#we need Dorian back he's gonna be so upset

[residentsocialfailure]

Holy God. I knew from tweets and articles that the last Crit Role episode was intense, but jesus. That was A Lot. I am having emotions and I completely understand why Matt said we may need to take some time to process.

Fuck

#i was trying to avoid spoilers so hard #and I'm glad i did #that was just so much #and why is Liam like that?? 🤣 #has to cause us as much pain as emotionally possible lmao #laughing through my tears #we need Dorian back he's gonna be so upset #the thruple #fucking hell #critical role #crit role #at least 2/3rd of it is still together #im actually glad i watched the YouTube video #instead of just trying to listen to the whole podcast episode tomorrow #because i definitely need some processing time #bells hells

[awaytobeunshaken]

Ashrym Week Day 6: Alt prompt (spoilers) - Orym takes the shard

Today was… probably what they should have expected from a gauntlet of team-building exercises devised by an insane archfey and a well-meaning but naive robot. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t exhausting. Which probably explains why, as a group, they’ve mostly drifted off into singles and pairs: from team-building to ‘I don’t want to be anywhere near these people’. And they’re all so fucking valid for it. That doesn’t mean he’s not upset to see Orym out on a balcony on his own.

“Hey,” Ashton says, stepping out to join him. Orym looks over to acknowledge them but otherwise doesn’t move. “I just wanted you to know, that I can see how lonely you are; I have seen it. And I just wish I could help.”

“Come here.” Orym pats the floor behind him and Ashton sits and drapes his arms over Orym’s shoulders, letting the halfling lean into him. “I’ve noticed you reaching out, trying. And I do appreciate it.”

“Does it help at all? Does this?” It’s probably foolish to think it might, and Ashton tries to remind himself that it’s for Orym’s sake, and not his own.

“Maybe? A little? I don’t know.”

Of course it doesn’t, Ashton realizes, recalling the other thing Orym had revealed during the honesty trial. They’re not who he really wants; they’re not even close. “Was it better when Dorian was here?”

“I don’t know,” Orym repeats. “I don’t know if it’s him or if he was just close enough to what I actually want and I know that sounds awful.” He takes a deep breath. “I was on my own for a really long time.”

“You’re not now, though. And I’m here if you want me to be.” It’s a stupid thing to say. How could they be what Orym needs, as much as they’d like to be. They’re nothing like Dorian; they’re nothing like Will as far as they can tell. He loosens his arms around Orym’s torso.

Orym pulls them close again. “Thanks. I think it does help, a little, having you around. Either way, I’m glad you’re here.” He sits there for a long moment before twisting his head around to look at Ashton. “I think I should take the shard.”

“Don’t.” Ashton’s answer is immediate.

“Who, then? You already tried, Fearne’s turned it down, it obviously can’t go to Laudna… and honestly, I think maybe you’re right. I’m not sure any of them can be trusted with it.”

“It could kill you.”

“It could kill any of us. But that’s the other thing. I’ve got nothing else for it to fight with.”

He pulls Orym even closer. “But I like you like this. What if it changes you?”

Orym starts to stroke his fingers down Ashton ’s calf before correcting to a firm massage. “People change, Ash. They change every day. And it’s not always some big dramatic event that does it. Sometimes it’s just getting to know the people around us. Who knows who I’d be if I hadn’t met Dorian, and Fearne, and you all?”

“Yeah. I guess I’ve seen my share of that. Who I’d be if… if a lot of things, I guess.” Ashton sighs. “Are you gonna be able to convince the rest of them you should have it? Because I won’t.”

“If I can’t, I guess it stays in the bag. We didn’t go through all that just to go back to hiding things from each other.”

Ashton thinks about how much they ’d like to just sit here holding Orym forever. Maybe kiss him. Maybe more. “Right. No hiding things.” If only they had a choice.

ao3

#critical role #cr3 #ashrym week 2023 #ashton greymoore #orym of the air ashari #ashrym #cr spoilers #critical role spoilers #cr fic #my fic

[kurjakani]

4,8,12 for courtiers? hehe.

4. If you could put this character in any other media, be it a book, a movie, anything, what would you put them in?

Gonna answer this one overall - again, I WISH I COULD STEALL THEMM BROOOO

But also. My interest w Arcana cross imtwracted w my interest in Baldurs Gate 3 time wise p strongly, so I would love. That au???? Idk what that would entail. I may have to think abt it. What dnd races & classes would the courtiers even be idk enough abt rhis stuff

8. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you despise?

I'm actually generally pretty chill when it comes to... literally any and all fandom content, i rly don't care abt what other ppl do with characters :0

W two exeptions.

Not enough love for Vlastomil out there !!!! He's so nastygross and delightful, slithery hot fuck, dilf... ough.

Anddd Vulgoras modern design for that dorian story thingy the arcana instagram account was promoting a bit back. TAKE THAT SHIT BACK. TAKE IT BACK. THEY DO NOT FUCKING LOOK LIKE THAT. (Well rly its just the hair & style that bugs me)

12. What's a headcanon you have for this character?

Valdemar: i think this is. Affected by the fact that they're just so gangly, but I feel like they would just... have a very thin PRESENCE. At least most of the time. I think it has to do with skin. I feel like their more humanoid form would psychologically feel like standing next to a cartboard cutout, or a paper shell. And that people are shaken and surprised when they touch you - their physical body actually feeling solid would be odd and uncanny. You know how chickens legs look delicate and gentle but they grip you oddly strong? I think it would feel similiar. And just as cold !!!

Volta: I often think about what kind of assistants she would have... its such an addicting thought idk why 😭 she seems so scattered, it's hard to imagine her as Vesuvias procurator... of course it's canonical fact that she wasn't very good at it. But. She can't run... i assume some kind of warehouses?? Food collection??? No idea how it would work. But she cant run it all by herself. Needs people to do things for her. I love to imagine he's the most PLEASANT but like. Annoyingly distracted boss to ever exist..

Vulgora: i am SOSOSOSOSOSOSOSO upset we didn't get to go to Vulgoras estate in Nadias route 😭😭😭 i havent finished the route fully yet (i do need to. I love it)but i don't think we do..? Anyways I imagine it's WILD. All red everywhere, and pretty... wild. Idk how to explain this but I feel like it would be a fully red, slightly lesser version of Howls room but more focused on weaponry etc. Idk for some reason I imagine velvet sofas with really asymmetrical, wild flowing embroidery work, maybe covering scratches recieved during some brawling...? Tinted glass windows in some rooms fully casting them in red light. Obviously a training yard... and WILD parties. Bacchanalian celebratios that feel great in the moment but leave a bitter taste in your mouth.

Vlastomil: the freakiness does not end at worms. A lot of rep for him has him completely focused on his worms- which is reasonable, that's the canonical version, but idk I do like the idea... maybe im mirroring. But that he is capable of obsessing over other things and just becoming this tooth clenching mess over them. He has side interests. Often relating to worms: dirt quality, nature preservation, and he has a mild interest in decomposition.

CHARACTER ASK GAME!!! 💫

#ask #anon #kanitalk #game:the arcana #tysm for ask8ng!!!! #bro i miss tjem i need 2 get back into them

[pearblossommina]

ToG Read-A-Long, Kingdom of Ash, day 4

Lots of FEELINGS this time. I’m struggling with reading. It’s a lot, guys, bear with me!

Ch 25

Losing my mind. Can we hurry with this rescue!

Ch 26

Yeahhhhh Fenrys! Disobey!!!

Ch 27

Fenrys :(

Aelin got away - but is he gonna make it?

Ch 28

Ok like FOR THIS ENTIRE BOOK all I have wanted is for them to get her back, and she finally found her way to them! But the reunion isn’t what I wanted because Fenrys is still in deep shit.

I’ve got a lot of feelings right now and I can’t handle it, ok? go save him, Rowan

Ch 29

Listen I’m not saying Cairn doesn’t deserve to be paid back for the torture Aelin endured - but I don’t wanna read about it, reading about torture makes me real upset.

Ch 30

This shit is so heartbreaking. Even in rescue. Even with all of her friends around her, she’s still suffering. It’s not fair.

I should be thriving the moment the locks are undone and she is finally free to use her fire again, but it’s such a sorrowful feeling in my heart. I hate this, I have too many feelings, and I hate this.

Ch 31

"Welcome to the court, pup," he said, his voice thick.

Awwwwwwwww Fenrys, you got a new blood oath!!!!

These um, these Little Folk are super creepy to me. Very mysterious, spooky vibes, to have them leading the group through a forest by sneaking around rocks and trees.

Oh Aelin. Are you gonna be ok, my love? I need you to be ok, please.

Ch 32

Who does Dorian want to become? Someone with green eyes. Didn’t Sorscha have green eyes? I don’t think her hair was blonde, though. The only blonde people I can think of are Aelin and Aedion. Is he just making it up, is he just inventing a person, so he can be someone else?

Ch 33

I think this scene between Dorian and Kaltain is too much, man. Really puts the knife in and twists it, ya know? Like remember? Remember how we were all so young, so innocent, and we used to care about the silliest things, and nothing bad ever happened? Remember how you used to be a hunky prince, with a reputation for being a slut, and Kaltain used to be a snobbish, high-society lady, longing for your attention? Remember when you just wanted to annoy your dad, by hiring an assassin to be your champion in the contest? Remember when Chaol just wanted to protect you from her? Remember when you guys both wanted to date her - and it nearly broke your friendship? Remember when a princess from another kingdom showed up, and she was real, and she was good, and she knew that things were going to change, and she wasn’t afraid to face it head on - because she just wanted a better world for her people?

Yeah I remember

Ouch

Anyway Dorian became a bird

Manon saw it

Ch 34

This chapter’s pretty dark. Everyone’s depending on Aelin and she’s…. Fake.

I feel bad for Lysandra, she’s kind of carrying a lot, considering.

Hey - are things gonna be happy again soon!

I don’t know how much more of this I can take!

Everything is so grim and so painful!

#tog read along 2023 #kingdom of ash

[theheraldsrest]

“Inquisitor bringing back a dragon egg and claiming it as their own child”

Yeeeaaahh It’s been a bit since we’ve made any posts. Our schedules have cleared up a bit and we should be able to post more, and this time on an actual schedule. I’ll be posting on Mondays-Tuesdays and Cabot will be posting on Wednesdays. Here you go, our first ask back!

-Lord Lex

Cullen

-”No no no NO! Absolutely not! We are not going to be raising a DRAGON in Skyhold! A dragon destroyed Haven, and that one wasn’t even on our side! How in the name of the Maker are you going to train that thing?! This is absolutely ridiculous, what are you thinking?! How-”

-You have to survive his rant first but, to be fair, he has good reason to worry

-If you keep it, he doesn’t argue with your decision, but you have noticed that Skyhold is being more fortified, people are being the taught on how to “take care” of a dragon, while others are being taught how to actually take care of a dragon

-Cullen sees this turning out two ways: One, this could actually be a great benefit to the Inquisition or Two, the Inquisitor has finally gone insane and this is just the Maker’s way of punishing Cullen for existing

Josephine

-”Haha, very clever joke, Inquisitor! You actually had me there for a moment! Hahaha...ha...he...you’re not joking, are you? Oh Maker…”

-Takes a lot of convincing to get her to actually allow you to keep it. Is even a little proud that you made a list of pros and cons

-Tries to even change your mind with other “pet” ideas. Just do what Leliana’s done and get pet nugs. They’re vicious enough if you train them. Or mabari, mabari are good pets, love cuddles. Or how about-?

-Is ever so slightly curious about how this will turn out though, even hires people who are dragon experts to help make sure it’s safe and well taken care of

Leliana

-”A dragon? That...actually could be very resourceful.”

-Unlike her co-workers, she finds this to be a rather interesting and fun idea that could really help the inquisition

-Does pass along notes about its growth to researchers and caregivers. Kinda wants to help in the process of raising and training it. How different can it be from nugs?

-Very. Very different. Nugs don’t breathe fire, for one.

Vivienne

-”Put it back, dear. We don’t need to add on another dangerous creature with horrible, destructive capabilities to our little group. We already have Cassandra.”

-It’s like a very tired mother telling their child to put back the puppy. The fire breathing, 200 ton puppy.

-Keeps talking about your image, trying to raise such a thing after the several encounters you’ve had with dragons ended with you almost dead

-Actually, no, go right ahead. She’d love to see what’d happen. Don’t worry, you’ll do fiiiine.

Varric

-*Currently having Vietnam flashbacks* “Please no.”

-He’s kinda split. On one hand, he doesn’t want to deal with this. On the other, imagine the stories he could write

-He thinks he needs to stop telling dragon jokes because the first time he said he had expected Corypheus to pull a dragon out of his ass and he did. Made the same joke about the Inquisitor…

-Comes to like the idea when he sees the Inquisitor treating it like a mabari. Who’s a good, man-eating, electricity-breathing dragon? Yes it’s you!

Cole

-”Your child? But...it’s a dragon? How do you make it your child? It’s rather big. Warm and happy, it doesn’t know about the outside yet or what’s waiting for it...I think you’d make a great mother dragon.”

-He’s a little confused, but he’s got the spirit. (Get it? No? Ok, I’ll see myself out) He has no problems with this

-It actually helps a lot that Cole can tell you if he's upset or not happy. Gives you an idea of the mood swings it has

-Cole is confused on why you keep calling it ‘one’ of your children. Who are the rest? Varric puts emphasis on Kid when he’s talking to Cole.

Solas

-*Solas Disapproves*

-What could go wrong? He has a list. What if it doesn’t listen? What if it’s uncontrollable? How do you expect to raise it? What are you even going to feed it? People? Your enemies? Where are you going to keep it? What if it causes more damage than the one Corypheus had? What if-?

-If he can’t convince you to put it back, he does try to help you with it. Hell, (if your inquisitor drank from the Well) you were able to control the ancient dragon, this one shouldn’t be much harder

-He gives it pet names, favors calling it names associated to the type it is. For example, a fire one would be nicknamed Little Burner or Little Light, a cold one would be Frost or Snowflake.

Cassandra

-*Cassandra Greatly Disapproves*

-Makes you put it back, she doesn’t even want to hear the ridiculous reasoning for why you want it as a ‘child’. You already have destructive children and their names are Varric, Sera, Bull, and Cole.

-There is absolutely no way in whatever realms that exist is she going to allow this to happen, the absolute absurdity of the whole idea is- Somehow you got it to Skyhold and it’s name is now Fluffy.

-Maker, give her strength to put up with you. She might see you as a great leader, but sometimes you can make some really stupid decisions.

The Iron Bull

-”This is one of the most dangerous ideas I’ve ever heard. Can I help raise it?”

-You don’t even have to ask, he’s helping to carry the egg, talking about different ways it could be used whether for battle or for intimidation

-He’s dedicating his time to this creature and has actually done some reading up on how to properly care for it

-If you’re not careful, it starts to think Bull’s it’s mother, following him around and chirping. The Chargers have taken to calling him Mama Bull. 

Dorian

-”That’s a brilliant idea, Inquisitor! And after that, we’ll go raise Corypheus from the dead and ask him to join us for afternoon tea! Oh, why not invite my mother as well! Why not just summon Andraste herself?!”

-Safe to say, he thinks this is one of your worst ideas. But he’s not gonna stop you. What? It’s gonna be funny watching you try and raise this creature

-Said he wanted nothing to do with it, but still comes around to make sure you haven’t killed it. And that it’s properly being covered. And that you’re not breaking it.

-He adores it, though, once it’s born. Won’t admit it, but the baby talk gives it away

Sera

-”This. Is going to be. The BEST joke. Ever!”

-Keep Sera away from it, she’s almost broke it several times, either by trying to carry it or rapping her knuckles against it

-It’s like a little kid waiting for their baby sibling to be born: she’s drawn pictures of it eating people and taking a shit on nobles, she keeps talking about what all they can do with a dragon on their side including blowing stuff up

-Has nicknamed it PeeWee. No reason whatsoever.

Blackwall

-*very deep sigh* “Please, please say you’re joking.”

-You’re not joking? Andraste, he’s too old for this. It’s like the Inquisitor is trying to give him a heart attack wherever he goes

-He doesn’t really give his opinion but you do see him give the egg a weary look every once in awhile

-Comes to actually enjoy the little thing, feeding it bits of food because ‘it gave me the look’ or petting it and telling it that it’s very handsome/beautiful

#dai #dragon age inquisition #inquisitor #cullen rutherford #commander cullen #josephine montilyet #lelianna #leliana #vivienne #madame vivienne #madame de fer #varric #varric tethras #dai cole #cole #solas dai #solas #fenharel #cassandra #cassandra pentaghast #the iron bull #iron bull #dorian pavus #dorian #sera #blackwall #thom rainier

[nochiquinn]

exandria unlimited: kymal: part one: 🐩

crown keepers minus their one brain cell let's goooo

IT IS BEGIN

oh no she cute

"we're at the same table, nerds!" it's going to be CHAOS

"he's been THROUGH IT"

Dwarven Nincompoop

aw, no more comfy matt

chinhands at this opening

cyrus, your dumbshit brother

where errebody go

I had to step away but I come back to gilmore plans

"a little smarter" "ehnnn"

"I said a LITTLE"

FRENS

purple!

aimee ur eyelashes

"chosen family" cries

I Love opal's new art

opal using her vestige to steal

"it's a lot of women yelling"

oh god she literally has a shoulder angel and shoulder devil except she already wasn't listening to the shoulder angel

I WAS JOKING ABOUT USING THE VESTIGE TO STEAL

I fucking love opal

I've had this headcanon of dariax trying to keep opal safe or at least not actively throwing herself into volcanos but I knew that was wishful thinking

"he's got the luck of the idiots"

drags dariax away from the table by the collar

"act natural" oh god

SHE

matt

I love her

oh someone has worked hospitality

"pure brewer's yeast"

"I'm leaving! I'm already done!"

"I like bread." jester?

"I eat it." fcg?

"you got a problem?" "yeah!" "you wanna take this outside?" "no!"

"remember when I said keep a low fuCKING PROFILE"

oh no dorian is the braincell

I Love Her

coin? coin in play? EXPLAIN

oh dislike

erica use the barbie voice USE THE BARBIE VOICE

erica this is extremely specific

"I'm not supposed to be out of my room"

this whole casino is gonna light the FUCK up

"I'm Detecting It"

that's actually extremely cool??

taking out her frustration on pickpockets

cat the rabbit

CABBIT

"did you just nope me"

dariax. DARIAX.

dorian

cackles loudly

glitchy circlet

opAL

"I'm so glad I called you guys"

you are not immune to pretty fire lady

nice save aabria

"it's canon"

oh. oh no.

"a grandma? wearing grandma clothes?"

oh NO

well well well if it isn't the consequences of their own actions

friendly reminder that opal is nineteen, MAYBE twenty years old

ah yes, the Aladdin Gambit

ngl when they said bromance was I was expecting some hitachiin shit

I can't see matt's face but his forehead just went on a journey

oh now he's just dead

her WHAT

Morrighan please explain me your deal

okay which one of them heard "we need one million dollars" and suggested gamblnever mind it was opal

opal

I accept this retcon

why did the subs just say MATT [JENGA]

Traditional Rogue Attire

Functional Feathers

dariax

"you'd never expect a poodle from a bunny"

"you're on thin ice" "why?!" "because it's funny"

it's because you're you, cyrus

no direct victims

......is dariax still being tracked

HEIST DADDY

"hack down the door" this is hilarious bc I've been playing persona 5 strikers

....akechi, yusuke, and futaba playing dungeons and dragons

(akechi, yusuke, futaba, symmetra, and she-ra)

"I don't like that we have a problem" "I like it"

my dariax/dorian/orym headcanon is that dariax sees that dorian is upset at leaving orym behind and blames cyrus

(and he should)

Evil Check

matt: I'm canonically an idiot

where's the art, I need it

they got him a PRESENT

....they stole him a PRESENT

"is this a dead man's mandolin" "no! no - he's not - is he?" "eh."

I love them

oh nO THEY DON'T KNOW

I FORGOT THEY DON'T KNOW

...how did you roll 10 on 2d4

"he's good at what he's good at!!"

"DO YOU KNOW DENI$E?!" ".....we gotta go"

"no we don't! :D"

"I'm gonna pretend your dad is my dad and he told me that" "that would be very sad indeed for both of us"

BEADS OF LOVE

matt missed it and I'm sad

TED 2

I came back to dariax ghosting his ex

"I can do a kill"

MAP

DOOR

sex pestedal

this is the little camera drone from watch_dogs

orym where are you, we need the braincell

this doofus

"my first instinct is to protect dariax" gay

"are you gonna kill us?!" "maybe I will! maybe I wanna go home early tonight!"

if dorian dies I riot

what in the magnus archives

we found the poodle!

exCUSE ME

MAGICAL GIRL BLESS

"it all certainly looks like stone. then you notice....it LOOKS like stone"

CYRUS

this room is getting uncomfortably full

excuse

exCUSE

yeah yeah fuck yeah

I forgot how much I like aabria's spider queen voice

oh no ted 2

MATT

BOOGER METEOR

"are you DONE NOW"

I love him

matt still managing to give erica the hdywttd

he did a baton pass!!

giving mr. tumnus a concussion

what in the eluvian

"wait you found gin?"

STEAL THE SKYBAR

fuck an airship, FLYING BAR

Death Dwarf

"he stole words from our faces!"

"I don't wanna wait a week, can we just come back tomorrow?"

I'm using this precedent for every awful matthew mercer cliffhanger from now on

like coming home from your cool aunt's house "but AABRIA let us come back the next day!"

Don't Do A Murder, Do A Poodle

I'm waiting for a stinger

aw, no stinger :(

#exandria unlimited #critical role #spoilers #live blog #reaction post #crititag #exutag

[thelittlestboi]

Its Sad boi hours

Going through some of my old save files (I tend to make a new save just after every major event so I can use the old file to replay the fun bits) and I came across one that was seemingly a dud, (me bull dorian and Cassandra in the hinterlands collecting shards) but I triggered (either by accident or maybe this is why the file existed who knows) the flirty dialog between bull and dorian the whole "conquer you" bit and I have .... thoughts. This gonna be long so scroll on or buckle up

Imagine if you will, pinning after these two, two of the most handsome men who also happen to be into men, who Also happen to represent two of the biggest parts of yourself. (A mage and a qunari) You adore them, you recognize yourself in them and you unsurprisingly develop huge fat crushes on the both of them.

But its just not quite clicking. You can flirt with Bull all day, he'll let you but its kinda like talking to a wall. He either ignores the more cringe attempts you have flirting (trying to bring up lovemaking after 2 whole conversations), or just kinda skirts the whole conversation.

While flirting with Dorian is like trying to impress the man who is better at everything. Can't complement his face, he knows he's pretty, can't complement his magic, he made time magic, we get it he's great. Can't even give him his amulet back without him yelling at you. (Which is a whole thing. I get it and its heart breaking how love starved Dorian is that he can't even accept a simple gift but thats a different rant) But Mahanon is trying so fucking hard to get these people to like him, he comes back every day and considers himself so lucky to have these men in his live as he tries to figure out who, ultimately, hes gonna really give it his all too.

So he brings them both on missions, he values thier skills and thier input and they get along well enough.... really well... and now Bulls flirting with Dorian.

And thats gotta hurt so bad. Like you've been vying for these men to notice you and instead you've ended up setting them up to each other. And yea bull says "I've got the hints" later and I feel like that makes these moments even worse?

Bull knows the inquistor has the hots for him and he blatantly and I have to belive purposely flirts with others in front of him just to see his reaction. Cassandra and Blackwall no big deal nothing is gonna come of that. But Dorian??? Oh the stab of rejection. The anger and betrayal he feels, mixed with the guilt of being upset.

He should be happy for his friends, excited for this (possibly) happy union of these two amazing men that he respects and looks up too. But he's not, he's angry and hes hurt.

He hears all the things he wished Bull would say to HIM but instead he has to listen to Dorian reject it. Turning down the very thing mahanons craves so deeply(like really that could not be more dead set on mahanon kinks if bioware tried). He wants to scream, he wants to cry, he wants to fire Bull right then and there cause its hard to not take it personal. He wants to shake Dorian till his arms break, wants to scream in his all too pretty face the hes an idiot, throwing away what could have been a perfect moment.

But he can't. Hes the inquistor and frankly there are more important things that need to be taken care of. (Ah to sprinkle in the weight of the world and the crushing need to be everyones savior all while dealing with the growing feeling of imposter syndrome) So he has to swallow all of that up, gotta push it down into a little ball of knots to deal with later. Im both happy and sad there's no dialog options for the inquistor after that scene. I dont think bioware would give me the option to cry silently, but I would and Mahanon does.

He tightens his hold on his staff as his heart tightens in his chest. His lips would tremble as he'd bite his tongue, not a sound would be heard, and from his back you'd think he hadn't even heard them. But the tears that stream down his face, that turn to ice and dissipate into nothingness before ever reaching his chin. They hold all the words he wish he could say.

#the iron bull #dorian pavus #mahanon adaar everybody #im sensitive #like diagnosed bipolar depression kinda sensitive #so that means Mahanon gets to inherite my rejection sensitivity! #and you just know evwn after mahanon ends up with one (or both of then in some cases) #this moment lives like a tumor in thw back of his head #that lite nagging thought of #qould they be happier with someone else? #someone better than you

[peralta-guaranteed]

(Pre mac) Amy getting upset because her sister in law just announced her 4th pregnancy and Jake comforting her🥺

She's sitting in bed watching tv instead of on the couch when he gets home with the groceries, which is a bad sign already. In Amy's routine, the bed is for sleeping (and pre-...sleeping) and staying in if you're sick, and it took him quite a while to convince her that lazing around in it on their days off can actually be nice, but she'd still never do it without him. Unless she's sick, or upset.

She hasn't texted him for any medicine as he left work earlier to get the weekly food shop done, so that leaves 'upset'. Which isn't much better, really.

So he unceremoniously drops the grocery bags on the kitchen table (except for frozen and fridge stuff, of course, those are packed away properly) before slipping his jacket off and joining her.

"Hey babe", he says as he crawls across the duvet to give her a kiss and settle in next to her. "Everything okay?"

Some AD on the tv is yelling about a car's supercool, manly, off-road features, but Amy's eyes are glued to it as if it's actually interesting before she sighs.

"David called me today." Well, that's certainly no good in itself, but she continues. "Ina is pregnant again."

"Oh." Is all that he manages before staring at the next AD (something about kitchen cleaners, which usually Amy would love to write down). They've not told anyone that they started trying yet, and it had proven to be a wise choice, because things were already rocky and stressful and disheartening enough with every negative test. And as much as it bummed him out to see the single little line every time, he could also see how much more it affected Amy.

"I had to be all happy and congratulate them and listen to him gush about how well the other three kids took the news and how they're already preparing the nursery again and getting out all the old stuff from Dorian." She leans into him, hiding her face in his neck, and he wonders if he can reach the remote to turn the tv off, because this all feels a bit more serious than The Real Housewives Of New York can make it as they show up on the screen.

"Jake." She stops him as his eyes search for the remote. "Am I a horrible person for being jealous, and kinda angry at them?"

"No." He says immediately and without a doubt. "Of course not. You can feel bad and upset and still be happy for them in the long run, babe. They didn't do it on purpose or anything, but of course it's upsetting. I get that."

"You do?" She looks up from her place on his shoulder, and he nods and presses a kiss to her forehead.

"Yeah, absolutely. I mean, we're gonna see updates from them while we're still... waiting. That's gotta hurt. But we'll be able to give them updates too someday. Soon. I know we will." He kisses her properly after that, and she nods, but she still buries her face in his neck, and after a moment he can feel the warm sting of tears on his shirt.

His hand runs up and down her back in a comforting motion as he lets her cry it out - something that she needs to do sometimes, he knows, and that won't be made better by any more supportive words or attempts to see the good side of it all. She's tense and stressed and it's all wearing her down, and there's a million emotions swirling in her head, and some days the best way to work through that is to cry it out in his arms, and know he's there to hold her and be with her through it all.

He wipes away the last tears as she sits up again, presses the softest kiss onto her cheek and hugs her close as they turn back to the tv in silence, letting the inane storylines lull their minds away from it all for at least a little bit.

"I can't believe David is doing better than me even with that." She grumbles a few minutes later, but it already sounds less sad and torn than anything before.

"Well, he didn't exactly do the gruntwork of it all. Ina's gotta shoulder that. All he did was some fun in-n-out, I guess."

"Eww, Jake! That's my brother you're talking about!"

He knows it's going to be hard down the line again - when David starts sending pictures of sonograms and baby bumps into the Santiago group chat, when Camila starts raving about another grandchild and getting all the gifts and celebrations and traditions ready, when they're faced with quite a few more negative tests and stressful moments through it all until they can finally send their own sonogram picture into every single group chat they have. It's going to be hard on them, and their relationship, and most of all on Amy, but they're going to fight through it the way they always do, and he'll be her rock like he's always been, like he vowed to be during their wedding and actually, long before that.

But right now, all he can really do is mock David's lovemaking skillz and tease her about her little-sister-reaction. It makes her laugh instead of cry some more, and she quickly turns off the tv to check if he got all the groceries they need to start on dinner, so he considers it a little win even amidst all their current losses.

#B99 #Brooklyn 99 #Peraltiago #Jake Peralta #Amy Santiago #my writing #ficlet #welp this just added another kid to my HC for David but it's worth it

[straight-into-the-animus]

Truth or Dare (French Fryes)

I’m writing the backlogged stuff but I had a dream about this scenario and had to get it out.

Read it on Ao3!

“Let’s play truth or dare.”

“Are we seven?” Arno asked even as Ezio tugged him over to sit in a circle. Coming to a party when he wanted to sleep for twelve hours after finals already wasn’t on his plans, but Ezio had insisted, and well… 

Some people had weak constitutions to Italian friends.

“Seven year olds can’t dare each other to do illegal shit.” Kassandra gleefully declared, and excitement shot through almost everyone at the manner of what they could all get into despite the protests of Altair and Bayek.

“Alright, nothing too illegal. But if you do it… Don’t film and post it.”

This was generally accepted and the game commenced.

It went by quickly, everyone content with trying to outdo the other. 

“Alexios has to switch pants with Evie.”

“Malik has to make out with a wall!”

“He already does, his name is Altair-”

Those who chose truth were generally heckled until they chose dare, but at the risk of sharing secrets -- no one wanted to, anyway -- dares were chosen almost always.

“Okay, okay, Jacob,” Ezio eventually called out once people had sufficiently calmed down after seeing Altair drink a mustard-based smoothie, “truth or dare?”

“You know me.” Jacob kicked back, leaning against the foot of the couch. “Dare.”

“I dare you to kiss the hottest person in the room.”

“There should be an exception against the coupled up, right?” Bayek asked, and Aya quickly hushed him with her interest to see how it would all play out.

Arno sipped his drink, watching eagerly. There was an unnecessary flutter in his heart as he watched Jacob consider, scratching the beginnings of his beard.

“Alexios-”

Oh.

“D’you mind moving so I can get to Arno?”

Oh.

Arno swore it was a miracle he didn’t die from choking on the vodka-cran mix as Jacob scooted past the ‘disgruntled’ Greek until he was a breath away from the Frenchman.

“Did you need me to move as well?” Arno asked, glancing from hazel eyes to lips that curled into the smallest, shiest smirk he’d ever seen.

“Not unless you really want to. I’ve made my choice, though.”

Arno refused -- refused -- to show he was melting in and out, and placed his cup next to him definitely before looking Jacob in the eye.

“Then do it.”

The first press of lips against his was softer than he thought it would be, but he wasn’t complaining at all. His hand went up to tangle in the back of Jacob’s hair as the other planted behind his back for leverage against Jacob’s gradually deepening push. He took the demands happily as they started to come, even as their friends began to talk about how it wasn’t Seven Minutes in Heaven and other people had to go.

“Think we can leave them be for a while?” Jacob pulled back just a bit, cheeks and neck showing their flush, and Arno smiled as he took it in.

“They’ll go on without us.” Arno took Jacob’s hand and they hurried off to find somewhere more secluded.

---------------

The first date ended up being one of the cheesiest and most classic; dinner and a movie. It had been Jacob’s idea, and he sounded so uncharacteristically nervous and unsure about it on the phone that Arno couldn’t help but grow fonder and accept it.

“Are you still nervous?” Arno asked, and Jacob looked up from across the booth at him.

“I’m not nervous.”

“You tore up your straw paper.” Arno pointedly looked at the flimsy white shreds scattering across the table like snow, and Jacob half-heartedly brushed them away.

“You’re gonna laugh.”

“Try me.” Arno said, fixing his gaze on the other, and Jacob averted meeting his eyes before changing his mind about it.

“I almost cancelled the date.”

“You didn’t want…?”

“It’s not you, I promise. I mean, not that I didn’t want to be on a date with you.” Jacob was quick to clear up. “I just… Didn’t think you wanted to come to a place like this.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Arno gestured around the restaurant slightly. It was a small family affair, had probably been around since after the second world war.

“It’s supposed to mean that a place like this is fine for me. I love coming here. But you’re used to… More.”

“I just wanted to go out with you, Jacob.” Arno reached over and held his hand. “I would’ve been happy with just a walk in the park for the night.”

“That’s a bit of a lie.”

“Maybe. But only cause it’s cold out there.”

Jacob laughed a bit and Arno smiled to hear it. They broke apart as the food and drinks came around for them, but even the emergence of that didn’t seem to completely quell whatever Jacob was feeling; Arno was sure he was even waiting to hear some sort of complaint about the pasta Arno had ordered, as if there was a way to mess it up. Eventually Arno came up with an idea.

“Hey. Truth or dare.”

“Huh?”

“Truth or dare.” Arno waited as Jacob furrowed his brow but answered all the same.

“Dare.”

“I dare you to have a good time and forget about anything except that I’m happy to be with you.”

Jacob’s confusion only grew until he understood, and he smiled; a slow, genuine thing spreading across his face.

“As you say, monsieur.”

And Jacob kept to that dare, never wanting to be shown up ever.

---------------

It wasn’t their first time, but it had to have been their best. Arno rested his head against Jacob’s shoulder as he came, a choked up sound spilling out from one of them. It went quiet save for their heavy breathing, and Arno hated to break it. Jacob had already come and made a mess of Arno’s front as a result, sticking to him even as Arno pulled out.

“If you’re getting a flannel, mind getting me some water?” Jacob sighed as Arno got off the bed, and Arno shook his head bemusedly.

“Swear I’ve spoiled you rotten.” He called out as he left, but did come back with a cup of water.

“How can I be rotten when I make things so sweet?” Jacob grinned as Arno quickly wiped them both off and discarded the flannel.

“You can carry yourself to the bathroom when you need to piss halfway through the night.” Arno noted before getting under the covers, Jacob quickly placing the cup away before grabbing him and pulling him close to act as the big spoon. A standard position despite the new environment.

“Think we’ve christened the new flat enough?” Jacob asked, kissing behind Arno’s ear, and he hummed in response.

“Perhaps. Wouldn’t be opposed to another round after a break.” 

“Sometimes you know exactly what to say.” Jacob smiled, and Arno felt it and returned it, even if he couldn’t see. “Hey… Truth or dare?”

“This again?” Both of them had made it a regular game to play with each other, something to pull out when they wanted. Sometimes it just happened when they couldn’t stand the silence, other times if they wanted to just cause a little trouble. Their friends still thought it was stupid to keep it up after two years, but everytime they tried to voice an opinion both men would just remind them that it had been what brought them together, thank you very much, and it would remain in their lives until it couldn’t anymore.

And they had decided to carry in the tradition even after Arno got his promotion and they decided to take the leap and move in together.

“Truth.”

“You happy?”

“More than anything.” Arno turned in Jacob’s arms and took him in, a hand closing the small distance between them to stroke his skin. “Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

“Do you love me?”

Jacob’s smile could be seen from space as he replied.

“More than anything.”

---------------

Arno came back only when it became dark enough that the lampposts were nearly unable to light up anything on the sidewalk. He was still tense as he stepped up the stairs with feet that barely wanted to make a sound. Half of him foolishly hoped that Jacob had been so pissed that he’d gone to bed and Arno could simply take the extra blankets from their little closet and spend the night on the couch, but he still saw the glow of yellow light spilling out from the crack under their flat door and heard the television still going. So Jacob was still up.

Arno braced himself, taking a deep breath as he pulled out his key and let himself in. The yellow light cast an uneasy shadow around everything in the flat, Jacob included. He was stretched out on the couch, face impassive as he took in something on the news.

“Took you long enough.” He greeted Arno as the man closed the door firmly behind him.

“If you’re staying on the couch, I’m taking the bed.”

“Oh, there’s the sensible shit coming out.” Jacob said, glancing over at him. “Seems about right.”

“Jacob-”

“Obviously I don’t have it in me, thank fucking God Arno Dorian does-”

“Jacob-”

“How could we ever bloody survive without it?”

“It wasn’t what I meant!” Arno snapped, defense kicking in as it did just a few hours earlier.

“Oh, so saying I would be better off with ‘an ounce of sense’ isn’t what you meant?”

“Am I wrong?”

“Fucking unbelievable.”

“Now you know how I feel with you!” Arno finally unstuck his feet, brain muddled as he kicked off his shoes and stormed off to their bedroom. The bed wasn’t made and it only served to faintly set off the bells in Arno’s mind to get pissed again, but mostly he was trying to mask his hurt that he was going to bed alone.

It was stupid, so stupid, and Arno only wanted to go back in time and hit himself to stop himself from bringing it up. 

The door opened after a time Arno couldn’t figure out, but he heard Jacob softly enter and stop a few feet from the bed.

“You asleep?”

“Not at all.” Arno whispered, and after a few seconds of delay Jacob got into the bed as well, slow but deliberate as he came up behind Arno and wrapped an arm around his waist loosely.

“You still upset?”

“Yes. But… I’m sorry I took it out on you. I just saw the mess and got… Pissed.”

Jacob sighed. “I’m sorry I let it get bad. I got back from work and just wanted to sit for a bit.”

“So did I.”

“Your work is what’s fucking killing you. You’ve never done that before.”

“Jacob-” He tensed, but the other man continued, running his fingers through Arno’s hair. It was getting tangled, a result of stressed pulling and forgetting to take care of himself.

“Just answer me this. If you don’t like it -- and I know you don’t, cause I’ve heard you complaining to Elise when you think I’m not listening -- then why are you staying there?”

Arno thought a long time about what he wanted to say.

“What I’m making, you don’t… It’s what you don’t have to worry about. You don’t have to go out and get another job, or get more hours. It gives you something nice if I-”

“You’re telling me you’re working fucking forty-eight hours a week, with extra work at home that you like to do ‘for fun’ off the books, so that you think I’ll stay?”

There was silence, and Jacob tightened his grip around Arno’s waist to pull him back.

“You’re a fucking idiot. I’d rather you be home before dinner and be happy with me than out there and making yourself miserable.”

The tension started to leave Arno’s shoulders as he leaned back into his boyfriend.

“Jacob-”

“We don’t have to talk too much about it yet. Just… please. I mean it.”

Arno went silent again, feeling his mouth begin to twitch and eyes sting with tears. He swallowed and nodded a bit. His hand went down and rested over Jacob’s, intertwining their fingers.

“Jacob.”

“Hmm?”

“Truth or dare.”

It had been a while, and he almost thought Jacob wouldn’t answer, but he did anyway.

“Truth.”

“You still love me?”

Jacob nuzzled Arno’s neck before speaking.

“Never think I’ll stop.”

Arno felt if he tried to laugh in relief it’d turn into a sob, so he just kept quiet and tightened his grip on Jacob.

Things weren’t solved immediately. But for now… They were good. And they were in bed together, just together. That was enough for the night.

---------------

“You should’ve seen the other guy. He started it.”

“As you say.” Arno shook his head with a smile, fingers intertwined with Jacob’s as they walked together. It had been a few months since their talk, and for the first time in close to a year, Arno felt lighter, like he wasn’t dreading waking up tomorrow.

There had been a long discussion about what they were doing, their feelings about everything, and it boiled down to being able to find a better balance than they originally had. Arno agreed to take fewer hours or at least find a way to condense his workload, and Jacob would work to help out more at his job and around their place. It had taken some time, but they were better now, Arno thought. And there were times now, like with Jacob talking animatedly about how he had narrowly avoided the fistfight that had led to them skipping out the bar and coming to the park instead, that he liked to think Jacob thought so as well.

“It’s getting warmer.” Arno spoke genially as they continued to walk, after Jacob had stopped his tale of glory, and Jacob made a noise of vague agreement.

“‘Bout time. Way too cold even for winter.”

“You like winter.”

“I like some parts of winter. Like the holidays and all that. But even I get to a point where it overstays its welcome. Besides, you got all the flowers out blooming.” Jacob pointed over where some newly planted tulips were beginning to sprout.

Arno felt his heart speed up for an unknown reason. Whether it was in the way Jacob admired a few flowers, or in how his hand tightened around Arno’s as he began to talk about all his plans for summer -- their plans for summer --, or the way the box in his coat pocket began to feel ever heavier than usual, that it left Arno’s mouth before he could stop.

“Truth or dare.”

“Seriously? Here?”

“It’s a real question.”

“Y’know what? I haven’t done dare in a while. Let’s go with that.”

Arno stopped them both and took a breath, hand slowly sliding into his coat and pulling the velvet box out. A million thoughts ran through his head as he shakily kneeled down, but looking up into Jacob’s wide eyes silenced them all until he spoke again.

“Marry me.”

---------------

The wedding ended up a lovely summer affair. Elise was only a bit upset that she couldn’t be Arno’s best woman in the way Evie was for Jacob, though Ezio ended up being pretty good about it and had people both laughing and sniffing by the end of his speech.

And all because of some stupid game, Ezio had been sure to mention at some point, and Arno and Jacob just shared some sort of smile at it.

And now here they were.

Arno woke up on top of Jacob, sprawled out in the huge hotel bed. The other was beginning to wake up as well, and they both smiled as their eyes met.

“Good morning, Mr. Dorian-Frye.”

“Good morning indeed.” Jacob rolled them over and Arno’s small yelp of protest at the action was silenced as Jacob began to kiss him in earnest, still smiling into it. They pulled apart eventually and Arno laughed.

“Not even letting me brush my teeth.”

“That doesn’t exactly matter right now.” Jacob tried to mouth lower at Arno’s neck, and Arno let him for a while before squirming.

“Call for the food first. Then you can continue making a mess of me.” Jacob pouted, and Arno smirked. “It’s not that bad. We do have all week, you know. Can’t spend all of it in a hotel room.”

“Just watch me.” Jacob challenged, but let Arno up anyway to stretch and get out of the bed and pull on loose sweat pants to cover himself up. Jacob had less grace and got out to simply pull on some boxers before calling it a day and going over to the Frenchman. He hugged him from behind, and Arno blushed, a smile still present on his face that threatened to stay there forever.

“Hey, Arno.”

“I’ll take waffles with fruit and cream, thanks.”

Jacob laughed, letting it take over before he calmed down enough to speak again.

“Truth or dare?”

“Truth.”

“You ever been happier?”

“Never.”

----------

I hope you enjoy! If you do I have a Masterpost here and more ideas for writings and prompts here, so feel free to request!  If you’d like to support me, I have a ko-fi here! Safety and peace!

#assassin's creed #arno dorian #jacob frye #arno x jacob #french fryes #my writings

[trashboatprince]

It’s Sunday night, you know what that means!

John’s useless commentary about Around the World in 80 Days, this time for episode six! The island episode!

I’m live blogging it this week, rather than just writing everything up at the end, cause I know this is a heavy episode

-I have every right to be angry about the cliche of ‘it could be worse’ and then a storm happening

-I still can’t believe they did a ‘I can still hear his voice’ joke

-Phileas continues to avoid hugging people, even though he clearly wants to. Sir, you are very autistic / adhd coded, and in this house, we love and respect you (and relate to you, haha)

-YES THEY PLAYED MY FAVORITE SONG FROM THE SOUNDTRACK THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD BE IN GOOD OMENS!

-Hilariously played over them walking and Abigail realizing she has FEELINGS for our beloved Passepartout

-The continuous jokes of Abigail wanting a bath, girl, you are a mood

-Another damn cliche of them following their own foot prints. I hate this show (I love this show)

-Phileas is allowed to have a tantrum, he deserves it. All of them do, actually.

-Bellamy needs to be kicked in the taint

-THE FUCKING DORIAN(sp?) FRUIT! Just plug your noses, guys, enjoy the custard texture 

-’I can’t eat this. I’m French!’

-This episode has absolutely amazing music in it. Hell, this whole show does, the soundtrack is amazing 

-Everyone has guilt~! And are stuck together with their guilt~! 

-Abigail and Passepartout’ relationship development brings me joy 

-The fact that they speak about depression with a very serious tone makes me happy, depression (melancholy) was not a topic people liked to address back then

-I feel bad for Passepartout, but I hope he feels a bit better having told the truth, finally. 

-Valet. Why did you pronounce the T? 

-Phileas deserves this tantrum as well. Seriously, it’s only been a few days and he’s found out he’s been betrayed several times from people he considered his friends.

-You guys kept talking about fanservice with DT in this show, there are a lot of shirtless moments for IK as well??? 

-Literally drawing a line in the sand, alright, now you’re a child, Phileas 

-Their friendship... it just...

-How the hell am I going to make this episode work in my fanfic? Like, I have to write for SIX CHARACTERS, NOT THREE! Phileas is upset, Passepartout feels like shit, Abigail is caught in the middle, and what do I do with Aziraphale, Crowley, and Will? I know this is the episode where I want Will and Phileas to finally kiss in the story, but what do I do with Crowley and Aziraphale??? I think that’s when they finally fully reveal who they are though. 

-’Always making you the joke of his butts’. Passepartout, never change, I love you

-I love that this episode is basically what causes Phileas to finally snap and allow himself to show more emotions rather than trying to hide them. 

-Abigail, you beautiful, beautiful woman, I am so happy that you have the brain cells on this island 

-Ooooh... why did you have to play that song over Passepartout building the raft... 

-How did... you find a sail, Passepartout??? 

-Fortescue, you poor man. Bellamy, you twat 

-Well, it’s nice that the Reform Club wanted to honor Phileas. Does everyone call him Foggy? Poor guy. 

-Interesting that Phileas has some medical knowledge. :o But it’s also nice that he’s trying to help Passepartout, even thought he spent all of yesterday being rightfully upset

-Phileas is 46??? 

-Only David Tennant can move like such a wet noodle, and that’s honestly how he got the role of Crowley, so it’s fantastic 

-Passepartout and Abigail...! *clutches chest* I need to draw them 

-How the hell are they gonna get their luggage? 

-Gosh, I think this is my favorite episode so far, I love it. 

-Also, the preview for the next episode...! Bass Reeves! Another historical figure! :D 

#john's commentary

[epochofbelief]

Under the Influence: Prologue

A Throne of Glass/A Court of Thorns and Roses Youtube/College Crossover

alwayss-reading masterlist

 Hey! I said this was chapter one in my announcements but it’s actually the prologue:) Please let me know if you want to be tagged! Enjoy! 

Triggers: cheating, a break up

PROLOGUE

“Dorian? It’s late.”  

“Aelin.” Something about Dorian’s tone had me sitting up a little straighter. “Have you checked your phone in the last half hour?” 

I glanced at my watch. It was nearly midnight. Chaol had just left after watching a movie with me and I hadn’t had a chance to catch up on my social media.  

 “No, why do you ask? I’ll check now,” I said, putting Dor on speaker and sliding up to check my apps. “Did Rifthold Weekly post those pictures from my photoshoot yet?” 

“Stop!” My finger hovered above the Instagram app on the screen. “Do not check your phone. I’ll be at your place in ten minutes. Do not check your phone Aelin, or so help me I will never, ever make another late-night dessert run for you again.” 

“Can you please just tell me what’s going on? It is bad?”  

 In the pause before he answered, all my usual anxieties came flooding in, including everything I worried about daily—public scandal, being cancelled, really bad hate mail, particularly nasty anti-Aelin Ash Instagram accounts.  

 “No. Do not check your phone, Aelin. I mean it.” He hung up. 

I usually didn’t listen to him, but Dorian sounded really serious about this one. I tossed my phone onto the couch. 

Dorian was only a few years older than me. In addition to his status as my manager, he was one of my closest friends. I knew when he meant business, and the fact that he was rushing to my house at midnight on a Sunday meant something big was happening. Normally, I checked social media every hour or so to see what was going on with my followers and subscribers.  

But Dorian’s tone and rush to my place worried me. Only one thing could make him so serious: the threat of me being cancelled.  

I shook my head. No. I thought over everything that could have possibly happened that would make Dorian act like this. My legal team had a tight handle on every piece of content I ever released—podcast, Tiktok, Instagram, YouTube, even the few Snapchats I posted every once in a while. It was virtually impossible for me to say or do anything that could get me in any sort of trouble in the public eye.  

That made me feel a little better. I took a deep breath and watched my hands. Maybe if I willed it hard enough, they would stop shaking. After all, I probably had nothing to worry about. I padded into the kitchen to find something sweet to eat.   

Seven minutes later, Dorian burst into the house (he had a key) and made a beeline straight for me. I offered him the bag of chocolates I was snacking on, but he declined. I didn’t get a clear look at his face until he placed both his hands on my shoulders and stared down into my eyes. I stifled a sigh. Dorian really was quite attractive. That might have been one of the factors that contributed to me hiring him two years ago. I had been deeply upset when Dorian contacted me right at the start of my career asking to be my manager, not my boyfriend. But he was off limits for about a thousand reasons, and of course, I had Chaol.  

I shook my head and stared into Dorian’s pale, uncharacteristically solemn expression. “Have you talked to Chaol today?”  

I nodded slowly. Odd. Dorian knew my every spare moment was spent with Chaol. “He left like twenty minutes ago. We watched a movie.” 

Dorian let out a long breath and stalked out of the kitchen, now rubbing his forehead with his fingers, muttering under his breath.  

“Dorian. Would you cut the crap and spit it out? Tell me what the hell is going on!” I demanded, stomping over to prevent him from walking deeper into my home.  

“About an hour ago, some photos were leaked. Of Chaol. . . With another girl.”   

I blinked. “Okay. . . Chaol gets photographed with people all the time. So do I. Those are all rumors. Everyone knows Chaol and me are together.” 

“These photos aren’t like the others.” 

“Tell me, Dorian,” I said when my manager refused to meet my eyes. I had a feeling that nothing would be the same after what he said next. Because whatever was going on with Chaol would affect me, my following, my career in some way or another.  

“You’ve heard of Nesryn Faliq? The TikTok star?” 

“Sure.” A horrible sinking feeling settled into my stomach. Nesryn had a bit of a reputation for drama on the Internet. 

Dorian brandished his phone. “You’re going to see them sooner or later,” he said. 

 I took the phone and slowly tilted my head to see. I nearly dropped the phone when I saw the screen. My boyfriend, lips locked with Nesryn, in a dimly lit parking lot, not a centimeter of space separating the two of them. One of his hands gripped her ass, the other was tangled in her dark hair. From what I could tell, her hands were somewhere under his shirt.   

“No. No, no, no. Chaol wouldn’t do this to me,” I managed to say, shoving the phone back into Dorian’s hands and making a beeline for mine, powering it on before Dorian could stop me.  

My Instagram was blowing up (more than normal) already. My DM’s were full of the pictures of Chaol and Nesryn, from various angles, the pictures sent from fans and haters and gossip accounts alike. Neither Chaol nor Nesryn had posted any responses to the images yet; of course, it was late on a Sunday night and I doubted anything would start happening until tomorrow.  

I took a quick peek at some of the photos to read what the gossip accounts were saying about the pictures. 

“Is this the end of Chaolin?”  

“Aelin Ash’s delicious boyfriend. . . Cheating?”  

I nearly threw my phone at the television.   

“He’s. . . cheating on me?” Was all I managed to say as I slumped sideways on the couch.  

Dorian came to set next to me, pulling me to rest on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Ae.” 

I let myself lean against Dorian for a moment. It would be smart if I took a few moments to process everything, decide on a rational course of action.   

So after about two seconds, I rose from the couch.  

“That bastard is going to pay for this,” I said through gritted teeth. I was not going to be sad about this. No, it was time for Aelin Ash to get angry. “I’m gonna Tweet something. I can’t let this fester all night.” 

Dorian plucked my phone out of my grip. He’d moved from the couch to my position in front of the TV without my notice. “You are not Tweeting. We have to be absolutely positive that these pictures are what they are—” 

I fixed him with what I thought was my most withering stare. He ignored it. 

“And then we have to make sure that you come off as the bigger person in all this. Remember your promise to yourself? No internet drama?” 

I kicked the couch. “Yes,” I mumbled. Why did Dorian have to be so reasonable? “But this one’s out of my hands! Chaol started it.” I wanted to scream. I wanted to go key Chaol’s car. Or better yet, set it on fire.  

“And we’re going to let him explain himself before you act.” 

“I want things between us to be over. Right now.” I kicked the couch again. It felt good. 

“Wait til tomorrow and I promise you can call him and force him to explain and then kick his ass to the curb not a moment later. Then we’ll figure out a way to respond publicly. You and Chaol have to work this out peacefully so that you can come out of this looking strong and reasonable. The last thing we want is for the entire Internet to start taking sides.”  

I stalked away from the couch. Barely an hour ago, Chaol and I had been cuddled up next to each other watching some rom-com from twenty years ago. How dare he cheat on me and then waltz into my house like he owned the place? How dare he touch me after he made out—and possibly did more—with Nesryn Faliq?  

I’d have to get a new couch. Maybe even a new house.  

“Aelin?”  

I threw up my hands. “Fine! I’ll wait. Go home and get some rest.” 

But Dorian shook his head. “Oh no, I’m couching it tonight. If you need me, I want to be right here.” 

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t need a babysitter, Dor. I’m not going to do anything.” 

He looked at me sadly. “I know you don’t need a babysitter, Ae. This is in case you need a shoulder to cry on.” I opened my mouth to respond but he cut me off. “And that’s final!” 

I huffed out a large breath but relented. “Fine. But I have a guest bedroom, you know. You don’t have to couch it.” 

“Nah, I’m crashing right here,” he said.  

I shook my head and turned to go upstairs. “Good night, Dorian! And thanks.” 

“I’m here if you need me!” Was all he shouted.   

I rolled my eyes in the dark hallway. I wouldn’t cry over some jerk who couldn’t keep his dick in his pants. No, Aelin Ashryver Galathynius of the Aelin Ash YouTube empire did not get upset over losers like Chaol.  

But about an hour later, when I’d given up on sleeping for the rest of the night after tossing and turning, I padded downstairs and into the living room. Dorian sat up immediately.  

“Dorian—” I said, and my voice caught on his name. 

“Come here.” 

I resumed my place next to him on the couch and let him hold me as I cried.

TAGLIST (a smol one)

@elriel4life​

#acotar #tog #throne of glass #a court of thorns and roses #aelin galathynius #feyre archeron #feysand #rowaelin #rowan whitethorn #rowan #rhysand #high lord #night court #sarah j maas #throne of glass fanfiction #acotar fanfiction #acomaf

[staggeringsmite]

HELLO! just finished properly listening to your (amazing!) corruption arc playlist! I have many thoughts, and so I wanted to ask you about specific moments and/or characters that you associate with songs (as mentioned in your tags), as I am simply SO intrigued. (did you have certain songs that were added for certain character(s)? were any songs for specific what if's? etc.) also, please consider this a free pass to ramble about anything related to the playlist that you wish. it is SO excellent!!

AHHHH!! thank you jade (both for the compliment and the free space to yell about my thoughts here because when i get playlist brainrot i get it Bad <3) // the playlist in question

i think i'm genuinely going to do a song-by-song thoughts below the cut, but here are some overview thoughts/associations if you don't wanna read all of that or don't have the time!

overall this started with athena by nova twins! i thought the sp*der imagery and overall vibe was great for a more sinister look at the wacky (mostly) chaotic neutral party as they are, just going full lolth. i wanted the pacing to be semi-slow and then drop into the more rock-heavy reckless villain-y section before moving into a (?) bittersweet? i guess? end that feels a bit more like a question mark of if it was worth it.

i think this party is full of extremely interesting motivations to side with an evil power for their own gain/the benefit of the people they care about, and each one of them has a very complex relationship with that so things spun wildly out of control as a thought about this.

for songs i associate with specific characters here's an overview, but you'll notice there aren't a lot for fy'ra rai or orym which i get into a bit more in the song-by-song:

all: i come with knives, into the spin, steady/steady, control, bad dreams / lolth: million years, athena, diggers / dariax: diggers, plenty, hollow / dorian: athena, grenadine, dangerous / fearne: plenty, you should see me in a crown, black wave / fy'ra rai: home / opal: home, grenadine, black wave, you should see me in a crown / orym: i'm not calling you a liar, dangerous

song-by-song >:)

1. i come with knives (acoustic) - this song, zoowee, so i went with the acoustic version because i think it's a nice slow but sinister start and it very much gave me the feeling of whenever you begin as a character to question taking this kind of power, that is a Source yes that you can do whatever with but is rooted in temptation and associated with evil, is there any real justification for that which is not in some part selfish. "i come with knives and agony to love you" if that isn't the chosen ones to a T in their overall reasoning for even considering a deal with lolth. and as much as that may be rooted in care, and wanting to be strong and powerful enough to protect the people they care about, it is a painful way to love when you really choose that path once and for all.

2. into the spin - this one is based on "slow climb but quick to descend" and i love the instrumentation as a part of the overall vibe, but it's about sowing the seed here. planting even a hint of consideration in accepting the power of the circlet and lolth's words is going to need time for the person to mull it over, but once it's on it is On baby.

3. million years - this is what i mean by All In Baby, and while it isn't the playlists narrative point of anyone actually accepting the power for good, it is a glimpse intended to shake things up after an 8 minute slow start with the first two songs, and this is all about lolth who is a Chaotic Evil entity, who is a reckless and hauntingly destructive force <3

4. home - "everything you made will end up broken" i think this song to fy'ra rai is more of an omen, of everything that she cannot fix but wants to, knowing that she cannot make choices for the group and seeing the potential path they could wind up on and knowing that fundamentally if they go that way it is their decision no matter how much it will hurt her - for opal there is SOMETHING about the tone of this song that feels very much like her, and the complete lack of care it seems to have to rattle off mundane things to the intimate drama of the place, to omens, to demands/declarations i think it shows her personality well and how that pairs with a chaotic neutral entity being offered something like the power of the circlet

5. steady, steady - idk if this is necessarily everyone but the mix of you know when you're ready and i am ready to be the one, this is the song about taking the leap and grabbing for power and/or fy'ra rai and orym's feelings of diving in with them or resisting/leaving them

6. diggers - for lolth this is just the consistent "i've been waiting for you" in the bg which i found fun and disconcering but also i think this is the perfect party and perfect storm for her to convince someone to use the circlets power >:) - for dariax! it seems with what we know he doesn't really know that he is a divine soul sorcerer? unless that is a show he is putting up. still, i feel like him carrying the circlet is Very interesting as someone with a divine bloodline who is in a way being given/chosen for that type of power holding onto this artifact born from evil and perhaps being tempted by it & i think this song works as an interesting back and forth for him with the strange double-entity grab for him in a way

7. athena - truly just a banger that fit the vibes wayyyy too well and started this whole thing, it's loud and reckless and out for blood babey <3 - i think i associate it with dorian mostly because i also associate it with lolth and he is the closest to really taking that leap in canon (and also probably the first one the go if we're following this playlist like a story with everyone/most everyone going corrupt, though it can be read truly infinite ways these are just compiled songs) i think it has a certain flair and appeal that just makes me Feel like it's the song that would play the second dorian puts the circlet on (which! fun fact! decreases your charisma by 2! have fun beloved bard!) - i think it's a very intense conversation

8. i’m not calling you a liar - okayokayokay it's orym thought time bc there are sooo many worlds and routes for orym here and i truly have no idea where he would even end up in this hypothetical. do i think that orym loves these guys and wants to protect them? yes. do i think that he may genuinely take the pain of loving them and keep his morals by walking away and/or turning on them if they all go evil? maybe. do i think he also might love them enough to throw that away? maybe. in a party of all chaotic neutrals besides him without fy'ra rai he is surprisingly the wild card here. while they have each other and no one else, he has the teachings and wisdom of the voice of the tempest and a moral compass that does not align with theirs at all. so, something has to give! dorian's slide into chaotic neutral was natural, but i think orym would be giving up Much More of himself to let himself slide from neutral good to chaotic neutral. i have no answers only sad, sad hypotehtical questions and scenarios so i will just, leave you with "and i love you so much, i'm gonna let you kill me." - this song also comes here before the storm of the 3-5 because whatever way he goes i think orym sees it all happen before anyone else does.

9. grenadine - Do Not Tell Me You Couldn't Hear villainous opal and dorian say the lines "what a big heart i have, i'll be your savior now. what a real catch i am, all the more to pull you down." - i see this song as playful but more genuine for dorian in terms of Truly Really believing any action he does to protect his friends is justified and good to him in his eyes whereas this is a very playful song for a villainous opal - they both give off this vibe strongly though (could see this one for fearne as well but don't have a good a justification)

10. black wave - helloooooo my favorite druid and warlock?? going apeshit with power? more so than they already are on a day-to-day basis (esp given episode 6 combat)? that's what this song is about. "stumbling down the street i swear to god you don't wanna test me" - i also think they both have an interesting question with "what do i believe?" with fearne being of the feywild which is a place of considerably different moral standing to exandria and opal being so young that she doesn't have the world figured out at all <3 terrifying and upsetting when you get into those questions on a corruption arc <3

11. you should see me in a crown - okay i knooooow this one is on the dorian playlist BUT vibes for my brutal babes <333 something about opal’s whole personality and fearne confronting the mirror self But eventually choosing/heading down the path anyway?? impeccable i love it there’s very few other thoughts here

12. control - OKAY not only does this song Fuck but i put it as party wide because i think it transitions nicely into the end of the mix which is more of the “questioning this decision after going all in but not being able to turn back/was it all worth it in the end?” part - i mostly love the “though i like the idea of providence... i’m in love with control” repeated because! i think the circlet is very interesting in that it has been iterated many times over that though it has connections to lolth and she has some claim/twisted abilities with it, it IS just a power source. so, the idea of going all in and accepting this power is an incredibly interesting dilemma of “who’s in charge here? did you really put it on/would you have without these dreams and lolth’s influence? are you really in control?” i think this song really represents that admission/delusion of control in this situation.

13. plenty - okay this song in any context is just my Feywild/Faerie Vibe song so i think this trails back to my feelings about fearne leaning into that different set of fey morals along a corruption arc, and as for dariax i think this is about abundance! following through that mixture of divine power source and chaotic evil god origin over dariax and his chaotic history of vast and varied experiences in emon, i think this very much befits a corrupt version of him.

14. dangerous - this song makes me insane, and the first reason i put it on the mix was the “the dead are true believers. rest assured. we are all believers” really just made me think of a terrible and cinematic moment of them discovering the circlet with the dead aboard the ship ESP in the context of this playlist’s narrative where that was the point they were destined to claim its power and go through their corruption arc - “how does it feel to be your own deceiver?” is the main reason and feeling as for why i made this a dorian song as well in line with “don’t worry i would do anything for my friends.” bc i personally find dorian’s corruption arc to be disillusioned with his own intentions and takes a lot of convincing himself that taking this power for his friends is noble in the scope of this group’s collective morals and self-interest in keeping each other safe and prosperous so <3

15. hollow - woowee dariax corruption, at least in this scope, i think is very frightening to me in that i think he’s going full maximalist, abundant, greedy, impulsive chaotic evil if we’re realllly leaning into a villain arc but still many of those things if we’re just going “this group is the only thing that matters and i’ll do anything for them no matter the cost” - i also think this song has a tone of resentment towards this? apprehension a bit? recognizing that this is how the person singing is but not entirely enjoying or feeling justified in it? as impulsive as dariax is, i think he cares A Lot, and is even a character i could see pulling a reverse dorian and going chaotic good in a different story than we’re in? “so simple when i was younger” and “i’d be a dancer of a different tune” really give me angsty dariax vibes in the height of his corruption arc

16. bad dreams - “don't you worry about your bad dreams cause I'm not in them. don't you worry about what change brings cause you can't stop it.” WOOF i don’t know that this one really needs to be explained but it’s the climax and the descent all in one of the party/corrupted individual being too far gone in their decision to step back or be saved. i think the tone of the song lends itself well to a mixture of uncaring but also giving some question to if they regret it or not based on the narration of the crowd against them.

#cheep cheep #ask #jadeandquartzes #this is ridiculously long i just <333 get so lost in the playlist sauce <333 all the time <333 #if you read all of this i am kissing you on the cheek <3 #spider ment #spider tw

[hailbop1701]

25 Days of FicMas

December 6th prompt: Fake Date for Christmas

Word count: 2,380

He's my...boyfriend?

Well here it is! I love this trope...we need more of this. This was pretty damn fun to write and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!

-H❤🖖

You tossed your phone onto the noodle shop counter with a scowl before sitting back down with John and Dorian. “You okay?” Dorian asked concerned as he pushed a bowl of noodles towards you. John looked at you expectantly mouth full, you practically hissed at Dorian’s inquiry. “Just a joyous call with my mother,” you muttered violently cracking your chopsticks apart so you could use them. Both officers eyed you cautiously, “I take it that Christmas is going to be a bust?” Kennex asked taking a swig of soda. “That’s an understatement,” you muttered sourly looking at your food suddenly not hungry anymore. “She wants to set me up again!” 

Both Dorian and John were silent before they burst out laughing, you glared at them heatedly. “Come on it’s not funny!” you whined hurling your unused chopsticks at them out of frustration. Dorian snickered but calmed down out of respect to you, John, however, thought it was one of the funniest things he has heard in a while. You smacked him on the arm repeatedly until he stopped, “alright, alright!” he cried scooting away from you in order to protect himself. “What are you going to do?” he asked in all seriousness now. You sighed and slumped in your seat, “I have to go. My brothers would be upset if I skipped out and my dad would be disappointed,” you grumbled pushing your cooled-down bowl of noodles towards Kennex. He dug in the moment your hand left the porcelain. Rolling your eyes you hopped down from your stool grabbing your EMS-issued jacket, “I guess I have to suffer through unless I get a boyfriend in the next forty-eight hours,” you said dryly. Waving your goodbyes you were out the door and into the cold snowy city. 

Dorian hit Kennex on the shoulder lightly, “Is it whack Kennex day or something?” the man asked incredulously. The DRN rolled his eyes, “did you hear what she said John?” he asked smirking. John huffed finishing his second meal, “Yes, Dorian I’m not deaf. Sounds like she’s gonna have an unwanted guest this Christmas,” he said taking out his phone to pay the man behind the counter. Dorian gave his partner a look, “and you’re not the least bit jealous?” he asked unconvinced. John snorted, “not in the slightest. Why would I be?” he asked yanking on his coat avoiding eye contact. “Well, it could be because you like (Y/N) a lot. I can tell by numerous readings to your-” John cut Dorian off by shutting the door of the noodle shop in his face. “Real mature,” the android muttered before following his human to the car. 

“All I’m saying is that maybe you should offer to be her date for Christmas so she’s not miserable,” Dorian said after they got done with a crime scene. John stopped and looked at the android like he had suddenly sprouted wings and a second head. “You’ve got to be joking. This isn’t some RomCom Dorian!” Kennex hissed quietly as they got back into the car to go to the station. Dorian mumbled under his breath and blew out an unnecessary breath multiple times. Kennex groaned a headache starting to form over his left eye, “besides she’d never go for it,” he whispered almost to himself. The DRN grinned, “you could always offer and find out. I mean you practically see each other every day. It's like you're already dating,” he pointed out feeling giddy. John tapped the steering wheel with his thumb actually thinking over what he said, “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” he muttered making up his mind. 

You sat behind the wheel of your car in somewhat comfortable silence with John Kennex in the passenger seat, ‘I can’t believe I agreed to this’ you thought anxiously. You white-knuckled the wheel as you pulled down a long drive, “It’s going to be a packed house,” you warned sheepishly glancing over to the man next to you. John smirked, “this should be interesting,” he murmured leaning forward as the house came into view. It was old in style but well kept; the ivory paint looked as if it needed a new coat or two and the navy blue shudders were dusted with snow. Christmas lights twinkled in the dusk and the windows of the house glowed inviting people in from the cold. John gave a low whistle, “big place,” he breathed taking note of the large amount of land your family home was on. You smiled, “big family,” you said parking off to the side almost on the front lawn. Snow crunched under your boots as you got out of the warm car, shivering you slammed the car door shut. You looked around and smiled, everything was the same. John closed the passenger side door and quickly moved to the trunk for your bags; the faster he got inside the faster he got warm. The front door of the (Y/L/N) homestead opened and there were shouts of excitement; then suddenly you were tackled. Giving a very undignified screech you flew back into a snowbank with your four rambunctious brothers on top of you. It didn’t matter if the older of the four was at least three years older than you. 

“Ugh get off me you mouth breathers!” you grunted flailing around until you could breathe properly. John watched from the side; he was torn between laughing and wanting to be concerned. He snorted doing his best to keep quiet. “But we missed you!” the youngest of the boys said enthusiastically. His front tooth was missing and he was grinning from ear to ear. “I know Matty but I can’t breathe with Luka's fat butt on top of me,” you groaned. The little boy Matty hopped up hoping to ease the burden; like the little hero he was, he shoved the biggest of boys off of your abdomen. “Luka you butt move!” Matty shouted tackling the unsuspecting high school-aged boy into the snow. Now that the biggest was off of you you practically flung the other two boys into the snow along with him. “Ah, (Y/N)” one of them howled shaking the snow from his hair. You got up brushing off your coat, “heathens,” you murmured affectionately. The boys got off the ground eyeing John up and down like they were trying to decide if he were a threat. “Guys, this is John my...boyfriend,” you said the lie slipping off your tongue easily. Your siblings narrowed their eyes at the officer in scrutiny and John almost wanted to shuffle his feet. Eventually, they smiled and introduced themselves from top to bottom. Jamie, Luka, Parker, and Matty. John smiled and shook each one’s hand, even little Matty. You grinned happily when you saw that they got on okay, quickly moving forward you took one of the bags from John’s hands. “You all comin’ inside or are you gonna sleep out here tonight?” a voice boomed from the front porch. Your grin widened when you heard your father’s call; flinging the duffle over your shoulder you broke out into a jog up to the porch. You flung your arms around your fathers gleefully making the older man stumble back; he chuckled as he hugged you tightly. “How’s my girl?” he asked pulling back so he could take a proper look at you. 

You smiled sweetly, “I’m doing alright, I uh brought company with me like I said I would,” you mumbled nervously. Your father’s smile brightened when he saw John walk up the porch steps talking to your brothers about something or other. They seemed to be really into it, “John if you stick a knife in your prosthetic I will have to hurt you,” you warned somewhat teasingly. Your brothers choked back laughter when John made the “uh oh,” face, “how do you do that?” he wondered openmouthed. Sighing you crossed your arms, “because I know you and I know them,” you said dryly. Your brothers snickered filing into the house to get out of the cold; your father laughed and took John’s hand in his when he offered it, “It’s nice to meet you, Sir,” John greeted respectfully. “It’s nice to finally meet you, son. I’m Henry, ” 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

It had taken you and John a good hour before you made it to your childhood room, sighing you gently placed the duffle you were lugging around onto the queen-sized bed. “My mother was way too happy to meet you I think,” you said making a face. Kennex snorted from where he was being nosy, “mother’s love me,” he said cockily. You watched as he examined your giant collection of books he pulled one out and smirked, “well that’s nostalgic,” he murmured reading the back. You chuckled walking over and plucked your copy of Harry Potter from his hands, “I’m surprised John, you a reader?” you asked feigning shock. “I read...in school,” he mumbled scrunching up his nose slightly. It was the cutest damn thing you ever saw. Putting the book back in its place you eyed the bed with trepidation, “I didn’t’ think about this part,” you muttered scratching your head. “Nervous to share a bed with me?” John joked as he flipped through one of your old journals. Squeaking you yanked it from his hands, glaring you smacked him with it, “no I just picture you being a bed hog,” you said placing the book back where he found it. You turned back to face him biting your lip, “ I can-” you stopped noticing suddenly how close the two of you were. John gently tucked a loose strand of your hair behind your ear, fingers stroking along your cheek. Electricity buzzed around you and after a moment you both leaned in.

A sudden bout of screaming made you abruptly pull apart; running past your door was Matty with a bucket on his head being chased by two of your cousins. The screaming continued until you heard a crash from the end of the hallway followed by a long drawn-out “I’m okay!” you put a hand to your mouth trying to suppress your giggles. “No Matty, the stairs are that way!” a distant voice called. Your eyes widened and you were out your bedroom door within seconds. John huffed a laugh, “I’m not even mad,” he whispered following you out the door. He stopped short when he saw you, your foot braced against the hallway wall pulling on the bucket that was stuck to your brother’s dome; with another sharp tug it popped off making you stumble back arms windmilling. “Thanks (Y/N)!” Matty cheered and raced down the stairs with your two cousins following behind. John plucked the bucket from your hands and hooked its handle over a nearby doorknob; with your hands-free, he moved in again only to stop when a voice shouted up the stairs, “dinner’s ready!” Kennex laughed humorously. “I can’t win,” he sighed running a hand through his hair. You gave him a sympathetic look pink dusting your cheeks, “Yeah that’s going to happen a lot,” you said grimacing. John threw his hands up in the air and moved around you to get to the stairs, smirking you stopped the man by grabbing the front of his shirt dragging him down to you, “so you have to seize the moment,” you whispered inches from his lips. 

A camera flash made you growl and pull back, at the bottom of the stairs stood one of your brothers. An old vintage polaroid camera in his hands, he grinned pulling the picture from the bottom and started shaking it. “Oh you are a dead man,” you hissed. Luka’s eyes widened, you impressively jumped from the top step just as he bolted. Landing nimbly on your feet you twisted and sprinted after him, “mom told me to do it!” Luka tried to plead with you terror in his voice. “I don’t care if the Pope told you to do it!” you called back. John casually walked down the stairs and peered around the corner in the direction of all the noise. He winced when he saw you catch your brother. You curled an arm around the boy, who was twice your size, and brought him crashing to the floor. The house shook and nobody seemed to bat an eye at the disturbance. “Festive,” John muttered and looked over when he heard Henry start laughing into his whiskey. “You don’t even know the half of it, John,” he said offering a second glass. They watched as you placed a knee on his back and pluck the picture from his limp hand. The boy groaned pitifully, “and that’s why I don’t need to give you the talk,” Henry said with a nod and silent cheers before striding into the dining room. “I think I’m in love,” John downed the whiskey quickly and moved towards you. Taking your wrist he pulled you into a little room that housed the washer and dryer, “sorry about-” you began but was cut off by John’s lips on yours. Breaking it off gently needing the chance to breathe you gaped, “what was that for?” you asked blushing beet red. John grinned eyes glowing, “I think we failed at this whole fake relationship thing. Why don’t we try a real relationship this time,” he suggested. You choked on a laugh, “why detective, are you asking me out?” John smirked, “I’m asking for way more than that sweetheart,” he whispered placing a sweet kiss on your forehead and moved out the door towards the promise of food. Your face grew even redder, “I - uh-okay,” you spluttered as you walked out of the laundry room. Your mom stopped by you and leaned up against the wall arms crossed a dish towel hung loosely in her hand. “I’m quite impressed by him sweetie,” she complimented making you roll your eyes. “He’s smart, has a good job, handsome,” she sang and made a grabbing motion with her hands at the level where his butt would have been. “Mom!” you hissed mortified. She laughed and winked as she too moved to the dining room, “I don’t know how I’m going to last until new years,” you laughed nervously following her. 

Tags:

@thottiewithashotgun

@lauraaan182

@writerdee1701

@dw-writes

@marvelouslytrekking

@spenceneedsahug

#almost human #john kennex/reader #john kennex x reader #john kennex #Dorian #reader insert #25 days of ficmas #Hailey the queen of typos

[pearblossommina]

ToG Read-A-Long, Empire of Storms, day 8

Ch 45

“And maybe the fact that Dorian could even look at a female with interest after seeing Sorscha beheaded was a miracle.”

I wanna be real clear. The reason Dorian x Manon kinda makes me uncomfy has nothing to do with Dorian’s heartbreaking loss of his former lover Sorscha. I support Dorian finally getting a chance to heal, to change, to grow as a character, to return to his slut era if that’s what he wants to do, and I know Sorscha would be happy to see his heart healing too. Manon is really hot and amazing and Dorian should be beyond thrilled that she would ever consider being with someone like him. I just… don’t like how random it feels? I don’t know how else to say it, lol. It feels like everybody else has some chemistry, an underlying reason to be in love… Even Aedion and Lysandra have a certain dynamic. Manon and Dorian don’t really, and they kinda went from 0 to 100 in the last chapter and it felt really forced and unnatural.

“Dorian had once been notorious when it came to women, but this ... Aelin snorted, wishing Chaol were present, if only to see the look on his face.”

He’d be upset, and then he’d want a turn with Manon, because he likes to date everyone Dorian dates. He’s very normal and that’s a very healthy way to treat your ultimate platonic best friend who you love…

Ch 46

I got kinda bored in this chapter

I’m genuinely not sure how

It’s like, the action can only escalate so far, ya know? I need a dang minute to breathe. I thought we were gonna have a nice quiet time on a sailboat. With the only conflict being the interpersonal conflict of Dorian wanting to set Manon free… and Aelin wanting to not set Manon free…. And Rowan wanting to do whatever Aelin wants to do…. And no fierce ferocious demons, or bloodhounds, or ilken, until we, y’know, get where we’re going.

Idk lol

I just don’t have time to care about the high stakes action element, not right now for whatever reason.

Ch 47

I’m glad they all won, everybody relatively unhurt.

Fenrys seems to be the most at risk of dying but I don’t really know him that well, so, I’m not attached to him if he does go.

A little bit of a moment for Aedion with his estranged father, aww, how sweet.

Dude, are Lysandra and Aedion ever gonna talk about their impending wedding?

Ch 48

I wish I could be normal about Dorian and Manon, lol. They still aren’t doing it for me.

“He tried to scent her, but the vomit was too overpowering, the space too small and full of brine. He stumbled back a step, shutting out the thoughts.”

OMG. ALIEN. He has pregnancy trauma! You better be hurling because you’re scared. Or else you better be prepared to deal with the fetus… Rowan cannot handle the concept of a pregnant girl in eminent danger. And you guys are pretty much ALWAYS in eminent danger. Get yourself some plan B, and talk to your boyfriend about conceiving a child when you’re ready and when there’s not a scary war happening.

Ch 49

Elide and Lorcan. Nice to see you again.

They stepped off the river and right back into eminent danger.

Ch 50

I’m so glad Elide has the sheer rage and righteous anger inside her to murder that thing!

She did it for Manon. I miss Elide and Manon. I think they are a way better ship than Dorian and Manon, lol. My heart is just gay, and Manon is just a dream.

(I think Elide and Lorcan have pretty good chemistry, and I don’t mind reading about them. But deep down inside I guess I’m still shipping Elide and Manon.)

(I know it’ll never happen, but it SHOULD have)

Ch 51

“They had only discussed the matter once last week. When she'd crawled off him, panting and coated in sweat, and he'd asked if she was taking a tonic. She merely told him no.”

Perfect!

I’m glad you guys talked about it like responsible adults. But um. I’m still team don’t-plan-your-pregnancy-around-war, lmao. Maybe try to keep some Plan B around, at least until the Erawan is defeated, and good triumphs over evil, and you can, you know, carry a pregnancy to term without giving your boyfriend severe PTSD

“She'd kept the thoughts about it at bay. But now, with that flower-smelling wyvern vanishing over the horizon.

The last piece of the Wing Leader had vanished with him.”

😭

NO

Why!

I hate this

I’m way too emotionally invested in Abraxos and Manon…

NO! Please don’t go! You can’t do this to me!

#tog read along 2023 #empire of storms

[nochiquinn]

exandria unlimited episode 2: there is no witty title for this that they didn’t already do IN THE EPISODE and I’m upset about it

OH NO PLATEAU

Dorian Stagename

"a simple faun druid" made of poison flowers

dwarf himbo

omar: NOT AGAIN

oh THAT'S why matt did that to his face

THE BROKEN GLASS IN THE INTRO IS RESIDUUM

A Baby Left In Prison

please turn the baby ankheg loose in emon, please please please

aw man

"people take care of expensive things"

perception check for the MASSIVE CLOUD OF SMOKE

"to be honest we're all very attractive"

"making erratic choices" you've nailed that part already

my mom's voice yelling "YARD SALE"

liam is carrying this group on melee, stealth, AND brain cells

oh no is this just the kids scrambling around the school in breakfast club

I LOVE THEM

I love the mental image of Opal Elle Woodsing while Dorian gets flailed around in the background

gaslight gatekeep girlboss

when there was only one set of footprints, it was when you were being thrown around by a probable assassin

ashley looked at caduceus' staff and said "gimme"

1/3 nelson

aabria accidentally does her dating sim after all

just squiggle out of the grapple

"his head that I wanna punch is so far away"

aimee carrero is a national treasure

broad rainlight

POINT BLANK ELDRITCH BLAST

"the sophie's choice of warlocks"

"roll your real dice! coward!"

"all the girls get rope training" I was gonna insinuate something about vex and percy but I feel like we knew

opal can help, she's clearly good at tying knots

til the name for a pergola

like I knew what it WAS but I didn't know the name for it

he drinks and he knows things

VIBRANIUM

you could SEE the realization on her face

"first giggle fit of the show" SOMEHOW

do you spice

whitestone: is it drugs yet

oh no.

god bless matt committing to this bit

cool I hate it

"we're a chaotic group" you just noticed

"we're all nonsense!"

aabria mouthing "the shade!" at the camera

the image of sparkly pink and purple opal with the black onyx crown is very nice

opal(/aimee?) just stumbling her way through the plot

"you nailed it! but you don't know that, because you rolled like dirt!"

every time aabria side eyes the camera three years are added to my life

I know We Knew but it's nice to hear keyleth's name again

feywild field trip FEYWILD FIELD TRIP

I can't figure out if I want this animated bc it would be SO much fun or if I don't bc I don't want this chaos confined to a script

"what is the alignment of a banana"

"the grapes are FUCKED"

syngorn crest??? arty get out of here

"her hooves are made for walking"

ugh ugh ugh too real dial it back

ashley WILL find an animal to give scritches, even if she has to make it herself

man I want that pride shirt

dariax

"non-binary halfling" oh, same

I swear I've been listening, something is Fucking Up with the Fire Plane and all I can think about is Allura

OH NO PLATEAU

"you grabbed the crown but you couldn't grab a little more FOOD?!"

IT'S A CROWN IN A BOX

Athlete's Foot of the Spider Queen

it's the starter area from botw

fearne needs advantage, she gots goat feet

ashley burn your dice

"darian" VALIDATION that's what I keep trying to say

(robbie IS "darien" lmao) (huehuehue sailor moon joke)

how. how often have you been almost-stabbed, opal.

"I grab Faun - Fearne - DAMN YOU ALL"

"you're YOUR OWN PAIR"

"it's for windy boys ONLY"

"I'll take a ribbon from somewhere" "BE SPECIFIC"

beans for the time soup

[dbza voice] SEN-ZU BEAN!

mister stop eating the weird sky ash

Why Don't You Just Shoot It

"I made such a mess and it's not my problem to clean it up"

big mister??

I came back to opal's magic not working??

"did I STUTTER??"

no it's because you GOT IN A BITCH FIGHT WITH YOUR PATRON

TOLD YOU

"I AM your magic, BITCH!"

"I have a twin sister" "who's a mountain?"

The Ash Hole

they broke aabria

they broke matt

they broke

"I'm really banking on the fact that my parents will not be watching"

"this is so stupid" "yes this is dungeons and dragons, what's your point"

"I will kill you in two episodes bc you turned my cool sigil into a butthole"

oh no!! vapor mister!!

also it is 1:20 am

SEE OPAL

wait a dire what, I zoned out bc of the aforementioned 1:20 am

"math! ever heard of it? NO!!"

"come back to fearne. and away from me."

"did you roll a natural 20?" "nooooo"

see, dariax, this is what happens when you attack the monkey

opAL

lmao matt calling liam out for vexnvax

dariax has monkeyphobia

wait fearne WHAT

"the scientific method" he's not...totally wrong

HEY. HEY I KNOW THAT WORD. HEY.

MY BOYYYYYYYYYY

liam don't FLIRT with him this time

opal just apologize to your sister

aimee forgot the word residuum again

the iranian yogurt is not the issue here

excited to see a. aabria’s take on gilmore 2. liam flirt out of instinct

#critical role #exandria unlimited #spoilers #liveblog #reaction post #crititag #exutag

[zmwrites]

Tag: Word Find XXXII (a very normal edition)

thank you to @adayforducks​ AND @akindofmagictoo​ who both rickrolled tagged me in this!!

RULES: find the words never, gonna, give, you, up, never gonna let, you down, never gonna run, around, and desert you in your wip

these will be taken from Open Seas:

NEVER

“Being kind? It’s never a weakness. No matter what your father thinks,” he said.

“We’ll see,” she called back.

He grinned. “Nah, this is another thing I’m sure about. Like you being a great leader.”

GONNA

“We’re aboard The Allegiance.” She drew one leg towards her body, putting her foot against the inside of her opposite thigh, and reached for her toes.

“On board…” Tess trailed off, looking around. On board a pirate ship. Her father was going to be tremendously upset.

GIVE

Dorian attended every meeting with her, being polite but allowing her to do most of the talking. Nevertheless, she appreciated his presence. Any time an officer would try to intimidate her into taking a bad deal, he would lean forward and give them a startling expression that was coldly pleasant yet menacing in a way she couldn’t quite place. Most of his features remained indifferent and neutral, but his eyes took on a terrifying quality and became hard and threatening. It made her negotiations easier. It made her glad they were on the same side of the table.

YOU

“I can’t believe we got everyone on a ship that will get them home.”

“Everyone except for you,” Petra corrected.

Tess blinked. Of course. She’d forgotten to include herself in all of her lists and calculations. It hadn’t been thirty-five people but thirty-six.

UP

“What a beautiful ship,” Tess murmured, looking up into the rigging. There hadn’t been any shortcuts taken, and everything was tied down properly for being in port. Some of the sailors employed by her father could learn from the pirates.

“You like her?” Dorian asked. He was glowing with pride.

LET

“Goodbye, Miss Bowen. I wish our time together had been less traumatic for you, but I’m glad we met,” he said. He hadn’t stopped smiling since he’d laid eyes on his ship. “You have a bright future ahead of you. Don’t let those pricks in Astos tell you otherwise. May the gods be with you and smooth your journey home.”

DOWN

“A pleasure,” Tess greeted with a small curtsey.

Idalah nodded but kept her attention on the other two. “We need to head out soon if we’re going to get out of the bay before the tide goes down.”

RUN

“Be kind to the ship, and the ship will be kind to you,” Petra said, repeating an old sailing saying. “She can outrun almost every other craft on the sea.”

AROUND

“I would say it’s been lovely, but that would be a lie,” Dorian remarked, skirting around Vidal. He withdrew the keys from his pocket and jangled them about. “Also I didn’t throw these in the ocean. I will now, though.”

DESERT ABANDON

She blinked up at him, wishing her words hadn’t abandoned her. Her body was overflowing with emotions—confusion, anger, hope, and a dozen others that mixed and warped together into a roiling mess—but her tongue was tied.

I had to wiggle that last one a bit, but I still got all the words!

I don’t know who’s done this version of the game already, so I tag everyone who hasn’t done it yet!!

#tag games #open seas #os excerpt