Flesh, Blood and Bone

Regarding BDSM fic and How it Should be Written

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:34:20 GMT

Dear women in fandom,

Don't tell other women what they can and can't write. Don't tell them how they can and can't express their kinks.

Please keep in mind that when we write fanfic, we are writing fiction. We are exploring our fantasies, not demonstrating how our kinks work in real life.

If you don't like something you are reading, then backclick.

If you want to post a BDSM instruction manual drawing from your own, specific personal life experience than go for it! I'm sure a lot of people will be grateful and find it extremely informative.

But when I see one woman in fandom saying that she hopes a post will stop other women in fandom from writing a particular kink because it isn't written the way they personally want to see it written it make me furious with furious rage.

Especially if you are coming from the perspective of someone who lives a lifestyle that is frowned up and denigrated by greater society. You should know better. You don't try and stop other women from expressing their kinks in fiction. You don't tell them to do it "right" or shut up.

Women should not be trying to silence other women.

Given that, I challenge anyone who reads this and is interested to write and post BDSM fic in their LJ written exactly to their own personal kinks. Make it completely realistic, if that's what gets you going, or don't worry about making it realistic at all. Do it if you've got 10 years of experience in the BDSM community, do it if you're vanilla as hell in real life, do it as a celebration of the freedom we have in fandom to express ourselves exactly as we please through fiction.

Just don't tell other women what they should and shouldn't write and don't let anyone else tell you what you should and should't write.

I just sent this query to IJ support:

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:03:26 GMT

"Hey,

I recently created this account for use in an RPG. I friended/watched the main communities (secrets_out, secretsout_ooc) and friended the other participants.

For a week or so, posts made in the other players' journals or in the main communities would show up on Flist like normal.

Then, suddenly, my flist was emtpy. The entries no longer showed up.

A new entry was posted in secrets_out the other day, and that one shows up.

Clearly, entries disappear from my Flist after a week or so. I remember this happening in another RPG I participated in on IJ.

Can this be fixed? Is it a bug? Why is it happening?

Thanks."

Do any of you recognise this problem? It's not just me, is it?

Man, I hate IJ. :(

HP Darkfest sign ups have started!

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 17:12:11 GMT

I am psyched! THE SIGN UP POST IS HERE.

PRETTY, PRETTY BANNERS FOR PIMPING ARE HERE.

I've changed the rules a little bit this year, and as always it's a laid-back, no pressure prompt based fest.

Eeee! I am so excited. :D :D :D

Also, hp_sas has started posting!

*jumps up and down*

Fame and Fortune, Chapter 4

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:16:32 GMT

Title: Fame and Fortune (4/6... or 7)
Writer: melusinahp
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Eventual NC-17
Word Count: 5,600
Warnings: a bit of mild violence
Summary: AU set in Los Angeles, California during the 1990's. Arthur is a movie star. Merlin is his PA. Antics ensue.
A/N: Thank you to bewarethesmirk for her seriously above and beyond the call of duty beta skills. XXX

Fame and Fortune, Chapter 4

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

Fic: Fame and Fortune, Arthur/Merlin, NC-17 Chapter Two

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 18:46:48 GMT

Title: Fame and Fortune (2/6)
Writer: melusinahp
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Eventual NC-17
Word Count: 4,660
Warnings: None
Summary: AU set in Los Angeles, California during the 1990's. Arthur is a movie star. Merlin is his PA. Antics ensue.
A/N: Thank you to bewarethesmirk for the beta and her great suggestions. XXX

Fame and Fortune, Chapter Two

Previous chapters:

Chapter One

HP10k_Showcase!

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 10:37:08 GMT

hp10k_showcase starts posting daily on Wednesday, March 18. There's some truly wonderful work coming up, both fic and art. I'm extremely excited about it. :D

Thanks and we hope to see you there,

alaana_fair	alisanne	annafugazzi	anthimaeria
blamebrampton	frayach	geoviki	mahaliem
marguerite_26	melusinahp	novembersnow	oldenuf2nb
pir8fancier	raitala	rickey_a	romaine24
sansa1970	sassy_cissa	sesheta_66	snegurochka_lee
who_la_hoop

Fic: Fame and Fortune, Arthur/Merlin, NC-17 Chapter One

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:32:51 GMT

Title: Fame and Fortune (1/6)
Writer: melusinahp
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Eventual NC-17
Word Count: 4,650
Warnings: None
Summary: AU set in Los Angeles, California during the 1990's. Arthur is a movie star. Merlin is a waiter. The word "prat" is used.
A/N: Thank you to bewarethesmirk for the beta and her great suggestions. XXX

Fame and Fortune

A bit of a tidy up

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:23:00 GMT

So, I hardly come over here to IJ anymore and I stopped cross posting a while ago. :( I'm going to try and consolidate things.

I'm going to defriend people who I'm already following on Livejournal. So if you see me defriend you here on IJ, I'm not like defriending you, I'm just watching you on LJ instead of both LJ and IJ. Yeah?

And, er, I'm going to ask that if you have both an Insanejournal and a Livejournal, and you don't have me friended at LJ, could you friend me there? Pretty please? I'd just like to have the majority of my friends in one place.

And there are a few people who have both, but only really update over here. I'm going to keep you all on both lists.

I hope this all makes some kind of sense, lol.

Looking for Lucius/Regulus recs

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:02:28 GMT

I am going to make a Lucius/Regulus list.

Because it's such a gorgeous pairing that it's necessary.

I know of a few, but I'd like to add to the list if there's anything more out there.

So far, I have:

Art:

The Right Black by glockgal

After by mayflo

My Beloved in Petticoat by mayflo

Art and Fic:

Pretty Liar by nishizono and ships_harry

Fic:

The Court Fell Silent by sionnain

Take the Bitter with the Sweet by melusinahp

Traditions by roz_morgan

Obey by envinyatar15

Everything Unconditional Belongs in Pathology by stonegrad

I would love to add to this list. I'll take anything, even fluff and romance, although I prefer the pairing when Regulus is young and desperately in love, and Lucius is cruel, amused and manipulative. And, yes, I'm going to write this myself once I have time.

I've heard a number of people say that they have trouble envisioning Regulus as a character. That's fair enough as we only get to see him through photographs and other characters' stories about him. For me, however, there's more than enough to construct someone vivid and three dimensional. In fact, I find him one of the most fascinating characters in the series. He's got so many of Draco's worst qualities (A pureblood's sense of superiority and entitlement, Slytherin ambition and pride) but also Harry's best qualities (the willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good). It's so gorgeous.

In conclusion, write more Regulus fic. ;)

Fic: Show Me a Garden, Part I, Harry/Draco, NC-17, non-con, angst, but with a happy ending

Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:08:23 GMT

Author: melusinahp
Title: Show Me a Garden
Pairing(s): Harry/Draco, Ginny/Neville, Ron/Hermione, other brief pairings -- see warnings.
Summary: Draco won't forgive Harry for not helping his father. Harry won't break Draco's heart by explaining why.
Rating: NC-17
Warning(s): non-linear, violence, angst, non-con, hurt/comfort, flying rats, happy ending.
Epilogue compliant? AU after HBP, EWE, not interview compliant
Word Count: 14,700
Author's Notes: This was written for hd_holidays for my gorgeous regasssa, who left me the best comment I think I've ever received. I wibbled like hell over this story, and must thank all the IS girls, khateh and particularly scrtkpr for helping me get it right. The title is a quote from Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol, which is my (and 8 million other people's) special H/D song.

Show Me a Garden

World's Colliding

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 11:58:37 GMT

ships_harry, did you know about this?

Male Submission Art has posted one of your pieces of art today: A pale, redheaded young man laying on his stomach on the ground....

This has made me very excited for some reason, lol. I mean, I know Femdom is inextricably linked to HP fandom in my mind, but to see it cross over so explicitly, well, that's just nifty. :D

HP_Darkfest has started posting

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:33:51 GMT

I haven't mentioned this yet over here on IJ, but HP DARKFEST has started posting. Obviously, I'm a bit biased, but it's going pretty wonderfully so far.

Fic: Make Your Own Bed, Draco/Albus, NC-17, cross gen

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:17:05 GMT

Title: Make Your Own Bed
Writer: melusinahp
Characters: Draco/Albus Severus, Draco/Astoria, Harry, Scorpius
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Cross-gen, infidelity
Word count: 9,276
Summary: 'The best-laid plans of mice and men, Go oft awry.' -- Robert Burns
A/N: Thank you so much to owensmom and everyone at IS.

Make Your Own Bed

25 First Lines meme

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 12:39:44 GMT

Post the first lines from each of your 25 most recent fanfic pieces and try to find a pattern.

I reckon I'm more interested in hearing what other people think of them. I definitely start too many fics with proper names.

HP DARFEST SIGNUPS HAVE STARTED

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 11:45:43 GMT

Wee!

The sign up post is here: Sign ups

HP DARKFEST BANNERS

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:17:57 GMT

Sign ups are in two weeks! We have pretty banners! Feel free to copy and paste and pimp and spread them all over.

HP_Darkfest is a prompt based fic and art fest with sign ups on August 1 and posting beginning on Halloween. We are looking for psychological trauma, twisted shenanigans, heavy angst, non-con, death!fic, violence, undiluted evil, good intentions gone horrible wrong. Death Eaters are appreciated but absolutely not required. Slash, het, gen or any combination thereof. Any pairing. Just get our pulses racing and breath coming faster. Make us feel sick to our stomachs and deliciously excited at the same time.

by khateh

by khateh

by freckles42

Calendar of Events – 2008

August 1st - Signups Begin
August 8th - Signups Close
August 11th – Prompts will be sent out

October 17th - Fics/Art due
October 31st - Posting begins!

Rec: Art: Untitled, Fenrir/Draco R violence and implied horribleness

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:33:29 GMT

Eeee! vikingcarrot finished my Fenrir/Draco commission. It's perfect and mesmerising and makes me cringe and wriggle with both horror and joy. I can't stop looking at it. XD

Title: "NO. NO TITLES EVER."
Artist: vikingcarrot
Characters: Fenrir/Draco
Rating: R
Warnings: Ripped clothing, terror, misery, violence, implied impending non-con

Fenrir/Draco

Fic: Cutting to the Chase, Harry/Draco, NC-17

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:33:34 GMT

Title: Cutting to the Chase
Writer: melusinahp
Characters: Harry/Draco
Word Count: 3,000
Warnings: None
Summary: Harry is going to find out what Malfoy is up to, no matter what it takes.
A/N: Love and thanks to khateh and the Smithies. PWP written as the third in the sequence starting with Ensnared and continuing with Hell Bent and Heaven Bound--both of which were written pre-DH. I've tried to make this compliant to both those fics and DH. It can also be read as a stand alone one-shot.

Cutting to the Chase

Rec: Fic: Nightingale, Harry/Draco, NC-17

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:47:19 GMT

Title: Nightingale
Writer: michi_thekiller
Characters: Harry/Draco
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: dub-con, mental illness, OotP compliant AU
Summary: God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages.
-Jacques Deval

Nightingale -- I said I'd do a proper rec of this fic, and here it is. Just linking to the story again and writing this out has my heart in my mouth. This was an astoundingly powerful fic, IMO. It stabbed me in the heart, tore me open and left me sobbing for over an hour. Today as I was walking home, I started thinking about it and had to stop because I was about to cry again. First of all, the writing is wonderful. michi_thekiller manages to be funny, moving, heartbreaking and thought provoking at time. The fic is very funny in parts, darkly sweet and romantic in a subtle, twisted way.

It starts in the present and then dips back in time periodically to describe Harry and Draco's relationship during their sixth year at Hogwarts. It's fantastic, there's not a single moment of schmoop in the whole fic and she doesn't soft pedal either character at all. Their relationship is full of violence, passion, denial, inevitability and tragedy. This is all contrasted to the present in which Draco has emerged from the war with the mind of a child, having lost his mind through torture. Harry decides to take him in and look after him. He's finally got a Draco who adores him completely and will never, ever hurt him or leave him--only it's not really Draco. And Harry still has a lot of anger left over at Draco...

I'll admit that part of the reason this fic effected me so powerfully is that I tend to be very vulnerable to stories like this in which fantasies or happy memories are contrasted with a less happy reality. The ending of Brazil, the scene in Forest Gump when Forest imagines Jenny walking along the lawn towards him, the flashback in the Godfather when Michael thinks back to a family meal in which they are all seated around the table arguing and laughing... That kind of thing kills me, and this was 50k of it.

Ultimately, it's a beautifully written fic, truly exceptional. The art that accompanies it is wonderful too. Make sure you have the time and energy to deal with the aftermath, though. ;) XXX

HD_WORLDCUP REVEAL!!!!!

Fri, 23 May 2008 17:32:43 GMT

Hooray! Wow! OMG!

This fest has been such an amazing experience. I put so much energy into writing my fics and cheering on my team and the fest in general. It's been awesome, a real rollercoaster ride from start to finish. I loved working with my team and met some wonderful new people. So much love and gratitude to all of Team Canon. *hugs you tight* I think scrtkpr single handedly betaed almost everyone's fics, she amazing and we were incredibly lucky to have her on our team. I learned about writing, about reading about the inner workings of fandom. Wow. It was an experience! lol. I'm definitely feeling some post-fest blues already. What am I going to spend all my time thinking about now? Eeee.

Anyway, I wrote two fics for the fest: Ring A-Ring O' Roses for the Tower prompt and Shadow Play for the Devil.

Congrats to Team Epilogue for winning! Love to all the participants and watchers and to the mods for pulling the whole thing together. XXX

I'll be reposting my fics in my LJ in a bit and may write a little meta about Shadow Play. I'm soooo psyched that so many writers seem to be writing commentary on their fics. I'm going to be spending the whole day looking through those posts.

Nice people who like dark things

Tue, 20 May 2008 13:17:13 GMT

You know, it always amazes me when I read another "People who like X kink are sick! WTF is wrong with them? They should get help. There's not excuse for fantasising about things like that. I'm going to report them to LJ. They are ruining fandom etc etc etc ad nauseum rant, that the people who say these things don't realise they are talking about and personally insulting perfectly nice people on their Flists.

What? You think all your friends only like sunshine, flowers and romance? You're living in a dream world. They might not admit it to you, because, man, the stuff you say is pretty condemning, but these kinds of fantasies are common.

I'm an adult woman, I have two young kids, I like to think of myself as a nice, kind, considerate person who would never intentionally harm another human being. I also like non-con fanfic and fan art. Sometimes I like non-con chan fan fic and fan art. Why? It's how my brain is wired. I am not ashamed and I do not harm anyone in real life.

So, when you write a rant about how people who like chan are sick and ruining fandom, you're talking about me. You know that, right? You're probably talking about a percentage of your friends, people you like and think of as nice and fun and cool. They just happen to have dark images floating through their minds on occasion.

I'm not going to explain the difference between fantasy and reality yet again or how finding a fic about X being hot is radically different than finding X hot in real life, because it feels like throwing a rubber ball against a cement wall at the moment.

I will say though, that the next time I read a sentence like this: "It's wrong to find X hot under any circumstances!" when the person is referring to fictional fantasies, my head is going to explode.

Oh GOD

Tue, 13 May 2008 07:07:18 GMT

"We couldn't get into moaning Myrtle's bathroom because it was locked. They filmed the Sectumsempra scene there last week. They told me Tom had to lie in the fake blood and water for hours. He had a prosthetic chest on which pumped out fake blood and for each new take he had to get cleaned up and dry his hair before starting again. There are some pictures floating about of the scene and they look like Tom is lying dead in a pool of blood, very freaky for his friends to see!"

OMFG...

Half Blood Prince set report

HD_Worldcup Favourites

Mon, 12 May 2008 08:33:06 GMT

These are the fics that I'd say grabbed me in all the right places--characterisation, structure, writing style, concept and depth. They drew me into their world, made me love the characters like I do in canon, kept a hold of my interest the whole way through, made me feel all sorts of delicious things and then left me with ideas and images that continued to haunt me through the following days.

I still haven't read everything and there were other fics that I liked a lot. These were the ones that hit me in all the right places at the same time, though. And yeah, looking at the list, it is a bit skewed towards my own team. Heh. I think that's because I tend to strongly prefer fics that feel like canon (thus chosing to be on that team). Or possibly it's just blatant favouritism. ;P

Title: Lamp in the Cooling Room
Team: EWE
Prompt: The Lovers
Wordcount: ˜9000
Rating: R
Warnings: none
Summary: Draco and Harry become snared in a trap, but they're not alone. Love guides our path for reasons we can't always understand.

Lamp in the Cooling Room -- This was my favourite fic in the fest. Not only is the writing layered, confident and beautiful but it has a strong, unique story concept. The fic completely blew me away. I was hooked by the guts the entire time, biting my nails with tension, weeping at parts, desperately scared. It gave me moments of pure joy in the middle of despair. And the ending, well, I have my own way of seeing the ending. It made me feel and think and said things which, IMO, are true about life and death. It was beautiful and poetic, brutally honest and devastating in the best ways.

Title: Perfect Day
Team: Canon
Prompt: Wheel of Fortune
Wordcount: 24,500
Rating: R (to be safe)
Warnings: None
Summary: One day can change everything.
Author's Note: Fortune, like a coy mistress, loves to yield her favors, though she makes us wrest them from her.—Christian Nestell Bovee

Perfect Day -- This is a fic I could read over and over again (and I have ;)) just for the pleasure of reading the writing. It's fun, witty, wonderfully structured and completely engaging. One of those fics where you can't wait to get to the next bit because you know the writer is going to make you laugh again or at the very least grin with glee. This was also my favourite Draco--completely in character and loveable at the same time. One of the best things about this fic is the central idea--Draco is down on his luck and takes Felix Felicis in order to change it. So simple, yet so full of promise. The story completely fulfils the promise of the concept, too. It makes full use of the canon world, places, characters, magic, etc. It's like a slice of all the best bits of canon.

Ultimately, it's always the emotional impact that makes or breaks a story for me. This one had me empathising with Draco from beginning to end, feeling his joy and triumph and breaking my heart as he slowly but inevitably spiralled into disaster. It had just the right taste of darkness before lifting me up again for the delicious and very hopeful ending.

Title: Wall of Glass
Team: Canon
Prompt: The Chariot
Wordcount: 13,400
Rating: PG-13
Summary: After the war, Draco Malfoy finds that some battles are just beginning.

Wall of Glass -- The quality of the writing in this fic is heads and tails above what I've come to expect in fan fiction. It's strong, polished and beautiful from the first word to the last. It has an air of professionalism about it. Given that, I was immediately engrossed in the story. It's dark and very hard to take at times, but it's the gorgeous, devastating kind of fictional darkness that never goes too far. There wasn't a single moment when my attention slipped or I was anything other than completely enthralled in Draco's world. The characterisation was perfect. Draco was perfect. His wounded pride, desperation and determination to survive were all so wonderfully canon.
The Azkaban world the writer creates is very dark yet believable. Then, in the end, there's a small but strong shining light of hope. One of the most mature and best realised fics in the fest, IMO.

Title: What Could Have Been (And What Was)
Team: Fanon
Prompt: Judgment
Wordcount: Just under 7,000 (MS Word says 6826 without the headers)
Rating: R
Warnings: Infidelity
Summary: Neither epilogue-compliant nor EWE; seven separate demonstrations that you can't stop the signal.

What Could Have Been (And What Was) -- *sighs happily* Such a perfect fic for Team Fanon. It had me tearing up with happiness by the end. It made me remember not only what I love so much about both Harry and Draco as characters, but what I love about the pairing, why it's my OTP, and why I love reading H/D fic so very, very much. The structure is wonderfully creative and rhythmic. It shows us a variety of different ways Harry/Draco could happen and then concludes by proving that it's ultimately inevitable. *sighs happily again* Gorgeous, vivid, engaging writing, spot on characterisation and seven wonderful stories. It left me feeling so damn happy and with a craving to read even more H/D fic. If I ever start feeling jaded about the pairing, I'll come back, read What Could Have Been, and feel renewed.

Title: Nothing Ventured (Nothing Lost)
Team: Canon
Prompt: Death
Wordcount: 5000
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Some violence.
Summary: Feelings are purest in the hours of meeting and farewell.

Nothing Ventured (Nothing Lost) -- This is my other "This Is How It Should Be Done" fic, and very different to the previous one. This is the fic in the fest that reminded me of why I was inevitably, helpless drawn to Harry/Draco when I wasn't even a slash fan in the beginning. It's the undiluted sexual tension, the violence stemming from deep seated passion, the gorgeous, primal, unavoidable lust between the characters that grips me and refuses to let me go. This fic demonstrates all that perfectly. Guh. It's devastating and wonderful and gets my prize for hottest sex scenes in the fest. The writing is strong and beautiful with some wonderfully vivid turns of phrase. The ending tore me in half, but it was the good kind of pain that comes with a tragic ending the writer has more than earned.

Title: Breaking all the Rules
Team: Epilogue
Prompt: The Hierophant
Wordcount: 22,800
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Crack!fic, swinging, boys in pink knickers and kitty-ears, rimming, and a couple exceedingly brief het sex scenes
Summary: Malfoy is slowly wringing the last vestiges of pleasure from Harry’s life with all his rules and committees and agendas and reports. Or is he?

Breaking All the Rules -- It's labelled as crack, but it really didn't feel all that cracky to me. Harry, Draco and their respective spouses and friends are involved in a swinger's club. It works, trust me. It felt fun and OMG hot and then gorgeously romantic. I'd say this was my favourite feel-good fic of the fest, although there's nothing light-weight or fluffy about the writing. It's strong, engaging and has a certain special quality I'm not sure how to label-- emotional richness, maybe--which pretty much gave the writer's identity away to me. Heh. The sex is soooo delicious. There are certain images that I've been running through my head over and over again since I read the fic. It shows that the canon epilogue didn't come close to killing H/D, at least not as far as I'm concerned.

Title: Brother, Confessor; Lover, Redeemer
Team: Canon
Prompt: Judgment
Wordcount: 9,800
Rating: R
Warnings: Epilogue compliant
Summary: Harry is running from his past, but it won't leave him alone. Can a string of anonymous confessions help him confront everything and move on?

Brother, Confessor; Lover, Redeemer -- This fic does an interesting thing--it creates a believable canon world outside anything we've actually seen in canon. Most of the fic takes place in a place called Brindle's Yard, which is a kind of magical oasis in London. The way I read the fic, Brindle's Yard is post-war Purgatory. Harry is stuck there, unable to move on from his past. The story uses a Post Secret style device to get the men together and it works wonderfully. There's some very hot, very moving and emotional sex and Harry and Draco's relationship, once it starts, is beautiful, passionate and devastating in it's impossibility. The writing is strong and poetic, really gorgeous and left me feeling sad yet thoughtful and satisfied.

Title: Darkness Is Not the Absence of Light
Team: Canon
Prompt: Justice
Wordcount: 13,500
Rating: R
Warnings: None
Summary: Harry only wants what's fair for Narcissa Malfoy. But Narcissa has other plans, and Draco is willing to go along with just about anything to stay out of Azkaban.

Darkness Is Not the Absence of Light -- Devastating in such a beautiful way. I could see the ending coming and was dreading it, but it was so inevitable and perfect. It's such a relief for me to read a fic that takes place entirely in the canon world. No electronics or Muggle name brands. This is the world I want to read about. And the writing was fluid, confident and engaging and the structure was tight. These were also perfect canon characterisations of both Harry and Draco, IMO. I hurt so much for poor, strangled Draco whose parents are still destroying him piece by piece even as they think they're saving him. And Harry, desperately trying to do the right thing when it's impossible to figure out exactly what that is. Wonderful, polished writing from beginning to end.

I'm going to be reading more fics this week before the reveal, and probably more after, too. I can't believe it's almost over. *sighs* When is hd_remix again?

Also, come and guess which fics I wrote here: Which fic did Melusina write? (I was on Team Canon.) :D

Two things

Tue, 06 May 2008 07:04:23 GMT

First a rec:

I knew signing up for hpdesmutathon was a good idea. :D

Title: Broken
Recipient: melusinahp
Rating: NC-17/adult
Pairing/Warnings: Bella/Harry (with a smattering of Harry/Draco), sexual torture, dubcon, post-DH semi-plausible AU
Word count: 3685 words
Summary: He'd given the blond boy his trust despite everyone else's warnings.

Broken -- Ahhh! It's been so long since I've had any new Bellatrix/Harry. *smiles happily* This is wonderfully done. The writer really paid attention to my prompt. I appreciate that more than I can say. She wrote Bella as strong, insane and Azkaban damaged but still sexual and in control. Harry is gorgeous angry and determined not to break despite Bellatrix's best efforts. Very yummy. :)

And then this: This is important!

Title: Eggplant Parmesan
Writer: pottersque_ire
Rating: NC-17 ... or G
Warning: Crack!Fic's Poor Cousin ~ MZS (Makes Zero Sense), Un-betaed (due to MZS), Major Character Death, PWP, Sexual Situation (Food Smut?), Bloodbath, Angst, Voyeurism, Ginny Bashing, Violence, Attempted Suicide.
Word Count: ~1100
Pairing: HP/DM

Eggplant Parmesan -- Just the most awesome thing ever. Harry/Draco as shiny, fat, round vegetables. It's like all my dreams rolled into one.

Fic: Flash Crimson, Bellatrix/Rodolphus, NC-17

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:53:17 GMT

Title: Flash Crimson
Author: melusinahp
Rating: NC-17
Pairing(s): Bellatrix/Rodolphus, implied Voldemort/Bellatrix
Word Count: 3,500
Warnings: Cruciatus Curse
Summary: "Her attachment was fierce, no mistake; it was intense, obsessive even. Rodolphus had never dreamed it could be carnal, however. The man had a face like a snake; what kind of woman would want that?"
Authors notes: Love to sktypied, my beta. Written for alyxbradford for wizardlove

Every night it was the same. Rodolphus would awaken to the first notes of the dawn chorus to find himself alone in the large, cold bed he should have been sharing with his wife. After the familiar feeling of chilled lead had settled in his stomach, he'd attempt to go back to sleep. He'd invariably fail.

The rest of the early morning would be spent pacing their bedroom. One moment he'd rage and slice the bed curtains through with a flick of his wand. She'd chosen them. He'd never liked them. He'd feel a sharp, short burst of pleasure in destroying something that was hers. Immediately after this, he'd fall to his knees, face in his hands, disgust at his own petty weakness biting into his muscles like hundreds of stinging insects. He made sure the curtains were repaired before his wife returned.

She did return. At least he had that. She always came back to him, although he knew she saw him as a burden and nuisance. Bellatrix respected no one but her Lord. Their Lord.

When his parents had first informed him of his betrothal to Bellatrix Black, Rodolphus had been over the moon. The Blacks were a powerful, well-respected family. He could only benefit from the match. She was beautiful – famous for it – and full of power and spirit. They'd travelled in the same circles at Hogwarts, although he'd never dared to think… He remembered watching her sweep through the corridors, her long, glossy hair trailing after her, so tall, so confident in everything she did. Lesser students would duck out of her path, and if they weren't quick enough they'd be sorry. Bellatrix knew hexes that made Rodolphus's toes curl with horror and delight.

They'd spoken now and then, but they'd never been close. She'd hardly given him the time of day, if he was honest with himself. Now, however, she would be his – his to touch, his to fuck, his and no one else's. She'd be at his side when the Death Eaters met. It could only mean good things.

If he'd thought that having one of the Dark Lord's best and brightest as his wife would raise his own profile, however, then he'd been sorely mistaken. Bellatrix would stand at the Dark Lord's left, Malfoy would be at his right and Rodolphus… He remained amongst the others, faceless, waiting until an extra body was needed.

It cut him. The shame was like a blade between his ribs making his shoulders stoop and his hands curl into fists.

He took comfort from the knowledge that he and only he had possession of her body. Her strong, slender, perfect body lying supplicant beneath him as he fucked her, hard and fast, gripping her wrists against the pillow. He'd slam his cock into her over and over, trying to make an impression, a dent, to make her see that he was there. She'd allow him. That's what it felt like. She'd deign to allow him entrance. Occasionally, she'd deign to let him make her come. Those were the occasions when he came closest to feeling true joy. He'd watch her face grow damp and red, watch her teeth dig into her lip, her eyes squeeze closed in ecstasy, and his mind would fill with lust and frantic triumph. Thoughts he'd never dream of allowing himself in the light of day would rush through his mind, thoughts like, You may have her mind, you may have her soul, but you'll never have this!

He'd believed it, too, for the first years of their marriage. He'd had no reason to think that her attachment to the Dark Lord was driven by anything other than sheer loyalty and veneration. Her attachment was fierce, no mistake; it was intense, obsessive even. Rodolphus had never dreamed it could be carnal, however. The man had a face like a snake; what kind of woman would want that?

Bellatrix, it seemed, and increasingly so each day. When Rodolphus groped for her in the dark, she'd turn her back to him. If he persisted, she'd snarl at him to leave her alone. She didn't want him. He didn't satisfy her. He was barely a man at all.

Rodolphus would end up rigid with shame and helpless fury, wanting to hurt her, to cut her, to hold her down and take from her what was rightfully his. He didn't, though. He didn't dare.

Finally, one night after she'd spurned him yet again, Rodolphus forced himself to stay awake. Sure enough, as the clock struck two, she slipped from their bed and started to dress. Rodolphus sprung after her, naked and grabbed her upper arm as tightly as he could.

"Where are you going at his late hour?"

Bellatrix turned on her husband, baring her teeth and hissing. "Stay back, Rodolphus. I've work to do."

"You're going to see Him again, aren't you? That's the fourth time this week. And always under cover of darkness. What exactly is it that you're doing for our Lord, wife of mine?"

Bellatrix yanked her arm out of his grasp and straightened her back. "I'm doing what we all should be doing. I'm helping him in aide of the cause."

"Helping him? Is that what you call it? What kind of help leaves whip marks on your back? What kind of help leaves your lips bruised and swollen?"

Bellatrix smiled. Then she parted her lips and laughed, keeping her eyes fixed on her husband's. Rodolphus stared back at her, transfixed. Her dark eyes glittered with mirth and contempt. His body went cold and numb. He'd kill her. He'd have to. This simply could not be borne.

With a roar he leapt at her, arms extended and reaching for her throat. With a quick twirl, however, she was gone and he landed heavily and painfully on the floor. He remained there, shaking and clawing at the carpet, until their house elf found him and bid him come for breakfast.

She didn't even try to hide the love bites after that. She'd purposely turn her back to him as she undressed, letting her robes slide slowly down her shoulders, gazing at him contemptuously over her shoulder, her mouth bent into a smile that made him want to snap her elegant neck. It was the fact that she could have healed the wounds so easily, but chose not to that got to him. She didn't even have enough respect for him to bother hiding her infidelity.

Rodolphus got on with things. He tried not to let his resentment show when in the Dark Lord's presence, but it was a weak and futile attempt. Even Rabastan seemed to be avoiding him; he must have stunk with disgrace and weakness.

When word eventually came that the Dark Lord had fallen, Rodolphus felt a thrill of sheer white joy. He was gone, gone from their lives. Bellatrix would be his alone now, at long last. She'd have no alternative.

He found that Bellatrix without her Dark Lord wasn't a Bellatrix he particularly wanted, however. She refused to accept that he was gone. She searched for him incessantly. She stopped bathing, didn't change her robes or brush her hair. One night, things finally came to a head. She'd heard some fifth hand snippet of gossip that the Dark Lord had been spotted. The Longbottoms – Ministry Aurors – were involved. She was going to confront them and force them to tell her where she could find her beloved Master.

"No! It's over. You're not leaving me again. This is your home, and I am your husband, your true master. You will stay here with me."

Bellatrix sneered and raised her eyebrows. "Dominance doesn't suit you, Roddy. I've seen you for what you are -- a fool, a mouse of man. I'd slit my own throat before I'd call you master."

And with that, she spun. Rodolphus acted instantly. His arm snapped forwards, and his hand gripped her arm just in the nick of time. There was a sensation of movement; he was squeezed, breathless, and then, with a crack, they were standing outside in the dark.

Bellatrix gaped when she saw he'd followed her, and then stormed away down a narrow dirt path through the trees, saying, "As you wish. We'll see if you've got the stomach to stand behind your words."

Rodolphus followed quickly after her, shivering in the cold night air. After another ten yards Rabastan and Barty Crouch appeared, waiting for them. Rabastan stared at his older brother, his brow knitting, and scowled. Barty laughed and said, "You've brought your puppy along tonight, Bellatrix? How amusing. It shall be interesting to see how he reacts."

"Hush, Barty," snapped Bellatrix, shooting the boy a look that made him shrink backwards, giggling nervously. "This is no time for wit. We have work to do tonight, possibly the most important work of our lives. The future of the wizarding world depends on it."

With that, Bellatrix swept onwards; the three men rushed after her. After several moments a small cottage appeared nestled between some clusters of trees. Warm lights burned in its windows, and a soft trail of smoke puffed from it chimney.

Bellatrix didn't hesitate, but shouted, "Alohomora!." The door burst inwards.

Two startled, frightened faces greeted them inside in what looked to be the sitting room. "Frank! Get N—" The woman's words were cut off as Bellatrix shot a repelling hex towards her, making her body fly backwards and slam into the wall. The man leapt forward, and a flash of red hit Rabastan square in the chest, taking him down. Rodolphus fell to his knees at his brother's side. Barty was now duelling with Longbottom. Bellatrix had the woman at wand point on the floor.

After awakening Rabastan with, "Rennervate," Rodolphus ran to Bellatrix's side. She turned to look at him, her eyes narrowed and piercing. "Let me have the woman," he demanded.

Bellatrix raised her chin and curled her lip. "Really, Rodolphus?"

"Yes!" Rodolphus threw the full force of his anger into his gaze. Perhaps it had some impact, because his wife took a step back and allowed him to take possession of the woman at her feet.

He stared down at the Longbottom woman, and she stared back, her face creased with hatred and disgust. Rodolphus blinked and then pointed his wand at her. His head was swimming. He felt woozy.

Bellatrix, however, was completely focussed. She shooed Barty away from the Longbottom man whom he'd finally subdued and proceeded to question him. "Where is he? Where is the Dark Lord? What has Dumbledore done with him?" She had one booted foot on Longbottom's chest. Bending forwards at the waist, she spoke quickly but clearly, her voice harsh and pointed. "Tell me! You can hide nothing, I will tear the truth from your mind!"

Longbottom spit at her and shouted, "You're mad! Voldemort is dead. You can torture us till morning and it will still be true. He's gone. You've lost."

Bellatrix hissed and moved her face closer to the helpless man. "Oh, I've not lost, my big, brave Auror. I'm only beginning to fight."

And with that, she cast the Cruciatus Curse on him. Rodolphus watched spellbound as the man writhed and screamed. Spittle flew from his mouth and then blood as he bit down onto his own tongue. It was grotesque but fascinating.

Once Longbottom recovered, there were curses, insults, and accusations. The man called Bellatrix things that made Rololphus raise his eyebrows and laugh because it was so quaint to think that his wife would be insulted by them. Then came the denials. The protestation that he knew nothing, the Dark Lord was gone, they were insane to think otherwise, insane to keep cursing him when there was nothing he could tell them to make them stop, even if he'd wanted to.

Rodolphus glanced at his brother. Rabastan's face was pale and clammy. He lurked by the door rather than joining in, claiming to be acting as a lookout. His lack of stomach for their task gave Rodolphus a feeling of grim satisfaction.

Barty acted like the child he was, trembling with excitement and jumping about, unable to keep still for even a moment. "Let me have a go, Bellatrix! Please, just one little curse. I've been practising." Bellatrix laughed and gave him the go ahead. No more than five minutes had passed before Longbottom was a shivering, sobbing wreck.

The woman at Rodolphus's feet was broken with tears. Her eyes never once left her husband. As it became evident that he was empty, his mind burnt through by dark magic, she cried out his name in agony, pulling at her hair with her hands.

Rodolphus had never had cause to cast an Unforgivable before. With a nervous glance towards his brother, he lifted his wand and pointed it at the woman, clearing his throat. Her head snapped to look at him, her face burning with both fear and determination. Glancing at Bellatrix, Rodolphus licked his lips. She met his gaze, her mouth twisted into a sneering smile and she tossed her head, making her hair tumble off her shoulders and down her back.

Rodolphus gritted his teeth and turned back to his intended victim. Thinking of his wife, thinking of all the shame and humiliation he'd suffered at her hands through the years, Rodolphus let the anger build in his gut. It burned like acid, swirled and finally shot in a flood through his arm as he cast the curse for the first time in his life. "Crucio!"

The woman screamed. Her body twisted and flailed. Her fingers dug and tore at the carpet beneath her. Somewhere above them in the house, a baby began to cry.

Rodolphus had never felt so powerful. It was as if he'd awoken from sleep. He ended the curse and watched as the woman collapsed, her muscles going limp. Her clothes were soaked through with sweat, her expression raw, almost infantile. "Oh Merlin," she muttered to the ceiling, her voice choking on a sob.

"Crucio!" Rodolphus kept his wand pointed at the woman, but turned his head to focus on his wife. Bellatrix's face was flushed, she was panting. Her eyes glowed with enjoyment.

The woman's screams were beginning to take on a rough, animal quality. Even when freed from the curse, she'd twist her body and claw at her face with her nails. Rodolphus prodded her with the tip of his shoe and her body contracted, curling in on itself like a sea anemone. He couldn’t stop himself. It was too fascinating. Once again, he lifted his wand. "Crucio!" Her spine snapped backwards and once again she screamed, muscles twitching, neck bent at an impossible angle. Her voice sounded rough and torn with overuse.

The Longbottom man was still gibbering incoherently. They'd got nothing from either of them. Either they'd made the fatally foolish error of keeping the information Bellatrix wanted to themselves, or they'd genuinely just not known what had become of the Dark Lord. The woman was motionless and silent now, staring sightlessly into the distance. The muffled sound of the child's cries could still be heard through the ceiling.

Rodolphus felt hands sliding over his shoulders. It had been decades since anyone had touched him that way. He inhaled and smelt the particular, spicy smell of his wife's sweat.

"Leave us." Her voice was loud and calm and brooked no argument. Rabastan and Barty scuttled out of the room, Barty giggling and leering back at them as he left.

Rodolphus stepped into the centre of the room, and Bellatrix circled him, face still, eyes bright. Her thin shoulders were heaving and her hair was damp with sweat. She trailed the tip of her wand across his chest; Rodolphus grinned, feeling shivery with excitement and triumph. She swept towards him in one swift movement and grabbed his crotch in her hand, squeezing him hard and twisting. Rodolphus jumped and swore, then backhanded her sharply across the face. She laughed and then pushed him backwards.

Snarling, Rodolphus leapt at her, gripping her by the shoulders and slamming her against the wall with all the force of his body. Continuing to smile, Bellatrix thrust her knee up between his legs until it was pressed firmly against his crotch.

"So you want me now, do you?" Rodolphus hissed at her. "You fickle bitch. You inconstant cunt."

"I want you now, and I'll have you now, Roddy." Her fingers dove into his hair and she pulled his face towards her own. Rodolphus kissed her hard. He dug his fingers into her shoulders hoping to leave bruises. He bit her lips and ground his hardening cock against her pelvis.

Tearing at the front of her robes, Rodolphus freed her breasts and then bent his head to them. He licked and bit at her nipple, digging his teeth in hard and thrilling to the sound her sudden, sharp cry. With one hand squeezing her other breast, he tore the robes from her shoulders. She moaned, and he felt her fingers working at his crotch, unfastening his robes below his waist. In a moment, she had his cock in her hand.

He pushed his finger into her and she was wet, wetter than she'd ever been for him before. He rubbed at her clit, not bothering to be gentle, and she ground herself against him, moaning from the back of her throat. "Now, Roddy. Fuck me now."

Rodolphus grabbed the back of her thigh and pulled it up until her knee was bent about his hip. Then he took his cock in his hand and rammed it into her, making her scream with pleasure. He fucked her hard, fast, grunting and growling, wanting to tear her, to make it hurt. Gathering a rope of her hair in his fist, he pulled her head back and then dug into her exposed neck with his teeth. She tightened her grip on him with her leg and scratched her nails across his scalp. Rodolphus increased the pace of this thrusts, breathing hard, knowing he was going to come in a moment, but wanting to draw the pleasure out as long as possible. He wanted to break her, to make her scream his name, to show him that finally, once and for all, that she was his.

He felt her cunt tightening around his cock and a whine escaped his throat as the pleasure threatened to reach a peak. Then she was writhing against him, moaning from the back of her throat and grinding her hips against him in time with his thrusts. Her orgasm pushed Rodolphus beyond the edge of control and he came, shouting, "Bellatrix! You bitch, you slut, you Salazar-forsaken whore."

The world was red and pulsing. It seemed to have narrowed to just the two of them. "You're mine, Bella. Mine!"

"That's what you think, Roddy. But it's never really been true, has it?"

Rodolphus pulled back his arm and slapped her across the face hard enough to make a thin streak of blood fly from her mouth. She turned back to him, met his eyes, her own burning and delighted, and licked the blood from her lips.

As he pulled out of her and re-fastened his clothing, Rodolphus could hear that the baby was now shrieking. Bellatrix smirked at him and then gathered her torn robes up and around herself, shaking out her hair. Barty was giggling in the doorway. The first light of day began to pour in through the windows. "You're mine," whispered Rodolphus, and Bellatrix laughed.

The Aurors didn't even give them the chance to fight. The air turned red and then there was naught but darkness.

Rodolphus remained dazed through the trial and sentencing. None of it seemed real. The only real thing was Bellatrix, standing straight and proud, refusing to admit either regret or defeat. She was his. All that power, all that strength. His.

"You're mine, Bella!" he shrieked as they were dragged down the icy corridors of Azkaban. "Don't you forget it! You're mine and you always will be. He's gone forever and you belong to me!"

Her only response was laughter – echoing against the stone walls, seeming to get louder even as the doors to their separate cells were slammed shut and sealed. Laughter. It never seemed to end.

-- Fin