#ep: the stranded seven

[velvetydream]

꒰ :🥀 [ War is over? ] ”♡ᵎ꒱ˀˀ ↷ ⋯

❝ Request! ᵕ̈

Summary : The hotel was in shambles and a certain radio demon was missing from the group. Worried for him, you start your way down to the destroyed radio tower, scared of what might await you.

Pairing : Alastor x Doe! Gn! Reader

Word count : 2962 Words

Genre : Angst, Comfort

Warnings ➵ SPOILERS FOR EP 8!! Crazy Alastor, Out

of character? , Swearing, Blood

a/n : Thank you sm for this request! I love the idea and trope sm for Alastor! Also that scene- oh my, it was insane! I just love what a crazy and complexe chara he is!

Rly going into the crazy Al spectrum here, make him go crazy over almost dying saving his > friends <

Also added the reader being a doe! Hope that was okay! Despite it being a doe reader, I still only used gender neutral prounouns / only used > you < as for describing the reader!♡

Request by : @alastorsdarlingdoe

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Your eyes wander over the lights of Pentagram City down below, a breeze moves your hair, raising your hand to push a loose strand of hair behind your ear. Sighing, a hand runs over your forehead now, slightly pinching the bridge of your nose while leaning on the railing of the balcony. The music and chatter from inside could be heard, everyone was trying to enjoy this night before the battle, but you couldn't help but worry. Worried something might happen or that someone might die, even though you tried to push these thoughts to the far back of your mind, trying to be positive, trying to see the best, and telling yourself everyone will make it out alive and safe.

"Damn it.." Rubbing your fingers over your eyes softly, trying to remove the tears that were building up. Sniffing a few times, your foot taps the floor anxiously while your ears are slightly pressed back. Body noticeably tense and nervous. To many things going through your head, you loved everyone in this hotel so much, that if anything were to happen to someone you would be devastated. Especially if something were to happen to Alastor.

Alastor was one of the first sinners you got close to in hell after Rosie had introduced him to you years ago. By now you two were a darling little pair, as Rosie liked to call it. It did take a while for both of you to grow close and accept these feelings, but in the end, you did. Even though it was sometimes hard with an Overlord as your partner, he made sure you were safe and taken care of all the time, so you had nothing to worry about. You can still remember the day you met Alastor like it was yesterday. Sitting in Rosie's boutique, sipping on some tea, as she squealed in excitement before pulling the red-haired demon over. Of course you knew who he was before you even met him, no one goes through hell without hearing about the radio demon, who overthrew the old Overlords, sooner or later. Ears straight up and turned to his direction, your ears were slightly wide, visibly alert of the dominating and dangerous presence of Alastor. He though simply smiled at you, took your hand, and pressed a kiss to your knuckles, introducing himself to you. It was a beautiful memory. Not so beautiful was his disappearing for seven years, but you forgave him, which brought you to where you are right now, on the balcony of Charlie Morningstar's hotel. Worrying your head off over the ear against heaven and the exterminators.

"A penny for your thoughts darling?" Shrieking together at the voice behind you, you hadn't noticed Alastor joining you on the balcony, too deep in your thoughts. Quickly rubbing over your eyes, before turning to the man you love with a smile on your face. This caused suspicion to rise in him, were you crying? "Oh, Al! It's nothing important! Why aren't you with the others." Watching him slowly approach you, he softly places his hand on your cheek, watching you close your eyes and nuzzle into the palm of his hand. Alastor could see right through you and you knew that, he always knew when you lied, just like you did right now. "Oh my little doe, how can I be inside when my darling is outside here crying and overthinking all by yourself?" His voice was soft, it was only for your ears, he only used this tone with you. Opening your eyes again, gazing up at him with tearful eyes. He couldn't help but coe at this sight, his little doe darling looking at him all teary-eyed, though he preferred a different time for this sight.

"Now, now~ Why don't you tell me what's bothering this pretty little head of yours?" Wiping away the tears on your face and at your eyes with his fingers now, carefully to not accidentally cut you with his claws. Watching as your teeth sink down on your lip, another habit you had when nervous, making his finger trail softly over your lips, letting your teeth release the lip before you could bite it bloody. "It's just.. I'm.. Ugh.. Worried, what if something happens? What if someone dies? What if.. you die?" Tears were building up in your pretty eyes again, making Alastor chuckle slightly, not that you were crying, but that you were even thinking of him dying. He was the radio demon, no one would kill him, and no one would even get close to killing him. "Oh sweetheart, don't worry your little head over nonsense like this, nothing will happen to any of us and especially not me! Haha! Trust me dearest! Everything will be fine." Fingers softly swipe over your cheek, as he pulls your body closer to your face, leaning down slightly and planting a soft kiss to your forehead, before nuzzling his nose against your hair between your two flickering ears. Not being able to suppress new tears, your arms go around his waist, pressing your face into his chest. Alastor tensed for a second from your touch, but quickly melts into it himself, laying his arms around you, one hand softly playing with your hair.

He was right, everything would be all right, at least that's what you thought..

It was as if everything went by in a flash, the exterminators were flying down to the hotel, and everyone was doing their best while Alastor protected the group with a shield, to make sure no new angels could attack while the first ones were being taken care of. But that was quickly taken care of by Adam himself, breaking the shield which made your eyes grow wide, he was able to do that? This was not good at all. Doing your best to help the others, fighting back to back with Angel, shielding Husk from an attack with your spear, and pulling Charlie down from an attacker just in time.

This was truly hell. And it even got worse when Adam suddenly started targeting the rest of the group, where was Alastor? Looking around wildly you couldn't see him, Charlie speaking your exact thoughts that if Adam is here he must be... "WATCH OUT!" Husk smashes into you, pulling you to the ground to the side, where you stood seconds before now an angelic spear piercing the ground. "Get your shit together! That motherfucker isn't dead! So till this is over get your act together and make sure you're not the one dying, 'cause if you do that fucker will have my head for that!" Husk was shaking your shoulders violently, everything that was a blurry mess before slowly coming back to you. He was right, you need to survive this, if Husk said he wasn't dead, it must be true, he would probably feel it if Alastor died through his soul contract.

The fight continued on, after Sir Pentious brought his sacrifice, Charlie was facing Adam by herself, Vaggie was somewhere in the hotel with that one exterminator fighting, while the rest took care of the angels outside the hotel, keeping Charlie and Vaggie's backs clear. It was exhausting, you got a few injuries on your body too, but nothing too bad, the fight soon ended with Lucifer showing up to save his daughter and Niffty stabbing Adam herself.

After collecting your thoughts and hugging Charlie for a while, you started to look around. The hotel was completely destroyed, but with everyone around, there was new hope, with Lucifer leading the group and especially Charlie to not give up on this. Eyes wandering over the debris the hotel was now, over everyone around, keeping your eyes open for a certain demon. A thought pops into your head, making your way to the cliff, looking down, at the radio tower lying at the bottom of the cliff. Slowly and carefully to not trip, you make your way down, scared of what might or might not await you. Would he be there? Would he be hurt? Alive? Dead? Maybe he had gone again like those seven years ago, leaving everyone and everything behind.

Blood on the floor leading to the radio tower made your eyebrows raise, so someone or something for sure was here and injured. You just hoped it was Alastor and that he wasn't beyond getting stitched up.

Reaching the hatch to his radio tower, you notice it standing open. Reaching your arms out, you carefully pull yourself up and pull your knee up to enter the room. Looking up already while entering, you see Alastor standing at his desk, his back facing you, yet you could see the way his whole body was tense and clawing at the desk with his hands. Finally in the room, on your knees you slowly get up to stand, looking at the man you love worried.

"Alastor..?" His ears turn to you before his head snaps in your direction, making an uncomfortable cracking sound, his body turning to you fully now. His eyes looked like nothing before, blown wide, crazy, crazier than they had ever been. This wasn't Alastor, but the Radio Demon before you. "Darling.. You're hurt.." Looking down at his chest to the gushing wound, crimson red painting his already red clothes. Laughter echoes through the space now. "HURT?! AHAHA! You're funny dearest! I'm not hurt! I cannot be hurt, did you forget who I am?!" Blown red eyes were staring right back at your own wide eyes, your eyes wide out for different reasons than his. "I know darli-" He took a step towards you, making your ears stand alert, you didn't fear Alastor, yet the Radio Demon scared you right now. "OH DEAREST! What a fight that was! Me?! Great Alastor, altruist, dying for his friends?!" His ears were parted, flat to the sides, while his hands were slowly tearing at his hair, pacing in a circle now, before slamming his hands to the desk. Shadows dancing around the two of you in the red light. You didn't dare whisper another word, even your breath stocking in your lungs, not sure if you should even breathe right now.

Alastor was going crazy, the fact of him almost dying being seen as a hero fucked with his mind, did he care about dying? No, he couldn't care less, but being seen as a good person, a redeemed sinner, or a hero?! No.

"You know what?! Now! After all this, it made me hungry! Hungry for the freedom barely out of reach! Never have I felt this before, can you believe this?! I was.. AM! so close!" An insane monologue continuing, he talked as if he was rather talking to himself than to you, did he even register you being there fully yet? He was driven by adrenalin, by a close death. Raising your hand, you were about to reach out for him, trying to pull him out of whatever spiral he was caught inside right now. "I'm so close! These constraints must have a backdoor right?! This deal!" Fingers pulling at his locks again, your own hand stilling in the air, as you watch him pace around, his eyes darting everywhere, when looking at you, they looked through you, he did not even realize you were here.

His whole body was trembling by now, the smile was strained on his face, making you worried to the core. Never had you thought you would ever experience such a side of Alastor, it shocked you. Now that his monologue stopped, you took cautious steps toward your lover, your finger barely grazing his arm, his eyes now snapping to you, his ears following. He was looking at you finally, not over or through you, he realized you were there and that he wasn't alone. "You're fine Al, you didn't die, you proved it." You knew to get to him, you had to reassure him, even if it was probably a bad idea, but for now, this would probably be the only way to get to him. "You're right dearest.." His hands slowly lowered from his hair, a few hairs tangled in them from how hard he was pulling on his poor hair. Eyes trailing down to the wound on his chest now, feeling your own tighten at the sight of Alastor injured. This was something you didn't think was possible to happen till now.

"Let me take care of this.." Pulling him to the desk softly, you make him lean against it, as you push his coat off his shoulders and start to unbutton his dress shirt, laying them to the side carefully. Ears pressing to your head now as you take in the wound on his chest, you knew his eyes were following your every move, so you tried not to keep on that for too long. Gathering everything you would need to somewhat clean and stitch him up, the things you had would have to do. The air was thick when you got to clean his wound, Alastor was watching you with his smiling face, while your own was adorned with a frown. It scared you knowing he could've died if he didn't disappear mid-fight, he would be dead now if he continued. Those thoughts make your hands shake, your view getting blurry as tears fill your eyes. Looking up when his hand softly encloses around the one holding the needle. "My poor little doe, I'm sorry for worrying and scaring you." Lips press softly against the knuckles of your hand. Pulling yourself together, you quickly finish the stitches up, then you would have all the time to get emotional and cry. Helping Alastor put on his dress shirt now, he slumps down to the floor, his back leaning against the wall, he was probably exhausted. It would take a while for him to heal entirely and be the old himself again.

"Come here beloved." Alastor was holding his arms open for you, finding a place between his legs now, your head leaning on his shoulder, opposite of his injury, making sure you wouldn't touch the freshly stitched-up wound. "I'm sorry.. I was just so worried.." And before you knew it, the tears were streaming down your face, while Alastor softly held you in his safe embrace. "I know dearest, I know...But worry not, I'll be back to myself in no time, don't you worry." His hand was rubbing up and down your back, while his chin rested on the crown of your head. His words were true and you knew that, he would be his old self quicker than you would know, still, it scared you to know he wasn't unharmable and could die. Hiding your face in your hands now, your body violently shaking with sobs. "Now, now my darling doe, you know I hate to see you cry." Pulling your hands away from your face, he looks at you for a second, before your arms already go around his neck as you straddle his thighs now, body shaking with sobs while he feels your tears wetting his shirt. His eyes were slightly wide, a silent wince from his wound flashing through his eyes for a second, but he suppressed any sound for your sake. "There, there, it will be all right my little doe." One of his arms was going around your waist now, pulling you even closer to him, did his wound throb from you pressing against him? Yes, yet he couldn't seem to care. The other hand was moving its way into your hair, rubbing to bottom of your ears softly.

The two of you stayed like that for quite a while, the violent and loud sobs, soon subsiding to small whimpers before completely quieting down to soft tears silently running down your cheeks. Alastor shoulder was by now entirely wet from your tears, yet he couldn't care.

"Calmed down now, have been darling?" Feeling Alastor's lips press to your temple, you finally raise your face from his shoulder and look at him. Eye bloodshot from crying for so long, cheeks wet from all the tears and your throat sore from sobbing. "There is my beautiful doe, look at you, even after crying you're beautiful as ever dearest." Nuzzling against his hand that was now resting on your cheek, your eyes look up into his. Your eyes were something Alastor always loved, they looked so innocent and soft, something not often seen down here in hell. His eyes cast down to your lips for a brief second, you noticed and closed your eyes, inviting him. Feeling his soft lips on yours quickly, as his arm around your waist softly presses you against him, while the other hand still cradles your face. The kiss was soft, yet full of passion, it was all the feelings you two felt poured into one kiss. Which lasted longer than you thought. Pulling apart soon, puffs of air falling from both of your lips.

"I love you my beloved and I'm sorry for worrying you so much, but trust me, once this is over and I'll be able to roam free, watch me reach everything for us." Smiling at you, he softly rubs his thumb over your cheek before your head rests on his shoulder again, face in his neck. "I love you too Al.. I can't wait for you to be finally free again.." Pressing a soft kiss to his neck, giggling softly at him slightly tensing up from it before relaxing again.

You two took your sweet time together, was that what both of you needed right now, before eventually getting back and reuniting with the group. A new hotel and new goals waiting for everyone.

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Taglist :

@chewbrry @rinalouu @mysticwitchcraftco

#x reader #imagines #hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel x reader #imagine #hazbin #alastor #alastor x reader #hazbin alastor #hazbin hotel alastor #hazbin imagine #hazbin x reader #hazbin hotel imagine #hazbin hotel x y/n #hazbin hotel x you #alastor imagine #hazbin alastor x reader #alastor x y/n #alastor x you

[bowletta]

SRMTHFG Watch Guide

Hi everyone! I made a list for newcomers who are interested in watching SRMT but don't know where to start! : ]

'Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!' (Yes, that's really the title, 'SRMTHFG' for short) was a cartoon that aired from 2004-2006 on Jetix/Disney Channel.

It's about a boy and his team of cybernetic monkeys saving the universe from the evil Skeleton King. It sounds ridiculous... but it is so unironically good. There is plot. There is trauma. There are wacky antics. You can watch the entire series on YouTube, in HD, for free lol.

There's two versions of the show:

1080p HD, widescreen, censored (YouTube Link)

480-720p, cropped, uncensored (YouTube Link)

Personally I would recommend the HD cut. I am working on compiling every censored scene, nearly all of which are under 3 seconds (graphic violence, blood, etc.).

Under the read more is a guide to what episodes to watch, avoid, etc.

Symbol Guide:

Regular Text: Fine episode, but not required

*: Plot relevant

Bold Text: Good episode

Red: REALLY good episode

Strikethrough: Bad. Skip.

Season 1:

Chiro's Girl*

Depths of Fear

Planetoid Q

Magnetic Menace

The Sun Riders

Secret of the Sixth Monkey*

Pit of Doom*

Thingy

Flytor

A Man Called Krinkle

Ape New World

Circus of Ooze

Hidden Fortress*

Season 2:

Skeleton King*

World of Giants

The Lords of Soturix 7

In the Grip of Evil*

Versus Chiro*

Shadow Over Shuggazoom

The Sun Riders Return

Hunt for the Citadel of Bone*

Snowbound*

Wonder Fun Meat World

The Skeleton King Threat

Antauri's Masters*

I, Chiro*

Season 3:

The Savage Lands: Part I*

The Savage Lands: Part II*

Season of the Skull

A Ghost in the Machinder*

The Stranded Seven

Girl Trouble

Brothers in Arms

Monster Battle Club Now!

Meet the Wigglenog

Big Lug

Prototype*

Wormhole*

Belly of the Beast*

Season 4:

Galactic Smash: Space Attack

Galactic Smash: Game Over

Incident on Ranger 7

Ghosts of Shuggazoom*

Invasion of the Vreen

Evil Ages

Night of Fear*

The Hills Have Five

Demon of the Deep

Secret Society*

Golden Age*

Object of Hate*

Soul of Evil*

TLDR; Here's a condensed list of good/plot episodes you should watch if you don't want to watch all 52 episodes VVV

Season 1:

EP 1 - Chiro's Girl*

EP 6 - Secret of the Sixth Monkey*

EP 7 - Pit of Doom*

EP 8 - Thingy

EP 13 - Hidden Fortress*

Season 2:

EP 1 - Skeleton King*

EP 4 - In the Grip of Evil*

EP 5 - Versus Chiro*

EP 8 - Hunt for the Citadel of Bone*

EP 9 - Snowbound*

EP 12 - Antauri's Masters*

EP 13 - I, Chiro* (Best EP of the series in my opinion)

Season 3:

EP 1 - The Savage Lands Part I*

EP 2 - The Savage Lands Part II*

EP 4 - A Ghost in the Machinder*

EP 5 - The Stranded Seven

EP 7 - Brothers in Arms

EP 10 - Big Lug (SO many good reaction faces)

EP 11 - Prototype*

EP 12 - Wormhole*

EP 13 - Belly of the Beast* (Tied with I, Chiro for best EP)

Season 4:

EP 4 - Ghosts of Shuggazoom*

EP 5 - Invasion of the Vreen

EP 7 - Night of Fear*

EP 9 - Demon of the Deep

EP 10 - Secret Society*

EP 11 - Golden Age*

EP 12 - Object of Hate*

EP 13 - Soul of Evil*

Thank you all for coming to my TED Talk on these silly monkeys lol, I hope you all have fun watching!

(Gif by @/sweetcircuits)

#super robot monkey team #super robot monkey team hyperforce go #srmthfg #this is... several months of pent up autism I have been too shy to post abt lol sorry #I went out of my way to make that antauri gif bc 1. it goes hard and 2. I couldnt find any existing gifs of it so that's why it looks. roug

[visd3stele]

If you still write for Criston can you write an imagine based on ep 4 but its Rhaenyra younger sister he is attracted to??

still write? i'm just getting started ;)

i hope you like it!

masterlist ; requests

a/n: so, usualy i don't include smut in requests if it's not specifically asked for, the more i do is hint to it lightly. but since it's a request about that episode, the one so focused on the meaning and discoveries of sexual life, and it is the got universe, i thought it's safe to assume you're ok with it. if not, beware the warnings below and let me know through another ask.

tw: kind of spoilerish (better read after you watched the episode), virgin!reader, virginity loss, smut, piv, innocent!bold!reader,a dime of jealousy, talks of forced marriage, old typical mysonigistic rhetoric about the female body, behavior and a woman's sexual activities let me know if i missed anything

Sleepless nights

A gust of wind blew from behind, whipping loose strands of hair against the flurry breathing in your face. H/c locks flew around your head in a messy crown. Though your vision was blurred - with piercing tears and whips of hair - you felt no fear. Up in the sky, between the clouds floating above King's Landing, you were more at home than you ever were inside the confinement of the royal palace. Here, with just your dragon to keep you company, your body eased the tension gathered over the day. A wild laugh boomed where no one but your ears could hear. So unlady-like, your tutors would say, just like the grin spread on your face.

You found it easier to leap into the princess act expected from you when on the ground. But on the back of your dragon, a mighty creature you, alone, tamed, the well of bottled up feelings broke its walls. You felt powerfully and powerful.

"Don't you love this, Attor? Freedom," you closed your eyes to feel the moonlight, smelling the scent of air before rain. The dragon whispered its roar of agreement, longing his neck for a pet on the head. You happily obliged.

Poison. It caused reason to gossip when you named your dragon such. What ill intentions could hide behind? But you simply thought it fit him. A dragon with no fire, only the venom that should lit it. A silent dragon whose roars aren't heard and who is sneakier than even some spies you've met.

"Yes, I can't get enough of this."

"Y/n!" You couldn't stop the sigh escaping your lungs. You love your bigger sister more than the lengths all the dragons in the realm could take you. But you didn't want to go back just yet.

"Now? Really? Can't I stay a bit more? Please."

The night was young. Barely a few hours passed evening. Rhaenyra usually came to take you home only shortly before dawn. When you would complain about wanting to see the sunrise like you used to do together as children. She'd put out a small opposition, just for show as she wanted to do it too. Then you'd return together to the castle, tiptoeing your way to bed.

This time, however, Rhaenyra seemed to be on a rush.

"No, y/n, come on."

"But why?" You whined.

"I have something to do tonight and I'd rather know you out of trouble."

"What troubles can I possibly run into in the sky?"

"You'll find a way. Come."

"Fine, but only if you tell me what's so important that you have to take away my last few days of enjoyment until I shall be wed."

Rhaenyra's face fell. Your father has been trying to find you both a proper suitor. He agreed to let you choose your husbands if you do so in the time he desires. You and Rhaenyra have been travelling around the seven kingdoms for that exactly purpose, but none of the men either of you saw raised your interest. Now, you were waiting anxiously for your father's picks.

"Don't be like that. Father might come around. He haven't eyed anyone for either of us."

"Yet. But don't try to evade me! What are the mysterious plans of tonight, Rhaeny?"

"I- I'm not sure, actually. Daemon wants me to accompany him. In the guise of a boy. It's like an adventure!"

Another too big smile for a proper princess spread your lips. Rhaenyra's happiness made you happy as well. She rarely took time for herself. To feel, to explore - her own personhood if anything else was off limits. Unlike you, who had your nightly rides above storms or through peaceful stars.

"Swear to me you'll tell everything tomorrow."

"Thank you, y/n!" Rhaenyra flew her dragon closer, enough so that the both of you could hug. "I will tell you all of it in the morning," she beamed. And you descended.

You and Rhaenyra were making your way to the palace after you took care of the dragons for the night. She had to meet Daemon and change and you... well, you didn't know what you'll do, if you were to be honest.

"Princess..es." A soft smile made its way to your lips, heating you cheeks before you could even comprehend the stumble of words. Your body reacted on its own accord to the low, sweet voice. Ser Criston Cole was on patrol duty, it seemed. Or at least for the first half of the night, when another guards would replace him and his fellow.

You never missed it, the change of guards. Whether you were spending the first hours of moonlight watching Ser Cole laugh with his companions, stretch or jump and do push ups to keep sleep away until eventually his features loosened, his smile but a fading ghost lost in a yawn and he stumbled over his words to say goodnight on his way to bed, or you were swirling around the palace roof on the nights he'd take the second shift to see him run energically to the other guards, patting them on the back and cracking some jokes you never heard, you took the habit to sight the handsome knight as often as you made it possible.

Rhaenyra smiled back at him, wishing him an easy night as she moved past. She was the one he noticed first. The first to call after. You were a mere second thought, you mused sadly.

"Good night, princess y/n," he said politely as you walked past him. But he spared you no glance. Your smiled was tight when you lightly bowed your head to him in recognition and moved on.

How come him and Rhaenyra were friends, but he acted around you so... proper? Back straight, eyes fixed in front of him as if he were a statue only coming to life to serve and protect when ordered or needed, arms folded behind and chest flaunted proudly, representing the royal family. Why couldn't he be himself with you too? Like he was with Rhaenyra: laid back, easy going, speaking his mind freely, even allowing himself to be her confidant. And he would share with her too, like friends do.

Ever since the tournament, your heart skipped a beat every time you saw him. With time, your breath caught in your chest even when you heard his voice, or long, joy filled laugh echoing in the halls. You couldn't help the jealousy rising in your bile every time Ser Cole and Rheanyra were together. They get so close in such short notice! Meanwhile you and him were still on title before names basics.

"How did you do that?" You asked out of breath as you ran to catch up with her.

"Do what?" Under any other circumstances you would have thought she's teasing you. But tonight Rhaenyra was distracted.

"Forget it. It's nothing important. Where are you to meet with uncle?"

The older Targaryen princess, as big sisters often seem to, fell pray to the need to offer comfort to - and brighten the mood of - her little sister. Even not knowing what issued such ache in your weak tone.

"Would you like to come with us?" She said, instead of answering your question.

From where they have fallen in self pity, jealousy and despair, your eyes surged forward to meet Rhaenyra's in excited surprise.

"It's only fair," she shrugged in answer to your silent question of approval. "I ruined your night, so you might as well pay me back."

"I won't ruin anything!" You protested, seemingly offended. But a large laugh bubbled in your chest, hard to contain.

Your excitement was chipped, but not bend, when Daemon faltered for mere seconds before reluctantly agreeing to take you with them. Rhaenyra and your uncle were walking fast in front of you, never once unlocking their hands. You struggled to keep up. Perhaps they were trying to lose you? That wouldn't make any sense, you argued to your own mind. They wouldn't leave you alone in the city at night. And what for would they even be tempted to do so?

All thoughts emptied your brain as you came to a sudden halt in Daemon's heels. He led you and your sister to a brothel! Rhaenyra's pupils dilated in the night. Curiosity, raw thrill and pure joy buzzed through her body. You could feel it even a few steps behind. To be in such a place, dressed as a boy, should have been a matter of fantasies. But here you were.

"You don't have to go in if you don't want to," your uncle said, turning to face you quickly before turning his attention back on your much more eager sister. "I can call for a guard to keep you company in a tavern nearby. One I know will never speak of it."

You bit at the inside of your cheeks with your canine. Though a virgin and a princess, you were aware of the activities that went down in a pleasure house and what they entailed. Sort of. You used to eavesdrop conversations between guards as a child. Sneak and steal some of the forbidden books your tutors warned you about being unproper for your delicate, feminine eyes. You read them in the sky, feet dangling from Attor's back as he floated easy too high up to be seen.

But standing in front of the brothel's door right now, close enough to smell the too sweet odor of mixed perfumes and scented candles you felt your heart constrict painfully in your chest. The slapping sounds of skin on skin contact, the loud groans and breathy moans chilled your blood and sweat that begin to form on your skin.

Unexplainable fear overtook your senses. You couldn't do it! Of course, a part of you wanted to. March inside, pick a handsome man and get it over with. Pop the flower everyone told you to nurture and save for your husband. But the feeling that this wasn't how it's supposed to be wouldn't evade you. No matter how much you'd try to convince yourself that you can't possibly know that, your mind wouldn't let go of the maddeningly aphrodisiac love making reaped from promising pages.

"Yes, please."

Daemon looked relieved. He ordered both of you to stay still, hidden in the shadows nearby, and rushed to get the up mentioned guard.

"Are you feeling... well?"

"Yes, Rhaeny, don't worry for me. Worry for yourself. You seem like you could become addicted to this place and you haven't even entered."

"It feels freeing."

"I know."

"Then why won't you come in? I'm quite scared too of the unknown of it. But it's not a panic worthy fear. Like when father married Alicent -" you both winced -" it's more of a thrill. I want this. Whatever this is, wherever the night will lead me to do."

"You're excited."

"Aren't you? We're actually in the town. On our own. Without thousands of eyes judging our every move. People didn't even recognized us!"

You smiled at your sister's happiness. Once again, it was enough for your own to surge as well. You shook your head. "Have fun, Rhaenyra. But don't do anything stupid. I'll get drunk waiting for you. I've never been drunk before."

You both burst in incontrollable giggles. That's how birds must feel when they fly around the world, freed of any cage, following only their instincts, you thought. And their bellies, the growl of your stomach added. It made you laugh even harder.

That's how Daemon found you. Teary eyed, voice hoarse from laughing, bodies trembling with shakes of hiccups, remains of wild, sister with madness, joy.

"I see, my prince. This is how you got them to agree with such an idea. You got them drunk."

If you were, indeed, intoxicated, his voice was enough to sober you up. Ser Cole, in all his tall, polished glory, smirked next to a confused Daemon. It wasn't a mean smirk, nor a teasing one you saw on you dearest knight's lips. His eyes, so dark as the deepest nights, seemed even bigger now. You realized his pupils grew in size, flooding the warm black of his irises with something more feral.

The same look was in your uncle's eyes, fixed on Rhaenyra. But where Criston was wearing himself like a calculated predator, a dragon if not of blood, then of demeanor, Daemon had a goofy, adoring smile in the corner of his lips.

"I haven't done anything, Ser Cole. They are here on they own, sober, accord."

Not wasting anymore time, your uncle grabbed your sister by the hand again and stormed inside the pleasure house. Alone with Criston, your care free spirit from earlier grew heavier. You noticed the look in his eyes, which you concluded to be lust, but you thought he sighted your sister. And the thought weight more than it should have.

"I was told to stick at your side, princess, in your nightly adventure. And to never speak of what shall happen. Please, don't pay me any mind and do as your heart desires."

You turned on you heels with not a single word uttered to your guard. What could you have said? You are what my heart desires, but you act so distant and cold I'm afraid that will never be? You wouldn't dare. So you choose the safer option: silence. And because of that you missed how his shoulders, held high and proud, slogged at your behavior. How he closed his eyes and bite back a sigh, bowling and relaxing his fingers at his sides.

You reached a small house that smelled like piss and shoved your way inside. Cheap bear stinking like dragon food crumbs splashed from knocked together in cheers cups. Dirty dishes traveled from table to table, not once being washed or changed for the clients. But at least the food looked good.

"Are you sure you want to be here, princess?" Ser Cole eyed the tavern with warry distaste.

"I want to see what life truly feels like," you said in earnest as you sat at a shacking table. Criston scoffed.

"You live in a palace, wear clothes adorned in jewels and gold and ride dragons for fun. You do live the life. The good one."

"I am locked in a beautiful prison, but prison nonetheless. I wear dresses I can barely move in so nobles could approve of me. Gawk at my figure, judge my manners and my speech and bid for my hand to my father. But the dragons are the good life, indeed. I cannot - and don't want to - argue with you about that."

Your hushed blurt out rendered Ser Cole to silence. It wasn't until your food came when he spoke again. Much to your delight as you couldn't believe the first time you had a chance to befriend the man you have fallen for you poured your heart out and scared him.

"I must apologize." You cringed as he went back to the cold, dutiful speech. "I assumed... I didn't know."

"I suppose I overreacted as well. I know nothing of your life before King's Landing. I know these are struggling people, who seek oblivion for a night and would gladly take my place. It's my first night to experience freedom. And soon to be the last. I am to marry one of my father's chosing, but there are so many things I want to try!"

Criston's jaws clenched at the mention of marriage. He stuffed his mouth with the game's meat to have something to focus onto in his attempt to regain composure.

"And you pick the dirtiest tavern in town?"

"It was the closest," you smiled at his teasing tone. Feeling an iced wall finally breaking down between you two. "I was hungry."

"I can see that," Criston laughed. He, then, took a handkerchief from a hidden pocked in his armor and leaned over the table. His movements were wry, doubtful. So much unlike his confidence in battle. Locking his eyes with yours, he brushed the material over your mouth.

You tried to hide your surprise, block the instict of jerking away from his touch. You didn't want him to believe you didn't enjoy it, like he seems to think you dislike his self appointed lesser company.

"Thank you," flustered and happy beyond understanding, you leaned your cheek in his touch. E/c eyes burning in pits of mysteries and lust. Though there was something more you didn't want to decipher. Didn't want to hope. Could it be love? Affection? Admiration, like Daemon watched Rhaenyra with? It was better to hope than to be dissappointed by the truth.

As Criston broke eye contact, breathing more loudly than before, kicking his leg under the table and druming his fingers on the shacking wood, you considered your options. Tasting alcohol for the first time in your life, possibly even getting drunk sounded good. Fun, even. But standing face to face to Ser Cole, having the chance to bond, or something more...

You still trembled a bit at the thought of the brothel. Except now it was mostly with regret. You have wanted to see what happens. Understand why people want it so badly. And you beat yourself up from chickening out. Just that now, you could place a reason next to your hesitation. You didn't want simply anyone willing to take you. You wanted Ser Criston Cole.

"Maybe I can take you riding one day," you spit out before you could overthink it. You, Criston and Attor, alone in the sky. It sounded like peace should feel like.

Ser Cole gulped, stopping his body to a still statue. "Ride," he cleared his throat, eyes bulged in his head, "riding, princess?"

"Yes. With Attor. Dragonback riding. You seemed to be taken by them earlier."

On the word taken, he chocked again, brown curls spasming around his head as he denied it. "I mean, yes! Please!" He seemed to come back to his senses from a chaotic dream. "I would like to fly with you."

Your small, hesitant smile brightened the dark tavern. It looked like Ser Cole was just as nervous around you as yiu were around him. Perhaps, then, he saught your friendship as you did his. Or maybe even more.

The next of the meal happened in content silence. At least on your part. Criston brushed his teeth together, resuming his hectic body movements, avoiding to look at you at all costs. Specifically avoiding to see the way your mouth wraps around bite impaled on the fork between taking it in your mouth. How your throats bobs as you swallow. Closing his eyes against the satisfying sigh you let out once you were full.

Ser Col couldn't be more thankful for thick armor he had on. Nor could he be more annoyed by it. The layers of metal and cloth painfully strangled the bulge growing in his pants at the mere proximity of you. He shouldn't have clean your mouth. The touch of your lips, even through the material of the handkerchief sent shivers down his spine. He would have come in his pants if he hadn't remind himself you were to be wed soon. Criston knew he stood no chance for your hand. But hope is a cockroach. It always finds a way to survive, no matter how many times it's stomped on to.

When you pushed your soft cheek into his roughened palm, the dreams of a day when he could snake a hand around you and catch your lips with his in a long, passionate kiss, freely, were born anew.

"Is something wrong?"

"Hm? No! No. What could be wrong, princess?"

"Y/n, please. I have to confess I jealous of my sister for quite the while now. I cannot stand these formalities from you."

Skies above! What you were doing to him! When he arrived at King's Landing, princess Rhaenyra has been a friendly voice in a sea of steel strangers. But it was you who took his breath away. With your sister he found his words easily. He could relax. Around you? He needed to impress. To hear you were feeling the same warmed his heart, dangerously so.

"Y/n. Very well, then, please call me Criston. No more 'Ser Cole'."

"Deal."

"Where to next, y/n?"

You bit your lips and his eyes fell immediately to the white of your teeth shining against the flesh of your mouth. He licked his own. It gave you the confidence you needed to ask what you wanted of him.

"Take me back to the palace."

A crease at the bridge of his nose. "You're done with the adventure tonight?"

"Not even close, Criston. I was just thinking of a different kind of adventure." You tried your best to mimic the suggestive looks you read and heard about. But you didn't know what those were or how they were supposed to feel like on your face. You only hoped you managed to pull off an inviting, sexy demeanor.

Your handsome knight gulped, reaching for his helmet to stand up. Hesitation playing in his eyes. You could tell he was trying to find the rigt words to tell you off.

So you snatched the heavy, shining helmet from his fingers while he was lost in thought.

"Princess – y/n," he corrected himself shortly. You only beamed at him, a fleeting smirk beginning to blossom on your face. Blinking innocently at him, you took short, but many, steps back. Not once breaking the innocent haze staring in his lustful one.

"What is it, Ser... Criston?"

"My helmet, please," he extended a hand, speaking with difficulty. It encouraged you. Despite its weight you twirled it to take a better look at it.

"Oh, this little, old thing. You want it back?"

"I need it, yes."

"Well, if it's so important, come and get it." And you took off running.

That bubbly laugh you could only allow at night echoed in the crammed streets of King's Landing. You bumped into people who paid you no mind, other than, perhaps, here and there, some angry mutters or bitter warnings to be more careful.

Every now and then you'd steal a brief glance to your back. And you felt yourself become even lighter with joyous spirit each time you did. Criston was tailing you. A bashful smile creeping on his face when he, not able to take his eyes off you, ran into passer byers. As soon as the path was clear, though, his lips spread in a large grin from ear to ear.

"I can do this all night, y/n. How much can you hold up?" He teased.

"I guess we have to find out. Or..." you trailed off, coming to a quick stop. You held the helmet in front of you with both hands, urging Criston to step closer.

You stood beneath your chamber's window, where a thick tangle of ivy climbed from the ground to the crenels. You used it to climb down your window for your nightly getaways with Attor. Or climb up to avoid the guard and fetch your silent dragon from there. The window was open.

Criston neared in. Still keeping you at arms' length he tried to get the helmet without entering your space. Sharply, you brought it closer to you, forcing Criston to stumble over you.

Both if your hands were now on the helmet, but neither seemed to notice. Your chests heaved under heavy breaths, almost touching, if not for the layers of clothes between. Matching smiles worn on your faces, but you wouldn't notice, gaze locked in each other's eyes.

"Or," you breathed out, his proximity setting your already tired heart on an even quicker beat. "We could tire in a different way."

Saying so, you touched his cheek. Warm skin met your ghostly brush, sweaty from the run. You tucked a strand of hair behind his ear and once you found your fingers linked with the soft, rich curls, you couldn't move it away.

Criston's head fell on yours. Tired to fight desire any longer. The brave knight, the winner of all battles he took part in, found the one he wouldn't have a chance against. You, on the battlefield of love, lust and need.

Foreheads still touching, Criston brought his hand to your face, cupping your chin in his large palm. Large enough to cover your frame and brush a thumb over your lips.

"Are you sure? I don't think I'll be able to stop once I have even the smallest taste of you."

"Yes. I want you, Criston. Whatever it is you have in mind, do not stop."

His grip tightened on you – not enough to bruise, but enough to tell you the effect you had on him and his self restraint – as you felt the vibration of a groan passing through his body.

"You aren't aware of what you do to me, y/n."

Likewise, you wanted to say. "Than show me."

And before you knew it, his lips were on yours. The soft touch tingled your whole body and instinctively, you plucked your own lips to meet his. A satisfied moan of his was swallowed by the kiss as you let your head fall back and lids closing over your sight.

You pulled back for air, goofy smiles plastered on both of your faces. And, as if there was a thread sewed between the two of you now, you clashed your moths again. And again.

This time, his hands roamed over your body, feeling every curve, every softness of it. You sighed, pushing yourself more and more into his hands.

"Skies above!" He exclaimed in a rushed whisper of admiration. You smiled sheepishly, catching your breath.

"I want to feel you too," you said, walking your fingers over the polished grey of his armor. He stepped back, only enough to have space to untie the strings keeping his panoply in place. With slow movements, Ser Cole pulled it over his head.

He took your hand, then, placing it on his chest. You passed your palms over his upper body, feeling his muscles through the cloth hiding his body from you. When you reached the hem of his shirt, you snuck your hands underneath. He gasped, but circled your wrists with his hands to keep yours in place when you, in the panic surging through your veins, tried to remove them.

"Keep going," he rasped out. You stepped closer. The feel of his hard skin, warm and sharp under your touch, his scent - a surprisingly pleasant mix of steel and beer - filled your being. His presence possessed you, consuming you with need and want. And that you caused the same to him only strengthen the feelings.

"We can climb to my room. Window's open."

No sooner said than done, carried in the arms of Criston, you found yourselves in your dim lit room. Only the clear night sky, bright with stars and moonlight shone above the two you, illuminating your steps towards love.

Ser Cole lowered to the ground, dropping his head on your lower belly, inhaling deeply before lifting your shirt and tracing a line of light touches of his lips, forehead and nose on your bare skin. Your hands flew to his hair, threading through it as an overwhelming pleasure like you never felt before took over you.

Now Criston lingered under your breasts. Each time he exhaled a ticklish breath of hot air, your toes curled in your shoes. You pulled at his hair, grazing the skin at the back of his neck.

"Impatient, princess?" The amusement in his voice would usually melt your heart, but now it had the opposite effect. Annoyance bit bitterly in the back of your mind. So you pulled away a mere half an inch to push your clothes away. In a moment of bold desire, you stripped of every piece of material covering your body.

The sight of your naked form wiped the smugness off Ser Cole. Lips parted slightly, swallowing hard and breathing heavy with awe sparkling in his eyes, Criston grasped your arms, rubbing up and down their length slowly. His eyes searched every part of you with grateful respect: from the blissed out expression on your face, to the perched up nipples against the cold, from the bump hooding your sex to the toes rolling against the floor.

You closed in the gap, hot skin brushing against rough clothes. You tipped on your toes, circling his neck. A shiver passed through as his one of his palms came to rest low on your back, the other one digging in your hips. Partly to steady you, partly in attempt to sooth the insatiable growing need to feel you.

Your fingers danced around the hem of his shirt. Making sure to touch more of his heated body than the piece of clothing. Eventually, you traced the knotted laces, pulling softly at them until they came undone. Criston took his shirt off and, in doing so he arched his back, pushing his hips and torso into you.

A moan escaped you, stumbling over your feet in surprise. Criston caught you, letting his hands descend to your ass and squeezing it lightly. It earned him another moan, music to his ears.

Your head was resting on his shoulder, too heavy with pleasure to keep it up. An idea bloomed in your mind. Without thinking too much of it, you kissed his neck. Criston groaned and you gained confidence. You let your hands travel on his back as your mouth explored his front. Collarbone, chest, shoulder.

Criston's pants tighten against your thigh. On cue with the gasp you released, Ser Cole fell to his knees. As his hands knitted your breasts, his lips tickled your body.

When his mouth touched your pubic mound, you involuntarily pushed from him.

"I'm sorry," he said immediately, getting up and giving you more space.

"No, don't be. I just... can we take it slower?"

Criston nodded keenly. "Of course."

The next time he approached you, he waited for you to make the first move. You pressed your body into his and kissed him hard. Soon, your moths were open, tongues pushing against each other, twirling in one another, teeth clashing in desperation.

He begin to suck at your neck, sloppy open mouthed kisses leaving a wet trail behind that, when wind blew from outside, rose goosebumps on your shivering form, hardening your breasts. Criston looked for permission, or any sign of hesitation in your eyes before taking one nipple in his mouth, massaging the other with his hand.

Your nails sunk in his shoulderblades, your breath coming out in hitched pants, turning your moans in cries of bliss. "Criston," his name evaded your lips. The knight froze for just a moment before straightening up and telling you to jump, driven by the sound of your pleasure speaking his name.

Criston secured your legs around his waist. His hardened erection throbbing against your wet folds. An itching sensation arouse in your pussy as your insides lit on fire. While Criston attended to your upper body, licking, sucking, biting softly, all making the knits in your belly tighter and the empty feeling in your cunt more annoying, you rolled your hips against his.

"Y/n," he groaned, somewhere between want, delight, and needy distress. His palms seized your sides, keeping you in place. An unsatisfied scoff, that sounded more like a whine, made Criston chuckle.

"Criston," you moaned, trying to escape his grasping fingers digging in your hips. "Please."

"Patience, princess, my sweet y/n. Patience. I want to make this special for you."

And how he did it!

He walked you to the bed, lowering you on the rose scented mattresses. He kissed you once. A long, slow show of love rather than lust. Then he untied his pants and let the drop to the ground. Criston wanted nothing more than to climb over you and worship your body how he knew best. But he resisted the urge, giving you a sight of his naked body.

Just as he thought, you prompted on your elbows, taking him all in. Then you crawled to the edge of the bed. Eyes piercing his own, you touched shyly the hard member between his legs. A whimper he'd never admit to echoed in the room, causing a giggle from you.

More sure on yourself, you closed your fist around his cock. You pumped it, enjoying the twitch it gave in your hands, the reactions you caught from Criston. Whose hands were now playing with threads of your hair, trying to stop himself from rutting into your fist.

In a spur of confidence you dropped your head and kissed the tip of his leaking dick. "Y/n," he yelped. "Tease." He could barely talk.

"Not at all. Just turning back the favor." You winked at him, lying back on the bed, pulling him over you.

Criston's hands trapped your head between them as he lined himself with your entrance. "Are you sure?"

"You beamed up at him, pushing your chest into his to capture his lips. "Take me, Ser Cole, Criston, I'm all yours," you said before letting your head fall on the pillow.

A small laugh broke the silence, speeding through your knight's body. He laced your fingers with his, spreading your bodies for each other. Then he touched the tip of his cock to your aching, pulsing walls. Your body reacted as on cue, clenching around it, not enough to fill you but enough to leave you wanting for more.

You raised your hips in an invitation to go deeper. Criston obliged. Listening to every shift of your body, he took his time pushing inside you, giving you time to adjust to him spreading you. Once again, your moans turned into blissed out cries as he begin to move, scratching that itch just right.

Ser Cole wasn't silent himself. Biting his lips to contain the sighs and groans, tightening his hold on your fingers to keep himself from going too fast.

You set the pace. He thrusted into you and you clenched around him, as if your pussy wanted to grab to his cock and never let go. You rolled your hips to meet him as he moved his own as if dancing.

The fire knots in your belly grew tighter and tighter and with them the strength with which your walls pulsed around him. "You're close, aren't you?" He whispered sweetly, cleaning your face of hair stuck to with with sweat. You did the same for him as you urged his head closer to yours.

"Let go, y/n," Criston murmured in the kiss. "Let go for me."

And you did. Arching your back, releasing the loudest cry so far, you came around him as he rode you through your orgasm.

Criston was still hard inside you, you noticed, even though he stopped moving. An urgent twitch spasming against your folds. He wanted to pull out when the highs of your pleasure calmed, but you held him in place.

"You didn't..."

"I know. I don't want to risk it."

Of course you knew how children were made. The thought simply didn't occur to you so far. "The maetrons have ways to prevent pregnancies," was all you said before dropping a hand to his lower back and pushing him inside your pussy.

"The things you do to me," Criston groaned. But snapped his hips again. "You feel so good," he murmured. Or rather, he wanted to. But it came out as a content scream as he shoot his own orgasm inside you.

Panting, chuckling, pecking each other's lips, none of you wanted the night to end. You couldn't agree to be empty again, not after he fit so perfectly in your body. He didn't argue too much. He didn't want to leave either. He'd live in your bed for the rest of his life, if he could. And you'd gladly let him.

You went down again when his cock perked up inside your cunt. This time, Criston switch you over, guiding your hips as you straddled his wait on top of him.

Ser Cole came faster the second time and only from watching you bounce on his cock, back arched, breasts jumping on your chest, hair flying around your head and whipping his face when you kissed.

He asked you for a rematch. Then you asked him to show you more. More positions, more ways to draw pleasure from your partner and from yourself. By the time the sun rose, you were both worn out, tired, sweaty, but blissfully happy.

#ser criston #ser criston cole x reader #ser criston cole #criston cole x reader #criston cole #my writing #my fic #my fic writing #fabien frankel

[myechoecho]

Love You Seven Times, eps 15-16

Jin Luo took her own stone heart. She sacrificed herself for Zihui, because he loved her and she truly loved him. She saved him.

To be honest, I'm not sure I entirely trust the king/emperor who is Chu Kong's half brother. Though he does not seem bad?

When Xianguyn she was a cloud she stayed by Chu Kong for thousands of years? I would love that but it seems like the old guy has lied before about her origin.

LOL at Chu Kong setting the conditions for this tribulation.

So Xiangyun's primordial spirit is feeding Chu Kong's?? Well this is not going to be tragic in any way.

The third tribulation starts out dark. Xiangyun has to watch her parents die. But Chu Kong (Sect Leader this time) is there to pick up the pieces.

Please don't tell me I am going to have to suffer through the Punchable Prince in every one of their tribulations. Realistically I knew this but I don't have to like it.

Jin Lian is in this tribulation and is Shangque-esque

Chu Kong is genuinely worried about Xiangyun. He keeps looking at her finger that she bit when her family was slaguhtered

It's really interesting that the Fate Book for the tribulations is only a general outline but the immortals make the story what it becomes

Xiangyun being disobedient, when Chu Kong deliberately asked that she be obedient this time round, further solidifies that whomever they are in the mortal realm, the underlying personality of the immortal remains. unless Li did not write the obedient part in.

LOLOL at the "Listen to the strands of white hair growing out of my scalp"

The look that Chu Kong gives when she says she likes him. Except she keeps talking and it's not quite he wants to hear.

And then he kisses her when she was only trying to tell him he had crumbs on his lips. He is SHOOK by the kiss. He also gets a little emo and pouty after, refusing to drink his tea,

I love that he gave her the little pig (in reference to their first tribulation) and she knew he gave it to her. I laughed at his horror when he thought she cooked Stinky.

It's also nice to see Chu Kong ask for help in winning Xiangyun's affection. Except when he tries to cook for her. Considering he gave all of them food poisoning, he probably should have let htem help him.

Honestly, I love this tribulation more than the second one. I'm sure it's going to get angsty at some point - maybe next episode? It's not meant to be a long tribulation.

Whatever Punchable Prince is planning, is probably going result in her dying which makes me wonder if this might be a recurring theme in Chu Kong and Xiangyun's tribulations. He'll butt in under the pretense of protecting/saving her and ultimately be the one who is responsible for her death. Though honestly, I don't think it would make sense for her to die every time. If the story results in Chu Kong dying first, then I hope Xiangyun stabs him again.

#love you seven times #ckdrama

[annerbhp]

Apparently I’ve been on A03 nearly 17 years now, with only one year in there where I didn’t post at least a chapter of a fic. My A03 account currently has 986,328 hits overall. I wonder if I can get to a million hits before the end of the year? Wild. In celebration, here is a list of fic with the most hits in each year I’ve posted to AO3:

2006 -

five ways Sam Carter got pregnant (SG-1, Sam/Various, cw: non-con)

2007 -

Egeria’s Legacy (SG-1, Sam/Jack) Tok'ra trouble is brewing and Sam gets caught in the middle.

2008 -

String Theory (SG-1, Sam/Jack) Dr. Samantha Carter joins the SGC and discovers a life she never expected.

2009 -

The Raggedy Edge (SG-1/Firefly, Sam/Jack, Daniel/Vala, Malcolm/Inara, Kaylee/Simon) During a rescue mission gone awry, Sam and Jack end up stranded in another galaxy where they find themselves passengers on a ship called Serenity.

2010 -

Compliance (SG-1, Sam/Jack) Carter has always been good at following orders.

2011 -

we build then we break (and build up again) (SG-1, Sam/Jack) Sam’s last mission on SG-1, and the life that follows.

2012 -

No fics!

2013 -

Entropy (CSI, Gil Grisom/Sara Sidle) They've been here before. "Forget Me Not" Post-Ep.

2014 -

Reparations (Leverage, Maggie Collins, Maggie&Sophie) Maggie sees the world differently now.

2015 -

Life is What Happens (Harry Potter, Harry/Ginny) It's their life, and they'll do what works for them. It's not like they've ever particularly cared about rules.

2016 -

Hard Day’s Night (SG-1, Jack-centric, Sam/Jack, cw: domestic terrorism) Jack always knew that desk was going to be the death of him, just not quite so literally. When Homeworld Security comes under attack, Jack discovers he hasn’t lost his edge, or his team. Set post-Continuum. 

2017 -

The Changeling (Harry Potter, Ginny-centric, Harry/Ginny) Ginny is sorted into Slytherin. It takes her seven years to figure out why.

2018 -

we can’t control (watch me unfold) (Harry Potter, Harry/Ginny) It’s a simple arrangement. Between her grueling quidditch schedule and his mysterious auror duties, Ginny and Harry find time to have spectacular sex with no strings attached. It’s incredibly uncomplicated. Except when it isn’t.

2019 -

lips long parching (Harry Potter, Harry/Ginny) Going solo to her ex’s wedding is not exactly Ginny’s idea of a good time, but thanks to a smuggled flask and a rather sullen Harry Potter, it’s about to get a lot more interesting.

2020 -

in my head we do everything right (Harry Potter, Harry/Ginny) It’s not as easy as it sounds, going from hypotheticals to reality. Harry and Ginny navigate life after Hogwarts. Third in the Armistice Series.

2021 -

my kingdom come undone (The Untamed/CQL, LWJ/WWX) --if I am doomed to death, then at least I could be killed by you-- Wei Ying has lost control and there is only one person who can stop him. It's Lan Wangji’s greatest fear unfurling right in front of him.

2022 -

break upon your shore (The Untamed/CQL, LWJ/WWX) Wei Ying’s attention has chased Lan Wangji since the first day they met—relentless, unforgiving, his eyes always looking. One day Lan Wangji can’t help but look back. (WIP)

#annerb fic #retrospective #fics with most hits #don't think i didn't notice all my porniest fics are in there #lol #doing this makes me feel better about my writing desert lately #it's okay #look how much i've accomplished #and how i will always go back to lower case poetic titles #one million hits #can i get there?

[megchanowo]

Hello everyone, I’m sure that an original myth story wasn’t what you had expected. I thought I would share what I have been working on in class with you all! This is a roblox-myth inspired work with my friends’ and my original characters. Don’t feel obligated to read it! Please let me know what you all think, this story will live off of it.

But, fanfics will come back eventually. Again, I’m so sorry for leaving you guys in the dark for most of the summer. For now, enjoy!

Curses

EP 1: FIRE

Cars whiz by a newly-hit deer carcass. Its thin legs were askew across the gravel shoulder, tongue hanging lopsidedly out from its snout. Night had finally fallen when flies began to congregate around it. The buzz of the flies faded away upon hearing crackling of branches coming from the deep forest lining the shoulder of the road. From the leaves emerges a white figure. They came and went quickly, evading the oncoming lights of cars.

Traveling back into the forest, the white figure finally emerged into a clearing, with several seven-foot stones outlining its shape. They stepped forward, a transparent blob held snug in their arms. They stepped forward, placing it in the middle of the clearing. It quickly dissolved into the ground, leaving behind a circle of blue light emitting from the ground. Instinctively, they turned their head to one of the stones reading “cervus,” where the head of a translucent deer peaked around it. The creature tilted its head to them, flicking its ears back in wonder while they reached a hand out to it.

Whilst gingerly cupping the deer’s slender head with one hand, another humanoid figure slipped out of the darkness. This figure, much different from the first, was completely dark in color and bore much different items.

This new entity stalked its way up to the pair and chided, “Another deer hit, I assume,” they shook their head, “I know how much you adore those.”

“You’ve returned from your exposition!” The white figure whirled around, “and yes, I’ve been getting one every day as of late.”

The black one sighed, also reaching up to stroke the spirit. In comparison to the others’ hand, theirs was much softer and only lingered for a second. Once their hand left its fur, it scampered off, around the stones and into the woods to join the others. Leaving just the two of them, they both stared knowingly into the direction where its spirit had disappeared.

“Agent 380, your list has been updated.” An automated voice spoke into a headset, attached to the side of a young woman’s head. She pulled loose a few strands of black hair, in order to access the couple buttons on the side of her headset, letting the agency know that the message was received. She moved her gaze down to her tablet, accessing the so-called list. Within it, was a document showing the study of an area that was in high suspicion of inhuman activities— more commonly addressed as anomalies.

She tapped through the list, reading through the new entries from agents below her. Sooner or later, she would have to begin planning an infiltration on the site, alone.

For now, she opted to turn her focus on gathering more information through outside sources. The agent made her way through the gray walls of the facility, until reaching the outside entrance and finding her car. She was along the barriers of the area of suspicion— a large, dense forest. She narrowed her eye at the sight, opting to drive on the lane furthest away from the tree line as one of the suspect notions were, quoted, “Many people have crossed the tree line, usually by foot, and never sought foot out of it.” It wasn’t that Agent 380 was scared, but rather cautious. Every agent sent on this mission before disappeared with no trace, except for a common factor: they were all too hasty with their decisions. But, she herself vowed to be patient. And, she felt the time to enter the site was far from arriving. Instead, she would investigate as much as she could around the forest instead of within.

She swung her car between faded parking lines, throwing the car door open and entering the tavern. She took a look at the surroundings of it— realizing that there were barely any people inside. She cleared her throat awkwardly, shuffling into a seat at the bar. With the liminal people frequenting, the bartender was quick to take her order.

“Welcome to Sylum tavern, Miss…” The scruff man trailed off as his eyes caught the reflection of light off of her badge. He cleared his throat and stepped in the back, leaving the agent confused.

Not long after, another tall man— however not as bulky nor hairy as the first stepped out, greeted her much more confidently: “Welcome to the tavern, however I suspect you aren’t here for drinks.”

She narrowed her eyes in response to the odd and specific greeting, but replied coldly, “Actually, I wouldn’t mind something while we talk.”

He laughed thoughtfully while preparing her drink, “But I understand Agents shouldn’t drink while they’re on a case?” She paid that statement no mind as she received her drink, gingerly sipping it while the new bartender sat, complacent to her questioning.

“I understand that you people are the closest building to this forest, correct?” She got straight to the point, looking up at him with a challenging gaze. He only nodded while absentmindedly readying another glass. She continued with a cough, “You must know someone who has been in and out of there, alive.”

It took him a long while to answer. The agent knew he wasn’t ignoring her, but rather choosing his words carefully. It was pretty obvious that at least one person had been inside the forest but moreover vowed to keep quiet about its contents, in fear of people such as herself for coming after them. Finally, he spoke, “One of our regulars– the one who actually inspired the bar’s new name, has been inside and out. Frankly, I see her enter frequently. But, I’ve never seen her exit from the way she came.”

The agent listened with tentative ears. If it were any other case, she would be vigorously scratching away at her notepad but this time she wanted to make it appear that this matter was more casual than it was. Luckily for her, she can thank her good memory.

“Where can I find her?” She quickly asked after surveying he was done with his little speech.

He returned in a grumble, “My best guess would be that she is still in the forest. The only way I can imagine you’d find her is by frequenting here.” And, by his tone, she could definitely hear the regret of mentioning the idea of her staying around. She knew that she carried an intimidating aura, but her profession called for it.

“Then expect me around, then.” She said plainly, finishing off the glass hastily and power-walking out the door.

There had been frustration swirling around her eyes, and the exhilaration of a new lead– one that no one had come across yet, sent waves of energy greater than any amount of caffeine could bring her.

#robloxmyths #roblox #roblox myths #flamingo #original character #ocs #curses

[newmusickarl]

Album & EP Recommendations

Last Night In The Bittersweet by Paolo Nutini

I must admit I had completely forgotten all about Paolo Nutini’s existence. It may have only been eight years since the Scottish singer-songwriter last released an album, but that was long enough for him to fade out of my memory altogether. That’s not for disliking his music either – although I wasn’t overly keen on his debut These Streets, there were plenty of moments on his subsequent releases, Sunny Side Up and Caustic Love, that I played a lot at the time. However, in today’s current climate of hypersonic music release schedules, taking eight years out is a big risk as there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to get back the same spot that you left behind. Thankfully for Paolo though, just a few songs were all it took to instantly remind me of why he was always such a heralded songwriter.

Whilst his last two records saw him evolve from his soul-pop origins to explore more diverse sonic landscapes, bringing in elements of jazz, country and R&B, Paolo takes things even further on his fourth album, Last Night In The Bittersweet. Across the album’s expansive sixteen track odyssey that clocks in well over an hour, he bounces between those previously deployed stylistic traits, but also throws in a few new ones as well – most notably new wave, indie rock and ambient electronica. It all makes for a dazzling, eclectic and richly textured listen, however it’s not without a few niggles.

That said, none of those niggles appear in the first part of the record, which is simply one of the best opening six track runs you’ll hear all year. Opener Afterneath begins ominously before Paolo’s vocal screeches engulf the space, carrying with them strong shades of Zeppelin-era Robert Plant. From there the track rumbles on like a freeform jam session, overlaid with Paolo’s hypnotic spoken verse and snippets of 1993 classic crime film True Romance (which Tarantino even gets a songwriting credit for here). It’s a startling beginning to the record, as Paolo then brings things back to more familiar territory with stunning soulful rock track Radio, with its glistening guitars and spine-tingling, repeated cries of “I want love.”

Lead single Through The Echoes is up next, an exquisitely crafted, stripped back love song where Paolo’s heartfelt vocals are the star of the show. Acid Eyes then might be my early favourite from the record, with its instantly memorable refrain and jangly melancholic guitars, sounding a bit like Because of the Times-era Kings of Leon. Stranded Words is then branded as an interlude but is a great track in itself, with Paolo’s Celtic tones speaking softly in a hymnal-like way over some quiet synths. Subsequent track Lose It then rounds off this incredible opening run, entering from the other end of the spectrum as a raucous guitar-driven rock track but with a tinge of gospel thrown in too.

After that though, the album does become decisively more hit and miss. Although some people will enjoy the playful throwback sounds of Petrified In Love, I really can’t get on with it at all. And then whilst tracks like Abigail, Heart Filled Up, Shine A Light and Julianne all have their moments too, they don’t light up the record in ways not already generated by the other tracks.

However, there are still plenty of gems lurking in the mid-latter half of the record too. Everywhere starts off quiet and subdued before erupting into a huge crescendo of soaring guitar riffs and soulful cries. Children of The Stars is then a wonderfully mesmeric bluesy number whilst Desperation is a pulsating Strokes-esque jittery rock track, which culminates in probably the album’s finest guitar passage. The album then eventually draws to a close with epic penultimate track, the seven-minute-long ballad Take Me Take Mine. Once your ears have wandered through its labyrinth of spacey synths and dreamy guitars, Dylan-inspired acoustic track Writer then ends the record on a heartfelt and reflective note.

My overall takeaway from this record is that you get the sense Paolo is just having fun with different sounds, and this album reflects that. The album art is even Paolo sat in a room with an array of instruments around him and that really is the record’s whole vibe - like you’re sat in a room with him as he’s playing you these songs. As a result, it can often feel more like a collection of songs than a cohesive body of work, with a strong sense of Paolo essentially just showing you what he’s been making in his time off, sometimes jumping between styles in a quite jarring fashion - but these are ultimately only minor issues.

Whilst it may be a little too long and far from perfect, on the 11 or 12 tracks where it does hit, you’ll be completely swept away by the raw brilliance of Paolo’s vocal and songwriting talents. In a quiet week for album releases, you can do much worse than an hour or so with Last Night In The Bittersweet.

Listen here

Seven Psalms by Nick Cave

Elsewhere this week, Nick Cave finally released his EP of Psalms that he wrote over lockdown. Whilst it may just be Cave sharing his words of wisdom with some subtle sonic backing from Warren Ellis for 10 minutes, fans of the pair will still no doubt enjoy these short but sweet compositions.

Listen here

Tracks of the Week

Part of the Band by The 1975

The big return this week was that of indie-pop superstars The 1975 with the first intriguing taster to their upcoming new album, Being Funny In a Foreign Language. When the lead single to their last record turned out to be the heavy 90s punk inspired track People, it did seem to open the door for the Manchester outfit to really make whatever songs they wanted – they weren’t just an indie-pop band anymore.

That said, I was still very much expecting this new single to be more in keeping with their traditional sound, especially given the mixed reception to their last album, Notes On A Conditional Form. But keeping true to themselves, this one is yet another sharp left turn – an artsy, string-tinged and quite understated track, with frontman Matty Healy lyrically found in a contemplative and nostalgic mood. If you heard this on chart radio you would probably think it was a mistake, as it is far from the typical return single you’d expect from one of the biggest pop bands on the planet.

And whilst I’m not completely enamoured with the song yet, I’m just grateful that The 1975 continue to throw curveballs like this, ignoring conventional troupes and defying public expectations at every chance they get. One thing is for certain, I’m keen to hear what’s next.

Listen here

Hate by Loyle Carner

Also making his highly anticipated comeback this week was UK rap superstar Loyle Carner, with his hard-hitting new single, Hate. Usually friendly, calm and collected, this song finds Loyle in an angry and defiant mood, as he puts the world to rights over racial inequality and injustice against an infectious piano-driven beat.

Listen here

Can’t Forget by Low Island

Over the last 12 months, there has arguably been no new band killing it quite like Low Island. Having delivered one of the best debut albums of 2021, they kept that strong momentum going with their excellent Just Another Dreamer EP released earlier this year. Now this week saw them release the brilliant first single from their forthcoming sophomore album, Life In Miniature. Charged with their electro-pop sound and lyrics surrounding the fear of growing up, it all eventually erupts into a scintillating guitar solo at the song’s climax. A sensational track from a band presently operating at the absolute top of their game.

Listen here

Eleanor by Hot Chip

Also out this week, Hot Chip continue the build to their forthcoming eighth studio album, Freakout/Release. This one features a typically playful melody, catchy chorus and some trancey dance synths, but with dark lyrics at the heart about suffering through unimaginable pain. Eight albums in and Hot Chip continue to sound as fresh and vibrant as ever.

Listen here

Passenger by Boston Manor

And finally this week, Blackpool rockers Boston Manor served up the infectious second single to their upcoming new album Datura and it is a typically rapturous anthem built on a huge chorus and some blistering heavy riffs.

Listen here

#paolo nutini #radio #live in the bittersweet #life in the bittersweet #nick cave #warren ellis #the 1975 #part of the band #loyle carner #hot chip #low island #boston manor #new music #best new music #album recommendation #song recommendation

[burlveneer-music]

For Breakfast - Trapped in the Big Room - 7-piece band mashing up all the strands of rock music into a post-punk prog-rock jamboree

Two years following the release of their debut EP, For Breakfast return to Glasshouse with their highly anticipated sophomore EP 'Trapped in the Big Room'.

Four brand new songs capture their momentous, multi-dimensional voice as they continue to relish a joyous and unpredictable journey, carving out their unique sonic identity while maintaining a familiar essence from their first release ‘Songs in the Key of O’. This EP further establishes the band's synthesis of varying musical inspiration, bolting together elements of dream pop, post-rock, jazz, noise-rock and psychedelia together to form an aural experience like no other, taken one step beyond with additional contributions as a now seven strong lineup. 'Trapped in the Big Room' is a distinct step up from For Breakfast's prior output and will be released as the first ever 12" vinyl record on Glasshouse. Maya Harrison - Vocals, Synths, Piano, Wurlitzer Sam Birkett - Bass Joe Thompson - Guitar Omar Zaghouani - Guitar, Synths, Vibraphone, Tape Recorder, Omnichord, Trombone Gail Tasker - Flute, Alto Flute Eden Harrison - Alto Saxophone Will Eckersley - Drums, Percussion Artwork by Joe Thompson

#For Breakfast #postpunk #prog rock #post-rock #jazz #female focal #uk #2022 #glasshouse records

[ao3feed-ds9]

Alone Among the Silent Stars

https://ift.tt/diSyUwc by amphiuma After the lifting of the Synth ban and Hugh's death, Seven and her new friends from La Sirena are trying to help all of the ex-Borg stranded on Coppelius. What they did not expect was that the former Borg have plans of their own. A "Season 2" of Picard with no time travel, no one back in Starfleet, where the xBs really need help, and we acknowledge that DS9 and VOY (and LD, PRO, and PIC S1) happened. AKA: what if ST:PIC stuck to its guns and the crew of La Sirena was a little rogue element, going around the Galaxy helping the people that the Federation rejects? Written with the idea that it be actually producible and within a reasonable budget (though maybe not 2021 COVID restrictions) (My anger with PIC as-produced turned my version from a TNG reunion into a VOY one. That anger is what also finally kicked me to VOY continuation novels, then back to VOY, then down this whole rabbit hole. So, thanks, I guess?) Fair warning the only ships with much play are the Starships and the irresistible siren song of Chakotay/Janeway. CW: mentions of suicidality, depression, light action/adventure violence This work is complete but, to complete the conceit, we get 1 ep each Thurs. Words: 13688, Chapters: 2/10, Language: English Series: Part 1 of ST:PIC That Respects All Trek Fandoms: Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Lower Decks (Cartoon), Star Trek: Prodigy Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: F/F, F/M, Gen, M/M Characters: Seven of Nine, Jean-Luc Picard, Elnor (Star Trek), Agnes Jurati, Cristóbal Rios, Soji Asha, Raffi Musiker, Teresa Ramirez, Worf (Star Trek:TNG/DS9), Liam Shaw, Kathryn Janeway, Chakotay (Star Trek), William Boimler, Julian Bashir, Miral Paris, Original Characters Relationships: Elnor & Jean-Luc Picard, Agnes Jurati & Jean-Luc Picard, Jean-Luc Picard & Seven of Nine, Raffi Musiker & Jean-Luc Picard, Elnor & Raffi Musiker, Agnes Jurati & Seven of Nine, Soji Asha & Agnes Jurati, Agnes Jurati & Teresa Ramirez, Teresa Ramirez & Seven of Nine, Soji Asha & Teresa Ramirez, Soji Asha & Seven of Nine, Soji Asha & Cristóbal Rios, Soji Asha & Jean-Luc Picard, Raffi Musiker & Cristóbal Rios, Raffi Musiker & Worf, Kathryn Janeway & Seven of Nine, Chakotay/Kathryn Janeway, Agnes Jurati/Cristóbal Rios, Cristóbal Rios/Teresa Ramirez, Raffi Musiker/Seven of Nine, Julian Bashir/Elim Garak Additional Tags: Fix-It, Canon Rewrite, Rewrite, United Federation of Planets (Star Trek), Section 31 (Star Trek), Maquis (Star Trek), The Borg, Klingon Species (Star Trek), The Three Musketeers - Freeform, Found Family, Alternate Season/Series 02

#Star Trek #DS9 #Deep Space Nine #Star Trek DS9 #ao3feed #fanfic

[hydrasaura]

Over the past years I've grown to be pretty snappy/irascible when it comes to people mindlessly hating/killing animals especially bugs and reptiles (not saying killing other animals without a reason doesn't make me angry but mammals and birds usually get more protection from people). Like I get/understand all the reasons why people are afraid or may have to do this (last week i had to kills like 20 spiders while cleaning an attic) but I can't stand this constant mindless hatred anymore. Maybe because I've grown tired of hearing these absurd motives over and over again (especially with reptiles) and witnessing this vehement refusal from the population (that HAS access to info) to get educated about at least the things that surround them. LIKE THE BARE MINIMUM. Especially in my country where we have like what? 2 mildly venomous snakes and no venomous arthropod besides wasps/hornets/bees? This is why to me srmthfg was such a breath of fresh air at the time because even though Gibson despises bugs (a fear that he /somewhat/ overcomes in the end), the show itself doesn't portray these animals as being horrible without a reason. Like in the Stranded Seven ep when they battle the mantidons and at the end it's revealed that SK turned them into monsters. Or Otto occasionally showing to be fascinated by them. idk, it's less annoying when you have a single character being like this and when they battle many different monsters not just ones that are bug-shaped

#i still love u gibson y_y as i said you're the only bug hater that gets a pass #altho i still find it kinda silly for a biologist/scientist to hate literally what makes up 90% of all living things on our planet #he gets a pass cuz he lives on an alien planet #but in a way it gives them a lot more character when they have some things surrounding their area of expertise that they do not like #or when they cover an area like how Otto is the mechanic but have interest in other things too like him liking other animals or cooking #it's rly neat i think

[doomedandstoned]

Swedish Stoner-Doom Trio OCKRA Air Melancholy Full-Length ‘Gratitude’

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

Artwork by Arjen Kunnen

Progressive doom meets dark rock and folk on the new album 'Gratitude' (2023) by Gothenburg's OCKRA. It would, of course, be tedious (if not impossible) to trace back the various strands of influence on the songs before us. As I stated in my review of their EP, 'Infinite Patterns' (2020):

It’s a bit tricky to draw a direct comparison between OCKRA and other acts. After all, it’s not often we hear a band attempt blending progressive rock with doom metal!

The name Ockra is not, as I briefly assumed, a reference to "okra" (that dreaded nemesis of my childhood, along with brussel sprouts), but rather "ocher" in the Swedish tongue. Ocher, that is, the color and substance of earth. Thus it is no surprise to find that Ockra's songs deal with earthly matters of the here-and-now, leading off with the track "Introspection," which preludes such songs as "Acceptance," "Tage Wie Dieser" ("Days Like This"), and "Tree I Planted." This is music that's meant to be intensely relatable.

"Weightless Again" starts as a straight-up garage rocker that features robust drumming from Jonas Nyström, bouncing about joyfully amidst stirring vocal harmonies and traditional doom riffage. The piece slows up and gets misty, with an aura of sadness at about three-minutes. I praised Cruthu for capturing a similar spirit on 'The Angle of Eternity' (2017), which takes a folk-like approach to writing doom. As the song crescendos, confidence rises, and we return to the peppiness of the beginning, but the atmosphere is still bittersweet, and the chorus remains psychologically piercing. The vibe is "things will get better, just keep hanging on" -- or, to quote the song, you'll be weightless again.

"Tree I Planted" is singer-songwriter fare that hints at the old country and western tradition. If you like the songs that Alice in Chains singer Jerry Cantrell writes, this one is a cinch. Alex Spielhaupter's vocals are earnest, with a serious metallic edge, and get bluesy at times, backed by guest vocalist Stefanie Spielhaupter.

Fourth track "Acceptance" is bound to find its way onto a "Metal Classics" playlist one of these days. From the opening riff on, guitarist Erik Björnlinger had me hooked. The vocals are dark like Pentagram, moody like Goodeye, producing a bonafide earworm of a chorus. The song is thoughtfully structured, took, with a bridge of overlapping voices that brings The Byrds to mind.

The folk influence really shines through on the next track, "We, Who Didn't Know." What might have found life as a two-minute interlude, gets fleshed out into a full-fledged seven-minute song. After a soft vocal introduction (which references "Weightless Again"), the balance shifts to a largely instrumental portion. The whole feel for me was one of daisy-lit hills, until the band goes full metallic at the four-minute mark. Again, Ockra goes for grand, with a crescendo and a full-on rush of soundwaves launching an impassioned chorus, finishing with the solitary note of the guitar.

"Imorgon Här" ("Tomorrow Here") follows, and while the title is in Swedish, the lyrics are still in English. The song is has got an upbeat, bluesy tempo (not unlike Graveyard), but the strength of Ockra's harmonic singing distinguishes them here in a way that is simply magical.

"Tage Wie Dieser" ("Days Like This") is sung entirely in Swedish. Personally, I love when bands include a song or two in their native tongue. If you approach vocals as just another instrument in the band (rather than someone telling you how to think or feel about the song), you may find you appreciate the experience all the more. Here the vocal harmonies are consoling and heavenly.

Suffice it to say, there were things that grabbed me upon first listen (namely "Acceptance"), but the second spin turned out to be even more meaningful, probably because the material was more familiar and I could lean into the songs more comfortably.

Look for Ockra's Gratitude on Friday, May 26th, releasing digitally and on compact disc on Argonauta Records (pre-order here). Stick it on a playlist with Young Hunter, Dunbarrow, and Asteroid.

Give ear...

LISTEN: Ockra - 'Gratitude' (2023)

SOME BUZZ

The band OCKRA arose in early 2018 in Gothenburg from what was left of the stoner doom band Sulphur Dreams. With a strong desire to stretch musical barriers away from what is known as classic stoner or doom metal, the trio around Jonas Nyström, Erik Björnlinger and Alex Spielhaupter set out to develop their songwriting skills and find their own style under the new name OCKRA. The band has a wide range of influences from metal to folk, americana and jazz.

The first EP with four songs was self-recorded in a 'DIY' spirit at the home studio in Onsala during spring/summer 2019 (with guest singer Ammy from EPA/Lastkaj14) and was released in March 2020 via Argonauta Records a week before the first lockdown put everything on hold.

The songs were well received by the media and the reviews in online and print magazines turned out very positive. As an example, the EP got 12 out 15 points in Germany's largest print magazine for extreme metal "Legacy."

Gratitude by OCKRA

 Infinite Patterns by OCKRA

During the summer of 2021, the trio went out to the little village Hesedorf near Hamburg to record their debut album 'Gratitude' together with Peter Voigtmann (The Ocean Collective, Heads.) at his studio "Die Mühle" (the mill).

The calm environment and the nature around made it possible to go into a state of creative isolation. That may have had an impact on the music, which now has more elements of singer-songwriter and folk music.

The lyrics have been written in the shade of the pandemic and severe illnesses amongst close friends and family members in this period. Writing these very personal lyrics has been some kind of therapeutic and despite the severeness of the topics they are meant to provide a glimpse of hope.

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#D&S Debuts #Ockra #progressive doom #folk #dark rock #Argonauta Records #D&S Reviews #Doomed and Stoned

[the-nextavatar]

simone’s meeting Ep.2

She pulled off the highway, seven minutes away from the meeting spot. Excitement billowed through her as thoughts of the destination brought back memories that hadn’t been visited in quite a while. She always loved the gorge, and wished it was summer so that they could swim. Her jean jacket was definitely a good move for today; at least they would be a little sheltered in the trees.

Jitters crawled through her again and she smirked. Why was she so nervous?

Pulling into an open spot in the lot, she let out a soft sigh. Here we go, she thought, pulling the mirror down to take a final look at her face. The bags under her eyes were very noticeable, but she thought nothing of it. Having trouble sleeping wasn’t worth being embarrassed over. She tossed her hair once more and pushed the mirror up, turning to peer around her to see if she could spot Theo. She caught eyes watching her from a blue truck a few spots over, and her breath caught when a grin drew itself across their face. How long had he been sitting there? She fumbled to turn the car off and open the door; it felt like it took much longer than it actually did. When she stood up and turned to close the door, she saw him standing outside his truck with his hands in his pale red jacket pockets, the grin still holding its place on his face. She smiled back, and trotted around her car to reach him.

“Slow motion, like we said!” she called, and they both changed their briskness into silly animated slow movements, until they were inches from each other and couldn’t help but break it. His arms enclosed around her tightly, and he squeezed her with more ferocity than she expected; she couldn’t help but return the affection, and she realized how deeply it touched her to be received this way. They stood like that for a long moment, and she let it fill her completely. “Hi Theo,” she said softly, and found herself bringing her face closer to his neck, timidly breathing in his scent, like it was something completely new (which it kinda was, considering how long it had been).

“Hello Simone,” he murmured, his voice deep and filled with warmth. She felt him reciprocate her movements, and nestle his head closer to hers; she heard a deep inhale emit from his nose and mouth- was he smelling her too? And why did it feel so comfortable? More like, how? It had been so long. She was the first to pull away, and that was when she really looked up and saw him. His skin was a warm golden brown, clearly kissed by recent sun. His hair was the same light brown, with soft white tips on the front strands.

His eyes were what made her stare the longest. Dark grey-ish blue rings circling deep turquoise blues that reminded her of the gorge in the summer, with soft orange-gold tints around the pupils. Long, full eyelashes curled upwards around them, and subtle crow feet in the corners as he smiled down at her made her eyes dart to her hands, cheeks flushing quickly. “It’s good to see you,” she said, looking up again. So much happiness flowed through her, and she realized that it wasn’t just hers that she was feeling.

“I know! I can’t believe it,” he suddenly leaned in to hug her again, filling Simone with surprise once more. She hadn’t expected Theo to be this excited to see her, but she accepted the second hug with a soft sigh. Once again, she felt a surge of emotion that did not seem to be hers. Delight, was it? Did he hear her sigh like that?

She pulled away first again. “So, where shall we begin?” she asked, still smiling. She realized she hadn’t looked up at him like this the last time they saw each other, and she liked the feeling of it. “Would you like to walk first? Or should we get something to eat?” Theo pondered for a moment. “I wouldn’t mind grabbing some food, I haven’t eaten lunch yet,” he said. Simone nodded. “I haven’t eaten yet today, so that’s okay with me.” His eyes narrowed slightly for a second, and he brushed her arm with his hand. “Well, let’s fix that then.” He gestured to his truck and they hopped inside.

“So, how have you been?” Theo asked as they settled into the grey cushioned seats. She buckled and turned to answer, and found his eyes waiting. They began to search her face with interest. She felt herself start to blush and looked down, then out the window as she answered. “Oh, you know, alright mostly. Just trying to roll with the punches. That’s all anyone can do, really.” When she turned to meet his eyes again, they were still smiling at her. “Yes,” he laughed, “you’re right.”

“What about you?” she asked quickly, already embarrassed about her answer. “Pretty much the same,” he said, starting the truck. He threw his arm around to look behind him as they backed up, and turned to shift and make their way out of the lot. They agreed on a market that she loved right down the street, and as they drove she observed his profile. His jawline made her wish she brought her sketchbook along; damn, he really filled out. He seemed to notice her staring and turned to glance at her, smiling again.

“I really missed you,” she blurted, and immediately kicked herself inside. What made her say that, like that? “I missed you too,” he replied softly, his right hand moving to rest on her leg for a moment. “I like what you did to your hair.” This made her smile bigger. “Thank you, I’ve never had it this short. Just decided a couple months ago. But I like it too.”

“Not many people can pull it off, but I think it looks great on you,” he glanced at her again, and she dipped her head. “Thank you for saying that,” she murmured. “Definitely a test on my self confidence, but this seems to fit me best right now.” “Why’s that?” he asked, and they pulled into the lot at the market. “Well, I’m currently in the midst of an existential crisis,” she admitted (and oddly enough without feeling ashamed for saying that), “so I’m trying to reshape myself and figure it out.” She laughed at that, and Theo chuckled too. “Well, I respect that approach,” he replied, “always fun to try new things.” The truck came to a stop in the first open spot that they found, and Simone shrugged and gave him a sideways glance. “They always say to try to live a little, so why not?”

When Theo smiled at that, she realized how much she enjoyed looking at it. Shaking her head at that thought, she opened the door and hopped out of the truck. “Let’s go!” she said, beckoning with her hand. Theo turned to open his door and hop out too, and they walked to the entrance with their arms brushing. Simone pretended to use “the force” to open the automatic door (like a fucking LOSER), and Theo played into it, acting amazed at her imaginary skill. They entered the store giggling, and she felt warm energy surrounding her, with hints of deeper heat hiding their meanings

#short stories #writers on tumblr #female writers #sadgirl #heartbreak #writers and readers #mind games #short fiction #realistic fiction

[sweetcircuits]

requested by anon → Otto and the kitten

#srmthfg #srmthg #super robot monkey team hyperforce go #otto #ep: the stranded seven #they make such a good little team #and they're so cute i love them so much #every one of their interactions is so precious ahhh #ty for the request! #gifs i made

[biffhofosho]

Succumbing to Sybaris | Chapter Twenty-Five

Word Count: 12.3k

A/N: This took a bit longer than I’d planned to edit, but maybe that’s in part because I don’t want to let go. Final chapter, everyone, with only an epilogue to follow. Proceed with caution. This one’s long and very heavy.

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“Let her go.”

Amber would know that curt, gruff voice anywhere.

Shownu.

Hope blossomed in her heart as she whirled around and looked up to the cliff ledge behind the building to find a strand of the most beautiful faces she’d ever seen. All seven brothers flanked the stone courtyard from above, Shownu and Wonho anchoring the ends with their massive size while the rest of the brothers watched Kai’s lackeys prowl the perimeter of the building—except Hyungwon, who kept his eyes solely on Amber.

Hyungwon took a step toward the ledge, and she charged toward him, but a taloned hand closed around her wrist and yanked her back so hard, she clattered on her knees against the stone.

“If it isn’t the self-proclaimed Lords of Portland. Choi’s illustrious sons show their faces after all,” declared Kai with a quiver at the edge of his mouth. “And, here, I’d wasted my last sliver of respect for you on the thought that you’d conceded your role in all this, but I shouldn’t be surprised at this point. All the same, you miscreants have some nerve showing up here after your repeated failures and blatant disobedience. If I didn’t hate you so much, I’d almost be impressed.”

“We just want the detective back,” Hyungwon continued. “Let her go, and you’ll never have to see us again.”

Kai laughed bitterly. “Now, I am impressed. After feeding me lies for a decade and then outright opposing me, you dictate terms? Let me propose a counter-offer: get out of my sight this second or face the end of your bloodline.”

Kai’s minions closed in on the terrace and hillside, baring their teeth like dogs, but the brothers paid them no attention. They were focused on the woman in the gold dress who was now tucked against Kai’s side.

Hyungwon took another step forward and plummeted from the cliff, landing in the cramped stone building with the softness of a cat. His brothers followed next, each one landing with the same grace and only the crunch of glass underfoot to herald their arrival.

All but Hyungwon sported their vampire masks, but instead of conjuring terror in Amber’s heart, they conjured joy. She thrashed in Kai’s grip as shock echoed in her voice. “You’re here!”

“Of course,” Wonho said with a slick smile.

“We’ll always come for you,” assured Shownu.

“You shouldn’t have,” Kai laughed. “It’s the last thing you’ll ever do.”

If the brothers were nervous, they didn’t show it. They stood tall, shoulders broad and fists clenched, with nothing to betray their cold determination. When they stepped forward, it was in perfect unison, and the moment they did, Kai dragged Amber back with him.

“That’s far enough,” he warned. “I just promised my sweet Ambrosia I would let her little lost lambs go home. Don’t force my hand and make me break my word. You know she’d never forgive you.”

Minhyuk hissed, and Amber’s eyes darted toward him. She barely recognized him. Gone was the friendly puppy with the bright gaze and open smile. Instead, a stranger with serpent eyes and fangs to match rubbed his hands together greedily as he sized up his enemies. There was a meanness to his movements, more beast than man, and it made her tremble. Jooheon laid a hand on his friend’s shoulder, but whatever battle lust had overtaken the charming photographer had turned him into a barely-contained weapon.

Kai, too, sized up his opponents. His grip on her arm bruised as every last muscle tensed along his frame. He coiled like a caged snake, and she knew his strike would be even more devastating. The vampire raised his hand, fingers ready to snap.

At the last second, Amber grabbed Kai’s wrist and squeezed. He froze, his eyes lingering on hers before sliding down to her fingers curled around him.

“Please don’t,” she begged.

“Shouldn’t you be saying that to them?” he growled.

“But you’re the one with the power here, so I’m asking you. Please don’t do this.”

Kai glanced from her hand, still clutching his wrist, to the seven interlopers storming his crumbling castle, and he sighed. “My love has begged me for mercy for you, and she shall have it for as long as I can contain my composure. That means you have five minutes to say your piece before I unleash hell.”

Hyungwon stalled his brothers as he took a step forward alone. Kai’s arm tightened around Amber’s waist while her hand tightened around his wrist. Everyone was holding back what tension they could before the powder keg blew and leveled them all.

“Your Grace,” Hyungwon began without so much as a hint of irony, but Kai cut him off with a snarl.

“We’re well past formalities, aren’t we, Hyungwon? Don’t patronize me one second longer.”

“You’re right. It’s simple: we’re here to take Amber home.”

The detective expected Kai to blow up or lunge forward, but he didn’t move a muscle, not in his arms, not in his jaw.

Hyungwon obviously expected the same, but after a moment, he realized he was expected to continue, so he added, “We love her. We only want to protect her.”

“Hm.”

Kai’s delicate hum startled everyone more than if he’d exploded. His hand moved from Amber’s hourglass to her neck as he turned her attention fully to him. The vampire smiled down at her, his thumb stroking her cheek.

“And you don’t think I want the same?” he said with his gaze bound firmly to his gilded vessel.

Hyungwon took another step forward, and if Amber believed for a second that she had Kai distracted, that belief was dashed instantly. The vampire swiveled, eyes narrow and glinting furiously, and talons long and pointed at his challenger. But Hyungwon didn’t even blink as he answered, “I think you want to protect her the way a child protects his toy from other kids on the playground.”

Kai sneered. “You and your ham-handed brothers have always been far too narrow-minded to see anything beyond your little kingdom on the hill. The world is our kingdom now, Ambrosia’s and mine, and together, we will rule over everything in it. She’s not a toy. She’s my wife.”

“She isn’t, and she never will be,” spat Jooheon, and this time it was Kihyun holding the young punk back.

“That’s neither your choice nor is it mine. It’s already written, you little whelp, here in a riddle older than you are. Ambrosia was always destined for me, and you were always destined to fail—the only difference is, you kept failing. Over and over again. You failed me. Even now, you fail to understand the simplest things.”

“Like you’re mad with revenge against our family?” said Changkyun.

“You don’t get it. I gave you every opportunity to make amends!” Kai boomed. “I put Ambrosia in your path so when you met her, you could tell me at last that you’d found the One. But what did you do? You touched her. You kissed her. You turned her heart against me. Things could have been so different—they could have gone back to the good old days instead of all this foolishness. We could have been allies again! That’s what I wanted. Every choice you made against me changed the course of our destinies. You’ve disappointed me yet again… for the last time. I have been merciful far longer than anyone has a right to be, but it’s clear there’s no redeeming you just like there was no redeeming that duplicitous sire of yours.”

“Where is Seunghyun?” demanded Kihyun.

“Where he should be: at the bottom of a crevasse with a silver stake in his chest.”

“You’re lying!” screamed Jooheon. “He was your only friend. You wouldn’t.”

“He was, and you’re right, I didn’t. Why would I dirty these hands when I knew my Ambrosia would soon have to feel them?” Kai jerked Amber in front of him like a shield, and she lost her grip on his wrist. She knew then, without a hold on him, she’d lost the battle. Now, all-out war was the only outcome. Kai’s arms wound around her, one at her neck and the other sheltering her belly. In a voice cold as steel, he added, “That’s what my subjects are for.”

Even without Kai’s usual beckoning snap, out of the shadows oozed a creature so revolting, Amber winced. His face was pocked and bubbled like the surface of a volcanic moon, cysts weeping dark rivers across clay-like pits and fissures, with only one human eye to look remorsefully through the nightmare. The rest of his skin was mottled like rain-stained leather all the way down to his hooked claws, more dinosaur than human.

“What the fuck…” whispered Changkyun.

Minhyuk slipped into a runner’s stance, those keen, bloodthirsty eyes trained on the monster before them. Still, Jooheon held him back, but even across the terrace, Amber could see how he strained against his brother’s grip.

“This is what a loyal subject looks like,” proclaimed Kai. “Isn’t he beautiful? My avenging angel. My harbinger. Junmyeon understands what must be done to protect Destiny in ways you greedy bastards never could.”

The reality of the horror show before the brothers seemed to sink in all at once. Their gazes shifted as much as their feet, and for a second, Amber thought they would retreat, but Hyungwon caught her gaze, and there was no surrender in his eyes this time. She wasn’t sure which she was more scared of.

“That’s enough,” she said, and all eyes shot to her. She wrestled out of Kai’s hold and glared at him with every ounce of resentment she could muster. “If you cared about me at all like you pretend to, you would let me go back to them. It’s where I want to be. It’s where I belong.”

If she thought she could reach the man inside the devil, she was sorely mistaken. Kai humored her with a crooked grin and shook his head.

“My little Chalice thinks just because she can’t be hypnotized that she can’t be brainwashed either, but I’ve watched first-hand as you groomed her. She’s so naïve, isn’t she?” He hummed as his hand glossed over her shoulders. “She hasn’t even lived three decades. She doesn’t know. She hasn’t seen. A little behavior modification, and you’ve got her salivating like a dog for you. Now, she thinks that is what real love is. It’s unacceptable. It’s unforgivable.”

“Listen to her, Kai,” Hyungwon stressed. “You can’t make her happy.”

“And you can’t fucking tell me what I have to give!” he boomed. “Ambrosia will have the world. She will have everything she could ever want. She will have a family of her own again, and she will have me. Time will help her see how you’ve twisted her against me.

“Speaking of time, Chae Hyungwon, yours is well since passed up, which is interesting because so has my patience. If you have something worthwhile to say, I suggest you say it now because this is your last chance.”

“We’re not leaving without Amber,” was all he replied.

This time Kai laughed, full and satisfied, as though it was the best joke he’d ever heard. “Wonderful, since I never planned on letting you leave at all.”

The vampire cinched his arm around Amber’s waist and tugged her with him as he eased out of the central room to the terrace space. This time, Kai did snap his fingers, and it wasn’t just the patchwork monster inching deeper into the building but a whole army of vampires, some beautiful, some twisted with various marks of devilry. Even the waiters and violinist were there now, this time without their professional indifference.

“Don’t do this,” she begged, but Kai just offered her a compassionate glance.

“Their spell will be broken soon enough, my sweet.”

“Stop this. Stop it now. This is fucking insane, and I will never forgive you. Never. I will never, ever give you what you want.”

“Ambrosia, try and see it from my point of view,” he said gently. “They’ve already proven they can’t walk away. Do you honestly think those fools will ever give you up? I wouldn’t. You understand that, don’t you? All those years searching for the truth of what happened to your sister. We’re so alike. We can’t let things go, even when we know it’s bad for us. They’re bad for you, my dove. They’re a cavity. We have to drill deeper, make it hurt more, before everything gets so much better.”

“You monster,” she spat.

Amber looked at her would-be saviors, braced for battle, and bitterness swelled in her heart. All this power Kai thought she had, and yet there was nothing she could do. People were going to die, and she would have to watch it all. She had to fight back—she always fought back—but everything felt so hopeless.

“Remember,” hissed Kihyun to his brothers as he raised a clawed hand, “incapacitate only. No kills.”

“They won’t spare you the same courtesy,” Kai reminded, but they ignored the bait. With a surprisingly sober face, the vampire added, “Before we cast our lots, I want you to know with all sincerity that before you broke my heart, I was very grateful for your service.”

“I think we have one more disappointment to hand you first,” Jooheon challenged.

“That’s always possible knowing your family. I'll place my bet on Hyunwoo as the last to die. Who's yours, Ambrosia?”

“You,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Good thing you didn't bet any money,” Kai teased.

The air was electric, and every hair on Amber's body stood up. Kai’s men held their line, daring the brothers to light the powder keg. Minhyuk was shifting heavily from foot to foot though Changkyun did his best to soothe his brother. Wonho and Shownu still anchored their front while Hyungwon kept center guard and stared down the unearthly horror that was the dragon man. Both were still as statues, neither betraying himself with so much as a blink.

Kai squeezed Amber playfully and whispered, “If I still had breath, I’d be holding it.”

Suddenly, the brothers charged forward with growls and snarls except for Minhyuk, who zipped into the fray with only the glint of his fangs and the ravenous whites of his eyes to signal his attack.

“Jooheon, watch your brother!” Hyunwoo shouted, and the flame-tipped punk darted after the wild man she barely recognized.

The two sides collided like wild animals, biting and snapping and slashing. Blood splattered the walls in morbid graffiti, but there was no way to tell where it came from.

Kai vibrated beside her. His eyes were wide, and his tongue roved at the corner of his mouth. His fangs dripped down like icicles between his bitter cold smile. Every ounce of his being was captivated by the clash unfolding before them.

And that was all Amber needed to spur her to action.

She hooked her hand around one of his fingers at her waist and jerked backward until she heard a sickening crack and a stunned yelp. Kai dropped his arm from her to clutch at his wrist, but she didn’t spare a look. She was already bounding down the mossy stairs onto the path and into the woods as fast as her legs could carry her.

Her window of time was tiny. Amber knew he would heal quickly the same way she also knew she would never make it out of the woods, but that wasn’t what this was about.

Shouts rang out from the building behind her, battle cries and cracks and smashes rounding out the symphony of combat with one booming tenor to overshadow it all.

“Bring her back!”

Faster and faster, Amber drove her dead legs up the hilly terrain. The path was still muddy in parts, and her sandals clotted and slid, but it didn’t matter. The more distance she covered, the better.

Somewhere behind her, she heard a mocking peal of laughter, not Kai’s but somehow familiar. It only spurred her feet faster. She couldn’t see anyone behind her, but she knew they weren't letting her go. If anything, they were amusing themselves with her head start.

Beneath her, the slope gave way, and Amber clawed onto any root or fern she could find. Her fingernails tore and splinters pierced the meat of her palms. At the top of the hill, she flopped onto the ground, but there was no time to catch her breath. She was up and racing again. Her lungs felt like fire and her throat closed like a fist, but she managed to make it all the way back to the mossy bridge before she felt the shift.

Something zipped to her left and then to her right. Bullets, she thought, but then Amber saw two shadows deeper than the night. Kai's cronies stepped forward as though they’d been waiting for her for hours. Both showcased wolfish grins and hands on hips, and she realized she recognized them from the vampire club.

“Hello again, beautiful,” simpered Taeyong, who was still sporting his leather jacket. He bowed mockingly, but it charged Amber with a sense of purpose.

“Don’t you remember the rules, boys? Out of my way,” she ordered. “By order of the Portland Police Bureau.”

Their smiles broadened.

“‘Fraid that’s out of the question, honeyblood,” said Doyoung.

Taeyong waggled a finger as he closed in, a hook in his smile. “This time we’re not allowed to let you go.”

“So unless you’re hiding a silver stake in that pussy of yours, seems you’re out of credible threats, baby.”

Amber narrowed her eyes at them, steel in her gaze instead. She turned her hand into a claw and poised it over her forearm, nails already biting into her skin. “Come any closer, and I’ll tell Kai you did it.”

The pair exchanged looks, and while they didn’t back away, they didn’t move any closer.

“Lot of hot, tasty blood under here,” she promised. “Think you’d be able to stop yourself from sucking the honey out of these veins?”

Taeyong licked his lips while Doyoung ground his thumb against his fang.

“But how do you think the boss you’ve been kissing up to will react when he finds out you marked up his woman and took from him? You’ve seen that monster he carts around with him. That thing would wear your murders like new tattoos.”

“Maybe, but if we let you leave, he’d kill us, too,” replied the cat-eyed vampire with a brow raised.

Amber nodded. “So where’s that leave us?”

Taeyong shrugged. “Right here until the boss joins us, I guess.”

“Not good enough.” Her nails dug deeper into her arm, and she winced ahead of the next round of pain.

“I know what you’re doing,” Doyoung said.

“I don’t think your feeble little minds could figure it out,” Amber retorted.

He propped himself on his elbows against the railing and sniffed a laugh. “You know you can’t escape, but that’s not what you’re worried about, is it? You think if you get far enough away and draw enough attention, it’ll lighten the load on those holier-than-thou fangfaces of yours.”

She blinked, honestly shocked. Amber hadn’t expected them to see through her diversion so quickly. She was going to argue, but there was no point when they could hear her heart stutter-step.

Doyoung smiled. “But there are two problems with your plan. Number one, His Grace hates those brothers almost as much as he cares about you, and number two? Wherever you go, those pathetic puppies will follow, and it sounds to me like they’re already on their way…”

Amber trained her ears into the tunnel of darkness, and sure enough, she heard the faint sounds of roars and crashes edging closer and closer.

“Well, girly,” Taeyong said with a matching grin, “what’s your next play?”

With eyes of ice and a heart black with fury, she answered, “I’ll see you both in hell.”

The next thing any of them knew, Amber had gouged long troughs down her skin that quickly welled with blood. Both vampires’ eyes flashed brilliant predatory golds, and she returned their smug grins with one of her own. She dragged her fingertips through the puddling blood and smeared it in a flash across their faces before she screamed at the top of her lungs.

“Jongin!”

The pair of vampires barely had enough time to widen their eyes before Kai descended seemingly from the trees beside her. Amber grabbed his side, burying her face in his shoulder as she presented her weeping forearm to him.

Kai took one look from the gashes in her soft skin to his subjects’ blood-smeared lips, and with only a snap, he brought his avenging angel to his side. While she was grateful the monster wasn’t back there squaring off with her boys anymore, she knew what his presence meant, and it gave Amber more than enough reason to keep her face buried.

Shrieks and wails pierced the night and her heart. Ripping, tearing, begging. It was all too close, almost on top of her. Cold mist sprayed her skin, and she knew without looking that it wasn’t from the little rapids under the bridge. Kai held her fast, and for once, she was grateful for it.

Something inhuman, primal, and disgusting gurgled behind her. There was a groan and a retch and a long squelch like wet taffy being pulled, and when her curiosity got the better of her, Amber peeked over Kai’s shoulder. All it took was one glance at the dragon man’s new leathery, shredded wings for it to imprint on her nightmares forever.

In a low voice, Kai said to the creature, “Get rid of their bodies, and when it’s done, there was a third who joined with them. Remove him before he becomes a problem, too.”

Revulsion washed through Amber strong enough to bring bile to her throat. What had she done? What was she becoming? A sick part of her soul purred up from the abyss inside her...

You’re becoming like him.

“Sweetheart, you’re trembling,” said Kai into her hair. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you anywhere else?”

Amber was too numb to answer. She shook her head, but he pushed her back so he could study her. His eyes shined like lamps as they roved over her, settling finally on her wound. He tore a strip from the hem of her dress and rolled it tightly over her arm before tying it closed.

“You can’t run off again,” Kai said quietly. “They’ll smell you even stronger now, and it would be a shame to lose any more soldiers.”

If he knew about her ruse, he didn’t say anything about it. Using his jacket sleeve, he wiped the blood splatter from her cheeks, and, with his lips to her forehead, he said, “I’m happy you called for me.”

Amber told herself it was a necessary means to an end, but her gut wouldn’t let her forget—it had felt right. She didn’t know what that meant, and she didn’t want to know, but it didn’t matter either way. The battle she’d been dreading had made its way to her at last.

This wasn’t like any gang shooting or a hostage situation she’d ever been a part of. This was war and it was terrifying. Screams and yowls and rage and pain echoed in the cathedral of trees. Bodies flew through the air too fast for Amber to tell who was who. She had no idea if all of her lovers had survived, and part of her was too terrified to check.

“It’ll all be over soon,” Kai said as he rubbed her back. His fingertips generated waves of foreboding and something much darker with every pass they made over her naked shoulders. He ignored the battlefield entirely in favor of tracing the wave of her collarbone with his other hand, but Amber couldn’t turn off the clanging of combat between her ears.

There was another squeal, this one gurgling upward from the depths of hell, and she knew the creature had found the last of the trio from Empusa. All too quickly, her planned diversion was over, and now the monster had even more terrifying appendages as it lumbered back toward the fray.

“Hoseok, on your left!” screamed Jooheon.

Just in time, Wonho hefted up a fallen tree trunk and hurled it at the winged monstrosity. It fell back into the creek, struggling to right itself under the weight of its sopping wings and brand-new horns.

“Hyungwon, behind!” Wonho warned as he righted himself and charged toward the enemy closing in on the tallest brother, who was already locked in a power struggle with another tall, elven-looking vampire.

Wonho bulldozed the other guy to the floor while Shownu picked up another and launched him through the air.

The next thing Amber knew, Kai was flying backward behind the weight of the body Shownu had hurled, and she was in her partner’s arms, skyrocketing up the goat path to toward the top of the trail. Trees whizzed by so fast they melted into blobs, and fresh air raced into her lungs.

“I’m so fucking glad to see you,” she said, burying her face into his neck and inhaling his comforting scent. “I’m sorry! I thought I could give you more time, and I just fucked it up worse like always.”

“Spiros, it’s okay. If you hadn’t, Changkyun might not have made it. That thing had him dead-to-rights, maybe all of us.”

“God, I was so worried I lost you. Is everyone okay?”

“I’m not sure for how much longer. Kai has twenty soldiers, and they’re all willing to kill. Damnit,” he cursed as he noticed her arm. “There’s no way to hide with that wound leaving a scent trail. We’ll just have to wait for the others to catch up. This should be a good enough tactical position. I'll keep an eye up. You watch below. They should be here soon.”

“How can you tell?”

Shownu glowered at her. “You can't hear them?”

Sure enough, Amber trained her ears down in the canyon, and over the rush of the creek, even over the roar of combat, she heard the bickering.

“Damnit, Honey, I said west!” groaned Kihyun. “No, your other west!”

“You try navigating with a feral puppy on your leash and a bloodsucker on your back,” came the bitter retort.

Amber’s heart swelled even as the screams grew nearer. Since the terrain became rockier and steeper, the battle tapered down with Kai’s lackeys regrouping elsewhere. Shownu didn’t stop manning his post even as his six brothers ascended the path in a single-file line, which suited her just fine since it offered her a buffet line of hugs, each man overjoyed to see her until, finally, the last brother reached her.

“Hyungwon,” she cried, throwing herself into his arms.

He squeezed her to him and whispered, “Thank god.”

“I missed you so much. I dreamt about you.”

Hyungwon nuzzled his cheek on the top of her head. “We know. Another minute, and we would have been able to track you.”

“But you found me.”

“It’s hard to miss the stink of Kai’s unwashed masses.”

“I thought you let me go,” Amber sobbed against his chest. “I thought you didn’t care anymore.”

Hyungwon tilted her face up sharply and in a low voice, he scolded, “How could you think that? How could you ever think we’d let you go?”

“Back at the house—”

“I had no choice,” he explained. “I needed my brothers and a plan. Otherwise, I’d have lost in minutes. You think I’d leave you in that devil’s hands?”

“You might not have a choice.”

“There is always a choice, and we'll always choose you.”

Amber gave him a quick kiss on the lips before she turned her smile on the others. “So, what's this plan?”

“We just need to stall for a little more time—” Kihyun said.

“We don't have it!” Shownu shouted. “Incoming!”

Just then, two vampires drifted down from the ledge above onto the path and immediately charged the closest targets.

“Where the hell are they?” groused Changkyun as he leveled a punch in a vampire face.

“The police?” Amber asked, but it was drowned out by the crack of bone.

“They said they’d come. They’ll come,” Hyungwon replied as he tossed the challenger over the cliff edge.

“Shit, they sure are taking their time,” Jooheon whined as another challenger entered the fray. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep Min leashed. He’s so annoying when he goes full beserker.”

“He’s always annoying,” Kihyun corrected as he followed Hyungwon’s lead and tossed the latest offender over, too.

Jooheon groaned. “Shit, where'd he go?”

Even with their keen eyesight, the brothers barely had time to notice before Minhyuk, who had flattened himself along the cliff face, sprang like a lion, talons extended and face still as stone, at the first enemy to pass in front of him. He slashed at the other vampire’s arm with his right hand, then his left, before his right returned and tore the appendage clean off. It fell to the ground with a thud and twitched in the dirt as Minhyuk casually kicked it off the ledge along with the man to whom it belonged.

“Next?” Minhyuk said, his voice wild with manic laughter.

“What’s wrong with him?” Amber worried.

“His bloodlust has taken hold,” Kihyun answered, fear evident in his voice for the very first time she could remember. “When Minhyuk senses a fight, he can’t control it, and that blood of yours isn’t helping. If someone doesn’t hold him back, he’ll kill every person here.”

“We have to get out of here,” Wonho agreed.

The thought of her beautiful Minhyuk ending up like the twisted creature Kai wielded as a weapon nearly broke Amber in half.

“There’s a parking lot right above us,” she said. “Maybe there’s a car there?”

Shownu sniffed the air and sighed. “Kai’s already up there.”

“Fuck,” growled Wonho.

Minhyuk, however, didn’t seem to care. He was already scrambling up the rockface before Jooheon grabbed his brother around his neck and strangled him back, but it didn’t stop the white-haired photographer. Minhyuk wriggled free and pushed back toward the hill.

Amber dove forward and gripped his sharp cheeks between her hands and squeezed as she begged, “Minhyuk, stop! Look at me! Stop!”

His nose was twitching now, so near her fresh wound, and saliva dripped from his fangs. His mouth opened wide before he lunged toward her bandage, and she screamed.

A split second before he could bite her, their eyes met, and she saw brilliant golds dancing with the fiery reds of hate in their depths.

“Damnit, Spiros, get back!” Shownu warned as he raced to break them up, but Amber shook her head.

Minhyuk’s fangs grazed the blood-soaked fabric around her arm, but his gaze held hers as she said, “It’s okay. I trust him. I trust you, Min, remember? I trust you.”

As she caressed Minhyuk’s face, she watched the angry ridges that transformed him into rage incarnate soften back into his ever-sharp but elegant beauty once again. All too slowly, the fire in Minhyuk’s eyes tempered to simmering coals, but Amber knew she was reaching him.

“If he can’t control it, why would you bring him?” she snapped at the others.

“We didn’t,” Changkyun insisted. “Min’s a wild card. Kihyun even put extra wards on the doors and windows to keep him home. Nobody expected him to break through the walls.”

“Missed you,” the beserker managed as he nuzzled his cheek against her hand. “Save you.”

“We all have to get out of here in onc piece for you to do that,” she said with a quick kiss to his forehead. “I need you to stay with us, okay, Min baby?”

“Then we should get going,” Kihyun added. “We’ve divided their forces as long as we could, but the ones we tossed over will be regaining their strength soon, and if they regroup, I’m not sure we’ll have the energy to hold out.”

“Let’s move,” Hyungwon said. “Hyunwoo, take point. Everyone else, eyes up as well as down. Don’t forget the trees. They have the high ground, so they’ll see us coming. Watch out for a bottleneck.”

As their line crested the last leg of the trail toward the exit, Shownu shouted, and the next thing anyone knew, he’d been hurled through the sky and vanished somewhere in the meadow above, leaving only the imposing shape of Kai’s winged vanguard.

“Hyunwoo!” Amber screamed. She pushed past Changkyun, but he caught her arm and held her back. She glared at him, but he looked instead to Kihyun.

Amber had never seen the lawyer look so fierce. His eyes were narrowed to glowing slits, and his mouth was set in the same grim line. With just a flick of his head, all of the brothers shifted their attention to the top of the hill as though they all shared his same thought.

Changkyun scooped up Amber into a basket of his arms, and in perfect synchronization, the brothers bent their knees and sprang upward. The moment their feet touched the grass, a dozen fanged soldiers charged for them, but the brothers were ready. They pivoted like gates, swinging to the side to let their attackers fall over the ledge, and in the seconds they disappeared, the men used the opportunity to gain more traction on solid ground.

Changkyun dropped Amber between Wonho and himself as they slashed and bit at the trio of lumbering pale-faced vampires that threatened to overwhelm them. Meanwhile, the bloodlust had clouded Minhyuk’s eyes once again, and he was on all fours, charging at the elvish soldier who was back again along with the now one-armed guy Minhyuk had thrown into the canyon. At the edge of the battlefield, Hyungwon and Kihyun were battling Kai’s monster, but their knees were buckling under the weight of his fists, and Jooheon looked on terrified as his heart was pulled in multiple directions.

“Go to them!” Amber screamed. “I’ve got Min.”

Jooheon nodded and charged full-force at those gruesome wings, slashing hard enough to call its attention from his brothers.

There was still no sign of Shownu, and her heart hammered wildly as she searched every shadow. Instead, at the edge of the field, Amber found the lithe, graceful shape of the mastermind of all the carnage. Even in the dark, his smile glowed. All around him, chaos reigned. His army was unceasing and unprincipled. They were unstoppable. They were winning.

And Kai reveled in it.

Amber looked to her lovers, each one flagging under the weight of an enemy they could neither kill nor outrun. They were out of energy, they were out of room, and they were out of time.

She closed her eyes and volleyed every last ounce of hope into the sky as she begged for a miracle.

Please. Please save them.

All at once, the enemy stopped and straightened, noses to the air and eyes narrowed. Snarls of disgust creased their fang faces, and whatever they sensed drew their attention from the battle to the perimeter of the woods. Amber couldn’t see or hear anything over the seething of the vampire mob around her, but something lurked in the darkness that unnerved everyone.

From his cliff throne, Kai scoffed. “Really? So this is how far you boors are willing to debase yourselves? You bedded down with actual mutts in the futile hopes of stopping me?”

“An ally’s an ally, even if it has four legs,” Hyungwon replied coolly as he shoved back the dragon man’s now-still fist.

“Consider it an insurance policy,” echoed Kihyun. “You’re not known for playing fair.”

A long, low-pitched howl sliced through the thick air and sent all eyes skittering to the same corner of the woods.

“A pack of stray werewolves won’t stop destiny,” Kai snapped. “Nothing will.”

“So why do you sound so scared?” needled Changkyun, which garnered him a death glare from the all-powerful vampire.

“It’s not fear, you idiot. It’s frustration. You’re delaying the inevitable by a few more minutes, and I hate having my time wasted.”

“I call bullshit,” challenged Jooheon.

With a much more level tone, Hyungwon added, “We may not be able to kill you, but our allies don’t have the same limitations.”

Kai snorted. “But why would they break the truce?”

“You've already broken it,” Shownu trumpeted as he emerged from the tree line, chucking a vampire across the meadow to a sharp yelp. “You've brought too much attention to those of us who live here. They don't appreciate it either.”

A man’s scream tore across the glade followed by canine snarls and growls. Other horrific sounds—slashing, shredding, bubbling—spiraled into the sky followed by absolute silence.

Amber shivered.

With a snap of his fingers, Kai cut through the quiet, and the remaining vampires froze with their heads jerked back toward their leader.

“To me!” he bellowed, and nearly a dozen of his subjects ringed him as quickly as their maimed bodies allowed. With a fence of vampires around him, Kai looked as confident as ever, but Amber caught the slightest waver in his eyes.

“Face us, you coward,” challenged Wonho.

Kai rolled his eyes. “Please. I have nothing to prove to a bunch of vegan vampires with a legacy of disappointment, but I do have a bride I would like to impress later, and I’m not risking so much as a chipped nail on our wedding night.”

“If you don’t come out yourself,” Kihyun said, “then we’ll let our wolf friends have free playtime, and believe me, they’re already sore about you dumping bodies in their forest.”

As Kai mulled over the ultimatum, lights on the road above caught everyone’s attention. At first, Amber figured it was Aisha returning to her master, but from the slick smirk on Kai’s face, she knew something was terribly wrong.

With a sniff of a laugh, he mused, “Hm, do you know what separates a king from his feudal lords?”

One by one, each of the brothers looked with panicked eyes up the slope. Faintly, Amber heard her name resonating from the parking lot above—impossibly close, impossibly familiar.

“Expendable resources,” Kai answered. His smile only broadened at her name ringing out again.

“Spiros! Spiros, can you hear me?”

Lucas…

“No!” Amber screamed but then immediately covered her mouth. She raced toward the tallest brother, clinging to his tattered shirt. “What’s he doing here, Hyungwon?”

But Kai answered instead. “You don’t think I have contingency plans, my sweet? I gave Aisha instructions to make a call you were in trouble, and guess who came running…”

Fear, even more than adrenaline, coursed through Amber now.

“Stop!” the captain shouted as he crested the lot and jogged down into the meadow, gun raised. His eyes darted between the bloody, slipshod crew of brothers and Kai's smooth, beaming face before settling on the woman between them all. “Nobody move. Spiros, you okay?”

“Lucas, no!” she warned. “Get out of here. You have to go now. You don’t know—”

“No, stay,” said Kai with a pleasant grin. “Please join us.”

“This is Captain Lucas Wong of the Portland Police Bureau, and I am placing you all under arrest for assault on an officer and the murders of Han So Hee and Evelyn Hoover. You are to put down your weapons and put your hands in the air or I will shoot.”

“Luke, stop! Please!” Amber begged. “It’s not what you think—”

“Do it now,” the captain commanded, ignoring her, “or I will use force.”

“Oh, will you, Captain?” Kai said with a daring brow-raise.

True to his word, Lucas did not back down. Instead, he continued to push toward his detective, eyes and gun cycling across all his adversaries.

“My officers have the park surrounded,” he said, though no one could see the red and blue whirlybirds of police lights on any horizon.

“I’m sure they do,” Kai said, amused.

“This is your final warning. Put down your weapons and put your hands behind your backs.”

Nobody moved except for a shrug of Kai’s shoulder.

“Now, how am I supposed to put down my weapon when I am the weapon? Really, Ambrosia, what did you ever see in him?”

Lucas’s eyes narrowed, first at Kai but then at her before they landed on the hulking red beast behind them. The captain’s gun slipped in his sweaty grip as his brain worked to understand something it couldn’t. “What’s going on here?”

But Kai was more than delighted to fill the space with an answer of his own. “Should I tell him, dear?”

“Leave him out of this,” Amber hissed.

“Of course, my little Chalice. I’d be happy to. It’s all so easy. Leave this nonsense behind and be by my side, and everyone walks away safely. It’s a good deal, right?” Kai said as he smoothed his tuxedo jacket and parted the pair of bodyguards before him. “Just a whisper in that bloodbag’s ear, and he’ll forget everything, even you. Isn’t that what you wanted? For him to move on? You can give him that. I can give him that. Just give me your hand.”

“Step back, asshole!” Lucas interjected as he edged along the perimeter toward his loudest antagonist.

“This part doesn’t concern you, Captain. I would appreciate some silence.”

“This is your last warning…”

Kai sighed. “Honestly, Ambrosia how did you live with someone this dense?”

As Lucas’s finger stiffened on his trigger, the vampire zipped toward him with the speed of a hawk. The captain fired three rounds into Kai’s chest, but he didn't make so much as a grunt or a recoil. Lucas’s eyes went wide and his skin paled. No officers swarmed the park, no sirens sounded in the distance. The captain was alone with the impossible.

With a glower, Kai slipped a finger through one of the bullet holes in his lapel and wriggled it. “This was custom-tailored, I’ll have you know.”

The gun wavered in Lucas’s hands for just a moment before the vampire removed it and dropped it to the ground.

“Captain Wong, if you would, please step into my arms.”

Lucas hesitated but only for a moment before he eased into Kai’s welcoming embrace.

“Look at your pretty detective,” the vampire rasped. “Isn’t she gorgeous tonight?”

To her horror, Amber watched the fog roll into Lucas’s eyes the same as it had Eric’s. The captain’s voice was tinted like glass as he answered, “She is.”

“Stop this madness!” Shownu commanded, but it fell on deaf ears, both the captain’s and their adversary’s.

“Ambrosia was once yours, wasn’t she?” Kai asked of the man in his grip.

“She was.”

“She’s mine now.” The vampire squeezed the captain to a melody of grunts and whimpers. “Say it.”

“She’s yours now,” Lucas said.

Satisfied, Kai stroked the sweaty bangs back from his captive’s brow. “Captain Wong, do you want to live?”

“Yes.”

Kai grinned, his gaze leveled now on his golden prize. “Then tell her.”

The tension at the corners of Lucas’s eyes said one thing while his mouth said another. “I want to live.”

“See?” said Kai to the woman sagging under the weight of each new layer of horror.

“I want to live long enough to protect her…” Lucas managed, still faraway but fighting back with the last of his resistance. Amber charged forward a few steps before Kai sighed again, this time belabored.

“Patience, my dove. The curtain has almost fallen on the end of this act. Captain Wong, please tilt your head.”

Lucas did, though it was slow and halting. His eyes were huge, his grimace was deep, and even from a distance, Amber could see his pulse in his throat.

Jooheon and Minhyuk lurched forward now, but Shownu held them both back.

“Curb your strays, Hyungwon,” ordered Kai, “all of them. You’re interfering with the lady’s choice. This comes down to Ambrosia. It always will.”

Reluctantly, Hyungwon whistled, this one low but rising like a hill. His brothers slinked back, as did the wolves just beyond the thickets, though their eyes still flashed green and gold between the trees.

“Good. Very good,” mused Kai. “Finally, some respect.”

“Goddamn you, you bastard,” Amber muttered. “Just fucking stop this.”

“It stops when you stop denying the pull you feel toward me.”

“Lucas has nothing to do with this.”

“He has everything to do with this!” Kai boomed. “You were going to marry him. You were going to marry him instead of me—him—a common air-sucker. Do you have any idea how that makes me feel?”

Amber shook her head, tears flinging out. “I gave him up.”

Kai squeezed the captain tighter as he shouted, “You gave him up for them!”

“I gave him up for you!”

The weight of her words settled like dew over the meadow. Everything seemed unnaturally quiet now, as though the whole world was waiting for her next words.

“I knew once you had me, there'd be no going back.”

“But you did,” the vampire growled. “The moment you saw them, the moment they came back, you ran to them. You left me.”

The sting of pain was hard to ignore in his voice, no matter how misplaced it was, and it stung Amber, too. She could hate Kai with everything she had, but somehow, she still resonated with him like a tuning fork. It was there in her chest, the uncomfortable truth, that he needed her.

“Jesus, Kai, I’m not with you. Don’t you get that? This isn't love. This is loneliness.”

For a moment, Amber forgot the rest of the world. For a moment, Kai’s grip on Lucas faltered. For a moment, she thought she’d broken through. But the next moment, Kai’s eyes were once again as firm as his conviction.

“I'm sorry you doubt me. After all I’ve done for you, after all I’ve shared with you—things I’ve never told anyone...” His voice was so clear, it was the only sound she heard. “I will make you see my heart, Ambrosia, all of it, but I understand now that you won't believe me at my best until you've seen me at my worst.”

Kai’s teeth sank into the captain's flesh before he withdrew to sprays of blood that showered the vampire’s skin and drenched Lucas’s clothes.

Horror slammed into Amber: He wasn't even drinking. He wasn't even drinking….

He was wasting Lucas's blood.

The crimson mess greased Kai’s hand until it loosened enough for the captain to slip out and puddle onto the grass. Lucas staunched the wound at his throat, but it was pointless. His mouth moved wordlessly like a dummy without its master, but his eyes were once again clear and focused solely on Amber.

“There's still time to make a choice that saves his life, Ambrosia,” said Kai. “Accept your fate or be consumed by it. Either way, you’re mine, but one comes with considerably less collateral damage.”

As if to underscore Kai’s point, Lucas sputtered and spit a little geyser of blood across the grass.

“I accept!” she screamed. “Call off your army, and I’ll go with you.”

“Amber, no!” called Changkyun. He lunged for her hand, but she jerked it away.

She whirled back to the seven steadfast men at her back and felt her decision galvanize in her chest. She stood as tall as she could and said, “I can’t let anything happen to any of you.”

“You don’t know what you’re agreeing to,” Kihyun stressed.

Shownu nodded. “This is worse.”

“Way worse,” finished Wonho.

But Amber shook her head, and her eyes fell to her captain, writhing less and less with every pump of his heart. In a near whisper, she said, “It can’t be worse.”

As she closed the gap between her future and her past, her body felt heavier and heavier, like she was descending into the ocean depths, and with every step, the pressure intensified. Just before she crossed that invisible threshold where she was crushed forever, she turned back for one last look at the men who had changed her life in every conceivable way.

Amber knew now that they would never give her up, the same way she knew which way was up. The same way she knew that if she didn’t put a stop to it, everyone would be dead within minutes.

She steadied her heartbeat before she said to them, “I need you to do two final things for me.”

Wonho was crying as was Jooheon while Changkyun supported a limp and finally sober Minhyuk on his shoulder, and Kihyun glared blackly at her. Though his shirt was in tatters and gashes ran the length of his face and arms, Shownu stood as motionless as she remembered him from that first day she’d met him. But it was Hyungwon’s face that made the most ragged cut.

Those soft, exquisite features were blank of every emotion, as though he were no longer a man but a statue, beautiful and hollow.

Love me, too. Please…

Amber swallowed the lump in her throat and closed her eyes, willing away the emptiness in his face.

This is how I’ll love you, she thought bitterly.

“Save Luke,” she said, grateful that her voice didn’t break the way she was breaking inside. “Please, I’m begging you. And find a way to let me go. If you’re alive, then a part of me will go on living, too, no matter what.”

“Amber—” Hyungwon started, but she waved him off. Even the rasp of his voice threatened to send her barreling back to him.

“You have to do this for me because if you don’t, I really won’t forgive you. This is my choice, and by choosing this, I’m really choosing you.”

Behind her, Kai huffed, and even though she couldn’t see him, she could feel how she’d siphoned some of his power. It wouldn’t be long before his delusions overtook him again, but it was enough for him to know where her heart lived right now.

“Swear it, Hyungwon!” Amber demanded.

With lips ever-flushed but now wooden, he said, “I swear.”

It felt as final as a mythical oath. There was no clap of thunder or earthquake beneath their feet, but the words reverberated just the same.

Amber turned to Kai, who grinned from ear to ear and offered his hand. She shook her head and said, “Let them get Lucas first.”

“As you wish,” he said and stepped to the side, as did his soldiers.

Kihyun and Shownu surged past her, brushing her arms along the way so their goodbyes ached in her bones. They gathered up Lucas, whose head was lolling now while his limbs jostled limply with every step.

Amber stopped them long enough to check his leaking wound and comfort him one last time. His eyes were open and full of a dark mix of confusion, horror, fear, and begging. Though he couldn’t speak, she could hear her captain clear as day in her mind.

Don’t do it, Spiros.

With her determination renewed, she turned her attention back to the tuxedoed man waiting smugly ahead of her. She matched his high chin and straight back though her hands balled in her skirt, betraying her confidence. “Now, you. You swear that you will let them be.”

“Yes, yes, that’s a given,” the vampire said with an eye roll.

“Don’t fuck with me, Kai. No tricks, no games. Do I need to name each of them specifically?”

He wrinkled his lip at the pseudonym as much as the threat. “I’d rather you didn’t.”

“Then, swear it!”

“I swear it, my lady,” he said with his hand on what was left of his heart before he bowed deeply to her. “And I thought I was theatrical. Now, since it’s all settled at long fucking last, I beg you join my side, goddess.”

The slot beside him seemed to glimmer, and she moved toward it as if pulled. As powerful and important as Kai claimed she was, Amber felt helpless, especially when his hands closed around her waist followed by the back of her neck. He was facing her now, differently than he had all night. His smugness made him taller, and his victory made him broader. It was as if he were going to consume her.

“There it is again,” he murmured. “Do you feel the energy between us?”

Beneath her shame and her rage, Amber did. God help her, she did.

It was like the ocean pulling back from the shore farther and farther and farther. She could feel the next wave marshalling on the horizon more ferociously than ever, shaking her bones with anticipation.

“Lean into that. Lean into me,” Kai whispered.

Even if she wanted to continue fighting, Amber couldn’t. She flattened her body against him to his little groan. The hand on her neck urged her forward still until her head rested on his chest. Kai was painfully hard against her hip—at his conquest, at his audience, at her submission—and she shivered. He stroked her hair and clasped her so fiercely to him that Amber thought she might become a part of him.

Kai purred above her. “Look at them one last time, my sweet Ambrosia. Show them what they will never have again.”

He guided her head toward an image that would never leave her.

Lucas was still choking on blood and convulsing on the ground while Jooheon clamped a hand over the captain’s wound, but she could see how wet his fingers were. Minhyuk shook in Shownu’s grip, but her partner held fast even if he begged to release his feral brother. So much heartbreak, so much outrage. But as dead as each brother’s eyes were, all of them stayed rooted until Amber was convinced they’d turned to stone.

Kai hummed in delight.

“Kiss me,” he ordered, wrenching Amber’s gaze from her lovers to the devil above her, “and mean it.”

His mouth dipped to meet hers, and their lips finally connected.

All she could taste was black cruelty, bitter and sad and as painful to the touch as dry ice. As Kai’s tongue slipped into her mouth, a tear slipped down her cheek. Dimly, Amber heard a cry beside her, but she knew it wasn’t from her. She had accepted her role, and she gave her full self unto it.

She shoved her lips harder against his, and Kai moaned when her tongue glided into his mouth. She teased him with it, curling it back like a beckoning finger until he answered her call with a thrust of his bottom lip between hers. When Amber had it, she bit hard enough to draw blood—her last show of defiance before she became the empty vessel waiting to be filled.

Kai snarled but didn’t withdraw. Instead, he took it as permission to kiss Amber more roughly, and when he finally let her come up for air, her lips were blotted with blood and his handsome face had twisted into his vampire mask. His fangs peeked over his wounded lip, and he licked up the speckles of his blood to a satisfied smile.

He let out an appreciative laugh. “Oh, you definitely meant that. You skipped a few steps in our ceremony, but we can seal our blood marriage here if you insist. And, look! How nice. We already have witnesses to our union.”

Amber’s stomach lurched, as much from the leaden taste of Kai’s wrong blood as the horrified looks on the brothers’ faces.

Kai drew her in front of him, face-out just as he had for Lucas, but his grip was different. One hand splayed over her stomach while the other cupped the underside of her breasts. He guided her head to the side so everyone could get a clear view of her neck. His nose ghosted along the skin there with a murmur of appreciation before it crinkled.

He scowled. “Makeup?”

With the butt of his palm, he scrubbed her skin and then howled. The dark stain of Kihyun’s brand still lingered, but even worse, now it was framed by fresh pinpoint scabs.

Kai’s voice was perilous as he said, “Which one of you swamp-blood bastards took what didn’t belong to you?”

The brothers looked between each other, but the questioning glances stopped the moment they noticed Hyungwon’s eyes locked with Amber’s.

The tallest brother took a step forward.

“She doesn’t belong to you. She belongs with us.”

“Oh really?” laughed Kai, fondling her breast for emphasis. “Yet here she is, walking right into my embrace.”

Lean into me…

That next wave was still gathering inside Amber. The further it withdrew, the more of her it laid bare, but now it was building with unprecedented speed, and she wouldn’t deny it anymore. It needed to break. She needed to break.

“Shut up,” she demanded. Fury permeated her every breath as she tossed stray hairs from her throat and pushed back into her captor. “Stop fucking talking and just do it.”

Kai grinned at the ring of defeated faces before him. With vicious irony, he laughed, “You heard the lady.”

The vampire kissed her throat reverentially—once, twice—and then savored a long lick of the sweat stippled there. A moment later, Amber felt the pain, familiar now, penetrating to her soul as her blood pumped into his ravenous jaws. Kai was inside her, not just his teeth but his very essence. She could feel him slinking through her veins and clawing toward her heart.

At last, the wave of their potential smashed against her with enough force to empty the breath from her lungs. It was like a rush of water over her head, spinning her and upending her and drowning her. It wasn’t a current Amber could swim against. It wasn’t something she could tame. Her only option was to lose herself in it.

Against her wishes, one of her hands covered Kai’s, kneading and squeezing as more of her strength and her will flowed into him. With every vigorous gush of blood against his tongue, he moaned and rutted against her while she slackened in his arms the way that Johnny had… the way that Lucas had. Kai was taking so much—so much of her blood, so much of her spirit. Her grip was loosening. Her knees were giving out. Her mettle was crumbling. Maybe this was how she died…

“You’re killing her!” screamed Jooheon.

It was nearly too late by the time Kai realized how limp Amber was in his embrace. Together, they fell to the ground where he sealed the wound at her neck. He held her face in his hands, his fingers digging into her yielding flesh.

“Ambrosia! Ambrosia!”

He was shaking her now, trying to focus the color behind her stained-glass eyes.

“Come back.”

Slowly, she blinked, and the world came back into focus.

“I’m sorry,” Kai said desperately, clutching her against him like a ragdoll. “I took too much. I took too much, I’m sorry. Come back to me. Come back, please…”

Maybe it was her blood-starved brain, but it sounded inexplicably sincere.

Head pounding and vision fuzzy, she pushed out of Kai’s lap and tumbled onto the grass.

“Ambrosia? Baby?”

His words were too soft. Her brain was too scrambled. Her heart felt like it was skipping every other beat. But through all of that, there was something inside her telling her to keep moving, keep surging with the wave.

Her hands groped blindly through the pine needles and damp grass until, at last, Amber found the steely conviction to get up. She pushed up, dizzy but never forgetting that singular something she still had to do.

Meanwhile, Kai shot up alongside her, offering his body as a crutch that she reluctantly used until she got her bearings. Now before each other again, he caressed her cheeks and hair and whispered strange gratitudes and other things that sounded foreign out of a creature with a corn husk for a soul.

“Never again… Never again…”

There was that thing in the back of Amber’s mind again, a nagging compulsion heavy in both her head and her hand, some kind of an invisible compass pointing her in a direction she couldn’t even see, only feel.

Whatever it was, Kai felt it, too. Slowly, his hands stilled on her face until they disappeared, moving instead to his own chest. He staggered back a step and then another. His vampire mask had faded, replaced now with a different kind of twist in his features, this one full of confusion and definitely pain. As sweat peppered his brow, he grasped fistfuls of his tuxedo jacket and wobbled on his feet.

“What is this? What have you done to me?”

His voice was thin with shock, but it was nothing to the surprise in the whites of his eyes when the shot rang out.

This time when he clutched at his chest, his hands came back soaked with blood. He held them in front of his face for a long moment before he turned them toward the woman with blood on her lips and Lucas’s gun in her hand.

“Ambrosia?” Kai whimpered before he fell to his knees.

Amber stood there, gun trembling in her grip before it fell back to the mess of leaves where she’d found it. She couldn’t move. She was frozen, staring at the empty woods ahead of her.

Kai pitched forward, landing face-first at her hips, his nose nuzzling languidly over her womb. He kissed her once there as tears fell from his face.

“All I wanted was you,” he whimpered, his voice as strained as it was sad.

He clawed aimlessly at her skirt as he struggled to hold on, but his grip failed him, and his face fell to her feet now, pine needles and grass clinging to his bloody lips as his chest heaved with breaths he hadn't taken in nearly 700 years. With the last of his strength, his fingers played with the hem of her dress, tragic little tugs as he begged for her attention.

His mouth opened, but no more words came out, just blood and one last breath.

“He's dead?” said Jooheon incredulously.

“He’s human,” replied Changkyun just as shocked.

Amber stared at the elegant fingers draped loosely now around her ankle. Those same fingers had stolen the life from countless victims, from her own sister, and yet something in Amber’s chest ached at the sight of them forever still.

“Goodbye, Jongin,” she whispered as she closed her eyes to blot out the last of the wave as it dwindled away to nothing.

“Amber!”

Shownu’s frantic voice beckoned her from the void, and she jerked free of Kai’s final embrace.

His minions were staring at her, fangs bared and tongues wagging as they sniffed at the honey blood in the air. Without Kai’s will to hold them back, they would be on her in a second.

Suddenly, Hyungwon’s whistle lilted on the wind, this one faster and angrier than the last. In a flash, streaks of gray shot from the tree line and tore into the field with roars and barks. Wolf claws and jaws sank into vampire flesh, wrenching chunks from limbs and gouging holes in chests.

When Amber couldn’t find the strength to run anymore, Wonho darted forward and scooped her up, jetting her back to the rest of the family. Jooheon looked up with saucer eyes and then back down to his makeshift seal at Lucas’s throat.

“I’m sorry. It’s not my wound. I can’t close it,” he said, voice trembling.

Amber knelt beside the captain and pressed the back of her hand to Lucas’s face. His skin was cool and ashen. His eyes were blank, his breath shallow, and his lips bone dry. She put her fingers to his wrist, but his pulse was too low to count.

“We have to get him to a hospital,” she urged, but Shownu shook his head.

“He’s too far gone. He’ll never make it.”

Amber tried to make out her partner’s words, but they were too surreal. All this magical bullshit in the world, and Lucas was still going to die? She wouldn’t accept it. She couldn’t. “Then change him, damnit! He can’t die! You promised me! You swore.”

Kihyun put a hand on her shoulder. “You know about our pact, Ambrosia. I wish we could, but it’s unbreakable. It’s out of our hands.”

“But I can fix it later,” she pleaded. “You saw that, right? It will be like it never happened, okay? Please just do it. Just fucking do it!”

The brothers started to argue, but they were all talking at once, and it was wasting precious time. Amber didn’t have the brain power anymore to weed any of it out especially over the nightmare symphony still going on behind them.

The last of Kai’s great creations, the monstrous Junmyeon, finally fell under the relentless attack of several voracious wolves. His wings looked like streamers and only the last human piece of his face remained unblinking at the sky. The remaining vampire stragglers took off into the woods, leading most of the wolves on their scent, but two lingered behind and trotted over to the brothers.

Maybe it was distortion from her tears, but Amber could barely make sense of the kaleidoscope shift of colors from gray to white and finally tan. Before her now stood one large wolf and a toned, naked man with mahogany hair and the shrewd eyes of a tycoon. The man crouched down beside Lucas and lifted the captain’s limp hand.

“They don’t break their pact for anyone,” the stranger said, “but I’ve been known to bend for a pretty lady.”

Minhyuk bared his fangs at the interloper, but Wonho reined him in with a sturdy chokehold. It didn’t seem to faze the stranger.

“I’ll shoot you straight,” he continued. “I could use another pack member. Been harder and harder to find these days. It’s got to be someone fearless and strong with just the right amount of stupid. I think your captain fits the bill. What do you say?”

Now, Amber was sure she was in some kind of a fever dream thanks to the wound on her arm. Even with all she knew about vampires, this seemed like a ludicrous reach.

“I don’t even know what you’re talking about! I can’t make that decision for him,” Amber exclaimed. “I don’t know anything about your kind or you, and I—I don’t think I can ever undo it.”

“You can’t, but the way I see it, your guy only has two options: death or the wolf. You have to decide.”

“Kun…” Hyungwon said softly as he rested a hand on the naked man’s shoulders, but Kun waved him off.

“Does—does it hurt?” she stuttered.

“A lot, yeah, but the pain’s a lot less permanent than death.”

“The window’s closing, Amber,” Jooheon said with his ear pressed to Lucas’s chest.

Out of options, Amber grabbed her captain’s face in her hands and swiped her thumbs along his cheekbones. She brushed his hair back from his face only to find it as pale and cold as the moon. “Lucas? Lucas, can you hear me?”

His head rolled toward her. His mouth moved, but no sounds came out except a faint gargle.

“Lucas, baby? Baby, I have to know. They can save you, but if they do, you’ll be like—. You’ll be—” Her words snagged in her throat as she tried to face wicked reality. “—you’ll be different. Do you want that? Baby, please tell me.”

He couldn’t answer. He couldn’t even move his head. His eyes glazed as they stared into hers, one a blue heaven, the other a divided hell.

“Now, Ambrosia,” Kihyun demanded. “Tell us.”

With her blood in her ears and her heart in her mouth, she whispered, “Save him.”

The naked man swiveled to face the wolf with him and patted it between its shoulder blades. In a low voice, Kun said, “Do it, Xiaojun.”

Instantly, the wolf lunged and bit Lucas on the arm. Several of the brothers jumped back while Shownu grabbed Amber and pinned her against him. It only lasted a split second before the wolf retreated and Kun advanced so he was looming over the captain.

“I need you all to back up,” he ordered. “He has to imprint me as his alpha once the change happens.”

The brothers did as asked though nothing seemed to change. Lucas still looked dead. He hadn’t even flinched at the bite, and hope was waning. But a moment later, every muscle in his body was struck unnaturally rigid, and he released the howl of a soul being ripped from its earthly home. When there wasn’t an ounce of torture left in his lungs to spill into the world, Lucas sagged against the earth, eyes wide and mouth agape.

He was looking at Amber—through her—but he wasn’t there. She sobbed, her nails gouging her thighs. She couldn’t look away. What had she done? What had she invited into his world and trapped in there with him?

“Lucas…” she whimpered.

“Get her back!” Kun warned.

Lucas’s body seized again, this time arching his back sharply as he convulsed. His fingers crooked and his feet twisted as his heels worked shallow graves into the ground.

“Jesus, when will this end? Make it stop!” Amber wailed, but, now back to himself again, Minhyuk held her tightly in his arms, and she was so relieved to have him back, she burrowed into his chest.

“This is the price of living,” said Kun. “It will be over soon.”

She flinched and let Minhyuk tuck her face deeper into him as his arm wrapped around her head.

“It’ll be over soon,” the vampire repeated.

She heard more scuffling mixed with unholy creaks and groans that couldn’t possibly come from a human. If nightmares had a soundtrack, she thought, this would be it. She would hear it forever.

Then, suddenly, all was quiet. Amber peeked over Minhyuk’s arm and saw Kun there, unabashedly naked but looking as confident as if he had his hands stuffed in expensive suit pockets.

“Lucas, is it?” the stranger said in perfect nonchalance. “Nice to meet you. I’m Kun. I’m here to welcome you into our pack.”

“Amber?” the captain croaked.

“Your lady-friend? Yeah, she saved your life. But, listen, things are about to get a lot hairier for you, so we have to hightail you back to the house. Can’t have you going through the rest of the transformation this close to dawn. You two can catch up later, yeah?”

Lucas ignored the stranger and rolled his head to the side until he found Amber clutching Minhyuk. The second his eyes landed on her, she scrambled to his side. “You’re alive!”

“Amber, what’s happening to me? What are they? Are—”

She placed a quick kiss to his lips and shook her head. “All that matters is that you’re safe. I wish I could explain everything like you deserve, but you have to go with them, okay? They’re friends. They’ll take care of you.”

Amber looked up at Hyungwon, who nodded, though it was a little late now to be making sure she could trust transforming wolves from the woods.

Kun smiled, his mouth full of perfect white, perfectly human teeth. “You can always trust your pack. Now, let’s hit the road. The clock’s a-ticking.”

After another quick kiss, Amber moved back so Jooheon and Changkyun could help the captain up before they dragged him back toward his car with Kun and the wolf following. Kun opened the back door, and the wolf hopped in as though it were a pet. Once Lucas was strapped in the passenger seat, Kun waved to everyone and, still buck naked, climbed in the driver’s seat and took off, leaving the rest of his wolves to find their way back.

Slowly, Amber turned around. There was no way to avoid the carnage before her—bodies everywhere, some whole and some in pieces, blood, fabric, huge chunks of turf. There, near the edge, somehow spotlighted by starlight, lay Kai. He was just as she’d left him, facedown, groveling at feet that were no longer there, still beautiful but forever broken.

“It’s getting late,” Kihyun said. “We have to clean up. Let’s get her home and into bed.”

“I should stay,” Amber protested, stumbling forward on autopilot toward the man in the tuxedo.

Strong arms curled around her waist as a chin rested on her shoulder. She was so numb, she barely felt it as Wonho hugged her and said, “It’s time to go, Amber.”

“Everything will be all right,” Shownu promised.

“All right?” she said, her breath hitching. “How could it ever be all right? I just turned Luke into some—thing. So many people are dead. Johnny is dead—an FBI agent is dead. The whole fucking precinct will be here any minute, and there are just… so many fucking bodies. There’s a fucking demon with wings in the same grass where kids play frisbee! And Jongin— Damnit, how is any of this sane or even remotely okay?”

Her words fired like an assault rifle, and Amber struggled for big, hiccupping breaths between every one before Hyungwon cradled her face in his hands and forced her gaze up to him, and suddenly, she could breathe again.

“We’ll get through it, Amber,” he whispered. “We’ll get through it together because we love you, too.”

Through all the impossibilities she’d just witnessed, somehow that felt like the most impossible thing of all, but it was the only answer she could truly believe in. She looked from perfect face to perfect face and felt that swell of peace that could only come from perfect love.

Together…

She’d never heard a more beautiful word.

Her heart once again beating in her chest, Amber nodded as she whispered, “I’m ready to go home.”

A/N: An open letter to EXO: 

Dear boys,

I’m so sorry, especially to the very sweet and pretty Suho and the extraordinarily perfect Kai. I wish I could have written it any other way, but this was the only one that worked. I’ll make it up to you someday! No hard feelings? Please! I love you!

Sincerely,

The horrible bitch author :(

#monsta x smut #novel #succumbing to sybaris #original character #shownu #wonho #minhyuk #kihyun #hyungwon #jooheon #changkyun #lucas #kai #Detective AU #vampire au #enemies to lovers #reverse harem #WE GO HARD YO

[leftonraed]

The Night We Met - Prologue

pairing : Taehyung x OC   genre : bodyguard!au, singleparent!au, idol!au   word count : 1.7k Prologue | ep.1 | ep.2 | ep.3 | ep.4 | ep.5 | ep.6 | ep.7 

The show was a great success. A chant of his name resonates in the huge stadium, crowded out as he’s bowing a second time to the thousands of lightsticks shaking in the darkness like fireflies dancing and set to burn down the starry night they composed.

Moved, he raises his arm to wave to those luminous spots so precious to him, making sure not to miss any while his heart is swelling with pure bliss and his throat grows tight. He reluctantly ends up walking towards the back of the stage and positions himself on a squared shape platform which slowly takes him down at the same time the lights dimmed one last time tonight.

Members of the crew who’ve been waiting for him begin surrounding him as soon as he steps off the small platform and heads to the dressing room. Signs of fatigue are showing but he doesn’t forget to give smiles and thank yous when they congratulate him while removing his microphone set, handing him a water bottle and wiping his sweat.

He blindly reaches the hall leading to his backstage room secured by a couple of bodyguards present, it isn’t his first time in this concert venue but he’s obliged to halt when he notices his manager staring back, displaying not the slightest sign of pride or gladness.

He picks up his march towards her with a hint of confusion. Her frowning is looking less threatening now that he’s a few inches from her but her body seems to tense when he reaches for the handle.

“What’s wrong?” He drops first, eying her back while she uncrosses her arms.

“There’s a woman inside with a child who’s been begging the whole staff to get to talk to you.”

“What?” Not quite the reception he was expecting from her to say the least.

Her brow twitches at his lighthearted tone. He instantly grasps she’s not messing with him and doing her best to keep her voice low. “If you have something to tell me, I suggest you do it now, Taehyung.”

“Hwiin, I-” He chuckles not believing what he’s hearing. His frowning deepens when she still doesn’t flinch. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. And I really don’t have the energy to argue right now. Did you talk to her?” He suggests, trying to reason.

“No, I don’t want to have anything to do with her.” She spits, offended. “How can you not- recall her when she clearly claims to know you?” She snaps gesturing towards the door. “Now’s not the time for a scandal of any type. Far too many people know about the issue she caused already.”

People are busy around them, coming and going to get everything cleaned up while they both seem stuck in this silent staring game. He remains awfully quiet, not having quite a clue as to what to say back to have her not doubting him or assuaging her and it makes her this close to losing it.

“Maybe we should go inside?” He offers in a soft voice, clueless about the reason she’s so adamant to stew over it. She rolls up her eyes while brushing past him to get inside the room first.

He barely has had the time to catch sight of the said woman that Hwiin reminds him of her presence and even more so of her annoyance.

His puzzlement is all the more unmistakable, especially after he’s noted the toddler’s likeness to someone close to him. His gaze returns to the female stranger. She surely isn’t past her mid-twenties. She looks lost and her eyes are filled with so much hopelessness, it becomes disturbing.

“Hi,” he smiles invitingly, not allowing any tension to build. “I’m Taehyung. I heard you were looking for me?”

She nods carefully, not moving an inch on the couch where she’s sitting as if not to hinder the child in her arms while looking back and forth between him and his manager’s dark look.

“How can I help you?”

“I-I’m sorry I disturbed you and caused so much trouble,” she eventually says. “But-,” she fetches for something in her bag at her feet and the little girl stirs in her slumber, revealing her face.

“Hina?” Taehyung feels his heartbeat picking up and any previous sign of fatigue that has seemed to gain him are now long forgotten at her sight. He walks closer to her.

Hwiin furrows her brows at his back. The woman displays relief upon hearing the girl’s name, satisfied to finally see one thing go right.

“Whe- where’re her parents?” His eyes can’t look away from her tiny face nestled against her chest.

The stranger opens her hand to show a piece of paper. “They went out earlier in the evening. They should have been home an hour ago. I was asked to call this number in case they wouldn’t answer their phone, and or go to these addresses.”

He takes it from her and Hwiin shortens the space between her and them to peek past his shoulder. There are his personal phone number, the concert venue and his penthouse addresses.

Her gaze moves to study the child’s face and her expression shifts to a worried one. After a few seconds, she looks up at him. “Who is she, Taehyung?”

The last bits of euphoria have vanished in the blink of an eye and left behind, instead, heavy presumptions.

“My niece,” he answers gravely.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The pleasant purring of the black range rover running is the sole disruption in the quietness of the empty streets. Inside, the drive back home is uncomfortably silent for Hwiin. She feels terrible about her outburst. She knows he’d never be angry with her for that. She still wants to apologize but everytime she glances in the rear-view mirror, Taehyung still looks lost in thought.

As much as Hwiin values family bonds, she’d rather do without. Everything has been going perfectly great for her artist and now it all seems uncertain. How could he combine a demanding career and a very young child? How is she supposed to support him? She’d never ask him directly to somehow resolve this issue because she knows what he’d do. If he were to choose between the two, he’d opt for his niece in a heartbeat as painful as that reality comes off. The past seven years they spent together wouldn’t stand a chance when it comes to Taehyung.

His stare is glued on the night scenery. He doesn’t know what to think. His life’s just been shaken up by the tiny being cradled in his arms. That woman, who claimed to be Hina’s babysitter, had resorted to him as her solution like her employer, his brother, had instructed her to. His heart which has just been full of sheer happiness and gratefulness is now weighed down by so many questions and an unsettling foreboding.

He feels his shirt bunching and being pulled on; he looks down, weary.

“Dad-dy...”

Prickly tears blur his vision at the innocent call Hina makes in her sleep, unaware. He tightens his hold around her as a way to comfort himself.

“We’re here,” his manager softly announces while turning the wheel in the building parking lot. She pulls over near the elevator. Taehyung does his best to open the door, grab his back while safely carrying his niece before getting out. Hwiin hurries to give him a hand only to be politely refused.

She observes him quietly with mixed feelings as he simply stands there, gently brushing the little girl’s strands out of her face. She’s never taken the time before imagining what he’d look like as a father. It hasn’t been part of her plan. His greasy hair falls in his eyes, hiding his face. The man facing her seems somewhat unfamiliar.

She feels guilt creeping within her chest. “Taehyung I-”

“Don’t bother coming here unless I say so,” he cuts off looking at her with a weak smile. “I think I need some time to sort it all out.”

“Of course,” she pauses, fleeing his gaze. He’s always trying to lighten up the mood, she thinks. “I was wondering if you’d need me up there.”

“Go home. You should rest.”

She pouts a little, she’s already got her hooks into him and she hasn’t even awakened yet. Taehyung rarely rejected her for anything in the past. She innately feels the need to argue but relinquishes. It’s different now, she accepts.

He’s appreciative of her comprehension. He doesn’t like telling her he prefers to be alone for now. He’ll need every bit of his energy.

“You know you just have to call.”

They quietly pull apart. He gets in the elevator and she starts the engine once the doors come together.

His mind is empty the whole time it takes for the elevator to bring him to his apartment. He drops his bag on the floor, biting his lip when a curse wants to slip out because of the noise it makes. He suddenly realizes he doesn’t have somewhere appropriate for her to sleep in. Taehyung naturally settles for his bedroom and wonders how he should arrange the beddings to make it as safe and comfortable as possible for a two year-old.

He manages to undo the sheets and grab a pillow with one hand before he gently lays her in. it’s a miracle she hasn’t woken up already. Standing still beside the bed, Taehyung stares at her in the darkness; he wants to do more when he’s done what is needed. He wonders whether he should get her nearer the middle of the mattress, he can’t think of anything to keep her from falling off.

After long minutes, he eventually thinks there’s nothing more left to do and leaves to shower. He lets the door open and makes it as quick as possible. He comes back to find her curled up on herself. It’s only once he’s under the sheets, right next to her side that he remembers his phone. The thought of joining the outside world again seems unappealing and he thinks it would only make him anxious.

He brings his focus back on Hina, blinking slowly until he gets pulled in a dreamless sleep as well.

////////////////////!\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

Feedback greatly appreciated :B  Reblog if you wish to read more

#taehyung smut #taehyung scenarios #Taehyung fluff #taehyung angst #bts smut #bts scenarios #taehyung x reader #bts fanfic #taehyung x oc #bts reactions #bts imagines

[kncrowder88]

Voyager and Romance

So, the thing about Voyager and romance that sticks with me is they seem to do one couple really, or more accurately two characters, any real justice overall. And that is B’Elanna and Tom. While moments for that relationship may not be perfect that is rather realistic for relationships, as no relationship is perfect all the time so that is tolerable. This post though isn’t going to be about looking at that particular relationship though but primarily at other relationships. Largely because a discord server I am in was talking about Counterpoint and I realized why I both love the episode but also have weird feelings with it. Which, I’ll touch more on that specifically after I discuss the relationship stuff (as that plays a part).

So, I will preface this with it has been a bit since I’ve done a binge of Voyager and really a full binge of Star Trek in general. As such, I may forget a few relationships on the show and overall, throughout Trek in general. From what I can really toss together … I honestly am beginning to believe that when it comes to Voyager and the other shows (the older ones not the new ones – I am not including any NEW Trek in this) that for some reason the relationship writing with Voyager was rather different. Like, they gave 3 characters active relationships prior to being stranded. That being Harry Kim, Kathryn Janeway, and Tuvok. Out of these three we get Janeway and Tuvok holding onto those relationships in their own way while … it seemed mildly convenient for Harry to mention it when it suited him, I guess (like that time Tom wanted to set them up for a double date or you know when he ended up in that alternate timeline but still wanted back with Voyager even more like). Like, the reason I don’t list Tuvok-T’Pel above is because we don’t actually get to SEE that in full, we just get to see Tuvok’s side of it and his dedication – we don’t see the relationship, we don’t see the couple.

Harry and Tom, prior to his relationship with B’Elanna, seem to frequently do this sort of two bros dating around thing which is fine but like … same time the show used them for that. And once they settled Tom with B’Elanna they used Harry in those plot lines when it worked. Thus the alien STD episode and the “how dare you not get the standard permission from your CO and CMO” line (like they really put that into a Trek ep and I’m still unable to not picture Riker, Kirk, Picard, and everyone other Trek character constantly getting permission for their latest romance – just remember Jadzia and Worf likely had to get permission from Sisko and Bashir if the Trill and Klingon weren’t already approved of in the system just saying, that’s a thing that happened). Anyways … my point is they went out of their way on this. Like, when Kes was with Neelix they wrote Neelix to be that jealous judgmental boyfriend who literally got upset she knew where other people’s quarters where, she was nice to Tom, she was … just yeah. They wrote Tom to come off as a player pulling Harry into it, when Tom settled down Harry seems to pick that up (I mean you got his “omg Seven” phase and the alien STD stuff and lord knows what else I’m forgetting with him).

And to top this off I haven’t even touched on the “Janeway can’t have a romance” stuff yet. Which is where my real problem is. Like, its bad enough they brought in Jeri for the sex appeal (which lets be honest stems from the fact they couldn’t use Janeway for that – which I get, Kate was right in the whole concept of the audience target having to keep respect for a female lead and sex appeal couldn’t be a focal point but they could have balanced it right and regrettably because they couldn’t that meant Jeri got all of the other side of the coin). Many of Seven’s eps center on romance or social stuff and honestly that is a whole other WTF post in its own right because it all leads up to the sudden get with the one person on the ship who didn’t want you here in the first place and who also would have served better as the male adult guidance figure/father figure than as a ROMANTIC partner but hey BS happened behind scenes to cause that chaotic romantic on screen set up. But yeah … this is just another example of the poor Voyager romantic plot lines.

Chakotay’s romantic plot lines are usually – and by that, I mean pretty much always – with these strong independent women. But usually, at least from what I recall, they are also typically the “needs help” (damsel in distress/can’t do it alone/etc.) plot. Like, Riley was strong independent but also set up to need help in regard to getting her little collective put back together on the planet. You got Kellin, again another strong lady who yet again also needed help. At least in the ep she’s in and if I recall much of the info on how they fell in love during that time as well – primarily with getting away from danger at the start and then during the initial romance finding her target. Valerie is the only one who doesn’t fall into the needs help plot and that’s largely because she was being manipulated by Chakotay for information – which honestly just goes to show how well Chakotay was at the whole undercover stuff (which tells us a lot about what he could have been doing as a Maquis). Seska was the plot point of “you once dated her, now she is going to badger you to get with her again and when that fails, she’s going to assault you” …. like all of Chakotay’s romances are literally him either 1) being manipulated (as that’s what Seska and Riley did) or 2) being the kind guy or 3) not an actual relationship (either because its undercover work or because the writers were too cowardly to make him and Janeway canon).

Then you got Janeway. Then you got KATHRYN JANEWAY. You know, the one where Kate Mulgrew said no romance, no sexualizing, no doing that sort of stuff because the audience had to maintain respect for the character. I’m sure someone has the exact various quotes out there. Like … this is why we don’t have JC as canon. But what we do got instead is …. Janeway in Prime Factors being flirted with by the administrator as if that’s going to get him what he wants because “female leader means flirt with her”. We got Janeway and a period drama holodeck adventure in the early years which was clearly meant to be her romantic tête-à-tête early on that never got followed up with. We got “delete the wife” with the Fair Haven plot point (because its totally respectable to see the FEMALE LEAD, the STARFLEET CAPTAIN, just straight up DELETE THE WIFE of another individual - yeah, I get its meant to be humor factor because hologram but come on). You have her whole thing with Mark which we get tidbits off but again similar to Tuvok we literally only get to see her side of it – the only couple moment of theirs we get is the comm call in Caretaker.

But Jaffen? You are correct. We got that lovely and touching and wonderful romance with Jaffen …. Oh wait … they had to remove her from the ship, strip her of her memory, and her autonomy in order for her to have a relationship with another individual. And yes, by losing her memories, by losing what made her who she was as a person, she did lose a sense of autonomy. She entered into a relationship without a full sense of independent choice. The point in which she made a choice in that episode, the point in which she – Kathryn Janeway – made a choice with all of the person, the individual she is, was at the end when she had her memories back and could decide based on the values and beliefs and all that she is. What I’m getting at is the people on that planet deliberately took away who she was, they took her memories and her ability to make the decisions they knew she would make --- they did that deliberately (that’s even established in the episode) --- and as such her decisions while in that state are not truly her full independent decisions but the ones impacted by the state she was forced into.

And while I love Resolutions, while I love all the JC goodies, we get in that ep … Yet again the only time we get to see Janeway in any sort of romantic situation is when they remove her from the ship. When they remove her from command. When they strip her of that setting. This time, though – well the first time – she keeps awareness and has to go through lose of it all in order to even start to let it all happen. I love the episode, I do, but I just find it rather amusing they went “’Hey we gotta strand them what should their tasks be on the planet?” and they immediately went “Well Janeway is scientist how about that” “Okay and he can build, Chakotay can start building. Man builds house, right?” and then like went “oh and then she can start a garden” …. Like really? Really? That’s what you got for me. Oh, and then there is the monkey. That’s the romance this ep. Boat, science, monkey.

Then we got Kashyk. We have dealt with Kathryn throughout this series dealing with various leaders of various styles. As mentioned, Prime Factors guy attempted flirting. Other leaders pulled similar or worse or even dismissed her …. Like the list goes on. Counterpoint is a great episode because it deals with prejudice and is rather dark. The thing is, had Janeway been able to have a healthy romantic relationship on screen to counter this episode this episode probably would have come off better. Episodes like Prime Factor could have been done different (that leader didn’t need to be as flirty for example). One or two eps through the series having creepy dudes she had to deal with, fine, whatever … that be a nice impact for the audience. But when you have to many prior to Counterpoint – even if its minor, small stuff – it makes this episode so much harder for fans. Especially the female fans who deal with this constantly.

See, here’s the thing with this ep…. Some of the fans who watch … we know Kashyk well. We know that character. He is that male leader, that male power figure, who uses the power he has to manipulate those in his control to get what he wants. And Kathryn … Kathryn was in his control. Kashyk is listed as a relationship on memory-alpha. But much like how I view Seska with Chakotay … I do not view Kashyk as a proper relationship. In Devore space, Kathryn did not have proper power. She had people in her command, on her ship, that she had to protect. That she knew she had to protect. Her own best friend … lives in her hand … and Kashyk right there willing to kill them. Willing to snatch them up and destroy them. And he used that power to manipulate her and play her. Yes, she played him right back but … did she truly have a choice? Did she have any other choice but to play his game? What would have happened if she said no? And that … that is why this episode is so unsettling for some people. And why this relationship being considered on is so off putting … that the writers, that memory-alpha, that the fact I’m putting it on this list as one of the ones on here for Voyager says so much … they wrote this as one of her relationships while out there … she had to do what so many women had to do to stay safe, to keep people she loves safe, and that’s not a relationship.

Voyager could have done romance/relationships such better justice.

#star trek #star trek voyager #i had some feelings about things #primarily the Kashyk thing #but that lead to other things #and honestly i am really begining to question romance in voyager #but also like overall in Trek in general #like the more i think about Voyager the more im like oh god they really did seem to fail there #because the only valid couple i can think of is Tom and B'Elanna