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herbalsingularitea · 1 year

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Holly Jolly (Chapter 13)

Summary - So they were non-humans with pointy ears who wrapped things and sent them out into the world. They cursed in holiday themed expletives. Bernard rode a reindeer who could glide named Dancer.

The answer was indeed obvious, but she just couldn’t believe it.

Pairing - Bernard x Female OC

Word Count - 4799

Check my pinned masterpost for ‘Bernard x Reader’ and Male OC versions!

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Chapter 13 - Somebody Waits For You

Holly was shaking.

Bernard must know that she was shaking.

He'd led her out the front door after retrieving a light cloak for each of them, claiming that the air was warmer within the barrier so heavy coats wouldn’t be needed. She hadn’t noticed before, but there was definitely a warmer, more inviting atmosphere here as opposed to the bitterly cold wind that constantly flew over the arctic tundra outside.

He helped her into the cloak, draping it over her shoulders. She trembled under his touch, but he didn’t react. She worried what expression he was making, but couldn’t bring herself to look up at him. She hated that she might be making him sad, but really, she couldn’t help it.

She was scared.

The pieces were lined up in front of her and for once she had the wherewithal to try to put them together. And she was trying to, honest. But her gut was screaming at her that she needed to run, now. Whatever instinctual feeling of unease she’d had when they first met was back in full force telling her how stupid she was to ignore it and continue seeing this man.

This man who was not a man.

This man who was something else entirely. Something not human.

She knew if she could just think things through, the answer would be obvious, but she just couldn’t stop shaking. Her frantic panting clouded the air and she realized belatedly that she was having a panic attack.

“Holly.”

She jerked to awareness at the sound of her name. They were standing in front of Bernard’s house, about to head out to the lake. Hazy white obscured everything in the distance. The lights that she’d figured were from other houses were all turned off now and the only thing she could really see through the icy fog was a dip in the white horizon that she assumed was the lake.

Bernard’s face suddenly appeared in her field of vision, looking profoundly sad. His dark eyes pulled her in, their depths familiar and warm. But the way they made her feel was too intense for her now, and she looked back at the wide white of the frozen landscape, it's sparkling maw threatening to devour her. Her vision started tunneling, black creeping into the edges.

“You’re okay Holly. You’re safe. Just try to breathe.”

His voice was muffled and far away.

His mouth continued to move but she couldn’t hear him anymore. The dip in the distance seemed wider now, the white expanse swallowing the horizon in a way that left her confused and disoriented. A hand swam in front of her and she tried to focus on what Bernard was saying to her. But she just couldn’t comprehend his words. The fingers on the hand uncurled more, the palm tilting towards her; she grabbed it, desperately seeking an anchor.

Warmth came back to her slowly, traveling up her arm and into her chest. The large hand holding hers was firm but gentle, a thumb stroking back and forth over her skin in a steady rhythm.

The sound of blood rushing in her ears began to ebb, and she found that she wasn’t just holding his hand; she was also wrapped up in his embrace, his cloak enveloping her smaller body. His chin rested on the top of her head and their clasped hands were squished between them against his chest as he breathed deeply. Her own breaths matched his as her heart slowed to a steady beat once again.

She blinked the remaining panic away and buried her face in his neck. His curls tickled her nose.

She was starting to feel better. Confusion still muddied her thoughts, but she was coming to terms with the fact that her very dear friend was not who she thought he was. She had meant what she’d said before, she wanted to just have some fun for now and deal with this later when they weren’t expected to meet his friends—who most likely were also not human—but the initial shock of her realization couldn’t be easily pushed down.

“I promise you’re safe, Holly. I would never hurt you,” he murmured into her hair.

She believed him.

She didn’t know what he was yet, but he was her friend first and foremost. She trusted him and he trusted her.

He brought her here to meet his friends, because they meant a lot to him. And so did she, now. The weight of that was a lot heavier now, being important to someone like Bernard. She needed to take this in stride. So she would.

Holly pulled back from his embrace and he reluctantly let go of her, watching her carefully for any more signs of distress. But she was already forcing her thoughts and fears to the back of her mind, until her carefully constructed calm had returned to her. She was trying to put it out of mind for now and just focus on getting through the next part of their night. She heaved a great sigh, a somewhat fragile smile appearing on her lips.

She reached for one of his hands. He surrendered it to her without resistance and she entwined her fingers in his, letting their joined hands swing between them as she turned towards the lake on the horizon.

“I think I'm okay now, Bernard," she sounded more sure than she felt. " We’re okay. Let's go.”

She pulled him forward, building her confident front back up brick by brick as she started towards the lake. The stress gradually left his body as he fell into step beside her, but he kept a careful eye on her the whole way, t heir fingers clasped tightly together in shared comfort.

This was the most incredibly decorated party she had ever been to.

A series of ice sculptures depicting figures in various loving embraces were dotted here and there around the lake. Some of those poses made Holly blush. Each one had pointed ears, she noted, but she didn’t dwell on it, instead shifting her attention to the candles set up in bunches on wooden trays or along pathways shoveled in the deep snow for easy walking. There were floodlights, but they were turned off now. However the light from the barrier and the moon shining through it were plenty of illumination. The candles cast a warm glow on several pits carved into the snow, each one with a rug laid out inside it and a table at the center. The tables were odd, though. They had a blanket skirt around them and pillows instead of seats.

They looked cozy.

The tinsel and arches and ribbon and lights all set up in elaborate red and gold displays were masterfully crafted. Several gold halos were stuck into the ground between the snow pits, golden fairy lights illuminating the rims while perfect red roses floated in the middle of the circle. These weren’t just decorations. They were straight up art pieces. There were just too many little details to notice them all, but the overall effect was incredibly romantic.

She took in the long table set out with sweets and treats and finger foods of all kinds. She didn’t recognize half of the things available there, but they looked delicious nonetheless. The drink bar for custom cocoa and cider beside it caught her eye. There were recipe suggestions up behind the bar. She was impressed with the ingenuity of the selections.

“This is amazing, Bernard! Morozko really know how to throw a party!”

Her companion grinned cheekily. “No one does it better.”

“I’ll say! I don’t know where to start.”

The sound of boots crunching through the snow drifted their way and they turned toward the sound. They were met with two beaming faces of the prettiest little women Holly had ever seen.

And they really were little women, weren't they?

Like Bernard, they were proportioned like adults. Unlike Bernard, however, they were much shorter and slighter. If she had never met Bernard and had just passed them on the street then she might have made the assumption that they were children. However, their bone structure and mature figures showed plainly that they were not actually that young.

She knew Bernard’s distinct features quite well at this point. She was surprised she had ever mistaken him for a teenager, and had actually begun to suspect he must have a very elaborate skin care routine to look as smooth and rosy as he did.

Of course, now those thoughts had thoroughly left her. Whatever caused his unusual otherworldly appearance was certainly not due to lotions and serums.

Now that she had more of—whatever they were—to compare to, she was able to discern what it was exactly that set them apart in her mind. She thought Bernard had looked ethereal and lovely when she first met him. Inhuman. Which certainly made more sense now.

All three of these beings were just too perfect. That’s what it was, really. Their faces were too smooth, too rosy, too soft. Like someone had airbrushed over their features. For humans, this sort of perfection was only found in the faces of children. Smooth as a baby’s bottom and all that. But for these people, it wasn’t youthfulness, it was just how they looked.

They had sparkling pink cheeks and bright intelligent eyes. The way they walked was measured and smooth, almost like dancing.

Their eyes were knowing and sharp, a disturbing feature on a face untouched by wrinkles.

The kind smiles they flashed at her showed the barest hint of a too-pointed canine. Not that different from a human’s, but Bernard also had some unusually sharp teeth so perhaps whatever they were as a species had slightly sharper fangs than humans. Not vampiric by any means, but enough to light up that primal part of her brain again that said they were dangerous.

What really struck her though was right there, in plain sight—little pointed ears sticking out from their hair. They didn’t even try to hide them.

“You must be Holly! It’s so very wonderful to meet you. I’m Judy.” The shorter one said. She was dressed in red velvet and white leather, an odd combination, but maybe not that unusual considering how Bernard tended to dress. Her smooth brown hair hung loose, framing her squared face. Although they had just met, Holly could tell Judy had a sweet, serene manner about her.

“And I’m Belle! It’s so rad to finally meet you, Holly,” the taller one said excitedly, bouncing on her toes. She wore a matching outfit with her sweetheart, the white leather standing out more against her brown skin. Her shiney hair was pulled tight into a single smooth braid that went down the length of her back. Belle seemed very energetic.

Normally Holly would have appreciated the friendly welcome, but her recent realization had made her muted and cautious. She returned their smiles with a strained one of her own.

“Yeah, hi! It’s nice to meet you too. Bernard’s mentioned you both a lot.”

“Good things, hopefully.” Judy remarked, shooting a sly look at the dark haired male standing in front of her.

“Oh, yeah, for sure. All good things.” Holly shot back automatically. She struggled to think of what to say next though. Introductions and small talk were strange for her. She knew how to perform to a certain degree, but there always came that lull after the initial script where she just didn’t quite know how to break the ice.

Luckily, Belle seemed undeterred by the awkward silence.

“This is so exciting! We hardly ever get to meet anyone new. Have you ever been ice skating, Holly?”

“Oh! Uh, well, I guess I went a couple times when I was a kid. I fell a lot though. I’m hoping I’ll be a little better at it now.”

“You probably won’t if you haven’t done it in so long,” Belle laughed, her good natured tone not quite matching with her blunt words. “But that’s alright! I'm sure Bernard won’t mind catching you.” She waggled her brows, bright eyes sparkling in mirth.

Bernard sputtered at that, mouth gaping a moment while he looked back and forth between Holly and the newcomers.

“Belle,” he cried exasperated, “knock it off, will ya? Give Holly a minute to get to know you before you go saying stuff like that.”

But Holly found it funny, actually. Not enough to actually laugh, but enough to bring a genuine smile to her face. She didn’t know how to reply, but she shared a conspiratorial look with Belle who waggled her brows again.

Judy giggled at her girlfriend’s antics.

“We aren’t going ice skating, remember?” she nudged Belle affectionately. “We’ll be leaving soon for home. I’ve made us a nice pudding.”

“Oh, yeah," Belle said, hand coming up to grab her chin. Then her finger jabbed up into the air as she abruptly switched gears. "Well! We can have some drinks together at least and talk, right?”

Judy nodded, smiling placatingly at her distractible partner.

Bernard clapped his hands together once and stood a little straighter. “Okay, sounds good! Let’s get some treats and grab a kotatsu.”

He put a hand on Holly’s back and started leading her over to the food and drinks bar. Belle ran ahead excitedly, pulling a giggling Judy with her. Once they were a ways ahead, Bernard leaned over level with Holly’s ear and whispered, ��You good?”

She felt a bit overwhelmed honestly. She wasn’t the greatest at social things. Bernard was kind of the exception to that. Their meeting had been a crash course in getting to know each other, so they didn’t really go through this whole song and dance. It must be jarring for him to see her so toned down and shy.

“I’m okay, just... I don’t know. I’m not very good at this sort of thing," she muttered. At his concerned look, she perked up, quickly adding, "but they seem really nice!”

“Are you having a good time, at least?” he asked, hand returning to her back.

“I think so. I will be. I just need to get into the groove more,” she smiled weakly.

He rubbed a reassuring hand across her upper back and she leaned into him gratefully, the warm weight grounding her.

Once they reached the food table, they began loading up their plates with little snacks to try. Holly had already eaten, but she couldn’t resist some of the more interesting looking spreads. Bernard piled his own plate high, but that wasn’t surprising. He was always up for eating no matter how much he’d already had. Judy and Belle were sharing a plate apparently, but were also arguing about what exactly should go on it.

“I hate those puffs!”

“So don’t eat them.”

“They’re touching my cream crackers, though!”

“What if we put the sausage between them, then?”

“Judy, that’s gross!”

“Is it? And stop yelling, I’m right here!”

“Now who’s yelling?”

They giggled together as they pushed the food around, moving down towards the drinks bar. Bernard snickered at the back and forth, shaking his head as he shared a look with Holly who was biting her lip to hold in her own laughter.

“Why don’t they just get separate plates?”

“You’re asking me?” he said, still chuckling.

The pair reached the drinks bar right as Judy and Belle had finished pouring theirs.

“We’ll go set up at the kotatsu near the roses.” Judy waved with her free hand. Belle also tried waving but neither of her hands were free, one balancing their plate and the other holding her full drink which sloshed onto the snow with her enthusiastic motion.

“Belle, be careful!”

“I’m always careful, babe!”

Holly couldn’t hold in her laugh anymore as she waved back at the little women. Bernard started fixing a cider for himself, not even glancing at the recipe cards, apparently confident in his choice of drink. Holly looked carefully at the selection before choosing to follow the recipe with the goat’s cream. She actually liked goat’s milk quite a lot but such a combination had never occurred to her.

But hey, it was a night for new adventures, so why not?

Once they were both ready, they grabbed their plates and cups and started heading off in the direction where the other two had gone.

“So, what’s a kotatsu?” she asked.

“It’s a Japanese table for winter. It’s got a sort of blanket that you tuck your legs under. It’s great, nice and cozy.”

She hummed.

“You’re doing great, by the way. I think they really like you.” He shot her a warm smile.

“I think I like them, too! They’re funny together. Belle’s a chaotic delight.”

“She is! Don’t take anything she says too seriously, though. She can be kind of scattered sometimes, but she means well.”

They trudged over a snow drift and looked down into the valley near the foot path leading into the woods. The pine woods .

“Holy shit, there really are trees here! I mean, I saw some at your house but those were small and decorative. This is an actual, real-life forest!”

“Told ya! And you doubted me," he smirked, nudging her arm.

“Hey, c’mon, can you blame me? This is just one of the many impossible things that are somehow possible with you.” She nudged him back.

“And yet you continue to doubt!” he chuckled.

The smile slipped from her face as she was reminded of her current predicament. “Yeah… sorry, it’s just going to take some time for me to get used to all this.” She wasn’t talking about trees anymore and they both knew it. He also sobered, the grin he'd sported before shrinking into a more patient and reassuring one.

“It’s fine, Holly Jolly. Take all the time you need. We’re still gonna talk later, right?”

“Yeah, definitely," she replied, shaking off the brief moment of solemnity. "But for now, drinks!” She held hers up in a mock cheer that he reciprocated. They bumped mugs lightly, giggling together as they both spilled some onto the white snow.

“Over here!” Belle shouted from a pit beside the haloed roses as they made their way over.

The area was dug out in a decently sized square, similar in dimension to Bernard’s den at his house. A blue and purple bohemian rug was placed over the dug out area with a short table at the center and candles set up in groups of three or four on metal torch stands along the edges of the pit.

Judy and Belle were already tucked under the thick red blanket of the kotatsu, sipping their drinks and encouraging each other to try the other’s food choices.

“The cream crackers are so good, though! Just a bite, come on.”

“If you try the puffs, then sure!”

“Blergh!”

Bernard and Holly took the remaining sides of the table, sitting on the plush pillows that were set out beside it. Bernard immediately tucked his legs under the red blanket, and Holly followed suit.

“So, what did you guys get to drink?” Judy said, eyeing their cups.

“Cider, of course,” Bernard quipped.

“Of course. With cinnamon and a splash of orange, right?”

He sipped his cider with a low, “Mmhmm…”

“Predictably Bernard,” Judy said, eyes crinkled with fondness. “What about you, Holly? Did you get cider too?”

“Ah, no, I actually got that one cocoa recipe with the goat’s cream. I don’t know, it looked interesting,” she smiled nervously, Judy returning her smile warmly.

“That was Noel’s recipe. He’s a student of mine—all those recipes are from my students actually. I'm teaching them drinks.”

“Oh! You’re… in charge of drinks?” Holly blinked, interested.

“Amongst other things. My department mainly deals with, well, I suppose you could call it morale. Bernard takes care of the more nitty gritty detail stuff in Operations.”

“So Bernard really is Head of Operations?”

“He’s Head of everything! He runs this place!” Belle cut in, smacking her lips after a big gulp.

“O-oh, I see…” Holly looked nervously at Bernard, who was trying to look nonchalant as he sipped his cider. He didn’t deny what was said, though, which was telling in and of itself.

Judy sensed the human’s unease and tried to pull focus away from the Head Elf and his role there at the North Pole. “So you’re a researcher? That must be very rewarding work.”

Holly seemed relieved at the change of subject, shoulders unwinding as she warmed her hands around her mug.

“It is, yeah! We study ecology in the arctic circle. Polar bear numbers have been on the decline and we’re trying to find out why.”

Belle seemed especially interested in this topic. “ Do you know why?”

“We think it’s probably climate change. And I know that’s not exactly a popular theory with some people—“

Bernard raised his head from his cup, shooting her a confused look. “It’s not? Why? That is the most likely reason.”

“It’s… complicated," she explained. "Some companies have their businesses tied up in using methods that further the rate of climate change, so of course, they’re not very eager to admit that what they’re doing has real negative impacts on the environment.”

He squinted at her explanation. “So, what? They’re lying about their involvement?”

“Yeah, pretty much." She shrugged. "And they’re blaming other things that are unrelated all while trying to push a disinformation campaign to confuse the public. It’s been a mess for the scientific community to try to sort out.”

Bernard scoffed, agitated. Judy tsk’d while shaking her head.

“That’s ridiculous,” Belle cried, “surely humans aren’t falling for that!” Judy nudged her partner’s side and Belle squeaked. “Nutcrackers! I mean, uh, not humans. I mean, you are humans. But so are we?”

“It’s fine, Belle,” Bernard said, rubbing his eyes, “don’t worry about it.”

The reminder that they weren’t human wasn’t as alarming this time, probably because whatever they were didn’t seem very different from humans anyways. Judy and Belle were nice and personable.

“Yeah, no, it’s fine really,” Holly said, “um, yeah, it’s frustrating for sure because the public does tend to fall for the disinformation. So that’s why I’m up here, basically. The best that we can do is have real recorded data to show exactly how the climate is changing and at what rate. If we can show the public hard numbers and cute footage of the wildlife that’s impacted, hopefully we can get them back on our side.”

Bernard was smiling proudly at Holly’s declaration. “We’ve gotten some really great footage so far too. Holly caught George and Matteo’s big fight last week and we got a glimpse of Crystal recently.”

“That’s great!” cried Belle, bouncing in her seat, “I’d love to see that footage sometime. George is my favorite.”

“Sure thing,” Holly nodded, “do you work with the bears yourself then, Belle?”

“No, I just like them. They’re pretty rad animals," Belle beamed, wiggling excitedly in her seat. "I work in wrapping.”

“Wrapping?” Holly blinked, trying to understand how that particular job could apply up there. “What do you wrap?”

Belle froze, looking at Bernard uncertainly.

“We wrap a lot of things actually," he cut in, answering smoothly for her. "Then we ship them out all over the world.”

Judy was watching Holly intently as she took this in.

“Uh huh, okay.” A wrinkle appeared between her brows as she squinted at the other three. So they were non-humans with pointy ears who wrapped things and sent them out into the world. They cursed in holiday themed expletives. Bernard rode a reindeer who could glide named Dancer .

The answer was indeed obvious, but she just couldn’t believe it.

Maybe she could accept that Bernard wasn’t human. She was a scientist after all, and was never one to dismiss evidence of a new species. But this was something else. This was truly fanciful.

What’s wrong with a bit of fancy?

Bernard’s words from days ago rang in her head. Nothing, she’d said. And there wasn’t anything wrong with it, truly. But her mind needed more time to catch up with what her heart already knew. She blinked, giving her head a little shake to clear it.

“Well, wrapping sounds pretty interesting.”

Bernard and Judy looked as if they were holding their breath, but Belle was giggling madly, oblivious to the dilemma that Holly was struggling with.

“No, it doesn’t!” she cried, amused. “You don’t have to pretend it does, Holly. Wrapping is fun for me, I like making the perfect little bows. But most everyone else finds it pretty mind numbing.”

“I probably would too, actually,” Holly admitted sheepishly. “But if you like it, then that’s all that matters.”

“Yeah, exactly!”

They chatted easily for awhile, drinking slowly and ranking their favorite snacks. Belle and Holly shared a good many interests. They spoke at length about The Nightmare Before Christmas, a movie that had come out last year that they both adored. Judy said it was too scary for her, and Bernard had never seen it. Belle suggested they play it at the next movie night and invite Holly. Bernard and Judy shared a look and said they’d think about it

Conversation continued as their cups got lighter and lighter.

“So, Holly—“ Judy said abruptly, her fingers tented in front of her face as she leaned forward, “—what’s the worst thing about Bernard?”

Said man choked on his cider at his friend’s sudden inquiry. Holly blinked at the question, unsure.

“Wha—um, what do you mean? Bernard’s great! We make a really great team out there.”

“I’m sure that’s true. But that’s not what I’m asking.” Judy’s eyes were intense and calculating. Holly felt trapped in her gaze. “I’m asking if there’s anything that annoys you about him.”

Holly gaped, thrown off by the seriousness of the moment. Judy, noticing her reaction, softened her stare and offered a cheeky smile. “For instance, I think he works much too hard. It’s his biggest flaw, in my own opinion.”

Holly’s breath left her in a rush as the pressure receded.

“Oh! Well, I can’t disagree with that.” She cut her eyes over to the dark haired man at her side, who was looking increasingly uncomfortable. “He showed up on my doorstep practically half dead the first week we met. I’m trying to convince him to relax more.”

“I definitely think that’s working,” Judy beamed, “I haven’t seen him this keen on non-work related recreation in years.”

“Good to know my efforts aren’t being wasted then! It’s hard to tell sometimes since he’s so on-the-go all the time,” Holly chuckled. “Honestly though, the thing that annoys me the most is how anal he is about schedules." She shot him a cheeky smirk, a hint of frustration coloring her words. "Like we can’t even hang out and eat snacks together without an itinerary, it’s ridiculous! Does he do that with you guys?”

Judy and Belle shared an amused look, peeking over at a now grumpy Bernard grumbling into his cider.

“Oh, yeah. Definitely. But since he’s technically our boss, that makes sense. I bet that’s annoying when you don’t even work for him, though.”

“ So annoying!" Holly cried, "I call him ‘Saint Bernard’ when he gets like that since he acts all high and mighty about it. Y’know, it’s okay to let loose and have fun without a plan sometimes, right?” she poked his cheek, grinning fondly at him despite her obvious exasperation.

“Yeah, Bernard,” Judy directed her words at the man beside her, “it is okay to enjoy yourself." Her brows raised and her head tilted down as she peered up at him with an oddly significant look. "Even when it’s not in the plan.”

Bernard lifted his head to make eye contact with his friend, a heavy moment passing between them. Judy smiled warmly and Bernard looked relieved, his shoulders dropping.

“I hate when they do that. Their weird silent communication thing. I just don’t get it,” Belle snorted. “You two wanna share with the rest of us?”

“Nope!” Judy swiftly stood, grabbing her cup and their shared plate. “Actually, it’s about time we head out, Belle.”

“What? Just like that?”

“Just like that. C’mon!”

“I’m not even done with my drink, babe!”

Judy pulled her partner up and began leading her away. “It was so nice to meet you, Holly. I’m sure we’ll see you again soon.”

“Yeah," Holly blinked, thrown by their sudden departure, "uh, it was nice to meet you both! We should definitely do this again some time.”

“For sure!” Judy said, waving. She didn't slow their retreat however, dragging a confused Belle behind her who nonetheless waved enthusiastically as they left.

“Bye!”

“Goodnight!”

And then they were alone.

#bernard the elf #bernard the elf x oc #bernard the elf x female oc #bernard x oc #bernard x female oc #tsc #the santa clause #my writing

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polizwrites · 10 months

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PoliZ’s WI Pride Prompt Party FicRecs

Gathering my fic recs (self-recs) for the WinterIron Discord server Pride Prompt Party event so I can link to them in my upcoming masterpost!

Day 8: Nonbinary Vibes -- Wait and See (if it’s the best you ever had)

Rating: Mature (with Explicit final chapter)

Pairing(s): Bucky/Tony

Warnings/Triggers/Tags: Identity Porn, Exotic Dancer AU, Coffeeshop AU, nonbinary/genderfluid character, eventual smut, face blindness

Summary: To celebrate him finding a full time job after a rough patch, Bucky Barnes' friends -- Steve and Sam -- take him to a burlesque show. Antonio, (who may or may not be a drag king), catches Bucky's eye, and vice versa. Bucky also strikes up a friendship with Ton-E, a possibly-genderfluid barista working at the 24-hr coffee shop in the lobby of Stark Industries, where Bucky now works. Will he be able to choose between one or the other? (Spoiler: he doesn’t have to.)

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/14802497/chapters/34247855

Day 17. Soul Searching -- And Your Heart Beats In My Blood

Rating: Teen

Pairing(s): Tony/Bucky

Warnings/Triggers/Tags: young!Tony, Soulmates AU, kinda angsty, Canon Divergence, Time Skips, Canonical Character Death, hopeful ending

Summary: Tony Stark's soulmate died when they were both young; or so he thought. When a ghostly heartbeat continues to haunt him, Tony's AI proposes an unlikely hypothesis.

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/18857017

Day 28. Making friends with one's demons -- The Devil Is in the Details (Sign on the Dotted Line)

NOTE: Co-written with Faustess/ @psychiccatpanda

Rating: Teen

Pairing(s): Bucky/Tony/Clint

Warnings/Triggers/Tags: No Powers AU, Demon Summoning, Gaslighting, witch!Tony, Demon!Bucky, Demon!Clint, Bureaucracy and Lawyers, Asshole!Ty Stone

Summary: Things go from bad to worse when Tony Stark accidentally summons a demon while trying to cook his mother's osso bucco for Ty to woo him back.

Bucky and Clint are just demons working for the weekend. Only they're in Hell and there aren't any weekends. But, if they collect enough souls and fulfill enough contracts, they'll be able to pass the business on to two pairs of lost souls to do their work for them. (Yes, the soul collection business is a multi-level marketing scheme. Remember, this is Hell.)

What happens when these two worlds collide?

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/38977104/chapters/97489515

#writing stuff #ficrecs #mcu/marvel #winteriron pride prompt party #WinterIron #shameless self promo

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canary3d-obsessed · 3 years

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Restless Rewatch: The Untamed Episode 21, part one

(Masterpost) (Other Canary Stuff) (Previous Post)

Warning: Spoilers for All 50 Episodes!

Reunions

All together in The Unclean Realm, The Yunmeng trio find a spot inside where they can sit down and have a proper Yanli-Wuxian reunion, while Jiang Cheng sits across the table watching them.

For years Jiang Cheng has been rejecting Wei Wuxian's free and easy affection; now Yanli might be the only person Wei Wuxian offers to hug until Wen Yuan comes into his life.

Jiang Cheng is really going through it. He'll do nearly anything for Yanli--except, uh, stay in the goddamn inn with her when she's sick and the Wens are hunting them--and what makes her happiest is Wei Wuxian. He's brought them together, and so he's happy, even though he's excluded from their dynamic. This absolutely fucking kills me.

Here Jiang Yanli and Wei Wuxian are sweetly pledging to always keep the trio together and put each other first. Neither of them will keep this promise.

Wei Wuxian will leave first, to take the Wens to the Burial Mounds. Jiang Yanli will leave second, staying in Lanling at Jin Zixuan's request instead of accompanying Jiang Cheng to retrieve Wei Wuxian. Jiang Cheng will be the last to let go.

(more after the cut)

Nie Huaisang comes literally running in, filled with joy at Wei Wuxian's return. When he goes to pat his shoulder Wei Wuxian flinches away.

I feel like something important is happening in this rapid sequence of glances and expressions between Wei Wuxian and Nie Huaisang. NHS is startled, and WWX realizes he's shown something about himself that he didn't want to show. He glances at Jiang Cheng and back at NHS before laughing and covering his slip with a squeeze of NHS’s hand.

NHS switches from shocked to cheerful just as quickly, helping with the coverup. It’s like they have a quick mutual agreement, rooted in their history of shared shenanigans, to not point out that something is wrong.

Meanwhile, Lan Wangji is wandering around the grounds, having feelings. At this point it's presumably been at least a couple of weeks since their breakup fight.

He sees Wei Wuxian sitting contemplating his flute, and as he sees him he goes from sort of neutrally apprehensive to full on angry judging, complete with sword clenching.

Part of this may be that his feelings are hurt over their fight, but the larger issue is his distress over Wei Wuxian's apparent heretical cultivation. That, at any rate, is what's on his mind when he's selecting music, later in the episode, and when he's selecting flashbacks.

Party Time

Later, the Nies host an excruciating party to celebrate Wei Wuxian's slaughter of Wen Chao return. Jiang Yanli is sharing a table with Wei Wuxian and Jiang Cheng is sharing a table with his crippling social anxiety.

Everyone starts grilling Wei Wuxian about his sword, because that's suddenly all anybody cares about even though Jiang Yanli, Nie Huaisang, Meng Yao, and probably plenty of other people don't carry swords most of the time.

Wei Wuxian says "after the Wens caught me, Wen Zhuliu crushed my core, so I can't use my sword any more, too bad so sad, can we change the subject?" And everyone is very understanding and admires his resiliency. HA HA HA HA HA. Of course he doesn't opt for that simple lie, but instead mopes audibly without saying anything.

Nie Huasiang tries to change the subject by asking how he killed Wen Chao. Apparently "I had a sexy ghost mostly flay him" isn't good party chat, though, so neither Wei Wuxian nor Jiang Cheng opts to tell the story.

Everyone lapses into awkward silence, all the more noticeable because there are no dancers, musicians, or entertainers of any kind at this event. OP has gone to audit-kickoff meetings that were more fun than cultivator banquets.

Moment of Clarity

While the awkwardness builds, we hear the sounds of the Song of Clarity. Lan Wangji is skipping the party, which is part of why Wei Wuxian is so mopey. But instead of sitting and stewing in his anger, Lan Wangji has shifted gears, and is starting to work on his "save Wei Wuxian's soul" plan.

This isn't the God-botherer version of soul saving, however. Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian disagree about correct practice, but they both are still practitioners within the same spiritual system, and the majority of their beliefs are closely aligned.

Lan Wangji has powerful magic at his disposal, and now he's taking a step back from his plan of forcing persuading Wei Wuxian to give up heterodoxy, and instead he's preparing to use his magic to offset the consequences of Wei Wuxian's choice.

He still isn't ready to accept that choice, but he's working on it. This is a big moment for Lan Wangji's relationship with Wei Wuxian. Lan Wangji is a deeply, deeply uncompromising person, as well as being super bossy, and he’s taking his first steps toward supporting Wei Wuxian’s free agency.

Wei Wuxian leaves the party in the middle of Yao's toast, saying "I have to see you and your lover all over my tumblr dashboard but I am NOT going to listen to you talk!" He takes his wine to go roam around near Lan Wangji's quarters to pine and feel conflicted. Lan Wangji has thoughtfully set up a projection scrim to catch his shadow and make the pining easier.

Jiang Cheng comes looking for Wei Wuxian, partly to reprimand him for rudeness and partly to see what the hell is wrong with him. Jiang Cheng is trying very hard to be pleasant. He's bad at it, but he's trying.

Wei Wuxian is trying to be unpleasant and he's pretty good at it. He won't say why he isn't using his sword. He’s obviously super fucking depressed about it, calling his former self childish for liking to spar, and only smiling once during the whole exchange.

He finally tells Jiang Cheng that he will always want to do the opposite of what Jiang Cheng tells him. Jiang Cheng lets this go with an eyeroll.

(Point Break Quote Alert)

But actually this is a sign of trouble, right here in River City, with a capital T and that rhymes with P and that stands for abandoning the Jiang Clan. Wei Wuxian has just told Jiang Cheng he has no intention of obeying him; not just about the sword, but in general. That's no way for a disciple to talk.

OP has nothing to say about this gif. OP watches gif over and over and over and over

Wei Wuxian ends the conversation by tapping Jiang Cheng's chest with his flute and then walking away. The (still nameless) flute has no problem with this - does it, like Subian, recognize Jiang Cheng as an extension of Wei Wuxian?

The next day, Wei Wuxian is chilling in his room, looking ungodly sexy in his bold slashed robe, holy frack. I mean, he is sex-on-toast at all times, but the cut of his post-burial-mounds combo is particularly heart-stopping when he decides to stick a knee or two out.

He's meditating and flashing back to being in the burial mounds, where he was also meditating. I admire his ability to fractally meditate about meditating.

Chenqing

He didn't put a sock on the doorknob, so Jiang Yanli comes in and startles him. He brandishes his flute at her before calming down. The flute definitely does not see her as an extension of Wei Wuxian, because when she touches it, it smokes and then knocks her out of the frame so fast it's comical.

Did they put her in a jerk vest for that shot?

Wei Wuxian hides the flute from her, freaked out by its behavior. She, however, is unfazed, and gives him the first & only affirmation he's gotten about his new cultivation path, and says the flute is "like Mother's Zidian." She kind of walks him through the whole "first class spiritual tool" concept, beaming with approval and telling him he must name the flute.

Jiang Yanli is hardcore Jiang Clan, seriously. Freedom and impossibility. You survived 3 months of mystery trauma and now you're all fucked up? We'll roll with it. You have a demon flute now? Rock on. You're going to use necromancy to beat the other clans in a group hunt? Gold star for you.

He names the flute Chenqing, which @hunxi-guilai translates and explains in depth over here.

Bichen

Lan Wangji has finished practicing the Song of Clarity, and regardless of whether it's had an effect on Wei Wuxian, he himself seems much calmer.

As Wei Wuxian contemplates Chenqing, Lan Wangji contemplates Bichen and remembers Wei Wuxian's assertions about resentful energy way back in Gusu summer school.

This time when he grips his sword, it's loosely, as if he's made some progress with his anger.

Soup

Jiang Yanli sits Wei Wuxian down for some soup, and talks to him about what's going on with him, saying he's changed. He insists he's fine and works very hard to be convincing.

She's not convinced but says she won't press him, and then abruptly shifts tone and works very hard to act like everything is fine. She leaves, taking a lot of soup with her, and Wei Wuxian remarks that it's unfair she is giving so much to Jiang Cheng. But of course, some of it is secretly for Jin Zixuan.

Everything isn't fine, as Wei Wuxian scream-meditates with resentful energy just rolling off of him. He's got some of the dark energy stored in the Yin sword in his bag of holding, but I get the impression that a lot of it is just stored in his body.

Club Ruohan

At some point in the episode we stop in to check on Wen Ruohan. He and his wind machine are mad that Wen Chao is dead.

Meanwhile, his interpretive dances with the Yin iron now turn his puppets into...Klingons? Sure, why not.

Literal Stand-Up Meeting

Jiang Cheng needs Wei Wuxian at games night a meeting and comes running to Jiang Yanli to find him. He is freaking out and she tells him to chill.

No matter what fuckery is going on in the world, Jiang Yanli is going to find herself a nice little outdoor table and she is going to sit her ass down and have some tea and civilized lady activity. Queen.

This shot of the meeting is composed so nicely. The blocking (placement of actors) in this scene encapsulates the familial dynamics, and I’ll talk about that as soon as I finish admiring Jiang Cheng’s proportions.

Here we have four clans represented by four family pairs around the game war table. The Jin cousins, despite their differing personalities, are side by side, matchy-matchy, in lockstep. Jin Zixuan lets Jin Zixun do the talking for him, so maintains his own rep as a reasonable guy.

The Nie brothers are even closer together, also in matching greys, Nie Huaisang giving all of his attention to his brother/clan leader. You can see his careful watching of his brother's temper...not fearful for himself, but fearful for Mingjue.

The Lan brothers have a growing distance between them; they are in different colors (which is pretty usual for them), and Lan Wangji is standing well away from his brother and the rest of the group. Partly this is his personality, but it's also symbolic of his growing distance from his brother and other proper cultivators. He's carrying WWX-related secrets, and he's wrestling with what he's learned.

While Nie Huaisang is looking at Mingjue, Lan Xichen is turning around to see what's up with his own volatile sibling.

Lastly you have Jiang Cheng, alone in the room, with his shidi nowhere to be found, and seriously feeling the heat because of his isolation.

He's alone in his purple, but the color value (lightness/darkness) of his robes exactly matches Xichen's.

And Xichen, bless him, makes a point of speaking to him respectfully as a fellow clan leader, gives him a path out of the "where is your brother" conversation, and is just generally his kind and helpful self with Jiang Cheng.

Next: Awkwardness Increases!

#the untamed #the untamed gifs #wangxian #the untamed meta #jiang cheng #wei wuxian #restless rewatch the untamed #my gifs #canary3d-original

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starlightinhumanform · 3 years

Text

Friday Night Lights: Chapter Two

Fandom: Sanders Sides

Ship: Romantic Prinxiety, Platonic Sleepxiety

Summary: Roman and Virgil play opposite positions on their rival high school football teams. It’s the Homecoming game and tensions are high. Neither are willing to lose but one must rise above the other...

Warnings: Descriptions of pain/injury, Moderate language, One mention of drinking (Please tell me if anything needs to be added)

Genre: High School AU, Rivals to Lovers, Fluff

A/N: Well... nearly a year since the first chapter came out I’m finally writing again!!! I really love this AU (even though I know very little about football lmao) and I have a lot of ideas about how I would like to include more Sanders Sides characters into this world. If I can get some more of my unfinished fics done, I really want to expand this series. Until then, I hope you enjoy! Love you all 🖤✨

Chapter One Ao3 Fic Masterpost Fic Request Info

The first play passed by in a blink. Most of the guys at the front went down quickly, even the largest crumpling under Prince and his brigade. Somehow in the chaos, the ball had been passed to Remy instead of Virgil and the fullback was tackled to the ground.

Virgil rolled his eyes at Remy as the team fell back into formation, only a few feet forward from where they had begun, “Dude, why’d the fuck did it get passed to you? It’s not like a knucklehead like you would know what to do with it.”

Remy huffed a laugh in response, “I have no clue. I’ll make sure it gets to you this time… hopefully.”

He glanced over in the direction that Remy was grimacing. It was Prince, of course, lumbering toward his position with what seemed to Virgil to be nothing but brutish arrogance. Roman acted like the entire game was about him; he acted like it was West Shore Vs Roman instead of West Shore Vs Knights. He probably didn’t even care about the game— it was all about showing off.

Crouched in the back of the formation, it was hard to see anyone at the front but he could picture Roman, somehow managing to smirk behind his mouthguard. Virgil hoped that Remy would rub his face in the turf.

—————————————-

Roman prepared for the second down, glad to see that the jock in front of him wasn’t looking nearly as confident as he had at the first down. Knocking someone to the ground always seemed to do the trick.

The ball was hurled straight back to Tempeste and the bitch who had growled at him earlier didn’t even try to block Roman. Good. All that was left between him and the weird little halfback was Remy Ristretto.

Roman tried to steady himself before the expected slam, but Ristretto’s tackle hit him low in the stomach, managing to knock him off balance. From the ground, he could just barely see the purple form of Tempeste weaving down the field and avoiding every single one of the Monarch Knight’s defense.

Roman tried to throw off the weight of the boy on his back but found himself thoroughly pinned down. His mouth was filled with the taste of plastic turf and dusty rubber and almost the entirety of his vision was blocked by the grape juice flavoured uniform on top of him. It was humiliating. And Tempeste was still running, reaching the end zone without being touched by a single Knight. It was like his feet didn’t even touch the ground, flying across the field.

The West Shore team were given the chance to make a field goal, and made it, but Roman hardly noticed. He was too busy grumbling about how he was going to get back at Tempeste the second he got the chance.

—————————————-

By halftime, Virgil felt like he had been driven over by a steamroller. Multiple times. A steamroller covered in baseball bats.

As the marching band paraded past where Virgil was sitting, he wondered vaguely about the operability of a steamroller that had baseball bats attached to it. Maybe the hit he had taken to the head earlier in the game had been harder than he thought.

Remy sat down besides him, “What’s going on in that big old head of yours?”

“Uhhhhh, a lot of cartoon gong sound effects. Now that I think about it, that might just be the band.”

Virgil looked out across the field as the marching band made their final pass around the turf. The sky was completely dark by now but the stadium glowed bright as day under the huge lights. It was always wonderfully surreal to Virgil, the time of night when the field became its own little world still holding onto the glory of day. He hoped glory was still how he felt about this field by the end of the game. The alternative would be shame; the alternative would be defeat.

And defeat was not an option for a game right before homecoming. It’s not that Virgil particularly cared about the school dances, quite the opposite in fact, he hated them. They were crowded, noisy, and you had to wear uncomfortable clothes and stand around with a bunch of people you don’t like instead of being at home watching scary movies and eating pizza in your pajamas. But there’s only one thing worse than going to a school dance— going to the a school dance after losing the biggest game of the season.

“You’re worried, aren’t you?” Remy’s voice broke through Virgil’s thoughts, “Well stop it. We’re ahead of the Knights—“

“Barely.”

“—you’ve made some great runs so far—“

“I’ve gotten blocked plenty of times too.”

“—and you’re always at your best in the second half of the game. Now stop putting all your energy towards making the little hamster wheel in your brain turn faster and go use it on the field. C’mon man, the third quarter is about to start.”

Virgil shook his head as if to dislodge the distracting thoughts, letting his purple bangs fall in front of his face for a moment before brushing them back and putting his helmet on. Remy was right. Virgil had started football as a way to channel his anxiety, not to cause himself more. He just needed to get on that field and start running.

He jumped up and started bouncing on his feet, letting the adrenaline flow through his body until it felt like he was buzzing. Virgil was ready to win.

—————————————-

Roman was ready to win.

He could feel it boiling in stomach, the drive, the push to alway be the best. The teams had been neck-and-neck the entire game but West Shore’s grape-coloured menace had managed to scrape by with a slight lead by the end of the second quarter. Roman had no idea how Tempeste could even run that fast; he had short little legs and was about as delicate as a twig. Maybe West Shore just hooked him up to a car battery and gave him 20 energy drinks before every game.

However they made it happen, the kid could run. He didn’t look like he belonged on a football team, more like a trackstar or even a dancer. Roman knew he looked like a football player— tall, with broad shoulders and a thick waist, his extra weight part of what made him such a good defense. But Tempeste... he was like no player Roman had ever seen. Maybe that’s why Roman couldn’t beat him like any other player.

As the teams fell into formation, Roman looked across the row of helmets and accidentally made eye contact with Virgil. His stare burned with intensity. Roman hated to admit it, but he liked that about the rival school’s halfback, the feverish energy that seemed to storm around him. In fact, if Roman was being really honest, he loved playing against the West Shore because he loved playing against Tempeste. The energy was infectious. Playing against him made Roman want to run faster, hit harder, be better.

Roman smiled behind the mouthguard that rested on his bottom teeth. Maybe he did know how to beat Virgil; maybe he had to be just as crazy and vicious as his opponent.

—————————————-

Virgil knew what it felt like to get tackled. In his high school career he had gotten jumped on top and thrown to the ground by various sweaty, muscly dudes more times than he could ever dream of counting or would ever care to. He had been dragged to the ground, sat on, and pushed over from every angle and in every way.

But he had never, never felt a tackle like Roman’s in the beginning of the third quarter of that game.

He saw it coming, practically in slow motion, before Prince actually hit him. The boy’s shoulders were nearly twice as big as Virgil’s even with all his gear. He came charging towards Virgil head-down like a bull, his bright red helmet set with a direct trajectory to Virgil’s solar plexus.

Virgil tried to sidestep, skirting just past the moving wall of Roman Prince, but somehow Roman was moving simply too fast. The impact struck just at his core and a deep kind of pain, like a bruise that goes all the way to the bone, resonated outwards through his entire body. A vibration ran all the way to his fingertips.

Virgil could see the crowd going wild, booing and cheering and maybe just screaming with no inflection, making noise for the hell of it. He couldn’t hear any of it. Maybe the entire world had been put on mute or maybe the ringing in his ears was drowning it out.

He fell backwards and Roman flew over him, momentum carrying him forward. When he landed— and boy, did he land— he fell on directly onto Virgil’s chest. Virgil thought Roman had knocked the wind out of him by hitting him in the sternum. By landing flat on his chest with the entire bulk of his body, Roman found another ounce of breath left in Virgil’s body to shock out of him.

His vision and hearing tunneled out, focusing on the one thing capturing his entire attention: Roman. The boy on top of him was heavy, crushing Virgil through his thick shoulder pads. The heat of Prince’s body spread through his gear as well, although, based on the sweat damping his hairline, Virgil really wasn’t one to talk.

Roman was strong, stronger than him. Virgil tried to squirm away but he could feel Prince throwing his weight downwards and his arms straining to keep Virgil caged to the ground.

Just as intense as his physical strength, Prince’s eyes seemed to burn. Before, they always seemed to be depthless, simply dark and brutish like a bear. Now, breathlessly close, there seemed to be a light behind them, a thousand times brighter than the stadium lights. Gold tones shining through the dark brown of his eyes. It was the most beautiful thing Virgil had ever seen. It was also easily one of the most terrifying things he’d ever seen.

Virgil kept the ball close to his chest. As long as he could keep it, the West Shore team would still have possession and could continue to move forward across the field. They could still win.

—————————————-

Roman had Tempeste pinned to the ground and somehow it was the most exhilarating thing he had ever done. Which isn’t to say he had never tackled the halfback before— they had been playing against each other for several years now— but this was different somehow, more personal.

Tempeste growled beneath him, wriggling to escape the tackle like water slipping between his fingers. Roman push down harder, refusing to let him go.

Footsteps pounded behind them, turf crunching under the stampede of Knights quickly charging forward. Roman braced himself for the pile-up he knew was coming, over a thousand pounds worth of his team jumping to join the tackle.

One guy slammed into Roman’s back then another, then another. The pressure of the game must have been getting to them as well because they threw themselves at Roman and Tempeste like a pack of wild animals.

It felt like every single Knight, including the offense players, were joining the tackle. And feel was the correct term. He could hardly see anything besides Tempeste’s face within his purple helmet. But he could feel everything, every hit of his teammates as their full weight fell against his back. Beneath him, Tempeste’s breath began quickening, like he was sprinting again. But of course he wasn’t, he was pinned down just like Roman was.

Roman glanced down into the depths of Virgil’s helmet, searching past the grill. Shining in the dark, his eyes caught a small reflection of the stadium lights. They were large, startled, and obviously panicked. He looked like a trapped animal and his breathing only continued to become more rapid.

Their eyes met as Roman looked down and he realized this was the first time he had ever seen Virgil look really, truly afraid. He had seen Tempeste in the fourth quarter, 20 points behind and looking as determined and fierce as ever. He had seen Tempeste sprint across the field, followed by the entire Monarchs team, with a huge grin on his face like there was nothing he would rather do than be hunted after. He had seen Tempeste stand toe-toe-to, small chest puffed out and jaw set confidently, with some guy over a foot taller than him because he tried to mouth off about Virgil’s ability. He had never seen him like this.

“Hey, it’s going to be ok,” Roman set his helmet grill against Virgil’s. He knew Virgil couldn’t hear him and probably didn’t even know why he was putting his face so close. Hell, Roman didn’t even know why he was doing it. There was something about Virgil’s genuine fear that he felt the need to comfort him, tell him that it was just a game, that he would be alright.

The weight of another player hit him and Roman was slammed against Virgil’s chest. The sudden shift forced Roman onto his wrist, the small joint carrying him and the entirety of his team. Something cracked. He gasped sharply as pain struck every molecule in his body. Roman’s vision went black.

—————————————-

Virgil sat in the locker room, staring vaguely across at the rows of blue shelves in front of him as he held a pack of ice against his shoulder. The nurse said that it might have been dislocated in the pileup.

He wished he could blame it on Roman, that oaf was the one who had tackled him to begin with. He couldn’t though. It was Roman’s job to tackle him and that’s exactly what Roman had done and as much as it confused and somewhat infuriated Virgil, he also knew the other boy had protected him from the blunt force of his teammates. Why? Why would he do that?

Dull pain throbbed through the entirety of his body, clouding his mind. Maybe that’s why he couldn’t quite wrap his head around what had happened.

Virgil was pretty sure Roman got hurt too. As he had walked off the field, gritting his teeth, he caught a glimpse of Prince cradling his hand as he walked in the opposite direction.

It was one hell of a pileup; four years of football and he had only been in a tangle that bad the first time he had played against the Monarchs. Maybe he and Roman were just destined to create disasters.

Virgil grimaced as his mind kept wandering back to Roman. He didn’t know why, but he couldn’t help but worry if Prince was alright. Virgil had no idea what was going on in his mind, or on the field, or in the locker room on the other side.

—————————————-

Roman was bored. He sat on the bleachers, watching the game drag on ahead of him as he held a pack of ice to his wrist. The nurse had told him it was probably just strained but Roman wasn’t convinced. He could feel the ache throbbing up his arm with every beat of his heart. Between the pain and the pressure spreading out from grinding his teeth, Roman’s head was trapped in a haze that he could barely see through.

From what he could tell, the Monarch Knights were winning. With Virgil out, Westshore’s offense had been greatly weakened. Roman hardly cared; he wasn’t out there, Virgil wasn’t out there, none of the spark was left in the game. What was the point of winning if there was no one to win against?

The crowd roared as the final quarter came to a close. The Knights won, but Roman didn’t. He felt disappointed, dejected, and like he didn’t quite understand where he was. This wasn’t his game.

The night came to an end and Roman opted to go straight to the locker room instead of shaking hands with the other team, blaming it on his wrist. Usually, he loved facing the other team after a win— admittedly because it gave him a chance to gloat over them— but he just couldn’t find that same feeling tonight.

—————————————-

Virgil leaned against a cold concrete wall of the bleachers, staring up at the stadium light’s false sun above him. If he looked far enough, he could find the dark sky and the twinkling lights of the city below him and beyond the intense glow of the school.

A cool breeze was picking up as the world shifted into night. It was beautiful but Virgil couldn’t appreciate it. He just wished there had been some sort of ending, a closure of some kind. He and Prince’s last hurrah against each other. But they hadn’t gotten a hurrah, all they got was a game that petered out and came to sputtering stop as they both sat on the sidelines. Virgil didn’t even care that West Shore lost; it was never about West Shore and the Monarchs. It was about him and Roman.

Someone cleared their throat behind him, “You mind if I join your sulking or would you rather be left alone to mope?”

Virgil spun around, his body tensing at Roman’s voice and sending a twinge of pain down from his shoulder, “What do you want?”

Roman stepped closer, “I told you, I came to sulk with you because that’s obviously what we’re both doing.”

Virgil rolled his eyes, “Yeah, right well... fuck off.”

“Man, I thought you might bite before but now I’m sure of it.”

Prince took another casual step forward as Virgil’s mind began racing. What is he doing? Virgil’s eyes swept over Roman. He had never really seen him out of his football uniform and damn. In denim jeans and a red tee shirt, Virgil was actually able to see him for the first time. Most guys were greatly exaggerated by the uniform, making them look bigger and stronger, but nope, Roman was really just built like that. His gaze reached Prince’s face. Like the rest of his body, his features looked like they had been sculpted and chiseled like some type of statue. He was reminded of how beautiful Roman’s eyes were when he actually took the time to look at them, the warm shades of brown filtering through each other.

“Uh, what are you looking at?” Roman laughed, a hint of nervousness creeping into the edge of his voice.

Virgil felt blood rushing to his face as a deep blush rose to his cheeks. He had been staring, hadn’t he? “Sorry.”

Roman stepped even closer, clearing his throat again, “I actually came over here because... I wanted just wanted to tell you I’ve really enjoyed playing against you. And it can’t just be summed up by saying ‘good game;’ it’s been a hell of a good four years... you’re a phenomenal player.”

Virgil stared down at his feet. This was not what he had been expecting, not that he had been expecting any of this, “You know... it hasn’t been easy to be the smallest person on the team— shit, I’m the smallest player in any of the district teams. I don’t think I would have kept playing, or would have tried as hard to stay on the team if I wasn’t absolutely set on kicking your ass.”

Roman laughed— a deep, genuine sound flooding from somewhere in his broad chest— and Virgil couldn’t help but grin.

“So yeah... thanks for that. And good game,” Virgil smiled up at the other boy.

“Well, we can’t exactly shake hands like usual,” Roman glanced down at his swollen wrist and Virgil’s shoulder that he was still nursing.

“Can we do something else then?” Virgil moved so he was standing face to face with Roman, his heart pounding in his ears.

Virgil could feel Roman’s breathing quicken as he reached up with his good arm, sliding his hand to the base of Roman’s neck. Put he didn’t startle, he didn’t try to move away. If anything, he seemed to be leaning into the touch.

Virgil moved forward, standing on the tips of his toes to press his lips against Roman’s. For a horrific second, he thought Roman wouldn’t return it but after a moment of apparent shock, Roman bowed his head to deepen the kiss. He tipped them forward, supporting the entirety of Virgil’s weight with his uninjured hand.

When they finally broke away, Virgil was completely breathless. He definitely hadn’t seen that coming at the beginning of the evening.

Roman looked equally surprised but he began grinning like an idiot as the realization of what had just happened settled over him, “Can we do that again??”

Virgil laughed at Roman’s eager, puppy-dog-eyes expression, “At least buy me a drink first.”

“Well, I can’t exactly do that seeing as we’re both like 17–“

“Excuse you, I’m 18,” Virgil stuck his tongue out in mock indignation.

“Yeah, well, uh, would you maybe want to go to homecoming with me?” Roman began rushing his words out, “I mean, I totally get if not. There’s absolutely no pressure. And I’m sure you already have plans so—“

“That’d be cool,” Virgil broke in, “I’d really, really like that.”

Roman’s face once again broke into a beaming smile, “Really??”

“Yeah you big idiot, that’s why I said it. Besides, it’s awful going to a dance after losing a game so I might as well bring a trophy,” Virgil slipped his hand into Roman’s and began leading them out of the stadium and into the parking lot. Nothing could have prepared him for what happened tonight. He had started the evening determined to win, but even though West Shore lost, he didn’t feel disappointed.

Virgil looked at the silhouette of Roman against the fading campus lights as he walked alongside him. Maybe he had won something even more important than the game.

if you would like to be added to the Friday Night Lights taglist, please just send an ask or reply to this post ;D

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#roman sanders #virgil sanders #prinxiety #romantic prinxiety #roman x virgil #prinxiety high school au #sander sides #sanders side fic #sanders sides fanfiction #sanders sides high school au #prinxiexty fluff #starlight writes #Friday Night Lights #did I say I was going to post this on thursday and then decided to push it until friday but then i went on a date #and absolutely did not get this posted so now I’m posting it on saturday #maybe

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justplainwhump · 3 years

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Lead and Follow (aka ‘The Dance’)

For the wonderful @whumping-newbie ‘s birthday, the long-awaited continuation of our whumpee's birthday - finally featuring the promised dance... combined with some other pain, of course, for good measure.

Happy birthday, friend! Hope you enjoy it!

Cw - intimate whumper, strangling, humiliation, captivity, lady whump, noncon touch, noncon kiss, implied fade-to-black noncon at the end

[Masterpost Charlie/Marissa]

The third and final* installment of the little birthday subseries [pt 0 | pt 1 | pt 2] - but it can totally be read alone.

*at least until I learn to write explicit NSFW

###

Charles' hand was resting between her shoulder blades. His touch was gentle, almost affectionate, had his palm not pressed onto fresh cut wounds in her skin.

"You make me the luckiest man in the world", he whispered into her ear. She stiffened in her seat at the choice of words and he let out a soft chuckle. "Yeah. That's what your husband said, at your wedding. I must admit, he was right. You're perfect, babydoll." His fingers idly played with the buckle of her collar.

"You know how to make any man happy, don't you? He was just the wrong one. Didn't know how to keep a whore like you in line."

Marissa fought back the hot, angry tears rising in her eyes. "Keep Jason out of-"

His hand closed around the collar, a sudden, brutal twist cutting off her breath. She wheezed for air, panicked, but there was nothing. Her feet pushed into the ground trying to get herself away from him, her arms flew up to pull him away, but he easily caught them with his other hand.

"No talking back", he hissed into her ear. Black spots danced into her vision. "That was our deal, remember? This was supposed to be a nice and peaceful evening."

He held it for some more seconds, held the collar and her body, that thrashed and spasmed beyond her control, before he finally let go. She collapsed to the ground, curled together on her side, coughing and crying and breathing again, finally. Still not dead.

With a sigh he stepped into her vision, perfectly polished leather shoes under perfectly ironed suit pants. "I like you like this, Marissa, you know that, but it's utterly unelegant. Doesn't suit the occasion." His shoe tip pushed under her cheek to lift up her face and the casual cruelty of the notion, mixed with smell of leather and shoe polish almost made her gag. "You don't want to anger me on your birthday, do you? This day is yours, after all. No restraints. Bathing. A nice dress. Gifts. Your favorite food. I even got your favorite music."

Dimly, somewhere beyond her desperate wheezing and the too loud beating of her own heart, she heard it. Innocent tunes, happy and energetic, a voice singing of love and joy.

"Get up now", he commanded. "Behave. And show me you deserve this kindness."

Bastard, she thought. His gaze met hers from where he was standing, that smug grin on his face that he never seemed to drop around her. And why should he. He had won.

Gingerly she propped herself on her arms, but his foot on her chest stopped her.

"Apologize first."

Her words came too easy. "I'm sorry", she whispered, her voice still rough from coughing.

"What for?", he pushed.

"Speaking up."

"Saying his name", Charles corrected softly. "You will never ever say your pathetic husband's name. You're mine now. I won. So. Say it. You're sorry for forgetting your place. You're sorry for saying that loser's name. Say it and look me in the eye while you do."

She looked at him, into these green eyes that were speaking of hunger and hatred, and she only hated herself. "I'm sorry for forgetting my place", she said flatly. "I'm sorry for saying J-" His eyes narrowed and she cried out, when he kicked her down again. "The loser", she corrected with a half sob. Charles looked satisfied. She felt sick as she went on. "I'm sorry for saying the... the loser's name. It was wrong. I... I'm yours."

"Good", he replied softly and withdrew his foot from her chest. "Perfect. Now let's try again to make this a pleasant evening, shall we?"

He extended his hand to help her up, and despite her urge to slap it away, she took it and let him pull her to her feet.

When he kissed her, she didn't fight. He was gentle, placated by the words he had forced out of her. His lips trailed down her neck, past the collar, along the cut wounds on her clavicle and she shuddered at the burning sting when one of the cuts opened again. "You're delicious, babydoll", he purred as he pulled her closer. "I love that rare, perfect obedience."

His hand wandered down her side, caressing the smooth fabric of the dress he had given her, and ended on the small of her back. "Let's dance, Marissa", he whispered into her hair. "Like on our first meeting. Let's dance and celebrate how far we have come since then."

She was grateful for the way his face was buried in her neck, because she couldn't hide the pain flaring in her eyes, the tears welling up that she had to swallow back because everything, everything he'd come up with when he saw her facade crumbling would be infinitely worse.

Slowly, she lifted her left hand and rested it on his upper arm. His shirt felt soft and expensive under her touch, like the one he had worn at their first dance indeed, and she idly wondered if he had planned all this.

"I've wanted to have you since that day", he said, as he took her other her other hand and caressed her palm with his thumb. "Since he brought you to my wedding to brag with you. He put you into my arms for that dance, all beautiful and half undone, just to mock me."

He didn't. He brought me, because he loves me. She wanted to shout at him, but she kept silent.

A new song started, as if on cue, the rhythm quick and powerful. Jive. Her favorite dance. And Charles'. They had danced socially, often, the two best dancers in their circle of friends. She had truly enjoyed it, often enough. Now, it sickened her just to think about these moments.

Charles' fingers drummed to the beat on her side, before he lead her into the dance. He moved smoothly, and she simply followed. It was of no use to think. As long as they danced he couldn't hurt her. As long as they danced, she could forget. The song was fast, a challenge for less experienced dancers, perfect for their caliber. The weeks she had spent down here had weakened her, but the combinations and steps still came to her easily. The wounds on her arms hurt when she stretched them for the figures, but she'd once danced a tournament with a strained ankle. She could switch off the pain, the disgust, the fear. She could ignore the confined space of this prison and the vile grin on her captor's lips. She could lose herself in the dance, in the rhythm of the music, in the tiny cues that she knew exactly how to react on.

If she focused on the music and her body, she could just block out the words he whispered, just reduce them to a background noise that couldn't hurt her. Strands of her hair flew out of the updo and over her shoulders, and somehow this tiny taste of freedom made her smile more real.

Charles sent her into a fast outside turn, and she spun, reached for his arm - into nothing. He didn't catch her. Just stood and watched.

She stumbled back, off balance, yelped as she crashed into the cheap couch. Everything was back at once. The clammy, constricting basement air, the barred windows, the sting of her wounds, the constant dull ache in her body. And him, stepping back into her vision, pressing her into the cushions. "I always admired this about you", he said, as he followed her onto the couch, knelt over her. "You can act so annoyingly loud and determined, but when dancing, you ease into place perfectly. You, babydoll, in your very core, you love to follow, don't you? You love to subordinate yourself. This was just beautiful."

His hands were on her hips, pushed up the short dress, a vile smile rising on his face as he looked down on her. He hadn't given her anything to wear underneath.

Her head was spinning, her breath still racing from the exertion.

"Let's just keep that up, babydoll, huh?" He reached down to open his belt, his own breath going as fast as hers, hot against her skin as he kissed her neck. "Show me how good you are at following."

#whump #lady whump #intimate whumper #creepy whumper #cw noncon #cw humiliation #captivity

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agrlsname · 3 years

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Fic Masterpost

I’ve signed up for Fandom Trumps Hate for the first time, and thought it an excellent moment to share a guide to my 32 fics.

If you want me to write a fic for you, you can bid on me here!

If you want to check out my works first, I’ve written some lists that can help you find something to your tastes. The most popular fics, my own faves, and those with the main themes I keep coming back to, I’ve written about in more detail. Below the cut you can find the fics sorted by more standard genres. I hope this helps you navigate my AO3!

FIVE FAVES of the fandom My most popular fics - the ones that made my name.

1. What Friends Do 23k, E A story about the blurry limits between friendship and romance. A long, fluffy first chapter, an angsty second chapter, a third chapter with smut, topped off with a super fluffy epilogue. Apparently that’s the recipe for success – this fic is twice as popular as my second most well-loved fic!

2. Who I Really Am 13k, T John’s journey of self-discovery and acceptance. With the help of Harry, he slowly comes to terms with his bisexuality. One of the rare fics I’ve written which takes place post-s4, but the only things I’ve really cared about from it are the existence of Rosie and the Hug. Podfic from Podfixx available.

3. The General Idea 3k, T A short story about how their relationship shifts when Sherlock asks John to retire with him. Podfic from Podfixx available, and there’s a sequel too now (A Home for Bees and Beekeepers).

4. Coldness/Heat 3k, E My first PWP, featuring my fave trope of all time: Bedsharing! This turned into a series of fluffy and/or smutty fics posted annually on New Year’s Eve (New Year’s Kiss).

5. Tomorrow’s Song 24k, E When John confesses his love for Sherlock, Sherlock isn’t ready to hear it. Heavy angst ensues when they both try to deal with Sherlock’s return from the dead, and Sherlock battles with his demons. Writing this fic is what made me Understand Sherlock and I’ve loved him fiercely ever since.

FIVE FAVES of agirlsname The fics that I’m the most proud of – the ones I still love years after posting them.

1. Who I Really Am 13k, T I’ll mention it again, because it’s the most important thing I’ve ever written. I wrote it while I went through this journey myself, and many readers have messaged me over the years saying it helped them realise/come to terms with/come out as bisexual.

2. The Sky is Full of Fiddles 25k, T A teenlock AU set in rural Sweden in the 1890s. Sherlock is a folk music fiddler, John is a fiddle-maker-to-be, and they’re both skilled folk dancers. This is where I finally took the boys home to me and put them in the culture that I truly know, and gifted them with the music and dance I love most in the world. Magical, nearly mystical atmosphere, young summer love, the pull of music and dancing… the story turned out almost like a fairy-tale.

3. This Is Your Song 80k, E I’ve always loved the Moulin Rouge movie, and I had such a blast putting Sherlock in the role of a fiercely talented actor forced to work as a prostitute, and John as the writer who falls in love with him… Many people skip this one because of the MCD, but with its poetic language, heartbreaking versions of the characters and familiar story, to me this might be my best piece of writing ever.

4. Your Daughter 9k, G The story of Sherlock’s relationship with John’s newborn baby – the way he feels about a baby that isn’t his, but that he becomes a second parent to. There’s none of the things I hated with the later seasons (Sherlock and John’s frayed relationship, Mary, or any of the fuckery that was s4) – the only thing I kept was John having a baby (not called Rosie unless you HC it). Another story I lived while I was writing it.

5. 52 Years 4k, M A string of headcanons from every year Sherlock and John spend knowing each other. I like the way I wrote this one – a little odd, pretty poetic, sometimes angsty, mostly sweet. Underappreciated because it ends in death (of old age), but it isn’t there for the sake of angst but is meant to be beautiful.

Main theme #1: BISEXUALITY These stories deal with John coming to terms with his bisexuality, under angsty or fluffy conditions. Or both.

Who I Really Am 13k, T Every internal argument, every attempt to escape, every fear, and all the joy of coming to terms with bisexuality. Sprinkled with Johnlock angst that obviously ends in Johnlock happiness.

A Singular Friendship 28k, E John struggles with the implications of having a close physical relationship with his male friend. He takes several missteps and dates a woman for a while to prove his heterosexuality, but he deals with his crap in the end.

I’m the Rainbow in Your Jail Cell 2k, G A short, weird ficlet about taking the leap while you still have the chance.

What I Really Want 1k, M A short unilock fic where John has known Sherlock since he was a kid. The first time he has an almost feverish sex fantasy about his best friend.

Main theme #2: POST-REICHENBACH I have worked through my Reichenbach feels over and over. Let me break your heart and then put it back together!

Tomorrow’s Song 24k, E While Sherlock was gone, John realised he had feelings for him. When Sherlock comes back he isn’t ready for John’s love confession and turns him down. They drift apart, John proposes to Mary, everyone is miserable until Sherlock gets his shit together.

gravity 1k, T When Sherlock comes back, they can’t stop touching each other. No anger or hate, only sweet hurt and comfort.

The Secret Blog of Dr. John H. Watson (series, 3 works) 43k, E Sherlock and John get together before Sherlock falls. Here’s how that plays out when he comes back…

We could. 10k, M Sherlock casually jokes about suicide, which triggers John’s trauma from watching him fall. They finally talk it out. Established relationship.

My Messy Miracle 16k, M Sherlock calls John twenty days after the fall to reveal he’s alive. John has to let him go on his mission alone, but after a while he goes after him to save him.

52 Years 4k, M After the many years they spend together, John reflects on the fact that all the happy years more than make up for those difficult years at the beginning.

The Zebra Sheets 13k, M Sherlock isn’t “dead” as long as in canon, and John hasn’t met Mary. Sherlock is traumatised by the torture in Serbia, and John is exhausted from the grief he’s gone through. They go on a vacation to a cottage and grow closer to each other.

Here are suggestions on what to read if you want…

… to focus on Sherlock’s background, emotions and growth: What Friends Do 23k, E Tomorrow’s Song 24k, E Your Daughter 9k, G A Study in Kissing (series, 2 works) 11k, E The Zebra Sheets 13k, M

… a John who’s already 100% fine with his bisexuality (or doesn’t make a fuss when he realises): The Secret Blog of Dr. John H. Watson (series, 3 works) 43k, E New Year’s Kiss (series, 4 works) 11k, E This Is Your Song 80k, E The Sky is Full of Fiddles 25k, T My Messy Miracle 16k, M

… angst and ache in your heart (but almost always with a happy ending): Friends (series, 2 works) 51k, E Who I Really Am 13k, T Tomorrow’s Song 24k, E The Secret Blog of Dr. John H. Watson (series, 3 works) 43k, E This Is Your Song 80k, E We could. 10k, M Not Actually a Girl’s Name 5k, G 52 Years 4k, M Hurry to Love 1k, G

… fluffy, romantic, sweet stories: About the Beekeeping Years (series, 2 works) 6k, T New Year’s Kiss (series, 4 works) 11k, E Undersea-Rainbows 11k, E Your Daughter 9k, G The Sky is Full of Fiddles 25k, T A Study in Kissing (series, 2 works) 11k, E All Hearts’ Day 400 words, G The Zebra Sheets 13k, M

… sexy, short stories without much of a plot: Coldness/Heat 3k, E Iron Sparks 2k, E Sex Holiday Manners 2k, E The Adventure of the Ugly Jumper 4k, E The Largest Sex Organ 200 words, E What I Really Want 1k, M

… an AU: This Is Your Song 80k, E The Sky is Full of Fiddles 25k, T What I Really Want 1k, M

… to laugh: Solution of the Final Problem 6k, G The Lost Kiss 3k, M Iron Sparks 2k, E Socks! or A Delicate and Unpredictable Operation 2k, G

… a bite-sized fic on the go: gravity 1k, T I’m the Rainbow in Your Jail Cell 2k, G What I Really Want 1k, M All Hearts’ Day 400 words, G The Largest Sex Organ 200 words, E Hurry to Love 1k, G

#fandom trumps hate #Johnlock fanfic

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artemiseamoon · 1 year

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WIPs this week and beyond!

Loose eta - coming up!

Dates may change! Based on how close to done they are & if I have the time/energy. Places May shift.

Arte takes a break: indefinite hiatus

Now

Damage control updated 1/25 - next tba

Is this how it ends? updated 11/15 - next tba

Ghosts of our past - updated 12/5 - next tba

Other projects

🎃Artes Frightfest - next in 2024! | 2022 masterlist - high hopes for 2023 but had no time

🐺 Dancer Between Worlds return from hiatus tba! Fic info * - back in mid February 2024 💜

🥹 Arte’s Year of Whump - complete ! Masterpost

🔥 Narcos October prompts - complete! masterlist

February 2024 tru April 2024

It’s all poetry

Our lonely hearts

Python & Hawk

Dancer between worlds *

The road to you

A hermits journey

Tba - this year

Take two - hiatus but will be back

Burn the Shadow - A Gray Man/ Shifter au

Nocturnes of Melancholia

Immortal Seduction

The viking & the princess

End of the line

Just don’t let go

Might be coming back….tba

His muse

The three of us (with oc no RC)

In the depths of darkness

🎉🎉🎉Now complete! 🎉🎉🎉

Queen of Poisons

The Edge of Dawn

Elysian

Stay in the light

Sin

Death Kiss

Deep in the woods, the Goatman lives

Decided by Fate

Labyrinth (klonnie) a03

Secret Santa fic - Pero Tovar

More recently completed fics here

More lists…

Everything I’m prioritizing right now (into 2024)

Competed fics

Fics on hiatus

List of cancelled works

#wips #coming up #multi fandom #coming this week #artes wips

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oddinary4bts · 1 year

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The Forgotten Spaces | ch 6 (jjk)

☆summary: you've been dancing on the same dance crew since your teenage years, and you finally have an important role in it. It feels like life is taunting you when your rival comes back after disappearing for a year, ready to tease you every chance he gets. Will the teasing turn into more, or are you going to take him down with you?

☆pairing: photographer and dancer!Jungkook x dancer!female reader

☆rating: 18+ (minors DNI, there is mature content in previous/later chapters)

☆genre: slow (SLOW) burn enemies to lovers, college!au, slice of life!au, angst (oop), smut and fluff

☆warnings: mentions of sex/hot tub scene. hickey. angst (oops), might be a curse somewhere in there?

☆word count: 5.8k

☆series masterpost here

☆a/n: I am very sorry for all the angst that is to follow. Please don't hate me and please enjoy reading still haha! Thank you to @moonleeai for her beta reading on this fic, I won't ever thank you enough, you're the best <3

☆Read What Was Hidden here, the fic that inspired this whole story, written by @daechwitatamic, one of my fav human beings on this app <3 It follows the story of Jo and Taehyung before The Forgotten Spaces

☆☆☆☆☆

For this meeting of our end of the world

It's with you that I want to sing

On the threshold of the memories the dead of today

Them that breathe for us

The forgotten spaces

Je t'écris - Gaston Miron (rough translation by me)

☆☆☆☆☆

Sunday, July 8th

Waking up next to Jungkook feels weird. You reckon it might be because you haven’t slept a lot, and people are already moving around the cottage. You’ve refused to open your eyes so far, just because you’ve heard Jiho and Hobi whispering about you and Jungkook and you feel too much of a coward to admit you probably fucked things up with him already.

You think Jiho has taken a picture. Knowing her, she definitely has, and you wish you could just disappear for a time. You eventually force yourself to get up though, before Jungkook who is still dead asleep when you move to the kitchen. You suffer through Jiho’s questioning, but she quickly notices that you’re shut off, lost in thought and maybe even dabbling in a little regret too.

From there she shuts down everyone that asks questions, and by the time Jungkook gets up, everyone is just pretending they haven’t noticed that something definitely happened between the two of you.

Jungkook doesn’t really look at you. He eats breakfast chatting with Taehyung and Jin, avoiding you like the plague. You can tell you’ve hurt him, but you don’t know how to fix it. After all, you’ve never really been acquainted with feelings yourself. Especially not after your parents’ divorce.

The day feels heavy. It’s still warm outside, far too much, and a veil of dark clouds is looming over the horizon by the time you have to leave the cottage. Your mood imitates the weather, and you find yourself brooding more than you usually do.

You haven’t been able to talk to Jungkook yet. Mostly because he’s been avoiding you, yes. But also because you don’t know what to tell him.

“Hey, I’m shit at relationships and feelings, yesterday felt too real” sounds like too much of a confession. Even though it is the truth, you’re a coward, through and through.

Jiho’s been trying to get your mind off things. Texting you random stupid things, sending you memes as Hobi drives the four of you home. Heather is riding with Chaeyeon, Lance and Bridget this time around, so there’s a space between you and Jungkook. This time, when he falls asleep, he falls asleep with his head resting against the window, and not on your shoulder.

It starts raining halfway home, and Hobi drives slower, windshield wiper going on full blast. Jiho sends you yet another meme – something absurd you can’t bring yourself to find funny. It earns you a frown from your best friend, and a second later your phone vibrates in your hand.

[1:23 pm] Jiho❣️: u’re supposed to laugh☹️ [1:23 pm] You: i want to talk to Jungkook but idk what to tell him🫠 [1:25 pm] Jiho❣️: what really happened yesterday? i wanna help but it’s hard if idk [1:26 pm] You: we made out in the hot tub then fucked when we were supposed to sleep🤡 [1:26 pm] Jiho❣️: bruh i wish i had a make-out session in the hot tub [1:27 pm] You: 🙄🙄 [1:27 pm] Jiho❣️: sorry [1:27 pm] Jiho❣️: pretty sure more than just fucking happened considering both of you are upset [1:30 pm] You: i told him we shouldn’t have fucked after and he got upset [1:31 pm] Jiho❣️: bitch he’s into u ofc he’ll be upset [1:31 pm] You: u’re not helping [1:32 pm] Jiho❣️: are u into him?

You don’t know the answer. You ask yourself that question for the rest of the day, and you reckon you really don’t know. A lot changed between you and Jungkook over the weekend, but it’s hard to ignore the fact you have never really liked him. Because he was a dick and a bully to you for years.

It’s not something you think you can just forget because you’ve had sex with him once. And you don’t even know if you’d be interested in a relationship with him anyway. You’ve never been in a relationship before at all, and the thought of it terrifies you.

The thought of Jungkook being upset with you terrifies you in equal measures, but you refuse to admit it to yourself. Maybe because you’re trying to protect yourself. It’s hard to tell. You feel like you won’t be able to go through your feelings by yourself – they’re overwhelming, all of them.

Thinking about Jungkook is overwhelming. Thinking about dancing under the stars, about his scar, about the way he held onto you after he finished. Everything is overwhelming, and it makes you anxious. Jumpy, even, as you’re sitting in your room in your mother’s empty house later at night.

You’re halfway through a Studio Ghibli movie that was supposed to help you relax when you decide to text your therapist to schedule an appointment this week. It feels like the right thing to do – you know Mary has always been able to help you sort through your thoughts, even though you haven’t seen her in months.

You don’t expect her to reply tonight considering it’s late in the evening, but you linger on your messaging app. You can’t resist but scroll down a little, down to where Jungkook’s name lies on the screen. You click on the conversation, rereading the last messages he sent you from when he was drunk a little over a week ago. It makes your heart squeeze in your chest a little, and you scroll all the way up to the first time he texted you in April. You haven’t talked much at all, so it’s not like there’s a lot, but you can’t help yourself. You reread everything, entirely ignoring the movie playing on your laptop.

When you’re done reading, you find yourself typing a text even though you don’t know what to say. It seems your fingers know, because a moment later you find yourself staring at a fully formed sentence. It looks as if it’s taunting you, and you reread it so many times the words start to lose their meaning.

[9:47 pm] You: hey, i really enjoyed the weekend with u and i’m genuinely really sorry about yesterday…

It takes you all the courage your body can conjure up to press send. You immediately turn off your phone to focus on your laptop and on the movie, though it doesn’t really work at all. The anxiety the message has brought up in you makes the story of Totoro way too hard to follow, and you’re merely watching the scenes, barely even blinking.

When the movie ends, you get ready for bed. You haven’t dared check your phone yet, but a little bit of anticipation has been steadily building inside of you. Because you hope he’ll answer. You hope you won’t have to explain why you are the way that you are for things to go back to normal with him. Maybe because offering him your vulnerability feels like too much of a commitment for someone that doesn’t do commitments at all.

You know you’ll hate yourself at your internship the next day, but you can’t really sleep after you’ve settled under the comforter in your bed. It’s way past midnight when you finally gather the courage to look at your phone, teeth worrying at your bottom lip.

Your empty notification screen stares back at you, as if to say ‘you really thought that would change anything?’

You sigh, putting your phone away on your night table before turning on your side, grabbing a pillow to hold. It’s still raining outside, and your brain focuses on the splattering of rain on the panes of the window. You think maybe Jungkook went to bed early, considering you didn’t get a lot of sleep in the last two days. Maybe he’s asleep and will reply tomorrow…

You cling onto that hope as the sound of the rain finally lulls you to a troubled sleep.

Tuesday, July 10th

Jungkook has been in a shit mood. He knows why, and it’s strange to think that it’s not his leg for once. What makes it worse is that everyone around him knows too, thanks to the hickey on his neck.

And it’s only worse when you don’t show up to dance practice. Jiho mentions something about you being stuck at your internship, but Jungkook doesn’t ask. He feels like maybe he could text you to make sure you’re okay. His heart wants him to do it, but his mind is stronger.

And his mind has been winning the war against his heart so far. He won’t cave in now. But he’s still in a shit mood when he gets home after practice. It feels even worse when he sees Taehyung and Jo cuddled up on the couch, and Jimin sprawled up on the floor.

Jimin’s texting away on his phone, and Taehyung meets Jungkook’s gaze where he stopped by the door.

“Practice is already done?” Taehyung asks.

It brings Jimin and Jo’s attention to Jungkook. He just stands there for a time, not knowing what to say.

Not wanting to admit he wrapped dance practice earlier because he was pissed that you weren’t there.

“Yeah,” Jungkook lets out flatly. He finally starts moving again, aiming straight to the kitchen.

He misses the way Jo and Taehyung exchange a concerned look when he passes in front of them, or maybe he just ignores it. He’s been ignoring Jo since the weekend, because it feels like too much pressure to admit that her plan worked and failed in the same night.

Yes, he got to sleep with you, but he’d take it back if he could. Just so it wouldn’t lead to where you’re standing now. Because he’s never replied to your text on Sunday night. Maybe because it was too early, and seeing it just pissed him off more.

Or maybe he’s just trying to preserve himself because he’s realized being with you might be a lot more complicated than previously thought.

He’s pouring cereal in a bowl when he receives a text. He fears that he’s conjured you up for a few seconds, but then he reads the name at the head of the notification. Laura. He furrows his brows, reading her text a few times over to make sure he’s read well. On his fifth reading he reckons the words won’t change even if he keeps glaring at them.

And Laura doesn’t deserve him being upset with her too. Actually, he realizes she might be just what he needs – a distraction, perhaps. Because all he wants is to forget how it felt to be with you last Saturday. And it’s not even about the sex. No, the part that’s been sticking with him is the moment between the hot tub and the sex. When he laid his heart on the table for you.

Had he known you were going to step on it a little under an hour later, Jungkook knows he would have never asked you to dance. It was a stupid request, one that made everything too real.

He can’t really blame you for getting scared. Because he knows that’s what it is. You got scared when he told you you should have slept together before, and he’s been embarrassed since then. Because he said the words in the heat of the action, and even though he meant them – means them – he’d rather not have told you.

Because now when he thinks of you he’s embarrassed, upset, and of course he’s pissed. He’s been in a shit mood after all.

He sighs, pushing his hair back before moving to the fridge to grab the milk. He pours some in the bowl, before grabbing a spoon in the drawer and making his way to the table, where he sits to eat the cereals. He’s halfway through his bowl when he finally decides to open his phone and reply to Laura.

[9:01 pm] Laura: Hey, I gotta admit… I’d like to see you sometime this week? If you’re up for it ofc [9:08 pm] Jungkook: yes ofc! i’m free tmrw evening if u want😌

He doesn’t even know if he actually wants to see her. It makes him think of when he helped her with her camera last week. Laura is sweet. Cute and shy. She’s his type, he can’t deny it. But she’s nice, and he doesn’t think she deserves him using her as a distraction.

He reckons he’s a mess. You’ve been messing with his head far too much, and he doesn’t like that you have that power over him. He doesn’t want anyone to have that power over him.

Yet it’s relieving that for once his mind isn’t clouded with dark thoughts related to the accident. Because he can’t really think about the accident when you’re there whenever he closes his eyes. When he can almost feel your warmth lingering under his fingers, along his body. When he thinks he can still smell your shampoo, and feel your soft skin.

The way that he feels disgusts him. It makes him scoff, and he’s frowning as he finishes eating his cereals. The frown only relaxes when Laura texts him again.

[9:12 pm] Laura: I’m available too! There’s a restaurant I’ve been wanting to try? Is that something you’d like to do?

The way that she texts sounds formal. It makes him laugh, and he finds himself replying,

[9:13 pm] Jungkook: wait, so then it’s a date date uh? [9:16 pm] Laura: Maybe?☺️ [9:17 pm] Jungkook: is 7 o’clock good for u?

He doesn’t really know what he’s doing. He doesn’t usually do real dates, preferring hanging out at the girl’s place or inviting her over for one of the many parties they usually host. But he needs the distraction, right?

And when he’s texting Laura, he realizes he’s not thinking about you as much. It’s relieving after the last few days, and really, maybe he should just give her a chance.

Wednesday, July 11th

Your therapist works in a building that’s surprisingly not too far from your internship. You were able to schedule an appointment for tonight, which is a relief.

You’ve been thinking about this weekend so much you haven’t been able to focus at the internship. So much so that you were stuck at the office later yesterday. You didn’t mind having to skip the dance practice though – you were glad you didn’t have to see Jungkook.

But now, it’s time for you to sort out your thoughts about the whole situation. As much as pretending that everything is fine can be fun, you also hate the way your mind wanders every night. Especially considering Jungkook never replied to your text last Sunday.

You feel like he’s slipping through your fingers. And maybe he is, and maybe all of this will be for nothing.

Well, not necessarily nothing, since it’s always good to get a grip of yourself.

You sigh, and you walk into the building right before a rain shower starts. You’re relieved you were able to avoid getting wet, and you walk to the front desk to give your name to the lady. She puts you in the computer and then tells you to sit in the waiting room. You thank her, and you’ve barely had time to sit when Mary comes to get you.

Mary’s office hasn’t changed one bit since the last time you sought her help in February. You sit on the same couch, and she offers you a glass of water as she greets you. And then she asks what brings you there.

At that you still. You freeze, like a deer in headlights, because for a moment you’re terrified of having to say the words aloud. Terrified to admit you felt something last Saturday, and you think you’ve already screwed it all up. She listens to you intently, and you watch her scribble on her pad as you do so. You’re tempted to read what she’s written; you’ve always wondered what it is that therapists write on that notebook of theirs.

Is she piecing out your soul the way that you feel like she is?

You tell her everything. You tell her about how Jungkook came back into your life, differently this time. You tell her about the dance practices, and about your internship too. You tell her about last weekend, and you reveal every little dirty thought your brain dared to think. Mary doesn’t judge, and when you’re done, the only thing she says is, “You’re really good at psycho-analyzing yourself”.

You reckon she’s right. Because you know exactly why you acted the way that you did – with the example your parents gave you of love growing up, it’s hard to actually love. It’s even harder to deconstruct it, to deconstruct the fear until you can build yourself back into someone that can love.

It’s not that you think you can’t. You love Jiho, Jisung and their family plenty. But it’s different when it’s love with a big L. It’s always been, and you’ve never once really wanted to change it.

But now you do. You’ve been using your fears to protect yourself from others for far too long.

Mary makes a plan with you. Nothing too big, but she does suggest scheduling another appointment next week. Because you knowing what you need to do is half of the work, yes, but you still need to put it into practice. You agree with her, and you leave her office feeling lighter than you’ve felt in days.

The plan is for you to ask Jungkook if you can talk. You have the option to wait until tomorrow at dance practice, or to text him tonight, just so he knows in advance that you want to talk to him. Mary favoured the latter, saying that it’d give him time to prepare if he has things to tell you too.

You have no idea if he does, but the moment on Saturday felt heavy. You doubt there’s been nothing on his mind since then… because you were there. You know how it felt like, under the stars and after that. And the whole weekend, if you’re honest to yourself. You doubt he was immune to it.

You decide to wait a little before you text him. Just to make sure you really are going to do this. Because it feels like you’re standing at the top of a cliff, and you’ve never been a cliff diver. No, you’re far too afraid of heights. But the fact that you haven’t been able to get Jungkook off your mind tells you enough: you’d jump off the highest cliff for him.

Because if you don’t risk it, what is there to win?

So it’s later that night, when you’re rewatching your favourite anime, that you find yourself pausing the show. You go to your messaging app, and heart beating out of your chest you type a message. Something simple, something straight to the point. Because the fact he ignored your last message says enough: Jungkook won’t cave in for apologies, especially not over text.

You settle on,

[9:31 pm] You: hey jk! can we talk tmrw after practice?😌

You press send before you can convince yourself that this is not a good idea, and anxiety blooms in every inch of you. It’s a foreign feeling: you’ve never been so anxious when it came to someone else before in your life.

Watching your favourite anime after that has never been so hard.

Thursday, July 12th

You don’t want to go to practice. Everything feels like it’s going too fast and too slow at the same time: waiting for Jungkook to reply is excruciatingly long, and having to head to the dance studio is coming far too quickly.

Jungkook hasn’t replied. You texted Mary about it – she said to see in person if Jungkook wants to talk, but to also respect it if he doesn’t. It makes you far less hopeful than you were when you got out of her office yesterday, but you know she is right.

If this is his way of setting a boundary, you will have to respect. No matter how much it upsets you.

So it’s in an anxious state of mind that you make your way to the studio. You run into Jiho on the way, and you’re worrying at your bottom lip when she asks, “What’s wrong?”

Your steps falter a little, and you throw her a side glance. “Uh?”

“What’s wrong with you?” she asks.

She knows that you used to see a therapist. But telling her that you saw Mary again about Jungkook feels like too big of a confession. It gives him too much power, and you’re not sure you’re ready for that. But you can tell some parts of the truth, can you?

“I’m going to try and talk to Jungkook tonight.”

Jiho remains suspiciously silent for a time. “Are you sure you want to talk to him?”

“I guess,” you say, shrugging your shoulders. “I just feel bad about this weekend.” Jiho offers you a sad smile, as your eyes fall to the concrete in front of you. “It’s just like, I don’t know, I liked where last weekend was going and I don’t want it to go back to the way things were before.” You pause, already feeling a little lighter now that you’ve started talking to your best friend. “Like I know I got scared and all, but he’s actually pretty decent?”

Now, Jiho’s smile has turned knowing, and she nudges you with her elbow. “I think I saw that coming from miles away but I didn’t want you to kill me.”

“Uh?” you let out, feeling a little confused.

“Everyone always thought you two were into each other,” she admits, and she laughs loudly when you push her. “Exactly why I didn’t want to tell you,” she says when her laughter subsides as you offer her a fake glare, lips jutting out in a small pout.

“I mean, I don’t even know if that’s where things are going,” you say. Your fear returns, and you’re back to nibbling on your lower lip. “Like, maybe I just fucked up too bad?”

“Did you talk since then?” Jiho asks.

You refuse to look at her when you reply. “No. He ignored my texts.”

From the corner of your eyes you see Jiho wince. Because she knows just as well as you what it probably means, and you don’t want to hear her say it.

“What did you tell him?”

You shrug your shoulders, trying to act as indifferent as possible. “Sunday I said that I was sorry, and I asked him if we could talk after dance practice yesterday.”

“And he said nothing?”

It’s rhetorical, so you remain silent. You’re reaching the bridge, and you know the conversation will soon come to an obligated end anyway.

“Babe…” Jiho lets out carefully. “Maybe you shouldn’t talk to him.”

It makes you scoff. “I’ll be chill, don’t worry.”

“I’m not saying you won’t be,” Jiho says. She grabs your arm to make you stop. “Maybe he just doesn’t want to talk.”

You free your arm from her grip, though she was already letting you go. “I’ll ask. We’ll see. I just want to clear the air.”

Jiho holds your defiant gaze for a while, before nodding once. “Alright. Sounds good. You let me know what he says.” She pauses for a few seconds, before adding, “And we’re still on for Thirsty Thursdays after that.”

Of course you are, and of course you’ll tell her. She’s your best friend after all, and you don’t remember a time when you really hid anything from her.

It doesn’t stop your heart from aching in your chest as you near the studio.

*****

Dance practice feels weird. You can’t help your eyes from diverting to Jungkook where he’s standing, next to the mirrors. He’s good at pretending he doesn’t feel your gaze on him, yet more than once you catch him already looking.

He looks good. He’s in paler clothes than his usual today – light blue jeans with an oversized white t-shirt – and his hair is ruffled by the way he keeps running his hands through it. He looks like he doesn’t care, almost. Because you can tell he’s anxious about something whenever you catch him pulling at his piercing, eyebrows slightly furrowed over his eyes.

You don’t know when you started being able to read him so well, but you surely can now.

He calls dance practice off earlier than his usual, and he still hasn’t really looked at you. You’re pretty sure everyone has noticed by now, especially considering the fact Jiho hasn’t really been subtle about it. She’s glaring at Jungkook most of the time, and he just shrugs his shoulders to her.

It’s weird. Something is off, but if you’re going to do this, you’ll do it, right?

It’s in that anxious state of mind that you approach him as everyone filters out. His hands are buried in his pockets and he’s leaning against the mirror. It’s like he’s waiting for you, and you figure maybe he did read your message after all.

The first few seconds of standing in front of him are far more awkward than anything you’ve ever experienced in your entire life. You don’t know what to say, don’t know where to start, and Jungkook’s head is hanging too low for you to be able to catch his gaze without invading his personal space. So you stay rooted in your spot, and you wait for him to look at you. It takes a while, but he eventually looks up.

You’re taken aback by the bitter annoyance his features hold. “What?”

You’ve written in your notes app what you wanted to say. You’ve even practiced it, but now you don’t remember a single word.

His eyes are sad. It’s the only thing that feels different on his features. The rest is all annoyed: his eyebrows are furrowed, the corners of his lips are pointing downwards. His shoulders are low, defeated, and he seems to realize it because he straightens and folds his arms on his chest.

“Uh,” you choke out against the anxiety that’s building up inside of you. “I just…”

“If you want to apologize again, I received your message last Sunday.”

You brush a strand of your hair behind your ear, before folding your arms on your chest too. “Why did you ignore me?”

He shrugs, shaking his head a little as he looks away. “I have nothing to tell you.”

“Jungkook, can you please not? We’re adults.”

“Yeah, and I’m choosing to not be talking with you. I’m sure you can respect that?”

You can. You definitely can. But at the same time you can’t. Not when he says it like that, like it’s some sort of an insult.

“Why are you overreacting like that?”

“Because I’m fucking embarrassed about last weekend!” he bursts. “I wish it never happened.”

It hurts. It stings and burns, and you hold your arms tighter against you. “You’re embarrassed? Is that why you said you wished we did it earlier?”

His gaze turns vicious, like he’s a viper waiting to strike. “See, that’s exactly why I do not want to talk to you. I don’t think we can be friends either. We’ve never been friends, like you oh so kindly reminded me, and that won’t change.”

You close your eyes, taking a deep breath to relax, because this is not where you want this conversation to be going. “Listen,” you say after a few seconds of silence, “I really don’t want to be fighting with you. I just want to clear the air.”

“The air is cleared,” he says as you open your eyes to meet his fiery gaze again. “I don’t understand what you’re trying to do.”

You’re struck then. You feel like you either have the choice to confess or to stick to your anger. And you try to confess, you really do. It’s not like with Jiho – Jungkook was part of the moment Saturday, he was there with you under the stars. So it shouldn’t be too hard to tell him, to say you got scared.

You open your mouth to say the words, and shut it immediately as he scoffs.

“See, I don’t even think we should be speaking at all,” he says. There’s a fraction of a second when you’re convinced you can read pain in his gaze before he continues, “I’m actually seeing Laura, and I don’t want to fuck that up.”

Every word you’ve ever known vanishes from your mind. You just stand there for a moment, mouth hanging open, ears ringing as you look at him. You feel like you’re falling, or maybe you’re getting crushed. It’s hard to tell. It’s equally as hard to breathe, and your lungs burn as oxygen fills them.

“What?”

“I went on a date with Laura and I actually like the girl, I don’t want to fuck things up by talking to you,” he says, slowly, as if he needs to hammer every word into your head.

Laura? The girl from his class?

“Isn’t that the girl you told me you don’t care about?”

Your voice is somehow flat. Empty of the emotions it held just a few seconds ago.

“I went on a date with her and I like her,” he repeats as if you’re stupid and didn’t understand the first time around. As if your heart is not breaking in your chest, infinitely so.

You didn’t know how big your heart is until this moment, when every beat just breaks a little more, and all you can think to do is hold yourself tighter. As if it’ll stop the breaking.

“When?”

“Why do you want to know?” he asks, and his eyes fall shut as he pinches the bridge of his nose. You really do feel stupid then, stupid and foolish and everything in between. Like you’re a five-years-old that keeps messing her right from her left.

“I… how the fuck did you go on a date with her already, it’s been four days?”

“A lot can change in four days, Y/n,” he drawls.

You think your nails might be digging in your palms from how hard you’re clenching your fists. “Wow.”

The studio falls silent. It’s heavy, and maybe the silence is what’s been crushing you. Because you were expecting it – the moment you and Jungkook wouldn’t have anything else to tell each other. Because for everything you were willing to confess, now there’s just an empty spot inside of you.

You hold his gaze. He doesn’t look all that infuriated anymore. Defeated, yes, and maybe a little deflated. He looks like he didn’t expect the conversation to go there.

But you were right. Turns out you were right and you are too late. You can’t help but hate him for it.

“You don’t waste your time, do you?” you ask, and you scoff bitterly. “You fuck one girl and then another in just a few days. Suits you well.”

He rolls his eyes. “As I said, I wish we didn’t sleep together. If I could take last weekend back I would.” He shrugs then, shaking his head a little. “I’m sure you understand.”

You purse your lips, trying to keep them from trembling as you feel a lump form in your throat. “I can’t believe you’re already fucking some other girl.”

“Okay, Y/n, as if that’s going to change anything.”

You nod, and you find yourself fleeing his gaze. Because you don’t want him to see how you’re breaking inside. How every piece of you turns inside out, until you’re bleeding out standing there in front of him.

“Just…”

You think about the stars. You think about the way he led you in that dance, the way his eyes shone as he looked at you.

Jungkook is cataclysmic. He really is. And cataclysms are rarely good, are they? They can create, yes, the way the universe was once created, but they destroy. They destroy and destroy until nothing remains, until you just feel like you’re drowning and burning all at once.

“Save your breath,” he says. You think his gaze is shining again, and you don’t think it’s shining for the same reason that it was under the stars. “And I mean that in the most respectful way.”

“Right. As if that would ever sound respectful.”

He rolls his eyes again. “Yeah, whatever. I’m done here.”

It occurs to you that you’re about to watch someone you care about walk out of your life again. You want to reach out and hold him, to tell him how you feel, to say how everything has started to hurt, but you can’t. You can just look at him, hold his gaze until he makes the decision to go.

He’s gone before you’ve truly assimilated just how bad everything went. Just how far south things went, and how fiercely everything burns. And you stand there for a long time, holding yourself, waiting for the heartbreak to stop. But the thing with heartbreak is that it never fully stops, does it? You just learn to deal with it better.

It’s weird. You never thought you could be cold and burning at the same time. But if this is hell, then hell has frozen over because you’re shivering, just holding yourself.

You feel like you’re sixteen again, like you watched your dad walk out of your life again. Maybe because Jungkook really was the cataclysm to you, and now you’re stuck with the aftermath.

But you don’t cry. No, you hold the tears in. Force them to dry without having rolled on your cheeks, convince them that you don’t care. It’s something you’re good at. Pretending. Because maybe you’ve been pretending you hate Jungkook for a lot longer than you thought. Maybe that’s the reason why it hurts so bad.

But you won’t cry, no. You won’t cry for Jeon Jungkook.

You get home later that night, after having walked through a daze for the whole evening. You’re drunk, and you’re still aching from the inside out. Your phone is in your hand, and you’ve been on Jungkook’s conversation for so long without blinking that your eyes have fully gone dry.

You watch the text you’ve just sent, the only proof that you ever cared about Jungkook.

[2:31 am] You: i reall y wish things ddn’t go so bad

It takes you three days to realize it never delivered.

Friday, July 20th

It takes Jungkook a little under two weeks to officialise things with Laura. It’s moving quickly, he’s aware of it, but he’s been trying to ignore the way he saw your heart break in your eyes. It seems the best way to do it is to watch feelings swell in someone else’s gaze, and so he asks Laura to be his girlfriend after their third date.

She says yes, beaming like she’s the sun personified.

Still, when Jungkook closes his eyes at night, all he sees is your heart breaking in your eyes.

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☆☆☆☆☆

yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh.. my bad. I really went far with this angst uh? What do we think? What's going to happen next?

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shewhospeakswiththunder · 4 years

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Perhaps you’re feeling bored at home or, if considered an “essential” worker like me, you need a little fun and stress relief. Here is my masterpost of fic recs from my two years of reading so far. Maybe you’ll find something new, or reconnect with an old favorite. Either way--

Enjoy! 😷💕

Reylo Fics that Deserve All the Love

Near Kinsman by englishable

Englishable is just one of the best writers I’ve encountered in fandom. This historical western mail order bride AU is top notch quality.

The Masochism of Self-Defence by greyorchids

The Reylo dynamic in this Boston PD AU is steamy, but also heartfelt.

So Much Thin Glass by walkingsaladshooter

Never knew I loved modern day Gothic AUs until I ran across this one.

Heaven Forbid by DarkKnightDarkSide

I was stunned by the author’s creativity in this Priestlo fic. So smutty. So... inventive 😉🔥

Sonder by deathbyhumidity

Two strangers passing each other by on the train. Soft, dreamlike, somber, poignant. Modern AU.

And Still I Would Remember by Inmyownidiom

A Victorian era AU of two souls that parted and come crashing back together.

So, You've Decided to Glamour a Human Girl. by selunchen

Faeries AU! Ben, a fae, and Rey, a human. Shenanigans ensue.

Live Long, and Prosper by SaintHeretical

For the Reylo Trekkies. Hell, even if you don't do Star Trek, read this. PHENOMENAL.

Mr. Solo & Miss Wellfound by LinearA

“Regency/Victorian AU, Ben sees Rey's stockinged ankle by accident.”

Diyari by Nervoustouch

Modern archeologists AU. Snarky banter with dashes of Indiana Jones, The Mummy, and Sahara vibes.

Drawn to the light of your burning sorrows by Kyriadamorte

The Mothlo AU you didn’t know you needed. Both gritty and soft.

Crown Glass by RebelRebel

Fantasy AU, with lots of beautiful imagery and engaging character dynamics.

Kohelet 3:16 (Call Me A Cab) by LinearA

NYC Jewish Leia and Ben. Skillfully layered plot, nuanced characterization. Smut is HOT.

By the Shores of Varykino Lake by hipgrab (merrymegtargaryen)

Unhealthy dynamics, definitely read the tags. “There’s a lot of fucked-up-ness”, in the author’s own words. But it’s good writing. Fair warning.

Let Me Put My Darkness In You by ArdeaJestin

Canonverse. Hux is an insufferable, pompous ass and Kylo Ren writes terrible, melodramatic poetry.

Wintertide by Zabeta

Whimsical and primitive in turn, this lives up to the style of a true fairytale AU.

The Forty Thieves by PoetHrotsvitha

Peaky Blinders/Gangsters AU. Rey starts as Ben’s bartender and ends up as so much more.

I Said to My Soul, Be Still by LinearA

Dark!Rey takes her man. 🥵🔥💕

Hux's Rousing Pep Talks by Riels_shorts

This fic is hysterical. It’s not Reylo, and I don’t care. My list, my rules.

It's All I Can Do To Leave You Alone by TazWren

Office AU. Silly, spunky, with a bashful Ben.

Sip the Honey Sweet by dietplainlite

Anne of Green Gables-esque/Edwardian era AU, the title really says it all.

The Pull to the Light by HarpiaHarpyja

Entrancingly macabre. This modern/fantasy/monsters AU catches your attention from the get-go, and never lets you off the hook.

lay then the axe to the root by sciosophia

All the Bronte goodness, plus smut.

The Golden Age by TourmalineGreen

Golden Age of Hollywood AU in which Ben is a jaded actor in serious need of an image fix, in the form of fresh-faced actress Rey.

Never Be Your Curse by Kate_Reid

Kylo Ren is a go-go dancer in this AU. That was enough to get my attention 😘

Gallows God by Killtheselights

Bursting with deliciously grim imagery, an intelligent take on Norse mythology.

Thunderstorms, Clouds, Snow, and a Slight Drizzle by aNerdObsessed

Who doesn’t love an ugly sweater Christmas party? Ben Solo, that’s who. All the nostalgic wintertime feels in this modern AU.

Though My Soul Has Set in Darkness by englishable

It’s not long, but it’s good. A lyrical dive into the mindspace of child Ben Solo. A true gem. Also not technically Reylo. Still don’t care.

I Dare You by tinylittlebrain

Daredevil Kylo has pissed off ER doc Rey Kenobi for the last time. Spicy!

stuck in colder weather by redbelles

Professor Ren stops grad student Rey from biking home in a snow storm. And takes her to his home. You can guess where this goes 😉

Between Sky and Sea by nessalk

Serious Indiana Jones vibes with a Caribbean flair. Painstakingly researched, and moments of true beauty and joy.

But Before Tomorrow by Kate_Reid

Such good writing. Canonverse.

The Sword of Prince Hector by englishable

Exploration of what redemption might feel like for Ben, canonverse.

if compassion be the breath of life, breathe on me by Victoryindeath2

All the angst and unknowns that we were left with in the wake of TLJ are soothed in this canonverse piece.

build a ladder to the stars by redbelles

An exploration of events post-Crait. Fantastic, beautifully written.

nor are we forgiven (which brings us back) by TolkienGirl

Both Kylo and Rey get to see what life would have been like if they both got exactly what they thought they wanted after TLJ. Fascinating read.

Forsworn by Erulisse17

This Mando/ST crossover has everything you could want--action, witty banter, space romance! So much fun!

Reylo Favorites & Classics

One Shots

59 Minutes by delia-pavorum (literaryminded)

For Science by KyloTrashForever, ohwise1ne

He Made It Through the Wilderness (somehow he made it through) by LovesBitca8

light carries on endlessly by lachesisgrimm (olga_theodora)

Grey by ocjones

The Idiot's Guide to Flirting by Violetwilson

High School/College AU

I Caught Fire by KyloTrashForever

Mountain Springs High School by animal

Epithumia by pontmercy44

Soul Searching by OptimisticBeth

Office/Workplace AU

Sensual Storytime by andabatae

The Food of Love by LovesBitca8

Historical/Dystopia AU

Hiraeth by Ferasha

a manner of virtue by neonheartbeat

The lamb's thirst by animal

Wanted by Inmyownidiom

She Who Would be Queen by sasstasticmad

go i know not whither and fetch i know not what by voicedimplosives

ABO

Knot My First Time by��KyloTrashForever

Canonverse/Canon-divergent

variations on a theme of you by diasterisms (Reydar)

i will be the wolf by diasterisms

Sky Marked Souls by AnonymousMink

The Death of Kylo Ren by nymja

World In My Eyes by sasstasticmad

i'm always in this twilight (in the shadow of your heart) by diasterisms

Catch Me I’m Falling by violethoure666

Sword of the Jedi by diasterisms

You'll Be the One to Turn by postedbygaslight

Dark Crown by Violetwilson

Harry Potter AU

Nocturnal Studies And Other Peculiar Magic by WaterlilyRose

Otherwise Modern AU

Pretense by Celia_and

Insta-heart by slipgoingunder

Serotonin and Dopamine by pontmercy44

The Elusive Mating Dance of the Porgus Adorabilis by andabatae

Hanging by a Moment by crossingwinter

WAR DOGS by fulcrumstardust

miles from where you are by Mooncactus

Charcoal by luvkurai

Stay by jeeno2

coarse and rough and irritating by frak-all (or_ryn)

Blades Crossed by the-reylo-void (Anysia)

Embers by sciosophia

Mitan, Midi by animal

Janus by englishable

Say My Name by Graendoll

Thank You for The Music by hipgrab (merrymegtargaryen)

darling, so it goes by akosmia

This is the Sign You've Been Looking For by RebelRebel

Broken Things by midnightbluefox

One-Night Stand by delia-pavorum (literaryminded)

The Rebel Side of Heaven by jeeno2

On The Bumpy Road (To Love) by violethoure666

we could plant a house, we could build a tree by Like_A_Dove

I’d Like My Obituary to Hint at a Sequel by Violetwilson

Only If You Want To by Violetwilson

Not Reylo, Still Awesome

Gingerflower/Gingerrose, Armitage Hux/Rose Tico

Between Sand and Sea by Brit Hux-Tico (birchwoods01)

If Ever I Would Leave You by Weddersins

Her Yellow Rainboots by Weddersins

Merrical, Cal Kestis/Merrin (Jedi: Fallen Order)

The Stars Alight by FlyingMachine

Heavy Ice by FlyingMachine

Caltrilla, Cal Kestis/Trilla Suduri (Jedi: Fallen Order)

No One Else by xanderwilde

call it what you want by xanderwilde

tear you to pieces by xanderwilde

Dramione, Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter Universe)

Now Is A Gift by SenLinYu

Sex and Occlumency by Graendoll

Zutara, Katara/Zuko (Avatar: the Last Airbender)

oracle bones by an orphaned account

Fics by Me

Virtue Ethics

Reylo College AU (completed)

Dr. Ben Solo, adjunct philosophy professor and part-time martial arts instructor, discovers a young woman in his Intro to Philosophy course whom he thinks may not actually be enrolled at the University.

Chiasmus

Reylo Role-reversal canonverse AU (WIP)

Scourge of the galaxy, Kira Ren, is tasked by the First Order to eliminate the last of the Jedi. When she captures hotshot podracer Ben Solo to extract Luke Skywalker’s location from him, things do not go according to plan.

This Dance of Light, This Sacred Blessing

Snapshots of a modern Reylo AU. Smutty, prosey one-shot.

Listen Up, Kid

Canonverse Reylo Post TLJ one-shot

The ghosts of Supreme Leader Kylo Ren's past are back to haunt him with a vengeance. A well-meaning, familial kind of vengeance. Or, A Star Wars Carol.

Ben’s Body

Reylo Modern AU (completed)

Rey is an up and coming sculptor specialising in human shape and form. Her new next door neighbour has a body to die for and she's determined to preserve it in marble forever. Now she just has to convince dashing and reclusive Ben to model for her. Preferably naked.

Growin’ Up

Reylo High School AU (completed)

Ben Solo was supposed to only be ruining his own life with his bad decisions. Rey Niima was just trying to pay attention in class. Both get stuck in detention.

Seven Texts, 2 AM

Reylo Modern AU, smutty one-shot

Ben has good reasons not to have sex with his neighbor, Rey. She has other ideas.

Song of the Forest

Reylo Fantasy/BatB/Fairytale AU (completed)

Once upon a time, a girl with an unknown past appeared on the doorsteps of a lord’s manor, and now the forest at the edge of the lord’s property is calling to her.

A Season of Frost & Warmth

Modern Reylo P&P AU (completed)

When Ben shows up to a Halloween party with no costume, it only confirms Rey’s certainty that he is the world’s biggest jerk. Until it comes to light that maybe... he isn’t.

Follow Me Home

Modern Werewolf Reylo AU (completed)

Rey gets stone drunk and brings home a big cute husky she found in an alley. The next morning, she finds a naked man built like a fridge sleeping on her living room floor, and no dog in sight.

The Gentleness That Comes

Reylo Modern AU one-shot

Underground boxer!Ben is resigned to his life of violence, until he meets a pretty new bartender one night.

Unlikely, Unbidden, Unbound

Gingerflower canonverse AU (WIP)

General Hux is imprisoned by the Resistance when the First Order falls. He had known his death was coming, it was simply a matter of course. He’s disappointed to learn the Resistance has other plans, and an unwavering policy of giving people second chances.

@thereylowritingden @reylofic @nancylovesreylo @grlie-girl @lilia-ula @greyforceuser @tazwren @mhcalamas

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galvus · 3 years

Photo

prompt: aberrant • words: 2,093 • era: shadowbringers patch content • [ masterpost ] straying from the right or normal way. “You aren't very talkative.” Irony written into her features with a heavy hand, Bianca stared into Xeven's face mere inches away from her own as she mended the wound in his shoulder — gunfire, Garlean, heavy enough to tear open the tough leather of his robes on either side of his bicep. The golden ember of his uncovered eye glinted curiously in Bozja's cloud-blotted sunlight. Her lips thinned into a line. Rather than replying in an instant, she bowed her head forward to get a better look at the freshly healed wound. The blood on his fur was still wet, but the blow he'd taken and the pierced muscle were good as new. “You can't be serious,” she murmured. “Serious,” Xeven said, along with a quiet offering of, “and curious. Your friend—” “— is endlessly charming.” “— never shuts up.”

Bianca's nostrils flared in a quiet cough of a laugh. Unlatching her canteen from her belt, she dampened the hem of her skirt with a little of the water and used the white fabric to wipe away the blood around his wound. “One of us has to,” she said simply, growing quiet again as she cleansed the skin, as she handed Xeven the canteen to drink from, as the adrenaline in her blood faded and she felt the world slow all around her. “Jadeite had as much to say as I do, so... it has to be Halvar who keeps spirits high.” Xeven gave a shake of his heavy head. “You were a diplomat.” He flicked a clawed finger against the brim of her hat. “You must have something to say.” She paused, her hand resting on the broad curve of his shoulder. “I hope that I can keep healing all of you,” Bianca said after a long lapse of surprisingly comfortable silence. “I would rather do this for years than ever have to bury any of you.” The hrothgar stared at her. His golden eye narrowed, but then, softened. She looked away, unable to maintain such revealing eye contact. “How is that for talking?” — Bozja existed in shades of brown. It was oft-trampled dirt turned to mud by the weighty, unforgiving rains. It was wind-weathered buildings tanned by dust and debris. It was low-hanging clouds made of the smoke of war strewn against faded copper skies, so different from the blue and white Gridanian backdrop she knew better than any other. It was red blood drying on green leather that turned into a color that was barely prettier than rust. But that was during the day. At night, Bozja was black velvet and crystalline stars and dancing orange fires. At night, the sound of stories and song colored the air in every hue imaginable, not just browns and grays and drying reds. And Isolde's voice rose above them all, as clear as a bell and suited for a stage rather than a battlefield. The songs were unfamiliar to Bianca, but she understood the heart beneath the lyrics and the frantic twang of Isolde's bowstrings. She felt the joining of hope and loss, like interlocking fingers. The Bozjan bard collapsed onto the ground beside Bianca, her long blonde hair twisted into twin braids that danced with every toss of her head when her legs couldn't. “Do you sing?” Isolde's thin brows rose as the corners of her mouth twisted into a cheeky smile. “I've got a wager with Stanik that you can.” Bianca curled her tired hands around her cup. She hated answering questions about herself. Nothing she said ever felt genuine. Nothing she said ever felt true. She was blood and bones and magic... and little else. “Do you really have a wager?” Isolde's shoulders bowed forward as she pulled her bow onto her lap and began loosening the strings. She pursed her lips, then relaxed them, her expression taking a turn towards the thoughtful. Then, with what was left of the breath in her lungs, she heaved a heavy sigh. “Nah, there's no wager, but I've been wondering...” One of the strings popped loose, and her finger curled inside of the gentle coil at the end. Every movement she made was both elegant and energetic. She belonged somewhere else, like so many members of the Bozjan resistance. “Does the Warrior of Light know how to carry a tune?” Bianca blinked at her for a moment before ducking her head, peering into the half-full cup cradled between her palms. “I'm... not sure.” The words felt genuine. And disappointing. — The heat of buffeted flames still ached. They did not burn, but the searing heat of a barely diverted fireball burned her nostrils. It soaked the blouse she wore beneath her armored coat with sweat. It forced her to curl in on herself and closer to the paladin who had launched himself towards her the moment Sartauvoir pivoted his attention in her direction. His resolve manifested itself in a full-bellied shout as he rooted himself into the muddy ground and forced the magicked ball of flame in the opposite direction with every bit of strength in his massive body. A pure, holy light pierced the rain of fire that followed. “Are you hurt?” Stanik asked, his hurried words raining down upon her like a balm. “Is there anything else I can do for you?” Only on two shaky hands could she count the number of times someone had asked that of her. Two hands, ten fingers... twenty-eight years. “I... I-I'm okay.” Bianca gathered herself up and turned, drawing the staff she'd held flush to her chest down to her side with a flare of her own light. She pulled her shoulders back and stared across the scorched field into the lined face of Sartauvoir quo Soranus, shadowed as it was by the wide brim of his hat. “I'm sorry that you—” Stanik huffed through his broad nose before setting off in the direction of the mage with a rousing, “No apologies!” Her lips parted to respond, but he was already gone, his sword and shield in-hand and his attention turned fully towards the enemy. Drawing in a deep breath, her hand curled into a white-knuckled grip around the length of her staff. “No apologies,” she echoed, in a voice that held such confidence that she barely recognized it as her own. — Burns were easier to heal than frostbite, but the screams of the burning were more harrowing than the sharp gasps that accompanied a snap of cold. They echoed into the ceiling, shrill as glass shattering and heart-breaking. The soldiers were trained to fight through their suffering, but there was only so much you could do to separate yourself from the pain when your armor was melting. Looming above what remained of the Bozjan resistance, the twisted form of Trinity Avowed spun elegantly as it blasted another torrent of flames down onto the battlefield. Heat was nigh impossible to weather in such a magnitude, but weather it they did. Sweat poured down Bianca's face from her hairline, whorls of ash-blonde hair sticking to her cheeks as she whipped around to find another body to heal, another person to save. Shortly after, the room was flooded with a dense fog as the amalgamation of three spread an icy wind in every direction. A young miqo'te woman to Bianca's right swayed on her feet before collapsing, her limbs rigid and her lance keeping her somewhat aloft. Even gravity could not drag the determined woman all the way down to the floor. She gripped the shaft of her polearm as she struggled to stand, her head hanging low and her shoulders stiff with visible discomfort. White magics swirled around the woman, lifting her from the ground with a rush of comforting warmth. Without missing a beat, she rejoined the fight, even as the amalgamation lifted Xeven's staff in one of its many arms. Bianca panted, the labored breath tearing at her throat as much as the chill. You aren't very talkative. At the helm of the battle, Halvar slammed the flat of his hand into the join of Trinity Avowed's leg, forcing a crack in its armor that glowed a fearful shade of molten gold. He reared his head back to bark orders meant for the ranged fighters on his flank to prepare for another volley of flame. And then, without missing a moment, his massive frame twisted sharply downward before twisting into a deadly spin and a flurry of kicks that might have downed some other foe. And Bianca... Bianca was quiet, even as her mind raced to keep up with those around her, even as weariness threatened distraction, even as what remained of her power began to wane. Bianca was quiet, even as her head filled itself with thoughts and memories and pain that was sharp and fresh and bloody. Twin auri dancers spun in time with each other, their chakrams thrown at precise points on Trinity Avowed's back. Repeated blows to the poorly joined arms left two of them hanging onto the creature's torso on precious few wires before even those were cut. And the bow fell to the ground. I've been wondering... Does the Warrior of Light know how to carry a tune? Bianca bit back a sob. “Not now,” she murmured to herself, the words lost to the ever-building cacophony of combat that rose from every side of her. A surge of power curled at her fingertips, growing with every blow that landed against the creature, the twisted being born of men and women who had become something greater with time. Friends. “Not now. Not now. Not now.” Loss sought to be nothing more than another hand dragging her down, but she refused to be shackled, not when the destruction of this creature meant release for Xeven, for Isolde, for Stanik. The heels of her feet left the ground first, followed by the armored toes of her boots. As she rose into the air, her body whirled around to face the enemy before them. She brought her staff to bear, holding it aloft as a crown of light exploded outwards in every direction. Trinity Avowed hefted its shield to protect what was left of its battered torso. The few arms that remained intact rose at its back, threatening those who stood behind. Including Halvar, and Jadeite, and Kasumi and Minato. Including Bajsaljen and Marsak and countless other resistance fighters. Including Bianca. But before the creature's blow could land, the air crackled with a power unlike her own, unlike any she'd ever experienced until crossing paths with Fordola. The tiled floors cracked and fell away as massive pylons of stone rose in a line broad enough to nearly cut the room in half. Jadeite stood at the very center, his hulking form standing straight for once as he thrust his greataxe into the air. Trinity Avowed's arms crashed against the stone, unable to break anything but themselves against the barrier. The scream of twisting metal ended with another rising to take its place — this one inhumanly guttural and belonging to the viera who shielded them all. Jadeite's eyes glowed an unnatural red on a field of ink, leaving a swath of that same scarlet as he leapt forward onto the first of the pylons. The stone crumbled beneath his crushing weight, rubble falling away like rain as he heaved himself forward in a second jump. He crashed into Trinity Avowed, the momentum of his body dragging the broken creature to the ground. For a moment, everything was quiet, but then, as victory settled around them, the Bozjan resistance and those who stood with them realized that the next rain of fire would not come. The next glacial wind would never shatter another sword or blacken another limb. There was more fighting left to come, but for a moment... Relief sounded like tears, tears and determined footsteps. Bianca lingered in the room, standing among broken tiles and stone mountains and the contorted body of what had been. She opened her mouth to say something, but stopped herself. “No apologies,” she whispered to no one. The sentiment hung off of her lips, as unwilling to let go as the rest of her. Turning towards the hallway that led in the direction of what she hoped would be their final fight together, Bianca drew in a deep breath, her pointed chin tilting upwards and her hands curling around her staff. There were no apologies, but there were goodbyes. The time to say them would be later, once all of this was over.

#ffxivwrite2021 #type: ffxivwrite #oc: bianca #oc: halvar #oc: jadeite #mine: writing #i love that 'people treating bianca like a human with feelings' fits the prompt #also wow i wrote 3k words today who am i

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thecat-inthehat · 3 years

Text

16. Crane

Set somewhere around 2.x

(781 words) [Masterpost]

---

The markets of Limsa Lominsa were a hodgepodge of sights and sounds, as well as races and wares. Sharlayan was no stranger to a diverse culture, having hosted people from all around the globe, but it had nothing on this port city. All manner of trade flowed through Mealvaan’s Gate, and even more interesting people accompanied it -- Xaela from the far east with their brightly colored clothes, Malmooja from the New World, Thavnarian dancers weaving through the crowds… It was overwhelming to G’raha Tia’s senses.

“Out of the way, catboy!” A gruff voice barked, and he lept back into the corner as a passel of sea wolves passed, each carrying crates bigger than his whole body. He stepped on the paper someone had laid down to show their wares, and the lalafell merchant yelled at him, shooing him off by batting at his boots.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” He yelped, and quickly dodged out of the way, trying not to bump or run into anyone else. He managed to make it through the next alley with no one snapping or yelling at him, but it was a near thing.

He found a low wall off to the side and sat down, dragging a hand through his hair and letting out a breath. He’d been in Eorzea for just over a moon now, but by the twelve it was still overwhelming and confusing. He just wanted to make it to Mor Dhona and possibly get to work on his research on the Tower…

“Too much?” A voice asked, and he looked up. And up. And up some more.

Red was his first impression -- the hellsguard woman had reddish skin, long loose red hair that reached her waist, and a deep red coat that fell to her knees. Her eyes were orange though, a bit like embers.

“Is it that obvious?” He asked, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked at her again, and felt a bit uneasy. Had he seen this woman somewhere before…?

She laughed and moved to sit on his right, and flipped her hair over her shoulder, revealing the winding tattoo on her smooth cheek. “A bit. You’re looking a bit wide around the eyes.”

“Apologies,” he laughed softly and looked around the markets. The bustle didn’t fade at all. “I thought I knew insanity when I stepped into the halls during politics season, but that doesn’t even come close.”

“What are you doing here, then?” She asked, crossing one long leg over the other and dragging a hand through her hair. “Surely you should be back safe in Sharlayan then?”

The hair raised on the back of his neck, just a little. He did have his archon mark, but… Maybe she just knew what it meant. He was sure he’d seen her somewhere before though. But where?

“Maybe, but then I wouldn't be able to get my research done,” he chuckled instead, to cover up his nervousness. “I got a grant to be able to come here and I’m not about to squander it.”

“Alright, alright,” she laughed, and it sounded just this side of too musical. A little too perfect. She gazed out on the rest of the markets, her eyes flicking between people like a coeurl tracking prey.

“What brings you to Limsa, then?” he asked, trying to be polite instead of getting up and moving away. There was just… something about her that wasn’t comfortable.

“I’m looking for my family,” she said easily, and dragged a hand through her hair again as she watched the crowd.

“I hope you find them,” he said earnestly, and fidgeted his fingers. “I … I should go. I need to catch something to eat before I head out for Eorzea proper. It was nice talking to you, miss…?”

She merely smiled at him and shooed him away. “Go, don’t stay on my account.”

He stood up and nodded to her, turning away to dive back into the crowds when he heard her speak once more.

“Safe travels, G’raha Tia.”

He whirled around to look at her, to demand how she knew his name, but the spot she had been sitting at was empty. A flash of red disappeared into the crowd, but when he ran after it it was just the scarf of a sailor. He didn’t see the woman at all.

Later, when he met Shining Comet for the first time, he was struck by how similar she looked to the woman, down to the shape of her brow and the ember eyes. They even had the same tattoo on their cheek. But she said she had never met him before, or even been to Limsa Lominsa.

#ffxivwrite2021 #G'raha Tia #The Shimmering Song #Shining Comet #sort of #creator writes #The Daedalus Project

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ficswithluv · 4 years

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Tatsu’s Choices: 2019 Awards

Ficswithluv launched in September of 2019, and we could not have possibly imagined that we would grow as quickly and wonderfully as we have!! You all send us such phenomenal recs every week, you've helped to spread love, positivity, and feedback to so many authors on this site, and we cannot wait to see how that continues in 2020!!!

Because you've all been so absolutely wonderful about sending in your favourite fics and telling us a bit about why you liked them, we thought we would continue the trend! Additionally, in order to celebrate our lovely affiliated authors, we’ve also decided to pick one fic from each of them to showcase their talents too!

And so we present ‘The Best of FWL’, where Tatsumaki* selects a handful of fics from each masterlist we've had so far, as well as from masterlists from every author associated with ficswithluv, and we highlight them in one large masterpost!

*Tatsumaki is the Discord Bot that the Admins use to choose bookclub fics. She randomly generates the fics using numbers. Hence: Tatsu’s Choices!

💌 ⇥ Affiliated Author

Best Seokjin Fics

⟶ all i want for christmas ➵ @sunkoos 💌

↳ Slice of Life AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« Seokjin, your ever eccentric love of your life, proposes an unconventional idea you cannot deny taking him up on. »

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⟶ blood and mercy ➵ @sugasgrowl

↳ Mafia AU ღ sfw series

« There is a rat in Bangtan, but you’re going to fight for mercy. »

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⟶ bobsy die ➵ @jincherie

↳ Werewolf AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« Fed up after a week of being ignored by your friend and crush, you march on over there to rip him a new one with hell on your heels and find yourself in a situation with more than you bargained for. »

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⟶ date night ➵ @bang-tan-fan 💌

↳ Idol AU ღ sfw oneshot

« you and your husband relax with a date night. »

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⟶ erasers ➵ @bloodpotato 💌

↳ Soulmate AU ღ sfw oneshot

« You never thought to contact your soulmate through the erasers you always lose until you lose something extremely important and irreplaceable. »

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⟶ ghost night out ➵ @spookitokki 💌

↳ Supernatural AU ღ sfw oneshot

« After bearing the sting of a rough rejection, you call Jin to come to the usual hangout in the middle of the night in hopes that he can cheer you up. It seems to work until you both are met with a dark presence and an unusual chill. »

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⟶ i thought i was alone ➵ @aroseforyoongi

↳ Roommate AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« On the day your boyfriend cheats on you, Seokjin is there to provide comfort and some greatly needed affection. He is the perfect roommate and friend. Always patient and willing to lend an ear. It is then, when you’re with him, that you realize that maybe you want more. »

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⟶ just say goodnight and go ➵ @vanaera

↳ Roommate AU ღ sfw oneshot

« The spirit of Christmas is yet to be felt as a blackout on a chilly December night becomes the icing on the cake of your horribly shitty day. You just really want to sleep tonight but your neighbor seems to have lost his mind again when he comes knocking on your door to demand for an uncalled sleepover. Said neighbor is Kim Seokjin, the famed crush of the university, and no, he’s not your friend. He’s most definitely not your crush and he’s absolutely not the reason why warmth fills your entire being when it’s not even summer. »

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⟶ not enough ➵ @jingabitch 💌

↳ Idol AU ღ nsfw series

« When Jin cheats on his girlfriend while on tour, it’s the last straw for their already strained relationship. »

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⟶ off script ➵ @baojinnie

↳ Friends to Lovers AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« You’re my best friend, please don’t forget about me.The script says, you hug him, and promise him never, and assure him that he will always be part of your life, will he be a groomsman, or something?But then before you can do that, he stops laughing. He looks you in the eyes, closes the distance between you, and you have never seen him look so serious. Warms arms tighten around your waist and his lips brush the tears off your face before you realize they ever even fell. »

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⟶ olive me (loves olive you) ➵ @joopiterjoon 💌

↳ Friends to Lovers AU ღ nsfw series

« A series of drabbles about you and your boyfriend, Kim Seokjin »

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⟶ peach parfait ➵ @jamaisjoons

↳ Enemies to Lovers AU ღ nsfw twoshot

« you and seokjin have always been at odds as the top two chefs at big hit academy of culinary arts. »

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⟶ pink panther ➵ @gimmesumsuga

↳ Hybrid AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« The one where your boss, Kim Seokjin, tries to show you how beautiful you are. »

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⟶ sempiternal ➵ @softlyjiminie 💌

↳ Hogwarts AU ღ sfw oneshot

« seokjin helps you get over your ex.»

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⟶ strawberry roses ➵ @peekaboongi 💌

↳ Cupid AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« When a chaotic man who claims to be a Cupid appears, your dull life is suddenly filled with laughter and strawberry roses. You’re just forgetting one important thing—magic never lasts past midnight. ; or, chaotic but domestic Jin trying to teach you how to make strawberries resemble roses »

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⟶ strings ➵ @holyfluffly 💌

↳ Idol AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« You audition to be a BigHit backup dancer. .»

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⟶ the bough that broke ➵ @readbeneaththelines 💌

↳ Idol AU ღ nsfw series

« Jin is injured from an avoidable accident, leaving him partially paralyzed from the waist down. Reader is the nurse that is hired to take care of him once he gets back to the dorms and begins the physically and emotionally painful road to recovery. Will she have what it takes to spark determination in him to get back on the stage? »

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⟶ waterboy ➵ @dimpled-gukkie 💌

↳ Roommates AU ღ sfw oneshot

« Craigslist is very hit or miss for you, so maybe you shouldn’t have chosen to find a roommate that way. At least he’s cute though. »

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Best Yoongi Fics

⟶ all the room in the world ➵ @inkofyoongi 💌

↳ Friends to Lovers AU ღ sfw twoshot

« After four years, you go back to Daegu for Taehyung’s wedding. However, things aren’t as you left them… and Min Yoongi either. »

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⟶ baby’s first christmas ➵ @hobisgorgeousass 💌

↳ Parents AU ღ sfw oneshot

« 3 months after you give birth to your first child, you and your husband start putting together the perfect first Christmas for your new family of three. »

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⟶ black magic ➵ @preternatural-fools

↳ Witch AU ღ sfw oneshot

« Yoongi is a witch who always has the sniffles because he’s allergic to the herbs/plants he’s surrounded by. »

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⟶ boseong breakfast ➵ @honeymoonjin 💌

↳ Strangers to Lovers AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« it may be misfortune that brings you to min yoongi’s door looking for a place to stay, but luckily holly lodge has a vacancy. »

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⟶ catharsis ➵ @dovechim

↳ Roommate AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« Where do you draw the line between fantasy and reality? Yoongi knows he has a kink that isn’t socially acceptable as kinks go. He’s already had several failed relationships in the past tucked under his belt as a result, so when you offer him a chance to live out his fantasy in a guiltless, no strings attached kinda way, what could go wrong? »

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⟶ fear and dumplings ➵ @softyoongiionly 💌

↳ College AU ღ nsfw series

« You’re in your final semester at University when your Abnormal Psychology professor assigns you a partnered project surrounding your greatest fears.Lucky for you, your partner just so happens to be a cute boy named Min Yoongi. »

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⟶ friend request ➵ @spoopysoph 💌

↳ College AU ღ sfw oneshot

« You get a friend request from someone you don’t know. »

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⟶ iron world ➵ @gimmeyoon 💌

↳ Cyberpunk AU ღ nsfw series

« Welcome to Iron World, the latest virtual reality online game. Choose your class, join a guild, and explore the depths of this planet. As one of the first 20,000 people to explore this brave frontier, how you enjoy this immersive experience is up to you. There is so much to do and see, you’ll never want to leave. »

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⟶ maybe i’m a little dangerous ➵ @hollyhomburg

↳ Mafia/Soulmate AU ღ sfw series

« Rare soulmate marks don’t guarantee that you find your soulmate easily, and when your soulmate is the head of a mafia, being together will never be easy either… »

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⟶ pure instinct ➵ @maptoyoongi 💌

↳ Hybrid AU ღ sfw series

« The instinct to protect someone we love is a powerful force. When Yoongi is given the chance to protect you, how far will he go? »

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⟶ silly kitty ➵ @badbhye 💌

↳ Hybrid AU ღ sfw oneshot

« You and Yoongi visit your grandmother, and you have a realization. »

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⟶ sugar, yes please ➵ @btsfiles

↳ Sugar Daddy AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« You’re a college student with an aspiration for journalism, but the traumatic experience of being broke and lonely gives you an opportunity to try out something new: become a Sugar Baby. »

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⟶ support ➵ @saikokirakira

↳ Established Relationship AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« n/a »

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⟶ the touch of silk ➵ @floralseokjin

↳ Supernatural AU ღ nsfw series

« In a world where vampires coexist with the living, there are many humans looking for a cheap thrill…you’re ashamed to admit you’re curious too, putting to good use a dating app you find…but Min Yoongi is nothing like you imagined a vampire to be… »

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⟶ the way to your heart ➵ @joonary 💌

↳ Office AU ღ sfw oneshot

« when your office christmas party’s secret santa gives you absolutely no context on what kind of gift he wants, you have no choice but to get to know him better. »

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⟶ true disaster ➵ @rmddaeng 💌

↳ Supernatural AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« You’re a simple angel, the lowest of the Three Seraphic Spheres. On a hot, muggy day when you’ve nothing to do, a demon stumbles upon you. But who is he? And perhaps more importantly, what does he want? »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ wrapped ➵ @btsunniemoonie 💌

↳ Boyfriend AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« In which your world crushes because you didn’t pay too much attention in biology class »

• ────── ღ ────── •

Yoonji

⟶ calming seas ➵ @barbyisafangirl 💌

↳ Pirate AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« the sea is rough and wild most of the time but eventually, it has to calm down. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

Best Hoseok Fics

⟶ babysitters ➵ @httphopewrld 💌

↳ Boyfriend AU ღ sfw oneshot

« It’s your first time babysitting your sister’s son, Ryan. Not only are you nervous because you’ve never done it before, but because of your boyfriend decides to tag along. Surprisingly, your nephew and boyfriend get along well. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ bloom ➵ @guksheart 💌

↳ Soulmate AU ღ sfw oneshot

« your soulmate’s first words to you will be burned into the skin of your wrist upon first meeting them. no one anticipated that yours would turn out to be a world famous rapper by the name of jung hoseok. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ blue ➵ @littlemeowmeowschimmy 💌

↳ Husband AU ღ sfw oneshot

« You're pregnant��and the only thing that your boyfriend cares about is his job. His job…it frightens you everyday. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ by its cover ➵ @crystaljins

↳ E2L/Supernatural AU ღ sfw series

« Your annoying little brother Jimin accepts a dare and summons a demon into your living room. There are multiple problems with this. 1) Demons are the most hated species on earth.2) That demon happens to be Jung Hoseok, the most popular guy on campus 3) The fact that Jung Hoseok is a demon is his biggest secret and 4) Jung Hoseok hates your guts. You’re in for a wild ride. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ get wet ➵ @prolixitae 💌

↳ Dancer AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« sitting in on your boyfriend’s dance practice is probably your biggest kink. it’s also the reason you asked to be so shamelessly fucked in the locker rooms of his dance studio, in spite of the pending consequences. note: this is not an idol-verse fic »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ letters to you ➵ @jiminsmagicshop 💌

↳ Soulmate AU ღ sfw series

« When you read the first Email you felt intrigued and without any hesitation you send one back, not knowing that those emails would lead you to a new life or a soulmate. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ of hentai and gay panic ➵ @enchantedyoon

↳ College AU ღ sfw oneshot

« The story of how Namjoon and Hoseok meet and fall in love over hentai. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ peppermint ➵ @readyplayerhobi

↳ Office AU ღ sfw series

« Achieving your dream job is something that very people manage to do, which is why you’re all the more happier when you land a job on the film team at Poppin’ Culture; the biggest pop culture website, blog and YouTube channel around. What you don’t expect however, is to fall for the exceptionally shy and awkward colleague who is not even remotely your type. Or is he? »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ perfidy ➵ @yminie

↳ Halloween AU ღ sfw oneshot

« Why do so many people in scary movies die? They trust the wrong people. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ ramen & company ➵ @sweetheartjeongguk 💌

↳ Ponyo AU ღ sfw oneshot

« in which hoseok has a plan of revenge, but it doesn’t work out in the way he hoped it would. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ say no to this ➵ @hobibliophile

↳ Best Friend AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« It’s been a while since you and Hoseok have spent time with each other, but he hasn’t forgotten how hard it is to say no to you. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ sweetest crush ➵ @minjoonalist 💌

↳ Friends to Lovers AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« What would you do if your friend’s younger sibling suddenly asks you for sex? »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ synchronized ➵ @bangtans-salty-sac-snacc 💌

↳ Soulmate AU ღ sfw oneshot

« Everyone is born with a timer on their wrist, counting down to the moment they learn who their soulmate is. Your timer is a few seconds behind Hoseok’s, the love of your life. And it’s those few seconds that keep you from ever being with him. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ the keeper of the light and keeper of the night ➵ @spicykoreantatertots 💌

↳ Fantasy AU ღ sfw drabble

« yoongi is the keeper of the night. hoseok is the keeper of the light. sometimes they meet. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ the most wonderful time of the year ➵ @lamourche

↳ E2L/Office AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« n/a. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ you’re my light ➵ @bts-poetry 💌

↳ Established Relationship AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« A call from your best friend inviting you to the yearly Diwali celebration has you and your boyfriend really excited but what would happen when you stumble across your troublesome ex on such a good day? »

• ────── ღ ────── •

Best Namjoon Fics

⟶ baby, please! ➵ @jungkook-me-down 💌

↳ Established Relationship AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« You can’t seem to help yourself these days. Lately you’ve been getting more and more into children. When your cousin asks you to babysit her daughter Hae, you never imagined the situation you’d be thrown into and the outcome of her visit. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ be my palentine ➵ @bangtanstanst 💌

↳ College AU ღ sfw oneshot

« Being single on Valentine’s Day isn’t so bad, as long as you have an equally single friend to spend your night with. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ details in the fabric ➵ @jinitude 💌

↳ Widow AU ღ sfw oneshot

« Missing someone means noticing the little things, and those little things tend to hurt the worst »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ foreign heart ➵ @dejun-ge

↳ Idol AU ღ sfw series

« Namjoon was an ordinary person - as ordinary as you could get for an idol. But there was silly foreign girl who made him feel normal, like he wasn’t stuck behind a wall. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ home ➵ @hobidreams 💌

↳ Married AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« Turns out, Namjoon can’t keep his hands off his wife after all. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ late nights ➵ @taeintedlove 💌

↳ Established Relationship AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« n/a. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ love bytes ➵ @stutterfly 💌

↳ Friends to Lovers AU ღ nsfw series

« It’s been a year since you first met Kim Namjoon, the passionate, talented English professor at the local campus. He’s always been clumsy and aloof, but he’s on a whole new level in terms of “technologically incapable.” One call to IT was all it took to pull you into his life, and with it a whole string of friendships full of flirtatious banter and undying support.

Your dating situation has been drier than the Sahara for years now, and you’ve wasted too many lonely nights drinking alone, so you try your hand at Tinder. But you’re not getting any bites. When the group finds out, they are more than willing to help–even Namjoon, though he finds it increasingly difficult to deny that he’s hopelessly smitten. You consider their opinions on potential Tinder dates while fighting off feelings you never knew were brewing for the caring soul who becomes the home you never had. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ more than words ➵ @ironicarmy 💌

↳ Friends to Lovers AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« You and Namjoon have been painfully -and blindingly- pining for each other since your teenage years, much to your friends’ chagrin. So, unbeknownst to both of you, Seokjin and the rest plan to finally make you confess during a ski trip. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ obligated ➵ @underthejoon

↳ Arranged Marriage AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« Married by obligation, weighed down by circumstance. Except for those nights when you’re both drunk, falling into bed with one another and realizing you’re human. Occasionally this happens, occasionally you fuck. Until your life changes and you realize Namjoon, the very man you’re obligated to, might just be the very man that you crave. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ oh, death ➵ @loveejoon 💌

↳ Death AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« There’s no leniency with Death. you die when your time comes, without remorse. But why does Death look at you, and suddenly things change? »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ the rich man’s crochet club ➵ @kpopfanfictrash

↳ College AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« When they were freshmen in college, Namjoon began a club with his six closest friends. The one thing they all had in common? V i r g i n s as fuck. Obviously, they couldn’t call the club the Virgins Club though and so, the Rich Man’s Crochet Club was born. Until time passes and Namjoon is the only one left. Now, the Club has one, final mission: to get Namjoon laid. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ the transfiguration tutor ➵ @purpletigertaetae 💌

↳ Hogwarts AU ღ sfw oneshot

« n/a. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ time management ➵ @feralbangtan 💌

↳ Married AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« “No, no, no. I know where this is gonna lead. We do not have the time for sex. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ try me ➵ @jjkfire

↳ College AU ღ sfw oneshot

« You wanted nothing more than to leave behind your old self when you graduated from high school and moved on to college to play rugby but when you see your high school classmate, resident fuckboy and captain, Kim Namjoon, at the rugby department orientation, you feel like everything might fall apart. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

Best Jimin Fics

⟶ busan mental asylum ➵ @lovehrs 💌

↳ Doctor AU ღ sfw oneshot

« n/a. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ but this isn’t love ➵ @daze-six 💌

↳ Friends to Lovers AU ღ sfw oneshot

« n/a. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ don’t move ➵ @jeonsweetpea 💌

↳ Idol/Stylist AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« You had a solo debut coming up and it was nerve wracking. What’s even worse is that the stylist in charge of your photoshoot was none other than Park Jimin. What’s wrong with Jimin? Oh. Nothing. He just hates you. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ fairytail ➵ @gukyi

↳ Fantasy AU ღ sfw oneshot

« You have a particular disdain for the beach. Jimin is here to change that. Oh! And he’s also a merman. So there’s that, too. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ fan-cam ➵ @cottonhxney 💌

↳ Idol AU ღ sfw oneshot

« Y/N watches how Jimin reacts, as recorded by fans, and can’t figure out how to feel about it. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ mon cœur t’appartient ➵ @jiminspjm 💌

↳ Werewolf AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« Just let me love, you »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ peaches and piercings ➵ @matchakoo 💌

↳ E2L/College AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« Jimin, dipped in hair-dye and pierced in so many places that you just couldn’t keep track, doesn’t think you’re his “type”. You call bullshit. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ ring lover ➵ @flowerwrites06 💌

↳ Boxer/Ballerina AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« Jimin could fight every battle in his life until he started courting a delicate ballerina who can’t stand violence. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ spellbound ➵ @minflix

↳ E2L/Witch AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« The only reason you agreed to do this magical ritual with Park Jimin’s Circle was for the sake of your own Circle - to strengthen your individual magic. Yes, that means you’ll have to fuck him, but no, you weren’t happy about it because you hate Park Jimin. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ syndicate ➵ @jungkookiebus 💌

↳ Mafia AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« n/a. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ the other half ➵ @silverlightqueen 💌

↳ Badboy AU ღ nsfw series

« In Winchester, y/n has it all. Gorgeous and glamorous. A friendship group just as gorgeous and glamorous. Fantastic grades. A handsome boyfriend with a family just as successful as hers. A doting dad and a brother just as beautiful as she is. An amazing school, and an even more amazing house. As many cars and clothes and bags and shoes, and as much makeup and money she could ever ask for. But when Winchester Academy puts on an exchange programme with Burnley Tech School, a high school in an underprivileged area, two completely different worlds collide, and y/n has her hands full, practically overflowing, dealing with her exchange partner, bad boy Jimin with a whole lot of baggage… »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ the rules of heaven ➵ @seokoloqy 💌

↳ Angel AU ღ sfw oneshot

« Jimin is in love and Heaven doesn’t allow for it. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ what do you desire? ➵ @prisczero 💌

↳ Devil/CEO AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« n/a. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ what you deserve ➵ @jiminniethemarshmallow

↳ Friends to Lovers AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« n/a. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

Best Taehyung Fics

⟶ across cyber space ➵ @goldenjulychild 💌

↳ Camgirl AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« It’s normal to have lots of admirers in your line of work, but the user strawberrylover312 is not simply one of them. As your relationship builds so does your doubt about him being too perfect to be true. After all, it’s impossible to find true love across cyber space, right? »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ black irises in the sunshine ➵ @ddaenggtan 💌

↳ Greek God AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« anger is everything. other gods tease you for the short fuse, but it comes with the territory. people have called you stupid, have called you dumb, oafish, useless, incompetent, insolent, rude, arrogant. all of it. insults and mockery flung at you, but even your skin isn’t thick enough to deal with constant abuse. it’s the exact reason you keep going to the underground, knuckles bloody and bruised, fighting anyone that dared enter the cage. it’s the reason you go to the clubs, surround yourself with mortals and their writhing bodies. it’s there that you see him the first time, voice husky as it rolls through the room. it’s there you find someone who treats you differently than the rest. you just never expected him to be one of the muses. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ carnal cupidity ➵ @kittae

↳ Werewolf AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« Things are a little tense in your relationship with your boyfriend, an alpha wolf and leader of his own pack. After another fight, you’ve had just about enough and decide to take matters into your own hands when his heat approaches. Your methods, however, prove to be more effective than intended… »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ catching a case of the doctor blues ➵ @justimajin

↳ Enemies to Lovers AU ღ sfw series

« When asked about Dr. Kim, a string of beautifully aligned words are ready spew from your lips. You could possibly go on and on about how his wonderful stubbornness wasn’t similar to talking to a brick wall, or how his observation skills were especially great in preparing your blood vessels for a drastic rupture or even how one gracious stare of his nearly had you on the verge of ripping your essential documents in half. But it seems that, perhaps, there was a lot more to Dr. Kim then what meets the eye… »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ cheap skate ➵ @taehyungforreal 💌

↳ Domestic AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« Granny Park’s Gossip: Who doesn’t know Taehyung and his lady? Cutest couple in town, I’d say, and have been since they started dating in their college days. Oh, that was a while ago, though. And still, they’re happy as can be in that place they have together. Almost hate seeing one without the other, y’know, it’s like seeing just one testi- oh, right, I’m not supposed to talk like that. Anyhoo, I only say that because I saw Taehyung at a jewelry store the other day while I was buying my sweet Jiminie his presents. Maybe that boy’s finally gonna pop the question, but I do hope he’s got a good plan for it. Something sweet and romantic. Maybe I’ll find out after Jiminie gets back from that cabin he’s visiting. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ christmas cookies ➵ @mistysuga 💌

↳ Established Relationship AU ღ sfw oneshot

« You are in charge of making the cookies for your family’s Christmas party, so you and Taehyung have a blast while doing so. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ don’t blame me ➵ @diortae 💌

↳ Cheating AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« Kim Taehyung has always been there to soothe the sting of your failing relationship. But matters of the heart are never that simple. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ every word ➵ @jessikahathaway 💌

↳ Friends to Lovers AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« n/a. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ fever ➵ @yoonia

↳ Werewolf AU ღ nsfw series

« I wish I could hate you. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ frisky ➵ @uwugalore 💌

↳ Established Relationship AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« Sometimes, your fiancé was just… frisky. And boy did you enjoy it to the fullest. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ get you the moon ➵ @bymoonchild 💌

↳ E2L/College AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« Life has its ways of fucking with you, but you know you’ve hit 50 feet below rock bottom after being tasked to do a profile feature on Kim Taehyung, the varsity football captain, for your school newspaper. Pure torment awaits you, but this is alongside glassy eyes, pink cheeks and conflicted feelings that you’ve never dared to imagine with the likes of the devil incarnate. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ glacier’s view ➵ @rosaetae 💌

↳ E2L/Dystopia AU ღ sfw oneshot

« Everyone knows when they were born— the date of when they enter the world. Everyone in this world not only knows their birth date, but also when they die, when they kick the bucket— the date of when they leave the world. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ not your typical flower shop story ➵ @jungtaeyoongles 💌

↳ Flower Shop/College AU ღ sfw oneshot

« You always goes to the cute boy next door’s flower shop across the street because hi yes he’s the cutest damn person you’ve ever seen, until one day a guy with tattoos and a severe obsession with the color black shows up in the shop asking for the ‘usual’ and you find out that your cute innocent little flower boy has a dirty little secret. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ sorrow ➵ @jiminsfault 💌

↳ Pianist AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« The man had you tight in his grip without knowing it, knowing you. For him, you were just a mere pair of eyes watching him, paying to listen to his work. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ suite 114 ➵ @haylokitteh 💌

↳ Idol AU ღ nsfw series

« An innocent staring contest leads to a not so innocent relationship. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

Best Jungkook Fics

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ blue raspberry ➵ @strawbxxymilk 💌

↳ College AU ღ sfw drabble

« Jungkook asks you to live life on the wild side »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ date in a box ➵ @jimlingss

↳ Dating Service AU ღ sfw oneshot

« If you’re in a hurry then we’re here to help you! Everything you need in a box. Delivery less than five minutes. Upgrade and we can personalize your date even more! Guaranteed 100%! Don’t fret, we’re here. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ dive ➵ @guktwt 💌

↳ Swimmer/Photographer AU ღ nsfw series

« This is a bad idea, you think, but there’s something so satisfying about seeing Jungkook so pliant and desperate under your touch. You’ve seen him in all his glory, a boy who’s made for the water and loved by all, but you think he looks prettiest like this; up close, pressed against your body, and under the warm summer light. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ drug wars ➵ @plumblackjeon

↳ Mafia AU ღ nsfw series

« She’s a babygirl Yoongi, and I think I’m in love with her. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ duvet days and vanilla ice cream ➵ @jhspetitegf 💌

↳ Sperm Donor AU ღ nsfw series

« Sick of waiting to fulfill your dream of becoming a mother, you stumble across an interesting site called bundlesofjoy. Here, you find not only the key to your future happiness, but further down the line, it turns out that site could have brought you more than you’d bargained for. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ enraptured and enthralled ➵ @smartkookiee 💌

↳ College AU ღ nsfw smau

« It’s your third year of college and you are finally into the spring and summer trimester. You never imagined you would be where you are now. Living the dream as a poor theater student. You get to be the big roles on stage and have hundreds maybe even thousands cheering for you. Finally being the one people looked up to in awe and want to see more of, to see succeed. It’s the dream… isn’t it? Though you adored it… something was missing from it… of course you weren’t going to quit but your passion and drive seemed to be fading. Do you really want to be an actor? Would you let your best friends down? Do you leave? These question swirled as you began to wonder if this is the right path anymore. Fortunately, who would have thought that a night of cabaret and the biggest competition of your life could change all of that? Or could… someone? »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ heavy machinery ➵ @solarjeon 💌

↳ Construction Worker AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« Jungkook works across the street, doing construction on a new apartment complex being put in your area. You’d rather not wake up to the beeping of heavy machinery every morning, so you decide to go over and give that brawny construction worker a piece of your mind. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ love letters ➵ @jjkwithluv 💌

↳ Poet AU ღ sfw oneshot

« You get a crush on a certain poet named Jungkook, while secret messages start appearing in your locker… you’d think that poetry and romance and mystery would go well together, think again… »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ mutual ➵ @seokjxnnie 💌

↳ Office AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« Your boss was always talking about how her son would be perfect for you, promising that he was going to the staff holiday party. He turned out to be the hook up that happened a couple months ago, who you kept around for some good dick. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ picture perfect ➵ @moononthejoon 💌

↳ Historical AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« The king is dead. New portraits need to be done. But what happens when the painter is not who you expected? »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ pretty birthday boy ➵ @yoonminos 💌

↳ Established Relationship AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« It’s Jungkook’s birthday and you throw him a surprise party with the help of your friends. The thing that surprised you, though, was Jungkook buying himself a gift and asking you to use it on him. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ rebound ➵ @ropeseok

↳ Enemies to Lovers ღ nsfw oneshot

« Jungkook relieves you from an awkward time at a party - in more ways than one. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ waves of fate ➵ @ttaekimm

↳ Mamma Mia AU ღ nsfw oneshot

« Jungkook is a lifeguard who unfortunately loses his memory and got drifted by the sea ,but the waves brought him to the door of an exquisite hotel where he stays there and work with the manager until his memory come back. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ what are friends for? ➵ @dusktilldawnstuff 💌

↳ Friends AU ღ sfw oneshot

« You (kinda) explore an abandoned building with you best friend Jungkook. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

Best Poly & MxM Fics

⟶ breathless ➵ @personawife 💌

↳ Hanahaki AU ღ sfw oneshot • namkook • mxm

« n/a. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ bts and their creampie kinks ➵ @jiminsoxyjeon 💌

↳ PWP ღ nsfw headcanons

« n/a. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ euphoria ➵ @kimlinebiased 💌

↳ First Time AU ღ nsfw oneshot • namkook • mxm

« Jungkook has had a crush on the leader of BTS since forever. Now that Namjoon is helping write his solo for the upcoming album, this could be his perfect chance. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ from summer to winter i’ll be yours ➵ @hungline

↳ Supernatural AU ღ sfw oneshot • jinkook • mxm

« Seokjin had learned long ago that he and Jeongguk could never really be together, but his time as summer is almost over and he’ll wait as long as he has to before winter comes to pass. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ hypnagogia ➵ @joonsrack 💌

↳ College AU ღ sfw oneshot • taekook • mxm

« ‘‘So you’re telling me a creep has been following you around the University, waiting until you fall asleep and then jumping on you to kiss you in your sleep?’’

“Well, if you put it that way…’’

‘‘Are you joking right now? Is this a joke? Why aren’t you telling this to the goddam campus security? Better yet, does Kookie know? I bet with those muscles he works so hard for he could reduce whoever it is to pulps.’’ »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ in the dark ➵ @matchakoo

↳ Halloween AU ღ nsfw oneshot • jikook • poly

« Jungkook and Jimin have a very short attention span, and when you three are lost in the middle of nowhere with a truck that won’t drive, they busy themselves with you. »

• ────── ღ ────── •

⟶ miss managed ➵ @misscheesecakeee 💌

↳ Idol AU ღ sfw series • namgi/ot7 • poly

« In a desperate attempt to debut BTS on time, BigHit hires you as their manager. »

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⟶ samhain’s blessing ➵ @softjeon 💌

↳ Vampire/Witch AU ღ nsfw oneshot • taegi • mxm

« How little vampire Tae found his way to Yoongi. »

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⟶ what i never knew i always wanted ➵ @rms-tulip 💌

↳ Hybrid AU ღ nsfw series • namseok • poly

« Who knew that one of the most magical yet devastating nights of your life brought someone into your life that just ended up completing the missing puzzle piece in your heart you hadn’t thought was missing until he showed you that it was. »

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aboleth-workshop · 4 years

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D&D 3.5 Homebrews by Aboleth-Eye

Hey there friends! This is my Masterpost for all my homebrew ideas for Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 Edition!

I typically take requests and share ideas on my personal discord, click here to join the Aboleth-Eye Discord! Friends of the server get first shot at requests, invites to play games, and we can talk about d&d and tabletop gaming all day!

Included Below The Cut:

Base Classes, Races, Bestiary, Magic Items, Etc.

Base Classes

The Gravedigger -- A ranger variant with mystic powers relating to death, graveyards and the moon! These outcasts learn to sever the connection between life and death of many creatures, and gain powers for exploring the darkest crypts. Unique weapon proficiencies also included, such as combat shovels and lantern weapons.

The Hairdancer -- A blend of monk and battle dancer abilities, all tied to having supernaturally strong hair! Able to shape their hair into powerful lashes, these dancing warriors traverse the highest towers to the haughtiest social circles. Includes several feats for this class variant!

Fey Warlock -- A variant warlock class, attuned to the power of nature and beholden to the fey! Includes alternate class features that grant abilities like wings!

Focus Witch -- A variant of the base witch class. Choose a unique focus of power for your witchcraft: including wild animals, alchemy, the sky, water, plants, and even darker focuses such as blood or the Abyss! Also includes new feats for this class and other spontaneous spellcasters!

The Valiant -- A variant of monk, mixed with paladin and elemental fighter! Become a mighty force for good with elemental strikes, spell-like abilities and a sparkly knockout punch! Play out your own Power Ranger/sentai and Sailor Moon/Precure/magical girl fantasies in d&d!

Celestial Warlock -- A variant of warlock, granting the invoker powers over light and celestial healing! Includes alternate class features like Manifest Celestial, which let’s you become temporarily angelic! As well as a standard warlock alternate, Manifest Fiend!

The Dragoon -- A ranger variant focused on polearms and slaying the inhuman! Leap into battle with your mastery of spears, with indomitable courage and shrug off the wounds of claws and breath weapons!

The Narrator -- Gather your cast of friends and allies, blend together bardic spells and dramatic poetry while directing others like the noble can. Flip the script and rearrange the battle because you want your fellow heroes to succeed against the forces of evil!

The Spiritualist -- An warlock variant that invokes dreadful but powerful ghostly abilities, such as cowering spirits and binding them to your will. Travel through the halls of death as a medium, and beckon forth the powers of the departed!

The Fiendknife -- Become a living weapon of the Lower Planes, a wielder of terrible bladelimbs to decimate your enemies. Your weapons grow in power and supernatural gifts, as well as your specific fighting style! Inspired by the Hybrids from Chainsaw Man!

Races

The Construct Catalog -- Several canon and homebrewed construct races! Porcelain people, 3.5 Shardminds (and magical counterparts), living spellbooks, singing statues and much more!

The Entobian -- Inspired by a Pathfinder race of the same name, these are insectoids who grow from Larvites into unique castes of creatures--beetles, butterflies and more! Unique racial feats and a racial deity (with a unique domain) is included..

Talking Animals -- A vast menagerie of intelligent animals, ready to join the civilized and exciting world of adventuring!! Tons of species covered: birds, bears, bunnies and more! Currently taking requests!

The Grace of Unicorns -- Transforming the iconic fantasy beast into a racial monster class so you can play a resplendent sylvan protector! Also included is a racial prestige class, the Celestial Charger! Become an emissary of the Queen of Unicorns, across the planescape!

The Licerna -- Inspired by the unicorn characters of @2ghosts, welcome the elegant horned outsiders descended from the celestial charger unicorns of Ehlonna! Currently includes several racial feats, a racial paragon class, and a Licerna racial Favored Soul variant!

Spooky Races -- Originally just an undead-focused homebrew page, recently other spooky races have been added on! Intelligent skeletons, mini liches, headless riders and frightful scarecrows!

The Sparstones -- Beautiful heroic statues that come to life through divine resonances in the earth and loving craftsmanship, inspired by this post by @otherwindow. Sculpted to emulate the heroes of old, they are brave and beautiful but are literally dumb as rocks.

Strangers Abound - A collection of races that stand apart from the normal demographics and ways of sentient life! Man-eating plants, shadow-filled diving suits, and even object-headed planeswalkers!

Aboleth-Eye’s Bestiary

Here’s a bunch of homebrew 3e/3.5 monsters! Free for anyone to use! Includes:

Gold-eating axolotls, gingerbread golems, bean sidhe (banshee), vegetable pets, antlered birds, unicorn rabbits, wasp-filled cultists, marrow-eating bone horses, sheepish bushes, wish-granting jellyfish, shadowy dancers, church-hating miscreants, urban pest griffons, lightning in a bottle, rosy gardeners, etc.

Adding more all the time! Requests and ideas are welcome, with due credit!

Magic Items/Trinkets

Clock of Temporal Frustration - A maddeningly patterned clock that breaks down and reforms magic items, even allowing the creation of new ones with the right materials. All with the risk of being aged forwards or backwards a little bit, or the clock vanishing on you with all your goods.

Feywild Gate Pendants - Wear the favor of a fey lord and enter their secret wards, grants bonuses to interact with fey if their fey lord is friendly to you!

Dagger of Deerhaunt - A dagger made from an antler, cursed with the spirit of the deer who was slain for it!

Pumps of the Scaled Princess - Magical high heels that, when attuned, grant the wearer a magical merfolk-like tail and the ability to breathe underwater.

Necromancer’s Spark Ring - A magical bone ring with a retinue to skeletal servants and a ghostly light within.

The Skittering Throne - A strange eight-legged chair that helps the sitter get around rapidly, even up walls and on ceilings!

The Crown of Fantasy - More a setting concept than actual item, whoever dons this crown has every whim and thought in their head projected within the borders of an old lost kingdom...

Wondrous Garbage - A bunch of submitted ideas for d&d/ttrpg magic items, eclectic and fun!

Additional Resources

Arcane Beast (Homebrew Spell List) - Create magical beast minions on the fly, customize like psions can with astral construct!

Aboleth-Eye’s collection of D&D Asks! Includes campaign inspirations, d&d race ideas, discussions on canon lore/alignments/classes, new DM advice, etc!

Plant Companions -- Mostly a direct copy of the original DR #357 article for better clarification, but this guide also includes sample builds and some homebrew abilities for the Plant Companion.

If you have any feedback, or your own idea for a homebrew class, race, etc. then send me a message at @aboleth-workshop or @aboleth-eye! If you have an idea, I can workshop the idea with you firsthand through my Discord!

Thanks for reading! Be safe out there, adventurers! Love, Aboleth-Eye.

Updated as of 11/25/23!

#aboleth eye #d&d homebrew #my homebrew #homebrew classes #homebrew races #homebrew resources #tabletop resources #masterpost #my masterpost #homebrew monsters #d&d masterpost #homebrew masterpost #d&d homebrew masterpost #d&d races #d&d classes #d&d 3.5 #3.5 edition #3rd edition

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dreamcatcherfication · 4 years

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Like a Dream That You Can’t Quite Place

So this was a fic requested by @burntuakrisp at one point, and even though it took some time to get around to, here it is! This is a mash up of Satisfied from Hamilton, but Anna singing about Kat. Now I didn’t want to do a direct song-to-story format, so I tried something a little different. This is more of a “inspired by” type, so you’ll catch references to Satisfied, but it’s not actually sung at any point. There’s a part of this that might be a little controversial so let’s hope I don’t get cancelled for it. Sorry for any spelling or grammatical errors, turns out it’s because I’m a ten year old boy who finds sex jokes funny.

Writing Masterpost

And note: Just because this takes place in the past does not mean I am writing about the actual wives of Henry VIII. These are still the musical characters but set in the past.

If you want to send a request or a prompt, my inbox is always open! I publish a story at 8:00 AM PST everyday, so I’m always in need of new ideas. Now featuring random asks:

Prompts | More Prompts | The Trifecta of Prompts | Random Asks

Trigger Warnings: Vague mentions of sexual abuse, mentions of beheading, Henry VIII

In truth, Anna had not wanted to come to the wedding, nor had she found it appropriate that she had been invited. Who would think it would be anything less than awkward for the former wife of the king to come witness his marriage to the new queen. However, it wasn’t jealousy that made the situation awkward, but rather the groom who now stood between two extremely close women. Or in Katherine’s case, girl.

Anna had not attended the actual ceremony, but she was amongst the dancers in the banquet hall who surrounded the king and his new queen as they feasted. It was strange seeing her dear friend Katherine now wearing a crown of jewels and sitting next to a man three times her size, but Anna could say nothing. She approached the queen and kneeled down. “Your Majesty,” she greeted courtly.

Glancing around uncomfortably, Katherine gently put a hand on Anna’s shoulder. “You do not have to kneel Anna, you were a queen just as I am.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” Anna continued to remain formal. If they were in private, Anna would find it absurd to use the royal terms with her former lady in waiting, but she wouldn’t dare cross that line with Henry sitting right next to Katherine. “I’ve come to congratulate you on your marriage.”

Henry clutched his large stomach and forced a smile towards Anna. “How sweet of you, dear sister. Have you brought gifts?”

Nodding, Anna unclasped the locket that she had hanging around her neck. “An antique locket from the House of Cleves. I’m sure her majesty will enjoy it greatly.”

Gasping as she was handed the locket, Katherine admired its beauty. “It’s stunning Anna, thank you so much. Will you help me put it on?”

Realizing he was being forced out of the conversation, Henry cut in. “I can do that, my darling.” He leaned over and grabbed the locket, holding it up to Katherine’s neck. The girl frowned when he fumbled with the clasp, his fat fingers unable to hook it properly. Katherine uncomfortably shifted in the long amount of time it took before Henry finally got the locket in place. “Perfect. It looks radiant on someone as beautiful as you,” he flirted with Katherine, who seemed far too nervous for someone who was married to the man.

Anna started to back away, knowing that Henry had already dismissed her by turning his attention back to Katherine. The girl shot one last longing glance in Anna’s direction before she was forced to return her attention to her husband.

Meanwhile, Anna found herself exiting the hall to go for a walk about the grounds. She could not stand staying in that stifled hall, surrounded by the people who had once ridiculed her. She missed the comfort of Katherine as her lady in waiting, the soft moments they would spend together away from all the horrors of the real world. It was hard for her to see everything they had built together fall apart because of the king. As she traversed the palace grounds, Anna couldn’t help but feel herself start to rewind time, falling into a memory she so clearly remembered.

The sky was bright and the breeze blew through Anna’s hair, the sound of birds chirping almost picture perfect. Of course Anna wasn’t alone (her ladies in waiting were a few feet behind her) but Anna could almost feel free when roaming outside. “Milady,” one of the girls called.

“Yes?”

The lady in waiting made sure there was a wide berth between her and her queen. “The king has requested your presence, he has a new lady in waiting he wishes for you to meet. I believe he has taken rather a,” the girl spoke disdainfully, “liking to this one.”

Sighing, Anna turned away from her freedom and followed her ladies back into the palace where her husband awaited. As much as she disliked her husband, she knew there were far worse men to be wed to. Henry spoke so lowly of her, yet he let her do as she pleased throughout the palace. If he was requesting her presence, then clearly he meant business.

Henry was standing outside of Anna’s bedchambers, his hand on the shoulder of a young girl. The girl was a teenager, and her gaze was thoroughly frightened (although she was doing her best to appear calm). “My wife,” Henry said, his tone a mix between disgust and politeness. “It seems we have received a new lady for you, a one Miss Katherine Howard.”

Katherine was one of the most beautiful girls Anna had ever seen. Sure, she considered herself to be quite beautiful no matter what Henry said, but this girl was a rose, plucked directly from the Garden of Eden. For once, Anna felt something deep in her heart start to stir. “Miss Howard, how kind of you to join us. You must be special if the king has brought you here himself.”

“Oh no,” Katherine spoke and curtseyed. “I am of no importance, but his Grace is most kindly.” Anna had to hide a scoff at that comment. Henry was far from kindly, but he loved hearing praise, something Katherine seemed to understand very well.

Growing bored of the women’s interactions, Henry’s voice drowned out any other conversation. “Well I must return to my duties, and you ladies to your needlework, I assume. It was lovely to meet you Katherine,” Henry gave her a full toothed smile that made all the ladies nervous. He spared a glance to his wife and muttered, “And you do as you will.”

There was a clear tension among the ladies as they realized what was going on. Henry was very clearly showing his wife that he had interests in Katherine, knowing that neither of the girls could do a thing about it. “Hello, my queen,” Katherine cut into the silence, doing her best to retain any semblance of proper court. When the girl looked up and gave Anna that smile, oh the queen could almost forget her name.

Anna dismissed the other ladies and went inside her chambers with Katherine. “Tell me, where is your family from?”

“Unimportant,” Katherine replied, her face flinching. “I am your humble servant, my background does not matter.”

Watching the way she fidgeted, Anna elected not to push further. She knew Katherine probably came from a bad family she did not want Anna to know about (and by acting the way she did, Katherine had unintentionally given that away). Everything about Katherine was so immediately endearing, and Anna knew from the start they were meant to have some sort of connection. Not the kind Henry was trying to form, but the kind that would last.

And that was why Anna tried so hard to stomp it out.

B l i n k i n g back into the present, Anna realized she had come across a small grove of trees and plants in the palace grounds. She vividly remembered the times she would bring Kat out into the grove to practice dancing with her. The two of them rejoiced in the private time they spent in each other’s company. Of all Anna’s servants, she had grown comfortable with Kat, enough that they would forgo appearances when free of any probing eyes.

Now, alone in the grove with only the dark of the night, Anna felt as if the memories were ghosts of a past life. She was no longer the queen, and Katherine was no longer her servant. They were different people than the two who had hidden within the grove.

Humming a low tune, Anna walked in circles around the trees, twirling as she passed rocks and cobblestone. She had her arms up as she so often had in the past, leading Kat through courtly dances. “I feel we would still be together if not for the three truths I’ve realized,” Anna spoke to the empty grove. It was easier for her to tell Kat her feelings when the girl was nowhere near enough to hear her.

“The three fundamental truths,” Anna whispered, mostly to herself. There was a stumble in her dancing before Anna resumed with more vigor than when she started. “One. Henry is the king. No matter how much you or I disagree with him, he can have what he wants. And if he wants you, there’s nothing I can do but try and make it easier for you.” Anna had no choice but to obey the king, but that did not quell her desire to defy him and keep Katherine safe with her.

Continuing to hum her tune, Anna came up next to a gnarled tree. Resting her back against the tree, she mimed pulling her partner closer to her. “Two. Your family is of low status. You’ve never disclosed your upbringing to me, but I can tell by the way you act. If Henry had any idea how close we had grown, he would not allow it. Servants and royalty do not mix, unless it is the king and his mistress. The only way he will allow us to be around each other publically is if you are his wife and I am his sister.”

The image of Katherine standing next to the King wormed its way into Anna’s mind. She wanted to tear the image in half, never to be seen again. But the picture was reality. Anna had no power to rewrite reality. “Three. You’ve always been vague about it, but you confided in me about what had happened in your childhood. What those men had done to you.” A choking sound made its way through Anna’s throat as she realized what she was trying to say. “To tell you that I feel that same connection with you that they did… I cannot do that to you in good conscience. So I will suffer in silence, knowing that I can never be satisfied of this hunger deep within me.”

Her dancing halted as Anna stared at her empty hands. “I hope you will be happy with your groom.”

Inevitably, Anna knew there would be a catch. She tried not to grow close to Katherine, knowing that Henry was pursuing her. Anna and Katherine were being pitted against each other for the title of queen, and Anna would not allow herself to come between Katherine and the most powerful man in England. She didn’t want Henry to marry Katherine, but she also didn’t want to be exiled by the king for fighting back, ultimately resulting in Katherine and Henry’s marriage anyway.

When it came down to it, Anna was helpless to stop Henry.

But if Anna had known Kat’s fate, she would have allowed herself to be exiled a thousand times over, she would’ve put her own head on a chopping block if it gave her the chance to prevent Kat’s death. Henry had known how close the two girls were, so he ordered that none of her servants tell her of the girl’s imprisonment. It was no act of mercy on his part, but rather for efficiency. If Anna knew what he planned to do to Kat, she would have fought tooth and nail to save the girl.

When she received news about Katherine after six months of silence, it was the news of her death. The pain it brought upon Anna was like no sickness she had ever known. Without being conscious of it, Anna made the vow never to be remarried. She would not betray Kat’s memory by moving on and pushing the love she felt for her best friend to the side. She could never feel the love she felt for Kat with another man. For weeks she refused to interact with her servants beyond what was absolutely necessary. She could not forgive them for keeping Katherine’s imprisonment from her.

But the most painful part were her fantasies. The nights where she could still see Katherine’s eyes, the innocent, most beautiful gaze preserved. In the candlelight, Anna could still remember the way Kat had looked at her when they first met. Anna felt her stomach tighten, knowing those eyes would never rest on her again. She had thought that by allowing Kat’s marriage to Henry, she would still be able to see those angel eyes. But Henry had taken that away from her as well.

Standing in the empty ballroom at Richmond only reminded Anna of the time she had with Kat. When the girl was married to Henry, it had been hard to keep their friendship alive, but they had managed as best they could. Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Anna turned around

and came face to face with Katherine in her regal dress. The girl still had the same youthful glint in her eyes, despite now having the status of a queen. The ballroom was alive with dancers and music, the air bright and festive. “It’s been so long Anna.”

Swallowing thickly, Anna nodded. “It has Kat.” Letting her eyes drop, Anna noticed the locket around Katherine’s neck. “You still have it?”

Looking down to confirm what Anna was staring at, Kat smiled. “Yes, I never take it off. You would have to chop my head off like Boleyn to get me to part with it.”

The sick feeling in Anna’s stomach grew exponentially, but she hid it behind a polite smile. “Well then, would you like to dance with me, Your Majesty?” Holding out a hand, Anna watched her darling gracefully take it.

“I would love to.” As it had always been, Anna led the dance. There was nothing special about it, just the swaying to the melodies produced by the lute. The way their hands fit together felt so right, but Anna knew it wouldn’t last. She knew Kat would have to leave. That’s why she danced with her for far longer than was traditionally acceptable in the court.

It was the best moment of her life, the soft, silent comfort of Kat in her arms. It was the most relaxed that Anna had ever seen the queen. Kat needed the comfort of a friend, and that was what Anna would give her. Nothing else. There were far too many reasons why Anna was trapped in her position. But from where she currently stood, her position was not so bad.

The dance was stopped when Anna yawned and stumbled on her feet. “You should get some sleep, it’s very late,” Kat spoke softly, pulling herself away from Anna.

“Wait, don’t leave,” Anna pleaded, reaching out.

The queen frowned but then giggled at the desperate face Anna was making. “Why?”

“I’m afraid I might never see you again,” Anna confessed, remembering the news of Katherine’s death. She was frightened that if Kat left the room, she would never return.

Putting a hand on Anna’s arm, Katherine smiled. “You’re insatiable, just like the king. But I’ll always be here with you. As long as you remember me, I’ll never leave you.” Kat balanced on her tip toes and gave Anna a kiss on the cheek before scurrying out of the room.

“Wait!” Anna called, reaching a hand out, but Katherine was already gone.

The ballroom was once again silent and dark, not a single soul but Anna within. Dropping to her knees, Anna stared up at the ceiling and prayed that Kat had been granted mercy. “She was right,” the woman choked out. “Henry will never be satisfied.”

“I will never be satisfied.”

#six the musical fanfiction #six the musical fanfic #six the musical fic #six fanfiction #six fanfic #katanna #anna of cleves #katherine howard #set in the tudor time era #inspired by satisfied from hamilton #i meant to make it a bit more close #bit this happened and i actually like it a lot #title is a lyric from the song #h*nry viii #also yes i tag h*nry as a trigger warning #he can do that to a person

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