#Secret Covert!Scorch

[cjorgens2022]

when I fell asleep at 3:00 in the afternoon and awoke at 8:00, I dreamt that Scorch is actually a deep-cover agent for Rex. And being a trained clone commando, he hides his intentions very very well. What I can recall is that Scorch has hidden guilt about taking Omega away but he had no choice but to do his duty and that he was secretly glad she and Crosshair had escaped Weyland and Mount Tantiss. What I can recall is that, as Omega escaped; Scorch would mutter to himself “stay safe sister. Run away and never look back. It’s a dangerous galaxy out there.”

this could be the start of an idea of mine of which Scorch plays his role as a seemingly subservient clone commando very well!

#Bad Batch Season 3 #Secret Covert!Scorch #Delta Squad #IC-1262 #Omega #Bad Batch #Delta Squad-centric #Weyland #Project X #Royce Hemlock #Emerie Karr #Pabu #Advanced Science Division #Clone Rebellion #Galactic Empire #Coercion #Blackmail #Coerced!Tech #X Assassins #imperial cloning program #Imperial Shadow Agents #Spy!Tech #Shadow Agent!Tech #Crosshair #Imperial Assassins #Shadow Troopers #Imperial Science Officer!Tech #Hemlock Blackmails Tech into becoming an Imperial Scientist #Creepy Hemlock #Weyland Commandos fear Hemlock

[philsmeatylegss]

I’ve seen a few people, mostly non-American, who don’t know who Henry Kissinger is or what he did. So your local history student and nerd is going to try to give a quick summary of the main atrocities he committed.

-Role in the Vietnam War: this is the first and biggest reason most people have for hating Kissinger. He unnecessarily extended and expanded the war prolonging the already frivolous conflict. He purposefully delayed negotiations. He approved large scale carpet bombings done with the use of B-52 bombs killed thousands to millions of innocent civilians. The Christmas Bombing was an intense, focused bombing that caused large civilian deaths in a short period of time. He engaged in negotiations with the North Vietnamese often without permission or knowledge from the US government. He was the National Security Advisor and overall had much knowledge about 1) how useless the war was 2) the travesties happening to both the North Vietnamese and South, as well as America’s own soldiers.

-Secret Bombing and Invasion in Cambodia: Kissinger (and Nixon) lead secret bombing campaigns in Cambodia aimed to destroy North Vietnamese trails and routes that ran through the country. Cambodia originally pursued neutrality in the war. Its citizens were not involved.

-Invasion and Bombing of Laos: Laos also held North Vietnamese routes, so Kissinger led Operation Lam Son which was a full scale invasion supplied with American air power and weapons. Not that it would matter, but this invasion did little to interrupt the trade routes. The North Vietnamese, made up of people who lived and knew the landscape of Vietnam, were able to adapt and find new routes. There was also secret bombings carried out in Laos, authorized by Kissinger, aimed to destroy the Ho Chi Minh trail, which, once again, wasn’t disrupted and just took innocent civilian lives in Laos. Laos also remained neutral in the Vietnam War. They were not involved, yet they were punished.

-Involvement in the Bangladesh Liberation War: this was a war between Bangladesh and Pakistan. Kissinger remained in a close relationship with Pakistan which, by now, was known to be committing horrendous human rights abuses, including large scale killings of the Bangladeshis. In fact, Kissinger and America provided funding for them. America was aligned in the first place because of bullshit Cold War alliances.

-Supporting and funding a dictator over an elected president: Chile had elected a *gasp* socialist president that really made Kissinger piss his pants. Project FUBELT, directly under Kissinger’s guidance, initiated covert actions to undermine and prevent the socialist President, Salvador Allende, from rising to power. Financial support was provided to anti-Allende groups and would eventually provided support to a military coup who would kill Allende. The leader of the coup, Augusto Pinochet, would then assume power and take rule an authoritarian government and become a dictator for 17 years. Under his rule, torture and executions were carried out against political dissidents and others. This wasn’t a secret.

-Supported the brutal invasion of East Timor: Indonesia would invade and occupy East Timor in 1975. Kissinger and Nixon had knowledge of the invasion beforehand and provided military support despite the knowledge of human rights abuses already taking place in East Timor by the Indonesians, abuses often using US weapons. Massacres, forced displacement, suppression of political dissents, torture, sexual abuse, restrictions of religious and cultural practices, and scorched earth policies are just some examples.

To my knowledge, these are usually the largest reasons cited, but please add more if I’m wrong. There are also lesser known atrocities either supported or funded by Kissinger, many taking place in Africa, that I thoroughly implore you to read about. Please correct any inaccurate things I said.

#rae’s rambles #Henry Kissinger #us politics

[akoyaxs]

dark!coriolanus snow, fem!reader

*❆ ͙͛ ˚₊⋆

“So loud,” he whispers, gripping your hips tightly in his hands. “Is that what you want, to get us caught?”

“N- no,” you pant, pushing your hair from your face and wincing as his grip gets yet tighter on your skin. He must be leaving marks now, but you can’t bring yourself to hate the pain.

You hate him enough already.

You hate his stupid smirk and his way with words that ensures his every victory in any regard. You hate his entitledness and most of all the way that even though you hate him this much, so much that every thought and breath and word of his makes your blood blister in your veins, you can never stop this.

How you can’t seem to stay away from him. That the moment the tension and the arguments and the searing, scorching enmity peaks and overflows, this happens.

Lips smashing angrily on one another, pushing each other away into secret corners and covert shadows, pulling the other closer and pressing nearer and it just never is enough to satiate that burn scorching through you.

Layers stripped away with animalistic impatience proves his dire theories; “the world is the arena and when we have the chance, watch how quickly we deteriorate into basic, primal animals”. Clothes tossed impatiently aside, but most of the time it’s a simple unbuckling of belts and hasty, impatient shovings of skirts. Wrinkles left all over the fine crimson fabric of your uniforms.

And the most detestable part of all is how it stops.

The moment of half-glutted silence for you to catch your breaths, bodies still pressed against one another, hair falling unceremoniously into your shining faces, before it all falls away. The heat of the moment that momentarily would steal your blazing hatred would be washed away, and all that was left was the scorching shame of knowing you let this happen.

Again.

He never seemed to see a problem with this unspoken little arrangement. The two of you never spoke about it, never let a single crack sneak into your veneered detestment for each other. He was fine to succumb to the flames when the blaze became too much, and you always seemed to forget that at the heart of it all, he was snow. He was ice.

No matter how hot it got, you’d never melt him.

Behind you, he draws in a deep breath through his nose. His hand snakes its way from its bruising grip holding the soft skin of your hips in place against him, a cold, thin finger reaching to press against the slick heat of your panting lips.

Each hungry, impatient push of his hips tips you closer to the edge. Your mind is nearly blank beyond the numbing burn of his touches, beyond that nagging reminder of the guilt you’ll feel after this. You push it away.

It’s too late now anyway.

You’ll end up doing this again anyway.

You’ll be trapped in this spiral until he ends it; you don’t think you have the strength. Anyway.

Your own sounds sicken you. Grating cries and barely constrained whimpers spilling past your lips, hardly barred by his cold finger.

He feels strangely hot now. Usually – when the two of you aren’t occupied by this impulse, when the two of you are back to your typical enmity – his skin is as cold and pale as snow. He’s haughty, untouchable. Nothing like this flushed, grunting man pushing himself as close and hard towards you, onto you, into you as he can get.

“Shut up,” he pants, his whole hand pressing over his mouth.

You grit your teeth. But you do. You hate that you do. You hate that you can’t help that you do.

You can’t pull yourself together. To slap him away and shout at him like you so desperately want to. To watch those cold blue eyes fill with thoughts and breaths and just plain and simply you. Because he’s all that consumes you now.

Not just with his lips and lust. Even after you break apart and smooth the wrinkles from your uniforms, hiding the searing touches you left across one another, he never leaves from you. He’s burnt into your mind.

So searing it feels like ice. So hard and urgent and pressing it feels like soft, gentle kisses. So dark it’s pure, unadultered white.

Like snow.

*❆ ͙͛ ˚₊⋆

Tagging my darlings:

@hadesbabygurl @wavesarchive @kqlopsia @tadomikiku @ntymavtr @mommyanddadskiller @thehoneymushroomhealer @tsireyax @integers @tiyawnyana @whatevenisagrapefruit @oakbuggy @sunsetviper @blue-slxt @simplyawh0re@yootvi @narwhal-swimmingintheocean @vminlvxr @elegantfankidsoul @blue-slxt @neteyamssyulang @theunfortunateplace @lala-1516 @strongheartneteyam @kiskso @deadpool15 @vampirefilmlover @tysirya @universal-s1ut

#coriolanus snow smut #coriolanus snow #coriolanus x reader #coriolanus fanfiction #tbosas #the hunger games #light angst #smut

[deadsportyguys]

Under the scorching embrace of a hot summer afternoon, Alex, the 21-year-old college swimmer, revelled in the coastal bliss with his girlfriend, Emily. Unbeknownst to him, Emily was a covert operative, dispatched by a rival team to sabotage his athletic prowess.

In the shimmering daylight, Alex and Emily strolled along the shoreline, the sun painting their world in hues of gold and blue. Alex, his sun-kissed skin glistening with a sheen of sweat, shared dreams of future victories in the pool, unknowingly laying bare his ambitions to the very person sent to dismantle them.

That scorching afternoon, they found a secluded spot on the beach. With the relentless sun beating down, Alex lay on a blanket, his arms crossed underneath his head. The heat radiated from the sand, and Emily, feigning a desire to cool him down, produced a syringe containing a potent, untraceable toxin from her concealed pocket.

As the sun blazed overhead, Emily carefully injected the lethal substance into Alex's left armpit. His muscles, defined by years of dedicated training, tensed momentarily before succumbing to the silent intruder. The poison, unseen beneath the sun-kissed surface, infiltrated his veins like a viper striking in the heat of the day.

Unbeknownst to the other beachgoers basking in the summer warmth, Emily, maintaining her composure, slipped the syringe back into her pocket. The relentless heat masked the subtle sounds of the injection, as Alex, oblivious to the treachery, continued to gaze at the ocean waves, dreaming of victories that would never come.

As the afternoon unfolded, the sun cast its unyielding rays upon the beach, and Emily, her betrayal complete, feigned concern over Alex's lifeless form. Tears mingled with sweat on her cheeks as the waves carried the secrets of espionage away.

In the aftermath, under the relentless summer sun, Emily vanished into the crowds, leaving no trace of her involvement. The news of Alex's sudden demise spread like wildfire, casting a shadow over the college swimming community. The rival team celebrated their calculated victory, their espionage tactics proving brutally effective under the harsh scrutiny of the summer sun.

The beach, now a stage for a tragedy painted in shades of betrayal and deception, held the secrets of that scorching afternoon—where dreams were shattered, and a young athlete's life was extinguished in the heat of a calculated betrayal.

…

Just one day later, the news of Alex's sudden demise echoed through the corridors of the college sports community. As the sun continued to beat down, casting its relentless glow, Alex's lifeless body lay in state at the college sports centre.

His mates, fellow swimmers, and friends gathered to pay their respects, their faces etched with a mix of disbelief and sorrow. Clad in their athletic gear, they approached the sombre scene where Alex's body, now a vessel of secrets and betrayal, rested beneath a white shroud.

His well-built physique, a testament to years of dedicated training in the pool, was now on display under the white shroud that covered him. The contours of his athletic form, defined muscles, and chiselled features were still discernible beneath the fabric, a poignant reminder of the vibrant swimmer who once graced the waters.

As his mates filed past to pay their tributes, the stark reality of his lifeless repose accentuated the strength that had defined him. The sun cast a gentle glow on his now-still face, and the hallowed halls of the sports centre bore witness to the physicality that had once propelled him to greatness.

Unaware of the covert machinations that had led to Alex's untimely demise, his mates speculated on the tragedy. The scorching summer day had claimed a fellow athlete, and the whispers of sudden death on holiday with Emily lingered in the air. Their tributes, sincere and heartfelt, painted a picture of a young man who had left them too soon, his dreams of victory in the pool extinguished by an unseen hand.

And so, amidst the hallowed echoes of camaraderie, Alex's lifeless form became a silent reminder of the fleeting nature of athleticism and the abrupt end to a promising journey. The well-built muscles that had once propelled him forward were now immortalized in repose, as the college sports centre transformed into a place of mourning, where tributes were laid at the feet of a fallen comrade, and the summer sun cast its rays on a story untold.

#athlete #leantonedbody #lean muscle #young guy #male heartbeat #cardiac arrest #sports #heartbeat #pecs #sudden death #death #lethal injection #party poison #couple #armpit #swim boy #swimming #swimmers

[mrbexwrites]

Writing Whispers

Accepting @sarahlizziewrites open tag for this, as an excuse to dive into the archives and see how far I've come.

Rules: find a few paragraphs of writing from as long ago as you can. Re-write them how you would now.

Gently tagging @words-after-midnight @queen-tashie @deanwax @cee-grice and offering up an open invite to balance out the one I took! ;)

I actually have a good comparison project from my very first attempt at writing (and finishing) a novel!) It's from an old high fantasy project that I never did quite get round to finishing, but did attempt to re-write one NaNo a few years back.

2003

From where she crouched on her vantage point, Ylarae could survey the entire grounds of the townhouse she now perched upon. Hidden in the shadows of the stone gargoyles that stood as silent protectors against evil, she watched the Numen Warriors make their rounds as guests at the party stepped outside and mingled with one another, quickly heading back indoors when the colder weather forced them back.  Gaining entry to the townhouse had been surprising easy, despite the many guards that patrolled the perimeter. She had, with ease, scaled the wall that lead into a voluptuous rose garden, a skeletal twining of branches in the dead of winter. Keeping to the shadows, she had slipped silently past two of the Numen guards who stood shivering in their boots, trying to pull their thick woolen cloaks tighter about them. Once past the guards, she grabbed hold of the iron cast gutters and used them to scale the thick grey stone walls of the house.  Inside the house, she could hear the soft cadence of the music intermingled with laughter as it filtered through the open windows. The lady of the house was holding a party and Ylarae was using the distraction of the multitude of guests as a disguise to hide her presence within the grounds. Her footprints in the snow were lost within the steps of the partygoers as some sought nightly congress with masked strangers. The suspicion of who stole the necklace would fall on one of the guests, rather than looking outside.  Ylarae smiled despite herself; this was easier than she thought. All she had to do was break in, steal the necklace and then leave it in the hollow of the Hanging Tree in Byre’s Wood where she would find her fee. Ylarae disliked being used in such a menial task and had asked why Gristle could not do it himself. Each time, he merely laughed, a sound almost akin to a bear’s, and told her that she was the one to retrieve it. Despite her loathing of being used as a common thief, Ylarae found it impossible to refuse Gristle’s orders. Just thinking of the necklace caused her to shift with impatience, longing to get her hands on it, and have this menial task completed.   Shifting her weight to ease the cramp on her legs, Ylarae’s crossbow dug into her back. This once again ignited her ire at being used as a mere burglar. She was a highly skilled assassin, one of the best. She was trained in the shadow arts and the secrets of covert killing. But her most valuable abilities she had inherited from her mother.

2021

Her fingers tingled as she knelt atop one of the stone gargoyles that protected the perimeter wall. Carved out of granite, the stonemasons had imbued the stone with magic to ward off evil and protect those who lived inside.  It was an old magic, and ironic that these sentinels were being used to guard the very people who had scorched the earth and were trying to wipe magic from it.  Ylarae ran a gloved hand over the glyph-marks that had been etched into the creature’s head, rendering it nothing more than stone; the magic dissipated.  “What a shame,” she whispered to herself. “You would have stopped me, there is no doubt.”  She slid to a crouch beside the stone beast, hidden in its shadow as she watched the guards make another loop of the skeletal rose garden. In the summer, it would be a sight to behold; a manicured lawn with knee-height hedge mazes, flower beds and the roses that climbed to reach one another across the gravel path, forming an arch.  Light spilled out of the manor house, casting long shadows across the garden. Laughter, music and the sounds of glasses clinking filled the night air.  Gristle had told her to expect a heavily fortified home, given who lived here, but the party had been unexpected. Normally, she would have slunk back into the shadows, and returned later, but an urge, a need, pushed her onwards.  She surveyed the garden once more; she could balance her way along the wall and climb up into the house, but risk being seen by one of the guards. Or she could loop round the garden, which appeared to be the safer option, despite losing her vantage point.  A few guests would come out of the manor to mingle, have a quick stroll or to seek a quiet corner for congress in the shadows. But they never stayed out long, the cold pulling them back inside the house. A light dusting of snow covered the garden, but with wandering couples and the patrolling guards, any footsteps she left behind would be quickly lost amongst others.  As the guards passed once more, she tried to still her heart that was racing in her chest. Her hands trembled at the urgency to get going. Normally on a night like this, when she would be hunting, a placid calm fell upon her, but not tonight; tonight she was filled with electricity and need.  She dropped from the wall, landing silently on the lawn, only a few snowflakes drifting down behind her. On cat-like reflexes, she ran in a low crouch along the perimeter wall, staying to the shadows.  The shutters that hung from the wall, along with the iron-cast gutters made a simple ladder she used to scale the building.  Balancing on a third floor window ledge, she drew one of her twin blades that she kept in her sleeves, and popped the latch open. Her fingertips burned as she wriggled them under the window frame and slid it open enough for her to climb inside.  The third floor of the manor  was dark, and most likely off limits to the guests downstairs.  She stepped hastily away from the window, pressing her back against the wall; the last thing she wanted was to be outlined in the moonlight and easily visible. She knelt behind a dresser and waited for her eyes to adjust. She slipped off her gloves, feeling her heart pound. A cold sweat formed on her brow, which she wiped away, frowning at the perspiration.  The burning sensation in her fingers traveled further up towards her hands, and she balled them into fists trying to stop the feeling. 

#tag game #I used to worry so much about describing every single detail #but have since learned to show not tell #well...i'm still learning that

[ahmementos]

Now You Know This Is What It Feels Like

Febuwhump Day 7 : Made To Watch

Also on Ao3

It felt like forever that all he had to break the monotony of the silence was the shallowness of his breath while he worked through the pain.  In truth, it may have been mere minutes since he’d been dragged from the confines of a metal table he’d been strapped to and bolted into a steel chair in some sort of closed off room that only allowed him a nondescript steel panel on a wall to stare at.  He’d lost track of time since his own government had dragged him to a black ops site, but his best guess was that it had been a week.

The face Leon had been staring at since he managed to rip his stupid covert mask off on the first day still wasn’t ringing any bells to him.  “It seems we aren’t getting anywhere with our current tactics.”  In a week’s time, he still hadn’t managed to figure out who the asshole was that did all the directing of the guards and intelligence agents at his disposal.    

Leon thought he knew every face in the US government, but the team that had been doing their best to work him into a state of compliance was one of their best kept secrets.  “Waterboarding was a nice change of pace.”  He struggled not to cough when he spoke, hair wet and plastered against his face.  “Thought that was reserved for the enemy when not keeping up the lie of it being banned.”

The man in charge motioned in Leon’s direction and the guards double checked the cuffs that held his arms and ankles locked against the metal chair he’d been dumped in.  It, too, was a level of torture in and itself.  He couldn’t control the shivering as his boxer briefs did nothing to prevent the cold steel from sending a chill across his already dampened body.  

“No, after a week of this, it seems we have to play hardball.”

“Shock rods weren’t hardball?”  He hadn’t had a chance to check them out, but the scorch marks on his sides still hurt like a motherfucker.  “I’ll take it as a compliment.”

Agent Fuck Around and Find Out didn’t know when to shut up.  “What we want is for the United States to be able to manage compromised organizations that are not upholding the ideals of morality and decency.”  The strange remote in his hand hadn’t gone unnoticed.

“What you want is for me to infiltrate any organization you can’t control and compromise it so everyone has to come to us for aid.”  Leon wasn’t an idiot.  

The agent put his hand on his chest and feigned shock.  “Anything we’ve done has been to stop corruption before it starts, Agent Kennedy.”

“You want to control the cash flow involved in bioterror cleanup.”  The second the betterment of the United States and the world became kidnapping agents already employed to force them into compliance was the second he stopped believing a damn thing any of them said.  “Go fuck yourself.”

The man pulled a chair over and sat it next to Leon.  “I have something that I think will bring you over to our team.”  Finally, he offered Leon the big reveal by pushing one of the buttons on his remote and grabbed him by the hair and made sure his eyes only had the emerging window and to look at.

What Leon had thought was a reinforced wall slid open and revealed an adjacent room with a man seated in a chair.  His eyes narrowed as he focused on the prone man’s form.  Even with a bag over the man’s head, he knew those thighs intimately.

“He’s got nothing to do with this.”  Strength he swore they’d tortured out of him welled to the surface as his hands balled into fists.  Muscles sore from abuse flexed.  His eyes watched men move closer to Chris’ bound form with more of their favorite party favors and he finally was able to focus on the discoloration points that marred Chris’ skin.  “How long has he been here?”

The agent seemed pleased and laughed lightly.  “Long enough to be too sedated to fight back anymore.”

Leon watched the ends of the shock batons light up in preparation for use and tried to look away.  “Let him go.”  He looked down at the binds and tested them reflexively to no avail.  “He’s got nothing to do with this!”

The agent seated next to him gripped his hair tighter and forced him to settle.  “He has everything to do with this.”  His fingers pressed another button on the remote in his hand and the people on the other side of the glass moved in closer.  “He is the one responsible for BSAA’s conception, right?”

Logic told him that Chris, even sedated, could take it.  He’d been taking it for a week and he was still persevering and Chris was better built for the abuse.  The running joke was always that, if it came down to a torture scenario, Chris would be the one who could take it and not break.  

The difference between a drunken hypothesis and a forced recreation of said hypothesis into an actual experiment was the testing process, seeing the test performed live to prove the point.  “Stop!”  Yelling did nothing except earn his hair a yank and his eyes back in the general viewing range of electroshock therapy gone horribly wrong.  

The torture he'd already been put through was nothing compared to being unable to stop it being done to Chris.

“I will… once I’m sure you understand how important it is to cooperate with us.”  The agent used his grip on Leon’s hair to redirect his eye contact to him for a brief moment.   “I want to make sure you understand how much we want you in on this, Agent Kennedy, and I need you to understand Captain Redfield’s eventual release is tied to your cooperation.”

#Leon Kennedy #Chris Redfield #Chreon #Resident Evil #Febuwhump #FebuwhumpDay7 #Torture

[thingstodotodayinhoustonrwku528]

Houston's Concealed Gems: Free and One-of-a-kind Things to Do Today

Introduction

Are you seeking some amazing and offbeat things to do in Houston today? Look no further! In this article, we will certainly uncover Houston's covert treasures-- those free and special activities that will leave you with unforgettable memories. Whether you're a local or a visitor, these concealed treasures make certain to shock and thrill you. So get your sense of experience and allow's study the best-kept secrets of Houston!

Houston's Concealed Gems: Free and One-of-a-kind Things to Do Today

Houston is a city known for its dynamic culture, varied populace, and world-class destinations. While popular tourist spots like the Space Facility Houston and the Gallery District are must-visit locations, there are a lot of hidden treasures waiting to be uncovered. Right here are some cost-free and unique things to do in Houston today:

1. Check Out the Buffalo Bayou Park

Escape the pressure of the city by taking a walk via Buffalo Bayou Park. This urban oasis offers spectacular sights of midtown Houston, lush eco-friendly rooms, walking routes, and even a skatepark. Pack a barbecue lunch and enjoy it by the banks of the bayou while seeing boats cruise by.

2. Visit the Beer Can House

One of Houston's many eccentric tourist attractions is the Beer Can House. This wayward house is adorned with over 50,000 beer cans, creating a colorful facade that makes certain to catch your eye. Take a self-guided tour of this one-of-a-kind art installation and marvel at the creative thinking behind it.

3. Participate in a Farmer's Market

Support local vendors and uncover fresh fruit and vegetables at one of Houston's many farmer's markets. From locally expanded fruits and vegetables to artisanal products, these markets supply a special buying experience. Don't fail to remember to try some delicious samples along the way!

4. Take a Bike Adventure along the Bayou

Rent a bike and check out Houston's extensive network of bike tracks that run along with the bayous. Really feel the wind in your hair as you pedal via scenic courses, absorbing the elegance of nature within the city limitations. It's a great method to stay active and experience Houston from a various perspective.

5. Discover Road Art in EaDo

Head to the East Downtown (EaDo) area and engage yourself in Houston's things to do in houston today vivid street art scene. Murals and graffiti embellish the walls, telling tales and showcasing neighborhood ability. Take a leisurely stroll and capture some Instagram-worthy shots while valuing this distinct form of metropolitan art.

6. Check out Houston's Underground Tunnels

Did you understand that Houston has a considerable network of below ground tunnels? These passages link many midtown buildings, supplying an awesome retreat from the warmth throughout those scorching summertime. Take a self-guided trip and find concealed shops, dining establishments, and also art installations along the way.

FAQs concerning Houston's Hidden Gems: Free and Distinct Points to Do Today

Q: What are some free things to do in Houston today? A: Some free things to do in Houston today include exploring Buffalo Bayou Park, checking out the Beer Can House, going to a farmer's market, taking a bike adventure along the bayou, discovering road art in EaDo, and exploring Houston's below ground tunnels.

#Youtube

[seznam1]

Special Boat Service (SBS): Britain's Elite Maritime Special Forces

The Special Boat Service (SBS) is one of the most elite and secretive special forces units in the world. Born from the shadows of World War II, this British unit has evolved into a formidable force known for its unmatched maritime expertise and daring missions. In this article, we will delve into the history, training, and operational capabilities of the Special Boat Service, shedding light on the extraordinary men who serve in its ranks.

Origins and History

The roots of the SBS can be traced back to 1940 when a small group of British commandos, inspired by Winston Churchill's vision of a specialized maritime force, formed the Special Boat Section. Their primary objective was to conduct hit-and-run raids on German-occupied ports and coastal installations. As the war progressed, the unit expanded its operations, including reconnaissance missions, beach reconnaissance for D-Day, and sabotage behind enemy lines.

After the war, the SBS was disbanded but later reformed in 1952, evolving into the modern-day Special Boat Service. Since its revival, the SBS has been involved in numerous conflicts and operations worldwide, including the Falklands War, Gulf War, Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq, solidifying its reputation as a premier special forces unit.

Selection and Training

Becoming a member of the SBS is an arduous and highly competitive process. Prospective candidates are drawn from the Royal Marines and must first pass the Royal Marines Commando Course, considered one of the most physically and mentally demanding military training programs in the world. Once selected, candidates undergo the Special Forces Selection, a grueling month-long assessment designed to test their endurance, leadership, and ability to operate under extreme conditions.

After successfully completing the selection process, candidates move on to the Special Boat Service Initial Maritime Training, which includes navigation, boat handling, and diving. The SBS is renowned for its amphibious capabilities, and candidates are trained to operate in a wide range of maritime environments, from freezing Arctic waters to the scorching deserts of the Middle East.

Operational Capabilities

The SBS is known for its versatility and ability to execute a wide range of missions, including counter-terrorism, reconnaissance, sabotage, and direct action. One of their most notable roles is maritime counter-terrorism, where they excel in tasks such as boarding ships to rescue hostages or eliminate threats. Their expertise extends to submarine operations, where they are trained to insert and extract personnel from submarines, often in hostile environments.

The SBS is also a key player in intelligence-gathering missions, conducting covert reconnaissance deep behind enemy lines. Their proficiency in underwater demolition and explosive ordnance disposal makes them valuable assets for disrupting enemy infrastructure and destroying critical targets. In addition, the SBS often operates in tandem with the Special Air Service (SAS) to provide a comprehensive special operations capability.

Notable Operations

The SBS has been involved in numerous high-profile operations that have solidified their reputation as elite warriors of the sea. One of the most famous operations was during the Falklands War in 1982 when SBS teams conducted covert beach reconnaissance and provided critical intelligence for the successful British amphibious assault.

During the Gulf War in 1991, SBS teams played a pivotal role in disabling Iraqi naval forces, ensuring the safety of coalition naval operations. In more recent conflicts, such as Afghanistan and Iraq, the SBS conducted special operations missions, including capturing high-value targets and disrupting insurgent networks.

For More Info:-

Nick day

Special Boat Service

Special Boat Service

Special Boat Service

[phasmwrites]

cratus || bakugou katsuki

↠ Κράτος (Cratus or Kratos): the Ancient Greek personification of strength, might, and power.

Pairing: Bakugou Katsuki x Female!Reader Warnings: Smut (18+), Blood, Degradation, Dirty Talk, Temperature Play,  Burning, Quirkplay, HEROES RISING SPOILERS, Slight Choking Word Count: 4152 A/N: I just want to give a special shoutout to Bella @ramen-rambles​ for helping me so much with this and giving me ideas & Sabs @brattyquirks​ for encouraging me and reassuring me that it’s decent I love both of you so so much!!! Gentle reminder that this contains MAJOR SPOILERS to Heroes Rising so read at your own risk. Please lmk your thoughts 🥺

It had been four years since Bakugou Katsuki obtained one of the greatest powers his body had ever cultivated. Four years since he shared the embers of One For All with Deku and defeated the villain known as Nine.

He never recollected his memories of the events that transpired, but Deku and his slippery tongue were destined to reveal the truth to him eventually. Maybe his childhood rival would have taken this secret to his grave if it weren’t for what they had witnessed a year after their hero work on Nabu Island. 

The pair had been assigned by their agencies to go on a covert mission with one another overseas a year after they graduated from Yuuei. Bakugou was less than enthralled at the prospect of having to work alongside Deku, but he accepted nonetheless. 

Everything had been normal, from the planning to the scouting to the actual infiltration, hell even the fights with most of the villains were mundane. It wasn’t until one of them overpowered Bakugou, shoving him harshly onto the concrete ground as their boot grounded into his spine. 

When Deku responded to Bakugou’s distress signal, he was speechless at the sight before him. Although older and more mature, the hero could only recognize a mirror image of Bakugou from Nabu Island. With a renowned power, Bakugou managed to turn the tables and incapacitate the villain as sparks emitted from his body. 

“What the fuck is happening to me?!” He snapped his head towards Deku, his electric eyes widened in actual fear. Just as quickly as the power of One For All overwhelmed him though, it had vanished and Bakugou fell unconscious onto the hard ground.    

The conversation the pair had on the flight back was anything but ideal for either of them, but it was 34,000 feet in the air that Bakugou learned the truth of what had occurred during their safety program.

“It’s similar to how All Might was still able to use it even after transferring it to me…” Deku tapped his chin, thinking back to their high school years, “You’re just going to have to wait until the embers of One For All go out.”

The ash-blonde grunted, arms crossed over his chest as he peered out the private jet’s window. It was hard, to put in layman's terms, for him to fully comprehend the notion of him ever wielding the same quirk as his idol.  

Bakugou managed to use it only a handful of times in the next few years, frustrated beyond belief at how much of a toll it took on his body every single time. It was out of his control when the burst of energy would consume him but it always occurred during an intense battle.

Only one thing was there for him when he would arrive home suffering withdrawals from the aftershocks of those battles, you. You were his girlfriend of now two years, after meeting through Kirishima, and you always took care of him after each and every battle he endured and persevered through.

It was one of those evenings where Bakugou craved the comfort of your company, having spent the day surrounded by people who did nothing but agitate him. He was turning the knob to his apartment door when his wrist suddenly twisted the metal ball off entirely. The familiar flame ignited inside of him, bursting with an inextinguishable amount of power and strength.

“Really? Now? Of all fucking times?!” He snarled to himself, shoving the knob back onto its handle before kicking the door open in frustration. 

You jumped at the sound of the wooden door meeting the wall, nearly dropping the wooden spoon in your grasp, “Katsuki? Is that you?”

When he shuffled into the kitchen, he watched your shoulders slouch and relax at the sight of him. Bakugou could smell your cooking, the aroma of his favorite spices overwhelming his senses. You were adorned in one of his tank tops and a pair of shorts that revealed just the bottom of your ass, his cock twitching at the sight.

“What shitty food are you making this time?” He walked over to you and loomed over your shoulder, glancing down at the meal you were currently preparing. He could feel the flames inside of him threatening to combust as your perfume invaded his nostrils. 

You softly hummed, “Your favorite, I could tell by your texts you were having a bad day.”

His arms curled themselves around you from behind, nuzzling his nose affectionately into your shoulder. Bakugou wasn’t sure how he got so lucky with someone like you by his side, his emotions getting the better of him. The longer his thoughts swarmed with you, the more intense the inferno inside of him blazed with power. 

Of course, you were blissfully unaware of his current predicament, having never witnessed it for yourself. As you mixed the vegetables into the pot, you rolled your hips back against his crotch in hopes of enticing a reaction out of him. 

It was like a thumb flickering over a lighter as the fire inside of him roared, Bakugou stumbling back from your overwhelming presence. His breathing went shallow, fingers harshly clutching the counter-top behind him as he tried to focus on anything but the surging electric currents flowing through him. 

“Katsuki? What’s wrong?” You hastily turned the stove off, allowing the food to simmer as you rushed over to your boyfriend. The feeling of your hand laid delicately on his shoulder wasn’t enough to keep him grounded, his breathing releasing in quick successions. 

“That damn thing still hasn’t-!” Bakugou spun around and clenched his fist as the counter-top met its demise, crumbling into pieces when his knuckles connected with the marble, “It still hasn’t fucking gone away!” 

You rushed over, taken aback to see that his hand that had just shattered stone was seemingly in mint condition, “Hey-”

Sparks began to bounce and dissipate off of him, your jaw snapping shut and your eyes widening in confusion. His own vermilion pair began to distort as he finally turned to meet your concerned visage, appearing as if lightning had struck straight through his irises. Although this sudden change in your boyfriend was lost on you, you reached your palm up to press against his jaw. You hoped this delicate touch could ground him, but it resulted in quite the opposite.

Bakugou’s lips and teeth crashed against your mouth, coaxing you into a passionate kiss that had your toes curling beneath you. He felt stronger, rougher than usual as his fingertips dug into your hips with a renowned strength that you had never experienced before. His body was scorching to the touch, small pink indents forming where his fingertips met your skin. 

Just as your hands flew up to seek purchase in his ash-blonde locks, his hair began to practically levitate as it illuminated a yellow glow. Your mind went blank the moment his body surged forward and pinned you harshly against the nearest wall. The dry plaster crumbled from the might Bakugou applied to your figure, a sharp gasp escaping past your lips. 

Before your head met an untimely fate in the same vein as your spine, he had preemptively secured you with his arm that was suddenly larger in mass than you recalled. His tongue finally invaded your mouth while his muscular thigh forced your legs apart so he could wedge himself between them.

The wet muscle of his tongue was sweltering hot, the heat making it feel like your taste-buds were being seared off as he glided it over yours. Bakugou was panting into your mouth the entire time, his small cries of distress not falling on deaf ears. You could only focus on so much though as your eyebrows furrowed from the variety of aches and pains your body was experiencing.

“Katsuki…” You managed to detach your mouth from his as you whimpered out his name. Listening to the animalistic growl that erupted from his throat in detest, you pushed further, “Come on, talk to me-” 

His bruised lips surged down to your neck instead, branding you with a trail of burning bite marks. Suddenly Bakugou’s thigh grinded itself against your clothed heat, eliciting frenzied moans from your throat.   

If it had just been his secret to share, Bakugou would have told you by now; he would have explained how the embers of One For All still lingered inside of him even after all of this time. He would have tried to make you understand that in order for him to extinguish the raging inferno inside of him, he needed to release it somehow.

Every other time it had occurred Bakugou was in the midst of an intense fight, making it easy for him to let go of the abundance of energy that surged through him. This time, however, he was suffocated in a one-bedroom apartment with his girlfriend whom he hadn’t been intimate with in weeks. 

“Do you trust me?” He refused to glance up at you, burying his nose further into where your neck and shoulder met as he mumbled out the words. There was only one way he could think of to relieve himself of both his erection and the fire burning within him.

You swallowed a heavy lump in your throat you didn’t realize was present until you tried to speak, “Of course I trust you, but Katsuki-”

“Please baby…” He practically begged, meeting your concerned eyes with his electric gaze, “One day I’ll fucking explain everything, just not today.” 

There was a distinct urgency in his tone, as if he were unsure of his own actions. You may not have been aware of what was occurring, but you were determined to aid him nonetheless.

Accepting his plea with a curt nod, you glanced down and felt yourself grow even warmer at the sight of his cock outlined in his sweatpants. Bakugou sighed, attempted to relieve his painful erection by grinding himself into your thigh. 

“Katsuki...” You whisper just loud enough for him to pick up on, “Let me try and help you.” You allow your hand to blaze down his body until you could curl your fingers around his throbbing length. He hissed in response, bucking into your palm as you stroked him through the thin fabric. 

The harder your grip, the heavier Bakugou’s breaths passed through his parted lips, “Please, please, fucking please-”

In the two years you’d been with the pro-hero, you had never seen his resolve melt away so easily. You were surprised to hear him incessantly beg while slamming his sweaty hands against the wall behind your head. The plaster continued to crumble from the harsh contact and slight use of his quirk. If his distorted eyes weren’t hungrily peering into you, you may have attempted to look at the damages. 

Those same eyes watched as you let go of him, sliding down the wall until you were level with his straining erection instead. You hooked your fingers into the waistband of his sweats, yanking them down while narrowly avoiding being smacked in the face with his cock.

The head was an angry purple tone, his thick precum dripping onto the wooden floor beneath your knees. It was blatantly obvious that whatever was happening to his body had affected him everywhere, your eyes wide at how long and thick he had become.

“Come on!” Bakugou whined impatiently, growing irate with every second you spent ogling his cock instead of actually touching him, “I can’t fucking wait anymore!”   

 With every passing moment his body was reaching new levels of vigor, nearly becoming too much for him to keep under control. To seek some sort of purchase, he entangled his fingers in your hair and pulled hard. Your lips parted to release a gasp, giving him the opportunity he needed to shove his cock down your throat in one fell swoop.

Tears immediately pricked the corners of your eyes at the intrusion, your throat constricting around his massive girth. When your nose just grazed his pubic bone, Bakugou tossed his head back and howled out in pleasure. You had that brief moment to collect yourself before he tightened his grip on your scalp and began thrusting in and out of your wet cavern.

“Look at me.” He choked out and you obeyed, tears now trailing down your cheekbones from your wide doe-eyes. His teeth latched themselves onto his bottom lip, watching the way he fucked your mouth as his balls smacked your chin with every jerk of his hips. 

Electricity was sprouting off of his body, vanishing only seconds after it appeared while he increased his pace. Your jaw was aching from the assault your mouth was enduring, fearing that it was going to snap apart from the inhumane size of Bakugou’s cock. Despite that, an accumulation of saliva and precum managed to spill past your lips, the sight of you so debauched finally sending him over the deep end. 

“You like my fat cock hah?” He growled out during a particularly rough thrust into your mouth, smirking at the sounds of you gagging around his head, “You’re such a fucking whore, letting me use you as I damn well please.”

His snap in demeanor and filthy words only spurred you on, as it always did whenever the two of you were intimate. A low moan reverberated around his length, your legs rubbing together in an attempt to alleviate your own soaked cunt. 

Bakugou quickly averted his attention from fucking your face to the way you were gyrating your hips in search of some sort of relief, but only for a moment, “Do you want my big fucking cock inside your pretty pussy, baby?” 

“Hmph-” You grunted, trying to respond despite having a mouth full of his cock. 

He merely laughed at your pathetic attempt to speak, his chuckles lacking actual amusement, “Pathetic bitch, I don’t think you’ve earned it yet.”

Your hair fell back down as he released his hold on your scalp, pulling his cock from your exhausted mouth. Just as your jaw began to relax, he filled the empty void with his thumb instead. Bakugou applied pressure on your abused tongue, forcing your jaw to stay slack as he used his other hand to jerk himself off. 

“That’s it baby, I’m gonna cum all over that pretty face.” His hand was moving at a supernatural pace as he stroked his cock, the movements blurring in front of your very eyes. Grunts dissolved into elongated moans as thick, scorching hot ropes of cum coated your face and tongue. Your eyes squeezed shut the entire time, only listening to the deep guttural noises coming from Bakugou. 

Just as you were positive he had finished releasing his entire load on you, your eyes opened only to see Bakugou glaring menacingly at his still erect cock. 

“Are you fucking kidding me?!” He snarled, his teeth gritted so harshly you feared he was going to chisel  away at them. You slowly stood up, forcing his gaze to focus on your cum-stained complexion instead. The thick white substance drooled down your face, your hand reaching up to gather it on your fingers.

Bakugou watched you swipe at his cum before shoving two digits into your mouth and swirling your tongue around them. Your half-lidded eyes never left his, repeating the action multiple times until you had gotten most of it off of your face. The energy flowing through him was chipping at his senses and you were doing nothing but encouraging him to lose control.

“You’re just fucking asking for it, aren’t you?” He finally spoke up, seething as he suddenly reached down to lift you off of your feet and over his broad shoulder before storming back into the kitchen.

“Katsuki!” You shouted in protest, but your voice died in your throat the moment you heard his palm begin to crackle. His hand came down on your ass hard, burning through the material of your shorts as the tattered pieces fell to the floor like leaves in autumn. This wasn’t the first time he had used his quirk to spank you, but god was there a flaming intensity to it that you hadn’t experienced before this day. 

When he set you back down onto your own two feet, you were violently ripped out of your tank top and bent over the part of the marble countertop that hadn’t been done in by his fist. Bakugou laid his hand on your scalp again, forcing your cheek to press against the cold stone while he kicked your legs apart with his foot.

“Oh?” He crooned, licking his lips at the sight of your glistening pussy clenching at seemingly nothing, “Do you enjoy when I treat you like a cheap whore? Does that make your pussy wet, baby?” 

You didn’t respond, too overwhelmed by his burning fingers as they danced along your welted ass cheek. It had felt like electrical currents were being emitted on your skin everywhere Bakugou touched you. 

“Answer me!” He snapped, pulling you out of your lust-consumed daze as his explosive palm made direct contact with your cunt. 

You wailed out in pain, clawing at the marble beneath you as he spanked you once more, “Yes!”

“Yes?” Bakugou yanked on your hair at the same time he began to grind his engorged cock against your wet cunt, “Yes what?”

“I love when you treat me like a cheap whore!” Your voice was strained as you choked out the words, feeling him throb between your legs at your submission. 

Leaning back, Bakugou began to align his cock with your entrance, just barely pressing the head in between your lips, “Ready?”

You were taken aback at his sudden question, forcing your head to turn to get a glimpse at his complexion. He was panting heavily, perspiration accumulating on his forehead causing his ash-blonde locks to stick to his sweaty skin. Deformed red eyes watched you with bated breath; he knew when he finally let himself go he would lose all control.

“Fuck me, Katsuki.” You begged, pushing your ass back enough for the head of his cock to slip inside of you with ease, “Use me, please.”

A part of him wished you hadn’t said that, his entire body beginning to pulse at the prospect of using what was remaining of One For All to fuck you into oblivion. His hands gripped your waist at the same time he sheathed his cock inside of you, smoke beginning to rise from where his fingers were branding your soft skin. The both of you cried out unison, yours in immeasurable pain and his in absolute euphoria. 

Your walls greedily clenched around his massive girth as he stretched you wide open, your eyes rolling to the back of your skull when he managed to bottom out inside of you. How his cock had nearly doubled in size made absolutely no sense to you, but your mind was too cloudy to dwell on your thoughts anymore. 

“Oh, fuck yes!” Bakugou grunted, setting a brutal pace as he began to fuck you into the kitchen counter, “Your pussy is clinging to me so fucking good.”

Every jerk of his hips dug you further into the marble in front of you, your skin beginning to bruise in multiple locations from how hard his hips were meeting your ass. Suddenly, the electricity began to flicker until the lights in the apartment had gone out altogether. 

The darkness attempted to engulf the both of you, but his body was so charged with power he began to illuminate the small space with the sparks emitting from his skin. One of his hands slid down from your waist, his body leaning forward so that he could press two scorching fingers against your swollen clit.

“Ah! Holy shit!” Your voice cracked, his digits rubbing tight circles against the sensitive bud, “P-Please Katsuki, I can’t...it’s too hot!” 

Bakugou snarled like a wild animal, quickening the pace of both his cock and fingers while digging into your hip with his other hand. His nails easily broke through your skin, small trails of crimson blood rolling off of you and splattering onto the tiled floor. 

“Come on, shitty woman, fucking cum for me!” Your legs were shaking from the oncoming orgasm that was threatening to snap inside of you, the only noises in the room being his fervent growling and your small gasps for air. The orgasm that crashed into you had you screaming his name until your throat went hoarse, Bakugou’s cock slipping out of you as your pussy gushed out with your release.

Seven seconds, that was all you were given before your boyfriend spun you around and lifted you onto the kitchen counter instead. The cool marble stung your behind and a dull throb was present where he had cut into your skin with his fingernails. 

You weren’t given any time at all to dwell on the pain before Bakugou yanked your hips just barely over the edge of the counter and shoved his entire length back inside of you. From this position, you were able to meet his raging gaze as he pistoned his hips in and out of your fluttering cunt.

Bakugou was finally reaching closer to his end, his cock twitching on occasion while he furiously pounded into you. A particularly rough thrust had him nearly over the edge, his body shoving you back with so much force the wooden cabinet behind your head fell apart. 

A vast variety of cups and plates began to slide out and shatter onto the floor, your brain growing dizzy from the impact. He was relentless though, acting ignorant towards the dinnerware that was falling around him. The only thing Bakugou was focused on was how painful his cock was getting from the need to release himself. 

Bringing his hand down one more time, Bakugou began to stimulate your abused clit in hopes that he could get you to orgasm a second time, triggering his own in tandem. You screeched at the over-stimulation, desperately wiggling your hips in a feeble attempt to quell his actions. 

“I can’t!” Tears began to roll down your cheeks as you wept; you had never looked so beautiful in his distorted eyes.

“You can!” He snapped back, reaching one hand up and curling his fingers around your neck without ever halting his ministrations on your clit, “You can and you will.”

It didn’t take much more for your second orgasm to crest over and have your vision flashing white, finding yourself unable to do anything but silently scream as your walls clamped down on Bakugou’s cock. The onslaught of pressure finally broke the coil within his abdomen, his orgasm flooding through his body as he sobbed from the intensity. 

Attempting to dull his shouting, Bakugou leaned down and sank his teeth into where your neck and shoulder met. You whimpered from the impact, feeling your warm blood as it trailed down your body and rolled over your breast. Ropes of searing hot cum pumped into your bruised cunt, his cock finally beginning to transform back into its normal length and girth.

As the last spurts released inside of you, the ember that was One For All had finally been expelled from Bakugou’s body. He managed to barely keep himself awake, his half-lidded vermilion eyes quickly snapping open when he realized you had fallen unconscious. 

Silently, he gathered your abused body into his shaking arms, slowly stepping around the shattered ceramics and glassware in the destroyed kitchen. The lights suddenly came back to life in the apartment, truly exposing the mess that had become both his home and you. 

When he brought the two of you into your shared bedroom, Bakugou refused to cast a single gaze into his reflection in the dresser’s mirror. He knew what his appearance had become, blood and sweat smeared over his complexion.

Your body sunk into the mattress the moment he laid you down, fighting the urge to wrap his arms around you and clutch you close into his chest. Just as he began to retreat to the living room in shame, your delicate hand wrapped itself around his wrist.

“Hold me…Katsuki…” You slurred out, barely conscious as your soft eyes stared up at him pleadingly.

Bakugou sighed, climbing into bed with you against his better judgement before sliding you slowly into his embrace, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He was taken aback at the way you dismissed what was a rare apology from the ash-blonde, “Are you feeling better?” 

“Y-Yeah, I fuckin’ guess but-”

You grabbed his hand that had been draped over your tired figure, intertwining your fingers with his, “Then everything’s okay.”

Taking those words to heart, Bakugou allowed himself to fall asleep that night, reminded of just how lucky he truly was to have you in his life and by his side.

#bakugou x reader #bakugou katsuki x reader #phasm.writings #bakugo x reader #bakugo katsuki x reader #bnha x reader #mha x reader

[justasparkwritings]

Codename Cupid: Chapter 22

Previous: The Final Notice 

Pairing: Jeon Jungkook x OFC

Genre: Secret AgentAU, Government AgentAU

Rating: PG15

Word Count: 3.2K

Warnings: Swearing, Mentions of Sex, Mentions of Abortion

Summary: Black Panther, Cricket and OT7 finally meet. 

Cricket & OT7: Return to Sender

Present Day

           “Why are you following me?” I ask, hands bound together, eyes blindfolded. The car has stopped, and whomever was driving has exited the vehicle in favor of opening my door and yanking me out. It’s silent, apart from my breathing and unavoidably stalky footsteps. I’ve never been able to walk on eggshells, perhaps it was my mother’s direction that stomping on them was far more impactful, that has led me to wear through every heel of every shoe I’ve ever owned. Now, it isn’t my saving grace, rather a rude awakening that I must sound like an ogre to the people who live below me.

           I arrived at the designated location, Jungkook trailing behind me. He refused to let me go alone but did compromise and stay in the damn car. He could see me, and I could see him. I was waiting for no more than a minute before promptly kidnapped. Not even chloroformed, just fucking grabbed and taken. Kidnapped, blindfolded and bound. Bound! Some knot a boy scout or aspiring I’m tossed in the back of a car, which, is how I’ve found myself willfully dragging my heels as they ever so gracefully force me in their desired direction.

           “Black Panther, why are you following us?” The voice asks. I know that voice, I’ve heard it before, I’ve heard that code name. Had it been referring to me this entire time?

           “Us?” I ask again, tossing my voice to see if it reverberates against anything, any sign that furniture or people are nearby.

           The man guiding me stops abruptly and peels off my blindfold. Empty spaces are their own kind of hell, and this is no exception. The panic of darkness arises as I close and open my eyes, ensuring they’re really open and not a trick of the mystery man’s charms. I jump softly as seven lights are dropped, one in each spot in front of me, a delicate row of halos waiting to be adorned. Five men step out of the shadows, the one holding me in place making number six.  Their pressed suits, cut from the finest cloth, each distinct in their pattern and style, garnish their bodies. As if on cue they cross their arms over their chests and glare openly at me.

           “Kim Namjoon, Kim Seokjin, Min Yoongi, Jung Hoseok, Park Jimin, Kim Taehyung,” I rattle off, each man nodding as I speak their names.

           I know them all, tailed them, surveyed their homes, run into them at the grocery story and Mexican restaurants. All except fucking min Yoongi, but I know them. I know these men. I’ve spent the better part of what, two years, trying to understand them, trying to figure out how they’re related, and here they are. There’s space for another, and it takes me a minute to realize who it is that occupies that is supposed to occupy that spot.

           “There’s only six of you… where’s -

           “Jeon Jungkook,” His voice comes from behind me, goosebumps running up my spine as the heel of his boots hits the concrete. My body is awash in shock, anger, comfort and hope. My Jungkook. My, I have to come home to him, my north star, my sunshine on a cloudy day, my Bunny.

           I was fucking right all along, wasn’t I?

           “Welcome to the party.” Seokjin says.

           “Is this where you tell me that Euna is Hans Gruber and somehow I’m Sergeant Powell?” I question, by tone delicate against their stone expressions.

           “If anything, you’re Harry Ellis,” Yoongi says.

           “That’s so rude,” I retort. “At least let me be Holly Gennaro.”

           “Then who are we, McClane?” Yoongi snorts, the absurdity of my statement causing a brief moment of joy. “Bunny wishes.”

           “You’re interrupting our mission,” Namjoon states, pulling my attention to him. His broad shoulders give way to a tapered waist, round golden spectacles are situated against his face, and his jaw is locked tight.

           “Me? How the fuck – oh,” My eyes move towards the bulletin board against the far wall, in quintessential fashion there are pictures, string, maps and enough thumbtacks to secure the list of vets from the Vietnam Memorial. I can’t read it, but I can see it. “You guys aren’t the bad guys.”

           “No, we’re not,” Namjoon says.

           “The Lee family is,” Taehyung says. It’s odd seeing him this quiet and stoic, after all he’s the hottest librarian in the damn county. He comes alive within the confines of his books and stories, he comes alive. He has voices and characters and gestures to match each. Looking at him now, it’s wild to imagine him doing a full interpretive reading of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, or his most famed retelling, Peter and the Starcatcher, when he’s glowering down at me.

           “They are poison, seeking revenge on anyone who has worked on cases to bring them down,” Hoseok says.

           “So, you all, how did she find you?” My mind is moving too fast for me to form coherent sentences.

           “Cupid didn’t find us,” Jimin tells me, eyes still boring holes into mine.

           “You did,” Namjoon answers.

           “I did?” I ask, eyes wide.

           “Mm, your little stunts, your run ins, your photos. She gave you our real names and you-

           “Gave her our locations,” Taehyung finishes the sentence, eyes still trained on me.

           “You left the notes, and the photo for Euna to find,”

           “Yes, but unlike you, our move was intentional,” Yoongi says.

           “Codename Cupid needed to know there were higher stakes at play,” Hoseok tells me.

           “How was I supposed to know this was some larger conspiracy?” I demand, temper rising.

           “Did you not receive notes?” Hoseok asks, by his expression I can tell that he’s responsible for the code breakers that have arrived at my apartment and office over the last nine months. “Strange packages arriving out of nowhere, sent to your office, on the driver’s seat?” Hoseok pushes.

           “Yeah, but I’ve had some really sketchy clients in the past, though none of them preferred an ABA rhyme scheme,” I retort.

           “Do you know how we found you?” Yoongi snaps.

           “Yes?” I ask, genuinely confused, “Google my name and my office pops up. Anyone can find me.”

           “Your tactics are fucking bush league, Black Panther. They’re embarrassing,” Yoongi tells me.

           “You’re a P.I., not a cop, not an agent, you’re not in the Bureau, yet you’re overstepping into situations that you have no grounds being involved in. You are fucking playing with fire and we were about to be burned if we hadn’t –

           “Seokjin,” Namjoon’s voice is biting, harsh, a belt to the back as it cracks in the hot air.

           “She needs to know,” Taehyung responds for his hyung.

           “Cupid has been lying to you for months, leading you on, paying you over your asking to track us down for what? A few lies you don’t even believe to be true?” Jimin asks.

           “We embezzled funds from their charity organization? We reported her family to the IRS?” Taehyung asks.

           “We stole jewelry from her famed collection to sell on the black market?” Seokjin adds.

           “We’re trafficking high quality cocaine from Colombia into the upper echelon of society?” Jimin rattles off more lies.

           “We fucked her, broke her heart, and god – the worst one – we made her abort our child?” Yoongi spits on the floor, disgust flowing through his saliva like blood in the Nile.

           I stare at them, mouth agape as they recite words I’ve only spoken to one person. My vision becomes blurry as I try to breathe, in through my nose, out through my mouth, but my heart is pounding in my ears and I can’t breathe. The tears always sting before they fall, and my eyes land on him, tall, blonde hair, clear framed glasses, doe eyes.

           “You told them?” I whisper, the end of my sentence curling up into itself as the first tears start to fall.

           “I had to,” A whisper, feet frozen to the ground as he refuses to make eye contact with me.

           “You were using me?” I ask. “Look at me.”

           “I wasn’t using you,” He says, soft eyes meeting mine, the fire scorching the earth.

           “So how do they know?” I spit, the little droplets doing nothing to squelch the flames.

           “I had –

           “You told them information that I shared with you, in confidence, in my fucking bed, in my fucking homeJungkook!” I yell.

           “Cricket, can we talk about –

           “How dare you use my nickname to get me to calm down, I’m not a fucking child,” the sound of my cries reverberates against the warehouse, echoing violently.

           “I can exp-

           “There isn’t time for you to sort out your fuck up, Jeon. We have real problems to discuss,” Yoongi snaps. I can feel the tears dripping from my chin, falling to the concrete beneath my feet. The adrenaline pumping through my body as both a reaction to fear and a telltale sign that I’ve been embarrassed beyond repair. Not just embarrassed, eviscerated, betrayed. An hour ago, hadn’t I been deeply in love, terrified I wouldn’t return home to him?  

           “What do you want from me?” I ask. Jimin hands me a tissue, which I am grateful for as I attempt to gently blot my soaked skin. My mascara, never waterproof, comes off my eyes in dark splotches. How poetic.

           “Come, have a seat, Jungkook, get her a water,” Namjoon instructs. He strides towards the bulletin board and pressing a few buttons, the board sinks in the floor to reveal a hallway. The gasp that echoes through the warehouse is audible, and louder than I intend.

           “Sorry,” I say, feet guiding me past Jungkook, towards the corridor. There are no pictures on the walls, no signs that this space is used by anyone. The industrial style gives way to a door, bulletproof.

           Namjoon pauses, inserting his thumb into a scanner that gives way to a retina display, where he gently places his chin against the base. The machine works quickly before giving him entrance. I watch, amazed. Who knew in the 21stcentury that covert ops and me, a lonely P.I., would intersect?

           “This is, headquarters,” Seokjin says. He takes a seat at the long table in front of us and points to the chair next to Taehyung. I sit quickly, my eyes adjusting to the surprisingly bright space.

           “Oh my god the view,” I say, composure slightly recovered as I take in the expanse of greenery.

           “Yeah, benefit of being in the middle of nowhere,” Yoongi says.

           “Read your file,” Namjoon instructs.

           The file in front of me, manilla of course, is packed. “Why paper copies?”

           “Easier to burn,” Yoongi mutters. He’s taken out his computer and is busy typing away, no doubt pulling up a list of my infractions. Undoubtedly fucking an undercover operative is number one, though falling in love is objectively far worse than sex.

           Jungkook brings me a water and deftly cuts the zip ties around my wrist. His hand moves to sooth the indentation and redness from their grip, but I pull them away before his thumbs graze over the skin. Out of the corner of my eye I watch him retreat to his seat at the end of the table.

           “If you’re the top of the line, 007 should be shaking in his oxfords, can’t you encrypt it?” I ask.

           “Your encryption is only as good as your worst coder. We can’t take that chance,” Namjoon tells me.

           “First, I don’t think that’s the saying. Second, the government, who I’m assuming you work for, Interpol, MI6, etc. all use computer systems,” I counter.

           “Do you remember the election of 2016?” Yoongi retorts.

           “Point taken,” I nod. Of course, Russia. No one was ever safe. “But can’t you blame a lot of that on Zuckerberg and the higher ups at Twitter?”

           “Read your file,” Namjoon instructs again.

           I open it to find a rather aggressive breakdown of my work as a PI, both items that were on the internet and ones that only top-level government agents could have accessed, that is, unless the NSA has been tapping my phones. Details of my family life, my past relationships, my driving record, it was all here.

           “Why isn’t Jungkook on the list of romantic partners?” I ask, eyes looking from Seokjin to Namjoon.

           “Are you in love?” Namjoon asks.

           I don’t wait for a response from Jungkook, or to find the courage to say the simple three lettered word, yes. Instead, I busy myself by clearing my throat and loudly moving the pages about my life to a separate pile. Underneath is all my evidence, print outs of my documents, surveillance photos of me working. I stare at them, horrified.

           “How long have you been tailing me?” I question.

           “How long have you been working with Euna?” Taehyung asks.

           “Sixteen months,” I reply.

           “Ten months.” Taehyung answers.

           “You hacked my computer? Is that legal?” I inquire, knowing full well that it isn’t.

           “I can tell that you don’t understand who you’re dealing with, so let me put it this way. We’re the ones who knock. We’re the ones who cause dignitaries, presidents, whole countries to quake in their boots. It’s us.” Namjoon’s voice is calm within the storm, its resolute and baritone and every word that he utters is meaningful, impactful. He means what he says, and he fucking says what he means. In every interaction I’ve had with him, which frankly have been maybe more than he realizes, he’s been measured in his speech, only speaking when he has something worth saying. He is patient with himself, kind to others, except for today, when he clearly does not want to deal with me.

           “How very Heisenberg of you,” I roll my eyes.

           “You don’t want to be Jane,” Namjoon urges.

           “Okay first of all, in a Breaking Bad scenario, I’m clearly Jesse. Second of all, Krysten Ritter has had a very lovely career. Finally, this cannot be overlooked or underestimated, I’m Veronica Mars, bitch.”

           “Read. Your. File.” Namjoon’s teeth are clenched, his fist resting on the table, his patience going.

           I glance at Yoongi who is sniggering, Seokjin who is making eyes at Jungkook, and Jimin who is busy doodling along the margins of his file. These glimpses, these little hints at the weight of their souls, these are the men I’ve been following for nearly two years.

           It’s in staring at the remnants of my evidence that it hits me. “Jungkook gave you these photos.”

           “Yes,” Seokjin answers.

           “Everything you told me was a lie,” I say, eyes burning holes into the stolen images of my work.

           “Crick- Y/N, that’s not true,”

           “I knew you were connected, that day in the dog park, I knew,” I should’ve trusted my instincts, though they told me to trust him, maybe I should’ve run.

           “I didn’t lie, Cricket, I -

           “Look, I’ll work with you, whoever you are, but I’m not working with Jungkook,” I look at Namjoon.

           “That’s not an option, Black Panther,”

           “How did I get that nickname?”

           “Can you focus for ten minutes? Read your damn file so we can discuss the next course of action before you have to go meet Codename Cupid for your weekly meeting,” Namjoon bites.

           “Fine, do I have to go to that meeting if you’re, doing whatever you’re doing?” I question. “Seems a bit redundant.”

           “If you don’t meet with Cupid, she will know we found her, and our decade of work is completely useless.” Seokjin says, stepping in to mitigate the anger erupting from Namjoon.

           “What am I supposed to say to her? She knows too much already,”

           “She doesn’t know what she knows,” Yoongi answers. “Looking through her emails and texts, it’s clear that her family wants the seven of us dead for espionage, and for attempting to bring them down. All Cupid knows is that you found us, which she assumes is a fatal flaw in our plan, though she has yet to understand the plan at all.”

           “It’s completely intentional,” Hoseok adds. “Cupid only knows that we either worked for her company or dated her or a sibling. She knows our fictitious careers and lives but has no clue about who we truly are.”

           “Her brother, Dae-Seong, Codename Archer, is the one who wants us gone, eviscerated, eradicated. He’s the one driving this whole thing. Archer’s convinced Cupid that vengeance will solve her romantic woes,” Jimin tells me.  

           “But what about Jun-Seo? You left him the night of your engagement party, and Kwan-Min, you went on a few dates… Couldn’t this be about them?”

           “Codenames Bow and Arrow are less of a threat than Cupid and Archer,” Taehyung answers.

           “Cupid has been kept in the dark for the past, fifteen years, in regard to their business. The dark dealings of her company reside solely with her siblings and their parents. We want them,” Namjoon finishes.

           “Why not use Euna, sorry, Cupid, as the patsy?” I ask.

           “Who will run their company?” Yoongi asks.

           “Someone else?”

           “There’s too much evidence, nearly the entire company is dirty,” Jimin tells me.

           “So, you’ve been spying on them from the inside?” I question.

           “Sort of,”

           “It’s Nixon, Watergate extreme?” I ask.

           “What does Cupid know, and when did she know it?” Yoongi answers, his annoyance completely dissipating at my Watergate mention.

           “Why do you think she’ll believe me? She doesn’t have much faith in me as of late,” I question, the lilt of insecurity in my voice. Jungkook glances at me, eyes soft at the familiar tone, he tries to offer a smile, at least, it looks like he’s trying.

           “Yeah, because you fucked Jungkook and she found out. Before that though, she couldn’t sing your praises enough,” Namjoon’s calmed down, his frustration settling like sediment at the bottom of a pot. Adding an eighth person to the group was always going to shift the balance, move the power around and rattle nerves. But me? I’m burning it down. Though I can’t completely be to blame - Jungkook is also at fault.

           “Fine. What do I say to her?”

           “Haven’t we gone over this before? Lie,” Yoongi says.

           “Yoongi, if you’re going to be an ass, can you please direct it at someone else?” I snap.

           “Feisty,” He nods approvingly.

           “Black Panther, you have notes in your file about what we need from you,” Namjoon instructs.

           “You want me to end my relationship with her?” I question.

           “Yes,”

           “What about –

           “Either you end it first, creating an enemy, or she ends it with you which will not be helpful for us,”

           “I just,” I look at them, eyes finally glancing to Jungkook. He looks exhausted, and sad, so sad, his irises choppy waves searching for harbor. “Do I have a choice?”

           “No,” Namjoon answers, but Jungkook’s eyes tell me exactly what I need to know. I don’t have a choice, and somewhere along the line, he stopped having one too.

           “Fine, tell me what to do,” I flip to the page in my file, eyes scanning the words, mind no longer full of Jungkook my boyfriend, but of Jungkook, Operative, member of OT7. This is a job, a job that seemingly could make or destroy my career. I don’t have time or the emotional space to navigate his crashing midnight eyes. All I have now is focus, drive, determination, and hints of stubbornness. This is the same drive that in a weird twist of fate, has led me to this very conference room, with these seven mysterious men.

           I cannot fuck it up.

           I will not get a second chance.

Next: Black Panther Meets Codename Cupid  

#clubjimin #houseofddaeng #kim seokjin #kim namjoon #kim namjoon / rm #min yoongi #min Yoongi / suga #jung hoseok #Jung Hoseok / j hope #park jimin #kim taehyung / v #kim taehyung #jeon jungkook #jungkook fanfic #jungkook x reader #Jeon Jungkook x reader #secret agent au #BTS agent #secret agent au #BTS fanfic #BTS fan fic #BTS writing #codename cupid #code name #love #relationship

[raeynbowboi]

The Character Forge: How to Play as Princess Zelda in DnD 5e

Since I just covered Link, it seemed only fitting to follow up with Princess Zelda. So, let’s start by discussing my goals for this build. Zelda’s powers come from religious magic, and she’s been gifted with the Triforce of Wisdom. Although she was only trained to fight as Shiek in Ocarina of Time, Zelda retained her Shiek transformation for multiple iterations of Smash Bros before they became separate characters.

The Makings of a Heroine

The first thought is to make Zelda a High Elf like Link, but the Eladrin Elf gets Fey Step for a built in Farore’s Wind. Autumn variation can charm people when they teleport, Spring variety can teelport another creature instead of themselves, and Summer variety can deal fire damage when they teleport. Otherwise, High Elf Zelda would need to throw away a stat boost to pick up the Fey Step feat.

Because Nayru is the goddess who created the laws and magic of Hyrule, Zelda is likely Lawful Good.

While Noble is the obvious background choice, there are a few other options, including Courtier, Acolyte, and Secret Identity variant Charlatan.

Powers and Abilities

First things first, Princess Zelda is the reincarnation of the goddess Hylia, so her power comes from a strong religious source. Secondly, her Smash Bros powers are the gifts of the three goddesses of Hyrule. Din’s Fire allows Zelda to throw fireballs, Nayru’s Love lets her create a magical shield that hurts those near her, and Farore’s Wind allows her to teleport. So, Zelda needs a build that allows her to do all of these things. It’s also worth remembering that Hylia is a Sky Goddess, Din is the Goddess of Power who formed the land, Nayru is the Goddess of Wisdom who formed laws and magic, and Farore is the Goddess of Courage who created life. Because she got the Triforce of Wisdom from Nayru, this means that she’s also tangentially related to law, magic, and the Zora race.

Top of Her Class

Cleric     Arcana: Because Nayru is the goddess who created magic, Zelda’s link to the Triforce of Wisdom, and Nayru’s power could make her very knowledgeable of magic.     Light: Many of Zelda’s spells are light-based, with her light arrows being her iconic ultimate in Smash.     Order: Nayru is also the goddess who created law, and since Zelda is also the princess of Hyrule, she’s connected to lawfulness and order. Monk     Kensei: Shiek could work as a Monk, but unarmed combat isn’t really his focus, as he relies heavily on the use of weapons. Rogue     Arcane Trickster: Because Zelda is a magic-user, this archetype gives Shiek a clever magical counter to spells and magical trickery.     Assassin: The Assassin Archetype gets to create a false identity, which she absolutely did when she created the Shiek identity. Sorcerer     Divine Soul: Zelda is the reincarnation of a goddess, so she absolutely has a divine soul, and it’s the source of her magical power. Divine Soul Sorcerers can also learn spells from the Cleric Spell List. Warlock     Celestial: Zelda serves at the pleasure of the goddesses of Hyrule, so Zelda does serve Celestial entities. Wizard     Theurgy: More along the vein of someone studying religious magic, but because it allows Zelda to mix Cleric spells with another class.

Stats and Proficiencies

The obvious highest stat is Wisdom. Zelda has the Triforce of Wisdom, so this should be her best stat. As a rogue or monk, her Dexterity score is also important. Third being Charisma. She’s a princess, so she needs to be good at talking to people. Religion is an Intelligence stat despite no religious casters casting with the Intelligence stat. Constitution is a little lower, and strength can be dumped.

Proficiencies      Animal Handling      Arcana      Deception      Insight      Investigation      Medicine      Perception      Performance      Persuasion

Name: Zelda Race: Eladrin Elf - Autumn Background: Outlander Alignment: Neutral Good Class: Divine Soul Sorcerer (11)             Assassin Rogue (9) Base Stats:     Strength: 8 (-1)     Dexterity: 16 (+2)     Constitution: 12 (+1)     Intelligence: 10 (0)     Wisdom: 18 (+4)     Charisma: 18 (+4) Saving Throws:     Strength: -1     Dexterity: +3     Constitution: +7     Intelligence: 0     Wisdom: +4     Charisma: +10 Combat Stats:     HP: 111     AC: 14     Speed: 30     Initiative: +3     Proficiency Bonus: +6     Passive Perception: 26     Dark Vision: 60 feet Proficiencies and Expertise:      Deception (Rogue)      History (Noble)      Insight (Sorcerer)      Perception (Elf)      Persuasion (Noble)      Religion (Sorcerer) Skills:     Acrobatics: +3                 Medicine: +4     Animal Handling: +4        Nature: 0     Arcana: 0                         Perception: +16     Athletics: +-1                   Performance: +4     Deception: 16                  Persuasion: +16     History: 6                         Religion: +6     Insight: +16                     Sleight of Hand: +3     Intimidation: 4                 Stealth: +3     Investigation: 0               Survival: +4 Condition Resistances:       Charmed Immunities:       Sleep Racial Feature: Elf       Fey Step: Teleport up to 30 feet as a bonus action. When you teleport, up to two creatures within 10 feet of where you land must make a Wisdom saving throw against 18 or be Charmed by you for up to 1 minute. Sorcerer Feature: Sorcery Points     11 Sorcerer Feature: Metamagic     Empowered Spell     Quickened Spell     Subtle Spell Spell Slots: (12)     1st (4)     2nd (3)     3rd (3)     4th (3)     5th (2)     6th (1) Zelda’s Spellbook (Sorcerer Spells, Cleric Spells*) *Divine Soul Sorcerers can pick up Cleric spells which they cast with CHA.     Cantrips Fire Bolt Guidance* Hand of Radiance* Light Resistance* Sacred Flame*     1st Level Cure Wounds* Guiding Bolt* Shield Shield of Faith*     2nd Level Flaming Sphere Misty Step Prayer of Healing* Scorching Ray     3rd Level Dawn* Daylight     5th Level Holy Weapon* Wall of Light      6th Level Sunbeam Bonus Actions:     Cunning Action: Dash, Disengage, or Hide once per turn.     Flexible Casting: You can convert Sorcery Points into Spell Slots Reactions:     Uncanny Dodge: Halve the damage from an attacker you can see. Features, Traits, and Feats:     Assassinate: You have advantage on creatures that have not taken an action yet in combat.     Empowered Healing: When rolling for healing, use a sorcery point to reroll a healing die.     Evasion: On a successful Dex save to reduce damage, damage becomes 0.     Favored By the Gods: If you fail a saving throw or miss an attack, you can roll 2d4 and add that to the failed roll once per rest.     Infiltration Expertise: In 7 days at a cost of 25 gold, successfully create a convincing false identity.     Position of Privilege: You belong in high society, lowborns go out of their way to provide you with comforts, and you can get an audience with other nobility.     Thieves’ Cant: You can hide covert messages in casual conversation.     Trance: Trance for 4 hours, instead of sleeping for 8.

I am well aware that most would probably make Zelda a Cleric so that she’d be casting with her Wisdom modifier, but personally, I think that the Divine Soul Sorcerer covers more of Zelda’s abilities by allowing her to cast both Sorcerer and Cleric spells. Would you build Zelda differently? How would you approach her build? And as always, I do take requests, and I’ll see you guys next time in the Character Forge; where heroes are made.

#character forge #dungeons and dragons #zelda #princess zelda #legend of zelda #the legend of zelda #loz #botw #twilight princess #ocarina of time #hylia #din #nayru #farore #triforce #triforce of wisdom #cleric #sorcerer #divine soul #light #rogue #assassin #shiek #shiekah #princess #hyrule #hylian #dnd #5e #fifth edition

[thestraggletag]

Creature Comforts, a Dragon!Rumbelle Sequel

Summary: The morning after the storm. Sequel to Creature Instincts.

Rating: PG-13

He woke up some time during the night, disoriented from having fallen asleep somewhere other than his bed. He noticed idly that there was light coming from the kitchen, which meant the power was back. But the heating would take time warming up the house, big and old as it was, so he tried to disentangle himself from Belle to tend to the fire. 

“Let me, I’m closer.”

Belle rose, unselfconscious of her nudity, and pecked him on the cheek before reaching out to the neat stack of firewood and tossing a couple of logs into the dying embers of the fire. He watched in fascination as she reared back, taking a deep breath before blowing a steady blue plume of fire, setting the wood aflame. He noticed her eyes shone greater as she breathed fire. He had noticed his do the same. He marvelled at how small she was, how dainty and fragile-looking, and yet how it was all a ruse, well-crafted lie. She was a creature of power, with more strength and stamina that a human could ever hope to have.

‘A perfect match for us.’ The creature inside him was curled up, still seemingly satisfied by their recent rough coupling. It had never felt so before after sex, quite the contrary. It disliked being constrained and limited, being told to hold back, to be softer, or gentler or altogether less. He hadn’t had to hold back with Belle, with her thick skin and brute force. His muscles ached in a way they never had before. She had given him as good as she got and it felt wonderful, to be so tired, so spent.

“You look at me like I’m unreal, it’s very flattering, but strange. Haven’t you met any of our kind before?”

Belle shifted till she was draped over him, arms folded on his chest and chin propped up over them, peering at him curiously with sleepy eyes. She felt soft and loose above him, not an ounce of tension in her body. 

‘We tucked her out. How lovely.’ The creature purred, pressing against the edges of his consciousness. ‘Let’s do it again.’

It was possibly giddy, like a child, and it made him giddy too. He shook his head, telling her his only encounters with those of his kind were from far away and long ago, people in passing that had smelt a bit like him from a distance. 

“I’ve heard tales, and tracked down stories. I have come across antiques that were obviously once part of another dragon’s hoard, by the smell and feel of them. But that’s about as close as I’ve gotten.” He stroked her back, loving the sleek texture of her scales, and how warm she was. A furnace, just like him. “What about you?”

“Mom died when I was little, but her family kept in touch, helped me growing up. Introduced me to a small community of dragons in Australia. Mostly male dragons, I think everyone was hoping for a bit of matchmaking since females are rare, or so I’m told. Didn’t quite work out. I wanted… love. Settling for ‘someone of my own species’ felt like short-changing myself. Gave in to my urge to see the world partly to get away from a persistent jerk who didn’t know the meaning of the word no.” She wrinkled her nose, which he found adorable. Vaguely he tried to make himself adopt a less dopey expression, but his face would not budge.  

Suddenly she frowned, as if a new, puzzling thought had crossed her mind.

“Did you even know I was like you?”

He shook his head, seeing no point in lying, as much as it embarrassed him that he had not put the clues together before. Her eyes softened even more, a dreamy expression in them.

“I thought for sure you knew. That it was why you first paid attention to me, why you enjoyed sparring with me. It’s a very traditional courting practice amongst our kind, and it was the first time I found myself wanting to participate. I found our fights… stimulating.” The heated look in her eyes, coupled with her words, sent a jolt of sudden, scorching pleasure down his spine.

“Oh, it is safe to say I enjoyed them as well. I just didn’t know how much. My son and my daughter-in-law, I’m afraid to say, cottoned on to my interest in you before I did. The creature in me always knew, though, tried to tell me. I wasn’t listening. We… we don’t always get along.”

It was an understatement. Growing up inhuman had been difficult. He had been alone in a world full of people. He had had to figure everything out on his own, about what he was, and what it meant. How to survive. How to live around people without hurting them, and without them hurting him in return. He had never quite figured that part out, truthfully. It had been hard, and painful, and… lonely. So, so lonely.

“I’ve seen it looking at me.” Belle smiled, reaching out to pet his hair. “I would be fighting with you over extra funds to expand the selection of Latin American authors at the library and it would flash across your eyes. It always thrilled me.”

The creature preened, clearly not immune to flattery. It was strange but pleasant to feel in sync with it, it happened so rarely. Her look darkened, her own pupils becoming slits as her eyes shone unnaturally blue. He had but a moment to brace himself before she pounced on him, her inhuman strength still taking him by surprise in spite of it all, thrilling him as if it was a new discovery. They were rougher with each other, more comfortable now that they knew without a shadow of a doubt that they could not hurt each other easily. It was the sort of uninhibited, passionate coupling he had always restrained himself from and it felt wonderful. She had certainly ruined him for other women. And he hoped that her loud moans and her many orgasms meant he had had a similar impact on her.

When they woke up again it was close to eleven o’clock, a shockingly late hour to be waking up. Reluctantly they left the comfort of their improvised nest and donned their clothes, if only to keep themselves in check long enough to eat something. It was Saturday, as rent-day always fell on a Friday, and though he usually opened his shop for a half workday he always took off Saturdays after rent-day, usually to recover enough to don his human facade again. It was a day he usually enjoyed, with a hearty breakfast and, if the weather permitted, some time outside lazing in the sun, or if not taking care of his treasures, and browsing antique websites to see what caught his fancy.

It was strange not to feel a frisson of excitement at the prospect of growing his hoard, but he reasoned that greater biological impulses were at play. Instincts he had never had a chance to explore. 

‘And given how she’s looking at us we’re not the only ones with a one-track mind.’

The creature thrilled happily, its unbridled joy mixing with his own as they both stared at Belle, who was idly whisking a few egg-whites into a merengue and shooting covert looks their way. In the light of the morning her silver skin took a soft pink undertone, barely perceptible. He was fascinated by it, by the sleek feel of her scales and their warmth. She was so tiny, and so kind, and so gentle. He had seen her interact with children, soothe irritated elderly library patrons who could not find the book they were looking for, and evade the advances of slimy men like Keith Nott a couple of times at Granny’s. And yet there was this whole other part of her, a part she didn’t show others, could never show. He alone would know her, all of her, and the possessiveness he felt at the prospect was heady.

‘Ours. Mate.’

The creature rumbled, clearly pleased, and nudged Rowan forward, telling him that surely food could wait for later. He was about to reach out and snag the librarian about the waist, her smell letting him know she would not shoo him away, when he caught the sound of his Facetime ringer. Bae sometimes called on Saturday mornings to check on him, if rent-day had seemed like it had worn him out a bit much, and there was a chance he might have heard about the blackout from Emma’s foster sister, who lived in Storybrooke. He whispered against her lips that he would be quick and moved the tablet to face away from where Belle was, swiping to take the call with the practiced ease of someone used to manipulating touch technology with claws.

“Hey, Bae. How’s everyone?”

“Hi, pops! Emma is still asleep, she came home only a few hours ago. Little Henry is watching The Dragon Prince on her tablet. Keeps him quiet.”

It seemed to amuse Bae a little bit too much that Henry’s favourite TV shows usually were about dragons, as before he had been obsessed with Jake Long and Dragon Booster before that. Rowan had learned to pretend he didn’t notice, though he had to admit that it did please him a bit. He was hoping to let Emma in on his secret so it would be easier to tell Henry, when the time came.

“I heard about the blackout from Emma, and wanted to check in. The storm yesterday was pretty bad, and that old Queen Anne gets cold really fast without electricity.”

He couldn’t help but be warmed by Bae’s worry, even and he cursed his timing. He assured him that he was alright, having spent the night by the fire in the living-room, and that the power was back on and the house was properly heated once more.

“I’m glad, pop. Hope your favourite librarian is okay too. Perhaps you could go over to her house with a bottle of wine and check up on her.”

He waggled his eyebrows, which Rowan was glad Belle could not see. She could, however, hear everything, made all the more evident by the amused smile on her face, and her raised eyebrows. Fucking Baden.

“Let’s not start this again, I-”

“No, pops, come on. You’re gaga over that woman. You talk about her so much I sometimes feel like I know her more than I know my own wife. Emma agrees. Hell, even little Henry could name at least three of her favourite outfits. Including her heels, which I gotta tell you gives me a glimpse into you that I would rather not have.”

He was too busy turning an almost orangey shade of gold out of embarrassment to register at first that Belle had broken into peals of laughter, which she tried in vain to suppress. Bae, however, heard right away, his eyes turning round and panicky on the screen.

“Oh my God, pops, is someone there?! Is Belle there?! Do you know that you’re-I mean, that you look-”

Bae had gone through a terrified phase in adolescence after he had become acutely aware of the danger his father faced if his nature was exposed. It had broken his heart to see it, but he had thankfully grown out of it once it had become clear that it was unlikely to happen. Clearly, though, he wasn’t as unbothered by the notion as he seemed. He was trying to figure out how to reassure him when Belle took a few steps towards him, pausing to give him a significant look. At his surprised nod she crossed the remaining distance until she was snuggling against his side, smiling shyly and looking distinctly non-human.

“Hi, I’m Belle. Rowan has told me so much about you. Can I call you Bae?”

From inside the tablet his son let out a surprised “eep” that his sensitive ears objected to loudly. He looked at Belle, clearly taking in her silver skin and glowing eyes, and then at his papa, going back and forth with an air of shock and surprise that was almost insulting. Then, slowly, a lopsided smile formed across his unshaven face.

“Pop, you lucky dog!” He started slow-clapping, which made him wish the earth would open up and swallow him whole. “I mean, what are to odds! And the implications. I wanna know everything. Well, not everything. Definitely not everything. Like, please, no. But still, I have questions. So many questions.”

Rowan eyed the end call button, trying to imagine just how mad Bae would be if he pressed it.

“Buuuuuut I can see I interrupted something so I’m just gonna get Henry dressed and go with him to the park. You know, give you two crazy kids some time.” Okay, perhaps Bae was not the worst son ever. “But I will be expecting a call later. And for you to send Emma a message confirming the relationship so she’s forced to fork over the fifty bucks she lost. Don’t forget about that, pops, love you, talk to you soon!”

He was gone a second later, leaving him feeling Belle trembling with laughter against him. He marvelled at how at ease she felt, even though he knew exposing one’s true nature to someone was a huge thing. A sign of trust, of intimacy, of-

Commitment. 

‘Yes. Ours. Always.’

The creature said it matter of factly, as if he was stating the obvious to a particularly thick-headed individual. He shushed it, though half-heartedly, and pressed a kiss against Belle’s hair, whispering a quick “thank you” before going over to where his French press was, determined to make a mockery out of Granny’s lattes. The sooner Belle saw the benefits of breakfasting at his house the better.

#rumbelle fic #Creature Comforts #rumbelle #Thestraggletag fanfiction

[chaniters]

Busy night

Launching a petty campaign to get back at Owl, Ash begins to quickly clear Los Diablos’ criminal elements. 

Also, he doesn’t really have anything better to do with his time, so there is that too. 

Some minor spoilers for Rebirth and Retribution.

___________________________

Date: April 17.

Hour: 6:45 pm

Notes: Covert operation

Location: Newport Beach.

Current assets: Low. 500 dollars.

Status: Acquired chemicals and materials for upgrades. Secured a base of operations (Motel Room). Constructed special equipment for the current operation. 

Objectives: Retaliation and intimidation tactics against the subject (OWL) by means of rendering all of the subject’s current investigation plans obsolete. Capture of all individuals targeted by the subject’s investigation. Acquisition of additional funds through the pursuit of the bounties on each of the individuals. 

You sneak closer to the lonely house, stopping at the edge of the alarm systems. This is the house of Clobbering Queen, an enforcer that Owl links to Hollow Ground, living under an assumed identity on an underdeveloped side of the city. 

If your intel is correct, Newport was erased from the map by a Tsunami, so it’s no surprise that only a few houses have been rebuilt here, given the frequency of the aftershocks. Not the safest place to be, unless you’re hiding, like your target is. 

The lack of other housing around her home makes the approach more complicated, but the shadows are already growing larger. Taking position behind a dumpster, you take note of all the movement trackers with your binoculars, before tracing the correct path of entry in your mind.

Your hands keep trembling so you slide them under your armpits and press with your arms, wishing it wasn’t so hard to keep calm without your pills as you wait for the sunlight to die out. 

It doesn’t take long, and soon you’re preparing your breathing technique… getting ready to spring. 

Count to 10, and you start the race, avoiding the sensors until you reach the wall.

So far so good… You can already feel her presence inside, watching TV.

That’s no good… perhaps… perhaps she should take a shower and get to bed early, how about that?

You present these suggestions  to her subconscious, and they seem to be quickly accepted. How can her mental defenses be so weak?!

Carefully, you slide a metal disk against the window, magnetizing and disabling the sensor, allowing you to open it. From there, it’s really just a matter of sliding inside, towards the bathroom, with its door half-open, you only need to keep out of sight. 

Clobbering Queen is singing happily in the shower as you slide your home-made sleeping gas bomb rolling through the floor. 

You can hear the yelp as it explodes, and her rush towards the door, which you slam in her face. She struggles to open it, but you keep it shut from the other side until her fighting gets weaker… and you finally hear the bump on the other side as she falls. 

Good. 

Waiting a few more minutes just to be sure, you open the door, handcuff her, then drag the wet villain on top of the large carpet on the living room, and roll her like a burrito, tying it all up again with solid rope.

That should keep her from clobbering anything… not that she can do it without her power suit that is.

A quick search of her house reveals the secret compartment where she keeps her armor. You take it all, tossing it by her side -she’s awake by now, and cursing very loudly at you- and take the power gloves. 

Those will come in handy. 

Then you sit on the couch, calling for the police to take her away.  --------------------------------------------

 Date: April 17.

Hour: 10:41 pm

Notes: Covert operation

Location: Downtown Los Diablos.

Current assets: Medium. 10.500 dollars.

Status: First target captured and handed over to LDPD. Officers surprised the whole house wasn’t destroyed by Clobbering Queen. Acquired Power Gloves. (They are so bad… require an immediate upgrade)

Objectives: Retaliation and intimidation tactics against the subject OWL (Continued). Acquisition of additional funds through the pursuit of the bounties (Continued). 

Your next target promises to be a real challenge. Lord Ember supposedly can control flames and has left a trail of scorched bodies in his wake. According to Owl, he doesn’t work directly for Hollow Ground but has had several dealings with him. 

He could be a real headache to deal with…

You see him having a smoke with a pair of his henchmen by the back door of the club. 

Time to get it done…

You approach them head on, ready for anything. They notice you, and their gazes all focus on you, hands reaching to their holsters.

“Hey can I have a light?” you ask, holding a cigarette on your fingers, planting the suggestion that you are the most harmless person in the world. Just some cosplaying fool walking by. 

Ember looks at you, and laughs. All of his henchmen laugh with him.

“A light? Are you hearing this kid? He’s asking me for a light!” he says turning to them. 

Critical mistake.

A quick forward uppercut and Clobbering Queen’s power glove activates, exploding with pink energy in his stomach, sending him flying against the club’s brick wall. 

The henchmen just stare at you in horror as it happens. 

Another critical mistake, you think as you jump at the closest one.

Perhaps these power gloves are not that bad after all…

  --------------------------------------------

Date: April 18.

Hour: 3:41 Am

Notes: Covert operation

Location: Fashion District.

Current assets: High. 46.000 dollars.

Status: Second target captured and handed over to LDPD. Same officers VERY surprised to see two villains captured on the same night by “Some random teenager”. Asked for my hero name, I told them that they can call me whatever they want as long as they pay me.  

Objectives: Retaliation and intimidation tactics against the subject OWL (Continued). Acquisition of additional funds through the pursuit of the bounties (Continued). 

Your final target lies ahead, in an old abandoned garment warehouse. 

According to Owl, he is extremely powerful, but with these gloves and your fighting skills, so are you. Allegedly, he oversees one of Hollow Ground’s largest stashes of boost drugs, something that she’s never managed to prove.

The power gloves make you far more confident in your abilities, so instead of sneaking, you will go for overwhelming force this time. Drawing Owl’s grappling hook, you aim for the rooftop, sending the hook flying, before pulling you in, only that you aim lower this time… for the window.

You crash through the glass, coming inside, fists already glowing pink, ready to reduce any henchmen to a pulp… 

And that’s when you realize something’s gone terribly wrong. 

“Hello, kid. I’ve been expecting you” A plump standing figure greets you, white makeup on his face, wearing a colorful outfit with red and white stripes, striped squirt, and high heel shoes, holding a gigantic lollipop. He gives you a bright smile full of completely white teeth. 

“Candymaster.” you speak his name, taking a defensive stance. __________  If you want to read more: My Fanfiction: https://chaniters.tumblr.com/post/181692759294/my-fanfiction-for-fallen-hero    DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fan fiction using characters and the setting of the Fallen Hero: Rebirth and upcoming Fallen Hero: Retribution games written by Malin Riden. I do not claim ownership of any characters from the Fallen Hero wold. These stories are a work of my imagination, and I do not ascribe them to the official story canon. These works are intended for entertainment outside the official storyline owned by the author. I am not profiting financially from the creation of these stories, and thank the author for her wonderful game/s, without which these works would not exist.

#fallen hero: rebirth #Ash #fallen hero spoilers #fanfiction #Petty hero #fallen hero

[dragonladdie]

Xeno-Hiraeth

Warning: The following document delves into topics such as (systemic)racism, classism, colonization, (implied)genocide, and slavery. This is not to promote, justify, humanize, or normalize these things in any way, shape or form, and, quite frankly, the opposite of the story's initial message.

The author does NOT approve of such things. If you think any of the above is justifiable in ANY manner, you can leave right now, thanks.

Lore

Xeno-Hiraeth was the first ever planet made by the Seraphs, a race of divine entities with the power to create entire galaxies with the simple flick of their wrist.

There are four sapient species on this ancient planet: The proud dragons, the reclusive lungs, the gentle sphinxes, and finally, the mageia, the first Beings, and made in the Seraph's image.

Not only is Xeno-Hiraeth the first world, it is by far the largest. It is infinitely larger than our Earth, and far more magical. It's teeming with wild magic and a myriad of magical and strange creatures. At its center is Cor Meum, seven continents surrounding the Heartland. The Heartland holds the Capitol, where the Queen resides.

As previously said, there are four sapient species of Xeno-Hiraeth. You would believe the mageia would rule the world, as they were the first Beings, and are made in the Seraph's image. You would be correct, but, millions of years ago, when all but one Seraph suddenly vanished from the cosmos, the mageia fell into chaos.

The mageia waged war on each other, dragging the other three races with them. This started the Cold Age. After thousands of years of distrust, chaos, and all-out war, the remaining Seraph could no longer speak to their people.

They ended up turning the world over to the dragons and lungs, giving them a secret gift that allowed them to reunite the world again. They were supposed to rule the land together in order to retain at least some form of unity. But, another thousand years later, after high tensions, the dragons and lungs turned on each other. The lungs ended up breaking from the dragons and went into hiding, making dragons the singular dominant species of Xeno-Hiraeth.

Sphinxes are a somewhat independent species, and try not to get involved with the other three species' affairs. They normally exist in one of twelve clans, but few unlucky sphinxes live their lives as personal servants and slaves to dragon nobility, and are treated as wealth statuses rather than individuals.

Geography of Notable Landmasses

Heartland

The Heartland is the central continent of Cor Meum. A vast valley surrounded by mountains, and at its center is the Capitol, the largest metropolis in the world. The Capitol is mostly inhabited by dragons, and is also where a good 60% of dragons in Xeno-Hiraeth live. The Heartstone Palace is both the tallest and largest built structure in Cor Meum as well, and it's tallest tower can be seen from miles in any direction. The Heartstone Palace is the home of the Queen and their family.

Makatu Valley

The continent just North of Heartland is a combination of floating isles and mountains. It's the home of the longmas' kingdom, Sahar. Mistiko, the capital city for Sahar is located between one of the two largest mountains on Cor Meum, known as the Twin Peaks. Instead of sitting at the foot of the two mountains, the city actually stands on the top of a huge floating aisle, just above their peaks. It's only accessible by airships and flying.

Rama Forests

The continent of Rama sits upon a rich iron mine that stretches down and out for miles. Even though they have a seemingly infinite amount of it, every scrap of metal is treated graciously, and no amount is wasted. On the surface are lush forests on the foot of a small mountain range. The capital city, Stonehill, sits on the base of said mountain range.

Taiao

The continent of Taiao is a combination of forest and open plain, perfect for the diverse population of Alam. Taiao has bountiful lands to raise crops, and thus there are countless farming villages across the continent. The "capital" of Alam is called the Thicket, which is a town surrounding a huge tree. Inside the tree is the High Sage and their council, made up of all sorts of backgrounds.

Vjetar Plateau

The Vjetar plateau is located at the furthest Northeast point in Cor Meum. The only way up is by flying, airships, or making your way up Zephyr's Road, a dangerous foot trail filled with predators and rogues. Atop the plateau is a flat, lush steppe occasionally dotted with rich forests. There is a small patch of frigid mountains to the north, and the west drops off into the sea. The soil is adequate for the nation's agricultural needs, and produce farms are the majority of what you will find when exploring the land. The capital city of Gisa stands in the middle of a windy meadow.

The Sear

The Sear is a scorching desert to the West of Cor Meum. The farther center you go, the hotter the sun beats, and the taller the sand dunes stand. But, smack in the middle of the desert, springs the Blessing Oasis. It's the largest oasis in the Sear, and most of the qilin population lives here.

The Wai Peninsula

The Wai peninsula is home to Ngaru, the native kingdom of the kelpies. To the Northern entrance to the peninsula are swamps, marshes, bogs, and mangroves. Then, there's the Iridescent Jungle. Though it's a gorgeous sight to behold, it's filled with dangerous animals and man-eating plants. Then, once you finally make it out of the jungle, you are rewarded with a calm, tropical paradise. The capital city is located on the shore, along with the Summer Palace. But, during the winter and fall months, the royal family retreats to the Underwater Palace. A secret entrance on the surface is provided for non-kelpie visitors.

Kahore Mountains

Nihil, the native kingdom of the nix, is based underground and in the mountains of Kahore. The entirety of the continent is just mountains that stretch almost completely off the Eastern coast of Cor Meum. The capital city of Covert lays below the surface of Titan's Maw Summit, the largest mountain in the world.

Ledas

A combination of icy plain and taiga to the north of Cor Meum. It is mostly unexplored by the other Beings, and is occupied by the Fa and Noh sphinx clans.

The Barrier Mountains

Several oceanic mountain ranges that erupt from the water, and surround Cor Meum. There is presumably nothing past these mountains, only open ocean. However, all voyages that set out past these mountains never return. Rumor has it that beyond these mountains lies the secret home of the lungs.

Additional landmasses

Within the Barrier Mountains are several other small islands, whether they humbly sit on the water or float above it. None of them are big enough to be marked fully as continents, however, and most of them are colonized by dragon villages.

General Society

The Queen is a hereditary, gender-neutral title worn by the ruling dragon. It's passed on from parent to oldest child, but it's not unheard of for the crown to go to one of the Queen's spouses, siblings, or even a trusted Council member if either they believe their children aren't cut out for the job or die before they have any.

The King is the first spouse of the Queen(the King is also a gender-neutral title). The King acts as an advisor to the Queen as well as a companion, and is incredibly influential. Consorts hold no political power, but may hold certain influence as well, depending on their background/actions outside of the palace walls.

The current Queen is Nefriah, and her heir is her first son, Valo. She has one spouse, King Solan. Their other children are Naika, Naseem, Kasigo, and Vanja.

That being said, there are no gender roles in Xeno-Hiraeth! Gender identity and expression is something that is a personal preference, and is figured out during childhood(all children are referred to with they/them pronouns at first, unless they choose differently later on). Androgyny is the dominant gender expression, and no individual would be made fun of, judged, or barred from certain tasks/jobs for their gender identity and/or expression, or lack thereof.

While the Queen rules over both dragons and mageia(and to some extent, the sphinxes), it's the Omnis-Sovereign who carries out the laws to the mageia. The Omnis-Sovereign is typically a longma mageia who not only rules their own kingdom, but the other kingdoms as well. While all kingdoms have their individual leader or leaders, they all answer to the Omnis-Sovereign, and the Omnis-Sovereign answers to the Queen. The current Omnis-Sovereign is Jerome.

The Prophet is the religious leader of Cor Meum, and secondary advisor to the Queen. Their job(supposedly) is to make sure the will of the Seraph is followed. They also are responsible for keeping the Queen in check. They are hand-picked by the Queen themself, and serve until death. The current Prophet is Rek'yen.

The Queen's council consists of the King, Prophet, General, Treasurer, High Mage, Archive Keeper, Charter, and High Judge. King Solan currently doubles as the High Mage.

There is an unspoken racial hierarchy amongst the mageia, in order of preference of the dragons; the longmas, the re'em, the dryads, the perytons, the qilins, the kelpies, and then the nixes.

Disabilities are not usually an issue in Xeno-Hiraeth. Non-verbal and/or deaf beings are taught some form of sign language, or given a slate to write your thoughts down. Blind individuals are taught to use their other senses to make their way around, and/or given a guide(whether they be a Being or familiar), or a cane to feel around with as you step. For those with lost limbs, there's a number of different prosthetics to choose from, and there are special prosthetics for different jobs and activities(including wings!).

In regards to technology, think steampunk-esque. Tech such as robotic prosthetics, arcane-powered machines, airships, explosives, and simple firearms such as pistols, bayonets, and shotguns are craftable items.

Tharcanas are enchanted items, all with differing abilities. Some examples would be a piece of jewelry that immediately returns to the owner of it's ever stolen, a small orb that gives off light when needed, a flute that puts listeners to sleep, bracers that give the wearer super strength, etc.

Being Biology & Info

Dragons and Lungs

Dragons and Lungs have a rather… chaotic biology, to say the least. While they can't be classified into several distinct races, almost every dragon or lung family has something unique about their pedigree. For example, some families may be able to grow plant life on themselves, or breathe fire, or have insect-like wings, etc.

Curiously enough, some dragons and lungs have similar features, such as some dragons having manes down their topline, and lungs having small, vestigial wings.

No matter what their features are, dragons are the largest species, standing at around 7-8 ½ feet at the shoulder. They are typically scaled, with at least one pair of wings, and at least one horn.

Lungs, on the other hand, are only slightly taller than the average mageia, but have long, snake-like bodies. They have fur and/or scales, with a mane down their topline/around their head like a lion. They usually have at least one horn.

Mageia

Mageia are huge creatures(the average mageia is about 6 ½ feet at the shoulder) with a canine-like head filled with sharp teeth, front paws(or claws, or talons) back hooves(can be one toed or cloven) a horse-like mane, and a lionel tail.

The mageia have seven races, each with their own unique features:

Longma biology

Pure longmas are mageia who share a common ancestor who was half dragon. All Longmas have at least one horn and draconic wings.

Pure longmas always have:

draconic wings

at least one horn

Longmas can have:

scales somewhere other than the topline, wings, and tail

scales along their topline

serpentine tails

draconic fins

Additional info

Famously pompous and devoted to individualism, Longmas are proud, innovative, and fiercely passionate.

Traditionally classist, recent years have seen the ladder to success grow more accessible, but the line between nobility and commoners remains distinct and nearly impossible to cross.

Longmas consider themselves the ideal and dismiss other mageia as uncultured, barbaric entities.

The gap between Sahar's civilian classes is significant, with the nobility sitting comfortably at the top of the ladder. The Nobility are revered, or at the very least begrudgingly respected, by the lower classes. Their political significance is rivaled only by their implied wealth, which may or may not be as grand as an individual noble claims. Nobles are the only longmas who have surnames, portrayed by their House. While there is some wiggle room for wealthy commoners to rub shoulders with the elite, they are unlikely to be accepted as an equal.

Re'em biology

Re'em are readily identified by their horns, which range from the traditional single spiral to jagged monstrosities, sometimes made of gemstone and metal.

Pure re'em always have:

horn(s), typically on the head.

Pure re'em can have:

Horns made of minerals such as precious gemstones, metals, glass or rock

Gemstone/metal attributes

Additional info

The re'em of Lux are proud people, known for their prowess in battle. Thus, friendly sparring is a common pastime for young re'em, though older re'em enjoy the activity as well.

When a re'em dies, a replica of their horn is carved and shaped from the same gemstone/metal that their real horn was made from. Simply painting a clay sculpture is an alternative to those with simple keratin horns.

Although the re'em have a reputation in other kingdoms as being uneducated, simplistic brutes, intellectual prowess is lauded, and complex, strategy-based games are enjoyed in households.

A single back hoof stomp is a more "aggressive" greeting, and thus is conducted by soldiers and rowdy adolescents, the harder/louder the more impressive.

Dryad biology

A pureblooded dryad is identified by the plant or animal life that thrives from their body. Plant life usually goes through seasonal changes or stagnates at full bloom, but there are always anomalies. A depressed or sick dryad usually suffers from wilted, or even withered growth.

Pure Dryads always have:

plantlife (or plant-esque, such as coral, bark, rocks/minerals/gemstones, etc.) growing from their body

Dryads can have:

extra hair (such as an extended mane down their top line).

antlers.

gemstones.

bark or rock like texture on their body.

Additional info

When hunting and farming, no part of the plant or animal goes to waste. Anything one does not eat is made into jewelry, tools, or simply fertilizer for the next batch of crops.

Outsiders are welcomed, but watched carefully. The dryads of Alam are hospitable and friendly to all, but won't hesitate to give you the boot if you choose violence.

The native mageia of Taiao live in peace with the environment, never taking more than what they need. Wastefulness, in any capacity, is not tolerated. What you take from the land is a blessing, and should be treated as such.

The High Sage is the religious leader of Alam. They interpret signs seemingly sent by the Seraph themself, predict the success of the next year/harvest, and make sure traditions are followed, and outdated ones are updated. The Council are the political leaders, and do most of the paperwork, overseeing official events, recounting population, distributing resources, etc.

Peryton biology

All pureblooded perytons will have at least one set of wings. Feathered wings are the most common, but there are plenty of individuals who sport wings reminiscent of bats, and rarer still are the individuals who grow insect-like wings.

Pure perytons always have:

at least one set of wings(wings can be feathered, bat-like, or insect based)

Perytons can have:

feathering on the body.

feathers in place of a mane or tail.

more than one set of wings.

Additional info:

The perytons are proud, loyal, and cunning, and reside in a nation shrouded in mystery. While often misunderstood, they have a rich history and culture that defines them.

There is so much freestanding land in Vjetar that it is commonplace just to petition for a small plot to build on, and more often than not, it will be granted.

Most families in Sirocco are rather large, as couples generally have anywhere from three to seven children.

The Divine is the kingdom's spiritual leader, acting as the conduit through which the last Seraph makes their will known, while the clerics act as the kingdom's clergy and healers. While the Divine rarely leaves the Holy Temple of the Seraph, and never leaves the great city of Gisa, Clerics live all throughout the nation and assist where the Divine can not.

Qilin biology

The Qilin is immediately recognizable by the presence of body scales and antlers. This race is almost entirely resilient to heat.

Pure qilins always have:

at least one antler, though typically two.

scaling somewhere on their body.

Qilins can have:

antlers that resemble various different deeror antelope.

Additional info

Qilins of Hariq are hardy survivors, a family of mostly nomadic individuals joined together by their mutual love and respect for every member of the Sear.

Humble, accepting, and naive, these gentle mageia are trusting of others to a sometimes dangerous fault. Though they make up the smallest population, they are not to be trifled with: every member has received some form of combat training, and their desert home is a frightful place to wage war.

The traditional qilin would die for their virtues and the safety of another.

Deeply spiritual and fixated on being one with and coexisting with the world, the qilin ways are mystical and rooted in their religion.

Kelpie biology

Kelpies will always possess two forms that they are able to shift between: a land form for traversing terrain, and a water form that allows them to swim and breathe underwater. The aquatic half of a kelpie can be based on fish, cetaceans, octopi, seals, or any other marine creature.

Pure kelpies always have:

a land form.

a water form.

Kelpies can have (in both forms):

fins and scales.

a fishtail.

stingers, tentacles, barbels - anything that correlates to their aquatic animal(s) really.

bioluminescence.

Additional info

Kelpies are famously the most accepting of outsiders, and thus hybrids are not a rare sight in Ngaru.

They are skilled soldiers, fishers, and sailors, but extremely superstitious. Angering the last Seraph is said enough to damn you and your family for generations.

While they are accepting of outside races, they stay as distant as they possibly can from the other nations, and try not to get mixed up in their politics.

As a collective community, Ngaru generally works together to keep themselves in check to prevent interference from the dragons.

Nix biology

Though they lack the fantastical features of their counterparts, there is beauty in simplicity. Rare genetic mutations can give this race additional eyes or even visible auras.

Additional info

Since nixes lack any interesting features, they're seen as boring, tasteless individuals, which is far from the truth.

They're secretive and selective on who they let into the Underground, and fewer ever get to see the capitol city.

The nation is built on a sense of community, and secrets rarely stay hidden for long.

A lot of nixes travel the continents of Cor Meum in hopes of finding wealth elsewhere, and it isn't uncommon to find a travelling Nix merchant setting up shop in the streets in a completely different continent than their own.

Hybrids

Opinions on hybrids vary from kingdom to kingdom. In Sahar, Lux, Sirocco, and Nihil, hybrids are frowned upon or at the very least judged, but in Alam, Hariq, and Ngaru, it's not as much of a big deal. Still, most hybrids are vagabonds, finding their place elsewhere, outside the binary kingdoms.

There is a rumor floating around that off the shore of the Wai Peninsula is a floating isle that is a safe haven for hybrids and wayward beings of the like, conducted by a longma with strange abilities and a gun-slinging nix. They're referred to as the Devil's Duo. Urban legend says that they're a pair of adopted siblings who took control of a ship that once hauled kidnapped sphinxes to slavery. Now, they recruit runaways and misfits, looting and raiding unsuspecting ships, whether they be in the water or the air. This group of misfits is called the Vindicators. The Duo's true names are unknown to all but this group.

Sphinxes

The Sphinxes are felines about the size of an Earth horse, with wings and talons like birds. They naturally belong to one of twelve clans, and usually communicate in a series of both feline and bird-like sounds(such as, but not limited to: chirps, hisses, meowing, cawing, roars, etc). This language is referred to as Dimali colloquially amongst the Sphinxes.

The Sa Clan

The vast desert sand dunes are occupied by the Sa, the smallest of all the clans. The Sa sphinxes closely resemble sand cats, but with a more slim face. They have longer fur that sprouts between their toes to protect their feet from the hot surface sand. Sa culture surrounds on how precious water is, treating water wells as sacred locations. The Sa worship snake spirits, and have elaborate hunting rituals for the rare giant serpents of the Sear.

The Ri Clan

The Ri are a very reclusive clan, preferring to hide deep in their forests surrounded by ancient trees and spirits. They are typically much smaller than the average sphinx, and display dark colors with rich reds on their fur. They have small, "kitten-like" faces with mildly fluffy tails. The Ri are adept with magic, often hoarding their secrets from outsiders. It is said that they have a close connection with the lungs, which is where they derive their magical knowledge.

The Tas Clan

The Tas live in the tropical rainforests of the Wai peninsula. They're the most colorful and vibrant of the sphinxes, with an endless range of fur colors and patterns. Their wings are similar to cockatoos. These sphinxes have a special fondness for feather and fur dyes, and can produce every conceivable color(including UV reactive and glowing dyes).

The Fa Clan

They occupy Ledas, the snow covered isle to the north of Cor Meum. This clan is nomadic, wandering their large territory to hunt and sustain themselves. They're the only sphinxes that hunt whales, more specifically the ivory B'Eshuul whales. These sphinxes have long, white fur and are similar to Norwegian Forest cats. They are so similar physiologically to their slightly southern neighbors, the Noh, that they might be considered a subgroup of them.

The Noh Clan

To the southern part of the Ledas are the vast pine forests, the home of the Noh Clan. Like the Fa, they have long fur and resemble Norwegian Forest cats, only their fur is more darkly colored. Both are also large, tough, and cold-resistant. With dark colors, keen instincts, and incredible strength, they make excellent hunters and warriors.

The Wen Clan

The sphinxes of the Wen occupy an island southwest of Cor Meum dominated by ancient red trees and volcanic activity. While they tend to be more disconnected from the other clans, it's not entirely by choice. There are many rumors about the Wen that make even dragons fear them. From their close connection to volcanism, to the idea they are spirit possessed, or possibly immortal. Tall and graceful, the sphinxes of this clan bear pale fur and sleek, noble eyes. They also have unique feather arrangements and tufted ears, which adds to their exotic profile. They have a knack for creating delicate and beautifully crafted jewelry and adornments.

The Fen Clan

The Fen sphinxes occupy the coastal cliffs of the Vjetar plateau and the islands surrounding it. Characterized by their bright orange colorization, they are shipbuilders and explorers. Having mastered the art of navigation, they bring goods and news from distant islands that are untouched by any of the four Beings. Sphinxes of Fen have more narrow, elongated wings similar to seabirds. This clan has close ties to the Noc, who have provided star charts to them for generations.

The Noc Clan

The Noc are loosely based in the mountains around the continent, mostly nomadic and nocturnal. The sphinxes of this clan are very owl-like, with large eyes and wings built for stealth. They are known to be great astronomers. They are often traders of secrets and information.

The Pel Clan

The clan of Pel occupy a large swath of land between the Sear and Taiao. Tricksters at heart, they are fond of poisons, venoms, and weaving. Mythology for the Pel surrounds storms and lightning, and the most impressive thunderstorms can be found in their territory. Though they're tricksters at heart, their elixirs are mainly used for medicine crafting. They are excellent runners for their species as well, mastering the art of long distance travel.

The Ku Clan

The Ku Clan make their homes in the northernmost point in the Sear, and their territory is a mix between red canyons and pine forests. They tend towards a rusty red color in the canyons, but to the north their coat coloring is grey and ticked. The typical Ku home is an elaborate, carved out chamber in the canyon walls, often with multiple chambers. After many generations of the practice, masonry and stonework are common skills. The Ku territory is rich with salt deposits, which is mined and sold to generate some of the greatest wealth amongst all the sphinx clans of the continents.

The Mal Clan

The sphinxes of Mal inhabit the dense mangrove and marshes between Wai and Taiao. They're the largest clan next to the Fa and Noh, with short fur in different shades of brown, and large, webbed wings. These sphinxes have the unusual ability to breathe underwater, and have developed fins on their topline, webbed talons, and a fish-like tail. Even though they're big clunky, these fins make them surprisingly aerodynamic, making them some of the best fliers amongst the sphinxes. They worship fish and water serpent spirits, and have a deep connection to the winged snakes of the swamps called amphipteres.

The Lin Clan

A mysterious, secretive clan who dwells in perpetual darkness beneath the surface of Cor Meum. They are very much bat-like, with large, beady eyes, huge ears, and bat-like wings that have finger-like appendages at the top to help them grip the cave walls. Their patron spirit is the Iron Root Spirit, also called the Mirror Tree. On the surface, it looks like a normal tree, but its roots take form to grow another tree seemingly growing from the cavern ceiling. Stories say that it talks to all of those able to listen, and will sometimes bestow the iron legs of their ancestor, Diersha. Rumored to be extinct, the Lin Clan spends their days mining and crafting prosthetics, unbothered by the world above… and blissfully ignorant of its current state.

Enslaved Sphinxes

Sphinxes that are owned by dragon nobility. Most are born into slavery, while others are clan sphinxes kidnapped by slave traders. Those who are born into slavery do not typically have any specific features to any one clan, but rather a cluster of hybrids of sick, selective "breeding" over generations. Many have grown accustomed to this life, and keep their heads low in order to survive. The existence of these slaves are exactly the reason why most sphinx clans keep far away from the other Beings.

#she's finally done @~@ #Joka #Joka story #worldbuilding #fantasy world #xeno-hiraeth #mageia #dragons #lungs #sphinxes #racism tw #classism tw #colonization tw #genocide tw #slavery tw

[coyotefaced]

McCree exists in the cities and neon of the world. Because sometimes, they expect him to. 

McCree exists in the dark alleyways and undercover and in banks and hypertrains and robbing folks blind, because that’s what they’ve made him into. That’s what he’s always been, no less than a piece of him that he cannot shake, no matter how hard he struggles. Like trying to outrun your own shadow, even. 

These… cities, these boundaries where he does not know the steps, he does not know the track scare him in truth, in practice -- a city by day, bright and sunny save for the buildings that rake the sky and pierce the heavens like the man made wonders they are, but they loom, they obscure, they cast those same shadows in bright daylight. Rare are the days where streets can bake and bask in the sunshine and provide. If he could, when the business suited him, he would do nothing but hide in those rooftops and soak it up. 

Cities, however, are nocturnal. He has had to learn to become such a beast as well, despite his preferences. Cities are not quiet things, but they are filled to bursting with eyes and ears -- it makes the hunt difficult, unnerving. Every strip of neon and every bright light becomes an eye, and those same hiding places and cracks in the wall become a suffocating trap of concrete and wire, rebar and asphalt. The din of cars, the hum of an ever present static charge in the air, every shout and screech and squeal, it all adds up. The cumulative noise make his operating less than smooth, less than covert, and leaving the places he must hunt becomes a thing of dread and danger. 

He suffocates. He hides in those microcosms of history that keep the character of the city intact, supported by all the plastic and silicone scaffolding that make them… mere facades. He cannot subsist here. 

He will flee. He always does. 

McCree does not last long in cities. The light does not agree with him. 

Jesse comes out when the last lights of the interstate give way to interspersed streetlights, somewhere on the corner of a small downtown crossing where the buildings are lath and plaster and brick. 

Old stone and adobe. 

Oak and pine.

Jesse exists outside of the range of the lights that pollute the skyline with hazy, foggy rays of artificial sunshine. Those first few steps into blissful silence, the dark cover of a cloudless, moonless night, the dealer showing his hand -- an existence without anxiety or fear. 

Trees are more of a comfort than people. Wildlife is very good at keeping secrets. Even empty, open prairie, a scorching desert, they are more forgiving than even the quietest city street. 

In, and then out. Slow. Measured.

Clandestine, and private. 

He makes his home in the carcasses of the old world here, where he can breathe.

[mynarcissticex]

Is it hard to live with a narcissist?!

You are slowly and systematically erased . Your values and boundaries ignited and set aflame . You look in the mirror and feel the uncomfortableness staring back at you as you now see what the narcissistic has programmed you to see . A bother , a nuisance you do everything wrong and nothing right . You feel unattractive as they never look at you naked anymore but worse than that they never look you in the eyes .

You are not heard when you speak , you are not wanted as they ghost you , not needed as other supply have taken over that role . You are lost without them , without the validation you are broken into ever smaller bits . When the abuse escalates and it always does the fight is gone in you , you are 10 rounds down and they are just warming up .

This is their masterpiece, the Picasso of control. To take a kind , loving and loyal person and make them a certified basket case unable to trust their own mind . Red flags have tied together and became a noose around your neck . Your gut writhes in nausea and your heart feels like it is pumping gasoline. Your head and heart are at war and no one will survive this battle .

Your narcissistic primed and conditioned you from the highest highs to straight down to hell . No one can tell me they don’t enjoy the sadistic power to take down us the enemy. There is simply to much calculation, stealth moves and covert action . They know your rational thinking has become putty in their hands . They see the heartbreak , they see you becoming paralyzed in even trying to make it through the day .

We by this time look like a POW war prisoner and they know they we did not begin this way .In a normal receptive relationship the partner tries to build you up not bury you alive . We are frazzled, crazed and have a demented image cloaked in a most bitter sadness . We try to tell them , beg them , plead to save us and for the crime of our agony we are met with blame shifting, projection and rage . The narc takes our destroyed and withered state and disgustingly garners more supply .

Our sorrow is used to show how crazy we are , our tears produce sympathy for the narc as they have a unstable partner , our texts of despair laughed and jeered at and we are made into a obsessed stalker . All we do , everything we feel , the confidence’s we shared the secrets we whispered only to them splashed across the supply network. Nothing is sacred, you were beaten and stir fried . You were a object that stopped serving and you must pay the piper . They wage a war with our souls , a scorched earth , a Armageddon of no mercy or reprieve.

Entitlement is a tricky thing . Absolute entitlement is akin to burning your house down with you still in it . A narc so focused on the ultimate fantasy overthrows anyone that ever cared so they light the match and incinerate themselves . A fitting end .

#narcissism