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naminethewriter · 8 months

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How It All Began

Chapter Two: Living Legend

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Story Summary: Remus, son of a simple fisherman, had worked hard to become the captain of his own pirate ship. And in his humble opinion, it was going great! His crew was small but reliable and they had just stolen something that could them some nice cash from a military vessel they happened to cross on the open sea. They just needed to hide it somewhere until it was safe to sell. How lucky for them that they come across a nice, uninhabited island.

Little did Remus know just who he would find on that little piece of land and how it would change his life entirely.

Content Warning: Innuendo, Reference to Past Trauma, Past Parental Death

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Remus set off to the island again early the next morning. He hadn’t slept much, the sound of bones breaking upon hitting rocks bouncing around in his head the entire night. Instead of fruitlessly fighting his insomnia much longer, he got up with the rising sun, stuffed the box containing the seal into a satchel, found Sloane already up and about and dragged him along to the rowboat.

As he had done yesterday with Patton and Elliot, Remus left Sloane at the beach to look for a hiding place by himself, this time choosing an entirely different direction from the day before. He was looking for a spot that was easy to remember but hard to get to – he didn’t want to bury the box, because one, that was totally cliché and two, he really didn’t want to do all that digging – so a cave or hollow tree would be perfect.

It took him a while before he found an opening between two cliffs that looked somewhat deep. It was small and dark though, squeezing in there might not be the smartest move. Before he could even try, he was startled by a voice.

“You will not fit in there.” In a very reminiscent way, Remus spun around to face… the guy from yesterday? They stared at each other until Remus found his voice again.

“Wha- How? I killed you!”

“Falsehood. The injuries from the fall killed me, not your… bullet I believe they are called?” Remus just continued to stare at him in disbelief.

“Who the fuck cares how, you still died!”

“Indeed.”

“So how are you here? Are you a ghost? Am I being haunted?!” That thought honestly excited Remus a bit. He tried to look closer, maybe he could see through the guy now but nope, same as yesterday. Not even his clothes had changed.

“I am not a ghost. I died and then came back. I do not see how you are not understanding the situation.”

“Dead people don’t just come back to life!”

“That is true.”

“Then why did you?”

“Because I am immortal.”

“What?” The man cocked his head to the side.

“Do you not know of the legends of Immortals? When I was young they were quite commonly told.”

“Of course I know the legends!” Remus sputtered. “If the Elemental Spirits find one worthy, they can grant even a human the gift of immortality like the sirens. But they’re just that: legends! Like I expect some random guy I shot on a random island to just come back to life!”

The stranger nodded in understanding as if this was a typical discussion topic and he hadn’t just turned Remus’ entire world view on its head.

“I suppose that is true. Though considering you are a man of the sea, I had expected you to have some experience dealing with sirens, so I am surprised this comes as such a shock to you.” Remus was once again at a loss for words. Sure, as many others had, he had hoped that the stories were true, that humans could gain immortality the sirens had from birth, but there had never been any proof. All accounts of supposed Immortals were dubious at best. The Elemental Spirits were known to dislike humans, even before they took over the lands and destroyed many forests. It was the main reason the seas were dangerous to travel, the Spirits would not let humans take more control.

For an immortal to be in front of him now… it was a dream come true! A switch flipped in Remus’ brain and his wariness of the stranger simply evaporated. Instead, excitement shot through every fiber of his being at the realization that the one thing he had feared was impossible for him to achieve was directly in front of him. A real Immortal! He got to meet a true immortal human being! A grin broke across his face and with quick steps he made his way over to the man who was now the one to look startled.

“That means you met the Spirits? The real deal? And they approved of you? You really can’t die no matter what??” Their faces were now inches apart. The man blinked at him, the sudden change in his demeaner had probably thrown him off, before he took a step back and cleared his throat.

“Yes to all of those questions. Unless the Council deems me no longer useful and revokes their gift to me, I will revive no matter the injuries.” Remus’ grin grew impossibly wide and he let out a loud cackle. Then he grabbed the man’s hand and shook it wildly.

“Name’s Remus, Pirate Captain, and you’re going to tell me everything right now.” The man eyes him for a moment before pulling his hand back and rightening his glasses.

“Logan, biologist and botanist. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

~~~

“So how long have you been immortal?” Despite only just having properly met the man in front of him – Remus, if he remembered correctly – Logan could already tell from the expression on the man’s face that he would not rest until he had answers to all his questions. His green eyes were wide open and curious, a look Logan knew he had often worn himself as a young child and lost sometime on his way into adulthood.

Regardless, if Remus was going to question him for hours, they might as well be comfortable.

“Before you start your interrogation, would you like to accompany me to my camp? I can make us some tea and we could sit while talking.” The other blinked, obviously not having expected the invitation.

“Yeah, sure! Whatever gets you into the mood, four-eyes!” He wriggled his eyebrows in what Logan could only guess was supposed to be a suggestive manner. He decided to ignore the innuendo.

“Then please follow me, it is not far.” Logan turned around and headed deeper into the jungle. He’d been on this island for almost ten years now, he knew every nook and cranny, no need for a compass. Remus followed close behind him with loud steps.

“You can answer while we walk though, right?” The pirate captain apparently was not a patient person but that was unsurprising. Over the years, Logan had learned that few of his kind were.

“Very well. You asked about how many years it has been since I have gained my immortality, correct?”

“Not in those words but yeah.”

“I can’t say with absolute certainty, I spend a lot of time alone so keeping track of dates is not something I do diligently, but I can estimate that it was around 140 years ago.” His companion whistled.

“And you’ve been here the entire time?”

“No, I have relocated a few times once my research concluded.”

“And then you just go looking for another place to do the same thing again? Sounds pretty dull.”

“It is anything but dull,” Logan responded more sharply than he had intended. “I do this work because I enjoy it, it’s what I always wanted to do with my life.”

“And that’s why you sought out the spirits? To give you more time to do your research?”

“I didn’t seek them out which is probably why they chose to accept me.” They arrived at his camp just in time for him to dodge the follow-up questions Remus surely had in mind. His home was quite simple, and he liked it that way. It was a clearing, small enough to still be mostly covered by the canopy of the trees above to give shelter from the simpler rainfalls but big enough to give room to move around in. He had set up a fire pit in the middle of the space with an old but durable cauldron held up by some sturdy branches above it. It was currently empty; he would need to fetch water from the stream nearby.

“Please, make yourself comfortable.” Logan motioned for Remus to sit on his bed which was essentially just a collection of moss on a flat stone but being blessed by the Spirits meant more than just gaining immortality and said moss was as soft as the finest mattress money could buy. His bed, along with a large chest containing his few sets of clothes, notebooks, and other personal items, was located underneath a naturally formed stone awning that kept him completely protected from the occasional storms. He stored most of his food supply in a cave not far away where the temperature and humidity were much stabler than out here, thanks to his blessing.

“I will fetch some water, if you know how to use flint to start a fire, I would appreciate the assistance. More firewood is over there.” It was a small stack of logs and twigs inside a hollow tree nearby. Logan grabbed his bucket, also wooden, and headed towards the stream. With his free hand he made sure that the key to his chest was still on his person. He shouldn’t be gone long enough for the pirate to pick the lock.

The babbling of the water always had a soothing effect on Logan. The gentle sound calmed him and he took a deep breath. He hadn’t expected Remus to react the way he had. He didn’t get visitors often, he never had on any of the islands he inhabited after making his deal with the Spirits, and when he did, he tried not to engage. He talked to Remus the day before since he feared the other could get hurt in a moment of carelessness and he had similar motivations earlier as well. The few others he had talked to before also met him with suspicion, in rarer cases with curiosity but most of those encounters ended with Logan’s death. Pirates were ruthless after all, and soldiers often assumed the worst of him. Merchants didn’t come to places like this.

So to have Remus believe him and be excited about talking to him was something new to Logan. And he was entirely out of practice regarding his social skills. His only contacts were Janus and occasionally Virgil but neither sirens were super friendly with him. And then there was his patron, a spirit of the earth on the Council, but he spoke to her only every few years.

Having a human in his camp? Exciting and worrying at the same time. He shouldn’t leave him alone for too long.

Logan took another deep breath before kneeling by the water’s edge and dipping the bucket into the stream to fill it up before making his way back. To his surprise, he found Remus actually crouching by the now lit fire, watching the sparks with a delighted expression on his face.

“Thank you for your cooperation,” Logan nodded to him as he carefully filled the water from the bucket into the cauldron to avoid killing the flames accidentally.

“No problem! I’ll never say no to a bit of arson!” the pirate grinned at him.

“I see. Is that a part of the reason as to why you chose your profession?”

“Not really but it definitely was a plus! I just wanted to be on the seas, and being a merchant’s errand boy seemed boring, as did becoming a fisherman – I mean my father was one, so I knew it wasn’t exciting most of the time – and I was going to off myself before even thinking of joining the naval forces. Becoming a pirate was just the most fun in my opinion.”

“You are quite odd,” Logan commented after pausing for a moment. He meant nothing bad by it and judging from the grin on Remus’ face, he hadn’t taken it as an insult.

“So I’ve been told!”

“I hope you don’t mind me asking some personal questions. I am quite curious about you.”

“Wow, you’re blunt! If you wanna take this to your moss bed, I would be down!” The pirate captain wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and Logan couldn’t fight the blush that spread across his cheeks.

“That was not what I was referring to,” he clarified after clearing his throat. Remus cackled.

“Yeah, I know. I was just messing with you, though I do mean that I am totally open to tango with you, if you did want to.”

“Please, let us get back on topic,” Logan sighed and the pirate seemed to understand that he reached a limit.

“To answer your question: I don’t mind you asking some stuff in return. Though if I don’t wanna answer something, I won’t. Of course, that goes for you, too. I’m not gonna be too nosey.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome! Now, tell me more about how you met the Council! They’re the big bosses of the Spirits, right?”

“They are a collective of spirits that act as a sort of government, yes. Most of them are older than we could possibly imagine. They keep the balance of the natural world.”

“That is so fucking cool! And how did you end up meeting them?” Remus was leaning very close to him, staring at his face with an intensity that made Logan a bit uncomfortable. Thankfully, the water in the cauldron was now boiling, so he could flee to fetch two cups and the tea leaves. He put the leaves in the cups, then carefully added the water before handing one of them off to Remus and moving to sit on his bed with his own. Remus followed but decided to sit on Logan’s chest instead, creating some much-needed distance between them – well, needed by Logan at least.

“I will not go into detail,” Logan started, staring at his cup while it brewed, trying not to dive too deep into painful memories, “but I was brought along by someone against my will. Why exactly they took me, I do not know, I was barely conscious, but I believe my captor thought having a sacrifice might be a good back-up plan if his meeting with the Council went sour. I don’t think he lived long enough to offer.” He chanced a quick glance up at Remus who was sitting eerily still as he listened.

“When I regained my bearings, I was alone with the Council. They asked me questions and I answered honestly. I was quite afraid. But they understood that I bore no ill intent and thus offered me a deal. A chance to do the research I always dreamed of doing, for as long as I wanted, as long as I shared my findings with the Council.”

“Why were they so interested in your research? You said you dabbled in biology and botany, right?” Logan nodded in confirmation, making Remus narrow his eyebrows. “Shouldn’t they already know everything you could find? They’re basically nature itself, right?”

“Yes, most of my findings are simply confirmation of what they already know. But nature is unpredictable and so there are some developments – mutations if you will – that even the Elemental Spirits aren’t aware of. Nature adapts and that can happen in many unexpected ways.”

“That’s so fucking cool,” Remus cheered, kicking his legs like a child. Logan smiled, glad to share his passion with another and receive a positive response. Even back during his studies he had rarely met like-minded people. He took a sip of his tea before asking the pirate a question he’d been wondering about.

“Do you have any background in academics? You said your father was a fisherman, did you receive any education? I’m afraid I am not knowledgeable of the current rate of literacy amongst the populace.”

“You talk funny,” Remus snorted. “But yeah, that’s fair, I guess. I did learn how to read and write as well as basic math but not much more than that.” Logan noticed one of Remus’ hands fiddling with his shirt at his chest but decided not to pry.

“Were you a special case or is that the standard education nowadays?”

“Standard, I think. I mean, I could have gone to school longer, but it wasn’t really my thing. Ro stuck around longer, but he was always the smarter of the two of us.”

“Who is ‘Ro’ if I might ask?”

“Roman, my twin brother.”

“Is he part of your crew?” Remus barked out a laugh.

“Fuck no. He’s too righteous for that. Nah, he’s a sailor, works for whoever will hire him last I heard. Well, not everyone. He stays away from any military vessels, we both learned young what shitheads they are.” By now, Remus was tightly gripping at his shirt and Logan couldn’t contain his curiosity any longer.

“What is under your shirt?” A poorly phrased question, he quickly realized. Remus looked shocked for a moment, seemingly not having noticed where his hand had wandered before a wide grin split his face and he leaned closer to Logan.

“If you wanna see me with my clothes off, you could’ve just asked,” he teased. Logan sputtered for a moment, face bright red, before he managed to protest.

“That is not what I was referring to and you know it!” The pirate leaned back and laughed loud and long. By the time he stopped, Logan’s blush had mostly receded.

“Sorry, that was just too good for me to pass up.” Remus wiped a tear from his eye. “But I guess it’s only fair now that I spill the tea.” Jokingly, he raised his still steaming cup, but placed it on the ground without letting any of the liquid escape. Afterwards he pulled on a chain around his neck, revealing a locket from underneath his shirt.

“This is a family heirloom of sorts. My dad had it made for Mom in place of an engagement ring since it was cheaper and they couldn’t really afford more. Later, he got another one made on Mom’s request so they could match. She said it made her feel better about sending him out to sea. Ro has the other one now and I kinda see where mom was coming from. Knowing he has the other makes me feel like we’re connected still.”

“That is a wonderful story, Remus. I am sorry if this is overstepping a boundary, but am I right in assuming your parents have passed?”

“Yeah.” The pirate looked solemn and Logan had to suppress the urge to grab his hand in support. “Ro and I were away; we were doing an apprenticeship to learn to sail on something bigger than a fishing boat. There was a pandemic in our hometown. By the time we heard and made our way back, Mom had already passed. Dad had managed to survive the illness, but it left him severely weakened. He was bedridden when we saw him. Told us that Mom said sorry she left without saying goodbye. That he was sorry he wouldn’t stay either. Ro and I sent him off. I never expected him to make it long without Mom, he basically worshipped her. If Ro and I had still depended on him he might have been able to pull through, but I guess he didn’t have much to live for anymore.”

“My condolences.” It was all Logan could think to say.

“It’s been a few years, I’ve come to terms with it,” Remus waved him off, though his smile was wavering. He put the locket back under his shirt. “Anyway, let’s switch to less depressing topics! How does reporting back to the Council work? Like do they summon you or something?”

“In very rare cases,” Logan explained, glad as well that they changed the direction of discussion again, “but most of the time they send a representative, usually two sirens that go by Janus and Virgil.”

“Sirens?!” Remus eyes were wide and he leaned closer. “What are they like?” Logan raised a brow.

“You’re a pirate. Surely you have encountered sirens before.”

“Nope, actually! At least not up close! We know better than to sail into their territory. I’ve seen some shapes that I think were sirens but I can’t say for sure. I always wanted to meet one!”

“You seem to be very interested in anything that has to do with Elemental Spirits.”

“Duh! It’s fascinating stuff!”

“I think so, too, but most see them as a bother more than anything else.”

“Yeah, I know. Really stupid in my opinion. Like they were here before us, we’re the ones intruding. They’re just defending what’s theirs.”

“I am glad you think so as well. I always found it incredibly rude how people talk about nature like it is something we need to fight instead of adapting to co-exist with it.”

“Exactly!” They smiled at each other, though Logan broke eye-contact when he felt his blush return. He cleared his throat.

“To answer your question about Janus and Virgil: they both are rather brash. Janus dislikes humans and staying on the surface too long, especially on sunny days. Virgil is skittish, and though he doesn’t necessarily dislike humanity, he fears us to a degree, so he’d rather stay away from the surface as well. He does come by occasionally to just chat which Janus is much less likely to do.”

“A siren fearing us sounds strange to me.”

“Well, as far as I understand it, there are Siren Hunters out there that specialize in capturing them. And siren scales are quite valuable, with their immortality and regeneration, if they are trapped, it is likely to end in torture for them.”

“Oh, I fucking hate the Hunters. Total dicks. Think they’re the shit, better than anybody else. Shot one in the head once, his face as he realized what was about to happen was so funny.”

“Please tell me more about your travels. I am quite curious to hear about the daily life of a pirate.”

“Sure! But you gotta tell me a bit more about your research too!”

“Gladly.”

~~~

They talked for hours about Remus’ life on the sea – even a bit about his childhood adventures with his brother – and Logan’s time as an immortal. Remus noticed that he avoided talking about his life before that for long, all he learned was that Logan grew up as the fourth son of a noble and after finishing his studies at his university didn’t get the funding for his passion project, so he worked as a navigator for hire to try and fund it himself. The pirate didn’t press him for more details than he was willing to give, they had only just met after all.

“I should head back to the ship soon,” Remus commented once he saw the sky turn orange through the canopy of trees above him. Logan startled, apparently not having noticed the passage of time.

“I apologize for holding you up for so long. Your crew must be worried.”

“It’s fine,” Remus waved him off, though he did get up to his feet, Logan close behind. “This isn’t the longest I’ve been away from the ship. They’ll send a squad if it gets dark though, so I should get back before then.”

“I agree, that is for the best. I would prefer the wildlife to remain as undisturbed as possible. Where is your ship? I can guide you back.”

“I mean, I got a compass, so I’ll be fine on my own.”

“I would prefer to guide you, it will be faster and again, it will cause less disturbances.”

“Yeah, I guess that makes sense. We’re anchored on the south-western coast.”

“Very well, then please follow me.” Logan walked off, back into the jungle, and Remus hurried to follow him.

“Can I come back tomorrow? And bring a friend?”

“Just one?”

“Yeah. I’m sure the others would be curious, too, but Pat is the calmest one amongst them, as well as the one most interested in the topic.”

“Very well. If your supplies allow you to stay, I do not mind.”

“They should. I think.” Logan looked back at him with a doubtful expression. “I’m gonna check in with Pat on that to be sure, I promise. And I still need to hide this thing now that I think about it.” He gestured to the satchel at his side. Logan stopped and fully turned towards him.

“How big is it?” Remus pulled the box containing the seal out of the bag and showed it to the immortal, who looked it over once. “I believe I know a good place to store it. I can show you tomorrow.”

“That would be awesome, thanks.”

“My pleasure.” They continued on their way for a few more minutes until Logan stopped again, pointing further ahead. “We are not far from the beach, just continue straight ahead. I will meet you here again in the morning.”

“Got it, thanks, Death Defiant!” The nickname made Logan scowl, and Remus laughed as he jogged passed. True to Logan’s word, the captain soon broke through the tree line to a by now familiar looking beach. There was a rowboat pulled up on the sand but instead of Sloane, Remy and Emile waited for him.

“There you are, Capt’n,” Remy yawned. “We were starting to worry.” Considering that his First Mate sat on the beach leaned against his boyfriend, both wrapped in a blanket and looking very relaxed, Remus found that hard to believe.

“Yeah, yeah. I know I’m probably getting chewed out by Patton, let’s just head back.”

“Do we have to?” Remy whined, cuddling closer to Emile. “I don’t wanna move.”

“The captain has spoken, love, up you get.” Emile unwrapped the blanket and gently pried Remy off of him who let out another whine but complied.

“Fine! I was getting hungry anyway,” he pouted before climbing into the rowboat. Emile rolled his eyes at his dramatics but followed. Which left Remus to push the boat back into the water, but he managed it without much struggle. Remy and Emile were lighter than they looked.

Back on the ship, Patton indeed scolded Remus for remaining gone for the whole day and especially for leaving Sloane behind (Sloane himself didn’t seem to have minded it, actually).

“Did you at least find a good hiding spot?” Patton sighed, probably having noticed that he wasn’t getting through to his captain.

“Not yet, but I did find something far better,” Remus grinned. Patton tilted his head, looking like a confused dog. “I’m gonna show you tomorrow. Everyone!” he called, getting the attention of his crew that had gathered on the deck in preparations for dinner. “We’ll be staying here one more day! Or like half a day, we can afford that, right, Patton?”

Patton looked annoyed to be asked that after Remus had already made the announcement but nodded.

“Do we get to know why?” Missy asked.

“Nah, it’s a secret for now!”

“Figured.” The crew turned back to what they were doing before, all knowing better than to question their captain when he gets like that. Remus was so proud that they knew him so well.

“Now, let’s get some food, I’m starving!”

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brontios-helm · 11 months

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Destiny 2: Field Commander Sloane

#destiny 2 #video clip #field commander sloane #destiny 2 titan #siren's watch #titan siren's watch #destiny 2 clip #short clip #who's ready for season of the deep?!#bungie #destiny 2 ps4

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ohtobeleah · 9 months

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California Fornication //

One — ‘That was Jake’

Summary: When the man you’d been seeing turned out to have a wife, your world came crashing down around you. While you tried your best to move onwards and upwards, the very reason for all your recent relationship problems comes strolling into the bar.

Warnings: Mentions of cheating. Love Triangle x2. Bradley Bradshaw x F!reader. Jake Seresin xF!reader. Question ing Morality. Angst.

Word Count: 1.9k

Author Note: Based off the first scene Mark Sloan is in. Greys Anatomy.

Series Masterlist | Main Masterlist

It always plays on repeat in your mind like a slow motion picture, like a scene in one of those old timey movies where everyone and everything slows down so that the main protagonist can understand the situation unfolding around them.

That moment where your boyfriend of only a few months— Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw, told you that he was technically married, haunted you day in and day out. Married to the woman who’d come up to the pair of you in the locker room on base after she’d been transferred to North Island. She’d come waltzing over with a confident smile and a pretty face. She knew she was about to turn your life on its axis.

For better or worse.

“Y/n.” It wasn’t often people actually said your name, majority of the same it was your callsign—but the way the colour drained from Bradleys face as he turned to you with a gut wrenching look smeared across his usually perfect face, had your stomach churning. “I’m so sorry—“

“Hi, I’m Katie Bradshaw—“ The woman, who mind you, was stunning to say the very least, stuck her hand out to shake yours. You took it gracefully, with enough conviction in your grip to not have it show you were completely blindsided by that all too familiar last name.

“Bradshaw?” You smiled softly as you sent Rooster a confusing look. He’d never mentioned a sister or a cousin before in the few months you’d been seeing and sleeping together.

“I’m Rooster's wife—“ Those three words would forever haunt you. “And you must be the woman who’s been screwing my husband?”

“Hey! Siren!” It was Phoenix’s voice that broke you out of the trance you’d fallen into as you showed. Her fist slamming against the shower door three quick and consecutive times made you jump a little as the warm water encapsulated you entirely. “You coming to the Hard Deck?”

“Yeah yeah, just give me a few minutes!” You replied as you washed your face. “I’ll meet you guys over there.” It had only been three weeks since you called it quits with the mustache having aviator who had stolen your heart. The entire situation made you feel dirty. Even if you weren’t the one in the wrong. No amount of showering could wash away the dirty feeling you’d been left with.

What could be worse than being branded the dirty mistress? That no one told you about the cheating scandal that had rocked the Bradshaws' happy marriage about a year ago. That was worse.

Bradley swore black and blue he was going to tell you. He’d sworn the rest of the squad to secrecy about the details too. He wanted to be the one to tell you. To tell you that you were the first woman he’d been with since he’d walked in on his wife, Katie, and his best friend, Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin, in bed together.

Still, the ultimatum was given. You’d asked Bradley to pick you, choose you, love you. But when the time came to decide he chose his wife. His reasonings were none of your business nor concern.

And so you walked away. Labelled the mistress and the interim love affair. Even against the Chester you didn’t compare—and that crushed you completely.

“You’ve been doing that an awful lot lately.” Pennys voice broke through the haze you’d fallen into at the bar. The drink you’d ordered, Gin Sour, sat in front of you on a Hard Deck coaster. “What’s on your mind daydreamer?”

“More like a never ending nightmare Pen.” You sighed before reaching for your drink. “This whole situation makes me feel like I need a lobotomy.”

“Rooster still trying to force a friendship?” In truth Bradley thought he owed his marriage just one more shot. But right after you walked away he immediately started to regret his decision to choose his wife. He couldn’t stop thinking about you and all that was you. He’d made the wrong decision, but was too proud to admit it. Especially to his wife.

He stood across the Hard Deck with a beer in his hand and his arm slung around her hip, looking at you like a puppy you’d left out in the rain. He missed you, oh so much. And that fact you hardly spoke to him these days made his heart hurt inside his chest.

“Yeah—and I don’t think I can handle it anymore.” You admitted before taking a sip of your drink. “I’ve asked for a transfer, just to make it easier. I can’t focus, can’t sleep, because he’s just—always around.”

“Sounds to me like you’re just running away from your problems.” Penny held her tongue as she watched the tall sandy blonde appear next to you at the bar. “That, or you know that you’re still in love with the guy and no matter what you do he’ll still manage to wiggle his way in because you’ll always allow him to.” It took you a few moments to register what the stranger beside you said as you eyed him up and down.

“Sensitivity—“ You rolled your eyes. “I like that in a stranger.” The alcohol coursed through your body like a mild painkiller. “Are you new in town?” The civvies were an excellent camouflage against the sea of tans that flooded the Hard Deck—and Penny wasn’t about to be the one who told you the stranger you were talking to was the reason for your current situation.

“Just visiting—“ He made sure to lie, a little white lie never hurt anyone. Or so they said. But the man beside you with the perfect smile and emerald green eyes definitely wanted to see how far he could get this conversation. “I’m confounded by all the patches and it’s only my first day in town.” He sighed softly as he sat beside you. “Budweiser please Barkeep.” Penny nodded without another word.

“You get used to it, North Island is a Naval Base after all.” It felt like a needed explanation. The stranger beside you nodded softly as he fished his wallet out of his back pocket.

“So I’ve heard.” A comfortable silence fell between you and the handsome stranger as he waited for his beer. “Kinda wish I’d stayed in bed, if I had known this place would be crawling with Naval Officers I wouldn’t have bothered.” Oh he knew, he knew all right.

He knew that the Hard Deck would be packed to the rafters with the Dagger Squad and he certainly knew North Island was a Naval Base. Why? Because he was a part of that designated team. You’d just been the one who replaced him while he was tasked to special ops. Now? He was back to cause chaos.

“Hey Rooster—“ Fanboy grabbed Bradley’s attention away from Bob. “You see who’s at the bar with Siren?” As Bradley turned his attention back to where he’d known you to be sitting for the better half of the evening, he immediately saw red. A jealousy that rivaled nothing he’d ever felt before consumed him fully, even if his wife was tucked in at his side.

“We just met and already you’re talking about bed.” You chuckled softly as you took another sip of your drink. Penny had since passed Jake his Budweiser and before you knew it, he was laughing softly beside you. “Not very subtle.”

“Being subtle was never really my strong suit.” The man beside you replied with a look of all knowing. He knew something you didn’t. If you didn’t know any better you would have asked what that may have been. But you chose to take another sip of your gin. Settletting once again into the comfortable silence that surrounded you and the stranger to your right.

“So, you ever go out with co-workers?” It stunned you for a second, the forwardness of such a question, but then again—you still didn’t know this guy's name and he was making the heat in your cheeks reach new uncharted heights.

“I um—“ You tucked some of your hair behind your ear and turned to give the golden skinned, white T wearing man beside you your full attention. Crossing your legs as you did so, so that his knees were on either side of yours. “I make it a rule not to.” His answer sent a shiver down your spin. A good shiver. A shiver that made your core flutter.

“Then I am so glad that I don’t work here.” Maybe it was the gin talking or maybe it was your recent breakup, but this guy was the very definition of a piece of art. He was gorgeous, an Adonis that surely would have come straight out of accent metrology.

“Are you hitting on me?” You tried to hide the keen grin that threatened to creep across your slightly heated face, but the sudden attention was giving you an ego boost you desperately needed after being rejected in favour of the cheating wife.

“Would that be so wrong?” Oh this guy was good. Too good. His infectious smile captivated you in every way it could have. His eyes held a story that was dying to be told. His confidence made you want to lean in and taste it, like hard candy it probably tastes just as sweet as his scent smelled. With notes of Vanilla and warm Bourbon lingering from his neck.

So you stuck your hand out for him to accept ever so politely. His eyes never left your as you smiled and bit your bottom lip bashfully.

“I’m Y/n—“ “Lieutenant Y/n Siren Y/l/n.” “And you are?” Nothing could have prepared you for what happened next. Remember that slow motion we were talking about earlier? Well, the seconds it took Bradley Bradshaw's fist to collide against your handsome mystery man’s cheek, it felt like a century as it played out in painfully slow motion before you.

His head hit the bar with a thud as beer spilled into your lap.

“Rooster! Jesus—!” You gasped as you stood and pushed against Bradley’s chest to back him up and away from the man you’d just been talking to. “Fuck! what the hell was that!?”

Bradley didn’t answer right away as you turned to watch the blond stand with blood dripping down and out of his nose. The two stood there in silence, eyeing each other off as Penny fished out the bar's basic first aid kit.

“That—“ Bradley huffed as he shook his throbbing hand. His jaw had never been so clenched before. He was furious and full of a rage that burned so deep it could have raised his core temperature by a few degrees.

His wife stood off to the side looking all kinds of guilty. As did the rest of the Daggers. They knew this was about to get messy. They knew if he was back and already had his target set on you then there was going to be an all out war between the two men who stood ready to run at each other like angry bulls.

And you, well—you were more concerned about the blood gushing from the nose of your stranger than you were about your ex’s possibly broken hand. But Bradley turned back to you, for a mere second to explain.

And when he did—you forgot what morals were.

“That was Jake.”

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~*

#rooster bradshaw imagine #hangman seresin imagine #top gun fic #top gun x reader #bradley bradshaw top gun #jake seresin top gun #bradley bradshaw x reader #jake seresin x reader #bradley bradshaw x female reader #jake seresin x female!reader

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battyaboutbooksreviews · 5 months

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🌈 Queer Books Out December 2023 🌈

🌈 Good afternoon, my bookish bats! Struggling to keep up with all the amazing queer books coming out this month? Here are a FEW of the stunning, diverse queer books you can add to your TBR before the year is over. Remember to #readqueerallyear! Happy reading!

❤️ Caught in a Bad Fauxmance by Elle Gonzalez Rose 🧡 Heartstopper #5 by Alice Oseman 💛 This Cursed Light by Emily Thiede 💚 All The Hidden Paths by Foz Meadows 💙 Vampires of Eden: Book One by Karla Nikole 💜 Not My Type by Joe Satoria ❤️ Storm in Her Heart by KC Luck 🧡 Eternal Embrace by Luna Lawson 💛 A River of Golden Bones by A.K. Mulford 💙 Tomb of Heart and Shadow by Cara N. Delaney 💜 Through the Embers Volume 2 by Adriana Sargent 🌈 Lucero by Maya Motayne

❤️ The Poison Paradox by Hadley Field & Felix Green 🧡 Second Chances in New Port Stephen: A Novel by TJ Alexander 💛 Matrimonial Merriment by Nicky James 💚 Under the Christmas Tree by Jacqueline Ramsden 💙 Every Beat of Her Heart by KC Richardson 💜 The Memories of Marlie Rose by Morgan Lee Miller ❤️ Playing with Matches by Georgia Beers 🧡 Always Only You by Chloe Liese 💛 Fire in the Sky by Radclyffe and Julie Cannon 💙 Nuclear Sunrise by Jo Carthage 💜 The Naked Dancer by Emme C. Taylor 🌈 Resurrections by Ada Hoffmann

❤️ Destiny’s Women by Morgan Elliott 🧡 Framed by Kate Merrill 💛 The Spoil of Beasts by Gregory Ashe 💚 Catered All the Way by Annabeth Albert 💙 A Cynic’s Christmas Conundrum by L.M. Bennett 💜 Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn ❤️ One Swipe Away by Nicole Higginbotham-Hogue 🧡 The Gentlemen’s Club by A.V. Shener 💛 A Death at the Dionysus Club by Melissa Scott and Amy Griswold 💙 Secrets of the Soul by Holly Oliver 💜 Like They Do in the Movies by Nan Campbell 🌈 Limelight by Gun Brooke

❤️ Heart First by S.B. Barnes 🧡 Grave Consequences by Sandra Barret 💛 Haunted by Myth by Barbara Ann Wright 💚 Invisible by Anna Larner 💙 The Murders at Sugar Mill Farm by Ronica Black 💜 Coasting and Crashing by Ana Hartnett ❤️ Fairest by K.S. Trenten 🧡 A City of Abundant Opportunity by Howard Leonard 💛 The Dark Side of MIdnight by Erin Wade 💙 Mending Bones by Merlina Garance 💜 Transform by Connal Braginsky & Sean Ian O’Meidhir 🌈 The Apple Diary by Gerri Hill

❤️ TruLove by Nicole Pyland 🧡 Structural Support by Sloan Spencer 💛 Whiskey War by Stacy Lynn Miller 💚 Overkill by Lou Wilham 💙 Heart of Outcasts by Nicole Silver 💜 In the Shadow of Victory by J. E. Leak ❤️ Just Like Her by Fiona Zedde 🧡 Gingerbread: Claus For Christmas by Miski Harris 💛 Lies are Forever by C. Jean Downer 💙 The Boys in the Club by M.T. Pope 💜 Lasting Light (Metal & Magic) by Michelle Frost 🌈 Tell No Tales by Edie Montreux

❤️ Radio Silence by Alice Oseman 🧡 Even Though We're Adults Vol. 7 by Takako Shimura 💛 The Accidental Bite by Michelle St. Wolf 💚 Mated to the Demons by Taylor Schafer 💙 Someday Away by Sara Elisabeth 💜 Gatherdawn Luminia Duet Volume 1 by Lee Colgin ❤️ Curse of Dawn by Richard Amos 🧡 Healing the Twin by Nora Phoenix 💛 Ride Me by KD Ellis 💙 How to Bang a Vampire by Joe Satoria 💜 Cthulhu for Christmas by Meghan Maslow 🌈 Prestige by Toni Reeb

❤️ Don't Look Down by Jessica Ann 🧡 Winter and the Wolves by Chris Storm and Kinkaid Knight 💛 Hat Trick by Ajay Daniel 💚 Starborn Husbands: Return to the Pleiades by S. Legend 💙 Dead Serious Case #4 Professor Prometheus Plume by Vawn Cassidy 💜 Practice for Toby by Amy Bellows ❤️ The Siren's Song by Crista Crown 🧡 Hers to Hunt K.J. Devoir

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mygaynessissimp · 6 months

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So uh, started to work more on the bleach mermaid/siren/merman au, here's more I've gone done, please give me more ideas.

Shunsui Kyōraku would be a Koi.

Suì-Fēng would be a mantis shrimp.

Kisuke Urahara would be a Greenland Shark.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya would be a Atlantic white-sided dolphin or a seal.

Kenpachi Zaraki would be a orca.

Isane Kotetsu would be a Salmon.

Byakuya Kuchiki would be be a Koi.

Rukia Kuchiki would be a Koi.

As Nodt would be a Sloane’s viperfish.

Gremmy Thoumeax would be an Alligator Gar.

Gin Ichimaru as a sea snake.

Sōsuke Aizen as a great white shark that is abnormally larger than any other great white shark.

Kaname Tōsen being a barracuda.

Coyote Starrk would be a great white shark while Lilynette Gingerbuck is a remora.

Baraggan Louisenbairn would be a coelacanth.

Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck would be a blue sea dragon.

Tier Harribel would be a bull shark.

Ulquiorra Cifer would be an angler fish.

Nnoitra Gilga would be a stone fish.

Luppi Antenor would be a leafy seadragon.

Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez would be a tiger shark.

Szayelaporro Granz would be a lion fish.

Aaroniero Arruruerie would be a goblin shark.

#alternate universe #bleach au #byakuya kuchiki #rukia kuchiki #bleach #toshiro hitsugaya #sui feng #isane kotetsu #shunsui kyoraku #kenpachi zaraki #as nodt #gremmy thoumeaux #lilynette gingerbuck #gin ichimaru #coyote starrk #sosuke aizen #ulquiorra cifer #kisuke urahara

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eridanidreams · 3 months

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WIP Wednesday

Tagging: @bearlytolerant, @silurisanguine, @aro-pancake, @fangbangerghoul, @atonalginger, @aislingdmdt, @fshenkoescape, @ninjaofnaps, @lisa-and-shadow, @a-cosmic-elf, @thatsgoodsquishy0, @hockeydemon42, @fomagranfalloon, @violenceandviolets, @therealgchu, @staticpallour and @artemis-crimson

Today, I'm putting the final touches on the next chapter of Odysseus Gambit and hammering the next chapter of stars through my fingers like grains of sand into shape, so what I have is a future draft chapter of Odysseus Gambit!

Adam swung the scope back, his finger trembling on the trigger. One more shot and he could end this farce. But Sloane was picking herself up, though her shoulder was bloody and her right arm hung limp.

«I always knew you were a coward,» she spat, the words coming through clear on the infolink. Lermontov darted in, swiping with his knife, and she slapped it away left-handed. «Not so easy when I’m not hanging like a butchered calf, is it?» The Russian stumbled back a few paces, the sneering arrogance finally replaced with fear, and Adam moved his finger back to the trigger guard.

Lermontov took a few more cautious steps backward; by now, he was only a few steps from the sarcophagus wall. Sloane matched him, step for step, a wounded lioness on the prowl. He snarled something—Adam, lip-reading, could only make out the word suka—and flung himself at her in an all-out attack. She swayed back—the knife scored a line of red along her ribs—and drove her fist into his chest in a blow that was all power, no grace. Lermontov had barely started to fold in upon himself when her left foot slammed into his gut hard enough to smash him through the crumbling concrete and metal behind him.

Adam’s brain itched in the way that suggested his cybereyes were picking up something that his visual cortex couldn’t understand. Lermontov struggled to his feet, a pale shadow backlit by a dim Cherenkov-blue radiance that somehow illuminated nothing. He took one faltering step toward daylight… Adam froze, scope riveted on the hole, as black hands coalesced out of the darkness and wrapped around Lermontov’s arms. Lermontov’s mouth opened in a soundless scream. Sloane’s heel caught on the cracked concrete and she fell, and all she did was scrabble backward, desperately away from that. There was something oddly fluid about those hands, blacker-than-black, like a black hole had taken form in flesh, swallowing everything around it. They were pulling Lermontov into the sarcophagus, inexorably, step by step… and then the white blur of his face melted into nothingness and nothing remained but the blue-edged darkness.

Below him, Sloane wavered to her feet. Her harsh breathing, punctuated by static, echoed in his infolink. She glanced down at her wrist, then shook her head and started looking around her. “You need to get out of there,” he rasped. She shook her head again.

“Can’t,” her voice crackled with static. “—patch that up.” As if on cue, the radiation alarms went off, keening like air-raid sirens.

“Shit,” he muttered. A quick scan of the area showed Lermontov’s goons running the hell away—well, he supposed he would too, if his boss had just gotten tossed into a nuclear reactor. He tossed the rifle aside and took the quick way down; he tried not to flinch at the way the Icarus rippled and flared and threw little aurorae around him.

Sloane was wrenching open one of the heavy lockers that dotted the area; she pulled out something that looked like a cross between a flare gun and a grenade launcher. “Get *crackle*ther one,” she said roughly. Adam threw himself into a dead run; ahead of him, Sloane had gotten closer than he liked to the sarcophagus. She braced the gun awkwardly on her left hip—he wondered why her Sentinel hadn’t healed the shoulder wound—and fired. It impacted at the top of the breach, releasing a viscous golden substance that oozed down and hardened quickly. Adam vaguely remembered reading something about that—as the sarcophagus decayed, and with the ongoing problems funding the New Safe Confinement structure, they’d had to find a stop-gap to quickly seal any breaches. He grabbed the second launcher on the run; oddly heavy for its size, its shells contained a boron-doped resin that cured quickly when exposed to hard radiation.

They worked quickly but meticulously, building the patch from the outside in, alert for—“Did you see—?” he muttered, covering a bit that looked just a little too dark.

“Yeah.” Her voice shook. “I don’t know, and I don’t want to know.” She fired a final shot, then tossed her launcher aside. “Out.”

Adam fired off his last shot. “Same. Let’s get the hell out of here.” He barely managed two steps before Sloane pressed an arm to her stomach and doubled over, vomiting helplessly. “Fuck!” He reached for her arm, but she waved him away.

“Radiation. Nothing to be done for it,” she grated. “Sentinel’s holding.” Her lips pulled back in a bloody death’s-head grin. “Not a lot of bone marrow left to poison, so that’s a plus.” She staggered, went down to a knee. “Jensen.” She waved him away a second time. “No time. Go. Exfil plan… B.” She coughed, spitting more bright blood. “I’ll… meet you at the RV point.”

Adam didn’t need his CASIE to know she was lying through her bloodied teeth.

#fanfic #starfield fanfiction #eridani writes #coemancer #wip wednesday #the coemancer crew #adam jensen #deus ex mankind divided #sloane delacourt #the odysseus gambit #odysseus gambit

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skyfallscotland · 2 months

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Hiii me again! I, too, have questions for the ask game 🍓🦋🥤

🥤 ⇢ recommend an author or fanfic you love

I feel like it's redundant to keep saying the same ones, but *whispers* storm in the quiet @justallihere and Political Gain @sarahwyland

But also, in terms of underrated, I just read a little series by Ramzes called The Unseen One, furthering the Sloane/Bodhi agenda (🙏🏼 the lord’s work) and I've also enjoyed The Princess Gambit by JuliLyng so far as well, which is Xaden/OC. Not sure if they have tumblr, but if they're here, hi! 👋🏼

🍓 ⇢ how did you get into writing fanfiction?

So I've always been a reader/writer, since as far back as I can remember (maybe three years old?), I'm pretty sure with the knowledge I have now that I'm hyperlexic.

I'm old enough to have been around for dial-up internet, but when I was a preteen, we got broadband (showing my age). This is to say, don't judge my parents too harshly because internet safety was not a thing back then, but...

I found fanfiction because back then, a lot of people either used livejournal or hosted their own sites, so a lot of fansites, had fanfiction. So while looking at Buffy fansites, I stumbled across Buffy fanfiction and realised I could actually read stories!!! so many stories!! where Buffy and Spike got together earlier or things didn't end tragically for them. So yeah, at 11 I was reading very explicit Spuffy smut on the internet 🫢 I had a system set up where I would play The Sims all day or do school project powerpoints, except I was really reading fanfic and I would flick between screens whenever my parents entered the room.

My mum now has KU and reads dark romance every day, so I guess she comes by it honestly (and yes, I did mean it that way around, I was here first!) 😂

Anyway, when I was 12 I started publishing my first few fanfics on ffnet - Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, and a Harry Potter/X-Men Crossover. Each originally written on paper, they were all ridiculously bad, but the latter had people interested enough despite the writing, which encouraged me to try again later down the line with The Vampire Diaries and Jurassic World. I hadn't written for almost ten years and had never finished anything much until last year, by chance, I decided to finally get back into reading actual books and picked up ACOTAR. I finished the series within a week and I was left like?? That's it????

The archive had such a small number of works, I couldn't believe it, so I decided to write my own. I wrote Fury and Siren over the course of three months. I wasn't game to post anything in case I didn't finish it, because I'd never finished anything before. I also put off starting this little book I'd bought 'Fourth Wing' by three months, because I knew I'd be sucked in and would lose the hyperfixation I had, so I forced myself to finish Siren first. And now you all know my life story lol omg I'm so embarrassing to myself 🫠

TLDR: internet

🦋 ⇢ share something that has been on your heart and mind lately

Honestly, this is kind of angsty, but this last week I’ve thought a lot about male-dominated fandom spaces and how we’re not welcome in them. We, meaning everyone who isn’t a straight, cis, white male. The Formula 1 community on here seems a little better, probably because it’s female-led, but everywhere else I can’t even look at the comments.

To be honest, I’m tired of being told I don’t belong, or that my opinion means nothing because I’m female. I grew up in a motorsport family, my earliest memories are at racetracks, but men on the internet would have you believe I’m only interested because of what the drivers look like. It’s just…tiring. Those fandom spaces have become a no-go zone for me now, because it just isn’t worth it. We live in a time where no matter what you say someone will attack you which is sad in itself, but it’s so much worse when you’re a woman commenting on a “man’s sport”, not to mention endlessly frustrating because they’re too stupid to tell the difference between equity and equality.

🦋 On a larger note, Palestine. I don’t think more than that needs saying. It hurts my heart.

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tadpolesonalgae · 1 year

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Music

A/N: I thought it might be fun to make a small list for some of the songs I wrote to, so here we are!

I’d also love to see other people doing this (if it isn’t already a thing)!

Azriel:

Washing His Wings (series): It’s Playtime - MOB Games

Revelation (+Part 2)[*]: Rev 22:20 (Don’t Shoot The Messenger) - Puscifer

Bad Dreams: Everything In It’s Right Place - Radiohead, Rises The Moon - Liana Flores

Payback[*]: Tear You Apart - She Wants Revenge

Rainstorm: Swan Lake: Op. 20, Act. II - Tchaikovsky, Mystery Of Love - Sufjan Stevens

Car Radio: Car Radio - Twenty One Pilots, Numb Little Bug - Em Beihold

Filthy Mongrel[*]: Your Joy Is My Low - IAMX, Desire - Meg Myers

Nightmares: Until I Found You (Em Beihold Version) - Stephen Sanchez & Em Beihold

More Than Myself: Dandelions - Ruth B.

Spread Out[***]: Eat Your Young - Hozier

Good, Little, Girl <3 (the series): Good Little Girl - Adventure Time

Stains[*]: The Summoning - Sleep Token, Siren - Kailee Morgue

My Little Voyeur: Take A Slice - Glass Animals, Heartless - The Weeknd

Eat You Up[***]: Flawless - The Neighbourhood, Eat Your Young - Hozier

Flying w/ Azriel: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind - opening - Joe Hisaishi, Merry-Go-Round of Life - Joe Hisaishi

Full To The Brim[***]: Hot Gum - Sofia Isella

Teeth and Talons (series): Demon In My Soul - SCXR SOUL & Sx1nxwy

Teeth and Talons Part 3: Demon In My Soul - SCXR SOUL & Sx1nxwy, Do Me - Kim Petras

Mystery of love: Mystery of Love - Sufjan Stevens

The Pleasure Hall[***]: Crazy Girls - TOOPOOR, Habibi - Tamino

Stockholm Syndrome[***]: Eat Your Young - Hozier

Milestones: FaceTime with my mom (tonight) - Bo Burnham

CBMTWY: Tim Burton vibes playlist

Eris:

Disobedience[*]: The Masochism Tango (Orchestral Version) - Tom Lehrer, Teeth - 5 Second Of Summer

Wake Me Up When September Ends: Daddy - Coldplay

Lucien:

A Date: Amour Plastique - Videoclub

Solecist Night[*]: 2 - H. E. R.

Mor:

Dark Red: Bad Idea! - Girl In Red

Cassian:

Dinner Date: Don’t You Know - Jaymes Young

Pollinate[***]: Do I Wanna Know? - Arctic Monkeys, R U Mine? - Arctic Monkeys

Feyre:

Have a Seat[*]: Step On Me - The Cardigans

Mix ‘n’ Match:

Big, Bad Wolf[*]: Big Bad Wolf - In This Moment, Feel Something - I Prevail

Pleasure over Morals[***]: Thelema - Ofdream

Silly Little Thoughts:

Dancing With Your Ghost: Dancing With Your Ghost - Sasha Alex Sloan Stryga - The Weaver: End Credits - Bruno Coulais & The Children’s Choir Of Nice Music: Outside (feat. Ellie Goulding) - Calvin Harris

(^That last one was a mind fuck)

#Azriel #Lucien #Eris #Nesta #Rhysand #smut #fluff #Azriel x reader #Lucien x reader #Eris c reader #Nesta x f!reader #Rhysand x reader

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latikaa-renaz · 7 months

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FFXIV Writes; Day 25

cw: medical procedure, eye injury mentioned. Set during the Siren's Specter Campaign

characters: Latika'a, Sloane, mentions of Erlanis

The amount of slowly escalated fighting, genuine to the point of nearly reaching physical blows, that had gone into getting the consent he needed was intense. Careful suggestions, pointed comments, and genuine concern had all soured with time; each word said turning spiteful and angry with the hurt pride and fear coming from every side. Even a brief period of screaming when Latika’a had snapped, pushed too far from their situation and Sloane’s stubborn nature striking words like the bullets he shot against every one of Latika’as attempts to convince the man to let him aid. Had it not been for the terse snapped words Erlanis gave then, it would have drawn even more Voidsent to them than was already being sporadically fought off.

“Fine. Just get it over with, but know if you fuck up…” The words he’d been *needing*, been *waiting* so impatiently for, that Lati would have given up on if this weren’t such a drastic situation. When Sloane finally gave in after another fitful attempt at rest for the three, the bells of moving and scavenging what they could with less and less results wore them down hard… Lati nearly dropped the makeshift bag of lichen and seaweed he’d been trying to clean. The few measly fish they’d managed to gather had already been cleaned and ready to cook as much as possible- the skins stripped down to act as bandaging under the strips of cloth already gathered. “Yes, I get it, you-” Deep breaths were taken, teeth audibly grinding.

“I get it, I do. I won’t mess this up, now lay down and let me work.” The tension does not dissipate, while Lati turns their hiding spot into an emergency operation zone. Strain and stress fill both Sloane and Lati’s faces as the ultimate creativity and supply use has to come into play. One does not have the tools of the trade needed, and the other struggling past deep rooted fears and thoughts that while Lati does not know… he can empathize with. It’s why he’s let the man go so long without either forcing the procedure or leaving Sloane to die.

He gets it, so much more than Sloane thinks he does. He understands the glimpses of someone else that come in the moments of giving silent company when another nightmare of past traumas lurk up from Lati’s mind, when rough words come out in demands for Lati to take care of himself, when Erlanis is showing his insane amount of skills in fights and there is finally a working balance between them all. Sloane is an asshole, and sometimes so unpleasant when their conversations aren’t superficial flirtations… yet Latika’a grasps what understanding he can.

So he works with precision, with what speed he can- shaping tools from the very earth around them and turning them sterile with his ingenuity and precise spellwork. He cycles the work of slicing mangled flesh out with continuous waves of healing to keep the agony at bay. The wrapped leather torn from his own clothing can only do so much to cushion Sloane’s gritted teeth when the pain flows, the lichen being used as a sponge only holds so much blood that flows from the eye cavity being emptied. It is not an easy procedure in comparison to many- but he takes the route where as much as possible *can* be saved.

He takes the route of a future prosthetic being possible, even if it means having to fashion a grotesque and slapdash version of the clean dressings he’d normally use. Fingers stained and slick with the eye’s fluid and the body’s blood work through the disgusting sensations. It’s draining, both on his mind for how it screams at the many risks taken and the lack of what he desperately wants in hand compared to the pale imitations he uses despite how his heart screams that he cannot let crew fall. He cannot let the stubborn ass of a man succumb to the infection that awaits, when a future of painful but necessary adjustments and *living* is in sight.

The moment he’s done, when he can be grudgingly satisfied that the burn of tense muscles have signaled a job well done… what water they have will be split between himself, and the panting Sloane that he eases into sitting.

It was messy, but it was done. They can call it a day.

#ffxivwrite2023 #steelgrin sirens #specter campaign writings

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naminethewriter · 8 months

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How It All Began

Chapter Six: Precious

Masterpost | First | Previous | Next | Ao3

Little did Remus know just who he would find on that little piece of land and how it would change his life entirely.

Content Warning: Bickering, Sex as a Conversation Topic, Exploration of Ruins

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Would you stop staring in the water, Pat! Just relax, everything is fine!” Remus called over from the steering wheel. Their chef had been at the railing for the past hour, watching the waves as if he could see an impending attack if he looked hard enough. They were about three hours into Siren territory now and so far none of them had seen a single scaled tail. The runes seemed to be working.

“But..!” Patton tried to protest but Remus cut him off.

“No buts! Go prepare dinner or something if it has you so on edge.”

“Oh, let him watch, Capt’n,” Remy commented from the other side of the deck, himself staring at the waves. “It won’t do any harm.”

“Don’t tell me you’re also scared,” Remus deadpanned. Remy looked over, his dark-tinted glasses for once pushed down his nose but he was too far away for Remus’ to see his eyes properly. His first mate quickly turned away, pushing the frame back into place.

“Nah, just curious. Always wanted to see a siren, you know how it is. Actually kinda surprised you’re not down here with us.”

“Corbin needs to take breaks you know,” Remus shrugged. Patton, now having wandered over to Remy, huffed.

“He’s already met one, so he doesn’t need to look anymore.”

“Wait, hold on, pause!” Remy yelled, looking between Patton and his captain. “What the fuck do you mean he’s met one already?!”

“Language!” Pat protested but Remy ignored him in favor of leaning on his shoulder.

“C’mon, spill the tea!”

“I… can’t?”

“The hell does that mean?!”

“Uhm…” Patton looked sheepish that he had let Remus’ secret slip in a moment of irritation caused by worry.

“Don’t crowd him, Remy,” Remus called. “I told him not to say anything.” An offended noise left Remy’s throat before he stalked over to the captain.

“Talk,” he demanded. Remus snorted.

“It’s not that big a deal.”

“Of course it is! You once said you would burn down your hometown if it meant meeting a siren!”

“I don’t even care that much for my hometown.” He pushed down the impulse to reach for his locket at the mention of his old home. There was nothing for him there anymore.

“Stop making excuses!”

“Fine, fine,” Remus relented, having had his fun teasing his friend. “The riddle thing? Got it from the siren on that island. It’s gonna lead to some fun for all of us if we do it right.” Remy raised his brow, signaling him to continue. “That’s all you’re getting for now.”

“You suck,” Remy deadpanned.

“Get off my ship then.”

“You’re not getting rid of me that easy.”

“Didn’t think so.” They stared at each other for a moment, both grinning, before Remy huffed and stepped away. Despite his glasses being in the way, he could practically see him roll his eyes which was kinda a way for Remy to show his affection.

“Fine! Be like that. I’m gonna go take a nap.” With that he disappeared under deck. He acted all offended, but Remus could see him smile as he walked away. Patton had apparently left at some point as well, but Remus spotted Elliot sitting not far away, reading a book. Woodsworth’s book.

“Interesting read?” he asked, causing the other to flinch and look up, eyes wide. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”

“It’s fine!” Elliot protested immediately. They’ve been on the ship for a while now but still seemed to feel somewhat awkward around Remus in particular. “I was just so immersed; I didn’t really notice you taking over the wheel.”

“Being able to focus is a good thing,” Remus nodded, his eyes mostly trained on the horizon but flickering towards both Elliot and the compass occasionally. “Will keep you alive in stressful situations. Learn anything particularly interesting?”

“Oh, uhm…” Elliot flipped through some pages before they stopped and read a paragraph again to confirm that they understood the text correctly. “According to this, Sirens don’t have the same family structures as we do, since they don’t reproduce like us. They’re created by the Spirits and are incapable of having children actually.” Remus paused.

“But they can fuck, right?”

Elliot sputtered, turning red.

“I think so, but it hasn’t been actually addressed. At least not as far as I’ve read.”

“Huh. Keep me posted on that then.”

“Alright, Captain.” They didn’t look enthusiastic, but Remus wasn’t about to read that entire book himself. And it would do them some good to loosen up a bit.

“Go and fetch Corbin for me, I still have some stuff to prepare before we get to our destination.”

“Aye aye, Captain.” With hurried steps, Elliot walked away. Remus hummed, wondering if Logan would be able to give him a Siren sex ed lesson sometime. Left alone on deck, he pulled out his locket, idly fiddling with it to keep his one hand busy while the other ensured they stayed on course. It helped him focus and keep a clear mind. Too bad he wouldn’t be able to use it for that much longer.

~~~

The sun was setting by the time Coal Black Peak came into view, so Remus and his crew anchored some distance from shore and went to bed to start their excursion the next day. Emile, Patton and Missy had decided to stay on the ship – well, Emile and Missy had, Patton was ordered to stay behind because he looked like he hadn’t slept a wink. He tried to protest, but Remus held firm and Emile was put in charge of making sure he would get some rest.

Remy, Toby, Sloane, Corbin and Elliot all wanted to come along. The first three because it seemed more exciting than staying on the ship again and the latter two because they were interested in the temple the note had mentioned. It seemed Elliot had discovered an interest in history during their hours in the library. Remus was happy they had found a hobby.

They set over to land in two rowboats, making sure to tie them both securely once on shore since no one wanted to stay back to guard them. Considering how deep they were in Siren territory, it was unlikely that anyone would mess with them anyway. Then their long track began.

Remus figured the island was once inhabited, considering they were on their way to visit a temple. However, there weren’t many signs of a civilization left. They passed some stones with carvings on them that might have been idols or signs, but they were too overgrown and/or faded to clearly make out. While they had landed on the island not too far from the volcano, their track toward a cliff that gave them a good look at the mountain had taken them nearly two hours. The air was humid, their path steep and they were all sweating a lot.

“Where the fuck… are we even going?” Remy huffed, wiping his forehead to keep his eyes free from the moisture dripping down his head. Remus observed the volcano for a moment, trying to make out any kind of structure that might be a temple.

“The note said that there would be a temple on the mountain’s side, so we’re looking for a building of some sort, I think.”

“You think?! Gurl, I thought you knew what you were doing!”

“I read the note to you quite a few times, Remy, you got as much info as I did. You could have stayed on the ship if you didn’t want to come.”

“I thought this was going to be interesting! Not a marathon!”

“Stop complaining,” Toby grumbled. He was the fittest out of all of them and seemingly the least bothered by the climate. Elliot next to him looked a lot worse for wear. Toby handed them a waterskin which they gladly accepted.

“I tried to find more detailed records about this island,” Corbin chimed in, having regained his breath. “But there wasn’t much I could dig up. Apparently, this place is one of worship to the Spirits going back to the time before we had records. The few ‘civilized’”–he did use air quotes as he said it–“people that were here were run off quickly. The reports we have of them speak of a native tribe, but they weren’t friendly to intruders and when the hostilities between humans and the Spirits escalated, the surrounding sea was quickly claimed by the Sirens and no one has been recorded to have made it back here since. There was a brief mention of the temple but only in terms of it having been built into the mountainside close to the natives’ village.”

“Well, that tells us at least that it should be visible from the outside, right?” Sloane said from his place sitting on the ground next to his boyfriend.

“It doesn’t sound like it’s hidden on purpose, yeah,” Toby agreed.

“It might’ve collapsed though. Then we might never find it.”

“Stop being a downer, Remy,” Sloane groaned.

“The note wouldn’t have led us here if we couldn’t get into the temple,” Remus agreed. “And if we keep going around the mountain, we should find it eventually.”

“But that could take the whole day!” Remy whined. Toby smacked him in the arm.

“Go back to the ship if you’re too weak to see this through.”

“I’m not weak!”

“Prove it.”

“Fine! I’ll find the temple first!” Remy stalked off, a grinning Toby close behind.

“They are incorrigible,” Corbin sighed, as he helped Sloane back on his feet. The two of them followed the others, hands intertwined.

“Gross, open affection,” Remus joked, looking towards Elliot, who snorted lightly. “Let’s go before Remy and Toby actually try to race.”

~~~

Sloane ended up being the one to spot the rather large stone structure of the temple about half an hour later. It stood in a crevice of the mountain, overgrown by the surrounding plant life. It took them another four hours to arrive in front of it. On the way they had passed what could only have been the remnants of the former tribe’s village. From Corbin’s estimation, it had been abandoned several hundred years ago.

“I wonder what happened here,” Elliot mumbled as they took in the crumbling structure in front of them. “I mean, they didn’t just leave, right? Something must have caused them to disappear.”

“We know little of their culture, just that they didn’t take kindly to visitors,” Corbin shrugged.

“I mean, they do live next to a volcano. That could’ve had something to do with it.” Corbin rolled his eyes at his boyfriend’s comment but didn’t argue.

“Well, no use standing around here, let’s go in!” Remus grinned. He was excited to see where this would lead, even if he knew he had to give up something ‘precious’ at the end. It would be worth it to see Logan again.

“That looks like it could collapse any second,” Remy spoke up, eyebrow raised.

“So?” Toby asked, apparently in the mood to rile up the First Mate today.

“I don’t feel like getting buried alive, thanks.”

“You can stay here then. If you’re too much of a coward to go in.”

“Fuck off, I just don’t have a death wish.”

“Chicken.”

“Gurl, I’m so close to punching you in the face.”

“Try it, I dare you.”

“You’re both pretty, now zip it!” Remus huffed, pushing the two apart. They grumbled but didn’t argue further. “Nothing’s going to collapse, I promise. Let’s go.”

“How can you be so sure?” Corbin asked as they all followed their captain through the columns that marked the temple’s entrance.

“Like I said: The note wouldn’t have led us here if we couldn’t complete the task. It’s a test not a trick to kill us.”

“A test from who?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

“Fucking cryptic bullshit,” Remy mumbled at his side. Remus rolled his eyes but didn’t comment. He didn’t feel like arguing with him today. At least he seemed to respect Remus’ orders of not telling the rest of the crew the truth about where the riddle came from yet, even if he technically only told Patton not to say anything.

The inside of the temple wasn’t huge but for a structure built several hundred years ago, it was pretty impressive. The sun shone through cracks in the ceiling, illuminating their path. It was an empty space mostly, no furniture or statues or anything that could be described as decoration left. Or maybe it had never been there in the first place. But, same as on the outside, the wildlife had reclaimed the space with lots of plants growing along the floor, walls, and occasional columns.

Corbin and Elliot split off to inspect the walls, Sloane trailing behind them though more focused on the ceiling. Through the green covering the surfaces, Remus could make out carvings, so he left them alone to explore. There didn’t really seem to be any way for them to get lost, since he couldn’t see any doorways to lead to different rooms. It was just a big hall. The ‘heart’ the note spoke off was probably in the back then. He continued forward, Remy and Toby followed.

The deeper they went, the less sun managed to break through. It wasn’t bad enough to try and light a torch, but it did drive Remy to lower his glasses. Remus was pretty sure they must be under the mountain now, but he couldn’t make out the ceiling and the walls looked to still be the same stone from before. They walked forward for a good two minutes when something started to glow in front of them.

It was a pool of water, perfectly circular, that clearly reflected its surroundings while emitting a soft, cyan light.

“This is freaky,” Remy whispered.

“It’s a holy place, you moron,” Toby hissed back.

“It’s what we were looking for, that’s for sure,” Remus hummed. Unlike his companions, he didn’t force himself to be quiet. Sure, this was a temple, but from what Logan had told him, the Spirits didn’t care much for being revered by humans. They weren’t deities after all, at least not in the way the human gods were.

“Well, which one of you two wants to be the sacrifice?”

“Excuse you?” Remy scoffed.

“I’m out.” To make his point clear, Toby took a step back.

“What? I need to offer my ‘precious’ to the heart of the temple, and what could ever be more precious to me than my crew?”

“Fuck that, I’m not going in there.” Remy joined Toby in putting physical distance between him and Remus. The captain snorted.

“I’m just fucking with you guys, like they would ever want a human sacrifice.” Remy looked at him unimpressed, which Remus could just make out in the light glow of the water. Sadly, Remy had also put on his glasses again. He would catch a glimpse of his eyes one day.

“What are you going to use then?” his First Mate asked in slight annoyance. Remus shrugged.

“There’s only one thing I could use. Not like I could fit our ship in here.” He pulled off the chain dangling around his neck, showing it to Remy.

“You sure?” he asked, eyebrows raised. “That’s like, your one heirloom though.”

“Yeah,” Remus mumbled, stroking the locket sides. It was the only thing he had left of his parents, the one thing his father refused to take off until he pressed it into Remus’ hand on his deathbed, while he gave their mother’s to Roman. Logan’s pained expression as he listened to him recount the story flashed through his mind. “That’s exactly why it needs to be this.”

“Ro’s gonna kill you if he finds out.”

“I know.” Without further preamble, Remus held out the locket over the water and let go. It hit the surface with a low plop and he watched as it sank out of sight. It stung his chest to watch it disappear, but he had steeled himself for this moment their entire journey here. He took a deep breath and waited.

For a few moments, nothing happened.

Then a rumble.

“I knew it! It’s gonna collapse!” Remy swore, looking ready to take off. Toby held him back.

“Chill, nothing’s collapsing. It’s just an old mechanism activating. We’ll be fine.”

The water of the pool rippled and a chest rose out of its depths. For a moment, Remus hoped that his locket would come up with it, but no. It was gone and he would deal with the pain of losing it later.

The chest, made from stone, thankfully wasn’t locked. Inside, Remus found a star chart. It was too dark to make out much detail, but he could hazard a guess as to where it would lead him. Satisfied, he rolled it up and secured it on his belt.

“Alright, we got what we came here for. Let’s get out of here, I’d like to be back on the ship before sundown.” He made his way back to the entrance, Remy and Toby fell in step with him quickly after.

“You sure you’re good?” Remy asked, genuine concern in his voice. Remus took a moment before answering, drawing in another deep breath.

“I will be. Now let’s get our amateur archeologists and leave.”

“Patton better have some good food for us when we get back,” Remy huffed, trying to lighten the mood probably. “I need compensation after the day we had.”

“Again, you could’ve gone back to the ship,” Toby quipped.

“Would you get off my dick, musclehead!” The two started to bicker and Remus was grateful for the distraction. He would grieve later when he was alone in his cabin. For now, he could focus on making sure the two idiots didn’t kill each other.

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