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primus-why · 8 months

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More on the MegOp-centric Orion Pax arc we deserved 😤

Okay but imagine during the Orion Pax arc in TFP if it lasted longer. Imagine if Orion started to get to know some of the Vehicons (or even another large truck like Breakdown?) and would periodically hang out with them in the mess hall during fuel breaks.

Imagine, if you will, that Orion had also taken the time to research his own frame schematics. The change from his old frame was visibly obvious, but what other secrets did it hold? Turns out he is well-stocked with weapons, and has an increased stamina to accommodate them. Clearly, he is built for battle and for hauling large loads, no longer a mere archivist. And because of this, he thinks he could be doing more to help out Megatron and their cause...

Fast forward a bit, and Orion decides he wants to help move some of the energon ore that has been mined that day while on a fuel break. He assures the other Vehicons that it's no trouble at all before stepping through the ground bridge to the mine.

Suddenly, as if lured to their location, the Autobots arrive and make a direct assault on the mines! Orion ducks behind a part of the cave, preparing to online his weapons and defend his comrades...

... only to find that he can't!

His processor races, trying different commands to release the weapons, but they won't engage. A pair of Vehicons spot him while hiding in a similar spot, and they urge Orion to run back to the bridge.

"We'll cover you!" One of them says, just as the other steps out of their hiding spot to return fire.

Orion doesn't really get a chance to answer. He didn't want to leave without them, so he doesn't move right away. In that moment of hesitation, he watches as the other Vehicon is struck by blaster fire, and their companion steps out to pick up where they left off.

Orion is moving before he even realizes it. As other Vehicons pull back to retreat to the bridge, Orion moves across to reach the wounded Vehicon and their companion, who is now one of the last Cons still providing cover fire.

"Pax!" They say, "You need to get outta here! Megatron will--"

"-- Not without you! I won't leave a fellow Decepticon behind." And he means it. Orion doesn't care that he can't activate his weapons, he can still bring the wounded to safety.

Just as he scoops up the fallen Vehicon, some blaster fire catches the remaining Vehicon on the arm, grazing them and coming extremely close to Orion. He feels something shift, and before he knows what he's doing he's pointing one of his servos in the direction of the blast...

... only, it's not just a servo! He's got a blaster now too!

Orion acts on instinct, providing some additional cover fire while he and the rest of the Vehicons eventually escape. Once back, he delivers the Vehicon in his arms to the medbay and they thank him, their voice full of awe.

(Once out of audial range Knock Out advises the Vehicon to not let Lord Megatron catch them looking at Orion like that, as he doesn't tolerate "challengers" of any kind. 🙃)

Orion of course gets an audial-full from Megatron on how he is not to go into battle. It's far too dangerous! And Orion agrees somewhat-- he explains that he's learned of his weapons schematics, but since his servo transformed back after they returned to the ship he hasn't been able to re-engage the blaster.

"Perhaps... you could train me? To use my weapons, this frame more effectively?" says Orion. He sighs, "... I just want to help."

"And you are helping." Megatron assures him, "We need that database decoded--"

"-- Soundwave can do it just as well, yet he enters the field from time to time." Orion pouts, which is an expression Megatron hasn't seen in a very long time.

The silver mech chuckles. "Soundwave was a gladiator. His frame might be different than it once was, but as you say-- he's effective."

Orion slumps in defeat.

"Tell you what," says Megatron, "if you reach a point where you can reliably engage and disengage your weaponry on command, I will train you in the basics of combat."

Orion perks up at that, looking more determined.

"I'll get there. I promise, Megatron-- I won't let you down."

Megatron holds his gaze, smiling softly, "I know. You never disappoint, Orion."

Fast forward again. Orion is talking to the Vehicons about built-in weaponry (since they have blasters in their arms similar to his own schematics.) He still can't seem to do it on command, however.

One of them suggests he recreates the circumstances that brought it out the first time. (Another helpfully reminds everyone that would involve Orion facing down angry Autobots, which isn't likely to happen since Megatron has banned him from leaving the Nemesis until he's combat-ready.)

Orion offers to let them fire upon him in one of the training rooms, to which they all vehemently refuse.

"If Lord Megatron heard you were in the medbay because we shot you?? He'd snuff our sparks!"

Then one of them proposes that perhaps it wasn't actually blaster fire that caused them to activate, simply the encroaching threat.

"What if all Orion has to do is convince his frame he's in danger?"

After some more thought, they put a plan into action a couple days later: Orion will jump from the highest level of the engine room, and the threat of impact will cause his weapons to engage. He will study his frame's reaction in a controlled environment, ideally being able to remember how it feels to engage his weaponry, and therefore would be able to (in theory) recreate that feeling. Of course, before he hits the ground one of the flight frames will catch him, or at the very least slow his fall so he's not hurt too badly. It's brilliant! What could possibly go wrong?

After gathering some courage, Orion finally takes the leap, careful to study his internal reactions along the way.

"So... aren't you gonna go after him?" He hears one of the Vehicons above him say.

"What?!? I thought you were gonna--"

Wait... what?

Oh scrap. Scrap!! They're not flight frames! He's falling to his death for real!!

Orion scrambles for purchase on the sides of the smooth walls, to no avail. Sparks fly off his servos as he tries desperately to slow his fall in any way he can, knowing no one is coming to save him.

Suddenly, he spots a maintenance team emerging on the ground floor below, clearly there to do a routine inspection.

"Look out!!" Orion yells, "Move out of the way!!" He would hate to see anyone get sent to the medbay due to his own foolishness...!

Just as the Vehicons scramble back from whence they came, another figure emerges casually sipping energon, entirely unphased by the commotion.

"Megatron! Watch out!" As Orion calls out to his friend, he can spot the exact moment Megatron recognizes him. The silver mech's optics flare to their widest setting and he drops his cube, spilling precious fuel on the ground. His arms move up, as if to catch him...

... just then a ground bridge appears below Orion, which he goes through immediately (not that he had much of a choice in the matter.) When he comes out the other side, he discovers he is... falling upward?? And significantly closer to the ground from where he last left off, at that. Soon gravity takes hold and he falls back down again, but not nearly as drastically. With his descent successfully slowed, the bridges wink out of existence as quickly as they came, and Megatron swiftly catches him.

"Yes. Thank you, Soundwave." The silver mech says into his comm before turning to the mech in his arms, "Orion, what in the Pits possessed you to jump down the main engine shaft?!?!"

"I-I... uh..." was all Orion could manage to stutter. His processor was still overwhelmed, having just narrowly avoided a painful injury or worse.

Among his racing thoughts, an unbidden memory file queued up-- one where Megatronus was holding him in a similar fashion during one of his many visits to Kaon. The gladiator had literally swept him off his pedes, insisting he carry Orion the rest of the way to their destination, lest the archivist get too tired. Orion knew he could have protested-- he wasn't tired in the least-- but he wanted... by Primus, how he had wanted to be close to Megatronus...

Back in reality, the parallels of the situation sunk in, and Orion felt a blush creep onto his faceplates-- again, not unlike that particular memory. He had been smaller then, much easier to excuse being picked up by his larger companion, but now his frame was bigger and stronger. It should have been embarrassing. There was no reason to be carried, so he had accepted early on that there was no chance of repeating such an indulgence. Yet, here and now, Megatron was holding him; he had caught him, and Primus below it's like he was an archivist again, back when he weighed practically nothing to the gladiator--

"... I'm sorry." He said lamely, acutely aware of all the optics on him now. His blush deepened, wishing not for the first time he could hide behind the facemask that came with his new frame. "There's no excuse, I was being foolish. It won't happen again."

Megatron regarded him for a moment. "Your servos..." he eventually said, and Orion finally noticed just how badly he had scraped up his digits.

He let out a hiss as he flexed, inspecting the damage. "Right... I should probably visit the medbay." He made a move to get down, but Megatron simply readjusted his grip and turned around.

"Uh... Megatron?"

"I'll see to it you get there." Said the silver mech, like it was the easiest, most logical thing for him to do in the world.

"... Oh. Thank you, I... but I can still walk." He huffed out an awkward laugh, "Besides, I think we can agree I've troubled you enough for one day."

Megatron stopped walking and looked at him.

"Do you... want me to put you down?"

Surely he doesn't mean... he's not actually giving him the choice, is he??

"I-it's just that... I don't want you to strain yourself! I'm not as light as I used to be..." Orion couldn't bear to meet Megatron's optics, because he feared his friend might see right through him.

But the silver mech simply shrugged, "You're not that heavy. I don't mind." He paused for a moment, as if waiting for something.

"... If that's your only objection, then..." and with that he continued down the hall, making sure he took the long way to the medbay.

Megatron continued to steal glances at Orion when he could, noticing his flushed faceplates.

'... Cute.' He thought. 'Reminds me of that time I picked him up in Kaon. He blushed nicely then, too.'

Eventually the mech in his arms relaxed enough to rest his helm on his chassis with a small sigh, making his spark flip. However he was still aware of his archivist's bleeding servos, and the fact that Orion would probably start to wonder why he hadn't called for another bridge into the medbay. Megatron stayed his course, but picked up the pace a little.

'Forgive my indulgences, Orion... I want to stay by your side just a little longer...'

#megop #tfp #megatron #optimus prime #fuzz writes #cue Orion getting his servos wrapped up to heal so he's not able to work and so he feels extra bad #since now he can't even do the one thing he COULD do before #but that also means he has more of an excuse to spend time with Megatron 👀

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satsuki-yumizuka · 9 months

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Who're your favorite Monogatari girls?

LOOOOOK LOOOOOK SHE IS SO PRETTY NAD BEAUTIFUL AND LOVELY LOOOOK LOOOK HAUUUUUUUUU SHES SOOOOO OCUUUUUUTE SHES PERFECT SHES SO CUTE AND PERFECT AND CUTEEEEE SHES SOOOOOOO PRETTY LOOOOOOOOOOK

#anyways its kiss-shot acerola-orion heart-under-blade #like for sure #i fuckin love nadeko too. she is like me kinda but not really but in a lot of ways i get her. u know #kiss-shot is not really like me at all but she is all of my favorite things in a character #i want to write so and let it be known that every character. every story. she will be in there.#spiritually. maybe even literally.#like. it is just. exactly what i want. from a story id write. u know #i will not be specific bc im pretty sure u and several other followers have not watched kizu #but its so good #i love kiss-shot so much

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greenerteacups · 1 month

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I’m not sure if you’ve specifically answered this before, but how long did it take you to outline, research, and prepare the foundational meat of Lionheart since it’s such a sprawling saga with threads for so many characters? Did you have it all mapped out before you started writing? What about shorter pieces like The Climb and the latest, delightful The Death Eater Diaries?

The series outline for Lionheart I wrote on one bleary, rabbit-hole of a day in the summer of 2022 when I was definitely supposed to be doing something else, and after that, each book took me between 3 days and 2 weeks to outline completely. The later books have taken longer because of their length and the number of threads — the series has a way of getting wider as well as longer, and for the last two books, I sometimes got a bit grumbly about how many characters pop up in every novel. As for research, most of that will happen before or during the outlining process; I'll have a copy of the book on-hand to check plot details, but for the most part I try to work without flipping back to the text, to avoid copying beats or stylistic choices unless I have a thematic reason to. I also use HP Lexicon and fanwikis while I'm editing for content, though when I'm drafting I make a real effort not to switch out of the tab for any reason, because it breaks flow. I'm sure I have missed some details despite my references, but c'est la vie; JKR had to do continuity edits in subsequent edition releases for several books, so at least I'm not alone.

For The Climb, I wrote the first chapter in the raw, then went through and blocked out the second two in an outline at the bottom of the document. Very very broad strokes there — TC is different from Lionheart because it's a slice-of-life tone piece, so there's not as much plot to be done. It's a novella conceived for the sole purpose of exploring one particular relationship, so the plot came secondary to the things I wanted to highlight about how that dynamic worked. It's a character-forward piece, to borrow culinary terminology, and outlining for character is a lot easier than outlining for plot. (For me.)

The Death Eater Diaries emerged almost fully-formed from a Tumblr post I made joking about the sort of ludicrously awful decade Narcissa experiences. The hardest part of outlining was nailing down canonical dates. Stuff like how old Andromeda was when she got pregnant, when Bellatrix got married, when the members of the previous generation died, all that's unspecified — but it's also all functionally constrained to a narrow window of time, if you take in where the characters are at certain other parts of the story, so you can't just say anything. It was very fun to write, though. Doing so also stressed how hilariously short the timeline on the Black family collapse actually is. Between 1971 and 1981, they go from a two-branch family with an heir, a spare, and three healthy daughters -> completely extinct in the male line, two of its descendants disinherited, two imprisoned, one missing, presumed dead, and Draco Malfoy's mom.

#I didn't even MENTION alphard getting burned off the tree because to be honest i straight up forgot dog existed #but if I had that'd just drive the point home #tfw your uncle disinherits your other uncle from sheer rage for giving money to your cash-poor disinherited cousin #I also like to think — as the fic implies — that the wall is literally not official/magical at all #Orion just gets pissy and writes people out of the will sometimes and then his dramatic wife goes to stab a cigarette in their portrait #which makes it all the funnier that sirius in the movies does this dramatic 'gaze upon my works ye mighty' thing about it

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enbysiriusblack · 2 months

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Narcissa sat across the table, Sirius grinned at her from the other side, his fork absentmindedly twirling and scraping at his plate.

"Can you stop that?" Narcissa gritted her teeth as a loud scrape sounded from the silver pressing against the china.

Sirius tilted his head, grin still on place.

"Your mother tells me you're interested in herbology at the moment?" Walburga hums, eyes focused on Narcissa.

Narcissa nods, "Oh yes. Well the malfoy estate has such large gardens, as you of course know, and so I hope to augment my skills in order to take full control of the garden when I have married Lucius. It will be our guest's first impression of us and our house, so arguably the most important part of the manor."

"Do you grow weed?" Sirius asked.

"Of course not!" Walburga hissed, before turning back to Narcissa, "You are a delightfully wise girl."

"Frank Longbottom is into herbology too."

Walburga glanced to him, "Well, we don't associate with that family, Sirius."

Sirius gasped, staring at Narcissa, "Do we not, Cissy?"

Narcissa smiled politey, "Of course not."

"Well, do we associate with his girlfriend then, Alice?"

Narcissa narrowed her eyes just slightly, "No, we do not."

Walburga glanced between Narcissa and Sirius, "Who is Alice?"

Sirius turned to his mother, "Fortescue. She's a gryffindor in Narcissa's year."

Orion coughed, "Have you had your exam results back, Narcissa?"

"Not yet, but I have high hopes. My mock results predicted all 'O's."

Orion smiled, "Good. I'm sure your parents will be proud."

Sirius leaned back in his chair with a sigh and muttered, "Probably wouldn't be proud with you spending your time behind the greenhouses with certain gryffindor's."

Narcissa folded her arms neatly, "Is that something you do, Sirius?"

Walburga huffed, "If only he could be more like you, my dear."

Orion nodded, "We see much too much of your elder sisters in him, I'm afraid. Regulus, on the other hand-"

Sirius scoffed, glancing to Regulus who had gone non-verbal again, luckily their parent’s hadn't quite realised yet.

Orion glared at Sirius, "Don't interrupt me", he turned back to Narcissa and shook his head, "Always so rebellious at the moment."

Narcissa smiled back, "Oh, Bella was the same, always so hotheaded and impulsive. But she knows to put family above all else, and I'm certain Sirius will grow up and do the same."

Sirius turned to her, noticing her small gesture to Regulus sat by her side- still remaining silent and moving his food into categories instead of eating it.

Sirius immediately stood up, "James is my family."

Regulus glanced to him- anger evident in his face.

Walburga stood up too, "The Potter's are not welcome here- even in name. Blood traitors, the lot of them."

Sirius grabbed his cup and threw it across the room, "I hate you! I hate this house! I hate this family!"

Orion wiped the corners of his mouth with his napkin before turning to Regulus and Narcissa, "Regulus, would you please show your cousin to her room? I think we shall be retiring for the evening."

Narcissa stood up instantly, guiding Regulus with her and out the room.

"Worthless! Thankless! Scum of my blood!" Walburga had started to scream at Sirius as the door shut behind them.

Narcissa never liked Sirius. He was always so loud, defiant, stubborn. But as she glanced over to her small cousin- Regulus, she couldn't help but admire Sirius protecting his brother from trouble at his own expense. He was loyal to his family- just not in the way they wanted.

#some black family <3 #i think narcissa and sirius never really got along but trying to protect regulus is the only thing they really bonded over #also regulus would go non-verbal quite a bit and their parents obviously didn't understand autism at all #and so going non-verbal always got regulus in big trouble- them thinking he was just purposely not talking as defiance #so sirius tended to look out for that quickly and try to take attention off regulus so they wouldn't realise #marauders era #marauders #sirius black #narcissa black #regulus black #the black family #walburga black #orion black #my writing

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marciaillust · 1 year

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so like uh. uhh. superhero/journalist au revamped

#2023 the year of tcm im telling you #taking a little break from drawing the dj #BRO I CANT BELIEVE I NEVER POSTED THE SHITTY OG SKETCHES #there were soooo many #i am certain i posted the witch au so why not the superhero au #OR maybe i did post it and i just cant find them?? anyway #my friend showed me this artist that i have become low key obsessed with dan mora #also the same friend may or may not be wiritng a tcm fic for me. tee hee. :^) my birthday is in march yay #ANYWAY the au. it started out pretty simple #orion is a journalist and garret is a lone wolf superhero and stuff happens!#stuff that i cant talk about because the subject matter is way too close to spoilers for the actual tcm #but lets just say orion wants the scoop to write his articles but Red Wing doesnt want his identity revealed #shenanigans ensue #I CANT WAIT FOR THE FIC KYA #my best friend being an excellent writer is the BEST thing that happened to me in my whole life fr #their stuff is always so top notch #soon to be published best selling uk author fr #after they get the doctorate #can you believe it doctorate #holy wow #ok tags #tcm #the clockmaster #sketches #superhero au

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i-mean-technically · 1 year

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Y'all seem to like that Orion Pax Loose On Earth AU idea.

Here's more of it:

He becomes an internet sensation. He's super polite and very honest, rescues little kids from the street and asks for directions when he's lost.

In a hilarious series of events, both the Autobots and Decepticons keep just missing Orion when he shows up in the news or is tagged in a selfie online.

People very quickly figure out he's a Lost Alien and when the Men In Black show up Orion has multiple nations willing to give Asylum.

Orion Pax Has Breached Containment and the internet loves him.

#transformers #maccadam #transformers prime #tfp #optimus prime #orion pax #earth bound #my au #stay tuned for more of this #i'm going to be creating another blog #and gonna start writing little things for my aus there

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helpimstuckposting · 10 months

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Okay but hear me out.

What if Steve was really into astrology? What if Steve really likes stars and constellations?

His parents left him alone a lot as a kid, in a big, dark, empty house, and instead of turning on lights and radios to pretend he isn’t alone he goes outside to look at the stars. Next to the woods in Hawkins, Indiana the stars are bright and clear and he sees patterns in them like the W he sees in the winter, or the three stars in a row that are really bright.

He checks out books from the library on the weekends to learn what they are, what they mean.

The W is Cassiopeia, a beautiful and vain queen who angered the gods with her narcissism and was tied to a chair in the sky. The three stars are the belt of Orion, an angry hunter who drank until dangerous and hunted even a goddess, killed by a scorpion and preserved in the stars.

They kind of remind him of his parents. A selfish queen and an angry hunter. His parents leave for months on end but these constellations are trapped in the sky, right in his backyard. Some nights he goes out and talks to them, as if his parents are the ones trapped here with him. Sometimes he just watches, feels their presence like people, and feels just a little bit less alone.

He doesn’t tell anyone. Tommy would think it was stupid and he doesn’t really talk about himself to anyone else. No one really knows him, what he likes or what he does with himself all alone in his giant house. The stars know. Orion and Cassiopeia. They know everything about him, and he knows everything about them, and sometimes that makes him feel better.

When he can’t see them, it’s like his parents have left all over again and he’s even more alone than before, but he still watches the stars. He waits for them to come back, he waits for his parents.

Years later, after everything with the Upsidedown, with El, and Vecna, he and Eddie are still awake in Steve’s dark house. Neither are able to sleep because of the nightmares, but Eddie tells Steve his moles look like constellations and Steve feels a little bit closer to the stars. Feels less lonely than he has in a very long time.

Sorry I am so very emotional about these boys

#steve harington #head canon #steddie ficlet #ficlet #stranger things #eddie munson #steddie #stranger things fic #if I weren’t so shitty at finishing stories I’d love to actually write this #but alas #i am just here #anyway I’m so so normal about Steve Harrington #i love him a normal and healthy amount #also this popped into my head because I used to be scared of walking alone #and I would prentent that Orion was walking with me and protecting me #helpimstuckrambling #helpimstuckwriting

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cyberrose2001 · 8 months

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hmm orion..would orion like big bewbs? After all uhm...God mommy kink turns me on-

"So orion..my sweet mech,would you like mommy's breast~?..."

"..oh..by the allspark-i...yes..please..mm"(orion)

"aahh..you're so good with your glossa my boy♡"

mommy kink orion would appreciate all kinds of boobas i feel, don’t matter if they’re big ol’ honkers or cute ones he can wrap his entire mouth around, as long as he gets fed <3

#this is doing things to me #i should write about this right now before I explode #tfp #tfp orion pax #tfp optimus #valveplug #asks

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threadsun · 1 year

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Their thumb catches on the sharp edge of his canine. The tooth snags their delicate skin and for just a moment he hopes they'll bleed for him. He hopes for just a drop on his tongue, to quench the thirst that's been plaguing him since he first saw them.

Their thumb pushes further into his mouth, grazing over the jagged teeth inside. His lower lip is pulled back, curled around the meat of their thumb. For just a moment he imagines biting down.

He could sever their finger with a single bite. He holds more power in his jaws than they could ever imagine. He can feel it, almost, the way their flesh would give way under his teeth. The crunch of their bone. The blood…

His tongue laves over his lower lip for a moment, imagining their blood overflowing from his mouth. They smile fondly at him, two fingers brushing over his tongue. They laugh at the drool dripping down his chin.

In their eyes, he’s cute. Like a little puppy to train and spoil with treats. They don’t see the wolf before them. The beast kneeling at their feet. They don’t see how they’ve tamed the monster of the forest. How they’ve soothed the feral animal within him.

And they don’t see how it aches to be released. They don’t see the way it fights against the chains that bind it. The way he wishes so desperately to tear into them. To rip a hole in their chest big enough for him to curl up around their warm, beating heart.

Instead, he gives a lopsided grin, letting them continue to explore his mouth with wonder. Their eyes follow their thumb, commenting softly about how they’ve never seen teeth so sharp before. He chuckles.

Inside, the wolf howls, desperate to show them just how sharp they are.

#my dear hatchet man #mdhm #alan orion #18+ only #sunshine #drabble #ouagh thinkin about... Alan mouth inspection...#if I could draw y'all would NOT be safe from endless drawings of fingers in Alan's mouth #if you CAN draw... please... draw fingers in Alan's mouth...#also totally definitely did not write this thinking about any Alan ship in particular and even if I was you couldn't prove a thing 🔫#(I say directly contradicting the tags from my last alan post...)

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my-castles-crumbling · 5 months

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Extremely NSFW Wolfstar Headcanon 😁

Remus Lupin so, so carefully and gently helping Sirius Black with his eyeliner, making sure it is absolutely perfect, staring lovingly into his eyes as he does so.

Three hours later, Sirius Black with tears and the same eyeliner running down his face, grinning and gagging as Remus Lupin feeds him his cock.

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auphaniim · 3 months

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ITS BEEN A WHILE. IM BACK WITH MORE BOOKS!!!

These two books are by the amazing @alexsuominen (one of which was written for me after some begging lmao)

love u alex!

read in between lay lines here

alright here is the second one! this one was quite a challenge because its a fair bit shorter than i usually bind, so i had to forego a spine board which was new!

both of these are quartos printed on a4 paper if anyone is curious

read love most unexpected here

if anyone wants the typesets for these (or any of my previous binds) hit me up!!

#okay lets not judge me on the questionable things i ask my friends to write me ok #just hope no one pics up that second one up from my shelf…#bookbinding #fan binding #fic binding #fanfiction binding #harry potter #orion black #abraxas malfoy #salazar slytherin

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kirnet · 1 year

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an infamous fic. 1.2k words.

Orion Quinn was not invited out often.

What was the word his coworkers used? “Unsociable.” Orion Quinn was unsociable. He hardly smiled, he never danced, and he almost always turned down any invitation to get to know his coworkers in a casual setting.

And yet, he was here, nursing an overpriced IPA in the crowded corner booth of a dive bar. Some band was setting up on the sorry excuse for a stage in a mad scramble, untangling wires and tripping over them anyway. That was the only reason he had been coaxed out: work. Benjamin swore by this band, a name Orion couldn’t even remember, but he had yet to say anything about the actual music. “The lead singer is insane,” he laughed into his drink.

Marty snorted. “Yeah, insanely hot.”

Orion spared the singer in question a glance. She was currently engaged in a battle with the mic stand, toned arms on display as she tried to adjust it to her short height, her platformed boots barely helping. In fact, almost all of her was on display. Black denim shorts that barely went below her crotch, a strappy black bralette that Orion couldn’t figure out how she had put on, black fishnets, lipstick, nails. All black. Even the tattooed bands around both her wrists. The only pop of color was the length of auburn hair that tumbled down her back. She stuck her tongue out when the guitarist laughed at her.

“She almost killed a guy the last time I was here. Just demolished his face.” Benjamin whistled. “Took two security guards to drag her off. You could see all of her rings on his face when they carried him out.”

Orion frowned, already bored with the subject. Usually, he would never attend a concert like this. Metal, hardcore, whatever they were supposed to be, was not his taste. The screams grated against his ears, and the rowdiness of the crowds did nothing to encourage his participation. But he was in desperate need of new talent. “Why did they invite her back?”

“You can’t deny the crowd they bring in.”

It was true. The small area around the stage was packed, everyone pushing to be in front. Even where he sat in the back people were finding a way to jostle his elbow, threatening the safety of his drink. Most of the patrons were dressed like the lead singer, though a few sported the same tee-shirt, obviously hand painted: two curved lines with a crude semi circle in between them. Orion was very aware of the crisp white shirt he wore, though the top two buttons were undone.

The bartender, at least, seemed happy, her tip jar already overflowing.

A hush fell over the crowd as the opening notes of a guitar started. It was light at first, complex, like thousands of petals softly falling to the ground.

And then all peace came crashing down.

Marty bobbed his head beside Orion as the song picked up, the combined spell of every instrument whipping the crowd into a frenzy. The singer remained silent, not attempting to hide her smugness as she watched the crowd, before eventually parting her lips.

Orion had to admit, she was good. A little rough around the edges, maybe, and he had more than a few notes for what every member could improve upon, but the skill was obviously there. Her voice danced from low to high, defying gravity as she threw herself about the stage. More than a few times she’d run her fingers down between her breasts, down her sides, coming to a stop just above the hem of her shorts before she’d turn and trail over her backside. Not subtle at all, but with the way the crowd surged to touch her legs, she didn’t need to be.

He watched for a song, then two, then turned back to his beer, wondering if it would be worth it to fight his way to the bar for another.

The concert continued, and Orion occasionally tapped his finger against the lip of his bottle, but he more often checked his watch. For a genre he disliked, he was grudgingly surprised that they had even held his attention at all, but his time could be better spent elsewhere.

And then she screamed.

Orion Quinn had listened to a lot of music. He knew technique when he heard it. And the singer certainly had it, the growls well projected. Her voice would be protected for a long time.

With his gaze on the table in front of him, Orion had missed the frenzied look that had crept into her eyes, the stage lights flaring her pupils to life. Her hair was wildfire behind her, catching everything alight as she violently whipped her head about. And when she started singing again, her voice was honey smooth, soothing any wounds that the scream had left when it sunk its claws into his mind.

The musicians picked up, their hands a blur as the tempo reached a maddening pace. Sweat rolled down the singer’s exposed skin. Her eyes were unfocused, unseeing, but her mouth continued to move and she continued to dance, no longer aware of the crowd in front of her. “Possessed” was the only word that could form in Orion’s thoughts. It was almost Bacchian, his pulse racing as the crowd moved with her, beholden to her every command.

The singer screamed again, and Orion’s heart shattered.

Her voice frayed, heartbreak evident in every note. There was no way to verbalize it but to scream, but to let the crowd feast on the carrion of her love. Technique was all but abandoned. The music was desperate now, begging for any release as it continued to soar. The singer collapsed to her knees, her high note reaching for a god that would not answer her.

And then it stopped. The music faded out, and the guitarist shakily reached for his water. The singer remained on her knees, her chest heaving as the mist slowly lifted from her eyes. And then she bent forward, her forehead touching the stage floor, a last prayer at the altar.

When she rose, she was as she had been at the very beginning, winking and throwing up her hands and soaking in the ear-splitting noise. “Give it up for Jazzy on the drums!” she yelled after gulping down water and dumping the rest of it over her head. “Rowan on the guitar! Devyn on bass! Iris on keyboard!” She pointed to each one in turn as she hopped around, giving them all a chance to put on their own displays.

She stepped to the edge of the stage, smirking as someone wrapped their arms around her boot. “And motherfucking Stoja on vocals! We’re Nocturna Inferno!” It was a miracle that he could hear over the roar of noise. “Someone buy us a fucking drink!”

“Not bad, right?” Benjamin coaxed, nudging Orion with his elbow.

Dumbly, he released his vice grip on his beer bottle. “They could be better,” he answered.

They could be. God, they could be. Benjamin rolled his eyes and mumbled something to Marty, but Orion’s focus was squarely on Stoja, who had hopped up on the bar, a gorgeous woman resting her elbows on her meaty thighs.

They had yet to meet, but he knew her, knew who she was behind that dazzling smile.

And if he had a say, the whole world would know her, too.

#i didn’t proofread this heehee #stoja wiseman #my writing #infamous if #don’t perceive anyone’s characterizations lol i don’t know what i’m doing #but yeah uh. i may not know anything about orions divorce or life or anything yet but hey. heartbreak is heartbreak and stoja knows it well #something something stoja is entirely a projection and her music is the only honest thing about her something something #nocturna inferno

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