have to share that. And he told me to do it earlier next time, if possible."

"Sorry."

"I assume you got to make sure you'd done all your work and didn't get caught admitting that you didn't read the chapter."

"Maybe I always do the reading," he says, and then, immediately, "Yeah, no, I planned it. I made sure I was on top of all my work and read about what I should expect from having to tell the truth."

"Wow, you really wanted to win this meaningless bet, huh?" she teases.

"I wasn't just going to go in blind. But I don't really care about winning. I figure we're both going to make it the whole day anyway. You're too stubborn to quit." He thinks he's done again, but the serum doesn't. "I'll help you with Ancient Languages either way," he adds. "All you have to do is ask. I like hanging out with you."

"I like hanging out with you too. I wish we did it more," says Clarke, and bites the side of her mouth. "So--this is really stressful."

"Which part?" he asks.

"The serum. I haven't had anything bad happen, but I can't stop worrying that something will. Someone's going to ask me the wrong thing and they'll realize it and there go all my secrets."

Bellamy swallows hard. "It's really that bad?"

"I don't know," she says, and her mouth twists a little. "It feels that bad. Someone's going to ask me something that I'd usually be polite about, and I won't. You must get it. You're polite sometimes, right?" she teases, but the potion kicks in. "I know you are."

"You know I am." He wets his lips. "So why did you take it? You could have said no. I was expecting you to."

"Because you asked," she says. She looks down, but of course she can't actually stop talking. "You don't really ask me to do much, and I always want to spend more time with you, so of course I said yes. It's just a day, right? I can survive."

"Uh--if I ask for more details about that, am I being an asshole?" Bellamy asks. His mouth is dry. Clarke likes hanging out with him. She always wants to spend more time with him. Clarke secretly likes him, except that it's not a secret anymore.

"Yes," she says, but she's smiling. "Raven said you wanted to be friends with me."

"I do," he says, and then, of course, "I also want to kiss you. Right now. And later. Always, basically. I always want to kiss you. And--"

The press of her lips shuts him up, but his mouth is still trying to detail all the things he wants to do to her, because fuck truth serum. They could be making out, and instead, he's still trying to talk.

Clarke pulls back, laughing, just in time for him to say, "I think I'm kind of in love with you."

She grins. "You know, there are better ways to confess than truth serum."

"Yeah. But at least you know I really mean it."

"There is that." She kisses him, but just for a second before her own honesty kicks in. "I think I'm kind of in love with you too."

"Oh."

This time, when he kisses her, neither of them has anything to interrupt with, so he just keeps going, hand tangling in her hair, mouth urgent. And she responds just as eagerly, smiling and tugging him closer, perfect.

"Sorry this is so stressful for you," he murmurs, and she laughs.

"I'm feeling a lot better about it."

"Still. I was going somewhere with that."

"Yeah?"

"If we both skip our afternoon classes, no one loses the bet. We both give up at the same time."

She grins. "I was actually thinking the same thing."

"Clarke Griffin wants to blow off class to make out?" he teases. "I never thought I'd see the day."

"Well, I hear you do it all the time, so--"

"Not nearly as much as people think," he says. "I care about my grades. And I haven't wanted to, lately. Most of my afternoon classes are with you, so I'd rather be there."

She bites her lip. "You better keep telling me how much you like me after this wears off."

"As much as you want," he promises, and doesn't need the serum to know that he means it.

*

Murphy corners him the next day. "Dude, don't tell me you used truth serum to get Griffin to admit she's into you. That's not how it was supposed to go."

Given that Harper McIntire walked in on them making out when she left class due to actually being sick, it's pretty hard to deny that he and Clarke hooked up. Plus, he found her on the way to breakfast and held her hand, which she didn't seem to mind, and he honestly has no desire to pretend that he's not dating her. He'd like to tell everyone that he's dating her.

But, again, Harper caught them, and their rivalry is the stuff of legends, so the news spread fast. He doesn't have to tell anyone; they already know.

Still, he appreciates the ability to not tell Murphy the whole truth. It feels like such a luxury. "Maybe when she's honest with herself, I'm just irresistible."

Murphy just rolls his eyes. "So, what, you're just dating her now? That's what a whole vial of truth serum got me?"

"Yeah, that sounds about right." He claps Murphy on the shoulder, gives him a huge, stupid grin. "Honestly? I can't thank you enough."