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thatartiststudios999 · 5 months

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Been forever since I posted some of my fic since I've been working on another wip mostly, so here's another extra long snippet, as a treat!

The playful banter continued, laughter filling the air as they learned not just about each other’s abilities but also about the trust and camaraderie that were slowly but surely growing among them.

The group settled into a circle, their diverse backgrounds evident in the way they carried themselves. Carter, with his Egyptian heritage, admired the craftsmanship of Rayla’s Moonshadow Butterfly blades. He pulled out his Khopesh, the curved Egyptian sword glinting in the sunlight, and examined the intricate carvings along its blade.

“Impressive blades you got there, Rayla. But there’s a certain elegance to the Khopesh,” he commented, a touch of pride in his voice.

Rayla nodded appreciatively. “It certainly looks deadly. I’ve witnessed Callum forge his runes on the battlefield, and they possess a lethal grace of their own.”

Callum shot a grin at Carter, recognizing a kindred spirit in their shared knowledge of their respective worlds.

“You know, Carter, Xadia boasts a rich history of magical runes and spells. I’ve delved into ancient scrolls, deciphered forgotten tomes—” He was interrupted by an exaggerated eye roll from Rayla.

Piper smirked at Rayla’s antics. “I suppose you could enlighten us about his research?”

Rayla cast a playful sidelong glance at Callum. “Oh, can I ever,” she said, feigning a groan at her mage, who huffed in mock offense.

“You say that as if you don’t enjoy it,” Callum retorted.

“I didn’t say I don’t enjoy it,” Rayla replied, her tone teasing. “I’m merely pointing out that I only grasp about 40% of your ‘scholarly musings.’”

Callum chuckled, his emerald eyes glinting with mirth. “Well, that’s 40% more than most people. Understanding runes is an art, after all.”

Sadie, ever curious, leaned forward. “So, what kind of spells can you do, Callum? Anything impressive?”

Callum exchanged a glance with Rayla, who shrugged nonchalantly. “Well,” he began, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, “I can summon lightning, create barriers, and even manipulate the elements to an extent. But my favorite spell? That’s tough to choose.”

“Then just pick one to show us.” Jason suggested.

Callum nodded as an incantation came to mind, “Alright, then,”

Callum stepped forward, a determined glint in his emerald eyes. He set his mage staff down on the deck, taking several steps back to create distance. With a focused expression, he traced a blue rune in the air and stretched his hand forth and spoke the incantation, “Ventum Magneticus!”

A whirlwind of air erupted from his outstretched palm, snaking its way towards his staff. The gust of wind enveloped the staff, lifting it off the ground, and drew it back to Callum’s hand with swift precision. His mage staff twirled gracefully in the air before landing securely in his grip.

The group watched in awe, captivated by the display of Primal magic. Leo let out a low whistle, clearly impressed.

“That’s some handy magic you got there, Callum. Imagine the possibilities.”

Piper grinned, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, “Can you use that spell on anything? Or is it just for your staff?”

Callum nodded, a confident smile playing on his lips. “I can use it on various objects, as long as they’re not too heavy. It’s one of the basic wind manipulation spells for Sky magic.”

Sadie leaned forward, intrigued. “Could you use it in combat?”

Callum nodded again, his eyes alight with enthusiasm. “Absolutely. It’s great for disarming opponents or retrieving objects from a distance. The key is precision and timing.”

Carter chimed in with his thoughts. “It’s impressive how you seamlessly blend magic and strategy. That’s a valuable skill to have.” The admiration in his voice was evident, a recognition of Callum’s prowess.

Callum then decided to direct the spotlight to the Kane siblings, “What about you guys? You said you’re both magicians, right? Is that anything like a mage?”

“Sort of. I certainly think that Egyptian magic is the closest to Primal magic, in terms of the glowing runes—Hieroglyphics, and having to speak the spell,” Carter replied.

“Would one of you like to demonstrate for us?” Leo asked.

A mischievous grin traced its way across Sadie’s face. “I could demonstrate—”

But before she could speak the incantation, she was interrupted by a profuse “No!” from Carter.

Sadie just rolled her eyes, “Honestly, brother, you didn’t think I’d actually do it, did you?”

“I wouldn’t put it past you,” he huffed.

“Like I’d try to blow up the ship we’re on.” She shot back.

Sadie stood up and grabbed a teacup from one of the cupboards in the meeting room and brought it back on deck, letting it smash.

“Hi-nehm,” she spoke, and small gold hieroglyphics appeared in front of her as the remains of the teacup reformed in her hands. The precision and finesse with which she performed the spell were impressive, leaving the others in awe of her mastery of Egyptian magic. Carter, despite his initial reluctance, couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride for his sister’s skill.

“Now, that’s impressive!” Leo exclaimed, his eyes wide with amazement. “Imagine fixing things that way!”

Piper grinned, her curiosity piqued. “You think it’d come in handy during a combat situation?”

Sadie tilted her head thoughtfully. “Huh, I’ve never thought about that. I suppose it could though.”

“That sounds incredibly useful,” Callum remarked, clearly impressed by Sadie’s demonstration. “It’s amazing how different our magic systems are, yet they all have their unique strengths.”

Jason spoke up, “How does Primal magic work, exactly? Is it like Egyptian magic?”

“Actually,” Callum began, his voice carrying a sense of reverence, “in Xadia, there are six primal sources of magic. The Sun, The Moon, The Stars, The Sky, The Earth, and The Ocean. Each source is tied to a specific Arcanum, a kind of primal connection that allows us to harness its power.”

He paused for a moment, his eyes distant as if recalling memories etched in magic. “So far, I’ve connected to three Arcanums. The Sky, which grants me access to Sky magic like my mage wings, The Ocean, which lets me control water and ice, and The Moon, which enhances my ability to see in the dark and allows me to perceive and cast illusions.”

Curiosity flickered in Jason’s eyes. “Connecting to each of them must be hard, right?”

Callum nodded, his expression thoughtful. “It’s not easy, as humans were never meant to do it. Each time I connected to an Arcanum, it was during a trial, a profound moment of understanding the secret of the primal. It’s about unlocking the knowledge of the primal source, learning its essence, and forging a connection. Only then can you wield that type of magic.”

Piper chimed in, her interest piqued. “So, it’s not just about power, but understanding and respect for the primal sources?”

“Exactly,” Callum affirmed. “Primal magic isn’t just a tool; it’s a bond, a harmony between the mage and the essence of the world. To wield it responsibly, one must grasp the essence of the source and the balance it maintains in nature.”

Next Part

And that's the last of Chapter 2! Hope to post the first bit of Chapter 3 tomorrow, so stay tuned!

#rayllum #tdp callum #tdp rayla #hoo jason #hoo leo #hoo piper #kane chronicles carter #kane chronicles sadie #current wip #current fic project #tdp #hope you guys enjoy this #I hope to finish the fic by new years #then it's just a matter of posting bits regularly #that is if I can remember

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crabsnpersimmons · 2 months

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Y'ALL HAVE ME LIKE

I DON'T KNOW WHAT I DID

BUT Y'ALL HAVE BEEN SO SWEET

I'M SORRY IT'S TAKING ME SO LONG TO REPLY

I WANNA DRAW THINGS BACK

AND I WILL

after my exam tomorrow :')

#i am overwhelmed y'all #my heart is so full #wish me all the broken legs for tomorrow :')#this second course is MASSIVE #there's just so many terms and acts and dates and formulas to rememberrrrr #like i swear they made this course 4 TIMES BIGGER THAN THE FIRST ONE just to weed out the weak #and i am not weak #i meant what i said when i said i was speedrunning this program #we have 2 years to complete it #and i'm trying to finish it in 5 months #but like #once i'm done #i have so much to unleash #i wanna draw more art for the hairdresser AU and start working on the fic #and draw more raincoat chibi DCA and maybe do a comic of their backstory?#and there's so many memes i wanna draw #and i have a new au i've been cooking up #it will most likely be a fic that's a series of oneshots (with some art but mostly a fic)#it's another slice of life au and very self-indulgent #but i hope it'll be a treat for some of you as well #might post a few crumbs of it sometime soon #it's been on the backburner of my mind for a while now

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goforth-ladymidnight · 4 months

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A Second Chance

Pairing: Tamlin x Lucien

Rating: M for mature themes and strong language

Ch. 1/5(?)

Word Count: 3.9k

Summary: There is a reason that Tamlin disappeared from Lucien's life seven years ago. Lucien just doesn't know what it is. They were more than college roommates; they were best friends. Now, a chance encounter in a bookstore leaves both of them wondering if they can pick up where they left off. A new year is right around the corner, but there is no wiping Tamlin's slate clean. Featuring Jurian and Vassa in supporting roles, this is not a story of redemption, but of finding love—and forgiveness—in the most unlikely of places. A Modern ACOTAR Holiday AU.

✨✨✨For @praetorqueenreyna ✨✨✨

It's here! It's here! It's finally here! (Emphasis on finally.) Even though this took a lot longer than I intended, it's also a lot longer, too. This is the first chapter out of five (I think), and I hope to have the rest done by New Year's. Featuring your OTP Tamcien, as requested, as well as a little bit of Jassa because, as you'll soon see, they needed to be in this story. :) I hope you like it! I had an absolute blast writing it.

@acotargiftexchange

Read on AO3 as part of the 2023 Gift Exchange Collection or read on below the cut:

“Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer,” crooned a male voice in the sound system above their heads, a slower, mellower version of the jolly holiday song that matched the easygoing vibe in The Reading Nook Bookstore.

Lucien absentmindedly hummed along as he browsed the themed display tables, passing over the fantasy and romance books in favor of something more to his mother’s taste. As he read the synopsis of the latest Poppy Seedcake Mystery, a cozy murder mystery series themed around baked goods, he couldn’t help but smirk.

“What do you think of this,” he asked Vassa, who was perusing the political thriller section nearby. When she glanced up, he held up the cover and continued jokingly, “Should I get this for my mom? It’s all about murdering your husband and how to get away with it.”

Vassa’s bright blue eyes flicked to the cover. “Rat poison,” she said simply, before returning her attention to the thick novel in her hands.

Lucien’s brows furrowed as he turned the cover over. He traced the title with his finger as he read to her, “No, it says: A Raisin to Kill… Wait. What do you mean: ‘Rat Poison’?”

“How to murder your husband and get away with it,” she repeated in her richly lyrical Scythian accent. “Rat poison. In coffee. Tea is too weak to disguise the taste.”

Lucien swore and ducked his shoulders as a couple of curious shoppers glanced up from their magazines nearby. Redfaced, he set the mystery book down and remarked, “I forgot how literal you are sometimes.”

Vassa looked at him quizzically. “Is that not what you wanted to give your mother for Christmas?”

“Not if it can used as evidence in a murder trial,” he quipped, then shook off the chill rippling down his arms. “Maybe I’ll just buy her a fruit basket.”

“Rat poison works well in the juices of fruit, too,” she said brightly.

Lucien chuckled nervously and ran a hand over his long red hair. “I’ll take your word for it.” He wanted his bastard father dead just as much as the rest of his brothers, but he wasn’t keen on being considered a suspect in Beron Vanserra’s death. “Where did you learn about that, um—” he cleared his throat, “—advice, anyway?”

“My mother. It is said my grandfather was a—how you say—good-for-nothing rat bastard.” Lucien’s eyebrows shot up as she continued, “So, my grandmother, she takes care of him. Rat poison.”

He realized his mouth had fallen open, so he closed it. Loosening the knot of the wool scarf around his neck, he remarked, “Scythian housewives don’t mess around, do they?”

Vassa smiled sweetly and added her book to a steadily growing pile with a heavy, meaningful thump. “Rat poison makes no mess. Not like stab wounds.”

Lucien let out a nervous chuckle. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.”

“I will,” she trilled, then her smile vanished as she caught sight of something behind him. “Do you know a man with light hair in dark clothes?” she asked in a low voice. “He is—how you say—checking me out.”

Lucien chuckled. “Lucky you,” he quipped, returning his gaze to the Murder Mystery display, then he froze. “Wait.” Had one of the customers overheard them and called the police? Shit. Wait. Don’t panic. “What does he look like?”

She shrugged with her mouth. “Big. Strong.”

Shit. Shit. Shit. With a wincing smile, he looked over his shoulder, trying to think of a way to explain that he and his foreign friend were only joking, when he realized he recognized the man. He straightened and turned to face the man directly. “Tam?”

With a shy chuckle, Tamlin stepped closer, tucking a book under his arm as he said, “Hey, Lu. I thought that was you.”

Lucien shook his head and let out an amazed laugh, then spread his arms wide and drew Tamlin into a sudden hug. It was as brief as it was awkward, but he couldn’t help himself. After a congenial back thump, Lucien released him and stepped back. “How long has it been, man?”

“Long time,” Tamlin replied with a tight smile, his cheeks slightly flushed. “At least…”

“Seven years,” they said in unison.

“Seven years,” Tamlin repeated, nodding slowly. “What have you been, um—” He glanced at Vassa, then shoved his hands in his pockets and amended, “How have you been?”

“Good,” Lucien said quickly. “Really good. Um.” He cleared his throat and gestured to the redhead at his side. “Before I forget. Tam, this is my friend, Vassa. Vassa, this is Tamlin.”

She twiddled her fingers in a polite wave.

He looked to Tamlin and continued, “She and I met when I traveled to Scythia for that foreign exchange program back in college. Remember?”

“Oh… right,” Tamlin said, nodding slowly, then gestured at her with his pocketed hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Vassa smiled and repeated a similar greeting in Scythian.

“She’s just visiting,” Lucien explained, “but she’s thinking of moving here after the holidays.”

“Congratulations,” Tamlin said politely, and Vassa dipped her head in acknowledgment.

“What about you, man?” Lucien asked him, thumping him on the shoulder. “Where have you been hiding yourself? I haven’t seen you since junior year.”

Tamlin shrugged dismissively. “Oh, you know. Around.”

When it was clear he wasn’t going to elaborate, Lucien turned to Vassa and remarked, “Tam has the greenest thumb of anyone I know. Someone left a dying, um, plant in our dorm, and Tam nursed it back to health.”

At Vassa’s blank look, Tamlin explained, “He means weed.”

Lucien added jokingly, “The whole floor called us the High Lords.”

Tamlin turned red and chuckled. “Oh, god. The High Lords. I had forgotten about that.”

Lucien grinned. “Yeah. Weren’t there six of us? You, me, Kallias, Tarquin, Rhys—”

Tamlin’s easy smile stiffened. “Oh. Yeah.”

Lucien was about to ask what that look meant, when he noticed Vassa’s confused frown. “Oh, sorry,” he told her. “I meant to explain: Weed is something you smoke to get high. Um, feel good. We were in Room 420… You know. Dumb kid stuff.”

Vassa continued to frown. “He has green thumb?”

Both Tamlin and Lucien let out embarrassed chuckles.

Before Lucien could think of a better Scythian translation, Tamlin pulled his hand out of his pocket and gave her a thumbs-up. “He just means I’m good with my hands,” he said with a smile.

“You should have heard him play in the orchestra,” Lucien added eagerly. “He could make a grown man cry with his violin.” Vassa smiled at that. Music was something she appreciated, and understood; no translation necessary. He asked Tamlin, “Do you still play?”

Tamlin winced and rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh, no. Not really.”

“Oh.”

Before he could think of a better question, Tamlin cleared his throat and said, “Well, it was good seeing you again. I don’t often run into anyone from the old days, so—”

“Oh, yeah?” Lucien said, trying to keep him a little longer. “Maybe we can have lunch some time. I don’t want to keep you from your Christmas shopping.” He nodded at the book tucked under his old friend’s arm. It had a bright yellow spine that contrasted nicely with the dark hunter green of his jacket, so it was difficult to ignore. It was difficult to think of what else to say.

“Job hunting for…” Vassa said slowly, tilting her head as she read the spine, and Lucien suddenly realized why Tamlin had been hiding the book under his arm.

“For a friend,” Tamlin said hastily, his face turning as red as Lucien’s felt. He jerked his thumb at the checkout line and said, “I’m on my lunch break, so…”

Not wanting to end their chance meeting on a sour note, Lucien asked him, “So, when do you get off work? Five?”

Tamlin’s throat bobbed. “Something like that.”

Lucien nodded at Vassa and said, “We’re having dinner at eight o’clock tonight, and we’d love for you to join us.”

“After, we have tickets to Swan Lake,” Vassa added.

“Vassa’s never been, so…” Lucien tried to explain, but Tamlin winced and held up his hand.

“I don’t want to intrude.”

“Not at all,” Lucien insisted. “We’ll just get another ticket.”

Tamlin looked skeptical. “To Swan Lake? In December?”

“You know the Vanserras are big patrons of the arts. I’ll name-drop.”

“I don’t know,” Tamlin said slowly. “Two’s company, three’s a crowd…”

“You can be bringing someone else, too, yes?” Vassa offered.

“Are you seeing anyone?” Lucien asked.

Tamlin’s brows furrowed. “You mean… like a date?”

“Yeah,” Lucien squeaked, then cleared his throat. “Um, yeah, a date.” He gestured between them. “You can bring someone, I’ll bring Vassa, and then nobody will feel left out. What do you say?”

Tamlin quirked his mouth to one side, thinking it over. After a long pause, he sighed. “I do have a friend…”

“Perfect.” Lucien jumped at the chance. “Let’s meet up for drinks at The Sour Lemon Bar at seven, then we’ll have dinner and go to the theater afterwards.”

When Tamlin still hesitated, Lucien added, “My treat.”

Tamlin winced. “I can’t let you do that—”

“Sure you can!” Lucien insisted, thumping him on the arm. “It’s all going on the Vanserra expense account, anyway. A very merry Fuck You to my father, just in time for Christmas.”

Tamlin dropped his gaze to the ground, chuckling deeply. When he looked up again, the tight lines in his face had eased, and his smile finally reached his eyes. “You haven’t changed a bit, you know that?”

Lucien grinned. “Does that mean you’ll come?”

Tamlin sighed again, but he nodded. “It’s a date.” He blushed. “I-I mean, with you a-and Vassa.” He cleared his throat. “Seven, you said?”

Lucien’s scarf felt strangely tight as he agreed, “At The Sour Lemon Bar. Do you need an address?”

“No, I’m sure I’ll find it,” Tamlin said, edging toward the checkout stand. “See you, Lu. Nice to meet you, um, Vassa.”

Vassa nodded, and Lucien raised his hand in farewell as he watched his long-lost friend make his way to the front of the store.

“He seems nice,” Vassa remarked.

“Yeah,” Lucien murmured, watching as Tamlin took out a worn-looking leather wallet from the back of his belted jeans. The hunter green bomber jacket looked warm enough, but it was December, and they were expecting snow later. He wasn’t even wearing a hat, but his sunlight blond hair reached his shoulders and covered his ears, so maybe he didn’t need one. Tamlin’s hair had been much shorter back in the day, just curling under his ears and tickling the back of his neck when the two of them were in school, an act of defiance against his military father, Tamlin had said.

The long hair suited him, but unlike Lucien’s own shoulder-length strands, it seemed less like a stylistic choice and more like he hadn’t seen a barber in a while. It was like he hadn’t seen anyone in a while.

As Tamlin left the store without looking back, the bell above the door jingled, and a new song began to play: “Sleigh bells ring, are you listenin’…”

It was almost funny, but Lucien could only sigh. Something had happened to his old friend, but he couldn’t begin to guess what it was. With a start, he realized he hadn’t given Tamlin his contact information. He could only hope that his old friend would show up like he promised, and then he could find out what had happened to break his spirit.

* * *

Tamlin slid into the front seat of his friend’s black SUV with a heavy sigh. The soiled interior smelled like an ashtray and stale french fries, but at least it was warm.

Jurian, sitting in the driver’s seat with his mini-binoculars glued to the front of his face, asked, “Find anything good?”

Tamlin sighed again and rubbed his hands against the vent’s steady flow of welcome heat. “Yeah.”

Jurian lowered the binoculars at last and looked at him. “And?”

“And she was in there, all right? She was Christmas shopping, like normal people do at this time of year.”

Jurian smirked. “Oh, like you?” He glanced down at the paper bag resting on the middle seat. “What’s that?”

“It’s nothing—Hey!”

Jurian had the bag torn open before he could snatch it back, and he scoffed. “Job Hunting for Dummies?” He snorted. “Looking for another job, dummy?”

Face burning, Tamlin snatched the book and the bag back. “Shut up. I had to buy something, all right? It was the first thing I grabbed. She saw me.”

“Shit. She saw you?” Jurian grimaced and ran a hand over his salt-and-pepper stubble. “Did she mark you?”

“No,” Tamlin muttered, wrapping the torn brown paper edges over the top of the book before shoving it under his seat.

“Good. The last thing we need is to lose our payday. Christmas is coming up, and the fat man is bringing a big fat check if we play this right.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Tamlin muttered, shoving his hands under his armpits.

Jurian snorted. “Don’t sound so excited. It’s not every day that a job like this drops in our laps. Cheating spouses is our bread and butter, but runaway princesses?” He put his fingers to his lips and kissed them. “Filet mignon.”

Tamlin let out a resigned sigh. “If you like filet mignon.”

Jurian smirked. “I don’t mind second helpings.” Tamlin shot him a look, but Jurian suddenly straightened up and snapped his fingers at something outside. “Hey-hey-hey. There she is. Grab the camera.”

As Tamlin reluctantly reached into the backseat, Jurian lifted the binoculars and squinted through them.

“Huh. Koschei didn’t mention she had a brother.”

Tamlin straightened up in the passenger seat as he slung the camera strap around his neck. “She doesn’t.”

Jurian lowered the binoculars with a confused squint. “Then who’s the twink?”

“He’s not a twink—” Tamlin bit back a growl as Jurian raised his dark, bushy brows at him. He took a deep breath and calmly explained, “His name is Lucien Vanserra. You’ve probably heard of his family.”

“Vanserra? As in Daddy is the head of the entire Autumn Corporation?” When Tamlin nodded, Jurian let out a low, appreciative whistle and resumed his binocular view. “That explains the nice threads. No wonder Princess is hanging around him.”

Tamlin’s cheeks flushed with a muttered, “Yeah,” then lifted the camera and looked down the telescopic lens. The two redheads were chatting amiably outside the bookstore, blissfully unaware that they were being watched by some sleazy private eye and his equally sleazy but unwilling cameraman. At least it paid the rent. Some of the time.

It was just a few lousy pictures. Proof that Vassa was living in Prythian. That was all. But still, as Tamlin zoomed in on Lucien’s smiling face, as he laughed at something Vassa said, his perfect teeth bright against the tawny beige of his skin, his finger hovered—and hesitated—over the shutter button.

“Problem?” Jurian asked.

“Smudge on the lens,” Tamlin muttered, lowering the camera. As he dug around in the camera case for a cleaning cloth, Jurian swore.

“You didn’t think to check it before we left?”

“It’s this damn vehicle,” Tamlin snapped. “Maybe if you cleaned it once in a while—”

“Hey. Don’t blame me for your screw-up—”

“I didn’t want to take this job in the first place!”

“Oh, now you tell me. Anything else you want to confess, or should I find a priest for that?!”

They were still arguing when Tamlin saw red.

“Shit.” He ducked down in the passenger seat as Lucien stepped off the sidewalk and crossed the street in front of the SUV, alone.

Jurian sat back in his seat and barked a laugh when Tamlin finally lifted his head to peek over the dashboard. “Hey, dumbass. Tinted windows, remember?”

“Shut up,” Tamlin muttered, straightening up, then winced as he examined the lens, which had been bumped loose from the lens mount. He hoped it wasn’t broken. Repairs like that weren’t cheap.

Jurian sat up in the driver’s seat and squinted, then smacked his hand against the steering wheel. “Dammit. She’s gone.”

He shifted the SUV into gear, then floored the gas and pulled into the street. As they drove, scanning the slushy streets, Jurian ran a hand through his already unruly dark hair. “Fuck. Where are we supposed to look for her now?”

As Tamlin lowered the two pieces of the camera to his lap, he cleared his throat. “Funny you should mention that…”

Jurian cocked an eyebrow as Tamlin explained what had happened inside the bookstore. “A date?” He could barely keep his eyes on the road. “Are you fucking serious?”

“It’s not a date,” Tamlin retorted. “We’re just old friends catching up, that’s all.”

“You and pretty boy, maybe, but what am I supposed to do? I’m supposed to be undercover. We’re supposed to be undercover, dipshit.”

“I’m not going to blow our cover,” Tamlin growled through gritted teeth. “And you don’t have to come.”

Jurian huffed in frustration and slammed on the brakes, narrowly missing the car in front of him as it idled at a stoplight. “Great,” he huffed again, smacking the steering wheel. “This is just great.” He grumbled something about this being the worst time to give up smoking—even though it had been three years—then he pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “Look. I’m sorry, kid. I know this isn’t your dream job. I wouldn’t ask you to do this if I wasn’t desperate. My vision isn’t what it used to be, and Mr. Hybern is breathing down my neck, and…”

Tamlin’s fingers traced the edges of the busted lens mount, and he sighed. “I know.”

“I’ll make it up to you. We’ll skip the filet mignon and get one of those—” He snapped his fingers. “—what do you call ‘em—hide-a-beds. God knows we need a new couch anyway.”

Tamlin thought of the way the sorry sofa sagged under his weight and the way it was six inches too short no matter which way he laid on it.

“You know what? I’ll even pretend to be whatever you want on this date—not-a-date,” he amended when Tamlin shot him a warning look, “if you’ll help me with this last job. Deal?”

It still meant lying to Lucien, but was leaving out the worst part of the last seven years even a lie in the first place? The traffic light ahead of them turned green, but the SUV continued to idle.

“Well?”

Tamlin sighed again. “Deal.”

“Atta boy,” Jurian said warmly, then flipped off the cars honking behind him. “I know it’s green, you morons.”

Tamlin sank back against the passenger seat as the SUV sped up to join the thick of downtown traffic, strangely calm while Jurian swore at all the holiday shoppers during the most fuckin’ wonderful time of the year.

Even though Tamlin would have preferred to leave Jurian—and Vassa—out of it, he was almost looking forward to that evening. It had been so long since he had looked forward to anything… It wasn’t even about the food and the entertainment. God only knew how long it had been since he had had enjoyed anything half that nice. The Sour Lemon Bar alone was on the ritzier side of town, after all… It was about the company.

A slight smile touched his mouth as he thought back to that chance meeting with his old friend and former roommate. Jurian was decent enough to give him a place to stay when the whole world went to hell, but… From the first day they met at college, he and Lucien just clicked. They could talk about everything and nothing. It was more than being best friends. They were true kindred spirits.

They were each the youngest in their respective families, with strict, overbearing fathers who couldn’t be bothered to show up for important things like recitals or graduation, but who were also obsessed with image and obedience.

Tamlin still didn’t know how Lucien’s mom put up with it, but his own mother had passed away when he was sixteen. She had been there for every school concert, every violin recital, smiling proudly despite undergoing brutal cancer treatments. All the while his own father couldn’t be bothered to show up.

“Only queers and sissies play the fiddle,” his father had sneered.

Real men play football. Real men win wrestling tournaments. Real men take one for the team, the way his brothers did. They called him selfish for making their mother go to his concerts when she should have been home resting. They ignored her insistence that she really wanted to go, but at least they didn’t stop her.

Even at her weakest, she continued to show up, holding a single rose to throw on the stage after each performance, ‘the way they did it in the movies’. He used to be embarrassed about it, but he secretly dried them out and kept every single one… At least until his father found the box after her death and threw them all out.

Tamlin then chose to honor her memory by working his ass off and getting a music scholarship to one of the most prestigious universities in Prythian instead of going into the military like his father wanted. He had paid for it, too, in more ways than one. He hadn’t spoken to his father and two older brothers for ten years, and he didn’t plan on starting now. Jurian’s foul mouth and fouler apartment were preferable to the abuse and neglect he had endured at the hands of his so-called family. And then to run into Lucien again after all this time…

Maybe this was finally the end of some terrible bad luck streak. Some god-awful curse. Seven years bad luck, and all that. It seemed pointless to hope, and yet… Lucien had actually been happy to see him. He had hugged him. Tamlin finally understood what it meant to be touch-starved, and he realized he was ravenous. As much as he had protested, how could he say no to another taste?

Since the camera needed repairs anyway, there was no reason he couldn’t sit back and enjoy himself for a single evening. Jurian could keep an eye on Vassa while he and Lucien reminisced about the good ol’ days…

As the nicer buildings of downtown gave way to small, old-fashioned houses and even older apartment buildings on the edge of town where he and Jurian lived, Tamlin let out a disgruntled sigh. Who was he kidding?

There was no fooling Lucien. His friend had always had the uncanny ability to see right through him. If he somehow managed to bullshit his way through the evening and pretend that everything was sunshine and roses, there was no getting around the fact that he still had a job to do. Some shadowy figure called Mr. Koschei wanted those photos of Vassa by Christmas.

Tamlin wanted to believe that the pictures meant nothing more than a paycheck, but three months’ worth of rent was a lot to ask for a few lousy headshots, no matter how badly they needed it. He certainly didn’t want to see her get hurt, or Lucien, either, for that matter, but he didn’t see any way around it.

He hated himself even more now for getting involved, and for agreeing to Jurian’s proposal. But Jurian couldn’t do it without his help, or his camera.

The most wonderful time of the year, indeed.

#to be continued #you probably already guessed it was me #but #ta da #i've been so nervous about posting this #since it's not finished yet #and it doesn't really get happy until the end #but since you said you like angst #and new year's fics #and latkes #i really hope you like it #acotar gift exchange #acotar gift exchange 2023 #tamcien #tamlin x lucien

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lookedlikethebins · 4 months

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do you need me? (you're all i need) [aka the shirt fic!] - 13k

It's not easy getting used to life back on tour. Matty's body is sore and exhausted more often than not. He knows it's a good thing, focusing on getting and staying healthy, but sometimes he just wants things to go back to how they used to be—especially with George. He wants to be able to be close with George again without losing his breath or getting sore knees or throbbing back pain. George is understanding but Matty still struggles to find ways back to feeling like himself again. While getting ready for an interview at a radio station, George tries to give and allow Matty to be close in other ways.

#gatty #gatty fanfic #matty x george #george daniel x matty healy #andfacedown fics #not going to lie guys it's been really Bad over here and finishing this fic was not REALLY about finishing it #i just really needed to Make Something with the very limited bandwidth that i had left after my day #so finishing this feels monumental despite it not being magnificently long or anything #i'm just really happy with how it FINALLY turned out #and i hope you are too xo happy new year everyone!#the shirt fic

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r2y9s-notartblog · 5 days

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evening/night boop! (how are you doing?)

morning boop! (i've lost track of the time whoops!)

I'm doing well! have a cat butt!

#replies #uygfiug #not my cat but he is when i'm there lmaoooo #my friend's cat his name is Witcher! he's very cuddly!#the more allergic to cats you are the more he wants to cuddle with you!#to the chagrin of the friend of said friend who often comes by for video games with us #i uh. may have impulsively submitted an application to a communitiy college.#i haven't taken college classes in 8 years haha #but i was like ok i have a BS in art but what if i got an AS in forensic science huh #wouldn't that be cool #i'm just out here about to start collecting degrees orz #also can i even pay for it? even if it's part time?#financial aid save me #fuck if i'm gonna apply for another damn loan after i just paid my last one off #ANYWAYS got into a new video game and it's eating at my brain but at least i've got some great art inspo coming in #i never stay in a fandom for long which is why i never publish any of my fics bc i'm in a new fandom before i can even finish the fic lmaooo #i hope you're doing well! i think ur classes started up again?#gl and take care of yourself!#take breaks and eat and all that u know how it is

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non-un-topo · 9 months

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Icky and gloomy vibes, weehee! <333

#sage writes #nicky eats very much like a medieval man lol. so what if there's mold on one spot? it's still good!#i realize i have given zero context for this sdfghjgfds. fic is VERY old. but this part is brand new.#i'm hoping to have it finished and posted for halloween but i don't want to jinx it lol #the boys are solving a murder mystery in Bruges babey. and they're bad at it. they're always bad at it when i write mysteries dfdghfd #i'll just gives clues here by listing the films and things that inspired this fic a year ago:#the lighthouse / in bruges / midnight mass / dracula / shutter island / men / repulsion / jacob's ladder.#i like my sicko movies #anyway i'm just caffeinated and having fun lol. posting this before i'm too embarrassed not to.

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treacherous-talks · 4 months

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‘What do you mean he’s leaving?' Coco says.

‘I’ll be back tomorrow,’ Hector assures her, taking her hand and nodding eagerly, repetitively, a gesture that belays his youth. ‘I’ll be back tomorrow, I promise.’

Imelda stands tall in the doorway, her arms crossed across her chest. Her shoulders aren’t hunched - of course not - but there’s something in her stern face, the stubborn purse of her mouth. Coco blinks.

They’re not together, she realises slowly.

Or: despite the truth being revealed, Coco’s parents haven’t resolved their issues before her arrival in the land of the dead. She intends to fix that.

#here we go! we’re gonna speed run this fic #it’s basically entirely finished #just proof reading for typos #I know the title is overdone lolol #but like #how could I call this anything else??#I have been SAVING this title for a coco fic #for YEARS #it had to be #listen to work song and tell me it’s not perfect?#I am nervous #I haven’t written for a new fandom in years!#but I hope y’all enjoy 😘#coco 2017 #Imelda Rivera #hector rivera #fanfiction #treacheroustalks

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trajektoria · 3 months

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Chapters: 22/? Fandom: Mass Effect: Andromeda, Mass Effect Trilogy, Silent Hill (Video Game Series) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death Relationships: Male Ryder | Scott/Reyes Vidal, Ryder/Reyes Vidal Characters: Male Ryder | Scott, Reyes Vidal, Jaal Ama Darav, Peebee (Mass Effect), SAM (Mass Effect), Tempest Crew (Mass Effect), Alec Ryder, Female Ryder | Sara Additional Tags: Psychological Horror, Sexual Themes, Gore, Monsters, Psychological Torture, Scott Whump, Madness, Regret, Guilt, Violence, Distressing imagery, Adult Content, Angst, Homophobia, Family Issues, Bullying, Minor Character Death, Silent Hill - Freeform, Child Abuse, Child Death, Body Horror, irreality Summary:

In my restless dreams, I see that town. Silent Hill.

Reyder Silent Hill AU. A few months after the fateful confrontation with Sloane Kelly when Scott Ryder shot at Reyes Vidal – his lover and the infamous Charlatan – he suddenly gets an email from him. Reyes is waiting for him in a place called Silent Hill and urges him to come and find him. Will Scott, broken and full of regret, be able to reunite with his past love or is there something more sinister at play?

It is not necessary to know anything about the Silent Hill series to follow the plot and enjoy this fic. However, be mindful that this is a psychological horror story, dealing with distressing imagery, dark themes and adult content. Scott is in for quite a journey and so are the readers. Keep the tags in mind but also remember that there is often a reward at the end for all the suffering.

#new chapter is up!#mass effect #mass effect andromeda #reyes vidal #scott ryder #i wish i updated more often than once a year lol RIP #hope to actually finish this fic this year #everything is written #i just need to edit stuff #not much left

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rosemelodyshah · 4 months

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Finish you things December

I did terribly. I wanted to do a lot (and didn't do much of anything).

What I did do is post December PF Microfics (@hpfanficsworld has the link of all 4 websites on which it was posted).

I have a more Dec PF microfics that I'll finish and do some other time..

I started writing two more fics, one for a new friend I made on Wattpad (who I will mention) and one which I wanted to do forever and @lostwriter--xx3 helped me start (Thanks for that!!), both of these will be up soon.

I have also made a couple chps for one of my squares of PF bingo (that I hope to post before June, but we'll see) [I chose the stupidest way to do it, but tht's how my mind works].

Also started to organise my WIPs (once again).

Overall, I could have done more in December, but I'm happy with what I've done.

Also I learned a very valuable lesson this year: Don't post anything unless it's done.

And made new friends this year!

Overall, I have lots of WIPs for 2024, and also I still have to start just.. not starting new fic ideas with the 25+ (I've lost count) WIPs I have. And I have a Plan for 2024 (which is good, if I can follow it [don't know bout that])

#Finish ur stuff Dec #Could have done better but...#I happy #New year #PF is gon' get lots more fic next year #I hope #I have a plan

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e77y · 2 months

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Seriously need to make more friends or go outside more (both things are easier said than done) bc I am a little bit tired of relying on content creation for attention and connection :(

#idk I think I just miss how accessible attention from friends was in high school and even last year in college #but now I’m an online student and I live in the middle of nowhere so it’s a lot harder to hang out with people irl #and idk I just finished all of my schoolwork for the day and thought ‘I’m really bored and want to talk to somebody etc’#and my first thought was ‘I should work on a new fic so people will comment on it’ 😭#which! I do love comments! but also I need to talk to people outside of AO3 comments yk? lmao 😭#I sort of miss the year-ish long era of COVID lockdown bc I was constantly on calls with like ten different friend groups #maybe it’s my self isolation or maybe adulthood is just like this? idk #I’m moving in with friends next semester so I think that will be good for me #I just wanna make online friends man :( but idk how to DO that except by making fandom content #and hoping somebody likes it enough to slowly incorporate me into their life LMAO #I wish calls/voice memos were the norm in online spaces I’m so much better at those #anyway this is very pathetic to post but whatever. I’m trying to get used to being vulnerable on this blog #not that I owe it to people online to be vulnerable. if anything I should NOT be vulnerable on the internet #it’s just that. I am not very vulnerable period. so it’s better for me to air it out into the online void than to bottle it up forever #ellyposting #vent #ish? just to be safe

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iglooracing · 1 year

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watching content from the singapore gp weekend i really started to feel like wow seb is leaving and i’m sure seb started to feel that way too, hence the vibes of this drabble. seb and charles just need each other and this one and things finally get a bit more spicy thank you for your patience if you were waiting for that lol.

// singapore gp 2022 //

charles is scrolling through his phone on his bed when seb flops down on top of him with an exaggerated huff, damp curls splaying over charles bare chest.

charles huffs out a laugh and wraps an arm around seb’s shoulders. “feel better?”

“mm, much,” seb mumbles against charles’ chest. “could be even better though.”

“oh really?” charles asks. “and what would make this better for you?”

seb raises his head and waggles his eyebrows at charles suggestively.

charles rolls his eyes but he can feel himself starting to blush. seb is so charming without even trying and it’s so frustrating sometimes, particularly if charles is on the receiving end of that flirtatious smirk seb’s giving him now.

“you just got out of the shower,” charles reasons, but as soon as he says it he wonders why he’s trying to argue with seb about having sex. especially when seb ‘a hand is starting to trail down charles’ side to the waist band of his briefs.

“yes,” seb replies, voice deadpan even as he starts to press slow, open mouthed kisses up charles’ neck.

charles presses his fingers into the muscles of seb’s back and jolts slightly when seb nips at charles’ ear.

“are you not tired?” charles asks, but his voice definitely has less of a questioning lilt to it than he originally planned to.

“not yet,” seb mumbles against charles’ jaw as he starts to move his hips slowly. “not yet,” seb whispers again.

charles furrows his brow and lifts a hand up to the back of seb’s head to scratch through his damp hair.

“seb, ah-“ charles stutters as seb grinds their hips together, slow and lazy and oh so perfect. like time has slowed down just for them. just for this moment. for this last night together in singapore.

“want you, schatz,” seb whispers and if charles wasn’t so hyper focused on everything seb seb seb as they move together he might not have heard seb adding “i love you” after.

charles feels seb’s grip on his side tighten and seb’s pace pick up so he knows seb is close, but it feels like they’ve been moving together forever and the build up to release has been the slowest, aching burn charles has felt in a while, so he can barely believe it’s going to be over.

but just like that charles’ mind goes blank and all he can feel is seb’s hands on his waist and in his hair, his hands on seb’s back and in his hair, seb’s lips on his neck, seb’s voice against him, mumbling german words charles can’t quite understand yet.

“what are you saying?” charles whispers as he tries to catch his breath. he knows it’s probably just because they’re coming down from a post orgasm high, but he thinks he feels seb’s heart skip.

“it’s over,” seb whispers, his voice barely audible. “it’s ending.”

charles wraps his arms tighter around seb’s shoulders and holds him close. he holds on for dear life to keep seb from overthinking and worrying them both.

“not everything,” his whispers back.

it’s quiet for a moment and charles thinks he’s managed to quell seb’s thoughts when he hears, “how do you know?”

the truth is he doesn’t. he knows how he feels about seb and how seb feels about him, but they’ve always had each other like this. he wishes he could say with confidence that he knows this won’t change, but he can’t lie to seb. not about this.

“i don’t,” charles replies honestly. “but you have to have faith.”

seb hums against charles’ neck, but he doesn’t pull away. charles rolls them so that they’re lying side by side on the bed. they’ll need to get up to shower off again, charles can already feel the sheen of sweat forming on his body from their lazy sex, but right now he just wants to feel close to seb and wants seb to feel close to him.

seb rubs their noses together and charles smiles as his eyes drift closed.

“do you have faith?” seb asks after a beat.

“in some things, yes,” charles replies without hesitation. “in things that mean something to me, absolutely,” he adds.

when he opens his eyes he sees seb’s glassy eyes staring back at him.

“absolutely,” he whispers again before leaning in to give seb a kiss.

seb kisses back harder without any hesitation.

#THESE DRABBLES ARE SO DELAYED I AM SO SORRY #this fall was wild for me #but now i have more downtime and no current races to catch up on lol #so i’ll def be trying to finish those before the new year at the latest #maybe before xmas so i can write xmas drabbles hmmmm #anyway i hope you enjoy if you read!! <3 #sebchal #sebchal drabble #f1 fic #f1 drabble #formula 1 drabble #drabble #sebchal fic #my writing

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