#third part

[sunlightedcockroach]

[lorifragolina]

Bite the Bullet, Billy - Third Part

Let's go with the third part of my @billybigbang2024 fic!

Billy is alive and he wants to reconnect with his family... please check the @dirtbagdefender's beautiful gift below and embedded in the chapters! Thanks again to @talanashta for the kind words about those chapters that were really intense and emotional!

You can find 5 new chapters in this parts and discover if Billy will be happy or not, for now!

CW: Domestic violence, period-typical racism, racist terminology, suicidal thoughts, hospital, cops

Read it in AO3 - link to the whole fic - direct link to Chapter 11

Below the cut the beautiful and little spoiler gifs for this part!

[im-an-anthusiast]

Is It Sweet?

There may be something, lodged deep in my throat

I try to swallow it, only to choke

Constantly found, though it is never sought

As if not there, until you feel its poke

Dreading the absence, of things still not here

Deafened by whispers, that I can’t quite hear

Half-formed memories, of things yet to be

Blinded by visions, that I cannot see

Each greedy gulp, makes it harder to eat

With each and every taste, it gets less sweet

A bitter nightmare, that was never dreamed

I have lost my taste; tell me, is it sweet?

A presence of something, digs through my throat

Makes itself known still, by making me choke

A constant presence, that cannot be fought

Presenting as absent, just to provoke

An unsure certainty – this is not right

Don’t know how or why – but I must be right

A punch to, and a feeling from the gut

That my throat's inside, shouldn’t be all cut

Each starved mouthful, gets harder to resist

With every lick and lap, it grows less sweet

A sour daydream, that might not be dreamed

I have lost my senses; tell me, is it sweet?

An absence of feeling, eats at my throat

I almost can’t tell, as I start to choke

An absence, present longer than I thought

Presenting falsely, wrapped in a sweet cloak

Choking on the words, I have yet to speak

Surely, there is an answer I can seek?

Pained by the words, you have yet to say

Surely, there has to be another way?

Each hungry swallow, brings closer to it

With each bite, you learn – it was never sweet

A tasteless something, that I hope is dreamed

I have swallowed my tongue – and choked on it

[thecanvasofmadness]

Puppets of darkness.

*This is a story created in collaboration with IA. *NSFW *BDSM

Third part

"Oh, please, mister Blackwood. I’ve been wanting this since I read about you. You’re my favorite writer… the poet I’ve been looking to do me his slave".

Manuel chooses to confess his deep admiration for Asher's proud composure. He can't help but come clean like that, especially after having let himself be touched by him.

Asher's eyes flash with a mix of surprise and dark delight at Manuel's confession. 

"My favorite writer, you say? Ah, the irony... and yet, I must admit, there's a certain poetic justice in the idea of you, a devoted acolyte, begging to serve at the altar of my own depravity".

He leads Manuel towards the house, his pace unhurried, savoring the younger man's trembling submission. 

"As for being my slave... well, I suppose it's only fitting. After all, a poet's muse is often said to be a willing victim, a sacrifice offered up to inspire the creative process".

A wicked grin curves his lips. 

"And what better muse than one who craves the very darkness that fuels my art?"

Manuel yields all his will to Asher's power. He does not think, he does not reason, he cannot do it, even if he wanted to, because something stronger than him dominates him to the point of making him forget who he is and what he is doing there.

"Mister Blackwood, please, make me feel inside my core the pain that the darkness has in store for me".

Asher's eyes darken with lust at Manuel's plea, a predator sensing the vulnerability of his prey. 

"Inside you, he says? Ah, but that would imply a level of intimacy, of trust, that we hardly merit at this stage. No, boy, we'll begin with something far more... elemental".

He spins Manuel around and pushes him facedown over the nearest piece of furniture, a sturdy oak table. 

"On your knees, spread wide for me. Let's see if you can handle the first lesson in the art of pain and pleasure".

A drawer opens with a soft creak, revealing various implements of torture and restraint. Asher selects a thick, leather-bound paddle and caresses the smooth surface lovingly. 

"This should suffice to break in your tender hide. Prepare yourself, slave. Your initiation into the cult of darkness begins now".

Manuel trembles. Deep down he knows what it will hurt, but instead of being filled with fear, he is flooded with desire. He is willing to experience any pain as long as it is Asher's hand that gives it to him.

"I tremble to see you filled with satisfaction knowing that I will let myself be possessed by your sick mania and, even knowing that it will hurt, I want to live it".

Asher's gaze burns with a sadistic hunger as he takes in Manuel's trembling submission, his voice low and menacing. 

"Sick mania, you call it? Perhaps, but it's a madness that has driven me to heights of creativity few can comprehend. And now, I intend to claim you as my canvas, my instrument, my willing participant in this dark symphony".

The paddle cracks against Manuel's exposed buttocks, the sound echoing through the room like a gunshot. Asher grins, relishing the younger man's cry of pain. 

"There, that's the first note in our twisted melody. Many more will follow, each one pushing you closer to the edge of your sanity."

He delivers another stinging blow, then a third, each strike designed to leave a lasting impression on Manuel's vulnerable flesh. 

"You're learning quickly, boy".

Manuel can do nothing but scream, his throat filling up with sobs that sneak through his open lips. His body convulses in pain, while the sting of the blow that has been delivered to his naked skin eats away at him with a burning that borders on the intolerable.

"It hurts, sir... it burns my skin... as much as it burns my soul".

Asher's eyes gleam with perverse pleasure at Manuel's screams, the sound music to his ears. 

"Ah, yes, the sweet agony of defilement, the searing blaze of pain that awakens the senses. It's a flavor I've grown accustomed to, one that fuels my darkest inspirations".

He continues his merciless assault, the paddle striking Manuel's flesh with rhythmic precision, each blow a testament to his mastery over the younger man's body. 

"Your screams are a symphony, boy, a chorus of torment that echoes through the chambers of my mind".

A pause, and then Asher's hand makes contact with Manuel's abused rear, fingers probing and spreading the tender flesh apart. 

"Look at you, so beautifully marked, so thoroughly claimed by the darkness. You're a work of art, Manuel Galeoni, a masterpiece born of pain and desire".

Manuel cries out in pain, his moans mixed with shrieks echoing in the room, making clear Asher's will over his broken dignity.

"I can't stand it, it's too much, my buttocks hurt, my skin is burning. I feel the blood flowing as my hot tears flow".

Asher's gaze remains fixed on Manuel's ravaged form, drinking in the sight of the younger man's pain and degradation. 

"Too much, you say? Ah, but that's the beauty of it, boy. The threshold of pain is a fluid concept, ever-shifting and adaptable. With each new assault, your tolerance grows, your appreciation for the exquisite agony blossoms".

He applies gentle pressure to Manuel's wounds, watching with dark satisfaction as fresh crimson wells up to mingle with the earlier bleeding. 

"See, the blood flows freely now, a testament to the depth of your submission. You're no longer just a pretty face, a hollow shell of a poet. You're a vessel, a conduit for the darkest impulses that drive us both".

A hand wraps around Manuel's throat, applying just enough pressure to make breathing difficult.

Manuel can't breathe, he feels short of breath, even though Asher's hand is not squeezing him at all, but the pain is too much, his wounds burn, causing his breathing to become short.

"I can't breathe, the pain is increasing... it burns me".

Asher's grip on Manuel's throat tightens, his voice a low, menacing purr.

"Increasing, you say? Ah, but that's the nature of the beast, boy. Pain is a living thing, a creature that feeds on your resistance, your attempts to flee or escape. The more you struggle, the more it grows, the more insatiable it becomes".

He releases Manuel's throat, allowing the younger man to gasp for air before resuming his assault. 

"You're learning, though. You're starting to understand the delicate balance between pleasure and pain, how they intertwine like the threads of a tapestry to create something beautiful and grotesque".

A finger probes Manuel's torn anus, seeking entrance. 

"Now, let's explore the depths of your submission further, shall we?"

[eye-of-mordor]

MAGIC SQUARE OF RAHU

Magic square series 2/?

Hindu legend says that the sage Garga Bhāradvāja, a descendant of one of the great seven sages, developed nine magic squares for the nine heavenly bodies of Vedic astrology sometime in either the first century BC or AD. One of these, dedicated to Rahu, the head of the ancient serpent-demon Svarbhānu, consists of nine squares in three rows and columns, essentially making it a 3x3 square. This square can cross in a single linear direction in eight different ways: three horizontal, three vertical, and two diagonals. The numbers traveled in each direction will come to 36. Since each square in it has numbers ranging from 8 to 16, all the numbers in this square add up to 108, a very sacred number in the Vedic and Hindu religions for a myriad of reasons. The seal of Rahu, as well as of all the other Vedic squares, are in the same image as that of Saturn in western occult traditions. Beginning at 8, an arrow can be traced to 9, then to 10, then a second line is drawn diagonally from 11 to 13, and then the final set connects from 14 to 16 to form a second arrow.

In Vedic astrology, Rahu is known as the northern node of the Moon, and is identified as a shadow planet, not a proper one. Its southern counterpart is Ketu, the serpentine tail of Svarbhānu. In an ancient time, they were singularly united as this demon who strove to overthrow the sun god Surya via a total solar eclipse, which was likely interpreted by the Vedic civilization as a cosmic monster attempting to devour the Sun. Religious rituals were held to ward off the magic arts of Svarbhānu. For this atrocity, the dread beast was punished by the gods and in later Hindu tradition, his punishment is credited to the god Vishnu who beheaded him. This is how Rahu and Ketu became divided. Whenever total eclipses occur, it is believed that Svarbhānu has reunited to threaten the world once again. This union is likely one of the earliest known concepts of the ouroboros, a symbol depicting a serpent biting its own tail.

(Click here to continue to segment 2)

[vyl]

SPOILERS AHEAD

third and last part of my highlights to the funniest parts in this book. I'll wait for a bit until I post my thoughts further on the more serious topics or quotes this one had to offer, but for now enjoy Nora's comedic acts of silliness through the gore and pain

I also inserted all the pages in as many as I could, so you could look it up later if that would be something you'd want

[the-kingshound]

3/3 Why can't they support their family and their ambitions? There was a bit about their brother so I guess there's some sort of punishment for disobedience but why would they disobey? Then, the scene with helping sailor dude - MC could just order guards to help. Knights behave like MC is their buddy and being pretty informal is basically the same problem. I really like the premise and hope to see how story goes. Obvs its your story and you should write it however you want (^

MC and their family: MC's thing right now is that they are obedient. To a fault, because they have no choice in the matter. They might have different attitudes towards the marriage itself (they believe Camelot is a cage/they are on the contrary carefully hopeful about Arthur) but in any case it is not their place to discuss the Council's decision.

If they support their family's will, though, meaning that they aren't bitter towards their parents, MC does it only in a passive way. This is what has been decided for them and they will follow through. They won't be enthusiastic, though, because they have always been a pawn and so they basically stopped caring.

Helping the kid: there are three reasons for why MC didn't order their guards to intervene in their stead. First, MC is the only one on the ship with combat magic: for them, lifting a heavy crate is not a problem at all. The second reason is that MC isn't in the position to order the guards around. They aren't theirs, they are trained fighters assigned by the Council to escort them, nothing more than that. They are not at MC's orders. The third reason is that MC is not some noble accustomed to have people do things for them. They are to be indipendent and as such it doesn't even occur to them to make someone else do the deed in their place.

The knights and MC: so, here's the thing: the Round Table Knights are in a position of power that is higher than MC's. You have to consider that as of now, MC isn't royalty, they're not even a noble. They are only an Irish heir on their way to Camelot.

The knights treat them with respect but it's not something they are required to do. Mostly, Yniol is formal with MC because they are adressing them already as the Royal Consort but technically speaking they are not yet under their orders. This is why the other knights behave sometimes with such informality.

Another thing: TKH is loosely set in the V-VI century, where the social hierarachy was not as strict as with feudalism or in medieval times. There was less distance between the king and the people under their rule, the same is true here (at least for Arthur's reign).

Example: in more ancient times, servants and nobles dined together in the main hall. As centuries passed, the main hall basically lost its function because the King and nobles became of higher status and did not share meals with servants anymore. In fact, servants then had their own separate quarters and passages so not to get in the way of their masters.

Thank you for the time you took to analyze the game, I hope my answer was satisfactory. In case you have any more questions/concerns, please feel free to reach out again!

[geist19]

Corsen has a form shift and now they’ll finally have art to represent it. Also I’ve been drawing Corsen a lot. Corsen is going for competition of my most drawn character.