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petermorwood · 7 months

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Microwave Sponge Cake (eventually)

Long ago, @dduane and I had a Whirlpool combi microwave - micro, grill, fan oven - and It Was Great, big enough to use as a proper oven when what needed cooked in a proper oven was small enough that powering up the big proper oven in the cooker was a bit much.

Still with me...?

IIRC it was one of those Christmas presents where Mum, ever-practical, told us; "get yourselves something really useful but not too expensive (I did say practical!) and I'll go halves."

In 2016, after something like 15 years of pretty-well daily use for one thing and another, the old thing expired by stages, micro first, grill second, oven last - it made great bread up until the end - and went to recycling heaven.

*****

We couldn't find a one-for-one replacement (we needed a free-standing counter-top appliance, everyone was selling built-in), so until once was available (optimism) we bought an ordinary microwave.

NB, this and its successors were only used for ordinary microwave things like reheating, defrosting and dealing with freeze-cook stuff. They got nothing like the amount of use of the old combi, mostly because of being incapable of doing a lot of it. As things turned out, this didn't help much.

About eighteen months later, we had to buy another. If a microwave's enamel interior develops a crack (to this day I don't know how), moisture gets in, rust begins and the enamel pulls off the bare metal. That's when you get "sparking".

This demo is deliberate; believe me, when it's unexpected it's even worse.

youtube

A private welder show or lightning storm at the end of the kitchen counter when all you want is a hot cuppa is distinctly unsettling. Also, it's only going to get worse, and we could imagine - boy, could we - what "Much Worse" might look like.

To the recycle dump!

(NB, micros with stainless steel interiors don't seem to do this, probably because they're already tuned to deal with the bare metal.)

The replacement, another ordinary micro, Just Up And Died after eighteen months and, guess what, the quote for a check-up and replacements-if-required was as much as the price of a new one.

(Inkjet printers seem to operate on this principal too.)

To the recycle dump again!

We got a third new one (which BTW is still running just fine, because it's been downgraded to Extra, read on), totalled up what we'd spent on ordinary microwaves, said a few well-chosen words about planned obsolescence and the "Vimes 'Boots' Theory of Economic Inequality" and got ourselves a pre-pay credit card whose top-ups were dedicated to Get A Combi Again.

We didn't bother with GACA baseball caps.

That would have been silly.

I don't know if these cards exist in the USA; we treat them as the modern version of a piggy-bank...

...except that to get at the money you need two people acting in accord.

*****

And in 2021 we got one.

Okay, this next bit is going to read like an ad.

It isn't, because the appliance is discontinued. (Whirlpool FINALLY do something similar but not identical.) It's just enthusiastic users discovering there's even more to a gadget than expected.

*****

The New One even bigger than the old one, which had 28 litres capacity; the new one was 33 L (was .99 ft³, is now 1.16 ft³). In non-tech terms, wow, More Room To Cook In.

Reading the figures was no help (to me, anyway) in visualising what a maw the thing had, but opening the door did that and no mistake.

I said something to DD about "bite radius"...

...and she instantly responded with "anyway, we delivered the bomb".

We're a quotesy household. ;->

BTW, The New One does a very good job on seafood, too...

*****

Since we got this, almost exactly two years ago, we've used it from reheating tea to roasting meat to making chilli / goulash / stew / curry (you can run the oven / grill separately or add simultaneous zaps of microwave for much less cooking time) to baking bread.

One of the best things about it is that when the set cooking time is done, the appliance switches off automatically. No risk of busyness, absent-mindedness or out-in-the-garden-ness ending in clouds of smoke, ruined food and possibly even worse.

As for breadmaking, it has a dough-rise setting which is a Time Machine, reducing a two-hour "doubled in size" rise time to about 35-45 minutes...

It also has the most reliable Defrost Butter setting either of us have ever encountered, turning a rock-solid butter brick from the freezer into something spreadable while never - to date - doing the "never mind a butter-knife, give me a spoon or a paintbrush" thing.

*****

However...

There's also a "Chef Setting" where there are some simple recipes. Here's the pastry page.

Basically, you assemble and mix the ingredients, input the correct settings and the machine does all the timing, heating and cooking.

We'd never used this until yesterday, when DD said, "Let's try the sponge cake..."

Yes, this post was entitled "Microwave Sponge Cake (eventually)..." and here we are...

We did all the measuring correctly and checked it by pouring the mixture into a baking container while on the scale, wondering betimes why the recipe says 900g, the ingredients total 925 and what actually poured into the container reads 906... Weird. Really weird.

Then we put the container into the oven, entered the correct code, and let things do what they were going to do.

A little later we discovered something else about the recipe besides a weight anomaly.

It didn't mention the required size of the container. Or or how much the mixture was likely to rise.

It rose...

Let's say more than we expected...

The fluted ceramic container used for baking this one makes it look like a Vesuvius cupcake; not quite a pyroclastic flow, but a lot of flow regardless.

Once it cooled we separated the sponge-cake from the escaped sponge in the same way as sculptors work with wood or marble - "Chip away everything that doesn't look like a cake" - and found that despite its misshapen looks, it tasted pretty good.

So today DD made another, this time using a larger container.

...and this time it stayed put until removed using the cunning base-and-lifting-straps of baking parchment.

It's not the loftiest or best-risen sponge cake either of us have ever seen (a smaller-diameter higher-sided container would probably deal with that) BUT if there's something needing sponge cake in a hurry - this went from cupboard ingredients to done and cooling in less than 55 minutes - that treatment seems to fit the bill.

We're now wondering what other secrets lurk in the simple recipe pages; falafel, quiche Lorraine, stuffed peppers, even Flammkuchen* from scratch.

(*Though I have my own views about Flammkuchen, mostly involving a plane flight...)

And we'll be paying a lot more attention to what size of dish we put them in. :->

#food and drink #kitchen appliances #combi microwaves #sponge cake #anecdotage #GNU Terry Pratchett #Youtube

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janaispunk · 1 month

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inspired by @the-blind-assassin-12 i joined her march fic madness 2024 challenge, with the goal to read and reblog 63 fics in 31 days.

i've read waaaayyyy more than that, but i'll keep going until march is over and add every new fic to this list later:) i'm also thinking about starting a weekly rec list of fics that i've read, i'll obviously still reblog them individually but i think it would be nice to have them in one place, since things can easily get lost on the dash.

in an attempt to keep this somewhat organized, i'll sort this list by character. i love every fic on here, but i do read some dark shit, so please pay attention to the tags/warnings and decide for yourself if something might not be for you <3

part 2! find part 1 here :)

joel miller

clot by @luxurychristmaspudding

santa/cupid joel lore by @covetyou

first frost & sunrise by @5oh5

sleepy joel drabble by @ghotifishreads

hands on your knees by @northernbluess

dr. miller by @endlessthxxghts

wet nights & heat lightning by @shellshocklove

kiss kiss bang bang by @aurorawritestoescape

sanity is a cozy lie by @noxturnalpascal

snowbound by @joeloverture

breath by breath by @ozarkthedog

single dad joel’s dating life by @sweetercalypso

illicit affairs by @schnarfer

7 am by @milla-frenchy

javier peña

call me javi by @wildemaven

to perish twice by @brandyllyn

ways of seeing by @always-andromeda

que manera de despertar by @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin

bittersweet by @wannab-urs

better man by @dancingtotuyo

dave york

kinktober 2022 day 3 by @simpingcowboy

playdate by @daddy-dins-girl

the violence of you by @whataperfectwasteoftime

“get back down here, we’re not done yet” by @jksprincess10

babysitter pwp oneshot by @auteurdelabre

knife by @wannab-urs

love at first…sight by @goodwithcheese

frankie morales

tick by @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin

he with the dark curls, you with the watercolor eyes by @hellishjoel

something to prove by @writefightandflightclub

what comes after by @mrsmando

oberyn martell

peaches by @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin

marcus pike

playdate by @daddy-dins-girl

lucien flores

gold chain drabble by @ozarkthedog

mutual by @luxurychristmaspudding

i was fixed on your hand of gold by @freelancearsonist

chained by @5oh5

this high of you & me by @kedsandtubesocks

drunk on your summer wine by @joelsgreenflannel

take me higher by @seventeenpins

untouched by @lunitawrites

on the verge of a usual mistake (+ dieter bravo) by @gasolinerainbowpuddles

jack daniels

losin’ you by @wildemaven

southern nights by @secretelephanttattoo

cave in by @javierssunglasses

ezra

in the dark by @frannyzooey

din djarin

a rule of threes by @5oh5

beneath the mask by @saradika

ted garcia

practice makes perfect by @notjustjavierpena

if you read any of these, please remember to show the writers some love! <3

#marchficmadness24 #janas recs #fic recs #joel miller #javier peña #dave york #oberyn martell #frankie morales #marcus pike #lucien flores #jack daniels #din djarin #ted garcia #ezra prospect

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readychilledwine · 6 months

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Flight Patterns Part 2

Summary - After years of hushed whispers and leads, Azriel has finally found Cassian's lost sister, Aerilyn. What he found with her was unexpected, though.

Warnings - Slight power abuse, mentions of trauma and scars. Scene jumping to ensure I got two of the dragons introduced.

A/N- We are getting a fairly calm Aerilyn in this part since they are doing everything they can to make her feel comfortable and safe, but Caged animals tend to be the most dangerous. This is also going to give us a peek at her and Rhysand and the incoming slow burn between them. The next few parts will flow smoother, but still have some jumps to ensure I get the dragons introduced quickly. Only next time might be Rhys seeing one up close. 🫠

Edited to add - my brain is not getting me the euphoria I like to have when I post, please do not be surprised if I edit this before posting part 3.. maybe I looked at it too long, maybe I'm being critical of myself, but we be here 🙃

Word Count - 4970

Part 1 Part 3

Aerilyn did not know what to think of the small being in front of her. Her first instinct was to laugh, but she held it in picking up on her less than amused body language as the male she knew from somewhere spoke to her. They'd been communicating back and forth in her first tongue for over an hour, but it was clearly something the other female struggled with. A dead language she had called it.

Now she was testing Aerilyn's ability to speak common. "Rhys said you knew letters but cannot speak to me in this language," her voice drawled out.

Inaccurate, Aerilyn thought to herself. But we can play this game for a little while. She cocked a brow, blinking in faked confusion.

The female rolled her eyes. "I told them you'd be a lost cause. Feral beasts are best left to other beasts." She blinked again, knitting her brows together. She stored the insult in her mind for later, ignoring the heat pooling in her blood to bite back.

She did know this. She had tricked the male in her head well if he thought she had less education than a child. "I assume you don't know your name then?"

"Ari," she whispered. "Name Ari."

The female nodded. "So you can understand me but not speak the language I'm speaking?" She blinked blindly again, grinning internally when silver eyes rolled in annoyance. "I will inform the High Lord." The small fae left with her arms crossed and Aerilyn sighed. She walked out the balcony, staring at the city far below her and admiring the pretty sparkling lights.

She'd only ever seen a village from dragon back as they moved from place to place in search of food and safety.

Her childhood with them and their riders had been happy. Filled with laughter and adventure. Until they made the mistake of traveling across the continent.

Rumors had reached their ears of a city that would welcome riders and their drakes. Aerilyn and her mount had been left behind to guard the mountain they currently held shelter in, and one by one 6 other winged beasts returned to her. Riderless and in mourning. She was still young at that point, barely into her adulthood, and was now tasked with learning to control 6 other mounts on top of her own.

She whistled softly 4 times, she knew they were near. And the wind shifted rotation before lightning stuck high in the clouds, revealing a large body and ever faithful wings gliding.

"I'd just throw her back in the woods," Mor stated. "She had 4 drakes, and we have no clue what they can do. Do you really think having her here is safe?"

Cassian growled, his fist closing tightly under the table. "She's my sister."

Azriel avoided his gaze, jaw slightly clenched as he stated the one fact they all knew. "She's dangerous and a liability. We can't even speak to her to tell her we mean her and them no harm."

Amren rolled her eyes. "I think she's lying about that. I think she can speak common. I think she chooses not to. Just as all riders have throughout the history of time."

Amren shifted as all eyes landed on her. "She knew I was asking her name. Her accent is thick and heavy, but she pronounced everything clearly instead of struggling through it like a truly uneducated and mute fae would."

Cassian shook his head at Amren in disbelief. "She lived in the woods, Am. There's no way-"

"She speaks a completely dead language last used by dragon riders," Amren cut him off, annoyance slipping into her tone as she stared at the general as if he had gone stupid overnight. "She is somehow alive after her wings were cut so deeply that parts of her skin were still attached. Or did you forget the condition you received them at your feet in?" Amren turned her head to the window as a flash of lightning appeared from nowhere. "She may have been alone when you found her, but she wasn't always alone."

Rhysand jumped as a loud crash of thunder shook the mountain. "It wasn't supposed to rain today," Azriel said slowly as he moved towards the window. "We need to warn people to get inside. Look at how dark the clouds are."

Amren's eyes went to the clouds, a small smirk on her face. "We're about to see one of the beasts in her arsenal. Might want to go calm your little mate, Rhysand"

Rhys shook his head. "Velaris is shielded from magic. My people and court are safe."

Mor spoke softly, a reminder to everyone in the room. "Not all drakes attack with magic, Rhys. Some can use the elements. Summoning the storm was the only magic it used, and the shield doesn't stop weather. Now, it gets to control the severity of it."

As if confirming Morrigan's warning, lightning struck Ramiel and thunder shook the ground again as rumble fell from the mountain top. The jaws of the three Illyrian males all twitched.

The sky became a show of lights as heavy rain began to pound down on the court, gathering faster than the ground and Sindra would be able to handle it. "It's going to flood the court," Mor realized slowly. "We are trapped in the valley of a mountain, Rhys. It's going to flood the court until it gets her back."

Rhys went up the stairs, rage fueling every step as Cassian kept pace with him.

Aerilyn jumped from where she stood near the balcony, watching as her true mount showed the Night Court not even a fraction of what he could do and a glimpse of the destruction he could bring. She knew he could level this little city, but had asked him not to through their bond.

Rhysand gripped her arm, turning her so quickly her head spun and pointed to the sky with his brows raised as if he expected her to answer. She cocked her head to him, blinking twice before pulling her arm from his grasp and moving towards Cassian faking fear. "What is your beast doing?" Rhysand growled at her, his eyes blazing with fury she had never seen or felt before. She didn't answer and he exploded.

"What the fuck is happening to my court?!" The demand in his voice had Aerilyn almost trembling. "What in the fuck is that thing doing?!"

She stared at him doe eyed, moving closer into the protection Cassian offered and keeping up her act. "Rhys, stop, she clearly doesn't understand you."

The High Lord looked enraged. Yanking the bond so hard Aerilyn released a small scream and fell to her knees. Cassian knelt to her immediately, craddling her head and holding her close to him. He had never felt powerless because of Rhysand, but he did now. "Call. It. Off." He growled at her. "Call your damned beast off before I kill it."

She held her chest, eyes wide as she looked between Rhys and Cassian. The High Lord's eyes softened temporarily, realizing his mate had no clue what that string was. Anger came back to him as another round of lightning stuck closer to the House of Wind.

Aerilyn knew that was a warning. A loud warning that if he hurt her again, if he shouted at her again, if he even detected fear down their sacred connect, the gates to hell would be opened, and death would follow.

Rhys went to the balcony, opening it and bracing himself as winds whipped and rain pelted him. He began to watch the sky, watching for any sign of the beast hiding in those dark clouds. A flash of light allowed him to have eyes on it, and he turned to his mate, finger pointed to where he now knew the dragon was hovering. He offered one last time, "Call of the drake, or I will blood Mist him."

Aerilyn looked between him and Cassian. Her brother's jaw was tight. "Rhysand, she doesn't understand. It is protecting her."

"And I'm protecting my fae and home," Rhysand growled to his general. "A home you also swore to protect, Cassian. Remember your place."

Cassian stood, his eyes narrowing. "Isn't my place at your side, brother?"

Rhys put his hand down, realizing the error in his sentence. "Cassian-"

"Don't bother." The illyrian male knelt back down to his sister.

"Please," she whispered. "Don't hurt him." Cassian's face fell slightly. "Gentle. Kind." Aerilyn was still playing her cards. Knowing she could not drop the faked persona until she knew one of them was going to protect her, until she knew one of them would return her. "Scared."

Cassian placed a large hand on her cheek. "You or the dragon?"

Her brows knit. "Both," Rhysand said slowly. "They're both afraid." The High Lord caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror, realizing now how much he behaved like his father in this incident.

The rain lightened up at Aerilyn's command. Her mound came closer to the balcony, but still far enough away to prevent any physical attacks. Aerilyn moved to the balcony, and Rhys and Cassian both watched as her face fell into deep sadness. "Enlil," her hand went out and the dragon approached, getting close enough to her palm to allow her to touch his muzzle.

The males both immediately noted two things:

The first was that this dragon was truly a work of art. A large scaled body that appeared grey, but those scales had began to reflect the lights and surroundings, hiding him within plain sight to anyone looking. He had wings that Rhys could only describe as being similar to painted glass as gentle light passed through them. Even his ice blue eyes were beautiful, and shockingly to them both, filled with love and worship towards the female hugging him.

The second thing they noted was where Aerilyn and Enlil were touching was glowing with a faint blue light. It was as if the contact between them was a sign of magic. And to Rhysand's horror, he realized it was. He knew enough about dragon's and their riders to know this was a bond formed between their souls. His mate was this dragon's true mount.

And that meant had he misted this dragon, he would have killed her too.

The dragon could live without the rider, the rider could not live without the dragon. That bond was too fragile, too sacred, too powerful.

Rhys approached slowly, holding a hand back to Cassian. He knew drakes could understand the languages of the fae, and made an offer. "There is a cave, in the mountain," he pointed to it. "It used to be a dragon pit back when the Night Court had riders in their armies. It can comfortably fit 14 dragons."

The drake seemed to understand his offer, those crystalline eyes flicking back to his rider. "You can bring your hoards of treasures and other friends there, you will be safe there as she is here."

Rhysand dropped the scent ward he had on their mating bond, allowing the drake to sniff it out. He flew back slightly, sparing one last look towards Aerilyn and turned the rain to no more than a light Mist before flying away.

Rhys motioned for his mate to enter the room again and shut the balcony doors. He hid the hurt in his heart as Aerilyn tucked herself into Cassian's side again, using him as her shield.

A shield from him.

Rhysand's shoulders fell in defeat. "I need to know what I welcomed into my court."

Aerilyn just simply tucked further into Cassian's side, her soaked hair dripping onto the hardwood floor below her as she shivered.

Rhys nodded, closing his eyes, and walked out of the door. Amren, Azriel, and Mor all waited in the hall. "Amren, I need you to find books of the different types of drakes, preferably with pictures." The ancient being nodded and immediately left to go to work. "Azriel, how many were actually in the cave?" The shadowsinger didn't answer, his jaw set in a clenched hold. "I realize I fucked up, Azriel. I don't need you to tell me how badly. I already know."

"She has 7 total dragons in her possession. They all look different." He reported back calmly what his shadows had discovered. Azriel went to the door, knocking before entering. He greeted Cassian and Ari softly before shutting the door behind him.

Mor looked at Rhys. "You have to fix that."

The male nodded. "I will. After he calms her down and gets her to sleep."

Cassian held Aerilyn tight after he made her change into different warm clothing. She couldn't help but cuddle closer into him.

It was familiar, and she knew that. She knew his scent, his smile. She knew what he was to her, and she to him.

He placed a long kiss on her temple, a prayer going to any God that listened one more time as he wrapped a large wing around her. No words passed between the siblings, and no words needed to.

Her eyelids began to feel heavy quickly as his calloused hands began a long forgotten motion, running through her hair and scratching her scalp in all the right places.

"You're safe, sis," Cassian mumbled, falling into a light sleep of his own. "No one will ever hurt you again."

The inner circle sat at the dinner table, waiting for at least Cassian to appear.

Azriel was the last to see the siblings. He had said she was fine, just shaken up. Cassian he had not mentioned.

They heard a set of foot steps approach the room and Cassian entered silently. He took the plate from the place that had been set near Rhys to force proximity and moved it further down the table. He began taking food without permission from the High Lord and ate in silence.

Azriel began to eat as well, not wishing to push a clearly angry male to speak. Mor looked down then to Rhys, her eyes pleading with him to fix the situation.

"Cassian," Rhysand started slowly. The general grunted in response. "Is she okay?"

Cassian set his fork down. "Considering you threatened the only thing she's known as family for the past 300 years? Sure, Rhys, she's fine. She trusts us so much already." Cassian went back to eating, effectively ending any conversation before it could begin.

Rhys just looked down, pushing his own food around on his plate. He could feel she was heavily asleep, that her dreams were pleasant. "It was attacking my court, our home."

Cassian looked up at him slowly. "Because we kidnapped her from them and theirs. Because she doesn't feel safe and somehow that thing knows through the bond they share."

Amren's interest peaked, "She's bonded to one?" Rhys and Cassian both nodded. Amren just settled into her chair, silver eyes now ablaze with excitement. The ancient being sipped the liquid in her glass, a small smirk forming. "Woo her, Rhysand. That dragon will only leave if she dies, and if they were a pack, you could now have 7 damn near indestructible beasts at your whim."

Cassian pushed his plate away, standing and leaving the table.

The undeniable smell of anger was radiating off of his skin and tainting the air. Rhys felt his shoulders fall in defeat.

Cassian never left the table without finishing his meals.

He did tonight.

Aerilyn woke up to the sun shining in her room and the smell of something bitter. She wrinkled her nose as she sat up and caught sight of the short haired male who originally found her.

He was sitting in her room, looking out the balcony, a cup with steam rising from it in hand. He had a thick book resting on his lap and parchment on a table next to him.

Azriel raised his hand to her, motioning for her to come closer with a single finger.

She stood next to him, following where that finger now pointed. In a deep gentle voice he asked her, "Name?"

A solid black dragon with scales like spilled oil was sitting at the entrance of the cave put Rhys has allowed them access to. They were on shifts, watching her room perfectly from that ledge, and protecting each other. "Achlys."

Azriel nodded and held the book. "Type?"

Aerilyn went through the pages, doing her best to focus on pictures instead of reading. She finally reached the page regarding drakes of poison and pointed. Azriel pales slightly before adding the gentle giant to his started list. Under Enlil was pages to books and his power type. Now, under Achlys name was pages referring her.

He had 5 more spots set, but did not push her. He held the mug filled with the bitter black liquid up to her. "Try it."

She took the mug, fingers grazing his scarred hands and sniffed it. She took a tiny sip before looking at Azriel with a look of absolute devastation and betrayal.

Azriel couldn't help but to let out a loud laugh as he saw her eyes going wide, her bottom lip pouting out, and her nose scrunching. He took the mug from her and pulled out a separate parchment piece.

It has her name on the top along with little observations he's made regarding her. Under dislikes he added "Black Coffee," with an amused smile.

"Mean," she glared at him as he continued to laugh. Azriel faked insult and put his hand to his chest. Aerilyn couldn't help the sympathy flowing through her as she took on of his hands in hers. "Fire?" He just nodded, allowing her to study them.

Aerilyn wanted to drop the act. She wanted to ask who did this to him, where they were now, but she couldn't. She settled with kissing his palm.

Azriel moved to her closet when she was done. Picking a soft two piece outfit for her. He spoke slowly to her, trying to ensure she understood. "Change and then food."

Her stomach made a noise of agreement and he laughed again, leaving the room to allow her to change from the t-shirt Cassian had been wearing yesterday. The clothing left little to the imagination. It was a deep plum color, but the fabric was sheer. The top dipped low in the front and ended before her navel, the long sleeves were sheer. The matching pants were also fairly sheer after the modesty paneling that would prevent her from being exposed.

Azriel entered the room as if knowing she was changed and immediately took her hand, pulling her into the hallway.

Aerilyn's mouth began to water as they went down the stairs, and her stomach made an when louder noise that had the male pausing, sending her a small look of sympathy, before continuing.

The house was stunning. Lavish furniture, golden balcony and lanterns. It was the most expensive place she had ever been, granted most of her days were spent in a cave surrounded by beasts and their individual hoards.

Azriel pulled her into a dinning room where the inner circle all sat waiting for him. "Brought a friend to breakfast," he said simply as they all stared in shock. He pulled a chair out for her, sitting her down across from Cassian before moving to sit next to her.

He began to pile food onto a plate, occasionally putting something under her nose to smell and only adding it if she nodded. Eggs, hashbrowns, bacon, and countless fruits now sat on her plate.

He gave her the option of water and some dark purple color liquid that smelled like berries.

Cassian offered her a small smile. "No coffee?"

Azriel didn't freely give them the smiles he had been handing her. "Tried that. She looked at me like I just stolen everything warm and wonderful in her world."

A beautiful blonde laughed lightly. "Well you either drink coffee one or two ways, Azriel. Black or loaded with caramel and sugar. Balance is needed, Az!"

The room fell into hushed silence as the male who stood on the other end of the string Aerilyn had been studying entered.

He stared at her for a brief moment, his lips almost giving into a twitch and his eyes softening. He continued his walk to the head of the table and sat. "Good morning." A chorus of "Mornings" welcomed him as he began to take food. He looked directly at Aerilyn, "Man erin"

"Man Erin," she whispered back.

"Eat." Rhysand said to everyone. "We have a long day ahead of us."

Rhys and Aerilyn kept glancing at each other as they ate. One looking away when the other would notice them. She felt herself slightly flushing under his gaze, feelings she'd never had beginning to mix with the fear she felt towards him.

He was beautiful. Incredibly beautiful. Dark hair, a chiseled face, tanned skin. His eyes felt like starlight.

She wanted to map those eyes, log them like the ancient kings, watching them for hours until they were all they knew.

Rhys also felt emotions mixing with what he knew what physical attraction. The twins had done well cleaning her and allowing her features to be seen. Long dark hair fell into waves down to the curve of her ass that Rhysand wanted to sink his teeth into. Her high cheekbones and delicate jawline framed lush blush lips and eyes like melted chocolate.

She would be easy to physically fall in love with, and if he could woo her, if he could drop his pride long enough to open vulnerability between the two of them, maybe it would be easy for him to emotionally fall for her as well.

Cassian and Azriel led Aerilyn out of the House of Wind to an open area filled with sparing dummies. Cassian was radiating, he had been since the two shadow wraiths changed her into the training leathers she saw Illyrian warriors wearing when she'd spy on the camps. He had been since he inspected her perfected braided hair that was tucked and twisted to keep it out of her face and prevent it from being a target.

He had been since he saw his sister, exactly as she should have been.

Azriel moved away from them, setting something else up and then sat and waited for Rhysand. She knew he was joining them. Cassian pulled her to a table filled with battle maps and empty parchment as if it was his favorite personal space and he began to write.

Can you read? His handwriting was sharp almost as if he moved his hands like he was dicing an enemy with a knife instead of handling a pen.

"Yes," Aerilyn said.

Cassian rose a brow. You know what yes and no means?

"Yes."

He nodded a small smirk forming. Do you know how to fight?

Aerilyn looked at him, her own dark brows raising as Rhys and Azriel made their way over. She took the pen from Cassian, shocking the three of them. I fly dragons. I had to learn to fight.

Rhys sucked in a breath. "You can read and write." She nodded at him. "You just can't speak our language."

She wrote again, lying through her teeth still for reasons she was forgetting as today's kindness had become an almost comfort, all of them studying her like hawks that found prey. Never made it that far. Letters in your language have too many sounds. And there's weird bull shit rules. Like "to, two, and too." Who uses 3 words that's letters should all sound the same creating the same word 3 times but for some reason they all evidently mean something else?

Azriel closed his eyes, hiding a laugh with a cough and cleared his throat. "Yup. Definitely Cassian's sister. Makes what you two are doing next possibly easier, though."

Rhysand picked at his leathers, trying to remain indifferent despite the joy flooding both him and Aerilyn. He went into her mind again, finding one pathway that wasn't a mess of trauma and mistrust. He began following it to see if he could figure out what all Aerilyn knew. Her thoughts were in several languages with an occasional one in common tongue. Ancient Ruskian, the Old tongue, the language of the long lost elves, and several others.

A slow realization hit him and he looked at his brothers immediately expressing it to them in their minds. "You were not alone in those woods, were you?"

Aerilyn kept her eyes locked on the parchment, shaking her head. Can we just get the fighting over with? I don't want to talk about that.

Cassian almost began to bounce, beaming with excitement and joy. "After we warm and run, sunshine," he ruffled her hair as her face dropped completely.

No one said running would be involved. Aerilyn immediately turned towards the door, only to be stopped by Cassian quickly ripping her back and turning her to throw her over his shoulder. "No way, little one. You are not getting out of this, Aerilyn."

Aerilyn looked at Rhys, eyes pleading. "Please?" Her voice reminded him of red aged wine. Sultry, sweet, capable of convincing him to spend all of his money.

He wanted to give into her, to give into those big chocolate brown eyes begging him to stop this from happening, but they needed a baseline or her knowledge in everything to keep her safe, even if that safety one day was no longer with him.

He sighed heavily. "I'm sorry, darling. It is for your best interest."

Aerilyn collapsed 30 minutes later onto the training mat. They were trying to kill her. Rhysand sat next to her, lightly laughing as he handed her water.

Aerilyn hated cardio. She had always hated cardio. She did not even understand why cardio was a thing. She took the water, taking a drink before rolling to her stomach and laying in defeat.

Rhys poked her side, "I think she is done, Cassian." He could feel it through the bond, read it in her body language. He admired the pieces of her hair that had fallen from the braids. He watched her chest rising and falling. She had taken off the longer sleeved training shirt a while ago, exposing her toned arms and back in the tanktop. Despite the tanned skin, a peek of white was showing. A peek of a scar was showing.

She stiffened as he moved the shirt more and he blanched.

No care had been taken when her wings were removed. Deep thick scarred skin sat where her wing should have been. Cassian froze when he saw them as well, the night that her small wings where thrown to his feet immediately coming to the forefront of his mind.

Aerilyn moved away, standing with her back to the three of them, her posture began caving in on itself as her mind screamed insecurities at her.

She knew of beauty standards. She knew scars were not considered beautiful, and despite not being raised in normal society, she wanted to be beautiful. She wanted to be seen as beautiful.

She backed away as tears began to fall. "It's okay," Rhys moved to her, speaking softly. "It's okay, Ari."

She shook her head before breaking into a run into the house. Shadows followed her as Cassian stopped Rhys from following. "Give her a second," the general kept repeating.

But how was he supposed to give her a second? How was Rhys supposed to let his mate lock herself in her room and be alone?

How was he supposed to leave her alone when she didn't believe she was beautiful?

A loud roar broke them all from their trance and their heads snapped to the opening near the mountain. Azriel began to back away, panic and fear setting into him as a large red and gold bodied drake flew towards Aerilyn's balcony.

They didn't need her to tell them what kind of beast that was nor the destruction it could bring.

They all already knew, and this confirmed a deep set fear they had.

Aerilyn had access to a fire Drake.

Rhysand put himself between Azriel and where the dragon flew.

"No one speaks a word of this. Knowledge that there is a fire Drake does not leave our boarders. I do not want to deal with Beron anytime soon. It's bad enough we already have to hide the Storm Drake from Tamlin."

Cassian released a shaking breath. "What happens if this all comes out, Rhysand?"

The High Lord shook his head, his mind reeling. "You will lose your sister, I will lose my mate, and those poor beasts that simply want to live and protect her will be hunted or used until their deaths. We keep it quiet to keep them safe."

The three brothers nodded as the flame dragon began to fly back to the cave, something sparkling in its claws.

Azriel, despite his fear, let out a small laugh. "It took a lantern."

The statement broke the tension that had been building between the three males since her arrival. Cassian's loud booming laughter lead to Rhysand's own deep chuckles, and then Azriel's own rang out joining them.

Aerilyn appeared seconds later, a guilty look on her teary face. Her hands clasped in front of her, and she rocked back and forth. Her small motions made their laughter increase and soon her own bell-like giggles started.

She realized slowly, watching the three of them laugh and feeling Rhysand's unadulterated love for the two other males, and the sheer happiness he felt, that she could get used to this. She walked to Azriel, the book on drakes and his sheet in hand to the table and wrote a few simple words. "Hestia. Fire Drake. Likes gems and gold."

Translation - Man Erin - "Good morning"

Tag list: @kemillyfreitas @jesssicapaniagua @elijahssuit @biancabldss @hellwantfuckme @justdreamstars @ladybirdbeetle7 @amygdtjhddzvb

**Tumblr was being odd and would not allow me to actually tag a few people. I'm looking into it! If you'd like to be added to the taglist, please let me know 💜

#acotar #rhys acotar #flightpatterns #rhysand acotar #rhys x oc #rhysand x oc #rhys fic #rhysand fic #acotar x oc

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btsworldz · 7 days

Text

MY LOVE, MINE ALL MINE (Part Three) - Taehyung x Reader

yandere idol! taehyung x reader

delusional taehyung, taehyung x reader, idol taehyung, bts x reader, yandere taehyung, taehyung is in loooovee

“What is your dream?” Taehyung asked you.

You were quiet as you internally thought of his question. You have always been a simple human, ones who lived by fate and let life takes you where it wants you to be. “I never thought of something big, if that’s what you asked me.” You let out a chuckle, a little bit embarrassed of your own answer.

Taehyung frowned, his eyebrows creased as you looked downward a little. “I never had a dream!” Taehyung said a little too enthusiastic. You laughed. “Thanks, that totally makes me feel better, Tae.” He wanted to smile but hid it so his cheeks puffed instead. You chuckled a little bit.

Letting out a huff. You stared at the distance. You both back at your grandpa’s drinking house, it was becoming a basecamp at this point by how many times you and Taehyung hang out here.

“Well, I have a dream.”

“What? Tell me about it!” Taehyung asked a little too excited as he scooted over a little too close that his knees were touching yours and his face was practically inches from yours.

“Wow.” You push his face away a little, earning a little pout from him. You swore he’s a puppy from how much he can be excited then sad at lightning speed.

“I want to see the northern lights someday.” You said, a little bit bashful when you thought of your dreams. With someone special, you wanted to add the last bit but decided not too. Afraid that it would be a little too corny.

“That’s…,” so cute. Taehyung wanted to say. His heart was beating off his chest from how you looked so beautiful with that bashful expression. He decided he has a dream now, and that is to make your dreams come true.

“What?” You asked curtly. Your expression cutting, testing him to say something wrong. He was smiling from ear to ear, he didn’t realize he hadn’t said anything. “That’s so precious.” He decided to say. Teasing you a little as he held your cheeks in his hands squeezing them until you slapped his hands away.

He chuckled. “Well, we can make that come true. I’m your boss remember?”

You frowned. “And I’m your personal assistant, remember? So, no. You have a very tight schedule, Tae. It’s not possible, and besides it’s not important.”

Taehyung licked his lips, you looked so sexy ordering him around. But he would never tell you that, not now at least. “Well, you’re the boss with that. But I’ve got to disagree with you, it is important to me. It’s your dream.” Taehyung looked serious as he said this, it scared you a little bit from how intense his face was.

“Right…,” you chuckled a little to lighten the situation. “Let’s just drink to that.” You quickly put up your glass and make a toast, and Taehyung as always following through with whatever you do.

“I think your allegation might not be right.”

“Allegation?” The psychiatrist raised his eyebrow, pausing his pen on his hand. His name is Mr. Min, Taehyung didn’t quiet remember his full name since he didn’t wear a name tag and it has been a long time since he visits his office. But his contact is saved under Mr. Min and Taehyung only called him by ‘Doc’.

“Yes, the one you said about me being a sociopath.”

“I said you have a tendency towards that but it will take more to come to that conclusion. On another note, tell me why do you think that is?” Mr. Min fixed his glasses, his eyes boring into Taehyung. Taehyung stared back at him, before leaning on his seat and staring at the ceiling.

“Well, I have a friend. A dear friend. And I think I care about her a lot.”

“Hmm, alright. Tell me about her.”

Taehyung tensed in his seat. He lifted up his head a little before giving the doctor a scrutinizing eyes. “And why do you need that kind of information for?”

Mr. Min stood calm amidst his patient’s stare, in his mind he would for sure be writing down this behavior later on. “I want to know what interest you in getting to know this friend.”

“Alright,” Taehyung said before he went back to stare at the ceiling. “Uhh, where should I start. I think I love how she always know what to say, she always says the right thing. And I love her presence. I didn’t know, I just love… being around her. Is that weird?”

“No. Not at all. It is completely normal, she must be a good person.”

“She is.” Taehyung smiled imagining your bashful expression when talking about the northern lights. “She’s also very honest with her expression and I think, I love that about her very much.”

“Right,” Mr. Min said as his pen was busy writing on the paper. He smiled, was underlined multiple times on his note.

“I think you found a friend, a good friend in fact. It’s important to have someone you trust enough to talk to about your day. That’s a good thing, Taehyung.”

“I know, doc.” Taehyung smiled, showing his teeth. “I will never let a good friend go, it’s hard to come by. Right, doc?”

That night Taehyung got the phone call, when he was just busy surfing on the internet about the northern lights and how to travel there.

When he heard about what the person on the other line said, he froze for a little. His face void of any expression, the cloud on his mind returning bringing the darkness that has always been lurking underneath.

“Father is dead, Taehyung. You are expected to come home, now.”

“I’ll be there.”

He ended the call. The silence suddenly filling his ear drums more than ever, it was like the world pause for a second. He didn’t know what to do now, and how to make out anything of the situation. To be honest his father is not a good man, but he wasn’t bad either. He’s just never there for Taehyung, so he was saddened but it was just like hearing a neighbor died. Well maybe a little heavy than that, but Taehyung was never sure of what he was feeling.

He needs your guidance.

He wanted to see your reaction to the information he was about to give you. So the next thing he knew his phone was already on his hand. You picked up at the third ring, he took notes of it. It was stirring his heart a bit, a genuine frown crossed his face, but it was wiped out in a second when your voice entered his ear.

“Hello, what’s up Tae?”

“Y/n…” Taehyung said in a sad tone.

You took a pause, he noted. Probably assessing his tone. Cute.

“What happened? Are you okay?” Your voice entered him, coated with concern. Taehyung was having a full blown smile, it was hard for him to keep being sad when you were so cute but sadly out of reach.

He needed to see your face, your expression, and maybe he just needed to be close to you. He wanted to bask in your presence, in your pity, and whatever emotions you had for him. Taehyung deeply wanted to bask in it.

“I-I didn’t know what to do,” Taehyung tried to make his voice crack and he was trying his best to cry. To really cry. “My father… he… died. Can you come? I-I don’t think I’m okay…”

Please believe me. Please come. Please come. Please come to me.

“I’m so sorry to hear that Tae and I’ll come to you now, but feel free to change your mind and call me if you need time alone-”

“No!” Taehyung cut you off in a panicked voice. “You need to come.” He felt his act slipped, so he added a please in a sad quiet voice.

“I will be there in a second.” You hung up on him after you said that.

Taehyung was quick to run to the nearest mirror, he make sure to crumpled up his shirt and make a mess out of his hair as if he had been pulling it in frustration. He make sure to put his acting skill to cry on screen and do it.

The quickest way to make his eyes red was to think of something sad, before he met you he couldn’t do it. But now he just had to think of you leaving him or the possibility of him never meeting you in that fateful day, he cried in seconds. He was full on sobbing imagining you were leaving him for someone else or you were cheating with someone that you think was better than him.

In a matter of minutes he looked at himself and smiled in exhaustion. His eyes were perfectly red and puffy and his hair looked like a mess.

He just had to sit and wait for you.

When the doorbell rang at exactly 10 minutes after the phone call, Taehyung almost beamed at your quickness and took notes of how you must have rushed here to comfort him.

He didn’t waste any time to hug you. He missed you like hell and he was glad that you care for him like this. “Tae…,” you said in a weak voice. Returning the hug as tight as Taehyung hugged you. Taehyung was in a bliss, you had never been like this.

“Y/n,” he breathed. He loved how you smell, you had that natural scent that he loves and has ever plagued his mind ever since. He took advantage of the moment and dive his nose deeper in your tresses. His lips ghosting around your neck. He was still debating.

Would you be mad? If his lips touched your neck. He wanted to test it.

He sniffles a little, as if he was crying and moved his head closer so that his lips are now fully touching your neck. He loved how your skin was warm, he took notes of how you flinch but then relax once you took on his crying and you even pat his back.

Oh, you are so perfect.

“I love you,” he said muffled in your neck.

“What?” You asked him, because you didn’t hear him.

“I’m sad,” Taehyung said now finally letting go of your skin, but his hands now settled on your waist. He took on your expression. You have a frown, a pout, but how he love your eyes…

It was a full blown concern, maybe you love him back. It was a possibility, Taehyung thought to himself looking at your expression now.

“I know, Tae. I’m sorry to hear that. I’m here if you need me.”

“I do.” Taehyung said in a heartbeat. “I do need you.” He said again.

“Okay, what do you need me for?”

“Please be by my side,” Taehyung said without even thinking about it. The atmosphere made it so easy for him to say what has been on his mind this entire time, the only plea his heart resonates these days.

He waited with bated breath for your answer.

“Okay,” you said meekly. But that was enough for him as he further tightened the hug.

It has been a week since you attended Taehyung’s father’s funeral. You have been taking care of him more, paying attention to the little frown and blank stare. You wanted to be there for your friend and you really hate seeing him sad, but it was understandable why he was sad.

“Do you need anything?”

Taehyung only pouted and shook his head. “Only need you here,” he said and proceeded to hug you. Burying his face on your hair, you knew what he wanted to do by now. He had already make a habit of hugging you. Each day longer than the day before.

“Tell me if you need anything else,” you murmured.

Taehyung froze hearing your sentence. In his brain he was trying to come up on what your tone indicated and what that sentence even mean? Were you not happy to be right besides him like this?

Much to his reluctance, he had to break the hug off to look at your face. To really look at it and maybe understand you more.

Taehyung was met with sad eyes staring into him, those beautiful lashes adoring the two pool of eyes that held concern for him. And only for him. I love you, he wanted to say at that moment.

But instead he smiled and caressed your cheek with his thumb. “Thank you.”

“Oh wait actually! I want to go on a vacation with you.”

#bts x reader #yandere bts #bts yandere #bts taehyung #bts fanfic #taehyung x reader #yandere taehyung #yandere #bts v #bts fic

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faeskiss · 18 days

Text

MY EVERYTHING ೄྀ࿐ ˊˎ-

Zaros x reader!

I am not a stranger to weary days, in fact I’ve been nothing but weary for the past couple of weeks…

I cannot for the life of me recall the last time I could peacefully allow myself to lay my head down and give in to sleep, it’s been so long since I’ve had a pleasant dream, cruel and unbearable ones plague me instead, making my nights excruciatingly miserable.

How am I supposed to study and give it my all in the trials if I’m not well rested? Everything in life worries me and I feel utterly powerless, it’s funny actually, how can an earis, someone who’s birthright is power itself, feel devoid of it? It’s all just a big joke

I can clearly hear the storm outside grow worse and worse, lightning cracks and rumbles relentlessly, I usually enjoy rain, but this, this is absolutely terrifying and it’s fuelling my unease by the second

I keep tossing and turning, trying to breathe and collect my thoughts, but it’s no use, it seems my own mind hates me just as much as everyone else.

After a few more torturous moments of pure agony I decide to go outside, I know the storm is raging and growing like wildfire but I can’t stand to be cooped up in my room like this…

I step outside of my room and as soon as I do I am met with a breeze that’s fervently cold, the walls of this palace echo the rage of the storm, it’s truly a ghastly night

I pull my shawl closer to me and wrap my hands inside of it, trying to grasp whatever warmth I can, I slowly pace the halls, passing various rooms, my feet can’t help but abruptly stop in their tracks…

I find myself standing just outside of Zaros’s room and a wave of nostalgia washes over me, I remember all the times we hid from the uproar of the sky, he HATED storms..

I don’t know what’s happening, but it feels like I’m not in control of my reflexes, I immediately go up to the door and knock, knowing full well someone might see or hear me, knowing I’d regret it later

“The earis invited themselves into Zaros’s room the other night, it seems his notorious ways are finally rubbing off on them, what a shame”

Heaven knows what other things these nobles would say, why don’t I ever learn?

The horror of what I’ve done suddenly seeps into me, and before I can even turn around to save face, I am much too late

He opens the door….his green eyes look tired and worn down, the usual charm and gleam is missing in them

“Uhm…..hello?” He asks, obvious confusion painted on his face

I clear my throat, and try to answer

“H-Hello, I- uhm” I reply, absolutely failing to come up with an excuse as to why I am here, in the dead of night, unannounced, barely decent

“You are the last person I would ever expect to show up at my door, in the thick of night” he says with a soft, unexpected laughter

“Trust me, I am just as confused as you are” I reply with a faint laugh

“It seems that I’m finally rubbing off on you huh?” he says slyly

“Oh please! it’s not like that, I-‘’ before I can finish my sentence a loud clap of thunder booms and reverberates through the halls, startling us both

“I JUST don’t want to be alone, during this outpour…….I’m sorry but I just didn’t know where else to go” I say, surprising myself

His eyes soften, and a warm, empathetic smile forms on his face, something I thought I’d never see from him, ever again…

All of a sudden, he reaches for my hand, gently and slowly pulls me in the room, and I just let him

He then shuts the door behind us

I cannot believe that I’m in Zaros Atha’llin’s room……..at night…… the nobles would have a field day if they ever caught wind of this, but the truth is, that I don’t care, when I know I should and that gravely concerns me

“Look, I’m so very sorry I interrupted your sleep, I didn’t-“ I say

“It’s okay, I was awake anyways” he cuts me off

“Couldn’t sleep?” I ask

“You of all people should know how much I loathe storms” he adds

“How can I ever forget” I reply softly

“I see you haven’t grown to like them either”

“Ha! Never” I reply

“I think we should sit down” he says as he moves towards the bed

“ah yes, of course” I reply as I follow him

I seat myself beside him, another frantic wave of nostalgia crashes against me, I always sat next to him back in school….

“I know there’s something troubling you, something other than the storm” he says in a calm yet stern voice

“I- I just” I try to reply, but I just can’t, it’s quite abnormal being vulnerable to him, the last time him and I had a heart to heart was quite simply a lifetime ago

“Please do not feel obligated to talk about it, take your time” he says

“I just have the worst, most obscene amount of anxiety these days, and it only gets worse and worse as the weeks pass” I reply, this took a lot of courage and valour, it took all the strength in me to even say these words to someone

“I-I understand you more than you might ever know, it seems that these trials have not been kind to either of us, the stakes are unachievable and the water’s rough, you are not alone, I feel it too” he says in a somber tone, his expression is filled with gloom

His words shoot right at my heart, making me feel understood and protected, I would have never imagined that anything he’d said would have this affect on me, but I don’t despise it, not even a little bit

“I wouldn’t wish this entire ordeal on my worst enemy…..which,would be you I suppose” he ends his sentence with a unexpected burst of laughter, which in turn makes me laugh too

“I suppose so” I reply, giggling like a child

Me and Zaros, actually laughing together, as if nothing’s ever changed, I never would’ve imagined

“From best mates who are absolutely inseparable to enemies who are fighting for the throne, how the tides change” he says, looking directly at my face, I am unsure of the intention behind his tone

“It’s all written in the stars, what can us mere mortals do about it?” I reply, fidgeting with my fingers

Silence creeps into the space between us for a few moments, it’s absurdly comforting, sitting next to him, I can feel his warmth, it’s familiar and safe, it feels like home….he feels like home

“I cannot believe that I’m actually about to say this, but I feel as if I have to, for my own sanity” he says

“What are you trying to say?” I reply, puzzled as ever

“I-I really wish I never left, I wish I stayed by your side, I wish I never lost the eight years I could have had with you” he says, desperation laced in his voice

I look at him with wide eyes and shock painted on my face, I have a very strange feeling that I know what he’s about to say

“Zaros, plea-“ I try to interrupt him

“No, just don’t!” he snaps

“I have felt this way for quite a while now, and sometimes, it’s all I can think about, I wish we never had that wretched fight in the first place!” He exclaims

I am left utterly speechless by his words, nothing could have ever prepared me for this

“I really wanted you to trust me more!” he adds

That sets me off, how can he ever expect me of all people to trust him? After his relentless insults and torments, he is so delusive

“Don’t start!” I snap

“What? Are you that scared of the truth?” he interrupts

“Well you have not made it easy for me, have you now?” I sneer as I jolt up, out of the bed

“What do you mean?” he replies as he gets up

“How in the name of Gods can you expect me to trust you after everything that’s happened? You agreed to contest against me, we are competing AGAINST each other or have you forgotten? How can I trust you any which ways? You are my rival!” I say with all the anger my voice can muster

“I had no.other.choice” he replies sternly

“And besides is that all I am to you? Just a rival, an enemy you want to overthrow? Or did you forget us and everything we were before our fallout, did all that mean nothing to you? You are deeply imbedded in all my memories, all my feelings, all my thoughts, there isn’t a corner in my soul where I can’t find you….you, you were everything to me, still are” he says

I want to absolutely scream at his words, he can’t just say that and the worst part is I can’t decide if I’m angry with him or yearning for him

“Please….don’t do this” I say, almost in a whisper, my voice shakes a bit

“How much longer are you going to pretend that you were never in love with me?” he snaps

I can feel my heart stop, my mind starts to fog up and I can barely breathe, a dull, crushing gust of pain swims across my chest…that is until I feel a violent rush of anger flow through me, red and fiery

“You…“ I rage

“I-I’m sorry, I went too far, I shouldn’t have-“ he says

“And you want me to “trust” you, I should’ve never come here in the first place” the hurt in my voice is evident and loud, and I might just burst into tears any second

I abruptly turn and sprint to the door, but before I can open it, he yanks my hand and pulls me to him

“I am so sorry, I know I’ve crossed way too many lines, I am a reckless fool, please forgive me, please stay” he says in the most desperate tone I have ever heard

“Give me one good reason why” I hiss

“I can’t” he replies

“I know I’ve caused you nothing but pain ever since I came back, I can see it on your face every single second, minute and hour I am near you, I have no excuse and no reason, I-I won’t force you to stay or do anything you don’t want to, but just know, how very sorry I am, for it all, we don’t even have to speak if that’s what you want, I care about you way more than I can ever express and I can’t handle seeing you so upset, I won’t hurt you, ever again, I promise, no matter what happens after the trials, it won’t change how I feel about you, nothing ever will” he says

I don’t reply, not because I don’t want to but because I just do not know how, my heart is heavy with a feeling I’d rather not feel, especially not for him, but I can not help it

“I don’t expect you to forgive me and-“

I don’t know what comes over me, but I wrap my arms around him in frantic desperation, as if he’s going to run away from me, as if I’m going to lose him all over again…

He slowly envelopes me in his arms, it’s very gentle, I can feel his heartbeat against my own, his warmth is infectiously addicting, I could practically fall asleep like this

“Don’t ever leave me, ever again, do you understand?” I assert

“I promise you with all my heart, I am never going away, my sweet earis” he replies in a soft, honeyed tone as he places a kiss on my cheek

“Zaros” I call to him as I pull away

“Yes?” He replies as he looks at me eagerly

“I have something very important to confess” I say

“What is it?” he replies as his expression grows more serious

“I am so very sorry I called you a leech” I say, not being able to hold back the mischievous smile forming on my face

At that we both erupt into laughter, and I embrace him once again, feeding off of his warmth

“And I’m sorry I called you a palace brat…though you still kind of are one” he says in a playful mocking manner

“Oh please , you love it” I reply in a calm, unbothered tone, my head resting his shoulder

“Yes, yes I do” he replies as he holds me tightly in his arms

#sakuverse #zsakuva #zsakuva zaros #zaros #zaros x reader #this was going to be a soft fic but I don’t know what happened 😭?#I’m sorry if this is bad😭#miss my bby girl zaros so bad

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dragonvhs · 6 days

Text

I've been wanting to do this forever so why not now

RATING SPYRO'S MODELS IN EACH GAME (these are the models themselves, not like his designs outside of the games in like promotional materials and stuff. That may be a later post idk yet)

Spyro 1

The classic Spyro design. The small line of blue scales. The little yellow gradient on his cheeks and snout in cutscenes. The brown horns and big, expressive eyes. Oh yeah, this is prime Spyro right here. Will take points because the wings are very small and awkwardly shaped, which to be fair it is 1998 playstation so like. What can you do.

9/10

Spyro 2/3

Now this? This is perfection here. Takes everything the Spyro 1 model does and does it better. Still has the little blue scales I love so much and the brown horns, but with much better wing shape and size. Top tier Spyro model. Might be my favorite of all of them, even.

10/10

Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly

I like how they decided to texture in more scales during the jump from ps1 to ps2. Sadly this may be the only thing i like about this model. It's not the worst thing i've ever seen, but it looks so... gummy? Some of the details look kind of odd to me, like the yellow claws and unevenly spaced lines along his chest. This also removed the blue scales lining around his underbelly and adds the yellow horns which I'm not crazy about. A few points for still trying to be mostly loyal to the ps1 designs shape wise.

5/10

Spyro: A Hero's Tail

Now this is a pretty good improvement from the enter the dragonfly model. I'm not crazy about the snout shape, looks a bit too round and i think the nostrils are a bit too high on his face, but overall a good spyro! the introduction of the purple eyes is cool too (personally im a red eyed spyro truther but still)

7/10

Spyro: Shadow Legacy

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHA HOLY FUCK HAHAHHAHA. okay okay okay to be fair this one is a ds game and spyro himself is suuuuper small on the screen so like. of course he'd be low poly. does get some points for spyro having sharper and more mean features. though you probably wouldn't notice in the game

4/10

Legends Spyro New Beginning/Eternal Night

Might be nostalgia talking but I actually still really like this design. I like his snout shape and more lightning bolt shaped horns, and i find his head and back spikes kinda cool, even if i like the classic shape of them better, it works for this design. His horns are a tad bit more brownish (it's more visible in the game), which you know I love. This spyro is overall very cute!! Maybe a bit too cute, but I enjoy him

8/10

Legends Spyro Dawn of the Dragon

I don't. like him.

the back legs look fucked up, the wings are way too thick at the base by the shoulders and then they're so small but then get so long by the end. i like the little added scales along his underbelly. that's about it. you would think taking the previous model and making him older would be easy but i guess not. a point because you can tell he's older and if you only look at his head the model is nice. not the rest though. god.

2/10

Skylanders

This might be controversial but i dont care. i actually like the skylanders spyro design. he leans more into the cool factor than cute, which i can appreciate, and he kinda reminds me of a pug a little bit and i really like pugs. he's got kind of a beast/monster factor i really like. i love love love the horn shape and the big claws, and the yellow claws dont even look awkward here!! the red eyes really pop too! i think he's really fun

7/10

side note i also LOVE spyro's design in the skylanders show too ESPECIALLY HIS COLORING LOOK HOW NICE HE LOOKS it takes the best parts of the game model and improves it. i know this isn't from the game but it's too good not to include.

9/10

Spyro Reignited

I do really really really love this model, it's near perfect. perfectly balances the cute/coolness factor. the shapes are all good, the wings are small but not too small. love the darker scales across his body. his little thumbs are so fun too. honestly this is the best they could have done for a remodel of the first 3 games. only taking off a point because im not crazy about the colors, i prefer the darker purples and brown horns.

9/10

BONUS: CRASH ON THE RUN

Im so torn on this one because on one hand the cartoony stylization really works in these models. i love the bigger snout, i think it's fun, and i LOVE LOVE LOVE taking his head spikes and kind of splitting them up like hair. that's so fun! but on the negative end I HATE THE WAY HIS FEET LOOK SO MUCH OH MY GOD. they're like wretched lumps of clay with little claws jammed into them. granted this was for a mobile app BUT STILL. the feet really just fuck me up a lot

6/10

Okay that is all thanks for reading <3 maybe next time i'll rate spyro renders or something <3

#spyro #spyro the dragon #tlos #the legend of spyro #skylanders

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am-i-the-asshole-official · 9 months

Note

WIBTA for unintentionally getting my cousin’s number and not tell him i’m not a date

I (24 FtM) came out as a trans queer man to my extended family when i was 18 years old, despite my (queerphobic) parents’ disagreement, fully knowing the reactions wouldn’t be positive for the majority. i was just done with having to hide, and indirectly be ashamed of, this huge part of myself to the people i used to grow up with, and couldn’t bare keeping it a bashful secret any longer, putting myself at risk to lose touch with them all. which happened. gradually, i lost contact, or intentionally cut contact, with most of my family members (close and extended), moved out and started transitioning. i also got top surgery last year, and am now four and half years on T.

so i did change, physically and mentally (for the better), to the point i know some people from my family who haven’t seen me in five years, wouldn’t recognize me if i didn’t tell them.

all this to say: a little over a week ago, i went to this gay club / bar, when i was asked my number by a guy who was there too. i knew i knew him from somewhere else, but i was a tipsy, dizzy from dancing my lungs out, and the lightning was tamed, so i didn’t catch on immediately and couldn’t properly see his face, and so i simply accepted to exchange numbers. nothing else happened with this guy this night, i only added my num to his contacts, talked and maybe flirted a little, and then he had to leave (he was with some friends).

only hours later, back home, will i realize this guy was in fact my eldest cousin (26 M) in with whom i haven’t talked in five years. i remember he was one of the only person who didn’t react badly to my coming out, though he didn’t quite understand it either. i had to cut contact with him when his mother, my aunt, tried to call and threat me through him / by calling from his phone number so i wouldn’t hang up immediately.

we used to be very close, and though i have moved on now from my family life, i do catch myself missing him from times to times, and would’ve like to contact him again. i just didn’t know how, and was scared he might have started agreeing with the rest of the family on my account. but by his presence at the gay club, i suppose not.

i didn’t text him right away to tell him i was, in fact, his cousin, and not just a random dude he met at the bar. i still don’t know how to approach this. three days ago, he texted me first, asking if i would like to meet up again. and, without thinking, i said sure. and still didn’t add on the crucial information. i am scared of what might happen if it tell him. would he suddenly resent me? or worse, call back our family and tell them what happened of me, giving away where i now live. i don’t want to contact with the rest of them again, but if i could gain my favorite cousin back, maybe just as a friend, it would mean a lot to me.

i still haven’t texted him, and i won’t lie and say i haven’t been contemplating the idea of just, never telling him, and just say i’m not ready for more but would love to stay friends. we are supposed to meet at the beginning of next week.

and before you guys start thinking anything weird, i do not, in any way shape or form, want to pursue anything of sexual nature with my cousin! i think this is, as well as being immoral, a disgusting and horrendous idea

What are these acronyms?

#aita #am i the asshole

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foreos · 6 months

Text

The Muppets Present: The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals

based on @the-muppets-present. saw their rule list and felt inspired. might do the other hatchetfield shows later if i feel so inclined :)

i just felt like the story of “average office worker who hates musicals gets trapped in a musical” was just begging to be muppetified.

so, without further ado,

ted- guys i went through so many options for ted. it was immediately hard. eventually i decided on rizzo, because i feel like similarly to ted, he’s kind of an asshole that causes problems for himself and everyone around him. plus, the “kick my head!” scene is even funnier if ted is like. one foot tall.

bill- kermit. i think kermit can and should be a sad dad. bill is like the most earnest man in hatchetfield and the idea of kermit being deeply disappointed that his friend won’t help him reconnect with his estranged daughter because he hates musicals so much is so funny to me.

professor hidgens- gonzo. duh. camilla is alexa. gonzo is the most eccentric bitch in the cast and would 100% kill people to get his musical produced. imagine gonzo shouting “come on you bastard!” at the apocalypse. gonzo would get struck by lightning and climb out of a pile of his friends’ bodies. he just would.

charlotte- miss piggy. stay with me here. from a meta standpoint, i always find it funny when piggy plays the secondary female role in a muppet movie and gets annoyed about it in interviews. from a character standpoint, post-infection charlotte’s high energy would be great to see if it was performed by the one and only piggy. imagine miss piggy singing join us and die. imagine the beginning part. she just beats the shit out of rizzo. gonzo shoots her.

mr. davidson- fozzie. idk i just got a mental image of him putting the newspaper down like jeff blim does at the beginning of the song and then fucking. waggling his ears.

sam- this one was hard because i had to think of you tied up my heart and show me your hands. i eventually picked link hogthrob. sam’s a pig, link’s a pig, etc.

alice- janice. hear me out. it’s not just because she’s “the other girl muppet.” imagine if alice just looked at bill and went “whatever, man” and walked away. truthfully thinking more about watcher world than tgwdlm for this one.

paul- jon matteson. paul stays the same, babeyyy. i think it just adds another fucking layer to his panic because not only is everyone randomly singing around him, they’re fucking muppets. just imagine la dee dah dah day if he was surrounded by muppets. he’s just some guy in a weird situation, and just some guy he shall stay.*

emma- lauren lopez. so i am breaking the number one rule of muppetfication to keep emma the same, but there’s a method to my goddamn madness. the only person paul can relate to in hatchetfield is the one other human being. plus, again, imagine the end of inevitable with emma screaming and crying while surrounded by fucking muppets.

*so i lied. just some guy he shall not stay. when inevitable starts, you first hear paul’s voice. he’s singing, just like he does in the show. emma very quietly goes “paul?” the same way, too. but what’s different is you can’t see paul. the camera pans over.

paul is a muppet.

he’s one of the lookalike ones, like from the first two episodes of the show and the jason segel one from the 2011 muppet movie.

“paul, you’re scaring me” indeed.

#the guy who didn't like musicals #hatchetfield #starkid #the muppets #would have loved to get rowlf in here #idk where though

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clusterbuck · 1 year

Text

i said what if the death doula is an old man as a joke but bro… i don’t think it’s a joke anymore and also possibly not even the point of this but here we are anyway

buck’s never been to a living funeral before. he’s not even sure he’d known they exist, until the call came in and he spent all four minutes of the ride over looking it up.

“it’s basically just a party you have before you die,” he concludes, shrugging, as they climb out of the ambulance and start assessing the situation. bobby sends hen and chimney over to the driver of the crashed car, and the rest of them fan out to start treating the less serious injuries.

buck is checking an older man’s pulse when the patient speaks up. “it’s not just a party, you know.”

“sorry?” buck says. “what’s not?”

“a living funeral,” the man says. “it’s not just a party.”

“oh!” buck says, making a note of his pulse—elevated, but within normal bounds—and reaching for the pressure cuff. “i’m sorry, i didn’t mean—i’ve never actually been to one. so i don’t—”

“it’s okay,” the man says. “not many people know about it. and even when they do—death scares people. not everyone is ready to face it.”

“is that what you do?” buck asks. “face it?”

“sometimes,” the man says. “it depends on what the client needs.” he holds his arm up so buck can remove the pressure cuff, then offers a smile. “i’m carl, by the way. i’m the death doula.”

buck frowns, and carl huffs a laugh which turns into a cough.

“are you—” buck asks, reaching for carl’s shoulder to steady him, but carl waves him off.

“this cough’s much older than the accident,” he says. “might even be older than you.”

“so what’s a death doula?” buck asks.

“we help people die,” carl says. as he talks, buck carefully disinfects and patches up the various scrapes along his face and arms. “people with terminal illnesses, or sometimes people who are getting old enough that their time is near. some people need help facing the idea of death, yes, and others might want help with options for getting their affairs in order, for instance. or sometimes, we might help the dying person and their family get on the same page, so there’s no unfinished business left behind. it depends on what they want.”

“so that’s what the living funerals are?” buck asks. he takes a seat on the ground next to carl, not even pretending to keep working on him. he glances around, but eddie, bobby, and ravi have the situation under control.

“living funerals are a chance to celebrate the dying person’s life before it’s over. to celebrate their friendships, and relationships, and the things that mattered to them. to let the people that mattered to them know it while they still can. and each funeral is different, of course, depending on who it’s for, but—it’s not just a party. it’s a way to start letting go, to appreciate the life you lived and prepare for whatever you think is coming next.”

“so you guys don’t have a party line about the afterlife?”

carl laughs. “no, we don’t,” he says. “people have beliefs, and their beliefs are important to them. i would never try to convince them otherwise. and besides, how should i know what happens after death? i’ve never died before.”

“i have,” buck says, turning to look at carl. “died, i mean. for three minutes.” and seventeen seconds, eddie’s voice adds in his head.

“huh,” carl says. “car crash?”

“lightning strike, actually,” buck says. “freak accident.”

“huh,” carl says again. he looks like he might say something else, too, until bobby calls out from the engine.

“let’s wrap it up, buckley, everyone else is ready to go!”

“copy that!” buck calls back.

“listen,” carl says as buck gathers his equipment and gets to his feet. “if you ever want to talk about the time you died…” he hands buck a plain white business card, just his name and phone number with the words death doula under them. “give me a call.”

buck takes the card and thanks him, thinking he’s never going to call, only—

two days later, he’s sitting across from carl in the back garden of a quiet coffee shop, both hands wrapped around a large mug of green tea as he tries to find the words.

“i guess i just—don’t understand,” he finally says. “death is meant to be permanent, right? it’s the most permanent thing there is. that’s the thing that freaks people out when they think about it. but it wasn’t. not for me.”

“you know what they say about sharks biting humans?” carl asks, and buck frowns.

“that it’s rare?”

“well, yes,” carl says. “but also—sharks don’t bite humans on purpose. they bite to see if maybe we’re food, and when they realise we’re not, they spit us out.”

“you’re saying death… spit me out?” buck asks.

“in a manner of speaking, yes,” carl says, dunking his scone into his coffee. “it wasn’t your time.”

“but i don’t understand why,” buck says. “why not? who decides that?”

“i’m afraid that’s a little above my pay grade,” carl smiles. “i don’t know the why of it all. i can help you get ready for death, but i can’t get death ready for you.”

buck stays with carl for another hour, through two more cups of green tea, but it doesn’t soothe the itch at the back of his mind. he can tell that carl, too, is a little out of his depth—he’s used to dealing with people facing death. not people who are walking away.

as he drives away, though, a thought begins to form, and by the time he opens eddie’s front door the words are spilling out of his mouth. “i think we should have a living funeral.”

eddie looks up from the dining table, where he’s poring over what looks like his taxes. “what, for you?” he asks. “buck, you’re not dying.” he blinks. “you’re not dying, right?”

“no more than anyone else at any given moment in time,” buck says, kicking off his shoes and sitting down across from eddie. “but carl was talking about how living funerals are for appreciating your life and the people in it, and i did kind of have that whole dying gives you a new perspective thing, and i just want to—i don’t know. i want to appreciate my life. and the people in it.”

eddie looks at him, and the smile curling across his face is impossibly fond. and if buck were braver, perhaps he’d tack a few extra words into the end of his last sentence. perhaps he’d say i want to appreciate you.

but it’s enough, for now, to sit in the low light of the dining room and listen to the familiar sounds of the house settling around him and watch that smile curve across eddie’s face.

“okay,” eddie says, his hand moving like he’s going to reach out but staying by his side nonetheless. “i guess we’re throwing a funeral.”

#shush emma #emma writes #911 spec fic #911 6x15 #911fic #idk what this is it started as a joke but now i’m like hm

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