#sorry I reworked it a bit brighter

[greenparkin]

Boris Thank you. I will not forget your words. -

#sorry I reworked it a bit brighter #young royals #yr s3 spoilers #re-edit #my edit

[laylaswriting]

Winterfest Lights

my masterlist | how to request

Pairing: Viktor x gn!reader Word count: 2.9k Warnings: None Tags: fluff, christmas/winterfest, friends to lovers (WHAT ELSE), Request: I merged @ohmybubbletea's and @viktors-lover's request, I hope it's ok loves! ❤

ohmybubbletea asked: Hi! First time requesting 💕 I love your blog and I just saw you're accepting some! What about Viktor trying to invite his crush to look at Christmas lights and visit the cute market? Maybe even a first kiss? 👀 viktors-lover asked: VIKTOR STRESSING IN HOLIDAY SEASON BECAUSE EVERYONE IN THE LAB IS TAKING HOLIDAY BREAK AND HE DOESNT N READER JUST STAYS W HIM DURING THE TIME N HE REALIZES LIKE WAIT WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE ON HOLIDAY ITS CHRISTMAS EVE FOR GODS SAKES AND READER JUST SAYS ITS BECAUSE I LO- CARE ABOUT YOU, A LOT. Sorry i just really need to see some holiday fluff or anything, please..?🥺

A/N: I was working on this for the past few days and idk, I really wanted it to be good for you guys and rework it and rewrite it but idk I got very insecure about my writing all of a sudden so I hope you'll like it! 😳🤧 Also did I do a little edit for my silly little christmas story? of course I did! Enjoy! ❤

Winter has finally arrived in Piltover. At this time of the year the first snow usually fell down onto the city, making everything seem much quieter and more peaceful than usual. The building’s golden accents were now covered in snow, the golden shimmer replaced with colorful festive lights. People were coming and going on the streets, little clouds of their breath covering their face.

In the Academy Park, a big tree was set up every year, decorated with all kinds of lights and colorful decoration pieces, drawing all attention to itself. Students and professors both found it harder to concentrate around the time of Winterfest. One last final effort before the holidays and the new year, then they could go home to their families, their friends and relax together while eating delicious food.

You were walking around the Academy after finishing your last class. You were on your way to Viktor’s lab, a lunch bag in one of your hands filled with delicious (and warm) pastries. You knew he was still working so much despite it being Winterfest. It was just how he operated. Viktor was your friend for a few years now, you met when he was still Heimerdinger’s assistant. Since then, a lot of things have changed – but your feelings towards him didn’t. If you were honest, you felt much more for him than simple friendship. It was so much more: adoration, respect, love. You quickened your steps as your hands started to get cold as you reached his door. One disadvantage of having such a huge Academy building was that it was usually pretty cold in there.

You knocked on the door before you heard his sweet voice inviting you in. You stepped into the room which was unusually bright – all the curtains were open, the sun reflecting on the snow outside made it exceptionally well lit. Yet it seemed way too small when its only occupants were you and Viktor.

‘I brought you lunch.’ You said as you settled onto a chair next to him. Jayce was nowhere to be seen, you assumed he went out to spend some time with his mother. Viktor took the bag from you with a smile on his face, which only spread further after he saw what was in there. The room just got even brighter from it.

‘You know me too well, Y/n.’ He said as he got the pastries out of the bag, handing one of them to you which you gladly accepted. Having lunch with him was the favorite part of your day. You two sat in silence for a bit while eating your food, you were looking out at the window on the snow-covered city while he was seemingly lost in his thoughts as usual.

‘Are you leaving today?’ He asked all of a sudden, eyes still wandering everywhere except you. You raised an eyebrow at him, not quite understanding what he meant, but your heart picked up its pace without your control.

‘Where would I be leaving?’ You replied with a question, genuine curiosity in your voice.

‘You know, on a holiday. For Winterfest.’ He said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Well actually it was – everyone was either leaving or already left to celebrate with their loved ones. However, it didn’t even occur to you to leave for the holidays, because you wanted to spend them with Viktor. With this realization in your mid, you quickly averted your gaze from his face, not knowing what to say. You were getting a bit flustered and he always found it amusing when you did.

‘No, I don’t think I will be leaving. I was thinking about spending time here for the holidays.’ You finally said, smiling at him. He let a small smile find its way past his lips, it was like if he wanted to hide it from you. You didn’t attribute any meaning to the motion, but your heart started to beat heavily in your chest. You thought you could handle being near Viktor after all these years, but you really couldn’t. He somehow made you so happy and sad at the same time it was maddening. You wished to stay away and be close to him at the same time, feeling light headed when he smiled at you or touched you, like a spark igniting your whole body. He had no idea about the effects he had on you and you had no intention to let him know either. While you were lost in your thoughts he leaned back in his chair, legs comfortably crossed and he drummed on the desk with his fingers.

‘Why? Everyone, all your friends will be leaving and spending their time with their loved ones.’ He said, not looking at you, it was like he was thinking out loud. Somehow you felt like he was teasing you. Was he teasing? It was probably just your mind playing games.

‘You are not leaving. And you are my friend, Viktor.’ You replied, smiling at him. Little did you know that every time you did his heart filled with happiness and love. He smiled at your words, a small, loving smile which you knew all too well. Your heart swelled at the sight as you leaned back in the chair as well.

‘So, you are staying for me?’ He asked and only looked at you when he said the last words. For him. You laughed out loud to hide how flustered he made you. He was definitely teasing.

‘Is that so bad? I can always leave if you want.’ You replied to him, matching his tone. You knew he didn’t want you to leave. Not because he didn’t like your company at least. He would probably want to try to convince you to go but only because he wouldn’t want you to miss out on anything because of him. His smile faltered for a second before he continued. He was playing with a pen on his desk, and you could see him thinking so hard that you could basically hear his thoughts.

‘I was thinking about something else.’ He started, looking at you with his sweet honey eyes, his expression was uncertain for a second before he continued. Your heart was pounding in your chest, and now it was your turn to be afraid that he could see it under your academy jacket. Giving away your feelings. You almost missed his words because of the deafening sound of your heartbeat in your ears.

‘Would you want to visit the Winterfest fair in the city? With me?’ He finally asked and for a second you felt like your heart stopped beating altogether. This was no big deal. You two visited plenty of places before. But just the thought of being with him under the holiday lights, wandering around the fair seemed so magical you could hardly imagine.

‘I would love to.’ You finally answered, your voice much calmer than you expected and you were happy that you could keep your excitement to yourself. Or at least you thought so, because he clearly noticed it, and acknowledged it with a smile to himself.

He walked over to the coat hanger near the door and put his coat on, before wrapping a big fuzzy scarf around his neck. You couldn’t help but adore how he looked – his lean figure wrapped in the long coat and the warm scarf covering his mouth, only letting his nose peek out from under it. When his amber eyes met yours, you quickly averted your gaze, chuckling a bit. You put your own coat and scarf on, crowning it with a cute hat. He opened the door and stepped aside so you could exit the lab. He looked down on you as you passed him, the scent of your sweet perfume filling his nose. He closed his eyes in attempt to steady his heartbeat, but with no luck. You could basically feel the heat radiating off his body as you passed by him an inch too close than it was necessary, and a tingling sensation ran through your spine as you did. You couldn’t deny it but loved to tempt fate with touches just a bit too long, interactions just a bit too close.

You walked in a comfortable pace around the city, headed towards the big square where they held every big celebration in Piltover. The streets were neatly decorated with garlands and lights and colorful ornaments. Merchants were standing outside their shops, trying to lure people inside, bakers, toy makers, jewelers. The smell of cinnamon lingered in the air as you approached the fair.

On the big square there were different small tents and pop-up shops, all filled with delicious food, drink and all kinds of trinkets and merchandise. In the middle you saw a huge tree, decorated to the last inch, twinkling and glowing beautifully as the sky got darker. From the top of it several strings of lights were led to every side of the square, creating the illusion of the roof of a tent. When you looked up the twinkling lights mixed with the light of the first stars. It felt magical. You felt a touch on your back and it startled you for a second before you realized it was Viktor.

‘Gorgeous, is it not?’ He asked, looking at the lights with you. His honey eyes seemed even more golden than usual because of the glow around the two of you. You looked up at him in awe, he seemed even more beautiful than he was in your dreams. You felt like your heart could burst at any second. He looked down at you, smiling into his scarf. Your breath got caught in your throat as his eyes met yours. He gestured towards the fair with his arm, then nodded to you.

‘Shall we?’ You nodded to his question, smiling wide at him. He could swear your smile was the most beautiful thing to ever see. You walked peacefully in the whirlwind of people, families were walking around and chatting, kids running around, couples slowly pacing between the stalls and tents. You couldn’t help but let your thoughts wander to the idea that you could be one of those couples. A little nudge to your side snapped you out of your thoughts. It was Viktor, holding out a steaming cup of liquid towards you.

‘Something to keep you warm.’ He smiled and handed it over to you. His fingers brushed yours as he handed the hot drink over, and your heart fluttered. Such small things could drive you crazy. You were head over heels for this man. ‘Y/n, your hand is freezing!’ He exclaimed, genuinely shocked by how cold your hands were.

‘Oh yes, I left my gloves in the dorm.’ You replied casually as you took the drink away and wrapped both your hands around it. You smelled it cautiously, it was your favorite tea. You looked up at him with the widest grin.

‘Thank you so much.’ You said, sipping into the drink. You felt it warm up your body and the contrast between the cold of the world and the feeling of the warm drink sent a shiver down your spine. He was standing so close to you it felt like the whole world just got smaller. His arms occasionally brushed against yours and even though it was the most innocent thing in the universe it made heat spread over your body. You stood there for a while, peacefully drinking your tea when an older woman approached the two of you.

‘May I offer some roses darlings?’ She asked in a raspy voice, a basket full of beautiful clockwork roses on her arms. She held one out towards you and you felt the hotness creep up your body, your heart slamming against your chest.

‘N-no th-‘ you wanted to refuse her offer but Viktor interrupted you.

‘We would love one, thank you.’ He said quickly and took the rose from the woman’s hand and paid for it. She thanked him for being so generous and slowly walked away.

‘Happy Winterfest!’ You heard her old voice call out to you, but your attention was focused on the rose he held out in front of you. It was gorgeous – its petals looked like they were made from little cogs, the whole rose was a beautifully forged piece. You looked up at him while taking the flower away, his golden eyes twinkling with anticipation and he had something else in his eyes you couldn’t quite pinpoint.

‘It’s beautiful.’ You said, letting out the breath you didn’t even realized you were holding. He opened his mouth for a second then closed it, like he wanted to say something but changed his mind. “Thank you, Viktor.” You added, holding the flower close to yourself.

“Walk with me.” He said, looking at you like you were a riddle, a mystery. The most precious thing on earth that he had to figure out. His simple words made your heart flutter and you nodded, stepping next to him and following. Your mind was racing and went blank at the same time. You could only focus on the rose and think about the implication behind it. Its metal touch felt cold under your fingers and it sent a shiver down your body.

“Can I give you my gloves? Your fingers must be freezing off.”

You shook your head quickly, looking up and down between him and your hands.

“I’m fine. You really don’t have to. And if you do your hand will be the one that freezes off!”

You already left the loud noises of the fair behind yourself. You were standing in a quiet little street; only faraway discussions could be heard and the lights weren’t so bright here. They were glowing on Viktor’s face, drawing a soft halo on it.

“At least let me hold it then.” He said, the sentence is a statement and the question at the same time. You blinked up at him a few times before your brain caught up with his words, but by that time he gently took your hand into his, the warm touch of his palm was the total opposite of your cold hands. He took his gloves off. Your head felt light from the contact.

“Better, is it not?” He asked and all you could do was nod furiously and smile. He chuckled at your enthusiasm, and looked into your eye. You wanted to avert your gaze but you were drawn to him, like a starving man to his first meal.

“Y/n.” He said your name like it was a prayer.

“Yes, Viktor?”

“Did you really stay because of me?” He asked and your insides turned into thousands of butterflies, all fluttering in your chest, trying to escape. Was there a point in denying it? Did you want to deny it at all?

“Yes.” You breathed out and his eyes and smile both grew wider.

“Why?” He asked, but you were 80% sure he already knew the answer. You just weren’t sure if you wanted to say it.

“Because I lo-“ You started but caught yourself, stumbling with the words and correcting them. “Because I care about you, and I didn’t want you to spend Winterfest alone.”

Viktor let go of your hand for a second and gently moved it up to your cheek. You could see him smile under his scarf and your heart skipped a beat from his touch. He gave you a knowing look before he started to speak again.

“I am flattered.” He pulled you closer to him, his body and face dangerously close to yours and you were afraid your knees were going to give out any second. “I also wanted to spend the holidays with the one I love.”

The gears in your head turned to a halt as his lips pressed onto yours. You felt like your body completely froze, you couldn’t process the feeling of his soft lips. After a second you returned his kiss as relief, happiness and excitement washed over you body. You wrapped your arms around his neck, tugging his scarf lightly as you pushed yourself closer to him. His palm moved from your cheek to rest on the back of your neck as the top of his tongue brushed your lower lip and if not for holding onto him for dear life you knew your knees would’ve betrayed you already. Every bush of his tongue against yours sent a jolt through your body. You’ve never felt happier.

He broke the kiss and smiled to himself, resting his forehead against yours. You closed your eyes and let out a low chuckle, still processing what just happened.

“I love you, Viktor.” You breathed out, burying your face into his chest. He moved his hand to your head, caressing lightly as he wrapped his other arm around you, still holding his cane. You’ve never felt this warm in your entire life. “This has to be my best Winterfest.” You chuckled and he let out a low laugh as well. You’ve never seen him so relaxed before.

“I have to outperform myself next year then.” You smiled at the implication of his words and looked up at him, pressing a soft kiss on his lips.

#viktor #viktor arcane #arcane viktor #viktor x reader #arcane x reader #fluff #ff #x reader #fanfiction #imagine #fanfic #viktor league of legends #arcane

[kazuwhora]

hello lovely!! may I please get a tokrev romantic matchup?❤️‍🩹 (nsfw or sfw- whatever ur feeling like!)

the name’s Anna, she/her, an INFJ-T, Capricorn and raging neurotic lol. I’m a major over thinker and sometimes I’m too cautious too. I value my “me time” but love to go out with friends and drink lots occasionally (balance is key as they say). I’m pretty open to people and tend to have my heart on my sleeve for them, my love language being acts of service and quality-time:-)

I’m 5’4”, hourglass figure but with a lil chub (esp on the tiddies). Dark brown straight hair, dark brown eyes, swarovski nostril stud, a lil gap between my front teeth, freckles - I also do love to wear a bit of a bimbo type clothing as it makes me feel confident!

I’m studying to be a psychologist, sexologist to be specific and that’s my biggest hobby rn, besides dancing and Japanese culture!

Also - sorry for the anon ask. Been stalking your blog for a few weeks now (even at work lol) and it’s been making my days brighter ever since, but I’m still a closeted weeb hehe😚 have a lovely day/night and take care of urself!❤️

hi love! dont worry about the anon ask- I think its v intimidating to come off anon especially when talking about yourself in such detail! ty for sending me a request and supporting my blog ily <3

im going to match you up with Rindou!

one of the first things that made me think of rindou with your description was your comment about being a massive overthinker! rindou is the type of guy to be pretty reserved and introverted. he seems cold on the outside, and keeps a lot of this thoughts to himself. what is typically seen from him is somewhat of an act or display for others, as he spends more of his time observing and analyzing. for rindou, having a partner who is an overthinker is something that is kind of perplexing to him honestly. because he's so straightforward and analytical, he's able to provide that objective perspective and rework your thought pattern before it gets to be too much for you. this comes fairly naturally to him too, so don't start overthinking about whether or not it's a burden or a pain in his ass!

rindou also appreciates the introverted aspects of your personality that aren't so introverted that you push him further into seclusion. he appreciates the balance you maintain, encouraging him to come out for drinks followed by much needed downtime thereafter. rindou sometimes struggles with balance and can find himself leaning on either edge far more often than he finds himself comfortably in the middle. this is something you provide for him, and the returned favour.

lets fucking talk about the way he goes crazy for your style. because hello? rindou loves a smart introspective girl who's personal style COMPLETELY contrasts her personality. he thinks its hot seeing the confidence you gain from your clothes, and will 100% be the one to try and drag you out shopping for more clothes. he's gonna wanna come all the way to the fitting rooms with you though because he wants to drool over you in public and he might try to get a little handsy with you right in front of everyone. speaking of which, because of you he has a big thing for exhibitionism, and an even bigger thing for mirror sex. he loves positioning you right in front of the mirror and making you watch him fuck you. like damn, it drives him wild and he probably wont last long like that so maybe cover up the mirrors if you want anything longer than like 5 minutes? shdfjhx he's just so obsessed with you its kinda cute

#matchup #plsssssssss #this kinda made me simp for rindou a bit more #ngl #kinda cute ngl

[doctor-who-hears-a-horton]

Above Ground (Ten x Rose)

Rating: Teen

Summary: On Gallifrey, the humans who were born there are subjected to live below the surface in an underground society, separated from the Gallifreyans. School teacher Rose Tyler aims to change things, even if it costs her her own life.Prince Theta of Gallifrey has always thought there was more to the humans than meets the eye… And Rose Tyler proves him right.

Chapter 4/?

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

Read it on AO3 here!

They sat across from each other at a place that served what appeared to be a meat stew, and while it could be considered plain, Rose discovered that it was more rich in flavor then anything else she’d ever eaten below ground, and she was sure it showed.  

“So, I’d like to show you to the palace now.”

Rose choked. “I think that might be a bad idea.”

“Well, you want to experience everything, I can see it in you,” Theta leaned on the table, and Rose leaned back.  “And that’s the last thing to show you.”

“Really?  The last thing to show you on the whole planet?”  Rose crossed her arms over her chest.  “Dunno about that one, your highness.” Theta scrunched up his nose at her, defeated.  “Fine.  I may have an ulterior motive in showing you the palace.”

Rose narrowed her eyes at him. It occurred to her that the prince’s kindness would have eventually run out, but she didn’t expect it to happen that fast. “What exactly do you mean like that?”

“Well, I’m going to show you where I live, how I live.  And then…”

Her eyes grew wide as she realized what he was going to ask her to do. “Oh.  No.  No, you can’t come to the underground.” “Why not?” he almost whined.

“Because you’ll leave me down there!” She cried, “Because I know that you’ll just make me take you on a tour and then you’ll dump me off, right back where I started.  And then I’ll have come all this way for nothing.” She slumped over a little bit. “I can’t go back to those kids offering anything but freedom.”

Theta blinked.  “That wasn’t my plan at all!”

“Then what was the plan?”  Rose crossed her arms over her chest.  “How could I benefit from taking you to the underground?”

Theta started gesturing with his hands, as though he was painting a picture with his gestures.  “No! I’ll- I’ll give you my key to the underground, that way I’ll have no way to have administrative access, and you’ll have all my power with it.  So, I can’t leave without you.”

Rose bit her lip.  There was a chance that he was bluffing, that he didn’t have a sort of master key.  There was a chance, yes.  But there was something deep in his eyes that made her want to believe him.  He’d never asked to be the prince, in fact, all signs pointed to him not wanting to be the prince at all.  

“So you show me how you live, and I show you how I live, and then what?”

“We come to a compromise, and we take it to Rassilon.  Find a way to benefit the humans and the Gallifreyans.  Honestly, anything could benefit the humans at this point, but I’m not sure the Gallifreyans deserve anymore laughs.”

Rose snorted.

“Ah-ha! Did I just get you to laugh?” “No.”

“Yes I did, you laughed.”

“I did not.”

He grinned at her, leaning farther forward.  “You know, you have a nice smile.”

She felt heat color her cheeks and she looked down. “Thanks.”  

A hush fell over them for a moment, and Theta leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest.  “So?  What do you think?”

“I- I think it might work,” she said, picking at her stew.  “If you promise-”

“Rose.  I’ll need you to trust me.”

She wasn’t sure she wanted to do that.  But something about him made her want to trust him, however warily.  She finally nodded slowly.  “Fine.  But if you do anything that I think is suspicious, we rework the deal.  You stand to gain something from this that I don’t.”

“What’s that?”

“Slaves.”

Theta’s face went completely white.  “No.  Nothing like that will be tolerated as long as I can help it.  If you don’t believe anything else I say, believe that.”

True. She could tell, right off the bat, that he was serious.  She looked down into her bowl, not wanting to say anything else to make him upset.  “Fine.  Then, yeah.  I’ll do it.  I’ll take you underground.”

“Brilliant!” he cheered up immediately.  “Now, come on, then, off to the palace with us!”

They ended up taking a carriage, which, since Rose had never been in before, effectively blew her mind.  She stared out at the world passing them, almost pressing her nose to the glass of the window.  Of course, the only way to get anywhere was to walk, and it wasn’t like there was that much space anyways.

“What do you think of Gallifrey, then?” Theta said suddenly, and Rose realized that he’d probably been watching her.  She cleared her throat and sat back in her seat.  

“It’s beautiful,” she said.  “I just don’t… I’ve never seen somewhere that’s so open, it’s a lot.”

“Yeah, I can imagine,” Theta said, watching her carefully.  “I don’t know what I’d do if my life got turned upside down like this.”

“Well, you said you didn’t want to be the prince, but you are,” Rose pointed out.

Theta made a noise in the back of his throat and lifted his shoulder.  “I mean… Yes.  But I didn’t have to change too much about how I lived my life.  And coming up from the underground is completely different.  You’d never seen the sky.”

Rose crossed her arms. “I know. I just… I’d always seen pictures, but it’s different to see it in person.  I’d never hoped to, but…” She leaned across the carriage, forcing him to look at her. “I don’t want to go back there. I don’t want any more kids to grow up there.  We’re separated and isolated for no reason just because we’re human, because we’re a different species from you, and there’s enough of that.”

Theta stared at her, his eyes earnest.  “I know,” he said softly, “I’d like to change that.  I want to fix it.” “I’m lucky you’re the one that found me, then,” she admitted. “You definitely have the most influence here.”

“You’re lucky you didn’t run into Rassilon.  He’s got quite the temper on his own, but I’m fairly confident that I can get to him.” Rose cocked her head. “You do?”

“Yes.”

She leaned back into her seat, feeling like she was too close to him all of a sudden. ”Good.  I’m glad.”

“You said you were a teacher.  How long?”  

Rose blinked.  She hadn’t been expecting him to try to carry on the conversation.  She laced her fingers together in her lap.  “Since I turned seventeen.”

“That’s rather young for a human,” he said curiously.  “Why so young?”

“I had to.  I was almost done with school and I didn’t want to do anything else.  Plus, if you work more you can get extra perks and authorizations.”

He seemed surprised.  “So not… Not all civilians are on the same level?”

“No.  It kinda depends on your ambition, but a lot of people don’t have that, because there’s no hope,” Rose looked up at the roof of the carriage. “What’s the point of working hard if you’ll never get to anything better?” “You don’t seem to share that sentiment.”

Her eyes slid over to him.  “Cause I’m foolish enough to believe that hope is something you can hang your hat on.”

***************

They finally made it to the palace, which was bookended with huge with circular turrets and sphere domes atop them.  Architecturally, it was beautiful, but Rose had never seen a building so huge, and it was daunting.

“I’d rather not bring you to Rassilon right away,” Theta chatted away, bursting through her thoughts.  “So, instead, I’d like to take you to the gardens.  You seemed to like the outdoors quite a bit.”

“Well, yeah.”

He laughed.  “Sorry.”

The gardens were beautiful. They were nothing like the ‘outdoor’ sections of the underground.  The wind that touched her skin was cool, and the flowers looked brighter under real sunlight.  They were taller too, and she felt like they could either support her or swallow her whole, and she wasn’t sure which she would prefer.  She could feel Theta watching her, and couldn’t help but feel like he was too interested in her reactions to things.  She frowned at him, but he just grinned back at her.  

“It’s beautiful,” she finally said, “Thank you for showing me.”

“Of course,” He jammed his hands into pockets she hadn’t known he’d had before.  “This is my favorite part of the palace, you know.  I think it’s the most peaceful.”

As they walked along, they came across a large white marble bench, and Rose sat down on it, feeling a bit overwhelmed.  The fact that she’d made it, that she’d actually gotten to the surface, like she had always planned to do, almost made her head feel like it was too heavy for her body.  She tipped her head back and stared up at the sky, watching the clouds pass overhead.  

“I feel like there’s so much I missed out on,” She whispered.  Theta sat next to her, watching her face, clearly waiting for her to speak, but said nothing.  She wasn’t sure why she actually trusted him, but he’d gotten her somehow, so she sighed and continued.

“In textbooks of Gallifrey, there are pictures of kids running around in the grass, and the toys they played with, and all this… Stuff I never felt, never got to experience.  There’s so much of it.”  She looked down at her hands. “I don’t have calluses from playing outside.  I don’t have my paintings up on my mum’s walls.”

Theta laid his hand, turned up, next to hers on his knee.  “Neither do I,” he whispered.

It occurred to her, then, that perhaps they weren’t so different after all.  She glanced at him, dark eyes searching hers and waiting for something.  She was waiting too.

What was she waiting for?

She didn’t mean to, but she settled her palm over his, and their fingers laced together as easy as breathing.  “You’re lonely,” she whispered finally.

“Being crown prince… No one wants to risk a friendship,” he laughed, but it was hollow.  “So are you.”

“I’m not lonely.”

“You are.  I see it.”  With the hand not holding hers, he touched under her eye with his pointer finger. “I see it right here.  How often do you sleep, Rose?”

“I sleep when I need to.”

“Mm.  Humans need 8 hours.  I’d wager you don’t get that.”

She sighed heavily, looking down at their hands, together.  She’d never held hands with anyone before.  “There’s no reason to sleep when you live a life that’s meaningless anyway.” “You teach the future.”

“There is no future.”  She released his hand and got to her feet, crossing her arms.  “For those kids, for me, for anyone.  There’s no future.  And it’s horrible, your highness, to wake up every day and know that there’s nothing beyond your front door that means anything, that when you turn to dust no one will remember you.  It’s horrible.” “I can’t imagine how you must feel,” He said slowly, like he was talking to a spooked horse. “I want… I do want to help.  I hope you’ll believe I’m honest.”

“I do,” She said, perhaps too fast.  She glanced over her shoulder at him.  Eyes like that didn’t lie.  “I don’t know why I do.  But I do.”

He grinned at her.  “Brilliant.  Why don’t I show you to your room so you can get some rest?”

Upstairs, Theta showed her the biggest bedroom she’d ever seen.  “This is where you’ll stay while you’re here,” he told her, gesturing.  “There’s extra nightclothes and things here, stocked up.  You should be fine.” “If there’s clothes here, why did you take me to Donna’s shop?” She asked.

“Well, you needed something right then, you looked suspicious.  Plus, I thought you might like Donna.” He was right about that, at least.  She walked over the dark red wood chest of drawers, running her fingers over it.  She suddenly felt exhausted, a hand pressed to her head.  Theta was at her side in a moment, hand on her elbow.

“Are you alright?” He asked earnestly.

“Yeah, m’fine, I just feel a little tired.”

“Well, big day,” he said softly.  “Maybe you should rest for awhile, I can come get you when it’s time for dinner.”

Rose nodded. “Okay.”

“Alright!  Have a nice nap.”  He sprang away from her and left the room.  Rose laughed a little, and just because she was still uncertain of her surroundings, locked the bedroom door.  She found a light nightgown in the dresser and opted to change, not wanting to wrinkle the nice clothes. Those she laid out on the chair by the bed to put on again later. 

Everything here was the nicest she’d ever seen, and when she crawled into bed, sighing softly at the way the mattress seemed to hug her, she succumbed to sleep almost immediately.

#ten x rose #tenrose #tenth doctor #rose tyler #raylu writes fic #ray lu writes fic #raylu ten x rose #doctor who

[taste-in-music]

Reacting to Charli, baby!

If you were wondering why I hadn’t mentioned her in my last Music Monday post, this is why! I haven’t done one of these long album reaction posts in a long, long while, (not since Love + Fear, I believe,) and this is an album I’ve been hyped for, so I figured why not? I’ve heard a lot of the singles, but there are still many surprises to by had. Listen along to the album with me if you want, and without further ado, let’s ride.

Next Level Charli

I’m getting big “Vroom Vroom” vibes from this? 

I’ve got it. This song is like the inverse to “Vroom Vroom.” It’s got the same anthemic bombast to it from the vocal delivery and lyrics, but with a brighter sound. The synths are high and glistening rather than low and abrasive.

The lyrics are super sweet. Maybe a dedication to the fans?

All right Charli, I’m ready to go to the next level. 

Gone ft. Christine and the Queens

God this song still slams into the exosphere. The verses have so much taut tension to them with the bubbling synths and snappy drums, and then the chorus comes and hits you like a ton of bricks. 

Also can we talk about how relatable the lyrics are? This is one giant shoutout to everyone that’s an insecure and antisocial mess at any party or gathering. Thank you for making a song for our kind Charli.

Christine and the Queens’s voice has this amazing fluidity to it, it must be the French in her. (Also, when she sings in French during the bridge? DEAD.)

Still meh on the outro though.

Cross You Out ft. Sky Ferreira

We’ve got some more aggressive production on this song, which is cool. It contrasts nicely with the more lilting vocals. 

GIMME THOSE SKY FERREIRA CRUMBS. WHEN ARE WE GETTING MASOCHISM???!?! 

If you listen to the bridge with good headphones you can hear these really low backing vocals from Sky that rattle the nape of your neck, they’re amazing.

I do wish it was a bit more experimental though, it does stay fairly constant through the entirety of the song and makes it a bit of a bland listen. Doesn’t mean I don’t like it, though.     

1999 ft. Troye Sivan

Bop. Next.

Okay, I should actually say something about this, shouldn’t I?

I think it’s pretty cool that a song about 90s throwbacks actually does all it can to sound like it was plucked right out of the 90s. The production is bouncy, sparkly, and seamless, filled with glitching synths, sharp drums, and cute little ad-libs that make it a ton of fun. (That little “hee-hee” that Troye does after mentioning Michael Jackson? Art.)

I’m not usually into stuff that cashes into cheap nostalgia with little commentary as to why that nostalgia is wanted, (the main difference between me liking a song like “Ribs” by Lorde vs. “2002″ by Anne-Marie for example,) but whatever. This is catchy as heck. I love it.

Click ft. Kim Petras and Tommy Cash

Ooh, looks like we’re getting spooky here. This sounds very Turn Off The Lights and Pop 2.

We got a “woo-ah!” Kim Petras is here! 

I’ve never heard of Tommy Cash or listened to any of his music. I don’t know if his sound is quite for me, but maybe I’ll look into his solo work later. 

This isn’t a favorite of mine so far, (it’s far more avant garde than the other songs,) but I don’t know. I see it having its time and place, specifically when I want to feel like a bad bitch. 

Warm ft. HAIM

Those keys! Those gentle synths! Hearing this production with headphones on is heavenly. 

I never thought that Charli XCX and HAIM could work on a track together. HAIM is a very acoustic-driven band that takes inspiration from the past, and Charli always leans into more futuristic, synthetic ideas, but HAIM slip into Charli’s sound pretty well here. 

Overall, it’s not a standout, but I don’t dislike it. My consensus isn’t especially hot or cold, it’s WARM. 

I’m so sorry.

Thoughts

Well that intro brought me to attention very quickly. Am I in a Windows startup? 

Those high notes are the best part of the song. Charli’s got range! Her vocals sound really full and rich here, especially on the verses.  

Ironically, I don’t have many thoughts on this song overall.  

I’m so sorry.

Blame It On Your Love ft. Lizzo

I already know that I love this song. Let’s get to bopping!

Small detail but the snare drums on this song are great. 

This song has a drop that doesn’t suck, and I can’t stress how rare and refreshing that is. It sounds like a shot of caffeine, buzzy and colorful and not long enough. 

Can we all agree that Lizzo is a blessing unto this Earth? Charisma rolls off her in waves. I don’t think I’ve ever been so sad for a rap verse to end in a pop song. 

What an amazing song. 

White Mercedes

The vulnerability in the lyrics on this song matched the subtler production sounds great. 

Charli’s vocals sounds??? So good??? I don’t want this to come across the wrong way, but I never really listened to her music for her vocal prowess. Her strong suit always laid in delivering energy and an assertive presence, (like on “I Love It” or “Break The Rules.”) But this song shows just how downright lovely she can sound. 

This is stacking up to be one of my favorite non-singles on this album. What a wonderful surprise this turned out to be.  

Silver Cross

This is all right. I don’t have much to say on it. It’s got some interesting production elements and a solid vocal performance. It’s middle of the road.

In hindsight this maybe could’ve been cut. 

I Don’t Wanna Know

We’ve got a more moody, atmospheric sound for this song. The drums and synths have lots of echo to them, giving the mix a sense of space. It’s like Charli’s the singer in a smoky room from “Don’t Stop Believin.’”

While it’s nice that the album takes a break from the glittery pop hooks and bombastic party jams, I do think this is a tad dull. 

Official

I like those little punches of synth that make up the rhythm in the first verse.

OH MY GOD, the sparkling synths and tinkling keys on this track, they sound like flowers blooming and glimmering gemstones, that is GORGEOUS. 

The way that the production builds on this song by laying in the sounds one by one is really interesting. Some of the effect is lost by the way the backing track is frequently paused throughout the song, which is kind of annoying, but the idea is there, and it’s cool. I like it in theory. 

Shake It ft. Big Freedia, cupcakKe, and Pablo Vittar

I’ve heard a lot of good things about cupcakKe’s solo work and I know that she’s worked with Charli in the past, and I also know that Pablo Vittar and Charli made “Flash Pose” recently,” but  I haven’t heard any of the solo work from these guest features, so I have no clue what to expect.

Those water sounds and how they meld into glitchy techno noises and then breaths? The dual tracking that moves from ear to ear and the whispered vocals? Her mind? 

This is a wild ride with headphones on. 

Febrary 2017 ft. Clairo and Yaeji

I didn’t listen to this despite it being released as a single. I wanted to be a surprise for the album. 

Clairo’s low key voice works pretty well with the slithery vocal production that Charli often uses. I guess the glitchiness of Charli’s sound would compliment a bedroom pop artist. 

The way the production explodes! This sounds fantastic! Holy moly! It’s like diving into a cotton candy wonderland!

That switch up into Yaeji’s part is pretty jarring though. While I like the cooing, gentle vocals and minimal production, it upright clashes with the first half of the track. If it had been worked into the previous production rather than cutting away from it I think it might’ve worked better. 

This song comes across more as a mish-mash of ideas rather than a polished final product. I think maybe another draft could’ve improved it. Still, I do love the ideas it presents. 

2099 ft. Troye Sivan

That last song! My my my how 50 minutes have flown by.

That heartbeat at the start of the song! 

Okay this song is kind of all over the place. I don’t know if I have any definite thoughts on it. 

Still, if this is what music sounds like in 2099 I won’t necessarily be complaining. 

My Thoughts Summarized: This album feels like Charli half wanted to go avant-garde, half wanted to go mainstreen-friendly. This leads to a couple of confused moments, but also to some songs that meet those two options in the middle. While I feel like a few tracks could’ve been reworked or cut, I do like this project a lot. Charli really brought the bops and stepped it up with the vocals and lyrics. My favorite songs at the moment are probably “Gone,” “Blame It One Your Love,” and “White Mercedes.”

Can we talk about how gorgeous the visuals for this album have been, not only with the album art but with the music videos too? We had the badass prosthetics for “Blame It On Your Love,” the 90s throwback with “1999,” and Charli and Chris dancing on a car in the rain. I love it.

What did you think of Charli?  Agree or disagree? Comment or reblog with your thoughts, I’m excited to hear what you think.

#music #album review #charli xcx #charli #taste in music

[metalotaku-da]

MerMay Shance

Prompts stolen from @justshance. all pieces are up for grabs if anyone wants to take them further or rework them.

got to this one now. 

archaeologist shiro arapaima mer lance.holts and keith are with shiro's team. galra are the illegal loggers. allura is a human who visits with lance. she is fighting the loggers.

23. Lost city

Shiro was lost. And lost might be the nicest way to describe it. Getting separated from his team by his curiosity of a very brightly plumed orange bird, (it looked like it had a mustache so sue him if he wanted a picture to prove it) had been getting lost. Running into the illegal logging operation and being chased by those bastards deep into the amazon had turned it from lost with hope to not even knowing if he was in remotely the same area as his expedition. His hope at being in the correct area faltered even more when he literally stumbled into a wetland. Soaking him to the bone. He was lucky enough to get back out of the water onto a tree stump before he got bit by anything large enough to notice. But hey no accounting for the likelihood of parasites in the mouth full of water at the shock of it.

“What the hell else can go wrong?” shiro sulked at the sky from his back on the stump. And then the rainfell. Shiro found himself just at the end of his rope at that point and let out the most animalistic scream he could manage. Beating his arms into the stump. Till his prosthetic beeped and shut down. Battery dead. “poetic , i shall die here like my battery.” shiro griped to himself, before sitting up. He jerked back nearly falling in the water again as the sight of blue eyes and brown skin. A face peeking up at him from the water. Only a head of brown hair sticking out of the water.

“Uh, hello there. Uh, do you speak english?” Shiro asked the boy? Youngman? Was hard to tell from just a face. A cute face and wide eyes that cocked to the side. Wet locks dripping at the new angle. “*how about spanish?*” shiro asked in spanish. The boy cocked his head to the side the other way. “+maybe portuguease?+” He tried again.

The boy smiled at him, brightly, his teeth looked a tad odd, maybe a bit sharp even. Bringing shiro to lean back. The boy’s shoulders came out of the water, followed by his chest. “+hi! speak funny. Even human. Pale. different. Chop chop?+” The boy said rapidly. Following shiro’s spacing as he sat back on the stump blinking at the boy. Ok so his portuguease was more limited than shiro’s. But he could work with it. They could converse at least. Maybe he wasn’t so far from people as he thought. He could maybe even get a message to his friends to rejoin them to finish their search for the temple. If the illegal loggers hadn’t found it and bulldozed it yet. Chop chop?

“+No!+” Shiro leaned jerked forward understanding the usage. “+not, chop chop. Finder. Lost. I'm lost. The chop chop chased me. Attacked me. Bad people not with me.+”

The boy smiled even brighter. Teeth gapped, yes. They were sharp. Very sharp. Unnaturally sharp. He pushed himself more so out of the water leaning over shiro and dripping on him. He felt the boy’s hips land between his ankles. The weight not matching his lithe tan torso that was settled just above his thighs. Or the hands bracing him up on either side of shiro’s hips. “+lance, help. Lost human. Bad chop chop. Good pale human. Lance hide, pale hide.+”

“Lance.” Shiro said taking in the beaming smile from the boy. “+my name is shiro. Thank you lance for wanting to help me. Can you take me to your town? Or village? Home perhaps?+” Shiro made sure to use several words unsure of which lance knew.

“+shiro follow lance. Shiro swim?+” lance said sliding back into the water pulling shiro with him by the non prosthetic arm. The angle of the movement pulling shiro’s upper half over lance’s before his lower half receded into the murky water once more. Allowing him to see the… “fish… tail…” He gasped throwing himself back and out of lance’s grasp. He sunk below the water. Leaving shiro gaping on the stump. “Fish...man… mer…. Mermaid. A mermaid in the middle of the amazon?”Shiro shrieked. Barely catching sight of lance as he surfaced again. Shiro jerking away from him.

“+swim no?+” lance asked. Before pulling himself back up. His pectoral fins grabbing and helping him get more of his tail from the water. He didn’t seem distrubed by shiro gaping at him like a fish out of water. Shiro took in more of lance’s body now that it was in view. His inner scientist taking over his shocked and stalled brain. Overriding the fight or flight before it kicked in. the tan torso blending into scales transition darker and darker until half way they are speckled with a beautiful royal blue matching his eyes that became denser as it reached the vertickle fluke.

“an arapiama.” Shiro spoke alOud in english as he took in the shapr of the anal fin and dorsal. His thoughts flashing to some of the pictagrams they had discovered that he believed came from the missing temple they were looking for. Maybe the gaint arapiama engulfing a human at the river at the base of it, wasn’t so accurate. Maybe it was dipicting a creature like lance. Who obviously had some sort of contact with humans. With knowing some modern portuguease. His inner scientist also leading him to reach out and run a hand over the transition between his tail and torso, where the scale became thicker and defined. It got him a smack on the hand. Which he hissed and wagged at the wrist pulling it towards him.

“+No cheeky. Shiro cute. No treat. No touch.+” lance scolded.

Shiro blushed. He heard cute loud and clear. “+sorry, i, uh… it was wrong of me to touch you without asking. Shiro no cheeky. Shiro curious. Shiro wrong. I won't touch without permission.+” he apologised. Lance smiled at him giggling. He stopped and blushed himself at shiro’s words. “+lance is cute too. Pretty even.+”

Lance turned away coyly. “+shiro no swim. Shiro hold tree? Hand good?+” he asked. “+lance pull. Shiro hold.+”

“+yes, i can hold onto a tree? My protetic died so i can’t grasp with it but I can move my shoulder still.+” Shiro responded. He ignored the ruffling of bridge of lance’s nose at some of the words. But lance nodded before diving back into the water. Leaving shiro on the stump.

He returned a short while later dragging a log that floated at the surface. It was as long as shiro. “+shiro on. Hold. Lance pull. Home. allura help shiro. River way.+” lance said running his hand down the log. Shiro nodded to lance as the mer brought the log close to shiro’s stump. Lance even helped get him settled on it just as shiro’s stomach growled loudly. Bringing an embarrassed flush to shiro’s face and laughter from lance. “+quick. Food home. Feed shiro. Shiro wait?+”

“+yes i can wait to eat. Thank you lance.+” shiro answered cheek pressed to the bark of the log as he smiled at lance.

“+Shiro hold. Lance fast.+” the mer said with a bright smile before he took off through the wetlands dragging shiro with him to his home.

#mermay #shance #mermayshance #voltron #Lance #shiro #arapaima mer

[mischiefandspirits]

From the Start: The Beginning of the End

It was supposed to be a one time thing. Arthur let the sorcerer run off with his life in return for him saving Arthur’s. He had never expected to see the boy again, especially not only two days later in Gaius’s chambers.

Arthur was sitting at his desk and staring at the door with a scowl set on his face and his arms crossed when Merlin entered.

“Where is he?”

Merlin bit down a cheeky comment and bowed his head. “How did you know?”

“You are always involved somehow when something like this happens and the druid boy wouldn’t be able to hide without help.”

Merlin sighed and came up to his prince. “I heard him calling out. He was nowhere to be seen, but I could hear him... like he was inside my mind. Like with the dragon. Arthur, he’s just a young boy. He doesn’t mean any harm.”

Arthur shook his head. “Where is he?” When Merlin opened his mouth to argue, he held up his hand. “My father is going to send me out soon to search for him. I need to know where he is so I can be sure the guards don’t discover him.”

Warmth filled Merlin and he smiled. “I don’t think that will be hard.”

“What do you mean?”

Merlin nodded his head towards the door to Arthur’s servant’s quarters.

Arthur glanced at the door for a moment before turning back to Merlin. Then he did it again, eyes widening. “Merlin, please tell me you did not hide him in my chambers.”

Merlin bit his lip.

Arthur shoved himself to his feet and stomped over to the door, throwing it open to reveal Gwen sitting on the bed next to an unconscious boy. He was pale with dark brown hair. He also had a druid cloak wrapped around him like a blanket. “You idiot!” he growled and Gwen flinched. “I see you also dragged Guinevere into this.”

“For the record, she came to me.”

Gwen blushed and ducked her head. “It wasn’t hard to guess who had him.”

Arthur saw that she had a bloodstained rag in her hand. “He’s injured.”

“Yes, and it looks bad.”

“All the more reason for us to get him back to his people as fast as possible. They’ll know how to treat him,” Arthur said. He turned to Merlin. “Ready one of the horses and place it in the stables in the lower town. At midnight you’ll take him out through the secret door in the armory. When I give the guards their routes, I’ll be sure to plot out a delay that will give you time. After dinner, you will leave out of the castle under the premise of running an errand for me then return in secret. As far as anyone will know, you were out all night on my errand, understand?”

“Yes, Arthur,” Merlin said, bowing his head.

“Guinevere, would you mind watching him until this idiot returns.”

“Of course not, My Lord.”

“Thank you.”

“What took you so long?” Gwen asked when she let Merlin into Arthur’s chambers.

“Sorry. Once Gaius gets talking about anatomy, there's no stopping him.”

“Anatomy?”

Merlin pulled out a few vials. “Before I left to hide the horse, I wanted to get him something to make the trip easier on him. Gaius saw the book open. I think he’s decided to make me his apprentice instead of his dogsbody. As if I don’t have enough to do.”

“I’ll give them to him,” she said and Merlin passed them to her. “Arthur left the key to the tunnel on the table as well as a cloak. He didn’t want to risk anyone recognizing you if you’re seen.”

As Gwen ducked into the room, Merlin ran over to Arthur’s desk.

Cavall stared at him from where he was nesting in the mound of fabric.

“Up you go,” Merlin said, half pushing, half shooing him away.

The cat nipped his finger, but hopped down and headed towards Arthur’s bed.

Merlin quickly hooked the key to his belt then picked up the cloak. It was one of Arthur’s old ones. It had once been bright pendragon red with the golden crest on the shoulder, but the color had faded and the patch had fallen off, leaving a slightly brighter red in the shape of a dragon.

Merlin frowned at the light color before whispering a spell. The cloak darkened to black, the dragon becoming a dull silver. He slipped it across his shoulders and tied it.

Gwen was helping the boy to his feet when he entered, but she stopped to stare at the cloak.

“I thought it’d be more discreet,” he said to her before asking the younger boy, “How are you feeling?”

Tired and cold, but a bit better, he answered with his mind.

“Your people will be able to help you, won’t they?” Merlin asked, watching how shaky he was on his feet.

I think so.

“Will he be okay to ride out?” Gwen asked.

“He has to be.” Merlin pulled both their hoods up then wrapped an arm around the younger boy’s shoulders. “Ready?”

Yes, Emrys.

Merlin frowned at the name, but nodded at Gwen. She unlatched the door to the hall and stepped out. “It’s clear, go,” she whispered before walking off down the opposite way they fled.

Merlin glanced around nervously as they neared the stables.

“Stop, you there!” a voice yelled and Merlin tilted his head just enough to see three guards approaching.

He pushed the younger boy behind him and pulled his hood farther down. He held up his hand. “Swefe nu.”

The guards collapsed to the ground, asleep.

“Hurry,” he whispered and pushed the boy into the stables. He helped him up onto Hengroen before leading the stallion out of the stables. He swung up behind the boy and kicked the horse off.

Camelot’s bells began to ring just as they disappeared into the trees.

They rode hard into the night, following the directions the boy gave him. Hours later, Merlin was starting to worry the boy would collapse before they could find the druids. Thankfully they came across a group of men in cloaks like the boy’s standing on the road, clearly waiting for them. To Merlin’s confusion, they kneeled as he stopped in front of them, heads bowed.

“He needs help. He’s injured,” he said, slipping off the horse.

“Our healers will see to him. We are forever indebted to you, Emrys, for returning him to us,” one said, standing up and coming forward to help the boy down.

Merlin frowned. “He called me Emrys as well. Why do you call me that?”

“Because that is your name,” the man said, holding the boy close.

“I'm pretty sure my name's Merlin, always has been.”

“You have many names.”

“Do I? How do you know who I am?” Merlin asked. “I've never even met any Druids until now.”

“The druids have heard many of your tales which have not yet come to pass. We know of you, just as we know of your king.”

“Uther?”

The man sent him a look that said he knew that Merlin knew that wasn’t who he meant.

“You can’t tell anyone, please.”

“We will not. You have my word.”

“Thank you.” Merlin looked over at the boy with a smile. “Take care.”

Thank you, Emrys.

“Merlin, please. Can I know your name?”

The boy looked up at the man, who nodded. “It's all right.”

“My name is Mordred,” he said, his first words aloud since Merlin had found him.

“Good luck, Mordred.”

“You too, Merlin-Emrys.”

A bit of a progress report on how the planning for this story is going, a few "episodes" have been rewritten or reworked in such a way that their titles have been changed. As such:

"The Witch's Quickening" is now "Morgen of Avalon"

"Queen of Hearts" is now "Y Tair Rhamant"

"The Coming of Arthur" has now been split into "Grail Quest", "Escape from Camelot", and "The Knights of the Round Table"

"The Secret Sharer" is now "The Hawthorn Tree"

"The Hunter's Heart" is now "Actaeon and Artemis"

"The Sword in the Stone" is now "For the Love of Camelot"

Though the last two may change as I'm still working on their outlines

#merlin emrys #Arthur Pendragon #mordred #gwen pendragon #arthur knows #fts story

[abarbaricyalp]

The Many Virtues

Day Four: Death Day Five: Time Travel I was already planning on combining these two for day four anyway and I ended up sick, so have a long chapter for two prompts on day five Rated M: For mature thigh kissing TW: Canon typical violence and abuse Read Parts 1-3 Here

Adam woke up with Ronan under him. The shirt Ronan was still insisting on wearing had a damp spot where Adam had drooled on him, and the white of the shirt was making Ronan’s fire warmed skin look even brighter. Ronan was graceful and sharp, even in sleep, even with the soft sunlight filtering in through the window in Adam’s small room. Adam reached up to run the edge of his thumb down Ronan’s nose and smiled softly when the man begin to shift.

“Matty, stop,” he mumbled, reaching up to bat Adam hand away. His words could do it well enough. His hand fell to his side and he frowned at Ronan’s face. He thought he could lay still and forget it, but the name bounced around in Adam’s  head until he had to stand up and do something else.

It barely took three minutes before Ronan was sitting up in Adam’s small bed, rubbing his hands over his eyes and stretching his arms over his head until something snapped in his back. “What’re you doing over there?” he asked around a yawn. “Come lay down again. You were warm.”

Adam shook his head and continued tying a light blue skirt at his hips. “Who’s Matty, Ronan?”

Ronan’s frown was almost audible. “What? How do you know…?”

“You said his name. While I was touching your face.” Adam turned to stare at Ronan finally, chin a little dimpled.

“Oh, Adam, no,” Ronan said quickly. He was out of bed in one fluid movement adn Adam wondered how so much lank moved like silk. Ronan wrapped his arms around Adam and pressed a smile into his hair. “Matthew is my little brother. If I said his name in my sleep, it’s because you were doing something to irritate me.”

Adam relaxed a little. Ronan talked about his brothers sometimes. They had been a concern when he thought he was losing time. And from what Adam had gathered over the week, Ronan didn’t lie.

“I’m sorry I assumed…” He started, but Ronan only held him tighter.

“It’s okay. Jealousy’s kind of a good color on you.”

Adam rolled his eyes and squirmed out of Ronan’s hold. “Let me make it up to you.”

“How are you planning to do that?” Ronan asked with an amused smirk.

“Well, there’s one place I haven’t taken you yet,” Adam admitted.

“It’s a big underwater island. I imagine there’s a lot of places you haven’t taken me.” Ronan pulled Adam back to him, running his hands over Adam’s bare sides. It had been over a week but he still couldn’t get over the lines of muscles and ribs and the tapering down into his waist, under the drape of fabric wrapped around his narrow hips.

“A place that means something to me,” Adam clarified. Sometimes it was easy to just give in to Ronan’s teasing than try to fight him with logic.

Ronan smiled, just a little bit less edge to it than his smirk. “Alright, shithead,” he said, which had no translation into Latin, and so Adam still didn’t know what it meant. “Lead the way.”

Like all their treks through the continent, it was filled with winding slopes and narrow crevices and far too many stair like features. Adam held onto Ronan’s hand the whole time, like he always did, and Ronan detoured them to look at animals, like he always did.

They came upon a grand waterfall, bigger than any of the others Ronan had seen. Atlantis was full of them. Ronan supposed it was fair. If Adam’s accounts were to be believed--and Ronan had no reason not to believe them--there had been towering mountains surrounding the island, and smaller ones across the continent. They crumbled and fell to create wondrous backdrops to cascades of water, some from rerouted sources in Atlantis and some from the ocean above where the gods’ protection didn’t hold for one reason or the other. Most of the waterfalls were small enough that there was no fear in playing in them, or drawing water from them.

This, Ronan would not willingly swim under. But Adam turned a playful, teasing smirk on him and dived straight into the water and Ronan had no choice but to follow. He pulled off the shirt he’d been wearing and untied the skirt draping before jumping after Adam in just the subligaria-like garment left. The clear, bright water astounded him as it did every time. He could easily follow Adam as he swam ahead of Ronan. He disappeared under the spray of bubbles, body tumbling along with the powerful current and Ronan panicked until he remembered that this was a place Adam knew well. He was sure it was just easier to swim through if he let himself get knocked around.

He swam after Adam and then up when he veered upwards. He broke the surface with a small gasp and Adam right against his chest. It was darker in this cave than most of the others they’d been in. Almost all of the light came from glowing plants and rocks in the walls and under the water. It threw all of Adam’s face into shadows and highlights and made him look young, like a boy. His grin helped.

“Isn’t it beautiful? We used to mine the rocks and it caused a collapse. We’ve never found them again. Only this place and it’s such an odd journey to get here that I haven’t told anyone. I mean, I’ve been told all my life that I’m different because of this,” he said, holding his wrist up. “And here...different means special, not weird.” He shrugged and rubbed his arm. “That probably doesn’t make any sense I know. It’s just that I thought you--”

Ronan leaned forward and kissed Adam quickly, lips pressing together for the briefest moment before he was pulling away. When he looked at Adam, his hands were half raised and his eyes still closed. So Ronan leaned in to kiss him again and they picked right up. Ronan brought his hands to Adam’s face at the same time Adam’s hands found his. Finally Ronan could sink his fingers in Adam’s hair. He didn’t care that it was wet and dark. He’d wanted to do that for so long. He didn’t care that his nose was ended up folded against Adam’s cheekbone, or that he could feel the warmth of the sigils against his palms getting hotter by the second.

“I want to know you in every way,” Ronan growled out eventually, having to rest his forehead against Adam’s so he could pull in lungfuls of air as quickly as possible. He wanted to get back to kissing Adam fast.

“I want that too. Want to be known, want to know you,” Adam said, and the water dwelling bastard had a level tone, hardly a hitch to his breathing, though even in the pale light the sigils were standing out starkly on the blush that was creeping down his face.

“Can I--” Ronan started, before wrapping his arms around Adam’s waist and pulling him out of the water to deposit him on the bank of the bath. He gently spread Adam’s legs so he could drift between them, eyes on Adam’s face the whole time.

“What are you doing to me?” Adam asked, easing back onto his elbows.

“Worshipping you the way you deserve to be worshipped.” Which was a blaspheme for both their religions but Ronan didn’t care at all.

Adam bit his lip and tipped his head slightly, so Ronan took it as his go ahead. He leaned down to press soft kisses to the inside of Adam’s thighs, slowly working his wet skirt down towards Adam’s hips as he went. He didn’t touch the subligaria as he made his way over Adam’s hips and to the taut stretch of skin between them, just above the tie of his skirt. Then he worked his way back down Adam’s other thigh. He couldn’t help but press his face to it once he’d gone as far as he could without moving.

“Ronan,” Adam groaned above him while Ronan reworked his trail. He ignored the sigils warming under his hands and mouth. He assumed it was because all of Adam was getting hotter. But then suddenly Adam’s hand was on his head. “Ronan,” he repeated with just a little bit of an edge to his voice.

Ronan pulled himself out of the water and crawled over Adam’s body, letting all the water drip onto Adam’s bare skin. Adam wrapped his arms around Ronan’s neck and Ronan ducked down to kiss his jaw, only partially because his skin felt like fire.

“Ronan, something’s happening to me,” Adam muttered, hands falling away from Ronan’s skin. Only then did Ronan feel the slight burn their left over his shoulders, like walking away from a fire he’d been sitting close to.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” he asked, pushing himself up so his arms were straight and there was a little distance between them.

“The gods...they’re answering a prayer.”

“What? You know when they answer prayers?” Ronan asked, brow furrowing.

“No...my prayer.”

“What did you pray for?”

“I wanted to--”

Then suddenly they were standing in Ronan’s childhood room. They were still dripping wet and Ronan thought about a spill mark he’d gotten in trouble for over and over that he could never remember having done.

The BMW pulled into the gravel driveway and Ronan’s body was lurching towards his window without him realizing it. And then his thirteen year old body was zooming through him as if he wasn’t there.

“Is that you?” Adam asked softly. He reached out a hand for the full head of curls, though it fell right through them. Thirteen year old Ronan played with Irish Green-Army-Men in their Aurora-And-Ronan-hand-painted kilts. He marched them across the window sill until half of them fell over as the AC kicked on and he had to crawl under his desk to get them.

Ronan nodded mutely before turning and running out of the room, down the stairs, and out the door. Adam barely kept up with him. He wanted to know Adam’s thoughts about the Barns and the homey, Lynch decorations, but now was not the time.

“Dad!” he called out before he could see the BMW. “Dad! Don’t! Don’t! Stay in the car! Don’t open the door!” he begged. His throat was closing up. He knew what day this was. He had to stop it. From this angle, just a few seconds earlier than he had been as a kid, he could see the man in gray coming around the messy tin barn that held broken machinery. He could see him move through the dreary foggy, rainy mist to the BMW like he wasn’t about to ruin Ronan’s life.

“Dad! Please!” he begged, though his voice wasn’t echoing like it always did when he shouted on the property.

He’d never heard it before. The sounds of his father’s struggle, of his dying breath. Somehow, Adam held him back, kept the BMW out of his line of sight. He could hear his father’s breath gurgling in a blood filled throat and he broke down, collapsing against Adam’s side.

He missed the interrogation completely as the sound of blow after blow landed on his ears instead.

Then. Silence.

And then the door.

Ronan spun around, tried to catch his thirteen year old self around the waist. Stared at the overjoyed grin on his face instead. Ronan hadn’t smiled like that since this day.

“I wasn’t sitting at the window waiting, Dad! So you can’t think I’m a spy. You can’t go to the barns to work!” A story Aurora had told Ronan time and time again as a child when he’d wait for his father, only to see him beeline for more work in one of the barns.

Thirteen year old Ronan ran right through Ronan’s arms and around the old tin barn. Ronan fell to his knees, probably at the same time his past self was falling over Niall’s body. He thought he should be throwing up. His stomach hurt, he was light headed. He could smell the blood on the gravel.

He heard his past self’s scream, not so much in fear as in anger and anguish. “Mom! Mom! It’s dad! Mom!” he shouted, running through Ronan and Adam again into the house to find a completely non-responsive mother.

A few minutes later, he heard himself screaming for Declan in a way he never would again after this day too. “Dec! Dec! Something’s happened! Please! Help me! Please be okay!”

And Declan’s footsteps on the old wood floor. And then his own shouting.

“No! Matty! No! Stay in your room!” young Ronan ordered. A door slammed in the house and Matthew’s fists on the other side of it resonated too.

Ronan didn’t realize how badly he was sobbing until his face was pressed to Adam’s shoulder and snot was being dragged across his cheek.

“Why did you bring me here?” he whimpered softly, clutching onto Adam’s waist tightly.

“I don’t know. I don’t know. I didn’t do it. I don’t have control over it. They just...speak through me,” Adam apologized, stroking his hand over Ronan’s short hair.

Ronan shook his head, eyes squeezed shut.

When he opened them, they were in Atlantis. A part of it he’d never been before. It was dark and dirty. Ronan hadn’t been aware Atlantis could get dirty, certainly not like this.

“Oh, Gods,” Adam whispered, hand finding Ronan’s as they stood together.

“You think the gods chose you?” a deep voice scoffed. The falling apart building they were in seemed to shake and a few seconds later, a younger Adam stumbled into view. He wasn’t as young as Ronan had been, but his hair was shorter and he was thinner and the sigils on his skin weren’t all there. Ronan wondered if he’d still be adding more now.

“The only thing you’d be good for is choking on their cocks.”

A man followed after Adam. Ronan had never seen an ugly Atlantean, but this man was certainly an example of all. He had none of the sigils that Adam did, or the neatly folded skirt. He was grey in the skin.

“Tell them to bless us with some fucking money and then you may not be so worthless.” The man spat at Adam and Ronan surged forward, knowing it was pointless. Adam caught him and held him back and the past-Adam stared at them, like he could see them.

“What? Are they talking to you right now?” The man stepped towards them, standing right in between Ronan’s shoulder and arm until Ronan scowled and stepped away.

Past-Adam smirked and then it all moved very quickly. Ronan was a fighter. He had been for years. He was amazed they let him teach college with the juvie record he unofficially had. Even so, it didn’t prepare him for the way the man threw himself at Adam, shaking his head against the wall until the rocks came away bloody and there were fingerprint bruises at his neck, and then throwing him down a depression in the flooring. Adam landed on his head and didn’t move for too many breaths. When he did, it was only to lift himself on one arm and immediately fall on his face again.

“See if the gods save you now,” the man spat, throwing a book down on Adam’s back so he collapsed again. Other belongings followed, most aimed at Adam’s head and weak points of his body. Adam collected as much as he could, stumbling  and falling and often having to sit back and catch his breath or stop his head spinning. Eventually, the man threw a parring knife down at Adam. It landed tip down in the floor. “Cut that ridiculous thing out of your wrist while you’re at it, freak. No one’s ever chosen you. Not the gods, not the humans. No one would want you.”

Now-Adam’s hand was so tight in Ronan’s, Ronan thought he might actually break it. Then-Adam took his things outside finally and Adam and Ronan followed without meaning to.

“Was that your father?” Ronan asked softly.

Adam nodded stiffly. “That was only half the fight. I don’t remember how the first half went. It happened almost every night. This was the worst. I--”

“You’re deaf, aren’t you? In this ear?” Ronan reached around to touch the ear on Adam’s other side. The side he slept on. The side he never let Ronan walk on. He’d been able to decipher Ronan and Gansey’s sign language without even speaking English. “I’m so stupid. I never realized…”

“It’s okay,” Adam said quickly. “I just want to forget it ever happened.”

“Is he still alive?” Ronan asked. There was a hard edge to his voice, like his words were having to grind past the tight set of his jaw.

“I don’t know. I guess. I haven’t been out there since this night.”

“I’m going to find him,” Ronan said, a promise like a knife, “and I’m going to kill him.”

Then they were in the middle of a college commons green. Matty was in burgundy robes, grinning from ear to ear and Declan was pressed to the nines, looking like he’d just stepped out of Vogue. And Ronan was between them, an arm around each of his brothers, cheesing for a camera.

“I can’t believe you actually made it,” he teased once Declan had his phone back in his hand. He rubbed his fingers through Matthew’s hair, knocking his hat to the ground in the process.

“It was you we were worried about,” Matthew shot back before Declan could. And it didn’t hurt coming from Matthew.

Suddenly they were in a high end restaurant. “How’d that interview with Princeton go?” Matthew asked, all excitement as he mindlessly played with the gown folded next to him.

“It went well. Declan tried to call and bully them but I threw his phone on the couch,” Ronan said with a shrug.

“We were in my office. You threw my phone into a fish bowl,” Declan corrected in a growl as he typed away on his phone.

“Obviously you survived,” Matthew snorted before deftly grabbing Declan’s phone and dropping it in an appetizer soup.

“Matthew!” Declan roared, losing his well maintained composure hard enough to send Matthew and Ronan into fits of laughter as the nearest tables turned to stare at them.

“But-but-but I’m serious, Roan. How’d it go?” Matthew asked again around hiccuping laughs.

“I got the job,” Ronan admitted like it was no big deal. A blush colored his cheekbones quickly.

“You got it!” Matthew laughed, grabbing Ronan’s shoulders and pulling him into a tight hug.

Even Declan looked impressed. “You knew you could do it without the phone call,” he said and sounded impressed. Ronan grinned at him, all teeth.

Matthew flagged down their waitress. “Hey, make it two cakes. We’re celebrating a lot tonight,” he laughed. “My brothers are much more successful than me so far so they’ll grab the check.”

It startled a laugh out of Declan. “Which of us is more successful, do you think?” he asked with an amused smirk that was just entirely too close to Ronan’s.

“Princeton is pretty cool,” Matthew hummed.

“So is a self made business in the multi-millions,” Ronan pointed out, because he’d ordered enough food to not want the bill for himself alone. “Besides, half my professors made, like, seventy thousand dollars a year.”

“You made a million dollars off your book in the last two years,” Declan scoffed.

“And you made seven times that off the one last artifact you sold.”

“That your archeological crew found.”

“They so weren’t my crew. I don’t do archeology. I just told them where to go. Because I read.”

“Yeah, that’s not as cool as Dr. Malcom. Or Brendan Fraser in The Mummy.”

“Hey, just ‘cause you’re hot for those guys doesn’t mean they’re any good at their job,” Ronan shot back with an easy grin. “Declan pays. He’s the richest of us.���

“We should measure success by personal accomplishment, not by funds,” Declan said quickly.

“Oh, bullshit!” Ronan and Matthew laughed at the same time. And then Declan joined in too.

Then they were breaking the surface of the water. The sea was wine dark around them and the moon full above them. Just a few strokes away, Adam also broke the surface, shoving his hair out of his face. He looked around himself and then began to laugh. He brought his hands out of the water and studied them in the moonlight. The slick shine of the light upon the water and the dry air. The slow pruning of his fingertips in the air.

“Oh my God,” Ronan said softly. “You’ve been to the surface.”

Adam let out a breath and the water rippled under his chin. “Yeah. Only a few times. Like I said, the entrances close all the time. Even now, I was terrified I’d swim back down and not be able to get home.”

Past-Adam tilted his head back into the moonlight and he was so fucking beautiful that Ronan grabbed his Adam and  kissed him under the same moonlight until Adam was groaning against his mouth and ducking out from under him.

“Not yet, Ro. There’s something we have to do before we get too caught up.”

Ronan wanted to know what it was, but he was content to keep quiet for now, if it meant staring at Adam in the moonlight. The real moonlight. God, Ronan wondered what he looked like in the sun.

“Which do you like more? The sea or the land? Atlantis or the surface?” he asked.

Adam looked up at him and then at the other Adam, which kept swimming under the water and then coming back up. “This,” he finally said. “Both at once.”

Ronan nodded, even though he didn’t know how that was an answer.

“Which do you prefer?” Adam asked.

Ronan kept his eyes on the other Adam. “If we want to know each other entirely,” he said slowly, “memories aren’t going to do any real justice. We’ll have to try both out together.”

So, maybe he got how that was an answer after all.

#pynchweek #pynchweek18 #adam parrish #Ronan Lynch #the raven cycle #OTP: in more than his lips #writing #atlantis #atlantis au