#twc prompts | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

delucadarling · 1 month

Note

Hi! From the prompts, 'reaching out with their hand without saying anything, wanting the other one to grab it' for Barbie and Ava? If it works better for a different pairing, that's fine too, of course. I hope you'll have fun writing

(also, I am *thinking* about the ask you sent! It's such a good one)

Oho okay this is actually very very fun for me, because I love playing Barbie as having no goddamn clue she's attracted to women AND men. She doesn't recognize her attraction to women as attraction, she just assumes she wants to be Very Good Friends with women she's interested in.

Meanwhile, Ava gets hit by that love at first sight shit and doesn't know how to deal with the woman she's in love with...being entirely fucking oblivious. It should make things easier. Should :3b

(book 3 spoilers ahoy)

***

The sun is barely peering through the trees as the SUV pulls back in front of the warehouse. Everyone is dead silent, whether lost in thought or just tired from a night of hard work, Barbie can't be sure. She's not sure where she falls on that spectrum either. Morgan's out the door first, dragging Kira along after her.

"Wait!" Kira laughs. Morgan does not, so Kira turns back and says, "Good night, Babs!"

"I think we know who's going to have the best night out of all of us," Farah says wryly. The burst of levity brings a smile to Barbie's face, despite her fatigue.

"I'm just grateful my room is on the opposite end of the hallway to Kira's," Barbie says with a shake of her head. Nate groans, sinking into the passenger seat.

"I share a wall," he says, already defeated. With the sigh of a man facing a firing squad, he unfolds himself from the vehicle to head inside, Farah rabbiting off after him.

Ava has still yet to say a word or so much as move her hands off the steering wheel. For a long moment the only sound is the tick tick tick of the engine cooling down. Her broad shoulders are rigid, tight. Worse than they were during the odd conversation they had before the auction.

"Ava?" Barbie asks. Ava's shoulders inch up. "Are you-"

"I'm fine," Ava interrupts with a bark. She inhales, chest expanding, then lets out a slow breath. "You should get some rest. It has been a very long night."

"Yes," Barbie agrees, sliding across the seat to step out of the SUV. Ava follows suit, falling into step as Barbie picks her way across the path. Kicking off her broken heels had seemed prudent during the auction, but her tender feet are telling her she should have, perhaps, found replacement shoes. Her dress is barely holding together either. Oh well, it's not like Unit Bravo will mind her ragged appearance.

Though, now that she's thinking about that, Ava won't look at her. Barbie doesn't mind a lack of eye contact, but it's very unlike Ava, who seems to find reasons to stare at Barbie every time they're in a room together. She's not being ignored though, that much is clear as Ava stays at Barbie's side when they enter the inviting arms of the warehouse.

Her silent escort doesn't pause when they reach Barbie's room, catching the door and following her in. Barbie can't help a laugh.

"I'm going to take a shower now," Barbie says. Ava blanches. For all her bluster and stoicism, Ava has proven remarkably prudish. It's cute, and Barbie can't help poking at her for it. "You're welcome to join me."

"Excuse me?" Ava sputters. Barbie laughs again.

"No, no, I'm sorry. I meant you could wait in the bathroom while I shower, if you'd like." When Ava doesn't manage another word, Barbie tilts her head. "I assume you wanted to talk? Or chastise me. Either can be done just as well while I clean myself up."

"I suppose that would be the efficient thing," Ava says, sounding impatient. "But no, I would rather...No."

"Alright, then whatever you have to say will have to wait," Barbie says, turning away on the spot, a pang of disappointment hitting her behind the ribs for some reason.

"Wait!" Ava calls. When she turns back, Ava's hand is hovering in midair, half limp, uncertain. Barbie doesn't know why, but she reaches out and takes it, swallowing hard. Ava's hands are wide and strong, but remarkably soft. Almost as much as Barbie's.

For a moment Ava sways on the spot, her piercing green eyes shining with something like agony as she looks at Barbie. It's the same look she'd given her when she begged Barbie not to go to the auction.

"Are you...are you alright?" Barbie asks, barely managing a hoarse whisper as her pulse rushes in her ears. She doesn't love to be touched, with few exceptions, but this isn't disgust or discomfort, no matter how tight the vice around her heart is.

Taking a ragged breath, Ava nods. Then, she does the oddest thing. She lifts Barbie's hand and brushes her lips over the knuckles, split from her adventure in the auctioneer's dungeon.

"Forgive me," Ava says, a bare whisper blowing over her lightly moistened skin. She drops Barbie's hand with care and backs away. "I should go."

"You could stay," Barbie offers, aching for Ava to accept. Ava's jaw, strong and defined, works hard.

Then she leaves, closing the door behind her.

Confusion knits itself with Barbie's brows, her mouth twisting as she tries to figure out what just happened. What's wrong with Ava?

What's wrong with her chest?

A long hot shower soothes the odd palpitations, even if Barbie's mind remains in a whirl.

#darling writing #twc #ask meme #I don't even know if this fulfills the prompt #but I did blackout and this appeared so here ya go!#thanks for the ask!!!!!!!#also sorry not sorry I love Kira so she will be involved with everything always #wayhaven #the wayhaven chronicles #ava du mortain #barbara 'barbie' robertson

9 notes · View notes

wayhavenfrights · 2 years

Text

Wayhaven Frights Prompt List

Day 1: Dawn ---- Day 2: Omen

Day 3: Bitten ---- Day 4: Denial

Day 5: Banshee ---- Day 6: Deception

Day 7: Damned ---- Day 8: Caged

Day 9: Mercy ---- Day 10: Ashes

Day 11: Shattered ---- Day 12: Weeping Willow

Day 13: Sacrificial Lamb ---- Day 14: Venom

Day 15: Chills ---- Day 16: Thrills

Day 17: Destruction ---- Day 18: Beg

Day 19: Alive ---- Day 20: Breathe

Day 21: White Noise ---- Day 22: Disease

Day 23: Buried ---- Day 24: Escape

Day 25: Cowardice ---- Day 26: Entice

Day 27: Creepy Crawlies ---- Day 28: Doppelganger

Day 29: Hex ---- Day 30: Candy

Day 31: Massacre

Bonus Prompts: (these are prompts which can replace any of the above should you wish to skip a prompt)

1) Starlight ---- 2) Revenge ---- 3) Jinx

4) Stranger ---- 5) Havoc---- 6) Stealth

* * * * *

Please don’t forget to check our rules and tag us in all your creations~ @wayhavenfrights or #wayhavenfrights

Have a fabulous, scary October, everyone ~! 🎃

#wayhavenfrights #wayhaven frights prompt list #twc #the wayhaven chronicles #wayhaven chronicles #interactive fiction

147 notes · View notes

mkaugust · 1 year

Text

My scars out there are display

An advertisement of my past and present pain.

I'm told they are not noticeable.

They shrink with each passing day.

Lines fading away.

But I still see it,

Harsh and red,

Every time I glance in a mirror.

It's there.

No one else can see my pain?

Maybe that is why I'm not believed.

Flashing neon lights

Tattooed on my neck

And invisible

To all but me.

---

#my poetry #poetry #escapril #prompt: advertisement #poets on tumblr #writerblrcafe #spilled poetry #original poem #twc poetry #poeticstories #writerscreed #writers and poets #poets corner

33 notes · View notes

queen-scribbles · 4 months

Note

oooh how about 9 and/or 11 for AJ? your choice if she's with Nate or Adam ;3

9. listening to the other's heartbeat [AJ/Nate] (11 is here with Adam) This is somewhere post-book 3 and definitely pushes toward spicy.

---

It was good, in their line of work, to take peaceful moments when you could get them.

And it didn't get much more peaceful than this one, right here. Abigail smiled, half asleep, as she ran her fingers through Nate's hair. Usually when they cuddled she wound up using him as a pillow, but the reverse was equally grand, she had to admit. The comfortable weight of his head on her chest, arms loosely around her waist, breathing deep and steady like he was about to fall asleep...

She gave a small, contented sigh and traced her fingers along the shell of his ear, down his jaw, then resumed running her fingers through his hair. Lazy, repetitive strokes, nails just grazing his scalp.

Nate made a sound almost like her cat used to upon finding a particularly glorious sunbeam. "I don't think I'll be moving all day..." he mumbled, tipping his head to brush kiss against her chest, just above the neckline of her cami.

Abigail bit her lip, toes curling. "Me, neither. Good thing we have it off, yeah?"

"Mm." He brushed another kiss, light as butterfly wings, just next to the first. "What are you thinking about, ya rouhi?"

"A few things." She hummed as a third kiss followed. "That this is so perfect I'm almost worried I'm dreamin'..."

"Don't say that, we'll wake up," Nate laughed softly.

He matching laugh cut off as the fourth kiss fell in line with the hollow of her throat, her fingers clenching. "...how much I love your hair, it's so soft, and it looks grand grown out..."

He chuckled and continued feathering kisses against her skin. "Noted."

"...an' if you're tryin' t' kiss all m'freckles, it might take a bit longer than an eternity, yeah?"

"For you, AJ, I have that time and more." He reached the far edge of her neckline and shifted slightly higher to start working his way back across with languid kisses to her collarbone punctuating the rest of his words. "And I am a very... patient... man."

"Nate..." Abigail exhaled a shuddering breath and bit her lip, heart hammering in her chest. "Your- Your turn, a chuisle." She ran her fingers through his hair. "What're you thinkin' about?"

"You," Nate replied without hesitation, lifting his head to meet her gaze. The flitters of sunlight turned his brown eyes almost golden and she didn't think she'd seen a more beautiful sight. "How happy I am with you. Content. Settled."

She smiled and reached to smooth a lock of hair hanging in his eyes. "Y' definitely seemed 'bout ready to drift off a moment ago."

"Your heartbeat makes a very soothing lullaby, Abigail." Smug mischief filled his eyes and he dipped his head to kiss the hollow of her throat. "Usually."

Abigail bit her lip harder, arching slightly as her fingers slid through his hair to clench at the nape. "Are you tryin' to fluster me, Agent Sewell?"

Nate chuckled against her skin and she was sure the effect on her heartbeat would deepen that smug look of his. "Now, Agent Jenings, why on earth would I do something like that?"

Her breath caught as he started kissing up her throat. "I... I can think of a few reasons--" A gasping whine when he reached the corner of her jaw. "Nate..."

He lifted his head, giving her a dazzling faux-innocent smile. "Yes, Abigail?"

She didn't so much nudge as yank him in for a kiss by the hand clenched in his hair.

Nate hummed in equal want, equal need as he leaned into it. One arm pressed against the bed, the other hand cradling her jaw, thumb brushing gentle arcs on her cheek.

Abigail's free hand roamed, clutching handfuls of his t-shirt, his arm, before pushing against the mattress to lever herself up until Nate caught on and let her roll them to reversed positions.

Her hair hung in a fiery curtain around them when she finally pulled back. "I love you."

"And I love you," Nate murmured, tucking one side of her hair behind her ear, but leaving the other as a divider from the world.

She leaned close to whisper, "How's my heartbeat now, a chuisle?"

"Intoxicating," he breathed, the single word hitching with challenge, with want, with something deeper. His fingers teased under the hem of her top, sending a shiver up her back.

"Yeah?" Abigail murmured, pressing a kiss just in front of his ear. With her hand braced on his chest in their new position, she could feel the equally madcap rush of his heart, and had to agree with him. It was a heady feeling, knowing you could do that to someone.

"Am I wrong?" His teasing was still slightly breathless as he toyed with her curls.

"Far from it." She kissed the corner of his jaw, felt his heart skip a beat, and it was her turn to smile smugly as she kissed down his jawline. One consequence of vampire superhealing was she couldn't give him hickeys like he occasionally littered across her skin, which was horribly unfair but didn't stop her from trying. She detoured to kiss the juncture of his jaw and neck.

"Ya rouhi-" The words cut off on a gasp. "AJ."

She lifted her head and gave him a faux-innocent smile of her own. "Yes, Nate?"

He stared at her for a moment, lips parted as if about to speak, then pulled her in for a deep, crushing kiss and rolled them back to their original position. "You are a marvel." Kissed her again. "A wonder." Kissed the hollow of her throat, her fingers back in his hair. "Everything." Kissed right at the neckline of her cami and she'd suddenly never wanted to remove an article of clothing more.

A far cry from the peaceful languor of a few minutes ago, but you wouldn't hear her complaining, not in a million years.

As if he'd read her thoughts, Nate slid up the lower edge of her shirt to kiss her stomach.

Abigail whined, arching into it as he ran his mouth along the edge of her ribcage, feathering kissed over her freckles. "Nate-!"

She dragged him up into another kiss; desperate, fierce, even as, by unspoken accord, they each pulled at the other's shirt. They broke the kiss for only a moment to discard the garments before Nate's fingers were tangled in her hair and Abigail's were clutching the back of his neck, drawing each other in for more--

And more, and more, until she was clinging to him and shaking like a leaf in a storm, mouth open in a near-silent cry of his name while he tried--and failed--to muffle his of hers against her neck.

They all but melted back into the pillows, a heap of contentment, panting breaths, and pounding hearts.

Nate gave a breathless laugh." Well, that was..."

"Grand," Abigail finished, slipping one hand between her chin and his chest. "Yeah?"

"Absolutely," he said with a wide smile, tucking her hair back behind her ear. "And now, I think we get to the resting part of our plan that was so delightfully" --he ran his fingers down and back up her spine with a touch so light it made her shiver--"interrupted."

"Also grand," she murmured. He did make a wonderful pillow and she could feel herself drifting. She kissed the center of his chest and settled with his heartbeat in her ear.

As it slowed, she had to agree with his earlier sentiment--that did make a very soothing lullaby.

#queens fic #touch prompts #nate sewell #abigail jenings #twc #aj/nate #otp: smiling always

4 notes · View notes

smittenbypoetry · 1 year

Text

Poetry Game!

January 2023 Edition:

The rules are as follows: Write an eleven line poem. Each respective line includes, but is not limited to, the following in order:

1. A body of water 2. A dive 3. Any shade of blue 4. Sensory line (underwater) 5. Sensory line (underwater) 6. Free line, use however you like 7. Anything partaking to the heart 8. Any constellation 9. Any synonym to 'falling' 10. Free line, use however you like 11. Line 3's shade of blue

Have fun!

Tag your poem #smittenbypoetrygame, and I will reblog it here. Be sure to use one of the first five tags to do this, else there’s a chance it won’t show up when I search for it. If I haven’t reblogged your poem within 24 hours, please send me a message and I’ll add it to the queue.

#smittenbypoetrygame #january #tumblr poetry #poets on tumblr #creative writing #poetry game #poetry #writers on tumblr #poets #poem #twc #poetry prompt

223 notes · View notes

sustainably-du-mortain · 11 months

Note

I'm not afraid of you - for the polyam. If you're taking requests?

I know these were supposed to be fluff prompts but apparently I cannot write anything soft without Jonah through pain first, so have some hurt/comfort!

'I'm not afraid of you'

Fandom: The Wayhaven Chronicles Pairing: Adam du Mortain x m!detective (Jonah Rafferty) x Nate Sewell Word count: ~1.6k prompt list here

Something is wrong.

Jonah hasn’t said a word since he got back from his apartment, although the quiet is not something unusual for the three of them, the fact that Bo’s fur is bristling and that the dog hasn’t left their boyfriends side since they got back is a clear indicator that something happened while they were away.

“Jonah?” Nate’s voice breaks the heavy silence, worry seeping through the name, but Jonah doesn’t seem to hear it, or if he does, he ignores it. Instead he keeps on scribbling frantically in his notebook.

Adam cannot see what he’s writing from where he’s sitting but, the way his hand follows the same pattern of movements repeatedly, tells him that Jonah has been writing the same words over and over since he sat down.

“Jonah?” This time he’s the one trying to grab their boyfriend's attention but, just like the first time, calling his name doesn’t get him any reaction, or at least not the one he hoped for.

Jonah’s scribbling grows more frenetic. Desperate even. He starts underlining certain words, each line he draws sounding like a knife slicing the tense silence. His breathing becomes erratic. He circles one word. Again and again. The motion like a rope that coils around one’s neck. Suffocating. Until finally, the paper tears and Jonah’s pencil’s snaps in his hand. Sobs follow, ripping away their heart as the sound echoes through the room.

Adam is kneeling before him in a flash, Nate stands next to him in the next.

Cautiously, Adam puts a hand on his knee, but Jonah flinches away as if the touch singed him. Adam can almost hear his heart shattering in his chest. His eyes riveted to his hands, he takes a step back. Tears well in his eyes as Nate takes his place before Jonah.

A wail, brings his focus back on Jonah and he takes Nate’s previous place beside their boyfriend. He doesn’t have time to feel monstrous, not when Jonah needs them.

“Jonah?” Nate’s voice is hesitant but gentle. “Jonah, can you look at me?”

He doesn’t move. His face is buried in his hands and he’s slightly rocking back and forth in his chair. Nate throws a desperate look towards Adam, looking for help, but he is as lost as Nate is: their boyfriend is right before them and yet they have no idea how to reach him. If they could just get him to look at them.

“Ya rouhi…” The petname is tinted with a hint of despair and concern. “I’m going to touch your hands, if that’s okay with you?” Nate warns him. He waits for a sign that Jonah heard him, but it never comes. Yet, in hopes that the warning made its way through, Nate slowly reaches for his hands, ready to back away at any sign of discomfort from Jonah.

When Jonah lets him put his hands over his, Nate starts softly rubbing circles on the back of his hands. Adam watches as their boyfriend relaxes a little at the gesture, until he allows Nate to peel his hands away from his face.

“Hi…” Nate whispers with a smile when their eyes finally meet, although he’s not sure Jonah can see him through the stream of tears. “Now I want you to take a deep breath with me, do you think you can do that?”

Nate breathes in and Jonah joins him. Nate doesn’t let go of his hands the whole time.

“You’re doing great, my love. One more time.”

Adam’s eyes fall on the open notebook while they do it a few more times. Covering every square inch of the page, he can barely decipher the five words etched over and over again into the paper.

‘I’m not afraid of you’ they read.

Instantly worry washes over him. What the hell happened while Jonah was at his apartment? Who did he encounter? Did they attack him? He barely holds back from questioning him, knowing this would only make the situation worse. Instead he tries to reign in his concern and takes a deep breath along with his boyfriends.

When the sobbing quiets down, he puts a hand on Jonah’s shoulder who looks up at him, tears still trickling down his face. Adam hesitantly reaches to brush away a strand of hair sticking to his cheek. His heart soothes in his chest when Jonah leans into the touch before wrapping his arms around his waist, pulling him closer. Adam immediately starts raking his fingers through his hair for he knows that Jonah is very fond of the gesture.

They stay like this for a while. Jonah pressed against his stomach. Nate, still kneeling before him, although his head is resting on his lap now. This is an uncomfortable position for the three of them, but this is the one thing they need to ease the remnants of worry and fear which washed over them. So they do not move, not until every single one of them feels better.

“Want to tell us what happened?”

“Who is this about?”

A hoarse chuckle escapes Jonah’s mouth when the two vampires break the quiet at the same time.

“Bobby...” Jonah whispers with an exhausted sigh. He doesn’t need to explain furthermore, the mention of the reporter is enough to make the two vampires tense instantly.

A few weeks ago, Jonah told them about their shared past, how things ended between them, the impact he had on Jonah’s life and well-being. So the thought of the two of them, alone in Jonah’s apartment, makes Adam’s stomach lurch in his throat. This might be worse than anything he had in mind.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Jonah shakes his head. “Maybe later…”

“Would you like some distraction then?” This time Nate’s question is met with a nod. “Do you have something in mind?”

***

Felix is walking by to get to the kitchen when a scream, coming from the living room, makes him stop in his tracks.

Adam requisitioned the living room earlier this evening, denying the other half of Unit Bravo access to the room for the rest of the night, which of course spurred a lewd quip from Mason. And since Adam did not tell them the reason behind his request, Felix has been dying to take a look inside the living room. So, when another scream escapes from the room, followed closely by three distinct fits of laughter - bright and loud giggles, a low chuckle and a muffled laugh - he can’t help but push the doors of the living room ajar.

“I told you we should have put these pillows here!” Jonah complains just as Felix peeks his head through the door. He hardly manages to hold back a laugh when he sees what’s going on.

Adam and Jonah are standing in front of a massive pillow fort, or at least what is supposed to be a pillow fort, for it seems to have collapsed in on itself, which Felix guesses is the reason for the screams and giggles he heard seconds before. The ruins of the fort take up half of the living room and Felix would have given everything to see it in all of its glorious magnificence. So, he makes up a mental note of sneaking into the living room later on to see it, since they seem to be keen on rebuilding it.

In the meantime he observes as Adam and Jonah stand before the mountain of pillows and sheets, only remnants of the construction, trying to assess the damage. Jonah is actually holding what looks like a construction plan and Felix struggles to bite back the chuckle that threatens to leave the barrier of his lips. He shouldn’t be surprised, these two always take things way too seriously, but a construction plan? For a blanket fort? Really? He wishes he had taken his phone with him, Mason is never going to believe him without proof.

As they start debating over their next course of action, Felix’ eyes travel across the room in search of Nate. He heard him laugh earlier, so he must be somewhere in there. But his focus is caught by the paused image projected on the wall behind them. He recognizes that one movie with the green ogre that Jonah once called a masterpiece and Felix has to admit he’s quite impressed with the fact that he managed to get Nate and Adam to watch it. Adam in particular, seeing that making him sit through an animated movie is a feat Felix hasn’t yet managed to achieve.

Bo, emerging from underneath the collapsed heap of blankets, catches his attention.

With a bark, the dog starts pulling at the sheets when a strange bump suddenly forms into the pile of bed-linen and pillows.

“I know I cannot actually suffocate, but it would be nice if you two could actually help me out.” This time Felix cannot hold back a snort upon hearing Nate.

The other two immediately rush to haul him out of the wreckage. Jonah helps him up before rising on his tiptoes to land a soft peck on his cheek. Adam does the same on the other cheek.

“I’m sorry we left you in there.” Adam apologizes, his head nuzzling in the crook of his neck when Nate wraps an arm around him.

“Sorry!” Jonah gives him a sheepish smile before joining the hug, that’s when he finally spots him. “Oh, hi Felix!”

“Shit!”

The vampire slams the door shut, cursing Jonah for revealing his presence. He has to flee before Adam kills him for catching them being all lovey-dovey despite the fact that he was supposedly banned from the living room.

#thank you so much for the prompt i had so much fun write this!!#I swear one day I'll write a 100% soft and domestic fic for these 3 #grape🎃#ship: i used to live alone before i knew you #adam x jonah x nate #oc: jonah rafferty #adam du mortain #nate sewell #adam x detective x nate #twc adam #twc nate #twc detective #twc fanfic #the wayhaven chronicles #if: twc #ali's writing

18 notes · View notes

nerdierholler · 1 year

Text

Since I’m in a rare writing mood but don’t really know what to write (and I have the day off), let’s do some prompts. Here’s some options from various themed months that I never got around to doing. These sound light and fluffy but no guarantees it might not actually end up being a little sad, depends on where my brain goes.

Please send me prompts (specify which list it’s from) for any of my Detectives: Henry/Nate, Ethan/Adam, Bree/Mason, Andie/Soft Mason.

Prompt List Themes: Domestic General Fluff Comfort Touching

#reposting so this shows up before the prompt post reblogs #twc #the wayhaven chronicles #life at nerdy holler #the goal is for these to be fairly short and quick #mostly just get some words out and stretch those writing muscles again

7 notes · View notes

serenpedac · 1 year

Text

Scars and Pieces

Very, very late entry for @wayhavenfrights - Day 11, prompt “shattered”.

Pairing: Female Detective/Nate Sewell Words: ~1100 Rating: T Warnings: None

Read on Ao3

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

A handful of tiny dark spots are sprinkled near the base of the mirror like freckles. Or scars, perhaps. Yael thumbs the raised skin marking her wrist. It still burns sometimes, like her entire body had burned. She presses the spot until she can feels the beat of her heart, pumping blood through her body—blood that is no longer just hers.

“Yael?”

Yael draws a sharp breath. Nate is standing in the doorway to her room. His gaze flickers down to where she’s holding her wrist. “Can I come in?”

She quickly lets go. “Of course.”

He joins her in front of the mirror hanging above the dresser, takes her hands in his own to give a brief squeeze before releasing them. With a nod at the mirror, he asks, “Do you like it?”

Her readied reply that she’s fine dies on her lips as his question sinks in. After a brief moment of hesitation, she gives him a light nudge with her elbow. “Are you fishing for compliments on your impeccable taste?”

His laughter rolls over her. “I wouldn’t turn down such praise, especially coming from you, but no, that was not what I was looking for.” His voice softens as he continues, “I noticed you removed the one the Agency placed in your apartment after the attack. If this one makes you uncomfortable…?”

“It doesn’t.” The answer comes out curter than she’d intended and she sighs.

His question is understandable, even if they wouldn't have found out that the Maa-alused could use them to travel through: while not identical, both mirrors do look very similar with their oval shape and the understated decoration on the thin frame. Both remind her of the one she’d had ever since moving out to go to uni, the one that had been destroyed by the thralls Murphy had sent. Not that she had seen it break, but when she had come back, the replacement had been there, near-identical but flawless and wrong.

The Agency had done their best, of course, and they couldn’t have known all the little imperfections her mirror had had even before the attack, but she couldn’t help but wince each time she glimpsed herself in it. How easy it had been to imagine the old one shattered on the floor, a reflection broken into a thousand pieces.

She runs a finger over one of the small discolourations on the wooden frame, but snaps it away when she sees it trembling. “This one isn’t— Nevermind.”

“I mind. I would like to understand if you would let me.”

She searches his eyes, finds only sincerity. He would like to know her.

“It’s just—” Yael feels at the scar again. A visible reminder of what had happened. And she is not glad it’s there, far from it, but it is better than the Agency’s attempt at wiping away all traces of what had happened. “I like that this one isn’t perfect unlike the one the Agency gave me. It’s not trying to copy my old mirror and it’s marked, just like.” She swallows, trying to stem the flood of words that has been building up ever since that first night back at her apartment, but they come pouring out anyway, “Just like me. And each mark tells a story, some are good and some are bad and some might be sad or funny, but they are all part of its history, you know? In trying to remove that it felt like, like they were telling me everything was fine. That Murphy never. That I wasn’t changed.” She nearly chokes on the last word.

Her breaths come fast, shallow.

Too much. That was too much. He can’t possible have wanted to hear all that.

Nate cups her cheek, and her breathing settles somewhat at the feeling of warm contact, the tightness of her chest easing. Taking a deep inhale, she chances a look at him, searching for something, anything to confirm he’s still here, he’s still with her. She finds his eyes, soft with understanding and a hint of sadness. Like he not only understands her pain but feels it himself. And having lived for centuries, how could he not have experienced the loss that change might bring?

A frown creases his forehead, the thin line marring skin that is otherwise smooth. Unmarked, wiped clean by his turning. He wears his scars on the inside, hidden.

She would like to understand him, to know him, in return.

Before he can recognise where her thoughts have gone and turn the conversation around, Yael worries her bottom lip as she sifts through questions, discarding most of them as too probing. Finally, she finds one that will do.

“Did you ever have anything like that? Some item that seemed like it took a part of your life with it when it was gone?” When he stays quiet, she adds, “A thought for a thought, if you want?”

Nate’s hand falls from her cheek.

***

A thought for a thought. If he wants. It’s not quit the same exchange he offered her all those weeks ago: it’s kinder, the phrasing gentler. She already trusted him with a piece of herself, never expecting him to give anything in return. He is grateful for that. And although there is hope in her eyes, she has given him a way out if he wants.

“A button,” Nate says. “It was nothing special.” He frowns, then amends, “It looked like nothing special, but it was a gift.”

It had been the summer after he had turned sixteen when he had met him. Heady with youthful exuberance and the intoxicating company, he had thought the summer to be endless, but the turn of the seasons had been as inevitable as their parting.

“I sewed it onto my waistcoat, one brass button in a row of silk-covered ones.” How Mother had disapproved of that. She had known more than she had let on, he thinks now. Not that it had mattered in the end, as the promised correspondence had never arrived. Whether that had been by choice or not, he had never found out.

He catches Yael’s movement in his peripheral vision. A reaching out like he had reached out to her. Forcing a smile, he steps away from her towards the door before she can touch him.

“Adam is waiting for us. He said he had new information on potential Trapper movements.”

A sad smile flickers over her face, gone as quickly as it appeared as she nods and follows him in silence.

***

That night in bed, Nate’s words turn around in Yael’s head. He never told her who had given him the button, nor what had happened afterwards, but she suspects, no, she knows, the story can’t have had a happy ending.

Her heart aching for him, she carefully places the sprinkle of information among the others he has given her, like another piece in an ever-growing mosaic. A collection of scattered reflections of his life.

#wayhavenfrights #The Wayhaven Chronicles #serenwrites #i've been wanting to write something like this for ages #so many thanks for this prompt that finally pushed me to actually write it #and i meant to post this earlier but well #better later than never right?#twc

22 notes · View notes

grapecaseschoices · 6 months

Note

Hii <3 If you're still answering questions for the relationship ask, Self, Mentor and Friendship for Val? No pressure, though!

I almost missed this! So sorry, @serenpedac! From this ask game.

Self: How is your OC's relationship with themself? Does your OC like who they are? Is there anything about themself that they would change?

Haha. Not as good as they pretend it is. I know this about SELF but trust me this is related. Val's approach to OTHER'S is very 'take me or leave me' [sometimes in a shruggy/uninterested manner, sometimes in a hostile or daring manner], but they expect to be left.

And that is sort of how they see themselves? Someone not worth sticking around with. I think asking if Val likes themselves begs upon more introspection than Val wants to give the subject/than Val feels the subject deserves. They are very 'I am who I am, deal with it' as much to themselves as they are with others. So, any change Val does is semi-subconcious. It's like they might notice something they say hits wrong with someone they care about and they may brush it off at the moment, but I feel later on if a similar situation occurs they might tone it down a tad. Val is more of a reactor, I feel. So I feel tho they act automatically [and obnoxiously], they take in things just the same. It's like in the back of their mind.

In short, Val is one of my egoists with low-self-esteem. My Jake Peralta. LMAO. Val knows they're good at their strengths. And they probably overblow it. They know. They think they're stylish and their hobbies are cool. But they also think they're trash [and not the way I call them my trash gremlin]. They know they don't process or react to emotional things the way most people do/people believe they should. And they don't come off as 'decent' and 'kind' or 'hard-working' and 'dedicated' and 'mature' as people believe they should. So in their mind they know they're not as valued or taken seriously. But that's a YOU problem. Deal with it.

Mentor: Does your OC have a mentor? Have they ever reached out to anyone for guidance or teaching, or been taken under someone's wing? How does your OC get along with their mentor?

No. LMAO. Val has no Raymond Holt. BUT, in THEIR OWN WAY, they do respect the Captain a lot more than one would think given how much they're sardonic @ him. And his opinions weigh a touch more on them than one [probably even him] would think. A good job from the Captain has Val feeling unnaturally peppy. LMAO. He is their dad, woogie boogie.

I don't think Val would ever call the Captain. But if he was there, and he said something useful ....

Strangely though, if Val WERE to reach out to someone for guidance it might be Adam. And for advice/teaching it might be Felix.

Don't look into it!!

Friendship: What's your OC like as a friend? How are they at making new friends? What are the most important friendships in your OC's life?

Awful. LMAO. I don't know why Tina and Felix are still around. Honeslty, Val has probably said quite a few things unintentionally and intentionaly to shut that down. But als. That said, once you have Val as a friend, I think they're great for laughs and not a bad shoulder to cry on. I don't see them loyal in the traditional sense but they are more protective than they believe. They aren't a BIG hugger but they actually are pretty goodat it for someone so teeny/slim. Physical touch is their love language [one of them] but it's more broish.

All their new friends, including Adam, sort of just came upon them. Though with Adam it was a mutual coming upon. Adam, Felix, and Tina are the most important friendships [probably in that order lmao.] They are very fond of Verda tho. It's grown that way. And they grow fonder of Mason as well.

Thank you for the ask! Apologies for the super delay <3

#so glad i was like let me go through my inbox now that im awake lmao #serenpedac #ask: twc #ask: val montemer #tho tbf i have been more delaye don shit /looking at the fic prompts from two years ago werew lmao #character insight

2 notes · View notes

writersdelusion · 2 years

Quote

The truth about us is written on the walls of every chamber of my heart, page after page of endless scribbles and proclamations She is screaming but she is shamed to silence. You know, I might have loved you in another life. I am ready to love me in this one, though. My hands now replace yours, no jaded lover necessary, only me I am ready to sing, God, can't you hear it? It sounds something of harmonies like the wind through the trees. not songs of solace, but contempt. The truth about us is about as fragile as the words you spoke Once written in mirrors, Now clouded by smoke

“Day 2: The Truth About Us.” (via @writersdelusion)

prompt via @nosebleedclub

#mywriting #poetry #prose #poem #twcpoetry #poets of tumblr #twc #spilled ink #nosebleedclub #june prompts #ok first off someone punch me everytime i write about harmonies #and second off im gonna try to hold myself to a prompt a day #but starting on day 2 lol

47 notes · View notes

wayhavenots · 1 year

Note

Okay, since I can't *not* ask about Nate and Avery, how about number 31 for them? Feel free to change the pairing for either prompt, though. And no pressure of course <3

Thank you, Seren!!! ❤️ I feel like this one is so fitting for them (even though it's only so high on my list because it is on a playlist for a Mind Blind fic I never finished lol).

This was supposed to go in a slightly different direction (and!! would have referenced some of the textbooks you recommended :) ) but the transition was a little awkward and I wanted to keep it sweet, so I shortened it into something else. I hope it still makes sense lol.

Spoilers for the Book 3 Demo ahead!

31. My Sanctuary by Amelia Warner (from Mary Shelley (Original Motion Picture Score))

Nate hears the sputter of Avery's car as it comes to a stop outside the Warehouse, a sound which draws him out of the tale of the Bennett family and places a smile on his lips. He places his bookmark to keep his place—not that it is necessary, when he has read this story so many times—and searches for a reflective surface in the library, settling on the black screen of his phone. He lets his hair down, rather than fixing the few strands out of place in his bun, combs through with his fingers.

He would have liked to accompany Avery on her journey home—or rather, the Warehouse, now that her apartment's ceiling has caved in—but he missed the series of texts in the group chat culminating in Morgan's acceptance of the task. Still, it makes him happy to know that he can look forward to seeing her every day, and that she is getting along with the team, his family. Not that he's surprised. Avery is brilliant and charming and witty and...

He hears footsteps—hers and Morgan's—into the Warehouse, followed by the sound of Farah leaping up from where she was lounging and, no doubt, desperate for amusement.

"Oooh," Farah exclaims, easily heard even through the walls that separate them, "you're in a mood. What's up?"

"Oh, I'm ecstatic," says Avery in a deadpan. "I love my job. It's a fulfilling way to spend the time that I'm not being hunted down by people who want to use me as a juicebox."

"Or sell you to the highest bidder," adds Morgan.

"Thanks," says Avery flatly, her footsteps continuing out of the room, "I'll keep that in mind."

"Natey's in the library," Farah calls after her, her tone teasing. "In case you wanna spread some of that cheer his way."

Nate expects Avery to make a beeline to her room—he knows that she prefers to be alone after a bad day, curled up with some math or physics problems to boost her confidence—and he is deciding how best to help when her footsteps move in his direction.

His stomach flutters. What should he be doing when she arrives? Should he greet her at the door? He gets halfway there, changes his mind (it might be unsettling for her to know how much he can hear of her movement), settles back on the couch. Checks his reflection once more. Casts his eyes over the stack of books he has pulled out of the bookshelves and is struck with an urge to tidy up.

Soon, Avery is pushing the door open, and Nate greets her with a smile.

"Avery," he says warmly, "what a lovely surprise."

The ghost of a scowl on her face twitches into a half-smile as she takes a step inside. "I didn't think I could surprise you," she says, her voice not quite as tense as it was just a moment ago.

Nate smiles and says, truthfully, "You often do."

Avery's smile widens, and she takes another step forward. "Do you mind if I hole up in here for a bit?" Her hands move as if to hide in her hoodie pockets, but now that the weather is warm, she is dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, pockets too small to hold her hands. (And isn't that what his hands are made for?)

"Of course," he says, and he pats the open seat beside him. "You don't need to ask for permission," he adds. "How was your day?"

She lets out a sigh as she crosses the rest of the room. "Fantastic. Didn't find the kid, made an ass of myself on the record to Bobby, and I drove back to my apartment after work instead of here. Morgan so helpfully said nothing until—" Her eyes scan the pile of books near him, and she pauses before she sits. "Are you sure you're not busy? I really didn't mean to dump about my day."

"Please do," says Nate with an encouraging smile. "It gives me the opportunity to tell you that we will find her, Bobby will have only good things to report, and your home will be repaired in no time."

Avery scoffs. "I don't have as much faith in Bobby or my landlord."

"You would know better on both counts," replies Nate with a chuckle. "But I do have faith in us. We make quite the team."

She sinks into the couch, her body angled towards his with one leg bent between them. Her cheek rests tiredly against the back of the sofa as she gazes up at him with captivating dark brown eyes, which slowly sweep over his face as though she is looking for something. (And oh, how he wants to be what she is looking for.) These are the eyes he recalled while he was reading, at the line, "The very great pleasure that a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow."

"We do," she admits.

He is expecting her to deflect, to take shelter in the ambiguity of the us and the we. When she doesn't, he feels his heart grow bolder.

"I hope we only grow closer while you're staying here," he adds, slowly extending one hand to rest a hair's breadth from hers, fingers nearly but not quite brushing. "And that this can feel like home to you."

"It does," she says softly, almost difficult to hear over the sweet crescendo of her heartbeat in his ears. Her fine eyes flick to the space between them, and she carefully hooks an index finger around his. "It's starting to, at least. Tell me about your day?"

Nate cannot help the smile that spreads across his face at the contact. His heart taps a hopeful tune against his chest. "Well," he begins, "it is certainly looking up."

#book 3 spoilers #nate x detective #twc fic #he was originally going to be reading frankenstein to tie into the prompt more but i got distracted by the fact that the framing device #is with a captain of a ship on a potentially dangerous journey and maybe nate has never gotten past the first few pages for that reason #anyway lol #thank you for the request <3

10 notes · View notes

queen-scribbles · 9 months

Note

8, 20, 27, and 61 for the fic writer asks! -em

8. Do you prefer the beginning, middle, or end of a story?

Assuming this means "to write", probably the middle bc the beginning and ending have 50/50 odds of giving me trouble, but the middle always flows. (For reading, probably beginnings bc I love seeing the ways people draw you in to the story they want to tell.)

20. Have you noticed any patterns in your fics? Words/expressions that appear a lot, themes, common settings, etc?

My characters laugh/chuckle/smile a lot. And I have a tendency to, whenever possible with my POV character, go for a $50 word instead of the $10 words just bc a lot of the time I like the way the fancier/rarer one sounds. (loquacious vs chatty for example. Obstinate vs stubborn. That sort of thing. Probably why I like writing characters like Arcann or Adam or Morrigan; bc that fits their speech patterns really well.) I know there's other things-- OH. I do male-female friendships all the damn time.

27. What is your most and least favorite part of writing?

Most: COMBAT SCENES. I love writing combat, so. much. It's so fun. Also the rush of finally getting to drop things on your readers that you've been planning for a WHILE(I apologize to all the tLBT readers for the end of the last chapter, I really do😅, but it was FUN). Snarky banter is also really, really fun.

Least: Feeling too slow in getting to stuff I'm really excited about. No matter how much I'm enjoying the lead-up, if there's a scene I'm looking forward too, I don't feel like I can write fast enough in getting to it. xD It's even worse when I finally get to the scene/dialogue/whatever and then either a) have to leave to do something or b) my hand hurts too much and I have to stop. (I've pushed through the latter one a couple times. Don't do that, kids, you pay for it later.) I never feel like there's enough time.

61. Why do you continue writing fics?

Bc it brings me joy and the sheer volume of muses/ideas would drive me insane if I didn't let it out xD

Fic Writer Asks

#fic writer asks #if it was available and ethical i would 100% clone myself--one for writing each fandom i love so i could get. all the ideas. OUT.#bc i want to write about 8 things at the same time and hate having to choose #also like now i have a wotr idea. owap. tlbt. the swtor exchange fic. TWO SEPARATE ardrali fics. AND a new twc idea #not to mention the remaining prompt fills #i want to write all of them #but i can only do so much at a time and it drives me nuts xD

10 notes · View notes