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mangomonk · 8 months

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i've been dreaming

↳ summary: read this drabble and pt. 1 first! remus deals with the repercussions of falling in love too late. ↳ content: angst, happy ending, mentions of eating/sleeping properly ↳ a/n: get comfy, this is a long one! i really appreciated and loved each comment from pt. 1, it made my day to see y'all scream heartbreak. would love to hear your thoughts on this one : D anyways, i went back and forth on my characterization of remus a million times, but i hope this version of him resonates and i hope you enjoy :") tense/grammar is all over the place, minimal proofreading but i've stared at this for too long. p.s. i'm kinda proud af about connecting the titles, they're from ivy by frank ocean.

Remus has been dreaming. Every time she had looked at him, he had felt like he was dreaming.

There wasn't a moment in particular that Remus could name when he realized he wanted her to look at him. He was in the middle of it before he even knew he had begun, though maybe a part of him had known it would have been futile to resist when she looked at him like that.

Or maybe it had been an accumulation of moments of Remus longing for her to look at him.

Maybe it had been when they had started their fourth study date together when Remus had decided he needed to act like a normal person and have strict boundaries instead of casting sidelong glances at her over the top of his book. He couldn't help but look at her as he tried to figure out why in the world a girl like her would ever agree to date him in the first place — he had only really asked so that he could be rejected and put the whole thing behind him.

But it wasn't his fault that the more glances he stole at her, the more he noticed the way her expression changed with each new story she read. It wasn't his fault that her lips parted when she was concentrating too hard on Ancient Runes. It wasn't his fault that her lips were the same color as his mother's tulips. But she never noticed when — or how — he looked at her, to his mingled relief and disappointment. It wasn't his fault at all, he reasoned — anyone would notice these things if they just looked at her properly. It baffled him a little how no one else seemed to have noticed this things about her yet.

It had been that day that Remus had decided he needed to start acting normal. He needed to learn how to control his eyes before he bore holes through her face. So he had focused on reviewing his Magical Theory textbook. Even though he had been rereading the same line for over five minutes. Even though he was so painfully aware that if he moved his leg out just slightly, his knees would knock against hers. Even though he could begin to feel her glancing up at him from across the table. When had he become so attuned to her gaze?

But he hadn't looked up, frustratingly going against every fiber in his body, because he needed to be normal and have boundaries and this was temporary. Even if she was looking at him like that. Remus Lupin, with his ever so strong willpower, hadn't looked up to meet her not-so-secret secret glances and had scribbled a note on his scrap of parchment and slid it over.

Hogsmeade this weekend?

Or maybe it had been when they had gone to Hogsmeade, the first time they had done anything together outside of studying. Asking her to go was a stroke of madness, but Remus had reasoned it to be a healthy show of their relationship, no matter how temporary it was supposed to be. It wouldn't make sense if they were dating and only ever studied together, right?

Right.

He had thought about sending an owl to cancel, even as he tried on Sirius's shirt for the second time — the night before, he had come to the sobering realization that all his clothes were plain. He had thought about telling her that he caught a cold, even as he let James slather Euphemia's silkifying potions through his hair. He had still been thinking about canceling even as his feet took him to the entrance gate—

—and she had been wearing a skirt.

It had been one of those long and flowy Muggle skirts — Remus had never before paid attention to women's fashion, but after that moment, he realized that maybe he ought to subscribe to one of Lily's Witch Weekly magazines so that he could get her more skirts, or rather, more of anything, he thought she'd look pretty in anything. Had he said pretty out loud?

Remus Lupin didn't have butterflies in his stomach, he had damn hummingbirds.

"Hi," he had said, a little too tersely and sharply.

"Hi," she had said back, all smiles. Despairingly, he had noticed that she was wearing lipstick. When he stared at her a little dumbly and didn't say anything back, her smile turned nervous as she fidgeted with the collar of her blouse. Impulsively, his eyes darted to follow the motion. "So... Hogsmeade?"

He wasn't going to tell her she looked pretty because he had laid out his boundaries. And if he started, he would never stop— "You look preautiful," he had blurted, stricken.

Her eyes had widened a fraction before she broke into a laugh. A proper laugh, not the quiet, library huff type of laughs he had grown fond of hearing. The warmth in his chest had spread all over and it had felt like it got to his head as a fog, rendering him unable to think. Remus had no idea what to do with the new, dizzying knowledge that she looked absurdly stunning when she was laughing, but all he could think about during their walk to Hogsmeade was how he might make her laugh again.

Or maybe it had been the first time he had properly introduced her to the Marauders. She had stepped closer to him instinctively — perhaps nervously, because Sirius was staring at her too appraisingly with narrowed eyes — when the back of her knuckles had brushed against his. Remus had nearly jumped out of his skin. Sirius's gaze had darted to him swiftly, his gray eyes knowingly bright with interest.

"Pleased to meet you," Sirius had said a moment later, his face breaking into a warm smile, but Remus wasn't paying attention anymore. He was just trying to figure out how he might hook his pinky with hers.

All this to say that there hadn't been one particular moment Remus Lupin could have pinpointed that had sealed his fate of wanting to be under her gaze.

The first time she looked at him, it was the start of nothing and when she looked away that night, it was the end of everything.

Remus wished she yelled at him. Hell, he even wished she had called him a monster, cursed him, hexed him. Remus thought that he would have been happier if she looked at him with contempt and disgust in her eyes, which only weeks ago had been his greatest fear when he considered telling her about his lycanthropy. The thought back then had kept him up at night, but Remus found himself dreaming for it now. Anything if it meant that he didn't hurt her the way he had. He found himself dreaming that she would just look at him again.

If Remus thought he had been panicked that night, it was nothing compared to the next day when he realized she was avoiding him. She hadn't shown up to the Great Hall — Remus knew this because he got there the moment the doors opened to make sure to catch her — and she didn't show up to any of their classes for the remainder of the day. The Marauder's Map showed that she was unmoving in her dormitory. When Remus finally did catch sight of her the next day in the Great Hall, he burst to his feet but froze a moment later. She walked past him, her expression one of unfamiliar blankness.

"Y/N!" He called, lurching forward towards her.

When she turned away from him to avoid meeting his gaze, Remus felt something like dismay sink so heavily and swiftly in his chest, like a stone thrown into a calm lake. The idea that Y/N wouldn’t look at him again drove him half-mad with a panicked disquietude that sent him scrambling to find a way to talk to her again.

He tried in the Great Hall, but she stopped coming. She would arrive just late enough that class would start and would disappear the moment class ended. She stopped going to the library. Even with the Marauder's Map, he had no luck. The closer he tried to get to her, the further she stayed away.

Remus thought he was dreaming when he saw her alone in the corridor one Hogsmeade weekend when he couldn't bring himself to leave.

"Y/N," he said instinctively, hopefully. She looked up, her surprised expression immediately shuttering close. "Can we talk? Just for a moment?" He asked, stepping towards her. When she didn't move away, he straightened, encouraged.

“I know,” Remus began, his throat bobbing as he swallowed back the jolt of despair when he realized that she still wasn't looking at him. The despair only grew into a gnawing worry when he noticed the way shadows lined her eyes, the planes of her face hollower. Was she taking care of herself? "I know you don't want to see me anymore, cariad, but—"

"You don't get to call me that anymore."

He sucked in a breath, steeling himself before continuing. "Okay," he whispered, "Okay. I know. And I'm sorry, Y/N. I've never been more sorry in my life. And I won't ever ask you to forgive me. But, but I'm selfish because I want you to know that it was real for me."

She looked like she was folding in on herself as she clutched her forearms. "It wasn't real. You don't actually like me, Rem— Lupin," she said evenly, her tone neither cold nor warm. "It could have been anyone else."

"No, I do, I do," Remus lurched forward, desperate and earnest and wishing. "I like you, and maybe it wasn't real in the beginning, but it's real now. Like isn't even a strong enough word for how I feel about you, Y/N. I lo—"

"Don't." At the harsh steeliness of her tone, Remus froze, stricken, his heart dropping to his feet. "Don't say it."

"But it's true," he whispered entreatingly, imploring her to look at him again. "It's been true for awhile now."

"I don't believe you."

Each word hit him in the chest like a sharp pang, the stricken feeling in his chest clenching around his heart. "Okay," Remus swallowed back the crumpling sense of despair as he nodded earnestly. "That's okay," he whispered, as if not to spook a wild animal. "I... I'll show you." He had so much he wanted to say, so much that he wanted to show her. If he had been honest since the beginning, he wouldn't have hurt her. But maybe if he was honest now, it wasn't too late — he could still fix things. "You have my heart, Y/N," he continued softly, "—and you can break it, if you want, if you'll give me another chance—"

"I don't need it," she said quietly, looking away from him again. "Nor do I want it."

— — — — —

Remus stopped dreaming as he stopped sleeping.

"You should get some sleep tonight, mate," James said as he edged near his friend. "Full moon coming up."

Remus grunted in his response as he continued writing at his desk.

"Prongs is right," Sirius agreed, exchanging a quick look with the others. "She'll come around soon, anyone with eyes can see how you look at her. And how she looks at you."

"Why don't you talk to her again?" James suggested gently as he sat on the edge of Remus's bed.

"She doesn't want to," Remus said quietly, a blot of ink pooling at the end of his quill as he tried not to think about their last conversation.

"Why not write her a letter then?" Sirius asked. "Look, Moony, we're worried about you..."

A letter, Remus thought dimly as he stared down at the parchment in front of him.

Cariad, he began before setting his quill down to stare at the word. The first time he had called her cariad had been a slip of tongue. When he was younger, before his father had burnt himself out trying to find a cure to his lycanthropy, his father used to call his mother cariad. It was like a gentle period at the end of each sentence, an endearment that said everything all at once.

It had slipped into the end of his sentence one morning when he had asked her if she wanted orange juice or apple juice. Maybe it was too early to confess love, but it had slipped out, subtle and quiet like their time together.

"What's that?" She had asked, her attention now caught. "Car-iad," she said slowly, as she tried pronouncing the word carefully. Remus had thought he could have kissed her then.

"It's Welsh," he had said, keeping his tone light and casual as he reached for her cup.

But she had been as attentive as ever, her eyes seeing right through him as they tracked across his face carefully. It didn't help that he could feel his ears begin to burn. Despite himself though, Remus delighted being under her attention, and had relished it even as she narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. "For?"

Remus had schooled his expression carefully. "For 'Y/N can never pick between orange juice and apple juice,'" he had deadpanned, inwardly delighting in the way her lips twitched as she huffed, unconvinced.

"Today is an orange juice day," she had declared finally. Remus had bit back a smile as he poured her juice. When she took it, she had smiled at him around the rim of the cup. "Thank you, cariad."

Remus had thought that he was dreaming.

Remus picked up his quill again and got a fresh sheet of parchment. Dove, he began again before promptly crossing it out. A new piece of parchment. Y/N, he started again. Y/N. Y/N. Y/N. He missed saying her name. When the squeeze in his chest got too tight to ignore, he set his quill down and rested his forehead against his desk and closed his eyes. He had hurt her so terribly, the person he loved. And Remus resented himself for it. He didn't have the right to call her cariad or dove or darling or anything anymore. He didn't have the right to wallow in pity. He didn't have the right to try to fix things when she so clearly didn't want him anymore.

"Remus Lupin," a voice snapped sharply as the door to the dormitory flew open with a boom. "How could you—"

“Lily!” James blurted in clear alarm. "Lily, what are you doing here?"

"I'm here because you lot have really gone too far this time," Lily seethed, her eyes as fiery as her hair as she stalked into the room. "Remus, I thought you were better than this! Y/N hasn't—"

"Lily!" James jumped to his feet in a rare show of courage against the witch. He let out a nervous laugh, but to his credit, stood firm even as Lily rounded on him. “You’re making him feel worse!”

For a moment, Lily turned on James, an incredulous expression on her face before her gaze slid over to Remus, who still hadn’t looked up during the exchange. She faltered, her scowl softening as her gaze darted back to James who gave her an encouraging nod. But then the fiery-haired girl straightened. “He should feel bad,” she admonished, though the venom had begun to dissipate from her voice.

“And he does,” Sirius supplied helpfully from his corner of the room. “Moony hasn’t really, er, moved or spoken in days, really. We’re all getting concerned.”

"Well neither has Y/N," Lily grumbled, though her tone was beginning to soften rapidly.

This caught his attention. Remus lifted his head to look at her. "Has she been taking care of herself?"

Lily narrowed her eyes at him, a crease forming between her brow as she looked at him assessingly. "Have you been taking care of yourself?"

Remus didn't say anything to this as he turned to rummage through his desk. "Will you make sure she eats and sleeps properly?" He said before finding the stack of parchment he had been looking for.

"It took me nearly an hour to get her to understand that I wasn't a part of the mess you had created," Lily said, though not harshly. Remus ignored the look of pity in her eyes as he busied himself with cobbling together a few more sheets of parchment. "I think you should be the one making sure she's alright."

At this, he paused to look down at the parchment. “She doesn’t want to be in the same room as me, let alone speak with me,” Remus pointed out, his voice unsteady. In a quieter voice, he added, “She can’t even stand looking at me.”

The room fell silent. Then finally, Lily spoke up again. "Fine. I'll check up on her but not for you, but because I'm her friend. And if you ever considered her at least a friend, you ought to do it too sometime and have a proper conversation with her."

Remus bit the inside of his cheek as he turned to proffer the stack of parchment to Lily. "Can you also give these notes to her? It's for Ancient Runes. I charmed the handwriting so she won't know it's from me, but—"

"Remus," Lily sighed, but took the notes anyways as she looked down at his desk curiously before sitting down on the edge of his bed. A pause. Remus could feel her eyes seeing right through him. "Were you ever going to tell her?"

Remus tried not to look like he was unraveling. "I don't know," he admitted honestly. "I wanted to and I didn't want to all at once all the time."

He had thought about telling her before. But to do so meant that he would have to tell her about his condition, and that had sent him into a stricken spiral every time he had thought about it. He had thought that if he told her, she would look at him differently, with pity or repulsion in her eyes. He had been so afraid, so, terrified, of that look that every time the truth nearly bubbled out of his throat, he'd choke on it. But now Remus knew that the worse thing wasn't that she would look at him like he was a monster. It was that she wouldn't look at him at all.

It had always felt like he was running on stolen time, but each grain of sand in their hourglass had felt so startling incandescent that it had been easy to pretend that they weren't trapped in a fragile glass of his own making.

Every moment he had thought to tell her, she would turn and look at him with such fond adoration that Remus would swallow the words back in. She always made for such an arresting sight that Remus felt his breath still as affection would bloom so violently, so dizzingly, so distractingly, in his chest that it became hard to say anything at all.

He was distracted by the way little crinkles would form on her nose when she was thinking too hard. He was distracted by the way he could hear her smile in her words. He was distracted by the way she breathed and walked and loved, slow and steady, to a silent metronome.

And the honest truth was that Remus was more than happy to be distracted by her.

— — — — —

When Remus woke up from a dreamless sleep the morning after the full moon, he found himself, predictably, in a bed in the Infirmary. It must have only been dawn — he could tell the room was still dim behind his eyelids as he did his mental check of his limbs. No new scars please, he thought wryly once he confirmed all his limbs were in place, albeit sore and strained. Remus sighed. Then came the more dreaded question.

"Did anyone get hurt?" He asked, his voice hoarse from his transformation.

He expected one of the boys to respond, but when no response came, his eyes flew open in a panic. They normally stayed the night in the Infirmary to get their checkup from Madam Pomfrey — Remus knew they were just there to keep him company, though they always deflected when he tried to usher them back to the dorms — and they were normally the first to assure him that no one had gotten hurt. Alarmed, Remus sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed hastily to look around, his joints groaning in protest.

"Are you hurt?" A voice next to him asked.

He was dreaming again.

Y/N was sitting in a chair next to his bed, alarm quickly breaking through the remnants of the sleepiness that clung onto her eyes as she scanned him hastily as if to ensure he was still in one piece. There was an imprint of his blanket on her cheek. Remus's fingers twitched to rub it when she spoke up again. "Should I call Madam Pomfrey?"

So it wasn't a dream.

At the sobering realization, Remus shook his head hastily. "No, I, uh, I'm fine," he said, the words faltering on his lips. Suddenly he felt very seen. He had never wanted her to see him after a transformation, especially not then, when he was all fresh scars and worn bones. He felt like a shell of himself. "What are you doing here?" He asked quietly, fixing his gaze on his hands and noticing a new scar across the back of his hand, still red and shallow. He couldn't quite look at her now as shame and mortification flooded his system.

For the first time in his life, he wished she wasn't looking at him.

"You guys normally come back earlier on full moons," she said, still looking at him. "I was worried that..." She fell silent. So she had even known their schedule, he despaired.

"I see," Remus said tightly, feeling drained.

When he didn't say anything else, she spoke up again tentatively. "Sirius told me to tell you that no one got hurt—"

Chagrin and shame roiled in his stomach as he stared at the new scar on his hand. "You can go back now," he interrupted, grasping the blanket tightly. He wished she wasn't looking at him, he wished that he didn't have a new scar, he wished that the floor would just open up and swallow him whole.

He wished this was all just a bad dream.

"I'll go if you want me to go," she said quietly. Remus couldn't tell what expression she was making because he couldn't bare to look at her. Pity, fear, disgust. He was sure he'd never recover if she was looking at him like that— "But I... I don't want to go."

His gaze darted from his hands to her face. She was biting on the inside of her cheek, her eyes wide and imploring and distracting. Slowly, it became easy to breathe again. The imprint of the blanket was fading from her cheek. Remus still wanted to rub it off.

"Okay," he acquiesced, the word coming out as a soft breath. She relaxed back into the chair. "I never wanted you to see me like this," he murmured quietly, feeling all too cracked open under her gaze.

"Remus," she began, also whispering as if not to break the fragile peace between them. His heart stuttered dangerously at the sound of his name from her lips, but he shouldered forward, adamant to not let himself start dreaming again.

"Have you... been well?" Remus asked, first as a deflection before he took in the shadows on her face. It was like once he started, he couldn't stop. "Have you been eating properly and sleeping enough—"

"Remus," she said again, this time more urgently and softly. "I got your letters."

Remus paused, his dry throat clicking as he swallowed. "So you knew the notes were from me," he murmured, rubbing at the base of his neck. "Sorry, I thought they would help, but I'll stop if you're uncomfortable—"

"No, I mean, I got your letters," she said, reaching into her book bag.

To his horror, she pulled out a stack of parchment. Some of them had were heavily creased from being balled up, but someone had carefully straightened them and piled them up. "You weren't supposed to see those," he blurted, mortified now. "I threw those away."

"I know," she said, her gaze fixed on the letters. They weren't really letters at all — he had never been able to get past how to address her. He could catch glimpses of his chicken scratch handwriting. Y/N. Dove. My sweet girl. Cariad. My love. Cariad. Cariad. Y/N. Y/N. Y/N. "Lily gave them to me. She also gave me this—" Carefully, Y/N pulled another familiar piece of parchment from her bag. This one was filled and messy with different colored inks across time.

Remus's mouth went dry. He didn't need to look at it to know what it was because he had it memorized.

Ketchup and pepper with eggs (prefers sunny-side up)

Three younger brothers

Likes mum's knitted sweater the most -> owl mum how she did it??

No favorite color, but it's probably green and yellow??

Needs a midday nap most days

Likes long skirts (or is it because I complimented it?)

Y/N is Sisyphus and the question of orange juice or apple juice is the rock

Peonies

Chocolate frogs (non-jumping)

Always needs hair ties -> ask Lily if Hogsmeade has any

Tea = 3 sugars, lots of milk (prefers juice though)

Give notes for Ancient Runes

Find out if there are hair tying charms

Jane Austen

Christmas ideas: skirts, cat, necklace, journal, hair ties

"You weren't supposed to see that," he said again dumbly.

"I know," she said again. A pause. "I believe you."

Remus's head snapped up to see that she was looking at him. He was dreaming again. He shook himself out of it. "No, you don't have to," he said hastily.

"No, Remus, I believe you that it was real," she said, her words choppy as she wrung her hands together. He wanted to reach out and cover her hand with his but instead he sat perfectly still. "But I— But I was so hurt by you," she whispered.

"I'm so sorry," he said with every fiber of his being. "I was afraid and selfish and I hurt you and there's no forgiving that."

"But Remus," she said, looking up at him finally. "I've missed you. I miss you so much and I don't know what to do—" Her voice cracked. Remus felt like something in him cracked open again.

"Oh, cariad," he breathed. "Can I—" He faltered, but miraculously, she picked up on what he meant. Wordlessly, she surged into his arms and for the first time in weeks, he felt like he could breathe again. "I'm so sorry, my sweet girl," he murmured into her hair as he breathed in her familiar scent. "If... if you'll have me again, can we start over?"

"Only if it's for real this time," she mumbled into his shoulder with a dry huff of a laugh as she clutched him back. God, he missed her laugh.

He pressed a kiss against her temple, the first of many. "It's real. Very real."

Remus prayed he wasn't dreaming anymore.

— — — — —

a/n: thanks for reading :^) would love to hear thoughts! my masterlist here

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em-dash-press · 7 months

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How Authors Write Fictional Wars

Some of our favorite novels include wars. They might stretch over a trilogy or build within a single book. Writing one might seem staggering, but it just takes a different planning approach. Use these tips to write a fictional war for your next story and make your readers feel like it really happened.

Foundational Factors to Consider

1. Your Opposing Sides

Wars always have at least two opposing sides. Start there and develop them before deciding if you need a third or fourth side involved. Cover details like:

What does each side want?

What would each side settle for?

What is each side’s worst-case scenario?

What is each side’s hard no? (What wouldn’t they sacrifice or do to win their cause?)

2. Who Supports the Opposing Sides and Why

As a war progresses, each side loses resources. They start running out of money, soldiers, and whatever public support they had when they started the war due to citizens losing their loved ones or sacrificing for the cause.

Your protagonist and antagonist will need to ask for help eventually. Who would support them and why?

There are numerous reasons why someone might pick one side of a war over another. Politics and economics are often the first things leaders consider. The morality behind each side is another factor.

Consider the American Revolution. Many historians believe America would have lost without France sending money, troops, food, and supplies. Why would France support a budding nation over Great Britain? People argue it was because the French:

Wanted to humiliate the British king

Wanted to hurt their British military rival by partnering with America

Wanted to weaken the British kingdom by ending the colonial taxes they benefited from

Wanted to gain power on a global standing by overcoming Great Britain and rising as America’s first ally

These reasons are great examples of what your novel could include. Another country, kingdom, or group could rise in sudden support for your protagonist or antagonist, ultimately throwing chaos into the determined path of war for better or worse.

3. The War’s Terrain

People can break into battle almost anywhere, depending on your fictional world. Your characters could fight:

On land

On sea

In space

In the air

Underground

Online

Some terrain also comes with other considerations. If your war happens on an ocean, will storms and hurricanes affect battles or the ultimate outcome? How will the soldiers and leaders on both sides deal with the weather?

Note these possibilities as you plan your novel. You can add them in as background or crucial plot devices once you have a skeletal structure in place for your story.

Need help remembering everything you’ve imagined? Try making a map and keeping it wherever you write.

4. What Would Make Each Side More or Less Powerful

There’s always something that could give one side an advantage over the other. It’s often in an unexpected way, although you could make the advantage a goal. The bad guys might feel confident in their ability to win, but they have a secret mission to develop a new weapon just to give them a greater advantage.

Other factors to consider would be one side or another doing something like:

Discovering or enacting a magic system

Eliminating a crucial resource their enemy depends on

Removing funding that makes their enemy able to fight by befriending or overcoming their enemy’s financial backers

Changing the positive or negative public perception of the other side’s reason for fighting to change national morale

Doing something that makes one side’s leaders more or less moral (which could change public perception, the soldiers’ vigor, the leadership’s advisory team together, etc.)

6. What Kinds of Conflict You’ll Write

There are two types of basic conflict you’ll likely write when navigating a fictional war. You may not need both if your story is shorter, but adding both makes the plot more realistic.

First, there’s external conflict. You’ll have at least two opposing sides on some kind of battlefield, sneaking around on spy missions, planning surprise attacks, etc.

Secondly, there’s internal conflict. Soldiers might start fighting amongst each other, people in leadership positions could lose trust in each other, citizens might turn on their country’s cause for one reason or another, etc.

7. What Weaponry Your Characters Will Use

The weapons used in your war depend on numerous factors. It will draw from the genre you’re writing, the time period your story takes place, the advancements made in each civilization’s weaponry prior to the war, and any advancements made while the war goes on.

Examples of these could be:

Guns

Swords

Bows

Bombs

Drones

Armed ships

Armed space ships

You should also consider if one side’s weaponry is more likely to change during the course of the war. That’s more plausible if your story or characters change locations where regional cultures use different weapons. Also if the war spans years, people will naturally develop new weaponry during that time.

If you want extra details to daydream about, think about which weapons will become outdated during your story. Some will prove less useful due to complicated usage or cleaning. They also may not work, like if your science fiction characters follow their enemy underwater, but their laser guns require a dry atmosphere to function.

Include Emotional Plot Arcs

Writing always involves some kind of emotional work that results in a plot arc. It keeps the reader engaged by evoking their core feelings. That’s what makes a novel different from a textbook (in a very basic sense).

Work on details like these to find what emotions will be most present and relevant to your story:

Your overall theme

Your characters and what they experience

The action your characters will go through

How the above action will change your characters by affecting their loved ones

What your characters’ goals mean to them emotionally

If your characters’ will undergo things that change their perception of their world, leaders, country, or themselves

You don’t need all of these things to have an emotional plot arc, but they’re relatable human elements that can drive your plot right into your readers’ hearts.

Avoid Some War Story Tropes

Tropes have a bad reputation that I don’t think is entirely deserved. People recognize them as overdone stereotypes, but sometimes they’re useful.

When you’re writing a war, you’re going to have necessary tropes like:

The hero

The unit or squad

The antagonist

What they undergo and who they become is how you make them fresh concepts for your readers.

Some tropes aren’t helpful because they’re what readers expect from every story. If you give them what they expect, your story isn’t as engaging (unless you get the occasional reader who exclusively reads war novels and never tires of overdone tropes).

Keep these in mind as things to avoid, unless you have an ingenious way to make them a brand-new experience:

One soldier dying in another’s arms

A character dying by going out “in a blaze of glory”

Characters using guns in ways that are obviously wrong (i.e., firing more bullets than the gun-type/model holds)

Getting military rank incorrect (if your characters exist in a real-world, already existing military structure)

Injury-proof characters (even your protagonist will eventually encounter some physical harm, whether it’s illness in bad weather or getting shot on a battlefield)

You can check out this great resource to discover more tropes to avoid/consider as you draft your plot outline.

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If it feels like writing a war over the course of a book or a series is challenging, you’re not alone. There’s a lot to consider to make it have an engaging flow.

Keep notes on things like these to develop your story as much as possible before starting your first draft. You can always go back and add or edit things out as needed while developing it. Writers do this all the time—you don’t need to get any manuscript perfect on your first try.

#writing war #writing warfare #writeblr #writing advice #writing tips #writers of tumblr #creative writing #writing #writing inspiration #writing community #writing help #writing resources #writing action #writing conflict #writing batlles

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ystrike1 · 28 days

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How To Refuse the Route - By Saessak (8/10)

This yaoi/harem/isekai/otome mess is relentlessly adorable. Super sweet, slow, and full of dread. The very careful protagonist accidentally sets off the worst red flag by...being friendly and choosing to have a normal childhood. Yup. He didn’t go around seducing everyone. He made a bunch of friends instead. Too bad about the secret yandere character. Better stop running, or the country will drown in a bloody revolt!

Jerry Route is a pretty nice guy who gets reincarnated into a really weak body. He's got a loving family. He's a Counts son....but he quickly figures out that he's in some sort of dating game. Everybody spoils him a bit too much, and there's game mechanic symbols about love everywhere.

The love stuff immediately takes a backseat, because Jerry is in love with magic! His new life is awesome, and he doesn’t wanna worry about love yet. He's not even old enough to go to school! Plus, his health really is awful. He enjoys his new life, and he puts some work into his health. The love and romance premise isn't his priority for many years.

Some of the love hints absolutely disgust him to the core. He starts to suspect there is a "twin brother" route. He tries to have a healthy relationship with all of his family members, and he remains calm. He actually starts to love his game family. AS A FAMILY nothing more. Dating his twin brothers, or his elder brother, would be a nightmare.

He absolutely rejects those routes.

The next route is with the pretty crown prince, Karyan. Jerry mistakes him for a girl at first. Their relationship is tense in the beginning, because Karyan doesn't trust very many people. Jerry gets poisoned though, and they become close friends.

Jerry becomes very close friends with the unwanted fourth prince. A mousy and nervous boy named Ilya. Jerry wasn't supposed to meet Ilya until later. They only meet because Jerry always actively avoids romance. They kinda have a cat together it's really adorable.

Everything is sooo sweet I wouldn’t have known about the yandere part if it wasn't in the promo art.

Karyan is definitely the good prince. He's supportive and kind and he's burdened by all of the manipulative people around him. Jerry has a refreshing personality and a childish love for magic that makes Karyan smile.

Jerry isn't interested in picking a route though. He wants to stay friends with all of his friends, and obviously his brothers.

He starts searching for The Guide Book. A cheat item that can help him avoid the games plot. He wants a certain ending. The Mage Ending. Where Jerry graduates single and he quietly lives inside The Magic Tower.

He enters school with hope. Both princes are incredibly kind, even though they don't get along too well as brothers. Jerry makes other friends too, and he does well in school. Being kind and honest has rewarded him with trusted friends and a happy future....

Raven.

Raven is a catalyst character that seemingly appears out of nowhere. He's not some random guy. He's Ilya's "friend". Things start to get dark immediately. Karyan and Ilya don't have friends??? They only have followers and it's actually really sad??? There's a royal power struggle because both princes are strong and capable???

Karyan is kinda depressed because he has followers instead of friends. Jerry is his solace and his love seems quite innocent.

Ilya's followers are absolutely terrified of him. Jerry is in shock because remember...Ilya is the cat dad/quiet/nervous guy.

Raven is an extremely rude awakening. When Jerry chose to befriend Ilya AND Karyan he set off a huge red flag. Ilya wants Jerry to like him the most, and Ilya has freakishly strong magic. Ilya has been hiding his magic so he can attend basic classes with Jerry, but it's an open secret.

Raven tries to bully Ilya, to force him to pick one of the princes before Ilya truly goes insane

....but it's far too late.

Raven barely manages to avoid being maimed. Ilya chops an arm off, and it gets swept under the rug. Ilya is absolutely obsessed with Jerry's safety and more importantly his health. Jerry has been working on his health, that's true, but he's really only functioning because of Ilya. Ilya constantly casts stamina spells on Jerry so he can have a somewhat normal life.

The situation gets even worse when Jerry finally finds The Guide Book. Ilya is an evil boss character. There are no good endings with him.

The two options are.

- Ilya raises a revolutionary army against his brother, and he kills everyone Jerry knows.

- Ilya wipes Jerry's memory to make him "happy forever", leaving him soulless.

In the current story Ilya is still playing nice, because the plot has been twisted. Most of the original love interests no longer see Jerry in a romantic light. He has healthy relationships with everybody....including Ilya.

Jerry decides to continue pushing towards The Magic Tower Ending. He's frightened, but he doesn't believe Ilya will hurt anyone if the love route isn't activated.

He decides to distance himself from Ilya a little bit, so the love route doesn't activate. If he avoids Ilya's love route everything will be fine! Everybody can stay friends and live happily ever after!!!!!!

I'm sure you've guessed the plot twist.

Jerry has been on Ilya's route the whole time.

There was never any room for anyone else.

#yandere #male yandere #yandere male #yandere boy #recommendations #recs #rec #recommended #webtoon #How To Refuse the Route #yaoi #2024

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bitchyycapricorn · 1 year

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Library Scandals

Remus Lupin x Established Relationship Fem!Reader

Masterlist

Word Count:5k+

Synopsis: Remus and Y/N are in a secret yet very committed relationship. Pent up jealousy and sexual frustration leads them to the library part curfew.

Warnings: Fluff, Angst, Smut, Oral (M and F receiving), throat fucking, PIV penetration, unprotected sex, praise kink, pet names, jealousy, mentions of toxic family, “getting caught”, language.

AN: Briefly edited

Remus peers at the marauders map in front of him tracing your every move as you make your way through the castle. His eyes linger over your footsteps and your name which read “Y/N Grey.” His heart skips a beat the deeper you move through the grounds, watching as you swiftly avoid Filch and any other teachers that happen to be on night watch.

It was getting rather late of course and Remus knew those teachers would be retiring to their beds quite soon. Which is why he was rather surprised to see you on the move so early. He watches as your footsteps pause for a moment outside the library before entering the facility.

Remus smirks to himself knowing exactly what you were doing. You were once again off to the restricted section to continue to read about wandless magic and transformations. Remus never liked to leave you alone on these scandalous adventures, which is why he finds himself quickly muttering “mischief managed” as he slips out of his own dormitory.

Remus, unlike you, is smart enough to wait for all professors to go to bed before heading to the library to join you. The moonlight lighting up his path so he didn’t need to use his wand. His journey is quick and he soon finds himself in front of the large doors to the library that you both so desperately love.

Remus quietly creaks the door open, quickly slipping inside and shutting it behind him. He scrambles hurriedly over to the restricted section where he finds you hunched over a book, nothing but a lantern and the moonlight to light the area around you.

“I suspected you’d be on your way,” your soft voice breaks the silence as a smirk plays upon your lips. Remus lets out a soft laugh as he admires the way the soft yellow glow of the candle lights up your face in the dark room.

“I couldn’t let you have all the fun now could I?” Remus replies coyly. A smirk playing on his lips as well. He stands there a moment more to admire you before making his way toward your hunched figure. He places a soft kiss atop your head relishing in this moment alone with you. He knows you aren’t supposed to be together, and you know it as well. It just seems to somehow, and for some reason, worry you less that the two of you are dating.

You come from a strong pure blood line of Grey’s, and your family holds quite high expectations of you. Especially when it comes to your marital status. Your parents usher you to keep your eyes open for a good pure blood boy whose family comes from good money like yours. As a first year, you were quick to make this promise. You hadn’t thought much of such things. But as a 7th year, things have definitely changed.

You’ve fancied Remus Lupin since second year and the two of you had secretly made things official fourth year. The fact either of you have been able to keep it hush hush for this long is beyond Remus, but not you.

You know exactly why things have kept so quiet. Part of it has to do with the constant lies that you feed your family about how you are “changing” Sirius Black from a blood trader to a restored pure blood lover. You made a promise to your mother and father that you fancy him and by the end of 7th year you’d have a proposal.

Now, you had planned to end this facade ages ago, but Remus convinced you this was the only way your parents wouldn’t disown you. You know that a family bond is important to Remus, given his own family troubles, so you agreed to continue the lies. The issue is how absolutely and utterly jealous Remus is becoming. Even now sitting in the library you can tell he is on edge about something again.

“Sirius was hitting on you again,” Remus huffs taking a seat on the table you’re working at.

“Oh?” You question innocently, as if you hadn’t noticed.

Remus lets out a small groan of annoyance as he begins to pick at his nails. “Darling, he was fawning over you at lunch,” Remus whines. His brown eyes are big and pleading. Asking, no begging, for you to stop Sirius’s antics.

“Well my dear,” you chuckle lightly, “perhaps if you finally told the boys we were together Sirius would stop.”

Remus stares at you silently for a moment before finally speaking up. “Y/N, you know how mouthy the boys are… it will get out and to your parents and…”

“Rem,” you softly cut in. “I think you forget this is our last year. It’s going to come out eventually. Why does it matter if it’s now rather than then?” You try to keep your voice as soft and soothing as possible, you know Remus is an anxious person and this conversation in particular always upsets him. It really did surprise you how insistent he was that you keep your relationship under complete wraps until after graduation. Many would suspect cheating, but you know the other reality of why he requests this. Remus fears the way your fellow housemates will treat you.

Remus has already witnessed the relentless attacks on Sirius for being a blood traitor despite not even being placed in Slytherin. He couldn’t bare to imagine the way you would be treated for being a blood traitor being that Slytherin is your house.

Though it didn’t particularly worry or bother you, you refuse to put any more stress on your darling boyfriend. So you allow for things to stay quiet. Between family ties and bullying, you know this was what ultimately makes Remus happy. Even if his whining about Sirius Black drives you crazy.

“No no,” Remus huffs back finally, making you tear your gaze from your book. “Your parents might cut you off financially, or…”

“Remmy, we don’t have to if it worries you okay? Perhaps instead you could simply mention to Sirius that you fancy me? He’ll stop then you know.” You try to offer a kind smile but you know deep down it isn’t doing much.

Remus draws his lip between his teeth before shaking his head. His fluffy brown curls bouncing with the motion as he mutters “no,” a few times under his breath. “Sirius might not care, he might take it as a competition to get you first,” Remus points out as if it were obvious.

“Get me first?” You couldn’t help but let out a small giggle at his assertion. “Rem, last time I checked, now I could be wrong, but you actually got me first due to the fact we’re dating.”

“But-Okay yes but if I tell him I fancy you then later he finds out we’re together, he might be mad at me!” Remus pleads. You roll your eyes finally turning your chair to face him completely.

“Remus Lupin,” your voice was a little more stern than intended, but you sure as hell knew he was listening now. “I’m almost positive Sirius Black is currently, as in as if this year, on his way to shagging a good portion of our year. Having said that, I highly, and when I say highly I mean highly doubt that he will care that you are shagging me.” You finish with a small sigh. Your eyes lock with Remus’s and you could see a smile beginning to form on his face. “What?” You question with a small laugh.

“Did you just accuse our best friend of shagging the whole year?” Remus chuckles.

“No!” You squeal in defense. “I said on his way to a good portion of our grade!”

Remus lets out another laugh before attempting to get serious again. “Well, you also said that I’m shagging your which is completely and utterly incorrect,” Remus mumbles lowly.

“Really Lupin? That’s what you got out of that? That Sirius is shagging girls and you’re still a virgin?” You let out an exasperated sigh at how absolutely impossible this boy is.

“Hey! You’re a virgin too!” Remus gasps, pointing at you defensively.

“Remus!” You cry with a small laugh. “Still not the point! My point is that he won’t care! If you want our friend to stop “hitting” on me, you’ve ought to say something.”

Remus locks eyes with you again before letting out a small groan. “I get the point, but now all I can think about is how I’m still a bloody virgin!”

Your eyes immediately flew shut as you burst out laughing at his comment. “Remus!” You wheeze while gripping your stomach. “We’re still virgins because my housemates would have a heart attack if you stepped foot into my dorm and your roommates don’t have a reason to leave, then stay gone long enough for us to do anything. Perhaps if you…”

“Well maybe we’ll just have to do it right here then.” Remus states matter-of-factly. Your eyes widened at his offer as you shake your head slowly.

“We can’t just get naked in the restricted section,” you say slowly.

“Says who?” Remus hums, glancing down at you. You look up again at his figure sitting on the desk before deciding to stand up. You shuffle your way between his legs and plant a soft kiss to his lips.

“Says me, I say we can’t get na-“ and suddenly your voice was muffled by your pajama top being taken off your body.

“What was that about you not getting naked? I’m pretty sure you’re the one with your top off,” Remus teases as he admires your completely bare chest. You let out a huff, unable to form any words as you quickly wrap your arms around yourself as cold air surrounds you.

“Remus it’s cold,” you whin eyeing your shirt.

“Well if you move your arms I can use my hands to warm your tits,” Remus snickers earning him a light flick in the arm.

“If you’re going to be an ass and offer to warm me up you might as well warm me up in the right way,” you growl in response. Remus raises an eyebrow at you, leaning back onto the books behind him.

“Oh?” He questioned, intrigued by your sudden dominance in the situation.

“Mhm. If you want to warm me up, use your whole body Remus Lupin. Go on. Fuck me.” You tempt. The smirk that once sat proudly on Remus’s face fell as he swallows thickly. It was only then that he realizes you were standing in front of him, hands on each side of his thighs, with you tits on full display. It was then that he realizes he’s never seen you naked before.

“Scared?” You whisper.

“Terrified.” Remus swallows.

You step back and slowly slip off your pajama shorts followed by your panties. Remus watches your movements with hawk like precision, his eyes never once leaving your body. He was so focused on how gorgeous your body looked he didn’t even realize you had been standing there waiting for him to say something for almost two minutes.

“Oh my,” Remus breaths. “You look, you look absolutely stunning. You truly are the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen.” His eyes graze over your face, then your neck, and down your chest and stomach. He admires your hips and thighs, before slowly skimming down your bare legs. Remus felt like he was on fire. His whole body burns for you, in fact his pajama pants felt quite tight for you.

“Your turn to strip for me lover boy,” you hum, pulling Remus out of his trance. He nods quickly, sliding off the table to discard his shirt and pants, along with any other garments. His eyes meet yours once again, he looks so nervous.

Remus is in fact nervous, though the nervousness is overpowered by excitement. His body shivers as the cold air envelops his toned body. The moonlight shines on Remus pale skin perfectly, allowing you to see every scar left behind by the full moon. The atmosphere of the room was becoming tense due to you both standing there silent and naked.

“Y/N,” Remus whispers, slowly moving towards you. “May I….” His hand reaches forward but he stops himself just before he can make contact with the soft skin of your waist. May I touch you?” His voice is soft and unsure, like a small child who doesn’t know if they’re about to get in trouble.

But you smile at him, allowing Remus to relax under your loving gaze. “Of course you can touch me Remus, I love when you touch me.” You whisper in a hushed tone. Now you begin to move forward, stepping into his touch.

Remus makes quick work of his hands, running them down your waist and then to your hips before sliding them to you back side so he can gently grip your ass. You let out as soft moan as his lips connect with yours, drinking up the feeling of his body pressing against you. “Rem…” you mumble softly, “Can I please you?”

Your words seem to take Remus by surprise, since he pauses the kiss you were both sharing. His lips detach from yours so he can meet your gaze once again. “I-I would really like that, but only if you’re comfortable!” He quickly adds.

“Remus Lupin,” you sigh, “I’d do anything for you I swear,” your voice is like honey as you drag your hands down his body while dropping to your knees in front of him. You watch as Remus’s cock twitches, tempting you to put it in your mouth.

You decide to take it slow, first grabbing onto the base of his cock and jerking it forward. Remus let out a soft whine at your action, bucking his hips forward. His eyes begging for you to continue. You slowly begin to move your hand back and forth at a steady pace, enjoying the soft sounds that we’re tumbling from Remus’s lips.

After a few more jerks you found yourself leaning in with your mouth open, ready to take his cock.

You could hear his breath hitch as your lips made contact with his tip, sucking lightly on the sensitive head. You swirl your tongue around his tip, making sure to spread around the precum that was leaking from his aching cock.

You slowly lower you head fully onto his base while Remus’s hands fly to your hair, tugging lightly as you choke on his length. Remus was thick in your mouth, making it easy to feel every vein and curve as your head bobs up and down.

Remus feels hot from the pleasure, relishing in the much better feeling of your mouth rather than his hand. He loves the way you look while you suck him off. The way tears are forming in your eyes as you gag around his length. Your head continues to move up and down at a steady pace as you hallow your cheeks. Remus instinctively bucks his hips at the feeling, fucking into your throat.

A small moan escapes your lips at the sensation, wanting Remus to do it again. You pull away for a moment, “do that again Rem, I like the feeling of you fucking my throat,” you hum as your lips wrap around his cock once again.

Remus lets out a long moan, bucking his hips forward, wanting to fill your request. He begins to collect your hair in his hands, which allowed him to hold your head in place as he slowly picks up his thrusts.

You could tell Remus was becoming close by the way his abs flex each time he went deeper down your throat. Along with the way he was pushing you all the way down on his cock and holding you there a moment before thrusting back out again. This pattern continues a few more times before Remus let out a ragged gasp while pushing your head all the way down on his cock. You could feel the heat of his cum shoot down your throat as Remus releases you from his tight grip.

“Fuck, you did so well bunny.” Remus huffs, completely out of breath. He cups your cheek before sliding his hand under your chin to tilt your head upwards. You smile up at him while he smiles back at you. “Come on pretty girl, stand up for me. I want to bury my face in that beautiful cunt of yours to show you just how much I love you.”

A soft moan escapes your lips as you pick yourself up off the ground, leaning into Remus’s embrace to give him a small kiss.

“Come on bunny, up on the table for me,” he says pulling you over to where he was previously sitting. He helps you up onto the desk before dropping to his knees in front of your glistening folds. Spreading your legs, Remus brings your thighs over his shoulders so they can rest there, leaving you to lean back on the books behind you. You let out a moan as you tug at Remus’s soft locks, wanting him to bury his face between your thighs.

“What do you want bunny? Hmm? Use your words for me now,” Remus says with a chuckle.

You let out a small whine before replying with a soft whimper “P-please Remus, I want you to touch me.”

“See that wasn’t so hard now was it?” Remus hums with a smirk. His head slowly dipping between your slick coated thighs. His lips began pressing gentle kisses to the inside of your thighs as he travels upwards to your soaking cunt. With a small kiss to your folds, Remus slips his tongue in and gently licks your clit. Slowly lapping up all of your juices in the process.

“Mm bunny, you’re so fucking wet for me,” Remus coos between licks. Your legs begin to tremble as Remus presses his face deeper into your heat so he can press his lips against your throbbing bundle of nerves.

“Oh Merlin Remus, please don’t stop,” you cry as Remus continues to devour you. His tongue flicking your clit at a constant pace as your hips slowly move upwards to meet his mouth. Your hips begin to grind into him, wanting to feel as much friction as possible as Remus softly takes your clit between his lips. You could feel your high coming on, causing your body to convulse under his soft touch. “Oh fuck Remus, please just like that, I’m going to cum,” you plead causing Remus to smirk against you. He maintains his movement as your body begins to convulse above him, your thighs squeezing together as your orgasm spreads throughout your shaking body.

Remus doesn’t stop until you’re whining that it’s too much. His lips only then pulling away from your sensitive cunt.

“You did so good for me bunny,” Remus praises as he kisses you softly. You can taste your cum on his lips making you squirm underneath him at the arousing memory that happened just moments ago.

His hot fingers make their way down your body and to your heat which is dripping from a mix of your orgasm and arousal for Remus. His fingers delicately trace patterns over your sensitive throbbing cunt before he slowly slips a finger into your entrance. You shiver at the sensation, quickly pressing your lips to Remus’s to hide your moan. Remus returns the kiss feverishly as his fingers pump in and out of you. You can feel as his fingers stretch you out, preparing you for his cock.

You let out a few more whimpers before whispering “Remmy please fuck me,” against his swollen lips. Remus pulls your body to the edge of the table, allowing you to wrap your legs around his waist while one hand rests around your waist. His other hand rests on your thigh. You can feel the wetness from Remus fingers smear across your thigh as his thumb traces a circular motion into your soft skin. Shuffling forward slightly, Remus enters you with ease, allowing himself to fully press into you. You throw your head back as a strangled moan erupts from your throat at the new sensation. Remus groans and curses as he begins to thrust his hips into yours. Embracing the feeling of your cunt as it squeezes his cock. Remus tries his best to keep a steady rhythm and pace going, but the sensation is overwhelming as he slides in and out of you. His hips snapping into yours repeatedly.

He was overtaken by the smell of your perfume that lingered from earlier that day, along with the smell of your hair wash. Remus could already feel himself getting close for the second time that night, enjoying the sensation of being so close to you. He loves the way you feel, not just the way you squeeze around him but the way you feel in his arms. He loves the way your lips feel on his, the way you sound when you moan for him. Remus knew for a fact he would never want anyone else, he knew this before tonight, but tonight… tonight was worth every rough patch and every moment of hiding your relationship from others. Tonight was everything Remus needed to know that you are his and his alone.

You too felt this deep connection of never wanting Remus to let go of you. If it were possible you’d have him stay like this with you forever- fucking you dumb on the desk of the restricted section. His thrusts were soft yet ruthless, as he pounds into you over and over. You could hear the sound of his skin slapping against yours, the sound of him slipping in and out of your wet cunt. Over and over again Remus fucks into you, relentlessly. You could feel your body begin to shake as you press your chest into Remus’s. Loving the feeling of his body heat radiating off onto you.

“I’m so close Rem, you’re going to make me cum again…oh oh, ugh you feel so good,” you cry, allowing tears to slip down your cheeks as a string of moan flows from your chest.

“Cum for me bunny, cum on my cock,” Remus urges, kissing your lips gently a few times. His lips linger on yours for a moment as the feeling in your stomach finally burst causing a wave of pleasure to overtake your mind and body. You cry out Remus’s name into the kiss, trembling as he helps you ride out your high.

Even in your hazy state you could feel Remus’s cock begin to twitch inside you, signaling that he was close. His moans echoing through the library as his hips jut into you even deeper. Drawing in and out with bruising force. Remus could feel himself getting closer as he desperately chases his high. Craving to release deep inside of you.

His hips moved in a new rhythm, thrusting a few times before hitting deep within you and holding there for a moment before repeating his ruthless motion. You squirm under his touch as his grip tightens on your back.

“Oh fuck,” Remus huffs out, “You feel so good bunny,” Remus continues to praise you. “I’m so close pretty girl.”

A small whimper escapes your lips at the pet names, loving the way Remus continues to praise you as he begins to reach his high.

Within minutes Remus could feel himself beginning to release as his hips snap deep into yours, holding still to fill your cunt up as much as he could. The feeling of pleasure and relief was so overwhelming Remus practically collapses onto you as he comes down from his high. You wrap your arms around his sweaty body wanting to feel him as close as possible.

A small sigh escapes your lips as you breathe in Remus’s scent. “I love you Remus,” you whisper in his ear softly while he moans in response.

“I love you more,” he whispers back after a moment of comfortable silence. You smile to yourself as you pull Remus even closer to your naked body, not allowing him to pull out of you quite yet.

It wasn’t until after another beat of silence that Remus groans and begins to shuffle in your arms. “Let’s go get cleaned up baby, we can head to the perfect washrooms,” Remus coos softly in your ear as he slowly pulls out of you.

You let out a throaty moan at the loss, desperately wanting to feel him back in you. But you also desperately wanted to go with him to clean up. Remus steps away from the desk and quickly slides on his pajamas before picking yours up. Your legs were weak so you stay put on the table allowing Remus to come help dress you.

“Thank you Remmy,” you whisper as he pulls on your pajama shorts and helps you slip on your top. You can feel Remus’s cum drip down your legs but you know there isn’t much you can do until you’re both in the bathroom.

And so you allow Remus to lead you out of the library and into the empty washroom just down the corridor. He turns and makes quick work on locking the door behind him using a charm.

You feel yourself gravitate towards the large bath, turning the handles to allow the water to run while you empty some bubble bath solution into the tube as well. Remus eyes you lovingly, feeling eager to once again strip you, but this time be able to help you wash up. He begins to peel off his own cloths before approaching you to help you do the same. You moan under his touch, allowing for his hands to gently pull the fabric off your sensitive skin. His cool hands run over your bare hips and stomach while you step into the tub. Remus is quick to follow, taking a seat behind you.

You lay with your back pressing against Remus’s chest, simply enjoying the feeling of him. He is quick to lather his hands in body wash so he can run them up and down your body once again. His hands rub gently into your sore shoulders, hips, and thighs, making sure to lather you up well. He then begins to apply the body wash to himself, wanting to smell just like you.

“We have to wash our hair baby,” you say as you begin scooping water up and over your head in order to drench your hair. Remus lets out a soft laugh as he aids you, wetting his hair as well in the process.

“You look beautiful Y/N,” Remus gushes as he begins washing your hair from behind. His fingers gently massaging into your scalp, making sure to wash the sweat away. You hum at the feeling and thank him for the compliment.

“I can wash your hair Rem,” you offer, allowing yourself to turn around in the large tub so you’re straddling him. You squeeze some of the shampoo into your hands and begin to lather it into his wet curly brown locks. You mimic his actions of massaging his scalp in hopes to make him feel as good as you felt.

You hear him let out a sigh of pleasure at the feeling of your fingers working through his hair. He allows his hands to rest at your lower back just above you ass. You feel comfortable this way, relishing in the feeling of being pushed up against each other once again. You like being naked together, even without anything sexual going on. The feeling of simply feeling each other up was enough to give you a warm tingly feeling as you stayed in each other’s embraces.

“I’m going to dip you backwards to get the soap out,” Remus teases suddenly.

A smile breaks out on your face followed by a “don’t you dare Remus Lupin!”

“Then let’s dive under love, this is basically a small swimming pool, we could swim around a bit.” Remus hits back with an evident smirk on his face. You laugh, pushing off of him in order to dunk under the water, resurfacing almost just as quickly. Remus let out a laugh following your lead in going under the water.

You both splashed around for a bit, talking, laughing, and just overall enjoying one another’s presence.

“It’s getting quite late,” you say after almost an hour of you and Remus’s swimming.

“We can head up to bed if you’d like, you can stay in my bed?” Remus offers shyly.

You looked at him surprised, “you-you would let me do that?”

“Of course bunny,” Remus hums pressing a kiss to your warm lips, “I’m not ready to leave your side yet.” He says with full honesty. You nod quickly, excitement coursing through your body at the thought of sleeping with Remus. You want more than anything to fall asleep in his arms tonight and the fact that he was offering brought you immense joy.

Remus helped you out of the tub as you both dry off with a quick drying spell, once again slipping on your cloths quickly.

You hurry out the bathroom and down the corridor wanting to get to the Gryffindor common room as fast as possible. Once you arrive Remus says the code quickly, pulling you behind him and up to his room.

You both sneak in as quietly as possible, making sure not to wake the other two boys. You were the first to make it to Remus’s bed, quickly ducking under the covers as he follows suit.

“Goodnight bunny,” Remus whispers pressing a kiss to your forehead.

“Goodnight Rem, I love you,” you whisper back.

“I love you more” Remus coos, snuggling close to your warm body.

+++

You and Remus wake up before the other three boys and head to the great hall for breakfast. Though the boys weren’t too far behind as they took their seats next to you at the table.

“You guys were in the library last night?” Sirius asks looking between you and Remus.

“Yeah we were,” Remus replies casually, trying to be not suspicious as possible.

“How come?” James quips up.

“Oh, I was reading some stuff in the restricted section. I was wondering about wandless magic and transformations. Remus promised he’d help me with my research.” You reply with a smile. Both boys nod and begin to dig into their food.

As the tables begin to fill up with students Dumbledore stands up at his podium calling everyone’s attention. “It has come to my attention that two students were out last night past curfew. We are unaware who these students are, just that they could be heard in the library last night. This is a reminder to all of you that leaving your dormitories past curfew is strictly forbidden and punishable with a detention. On top of this, I also must have the awkward conversation that student’s are not to participate in sexual activities on school grounds, especially in the library or classrooms past curfew. Thank you.”

Dumbledore went to sit down as a hushed whisper came over the students wondering who was in the library last night having sex.

“That’s funny,” James laughs, “weren’t you two in the library last night?”

You and Remus quickly exchange a look as the gears in your three friends brains finally begin to turn.

“Wait a damn minute-“ Sirius begins to stammer.

“Did you…did you shag in the library?” Peter squeaks out.

“Fuck.” Both you and Remus mutter as you quickly gather your things and make a beeline for the exit.

You can both hear the snickers behind you as Sirius hyperventilates about how Remus Lupin shagged his girl.

+++

TAGLIST

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absolutebl · 2 months

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This Week in BL - It's 2024 & I'm talking about TayNew... really?

(They pretty much told us all to sit down and shut tf up, 'cause they got this. AND THEY DO.)

Organized, in each category, with ones I'm enjoying most at the top.

Feb 2024 Wk 3

Ongoing Series - Thai

Cherry Magic (Sat YouTube grey) ep 9 of 12 - I broke. In my defense, it was Monday, I needed comfort, and TayNew were right tf there. Ya know what? They are great in this show. It's a great adaptation. I might like it more than the JBL live action. You know why? Really, honestly WHY...?

That was a PHENOMENAL KISS. Those boys did Thailand fucking proud. They did fandom a solid. Thank you OGs for reminding us how it's done. I was getting used to SloppyHot. And SloppyHot has its place, but that TayNew rooftop kiss was a top tear class act. It was tender and sweet and respectful and joyful. It was eye work and breath work and years of practice. How very far BL has come while still staying so much the same. TayNew - I salute you!

(Read all about distribution issues here.)

The Sign (Sat YT) ep 12fin - we waiting, I guess? Bah.

Cooking Crush (Sun YT) ep 11 of 12 - The recipe book thing was so damn cute and I love a claiming. YOU KNOW I LOVE A CLAIMING!

In fact, I love OffGun.

I love food based BL.

I adored seeing a reboot of "the infamous dragging".

But I don’t love anything else about this show. Sigh.

1000 Years Old ep 1 of 12 - Finally we get our gay vampire BL from Feel Good Bangkok. Stars Shane (My Engineer) and fresh face Opal, directed by Champ (2gether). It’s kind of odd but enjoyable. A group of teen UFO seekers find a vampire instead. Opal looks a bit like a mix between Newnu + Leo (VIXX) - so cute + edge. Also, nice to see Shane again on our screens after so long.

Finally, I like the subtle (and sometimes not subtle) presence of ghosts permeating this show. Do the friends know she's there? Do they know she's dead? Is the existence of paranormal accepted but not that of aliens? Or are the two combined? Is this lazy writing or just fun world building? Who cares! It's enjoyable.

For Him (Thurs iQIYI) ep 12fin - the nail painting bit was very cutie queers and I've not seen it done in BL before, so that was nice. For some reason captions never dropped for me on this last episode, but it didn’t really matter. Not much happened and I understood everything anyway.

Quick pitch?

From the people who brought us Unforgotten Night based on a y-novel, about a young man nursing a heartbreak who has a one-night stand, but the other boy didn't want it to end. This turned out to be a pulp that wasn’t half as good as it should have been and even less memorable, but not terrible. 5/10 DON'T BOTHER unless you're v bored

City of Stars (Fri iQIYI) ep 3 of 12 - Oh it is such a pulp: the acting is not good and the script is terrible. Of course, I’m mildly enjoying it. Very good dream kissing. There's something appealing about these main characters - I think it's the moot crushes. We rarely get to see that. These days everything feels very one sided, this... isn't.

A Secretly Love (Thai WeTV) - Khonprot, a third-year hazer of the engineering faculty, has a secret crush on Pluem, a tsundere fourth-year head hazer. Over the years, he's seen Pluem cycle through girlfriends. Recently, after a public breakup, however, Khonprot thinks maybe a boy has a chance.

I tried but I can't get into my WeTV account anymore and I'm way too lazy to figure it out. I'll catch it grey if I can, since I've rebooted the bootlegging side of my BL life for Cherry Magic anyway.

So this show may stay in this section, or I may bump it down to "it's airing but..."

If anyone is watching it, let me know if it's good?

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Love For Love's Sake (Korea Weds iQIYI) 7-8fin - Ugh it was GREAT, despite some pretty telling flaws. I ended up feeling like some of the filming was amateurish (very overworked low angles - director's first feature, I assume), and the narrative is a little disjoined and on the nose, AND the subs are clumsy (which I don't expect from KBL) BUT I still loved it. (FYI - I wouldn't be so harsh on a BL for this kinda thing except one from Korea.)

Quick pitch:

This isekai-based KBL is about a man who must win a game by convincing a reserved teen outcast to fall in love with him. Of course, that teen represents himself and his own unhappiness. Like many queer narratives, this show is actually about self worth, trust, and found family, and it is VERY on the nose. But I don’t expect subtlety from my BL and I enjoyed it's truly lovely redemption arc and earnest performances. While I found the narrative a touch disjointed with overworked filming angles and poorer than average captions, this is certainly much better than early KBL in terms of consistency of tone, script, and immersion. Highly rewatchable and charming, which counts for a lot. 9/10

Trigger warning for suicide depicted.

Perfect Propose (Japan Fri Gaga) ep 4 of 6 - Gosh, it’s so lovely. But I do just constantly want to give them both hugs.

AntiReset (Taiwan Fri Viki/Gaga) ep 4 of 10 - Oh look, Taiwan has created yet another BL where I spend most of the time watching it grinning like an idiot. Surprise surprise. The pet name thing was fucking adorable. Also Taiwan once more proving they come by their "kings of kissing" title honestly. I mean to say. In a week of good kisses this one was just... WOW.

On the other hand, some of the underpinning themes are starting to v worry me (ownership, consent, age), and we only just got started, and I don't trust this production company so... I have concerns.

But also... YAY KISSES!

(I'm made of weak moral fiber.)

Although I Love You and You AKA Sukiyanen Kedo Do Yaro ka (Japan Thurs Gaga) ep 6 of 10 - Like many other shows on this list. I just enjoy it the most when the two leads are on screen together. So this episode was kind of lacking because they were apart for most of it. I also am starting to agree with the tone of the plot, that maybe they ARE better off as friends not lovers. (And I'm sure I'm not supposed to want that.) Oh Japan, must you?

My Strawberry Film (Japan Gaga) ep 1 of 8 - Oh it’s good. In the arthouse lane so don’t expect sweetness & light or an HEA. If there’s no cartoon aspect to a JBL, there’s usually no joy. But it is certainly good. Teens uncover some old film and a mystery around a pretty girl. The background music is wildly annoying (and rarely in the background).

It's Done

What Did You Eat Yesterday Season 2 AKA Kinou Nani Tabeta? Season 2 (Japan Gaga) 10 eps - will binge when I have any spare time. 2024 is crazy busy for me so far.

The Servant and the Young Master - from Vietnam, it's on YouTube. I will give it a try when I have a window of time.

Began Beginning (Myanmar YouTube) - A Burmese BL? @heretherebedork vouched for it, so I will give it a watch.

7 Days Before Valentine (Weds WeTV) - Gave me Luminous Solution vibes have decided not to watch.

It's Airing But...

Dead Friend Forever (Thai iQIYI) - rumors are it's interesting. I'm waiting to know how it ends.

Ossans Love Season 2 (Japan Gaga) - 5 years later, will anything have changed? This is Japan so… probubly not. I won't be watching this. I disliked Season one and actively hated the follow ups. No thank you.

Playboyy (Thurs Gaga) 14 eps - Dear Playboyy, it's not you, it’s me… I hate you. You’re about as deep (and as palatable) as a shot glass of cum. While I'm sure you’re someone’s kink, you're my weakest link. Goodbye. I DNFed this at ep 5. Frankly I'm impressed with myself for getting that far.

Time the series (Tue Gaga/YT) 10 eps - dropped it at ep 4.

Next Week Looks Like This:

2/24 Unknown (Taiwan Youku) 12 eps - Older brother tough guy breadwinner looks after his sister and defacto adopted little brother. Little bother falls in love with him and is sent away after a stolen kiss. But when he comes back…

Sam Lin has a cameo so even if I wasn't already excited, I'm in. We should be on our guard though, Taiwan will occasionally go edgy, dark, and sad... this could go there.

One assumes GMMTV is filling in the BL time slot with something queer on their YT Channel after Cooking Crush ends, they gonna lose subs if they don't. But I've not been paying attention to the chatter so I don't know which of their line-up it will be. I think G4 are filming/off radar now, and Earth is in that het noona thing? Plus they gotta sort out the IP for MIx-Up and Ossen. So it won't be one of the announced adaptations. They'll hold My Golden Blood for the high season, so I think it'll be one of the lesser known lead-outs. Wandee or Only Boo maybe? But they only just started filming those. Are we getting our long awaited GL? Anything else left from 2023 that I forgot about?

Upcoming BLs for 2024 are listed here. This list is not kept updated, so please leave a comment if you know something new or RP with additions.

THIS WEEK’S BEST MOMENTS

Two crawling kisses from Thailand this week. Now this is a fetish I didn't know I had. Turns out, we love this one! (*waves hand in air* I speak for all of us now.)

Cooking Crush

City of Stars

Possibly the best tsundere to cinnamon roll pivot we've had in a long time.

Also the best asshole to KING pivot. Could we have a whole drama staring this character now? Please?

And finally our sunshine learning to love himself.

SIGH. what a lovely show.

And a good SMILEY kiss from a KBL.

And then some cute cuddles? Korea is spoiling me these days. I'm catching expectations now. What's next? Japan learns to kiss in their light BLs? Ha! I kill me.

(All Love for Love's Sake).

(Last week)

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dramioneasks · 4 months

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Top 10 Most Favourited (Completed) Fics on FFNET of 2023:

Wilted Rose and Muddy Blood: A Dramione Fic by Raptor.Elephant - M, 25 chapters, Words: 34,001 - Lavender Brown makes a bet with Hermione that she can't win over the Slytherin Prince in a month. Hermione wonders why she agreed... she could never stand a chance of winning, right? Rated for minor adult themes and language. R&R. COMPLETE... FINALLY!

The Education of a Lady by thewanderers'wanderingdaughter - M, 34 chapters, Words: 365,605 - COMPLETE. Fourth and final (for real this time) part in the His Little Bird series. The story of survival, betrayal, and tragedy. A monster took everything from her. Now she's expected to be a willing participant in the world he's built for them. They want her to become one of them. She only wants vengeance, and now that she has her power back, she can make that a reality.

If Only by SarahFraser - M, 25 chapters, Words: 99,891 - Fourteen years after Draco and Hermione break up, Draco accompanies his son, Scorpius, to Kings Cross for his first year at Hogwarts. Thirteen-year-old twins, Mila and Milo, get their first in person glimpse of the father that abandoned them before birth. After Mila confronts her father for abandoning them, Draco seeks Hermione out on the platform to find out what the hell is going

I'm a What? He's My What? Well Hell! by clumsydolphin - T, 18 chapters, Words: 34,168 - This is a very unusual Veela tale! I promise if ya peek inside it's a surprise! Now complete!

Blackmailed by Mistress Lynn - M, 14 chapters, Words: 49.867 - Draco finds out something pertaining to the war that Hermione would do anything to prevent from getting out. How far is she willing to go to protect her secret? DM/HG, Draco M./Hermione G. 7th Year Hogwarts, war AU, Dramione, lots of banter! COMPLETE! WINNER: 2022 Top Dramione Fics on Reddit, 2nd Place Dom!Draco (but he's totally a switch here)

Mother: Unknown by HufflepuffMommy - M, 42 chapters, Words: 108,211 - After the battle, Draco Malfoy was given something he never thought he wanted—a daughter. The only problem? He didn't know who the mother of his child was. Six years after the war, Hermione Granger moves to the states, to a small coastal town in Maine. There, she runs into a familiar wizard—along with his outgoing, precious daughter. NOW COMPLETE!

Fireworks by cleotheo - T, 10 chapters, Words: 25,510 - A party at the end of seventh year results in major life changes for Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, including the loss of their best friend, Ron Weasley. Can a reunion several years later fix the rift, or are some things too broken to ever be fixed? Reunion style story.

Old Friends by cleotheo - T, 10 chapters, Words: 25,453 - When Ron Weasley returns to Wizarding Britain after five years away he is dismayed to find his place in life seems to have been usurped by a certain former Slytherin. But how far will Ron go to get back the life, and the witch, he believes should be his?

Teach Me How to Forget by scullymurphy - M, 20 chapters, Words: 110,321 - Hermione Granger is 27 years old when her life falls apart. Cheated-on, flatless, in a dead end job, she decides to change one thing she can-take a class and try for some career advancement. But change is never easy, especially when an old enemy is the catalyst-and the class instructor.

Designations by sbz0702 - M, 35 chapters, Words: 85,293 - In the aftermath of the Battle of Hogwarts and the end of the Wizarding War, all Seventh- and Eighth-Year students are required to return to Hogwarts to complete their magical educations. When they arrive, they discover that the Ministry has been tampering with nature and biology...and they've all been affected... EWE, non-Canon compliant

#dramione #year wrap up #favourite fics #2023 #ffnet

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emilystheories · 10 months

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Aelin, Nesta, Bryce: the secret of the eight-pointed star.

My all time favourite SJM universe theory.

[Spoilers for ACOTAR, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City!]

In Empire of Storms, Aelin is seen wearing a Wyrdkey around her neck. Because of this, a temporary gate is opened inside of her, allowing Deanna to possess her body.

Within the Throne of Glass world, Deanna is a god.

When Aelin attends a religious service to honour Deanna and the other gods, it is noted that the High Priestess bears the marking of an eight-pointed star above her brow.

In the ACOTAR world, it has been widely speculated that the Cauldron - with its three magical legs - is also made from Wyrdkeys (thus creating a Wyrdgate). Items dipped into the Cauldron, such as the Dread Trove, also appear to take on similar properties to the Wyrdkeys.

When Nesta uses the Dread Trove items - just like Aelin and the Wyrdkey - a god-like being appears to possess Nesta.

Nesta also bore a tattoo of the eight-pointed star. The symbol of the gods.

Many believe that the fourth Dread Trove item is the Horn in the Crescent City world.

The Horn is embedded into Bryce's back. Just like the Wyrdkeys, it allows Bryce to open up doors to other worlds.

When the Horn was repaired... Bryce also gained the same marking of the eight-pointed star.

Thus, it appears that Wyrdkeys and the Dread Trove (including the Horn) allow gods, or higher beings, to possess the bodies of those wielding them.

However, unlike Aelin or Nesta, who can remove their access to these items, Bryce is stuck with the Horn permanently inked into her back.

In the final chapters of CC2, when Bryce reaches the Asteri palace, it is said that an eye opens within her soul, and "snarls."

This begs the question; is there someone inside Bryce as well...?

Interestingly, after the Horn was healed and Bryce is racing to save the humans, the Prime of the Wolves looks at Bryce and refers to her as a "wolf." As he says this, he points to his heart.

Similarly, when Bryce meets the Prime again in CC2, he once again refers to her as a "wolf" and taps his chest - his heart.

But, the Prime isn't referring to Bryce. He's referring to Danika.

Bryce's best friend, the wolf-shifter... the one who is always inside of Bryce's heart... literally.

Danika told Baxian that she was trying to find a way into a new world. But, she also knew that she was going to die before this could happen.

Perhaps it's then no coincidence that Danika inked the Horn on Bryce's back; creating a gate inside of Bryce - one that she could enter, even after death, should she need it.

Danika inked the Horn in the "language of universes" - Wyrdmarks.

In doing this, she spelt out the phrase "through love, all is possible." When Hypaxia asks Bryce about this very phrase on her back, Bryce explains the meaning: that she and Danika will never be parted.

Danika says the same thing herself; that even if Bryce cannot see her... she will always be there.

And, I don't think these are just pretty words. Because, through the Horn - a gate into Bryce's soul - Danika's own soul resides.

This explains how, after the Horn was healed, Bryce was able to the Drop.

The Drop is a descent into one's soul. When Bryce does the Drop, when she descends into her own soul... she found Danika there.

But, this raises an interesting question; can any deceased or otherworldly being enter Bryce through the Horn?

Or... is Danika someone important?

Given the theme of reincarnation within the SJM universe... it is possible that Danika was once a god, or a higher being, herself?

Well, the name Danika means "morning star." Or, otherwise known as Sirius.

In the Crescent City world, Sirius was the seventh (and long deceased) Asteri.

Sirius was known as the WOLF STAR.

Further, within various strains of mythology, Danika is known as the Goddess of Dusk.

...Danika's search for Dusk's Truth.

...The Horn, given to Bryce by Danika, is a beacon to Prythian. To the Dusk Court.

The Dusk Court (most likely situated on the Prison Island), with the same marking of the eight-pointed star.

The symbol of the Starborn fae.

The symbol of the Gods.

With SJM's next (multiverse?) series speculated to be called Twilight of the Gods...

Twilight being another word for dusk...

It's all coming together.

(And, as an additional headcanon - if this theory is true - I wonder if this is all leading up to Starfall - the migration of souls. That we will see Danika's soul leave her place inside of Bryce, and join the other souls in the sky - destined to be reborn once more).

#acotar #crescent city #throne of glass #aelin galathynius #bryce quinlan #nesta archeron #sjm multiverse #sjm universe #sarah j maas #sjm theory #acotar theory #crescent city theory

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fandom-discussions-with-avery · 7 months

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Huntl0w isn't good and that's why

A general compilation of all the problems that do not allow me to treat Huntl0w at least neutrally:

1. Distortion of characters. Do you remember Hunter from the beginning of season 2? And that's it, he is no longer with you. Now he is not a soldier who has been training all his life, he is a cute awkward blushing boy who can't do anything without his boss girlfriend. And do you remember Willow, a kind soul who uses her powers only against enemies? Forget, she'll drive a new acquaintance into the ground and won't let him go. They are trying to forcibly fit them into the girlboss x malewife dynamic, and for this they have to change their characters.

2. Lack of chemistry. The same problem as Lumity: all romantic interactions are embarrassments and red cheeks. But if the girls had a Grom dance and more time together, then Huntl0w has nothing.

3. Willow's attitude. She treats him the same way she treats all her other friends right up to the moment when he saved her with the help of the power of the Flapjack. I'm sure the writers didn't do it on purpose, but it turned out that way - Willow fell in love with Hunter only after he stopped being magically disabled. Or in gratitude for the rescue. One is no better than the other.

4. Hunter's awkwardness. The guy has known her for the fourth year, three of which they are clearly together, but still confused as the first time. He's obviously uncomfortable with her. But who is he comfortable with? With Luz and Gus! It is with Luz that he shares secrets, she understands him like no one else. With Gus, Hunter found the best common language, common interests, and in general they are on the same wavelength. Willow and Hunter don't have either. They were able to prescribe normal interaction with everyone except the love interest, and it's so fucked up.

5. The uselessness for the plot. They don't bring anything, even the very parallel with Caleb and Evelyn is ignored. It feels like they got together just to "pair every character" (except for Gus, of course, Gus is our black best friend, he doesn't deserve our attention).

6. Willow is Hunter's authority figure. There is nothing wrong with the fact that a girl can be a leader in a relationship. But when a guy just starts separating from his uncle, whom he considered an authority all his life, and immediately falls in love with a girl who commands him... This is a very bad parallel. Hunter just changed his boss. TOH is not so deep to develop this topic, and it don’t have enough time, so this is definitely a minus for them.

7. Lack of development. Yes, the series was cut. And now you say that this justifies everything. And I will say that it only makes it worse. Already knowing that the series would be shortened, Dana and co pushed a new love line, which "developed" behind the scenes, did nothing for the plot, but spoiled the characters' characters (as if Amity alone was not enough for us).

8. Hunter is the second Caleb. Yes, Hunter's arc has come to the same place where it began. This applies to a lesser extent to Huntlow, it is rather a sin of the plot itself, but in total with the rest of the problems it becomes no less infuriating.

In conclusion, I can say that this ship is definitely not problematic, it's just bad. No one is forbidden to love them, but they should understend why people may not like Huntl0w.

Maybe I'll write the same thing with Lumity, but I'm not sure.

#toh critical #toh salt #anti huntlow #huntl0w negative #hunter toh #willow park

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starsandhughes · 1 year

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Penalty Box— Engagement Edition

SERIES MASTERLIST

the caption is so long so sorry

ps i made the likes and comment numbers all of z’s jersey numbers/numbers associated with him :)

yourusername

liked by trevorzegras, _quinnhughes, and 11,469 others

yourusername “does the sun promise to shine? no, but it will, even behind the darkest clouds it will. and no promise will make it shine longer or brighter, for that is its fate, to burn until it can burn no more. so, to love you is not my promise, it is my fate, to burn for you until i can burn no more.” (atticus)

trevor zegras, you are my everything; and soon, you will be my husband. i remember our first (real) kiss like it happened yesterday; it was march 16th, 2018, after our first date. it was spring break, and we were all at home together. just a few days prior i learned that you had talked to quinn to get permission to ask me out. i said yes, and we snuck out in the middle of the night to not be disturbed or questioned by the entire house. there was a park about a ten minute walk from the house, and you had this giant backpack on with secret “date supplies.” you had my hide in the playground and made me swear to not look at what you were doing. you tied a sheet to two poles of the sitting area and set up a mini projector to play X2 specifically because i love the lines “it’s me” “prove it.” “you’re a dick” “okay.” after the movie, you told me to sit on the bench while you cleaned up to “switch up societies standards” and that’s how i knew i wanted to make this work. it’s how i knew i’d do anything to keep you. you grabbed my hand before we walked through the front door of the house to stop me, and that’s when you kissed me. i thought it was magic. turns out, everything you do is magic.

the only thing that comes close to that, is the day we first told each other “i love you.” it was july 4th, 2018, just shy of our four month anniversary. i had been building up to say it, post a very long phone call with quinn a few nights before (i later learned you had one, too) but i hadn’t found the right time. i wanted the right time to appear for me and not pressure myself into planning on when to say it. some of the boys’s younger cousins were around the house for the fourth of july party, and my not-so-secret favorite cousin at a strong willed four years old proclaimed that she wanted to guess who my boyfriend was— you or cole. the three of us were being very cuddly on the couch and it clearly confused the poor child, but because we’re us, we ran with it. she started out strong with wanted me to kiss both of you. i was unsure, but the two of you conspired behind my back and decided that both of you kissing me was completely acceptable! while i was trying to figure out how to politely tell her that i will not be kissing one of my boyfriend’s best friends, i was grabbed from behind, spun, dipped, and kissed. i was shocked, to say the least, and my eyes practically bulged out of my head when i opened my eyes and saw it was cole who just put on a show for her! she was very giddy at this, and it had already been done, so i smiled and asked, “how are you planning to top that, zegras?” for those wondering, the room was very confused. my cousin quickly told everyone that she was guessing who was my boyfriend, and suddenly everyone wanted to watch the show. you grabbed my hand, kissed it, and said, “if i was your boyfriend, i’d know you don’t like to put on a show. so i’d cup your face, and pull you in slow.” i smiled into the kiss and this made her even more giddy. however, she was not satisfied with this, and stepped it up a notch by telling us that her next task was for us to tell each other i love you. i was stunned to silence. i’d been waiting for my moment to arise and here it was. but i didn’t want my first time saying it to you to be in front of everybody. you, on the other hand, so it loud and proud. my head snapped from you to quinn, who was trying to hide a smile behind his hand. i asked you if you were saying that for me or for the kid. you told me you were saying it to me, and told me “i love you” again. i smiled so wide it hurt as i took your hand and ran to the garage. the second the door closed i grabbed you to kiss you again. i looked into your eyes, your terrified eyes, and said “i love you.” cheers were heard behind the door, because our friends are the nosiest people i’ve ever met.

i say “i love you, always,” and you say “i love you, forever,” because in taylor’s song “forever and always” she sings “you didn’t mean it, baby.” and when we say it, we do mean it, so we switched it around. soon, we’ll be legally obligated to love each other always and forever! i pinky promise to be a good wife, and i can’t wait to see how hot you look in a non game day suit. i can’t wait to sit and pick color schemes, a band, force everyone to give speeches, and buy new shoes! most of all, i can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you. i love you, always, z❤️

tagged trevorzegras

view all 5,313 comments

trevorzegras i’m in the playoffs with you now, my love❤️ can’t wait to win the stanley cup! i love you, forever, y/n/n

yourusername god i’m so in love with you

trevorzegras i fall more in love with you every day

yourusuername if we aren’t careful we’ll take up all the love in the universe

trevorzegras i hope we do. love belongs to us❤️

_quinnhughes seeing you two progress over the years has truly been amazing. i’m beyond happy for you two, and i’d give my blessing again and again. i can’t wait to walk you down the aisle! i love you, sissy, and congratulations❤️

yourusername i can’t imagine anyone else better for the job❤️ i love you so much, quintin!

trevorzegras thank you for everything, hughesy!

_quinnhughes @/trevorzegras as long as you keep her happy, i’ll be here for whatever you two need

jackhughes that applies to all of us

lhughes_06 it does

trevorzegras you saps <3

user9 i’m sobbing my eyes out! congratulations future mr. and mrs. zegras!

anaheimducks congratulations! the ducks family is beyond happy for the two of you!

jamie.drysdale congratulations, my favorite unhinged couple! guess it’s time we take our rings off, eh?

yourusername mine’s already off <3

jamie.drysdale mine came off the second after the final buzzer of the last game <3

yourusername I WAS WONDERING ABOUT THAT

jamie.drysdale well i couldn’t have our ring on on the day my best friend was going to propose, now could i?

trevorzegras you’re a real one, jimbo

user46 MY PARENTS ARE ENGAGED😭

colecaufield the day z facetimed me to help him pick your ring, i was useless and told him to call quinn. but i will NOT be a useless groomsman 🫡

yourusername actually…

colecaufield ACTUALLY?!?!

trevorzegras we couldn’t decide who gets you

yourusername soooo will you officiate us?

colecaufield i would be incredibly honored!

yourusername don’t mention the kissing

trevorzegras @/yourusername everybody was there it’s a little late for that

jackhughes very late

_quinnhughes very, very late

user11 z truly went all out with this proposal and i’m obsessed with it! congratulations!

jackhughes i pressured z into asking you out, but this was all him. i’m beyond happy for the two of you! welcome to the family, z! i love you, sissy❤️(and z)

yourusername i love you, too, jacky boy <3 thanks for threatening z with a fork if he didn’t ask me out post quinny’s permission!

jackhughes anytime!

trevorzegras welcome to the groomsman club! (love you, too)

user13 if i don’t get a love like this, i don’t want it. congratulations!

user22 remember when z called y/n his stanley cup? yeah, i’m crying more over this than i did over that

elblue6 welcome to the family @/trevorzegras! congratulations on your engagement! i love you both so much!

yourusername i love you, too, mom! thank you, for everything! i wouldn’t have met trevor when i did if you didn’t take me in❤️

trevorzegras thank you mama hughes! i love you, too!

edwards.73 so happy for you two! @/trevorzegras treat my mom right! she deserves only the best!

trevorzegras yes, sir

yourusername i love you, ethan! welcome to the bride’s club <3

edwards.73 @/yourusername i love you, too! i can’t wait!

lhughes_06 @/yourusername why does he get to be in the bride’s club and not me?!

yourusername @/lhughes_06 you’re actually the biggest debate yet and we have not placed you

lhughes_06 aww you two love me!

trevorzegras @/yourusername you can have him

user53 the caption? wrecked me. i’m sobbing.

lhughes_06 besides my parents, you two have always been the best couple i know and i’m so glad i grew up watching you guys fall in love! congratulations! love you both!

yourusername i’ll forever cherish you having “the talk” with z after you walked in on us making out <3 i love you, lukey moosey!

trevorzegras @/yourusername i hope you know all three of them and jamie had talks with me after i talked to quinn about proposing to you

yourusername @/trevorzegras you talked to quinn about proposing to me?🥹

_quinnhughes @/yourusername he asked my permission to ask you out and it turned out to be the best thing in his life. he wanted it again to “turn the best thing into the greatest thing”

yourusername i’ll cry right now

trevorzegras update: she’s under my shirt

lhughes_06 sounds about right

user01 y/n and z have the most secure relationship known to man. he had cole kiss her? he doesn’t get mad when she’s attached to quinn? she had rings with his best friend? they’re a fever dream

colemcward congratulations, mom! you’ll make a beautiful bride!

yourusername thank you, favorite child! you’re too sweet for this world ugh i love you!

colemcward i love you, too!

_eliaspettersson congratulations! if you’re happy, i’m happy

yourusername i’m beyond happy❤️

trevorzegras thank you!

user19 i didn’t know that was why you two say always and forever! love my favorite swiftie couple!

_alexturcotte congratulations you two! as someone who was cheering on the other side of the door after you said i love you, getting that facetime of you showing me the ring definitely beats that. i love you two so much!

yourusername i love you, too, turc! sorry you’re in the groomsman club <3

trevorzegras @/yourusername rude

_alexturcotte @/trevorzegras she’s the bride! she does nothing wrong, ever

_quinnhughes agreed

jamie.drysdale @/trevorzegras i’m giving you my wife! apologize!

trevorzegras you’re all right. i apologize.

yourusername @/trevorzegras i love you, always :)

trevorzegras @/yourusername i love you, forever

tterry19 so happy for the two of you!

yourusername thank you, dad! i love you loads!

tterry19 love you, too!

trevorzegras thank you! love you, too, t!

user65 i’m so obsessed with this relationship

dylanduke25 you two have always been my favorite couple! congratulations! i love you (can i say it?)!

yourusername yes

dylanduke25 I LOVE YOU, SISSY❤️❤️❤️

yourusername i love you, too, duker😂

trevorzegras thanks, man!

trevorzegras with all the love in your comment section, i feel the need to say i love you more than anything else in the world. the plan was always to propose to you at the end of the season, and the world decided that was sooner rather than later. turns out, that was a really great thing❤️ i already love you forever, and soon i get to love you legally!

yourusername you’ll be my favorite tax deduction!

trevorzegras now THAT’S the highest honor, my love

_quinnhughes, _alexturcotte, dylanduke25, _eliaspettersson, lhughes_06, and others added this to their story

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writeblrfantasy · 6 months

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🎉IT'S OUT! THE BOOK IS OUT!🎉

The Red King is known around the world for being a wise diplomat—and for being tragically single.

King Randall III has everything one could want: power, charm, beauty, and enough diplomatic wit to earn him the nickname 'Emperor of the Continent.' The one thing he's lacking is a husband. When Randall's sister invites men far and wide to woo him, only three make the cut: a noble sorcerer, a royal alchemist, and a mysterious easterner who reveals nothing of himself other than a name. A fourth lingers in the shadows, dreaming of the chance he's been too afraid to take for four years. Each of them is hiding a secret, including King Randall himself, who falls victim to a beastly curse when night falls. As pasts are revealed, relationships formed, one thing becomes clear: no one will leave the Red King's court the same they entered.

THE RED KING'S MYSTICAL SUITORS IS AVAILABLE NOW

I'm so excited!! Thank you, thank you, thank you to every person who has helped me and encouraged me along this journey!! I'm so thrilled that the book is going to be in people's hands at long last.

The first of many books to celebrate!!

RED KING TAGLIST:

@transmasc-wizard @synthesizer-dyke @magic-is-something-we-create @tc-doherty @softbroiled-doomdesire @somealienquill @sagasofazeria @super-writer-gal @ren-c-leyn @crazy-like-us @ashen-crest @shrunkupthejams @themundanemudperson @sarahlizziewrites @faithfire@hungryslothwrites

GENERAL TAGLIST: @worldbuildng @muddshadow @nikkywrites @47crayons @directionoftime @myhusbandsasemni @chayscribbles

#the red king's mystical suitors #red king publishing #fiction #original fiction #writer #indie books #lgbt books #writeblr #writing #fantasy #fantasy books #queer fantasy books #boosts are appreciated regardless if you're interested in buying or not!

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thedo0zyslider · 27 days

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When Scar hits that Succeed button, two things happen at once. The first is that the game doesn't end. Which is more disappointing than shocking, really, he truly didn't know if it would end or not when he hit the button. The second thing was that he remembered. Scar remembered a lot of things in that moment, four whole lifetimes worth of memories came back when he hit that button. And a lot of emotions came with those memories, like, a lot a lot.

The first is a lot of pain. A lot of pain and grief. So, so much grief, he hadn't even know someone could hold this much pain in them before now. But it's possible, and the choking sob Scar lets out proves that. He lets out more sobs after the first, unable to really stop them from happening. And the river tears that fall from his face, those are uncontrollable as well.

The pain he feels from the memories are for a lot of reasons. One of the first ones is the flower he wears, memories of desert heat and sand and llamas being the first to hit him. Memories of the very first creeper explosion, the war, everything. He remembers handing his one ally a bouquet of flowers, and then lying dead in a cactus ring not even a few weeks later. Heh, talk about whiplash....

The second pain, Scar finds as another sob hits him, is the strong pang of loneliness. One much like the sting he'd been feeling for this whole game. But this time it's different, it's the feeling that comes with experiencing true loneliness for the first time. This time around the lonley feelings had felt almost vaguely familiar, and now he can place why. Now he can remember the mountain and his dumb magic crystals and the sting of being left to fend for himself over and over and over again. And also the familiar sting of anger at everyone for just letting him be left like that. Alone and broken and hopeless.

The third reason is heartbreak. Bitter heartbreak, and also a sense of not really caring anymore. Then sense of being so deeply wronged, but being too jaded and apathetic to even care. Scar curls his fist at the memory, the cloth of his coat being nearly torn from how hard he holds it, and feels the bitterness of pure indifference to almost everyone wash over him once more; if only for a few measly seconds.

The fourth stab of pains, because they seem to be coming in rounds as he remembers each life, is strange. That life is happier. But this is a death game, so there is always pain that comes with it. There is a sense of strange alliances and the fourth death he can remember brings a sense of familiarity with it. A contrast to the very first that leaves something rather bitter in his mouth once again. Something with a slight hint of betrayal in it.

Thats where the memories and the grief stop, because he remembers the fifth life and the pain of it. There is nothing to remember, no pain he hasn't already gone through anymore. It’s real, it's there, and Scar can do nothing but cry and breakdown under the weight of it all. Above him, the Secret Keeper says nothing, just watches on with it's empty gaze, not caring a single bit for its victors breakdown.

Scar starts wiping at his eyes, hoping it would calm the stream now coming from them. It does not. Like how covering his mouth won't stop the sobs that bubble past his lips, and how clawing at his chest won't make the pain leave his heart. He thinks some of the tears are for the man he was, or the one he could've been; had these games not happened and spared all their players the pain.

At a certain point, Scar realizes he'd slid down onto the grass. His back is pressed against a block, the one that dammed Succeed button is on, and it's cool against his back. Cool against the wirthing agnoy inside and memories screaming loudly in his head. Cool and grounding against all the ugly trauma he's having to process all at once.

Eventually though, his crying does cease, and Scar can do nothing but stare down at his own hands. They feel sticky with the blood of many people, maybe versions of his friends long dead and buried; just like the many versions of him now are.

It's a little jarring, honestly, to be able to look at his hands and now know where all those scars came from. To remember. To remember why his arms and legs are coated in old the remnants of old wounds. Why there's an explosion scar covering his whole backside. Why sometimes his joints and certain parts hurt from being injured one too many times over, from taking too many awkward falls and bad landings. Some still aching from never having a chance to properly heal, and the wounds that caused his old deaths closed over and scarred like the rest of him.

After a few minutes, Scar tears his red gaze from his palms. He's tried of sitting here and crying. He's tired of an empty world. He wants to go home, to his friends. He wants to find people who also remember, who can help him; so he won't ever be lonely anymore.

He wants to stay sorry, if he can.

So Scar stands on shaky legs, and reaches out to press the Succeed button again. Just to test if anything else new will happen, or if, maybe, they will finally let him go home.

#ron.writing #goodtimeswithscar #gtws #gtwscar #secret life #sl smp #life series #life series smp #traffic series #trafficblr #traffic smp #slsmp #secret life smp #No shipping on this one me thinks #This isn't my best work but yk what I'll take it #Can u tell I forgot all of scars limited life the second I started writing 💔

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talesofesther · 10 months

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is it too late to call you mine? | ch 1

Sebastian Sallow x Reader

Summary: In Sebastian's prettiest dreams, you'd wear a gown of a color that matched his tie, he'd take your hand and dance all night until morning came. But those dreams felt like a farfetched reality. Would you even consider going with him? As more than a friend?

A/N: This is part one out of two, of my story for @spaceyaceface's HL Writing Challenge. Hope you guys like it, let me know. <3

Masterlist

It was rather magical, how the white blanket of snow covered Hogwarts' grounds—with the arrival of winter, courtyards, towers, and trees alike harbored snowflakes that shone against the sunlight during the day and against the fairy lights scattered around the castle at night.

Despite the gelid wind nipping at your cheeks, you couldn't help but love it.

"Do you know who you'll be going with already?" Poppy walked the viaduct courtyard bridge beside you, hugging the two books she was carrying close to her chest.

You chuckled, glancing down at the way your shoes buried slightly in the thin layer of snow. "No, besides, I don't even know if I will be going at all, Poppy."

"What do you mean? You have to go, the Yule Ball is like one of the most awaited moments for anyone who attends Hogwarts," she reasoned. Then, a sly smirk came to her lips, and she bumped your shoulder with hers, "I'm surprised he hasn't asked you yet."

"Who?" You furrowed your brows.

"Sebastian, of course."

His name brought an instant blush to your cheeks that you tried to blame on the cold wind. You averted your eyes from Poppy, "why would he ask me? We're friends, it would be weird."

The sun had just peeked over the mountains in the distance, it was a cold morning today. The students who walked past you pulled their robes close to their bodies; you thought you heard a fourth-year complain about how far summer was still.

You had a scarf snug around your neck, the colors of your house adorning the fabric and keeping you warm. You thought your peers could learn a thing or two about appreciating the present. How the white of the snow blended with the dark stones of the castle, how the mountains and plains in the distance looked like something out of a painting when the first golden rays of the sun highlighted them.

Poppy pushed open the doors that lead to the central hall and a soft gush of warmth coming from inside enveloped your body and kissed your cold cheeks immediately.

Many Christmas decorations were already adorning each nook and cranny of the castle. You had been ecstatic when you saw Mr. Moon setting up the first big Christmas tree.

"Weird, you say?" Your friend walked ahead of you, the gold and black of her own scarf framing her rosy cheeks as she glanced back at you, "sometimes I wonder if we're talking about the same Slytherin."

Your lips hovered open and your feet stayed glued to the floor, just short of going through the threshold. What could she mean by that?

"See you in Herbology." With a wink, Poppy was walking away from you.

You tried not to dwell on it. Ever since the beginning of your sixth year things had been different between you and Sebastian. Everything you'd gone through together in your fifth year inevitably brought you closer—even more so when, by the end of the year, neither one of you had anyone to go back to. You chose to stay with him and Ominis at school; spending most of your afternoons tucked away in your Room of Requirement as hours went by in a breeze. Sebastian's soul became familiar to yours. There were moments, tiptoeing between the line of friends and something more, hidden behind corners and dimmed by faint candlelights, that felt too delicate to ever be labeled. And now, you still don't know what to call them.

Things became all the more complicated with the impending arrival of the Yule Ball. As if in on a secret, your friends kept teasing you about Sebastian taking you. And you couldn't help but feel somewhat of a pressure. You couldn't help but wish he actually would.

── ·❆· ──

Out of all the classes, Herbology had a special place in your heart. Nothing could beat the atmosphere of the greenhouse. As soon as you walked through the doors and came face to face with that gorgeous pink tree, a wave of calmness hit you instantly. Sunlight came in through the green-tinted glass walls, a slight breeze made the falling leaves rustle around you, and the smell of grass, dirt, and flowers covered your senses.

Snow was falling outside, yet here, it somehow always seemed to be spring.

You slowly walked down the stairs and to your potting table, removing your scarf from around your neck.

Sebastian had already taken his spot right beside you. He had a dark long coat over his uniform and his hair was messier and just slightly longer than usual, you also couldn't help but notice the faint blush under his freckles and on the tip of his nose, from the cold no doubt. You thought it was endearing.

"Well, good morning." His voice kissed your ears.

A smile found itself on your lips pretty quickly, "morning, Sebastian."

"Gotta love Herbology first thing in the morning. Nothing like getting your hands dirty to start the day just right," He mumbled, one finger brushing over the soil in his pot before he turned fully to you, his hip leaning against the table as he crossed his arms over his chest.

You chuckled lightly, gaze focusing somewhere on Sebastian's left shoulder. Poppy's words kept echoing inside your head; I'm surprised he hasn't asked you yet. Without fully realizing it, you left Sebastian without an answer. Your lips hovered open as your eyes turned unfocused the more you lost yourself between what-ifs.

Chocolate brown eyes regarded you with interest, perhaps just a tad too long before he finally spoke; "alright, spill it. What's bothering you?"

You weren't sure how he managed it, this ability to read between the lines when it came to you. You blinked multiple times and softly shook your head, gesturing to dismiss his worry. "Nothing's bothering me."

Sebastian clicked his tongue and took a step closer to you. In a moment of boldness, he reached a hand forward and straightened the lapel of your blazer. "You'll have to do better than that," he raised an eyebrow at you.

If you focused enough, you'd be able to feel the ghost of his words on your lips, count each freckle over his cheeks, that's how close he was. You couldn't breathe even if you tried to. And that's exactly what Sebastian does to you. His fingers may brush your cheek and he may get as close as breathing the same air as you, and yet…

"Humour me," Sebastian shrugged, leaning back against the table and distancing himself from you as if nothing ever happened.

He always pulls back. He gets so close, and yet it feels as if he's afraid to ever go further. Tiptoeing the lines of your relationship, yet never crossing them. Planting feather light kisses on your heart, yet never fully embracing it. He confused you to no end. And you still don't know what to call whatever it was that existed between you and him.

Ultimately, you were beginning to think there was nothing there at all. Sebastian had always been flirty after all.

"I've just been thinking about the Ball," you shrugged too, trying to sound nonchalant as you braced one hand on the table. "If I'll be going, and… with who."

Sebastian bit the inside of his cheek at your words, avoiding his gaze from yours for just a moment before a forced grin came to his lips; "I don't think it's much worth worrying over it, there's better things to do for a night than dancing to boring music. Especially when everyone will be occupied dancing to said music."

His eyes glinted mischievously as he spoke. You half expected him to invite you to sneak into the restricted section of the library again or something of the sort.

"Poppy says I should attend, something about having the full Hogwarts experience," you smiled, choosing to not comment on his slight mood swing, "I may be inclined to agree."

Sebastian only hummed, his brows furrowed as he choose to finally settle his attention on the sorry excuse of a Dittany he'd been growing since last class. "I… hope you find a good partner then."

You allowed your eyes to linger on him until Professor Garlick started speaking. Noticing how his jaw tightened in place and his shoulders became somewhat tense while he reached for the fertilizer.

You couldn't understand why Poppy was so certain Sebastian could ever think of asking you to the Ball.

── ·❆· ──

A mixed smell of freshly made potions hung in the air. Brewed Knotgrass and maybe a pinch of feathers of some kind. Chatter was going around the potions classroom, as it usually did before Professor Sharp arrived.

Sebastian had both elbows resting atop his potions station, slouched in his seat as one of his knees bumped up and down, and with his dark eyes glued to the door. There was a leave of Mallowsweet lazily being torn apart over and over by his fingers as the seconds trickled by.

"Sebastian!"

Something gently slapped the back of his head, bringing the boy back to reality. He hummed questioningly and turned to face Ominis, who sat beside him with a scowl.

"I figured you weren't listening to me when you failed to answer my question for the third time," the blond deadpanned, however with the beginnings of a smirk appearing on his lips. "Has she not arrived yet?"

Heat crept up Sebastian's neck and he straightened in his seat, "who?"

Ominis raised an unimpressed eyebrow at his friend; "you know exactly who I'm talking about."

"Don't," Sebastian mumbled, pushing to the floor the mess he'd made on his table.

"Are you still overthinking whether to ask her or not?" Ominis sighed, resting his elbow on the table so he could lean his head on his hand. "Sometimes I wonder which of us is the blind one."

Sebastian faked a laugh, "very funny, Ominis. I'm not overthinking anything, I've already made up my mind. Plus, I think the Yule Ball is overrated anyway."

Ominis hummed, "you and I both know that's not true, Sebastian. Not when it comes to her."

Sebastian gulped the sudden lump in his throat upon hearing his own thoughts being spoken out loud by his friend.

"Just don't force me to hear your whinings later," Ominis concluded.

A huff escaped Sebastian's nose at his friend's quip. He turned around with a pout evident on his lips. In all honesty, he hadn't meant a word of what he said to you in Herbology; if anything, that had been his emotions getting the better of him—the thought of you going with someone else brought a sour taste to his mouth and, for lack of a better word, he panicked. Because ever since the Yule Ball was announced, Sebastian caught himself smiling alone at random times as he walked the hallways of Hogwarts; the image of you walking down the stairs all pretty in a gown as you made your way to him, so he could take your hand and place a kiss there, painted his mind in the prettiest of colors, inevitably bringing a smile to his lips.

Sebastian liked to think he'd make it the perfect night, holding you close as you danced and serving you drinks whenever you desired; maybe he'd even go a step further and tell you exactly just what it is that you do to him—how you make his heart jump in his chest whenever he sees you, how he has to remind himself to breathe whenever you touch him.

It was a spark that had been there ever since you bested him in your first duel. A spark that he could feel leaving embers in his soul at each escapade and rule broken together. A spark that eventually turned into a flame, leaving scorch marks against his skin as punishment for all he'd put you through.

And now, Sebastian couldn't bring himself to do it. He'd hold your hand as you showed him your vivariums and have an arm around your shoulders as you walked the school grounds. He'd lose himself if he ever were to lose you. But he couldn't bring himself to do more, to cross that blurred line.

Sebastian didn't know how. How could he ever tell you that you hold his bruised heart in your hands? How could he ever say he was incapable of imagining a future without you in it? How could he do any of that, when he was nowhere near worthy of you?

In his prettiest dreams, you'd wear a gown of a color that matched his tie, he'd take your hand and dance all night until morning came. But those dreams felt like a farfetched reality. Would you even consider going with him? As more than a friend?

So, in stumbled words, he told you he found it boring. And part of him hoped you would both skip the Ball together. At least, he'd have you for the night.

Sebastian was pulled from his daydream when you walked over the threshold, smiling at Natty as you walked by her potion station. He was about to call you over when you were stopped in your tracks by Garreth Weasley.

A frown etched itself in Sebastian's features, his eyes burning against you and Weasley as he watched you speak. He couldn't make out the words you were saying, but the ginger had a hand brushing over your forearm for a moment, way too close to your hand for Sebastian's taste.

And then you smiled, all sweet and soft in a way that got Sebastian's insides all twisted because that smile wasn't directed at him.

None too soon, you were finally ditching Garreth and walking towards him and Ominis. Sebastian straightened in his seat and forced his expression into a neutral one.

"Hello boys," you greeted the Slytherin duo, dropping two large books on your table beside the caldron, "have you finished Sharp's assignment yet?"

Ominis' lips turned up at the sound of your voice, his features softening, "I have, I'm quite confident this is one of my best yet."

"We had an assignment?" Sebastian chimed in, making Ominis audibly groan from beside him.

You raised an eyebrow in his direction and he gave you an obvious wink, his Cheshire grin framing his freckles.

"So," Sebastian continued, avoiding your eyes, "what were you and Weasley talking about?"

"Oh," an unusual warmth came to your cheeks, you opened one of your books on no specific page, "he- he was just asking if I'd like to go to the Yule Ball with him."

Sebastian nearly choked on his own breathing upon hearing your words, he had to double-check them in his head to make sure he'd heard correctly. Several emotions clogged up his throat all at once. Anger, because how dare Weasley ask you to the Ball. Regret, because the ginger had done what Sebastian himself was too afraid to do. Despair, because somehow it felt just a little like losing you. Jealousy, because you were his. And then finally, realization, because you weren't his, not really; Sebastian had no right to feel any of this. Yet he did anyway.

His chest felt tight, his heartbeat began to hurt.

A strange chuckle escaped Sebastian's lips, he could feel Ominis' eyes boring into him, as ironic as that was. "Why would he think you'd go with him?" Sebastian liked to believe he kept up his nonchalant attitude pretty well.

You pursed your lips, taking a deep breath, "I said yes."

Sebastian thought that maybe Crucio would sting less.

⋆* ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

Read ch 2 here

Thank you for reading this little story. Feedback and reblogs are literally what keeps me motivated to continue posting here, so I’d appreciate it if you could take some time to reblog and comment if you want. <3

You do not have permission to repost, copy or translate my works on any platforms (even with credit), please respect.

Sebastian’s taglist: @milkiane @v1ci0us @auxiliare

#sebastian sallow x reader #sebastian sallow #sebastian sallow imagine #hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow x you #sebastian sallow x f!reader #sebastian sallow x f!mc #hogwarts legacy x reader #imagine #fanfic #angst #fluff #sebastian sallow fanfiction #my story

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