#i want to call her rhiannon though but that's like

[writeonwhiskey]

the skz house: ch 13

a/n: thank you, as always, to @bahablastplz for editing! thank you sm, readers, for interacting with this fic. i appreciate every single one of you!

Summary: Welcome to Sigma Kappa Zeta, the most popular fraternity on campus. When you, down on your luck and looking for a place to live, see their ad for ‘IN-HOUSE STAY’. You're one of the four girls chosen and find that your duties for the rest of the school year will be cooking, cleaning, and pleasing your assigned house members: Hyunjin & Chan.

[ read chapter twelve here ]

Chapter Thirteen: Of Girl Talk and Berry

 Saturday, November 4th

It’s four days into the challenge and there’s already $200 in the pot, $100 each from Felix and Changbin. Four days, and you haven’t made any attempts at seducing Hyunjin or Chan. The announcement of No Nut November was given on such short notice and has you feeling unprepared right now. Perhaps the boys did that on purpose so none of you would have time to plot their demise.

The first day of the challenge you were with Chan, and he made sure to keep his distance—he practically made you feel invisible. The unreasonably high wall he keeps between you seems to have risen even higher. Adding yet another obstacle in your way to winning this. The two of you don’t playfully flirt or make out for fun…and you’ve never been the one to initiate anything. If you try to, Chan will immediately know what you’re up to. You must play the long game with him, to make him believe you’re not interested in getting him to break.

The past few days with Hyunjin, though, have been easy. Bless his heart, he hasn’t banished you to your own bed yet. He has, however, taken to sleeping on his back rather than spooning you. He said he has to keep his precious parts away from your enemy territory. That’s fine. Better to let him relax in his presumed safety and pounce when he least expects it.

If you had it your way, you would only want Chan to lose, not Hyunjin. But all you would get for that is Chan doing your chores for a couple weeks. You want that vacation—you need both to lose. Winter break is approaching, and you’ve taken to using the thought of spending Christmas in a warm, tropical environment as your inspiration. So, unfortunately Hyunjin is going to have to be a casualty of war.

It’s mid-afternoon and everyone is home. Chan has called you, Allie, Charlotte, and Rhiannon down to the den. It’s on the first floor, on the opposite end of the kitchen—closer to the laundry room and garage. You’re all crowded in the hallway in front of the double doors.

“Now that the remodel is complete,” Chan addresses all of you, “you ladies will have your own area to do homework and study.”

“And to stay away from you guys this month?” Allie immediately remarks, crossing her arms in front of her chest. “Suspicious timing for this to be complete, if you ask me.”

“Good thing I didn’t,” Chan smirks. “There are four desks, you can choose which one you want and decorate your area as you see fit. If you need help with anything, just ask.”

He seems so accommodating. It’s always interesting to see how Chan speaks to other people. Interesting in a ‘why can’t he be like that with me?’ kind of way. It reaffirms that there’s so much about him you don’t know, that he won’t let you know. You’ve become better at pushing away these thoughts, but it feels like they’re always lingering close by.

Chan steps aside and Allie reaches for both doorknobs, twists and then pushes to open them. You all file in and you’re the last one to enter. You turn around to see Chan right behind you, making a move as if he’s going to enter the room.

“Is there anything else you need to explain about this room?” You ask, placing a hand on his chest to stop him.

He looks down at your hand on his chest, then back up to meet your eyes. For a brief second you consider removing your hand, but it passes quickly. The rules of your fucked up arrangement with Chan are changing for the month. You will have to get out of your comfort zone with him, you can’t back down any time he makes you nervous.

“No,” he replies with a shrug.

“Then beat it,” you say, jerking your head in the direction of the living room.

He arches an eyebrow at you, and you smile in return before promptly shutting the door in his face.

When you turn back around to take in the room, you see that it’s huge. Bigger than any of the bedrooms you’ve seen in the house. The wall immediately in front of you has two large windows covered with light grey curtains and a futon up against it. The walls to the right and left each have two desks in front of them with white, gaming style chairs. They each have cat ears in different pastel shades attached to it—blue, purple, pink, and yellow. The center of the room is open with a large, circular, fluffy grey rug, a white coffee table and four papasan’s around it. On the wall to the right, above the desks, is a mounted TV. And on the left, near the door, is a bookshelf.

“Yeah…they’re definitely trying to keep us away,” Allie mutters, surveying the room. “I call the blue one.”

“Pink,” Rhiannon chimes in, going to her chosen desk.

“Which do you want?” Charlotte turns around to ask you. She’s the sweetest.

“Doesn’t matter. I’m fine with whatever.” You shrug.

She gives a curt nod and takes the chair with the yellow cat ears.

That leaves you with purple. You sit in the chair, open the drawers at the desk—of course they’re empty—and give the chair a spin. It’s close to the window, too, looking out toward the front yard.

“Damn them,” Rhi mutters, spinning in her chair too. “It’s really fucking cute in here.”

“We have to circle back to the timing of it all,” Allie says, leaving her desk to test out the futon.  

“Highly suspicious,” Rhi agrees.

“I’m already tempted to just spend my free time for the month in here,” Charlotte replies. “They can jerk themselves off all month long.”

You all laugh at her words. It’s the most explicit comment any of you have heard from her. She offers a sheepish smile in return.

“Agreed,” you say. “Not only did they announce the challenge super late, but now they want us to spend more time here than out there working against them?”

“I wasn’t even planning on participating,” Charlotte shrugs.

“And give up the chance to win that trip?” Rhi shakes her head. “I’m gonna make Changbin crumble by week two. And Seungmin shortly after. I’m getting that trip.”

You smile as the conversation turns to a matter of true importance.

“Hold on. Timeout.” Allie says, abruptly sitting up on the futon and making a ‘T’ with her hands. “This is good—we can work together. But first let’s bring our school stuff down here and get snacks. Lots of snacks.”

It’s an easily agreeable suggestion. The four of you clammer out of the room and upstairs to retrieve your belongings. You drop them back off at your new desk then raid the kitchen for snacks and drinks. The snacks amassed on the coffee table in the den seem like a lot, but their removal didn’t even put a dent in what’s available in the pantry.

“So,” Allie says when everyone is back in the room and seated in a papasan. “Let’s dissect these men. Rhi…what’s your plan for Changbin?”

You listen intently as Rhiannon discusses her methods for Changbin and Seungmin. She explains that Changbin’s confidence in his body is a strength and weakness—he’s a sucker for a good compliment. She knows how pumped up he is after coming home from the gym and how susceptible he is to being provoked. A few comments about his lack of gains and he’ll feel like he has something to prove to her. Seungmin, on the other hand, will take a little more work. He’s stubborn and likes to be right, so she’s still figuring out a way to make him think losing the contest is his idea.

Allie then divulges how much Felix loves physical touch. She’s planning to essentially deprive the poor boy of it for a couple weeks, then pounce on him with so much of it at one time that he has to break. Lee Know on the other hand…your jaw drops and Charlotte coughs on the chips in her mouth when Allie explains he’s been asking to fuck her in the ass since she came to the house.

“He’s not as crude as it sounds, I swear,” she holds her hands up in defense. “He’s always gentle and sweet, and sometimes a little silly when he asks so he can play it off like he’s joking. But I know he wants to. He’s an ass man.”

“And you’re gonna let him do it?” You ask.

“Yeah…if I give him an ultimatum, I think he’ll take it. Plus, I’ve done it before,” she shrugs nonchalantly. “It’s not so bad. Don’t knock it until you try it!” She says in response to the look of shock on each of your faces.

Charlotte then goes on to explain how she doesn’t believe Jeongin will make it through this first week. Apparently, they had gone to an all-boy’s boarding school and with this being Jeongin’s sophomore year of college, he’s still trying to catch up on lost time. Han, on the other hand, she thinks he’ll end up losing just from masturbating alone.

“He has a high sex drive but he’s so…hmm, how should I put it,” she taps her chin with her finger. “He doesn’t want to feel like a burden to me? He knows how Jeongin is and tries to give me time to recuperate but in the process, he ends up getting turned on by the most random things and goes off to his room to rub one out.”

“Has he let you watch?” Rhiannon asks.

Charlotte giggles and shakes her head.

“That’s your in, girl. Ask him to let you watch…or better yet—do it with him…have him watch you. He’ll probably lose his mind.”

Charlotte seems embarrassed at the idea of it.

When it’s your turn, you easily open up about how patient Hyunjin had been with you. You explain that because he already waited so long, he could do it again without much struggle.

“Maybe,” Charlotte says. “But you could also use it to your advantage. Since he’s now had a preview, it might be harder to resist and go so long without it again.”

You nod in agreement. You’ll have to coax him into it, for sure. You know he’s capable of pushing away your advances, but you also know he finds pleasure in seeing and making you happy.   

“What about Chan?” Allie asks. “If he won the last three years…that sounds like a challenge within itself.”

You feel a little less inclined to spill the details of your ‘relationship’ with Chan. From the information they’ve shared of their experiences, your interactions with Chan feel out of place in comparison. They’ve done some rather wild things as well, but the way they explained made it sound fun. And not like it was loaded with tension.

“He’ll be tough to crack, let’s say that.” You finally answer. “I don’t know if I should try coming on strong or just act wanton and desperate. But he’s so good at self-control, even in those moments.”

“There’s gotta be something,” Allie says. She grabs her laptop from her backpack and opens it on her lap, typing away on it furiously. “You might just have to get creative with something he wouldn’t expect. Some props or…”

She turns her computer around so you can all see the screen. It’s an amazon search for sexy lingerie.

“Oh, God, no,” you shake your head.

“I think most men would lose their shit seeing the girl they’re fucking dressed up in any of these,” Allie says.

“What is this house doing to us?” You ask, palming your forehead.

You all spend the next hour browsing the internet for things that might be useful in your respective missions. Allie is doubled over with laughter as she places an order for assless chaps. You order a few different items, still unsure that you’ll actually wear them. You’ve never dressed up in lingerie before. How heartbreaking would it be to do it for the first time and have the man you’re wearing it for reject you?

Tuesday, November 7th

You come out of the weekend thankful not only for the new workspace with the girls, but for the camaraderie it is helping to build. The den really is turning out to be a safe haven. Especially these last two days with Chan. Since you aren’t having sex, being in his room with him feels awkward. And that makes you feel like shit.

Even now as you’re climbing into bed, you don’t know what to say to him. But you have to set your plan in motion. He’s lying in his own bed already, too. He’s on his back, head propped up against his pillows and the light from his phone illuminates his face in the darkened room.

“Chan?” You call out to him meekly from your corner.

“Hm?”

“Are you not going to speak to me the entire month?”

“If that’s what it takes,” he replies coolly.

“I know I don’t stand a chance in hell at getting you to break so if it’s some sort of defense mechanism…it’s really not necessary,” you tell him. You’re glad he can’t see you, and you hope your tone sounds convincing. You’ve got to plant this seed perfectly.

He locks his phone, and his face disappears into the dark.

“What do you want to talk about y/n?”

“Are you an only child?” You ask.

“No.”

His short reply is met by silence. He doesn’t offer up any further information freely.

“Older? Younger?” You pry.

“Yes.”

Silence consumes the room again. In the safety of the darkness, your eyes roll so fucking far into the back of your skull. His answer doesn’t even make any sense.

“Maybe I should forget about becoming a vet and go into dentistry,” you say.

“Why would you do that?”

“All this fucking teeth pulling you have me doing to have a conversation.”

A snort sounds from across the room.

It’s followed by quite possibly the most beautiful sound you’ve ever heard him make—a light and airy series of ha-ha-ha’s.

You’ve never made him laugh this way before. Didn’t think it possible.

“I’m serious,” you say, not bothering to hide your smile. “What do you think will happen if I know these things about you? That I’ll use them against you? Trust me, Chan, I don’t know anyone who gives a shit about how many siblings you have.”

“Then why do you want to know?”

“To understand who I’m living with.”

“I told you, you don’t need to understand me.”

“I may not need to, but I want to. I think that’s a pretty natural, human thing.”

He’s quiet and lets out a heavy sigh. You resist the urge to harp on him about it, the way he did when you sighed too much.

“I’m the oldest,” he says after another wave of silence. “I have a younger brother and sister.”

“See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

“It was actually,” he replies, but for once it sounds like he’s joking with you.

“I’m an only child,” you offer up freely. “Thank you for asking.”

You wrack your brain for other questions to ask, to make the piercing silence filling the room go away. And then, to your surprise, Chan speaks up and you don’t have to.

“What made you want to be a vet?”

It’s so fucking stupid, but his question, his interest, sets your heartbeat off at an erratic pace.

“The simple cliché answer is that I’ve always loved animals,” you begin. “My grandmother was notorious for taking in strays and wounded animals of all kinds. She’d nurse them back to health and if they wanted to leave, they would, but if they wanted to stay, she’d keep them. Every time I went to visit her, I’d help with them and…I don’t know, I guess it just stuck with me. It felt really rewarding, seeing them recover. Though, they did not all make it and that was gut wrenching as a kid.”

When you finally stop talking you feel as though you’ve overshared. Maybe he’s not looking for in-depth answers.

“Did you have any pets growing up?” Is his follow-up question.

“No, unfortunately. My mom was allergic to damn near everything.” You tell him. “You?”

“Yeah, we have a dog named Berry.”

“What breed?”

“She’s a Royal King Charles Spaniel.”

“Sounds pretentious. Do you have any pictures?” As soon as you ask the question, you second guess if you should have. What’s going to be pushing him or asking too much right now? But you shake the thought—you have to try to scale this wall of his. Or find a way around it. Or blow it up entirely.

He’s quiet for a moment, then the light from his phone illuminates his face again. He remains quiet as he’s scrolling through his phone. You push back your blankets and slowly make your way to him, not wanting to bump into anything. He looks up at you when you’re at the side of the bed and locks eyes with you for a moment. Should you not have come over?

You let out a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding when he scooches over the tiniest amount, and you feel like doing a cartwheel. You slide on the bed next to him, resting your head against the pillows next to his. Your body immediately feels on edge, being so close to him, in his bed…and not for sex. His freshly showered scent fills your senses, and you wish you could just cuddle against him. You have the urge to lay your head on his chest and breathe him in, but that would certainly be pushing it too far right now.

There’s a privacy screen on his phone so you can’t see anything until he turns it towards you. A photo of a happy Berry waiting to go on a walk stares back at you. She’s white and brown and looks oh so fluffy, you can imagine how the fur would feel beneath your fingers.

“Awww,” you say with a smile. “How old is she?”

“She’ll be eight in December.”

“She’s adorable,” you say.

“I know,” he says with a soft smile on his face as he looks at the photo, too. You can tell how much he cares for her.

You want to tell him that he’s full of surprises, that you would not have guessed he’d have so much love for a pet. That he is capable of such an emotion. But you’re happy to see it’s possible.

You turn on your side to face him, propping your head up with your hand.

“Chan?” You ask, eyeing him carefully.

“Hm?” He replies again.

“Thank you,” you say softly.

“For what?”

“For talking to me, for opening up a little.”

You’re treading carefully, not knowing if anything you say could make him resort back to his usual ways. You don’t want to make the wrong move. You can’t jeopardize this new territory you’re tiptoeing into with him.

“I should get some sleep,” you say, before he has a chance to reply. You slide out of his bed and return to your own. You don’t want him getting the wrong idea—yet. You want to initiate a closeness, and let him think you will ‘behave’ for the month. Let him think he’s trained you well.

“Y/N?” He calls when you’ve made it back to your bed.

“Yeah?” You pull the blankets up and snuggle into them.

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Chan.”

For the first time, in this room, you fall asleep with a smile on your face.

a/n: sorry for the wait, and sorry it's shorter than normal. blame the twice concert for having me so distracted last week haha. anyways, y/n is moving into a new space with Chan that we've all wanted to see for a while. there will be more to come of this and, of course, Hyunjin getting rizzed up by y/n. more soon!

taglist: @iflmho / @stayatinykatsy / @blackhairandbangs / @ayoitschannie / @idunnomanmynamewastaken / @charmer-c / @ihatemen55 / @channniesslefttt / @jiwoos-babygirl / @krayzieestay / @kayleefriedchicken / @sunnyhonie / @cotton-candycloudz / @lubsungie / @conwunder / @puckmaidens / @ashleighland / @hyunjiinnnn / @bmnyy / @ihrtlix / @maqqiekwon / @teti-menchon0604 /@you-make-skz-stay / @zandra-42 / @seungminindabuilding / @slytherinatheart / @loveuwoo / @hyunjinhoexxx / @chartrucewhore / @torothecatt / @fun-fanfics / @yaorzu-blog / @yjeonginlvr / @tenshimara / @a-person-with-void / @ilovetheworldilivein / @dhillomilo / @skzfelixlove / @luvvvash / @blondechannie / @sailor--sun / @stephanieeeyang / @msauthor / @grlcbrd / @minnieprincess85 / @tiny-skidz

#stray kids fanfic #skz fanfic #stray kids fanfiction #stray kids #bangchan fanfic #bang chan #skz x reader #skz x you #bang chan x reader #bang chan x you #bang chan imagines #skz x y/n #bang chan x y/n #bang chan fanfic

[goldenamaranthe-blog]

Apple Seed 5: The Name Game

Buckle up, Buttercups. We got another long one here.

Charlie: (beginning to waddle from the cantaloupe sized bump in her belly as she makes her way towards her office) Ugh... This thing is starting to weigh a ton, and we're barely halfway there!

Vaggie: (walking with Charlie and holding her hand while rubbing her lower back) I know, babe. I know. Good news, though. You're not puking every morning and evening anymore.

Charlie: You have a good point. (enters the office and sits in her plush chair. She tries to lean over to untie her shoes but winces in discomfort, both from the baby belly pinching and how the heels are constricting on her sore hooves) *whiiiiiiiine* Vaaaaggiiiiieeeeee~

Vaggie: I gotcha, babe. Relax. (kneels down and removes the heels, watching amusingly as the hooves flex and spread in absolute glee from being freed, before sitting cross-legged on the floor and gently rubbing the soreness out of each hoof from tip to calf)

Charlie: (melts into her chair as the soreness and stiff muscles relax, tears instantly springing to her eyes) You- *sniff* You're an amazing wife, Vaggie. I don't *sniff-sniff* deserve you.

Vaggie: (rolls her eyes fondly as she continues massaging Charlie's hooves) So you say every day, hun. I'm just trying to take as much stress and ache away from you as possible.

Charlie: I say it every day because it's true...

-Pleasant silence spreads through the room-

Charlie: I have about an hour before I have to do anything.

Vaggie: (slightly perks up) Oh?~

Charlie: (wiggles excitedly) We haven't talked about baby names yet! Can we think of some now?

Vaggie: (not where her mind was going) Oh....

Charlie: Yeah! We should think of a couple to have on hand! Since we don't know the sex yet, can I-

Vaggie: Choose the girl names while I pick possible boy names?

Charlie: *gasp* How did you know?!

Vaggie: I watch you sketch names into your little baby notebook every night, babe. It's not rocket science. But, sure. I'm game. Do you want to throw a few out and the other can agree or disagree on the name?

Charlie: Yes! Okay! Me first! Rhiannon!

Vaggie: Rhiannon?

Charlie: Mm-hmm!!! And if she wants to go by a nickname like me, She can call herself Ria!

Vaggie: I guess that's alright.

Charlie: What about you?

Vaggie: Me? I don't know. I haven't thought of anything. I'm not exactly the creative type.

Charlie: Come on, Vaggie. I know you can come up with something!

Vaggie: Okay... Uh... CJ?

Charlie: CJ?

Vaggie: (blushes) Ya know... Charlie Junior?

Charlie: (big puppy eyes) Awwwww.... You want to name him after me? You're so sweet, Vaggie~ But pass. Not a fan of naming kids like that. Having you moan my name during sex would be ruined forever.

Vaggie: That's fair. (works a nasty knot out of Charlie's left calf muscle) You're turn.

Charlie: Lucy or Lily? Oh! Lucily!!!

Vaggie: After your parents?

Charlie: (nods relentlessly) Mm-hmm! My relationship with my dad has gotten a lot better since the war with the Exorcists. I think it'd be sweet.

Vaggie: You know he would cry worse than the baby when they arrive if we did that, right?

Charlie: Babe, I'M going to be crying worse than the baby when they arrive. What's your point?

Vaggie: (sarcastically) Ah, yes. The Morningstar theatrics. How could I have forgotten. (stands up, pulls a second chair over, and sits next to Charlie - gently stroking her hand over the taught skin of her belly) We're gonna have to get you new shirts and pants soon. I'm surprised we haven't had to yet.

Charlie: (groans) Don't remind me! I'm getting fat! ...Aurora?

Vaggie: Not fat, maternal. And not naming a daughter after the most useless Disney Princess. Next..... Santiago? Call him Diego for short?

Charlie: *gasp* How dare you?! Princess Aurora is.... she's..... okay, you got me there. You want to name our son after a saint? And how about Calista? Cali for short?

Vaggie: Ouph... never mind. Scratch that one..... So we go from Salvadorian to Greek names? That one's not so bad. I'm for Cali or Lucy. Rhiannon is on the fence.

Charlie: Okay, possible girl names. Check! You need to come up with one more boy name.

Vaggie: Hmmmm..... (drums her fingers gently against Charlie's belly)

Charlie: (giggles) Vaggie, that tickles.

Vaggie: (smiles) Sorry, hun. Let me see.... Well.... I'm not fully versed in the Bible or anything, but if we wanted to keep the motif of naming them after your folks. How about Samael?

Charlie: Samael? What does that have to do with my parents or the Bible?

Vaggie: Wasn't your dad's name Samael when he was in heaven? He only changed it to Lucifer after he fell???

Charlie: I.... I actually have no idea.

Vaggie: Well, we can name him Samael and call him Sammy for short? It won't be as confusing as calling him Lucifer, and I'm sure your dad will be over the moon having the baby be named after him anyway.

Charlie: (giggles again and swats Vaggie's hand off her belly) Vaggie, stop it! I said that tickles.

Vaggie: .....I didn't do anything.

Charlie: Huh?

Baby: (flutters again)

Charlie: *GASP* (holds her belly) VAGGIE, HOLY SHIT, THE BABY KICKED!!!!

Vaggie: What?! (plasters her hands to Charlie's belly)

..............

Vaggie: Nothing....

Charlie: Hmmmm.... (mental lightbulb turns on) Say the name again!

Vaggie: Samael?

Baby: (little flutter)

Vaggie: ............Sammy?

Baby: (big flutters)

Charlie: (crying quiet happy tears) Okay... Sammy... We got a name. We'll just think of a boy and girl version when they're born.

Vaggie:

#apple seed #apple seed au #chaggie #charlie morningstar #charlie #vaggie #baby names #vaggie is a fucking soft “daddy” #baby first kicks #I don't know shit about the bible #part 5 #YES I KNOW THIS ISN'T HOW THIS WORKS #I HAVE A CHILD 4FS #soft wifey #soft girlfriends #domestic chaggie #domestic #soft chaggie

[wvsteria]

just as a psa i will be dropping all pre-event threads unless there's a plot there that needs to be continued. i've been given permission to steal kasey/sunny's excellent organization skills. so here's my valentine's extravaganza blind date gala plotting/starter call. i'm going to cap all my muses at 4 and mun's at 4 requests as well. if we have a blind date pairing, i'll message to split the starters, so please don't request them here! people in ships going together and blind dates will be listed. my pinterest here has all the outfits. please message me if you'd like to change something. request for starters and like for a dm to plot event things. starter tracker is here

(0/4) aedion ashryver - blind date w dawn granger since mans is still unaware, he's living his best life by being a himbo and dating around. not really into this for something serious so might be flirting with other people while here and just generally wandering around the museum. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(2/4) alyla vane - blind date w ki yuri aly is also not looking for anything serious. she's got no capacity to be trying to form real connections with anyone but she likes adventure and trying new things. she may be trying to cause chaos here. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(0/4) america chavez - going w kate bishop they're probably going together as friends, even though they both clearly want it to be more and are just to dumb to realize. but america is looking to party and have a good time with kate and the rest of her friends. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(2/4) amren - going w varian of course amren is going with varian. they only have eyes for him. but they are open to exploring the museum. i wouldn't say chatting for everyone she's a lil scary and doesn't like new people. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(0/4) andarna - going w rhiannon matthias are they going as besties? are they going as dates? your guess is as good as theirs. they're just trying to party and have a funky good time with everyone. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) brinna javik - blind date w bella swan brin wants to date and find someone worthwhile and fall into another person. she's all about the romance of this event. as baby as she is though, don't forget they're feral and a lil crazy. they are def up for some choas. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) bucky barnes - going w emmeline vance bucky may very well spend this gala getting yelled at by emme and his sister. he may try to escape. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) cady heron - going solo cady is still getting used to everything here and went to see what's going on. she's a bit of a wallflower but is friendly and open to meeting new people! she's also going to be super super interested in everything the museum has to offer. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(0/4) carlos de vil - blind date w b.e.n. carlos is just looking for a fun night and is really trying to have a good night with his date and anyone else he runs into! drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(0/4) cassandra dimitrescu - going w morrigan cass is literally head over heels for mor and is trying to hide it from her sisters. they will be enamored by her most of the night. but they're a cadou so of course they'll be in for some chaos. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(0/4) clarisse la rue - going w silena beauregard clarisse was absolutely dragged here by silena. they don't want to be around all this mushy mushy love stuff, especially with all the confusing feelings they're having for their roommate/best friend. so !! please don't bother her or she will start a fight. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(0/4) dorcas meadowes - going w bela dimitrescu doe is determined to break this depression streak and is going to actually try and enjoy herself for a single night. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) dorian havilliard - going solo dorian is here for appearances since he is a prince. though he is also a flirt and thinks that he's single. but he's got a very aware partner keen on murking anyone that looks at him funny. so...do with that what you will drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) emily davis - blind date w regina george emily was definitely looking for something new and interesting to do. this date will be interesting with two fiery personalities let's see if it goes good or goes insanely poorly. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(0/4) emily fields - going w alison dilaurentis em is so excited to be doing something romantic with ali and not having to worry about their daughters for one night. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(0/4) enzo st john - going w bonnie bennett enzo is looking for a nice romantic evening with his wife and nothing more really. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(0/4) ethan mckinnon - blind date w kenzi malikov ethan is trying to forget all his family drama by doing random city event things. even though he's not super interested in dating right now. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) evan afton - going w cassidy mendes evan's never been to a dance or event like this before. they're really excited to see everything that's here being offered. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) garrick tavis - going w imogen cardulo garrick is not in the mood to party, but he was dragged here by im. he's probably going to just be a grump the whole time. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(2/4) ghislaine blackbeak - blind date w ling wen ghislaine was talked into doing the blind date thing by some co-workers. she's a little nervous about the idea but is extremely excited to explore the museum and see what's there. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(0/4) gwyneth berdara - going w allison argent gwyn finally had the courage to ask allison out on a date. she saw this event as the perfect opportunity to do so. she will be trying to woo her date and explore the museum and have a good time. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(5/4) harry potter - going w hermione granger harry has been so awkward around hermione since they kissed and this is basically their make or break moment. he's got to step up and make a move! drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(2/4) helion - going w elena vanserra helion and eleni are in a good place with each other and have finally talked about their bond. helion just wants to have a good night with his mate and give her the romantic day she deserves. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(0/4) jacen solo - going w tenel ka djo jacen is a bit stressed but is going to try and have a nice time with his wife like she deserves. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) jesinia neilwart - going solo since her friend that she would like to ask doesn't remember her, she's just here to get information on this place through the museum and get to know people. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(2/4) josie saltzman - blind date w abby anderson was josie trying to get over her ex by going on a blind date? yes. is it going to work? no. especially since finding out that her ex was set up with her twin sister!! she's going to be a terrible date and in a terrible mood. and might light something on fire. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) judith grimes - going w mencia blanco commerford judith and mencia are going to have a fun night at this event! judith is super curious about the history here too and generally would love to get to know new people. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(0/4) kasil monsula - going w sabina palpatine idk if i would say they're going together. but he is her bodyguard and was going to have to be there anyway. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) kiara carrera - going w jj maybank kie is definitely dragging jj along to this thing. she can't survive these super dressy events on her own. she just wants to drink and have fun with her friends again. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(0/4) klaus mikaelson - blind date w veronica fisher klaus is certainly not looking for anything serious at the moment. just a new way to go crazy, break all the rules, and drink. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(2/4) lettie hatter - blind date w liu mingyan lettie loves love and romance so of course she was going to sign up for a blind date! will this make a certain vampire jealous? who knows. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) meredith grey - blind date w fred flintstone meredith wants to get out there and see what this place has to offer...unfortunately she's landed in the middle of a soap opera. but she'll be happy for them regardless. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(2/4) mia winters - going w ethan winters mia wants to have a lovely romantic time with her husband. not thinking about cadous or people chasing after her daughters. or her family not getting along. please let's just all get along!!! drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(2/4) mouse honrada - blind date w lyra ayala since mouse doesn't remember she's in love with her best friend... here we are! she's pretty excited to try this new thing out! drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(0/4) myri tiure - blind date w alex danvers myri doesn't realize that she's kind of in love with her best friend so they did this before realizing it would make them super jealous to see dani with someone else. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) natalie berzatto - going solo (?) natalie is signed up for the blind date thing, however if it doesn't work out, all is well. she would just like to have a good night and maybe explore the museum a bit. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) needy lesnicki - blind date w shin hati needy is definitely using this as a way to get over her best friend. she would like to forget about her. unsure if this will help but she might go a little wild tonight. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) nehemia ytger - going w daenerys targaryen nehemia asked dany on a date as soon as she saw the event. she loves things like this and really wants to take dany maybe a little out of her comfort zone to have some fun together. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(0/4) noela - blind date w ginny miller noela is absolutely here for a good time. she's genuinely down to just see what happens and if they have fun together. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) padme amidala - going w anakin skywalker padme wants to have a lovely night with her husband and is obviously in attendance because she is the senator. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) peter parker - going w michelle jones peter is so excited to spend some time with mj. he wants nothing more than to just hang out with her and look around the museum and hopes that nothing is popping up around the corner. ps if he catches anyone doing illegal things, he's gonna stop them. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(3/4) rosalie hale - blind date w sidney prescott rosalie is a simple girl, just looking for her perfect match. she wants to have a nice time during the event drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(2/4) rosita espinosa - going solo honestly, she's only here because she's a secret service agent and feels she should keep an eye on things. though she's not opposed to a little flirting. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(2/4) roxanne weasley - going w parker halliwell roxy is begging for a normal event. she just wants to take parker out for a fun evening. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) rue green - going w eveline not much to say here rue just wants to have fun and shake ass with her gf. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) samara palpatine - going w shi wudu we don't know if this is a date or not but if he was with anyone else, samara would be raising hell so.. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) sloane mairi - blind date w evie o'neill sloane is a young girl looking for some fun to be had and was super excited to sign up for this blind date thing. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(2/4) song lan - going w xiao xingchen song lan came with his friend at their behest. he is optimistic for a good time but is also cautious about what's happening. though he is possibly so much more interested in exploring the museum drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(3/4) soren palpatine - going solo soren wasn't exactly in the partying mood, but he still decided to show up. will be happy to run into some friends here. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(3/4) stu macher - going w jinx they're here to do some fuck shit. i mean man literally came in a ghostface mask. rip drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) syrena cordella - going solo syrena my lovely is coming to have a good time out, celebrate the fact that there's no impending war! drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(0/4) taissa turner - going w van palmer tai definitely invited van along as friends since van doesn't remember her. otherwise she would totally be shooting her shot. but alas. she may be drinking and just wandering around drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(2/4) tamlin - going w georgia miller tamlin is only going with georgia as friends!! he's still getting himself together. and definitely not ready to be fully committed, but does his heart know that yet? no. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(2/4) tara carpenter - going w amber freeman it's not a wise idea for tara to be attending this with amber, much less still be seeing amber right now with what she's learned. but tara trusts her and doesn't want to stop seeing her. she just wants a cute date with her best friend. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(0/4) thalia grace - blind date w luo qingyang thalia kinda signed up as a joke but also wasn't totally opposed to the idea of a blind date. she'll maybe wander around the museum a bit, dance a little, blow off some steam and have fun. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) thea hughes - going w lou vance this is another totally besties thing. it's completely platonic to ask your best fiend out to a romantic valentine's gala at a museum. totally. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(1/4) willa lykensen - blind date w primrose everdeen so willa likes a good party as much as the next wolf. she's def made sure to look her best tonight. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(4/4) xuan ji - going w qi rong xuan ji has definitely dragged qi rong to this thing. she's thinking this is her moment to make something real and permanent. no she is not delusional. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

(0/4) zoya nazyalensky - blind date w james sirius potter zoya signed up for this before getting some of her memories back. she may still be a bit bitchy towards her date, but that's fine it wasn't going to last for either of them honestly. drinking || dancing || general chatting || exploring the museum || people watching || snacking in the corner || flirting || looking for an out || chaos

#hw: plot call #hw: starter call #hwminievent6

[shalikneez]

fourth wing thoughts (no spoilers):

while reading:

- MIRA IS HOT she reminds me of totk zelda

- xaden scares me lowk

- why is xaden so mf big. HUH?! enormous ginamanasaurus motherfucker. in my head he’s 5 foot 10 inches and sleeper bod. next question

- i know rhiannon is sexy. need more of her!

- omg chronic illness mc YES

- violet is so cool lowk like acknowledges her weaknesses ✅ improves herself ✅ isn’t annoying ✅ isn’t a bitch unless ur a bitch to her first ✅ smart as fuck ✅

- bitchass jack barlowe reminds me of nacho cheese doritos.

- dain more like DAMN why don’t u shut the hell up 🤣

- dain is so protective savior complex core like bro has no faith in her aaaahdhdh honestly i would have snapped sooner because like why is he always talking like she’s a child and needs to be saved

- xaden on the other hand is always hyping her up. which is great but occasionally he goes over the top imo . we get it ur down bad my guy

- she’s sooooo silly calling xaden out in public all the time

- so happy dain x violet romance didn’t last. he reminds me of chaol from throne of glass

- ngl thought violet was gonna be the whiny shy useless mc but the whole book up to 60% is all about her getting stronger and cooler and hotter and she’s confident and figures her shit out without complaining

- i loooove her and her sibling’s relationship. it’s so real ngl. book of brennan is so cute. brennan and mira, and mira and violet. i love them.

- violets armor from mira is so cool ik she looks hot in it. fan art better slay

- NAOLIN MENTIONED ‼️‼️

- if she says “rippling muscle” or “he’s so beautiful” one more fucking time—expand ur vocabulary girl 😩

- dain bruh stfuuuuu bro is so annoying he probs looks like this 🤓

- so many cliches but all the cool world building and shit balances it out so well like i don’t even mind that much

- yeah she’s gonna get a special dragon obvi

- i was right 🤭

- dragon descriptions make me 😁😁😁 it’s so httyd and so much detail and care put into it i love it

- dragon world building is so 💗💗

- tairn the dragon u are so cool to me

- i want a dragon

- i miss mira

- xaden is so cool. reminds me of a wolf

- TAIRN IS SO UNSERIOUS 🤣🤣 sarcastic ass dragon

- MATES LMAOOOO so sarah j maas coded

- LIAM IS SOOOO CUTE so puppy dog :) sawyer too

- oh the telepathic connections. it’s so sjm up in here

- telepathy aspect is cool tho i like how this author writes it <3

- why r the dragons getting hot and heavy 🥵 🤨

- omg kisss!

- MIRA OMYGOD I LOVE U I MISSED U SO MUCH MY WARRIOR QUEEN

- ngl around 70% it’s not as entertaining as all the deathly challenges and trials from the beginning

- omg violets power 😮 im a slut for opposite aesthetics

- oh. not a fan of the monster dick sex. uncomfy lowk. good for them though 👍

- ok politics. i don’t care that much.

- OKAY CLICHE DIALOGUE I SEE YOU it’s so weird i’m not even that bothered by it when normally i would be

- this is becoming more romance than death-defying war college stuff :/

- lovers quarrel. lovers share trauma. then lovers make up. idgaf!

- me when the romance book is romancing 😐

- basic adult romance dialogue! welcome back. how are you today

- more monster dick sex. how lovely.

- xaden’s muscles keep rippling. bro stay still!

- man what kinda sex is rebecca yarros having 🧐👁️

- omg plot

- omg TENSION! BETRAYAL! TWISTS!

- oh the climactic end-of-book battle. ngl none of these details are processing in my head. what fight?

- i know someone had to die but why that particular person. man :(

- i’m sure this battle and strategy and action scenes are so slay. i’m dissociating tho lol

- aw xaden likes her so much. simp

- CLIFFHANGER 😮

overall: i liked the first half better than the second half. first 50% was soooo addicting. i loved the world building and dragons and war college and challenges so much but i’m just not a huge romance person. like the romantic buildup is amazing but afterwards i’m just meh. of course there was the expected tropey/ cliche/ booktok moments BUT most of it was overshadowed by how great the other aspects of the writing was. i dissociated at the end and didn’t really feel attached to violet or xaden or even the dragons (this is a me problem) but i think the ending is great set up for book 2 (will probs give it a read). like u can tell where the book is going but then the author does something unique to make it a little different than other books in this genre, so idk how many surprises book 2 will have. the fact that i read this is in less than 24 hours says a lot though. i hope mira comes back :D

#fourth wing #violet sorrengail #xaden riorson #violet and xaden #rebecca yarros #the empyrean #xadenviolet #tairneanach

[bepop-moon]

!!SPOILERS!!

The Fourth Wing review !!!

WHAT. I just finished the fourth wing like 5 minutes ago and i NEED to talk about it before i go to the store and buy the second book.

- I am an ultimate book-lover and it takes a lot for me to dislike a book so this is just gonna be filled the positive things that i loved

I’ll get nerding about the world-building out the way first

So for starters, this book was so well written. As a fantasy lover, i’m a sucker for a well-built fantasy world. I loved how without being too heavy on description Rebecca managed to describe the world beautifully and naturally. I love how developed the history and culture is, the religion and beliefs and values.

I love Rebecca’s take on dragons. The idea of bonding and the mental communication and emotional connection. I don’t know how original it is but it was so well-done in this story. The design of the dragons and the different species are not overcomplicated and the way she wrote it made it easy to understand. I love the descriptions of the dragons, but also (this is just my opinion) i love that Rebecca didn’t shy away from the sheer size of the dragons. Ik in fantasy there are no rules about species like this, but in all folklore and mythology dragons are like, huge, and not enough books show that.

Overall, the world building is 10/10 and perfectly woven into the story.

Things that had my jaw on the floor

Something that had me ✨flabbergasted ✨ was the small details Rebecca snuck in there unnoticed. Now i was kicking myself when it came to Violet finally finding out her signet was lightning and Xaden tells her he suspected it from the first time they kissed. I went back and realised that in that scene lightning was striking. I usually pick up on these things 😭😭

Another example is- and this one hurt me physically because i realised like the paragraph before they said it- all the times dain “caressed her cheek” or “cupped her face” the actual vulgar little maggot (i hate him). I hate that they didn’t finish him off in this book and i so hope that Xaden or Violet ends him when they get back. if not i will.

Also, the ENDING??!! THE LAST FEW LINES??!! HELLO?!?!? I did call it though as soon as she woke up and Xaden looked at her wound and it was all healed up, i was like woah hang on i thought this was the venins poison. But I WASNT EXPECTING TO MEET HIM. I do want to just say that it really ticked me off because i don’t believe Xaden knew Brennan was alive but didn’t tell violet. I want to think he found out when he got there but i think he mentioned knowing this was the place to come or something. They must have a bloody good reason to be keeping this one ☝️

The characters 🥺🥺🥺

i was in love with EVERY single one of the characters. I love how every character was focussed on at one point or another so you could connect with all of them. I love the entire groups chemistry. I think an easier way to explain would be to go through them individually:

VIOLET- So, i made a post when i was in the early chapters of this book about how she annoyed me. She was very much a stereotypical “aren’t i just💁‍♀️…too small and weak🥺to play rugby👉👈” kind of girl, and i could see myself disliking the book if it kept up. I also said i can see how, if done correctly, she could have the BEST character development and gods, it didn’t disappoint. Rebecca showed Violet growing mentally and physically in a really real and natural way. It was forced, rushed or skimmed over. It was really a big part of the whole story, and i really loved it. Violet is my short, feisty girlboss and she’s litterally my idol. I volunteer as tribute guys, i will join the riders quadrant to be with her 😔😔. Dw, I can replace Liam. I love her sarcasm. She’s litterally me if i had confidence. Her chemistry with everyone else is on point.

RHIANNON- So dispite the fact that I was pronouncing her name wrong for a good chunk of the book, THIS GURL IS ONE OF MY FAVS. Everyone needs a friend like Rhi, period. She’s also a bisexual queen (** i will lead into this later) which makes me love her even more. Massive crush. She’s so badass.

RIDOC- okay now hes just a cutie patootie 🥰🥰 like “YES THATS OUR GIRL” when Vi beat the gauntlet had my heart melting. I want one. i want a ridoc. He’s my under appreciated baby.

THE OG GANG (Vi, Rhi, Ridoc, Sawyer)- I honestly wish they had more time. I could never get enough of them. The chemistry 😭 get me a friend group like this.

LIAM- i cried. no sorry i balled. like omg why was taking him like that necessary 😭😭 But i did know he was gonna die cuz i remember when he gave vi the wooden tairn he made, i said to myself “uh oh he’s too nice he’s not gonna live”. The emotional attachment i had to this man. But besides that, the whole backstory of him and Xaden being his foster-brother and the two of them having gone through so much together was soo good. I’m so glad Xaden was given a character to fall back on, and in a sad way, i’m glad that his loss was what made him break in the end. He stayed so strong for both Violet and Xaden. He’s so loyal and sweet, there is nothing not to love about him. RIP 🩷🩷🩷

XADEN- Where do i even start with this man. just love. love love love love ❤️ Ngl, i didn’t like his description and his initial impression looks-wise which (silly me with my high fictional person standards) put me off him for the first part. But- i made a post about this aswell- i think that’s just me personally not liking big, tall, dark, hunky men. I couldn’t picture him correctly. That is until i went onto pinterest and started picturing a slightly more buff Zayn Malik with fluffy hair and reading-glasses that i liked the sound of him a lot more. OkOk besides looks, I think Xaden is my favourite character. He was so compassionate to Violet as they got closer, and just every small thing he did i loved. I mostly loved how gift-giving is his love language. Okay let’s list off the things Xaden gave: The dagger, the saddle, flowers, dick, coffee, head, his jacket, more daggers. lol anyway he had it made just for her 😭😭 So i love how we got to see him and his high defences all come crumbling down at the end. He knew he messed up when he kept secrets, and the way he was like “i will try every day for the rest of my life to make you trust me again”. The battle- Liams loss and thinking he lost Violet must’ve affected him so much i just wanna give him a big hug. AND HIS CHAPTER AT THE END 😭 i squealed when i saw it was his perspective. i want more of that ngl. When he said he felt unloved since his father died. He’s a little bundle of trauma and i love him for that. Angst aside, the pet name, the banter, the mind talking thing THE CHEMISTRY AHHHH. Best boy.

The Family trio (Liam, Xaden, Bodhi)- their connection was so cute and refreshing. It was so nice to see Xaden have people he can rely on other than Vi, and they are so iconic. I wish they got more time. I also wanted to see more of Bodhi and how he dealt with Liam’s loss. It was all very Xaden-heavy. Let’s not forget about him 🥺

The cool bois 😎 (Xaden, Garrick, Bodhi)- Honestly, i bet they act like young teenagers. I like to imagine them getting extremely competitive over a card game like dobble or smt and flipping the table. The way Garrick and Bodhi both always had Xaden’s back, keeping his secrets, knowing his history, which he doesn’t tell many people. They also quietly had Violets back too, when they cleaned up her room after her attack in the night, and then hauled in a new armoire after their.. evening together. They are also funny and Garrick and Bodhi are so quick to defend Xaden in a rlly wholesome way.

Sex 🫢

Okay so this is a fun one 🤩 First i’ll talk about sexuality in this book and the representation. Although this is just a small detail my queer ass naturally picks up on, is how i love that sexuality isn’t an explicitly identified thing in this world, it just is what it is. You sleep with who you sleep with, you love who you love. It’s not a labelled thing. Rhiannon slept with tara- normal. Then she slept with Sawyer- normal. Ridoc slept with some older guy idk- normal. Ridoc then made jokes about sleeping with violet. normal. It’s just so natural and normalised and i like that she didn’t read too deep into it. that’s all. And also the Non-binary (again not labelled) rep with i think their name was Heaton? idk but i like never see they/thems in books so it was kinda nice. I think it’s a nice thing about creating a fantasy world, you can litterally portray things like this however you want, because it’s your fictional society, and you can give them whatever norms and values you want.

Ok smut 🫣. The book had good smut, a dedicated smut chapter, and a lot of steamy moments after that. But i won’t lie to you, the main smut scene was giving edward cullen destroying the bed 😥 like ngl i was scared- and then the lightning?!? girl- anyway it was wild. I like how Xaden was openly humble, reluctant to go any further in fear of “taking advantage of her after a shit day”, He cares so much 🥺❤️. The consent was a nice part. And then another thing, that kind of relates to what i was saying about the perks of being able to create the norms of a fictional society, is how they both mentioned they were on fertility surpressants. Both of them, not just her. I liked that small detail. OTHERWISE I WAS LITTERALLY SCARED FOR HER LIFE ON THAT SCENE😭😭

My only complaint about this in particular, some might disagree is that as much as i like smut in a book, i prefer it a lot more when it’s evenly split with fluff and wholesome cuddles and forehead kisses and stuff. It was just a very sexual-heavy relationship. Although, it’s understandable considering they ARENT ACTUALLY DATING !!!

Just some other things i liked:

- Tairn and Andarna 🥺 They are so cute just eeee!!

- Golden one and silver one

- “violence”

- Jesinia, using sign. love 👏the👏inclusivity👏

- The way the storyline all came together at the end. It’s just the best feeling when you read a book and you’re getting the ending and you can see all the small details tying together perfectly, and Rebecca did SUCH a good job at that

- I love the note at the beginning saying “the following text has been translated..” because it adds such a cool small layer of depth to the whole story

- How Rebecca showed violets trauma. She couldn’t bring herself to show weakness in front of others so she runs away to somewhere where she knows she can be alone to cry. How everything comes crumbling down on her when she sees mira again. How she panics when someone she loves is at risk. How she has flashbacks when she killed Barlowe. Beautiful 😍

- Jack’s death being her discovery of her signet and a big moment for her, how it was ruined by the fear and instant trauma of killing him (lol he had it coming)

Complaints !!

I don’t think i have many complaints about this book at all, only that all the guys look the same with different hair colours 😭 i said earlier about how i don’t like the stereotypical buff protective guy and that’s what im imagining them all as. More male diversity. Obvs i mentioned the lack of fluff. Probably could’ve done with more angst.

also dain was the biggest ick from the start

The next book???

I CANT WAIT!! i’ll probably stop by and buy it tomorrow. There are a few things i’m interested in:

-Brennan 🧍‍♂️

-Xadenviolet fixing itself

-Torturing Dain 😍

-The REBELLION!! hunger games who? violet everdeen who?

something i do hope is that it continues right where it left off, because istg if rebecca decides to do something clever and introduce a whole new set of characters and not even MENTION my babies until like the end of the book i will come to her house and scrap her (a formal threat). I hope it will be just as good as the first one!! it was very quick to be released but i bet she has a trilogy or series or something lined up she will be popping out soon. I don’t see Iron Flame being the last book of the series.

Conclusion 🤩🤩💃🕺

10/10 would recommend to young-adult readers!! It just had the perfect blend of, fantasy world, storyline, romance, plot twists and action that a story could have. Will give me so much daydreaming material to work with. Very inspiring for my own fantasy world aswell !! lots of small details to take inspo from and a very cool world to explore. The whole Xadenviolet arc from start to not-so-finish is annoyingly touching and Dain is just annoying!! (i hate him)

If you got this far thanks for reading :) xx

#book review #the fourth wing #xadenviolet #violet and xaden #fantasy #fantasy books #dragons #tfw #rebecca yarros #iron flame

[coyotesamachado]

Wouldn’t you love to love her? 1/3

Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw and Original Female Character

Then Hangman is telling him to follow her, and it takes a moment for him to blink out of his reverie. He scrambles out his seat and Phoenix barks out a laugh. No one knows who else is going on the mission, but they all know that Mac will be one of those pilots. A lot of them would be lying if they said that they hadn’t known that from the minute she walked into the Hard Deck that first night. While all of them were cocky pilots, outwardly so, Mac was just confident. The rest of them were quick to try and discredit each other's abilities, trying to make themselves seem bigger and badder, but she just simply let her flying do the talking. However, with her being a guarantee to fly, it means there’s a guarantee that she might not come back, so maybe that affords her a few little luxuries.

Long time reader, first time publishing something for other people to read. This was heavily inspired, loosely based on "Rhiannon" by Fleetwood Mac. Apparently there's just something about Fleetwood Mac and shirtless men with a 80's editing wash that just gets to me. I say semi-reader insert because the main character is never identified by anything other than her callsign.

Callsign is "Mac". I know I'm so creative.

It has been about two weeks since I saw the movie so if anything is out of whack in terms of sequencing, I apologize. I also want to apologize if there's any mistakes in Americanisms. I am Australian, and though I have been writing for very long time as American characters, sometimes the Australian still peeks through.

This is cross posted from my AO3, link in the source.

WC: 5560.

Warnings: eventual smut, explicit language, explicit sexual content, drinking, safety first, gratuitous use of commas. Under the cut because it is 18+ Reader discretion is advised.

Part two. Part Three.

Who will be her lover?

They watch her take off, can hear the smile on her face when she speaks over the comms.

They were brought back to Top Gun because they were the best of the best, as Phoenix reminded them the night before, but when Mac takes to the air with a lightness and grace, even Hangman has to admit that she’s the best among them. She has this air of coolness that when she’s in the air, nothing phases her. She deals with the g-force amazingly and her breath control is insane. Hangman would make a comment about it if he wasn’t so impressed. She breathes out slowly as she pulls the F-18 into a straight climb, narrowly missing being “shot down” by Maverick. She barely makes a sound over the comms as she shoots through the sky, where they could hear everyone else’s heavy breaths, snide comments, and quick rebuffs. She flips her plane easily, dropping down behind Maverick in their dogfight exercise, her sight set on him as she aims, but he drops out quickly before the kill tone can sound.

They fly around for what feels like hours before Maverick’s breathing heavy and Mac’s hands are shaking. He tells her to land her plane, calling it a draw, and the rest of the class are looking at one another wondering what that means for her push-ups. She has sweat dripping down the back of her neck, the tank underneath her flight suit heavily drenched. Her breathing finally seems heavy, her chest heaving despite the broad grin on her face. She grips Maverick’s hand in a firm shake, and he’s shaking his head at her with a laugh. She passes him her helmet and walks back into the hanger to the slow clap from the rest of the team with the exception of Rooster who is still completing his push-ups.

She waits there while everyone else is showering and when he doesn’t come back once the hanger is cleared, she goes in search of him. Hondo isn’t out there anymore, but Rooster is still doing his push-ups.

“They’re all gone Rooster, you can stop,” she says as she approaches, but he only gives her a grunt in reply and continues.

She goes to walk away when she hears the choked-out sob. She doesn’t turn to stare, instead she sits down on the tarmac looking out over the runways. She’s not too far away but she’s close enough that he knows she’s there if he needs her.

-

She moves easily through the crowd, spinning and ducking and weaving through the hands and voices trying to capture her attention. Her feet move with the agility of a dancer, and she supposes that she was in another life. In another life, she was dancing on the stages of the world, high on tip toe, graceful and delicate. But it’s not another life, it’s this one so she’s dancing through the crowded bar, four beer bottles dangling from her nimble fingers.

“MAA-AAAC!!!!” rings through her ears in a singsong fashion and she grins as she approaches her new friends. Rooster’s voice is loud over the noise in The Hard Deck and it only makes her chuckle. Passing out the beers to Bob and Phoenix, she holds Rooster’s just out of reach, teasing it back and forth, frustration etched in his forehead until she holds it out a little too long and he’s able to grasp it, snatching it from her. Her laughter rings out loudly, and Bob’s and Phoenix's joins it until after Rooster has swallowed his first mouthful and gets over it.

She sits with them and brings her own bottle to her lips, tipping her head back for a moment, and Rooster can’t help but stare for a moment as her throat bobs when she swallows. Phoenix coughs when she catches him, and Mac opens her eyes glancing at the woman she considers her closest friend here as she continues to down her beer. She misses the way Rooster’s eyes darken, but Phoenix and Bob don’t. A look is shared between them before Rooster blinks and brings his eyes to anywhere but her.

-

“You look like you need a dance partner, Mac.”

Hangman’s in her ear, and her hips stutter from their swaying movement, the skirt of her dress still moving despite the sudden stop.

“And you think that’s going to be you?” she asks, a smirk appearing on her lips. She twirls away from him, her laughter following as she sways her way over to the bar and parks herself next to Bob.

“How many times do men need to hear the word no?” she asks him with a sigh before picking out a peanut from his bowl.

“Some men, only once,” he states factually, “But men like Hangman, probably another dozen.”

Mac smiles at the smirk on his face, happy to see him enjoying himself. Anything to bring Hangman down a peg and prop Bob up just a little more. His quiet demeanor reminds her of her own. She appreciates having him at Top Gun, a grounding force when it should be so easy to fall into a cocky stride alongside the other pilots.

“Do you need another drink?” she asks him, turning back to the bar to get Penny’s attention. He barely has a chance to answer before she’s ordering two beers on her tab and passing one over to Bob. Then she’s standing up again and dancing away. He can’t help but be impressed that she’s the same on the ground as she is in the air. She’s calm, cool and collected, never staying in one place too long and constantly dancing away from scenarios. He admires that about her.

She finds her way over to Phoenix, her eyes fixating on the other woman from the moment they land on her. She takes a swig of beer as she shimmies over to her. When she reaches her, her beer is thrust into Rooster’s hand without a sideways glance before she extends her other hand to Phoenix.

“Dance with me?” she asks, her whole body swaying to the music. Phoenix lets out a laugh before she finishes off her own beer. She shakes her head but takes Mac’s hand, allowing her to twirl her before pulling her close and pushing her away again. The smiles are bright on both their faces as Phoenix sidesteps while Mac spins around her. She pulls the other woman close, rocking their bodies together in a dance reminiscent of a funky waltz. They move like that for the rest of the song and the next before Phoenix pulls away, breathless with laughter.

“No, I need another drink,” she says, walking away from a pouting Mac. The guys around them rush to look away, like the two women were not the center of attention for the last five and a half minutes.

Mac turns, her eyes scanning over the guys around them. They settle on Rooster, seated on one of the chairs by the pool tables in the back. She takes a seat on his lap, wrapping an arm around in neck in a comfortable manner. While she is relaxed in her seat, taking her beer from his hand, he is significantly less comfortable. Her proximity was making him more drunk than her beer that he had been drinking. When his hand rests on her knee with nowhere else to put it, she smiles brightly at him, and he’d deny that he sits up straighter, his body tensing. His lips still twitch up in a smile in return. She sips at her beer as her attention turns back to the bar. Her fingers tap out a rhythm on his shoulder, humming happily. No one says anything about it being the longest they’ve ever seen her sit still when she isn’t in a plane.

She signals to Penny rather than getting up, a surprise to just about everyone around them. Rooster doesn’t say anything as she hands both of them their beers, an eyebrow raised and a questioning glint in her eye. Mac is watching everyone around them carefully, daring someone to say something, anything, but no one does. She stays seated on Rooster’s lap, and he refuses to make any movement that would make her run away like a frightened cat. He knows he’s not the one in control right now. She watches Phoenix attempt to beat Hangman in pool, her nails scratching gently at the hairs on the nape of Rooster’s neck and his thumb starts rubbing circles over the fabric of her dress until it slowly begins to ride up. He stills when he makes contact with her skin, but she doesn’t stop her own comforting movements, so he continues.

The night slows out and when Mac finally stands, she spins quickly, the skirt of her dress flaring out. Everyone in their team sees when she presses a kiss to the corner of his mouth, but she has the kind of cool confidence that allows her to walk over to the bar without embarrassment despite the whistles. She closes out her tab and waltzes out of the bar with a wave of her hand to Bob and Phoenix, without a look back at him.

Then Hangman is telling him to follow her, and it takes a moment for him to blink out of his reverie. He scrambles out his seat and Phoenix barks out a laugh. No one knows who else is going on the mission, but they all know that Mac will be one of those pilots. A lot of them would be lying if they said that they hadn’t known that from the minute she walked into the Hard Deck that first night. While all of them were cocky pilots, outwardly so, Mac was just confident. The rest of them were quick to try and discredit each other's abilities, trying to make themselves seem bigger and badder, but she just simply let her flying do the talking. However, with her being a guarantee to fly, it means there’s a guarantee that she might not come back, so maybe that affords her a few little luxuries.

-

Rooster follows her, a quick nod to Penny who is grinning like the cat who got the cream at getting to see this all unfold. He walks out into the parking lot and she captures his attention like she practiced it. She’s swaying to the beat inside her head as she starts walking back towards base. He wonders if that’s how she stays so calm in the air, some unheard tune playing constantly in her head. It would not surprise him if that were the case.

He catches up to her easily, an arm slung low around her waist. She looks up at him, that same easy confidence written over her face as she smiles at up at him.

“I wasn’t sure you got the invitation.”

“I didn’t. Hangman of all people had to spell it out for me,” he admits, and she nods slowly. They’re both silent as they walk, his steps nearly clumsy next to her’s as she seems like she’s floating.

“You good enough to drive me home?” she asks him and he nods, directing her towards his Bronco. It’s a quiet drive back to the barracks, but it’s a comfortable one. Her hand is warm and heavy, high on his thigh, making her intentions well known. It makes it incredibly difficult for him to concentrate on the road. She hums along to the songs on the radio while he sings quietly. It’s almost like they’ve been doing this dance for years, rather than a week or two.

-

His arm wraps around her again, pulling her close as they walk through the barracks and to her room. She unlocks her door, pushing it open before turning her attention back to him.

Just as she’s wondering if she’ll have to make the first move again, Rooster moves, the arm around her waist curling back towards himself and bringing her with him. She blinks up at him, her smile still so bright even though the night surrounds them.

“Mac,” he whispers, his other hand coming up to tuck the stray hair clinging to her cheek, back behind her ear. He’d call it a cliché if his heart wasn’t beating loudly in this moment. Her eyes glance down to his lips and he peeks his tongue out to wet them.

“Rooster,” she returns softly, her fingers walking up his chest until she can wrap her arms around his neck and press herself closer to him. “If you don’t kiss me soon, I’m walking in there and closing the door behind me.”

It’s a threat, and one they both know she’ll make good on. His laugh rumbles through his chest, and she can feel it from where she’s pushed herself up against him. She’s about to pull away, disappointment blooming through her, when the hand on the side of her face turns from soft and calming, to gripping her chin and tilting her face towards him. He still has to duck down a little, but then his lips gently touch her’s.

That’s all the gentle he gets before she pushes back hard, her fingernails scratching hard at the hairs at the nape of his neck. It’s reminiscent of only an hour before. She bites at his bottom lip and the gasp that follows is all she needs to push her tongue forward and deepen their kiss.

It’s dizzying, how fast the speed has changed, before Rooster remembers that they’re pilots. They’re both used to idling on a tarmac or ship before getting up to speeds fast enough to take off. Satisfied that he’s not going to run away from her now, Mac drags her hands back down his chest until she settles with toying with the hem of the tight, white t-shirt underneath one of his many Hawaiian shirts. Both of his hands drop to her ass, squeezing at her cheeks like most of the guys in their team had been longing to do. She huffs out a laugh into their kiss before she breaks it. Taking a step backwards, she tugs on the open sides of his shirt, dragging him along with her.

She turns them before they reach the doorway and pushes him through. She walks in after him with deliberate strides until she can kick the door closed behind them. Rooster doesn’t allow her to turn around and lock it before he’s pushing her up against it. He kisses her again, his hands tangling in her hair, pulling her to where he wants her. She reaches for the door knob behind her, flicking the lock and praying that Phoenix doesn’t come back early, or if she does, she has the decency to knock. But that’s the last she thinks of Phoenix as Rooster starts kissing down her neck, nipping and biting as he goes. She hums happily, her nails dragging down his back before she brings her hands back around to his front and slides the Hawaiian shirt from his shoulders. It catches on his elbows and he laughs, untangling his hands from her hair so he can drop it unceremoniously on the floor. While he’s there, she tucks her hands under his t-shirt and pushes it up as her hands run the length of his torso.

He pulls it over his head, and it’s joining his other shirt while she drinks in the sight of him without anyone around to judge her. Phoenix had caught her staring at him the day of dogfight football, and had specifically run at her, tackling her to the ground before any of the other guys could catch her. Could she really be blamed when he was dancing around like that after his touchdown? The two of them had stayed up that night gossiping, and she’d whispered quietly that maybe she wanted him.

She goes to move again, but Rooster’s shaking his head and stepping back into her, crowding her against the wall. His fingers are delicate as he slides the strings she calls straps on her dress down over her shoulders so the only thing holding it up is the zipper in the back.

She brings his lips back to hers with both hands on either side of his face, trying to bring him to her as close as possible. His mustache tickles at her nose but she finds herself not caring, it's certainly attractive on him. She arches her back, her head knocking back against the door, so she can press her chest into his. He’s smart enough to get the hint at that moment and his hands are hot on the skin of her shoulder blades. They’re only there a moment before he’s ripping the zip of her dress down and she falls back against the door so gravity can do its thing and her dress is sliding to the ground between them. He pulls away from their kiss, his eyes holding her’s like he’s too respectful to glance down. She expects that from someone like Bob, but not Rooster. Her hands trace up the curve of her own stomach, fingers dipping under the line of her breasts, softly caressing the skin until she’s tugging on her nipples and his attention is finally drawn downwards.

He blinks and swallows, his adam’s apple bobbing and she smirks.

“Come on Rooster, no need to be gentle, I promise I won’t break,” she whispers, like anything louder will break the tension in the room and bring him out of this. She doesn’t want him running now, not when she’s on the edge of death and he might be joining her.

He pushes her hands out of the way, grabbing them in one of his own and holding them above her head. He looms over her and kicks her legs wider apart, pushing his thigh up against her core. She moans deep in the back of throat, and the noise catches both of them off guard. But soon he’s smirking and his free hand returns to toy with her nipple, pulling and pinching until he’s happy with its pebbling. She’s rolling her hips against the strong muscle of his thigh, and if she wasn’t so turned on, she’d be embarrassed by how desperate she seems. He bites at the junction where her neck meets her collarbone and she gasps, snapping her hips forward.

“Please Rooster,” she pleads, and it sounds so foreign to him because he genuinely doesn’t think she should ever have to plead for anything in her life. But it’s his name, his callsign, falling from her lips in a breathless fashion, and he wouldn’t mind hearing it again.

But he decides to placate her, knowing that if he doesn’t, she’ll kick him out into the hallway with blue balls, leaving him with the knowledge that she’s taking care of herself.

His hand follows the line of her body from the curve of her breast to the dip at the top of her hip. He runs his finger through the top of her laced panties while their tongues battle for the dominance that neither of them are sure they want to win. It’s much more fun to fight for it. She whines and huffs, trying to move her hips so that he’s touching her right where she wants him. But he moves his hand back with her hips, teasing her the same way she teased him with the beer bottle all those nights ago. She huffs out a sigh and he finally pushes forward, his finger sliding easily between her folds. She sighs happily at the contact, grateful for more than just humping herself on his leg. It soon turns to a soft moan as he finds her clit and slowly runs his finger over it in circles. She wants it harder, faster, but she can only roll her hips so far because the grip he has on her wrists is just the right amount of tight that makes her body tremble.

“Bradley,” she whines by way of asking for more. He groans at his name falling from her lips that he practically bruises them when he kisses her again. He pushes a finger inside of her, his thumb taking over rubbing circles on her clit. He’s quick to add a second as she bucks her hips forward to meet his hand. Her own hands strain against his grip because all she wants to do is touch him, but at this point he’s so determined to make her come on his fingers that he doesn’t give a damn about how hard he is.

He adds a third finger and she comes undone. Her moans come out in breathless pants because she knows that she needs to be quiet but it’s just so difficult when his fingers fill her in ways her own can’t and the calloused feel of his thumb on her clit is enough to drive her crazy with desire. It’s so much better than anything she’d be able to do to herself. Her muscles relax and she falls back against the door, expelling the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding as her body stops trembling.

He looks down at her in amazement, a smirk pulling at the corners of his lips, and she tugs at the grip on her wrists again, desperate to touch him now. Rooster finally lets them go and she rolls them to get movement back into them.

“Sorry,” he says sheepishly, and she shakes her head.

“Do not apologize for anything you just did,” she says sternly before dropping her hands to his belt.

Her nimble fingers have his buckle undone before he can blink, and she whips the belt from its loops, tossing it aside. She flips open his button and slides down the zip. Rooster sighs in relief from the strain of his erection against the denim of his pants. She chuckles as she slides her hand in and grips him, this time it’s him moaning as she surges up to kiss him and quieten him.

Much to his annoyance she removes her hand far too quickly for him to get any satisfaction. He groans unhappily, and she laughs into their kiss, pushing him back towards her bed. She slides her hands down the hard lines of his body into the back of his pants, pushing them down slightly as she grips the meat of his ass. When his legs hit that side of her bed, she pushes them the rest of the way down, and she follows them getting on her knees in front of him. Rooster moans at the sight, knowing what’s coming next.

One of her hands trace up his thigh until she reaches his stomach and she pushes him so he’s sitting on the edge of her bed and it’s easier for her to wrap her hand around his cock. She gives him a gentle tug, getting used to the weight of him. She adjusts her stance on her knees and before he can say anything to her, she licks a slow stripe up the underside of his cock. Rooster moans again, and Mac is smirking to herself as she wraps her lips around the head, her tongue swirling around him. He leans back on his hands, watching her as her hands wraps around the base of his cock and she continues working over the head.

A mean thought lingers through his head, a comment Hangman made after a drunken night out, and Rooster is far too tempted to try it. He tangles his hand in her hair, gripping at her skull, pulling slightly. He guides her gently, rather than the rough push Hangman would have given her if it had been him in this position. She pushes off, a line of spit connecting her lips to the head of his cock, and he groans at the lack of contact. If he had a chance to panic, he would. Instead, she breathes in deeply through her nose before taking him in her mouth again, her hand coming off and she’s guiding herself lower on his cock.

Her breath comes out in one slow puff as he feels her throat relax and her nose touch his stomach. A loud moan escapes him, and she swallows around him, extending it. His fingers tighten in her hair and she chances a glance up at him through her lashes. She can see, feel, that he’s holding back, and she bobs her head before pinching at the skin of his thigh. He hadn’t realized that his eyes were scrunched closed tight, that when he looks down at her, it takes a moment for his eyes to adjust to the sight before him. It’s heavenly and one he wishes he could take a picture of.

Then she’s pulling back again, pushing against the hand on her head.

“Come on Rooster, you don’t have to hold back with me.”

He groans at the thought but she’s back on his cock before he can think too much about it. She relaxes her jaw, her throat and pinches him again, her silent way of telling him to move. He pushes her off him, standing up. Before concern can blossom through her, he’s guiding her back towards him. He thrusts quickly into her mouth, and she chokes a moment before she adjusts and everything’s relaxed and open and Rooster can’t believe he’s fucking her throat. If he weren’t a gentleman he’d be inclined to boast about what was currently happening in the morning. Her fingers glide a gentle rhythm against his thighs, one completely juxtaposed to the speed at which his hips are snapping. He pulls her right up against him, her nose squished against the bone of his pelvis and he holds her there for a minute until her eyes start to water. He’s surprised that she doesn’t pinch his thigh and it just impresses him all the more. He feels himself edge towards the precipice of coming and he pulls her off him quickly, his hand pressing a tight grip to base of his cock as he lowers himself to the ground in front of her. He kisses her hard and fast, and it’s dizzying to go from a lack of oxygen to his tongue wrestling with her own.

“Fucking hell Mac,” he says, pressing their foreheads together, “that could have been the death of me.”

She smiles sheepishly, wiping a hand over her face to clear it of the tears and spit she felt. But he’s kissing her again before she can think too much about it. Rooster’s pushing her back against the floor and she’s laughing because there’s a bed right over there but they’re both impatient and they only have so much time before Phoenix comes back to claim her own bed on the other side of their twin room.

Rooster stays on his knees, and he pulls her panties off her finally before pulling her hips up onto him, but she rolls away.

“Uh uh, condom,” she says, shaking a finger at him before grabbing one from her bedside drawer. She throws it at him with a sweet smile.

“You keep condoms in your drawer? Who else do you sneak in here, Mac?” His voice is jovial but there’s a hint of jealousy tinging the edge of it.

She takes a deep breath, rolling herself back towards him.

“Safety first, Rooster. And no one. There’s two in my purse as well, just in case. But it’s a bit hard to want to fuck other people when there’s only one guy who has your attention,” she admits the last part softly.

Rooster glances up at her from where he’s rolling the condom on, and he smiles softly at her.

“It’s Bob isn’t it?” He jokes.

“Get the fuck out right now if you’re going to keep going down that path,” she laughs, and he’s back pulling her hips up over his thighs before thrusting into her.

She bites her lip, a weak attempt to hold back the moan itching at her throat. Instead, he rips it from her with a hard thrust, and it rings loud in both their ears. If anyone has come back to the barracks, she was going to hear about it in the morning. Rooster probably would too, since the entire bar had seen how they had left the bar earlier. He laughs, not feeling the same embarrassment that’s causing a pink blush to rise from her chest to her cheeks. But then he’s thrusting into her with a slow and steady rhythm until she babbling for more, her fingers grasping at the carpet.

He places her ankles up over his shoulders, changing the angle of his thrusts and she shoves her hand over her mouth to stop herself from crying out too loudly. He chuckles lowly, and fucks into her faster, his speed relentless against her. She bites down on the skin of her palm; he’s grunting with each thrust into her, and he feels a little bad that he won’t last all that long, but with the blow job she gave him before, could he really be blamed? He grips at her thigh with one hand and brings the other down to her clit, determined to make her come again before he does.

Her upper back is scratching deliciously across the carpet, as each thrust of his hips pushes her further away from him.

“Why you running away Mac?”

He pulls her close again, and she laughs. She’s breathing hard into the skin of her hand, it coming out in short puffs with each of his powerful strokes. He tilts her hips and manages to get just the right angle that she squeaks out a high-pitched moan. He can feel she’s close, her body tensing around him, and she’s dragging him with her. She comes with a cry, her body trembling but he can’t slow down as he chases his own release. Soon he’s following her over the edge of ecstasy. He has the foresight to let her legs down from his shoulders before he collapses on top of her. His elbows bracket her head, catching her hair as he brings hips lips to her’s in another kiss, this one sweet in comparison to the heated ones before.

She laughs happily, and it’s music to his ears.

“Bed,” she manages to choke out, her voice hoarse from earlier and fighting to bite back her moans. As he pulls out of her and gets rid of the condom, she stands on shaking legs and carries herself over to her bed. He goes to pass her the water bottle from her side table, and she gives him a sleepy smile, reaching out to grab it. Instead, he grabs her hand, turning it over so he can inspect her palm. There are teeth marks there and he rubs his thumb over it gently.

“You okay?”

“Better than,” she smiles, “lay down a moment?”

She doesn’t need to ask twice for him to put his underwear back on and climb onto her bed next to her.

“Won’t Phoenix be back soon?”

“Fuck Phoenix,” she mumbles, but she pulls a pair of clean underwear from her draw and her sleep shirt from under her pillow. She pushes him back onto the bed and lays down next to him, wrapping herself around him. His hand settles under her shirt, warm across her lower back.

They both fall asleep with smiles on their faces.

-

She wakes up before him, the smile still on her lips when she sees Rooster next to her. She can tell by the light of the room that it’s going to be morning soon. She rolls over, and he mumbles in his sleep, pulling her back against him. Phoenix’s bed is still made, their clothes are still strewn across the floor and despite how good it feels to wake up next to him, panic starts to seep in.

“Rooster,” she whispers in an attempt to wake him up, but his mumbles continue, so she slides his arm from around her, and slips out of her bed. How the two of them managed to sleep in a single bed together, was beyond her.

She throws on her work out clothes, a look at Phoenix’s clock telling her that it’s still too early in the morning for her flight uniform. She walks out into their common area, shoes in hand, ready to go for a run when she’s stopped by the sight of her roommate.

Phoenix looks up at her, a glint of mischief in her eyes, and Mac is relieved to see that she doesn’t look angry.

“Oh good, I can go get out of these now,” she said, gesturing down at the fact she’s wearing the same clothes she was in last night.

“Ah, not right now.”

“He’s still there?”

Mac nods, having the decency to look apologetic, but Phoenix grins at her.

“Tell me everything,” she demands, sinking back in the couch with her coffee mug in hand.

“I don’t know if you want to hear everything,” Mac counters, but they hear footsteps and Phoenix’s response is drowned out as Hangman walks into the room.

“She might not want to know, but I certainly do.”

#top gun maverick #top gun: maverick #bradley bradshaw #bradley rooster bradshaw #rooster #rooster smut #top gun fanfic #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley rooster bradshaw x reader #rooster x reader #bradley bradshaw x original female character #bradley bradshaw x ofc #my fic

[genderqueer-hippie]

I was tagged by @ineffabildaddy to fill out a get to know you doodad so here we are! Thank you for the tag, I love these things!

Real name: Jasmine - I was named after my dad's favorite flower

Nicknames & origins: In high school I was called Raph (we assigned teenage mutant ninja turtles to each other like normal ppl) and Grandma (long running joke of our friends long story) Jael was my first one online, an alias back in my days of livejournal. Jay is the most common and I enjoy it because it's gender neutral and easy to remember.

AO3:

https://archiveofourown.org/users/PatchouliDreamsForever/profile

Social media: this is the only place I am active

Pets: Oscar, Grace, and Bruiser. Not pictured is Buddy, a lab/mastiff mix

Hobbies: hiking, writing, foraging, camping, video games, reading, embroidery, cooking, other things that my noodle brain has forgotten

Personality: I tend to be more shy, especially in unfamiliar situations. I'm quick to be friends if I vibe well with someone. I tend to babble like a hamster on uppers when I talk about things I enjoy. Idk I'm just a super laid back queer stoner type (who is currently very stoned lol)

Fav holiday: I don't have a favorite, actually? I just enjoy the family time of a holiday meal together.

Fav food: edamame

Fav dessert: I'm a whore for gelato

Fav color: eggplant

Fav quotes: "But I digress..." is very relevant to my daily life

Fav books: The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, The Jungle Books, Fahrenheit 451, Good Omens, Wind in the Willows, I could go on but I won't

Fav TV shows: okay in no particular order, let the list unfold- Golden Girls, Buffy, Star Trek, Doctor Who, Interview with the Vampire, Willow, Good Omens, Staged, Our Flag Means Death, A League of Their Own, Torchwood,

Fav films: Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Birdcage, But I'm a Cheerleader, Funny Face, Charade, Princess Bride, The Blue's Brothers, Eyes Without a Face, Chicago, and so many more

Fav characters: I have so many!

Fav actors: currently all about David Tennant but Audrey Hepburn is always my go-to answer

Fav songs: Rhiannon Giddens is an amazing artist and everything I've heard from her is my favorite. I highly recommend Julie

Fav genre: I listen to so many things. I guess most listened to is blues and folk, but classical is another main staple of mine.

Fav podcast: I don't really listen to them tbh

Have you ever met a celebrity? Yes. Went to a Supernatural convention back in ...2013? Osric was running around the lobby in footie pajamas hanging out with everyone. I froze when Misha sat next to me at the cocktail party. I hugged Matt and he was super sweet. Karaoke was super fun. Ah, memories 😌

Have you ever been to a concert? Quite a few! I haven't been to one in a long time though.

Do you collect anything? I like rocks, books, physical media (CDs, DVDs, VHS), teas, wax seals and stationery

Idols? Idk that I really have an idol?

Is there a real life friend you can be yourself around? For the most part, yeah

Where would you love to travel? So many places. I haven't traveled far at all.

Random fact about yourself: when I was a kid I'd spend road trips daydreaming about running off into the woods and living a hermit life in a cave

This took longer than it should have but it was fun! I tag any of my moots that want to have an excuse to do it!

#tag games #about me #this was fun

[mynameis-noe-body]

Jopper's headcanon: they had a daughter in 1968

I have already written about how they could have had an unplanned daughter: here to read the headcanon.

Now, knowing she was born in 1968, middle child and from another father in comparison to Jonathan and Will, let's see how she'd be.

First of all — she has her mother's eyes and hair, and her father's nose. She's taller than Joyce, let's say she has Jonathan height which is a lot for a 80s high school girl. Her shoulders are just like her father's: broad and beautiful, while her long legs and tight hips matches her mother's phisique.

She was born and grewp up around men her whole life, and Joyce is pretty grunge and was pretty grunge even in her early days, so she's never learned how to be a girly girl. Sure, she's always been Hop's princess — he calls her peach, and painted her bedroom lilac, gifted her a bunch of old, romantic movies from the 50s ("Roman Holidays", "Gone with the Wind", "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", "The Carpetbaggers" and so on), and she is still very much a daddy's girl, but... she secretly listen to Joan Jett (and Metallica, The Scorpions, Cutting Crew, Ozzy and all that metal stuff Joyce would be impressed with and Jim would find slightly disturbing), insisting on wearing her hair short, and wearing the oversized jacket Hop brought home once from the Police Station. It's like his blue one, just a couple of sizes smaller (still, too big) and she took off the Police badgers. She's got at least four pair of jeans, all the same, tight on the hips and large around the calves, and several Hawkins High sweatshirt (so that her mama doesn't have to buy more for her too). Jim has tried a couple of time asking her about shopping, but she doesn't really seem interested. She should wear glasses, but she never does.

You want to see how she looked like? Here she is (inspo model).

Joyce chose her name all alone. Lonnie wasn't interested when he found out (or rather, he thought) he was having a girl — just another bloody good-for-nothing woman, we really didn't need that. So, Joyce chose alone. And she wanted her name to be strong and glorious, despite anything Lonnie would say. She chose Rhiannon. Rhiannon Byers. It was unique — maybe too much, since she never introduced with that name, opting for Ari or just peach, since everyone in Hawkins knew her by that name.

She was known, indeed, as the Chief's daughter. And people knew she was a Byers — even though, in the end, she found out the truth about her birth — but they still thought of her as a Hopper. She asked for her last name to be changed. She reffered, in front of teachers and classmates, to Jim Hopper as her dad. People were confused. Joyce had to explain many many times — but she refused to lecture her daughter about it. There were suspicions... she looked nothing like Lonnie. Nor Jonathan or Will, for what's worth. And while she had the best relationship with Will — being protective and supporting him, playing d&d and always acting the part of the monster to be defeated in the Byers' Fort, into the wood, playing knights with her brother — she always fought with Jonathan. And they fought hard. He accused her of not wanting to be part of their life, calling Jim a father while he never was for any of them (still, not knowing the whole truth), she accused him of being envy, and too proud to accept help anytime Jim offered. Jim and Joyce, slowly getting together and falling in love, would talk about this a lot.

She smokes her father's cigarettes, and she knows he knows but they both don't speak about it. She feels guilty every time.

Yes, she has the biggest daddy issue. She grew up twelve years in an abusive household, Lonnie being a prick and mocking her constantly: she was weak, and too small, and braid made her look like an idiot, she would be a waste of time growing up, and who would have ever wanted her? She looked stupid like her mother. These words echoes in her mind every single day, and she does her best to prove them wrong. She wants to be her father's favorite person. She wants to be smart enough, and she struggles to get good grades (not always succeding) and she shouldn't be smoking but curiosity got the best of her, and she started during her first high school year. She just wants to be like him. But he doesn't really see that... he cares and he loves her, but as most fathers in the 80s he's not that good at speaking heart to heart. Mama's the best. Ari rarely spend any time at the Byers house — and Joyce fine with it, since Rhiannon is always at school, in the library, at the Police Station, and when she doesn't want to sleep at home it's because she's sleeping at Jim's — but when she does, they spend hours talking in front of a cup of tea. Mama always has the answer.

Joyce knows deep down Rhiannon is sensitive and sweet like her brothers, just a little rough on the edges like her father. She has a temper, no doubt, and she is a little capricious since Jim spoils her way too much. But still, she is a funny sweet girl.

They drink tea together, on weekends, and they sometimes paint with Will.

She dreams of working for her dad at the Hawkins PD and, for a while, like any other girl in school, she had the hugest cruch on Steve Harrington. Put it was quickly gone and Jim was relive you didn't seem too much interested in guys.

He teaches her how to Rockabilly jive and they perform every Christmas, to the great entertainment of her brothers and Joyce. She would never admit it, but she loves to jive with her dad, she'd gladly to it every other day. Christmas is her favorite day of the year... because on that day she is sure to have her family reunited. And with time passing by, there won't be a single day they won't spend under the same roof. Her brother, her mother and her father — a real family, after all. A little broken, a little messy... but a family nonetheless.

#jopper headcanons #joyce byers headcanons #jim hopper headcanons #chief jim hopper #jim hopper #dad!hopper #mom!joyce byers #hopper!reader #stranger things headcanons #stranger things

[kindan-no-kanojo]

Forbidden Voracity ☯ Dark Epilogue

[ Dark Epilogue; Part 1 ← Previous ] [ Masterlist ]

»Part 2 —Choice: Stay put— [ ♥ ]

[ Place: Kino's room ]

—Scarlett rolls on her spot, trying to deal with the Rhiannon hallucination—

Scarlett: ( I’m very tired… I need to sleep… )

Rhiannon?: …f̴̰͛u̶̲͋r̵̙̚ỳ̶͚.̷̠͊.̷̞̚.̵̝̀ ! 

Scarlett: ( Don’t call me that!! )

( Whose fault is it that I am…!? )

Rhiannon?: Save me…!

Scarlett: Stop…!

( My mind is playing tricks again…! ) 

( I need to sleep…  I need to breathe and— )

Rhiannon?: I knew you wouldn’t dare.

Scarlett: Eh!?

Rhiannon?: You only care about yourself.

Selfish fury.

Scarlett: What…

Rhiannon?: I’m dead because of you!

You deserve this!

Scarlett: Stop…

Rhiannon?: You ruined me!

And I will ruin you!

Scarlett: Stop!

Rhiannon?: Useless! Traitor! Weak!

Scarlett: STOP!

AH—!?

—Scarlett sits up; she bumps into Kino—

Scarlett: Kino!?

Kino: Geez, finally.

You won’t stay quiet even when you sleep?

Scarlett: Eh…? ( I fell asleep after all..? )

Kino: Ha. What a tormented Princess.

Who are you trying to stop?

Scarlett: … …

… no one.

Kino: Hm…

Alright, keep your secrets.

But if you’re screaming like that again, no one will get any sleep.

Come with me.

Scarlett: What…? Go… where? 

Kino: Where else? To the bed.

And if you scream again I’ll suffocate you with a pillow.

Scarlett: Huh–!?

N–no, I don’t want to—!?

Kino: I don’t care.

Stop making this harder than it needs to be!

Scarlett: Really, don’t–!

Kino: Quiet.

—Kino grabs her arm and drags her to his bed regardless—

Scarlett: Gh!?

Kino: Shhh.

—Kino lays down first; Scarlett sits on the bed, stiff—

Scarlett: … … This is inappropriate.

Kino: Well, I won’t have you waking the whole neighborhood up.

Even though I don’t even have neighbors.

Scarlett: … …

Kino: Lay down already!

I have my pillows right here.

Scarlett: … Was I really screaming that much?

Kino: Hm? Eh. Maybe it wasn’t that bad.

But it would get worse overtime.

In any case, I’m a light sleeper when I have a maniac in the same room.

Scarlett: Hah–!?

Sigh…

—Scarlett lays down—

Kino: Good.

Scarlett: …Thank you, I suppose.

Kino: Nah, don’t give me that. 

Scarlett: …?

Wha—!?

—Kino hovers over her—

Kino: I’ll take my reward myself.

Scarlett: Reward—!?

Kino: Aren’t I such an awesome Prince for protecting you from the horrors of your dreams?

I deserve a reward.

Scarlett: This isn’t the way—!

Kino: There’s no better way.

Now, shush. I wanna try something.

Scarlett: Ah!?

( He’s so close… leaning over my shoulder! )

Kino: Sniff sniff.

Your smell is quite odd like this, but... it’s different from the Ghoul one…

…does the same happen to your taste?

Scarlett: Taste!?

Don’t tell me—!

Kino: Ha. Took you long enough.

Stay still.

Scarlett: W-w-w-wait!!!

Kino: I’m not waiting.

Scarlett: Please!

—Scarlett struggles; he catches both her arms—

Scarlett: Ah–!

Kino: If you struggle it’ll only hurt more… not that it affects me.

I’m so considerate, right?

Now keep it low, unless you want Yuuri to come in…

If he does, it’s on you—

Scarlett: No—!

—Kino bites Scarlett—

Scarlett: Ahhh!

Noo– Mmn–! ( I don’t want anyone to come in! )

( But it… it feels awful…! )

Kino: Ngh….

—Kino takes a sip and moves away for a moment—

Kino: Hm…

Scarlett: … … ( It lasted less than I expected…)

Are you done…?

Kino: …it’s just as bitter as I thought.

Scarlett: Ah!?

Kino: Hahaha! 

You must be grossed out, it hurts my feelings.

Scarlett: I am!!

Kino: Too bad, I need another reward now…

Or maybe I can take more until it tastes better.

Scarlett: … … …

Kino: … Why are you looking at me like that?

Scarlett: … the… blood…

Kino: Hm? 

Ah… Do you want a taste? 

I don’t want you snapping on me, forget it.

Scarlett: … … hm. ( The blood loss, the smell... )

( I’m feeling dizzy all of the sudden... )

Kino: … hey.

You’re making an interesting face just now...

Are you passing out already or what?

Scarlett: I think so…

Kino: Heh. After all you struggled, I guess it makes sense.

Fine, I’ll leave it here.

My curiosity and I were fed enough. 

—Kino wipes his mouth with his fingers, then licks them clean—

Scarlett: … ah…

Kino: … This is how you do it.

Clean and almost stainless.

…Really, stop looking at me like that, you’ll make me blush.

Scarlett: I’m not looking at you…

Kino: Those hungry eyes aren’t for me? Heh, whatever you say.

…Here.

Scarlett: !

—Kino presses his slightly bloody fingertips on Scarlett’s lips—

Kino: Have a treat.

If you snap, I’ll kill you.

Scarlett: Nnm! ( My blood!? )

( It’s true, it isn’t… like those other Ghouls’... ) 

( …I have to keep it together, this is embarrassing enough! )

Kino: Uwah, you do have self-control.

Scarlett: … sometimes…

( Maybe I’m too tired… )

Kino: I’d keep messing with you for a little longer but…

I’d rather do that while you’re awake. It’s enough for now.

But with that you should sleep like a baby, so you’re welcome.

Good night.

—Kino rolls over—

Scarlett: … … Good night.

( …I feel warm. It’s disgusting. )

( How did it end up like this…? )

( Rhiannon-sama never did something likely. She was never this… gentle. )

( As weird as that sounds. )   

( It wasn’t the worst pain I’ve ever had, which doesn’t make it any good, but… )

( Still, this can’t keep happening. Like a beast who just tasted blood, this is only meant to continue… )

( I can’t keep acting in the safest way… I don’t want to fall in the same loop again. )

( If I have to bring back my past habits to be safer, then so be it. )

( Although, I do wonder… )

( Would things have been any different if I acted before falling asleep…? )

—Dark Epilogue END—

[ Masterlist ] [ Next → Maniac Prologue ]

#Forbidden Voracity ☯ #Scarlett Wakahisa #Diabolik Lovers OC #.YAY IM DONE #[self-given claps.mp3] #.now i die 🗿

[corrupted-nightmare]

back to the basics -

name: viviana june vikare. name meaning: vivana meaning alive or lively. june meaning young. nickname(s): vivi, viv occult type: vampire, red council. birthday: october 13th age: 126 ; 23 (age when turned) sexuality: bisexual occupation: dance teacher ; stripper language(s) spoken: romanian, hungarian, english, spanish

extra, extra, read all about it !

personality deep dive -

archetype: the coryphee zodiac: libra - the scales - air - venus personality type: esfp - entertainer positive traits: sociable, persuasive, daring negative traits: unhinged, extravagant, intrusive moral alignment: chaotic evil enneagram: type 7 - enthusiast hobbies: dancing, ballet, vinyl record collecting pinterest: click here theme song: rhiannon - fleetwood mac

ties that bind -

birth parents: skender vasile & livinia barbu aunt: sorina barbu sibling(s): jinx & sorin vikare pet(s): athena - cat

open for the taking -

(character) back from the dead - ex. vivi acts spontaneously. you made her angry during your breakup years ago and she killed you. or, at least she thought she did. she wasn't as fine-tuned in axing people as she is now and accidentally turned you into a vampire. whoopsie daisy. now, you have returned. could be that you hate her and have been hunting her down. could be that you just accidentally stumbled into the same town. any gender. would likely have been turned in the late 40s-early 50s.

(connection) it takes two to tango - vivi teaches dance classes of all different styles. you could be a long time student of hers (at least, since she came to town) or a new one.

(connection) all that jazz - vivi loves music. you two have bonded over this. maybe, you just love it too or maybe you play/sing. either way this has brought you together.

(connection) former hookups - vivi likes to have a good time. these were nothing serious, but you likely remained pals.

(connection) enemy/ies - viv doesn't take things too seriously. even having a foe. this could irritate you or you find it amusing. either way, it is like a game to her. would probably be an occult fued, but we can really figure out anything!

once upon a time -

viviana never got to know her parents, though once she did meet her father, she understood why. her mother died during childbirth and her aunt raised her.

having known that vivi was in danger of being turned one day from the rumors around their village in romania, her aunt moved them to new york. she had thought the busy city would be a good place to hide amongst the throngs of people.

vivi grew a deep love of dancing when she was a child, certainly stemming from the flapper era that she was being raised in. that love sent her to a ballet school in london during the summer of 1944. it was there that she had received a call that her aunt had been murdered. when she went back to their home, she found a letter addressed to her in the event of her aunt's passing explaining the fears of her father finding her.

not sure of what else to do, vivi packed up what she needed and headed towards the west coast, thinking that she wouldn't be found. however, she was wrong. her father caught up with her in california and turned her into a vampire. not that she wanted a relationship with him, but it seemed he also didn't want one with her. he did tell her limited information on his plans to gain more power by extending his bloodline.

vivi wasn't sure when it would happen, but she knew eventually she would have siblings that she would be unable to warn about the man. that day came when she found a brother and sister, jinx and sorin, both created and turned by skender vasile.

despite the circumstances, vivi was thrilled to have siblings and took to them immediately. she gladly moved with them from place to place, eventually finding san arcadius.

inside information -

during the war, vivi could often be found at uso dances.

after her aunt was killed, she would leave california for months at a time to go to different countries and study their dance styles.

during the day, vivi has a dance studio in town that she rents to teach. all of the windows are blacked out.

she loves music, often losing track of time dancing around to music.

she has a fascination with daggers and throwing them, making her an excellent dart player.

quite the gambler, loves both the slots and tables.

believes her cat is a better judge of character than she is.

#vivi / about #vivi / intro #intros

[zmzebra-writes]

Title: The Lake Summary: Sword fighting at the lake goes wrong for a local LARP group when the Lady of the Lake replaces a sword lost in her domain.

On the bank of the lake a group of young teenagers played with swords. Or foam swords at least. The LARP club for the local school had taken a field trip to the nearby lake for enrichment and “appreciation for nature’s beauty in the heart of Wales” as one of their club advisors had put it when explaining it to the school board. The school board just shrugged and approved it. Emrys Wyllt was an eccentric fellow, but as long as his co-advisor, Fay Morgans, was there, she would prevent any harm to the children.

“Hiya!” yelled out a 15-year-old boy as he brought down his sword on his opponent.

The opponent, a 15-year-old girl, parried his sword and went in for an attack while his sword was down. “Not so fast!”

“Faster even,” he said as he blocked her stab. He pushed back on the sword to make her stumble before going in for the final strike.

Unfortunately for him, the girl was faster— catching her balance, she dodged his attack and sliced him across the back. “But not fast enough.”

The boy groaned at the loss, before falling to his knees. “Ack. I’m dying. I’m dying,” He fell face forward onto the ground, “I’m dead.”

The girl rolled her eyes with a smile before poking his body with her foam sword. “Come on, get up.”

“I can’t. You’ve slain me.”

“Then roll over to the graveyard with everyone else I killed to wait for the end of the battle to be revived. I have more people to kill and Ms. Morgans will get mad at both of us if you end up tripping someone up or get trampled.”

The boy pouted as he stretched out his arms and began rolling to the graveyard. “Fine…”

Ms. Morgans spotted him rolling across the battlefield. “Cai! Stop rolling carelessly underfoot. Did your legs break? If not, get up and use them!”

Cai stopped mid-roll and sulkily got up. “Yes, Ms. Morgans…”

The girl laughed under her hand as she watched her friend get scolded when suddenly it was her own turn to be called out by the other club advisor, Mr. Wyllt. “Lady Rhiannon! If you’ve finished fighting Sir Cai, Sir Mortimer is ready to be your next opponent.”

Rhiannon looked over her opponent as she walked over to the battlefield. If her memory was correct, Mortimer was one of the youngest club members at 13 years old. At first glance, in his all black clothing that swallowed him up and his quiet yet kind demeanor, many of the older members tended to underestimate him. Rhiannon knew better though. She had been studying his battles with the other LARPers and underneath each strike, she recognized true skill formed from years of practice. Mortimer doesn’t struggle to win battles during fights, but he also doesn’t wipe out his opponent as she assumes he likely could. It’s almost as if he wants people to continue to underestimate him and let down their guard with him, was Rhiannon’s opinion of the boy.

She wouldn’t underestimate him, however. She hadn’t come this far to lose to an underclassman because of her own foolishness. She would beat him fair and square. 

Rhiannon stopped a few feet in front of Mortimer. Mr. Wyllt nodded at them with a reminder to “play fair and stay safe” before heading off to investigate a group of students who were getting a little too rowdy.

“Are you ready to begin?” asked Rhiannon.

“I’m ready,” said Mortimer as he got into the ready position.

Rhiannon followed his movements. “Then we start on three. Together-”

“3.”

“2.”

“1.”

“Go!” they shouted together as they both went in to make the first move. Their swords parried against each other before pushing back and leading to their next attacks. 

Rhiannon noticed Mortimer’s movements became more sure and targeted as he realized he would need to pull out all the stops to have a chance to defeat her. Parry, strike, block. Parry, strike, block. They traveled around the field looking for an opening on each other.

The duo appeared evenly matched until Cai yelled out at them from the graveyard. “Hey, Rhi! Morts! The lake!”

Rhiannon glanced over to spot the lake a few steps behind her. Mortimer took the split second opportunity to attempt a lunge, but Rhiannon was able to react fast enough to dodge to the left. She brought her blade down as he overcompensated and nearly fell into the lake, yet Mortimer was able to shift his weight to avoid slipping and parry away her blade in the same movement. 

Both faced each other on the edge of the lake where one wrong foot meant getting wet socks from stepping into the water. The attacks continued with equal fervor until suddenly the loud voice of Ms. Morgans struck them from across the field. “Rhiannon! Mortimer! Stop fighting so close to the edge of the lake!”

The pair were caught off guard which caused both their attacks to miss their targets. Mortimer’s foam blade ended striking Rhiannon’s hand as she was swinging in the direction of the lake, causing her sword to go flying into the water. 

“Shit!” she cursed in pain.

“Sorry, sorry,” said Mortimer instantly as he lowered his sword and got closer, “Is your hand okay?”

Rhiannon opened her eyes to look at her hand. “I think so? Probably just bruised.”

“Sorry again,” Mortimer said as he looked down at her red hand, “I didn’t think I’d actually hit you on that swing.”

“Happens to the best of us,” she said before looking over at the lake where she could see her sword begin to sink below the surface, “Now if only my sword was a bit closer in the water.”

“This is why I told everyone to stay away from the waters edge when fighting,” said Ms. Morgan as she walked over to the pair, “Imagine if one of you had fallen in instead. It’s a straight 3 meter drop down into the water at this point of the lake.”

“Sorry, Ms. Morgan,” the pair responded.

Ms. Morgan looked down at Rhiannon. “Rhiannon, I see that you’ve injured your hand. Let me see it to check the damage.”

“Okay,” said Rhiannon as she lifted her still stinging hand.

“Hmmm…” said Ms. Morgan as she ran her hand up and down Rhiannon’s, “No broken bones, no sprains.”

She released her hand. “You should be all alright now.”

“Thanks,” Rhiannon took back her hand. It didn’t sting anymore.

Ms. Morgan looked out to the lake where the sword had sunk. “I shall get Mr. Wyllt to see if he can scrounge you up another sword, otherwise you should ask your peers if you can borrow theirs. Perhaps Mortimer would be happy to lend you his own sword in return for striking your hand.”

“Yes. Thank you, Ms. Morgan.” 

She turned around to head over to Mr. Wyllt who seemed to be talking to a group of upperclassmen in the back. Mortimer and Rhiannon turned back to the lake. The foam sword had disappeared from the surface. Rhiannon crouched down to the water’s edge and brushed the surface, leaving ripples in her wake. 

“I’m so sorry for knocking your sword out of your hand. I know how much time it took you to make it,” said Mortimer as he crouched down too, “You can use my sword for the rest of the trip. And I’ll make you a new one when we return to school.”

“Thanks, Mortimer,” said Rhiannon as she looked down into the green lake, “But right now, all I want is my trusted sword back.”

All of a sudden, there appeared a glowing object growing larger underneath the surface of the lake. 

“Huh?” said Rhiannon as she and Mortimer began to lean forward to see. 

The glowing object got closer to the surface until a shining sword’s blade rose through it. Rhiannon and Mortimer leaned away to avoid getting stabbed.

The sword raised higher and higher revealing a detailed hilt with two mirrored chimeras and a gemstone embedded at the junction point. It also revealed a pale wet hand gripping the golden handle with a relaxed yet secure grip. Rhiannon and Mortimer watched in silence, unable to move from their spot.

Slowly the hand extended into an arm, then a head, then a face, then a body, until there was a whole woman standing on the water’s surface with a sword lifted into the air with her right arm and a fancy scabbard in her left. The woman had long flowing inky black hair, pale skin tinged purple, and wore an ancient looking ornamental gown. On her head was a golden braided crown. She looked over at the crowd of students who had all stopped what they were doing to look at what seemed to be a group hallucination.

“Hello,” she began, “I am the Lady of the Lake.”

Her voice was soft yet carried across the entire field.

“I’ve come to give the sword Caledfwlch to the next rightful ruler of the Britons.”

The Lady of the Lake looked down at Mortimer and Rhiannon. Mortimer moved to kneel on one leg and nudged Rhiannon to do the same. Lost, she followed. Might as well treat the fae with respect like her family always told her to do.

“Young Rhiannon, daughter of Gwynedd,” she began, “You contain the strength and valor of Arthur himself. You will be the one to lead your people through the upcoming storm. May the spirit of Arthur give you strength.”

She looked up to address the crowd. “May all their spirits give your knights strength.”

Unsure of what came next, Rhiannon looked up at the Lady of the Lake to see her slowly bring down the sword to first tap her right cheek with the flat of the sword and then her left cheek. “I dub thee Lady Rhiannon,” The Lady of the Lake returned the sword into its scabbard, “Put out your hands.”

Rhiannon raised them. “With this sword you shall cut down all your enemies in your path and with this scabbard you shall never bleed. Treasure them and use them more wisely than their previous owner did.”

The sword was placed in Rhiannon’s hands. “I will,” she said confidentantly, “You can trust me to do my best to lead.”

The Lady of the Lake smiled down at her. “I trust you.” 

She looked up again at the crowd. “I trust in your knights to support you as Arthur’s once did.”

Her eyes caught sight of someone as recognition flew into them. Her brow furrowed as the Lady of the Lake spit a stream of lake water at Mr. Wyllt who spluttered, but accepted the blow. Ms. Morgans sidestepped the nearby splashes of water as she rolled her eyes at her co-worker.

Satisfied, the Lady of the Lake smiled at the children who all watched her with wide eyes. “Good luck,” she said before sinking back into the water from whence she came.

The group sat in silence. No one knew how to break the atmosphere to begin to explain what had just happened to them. Rhiannon looked down at the scabbard in her hands. Mortimer leaned over to look as well. Together they admired the intricate stitching along the body leading to a shining hilt. 

The scene was eventually broken by Cai’s loud voice. “Mr. Wyllt! Does this mean Rhi’s the new president of the LARP club?”

Mr. Wyllt chuckled as he twisted the water out of his beard. “I think it means a bit more than that, Cai. But hey, look on the bright side, you don’t need to get a new sword now, Rhiannon.”

Despite how mind-blowing this all was, Rhiannon found herself wanting her foam sword instead. It appeared that the Lady of the Lake was not the greatest at getting items in the lost and found back to their rightful owners. The sword she made was probably still at the bottom of the lake. What a loss.

#original #my writing #king arthur inspired #one shot

[catlordewrites]

Black Herons - Ch. 7

@slytherisstuff @sanfransolomitatm @karolajnx0yep @joossieisdabomb

Masterlist - Ao3 - First Chapter - Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

A/N: Sorry this took so long. Been busy etc. Also this chapter is much shorter than I originally intended it to be… but it was getting too long and unmanageable and I was starting to not like the vibe, so I’ve split it in two. Maybe three. Idk we’ll see what happens when I finish Ch 8.

A/N: Also I just want to say that I’ve been floored by the number of positive responses to this story. Honestly at the beginning I didn’t think there was any call for Black Herons. But I’ve gotten so many comments and follows (even from people who aren’t necessarily in the Dune fandom). It blows my mind. So thank you to everyone who reads and interacts with Black Herons. It really makes me so happy to know there are people out there who love Rhiannon as much as I do ❤️

Pairing: Duke Leto Atreides I x Fem!OC (slow burn)

Rating: M

TW: Mentions of sexual assault.

Word count: 3.6k

Chapter Seven: Lovers’ Paradigm

Part One

Under an overcast sky, heavy mist rolled off the cliffs and towards the sea. Rhiannon walked the rocky path leading away from the Castle Caladan and the village below it, comfortably unobtrusive in her trousers and long woolen overcoat. Not that she was in disguise, but where she was headed, ‘Duchess’ was the last thing she intended to be.

Two months had given her ample time to become acquainted with her role as Duchess; by now she knew how and when to cast the role aside. She had walked this path enough to know when it was and wasn’t occupied, and knew how long she could get away with being off of Castle grounds without her security before Hawat sent people after her.

Rhiannon also knew that the comm device behind her ear doubled as a tracker, and that the Master of Assassins was monitoring her movements closely. It was a little annoying, but a reasonable concession for this amount of freedom.

Turning her collar up against the sea winds, Rhiannon rounded the bluff and picked her way down the slope towards the lonely house squatting low on the hillside. The house had a well-kept, but battered look about it, with its mismatched storm shutters and chipping paint bleached by salt and wind.

In a small paddock beside the house, an old brown horse snuffled around in the coarse grass. Rhiannon reached into her coat pocket and produced a few apple slices filched from the Castle kitchen, which the horse munched happily while she rubbed his velvety nose.

The door to the laundry shed opened on creaking hinges and a woman bearing a wicker basket of folded linen on her hip bustled out into the yard. She was young—only in her early thirties—but hard work and constant stress had worn frown lines into her lovely face and threaded silver through her raven black hair.

The woman stopped and blinked with surprise to see Rhiannon standing there. Then her face lit up with a dazzling smile that dissolved the additional years.

Miriam ‘Mim’ Trussell, the daughter of a Guild banker, had been born into a wealthy Caladanian family. When she grew up, however, she had the misfortune of falling in love with a lower class businessman and known swindler. Naturally, her family had disapproved and, when their rebellious daughter eloped, promptly disowned her.

For a few years, Mim had been happy with her life; she moved into her husband’s family home outside of Cala City, where she raised their two children while he worked. Over time, her husband lost interest in his wife and children. He moved to Cala City permanently, only sending meager amounts of money when he happened to remember that he had a family.

With nowhere else to turn, Mim was forced to scratch out a living as a seamstress, and often struggled to keep her children clothed and fed. Not anymore, though. Now, her kitchen was well stocked with fresh food and her children wore clothes that fit.

Mim put the basket on the ground and, smiling shyly, came over to lean up and give Rhiannon a kiss. Rhiannon was fairly tall, and Mim was fairly short; Mim had to stand on her toes to do it, which entertained Rhiannon to no end.

“Have I fallen so far in your favor that you visit the horse before you visit me?” Mim pouted, her gray eyes bright and playful.

“I do like horses,” Rhiannon conceded, amused. She rubbed the hand not preoccupied with holding Mim to her side along the white blaze on the horse’s face. “How long has Arno been favoring that leg?”

“I don’t know. I hadn’t noticed.”

Rhiannon hummed thoughtfully. The mild and grizzled Arno was a far cry from the massive warhorses her father had kept during her youth, but he was enough to make her sentimental.

She pressed a kiss to Mim’s temple.

“His shoe may be coming loose. Remind me before I leave, and I’ll take a look at it before I go.”

Mim looked up at her through her eyelashes. “And when will that be?”

“A few hours. You have me until lunch.”

Rhiannon hadn’t spoken to her husband about pursuing outside relationships, but was certain that he knew. At their station, discretion was paramount—the last thing House Atreides needed was someone spreading rumors that the Duchess was a whore. No one, not even the servants, could suspect impropriety.

At the same time, Rhiannon wasn’t exactly keeping it a secret. If Hawat wasn’t keeping close tabs on the people within striking range of those he served, he wouldn’t be deserving of his job title.

Hawat, of course, reported everything to Leto.

Mim wasn’t the first lover she had taken since her marriage to Leto; Rhiannon had waited a month—a perfectly fair amount of time, in her opinion—for Leto and Jessica to work out their situation enough for him to revisit his relationship with his wife.

When he hadn't, Rhiannon considered the company of others fair game. There had been a few brief encounters with a visiting ambassador—an attractive man with an overbearing wife who gave him even more reasons to keep quiet about bedding a foreign duchess than Rhiannon had—and another with an actor from Jongleur, who also understood discretion.

Leto had said nothing, but had been a bit terse with her for a while afterwards.

She was a little sad to have upset him, but it couldn’t be helped. Being celibate for months or years until her husband felt comfortable fulfilling her sexual needs wasn’t an option. If he wanted to discuss his feelings with her, she’d happily listen, but otherwise his emotions were his own problem.

“I’ll be leaving for Ahmes in a few days,” Rhiannon explained as she carried Mim’s discarded basket inside. “I’ll try to stop by again before then, but if I can’t, I’ll arrange for someone to come along and check on you in a week or so. If something happens, go to the castle and ask for Mariona. She’ll take care of anything you need.”

Mim took Rhiannon’s hands and guided her into her bedroom. The room was small and practical; within it was a bed covered with handmade quilts, a dresser with a mirror, and a rocking chair occupied by yet another basket of half-finished sewing. Rhiannon sat on the edge of the bed, and Mim sidled into her lap, straddling her.

During the walk, the strong winds had tugged strands of hair free from Rhiannon’s updo. Mim gently brushed them away from her face.

“You sound as if you expect to be away for a long time.”

Rhiannon smoothed her hands along Mim’s spine. “I’m not sure how long, exactly. Conferences are unpredictable. Probably a couple of weeks, though.”

Disappointment flickered briefly across Mim’s face.

“Such a fabulous life you live,” she murmured sadly.

The time they spent together was precious to the hardworking mother. A flare of romance suitable for a filmbook to brighten an otherwise lackluster life.

Sympathetic, Rhiannon leaned in and kissed her soundly, determined to chase away whatever negative thoughts were swimming through her lover’s mind.

Their relationship had started the same way that many of Rhiannon’s had. During one of Rhiannon’s scheduled public outings in Cala City, she’d visited several local businesses. The haberdashery where Mim worked was one of them. It had been sheer luck that Mim had been there that day, at the exact time Rhiannon was; Mim was rarely actually in the store—she, like many of the seamstresses the shop employed, did the bulk of their work at home.

Mim had been shy, beaten down by the years of abandonment and dead ends. But Rhiannon was a keen observer, and she had caught the way the silent seamstress’s eyes had followed her—full of the kind of longing that couldn’t be explained by envy or simple admiration for the Duchess of Caladan. Rhiannon had found Mim attractive too, and decided to do something about it.

“Tell me what I can bring you back from Ahmes,” Rhiannon asked once she had teased the smile and flush back into Mim’s lovely face.

“I don’t know,” Mim mumbled against Rhiannon’s lips. Their arrangement was still fairly new, and Mim hadn’t yet had the time to get comfortable asking for things. For now, Rhiannon was happy to infer her desires, but she still looked forward to the time when Mim felt secure. “I’ve never been. What‘s Ahmes like?”

“I haven’t been there either. Fairly warm and sunny, I’m told.”

Mim had only ever known the misty seas of Caladan. “That sounds nice.”

“Caladan is already too warm for my tastes. I still have too much Ironian ice in my blood. On Ahmes, I may melt.”

Mim’s quiet laugh warmed Rhiannon through.

This relationship would also end the same way many of Rhiannon’s had; the circumstances would change and one or both of them would move on, or they would want more than Rhiannon was able to give. It was always bittersweet, but Rhiannon didn’t mind the impermanence.

For a while, at least, she had someone to care for. Because even though she wasn’t entirely certain that she was capable of love, it comforted her to know that she could at least make someone feel loved. Free of politics or schemes or violence.

No ulterior motives, only tenderness.

Viscount Emilian Dering sat across from his daughter as the ground car bumped along the cobblestone roads. Farther into Varvara lands. Farther from home and safety.

Rhia sat primly in her seat. Her long hair cascaded down her shoulders, pulled back at the temples by a diamond encrusted clip. Dressed in the finest silks money could buy, she looked exactly as a young noblewoman should.

She was quiet, which was rare. Even though her poise was immaculate, she practically vibrated with energy. Nervous. Excited. Anxious for a new beginning.

She didn’t know that it would more likely be the end.

Since she was eight, she had performed many of the functions as Lady of House Dering. A great burden for someone so young, but she had risen to the occasion. But as she grew older, the limitations of performing duties without the authority began to frustrate her. In the last five years or so, her relationship to her father had become strained. They argued often. Over anything and everything. About her brother, mostly. And politics.

Now twenty, she was ready for a new adventure. Her own Household. Freedom. A title. Perhaps even love.

Guilt twisted in the old patriarch’s stomach.

Keeping the truth from her hadn’t been easy.

For the first time in many years, he allowed himself to study her features. Memorize them. There was so much of Rhosyn about her—Vidar genes were stubborn. Rhia had the height and lean build. The dark eyes and strong jaw. But it went deeper than that. Hotheaded. Cunning. Fearless. From her mother and her mother’s mother, she had inherited a fiery temper, rugged determination, and lethal intellect.

During the negotiations that had ended with Emilian taking Rhosyn as his wife, Rhosyn’s father had said, “Her mother’s a full blooded Dweller, lad. That’s one way to inject a little fire and piss into your bloodline!”

Fire and piss. Rhiannon had absorbed her lessons on politics and military strategy. Now, she regularly outwitted her father’s most seasoned advisors. After years of training, she had mastered the sword—preferring the combat style of Clan Vidar; even now, she wore her grandmother’s vambraces, swirling gold wlysteel emblazoned with the Vidar crest.

What a waste.

Rhiannon looked away from the window and caught her father watching her. She gave him a rare smile, which he forced himself to return.

Their enemies were becoming more aggressive by the day. House Dering needed the military might of House Varvara to survive.

No matter how much they fought, Emilian loved his daughter. But he also had a young son. His heir was the future, and Emilian had to ensure that the House Dering that young Larion inherited was stable enough to survive another generation.

Survival was expensive, and Rhia was the price.

Hopefully, he would survive the guilt.

The message came during lunch.

Leto was picking at a plate of smoked fish and vegetables when a courier wearing the official yellow and green uniform of House Adelio found him in the courtyard, led there by Thufir Hawat.

Leto accepted the sealed message cylinder and processed a thumbprint receipt. When the courier had gone, Leto cracked open the cylinder and read the message inside while Hawat took his seat at the small table to wait. When he finished reading, he passed the message to the Mentat.

“Most unfortunate timing, M’Lord,” Hawat said. “Baron Adelio writes as though the plans for the Trade Summit will be unaffected. But such an attack will have changed the dynamics considerably. Perhaps, M’Lord, it would be best to forgo the Summit entirely.”

Meal forgotten, Leto absently tapped his fork against the table.

“No… I think that would be premature. We’ll need to tighten our security for the trip, of course.” He paused, considering. “Where is the Duchess? She’ll need to coordinate with any changes we make.”

Hawat’s expression didn’t change. “The Lady Atreides visited the village this morning. She seems to be running behind schedule, but she is en route to the castle as we speak.”

Though he was no longer hungry, Leto turned his attention back to his plate and stabbed at the fish moodily. Rhiannon had told him from the beginning that she would take lovers if he wasn’t up to the task, but he would be lying if he said that there wasn’t a small part of him that had hoped that she would wait for him.

Leto could say or do nothing to prevent her from seeking company—he’d given her permission to take lovers even before they met. But it did nothing to soften the shock and hurt he’d felt when Hawat told him of his new wife’s conquests. And just when he thought he had made peace with the idea of Rhiannon taking casual lovers, she had started regularly visiting a woman—Leto still hadn’t decided how he felt about that—who lived outside of the village below the Castle. 

Rhiannon’s behavior towards Leto hadn’t changed, but he couldn’t help but worry. Would she still want to be with him when the time came? What if she fell in love with someone else and no longer wanted to explore her relationship with her husband?

Eventually, Leto realized that he was only upsetting himself over the things that might be, instead of focusing on matters of the present. Deciding that it was in everyone’s best interest if he knew as little about his wife’s exploits as possible, Leto passed the responsibility of monitoring the Duchess’s affairs into Hawat’s capable hands, and did his best to think no more of it.

“Yes, well…” Leto started, shaking his head to clear it. “When the Duchess gets back, inform her of the situation and tell her to—”

“Tell the Duchess what?”

Rhiannon, who had seemingly materialized into the center of the courtyard, was striding towards them, tugging off her fine leather gloves and tucking them into her coat pocket. She was composed and graceful as ever, but a few streaks of drying mud marred one of her thighs and the insides of her coat sleeves at the wrist.

“M’Lady.” Hawat stood and bowed respectfully. “Shall I send the Commerce Minister a message to inform him that the Duchess will be somewhat late to their scheduled meeting?”

“I’ve already rescheduled it, but thank you,” Rhiannon said brightly. Then, by way of an explanation, added, “I was shoeing a horse.”

There were many aspects of having a Duchess that had caught Leto by surprise. Being able to pass off some of his Royal duties, for one; the strange relationship that had developed between the Duchess and the Chief of Security, for another.

Rhiannon and Hawat seemed to be locked in a (hopefully friendly) battle of wits and information that Leto didn’t understand at all. He had no idea how it worked or who was winning, but was extremely grateful that he hadn’t been asked to take sides.

“That explains the mud,” Leto commented, hoping to distract from Hawat’s sour expression. Leto offered Rhiannon the message from Baron Adelio, then explained as she read. “House Belgrave has invaded one of the Adelio holdings. House Adelio has declared kanly, but the Summit seems to be going forward as planned.”

“It all sounds very dramatic,” Rhiannon said absently, still reading. “I take it we’re going anyway?”

“A large sum of House Adelio’s income is generated by the Summit. If House Atreides backs out, others will too. Octavius is an old friend of my father’s. It… wouldn’t be right to pull out just when he needs the support.”

“Of course, M’Lord.” Hawat looked serious. “But the Belgrave invasion was clearly timed to interfere with the Trade Summit. We need to consider the possibility that there may be another attack while the Summit is in session.”

Rhiannon, who had settled in one of the empty seats, stole Leto’s fork and poached a few of the roasted vegetables off his plate. He pushed the plate closer to her so she could help herself.

“I know Belgrave and Adelio are ancestral enemies,” Rhiannon mused, “but what’s our relationship to Belgrave? As in, if there is an attack, how likely are we to be targets?”

Hawat’s gaze turned inwards, sifting through his vast reservoirs of information.

“Summary: House Atreides has no direct links to House Belgrave. However, in the past the Atreides have lent both fiscal and military aid to House Adelio during conflicts with Belgrave. Projection: House Atreides is likely to be indirectly targeted during an attack, but unlikely to be subjected to direct targeting.”

“We’ll need to have several solid extraction plans ready.” Rhiannon looked at Leto. “You also need to figure out what kind of resources you’re willing to pour into Adelio before we get there.”

Leto frowned. “I’ve made no promises to Adelio, and the Baron hasn’t asked that I make any.”

“All the same. House Belgrave is much larger and more powerful than House Adelio. Your father was Baron Adelio’s friend. He will ask. And we’ll be much better off if you have your answer prepared.”

Surprisingly, Hawat agreed with her. “The eyes of the Landsraad will be on this conflict, M’Lord. I advise caution.”

“Agreed,” Leto said. “I’ll consider our options carefully before I agree to anything. For now, updating our security measures is more pressing.” His eyes fixed on Hawat. “Give me an analysis: where are our weakest points?”

Rhiannon settled back to listen, eyes sharp and unblinking.

Rhiannon Varvara hadn’t been a virgin, but she was bleeding anyway. Between her legs, but also her lip, her head, and from a rather deep cut on her thigh.

Physical pains, she could handle. She’d always been tough. Worse than the blood was the confusion. Anger. Humiliation.

She wasn’t someone who allowed herself to be bullied; when the encounters with her new husband turned into something she didn’t enjoy, she fought back. Even as the days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, she kept fighting.

And every time, Bence Varvara tried to put her in her place. When he couldn’t manage her on his own, he brought guards in to help. Had them beat her within an inch of consciousness, or hold her down, or even use her while her husband looked on, amused.

Wife number six was an interesting challenge.

To Count Bence Varvara, it was a game. One that he had played with all five of the wives that had been before Rhiannon. He used them until they broke. And then he got bored, and disposed of them.

But Rhiannon was a survivor.

Even at night, Arrakis sweltered.

The air was dry in the way that old bones are. Rough and thirsty. It dragged at the skin like sandpaper, clinging to any exposed tissues and begging for a drink.

Not many people dared to go outside without a Stillsuit. Only the ignorant and the rich.

Chantria was neither.

Her skin was soft and supple, water-fat and protected from the harsh wind blowing in from the desert by expensive creams and lotions. But she moved through the darkened streets of Arrakeen with expert precision, clinging to the shadows along the walls and alleys like a cat.

She wasn’t rich, but the brothel that employed her was. The revealing chiffon clothes draped about her marked her as an expensive whore, but the symbol tattooed to her wrist in dark ink was a constant reminder of with whom her true loyalties lay.

Chantria didn’t always understand her orders. Her Mistress’ interest in Arrakis—in the Fremen, specifically—seemed a bit preposterous. But it wasn’t her place to direct the master schemes.

The Mistress needed a liaison. A spy. A soldier. Someone clever enough to see what needed to be done, and then had the courage to do it. Tough enough to survive Arrakis. Scrappy enough to survive the Harkonnens. Loyal enough to trust.

Chantria was every one of those things. And more.

When she arrived at the rugged house near the outskirts of the city, the smile Chantria painted on her lovely face was as good as genuine. She was intensely proud of the work she did, and establishing the connections needed to be one of the girls sent to entertain the brothel’s Fremen customers had taken time.

Making connections through the Fremen she serviced would be even more difficult, but Chantria was up to the challenge.

#duke leto atreides x reader #leto atreides x reader #duke leto x reader #oc #fanfic #duke leto atreides x oc #duke leto x oc #leto atreides i x reader #dune

[cavalierclavier]

Oh and it seems - so far away, / My flighty heart should not dismay / Beyond this wall there is a hill / Blushing in the evening still

decided to do a little redesign of my main ocs, with their new refs under the cut. (there’s also a few character details, because i don’t talk about them nearly as much as i should for how often i draw them, lol)

Ash is a wanderer. It’s what she’s been for the past few years, it’s what she’ll continue to be for a long while after. For Ash, it’s all about the thrill of unearthing something from the ruins and picking apart how it works. If she manages to get it functioning, all the better! There’s nothing like the feeling of putting something back together.

Ash is kindhearted, self-sacrificing, and far too stubborn for her own good. It’s a dangerous combination, but she’ll be damned if she lets even one person suffer on their own. Better she take the pain for them, right?

Gavin is a creature called an Outsider, and is currently trapped inside a magical relic. He’d do anything to get free, even if it means extending his trust to humans. He doesn’t really think they deserve it, after all they’ve done to him and his kind. He doesn’t really think he deserves theirs, either.

He can be sardonic, vicious, and though he’d never admit it, occasionally caring. Ridiculous. After all, no Storm can choose its path.

Rhiannon is a healer. Little else tends to be known about her, and she prefers to keep it that way. Her blank mask and cold gaze do much to dissuade the curious.

Serious, eloquent, and distant, Rhiannon paints a clear picture of how she wants others to view her. Privately? It’s nice to let the mask slip every now and then.

#illustration #oc #oc art #original character #character sheet #my art #ash #gavin #rhiannon #also the lyrics are from buy me time by seo linn #in case the link breaks lol #i've been thinking about that song a lot for these guys

[empyrean-thrones]

Chapter 2

“Bàsgiath War College is the oldest institution of higher learning in Navarre. Since its establishment, the college has survived countless wars and managed to preserve over 10 million books in their original text dating back to 200 years before the country’s unification in the Archives.” — History of Navarre by Colonel Lewis Markham

Ao3 Link

As we gather into the teardrop-shaped clearing, some third years go around passing hand towels and small umbrellas for us. Some of them have a scar or two running down the base of their necks or across their face, but none as visceral as the redhead’s. I take one with a nod of thanks and undo my braid to wipe it down as I head for a corner. I frown at a tiny knot stuck between my fingers, tugging at it a few times before stumbling into someone’s back. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to–” My voice dies in my throat when the stranger whips around to glare at me. He’s taller than most of the cadets here with dark brown skin, a large nose, and thick black hair combed back to one side so it falls over his left shoulder to look like a puffy cloud. The brand mark in the shape of erratic swirls crawling down the base of his right ear tells me everything I need to know about who he is. Xaden Riorson, the son of Fenrir II, glares down at me with nothing but pure malice.

“Sorrengail,” he says in a low poisonous tone, narrowing his eyes. I swallow and hold his gaze. The last thing I want to do is cower before a traitor’s son. He should be dead or working in the most dangerous coal mines like the rest of his comrades. Instead he’s here, proudly wearing the Rider Quadrant’s black leather uniform as though doing so might prove his loyalty to the king. As if it could erase the fact that his father and grandfather had attempted to tear down the walls of Bàsgiath not even thirty years ago. “Watch where you’re going.” It’s a warning I’m more than happy to follow. I lift my hands in surrender and he shoves past me, despite the open area, to a girl with short pink hair, pointed ears, and a similar mark burned into the left side of her neck. I don’t linger around to eavesdrop. The tension in my body only eases when I spot Rhiannon a short while later and hand her my towel to dry off.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she comments, patting her hair down.

“A few of the Tyrrish revolters’ kids are here,” I explain, nodding to the two I just passed as I put my rucksack on the ground. “Can you believe it?” Rhiannon raises a brow at them as I continue, “Their parents tried to overthrow the king and now they’re… I don’t even know what they think they’re doing here.”

“Maybe they want to make up for their parents’ mistakes,” she suggested, leaning against the wall next to me. “I heard surviving members have to take an oath of loyalty and get branded if they want to be considered full citizens again.” I scoff, shaking my head. It’s ludicrous. There’s only a handful of Marked Ones in the clearing but just the sight makes my skin crawl. Who knows what they could be plotting behind our backs?

“None of them can ever atone for the sins they’ve committed. Those bastards killed my brother. They deserve more than just a painful death.” I fold my arms across my chest and let out a huff of air. “It’s fucking bullshit.” Rhiannon doesn’t speak for a minute. Her gaze is locked on the pink haired girl who’s frowning as she listens to something Xaden says. I open my mouth to tell her not to stir up trouble when a familiar voice calls my name from afar. I turn my head as a man with sandy brown hair weaves through the crowd to get to us. “Dain, over here!”

“Violet!” he exclaims once he’s close enough, pulling me into a tight embrace. I quickly notice that he’s gained some more muscle over the past few years. He’s grown a beard which looks… a bit odd on him, I won’t lie. I was kind of liking the stubble he’d had the last time we met. Well, whatever. It works for him, I guess. His warm calloused hands cups my face gently as he checks me over. “Mother Amari, what are you doing here?” Concern laces his voice. “I thought you were supposed to be with the scribes! You have to–”

“I’m fine, don’t worry,” I chuckle, prying his hands from my cheeks. “Mom signed me up a few months ago and I passed all the requirements.” His brows knit together and I see his pupils start to narrow like a cat’s. It’s one of the many offputting quirks being bonded to a dragon brings. Yeah, no. Fuck that. I swiftly spin on my heels to face Rhiannon. “Uh, this is Rhiannon,” I say in a chipper tone. “We met before crossing the bridge.” He blinks, shifting his attention to her. Thankfully, his eyes are normal now. “Rhiannon, this is my friend Dain. He’s Colonel Aetos’ son.”

“Hi,” he says stiffly, shaking her hand. “Can we have a moment, please? We won’t be long.” He steers me away to a separate corner before she can utter a response and folds his arms. “What do you mean your mom ‘signed you up?’” he demands, brows creasing.

“I meant exactly what I said,” I sigh. Gods, I should’ve prepared for this. Dain can be such a mother hen sometimes. “She made me take the test and I passed. Simple as that.” He shakes his head in disbelief.

“No, no. That can’t be right. The Board’s super strict with who gets in and who doesn’t. They’d never let someone like you into the Rider’s Quadrant, let alone Infantry.”

“Well, I’m here now!” I raise my arms to show him I’m perfectly fine. “See? No injuries so far. Nolon and Winnifred can patch me up if something happens–”

“But what if they can’t? What are you going to do if you’re stranded with only your dragon and no one else is there to heal your injuries?” I open my mouth to respond but he cuts me off. “You might survive on the mat during sparring lessons but you certainly won’t last a second in war. It’s hell out there, Vi.”

“I know–”

“No, you don’t! The records in the Archives only scratches the surface about the shit going on at the border. You couldn’t even spend a few days without constantly hurting yourself as a scribe. You’re going to get more than just bruises in here.”

“I’m not some porcelain doll,” I counter. “I already proved myself by crossing the bridge in the middle of a thunderstorm. Have you done that yet?” He doesn’t respond. He just stares at me. “Look, even if you did somehow smuggle me into the Scribe’s Quadrant, Mom would just drag me back.” I let out a frustrated huff of air and jab the toe of my boot into the mud. The rain starts to settle into a drizzle as the last few candidates walk in. They’re all bulky or built well enough to have a good chance in hand-to-hand combat. I almost envy them. Almost. “This place is supposed to make you strong, right?” Dain looks away from me. “Right?” I prompt.

“Sure,” he sighs, voice softening just a bit. “Sure, let’s go with that.”

“Okay, so I get stronger. Then you won’t have to hover over me like an obnoxious fly.”

“I am not –”

“Mom will be happy and I’ll finally be able to follow in Mira’s footsteps.”

“Is that what this is all about?” he asks, raising a brow. I blink, tilting my head slightly as I study him.

“Yeah, why?” He hesitates for a moment before exhaling through his nose.

“Nothing, I just… I thought you liked being a scribe, that’s all.” Oh . Of course I liked it. The Archives is probably my favorite place in the entire college. I love it there but… well, it was never really my passion. Dad always said it was my destiny to be a scribe. There were no ifs, no buts. Just do your book work and one day it’ll all pay off. So, I rose to the top of my class because… well, what else was I supposed to do? Flunk and disappoint my family?

“It was great there,” I tell Dain. “But, you know. I don’t want to be stuck in a dark cave wearing musky old robes for the rest of my life. Someone probably died in those things at least twice.” That gets an amused huff out of him. “You know I’ve always dreamed of flying. This is my life’s goal; I’m gonna achieve it no matter what.”

“The dragons,” he begins, “don’t tolerate weakness.” He nods towards the redhead I met earlier. “See her? That’s Amber Mavis. A scorpiontail did that to her during Threshing and she almost didn’t get a chance to bond because her wounds were so bad. If something like that happens to you…” His expression turns pained. “Are you sure you want to go through with this?”

“I’ve been through more pain this week than she ever will. You, of all people, should know that by now.” I soften my voice just a little and squeeze his hand reassuringly. “I’ll be fine , trust me.” He finally relents, stepping back with a reluctant sigh. Amber approaches but stops a few feet away from us, arms clasped behind her back, and clears her throat to get our — well, Dain’s attention. She locks eyes with him for a moment until he gives her a small nod and heads off towards the dias where a few other riders gather on a slightly lower platform. “So what was that all about?” I ask.

“They’re going to start soon.”

“No, I mean that look Amber gave you.” I narrow my eyes in mock suspicion. “Are you two fucking?” His cheeks instantly flush and I gasp. “Oh my gods, really?”

“No!” he says instantly, abandoning his anxiety for once. I stand on my toes to get a better look at her. She moves in purposeful strides that scream elegance and authority; her uniform is mostly dry as she stands next to a woman with short black hair and a rapier strapped to her side. “She’s my superior officer. It would be too awkward between us and… well, she takes her job very seriously. Besides, it’s against the Codex anyway.” I roll my eyes. Typical Dain. Facial features aside, her legs are a work of art even from here. “You should go find your friend. We’ll meet up later.” He gives me a pat on my back before joining a group of cadets near the podium. I can’t help but crack a smile as I head over to Rhiannon who’s still by the wall, polishing her greatsword with a black cloth.

“We’re about to start,” I say, grabbing my bag. We follow the other cadets to the edge of four large squares painted on the grass in black. As the bell clangs overhead, Commandant Panchek strides towards the front of the dias above the platform where the four riders stand. His medals glimmer in the faint early rays as he moves.

“Good morning cadets,” he says in a voice loud enough for all to hear, “and welcome to Bàsgiath War College. Three hundred and one of you stand here today before us and, I must say, that is significantly better than last year’s. Many of you are returning to complete your three year course while others are just starting out on your journey to glory. As the Codex says, your true crucible begins at this very moment!” He grins, bearing his teeth, as he stares down at us with pale blue eyes. “The number of cadets the dragons found worthy of being riders were few last year, but I believe this new batch has what it takes to mount our most powerful assets.” His gaze flickers towards me for a split second before they land on someone else. “In this mighty fortress, you will learn and know what it truly takes to be a dragon rider. Your superiors, teachers, and even fellow peers are all here to guide and mold you into strong, resilient warriors. How well you learn from them is entirely up to you. Discipline falls to your units, and your wingleader is the last word. Should I need to get involved…” He pauses for dramatic effect then chuckles. “Well, let’s pray that day never happens. With that, I leave you to your wingleaders.” One of the four below him, a woman with short brown hair steps forward, summoning a large scroll in her hands as Panchek leaves.

“I am Nyra, the senior wingleader of the quadrant and head of First Wing. For the uninitiated, this Quadrant — Navarre’s aerial force — is divided into four battalions called Wings. These are split into three sections: Claw, Flame, and Tail.” She nods to the three giant squares in the first painted column before her as she continues in her posh Deaconshire accent, “Each section hosts three squadrons; each squad is led by a squad leader who in turn is led by the section leader. As Panchek stated before, the wingleader has the final say in critical matters and punishment regarding faulty squads. Section and Squad Leaders step forward.” I blink in surprise as Dain steps toward Fourth Wing’s Flame section and stops a good distance from a man wielding dual swords. Holy shit, he’s a squad leader? No way he climbed the ranks that fast. I look up to where Amber Mavis stands over him on the podium. Her face is as emotionless as a stone slab. Hell, she doesn’t even look at him. Guess he was right about her taking her job seriously. If that were me, I don’t know if I’d ever be able to take my eyes off my lover if they ended up in Dain’s position. “When we call your names, step forward,” Nyra instructs.

She starts with Claw Section then down to Tail. The squads are lined up into three neat rectangles before the squad leaders who then turn to face the section leader. This goes on until Amber finally steps forward. My eyes widen as a small spot in front of her warps and births a pitch black hole. She doesn’t even hesitate to shove her hand in and pulls out a scroll. “First Squad: Claw Section — Fourth Wing,” she reads aloud. The black hole vanishes as she goes down the list.

“Was that her signet’s blessing?” Rhiannon whispers next to me, raising a brow.

“No, that’s object storing. It’s one of the lesser magical abilities riders get after bonding with a dragon but I’ve never seen it look like that.” Mira’s usually just looks like a deep blue tear with shimmering stars, not… whatever this is. I guess it looks different for everyone.

“Second Squad: Flame Section — Fourth Wing,” Amber calls without a hint of emotion. “Xaden Riorson…” My heart tries to leap out of my throat as he stalks forward to stand in front of Dain. Fourth Wing. That means... Shit. I desperately pray to Zihnal to put me in Tail when Rhiannon is called alongside him. I do not want to be paired with him, not even in death. “Violet Sorrengail.” My gaze immediately snaps to Xaden who visibly stiffens. He looks like he’s trying really hard to set her on fire with his mind.

“I-I’m sorry?” I squeak out.

“Violet Sorrengail, you now belong to Second Squad, Flame Section of Fourth Wing.” Amber lowers the scroll to look at me. “Step forward.”

“Wh- I… he’s–”

“Step. Forward.” My legs obey and I soon find myself standing a few people behind the Tyrrish bastard, hands balled into fists at my sides. Zihnal hates me. There’s no other explanation. Why else would he curse me with this weak ass body and put me in the same squad as Xaden fucking Riorson? I try to scour through my brain for anything I’ve done in the past to warrant such a fate. Was it because I couldn’t remember that prayer on the Bridge? Was this my punishment for not having a perfect memory? I close my eyes, inhaling slowly through my nose. This is the price I have to pay. Fine. I’m not going to push my luck by insulting him. The last thing I need right now is even worse luck. When Amber finishes listing off Tail’s cadets, she drops her scroll into the black hole of hers as if it were nothing more than garbage.

The sound of flapping wings fills air and large shadows momentarily block out the sun. A weyr of eight dragons fly overhead then dip low, tilting their powerful wings as they curve over us like vultures circling a corpse. The wind is so powerful, it almost knocks me back. They hover momentarily before dropping onto the thick outer wall. There are three prickly looking dragons in varying shades of red with scales like a pauldron running down the back of their neck, an upward pointing snout and curved bull horns. Two of them — one navy blue, the other red-orange — have smoother scales and long horns. Judging by the two small horns sprouting from above their eyes, they look like blue-tongued daggertails. The other three are brown and green with the same frills Teine has. My heartbeat quickens as the blue daggertail lowers its head to glare at me with its piercing golden eyes. I focus instead on my new wingleader, feeling my palms start to sweat.

“Congratulations,” she states, “you’re all officially cadets. Look at your squad mates, look at your wing. These are the people you will entrust with your life. These are the ones who will save you from danger should you need it. They are your beating heart and they are the blood coursing through every intricate part of your inner body. You must never fail them, never betray them, under any circumstances.” She gives Xaden a meaningful look that forces him to lower his head slightly in submission. “Navarre is the last bastion of sanctuary in this forsaken world and we are the wall that protects its citizens — not infantry, not the nobles, not the guards patrolling the streets. We are the defenders of the breach, the shelter from the oncoming storm. In this quadrant we are one mind, one body. I expect cooperation and perfect coordination between all squad members by the time you leave these doors as fully graduated riders. Is that understood?”

“Yes, ma’am!” we say in unison.

Nyra steps in to say, “First years, after you eat, you’ll be taken to your dorms to change and report to class. I look forward to seeing your full potential.” The dragons exhale hot blasts of steam from their noses at us before flying off towards the Vale where their dens are. “You’re dismissed.” Gradually, we all flock to the rotunda’s doors that lead to the main hall and dining area. The scent of bacon wafts through the open mahogany doors, causing my stomach to growl.

“I can’t believe we’re paired with Riorson,” I grumble. “It’s like the gods hate me.” I clench my jaw as I watch him weave through the crowd to get ahead. They give him a wide berth as if he’s a leviathan and they’re all minnows. If he wants to atone for his father’s sins, he can do it by bleeding out on the floor.

“I’m pretty sure they’re just trying to test you,” Rhiannon says, shifting her sword from one shoulder to the next. “Gods like to do that all the time. He’ll probably try to make your life hell but he can’t exactly kill you.” No, but we’ll be forced to work together and that’s close enough in my books. The interior of the rotunda is shaped like an oval with five evenly spaced marble pillars carved out to resemble the dragon breeds of Navarre supporting the three stories overhead. Light pools through the stained glass ceiling and the tiled floors are almost as reflective as a mirror. To the left are two massive arched doors leading to the academic wing, echoed by the same on the right, which leads to the dorms. Up ahead between the stairs that climb to the study lounge, lies our destination — two wooden doors that open up to the largest dining hall I’ve ever seen.

 We take a seat close to the edge of one of the long rows of polished tables stationed in the middle of the room. To our left towards the wall sits an extravagant looking table with embroidered purple tablecloth and cushioned armchairs — even the way the napkins are folded on their plates give off an air of luxury. The wingleaders take their seats at the center while section leaders sit at the edge, observing us with curious analytical eyes as they murmur to one another. I wonder if Mira’s ever sat up there. Mother certainly had.

“Hey, look who made it!” a chipper voice says, pulling my attention away from the elites. A boy with rich brown skin and soft brunette curls covering his brows slides in across from us, sporting a giant grin. “I wasn’t expecting to see you so soon, Ree.”

“So your plan failed, huh?” Amusement flickers in Rhiannon’s eyes as she sits next to me.

“Plan?” I echo, raising a brow at the two of them.

“Ridoc here tried to avoid getting drafted by pretending to have a fever.” That gets a scoff out of me. “Honestly, what were you thinking?”

“It’s nearly impossible to avoid the draft. You’d have to be severely wounded or clinically insane for that to work.”

“Oh, I should’ve tried that,” Ridoc murmured. “Do you think they’ll let me go if I hit my head hard enough?”

“Doubt it. Why do you want to get out of here so soon? It hasn’t even been a day yet.” I’ve seen a few people piss their pants about getting drafted but those were usually poor commoners. These two don’t look anywhere close to poor. Well, their clothes are pretty bland and seem a bit worn at the edges but they don’t seem too malnourished. Ridoc’s grin falters slightly as he shifts a bit in his seat.

“Ah, well, you know how it is.” He waves a hand dismissively as if I should know. A moment passes between us as I wait for someone to explain. “N-never mind, it’s not that important.” He chuckles awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck in an embarrassed manner.

“We live near the border,” Rhiannon explains simply. She unfolds the napkin wrapped around her utensils and places it over her lap.

“So you’ve seen gryphon riders before?” I ask. “I heard they’ve been getting more aggressive in their attacks over the past few years.” Most of the news I’ve gotten have been from the reports brought into the Archives; those bastards have tried crossing the border more than once and even raided a few villages close to the Esban mountains despite the Resson trading post being on their land.

“I guess? We’re not that close but we’ve heard a few stories here and there.”

“That should give you all the more reason to fight back though. If it were up to me, I’d burn every gryphon rider to a crisp.”

“Yeah, good luck with that,” Ridoc responds. “Those things spawn like hydra heads. Kill one and five more show up out of nowhere!”

“That’s why we have dragons. If it weren’t for them, we’d be bird food.” Out of the corner of my eye, I see Nyra get up from her chair. Several servers in gray outfits station themselves outside the doors to the kitchen next to food carts packed with trays.

“Before we begin, would one of our second years like to offer a prayer to the pantheon?” she asks. When no one responds, her dark eyes lock onto the pink haired girl. “Imogen! How brave of you to volunteer!” She smiles as the Marked One begrudgingly rises from her seat.

“Thank you, Mother Amari, for blessing us with another day and for breathing life into the souls of the animals we’ve bred for slaughter,” Imogen begins once we’ve bowed our heads. “Thank you, Zihnal, for blessing us with a bountiful crop season and fair weather; Dunne, we thank thee for guiding the hunt and providing us with bountiful meat. And lastly, Malek — you’ve given us the power to take the lives of our prey whilst sparing our own kind. Bless the less fortunate and guide our hearts. Amen.”

“Thank you so much, dear.” Imogen offers the wingleader a tight-lipped smile before settling down again with a disgusted look on her face. Nyra remains standing as the servers gradually make their way down the table rows to serve our breakfast. Ridoc is about to dig into his meal before a third year sitting next to us hisses at him to put his fork down. The servers finally retreat back to the kitchen — aside from the muffled clatter of pots and pans being washed and hung up to dry, the dining hall is uncomfortably silent. After a minute of waiting, Nyra clasps her hands together and says, “Begin.” Life floods back to the hall and the tension quickly dissipates like melting snow.

“So where are you from?” Ridoc asks, adjusting his slightly worn shawl before digging into his eggs.

“I was born in Akdus, but since my mom got stationed at the school, I’ve basically been living here my whole life,” I explain. “My dad wanted me to be a scribe so I trained in the quadrant over there for a bit.”

“Oh? What’s that like?” I shrug, tugging my knife from the napkin bundle.

“We had to learn at least three languages by the end of our apprenticeship and memorize every major battle since the unification of Navarre. Most of my time was spent reading so we couldn’t really go outside as much as my other siblings.” I spread some raspberry jam on my slice of toast and take a bite. The bread isn’t too dark or crunchy, like the ones served in the Scribe’s Quadrant. In fact, the food itself is much better here. There’s a savory sweetness to the baked beans, the juicy sausage has a hint of asurra pepper that lightly pricks my taste buds, and the coffee that comes with the meal isn’t as bitter as the ones I’m used to. “You know, the food in the Scribe’s Quadrant is mostly tasteless,” I comment before stuffing a spoonful of pudding into my mouth. “We’re told that flavorless meals are what enhances our minds and give our brains more space to retain information.”

“That’s insane! No wonder they look so pale and miserable all the time. You guys have got to eat better.” I laugh a little.

“Which dragon do you think you’ll bond with?” Rhiannon asks, leaning forward a bit. “I’m hoping to get something big like a clubtail.”

“Well, I want a daggertail. That blue one looked so badass.” I hum in agreement and take another sip of my coffee as I listen to them debate over which breeds are better. Ospon clubtails are pretty well known for their strength and ability to endure even the most deadly attacks but they’re also the slowest fliers. In my opinion, they’re not that impressive — they don’t have the kind of ferocity needed to win this war. The blue-tongued daggertail on the other hand? Those things are born to kill. Whoever bonds one is definitely worthy of joining the wingleader table.

I’m not sure which breed I’d want to bond with. Father always said it wasn’t up to us to choose; the dragons have their own way of determining a human’s worth. He considered the presentation ceremony and Threshing as their way of “sorting the wheat from the chaff.” It’s better not to put too much effort into hoping you get the one you want. There’s always a chance you get one that has an insufferable personality. Everything from getting a dragon to earning a signet blessing relies on pure luck. And if the odds aren’t in your favor then you might as well be scorned by the gods. Given the way my day’s starting, I only pray that I get something that isn’t a clubtail.

#first flight #empyrean rewrite #fourth wing

[lovevalley45]

#fictober23 day nineteen

"We can't do this on our own."

original fiction (continuation of this prompt)

word count: 575

Josie adjusted the buttons on her funky-patterned shirt. It might not have been the most professional, but given the nature of the person she was meeting, she figured he wouldn’t mind much. 

She hadn’t spent much time on the campus of Trinity University since she graduated. She had once gone with Rhiannon, on the promise that they’d grab dinner after she went to the library. Josie had gotten lost in the archives and wandered until Rhiannon went looking for her. 

Now, she waited for her friend outside of Griffith Hall, where Dr. Volkov had agreed to meet them in his office. She tapped her foot as she held a cup of coffee from the campus cafe. Josie knew she didn’t need the extra caffeine making her jittery. But hey, at least it occupied her as she stood there. 

Through the sea of undergrads who were slogging through their afternoon classes, she spotted Rhiannon hustling her way over. She clutched her folder of evidence close to her chest as she weaved between students. 

“Oh, thank God, you’re here already,” she said as she joined her, short of breath. 

“Yeah, I wouldn’t miss it.” Josie looked up at the building. “Though I don’t know why we really have to make things… academic.”

“We can’t do this on our own,” Rhiannon said. “If you want people to take us seriously, we need the word of a professional.”

“And you think a philosophy professor will help people take us seriously?”

“Well, and I need to focus on my thesis or Dr. Druthers is going to kick me from the program,” she muttered. 

“Fine. Dr. Volkov it is,” Josie said. 

Josie had only had a few gen-ed classes in Griffith Hall during her time as a student, but she knew it was hell to walk through. By the time they reached the third floor where his office was, she had joined Rhiannon in being out of breath. Thankfully, his office wasn’t too much farther in. 

She’d taken Dr. Volkov’s class for a philosophy requirement, so she’d met him briefly before. When he opened the door to his office, she knew he hadn’t changed much - a sweater that looked a thread away from unravelling, messy gray hair, big glasses. He looked like a stereotypical professor if she ignored the wild eyes behind those big coke-bottle classes. 

He grinned at them. “Ms. Penn! And you must be Ms. McGee. Come in, come in.”

As Rhiannon and Josie followed him inside, she was surprised he’d remembered her name after all these years. She supposed she had been a very attentive student in his class. Too bad she’d gone with art history instead. Neither degree were super helpful in the real world. 

His office was what some would call cozy. Others would call it a cramped mess. But Josie felt at ease settling into one of the chairs in front of his desk. 

Dr. Volkov sat in his cushy office chair. “Now, Ms. McGee, you said that Dr. Druthers sent you here with a… cryptozoological matter?”

Rhiannon sat up, hands folded in her lap. “Yes. I did.” She took her file and set it on his desk. “Proof that Josie Penn-” She laid a hand on her shoulder- “is a real life lycanthrope.”

He looked at her. “And is this a recent development?”

Josie nodded. 

Dr. Volkov smiled. “Well, I feel like this needs some tea.” He pushed himself back up. “Or something stronger.”

#alli writes shit #fictober23 #josie & rhiannon #shoutout to the ones who know why i chose the last name volkov #i may not have the sims available to me rn but-

[thewolfruns]

muse: rhiannon nankova, 22-27, geology grad student. fc. melis sezen open to: all genders. setting: we can go a few directions with this, so i left it vague, but in the realm or canon of evil dead/cabin in the woods/friday the 13th! connection can be platonic/romantic/antagonistic, but would be someone she went to the cabin with (unless you want to get real cabin in the woods-y and then you can really take it to the wildest realms of that verse). triggers: horror themes and murder mentions.

rhiannon didn't know that all of their friends were dead or nearly dead. all she knew was that she had been fighting with becky, the person she thought might have set her up without her knowledge, and then she'd stormed off. sitting at the dock had been started partially as a pouty protest, nursing her beer and trying to ignore what she could only imagine were delighted, drunken screams. after awhile though, she was really enjoying the night. wasn't that why she really went on the trip with everyone in the first place? to get away from deadlines and teaching undergrad classes and just enjoy nature. maybe not according to becky, but she wasn't even really that made about it anymore.

dipping her toes in the water like a little kid, rhiannon was thinking that she was just happy to be looking at the stars without such a large burden of light pollution when the lights went out. and she was going down, down, deeper and deeper into the dark, frigid waters of the lake. when she came up for air, she tried to pull herself up on dock, but a dark figure looming above gave her pause. they were definitely not one of her friends. hearing her name called from behind them pulled her focus to a familiar figure down the dock further and she called out to them. "what--what is happening?" oh, god, whatever it was wasn't good. she needed help.

#indie horror rp #indie slasher rp #indie rp