#LOVE a good crew of misfits

[birdietrait]

there are a few new ocs bouncing around in my head

#birdie rambles #i've been having crazy detailed dreams lately...they're like movies with actual plots #i haven't been in one of my own dreams for months now. idk if that means something ? SJKDSJ #but from each dream i've been pulling different aspects and building this story and i lovee it #it's this sort of. sci-fi post apocalyptic world and the characters are a crew of misfits :0) #LOVE a good crew of misfits

[crabussy]

you guys would not believe the convo I just had with some of the sys (sunny, circe, moon, phoebe, francis, martin and jon)

we were in the living room of headspace discussing what stuff we should do while on holiday and a fucking. disembodied brain??? floats into the middle of the room??? and just hovers there and we're all freaked the fuck out and it just. becomes a full nervous system and them it has muscles and skin and clothes and boom. it was phoebe. WHAT THE FUCK. WHY WOULD SHE. WHAT. WHY.

turns out she was just having fun fucking with the dream-physics of headspace. later in the convo she was suddenly an autism creature after a brief confetti explosion and then she turned her hair into hatsune miku's hair. wtf is wrong with this girl. also british people (jon and martin) joined the convo and started being GAY IN FRONT OF ALL OF US. GROSS (it was cute actually)

#it was a good convo!!! today is a good day in the system ((: everyones getting along for once and things arent as fuzzy as usual :D #jon and martin were being GAY. moon was just Sitting There. phoebe butted in a lot but its ok we love her #circe is actually much wilder than I thought??? I'm not too close with her but I assumed she wasn't that silly but turns out shes bonkers #I underestimated your clownery circe. im sorry #also I get!! really nervous talking about this on main! because I've had really scary rubbish encounters with fakeclaimers in the past etc #so I kinda feel anxious when talking about the positive parts of being part of a system #because everyone on r/fakedisordercringe believes that plurality is a traumatic nightmare 100% of the time )): #its hard!! its REALLY difficult and sucky being a system. #of course it is we're 24 people sharing one body and 23 of us can't even be acknowledged #etc etc. it sucks its a disorder #BUT its also just an alternate way of existing as a human!! we have fun we make friends we make fun of each other and have good times. #mostly. #WOW. RANT. OOPS. but I just want to say that I want to share my experiences as part of a nutty crew of morons... a ragtag band of misfits.. #I want to show you guys the positives. try and destigmatise this bitch!!!!! the negatives are there too and I will talk about them sometime #but for now. this was a really fun convo and I wanted to share it #robin shut up challenge #not gonna tag this as anything because I don't want anons telling me I'm making stuff up. #please trust me I've been told that dozens of times you really don't need to tell me #my professional psychiatrist/therapist believes I am a system. you are a stranger on the internet who has never met me. please refrain from #sending anons fakeclaiming #WOW I AM NERVOUS TODAY BOYS #dont be surprised if this post disappears

[koiiiiijiii]

HIII!! I've been reading your work for awhile🛐🛐 BUT I HAVE BEEN CRAVING MORE OF THE WAY YOU WRITE WOOIN ACTUALLY me and my friend have been reading your fics for awhile and go feral for them no specific scenario in mind TBH I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND THE WOOIN REQUEST!!🫶🏻🫶🏻

AHHH BIG LUV SIS APPRECIATE THAT U ENJOYING MY WORKS!! don't worry, my boy wooin are always welcomed here😌😌

im actually curious if you meant like possessive wooin? bc if so, good news, i have more here xo - xo

warnings : obsessive!wooin, my fav trop with him unrequited love, intrusive thoughts

notes : prob gonna do pt. 2 of this, bc this one kinda short, but not sure if u up to.. let me know!!

୭🧷✧˚. ᵎᵎ 🎀

Wooin would never dare to confess his true feelings for you. especially since that bitch Sangho said that someone should keep an eye on such misfits as Sabbath and let him and Ryu Juwon know that they didn't cause any other problems. yet, deep down, he couldn't deny the pull you had on him. despite the fact that you and Sung been just + 2 to Yoo Bin, he couldn't overlook your talents in cycling and your captivating beauty. but hell, he would ever say something romantic in your direction first.

it didn't faze him that you often accompanied Yoo Bin, he immediately noticed that although you and he had a close relationship, you two shared only brotherly bond, one that made him feel like an outsider longing for more. yet, there was something about the way you looked at the Joker, the way you talked to Hyeok or any other random or nouname from the competition who thought he had a chance to get to know you. it left him restless, trembling with jealousy whenever you disregarded him. how could you? wasn't he a vibrant personality, adorned with all his piercings, splitted tongue and a bright fashion style? since you join crew, hell even from inception of Sabbath, he had been there, injecting humor, exuding charisma, demonstrating sharp wit with his abilities to find source of income, and in his honest opinion, displaying less sullen and gloom than the rest. he thrived on the spotlight, assuming the role of leader effortlessly. but you, little bitch, still decided to play hard to get with him and ignore him.

when once again he saved you from some annoying piece of shit who kept begging for your number, you look at him over your shoulder with those incredulous, innocent eyes and he felt the earth disappear from under his feet. ah, those eyes of yours... Wooin never imagined he could be ensnared by someone's gaze. with just a flutter of your lashes, and he forgot his prepared excuses or jokes he was about to use as an excuse for the fact that he once again found himself alone with you, and again, rescuing you from unwanted attention.

he despised this feeling, yet he couldn't bring himself to admit that it was you he liked. no, it was something deeper, something sinister. it was an obsession, boiling loathing and hatred of everything around you, and that's all you voluntarily turned your attention to, but not to him, even when he was desperately struggling.

୭🧷✧˚. ᵎᵎ 🎀

AHHHH SORRY!! I PLANNED TO MAKE IT DARKER BUT I FINISHING THIS ON LECTURE IN UNI sooo... u know... promise, i will do it darker, again if you guys are up to💋💋

#[ ~ koi.talks🗣] #windbreaker #windbreaker webtoon #windbreaker x reader #windbreaker headcanon #webtoon #x reader #headcanon #imagine #joker windbreaker #wooin sabbath #wooin windbreaker #wooin x reader #sabbath windbreaker #sabbath crew

[beanghostprincess]

the monster trio are various flavors of audhd (all strawhats are neurodivergent, but they the most)

luffy is high empathy, stimming, bluntness and audioprocessing disorder

zoro is hyperfocus, sleepy, good at maths and flat affect

sanji is infodumping, special interest (cooking), rigid rules (don't hurt women, don't use hands, etc) and difficulty with regulating emotions

Agree completely 🫶🏻 There is not a single neurotypical person in this crew !! That's why they love each other so much, they just get each other. In general, I think that the whole "misfits finding a found family" trope is incredibly neurodivergent coded but I think that specifically with the strawhats there is like, a fundamental obvious understanding that none of them are neurotypical. Like there is no way. I know it's meant to be very general for people who don't fit in to relate, but keeping in mind that most of the time the reason people don't fit in is because of living in a normative, neurotypical society... Idk. I just feel like the strawhats were all meant to be for neurodivergent people.

This being said !!!

AAAAAAAAAA I love the monster trio being neurodivergent. Mainly because I know it'd bother sooo many dudebros. And also because it makes so much sense and it's very very very real to me.

Luffy can't stop moving or doing stuff because it is painfully boring to be doing nothing, so he's always finding new things to do because short attention span and hyperactivity in a crew where everybody has their own stuff to do?? Not a good combo. So he's always seeing what he can do to not get bored. I think he's always touching Zoro's earrings absentmindedly like-- It's not even on purpose. He just does it. Also, being made of rubber has to be the best thing for stimming with your own body ngl. He's sooo direct and honest and blunt because he genuinely doesn't get why people don't think the same as him, but he doesn't have to get it to be emotionally attached and help you out because he makes other people's emotions his. Also add info-dumping right there because I know this guy is the biggest nerd about beetles and will talk to anybody who asks about them. They might be talking about something that has nothing in common with them and he brings them up anyway. Also! I adore the APD headcanon??? You're so right and it fits him SO well.

Zoro is my absolute beloved here because he has so much depth and feels and knows so much but people always characterize him as stoic and emotionless and like,, He just has a hard time showing it visually but he feels stuff deeply. He's always training and it almost feels like the world around him vanishes and he's always sooo eepy. Eepy boy. I get it. I think he almost finds it frustrating tbh like- We never talk about that but I think it's a bit bothersome for him sometimes? Also he's my favorite math genius and he might be shitty at directions but damn he's good at this. Also he likes things to be perfectly placed and everything to be in patterns of 3, thank you.

Sanji is the realest for me-- Don't ask him about the All Blue (please do) because he will start talking like crazy for hours and hours and hours with the brightest of smiles. If somebody wants to know about his cooking like, actually know what he's doing, he won't shut up. Somebody mentions any animal or vegetable or fruit and the guy is already telling you all the ways it can be cooked. He has a lil voice in his head telling him constantly what he should and shouldn't do btw and I also hc that he has to have everything in the right place or else he loses his mind completely. And that's tied to not being able to regulate emotions properly-- So he's constantly extremely anxious or feeling waves of sadness or just, extreme emotions in general.

#also sanji is just like me fr #they're all neurodivergent and they love each other sooo much!!!! #one piece #monster trio #black leg sanji #roronoa zoro #monkey d. luffy #ask-bean!

[liveinalovelyway]

Hello! :)

I thought it might be fun to start a little music blog since I am so so so passionate about my favorite songs and artists. so very. Listening to new music and making all kinds of playlists have been big hobbies of mine for a while now and I’m hoping this will be a nice little hangout spot where I can talk about my favorite thing <3

Some of my very favorite artists!

❤️ Guns N’ Roses, Pink Floyd, Jeff Buckley ❤️

+ David Gilmour, Iron Maiden, Aerosmith, Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Misfits, The Smashing Pumpkins, Ghost, Fleet Foxes, Palace, Dr. Dog, Frank Sinatra and Mac DeMarco to name a few :D

+ my Spotify <3 (descriptions and links to all of my playlists under the cut if you’re interested!!!)

find beauty in ordinary things - my very favorite rock-esque songs at the moment yaya

through hardships to the stars - pretty songs <3

you’re gonna make it if you try - soft rock / progressive rock / psychedelic rock type songs

take your time, don’t live too fast - classic rock songs

your zenith fades into eternity - pretty new/modern rock

know it’s for the better - power ballads and things of the sort

be patient with your life - pretty/chill songs

put your mind at ease - super chill songs

we’re a long way from the past - very pretty old timey songs

things are subject to change - old timey songs

near to the sun in the day - morning songs

near to the moon at night - nighttime songs

to live in fear is to not live at all - happy songs :)

like the mountains in springtime - upbeat and invigorating mountain songs / walkin’ songs

love is stronger than hate - nice and comfy songs

slow down, you’re doing fine - calm, comfy and quiet songs

hold on to the dream - super sleepy songs to go to sleeps to zzz

sketch the trees and the daffodils - spring songs

flaming flowers that brightly blaze - summer songs

swirling clouds in violet haze - autumn songs

catch the breeze and the winter chills - winter songs

you’ve gotta make it your own way - every Guns N’ Roses song (except one that.. that yeah..) in order of my favorites :) “don’t cry” i cried. he crew. we crode.

you are young and life is long - every Pink Floyd song (except the instrumental and/or wacky ones) in order of my favorites :)

it takes strength to be gentle and kind - every Jeff Buckley song in order of my favorites :) YEOUCH

take one day at a time - every David Gilmour song in order of my favorites :)

we are here to revel forevermore - every Ghost song (except Ashes because it scares me) in order of my favorites :)

sunlight over me no matter what i do - every Fleet Foxes song in order of my favorites :)

lord have mercy - the guns n roses “trilogy” / shot through the heart knees buckling turning into a pulp my gut is wretched gnawing at the bars of my cell sliding down the wall weeping on my hands and knees punching the ground writhing in my straight jacket this time i’m really gonna do it. in a good way <333

(apolocheese for that one, I think its funny..)

#spotify #music #my playlist #my music #spotify playlist #music playlist #playlist #concept playlist #playlist curator #music recs #favorite music #guns n roses #pink floyd #jeff buckley #david gilmour #the band ghost #fleet foxes #rock #rock music #classic rock #rock n roll #hard rock #progressive rock #psychedelic rock #soft rock #new rock #modern rock #retro music

[jacks347]

Would the listeners survive a zombie apocalypse? (In my slightly sarcastic, completely subjective opinion)

Idk man, I'm bored and got time to kill in church so here we are

(Tagging this is going to be a nightmare-)

(Edit from the future: It was. It really was.)

Redacted:

For sake of my sanity this isn't all the listeners, just the ones I'm still actively keeping up with (I'll get to the others...eventually)

Angel - Solid maybe. Out of all the unempowereds, definitely has one of the highest chances. But it would take an extreme streak of luck.

Babe - No...I'm sorry but no. Would be like one of those extras that you see eaten in the first minute of a horror movie.

Sweetheart - Probably. Can a zombie detect someone invisible? Sweetheart is smart enough to survive, they'll be fine.

Darlin - Yes if they have Sam to hold them back from sacrificing themself for the "greater good". No if they're left completely to their own devices.

Lovely - Depends on the version. Pre Adam, no. Pre Inversion, maybe? Post Inversion, definitely. Hard to die to a zombie apocalypse when you're a) already dead and b) literally immortal.

Treasure - Okay, I know Treasure is the newest addition to the roster and we haven't had a lot of time to see their personality develop but as of now? Yeah...no.

Freelancer - They'll do it on -3 hours of sleep simply out of spite. Freelancer has been through enough, they're just tired. They'd survive but begrudgingly.

Honey - Honey would survive out of spite and spite alone. Would definitely have that baseball bat from The Walking Dead.

GBA:

Guardian - ...you're kidding, right?

Darling - Yeah...no. Soft bby would never.

Faithful - Possibly? That stubborn attitude and medical abilities would help but has absolutely no combat training so ehhhhh, it depends.

Paradise - If she can break a pirate crew out of space Fort Knox and wrangle Yargwynn, a zombie apocalypse is pocket change. Paradise would own an apocalypse.

Partner - I swear I'll stop bullying the new additions. Once they're worth not bullying. The man made the zombie apocalypse, I guess we're gonna find out if he survives won't we? I'm not hopeful though.

Escaped:

Asset - No one in ATW even knows how to do basic math, the only way any of them survive is through sheer force of which they might actually be successful. So maybe.

Raven - Yes but she would have a mental breakdown about it so she would not be the same on the other side.

Slash - ...seriously?

Guest - Hm, a trained vampire slayer in a zombie apocalypse, I wonder what would happen! Obviously she'd be fine.

Intern - Entirely dependent on who they're trying to keep alive. If it's just them, probably. If it's them and the rest of their merry band of misfits, no.

Future Wife - You're funny. RIP my girl, no one will know her husband broke the fuckin timeline for some pancakes.

Agent Schäfer - Once the shock and panic wore off, yeah she'd be fine. Hope she doesn't get eaten during that freeze.

("Where's Lass?" When Desmond returns for more than five minutes, come talk to me about listening to Blue Infinity)

Nomad:

Pack Mom - Definitely. We already know she's a deadly shot and wasn't afraid to shoot a living person, a dead one would be fine. She will be perfectly fine.

Lass - Yes. Not with as much overwhelming power as Pack Mom but she'd get through it. I mean...she has formal sword training, I think she'd do okay.

Little One - Probably not. Out of the original Frosthaven romances, they are the least likely to survive. They'd put up a good fight though.

Lamb - Yes and no. Physically, she'd be just fine. Mentally, I don't know if she could do it. Slipping back into that killer mindset might just drag her under.

Chester's mate - Probably not. Out of all the new Frosthaven romances, they're the most average. They'd try though.

Harlow's roommate - No. I love them but no. Not our slightly stupid boat captain.

Caltraxus' TA - Yes and they'd hate it every step of the way. Would survive completely hungover if that was an option.

The Doctor - Probably? If not by her own merit then definitely through someone else cause everyone needs a doctor in the apocalypse.

Beau's mate - Yes. Literally fought a bear once. She will be just fine.

(The lack of fandom names for Nomad's listeners saddens me greatly. And also makes my work so much harder)

This was so dumb but I had fun so :P

#asmr roleplay #escaped audios #redacted audio #redacted asmr #good boy audios #nomads tales and audios #redactedverse #redacted angel #redacted babe #redacted sweetheart #redacted darlin #redacted lovely #redacted treasure #redacted freelancer #redacted honey #gba bastard warrior #gba sp #gba moth #gba bastards vs zombies #gba guardian #gba darling #gba faithful #gba paradise #against the world #matador gothic #slash and the basher #new jersey rats #chronus seven #der wolfsjäger #frosthaven

[fourraccoonsinacoat]

FourRaccoonsInACoat Masterlist

Thanks for stopping by my masterlist, I am thrilled there are people who are interested in my writing! You may be asking, did I really create a logo for a nonexistent book series that only exists in the BG3 universe and features Malta the crime-fighting cat, all for the sake of a gag?

Yes. Yes I did. I will speak no more on the matter.

My fanfiction is centered around Baldur's Gate 3 and explores the romance between Astarion and the Dark Urge. The Durge MC in my works is based on my first BG3 Durge, a female half-drow warlock named Eli. I currently have one ongoing chapter fic, as well as a few one shots that all take place in the same universe.

I write fanfiction for myself as a way to decompress from life and because I enjoy sharing my stories with others. It legitimately makes my day when someone is entertained by my writing, so thank you for every comment, like, message and kudo. Much love and appreciation to you all!

Also, if you're here for BG3 Incorrect Quotes, follow that link for the masterlist.

____________________

AO3 Account - All of my works are crossposted to AO3.

Ongoing Work

Head Full of Ghosts:

Current Rating: M

Chapters: Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4

Eli has spent a lot of time combing through her fractured psyche, trying to piece together any semblance of facts about who she was before she awoke on a mind flayer nautiloid. In all that self-reflection, she has concluded there are two things she is very good at. Killing people and drinking.

Neither of which is proving very useful as she tries to navigate interpersonal pitfalls after being appointed leader of a ragtag group of maladjusted misfits who are trying to source a cure for the illithid tadpoles in their heads. As if that isn't problematic enough, she's also having to contend with the growing affections between herself and the group's resident vampire spawn, Astarion.

Between fanatic cultists, goblin raids, murderous urges and cryptic memory loss, Eli figures a relationship is the last thing she ought to get herself wrapped up in. And from what she's seen of Astarion, the cavalier rogue seems to have his own breeds of specters haunting his steps.

Neither one of them has any business mucking about with romance. But, neither one of them is particularly good at staying away from things that entice.

____________________

One Shots

In chronological order:

Fall for Me ---> Faint of Heart ---> Midnight Prayer

Fall for Me

Rating: E NSFW18+

Astarion wakes from a nightmare and goes to Eli, seeking reassurance as he struggles with the denial of his feelings. The last thing he wants to do is give someone else control over him, not after he’s so recently regained a taste of freedom. Over the past 200 years, every relationship Astarion was involved in had been nothing more than a means to an end, with Astarion either playing the role of manipulator or the one being manipulated. Attachments were leverage, giving someone a hook they were able to dig their claws into in order to gain ground. Isolating himself from connecting with others was how he had survived.

This, however…this was different. 

Rating: M

Faint of Heart

Somewhere along the way, more and more truth has begun to slip into the words Astarion has been using to charm Eli into his bed. He's not sure when it started, but sometime between their passionate nights and hard fought days, genuine feelings began to stir.

It all comes to a head after the crew stages a prison break out of Moonrise Towers. Now, during a rare evening of respite, Astarion is determined to make a confession, regardless of his fears over the fallout.

Rating: M

Midnight Prayer

Neither Eli nor Astarion knows what they're doing when it comes to romance. Their combined histories with healthy relationships adds up to an unsurprising total of zero. Astarion once admitted to Eli that he couldn’t remember ever bedding the same person twice. And Eli…well, she can't remember anything, frankly. Her memories of past lovers are nonexistent…at least…

At least until today. Today, when they’d finally met the infamous Enver Gortash.

#bg3 #baldur's gate 3 #baldur’s gate iii #baldurs gate 3 #bg3 spoilers #astarion #astarion bg3 #bg3 astarion #astarion romance #astarion fanfiction #astarion fanfic #astarion x dark urge #astarion x durge #astarion x tav #astarion headcanons #bg3 headcanons #bg3 fanfic #bg3 fanfiction #ao3 writer #ao3 fanfic

[chaoticbardlady99]

Lethal Woman- Chapter 6 (GN! AFAB! Reader x Astarion) 18+ MDNI

Author note- work has kicked my ass left right and center. I also deleted my draft of this chapter like three separate times until I finally wrote something I loved.

CW- mentions of still birth, mentions of miscarriage, smut, fluff (I think? Any emotional intimacy is fluff to me 💀), mentions of torture, mentions of rape/sexual assault, mentions of physical and emotional abuse, violence. (I think that may be all? Also this all looks not awesome, but I promise it’s a lot more awesome than you think and not Uber grotesque.)

It’s been mostly edited and I definitely have chapter 7 basically done so I’m anticipating being happy with my draft by Sunday. Happy reading! Thank you for everyone who likes my little self indulgent angst fic!!!!

Also- please remember I take creative liberties. A good chunk of the Nightmasks are dead canonically (RIP my guys) but for the purpose of this story, they are alive. Oh and the names are hard so forgive me for the lack of consistent spelling lmao

Chapter 7

“Ugly, wretched little thing.”

Dahlia’s term of endearment sticks to your brain like- well- an illithid parasite. You are sitting with Karlach and Shadowheart, each of you on your fourth glass of whatever alcohol you could find as the Tieflings jovially celebrate around you. You want to feel the same warmth and happiness everyone else does, but you are too busy trying to ignore the fact that Alfira and Astarion have been talking since the beginning of the party- Alfira immediately walking up to him with her stupid, beautiful face. And her stupid kind heart and pretty voice.

You liked her enough to be her friend, but now? You are struggling not to haul her off by her horns and kick her into the river in the stinking Owlbear den.

Get yourself together Rowan, it was never going to happen anyway.

“Soldier, you might want to stop burning a hole through the Bard with your eyes- Astarion can’t tolerate fire remember?,” Karlach jests and you give her a sour look.

You hadn’t really talked to Astarion since earlier in the day when he had come to your aid when Priestess Gut had a firm grip on your mind, then he fought by your side while you freed Halsin. You had split up after that, him going to help Shadowheart and Karlach and you off to support Wyll and Gale’s group. The fight against Dror Ragozlin and his crew of misfits was easy and Lae’zel evidently enjoyed getting to fight next to you for once. You wanted to enjoy the moment with your companions, your victory just in your grasp, but you had been somewhat distracted during the battle because Minthara’s thoughts had been so Gods damn loud.

You appeared to be the only one experiencing this problem- you assumed that she is specifically targeting you for a reason, but you couldn’t figure out why until she showed you a different image than the fight in front of her.

It was you, standing over a drow female in Menzoberranzan. The alley way is dark with her blood dripping into the cobblestone. You could feel Minthara’s rage- you had killed her lover.

You remember that contract now- It was one of the few you had received where it was required that the target be mutilated and you hated every second of it. Minthara was one of the few people who had ever managed to almost catch you, but you had evaded her successfully. The picture changed, she showed you a flash from Shadowheart’s perspective- it’s you and Astarion, talking in hushed voices and close to each other by the fire. The scene is far more intimate than you realized and certainly incriminating. Her voice boomed in your head.

You killed my lover. Now I’m going to kill yours.

A scream pierced the air as Karlach cried out for Shadowheart. You watched in horror as Shadowheart hit the stone wall hard and dropped flat on her face- unmoving. Karlach was at her side within seconds, trying to get her to wake up. Then Karlach pitched forward after a spell hit her. Karlach was screaming in terror at the top of her lungs and rolling around in pain. You stared at the scene for what felt like hours- rigid and mortified- until Minthara caught your attention again.

Minthara showed Astarion- fighting for his life against her as her blade nicked him and cut him superficially. Thankfully he is a lot faster than her, but your feet were moving before your brain had time to process your actions. Your rage is all consuming- every part of your body feels like it’s on fire.

Between the use of Ghost Step and Spider Crawl, you made quick work of sneaking into the battlefield. You waited for an opening- Minthara and Astarion were neck and neck, blow for blow before Minthara managed to break one of his daggers and slam the hilt of her longsword atop of his head.

Astarion stumbled backwards and fell over on his side. You tried to suppress your own nausea as you watched him struggle to get up as Minthara began menacingly moving towards him. The bloodlust in her thoughts- you could taste it on your tongue. Vengeance is in her reach, but you are not the same you when Tessa died. You will be damned if this bitch of a woman was going to torture two of your closest friends and kill the one person who has made your barely beating, locked away heart a little less heavy to carry.

You cast Evard’s Black Tentacles and manipulated them so that one vine grabbed Minthara’s right hand and ripped it away from the left- her long sword fell to the ground. You picked it up as she screamed profanities at you.

You manipulated another to wrap around her throat and it pulled her down on her knees- she faced the bridge with horror on her face as you stalked towards her with your vampiric stare. You watched as she confronted her own mortality with angry tears- her tadpole hurled profanities at you in Elvish, Drow elvish, and Common. You just smiled at her, sweetly, slowly, like you had perfected for years now.

Minthara’s tears were running down her face and she fought against the tentacles as they squeezed tighter around her throat and wrists.

The next words you had spoken in Elvish- “Say hi to your lover for me”- before you cut her head clean off her shoulders with her own weapon.

You hadn’t looked at Astarion after you had killed Minthara- you were actually too afraid to see the way he may look at you. Would he be repulsed by you? Afraid? You didn’t want to know.

So now, instead, you are stuck watching him flirt with the feminine, beautiful tiefling that you want to go and feed to the resurrected harpies (they aren’t resurrected- yet). You know it isn’t her fault- you just never stood a chance.

“Roo, really, he is barely focusing on her,” Shadowheart says with a roll of her eyes, “he keeps looking over here at you anyway.”

“Oh I’m sure he is after I brutally murdered someone in front of him,” you cross your arms, your tone laced in venom, “yeah that’s a real attractive quality to have- I am capable of brutal MURDER.”

Shadowheart goes to protest, but Karlach beats her to it.

“I don’t know Soldier, he looked pretty dazzled to me.”

You bust up laughing, choking on some of your wine.

“Dazzled, you say?”

“Razzle DAZZLED!” Karlach offers big explosive hands with her statement, “and I mean- he’s into blood so it’s not like you beheading something is all that damning. Maybe he’s really into it.”.

You choke on your wine again, this time it comes out of your nose. You are both dying laughing now, evidently the alcohol had gotten to your heads. It wasn’t because you were making fun of him- it was just the whole idea itself was so ridiculous and the fact that you can nonchalantly talk about beheading a person as an endearing prospect with these two individuals is so bizarre. Shadowheart was laughing despite herself.

Eventually the three of you make your way to the firepit and join Halsin and Gale while they smoke something out of Halsin’s pipe. You ask to try it and it burns your throat as you cough harshly. Halsin laughs hardily and says you’ve passed initiation. Shit, you don’t even remember walking over to the campfire anymore.

Another hour or so passes, Astarion is out of sight and the high has worn off. You feel pleased to see Alfira standing and talking to her friend dejectedly. Maybe he rejected her? You might be a terrible person, but you feel like you already knew that.

You feel overwhelmed all of a sudden by the proximity and warmth of everyone around the fire. You wait for the right moment to remove yourself from the situation- desperately needing a moment of peace and quiet.

If anyone notices you get up, they don’t say anything. You quickly steal another bottle of wine from beside Gale and Halsin and sneak off into the woods.

You crack open the bottle and slowly sip on it as you meander through the woods, finding the secret path to the beach that you have come to adore so much. You had been eyeballing one specific cliff edge ever since you and Astarion had found this place. It wasn’t a massive cliff, but the pool at the bottom of it is deep enough for you to jump into the water without injury. It was something your father used to do with you when you were a child. There was a river that ran outside of your little town and as you moved further into the woods, you could find a waterfall with a deep pool at the bottom. He would teach you flips and different jumps. He had deemed you the world’s finest diver right before he died- cheering you on from the ground below.

You feel warm and melancholy from the memory. Gods you miss your parents.

You drop the bottle of wine and strip down to your underwear and make your way towards the top of the waterfall.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Astarion had finally managed to get Alfira to leave him alone. She is an adorable little creature, but she is not the one on his radar right now. Adorable does not compare to the vision you are- nor the protection you provide.

Astarion had spent the last painstaking hour and a half watching you laugh with quite literally every person in camp who has a crush on you- Shadowheart, Lae’zel, Gale, and even Halsin is fucking smitten now. Gods could you just stop being yourself for five minutes? Astarion needs (and silently wants) your attention to only be on him. It is absolutely crucial to his survival. Speaking of which, where the hells were you?

You were no longer by the fire where he had last seen you before he snuck into Gale’s tent to steal one of the nicer bottles of wine he hoards away from everyone. Astarion had planned on using your shared connection to ask you to meet him at your spot, but now you are nowhere to be found.

Astarion fights the urge to scream out of frustration as he treks through the woods towards the spot on the beach hoping by some miracle that you may already be there.

Astarion stops as your scent hits his nose. He walks around the corner of the rock that you both use as a landmark and freezes when he notices your clothes are sprawled across the ground and a bottle of wine is a third of the way empty. He tries to ignore the ache that is starting to consume his chest. Did you bring someone else here? Shadowheart maybe? You were sitting rather close to her earlier…

Did his three days of stubbornness really just allow you to fall into someone else’s arms?

Astarion’s sinking feeling gets worse when something flashes out of the corner of his eye.

He sneaks around the corner- reminding himself that he is merely just making sure Shadowheart isn’t being… Shadowheart?

Imagine his shock when Astarion doesn’t see Shadowheart at all. Instead, he witnesses you complete a perfect aerial twist before graciously diving into the waves below. He feels completely frozen until you break the water and laugh wildly. Astarion thinks his own heart might start beating from his chest being filled with the sound.

You jump out of the water and race back up to the top of the rock using Spider Crawl- something you had promised to teach him when you found out Cazador had never actually made him privy to the entirety of his capabilities as a spawn.

Astarion grins as he watches you once again go flying into the air, doing a backflip before straightening out, disappearing once again into the water below.

You break the surface and get back onto the shore. You pretend to bow and wave saying “thank you” and “I’ll be here all week.” It’s silly and he’s enjoying every minute of watching you just be yourself.

Astarion knows you aren’t a serious person, not really, but you pretending to bow for an imaginary crowd of adoring fans in a (not) private moment? It feels authentic to your silliness- not just when you and Karlach are joking together.

You are funny, kind, and entirely too cunning- despite what he said three days ago. Your prowess in combat is second to none and you speak a couple different languages- infernal being one of them when he noticed you and Karlach speaking it back and forth like it was also your native tongue.

Elvish is the other one and he only knew that from overhearing what you said to Minthara while he was too busy experiencing shell shock from how quickly you had gotten over to him. Oh and the hit to the head didn’t help either.

Astarion’s thoughts are interrupted when you make eye contact with him and freeze.

You look down at your semi-exposed figure and then up at him.

Astarion flashes you a flirtatious grin and sweeps his eyes up and down your body as you look at him. You are a work of art and the blush that creeps up your neck is an added bonus.

The scars on your body are numerous and varying in degrees of severity. It doesn’t make you any less attractive to him or revolts him by any means; It makes you more real if anything.

“Well hello there, beautiful,” Astarion says melodically as you walk over, “I was hoping I might run into you here.”

“Oh is that so?” you say and put your hands on your hips, teasing him “and to what do I owe the pleasure?”

Astarion smiles widely at you. He holds up the bottle of wine.

“I was hoping I may be able to drink with my most favorite companion at camp,” he looks at you with a sly grin, “but I didn’t think I’d be getting a show. You are delightfully talented in multiple faucets, Darling.”

You smile shyly at him while adorably scrunching your nose.

As you bend down to grab your shirt, you look at your bottle and scratch the back of your head awkwardly.

“I might need to apologize considering I already started without you.”

Not telling me to piss off so that’s an optimistic start.

“Hm,” Astarion hums, cracking open his bottle and taking a drink, “I’ll allow it this once. I suppose I do owe you for my… words the other day.”

“I’ll forgive you,” you say with a mischievous grin, “but for a price.”

“Oh?” Astarion purrs, “and what is your price, my dear.”

“I demand at least half of your spoils in loot.” you say with flourish and over exaggeration- you aren’t even remotely serious.

“No, no, no, “he emphasizes, his finger waving around in the air, “Never. Going. To. Happen.”

“Ugh fine, I guess I’ll just have to accept that you saved my life earlier.”

“I still think you are ahead on that front, but who’s counting really?”

“Definitely not me,” you say and cough a number under your breath.

Astarion playfully glares at you and you giggle in response.

You close the gap between the two of you and gently grab his hand, pulling him to sit down next to you at the edge of the water. Astarion pushes down the giddy feeling that arises- hoping you didn’t notice he flinched when you first went to grab his hand.

You look at Astarion and then your clasped hands- you definitely noticed.

You begin to pull away and he feels his body protest, grabbing your hand back and interlocking them again. Astarion drinks out of his wine, refusing to look at you- this is entirely too intimate. Entirely too much like the lovers he used to hate and envy in Baldur’s Gate, but he can’t bring himself to let go or stop the slight smile that creeps on his lips.

You drink out of your bottle of wine and put your feet in the water. Astarion glances at you and notes the growing grin. He feels a twinge of guilt when he thinks about his plan and how fragile your heart probably is. Astarion pushes it away. Astarion needs his plan to work and so far, it’s working.

The space between the two of you is silent- nothing but the ocean waves roaring in his ears. It’s not uncomfortable, but Astarion doesn’t necessarily know where to start. He wants to begin the process of seducing you, but he’s also unsure of how well that would play out- considering what he’s seen thus far in your memories.

“My dad taught me how to cliff dive,” you say in a melancholic voice, interrupting his thoughts “we would go all the time over the Summer when we lived outside of Daggerford.”

“I was wondering how you had managed to pull off such an impressive feat.”

You guffaw at him and then pout with a glint of humor in your eye. He rolls his eyes at you.

“Fine Darling,” he muses, “I suppose you are rather impressive in all facets.”

Your face is practically burning with his compliment. Astarion has decided he will leave out the bait and let you take it. If you give him any signal or specifically say “I want to have sex” then Astarion will pleasure you and you will see how useful he can be in return for all of your gifts- your blood, your protection.

Your company.

Whatever feelings Astarion felt over the last three days- he never wants to feel again. You have been the one and only person to be kind to him, protect him in 200 years. You treat him with respect and like a friend- not the monster he absolutely is and that you should hate him for being. It had been a very lonely three days without your company-besides, no one else is nearly as fun to converse with. Astarion hears the whisper of a previous conversation in the back of his mind.

“So what does boar taste like?”

“I don’t really have much of a reference, but better than rats and flies,” he scowled.

“Gods, how filthy was that palace?” you murmured under your breath.

Your comment had caught him off guard and he couldn’t help but bark out laughing. You had felt horrible for it- you thought he wouldn’t be able to hear you. In your defense, you had spoken very quietly. Astarion assured you that he found your observation quite peculiar and hilarious.

Astarion likes that you point out the small things and allow him to decide how much of the larger things he wants to tell you. You never push him and Astarion isn’t used to it, but he knows he never wants it to go away- to be treated any other way ever again.

“What else did your father teach you?” Astarion asks softly.

You smile, “My father followed Ilmater. He was a ranger. He dedicated his life to helping others.”

A daughter of Ilmater worshippers turned into a half-dead creature who is forced to kill by an evil vampire, Astarion thinks, I guess even the Gods have a sense of humor.

“What happened to him?”

The pause is pregnant and loud. Astarion notices the single tear that manages to escape your eyes. You clear your throat.

“He’s dead,” you whisper, “a group of Ravagers destroyed our village. They didn’t like that it was a mix of humans and Drows escaping from Lolth- and they especially hated us ‘filthy half breeds’. Made the women and the children watch as they beheaded their fathers and husbands.”

Astarion doesn’t know what to say to something that horrific. He just merely looks at you- waiting for you to continue speaking.

“He just kept telling my mom and I how much he loved us. How he’d always be protecting us,” you manage to choke out, “I can’t even tell you how many times I have prayed to Ilmater for help- only to be reminded how alone I am and that, despite being the God of Compassion, Ilmater doesn’t care.”

Astarion knows that feeling all too intimately, but he wants to hear more.

“How old were you? What happened to you and your mother?”

You are looking at him wearily now, so he gives your hand a squeeze.

“You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to Darling.”

“I want to, I’ve just never talked about it before.”

“Well then,” he states in a flattered tone, “I’m honored to potentially be the first and only keeper of your deep, dark secrets.”

You laugh breathily while you roll your eyes at him. The smile on your face is replaced by an unreadable expression. You take a deep breath before you turn your gaze back to the ocean.

“I was 5. They sold us to a mine outside of Westgate. It was run by a group of fanatics that I can’t even remember the name of anymore,” you shake your head in disgust, “all I knew was that they were terrible people. They threatened us children to get our mothers to do anything they wanted. One of them raped my mother and ‘blessed’ her with a child.”

Astarion squeezes your hand as he feels you tense. You look at him with your teary, angry eyes and the intensity of your emotions- your grief- are written into every crack and crevice of your face. Astarion notes that you look uncomfortable, but he gives you a soft smile, encouraging you to continue. You take a big swig of your wine- he shortly follows.

“I don’t know what happened, but the baby… didn’t make it and mom developed a blood illness. It was the week before she had planned on breaking us out. I didn’t know she was dying- she told me she was going to be okay. I should have known- She gave me everything for the escape and had explained the plan to me so many times in that week she was dying that I can still recite it to this day.”

You chuckle to yourself before pulling your knees up to your chest.

“I asked them if I could have a funeral for her. They took me outside and made me watch while the pigs ate her. They told me that’s the only funeral a Drow deserves.”

“What a bunch of racist assholes,” he states.

“Oh, they were only the biggest.”

“You escaped a prison by yourself then or?”

“I did. I was 9 years old and probably one of the only people who has ever escaped that mine. I haven’t seen anyone from my village since. I went back to Daggerford one time and it was still decimated- no one ever came back to rebuild it.”

You both sit in the heavy silence. Your thumb begins to absentmindedly rub circles along his thumb- the gesture is simple, but it’s probably the softest touch he’s felt in the last 200 years that was not filled with the anticipation of sex.

“I’ve only ever had one failed escape,” you sigh harshly, “I was going to run away with Tessa because I didn’t want to go through the ceremony to be a Deathbringer, but Dahlia didn’t care what I wanted. She was too busy trying to win Obarhk’s favor.”

“How did you end up with Dahlia then? If you didn’t want to be a Deathbringer?”

You scoff and he sees the resentment behind your eyes.

“I was 13 and had been living on the streets for a while by then. I had my little tent and I had managed to convince one of the local inns to let me clean the rooms,” you scrunched up your nose, “it was gross, but decent work and they fed me once a day; let me use the baths. Sometimes they even gave me extra food and if it was cold out, they’d let me stay in a room if there was one available. I didn’t have to steal food anymore which was nice. I was actually very happy. I was saving my money so I could travel to the Underdark and hire a sword to go with me- to my grandparents- like my mom had told me to do.

“Then one day, a few of the other local boys, also urchins, had watched as I was given a decent amount of gold and a burlap sack of food. They followed me to my tent. I had offered to share and to give them some gold to help, but they didn’t want just some of it- they wanted all of it and all of me too. I thought I was going to die- the fight was brutal and they were so much bigger than I was, but I wasn’t as easy to take down as they had thought.

“Right as they had slammed my head into the pavement, right when I thought it was over- an Ilmater Priestess had appeared out of no where. She had killed them all. She came up to me, was kind to me, promised she would protect me, give me a home, teach me how to be stronger than anything else in the dark while she helps me travel to the Underdark. I was thrilled. I thought Ilmater had finally heard all my prayers. Then she took me outside of the city- I thought we were maybe going to a temple. I was so naive and stupid.”

Your voice breaks and you struggle to compose yourself- taking a shaking breath.

“She changed- the kind Ilmater priestess I had just been following to safety ended up being the Queen of Venom and a Sharran priestess nonetheless,” you spit out with disgust, “Dahlia stripped me of my clothes- she beat me, cut into my skin, threw me around. Dahlia kept telling me how ugly, wretched, small, and weak I was for hours- how she would be the only person to ever love me from now on. Then she chained me down to the floor, unmoving for I don’t even know how long in the dark. I just know when she finally came back, I was on the brink of death. She starved me and refused to give me water until I stopped asking her to leave. I stopped, but then I learnt how much worse it could be. I also began to accept that I would probably never be free again.”

“Are you free now?”

“Barely. A bit over a year ago I was assigned to the Faceless himself.”

“What changed?”

“I won the Deathbringer Tournament and Lady Thistle Thalaver, the fucking consort of all people, said that she wanted me to be assigned as her personal Deathbringer. Thistle made the point that we are close in age and it would make her happy to have someone she can talk to and protect her. News flash- I was more horrified by that than Dahlia. How the fuck does someone who is a literal husk of a person become the prize comfort pet of the Consort that is the reason you were even kidnapped to begin with,” you say, throwing your hands up in frustration, “Dahlia hated her. She was envious of her already and boy, when Thistle asked for me? I thought Dahlia might kill me and Thistle right there if Obarhk hadn’t stepped in.”

“She sounds like a sore loser.”

“ Oh she is, this grudge has lasted a little over a century or three supposedly. I can’t ever seem to get the exact date right, but Dahlia had allowed Obarhk to change her and became one of his Nightmasters because she had hoped to be his Queen and consort,” you shake your head, “it was childish- supposedly. Obarhk was going to go through with it initially, but then Thistle’s father had extensive debts to the guild and offered his only daughter as payment.”

“What a shitty father.”

“Oh the shittiest,” you agree pointedly.

“If she wanted you to help her gain his favor, why did she hide you away?”

“There are rules within the Guild for how recruits are to be treated. Obarhk plays with his cards very close to his chest and he has an absurd amount of political pull. He doesn’t want word getting out that the Nightmasks beat their assassin’s and thieves, but not their Deathbringers- it’s bad for recruitment. Guess they used to do that and damn near went extinct, not everyone is into becoming half-vampire” you shrug, “Dahlia had ‘presented’ me to gain Obarhk’s favor- not his consort’s. She lied and said I sought her out days ago, begging to get a chance to become a Deathbringer. When I was asked if it was true, I said yes, the alternative was whatever hell awaited me later. At least if I didn’t survive the ceremony, I would be laid to rest.

“Except Thistle won. Obarhk may not be particularly loving towards Thistle, but he won’t deny her what she wants if it’s reasonable. I was still under Dahlia, but now if I disappeared for days on end or came back beaten, it was noticed. A year ago, Lucia and Ghost found me bleeding out in a street with Dahlia over me- it was the first time she had done serious harm to me since the ceremony and the first time she was caught,” he watches you smile despite yourself, “Thistle wanted her to be tortured for what she had done- for creating the infamous ‘Hollow Deathbringer’ as I was called when I first started, but Obarhk doesn’t interfere with religious affairs and Dahlia claimed it was for her Sharran worship. So the solution was that I would report directly to him, Phultan, Lucia, and Lady Thalaver only. If Dahlia attempts to hurt me again, I am allowed to end her life and if I attempt to attack Dahlia, she is allowed to end my life. She isn’t allowed to send her assassin’s after me either or there will be consequences. That’s the same day I found out Dahlia had been lying to me- she is Obarhk’s spawn, not a Master Vampire. She never would have been able to get away with half of her threats if I had known, but I’m sure that’s partly why she isolated me from the Guild until I was old enough and skilled enough to compete.

“We’ve been in a very strange stalemate over the last year. Unable to find each other, but I don’t even know if I could kill her anyway. At least, not by myself.”

It was a lot to take in at one time. Your entire world is so heavily influenced by vampiric beings- no wonder you were so nonchalant about him being a spawn and him feeding from you.

Astarion will admit though, he isn’t necessarily thrilled to find out another sociopathic vampire might be hunting them- specifically you.

“Darling, if Dahlia ever darkens your door step ever again,” he leans toward you and speaks his next words with conviction, “I’ll rip her throat out myself.”

You smile at him and squeeze his hand.

“ Thank you Star, but you don’t need to do that. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t listen to hypocrites- Miss ‘I’m going to put Cazador’s head on a pike and we can parade it around the city’”

You gasp, “how dare you! I felt like that would be a fun leisure activity.”

“Oh believe me, it will be very fun,” he says with a malicious grin,” but someone needs to keep you humble, my dear.”

“Oh okay,” you roll your eyes, “because I’m the one who needs humbling here. Thank you for your service kind sir, I will never be able to repay you.”

He can tell that you are done with the previous conversation- he’ll have to thank you for sharing later and ask follow up questions. Astarion has a plan to execute.

“Well of course,” he lifts your clasped hands and kisses the back of yours, “ I live to be a hero for the common folk.”

“You’re lucky you’re a beautiful bastard.”

“Why thank you, my Dear. I am rather beautiful, aren’t I?”

You turn, facing him now and you move closer- giving him a light shove. One of your eyebrows is lifted in amusement- a lopsided grin on your face. This is most definitely the moment he has been waiting for.

He leans in, your faces near inches apart and he savors how your heart begins to race.

“I must admit, I was lying to you before,” he muses, “I maybe would like to do a little more than just drink wine with you tonight.”

“Y-you do?”

Astarion smiles at the way your breath hitches.

“Well of course, I believe you may be one of the most bewitching individuals I have ever had the pleasure of meeting,” he says while gently brushing your hair behind your ears, “but only if that would be okay with you.”

You look at him- there is lust in your eyes and you worry your bottom lip with your teeth. One of your canines graze your lip and a bit of your blood begins to paint your lips- Astarion fights the urge to smash his lips to yours. You search his face for deception.

“I want to. Very badly,” you pause, “but I need to be open with you. I’ve only ever been with one man before and it wasn’t my choice. That was over 10 years ago. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to go completely through with it or give you some wildly fun time… it would probably be vanilla at best even if I can get through it…”

You trail off and look at the ground, gently pushing his hand away from your face. Astarion frowns.

“If you want someone who you can actually have fun with, it might be better to go find Alfira again,” you whisper woefully, “I would absolutely understand. No harm, no foul.”

Astarion’s heart breaks for you. He gently guides your eyes back to his. You look sad and dejected -like you are ready for him to get up and walk away. You are expecting him to confirm what Dahlia has always told you- that you are an ugly, wretched, little thing. Unloveable at best and absolutely unforgivably intolerable at your worst. Astarion has slept with plenty of virgins before- he knows how to say all the right honeyed words to get them to bed, but this is entirely different. This is you and your first, consensual time with a man if you choose. If you don’t, then he won’t press the matter, but leave his door wide open. Astarion is not Cazador or Dahlia- he is not going to force you.

“I don’t care about any of that Darling,” Astarion assures you quietly, “I want you, not Alfira. We only have to go as far as you are comfortable with- if you want to.”

Your eyes are wide and searching for any hint of insincerity.

“We could even try multiple times if needed,” he says jokingly, but he knows that you can tell he’s serious.

You beam at him and your posture straightens up- a new found confidence in your eyes.

“Okay,” you finally say, “I trust you. I want to try.”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You would be lying if you weren’t feeling slightly anxious. The last person you had been with was Tessa and she’d been in the ground a little over 8 years now. The two of you had made a lot of groundwork in your last year together before she died. You had attempted to be with others before, but it never felt right so you could never go through with it.

This feels right. You just aren’t sure what your reaction will be, but you want him and Astarion wants you. You trust that he won’t hurt you.

Astarion pulls you up off of the sandy floor and gives you a smile, “I promise you, you do not want to try this in sand. I happen to know a very nice spot, but we are going to have to make a brief stop first.”

You smile enthusiastically and allow him to take your hand in his as he leads you back to camp.

The walk is a blur, you barely notice that Astarion had grabbed a blanket, taken you quite far from camp, and without warning, Astarion pulls you in for a breathtaking kiss.

You have to fight the urge to collapse completely into him, your arms snaking around his neck as you kiss him back. The kiss is slow, melodic and soft. Astarion’s strong arms hold you close to his chest as he picks you up before laying you down on the blanket.

You help him discard your clothes and your wet under garments. Astarion quickly discards his shirt and pants before he returns to kissing you sweetly, softly. You let your hands glide up his torso to his shoulders and let your hands fan out as you try to memorize every inch of his body. He groans with approval at the touch and when you go to touch his back- you find if you go a little too far over where there is raised skin, he tenses up.

You stop and look up at him- he doesn’t seem like he is all there.

“Star, are you okay? Are you sure you want this?”

Whatever trance he is in, he seems to snap out of and he kisses you sweetly before placing his forehead against yours.

“I assure you that I want this, that area is just… it has some sensitive spots.”

“Okay,” you whisper, “I’ll be mindful of that and try to avoid them. Is it mostly in the middle of your back?”

Astarion stares down at you and for a moment, you think he might start crying. Astarion’s face looks so raw and appreciative in that moment- as if you are the first and only person to ever take the time to listen. Maybe you are. Maybe this is just as much of a fear of his as it is for you.

“It is,” he says huskily,” I- thank you.”

You beam up at him and gently cup the left side of his face with your hand. He leans into the touch and you stroke his cheek bone with his thumb.

“Of course Astarion, I want you to feel safe too.”

Astarion kisses you with a neediness that wasn’t there before. The kisses are still soft and innocent, but a bit more urgent as his hands begin to slowly roam your body. Everywhere he touches leaves you feeling like you are on fire and you find that you never want it to stop. You are intoxicated and so wrapped up in his cologne, his lips- everything. Him.

Astarion’s lips leave yours and you breathlessly look at him. He smiles down at you and slowly moves his hands up to your breasts.

“May I?”

You shyly nod in approval. Astarion slowly begins to pinch and tease your sensitive buds with his fingers- you arch your back and cover your mouth as you whimper needily at the touch. It’s embarrassing how touch starved you are. Astarion pulls your hand away from your mouth and he stares at you through hooded eyes.

“None of that, my Dear,” he commands, “I want to hear every little sound you make.”

You blush and then are quickly squirming underneath him again as he gently takes one of your nipples between his mouth, sucking, licking, and teasing it while he rolls the other between his thumb and forefinger.

You are a complete mosning mess underneath him by the time Astarion’s fingers move from your breast to your throbbing clit- earning a loud, despairing whimper from you. You need so much more- you can feel your own slick coating the inside of your thighs, weeping in anticipation.

“My, you are a very needy lover,” he chastises you as he slides a finger in,” Gods you are so wet for me already. If I had known you wanted me this badly, I would have said something a long time ago.”

“Astarion-“ you gasp as he enters another digit inside you, causing you to arch your back keening as he teases your G-spot. His other finger continues to play with your now very swollen clit and with every moan you make, he praises you. The praise alone is enough to send you over the edge.

“You are being such a good girl for me,” as he enters another finger inside.

His mouth hovers over your clit, “I’m absolutely certain the Gods sent you to ruin me.”

“You taste like the heavens,” after his tongue has been flicking inside of you in tandem with his fingers.

You come undone underneath him- your hands have made purchase in his hair, and struggle to be as gentle as possible. He groans as you gently tug him up to your mouth, kissing him, tasting yourself on his swollen lips.

“Do you want to continue Darling?” Astarion whispers as he kisses up your neck, along your jaw, and slowly nips at your earlobe.

You need him inside you and you want him to be as close to you as possible. It’s like a Dam had broken open inside you and you never want it to stop flooding.

“Fuck- Astarion,” you pant, “please continue.”

Astarion kicks of his undergarments and dips his fingers between your folds and coats his cock with your orgasm. You are speechless as you watch him slowly stroke himself, looking at you.

Astarion puts himself in between your legs and you feel him tease your entrance.

“Before I start,” he says, “you need to tell me if it’s too much and if we need to stop. You will not offend me nor hurt my feelings. We can try again another time if you want.”

“The same goes to you.”

There was that look again. Astarion grabs your bottom lip between his teeth, the neediness has certainly grown since the last statement.

You feel him begin to guide himself inside you, slowly moving until he’s bottoming out- curse words and your name leaving his lips like a prayer. You feel the tears prick your eyes at the pinching and pressure as you adjust to his size. He slowly rocks himself in and out, barely making any movement, but enough to stimulate you more.

“Are you okay?” He says with alarm, wiping your tears.

“Yes- I promise,” you say between panting whimpers, you press your ankles into his lower back to keep him there. It’s beginning to feel better and you open up through the tadpole to show him you mean it. The thoughts were probably far hornier than you meant to show him and he smirks at you.

“Cheeky pup.”

Astarion begins to make his thrusts longer as your moans became louder and more euphoric sounding. You kiss him with fervor as he pumps in and out of you, keeping a slow pace.

“You can speed up now,” you whisper between kisses, “you feel really fucking good inside of me Star.”

Astarion moans against your mouth, the kiss becoming sloppy as he teases your bottom lip between his, pulling slightly. You feel his hips begin to snap slightly harder against yours and you cry out as he begins to hit that perfect spot faster and slightly harder.

“You are so beautiful,” he says while grazing the sensitive skin on your neck, “and you feel so fucking good around my cock.

“I’m not sure I’ll be able to stand any of our other companions looking at you sideways ever again.”

“Then give them a reason not to.”

That seemed to be enough for Astarion as he immediately goes to work leaving hickeys along your neck, your shoulders. You will have to ask him how he’s able to do it so gently.

Astarion’s thrusts inside you are getting sloppier and you have your hands dug in the earth as he slightly lifts you off the ground to get more leverage. You moan his name in between curse words and whimpers as another powerful orgasm rips through your body. You feel him stutter as you tighten around him and finish inside of you. Astarion’s pace moves to a slow rhythm before coming to a halt.

Vampire and half-vampire perks- the whole kid thing? Basically not even remotely possible.

Astarion lays gently on top of you, kissing your neck lazily.

“How was that, Darling?” Astarion asks as he looks into your eyes with concern and worry.

You gently grab his face with your hands and leave a chaste kiss on his lips.

“It was absolutely perfect,” you say, your brain foggy and swimming in the throes of bliss and your deep fondness of the man above you, “you are absolutely perfect.”

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

You had fallen asleep quite some time ago in Astarion’s arms. The concept of what happens after sex (normally) was quite foreign to him. Usually he was dragging people to their death after sex, but now he gets to sit and enjoy you- have you all to himself. After it had all been said and done, you had curled into one another, practically nose to nose and just talked. You caught up with each other about what the other missed over the last three days, picked the next ideal type of book to read, and how disasterous the Crèche is likely going to be considering Shadowheart is insisting on going. Lae’zel is positively miffed about it. You laugh and he asks about Minthara. You tell him about the vision she showed you, but he could tell you were holding something back. You don’t push him- he won’t push you.

You tell him about your mother- a former Lolth sorceress who didn’t align with the Spider Queen’s ideals. She was shunned by her parents when she denounced Lolth and she moved to the surface- meeting your dad. Your mother was practical and pragmatic- calculating and protective. Your father, on the other hand, was like a warm breeze on a perfect sunny day.

Astarion tells you about what little he remembers of his life as a Magistrate and his parents. You both ponder what they could possibly be doing in the world right then- pretending there is a possibility that you could find them together when this was all over- even just so he can know.

Astarion’s head is swimming with confusion. It was all very different than when Astarion had gone out hunting for Cazador.

You and him had spent at least a two and a half weeks getting to know each other extensively, spent quality time together over mutual hobbies, and you’ve even seemed to meld together as a fighting duo. You are friends- Astarion expected it to be maybe slightly different, more enjoyable than usual.

Astarion was quickly proven wrong.

This was eons different. Despite the feelings of it being tainted to some degree due to his past, it had been jaw dropping, sweet, simple, and, dare he even say it, intimate. Astarion finds that he actually craves more of you this way, but he also still wants you the way you had each other before. The shame and self-loathing are choking him. There is no way you’ll see him as something other than sex now.

Right?

Astarion honestly isn’t sure and that terrifies him. You were so kind to him tonight while you were in his arms. You respected his boundaries; you avoided that part of his body even though he didn’t tell you not to; you wanted him to feel safe with you too. You took the time to talk to him and play with his hair while he spoke about his parents, becoming a bit emotional.

Vanilla is hardly the word to describe what just happened between the two of you- it was wonderful and frightening. Astarion questions if it’s selfish to want more, to abandon his plan all together.

Astarion stares down at your sleeping face as your limbs are tangled with his. He wants to stay, but he wants to run away from you too. Except Astarion needs your protection- that’s what this was all for, wasn’t it?

That’s what compels him to leave soft kisses on your forehead and to hold you a little tighter- it’s why tears fall from Astarion’s cheeks onto the blanket beneath you when he thinks about the day you’ll end up letting him go.

#astarion acunin #baldurs gate 3 #astarion #astarion x reader #baldurs gate astarion #astarion x you #bg3 spoilers #astarion romance #astarion x tav #bg3 #karlach #astarion x gender neutral reader #astarion x gn!tav #astarion x gn! reader

[deathmetalunicorn1]

Hi, I'm the anon who sent you Strawhats with Spot!Reader, since you made RoR characters with Spot!Reader I was wondering if you could make Strawhats with Spot!Reader.

-Well now, this was a fine predicament you found yourself in!

-You opened a portal to escape the police and somehow crossed dimensions and you were now in a world where pirates reigned supreme and you had no way of returning to your own dimension.

-You tried turning over a new leaf, using your powers and abilities for good in this new world, but whenever you tried to enter a town, you would be chased by the citizens and by the marines, thinking you were a monster.

-You were able to do your research, as you had heard multiple people saying that you had eaten something called a Devil Fruit, that these were unnatural fruits in this world that gave those who ate them unnatural but breathtaking powers, at the expense of not being able to swim.

-An outcast once more, you realized that a life of crime was all you would be able to accomplish in this world as well, as a pirate. At least you could freak people out about being a ‘devil fruit user’ and being able to swim!

-You earned your bounty pretty quickly, being able to rob banks and other places of wealth with relative ease, and when the government released your bounty poster under Y/N the Spot, you were quite pleased with yourself, seeing such a massive bounty. You even framed it!

-You found your solstice with other pirates, other outcasts and many learned quickly not to cross you, trying to steal what you stole first, or trying to stab you, only for them to fall into a hole to spit them back out elsewhere.

-It was such a group of misfits and weirdos that you found to call your own, the Straw Hat Pirates, after Luffy found you.

-You thought he was just a funny kid, so you impressed him by using your skills to warp a huge pile of food out of the kitchen on a marine’s ship onto his own ship.

-His starry eyed look made you grin, if you could grin, and you liked his vibe and when he told you to join his crew, you immediately accepted.

-His crew was just as funny as him, at least to you, as Zoro immediately tried to charge at you, thinking you were a threat, only for you to open a hole that sent him right back into Sanji, which caused a huge fight.

-Chopper was like a little kid, sticking his hand in the holes on your body, after you said it was okay, and he was delighted to see his hoof, which he put through your hand, coming out of your eye socket.

-Usopp, Brook, and Luffy were quick to join in, having fun until Nami whacked Luffy, Brook, Usopp and you on the head, managing to leave a lump on your head, telling you to knock it off.

-You fit in easily, earning everyone’s respect, as you made transporting cargo so easy! Sanji or Nami could have huge bags of purchases while out in town and you could instantly wrap them back to the ship, leaving their hands free and they didn’t have to lug everything back to the ship.

-Franky loved your abilities too, when there was something mechanical going on, rather than taking everything apart, you would just open a portal so he could easily go through and fix things right then and there.

-Nami was like Luffy, who loved your ability when you were easily able to steal treasure, earning her praise which you teased the others with, especially Sanji.

-Sanji did appreciate your skills with transporting things, but he was disappointed when you told him that while you use your abilities for stealing and things like that, you don’t use them for pervy things, while you easily could.

-Sanji begged you to use your powers for ‘evil’ but you didn’t have to do anything, as Nami was there to handle things instantly.

-Zoro was distrustful of you, like he is with almost any new member, but he found a good sparring partner, as you could easily dodge and send him all around you. It made his reaction time and able to change directions easily on a dime.

-Jinbei wasn’t sure what to think of you, he found you a bit odd, but laughed when you said he was odd when he first told you, as you hadn’t met a fishman before. Jinbei became a mentor to you, kind of like that father figure you not only wanted but needed, and he would always laugh when you would freak others out, mainly marines, when you would jump into the sea and swim away, making them freak out that you were a devil fruit user that could swim.

-Usopp and you were a good team, as you would open portals to get him to a high vantage point, perfect for sniping others, and you offered him a quick escape so he would act real cocky to piss people off, then disappear, leaving only one of his trap plants waiting.

-You and Brook did the same thing, you would open portals so he could crawl out like some sort of vengeful spirit, acting scary which would send your opponents running, leaving the two of you falling over yourselves laughing.

-Robin found your antics amusing, seeing the mischief that you were causing, often just staying back and laughing, wanting to see what you were going to do next. Nami was beside herself when she found out that Robin was the one to suggest you and Brook scaring others, as he had unintentionally scared her.

-You liked this group of weirdos, they were yours, your friends, and you fit in just perfectly with them, and that’s all you ever wanted.

#one piece #luffy #nami #zoro #sanji #usopp #chopper #nico robin #franky #jinbei #brook

[cosmicwhoreo]

I- i want you to give me some caviarpearl hc’s if you want to,,if not,,,you good :)

(I also love ur art)

I may have a few. -Firstly and foremost; NONE OF THEM KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING. Like, at all. The one with the most experience with even the slightest bit of romance (and I use that word VERY lightly) is Pearl, who got trust issues from it SO BADLY it inverted her colors. Caviar's been too preoccupied in being a Captain and glorified babysitter to his misfit crew among other things to so much as give a toss about romance, and she literally secludes herself in the literal wreckage of her past relationship as a reminder of how naïve she was and horrible people are. The slowburn is REAL and neither of them realize until it's too late. As in, they could be literally dating for a good 2 or 3 years and a second party would still have to spell out what's going on for them.

-Black Pearl is touch-starved AS FUCK. She hasn't had or given any physical affection in literal centuries, so when say; Caviar like gives her a reassuring shoulder pat when she's in one of her "murder moods", she blanks. Completely forgetting what she was angry about and now has a MIGHTY NEED for more but refuses to acknowledge it. Cue when they FINALLY are on a more rrrromantic ground, and she's hanging her head off his shoulder like your household cat demanding attention and affection.

-The good old classic; Villainess that playfully flirts to make the hero annoyed or uncomfortable, until he goes and flirts back and WHAT THE HELL, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT!! (//0m0//)

-Mayhaps my son, my beloved boy, Caviar would be the last to ~realize~. Mainly because he first has to figure out that's what he's feeling first. But, he would probably be somehow more stubborn about admitting it than BP. Don't get him wrong, he's good at picking up on more emotional cues from others, but he's absolute garbage on how to handle his own. So, he just kinda sits on his more complex feelings until his ass is sore. Not sure if acknowledging them would be more trouble than it's worth. Ever the crispy captain that never admits to having a soft spot.

#38 year-old virgin x 6606 year-old Ursula kin #number 1 ship of the century #i swer i'll focus on other things aside from these two #but until then ya'll need to let me have my fun #asks #captain caviar cookie #cookie run kingdom #black pearl cookie #captain caviar cookie x Black pearl cookie #black pearl x captain caviar #black pearl cookie x captain caviar cookie #idk the ship name #shipping #cookierun #CRK #I got more #but that's all the ones i have the energy of writing here #blacaviar

[clara-eternal]

[ @galefcrce cont. from here ] ...His hand began to wave animatedly as he spoke, a short chuckle at the mention of singed eyebrows. Boy that was a terrible look, he dared not gaze up at the sky at that time for fear of Mystra seeing his face. "One time, I was so caught up in my ability to simply burn away some webbing that draped itself across the entrance of a desolate catacomb that I failed to notice the discarded oil across the floor. Oh, let me tell you, charcoaled robes do not suit my complexion."

Clara greeted Gale with a warm smile, relieved that he didn't seem bothered by her interruption. She loved it when she was given a peek into who he was and where he’d come from. She had quickly learned that he was a repository of endless knowledge and stories, which made his company both intriguing and comforting on the otherwise stressful journey.

Her companions were an eclectic mix, to say the least. There was the mischievous and chaotic pale Elf, Astarion, whose antics both amused and exasperated her. The imposing presence of the Githyanki warrior, Lae’zel, sent shivers down her spine whenever she was near. The half-Elf, brimming with sarcasm and stubbornness, often clashed with the warrior. The Druid, Halsin, a kindred spirit in her love for nature, provided a sense of solace amidst the chaos. Wyll, the brave and boastful warlock added a particular charm to their group, while the excitable Tiefling, Karlach, brought literal heat to their adventures. And then there was Gale, whom Clara found herself drawn to for his kindness and good humor, despite his occasional arrogance.

While they had only spent a short time together since the crash of the Nautiloid, Clara struggled to find her place among the misfit crew. Her amnesia only heightened her sense of displacement, leaving her feeling adrift even among semi-familiar surroundings like the Grove.

As Clara observed her companions, she couldn't help but overhear Lae'zel’s and Shadowheart's heated argument echoing across the camp. The two women, both strong-willed and fiercely independent, clashed frequently, with the pale Elf often stoking the flames for his own amusement. Clara suspected he positioned himself strategically to witness the spectacle firsthand, rather than to mediate between them.

Grateful for the distraction, Clara turned her attention back to Gale. "I was actually referring to Lae'zel and Shadowheart," she confessed with a wry smile, "though it seems Wyll has taken on the role of peacemaker this time. Mind if I join you here? It might be safer in case things escalate again."

#s; introspection #galefcrce #m; clarian oswin #v; bg3 #t; act one #r; gale dekarios

[literary-illuminati]

2024 Book Review #18 – Montress Volume 3: Haven by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda

I have been reading one volume of this comic a month, in part as a way to force myself to take it a bit slowly and appreciate the issues and volumes as distinct arcs and works in their own right instead of archive binging, and in part because a volume of comic books being more than ~20% of my reading goal for the year feels like cheating. This has accomplished both of those goals splendidly, but it is making it increasingly hard to come up with different ways of talking about the basic premise of the story. So I’m just not going to.

The plot picks up fairly directly where the last plot dropped off – with Maika having escaped the last maratime city-state she’d found refuge in (now wanted fugitive) and settling into the next one. To secure safety for herself and her little crew of misfits (eldritch god-monster her mom bore and raised her to be a host for, adorable fox-child she treats like shit, terrible cat who betrays everyone, improbably hot noble magic assassin whose technically supposed to be murdering her), she’s conscripted by the royal engineer to assist in repairing the ancient magical shield which protected the city during the last war – which, due to her heritage and the aforementioned eldritch god, she might be the only one capable of safely accessing. That (literally) blows up in everyone’s face just about immediately, and the remainder of the arc is spent scrambling to deal.

Dramatically the volume works very well as a self-contained narrative, though a decade of marvel movies have left me kind of incapable of taking a big climax involving an apocalyptic glowing hole in the sky that seriously. Beyond that though, this is definitely a Lore volume, digging deep into the history of the Shaman Empress, her relationship with Zinn, and what the other Montrum are or want. It also, if my memory is right, marks the point where Zinn finishes transitioning from this terrible quasi-unknowable parasite ruining Maika’s life and turning her into a walking atrocity to just, like, Some Guy. They’re a little shit with an improbably amount of flattering amnesia and also murder a bunch of people but like, they’re a character now. They banter with Maika constantly, and also keep fucking up and being wrong about things. Deeply endearing tbh.

This also marks the point where The Doctor and Maika’s paternal family more broadly starts being a lot more plot-relavent which, going to be honest, I’m kind of dreading. Can’t remember any real details but my memories of the whole upcoming arc basically boil down to ‘at least Maika got that badass clockwork prosthetic out of it’.

Kippa and Ren are basically irrelevant to the actual plot this time, which is totally fine because I love them both dearly and would have happily read an entire issue of them going shopping and having a nice day in the market. Kippa, besides being adorable, does actually get some pretty meaty scenes providing the view from the gutter here though – Maika gets scooped up by a scheming vizier engineer as soon as she walks into town, and also hates people, but Kippa is absolutely the sort of person to go wandering through a sprawling refugee camp doing whatever she can to help. Which is both good worldbuilding and characterization and provides some desperately needed grounding to keep the whole story from vanishing entirely into mythic freudian psychodrama.

Speaking of preferring the social and political storytelling – I’m not sure they ever actually matter, but I do love the two bit characters who occasionally get scenes of their desperate heroic spycraft and diplomacy as they try everything they can to prevent another war breaking out. Their little bit in this volume also does a great job illuminating what a broken mess the politics of the Federation is – given the incredibly vague 1930s-East-Asia analogy underlying the story’s geopolitics, I like that the genocidal power about to plunge the world into war is riven with internal contradictions and five minutes away from a coup with the army and navy barely able to stand in the same room without gunfights breaking out).

Anyway yeah, it’s still Monstress. Still good! I probably sound like a broken record saying it at this point, but the character design remains just sublime, even for very thoroughly secondary characters. Speaking of, my favourite one has now shown up!

#book review #comic #monstress #sff #Marjorie Liu #Sana Takeda

[rookthorne]

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 | 𝐉.𝐁.𝐁

Pairing // Rockstar!Bucky Barnes x F!Reader Word Count // 4.5k Warnings // swearing, pet names, fluff, suggestive lyrics and behaviour, smut (praise kink, implied piv, fingering, oral - m receiving) Author's Note // my first writing project of 2023 and I had an absolute fucking ball with this, thank you @buckyismybicycle for allowing me to join this universe and I can't fucking wait to build this world with you!

« Part 1 | Series Masterlist | Part 3 »

Ecstasy burned through your veins like wildfire, the bass becoming the rhythm of your heart; when his honeyed words shattered your resolve, you could only hold on for the ride.

Chaos. It was chaos. Members of the sound crew hurried back and forth, while the sound of wheels over grates and metal grinded your senses into a frenzy. Another night, another show, and another opportunity to question just how the fuck you landed here. 

Against your better judgement, you had followed Bucky to the next state over - the reasoning that you were tired of routine, spontaneity was something you craved, and Bucky supplied it. Maybe all too readily, if you were being honest.

The band had welcomed you like one of their own, embracing you into their fold of misfits and black sheep, and it was natural that you would latch onto Nat’s company more than most. The fiery redhead was fast, sharp, and lethal - no way in hell would you want to find yourself on the business end of her boot heels. 

Crew members continued to swarm and congregate around you, flocking to corners of the stage and making last minute adjustments before soundcheck. Tonight’s show would be intense, according to Bucky, at least. 

“I know you’re gonna love this set, sweetheart,” Bucky said that morning, conveniently still laid up in bed with you pulled flush to his muscled and tattooed chest, and he wasn’t letting you go. “Jus’ have to make one last change.”

You looked up at him sleepily, blinking the sleep from your eyes and simultaneously praying that the vision before you wasn't a dream. “Why’s that, baby?”

Bucky said nothing, his expression curiously blank while the corner of his lip began to lift in a coy smirk. “Patience, you’ll see.”

The rest of your morning was full of recounting - much to your frustration - the moments Bucky did in fact, make you scream the night before. Each memory that resurfaced was a chip away at your resolve to not jump his Bucky’s bones, instead, you settled for squeezing your thighs as you rested against a dormant speaker. 

Deep breath: in for four, out for four, you thought. 

“Doll!” 

Shit.

You whipped around at the sound of Bucky’s voice. He was standing with Nat and Clint who was shot gunning Monster cans like it was nobody’s business. Scott, the most laidback of the lot, was nowhere to be seen. “C’mere!” 

Being the tall, dark, and broody siren he was, you couldn’t resist his call.

“She looks exhausted, Buck,” Nat commented, her blunt appraisal brought heat to the tips of your ears. Damn it, you cursed. “Never mind the fact you were up all fucking night rocking the damn bus.”

Bucky only laughed as you hid your face behind your hands, only slightly resisting the pull of his arm around your shoulders. “Leave her alone, Nat,” Bucky said while he squeezed your arm and used his free hand to shove Nat on the shoulder. “Don’t think I don’t know about you and your victims.”

“Shut the fuck up, Barnes,” Nat groused while turning on her heels and with more grace than you thought possible, flipping Bucky off while simultaneously fiddling with her beloved bass, the slap of her boots echoing amongst the chaos. 

“Huh, look at that,” Bucky mused, a ghost of a laugh in his voice. “Off to find another one.”

Clint snorted and flipped the drum sticks in his hands, the fluidity of his movements hypnotising. “How’re you doin’, Clint?” You asked around a yawn and you let Bucky pull you closer, your front now snug against his. 

“Yeah, good,” Clint paused while he looked around the stage. “Need more caffeine.”

“You have any more caffeine, brother, you’ll be on a different fuckin’ planet when it’s set time,” Bucky warned, a brow raised. 

Clint laughed, a full belly laugh, and saluted. “Ain’t that the point, Buck?”

“Whatever,” Bucky sighed, shaking his head while he watched Clint’s retreating back. “I dunno how he’s still breathin’ with all that shit.”

“It’s a miracle,” you said quietly, and Bucky laughed. 

“You ready for tonight, sweetheart?”

“I hope so,” you said, unable to keep the suspicion from your tone. “Sound check is now, isn’t it?” Bucky nodded and looked up to watch the crew working at a much more sedate pace. 

“I want you to wait in the bus,” Bucky began and you looked up sharply. “Trust me.” He leant down and captured your lips in a kiss that was too hungry for its own good. Pulling away, Bucky rested his forehead on yours, his heated breath fanning over your lips. “Can you do that for me?”

“Alright.”

Bucky smirked, his eyes flashing with mischief. “Good girl.”

Time flew by with your trepidation mounting, the minutes only served to make you twitch and fidget with excitement - set time was nearing and nearing, approaching faster than a cheetah on cocaine, a comparison that would have made Clint howl with laughter, if he were here. 

The band would be doing the final checks before their set by now, and you felt out of place being on the bus that served as your reminder for your unwilling promise. Bucky had asked you to stay put in the bus until he, or someone else, came and got you. You had already decided you wanted to be in the crowd for this one - the possibility of the very rush you felt only the other night was too good to pass up, and if it was to be as intense as Bucky inferred, you were certainly in for a treat. 

A sudden series of bangs against the bus door made you jump, your glass almost slipping from your grip. 

“Hey!” A voice called, muffled but still loud. “Bucky asked me to come grab you for the show!”

“Coming!” You managed to stifle the disappointment from not having Bucky collect you, you knew he was a busy man. “Hang on.” The door opened wide to reveal a brunette with a bright expression, he was rocking on the balls of his feet and when he looked up to find you in the doorway, it was a wonder you weren’t knocked off your feet by his excitement. 

“I’m Peter, by the way,” he introduced himself, offering his hand to help you down the steps. “Bucky said you wanted to be amongst the crowd for tonight's show, so he’s set you up in the VIP section.”

“Awesome,” you said, grinning wide. Peter gestured to the gates and you followed closely behind as he strode towards the gates, his radio chattering non-stop. 

The floor was shaking with the bass from Cap Quartet’s final song while Peter hung back with you for the song to finish. You discovered that while he was only young, he had risen the ranks quickly and often travelled with Bucky’s band under the employment of Sharon.

Riley’s voice echoed from centre stage and Peter urged you forward through a gate where he directed you to security.

In a flurry of movements and even more chaos, your middle was finally pressed against the front fence of the VIP section while adrenaline began to pump in earnest through your veins. The music hadn’t even started yet and you were vibrating with excitement. The mystique and unknown nature of the set tonight left you feeling slightly breathless while people of all walks of life flooded the open ground of the pit, pushing and falling over one another to get the prime position at the front. 

It was almost time.

The lights dimmed, an inescapable and palpable excitement rolled from the crowd around you, cries and whoops of adrenaline crescendoed into a dull roar. The stage, once lit by bright spotlights, turned dark with shadows; shrouding the devil you knew lurked within them.

“Hello, fuckers,” Bucky said over the mic, and pandemonium reigned. 

Spotlights snapped on and Bucky was silhouetted from behind, his arms wide while his guitar hung from his neck; the tattoos on his arms and sides blazed proudly, shown off by the muscle tank he chose to pair with deliciously tight ripped and distressed jeans. By some miracle, he sensed your unabashed stare and met your eye, throwing you a wink before the lights finally centred on him - a beacon for all those who found solidarity in his music. 

“How we doin’ tonight?” Bucky yelled into the mic, pacing the stage and looking out amongst the sea of bodies. You watched as a grin grew on his lips at the crowd’s nonsensical scream. “I said,” he repeated smugly, “how are we doin’ tonight!”

Bucky’s booming voice gave way to a laugh as the cries from the audience bolstered his energy, you could tell by the way his fingers twitched over the strings of his guitar. It was near impossible to block out what those very same fingers had you begging for him to do last night. 

Desperate to distract yourself, you glanced around at the others. Nat stood tall, her spiked and heeled leather boots shining in the light. Her expression was full of righteous arrogance as she looked out at the audience when she caught your eye, a wide smirk gracing her blood red lips. Scott was jumping up and down on the spot, amped and absolutely unable to control the energy coursing through his veins. At the back of the stage, Clint sat behind the set of drums like it was a throne, flipping and twirling his sticks with caffeinated enthusiasm. 

“Tonight is a very special set,” Bucky called to cheers and whoops. His gaze met yours and he smirked, making his way to stand front and centre, right in front of you. “Now let’s fuckin’ hear it.” The crowd went wild as the lights changed, an orange and red glow through the haze of bodies and smoke. 

The opening notes of the song rang out from Scott’s guitar before Clint kickstarted the bass, Nat and Bucky following suit with rousing riffs that made your heart quake in your chest. 

Well, it's midnight, damn right

We're wound up too tight,

I've got a fist full of whiskey

The bottle just bit me,

Oh, that shit makes me bat shit crazy

We've got no fear, no doubt

All in balls out!

Bucky’s rasp made the song sound just as intense, and you could feel the freedom of just being built up from your toes - he did not lie, intense was an understatement. 

We're going off tonight

To kick out every light

Take anything we want

Drink everything in sight

We're going till the world stops turning

While we burn it to the ground tonight,

With every line he sang, Bucky pointed at the crowd, a resounding “HEY!” echoing off the walls and into the night. His smile was priceless. 

We're screaming like demons

Swinging from the ceiling,

I got a fist full of fifties

Tequila just hit me,

People around you were jumping on the spot, screaming and shouting along with Bucky’s voice while he bounded around the stage - it was a wonder he stayed on key. To hell with it, you thought, and joined the crowd, jumping up and down without a care in the world while your heart pumped ecstasy through your veins. 

Oh, we got no class, no taste

No shirt, and shit faced,

We got it lined up, shot down

Firing back straight crown,

You laughed aloud with the lyrics and Bucky looked down at you amongst the sea of faces, his pupils were blown with adrenaline and his hair had begun to plaster to his forehead with sweat. If you hadn’t been staring avidly you would have missed his subtle glance down your body, nor the predatory glint in his eyes.

If only you knew what was next. 

Choruses and solos passed with even more rousing cries from the crowd and you were breathless, almost unable to bear even an ounce more adrenaline. 

Someone in the audience threw a literal bra on stage and Bucky caught it one handed, a sly grin cracking his features like a chisel through marble. “Hey, Clint!” Bucky called and you watched as Bucky threw the bra towards the drummer who caught it in a singular second break to hang it off a cymbal. Bucky’s eyes found you in the crowd again and he licked his lips, staring at your heaving chest when the next bridge started. 

Bucky’s voice started softer for these few lines, while Nat’s bass line shone through. 

Ticking like a time bomb

Drinking till the nights gone,

Well, get your hands off of this glass

Last call my ass,

His voice grew in volume and intensity, the baritone literally hammering your heart in its rhythm. You felt like you were floating, the adrenaline fully consuming you in its waves and drowning you. 

Well, no chain, no lock

And this train won't stop,

We got no fear, no doubt

All in balls out!

Bucky held the last note for so long you watched the veins in his neck stand out in relief; the memory of seeing him above you just like that was too much, you felt faint and far too turned on. Get it together!

We're going off tonight

To kick out every light

Take anything we want

Drink everything in sight

We're going till the world stops turning

While we burn it to the ground tonight!

The final notes of the song echoed off the stage where it mingled with shouts and screams, the crowd was amped up and feral in its intensity. 

Bucky was literally dripping with sweat as he came to stand right in front of you again, his breathless voice calling into the audience, but you couldn’t hear over the pounding in your ears. The muscle tank he was wearing had rode up in his exuberance, showing just a peek of where you had left your mark on him. 

“Holy fuck,” you whispered. The world came into focus again when you took a deep breath.

“This next one is next fuckin’ level, you hellions,” Bucky yelled, snatching a bottle of water from off stage while his guitar swung around. “Are you ready!”

“YES!”

“I didn’t hear you,” Bucky hummed, grinning. “I said, ARE YOU READY!”

The roar from the crowd was unintelligible and deafening, and Bucky looked down to stare at you with a wolfish grin. You suddenly felt the apprehension from earlier return with a vengeance. 

What the fuck was he planning?

Scott began the beginning riffs of the mystery song when Bucky and Nat started, then Clint on the kick bass. The percussive sound rattled your bones and you finally realised…

Oh, that smug bastard. You grinned widely and Bucky winked back, when the intro began. 

Got to meet the hottie with the million dollar body

They say it's over budget

But you'd pay her just to touch it, come on,

The crowd rushed forward and you shouted along with Bucky, keeping your gaze locked with his face as he moved his fingers like it was second nature, his expression warping from concentration to sly smugness in a flash. 

Needs to hit the big screen

And shoot a little love scene

If Hollywood had called her

She'd be gone before ya hollered, come on,

Bucky watched you as he sang into the mic, his foot tapping with the beat while Nat, Scott, and Clint played to perfection. The next verse was fast paced and Bucky kept pace like he was made to.

Dirty little lady with the pretty pink thong

Every sugar daddy hittin’ on her all night long

Doesn't care about the money

She could be with anybody

Ain't it funny how the honey wanted you all along,

The bass increased tenfold, rattling your bones and your heart hammered to keep pace to keep you standing. You couldn’t focus, you could only see the way Bucky was staring at you as he worked the neck of his guitar and sang with such allure it was like he was fucking you from only a few feet away. 

You saw in your mind's eye how Bucky loomed over you the night before, driving his hips into you with animalistic ferocity. It was a shock he hadn’t split you in half after he made you come undone over and over again. “Fuckin’ look at you, sweetheart,” Bucky purred, his lips just inches from your pulse point. “Look at how you’re takin’ me.”

You're ripping up the dance floor, honey

You shake your ass around for everyone,

I love the way you dance with anybody

And tease them all by sucking on your thumb,

You're so much cooler

When you never pull it out,

Nat’s voice merged seamlessly with the chants of the crowd, but you could not look away from Bucky’s stare as he held the lead. He had you pinned to the spot with the inferno roiling away in your guts, the coil set to spring. 

Cause you look so much cuter

With something in your mouth,

The world froze, a juxtaposition to the hellscape that was your body. Smug bastard, you thought, and taking the invitation to tease, you opened your mouth and flattened your tongue; a striking imitation of how you had taken his cock that morning.

Bucky tensed and his eyes narrowed, but he didn’t falter. 

Crafty little lip tricks

Tattoos on her left hip,

She bending as your spending

There's no end to it so baby, come on,

Dressed up like a princess

Bettin' that her skin smells better

Than the scent of every flower in the desert, come on,

Bucky’s voice sounded heavier, the hedonistic image fuelling the fire. You were fucking doomed tonight; you knew that for sure. The chorus gave Bucky a breather, and he took the opportunity to bound back and forth over the stage to absorb the kinetic frenzy of people flocking to his every move. 

The next verse was softer and Bucky made sure to stand front and centre once more while his fingers worked effortlessly through the rifts; teasing you mercilessly with unnecessary flicks of his fingers and come hither gestures. 

Bastard. 

She loves the night scene bar queen

Living for the fun taking over

Every dance floor like she's the only one,

In the spotlight all night dissing everyone

And trying to look so innocent

While sucking on her thumb,

Bucky pointed right at you, his gaze scorching with its intensity and he bent at the hip, miraculously keeping time with the others - even with the start of a sizable tent in his jeans. You looked up at him through your lashes and smirked. 

You're so much cooler

When you never pull it out,

So much cuter

With something in your mouth,

You opened your mouth and stuck your tongue out again. Teasing him was too much fun, and you swore he snarled in frustration, wrestling with the animal within him to keep time with the others. The chorus began again and Bucky bounded off and you trailed his every move with keen eyes, his ass perfectly on show; you wanted to grab ahold of it like you did last night, urge him further, faster.

The outro was epic and Bucky stood next to Scott, back-to-back as they played the riffs with precision. 

You're so much cooler

When you never pull it out,

Cause you look so much cuter

With something in your-

Clint’s kick bass thundered around the venue and it marked the end. Screams and cheers echoed from the crowd and the lights dimmed low, you could see the band milling about the stage, knocking back bottles of water, or Monster - in Clint’s case. 

“Thank you, fuckers, for the killer set!” Bucky boomed, and he was bathed in light by the softer spotlights. He was flushed red with exertion; his hair was plastered to his forehead and neck with sweat and his tattoos glistened. The others looked almost identical - exhausted and thoroughly spent. Bucky’s yell was met with more cheers and whoops, a universal applause for a job well done. 

People began to filter out towards the exits and merch stands when Bucky knelt down on stage and gestured to a security guard, and you watched as he pointed towards you. They exchanged a few words, the guard followed Bucky’s finger and nodded curtly. “Ma’am,” he said once he neared. “Barnes wants you backstage.”

You couldn’t scramble over the fence fast enough. 

“You guys did amazing!” You gushed, running towards Nat, Scott, and Clint. Bucky was nowhere to be seen. “That was insane!”

They all tiredly said their thanks and downed more drinks and food, when Bucky appeared. “Glad you thought so- oof!”

You collided with Bucky, ignorant of how he stumbled to catch you in your haste; if you didn’t do something to get a release, you would go insane. Bucky placed his bottle down and lifted you from the floor, the plains of muscles in his shoulders, chest, and arms rippling with the effort and it was all you could do not to pass out on the spot. 

The kiss you pulled him into was all hunger; teeth and tongue clashing with fervour you’d never felt before, you needed him. 

You pulled back just enough to calm the roar of blood in your ears. “Need you, now, please, I can’t-”

“Get a fucking room!” Nat yelled, rolling her eyes. 

Bucky glanced over your shoulder and threw Nat a glare before flipping her off. “Plan to!” He called over his shoulder as he turned on his heel and barged into a - blessedly - empty room off the hallway to the stage. 

“Fuck, doll,” Bucky gasped when you squirmed, your ass rubbing against the tent at his crotch. “Couldn’t fuckin’ handle your teasin’.”

“I know,” you whispered, smirking as you ran a hand through his hair while he stared at you. His pupils were entirely blown, only a slither of stormy grey visible. “Need you, please,” you whined.

“Dunno if you deserve it, sweetheart,” Bucky growled and you looked up at him in shock. What the fuck? “Teasin’ me the entire set? That’s jus’ cruel.”

Oh, fuck. That should not have turned you on so much. You gulped when you felt your cunt clench around nothing. 

“That get you, sweetheart, hmm?” Bucky hummed. He lowered you to the floor so you were standing on your own, remarkably shaky, two feet. “Don’t you lie to me, who am I?”

Desire shrouded any sense of preservation, your inhibitions disappearing like the slick down your thighs. You were so fucking doomed. The mumbled reply you gave didn’t seem to please Bucky because he glared, his figure casting a shadow over you. 

“Say that again for me, a lil’ louder.” Bucky’s finger came to rest under your chin and he forced your head up so you’d meet his eyes. “I know you want to.”

“Yes, master,” you whispered, the slight humour of the other night not lost on either of you. 

Bucky chuckled darkly. “Good girl.” He crowded you against the wall and pinned you with his knee between your thighs and you moaned weakly at the sudden pressure. “Tell me what you want, sweet thing, c’mon.”

“You, you, I want you, please,” you rushed, trying with all your might not to whimper while he attacked your throat with open-mouthed kisses. 

Bucky fumbled with the belt of your pants and you giggled, taking the reprieve to breath your way through the dizziness. Not even a minute later you stood pinned to the wall, your pants bunched at your ankles while Bucky teased your clit with his thumb. The coil was already tightly poised, you were not going to last long at all. 

“Please, please, Bucky, need-” 

“I know what you need, sweetheart,” Bucky cooed, his eyes watching you intently before he dived back down to mark your neck. He pushed in with two fingers and the sudden pressure made you cry out. “That’s it, easy, be good for me,” Bucky hushed, straightening up to stare down at you and how you were unravelling. “You’re gonna be good for me, aren’t you?”

You nodded feverishly against the onslaught of pleasure, he was tenacious in his exploration and he knew, even in this short of a time, where every single spot was to make you sing. 

“I want you to come for me,” Bucky huffed against your lips before he placed a bruising kiss to silence you. “I need you to come, let go,” he punctuated his words with a firm swipe against that spot, his dextrous fingers repeating the motion non-stop until your thighs shook. “Come for me, sweetheart.”

“Oh, god, Buck-” 

Your vision whited out with the intensity. Bucky held you and coaxed you through with gentler touches. “That’s it, good girl, such a good girl for me,” he whispered while peppering your face with soft kisses you barely registered. 

The waves ebbed and flowed, and you finally looked up dazedly to stare back at him. Bucky smiled softly. “There’s my girl,” he whispered. You couldn’t help but feel a flood of emotion in your blissed out state when Bucky’s painfully hard dick rubbed against your thigh; his breath hitch was quiet enough you would have missed it, if you hadn’t been listening for it in the first place. 

“Wan’ your cock, Bucky,” you whined suddenly and Bucky groaned. “Please, need it.”

You lowered yourself to your knees, kissing and biting your way down Bucky’s chiselled chest and stomach, all while his dick twitched with need the closer you got. You made short work of his briefs and reached out to collect the dribble of precum that was in danger of going to waste. “Oh, god,” Bucky moaned as he watched you lick your finger clean. “Fuck.”

Slowly, you began to move your hand up and down his length while he bit back his whimpers. “Wanna hear you, Buck,” you whispered, moving forward to suckle at the tip. The sight above you was distracting, to say the least; the flush covering his neck and chest added a pop of extra colour to his tattoos, his chest heaved for breath and his hands flew everywhere but where you wanted them. 

Bucky startled when you grabbed hold of his hand and put it to the back of your head, and with a sultry glance back up to watch what you were about to do to him, you relaxed your jaw and inched forward until your eyes watered. “Oh, fucking hell,” he gasped, the grip on your hair tight. 

Staying like that for a moment, you hollowed your cheeks and sucked. “Fuck! Baby, oh-” You would have giggled if his length wasn’t heavy on your tongue.

You pulled back for air but you kept the tip in your mouth, lapping at it with your flattened tongue. “You look so cute, kitten,” Bucky praised, the rasp in his voice lowering the octave while he caressed your cheek. “With my cock in your mouth, god, look at you.”

It would be one of your biggest achievements, making him come as hard and as fast as you did, and for damn sure you would hold it over his head; you were nothing if not competitive, and you couldn’t wait to be pulled down from your pedestal. 

And, the next morning, if Bucky’s voice was even more raspy than normal - it was no one’s business. 

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#bucky barnes x female reader #bucky barnes x f!reader #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes x female reader smut #bucky barnes x f!reader smut #bucky barnes x reader smut #bucky x female reader #bucky x f!reader #bucky x reader #bucky x female reader smut #bucky x f!reader smut #bucky x reader smut #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes oneshot #bucky barnes imagine #bucky barnes smut #rockstar bucky #rockstar!bucky #rockstar!au #rookthorne's works #SIYM #HB

[attonposting]

Can we stop to talk about the conversation with Atton where he rambles about women and the idea of love? Because good lord can this man project like a movie theater. We're talking fractal projection. Give him a frickin' medal, because it's projection all the way down.

It's a very missable bit of dialogue. You can only get it with a male Exile, and only then if you've cheesed off Brianna by causing her influence to dip 30 points below Visas's. Unfortunately, this also causes Brianna to permanently stop talking to you, so this is something you're only ever gonna see by accident. I only learned that could even happen pretty recently, and that's with maybe 6 male Exile playthroughs under my belt. I guess I'm just very thorough about exhausting everyone's dialogue options all the time.

So. Brianna's permanently cut herself off as a companion, courtesy of Kreia whispering in her ear, and that sucks. But at least your trashman pilot has something to say about it... and whoa boy is it a consolation prize. Atton proceeds to launch into an arm-around-your-shoulders buddy talk that has exactly nothing to do with your problems and everything to do with his personal issues.

Exile: The Handmaiden lost her temper with me.

Atton: Oh, there's a surprise. Trust me, she's a handful - all warriors are. They're not used to dealing with things they can't punch, kick, or break. Look, I know how it is. Me, there's no denying that I'm a good-looking guy. You have it worse, because even though you might not be as good-looking as me, you have that whole tortured past, that command presence. Women want to save you. They think they can help you.

Exile: What are we talking about?

Atton: They think that everyone can be redeemed, and that they're the only ones who can do it. And you don't know if it's you, or the idea of you that they love.

Exile: [Awareness] Are we talking about me or you?

Atton: We're just talking. Like I said, I've never understood women. It's possible they don't love you at all. That they just want to help you... help you hear yourself if you've gone deaf to your own voice. We all lose our way sometimes, and we need someone to pull us back.

Exile: [Awareness] Sounds like you've had that experience before.

Atton: Don't remember. Truth is, I still don't listen to my conscience even when it's shouting. I think there's times I'd rather be completely deaf than hear it. But all this talk doesn't matter. I'm not qualified to give advice. Besides, when I open my mouth, I'm usually lying anyway.

Like. Just. Holy shit, Atton. Yeah, he's clearly talking about the Jedi who tried to save him, but there's so much more to unpack in here. Let's break it down.

“Women want to save you. They think they can help you.” - Atton wants to save you. He wants to be the hero to your story, something he projects at Mical (to the latter's confusion), but which can also be read into a lot of his actions – when he starts taunting the assassin on Telos to draw heat off you, when he runs out on Nar Shaddaa to give you medpacs and do the same thing with the bounty hunters. The hard evidence is on Malachor. If Atton dies, he says it outright: “Did I save you yet?” And if he falls to the Dark Side, he tells Mical that “he wanted to protect [the Exile], to help her” before he lost his chance.

“They think that everyone can be redeemed, and that they're the only ones who can do it.” - Yeah, it's not really about helping the Exile. Atton needs to be the one that 'saves' you, as a balm to his own lack of purpose and self-worth, and he gets real pissy if anyone else does a better job helping you – or god forbid gets close to you. He's constantly insecure, he's unhappy with most new party members when they join up and, and seriously, the only crime Mical ever committed was being a genuinely good dude in a crew full of misfits. Too bad the galaxy's greasiest pilot reads that as a threat.

“And you don't know if it's you, or the idea of you that they love.” - Atton's attraction to you in a nutshell, and that's before you get the question of Force Bonds involved. Like, seriously. Does he genuinely love you as a person, or is he in love with you as an ideal – as someone who could stop running and face the music for their unforgivable crimes, as someone who actually tries to fix the damage they did? As someone who can still find it in them to care about people after the war broke them down? As a Jedi that actually lives up to the ideal both the Council and Revan failed to? As someone he believes he can relate to, because he thinks he knows your reasons for what you did? Are you a stand-in for his dead Jedi and his hundred conflicting feelings over her? Is he just in love with the idea of having a purpose and wants someone he can bury himself in? Is the idea of martyring himself and finally dying for a reason what he's really obsessed with? Pick your flavor, because who knows! He certainly doesn't!

“It's possible they don't love you at all.” - While this has a lot to do with him wondering why the hell anyone would have tried to save him, I also think this is him reflecting on his own confused feelings towards the Exile. They might not be romantic with an M!Exile (or if they are, he's having intense bi denial), but they're absolutely there and he does not know what to make of them.

“That they just want to help you... help you hear yourself if you've gone deaf to your own voice. We all lose our way sometimes, and we need someone to pull us back.” - This has nothing to do with the Exile, the Handmaiden, or anyone who isn't an ex-Sith assassin who had empathy forcibly shoved into their brain after years of progressively more fucked-up descent into all-consuming hatred.

“Truth is, I still don't listen to my conscience even when it's shouting.” - He almost gets away with this one, but Atton's deep in denial here. He doesn't want to hear it, but he can't turn it off, the same way he can't stop feeling things when he used to have total control of his emotions (because he barely felt anything at all.) It's all why he can't go back to who he was, even though he badly misses the certainty he used to feel. Atton is a pro at ignoring his conscience, which definitely has nothing to do with how much he hates himself, total coincidence... but as soon as the Exile gets involved, that goes out the window, because Atton's self-preservation glitches out. Their Force wound tugs on his better nature... or it yanks at his opposite. And if that happens, Atton is very aware of what's happening to him. He succumbs, but he has more to say on the Exile's fall than anyone short of Kreia. And light or dark, his (im)moral compass gets jarred from 'cover my own ass' to 'protect the Exile' and he repeatedly sticks his neck out for no gain, so yeah, I call bullshit here. He's smack in the middle of his biggest crisis of conscience since the Sith.

“Besides, when I open my mouth, I'm usually lying anyway.” Well, at least he admits it.

#kotor ii #kotor 2 #atton rand #disaster man extraordinaire #slaps ribbed jacket #this bad boy can fit so much projection in it #you can also get atton to say she woke him up inside and i cannot possibly react to this in any other way than yelling evanescence lyrics #happy may the 4th! #have some highly specific analysis on a 19-year-old game

[abrokenherocomplex]

a siren’s song, stolen

“There are better ways to get my attention, you know.”

The mermaid paused in struggling to free herself from the fishnet to shoot a glare at the pirate captain.

The pirate captain only chuckled quietly before crouching in front of the mermaid. The mermaid winced as the pirate captain unsheathed her knife, but she stilled as the pirate only cut away the fishnet ensnaring her beautiful ocean-blue tail.

The pirate sat back on her heels, twirling the knife in her hands, and taking a moment to study the mermaid.

“Do you have anything to say to me?” The pirate captain asked, her voice lowered so to avoid being overheard by the band of no-good misfits she called a crew. “No siren’s song to pull me back into your good graces?”

The mermaid colored. The pirate captain tried to suppress a flinch back as the mermaid opened her mouth to sing, but the mermaid seemed to choke on her voice. She could not seem to produce her hypnotic melody.  

The pirate captain frowned. “No siren song, huh?”

The mermaid shook her head, clenching her jaw. She stayed silent.

Something heavy sank in the pirate captain’s stomach. “No voice… at all?”

The mermaid confirmed with only a nod and the pirate blanched.

A mermaid without a siren song was one thing. Not all mermaids were blessed – or cursed – with the deadly song to begin with. A mermaid without a voice, however, was a completely different matter.

The pirate captain’s own voice grew dangerous. “Who did this to you?”

The mermaid’s gaze grew wistful, and she nodded in the direction of the sunset – towards land.

“A human?”

The mermaid nodded quickly before the pirate could say more, reaching a cool hand to touch the pirate’s chest – her heart. Despite the coolness of the touch, heat flooded the pirate’s body. All of the memories she’d pushed away, hidden at the back of her mind seemed to flood to the surface - the mermaid’s hands on the pirate’s hips, lips brushing between verses of a song in a language only known to the merfolk. The pirate shook herself, ignoring her aching heart.

“Love,” the pirate managed, hoping she was on the right track and not simply projecting an old memory. “You fell in love with a human?”

The mermaid nodded.

Wouldn’t be the first time, the pirate thought bitterly. Still, the pirate had to wonder if just anyone could have succeeded in this pantomime game, or if the mermaid had come to the pirate for that exact reason. Because they knew each other.

The mermaid brushed a hand along the pirate’s forehead just above the eyebrows.

The pirate cocked her head, assessing. “Royalty? The prince?”

The mermaid nodded again.

“You fell in love with the prince and lost your voice?”

This time, the mermaid grabbed at her own throat, desperately clawing as if to rip it out. As if it were not her own hand at her throat but someone else’s. She looked at the pirate, desperate for her to understand.

“Hey,” the pirate said softly. She acted before she could think, taking the mermaid’s hand to cradle it in her own. Anything for the mermaid to stop hurting herself. To stop feeling this hurt.

“He stole it?” the pirate asked quietly.

The pirate knew mermaids could not cry. Not for the first time, she wished they could. The look the pirate got in response was nothing short of heartbreaking.

“Anything stolen can be stolen back,” the pirate mused after a moment. “Right?”

The mermaid’s eyes widened, not daring to believe.

“Right,” the pirate confirmed, more for herself than for the mermaid. “That’s why you came? You needed a criminal?” she teased.

The pirate had to laugh at the reproaching look the mermaid shot at her.

Still, the pirate nodded once again. “Well, little mermaid, it looks like we have a castle to raid.”

#im back #my writing #mermaid x pirate #wlw #mermaids #heroes and villains #pirates #pirate x mermaid #sapphic #the little mermaid #inspired #obviously

[takaraphoenix]

My Ranking of D20 Campaigns

So I actually managed to watch all of them (or all that are out so far; not counting the still ongoing Junior Year yet) and since I like making lists, I drafted this post early on to keep track of which I love the most and how that love changed whenever I started watching a new campaign.

A Starstruck Odyssey

The Seven

A Court of Fey and Flowers

The Unsleeping City: Chapter II

The Unsleeping City

Mice and Murder

Burrow’s End

Fantasy High: Sophomore Year

A Crown of Candy

Pirates of Leviathan

Escape From the Bloodkeep

Coffin Run

Dungeons and Drag Queens

Mentopolis

Misfits and Magic

Fantasy High

Ravening War

Tiny Heist

Neverafter

Shriek Week

This was actually really, really hard, because the recency bias usually has me go “this is SO SO GOOD”.

I started watching D20 back in April last year, Misfits and Magic was the first campaign I watched - and The Seven was, I think, maybe the fifth or so? And it was my number one for the longest time. I love the girls, both the characters and the players, I love the plot, I love everything about that campaign. It is so heart-wrecking with the emotions it goes through for them all.

But then I watched A Starstruck Odyssey and it just hit all the right spots - the found family crew of a spaceship having wacky space-adventures is just something I deeply, deeply love and these characters were so much fun - and has the benefit of being longer and giving me more to fall in love with, I suppose. Still though, the difference between first and second is very narrow.

And I consider 4 and 5 a tie, to be honest. The Unsleeping City is one story, to me, I know the seasons are very distinct, but the flow of it and also my love for both is near equal. This campaign has the highest concentration of favorite PCs for me, like, when I made a list of my favorite Intrepid Heroes characters, their TUC characters all came in as either first or second place. Sophia Lee is the best Emily character ever, I will fight for her.

I am so madly, deeply in love with A Court of Fey and Flowers, which features my favorite PC romance so far, plus an impeccable cousin dynamic between Lou and Emily, also... there’s no fighting. While most fights are somewhat entertaining in DnD, I still remain Just Not An Action Gal and could skip on those in favor of more roleplaying scenes of character development and relationship exploration. And this campaign absolutely hit that spot just right. Plus, the fantasy fairy setting, and Aabria’s wonderful storytelling (how is this woman so talented? She was my first introduction to DnD as a DM, and then I got to see her as a player in the Seven and Pirates of Leviathan and she makes such great choices as a player too).

This list was ridiculously hard to make, because I look at it and I see Mice and Murder only on 6th place even though that definitely was the campaign where I had the hardest time to stop watching, I pulled an all nighter to watch half of it because it had the greatest grip on me, but then I look at the ones I placed higher than it and I can’t find it in me to move any of them lower either.

Recency bias definitely made placing Burrow’s End very hard. Not to repeat myself, but I am madly, deeply in love with Aabria’s storytelling. Combined with talking animals, the family focus, Brennan playing a mom as a PC (moms are my favorite Brennan characters), I have a lot of love for this campaign and I hope so badly that we’ll get a second part.

And here’s the reason why I couldn’t count TUC as one. Because Fantasy High: Sophomore Year ranks so much higher than the first FH for me. This was such a fun, ridiculous story, and it introduced my two favorite NPCs of all campaigns; Ayda and Garthy. It set the bar for FH3 really high and I am looking at Brennan to keep up the great work.

A Crown of Candy is well-placed in the middle. I am not the biggest fan of tragedies and definitely not into character death, but the characters and the world, are so very compelling still, even if I prefer the ones that died over the replacement characters - and that’s what puts it in the middle. Good, but could have been better.

Pirates of Leviathan was short but the characters, the players. Aabria is so so so good in this, it kills me. And she’s not alone. Bob is one of the greatest PCs of Dimension 20, to me, and that is vastly due to Krystina’s talent.

Escape From the Bloodkeep is one of the most surprising campaigns for me. This is a LotR parody that turned out to be way too heartfelt and much more found family than expected and it is great.

And Coffin Run is honestly one of the funniest D20 campaigns and I am wildly in love with about every single decision Izzy Roland made in this campaign. I am also entirely and absolutely gay for every decision Erika Ishii made.

Dungeons and Drag Queens was a very... standard adventure, but the players were so much fun to see. This would honestly be such a good campaign to start your D20 journey with, because the way Brennan eases them in and explains everything is so wonderful, and the excitement and joy of everything new they’re trying is contagious.

Mentopolis was cute, though I’m not big on noir and detective stories so that factors into why it ranks relatively low for me, even though the players and the characters were amazing. Dan Fucks is brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

And though the very first campaign I watched, Misfits and Magic didn’t make it too high. Some of it is the bytaste of HP, which I have come to just... not be able to stand anymore even though I am well aware that it’s a parody of it, and the other factor is the length. It’s hard to compete with 10 to 12 episode campaigns, that had so much more time to flesh out dynamics, worlds and characters and make me fall in love with them all, and that’s not really a reflection of the quality of this campaign.

I remain not much of a fan of the first Fantasy High. Maybe because I watched The Seven before this so when I watched FH, it gave me more of a feeling of “why is there a prequel spin-off about Zelda’s boyfriend who never had a proper appearance anyway? My girls should have bigger roles in this??”, but I largely feel that FH1 was more set-up, and the Bad Kids and their story really took off for me in the sequel, which I greatly enjoyed.

While I enjoyed the characters and the players’ dynamic in Ravening War, I am just... I guess I’m generally not much into “and it’s all futile anyway because I know how the story continues and these guys are not in it”? Matter of taste, I guess, but if that has to compete with others, it will lose.

Honestly, I enjoyed Tiny Heist when I watched it and I don’t dislike it, but it’s just so short and didn’t have anything that incredibly stood out to me in a manner that gripped me, so it had a hard time competing with other campaigns that gave me something I deeply fell in love with. 

I don’t like Neverafter, it had some good characters in it but on the overall this absolutely did not vibe with me. Which is a huge disappointment for me as a lover of fairy tale crossovers, but the dark horror approach does not work for me at all.

The only thing that was easy was the bottom of this list, honestly. Shriek Week was, hands down, the only campaign I absolutely did not enjoy. The storytelling was a mess, even before watching the Adventuring Party for it, it was clear that the whole ~villain plot~ was improvised and I still wish it had just... not... been in there.

#Dimension 20 #Ranking #A Starstruck Odyssey #The Seven #The Unsleeping City #A Court of Fey and Flowers #Mice and Murder #Burrow's End #Fantasy High #Fantasy High Junior Year #A Crown of Candy #Pirates of Leviathan #Escape From the Bloodkeep #Coffin Run #Dungeons and Drag Queens #Mentopolis #Misfits and Magic #The Ravening War #Tiny Heist #Neverafter #Shriek Week