#this is not a drill!

[lena-in-a-red-dress]

Alt Assistant Pt 4

There are benefits to Lena not being CEO.

For one, she gets to go home at night. She gets to have a life outside work. She gets to go clubbing.

Which Kara only knows because she's standing at a table during Club Velvet's busiest night of the week, watching her boss bump and grind to the music.

She's not alone either. Kara recognizes Andrea, and for brief moment jealousy sparks low and hot in her belly at the thought they might be together. But when it becomes clear that Andrea is focused on a specific man in particular, Kara accepts that they're just here as friends, just like her and Nia.

Lena, for her part, keeps up a steady rotation of dance partners, men and women alike, all outrageously gorgeous and enviably coordinated. Even from her position off the dance floor, Kara can see the sweat clinging to Lena's neck, and feels the phantom feather touch of Lena's swinging ponytail against her skin.

"Holy SHIT," Nia shouts over the music, still barely audible to Kara, let alone others. "Is that Lena?"

Nia has her memories of the previous reality, and Kara knows she's having difficulty reconciling the cozy Lena she knows with the sultry and enigmatic woman currently leaning back against a stranger's chest as her hips move under his hands.

Kara's mouth goes dry. She wants that. She wants to be that man, wants her hands on Lena's hips, her lips brushing Lena's ear.

"Well??" Nia continues, giving Kara a nudge. "Aren't you going to say hi?"

She thinks about it. She *really* thinks about it. About sliding through the throng to grasp Lena's hand and pull her flush against her front, guiding their hips into a tandem rhythm. About burying her hand in Lena's hair and pulling her in to--

Kara shakes her head. "No."

"What? Why not?"

"She's my boss!"

And if her boss knew that Kara was there, ogling her, there'd be hell to pay. She can hear it now-- don't.

At least Nia drops the issue, seemingly accepting that things are different in this reality, as evidenced by the woman continuing to dance along with the beat of the thumping music. Kara manages to go the entire night without bumping into Lena, even if her gaze returns to the dance floor again and again.

It's only until she goes to close out their tab that Kara knows she's in trouble.

"Your tab's already been paid," the bartender informs her.

The message is clear: Lena knows.

Shit.

Kara stuffs a couple bills into the tip jar and makes her escape, anxiety gnawing at her gut. The next day, Lena makes no mention of having seen her, and seems none the worse for wear after her long night. They work in easy rhythm, as Kara keeps to herself and executes her role perfectly.

Right up until Kara enters Lena's office to let her know she's heading out, and finds Lena gazing out the window. The lights in the office are low, and in the glass reflection Kara sees Lena's eyes shift to her, before languidly turning to face her.

"You liked what you saw," Lena says. Not accusation, but simple fact.

"Yes," Kara returns truthfully. She steps closer, emboldened when Lena doesn't protest.

The corner of Lena's mouth lifts. "I'm surprised you'd admit that, after the little diatribe you levied at me your first month here."

"Like I said," Kara reminds her, moving closer still, "I was an idiot."

The way Lena gazes at her sends a shiver up Kara's spine. Green eyes challenge her silently, as though waiting to see just how far she'll go. A small yet confident smile shapes Kara's lips in spite of herself, calming the butterflies in her belly.

She closes what remains of the distance between them, rewarded with a hitch of Lena's breath as Kara crosses the invisible line into her personal space. They're far too close to be professional now, their locked gazes promising exactly where they're headed.

Finally, Kara places one hand on Lena's waist, and lifts the other to brush the backs of her fingers lightly across Lena's smooth, soft cheek. She lets it come to a rest cupping the side of Lena's face, their noses nearly touching.

"Tell me to leave, and I will," Kara offers, giving Lena an out she prays won't be taken.

Lena's hands are already pulling her closer as her response drifts from her lips.

"Don't."

#supercorp #alt assistant au #its HAPPENING #all crew to stations! #this is not a drill!

[hewwo-kitty]

ATTENTION JELLYCAT ENTHUSIASTS

Amusable Ramen, I repeat, Amusable Ramen!!!!

#this is not a drill! #plush #jellycat #ramen #Ramen noodles #food plush #bowl noodles #jellycats #new release #summer 2023 #stuffed animals #kidcore #plushies #sfw kidcore #sfw toddlercore #toddlercore

[obsessivedino]

I am EXCITED!!

#Redacted Huxley #Redacted Damien #mint Draws #ahhhhhhhhhhhhh #it's really happening #this is NOT a drill! #holy fuccck! #redacted audio

[ass-deep-in-demons]

What is your biggest must-have in Dragon Age 4?

Are you there for the gameplay, the plot, the romances, or just to see what beloved characters are up to?

Thank you so much for asking!!!! <3 Such a good question, too!

My hopes for DA4:

- MINRATHOUS! Tevinter Nights really hyped me up for this :) I want to feel, live and breathe this city! I hope to see magic permeating everyday lives of the people, and I'm kinda hoping to see some cutthroat northern politics in play. If given the choice, I'll create a tevene protagonist and immerse in the culture.

- I definitely want updates on the lives of our previous protagonists and companions! The more cameos the merrier. I wanted to list my "most want to see again" here, but, really, ALL OF THEM <3 Basically please, please, Bioware, make DA4 a nostalgia fest.

- Truly curious about how Thedas' fate will play out! Fen'Harel might make it or break it :O I want to be able to solve the mysteries of the blight, ancient elves and the titans... so many loose ends!

- I'm only mildly hyped for the new characters and I try not to set my expectations for companions too high... For example, I can't really explain why, but most Companions from ME Andromeda felt kind of underwhelming and lackluster... On the other hand, both Tevinter Nights and DA Absolution are FULL of great blorbos, so maybe there's hope yet. I would especially love to see Lucanis and Illario Dellamorte, they seemed so cool!

Curious, what are all yall's hopes and wishes? :D

#first ask on this blog! #everyobody stay calm! #this is not a drill! #dragon age #dragon age 4 #bioware #minrathous #dragon age dreadwolf #da dreadwolf #da 4 #ass deep in asks #ass deep in demons

[enrapture]

I just took a video of me shaking my ass and I THINK I UNLOCKED TWERKING FOR THE FIRST TIME ALSO MY FIRST TIME EVER ATTEMPTING TO SHAKE MY ASS LIKE ME EVER SHAKING IT OMFG !!!!!!! 🤧😭😤

YALL!!!!

#achievement unlocked I look good as fuck reverse cowgirl #achievement unlocked #this is not a drill! #AND I ACTUALLY LIKE THE VIDEO? HILY FUCK #as much as I self hate and criticize #THIS ACTUALLY LOOKS GOOD?!? wtf

[darkwood-sleddog]

snow on the ground snow on the ground snow on the ground

#this is not a drill! #it's just hard little balls that will be gone by like 10am but i'm happy #if not mildly annoyed at the irony that we didn't have this weather yesterday????

[theaudacitytowrite]

AHHHH!!!! TOM AND ZAWE EXPECT A BABY!!!!!

#this is not a drill! #he's finally going to be a dad 🥺🥰 #I'm so happy for them 😭💚 #tom hiddleston #zawe ashton

[anonymous-dentist]

Quackity and foolish are recording lore tonight

#this is not a drill!

[in-arlathan]

The Rebel's Ascension, Ch. 29

[Read on AO3] ∙ [Start on AO3]

Pairing: Solas x Female Elvhen OC Characters: Young Solas/Fen’Harel, The Evanuris (Mythal, Elgar’nan, Andruil, Dirthamen, Falon’Din, Ghilan’nain, Sylaise, June), The Forgotten Ones (Geldauran, Anaris, Daern’thal), Supporting OCs Rating: Explicit Tags: Angst, Drama, Intrigue, and lots of Elven Lore Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence, Implied/Referenced Torture, Explicit Sexual Content Word count: ~5,500 (~178,000 total) Status: Work In Progress

→ Full list of tags and warnings on AO3 → NSFW chapters will be marked with *

Chapter warning: Depicitions of injuries and trauma/PTSD.

––––

Chapter 29: The Gift of Freedom

-3,700 Ancient

“You have to let go,” Abelas said.

Felani rolled her eyes. How many times had he said those words to her in the last few days? Ten, twenty? Maybe a hundred. It certainly felt like it. And she was growing tired of his ramblings rather quickly.

“And how exactly am I supposed to do that?” she asked and tossed her hands into the air. “I’m already trying my best. It’s what I’ve always done. What more do you want from me?” 

Abelas gave her a flat stare. Felani wondered if that man ever carried another expression. Sure, he was Sorrow incarnate, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t slap a smile on every once in a while. All spirit-born elvhen developed traits that made them more than they had been before they had bound themselves to their body. It had been the only way for the People to grow and prosper until the Forgotten Ones had unlocked the secret of procreation. 

But Abelas remained adamant. With his white skin, his face might have been cut from marble. The gold of his iris seemed cold despite the flecks of sunlight catching in it.

“Your body is healing,” he agreed in a tone that blurred the lines between caring and condescending. His eyes flicked to the linen dressings that covered most of Felani’s body. “But the high keeper has done more to you than just threaten your physical form. Clearly, your mind has been left scarred as well. Someone with less stamina than you might have been destroyed by the torture Las’halani has submitted you to. That you are here, alive and breathing, is an achievement in its own right but it isn’t enough for you to fully recover.”

“So far, so good,” Felani said dryly. “And? I’m sure you’re not going to end this on a complimentary note.”

“For some reason, you cling to the pain of the past. You wallow in it as if you didn’t know what to do with yourself without it.”

» Keep reading on AO3

#new chapter yay! #finally! #this is not a drill! #rebel's ascension #dragon age #dragon age inquisition #dragon age fanfiction #fanfiction #solas #fen'harel #solas x female oc #solas x elvhen oc #evanuris #mythal #elvhenan #arlathan #my work

[chaoskirin]

Bestiary News

Hi! 

I know all of you are waiting for news on how writing is going, and it’s going great! I got a very developmentally-oriented beta reader who has really helped me restructure Shadecursed to make the pacing much more exciting. 

I’m sure it’s frustrating for y’all to see a book in development for 4 years, but the beta reader that’s been helping me with this draft has been extremely reassuring, and says that as time goes on, I will get a better feel for pacing and HOPEFULLY the second and third books will happen a lot more quickly. 

But I promise, at this point there’s light at the end of the tunnel. The time it’s taken to get this far has been great for the book, and I’m excited to be able to finally share it with you all in early 2023. I don’t have an exact publication date yet, but I at least have a range of time when I know I’ll be able to get it published. 

To that end, I’ll be sharing the PROLOGUE and the NEW FIRST CHAPTER one week from today, on Friday, September 9th! 

Leading up to Friday, I’ll be posting a new Shadecursed sketch every day next week, Sunday through Thursday, with the new chapter being posted Friday at MIDNIGHT EDT!

ARE YOU HYPED? ARE YOU READY?!

#the bestiary #fantasy #modern fantasy #monster #myth #mythology #sci-fi #mythological creature #ck's art #ck's original art #ck writes #Please reblog this! #THIS IS WHERE THE MARKETING STARTS PEOPLE #this is not a drill!

[trans-ruffboi]

baby!

#this is not a drill! #the good lady miss eloise

[respectthepetty]

SPOILERS FOR EPISODE 10

VEGASPETE BEGINS!

#kinnporsche #kinnporsche the series #vegaspete #THIS IS NOT A DRILL!

[girl-next-door-writes]

Guess who has spent the day working on the final part of Greater Forces?

ME!! That's right folks, you are going to get an actual ending to this series in the very near future. Will Mycroft get the girl or will he screw it up? I guess we will all find out together!

#Mycroft Holmes #this is not a drill! #I have actually written stuff!

[starsandauras]

Prompt 9: Yawn

FFXIV 30 Day Writing Challenge Prompt 9: Yawn

Connor groaned and stretched out on a crate, going far enough to hang his head off the edge, upside down. “I’m so bored!”

After a moment G’raha Tia leaned into view, blinking red and green eyes down at him. “I’m afraid archeology can be a lot of hurry up and wait,” he admits, breathing a laugh as Connor groans again. “Is it less boring when the blood is rushing to your head?”

“At least it’s different!” Connor threw his hands up… or down, as the case was, since his fingertips brushed the ground. G’raha did in fact laugh at that, ears wiggling.

“I suppose it is. Though your face is about the match your hair.”

Connor sighed and moved to sit up a couple of times before gaining enough momentum to sit up properly, turning to sit next to G’raha. The teen slouched before running his fingers through his hair, making it an even worse mess than it had been. “What do you do, then? When everything’s swiving boring?”

G’raha shrugged. “Read, mostly.” He glanced up and down Connor, raising an eyebrow. “But you don’t strike me much as a reader.”

Connor’s reading skills were… mostly passable. But he wasn’t about to admit that to the miqo’te. Not with that archon mark on his neck. “Can’t be any less dull than what’s happening now,” he said with a shrug. “Nothing too technical.”

“Of course, my friend. I do have non-academic texts, after all.” The two hopped off the crate and walked towards G’raha’s tent, Connor’s hands in his pockets as G’raha gestured as he spoke, tail swishing behind him.

#FFXIVWrite2022 #FFXIVWrite #Warrior of Light: Connor O'Donnell #G'raha Tia #Crystal Tower era #Two Connor fics this year! #Connor is actually talking to me again! #This is not a drill!

[bepractical]

Kin: Season 1, Episode 7, Part 2

I’m finally back with part 2 of the episode 7 recap for the first season of Kin. In part 1: Eric got bad news from his lawyer while Amanda recruited her own; Eamon sicced Con and Mini Michael on every Kinsella ally in a bid to root out his drugs; Michael got a dressing down from Anna’s social worker; Birdy urged Frank to get himself together and (unintentionally) scared the pants off Nikki; and Michael was so supportive of Amanda she instigated a smooch, which Jimmy immediately interrupted with news about their bad dad. 

See the masterlist here.

Blah blah blah, these recaps have spoilers THE SEASON IS ALMOST OVER. THE END IS NIGH.

Who's ready for a hug?

We pick up where we left off, with Michael fleeing after Jimmy asks permission to visit their dad. In part 1 of this recap, I assumed Jimmy was being a good brother, because Jimmy is a giant mushball and very transparent. However, after Michael makes his awkward exit, Jimmy sits down immediately for a heart to heart with Amanda. It’s almost like he wanted to clear Michael out of there. Very curious. Then the scene ends with Michael looking like this:

Whether that’s regret he just made out of his brother’s wife, general upset at the mention of his abusive dad or something else, I do not know. 

Jimmy takes a seat and starts to pour himself a drink, while Amanda looks as ready to flee as Michael. Jimmy talks her into sticking around for one drink. 

Jimmy: I don’t take you for granted, you know. In case that’s what you think.

Ummmmm, you don’t get to decide that, Jimmy. Also, really? You absolutely do. Amanda looks dubious. But Jimmy’s trying to make a point here, that he loves and appreciates Amanda, even though he’s terrible at showing it. Amanda’s sincerely touched. I am suspicious of the timing of this declaration but I also love Jimmy-the-softy.

At the jail in protective custody, Eric gets heckled by the other prisoners about how quickly he’ll be killed once he’s sent to prison and released to the general population. I slightly question whether this is really happening or if he’s imagining these voices. It’s good either way.

At the compound the next morning, Amanda wakes Jimmy to ask how much money they have on hand. She’s off to bribe Noel-the-dead-car-guy’s wife, Jenny. That’s certainly a plan. She goes to the school where Jenny does janitorial work and offers her money for her testimony.

I’m not wild about this plan but I do like how Amanda sells it. Help or don’t help, get some cash for your kids or not. Amanda’s done apologizing for the things she’s done to protect her family. 

Back at the jail, Nikki shows up to see Eric. Seems she took that talk with Birdy to heart and has decided she’s not thrilled about spending her youth waiting on Eric to get out of jail. 

She goes to the meeting room where Eric is waiting and pleased as punch to see her, a stark contrast to her chilly demeanor. She gives him a quick update- the tanning salon was raided, Frank’s sad about Dotser, Amanda’s probably screwed, and Frank is going to talk to Bren on Eric’s behalf. Then she gets to the root of the matter: Eric’s fuck up could put him away for 10 years. He assures her he’ll be fine- no trouble thinking of himself- but Nikki wants him to think about her for once. What the hell is she supposed to do while he’s in jail for ten years? What would he do, if it was her going inside? He tries to appease her but they both know the answer to that. Nikki leaves and Eric makes one of those sweet, vulnerable faces that inspire me to give him more and more chances he probably doesn’t deserve.

At Anthony’s school, Con Doyle shows up and threatens him. He tells Anthony to tell Amanda that Eamon wants his drugs or he’ll burn Anthony alive. Not cool, Con.

Back at the dealership, Jenny is throwing her dead husband under the bus. For 500K she’s willing to tell Amanda’s new lawyer that Noel was the mastermind behind the money laundering and Amanda knew nothing of it. The lawyer calls BS immediately and points out how illegal lying about all this is, but Amanda promises her Jenny will be better prepared by the time the police get involved. They’re still meeting when Amanda’s phone rings; it’s Anthony freaking out about Con’s visit. Amanda tells him to find a teacher and stay with them until she can come to get him.

Elsewhere in Dublin, Frank and Jimmy arrive at the prison to chat with Bren. 

Meanwhile at the compound, Anna swings by to see Michael. This is likely her first visit to this house since her mother was murdered there, which is pretty intense. They stand around drinking juice together awkwardly before Michael tells Anna about the visit from the social worker and the court order. That means little to Anna. She wants to see her dad, she doesn’t care about all his family’s bullshit.

Michael just wants to keep her safe, but maybe then he shouldn’t have come back into her life in the first place. She storms off. Michael looks upset but resigned.

At the prison, Frank and Jimmy wait for Bren. Frank looks like a kid waiting outside the principal’s office.

It’s similar to how he looked when Eamon was driving him to get the blood money from Caolan Moore.

Bren’s bummed Birdy’s not there, that he got stuck with these two idiots instead. He immediately starts insulting Frank’s terrible leadership skills. Jimmy tries to explain the circumstances surrounding killing Caolan Moore but Bren is not interested. He regrets not leaving Birdy in charge. Frank tries to defend himself but that only pisses Bren off more. Bren makes it clear that if anyone had gone against his word when he was in charge he would have killed them, family or not. I believe it. Then he points out Frank’s real problem- he’s never gotten his hands dirty (“not like Michael”) and everyone knows it. 

Bren calls Frank a windy cunt who looks like a hairdresser. As my mom would say, oh, he’s mean. He gets in Frank’s face and Frank full-body flinches away. Jimmy looks like this the whole time. Oh, poor Jimmy. 

Bren won't help Eric. He’s not interested in messing up his parole for that idiot. Before he leaves, he tells Jimmy to bring Michael next time. Hmmmm.

Birdy waits in Eamon’s hotel’s parking garage. He sees her, grabs his driver’s gun and jumps out of the car and into Birdy’s space. They are both incredibly intense. Birdy is 100 times more intimidating than Frank’s ever been. She taunts Eamon while he points a gun at her face.

Looks like they’re past the point of negotiating. He tells her all the Kinsellas are fair game now and storms off. 

On her way home from Michael’s, Anna is grabbed by three men, including Mini Michael. RE: MM, I know he’s just doing his job (kidnapping, attempted assassination) but they’re gonna need to kill him eventually. The three guys try to force Anna into the trunk of a car. It’s frightening. Some dude stops his car and yells at them to leave her alone.

Good on him. Anna escapes and runs back toward Michael’s. 

At the compound, Michael notices Birdy’s arrived home. He checks to see how things went and sees the bruise on her face from Eamon’s gun. So, not well. He’s pretty pissed.

They’re still talking things over when Anna comes running. She tells them about the attempted abduction and Michael pulls her into a hug, the first instigated by him the entire series, I think. My heart grows ten sizes, though it would have been nice to see without a kidnapping attempt preceding it.

He promises to sort things out and we know what that means. Someone’s gotta die.

Amanda races to Anthony’s school, like a gangster just threatened to burn him alive. Poor Anthony. He tells Amanda about Con’s threat and Amanda grabs him like a life preserver. Their scene closes on her making this face and, yeah, somebody’s dying.

At the prison, Jimmy and Frank are making their way to their car. Some guy looks at Frank and Frank freaks out and starts beating him with his motorcycle helmet. It’s pretty vicious. Bren did such a thorough job demeaning and belittling him, Frank has to get his feeling of control back somehow. Jimmy is horrified by this little display of frustrated compensatory impotence and pulls him away. FYI, Frank’s a dick.

This slow watch for the recaps has not been kind to Frank. He’s such a useless bully. I’m looking for a touch more nuance from him and his sexuality. This is a hypermasculine environment where even Michael, who’s considered a threat by everyone and genuinely doesn’t seem to give a shit, feels the need to hide his weaknesses. Frank’s sexuality is referenced often, all the references are derogatory. It’s connected to his personal deficits (many of which ride the line of gay stereotypes) AND Eric’s. I can’t decide how I feel about it. I don’t really feel bad for him anymore, though. 

Back at the Garda station, Eric gets cuffed up for his transfer to the prison. Don’t feel bad for him either.

At the compound, Michael waits outside for Amanda to get home with Anthony. Once Anthony’s shuffled off into the house, they compare stories of their children’s recent trauma. They’re obviously both ready to plan a murder. Their scene is cut with one of Eamon walking into his lap pool, which gave me major Caesar vibes for some reason (watch Rome, Ciarán Hinds is amazing). 

The episode ends with Amanda insisting it’s time to end things. How? “Chop the head off the snake.” Finally! Episode 8 starts here!

#kin amc #michael kinsella #jimmy kinsella #frank kinsella #amanda kinsella #anna areoye #birdy goggins #eric kinsella #eamon cunningham #bren kinsella #this is not a drill!

[sevensided]

want to jump on the adats love boat and say that i have read it fairly recently and was absolutely crushed when i saw there was no sequel (before stumbling on your tumblr). eitherways it's definitely THE best byler fic ive ever read and it means so so much to me. seriously can't wait for what's coming!

Thank you! Wow, that is incredibly high praise! Well, you won't be waiting long, as the sequel might be, just maybe... finished.

#answered #THIS IS NOT A DRILL!