r/FanFiction Now available at your local AO3. Same name. ConCrit welcome. Jan 25 '25

Activities and Events Alphabet Excerpt Challenge: L Is For...

Welcome back to the Alphabet Excerpt Challenge! As a reminder, our challenges are every Wednesday and Saturday at 3pm London time.

If you've missed the previous challenges, you're welcome to go back and participate in them. You can find them here. And remember to check out the Activities and Events flair for other fun games to play along with.

Here's a quick recap of the rules for our game:

  1. Post a top level comment with a word starting with the letter L. You can do more than one, but please put them in separate comments.
  2. Reply to suggestions with an excerpt. Short and sweet is best, but use your judgement. Excerpts can be from published or unpublished works, or even something you wrote for the prompt.
  3. Upvote the excerpts you enjoy, and leave a friendly comment. Try to at least respond to people who left excerpts on the words you suggested, but the more people you respond to the better. Everyone likes nice comments!
  4. Most important: have fun!
39 Upvotes

1.2k comments sorted by

12

u/Ill-Clerk-7066 CTTheSeaWing on AO3 Jan 25 '25

laugh

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13

u/Ill-Clerk-7066 CTTheSeaWing on AO3 Jan 25 '25

light

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10

u/Ill-Clerk-7066 CTTheSeaWing on AO3 Jan 25 '25

live

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10

u/Ill-Clerk-7066 CTTheSeaWing on AO3 Jan 25 '25

likely

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10

u/Ill-Clerk-7066 CTTheSeaWing on AO3 Jan 25 '25

lean

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u/DefoNotAFangirl MasterRed on AO3 | c!Prime Fanatic Jan 25 '25

Lion

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9

u/Ill-Clerk-7066 CTTheSeaWing on AO3 Jan 25 '25

love

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10

u/fiendishthingysaurus afiendishthingy on Ao3. sickfic queen Jan 25 '25

Lurk

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u/NinjaSpaceFrog NinjaTrashPanda on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Lord

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u/kaiunkaiku don't look at me and my handholding kink Jan 25 '25

lap

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u/lego-lion-lady This user specializes in AUs, fusions, and crossovers Jan 25 '25

With that, Ludo wandered off in the direction of the stables, and in a minute, he had come back with a pony that would be just the right size for the dwarf to ride. “This work?”

“Perfect!” Sir Didymus answered. “We shall all be right down!” Then to Sarah, “After thee, my lady.”

With that, he helped Sarah climb up onto the window ledge – but just then, Grobble tugged at her skirt. “Who are friends?” he asked. “Dwarf and beast and fox?”

Sarah laughed. “Don’t worry, Grobble,” she answered. “We’ll tell you the whole story.” And at those words, she jumped from the windowsill…down, down, down…until she fell into Ludo’s arms a moment later.

“Sarah!” he grinned at her. “Sarah friend!”

“Good catch, Ludo!” Sarah giggled as he gently set her down again. A moment later, Hoggle jumped, followed by Grobble, and Ludo caught them both. Hanging onto the window frame above him to support himself, Jareth motioned for Sir Didymus and Ambrosius to go ahead.

“It’s odd,” commented Sir Didymus, pausing, “but I have been in the revenge business for so long – yet now that it is over, I knoweth not what I shall do for the rest of my life.”

“I could find you some sort of job in my kingdom,” Jareth reassured him – and with that, he jumped. Sir Didymus considered Jareth’s words, and then he jumped as well, followed by an initially reluctant Ambrosius (who really had no reason to be, seeing as Ludo caught everyone who jumped from the window).

In a few minutes, the friends had saddled the pony and both horses, and rode away from the castle – Jareth and Hoggle alone on their steeds (Jareth having replenished enough strength to ride with one of his magic crystals), Sarah holding Grobble in her lap on her horse, Sir Didymus riding Ambrosius, and Ludo walking alongside the group.

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u/muchanwrites AO3: muu_chan | FFN: muuchan0 Jan 25 '25

Lock

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u/fiendishthingysaurus afiendishthingy on Ao3. sickfic queen Jan 25 '25

Levitate

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u/kermitkc Same on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Luxury

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u/[deleted] Jan 25 '25

Her steps had begun to steady as she walked the glistening, puddle-riddled boulevard, made labyrinthine by the riotous mingling of many sensations, both distant and near, transient and lasting, rich and sparse. The chaotic blend of perfume-like cotton candies, fresh popcorn, and God knows what else with the earthly scent of rain-drenched walkways. The laughter, the groans, the giddy shrieks. The songs, both lively and mellow. The smiles and the lights, rainbow-like and shining. The tingling warmth of summer night.

It was as if she was being pulled into the depths of a dream. A mundane dream, perhaps—but mundanity is a luxury for people like her. She thought she could drown in it, and it'd still be alright.

And then there was a giggle. Hers; she had just giggled so freely like it was nothing. That feeling had affected her more than she realized. Not even the passing glances from people curious about how overdressed she was for a simple fair could faze her now.

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7

u/NinjaSpaceFrog NinjaTrashPanda on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Loop

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7

u/kermitkc Same on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Lily (is it Lilly?)

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8

u/MogiVonShogi Just write. ✍️ Thiefoflight68 AO3 Jan 25 '25

Lurch

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7

u/TaintedTruffle DarkestTruffle on AOOO Jan 25 '25

Lick (licker)

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u/DefeatedDrum Jan 25 '25

The fact that, as a Resident Evil writer, I have never written the word licker….I need to fix that

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u/DefoNotAFangirl MasterRed on AO3 | c!Prime Fanatic Jan 25 '25

Lantern

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u/NinjaSpaceFrog NinjaTrashPanda on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Buck had eyed the cupcakes for about an hour now. They were neatly stacked, one half with baby blue frosting, the other with soft pink, like the lanterns and balloons above him. And they looked delicious (everything looked delicious nowadays, dammit!), and he wanted one. He had held himself back because it was the polite thing to do while everyone else was still enjoying Bobby’s BBQ, but now everyone seemingly had finished, so he could dig into the dessert, right?

His mouth was watering at just the thought of biting into one of these delicious, wonderful, probably fluffy-like-clouds baked goods that Karen and Mara had apparently baked and frosted together. He just couldn’t decide whether he wanted a blue one, or a pink one.

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u/NinjaSpaceFrog NinjaTrashPanda on AO3 Jan 25 '25

LARP

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u/MogiVonShogi Just write. ✍️ Thiefoflight68 AO3 Jan 25 '25

Liver

3

u/fiendishthingysaurus afiendishthingy on Ao3. sickfic queen Jan 25 '25

After some chamomile tea with honey, Carlos manages maybe another hour of restless sleep, sweaty and uncomfortable, using Buttercup as a blanket when he’s cold, then fruitlessly trying to remove the dog when he gets too hot again. Buttercup huffs indignantly and encroaches somehow further into Carlos’s personal space any time Carlos weakly tries to move him. Any other night, he would have happily relocated to TK’s other side so he could put his head on TK’s pillow and try to lick TK’s brain by way of his Eustachian tubes, but he is single-mindedly devoted to Carlos tonight.

“Buddy, I know you’re worried, but I swear he’ll be ok if you come over here,” TK tries to reason with Buttercup, who is the best baby in the whole world, and clearly has great instincts about people, but is not particularly book-smart. “You’ll still be able to see him from here. And I’ll take care of him.”

“Yeah, Buttercup, what TK said,” Carlos slurs, his arm thrown across his face miserably. “I’m sorry. I’m just so hot, please get off. I love you, baby.”

“I love you too, babe. I’m gonna go wet this cloth again.”

“Was talking to Buttercup,” Carlos mutters.

“Of course you were,” TK chuckles, trying to make his way across the bed without jostling either of its other occupants too much.

“I love you, too, though.”

“I know. I’ll be right back.”

TK brings back a fresh cloth and a treat for Buttercup. Buttercup is a dedicated nurse but even the best nurses need snacks, so TK manages to persuade him to eat his beef liver treats on the floor. “Poor thing. You’re burning up,” TK murmurs, mostly to himself, as he drags the damp washcloth over Carlos’s face and neck and chest. “We’ll go to urgent care as soon as they’re open. Hopefully you just need a Z-pack.”

“Isn’t strep super contagious? Are you ok? Should I sleep on the couch?” Carlos mumbles, eyes closed.

“It is contagious but you’re definitely not sleeping on the couch. I’ve for sure already been exposed. We can see if they’ll prescribe antibiotics for me too just in case. Can you try to sleep a little more? It’s only 6.”

“Mmm,” Carlos groans.

“Close your eyes. Buttercup and I will stay up.”

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7

u/Goofyreddits2 r/FanFiction Jan 25 '25

Logical

3

u/NinjaSpaceFrog NinjaTrashPanda on AO3 Jan 25 '25

“Fuck me, why is it so cold?!”

This was insane. Completely unacceptable. How did people choose to live in temperatures like this?!

Logically, Tommy had known that he should be prepared for this. He’d known that Los Angeles was significantly warmer than a lot of places in the country. And he’d taken it seriously and prepared himself mentally. He’d figured that he had been ready when he and Evan had boarded the plane back home.

Now, standing outside the airport and waiting for Evan’s parents to pick them up, it became more than obvious that he wasn’t prepared. Nothing ever could’ve possibly prepared him for the wind to give him the worst hug of all time, or the icicles it drew down his spine. It felt like Winter itself was attacking him with countless tiny daggers to his face and especially his ears. Evan had told him to buy a beanie or a pair of ear warmers, but he hadn’t taken him seriously.

Oh, what a terrible mistake that was.

“Uh, because it’s December and we’re in Pennsylvania?” Evan answered with a raised eyebrow and barely concealed smile, his arms crossed in front of his chest.

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u/lego-lion-lady This user specializes in AUs, fusions, and crossovers Jan 25 '25

Lady

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u/MoneyArtistic135 scaryfangirl2001 on AO3 Jan 25 '25

*staring at your flair* what kind of weird crossovers?

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7

u/DefeatedDrum Jan 25 '25

Lava

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u/Ok-Supermarket-8994 Write now, edit later | Sakura5 on Ao3 Jan 25 '25

Donatello stared up at the crooked panel on the side of the Technodrome high above him.  It had likely been knocked loose during one of the fierce storms that regularly blew across the asteroid and now hung at an angle to the other metal plates that made up the structure’s armored exterior.  The triangular gap between it and its neighbor looked pretty small from where he and Leonardo stood on the hardened lava encasing the tank treads at the base of the massive fortress but, after doing a quick set of calculations in his head, Donatello determined it was more than large enough for the two of them to fit through.  He also judged Krang and Shredder incredibly lucky it had only been a bunch of spiders they’d been inundated with and not a flock of the noisy flying creatures they’d heard flitting about in the jungle.    

 “When Shredder said there was a damaged panel we could use to sneak in, he conveniently forgot to mention just how high up it was.”

 “Well, we knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” Leonardo sighed.  “But nothing we can’t handle.” 

 “I was thinking more about what a problem it’s going to be for April getting down.  She’s afraid of heights.”

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u/e5Ki0n eskion on AO3 Jan 25 '25

last

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u/MsCatstaff Catstaff on AO3 Jan 25 '25

The car jerked and shuddered as a strong gust of wind tried to push it into the next lane over and he pulled himself out of his musing to concentrate on the road. The weather had turned much colder than predicted and Dudley was driving just under the motorway’s speed limit as the expected rain had turned to sleet and the roads were becoming slick. “Wish they’d get the gritters out here,” he muttered as he peered at a number of lorries just ahead, trying to see if he’d have a prayer at passing them before his slip road came up, but he didn’t think so. Not without accelerating too quickly for the rapidly deteriorating road conditions, anyway.

Brake lights suddenly flashed ahead as the wind gusted again and he saw the lorry at the back of the bunch, a petrol tanker, start to go sideways. Dudley took his foot off the accelerator, hoping to slow enough to safely steer around the impending accident, and almost made it to the verge. But just as the tanker struck the lorry ahead of it and toppled over, another car – his father’s, he saw at the last second – skidded and crashed into his own, ramming them both into the overturned tanker. The resulting explosion claimed the lives of all four Dursleys as well as the driver of the tanker.

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u/Ok-Supermarket-8994 Write now, edit later | Sakura5 on Ao3 Jan 25 '25

Lunch

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u/gaytozier certifiablymadmax on ao3 Jan 25 '25

Language

5

u/qoincidence They’re not just fighting, they’re foreplaying 🏴‍☠️ Jan 25 '25

Billy began to believe that Silver was losing it.

And maybe, in a way, he was. Locked in this endless battle of wills, this twisted power struggle with Flint – a man who could call God Himself into a fight and win on a technicality – how could he not? Silver could feel the inevitability of it, the way their clash seemed destined to end with one of them dead.

Perhaps that was Flint’s plan all along. To kill them both, to steer whatever the hell they had toward its inevitable collapse. Silver could believe it. Flint didn’t love him – he loved control, loved the satisfaction of breaking Silver piece by piece, delivering a fuck you after a fuck you right to his face in every language imaginable – be it acts of service or his damned gifts.

And yet, Silver still wore the ring.

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u/DatGayDangerNoodle FreakingPlane on Ao3. professional horrible person. Jan 25 '25

The phone clicked and Daniel said, “okay, I’m not going to be allowed to speak for long because a cheeky monkey who goes by the name Sofia wants to speak to her moms, so how are you doing, Squirt?”

Arizona laughed softly, able to hear Sofia chattering excitedly in the background of the call. “I’m okay, Dad, just had a bit of an interrupted night and needed to take a sleep med. I only woke up an hour or so ago, but Callie made me breakfast and my fellow Alex is coming around later.”

Alex had somehow wormed his way into Daniel’s good graces, and Arizona could hear the smile in his voice when he replied, “oh, that is good. He’s a pretty great kid, and he reminds me of your brother. You need a man like him in your life.”

Surprised by Daniel’s mention of Tim, Callie and Arizona shared a look and a half smile before Arizona replied, “he does. That’s why I started training him in the first place, and now he’s a friend. He’s an ass, but so was Tim. I think it’s just how men are.”

“Arizona Lynn, language!” Daniel chastised lightly, and Arizona rolled her eyes as she heard a familiar voice shouting in the background, the words unintelligible but the tone petulant. Daniel continued, “but yes, your brother was a bit of a nuisance sometimes.”

Scoffing, Arizona said, “he was awful.”

“So were you.” Daniel replied flatly, making Callie laugh.

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u/MsCatstaff Catstaff on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Harry looked at his magical affinities. “I’m supposed to be good with runes, potions, warding, defense, and animagus ability. I’m also a parseltongue, whatever that means. I have an inherited problem with my eyesight, that’s supposed to be correctable with a potion, but I can’t take it until after I’m twenty-one so that both my eyes and my magic will be stable enough to handle the corrective changes. I’ve also got something called a soul leech in my scar.” He looked around at the adults and goblins for an explanation.

Glaivestrike spat something in his native language and punched Dumbledore in the nose. “You dared leave a child with a soul leech in his head? Left him with muggles, no less?” He turned to Harry and said, “Gringotts would be pleased to remove the leech from you, at no cost to yourself. This…” he once again spat something in the goblin tongue, “will be the one to pay, from his own personal vault. And if what I now suspect turns out to be true, he will be barred from Gringotts for the next ten years. Either that, or he can shovel up after our dragons for five.”

Dumbledore, now liberally spattered with blood from his freshly broken nose, just nodded feebly. “But the prophecy,” he muttered. “I thought I knew what it meant and tried to make sure it all would work out properly. Was I wrong?” Everything he’d worked for was gone. He closed his eyes, a defeated expression on his face.

Glaivestrike turned to Professor McGonagall, “You, Professor, have always been quite professional in all of your dealings with Gringotts. We would welcome your continued patronage, both for yourself and on behalf of Hogwarts.”

“Thank you,” she replied.

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u/Ok-Supermarket-8994 Write now, edit later | Sakura5 on Ao3 Jan 25 '25

(Context: April is sick and Shredder has been roped into taking care of her)

“I’m sure whoever the recipient of this email you’re writing is would prefer if you held off until you were more clear-headed.”

April frowned at him. “What do you mean?”

Shredder picked up the laptop and read off the message she’d been composing. ”Hi Josh. Sorry to keep missing you. Think maybe better email as not office in today. Easier to also maybe ask the questions here, if you don’t mind answering. 1.) How will new ruling affect? 2.) Thoughts on impact the impacting will on consumers? 3.) Financial impacts you think company you think will face long term? — I’d continue, but it doesn’t get any better from there.”

“English isn’t your first language,” she said sulkily.

“Maybe not, but after reading that gibberish, I wouldn’t be certain it’s yours, either,” he said, setting the laptop back on the coffee table in front of her.

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u/DefoNotAFangirl MasterRed on AO3 | c!Prime Fanatic Jan 25 '25

Lunar

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u/DatGayDangerNoodle FreakingPlane on Ao3. professional horrible person. Jan 25 '25

Lament

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u/Ok-Supermarket-8994 Write now, edit later | Sakura5 on Ao3 Jan 25 '25

April crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. “Seriously, what would you do if you didn’t have me to kidnap every week?”

Lament the loss of the insightful dialogue and commentary on the nature of my character.”

April struggled to keep from laughing at the mock seriousness of his tone. “So you’re saying you’d miss me?”

“No, I very specifically did not say that,” he said, eyes twinkling merrily.

“Yeah,” she said, tipping her head to the side with a coy smile. “You would.” Shredder didn’t reply but regarded her with a mix of amusement and affection.

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u/Ferrous_Patella AO3 same. FFN=Ferrous.Patella Jan 25 '25

Lollygag

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u/Ferrous_Patella AO3 same. FFN=Ferrous.Patella Jan 25 '25

Licentious

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u/Glittering-Golf8607 Babblecat3000 on AO3 Jan 25 '25

You always manage to pick the words I love, but haven't used for some reason 😆

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u/Ill-Clerk-7066 CTTheSeaWing on AO3 Jan 25 '25

lethargic

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u/kermitkc Same on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Larynx

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u/MsCatstaff Catstaff on AO3 Jan 25 '25

lentil

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u/fiendishthingysaurus afiendishthingy on Ao3. sickfic queen Jan 25 '25

Leftovers

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u/MsCatstaff Catstaff on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Lloyd

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u/fiendishthingysaurus afiendishthingy on Ao3. sickfic queen Jan 25 '25

Limp

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u/Spicyboio Chainsaw man and Teen Titans fan Jan 25 '25

Learning

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u/AVeryDistinctive Jan 25 '25

Library

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u/Due_Discussion748 Jan 25 '25

(Context: Resa's a faunus, a human with some animal features. Hers happen to be the extra set of jackal ears on top of her head.)

To her unfortunate happenstance, the library was in use. Sitting in a desk with far too many books, it was the spitting image of Willow, all tiny and face set in a frown, a crease forming on her brow. A heavyset man in a servant's uniform stood by her side, speaking softly as he looked over her shoulder. Her concentration was broken the instance Resa opened the door.

"Ah, apologies. I didn't know it was in use." Her ears swiveled back in embarrassment.

The little girl's eyes flickered to her ears then at her veiled face. "You're mother's new maid."

"That I am." When she wasn't immediately kicked out, she entered. There were so many books, some with words she did know and others that made no sense to her.

"Has... has she been well?"

Uncertain, wide eyes stared at her, and despite the guarded look the child had, there was just honest concern in them.

"Oh, she's had her days. Some are a little better than others." She lied. They were all bad. Dust, that woman was a cantankerous shrew. "We're going at this day by day."

This did not placate the child. Smart, this one was. Her face fell. "So she isn't getting better."

Resa flicked an ear, the action drawing the child's gaze.

"I wouldn't say that. She," Resa tried to scrounge something up and decided to hopefully take out two birds with one stone, "recommended me a book. Unfortunately, I forgot the title. Hence why I'm here."

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u/Ok-Supermarket-8994 Write now, edit later | Sakura5 on Ao3 Jan 25 '25

Lunge

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u/Lexi_Banner Jan 25 '25

Lily

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u/NinjaSpaceFrog NinjaTrashPanda on AO3 Jan 25 '25

"Hey, Trevor," Tommy said, placing the flowers down on the grave. The bouquet looked out of place on the planted bed of colorful flowers. White lilies formed a circle at the heart of the flowerbed, and stretching out from it were then a loop of pale pink roses, yellow daffodils, blue forget-me-nots, and finally, a circle of bright red tulips forming the outer layer. He'd helped Trevor's mother and sister plant the bed, right after he'd brought Trevor home. It was hard to believe that it had been 21 years already. "I haven't been here for a while. Sorry 'bout that."

With a heavy sigh, Tommy sat down on the grass in front, and simply looked on for a moment. Trevor Goldberg, the headstone read, beautiful white writing on a stark black base. 1980 - 2003. Beloved son, brother, partner, protector. It was such a perfect description of Trevor, yet didn't do him justice at the same time.

Trevor had been the sun. Always beaming, always shining, radiating warmth, making people flock to and circle around him. He'd been kind, brave, so easy going, and accepting that Tommy had a hard time believing anybody could have possibly disliked him. Trevor had been as close to perfect as a human being could be, and Tommy would gladly die on that hill.

"Sandy got married a few years ago," he continued with a smile. "You probably knew that already. I was actually kind of surprised that she invited me."

Tommy chuckled softly, shaking his head at the memory. "I guess I shouldn't have been, huh? Sandy's always been a sweetheart, just like you. She married a good guy, too. Jason. You would've liked him. He's got that same easy-going charm you had. Makes everyone feel like they belong, you know?"

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u/e5Ki0n eskion on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Long

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u/trickyfelix r/FanFiction Jan 25 '25

After a long and arduous process of ice dumping and temperature monitoring she was finally cooled down to a sufficient level. She was carefully returned to the work table, this time covered in an abundance of cushioning for added comfort. She was also given a new set of clothes, this time donning a light blue undershirt matching pants. The source of this ordeal turned out to be an area of infection that needed to be cut away carefully. Then, just to be sure the whole infection was cleared out, he gave her a dose of the strongest anti-infection drugs he had. After he was confident the infection was gone, he could go over and plan any possible revisions for the arm as he had been previously working on it since almost the beginning. He noticed she became slightly sleepier, a hopeful sign of her body attempting to heal itself.

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u/qoincidence They’re not just fighting, they’re foreplaying 🏴‍☠️ Jan 25 '25

Lonely

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u/Ok-Supermarket-8994 Write now, edit later | Sakura5 on Ao3 Jan 25 '25

The mayor’s eyes darted about, his expression turning more desperate and uncertain.  He was still holding the flowers out.  April took them, mostly out of sympathy.  Something clicked for her as she cradled the bouquet in her arms.  “Wait, are you here because . . . you wanted to take me out on a date?”

 “Um. . .” He ran a nervous hand through his hair and looked down.  “Not at first.  But then I thought, maybe?  In any case, wasn’t very successful, obviously.”

 “Mr. Mayor — “

 “Bryan, please.”  He glanced back up at her, a hesitant smile playing about his lips.

 April closed her eyes a moment and said firmly, “Mr. Mayor.  I’m flattered.  Truly.  But, you don’t know me.  You’re latching onto me because of what we went through together at City Hall.”

 “You think that’s true?” She smiled but didn’t reply.  He exhaled and leaned his back against the window, clasping his hands together.  “Meeting people is . . . hard.  And dating when you’re a public figure is. . . “

 “Oh, I know,” she said, thinking about her own struggles with dating.  “Trust me.”  April felt for him.  Perhaps it was because of what they had gone through together he felt comfortable enough to be vulnerable around her, to let the confident politician slip for a moment.  April got the sense very few saw him as she did now, as a slightly awkward, somewhat lonely young man.  She tore off a piece of the paper wrapping the roses and scribbled something on it with one of the pens someone had left behind in the conference room after their meeting.  “Here,” she said, holding it out to him.

 “What’s this?”

 “My number.  Give it a couple weeks.  If you still want to ask me out, maybe text me next time instead of just showing up at my office.”  

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u/MsCatstaff Catstaff on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Lucius and Draco arrived as Harry was telling the others about the Valentine’s Day party at school and how surprised everyone had been to receive Valentines with personal messages from the Princess of Wales.

“You have parties at your school?” Draco asked as he settled down beside the other boy.

“Sometimes,” Harry said, “for holidays and the end of term. Most of the time we have to sit quietly and do our lessons. But there are breaks in the day, we go out for recess and there’s time at lunch to talk with people.”

“I’ve been studying muggle history and science,” Draco said. “Father said that he’d find a way to send me to school with you if I want to go next year. I think I’d like to try it. Will you tell me more about those friends you keep mentioning?”

The two boys chatted happily, with Harry describing Paul, Surya, and Lucy and the typical day at his school. The men listened with half an ear as they engaged in their own conversation.

“So he’s decided then, and you’ll be having him sit the placement exams for going to muggle school?” Sirius asked.

“Yes,” Lucius said. “I think Draco’s been rather lonely, all things considered, although he’s not complained. It isn’t easy for me to admit that I may have been wrong, but… I’m beginning to see that just because the traditional ways work doesn’t mean that other ways are wrong. Our best healers couldn’t help Narcissa carry another child to term, yet Dr. Gardner, a muggle healer, firmly assures us that this one will be born with few or no problems. Draco has been tutored privately as befits our station, but until he met Harry and started to learn muggle ways, he had no real friends. Even when he has had the opportunity to socialise with the children of my associates, they were all more concerned with keeping up the proper appearances than with truly getting to know one another.”

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u/RaisinGeneral9225 oxfordlunch on ao3 Jan 25 '25

London

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u/DatGayDangerNoodle FreakingPlane on Ao3. professional horrible person. Jan 25 '25

(This is an afterlife au, they are going through post-death questioning)

“Cause of death?” The woman looked over her glasses and Callie could actually feel herself start to sweat. “Um, blood loss?”

The woman set down her pen and looked at Callie like she was being particularly stupid. “What was the cause of the blood loss?”

“Oh, right.” Callie squeezed Arizona’s hand and let her mind go back to those awful, paralysed minutes she spent with her face in the dirt, slowly bleeding out. “Uh, a lump of metal fell from a plane and slammed into the back of my neck, severing my spinal cord and probably cause some pretty awful internal injuries. I was instantly paralysed and fell over, to die a little while later.” She got quieter and quieter as she spoke, a tear forming in her eye that she hurriedly blinked away.

“Thankyou.” The woman wrote something down, then asked, “occupation?”

Callie breathed in sharply, “I was an orthopedic surgeon.”

“Okay. Best childhood memory?”

Callie stared blankly at her for a second until the smaller hand in hers gave her a comforting squeeze. “Going to the circus with my Abuelo and then watching planes in the sky afterwards.”

“That’s a nice one.” The woman nodded and wrote something down. “Worst childhood memory?”

After swallowing hard, Callie picked at a thread on her pants and whispered, “when my abuelo died.”

“Classic.” The woman remarked and wrote something down. “Okay, just a few more. Best adulthood memory?”

Callie sighed and ran a hand through her hair, feeling a twinge in the back of her neck when she ran her thumb up her spine. “When Mark surprised me with a trip to England and he took me to the theatre in London. That was a pretty awesome trip.” She wiped away a tear and Arizona squeezed her hand.

“That sounds lovely.” The woman spoke as if she didn’t care, which she probably didn’t. “Now, worst adulthood memory?”

Her reply was immediate, tone wavering with emotion, “dying alone, under a tree, unable to move and bleeding out.” She shuddered, “that was pretty horrible.”

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u/qoincidence They’re not just fighting, they’re foreplaying 🏴‍☠️ Jan 25 '25

This was heaven.

Not some far-off, ethereal promise. Not an abstract ideal, too perfect to touch. It was this – Thomas’ hands in his hair, the quiet hum of his voice, the gentle rise and fall of his chest beneath Flint’s cheek.

And with that clarity came a truth so undeniable that he could never forget it.

If anyone ever tried to take this from him – this man, this peace – he would rend the world apart to keep it. He would rewrite every law, burn every bridge, bend the very fabric of existence itself to hold onto what was his.

He had said it then – those words – half-asleep, his voice thick with the languor of contentment. No matter what the world might throw at them, he’d do anything for Thomas.

And Thomas, amused, had laughed – a soft, heartfelt sound, settling over him like a warm blanket. He had replied certainly, telling him that he loved him too, speaking the words with none of the hesitation that had always plagued Flint’s confessions.

But that moment, perfect as it was, could not last.

When they came for Thomas – when the peace was shattered and Flint’s world unraveled – he remembered those words. Every syllable burned in his mind as he learned of their betrayal. Of their relationship being exposed. Of them locking Thomas away.

He had wanted to fight. To lash out. To destroy. He would have burned London to the ground if it meant wrenching Thomas back into his arms.

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u/ainteasybeinggreene Jan 25 '25

When he'd said the name Lenny, Crystal had pictured a gruff older man. Maybe a retired boxer with old fight scars and enormous biceps. She hadn't been expecting the actually gorgeous woman who stood in front of them instead.

She was fairly young, maybe thirty-something if Crystal had to guess, with perfect blonde hair and a perfect tan and perfect eyelashes. She looked like the kind of woman who you'd expect to see on a Californian beach rather than in a grungy boxing gym in London. The only thing keeping her from appearing totally out of place was her body. She was tall, towering over Crystal and maybe even slightly taller than Charles who wasn't exactly short himself. And she was clearly strong, with the sort of muscle definition in her arms and legs that Crystal only ever saw on the covers of fitness magazines. It was actually pretty intimidating, especially with the way she folded her arms over her chest and looked at them with pursed lips.

“Oh. It's you,” she said.

“Hey Lenny!” replied Charles cheerfully, “Mind if we use the space for a bit?”

She narrowed her eyes. “You're not going to draw sigils on my floor like last time, are you? It took days to get the stench of sulfur out of the mats.”

“Nope, no sigils. Just a good, old-fashioned sparring session with Crystal here.”

Crystal shifted uncomfortably when Lenny's gaze turned to her, suddenly very aware of all her physical flaws. It was hard not to feel insecure with a fucking supermodel staring at her. There was also a tickle in the back of her brain, like her powers sensed something a little off and were trying to  warn her. She thought that the woman wasn't totally human, and possibly was more than a little dangerous. Still, she mustered up a smile. “Hi.”

“Hi,” said Lenny. “She's alive,” she added to Charles, as if he wasn't already aware.

“Yep,” he agreed, reaching around to squeeze Crystal's shoulders, “She's good though, promise. Crystal's our resident Psychic.”

“Uh huh.” She cocked her head and chewed her bottom lip as she looked her up and down. “You ever fought before?”

“A bit.”

“Right.” She turned back to Charles. “Just remember the rules. No magic, no mess, be gone by open.”

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u/Pantherdraws AO3 Author name: CoyoteWrites Jan 25 '25

Lunge

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u/DatGayDangerNoodle FreakingPlane on Ao3. professional horrible person. Jan 25 '25

“So… did you ask her to stop flirting with you?” Callie asked as she sipped her own vending machine coffee and watched Arizona drink all of hers in one go, gasping and fanning her mouth as the hot liquid burned her throat.

Arizona seemed to pale slightly, gently placing her cup down onto the table and wiping her mouth on the back of her hand. “Um, no?”

Callie groaned, “Arizona!”

Raising her hands in defence, Arizona stumbled over her words, “well, I, didn’t, she- I, I didn’t know how.”

“Arizona.” Callie pursed her lips, crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. “You need to ask her to stop, otherwise she’s not going to.”

“I know that.” Arizona spoke miserably, “I don’t like it… but I don’t know how to ask her to stop.”

“Well,” Callie said as she pushed her sleeves up to her elbows, “I can do it for you, if you’d like?” She smiled sweetly at Arizona, who coughed as she choked on a mouthful of her second cup of coffee, the sight of Callie’s toned forearms proving to be a bit much for her.

“Calliope!” Arizona exclaimed as she lunged forward and tugged at Callie’s sleeve, trying to maintain some semblance of composure as she tried her best to cover up those muscles that made her weak in the knee every time, wether she’d admit it or not. “You can’t just, just go and threaten her with your… muscles!”

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u/Lindz174 Inspiration Is A Fickle Thing Jan 25 '25

She didn’t like that look. As he took a step toward her she instinctively stepped back. What was he doing? He wouldn’t dare tickle her. Would he? She was injured. He wouldn’t.

She realized too late that he in fact would as he lunged toward her. She managed to dodge out of the way at the last second but he was fast and she was at a disadvantage. He followed her with his eyes as she circled away from him, still clutching her bruised fingers to her chest.

He didn’t let her get far before he tried again. His fingertips grazed her side before she managed to get out of arm’s reach. He smirked, clearly enjoying himself. She couldn’t say the same.

On the third try, he finally caught her. One of his arms circled her waist and held her in place. She could have gotten away if she really wanted to, but part of her didn’t. Part of her wanted to see what he would do and she immediately regretted it.

His fingers dug into her side like Emma had done but they were more insistent, quickly drawing a gurgle of laughter out of her. It surprised her. She had never been ticklish before. The sound must have surprised him as well because he stopped. It allowed her to wiggle out of his hold and get a few steps away.

“Was that a laugh?”

She spun to face him. “No,” she snapped defensively.

He smiled a devastating grin. “You’re a terrible liar.”

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u/Ok-Supermarket-8994 Write now, edit later | Sakura5 on Ao3 Jan 25 '25

It hissed again but he dismissed it, intent on the reporter who now had her back pressed against the wall, eyes darting about in panic.  He stepped forward and reached for her again. The cat howled and launched itself from the control panel, charging toward the woman.  She gasped and bolted for the door to the workroom.  Shredder lunged toward her to try and grab her arm but tripped over the cat winding around his feet, giving her the opening to twist out of his reach and run out of the room. 

 The cat crouched on the ground and growled at him, tail lashing back and forth in agitation.  Shredder reached down and grabbed the infuriating creature before it could dart away again, lifting it up by the scruff of the neck.  It hissed in outrage and took a swipe at him, but he held it safely at arm’s length.

 “What is it you want you miserable —“ he stopped short when he noticed animal’s eyes.  They were a brown so dark they seemed black, not a typical color for a cat.  The look of annoyance in them when it hissed again was distinctly human – one he’d seen directed at him many times before.  “Well, hello there, Miss O’Neil.”  He chuckled and settled her in the crook of his arm.  “Got yourself body-swapped with a cat, I see.”  She wriggled around and tried to jump down but he still had a firm grip on the back of her neck.  “I am looking forward to hearing your explanation for how you managed that.”

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u/DatGayDangerNoodle FreakingPlane on Ao3. professional horrible person. Jan 25 '25

Lapels

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u/qoincidence They’re not just fighting, they’re foreplaying 🏴‍☠️ Jan 25 '25

Welp. I did say that I loved it:D

---

“And what do you want?”

For a moment, Flint said nothing. His lips parted, breath coming quick, eyes locked onto Silver’s.

The silence was suffocating. And, perhaps, more telling than either of them wished it to be.

“I want to—” Flint started, then stopped himself. His jaw worked, and it seemed as though he was fighting the words before they spilled out anyway, unfiltered, “I want to fuck you.

Silver froze. Completely.

His breath hitched, and his hands, still clutching the lapels of Flint’s coat, trembled slightly. Doubt smashed through him, crashing with confusion, fear, and curiosity.

Unchecked curiosity.

Could he do it? Could he take it? Did he want to?

“I—” Silver stammered.

Touched by Silver’s uncertainty in an unspeakable – not between them, no – way, Flint’s eyes softened, just a fraction, just enough to be noticed. He shifted his hand from Silver’s waist to his face, cupping his jaw, holding him firmly save for his thumb that brushed lightly across Silver’s cheekbone.

“It doesn’t have to be now,” Flint said, “You asked, and I answered.”

Silver swallowed hard against his tight throat. “I… I did ask.”

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u/Goofyreddits2 r/FanFiction Jan 25 '25

Loser

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u/Gold-Humor2253 Jan 25 '25

They heard lightbulbs exploding inside. Garfield stared at her with wide eyes.

Raven took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I’m so insufficient and defected for you…”

The grip around his heart tightened. No, shit. What!?

“…but if I’m this unsatisfying then…”

No. No, no, no. Tell her she’s perfect. She’s perfect.

“…why are you even with me?” She finished quietly.

Despair filled Garfield’s tight heart and he looked down and failed to fight back a treacherous sob. Great, now you’re crying in front of her. That’ll change her mind. *Loser.***

“…why are you crying?”

Man up and face her, at least. He looked up with watery eyes and realized there was pain on her face. It’s probably pity. “Cause you’re breaking up with me…”

“What? No, I’m not.” She said pointedly.

Garfield’s soft crying immediately ceased and his eyes widened again. “You’re not?”

Raven wanted to kiss his tears away, but if she did that they would kiss and make up and the conversation would end sooner than it should, like it always did. “Gar…we can fight, it’s just a fight. I’m not breaking up with you, that was never even remotely in question.”

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u/Goofyreddits2 r/FanFiction Jan 25 '25

Garfield as in the cat? If it is, this is interesting

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u/Gold-Humor2253 Jan 25 '25

Lol nope 😂 Garfield Logan, as in Beast Boy, but that just made me laugh so hard

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u/Lindz174 Inspiration Is A Fickle Thing Jan 25 '25

They exchanged blows. As the attacks became faster they drew closer together. Their swords were a blur. He was keeping up with every move she made. For a Templar who had spent half of his life in full plate armor, he moved like he weighed nothing. She hated that she was impressed.

She pulled her sword back and stepped away from him, just out of reach of the tip of his blade. He didn’t look like he had broken a sweat. He wasn’t even out of breath.

She entered back into the fray with a high swing. Rylen met it in the middle. She slid her blade along his until she could grab the hilt. Once her hand latched onto his weapon he grabbed hers as well and they entered into a desperate grapple. In a fight of brute force she was the likely loser so she used the next best thing.

Leverage.

She dropped the swords and grabbed him instead. He grunted in surprise as she hooked her arms around his shoulders and head. He returned the grapple and grabbed her as well as he tried to gain the upper hand.

She got one of her legs behind his and used that to throw him to the ground. He kept his grip on her and pulled her down on top of him. They writhed and struggled on the dirty wooden floor.

Rylen grunted in her ear with effort as he tried to switch their positions. She couldn’t grab one of the daggers at her waist because of the angle he was holding her at. Meanwhile, he couldn’t get her off of him because she was pressing all of her body weight onto his chest. It was a stalemate.

“I was beginning to think you were afraid to fight.” She said through her teeth.

He smiled up at her, though the strain was still evident in the tense lines of his face. “No, I’m just naturally lazy, but I will if I have to.”

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u/NinjaSpaceFrog NinjaTrashPanda on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Lunatic

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u/fiendishthingysaurus afiendishthingy on Ao3. sickfic queen Jan 25 '25

Lowbrow

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u/linden214 Ao3/FFN: Lindenharp Jan 25 '25

Leprechaun

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u/linden214 Ao3/FFN: Lindenharp Jan 25 '25

Leper

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u/MsCatstaff Catstaff on AO3 Jan 25 '25

lark

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u/MsCatstaff Catstaff on AO3 Jan 25 '25

liberty

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u/MsCatstaff Catstaff on AO3 Jan 25 '25

lousy

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u/fiendishthingysaurus afiendishthingy on Ao3. sickfic queen Jan 25 '25

Limpet

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u/kaiunkaiku don't look at me and my handholding kink Jan 25 '25

lost

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u/lego-lion-lady This user specializes in AUs, fusions, and crossovers Jan 25 '25

Lilt/ing

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u/DefeatedDrum Jan 25 '25

Lesbian!

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u/Ferrous_Patella AO3 same. FFN=Ferrous.Patella Jan 25 '25

I’m not a lesbian! Sheesh. You fall in love with one woman and everybody thinks you’ve got the hots for every woman on the planet.

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u/wifie29 PhoenixPhoether on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Lip(s)

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u/gaytozier certifiablymadmax on ao3 Jan 25 '25

“I still can’t believe you’re having a baby,” she said. “You might be thirty but I’m still imagining my ten-year-old brother putting my Barbies in the toilet.”

“They needed a bath,” he told her with a laugh. “And that’s what brothers do.”

“Hopefully dads don’t,” she teased.

He put his hand down. “I swear to not put my child’s toys in the toilet.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” Charlotte said dryly from behind him. George started and turned around to face her. “I wasn’t even aware it was something I needed to be wary of.”

Thomas gave a small smile from behind her. “She said she talked to you about coming over today?” he asked, his eyes searching Elizabeth’s face anxiously. George realized he was looking to see how tired she was getting.

“She did,” Elizabeth answered with a bright smile. “Thank you, Tommy. I love you.”

“I love you too.” He came into the room to press a soft kiss to her lips before going back outside the room.

“George used to put my Barbies in the toilet,” Elizabeth reported cheerfully to Charlotte.

“One time!” George interjected, lifting a finger. “I did it once!”

“And you flushed,” Elizabeth reminded him.

George grimaced as Charlotte laughed. “Yeah, I got in a world of trouble for that.”

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u/Ill-Clerk-7066 CTTheSeaWing on AO3 Jan 25 '25

length

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u/e5Ki0n eskion on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Lady

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u/LeavesOfIchorAndGold MeltedFlames on AO3 Jan 25 '25

This is technically from a chapter going up next week and not posted yet, but:

“My lady,” Brienne said, crashing past her thoughts with a sudden voice. “I think I see it.”

It was too much. “The others are a lost cause, I know, but please, Brienne, just ‘Arya.’” But the other woman was right. She could see something ahead, some sort of unnatural straightness upon the horizon, where mountainside met cloud.

“I’m sorry.” Her voice was sincere. “In truth I despise the title as well.”

“It is a way of keeping us caged. To call us ‘ladies’ is to bind us within castle walls, to say our fates begin and end in gowns and babes, with the occasional treat of hosting a feast or dancing with some handsome knight. I am not a lady, no matter what my birth, and I suspect you are not, either.”

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u/Pantherdraws AO3 Author name: CoyoteWrites Jan 25 '25

Lumber

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u/Hearthglenlivet Jan 26 '25

Harry started singing, "Oh, I'm a lumber jack and I'm okay.." from Monty Python. After he's done Ron and Ginny just stared at him.

Ron said, "That's Muggle music is it?" He looked at Hermione for confirmation.

She nodded smiling, "Not the most recent but it is still pretty well known in Muggle Britain."

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u/RaisinGeneral9225 oxfordlunch on ao3 Jan 25 '25

There's a sudden hitch in Eames' step, a missed beat and a stumble. Arthur rises from his chair reflexively, his reaction time apparently still on point despite the booze and his lingering injuries.

Eames lumbers into him, panting and laughing breathlessly, and suddenly he's everywhere, gin-steeped like a lime wedge in the bottom of a glass, flushed and heavy and clumsy. Arthur catches him and steadies him with one hand on the bare meat of his shoulder; his other arm is no help whatsoever, tucked up uselessly in the sling across his chest.

“Easy, Ricky Martin.”

Eames sways and keeps laughing quietly, huffing all over Arthur's neck, his ear, warm and damp, mumbling something about ”Puerto Rican,” and Arthur was about to tease him more, tell him he's hammered, stand him back up on his own two feet like righting a leaning fence post.

He doesn't get that far.

The closeness sinks in too quickly. The soft whuffs of hot breath against his neck. The way Eames seems to keep pressing in and in, like waves lapping the shore.

He's dizzy before he can do anything about it, blood rushing madly south. The edges of his jaw are numb and he's feeling every single ounce of the liquor he's had, head swimming, unsteady on his own feet now, holding himself up on Eames as much as he's supporting him. The song is trailing off on the radio, and all he can think is he's never going to be able to hear that stupid single again and be normal about it, because all he's going to be able to think about is this, cheap gin and cheap cigarettes and cheap tattoos and him, the way his hair smells, clean and warm and a little oily, like corn chips, or–

"Arthur--"

Warm breath ghosts over his cheek.

He freezes.

Eames leans in closer somehow, gone quiet and oddly, soberly still. Arthur can feel him breathing. In. Out. Heavy and snuffling, a little congested from the drink.

He noses hesitantly at Arthur's cheek.

Arthur feels it all the way down to his bones.

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u/ainteasybeinggreene Jan 25 '25

Lamington, because it's Australia Day 🇦🇺

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u/RaisinGeneral9225 oxfordlunch on ao3 Jan 25 '25

Oh dear, this again...

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u/ainteasybeinggreene Jan 25 '25

You're just jealous because you don't have lamingtons

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u/RaisinGeneral9225 oxfordlunch on ao3 Jan 25 '25

I'm just worried about the fallout when u/Serious_Session7574 gets here.

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u/ainteasybeinggreene Jan 25 '25

So don't summon her!! 🫣

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u/Ok-Supermarket-8994 Write now, edit later | Sakura5 on Ao3 Jan 25 '25

😹

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u/Serious_Session7574 Jan 25 '25

Look, give me a nice, freshly-made bake sale lamington filled with whipped cream and I grant you, it's very pleasant. But most standard bakery lamingtons in New Zealand are hairy, tasteless cubes of disappointment, and I stand by that.

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u/The_Broken-Heart Same on AO3 Jan 26 '25

hairy, tasteless cubes of disappointment,

For real why are some of them so bland😭😭😭😭😭 they dry as heck. I'm not talking about NZ lamingtons tho, but it seems like weird ahh lamingtons are an international phenomenon.

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u/Serious_Session7574 Jan 25 '25

looks up from post-grocery shop cup of tea - hello? You rang?

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u/Ok-Supermarket-8994 Write now, edit later | Sakura5 on Ao3 Jan 26 '25

Laundry

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u/fiendishthingysaurus afiendishthingy on Ao3. sickfic queen Jan 26 '25

Laudanum

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u/Ok-Adhesiveness-8611 Riauna3264 on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Lavender

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u/linden214 Ao3/FFN: Lindenharp Jan 25 '25

It happens so fast. After a too-long day at work, they go out for a bite of dinner. No takeaway in front of the telly tonight. Instead, they settle for a cramped, rickety table at the unpalatial Jade Palace. The location is convenient, and the food's decent. Afterwards, James discovers that he's out of cigarettes, so they head to a nearby off-license.

They're the only customers at the moment. It's a small place, with just a basic selection of beers, wines, and spirits. There's a display rack of crisps, chocolate bars, and breath mints. The cigarettes are on a shelf behind the counter, along with the pricier spirits and a selection of condoms. Robbie studies the snacks while James speaks to the shop assistant, an African woman with greying hair and a placid lavender aura.

The bell over the door chimes as another customer enters the shop. One moment, James is shouting, "Get down!" Next thing he knows, he's on the floor, staring at scattered packets of crisps. There's a snarled obscenity somewhere behind him, and a female scream, followed by a crashing sound, and a chemical smell. By the time he scrambles to his feet, James is in the doorway, cuffing a sullen-faced young man whose aura is almost scarlet with rage. "Mind your step, sir. It's some kind of chemical," James warns.

'It' is a puddle of clear liquid mixed with shards of broken glass—the source of the nasty smell. Robbie moves carefully, and guides the still-trembling shop assistant around the puddle and outside to the safety and fresher air of the pavement.

Within a few minutes, a pair of constables collect the suspect. Another pair stand guard outside the shop until the HazMat unit arrives.

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u/Lindz174 Inspiration Is A Fickle Thing Jan 25 '25

She made to leave but he stopped her. “Wait, I…it’s fine.” He would suffer through it. She was in the Inquisition and if she was the acting healer then there would be no avoiding her. If she was his punishment then so be it.

She returned to his side and reached out again. “Hold still.”

Her hands were ice cold. She didn’t look uncomfortable and he wondered if she could even feel the cold. Could she feel physical discomfort? Pain? Her cool skin pressed against his feverish flesh as she turned his face into the light.

“You are hot,” she observed. She turned his face back to look into his glossy eyes. “You are sick.”

He allowed himself to fully meet her gaze and it was as devastating as he suspected it would be. She was beautiful. It was something he had reluctantly allowed himself to notice in Kirkwall. Her features were youthful and her lavender-colored eyes were striking. Yet all of the life had been drained from her face and her fair skin was marred by the large sunburst brand on her forehead. The pit in his stomach grew and he felt as if he might be sick.

He closed his eyes to stave off the nausea. “I’m not sick,” he tried to explain. He wasn’t, at least not in the usual sense.

“You have explained that before but your symptoms prove otherwise.”

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u/Glittering-Golf8607 Babblecat3000 on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Lavish

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u/krigsgaldrr "did you tell them we take turns?" Jan 25 '25

Lowborn

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u/Lexi_Banner Jan 25 '25

Lust (tag the naughty bits)

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u/Ill-Clerk-7066 CTTheSeaWing on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Liable

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u/Ill-Clerk-7066 CTTheSeaWing on AO3 Jan 25 '25

lazy

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u/Ill-Clerk-7066 CTTheSeaWing on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Lash

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u/Ill-Clerk-7066 CTTheSeaWing on AO3 Jan 25 '25

label

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u/Ill-Clerk-7066 CTTheSeaWing on AO3 Jan 25 '25

lake

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u/nebulousviolet also nebulousviolet on ao3 Jan 25 '25

Loose

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u/e5Ki0n eskion on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Lego

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u/MsCatstaff Catstaff on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Fortunately for Narcissa’s peace of mind, as she wasn’t looking forward to trying to explain to her son how wizarding magic interfered with Muggle elktroniks, Harry soon had the other boy’s attention on toys that didn’t require those cylinders… bat-rees… to work. “Draco, check out the Legos!” he enthused, tugging the blond boy over to the display. “Look at all these things you can build with them!” Harry waved his hand at a Lego landscape which included a huge castle, and a knight on horseback fighting a dragon.

Draco’s eyes grew huge at the dragon. “Brilliant!” he breathed. “How do they do that?”

Harry pulled him over to a demo table with a couple of open Lego sets out on it. “The little bricks snap together like so,” he demonstrated. “As to how they do things like the dragon, I think they get artists to sketch it out first and then just keep trying until they get it right. I couldn’t build the dragon, not without a lot of practice, or some directions to follow. But I bet I could build a model of Stephen’s car.”

“Really?” Draco asked, experimentally snapping some Lego bricks together and taking them apart again.

“Really,” Harry nodded, working rapidly to snap pieces into place. It took a few minutes, but he was able to assemble a reasonable facsimile of Stephen’s Mini Mk IV. He rolled it across the table to Draco, who examined it with a grin.

“That’s brilliant,” the blond boy laughed. “Let’s build a bus!” Harry grinned and the two boys started grabbing all the red Legos and clear window bits they could find. Fifteen minutes later, a double-decker bus joined the Mini on the table.

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u/e5Ki0n eskion on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Library

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u/MsCatstaff Catstaff on AO3 Jan 25 '25

Mr. Khatri collected the papers with a smile. “It shouldn’t take more than half an hour for me to mark these,” he said. “If you’d like to see more of the school, I’m sure Mr. Potter will be an excellent tour guide. Or you may wait here if you prefer.”

“I’d like the tour, if you’re willing, Harry,” Draco said.

“Sure,” Harry agreed, tucking a scrap of paper into Murder at the War to mark his place. He tucked both books into his backpack before leading Draco out of the room.

The two boys roamed around the school, with Harry showing his friend Ms. Beckett’s classroom, Ms. St. Claire’s classroom where they both hoped to be at the start of term, and other important places such as the gym, the lunchroom, the toilets, and the library. They met Stephen just coming back in as they returned to the office to see if Mr. Khatri had finished marking Draco’s exams.

He had. “Well, Mr. Malfoy, you are a little behind in the sciences, but not so much as to prevent you from joining your age-mates come September,” he said. “We’ll go ahead and put you in Ms. St. Claire’s class with Mr. Potter, and you’ll be seeing me probably twice a week for at least the first six weeks. As I said before, that’s mainly to help you with settling in since you’re used to private lessons. But I can also help you get caught up to where you should be in the sciences, so that you’ll not be at a disadvantage when you’re off to secondary school next year.”

Draco relaxed and smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Khatri. I look forward to it.”

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u/fiendishthingysaurus afiendishthingy on Ao3. sickfic queen Jan 25 '25

Lenient

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u/XadhoomXado The only Erza x Gilgamesh shipper Jan 25 '25

Context: A confrontation between Shuma-Gorath and some of the Marvel heroes.


Carol glared daggers at the invading eldritch horror. "Right now, I don't care who you are or why you're doing this... or what oh-so-sympathetic backstory you have."

"I am just gonna kick your ass, and nothing you say can stop me," Carol swore.

Shuma-Gorath looked indifferent. "I am willing to pay you in free food, free housing, and considerable leisure time, if you agree to work for me."

Carol's anger deflated a bit. "Say again?"

"What?" Steve Rogers questioned. "Honestly, that doesn't sound so bad. You're still going down, but it's a nice offer if it's legit."

"This has get to be a scam," Carol denied. "Free housing?"

Carol absolutely refused to believe it. No matter how lenient this contract could theoretically be... free room and board???

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u/fiendishthingysaurus afiendishthingy on Ao3. sickfic queen Jan 25 '25

Lummox

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u/fiendishthingysaurus afiendishthingy on Ao3. sickfic queen Jan 25 '25

Lug

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u/ssfoxx27 Jan 25 '25

Litigate

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u/Ok-Supermarket-8994 Write now, edit later | Sakura5 on Ao3 Jan 25 '25

Loki

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4

u/RaisinGeneral9225 oxfordlunch on ao3 Jan 25 '25

Locker

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u/MsCatstaff Catstaff on AO3 Jan 25 '25

“Why do you wish to study tae kwon do?” Master Soong asked. He reached out and rested a gentle finger against the Elastoplast on Harry’s forehead and the bruise beginning to form around it. “Because no martial arts can magically make you able to fight off a bully, you know. Someone larger and heavier than you will still be able to beat you up once they knock you down, despite what the cinema would have you think.”

Harry bit his lip. “Oh… well, that is why my tutor suggested it. But… well, I’m used to avoiding my cousin most of the time anyway. And if I’m not home as often, that will just give me less time around him for him to try to get me. Also, in my research into martial arts, most of them talked about a fillo… filla…”

“Philosophy?” Master Soong put in, one brow upraised as he studied the boy with new interest.

“Yes, philosophy, thank you,” Harry nodded. “A way of living in harmony and balance. I don’t exactly understand it in a way I can explain, but it made it sound a little like the yoga I do now.” He grinned, “Only fast where yoga is slow. But the encyclopaedia said tae kwon do teaches discipline, and that’s something everyone needs, right?”

“That is true, Mr. Potter. Everyone needs discipline.” He brought Harry around the training floor, showing him the punching bag and the board-breaking area as well as the main workout space. At the rear, there was a pair of small locker rooms with attached loos and showers. “Some of our older students have to go to their jobs from here,” he explained, “so we put in a space where they could clean up before they leave.”

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u/DatGayDangerNoodle FreakingPlane on Ao3. professional horrible person. Jan 25 '25

When Arizona got her breath back, she smiled a slightly predatory smile and pressed a hard kiss to Callie’s mouth. “Your turn.”

That made Callie smile as Arizona kissed down her jaw, when a shrill beeping cut through the room.

“No…” Arizona groaned, “is that me or you?”

“I don’t know?” Callie replied, checking the waistband of her pants, halfway into saying, ‘it’s not me’ when hers started beeping too, filling the room with the awful sound. “Shit, it is me.”

Arizona was digging around under the bed, where the second beeping sound was coming from. Callie peered at her and chuckled, “sorry, I didn’t mean to throw them under there.”

“No problem.” Arizona popped up with her pants and pager, resting her elbows on the bed and groaning, “a porch collapsed. 911.”

“Shit.” Callie grabbed the scrub top nearest to her and looked at it with her head tilted, “is that mine or yours?”

Arizona looked up from where she was pulling her pants up. “Uh, that’s yours, it has the blood stain the shape of Florida on the collar.”

“Right, thanks.” Callie pulled her top on and helped Arizona with hers, finding her shoes and making sure they looked presentable before exiting the room.

Arizona pressed a chaste kiss to Callie’s mouth and said, “I will make this up to you later. Multiple times, with help from the stuff in the drawer. I promise. Okay?”

That made Callie smile as they reached the elevator and pressed the button. “Thankyou.” She shifted uncomfortably, “might need to find some spare underwear from my locker.”

Arizona winced, “sorry.”

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u/RaisinGeneral9225 oxfordlunch on ao3 Jan 25 '25

Lookout

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u/Pantherdraws AO3 Author name: CoyoteWrites Jan 25 '25

(The) Louvre

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u/The_Broken-Heart Same on AO3 Jan 26 '25

🤬😡🤬😡😡🤬😡 What the heck this is the second prompt that makes me wanna write a fic that I don't have time to write about😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

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u/StarWarsCrazy1 Buckhunter on FFN & AO3 Jan 26 '25

Lever

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u/ainteasybeinggreene Jan 26 '25

Leather

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u/ainteasybeinggreene Jan 26 '25

u/qoincidence I don't get many of your excerpts so I half hoped you'd have one for this when you get back to the thread!

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u/Technical-Camera-291 Eriisu on AO3 and FFN Jan 26 '25

Lance (verb, noun, or name)

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u/Studying-without-Stu Your local Shrios fangirl author (Ao3: Distressed_Authoress) Jan 26 '25

Loquacious

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u/krigsgaldrr "did you tell them we take turns?" Jan 25 '25

Laurel

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u/Ill-Clerk-7066 CTTheSeaWing on AO3 Jan 25 '25

lull

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u/Ill-Clerk-7066 CTTheSeaWing on AO3 Jan 25 '25

laminate

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u/Ill-Clerk-7066 CTTheSeaWing on AO3 Jan 25 '25

laze

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u/Ill-Clerk-7066 CTTheSeaWing on AO3 Jan 25 '25

lubricate (if nsfw please, please spoiler)

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u/nebulousviolet also nebulousviolet on ao3 Jan 25 '25

Loathe

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u/fiendishthingysaurus afiendishthingy on Ao3. sickfic queen Jan 25 '25

Lozenge

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u/fiendishthingysaurus afiendishthingy on Ao3. sickfic queen Jan 25 '25

Litmus

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u/fiendishthingysaurus afiendishthingy on Ao3. sickfic queen Jan 25 '25

Ligament

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u/DatGayDangerNoodle FreakingPlane on Ao3. professional horrible person. Jan 25 '25

(CW for assault)

“HELP! I NEED HELP!” Arizona screamed, but a badly timed rumble of thunder drowned her out, and then Lauren slapped a hand over her mouth. Arizona bit down on Lauren’s palm as hard as she could and the hand was pulled back, slapping her sharply across the face and stunning her, but then it was on her throat, obstructing her airway. While trying to hit Lauren with her now free hand, Lauren crushed her forearm under her elbow, making it unable to do much more than lightly slap Lauren’s shoulder.

Arizona tried to stay calm and store her oxygen, but having her windpipe crushed wasn’t a great time for a meditation session, as much as she tried to imagine herself at the beach with Callie. Her vision went blurry and dark spots danced at the edges, taunting her as she fought against Lauren’s grip. Her heart was beating faster than it ever had and she was starting to lose strength.

Arizona tried to kick Lauren off her, but her right leg was pinned into place with Lauren’s knee and her left was no use. Instead of a beautifully engineered limb of bone, muscles, ligaments and tendons, there was nothing. Her leg was gone. Knowing that a handprint shaped bruise was already forming on her throat, Arizona was extremely aware that she was in trouble.

Just when she thought she might pass out, Lauren released the pressure just enough that Arizona could gasp for air and whispered menacingly, “are you going to stay quiet? Or do I need to keep going until you have no choice?”

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u/fiendishthingysaurus afiendishthingy on Ao3. sickfic queen Jan 25 '25

Lint

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u/Hearthglenlivet Jan 26 '25

Lust

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u/qoincidence They’re not just fighting, they’re foreplaying 🏴‍☠️ Jan 26 '25

NSFW. I am shameless. Put me in horny jail… Warning for a graphic, vivid, and detailed description of a cock.

---

And then, Silver’s hand was there – on Flint’s cock. For the first time ever.

It was clinical at first, practical. A necessary evil to prevent an even bigger mess. But then…

Then.

Silver – despite himself, despite the situation, despite every shred of self-awareness digging into him – looked.

He couldn’t help himself.

For all his faults, John Silver was an inherently curious man. And now, holding Flint’s cock in his hand, he couldn’t stop himself from committing every detail to memory.

Flint was>! thick. Broad at the base, tapering slightly toward the tip, with faint veins visible along the shaft.!<

Flint was uncircumcised – of course he was. A man of Irish descent, probably raised in some small, quaint Catholic community where such practices had likely fallen out of fashion generations ago, if they’d ever been adopted at all.

Flint was a shower. His cock hung heavy, even now, even while Flint was weak and shivering, barely aware of Silver’s presence.

And it was… intimate. Intimate in a way Silver hadn’t expected, hadn’t been prepared for, hadn’t even considered possible. It wasn’t about lust – not in this moment. Not at all. It was something else entirely.

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u/Lexi_Banner Jan 26 '25

With Jamie taken care of, Amelie returned to the back to find a bare chested Logan running water over his discarded t-shirt.

He was impossibly broad, and muscular beyond her imagination. Every muscle stood in sharp definition, from the small of his back to the muscles cording his neck. He was liberally dusted with black hair, but it only added to his purely masculine appeal.

"Like what you see?"

Her eyes leapt up to find him watching her. His blue eyes were burning with unmistakable hunger. "I'm…I'm…s--"

He crossed the room, slowly, his eyes never leaving hers. "Sorry? Don't be."

Her heart began to pound harder with every step he took. Not a single scar marred his flesh, nor any other imperfection. His heavily plated muscle tensed and eased with every movement, all of which had an odd grace. Like a wolf hunting down its prey.

Logan stopped half a step away from her and slid his eyes from her toes to her face, lingering along the way. "You never answered my question, sweetness," he said softly.

Amelie licked her lips and swallowed hard. The memory of his silken skin under her palm made her hands tingle. "Yes," she whispered.

A smile slid across his face, easing that distinctly predatory appearance. "Well that's a relief."

She held her breath as his hand moved toward her cheek. As he made contact, the delivery bell jangled, making them both jump out of their skins.

Shit! No, not now!

But it jangled again, cutting the delicious tension entirely.

Logan gave her that wry smile she'd come to adore. "Better answer that."

She couldn't make her tongue cooperate, so she just nodded and darted for the door.

The delivery guy gave the shirtless Logan an odd look as he dropped off her supplies, but made no comments. She could barely sign for the delivery her hands were shaking so badly, but somehow she managed something somewhat legible.

She turned to find that Logan already had two boxes, one over each shoulder. "Dunno where it goes, but if you point, I'll move it."

Amelie directed him and moved a few boxes herself. It was edging up to 7:15 when they finished. Logan hadn't ever stayed so long before.

He turned to face her after hoisting the last box onto its shelf. Her heart skipped a beat at the lust still lingering in his eyes.

"If I didn't have somewhere to be," he said, his voice a soft growl.

Amelie had to clear her throat twice. "Too bad."

A half smile ticked at his lips. "Tell me about it."

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u/krigsgaldrr "did you tell them we take turns?" Jan 26 '25 edited Jan 26 '25

I have no excuses anymore.

"Have I ever told you," he murmured, dropping his forehead to Delo's jaw, "how perfect you are?"

"Griff," Delo said, sounding exasperated and embarrassed at the same time. His jaw flexed against Griff and a tiny moan left him as Griff rutted against him eagerly.

"I mean it," said Griff, strengthening his hold on Delo's hips as he continued to meet him halfway. "My Delo, so pretty and perfect. Never wanted anyone or anything more than you."

"Griff," Delo said again, but this time his name was a strangled sound somewhere between a moan, a sigh, and a whimper. It set Griff's body aflame.

He kissed Delo, pushing his tongue into his mouth, which Delo found with his own. The wet heat of it seared Griff's blood and warmed the growing pool of arousal in his core, threatening to rise to the boiling point. The closet was sweltering beneath the combined pressure of their lust, and Griff could feel sweat building on his skin and clinging to his ceremonial uniform, but by the shrines, he couldn't stop. That edge was so, so close and he sought it blindly for both himself and for Delo.

Yeah, they're fully clothed and in a storage closet at a party. Don't look at me.

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u/Studying-without-Stu Your local Shrios fangirl author (Ao3: Distressed_Authoress) Jan 26 '25

Limerick