#thank you Anon you are very lovely!

[sweetestpopcorn]

Hi popcorn! I'm recently interested in Aegon/Jaehaera's dynamic. I try to find some fics on ao3 but I am really frustrated by the results. I'm a canon-based fanfic lover, which is why I really like your fic. However all fanfics of this ship change their dynamics horrificly different from canon, which l'd say I feel them become writers' OC rather than who they really are in the book. The tragic and interesting part of them is that they both experienced similar trauma due to each others parents, then they have to face the ultimate forced union to make peace.Their experience is similar but they are on the opposite side, they never try to understand each other. Maybe there are sympathy and hatred coexisting in their relationship, which may get better if Jaehaera lives. That's the particular dynamic I want to see. But the fanfics of this ship just easily erase the bloody past of "my mother was eaten by your father" or "my brother was beheaded on your fathers order", instead focus on how they pity each others pang and fall in love. That's kind of a cheating way to write a complicated relationship. They have similarities but they have even more obstacles to truly understand each other. Writers don't know how to deal with it so just change their character traits, make them totally different persons. That's one of the awkward parts of these fics. The other wierd part is that writers tend to set up Daenaera as an imaginary rival by depicting her as a failed seducer or an unwanted second wife. The logic is weird bc Daenaera has nothing to do with the tragedy of Jaehaera. Their marriage ended tragically due to their own miscommunication and the murderer Peake. If there has to be an evil female rival It should be Myrielle. But sarcastically Aegon treated lady Turnip even better than he did with Jaehaera in canon.

What's your interpretation of their dynamics? Or do you know if there's a better way to write this kind of relationship? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Hi there Anon, sorry for this delay 😊

So, I have explored my thoughts about Aegon III and Jaehaera as a ship here I don't know if you ever stumbled upon it. But this sums up what I think well.

Because in the end I am not interested and because of some issues I have, that I mention in the post, I never lost a lot of time thinking about them and their potential.

I understand your frustration, I do, and I have said it before and will again that the asoiaf fandom is not as strong as others fanfiction wise. Never was. In my days of reading it I can tell you I think I found like 3-4 fics I thought were absolute masterpieces but other than that I couldn't go past 2-3 chapters. It was just... no. Just a no.

At the end of the day though, when we are consuming free content we can't really be picky 🤷🏽‍♀️

When we want something specific and can't find it, I am of the mind that we should take an active approach. This was what I convinced myself to do. So, if I want to read something and it doesn't exist and I have good insights on the characters and what I want, I can write it. If I couldn't write it I could maybe try to commission someone to write it for me with my specific instructions.

With writing, I like my writing, despite it's flaws, and I do enjoy the process and going back and reading my stuff, but I can't draw, so if I want something I may try to find an artist willing to take a commission from me. It's a win-win (despite the fact that the artist has to put up with me), I get what I want and they get paid and if nothing else can get some practice.

All the best to you and thank you so much for your very lovely words 🥰 Happy Holidays!

#aegon iii targaryen #jaehaera targaryen #fire and blood #commissions people commissions #support artists #thank you Anon you are very lovely! #sorry I am not more interested in the ship #popcorn answers

[tubbytarchia]

jimmy stream watcher here i havent watched most of this stream but he did run into glass. like a bird

amazing. I'm so proud of him

#jimmy solidarity #tubby art #thank you anon for sending me this ask. Cannot express to you how grateful I am. This ask is awesome #I love when Jimmy is bird I love it so much #stupid energetic little guy. He gets tunnel vision so easily when he's excited or stressed #he very much would run into a pane of glass. Or well. He did. My sweet cheese...

[httpiastri]

I'm going crazy thinking about riding Lando in his sim chair

LIKE GURL IT WOULD BE SO FUCKING HOT

👀 helloooooooooo please the thoughts you brought to my mind..... not very holy

(18+ content below, minors pls dni)

lando has been on the call for way too long now.

he promised he’d just go for one more round on the sim with george and alex, but that was almost two hours ago. you are bored, and the shows on the tv in lando’s living room are not doing enough to help you forget about your boyfriend neglecting you.

when you finally get off the couch and go over to his room, lando is in the exact same position as he was when you left him; body relaxed back against the sim chair, legs spread wide, head slump back against the headrest. he's laughing at something george has just said when his eyes fall on you in the doorway.

"oh, my girl is here!" he exclaims, reaching out a hand towards you as you move closer. "the boys say hi."

you intertwine your fingers with his, leaning down to the mic of his headset. "hi, boys!"

he takes a quick moment to mute himself from the call, looking back up at you. "what's up?"

"can i join you?"

his face lights up. "do you want to play?" his expression then changes when he sees you shaking your head.

"i just want to sit."

he can't quite grasp what you're saying. it doesn't click until you step so close that your knees are bumping against his thigh, just before you drape one of your legs over his lap, sitting down on top of him. lando blinks at you and gulps, not able to control the tent already forming in his pants when you shuffle to find a comfortable position. you know he has always had a weakness for you sitting on his lap, so the innocent eyes and the sweet pout you're showing off are nothing but an act. "is something wrong?" you ask, one of your hands coming up to stroke his cheek as he shivers.

"lando? where did you go, mate?"

in a matter of just seconds, he had managed to forget about his friends and the round they were playing. he's forgotten about everything that isn't you and your pretty face.

"sorry, guys," he says once he's gone off mute. his voice breaks when he tries to speak again, so he coughs and tries one more time. "something has come up, i have to go."

lando doesn't even give his friends time to ask why or say goodbye before he's hung up the call, his focus back on you again. his hands move up and down your sides as he shakes his head. "what? why did you hang up?"

"don't play with me right now." he squints at you, a playful grin spreading over his lips.

"it's all your fault anyway," you say, letting your hands reach down to play with the zipper of his jeans. "you ignored me."

he lets out a shaky sigh when you pop the button open, slowly pulling down the zipper. "what do i have to do to get you to forgive me?"

"i think you know."

and god riding him then 😩 in the seat where he does so much of his work, so many hours of the day... he's going to be reminded of you and grow horny every time he goes back there

#the way i couldnt bring myself to write about the actual riding #i am sorry #but i felt like i wouldnt be able to do it justice 😶 #this was a lovely idea though anon and i am very thankful for your ask #lando norris #f1 #formula one #formula 1 #lando norris x reader #lando norris smut #lando norris suggestive #lando norris fluff #f1 smut #f1 x reader #f1 x you #lando norris x you #f1 fluff

[twentyfivemiceinatrenchcoat]

AGH FASHION DESIGNER SUGURU AND MODEL SATORU W A NEW INTERN DESIGNER UNDER THEIR WING 😞😞☹️ - 🌺

WAHHHH I LOVE THIS 🥺🥺🥺 the pining and flirting and slowburn of it all… model!satoru and his favorite designer suguru geto, both of them undeniably skilled and born with an eye for fashion….. well-known and adored……..

designer!suguru who gets tasked with showing you the ropes, who’s always so patient and kind despite your inexperience. diligent with his teaching but also so laidback, so easy to talk to… he looks intimidating, but he’s so polite that you can’t help but swoon a little. and he admires your enthusiasm so much…… grows fond of you soooo quickly bc you’re just such a breath of fresh air compared to the divas he’s forced to work with all the time. he thinks you’ve got real potential and he wants to nurture it.

and ofc you end up running into model!satoru eventually…. bc he’s always hanging around suguru whenever he gets the chance. and he’s maybe a little jealous that you’re hogging so much of his personal designer’s attention, but… he also thinks you’re so cute . T_T like a little puppy following suguru around… so excited to be apart of something you’ve dreamed of for so many years……… he looks into your eyes and sees the same sparkle he had before he made it big, and it makes his heart race.

yeah . i’m just thinking abt the peaceful coffee breaks with suguru….. how he’d insist on paying for your drink, ”since he’s your senior” (he wants to be your favorite </3)…… and how he’d just be so protective over his little intern. don’t get me started on the close proximity with satoru when you’re taking his measurements, the glance and smile he sends your way during an impromptu shoot… the way he always calls for you with a sweet coo of ”how’s my favorite intern doing today?”

😔😔😔 yeahhhhhh. they make me feel ill.

#thank you 🌺 anon my beloved….. i am kissing your beautiful brain #😭😭😭😭 now i kinda wanna write this oh no #my anons keep making my wip list longer this isn’t fair T—T #(i love you all very much) #NO BUT THIS IS SO BIGBRAINED IT’S INSANE #fashion designer!sugu the loml…. model!satoru just feels so natural too #i think they’re both very mature!!!!!!! #there are some aus where i think satoru would lean towards his more bratty hs self #but here i feel like he’s similar to the way he is in canon :3 just. silly and goofy and passionate abt what he does #AND very fond of youth. of people with lofty goals and dreams and starlight in their eyes #(<- has gotten carried away) #YOU GET IT THOUGH i know you’ll see the vision 🌺 anon 🫂🫂🫂 we’re holding hands #i need them both #need suguru to buy me expensive coffee while satoru feeds me pieces of a pastry #for some reason i keep thinking of coffee breaks i might. just be hungry 😭😭😭 #ask tag ✩ #🌺 anon !! ✩ #geto x reader #gojo x reader #stsg x reader #satosugu x reader #gojo satoru x reader #geto suguru x reader

[floccinaucinihilipilificationa]

Hello may 31th anon! Look at that, another year behind us and a new one to come. Have a nice day! ₍՞◌′ᵕ‵ू◌₎♡

#may 31th anon #hello friends!! (｡’▽’｡)♡ how are you!! I missed you so much! #I'm sorry that once again i have not been posting but I did that thing again where I got scared of posting #I do not know why but it is the same with physical paper diarys #I have 3 diarys and they all have 1 entry #I think one just says 'I am ten' #what have you been up to!! did you do something fun? is it summer too where you live? c: #my tumblr messages seem to be broken! I'm sorry if you wrote something :C it just says 'no new messages' despite also saying new messages #not a lot has happened here! I got a tomato plant and then I got very invested into the tomato plant and I have eaten three tomatos so far ( #my roses are also doing well!! I just got a new yellow rose and since she got here she only made orange flowers #I do not know the meaning of that #but I am very thankful! ( ˊᵕˋ )♡ I love it when things are orange!! #I've been trying to buy an orange shirt for the past 2 weeks but they always sell out before I get to them #I'm also thinking about buying a jean jacket #I have not worn a jean jacket for at least 15 years because one time in 7th grade tthe girl behind me said #that I was wearing a cool jean jacket and I just assumed that this was bullying for no actual reason #but maybe she just thought that it was an acutal cool jean jacket #we'll soon have out 10 year school reunion #maybe I should ask her #is anyone else going to a secret Sherlock phase again #I just want to see that silly little hat again #would sherlock holmes wear a jean jacket #have a nice day everyone!! #see you soon hopefully!! #♡＾▽＾♡

[canisalbus]

Looking at your art summary your art has gotten a softness to it that it didnt have before (said positively). I hope this is, in part, because life has been kinder to you than it was before, if only because you deserve a good, kind life. I hope the new year greets you like an old friend.

.

#;n; #aw jeez anon #that's such a lovely thing to say #thank you! #I'm going through an unprecedentedly soft and merciful era it looks like #sorry about the clumsy banality and mushiness of it all #but suddenly I'm getting very invested in the concepts of healing forgiveness and self discovery

[egophiliac]

this started as a reply to someone but got out of hand when I remembered what Trey’s unique magic does, and therefore what the cutest solution to white queen Riddle would be 🌹

and then it very quickly spiraled out of control

#art #sketch #twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland spoilers #twisted wonderland episode 6 spoilers #twisted wonderland book 6 spoilers #thanks dad 2: establishing mom dominance through cake decorating #sorry these are worse than usual #it's been a bad art day and i've given up trying to do anything better #also SORRY ANON for not actually replying i felt bad attaching this tangential shitpost to your ask #you were the one who also talked about how cute ortho's college gear story is and you were right #it was super sweet and i loved it. bless him. i wish they had more followups to some of these things #there is now nothing i want more than this buddy comedy about a very serious dramatic actor mentoring an earnest yet determined young robot #it's the inspiration story we all need right now

[sculkshrieking]

CAN WE PLSPLSPLS HAVE MORE TRANS SCAR HE MAKES ME SO HAPPY

OF COURSE <3 !! here's some trans mayor Scar and Bdubs because i miss s7 every single day

#goodtimeswithscar #bdoubleo #hermitcraft #hermitcraft season 7 #hermitshipping #scardubs #if you wanna interpret it that way (i certainly do but it can be platonic as well. we love casual intimacy in this house) #i am thinking about them always #i know i haven't drawn the cockers yet but know that i am very happy they're teaming #my art #askbox #anon #requests #thank u for the ask!!

[baby-xemnas]

I'm not into one piece, REALLY not into it

but somehow your bepo x law art.......... got me thinking......................... cute

thanks for the food

TRANSCENDING POWER OF SWEET ROMANCE

#my art #maybe a guy loving a bear guy is what we need #i certainly do. glad so many of you do too!!!!!!!!!!!! #anonymous #thank you anon i am very happy to hear that you enjoy them #lawbepo

[fatuismooches]

Good day! Life is the definition of stress for me lately, so i turn to Dottie x Fragile!Reader for comfort once more. I hereby present you: bathtime!

Just before i begin - NO NSFW! Only wholesomeness! Horny will automatically have their names added to test subjects volunteers list!

Reader's mysterious sickness got worse over time. Fragile body forced them staying in bed and prevented them from completing even the simplest mundane activities, such as eating or showering. But it's no fun staying in sweaty bed, is it? So, while segments are busy changing sheets, Zandik brings his beloved to bathroom.

Let's address the obvious - reader would get extra shy. It's not the first time Zandik sees them naked, taking all physical health exams into consideration. However, man is more than willing to look away and wait - he will avoid looking at the Reader if that's what they want.

Bath time feels like luxurious spa complex. Scented bath bombs? Check. Bath bubbles? Check. Soothing music playing in the background? Check. Shoulders massage? Check. Hair-washing? Check.

Speaking of the latter, Zandik's long, slim fingers rubbing shampoo into reader's hair brings them euphoria. He's so gentle with every movement, careful not to get any bubbles into his dear's eyes. Zandik also uses shampoo of his own making (perks of being the all-knowing scientist!). If Reader's hair was greasy and messy before, once the bathtime is over, you bet their locks are smooth to the touch and extra soft.

Man would make sure the Reader has been fully dried off. He'll also personally dry their hair with hair dryer (...does Teyvat have hair dryers? Idk. Assume it's something similar then.), so they don't catch cold that could further worsed their condition! Once the spa procedures are done, Zandik will have reader dressed in fresh pyjamas and wrapped in a bathrobe, cuddled in his arms - he will then carry them bride-style back to bedroom where a bed with fresh sheets and a segment with a mug of hot chocolate was waiting for them.

Cuddles and kisses afterwards are a major part of whole bathtime procedure! Must not be skipped!

BATH TIME WITH DOTTORE. <3 Your illness frequently rendered you unable to do even the simplest of activities, most importantly the basics of living. Or perhaps your mental state was not the best and you could not bring yourself or find the energy to take care of yourself. But at least you have your lovers with you to do that when you can't yourself.

No matter how many times your husband sees you nude you still get a bit anxious about it, you know he loves you. But you still can't help but look in the mirror and wonder if he notices even more imperfections than you, after all, his eyes are very observant. However every time, he patiently holds and reassures you in his own Dottore-like very, despite how many times you two have done this same routine, he doesn't seem annoyed. You're thankful.

Dottore had honestly never used or cared for such extraneous products in the bath, he never saw the point of them. He always got in and out of the shower, he never exactly relaxed in it. It was only until you started using fancy stuff like that and forcing him into it that he started to warm up to the idea of bath time also being relaxing time (something both of you really need.) And he can easily see that this is something you need right now. However, he is clueless by himself so he probably found himself at the mercy of the Damslette and Regrator much to his dismay... but, it's for you, so he can endure...

Dottore's hands are very skilled, certain areas of his work require great control over them to avoid any mistakes, so it's not surprising in itself for them to be gentle and delicate. However, what is surprising is for that gentleness to be used on another person. It wasn't easy for him at first either, he loves you but being gentle doesn't come easily or naturally for him. But he still does try and it seems that eventually, you get so lost in the feeling of his fingers massaging your scalp that you don't notice if he messes up. I imagine you'd try to return the favor too if you have the strength. Unfortunately, it gets into his eyes but he has zero reaction to it for your sake.

After the bath, you would feel so warm and fuzzy from how good it felt, but most importantly you felt that Zandik cared, which was always very important for you. Sure, he wasn't the world's most perfect lover, but you didn't care about that. All that mattered was that he tried, and that he loved you. (He invented Teyvat's first and only hair dryer. End of story.) You'd nearly fall asleep as he dries your hair, barely hanging on by the time he dresses you in something warm. But you can't fall asleep now! You have to stay awake and treasure this moment with him! It's not often opportunities like this arise with your Zandik! And you have to be awake to feel all the kisses you'll get!

(His cup of hot chocolate definitely has a little too much marshmallows in it...)

#smooches talks #🐺 anon #fragile reader <3 #dottore love notes <3 #the *bonk go to h/orny jail* 😭 #but anyway thank you for this brainrot... it's very adorable!! #i hope you can be able to relax soon... *hugs*

[sunsetsimon]

Omg I have to go on anon for but-

I am a sucker for size kink with praise, im pretty vanilla but there's something about men praising their partners when they're struggling to take them that just gets me all flustered-

UGH I KNOW RIGHT??!!!

the way he’d kiss you so lovingly, whispering praise in your ear because you’re taking him so well. he’s slowly pushing in to you, making shallow thrusts with his tip, each inch getting soaked in your juices. “relax schatz… just let me take care of you,” he reassures, feeling how tense your small body is in his arms. you take a deep breath, forcing yourself to relax.

“sorry, ‘m nervous. you’re so big könig…” you whine, wishing he had warned you before he decided to fuck you with his huge cock. even with preparation it would be a stretch, your tiny hole could only take so much.

“you can take it-“ he starts to speak, only to cut himself off with a low groan as he easily slips in deeper, your gummy pussy attempting to swallow him whole. it feels too good. your eyes water in pleasure as he starts thrusting into you at steady pace, the knot in your stomach beginning to tighten quickly. his hand splays across your stomach, pressing down on the bulge his cock makes when it’s deep inside of you, “doin’ so good takin’ me.”

#god i need him like yesterday #definitely using this thank you very much #könig x reader #love you anon <3 #ask sun

[kisakis-boyfriend]

Reading your works inspires my horny brain! I’m obsessed with the way you write Freminet and with his Fatui background. So, very soft Freminet thirst about post-mission bathtub sex incoming. It’s totally up to you whether you feel like expanding on it 💜

Imagine Freminet showing up late at night after a rough Fatui assignment. He’s still in clockwork machine mode so you immediately jump into taking care of him. To avoid abruptly pulling Freminet out of the headspace, you give soft orders and guide him through undressing so you can check for injuries. Once that’s taken care of, you draw a warm bath for the two of you to soak away the tension. Freminet rests against you in the water as you gently wash him and massage any aching muscles. While his mind starts to resurface, the lingering floaty feeling in his head combined with your comforting presence makes his body incredibly sensitive. Freminet starts to react without any inhibitions, his hips squirming and knees separating as your hands brush up his inner thighs and over his pert nipples. He begins to whine and whimper for more, too far gone to properly verbalize his desire for your touch. You give him the pleasure he’s seeking and when you make him cum Freminet gasps out his first word of the night “Y/N!”

After, you drain the tub and dry Freminet off with your fluffiest towel. Then proceed to put him in cozy pajamas, read him one of his fave fairytales, and cuddle him to sleep.

This is super cute and sweet. I'm such a sucker for soft sex like this, especially with someone like Freminet who deserves this kind of tenderness 🥺

#mailbox #thirst #genshin impact smut #genshin impact #genshin smut #genshin x reader #freminet #freminet smut #sub freminet #gn reader #gender neutral reader #this is very lovely anon #thank you for this wonderful visual 💙

[oceisastar]

post abt neuvillette crying has me throbbing... imagine tears start to spill from his pretty eyes as you thrust deeply yet so gently into him, hole spasming on your cock as you grind into his prostate.

"are you okay?" you'd ask him, and he'd only nod and more tears would fall down his flushed cheeks. he'd be so warm, too—not just his hot, lube-slick hole on you but his smooth, soft skin as well. nngh imagine cum already smeared on his tummy from an earlier orgasm too, making you both even messier and hotter<33

you'd keep your slow, even rhythm as he cries and cries, neuvillette finding an emotional release along with physical when he finally cums on your cock and keeps it warm as you cum in him, too. omg and neuvi just holding you close and burying his face in your neck as soft sobs wrack his body and the rain begins pelting hard against the windows—but it's still sunny, somehow, because these are tears not of pain but of love and pleasure.

don't forget to plug his pretty hole up, either~ he waited so long for you to come home and fuck him, after all! he wants to cuddle you back to sleep and still feel your cum deep inside him<3 maybe wake up the next morning and lick his hole clean—start the day with a beautiful, sunny rainshower for all of fontaine! though, only you get to see fontaine's most beautiful: your one and only neuvillette.

nnnnnn i love him so much.

MDNI

OMG MY LOVE this is such a long and gorgeous post thank you for blessing me!

omg his tummy 🥺🥺 so soft and cute.

fucking him slowly and gently 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 I’m crying I fucking love emotional release during sex!

that was so sweet I loved it

#you hit EXACTLY what I want during s*x which is not just a s*xual release but an emotional one!!!!!!!! #your brain is huge anon #thank you #I loved it and I am very soft #genshin #genshin impact #genshin smut #genshin impact smut #neuvillette #sub neuvillette #sub! neuvillette #neuvillette x reader #neuvillette smut #genshin thirsts #genshin impact thirsts #neuvillette thirsts

[simplydnp]

char. realisation moment. the daniel song tiktok was posted all the way back in 2022. which means either 1. phil saved it for dan aall this time or 2. (most likely) a song of a different name came up on his for you page so he went onto the account specifically to find and save the daniel song just to show dan.........

this is the exact thing i want all of you to send to my inbox. what a beautiful rabbit hole you've fallen down anon, and thank you for taking me with you because now i'm going to stare at the ceiling and think about this for a week

#*this* is the good shit!! #(and i love when you all ask me questions too bc am i even a dannie if i dont yap about things) #two very good options provided by anon here. thank u for your research and your source citing. excellent exploration of the topic. #bonus points for turning my brain to soup #i agree option 1 is more likely but the possibility of option 2.... theyre in love your honour #dnp #c.text #dan and phil #answered

[blindmagdalena]

homelander hearing fifteen seconds of a bass-boosted song playing on your phone repeteadly, and sees how you keep your eyes glued to the screen with this look of fixation, and when he hears your heartbeat pick up his jealousy acts up and is about to remind you that he’s right here and you better stop with this shameful oogling, but when he peeks over your shoulder he discovers you rewatching an edit of him over and over again and oh. oh okay. but why am i moving in slow-motion??

“It’s a thirst trap,” you explain, smiling sheepishly.

“It’s a what?” Homelander looks more bewildered than you’ve ever seen him.

“You know, like… to make people thirsty.”

His eyes narrow slightly. “No, I don’t know.”

“Thirsty. It’s spicy. It makes people insane.”

“I’m starting to question your comprehension of the English language.”

“Horny!” You finally blurt out, gesturing with your phone. “It makes people horny. They’re sexy videos set to sexy music of sexy people.”

The way it clicks in his brain is nearly audible. He huffs a laugh. “Well, you should have just said that. That makes sense.”

You roll your eyes, but can’t keep the smile from your face. “You’re going to be insufferable about this.”

He gives a noncommittal shrug. “You’re the one watching it on repeat.”

Sure enough, you hear him humming that same tune for the rest of the day.

#ANON I LAUGHED WAY TOO LOUD #thank you for this it deserved a lil snippet #this is about the ‘look at ME’ audio that’s trending on TT isn’t it #homelander x reader #ask and you shall receive #darling anon #homelander x you #my writing #sorry I did this very fast on my phone I just loved it so much

[ratinayellowbandana]

Hi! Number six of the drabble prompt list, and if I may suggest, with a sad jealous Laudna.

hi! I'm sorry this one took a few days. I um. got a little carried away with it again. these were only supposed to be like 500-word prompt fills, and this is uh, slightly more than that. so I hope that's ok.

for those who don't want to find the prompt, it was: "You just didn't look for me." naturally I went ep 64 with a healthy splash of canon divergence, some good old-fashioned hurt/comfort, and pate as a thinly veiled metaphor.

length: 2k

~~~

Laudna whirls on her, snaps, “We looked for you. And the others. Every fucking day.” She holds Imogen’s gaze, holds her piercing stare until Imogen tilts her head. “You just didn’t look for me,” she whispers. 

Imogen steps forward, quiet but insistent. “No, sweetheart, no, we did. I did. Every day.” She does not reach out, afraid, not of Laudna–never of Laudna–but of herself. Of what she might do if given the chance at the wrong time. Her heart pounds an unsteady rhythm.

“I want to believe you,” Laudna says. She toys with the brass ring on her left hand, twisting it around her finger anxiously, twin snakes coiling. “I do, truly, it’s just…” 

Imogen studies her, searching for answers in a frame both foreign and familiar. Laudna is pale and gaunt, cheeks drawn in, though that’s hardly unusual. Her stringy dark hair lacks luster in the eerie light of the red moon, crispy and clumped together in places by something Imogen can’t identify. Cast in the long shadows between buildings, Laudna is on edge, ready to claw and screech and lash out with those wicked talons if provoked. She is wild, and she is beautiful, and she is frightened.  

“I understand,” Imogen speaks slowly, gently, distinctly aware of each word’s weight. 

The others are still in the inn, consorting in the tavern. The Hells and their new friends, chatting, laughing, and drinking the night away, simply happy to be home. Introductions were made, and tales of grandeur waited to be spun. 

Laudna had been unnervingly quiet after the initial elation wore off. Her hands remained folded in her lap or picked intently at the skin around her nails. Pâté’s silence was even more concerning. He had been coaxed out of hiding in Laudna’s hair with the promise of scratches and nudged his beak into her wrist until she began stroking his greasy fur. 

She spoke when spoken to, adjusting in her seat and responding eagerly when prompted. The moment the attention shifted, though, her forced smile would drop. Every so often, she sent a furtive glance in Imogen’s direction as if to ensure she was still there, then looked away just as quickly. Exhaustion crept at the corners of her eyes, and her gaze would fall to her lap whenever the conversation turned to the adventures in Wildemount. 

The group from Issylra hadn’t said much about their travels, but Imogen gathered their transplantation had not been as, ah, pleasant wasn’t quite the right word. Illustrious, maybe, Imogen considered, fussing with a seam on her new dress. Laudna’s blouse was tattered and stained with a thick substance that did not match her ichor’s usual viscosity. 

Laudna had stood abruptly, muttering something about air, and disappeared outside. After making puzzled eye contact with Ashton, who tossed his head at the door and sighed heavily, Imogen followed her. 

She had found Laudna around the corner, curled into herself against the wall of the Spire by Fire. A feral thing, hardened and reshaped by whatever circumstances found her while they were apart. 

She has not calmed yet, and Imogen is reluctant to curb the swell of emotion that has Laudna dangling by a thread. She is tangled in it, ensnared in a knotted web, and Imogen is unsure how to extricate her. She is all jagged pieces and raw edges, a tempest of fury and loss that Imogen cannot rely on her mental connection to unravel. Laudna is something of a mystery to her now in a way she has never been, and it’s all Imogen can do to not toss her circlet to the winds. 

Instead, she waits. 

Laudna is muttering to herself, tugging at her clothes. Pâté flaps about her head, wings of sinew and bone making an abominably wet sound Imogen hadn’t realized she’d missed. The tip of one wing tangles in Laudna’s hair, and she swats at him irritably, sending him tumbling through the air until he manages to right himself. Imogen extends a hand, and he flies to her, settling in her palm on his hindquarters. He gives a disgruntled shake, and his wings squelch back into his body, tail coming to rest around his paws. He peers up at Imogen, then looks back to Laudna.  

“I tried,” he croaks in that gravelly way of his, and Imogen strokes his disgusting little head with one finger. 

“I know,” she assures gently. He could be referring to any number of moments across a lifetime, a few weeks, mere seconds ago. She sets him on her shoulder and feels pinprick claws pierce the fabric of her dress for stability. Crass and wretched as he is, Imogen can’t find it in herself to hate him. He is an extension of his maker, creepy and ungainly and off-putting, so Imogen must love him a tiny bit. She scratches under his chin, ignores the feeling of magic-touched bone, murmurs, “Thank you for keepin’ her safe.”

“Boss didn’t have the best of times without you.” He pipes up, a little rueful, in a manner Imogen assumes is meant to be quiet. Laudna, only a few feet away, catches it.

“Pâté,” she snarls. He squeaks and tucks himself into Imogen’s collar. 

“He’s just confirming what I had already guessed,” Imogen defends, an attempt at lightness that doesn’t quite land. “It’s not his fault you haven’t told me anything.” 

“He ought to have stayed in my head. Then he might leave well enough alone,” Launda warns. 

“You don’t mean that,” Imogen counters calmly. 

Laudna spits, “He should have stayed dead.”

“Hey.” 

She huffs a sardonic, dry laugh. “Not everyone deserves second chances.” 

Imogen inhales sharply.

There it is. 

“Laudna…” She softens. She cups Pâté protectively. His fur oddly damp against her skin. She takes a cautious step forward. 

The pieces begin slotting into place, building the frame for a jarring picture of something severe enough to reopen this old wound. 

The fight sapped from her limbs, Laudna slides her back down the wall until she sits in the filth and dirt of the alleyway with her knees drawn close to her chest. Imogen winces as rough stone drags across jutting bone and paper-thin skin. 

“Are you… Do you want to be alone?” She asks–because what else can she do?– and half-fears the answer. 

Laudna’s head jerks up, and something Imogen can’t decipher flashes in her eyes. After a moment, her head shakes minutely, and Imogen lets out a relieved sigh. 

Tense silence leaches from the pores of the building’s rocky exterior.  

“We tried to find you all. Every day. We didn’t–we didn’t know where we were. Where anyone was, and–” Laudna breathes at last. “Orym was… was angry. Vengeful. And Ashton…. He was our friend.”

“Ashton?”

“I hurt him,” Laudna continues as if Imogen hadn’t spoken at all.

“Hurt who?” 

She shudders. “I killed him, not Prism.” Inky tears well from eyes pressed shut. Her voice is impossibly soft, hollow, seeming to ask, Do you hate me yet?

The narrative is convoluted at best. Imogen fruitlessly attempts to splice together the fragments of memory slipping through Laudna’s teeth like snowflakes, to arrange them into a cohesive whole among the scraps she gathered at the table. The Issylra group returned rattled, apprehensive and tense, but this is deeper. Laudna is shaken. 

“Wasn’t he a member of the Ruby Vanguard?” 

“He was confused, just like the rest of us. Angry at the gods.” Laudna’s eyes flicker to the glowing red moon. Her fist, clenched in her hair, tightens. “And I killed him.” 

Imogen steps closer. “We’ve all killed people.”

Laudna shakes her head. Her voice hardens once more. “I don’t begrudge you the shopping or fraternizing with royalty or, or whatever else it was,” she says lowly, “But we didn’t have that. We didn’t save a toy store or home-cooked breakfasts. We spent every moment fighting to get back to you. And now,” she swallows, “we must reckon with the cost.” 

She is utterly exhausted; Imogen can see in the dim light. Although bone-weary and at her wits’ end, Laudna’s elegant cheekbones curl with shadows that twist and hide in her skirts. Hunched and fearful as she is, Laudna is still hauntingly beautiful. Something warms in Imogen’s chest. 

“You did what you had to do to survive,” she says, “No one can fault you for that.” 

“I’m sorry.” Laudna’s voice breaks, fracturing in tandem with Imogen’s heart, and she sobs. “I’m sorry.”

“No, Laud, no–” Imogen crouches next to her, yearning to touch, to take Laudna in her arms and bite and hiss and growl at anyone who dares approach. She restrains herself, carefully plucking Pâté from her shoulder and setting him on the ground between them. He turns to her skeptically as if to say, Really? After what she said? Imogen nudges him in Laudna’s direction. He sniffs, beak in the air, and ruffles his fur before bounding to Laudna’s ankles and putting his weird, cold little dead rat toes against her shin. She ignores the pawing fragment of her soul, ashamed. 

“I’m sorry,” Laudna mutters, “I must seem…I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have anything to apologize for.” 

Laudna begins incredulously, “I–”

“You survived,” Imogen reiterates, “against gods and people powerful enough to destroy them.” She sighs, “I sent you a message every day, you know? Sometimes more than once, if I’m honest, ‘till my nose bled and Deanna had to patch me up.” Imogen offers a half-smile. “All I got was static. I just had to hope you were out there, somewhere, lookin’ for me, too.” 

Laudna looks as if she might melt into herself, refusing to look at Imogen. Her shoulders shake, and she confesses with a gasp, “She’s back. I brought her back.” 

Imogen’s blood chills, but her tone remains neutral. “Who, Laud?” 

At last, Laudna meets her gaze, eyes wide and wet and horror-struck. “Delilah.”

The name hangs between them like a stone ready to drop and shatter and bury itself into their flesh. Searing rage erupts in Imogen’s veins. 

“I’m sorry,” Laudna shrinks back, “I’m so sorry. To all of you. You all gave so much to–to find me. And–”

“It’s not your fault,” Imogen interjects.

“–and I wasn’t…I was weak. I lost control.” 

“Laudna,” Imogen cuts her off with the steely calm of a thunderstorm on the horizon. She cannot afford to process this now, not when Laudna is trembling in an alley. Not when Laudna, unmoored and terrified, needs her to be an anchor. No, Imogen will save her questions and unfiltered anger, for another time. A time when Laudna is safe and warm and at no risk of coming unraveled in her hands. When Laudna is in a place to know Imogen’s wrath is not, could never be, directed at her.

“Laudna,” Imogen repeats, because she cannot bear the thought of her not understanding, “this is not your fault. None of this.” She does reach out, then, offering a lifeline should Laudna choose to accept it. She does, hesitantly, as if waiting for Imogen to recoil. Her fingers are cool, bird-light against Imogen’s red-scarred palm. Laudna seems to notice at the same time.

“Imogen,” she exclaims, words still tear-tinged and quivering, “your hands. They’re–are you alright?”

“Oh, they–they don’t hurt, usually. Promise. I’m fine.”

“I should have–I’m sorry, I suppose I was–”

“Laudna,” Imogen interrupts again, not unkindly, “please.” 

It’s then that Laudna seems to notice Pâté clawing his way up her skirt. She scoops him up and holds him to her, murmuring apologies into his fur.

“‘S’okay, boss,” he rasps, squished against his maker’s chest, “I can’t hold a grudge.”

They sit like that, hand-in-hand, hand-on-rat, until the easy stroke of Imogen’s thumb against Laudna’s has smoothed out the worst of the jagged edges. Until the tension falls from Laudna’s spine and she relaxes into Imogen’s touch. 

“The others are surely wondering where we’ve gone.”

Imogen shrugs, snorts, “There’re so many people at that table I think they’d hardly notice two missing.”

“Still,” Laudna says, “we ought to get back.”

“Do you want to?” It’s her choice. It always will be if Imogen can help it.

Laudna considers. “I think I’d rather like to hear the end of Chetney’s story from the Savalirwood.”

“Oh gods,” Imogen groans, flushing at the memory, “no, you don’t.” 

“Fearne and Deanna, hm?” 

“Best to let them tell it.”

#the folks who've sent me prompts chose violence #im not mad about it in the least #thank you very much for sending this in! it was really fun #i got way too invested in the pate-imogen-laudna dynamics #he's their son #and also imogen hates him a little bit but she also loves him because he's laudna #and laudna hates him a little bit for the exact same reason #and if she’s a little mean to him she can ignore that part of herself a little longer #imodna #critical role #cr3 #laudna #imogen temult #imodna fanfic #imodna fanfiction #critical role fanfiction #pate de rolo #ask #anon #prompt fill #my fic