the-burning-sea

[the-burning-sea]

Is this self-promotion? Yes.

Go follow @ek-phrase-is, my poetry blog! I’d love to have you!

The Lament For Icarus (1898) by Herbert Draper

The Lament of Icarus

The stories will tell you

That my wings were fragile

That my feathers were bound with wax

And the heat of the sun was my demise

But as I lay here in the laps of my would-be saviors

I find my wings intact

I am still blinded from the sun

But under my hands

They feel the same as they did

In my father’s workshop

Soft and strong and free

The stories will tell you it was my hubris

And the heat too close to the sun

But the truth is that my hands are weak with chill

My toes bitten with frostbite

My skin chafed by icy wind

Apollo is not a warm god

When he showed himself to me the first time

It was in a dark corner of our prison

Shrouded in shadows and frost

I did not believe he was the sun

He whispered the idea of wings

Into my father’s ear

As I watched from that same corner

Eager to be free

Free with him

He told me the sky would be warm

He told me I would make it high enough

If I could just make it high enough

He would bring me home to him

The tips of my fingers are wet

From the ice dripping from my feathers

And the ocean I plummeted so far into

This stone, even shaded by cliffs

Is warmer than my sun god ever was

My would-be saviors are crying, now

Nymphs, maybe, or dryads

One with her arm beneath my head

Her skin, cooler than any human’s would be

Is warmer than mine

With her hand pressed to my ribcage

She can tell my oh-so-human heart

Isn’t beating

In the shade of these ivory cliffs

I am shielded from Apollo himself

His glare

But I can still feel his gaze

He knows I am dead

Perhaps he meant it that way

Perhaps I was an idle game of gods

Or perhaps

He intended to free me

From the cold grasp of life

Into the warm cradle of death

#not writing

[the-burning-sea]

I realize now that this says ‘prompts’ and I feel very dumb. If you want me to redo it, all you’ve gotta do is send another ask and I will!

Hello! Could you possibly write some prompts for rivals to lovers who work in the same team/ group.

Of course! I might go off the rails a lil bit though; if and when you ask again, you're welcome to add more detail! ~~~~~

Character A gazed up at the metal roof of the warehouse they'd ended up in, and found themselves wondering. Had it been painted red, or had the rust turned it that color? It was too high up, and their vision was too blurred to tell.

The red matched the color their blood had turned the rough concrete floor beneath them.

The team had gotten the tip two days ago, anonymously, suggesting that the villain they'd been chasing would be here, and everyone but Character A had agreed it was a trap.

Everyone but Character A, who'd met Character B's eyes as they called Character A delirious for even considering it, and decided that they'd prove every one of them wrong. Especially Character B.

They'd been right, of course. An ambush, prepared for a team's worth of people, came raining down on Character A alone. The villain didn't even have the decency to show up and witness it for themselves, instead leaving Character A to bleed out at the hands of the lowest of their cronies.

They'd be cursing themself out mentally if they had the coherency for it, but as it was, they could only weakly grip the gaping, bleeding hole in their side and hope death came quickly.

Their eyes shut, and they thought of Character B's smug face. Damn them. Damn them and everything they-

Footsteps. Villain? The crony, back to finish the job?

"What did we all tell you?"

Character B's voice rang out through the empty warehouse as Character A flinched back to consciousness. Character B was jogging across the floor towards them, on their knees at their side in seconds when they saw the wound.

"What did every single one of us tell you, Character A? You didn't even say you were leaving, I swear to god-"

"You followed me." Character A's hands were covered in blood when Character B pulled them away to look at the wound.

"Of course I followed you, dumbass, you're always getting yourself into messes like this, I figured you'd need someone to back you up." They slotted their arm under Character A's legs, the other under their shoulders to lift them, which forced a pained grunt out of them.

Character A blinked slowly. "Just wanted to..."

"What? Get yourself killed?" Character B was moving fast, toward the car, presumably.

Character A's head fell back.

"Just wanted to... be good enough for you."

[the-burning-sea]

Hello! Could you possibly write some prompts for rivals to lovers who work in the same team/ group.

Of course! I might go off the rails a lil bit though; if and when you ask again, you're welcome to add more detail! ~~~~~

Character A gazed up at the metal roof of the warehouse they'd ended up in, and found themselves wondering. Had it been painted red, or had the rust turned it that color? It was too high up, and their vision was too blurred to tell.

The red matched the color their blood had turned the rough concrete floor beneath them.

The team had gotten the tip two days ago, anonymously, suggesting that the villain they'd been chasing would be here, and everyone but Character A had agreed it was a trap.

Everyone but Character A, who'd met Character B's eyes as they called Character A delirious for even considering it, and decided that they'd prove every one of them wrong. Especially Character B.

They'd been right, of course. An ambush, prepared for a team's worth of people, came raining down on Character A alone. The villain didn't even have the decency to show up and witness it for themselves, instead leaving Character A to bleed out at the hands of the lowest of their cronies.

They'd be cursing themself out mentally if they had the coherency for it, but as it was, they could only weakly grip the gaping, bleeding hole in their side and hope death came quickly.

Their eyes shut, and they thought of Character B's smug face. Damn them. Damn them and everything they-

Footsteps. Villain? The crony, back to finish the job?

"What did we all tell you?"

Character B's voice rang out through the empty warehouse as Character A flinched back to consciousness. Character B was jogging across the floor towards them, on their knees at their side in seconds when they saw the wound.

"What did every single one of us tell you, Character A? You didn't even say you were leaving, I swear to god-"

"You followed me." Character A's hands were covered in blood when Character B pulled them away to look at the wound.

"Of course I followed you, dumbass, you're always getting yourself into messes like this, I figured you'd need someone to back you up." They slotted their arm under Character A's legs, the other under their shoulders to lift them, which forced a pained grunt out of them.

Character A blinked slowly. "Just wanted to..."

"What? Get yourself killed?" Character B was moving fast, toward the car, presumably.

Character A's head fell back.

"Just wanted to... be good enough for you."

#villain #my writing #not a prompt #snippets #whump #rivals to lovers

[the-burning-sea]

hi! i love your work and i was wondering if i could request a royalty related prompt. Where character a and b both rule a neighbouring kingdoms, and its kinda a slow-burn friends to lovers type situation. Where a party is hosted and another character - perhaps a prince from another kingdom catches their eyes on character b, and suggests a dance with them which leads to character a to getting jealous but they cant comprehend the reason why and take it out on oblivious character b once the party is over — ty in advance 🤭

Not quite friends to lovers, that bit sorta slipped away from me, but here you go!

~~~~~

Character A watched the ballroom, a hand against their lips in silent, seething thought as they watched the pair glide through the crowd. Beside them at the head of the table, Character B’s chair had long since gone cold.

It’d been nearly twenty minutes since Prince C had asked for a dance, prim and proper and utterly simpering. Character A had glared, opened their mouth to refuse on Character B’s behalf, but to their surprise, Character B was already stood, poised to take his hand.

They couldn’t seem to figure out why it annoyed them so.

When they managed to take their eyes off the pair, they noticed that several of the guests were looking, whispering to each other about the two and about the look on Character A’s face. They attempted to school their expression with little success. What had happened to their poise, their control?

Character B was ascending the steps back to the head table, arm entwined with Prince C, face flush and smiling as they sat again beside Character A. Prince C bowed, said something that Character A didn’t bother to hear, and returned to his seat.

Character B let out a contented breath, smoothing out their clothes. “He’s certainly very lively. I almost wish I’d paid more attention in my ballroom lessons as a child.”

Character A was glowering, staring ahead at where the couple had been on the dance floor. Very lively, indeed…

~~~~~

“It was one dance, Character A. Is that what you’re upset about?” The private drawing room was ornate, dimly lit, and slightly smoke-scented from the heat of the fireplace. Character A’s personal apartments, fit for a king.

Character B was the only one they let in here on a regular basis.

“He wants something from you. I can practically smell it. What did he say? Did he give you something?” Character A was sat leaned forward in a plush armchair, Character B stood across the low table from them.

“For the last time, we just danced. He was perfectly pleasant. Why are you so upset?”

“You’re out of his league. His kingdom’s got nothing to offer, I don’t know what he was thinking trying to court you.”

“Court me? It was just a dance! And that doesn’t answer my question and you know it. What is your problem-“

They were cut off. “You’re mine,” Character A hissed out.

Character B looked at them, stunned. “…yours? But you’ve never-”

“He’s the only one in that entire goddamn room who didn’t seem to realize that, that no one touches you but me.”

Character B stepped back, brow furrowed in concern. “I’m… going to bed. We can talk about this in the morning, Character A.”

They didn’t say goodnight when they left.

#my writing #not a prompt #snippets #royalty #possesive love

[the-burning-sea]

Happy birthday @suspicious-whumping-egg!!!! Per your lovely request, I give you Le Torture

The request: A team watches behind a one way mirror as their leader is interrogated. To their horror, the leader offers to betray the team and give up their plans, the locations of their safehouses, everything. Unbeknownst to the leader’s teammates, this is the only way that they will all be kept alive. The leader gave the information up to save their lives, but the team thinks they betrayed them in cold blood. Leader has been warned that if the team knows of the deal they cut with the enemy, said deal will be struck and the team will be killed. The leader is then thrown back into the cell with the others. What will their team do to them? ~~~~~

The hero shifted their wrists in the cuffs, fastened to the arms of the chair they were strapped down to, and tried not to look at the mirror dominating one wall of the room. Their team watched from the other side, but the hero wasn’t supposed to know that. 

At least, that’s what the villain had told them to act like. All that was left now was to wait. The villain had told them what would happen ahead of time, of course. “We’re going to have a little interrogation, dear hero,” They’d said as they fastened the hero to the chair, torso, then arms, then legs. “And you’re going to answer all my questions, as best you can.” 

The hero glared at them. They knew the villain was insane, but not that insane. “What makes you think I’ll do that?” 

“Do you see the mirror, love?” 

“Yes, of course I see the mirror, it’s the only goddamn thing in here-” 

The villain cut them off. “I’m going to put your team behind it, and they’re going to watch. If you don’t tell me the truth, I’ll know, and they’ll die. One for each question you lie about, and if you tell them, they all die. Sound fair?” The hero jerked against their bonds, despite the bruises it would likely lead to later. “No, no it fucking doesn’t, you can’t just-” 

“I can, and I will. I’ll see you in a minute, love. Try not to panic too terribly until then.” The door shut loudly behind them, and the hero’s hands clenched into fists.

The door opened, and the villain entered again, sitting down in the (much more comfortable-looking) chair across from them. 

“Hello, dearest. I’ve got a couple questions for you.” They spoke quietly, as if trying to calm a frightened animal, or talking to a child. The hero tensed, but didn’t move. They didn’t look up. 

“Let’s start with your team. Full names, please.” The hero listed them, slowly, one by one. They didn’t protest, they didn’t lash out, and they absolutely did not look at the glass. The team shouldn’t have to see their face, not now. 

“What’s the contingency plan, should you all be captured?” 

The hero clenched their teeth. “They’ll pull heroes in from the next district. Control gives us a timeframe of rescue before each mission, and if we’re not rescued by then, there’s killswitch pills. We keep them tucked in the back of our cheeks.” “Spit it out.” The hero glared, but wiggled it out from the back of their mouth and spat it wetly onto the table. They could practically feel their team glaring daggers at them. 

“Where’s your base?” The hero let out a breath. They could answer that question in a way that wouldn’t make their team hate them, at least. “HQ is public knowledge. You know where it is.” “And I know you’ve got a base, too. I’ll let that one slide, but don’t get cocky with me.” 

The hero felt sick. They couldn’t even omit details, could they?“...It’s on the coast.” They gave the address, and how to get into the bunker underneath. The password was their team’s initials. 

The interrogation went on far too long, even after the hero’s sickness turned to nausea, turned to dizziness. The villain pried every word, every detail out, and as much as they hated it, it got easier after a while. They could pretend that they were talking to their team, instead. Pretend they weren’t telling the villain anything they didn’t already know. 

It ended, eventually, blessedly. The villain left, presumably to guide their team out, then came back for the hero. Their hands were gentle as they undid the restraints, rubbed over the marks in their skin. Their brow furrowed, though, when the villain didn’t fasten them into cuffs. 

Then it occurred to them that their team would only hate them more if they walked in unrestrained. That they’d look favored. 

And sure enough, when the villain brought them back to the cell where their team was waiting, they left them with an extra bottle of water and a kiss on the forehead. 

It was all the hero could do to keep from crying when they saw the way their team looked at them, but there was no doubt that the villain was watching to see if they’d spill. They couldn’t, not now. 

The hero walked back to their bunk, footsteps quiet, and climbed in with their back to the team. They couldn’t see their faces, not now. Their team was murmuring amongst themselves, but the hero only pulled their thin pillow over their head. This was only the beginning. 

#snippets #my writing #not a prompt #whump #hero #villain #happy birthday den!!! #Go check them out!!!

[the-burning-sea]

I have a Twitter! @BurningSeaWrite (who knew the burning sea would be such a popular name?) Follow me there for more casual content, updates, and other such things!

#not writing

[the-burning-sea]

Hi! Could you possibly write a snippet with a monarch in a castle, and their lover who keeps sneaking in to see them but the lover is really bad at stealth but unaware of it and the monarch has to order the guards to ignore the infiltrator to keep the lover's self esteem or whatever intact?

Hi! As good as an idea this is, it's a bit fluffier than what I would typically go for on this blog. I'd hate to add angst and make it something you don't want, so I'm going to suggest you request a different blog. Thank you though!

#not writing

[the-burning-sea]

A prompt:

I feel that almost everyone possesses, on some level, an interest in the tragically beautiful. Think of all those paintings of Ophelia, drowned amongst the lily pads. Or all the ballads about lost love and heartbreak

I think this would be a very interesting motive behind a villain's sadism

Imagine a villain who adores their victims, who thinks they're heavenly. Who dresses them in fine clothing, and puts them in ornate, romantic locations like a royal ball or a snowy garden, and watches in rapture as they grieve, or struggle, or bleed

If you don't feel up to writing something like this, that's fine. But you're a very talented writer, and I feel if anyone could do something with this, it'd be you

I’m honored you think highly enough of my writing to come to me with this, and I think I can definitely handle it >:)

*Note: I like pretty boys in dresses. Just because I’ve put the character in a dress does not mean they’re a girl, picture them however you like!

~~~~~

The hero might’ve liked the ballgown, in any other circumstance. Just the shade they liked, since it complimented their eyes. Shiny, sparkly, but not overdone, the glitter set in a way that wouldn’t let it rub off on everything they touched. It was a nice gown, truly.

The problem was the matching ribbon stringing them up by their wrists. Not tightly- from where they were stood, they could hold their arms comfortably at their sides, but it wasn’t coming off any time soon, and most importantly, the distance wasn’t long enough to reach the villain.

The villain, whose hand curled around the back of their lover’s neck to hold them still, a knife curled in their other hand. The hero’s lover whimpered, and the pained expression on the hero’s face only tightened.

The knife pressed.

“Let them go,” the hero blurted, before they could stop themself.

The villain grinned, and obliged. The hero was shocked numb as their lover ran to them, their arms wrapping around their torso and their face pressing into the junction between their neck and shoulder.

The lover began to say something, but their words were stopped short by the gurgle of blood past their lips as the villain reached around and plunged their blade under their ribs and up towards their lungs.

A beautiful dress it was, truly.

All the hero could do was hold their lover up as the blood poured, their eyes locked on some point in the distance, ears filled with the sound of their lover’s death. They didn’t register the villain watching with a satisfied gaze.

The hero couldn’t even lower their lover’s body to the ground. Their restraints wouldn’t let them reach that far. They could only hold their corpse and try to remember how to breathe.

They snapped out of it at the click of a camera.

“Shh..." The villain soothed when they looked up in shock. "You're so pretty for me. My darling, my Achilles. Like a painting, you are."

Words felt distant, to the hero, as it dawned on them, utterly numb, that the villain had planned this. Put everything together like puzzle pieces- the echoing cathedral-like setting, the dress (and their lover's matching suit, they realized), even the silk keeping them poised leant itself to a certain aethetic.

Their lover was going cold. The hero's arms hurt. They kept staring blindly. "You think yourself a- an artist?" They said, their voice little more than a whimper. "And I have made my masterpiece," the villain answered, tone reverent. The camera still clicked, but the villain was hardly looking at it anymore. "Let me down," the hero pleaded. "Let me- let me put them down."

The villain looked on for a moment longer, their expression fading slightly. "Pretty, but fleeting. Alright, my love. It's all done."

#hero x villain #my writing #not a prompt #snippets #whump #hero #villain

[the-burning-sea]

Since it came up in the short I’m working on: I generally picture the characters in my writing as men just because that’s what I prefer to read, but (if not otherwise specified in a request, which I would accept) I use gender neutral pronouns because I like my writing to be accessible. Picture them however you like! Request whatever you like!

Which brings up another thing: if you like my writing and want to see more of it send me things I guarantee there will be more of it

#not writing #psa #request me things!!

[the-burning-sea]

hello hello can i request a writing about a sexy swordfighting thank youu🦑

Also asked for by @suspicious-whumping-egg so I shall tag them! Send👏me👏requests! Love me some requests! ~~~~~

Character A's arm ached, but they knew better than to let their sword drop, even if Character B's unceasing onslaught only made it hurt worse. The fight had been going on for far too long, and Character A felt like they would do anything to just make it stop already. Anything but surrender, that is.

"You're dripping," Character A panted and tried not to let their exhaustion show in their tone. They aimed another strike, which Character B saw coming from a mile away and deftly blocked, just like Character A knew they would. "If you gave up, I wouldn't tell anyone." Character B matched their blow with a scathing look. "No. You'd only parade me around your capitol in chains while preening as your spine snapped from the weight of all that meaningless praise."

"Approval does wonders to my complexion," they grunted. They'd had to plant their feet as firmly as possible on the smooth stone brick to keep from sliding with the force. Character B only pushed harder, until their heel caught on a raised stone and the force caused them to fall. Character B swayed only minutely as they did. "You'd look better chains." They moved to press the tip of their sword to Character A's throat, but Character A raised their sword tiredly to push it out of the way.

"If you'd never accept surrender, why the hell should I?" "Because unlike you," Character B grunted and pressed harder on their blade, "I wouldn't leave you to the mercy of my people." "Want to keep me all for yourself, do you?" Their elbows bent, back pressed against the stone. So much for keeping their nice clothes clean. "And you know-" they hissed, "-full well that you have more sway than I do. Your people love you." "And since yours don't, why do you defend them?" Character A faltered, and Character B took it as their chance to knock their blade out of the way and really pin them. "I won't be unkind to you." Character B murmured, now far too close than Character A would've liked. "You're not giving me much of a choice." Their cheeks flushed, against their better judgement. "You'll like it here. Promise." Character B reached down and wretched the hilt out of their hand, tossing it to the side.

"Get up. You're going to have to ride with me."

#rivals #capture #knights? #princes? #soldiers? #oh my? #my writing #not a prompt #snippets #enemies to lovers #rivals to lovers

[the-burning-sea]

Since I’ve gotten a few asks for it I’m going to add here that I don’t intend to continue this (unless I get further inspiration for it.) By all means, if you’d like to see one of my shorts continued, go ahead and ask for it! But generally I leave my shorts off with no intention of continuing, and I end them that way. If you’d like to continue it on your own, go ahead, as long as you tag this post as the original :)

The protagonist curled themself tighter against the splintered wood of the cargo crate they were tucked behind, eyes shut and head down to avoid notice.

When the cannons of the other ship started firing, this was where the captain had asked them to go. When they’d refused, insisting that they wanted to fight too, that ask turned into an order.

It didn’t seem to be going well. There was shouting, and the sound of clashing metal above them. Had they been boarded, then? Were they losing? Was the captain dead already?

Over the course of the next hour, the sounds of fighting faded. Could they smell blood, or was it just in their head?

A commanding tone boomed above them, loud enough to be heard all the way down in the hold.

It was not their captain.

Only after a moment of this mystery voice issuing orders did the footsteps come down the stairs. They were looting, likely. Here to take the gunpowder and ale and rum and leave the men to drown.

Whoever it was began counting the boxes under their breath, by twos, getting progressively closer. Their hand came to rest on the box the protagonist was tucked behind. The protagonist held their breath.

“Well then. You certainly ain’t cargo. Or are ya?” The protagonist scrambled in place as the sailor grabbed their shirt by the back of the collar and pulled them out of their hiding spot.

They couldn’t see much in the dim light, but they could tell the sailor was looking them up and down. “Bit scrawny, aren’tcha? Too cleaned-up to be cargo. Where ye headin, stowaway?”

“I’m a cabin boy.” They coughed out, throat dry and lungs heavy with the scent- oh, that was definitely blood. “My captain don’t deal in that trade anyway.”

“Well, you’re a captive now. C’mon, up you get with the rest of ‘em.” The sailor set them down, nudging them none too gently in the back to herd them toward the deck.

The ship was chaos. More of the crew was dead than alive, and those that still lived were either covered in others’ blood or their own.

The captain was dead. Hanging from the mast, sword still embedded in their chest.

“Found this one hidin’, cap.”

The enemy captain turned toward them and caught the protagonist’s gaze. They wanted to go back to their nook, suddenly.

“Don’t appreciate cowards. What’ve you got to say for yourself?”

Despite their fear, the protagonist found their cheeks turning pink. “Just… following captain’s orders. They told me to.”

“Look at me.”

The protagonist did.

“How old are you?”

“Fifteen. Tomorrow.”

“Change of plans, then. Kill the rest of ‘em. This one’s with me.”

#not a short #not writing #psa

[the-burning-sea]

hello! i really love your works and i'd like to request a royalty rivals to lovers type of short story perhaps? like between 2 kingdom leaders or something :3

Ofc! There are three things I love in characters- princes, pirates, and villains. I’ll never say no to the chance to write any of them! I can’t quite do the full rivals to lovers in a snippet, so I’ll write them juuuust on the cuff >:)

~~~~~

Character A glared at Character B as they entered the banquet hall with a flourish. Sat on their throne, they had an excellent view of the several hundred people in attendance, the herald announcing their (annoyingly late) arrival, and every inch of Character B.

They really shouldn’t, couldn’t be this annoyed. They’d invited Character B after all, in a shallow attempt to ease relations. They’d expected a kind rejection and a return offer that Character A would reject just as easily. They hadn’t expected for them to actually show up.

It was exhausting.

Character B smirked at them, walking easily up the aisle the crowd had made to take their seat next to Character A. Character A noted, with an annoyed hint, that they’d sat on their right. The place that would’ve been reserved for their spouse, had they been married.

“Lovely party, dear. I can almost see why you aren’t enjoying it in the slightest.” Character B mused, setting a hand on their wrist lightly.

They jerked it away. “You’re late. You’re making a scene.”

“And now your courtiers have something better to talk about than your latest scandal. You’re welcome.”

Had that really- “You heard about that?!” They whispered urgently. “Did it-“

“Relax, darling. My court’s heard nothing of it. Did you think I don’t have ears here?”

Character A forced themself to settle their expression. They couldn’t let Character B see that they were a fish out of water.

“Ah, of course. You’ve never had an instinct for deception, have you? Don’t worry. I’ll pretend not to notice when you send yours in two weeks. It’s only fair.”

Character A’s annoyance burned. “Can you go anywhere without being obnoxious?”

Character B gave them a look. “Everyone but you seems to find me charming, darling.” Their expression turned weary for just a moment. “It’s exhausting.”

“Is that why you’re so obsessed with me? Because I’m the only one who isn’t fawning over you?”

Character B kept their gaze forward. “Yes.”

“What?”

“You’re the only one who behaves like a normal person around me. I said it was exhausting, didn’t I?”

Well. That changed things.

#snippets #my writing #not a prompt #enemies to lovers #rivals to lovers #royalty

[the-burning-sea]

Hey, congratulations on your most recent post blowing up. You deserve it -- it was really good.

I was wondering if you'd be willing to write a snippet with this prompt:

Character A is in danger, and Character B wants desperately to protect them. But A doesn't want B's help, so B has to kidnap them to do it.

Thank you! I’m honestly in shock that it’s gotten so far.

~~~~~

Character A pressed their back into the wall of the alleyway, their forehead in their hands.

“Do you believe me now?” Character B’s tone was still gentle, even with how tense Character A was.

“Fine- fine. Yes, I believe you, yes, there’s people after me, yes, my life’s in danger, blah blah blah. I still don’t need- or want- your help. M’kay?”

Character B crossed their arms, resisting leaning against the filthy brick like Character A was. “A, I only want to protect you. You don’t know them like I do, you can’t run from them like you think you can.”

Character A scoffed. “Ain’t your job to protect me. I’ll handle myself.”

“You’ll die.”

“Then that’s my problem. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get a head start. I don’t know if they’ve found my apartment yet-“ Character A moved to push past Character B.

Their vision blurred blue around the edges.

“Don’t do this to me.” They mumbled to B, whose chest was glowing a faint blue with the use of their powers. Character A wobbled dangerously, their hand on the wall.

“I’m sorry, A. It’s for your own good.” Character B increased the strength of their powers, letting Character A fall. “I can’t see them hurt you.”

#my writing #not a prompt #snippets #whump

[the-burning-sea]

Sorry, not an ask, just wanted to say that your username is really cool! I only found your blog recently but it seems really nice!! have a nice daayy :D 🌸

Thank you 😊 I love hearing from people!

[the-burning-sea]

“Stand down, soldier! That’s an order! We tell you to pull out, you pull out!”

The hero tugged the piece out of their ear and stuffed it into their pocket. Just around the corner, in the school’s lunch room, was the villain.

The hostage situation had been going on for almost twelve hours, now, with most of the school’s students being held in the lunch room while the hero’s higher-ups attempted to negotiate.

The hero was only meant to be here scouting. They knew all too well that any engagement could put the lives of every child in that room in danger, but their government was telling them to stand down without a backup plan- they certainly weren’t going to meet the villain’s demands. They were going to leave those children to die.

They glanced around the corner. There was the villain, reclining against the lunchroom table while the teens surrounding them gripped each others’ hands and pretended not to notice. The room smelled like things often did in the aftermath of the villain- like sweat, fear, and blood.

The hero let out a deep breath. They could die if they went in there, and if they made it out? A severe reprimand at best, legal action against them at worse.

“You can come out now.”

The hero’s blood ran cold, but after a moment, they did.

“They told you to stand down?”

The hero’s eyes shifted to the students, staring at them, begging them not to shatter their hope.

“Do we have to talk about this now?”

“So that’s a yes. I told you they would. The ransom’s too high.”

“You knew that when you set it.” The hero said sharply. One of the students flinched at the sudden tone of their voice.

“I did. Your government doesn’t have the same nobility you do. They rank their assets one by one, piece by piece, and nothing can disrupt that. Not even the lives of a thousand children. Not even you.”

“If they don’t give in, you’ll blow the place, won’t you?”

“I’m prepared to, yes.”

“They- they wouldn’t let you do that.” The hero argued, even though they knew it wasn’t true.

“No. You won’t let me. Your precious government isn’t good, darling. You are. They won’t hand over the ransom no matter how many lives I risk.”

The hero was quiet for a moment. They watched each other.

“… No,” they said finally. “But I will.”

The villain couldn’t help but give a small, pitying smile. “That’s it. Run along now, children.”

The students, held hostage for far longer than any of them should have been forced to stand, didn’t hesitate. The lunch room was empty in seconds.

“I still don’t understand why you’d want me as a ransom.” The hero muttered.

“To prove a point. You’ve done so much good, sweetheart, but they were holding you back. What we’ll do together- now that will be spectacular. You’ll see.”

Against their better judgment, against their shame and their will, the hero smiled. Yeah. It would be.

#hero #villain #my writing #not a prompt #snippets #hero x villain #whump #hostage #since this is doing numbers i'm just gonna add real quietly that i take requests if you wanna request me a thing #I like taking prompts

[the-burning-sea]

The protagonist curled themself tighter against the splintered wood of the cargo crate they were tucked behind, eyes shut and head down to avoid notice.

When the cannons of the other ship started firing, this was where the captain had asked them to go. When they’d refused, insisting that they wanted to fight too, that ask turned into an order.

It didn’t seem to be going well. There was shouting, and the sound of clashing metal above them. Had they been boarded, then? Were they losing? Was the captain dead already?

Over the course of the next hour, the sounds of fighting faded. Could they smell blood, or was it just in their head?

A commanding tone boomed above them, loud enough to be heard all the way down in the hold.

It was not their captain.

Only after a moment of this mystery voice issuing orders did the footsteps come down the stairs. They were looting, likely. Here to take the gunpowder and ale and rum and leave the men to drown.

Whoever it was began counting the boxes under their breath, by twos, getting progressively closer. Their hand came to rest on the box the protagonist was tucked behind. The protagonist held their breath.

“Well then. You certainly ain’t cargo. Or are ya?” The protagonist scrambled in place as the sailor grabbed their shirt by the back of the collar and pulled them out of their hiding spot.

They couldn’t see much in the dim light, but they could tell the sailor was looking them up and down. “Bit scrawny, aren’tcha? Too cleaned-up to be cargo. Where ye headin, stowaway?”

“I’m a cabin boy.” They coughed out, throat dry and lungs heavy with the scent- oh, that was definitely blood. “My captain don’t deal in that trade anyway.”

“Well, you’re a captive now. C’mon, up you get with the rest of ‘em.” The sailor set them down, nudging them none too gently in the back to herd them toward the deck.

The ship was chaos. More of the crew was dead than alive, and those that still lived were either covered in others’ blood or their own.

The captain was dead. Hanging from the mast, sword still embedded in their chest.

“Found this one hidin’, cap.”

The enemy captain turned toward them and caught the protagonist’s gaze. They wanted to go back to their nook, suddenly.

“Don’t appreciate cowards. What’ve you got to say for yourself?”

Despite their fear, the protagonist found their cheeks turning pink. “Just… following captain’s orders. They told me to.”

“Look at me.”

The protagonist did.

“How old are you?”

“Fifteen. Tomorrow.”

“Change of plans, then. Kill the rest of ‘em. This one’s with me.”

#whump #pirate #pirates #my writing #snippets #not a prompt

[the-burning-sea]

The hero shivered as the villain’s hand skated over their jaw, just beneath the blindfold. They couldn’t help it- the villain’s hands were always so frigid. The hero had once joked that it must be the sluggish blood flow, from the villain’s lack of a heart. They weren’t joking, now. 

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. So long in my care and you still can't stand my touch. Why is that, sweet one?"

The hero had long since learned that most attempts to speak in the villain's presence would end with a sputtering flow of words they'd be unable to stop. The villain was just off-putting like that. The villain had long since learned that their questions would go unanswered.

"I have a surprise for you, darling. I think you'll like it." The villain kissed their cheek and guided them out of their ever-familiar cell down a hall, to a garage, and into a car, the villain holding their hand the whole time. The hero was long past any attempts to take the blindfold off unless the villain specifically asked them to. There was no need to bind their hands.

The hero kept their head down. The villain always kept everything so cold- and that didn't exclude their car.

The road under them changed to gravel. The car stopped and the villain got out. The hero knew not to leave until the villain came for them.

They were gentle as they unfastened the hero's seatbelt for them and guided them out of the car.

The air smelled like smoke, like gasoline, like burning rubber, and the hero's brow furrowed as they tried to discern where the villain had brought them. The villain came up behind them, their hands resting in mock-comfort on their biceps for just a moment before coming up to untie the blindfold.

The hero was standing before their city.

And it was burning.

#hero #villain #my writing #snippets #not a prompt #captivity #whump #hero x villain