#if we are talking about Merlin content creation no?

[anto-pops]

The Promise of Tomorrow - Sebastian Sallow x Female! Reader

Summary: “As utterly ravishing as you are in that dress,” he whispered against your lips in-between kisses, “I can’t deny that I would much rather see it on the floor.”

A laugh bubbled past your lips despite yourself, and you let your palms trail down Sebastian’s sides until you reached his waist. You hooked your fingers through his belt loops, tugging his lower half flush against you, and his hands fell away from your face to brace against the wall behind you, effectively caging you between him and the cobblestone at your back. “Have some things planned, do you?” 

Alternatively summarized as you and Sebastian attending the Yule Ball together before he whisks you away to the Room of Requirement to do exactly what you might think.

Word Count: 7.4k

Warnings: 18+, aged up characters, explicit sexual content, Garreth wearing Aunt Tessie's robes

This was HEAVILY inspired by @sallowly 's Yule Ball animation which can be found here ! The dress/Sebastian's suit are directly referenced from her work. I'm eternally grateful for being given the chance to build off of her creation ♡

The full fic can also be found here on Ao3 as per usual

“What in Merlin’s name are you wearing?” 

Sebastian gaped openly at Garreth, internally fighting the laugh that threatened to spill forth from his mouth despite his best efforts to smother it. The Gryffindor was decked out in quite possibly the most atrocious set of dress robes he’d ever seen, and judging by the look on the red-head’s face, he knew it too. It was frilly and lined with lace, and the material looked like a curtain that had been snagged off a window and stitched into something resembling clothes. 

Garreth’s face contorted into a pained expression, chancing a look down at himself and curling his hands into loose fists. “I don’t want to talk about it.” 

“I’m sure you don’t,” Sebastian remarked, lifting his glass to his lips in a bid to hide his growing smile. “Can I guess? Please let me guess–”

“No,” came his flat reply. 

“What is it?” Ominis asked curiously, turning away from the long table of finger foods to join in the conversation. Unlike Weasley, he looked like the epitome of poised finesse in his dark, tailored suit. “Whatever it is, it smells old.” 

“Oh, it looks old too. Seriously, where on Earth did you find such an antique?” Sebastian teased, and Garreth’s eyes made a full trip around their sockets before he waved off the jab. 

“Ha ha, very funny. If you must know, these have been in the Weasley family for years–” 

“Clearly.” 

“Oh would you shut up? I get it, believe me, I know. My mother wouldn’t let me get away with not wearing them though, she kept pestering me about ‘tradition’ and a bunch of other pointless nonsense. I was fighting a losing battle trying to convince her otherwise.” 

Ominis chuckled softly under his breath and twirled his wand idly between his fingers, “And you didn’t think to just change into something more fitting of the nineteenth century because…” he trailed off, the question hanging silently in the air. 

Garreth grumpily shoved his hands in his pockets and frowned, looking over his shoulder towards the massive entryway leading into the Great Hall. Professor Weasley was standing watch, ushering students in with practiced ease, and when she caught sight of her nephew staring, her smile was enough to give away precisely why the Gryffindor had been forced to endure his family's horrendous dress code. “My aunt would rat me out in a second if I did. Look, can we just forget about the hideous outfit already? I need a drink.” 

Sebastian had half a mind to offer Garreth the stolen flask of Firewhiskey tucked away in his suit, but he was honestly more inclined to save it for himself. Unbeknownst to his friends, he was wound tighter than a spring, the anticipation coursing through his veins causing him to shake his leg to dispel the nervous jitters he’d been dealing with since arriving. While he’d gone on plenty of dates with you in the last few years, this would be the first time the two of you attended something so formal as a couple. Asking you to the Yule Ball had nearly put him in the ground with how anxious he’d been– but attending the dance together was a completely different story. 

He wanted the night to go perfectly. 

His expectations were driving him up the damn wall. If there was one thing Sebastian hated more than anything, it was surprises, and that’s exactly what tonight was. One giant, looming unknown that had him thinking circles around himself. Dancing wasn’t the issue– he was great at that. It wasn’t even the hundreds of prying eyes that would be glued to you both when you eventually arrived, because he was more than used to the attention that came with dating the Hero of Hogwarts. 

No, Sebastian was simply nervous to finally put his long awaited plan into action. 

Everything was already set up in the Room of Requirement for later, so all he had to do was make it through the bulk of the evening without combusting or making a fool of himself. He could do that… right?

“Your nerves are showing, Sebastian,” Garreth teased as he leaned over the endless selection of food and drinks. His green eyes were crinkled in amusement as he observed the nonstop tapping of the brunet’s foot, and Ominis hummed in agreement. 

“I’ve been listening to him fidget for the last twenty minutes. I don’t know why girls take so long to get ready– I’m tempted to go and find his date so he’ll finally relax.”

Garreth laughed, and in the split second following, Sebastian saw his eyes land on something over his shoulder and widen comically. “No need for that… damn.” 

Nothing could have prepared Sebastian for the sight that graced him when he turned around. 

There you were, looking equal parts ethereal and powerful. Your dress was like nothing he had ever seen before; it was the darkest, most striking shade of black, rippling around your legs as though it were made of liquid as you strode through the arched doorway with your head held high. Embroidered down the side and along the strapless neckline were tiny gold leaves that reflected against the candles floating overhead, giving you a regal appearance that put even Ominis to shame. Maybe it was a trick of the light, but Sebastian swore that as you walked further into the room, some of the leaves from your dress trailed behind you and dissipated into shimmering dust. 

You twisted your hands together nervously as your eyes scanned the massive crowd, searching for the one person who could make existing in such an overwhelming environment bearable. Sebastian’s legs started to move of their own accord, carrying him away from the table and closer to you at the same time your neck swiveled in his direction, and the way your entire face lit up when you spotted him imbued him with the confidence that he’d been lacking minutes prior. 

Everything else was muted during those tentative seconds it took him to reach you, and once he came to stop in front of you with his drink still loosely gripped in his hand, it was as if no one else existed within the cavernous ballroom– only the two of you. For a moment, all he could do was stare with his mouth hanging open like a fish. The flush that spread across your cheeks had his heart doing acrobatics in his chest, and he swallowed around the lump in his throat before setting his glass down on an empty platter floating by. 

“Hi,” you said meekly, flashing him an easy smile in an attempt to conceal your timorous demeanor. He didn’t need to know that you’d spent five minutes outside with Poppy talking you off the metaphorical ledge and fanning you frantically with her hands. 

“Hey,” he replied, instantly cringing at the dry greeting. He quickly added, “I don’t think words can do you justice, if I’m being honest. You look otherworldly, darling.”

Sebastian’s words did wonders to school your nerves, a wave of warmth settling over you like a blanket. The soft smile that spread across your plush lips made his heart flip in his chest, and when he held out his hand for you to take, the tension in your shoulders slipped away. “Thank you, you look rather dashing yourself. Green continues to be your color,” you mused as your palm met his upturned one, intertwining your fingers through his longer ones easily. 

He steered you into the room, heading for Ominis and Garreth again to give you time to get settled before the dancing started. When your eyes fell on Weasley, Sebastian watched as your brows shot halfway up your forehead, and he could hear the laughter in your voice when you asked, “Oh gods, what is he wearing?” 

“Don’t bring it up. Something about ‘tradition’ I think, but he’s well aware that he looks like a decorative rug.” 

You had to hide your smirk behind your free hand as you approached the two men. Garreth’s grin was blinding as he raised his glass to you in silent greeting, and Ominis must have heard you walking up, because he turned fully to face you with his kind eyes crinkled at their corners. 

“I obviously can’t say for certain, but if Sebastian��s inability to form words when you walked in was anything to go by, you must look beautiful.” The blond had a tiny Cauldron Cake pinched between his skinny fingers, and he popped it into his mouth without a second thought as a blush crept up your cheeks. 

“Thank you, Ominis, you do too.”

“I look beautiful?” He mumbled around his mouthful, and the sound of his muffled teasing contrasting with his neat appearance made you chuckle. 

You swatted his shoulder playfully and shook your head, “You know what I mean.” When your gaze shifted to Garreth, he seemed to hold his breath expectantly. “You too, Garreth. Pink looks good on you.”

The red-head rolled his eyes playfully, but he was still grinning from ear to ear. “I’ve been told that lying gives you wrinkles, but I appreciate the sentiment.”

He lifted his glass to his lips at the same time the enchanted orchestra in the corner ceased playing. Hundreds of heads swiveled towards the front of the room as Professor Black made his way to the podium, looking all too irritated to have to entertain students during the weekend instead of… actually, you had no clue what Professor Black did in his spare time. 

Probably kick Puffskeins and style his mustache. 

“Welcome all, to this year’s Yule Ball. I see the festivities are in full swing already, but I’d like to remind everyone that standard school rules are still meant to be followed even on a night such as this one. That means no floozy behavior, no consumption of beverages not otherwise provided for you, and for the love of Merlin– no smoking of Mallowsweet in school corridors. That has become a rampant issue that I would prefer to not have to deal with on top of everything else.” 

As the Headmaster continued monologuing, you managed to tune out the remainder of his warnings in favor of ogling Sebastian. Your hands were still intertwined, and he had tugged you closer to him so your arms were brushing against one another in his subtle attempts to get closer to you. He really did look striking in his dark green suit; it was the first time you’d been privy to seeing him so dressed up, and you bit your lip hungrily as potent, lustful thoughts filled your mind. It wasn’t until the room was full of thunderous applause that you realized the introductions were finished and your boyfriend was side-eyeing you as you blatantly stared at him. 

“Something on your mind?” He whispered the question directly against your ear, sending shivers down your spine and making your toes curl in your heels. 

Your hand in his tightened a fraction, and you cocked a brow slyly as your lips curled into a feline smile. “A few things, yes.” 

“Anything I’d like to know about?” 

“I’m sure you would, but there’s a time and a place. Don’t they say patience is a virtue?”

Sebastian hummed, trailing his thumb sensually along your knuckles as he smirked wickedly against your temple. “I find it to be more of a nuisance, but I suppose it would be a waste not to make the most of you in that dress. Would you care to dance?”

The Slytherin’s heart damn near hammered straight out of his sternum when you turned to stare affectionately up at him, the mixture of your love and desire so palpable in the air that he swore he could cut through it with a Diffindo charm. “I thought you’d never ask.” 

—

You didn’t think you’d ever felt so weightless in your life. 

Sebastian’s hand clasped in yours was like an anchor, keeping you grounded to the present moment as he tugged you along behind him up the winding staircase leading to the Astronomy Wing. He was moving fast– clearly eager to show you the ‘surprise’ he had waiting for you there– but he had the good grace to stay mindful of your dress and your inability to move as quickly as he could. The two of you had been sneakily stealing sips of his Firewhiskey throughout the night, so the faint buzz you had going was enough to make you slow down and consider every movement carefully as you ascended the steps. 

When you reached the top landing, the brunet’s neck craned sideways to cast an exhilarated look your way, his excitement a tangible entity that had butterflies erupting in your stomach. All through the night, Sebastian’s eyes and hands had been stealing telling glances and coy touches as he twirled you across the ballroom. You knew there had been hundreds of eyes on you at one point; the charmed, gold leaves around the lower lining of your gown had fallen away in trails of sunset colored sparkles that were bound to draw attention as you’d danced. But none of it had mattered– not with Sebastian gazing longingly at you like you were the only thing that existed. 

He was doing so now, and you found yourself burying your general dislike of surprises for the sake of the evening. Anything Sebastian had planned for you was something you were sure to love, you were already certain of it.

When the two of you reached the empty wall across from the familiar troll tapestry, Sebastian swiftly pulled you ahead of him and spun you around– more shimmering leaves wisping off of your dress as your back made contact with the cool stone behind it. You barely had time to register the brazen move before your boyfriend’s lips connected with yours, and then his broad hands were sliding up your neck to cup your face and tilt your head back to deepen the kiss impossibly further. He swallowed your startled gasp instantaneously, brushing his thumbs along your cheekbones so tenderly that it made your heart fucking ache. 

 Merlin– sometimes your love for Sebastian overwhelmed you. 

“As utterly ravishing as you are in that dress,” he whispered against your lips in-between kisses, “I can’t deny that I would much rather see it on the floor.”

A laugh bubbled past your lips despite yourself, and you let your palms trail down Sebastian’s sides until you reached his waist. You hooked your fingers through his belt loops, tugging his lower half flush against you, and his hands fell away from your face to brace against the wall behind you, effectively caging you between him and the cobblestone at your back. “Have some things planned, do you?” 

“Of course,” he replied with that renowned Sallow-swagger that made you melt. “But not before you get to appreciate all of my hard work.”

You hummed thoughtfully as you leaned forward to kiss him again, breathing in his intoxicating scent of cedar and something akin to old books. His tongue slipped in your mouth easily, tangling with your own so fluidly that you suddenly found yourself all too eager to discover what he had in store for you. Sebastian let you drink in your fill of him, groaning softly when you shifted your hips to grind lazily against his steadily growing erection, and then he was pulling back with a heated look in his eyes. 

“Riveting as this is, I don’t feel particularly keen on taking you in the middle of the hallway.”

On cue, you felt the wall against your back begin to change. The cool stone morphed into smooth wood, and the massive entryway to the Room of Requirement revealed itself as Sebastian seemingly gazed into your very soul. “No public canoodling? Your surprise must be quite something, then.” 

For the first time since finding him in the Great Hall, Sebastian looked nervous. He stepped back and rubbed his neck sheepishly, giving you a half-grin that you could have honestly mistaken for a grimace. “I certainly hope so… come on.” 

He extended his hand once again and you took it graciously, moving off the door to make room for him to push it open. The brunet ushered you in, letting you enter ahead of him, and you barely made it three steps inside before you were halting completely. Your eyes widened and your mouth fell open in silent shock as you took in the magical sight before you. 

The Room was full of floating candles like the ones in the Great Hall, only these ones flickered with deep blue flames that seemed to cast the space in what you could only describe as pure moonlight. The ambiance had been changed as well, working in tandem with the romantic lighting so flawlessly that you were certain you had to be staring at a painting. You made a mental note to remember to thank Deek for his evident assistance. Bright red petals had been strewn across the floor, paving a rather telling path towards the slightly ajar bedroom door on the opposite side of the chamber. What was inside, you didn’t know– but the contrasting red glow from within had your mind flooding with unrestrained fantasies that made your stomach flip. 

Your legs carried you deeper into the room as you took in every unique change to your secret space, and all the while, Sebastian watched you virtually glide across the floor. The enchanted leaves running down your dress added a new degree of magic to the whole scene; the trail of gold flakes that evaporated into sparkling dust made you look like some sort of enchantress that had snuck onto the school grounds, and he found himself following you across the petals towards the bedroom in a trance. 

Sebastian had seriously outdone himself. You had no words. 

Pushing the door open revealed more floating candles– the normal colored ones– and an amorous display that made your breath catch in your throat. He’d replaced the usual bed linens with silky, red sheets that reflected the candlelight beautifully. You spotted a bottle of wine perched between two glasses on the nightstand, and situated behind it all was a fresh bouquet of roses that left a distinctly floral scent in the air. 

A large part of you wanted to cry from the affection that flooded your brain, but you willed away the urge in favor of turning around to face Sebastian. 

He was leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed– a hungry, almost insatiable look spreading across his features. Those lust-dark eyes of his were scanning you up and down like you were a whole meal, and given the set-up in the room, you were willing to wager a guess that his mentality was exactly that. The warm lighting in the bedroom bathed him in a seductive glow, and as handsome as he looked in his suit, you suddenly wanted him out of it. Pronto. 

“You’re speechless,” he observed, sounding almost timid as he spoke the words. 

“That’s a word for it.” 

“Good speechless or bad speechless?” 

You gave him a nonplussed blink before your brows slammed down, “Why in Merlin’s name would it be bad speechless?” 

Your ability to read Sebastian like a damn book allowed you to see the cracks in his confident facade as he dug the toe of his shoe into the stone floor. He shrugged, “I’m not sure. Maybe because I snuck in here and changed everything around. Although Deek did help some, so I guess I’m not solely to blame.” 

There were no thoughts in your head other than the rapacious desire to be close to him, and your heels echoed off the bedroom walls as you strode over to him in the doorway to yank him down to your level. You all but slammed your mouths together, stealing his breath with the intensity of your ministrations, and the action left little room for doubt. Sebastian returned the kiss with equal fervor, winding his arms around you to crush you against his front as you bit and licked at his soft, freckled lips. 

“You ought to stoke that confidence some more, because this is quite possibly the sweetest thing you’ve ever done for me.” Your praises did wonders to soothe his frayed nerves, seeing as you felt him relax under your touch as you sensually dragged your hands up to grip his strong shoulders. 

He chuckled proudly, pulling away to stare anticipatorily down at you with a smug look on his face. That was an expression you were all too familiar with. “You should know that where you’re concerned, I’m a split-second confidence kind of guy. The things you do to me and you don’t even know it…” he trailed off in a gravelly voice, and you shivered as you felt his palms begin skirting down your lower back to play with the zipper of your gown. 

“Oh really?” Your voice was airy, and your fingers dug into the smooth material of his blazer as you worked to maintain your composure. “Care to enlighten me?” 

Sebastian tilted his head to the side curiously before leaning down to brush a tiny kiss over the tip of your nose, “I’d much rather show you. What do you say? You want to let me take care of you, darling?” 

Your breath caught in your throat, rendering your tongue a useless paperweight in your mouth as it failed to form words, so you nodded excitedly instead and noted how Sebastian growled in response. Any awkwardness or uncertainty fell away when he claimed your lips again in a wet, needy frenzy, swallowing your surprised mewl as he walked you backwards towards the spacious bed. You felt his fingers return to your zipper and gently tug it down as the backs of your knees made contact with the mattress, and his hand on your hip kept you steady as his arm dropped ever-so-slightly to part the fabric of your dress. The velvety attire slipped down your body and pooled around your ankles instantly– a plume of gold sparkles erupting from it as it hit the floor. 

Sebastian broke the kiss to look down at you, his long, dark lashes fanning out across his cheeks as he took in your nearly bare form from head to toe. You followed the tight bob of his adam’s apple as his chocolate brown eyes roved over your breasts before they returned to your face, and then he was gingerly pushing you down onto the bed. 

As you scooted higher up the sheets, Sebastian’s gaze stayed glued to you while he shed his jacket, tossing it haphazardly to the side so he could begin undoing the buttons of his shirt. You watched him unblinkingly as he undressed– shamelessly licking your lips when his top fell open and revealed the taut plane of his stomach�� and the fuzzy trail of hair leading beneath his trousers had your knees clenching together in anticipation. With his button-up discarded, all that remained were the pants, and he elected to take his time undoing his belt with calculated movements as his eyes bored into yours. 

“I’ve been thinking about this all night,” he admitted, and the metal clink of the buckle falling away punctuated the statement. “Gods– I was ready to leave the second you walked in, you have no fucking idea.” 

You shuddered from the intensity of his words, boldly dragging one of your hands down between your legs to feel the wetness that had begun to saturate your undergarments. The sight of you touching yourself sent Sebastian into overdrive– and he wasted little time in shoving his trousers down and kicking them aside so he was donned in nothing but his briefs. His arousal was straining against the thin cotton– so much so that it had to be bordering on painful– but he made no signs of discomfort as he seductively started to crawl up the bed towards you. 

As soon as Sebastian was within reach, you abandoned your soaked nether region to curl your fingers around his neck and pull him towards you, kissing him desperately. You ran your hands down his freckled chest, then wrapped your arms around his midsection to ghost the tips of your fingers along his spine. The shiver it elicited from him had heat pooling in your gut, and your need for him started to shift into something even more ravenous. 

Sebastian dropped himself down onto his elbows to minimize the space between the two of you as your tongues tangled, and as he settled his lower half against yours, he ground his straining member against your clothed cunt. He groaned unabashedly, the sound low in his throat, and your lips took to wandering along his jaw, down his throat, before settling against the curve of his shoulder to sink your teeth into the soft flesh. 

“Fuck– I can feel how wet you are already. How badly do you want it? Tell me,” he implored you, his eyes fluttering shut when you laved your tongue over the light imprint of your teeth. “Talk to me, darling, please.” 

Merlin, his voice alone was doing things to you that rendered your vocal chords useless. You tried speaking anyway. “P-Please,” you rasped out against his spit-slick skin. “Please Sebastian, I need you– I’ve needed you all night–” 

“All night, huh? What exactly were you thinking about while we were on the dance floor, hm? What filthy thoughts are swimming around in that pretty little head of yours?” 

The way Sebastian was rutting against you– tempting you with every snap of his hips– was driving you absolutely crazy with lust, and your head fell away from his shoulder against the sheets with a low moan as your nails raked down his sides. To your dismay, however, he ceased his movements to sit up and plant his hands on your wiggling hips, pinning you down in place. His toned arms flexed as he applied a fair amount of pressure in a bid to still your writhing against the silky covers, and you bit your lip in blatant frustration, narrowing your eyes dangerously. 

“Don’t look at me like that, I asked you a question. Tell me what you want– what you’ve apparently been craving all night. You can do that for me, can’t you?” 

Leave it to Sebastian to still find a way to make you beg for his cock. The nerve. You scowled up at him, “You’re really going to make me say it?” 

He had the audacity to laugh at your impatience. “I would make you scream it if I wasn’t trying so hard to be nice.” 

You had half a mind to taunt him further and clarify that really– this was him being nice? But then one of his hands fell away from your waist to trail closer to your drenched underwear until he had the pad of his thumb planted directly against your clit. That was the extent of his mercy, though. He made no move to provide you with any friction or stimulation– he simply stared at you expectantly. 

Dammit. 

Your hips twitched, unconsciously seeking the reprieve his fingers could offer you. It mattered little though; his strength kept you pinned firmly in place. “I-I want you to fuck me,” you mumbled, cheeks heating with slight embarrassment. 

“Anyone could fuck you, sweetheart. You need to be more specific,” he fucking purred the statement, making your head spin and your inhibitions fly out the damn window. 

“You,” came your wheezed response. “I want you– I want your cock, Sebastian, all I need is you. Please fuck me, I only want you, please.” 

The sight of you flushed and panting, bathed in warm candlelight as your hands fisted ardently in the sheets, drove all of Sebastian’s blood straight to his cock. It twitched enthusiastically within the confines of his briefs. 

You felt the pressure from his arm let up at the same time he removed his thumb from your aching center. Impatient didn’t even begin to cover how you were feeling, but you were all too pleased when his fingers finally pinched the fabric of your panties to tug the material down your bent legs.

Shaking his head in near disbelief, Sebastian groaned, “You sound like a fucking dream begging for it, darling. I’ll give it to you, I promise.”  

His words soothed you, but you still tensed a little when you felt the tip of his finger slip inside your overwhelmingly wet heat. You sighed and spread your legs further to accommodate Sebastian’s kneeled position, and he took to trailing his free hand over your hip bones, then up your torso to squeeze at your breasts as he willed you to relax for him. Releasing your vice grip on the sheets, you wrapped your hand around Sebastian’s thick wrist while he toyed with your sensitive nipples– effectively losing yourself to the euphoric sensation until he was knuckle-deep in your clenching walls. 

A keening sound resonated from deep in your chest as you rocked back onto Sebastian’s finger, testing the feeling, and you bit your lip hard at the rumbling groan your boyfriend gave in response. He leaned down to pepper kisses along your shoulder, sucking at your collarbone and gently nipping at your neck, and when he thrusted his finger minutely and curled it towards your stomach, you shuddered and dug your nails into his forearm.

“Come on,” you whined, bucking your hips more insistently in response to his painfully slow pace. The brunet nodded, pumping his finger deeper, and he couldn’t stop the moan that tumbled from his mouth at how fucking tight you were. 

Sebastian worked you with the single digit for a moment before tentatively adding a second, his blood igniting in his veins at the airy gasp you let slip. Your name fell from his lips like a plea, and when he leaned up slightly to gauge your expression, the half-hooded look you bore was enough to make his stomach drop. “Gods, you’re perfect,” he virtually whispered. 

By the time you were amply prepared for him, your hands had abandoned the sheets and his wrist to clutch tightly at his shoulders, your sounds growing desperate and needy. Sebastian continued to spread and twist his fingers, trying to map out precisely where to aim to reduce you to gasping screams just as he’d promised. You were beyond jittery, though, winding your fingers into his curly brown locs to tug his face towards yours and glare openly at him. “I’m about to jump your bones,” you growled, rolling your hips against Sebastian’s fingers urgently. “Come on, Sebastian, let me– fuck–”

Sebastian grinned wildly at the way your back arched clean off the sheets, the tight gasp you pulled into your lungs imbuing him with a need for you that rivaled his need to breathe. Without missing a beat, he withdrew his fingers and frantically set to peeling his briefs away to free himself from the restrictive material. His girth arched proudly against his stomach, swollen and red and so fucking tantalizing. Your eyes devoured him greedily as he tossed the pre-cum stained attire over his shoulder, and then he was crawling over you once again with an animalistic hunger reflecting in his eyes. 

Hooking your legs around his waist, Sebastian braced his arms on either side of your head, gazing at you longingly as the head of his leaking cock brushed against your slick entrance. It took an insane amount of effort for you not to nudge him forward with your heels– forcing yourself to remain pliant as he pressed into you at an achingly slow pace. Your eyes rolled shut at the feeling of being breached, savaging your lower lip with your teeth as inch after inch of Sebastian’s incredible cock entered you. A contented whine weaseled its way from his throat as he bottomed out, and you cracked your bleary eyes open to find the freckled man staring at you with the ghost of a smile on his lips. 

“W-What?” You muttered, trailing your hands up his muscular biceps before interlacing your fingers together around his neck. “Don’t make me beg again, I already said please.” 

“I was just enjoying the face you were making,” he said with a smirk, grinding his hips enough to have you trembling and arching. “Like you were trying really hard to hold back. It’s hot as hell.”  

You fought a smile, tugging him down by his neck to capture his lips in yet another dizzying kiss. Sebastian bit and licked at your mouth with reckless abandon as he swallowed the sounds his efforts pulled from you, and he sighed before pulling away to brush a few strands of hair off of your forehead. He thrusted suddenly into you– catching you off guard– and your breath hitched at the same time your head fell back, effectively killing the remainder of Sebastian’s patience. 

Dropping one of his hands to your waist, Sebastian withdrew his throbbing member enough so that when he snapped his hips forward, you were jolted up the bed slightly. “Ah–” your sharp cry reverberated off the bedroom walls, and his hold on you instantly became possessive. 

Grasping onto you like his life depended on it, Sebastian dug his feet into the bed to lend some force to his thrusts as he worked himself into an even tempo. It felt mind-numbingly wonderful to finally be encased in your warm walls after day-dreaming about it all night. His mouth fell open with a shaky groan when he pressed his balls against your raised ass, the friction doing you both a slew of favors, and his vision flashed a brilliant white when he felt you clench around his cock and suck him in even deeper. 

“Oh fuck– fucking hell–” Sebastian grit through clenched teeth, pushing himself up fully so he was no longer hunched over you. You unhooked your ankles from around him so he could maneuver your legs over his bent ones, gripping your thighs with a bruising strength that made your mouth dry up in a heartbeat. He had a perfect view of you laid bare under him this way, and he shamelessly watched as his cock glistened with your slick when he pulled out right before plunging back in. 

Your spine rounded, a guttural moan ripping its way from your chest as Sebastian picked up his pace while simultaneously pulling you down onto his quick thrusts. It was pure rapture having his hands on you– demandingly shifting you around to steal his pleasure from your tight heat as he sought out the deepest parts of you. At one point, he released his hold on one of your legs to plant his broad hand on top of your stomach, relishing in how he could feel his cock each time he slid home. It was addicting– you were addicting— and the thought lit a fire in his very soul. 

“S-Sebastian,” you whined, gathering the silky sheets in your clenched fists as wave after wave of sheer pleasure washed over you. With your legs held in the brunet’s strong grip, he had the freedom to fuck harder into your slick folds, pulling noisy cries of his name and desperate pleas for more from your kiss-swollen lips. Your voice was loud in the humid room, your moans echoing off the walls around the two of you– and when Sebastian bucked harder so the sound of skin slapping against skin filled the space– you gasped frantically and writhed beneath him. He had to be hitting a good spot.

“You’re stunning, darling– so fucking good to me–” Sebastian managed to grunt out, pounding his cock into you with temerity that made your looming finish all the more potent. “Fuck, you feel incredible.” 

“Right there, S-Sebastian, fuck me right there, gods–”

The muscles in your stomach were tensing, and you were honestly shaking from the vigor of his thrusts. Sebastian groaned, the sound of your pleading little whimpers driving him mad with undiluted need, and he watched you blearily try to figure out what was going on as he hoisted your legs up and threw them over his shoulders. He moved over you, bending you in half at the same time he rammed his thick cock back into your cunt, and you were hardly given the space to breathe before your boyfriend was fucking you hard— his hips bucking rough and deep and so fucking good that you were left mewling and grasping helplessly at the sheets. 

Sebastian pinned you to the bed and fucked himself into you, his own moans dripping loud from his lips as his hands tangled in your hair and tightened around the strands. The sting was delicious and left you with no choice but to allow your lover to pull you closer to him while he filled you up over and over.  He drank in the sounds you made as your back arched off the sheets the best it could under his added weight, your thighs shaking and muscles tensing until you were barely holding on. 

“Like that– fuck, Sebastian, just like that, I’m gonna come–”

Unable to give a more coherent response than a gasping whine, Sebastian dug his nails into your scalp and was rewarded with the sweet sound of you wailing his name as you came violently, riding your hips down into his as much as you could. Your hands flew to his back to rake angry red welts down his sides, and Sebastian let your legs fall from his shoulders so he could wrap his arms around you and bury his face into the crook of your neck. He sank his teeth into the sweaty skin as he gave you the last of his deep, quick thrusts before he was coming inside— your name tumbling over his lips like a mantra as he fell into bliss.

By the time Sebastian was anything approaching coherent, you were still shaking under him, your legs wrapped tight around his waist. “Fuck,” he murmured into the hollow of your throat, untangling his hands from your hair and smoothing the mussed locs down. 

Sebastian pulled out with a small groan– your hips seemingly lifting to chase the marvelous feeling of being filled– but then he was planting his elbows on either side of you to brace himself as he kissed you breathlessly. You melted under him, curling around him ardently when he finally let himself tip sideways beside you. His chest was heaving with the deep breaths he sucked into his lungs, and you happily nestled your head atop his shoulder as your hands took to tracing invisible shapes and patterns along the taut expanse of his stomach. 

You dozed off sometime after Sebastian had started murmuring sweet nothings in your ear, and when you awoke a few hours later, you were still draped over him, his fingers idly trailing up the shallow dip of your spine. Stretching the best you could without disturbing the peaceful vibe, you craned your neck to look up at Sebastian sleepily, and his eyes crinkled at their corners as he smiled down at you. 

“Good morning, beautiful.” 

“Mmph,” you grunted, voice thick with sleep. “Is it morning already? You should have woken me up.” 

He shrugged and glanced at the open bedroom door, noting the lack of sunlight streaming in through the skylight. “Early morning, but not daylight hours quite yet. I figured you needed the rest.”

Humming appreciatively, you closed the minuscule space between the two of you to kiss him gently, and he sighed against your lips as his hands roved up your back once more to play with your hair at the nape of your neck. Everything about the moment was pure, and you found it all too easy to get lost in the sensations dancing over your still-sensitive body.

Sebastian broke away first, gazing at you strangely before he abandoned your hair to reach for the nightstand. “I was going to do this earlier before everything, but I uh… got distracted.” 

You couldn’t hide the flush that crept up your cheeks at the reminder. “Hm, I wonder why,” you teased. “Do what, though?”

He finally found whatever he’d been rifling around for blindly and met your inquisitive stare, swallowing nervously. “I’ve been thinking about what’s going to happen after we graduate. I’m sure you have your own ideas, but I just thought– well, I’d obviously like to stay together. I can’t imagine not having you beside me, but that being said, I’ll respect whatever you decide, even if it isn’t what I want to hear.” 

Your stomach flipped over on itself, and your eyes went wider than saucers when Sebastian revealed a small, velvet box gripped tight in his hand. Pushing yourself off of him, he flicked the lid open with trembling fingers, and your gasp was drowned out by the hammering of your heart in your ears. 

Inside was a thin, gold band adorned with a tiny, emerald gemstone that sparkled brilliantly under the flickering candlelight. Your mouth fell open as the implications of the ring bore down on you, and when you looked back at Sebastian, his eyes were scanning your face to gauge your expression. 

“Is that…?” 

“It’s only a posy ring, but I thought that it might make the next few months easier to anticipate. You’re my whole world, darling. I can’t fathom parting ways after everything we’ve been through, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t hope you felt the same.”

Warm, fat tears welled in your eyes then, blurring your vision before they were streaking down your cheeks without restraint. His anxiety leading up to arriving in the Room of Requirement suddenly made a lot more sense to you, and you realized that he’d planned all of this well in advance. How long had he been waiting to ask you? How long had he held onto the ring in the hopes that you would say yes? 

He still looked nervous, but it was drowned out by the complete adoration that glimmered in his dark eyes. 

“Yes,” you choked out, somewhere in-between sobbing and laughing as you sat up fully. “Yes, Sebastian– of course I feel the same.” 

Sebastian’s smile was blinding, and he plucked the ring from the box and slowly slid it on your extended finger, both of your hands shaking with barely contained excitement. It fit perfectly, and you gave yourself all of two seconds to admire the look and the feeling of it on your hand before you had flipped yourself to the side to straddle him. Your hands cradled his cheeks as you dipped your head lower to kiss him over and over, his soft laughter warming your heart and filling you with a sense of contentment you hadn’t known existed until now.

“I love you, Sebastian. I’ll travel to the ends of the Earth with you, never doubt that. My future is your future– my heart has always belonged to you– of course I’ll stay with you. Whatever is to come, facing it with you is all I want.” 

You didn’t think you’d ever seen him look so elated in all your time knowing him. His face lit up vibrantly at your declaration, and in a flash he had wrapped his arms around you to flip you back over so he was situated on top of you, gazing down at you with his hands running down your bare sides. 

He assaulted the entirety of your face with fervent kisses, laughing softly under his breath as you returned his affections with equal force. “I love you so much, darling. You’re my everything, I wouldn’t change a damned thing about the past knowing that it landed me here with you. I love you, I love you, I love you.” 

The remainder of the night was spent with the two of you beneath the silk sheets, the promise of tomorrow suddenly all the more exciting to imagine now that you knew Sebastian would be with you for the rest of your life. Posy ring or not, you’d already known that only death could take you from him– and even then you were certain you would find a way to keep loving him long after you were gone. 

Neither one of you would have it any other way. 

#sebastian sallow #sebastian sallow x reader #sebastian sallow x you #sebastian sallow x female! reader #sebastian sallow x mc #hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow smut #hogwarts legacy fanfic #sebastian sallow fanfic #sebastian sallow oneshot #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #my writing #dusting my hands and wiggling my fingers as I finally post this #I don't know why it took so long

[llamagirl28]

Merlin brings you an exciting vision of the future!

Hi folks, I have some very exciting news to share with all of you! For once, Merlin doesn’t bring you a vision of doom.

I've been talking with James from Infinite Stars, and I managed to secure Patreon trial access to their content as a thank you for all your amazing support! Your trial will allow you to access the Infinite Stars Patreon content at the Lieutenant tier, including the latest Patreon version of the game.

Let me introduce you to Infinite Stars, a science fiction visual novel with fantastic world building and a great story. You play as a "Mah'Abeu" shrouded in secrecy, sent on a secret mission to intervene and prevent the collapse of the fragile Human and Cephilusk alliance.

You can customise your Mah'Abeu over 600+ possible choices, and 114,000+ words of story as you choose your pronouns, your gender, and hundreds of other actions that subtly shape your character's personality and relationships.

To celebrate, we have some awesome things in store for you! You can play this short little scene where Merlin shares one of his curious visions about the future. What’s more, you can also customise your Mah'Abeu and play as Galahad du Lac's great-great-many-great grandchild, who still resembles Gally in appearance!

Aaaaaand as an extra little treat for everyone who’s been showing their love and support for The Bastard of Camelot, I will be making the very beginning of chapter 5 public! (Note: it’s not the whole of the Patreon/Kofi demo content, but enough to give you a taste of the new chapter and a look at Elaine!) On top of that, you can jump straight into it with the shiny and new quick-start character creation. Play the update here!

Give them a follow on Itchio, or download Infinite Stars on Steam (without the Patreon content.) 

If you like what James and his crew are doing, please consider supporting them on Patreon. 

Check out their tumblr here!

I hope you enjoy this cross-over, and if all goes well, we'll consider doing more fun promotions like these!

#interactive fiction #the bastard of camelot #infinitestars

[kaibutsushidousha]

Why do you think the Proto Merlin we see is Fou in disguise? I haven't been following this theory very closely so I'm interested in the arguments people have in favor of this

It all started in Lilim Harlot when Sodom's called Merlin "Beast of the Planet". This term has only been used before twice, once in the old material books and once in Mash profiles, both times referring directly and unambiguously to Fou.

Her reaction to being called that is, quote: "Oops, don't say another word. I haven't told anyone about this yet.".

From that point beyond, it was a look back at all of Proto Merlin's previous content to see what changes with the new "she might be Fou lens". The interesting findings there were:

First Hassan's main criticism of her in Lilim Harlot comes from her discarding her crown out of a personal whim. This was initially taken as her refusing to take the Grand Caster crown, but under the Fou lens, we can assume it refers to Fou abandoning the Beast IV horns for Mash's sake.

Fou has a not-yet-explained ability to know what happens in other timelines, being aware of Tsukihime's Primate Murder. Meanwhile, Proto Merlin takes part in Arcade's plot because she knew this was a timeline where Cath Palug wasn't in Chaldea.

Proto Merlin's Arcade profile notes that she switches her personal pronoun to ボク in her more personal moments. That's a thing male Merlin also does, but ボク is an informal masculine pronoun, so it makes perfect sense for him to switch to it when dropping the formalities. Proto Merlin going masculine when she drops the mask was vaguely suspicious, and it's even more so under this perspective because her "mask dropped" way of talking is identical to Fou's.

Kawasumi debuted as Fou's voice before she debuted as Proto Merlin's voice. Not a real clue but a curious piece of trivia.

Weight: 20 kg is still very weird but significantly less weird than before.

Hero Creation and Dreamlike Charisma are ranked lower, which could be because they’re imitations.

Mordred in Arcade feels the need to triple-check if Proto Merlin really is Merlin, although this could be just due to Merlin suddenly being a woman.

The main difference between Merlins as emphasized in her Arcade profile is that Proto Merlin isn't locked in the tower like Merlin. Getting out of the tower is a main point of Fou's backstory.

In Arctic Summerworld, Fou is always keeping watch on Lady Avalon because he doesn't know what she came there for, but he's consistently less hostile to her than he is to male Merlin.

And she came to mobile as Lady Avalon, but her Class is Pretender, meaning she doesn't come with her True Name registered. This is an intentional choice on her part and a secret she successfully keeps hidden. Unlike Oberon, Faker, or Tenochtitlan, she never gets her True Name Reveal scene so Chaldea is officially unaware of who she actually is. The Merlin reveal could have happened in her debut event, but since it didn't, Merlin is now the anti-climatic answer. It isn't worth holding the secret months for that.

#type moon #fate grand order #lady avalon #fou

[merlinmyrddin]

Okay, hear me out : there was not that much tease for the Merlin quizz yeah? And even if I would love a reboot/s6, I find it highly unlikely [mostly because I guess the BBC or an other network would have to jump the wagon, or it would have to be homemade movie style]. Also, the cast is living all around the globe yeah? Well, USA/UK. And the pandemic is still going, making any project harder.

So.

I see one plausible option here.

An audiobook. Either based on the s6 fanscript. Or any other content. Even a story arc made by them.

#sherlock's out *mic drop* #no but seriously : an audiobook or something along the line seems to be the easiest for them to do if we are talking about merlin contan #if we are talking about Merlin content creation no? #merlin fandom #eoin macken #bradley james #bbc merlin #theories #speculation #the once and future king #when albion's need is greatest #arthur pendragon #sir gwaine #knights of camelot #knights of the round table

[feather-dancer]

Tales of Arcadia fanfic recommendations part 7

It’s time for yet another round of recommendations! In this batch is the 80+ Rise of the Titans fics I read as part of the fanfic analysis which have their own section with Tales of Arcadia (Aka the TV part of the franchise) merged into one for ease sake. I’m currently on a bit of an older content binge on behest of someone which is giving me a break from RotT burnout, a few of which are on this list and the rest is already spilling into part 8 sitting in my drafts.

Hope you see something of interest!

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6

If at all interested in my own writing you can find it here!

Tales of Arcadia

A Thousand Years - A series of oneshots following the lives of Douxie and Zoe through the ages including some good old Zouxie fluff.

A Night Off; Comfort Zoe Night - Exactly as it says this is a bout of shameless Zouxie fluff because sometimes you have a bad day and there’s somebody who can treat you to a much nicer evening.

of poison, forest floors, and terrified wizards - It was just a simple errand for Merlin, one he’d done hundreds of times before so there was no reason to wake Archie from his nap and thus Hisirdoux Casperan went off alone. Even in his worst nightmares he couldn’t have expected being struck with poison designed to take out magic users.

Primordial Awakenings - We build our creations from the dead, give them names, offer them power then put them amongst the stars until we forget there was ever a before because the stories have already made them eternal. A delightful take on how the Order as we know might have come to be because sometimes you wonder what if they were birthed in the prehistoric?

Primordial Awakenings — Deleted Scenes - In case you need more content from the above :) This does contain Order ships of various directions.

Already Seen - Easy peasy, lemon squeezy Douxie is caught in the D'aja Vu as well and tries to figure out what the heck is causing it. Contains a little bit of Zouxie fluff.

Mama Bear - It is after Jim’s battle with Draal when Barbara catches sight of numerous bruises covering her son and along with all the other out of character incidents totting up of late naturally she thinks the worst.

Across the Stars - With Zadra now on earth and far away from home, she and Izita snatch the moments they can to to talk to one another. Zadita? Izadra? Genuinely no idea what the shorthand for the ship is.

Reading Wingman - Even the most experienced trolls can get caught out sometimes and in this case AAARRRGGHH shelters in the library. Adorable ensues.

Happy Birthday - Post Trollhunters season 3, everyone deserves a special treat on the anniversary of one of the worst days of your life and that includes Trollhunters.

heavy - Jim might have escaped the Darklands in body but the trauma continues to pursue through not only nightmares but all the way into the waking world too.

from now on - Post Trollhunters season 3, it was hard for Toby he and AAARRGGHH had been left behind but they try to struggle on anyway all the while counting down the days until their friends to come home.

Rise of the Titans

Unbecoming 2 Electric Boogaloo - There are always prices to pay and consequences for wanting to do the right thing if you choose to embrace selfishness instead of logic. You went too far back Jim Lake Jr., you were warned and the cold rush of reality is watching just out of sight to show you why.

Unlikely Places - They managed to stop the Titans with no losses despite it being very close leaving the Order in the very odd position of wrapping their heads around the After. For one former resident of Durio he’s about to find out just how they’re handling things first hand.

Tales of Arcadia: In Search of Home- After using diplomacy with a chance to right the wrongs of the world to bring Skrael on board he and Nari in turn offer the same to Bellroc . This leaves one Hisirdoux Casperan with two additional roommates, trying to make everyone comfortable as they experience new and fancy human things like pasta, earning your keep and the wonders of freezers.

A Better World - After jumping back in time Jim uses his prior knowledge to help nudge things in this timeline for the better with advice and jokes but always keeps the most precious (And painful) close to his chest. Sitting on the roof together one night Toby muses about this strange yet incredible life he’s led so far and what his best friend might have been through in his old one.

Time is a Fickle Thing... - When Jim used the time stone to go back he expected to wake up in his bed on the very same day he’d become the Trollhunter. Instead he awoke in the middle of the nearby woods little more than an observer of his 15 year old self armed with knowledge of the future and the determination to nudge the timeline for the better. This is of course assuming the second hand embarrassment doesn’t kill him first.

Minds are Troubled By The Emptiness - An epilogue for Nancy “Nana” Domzalski in a timeline that was not reset.

Tales of Arcadia: The Final Becoming - A complete rewrite of Rise of the Titans lets fucking go.

Lifting Atlas - It would be unwise to go back in time without a plan so one is cobbled together involving contacting Douxie as soon as possible, bring him on board and try to right the mistakes of the past to save everyone they lost. The trouble is you can’t run from the trauma that led to your best friend dying before your eyes, not even with time travel.

Content warning for the first chapter: There is mention of previous sexual assault and suicide that does not have an in fic warning nor is it tagged. It is mentioned during Jim’s conversation with Douxie and a second time in a vague way after the time jump when they meet up.

Stricklake

Without you there is no world - A oneshot series for Stricklake month following a range of themes from excellent sci-fi worldbuilding, dabbling in one of the author’s AUs, the perils of gravesand and closing with a rather well deserved dig at THAT scene from RotT.

stricklake month...2!!! - Do you want Stricklake that borders on domestic in a range of circumstances including big brother Jim? WELL.

Darling Play Your Violin - There is a saying that history repeats it’s self and it is certainly true for those who live long enough to feel it’s echoes. Sometimes you are given a second chance which turns bittersweet while another will be met with mirth but at least at the end of it all you can say you tried.

To family - Seeking to propose to Barbara, Strickler decides to ask someone dear to them both for permission due to their incredibly complicated background. A trio of toddlers act as witnesses oblivious to their big brother’s sass and plotting.

Parent conference day - Set post RotT, some memories are lingering in the form of dreams that once were, it just takes a chance encounter to start bringing sense to them.

Stricklake Baggage Babeyyyyyy - Walter Strickler is not an innocent changeling which is something Barbara is well aware of. The problem is sooner or later the question has to be asked no matter how scared you are of the reply: Did you kill Principal Levit?

Alternate Universe

"I'll Still be Here." - Once more falling into the “This isn’t technically AU but it doesn’t feel right to put it elsewhere somehow??” issue. Well before two boys will find an Amulet in the canals this is a reminder of how loved ones can be the best thing when anxiety brain gets ideas. Autistic Toby with a side order of Joby/Hammerhunter.

Daddy Issues - So Bular accidentally ended up adopting teeny Jim and it’s adorable.

The End Is the Beginning Is the End - After what should have been a fatal car accident Barbara is offered a choice: Perish or live by trading whatever her saviour decides. She might have thought it was the delusions of a dying mind but the consequences do not agree.

A Brief Reliving of Troll Lore - Camelot has gained unexpected time travelers darkening their doors except this is set in the 7th century and the journey home is going to be a whole lot rougher with survival just as important as preventing history being screwed up. This is a Jim centric fic.

#Trollhunters #3Below #Wizards #ToAWizards #Tales of Arcadia #Rise of the Titans

[fill-me-with-your-memes-daddy]

Watching the Rise of the Titans movie and I'll be documenting all of my thoughts/reactions here. [Spoiler Warning]

So instead of reblogging every new update, I'm just going to have this post up on my phone as I watch and type my reactions in a bullet list format.

Nari's human disguise is so cute. As someone who does have a cottagecore aesthetic, I want to cosplay her so bad

Are Skrael and/or Belroc non-binary coded? Regardless, I'm also obsessed and I want to fuck Skrael and be Belroc.

STEVE CARING ABOUT JIM BEING HURT YESSSS!!! My god his redemption has probably been one of the greatest there is because he doesn't just suddenly go from being a bully to a completely good person. You can see the gradual shift in learning better throughout the shows which is awesome.

IN NEW YOOOOOOORRRRRRRK!!!!!! CONCRETE JUNGLE WHERE DREAMS ARE MADE OFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!!!

The mugshot montage reminded me of season 1 of trollhunters when toby and Jim were arrested at the museum.

STRICKLER PUT A RING ON IT??? HE'S THE ONLY DILF IVE EVER ACTUALLY AGREED WAS HOT WYM I CAN'T HAVE HIM??? well I'm still really happy about his arc over the series probably one of my favorite character growths.

Eli my guy got his growth spurt!!! As an 18 year old who is still 5'0", I'm happy but envious for him

So I went into this movie without watching any trailers or promo, but I doubt anything could have prepared me for the existence of mpreg. In fact, I wasn't going to document my reactions until I saw that.

NAMURA!!!!!!!!! MY BELOVED!!!!!! I CAN STILL THIRST FOR YOU WITHOUT GUILT

The coach teacher just called the kids zoomers so I have to dock one point from my final rating just because of that. Unforgivable

Those husky animation models suck lmao

Oh fuck the titans got power ranger zords!!

God why did they include the mpreg??? This movie would have been perfect without it.... After that plot point being revisited only one time I'm already beyond done with it

Like it's bringing me back to the v*ltron days where they're was a suspiciously high amount of klance omegaverse and mpreg fics and art created and it physically hurts because Steve and Keith's voice actor is the same person meaning this is especially cursed to me since I was unfortunately in the v*ltron fandom and remember all of that

But like on another note, how old are these characters again??? I haven't checked any wikis because of spoilers but is Steve an adult??? I know aja might be technically a lot older than 18 because alien but is whatever age she is equivalent to an adult as far as emotionally and physically in Akaridion development??? IS THIS A TEEN (M)PREGNANCY IN A KIDS SHOW????

Like bruh I saw a singular post on here before going into the movie that was like "rott spoilers without context" and there was a pregnant belly but I was absolutely not expecting the actual context of it. I'll find the post after I finish and edit this post to tag the creator right here: @makoden

This entire post is just gonna be me ranting about mpreg huh

Anyway I love the whole roundtable allusion to the legends of king arthur (not the toa version but the one he's based off)

THERE'S 3 TO 5 BABIES????? I need to take a break bruh this is just too much

Alright I've taken a 30 minute break got some food and did some things i love (decompressed by tactile stimming with some owl plushies and watched some videos on my favorite owl, Garu. He lives in Japan with his owner and is a domesticated eagle owl who basically just acts like a sky cat. If anyone else needs some eye bleach, here is their YouTube channel)

Blinky and ARRRGHHH!!! saying their "if one of us doesn't make it" talk my god one of them is going to die I can see it and I will be utterly crushed. Jim can't lose another father figure and Toby can't lose his wingman again I will riot if this happens

On a similar but unrelated to the movie note, can we just talk about how toa started with Jim having 0 dads and (if strickler and blinky live to the end) will end with 2 dads? Like I just really feel happy for him that he has two dads who actually figured out how to put the past behind them to not have any infighting between them so that both of them are healthy father figures. Jim has already been through literal hell and back losing his actual humanity in the process so if he loses one of them, I'm going to be really pissed because at this point, this is just Jim torture porn. Y'all know how as SpongeBob SquarePants went on, the show just became Squidward torture porn? It's starting to feel that way for toa and I really hope they cut the shit by the ending

Jlaire is such a good ship but like I feel like it's too perfect they never disagree with each other

YESSSSSSS Someone finally doesn't treat toby like a fat waste of space who messes stuff up!!! I think out of all the characters that would have been most deserving of a rewrite, it's Toby. Sometimes I just feel he's only comic relief and any heartfelt moments he's had in the series was also born of stupidity (ie his flour baby project being unharmed was seen by him as divine intervention from his parents but was actually just Eli and Steve behind the scenes).

Ohhhhh yesssssss Archie's father!!! I was hoping I'd see him again because we got so little of him last

Ooooooooooh Asian trollmarket!!!!!

Oh never mind slavery trollmarket

Bruh titanic camelot

I feel like we're not seeing enough of the villains because I completely forgot about the power ranger zord things

NAMORA NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MY LAST CRUSHHHH

STRICKLER NO NOT YOU TOO PLEASE

WHAT THE FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE ONLY TWO CHARACTERS I SIMP FOR ON THIS SHOW DIED WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF EACH OTHER

THAT WHOLE ASS RANT I WROTE IS COMING TRUE FUCK THIS MOVIE THIS SERIES IS JUST JIM TORTURE PORN

WAIT JIM'S SPERM DONOR INFO?

Oh thank God I don't want to know anything about that person

For the record, I call that man Jim's sperm donor because he has no business being called a father to him. All he did was donate some swimmers to the creation of him and give him abandonment issues

Oh another blind troll elder???? This fucker is just if vendel was a bad guy

Bruh I was grieving

PACIFIC RIM WITH GUN ROBOT VEX AND THE BELROCZORD? I've never seen that movie but I know the reference

Bruh Blinky doesn't read horoscopes? Does he realize conspiracy theories are just the manly version of horoscopes?

NO DON'T KILL VEX STOP KO-ING FOUND FAMILY MEMBERS

Oh thank God he's okay

NO NOT ARCHIE AND CHARLEMAGNE OH MY GOD

oh never mind they're just gonna coup de tat I believe in them :))

But I want to see him again

But I'm glad to see vex

Yay they're in arcadia!

But yeah I wondered why the trolls and Merlin didn't keep the whole "daylight doesn't hurt trolls" feature from the eternal night but now Guillermo del Toro I see you were playing the long con in that just to kill my girl Namora :(((

Oooooh I love the animation of the Narizord over Chihuahua!! It looks very good and realistic (if only they could have put some of that into those huskies from before smh)

Bruh the character designs of the arcane order are so good I want to be them

Nari making sure the Skraelzord doesn't crush the bus

DAMN DOUBLE HOMICIDE

Bruh I'm just glad we finally have an answer on why arcadia had everything going on as opposed to literally anywhere else!! I always found that as a weird coincidence for plot convince.

BRUH WERE BACK TO THE MPREG IM SO JEALOUS I FORGOT ABOUT THAT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS GRIEVING THE LOSS OF MY LOVELIES.

Oh that's real convenient that the ninth configuration meant all of them. Way to not decide which character gets more attention. Though it probably was a smart way to not have any infighting in the fandom between each character's stan group.

Bruh I just realized where is Barbera did they just ditch her on the Camelot ship???

And where are the other trolls that migrated at the end of trollhunters s3? They said something about new jersey but obviously Jim and the other main characters got on Camelot instead.... This feels like a plot hole

And we never learned the process of how changelings are made and bonded to humans and stuff. We just know it's super painful but I'm curious ffs!!!!

THE DONT THINK BECOME HERO SPEECH ALL SAID TOGETHER!!!

BRUH THEY REALLY HAD TO SHOW HIM GIVING BIRTH??????? WAS THAT AN ABSOLUTE MUST??????

Plus the main audience for this series is little children (the rating for the movie is literally TV-Y7) so even though my adult ass is not in the target audience, I STILL DONT UNDERSTAND WHY WOULD MPREG AND ANAL BIRTH WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT THING TO 7 YEAR OLDS???? THIS IS A LITERAL FETISH HIDDEN IN KIDS CONTENT ITS ELSAGATE ALL OVER AGAIN Y'ALL 😭😭😭😭😭

Though it's probably hypocritical of me to think fetishes don't belong in kids tv when I've openly admitted to thirsting for strickler and namora

HUZZAH

NEW AMULET WAZ GOOD????

STAB THAT BITCH JIM

WAIT NO I SAID STAB NOT GET STABBED

Alright good job just missed the directions at first but you fixed it

SEVEN KIDS?????????

T O B Y ????????????

W A I T NO

N O

IS HE ACTUALLY

OH MY GOD THERE'S HOPE

NO THERE ISN'T

F U C K THIS SHIT THEY REALLY JUST HAD HIM TO BE BULLIED THEN KILLED

Y'ALL IM ACTUALLY CRYING THIS NEVER HAPPENS

I NEVER ACTUALLY GET SO EMOTIONAL OVER MEDIA THAT I CRY IT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE AT THE END OF VOLTRON BUT AHHHHHHHH

W A I T

HE'S GONNA BE BROUGHT BACK?????

HOLD UP THEY'RE JUST GONNA BRING ALL THOSE DEAD PEOPLE BACK??????

WAIT IS HE

BLINKY CALLED HIM A SON

HOLD ON IS THIS GOING TO BE A CLIFFHANGER???????????

BRUH THEY REALLY JUST CAN'T END THE SERIES WITHOUT CLIFFHANGERS like there's always an open ending

TROLLHUNTER TOBY????? You know what forget the whole rants I had on how toby was written they just redeemed it all

And that's all! I'd rate it a 6.5/10 because it's definitely the weakest of all the sequels but still had amazing animation and some good plot points. It's just really hard to look over the bad stuff enough to rate it any higher.

#tales of arcadia #rise of the titans #trollhunters #rott #rise of the titans spoilers #rott spoilers #toa #3 below #athena's own original post! #jim lake jr #claire nuñez #toby domzalski

[camelotsheart]

It has recently been brought to my attention that there has been a lot of reposts happening in regards to Merlin edits, so I want to make a post to talk about this issue. Both to speak up for editors who’s edits are being reposted and to help new editors with resources and tips so they don’t end up turning to reposts.

Consider the gifset above. The left gifs are unedited, while the gifs on the right are. This is to give you an idea of the amount of adjustments we do to scenes on a show, which are often dark, have horrible colour balance, and lack sharpness. This applies to fanvids, photo edits and any other kind of edited content. It is not fair, then, for someone to take an edit from a creator’s account and use it to make their own. You are disrespecting the creator and the time and effort they spend into making these edits look presentable. You are also violating Tumblr’s rules regarding reposting and attribution.

For our reposters who don’t know any better because they are new to tumblr and haven’t yet been told of the rules regarding reposting and gif-making, consider this your first lesson: never, ever use other people’s edits as part of your creations . This includes gifs, photos, manips, fanvids, and all other kinds of original content (e.g. don’t use a gif to make your own, don’t make a gif from a fanvid, don’t take photos of a gif to make a photo edit, don’t use another person’s fanvid in your own fanvid.... you get the idea). Doing so will run the risk of the owners of these creations reporting you and your account getting suspended.

Now that the nitty gritty part is done and over with, I’ll offer solutions to three of the most common complaints I’ve seen with creators who are at the initial stages of trying their hand at creating content 😊 :

1. “I don’t have HD files of my show so any edits I make are bad quality.” Try asking around! Make connections, join a tumblr group, join a discord server, heck -- ask your favourite giffer! They’ll certainly prefer you asking them for files than stumbling across a repost of their gif. Lots of people are willing to help new editors ✨

2. “I don’t have fancy programs to edit with.” Photoshop is by far the most efficient and popular program for editing. Again, don’t be afraid to ask around for download links! (Here are some very detailed step-by-step tutorials for giffing on photoshop: 1, 2, 3) Another option would be Da Vinci Resolve, which is free to download here.

If neither Photoshop nor Da Vinci works on your laptop because it takes up too much RAM, there are also online programs that are free to use like photopea, which has similar functions as photoshop. Here’s a tutorial on how to make gifs using free onlline websites. The above gifsets were made using this method.

3. “My editing skills are horrible.” Practice, practice, practice! Editing is a hobby and a hobby should be something you love. Believe me, it’s much more satisfying when you learn to edit scenes the way you want it to look instead of mix-matching from other people. The gifset looks way prettier, and you won’t run the risk of someone reporting you and getting your account suspended.

All in all, have fun! Don’t stress if your first edit doesn’t end up as good as you want it to be - we’ve all been in that position. Keep on learning and growing, don’t compare yourself to other people, do what you love to do and never stop as long as it makes you happy ✨

#bbc merlin #merlinedit #giffing #reposts #merlin #merlin bbc #just to clarify: i'm not trying to call out anyone with this #these are just general trends that i've seen amongst reposters #to all the newbie gif makers -- good luck with gif making! #we're all here to help you. don't be afraid to approach any one of us for links or tips #or even just to have a chat!

[barbiegirldream]

It’s pretty humorous to see a good portion in the fandom scurrying around in panic/acceptance that if one person, who they deem to be the “head” of the dsmp (not Dream), decide to wrap up their lore that means the fandom is gone.

The reality is what keeps fandom going is the fans, not the form of media they gathered together for. Yes, there is content for us to talk about, draw, and write fanfics for. However, those creations come from us through our creativity and passion. Not because we got a new episode every day and that gives us “fuel” to keep going.

Funnily enough, my first fandom experience was for a childhood show that was very much done at the time. There was petitions and hope for past cancelled projects for the show to come back, but we pretty much accepted it. My love for the show also guided me to other fans that I become good friends with and content they made in their excitement that still very much existed. In cases when they leave, we just wish them good luck and keep moving forward.

Even if the show was “done,” I had so much fun engaging with the fandom that was still going because of their love for the content. So I wouldn’t expect it to be any different in this fandom even if some leave, because this fandoms is for us to have fun with :)

- Celestial anon

I knoww. I’m a Merlin fan like for real I get the spirit of fandoms living past the show ending.

And Wilbur’s role in the DSMP I think has been greatly exaggerated. Everything runs it’s course. This is a super successful SMP and I think everyone would relax a bit more CCs and fans if they stopped expecting the level of content we used to get.

And obviously I think as long as anyone wants to keep doing lore and Dream wants to keep running the server doom posting is just as annoying as pestering for lore. Because it can start to feel like people don’t care about their lore you know.

I wish people would just learn to enjoy things genuinely.

#celestial anon

[xolaanii]

CREATOR SHOUT-OUT

Finally doing one of these again as I said I would! I was away doing college stuff for quite a while but I never stopped coming here to see your amazing creations so now that I have the time let’s do this! Please check out all the blogs I mentionhere they are amazing.

@deimcs - started following for the assassin’s creed content and was not disappointed. I saw this ac vallhalla set [x] yesterday and it was so goddamn stunning I cried a little ngl. also this one [x] had me screaming but i’m ok i’m ok i’m o-

@zoya-nazyalenskys - mmm hi hi hi so you and I need to talk... this amount of talent? criminal! absolutely criminal! pls slow down because this plebe can’t even keep up. Look at this Genya [x] set!! And this Witcher one with Ciri and her grandparents [x]?? I’m in tears wtf..

@arthurpendragonns - Ma’am and you didn’t have to do me like this with that Lancelot [x] gifset alright. Also the sun and moon set for Merlin and Arthur [x]? Sublime! Unlimited talent! Beautiful! Incredible! Never done before! Amazing! Tear inducing! Stunnin-

@ughmerlin - And for the most gut punching and amazing gif of the week we have this one [x] thank you everyone we can all pack and go home because holy crap... The measure of love is this gifset thank you. Also this one [x] tho *bites down sob*.

@inejz-ghafa - this yennefer set [x] own my entire heart, everything about it is so perfect and sad and ahhhh i love it so much. And this one for Inej in the episode “No Mourners” [x] is by far the best I’ve seen for her just everything from the colours to the blending to the typography is PERFECT.

@ciaramedba - the gif colouring?? is so on point?? i’ve never seen anything like it. and for video games too! we all know those have ass lighting but you, you work magic. This set for ac vallhalla [x] + text posts had me dying of laughter. And this gifset of Bayek [x] is just so pretty like that blue!!!!

@gingerlambert - I just need to gush about this edit for Geralt [x]! It’s so amazing i can’t even imagine how long it took. The shape of the wolf?? Jawdropping! Also this hilarious one of Geralt + ao3 tags sjkdv [x] 

@lady-arryn - have never seen someone make gifs with softer, more ethereal colours. what is your secret ewfkdjbds. I adore this costume appreciation for Theoden’s robes [x]. And this gifset of Frodo is so beautiful and makes my heart hurt [x].

#there are obviously a lot more gifmakers that i adore #i could be here listing for at least a week #you guys are amazing <3 #love logging in and seeing all of your beautiful creations #p: txt #p: shout-out

[electronicdelusionstarlight]

Ok but, like, thinking about it, the Trollhunters movie gives you a perfect ending for a infinite time loop scenario.

Due to the Time Stone fusing with Jim's very soul, now he is forced to go back in time at the start of the series after either he dies or enough atrocities happen to jumpstart the time loop back.

So now he is alone, braving a constantly repeating world, every time trying to achieve the best possible scenario by fixing things the best he can.

Which then leads to the most disparate timelines. Timeline 2, With Trollhunter Toby, manages to get fairly ok because Jim knowledge of the future allows him to dodge some of the issues, but with Stricklander both dating his mom and having to kill a Trollhunter different than him, things go to shit fast.

Timeline 3 he gives the Trollhunter business another go, and things go better than expected, but the earth is conquered by the Akyridians due to the butterfly effect.

Timeline 4 has Barbara as Trollhunter by sheer coincidence, and believe it or not is probably the best one yet until his mom sacrifices herself to save Morgana in the past.

Timeline 12 has Claire as Trollhunter, but ends up with her being corrupted by shadow magic and becoming a terrible creature of the night after Merlin forces her into Troll Form.

Timeline 16 has Toby's nana as Trollhunter. She gets a Goblin army and turns Arcadia into a city state under her iron fist, in the post apocalyptic United States living in a world without sun.

Timeline 31 is the Trollhunter Steve Timeline. We don't talk about the Trollhunter Steve Timeline.

By timeline 61 Jim is starting to get desperate. He frees Angkor Rot and uses it as his assassin to restore the balance. Only ends up making things worse.

Trollhunter Aja from Timeline 75 ends up becoming another ruthless dictator under a united intergalactic empire.

The one in Timeline 78 dies tragically to protect both her homeworld by teleporting General Morando and his army into Gunmar prison and then detonating her mothership.

Trollhunter Strickland in timeline 88 is not the worst one yet honestly. Managed to do way less damage than Trollhunter Bular from timeline 81 at least.

By timeline 100, Jim has lost all hope, trapped as he is in a endless vortex of pain and suffering and time loops.

Maybe he should have just been content with the consequences of his actions.

In timeline 100 he helps the world be reborn anew, dying in the flames of its creation, hoping that in the new world time will stop trapping him.

He then wakes up in timeline 101, and nothing has changed again.

And so he begins anew.

#jim lake jr #trollhunters #tales of arcadia #rise of the titans #rott spoilers #rott

[fishoutofcamelot]

IT’S OFFICIAL! I’M MAKING A MERLIN-THEMED D&D CAMPAIGN!!! <3

Do you like Merlin? Do you like D&D? Do you like the idea of D&D but don’t know how it works? Then The Rising Sun campaign is just for you! (named after that one tavern in Camelot lmao)

CAMPAIGN PREMISE:

Jailbreak! The members of your party have been locked away in Camelot’s dungeons and must work together to bust out. But with a mysterious curse terrorizing the city, that might be easier said than done. Takes place during the three-year gap between seasons 4 and 5.

BASIC INFORMATION:

4-6 players, all at LVL3

Is this your first game? Your 50th game? All experience levels accepted!

Will feature monsters/characters/settings present in BBCM canon

The session will be recorded and posted to Youtube, so even people who don’t play can still join in on the fun!

Wanna chat about Merlin? (And D&D, but mostly Merlin) Join the Rising Sun Discord Server!!!

It’s a oneshot campaign, meaning there will only be one session

Submit your character sheet/s to me (email under the cut) by November 15th!

The exact length of the session will depend on player availability/preference, and how long it takes us to get through the campaign. But expect it to take around 2-4 hours

You can play as a canon character (like Mithian or Percival), or make an OC 

We will be running this through D&D5e (5th edition) as this is what I’m most familiar with. If you don’t know what that means, don’t worry about it!

Players must have access to Discord. Announcements, party talk, scheduling, etc. will be held on an exclusive channel through the Rising Sun Discord Server

WANT TO GET INVOLVED WITHOUT PLAYING?

Don’t worry, we’ve got something for everyone! I want this to be something everyone in the fandom can enjoy :)

The campaign will be recorded virtually and posted to Youtube in 30-minute parts/episodes, with captions available

Transcripts will also be posted to AO3

Join the Rising Sun Discord Server!

Don’t have a Discord account? Information about the campaign will also be posted to the Rising Sun Campaign tag on Tumblr

Feeling artsy? Feel free to post it! Any campaign-related art sent to me (through Discord, Tumblr, or Gmail) will likely be posted to my Tumblr blog and also feature in one of the episodes uploaded to Youtube, provided you give me permission to do so <3

Interested? More details under the cut! 

PROJECTED TIMELINE

November 1: Player Submission period opens

November 15: Player Submission period ends

November 20: Official player + character list announced

December 18-January 18: Campaign session held. The exact date/time will depend on the availability of party members, but this is just the time period in which it’s most likely to happen (it’s my winter break!)

January/February: Campaign “episodes” will be uploaded to Youtube on a weekly basis, with their respective transcripts posted to AO3. Official release schedule to be posted after the campaign has been recorded

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Submit to my email: [email protected]

If you don’t know a lot about D&D and want me to teach you/help you make your character sheet, let me know through Tumblr! 

Submissions should include your: 

Tumblr URL and/or Discord ID

Time zone

Expected availability between Dec18-Jan18

Experience/comfort level with D&D

If you are willing to have your face shown in the recording

Character sheet/s

Any homebrew content you would like to use

You can submit more than one character sheet, but you can only play as one character, and only one character will be accepted into the campaign

If we get more than 6 submissions, players will be chosen based on their availability, friendliness, and how well I think their character will fit into the campaign/party

If you’re accepted as a player, I will let you know via Tumblr/Discord before posting the official player list to Tumblr. You will also be granted access to the Party-Only channel on the Rising Sun Discord server

You MUST be a member of this server, as crucial party discussions, announcements, and Zoom links will be shared there

Make sure to have everything submitted by November 15th!

GUIDELINES

My time zone is PST. Expect this to influence scheduling

If you aren’t comfortable having your face in the recording, you can turn your camera off! However, I will ask that you at least keep your mic on

The session will be held and recorded through Zoom. Make sure you have access to this program! 

Due to Zoom restrictions, a Zoom meeting can’t be any longer than 45 minutes. So the session will probably be broken up into 30-minute meetings, with 5-minute breaks in between each one. The Zoom link/s will be posted to the Party-only channel on the Rising Sun server. If I find a more efficient way of doing this, I will let you know

There will be a session zero, also on Zoom, about a week before we record the session. This is just a quick and casual opportunity for us to meet, work out any technical issues, address campaign expectations, talk about our characters, and get to know each other better <3

General courtesy and Zoom/D&D etiquettes apply. Don’t be a dick!

I might end up commissioning/having art done of the Player Characters (PCs). If you’re not okay with that, let me know!

CHARACTER CREATION

Put your character at LVL 3

Homebrew content is allowed, so long as you have me look it over first!

Use the D&D5e character sheet for character creation (if you need help accessing this I can send you an editable pdf, or help you find an online character sheet creator)

CANON CHARACTERS

Make sure all information on your character sheet is accurate to canon. Any deviations from canon (like giving Elyan magic, or making Percival a time-traveler) must be talked over with me first

Does their canon background have holes or unknowns? Fill them in yourself! Get creative <3

If this character doesn’t have a race available in D&D, like a sidhe, then you have two options. You can either homebrew their profile, or you can using an existing race profile that’s similar while clearly establishing what their real race is

When writing their backstory, try to think of how they would fit into the campaign. Why are they in the dungeons? Is Merlin suffering the aftermath of a magic reveal gone wrong? Did Gwaine get into a tavern brawl? Has George been framed for murder?

OCs

Be creative! Time travelers, shapeshifters, orcs - as long as you develop it well enough, I’ll probably allow it

If your character has a race/species that doesn’t exist in BBCM canon - like an elf or a dwarf - then provide backstory as to why their people are never seen or mentioned in the show. Did the dwarves go into hiding during the Purge? Is your character the first of their kind? Were they cursed into a non-human form?

In the event that we get someone to do art for the PCs, please make sure the physical description of your character is very clear and concise. Consider including reference art of some kind as well. This will hopefully make it easier for the artist/s to do their thing

When writing their backstory, try to think of how they would fit into the campaign. Why are they in the dungeons? Did they get caught trying to kill the king? Did their friend turn them in for sorcery? Did they steal something from the vaults?

This should be a chance for us all to goof off and have fun, so I’m not gonna be super strict on the rules. And if you have any questions, hit me up on Tumblr!! <3

#yall its finally happening!!!! #i have been legit working on this for over 2 weeks now #i made graphics #and a discord server #and ive got a whole bunch of resources compiled for any newbies who need them #i taught myself some rudimentary animation + video editing stuff #i reread the entire dungeon masters guide for this #I. AM. READY #rising sun campaign #dnd #merlin #bbc merlin #merlin bbc #bbcm #fish post

[creampievampire]

Could you go into the difference between the subtext and queerbaiting in it, I'm still kind of -well it's obviously gay but nothing was really ever said or shown that says that expect for people talking about it- Like are the characters and their relationship just queer-coded (positivly ofc lol) but the baitiness comes from them sort of confirming it off the show?

of course! im assuming by ‘it’ you mean merlin, but rather than explaining the reasons why i think bbc merlin is a matter of subtext (or queer coding) and not queerbaiting, i think it would be easier and more productive to explain the difference between the two in general. they are very similar - which is why i think a lot of people are unable to tell the difference between them - but they have important differences

just a warning, this is going to be a LONG post lmao ive bolded exactly what each term means below, after which i go into more detail on the whole issue. this is something im passionate about so,,, ♥

queerbaiting specifically refers to a marketing technique in which creators hint at but dont actually depict a queer character or relationship. They do this in order to attract a queer audience with the suggestion of a character or relationship they can relate to, while also avoiding alienating their queerphobic audiences

queer coding is the subtextual coding of a character as queer through the use of things like metaphor, allegory, hinting, recognisable traits/stereotypes/experiences, etc. This is done to build believable characters and create more complex plot lines, and it is also regularly used by people who want to tell queer stories but are unable to do so explicitly. it CAN be used negatively to enforce damaging stereotypes, but that is just a small part of its usage

both of these things utilise subtext in order to work. subtext is not only a crucial part of the creation of any piece of media, but is impossible to avoid.

an example of the most basic types of subtext is when a character tells someone that everything is going to be okay, but you can tell they dont believe it. or when youre watching a story unfold and you suddenly connect the dots and realise whats going to happen before its explicitly stated - you used subtext and the hidden meanings and hints to figure it out!

the people involved w a piece of media create their story with a specific purpose or meaning in mind, and they construct the subtext of the story to reflect that purpose/meaning. HOWEVER, the viewers dont always see things the same!

your experiences and personality shape the way you view and interpret every piece of media you consume. if you hate cops youll see the insidious undertones in cop shows - if you grew up with an abusive parent youll see the biting implications in a characters dialogue that others find innocent - if youre queer you will search for and fine queer characters everywhere, regardless of the creators intentions

now, both queerbaiting and queer coding use subtext to function, right? so how do you know which is being used and whether or not its a bad thing? its all about intention

to give a specific explanation of the difference im going to use two examples that are (arguably) very similar in the way their queer characters became canon

example 1: adventure time featured the characters marceline and princess bubblegum, who have been forever depicted as a couple in fan content. their interactions in the show were read into and latched onto bc we saw ourselves in them and we saw it as positive queer rep. but their relationship was never explicitly discussed during the course of the show and was only confirmed at the end of the final episode.

that makes 10 seasons in which their relationship existed only in subtext, and when it did finally exist in canon it was only for a few minutes, if that.

example 2: supernatural featured the characters dean and castiel (lol) who have been depicted as a queer couple pretty much since the first episode cas appeared in. i personally hung on their every interaction, analysed every glance between them, bc i interpreted deans character as a parallel to my own childhood trauma.

cas joined the show in season 4, so that makes 11 seasons in which him being gay existed only in subtext, and when it was confirmed he was immediately cut out of the show. the exact nature of dean and castiels relationship still remains in subtext.

so why is it that adventure time is widely considered perfectly fine but supernatural is dunked on as being the poster boy for queerbaiting?

its bc adventure time involved queer creators and was an earnest representation of queer characters, but they were boxed in by their publisher, Cartoon Network and thus the only way for the relationship to exist in the show was through subtext.

supernatural, however, consistently neglected their queer character and employed transparent tropes and stereotypes - bringing him in just sparingly enough to keep queer audiences interested while never being gay enough to alienate their macho manly man queerphobe audiences. they would have dean and cas stare into each other eyes for a full 30 seconds and then almost immediately follow it up with an episode about dean banging a disposable female character.

so imho adventure time falls under queer subtext, and supernatural falls under queerbaiting

when it comes to a show like bbc merlin i see a lot of debate about whether or not its queer coding or queerbaiting, and my intention is not to convince you of either. merlin was very much a product of its time, and i have argued the same about seasons 4-6 of supernatural as well, before the queerbaiting escalated and became exhausting to me

the purpose of this post is to start giving you the information you need to analyse any piece of media and come to your OWN opinion as to whether or not its queerbaiting or whatever else

people will ALWAYS have differing opinions about this shit yall. i have debated so many times w so many people about where the line is and whats okay and what should be ‘cancelled’ and if consuming something deemed problematic makes you a bad person or not

and my conclusion?

if youre capable of acknowledging the flaws and issues w a piece of media without trying to defend it as a shining beacon of purity simply bc you like it, then you do you. enjoy whatever you want to enjoy - if i think its reprehensible i simply will never interact with you lol

at some point everyone has to stop regurgitating these generic woke speak cancel culture speeches and buzzwords and formulate their own opinions

my advice to anyone reading this is to learn how to do close reading (ill provide a link to a wonderful short guide on it in a reblog bc tumblr hates links) and start really considering where you draw the lines with all types of content. decide for yourself whether merlin or supernatural or adventure time crosses the line into content you cant stomach, but respect other people whose interpretations differ from yours

i know a HUGE amount of people think supernaturals confession scene was homophobic and toxic - a slap in the face - but when i watched it i saw myself reflected in dean. a repressed bisexual whose emotions had been stunted by lifelong trauma, who wasnt ready to face his feelings for cas but quickly realising that his chronic avoidance and fear was about to tear them apart possibly forever. to me it was tragic and beautiful, and i loved it

i also think merlin is a tragic and beautiful love story, and to me its a pivotal piece of queer media that changed the way i viewed love and made me believe that it was a possibility for me bc i related so deeply to arthur

i hope that you can draw a satisfying answer from this, anon, and i apologise for this post being a full essay lol but i believe it needed to be said  - i dont think there is a right or wrong answer here

#long post #bbc merlin #merlin #supernatural #adventure time #subtext #queerbaiting #queer coding #frog talks #anon #ask

[yuta-nakamots]

Candle Light - l.hc ; Part 2 of 2 (End)

Pairing - College!Haechan x Ghost!Reader

Genre - Fluff but mostly angst at the end

Warnings - Character death, supernatural activity (you are literally a ghost)

Summary - As the resident ghost that haunts your old apartment, you take pride in scaring away those who dare move in, not wanting them to ruin your memories. Though your mission changes after a group of boys arrive. These are the four boys you allow into your space and your heart. One of them is the candle that supports you, and you are the fire that burns atop it, his beacon of light.

Word Count - 6.2k

A/N - as always, credit goes to @soleilhyuck​ for coming up with the idea for this fic. thank you for patiently waiting and giving lots of love to this series and please look forward to frat boy!yuta next month as well <3

Tag List - @sunflowerhae @eunsangelical @soleilhyuck @neoyoungho @carefreebubble @sly-merlin @jisungismymom @jimelonji @lyraaacle @peachy-yabbay @yomanitsgonnabehee​

January 2020

News about the new virus was quickly spreading, as was the disease itself, unironically. You sat next to Renjun as he watched the news on TV and played a game on his phone while Jeno was lying on the floor in front of the coffee table as he typed out an essay on his laptop.

You watched as the newscaster stood in front of a graph showing the number of cases spiking up as he said “all local colleges will be migrating to an online schooling system for the second half of this year” to which Jeno let out a loud groan at.

“How the fuck am I supposed to do all my labs then?” he muttered under his breath, angrily hitting the carpeted floor. You laughed at his childish action, Jeno’s head whipping around as he looked in your general direction with his pupils shaking as he tried to find a face to match the voice he had just heard.

“Hey y/n, I think Jeno can hear you,” Renjun said nonchalantly as he continued watching the news station on TV, “okay, Jeno wait I think you should pay attention to the screen.”

He informed the other boy just in time as the anchor said “certain schools have disclosed that some students may still be required to return to campus for activities such as labs or other assessment events.”

Jeno rolled onto his back, letting out another groan that was almost actually a growl. “I don’t know which is worse. Having to go to school during a pandemic, or having to learn from my computer 24/7.”

February 2020

As more plans for the second semester were announced, Jeno did end up having to still visit the campus for his labs so he was occasionally out along with Jaemin who was volunteering at a hospital nearby, the same one your body was taken to after the incident, not that you’d ever tell them that though.

Jaemin had convinced Renjun to come along saying “we need extra help and it’s not like you’re doing anything anyways now that class is online” as he quite literally dragged Renjun out the front door.

This left you with Haechan, who was only able to see you in certain instances because he was still not totally sure if you really existed or not. He still used the scented candles in his room, much to your distaste, since you found yourself having to put out the flame nearly every night due to his forgetfulness.

He’d spend almost every waking moment on his computer playing Overwatch and whatever other games he was into, only stopping when we had to attend his mandatory online lectures. Even then, he’d still have the game up on his screen, barely even caring about the lecture.

Eventually, this irritated you enough, having been quite a good student yourself, to the point where you just lost it when you saw him pull up his school account and you peered over his shoulder and realizing how bad his grades really were.

“You shouldn’t do that, you know.” You spoke to him, hovering behind him as you read through the contents of his student profile.

Haechan froze for a second, surprised by your voice though he didn’t make an effort to turn around. “Well, you shouldn’t just scare people like that.” He retorted at you.

“Then don’t take your college life for granted,” you remark, not missing the high amount of absences he had even though all his courses were online, “I would’ve loved to have completed mine, but that just didn’t seem to be in my life plan now, was it?” You asked rhetorically, your voice laced with sarcasm to match his.

“What are you gonna do about it, huh?” He spat out at you. “You can’t force me to study.”

You rolled your eyes at him even if he couldn’t see you as you scoffed, “yes I can.” Quite literally, you moved through his desk and unplugged his computer from its power socket. A satisfactory grin fell upon your face as you heard his monitor die out and you look at him. His mouth was slightly agape as he finally saw you up close, your previously translucent figure becoming clearer and clearer to him with every second that passed.

From then on, Haechan consciously made an effort to cut back on his gaming and dedicate more time to his schoolwork, as he hated not knowing when you’d decide to pop into his room again and he didn’t want to risk more damage to his precious computer.

Sometimes he’d spend so much time studying that he’d even fall asleep at his desk, to which you could only sigh at as you fanned out the flames of his stupid scented candles that he continued to use before grabbing his blanket from his bed and placing it atop his shoulders.

March 2020

You found that you actually quite enjoyed spending time with Haechan as he was more entertaining and witty than Renjun. Though on a particularly slow afternoon, you watched Haechan as he went about making a sandwich in the kitchen, making yourself known to him by a light tug on his shirt before he asked “so why exactly do you haunt this apartment?”

You were leaning against the kitchen island behind him, not even having bothered to materialize in your semi-human form since you let him pick and choose when he wanted to see you or not. “If I’m being honest, I really don’t know. All I’m sure about is that this unit is my unit. It always has been and it always will be.”

“Well, what are your ties to this place? What does it mean to you?” He pressed on as he grabbed a slice of bologna from the refrigerator.

After pausing for a second as you recall your past, you told him “this is where I grew up, my parents moved here when I started elementary school and I’ve lived here for almost twenty years until I died and ever since then, I’ve just been here.”

“I’m sorry,” he interjected, looking at you and making eye contact to let you know he was being sincere, “I really am. You had so much to live for, your whole life ahead of you.” He shook his head in pity as he unwrapped a piece of cheese.

“Things don’t always go according to your plan, as you can see,” you stated before continuing on with your story, “anyways, my family moved out shortly after my incident because my sister would always cry whenever she had to pass the spot I was last alive at and eventually my parents couldn’t take it anymore so they just up and left.”

Haechan was unscrewing the lid of the jar of mayonnaise when he asked “why didn’t you stop them? Or did you try but they just weren’t able to see you?”

“They couldn’t see or hear me. I tried calling out to them, telling them I was still here, I was still alive, but nothing worked...and so they left me behind.” Your voice trailing off at the end as you felt a familiar pain in your chest at the memory of your family.

Haechan hummed in acknowledgment, spreading pieces of lettuce over the top of his sandwich, going silent before speaking again. “I think you need closure. Do you know where your family went to? I’m pretty sure we could--”

“No, I’d rather not talk to them.” You interrupted, not wanting to witness your family in pain again after having to watch them mourn your death in this very apartment. To them, you were a thing of the past and you wished to stay that way.

“You can’t just be cursed to wander around this unit for the rest of your life, or lack thereof. That’s a bit…” he paused as he wracked his brain for a word, turning up blank, “sad, for lack of a better word.”

You watched as he placed a slice of bread on top and pressed it down before biting into his creation. “It’s not like it was my choice in the first place, you know,” you strongly articulated, “if you really wanted to help me then you’d leave this place and let me wander in peace now that you know my story.”

“We both know damn well that you’re not gonna be happy if we leave you on your own.” And the most surprising part of his statement was that he was right.

April 2020

After your previous conversation with Haechan, the two of you started avoiding each other and you ended up spending more time with Jeno when he eventually came around to being able to see you. He was more of an easygoing presence and he didn’t mind it when you stayed in his room, he just asked that you “don’t mess with my stuff like when you stacked all my books up and turned my clothes inside out” the memory of it still makes you laugh to yourself.

You felt bad for Jeno, seeing him come home already exhausted from his labs and lectures, letting out a loud sigh whenever he entered through the front door as he was finally able to take off his face mask and allow himself to take a deep breath of air.

You’d often find him dozing off at his desk, his face resting either on his arm or on whatever page he had been going over. Sometimes, if you knew the assignment was important or if the deadline was near, you’d try to keep him awake by doing this like clicking his book or dropping a book on the floor. But if he was really knocked out, all you could do was just plug in his electronics to let them charge before bookmarking his page and clearing his desk for him.

On the night of his 20th birthday, the boys decided to have their own mini-party, which you excused yourself from. You didn’t want to get in the way of their celebration since you didn’t know for sure where you stood with Haechan and that’s on top of the fact that Jaemin still didn’t believe in your existence.

You stayed in Jeno’s room, softly plucking at the strings of his guitar which he had kindly left out for you. He had previously voiced his worries about you getting bored from always staying in the unit, which you found quite cute of him.

He came back to his room around midnight and you watched as he drunkenly made his way to the bathroom, stumbling in and nearly tripping over his own feet. You heard him throwing up into the toilet but you stayed put, knowing that you wouldn’t be of much help anyway. You recognized the sound of Haechan’s voice as he entered from his own side and tried to clean Jeno up.

Moments later, Haechan came into the room carrying a near unconscious Jeno to the bed you were currently sitting on. All Haechan had to do was merely glance at you before you were already materializing in human form to put Jeno’s guitar back on its stand and help Haechan get the birthday boy into bed.

Once Jeno was tucked in and snoring, you looked up at Haechan and he nodded his head in the direction of his room, inviting you to come over with him, which you did without much hesitation. You sat on the edge of his bed as he started up his computer as he asked you “don’t you ever get tired of just staying in the apartment all the time?”

You watched as he typed in his login information as you responded, “kind of, I guess. It’s all I know so it’s not like I really have anywhere else to go.”

“Have you ever tried leaving the building, or this unit at all?” He inquired while pulling up a page on google.

You thought for a moment before answering him. “No, I’ve never really wanted to leave because I’m comfortable here.”

Haechan simply nodded and stated “fair enough” as he switched tabs before turning to you. “I found this article the other day and I think this is relevant to you.” He informed, beckoning you over to him. You moved closer and read it from over his shoulder.

Certain spirits roam the earth as ghosts due to their souls holding onto the regret they had while they were still living. It is common for these types of ghosts to stay in a place that they have special emotional ties to. They often try to scare away people who enter their sacred place as they are trying to preserve it as it is in their memory, resisting change. There have been successful cases of exorcism for these types of ghosts, though oftentimes, it serves to only anger them further, which is why exorcism is not recommended. Edit: It has been found that the spirits often pass on to the true afterlife once they let go of the regrets they are holding and free themselves from the baggage that is tying them to their sacred place.

“Haechan, I already told you, I’m not leaving.”

“But think about it, you can’t just continue existing with one foot in the afterlife, one foot in the during-life,” causing you to laugh at his wording, “aren’t there other dead people you’d like to meet? You know, like Michael Jackson or something?”

“Of course, but how would you know if there really is an afterlife where I could meet them?”

“I don’t, but aren’t you getting tired of just watching people come and go? Aren’t you curious about the existence of an afterlife? You’ve been here for what, two years?”

“Three years.” You corrected, though he was correct about your boredom and curiosity even if it really was just in the slightest form.

You weren’t looking forward to when the boys moved out as it meant you’d be left on your own again. You had grown used to the four of them since you had at least one of them home at nearly all times. You didn’t want them to leave and you had even though about asking them to stay, but you knew it would be unfair to them as they had previously talked about their future educational plans.

Renjun already was in the process of transferring to a school or arts to further hone his skills as he was nearing the completion of his traditional core credits. Jeno wanted to study abroad and experience different cultures while Jaemin simply would follow along, having promised both of their parents that he would look out for Jeno and make sure he didn’t overwork himself though oftentimes it was the other way around.

As finals came around again, you witnessed the boys and their ways of dealing with the stress of their exams. Renjun simply painted aggressively while Jeno started stretching and working out more often and Jaemin, who still wasn’t able to hear or see you, resorted to cooking. You couldn’t believe Haechan broke out those godforsaken candles yet again, even after you had voiced your hatred for them, having to put out their flames and clean up the dripping wax as to not cause a fire hazard.

One day, Jaemin was finally able to see a faint outline of your silhouette when you managed to catch the knife he had accidentally pushed off the counter while preparing dinner for the guys. He really didn’t believe them when they spoke of your existence, he simply thought it was some kind of odd prank they were all in on, but when he saw his knife floating mere centimeters above his foot, he realized they weren’t lying at all.

Ever since then, you’ve enjoyed hanging around with all four of the boys. They each introduced you to their hobbies and did their best at including you in as many activities as possible. Renjun was overjoyed when he saw you lift a brush from his case and when you asked if you could join him. He was painting a simple sunset and was more than happy to have your company. Renju let you paint any way you wished, only helping here and there to blend in your strokes and fix some of the color gradients.

After it dried, you stood back as he hung the canvas up in the living room with a broad smile on his face. He turned around and you watched as his expression morphed into one of confusion when he didn’t see you behind him and he called out your name. You felt a sense of anxiety creep up on you, reminiscent of the feeling of when your own family were not about to see you.

You knew Renjun had it easiest when it came to seeing and hearing you so why was he having a hard time now? “Oh, there you are.” He said, when you came into his view again, seemingly lightheartedly but it was hard for both of you to feel at ease after what just occurred.

It happened again when you were with Jeno as he was teaching you how to play a few chords on his guitar, something you had always wanted to do in your active lifetime. The two of you had been going at it for about an hour now and things were going pretty smoothly aside from Jeno having to help press the strings down when your own fingers weren’t enough.

You were able to learn a few simple chords separately but right before you were able to string them all together, the guitar suddenly fell through your hold into Jeno’s hands that were helping you apply pressure to the strings. He let out a noise of surprise as he too could no longer see your form.

He blinked rapidly, thinking it was his own eyes playing tricks on him until you saw him relax as both of you witnessed your own body flicker back into existence. This time, there was definitely no denying what just happened.

Later that night you went to Haechan and told him both accounts of what was going on and you broke down in tears, telling him how you didn’t want to leave them just yet. He rubbed your back as you clung on to his shirt, your tears would’ve been soaking it if you weren’t a ghost.

As much as you wanted to stay in his embrace, he told you that he had to study for an upcoming final so you instead settled for lying on his bed and staring up at the ceiling as you let your mind wander through all the what-ifs going through your head.

You’re not sure how much time passed before Haechan finally climbed into his bed, throwing an arm over your waist. No sooner than before he lifted his head to speak to you, his arm dropped through your body and fell onto his bed. The shock was evident on his face as he watched you fade out from his view.

Haechan frantically reached out, trying to grasp onto something, anything to tell him that you were still there as he called out your name. You did the same to him, but your cries fell on deaf ears until one of your hands managed to grab ahold of his and he found your eyes, the fear in his mirroring your own.

You laid with Haechan as he slept that night, scared that you’d cease to exist if he weren’t by your side to validate your presence every so often.

May 2, 2020

One night, as all of you were in the living room watching a show on Netflix, as per Renjun’s recommendation, you mentioned these repeated occurrences to them causing a thick silence to fall over everyone as they processed what this possibly meant for you.

Again, you sought out Haechan’s comfort that night and stayed by his side as he slept because being with him made you feel the slightest bit more real, even when his arm dropped from your waist again.

Now that finals week was over, the boys were home more often, though Jaemin still continued to work and volunteer at the hospital with Renjun, leaving you with Jeno and Haechan. Not much changed as you still continued to stick to Haechan like glue.

May 14, 2020

About two weeks after you had first brought up the topic of your frequency disappearances, you were lying next to Haechan in his bed as you both watched videos on his phone. He abruptly turned it off and turned to face you. “Have you ever been in a relationship before?”

You shook your head, “no, I was always too bust for one.”

“Did you want to be in one? Do you want to be in one?” You froze as you looked at him, not sure if he meant what you’re thinking he means. “On a scale from one to ten, how mad would you be right now if I told you I might have feelings for you?”

You thought for a moment before responding. “Depends on if you’re being serious or not.”

“I’m dead serious. Okay, maybe not dead, but you know what I mean.” He said, poking fun at his word choice.

“Do you really like me?” You asked, unsure if you were thinking clearly.

“Yes,” he paused, “but only if you like me back.”

“Is this just a spur of the moment thing or have you actually had feelings for me before this?” You could feel your cheeks heating up and you were suddenly grateful that he couldn’t see you as if you were a normal human.

“For a while now.” He stated, shrugging his shoulders as if it were nothing.

Your eyes grew wide in shock. “I...Haechan, as much as I’m flattered, we both know it’s not going to work out,” your voice getting caught in your throat, “you’re human, you’re still alive. There’s someone out there for you--”

“Okay and?”

“There’s someone who you can hold, someone you can kiss and make love to, someone you can have a family with--”

“And what if that someone is you?” He interrupted again. “What if you’re the someone I want to hold, to kiss, to spend time with?”

“Haechan...I don’t know…” Your voice coming out as more of a whisper.

His eyes searched yours as he spoke. “Just let me kiss you...please.”

You let out a small “okay” as your eyes fluttered shut and you felt his lips meet yours. He showed you the warmth you didn’t know you could even feel as you allowed yourself to melt into his kiss. Had it not been for your body disintegrating again and causing Haechan to fall forward, you probably would’ve stayed kissing him until he was begging for air.

“I guess that’s the universe telling me to give you a break for a bit.” He chuckled while he grabbed his phone and unpaused the video he was playing earlier as he waited for you to appear again. You didn’t have to look at him to know there was a smile plastered on his face as you wrapped your arms around him and nuzzled your face into his chest the very second you could.

If you were considered to be clingy with Haechan, now you were practically inseparable.

May 17, 2020

It was a rare occurrence for all four of them to be home together during the day so Jaemin took it as an opportunity to gather everyone for lunch. He didn’t even knock as he opened the door to Haechan’s room, sticking his head in to say “lunch is ready. I made kimchi stew. Oh, hey y/n, haven’t seen you in a while.”

You whined in embarrassment due to the fact that you were currently seated in Haechan’s lap as he practically held you like a baby, cooing at you and littering kisses across your face.

Once Jaemin was gone, Haechan pressed a kiss to your forehead. “You’re cute when you’re embarrassed. You know that?” He said, ruffling your hair out of affection.

May 19, 2020

You watch with great interest as Haechan lugs a box into his bedroom and cuts it open, revealing an electronic keyboard. He had told you previously that he wanted to get back into playing piano, having played it when he was younger. You didn’t think he was actually serious enough about it to buy a whole keyboard which, from the looks of it, seemed pretty expensive.

You sat in his gaming chair as you watched him assemble the stand, handing him scissors when he asked and holding things in place when his own two hands weren’t enough. You didn’t trust yourself to do much else in case you randomly disappeared again. Your lips curved upwards as he plugged the keyboard into the socket on the wall and played a few chords, his own smile matching yours.

May 20, 2020

Sighing, you floating your way into Haechan’s room as you notice his sleeping figure hunched over his desk, a little string of drool landing on the lined paper he was writing on. Given that school was already over, you figured it was song lyrics that he was writing.

Haechan, along with getting back into playing piano, had also picked up song composition and lyric writing as well though he refused to show you any of the lyrics he wrote and claimed he’d be embarrassed if you saw them to which you rolled your eyes at. Haechan? Embarrassed? Now that was a rarity given that he was one of the most confident people you’ve ever met, not even bothering to cover himself up the few times you accidentally came in while he was changing his clothes.

But as confident as he was, he had yet to channel that into his lyric writing as he kept falling asleep after hours of trying to get them perfect. You fan out the candle he had been using and run your finger across his lip, gathering his drool, in order to prevent his from further wetting his paper.

You tried to slowly pull the paper out from under his head, doing your best to not wake him up, though your efforts were in vain as his eyes shot open the second you tugged a little too hard. It took Haechan only a second or two to figure out what you were doing before he snatched the paper from you while whining “I told you not to read them” as he puts it in a folder filled with other papers which you assume are also lyrics.

“I was only moving it so you wouldn’t drool on it like a baby.” You scoffed at him.

Haechan imitated your scoff back at you, “don’t lie,” he quipped, “I know you were going to read it as soon as you got your hands on it.”

“You know, you better quit it or else you’re sleeping alone tonight.” You threatened, knowing that your boyfriend of sorts has gotten used to your presence in his bed while he slept.

“No!” He exclaimed, his eyes growing wide in panic before he dove for his bed and gave you puppy eyes, begging you not to leave him.

May 25, 2020

At this point, your disappearances had become more frequent and lasted for longer durations, leaving the boys constantly guessing as to where you were. You could barely muster up the force to show yourself in your human form and physically move objects so you were glad when you realized they could all see you in your regular blue-tinted ghost state.

You considered yourself lucky when they told you they could still feel the gusts of wind you created while moving around, even when you became invisible. It may look stupid to you when you were rapidly moving your arms back in forth to let them know where you are, but it’s not like you cared when you knew they couldn’t see you anyways.

On this day, you were watching a show on TV with Renjun, though he could only vaguely sense your presence. When you heard the sink in the kitchen turn on, you left your seat and floated through the wall to see if it was Jaemin cooking again. Much to your surprise, it was Haechan who was actually doing the dishes for once.

You moved around behind him, alerting him of your presence. “Hey babe, came to do the dishes with me?” You rolled your eyes and rapidly fanned his neck, something you knew he hated because he was ticklish in that area. “Okay, okay, I get it.” He giggled while scrunching his neck.

“Is y/n with you in the kitchen?” Renjun called out from the living room. Haechan shouted back a short ‘yes’ to which you heard Renjun respond back with a slight laugh in his voice, “I thought she was still with me so I was talking about the show but I guess I was just talking to myself this whole time.”

May 29, 2020

No matter how much energy you concentrated, you just couldn’t seem to show yourself in your human form at all. You weren’t completely invisible to the boys yet, just fading in and out of your normal ghost forme every so often, though if you really tried hard  enough, you could force yourself to become visible again, even if it were only for a few seconds. You saved your energy for more important moments like when Haechan shot up from his place next to you in bed, sweating from the nightmare he was having.

For the past half hour or so, you watched him as he writhed in his sleep and you felt your heart wrench knowing there was nothing you could do to rouse him from his sleep, unable to do your normal actions of slamming windows or dropping books so you felt a sense of relief when he jolted awake and looked over to where he knew you’d be, his eyes searching for the outline of your body to give him some comfort.

You forced yourself to show up, glowing faintly in the darkened room as Haechan was able to catch your silhouette before it disappeared again. His eyes bore straight into yours, even if you knew that to him, he was simply staring at a wall so you didn’t move, not wanting to leave his gaze as he spoke to you.

“Y/n, I hope you know that every moment I spend with you is precious to you. Whether I can see you or not, I know when you’re with me.” He confessed, his eyes starting to tear up. “I can only hope that I am making your last moments precious for you as well.”

You hoped so desperately to have enough strength to show yourself again to let him know that you heard him and felt the same way, but you were unable to. Your own wet eyes mirrored his as you reached out a hand to cup his face, a tear slipping out of your eyes as you watch your hand merely fall through his cheek.

June 2, 2020

You’ve come to terms with the fact that your time on earth is running out when you can only seem to manage to materialize once or twice a day, lasting for only about a second each time. You were upset that you didn’t get to say a true goodbye to the other three boys, wanting to thank them for taking such good care of you. Maybe you just so hoped that this regret would keep you with them longer, if only for a few more days.

June 4, 2020

When Haechan returns to his room after eating breakfast with the rest of the guys, you watch as he sits down in front of his keyboard before turning around to face his bed, where he’s guessing you were as he spoke. “Y/n, I wrote this song for you. I don’t know how much longer I have left with you so I rushed the ending of it, but I wanted to show you now before it’s too late.”

With that, he turned back around and began playing a melody you had heard from him before though it was different this time around now that he was singing the lyrics he wrote for you.

Like Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Moments with you are always special. I’m thankful for all the days we spend together, At times like this I get shy, but it means I love you. When I see you brightly smiling and dazzling, My wish of us being together forever seems like it’ll come true. I know the future isn’t clear and the past might be sad, But don’t worry anymore. Just keep adding days like this. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, I only have plans filled with you, I think it’s perfect. In my heart, my dreams were possible through you, I want to fulfill them all with you. I’m not alone, I’m with you, When I needed someone, you came to me. Even in the ordinary, I celebrate your preciousness, Please always stay by my side.

I want to give you gift-like days, you and me, me and you baby. Without leaving behind a single day, it’s only us. Like candlelight that never goes out, My wish of us being together forever seems like it’ll come true.

June 5, 2020

If you’re being completely honest with yourself, you’ve practically given up trying to make your whereabouts known to the boys, though they continued to speak to you as they estimated your location and if you were even present in the same room or not.

You wanted to tell Haechan how much you loved the song he wrote, but you were unable to. You wanted to do something for his birthday but you barely had enough strength to walk yourself from the balcony back into his room.

For the first time within the last four years of your existence, you felt tired. You had forgotten this feeling, what it was like to be tired and suddenly you remembered when all you wanted to do was lie down and sleep.

It was late already, the digital clock on Haechan’s desk reading 11:48pm as he stepped out from the bathroom, freshly showered. You eyed him, wanting to get up and kiss him all over, to give him the same love he gave to you, and you felt so helpless when you knew you wouldn’t be able to.

He lay down in his bed with his hair still slightly wet. “Can you believe it’s already been a whole year since we first moved in?” He turned his head, guessing at where your face was but returning his gaze to the ceiling to not make you feel bad before continuing on. “I never would’ve believed in ghosts if I hadn’t met you but now I’m always gonna think all ghosts are as sweet as you and that’s not good,” he said as he let out a laugh at the end, “I’m going to get myself killed if I try talking to a ghost that isn’t as kind and loving as you.”

Haechan went silent for a bit before continuing on. “But you would never let that happen right? You’ll be my angel watching down on me from above,” he paused as a sly smile appeared on his face, “or you’ll be my little demon waiting for me in hell.” He snicked to himself at his joke. “Ah, you’re probably trying to hit me right now. Don’t worry, I’ll do it myself.” And with that, he slapped his own cheek before telling you “I really love you and I hope you know that.”

June 6, 2020

As soon as the clock’s display changed to 12:00am, Haechan’s door burst open, revealing the other three boys with party hats atop their heads as they carried in a small cake with two candles on it, showing his new age of twenty. They began singing happy birthday and you even sang along with them, clapping your hands to the beat, even if they couldn’t hear you.

“Make a wish!” Renjun exclaimed once the song was over.

Haechan clasped his hands together as he closed his eyes for a few seconds. “Y/n, I know you’re still here. Before you go, please do this one last time for me.” He reopened his eyes and looked over at where he assumed you were and gestured towards the cake. You felt your heart swell with love as you took a final glance at him before using all your remaining energy to blow out the candle.

When the flame of the candle went out, so did your view of the world. Everything faded to black as your fire was extinguished, letting you rest in peace as Haechan’s candlelight.

A/N - as always, credit goes to @soleilhyuck​ for coming up with the idea for this fic. thank you for patiently waiting and giving lots of love to this series and please look forward to frat boy!yuta next month as well <3

#nct-writers #neohours #neowriters #neowritingsnet #kwritersworldnet #NCT imagines #NCT scenarios #NCT fanfic #NCT fluff #NCT angst #NCT dream imagines #NCT dream scenarios #NCT dream fanfic #NCT dream fluff #NCT dream angst #Haechan imagines #Haechan scenarios #Haechan fanfic #Haechan fluff #Haechan angst #kpop imagines #kpop scenarios #kpop fanfic #kpop fluff #kpop angst #candle light #nct #NCT dream #haechan #lee haechan

[aidanchaser]

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Everyone Lives

Table of Contents beta’d by @ageofzero @magic713m @ccboomer @aubsenroute @somebodyswatson

Chapter Ten Black’s Betrayal

The house was in disrepair, as it had been the last time he had visited. The windows were covered in so much muck and dirt that they allowed no light in nor out of the house. All that was left of the door knocker was the nail.

He pushed open the sagging door. The greenery that had clung to the wood frame provided little resistance. Inside, the house was not covered in dust, but rather a layer of dirt coated the floor and the tables inside. It had been decades since anyone had taken up residence in this home, and even when it had been lived in, it had not been cared for.

He crossed the sparse living room and approached the fireplace. A mouse skittered across the floor and the snake at his feet lunged suddenly.

“Stay close,” he hissed, and Nagini slithered back to his side.

Beside the mantle, a section of the wood floor was visible beneath the inch of dirt. The wood beams were cracked and worn, but otherwise the concealment appeared undisturbed. He waved a slender black wand and pulled the wood away. There, between the floor and the foundation, rested an ornate golden box. It was decorated in a relief of snakes, weaving down trees and slithering amongst vines. Emeralds stood in for their eyes, and rubies for the fruit of the trees. He waved his wand again, and the box opened.

The black velvet lining was empty.

Harry woke with a start, blood boiling with fury. He scrambled to his feet and hurried across the landing to the bathroom, where he wretched up most of the late night snack Kreacher had fixed for them.

He laid down and rested his head on the cool, black tile of the bathroom and panted for breath. As angry as he was with Hermione for scolding him about Occlumency, he knew she had a point. Real or imagined, these visions were debilitating.

When Harry was certain he could move without vomiting, he rinsed his mouth and splashed water on his face. The pain had receded to a dull ache, and he felt better, like himself again. Anger, at least, was not still coursing through his veins — at least no more strongly than the fear and anxiety that he was growing used to. With a weary sigh, Harry crossed the landing and returned to the drawing room.

Grey, pre-dawn light fell onto Harry’s empty sleeping bag. Hermione had fallen asleep on the sofa, and Ron lay on the floor beneath her. Her hand hung off the sofa, low to the ground, and her fingers brushed against his. A pang of jealousy shot through Harry. He thought of the mirror tucked away in Hermione’s handbag and wondered if it would be safe to try and reach Ginny. He wondered if she would know what had happened to his parents.

A creak on the landing made Harry turn suddenly and fumble for his wand — but it was only Regulus.

“You’re awake early,” Regulus said softly.

“Bad dream,” Harry said.

Regulus nodded, understanding. “Breakfast?”

Harry followed Regulus down to the kitchen. While Kreacher cooked, Harry shared his dream with Regulus.

Regulus’ face remained as impassive as ever. He did not appear concerned by Harry’s connection with Voldemort, nor eager to use it. He did, however, frown as Harry described the anger Voldemort felt at discovering the empty box.

“I don’t know why he was so upset,” Harry said, and thanked Kreacher as Kreacher set a plate of eggs and toast before him.

“It seems our secret is finally uncovered,” Regulus said, and he, too, thanked Kreacher. With a wave of his wand he heated the kettle and poured himself a cup of tea. “Dumbledore and I put a lot of effort into concealing my involvement with the Order. When I went to the graveyard that night, I revealed my knowledge of Horcruxes to the Dark Lord. It was… arrogant and foolish of me, but I did not expect that I would have to live with the consequences.”

“If you hadn’t been there, Cedric and I might not have made it out alive,” Harry said.

This did not cheer Regulus, but nothing ever did. “Regardless,” he took a bite of his breakfast and chewed it slowly. “We could not let the Dark Lord know that I had shared my findings with Dumbledore. We had to keep up the ruse that I was hiding from the Order as much as I was hiding from Death Eaters. For if the Dark Lord ever learned just how far the knowledge of his secret had traveled, it would give him every opportunity to move Horcruxes or, Merlin forbid, create new ones.”

Harry tapped his fork against his plate and did not meet Regulus’ eyes. “I… I think he already has.”

He told Regulus about the dream he had had before Tonks and Remus’ wedding, about the Muggle Studies professor who had been murdered, and Voldemort’s attempt to create a new Horcrux.

Regulus, who was already pale, looked almost waxy in the dim kitchen light. “I do not know what happens when an object rejects a soul fragment, but let us pray that that was the end of it.”

“So you don’t think the Sword is a Horcrux?”

“The blade has been imbued with basilisk venom, has it not? Isn’t that how Malfoy nearly killed you? No, I do not believe the Sword would be a suitable host for a soul fragment.”

“Nagini’s a Horcrux,” Harry pointed out. “Surely she’s poisonous — she nearly killed you and Mr. Weasley.”

Regulus ran his thumb over the edge of his tea mug. “Filling a non-living entity with a soul fragment is entirely different from a living entity. In a traditional Horcrux, the soul becomes bound to the object, takes on the properties of the object — and more. I have gathered from Dumbledore and Miss Weasley how the diary operated, and I think it is a good example. The fragment of the Dark Lord’s soul was able to interact in the way a diary could, and could even share memories, as a diary is meant to do.”

“The locket tried to talk to me before I killed it,” Harry said. “It tried to tell me things about Dumbledore, make me doubt him…”

“Lockets contain secrets, things we wish to keep close. I expect when you destroy the diadem, it will offer promises of wisdom, power, and perhaps even glory. It would be wise to destroy it before it can tempt you to use it.”

“But the Sword is different?”

“I think the Sword of Godric Gryffindor could have easily become the most dangerous of the Dark Lord’s Horcruxes. A weapon, imbued with his own vile desires — we should count ourselves lucky that you drenched it in basilisk venom, preventing it from hosting any living entity.”

“You said a living Horcrux is different, though. How?”

Regulus took a sip of his tea. He was quiet for a long moment. “It is not something that has been heavily researched, but Dumbledore and I did discuss the differences between the diary and the Dark Lord’s snake. For one, the diary did not have any knowledge beyond the moment of its creation — at least, no knowledge other than what Miss Weasley fed to it. Nagini, however, is living and breathing. It is not her body that the fragment of his soul is bound to, but her soul to his. This allows him to interact with her mind, to perhaps even control her beyond a Parselmouth’s traditional abilities. His soul in hers is not stagnant nor isolated the way it would become in an object.”

“I guess that makes sense.” Harry frowned at his half-eaten breakfast. “So the ring was supposed to be in that box? How does he know you didn’t destroy it on your own?”

“Because I never knew his real name, nor his true family heritage. Only Dumbledore, who knew of Tom Riddle’s connection to the Gaunt family, could have guessed the Dark Lord would hide a piece of his soul outside of Little Hangleton. I had the knowledge of Horcruxes; Dumbledore had the knowledge of the Dark Lord. Together, we made quite the formidable team. It’s a shame we were unable to accomplish more.”

Harry swallowed, wondering how he was supposed to do what Regulus and Dumbledore could not. “You found the locket before you talked with Dumbledore, didn’t you? Before you even went to Azkaban?”

Regulus kept his eyes on his teacup. “I suppose I have not been entirely honest with you. I told you that I betrayed the Dark Lord because he asked me to kill Sirius.”

“I never really believed that.”

A wry and rare smile twisted across Regulus’ face. “At the time, I thought it imprudent to share my knowledge of Horcruxes, particularly with a fourteen-year-old boy I had just met.”

Harry opened his mouth to argue that Regulus should have trusted him with the truth, but the door creaked open, and Hermione’s relieved sigh echoed in the kitchen.

“Told you he hadn’t gone far,” Ron said.

“I was afraid you had run off,” Hermione explained as she and Ron took seats at the table.

“You won’t get rid of me that easily,” Harry said.

Regulus asked Kreacher to fix breakfast for everyone. Kreacher bowed and began to work without complaint, but when Hermione offered to help prepare coffee, Kreacher snapped that his Mistress would never allow Mudbloods under her roof, much less allow them to prepare food in her kitchen.

“Oi!” Ron got to his feet. “She’s just trying to help —”

Regulus cleared his throat. “Kreacher, Miss Granger is a guest in our home. Please treat her as such.”

Kreacher frowned as he took in Regulus’ words. Finally, he bowed to Hermione. “Guests is not allowed to work in the kitchen.” And he returned to his work.

“He should apologise —”

“It’s alright, Ron,” Hermione said. “It isn’t his fault.”

“It is certainly his own fault,” Regulus said. “We can only blame so many of our mistakes on our circumstances. But I do appreciate your patience with him.”

Reluctantly, Ron sank back into his seat. “Can’t you forbid him from using that word at least?”

“If Miss Granger asks me to, I will, but I would like Kreacher to make his own decision to stop using it.”

Hermione’s eyes widened in surprise, and Harry, too, thought this was the most sympathy he had ever seen from Regulus, who was usually so stalwart and set in his own opinions.

“I — I should like to give Kreacher a chance,” she said.

“Thank you.”

Harry finished his breakfast as Kreacher set down plates for Ron and Hermione. Hermione thanked him, but Ron did not.

Harry gratefully accepted a cup of coffee from Kreacher. His head still ached, and his poor sleep, interrupted only by Voldemort’s anger, had left him exhausted. He took a sip and let the warmth fill him. “Regulus,” he said, “how did you find the locket?”

Regulus did not answer. He stared down at his tea cup, then took another sip.

“If we’re supposed to hunt down the cup, it would help to know how you uncovered the locket,” Harry pressed.

Regulus still did not look at Harry. Finally, once his teacup was empty, Regulus said, “Kreacher, please leave us.”

The house-elf bowed, and disappeared with a pop.

Regulus hesitated another moment. “The story is… rather long, and it was traumatic for both Kreacher and I.” He refilled his cup. “However, I will tell it in as much detail as I can, in order for the three of you to understand exactly what sort of dangers you may face in your quest.”

Hermione very slowly set aside her breakfast. She folded her hands on the table as if she were in class, prepared to listen to one of Binns’ riveting lectures. She only needed parchment and ink to complete the image.

“I had not been out of Hogwarts very long when the Dark Lord requested the use of an elf,” Regulus said. “I eagerly complied. I did not think to ask any questions. I was… happy to serve.” Regulus paused, and Harry struggled to picture a younger Regulus, one as eager to join the Death Eaters as Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. It was difficult, however, to reconcile their fervor with Regulus’ reticence.

“When Kreacher returned,” Regulus finally continued, “he was weak, half-dead, and he told me that he had been used to test the protections around a Horcrux. I had heard the word before, but it was nothing more than a myth to me, a sort of dark fairytale. I had never imagined it could be real. I certainly had never conceived of the Dark Lord’s plans to make multiple Horcruxes.”

“After everything You-Know-Who did, it took a Horcrux to convince you he was evil?” Ron asked.

Regulus pressed his lips together. “I will not excuse the mistakes I have made. I have been quite plain with you that I deserved the years I spent in Azkaban — and perhaps I deserve more. And I will not detail how my path led me to the Dark Lord’s side, in a way that, on reflection, feels inevitable. I was wrong, and I cannot blame my circumstances, yet I was also shaped by them. I will, however, be very clear that while I was angry that the Dark Lord had broken the bounds of existence and split his soul, I was far more furious about the way Kreacher had been treated. As you might say, ‘la goutte qui fait déborder le vase.’”

Ron blinked. “What?”

Harry frowned. “I don’t think any of us would say that.”

Regulus pinched the bridge of his nose. “The drop that makes the vase overflow.”

“Oh,” Hermione nodded. “There’s a Muggle-saying — the last straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Ron stared at her. “How would straw break a camel? Aren’t they big animals like horses?”

“It merely means,” Regulus sighed, “that many things built up over time. Sirius will tell you that I did not have the stomach for some of the violent acts of the Death Eaters, and that is partially true. It does not change that I wanted to be like them, for a multitude of reasons.” He drummed his fingers against his empty cup and frowned.

Harry thought of the portrait that had shrieked at them last night and of Regulus’ boggart. He could think of at least one reason Regulus would want to join the Death Eaters and their vision of a pureblood society.

“After what had happened to Kreacher,” Regulus continued, “I set on undoing what had been done. I had Kreacher take me to the cave the Dark Lord had taken him to. Even as an elf, he was not able to Apparate us inside. I never wanted to bring Kreacher with me, but he insisted, so I carried him across a stormy sea and into a hidden cave. It was little more than an inlet, no place to hide a Dark object, but with a bit of blood, I was able to reveal a door that opened into a much larger cavern. It was inside this cavern that the Dark Lord had hidden his Horcrux.”

“Just a bit of blood to get in?” Ron asked. “That’s not so bad.”

Regulus’ tight smile danced between annoyance and amusement. “This cavern was enormous, filled with a smooth lake, and the Horcrux rested at its center. Kreacher guided me to a boat, hidden beneath the water. It carried us across the cavern to the island the Horcrux was on. It rested at the bottom of a basin, filled with a terrible potion. The only way to retrieve the Horcrux was to drink from the basin. It was this part of the process that had nearly killed Kreacher, so I would not let him drink it again. I drank it myself.”

Regulus paused again, and he rubbed his wrist. It was not a dramatic motion, but Regulus was usually so still and poised that the small movement was striking.

When Regulus spoke again, his voice was barely more than a whisper. “This potion did not merely fill the body with physical pain. It began that way, but as I persisted, it seemed to take hold not only of my body but of my mind as well, and I began to relive each of my darkest memories. When I was unable to make myself drink more, Kreacher, against his own desires, forced me to finish the potion. It was only when it had finally been drunk that we were able to retrieve the locket.”

“That’s horrible,” Hermione whispered.

“That is not the end of it,” Regulus said. “With the potion gone, my mind cleared, mostly. I was left thirsty, anxious for something — anything — to cool the fire that flooded my veins. As the Dark Lord had arranged it, there was only one source of water available to me.”

“The lake?” Harry asked.

“Deep below its surface, waiting for something living to disturb its waters, rested the dead — Inferi, corpses of those murdered by the Dark Lord, repurposed for his own defense. I had only to dip my hand in the water before they were dragging me into its depths.”

Hermione stifled a scream, and it came out something like a choked sob. Ron sat perfectly still, back rigid and jaw tight. Harry had to swallow down the breakfast that crawled back up his throat.

“I should have drowned. I…” Regulus let out a long, slow breath. “I wanted to drown. I knew that betraying the Dark Lord was a death sentence, and that if I returned home with the Horcrux, I would not live much longer. It was far easier to face death in the cavern, to leave the locket to Kreacher to destroy. Kreacher, however, did not see things my way. He defied my orders, rescued me from the Inferi, and returned me here. He forced me to endure years of a painful recovery, a recovery I do not think was entirely completed until Lily brewed an antidote for Nagini’s venom after the battle in the graveyard. She used my blood to create her antidote, and I firmly believe that what she created also countered the lingering elements of that strange, horrible potion. I was never quite myself until after her cure.”

“So when you told us back in the Shrieking Shack that those years you were missing were spent recovering from a curse,” Hermione said, “you meant that potion?”

Regulus nodded. “Kreacher cared for me during that time. Kreacher and… a friend. As such, I found it easier to pretend to the Dark Lord and my family that I was dead. It would spare them the consequences of incurring the Dark Lord’s wrath as revenge for my betrayal, and spare myself the consequences. The potion left my body wracked with pain for the better part of two years. My feline form eased it some, but when I received word that the Dark Lord was destroyed and those most loyal to him were going to torture the Longbottoms for more information I forced myself to act.”

“When did you put together all of those letters between you and other Death Eaters?” Harry asked.

“I already had my personal journal, full of notes about my family history — a source of fascination for me as a child — notes from my years at school, and letters from family and friends. At some point, it occurred to me that I had one chance at a normal life, a life where I did not have to pretend that I was dead just to avoid the wrath of either the Dark Lord or the Ministry. If I could offer the Ministry evidence of other Death Eaters, and proof of my own betrayal of the Dark Lord, I could perhaps escape Azkaban. While the poison made it difficult for me to do much more than hobble around the parlour, I found that in my Animagus form, I could slip away for a few hours, infiltrate the homes of other Death Eaters, and steal evidence of their involvement with the Dark Lord. Had Sirius realised what he had a hold of, and not burned it in a fit of rage, perhaps Lucius could have been put in Azkaban before luring Harry to the Ministry was even a thought in his head.”

“But in that case,” Harry pressed, “why didn’t you reveal the journal to the Ministry when they arrested you? I saw your trial. You didn’t say anything in your defense. You didn’t offer any evidence against Malfoy. And Fabian and Gideon said that even when they arrested you, you didn’t say anything about having changed your ways.”

Regulus took a long time to answer, and Harry could not help but think he was searching for a lie. Anger flared in Harry’s chest that Regulus had begun this conversation by promising honesty, but here at the end of it, he could not resist keeping secrets.

“I always believed,” Regulus finally said, “that the Dark Lord would return, as did many after that night in Godric’s Hollow. I was not ready to tip my hand. And — as I have said — I was not innocent entirely. Azkaban was a fitting place for me, and I might have chosen to endure it another twelve years if I had not learned how Barty had feigned his death. I suppose he thought that my plan of playing dead worked well enough to steal.”

Harry searched for the hole in this statement, for evidence of the lie he expected, but he found none. The words seemed true, as far as he could tell.

“So,” Ron said, voice small and weak. He coughed and started over. “So all we have to do is survive deadly potions and armies of corpses, what, three more times before it’s all over?”

“We only need to find Helga Hufflepuff’s cup,” Hermione reminded him. “Nagini will likely be at his side, as a weapon, protecting him as much as he is protecting her.”

“And we need to determine if he’s made a new one to replace what Dumbledore and I have destroyed,” Harry pointed out. “But none of it matters if we don’t have a way to actually destroy them once we have them.”

“You have the diadem with you?” Regulus asked.

Hermione nodded and reached into her beaded bag. Harry supposed after the surprise of the wedding, Hermione would carry the bag on her at all times until this was over. He felt similarly about the Cloak, and wished he had not left it beside his sleeping bag upstairs.

After a moment of digging, Hermione retrieved the diadem and set it on the table.

It certainly looked innocent enough: tarnished silver, sculpted in the shape of eagle wings, with a blue stone set in its center. The engraving on its edge was difficult to read in the dim light, but Harry knew it well enough by now. He recalled Regulus’ warning that it might offer knowledge or power. It did none of that, however. It merely sat on the table, no more animate than their breakfast dishes.

“Any ideas?” Harry asked, looking at Regulus.

Regulus stroked his chin and stared at the diadem. “Dumbledore never told me how he destroyed the ring and the locket. I can only assume he used the Sword of Godric Gryffindor, but I did not make that connection until you and Sirius discussed the basilisk venom in the infirmary that night.”

“He told me that he used the Sword on the ring, and I used it on the locket. It just needed to be opened with Parseltongue first.”

“In that case, perhaps the Dark Lord thinks himself lucky that the locket was the first of his Horcruxes to be found. Not even Dumbledore could have destroyed it alone.”

“But now that he knows the ring is gone, that doesn’t matter.”

Regulus sighed and drummed his fingers on the table. “Dumbledore gave me a job to do, separate from yours. However, while I perform this task, I will do everything that I can to retrieve the Sword of Godric Gryffindor. I think that is the most help I can offer you.”

“No idea where the cup might be, then?” Ron asked.

“Perhaps I can offer you one more piece of help. I firmly believe he entrusted it to Bellatrix or Pyrites. They were his closest servants during the first war — them and Lucius. We know that he gave the diary to Lucius. I think it reasonable that he entrusted the cup to another of his most loyal. Whether that object is still in their care is another matter.”

“So we could be back at square one,” Ron grunted. “Excellent.”

“Not entirely,” Hermione said. “If he did take the cup from one of his followers, he’ll likely keep it close, somewhere he can keep an eye on it.”

“Malfoy Manor?” Harry suggested. “We know that’s where he’s been hiding. When he isn’t roaming the German countryside, that is.”

Ron groaned. “You think he’s hidden a Horcrux in Germany?”

Regulus shook his head. “Unlikely. I believe Miss Granger is correct. He will keep the cup, and anything else he creates, somewhere that —”

A warm prickling sensation brushed against the back of Harry’s neck, and he turned around in search of who might be behind him. Ron and Hermione did the same, and Regulus sat up a little straighter.

“What —” Ron asked.

“Someone is here,” Regulus said, “and they have just checked to see if the house is empty.”

Ron and Harry drew their wands. Hermione grabbed the diadem and shoved it into her bag — and not a moment too soon.

The door opened, and James and Lily stepped into the kitchen.

It took everything in Harry not to cry as he scrambled away from the table and into his parents’ arms.

Lily squeezed him so tightly that he thought his ribs would crack under the pressure. She did not hold back her tears as he had, and even James, when they finally broke apart and actually looked at each other, wiped a hand over his cheek.

“I’m so glad you’re alright,” Lily said, “all of you.”

“Is there any news?” Ron asked. “Have you heard from anyone else in the Order?”

“Where’s Sirius?” Harry asked. “And Remus and Tonks? Is Picksie okay?”

Lily pressed her finger to the underside of her eye, but it did not slow the steady tears of joy and relief. “We have news,” she said.

“Good and bad,” James said grimly. “I suppose first things first — we ought to make sure everyone is who they say they are.”

Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged sheepish glances. They had never considered verifying that Regulus was indeed Regulus. But even James and Lily had taken time for hugs and a tearful reunion before worrying about imposters.

Once they were all certain that no one in their number was a Polyjuiced Death Eater, Regulus called Kreacher back into the kitchen to fix a third round of breakfast. Kreacher did not, to his credit, make any comments about Lily’s blood as he fixed the meal, and Ron, perhaps remembering Regulus’ story, ignored Kreacher’s grumbling.

Or perhaps he was too anxious to hear what James and Lily had learned.

“Are my parents okay? Ginny?” Ron asked. “My brothers? Who’s in charge at the Ministry now?”

“We don’t know everything,” Lily said. “But we know that your family is safe.”

“We couldn’t get very close,” James said. “Everyone’s being watched, and there are only so many times a stag can approach someone’s kitchen window before it gets suspicious. The bite I took out of Molly’s rosebushes might have been convincing, but I can’t be sure.”

“What did you see, though?” Ron pressed.

“They’re shaken, naturally,” Lily said, “and we won’t sugarcoat it — they were tortured for information on us.”

“Not as badly as Ted and Andromeda,” James murmured.

Lily swallowed. “No, not that badly. In fact, the Death Eaters gave up when they found your ghoul, Ron. Apparently that rapid case of Spattergroit you came down with was very persuasive. They didn’t want to stick around and catch it.”

“It also means that Scrimgeour didn’t give us up, or they would have been more persistent at the Burrow,” James added. “At least, for now, they believe we were simply wedding guests who Disapparated in time. Which is not untrue.”

“What happened to Tonks’ parents?” Harry asked. “Are Tonks and Remus okay?”

“We all knew that the Tonks would be hit hardest when the Ministry fell,” Lily said, “since the Trace would have tracked you there the night we left home. Tonks left the wedding as quickly as she could to get to her parents, but she wouldn’t let Remus go with her, as hard as he tried. Sirius went with her instead.”

Ron frowned. “Why wouldn’t she want —”

“Remus’ open secret puts a bit of a target on his back,” James said. “I expect the Death Eaters would have done more than torture him if they caught him.”

“But he’s alright, isn’t he?” Harry asked.

“Yes,” said Lily. “Last we heard, he was with Frank and Alice. I’m sure Tonks will let him know when it��s safe to go home.”

“Where were you two last night?” Regulus asked with a raised eyebrow.

Lily closed her eyes and pinched her nose. James’ shoulders’ slumped, and his smile was one part amused and one part weary.

“We had the privilege of staying with Lily’s Muggle family,” James said.

Harry blinked at them. “What?”

“We had always planned on getting them into some sort of safe house,” Lily explained. “After Dumbledore’s death, it was obvious to us that the Ministry would not hold out forever. If the Death Eaters really wanted to go after us and Harry, it would not be hard for them to track down my sister. We had plans with Hestia and Emmeline to get them to a safehouse. We were going to take care of the finishing touches in the days after the wedding, but, well…”

“No one likes their brother-in-law and a house-elf appearing on their doorstop in the dead of night telling them to get out of the house,” James said, “especially not when that brother-in-law is a dim-witted street magician.”

“Vernon knows you aren’t a street magician,” Lily said.

“He does now.”

Lily sighed. “James came and went as he could, trying to find out what had happened to everyone. Picksie was a blessing, too. I thought my sister’s family would be terrified of her, but Dudley was very sweet with her, and I think that helped smooth the process. I, however… I was not at my best. Between not having my wand, Harry Disapparating on us, and not getting answers as quickly as I would have liked — I could have treated my sister with a bit more patience, I suppose. After only one night at the safehouse, Hestia suggested that my sister and her family might adjust better if I wasn’t there.”

“Which was alright with me,” James said. “We thought we’d see what news we could turn up about you at Headquarters. I can’t tell you how relieved we are to actually see you.”

“We expected you to be halfway across the country on whatever this foolhardy quest of yours is,” Lily said. It was hard to miss the bitterness in her voice, and though Harry knew she was glad to see him, the barb stung.

James squeezed her hand. “We’re glad to know you’re all safe.”

“You left Picksie with your Muggle family?” Harry asked.

“She didn’t like separating from us,” James admitted, “but she can protect them as well as Emmeline and Hestia can, and I think they’ll be safer together. We’ll check in on them from time to time, as we can. It’s not unlike the first war.” James gave Lily a tight smile. “Running from safehouse to safehouse, never staying in one place more than a week.”

“Except this time I’m not pregnant, thank Merlin,” Lily sighed.

“Or, we aren’t carting an infant around with us,” James added, “as we had to those first few months of Harry’s life.”

“Getting our own safehouse in Godric’s Hollow really was a blessing, for as long as it lasted.”

“Why not do something like that again?” Harry suggested. “You guys could have somewhere safe to stay — I could be your Secret Keeper — then you wouldn’t have to —”

Lily shook her head and James half-laughed.

“No, Snitch,” James smiled at him, “I’d rather not.”

“For one,” Lily said, “we will not sit at home while you run off on a dangerous mission.”

“For another,” James added, “safehouses are incredibly lonely. Especially under the Fidelius Charm.”

“We couldn’t see anyone,” Lily said, “not even Remus and Dumbledore. Only Peter and Sirius knew where we were. That sort of loneliness… Honestly, I’m not sure how much longer we would have lasted.”

“We did have Bathilda Bagshot.”

“She had some funny stories, didn’t she?”

“You met Bathilda Bagshot?” Hermione asked, eyes wide. “The author of A History of Magic and Hogwarts: A History?”

“And the author of the Oracle of Palombo and The Decline of Pagan Magic,” James said. “She has quite a head for stories. Said all sorts of things about Dumbledore growing up. Though I think she’d gone a bit batty by the time we met her.”

Harry frowned. “She knew Dumbledore?”

“He grew up in Godric’s Hollow,” Lily said. “She was a bit older than him, wasn’t she? She claimed to know the family fairly well, but I don’t know. Some of her stories were a bit unbelievable.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t remember details…”

“Said he was friends with Grindelwald for one,” James said. “That’s about where I thought her mind had gone. Though I didn’t believe his father had been arrested and sent to Azkaban, but apparently that one was true.”

“That’s a bit of a checkered past,” said Ron. “No wonder Dumbledore kept so many secrets.”

“You’ve plenty of friends who have been to Azkaban, Ron,” Hermione said. “Regulus, Hagrid, and Remus have all been arrested and sent to Azkaban before.”

“Even Sirius and I have spent time in an Azkaban cell,” James said, “though mine was more of a voluntary stay.”

Regulus stood suddenly. “As lovely as this has been, I think I shall see if I can’t start on repairs to the study. You don’t happen to know what happened to those books?” Regulus asked James and Lily.

James shook his head.

“We saw the damage on our way in,” Lily said. “We thought maybe there had been a duel, but no one in the Order has mentioned that there was any raid or attack here.”

“If someone does say something,” Regulus sighed, “do let me know. Quite a bit of history went up in smoke and I should like to know why.”

The kitchen door closed behind Regulus, and Lily stifled a yawn. “Speaking of Sirius and Remus, should we try checking on them today?”

“I can ask Regulus to slink down to the Tonks’ tonight,” James said. “Andromeda will be pleased to see him, and a black cat is far less conspicuous than an eight-foot tall stag.”

“Did Cedric get away from the Burrow alright?” Harry asked.

James nodded. “Molly said that Cedric, Thelborne, and Krum all stayed with them until the end. Thelborne even offered to send Hit Wizards to check on them every few days, but his offer was rebuffed. I’m sure he understood why.”

“Does Cedric know that you’re here?” Lily asked. “He is helping you with this secret mission, isn’t he?” Her voice was careful and her words enunciated with neither bitterness nor concern.

“We can write to him,” Hermione suggested. “Harry, you have that code with him, don’t you?”

Harry did not know what good a letter would do. Cedric had been the one to suggest that Grimmauld Place was safe, that they should stop here before going on the quest and see what more they could learn. Surely Cedric would at least look for them here.

But he nodded. “We can post it using the Cloak.”

“A Disillusionment Charm or Polyjuice Potion would be better,” James said. “And addressing it on the outside to Amos or Fiona might throw suspicion just a bit more. Or someone in the Order who isn’t connected with the Ministry might be best.”

“It might take a bit longer to reach him,” Lily said, “but if you can give it an indirect and untraceable path, it’s less likely to be examined. No code is unbreakable, no matter how complex you think it is.”

“Thanks,” and Harry meant it. It was nice that, even though he couldn’t involve his parents directly, he could still benefit from their help and experience. “It isn’t a code, though, it’s invisible ink,” Harry said. “Only we have the incantation to reveal it.”

“Charms can be broken,” James warned.

“Fred and George made it.”

“Ah — well, it might take time for those Charms to break, then, but even their work isn’t perfect.”

“Harry,” Lily paused and with some effort, said, “just let us know how we can help you.”

And this time, Harry was certain that there was no bitterness in her voice. He knew that wasn’t easy for her, and he accepted her gift gratefully.

“Thanks, Mum. I will. I promise.”

#Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows #hp everyone lives #hp everyone lives au #everyone lives au #harry potter everyone lives #hp fic #dh

[0ffgun]

The whole point of valentines day is to yell about how much you love someone (at least that’s how I see it) so that’s exactly what I intend to do! I haven’t had this blog for very long but already I’ve met so many incredible people who have all made this place a home for me! I spend a lot of (too much) time on the internet so honestly?? You guys are basically a huge chunk of my life and this is just my way of saying thank you. So here goes -- beware! Lots of messily written and emotional love notes under the cut!

In alphabetical order:

@1akorn​: TOP QUALITY TOP QUALITY EVERYWHERE!! Your blog is one of my all-time favourites and I love the fact that we watch a lot of the same shows! Your gifs are amazing and I also love reading through your text posts or your replies on your blog to see your opinions on things. I know we’ve never talked much but I basically just wanted to say I think you’re super cool sghdjs

@akingyouniverse​: Hi hi hi! Okay so we’ve never talked but I think you’re fun and I love reading the tags on your posts (I also love seeing Trinity posts on your blog bc there isn’t much content of them around and it makes me so happy!!!!) Anyway yes hi I LOVE YOU hope you have a great day *throws roses through all your windows*

@bldramagalore​: Cindy!! Wow can’t believe that if we both weren’t so damn gay we’d already be married by now! Seriously thank you though, we talk most days and you’re always there when I want to talk to you (usually it’s just to scream about Mark or uwma but still!) Ngl I can’t really remember how we first became friends because it just feels like I’ve known you FOREVER and that’s so comfy and wholesome. My favourite part of my week is when we yell about shows together - even better when we watch them together ofc! - and I just KNOW that we’ll be friends for the longest time so knowing I’ll get to do that a lot in the future too makes me so happy. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOU!!!! I’m so in love with you and your gorgeous face and beautiful hair and your stellar makeup skills *KISS KISS*

@blueskycafe​: Hey there!! Sorry if this is super random but you’re a blog that I see in my notes and on my dashboard a lot, and it’s always so nice when I do! Your blog is definitely one of my favourites I adore you fdjgdf I hope you have the best valentines day!

@chaeunwoo​: Your gifs are so pretty 😭😭😭 I love the content you post and seeing you enjoying the shows that you’re watching! We’ve never talked but damn maybe we should - I should send you a random friendly message sometime (if you don’t mind of course dhsjghs) but yes happy valentines day, I hope you have a good one!

@chaoticallytate​: HELLO!!! You randomly message me sometimes and it always puts a smile on my face when your little notification pops up. I don’t know you all that well but I already feel super protective over you (I’m adopting you as my little brother OKAY) and idk you just seem really down to earth and it’s so pleasant. I hope you have the absolute loveliest valentines day!

@doctorbeam​: Hello hello hello you’re lovely just LOVELY omg did I tell you that you’re lovely?? We’ve only talked a little (I’m still so happy about the time you sent me those Mark pics!!) You’re ridiculously cute and I really can’t wait to watch Ossan’s Love so that I can tell you what I think about it! Have the best valentines day you amazing person!

@dollopheadsandclotpoles​: Yeah okay maybe following you has made me get one step closer to drowning in the Merlin fandom as each day goes by I CAN’T DENY IT I’ve barely ever watched the show and yet I somehow already love it just because you do hdkjgd. Also your love for Jaylerr?? That’s my fave! You’re just a really cool person and I just... ugh I super duper appreciate you 💖 Also?? Hope this doesn’t sound weird but you post a bunch of stuff about being aro/ace and seriously I never really knew much on the subject so it’s really nice to see stuff on your blog and get a little more educated every time. Please always keep throwing Merlin onto my dashboard, it feels weird now when you’re not online and there’s no Merlin dhgdskjg 

@earthpodd​: Hey Vic!! I know you’ve probably been crazy busy these days and haven’t been online much, but I really hope you’re doing well! It’s always nice to see you when you’re around and your opinions on stuff are always interesting to see 👀 happy valentines day to my favourite tumblr crush, hope you have a great day!

@gmmtvmother​: jfghjgdhfd no idea what to say because you messaged me today and I near enough burst into flames with joy but hi! I think your blog is one of the first few that I followed, and I’m still shook by the quality. Your content is GREAT and I love it when you make funny posts like your incorrect quotes gifsets, they’re the best! We watch a lot of similar shows so it’s always nice when I get a notification that you’ve posted something and I know in advance that I’m going to absolutely LOVE it!

@idontevenwatchbl​: Hey Millie!! I love seeing you post stuff as you’re watching shows, it’s always so fun and entertaining to see hdsjghjks I’m always excited when you start watching a new show because I know I have those screenshots and funny comments to look forward to! I hope you’re having the very BEST day and I can’t wait to see what you’ll watch next!

@iplann​: sdjghjs hi hello hi!!! First of all thank you so much for always blessing my dashboard with that quality content of Plan - I love him but I can’t always keep up with his activities so heck you’re brilliant for helping me know what’s going on! And second of all I love your blog and your content, it’s fun seeing what videogames you’re into, especially when it’s ones I like too (I’m a TOTAL sucker for Dragon Age ngl.) SO yeah I just wanted to say have a nice day and always stay amazing!

@inkorns​: Oh daaaaamn if it isn’t the creator of the prettiest gifs I HAVE EVER SEEN. You’re super talented at editing okay (don’t even t r y and deny it Ada pls) and I love your blog so much. You’re fun to talk to and I’ve decided that we’re good friends and you are extremely stuck with me forever 😈 I’m gonna spend the rest of my days complimenting your gifs and you can’t stop me!!! Seriously though, talking to you is so nice and honestly?? You’re really cool and funny what the heck. You better have the best valentines day ever or else I’m gonna come over and throw heart shaped stuff at you until you have a good time 😈

@loveisactivated​: Your blog is so extreme super quality I don’t even feel worthy of just LOOKING at your gifsets because damn they look so good. You seem like a really chill person and it’s always nice when we’re watching the same shows and I get to see your amazing content! But yeah hi I think you’re really cool, happy valentines day jfdhdhfdh

@mingskit​: FRIEND FRIEND FRIEEENNDDDD!!!! (I love this “friend” thing we have going on can we do this forever please - I can’t believe we’ve never really directly talked much but we already have a cute friendship thing BLESS) Your gifs? Incredible. You? Even more incredible!! I adore the content you post, especially when you focus on the underrated girls in bl shows. You seem like such a sweet person and I like to think that maybe someday we’ll become good pals! Happy valentines day you wonderful angel 💙 

@nazaaqat​: Faiza!! Okay so yeah we’ve never talked (apart from occasional yelling in tags) but I just wanted to say hi!! You’re one of the absolute most friendliest people I’ve seen on tumblr and it’s always such a pleasure to see you replying to asks in the softest way and your gifs... ugh YES that top quality I’m pretty much addicted to your content at this point. You have so many friends and this is probably really random but I low key (high key okay it’s totally high key) adore you and hope you have a nice valentines day!

@ohbabycupcakes​: Damn you’re one of the first blogs I ever followed and you’ve always been someone who I’ve admired from afar - you’re so good at keeping your followers up to date with stuff that’s happening and you put so much time and energy into your blog and that’s just straight-up awesome. Your language skills are also so good! It’s so exciting to see how much you love learning Thai and honestly you’re so ridiculously talented, I really hope that someday I could be on your level, you’re such an inspiration really. Anyway before I gush for like 6 more paragraphs... I think you’re great and I hope you’re having a good day!!

@perthtanapon​: Pretty edits!! Pretty edits EVERYWHERE!!!! Honestly I really love your content and you post a lot of my faves which just makes me love it even more wow. Your Mark edits literally have me on the floor in a sobbing mess I hope you know that jkghjfkdgfd. I think you’re really chill and it’s nice to message you from time to time, I know we haven’t talked very much but it already feels like we’re good friends! Happy valentines day buddy 💕

@piningbisexuals​: A X E L L E 💕 You’re the first friend I made on here, I remember how excited I was when you first started following me! Your enthusiasm for the things you love is so contagious, half the time I watch new stuff just because I see you enjoy it so much. We have the loveliest most wholesome friendship where we just compliment and hype each other up all the time and I live for it. Can’t wait until the day we both achieve our dreams and can meet up in Thailand to drink some pink milk together!

@priceofwarmclothes​: Erm alright so seriously?? Your gifs are so nice please don’t ever stop gifting my dashboard with your glorious creations. We’ve never talked but you seem like a really fun and talkative person so hopefully someday we’ll have the chance to talk and become buddies! Can’t wait to see more of the gorgeous content you’ll post in the future 💚  

@purnotas​: Hello!!! I see you in my notes a lot and you send me helpful asks from time to time.. thank you so much for that!! You seem so lovely and your blog is full of great content! Please have an absolutely WONDERFUL valentines day! 💛

@rosa-leche​: Hello friend, hope you’re still doing well and that things are much less exhausting for you now that you’re done with your midterms! You always have the nicest things to say and when you leave nice comments in the tags it makes my heart so warm! Wow can’t believe you’re the sweetest person ever 💛💙💜 happy valentines day!

@rosiedaes​: One of the coolest blogs I follow okay.. you’re so chill and I always love your edits so much 😭😭😭 Ngl I’ve been following you for as long as I can remember - when I used to run a kpop blog your main was one of my faves so I was so excited when I made my new blog and I realised that you also have a drama blog!! Always stay amazing and I’ll always be looking forward to seeing what you’ll post next! 

@seoinsguk​: Okay so Alexa... we’re both seriously so BAD at replying to messages (I literally just checked and it’s been forever since I replied oh my god shsk) but really?? I love that! There’s no pressure or stress to our cute little friendship that we have like we can reply to messages weeks apart but it’ll still just feel like a normal conversation 🤣 Also THANK YOU for fuelling my kdrama needs, I don’t follow many blogs that post Korean content so it’s the best when I see you getting excited over a kdrama you’re watching because then I instantly know what to start watching next. Also can I just say... you’re so lovely thank you for being so lovely.

@thaitheseries​: One of the first thai-based blogs I followed and seriously one of the best tbh. You’re so active and I see you on my dashboard all the time and it’s so NICE (probably 90% of the things I reblog are from your blog whoops.) I love reading your tags when you reblog my content and we have similar tastes in shows which is always great! I remember when I was having a rough day and you reblogged some Mark content for me to see... and that was seriously so nice of you and it made me so happy! You’re one of my favourite people and you probably don’t even know about it djsgsfhd happy valentines day!

Wow can’t believe I’m so madly in love with all of you!! And if we’ve never talked... my inbox is always open, let’s be best friends 💕 Hope you all have a great valentines day!

#I literally threw together the most awkward last minute edit oh man djgdskg #but yes!! #I love you guys sO much I hope you know that #ff #I'm working all day but I hope you all have such a good day!

[lcdrarry]

LCDrarry proudly presents:

The LCDrarry Box Office Hits 2019

It's Reveals Day! Thank you so much for participating in and following along with the first edition of "Lights, Camera, Drarry"!

We hope you enjoyed the fest and all the wonderful creations as much as we did.

Your LCDrarry Mods, Suzi and Tami (@erin-riwen & @llap115)

PS: Now check out who wrote your favourite fics and created all that wonderful art under cut ;) And please share this post to show your appreciation! Thank you!!

Draco Malfoy’s Stupendous Seduction Seminar

Prompt: #3 | "Legally Blonde" - 2001 - Robert Luketic Author: @lettersbyelise Word Count: 8,700 words Rating: Explicit Warnings: No warnings

Summary: Draco Malfoy offers to help his coworkers to improve their seduction techniques, with unexpected consequences.

Read "Draco Malfoy’s Stupendous Seduction Seminar" on AO3.

Love, Harry

Prompt: #118 | "Love, Simon" (2018, dir. Greg Berlanti); "Alex Strangelove" (2018, dir. Craig Johnson) Author: Zzzara / @big-draco-energy Word Count: 26.4k Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Summary: Harry Potter keeps a huge secret: that scary thing he can't tell anyone about. Until a mysterious penfriend changes his life, because he keeps a secret, too.

Read "Love, Harry" on AO3.

Harry Potter and the Disorder Of The Phoenix

Prompt: #93 | "Harry Potter and The Order of The Phoenix" (2007 - David Yates) Author: @postjentacular  Word Count: 1.3k Rating: General Warnings: It's all getting a bit meta

Summary: An exasperated werewolf-slash-professor, a decidedly not-dead drama queen, a brat, and a straight white man settle down to watch a movie. It goes as well as you'd expect.

Read "Harry Potter and the Disorder Of The Phoenix" on AO3.

Heavy Burden

Prompt: #132 | "Howl's Moving Castle" - 2004 - Hayao Miyazaki Author: ViridianJane Art Medium: digital Word Count: 225 Rating: General Warnings: N/A

Summary: Harry offers to help ease Draco's burden, and Draco can't find it in himself to refuse.

Enjoy "Heavy Burden" on AO3.

The Shape of Desire is Your Name

Prompt: #8 | "Call Me By Your Name" - 2017 - Luca Guadagnino Author: @dracoismytrashson​ Word Count: 44.6k Rating: Explicit Warnings: Internalized Homophobia

Summary: In those days, I often felt like I wanted to burn the world or I wanted it to burn me, scorch me with it’s mysteries and mundanities until I was a blackened strip of a thing, rapturously spent and reshaped into something far more interesting than I’d ever been. I was waiting for something to happen to me, some indelible experience to come along and justify this dangerous searing feeling inside me, this dormant volcano that felt at turns exciting and oh so volatile. I was certain Harry Potter was that thing. The match to my tinder.

Read "The Shape of Desire is Your Name" on AO3.

The Extraordinarily Magical Host Club

Prompt: #94 | "Ouran High School Host Club" - 2006 - Series Author: @bafflinghaze​ Word Count: 20.6k Rating: Teen and up Warnings: No warnings

Summary: One day, Harry Potter, Saviour of the Wizarding World, breaks a one-hundred-thousand galleon magical artifact that belongs to the ‘Host Club’, consisting of six not-so-mysterious purebloods. Unable to be reparioed and Harry’s inheritance tied up in charities, Harry’s forced to work for the Host Club to pay back the damages! Cue all the hijinks that come with dealing with a bunch of (mostly rich) purebloods...and maybe a bit of romance, too??

Read "The Extraordinarily Magical Host Club" on AO3.

The Thing I Hate About You

Prompt: #140 | "10 Things I Hate About You" - 1999 - Gil Junger Author: ElleGray / @diligent-thunder​ Word Count: 1030 Rating: Mature Warnings: poetic mentions of blood, slut-shaming/use of the word 'whore'

Summary: An epistolary of a poet and his future lover, in which Draco is annoyed, Harry is a messy little shit, Blaise is a Bad Friend, and shit goes down in a flood of gin and hot chips. Ultimately, Draco laments his inability to master his heart, and oh so dramatically falls apart (in iambic pentameter).

Read "The Thing I Hate About You" on AO3.

A Series of Unfortunate Ghosts

Prompt: #61 | "A Christmas Carol" - 1984 - Clive Donner Author: bottseveryflavorbeans_jrayoh23 Word Count: 25.8k Rating: Mature Warnings: death talk, depression, self-hatred, physical and emotional abuse (not between H&D), suicidal thoughts

Summary: It’s sixth year and Draco Malfoy’s life is about to change thanks to some meddlesome ghosts who show him the path he is on is not the only path for him. Between their ghoulish advice and some deep soul searching, Draco regains some of the hope he lost.

Read "A Series of Unfortunate Ghosts" on AO3.

Nightingale

Prompt: #44 | "The Great Gatsby" - 2013 - Baz Luhrmann Author: Forgetticus Word Count: 5.6k Rating: Teen and Up Warnings: none

Summary: Harry, Draco, Millicent, Pansy and Blaise pile in the Duesenberg to go to a party in the Great Gatsby Universe.

Read "Nightingale" on AO3.

Hot Air

Prompt: #36 | "Avatar: The Last Airbender" - 2005 - Series Author: fantom_ftnoise / @fantom-ftnoise​ Medium: Digital Art Rating: Teen and Up Warnings: Rated T for a wee little rude gesture

Summary: When firebenders butt heads with airbenders, it can be explosive. For Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter, it's just another year at Hogwarts School of Elements & Bending.

Enjoy "Hot Air" on AO3.

Revelation

Prompt: #127 | "Boy Erased" - 2018 - Joel Edgerton Author: Zzzara / @big-draco-energy​ Word Count: 26k Rating: Explicit Warnings: Rape/Non-Con (not between H & D) - please read the tags & author notes!

Summary: I know I'm lost forever. From now on, I am not able to un-trust him. It's like falling in love, but deeper - more secure and safe. Something that's not easily undone, not with him. It’s a revelation. Have you ever fallen in trust?

Read "Revelation" on AO3.

Run Away

Prompt: #115 | "Titanic" - 1997 - James Cameron Author: carereren / @straightasdrarry​ Word Count: 5.8k Rating: Explicit Warnings: internalized homophobia, period-typical homophobia (set in 1912)

Summary: Draco Malfoy has to choose between love or his family as he boards the RMS Titanic.

Read "Run Away" on AO3.

Dying in L.A.

Prompt: #143 | "A Star is Born" - 2019 - Bradley Cooper Author: tsundanire / @breathofmine Word Count: 9.6k Rating: Explicit Warnings: Angst, Drug use, Implied/referenced alcohol abuse/alcoholism, implied/referenced drug addiction, mental health issues, addiction, implied referenced self-harm, Inspired by "A Star is Born", Ambiguous/Open ending.

Summary: After the war, Harry loses all sense of purpose. He travels the world aimlessly, from one spot to the next, chasing a high that never lasts. When the morning comes all that's left is a pounding head, and a foul taste in his mouth. Until he stumbles into a bar in L.A., where his past and present collide.

Read "Dying in L.A." on AO3.

Nobody Tells You How

Prompt: #137 | "Return to Me" - 2000 - Bonnie Hunt Author: @thirdeyeblinkings​ Word Count: 34.2k Rating: Explicit Warnings: Canon Character Death, Grief/Mourning, Explicit Sexual Content

Summary: Draco never expected to find love once, let alone twice. But how does love work when your heart's still broken? **OR** Harry gets a heart transplant and develops feeings for Draco, but those two things are not related. Until they are.

Read "Nobody Tells You How" on AO3.

We Are Going Back In Time

Prompt: #68 | "Skyfall" - 2012 - Sam Mendes Author: GlitternGlow Word Count: 4.7k Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death (MCD), Swearing

Summary: Draco has been 007 for a while, his mother and father, even his friends are part of MI6. One day he sets his eyes on his new handler, a scruffy black-haired youth with enough balls to stand up to him. Can they beat Silva and bring him down before anything else happens? And will Draco have the guts to tell Harry how he feels?

Read "We Are Going Back In Time" on AO3.

Expecting to Fly

Prompt: #15 | "The Sure Thing" - 1985 - Rob Reiner Author: ruarcher / @coriesocks​ Word Count: 45.5k Rating: Mature Warnings: Excessive drinking, attempted kidnapping

Summary: While at university in America, Harry plans a cross-country trip to get laid. He doesn’t count on having to take this trip with Draco Malfoy.

Read "Expecting to Fly" on AO3.

Rest your heart in my hands

Prompt: #133 | "Moulin Rouge" - 2001 - Baz Luhrman Author: saphira_black Word Count: 2.7k Rating: Mature Warnings: implied sexual work (but not really)

Summary:His heart skipped a beat. A slender figure stepped through the curtains. The music changed and the whole crowd started to roar. "A man?" It was not more than a faint whisper, but the twins heard him, nevertheless. "You didn’t know? His name’s Draco Malfoy," answered Fred.

Read "Rest your heart in my hands" on AO3.

Lost in Blue

Prompt: #75 | "The Blue Lagoon" - 1980 - Randal Kleiser Artist: @sirene312​ Medium: Digital Art Rating: Mature Warnings: half-naked wizards ;)

Summary: [Fan Art] Harry and Draco accidentally get trapped on a desert island. A "The Blue Lagoon" movie AU

Enjoy "Lost in Blue" on AO3.

When The Universe Reels

Prompt: "Meet Me In St Louis" - 1944 - Vincente Minnelli Artist: @maesterchill​ Author: wishes to remain unnamed Word Count: 1.2k Medium: Digital Art Rating: Teen and up Warnings: none

Summary: After a week of convincing himself it wasn’t really a date—they were only taking a trolley ride together for Merlin’s sake—the agreed hour arrived and Draco waited anxiously at the trolley station. But where on earth was Potter?

Read "When The Universe Reels" on AO3.

Slick

Prompt: #59 | "Grease" - 1978 - Randal Kleiser Author: milkandhoney / @fictional  Word Count: 10.4k Rating: Teen and up Warnings: Slight Virginity Shaming

Summary: Slick is the word. Harry's bike is a bird. And Poor Draco's a sex noob.

Read "Slick" on AO3.

The Loudest Bang

Prompt: #51 | "MythBusters" - 2003 to 2015 - Series Author: @jeldenil Word Count: 1.2k Rating: Teen and up Warnings: none

Summary: “You’re not going to use a nuclear weapon on Gringotts’ strongest vault, Potter.”

Read "The Loudest Bang" on AO3.

A Truth Universally Acknowledged

Prompt: #12 | "Pride & Prejudice" - 2005 - Joe Wright Author: epsilonargus Word Count: 23.9k Rating: Teen and up Warnings: none

Summary: It has been four years since the war. Mr. Henry Bennet is perfectly pleased with his domestic life at Longbourn, managing the affairs of his demanding mother and many sisters. But a new Muggle gentleman moves into Netherfield Park, and he brings with him a surprising figure from Mr. Henry's past ...

Read "A Truth Universally Acknowledged" on AO3.

Man Eater

Prompt: #25 | "Little Shop of Horrors" - Alan Menken Author: milkandhoney / @fictional Word Count: 2.4k Rating: Mature Warnings: Implied/Referenced Domestic Violence (not between H & D), Dark Draco, Implied Sexual Acts

Summary: “You can’t lie to me.” The plant released Draco and he stumbled, overbalanced by his own gangly limbs. “I've watched you. I've heard all your idle thoughts. All your whispered secrets. I know what Harry means to you.”

Read "Man Eater" on AO3.

I Wanna Get Better

Prompt: #139 | "One Day at a Time" - 2017 - Series Author: donnarafiki / @rose-grangerweasleyisbae​ Word Count: 5.0k Rating: Mature Warnings: Mental Health Issues, Mental Breakdown, Suicidal Thoughts, Depression

Summary: One night Draco comes knocking on Neville's door, with a tape recorder and a desperate need for a hug.

Read it now on AO3.

A week at the Humdinger

Prompt: #9 | "Pretty Woman" - 1990 - Gary Marshall Author: AhaMarimbas Word Count: 52.2k Rating: Explicit Warnings: Rape/Non Con (not between H & D), Being Outed, Ace-phobia, Rude and Derogatory language

Summary: What happens when Europe's richest business tycoon asks London's poorest (probably) prostitute for directions? An adventure at the Humdinger, and a love story to last the ages. Or at least the week.

Read "A week at the Humdinger" on AO3.

Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before

Prompt: #33 | "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" - 2004 - Michel Gondry Author: @thefifthbiscuit​ Word Count: 1.2k Rating: Teen and up Warnings: none

Summary: Harry's used to being recognised wherever he goes. Then he meets Draco Malfoy, possibly the only person in the wizarding world who doesn't know what Harry Potter looks like. Based on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Read "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" on AO3.

Four Years Gone

Prompt: #141 | "Point Break" - 1991 - Katheryn Bigelow Author: ladderofyears / @clemandben Word Count: 10.8k Rating: Explicit Warnings: Relationship breakdown, Bank Robbery, Sexually Explict, Obsession

Summary: Four years ago Harry Potter let Draco Malfoy fly away in a snow storm that no flyer could possibly have survived, and ever since that day his life has been on hold. Then, one day he receives a photograph of a Mountain Range. The Pir Panjal mountain range, in India. Draco is alive. Will Harry chase him, and give up everything he cares about?

Read "Four Years Gone" on AO3.

Our Husbands Are Gay

Prompt: #134 | "Grace and Frankie" - 2015 - Series Author: MarchnoGirl Word Count: 14.5k Rating: Explicit Warnings: Infidelity (not between Drarry), Explicit Sexual Content, Older Characters (60 yo)

Summary: As soon as they stepped foot inside, all his willpower crumbled once more. Draco grabbed Harry’s arm again, making him stumble backwards. “I can’t. Let’s run away. You and me; we’ll build our lives together somewhere else, somewhere far away. Please, say yes.” Harry turned properly to him and smiled softly. He adjusted Draco’s jacket, smoothing his hand down his chest and stopping at his heart. “I learned long ago that running away is not gonna solve my problems. C’mon, Draco.”

Read "Our Husbands Are Gay" on AO3.

Please help promote the fest by sharing your favourite submissions, so more people can enjoy all the amazing new Drarry works of LCDrarry.

Thank you! See you in 2020 ;)

#lcdrarry2019 #lcdrarry #lcdrarry 2019 #lights camera drarry #lights camera drarry 2019 #drarry #drarry fic #drarry fic rec #drarry fanart #drarry fic recs #drarry fest #hpfest #hp fest #hpevents #lcdrarry 2019 masterlist