#scratch that it's 69k now

[smilingperformer]

*boots PokeMas* WHY IS IT GIVING 400 STAMINA FOR FREE WHAT???

The 3rd anniversary is THAT close huh :D

#aleira plays pokemas #pokemon #pokegames #pokemon masters #discussions #I have 62k gems and idk what to spend them on #asjhs #scratch that it's 69k now

[jillianallen14]

Dear Baby Bats - Goth Band Recommendations

As a middle sibling goth (I’ve been in the subculture for close to 10 years now, so not a baby bat but not an elder goth either), let me turn you on to some bands because we do not gatekeep in this house!! Also, if you want consistently good lesser-known & brand new goth band recs, go follow Awfully Sinister on TikTok and Instagram. He’s a DJ & has great recs. I've found so much music through him because it's really hard to keep up with all the new bands cropping up every year. You want to avoid the goth subreddit because they are extremely gatekeeper-y and argue over labels constantly. It’ll just confuse you, and they are not nice over there.

If you’re very new to the subculture, and you haven’t yet listened to all of Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure, Sisters of Mercy, Christian Death, Cocteau Twins, Clan of Xymox, Joy Division, and Depeche Mode, go do so now. You'll want to know which of them you really enjoy the most because it will help you know which sub-subgenre(s) of goth you want to watch out for, and it'll tell you what to look for to find it. For example, Sisters of Mercy is the gothic rock subgenre, Christian Death is deathrock, Cocteau Twins is ethereal wave, Clan of Xymox is like the original darkwave, Joy Division is classic post-punk, etc.

I’ve bolded some of my absolute must-listen to goth bands, and I've put monthly Spotify listeners for each band so you know which ones deserve WAY more love. And in my pre-list ramblings for each OG band, I've given you some key terms to look up so you can more easily find music that's similar to what you enjoy. Okay, here we go:

If you like Bauhaus:

Bauhaus is a hard one because honestly, nobody really sounds like them, and they aren't really that closely associated with a specific sub-subgenre of goth. They have an extremely unique sound. They’re my favorite band of all time (I even have a tattoo for them, like I am devoted lol), but even I have a difficult time finding other bands that scratch their particular itch for me. These bands I’ve listed are as close as you’re gonna get imo.

Virgin Prunes (80’s band that has absolutely unhinged music in the way Bauhaus has unhinged music; one of my favorites; no one else does it like them and no one else ever will; I would actually give my left foot to see them live); 13.2k monthly listeners (this is actually physically painful to me, how is it this low!!! don't walk, RUN to go listen to them)

Alien Sex Fiend (80’s classic unhinged goth); 77k monthly listeners

Sextile (modern band that has some very Bauhaus-sounding guitar work at times); 147k listeners

The Danse Society (80’s unhinged goth; has similar experimental vibes to Bauhaus imo); 36k listeners

Sex Beat (80’s band); not even really on Spotify

Ritual Howls (modern band; I don’t know why it gives Bauhaus, but it does; one of the few modern bands that scratches that particular itch for me); 45k listeners

The Agnes Circle (modern band; one of my favorites; they have the right Bauhaus-like atmosphere for me); 52k listeners

Traitrs (I can’t explain why they remind me of Bauhaus, but they do; another one of my fave modern bands; they make me want to start levitating and doing the Ian Curtis dance in the same way Bauhaus does lol); 239k listeners

Paralisis Permanente (underrated 80’s; they have a lot in common with Bauhaus’s sound actually, def give them a try!); 54k monthly listeners

If you like Siouxsie and the Banshees:

Siouxsie is another one that's hard to pin down sound-wise because again, they don't really fit into one specific sub-subgenre, so all of these recs are just goth bands with female vocalists who have the same kind of powerful vocals that Siouxsie does.

Second Still (modern band; singer sounds a lot like Siouxsie to me at times); 69k listeners

Skeletal Family (80’s band; has the same “women in punk” vibes that Siouxsie has); 55k listeners

Xmal Deutschland (80’s band; has the same powerful vocals that Siouxsie has; makes you wanna go stupid go crazy the way the Banshees do); 73k listeners

Secret Shame (modern band w/ w woman singer; has the same rage that Siouxsie songs have to me, especially early Siouxsie); 6k listeners (let's get those numbers up, folks!!!)

Rosegarden Funeral Party (modern band w/ a woman vocalist); 57k listeners

Mephisto Walz (90s & 2000s; sounds so much like the Banshees at times); 56k listeners

If you like Depeche Mode:

For Depeche Mode enjoyers (which DM is kind of on the fringes of what’s considered “goth,” but they’re so entrenched in the subculture that I included them anyway), you’re gonna want to delve into modern goth playlists that have a lot of EBM (electronic body music) and modern goth that leans towards synthpop/synthwave. So those are the kinds of playlists you’ll want to search up for similar sounds to DM.

Nuovo Testamento (modern band; combines post-punk and pop elements in a way that’s very similar to Depeche Mode; lots of fun live, and they have a good sound); 25k listeners

Boy Harsher (modern band; relies heavily on synth; feels like it should be playing at every goth club); 558k listeners

ULTRA SUNN (modern band; singer sounds like Dave Gahan); 217k listeners (they just blew up on tiktok recently, which explains why this just skyrocketed since the last time I was on their Spotify page lol; good for them, good for them, they deserve it)

Ministry's first album, which was synthwave/synthpop before they went industrial (this is one of my all-time favorite albums)

French Police (modern band); 252k listeners

Closed Tear (modern band); 152k listeners

Night Sins (modern band); 33k listeners

Panic Priest (modern band; vocals sound decently similar to Dave Gahan & there is a lot of reliance on synth; In All Severity is a gorgeous song); 5k listeners

Fad Gadget (underrated 80’s band; I just feel like if you like DM, you’re also gonna like this band); 58k listeners

If you like The Cure:

You'll be hard-pressed to find a goth band that wasn't influenced by The Cure, so I really can't give you any key terms for what to look up lol. They also changed their sound so frequently that it entirely depends on what era of The Cure's music you're looking to find similar music for.

Vision Video (modern band; combines post-punk and pop elements like The Cure does; one of my fave modern goth bands; they are INCREDIBLE live); 52k listeners (I'm gonna need y'all to get a song or two of theirs to blow up on tiktok expeditiously lol)

Urban Heat (modern band; great live); 36k listeners

The Chameleons (80’s band; very underrated; they are also very good live); 167k listeners

House of Harm (modern band, very new; also very good live; has pop elements); 44k listeners

Deceits (modern band, another very new one); 28k listeners (it's crazy how much this number has grown the past two months because it was in the single thousands not that long ago; everyone say thank you, tiktok)

Drab Majesty (modern band; their instrumentals remind me of The Cure); 172k listeners

Double Echo (modern band; their instrumentals also remind me of The Cure); 15k listeners (let's get these numbers up!!!)

The Bolshoi (underrated 80’s band that combines new wave and goth elements in a similar way to The Cure); 114k listeners

The Essence (underrated 80s band that sounds so much like The Cure it’s actually insane, but they’ve got their own sound too; they’re like a perfect blend of all of The Cure’s different sounds); 25k monthly listeners

Miss Teen America (brand new band from NYC! They only have one single out right now, and it’s well worth listening to); 940 monthly listeners (y’all know what to do!!! Let’s get those numbers up, up, up!) link to their single: https://open.spotify.com/album/4nvdZeUVLLrMv3tEziCqm7?si=2WVS7-eYQLGR7Id3wLiKhg

If you like Clan of Xymox:

Most of these bands will be modern ones because Clan of Xymox was honestly way ahead of their time. (They are also amazing live, so go see them before they eventually call it quits!) For playlists that are full of their vibe, you’re gonna want to look up “darkwave” playlists and also some EBM. Clan of Xymox pioneered darkwave, so any darkwave band you listen to is gonna be influenced by their sound in some way or another.

Harsh Symmetry (modern, very new; very heavily relies on synth); 29k listeners

Ssleeping Desiress (modern band; instrumentals similar to Xymox); 55k listeners

Twin Tribes (probably my favorite modern goth band; they are fucking incredible, and I’m dying to see them live); 276k listeners

ACTORS (modern band; heavily relies on synth); 86k listeners

Mareux (modern; heavily relies on synth); 4.8 million listeners (this is wild!!!! everyone say thank you, tiktok)

Sixth June (modern); 23k listeners

Plastique Noir (modern); 40k listeners

Rendez Vous (modern); 160k listeners

Minuit Machine (modern); 97k listeners

If you like Christian Death:

All of these recs will be deathrock recs or goth bands that heavily leaned on punk sounds. So if CD is the OG goth band you’re most fond of, you’re gonna want to delve into deathrock playlists for similar sounds.

Asylum Party (80’s band); not on spotify

45 Grave (80’s band); 47k listeners

Voodoo Church (80’s band; probably my favorite out of this bunch; I actually like them more than Christian Death); 7k listeners (let's get these numbers up immediately!!!!)

Ausgang (80’s band); 2k listeners (WHAT; they deserve so much more, damn)

Corpus Delicti (90’s band; they are very good; they sound the least like Christian Death on this list imo); 26k listeners

13th Chime (80’s band; very underrated); 6k listeners

The Birthday Party (80’s band; very unhinged sound); 54k listeners

UK Decay (you know, I actually don’t know what era they’re from; unhinged sound); 1k listeners (omg)

Super Heroines (underrated 80’s band); 2k listeners (you see what I meant about underrated?)

Specimen (80s band; this one could have just as easily gone under Bauhaus tbh, but the vocals are generally higher pitched than Peter Murphy’s, so I put them under this category); 102k listeners

Sex Gang Children (80’s band; just so unhinged & I love them for it); 27k listeners

Suspiria (90s, I think? I don’t actually know); barely on Spotify but 27k listeners

Theatre of Hate (80s); 7k listeners

Bloody Dead and Sexy (2000s, I think); 44k listeners

If you like Cocteau Twins:

Cocteau Twins’ early sound is usually categorized as “ethereal wave” goth, so those are the playlists you’ll want to look up if you enjoy their early sound. If you like their later sound, you’re gonna want to lean more towards shoegaze for similar vibes.

Dead Can Dance (80’s band; NO one, and I mean NO ONE, was doing it like Dead Can Dance; so fun to dance to in the goth club); 332k listeners

Lycia (90’s band; their music is very transcendent); 20k listeners

Linea Aspera (modern band; gorgeous woman vocals; honestly, their music is just very beautiful); 67k listeners

This Mortal Coil (formed in the 80s; some songs feature Elizabeth Fraser & Robin Guthrie from Cocteau Twins, but even the ones that don’t still have an ethereal vibe similar to CT; Sixteen Days/Gathering Dust is just like the best song ever); 310k listeners

If you like Joy Division:

All of these bands will be ones that sound very classically post-punk, so those are the playlists to search out; emphasis on "classic" because post-punk is a very broad term that gets applied to a lot of music. I would argue that Joy Division has had the most influence out of all the OG goth bands on the current goth sound/goth renaissance we're going through right now, so there are a LOT of bands out there for you if you’re a JD fan.

Molchat Doma (modern band); 2.5 million listeners (wow lol, they've grown so much over the past two years, it's actually insane; good for them)

Soviet Soviet (modern band); 152k listeners

Fearing (modern band; very good live); 30k listeners

Ploho (modern band); 146k listeners

Pink Turns Blue (criminally underrated 80’s band; they are SO good live); 98k listeners (this is an actual travesty, this band is way too good to not even be in the hundred thousands)

The Sound (another incredibly underrated 80’s band); 119k listeners

This Cold Night (modern; has the deep vocals of Joy Division and the driving bass); 150k listeners

Bleib Modern (modern); has very similar vocals to Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, which is a band listed under the Sisters of Mercy section of this post, so if you end up liking this band, you should also listen to Red Lorry Yellow Lorry & vice versa; 36k listeners

Lebanon Hanover (modern; has the existential angst that Joy Division always ignites in me); 936k listeners (this is crazy, holy shit!!!!!! go, Lebanon Hanover, go!! now if only they would tour the damn US)

She Past Away (modern; deep vocals); 226k listeners

Belgrado (modern; woman vocals!); 18k listeners (they deserve better than this!!)

Leonora Post Punk (modern; Mexican goth band w/ Spanish vocals, so support them! They’re amazing! They have those deep vocals you want when you’re looking for a similar sound to Joy Division); 56k listeners

O. Children (modern; has the deep vocals & interesting bass lines that Joy Division was known for; great band); 29k listeners

If you like Sisters of Mercy:

This is one of my least favorite goth subcategories, which is odd because I actually love Sisters. But if you’re looking for a lot of music that sounds like SoM, I’d suggest delving into the 90’s and early 2000’s goth music scene. Search out those playlists.

Rosetta Stone (90’s band); 54k listeners

Miazma (modern); 10k listeners

Red Lorry Yellow Lorry (another criminally underrated 80’s band; one of my fave goth bands); 40k listeners (THEY!! DESERVE!! BETTER!!)

Dreamtime (modern); 65 listeners (ouch lol, please go show them some love)

Fields of the Nephilim (80’s, I think; if you’re a metalhead, you’ll probably appreciate this band); 95k listeners

The Merry Thoughts (80s); 19k listeners

The March Violets (underrated 80s; might be a controversial opinion to put them under SoM, but I’m standing by it); 69k listeners

Horror Vacui (modern; it’s kind of a stretch putting them here tbh, but I couldn’t figure out what other category to put them under); 44k listeners

Also, if you want a 1500-song, 105-hour goth playlist that’s constantly growing, here you go. The name of it is a dig at my ex lol: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6jCV530pMmOEmDHj4CLNka?si=cEVKiyAwQpaieGiV2pMyqw

#goth music #Bauhaus #the cure #Christian death #Siouxsie and the banshees #goth #post-punk #baby bats #music recs #Joy division #Depeche Mode #clan of Xymox #sisters of mercy #Cocteau twins #Spotify

[dramaticvhs]

twenty sterek fics with 30k+ words ~

I don't read as much sterek as I'd like to, but here are 20 longer fics I enjoyed really well! as always, read the tags! some of these are fics I come back to regularly, and some are ones I've only read once or twice but they left an impact. hope you enjoy! feel free to reblog with or comment more fics you love, I'm always looking for a new read :)

1. Little Wild Animal by DiscontentedWinter

(underage, explicit, 61k)

Derek Hale finds a feral human on his pack's property.

Humans are supposed to be extinct.

But then, Stiles is full of surprises.

2. Sex Therapy by Asterekmess (Livinginfictions) (locked to a03)

(no archive warnings apply, Teen and Up, 81k)

Stiles wanders into a club named Eclipse, looking for a one night stand to help him get over his breakup, only to realize that he has no idea what he's doing. Luckily for him, Derek is happy to be his Yoda.

The only problem comes when neither of them are able to keep it to just one night.

3. Move A Mountain by ZainClaw

(creator chose not to use archive warnings, explicit, 69k)

Stiles goes camping with his friends in New Mexico after graduation where they befriend a biker gang led by Derek: a guy whom Stiles can’t decide if he will be either relieved or devastated to never see again once their week is up.

4. stuck in reverse by crazyassmurdererwall

(creator chose not to use archive warnings, explicit, 65k)

Look, Derek is the worst. Everyone knows that. Their fearless leader is a total and complete failwolf.

Which means the rest of them? Are kind of the worst too. They’re a ramshackle, slap dashed, sorry excuse for a pack that’s about a half second away from getting one of them killed. And this is a problem, because Stiles would really like to survive high school. Thanks.

Still, nobody deserves what Derek has gone through. Nobody.

And it’s about time somebody told him that.

5. His Only Defence by LunaCanisLupus_22

(graphic descriptions of violence, rape/noncon, explicit, 78k)

Stiles had just accidentally challenged an alpha.

Oh God, and Scott had just stood by and let him do it. He was the worst best friend ever. Stiles was going to kill him. Except, oh right, the alpha was going to kill him first. Like beyond dead, ripped into tiny little pieces dead. So far dead that his dad would not be able to identify him, dead.

6. The Quickest Way to a Man’s Heart (is Through His Bottomless Pit) by isthatbloodonhisshirt

(creator chose not to use archive warnings, explicit, 54k)

Pulling open his apartment door, he let out an involuntary shout when something was quite literally thrust into his chest hard enough to have him almost tip backwards. He managed to right himself while keeping hold of what had been shoved at him and looked up in time to see his neighbour striding back towards his apartment.

“You’re going to fucking kill yourself.”

His door slammed.

Stiles blinked at the other man’s door, utterly confused, and looked down at what he was holding.

It was a plastic bag, full of what felt like tupperware, which made no sense to Stiles because when had his neighbour broken into his house to steal his tupperware?

(SNYE - January 11th - Neighbours)

7. Northern Blues by kaistrex (weishen)

(no archive warnings apply, explicit, 40k)

When Stiles steps into the room that the Hale house has conjured for him to stay in, the first thing he sees is a window already open, letting in a pleasant breeze. The second is a door in the right-hand wall.

Laura clears her throat, scratching at her nose. “That leads to Derek’s room.”

Stiles’ eyebrows shoot up and a laugh bursts out before he can stop it. Now he understands how the pack knew this room probably wouldn’t belong to his dad (which, gross).

He looks over his shoulder at Derek who’s glaring pointedly at everything except for Stiles with pink-tipped ears.

“Presumptuous. I like it,” he says to the house, patting one of the walls and throwing a wink at Derek hovering in the doorway.

8. Of Werewolves and Dolphins by Ilovesocks_24

(no archive warnings apply, Teen and Up, 53k)

Stiles, come on! It’ll be fun,” Scott said. “You can’t deny that seven days in the Caribbean on a cruise ship full of hot, single werewolves won’t be a good time.”

“Maybe for you,” Stiles said. “Because you’re tan and have a six pack. No one is going to talk to me at all. Also, fun fact: I’m not even a werewolf.”

“You don’t have to be a werewolf to come,” Scott said. “You just have to be twenty-one so you can drink. Or so hot guys can buy you drinks,” he added, raising his eyebrows suggestively.

“No, thanks,” Stiles said, shrugging. “Go on without me, just send postcards with all the hot guys you meet.”

“They’re stopping in Cozumel,” Scott said. “It says here that you can swim with dolphins.”

“Did you say we could swim with dolphins?” Stiles asked, curiously. “Like the ones that do tricks at Seaworld?”

“That’s what swimming is,” Scott said, eyes gleaming.

“When do we leave?” Stiles asked.

Or the one where Scott convinces Stiles to go on a werewolf singles cruise. Stiles is really only going for the dolphins. Until he meets Derek.

9. Cloaked in Gold by kaistrex

(no archive warnings apply, explicit, 57k)

Stiles' world tilts, the bed dipping as a weight settles over him, caging him in. Growling. His eyes flutter open in distant confusion as hot air sweeps over his throat and he stares up at twin beams of gold shining inches from his face.

Werewolf.

Stiles does the only thing he can.

“DAD!”

The werewolf jumps at the sudden shout, blanketing him tighter, and it’s only seconds until his dad is in his bedroom doorway with Melissa close behind, flicking on the light. Stiles' mouth drops open as he stares up at the thick eyebrows, sharp nose and perfectly groomed stubble of a golden-eyed and fanged Derek Hale.

-

When son of the Alpha, Derek Hale, ends up in his bed in heat, Stiles decides to use it to his advantage and secure the Bite for his sick stepbrother. As he and his family are welcomed into the Hale pack, Stiles grows closer to Derek than he'd ever dreamed he'd get, but with the fanged Soulbite of a born wolf on Derek's neck, he knows he's just setting himself up for heartbreak. Derek has a Soulmate out there, and it definitely isn't Stiles.

10. Ruin Me (Take Me Down) by xLostDreamsx

(underage, explicit, 50k)

Driving his teachers and his Dad crazy with his incessant trouble making, Stiles reluctantly accepts young college student Derek Hale as his ‘babysitter’, his Dad misguidedly believing he will be a positive role model to help guide him back to the straight and narrow.

Unfortunately for the Sheriff, he isn’t quite aware that Derek isn’t quite as up-standing as he appears and at the hands of his smart, young, manipulative son with a head full of ideas, his rather weak moral codes soon crumble.

Or put simply, Derek gives in to Stiles and things get hot and heavy pretty fast.

11. I've Got it Bad, Got it Bad, Got it Bad by RedRidingStiles

(underage, mature, 47k)

“Woah are those real?” Stiles found himself saying as he reached out and squeezed the man’s (it was a man and not a brick wall Stiles’ brain supplies) bicep which was bulging under the guy’s shirt. Stiles hasn’t even looked at the man’s face too preoccupied gasping at the tone muscles in front of him.

“Something tells me you’re the infamous Stiles.”

“Stiles, yes that’s my name, well it’s not really my name that’s too hard for anyone to pronounce so it’s just Stiles. Or you know, some colorful names the lower IQs of this place like to make up. But Stiles, you can call me Stiles.” Stiles rambles on, watching the man try to suppress a grin and failing. He has a gorgeous smile that made his bunny teeth present and his eyes crinkle and Stiles thinks he might be a little bit in love.

“Nice to meet you Stiles, why don’t you take a seat.” The man, Stiles doesn’t even know his name and he’s already starting to plan their wedding, says with a nod to the already full classroom. Stiles hasn’t even heard the bell ring. Huh.

“But I didn’t get your name,” Stiles replies.

“Mr. Hale, I’m your new English teacher.”

Fuck.

12. Lap Magnet by Prairie_Grass

(underage, explicit, 30k)

Wherein an ill-advised floral arrangement leads to a whole new definition of obliviousness, accidental mate-bonds, and far more sex and tropes than one fic really needs.

or

Five times Derek and Stiles didn’t notice how close they were (literally) and then a whole bunch of times when they did...

13. Stilinski's Home for Wayward Wolves by owlpostagain

(no archive warnings apply, Teen and Up, 35k)

“At least your puppies knock first,” Stiles snorts. “Here I thought their alpha raised them to be well-mannered.”

“There’s a sign,” Derek responds stiffly.

Stiles, whose curiosity outweighs even his hardest of grudges, abandons his chilly façade of nonchalance in a heartbeat. He jumps right up and all but pushes Derek out of the way in his effort to get to the window, and sure enough when he leans outside there’s a laminated strip of cardstock duct taped to the vinyl siding:

DON’T FORGET TO KNOCK Stiles gets cranky when we scare him

---

Or, in which Stiles Stilinski moves to Beacon Hills for his junior year of high school and accidentally adopts a pack of teenage werewolves.

14. Waiting by isthatbloodonhisshirt

(no archive warnings apply, Teen and Up, 81k)

Not wanting to think on it too much, Stiles took a step forward and passed his hand between the bars, moving the bleeding side closer to Derek’s mouth.

“Not too close, he bites.”

Stiles snatched his hand away just as Derek had been about to lick at it. The snarl he got in response was not comforting.

“He what?” Stiles asked nervously, turning to Deaton.

The man looked a little amused. “Don’t worry, only if he doesn’t like you.”

“Well, he probably hates me, now!” Stiles insisted, turning back to Derek.

He looked extremely displeased.

15. To Each Their Own by SylvieW

(creator chose not to use archive warnings, explicit, 32k)

Stiles agrees to become the owner of a werewolf with some very special needs. Derek has been abused for so long he’s nearly feral. Stiles has to find a way to gain his trust before Derek’s heat, or he could be put down.

16. Words Cannot Espresso How Much You Bean to Me by isthatbloodonhisshirt

(no archive warnings apply, Teen and Up, 68k)

“You’re late,” Derek informed him coldly, jaw clenched. He barely even moved his mouth to speak. This guy was seriously scary.

And because Stiles was suicidal, he said, “No, I’m Stiles.”

The look he got could’ve curdled milk. Stiles even noticed that Derek’s muscles were tensing, arms bulging even more and wow this guy was scary and hot but mostly scary holy shit.

“You’re not funny,” Derek informed him coldly.

Stiles shrugged. “I think that’s a matter of opinion.”

17. (Fuck you they said) As they threw their threads from their wedding bed by dearericbittle

(no archive warnings apply, mature, 96k)

First Son Stiles Stilinski just accidentally caused an international incident. And apparently the only way to save human-werewolf relations is to marry him off to Prince Derek of Triskele. Stiles is going to need all of his acting skills to make the marriage look real, because the Prince is kind of a fucking asshole.

18. Where the Real Beasts Are by kaistrex (weishen)

(graphic descriptions of violence, explicit, 109k)

Crown Prince Stiles is gifted a direwolf on his eighteenth birthday by King Gerard I of Venatia. The only instruction? Never remove the collar.

Stiles never has been one to do as he’s told.

19. The Not So Beauty to Your Not So Beast by isthatbloodonhisshirt

(Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Mature, 64k)

“Mieczyslaw Stilinski?”

All eyes instantly turned to Stiles and he felt his stomach drop. They’d taken his dad. They’d actually taken his dad and were here to tell him so.

“Yeah?” he asked in a small voice, feeling ready to be sick.

The second he spoke, two of the four regular guards moved through the rows, the lead guard speaking.

“By order of his Grace Peter Hale, you have been selected to begin your employ under the royal house of Hale.”

Wait.

What?

(SNYE - January 19th - Royalty AU)

20. Don't Feed the Wolves by Amazonia_8

(creator chose not to use archive warnings, explicit, 30k)

Stiles took the dare, because what else was he supposed to do when the whole lacrosse team was chanting his name? Even though the werewolf pack had left Beacon Hills years ago, nobody was stupid enough to set foot on the Hale property.

Except, apparently, Stiles.

Now he's got a feral werewolf following him around town with the sole purpose of claiming Stiles as his own.

aaaand that's all for now! again, if you have sterek fics you love don't hesitate to let me know about them! my ask box should be open if you'd rather rec anonymously :) I'm in the process of making "my favorite 15k word or less teen wolf fics" and "my favorite smutty fics" so stay tuned for that. hope you enjoy!!

#teen wolf #sterek #stiles stilinski #derek hale #fanfic #sterek fics #sterek fic recs #teen wolf fic

[bookgeekgrrl]

My media this week (9-15 Jul 2023)

ˢᵗᶦˡˡ ᵃᵇˢᵒˡᵘᵗᵉˡʸ ᵉⁿᶜʰᵃⁿᵗᵉᵈ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵒᵇˢᵉˢˢᵉᵈ ʷᶦᵗʰ ᵗʰᶦˢ ˢʰᵒʷ ⁻ ˡᵉᵍᶦᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ʰᶦᵍʰˡᶦᵍʰᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵐʸ ʷᵉᵉᵏ

📚 STUFF I READ 📚

🥰 The Man Behind the Curtain (seitentaisei) - 71K, SuperBat getting together fic - "A character study of Bruce Wayne, the Batman, as told by Clark Kent as he sorts through the stories, the acting, and the news to find the real man behind the masks. What exactly can Clark do if he maybe finds himself falling in love along the way?"

😍 Casual Encounters (MoreThanSlightly (cadignan)) - 66K, modern no-powers shrinkyclinks - always forget just how incredible this fic is! the pining and angst are truly exquisite while we know they're being two dumbasses standing in a pine forest. plus the descriptions of steve's painting are incredible.

😊 Dear Enemy (GingerTodgers) - 69K, drarry - breezy & lighthearted epistolary fic, some voices maybe a trifle OOC but entertaining

💖💖 +147K of shorter fic so shout out to these I really loved 💖💖

king (nerd) steve harrington (sky_of_starflowers) - Stranger Things: steddie, 3K - steve accidentally reveals his nerdy side and eddie *really* likes it

Dustin Henderson and the Lovebirds (pukner) - Stranger Things: steddie, 9K - "five times Dustin Henderson was subjected to Eddie Munson being gross and sappy and in love with Steve Harrington, and one time Steve didn't even have to be there" - short but absolutely hilarious with excellent podfic (I read the fic and then listened to the podfic the next day, so great both times!)

“Never So Young As That”: 20 Years of the Boy with a Bat (greatunironic) - Stranger Things: steddie, 6K - lovely new vingette in this universe

Patterns of Intention (drunktuesdays) - TW: sterek, 17K - canon-divergent post s3?, stiles and derek decide to take lessons from deaton and then feelings [technically a reread but it's been at least 5 years]

serpentine serenade (thiccbuckybarnes) - MCU: stucky, 3K - antastic & filthy pwp with naga!steve and modern (but still former WS) bucky [reread]

Beyond the Yellow Book Road (crinklefries) - MCU: shrunkyclunks, 30K - wonderful and tender shrunkyclunks where steve discovers 1 thing from his past that's still around -- a beloved bookstore now run by bucky [reread]

📺 STUFF I WATCHED 📺

D20: A Crown of Candy - "Keep Sharp" (s5, e3)

D20: Adventuring Party - s1, e1

D20: Adventuring Party - s1, e2

D20: Adventuring Party - s1, e3

D20: Dungeons and Drag Queens - "The Time Has Come" (s18, e3)

D20: Adventuring Party - "The Dice Tell The Story" (s13, e3)

D20: A Crown of Candy - "The Grand Tournament" (s5, e4)

🎧 PODCASTS 🎧

Hit Parade Plus - The Bridge: So Excited and Breaking Out

Rivals: Music's Greatest Feuds - Suspicious Minds: Elvis Presley vs. Jerry Lee Lewis

50 Years of Hip-Hop - Hip-Hop's Origins

⭐ 50 Years of Hip-Hop - Scratching and the Art of DJing

50 MPH - 4 MPH / Paramount Hits the Brakes

The Soundtrack Show - Great Melodies Tell Great Stories

50 Years of Hip-Hop - 1975: "Let's Take It to the Stage" by Funkadelic

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Gunnar Schonbeck Exhibit

Rachel Maddow Presents: Déjà News - Episode 4: “It’s a Very Short Path”

The Sporkful - 2 Chefs And A Lie: Name That Mustard Edition

50 MPH - 5 MPH / New Life at a New Fox

50 Years of Hip-Hop - 1977: Grand Wizzard Theodore and the Invention of Scratching

50 Years of Hip-Hop - 1979: "Rapper's Delight" by Sugarhill Gang

50 Years of Hip-Hop - 1980: "The Breaks" by Kurtis Blow

Into It - Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Sex Onscreen

⭐ Shedunnit - Editing Agatha Christie

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - A Friendly Town With An Ax To Grind

Stuff The British Stole - The Unfinished Prince

Switched on Pop - Speak Now (about Taylor's versions)

Vibe Check - Life Has Been Lifing Lately

ICYMI Plus - Has Black Twitter Found A New Home?

⭐ Ologies with Alie Ward - Curiology (EMOJI) Part 2 with Various Emoji Experts

Simply Reflecting - You Mean I Have To Advocate For Myself?

Decoder Ring Plus - The Great Parmesan Cheese Debate

Our Opinions Are Correct - The State of the Galaxy

⭐ The Atlas Obscura Podcast - The Complaint Tablet of Ea-Nasir

99% Invisible #544 - Chick Tracts

The Atlas Obscura Podcast - Man’s Best (Stiff) Friends

⭐ 50 Years of Hip-Hop - 1983: The Wu-Tang Clan and Asian Influences in Hip-Hop

⭐ 50 Years of Hip-Hop - 1985: "I Can't Live Without My Radio" by LL Cool J

What Next: TBD Plus - Will UPS Workers Join "Hot Strike Summer?"

Re: Dracula - Bonus 5: Producing The Wright Way

Into It - What Happens When All of Hollywood’s on Strike?

Dear Prudence Plus - My Friends Got Me a Terrible Birthday Gift. Help!

Strong Songs - "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears For Fears

Off Menu - Ep 196: Toheeb Jimoh

ICYMI Plus - Did Fancams Determine This Year’s Emmy Nominations?

⭐ Hot and Bothered - Live from Pemberley: Fire Island (with Joel Kim Booster)

🎶 MUSIC 🎶

Under The Covers Vol. 1 [Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs] {2006}

Under The Covers Vol. 2 [Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs] {2009} 

Under The Covers Vol. 3 [Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs] {2013} 

AC/DC Radio • 2000s

Electronic Radio • 1970s

The Pointer Sisters Radio • Popular

The Age of Pleasure [Janelle Monáe] {2023} 

The English Beat Radio • Familiar

"I Love A Rainy Night" [Eddie Rabbitt] Radio • Popular

Classic Sunny Afternoon

Classic Easy Rock

Lord of The Lost Radio • Familiar

#sunday reading recap #bookgeekgrrl's reading habits #bookgeekgrrl's soundtracks #fanfic ftw #fully fallen into the d20 rabbit hole #dungeons and drag queens #dimension 20 #even if you are so-so on actual play shows you should watch dungeons and drag queens #great entry into the game‚ incredible performances and storytelling‚ fucking hilarious‚ absolute chaos #hot and bothered podcast #the atlas obscura podcast #ologies with alie ward podcast #hit parade plus podcast #shedunnit podcast #50 years of hip-hop podcast #vibe check podcast #99% invisible podcast #50 mph podcast #rachel maddow presents: déjà news podcast #the sporkful podcast #switched on pop podcast #decoder ring plus podcast #strong songs podcast #off menu podcast #rivals: music's greatest feuds podcast #into it podcast #the soundtrack show podcast #stuff the british stole podcast #fan artists are a *gift*

[j-graysonlibrary]

Fort Heaven Chapter 2

Title: Fort Heaven

Author: Jay Grayson

Word Count: 69K

Genres: Suspense, investigative, drama, LGBT+

Available on: Kobo and my website

Synopsis: Some call it a hoax. Others claim it’s a cult. But, to Evon and his friend Yasmine, two online journalists, Fort Heaven is the subject of their latest story. Along for the assignment is cameraman and not-so-secret crush of Evon’s: Russet. With a drunken, murky night in their recent history, things are especially tense between them but, of course, personal matters take a backseat when the interviews start. The trio speaks to ex-members of Fort Heaven and, while some of the accounts are shocking, the job remains just that: A job. That is until one of the women they interviewed, along with her daughter, goes missing. It soon becomes clear that not only is Fort Heaven a real threat but Evon and his friends are being watched. And what started as a simple cash-grab article is now a matter of life and death.

Full Chapter 2 under the cut

Chapter 2

Evon’s townhouse was in a decent part of town, surrounded by a few buildings with a similar look. As far as he knew, his landlord was the same as everyone else’s but he’d never actually asked either. He was friendly, sure, but he tried not to be nosey.

He parked his sedan beside Trinity’s car which hadn’t been driven in a few weeks. Mentally, he noted that he needed to take her car to work soon.

“I’m home,” Evon announced as he passed through the threshold. He kicked his shoes off at the door and tossed his messenger bag close by. He’d worry about work later.

“I’m in the kitchen!” he heard his sister call back.

He walked down the short hall and turned into the kitchen where Trinity was cutting some potatoes. It was rare to see her making anything from scratch so he felt the need to ask.

“What are you…doing?”

She turned around and smiled but didn’t put the knife down. Either it was her intention to creep him out or she simply forgot she had it.

“I saw this recipe for potato soup!” Trinity answered enthusiastically. “It looks really easy and delicious—plus it’s cold out so…you know…soup weather.”

“Right.” He slowly agreed and then leaned against the nearest counter. It was half a bar—not enough to actually seat a person but rather add a few inches of counter space. Nothing in the town house was bigger than it needed to be but that was something Evon actually liked a lot about it.

“So,” Trinity said and regained his attention. She finally placed the knife down beside the cutting board. “How was your day?”

Her expectant face was earnest and even hopeful which made him feel more like the older sibling in the dynamic. Though he had been feeling that a lot since she moved in. It was more than fair however—she did a lot for him when he was young.

In many ways, they looked similar but each took after one parent more than the other. Most could tell instantly that they were related but not everyone could guess siblings right from the start.

They were about the same height but Trinity often made herself taller with heels much to her brother’s irritation. Each had dark skin, round eyes, and curly hair—Trinity’s was just longer. Evon sometimes thought about growing his out to see if anyone would mistake them as twins but he could never grow his hair past his jaw.

“Um…” Evon mumbled before clearing his throat and proceeding, “It was interesting? Me and Yasmine are working on a new story finally.”

“Oh yeah?” She grinned.

“Yup. She and the boss think it’ll get money so…I don’t see any issues.”

“That’s good,” Trinity said and sighed in relief, “We need the money.”

Her wording was particular and Evon didn’t miss the dip in her tone. “…we need money? Like…badly…?”

She didn’t look directly at him which, in itself, told him all he needed to know.

“It’s a bill.”

Evon clasped his hands together and wrung them together for a second. He let out a forceful breath before he asked, “What’s it for?”

Trinity shook her head in disappointment that was undoubtedly misplaced in herself. “The last doctor’s visit. Apparently my insurance didn’t cover it and they tacked on costs that really added up…”

He was afraid to ask further but it was going to mostly be his money in jeopardy so he had to.

“How much?”

“Twenty…” she said with a low voice, “…twenty thousand…”

It wouldn’t do any good to react the way he wanted to so Evon hung his head. He only had around half of that in his bank account. Paying it would certainly be impossible.

“When’s it due?”

Trinity reached over the counter with a pained expression and touched his hand. “I’m going to contact my lawyer and let her know. She’s already working on those other times I was overcharged and mistreated.”

It was a lot to take in—especially with the deadline for the story hanging over his head as well. “Even if she can’t do anything…” Evon said after a long pause, “I’ll figure it out. I’ll make the money you need off of this piece.”

“Sure?” Trinity asked immediately, only slightly shaking the confidence in himself. “I mean…your articles make good money but…”

“This one is going to be different,” he said without thinking. Internally, he cursed. Why was he making so many promises that he couldn’t keep? What was with this sudden and alarming self sabotaging behavior?

There wasn’t time to mull the questions over since he had to get straight to work researching. He wasn’t sure where to start so he opened a few tabs to take the story in a couple of directions.

First there was the Ford line of questioning that had to do with his involvement in Fort Heaven and whether or not there was any merit behind the replacement theory. Then he had a tab dedicated to the history of Fort Heaven since he didn’t know all that much about it aside from the rumors. Lastly, he had a site where members could anonymously (or not) post their accounts of being mistreated within the church.

The information on Ford and his ex-wife was limited and quickly turned into meaningless ramblings. Evon moved onto the history—at the very least he could start to get the foundation of the church on paper and it’s history in his own words.

His eyes scanned across the screen quickly as he speed read the text.

Fort Heaven was founded in 1969 by Harold Bartlow and was impressively popular for years. That only lasted until there were many money scandals and Harold was revealed to be the greedy fraud most people already suspected he was. At that point, the church should have logically died but Harold’s son, Simon, stepped up to the mantel.

Simon’s reign kept Fort Heaven as more of an underground organization where those who wanted it could find it but where they would also stay away from the public eye. From what Evon could tell, Simon actually cared about the religious aspects of Fort Heaven as opposed to his father’s love for money.

That was the time period in which the Ford scandal occurred but it was hard to find definitive proof that Ford was ever in Fort Heaven.

Evon rubbed against his forehead and closed his eyes tightly.

The history was fascinating but it wasn’t anything that people couldn’t just look up on their own. Every lead that he knew Yasmine wanted to follow seemed to be a dead end.

After a few minutes of staring blankly and slightly dissociating, Evon pulled up the video chat so he could call his friend and see if she was having any better luck.

Her image appeared in the next few seconds and it was clear that she’d been at it for a while already.

“Please tell me you’ve got something good.”

That was the exact opposite of what Evon wanted to hear. With a frown he replied, “Not really.”

“Damnit.” Yasmine ran a hand through her hair and looked off camera for a second. “I sent an enquiry to Ford Hyland but I haven’t gotten anything.”

A laugh came out of him before he could stop it. “It’s only been a few hours; give it time.”

“What if he doesn’t want to do the interview though?” Her voice was thick with worry and it made Evon wonder if she had a financial crisis bothering her too.

“I was starting to think…” He spoke after a second, somewhat disregarding her question, “maybe if we can track down ex-members of Fort Heaven that they can give us a unique inside look and we can relate that—without the interview—to Ford Hyland.”

The idea came to him as he spoke it and the second he was done a new hope was born in him. Sometimes he impressed himself and it was definitely one of those moments.

It seemed to give Yasmine some life back as well. A smile crept across her face and she started to nod. “That could work…I’d read it…”

“Film,” Evon added, still on a mental role. He wasn’t going to question it but rather let the ideas flow. “We can film some interviews with ex-members about their experiences with Fort Heaven since no one ever talks about what it’s like.”

“Did we just…” his friend paused, let out a dry laugh, then continued, “make our conspiracy click-bait story into an actual, dramatic story?”

“Maybe…” He chewed over his lip for a second as his idea played over in his head as a final product. If they filmed and edited it correctly, they could have a real hit on their hands. “How much do you know about filming?”

“I can use my cell phone?” Yasmine suggested and shrugged.

“That can only get us so far…”

She crossed her arms and leaned away from the camera. “Didn’t Trinity go to film school?

“Yeah a long time ago,” Evon answered with a huff. He knew what it was he would end up doing and while he was secretly excited about it, he didn’t want to seem too eager to suggest it.

“Then her film buddies. Aren’t some of them camera men—directors too, right?” Yasmine asked and led them straight down the path Evon was looking forward to.

“I can ask but I think Kate and Lawrence are busy…” he mumbled just loud enough for her to hear. It was true that Kate and Lawrence were both friends with Trinity and also working together on a short film. Other than them, there was one friend that his sister had from long before college who just so happened to also be an excellent director, producer, and camera man.

“So Russet?” Yasmine said his name with a smirk.

Almost since Evon could remember, Russet had been around. He and Trinity met in school and became instant best friends, spending every moment they could together. Trinity was the one person outside of family who stuck by Russet when he began taking puberty blockers at age twelve. When everyone else distanced themselves from the strange kid, Trinity’s bond only tightened.

And then there was Evon on the outside looking in.

He had always found Russet to be especially cool and tried every moment he could to inject himself into his and his sister’s conversations. It never worked and seemed to only cause Russet to become more and more irritated with him.

“When was the last time you saw him?” Yasmine asked and brought Evon’s thoughts back to their current conversation.

“Um…” he paused and had to really think on it. “He’s been by since Trinity moved in here with me but it was a few months back. Maybe…three months?”

The woman chuckled and rested her chin in her palm. “Did he stay for long?”

Evon couldn’t help but smile. If it was anyone besides Yasmine, he’d probably be irritated by the invasion of privacy. Yet, with her, it was always comfortable to share his inner thoughts and be open. She usually had some good advice too.

“No. He came to get Trinity and then left. Dropped her off at the entrance.”

“Dick,” Yasmine scoffed.

“Hey!” Evon raised his voice to defend the man who couldn’t defend himself. “He’s not doing it to be a jerk—he’s trying to shield me.”

“You seriously still think that?” She responded, “He just doesn’t want to have any kind of emotional conversation with you.”

“It’s an unspoken thing.”

Yasmine rolled her eyes. “I’m gonna say something to him when I see him.”

“You were so excited about it a second ago!” Evon pointed out.

“That was before I learned he was back to ignoring you. I figured with Trinity being with you now that there would be some forced interaction.”

He frowned, trying not to think about the fact she was right. That didn’t mean he had to say it aloud or concede.

“I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt.”

“For twenty years?”

“Well…” Evon started and tried not to think about the negatives. “He’ll be ready to talk eventually. Either that or he’ll pretend nothing’s amiss.” Even his words sounded like lies and it was very clear that his best friend wasn’t buying a single second of it.

Whatever he felt or thought didn’t matter—with their story on the line, he’d have to face Russet and be prepared to not back down. He’d have to be upfront and logical—not giving any emotion away which would, for Evon, be much, much easier said than done.

#fort heaven #my writing #writeblr #lgbt writers

[michaelnguyendotme]

In this article, I'll with you my journey to acquire 16,152 leads to build my newsletter audience from a mere $4,120.97 (or a quarter per lead). Several years ago during Covid time, I want to get into the newsletter business but building a list from scratch was such a grinding. It’s like a chicken and egg thing. You got to have good content to attract new readers who will consume and share with others more and slowly you will build your list. Growing a list organically from social media didn't appeal to me because I am not a Facebook person and I just don't check Facebook often. Youtube is out of the option because you will get into the hamster wheel of creating content to feed YouTube's algorithm so that it can send traffic over to you. So growing organically is out of the equation because it takes time and is slow. That leaves me with paid ads as a viable option. But then I realized one sour truth...it's a pay-to-play game. The moment you stop paying, Facebook/Youtube stops sending traffic to you. I sat at my desk and thought "There got to have a better way" to grow this thing FAST without paying forever and can't find a solution yet. So I am sleeping on it for some time. Meanwhile, I was looking at e-commerce stores to acquire because when people get locked down from Covid, e-commerce stores are doing pretty well. Then suddenly, it hit me one day that buying an e-commerce store can solve my newsletter's traffic puzzle. ...because it's such an overlooked traffic source that most owners often ignore it to capitalize. How often do you receive email newsletters from an e-commerce store besides their sales emails (including coupons, discounts, promotion)? Almost none of them is sending you meaningful emails. With that in mind, I set out to do my research on targets and eventually acquired an e-commerce store from one owner who wanted to get rid of this store to make time for a product he wants to sell. Cameron (the previous owner of the e-commerce store from which I bought) sent me a big CONGRATULATION after the acquisition was complete. Here's the Closing Statement from Escrow.com to show how much I paid for the whole transaction $4,120.97 Let's see what I got from my mere $4K investment The valuable domain According to GoDaddy, it values the domain of the e-commerce store at $1,268. 2. The inventory ($69K in retail value) and here comes what's inside the boxes. 3. The most valuable asset: THE EMAIL LIST OF CUSTOMERS (16,152) To give you some context on how much you would have paid for 16,152 buyers, I pulled two benchmarks of paid ads on Google & Facebook for you to compare against. According to Wordstream, the average cost per click (CPC) on Facebook ads is $1.68 while the average cost per acquisition (CPA) on Facebook Ads is $19.68 across all industries. The typical cost per click for search ads in 2022 is in the range of $2 to $4 while the average cost per acquisition (CPA) on search ads is $55.68 across all industries. Meanwhile, my cost per acquisition is around 25 cents ($4,120.97 / 16,152 = 0.255) In other words, my cost per lead is already 7,700% cheaper than compared to Facebook Ads or 21,800% cheaper compared to Google Ads. Let's recap real quick: $(4,120.97)  - investment $1,268     - Techsmrt.com domain  $69,432   - Existing Inventory Credit = $66,579 16,152     - Customers (leads) CPL = -$4.12 (Get paid to acquire leads) = $66,579/16,152 = 4.12 For a whopping ROI of 1615% (66,579 / 4120.97) Even if I am getting 1/10th of the ROI (161%), I am already a happy camper. More importantly, the newsletter now has the audience it's dying to serve! Some insights I learned from this deal: Owned traffic is MUCH better than rent traffic (youtube/Facebook/or anything you have to pay for) Don't be afraid to go against the common wisdom. In my case, I decided against using paid ads on Facebook and Youtube

There are sellers waiting for you to gladly take away their business so that they can free up the time & energy to move on to something else. In my case, I got a great deal because the seller wanted to do something else. Business acquisition is the HIGHEST leverage you can do to scale up your business. In fact, according to multiple sources, investment in SME space outpaced other investment category as high as 40x. https://michaelnguyen.me/how-i-acquired-16152-leads-from-4120/?feed_id=274&_unique_id=64d53e53f0529

[sitp-recs]

My favorite HDBB fics 2021

It’s a wrap! I’m so proud of myself for taking the time to organize my schedule so I could keep up with BB - I got to read many interesting fics with creative plots, unique characterization and sweet sweet Drarry romance. Here are my ten personal favorites in case anyone’s looking for their next long fic adventure. Can’t rec these enough! Have fun and make sure to leave these brilliant authors some love and appreciation ❤️

My top 3…

Home Truths by @skeptiquewrites // artwork by @fantalf (E, 67k) 🏠

In the off-season Harry decided to fix up Grimmauld Place and found that Draco Malfoy was the only person who could help him. A demanding career and unrelenting press scrutiny were enough to deal with before Harry added a house with a mind of its own, family history, and a tense, flirty, complicated relationship with his childhood nemesis to the mix.

Among Ancient Pines by @graymatters // artwork by @cambiodipolvere and @onlytheheartknows (M, 74k) 🌲

Every day, Draco Malfoy tries. With every fiber of his being he tries. But he doesn’t much think about what he’s trying for. A fic about challenging assumptions, discovering self-worth, the silver lining in failing to meet expectations, and finding friendship, love, and purpose in a small Alaskan town that’s steeped in magic.

The Secret Keeper by @the-fools-errand // artwork by @razielim (M, 225k) 🔮

On Halloween 1981, Albus Dumbledore made a decision that would change the course of history, concealing Harry Potter’s survival at the hands of Lord Voldemort underneath a Fidelius Charm. But when Harry comes of age in the Muggle world, Dumbledore realises too late that the fate of the world may depend on a boy who has never held a wand.

…+ these seven gems!

Sweeten to Taste by @bigblackdogfic // artwork by @babooshkart (Explicit, 51k) 🥘

It starts with Draco's buckwheat crepes with honeyed oranges. Or maybe it starts with his porridge with toasted walnuts and homemade apple butter. Or perhaps it starts with the cinnamon buns Draco made from scratch with mascarpone icing. Harry just knows he's hungry for more.

Game Changer by @the-denial-squad // artwork by @thelanguidcat (E, 69k) 🧹

A story of love and Quidditch, not necessarily in that order.

speak of the devil (and the devil shall appear) by @sophisticatedyet // artwork by @mad1492 and @fictional (E, 88k) 🧵🪡

Unbeknownst to anyone, Draco gets hit by a curse. Suddenly, Harry Potter is around a lot more than either of them want him to be.

Chasing Shadows by @manixzen // artwork by @avaeryn (Explicit, 93k) 🍸

The murder of Lucius Malfoy seems impossible—no cause of death, no traces of spell-work, no potions in his system. The only leads Harry and his partner have are the trail of missing wizards the deeper they go. That and the help of the victim’s estranged son who now spends his time bartending at a queer-friendly Muggle pub.

Bolts by @lqtraintracks // artwork by @slytherco (Explicit, 114k) 🤐

Harry joins the Hogwarts staff as the new History of Magic Professor, while Draco has already been teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts for the past year. When Samantha, a first year, is being bullied one day and throws a made-up Truth curse at her harasser, only to accidentally hit Harry instead, Harry becomes cursed to tell the truth, and not only that, he has to regularly tell it to Draco Malfoy.

Nor All That Glisters by @sweet-s0rr0w // artwork by @deancebra-art and @fantalf (Explicit, 110k) 🍀

Lonely and frustrated on house arrest, with no prospects for the future, Draco begins brewing Felix Felicis in an attempt to improve his lot. Just in the short term, of course. He isn’t a total idiot.

Dwelling on Dreams by @the-sinking-ship // artwork by @lkaet (Explicit, 135k) 📰

Draco thought he could avoid Potter for the duration of his brief return to England. He’d stick to his schedule and be back home in Paris, where he belonged, in a few short months. No trouble at all. He had plenty to occupy him, what with the opening of the London branch of his successful apothecary, his innovative research, drinks with Pansy, a backlog of unread potions periodicals.

#drarry reclist #harrydracobang 2021 #sitp faves

[mychemicalficrecs]

could i get a rec list of long (30k+) frank-centric any pairing fics? (preferably not in first person, and if there's smut with bottom frank)…weirdly specific but at least i know what i like?

Being specific is totally fine! Depending on what it is you’re looking for, it can even be super helpful :) I originally thought this would be difficult, but it turns out I already had all of these in my bookmarks. It didn’t specifically check for bottom!Frank though (sorry).

Frank-centric Longfic

Gerard Way's (Vampire) Detective Agency by jjtaylor, Pennyplainknits, mainly Frank/Gerard, 164k, Mature. Pete, in Decaydance Mansion, with a yarrow stake. Frank and Gerard, in the greenhouse, with a plant of questionable origin. Bob, everywhere you look, with a gang of assassins for justice. Vampires, valets, pamphlets, haunted furniture, dub-thrall, disembodied voices, zombie couriers, and sinister rituals.

Nightswimming by waxjism, Frank/Gerard, 141k, Not Rated. My Teenage Romance

Unholyverse by Bexless, Frank/Gerard, Ray/Mikey, 187k, Mature, Explicit. Religion! Horror! Exorcisms! Piercings! And Gerard is a priest.

Illyria (King and Country) by tabulaxrasa, Frank/Gerard, 57k, Explicit. Today, they'd woken up and Gerard was King of Illyria. Frank hasn't really been a stable boy since he ended up in the archduke's bed, but now Gerard's exile is over and he's king. Frank has to survive court, politics, and scheming nobles to figure out exactly what he is now.

Stunning Someone by morbid_beauty, Frank/Gerard, 82k, Explicit. Frankie, a tattoo artist living in Brooklyn, has basically everything ze wants...except, like, someone to cuddle with at night. As lame as that sounds. Gerard, an art student living in Manhattan, meets someone of questionable gender and starts a friendship with an unrequited crush. (Or: the one where Frankie is genderfluid, Gerard is kind of ignorant to much of the queer community, and sometimes you just fall for a stunning someone.)

Envision the Magic by innocent_wolves, Frank/Gerard, 69k, Teen And Up Audiences. Gerard is a talented magician, responsible for much of the success of the famous Envision Destiny cruise ship. He's also one of those people. You know, one of those people who just seem to take up all the space they come across with their arrogance and confidence. You wouldn't wanna touch their personality with a 10-foot pole, but still people admire them. That is beyond Frank. Working behind the cruise ship bars and seeing Gerard pretty much every day, he can't understand what's so great about him. Besides, everybody else doesn't have to deal with his snide remarks and rude comments. Because if there's one thing Gerard seems to love, it's the act of constantly pestering Frank.

Truths That He Learned by gala_apples, Frank/Mikey, Patrick/Mikey/Pete, Ashlee/Patrick/Pete, 37k, Explicit. It's Frank's senior year, and it seems like he's constantly having new experiences, at least half of which come as a complete surprise to him. He falls in love, comes out, and has sex, not necessarily in that order.

Fit to be tied by maryangel, Frank/Gerard, 56k, Explicit. Frank is a bartender. Gerard is an alcoholic. They were clearly made for each other. Also, Frank is a werewolf.

Only Going One Way by ataratah, jjtaylor, Frank/Gerard, 73k, Mature. Crossover with due South. Constable Gerard Way of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Detective Frank Iero of the Chicago PD team up find Mikey Way in a city where bowling alley score cards hide secret codes, where the good guys are either lying or undercover (and sometimes lying about being undercover), and where criminal bakers make drug-laced frosting.

James Cameron Got It Wrong by ladyfoxxx, Frank/Fun Ghoul/Party Poison, 57k, Explicit. In which 2005!Frank and Fun Ghoul get it on. Then Frank accidentally winds up in 2019.

Rock and Roll Never Looked so Beautiful by corruptedkid, Frank/Gerard, 58k, Explicit. Gerard Way is a rising solo artist, set to become the next big thing in the alternative scene. Frank Iero is a trashy punk with a reputation of his own as the frontman of Pencey Prep. When their paths cross, a love story is born, only to come crashing down when Gerard hits it big. As Gerard ascends to the A-list, Frank adjusts to life on his own. He almost manages it - until two years later, when fate puts him face to face with Gerard once more. Everything has changed, but the connection between them is still there. Their story has ended once before, but if they're lucky, they just might make a new one.

I never told you what I do for a living. by not0-fuckin-kay, Frank/Gerard, 60k+, PG-13 to NC-17. Frank Iero, male nurse at Pete Wentz's private hospital and possibly more to one new patient he can't keep his eyes off of. When a new pateint is brought in with amnesia, just days before Christmas, and with nothing but the clothes on his back and a strange drawing, it's left to Frank to find out who he is and what happened to him. When he does, it changes Frank's life forever, as he's thrust into love and health scares he never thought would complicate his life. This is the story of how he tries to make it through, juggling his job and his love-life and just trying to make things better. With Patrick the doctor, Bob the ward supervisor, Travis the unlikely therapist, and Mikey, the sometimes wannabe homicidal geek.

and me here on the ground by ohnoktcsk, Frank/Gerard, 32k, Explicit. Frank's worked hard to build a life for himself in the city of Jersey, where dragons swoop and dive over the river, and every day is divided by the ringing of the city bells. He knows the streets of the city like he knows the the tattoos on the backs of his hands, and he's content with what he has: a job as a bike courier, friends who love to give him shit, and a crush on a professor of art history at the local university. But he's also got a secret—one he's been running from for a long time. But all it takes is one delivery to a mysterious, quite-probably-magical bookshop to show Frank that there are some things you can’t outrun. Especially since he’s finally found a place that he doesn’t want to leave.

Companion by onceuponamoon, Frank/Gerard, 34k, Explicit. A workplace AU. There’s a dude sitting in one of the high-backed chairs opposite the reception desk. Mostly obscured by a fake ficus plant between them, the guy probably wouldn’t have been noticeable save for the lazy sprawl of his legs, the Chucks contrasting against the floral rug.

Your Heart The Only Place That I Call Home by dear_monday, Frank/Gerard, 30k, Explicit. When Frank and his crew of morally ambiguous ethernauts (pirates, as Imperial law would have it, but that's such an ugly word) fetch up on the doorstep of the fabled Sanctuary, they aren't expecting to find much - least of all a long-lost brother, a garden in a box and the key to an ancient riddle.

Give Me a Reason by mistresscurvy, Lindsey/Frank/Jamia/Gerard and most variants thereof, 38k, Explicit. July 2007. Frank is fucking stoked for the next tour. This one will be the best ever, because his wife's gonna be with him the entire time. They've been married for less than six months, and he still can't fucking believe he got to marry her. This summer is going to rock. But life never happens as he plans.

In Repair by autoschediastic, Frank/Gerard, 33k, Explicit. "Shit," Frank mutters, and shoves both hands through his hair. He looks around the kitchen like he's gonna find what he should do scratched into the old linoleum, then looks back at the bot. He gnaws on his lip. Fuck it. He already knows what he's gonna do. He's just gotta do it. Getting down on his knees, he braces a hand on the edge of the crate and leans over the bot. It's dressed in a plain white tee and matching drawstring pants like an escaped mental patient. Frank rolls his neck and cracks his knuckles, shaking the ache out of them before carefully laying his palm against its cheek. He's pretty sure his voice is steady when he says, "Activate." Nothing happens. Fucking shitty packaging-- the thing's busted. But Frank keeps his hand where it is, jumping a little when he feels the surge of energy beneath it. The robot's skin goes from room temperature to lukewarm, then warm. Frank watches it open its eyes, the light behind them adjusting until they're a pale sort of brown. It looks at him and asks, "Am I dead?"

Promises, Promises by silentdescant, Frank/Gerard, 31k, Explicit. "Sources on our investigative team say this was a bank robbery gone wrong, and that, when faced with a police task force surrounding the building, the suspect grabbed the nearest person and is now holding that young man at gunpoint as he makes his getaway."

Cover To Cover by silentdescant, Frank/Gerard, 32k, Explicit. You've Got Mail AU. Frank owns The Shop Around The Corner, which specializes in classic and rare books, and Gerard is opening up a large branch of Way Books & Café down the street. They meet online and fall in love.

Love: The Package Deal by jjtaylor, Frank/Gerard, Lindsey/Frank/Jamia/Gerard, 30k, Mature. Gerard gets a special kind of amnesia. Frank gets to reexamine his idea of acceptable relationship structures. Lots of people fail to communicate effectively, but they all sure remember how to kiss.

Let The Darkness Lead You Home by rivers_bend, Frank/Gerard, 49k, Explicit. Vampires are in charge and most of the humans on earth are prey, so Frank Iero's parents have him train as a cyber tech to protect him. Leaving the family he's born into may have saved his life, but his parents never could have expected the lengths he'd go to in order to find a new family to call home.

Gross roomies by turps, Frank/Mikey, 36k, Explicit. Frank loves living with Mikey. Sure, the apartment is a mess, the kitchen's a toxic wasteland, and there's something growing in the refrigerator that's just a day or two away from becoming sentient, but other than those minor inconveniences, it's all cool. Or it is until Mikey decides to embark on a journey of sexual discovery and adventure and Frank's left at home with nothing but the fridge monster for company. To make matters worse, Mikey insists on telling Frank everything he does with his new kinky friends, right down to the tiniest detail. And now suddenly Frank is best friends with his right hand and he can't stop thinking about Mikey in ways he never has before. The really big problem, other than suddenly being in lust with his best friend, is that Frank isn't sure why.

Of All The Hidden Corners by moneyes, Frank/Gerard, ~44k, PG-13. An epic, adventurous tale filled with alternate universes, lords, mischief, magical powers, snark, boyfriends, and luck of the bad kind.

Church of Hot Addiction by spleenjournal, 0nlymemories, Frank/Gerard, Frank/Mikey, 36k, Adult. When Gerard Way gets transferred to Our Lady of Peace in Arlington a few weeks into his Senior year, he thinks it's his chance to be cool. Too bad his idea of "cool" is no cooler than it was in 3rd grade, even if there aren't any green tights.

Paradox 'verse by stoplightglow, Frank/Gerard, 42k, Mature. You know the saying. The best part about hitting rock bottom is that you get to meet a hot psychic.

#frank/gerard #ray/mikey #frank/mikey #lindsey/frank/jamia/gerard #fic rec list #longfic

[alarriefantasy]

Hello sweetie, I hope you had a great day ! ❤ My fic request for you is a bit dark so don't feel forced to respond to it, I would totally understand if it made you uncomfortable But do you know any self-harm fics ? Thank you x

It does not make me feel uncomfortable one bit!! :) :) Here you go!! :) :)

                                         Self - Harm Fic Rec

a plea for you to come home by tworoads

Words: 2k

AU. harry hasn’t seen louis in three years, and the red faced young man behind the counter looks stressed out, cocoa powder lightly dusting his cheek, and barely resembles the silly boy that harry used to crowd into empty bedrooms at parties in manchester.

be my once in a lifetime by HappyPrincess

Words: 11k

Just like there are only four other people who will ever understand what it’s like growing up in One Direction, there’s only one other person who knows what it’s like to find your soulmate just before you’re thrown into the spotlight and forced to acknowledge that the both of you have too many flaws and vices to make it through fame together.

Or: It's all about having sex and being sad. And drunk.

Tell Me A Lie by Soullesscreature

Words: 15k

Harry used to self-harm, but he promised himself that if he won the x factor, he would stop. They didn't win, but they got a contract, they became famous and Harry is living the dream and he should be one of the happiest people on earth.

But it's pretty hard to be happy when your crush/best mate is ignoring you. Harry has been slowly buckling under the pressure that's being pushed onto him and now all he can think about is the many razors that are practically calling him from the bathroom.

I Promise I’ll Be Better by Austinattack

Words: 26k

Diner AU. Harry works the late shift at Oliver’s Diner. He meets Louis, who only ever orders coffee at one AM. Louis has shaky hands and bruised wrists and Harry wants to know why. Harry invites Louis home with him one night, when Louis implies he has no where to go. Harry wants to know everything about Louis. Louis doesn’t know if he’s willing to share anything at all.

In plain sight by revise

Words: 46k

Or the one where Louis takes everything too seriously, Harry falls in love (even though he may not want to), Liam and Zayn are trying to help everyone, and Niall is a bit overprotective.

Green Doe Eyes by Snowy38 

Words: 51k

“Can I fix you?” Louis asked as Harry looked over at him, eyes wet and red, tip of his nose pink and cute. He licked his plush lips and nodded.

Louis let out a thankful sigh and reached for Harry’s hand, ignoring the way Harry flinched when they touched.

He stripped off the useless bandage and winced at the re-opened wounds. He noticed the blood under Harry’s fingernails and realised he’d scratched at them until they bled.

“Harry…” He whispered, tears coming to his own eyes as he felt Harry tremble under his touch, eyes averted shamefully as he swallowed his tears away determinedly. “No, don’t be scared, it’s okay,” Louis assured. “I’m not going to judge you…I just need to protect you,” he explained.

Always In My Heart by bluehairedbaby

Words: 58k

One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

Five years is a long time to be apart from one's soulmate.

Everyone tells him to move on, but Louis isn't ready to let go.

Breathe Me by eternalxrry

Words: 69k

Omega Louis thinks he’s worthless, after being told thousands of times a day, he finally starts to believe the bullies. But no one is there to protect him, until Harry and his pack move to Louis’ hometown. Will Harry protect Louis? Or is it all too good to be true.

I hear you calling in the dead of night by Thelonelycoast

Words: 72k

No one really notices Marcel Styles. In fact, Marcel’s so invisible that if his teachers don’t call on him in lessons - and they rarely do - Marcel can go whole days without speaking to anyone other than his mum, his sister, Gemma, his cat, Dusty and the school librarian, Alma. And if he just so happens to have a tiny, miniscule crush on the footie captain, Louis Tomlinson, well, that’s no one’s business but his own. Until Louis notices him back…

Pour Your Heart Out by hrrytomlinson

Words: 92k

Louis is his soulmate. Or at least Harry thinks he is. Louis feels the same as Louis. But there are a lot of people named Louis in the world and this Louis might not be the Louis. It’s besides the point though, because Harry knows he can’t allow himself to get close to any boys. He just can’t and he’s told himself this multiple times. He has to simply stay away from Louis Tomlinson. But he can’t. Harry Styles can never stay away from Louis Tomlinson. It’s physically impossible for him to.

Take me down with you by harrystylesandstuff

Words: 107k

AU where Louis tries to kill himself multiple times but he’s not very good at it, Harry keeps showing up out of nowhere, and maybe life isn’t as bad as it looks sometimes.

The Healing Song by 2204

Words: 111k

Or where Louis is a single father of two, suffering from PTSD, and Harry is there providing soulmatey and loving support while he heals the wounds of past abuse

Baby Heaven’s in your Eyes by theboyfriendstagram

Words: 120k

Or a sixth form!AU where Harry is the fucked up bad boy with too many problems, Louis is the perfect rich boy with too much money and their schools are right across from each other. They meet at a party and that’s the last (and maybe the only) thing they need.

Lights Will Guide You Home by Cafelesbian

Words: 137k

Louis Tomlinson is his school’s resident bad boy and easily the most liked person there. He’s loud and confident and popular. He spends most of his time abusing his parent’s money or partying or playing football. He also spends a good deal of it obsessing over the quiet curly boy in his English class, but no one really needs to know that.

Harry Styles is more or less invisible at the same school (unless he’s being harassed). He’s shy and painfully insecure and quiet. He spends most of his time crying on his bedroom floor with a razor pressed against his skin or trying (and failing) to think of reasons to stay alive.

So, of course, it’s inevitable that they fall for each other.

Birds in Gilded Cages by graveyardwitch

Words: 157k

There is a hotel in London where beautiful young men and women are kept like birds in a gilded cage, prisoners bound to satisfy your deepest darkest desires….

After being kidnapped as a teenager, Harry Styles was forced into high-class prostitution by the evil Mr Cowell. Louis Tomlinson is heir to his father’s corporation, set to inherit millions…But engaged to a woman he doesn’t love and deeply unhappy. When they meet at a party sparks fly and they embark on a passionate and dangerous relationship…But can it ever be true love when one of you is being paid? And can Louis ever rescue Harry from The Bird Cage Hotel?

Don't Let It (Me) Break by falsegoodnight

Words: 168k

Or the one where Harry is oblivious, Louis is broken, Zayn and Liam are in love, Gemma and Lottie are lovely, and Niall is just waiting for everyone to get their shit together.

Oh, and it's all Malcolm's fault

A Love Like War by sincewewereeighteen 

Words: 173k

Or: the one in which Louis Tomlinson is a cliched rock star, he’s got everything except for love. But then he meets Harry Styles; the man that, against all odds, saves him in every way a person can be saved, even when Louis didn’t know he needed saving in the first place.

Shake Me Down by AGreatPerhaps12

Words: 208k

Harry’s new to college, fresh out of Catholic school and conversion therapy camp, and Louis runs the campus LGBTQIA organization.

All Tired Talk by orphan_account

Words: 268k

In which Harry is the dying front man of a dying rock band, Zayn has finally given up holding his hair back in dingy bathrooms, Niall and Liam are holding up the fort, and Louis comes along with eyes the color of the sky to remind Harry that there is still more life to live.

Take me to Church by wickedarcher_08

Words: 414k

Louis is the new kid at school in Bible Belt, USA, who is fascinated by the quiet kid that seems to be an outcast. It takes everything in his arsenal to break the walls of Harry Styles down. Harry has a troubled past that has lead him to go against everything Louis thought he believed. Louis sees something brokenly beautiful in Harry, and Harry finds the stability he has longed for in Louis. After many conversations, Louis makes a confession that could cost them everything.

♡ credit to the owner of the manip

♡ past themed recs here

♡ updated 7.17.20

#ask

[darcyfirth]

Hartwin fic recs (2/?)

[Long post]

These are lovingly saved in my laptop's Kindle and I love them dearly. It's umbrellas this time, glasses if I made part 3.

Authors' tagged tropes are included and I tried my best not to include spoilers. As usual my comments are in italics.  

☂️ Sparking - LapisLazuli. E, 2k. Traped in a closet trope. 

“Looks like we’ll be trapped for a while,” Harry whispers, calm as you please, as if Eggsy’s face isn’t pressed directly into the little hollow between his neck and his shoulder, as if Eggsy isn’t drowning in the fucking scent of his cologne, as if the fabric of his bespoke suit isn’t caressing Eggsy’s cheek like a goddamn lover.

☂️ Red Striped Ties - violentcheese. G, 1k. Red string of fate AU.

"Eggsy is the ragamuffin kid who refuses to stop hanging the Kingsman Tailor shop because he has a crush on Harry Hart, the owner."

Eggsy follows his string patiently. Harry ignores his.

☂️ You Get Up With Fleas - evil_brainmate. T, 74k. Corgi/prince!Eggsy. My first time prompting someone (with my old url) and the result is so much more than I expected.

Eggsy is a fairy prince, trapped in the human world and cursed to transform each day into a corgi. Harry Hart is a gentleman spy, and mortal, who picks him up thinking he's a stray. The two of them must work together to find a way to break the curse.

☂️ Paint With all the Colours of the Wind - Della19. G, 1k. Soulmates AU. 

Harry x Eggsy soulmate au where you only see colour once you meet your soulmate (so you don’t know them until you see them).

And it goes away when they die.

☂️ our vintage misery - fideliant. E, 23k. Pining, slow burn. 

hey young blood, doesn't it feel like our time is running out?

On a difficulty scale of one to saving the world, love shouldn't be this far off the charts.

☂️ into the wails of your windfight - fideliant. E, 8k. Pining. 

It takes a mission gone wrong for Eggsy to find out that even in real life, the dead don't always stay dead. Sometimes the movies get that part right, it would seem.

☂️ Class Of Conduct - fideliant. E, 13k. Slow burn. 

Or, Six Things Eggsy Has Learned About Being A Gentleman

“Lesson number one,” Harry says. “Manners matter.”

☂️ Random Access Memories - fideliant. E, 20k. Memory loss.

Having a supercomputer in your head isn't all that much to be cracked up about.

☂️ down dark tides the glory slides - fideliant. E, 23k. Pining, memory loss. 

You only ever truly hurt the ones you love.

☂️ Or Else - breakdancingfish. M, 4k.

Before they’re allowed to go out on their own, Eggsy and Roxy form a four person team with Harry and Merlin, completing several missions together. Oh, and Harry is the world’s biggest tease. Of course.

☂️ We Are Faking It - lokidiabolus. T, 62k. Fake relationship, slow burn.

For Eggsy it was a thing - he was taking from Harry enough, now was the time he should give something back. Even if it meant playing his lover to get the mission going and catch the culprit. Who would it be if not him, right? Right.

☂️ 57 Degrees. Precisely. - Galahard. M, 6k. Marine!Eggsy, texing, coffee shop AU.

In an alternate world Eggsy goes into the Marines, and stays in the Marines. This is a take on that au, though please forgive my lack of actual Marine knowledge. Also included: finicky coffee drinkers, texting addictions, and baristas with ulterior motives.

☂️ A Not So Lazy Evening - Galahard. E, 3k. Bottom!Harry, PWP. Really good read.

☂️ Vermillion - Galahard. E, 14k. Shy!Harry, slow burn.

He didn't know what to do with that. He didn't blush. He wasn't some teenager to be so affected by anything Eggsy did. Though really, he couldn't remember the last time he'd looked at someone and not pictured them in his bed but rather his dining room, chowing down on too sugary cereal while loudly revealing his plans for the day.

☂️ Soulmates - Galahard. 1k. Soulmates AU. How much do I adore this? A lot.

For Harry Hart's 16th birthday he not only gets his soul mark.

He gets a complete sentence.

☂️ Withdrawal - Saucery. T, 1k. Pining, finger kink.

Eggsy goes into withdrawal without Harry’s touch.

☂️ The Language of Flowers - Saucery. M, 1k. Flower shop AU, florist!Eggsy, lawyer!Harry, meet-cute, mutual pining.

Eggsy is a florist with an attitude. Harry is a lawyer with a conscience. Flowers bring them together.

☂️ The King’s Thief - twentyfourblackbirds. T, 8k.

"Harry," Eggsy said one day, while Harry was deep in a report about weapons smuggling in Ukraine. "I really fancy you." "Mmm-hmm," Harry responded, flipping to another chapter about airline safety standards in Indonesia. "If I had to say it," Eggsy mused, slightly put out, "I would, in fact, say that I am deeply, wildly, and madly in love with you." "That's very good, Eggsy," Harry said absentmindedly, scrawling his signature at the bottom of the paper. Eggsy sighed. "Sometimes, I might think you don't listen to a word I say."

☂️ Patience and Sheer Determinaiton - blacktofade. E, 47k. Fake relationship, prostitute!Eggsy.

Harry goes undercover to infiltrate the circle of a corrupt overlord and is given Eggsy, a young prostitute, as a token of goodwill. Harry has to live with Eggsy and keep him safe, while maintaining his cover.

☂️ Care and Custody - esama. T, 50k.

Eggsy takes out the medal in slightly worse circumstances, asking for a miracle.

☂️ How Eggsy Met Harry, As Told Through A Series of Soul Marks - thayde. 91k. Soulmates AU, WIP. I would warn you that this hasn't been updated for a long time now but if you have a brave heart then march on soldier.

Eggsy stares at the Mark on his chest sometimes, and wonders if his soulmate would ever settle for street trash like him.

☂️ Boyfriend Material - Deepdarkwaters. E, 3k. Mutual pining, oblivious!Eggsy.

"Are you a cigarette? Cos you're smoking hot and I wanna put your butt in my mouth."

☂️ Pig Latin - aerospaces. E, 10k. Fluff.

In Kenya, Eggsy falls off a flight of stairs. Or: lessons in cohabitation.

Eggsy discovers the joys of a home-cooked meal among many other things.

☂️ Considerably Less Cannibalism - LizaPod. E, 6k. Shaving, barebacking. This  one is the myth, the legend, the fic.

It is a real, physical struggle to not stare like a dogger while Harry shrugs off his jacket and undoes his collar, sets his signet ring aside. He has detailed, minutely detailed, fantasies about unbuttoning that fucking collar. At least he’s not wearing the holster right now, or Eggsy’d be sprung already. “It’s time you learned the fine art of the straight razor shave.”

Eggsy gives him his best you havin’ a fucking giggle, mate eyebrows. “Like Sweeney Todd?”

Harry’s sigh is just bordering on melodramatic, but he’s also got that odd— Roxy calls it enigmatic—smile he gets when Eggsy trots out some unexpected bit of culture. "Yes, Eggsy, like Sweeney Todd."

☂️ Kiss Me Now (before I can run) - persephoneggsy. M, 37k. Soulmates AU.

It wasn’t unusual, Eggsy told himself. There were plenty of people- just a little under half of the world’s population, really- that weren’t with their soulmates. Some of them just hadn’t met yet; others had died beforehand; and then there were the people in Eggsy’s situation. Sometimes people genuinely didn’t want their soulmates. Either they were in love with someone else, or they just didn’t like what they got stuck with, and Eggsy imagined the latter was very much the case with him and Harry. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what it must have felt like for him, the world’s prime example of a posh bloke, to have his soulmate be some beaten-up kid. He would have rejected him too.

Or: soulmate AU where you know your soulmate from the moment you touch them, and when you do, their name gets written over your heart like a brand. But that's not always a guarantee.

☂️ “It suits you, you should keep it” - eggsystolemyhart. G, 600-ish.

"What...?"

"Pardon, Eggsy."

"What...?"

"Did you not hear me previously? I said it suits you, you should keep it."

"What...?"

☂️ Five Stars, Would Shag Again - EmmyAngua. E, 6k. Seduction.

This time, the penultimate task isn’t to seduce an heiress, it’s to seduce an agent. Merlin assures the final three that the agent is chosen entirely at random.

So of *course* it’s Harry.

☂️ are we human, or are we dynamite - randomhorse. M, 13k. Pacific Rim AU. 

It’s been seventeen years since Harry has lost his co-pilot Lee Unwin in the drift, and still the world won’t stop ending.

In the Hong Kong Shatterdome, Merlin is launching a new line of Kingsman Jaegers fit to fight Category 4 Kaijus emerging from the Breach.

In the suburbs of London, Eggsy Unwin gets the draft for Jaeger Academy.

☂️ who got the keys to my bimmer - hartwinning. M, 69k. Mutual pining, mechanic!Eggsy, UST, slow burn.

"What's the difference between a BMW and a porcupine?"

Harry gives him a slightly bewildered look and furrows his brow.

"A porcupine has the pricks on the outside," Eggsy finishes.

☂️ hold courage to your chest - Fahye. E, 46k. I adore this.

Eggsy slumps against the wall, feeling every bruise like it's new, and tells the truth.

"You want to make sure I jump when I'm told?" he demands. "It'd better be you doing the telling, Harry."

☂️ Bang to Rights - concernedlily. E, 17k. Police AU.

Constable Unwin never met a tailor before, but he knows this bloke who keeps turning up at his crime scenes ain't one.

☂️ Breakeven - theshizniiit (orphan_account). E, 85k. Omega!Harry, mpreg.

When Harry walked inside the church (and then out of it, and right into Valentine's bullet) he didn't know he was pregnant.

And now he's back from the dead. This time, with an extra passenger and quite a few problems.

☂️ The New Age - DivineProjectZero. Soulmates AU.

It starts with being cursed.

No, scratch that. It starts with a garden and a serpent. And no, it goes a little differently from what you’d think.

☂️ You Are Beautiful - Sheepie. G, 8k. Coffee shop AU.

Eggsy Unwin works as a barista at the Suited Bean. He's been in love with regular customer Harry Hart for a long time, but he never said anything. Who would want to date someone his size? But Harry sees nothing wrong with the way Eggsy looks.

☂️ Couple of (Couples) Mugs - ilokheimsins. T, 2k. Fluff. 

Harry and Eggsy absolutely do not have couples mugs that proclaim their love for one another. Harry is about 70 percent sure of this.

☂️ Gimme All Your Love - midnightsurge. M, 11k. Fireman!Eggsy, rimming.

“Sorry,” a soothing, male voice started hesitantly, “but… didn’ I pull you out of a burnin’ building a few weeks ago?”

Harry nearly choked on his drink as the question registered in his mind, his brown eyes flicking to the side to confirm that, yes indeed, it was Eggsy standing there with wide eyes.

“Fuck, sorry!” Eggsy apologised profusely as he held his hands up, wanting to help but unsure how to do so. “Ain’t meant to startle you!”

Or

Eggsy is a fireman. He saves Harry's life when a mission goes awry. A few weeks later, they meet again.

☂️ Rules of Insanity - inthepapers3times. E, 54k. Dark!Eggsy. 

The worst mistake of Harry Hart’s life started like many of the minor mistakes he had made: with a one night stand. If only he had taken the taxi all the way to his house. Maybe then he wouldn't have met this particular young man, and he wouldn't have taken him home. Maybe then all of this could have been avoided.

Harry gets pulled into a dangerous game with Gary, a disturbed man he barely knows, and has no choice but to play along.

Gary is in control completely. He makes the rules. Harry is just forced to follow them.

☂️ dig in your fingers - kirkaut. E, 42k. First time, body worship.

The lack of a silver suppository has set Eggsy upon a certain path. The way that Eggsy looks, dripping wet and half naked, sets Harry on another.

(Or: Total Canon Re-Write, aka The One Where Harry's Libido Saves His Life)

☂️ sins without tragedies - kingstier. T, 11k. 5 + 1. Fake marriage.

"Harry, are we married?"

"Aren't we?"

Or, the five times they're practically married and the one time they're not (yet).

☂️ 5 Knots Harry made + 1 Knot Eggsy tied - therune. T, 2k. 5 + 1. I love this immensely!

Whenever Eggsy gets dressed in his suit he purposefully skips a button or struggles with his tie so that Harry is forced to step into his personal space and fix it for him.

☂️ Like Real People Do - coloursflyaway. T, 3k. 5 + 1. Undercover, first kiss.

Five times Eggsy called Harry a pet name, and one time Harry called Eggsy one.

#hartwin #kingsman #hartwin fic #harry hart #eggsy unwin #fic rec #kingsman fics #ao3 #M/M #Darcyfirth's lists #i wanted to include several more #but they're deleted :( #like blessed are the thieves who stole my heart #it was a wip but so so good

[j-graysonlibrary]

Fort Heaven Chapter 10

Title: Fort Heaven

Author: Jay Grayson

Word Count: 69K

Genres: Suspense, investigative, drama, LGBT+

Available on: Kobo and my website

Synopsis: Some call it a hoax. Others claim it’s a cult. But, to Evon and his friend Yasmine, two online journalists, Fort Heaven is the subject of their latest story. Along for the assignment is cameraman and not-so-secret crush of Evon’s: Russet. With a drunken, murky night in their recent history, things are especially tense between them but, of course, personal matters take a backseat when the interviews start. The trio speaks to ex-members of Fort Heaven and, while some of the accounts are shocking, the job remains just that: A job. That is until one of the women they interviewed, along with her daughter, goes missing. It soon becomes clear that not only is Fort Heaven a real threat but Evon and his friends are being watched. And what started as a simple cash-grab article is now a matter of life and death.

Full Chapter 10 under the cut

Chapter 10

The doorbell ringing made everyone either flinch or jump. Cindy put her hand over her heart while Nichole turned in her seat to look in the direction of the front door. Evon, Yasmine, and Russet looked at each other with tangible anxiousness.

Even if the person on the other side of the door was certainly unrelated to their discussion, their timing still felt unsettling.

“I’ll get it,” Nichole offered with a weak smile.

When she walked off, Russet turned his handheld camera off to conserve the battery. Evon and Yasmine stayed seated while Cindy—possibly more nervous than any of them—shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

A woman’s voice sounded from down the hallway and, while it was somewhat obstructed, her words could still be made out.

“He was in my yard again,” she said.

“Sorry,” Nichole replied, “He slips out all the time and he just really likes you I guess.”

The woman laughed. “I don’t mind him but he can’t stay. A visit every once in a while is fine but no sleepovers.”

“Right.”

A pause came but the door wasn’t closed which meant the woman was still there. “Who do you and your mom have over?”

The look on Cindy’s face showed her panic clearly. She didn’t want her daughter to tell the truth but she also didn’t want to have to maintain some wild lie.

“Just some guests. Business stuff.”

“Ah…” The woman didn’t sound convinced but if she went on further then she would be the one sounding suspicious. “Well, see you tomorrow.”

“Yeah. Bye Mrs. Sandiago.”

Nichole walked back into the kitchen with a small, long haired dog in her arms. “Sammy was getting into trouble again.”

“She was being nosey …” Cindy said and then gulped. “Think she’ll leave it alone?”

Her daughter shook her head before setting the dog onto the floor. The dog took off toward Evon and sniffed all around his legs and shoes, delighting him. As the Oswell’s continued their conversation in a more hushed tone, he pulled the dog up into his lap and petted him eagerly.

Yasmine reached over and scratched the top of his head while Russet, having turned his camera back on, went to filming him.

“Evon’s one big weakness,” he said, zooming in on the dog.

“I love dogs,” the man admitted and hugged the small creature.

As the three of them busied themselves with the dog, Cindy and Nichole finished their talk. They settled on the fact their neighbor was simply invasive and would probably make up rumors about them—whatever would sound the most scandalous—and they could deflect all of the falsities later.

Whatever Mrs. Sandiago came up with wouldn’t be nearly as bad as what Cindy was really doing.

“Where were we?” Cindy said and took her seat back. Nichole sat next to her without a word.

“Oh,” Evon snapped out of his mini trance with the dog and looked up. “Um…”

“We just finished discussing your parents,” Russet reminded everyone. “How you would be ranked higher than them once you were done with your classes.”

“Right…” she hummed. “Well I didn’t go very far once I graduated…if you can even call it that.”

“What happened?” Yasmine asked.

“I was paired up with a man…I’m not sure if you’ve heard from anyone else yet that the church chooses your partner…”

“Yeah, we’ve heard,” Evon responded, thinking to Bob and Darcy’s story.

“An older member took interest in me without me even knowing and, when he requested permission to date me, it was given.”

Nichole looked to her mother, noticeably horrified. “They didn’t ask you?”

“Of course not,” Cindy answered with a dry laugh. “I wasn’t only a girl but still young. My thoughts and opinions didn’t matter as much as his.”

Evon’s face dropped and his hands stopped moving which only bothered the dog. Yasmine shook her head and took the initiative to continue on.

“So you were just given to this man?”

The woman nodded. “It was something like an arranged marriage. Instead of taking any jobs for my level, I was trained to be more suitable for him.”

“That’s sick,” Russet responded. He hardly ever got disturbed by things but his face showed that Cindy’s story was getting to him in some capacity.

“Did you actually do it?” Nichole asked. Her hand went to her mother’s shoulder and squeezed.

“Eventually, yes,” she answered. “I was miserable and all the friends I had made in the years leading up to this had all moved on. So, almost overnight, I was alone. It was just me and this…man.”

“Oh no…” her daughter suddenly said with a look of disgust, “That was my father…wasn’t it?”

The air in the room became thick and the trio across the way from them stiffened and traded worried glances.

Cindy slowly started to nod. “Yes. He is your father. I’m sorry.”

“Is that why you always liked Kate more than me?”

Nichole’s voice echoed and an uncomfortable silence followed. When Cindy didn’t say anything fast enough for her liking, the young woman stood and walked out.

Evon looked to Cindy and frowned. “She’ll realize eventually that it wasn’t your fault. She’s just learned a lot, after all.”

She smiled but wiped at the corner of her eye. “Thanks but…I deserve it. I potentially ruined her life by taking her and running away.”

Everyone looked at each other before Russet asked, “When did you finally run away?”

Cindy took a deep breath before diving into it.

Once she was married to the man, her role became to simply do whatever he asked of her. If he wanted to have sex then she would have to do that. It was the same with cooking, cleaning, and any other favor. At a certain point, she was forced to have sex every night until she eventually became pregnant.

It was the worst outcome she could have imagined at the time.

Not only did she have to deal with her abuser on a daily basis but she would have to raise a child—his child—forever?

Yet, when she had her child, she was struck with fondness and a desire to do something. Anything. Her baby was a girl and she had experienced the church life as a girl and as a woman so she knew how her daughter would end up being treated.

“So you escaped.” Yasmine concluded.

“Tried to,” Cindy said and then sighed. “I didn’t make it the first time.”

“You were caught?” Evon asked as he continued petting the dog who had recently gone to sleep on his lap.

“Yes.” The woman brushed some of her hair back and continued. “When I was found, a guard turned me in and I was sent to a camp…but this one was full of adults. Everyone there had done something—whether it was as small as sneezing in the same room with Simon or as big as killing someone—they were all labeled sinners in the church’s eyes.”

“They don’t send anyone to jail?” Yasmine asked with her confusion at the forefront of her tone.

“Not if they felt it was an internal matter.”

“How did you get out?” Evon asked, more interested in that.

“I…” Cindy paused and looked around. She wanted to make sure Nichole wasn’t around to overhear which meant it was serious or at least something she would hate for her daughter to know. “I seduced one of the guards.”

Yasmine raised her brow before smiling a little. “That’s really clever, actually.”

“He let you out?” Russet asked, more curious about the details.

“Not exactly,” she explained, “but he gave me more freedom and I took advantage of that. Once he trusted me to not run off on him, I did just that. I grabbed Nichole and left that hellish place.”

“You should tell you daughter that,” Evon spoke quietly. Nichole may not have wanted to hear all of it but he knew she would feel the love her mother had for her since the beginning.

“It’s best if I don’t,” Cindy politely argued, “We’ve never been all that close.”

“Hmm…who was that Kate person that Nichole mentioned?” Yasmine asked.

“Oh…um…my younger daughter from my real first marriage. He already had a daughter and I think Nichole has always resented the attention that that little girl received.”

“It can be hard having siblings,” Yasmine agreed.

“Not for me,” Evon said before he could think it through. He realized how it came off and turned slightly red. “Sorry…I just started thinking about Trinity….”

“Well Trinity is pretty amazing,” his friend said with a smirk.

“Anyway,” Russet pulled them back on track. “What happened to Kate? Does she live here too?”

Cindy glanced down before slowly shaking her head. “When she was fourteen, Kate killed herself.”

The air shifted and, suddenly, it made sense why there was such a dark and uneasy feeling in and around the house.

“I’m so sorry,” Evon barely got out. “That’s awful…”

“Yes but…” Cindy paused and then sighed, “it’s in the past. Just like my time with Fort Heaven…”

“I do have to ask,” Yasmine spoke up, getting everyone’s attention. “Why agree to do this interview in the first place? It was an awful experience…”

“People have to know,” she answered simply. “Those of us with genuine stories and resources need to let everyone know and to warn the world. If these things aren’t pointed out then there’s a good chance that nothing will change or get worse even.”

There wasn’t much else to add at that point so they decided to wrap up.

Cindy gave them each hugs before they departed while Nichole simply waved from the hall. The trio left with all of their (Russet’s) equipment in the back of the sedan.

Evon glanced to the side just as he pulled the door open and, when he looked at the house next door, he noticed a split in the blinds He squinted up at it and saw the silhouette of a person retract.

He felt his breath leave him but he managed a warning anyway.

“Guys…three o’clock.”

Both Yasmine and Russet started to wildly look around. Evon sighed and clarified. “MY three o’clock.”

No one was there anymore but at least both of them looked at the right spot. “What?” Yasmine asked.

“There was someone over there,” he whispered. “They were watching us.”

“How do you know for sure?” Russet asked and climbed into the passenger seat. The other two followed suit and hopped into the car as well.”

“I don’t know…I could just feel it…” Evon shivered.

“It’s probably just a combination of the unease in that place and the cold. Don’t worry too much about it,” Russet assured him although it did make Evon start to wonder if he had seen it at all.

“Don’t worry, boys,” Yasmine said, sounding perky in the backseat, “whether some weirdo was watching us or not, we’ll be back in our hotel room soon. And then--! “

“And then we make our video and make lots of money?” Evon finished and smiled. The closer he got from that house, the better he felt. Maybe that had been it after all.

#fort heaven #my novel #writeblr #lgbt writers

[j-graysonlibrary]

Fort Heaven Chapter 6

Title: Fort Heaven

Author: Jay Grayson

Word Count: 69K

Genres: Suspense, investigative, drama, LGBT+

Available on: Kobo and my website

Synopsis: Some call it a hoax. Others claim it’s a cult. But, to Evon and his friend Yasmine, two online journalists, Fort Heaven is the subject of their latest story. Along for the assignment is cameraman and not-so-secret crush of Evon’s: Russet. With a drunken, murky night in their recent history, things are especially tense between them but, of course, personal matters take a backseat when the interviews start. The trio speaks to ex-members of Fort Heaven and, while some of the accounts are shocking, the job remains just that: A job. That is until one of the women they interviewed, along with her daughter, goes missing. It soon becomes clear that not only is Fort Heaven a real threat but Evon and his friends are being watched. And what started as a simple cash-grab article is now a matter of life and death.

Full Chapter 6 under the cut

Chapter 6

The keyboard clicked with each tap of Evon’s fingers as he took the notes from the interview and tried to lace them together with continuity and grace. Linda’s story was a short one but it would still be a good insight—especially by the time he was done embellishing it a bit.

In the corner of his computer screen Yasmine sent him a few messages about her notes and a secondary interview.

Evon worked quickly to finish up a paragraph before checking what she had to say. He asked about the next interview and was immediately taken aback.

It would be at least a day’s trip away.

Unwilling to try to articulate his thoughts via text, he picked up his phone to call her. As soon as she picked up, she laughed.

“Why did you call me?”

“It’s easier,” he defended himself but still laughed along with her. “What’s up with the next interview? Did you get a reply back today?”

“Just about an hour ago, actually.” Her voice was distant—she probably had him on speaker. “I already said we’d do it but it might take a couple of days. Didn’t want to spring a huge trip on you out of nowhere.”

“Well I appreciate it,” Evon remarked, “who is it with?”

He could hear some typing over the phone before she answered him. “Bob and Darcy…no last name. I guess last names don’t really matter in this context anyway…” There was a short pause. “Anyway, Bob was in Fort Heaven for—wow—like a decade almost. He left with his wife and they had to move six…wait…SIX times!?”

“Jesus…”

“This is going to be a little intense…” she trailed off, probably reading more of the message. “Sorry, this is a new email from them I just got.”

Evon laughed. “I kind of figured with that reaction.”

“Alright they gave me their number so we can talk,” Yasmine mumbled but he could distinguish her words, “What time frame would work for you best, Evon?”

“Next week? Maybe Tuesday or Wednesday if that’s okay with them.”

The weekend would inevitably be full of polishing the small piece that they had written between the two of them about Linda. As long as it was interesting, well written, and fully engaging their boss then they could get a real time frame for the final project.

It was scary to think that Gavin could take one look at what they had and tell them that they had to either leave or take free-lance positions. Evon wanted to have more material prepared but he hoped that with Linda’s piece and a brief rundown of what they already received from Bob and Marcy that it would be enough.

***

Russet laid halfway down on his bed and watched over the video he had while mentally picturing how he would edit the pieces together. He’d have to get his computer up and running to go through the big camera’s footage but he was feeling just a little too lazy.

The video started from the moment the three had entered the car to the moment they left it with a few breaks throughout. Some of it was just scenery which he would keep but likely put to the side and add in later when needed.

He scratched the side of his chin before speeding forward a few minutes. Only Evon was in the shot and it was in the middle of one of their group sing-a-longs. Toward the end an overly excited Evon tried to hit a high note but his voice completely broke and he started coughing though there was a lot of laughter in there as well.

Yasmine could be heard cackling off camera. “You sounded like a thirteen year old boy going through puberty!”

“My throat is dry,” he retaliated and took his right hand off the wheel to smack at her.

She wasn’t bothered by it at all and continued to laugh.

“You didn’t hit the note either,” Evon said once she’d settled down some.

“I didn’t try.”

“Children,” Russet heard himself on camera, “No fighting.”

“What are you going to do about it?” Yasmine asked and the camera finally moved in her direction. She had her hand stuffed in the side of her jacket only so she could pull it out and reveal her middle finger.

Russet chuckled and threatened, “I’ll turn this car around.”

“I’m driving,” Evon pointed out just before the camera refocused on him.

“I’ll figure something out,” he responded.

“He’s gonna kill us!” Yasmine yelled dramatically, “God no! Is this why you agreed to come?! So you could kill us yourself?!”

“Absolutely,” Russet answered with a straight voice. “I’m filming so I can re-watch it later and re-live the moment forever.”

“Well this got dark really fast,” Evon said and then they all laughed.

Russet paused the video and sighed—mostly in disappointment at himself. He’d been getting steadily worse and the video and his recent actions just reinforced that. He wondered if anyone had actually noticed—Trinity specifically.

“This is stupid,” he mumbled to himself and then laid his head back onto his pillow. His room was small and rather bland in terms of decoration so there wasn’t much to focus on and that let his mind wander.

When he first remembered seeing Evon was when he was still a baby. Trinity, unlike a lot of children, was excited to have a little sibling. Personally, Russet probably would have thrown a fit if he knew he’d have to share attention with some kid he didn’t know. And, in a way, he felt that way toward Evon in terms of sharing Trinity’s affection.

The older Evon got, the more attention he demanded from his sister and there were certain time periods where he simply wouldn’t leave her alone. Russet always felt uncomfortable or irritated by the younger boy and didn’t try much to hide it though Trinity just found it to be funny.

She was beyond entertained when Evon told Russet that he had a crush on him—though at the time, Russet hadn’t exactly realized he was a boy yet and any ideas he had of nonconformity were securely locked away. Trinity thought the pair were cute and was excited at the prospect of having her best friend also be her ‘sister-in-law’.

It was after Russet came out that he realized something was wrong with himself. One of his greatest worries was whether or not Evon would accept it. If he would lash out because of his crush on a perceived girl. Other boys had felt that way at school and most flat out denied that Russet had said anything and continued to use his dead name and call him a girl.

Then there was Evon who was perfectly fine with it—almost too fine. It was if he knew all along but just waited for everyone else to catch up.

It meant far more than Russet was ever willing to admit. And after finding out—through Trinity—that Evon’s crush hadn’t gone away, he made it his mission in life to stay away from the kid if it was possible. The less time they spent together was less time he had to worry about slipping up and destroying a lifelong friendship.

That party was a mistake, choosing to be around Evon while he was drunk was a huge mistake, and agreeing to take on this project with him and Yasmine was easily the dumbest thing he’d ever done. And the video was proof.

Just as he was getting ready to travel down a rabbit hole of self hatred, his phone rang. He dreaded it being Evon and, lucky for him, it wasn’t.

“Yeah, what’s up?” he answered after a few seconds.

“Stuff,” Yasmine answered. They’d exchanged numbers before the trip since it would be best for all of them to be able to contact the other instead of Evon being the go-between. “We’ve got another interview on Tuesday.”

His brow furrowed. “This Tuesday?”

“Yep.” She sounded quite happy about it and, from her perspective he supposed it would be the sooner the better. “Our project has been approved by the boss and we have a month to work on it.”

“A month…isn’t that a bit, I don’t know, short?”

The woman laughed in a way that let him know just how much she and Evon were expected to do in such a short amount of time. Sure, he liked to have things done in a timely fashion but he felt quality was more important.

“It’s generous. Trust me.” She sighed.

“Got it,” Russet responded. “So where is the next destination?”

“…A few states away,” Yasmine spoke in a careful tone as if he’d disband from them.

“Ah, a little country traveling then,” he said with a smirk. His other hand seemed to move by itself and stated to roll the camera back and forth across the bed. “Doesn’t sound too bad to me.”

He could hear the sigh of relief. “Good. We’ll have to book a hotel while we’re there so…shit I guess I should get on that.”

Russet chuckled and shook his head. “Don’t worry about it; I’ll do it.”

That seemed to genuinely surprise her. “Oh…thanks, Russet. You don’t have to, you know.”

“I’m aware but…” he spoke and looked down at the camera in his hand. If he didn’t give himself something to do then he knew he would spend all night looking through his footage and over thinking things. “You two do enough already so I’ll pay for the hotels.”

“Okay,” she said, giving up her resistance to the idea rather easily.

“I’ll text you the place when I find it.”

“Send it in a group chat,” Yasmine declared before hanging up. It was almost startling.

Russet took his phone from beside his ear and watched the screen go dark. “Does nobody say goodbye…?”

#fort heaven #my novel #writeblr #lgbt writers