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aetherdoesthings · 2 days

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I really hope that one day suddenly one orphan child will be a friend with reader like arlecchino and clerve

would you like to be friends? (pt. 4)

forethoughts: while the votes are piling in as to if i'm writing smut (yeah i'm 100% writing smut), enjoy this little writing i wrote :)

notes: child!gn!reader, NOT AN X READER READER IS A CHILD!!!

Life as Father’s child was different from life in the House.

Father had helped you move your belongings from the room in the House to her own private estate in a secret location you didn’t know.

Your room was twice the size of your room in the House, and you even had butlers and maids that would tend to your every need.

You no longer wore rags or worn out clothing; you always had the most pristine and luxurious clothing.

Even your nightwear was expensive.

Everyday, you spent your breakfast, lunch, and dinner eating with Father, discussing various details or events you wanted to share with her. You treasured every moment you had your daily meals with Father. Father, the busy woman she is, never always had the time to be by your side every second of the day. But your meals? No, that was a must that you will spend your meals with her. You didn’t protest against it.

Father didn’t spoil you, of course. Father still made you do your chores and work like you were in the House again. She still found the time to play together with your new toys every once in a while.

Sometimes Father would bring you back to the House again when she wanted you near her. It was always a reluctant ‘yes Father’ whenever she asked you. While she worked you could go to the ‘playroom’ and play with your new toys, or just wander the halls until you find something interesting to bide your time.

It was one of those days when Father had something to do in the House, and wanted to bring you with her because the butlers and maids were on their break. Father was very kind, much to people’s thoughts. So while Father worked in her office, you wandered around the halls, making your way to the ‘playroom’ with your toys in your hand.

Just as you opened the door, your muscles stiffened, grip on your blade tightening as you saw a tiny figure inside the room.

A girl with magenta hair and sea green eyes with a white headband was standing in your spot, trying to lift a sword like you did on that fateful day. She was about your height, maybe taller, to your dismay. Your heart fluttered as you stared at her trying to do the same thing you did on that day, so lost in trying to swing the blade she didn’t even notice you standing there.

You opted to stop the girl before she could hurt herself like you did after a while of watching her be by herself.

“You aren’t allowed in here.” You said with a steely voice as you closed the door behind you, turning on the light switch. The girl screamed, her eyes meeting yours as she dropped the sword. Thank the archons she didn’t hurt herself.

The girl quickly recomposed herself as you approached her, putting on a smile. “I-I… uh… was just… looking around.”

The girl dropped her tone, looking into your eyes, her eyebrows furrowing.

Crap.

“Hey, you look familiar.” The girl exclaimed, examining your body. Certainly she didn’t recognize you; your appearance practically changed the minute you became Father’s child. You had dyed your hair white and black like Father’s, and only wore black and white like Father. You were practically Father’s child self.

“No I don’t.” You scoffed, moving the girl aside from your play area.

“Yes, you do. You’re…” The girl let out a gasp. “You’re Y/N! You’re the one who got adopted by Father! Woah… that means you’re also the one who cut up Fredrick and Clint! You’re really popular, you know!”

You flinched at her tone, occupying yourself with setting up your playroom the way you liked it. “I didn’t cut them up. They cut themselves up.”

“Woah… you even look like Father.” The girl stared at you with her jaw glued to the floor. She shut her jaw, smiling widely at you. “I’m Cynthia! Nice to meet you!”

You glanced at Cynthia, before grabbing the second training dummy. “You’re not allowed in here. Only Father and I are.”

“Oh. I wasn’t aware of that. Sorry.”

“Just go. You’re disrupting my time.”

“Oh.” Cynthia frowned. Your heart churned at that frown, twisting into itself until you let out a sigh, facing Cynthia.

“You can… stay… if you want.” You muttered begrudgingly. “I don’t care.” Cynthia smiled brightly, hugging you. “Yay! Thank you, Y/N!”

You let out a grunt of disapproval as she hugged you. Cynthia removed her hands around your body, dipping her head. “Sorry. Not a hugger, aren’t you?”

“Hmn.” You were a hugger. Only for Father’s hugs. Not some random kid.

You ran your usual training routine Father had taught you, while Cynthia watched from afar. You tried to put on your best performance; you were being watched by someone not Father after all.

“Woah!” Cynthia clapped every single time you performed a standard move, watching you like you were some circus performer. You resisted the urge to tell her to pipe down and shut up. Well, it wasn’t that hard. Something about her constant cheering and support made your movements much more confident and eloquent, a small grin on your face when she would clap.

“Is that how you hurt Fredrick and Clint?” Cynthia asked, as the two of you sat down in the ‘playroom’, eating your lunch next to each other. You watched Cynthia eat her plate of fried rice while you snacked on the wrap Father had packed for you, your blades put to the side.

“No.” You responded.

“How did you then?”

You looked at Cynthia with a strange expression. “Why do you want to know?”

“I think it’s kinda cool you beat up the most popular kids.”

“Do you want to do the same?”

“...Kinda. They got too full of themselves, you know!”

You chuckled, shaking your head. “Violence isn’t everything.” You repeated Father’s words.

“I guess.” Cynthia smiled, looking at you. “Your hair looks really pretty. Maybe… turn around!”

Reluctantly, you did. Cynthia placed her tiny hands into your hair, combing through the locks. She grabbed a few strands of your hair, and began playing with the strands.

“What's it like being Father’s child?” Cynthia asked.

“It’s nice.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“How so?”

“Well… I live in a very big room in a very big house.”

“Woah! That sounds really nice!” “It is.” You smiled, as Cynthia let go of your hair, spinning you around. “There! You look really really pretty now!”

A drop of warmth filled your heart, adding to the flame inside you. “Y-You think?”

“Yeah!” Cynthia smiled. “Say.. Y/N.. would you like to be friends?”

Friends.

You never had friends.

No one ever asked to be your friend.

“You… want to be friends?” You repeated her sentence.

“Yeah! You seem like a really really cool person, and I’d love to be friends with you!”

You looked into those sea green eyes that glimmered with energy and hope, unlike Father’s obsidian ones with red crosses in them that promised warmth and comfort. A friend. Your first friend.

“O-Okay.” You said, smiling.

“Yay!” Cynthia beamed, hugging you. She immediately retracted her arms, looking at you with an apologetic smile. “S-Sorry. I’m a big fan of hugs.”

“It’s…okay. You can hug me if you want.” You mumbled softly, hesitantly smiling at her.

“You have a really nice smile.” Cynthia giggled, placing two thumbs on either end of your mouth, pulling it upwards slightly. “You should smile more, grumpy pants!” You naturally smiled at that comment, the corners of your mouth exceeding Cynthia’s thumbs.

“Sure.” You said. Suddenly, the door to the ‘playroom’ creaked open, revealing Father’s figure.

“Oh.. Y/N. And Cynthia. What are you doing here? This is a dangerous room.” Father said, walking towards you. She picked you up, before taking Cynthia’s hand.

“O-Oh.. uh… I was just looking around. Sorry, Father.” Cynthia mumbled, trying to come up with something.

Father look at you, then at Cynthia, before letting out a sight. “Alright then. Off you go. The others will be missing you.” Father smiled at Cynthia, petting her head before sending her off. Cynthia waved her hand at you, flashing you one more smile before she ran off. The fluttering feeling in your heart faded away, the image of her smile imprinted into your head.

Father noticed that grin on your face as she carried you back to her office. “Perhaps we can visit the House more often then, dear.”

Your cheeks flushed red, burying your head in Father’s collarbone. Of course even Father knew. “F-Father!”

Father let out a laugh, ruffling your hair. “Don’t fret, my dear. It’s perfectly normal for a child your age to-”

“FATHER!”

#genshin impact #arlecchino #arlecchino genshin #arlecchino x reader #my child #aetherwrites

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tidekissed · 3 months

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the night after

pairing: simon blackquill and zale lowell-edgeworth

words: 653

warnings: none

even when you're let out of prison on false charges, they don't help you get back on your feet.

want on my taglist? click here!

The rainy night he is exonerated, he has nowhere to go.

With Aura taking his place in prison (but thankfully not on death row and not for long; he wasn’t sure if his heart could take that) and with Athena barely even having space for herself in her tiny junior partner lawyer salary LA apartment, he genuinely believed he would have to find a shelter to sleep in until he got on his feet.

He wasn’t sure why he didn’t remember the fact that his boss and Zale wouldn’t let that happen.

“Hey,” she said with a wave, peering out of the window of Miles Edgeworth’s red car. “Come get in!”

Zale and her brother had…waited outside the jail for him?

“Prosecutor Blackquill, you will become quite cold standing in the rain like that. Please, get in. And don’t worry about getting the seats wet. This car has had a body in it—a little water won’t hurt it.”

That was certainly a story for another time.

With a stiff nod, he complied, sliding into the backseat next to Zale. “Thank you both,” he muttered.

“It’s our pleasure! And really, thank Miles for driving in LA traffic. I would never.” Zale gave a fake shudder to emphasize her point, and he couldn’t help but smile.

“I recall you fear driving. Nevertheless, I appreciate you coming as well. I do not currently have anywhere to reside, so I’m heading to a shelter downtown. Thank you.”

“Nonsense. You have the choice between my place or Miles’s.”

She said it as naturally as breathing, and his chest twisted in a way that was not entirely unpleasant. “I beg your pardon?”

“You can either live with me for a while or live with Miles. We’ve got the room, and we would be happy to have you.” She raised her eyebrows teasingly. “Do you think so little of me that you believe I would toss you aside to fend for yourself?”

“Not at all.”

The words come out before he can even register their tone and weight, and by the look his boss gives him through the rear view mirror he knows it sounded much softer than he intended to let show. The way she had so wholeheartedly defended him in the forced trial really had done something to him.

“Good. Which one sounds best, then? I was going to tell you that you’re coming with me, but I didn’t want you to feel backed into a corner if you were uncomfortable. I’m able to just set up a long term hotel stay for you as well if that would—“

She was starting to get nervous. He needed to nip that in the bud.

“Balderdash. It would be my honor to stay with you, if…you will have me.”

Her eyes actually brightened despite the gloom outside, the closest to cheerful he had ever seen her. “Of course I will. I hope the place is to your liking. My brother is the one with the actual house, but…my apartment does what it needs to do. Miles, could you drop us off there? I think we should get dry before we go grab groceries and toiletries and clothes and all that.”

“Sure. Will you both be alright walking in the rain?” It was endearing how the infamously cold Chief Prosecutor doted on and fretted over his youngest sister in his own way.

“We won’t melt or anything, Miles. I can give Simon an umbrella until we get him a proper rain jacket, and we’ll be on the train most of the way anyway. Does that sound ok, Simon?”

She had never addressed him by his first name before. That twisting in his chest became searing white heat that lit his entire heart ablaze. “Y-Yes, that sounds fine…Zale.”

As she showed him her genuine small smile, he found himself looking forward to the new day for the first time in seven years.

#deep sea scrolls #🪶#sigh.

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hotspurpercy · 8 months

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BETA READERS CALL !

do you like horror, polyamory and the tense of atmosphere of small towns? then i have good news for you: i'm looking for an unlimited number of beta readers for my 98k words novel, a strange kind of hunger.

SYNOPSIS —

1853. sweetwater, massachusetts, swallows people whole. dr. jonathan fallow thought he escaped its grip four years ago, but he finds himself back in its clutches, as winter creeps in.

sweetwater swallows people whole, but it seems to be in the maw of something else. tracks in the forest; mutilated cattle; a howling chorus. the townsfolk are quick to cry devil, encouraged by their firebrand pastor, gabriel goodwin. jonathan is determined to prove that the creatures lurking in the woods are wolves, nothing more — but a night vigil and a glimpse of something horrifying force him to reconsider.

to expose the rotting heart of the village, he’ll have to form an alliance with a faceless traveller, a disgraced former surgeon — and the pastor’s beautiful younger brother.

( trigger/content warnings: gore, body horror, familial abuse (largely off-page), religious abuse/trauma. a more in-depth list of warnings for each chapter will be available on request )

HOW THIS WILL WORK —

if you're interested in beta reading, DM me here (@wifewulf) or on discord (@/hotspurpercy) to let me know.

beta readers will have until the 30th of september to finish ASKOH. unless you're a mutual, please don't sign up unless you know you can finish it by then

beta readers will get access to a private discord server where you can read ASKOH and give feedback, as well as get some bonus short stories and art pieces from me!

there's currently no limit on the number of beta readers i'm looking for. however, if a lot of people sign up, i may prioritise mutuals and readers of colour

( + TAGLIST UNDER THE CUT ! )

@villaneve / @vandorens-archive / @nallthatjazz / @starshots-blog1 / @cannivalisms / @perditism / @spillme / @upoffringar / @thelittlestspider / @wildswrites / @brownpaperhag / @akoumi / @quilloftheclouds / @absolute-nonsense-scribblings / @birdywrote / @tiredlittleoldme / @strangerays / @ninazeniks / @authortango / @aetherwrites / @caravagest / @chazzawrites / @anavkour / @videsnoir / @karamel-pop / @philocalizt / @cryptidsandqueers / @stephwriteswords / @muddshadow

#judith.txt #wip: a strange kind of hunger #askoh 2023 #i know at least a few people have already expressed interest #excited to see who else wants to give it a go!#writers of tumblr #writeblr #amwriting #beta reader #beta readers wanted #horror #horror writing

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one-winged-dreams · 3 months

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@dearly-beeloved @adoredbyalatus @aetherwrite

#ALSO DAE TELL MEEEE ABOUT YOUR AU #bee!#dae!#cloudy!#so i stayed in the darkness with you #aus

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druidx · 8 months

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Heads Up, Seven Up (7 lines), Nine Lines, & Last Line tag games

As might be obvious, I’m really bad at getting around to doing things. I’ve been saving up all my Seven Lines, Nine lines and Last Line tag games because “I’ll get to it someday. Honest!”

I’ve now got so many, I figured out I could just mash them together to help me finish editing Alexis Dalliance vs the Evil of Titan, and call it good.

I took 5 random pages from the work and used a nice online tool to work out that I write an average of 9.8 words per line, which means I need to complete 2,166 words of editing.

Thank you to everyone who’s tagged me in one of these games (it's been so long, probably some of you don't even remember, and some of you no longer seem to exist any more):

@aetherwrites, @alexsidereus x2, @alias-levi, @aquadestinyswriting x4, @artdecosupernova-writing x2, @autumnalwalker x3, @blind-the-winds X3, @chauceryfairytales, @corkythewriteblr, @eli-writes-sometimes x3, @faelanvance x2, @lake-arrius-caverns, @laurabwrites, @mariahwritesstuff, @odysseywritings x2, @oh-no-another-idea x2, @rewrit, @ryns-rambling, @shadowlight-inkedthoughts, @sleepyowlwrites, @spacetimewraithwrites-archive, @strosmkai-rum, @toribookworm22, @tracle0 x2, @viawrites-andacts x2, @whimsyqueen, @winglesswriter, @writingamongther0ses x6, @writingmaidenwarrior, @writingonesdreams, @zmwrites x2, @iparisaltanwing

I ended up writing a little over the target; this is 2500 words.

CW war crimes, slaughter of innocents, a falling Paladin, unusual dialogue marks, swearing

"What do you mean?" Alexis asked after she’d overcome her surprise at seeing the gnome, "How is it sick?" "It’s the lizardfolk who live in the center of the swamp," the gnome said. "They used to live in harmony with the swamp, but recently…" He sighed. "I don’t know what’s wrong. Something’s gotten into them, something evil. They’re destroying vast swathes of the swamp, cutting down trees, burning the brush, befowling the waters." Alexis glanced over at the others. "We might know the reason for this change. The lizardfolk have been drawn into a cult which worships a Demon Prince from the Pit. They must be working on the Demon’s orders." The gnome paled. "Yes. I understand now. I have seen great holes carved in the ground, blocks of stone being dragged to a central site." "They must be constructing a new temple to base their portal on," Richard said. "My friend, we aim to stop these bloodthirsty monsters from bringing the Demon Prince through to this world and destroy the cult." "Stopping the cult will mean the swamp is safe again," Alexis added. The gnome lit up. "Then you have my thanks, Paladin!" "Call me Richard," he said. The gnome shook his hand. "And I am Wurzle Moslicker." "We aim to stop the lizardfolk," Alexis continued after introductions had been made, "but we’ve run into a small snag. The boat we were told was here isn’t, and we cannot cross into the swamp." "Oh!" Wurzle said. "Dear tree-child, you should know there are other ways to cross a watery path." Alexis frowned as Wurzle gave a peculiar call. A cluster of cypress nearby began to shake and shift. Bastet and Richard both reached for their weapons. Alexis gasped as she realised what was happening. "It’s alright!" she cried. "Don’t hurt it!" From the thicket, strode a tree. «You called, Wurzle?» it said, its voice a long and creaking thing. Richard leaned down to Alexis, hissing, "What is that?" "It’s a treent!" she squealed, face filled with wonder. "I’ve heard about them, but never met one before! Galana’s blessed hair, this is amazing!" "Mudwood," Wurzle was saying, "These fine folks need to get across the swamp to the lizardfolk settlement. They’re going to stop them from destroying the swamp." The treent grumbled and harrumphed as it gazed over the group, lingering on Alexis. «This I will do,» it said eventually, «For the presence of the tree-child tells me their intent is true.» "What did it say?" Richard asked. Alexis cocked her head. "You don’t speak sylvan?" "I barely speak elvish," he retorted. "It said it’d take us, but only cuz I’m here." Bastet rolled her eyes. "Of course it did." Alexis bounced on the balls of her feet, wide, pleading eyes focused on Richard. Richard sighed fondly. "Go on, then." Alexis gave a squeal of excitement, racing away. Richard watched her scamper off, springing into the branches of the treent, and scurry up the trunk like a squirrel. "My good sir, is there an easy way up for those of us not inclined to tree-climbing?" Victor asked. Wurzle chuckled. "Yes, of course." He gave another of those strange cries, and Mudwood stooped, holding out a limb for the others to climb on.

For the others, the treent crossing was dull or sickness-inducing, but for Alexis it was heaven. In between scurrying through the branches, relishing the feel of the breeze through her hair and bark under her hands, she pestered Wurzle and Mudwood with questions, some asked by Richard, pressing for more details about the lizardfolk, their numbers and armaments. The morning was wearing on by the time Mudwood dropped them off as close to the lizardfolk settlement as Wurzle would let him. Alexis was the last to dismount, dropping from the lowest branches with a happy sigh. «For you, little one,» Mudwood said, handing Alexis a small wooden pipe, a notch taken from just below a craved mouthpiece. «Blow this when your work is done, I shall return for you. The trees name you ‘friend’. We will pass this by root and leaf. Wherever you are, this whistle will call the nearest treent to your aid.» Alexis stared at the whistle, then hugged the treent. «Thank you for this gift.» "Lex, c’mon." With a final bow to the treent, Alexis took off after her friends.

They trekked through the dense undergrowth of the swamp, hacking at long vines and lush brush, the humidity mingling with sweat making everything uncomfortably damp. As the sun reached its zenith, the lizardfolk’s newly built ziggurat came into view over the tops of the trees. "We’re nearly there," Bastet said, relieved.

They pushed on and soon found their way blocked by a great wall. "Piss and blood," Bastet cursed. Alexis tilted her head back. "I don’t think even I can climb that." "Maybe we can tunnel under it?" Gorgut said, stepping over and using a dagger to dig at the dirt. "We don’t have the equipment," Richard said. "Victor, what about that muddy spell?" "Rock to Mud?" Victor scratched at his chin. "Could work. It depends on how they’ve structured the wall, and if I can get deep enough to find the unworked foundations." "Right. Alexis, you scale that tree to scout the lay of the land. The rest of us will investigate the foundations of the wall. Then we can make a plan of attack for once we’re inside."

Once at the top of the tree, Alexis surveyed the area. Some ways from the base of the ziggurat was the lizardfolk settlement. It looked like a normal village from this high up – low cottages of local foliage gathered around a central open space, one grander than the rest. Drying linens hung from lines on tall poles. Pens of animals and crops surrounded the village. People came and went, carrying pots or pushing hand carts. It could have been any village on the Pagan Plains. It could have been Toreguard. In the time it had taken them to travel down here, the ziggurat had been completed. Despite its apparent completion, people still worked on it, looking like ants scurrying over stone steps, adding carvings and other refinements to the bare faces of the stone. Under an open-sided pagoda at the top, Alexis could just about make out the workings of magic. A structure of bones stood over arcane markings, fires set at junctures of the markings. A priest, delineated by his golden, feathered headband, threw something into the fires occasionally, making them spark and flare unusual colours.

She slid down, relaying this reconnaissance to the others and Richard laid out the plan.

As Victor chanted out his spell, Richard and the others stood back, readying the weapons. Benevelor was summoned from the celestial realm. As the spell took effect, the wall wobbled and crumbled, the mortar loosening. "It’s now or never!" Victor cried, hurrying back to join the others. "Benevelor," Richard commanded, "kick it down." The holy oxen took up position and lashed out with its hind legs. The crumbling blocks shook and with a thundering crash toppled inwards, landing into the mire below. Richard raced forward, leaping onto his mount’s back. "Charge!" he yelled, as the pair of them vanished over the rubble, Gorgut and Victor following close behind. Alexis looked at Bastet. "Ready?" "Give them a few moments more to really grab the attention," Bastet replied. Alexis grunted in reply, finding the bush at her feet of vast interest. Bastet sniffed, looking up at the broken corner of the wall. After a moment, she said, "We’re both professionals." "That we are." "So are we-?" "Absolutely fucking not." "Right." Distantly the sounds of battle reached them. "Sounds like our cue." "Yep." With that, Alexis led the way over the rubble and toward their objective: the temple.

While the menfolk battled with the temple masons and the warriors who protected them, Alexis and Bastet crept behind enemy lines and up the ziggurat. As they approached, the scent of burning spices grew thicker as perfumed smoke wafted out of the pagoda, followed by an undulating chant. As Alexis and Bastet peeked into the pagoda, they saw the head priest, his headband glinting in the firelight, had been joined by two lesser priests wearing wide golden neckbands embossed with the Eye of Muyrr symbol.

With a signal to Bastet, Alexis fired through the smoke and the portal ring, her bolt driving through the head priest's neck. Bastet leapt from cover, her daggers flashing as she took out one of the lesser priests. As Alexis reloaded, Bastet turned towards the last priest, only to find he had armed himself. He slashed out at Bastet, catching her arm. She cried out, falling back against a pillar. The bolt from Alexis' bow took him between the shoulder blades, and he fell, hitting the steps with a wet crunch. "Thanks," Bastet said as Alexis moved up into the pagoda. "Don't mention it." Alexis glanced around. "You wanna deal with the fires while I deal with the lines? Then we can deal with that," her face scrunched as she waved at the bone structure, "together." With an affirmative grunt, Bastet turned her attention to extinguishing the fires, while Alexis scattered the red and grey powders forming the lines of the summoning circle. On a ceremonial table to one side, she found more of the dust and blocks of perfume on tarnished golden dishes. Collecting the plates together, she took them to the edge of the pagoda. The cloud of powder spread like blood in the air as she tossed the dishes away, down the ziggurat. "Lex," Bastet called, urgency in her voice. Alexis turned back to see Bastet was next to the table she’d found the powders on. "Yes?" Bastet held up parchment scrolls. "Can you read these?" Alexis took one, scanning the strange writing. She shook her head. "This is like no script I’ve ever seen. But these diagrams… they’re the same as the floor markings I destroyed. And this looks like the portal edifice." She held them up for comparison. "This one looks like a map," Bast said, spreading it on the table. It was indeed a map of Titan. Parts of the continents were crosshatched with different patterns, and arrows moved from the south of Allansia up and outward. "I might not know what it says, but this looks alarmingly like troop movements, like the ones Captain Hengar has in his office." She glanced at Bastet. "Whatever it is, it can’t be anything good." "Maybe Vic can read them," Bastet said. She tucked the scrolls away and looked at the mound of bound bones. "Let’s destroy this thing so we can get out of this place." Together they turned to the portal ring, a series of long bones lashed together with twine which stood on a small dais of skulls and pelvises, and began to hack at the binding ropes. When the ring was nothing but a pile, they used the table as a shunt, shoving the bones away to clatter down the sides of the ziggurat. Bastet raised a hand, shielding her eyes. "It looks like the fighting's stopped. They're all clustered near the houses." Alexis listened. A few screams and raised voices carried on the wind, echoing the calling of birds and rush of wind in the trees. "I don't hear any fighting. We should get down there and find out what's happening."

The sun was dipping lower in the sky, the tall trees casting shadows as they drew lower. There was indeed a group of people gathered close to the village. Alexis frowned. No, there were no sounds of fighting. But there was wailing. Sobbing. The high cry of a child. The sounds of terror. Fear gripped Alexis’ heart. She picked up the pace. The people were kneeling. Their hands raised, supplicant. Richard stood before them, sword unsheathed. Victor stood at his side, leaning close. Her feet pounded at the leaf-strewn path. Metal glinted. Pleas became screams. Alexis’ voice joined them. "No!"

By the time she arrived, there was nothing but corpses and blood.

Alexis dropped to her knees, voice rasping. "Richard… What did you do?" His eyes were hard as he turned to her. "What I had to." "But they- They were harmless. " The scene wavered in her gaze. "They were innocents!" "Ah, but there’s no such thing as an innocent lizardman, is there?" Victor said, grinning wickedly. "No. Alexis, you’ve seen for yourself what they’re capable of," Richard said. "They had to die." "There were children!" "Better to stop them now then," Victor said. "Richard… This is wrong. You must see that?" "All I see," Bastet said, coming to a panting halt, "is a hero doing what’s needed to keep our world safe." She waved the scrolls found in the temple. "We found evidence they were going to bring the whole world under their heel." Alexis gaped. "That’s not- We don’t know-!" Richard spat on the corpses. "That sounds like something these filthy rotten snake cultists would do." "Where’s Goregut? He’ll make you see-" "Goregut’s dead." Richard’s voice was hard with the faintest of tremors, his face turned to the jungle. "Stabbed through the back by one of these putrid cunts." He turned to Alexis and swallowed. "I’m sorry. I know you liked him. But now, do you see? They had to pay. They all have to pay!" Alexis’s mouth moved. She clutched a fist over her heart. Bastet crowded in onto Richard’s other side, her eyes alight. "Yes! Yes, you are so brave taking on this burden." "Such a true paladin!" "What can we do to help?" Richard kicked at one of the bodies. "We should move deeper. Take them all out. Stop them for good! Yes," he looked back at the others, "we must keep our people safe. We’ll keep all of Allansia safe forever from this evil!" Alexis pulled herself to her feet. "We can’t!" Richard turned back. The hate in his gaze took her breath away. She swallowed. "We, um, we need more provisions. We don’t have enough. To carry on. We should go back to Toreguard-" "To Port Blacksands!" Bastet crowed. "An excellent idea! We can find men and supplies!" "No… That’s not-" But Bastet and Victor were already guiding Richard back the way they’d come, already discussing what they’d need for such an excursion. Alexis watched them stride past, mouth agape, hands clenched and tears in her eyes. "Alexis. Come on," Richard called back over his shoulder. Mute and staggering, Alexis followed behind.

#writing #oc alexis dalliance #fighting fantasy #titan fighting fantasy #tag game #7 lines #last line game #nine lines nine people #wandering words #richard tetherson #bastet #victor with a monocle #original character #I was rather hoping I wouldn't have to write the war crimes. Fully open to concrit - LMK if this is handled badly #FYI - this is why we have a session 0 in TTRPGs now #this has been in my drafts so long #series ADvEoT #wip 'Young Dagger False Dream'

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writeouswriter · 10 months

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Welcome to Zhang's Video, can I recommend you anything to rent?

Jack Lanelle in Zhang's Video from my WIP: Static House

Photo ID and Taglist Under Cut.

[ID: Digital drawing of my OC Jack Lanelle, a young, somewhat tanned skinned man with dark curly hair and heavy eyelids, wearing a long sleeved, wrinkled red button up shirt over a dark tee and jeans, standing behind a counter with a small TV set sitting on it with a multi-coloured, static-ridden no signal screen. On the wall behind him is a shelf stacked with VHS tapes and a large VHS tape shaped sign that reads "Zhang's Video Rental," as well as a few smaller signs that read: "New Horror! Rent Now!," "Support Your Local Businesses," and a circular smiley face, "Be Kind, Rewind!" End ID]

My taglist for this WIP is old because I've been kind of stagnant with it, but tagging it anyway: @after-nine-at-the-oasis, @quadraphonictypewriter, @mary-is-writing, @avian-writes, @writting-in-blood, @carminasolis, @odysseywritings, @aetherwrites, @muchtowriteabout-nuthin, @the-lighthouse-lit

#my art #oc art #wip: static house #oc: jack lanelle #digital art #writeblr art #1980s #tried my hand at him again for art fight

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pens-swords-stuff · 3 years

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Happy birthday, Undine! I hope you have a wonderful day! @/aetherwrites

@aetherwrites

Thank you so much Rose! I hope you have a wonderful day too 💙

#undine answers stuff #birthday #aetherwrites #Anonymous

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sageblogsthings · 3 years

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writeblr promo!!

y’all i am gonna shamelessly promo my amazing friend rose ( @aetherwrites ) bc she’s super duper close to a follower milestone and her wip As Static, As A Whole is THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD OK!! if u like incredibly deep and well-written characters, moral ambiguity, zombie apocalypse stories, heck even if u don’t, just pls pls go check it out. i don’t even like zombie apocalypse stories usually and i LOVE asaaw!!

pls pls go follow her i promise u won’t regret it <3

#writeblr promo #yes ik most of y'all that follow me probably also follow rose but i wasn't gonna pass up the chance to scream about asaaw ok #kit chats #aetherwrites #writeblr #feel free to rb if ur heart so desires <3

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sasukeisawake · 3 years

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Can you put me on the camp Nano update taglist, legend? 🤩 @/aetherwrites

@aetherwrites you’ve been added!! tysm for your interest queen 💖

#asks #aetherwrites

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aetherdoesthings · 6 days

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would you like a new home? (pt. 3.2)

forethoughts: i maxxed out arlecchino to lvl 90 🤩. rip all my fragile resins.

notes: gn!child!reader, NOT AN X READER READER IS A CHILD IN THIS!!!

Arlecchino was working when the caretaker had entered her office. She suppressed her disdain and annoyance as she asked the caretaker what was so important her work time had to be disrupted.

Arlecchino immediately stood up and stormed towards the caretaker when she heard your name.

“Y/N had gotten in a fight with another child? Two children?” Arlecchino pursed her lips, eyebrows furrowed. The caretaker elaborated more, handing her two distinct blades, one stained with blood.

“We have them in their room right now. The other two is in the infirmary. How would a child get their hands on such dangerous objects?” The caretaker commented, as Arlecchino took both blades, clutching both helms with one hand.

“I will deal with this.” Arlecchino walked out of her office, marching towards the infirmary. After all, you could use some more time to reflect before you would meet her.

You sat on your bed, knees to your chest and head on your knees as you stared at the wall. Father’s broken compass was next to you, the needle finally taking a rest. You could imagine the children outside gossiping and decreasing your odds of ever making friends in this hellhole of an orphanage. How you had injured the most popular kid.

Father made sure you knew not to care about what the others said about you. And you didn’t at all.

Father.

How was Father taking in the information?

Surely Father was already informed about the fight.

Your heart sank a little when you tried to imagine how Father was feeling. The betrayal. The hurt. The shock that you had used your new toys Father had only taught you on one of your ‘kin’. Perhaps the boy was right. In the end of the day Father might as well revoke everything she had given you. Including this room.

The sound of the doorknob twisting open shattered your confidence and determination you had about the fight, the sounds of Father’s heel clicking against the marble ground sending spiders down your spine. You felt a dip in the mattress being created, as Father sat down next to you, mere inches away. Father sat there, observing your hunched figure with a stoic expression in the deafening silence. You heard her pick up her broken compass-the gift she had given you to take care of. And it was completely shattered.

“...I’m sorry.” You murmured, breaking the silent barrier. “I tried to stop them from breaking it.”

Father let out a chuckle. “Anything that can break will break. Some can be fixed, some cannot.”

You felt Father’s eyes pierce your skull, causing your gaze to fall even lower. To your surprise, a hand was placed on your head, combing through your hair. You were shuffled closer to Father’s body, until your shoulder touched hers. “How are you feeling, dear? Are you alright?”

Father was… comforting you?

Your shoulders relaxed a little, but they were still stiff.

“I-I’m… okay.”

“Did they hurt you in any way?” You bit your lips, the conversation one of the orphans had with you while their foot was on your head was still fresh in your mind.

“Yes…” You mumbled, fiddling with the hem of your sleeve.

Father noticed-of course she did-, and placed her hand in yours, rubbing small circles on your palm.

“How so?”

You looked down. “...They started it.”

“Okay.” Father said calmly. “How so? And do look at me when you do.”

You reluctantly lifted your head, meeting Father’ surprisingly warm and calm gaze. “I was admiring the compass you had given me. And then one of them tripped me and took the compass and started playing with it. The other one shoved me and placed his feet on my head and pressed it down.”

You swore you saw Father’s eye twitch at your last sentence.

“The one pressing my head against the ground told me I had to ask you to have a smaller room, no dessert, last in line and an earlier curfew than the other orphans.” You spat each word out with poison. “They threatened to break Father’s compass if I did not do what they said. He shoved me first and attacked me. Father said if I was attacked first I could use my toys. So I did. I tried talking to them first but they wouldn’t listen. I did what Father said to do before I used my toys.”

Father remained silent, as her hand brushed over the area the boy had stepped on your head. “Does your head hurt now?”

“A-A little… b-but it's nothing…”

Father ignored your comment, as she lifted your body so you were on her lap. She examined the area the boy stepped on. Placing a single finger on the area was enough to make you shiver, the corners of your eyes burn and tears threatening to fall.

“My poor child…” Father sighed, wrapping her arms around your frail body.

Now your tears were really threatening to fall. “I-I’m sorry for using my new toys on the other orphans… I’m sorry for disobeying Father’s rule… I promise it won’t happen again. F-Father can take away my room a-and move me back to that room w-with the other orphans, put me last in line for food and give me an earlier curfew. I’ll take it without complaint. I d-deserve it for disappointing Father.”

“Nonsense, my child.” Father placed her fingers on your chin, forcing you to look her in the eyes. She moved her hand to your cheek, wiping your tears away with a gentle wipe of her thumb. “None of those things will happen. I will not punish you for acting in self defense. I am not disappointed in you for trying to defend yourself.”

“B-But-”

“No buts. What happened has happened. You are hurt; they are hurt. Adding more pain and suffering to one side of the scale will not make it balanced nor just.” Father’s lips turned into a thin smile, as she let out a sigh. “Come. Let’s get you cleaned up and ready for bed, okay? It has been a long day for you.”

Father lifted you up in her arms, cradling you as she carried you to what you could only assume to be her private bathroom, seeing she had walked past the showering hall.

“Father…?” You hesitantly asked.

“Yes, my dear?”

“...Why did you give me all those perks? A new room, first in line, no curfew?”

Father let out a sigh. “Even looking back I do not understand why I had the urge to do all those for you. I suppose it was because I was concerned and worried about you, my child. I could not bear to watch you sit alone and always get the last pick for everything. I could not bear to sit in the sidelines and watch you try and hold your tears back as you watched dust move across the ground. I could not bear to watch the other children treat you like filth when you were the kindness out of all. I believed that giving you some perks would help make your stay more… comfortable.”

Father paused. “Has it… made your stay more comfortable?”

You looked at the ground, your head resting on Father’s shoulder. “A little…”

Father let out a chuckle. “Better than none.”

Father carried you to her private bathroom, setting you down in the tub as she lathered soap across your back and body, washing your hair. Her touch was delicate and gentle, never lingering in one spot for too long or applying a large amount of pressure. Father dried you with one of her towels, dressing you in silk pajamas before carrying you back to your room. You found it hard to believe. You had injured two of Father’s children, and yet while they were in the infirmary, legs immobilized, you were wearing silk pajamas, being washed by Father, and coddled all along the way.

As Father laid you down in bed, brushing your hair one last time and planting a kiss on your forehead, you couldn’t help but ask.

“Why does Father treat me so well? Father w-wouldn’t do any of this for the others, would she?” You blurted out.

Father chuckled at your question, the corners of her mouth tugging upwards. “Perhaps it is true I treat you much differently and better than the rest. Perhaps I do have a sense of favoritism towards you. Perhaps it is because I see a part of me in you. No matter. Soon, my dear child, all of this will be over. I will deal with this. Do not worry about the other two children. Get some rest, my child, and all will be well. I will be coming back shortly to deliver you dinner.”

Father walked away, turning off the lights in your room as she shut the door. You laid there on your bed, her words echoing in your head. Father saw herself in you? Your little mind didn’t know how to think about that.

But all you knew was that Father cared for you.

Father loved you.

Father was not mad.

Father said everything will be better.

So everything will be better.

#genshin impact #arlecchino #arlecchino genshin #arlecchino x reader #aetherwrites #child

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