#didn't you

[simplysnaps]

hits blunt, rubs eyes, groans with exhaustion

nah man, yeah. that's... fucked up for sure. but like... did anyone actually... say that? or did you make up a guy to be mad about again?

[sandstorm-or-smth]

Apologies to the commenters, the 9 people who left kudos on my Cinderella Boy fic, and any others who may have gotten invested in it.

I'm slow AF, editing's a bitch, and for some reason writing has decided to start stabbing me as well, so it's probably gonna be a while lmao

respects and thanks, blade.

[amoremagnificentbastard]

It's time for yet another episode of "Someone Sweet Encourages Amy to Share Her WIP and She Forgets to Respond until Two Days Later"! I was tagged by the lovely @bardic-inspo for Snippet Sunday. It is now Tuesday. I'm sorry, dear.

I'm scared I'm going to end up sharing all my favorite parts of my smutty WIP before I even post it at this rate, so here is a scene that will be in my longfic when I finally start writing that in earnest:

Tagging @aevallare, @dalgursbate, and @thedreamlessnights. Only if you want to!

[skyrimbookquest]

Book Quest pt 19

shortly after leaving the temple, it was decided to venture back to whiterun. It had been a long few days, and Quill-Finder at least needed some reprieve.

the journey to the city was a quiet one, Though the lack of any confrontation did give the two a chance to talk. Something they both appreciated.

"So... about those books you're collecting... why?" Lydia asked.

"For the library back in Cyrodiil, of course."

"I know that, but..." Lydia sighed. "why come to Skyrim, in person, and find these books? why not order them?"

Quill-Finder nodded the question. "Well the civil war has made any shipments between the two kind of..."

"messy?"

"yeah. and that's only considering the mass-produced books." Quill-Finder smiled. "See, we're more of a collector's paradise, specializing in rare tomes that can't be found anywhere else. We strive to find knowledge squirreled away by eons past, and allow the public to research and understand it."

Lydia nodded, and thought. "But why only one person, then? and, no offense, why you?"

Quill-Finder blinked.

"Dragonborn though you may be, you're not exactly a warrior. I would expect something so valuable to be under heavy guard."

Quill-Finder shrugged. "I don't rightly know. My family has a habit of getting involved in pivotal moments in history. guess it was my turn?"

It was night by the time the two arrived. the guards let them in with no issue, giving a salute of respect to the Thane of Whiterun as she passed through the gate.

"Whaddya say, bath, bed, supplies?" Lydia asked.

Before Quill-Finder could answer, two men in strange masks approached them. the hood covered in what could almost pass for a jagged stone.

"You there." One of them called. "You're the one they called Dragonborn?"

Quill-Finder and Lydia exchanged a look. the housecarl furrowed her brow. Lydia shook her head, placing a hand on her weapon.

"I'm just a Librarian from Cyrodiil." Quill-Finder finally responded.

"Your lies fall on deaf ears, Deceiver!" the masked man responded. "We know you are the False Dragonborn. You shall not stand in the way of the true Dragonborn's return. He comes soon, and we shall offer him your heart!"

the two men attacked. Adept in magic, the first let loose lighting upon Quill-Finder. she keeled over, baring the brunt of the spell.

She could feel her own magic waning. the second engaged Lydia, launching a torrent of fire. Quickly, Lydia raised her shield, blocking the blast of the flame, though the heat radiated through, the flames licking her shoulders. She winced from the pain as the shield increased in heat.

"Wuld!" Quill-Finder drew on her strength within, and channeled it into a sprint. within an instant, she dashed pass the two cultists, brandishing her axe.

before the first cultist could determine what happened, Quill-Finder's axe found his neck. was a shout of pain, and the thud of a body.

The second cultist look back at his now-dead comrade. he froze. "You Dare--"

the words barely had a chance to escape his throat. with a mighty swing, Lydia swung the super-heated shield into the side of the cultist's head. he crumpled to the floor alive, but unconscious.

"The Thane has been attacked." Lydia called. Guards already rushing to the scene as soon as the glow of magic was visible stopped short seeing the two cultists on the ground. they listened to her words, awaiting orders. Lydia pointed at the unconscious cultist. "Take this man, into custody."

Without wasting another moment, the cultist was hauled off to the prison below dragonsreach. a guard slung the dead body over their shoulder, closely following his companions.

Quill-Finder was angry. she stormed off to the Bannered Mare.

By the time Lydia was able to catch up, Quill-Finder was already sitting at the bar, down into her third cup.

"Thane, are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Lydia sighed, "we've only known each other for a few days, and even I know that's not true."

Quill-Finder placed a sheet of paper on the counter, sliding it over to her housecarl. "That was on one of the cultists..."

Lydia picked up the paper, looking through. it was a note. a set of orders, no less.

"Board the vessel Northern Maiden docked at Raven Rock. Take it to Windhelm, then begin your search. Kill the False Dragonborn known as Quill-Finder before she reaches Solstheim.

Return with word of your success, and Miraak shall be most pleased."

"who's Miraak?" Lydia asked.

"I don't know...." Quill-Finder lowered her head. she grasped at the back of her skull with her hands as her forehead collided with the counter. "I've been crowned dragonborn for less than a day, and people already want me dead..."

"Hey," Lydia gave the argonian a pat on the back. "My job is to keep you safe. I know it's not much, but why don't we take this to the college in winterhold. maybe they know something?"

"Maybe..." Quill-Finder took the note back. Removing her backpack, she brought it in front. unclasping the flap, and throwing it open, Lydia couldn't help but gawk. twenty six. no-- thirty books laid crammed inside, sitting neatly pressed against one another. only now did Lydia notice the amount of strain the bag was under. she watched in amazement as Quill-Finder somehow found room to stuff the sheet of paper inside the bag before fastening it back up and slinging it over her shoulder and retiring to the bath.

Quill-Finder stripped down first. dropping her bag on the nearby table, and throwing her dress in the basket, she let the cool air hit her skin before lowering herself in the water.

Lydia was next, and she took the longest. unlatching and untying armor pieces one by one, she gently set each piece to the side before moving to the next.

Eventually, Lydia stood there, bare as the day she was born. the tough skin of a warrior bore the scars of battles passed, hidden by where the armor once sat. and though she didn't seem to notice or care, Lydia was beautiful. the curves of her body, the strength of her arms, even the muscles in her legs could rival that of any goddess. and though one might have considered damage from swords and arrows past as 'imperfections', To Quill-Finder, they only made her that much more perfect.

Had she not been distracted by the events but moments before, the Argonian's thoughts might not have stayed internal. She respected Lydia. as a warrior, and to an extent, a friend. though she knew Lydia would argue the latter, she valued the camaraderie that the housecarl offered and the safety she provided.

the bath was quiet. the water was warm against the skin of the two. As cozy as the water might have been though, the room still felt cold. there was a silence in the room as the two mulled over the day's events and the journey that brought them to this point. Quill-Finder's near death experience still hung over the lizard's head, while Lydia couldn't help but wonder how the cultists even got into the city, or why they wanted her charge dead. questions that she hoped to get the answers to, but would have to wait for another time.

Instead, another question rang loud and clear. how does that noodle of a lizard carry so many books??

"You know," Lydia spoke, trying to cut through the silence, "where are you going to store all of those books?"

"Eventually going to take them back to the library. why?"

"okay, but until then?"

there was a pause.

"I..." Quill-Finder mumbled. "I hadn't thought that far..."

"why don't we see about getting you settled in a property in whiterun for the time being. you could store any unnecessary gear or collections there in the meantime so you aren't weighing yourself down."

Quill-Finder nodded. "Not a bad idea, though I'm still three thousand short."

"Then we start picking up some jobs. helping around town. Some bounties."

Quill-Finder thought for a moment, before finally giving a nod. "First thing in the morning."

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[the-creature-22]

Turns out he was worried for Asya's health. He ignored her protesting while he picked her up and carried her to bed.

She had been tinkering with her potions for 2 days, he decided he had to be the one to insist she sleeps, even if he has a hard time himself.

Turns out Asya has a stronger grip than Tally anticipated, if she has to sleep then so does he!

[veryspecialfungus]

I am so close to finishing the next chapter of True Psychic Tales: The Next Generation I can taste it.

[eldritchzombiehorse]

Ever wonder what happens after the end?

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