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late-to-the-magnus-archives · 15 days

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Blood and sand - Chapter Fifteen

“Only one can win the Games.”

And no one had yet. “I know, sir.”

“You’re throwing away your life.”

No, no, damn it, no. “You can change it. It’s your rules! You could make it different,” said Luke.

A pause. Hastur went entirely still, a billowing ocean frozen as a portrait. “Not anymore.”

Written for the @malevolentmadnessmixup. Art by @aktrashpanda.

>>>>READ ON AO3 OR BELOW<<<<

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Chapter Fifteen: John

Luke felt like a whole new person as he exited the stairs.

They deposited him in the hallway, not in the arena, and he was grateful. He didn’t want to see anybody just yet.

For the first time in his life, he had what felt like a major plan. This was far more concrete than escape into the Dreamlands and find a way to bring back Parker. This was specific. This was detailed.

He refused to believe it was out of reach. It could be done. All he had to do was get the adults who’d been kind to him to agree.

Though there was also the problem of Arthur.

Arthur couldn’t see. He couldn’t fight like this. Did he have magic? He’d used some occasionally, rarely, but generally had fought more like a cornered dog than anything else, all teeth and desperation.

This was going to be tricky.

Luke stepped aside for larger warriors who marched by, hoofs stomping and claws grasping. He peeked in the dining room, but none of his adults were there.

He went to the dorms; not there, either. Hm. He stood and thought.

The medical wing. Maybe. Luke made his way down the hall toward it.

What do you know? All four of them were in there.

Arthur had a black eye. John sort of hovered by him, robes torn, black ichor staining them. Oscar lay flat on one of the little beds, holding an ice pack to his face. Dennis lurked in the corner, looking disgruntled and bloody; stitches lined his cheek.

Luke looked around. “What happened?”

And all four of them looked caught.

“Luke?” said Arthur, sitting up, and evidently unaware of the many, many black tentacles hovering around him, as though to protect him from the world.

Luke frowned. He crossed his arms, stern as Parker with a witness. “No one was bleeding when I left.”

“Shit,” Dennis replied.

Arthur sighed. “I have no fucking idea,” he said, and lay back down.

Then John decided to answer. “That one,” said John, pointing at Oscar, “is here illicitly.”

“I am not,” said Oscar.

“And that one,” said John, pointing at Dennis, “is fucking pissed about it.” Arthur snorted. John snorted. They shared a deeply inappropriate laugh, a sound somehow so intimate it made Luke feel like he was eavesdropping on something.

“So?” said Luke.

Oscar sighed. “So we’ve discussed it, and I must leave by morning. I’m sorry, son.”

Discussed it seemed to be code for we all beat on each other until we got tired. Damn it. Part of his plan was about to walk out the door. “I need some teaching before you go. Please.”

And Oscar sat up.

Several of the nurse-things immediately swarmed him, hovering and translucent, but he waved away whatever they said with his hand and his attitude. “Happy to,” he said.

Luke looked. Oscar was exhausted, tapped out; he had more than a few bruises, and hadn't even addressed them. Luke frowned. “It can wait a bit.”

“Nonsense,” said Oscar.

“Did you all fight, or something?” said Luke.

“Or something,” muttered Arthur, and he and John laughed again at nothing.

Well, whatever. Inside jokes weren’t meant to be understood. “Thank you, sir.”

“Of course, son,” said Oscar. “It’s why I’m here.”

“To hell with you,” muttered Dennis, and scowled as they both walked out.

Luke explained the plan as he healed Oscar.

Oscar had doubts about the plan as he was healed.

“You’re only going to get one shot at this,” Oscar said. “And it’s risky. If someone’s got some kind of resistance…”

“That’s where John comes in.”

Oscar looked thoughtful. “And Arthur?”

“I don’t… know what to do about Arthur.”

“No one does right now. Normally, being blinded would be enough to get him excused from the Games; it’s not entertaining for you-know-who. However, it wasn’t an injury. He was blind already when he came in here, and the arena won’t let him go.”

“He wouldn’t leave, anyway,” said Luke.

“You’re right. You’ve got the breadth of him.”

Luke doubled down on the plan. “This has to work. It will. Have faith, sir.”

Oscar laughed as if surprised. “From the mouths of babes… All right. All right, son. I’ll help as I can before leaving.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Oscar turned and put his hands on Luke’s shoulders. “May the blessing of light be on you—light without and light within,” he said softly, eyes closed as if praying it, as if willing it. “May the blessing of the rain be on you; may it beat upon your spirit and wash it fair and clean, and leave there a shining pool where the blue and Heaven shines, and sometimes a star. And may the blessing of the earth be on you, soft under your feet as you pass along the roads, soft under you as you lie out on it, tired at the end of day, and may it rest easy over you when, at last, you lie out under it. May it rest so lightly over you that your soul may be out from under it quickly, up and off and on its way to God. And now may the Lord bless you, and bless you kindly. Amen.”

Luke found himself tearing up and wasn’t even sure why. What Oscar prayed to may or may not be real, may or may not hear him; but Oscar’s care and Oscar’s faith were very real, and there was a preciousness to both. He felt blessed. Watched. Maybe even cared for. Every little bit helped. “Thank you,” Luke whispered.

Oscar patted his back. “Of course. Let’s talk about this spell of yours.”

Luke returned to the medical ward alone.

Arthur was asleep, snoring lightly—almost a cute sound, sort of buzzing—while John stood over him, hovering, his many tentacles in the air.

Luke couldn’t help making comparisons. Hastur was symmetrical, beautiful and horrible, perfect to look at and absolutely maddening. John was just… a mess. His sides were not symmetrical. He stood hunched, angling, most of his face (if he had one) hidden in his robe, golden eyes gleaming in its gloom. He was so wide he almost seemed round; tentacles poked through his hole-ridden robe all over, as if those were the only limbs he had.

All the eyes fixed on Luke.

Luke swallowed. “John?”

“Yes.” The growl… it was Hastur’s, only not room-rumbling.

For Parker. “I have a plan for what to do at the end of the games.”

“Here’s my plan: you can go to hell,” said John.

Wow.

“You took me from him,” John snarled in Hastur’s voice but not Hastur’s voice, and the more John spoke, the more Luke knew he would be able to tell them apart. “We weren’t ready. I was hidden in him, damn you! Do you know what we had to do to make that work?”

“No, sir, I don’t,” said Luke. “And I’m sorry it happened, but it had to. Please listen. I have a plan. That, and I know what you are.”

John stared. The gold of his eyes flickered and darkened, like a fire burning down to embers. “Do you?” he said, low.

Luke felt a little insane being so honest. “Yes. You’re the missing piece of—”

Luke didn’t even see John move.

Suddenly, he was grabbed. He slammed into the wall, pressed against it, wind knocked out of him.

“Don’t you dare finish that sentence!” John snarled, all monster, and his mouth didn’t fit right—saliva slid between his teeth and to the floor, hissing, burning into the tiles.

Luke shook. Fear briefly stole his words. If this went well (and it had to), he never wanted to fight anyone again after this. “Okay,” he agreed. “Okay, I won’t. I promise.”

John changed. Something about his form trembled, shifted, and Luke suddenly got the impression he was… embarrassed? He dropped Luke. “Sorry,” he mumbled. “Not used to… being able to act.”

What a weird thing to say. Luke still shook, but he stood. “I understand.”

“No, you don’t,” John snapped.

Except he did. “I do, though,” said Luke. “Everything is different for me. I’m on my own, and I’ve got weird magic powers, and my brother is still dead, and it’s all different.”

That shouldn’t have worked, yet John seemed stunned. His mismatched tentacles drooped. “I heard you telling Arthur. You’re here for Parker.”

For Parker. Parker’s resurrection was not guaranteed. Still, it was an opening. It was… vulnerable. For just this moment, John was listening, and Luke dared not let that slip by. “Sir, no one is meant to win this contest.”

John raised his tentacles, and magic bloomed. Suddenly, the sounds of this room—shouts outside, footsteps, medical drips and running faucets—all dimmed. “Explain that.”

Such a growl. It would be scarier if Luke hadn’t heard Hastur’s first. “He never meant anyone to win. Not really. It’s why they’re always bringing in new warriors. There can’t be a last one standing, then. Hastur wants to die here.”

John stared. He looked like a statue of himself, frozen.

“I know a way we can win,” said Luke.

“He wants to…” John stammered.

Luke waited.

John exhaled shakily. “You mean you can win,” he said with more suspicion than Luke had ever heard in his life. “Arthur needs this. If I have to rip your fucking head off to ensure he gets it, I will.”

Yikes. “Nobody wins if I die,” Luke dared, because it was true. “The plan requires my magic. If I’m out of the picture, they’ll just bring in more warriors forever, and there’ll never be an end.”

John shuddered. “Arthur needs this.”

“He needs to be freed.” Luke clenched his fists, trying so hard to sound grown. “If we win, and it goes how I think… that Charlie Dowd guy will be freed, too.” He couldn’t be sure of that, and yet he was sure. If the games were done, Hastur wouldn’t need Dowd anymore. And if this were Luke’s new job (or whatever they were calling it), surely Luke could ask for that favor. He could try, anyway.

John, fortunately, seemed to be buying what Luke was selling. “He’d be free,” he murmured, thoughtfully.

“Yes,” said Luke. “But I need your help.”

John sighed. He turned his round, uneven body to look at Arthur.

“I don’t know how he can fight,” Luke said softly.

“I’ll take care of Arthur,” said John.

“I mean… since he’s blind,” said Luke.

“I fucking said I’ll take care of him!” John growled.

Yikes and yikes. “Yes, sir.”

John studied him. “Why did you do this to me?”

Oh. “Gave you a… a body?”

“Yes. Pulling me out of him. Ripping me away. Why?”

“To save his life.”

John hunched. “I was hurting him?” he said in a shockingly small voice.

Luke gentled his tone “Yes,” he said.

John drooped. “Fuck,” he said.

“You’re not hurting him now,” said Luke quickly.

John looked at him. “You’re a fucking weird kid.”

Luke looked down, years of self-preservation kicking in. “Yes, sir.”

John didn’t apologize. He returned to Arthur, hovering again.

Luke got the weirdest feeling that had actually been a compliment. John was very strange. “Don’t you want to hear the plan?”

“When Arthur is awake.” John’s tentacle-tips touched Arthur’s face.

Arthur made a sound and pushed at them, stubborn even in his sleep.

John made a pleased sound. “Arthur will wake soon. Then we will have your plan.”

“I’ll go get some food,” Luke said because he needed to get away, and made up for it by bringing back enough for all three of them.

The god called Lilith came for Oscar in the morning. It was very early, barely dawn, but Luke followed Oscar out because he wanted to see.

It didn’t really explain anything.

The woman was beautiful; from here, she looked almost human, with long dark hair, and softly violent skin, and eyes that gleamed silver. Something about the way she stood was so strange, just beside her blindingly white chariot and its enormous winged-lions. She stood, he realized, like saints he’d seen around Catholic churches—somehow inhuman, above human, and held her hand out over the sand, palm down.

Oscar knelt and looked up at her with such intensity, with a look Luke could not for the life of him name, but knew he’d never seen its ilk before. It felt intimate. It felt private. His cheeks heated.

This god—this Lilith, who’d come to fetch her weird priest—looked directly at Luke for one moment. Luke startled. Her face was that face—the face of the weirdo guy who’d gotten Luke into all this. It was narrower, the lips fuller, but unquestionably the same.

Utterly confused, Luke stared.

She seemed to find that funny, and laughed, and—

Bells-pealing-bright-dancing-sharp-white-ephemeral…

Luke came to on his hands and knees and shook his head. They were gone; the weird flying chariot and its lions were gone, along with her, and her priest.

Weird. So very weird. And the way Oscar had looked at her… Luke really couldn’t put a word to it. It was an agony, of sorts, but it was ecstasy, too, and so hungry, and so determined, and Luke would never forget it.

The suns were barely risen, and Luke decided to go back to bed. He wouldn’t be talking about this. He wasn’t sure what he’d seen, but he knew at least that some of it was meant only for them.

[chapter sixteen] [masterpost]

#malevolent #malevolent au #malevolent fic #arthur lester #john doe #dennis collins #luke yang #kiy malevolent #malevolent madness mixup #blood and sand fic #kayne malevolent #oscar malevolent

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dominimoonbeam · 1 year

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Stargazing Underground

I’m ALMOST done with edits on this one and on to formatting and publishing so I commissioned @slushrottweiler to do some character art! There is something magical about SEEING your characters. Or any characters! Seriously, go commission Slush if you’re looking for an artist!

STARGAZING UNDERGROUND is another sci-fi romance and I can’t wait to share it! It’s about these two getting stuck in a no-tech underground prison together and having to learn to trust each other to survive.

Chapter One under the cut. <3

CHAPTER ONE

Alarms sounded over screams and explosions, all echoing up through the airducts to chase them. He crawled behind her, into the dark and away from everything. When she couldn’t crawl anymore, he dragged her.

His muscles screamed, raw pain warring with the dull agony of exhaustion.

He got them all the way to the end of the narrow duct, farther than they’d ever made it before, where starlight pierced the darkness. He twisted around and kicked until his back hit the cold metal wall. Tipping his head up, Iris stared. Tears gathered against his vision when he saw the sky out that long rectangular shaft. The air was colder, cleaner, and his breath shivered from his lungs with pained longing. Almost there.

“Go,” Verona whispered. “I’ll follow.”

She said it but her limbs didn’t move. Her muscles didn’t even flex with the thought of moving.

Her arm was broken. He had seen it clearly before they made their escape. Neither of them had been in any condition for it, but it was their last chance, their last hope—their last move.

If it was just her arm that was broken, he wouldn’t doubt her ability to climb out of there. If anyone could do it, Verona could. But it wasn’t just a broken arm.

Iris gathered her in his lap, her back to his chest so that maybe she would smell the air too. Her blood oozed across his naked abdomen and soaked into his pants.

“Leave,” she urged, as though he’d said all the things he’d been thinking. “I would have left you.”

Tears spilled over his lashes and a grim smile tugged at the gashes in his lips. “Liar. If you’d left me from the start this wouldn’t have happened. If you’d left me…” he choked on the last hour of his life. It was too much. They’d been circling their own deaths for months, clawing to survive, fighting together against everyone else in that pit, but the last hour had been the worst of it all.

“Go,” she said again, voice thinning, but with the persistent nudge of a friend urging him onto a shuttle to leave home and see the galaxy. Like he was making a big deal out of nothing and would laugh later at how he almost didn’t go. But there wasn’t going to be a later. Not for him and not for them.

“It won’t change,” she said matter-of-factly, but it made swallowing hard because he knew what she was really saying—after months in that place with her, he knew everything about her. She didn’t use many words, but he heard her now. He heard her in her movements and her stillness, and right now, broken and bleeding out in his arms, she was promising to love him the same even if he left her there to die.

And she meant it. He knew she did. She would think no less of him, and it would not tarnish her understanding of his feelings for her. She would not hurt if he left her now. She would understand.

Iris Eleusine tipped his head back and stared at the sky far above, stars blinking back mercilessly. “I can’t.” He was so tired. When had he last slept? Last eaten? One hand throbbed, crushed, and one side of his face was swelling up under split flesh. He was filthy, caked in blood, sweat, and worse.

Verona gave a tired grunt. “You can make it,” she said.

He could make it. He could finally escape and at the very least, die on the ground under the naked sky. He could, but he curled his arms around her. His hands pressed over the largest gash in her side, determined to hold her together for as long as possible. “I won’t.” He was capable of escaping, of crawling out of that place. But who would he be if he did? And what was the point if she wasn’t with him?

CHAPTER TWO

...four months earlier.

#Art Commission #the amazing slushrottweiler #STARGAZING UNDERGROUND #scifi romance #ride or die #but no riding anywhere because these two are stuck underground #clover down #dominimoonbeam #commission slush!

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mehoymalloy · 6 months

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20 questions for fic writers

Thanks for the tag, @mr-jaybird! No tags for me, but please feel free to steal and tag me if ya like!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

237,427

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Critical Role, Horizon, and Stray Gods!

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Prometheus Bound (Horizon; Aloy/Tilda), Sing for Me (Stray Gods; Grace/Persephone), and then my oldest series (Fine Art and Forgeries), which are all takes on canon scenes from Tilda's POV, coincidentally by order of publication: Study of a Young Woman, A Scene from Two Views, and The Gallant Conversation.

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I do! I genuinely appreciate every one, and if someone takes the time to say something to me, I like to return that gesture in kind (though I think I fell behind in the chaos of Stray Gods Prompt Week, I'll have to go chapter by chapter and see lol).

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Prometheus Bound, by a long shot.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

What's a happy ending? (I'm joking, that would likely go to Radiance (Horizon; Regalla/Nasadi).

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Not to my face lol.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I do! I enjoy writing fucked up people fuck each other (though Sing for Me's the exception to that, and I do have some healthier smut on the way in the form of Liliana/Otohan and Grace/Athena).

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

Nope!

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Nope (I hope)!

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Nope (not that I'm aware)!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Not yet, but a friend and I are planning to co-write a couple fics in the future!

14. What's your all-time favourite ship?

I truthfully don't read much fanfic anymore, and while I'm tempted to say Imogen/Otohan as that's what's had me in a chokehold for the past nine months, that's also a more recent development. So if we're talking all time, I'd say my most read ship was (and I'm dating myself here) Hermione/Bellatrix. Can you tell I've always enjoyed enemies to lovers as a trope?

15. What's a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

I don't have any I don't intend to finish!

16. What are your writing strengths?

I think I'm pretty good at describing settings and imagery as well and introspection.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

DIALOGUE.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

It's something I would likely never attempt.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Horizon, specifically Forbidden West!

20. Favourite fic you've ever written?

God that's a hard question... From a technical standpoint, I think A Dance With Danger is the one I'm most proud of. It really challenged me in many ways (altering a canon scene in one BIG way, writing lots of dialogue that still managed to flow well in a relatively short time, and most of all, writing an Imogen/Otohan first meeting in canon context, and early on in the campaign at that).

Runner ups would likely be Prometheus Bound, Let Me Lay Waste to Thee (Critical Role; Imogen/Otohan, THEE fic that started everything lol), and When the Darkness Comes (Horizon; Silga & Untalla aka MY GIRLS).

#fun tag games are fun #thanks jay this genuinely was fun to go through and think about!

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goforth-ladymidnight · 1 year

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On ACOTAR Faeries and Lying

I don’t know if this has been talked about before, but I think SJM really kneecapped her faerie characters by taking away everything that made them, well, faerie. Pointy ears and eternal youth are not enough for me. There’s some great faerie lore that we’re introduced to in the first few chapters of ACOTAR: their aversion to iron, addictive food, their inability to lie, etc. And then later on it’s revealed that faerie food just tastes really good, the aversion to iron was a ruse, and they can lie. They lied about lying.

Lucien leaned back in his chair, smiling with feline delight. “Of course we can lie. We find lying to be an art. And we lied when we told those ancient mortals that we couldn’t speak an untruth. How else would we get them to trust us and do our bidding?”

I think the only reason that was mentioned was because of a “provision” in the Treaty:

“That was all a lie. There was no provision for that in the Treaty. You can kill as many innocent faeries as you want and never suffer the consequences. You just killed Andras, sent out by Tamlin as that day’s sacrifice.” [Alis]

Imagine if there was a provision after all, and Tamlin meant it when he said that he would take on Feyre’s life-debt and let her return to the mortal lands. That way we have no reason to doubt Tamlin when he says that he loves her, because faeries can’t lie. I’ve seen the argument that he was only using her to break his curse, when he made it clear in canon that he wouldn’t use her that way:

Lucien: “By the Cauldron, Tam—there isn’t much time, and you’re just sulking and glowering. You’re not even trying to fake it anymore.“

Tamlin: “It was a mistake from the start. I can’t stomach it, not after what my father did to their kind, to their lands. I won’t follow in his footsteps—won’t be that sort of person. So back off.“

That’s not why I bring this up, though. Amarantha hated humans because of what a human general (Jurian) did to her sister. What if it went deeper than that? What if Clythia thought Jurian actually loved her, and it was a lie? Yes, we know it’s a lie; we’re told that Jurian betrayed Clythia, after all, but it holds a lot more weight if humans are the only ones who can lie.

In popular faerie folklore, faeries are very good at getting what they want, and it never involves lying. Trickery, yes. But not outright lies.

Feyre’s bargain with Amarantha was as close to faerie trickery as we got.

1. Amarantha turned Tamlin’s heart to stone, so technically Feyre didn’t win the Third Trial (”Stab each of these unfortunate souls in the heart”), but that was overlooked in the text.

2. When Feyre “won”, Amarantha claimed there was a loophole in the bargain in that she didn’t specify when she had to free Tamlin from his curse. The text tries to claim that she lied to get her way out of it, but it was technically true. Now, she could have said she didn’t make bargains with human pigs, or that she had lied and what were they going to do about it, she was queen, so there... but she didn’t. Because ACOTAR faeries can lie, so there’s no real weight to Amarantha claiming there was a loophole.

Finally, we get the scene where Amarantha tries to tear Feyre apart for winning, since there’s nothing in the original bargain that says Feyre can live. But Amarantha doesn’t just want to kill Feyre; she wants her to admit that Feyre never loved Tamlin.

“Say that you don’t truly love him,” Amarantha spat, and my body twisted, breaking bit by bit. “Admit to your inconstant heart.”

She doesn’t want Feyre’s love to be true. Maybe it’s just me, but if faeries can’t lie, then Amarantha’s rage here is magnified ten-fold. In her mind, her love for Tamlin is true and Feyre’s is false, because humans can lie and always will. Consider this minor tweak:

“Say that you don’t truly love him,” Amarantha spat, and my body twisted, breaking bit by bit. “Admit to your lying human heart.”

I think it could have been a much stronger story that way, even though I am still fond of it as-is. More than anything else, I wish this story had defined rules and stronger worldbuilding. It’s good, but it could have been so much better.

#missed opportunity #acotar worldbuilding #sjm critical

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maccca-chino · 5 months

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Fanfiction Q&A

tagged by @thepagemistress , thank youuuuu! <3

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

a whopping 4 can you tell I don't write fics often!

though there actually used to be a few more short oneshots, but when I fell rather violently out of love with SPN, which they were for I just. couldn't stand to see them in there anymore (and I didn't like the writing itself anymore either) and I ended up deleting them... ^^"

2. What's your total AO3 word count?

41,198 (and the deleted fics would only have added around maybe 1000 words? 2k max but I don't even think they added up to that much)

3. What fandoms do you write for?

the only fics left are for DBH now, I have considered writing for Sandman, but tbh. there's sooooo many good writers in this fandom, anything I want to exist as fics is pretty much already there or in progress of being made and so I'm rather content to focus on art, slow at it though I may be :'D

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

er, well since there's only 4 of em:

1. no one can tell where your heart is (885, still in progress. and has been for a while I am so sorry)

2. lay bare the fire in me (328, .....the same as above. but I do have outlines for both fics, they WILL get finished dammit :'D)

3. and I don’t dance, but here I am (87, ...which is the sequel to 1 I couldn't wait to write even though the main fic isn't done yet xD)

4. freedom is a length of rope (34)

also yes, I am indeed very fond of the lower case titles

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I usually do or try to, even if it's just a short answer, because I love engaging with people over things that are important to me (and with comments I don't have to start the conversdation so to speak).

I do however have a few comments left in my inbox that I have not answered due to the crushing guilt of not having updated in so long.

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

freedom is a length of rope (technically also in progress to have a more hopeful ending added, but the longer it exists, the more I want to. keep the angsty ending it has. also guess where that title is from lmao)

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

and I don’t dance, but here I am though the in progress fics will likely end on the same level of everything is good and nothing hurts

8. Do you get hate on fics?

no, people have been very nice and also so infinitely patient with me! TAT

While not hostile, the weirdest I got was someone trying to convince me to let them sort of cowrite the fic with me? I respectfully declined because I did (I do TAT) have the general story outlined.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

...haven't yet, but the two fics in progres will have it. We'll find out h kind then I suppose.

No sure I'd ever be confident enough for pwp.

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

I have not and don't know if I would? If I did I'd probably only very loosely do it, because I am not confident I could do each included world/fandom justice. That's easier with art for me than writing.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

not to my knowledge, but with barely any existing and only half of em finished I would be surprised :'D

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

I.. don't think so.

13. Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

no, and tbh I'd probably be very intimidated to try.

14. What's your all-time favourite ship?

....ohhhhh noooooo, I hate picking favorites :'D

but I think one that's been with me since forEVER is Ace Attorney's Wrightworth (or NaruMitsu as I got to know it hehe).

In newer terms I think Dreamling will stick with me too.

15. What's a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

freedom is a length of rope like I said, the more I think about "fixing" what happened in chapter 1 in an additional chapter, the more I find myself leanign towards "no. this works better as an angsty oneshot"

maybe one day.

16. What are your writing strengths?

hmmm, not sure I write enough to really find em. minimalism? Shorter stories in a more minimal style I'd say.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

hilariously, I think that's also minimalism. because writing longer overarcing storylines when this is your go to becomes difficult.

Or maybe that's just "long interesting storylines that aren't super predictable or cliché"

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic.

well, I am German, so if the opportunity presented itself for a character where it works I could.

as far as writing in general in English goes. idk, I spent a lot of my time conversing and writing in English even outside the internet, and it's hard for me to judge how well lI'm doing in terms of er. written eloquence? I try my best and that's all I can do really.

For languages I don't know, I'd probably try to find someone who knows them or make really sure I've got it correct, I don't trust google translate enough :'D

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Supernatural

unless we count the NaruMitsu proposal RP I wrote with a friend in ICQ, but that was never published outside that chatroom xD

20. Favourite fic you've ever written?

no one can tell where your heart is

as far behind as I am with updating it and as much as I feel like I bit off a bit more than I should've with it, it's my baby ;w;

Offering this up for anyone who feels so inclined to answer and tagging @wizardofgoodfortune , @wordsinhaled and @academicblorbo but no pressure! <3

#about me #thepagemistress

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br1ghtestlight · 6 months

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20 questions for fic writers

1. How many works do you have on Ao3

2. What’s your total word count?

109,996

3. What fandoms do you write for?

bob's burgers, inanimate insanity and there's like one steven universe fic in there. i have written for other fandoms in the past but not on that account lol (and mostly unpublished)

4. Top 5 fics by kudos

zeke running away fic, genderfluid gene fic, louise hat fic, bob mom fic, tinimmy week fic (the problem with naming all my fanfics after really long complicated song lyrics is that i simply will not actually call the fanfictions by their Actual Name. also not linking them bcuz im lazy)

5. Do you respond to comments?

i always try to respond to comments but tbh people dont comment on my work very often?? i also dont reply to comments on my old account bcuz i dont have access to it anymore

6. What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

i dont know if ive ever written anything angsty tbh?? thats not really my favorite thing because it makes me too sad. out of my published fanfics probably the fic about bob's mom wins by default and out of my unpublished wips uhh maybe my louise and tina focused fanfic. it has a happy ending (maybe) but its a real downer at times. or maybe my tinimmy fic is bittersweet depending on how you read it

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

maybe my fanfic where bob gets a garden LMAO or my genderfluid gene fic

8. Do you get hate on fics?

no!!! actually a secret about me in that my almost 10 years posting art fanfics etc online i have never gotten a single negative comment on anything ive made. i feel very lucky :)

9. Do you write smut?

never have and never will (nothing wrong with it in most contexts but im asexual and smut is extremely Not My Thing. i actually tried writing a smut fic once to challenge myself a few years ago and spent like 1000 words describing the way the candles were lit in their bedroom before i realized its simply not for me and thats fine)

10. Do you write crossovers?

no but if my hyperfixations ever gave me an opportunity to crossover maybe?? any bob's burgers character on the infinity train would be hilarious. any hfjone character would be heartbreaking

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

i dont remember but im gonna go with probably not

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

nope

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

NO I THINK IT WOULD BE REALLY FUN but im too much of a perfectionist w/ my writing and i would be worried about dragging the other person down with me. maybe if my ocd ever gets medicated idk

14. What’s your all-time favorite ship?

it depends on my mood but right now i have been thinking abt tina and jimmy jr a lot. not even romantically their relationship is just so interesting. jimmy jr/zeke/tina is also great. marshall lee and gary.... bryce and liam??

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you will?

i have like over 30+ wips so thats probably a lot of them FJDMDMSJSKS something i would love to finish at some point but probably never will is a fanfic about how bob and linda overcame the cycle of abuse with their own childhood memories vs how they are with their kids. maybe i could write that with somebody else and we each do like a chapter at a time (they write linda's memories and i write bob's etc)

16. What are your writing strengths?

people always tell me that im really good at capturing character's voices and personalities and making them feel in character?? i always want my stories to feel like something that could actually happen in-universe and make it make sense with the characters etc. i think part of this comes from working w/ my own ocs and thinking so hard about how different people express and communicate things and then applying that to other characters is easy. and bcuz of how my autism works i can memorize how a person or character constructs sentences and create new sentences inside my head in their voice :D i really pay attention to peoples speaking patterns & how they phrase things

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

probably how perfectionist i am about grammar and using certain words phrases punctuation etc that it takes FOREVER to get anything done. i also think im too wordy. i can turn a fifteen word sentence into a fifty word sentence easily which is great for essays but kinda annoying when you're reading a silly bobs burgers fanfic

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language?

i dont mind doing it for my ocs but to my knowledge none of the bob's burgers characters speak another language as their native language?? so i cant see it coming up in anything i write

19. First fandom you wrote for?

i dont really wanna say bcuz its embarrassing and i was pretty young LMAO but it was like youtuber fanfic on wattpad (wayy before whatever youtubers you're thinking of they were never famous)

20. Favorite fic you’ve ever written?

hmm either my tinimmy week fic or my genderfluid gene fic it changes depending on the day. right now its my tinimmy week fanfic <3

#txt #bob's burgers #long post #<- im assuming

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writingdotcoffee · 2 years

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#249: Finish More Things

And we’re past the 6-month mark. Now 2023 is closer than 2021. Have you started on the projects you want to get done this year? Have you finished them already? How is it going?

For me, 2022 has been the slowest year in maybe a decade. Often, I found it hard to focus enough to make meaningful progress. The next six months will be pretty busy if I want to hit my goals for the year.

I’m not too worried, though. Goals are just goals. Sometimes you hit them. Sometimes you miss. Sometimes the goals you set aren’t worth completing anymore.

What is a good goal anyway? Not in the management sense. Sure, specific and measurable goals are great, but that’s the easy part. How do you find a goal that’s worth working towards? How do you know that you’re working on the right story?

Well, you don’t. Nobody knows for sure. Even bestselling, traditionally published authors miss the mark sometimes.

Grand plans are great, but they aren’t really worth very much. Instead of getting hung up on that, I want to focus on a single goal for the rest of this year: finishing things.

Because I don’t have as much time as I thought I’d have, I’ll be focusing on smaller projects that I can finish rather than more ambitious ones that will bog me down because I don’t have enough time to see them through.

I’d rather finish 10 short stories than write 10 chapters in a book. You learn significantly more by taking something all the way over the finish line. When it comes to art, finishing more things almost always pays off.

Will you be a better photographer if you do 5 photoshoots or 50? Will you be a better poet if you finish 5 or 50 poems? Will you be a better artist if you finish 5 or 50 illustrations? Will you be a better songwriter if you finish 5 or 50 songs? Will you be a better writer if you finish 5 or 50 stories? You get the idea...

Some argue that if you work on 50 stories, you will spend less time on each, and they will be of lower quality than if you focused on five stories. That is, unfortunately, wrong. Creativity adds up. You grow as a writer with every finished story. Any proficient artist will do a better sketch in a minute than a beginner would in 3 hours. That applies to writing too.

Taking forever to write each story will prevent you from acquiring the experience needed to become proficient. It’s a vicious cycle.

When in doubt, finish more stories! There’s still plenty of time left in 2022.

About the Author

Hi, I’m Radek 👋. I’m a writer, software engineer and the founder of Writing Analytics — an editor and writing tracker designed to help you beat writer’s block and create a sustainable writing routine.

I publish a post like this every week. Want to know when the next one comes out? Sign up for my email list below to get it right in your inbox.

(I won’t spam you or pass your email to a third party. You can unsubscribe at any time.)

Past Editions

#248: Serious Procrastination, June 2022

#247: Learning How to Fail, June 2022

#246: Your Art Is Like a Journal Entry, May 2022

#245: Writing + Headspace, May 2022

#244: Making a Mess, May 2022

#writing #write #writing tips #writing advice #amwriting #writing life #writing update #personal update #me #writeblr

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thelightofthebane · 2 years

Text

(right from the start you would be) My Light in The Dark

Pairing: Malec

Rating: M

Summary: What if Magnus couldn’t forgive Alec for breaking his heart after the deal with Asmodeus? What if Magnus left New York and never looked back? What if Clary never got her memories back? What if the parabatai duo was so broken for their lost loves, they couldn’t function anymore? What if broken hearts led to broken souls? What if one left and the other disappeared? What if Magnus came back to a New York where Alec Lightwood vanished a century ago? What if What if What if

Or, Second chances might take longer. But they always seem to find their way back to each other.

This fic was created for the Shadowhunters Reverse Bang 2022: Presented by the @malecdiscordserver

Art by the lovely @hopesilverheart

Chapter 1 - I’ll never worry about letting you break my heart (I'll break my own)

||| Then |||

“I’m not the first person he’s loved, and I won’t be the last. Breaking up is gonna hurt like hell, but it’s the kind of hurt he can recover from.”

“But what about you? Can you recover?”

Alec couldn’t.

Magnus’ heartbreak was stamped under his eyelids – a permanent reminder of his choice, of his sacrifice.

Two broken hearts for magic and immortality.

Did they even have the same value?

Alec didn’t think broken pieces could be worth something, but then again, his dealer was a Prince of Hell. Alec’s misery might’ve been a banquet for Asmodeus. Perhaps he would feed on it for the remainder of Alec’s days.

Oddly, it was a fitting punishment.

Because Alec destroyed the most beautiful thing in his life.

Could you be forgiven for hurting the person you loved more than life itself?

Numbly, Alec felt that the Angels didn’t care.

You’re a warrior, not a lover.

Your hand should kill and destroy, not touch tenderly.

Kill the demons.

Destroy himself.

Maybe do both while you’re at it. Alicante was falling in fire and ashes and blood all around him. Would it be a mercy to die while protecting his city? He wouldn’t care. But if he was going to die fighting, at least he wanted to give his siblings a chance to flee and live.

“We got this,” Alec stated with more conviction than he really felt. He notched five arrows and aimed at the swarm of flying demons coming to his and Izzy’s direction.

“We got this?” His sister looked at him like he had gone crazy already, but didn’t protest further. She readied her whip, already dreading the outcome.

However, before the demons could get any closer, all of them exploded in a big cloud of ash, flames and ichor.

It was brief, but Alec could see the red sparks floating in the air before blinking out of existence.

Magic.

Magic, although destructive, still lingering with familiarity.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

And if the magic wasn’t already a dead giveaway, that voice sealed the deal. Alec’s entire body tensed, and he had to muster all his self-control to not flinch.

Turning around, he had to swallow hard – both words and tears.

Because his boyf– no, ex-boyfriend was there.

Magic and power circling him like a cloak.

“Traffic was hell.” He joked, but it fell flat on his ears. There was no humor there. Magnus’ voice was indifferent, almost detached, and he barely deigned throw a single glance to Alec’s direction.

Alec wanted to say a lot of things.

I’m sorry.

Forgive me.

I lied.

I love you.

Are you okay?

Are you happy?

Do you feel whole again?

You shouldn’t be here.

Asmodeus… If Asmodeus finds out, he will take your magic back.

Get out of here.

It’s dangerous.

Protect yourself.

Stay.

Go.

I love you.

Please, Magnus.

Believe me.

But he stayed quiet. Which was a good thing, as he only then realized Magnus wasn’t alone.

There wasn’t a better word to describe what he was seeing than ‘army’. A whole army of Downworlders marching into Alicante – warlocks, vampires, werewolves, seelies. And despite each faction having their own leader, there wasn’t a shadow of doubt as to who the highest in ranking there was. The one they were all looking to in expectation.

Automatically, Alec stood straighter, posture rigid yet respectful. Even Isabelle acquiesced, doing the same.

“Magnus,” Catarina called, breaking the wordless, intense eye contact between Alec and Magnus.

“Lead all the healers to the nearest empty building you find. Take any volunteers to build wards around it and to retrieve any fallen.”

Catarina nodded once then turned around, soon being followed by a group of warlocks and other Downworlders.

After shooting one last glare at Alec, Magnus turned to the large army, casting a quick spell to make his voice louder.

“All the warlocks, with me to seal the rift. As for the others, either help the Shadowhunters to kill the demons or take the civilians to a safe place. I will also need coverage for the warlocks sealing the rift.”

“We can help,” Alec offered, but only received a cold glare from Magnus.

“We don’t need your help, Shadowhunter. Instead of wasting my time, why don’t you go help that parabatai of yours to deal with the Morgenstern boy? He is still a threat for my people and the cause of this mess. After all, you like to fix things, don’t you?

Alec’s jaw dropped. That jab… Magnus knew. Somehow, he knew what Alec had done.

Before he could spiral into a hurricane of despair, anxiety and fear for having broken the deal in some way, Izzy took his hand and pulled him away.

“Come, big brother.”

Looking at Magnus one last time – who wasn’t even looking at him anymore, but walking away instead – Alec’s shoulders slumped in defeat and he nodded.

After… He could talk to Magnus after.

And hopefully clear things between them.

Yes, Alec could only pray – to any angel who hadn’t abandoned them yet – that things were going to be alright.

~*~

In the end, even with the four of them – Jace, Clary, Alec and Izzy –, only the redhead was able to take Jonathan down with a new rune given by the Angels. They were all exhausted, mildly hurt (though nothing that an Iratze couldn’t help with) and a mess of blood and dirt, but at least they were victorious. The warlocks were able to close the rift and the Downworlders were already retreating from Alicante. Some of the leaders stayed back to negotiate with what was left of the Clave’s representatives, and Alec was sure Magnus was one of them.

He knew he had to go report to Jia about Jonathan’s demise and check with Underhill for updates about the New York Institute, but he couldn’t. He wouldn’t. Not without talking to Magnus. Alec felt that if he missed the opportunity, it would be the end for good.

He couldn’t afford that. Not again.

Losing Magnus… would break him forever.

Four hours later, Magnus finally left the Gard alongside his fellow Downworlders. He opened a portal so all of them could go back to their respective cities, staying behind until he was the last one to cross it. But before he could take even one step towards it, Alec called his name.

The portal didn’t close, but Magnus didn’t go into it either.

Fortunately, they were alone, the early hours giving them the privacy they so needed.

“I see that you got your powers back, that’s good.” Alec began after the silence stretched for a while.

Magnus didn’t reply for a long moment, and Alec was already expecting to be ignored and be left alone. But then the warlock turned and looked at him as if searching for something.

“Once, I said you would blow up the very ground you stood to make something right. It seems that lying is included in your efforts.”

“What?” Alec said faintly.

“A meeting with the Clave? Really, Alec?”

Alec.

Not Alexander.

Alec.

He never thought he would hate the sound of his nickname so much.

Alec remembered that Halloween night. Magnus asking if he could go to Maryse’s shop too to help with the decoration, a hopeful gleam in his eyes for the first time in many days. And Alec having to refuse because he had a meeting.

That part was true. Though not regarding the other party.

“I know about the deal with my father.”

Alec paled. He opened his mouth to protest, but Magnus lifted a hand to stop him.

“Do not fret. I sent him to limbo. Your deal with him is null and my magic is safe.”

Alec’s shoulders slumped at once in relief.

“Why?” Magnus whispered, his voice broken and defeated. “You had no right to choose for me again. First, asking Lorenzo to take his magic back, then my father. Do you even care about my opinion at all?”

“Magnus, you were so miserable. It felt like you were slipping through my fingers. I thought…” Alec’s voice also broke. “I thought you were already going somewhere I couldn’t follow. And I couldn’t help but wonder if the next time I tried to catch you, it would be too late.”

Magnus clenched his jaw, barely containing his frustration and sorrow.

“I was trying to get better. That night I even decided to stop drinking. I knew how worried you were and I wanted to do better for you, for us.” His hands started shaking and his unglamored eyes were full of tears.

“Magnus, what I said… I don’t… I swear… I still lo–”

“Shut up!”

Around them, streetlamps exploded and glass panels shattered.

“Don’t you dare say those words. Don’t you dare taint what is left of me.”

Alec shook his head hard, using all his willpower to keep the tears from falling.

He wouldn’t break apart there, he wouldn’t.

“I thought you were different, but I was wrong again. Tell me. Tell me how you differ from Camille, because honestly? I can’t see a single difference right now.”

Alec flinched hard.

Stabbing him with a Seraph blade would’ve hurt less.

“You… You’re comparing me to Camille? I didn’t… I never… I–”

“You never cheated on me, yes, but hurting me? You lied, you betrayed me.” Magnus’ voice was harsh.

“I only wanted to make you happy again. I lov–”

“Don’t!” Magnus hissed, his slithered pupils becoming even thinner. “Don’t you dare.”

Alec missed the warmth.

He could take Magnus’ anger, but not that coldness.

The indifference. The hate.

Not again. Not again. Not again.

He knew he deserved it, this time, for going around Magnus’ back, but it hurt nevertheless.

And Magnus’ next words sealed the deal and finished shattering his already broken heart.

“You are no better than Camille.”

A pain like no other burst inside Alec’s chest.

It was even worse than when he had felt his parabatai rune ripping apart by Jace’s brief death months ago.

“Go live your life, Shadowhunter. I hope to never see you again.”

And with finality, Magnus turned and entered the portal – which snapped shut a second later.

Between one moment and the other, Magnus was gone.

Alec’s bow clattered on the asphalt.

His knees soon followed.

Alec didn’t care that they had won. He barely heard the loud cheering of fellow Nephilim celebrating their victory while the first rays of morning shone brightly over Alicante.

“Alec?”

“Big brother?”

Everything hurt.

And a traitorous part of him knew that pain would be a part of him until his last breath.

He felt familiar hands touching his shoulders and arms.

For the first time in his life, he didn’t try to keep the leader persona and hold his feelings in. He didn’t care that other people could see him.

Letting the tears roll down, Alec broke down in his siblings’ arms.

||| Now |||

Magnus’ boots echoed through the large hall, occupied by only another soul beside him. He bowed his head respectfully to the Elder and waited.

His visits to the Spiral Labyrinth had become increasingly frequent lately due to a magical instability – both angelic and demonic – affecting not only the Shadow World in its entirety, but the ley lines in more than one dimension, and Magnus had been appointed as one of the leaders of the Warlock community to aid in the damage control.

When he finally thought he was going to get a day of peaceful rest, he received the summons from one of the High Elders, leaving him no choice but to comply.

“We received a request from one of the Hidden.” The Elder spoke, turning to him slowly. His eyes were pure black, very similar to one of a demon’s, but they held kindness and wisdom in them.

Magnus’ eyes widened slightly. The Hidden were communities of Downwolders scattered around, living peacefully in-between veils of this dimension and others. They were like gatekeepers, helping to keep the connection between time and space, the mortal and immortal. Their localization was a secret, ever-changing, and one could only enter their realm with their permission. The Council of the Spiral Labyrinth kept tabs on them, helping them to hide even from the Seelie Queen and Unseelie King. Shadowhunters didn’t know about them either, so if they ever had any problem with demons, they dealt with them by themselves.

“As you already know, the current instability in your world was caused by the destruction of one of the nine hell realms.”

Magnus nodded. An internal conflict between the Princes of Hell had caused one of the dimensions to collapse into itself. He knew Edom wasn’t far away from the same fate without Asmodeus and Lilith’s still weak state. Small rifts had been opening in all continents, and only the ever-growing alliance between Shadowhunters and Downworlders were keeping the invasion of demons at bay. If even the Hidden were being affected by it, things were more severe than he had thought.

“Three days ago, the Blue Hidden were attacked when a rift opened at their borders.”

Magnus frowned, trying to rack his brain for what he knew about them. Since the Hidden didn’t have names for their different communities, they were classified by colors to facilitate their tracking by the Council. To defend themselves, they either trained their own or hired high-skilled beings to protect them. If Magnus wasn’t mistaken, Blue Hidden had the latter.

“Wasn’t their guardian able to defend them? Or could their warlocks not close the rift?”

The Elder shook his head. “They’ve dealt with that already. The issue therein lies on the gravity of the attack. The rift didn’t bring low level demons as per usual. It was a Greater Demon.”

Magnus blanched. “What?”

“The instability caused one of their veils to almost be ripped apart. A Greater Demon took advantage of that. Fortunately, their guardian was able to kill it, but not without great sacrifice. He seems to be on his deathbed and the people are in panic. Their leaders came personally to request your assistance to heal him.”

“I’m flattered by it, but you know well that healing is not my strongest suit. An experienced healer, Catarina Loss for example, would be of much more help.”

“And yet, they insisted on you. They made it very clear that the only warlock they would grant access to their lands was you.”

“This… doesn’t make sense. Why me?” Though, considering it was an attack by a Greater Demon, perhaps some dark magic still lingered, and a healer wouldn’t be enough. If they thought Magnus was skilled enough to help, why not?

“They are very desperate. They call this guardian of theirs Protector of Light, and they are terrified of losing him. They really believe you are his only chance of surviving.”

Sighing, he nodded.

“Very well. Where do I have to go?”

The Elder waved his hand, making a piece of paper appear. “Come to this city and wait there. Within the next few days, the veil will get thinner there. You will be able to feel the exact spot to open a portal.”

Magnus took the paper, and his face fell immediately.

Of course.

Of all places…

“And while you are there, could you do this old fool a favor?” He waved his hand again and a package appeared. “I need you to deliver this personally to the head of the local Institute. The content is fragile, and I wouldn’t want to fall in the wrong hands.”

“Isn’t this supposed to be a task for their High Warlock?” Magnus forced himself to say, trying to not sound like a whining child.

“Lorenzo asked to delegate this to you since… What did he say again? Ah, that you are very easy with Shadowhunters.”

Magnus gritted his teeth. That asshole.

Plastering the fakest smile he could muster, he hummed.

A century.

It has been a century since he last visited that city. That loft.

A century since he last saw…

“Well, I guess it’s time to go back to New York then.”

~*~

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Bane. I’m Rinoa Goldstairs, Head of the New York Institute.”

Magnus smiled politely, but was already regretting being there. It had taken him two days to muster enough courage to approach the Institute, and at least three hours to knock on its door. If times hadn’t gotten better and relations between Nephilim and Downworlders hadn’t improved, he was sure a bunch of Shadowhunters would have already surrounded him with blades, thinking he was there to attack them.

The worst part was that aside from the Shadowhunters’ behavior, something more friendly and respectful, nothing else was really different. At least, not physically. The walls, the screens, the stained glass, the fucking floor was the same. If that new Head hadn’t changed the damn Head’s office too, Magnus would cry.

He might’ve gotten a bit too distracted by the past threatening to hit him at full force, because he totally lost track of what Ms. Goldstairs was saying.

“…you are a legend, Mr. Bane. Everyone knows about you and the four Shadowhunters that made history here in the New York Institute.”

“Is that what they are calling now?”

“It’s just sad that it didn’t have a happy ending after the Battle of Alicante.”

The Battle of Alicante was how the invasion of demons due to Jonathan Morgenstern’s attack was named in the Shadow World’s history. At least the Nephilim had enough decency to not erase the Downworlders’ contribution to their aid. From what Magnus had heard, it was thanks to some mysterious Shadowhunter who took the position of provisory Inquisitor and made sure that the Downworlders were not only remembered, but also given rightful credit to the salvation of the Nephilim’s capital.

“May I ask you what happened to those four Nephilim you mentioned? I thought this Institute would still be under the Lightwoods’ control considering how long they managed it for before. No offense to you, of course.”

“None taken.” Rinoa smiled, already typing something on the screen. “From what I know, the only Lightwoods still alive live in Idris and they came from the youngest’s lineage, Maxwell Lightwood.” Suddenly, four images popped on the screen.

Clary.

Jace.

Isabelle.

Alec.

Magnus’ heart clenched. Seeing Alec’s photo after a century… In the beginning, he had only felt anger and resentment. Now it was a never-ending sadness. He didn’t want to admit it, but he missed Alec more than he missed any other lover he ever had in his life.

All the photos were from the time Magnus met them – young, full of energy and fire in their eyes.

“Clarissa Adele Fairchild,” she tapped on the redhead’s picture and it transformed into a more recent photo – of a beautiful old lady with bright red hair, ink on her arms and a joyful smile. Though Magnus noticed, there were no runes. “Punished by the angel for the overuse of her gifted runes, lost all her memories of the Shadow World alongside her runes. Passed away thirty-five years ago.”

Another pang in his heart.

Oh Biscuit…

“Jonathan Christopher Herondale and Isabelle Sophia Lightwood,” Rinoa double-clicked and both their pictures also turned into their old selves.

They still had their angelic beauty, wrinkles and all.

And again, no runes.

“Both requested de-runement, later integrating themselves with the mundanes.” Magnus’ eyes widened in pure shock. “Jonathan married Clarissa, and they had kids. Isabelle stayed in a relationship with the vampire Simon Lewis until the end, but no marriage or kids. Jonathan passed away forty-eight years ago, and Isabelle passed away twenty-nine years ago.”

Then, Rinoa moved to tap on Alec’s picture, and Magnus swallowed the lump already forming in his throat.

He didn’t know what he feared more – seeing how Alec also got old, and remembering their fight over Magnus’ immortality, or hearing about Alec’s death, thus remembering the fragility of Shadowhunters’ mortality.

However, what appeared was a big question mark and a sign of error.

Rinoa hummed. “Right, nobody knows.”

“What do you mean nobody knows?” Magnus tried to keep a detached voice, but didn’t know if he did a good job considering how he was feeling almost hysterical now.

“One year after the Battle of Alicante, around the same time that his siblings got de-runed, he disappeared. No body, no angelic signature. No rune or magic could track him.”

Magnus felt his knees go weak, and only centuries of self-control prevented him from breaking down entirely after Rinoa’s last blow.

“Alexander Gideon Lightwood vanished from the face of Earth a century ago now.”

#shrb2022 #malec server #shadowhunters #malec #alec lightwood #magnus bane #my writing #ColorfulWarlock

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ihassheepquake · 2 years

Text

DC's Stargirl 3.02 "Chapter Two: The Suspects" has aired on the CW, and I'm here to talk about it.

Episode 2 baby!!

A little flashback to begin with, fun. Can we talk about how fancy Gambler's little trailer is? And he's being staked out by Sportsmaster, also fun. Sometimes ex-coworkers just need to beat the shit out of each other. And Sportsmaster definitely came to murder this bitch. I like how we're getting these little gaps filled in. And the Shade has come to play too! Now he could do the kind of damage we saw at the end of last weeks episode. But similarly to Cindy, I don't think he'd do that much damage when he doesn't have to, and I doubt he'd need to with Gambler. I wonder if these flashbacks will become a standard of this season.

I really do believe Cindy. I think they're right to be sus of her, but I don't think she did it. Honestly, I think Starman did it. And I don't believe this is Starman.

Now, what are you up to Cindy? Is she trying to undo what Dragon King did to her?

Something about Tigress trying to fit in is so funny. She joined a rotary club! I can tell I'm going to love this subplot.

Big fan of this interrogation.

If this is the real Starman, he's a massive dick. I don't think I want someone like him as a hero. And he's kind of a shitty influence.

Omg Cameron. It's like he can't even do his art anymore.

Barbara and Paula trying to bake together!!!

"The killer has many names" seriously Thunderbolt? Gods, I love/hate genie logic.

Something about Shade living in Zarick's house still gets me to this day. I miss my boy Joey. But thank you Shade, you've got a good point! Why would he make a big show of it? We know he could get away with it unnoticed, so why wouldn't he if he really did kill Gambler? But he and Sylvester are unnecessarily assholes to each other.

Does Courtney have a stronger connection to the Staff than Sylvester does? She just ripped it out of his hands, and he was holding on tight. When he got it from her, she had a loose grip. And he seemed surprised that she managed to get it.

The biggest hint that this isn't the real Starman, no man would ever have such a profound realization about his own problems! (I only jest [a little]).

At least Shade acknowledges his massive ego. The green in his powers lately, a result of his fight with Jenni last season? She had some black in hers too for a bit if I remember correctly.

"So who else is there?" Someone you haven't met.

Oh shit, Cindy has the laptop!

Before they find out? Before they find out what?? Did they do it???

I suppose all these questions and more will be answered next week on DC's Stargirl 3.03 "Chapter Three: The Blackmail" (???)

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tubul-taylorsversion · 10 months

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Our education system is deeply flawed, without a doubt. There are many facets as to why this is is, and why this should be rectified. The one I would like to explore is something that is very close to my heart. I think schools should allow kids to specialise their subjects as they join High School (I speak for India, that is). If schools were about learning new things or topics, or broadening the vast extent of all possible knowledge that could be learned (which is how they should be), then by all means, boards should allow children to do as many subjects as possible (as long as the gain is holistic) but with the advent of standardised testing, mugging up certain subjects that will have no use to us at all in the future as ‘general knowledge’ is pathetic. As a neurodivergent, I’m great at exploring topics that require a deep understanding, history however, shakes me to my core. My mind is STEM orientated, and instead of putting my energy into further advancing my hold in the field, I’m being forced to learn about ancient, dead, narcissistic and misogynistic rulers of the long, lost India. Introducing such topics in grade school is a great idea, philosophy, civics, current politics and economics ARE integral in our day to day lives and should NOT be considered ‘too heavy’ for young kids to take. It stimulates their mind and I think that is the fundamental reason behind human existence. However, when the time comes, and everything rides on a high-school mark sheet and diploma, students should be allowed pick and choose the subjects that they wish to pursue. The illogical and pathetic idea of kids taking on 10 exams, work 50 chapters each is BARBARIC for subjects they despise. For me, Biology, Math, Chemistry and Physics are what will be of use. For someone else, it could be History or Art. The point is, our base of general knowledge should be strong enough for us to venture into specialised fields that we’re interested in for us to be good at it. Schools don’t remain institutions of education anymore, it’s a fight for who can rise to the top and crack a good college. Our marks depend on that. Being forced to study subjects of no particular value in my future is a futile effort of a so-called holistic education the board intends to give us. It’s futile and utterly stupid, it is beyond my understanding how you let children’s brains rot as they cripple under such extreme, unnecessary pressure. Please. Fix this.

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aforrestofstuff · 3 years

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Chapter 149 Expert Review Time

Hey gamers what’s up time for another CHAPTER 👏 REVIEW 👏

It was looking kinda bleak last time for pretty much everyone so I’m hoping things improved this time around, but it seems Murata and ONE are kinda going through their “I’m going to put my characters through the MOST” phase so… that feels unlikely. But nevertheless… still excited to see my favorite boys.

The 10000th Psychic Sister cover. Murata, I’m begging you. There’s literally like 30 other characters to choose from. I know you like drawing boobs but imma need you to put the pencil down for a minute and take a walk because this just ain’t IT.

“Summer is coming” it is July. Summer has been here for ten years. I’m so fucking hot all the time. Everything has been evaporated out of me and I’m literally a raisin.

The Psychic Sisters covers are just so devoid of life a lot of the time… I wouldn’t mind if it was them fighting or engaging in everyday activities but when they’re posed for the camera and deliberately placed there to look sexy it just sucks all the human out of them. The cover/splash page is a great chance to show characters in a new light!!! It’s mostly set away from the story so you can do whatever you want! Choosing to make 80 fanservice covers is just wasted opportunity for what could be additional character development. It’s gotten to a point where even the smegma-slinging bitchboys on Reddit are complaining about the excessive sexy covers…. When PussySlayer384756 complains that there’s too much tittage being shown, that’s how you KNOW we’ve got a problem. Now, idk how the fan climate is in Japan but I can’t imagine they’re feeling much different over there either.

Also, her anatomy is… janky. Her tit is bigger than her head, her belly is too long, and she’s got like 4 spare ribs. Like, I’m by no means an art expert but it doesn’t take a chef to know the soup is shit, you know what I mean? I feel like page after page of Murata drawing obscene muscle men has made him rusty on what should be (somewhat) normal-looking people.

Darkshine learns what TRUE peak male performance looks like.

You’ve gotta wonder how Darkshine even got to the S-Class to begin with when he pussies out of nearly every single fight… except the one where the opponent was literal water. Everyone says that he just joined the association for additional validation, and I believe it… this boy is not cut out for actual hero-ing. 99% Of the time HE’S the one who needs a hero.

It kinda bothers me how useless he’s been post-Garou fight, especially when we spent like an entire chapter trying to console his ass. I get that’s part of his character and development… but it’s begun to slow things down. We get it. We don’t need to see him be insecure every time a new enemy pops up. One was enough. We would’ve gotten the same effect if he just sat out the entire time post-consolation, because everything that’s happened to him on the surface has been kinda redundant.

Here comes the boooyyy 🎶🎶

Nice callback. I’m glad Metal Bat is finally here. Bitch runs slow as fuck.

It’s nice to see him act on his own agency instead of orders from the hero association. He’s clearly much happier when helping out on his own accord, and has a ton of initiative too. The chapter he got with just he and King meeting up and slingshotting themselves to the fight was really a breath of fresh air from all of the fighting. It’s moments like these where ONE remembers that people like OPM for the characters, and not necessarily the pretty action sequences. I really like this duo. I like Metal Bat. I like it when they’re given time to be themselves and not just vessels for the next fight scene.

I know I said I wanted the heroes to die but Murata I’m begging you please don’t kill the child. You can kill Puri, though. I hate that fucker.

Child Emperor regularly visiting and eating with Bofoi even despite being his lab assistant would be a lot cuter if Bofoi wasn’t the human equivalent to a dog turd. I might’ve overstated that… seems like Bofoi is just using him as an errand boy. The clear lack of respect he has for CE is very indicative of his character and is not necessarily a bad thing plot-wise, but I would still like to beat him with a cane. Additionally, it’s clear that he’s not going to help the heroes here. At least, I don’t think so. His “fuck them kids” attitude seems to be a pretty big pillar in the building of his character and I doubt ONE would jeopardize that just because he’s written himself into a corner. Oh, well. We’ll see.

It’s very sweet that even when near death, CE still thinks of Zombieman. Aaaaghh it’s so GOOD when the characters actually LIKE each other. I know realistically not everyone is gonna be friends but man… it would be a lot cooler if we got more insight on their chemistry. Pleaz have more Metal Bat-and-King-esque chapters. I wanna see how everyone gets along.

Also, the concept of Puri just manifesting drilling powers and carving through solid rock with nothing else but pure strength and determination is so funny. A little convenient, sure, but I really don’t care because it’s actually done well. Their reunion scene is hilarious. More stuff like this pleaz….

I don’t even know what to say about Genos here. Dude, I know you made an oath to protect Tatsumaki or whatever, but there’s no shame in a good bail. You can’t even bail anymore because your damn legs are gone. See, this is what happens when you make promises. The secret to keeping your legs intact is doing the bare minimum. Hope this helps ❤️

He’s making a valiant effort but… I’m afraid he just ain’t gonna do much while roleplaying as a worm. Maybe he’ll make a chrysalis and come out as a butterfly. Wait, that’s caterpillars. Fuck. TATSUMAKI IS A GONER, BRO. WE NEED YOU TO BE THE DEUTERAGONIST!! IF YOU DIE WE LOSE 70% OF MERCH SALES NOOOOOOOO

Local man has a heart attack in front of thousands of little monsters and somehow saves the world, more at 5.

King I’m begging you please get that shit checked out that’s not NORMAL.

Yeah, I like this conclusion. Very tasteful cliffhanger. I mean we know King ain’t gonna do shit but SOMEHOW black sperm is gonna get punted like the little cumstain he is. Can’t wait to see the events that unfold next chapter… it seems like every scene that involves King turns out to be really funny and I’m super looking forward to black sperm seeing Jesus.

Also, a little off-topic but I just really like the way Murata inked his pants. Got a real comic book feel to it. I mean, he’s just really good at drawing clothes overall (save for Fubuki’s body-tight dress that is 100% not how women’s clothing works but I digress). Fucker understands fabric physics like I understand how to make a bomb ass chicken parm. I respect it.

In conclusion, lower everyone’s expectations of you and you might get to keep your arms and legs. This has been Life Lessons from Forrest. You now owe me 50$.

#one punch man #opm #zombieman #metal bat #child emperor #king #manga spoilers #I mean not really it’s been out for like two weeks now (I think)#Genos #Tatsumaki #puri puri prisoner #meta

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justreadingfics · 4 years

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It’s a Deal (Chapter 12)

Chapter Summary: Bucky romances the shit out of you. In his own way.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Words: 5.4k

Warnings: drinking, cursing, old friends partying together, smut, semi-public sex, oral sex (f), face fucking.

A/N: I shouldn’t tease you guys as much as I do when I respond the comments, lol! Thank you so much for all the feedback, btw. Be nice to Bucky, he’s never been in love before. Thank you, @lesqui, for sparing me some time even when you have so much in your plate. Love you. The link to my masterlist, where you can find the other chapters, is on my description. Feedback is highly appreciated.

Tag list for this story is closed.

*no Alpine in this particular chapter, but the art is just too amazing and fitting for the two of them in this story not to seize the opportunity to use it when the talented @muffinshark gave me permission.

The sour taste of lemon eases down the burn in your throat after the second shot of tequila of the night. Laughs and chattering sounds mingle with the beats around you in the dark place.

“So, how’s single life treating you, Y/n?” Brianna asks raising her voice to be heard, making the attention of your other friends, Maddie and Taylor, turn to you as well with expectant looks on their faces while the four of you stands around a tall and stylish table.

Since they all wanted to dance, you ended up choosing a restaurant that turned into a club later in the night. The place is a bit too fancy for your taste, but the music is good, as well as the drinks and the company.

At college, they were your little gang, but with time, as your relationship with Eddie became more and more serious, the group ended up drifting apart, shrinking the relationship into occasional text messages and even more rare encounters. Maddie is the exception, since her fiancée, David, is friends with Eddie, which led to the four of you keep hanging out as couples.

You feel guilty and stupid for letting them aside, because you missed this, so much. And so did they, for when you called them, they were all on board to start seeing each other more.

“Pretty good, actually,” you answer, taking a sip of your bottle of water. You don’t mind getting a bit tipsy that night, but you need to get an uber by yourself back home and you definitely don’t want it to escalate to you ending up drunk on a stranger’s car, “I mean, I’ve been seeing you guys more often, I’ve been reading a lot, watching all my favorite films-”

“Don’t you miss banging?” Brianna asks, frowning at you.

“Bri,” Taylor scolds, but turns her focus on you, anyway, waiting for an answer, as does Maddie.

You clear your throat, making some time before answering. You haven’t told them about Bucky… you’re not even sure why, but you suspect that it’s just because you don’t know exactly how to define him in your life. For a reason you still don’t have clear in your mind, you can’t just refer to him as a guy you had a deal with to bang, “Ahm… I’m not focusing on that right now.” You shrug, not telling a complete lie.

“Ugh, girl, you should,” Brianna grimaces, “I mean… we all know Eddie was your first and only,” She huffs, “Now that you’re out there in the world, there’s so much you could explore. I mean… so much.” She smirks.

“You better hurry up, though,” Maddie says, gulping down some water, “Eddie is determined to get back with you, he’s been talking to David a lot about it and, I mean, he proposed and all.”

The grimace on Brianna’s face twists hard, while Taylor smiles sympathetically at you.

“I know…” You sigh, looking down for a second, “I just don’t know how I feel about it.”

“You know what? It was about time that relationship of yours with Eddie to be over-“

“Alright, alright,” Taylor, ever the peacemaker intervenes, shooting a warning look at Brianna, who stays quiet but doesn’t seem too happy about it, “Enough about exes and fiancées.” Taylor looks past your shoulders and nods, just when a small smirk curls up her lips, “Look at that guy right there… a damn greek God, he would be perfect for you to explore, like Bri said.”

You chuckle lightly, not really getting as excited as you are expected to be.

While Maddie stands on her toes to look for the guy, you spot when Brianna’s face light up right before she shrieks, “Holy shit, that’s not just some hot guy, that’s The Winter Fucking Soldier.”

The air catches in your throat as your eyes widen, “Bucky?” You swiftly turn towards the direction they’re looking at. And there’s the man himself. Sipping from a glass of whiskey while listening to what one of the two girls he’s talking to is saying. Before there’s a chance of his gaze lock with yours, your face snaps forward again.

You ignore Brianna squinting at you, and bring your bottle of water to your suddenly dry lips. Seeing him there made you, all of a sudden, a nervous teenager who spots a crush at a party. You do need to figure out your damn feelings soon…

“Oh, yeah…” Maddie says, realization running over her face, “That’s him. Damn he looks good… Y/N, oh my God, do you often come across him at work?” She asks, excited curiosity on her voice.

“Sometimes, yeah…” you mumble, biting your lip, still a bit shook by his presence. Could it be just a coincidence? You remember telling him you were going out, but you don’t remember telling him where you would be…

“You’re so lucky to work there,” Taylor sighs while your mind runs at full speed, “The Avengers… holy shit, why are they all so hot? That Falcon dude…”

“What about Captain America? That ass…” Maddie says, with a dreamy tone, “And Thor… Tony Stark…the damn Hulk...”

“Bucky?” Brianna finally speaks, squinting harder at you and interrupting Maddie while she went over all the Avengers names and hotness, “Bucky? When did you two get so intimate… and why are you so flustered to see him here?” She tips her chin and waves all over you. Her eyes go bigger before she smirks, “You sneaky little I’m not focusing on sex right now bitch, you’ve been fucking him, haven’t you? You’ve been boning the Winter Soldier.”

You’re sure you look like a deer caught in headlights, because Maddie and Taylor gaping expressions now match Brianna’s. Seeing no point or really no good reason to hide the blatant truth from your friends, you allow you initial fluster to mold into a smirks, “A lot of fucking, actually,” you admit.

After the squeaky reaction, you tell them all about the deal you had with Bucky, just leaving out the part when he confessed his feelings. That’s still a sensitive topic to you and you’re not sure how much Bucky would be ok with having such an intimate situation exposed. The sex bits, though? You’re pretty sure he wouldn’t mind whatsoever.

“Oh my god,” Taylor gasps when you’re done, “I’m gonna need another shot after that.” She fans herself before calling for a waiter.

“Make it four, we’re all pretty thirsty now,” Brianna wiggles her eyebrows at you, “Holy shit, and here I was thinking our girl was moping around and drying out from the inside of that vagina out.” She scoffs to herself, ”You go, you glorious bitch.” She reaches out for a discreet high five under the table, to which you quickly respond with a laugh.

“Ahm, guys…” Maddie calls, frowning at the screen of her phone after looking up with an apologetic expression, “David just texted me. He and Eddie are at the door to come in.” She cringes.

“Oh…” You frown at the news.

“Shit…” Brianna laughs, while the waiter arrives with the trail of shots Taylor had ordered, “This sure is going to be an interesting night.” She catches two glasses from the trail, handing one directly to you.

“Maddie, did you tell David to come? Of course he would bring Eddie…” Taylor tilts her head in a chastising way while the waiter places the other two shots on the table.

“I didn’t know,” Maddie looks helpless, before turning to you, “Y/N, I swear… I can call David and tell them to go somewhere else, he will understand-“

“Shh,” you wave and shake your head at her dismissively, “Don’t worry, Mads, it’s fine.” You soothe her, “But my plans of going home sober have just gone down the drain.” You shrug, right before turning down your shot.

Grimacing at the sower taste, you glance behind your shoulder. You don’t spot Bucky there, anymore. You doubt he has left the place, but you catch yourself wishing that was the case. Eddie being there doesn’t bother you as much as the possibility of Bucky thinking you had made plans with your ex.

Damn… you really need to put your feelings in check.

“Alright,” Brianna turns down her shot and claps her hands, “Come on, let’s dance, we can fix ourselves another shot in our way,” she decides, pulling you by the hand, to which you offer no resistance.

You have no idea what Eddie or Bucky are doing there and of course it puts you off a bit, since you weren’t expecting an encounter with the two of them that night… but you know one thing, you came here to have fun and you might as well do exactly that.

While Taylor and Maddie choose to stay by the table, you and Brianna go to the dance floor. There’s a lot of dancing, drinking and laughs… so much laughing. The DJ puts on a playlist from your college decade and you two go wild with that.

“I need some water, be right back,” Brianna pants in your ear at some point, and you just nod, too involved in the music to stop dancing. This is one of the perks of staying single. You discovered a lot about you and just how much you enjoy dancing was something you’ve never been aware of yourself before.

A few minutes pass after Brianna left and you keep swaying to the music until you feel a pair of arms around your waist. A smile pops in your lips as an instant flashback surges in your mind: the first time you went out with Bucky… met his friends… danced with them until he came to get you… circling his arms around you just like that.

Chuckling, you turn around but the smiling face your gaze meets is not the one you saw back then.

It’s Eddie.

“Hi,” he greets, keeping his hands on your waist.

You sure hope the disappointment isn’t etched on your face when you greet him back with a weak but friendly enough hello. You take a step back, unraveling yourself from his hands.

“Ahm…” He clears his throat, letting his arms fall to each side of him, “I saw you dancing when I came in.” He smiles, tilting his face closer to you and speaking loudly so you can hear him, “You looked beautiful…”

At the compliment your eyes shift to the floor and, not really sure how to respond, you just let out a small and breathy laugh.

“I hope you don’t mind me being here, David called me and I… I’m not gonna lie, I really wanted to see you.” He leans even closer.

“Eddie…” you sigh, taking another step back as your eyes, almost involuntarily, roams around, trying to spot if anyone is watching you. And by anyone, your mind means Bucky. You find him. He’s up there in one of the mezzanines, engaged on a conversation with a group of people. You’re not even sure he’s seen you there. He’s not looking at you and he hasn’t come to say hello…

“Ahm,” Eddie brushes the back of his neck and your attention is on him again. He presses his lips in a tight smile before speaking again, “It’s been a while since I’ve seen the girls, I’m gonna go say hello and grab something to drink.” He nods towards the direction of the table you were with your friends before.

“Oh, ok, ahm, I’ll go with you,” you say and his whole face light up, “I need something to drink, too.”

He nods with a smile and gestures for you to lead the way.

Despite some initial wariness of Eddie’s presence among the girls, the night plays out pretty smoothly, actually. The little group you’re a part of engages in a jovial and light conversation. It seems like college all over again and it’s so much fun. You like that. Every once in a while, your gaze meets Eddie’s and, for that split of moment, it seems like nothing’s changed, but at the same time, it’s all different. Going out with your friends and having so much fun with Eddie at your side weren’t something that was a part of your relationship. But you could get used to that…

At the same time… more often than you dare to acknowledge, your gaze navigates unbidden to search for Bucky, to see what he’s doing, to check if he’s looking at you, to see if he’s still there or maybe has left… with someone else… Every single time your eyes find him, but not once he looks at you.

It makes you feel some kind of way… some longing kind of feeling.

When the shots and the water become a bit much, you excuse yourself to the ladies room, to where Taylor goes with you.

“So… it seems like you’re dealing pretty well with Eddie being here, huh?” she says, looking at you through the mirror while you both fix your lipsticks by the sink.

“Yeah…” you frown and shrug, “I’m kinda surprised to be honest. We almost never did this while we were together. I thought he didn’t like it, but maybe it was just us being too accommodated into a routine, I guess…” You look to your lips and resume to apply your lipstick.

“Yeah…” she closes her lipstick and places back in her purse, “Or he’s just making an effort to win you back…”

You sigh, watching her through the mirror, “Maybe… I don’t know…”

“What about…” she looks around the bathroom, there’s only a couple of other girls, but Taylor has always been the more discreet one, “the other guy? What’s really there? The way you talked about him, the way you looked at him… it didn’t seem like just sex to me…”

Oh… the million-dollar question. You put your lipstick away and turn to face her, “I don’t know…” You lick your lips after letting out an exhale, “He did tell me he was feeling something more,” you admit.

“Ah… I see…” She smirks. “What about you, huh?” She pulls you away from the countertop and to a small lounge area there in the restroom.

“I don’t know.” You shake your head, while a small smile curls your lip, “I mean…he’s… incredible… such a free spirit…” You grin wider as you think of him, “I had never met anyone like him before. I guess it’s impossible not to end up feeling something, but…” Your smile falters a bit, “I’m not sure how much he would be up to everything else, all the drama, I mean, that comes with a relationship… with experiencing a feeling deeper than just… sex.” You shrug and look down, crossing your arms in front of your chest.

“I see… but… Can I tell you something?” She asks, tilting her head.

You look up at her, nodding for her to continue.

“Don’t get me wrong but, I feel like maybe you’re feeling and thinking that way because in your relationship with Eddie, you’ve learned that love, freedom, fun… all of that couldn’t work together and… I’m not sure that’s the rule of every relationship, though. It can be light, fun, meaningful and still be a committed relationship. It sure seems like you enjoy yourself with Bucky, and that’s what really matters in the end, right? They way you feel about yourself when you’re with someone?”

You just ponder her words for a second. You’ve been thinking about it a lot… the time you spent together makes you wonder how a relationship with Bucky would play out and… it makes your heart so light and hopeful… But it doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t lead to hurt or even that you have your feelings all figured out, yet.

“Anyway…” You shake your head, “He didn’t even look at me tonight, so…maybe it was really just an infatuation all along…” You run your tongue inside your lips, trying to suppress the heaviness suddenly in your chest, “Come on, let’s not spend the night in here.” You chuckle, nodding and walking towards the way out as Taylor just eyes you but follows you nevertheless.

The sight you come across as soon as you step out of the restroom makes you stop on your track.

He’s leaning by the wall of the alleyway, both hands behind his back, one leg folded up, his foot pressed against the wall. Dark grey t-shirt and blue jeans. Short fluffy hair in a combed back style. Perfect enough to grab… just how he likes it. Plump lips shadowed by a light scruff and soft blue eyes trained on you.

Damn… He takes your breath away.

“Ahm, ok… yeah…gotta go, see you, later, Y/N.” Taylor says and swiftly leaves the scene.

All the while, you just don’t seem to be able to move your gaze away from him. When you spot the smile starting to curl his lips, you feel the tug on yours, too. And there you are, looking and smile at each other… the sounds of music and chattering muffled by the big door that separates the bathrooms area from the rest of the club.

Without uttering a word or parting his eyes from yours, Bucky extends a hand to you. An invitation…

Your gaze drops to the tempting hand, and then you glance at the door to the club. In your chest, your heart beats fast and almost louder than the music, like it’s making you notice it, telling you loudly and clearly you what it wants. When you look back at him, you have your lower lip pressed between your teeth and you step closer.

Your hands barely touch before he gently envelops yours in his. As the heat of his skin covers yours, his smile widens at you and he moves away from the wall he’s been leaning onto, moving towards the opposite direction of the music, leading you with him by his hand.

You hadn’t even seen the small black door by the end of the hallway, but he opens it and you follow him. Walking behind him, never letting go of his hand, he walks you through what seems like a storage room, until you find another door that leads you to a flight of stairs. Your breathing increases and you gulp down as you climb up the stairs with him. No questions. There’s no need.

When you get to the end of the steps, he stops in front of a two-leaf door and lets go of your hand to open it. He turns to you and, with that sweet smile of his, gestures for you step to the other side.

You breathe in the fresh outside air and step into what seems like a roof deck in construction. The sound of the door shutting behind catches your attention before you feel his heat on your back and his arms around your waist.

You lean back and your eyes flutter shut once he breathes in through your hair, making your arms go slack. Shit … you really missed him.

“It’s going to be pretty when it’s done, don’t you think?” He talks to you for the first time that night. His voice comes out in a low and raspy sound while the warmth of his breath covers your neck. Your thighs clench against one another, “I had a survey around the area once I got here and found this place. I thought it was perfect...” He whispers, tightening the hold on you.

You just let out a hum in response… The faded beats of music sound distant from where you are, but his hips start swaying, leading you with his rhythm... You sigh as a small smile pops on your lips when you cover his hands on your waist with yours.

“How’s your night so far, huh, having fun?” His low voice vibrates through the skin of your neck.

“Lots of it,” you let out a long exhale, leaning further against him.

“That’s good.” A faint of a kiss lays on your shoulder. “I saw you having fun down there with your friends…” He keeps the slow sway of his hips with yours, “So sexy, and beautiful,” he praises, and you lick your lips, “I hope you don’t mind me crashing in.”

A sharp gasp leaves your lips once he turns you around in his arms and you catch yourself by circling yours around his neck.

The intensity in his eyes is almost unbearable in a delicious way and his gaze roams around your face, carefully scrutinizing every single detail. With a will of its own, your lips part when your eyes drop to his, and next thing you see, you’re caged between him and the nearest wall.

He doesn’t relent to the silent plea in your parted lips and eyes focuses on his lips and, instead of locking them with yours like you can’t for a second deny that you want, he drags them over the bare skin of your neck up to your jaw.

“I thought that maybe I could add a little something to your night,” he whispers right above your pulsing point before his tongue darts to lick the skin there.

A wanton moan escapes you at the feeling… the sweet feeling of having him so close to you again. This time you spent apart from him… not for a second you forgot about the effect he has on your body… on you… and there he is again, turning you into putty under his touch.

“You look so sexy in this dress,” he continues and, without parting his lips from your neck, his hand skims up your bare thigh towards the hem of your dress, “Made me eager for a taste…” He whispers into your ears, turning your senses into a blurry fog when he drops on his knees in front of you.

His both hands continue their ascend on your thigh and underneath your dress when a stubborn reasonable thought slips through the cloud of your senses.

“Bucky…” You pant, looking down at him, “I don’t…”

His hands stop right before they get to your underwear, “You don’t want it?” He asks, staring up at you.

“No…I do...” you admit, completely unable to lie to him while you run a hand over your face, “Fuck, I do... I just…” You sigh, trying to organize your thoughts and words, “You said you’re…” You let out another frustrated breath by not being able to be straightforward with what you’re saying. He’s said he’s in love with you. You still don’t have a clear picture of your feelings, you’re afraid that if you go further with this, you might end up hurting him, which you absolutely do not want, “I’m still…” You shake your head, “I don’t wanna complicate things…”

“Shhhh,” he soothes, placing a long kiss on your thigh and then the other, which makes butterflies fly in your belly, before he looks up at you again, with a smile on his lips, “Don’t you worry, sweetheart… I told you before…” He brushes his hand lightly up and down your thighs, “I’m a grown ass man, I can handle my feelings…” He licks his lips and takes a piercing bite on his lower one, before aiming you a devilish dark gaze, “A grown ass man who wants a taste of that sweet pussy of yours... It’s just a taste. I missed it so bad…” he pleads, nuzzling into your mound through the fabric of your dress.

“Fuck…” your head falls back into the wall. If this is going to complicate things… you’re both adults who can deal with complications… right? You’re not that sure. All you’re sure about is the aching throb in your clit and your hands moving to lift up your dress.

Taking it as the yes that he needs, Bucky wastes no time, hastily helping you pull up the skirt of your dress up your waist. He swiftly drags the base of your underwear aside and digs in with an open mouth.

At the sensation of his wet and warm tongue on you again, shivers run up your skin to your nipples and your face contorts in a silent cry. Your hands close into tight fists, bunching tightly the fabric of your dress.

He hooks a hand under your leg and places it over his shoulder, opening you up to him and you gasp, sneaking your fingers on his hair. He laps at your clit with a furious desire that makes your thoughts faint and your eyes shut, focusing your mind solely on the delicious mouth on you and how it brings an inferno upon your core and skin. The kind of feeling that only him can bring you, making you moan like that and kicking the air out of your lungs.

Bucky lets out a hum that vibrates all through your core and your eyes snap down to see his face shoved deep into your pussy, back and forward, while he grabs your ass and presses you harder against him. It’s like he’s desperate to taste you, to feel you, to have you all over him… and, damn… that makes you feel hotter and sexier than ever.

“Fuck,” you whisper under a heavy breath and grabs his hair harder.

That’s when he moves away and rests his cheek on your thigh, seeming on a fight for air himself while his stare remains on your exposed sex right in front of him, “Damn you taste perfect,” he pants before turning his face to grab the soft flesh of your inner thigh in a piercing but delicious bite that makes you yelp, “So good,” he breathes again, before flattening his tongue and licking a long stripe of your pussy.

“Bucky…” you whisper, letting your head fall back while your knees shake.

“Fucking perfect,” he moves to bite your other thigh sharply, which draws out a breathy and delighted laugh out of that dies shortly in a gasp when his tongue comes back to lick your pussy with renewed hunger.

You breathe erratically and stars appear behind your lids, shut in a dreamy state while he devours you out. He doesn’t use his fingers… only his mouth is enough to bring you to a little paradise in a roof deck under construction in the middle of the city.

Your face snaps down at him with a glare once you can’t feel the wet and soft touch of his lips anymore. But the plea that comes out of his lips in a low and seductive tone makes it all worth it.

“Fuck my face, sweetheart…”

“What?” Your eyes widen a bit, in sheer disbelief, but with a hint of eagerness speeding up your breathing even more.

“Fuck my face,” he repeats, brushing his nose on your mound before laying a kiss on the spot, “You wanna come on my mouth don’t you? I want you to come all over my face, sweetheart, please...”

Fucking please? Does he really think he needs to beg you for that, “Oh…Yes, fuck yeah, I do.” Your voice comes out almost in a grunt.

He smirks and groans in response before digging in again and pushing your hard against his face. Propped by a frenzy that rushes up your whole body, you do exactly what he asked of you. Positioning your hands on the back of his head you grind your pussy harshly up and down against him, feeling all of his beautiful face against your dripping and sensitive flesh.

His growing beard rasps against your thighs and it only makes the sensations even more intense. You can’t hold your loud moans back, that mixes up with his muffled groans, while you properly fucks his face. It’s all too much and it’s not long before you let out a strangled cry and your whole body shivers in a potent climax while you come all over his mouth and face, just like he asked.

Bucky tightens the hold on your thigh and ass, grounding you on your spot at the same time he peppers soft kisses on your mound, thighs, pussy… Your body spasms at the feeling and the aftershocks of your pleasure, until you can’t take it anymore and gathers the strength to grab his collar and pull him up to you.

As soon as his face – glistening in your pleasure- levels yours, you steal his lips in a furious kiss. His taste is all yourself and, fuck, it drives you wild. You reach a hand down and cups his cock, moaning at feeling it hard and throbbing against your hand through his pants.

When you start gently palming it up and down, he grabs your pulse with his metal hand, stopping your moves.

Parting your lips from him, you frown, to which he answers smiling and bringing your hand to his lips, to place a kiss on it before lacing his fingers with yours and trapping your joined hands between your chests. The gesture itself is enough to make your face soften while you take in a deep breath.

“I’m gonna go home now,” he says, leisurely wiping his face with the back of his flash hand.

The frown comes back to your face, “Huh?”

He chuckles, having his face delightfully close to yours, “I’m not here to disturb you night, sweetheart. You go back and have fun with your friends, they seem great,” he brings his lips to your forehead, “You look so sexy in this dress,” he speaks with his lips on your skin, while your hands are still linked between the two of you. His flesh one, he dips beneath the hem of your dress that now has fallen over your thighs again.

You’re suddenly out of breath one more time and can’t part your eyes from him, completely in lack of words.

As for him, he skims up your thigh and leans back to look down at his hand, “You go show this whole club how beautiful and hot you are. Dance with somebody,” he suggests, nonchalantly, like he’s not just now hooking a finger under the base of your underwear that he had pushed aside, to put it back in place and cover you up.

You watch, completely entranced, while he brings his finger to his nose, his eyes fluttering shut as he sniffs and hums, before his dark blue gaze is on yours again, “Let them know how good you smell… how perfect you are.”

A strangled noise comes out of you.

He chuckles, and cups the side of your neck, placing another kiss on your forehead, “I’m getting down first, and don’t worry. I know how to be invisible… don’t wanna bring any kind of drama to your night,” he says with no sign of bitterness or anything like that on his tone.

He doesn’t mention Eddie, but you swallow dry because you know he has him in mind when he mentions “drama”.

With a smirk on his face, he winks, before locking his lips on yours in a chaste but intense kiss. Too soon he parts away, walking through the same door you two hat gotten there by, leaving you completely speechless and wrecked behind.

~~~

When you were finally out of your daze and deciding that only tomorrow you would think of the many possible consequences to what had just happened, you managed to climb down the stairs and, after a quick stopped by the bathroom to put yourself as together as one could be at that situation, you walk your stubbornly wobbly legs towards the table with your friends again.

“Where the hell were you?” Once she spots you, Maddie shouts, with no control on the volume of her voice, looking quite a bit drunk with a margarita in hands, no sign of David or Eddie around the table.

“Ahm,” you risk a glance at Taylor, who avoids looking at you and focuses on sucking her own drink from the straw, “I saw a friend from work, I went to say hello.” You clear your throat.

“Don’t you bullshit us, bitch.” This time Brianna shouts, stepping forward and pushing you on the shoulder, making you almost fall ass-first to the floor if Maddie hadn’t helped you out by grabbing your arm. “Look at you. You look thoroughly fucked. Literally.” She starts laughing loudly, as the others follow.

“Shhhh,” you shush them, holding back your own laugh, “Holy shitballs, you guys. The whole club doesn’t need to know.”

The three of them start a drunken mess of applause, cheers and shrieks at your little slip. You’re too involved with them to notice that a particular pair of ears isn’t really that far from the table and hears the whole interaction.

~~~

To be continued...

#bucky barnes x reader #bucky x reader #bucky barnes smut #bucky barnes series #bucky barnes fanfiction #it's a deal #it's a deal chapter 12 #smut

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