#endless summer fanfiction

[marmolady]

Grandchildren: Sol and Andi

Summary: Endless Ending timeline. Middle-aged Taylor and Estela are entering a new phase of their life together, welcoming their grandchildren into the family. In four parts; this is PART ONE.

Word Count: 4117

Tagging: @saivilo, @edgydepressedchoicesthot, @sceptilemasterr, ​@mauvecatfic @rhemenway888

Thanks for reading!

_____________________________

2055

Taylor pulled out an old plastic tub from under the bed.

“You coming, ‘Stel?”

It had been many years since they’d gone through all these things; treasures from their Liv’s baby and toddler days. Many years, but it felt like yesterday that little kid was crawling around their La Huerta home, bright-eyed and curious about a world that was all new.

Estela came into the bedroom and sat down on the rug beside Taylor, her eye going straight to a little cardigan.

“So long since you’ve knitted,” she commented. “You were good at it.”

Where had the time been for knitting while Liv was growing up? And then Rosa… though Taylor had managed to finish a couple of jumpers for their second daughter over the years, desperate that she too have something mom-made to hang on to. Now, Rosa was twenty, and though she still enjoyed the security of the maternal home, she was pretty much independent as she made her way through college. It was a good a time as any for Taylor to break out the old knitting needles and create something for a new generation.

“Thanks-- it always was kind of therapeutic. Maybe it’s time I get myself back in the knitting zone, make it part of my whole grandma asthetic.”

Liv was expecting. And Liv’s spouse Jeimy was expecting. Liv was carrying Jeimy’s genetic child, and Jeimy carried Liv’s. That they’d gone and had embryos transferred almost simultaneously had been, as Liv had put it, ‘just not wanting to put all our eggs in one basket’. Chances were, the first transfer wouldn’t be a success, but if they both gave it a shot, there was simply more chance of a baby-- one way or the other. But then, they’d gone and gotten extremely lucky. Liv’s cousin Reggie, already a father of three, had shaken his head in exasperation, declaring her ‘absolutely stark raving bonkers’. And the expectant grandmothers… could neither disagree, nor contain their jubilation at the news. It was unorthodox, but Liv and Jeimy would be given every support. They’d handled far worse ‘absolutely stark raving bonkers’ than a couple of babies on the way.

Estela smiled softly. Grandma Taylor was going to be about the cutest thing she’d ever see. “We’ll have to set you up with a rocking chair.”

Since the death of Tio Nicolas a couple of years prior, Estela and Taylor had lived in a small house two doors down from the Valle Brava home where they’d raised Liv from the age of eleven. It had been fortuitious that it had come up; while Nicolas had been ill, they’d lived with him to provide care, but soon missed the proximity to their elder daughter and child-in-law. Rather than build a granny flat in the back of the property, they had that little bit more space that allowed Rosa to stay home while she found her feet in adult life, and got to reconnect with a community they’d loved being a part of. Grace and Aleister still lived just a few minutes up the road, and their now-grown children visited regularly. It had been deeply emotional for Estela to leave behind the home she’d grown up in, but she sensed that for this next phase of life, this was where she was meant to be.

She became quiet, sorting through the onesies, and booties, and bibs, and bobble hats. The years just slipped away from her. She couldn’t stop it. The baby who’d worn these things was still that baby in her mind’s eye, and yet… all the things they’d shared, the full days and long nights, tears against her shoulder, puddles jumped in, bedtime stories, bike rides across the countryside, snowball fights, actual fights, hugs that lingered for hours… they were all still so real as well.

“We’ll have to warn Livita not to blink. It goes much too fast.”

Taylor looked up and met her wife’s eye, choked. Too fast by half.

The door swung open and Rosa came through, a couple of bags under her arm. “Have you found much?” Then she saw the large container, bursting at the seams. “Woah! Just… a lot.”

“Yes, just a lot,” Taylor admitted. “We’re pretty sentimental.”

“That’s not news,” said Rosa, and she sat down, drawn wide-eyed to the tiny clothes. “God, if I wasn’t broody before….”

Estela laughed gently. “We’ll make sure plenty of this finds its way to your little ones.”

Rosa ran her fingers over a little onesie, one she knew had been sewn by her Mama Taylor. How different Liv’s early days had been to Rosa’s….

“I wish I’d had stuff kept,” she said quietly. “I’m pretty sure everything got recycled, one baby after another until it was worn. Not that I’m opposed to reusing clothes--”

“Hon, you don’t need to defend yourself,” Taylor said.

Rosa’s cheeks pinkened. “It’s just nice to have some things that were made, or even just given, with love… especially for you. Do you remember my sunflower dress? I think it was the first thing you bought me the first time we went to the market together.”

“I remember it.”

“I cried so much when I outgrew it.”

“We have it, Rosita,” Estela told her. “Of course we have a ‘Rosa box’. No baby clothes, but the memories mean as much.”

“You kept it?”

“I’m sure we told you at the time, but you were eight or nine or something… it’s a long time ago to remember.”

Rosa bounced happily on the spot. “Oh my god!”

In no time, the three of them were looking through two big tubs of childhood memories. The bags Rosa had brought with her soon filled up with things deemed nice enough to pass on, but not so precious no one could bear their getting damaged. And Rosa held her special first Montoya family dress in her lap.

“Mom,” she said, getting Taylor’s attention-- an achievement when there were baby-Liv-sized bobble hats to be cooed over-- “do you think you could teach me how to sew? I’d love to make a patchwork blanket or something for the babies. I could even use pieces of my old clothes; that way I can at least pass something on.”

Taylor’s face split into the biggest of grins. “Baby, I would love that! We can have a proper sewing bee.”

“I’ve been wanting to start for a long time; I just get… daunted, you know….”

Her moms knew. Rosa and ‘new things’ was an ongoing challenge, but one she was winning. Stability in her life had been hard to find, so any perceived change, even good ones, brought up a fear response. Becoming an aunt… was genuinely frightening. Rosa was afraid of losing the closeness she had with her older sister. She was afraid the babies would reject her love. She was afraid to be faced with her own desires to be a mother… when the only person she’d ever imagined wanting to raise children with was highly impractical. But mostly, she was afraid of the unknown of it all. Rosa’s family unit had been consistent, all the way up until they lost Tio Nicolas. Of all the things to change, her family was the one she feared most.

“Well,” Estela said, “now we know it’s something you want to do, we’ll work on it.”

___________________________

Estela passed Liv a coffee-- her daily ration since pregnancy began. “Did you manage to sleep?”

Nine months pregnant, Liv felt like a blimp on legs. Nothing was comfortable, and after a false alarm and being told to keep waiting at home, she certainly couldn’t turn her brain off enough to get any quality rest.

“A little,” Liv replied, gratefully taking the mug. “Jeimy kept me company while I was awake, though. I think I got more sleep than they did.”

Estela looked over her child-in-law, who was reclining on the couch, dark bags under their eyes, and looking every bit as heavily pregnant as Liv.

“You’re sure you don’t want anything, Lorito?”

The nickname had always deeply touched Jeimy, a lover of birds, their mother-in-law’s ‘little parrot’. Estela actually said that ‘little songbird’ would be more accurate, but pájaro cantorito was rather more of a mouthful. At any rate, Jeimy loved ‘Lorito’, for the term of endearment was one their beloved grandmother had once bestowed upon them herself. Without realising she was doing it, Estela had helped Jeimy feel closer to their deceased lola-- really, all of their birth family-- than they had in years.

Jeimy shook their head. “I’m fine. I was gonna drag myself out of my chair in a moment anyway and do my bird round.”

Liv groaned. “Oh my god, Jeimy! Just lay off the damn chores-- you hardly slept, and you’re having a baby in five days!”

She needn’t have worried. No one was overdoing anything when abuela-to-be Estela was around. It was all good practice for when Liv and Jeimy really had their hands full and needed a hand with their various animals. Estela had housesat several times before, so it was really just a case of brushing up on feeding routines and the who’s who of Jeimy’s beloved collection of rescued birds.

“Thanks for this,” Jeimy said, tickling the belly of a colourful parakeet through the aviary wire. “I know you and Mama Taylor-- and Rosi-- are here to help, but it’s easier to accept help when I’m at least able to do a little bit.”

Estela laughed. “I’ll have you take care of the bitey ones for me as long as I can. I’ve got enough scars to be going on with. Anyway… it’s good for you to hang onto some semblance of your normal. It won’t be easy soon.”

It certainly wouldn’t. It had been a gamble to implant two embryos simultaneously, and miraculous as it felt to have two babies now on the way, the reality of what they were facing was hitting hard. Help would be close on hand from Liv’s family, but the care already being lavished served to highlight to Jeimy their estrangement from their own.

“I just wish things were different with my family,” Jeimy admitted. “When you imagine starting your own… you don’t exactly envision your parents not wanting to be a part of it.” They sighed. “I miss my mom. I shouldn’t, after the way she treated me, but it wasn’t always like that. I miss the mom who I thought would always love me.”

“It only makes sense that it’s hurting now… I’d think it would add a new layer of hurt when you have a child of your own,” Estela said, a hint of a growl in her voice. “Your mom and dad are lucky they’ve never strayed across my path.”

The thought made Jeimy chuckle, in spite of the surging pain. Their Mama Estela would take no prisoners.

“Heh, I’d bet. I wish it was as simple as just whoopin’ their asses into being decent parents.

“It’s like…,” they said, “I already love the babies, so, so much. And I don’t have favourites, but I already feel like I’ve bonded with Little Boy; I can feel him there, and I know him. I just don’t know how the hell anyone could feel love like this, and then turn their back on their child. The more time goes by, the more fucked-up it seems to be. I was meant to be their baby.”

Her heart aching in sympathy, Estela instinctively rubbed Jeimy’s shoulder. “It is fucked-up, and it’s not what you deserve.” It was difficult to fathom, even being so well-acquainted with the depths of human depravity. These assholes didn’t have a clue how lucky they were to have the ability to watch their child grow up, to blossom into a strong and capable adult-- they’d thrown it away in a fit of cruelty, while some parents would have done anything at all to be there for their child.

“I wish we could give you what you’re missing. I know we can’t, however much we might want to fill that hole, it doesn’t take away what you’ve lost and how you’ve been hurt.”

Estela loved Jeimy fiercely; her protective instincts flaring up almost immediately upon meeting the meek and gentle person who’d left Liv so lovestruck. Over time, she’d seen the core of steel that had gotten Jeimy through the hardest of times alone, and admired them.

But she wasn’t their mom. Taylor wasn’t their mom. What they shared with Liv, and with Rosa, was something different.

“You’re family, mijo.”

“Sort of,” Jeimy murmured. Liv was their family, so the connections they married into were what they had to hang on to when the faces of the past were beyond reach.

Estela shrugged. “We make our own. Blood isn’t the most important thing you can share with someone. It can be nice, sure, but it’s not everything.”

Jeimy considered Estela quietly. They’d been absolutely bricking it when they first met her all those years ago, with Liv having painted a picture of a hardened warrior who was a fluffy little kitten on the inside. The walls had come down faster than they’d imagined.

“I’m nervous about the birth,” they said after a long break in the conversation. “I think that’s part of why I keep thinking of Mom. And I think, she’s not even the person I’d really want with me… she’s just a substitute because she’s part of what my family used to be. I really wish my lola could be with me through this. She was magic how she could make anything all right… and she’d want to be here. She loved me.” Then, Jeimy ventured a subject they’d never dared bring up with Estela. “Was it hard not having your mom with you when Liv was born?”

“Well, yeah-- she wouldn’t have even been that old, only fifty two! She shouldn’t have been dead-- she should’ve been there. She wasn’t holding my hand because they stole it from us. Everything she did for me… she deserved to be there and see that everything could be perfect. Liv was perfect.” Estela swallowed hard.

“She still is,” said Jeimy with a soft smile.

“Yeah… she is,” Estela agreed proudly. “Mami would have adored her-- she’d have adored both of you. I think you and Livita both chose the right person to be taking this on with… even if you are crazy going for two babies at once.”

Jeimy giggled, the tension flowing from their body. Beyond the-- to be expected-- nerves, there was excitement. Excitement so big that the fear could be overcome. “There’s no doubt we’re crazy. I’m terrifed, but I also can’t wait to have our family of the four of us.”

Their babies… they couldn’t come soon enough.

_________________________

The room was silent; they could’ve heard a pin drop. But the agonising silence was broken instead by the cry of a newborn, rising in strength as she found her breath.

“There we go,” said the midwife warmly, “your baby girl has arrived. Little darling just needed a moment.”

Jeimy put their hands to their face and sobbed, but Liv lay slumped and dazed, utterly spent, barely comprehending the activity around her. All she knew was a sudden emptiness, both physical and emotional.

“...She’s okay….”

Estela squeezed Liv’s hand tight. “She’s okay. You did it, mi alma.”

The infant was quickly transferred to Liv’s chest, and with assistance from Jeimy, the new mother rolled down her gown to allow the little one to feel the warmth of her skin, and to try and nurse.

She sniffed, still stunned, but gradually coming through the haze to a joy and a love unlike anything she’d ever known. She’d done it… their little girl was there in her arms. It all slowly fell into place; the empty space was alarming, but that baby she loved was right there, and she was holding her.

“...Hello, little one… it’s me… I’m right here….” she murmured, taking in the scent of the tiny child’s head as she nuzzled close to her.

She glanced up to Jeimy, who huddled in, shaking, their breath caught in their throat. This was it… they actually had a baby together.

“Hey, Little Girl…,” Jeimy gushed, “I’m your nanay. I’ve been waiting for you!”

But it was time the baby graduated from being just ‘Little Girl’.

“W-we wanted to call her ‘Andromeda’, but, well, ‘Andi’. Less of a mouthful,” Liv said after a little while. “Oh my god, she’s so perfect! Look at her little fingers….”

Jeimy was beaming, and still fending off the tears that rolled down their face. “She’s the most perfect thing in the whole world. Well… tied, I guess. How the heck are we ever going to get anything done with two of these to look at?”

Taylor chuckled. She couldn’t stop smiling; her cheeks ached terribly and it was absolutely wonderful. She hugged Estela, and was held tightly in return, finding herself feeding off the giddiness infectious in the room. “It’s going to be a challenge, that’s for sure. Good thing you’ve got as much help as you want. You’ve got this.”

Jeimy kissed baby Andi’s soft little head, then kissed Liv. “So… she’s baby Andi. I think we were gonna go with….” They paused for the nodded approval from Liv. “…Andromeda Chesa Montoya. ‘Chesa’ was my lola’s name, so we really wanted to use it. And we looked it up, and it means ‘celestial’.”

“Isn’t that just perfect?” Liv’s eyes were shining as she looked up at her moms. She knew well the significance for them. “And we really liked that ‘Andi’ is pretty gender-neutral. That’s what we’re going for with Little Boy’s name too.” That, though, would remain under wraps until he made his own appearance.

There was a blur of activity. Baby Andi enjoyed her first feed, then her first cuddle with a weeping and elated nanay Jeimy, while Liv used the little strength she had left in her to deliver the afterbirth. In no time, the family was transferred to a comfortable recovery room. Jeimy had assistance from the nurse in putting on the diaper and the best technique for swaddling, and was soon back on cuddle-duty.

Taylor put a gentle arm around her daughter’s shoulder. Her baby girl was a mom now, and she could just about burst with pride.

“We’ll let you get some rest, okay? Have some bonding time in peace-- god knows, you deserve it.”

Estela nodded solemnly, tears pricking at her eyes. “You’ve been so strong. We’re proud of you, and we love you.”

“Quick cuddle first, though, yeah?” Liv urged softly. “She’s so, so special to me. I want you to meet her properly.”

Her heart beating fast, Estela sat down on the comfortable couch by the window. How the hell she was going to keep from bursting into outright sobs she had no clue. She caught Taylor’s eye, as she sat down beside her, and saw the very same exhilaration. Neither of them had known the love of a grandparent, or even that of a grandparent figure. It was something new, a sign of the stability their family had found. They were surviving… they were thriving. And the future only looked bright. Her mom would’ve wanted nothing more.

They took the little bundle between them, and shared a held breath. With her free hand, Estela wiped her eyes.

“It’s good to meet you at last, nena…. Welcome to the world.”

Taylor grinned, giddy. “You’re gonna love it.”

______________________

It was a good thing, Taylor noted, that a large recovery suite was available for Liv and Jeimy--it was unusual to have the necessity of two hospital beds in a private maternity room. She recalled that sometime, many years ago, Estela and Aleister had jointly poured a good deal of funds into this hospital, though this private wing had been developed later. The room was nice… bright and airy, and overlooking the central gardens below.

Baby Andi, though, cared not for the comforts. She couldn’t see further than the blurry faces that kept smiling down on her. It had been a long time since Taylor had held a two-day old baby, and she was totally addicted. Taking care of the precious little one while Jeimy was in for the scheduled C-section was about the best gig she’d ever been offered.

“Your water, Grandma?” Estela offered, coming in from the bathroom. She was tense, coming down from the cloud-nine of Andi’s birth two days prior and anxious for news about the second baby. The not knowing what was happening was painful, but it was how it had to be. Liv was no longer their little girl, and hadn’t been for many years. She’d know the same aching maternal tug someday, of that Estela was sure. Andi and her brother would be off and away and living their lives before anyone could so much as blink….

Taylor smiled at her. The air was thick with nerves, and she could see it clear as day in her wife’s face. “Thanks, love. Actually, you look like you need a cuddle,” she said. “If you pop my glass down, I’ll pass you Miss Andi-Pants.”

It had all taken a long time. The scheduled C-section had been pushed back due to an emergency, and the ongoing wait only became more harrowing. There was no reason why Jeimy and the baby wouldn’t be fine… it wasn’t as if there was a life-threatening complication that had prompted the section, it was just a simple case of the baby being breach. But surgery was surgery, and childbirth was inherently risky; no one was breathing easy until everyone was accounted for, safe and sound.

They looked up simultaneously as the squeaking of hospital bed wheels pre-empted the opening of the door. And then, there before them was the rest of the newly formed family; Liv leading the way, Jeimy sat up and beaming in the bed, and a swaddled treasure in their arms.

“Oh, thank god!” Taylor gushed. “Everyone doing all right?”

“Everyone’s amazing,” Liv grinned. “And we’ve got someone special to introduce you to.” She exchanged a glance with Jeimy, who carefully placed the bundle in her arms with a mouthed ‘love you’.

“We’d like you to meet your grandson, Sol Nicolas Montoya.”

Estela gave a sharp intake of breath at the name. She wasn’t surprised; Tio Nicolas had basically been a grandfather to Liv, and she’d always idolised him, but to hear it touched her deeply. Sol would be lucky indeed to have anything of his great-great uncle about him.

“That means a lot,” she said softly. “His name.”

“It seems like we’ve got a family tradition going of naming babies after special people. Actually-- we did think about doing the whole she-bang and calling him ‘Draco’, but the Harry Potter connection is still too damn strong.”

Estela chuckled. “You can name a dog after me as a compromise, I won’t be offended.”

She looked into her newborn grandson’s wrinkled little face, and was enchanted. Sol had much more hair than his sister; actually, he didn’t look much like her-- he looked like baby Liv.

“Livita, he looks about as much like you as Andi looks like Jeimy.”

“Really?” Jeimy asked. “I think he’s got Michael’s eyes and nose. Maybe he’s an equal mix of both.”

“Much bigger than Michael, though--,” Liv said, a smile in her voice as she looked over her baby son, “nine pounds two.”

Taylor whistled. “That is a substantial baby. Good for you, Sollie. I can actually see it-- Andi looks so little next to him.” She looked up at Liv, terrible wrench as it was to tear her gaze from the baby’s darling face for even a moment. “Michael’s on his way?”

“Yeah, and he’s going to bring Auntie Rosa with him. Sounds like they were waiting for news together.”

 Swallowing past the lump in her throat, Estela put a gentle arm around Jeimy’s shoulder. “How are you feeling, mijo?”

“Seeing how big my ‘little’ man actually is, grateful for the C-section,” they said with a smirk. “According to the nurse, everything went completely smoothly. It was the most surreal feeling, like I was half-disconnected from the lower part of my body. I have to remind myself that it’s actually happened-- he’s here-- this little guy, that’s my boy. That baby I’ve been connected to all these months.”

Jeimy gazed at the little hand that grasped his Grandma Taylor’s finger. At Liv bursting with pride as she cuddled Andi beside them. At Abuela Estela standing protectively over them all. They couldn’t want for more; what mattered was here.

“Yeah, ‘surreal’ is definitely the word.”

#endless summer #endless summer fanfiction #estela montoya #estela x mc #liv montoya #jeimy montoya #rosita montoya #far future #happy families!

[choicesficwriterscreations]

Endless Summer 2023 Masterlist

✒️= Fanfic | 📱= Text Fics/Edits | 🎨= Fanart Ⓜ️ = Mature Content 18+ | 🔥 = Explicit/NSFW 18+

January 2023

Something Worth Dying For ✒️| Lila Sethi, Everett Rourke - @elfilibusterismo

March 2023

Reunion 2016 ✒️| Jake McKenzie x Sean Gale - @marmolady

July 2023

Sisterhood ✒️| Estella Montoya, Quinn Kelly - @marmolady

October 2023

Estela x Taylor Montoya and Familiy 🎨🏳️‍🌈 by @marmolady

Quinn x MC Fanart 🎨by @oh-so-youre-a-nerd

November 2023

Estela Montoya Fanart 🎨| Estela Montoya x M!OC - @marmolady

#endless summer #endless summer choices #endless summer fanfic #endless summer fanfiction #choices fanfic #playchoices fanfic #playchoices #choices fic writers creations #cfwc fics of the week

[pisupsala]

✨Mila's (Early) Endless Summer Reading List ✨

I'm packing my bags, so I thought I should pack my favorite stories: stuff that's been on my to-read list for too long, stuff I just enjoy re-reading and want you to know about, something to get me through the long-haul flight, something for sipping cocktails on the beach. I'm going to be updating the list with your recommendations and more stuff that I find. So:

Recommendations? 💕 YES PLEASE!

Recommend your own work? FUCK YES! ✨ minors dni, respect the author's tags, and show them some love by commenting and reblogging.

✨ TGM

mostly Bradley Bradshaw tbh lmao * This Love Came Back To Me by @beyondthesefourwalls i love these kinds of plots and it's so sweet *Remember You Even When I Don't by @beyondthesefourwalls i bizarrely never actually finished this and i will have to rectify this pronto *The Younger Kind by @roosterforme im like 20 chapters behind, soooo excited to binge this

*Leave a Light On by @sometimesanalice comfort story right here

*Hey Sailor by @sometimesanalice no notes, just yum

*Less Talk by @tongue-like-a-razor a jake story??? yes and i love this one *Faking It by @tongue-like-a-razor a classic, a must-read

*Little Wallflower by @bradshawsbitch it warms my poor heart and i feel this story on a personal level since I've been dealing with hearing loss

*Mise en Place by @bradshawsbitch hands down on my favorite AUs

*(christmas) baby please come home by @gretagerwigsmuse this fic influenced me so hard i bought a theragun *and even when we’re wrong in every way, we come out the other side okay by @gretagerwigsmuse actually just anything Jordan has ever done with the Smart Alec universe, you should read it

*Concerned Neighbor by @mothdruid this is just hot and you should enjoy it

*The Boyfriend Experience by @notroosterbradshaw i swear this is the fic that got me writing again, so if you like anything I've ever done you should go show Cass some love. *Don't Hang 'Em Till Noon by @sailor-aviator Jake western!AU? I knew I was rewatching Deadwood for a reason. Excited!! recommended by @goldenseresinretriever *Fool's Fare by @sailor-aviator A Jake pirate!AU while I'm on a beach in the Caribbean? Sign. me. up. Also recommended by @goldenseresinretriever *You Catch More Bees With Honey by @goldenseresinretriever I've seen this on my dash so much, but I shamefully never got around to it. How did you know I like hockey?

✨

Masters of the Air

Trust by @blurredcolour yeaaaaah, im obsessed. im deceased. this is so good.

prettier than a peach by @honeyskywitch reading this on my flight, so excited!

Oblivious by @sagesolsticewrites saving this one for the airport~

#mila's early endless summer #fic rec #bradley bradshaw fanfiction #rooster fanfic #rooster x reader #masters of the air fanfic #if you love it reblog it #john egan fic #top gun maverick fanfiction #mota fanfic

[crooked-jes]

hiiii, i made a moodboard to my hangster fic august sipped away (like a bottle of wine) that i wrote for the top gun endless summer exchange, as i don't seem to be able to let this story go just yet (and i have too much free time apparently).. happy summer everyone! *blushing and running away*

#hangster #sereshaw #top gun maverick #top gun fanfiction #jake hangman seresin #bradley rooster bradshaw #jake seresin x bradley bradshaw #moodboard #top gun endless summer #top gun fic exchange

[buckybarnesevents]

Happy Valentine's Day, @endless-summer-soldier!

This is just a small snippet of what your admirer thought of "Fair Catch"!

Title: Fair Catch Pairing: College Football Player Bucky Barnes x College Athlete Reader Rating: Teen and Up Tags/Warnings: slight injury mention, slight alcohol use, maybe some swearing Summary: Y/N joins the football team to prove a point and the last thing Bucky expected out of the season was to fall for the new kicker

As part of our Valentine's Event, we encourage everyone to come check out this work and also drop some love! 💟

#bbe valentines event 2024 #bbe love letters 2024 #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes events #bucky barnes #endless-summer-soldier #James “Bucky” Barnes/Reader

[intergalacticaquarium]

Why does Eddie give the reader the exact same nicknames as I call my dog. How did this fandom know? Like...1 to 1 things I call my damn poodle.

#ive been fully in this fandom for like q week and im already complaining a lot im sorry guys #its just hard when ur like actually sifting thru the latest releases #but fr tho like ik theyre not all uncommon nicknames but pretty girl and lady seem specific and i. have no idea. #what fucking tone of voice one would use to call another human person pretty girl #theres no version of that that isnt wildly condescending #im reading these fics and i feel like im in a diner #i still read em and enjoy em very much tho huh #its not actually something that makes me mad its just kinda annoying how nicknaming somebody princess is like...shorthand #theres only one that i actually liked #and it was the exact same property that made me hate the whiskey drinker shorthand #which is unfortunately playchoices but in my defense it lives and endless summer and perfect match still rip #i really hope nobody reads this far and knows what ghat is im writing canon x oc fanfiction how much less can i be respected on this blog #i

[thatdeadaquarius]

About your language brainrot. I see your "Reader's writing can't match tyvat's long and flowery writing" and bring you "Tyvat isn't used to books over 50 pages long so a short story to the Reader is a whole dictionary to tyvat readers".

Seriously, have you seen how thin the books are? They don't wrote novels, they write short chapters formatted in the way really old stories are. As in, summarizing all the events down into one smooth story then adding a few quotes. Fanfiction writers are insane. They will willingly sit down and write hundreds of words at a time. To them, a proper modern day story of maybe, oh 10k words or so, would probably be like the Oddessy itself.

If we were to combine the two headcanons. It would end up as many historians being intimidated by this insanely long written scripture in the language of the forgotten.

I'm going to take this a step further and say that if the creator asked some people to proofread their things, it would establish a hiarchy of who is able to actually finish the book the creator read and who isn't.

NOW THIS, THIS IS MY FUCKING JAMMMM

I'm so sorry this is so old!! u probably all know this by this point that I've really slowed down as the year has gone on, but I graduated university and then got my first job so its been pretty crazy!

Sun: Reader (you/they/them)

Orbit: Headcanons-ish

Stars: dash of all the book/nerds of Genshin, heavy on Sumeru?

Comets & Meteors: Content Warnings: Cussing, 16+ Mature Audiences, Spoliers for Sumeru Archon Quests/Scaramouche, & Trigger Warnings: mention of shipping/characters shipping themselves with you.

Comment if any missed, please.

☆

FULL STOP.

THE AKADEMIYA, FONTAINE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, HAVE BEEN WAITTTINNGGGG ON YOUR ASS LMAO

You fall from the fucking sky like a 5 star, or pop out of the Irminsul or whatever

and immediately are mobbed by scholars. LMAO jkjk (not really, bc that's what it’d feel like)

can you even imagine the dread older stories(”the classics” to them), that was instilled in the poor students around Teyvat??

id like to think ur works are the most preserved over the thousands of years of Teyvat archeologists excavating them, in comparison to other authors (teyvat just likes you more, suck it William Shakespeare)

also, bc I cant resist language differences/world building I'm sorryyyy 😭 😭

the vocab of Genshin lang vs. ours, has significantly less vocabulary like their actual dictionary is 1/3 the size of ours type of energy

(Omfg all ur fanfics being considered like insanely long realistic romantic classics or tragedies like Jane Austen-level, and only the richest and biggest play companies put on plays about ur stories bc the script goes on for hours)

(ur plays only get put on for rlly big events bc of this, like Lantern Rite or like a Summer/Winter festival/your birthday, which is, yes, an international holiday)

dude the sheer power move of anything you’ve written being essentially “Journey of the West” to them, like Damnnn.

endless like adaptations, plays, Teyvat-short stories condensing it, (THEIR OWN FANFICTION ABOUT UR STORIES)

the power is, in fact, going to your head every time another scholar both deflates at how long ur stuff is, but also lights up bc they get to read it

speaking of scholars… you know who snatched you up first. you know. you don’t even need to read the next line.

Alhaitham.

sneaky bastard he is, absolutely manipulated, mansplained (and manwhored bc he knows he’s handsome, cheeky little shit) his way into getting you to sit down with him and interview you about both translating other classics, your own, giving your own analysis of others works and ur own, and picking ur brain apart of how/why you wrote urs, etc. its fucking endless,

Kaveh had to come rescue you bc u were starving to death after getting stuck with the Haravatat scholar in his office for nearly 7 hours of interrogation discussion about literature

and Alhaitham wasn't even nearly done, he’d informed you as you left that he already had another appointment for later conversation scheduled (how?? you don't even know ur own schedule??? you have a schedule???) and was looking forward to more of your “creative and enlightening input” :)))

(you’re never going to escape him, not even Nahida herself can save you from his stubborn ass)

On another note, Xingqiu is quaking when you agree to autograph his copy of your stories (of which he has all hard covers of the first edition translations)

Zhongli/Rex Lapis is known for having a near-lifelong passion for searching for your works specifically, and learning how to translate them better into Teyvatian vernacular

like the same way he can absolutely speak on Rex Lapis facts/rocks/adepti info, is the same confidence he speaks about knowing ur work lol

(yes he did also ask for several autographs and another sit-down talk about the works, tho a lot more sneaky then Alhaitham bc he just casually gets u guys into it during dinner)

Barbatos/Venti has written some of the most famous songs based on your stuff, he has his favorites too,

but he always claims the best songs are any that have been written in the story, like either when a character sings something, or there are like quotes from songs ur fanfics are based on lol

(he also demanded to hear what they actually sound like from you, yes, you have to sing them for him lol)

Venti also can surprisingly drunkenly ramble the entirety of at least one of ur stories, like, word for word lmao

(Diluc gave in and did give him a drink on the house for that one, just once, Venti doesn’t remember it lol)

(I forgot to mention, u guys still speak the same language, just like, different versions of it)

ur works being one of the few things all the Archons can freely talk about with each other, like it’s neutral ground bc they’re all fangirling about it lmao

Furina and Neuvillette have had like,, fierce debates over the decades about character dynamics and the general drama of ur stories, they’ve gotten into it enough they’ve stopped talking to each other for a couple days a few times lol

Albedo, Sucrose, Kokomi, Yae Miko, Ei, Raiden, have read every single work they’re gotten their hands on in Teyvat (it took them like a literal year or longer)

Albedo drew you fanart for every single story, bc he’s hyperfixated on everything related to you ngl,

Kokomi had commissioned smaller pocket versions of ur works (which later got popular thanks to Yae Miko) both the OG and the Teyvat shortened versions

THE HARBINGERS ARE THE MOST DOWN BAD LMAO

Childe has literally tried to recreate battle scenes from ur works lmao

and gets especially riled up about fighting someone who resembles any characters from them (esp villains, what a cutie)

You cannot fathom the amount of research throughout Teyvat that has been secretly or indirectly funded by Pantalone/Tsaritsa

from the experts to analyze them, to funding play companies to act them out, to actually excavating places to get more of ur stuff unearthed

(the Harbingers absolutely are the first group of people that got to read several of ur stories first bc of this, like the world’s most exclusive secret book club lol)

Scaramouche used to clown on Childe all the time about how he was too impatient to even “sit down and read the King’s classics”, and he was downright insufferable when he found out about Tartaglia’s habit of recreating battle scenes/that being what motivated him to fight sometimes lol

that being said, Wanderer surprisingly never forgot ur stories.

Even when his memories were wiped for a bit, he found comfort in these fantastical epics still sticking around, even when his old names did not

(he mayyyy or mayyy nottt have secretly namedhimselfafteroneofthetragicprotagonistsherelatesto- )

oh btw, Nahida also found joy and comfort in ur stories when she was trapped, they also helped her literally grow as a person bc she had ur stories to help her sort of process the world/what life was like outside of her dreaming prison 🥺💔❤️‍🩹

◇

OMFG

ANYWAY FULL TONE SHIFT LMFAO-

the ABSOLUTE SPIRAL-RED-STRING-CONSPIRACY-THEORY-BOARD ENERGY IF THIS WAS A BLUNT LANGUAGE AU LMAOOOO

like specifically how Teyvatians like to give all the context ever thru their words, but older deities/beings like you just do simple phrases that can have deeper meanings (whereas teyvat just explains all the meanings behind their words)

STOP there’s like an official display at the Akademiya and Fontaine Institute of red string theory boards 😭😭 (look what you’ve done to themmm LMAO)

for like every story of urs, INCLUDING THE FANFICS STOP

IMAGINE THE SHIPPING WARS IF U EVER WROTE ONE THAT WASNT EXPLICIT OR LIKE ONE OF THE MAIN ROMANTIC INTERESTS HAD CHEMISTRY WITH OTHER CHARACTERS HAHAHAHAA

that's actually what Akademiya scholars argue about the most viciously, it’s like politics you can’t just bring up ships from ur stories casually in regular convos 💀

(poor Cyno has to deal with a shipping war once a year bc someone always makes the mistake of reading ur work for the first time (without being told to not talk to others abt ships lol) and it starts an all out brawl in the cafeteria every time LMAO)

Also yes.

Cyno is a fanboy.

(he has read Creator x Reader-insert fanfiction.)

(As have most of the characters mentioned, and those not lol)

…

(I'm gonna make a whole Creator x reader fanfic post one day i stg lmao)

☆

an iced coffee? for me?? :0

ok but real talk…

wtf do you guys wanna see for new years!!

i didn't do a inktober/october days thingy bc i felt too unprepared (and bc id wanted to post that 1000+ followers eldritch au for Halloween)

but now i kinda wanna, at least for a few days :o

ill post a poll in a minute, so check it out!! but still, please feel free to comment some ideas here! :)

Safe Travels Deafening Dreamer,

💀♒

If you wanna join a taglist, DM me what for! "Pspspsss, please tag me for [All SAGAU posts, Only SAGAU Language AUs, diff fandom, etc.]!"

(If you ever wanna drop, just DM me! "No more taglists/[specifically this AU/fandom] please!")

♡the beloveds♡

@karmawonders / @0rah-s / @randomnatics / @glxssynarvi / @nexylaza / @genshin-impacts-me / @wholesomey-artist / @thedevioussmirk / @the-dumber-scaramouche / @chocogi / @fallen-starr / @areaderofbooks / @devilangel657 / @esthelily

#this looked a lot longer on desktop #fuck it #anyway sorry if im slower again guys! #i got sick again :( #my voice was completely gone for days #im onyl just recovering #so finally felt decent enough to write more #check out my other posts for the poll btw! #genshin sagau #genshin impact #sagau #genshin isekai #genshin imagines #genshin impact sagau #aqua asks #genshin x reader #self aware genshin #genshin self aware #more like isekai heavily but this does rely on u understanding they could/have had ur stories for years in their world #so kinda #<3 u guys but DO NOT TAG AS YANDERE/DARK #bc its not <3 #gonna start putting that reminder in the tags

[suburbantimewaster]

Endless Summer Book 1 Act 2 Chapter 7: Pies Make Peace (Choices: Stories You Play)

It's been awhile but I finally have the next chapter of the #endlesssummer #fanfic or recap from @PlayChoices out! In this chapter, after the contest winners huge fight, Raj enlists Jasmine's help get the group to make it. #visualnovel #casualgaming

A/N: Hey, everyone, I’m back! Sorry for the delay but it took me a while to figure out what day to post these recaps on until I decided to stick with Sunday. Anyway, after that disastrous fight in the last chapter, Raj enlists Jasmine’s help to get the group to make up. What is he planning and, whatever it is, will it bring peace to the contest winners or make things worse? (more…)

View On WordPress

#adventure #casual gaming #choices #choices stories you play #endless summer #fanfiction #fantasy #interactive story #ios application #iphone #iphone app #iphone game #pixelberry #recap #video games #visual novel

[silverxstardust]

Masterlist of fanfictions with Sebastian Sallow I adore ❤️ {in random order}

｡･:*:･ﾟ☆.・゜──── ✧⁠ ──── ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆.・゜

Part 2 here

• "The Serpent and The Bird" by MiaDMarquez

Book 1 & Book 2

• "The List" by MiaDMarquez (wattpad)

• "Ever After: A day in the life." by MiaDMarquez

• "Up and Down" by Tinyshot @tiny-shot

• "Lost and Found | Sebastian Sallow x Reader" by tarnished_silver

• "Vipers | A Sebastian Sallow Rivals to Lovers Story" by LegendsofLink

• "Shadow of the Heir" by Adylore @adylorewrites

• "The Raven and the Snake" by choccymilky @choccy-milky

• "Web of lies (S.S x FemMC)" by loneWolv_ @lwolv

• "It'a always been you | Sebastian Sallow x Fenale MC" by 2centniffler

• "In The Shadow of Love" by Flowerkins96

• "The Forsaken Keeper" by RosalindThea

• "The Secret Keepers" by yoshi_tsuno @yoshitsuno

• "The Return of Sebastian Sallow || 10 Years After Hogwarts Legacy" by @juneymont

• "In the Shadow of Us" by Slytherizz @slytherizz

• "Seemingly Unrequited" by tarnished_silver

• "A Tale in Gold and Green" by sallowly

• "Do You Trust Me? | Sebastian Sallow x Reader " by tarnished_silver

• "Whatever it Takes" by Slytherizz

• "Sentire" by AlentiaHart (Alentia)

• "The Eagle & The Serpent // Sebastian Sallow" by aquilaeserpens

• "Dark Legacies" by sebastiansallow

• "In the Shadow of the Vivarium" by EverLander

• "Loyal and Steadfast" by Degenerates_and_only_Deganerates

• "Risk // Sebastian Sallow" by ginger_lala @ginger-lala

• "In The Shadow of His Love (Reader vs Sebastian Sallow)" by Miya_dono

• "A Lesson in Healing" by acciolatte

• "Kindred | Hogwarts Legacy" by smile_arigatou (ao3 & wattpad)

• "Invisible String" by cosmetologynerd

• "Shadows of Love" series by Ginger_Legacy07 / @gingerlegacy07

- "In the Shadow of Sixth year"

- "In the Shadow of Summer"

- "In the Shadow of Seventh year"

• "The Griffindor Legacy" by @mianeryh

• "In The Shadow of Love" by Mattyz_block

• "Alone - A Hogwarts Legacy Story" by moonxcandy (I liked it till the chapter 37~ and now stopped reading. Sorry I'm dissapointed where story went).

• "Sebastian Sallow x MC!OC: SongbirdsLove" by BR7566

• "A Blessing and a Curse" by @animasola86

• "In the Shadows" by Miss_Pegasus @mspegasus17

• "Book of Revelation" by ohnoema (wattpad)

• "Our Web Of Lies" by MissDelphina

• "strumming hearts" by LegacyGirlinGreen @legacygirlingreen

• "In Your Care" by @animasola86

• "Bounded by Fate - Sebastian Sallow" by nasilemakroticanai

I'm crazy about atm: 🔥

• "Evoke" by Sarahbx

• "The Serpent's Paramour" by @anto-pops

Loved the story so much!

• "Love Me, Love Me Not" by @blueraineshadows

Friends with benefits (love the idea so much!)

• "The Shape of Your Body is Blue" by endless_starlight @endless-starlight-legacy

Re- telling the game story with little different storyline

• "Inky Blue Flames" by thursday_moonrise11

Extreme angst that I LOVED

• "Intertwine" by ayveex3 🥹🥹🥹

Yule Ball 💗

• "Prove yourself to me" by @hannahlikeso741

• "The Christmas Ball" by @sebswebs

Enemies to lovers 💔

• "Vipers | A Sebastian Sallo Rivals to Lovers Story" by LegendsofLink

• "Ashes and Dust" by MyInfinite_Love @my-infinitelove

• "UnOrdinary" by The_Original_Izzy (wattpad)

• "Old wounds hurt" by Hannahlikeso741 @hannahlikeso741

• "Entombed // Sebastian Sallow" by ginger_lala

• "In the Shadow of Embrance" by christo303

• "In the Shadows of Love" by WitchyVibes91

• "Tempest // Sebastian Sallow" by @ginger-lala

• "The Heartbreak Prince Sebastian Sallow" by Destinychild27 💔

• " The Aftermath" by lizziebizzie96

Friends to Enemies to Friends xD

• "You're Golden" by Justalittlelilac

....

｡･:*:･ﾟ☆.・゜──── ✧⁠ ──── ｡･:*:･ﾟ☆.・゜

Spicy! 🔞 {Warning!} ❗

• "Magic, Madness, Heaven, Sin" by speedgriffon (+ angst) @sloanesallow

• "Stockholm Syndrome" by KilledByTheHuntress ❗

• "Look at me // Sebastian Sallow x Reader " by sallowsinfluence

• "A Naughty Collection - Hogwarts Legacy" by @gingerlegacy07

• "A Night In Undercroft" by @animasola86

• "Cheirophilia" 🔥 by @anto-pops

• "Shameless in the Astronomy Tower" by @gingerlegacy07

• "Be my Valentine (Be Mine)" by @sissyisawitch

• "A Forbidden Favour" by @sebswebs

• "Dangerous and Delightful" by Polia

• "The Hypothesis" by @anto-pops

• "Lessons In Love-Making" by @animasola86

• "Pleasure Is All Mine" by @quackwizardry

• "Cock piercing" part 1 and part 2 by @little-emerald-snake 🤭

• "Dandelion" by @trappezoider

Amazing and hot os (Seb learns MC how to fight Imperius course) 🥹🔥

• "Trust Fall" by forbiddenfairytales @forbiddenxfairytales

Angst and 🔥

• "One Year Later" by @blueraineshadows

Dedicated to me ❤️‍🔥

• "Satisfy Us Me" by Rose_Light

To read list:

• "The Sun, the moon, and All Our Stars" by @sunnyrealist

• "Book Of Revelation" by @ohnoema

• "Sallow" by Rose_Light

• "When We're Older" by wordswe_neversaid

• "snow on the beach" by LegacyGirlinGreen

• "My Heart & Soul || Sebastian Sallow x Reader" by Mrssallow

• "The Road Back To You // Sebastian Sallow" by maddinoble (wattpad) @sailorgoon13

Reading atm:

• "Consuming Darkness: Sebastian Sallow" by @ronniesallow

I'm in love with this story 😭🙏

• "Exile || Sebastian Sallow" by rosellasallow

I will be updating post :)

#sebastian sallow #sebastian x mc #sebastian sallow x mc #hogwarts legacy #fanfiction #silverxstardust fanfic list

[anthemofgvf]

part eight of endless summer will be the FINALE of the series! i can’t wait to release it for all of you:) it’s going to be a bit long, since i could’ve probably split it up into two parts, but nonetheless, i can’t wait for you readers to enjoy it:)

#greta van fleet #josh kiszka #jake kiszka #danny wagner #sam kiszka #sammy kiszka #danny gvf #josh gvf #jake gvf #sam gvf #josh kiszka fanfic #josh kiszka series #endless summer #endless summer fanfic #endless summer fanfiction #josh kiszka x y/n #josh kiszka gvf #josh kiszka fanfiction #josh kiszka fic #josh kiszka fluff #josh kiszka x reader #josh kiszka smut

[marmolady]

Sisterhood

Just a short little fic. Estela bonding with Quinn. Kind of an unlikely pair, but that just makes their friendship even cuter.

_________________

“Estela!” It was Quinn. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you about something.”

That sounded ominous. Or rather, it would have done, had it not been coming from Quinn. Estela budged over on her spot on the side of the pool-- though there was no need to make room, it was a clear invitation to the other woman.

“Cooling off after the gym?” Quinn asked as she sat down, letting her legs dangle into the water.

No way that was what Quinn had been so keen to discuss, but Estela entertained the small talk politely.

“Yeah. I’ve been taking out a lot of feelings on the punching bag.” She looked Quinn in the face, ready to get to the point, whatever it was. “Okay,” she said. “Shoot.”

“Everyone’s been getting photos blown up to put on their walls when we move,” Quinn said, a little tentative. “I wondered…. You… probably wouldn’t have any pictures of your home, do you Estela?”

Estela frowned. It was sweet that it was playing on Quinn’s mind, but it really wasn’t anything she needed to worry about.

 “I have pictures of me and my family,” she answered, “thanks to Vaanu and thanks to Aleister, but the place, not so much. My tio had too many enemies-- well, I did too-- for it to be worth the risk of just having photographs on my phone. As little that could make us identifiable as possible.”

She gave Quinn a smile, though her eyes were full of heartache. “I don’t know if that’s better, you know? If I had pictures of home, maybe I’d just wish for it even more, like I do when I see my mom’s face. I don’t want to forget either. We fought hard for our home, to make it a fairer place. I don’t want something that meant so much to just fade away.”

Quinn made to say something, then paused, then tried again.

“I was thinking,” she said, “if you ever wanted me to, I could try and paint something? I don’t know how well it would work, but you could describe what your house looks like as I paint, maybe we could come up with something?”

Estela knew her cheeks were going pink. Little kindnesses still flustered her, and this was a big kindness. She nodded slowly. “Thanks. It really means a lot. Your art is beautiful, Quinn, you put so much of yourself into it all… some of your paintings it’s like you’ve purged all your emotions into them.”

Probably does the job of a punching bag if you’re Quinn.

“Sometimes it feels that way. I’m lighter afterwards because I’ve lingered in the feelings enough to put them out there.”

“That must help.”

“It does. I know I’m lucky to have that outlet.”

Estela scratched the back of her neck. If Quinn really wanted to do this for her… it really would be wonderful to have an image of home to look to. It didn’t have to be accurate, it was an artist’s impression after all, but it really would mean a lot.

“I’m not the best at drawing,” she said,  “could be worse, though. I could give you a crappy sketch to work from maybe. I’d like to be able to show Taylor the house I grew up in.”

Quinn’s eyes lit up, as if to be able to give something like that was just as much a gift to herself-- she was that kind.

“Then we’ll do it! It’s probably the most useful thing I can do-- help people feel a connection to home.”

Estela’s lip twitched with a small smile. “I dunno. Cake is a pretty useful way of improving someone’s mood. And you’re a good listener. You give a lot.”

It was Quinn’s turn to flush pink. “Thank you. That really means a lot. It’s hard not to feel completely out of my depth with everything that’s happened, but we’re all out of our depth, and I should appreciate what I do have to offer.”

“Yes, you should,” Estela said firmly. “Or I’ll have to set Taylor on you with a pep talk. She’ll be happy to offer her personal cheer-leading services.”

Quinn burst out laughing. “Trust me, she’s already been on to me!”

Figured. Wouldn’t expect anything else. Estela just smiled. How lucky was she to have met someone with that warm, open heart? How lucky were they all…. Taylor would say it was just because she was made for that purpose, that she was programmed that way, but Estela wouldn’t hear it. Taylor was who she was because of the choice she made every day to care. If she was only what Vaanu had created her for, she’d have left now, her purpose fulfilled--but Taylor was a living, breathing, mistake-making member of their family. Just another human being stumbling through life.

Quinn must have noticed Estela’s being lost in thought, seen the smile falter, though she could not know why, know that her Taylor could well be not long for this world.

“I’m so glad you found each other. Taylor’s a special person.”

Too special maybe. If Vaanu had their way, too extraordinary to be allowed to stay.

Estela shook her head gently, pulling herself from that place of darkness. “She says ‘I love you’ with this smile that makes her nose crinkle up, and the way she looks my way and it’s meant to be a quick glance but she gets herself all caught up, like she’s stuck smiling at me. And she gives my fingers the lightest squeeze that’s so soft I could miss it if I didn’t know her so well. She’s always telling me that she loves me, and I’ve got to listen, because it’s honest. She makes me know that I’m loved.”

“That’s beautiful, Estela.”

“That’s her.” Estela swung her hanging leg gently, sloshing in the still water. “It’s still crazy to me that it’s real… that someone can feel that way about me. I mean, I believe it-- it’s just… crazy. And I love her back, more than I could ever say.”

Quinn beamed. Complete romantic as she was, she couldn’t help but gush. “You’re just meant to be! Anyone can see that. I wonder if I’ll find something like you two have… a soulmate. I, um, I have feelings for Michelle.” She chuckled, “Typical me, catching the feels for a straight woman! I don’t expect anything to happen, and I think I’m okay with that. For the first time in a long time, I can really trust that I have time. Even when the experimental treatment worked for a few years, a part of me knew I was still running fast toward a foregone conclusion.”

That was a whole lot of sharing by Estela’s reckoning; Quinn must trust her. She knew Quinn trusted her, but people didn’t just open up to her in this way. Estela realised that she wasn’t just accepted, loved, by her friends; they’d come to see her as a safe place, a support. It was honestly touching.

“That must be really freeing. I’m not… not used to looking forward either,” Estela said quietly. If Quinn wanted to share, she’d offer the same vulnerability in return. “Other than, like… this blinkered tunnel to my goal. After that it was just, nothing. I would either be dead or locked up. I was okay with that. Maybe that’s why you and me adjusted to living here easier than most of the others.”

“I think so. It’s kind of nice to talk to someone who gets it. Don’t get me wrong-- I struggle, especially with knowing how my parents died and that I just got lucky to still be here… but it does feel like I’m going through something different to most everyone else. I didn’t lose a future; I gained one.”

Estela considered Quinn quietly. She hadn’t really imagined there was much they’d shared in common, but there they were.

“So… the future. You just want to… see where it takes you?”

“Yeah,” Quinn smiled. “I couldn’t really ask for a fresher start than this. I’m not ‘The Dying Girl’, so I owe it to myself to find out who it is I am. Maybe romance will be a part of that-- I mean, I hope so-- but mostly I want to know myself better, where I wanna fit in this world.”

“I know it’s just a start,” Estela said, “but you fit in with all of us. You’re a sister to me. Maybe that’s a piece of your puzzle you’re putting together. You’re certainly a piece of mine”

Estela blushed fiercely under the appreciative smile Quinn gave her, a smile glowing with warmth.

“Can I hug you?”

If anything, Estela’s cheeks grew even hotter, but she nodded and opened her arms to Quinn. “Knock yourself out,” she grumbled quietly.

Quinn put her arms around Estela’s middle and squeezed her tight, lingering there to make it quite certain the message was received; ‘you’re a sister to me, too’.

With an exhale, Estela relaxed into the embrace, let herself belong there. It was still new, but she liked it.

“’Stel!”

Quinn gave a little laugh. “That’ll be the wife.”

Sure enough, Taylor was rushing over, towels and snorkels in hand. “Oh-- hey, Quinn! D’you wanna join us? We were going to have a little paddle around the reef.”

“I’ll just grab my things,” she replied. As she stood up, Quinn gave Estela’s shoulder a playful nudge. “Hey, look at that. Her nose does scrunch up when she smiles at you!”

Estela looked back at Taylor, and grinned like an idiot. I love you too, Taylor.

#endless summer #playchoices #estela montoya #quinn kelly #estela x mc #quinn x michelle #es fanfiction

[writingfanficsfan]

Tag Nine People You Want to Get to Know Better

I was tagged by @sounds-of-some-day Thanks for the tag!

Three ships: WinterIron. Sherstrade. Dreville. 

First ever ship: Probably Buffy and Spike. But I heard about fandoms and fanfiction because of Sherlock BBC and Johnlock. I also wrote my first ficlet for them. 

Last song/album is: Endless Summer Vacation by Miley Cyrus. I’m even thinking of buying the CD so I can listen to it in my car. 

Last movie: Pirates of the Caribbean on the tv (always enjoy those movies!) . Knives Out: Glass Onion on Netflix (that one was hilarious and I loved it)

Currently reading: The Hunger Games, book 1. (I bought the box set with the one book included). And I’m reading Winter’s End by  ali_aliska I don’t care that it’s not finished, the words that are out are so good, I’m finding it very comforting. 

Currently watching: I’m following Perry Mason. And I just watched Moon Knight on Disney+  Not sure what I will watch next, I have a list on both Disney+ and Netflix of shows and series I want to try. 

Currently consuming: Nothing at the moment. 

Currently craving: For this day to be over. Or at least for the funeral to be over. 

I tag without ordering: @chained-to-the-mirror @27dragons @not-close-to-straight @mutedsilence @lavenderandvanilla @the-pen-pot @the-reading-lemon @george-the-pumpkin

#tag game #getting to know me #getting to know you

[starsarestories]

Starting this to get to know some of the people I talk to on here. There's no pressure to respond of course and you only share as much as you're comfortable with!! I just love to know people and see how beautiful they are <3

Things about me:

I am sixteen y/o (very nearly 17), I am a female but I identify as bi-gender (female and male) and go by she/her pronouns bc it's a new discovery and I haven't told many people in real life yet. I am a infj-t and a gryffindor (but I used to be a hufflepuff). I love to read and write, I write fanfiction at the moment and am hoping to write my first book this summer. I love dogs and bike rides, spring mornings and when it rains in the summer. I love hot chocolates, even though I'm lactose intolerant. My favourite colour changes every day and without my friends I wouldn't be here. Maths makes me want to run away. I love old films and couldn't survive without music. I'm English and live in England. I cry when I watch sad or happy moments in movies and I laugh all the time. I hate the beach but I love the sea, even if it scares me. I am bisexual and I want to dye my hair but I'm too indecisive to choose so I never have. I sing in the shower and one day I want to kiss someone in the rain. I'm Rue 😊👋

@swiftiereg @lightningmonarchda3 @moonaged-moony @dazeyinabong @kat-m-toast @thesauruswerewolf59 @theres-an-endless-starry-sky @aesthetic-solar-space @iliketoreadstuf @sebbianas @marinlupin

[snowthornes]

FANFICTION | @uroboros-if

Rafaele opened his mouth, then closed it. He had lived for centuries, for endless millenia, but at times like this he still wasn’t quite sure how to reach his son. He looked at Nero. The snowy haired god was sitting wordlessly beside Avriel, lending his strength in his own way — he met Rafaele’s eyes, and nodded in silent support. Finally, Rafaele spoke. “Avriel,” he said, tasting the words on his tongue. Carefully, delicately, he asked: “Is something the matter?” Avriel shot another peek at him, his expressive dark gray eyes morose. He was silent for a moment, before he whispered, “They… they say that eternity isn’t real.” A pang shot through Rafaele’s heart, and he sat up. “They? Who is ‘they’?” “The other gods,” Avriel said listlessly. He looked up at Rafaele, then at Nero, his young eyes searching; seeking the truth. “Are they right? Is nothing eternal?” That was a difficult question to answer. It was so difficult that Rafaele floundered for a few seconds.

As the god of the changing seasons, Rafaele had always been all too aware of the passage of time.

He had been witness to endless seasons, ancient as time itself. He had painted the changing seasons in the colors of dreams, silent wishes and prayers hidden in every bloom, every bough. Spring heralded the coming of life and rebirth, as a bird returning to its nest; summer ushered in blazing colors and vivid skies, as a red sun disappearing on the horizon. Autumn was a portent of playful winds and falling leaves, of farewells and inevitable slumbers; winter itself was time frozen to a standstill, when the skies were draped in veils of silvery gray and the world was blanketed in hushed promises of life and death.

Within the neverending cycles of life and death, of rebirth and slumber, Rafaele stood at the very center of it all. It was said that he was the artist of the seasons, the painter of change and life and death and inevitability — it was his life, his role, his place in the endless tapestry of the universe. 

Rafaele thought he was accustomed to change. Not indifferent, no, never indifferent, but accustomed in the way that mortals were accustomed to the dawn of the sun and the vesperate of the evening.

And then his child was introduced into his world. And he was shown just how very wrong he was.

SUMMER

Rafaele watched with a smile as Avriel tumbled gracelessly through the grass, laughing in delight. Beside him, Nero watched in amused yet concerned bemusement, ready to swoop in at a moment’s notice should their son’s antics become too hazardous.

The skies stretched overhead in an endless train of blue, dotted with wispy clouds that lazily drifted by. A sparkling river wound its way through an endless expanse of green dotted with trees, shrubs, and wildflowers. A soft breeze caressed their skin, sunlight pouring over them in gentle rays.

“Avriel,” Rafaele called. The young god immediately whirled around, beaming up at them with sparkling, dark gray eyes. Blades of grass clung to his clothes, some even settling in his hair. He looked perfectly mussy, more like a mortal child gamboling through the grass than an all powerful deity created from the very fabric of the universe.

“Yeah?!”

Rafaele grinned — his son’s excitement was infectious. “Do you want to dip your feet in the river?”

Avriel’s eyes rounded. He looked breathless. “Can I?”

“If you want,” Rafaele said, with mock solemnity. “You indeed can.”

Avriel cheered, the sound clear and bright in the glassy air. He immediately ran off, Rafaele hot on his heels — Nero followed at a more sedate pace, a silent smile resting in his eyes all the while.

Rafaele and Avriel skidded to a stop at the riverbank at around the same time, both beaming in delight. Avriel immediately reached for Rafaele’s hand, tugging at it as he jumped up and down, “Are you going to dip your feet in too?!”

“Of course!” Rafaele said, unceremoniously plopping down on the riverbank and taking off his shoes. Avriel, who was already conveniently barefoot, gleefully plopped down and dipped his feet in the water, giggling with delight. Rafaele turned around and, with a loving smile, held out his hand to his husband to invite him down, which Nero wordlessly took. He settled comfortably beside Rafaele, a soft look in his eyes as he watched them giggle and play in the water.

Suddenly, Avriel gasped. “Fish! There’s fish!”

Quick as a flash, the young god had leapt off the riverbank and into the river with a splash, gleefully chasing after the silvery fish that darted here and there within the river’s clear waters. Nero snorted as he leisurely wiped off the water that had splashed onto his robes, turning to Rafaele with raised eyebrows as he wryly remarked, “He takes after you.”

Rafaele grinned, unperturbed. “It seems that our child loves nature just as much as we do — isn’t it wonderful?”

“Tell that to those poor fish,” Nero said, though the softness in his eyes belied the dryness of his words. They continued to watch as Avriel gamboled through the water, exclaiming in wonder ever so often at a stray fish or snail.

There was a rather chaotic moment when Avriel actually managed to catch a respectably sized fish in his hands — Rafael had let out an exclamation of both shock and wonder, Nero sitting up from his lackadaisical posture, before the fish leapt out of their son’s small hands, smacking him in the face with its tail and diving back into the water with a splash, leaving Avriel sputtering with shock.

“There, there now,” Nero said, patting Avriel’s fluffy head in amusement as his son hugged his waist for comfort, Rafaele nearly crying tears of laughter beside him. “I’m sure that fish wasn’t very happy to be caught, either.”

“I just wanted to play!” Avriel said, looking aggrieved. He was completely soaked through by his antics in the river, looking very much like a drowned puppy.

“It must have been surprised,” Nero said placidly, moving on to patting his son’s back. “After all, you didn’t ask if it wanted to play, did you?”

Guilt slowly seeped into Avriel’s expression. “No…” Then he perked up, looking expectantly at his fathers. “Does that mean they’ll play with me if I ask them?”

“Well–” Rafaele began.

But Avriel was already running off. “Fishies! Do you want to play? I promise it’ll be fun!”

And with that, the school of fish were once again forced to scatter.

Once Avriel had miraculously tired himself out and his fathers had explained that, no, the fish probably weren’t very interested in playing with him right now, the family of three moved to the shade of a drooping willow tree. Avriel laid down with his head on Rafaele’s lap, playing with the tree’s drooping leaves. Wonder sparkled in his eyes. Nero sat comfortably beside Rafaele, shoulders touching his.

The two husbands exchanged a look. Rafaele rarely saw Nero so relaxed, so content. He smiled, nearly wanting to sing with joy. He looked down at his son, gently running a hand through his dark brown hair. This was his son. Their son. Sometimes, Rafaele couldn’t believe that he was so lucky. That in his long, endless existence he had met his beloved and his child.

It was times like this that gave Rafaele strength. Perhaps it was selfish, but he could never bring himself to ever regret bringing his child into the world. Not when there were moments such as this. Precious moments with his family, suspended in a time where all was well as long as they had each other.

…He still remembered the look on Avriel’s face. He still remembered the look on everyone’s faces; how confusion had flooded among the watching deities, how Ellera’s delicate brows had furrowed. How Avriel — his child, his child, his and Nero’s — had taken a confused step back, eyes widened in hesitant confusion as he watched the crowd murmur before him.

“I am the deity of eternity.”

He had declared it so boldly. So proudly.

And Rafaele had to watch his face fall as he realized that something was… wrong.

Nero had been the first to surge forward, then Rafaele. They had shielded Avriel behind them as the newborn god hesitantly clung to their clothes, choosing to place his trust in them despite his confusion. And as Rafaele felt the light pressure of small hands clinging to his back, he vowed: he would not fail that trust. He would take it, he would treasure it, and return it with love a hundredfold.

“...Father? Father?”

Rafaele blinked, startled out of his reverie. He looked down to meet Avriel’s eyes — the young god had scrambled into a sitting position on the grass, looking up at him with curious eyes. Feeling a warm presence beside him, Rafaele turned his gaze to see Nero, leaning over to him in silent concern.

“...Ah.” Rafaele smiled, and shook his head with a laugh. “I’m sorry, I was– distracted. What was that?”

“I want a pet fish,” Avriel announced.

Rafaele almost thought he heard the fish in the river splashing in alarm.

AUTUMN

Sometimes, Rafaele had to wonder if there was ever a parent who truly understood their child.

Most times, Avriel seemed so simple, so in love with the world. He cried when he was sad, which was rarely, and he laughed when he was happy — which was often. He ran to his fathers for hugs and headpats whenever he wanted, and rolled around in the grass with Salvatore whenever the other god came to visit. And although in his simplicity he could be slow to understand the emotions of others, to comprehend the complexity of most entities, he was always quick to apologize, vying to make things better again with all his power whenever he slipped up and made a mistake.

But there were times when his son would fall silent, when he would retreat to a world of his own–

Times like now.

Avriel had been silent for a while now.

He was sitting on the grass in their garden, quietly rocking back and forth with his arms wrapped around his knees as he looked up at the boundless sky. There was a listless energy to him — one that reminded Rafaele of autumn, of falling leaves and wilting foliage.

Silently, Rafaele went to sit beside his son, his husband sitting on Avriel’s other side. Avriel shifted, shooting peeks at them when they sat down, but he didn’t say anything; his attention soon returned to the skies, and his listless rocking returned.

Rafaele opened his mouth, then closed it. He had lived for centuries, for endless millenia, but at times like this he still wasn’t quite sure how to reach his son. He looked at Nero. The snowy haired god was sitting wordlessly beside Avriel, lending his strength in his own way — he met Rafaele’s eyes, and nodded in silent support.

Finally, Rafaele spoke. “Avriel,” he said, tasting the words on his tongue. Carefully, delicately, he asked: “Is something the matter?”

Avriel shot another peek at him, his expressive dark gray eyes morose. He was silent for a moment, before he whispered, “They… they say that eternity isn’t real.”

A pang shot through Rafaele’s heart, and he sat up. “They? Who is ‘they’?”

“The other gods,” Avriel said listlessly. He looked up at Rafaele, then at Nero, his young eyes searching; seeking the truth. “Are they right? Is nothing eternal?”

That was a difficult question to answer.

It was so difficult that Rafaele floundered for a few seconds.

It was said that gods were all knowing, almighty — but Rafaele didn’t feel very almighty right now. No, he felt lost, helpless in a cruel reality that he wasn’t able to protect his child from.

It was Nero who spoke. “Nothing lasts forever,” he said simply, gently. “But it doesn’t mean that nothing matters.”

Avriel looked down and nodded.

To his horror, Rafaele saw his lips quivering.

“Avriel–”

And then Avriel was sniffling, and then he was sobbing, and then he was heaving great big gulping sobs, crying helplessly as his fathers were forced to look on. And Rafaele was reaching for Avriel, pulling him into his lap, and while the young god gave a token struggle, he eventually gave in and laid his head on his father’s shoulder, sobbing. Nero crawled closer and wrapped his arms around both Rafaele and Avriel, gently patting their child’s back.

The two exchanged looks — the same helplessness mirrored in their eyes. What could they do? What could they say? They had walked endless eons, but nothing had prepared them for this.

“Avriel?” Rafaele tried again, because what else could he do but try? “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing lasts forever,” Avriel choked, staring up at him and Nero with red eyes. “So that means– that means– you’ll be leaving me.”

…Oh.

Rafaele was stunned.

“I don’t want you to go!” Avriel sobbed, his voice almost rising to a wail. His chest heaved, tears rolling down his cheeks. “I don’t, I don’t! I don’t want to be alone, I don’t want you to disappear…”

…Well. He hadn’t been expecting this. Judging by the rare stunned look on Nero’s face, he hadn’t either.

“Eternity means forever and eternity isn’t real,” Avriel blubbered on. Now that he had spoken, it was like water had burst forth from a dam; his earlier silence was long gone, replaced by incessant tears. “That means that forever isn’t real and you won’t be with me forever.”

What do you say when faced with such an accusation from your child?

Rafaele didn’t know.

He could say that they were gods; they would be around for a very, very long time. He could say that nothing would take them from Avriel, that nothing could ever separate them… but then he remembered the war and the loss and the devastating, shattering grief of a world gone mad.

And suddenly, he couldn’t.

Rafaele swallowed. And then he gently stroked Avriel’s head, running his hand through his hair. He searched for the right words — were there even any? — as Avriel continued to sob, heartbreak clear in his eyes.

Finally, Rafaele spoke. “Avriel,” he said, softly. “We don’t know how long we’ll have together, but I promise — it will be for a long, long time.”

Avriel sniffled. “But–”

“–And even if we were to one day be gone, to disappear from this world,” Rafaele smiled lovingly, his heart filled with so much love and pain and loss that it felt like he couldn’t breathe, “We will never truly be gone, not completely.”

“How?” Avriel asked, staring up at his fathers with tearful, searching eyes. He seemed to be looking for a promise, a vow that would hold him in security. “How can you promise that?”

“The world is full of chaos,” it was Nero who spoke this time, dark eyes gentle as he looked at his son. “And there are many, many things that we don’t understand. But one thing will always remain true: and that is our love for you.”

Avriel sniffled, looking down. “But… you’ll still be gone.”

Nero shook his head. “No,” he said, voice firm. He leaned forward and gently cupped Avriel’s chin, raising his head and wiping his tears away. “As long as you remember us, as long as you carry us in your heart, we will be with you.”

“The laws of the universe may be as they are,” Rafaele said, softly, “But if there is anything, anything, that shall remain eternal, it will be our love for you. Like the stars in the sky and the tides of the sea, we will always be with you, no matter where you are, no matter who you have become. You will always be our son — and you will always be our love, our life. That is our eternity.”

Avriel’s lip quivered — and then he was bawling fresh tears once again, flinging his arms around both his fathers and burying his face into their shoulders. “Okay,” he said, his voice muffled. “But you have to stay with me for a long, long time! If I have to remember you forever, then you’ll have to stay for almost forever!”

Rafaele laughed — and when Nero wiped his husband’s face, his eyes impossibly soft, he realized that tears were running down his cheeks, too. “Okay,” Rafaele said, smiling.

He and Nero spoke as one, their voices winding together in a melody that permeated the air, sealing their oath within the dust and earth of the universe.

“It’s a promise.”

WINTER

The seasons passed, as they were wont to do. The years passed by, first in a trickle and then in an unforgiving tide. Birds returned to their nests, and left once again. The sun continued to chase the moon, and the moon continued to chase the sun. Still the universe remained as unfathomable as ever, heedless to the doubtful eyes and questions cast by those residing within its cradle.

Avriel had been sent to Lucidio.

Rafaele had known it was coming. It was inevitable, given his child’s domain.

Eternity. A transient dream, as fragile and precious as the wings of a butterfly. That was Avriel’s domain. And for that, the others had deemed him worthless; the others had deemed him nothing.

Lucidio was a good place. A peaceful place. It was managed by Luciel, who was just about the kindest deity Rafaele knew. They would take care of Avriel. Rafaele knew it in his heart.

It didn’t alleviate the pain that shot through his heart.

Avriel had tried to keep a brave face. Rafaele had thought that he would cry, that he would once again weep like he had so long ago when he was just a young child, but he hadn’t. Instead, he had wrapped his arms around his fathers, hugging them tightly and insisting that they visit him the moment they could.

Rafaele had been the first to start bawling. He had cried, and then Avriel’s lip had quivered, and suddenly he was flinging his arms around his fathers and burying his face in their shoulders, mumbling muffled gibberish into their clothes. When he pulled back, his eyes were red — but no tears fell.

And then he had laughed, saying that they had better visit, or else. And Rafaele and Nero had promised to visit so many times that he would get sick of them. And Avriel had laughed again, the sound bright and clear in the crisp air, and suddenly he was hugging them again.

And he had whispered one last goodbye, then turned and ran to Luciel, who was waiting a respectful distance away, gazing at them with gentle eyes. He didn’t look back. And Luciel had met Rafaele and Nero’s eyes, and nodded.

They would take care of him.

Rafaele nodded back.

They left.

Nero’s arms wrapped around him.

He didn’t stop crying for a long, long time.

Rafaele and Nero came to visit many, many times — as much as they were able. Avriel always greeted them with a smile, running to them and flinging his arms around them the moment he reached them.

He asked about their days, and they told him about their duties in the mortal world, of the seasons changing and the moons passing. And he told them about his duties in Lucidio: of how the mortal souls were so lively, so interesting, with their myriad of trials and tribulations even past death; of how Luciel was so kind, so good, and how Avriel wished he could become his friend; of how he wished he could befriend the mortals, but he didn’t know how; of how his training in the art of the sword was going supremely well, and talks of bestowing him with a title were already in progress.

Avriel appeared to be thriving.

But there were moments when he slipped. Moments when his face would fall and he would clumsily attempt to change the subject to happier matters, avoiding his fathers’ eyes all the while.

“He’s settling in very well,” Luciel said, during one of their visits. Avriel had run off on another mortal errand, promising to come back soon, and Rafaele and Nero had taken the chance to talk to Luciel while he was away. The deity of death took a sip of his cup of tea before they spoke again, their eyes gently gazing at them over the rim. “The mortals love him. He’s especially popular with the children, often playing games with them when he’s able.”

“But?” Rafaele prompted, as Nero looked on with discerning eyes.

Luciel sighed.

“As you know,” they said, “Not all mortals are so welcoming.”

Luciel looked away, their eyes settling on the view overlooking the entirety of Lucidio. A light breeze ruffled through the land, through each carefully placed treetop and wildflower and shrub. Lucidio was a paradise in its own right, a resting place for the dead, but Luciel knew just how restless the dead could be.

“And he misses you,” they continued, slowly. “He’s been throwing himself into his training — he’s well on his way to mastering the sword, I’d say — but he misses you. And Salvatore, Ellera’s child. He talks about you all often.”

Rafaele smiled, painfully. “Is there anything we can do?” He asked hopefully, leaning forward even as he held Nero’s hand. “Anything at all we can do to make things better?”

Luciel gently shook their head. Kindness as old as time, hardwon from millenia of endless living, shone from their eyes. “Your visits are enough. To know that he has you with him, always — that is enough. This is something he will have to overcome himself.”

Nero patted his hand as Rafaele deflated. “Thank you,” the god said, eyes serious as he looked at his old friend. “For looking out for him.”

Luciel smiled, their eyes squinting with the gesture. “Of course. That goes without saying.”

And then Avriel had come barrelling back into Luciel’s residence, effectively putting their conversation to an end.

Weeks later, after one of their visits, when Rafaele and Nero were once again about to leave, Avriel spoke.

“Fathers,” he said, softly. His eyes were uncharacteristically serious. “You’ll be with me almost forever, right?”

“Of course!” Rafaele said, taking his son’s hands. “We promised, didn’t we?”

“We don’t make a habit of breaking promises,” Nero said mildly, though his eyes were soft.

Avriel smiled. “...Yeah. I just wanted to be sure.”

Rafaele’s hand rose to run through Avriel’s hair, and he was suddenly struck by how much he had grown — by how his physical form had grown to accommodate his maturity, by how different yet similar he was to his childhood days. Gone were the days when Avriel would come crying to them at the most minor of inconveniences, confident that they could always, always, make things right again.

Luciel’s words echoed in his ears. This is a path Avriel has to walk alone; this is something he has to overcome himself. 

Echoes of sunlit days long gone shimmered through Rafaele’s memories. Visions of him and Nero walking through wildflowers and blades of grass, with Avriel between them, laughing and holding their hands. Suddenly, the Avriel in his visions broke free from their hands and ran forward, towards a strange, untrodden path that led towards an unknown future. And he looked back, as if urging his fathers to follow — but they couldn’t. As if some force were stopping them, freezing them in place. Rafaele was left to stand, helpless, as his child grew farther and farther away from him, changing in ways that he wasn’t there to witness.

“Is it hard?” Rafaele whispered, out of the blue.

Avriel blinked, staring at him. Then slowly, he nodded. “Yeah,” he said, his voice a little thick. “But I’ll– I’ll be fine! I promise!”

Rafaele smiled. “I know,” he said softly. “I know you will.”

Even so, he felt a strange sense of loss.

SPRING

The years continued to pass.

Time was a constant stream flowing down a valley, and the people, both gods and mortals, were merely fallen leaves floating along its current.

Lucidio alone remained unchanged.

The sun was gentle as ever, its rays never too warm nor too cold. The skies were an endless expanse of blue, cradling the city within its embrace. The lives — or un-lives of the mortal souls still continued to turn. Reunions were had; those parted by the merciless embrace of death were reunited under a gentle sky. Folly and virtue both continued to run rife among those dwelling in Lucidio, almost as vivid and alive as they were on the mortal plane.

And the Eternal Guardian was there to witness it all.

Standing atop a towering roof, the young god surveyed the city below him. The wind blew through his hair, playing with the ends of his sleeves. Although he gazed down at the city with a bright smile, eyes sparkling ever so slightly, his posture was proud and strong, cutting through the wind and the sky. His hand rested gently on the sword at his hip.

Avriel’s eyes traced the faces of the mortal souls going about their days, milling through the city that he had come to know like the back of his hand. His eyes shifted towards the rooftops of familiar buildings and homes — rooftops that he had run and jumped and climbed on top of, much to the delight or consternation of their residents.

This was Lucidio.

This was both his home, and his not-home.

Avriel straddled a strange boundary between mortals and the divinity. He did not belong completely to the gods, for he had no domain, but he did not belong to the mortals, for he was divine. This was what he had learned in his time at Lucidio. Although he tried his best to integrate with mortals, to play with them and learn their games and cultures, there was always this inexplicable sense of distance between them — a gaping chasm that they refused to bridge, no matter how hard Avriel tried.

Some would say that he had no place in the universe. No role to truly call his own.

But not Avriel. No, over his years at Lucidio, he had realized that he possessed something far more precious to call his own.

He only needed to show them…

As if hearing something, the young god suddenly turned his head. There, in the distance, were his fathers: Rafaele and Nero, both making their way towards him. A bright smile shone on Rafaele’s face even as Nero walked poker-faced beside him. The two looked as harmonious as ever, two entities fortunate enough to find each other in the millions of years that encompassed the universe.

Avriel lit up. It had been a while since his fathers had come to visit him together! Without missing a beat, he leapt down from the rooftop, and ran towards his fathers. He skidded to a stop before them, laughing at their surprised faces.

“Fathers! You’re here!”

“Of course!” Rafaele beamed. “We thought we’d come to visit!”

“You’re just in time!” Avriel laughed. “Wait– come with me! I want to show you something!”

Nero raised an eyebrow. “Oh? What–”

Avriel grabbed his fathers’ hands, dragging them forward. “Come on, come on! I’ll show you when we get there!”

Nero made a noise of protest while Rafaele laughed, delighted, but the two ultimately followed.

Rafaele glanced at Avriel, striding in between him and Nero, determinedly holding their hands. He suddenly felt a faint sense of familiarity, an echo of a time years and years ago; a vision of Avriel, still young and small, holding his and Nero’s hand as they walked along a sunlit path.

He looked at his son, now so tall and upright, his every step graceful and steady — and he suddenly felt a bit dazed.

They soon came to a clearing in the middle of a forest. Sunlight dappled through bright green foliage; a mixture of old leaves and soil carpeted the ground. Towering trees surrounded the clearing, forming a rough circle. Rafaele glanced around, curious — he had never been here before. “What is this?”

“This is where I train!” Avriel grinned. His gray eyes sparkled with expectation. “Wait– stay here.”

He let go of their hands and ran forward, to the middle of the clearing. Rafaele and Nero’s hands slowly dropped back to their sides.

Avriel stood in the middle of the clearing, right in front of his fathers. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and smiled.

“Watch me, okay?”

And before Rafaele could reply, Avriel was moving.

The young god’s feet slid against the dust in slow, deliberate movements. Slowly, his feet turned and spun and shifted, his hand on the sword at his hip, his feet moving gracefully against the forest floor. His eyes were closed. The sounds of the forest seemed to quiet — the entire world seemed to hold its breath.

Rafaele realized he was also holding his own.

And then Avriel opened his eyes, and a light shone within them: clear and bright and sharp, like the wind cutting through a mountain.

There was a gust of wind, a flash of a sword, and Avriel was dancing, spinning through the air while his sword wove through the air at an impossible speed. Like a viper riding the wind, he spun and curved through the air, his sword following his movements as if it were naught but a mere extension of himself, or as if he himself had become an extension of his blade; the fallen leaves on the forest floor slowly rose along with his movements, shivering in the air.

I am Avriel.

The fallen leaves joined him in his dance, hypnotic and flickering in their movements. They swirled around him, a mesmerizing partner to the young god’s dance with the blade.

The Eternal Guardian.

Avriel’s movements became faster and faster, weaving and darting with an impossible speed till it was almost as if he was suspended in the air, as if time had frozen around him to accommodate his intrepid dance.

The Deity of Eternity.

His robes flared from his body as he danced; the fallen leaves spiraled around him in a stream, like they were mere ribbons flying from the end of his sword. Rafaele reached to hold Nero’s hand, intertwining his fingers with his and squeezing.

Son of Rafaele, god of the changing seasons, and son of Nero, god of chaos and purity.

His feet landed on the forest floor and then he leaped, his waist tracing a graceful arc through the air as he leapt backwards, his blade cutting a striking arc through the air. In that moment, it was as if time had stopped; the dancing leaves swirling around him froze, as if suspended in the air; and then he landed on his feet with a swing of his blade and the leaves blasted outwards, flaring through the air and fluttering harmlessly at Rafaele and Nero’s feet as Avriel dropped into a bow, breathing heavily.

And that… that is enough.

Avriel rose from his bow, eyes sparkling even as his chest heaved. “How was it?” He asked, breathlessly. “I think it wasn’t perfect and I may have made some mistakes but I really wanted to show you and I–”

“Avriel,” Rafaele interrupted. Avriel stopped. “It was beautiful.”

His eyes lit up. “Really?!”

Rafaele nodded, sniffling. Avriel’s eyes widened, looking very much akin to an affronted owl. Nero gravely echoed Rafaele’s words, his eyes suspiciously misty. “It was wonderful.”

“W– wait,” Avriel said, panicked. “Father, are you crying? Don’t cry! Father! Tell him to stop crying– wait, you too–?”

“Oh, just come here and give us a hug already!” Rafaele huffed, still sniffling.

And then Avriel was barreling towards them with his arms outstretched and he had flung himself onto his fathers, nearly knocking them onto the ground. Two pairs of arms came to rest on his back and he laughed, beaming brightly at his fathers until he saw that Rafaele was still sniffling and Nero’s eyes were still suspiciously misty. The laughter faded from his face, and he looked seriously at his parents. There was a gentleness contained within his eyes, a kind of wisdom hard earned from his years of mingling with mortals — of witnessing their joys and triumphs and follies and irritations in the endless stream of time.

“Fathers,” Avriel said, softly. “That dance was for you. Thank you for everything.”

“Oh, my silly child,” Rafaele choked. “What are you thanking us for? Ah, Desatana, my eyes–”

“Ah– ah, father, are your eyes burning? Father, you should blow on his eyes to make it better!”

“What are you asking him for help for?” Rafaele sniffled, wiping his eyes “He’s too busy bawling his eyes out.”

“I’m not bawling my eyes out,” said Nero, also wiping his suspiciously misty eyes.

Avriel laughed, and the sound rang clear throughout the forest, joyful and loved and content.

A breeze blew lightly through the forest, stirring the fallen leaves on the forest floor.

Sunlight dappled through the foliage, haloing the dust motes floating in the air.

A sword laid on the ground near the little family of three, sunlight reflecting softly off of its blade as if it was also silently rejoicing in its own way.

Nothing in life is eternal. There is no banquet that doesn’t end, no reunion that doesn’t end with a farewell. 

Lush crowns will turn to fallen leaves and fallen leaves will turn to dust.

Yet on the other side of winter, spring will come again.

And I will carry you with me, for as long as my eternity will allow.

#AHAHHAHAA. HA. don't look at me. #i got emotions and the emotions got me #head in hands #thank you for clicking on my humble fic ahem #i send kiths #aspen writes.txt #uroboros-if #oc: avriel

[choicesficwriterscreations]

December Creator of the Month: Oh-So-Youre-a-Nerd

Each month, CFWC highlights one of our talented fanfic writers or artists, and this month’s creator of the month is @oh-so-youre-a-nerd . We're very excited because Ascindio is our very first artist to be highlighted! We hope you will enjoy learning more about them and their work below! The writer is selected at random. More info can be found on the navigation page.

Quick Links:

Tumblr Blog Instagram

How do you want to be known on Tumblr? 

Ascindio 

More below...

1- When did you start playing Choices? What was the first book you played? 

I started playing in 2016, I can't remember if I read Endless Summer or Rules of Engagement first, but I ended up deleting the app after like 2 weeks cause I couldn't stop buying diamonds 😅🤦

I re-downloaded it about, ohh idk 2 years ago?

2- When and why did you join Choices fandom?

I joined the Fandom specifically on Tumblr and specifically for It Lives Within, which happened to come out right after I read the first two books 

3- How did you pick your blog name? 

I always try to seem cool and mysterious when I meet people irl, and then as soon as I open my mouth, I ruin it with some niche trivia or something, and they say,  “Oh, so you're a nerd.” 😂 Can't tell you how many times this exact phrase has been uttered to me. 

4- Pull up the first post in your archive, and tell us about it!  

This is the first Choices related post I made 😂 I was just thinking about the concept of what if characters make terrible decisions cause they're controlled by a player who is out of diamonds lol I was going to do a whole series of them (next was going to be lotr “fly on eagles to mordor?” *30 diamonds* or “simply walk”) but got lazy lol

5- Do you write fanfiction, create fan art, or are you one of those really gifted people who do both? 

Only art. God, I  WISH  I wrote too. I've thought about trying cause I have so many ideas floating around in my head, but at the end of the day, I'd rather spend my free time drawing. 

6- How long have you been creating for Choices and for any other fandoms?

For Choices, since early 2022

For other fandoms, since well, forever, but I only started posting around 2017/18

7- What is your favorite Choices book, and what is your favorite Choices book to create for?

Favorite Choices book is probably It Lives in the Woods. All of the characters were so interesting, I never got bored reading it, and it had an incredible twist that made sense but I still didn't see coming. 

Favorite to create for is probably Blades of Light and Shadow though because I am such a sucker for the fantasy aesthetic.

8- Share your first Choices fanfic or fan art that you posted with us. Do you still like it, or would you change it if you were creating it today?.

This isn't the first Choices art I made, but it IS the first I actually shared

And honestly, I DO still like it because I still remember the way I felt absolutely POSSESSED while drawing it (I hadn't drawn anything for *months*). I would definitely change the background, though. Those trees look like shit, and they're not even the correct type for the kind of forest they're in. 

9- What is your favorite piece of fiction or art that you created? 

My favorite Choices art I've done is probably this piece. 

10- Do you have a fic/art that you didn’t expect to be well received, but it was? What about one you expected to do well but found it could use a little more love?

I definitely didn't expect this one to do well at all as it was so hastily drawn

And I was sad this piece didn't get more love, it was such a dope scene and I was so excited about how the sword turned out

11- If you could only draw one style or type of art for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? 

I'm not sure if I'm interpreting the question right, but if I had to pick like a specific type of art, it would be digital, and I would want to do fan art. I have a hard time painting anything that I don't already have a deep connection with (so original art with no story behind it is usually a chore for me), and digital art is just so incredibly convenient and not messy and so so versatile. 

12 - Do you ever recognize yourself in any of your MCs or in your writing?

Because I use fiction as a way to safely process trauma/ grief/ other big emotions, each MC I make has a small part of me, whichever part I feel the need to explore at the time.

There's an amazing quote by Patrick Rothfuss that I feel explains it perfectly. 

It's from Wise Man's Fear

“These folk knew all about death. They killed their own livestock. They died from fevers, falls, or broken bones gone sour. Death was like an unpleasant neighbor. You didn’t talk about him for fear he might hear you and decide to pay a visit.

Except for stories, of course. Tales of poisoned kings and duels and old wars were fine. They dressed death in foreign clothes and sent him far from your door. A chimney fire or the croup cough were terrifying. But Gibea’s trial or the siege of Enfast, those were different. They were like prayers, like charms muttered late at night when you were walking alone in the dark. Stories were like ha’penny amulets you bought from a peddler, just in case.”

13 - What element of writing/art do you struggle with most?

I have a very difficult time making the poses seem natural and flowing. My all time favorite art is Baroque/Renaissance style and how fluid the poses are, how soft the skin looks, how delicately it's all done. Obviously, I will always have my own style, but those are things that I so want to incorporate but never seem to get quite right, and it drives me crazy 😂

14 - Do you have any neglected work you really want to finish?

Not really. I mean, I have a ton of unfinished work, but as soon as the window of inspiration passes, I just can't get myself to care enough about it to finish it (insert Jake the Dog, “now it's gone, and I don't care about it anymore!” )

15 - If someone you know in real life (who isn’t involved in fandoms) asked to see your work, would you let them? If yes, what would you show them first? 

I would, and have.  I typically show them whatever most rendered recent picture from my Instagram because I don't post any nsfw there and usually try to post only my prettier work for this specific reason haha. (As opposed to here, I post everything here, ain't NO ONE from real life invited to see my tumblr 😂)

16 - Are there any writers (published authors and/or fanfic writers) who influenced your writing or art? Are there any artists that influence you?

Writers: Brandon Sanderson, for sure. He's the reason I got back into art back in 2017 ish. His stories are just so emotional they push me to create. Same with @saibug1022, there is always at least one scene from every story he shares that I desperately want to draw to try to capture the emotions. 

Artists: God, sooo many, here are just like my top 3 favorites and their instagrams.

Audra Auclair

Obsessed with her unique style, and specifically the way she draws eyelids and noses

f3lc4t

The way they draw those dripping, glowing wisps. I stare at their pieces for hours (no lie) trying to dissect them stroke by stroke to figure out how they do it.

Miho Hirano

Their art has a delicate whimsy-ness I would SELL MY SOUL to achieve 

17- Which one of your creations would you like to see a fiction written about? 

JC, this is the shit I DREAM of.

Definitely this one. 

So this is love.

This little comic means a lot to me. 

18- Do you write original fiction or create non-fandom art? 

Very rarely, but I do, every so often. This is my favorite original piece.

20-  What other hobbies do you have?

Gaming, singing, walking through the Cemetary with my wee daughter, reading, that's about it 🤷

21 - What’s your favorite emoji? 

🙇

22: BONUS - tell us anything you’d like (if you want to).

I really wanted to say that I don't believe in “good” art and “bad” art (just ethical vs non-ethical). That being said, I know what it's like to hate your art, like soooo intimately. If you ever are feeling shit about your art, you can ABSOLUTELY message me (I don't care if we're mutuals or not, I don't care if we've never interacted before) and just say, “I am feeling shit about my art” and I will go through your art and tell you every specific thing I love about it and why it's wonderful. I am not joking; I am so so serious rn. 💗💗💗💗 

#choices fic writers creations #playchoices #choices stories you play #cfwc creator of the month #oh-so-youre-a-nerd #choices fanart #playchoices fanart #december creator of the month

[olympeline]

Now my Hetalia passion has flared up again to early 2010s levels I’m feeling the itch to get back into writing fanfiction…which I really shouldn’t because I’m so bad at finishing things unless they’re one-shots 😂

EITHER WAY I’ve got an idea for a FrUK fic where Arthur’s magic gets so fed up with his centuries of endless tsundere posturing that it rebels against him and starts showering Francis with embarrassing affection. Because magically powerful but inept wizard Arthur is always fun and “character A is in denial about their love for character B, but it comes out through their magic anyway” is a trope I LOVE

It starts small. Arthur tries to hand Francis a pen and it poofs into a red rose when it touches Francis’s fingers. Arthur is flustered but manages to brush it off (Arthur’s Death By Mortification level: 5%)

After a brief scuffle over who gets the last chair with padding (“HAHA SUCK IT, ASSTOWN FRENCHY!!” - the former nation of Prussia) Francis tears his favorite silk shirt. He bemoans it to Arthur…only to find it’s suddenly fixed itself. Arthur denies all responsibility and says France just made a mistake as usual. France is adamant he didn’t (Arthur’s DBM level: 15%)

Francis, already one of the world’s prime gourmets, invites the G7 to dinner and his cooking jumps up another notch to stratosphere levels after Arthur takes his first bite. Everyone notices (Arthur’s DBM level: 30%)

Whenever Arthur visits France the country is blessed by mild winters, springs that would stun a poet, glorious summers, and radiant autumns. Meteorologists are baffled but no one is complaining! Except Arthur. The UK meanwhile suffers constant dark, glowering skies and sulky storms (Arthur’s DBM level: 50%)

Francis and Arthur stroll through the French countryside, Francis points out a historical excavation sight, and oh look what do you know: they just happen to pull out some ancient treasure that will be a crown jewel of the Lourve. Francis ecstatic (perhaps it was even something he lost centuries ago). Arthur quickly excuses himself and runs home (Arthur’s DBM level: 70%)

Pre-meeting, Arthur overhears Francis sighing that the Italy brothers are a shoe-in to take the world prize for best cheese this year (because that’s a real contest that France and Italy have an annual slap fight over) since the French cheese makers have had a bad year. Only oh no they actually haven’t! Seems there was a late entry that blew the judges socks off and gets France another gold. Francis is ecstatic again…and getting a little suspicious by this point. Arthur hides in a closet and wishes nations could know the sweet release of death (Arthur’s DBM level: 85%)

Francis brings up the Olympics at a World Conference and Romano, still sore over the cheese, loudly remarks that of course France will top the medal board with England “helping” so much with his “fucking Harry Potter wizard BS.” Suddenly all eyes on Arthur, France included. Kill him. Kill him now (Arthur’s DBM level: about 5 million)

Arthur when he gets home: STOP FUCKING DOING THESE THINGS FUCK YOU

Arthur’s magic: Nah fuck you, man *Flips him off twice and gives Paris another tourism boost*

#Hetalia #fruk #my posts #fruk fanfiction #or at least a plan for one #fruk is so good #love me loads of hetalia ships but fruk takes gold #like france’s cheese lol #aph england #aph france