#the arcana fanfic

[moon-upright]

Rare Smiles - Julian Devorak

(the one in which Esme gushes talks about her lover's smile...)

(esme is something of a writer so why doesn't SHE answer this prompt, huh? why should i do it)

♡

Julian's Smile: A Thought by Esme Noble

Julian's smile isn't rare, if by “rare” you mean “infrequent.” On the contrary, he smiles all the time, and for a variety of reasons, I find.

He smiles sometimes when he's nervous, sometimes when he's sad, or to make people comfortable, or to keep a secret (his version of a poker face is a relaxed smile as opposed to stoicism)… Just off of the top of my head. That doesn't even mention how he smiles when he's happy, and how even within that one emotion he's got different shapes of smiles — his raffish grin, a teasing smirk, a small smile of awe, a smile of endearment, a beam of pure joy.

It's like a reflex to him; if you catch him unawares, he's likely to smile in surprise at whatever you did or said. (Especially if he's falling asleep. If he's barely awake and you speak to him, half the time the corners of his lips curl up and his eyebrows raise before he's even processed what you said. It's the funniest thing. The cutest.)

His smile is rare in the sense that something about it is so unique to him. It's Julian's Smile. That's why it looked so odd to see him grin while in disguise as Asra. It just didn't fit who Asra is.

It's everything that Julian is. It's sharp, it's dramatic, it's flirtatious.

If you went into a bar and asked around about him (“What's the first thing you think of when you hear Julian Devorak? ”), you would hear a variety of answers, from “You mean the tall one?” or “The one with the hair?” to a heartily laughed/sneered “That bastard!” And certainly included in this list is “The one with the smile?” Or some variation of it. I mean it, I've heard it myself. He is the one with the smile so bright that it burns itself into your mind.

I suppose even I am not immune to a pretty smile — when we first met (the actual first time, before the Plague), it was what I initially noticed about him. Some people have that ability to smile naturally in such a way where all you want is to see them smile again. I imagine that I'm not alone in this feeling either, where Julian Devorak bursts into your life, all grins, and it makes your heart soar into some Ether realm full of fire and light and color. To smile like that, and change someone's life forever, to change me from someone who was not particularly inclined toward anything, and tilt my world on its axis, is magic.

Though I figure it wasn't only the smile that did all of that. It would be meaningless if not for the person behind it. Julian Devorak and his magic.

#art writes #finally #should i put this on ao3 for the hell #vesuvia weekly #julian devorak #apprentice esme #the arcana #the arcana fanfic #the arcana fan apprentice

[bomber-grl]

Muriel dating headcanons♡

Pairing(s): Muriel x Gn!reader (no pronouns used)

Honestly such a sweetheart

It’s given that he’s very awkward and doesn’t know how to initiate or show he wants affection

However, he is the sweetest man ever

He’s always doing stuff for you, going out of his way and always just wanting to protect you

Regardless of your height, he’s afraid of physically hurting you, he’s very gentle and most times he just allows you to go to him instead of the other way around

By the way, him being awkward and not knowing how to initiate physical affection does not mean he doesn’t want to hold you/be held by you

Oftentimes you’ll find him trying to initiate physical contact

However, with time, he becomes more open and affectionate

Instances like when he was comfortable to be comfortable enough to walk around the market together

He tried to hold your hand and although he hesitated in the beginning he gradually started being more affectionate

So we all know how confident he starts getting in the upright ending right?

Well he becomes super cuddly

He’s always hugging you and wanting to be held by you, always reaching out for your hand and just wanting to be with you at all times

A relationship with muriel would also include spending the majority of your time in the forest and with him in his hut with inana

Not that you mind

It’s always a new adventure with the two of them

And ofc you and Muriel are bound to get into disagreements however they’re short lasted as the two of you really don’t like being on bad terms

I’d honestly rate him as a 10/10

He’s always treating you well and he just really loves you.

Honestly, besides doing things needed for your survival he goes out of his way to make you/give you things

When the two of you were spending your day in the forest, doing whatever it was Muriel need to do, he surprised you from behind and he handed you a small but sweet bouquet he made on his way back to the hut.

Now continuing from how I previously stated that he does things for you, well it just levels up way more during winter time.

He’s always getting firewood, always tucking you in bed, and just anything really

However, once you tell him to stop and lie down with you he does

I know I already mentioned how confident and how he grew as a character in his upright ending

But, despite the fact, he’s still the big easily flustered man you knew

Especially when you tease in public

He always tells you to stop as he covers his strawberry tinted face

But that just spurs you on even more

He’s honestly just a cutie and I think we all already know that

#gn!reader #female reader #male reader #muriel #muriel x reader #muriel x mc #muriel x apprentice #the arcana x reader #the arcana #the arcana muriel #the arcana x mc #the arcana x male reader #the arcana fandom #the arcana fanfic #the arcana game #fanfic #fluff #gn reader #relationship headcanons #the arcana headcanons

[iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia]

Vesuvia Weekly: Things the M6 don't do anymore

~ my little creative drabble for the prompt "How Things Changed" (pre- vs post- plague) over on @vesuviaweekly! Hope you guys like this little hurt/comfort/fluffy train of thought :3 ~

Julian doesn't shout in his sleep anymore. He still gets nightmares, still tosses and turns and mumbles and wakes up with a start in a cold sweat - but his troubled murmurs don't turn into the terrified cries that they used to. He's still working on eating better and sleeping longer and it's taking time. But from the moment you first lay down next to him for the night, some part of his brain understood that the warm, safe weight of you meant he didn't need to scream to be heard anymore - or helped.

Asra rarely makes tea anymore. They still love to drink it - multiple times a day, if they can - but now you're the one who makes it. He never got over his childhood wariness of tea kettles in general after the mishap that involved his magic appearing. While you were recovering, it was one of many duties they happily shouldered to take care of you. Now that you're equal partners again, it's one of the many small ways he's begun letting you take care of him in turn. Besides, yours tastes better.

Nadia doesn't run away to her tower anymore. She still visits it frequently, to think, or nap, or clear her head, or give her introverted nature a break from the constant social pressures of being Countess. But she doesn't run away to it, to sit in the circular chamber and pretend (or hope) that the rest of the world had simply ... ceased to exist. She doesn't like the thought of losing a world that has you in it. Now, her visits range from serene to tumultuous, but they all carry hope and purpose within them.

Muriel doesn't forget to tend the fire anymore. It used to be an easy thing to go without. After Asra moved out, after his tormentor went up in flames, it was easy to watch the light in his hearth slowly dwindle and die. It was peaceful to sit in the dark quiet of a stone hut and slip into another long, deep, chilly sleep. But now you're here. And you deserve to be warm. You're worthy of a space filled with golden light and soft furs and beautiful tapestries and good food and warmth. And maybe ... he is too.

Portia has stopped hiding in the library. Don't get her wrong, she still sneaks into it all the time. (Seriously, what else was she going to do when she was handed one of the only two sets of keys???) The library was her space, with stories only she had read, where the skills she grew for herself hid among the bookshelves. Her achievements are much, much bigger now. They look back at her in your eyes, in Pepi's little voice, in a flourishing Vesuvia. She doesn't hide in the library anymore. She emerges from it.

Lucio refuses to eat breakfast by himself, ever again. As a soldier, it was a hurried affair around campfires - nothing like the fun of raucous dinners the night before - and as a Count, it was brought to him in his chambers. He'd sit and eat the pile of sugary goods and eye the mess of last night's debauchery and try not to feel cold and small and alone. After three years of hell, he's not alone anymore. Breakfast is campfire food, or inn amenities, and missing most of the sugar he loves - but it's portioned for two.

#vesuvia weekly #how things changed #the arcana #ask arcana brainrot #the arcana game #the arcana fanfic #the arcana headcanons #the arcana hc #asra the arcana #julian the arcana #nadia the arcana #muriel the arcana #portia the arcana #lucio the arcana #asra alnazar #julian devorak #nadia satrinava #muriel of the kokhuri #portia devorak #lucio morgasson

[l0vem41l]

heart for brains.

「 tws + notes: no tws, unedited, hurt/comfort-esque but not really, fluff (?) sensitive reader who loooves being tough, a few pet names are used (darling, lovely—) but sparingly because i can never take things seriously 」

「 gn!reader, can be platonic or romantic </3 」

↳ ft. asra alnazar, julian devorak, lucio morgasson, muriel of the kokhuri, nadia satrinava, portia devorak

author's note: less of the “One Bad Thing happened and it fucking destroyed me” type of sensitive even though that’s so real and valid and more of the "big emotions are slowly killing me always" type. sorry if they're slightly ooc! i'm playing the game again,,,, eventually :> need to get their dialogue right AWIOFJWRIHFW (┬┬﹏┬┬) more lighthearted in lucio’s part (cant stand this bitch!!!!! /affectionate), and unfortunately nadia’s and portia’s are criminally short (；′⌒`)........ i love them i just haven’t played their routes also also!!!! used some borders from @cafekitsune in this!! lmk if it makes things easier to read cuz i might keep it! (☆-ｖ-)

" life's hard when you're soft. "

▸ ASRA has grown the most familiar with your routine. you’re not quite fragile, as he’s come to discover— just that you tend to swallow your emotions down with a smile, only for them to rise back up at the slightest inconvenience. in a few moments— as predicted— the tears stinging in your eyes finally begin slipping.

he gently cups your face, even as you attempt to hide away and avert your gaze, drying your cheeks with his fingers. you swear to him, through mumbles and sobs that you’re trying to toughen up— you’re really trying— while insisting there’s no reason for you to be upset about your little predicament while you choke back the sob rising in your throat. they know you too well for those feeble attempts to convince them.

“shhh… it’s alright. it’s alright.” asra’s voice is understanding. patient. they wouldn’t care if you were crying over the smallest matter in the universe right now. all their focus is on calming you down.

while asra believes and insists that your capacity for strong emotions is a blessing and not a curse like you tend to think, he does wish that your tenderness would not be so abused by the world around you. at the end of the day, he reminds you that you’ve got his love— that he’ll always be there to wipe your tears away— but will always secretly wonder to himself about why you continue to be so recklessly kind.

even so, you’re never to blame for your big heart in their eyes. and slowly, everything they do to make the world a better place is in hope that one day, the world will be sweeter to you.

▸ JULIAN does quietly and internally freak out when he first sees you cry— not because he doesn’t know what to do, but rather because he hadn’t expected seeing you, out of all people, like this. you— the person who always seemed to find something to be happy about instead of dwelling on your misery. you— who frequently brushed off inconveniences and upsetting circumstances with little to no thought. you— who always bounced back, always saw it through.

oh, but he could never be upset with you for crying. not at all.

he knows he can’t just leave you sobbing your eyes out. so, with the sensibility that he has, he gently guides you to a quiet place for you and allows you to lean against him. he’ll attempt to talk you through it, even if you don’t feel like speaking, hoping that the one-sided conversation of his ramblings will at least distract you, if not soothe you.

your head to his chest, he takes one of your hands in his, while the other gently grips your hip. tells you how brave and strong you are— even if you don’t seem particularly inclined to believe him at the moment, shooting a small glare at him through watery eyes as he says these things.

“i wasn’t patronizing you,” he says, eyebrows raising slightly as your shoulders tense, “i mean it.”

you take a deep breath, gauging the sincerity of his words, before finally relaxing.

“‘m sorry… it’s stupid— i know it is. you shouldn’t have to do this.” you sniffle.

for a moment, julian only shakes his head in response, his thumb caressing the top of your hand as he squeezes it. “but darling, i want to.”

while he’s not as attuned with your emotions as asra, julian is good at getting you to calm down. will definitely do a few breathing exercises with you to help you ground yourself, in between his affirmations and reassurances.

▸ is it really all that surprising that LUCIO is completely clueless? in his eyes, everything was going completely fine for you two seconds ago— or so it seemed. here he was, just coming by to check on you, only to watch you crumple into yourself, hiding your face in your hands as you muttered a half-hearted “go away.”

he’s too stubborn to listen to that. besides, even he knows he’d be a massive asshole if he just left you like this. instead, lucio sits right next to you, shoulder pressed up to yours, and asks about what happened. perhaps pester is a better word.

while not intentionally rude, he’s slightly dismissive of the situation at first, wondering why in the world something so trivial would matter so much to you. it takes a second, but lucio backpedals on this immediately when he realizes you're not calming down, you're getting worse. your breathing grows quicker and more tears spill— you don’t even reply to him. oopsies. silent comfort it is.

he’s not completely useless. instead of using words, he’ll put an arm around your shoulder, pulling you into his side, allowing you to cry it out for as long as you need. part of you wants to question when he gained the capacity to shut up— but you don’t feel the need to be particularly snarky at the moment. he’s trying his best to be sweet to you.

will be more attentive for the days after, assuring you that you needn’t give into the urge to “toughen up” when he’s around.

“stay soft, i can fight.” he grins, giving you a wink that makes you roll your eyes at him almost instinctively.

still, the tiny laugh that escapes your lips ends up betraying any sort of exasperation you meant to convey as you playfully hit his bicep as you tell him to quit. was his tone light hearted? yes. was he kidding? of course not. 

▸ there’s a moment where your lip quivers and your eyes water up that makes MURIEL feel like he’s looking into a reflection of himself somehow. his heart sinks completely at the sight of you breaking down, as he searches for the right thing to say.

he’s flooded with relief when you make an attempt to speak first, even if it’s just you stumbling over your words to lie directly to his face.

you take in a shaky breath, awkwardly shrinking yourself away by crossing your arms. “it’s fine, it doesn’t matter—”

“it matters to me.” he replies softly.

muriel is much better at listening than he is at speaking in these situations, so he allows you to vent all you need as you cry. you feel these emotions so deeply, so strongly— he wonders how you managed for so long concealing these feelings.

“yeah… i get it.” he murmurs, nodding when you rant. to his horror, the tone comes out much more blunt than intended— almost sarcastic— but you know that he understands the minute you look into his eyes. he’s nothing but honest.

after a moment of silence, he asks what you need. you don’t verbalize, instead opting for awkwardly gesture with open arms, half expecting him to hesitate at your request. instead, much to your surprise and his he simply brings you close and sets you on his lap. holding you in his arms like he’s afraid you might break if he tightens the embrace any further, muriel hugs you like you’re the most precious thing in the universe.

leans more on acts of service as a form of comfort as well. will bring you water, blankets— will even brave the market to buy you your favorite snack. anything for you.

▸ NADIA’s first attempt is to deal with it logically. initially, she asks you a lot of questions, asks what she can do better— but ceases the minute you struggle to respond, only shaking your head while the words incoherently fall from your lips between sobs.

she sighs, realizing her short-comings. now isn’t the time for problem solving. you need comfort. “forgive me, lovely. i didn’t mean to upset you further.”

LUCIO TAKE FUCKING NOTES.

her embrace is loving. it almost feels like she’s trying to shield you from the world and it’s harshness towards you. nadia plants a kiss to your temple before allowing you to rest your head on her shoulder. as you stay in her arms, she rubs your back, promising that everything will be alright.

she’ll make sure of it too. will 100% throw a sharp glare at anyone who accidentally intrudes on this moment.

▸ it’s almost instinctual, the way PORTIA responds. you haven’t said a thing, yet she notes the way your hands begin trembling, eyes brimming with tears. she immediately gets protective, asking which idiot made you feel so upset with full intention to beat their ass if she ever crossed paths with them— but questions no further when you don’t reply.

physically affectionate as ever, with your permission, portia kisses your tears away, pressing her lips to your face sweetly as she cradles it in her hands.

will not baby you for being sensitive, but will grow more defensive of you. of course she knows you can handle yourself like you keep on reminding, but you’ve been doing it for so long. too long. shows you that she’s right there to support you no matter what, always on your side.

" you've got our love "

— reblogs always appreciated!

#the arcana #the arcana game #the arcana headcanons #the arcana fanfic #asra the arcana #julian the arcana #lucio the arcana #muriel the arcana #nadia the arcana #portia the arcana #asra alnazar #julian devorak #asra alnazar x reader #count lucio #lucio morgasson #portia devorak #nadia satrinava #asra alnazar x mc #julian devorak x reader #julian devorak x mc #count lucio x reader #count lucio x mc #lucio morgasson x reader #lucion morgasson x mc #muriel of the kokhuri #muriel of the kokhuri x reader #muriel of the kokhuri x mc #muriel x reader #muriel x mc #portia devorak x reader

[bahrtofane]

Domestic asra 

—-

 In the early mornings before the shop is opened, before the day's prep work has begun, before the day has begun really, Asra has made it into a habit of dancing with you as he hums under his breath.

It started out as a silly thing, to get the both of you less puffy eyed and aware of your surroundings one day. A spur of the moment kinda thing if you will. But now it's become a staple of your mornings together. 

He always hums something new, swaying you side to side while you stifle yawns and rub the sleep from your eyes. Some mornings you doze off in the crook in his neck. He pretends not to notice, gently rubbing your back and letting you have your precious moments of shut eye before the day must begin.

Other days it's Asra that ends up asleep, drooling on your shoulder while you stifle your laughter, faust peeking out from her nook. Sleepy ! And you nod in agreement. Very sleepy.

He promises to take you dancing properly, whispering into the base of your neck while you shoo him away from how ticklish it makes you. In the sunset while your favorite music plays he only confirms.

So your little morning routine turns into a proper outing. Isn't he cute?

#writing #bahr blurbs #asra the magician #the arcana fanfic #asra the arcana #the arcana #asra x apprentice #asra x mc #asra x reader #asra alnazar

[to-the-stars8]

A Conversation with Your Ghost

Asra x Reader AO3

Summary: Asra wakes up to you, and it breaks his heart.

When Asra opened his eyes, he saw you looking down at him, smiling. It had been so long since he had seen you, so he let his eyes drink their fill of your beauty. Like the first time he had met you, Asra could feel his heartbeat quicken as he followed your bright eyes. Even amongst precious silks and furs, there wasn’t enough coin in the world that could buy him the same comfort as your touch did. Leaning over him, you traced his body delicately, fingers feeling like you were tracing him with the petals of a flower. Gods, there weren’t words to describe just how in love with you he still was. 

“Is something wrong, my love,” You said. Your voice was soft, barely above a whisper. “I sense that you’re stressed.”

Asra sucked in a breath as your voice rang in his ears. He turned his head away, trying to ignore the ache in his chest, eyes staring into the flames of the fireplace across the room. After a moment, he looked back at you. “I am fine. You do not need to worry about me.”

You ‘tsked’, a sound Asra knew you made when not satisfied. “I believe we both know that is a lie. Now, if you tell me,” You paused, pressing a ghost of a kiss on his bare shoulder. “There will be a reward.”

He chuckled, hands turning into fists as he remembered your rewards and how it would get him to spill every secret he had. For once, Asra did not fall for it. “I promise you, it is no lie. I am most okay when you are here.”

He looked into your eyes and saw them soften at the affection he gave. There was nothing he would not do for you. You laid your hand against Asra’s chest, and he swore he could feel the warmth through his body. 

“You need a break, I can tell you have been working too hard,” You said cheerfully. Still, your voice was soft. “Maybe, we could take a trip to that one place you took me for my birthday…Theー Damn it all, I forget the name of it. The one where the stars shined the brightest.”

Asra could not recall the name of the place either but remembered the night well. The stars never seemed so bright than when he looked into your eyes. Gods, he thought, what were those damned stars worth if they could not be seen through your eyes? 

“Yes,” He said. “We should. Tomorrow, perhaps?”

You grinned. “Yes! We will go in the morning. I have some things to finish up here in the meantime.” Looking down at him again, you patted his chest. “For now, get some sleep, my love. I can see the exhaustion in your eyes.”

Asra did as you said, sparing his heart from the sight of you. It was for a moment before he yearned to see you again, but, just like that, he was alone. The room was dark, no fire had ever been lit and it was deathly quiet. Sitting up, Asra sobbed into his hands as he cursed himself for letting you go. He could not bear this quietness, nor the conversations with your ghost. 

#asra fluff #asra #asra x mc #asra x reader #asra alnazar #julian devorak #the arcana fanfic #nadia the arcana #lucio the arcana #the arcana apprentice #the arcana #romance #asra the magician #asra the arcana #muriel the arcana #portia the arcana #portia devorak #julian the arcana

[angelltheninth]

Quick to Assume

Pairing: Julian Devorak x Fem!Reader

Tags: nsfw, smut, praise kink, dirty talk, gentle sex, cock riding, topping from the bottom, clit stimulation, smug Julian Devorak

Word count: 0.9k

Ao3

Kinktober Day 1: Praise kink

A/N: Here's the fist fic for kinktober! This was a lot of fun Julian is smug and a little shady but look at him! He can be as smug and shady as he wants.

"Don't be shy beautiful, hop right on." Julian winks, which looks a little funny with his eyepatch, but with the rest of him being naked, and with his cock being fully erect while he slowly stroked it, you couldn't find much about the sight to be unattractive.

"Are you sure? I though you'd want to, well, be the one on top you know?" Not that the thought of getting on top of him didn't appeal to you, but he was so eager to get your clothes off even while you were still at the tavern so you expected him to pounce on you the moment the two of you were naked. "I've heard a lot about you and no one's ever told me they topped the great Julian Devorak."

Julian grinned in that smug, sexy way that made your head swoon even across the tavern floor. "People have been on top of me before. But I assure you I'm always the one in control."

You quirked a brow at him as you crawled on top of him, lightly smacking his hand away from his cock and replacing it with your own. His cock pulsed and throbbed hotly in your hand, the tip leaking cum as you swiped the pad of your thumb over it, using his cum to get him ready for you.

"You've done enough of that already. I just want to feel what it's like to be inside you. What do you say? Don't you want to feel my cock now? Or do you need more of my mouth?" A rush of heat flowed through you, settling between your legs. He already has his fill of you in a back alley, and while you could go for more you were craving his dick more.

If he' giving himself to you so completely who you sure as hell weren't going to say no to him now. With a smirk you rose up to your knees, passing the cock of his head through your folds a few times, spreading your slick juices over him. Julian hummed in delight, his hands smoothing over your thighs as you angled your self against him and took in the tip.

You wanted to go slow, you thought he wanted you to go slow, but as soon as the tip was in Julian's smirk turned a little wicked, there was a shine in his eye as his fingers curled and squeezed your thighs and he pulled you down onto his length with force.

"F-Fuck!" Almost topping over you braced yourself on his shoulders at the last minute, Julian's laugh low and tickling the shell of your ear, "You tricky, god damn son of a-!" Your complaint died on your lips, replaced by a deep moan and the delicious push of Julian's dick nestling deep in your cunt.

"Yes? What was that sweet cheeks? Need me to stop?" He rolled his hips up and down into yours, "Doesn't seem like it to me. Not with you gripping my cock so desperately."

Honestly you should have predicted something like this from he. There was no way that Julian was gonna give up on any opportunity to make someone squirm. But again, this wasn't a bad thing, not when you could feel every throbbing inch of him slowly being thrust in and out of your hole repeatedly.

"Don't stop." You groaned as you lifted yourself up, your hands firm on his abs, legs bent at the knees so he had a very clear, uncovered view of his cock sliding in and out of you. He took a deep breath, his hands keeping your from moving.

"You look amazing like this. You were pretty before but holy shit. Seeing my cock getting sucked into that pretty little hole, having it squeeze around me every time I pull out makes you even more beautiful." It didn't feel like empty praise either, not with the way he looked at you.

Julian had a way with words, you knew that very well. He was good in bed, that much you were currently leaning. But he also seemed to value honesty, at least in this moment, you could tell his words of praise, the way he looked at you like you were the most beautiful sight in the world, mesmerized by you, he wasn't faking any of it.

Your thighs trembled under his hands . "Touch yourself, come for me."

Your fingers flew to your clit, rolling it under your fingers, moans falling from your lips.

"That's it. That's a good girl. You're making such wonderful sounds when you're getting fucked. I look forward to hearing them all night long."

"All nigh-!" Your orgasm hit out of nowhere as Julian pressed his thumb over your clit, keeping pressure on it while he fucked his cum into you, a small frown on his face as he growled and cursed. "Can we really go all night?" You breathed against his collarbone as you collapsed against him, your body shaking with every little twitch of Julian's hips.

"For you I can." Julian smiled and kissed your forehead, "As long as you keep sounding like that I can."

You hummed in thought. You expected just one round, foreplay sure, but he was really serious about wanting to keep going all night. To your delight and surprise he was being completely honest with you once again.

#the arcana #the arcana x reader #julian devorak #julian devorak x reader #julian x reader #julian devorak x apprentice #the arcana smut #the arcana fanfic #julian devorak smut #julian devorak fanfic #kinktober

[vesuviaweekly]

Vesuvia Weekly: Event details, Submission guidelines, and Masterlists

EVENT DETAILS:

This is a sideblog from my main, @iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia, dedicated to hosting creative events for the Arcana visual novel! (Note: none of these events are competitions. They're simply opportunities to create together and appreciate each other's work!)

Every Wednesday, an Arcana-themed prompt will be posted on this blog with the tag #vesuvia weekly and a tag for the specific prompt. For the next two weeks, any creative work falling under the guidelines and tagged accordingly will be reblogged here and on my main account and added to the prompt's masterlist (see submission guidelines for details)!

On the same post, there will be a poll for the next week's prompt! You are more than welcome to send prompt ideas to the ask box (see submission guidelines for details)!

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

PG-13, please! If you've made something spicier and would still like to share it, please tag a PG-13 preview to be reblogged here :)

All creativity is welcome! Here are a few examples of what would count: incorrect quotes, digital and traditional art, WIPs, oneshots, headcanons, sprite edits, scripts, character sheets/analysis, etc

To take part: post your creativity themed for an active prompt and tag it with #vesuvia weekly and the prompt's specific tag. Your post will be reblogged here and on my main account, and linked to the masterlist under that prompt

Please do not pass someone else's work as your own! In that spirit, since this is a space intended to boost and celebrate creativity, hate of any kind will not be welcome

TL;DR if it's your own creativity, PG-13, and tagged appropriately, it's perfect :)

FOR PROMPT IDEAS, please keep it PG-13 and open-ended enough to be engaging to multiple creative formats ^.^

MASTERLISTS: new masterlist for each Wednesday prompt post, for ease of browsing/archival organization Red: Retired Prompts Green: Active Prompts

Jan 10th: Your MC/Their LI's dynamic

Jan 17th: How Things Went Wrong (feat. the Arcana familiars)

Jan 24th: Borrowing Clothes

Jan 31st: Cooking Class

Feb 7th: The Impulsive Thoughts Won

Feb 21: MC explaining our world to the M6

Feb 28: How to Hold Your Loved One

March 6: "That's not how that's supposed to work"

March 20th: "Where Did You Learn to do That?"

March 27th: The First Post-Crisis Date

April 3rd: Nightmares & Daydreams

April 10th: Things That Changed

April 17th: Rare Smiles

April 24th: Inside Jokes

#the arcana #vesuvia weekly #the arcana game #the arcana fanart #the arcana fanfic

[chaotic-kitty]

The Arcana: Muriel NSFW Alphabet

Warnings: Explicit content. Minors DNI

Hey hey. Ummm…..I uploaded this a while ago but the post was glitching and so I took it down. I forgot to put it back up, so here we are. Gonna try this again. Enjoy! 😭💖

A = Aftercare (What they’re like after sex)

Muriel can be relatively quiet afterwards. He makes sure you’re both cleaned up and taken care of. Also checks in on you to see how you’re feeling. Will happily just lay there cuddling with you, either in silence or talking quietly with you. There are times when he is more talkative and playful afterwards.

B = Body part (Their favourite body part of theirs and also their partner’s)

Muriel doesn’t like his body. Doesn’t like his hands, his arms, legs, anything. All he can see is the bloodshed his body caused in the past. He sees a body that he thought his parents couldn’t feed. He doesn’t like the scars that cover his body, as they are a recollection of stories he’d rather forget. He doesn’t see how one could necessarily like their body, or a specific part of it. But once you come into his life, he gains an appreciation for different parts of his body that he never had before. He appreciates his hands for being able to hold your hand or stroke your hair. He appreciates his arms for being able to hold you. He appreciates his chest and abdomen because of all the times you’ve snuggled up there. He appreciates other parts for being able to bring you pleasure. He just appreciates himself after you. 

As for his favourite body part on you, how could he ever pick just one thing? He loves and adores everything, every part of you. From your eyes to your lips, to your chest and your legs. He loves everything.

C = Cum (Anything to do with cum basically… I’m a disgusting person)

When Muriel cums, boy does cum! No matter how long between sessions, he still has a lot of it. Doesn’t mind the taste of it, in fact, he likes the taste. Cum in general also doesn’t bother him.

D = Dirty Secret (Pretty self-explanatory, a dirty secret of theirs)

Muriel doesn’t really have dirty secrets. Perhaps the dirtiest secret he has is, he actually feels sexual urges and desires much more than he would like to admit or more than anyone would guess. He tries to suppress it or ignore it, but every so often he’ll give in. Once he ends up in a relationship, he’s able to feel and experience those feeling on a much deeper level.

E = Experience (How experienced are they? Do they know what they’re doing?)

Muriel doesn’t have any experience with sex or relationships in general. Muriel has never had the desire to be intimate or with anyone because of how he views himself and his relationships. It’s not because he didn’t feel attraction or desire, he just didn’t let himself feel those things. And he viewed himself as not worthy of love in any of its forms, and also couldn’t comprehend how anyone would ever want him. So, you are the only experience he has.

F = Favourite Position (This goes without saying. Will probably include a visual)

Muriel’s favourite position in the beginning is Cowgirl, and other positions where his partner can be on top. This makes him feel better, knowing that you are, for the most part, in control. And he’s less worried about crushing you or hurting you. 

Once he’s gotten more confident, he likes wall sex and fucking you on countertops, etc. 

G = Goofy (Are they more serious in the moment, or are they humorous, etc)

Muriel will likely be more serious and focused on the task at hand, but, he will also have times when he is goofy, humorous, and smug! The latter becoming more frequent as he becomes comfortable with sex and learns more about his partner and what they’re like in bed. 

H = Hair (How well groomed are they, does the carpet match the drapes, etc.)

The carpets match the drapes. Muriel doesn’t groom himself down there, at all. He washes himself (obviously) but keeps everything untouched or untamed.

I = Intimacy (How are they during the moment, romantic aspect…) 

He can be tentative at first, but, he’s always gentle and caring. Often checks in with you. Besides being hesitant at first, he can get very into it. Not so great with the romance, but does try to be romantic! Especially on special occasions.

J = Jack Off (Masturbation headcanon)

Has tried it on multiple occasions. But he very very very rarely does it. He can give into the urge when he has it but resists as much as possible. He views it as another kind of pleasure he’s not worthy of.

K = Kink (One or more of their kinks)

Breeding kink?

Size kink

Praise Kink

L = Location (Favourite places to do the deed)

His favourite location is anywhere as long as it’s with you.😏 Though, he prefers in the comfort of home…..and a bed. It makes him feel safe and less anxious.

He likes to know that you’re not being heard or people aren’t going to walk in. 

M = Motivation (What turns them on, gets them going)

You.

Muriel gets turned on by you, mainly. It can be quite easy to turn him on. Anything from teasing him, to him just watching you do some you love. Anytime he sees you gushing over something, or being confident doing something, he just thinks about how he loves you and just spirals from there until he’s needy for you. 

He also just gets spontaneous bursts of horniness.

N = NO (Something they wouldn’t do, turn-offs)

Chocking, slapping, spanking, etc. Any form of physical “harm” is off the table, even if it’s for pleasure. He doesn’t like hurting you or thinking he’s hurting you. 

O = Oral (Preference in giving or receiving, skill, etc)

Loves oral. Like, LOVES IT. Well, giving it at least. He relishes in being able to bring his lover that kind of pleasure. And adores your reactions. As for skill, he’s surprisingly mind-blowing at it. 

Ever heard of the expression, “[eating] like a man starved”? That’s Muriel when it comes to giving oral.

As for receiving it, once he’s experienced it, he enjoys it! More than he would care to admit. It is something that he doesn’t ask for, though, and is shy about it when he’s offered.

P = Pace (Are they fasts and rough? Slow and sensual? Etc.)

Muriel’s pace is usually slowish as he’s scared of accidentally hurting you. But, his pace depends on what kind of mood it is and what you’re enjoying. If you’re making love~ or heavy in a romantic moment, he’s likely to be all round more sensual, pace included. If you’ve both reached a point where you’re absolutely desperate for one another, his pace is likely to be hard and rough as he chases his own high as well as bringing you to your high. Whatever the mood, his pace will match.

Q = Quickie (Their opinions on quickies rather than proper sex, how often, etc.)

Doesn’t like the idea of them that much, especially in public. Anytime that you do it, which is rarely, it almost always leads to you two fully going at it.

R = Risk (Are they game to experiment, do they take risks, etc.)

In the first year or so, he’s not up for taking too many risks or trying too many things. He’s willing to experiment with different positions or techniques in that time, but not up for anything more than that. Eventually, though, he’ll try expanding his horizons, so-to-speak. But, he will still have things that fall outside his boundaries that he will not likely try. 

S = Stamina (How many rounds can they go for, how long do they last…)

It really depends. On average, he can last a round or two back-to-back. If he has enough alcohol in his system, he may be able to go for more. Sessions can last up to an hour or more, especially as he spends a lot of time with foreplay and making sure you’re satisfied.

T = Toy (Do they own toys? Do they use them? On a partner or themselves?)

Muriel doesn’t own toys. He would also be very hesitant to have them used on him, and even more hesitant using them on you. Might warm up to the idea once you’ve both become more experienced and comfortable with one another.

U = Unfair (how much they like to tease)

When he’s comfortable enough? A whole damn lot. Everything from teasing you and getting you riled up even before anything happens, all the while acting nonchalant about it. He’ll tease you by kissing you everywhere but where you want him, and will keep this up until you’re begging him to please you. 

V = Volume (How loud they are, what sounds they make)

He grunts. It can be pretty loud, but he tries to not make any noise. Once he gets more comfortable, he won’t hold back as much. He sometimes moans if you get him really riled up, and you’re teasing his most sensitive areas. When he does moan, it is a beautiful and unrestrained sound. Will probably blush very hard if he hears himself moan.😂

W = Wild Card (Get a random headcanon for the character of your choice)

While there is no place like home, as long as you’re away from people, Muriel will happily engage in sexual activities with you in the woods (forest areas). 

X = X-Ray (Let’s see what’s going on in those pants, picture or words)

He’s big. Like BIG. In length, but more so in girth. His size doesn’t change that much when he’s erect. Because of his size~ it is not very likely that you’ll be able to take all of him, even if you try different positions. 

Y = Yearning (How high is their sex drive?)

Not that high, not that low. Pretty average. Unless, you’re deliberately trying to turn him on using the methods that get him going. If that’s the case, his sex drive can be high.

Z = ZZZ (… how quickly they fall asleep afterwards) 

He falls asleep only after you do. This can be a matter of seconds if he’s fought through his tiredness. He just likes to know that you’re definitely safe and okay. And he’s usually the first one up.

#the arcana #the arcana game #the arcana muriel #the arcana hc #the arcana headcanons #the arcana Muriel Headcanons #the arcana fic #the arcana smut #the arcana scenarios #the arcana apprentice #the arcana Muriel smut #the arcana fanfic #the arcana fanart #the arcana fandom #the arcana mc #the arcana asra

[angeledeggs]

might be obvious but the Machosism Tango and Valdemar are just ajdkmakaksjrjwkanenr YESSSS!!

also, if i may humbly request Valdemar with a mc who keeps trying to woo them in increasingly more disturbing ways? Like literally bringing them corpses and stuff. I think it would be funny.

BEHSHSHSHD you're speaking my language I cannot tell you the amount of times I have listened to that song and done little Valdemar animatics in my head (the autism is kicking in! It's spreading!!) And yes yes okay I think that would be very cute!!

Valdemar peeks over at their desk. Parchment? Parchment. That is not the parchment they use to wrap their experiments. So, that begs the question, what could it be? It could certainly be something that Doctor 069 could have left by accident. Or it could be something very dangerous. With no hesitance, Valdemar reaches out, unwraps the parchment. Oh. There are bones in there. Bones? Valdemar loves bones. They can feel their tense shoulders perk up, the sharpness of their face soften just slightly around the edges of their eyes. They know who this is from, certainly.

Valdemar carefully wraps the bones back up and places it next to some jars of previous experiments. The demon feels a softness in their shoulders, their eyes, even in the relatively human organs that stir in their chest. How strange. But they don't question it. After all, they have many experiments to perform. And they have some new bones to analyze, as well. The thought of it makes Valdemar's fingers twitch repeatedly with excitement.

Valdemar finds another wrapped item a few days later. Oh? Valdemar rushes over to the parchment, practically rips it open on account of the overeager twitching of their fingers. How delightful. Whatever is wrapped in the parchment is bloody and smells of death. Just as they like it. Delight presses into Valdemar's brittle bones, rushes into their fingertips in the form of excited fluttering. Surely, they will have to thank the apprentice that they know gifts them such thoughtful, sweet things.

While Valdemar is not quite the most socially adept person, they know of the basics of not only friendship, but also courting. And they are an expert in that of etiquette and manners-- if that was not already clear from the way they carried themselves (in their opinion, they carried themselves quite perfectly). So in thanks, Valdemar wraps a gift of their own. Their own parchment is made to wrap up experiments, so it doesn't crack and rip as they tie it together with twine. As they creep from the dungeons to the apprentices room, they open the door without knocking. Perfect. Nobody. They close the door behind them like they belong in the room (they do), and place the parchment onto the apprentices bed.

Ugh.

The sheets are not ironed.

They'll make sure to correct that ever so annoying detail, once they become more acquainted with the delightful apprentice. But they hear footsteps, so they hurriedly rush out of the wind, out of the room, lest they want to appear creepier than they are. But they know they'll be back. And not just to iron the sheets. When they glance into the apprentices window and hear the excited gasp when their gift of an ivory, gold laced skull is unwrapped, they know they'll be back.

They want to become more adept at social situations, after all. Especially if it involves that apprentice.

❀

#the arcana fanfic #the arcana game #the arcana #the arcana apprentice #reqs open #requests are welcome #valdemar the arcana #quaestor valdemar #valdemar #valdemar x mc #tw blo0d #tw bones

[iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia]

Brainrot Drabbles: Needy!M6

~ happy valentine's day :) ~

Needy!Julian who finally, finally has someone in his life who is able and willing to fill that gaping hole in his chest that needs to be loved. Asking you for the comfort of a hug, a kiss, a cuddle, a scrap of your attention, and surprised when you're more than happy to give it to him. Looking at you with wide open eyes filled with awe and asking in a hushed voice if he could have just a little bit more. A closer hug. A second kiss. Five more minutes of cuddles or conversation, simply because you're happy to give them to him and he needs that from you so desperately. Needy!Julian who can't stop himself from brokenly whispering "again, please -" between each gentle kiss you press to his face.

Needy!Asra who is terrified of needing anything at all, avoiding their desire to feel their love finally requited by teasing and flirting their way through the day. Halting with fear when he feels your bond with him resonating and sees the look on your face when you approach him. Freezing when you wrap your arms around them, their own expression working with all the intensity of finally being able to call you their home. Slowly exhaling as his head falls to your shoulder and he holds you close, close enough to lose himself in your heartbeat, close enough for all the walls between you to vanish. Needy!Asra who prolongs every intimate moment they have with you, finally learning the sweet fulfillment of receiving love after years of giving.

Needy!Nadia who finds it easier to hide her need underneath her boldness, pulling you into her lap as though to reassure you when it's really to feel the weight of you on her thighs. Suggesting you take a break, you look tired, when her heart is yearning for your grounding presence and the calm sound of your sleepy breathing. Struggling to hold up her cool facade when her need for you becomes too great, and she enters the rare state of mind when she wants to be held and cared for, for once. Needing first the outlet to pour all of her hidden, ferocious love onto you, and then the reassurance of lying cherished in your arms. Needy!Nadia who wants to bare herself to you, flaws and all, and feel you match her intensity.

Needy!Muriel who's so used to going without that he's forgotten how to ask for what he craves. From warmth, to shelter, to food, to safety, to connection - these are all things that you've heralded back into his life, and his slow acceptance of them does not keep up with his human need for them. Uneasy at the sudden bone-deep hunger for the next quiet moment he can share with you, the next tidbit of information he can learn about you, the next warm smile he can receive from you, the next safe touch that sweetly weakens him to you. Needy!Muriel whose sunrise happens when your eyes open, slowly sitting next to you with a heartbeat so strong you can see it, only meeting your eyes for a brief second of want.

Needy!Portia who keeps subconsciously expecting to be brushed off, being touchy and clingy and fussing over you only to stare at you wide eyed when you return the love. Expecting you to find something more interesting to look at any second, speaking a mile a minute while she still has your attention and faltering when you're still listening. Feeling the sweetest, heaviest ache in her chest when you don't break eye contact or change the conversation subject because where has this been all her life? Slowly crushing you closer in a disbelieving bear hug, telling herself over and over that she can take her time with you, you're staying with her. Needy!Portia who can't go more than five seconds without touching you, because you're there.

Needy!Lucio who never hesitates to take what he needs, and is surprised when you manage to meet them so easily. Snatching you around the waist when he's seized with unease, and then being caught off guard by just how quickly a simple hug from you makes him feel safe. Pulling you behind a tree to make out when he's starting to feel cold and alone and forgotten again, and stunned into silence when your first gentle peck is enough to warm him to his fingertips. Demanding that you pay attention to him for his next impressive trick, before realizing you were already watching him do nothing but walk. Needy!Lucio, tangling himself into your space only to watch you in wonder as he experiences satisfaction.

#the arcana #the arcana game #the arcana headcanons #the arcana hc #the arcana fanfic #asra the arcana #julian the arcana #nadia the arcana #muriel the arcana #portia the arcana #lucio the arcana #asra alnazar #julian devorak #nadia satrinava #muriel of the kokhuri #portia devorak #lucio morgasson #ask arcana brainrot

[taduki]

Nadia’s Mehndi

A fluffy little drabble of my apprentice doing Nadia’s henna. I wanted it to come off naturally, but I’m not in the mood to edit it right now 😭😭, so I’ll just hope and pray it comes off nicely and there are no errors. 💕🙏

The Countess spared no expense treating her lover with the loveliest of delicacies as gifts. Alas, her lover was a simple woman who distinctly cherished the one thing money could not buy — her time.

Nadia was a symbol of grace and resilience. She often reminded Taduki of gorgeous sculptures of women, the epitome of beauty. Though she found that, regardless of what she looked like, she would love her all the same, which is why she wanted to decorate her with a special treatment.

She presented her love with a modest, cone-shaped tube of Henna in the palace gardens.

“Oh, my! I haven’t seen this for quite some time.” Nadia smiled. She sighed and rubbed her temple, “My sisters used to draw on themselves for hours. It was at its worst when they insisted on collaborating on my body… But I do have fonder memories of this, my dear.”

Taduki cut off the end of the tube with a pocket knife and placed the tip of the henna on her love’s arm. She hummed and asked, “Would you tell me?”

Nadia watched her fluffed up curly mess of hair move around while she worked. She let out a giggle and said, “Sure.” She had it done during her wedding with Count Lucio. Yes, it was customary in Prakra, but she also saw it as a testament to the first step in her new life.

She stopped herself. “Darling?”

“Mhm?”

“Where did you learn to do Mehndi? During your travels?”

“Yeah”, Taduki replied. “We did performances and stuff, but not everyone was looking for a show. It actually started because I saw this super bored kid and I offered to draw something on him. It spiraled into a service after that.” She laughed.

Nadia planted a sneaky kiss on her forehead. Taduki looked up and grinned, then asked suddenly, “Say, Nadi? Why do you call it Mehndi?”

Nadia subconsciously played with her lover’s coily black hair in thought. After a moment, she raised an eyebrow. “Is that not what it’s called?”

“I call it henna”, Taduki returned to her work. “I’ve heard people call it Mehndi before, but I have no idea why! It’s just so different.” She squinted.

Nadia sat back on the edge of the fountain, careful not to move her arm. She looked at the sky in thought and inquired, “Henna comes from the henna plant” — she stopped herself. “Wait, no. It’s the other way around! Henna is the plant itself.”

“Yeah, and then Mehndi is the brown stuff.”

“Oh, goodness. Well, when you put it like that—.” Nadia hid a disgraceful snort behind her hand.

Taduki shoved her and laughed. “Do you remember—.” She interrupted herself with a cackle and a wheeze. Nadia gently held her arm, a big grin still stretched over her face, and laughed, “Stop that! You’ll hurt yourself!” Taduki held her stomach and hiccuped. She wearily fanned herself and continued, “The dinner at Vlastomil’s…”

Nadia let out a raucous laugh and clasped her hands together. “Yes! Yes, I do!” She nodded.

“Ewww!”, Taduki recalled herself saying out loud. She wheezed and rolled onto the grass, still shaking with laughter. Nadia followed her and fanned herself off before holding her. She waited for her lover to calm down and catch her breath, but by the time she did, she must have been half-conscious. She took a deep breath in and out. “Never let me tell a joke ever again, please”, she groaned.

Nadia smiled and pat her stomach. She hummed, “I’d miss you.”

Taduki wearily looked into her eyes and hummed back, “Me too.”

Nadia’s shoulders shook and she mouthed, “What?”, before shaking her head and leaving it be. She sighed dreamily and stared into her eyes.

The grass made for a soft cushion and their eyes were starting to droop. Their bed was neatly made in the palace, but they drifted further and further into their sleep, for it did not matter where they were or that one’s mehndi was smeared. They were safe, and they were together.

#vesuvia weekly #where did you learn that #the arcana game #nadia satrinava #the arcana hc #the arcana a mystic romance #the arcana fanfic #henna #mehndi #the arcana nadia #nadia the arcana #fluff #the arcana fluff #the arcana mc #nadia x mc #nadia x apprentice #countess nadia #no beta we die like men

[bahrtofane]

Asra is more than meets the eye. He is more calculating then his slow gaze leads on, more attentive then his love for naps may make you believe. 

More so with you. He's always picking apart your gaze and mannerisms and smiles and laughs. He's committed to committing you to his memory, lest he be forced to part with you again. 

He refuses to let any time with you be taken for granted. He will drink every second, drown himself in who you are, who you wish to be, who you have been. He wants nothing more than your being to be forever burned against him. He has given you half his heart has he not? He would give the rest to you, within a mere breath, his last would be given to you. He would breath his last to give you life. 

He’s snapped out of his daze when you laugh again, something Portia has said to make your giggles ring out. He smiles.

For now, he has you, fully and completely. But he doesn’t think he will ever shake the fear of loss no matter how real you are before him. Not now, not ever again. He mustn't make the same mistakes. He can not bear losing you once more.

#writing #bahr blurbs #the arcana #the arcana fanfic #asra x reader #asra x mc #asra alnazar #asra the arcana #asra x apprentice #asra the magician #the arcana game

[doctordevoraks]

Salt in the Wound

Julian Devorak & Asra Alnazar except they hate each other (lying). Hurt, kind of comfort.

Content warning: unhealthy relationship, drinking, smoking mention.

Word count: 2.8k

"He could feel their hands in his, warm, kneading circles into his palms with their thumbs, the squeeze of their hands pressed together. It sent pulses through his veins, through the marrow of his bones; his entire body surges cold."

Wispy gray clouds filled the sky in swirls, cold rain drizzling and forming small puddles along the street. Julian found himself walking alone through the streets of Vesuvia, with no real sense of direction or any idea of where he was going. Wind howled around him, his wet hair stuck to his forehead as his trenchcoat whipped behind him, water droplets trickling off of the smooth leather and hitting the ground every time he took a step. The smell of ozone cut through his senses, leaving him with the taste of water in his mouth. Cold and clammy, he turned down the familiar, long street leading to the Rowdy Raven. He found himself in this cycle all too often, craving the feeling of warmth and running to an artificial source of comfort. Alcohol would leave him burning from the inside out, cradled in his throat like a comforting embrace; paired with nicotine swirling through his lungs, nothing could feel warmer. More than craved; he needed. He felt empty; he wiped the water off his face and pushed his hair behind his ears.

His head pounded. He needed more than just alcohol and nicotine; he needed somebody—someone whose name he couldn’t bring himself to even think about. Their name didn’t deserve a place in his head, especially not when he was dragging himself to the pub.

Julian knew he was pathetic. He felt pathetic. Peering into empty shop windows, he looked at his reflection, and he looked pathetic. Deep auburn curls lay wet on his face; water dripped down his roman nose and rested on his upper lip. Underneath his shiny leather gloves, his fingertips began to lose feeling.

Julian wandered the streets, tripping over himself and slipping on the puddles accumulating under his feet. He had been drinking already, but he needed something stronger—he could still form cohesive thoughts, and oh, how he hated thinking. There was only one thing—one person—on his mind, and he couldn’t wait for them to disappear. He hated this; he hated this cycle, he hated them, he hated what they did to him.

Unsure of how much time had passed or how long he’d been walking, Julian found himself at the door of the Rowdy Raven. Door carved of dark chestnut wood stood in front of him, his hand met the golden handle like a familiar handshake. The smell of alcohol and smoke immediately overtook him; lively chatter and the gentle strumming of the lute filled his ears.

Julian quickly found himself in the furthest corner of the bar, but not before ordering a salty bitters, with an entire bottle of rum on the side. Sitting alone, he ignored anyone who attempted to make conversation.

He got to drinking. It’s all he could do. Drink the day away, drink the night away—a continuous cycle of all-consuming bitterness.

Getting them off of his mind was all he had come to care about. He thought about getting them out of his head so much that it was counterproductive; they filled his mind like a raging flood, the image of their violet eyes pierced through him like daggers. Their face, paired with the feeling of burning liquid in his throat, felt angry; it was burning him alive. Their anger, their bitterness, manifested in his mouth and found its way to his cheeks. Flushed raw, his cheeks the color of cherries, Julian's head spun until he saw stars, until his thoughts mellowed into swirled liquid matter, until saliva built in the back of his esophagus. Filled with hand-crafted heat, he unbuttoned the top of his shirt and tucked his hair behind his ears. He was sweating, droplets pooling on his brow, his neck, and his chest—the heat and warmth he had longed for now consuming him. His eyes were heavy, so heavy that he couldn’t keep his head upright. His chest cavity may as well have been full of fire, he wouldn’t have noticed a difference.

He ached. Each drop of liquor that touched his tongue made him shiver.

His head weighed the same as a brick. Fingers dug into his skin, covering his eyes; light stung his retinas; he needed to be wrapped in a sheet of darkness. He laid his head in his hands, then on the table, drooling. His eyes shut, not sleeping, but so exhausted.

Behind his eyes, the parting of a deep, heavy curtain: violet surrounded by soft, white eyelashes pierced right through him—Asra's face—distant, clouded, too far to reach. He could make out their outline, the curve of their shoulders, their neck adorned with gold, the milky curls of their hair. Enigmatic. Unreadable. Their expression was blank, their eyes were cold. He could almost smell them, almost taste them—an overripe fruit, the musk of sandalwood. The sounds of their jewelry jingling and clanking rang in his ears, his eyes hazily focused on the way their clothes stuck to the shape of their body. He could feel their hands in his, warm, kneading circles into his palms with their thumbs, the squeeze of their hands pressed together. It sent pulses through his veins, through the marrow of his bones; his entire body surges cold, his stomach clenches in an awful, wrenching way. Saliva swells in his mouth and the back of his throat, sweat musters on his brow, eyepatch so heavy it digs into his skin.

Barely managing to lift his head up, Julian took another swig of liquor. Or two, or five, or seven. Bottles disappeared in front of him, the alcohol swirled in his stomach—warm, burning, an intense heat only comparable to being doused in gasoline and set alight. He felt as if a match had been lit and he had swallowed it whole. His knuckles were white, and he was gripping the bottle he was working on with almost enough force to shatter it. If it were to break and his hands were to be split open, he would’ve enjoyed it.

His heartbeat manifested in his temple, in his cheeks, in his feet. His whole body felt it pounding, his ribcage felt as if it might break from the pressure. His chest ached and his throat burned; the alcohol left a bitter, salty taste in his mouth and a tingling sensation in his nose. His face was flushed; a mix of the liquor and Asra's face perpetuating in his mind. Had he closed his eyes for too long, he felt as if he could’ve disappeared right then and there, slumped over in the corner of the Rowdy Raven, diving deep into his mind, so far it would’ve been nearly impossible to tear him out. His thoughts felt like a prison, for which he had bought his own chain.

He wants to hold them so tightly that he hears their spine cracking, breaking, and falling into him—pull, pull, and pull harder—until they disappeared into each other. Until their ribs pierce through each other, until their hands lock together and never pull away, until their white curls merge with the auburn of his.

-

Tossing, turning, and all too warm, Julian awoke in an environment far from the bar: lavender, sage, and woodsmoke filled the air, an all-encompassing smell so strong that Julian could feel it deep in his lungs. Surrounded by pillows sewn together with various fabrics of mismatched patterns and blankets of the finest silk, he found himself lying in a bed that was far from his own. Bunches of dried herbs and flowers lined the walls. Velvety curtains covered all of the windows and the only source of light were the various candles burning on nearly every surface—some in candlesticks, some in bottles, some dripping wax right onto wood.

He had been here earlier that day. Before the Rowdy Raven—before drinking to the point of unconsciousness This time, though, it was peaceful. There wasn’t any yelling. No throwing of bottles, no shoving, no tears. He could hear the gentle steam of a kettle downstairs.

His head hurt. His body hurt. He wasn’t sure how he found himself back in Asra’s bed when, hours ago, they’d told him they would never let him back in their home under any circumstances.

His blood ran cold when he heard the gentle, even sound of footsteps climbing up the stairs. He sat up fast, blood rushing back to his head, attempting to throw himself out of bed before they could reach him. He didn’t know how he ended up here, but he surely didn’t want Asra to know. Slinging both feet out of bed, he stood, clumsily toppling over himself and falling back onto Asra’s fortress of blankets.

“Ilya, sit down. Get back in bed."

Spoken coldly, Asra stood in the open doorway, of which the door had been replaced with strings of beads. Their skin radiated in the candlelight, a soft, warm brown, the intricacies of their neck and collarbone lit by the gentle glow. In their hands, a mug, seemingly full of liquid.

Julian looked back at them, his eyes glassy and dim, unmoving. He folded his hands in his lap.

“Ah- Asra! I should, I was just- on my way out! I’m terribly sorry, dear, don’t know how I ended up here! Just a mistake, really, I, ah..." Julian trailed off, unsure of how to explain himself, when he wasn’t sure how he got here either.

“Drink this,” Asra responded, shoving the warm mug toward Julian.

“Chamomile. Nature’s greatest hangover remedy."

Julian peered into the tea, so reflective he could see his own pitiful face staring back at him, star anise and cinnamon sticks obscuring his view. Asra watched as he hesitated to consume any before reluctantly drinking half of it in one go.

“Did you… Put a spell on me? Enchant me? Is there something in this that’s going to, ah, I don’t know, curse me?” Julian smirked, attempting to crack a joke.

“No,” they smile—coy and insincere.

“Nothing but tea leaves. I made it for you. You looked awful, you were barely responding to me; and you were drooling all over yourself and begging me to get you another round."

“Oh,” Julian answers, unable to make eye contact with Asra, now sitting with him in bed, uncomfortably close—oh, so close. Julian yearned for them to come closer. He wanted to throw the tea aside and reach right for them.

“Is that.. How I got here..? You? You came looking for me..?”

“Mhm.”

“Ah… Why?”

“Because, Ilya, I knew you were going to get yourself wasted. You were going to drink until you couldn’t feel your face, and, and - and wallow in your self-pity until it ate you up! You were going to get yourself hurt!” Asra raises their voice—the most emotion they’ve cared to show Julian in weeks.

Raw. Asra’s voice hit both of their ears with an awful sound—concern. Something they frequently lacked to show. Their eyes were sharp, and their nails dug into the blankets and created wrinkles in the fabric between the two of them. Violet and grey, two sets of glassy eyes stared through each other.

Asra looked down at him.

Julian wasn’t sure what to say. His chest began to burn. Asra was pitying him; his eyebrows scrunched into anger, and he raised his top lip.

“Oh, really? What, did your little magic cards tell you? ‘Oh, Asra, Ilya is drinking himself to death again! Go get him, Asra! He needs you, Asra!’”

Asra could tell he was deflecting. They could tell Julian was upset; they could tell something was eating him alive, and they could tell they were the cause.

They stood up, looking directly down at Julian. His cloudy blue eyes met theirs.

“Ilya, I can’t love you the way you want me to.”

They raised their voice again, this time even louder. Their breath hitched as they stared down at the auburn man sitting in their bed, staring back at him. He felt like a stranger. The air stood still, freezing.

“And you can’t love me the way I want you to, either. You realize that, don’t you? Don’t you see what we’re doing?"

Julian stared up at them, unsure of what to say or where to put his hands.

The room fell deafeningly quiet, a silence so thick it could be cut with a knife. Asra wanted to grab Julian’s hands and pull him close; he was so close. Though they’d vowed to never let him back anywhere near their shop or their home earlier that day, they knew they didn’t mean it—they never did. The same conversation repeated itself weakly between the two of them: I hate you, get out, spewed so bitterly and so insincerely.

Asra and Julian could never let go of each other, and they both knew it. They were a day drink.

Parts of them would be forever intertwined; they would always carry pieces of each other with them, no matter how far away from each other they ran. To Nopal, to Nevivon, they would always keep each other close.

Asra’s glassed-over eyes met the floor as they sat back down on the bed next to Julian. Rain tapped on the window behind the cushions, branches thrashing and hitting the glass. The sounds of their breathing filled the room—unsteady, unsure.

Breaking the silence, “Stay,” Asra spoke into the open.

Their white curls fell in front of their face as they slumped over, unable to look up and face Julian directly.

“Just tonight. Stay.”

Julian didn’t argue, he didn’t dare open his mouth to speak. He couldn’t take his eyes off of them. The chamomile calmed his headache, but his chest weighed heavy and his breath hitched.

Asra’s voice stung like salt in a wound, adding insult to injury. It made Julian recoil.

The frigid distance between them was unbearable. Julian craved warmth; he was freezing, shivering—his chest felt empty, as if he lacked a heartbeat and steady blood flow.

Asra crawled into bed, to the left of Julian—the two of them sat next to each other, letting minutes pass in silence.

Julian’s pale fingers found themselves wrapped around Asra’s. The touch stung, it burned, it was going to consume him whole—their hands, a rich, golden brown, adorned in rings of metal and jewel, grasped at his like their life depended on it. Digging their nails into the backs of Julian’s hands, Asra pulled him close, throwing the two of them down into the pillowy mattress, wrapping them both in a curtain of silky fabric. They were touching, their hands pressed close, their thighs resting on top of each other, and their legs intertwined. Julian’s face flushed the color of a split open pomegranate; he felt his body catch fire when Asra wrapped their arms around him—the warmth he craved, the warmth he needed, made his head spin in circles. The way Asra held him sent electricity through his being. His hands gently traced them up and down—the crane of their neck, the curve of their hips—up into the spirals of their ivory hair. Julian clung onto their shoulders, full of desperation; Asra cradled him in their arms, holding him as if he was fragile, like ceramic that needed to be wrapped in paper to avoid shattering. Face in the crook of their neck, Julian inhaled deeply—met with the strong spice of cinnamon and amber, enticing. He could eat them whole, and it wouldn’t be close enough.

Running their fingers through strands of chestnut, Asra brushed Julian’s long bangs off of his face; their fingers met the softness of his pale skin. They ran their hands over his cheekbones to the hook of his nose, sending heat waves over Julian’s entire body.

Their expression shifted from unreadable to one of unmistakable bitterness and pity. Julian lay in their arms, so fragile he might burst into pieces, so warm he could combust—a rotten fruit, taking and consuming until nothing was left of either of them, unrelenting.

In the morning, they’d leave him again. In their essence, a note directing Julian to leave before they returned—before the sun had the chance to shine through the curtains, they’d be gone without a trace, and Julian would be left on his own. Julian could take, but they don’t have to give.

Asra and Julian were both so good at running.

The two of them melted into each other, their heartbeats fast and their breathing in sync. Julian lay half on top of Asra, leg thrown over their torso, their arms wrapped around him tight, rubbing his back.

Asra looked down at the red-headed man clinging to him desperately. In control, they loved how Julian would always run back to them—a gravitational force always pulling him back in; their relationship a constant dance, each step leading them back into each other’s embrace.

Asra’s hand rested under Julian’s chin, lifting it up to look at them. His eyes begged for more—glassy, the depth of the ocean. Julian opened his mouth to speak, and Asra already knew what was coming:

“I love you, Asra.”

They didn’t respond.

#the arcana #this is the first writing I’ve ever posted anywhere…. please be kind. #the arcana fanfic #julesposting #asra alnazar #julian devorak #the arcana asra #the arcana julian #ilya devorak #asra x julian #asrian

[sotrick]

Hello everyone, here are some more drawings I didn't post.

If anyone is interesed, I'll be puttind the link to the fanfic of The Arcana that I wrote about Muriel and Kannini here in this post.

The english version.

And the portuguese version

Thak you for the attention.

Bye :)

#the arcana #the arcane game #the arcana fanart #the arcane mc #the arcana apprentice #muriel of the kokhuri #muriel the mountain man #muriel the hermit #muriel the arcana #muriel #asrathearcana #asra the magician #the arcana fanfic #fanfic