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Argentum in Aqua
Finn McLellan

All student magician Jonathan Fest wants is to keep his head down and finish out his first year of university without failing his exams too badly. Unfortunately for him, fate and the two secret societies warring in the shadows of the city have other plans.

Enter stage left Archer, a gentleman scholar with a past a good deal more chequered than his present would suggest; Sabbat, a thief and assassin whose loyalty to the few people he counts as friends is as unshakeable as his temper is fiery; and Viola, lady’s maid, bodyguard, and surrogate big sister to the only daughter of the most famous family of magicians in Sacaan. Thrown together by a series of unexplained events, the four magicians soon find themselves facing down a cunning adversary and an escalation in the shadow war which could spell disaster not just for them, but for the city as a whole.

Penny dreadfuls, it turns out, are a lot less fun when you’re in one. 


Wordcount? 
Fucked if I know - a lot and then some (over 500,000 words and counting for the serial as a whole, last I checked). 

Genre? 
Queer Gothic gaslamp fantasy.

Enemies to lovers? Friends to lovers? 
Not actually a romance per se, but the latter in the case of a certain couple of POV characters. Also the slowest of slow burns. No, seriously, slower than that. 

Audience? 
Well, we've got a POV character who uses the word 'fuck' and its derivatives as a warning a noun's coming (hi Sabbat), so...

Argentum in Aqua Finn McLellan All student magician Jonathan Fest wants is to keep his head down and finish out his first year of university without failing his exams too badly. Unfortunately for him, fate and the two secret societies warring in the shadows of the city have other plans. Enter stage left Archer, a gentleman scholar with a past a good deal more chequered than his present would suggest; Sabbat, a thief and assassin whose loyalty to the few people he counts as friends is as unshakeable as his temper is fiery; and Viola, lady’s maid, bodyguard, and surrogate big sister to the only daughter of the most famous family of magicians in Sacaan. Thrown together by a series of unexplained events, the four magicians soon find themselves facing down a cunning adversary and an escalation in the shadow war which could spell disaster not just for them, but for the city as a whole. Penny dreadfuls, it turns out, are a lot less fun when you’re in one. Wordcount? Fucked if I know - a lot and then some (over 500,000 words and counting for the serial as a whole, last I checked). Genre? Queer Gothic gaslamp fantasy. Enemies to lovers? Friends to lovers? Not actually a romance per se, but the latter in the case of a certain couple of POV characters. Also the slowest of slow burns. No, seriously, slower than that. Audience? Well, we've got a POV character who uses the word 'fuck' and its derivatives as a warning a noun's coming (hi Sabbat), so...

Argentum in Aqua (Finn McLellan)
Blood on the Snow, Silver in the Ashes, Fire in the Sky

    • Queer Gothic gaslamp fantasy
    • Werewolves, vampires, magicians, and a whole lot of blood, swearing, and tea
    • Bisexual vampire gentleman scholar
    • Disabled transmasc assassin/thief
    • Lesbian werewolf bodyguard/lady’s maid
    • Deeply out-of-his-depth anxiety-ridden autistic vampire student (who’s ace, he just doesn’t know it yet)
    • Culturally (and personally) Significant Knives
    • Fog-shrouded streets, rooftop chases, fights in alleyways, mysterious boxes…

Ongoing web serial:
read online at https://saranadosfiction.com/
or in ebook form at https://finn-mclellan.itch.io/

Argentum in Aqua (Finn McLellan) Blood on the Snow, Silver in the Ashes, Fire in the Sky • Queer Gothic gaslamp fantasy • Werewolves, vampires, magicians, and a whole lot of blood, swearing, and tea • Bisexual vampire gentleman scholar • Disabled transmasc assassin/thief • Lesbian werewolf bodyguard/lady’s maid • Deeply out-of-his-depth anxiety-ridden autistic vampire student (who’s ace, he just doesn’t know it yet) • Culturally (and personally) Significant Knives • Fog-shrouded streets, rooftop chases, fights in alleyways, mysterious boxes… Ongoing web serial: read online at https://saranadosfiction.com/ or in ebook form at https://finn-mclellan.itch.io/

If you're looking for some queer Gothic gaslamp fantasy to sink your teeth into this #TransRightsReadathon, can I interest you in my ongoing serial #ArgentumInAqua?

saranadosfiction.com/blood-on-the...

finn-mclellan.itch.io

(Contains a fair whack of blood and a *lot* of swearing)

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Preview
Collar [Author’s note: this is post-Fire in the Sky Archer/Sabbat pure BDSM-flavoured (mostly D/s and bondage) NSFW erotica/smut – if sex scenes aren’t your thing, this isn’t going…

I don't have anything written specifically for today, but if you want a wee bit of spice with your Valentine sweetness and don't mind spoilers: saranadosfiction.com/2026/01/17/c...

#ArgentumInAqua

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“I didn’t ask you here to to mock me.”

“No, you tried to lure me into helping you without giving me a damn choice in the matter, and also I’m the one who asked *you* here because I was still willing to hear you out after that. So deal plainly, or don’t deal at all. Your choice.”

“Alright.” She leant forward, resting her chin on her folded hands. “But not here.”

“What?”

“You were right to suggest we meet here, but it’s still not private enough for what I want to talk to you about. So… when you duel Adam-“

“You know about that?”

“We do still *talk* to each other, you know. I know he plans to send the formal challenge today, for the end of the week. I also know the location, and the fact it’s to first blood. So when you fight, I want you to lose.”

“Fuck off,” Mortimer spat, before he could stop himself. “If you think for one damn moment I’m going to-” *And that’s Lucy Foreval you’re mouthing off to and you need to shut up. Now.*

“I didn’t ask you here to to mock me.” “No, you tried to lure me into helping you without giving me a damn choice in the matter, and also I’m the one who asked *you* here because I was still willing to hear you out after that. So deal plainly, or don’t deal at all. Your choice.” “Alright.” She leant forward, resting her chin on her folded hands. “But not here.” “What?” “You were right to suggest we meet here, but it’s still not private enough for what I want to talk to you about. So… when you duel Adam-“ “You know about that?” “We do still *talk* to each other, you know. I know he plans to send the formal challenge today, for the end of the week. I also know the location, and the fact it’s to first blood. So when you fight, I want you to lose.” “Fuck off,” Mortimer spat, before he could stop himself. “If you think for one damn moment I’m going to-” *And that’s Lucy Foreval you’re mouthing off to and you need to shut up. Now.*

Fire in the Sky (Argentum in Aqua 3): Chapter 20

In which Fest learns more than he expected, and Mortimer agrees to something he may come to regret
saranadosfiction.com/2026/02/14/f...

New to the serial? Start here: saranadosfiction.com/2018/05/19/a...

#ArgentumInAqua
#GaslampFantasy

🌈📚🪐📚😱
♿♾📚

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Preview
Fire in the Sky: Chapter 20 (draft) | Finn McLellan Get more from Finn McLellan on Patreon

Over on Patreon, Chapter 20 of Fire in the Sky and the concerning conversations continue (this'll go up on my site for everyone next Saturday): www.patreon.com/posts/fire-i...

#ArgentumInAqua

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*No. Head up, shoulders back, and face the world. And, once she shows up again, your sister-in-law in everything but name, who’s almost certainly going to tear another pile of strips off you for what you did, and you’ll deserve every damn one of them.* 

He couldn’t even pretend she didn’t have a point, not really. Amelia was brave, and clever, and a damn sight more able to look out for herself than her parents and even her sister realised, but she was also headstrong, impulsive, and about as inconspicuous as a diamond in a coalshed – all of which meant that any attempt to have her infiltrate the Sinnlenst, even under a cover story that she’d been unsettlingly quick to come up with, was likely doomed to failure from the very start. 

And yet, for all that, there was still a part of him that’d wanted to believe it was workable. 

*Because then she’d not be worrying herself to death about me and I’d not be worrying myself to death about her, and whatever happened, we’d be facing it together, and if someone tried to kidnap her I’d at the very least be able to throw myself in the way, even if I couldn’t get a blade between her and the bastard.* 

And that right there was the bruised and bleeding heart of the whole godsdamn thing, wasn’t it? Because he’d not been able to do a damn thing when Avebury and his minions had kidnapped his Da and if the same thing happened to the woman he loved and he wasn’t there to stop it, he was fairly bloody certain what little hold he still had on his sanity would snap like an overtaxed girth.

*No. Head up, shoulders back, and face the world. And, once she shows up again, your sister-in-law in everything but name, who’s almost certainly going to tear another pile of strips off you for what you did, and you’ll deserve every damn one of them.* He couldn’t even pretend she didn’t have a point, not really. Amelia was brave, and clever, and a damn sight more able to look out for herself than her parents and even her sister realised, but she was also headstrong, impulsive, and about as inconspicuous as a diamond in a coalshed – all of which meant that any attempt to have her infiltrate the Sinnlenst, even under a cover story that she’d been unsettlingly quick to come up with, was likely doomed to failure from the very start. And yet, for all that, there was still a part of him that’d wanted to believe it was workable. *Because then she’d not be worrying herself to death about me and I’d not be worrying myself to death about her, and whatever happened, we’d be facing it together, and if someone tried to kidnap her I’d at the very least be able to throw myself in the way, even if I couldn’t get a blade between her and the bastard.* And that right there was the bruised and bleeding heart of the whole godsdamn thing, wasn’t it? Because he’d not been able to do a damn thing when Avebury and his minions had kidnapped his Da and if the same thing happened to the woman he loved and he wasn’t there to stop it, he was fairly bloody certain what little hold he still had on his sanity would snap like an overtaxed girth.

Fire in the Sky (Argentum in Aqua 3): Chapter 19

In which both Mortimer and Viola find themselves ambushed by unexpected conversations
saranadosfiction.com/2026/02/02/f...

New to the serial? Start here: saranadosfiction.com/2018/05/19/a...

#ArgentumInAqua
#GaslampFantasy

🌈📚🪐📚😱
♿♾📚

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Preview
Clothing and Embroidery: Part Three (Some Notes on Job-Specific Clothing) [Because Jai got an AU stuck in my head, which meant I suddenly had to figure out how sex workers in Sacaan dress when they’re, y’know, working] So! Having talked about clothing in gene…

New worldbuilding post! This time, a small one looking at a couple of examples of job-specific clothing: saranadosfiction.com/2026/01/12/c...

#ArgentumInAqua

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“Hey, you two. Rise and shine, will you?”

Nothing. 

“Hey,” she said again, louder. “Up. Ideally, now.”

Amelia made a small irritated noise and curled in closer against Mortimer’s side, burying her face against his ribs. Mortimer, for his part, stirred, muttered something incomprehensible, and then said, with perfect clarity, “Fuck off.”

*…Probably should have expected that, shouldn’t I?*

“Look. Unless you get yourself out of that bed and dressed in the next five minutes, we’re going to have a problem.”

“Going to have a problem yourself if you don’t bloody well leave me to-” he began, and then stopped short, blinking in apparent confusion. “Wait. Where-?”

“The Luciel townhouse, and my baby sister’s bedroom. Which, incidentally, is why I need you up and dressed and *out* before my lady or my lord comes knocking to ask why their darling daughter isn’t down at breakfast yet.”

“…Oh gods.”

“Exactly.”

“Hey, you two. Rise and shine, will you?” Nothing. “Hey,” she said again, louder. “Up. Ideally, now.” Amelia made a small irritated noise and curled in closer against Mortimer’s side, burying her face against his ribs. Mortimer, for his part, stirred, muttered something incomprehensible, and then said, with perfect clarity, “Fuck off.” *…Probably should have expected that, shouldn’t I?* “Look. Unless you get yourself out of that bed and dressed in the next five minutes, we’re going to have a problem.” “Going to have a problem yourself if you don’t bloody well leave me to-” he began, and then stopped short, blinking in apparent confusion. “Wait. Where-?” “The Luciel townhouse, and my baby sister’s bedroom. Which, incidentally, is why I need you up and dressed and *out* before my lady or my lord comes knocking to ask why their darling daughter isn’t down at breakfast yet.” “…Oh gods.” “Exactly.”

Fire in the Sky (Argentum in Aqua 3): Chapter 18

In which Viola is exasperated
saranadosfiction.com/2026/01/10/f...

New to the serial? Start here: saranadosfiction.com/2018/05/19/a...

#ArgentumInAqua
#GaslampFantasy

🌈📚🪐📚😱
♿♾📚

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Preview
Fire in the Sky: Chapter 18 (draft) | Finn McLellan Get more from Finn McLellan on Patreon

And we're back! Chapter 18 of Fire in the Sky is now up on Patreon, going live on the site this Saturday.

www.patreon.com/posts/147630...

#ArgentumInAqua

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Preview
Braving Lightning, Sailing the Storm [Author’s note: Back into Sabbat’s – and Archer’s – backstory here, and the incident that set the two of them on the path that led to… well, everything else] The…

Back in Sabbat and Archer's time as pirates, and Sabbat's managed to get himself in a whole fucking mess of trouble...

saranadosfiction.com/2025/12/29/b...

#ArgentumInAqua

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Preview
The Girl Who Swallowed The Ocean, The Boy Who Rode The Storm by Finn McLellan Short stories from the world of Argentum in Aqua (Sabbat's backstory, specifically)

No new chapter today (lingering cold plus holiday logistics plus [good but stressful] live admin), but... finn-mclellan.itch.io/the-girl-who...

#ArgentumInAqua

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!!! And continued !!! <3

The Argentum crew! (Well, the crew minus Viola, because we were running out of time before folks needed sleep)

Also, first ever art of Mortimer and Fest!

(Yes, I am very very happy about this, can you tell?)

#ArgentumInAqua

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“Calls herself Cass. Brokenhill Runners’ boss.”

*That* got a reaction out of him – he blinked, pushed halfway to sitting before he remembered Sabbat was still lying on his chest, and then sank back down against the bed looking as though someone’d fucking concussed him.

*So much for ‘anyone you know and I don’t’, then. Though how in the hells did* he *wind up running into her? Ain’t as if he does much in Old Town that ain’t to do with me or the Watch, and she ain’t likely to be palling around with them.* “Guessin’ she ain’t a stranger after all.”

“…No, apparently not. Do you remember me telling you about the gang who tried to mug me the morning we had that first war council, back at the start of all this?”

Didn’t ring a bell, though that didn’t mean he hadn’t mentioned it. “Plenty of idiots try t’mug you, on account o’th’fact y’keep walkin’ into the fuckin’ River Quarter dressed like a fuckin’ toff. Ain’t t’me t’keep track of every fucker with a soddin’ death wish.”

“Calls herself Cass. Brokenhill Runners’ boss.” *That* got a reaction out of him – he blinked, pushed halfway to sitting before he remembered Sabbat was still lying on his chest, and then sank back down against the bed looking as though someone’d fucking concussed him. *So much for ‘anyone you know and I don’t’, then. Though how in the hells did* he *wind up running into her? Ain’t as if he does much in Old Town that ain’t to do with me or the Watch, and she ain’t likely to be palling around with them.* “Guessin’ she ain’t a stranger after all.” “…No, apparently not. Do you remember me telling you about the gang who tried to mug me the morning we had that first war council, back at the start of all this?” Didn’t ring a bell, though that didn’t mean he hadn’t mentioned it. “Plenty of idiots try t’mug you, on account o’th’fact y’keep walkin’ into the fuckin’ River Quarter dressed like a fuckin’ toff. Ain’t t’me t’keep track of every fucker with a soddin’ death wish.”

Fire in the Sky (Argentum in Aqua 3): Chapter 17

In which Sabbat and Archer share a moment of quiet
saranadosfiction.com/2025/11/22/f...

New to the serial? Start here: saranadosfiction.com/2018/05/19/a...

#ArgentumInAqua
#GaslampFantasy

🌈📚🪐📚😱
♿♾📚

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“You,” Seb growled, stalking towards her, “are bloody *late*, you know that?” He reached her in two short strides, throwing his arms around her and hugging her hard enough that she swore she could feel her ribs creaking under the strain. “Spirits and ancestors, if you knew how much I’ve been bloody worrying about you… Why didn’t you *write*?”

“Love you too, brother of mine,” Viola gasped, trying and failing to wriggle her way free of her twin’s embrace. “And I would’ve done, except for the fact I was busy and also not actually meant to be there, and you know as well as I do that letters can get intercepted.”

“So instead you let me think my baby sister-“

“Two minutes doesn’t make me the damn baby here!”

“-my *baby sister*,” Seb went on, unrepentantly, “had gone and got herself into the ancestors-know-what-kind of trouble up there, especially when we heard about the Hall. Spirits, I could bloody throttle you!”

“You’re halfway to doing that already. Let me breathe, damn you!” And, once he’d eased off the hug enough that she could actually get a full lungful of air, “What’s happening up here, anyhow? There shouldn’t be that many windows lit, not at this hour.”

“You,” Seb growled, stalking towards her, “are bloody *late*, you know that?” He reached her in two short strides, throwing his arms around her and hugging her hard enough that she swore she could feel her ribs creaking under the strain. “Spirits and ancestors, if you knew how much I’ve been bloody worrying about you… Why didn’t you *write*?” “Love you too, brother of mine,” Viola gasped, trying and failing to wriggle her way free of her twin’s embrace. “And I would’ve done, except for the fact I was busy and also not actually meant to be there, and you know as well as I do that letters can get intercepted.” “So instead you let me think my baby sister-“ “Two minutes doesn’t make me the damn baby here!” “-my *baby sister*,” Seb went on, unrepentantly, “had gone and got herself into the ancestors-know-what-kind of trouble up there, especially when we heard about the Hall. Spirits, I could bloody throttle you!” “You’re halfway to doing that already. Let me breathe, damn you!” And, once he’d eased off the hug enough that she could actually get a full lungful of air, “What’s happening up here, anyhow? There shouldn’t be that many windows lit, not at this hour.”

Fire in the Sky (Argentum in Aqua 3): Chapter 16

In which Viola is *finally* reunited with her family
saranadosfiction.com/2025/11/08/f...

New to the serial? Start here: saranadosfiction.com/2018/05/19/a...

#ArgentumInAqua
#GaslampFantasy

🌈📚🪐📚😱
♿♾📚

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Because it's been a wee while and I've got a whole pile of new followers since the last time I re-upped this - the intro thread for those members of the #ArgentumInAqua crew (and their friends and allies) who have character portraits so far (all art is by the wonderful @illustratedjai.bsky.social ):

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And the best, the *only* way to answer him, was to silence that halfway-to-asking question with a kiss hard and fast enough to drive the breath from his lungs and, if the gods were with them, every shadow of that damn doubt out of his head. 

“It is,” he murmured against the assassin’s lips, “*exactly* what I wanted.”

“‘s good,” Sabbat managed, after a moment. “Would’ve bin… fuckin’ awkward otherwise.” He shifted position on the bed, pulling Archer down towards him as he did so. “Gods… Want-“

“Yes?”

“Nothin’. Din’t say anythin’.”

*And I’d let you have that, if I didn’t see that flush over your cheekbones. And if you weren’t practically trying to pull me down on top of you.* “Liar. If you want me to stop-“

“Go fuck y’self,” Sabbat growled, and kissed him again. “Din’t say that, did I?”

“True. Besides, I trust you to tell me if I go too far.” And, because it almost certainly needed to be said before they got too much further, “With words, ideally, rather than knives.”

And the best, the *only* way to answer him, was to silence that halfway-to-asking question with a kiss hard and fast enough to drive the breath from his lungs and, if the gods were with them, every shadow of that damn doubt out of his head. “It is,” he murmured against the assassin’s lips, “*exactly* what I wanted.” “‘s good,” Sabbat managed, after a moment. “Would’ve bin… fuckin’ awkward otherwise.” He shifted position on the bed, pulling Archer down towards him as he did so. “Gods… Want-“ “Yes?” “Nothin’. Din’t say anythin’.” *And I’d let you have that, if I didn’t see that flush over your cheekbones. And if you weren’t practically trying to pull me down on top of you.* “Liar. If you want me to stop-“ “Go fuck y’self,” Sabbat growled, and kissed him again. “Din’t say that, did I?” “True. Besides, I trust you to tell me if I go too far.” And, because it almost certainly needed to be said before they got too much further, “With words, ideally, rather than knives.”

Fire in the Sky (Argentum in Aqua 3): Chapter 15

In which several of the crew find that others know them almost better than they know themselves
saranadosfiction.com/2025/10/25/f...

New to the serial? Start here: saranadosfiction.com/2018/05/19/a...

#ArgentumInAqua
#GaslampFantasy

🌈📚🪐📚😱
♿♾📚

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Preview
A quick heads-up about tomorrow’s chapter So Chapter 15 of Fire in the Sky comes out tomorrow and, to cut right to the chase in terms of why I’m making this post, there’s a sex scene towards the end. If that’s not your cu…

Quick heads-up about tomorrow's chapter (TL;DR there's a sex scene, this tells you where it starts if you want to skip it because that's not your cup of tea/you're reading on the train/etc):

saranadosfiction.com/2025/10/24/a...

#ArgentumInAqua

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So the first spoken line in #ArgentumInAqua is Archer's, and it's also the first line after the (very short prologue).

"“I suppose it would be too much to ask for you to wash up *before* you invite me in."

(Said to Sabbat, who's very much covered in gore at this point in the narrative)

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*And wasn’t as though he wasn’t just as willing. Hells, more.* 

He was fairly certain Archer’d been kissing him hard enough to bruise, by the end of it. He was also fairly fucking certain he’d not mind if he wanted to do it again. 

“So,” Archer said, once the others’d got far enough away that Sabbat couldn’t hear their footsteps any more. “I believe you were going to explain why you decided to punch me in the face.” He poked at his nose again, though it looked to be healing just fine from what Sabbat could tell. “I don’t doubt I’ve done something to deserve it at some point or another, I’ll admit, but you said it was about the sixdamn box, and I categorically deny having anything to do with *that.*”

“Aye, I know. You ain’t that good a liar.” 

“Then enlighten me.”

He didn’t want to. If he told Archer what he’d learned from Cass, he was as good as admitting yet another fucking weakness, and this one worse than all the rest combined. And, more, Archer’d blame himself for not knowing, and if he started thinking that Sabbat’d only said yes to him because of it, then… 

*Then we deal with that when it fucking happens. And besides, would you rather tell him now or have him find out when you collapse out on a rooftop somewhere because your legs stopped fucking working again?*

*And wasn’t as though he wasn’t just as willing. Hells, more.* He was fairly certain Archer’d been kissing him hard enough to bruise, by the end of it. He was also fairly fucking certain he’d not mind if he wanted to do it again. “So,” Archer said, once the others’d got far enough away that Sabbat couldn’t hear their footsteps any more. “I believe you were going to explain why you decided to punch me in the face.” He poked at his nose again, though it looked to be healing just fine from what Sabbat could tell. “I don’t doubt I’ve done something to deserve it at some point or another, I’ll admit, but you said it was about the sixdamn box, and I categorically deny having anything to do with *that.*” “Aye, I know. You ain’t that good a liar.” “Then enlighten me.” He didn’t want to. If he told Archer what he’d learned from Cass, he was as good as admitting yet another fucking weakness, and this one worse than all the rest combined. And, more, Archer’d blame himself for not knowing, and if he started thinking that Sabbat’d only said yes to him because of it, then… *Then we deal with that when it fucking happens. And besides, would you rather tell him now or have him find out when you collapse out on a rooftop somewhere because your legs stopped fucking working again?*

Fire in the Sky (Argentum in Aqua 3): Chapter 14

In which Viola makes a choice, Sabbat makes a confession, and Fest helps Anneke unmake a mess
saranadosfiction.com/2025/10/11/f...

New to the serial? Start here: saranadosfiction.com/2018/05/19/a...

#ArgentumInAqua
#GaslampFantasy

🌈📚🪐📚😱
♿♾📚

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A few more steps brought them out into Cooper’s Yard, where a single gaslamp mounted high up on one wall was making a fair effort to drive away at least some of the fog. The walls of the workshops on either side rose up higher than she could see, disappearing into the mist that blanketed the top of the buildings, and she allowed herself a brief moment to stop and breathe, taking a deep, smoke-scented lungful of-

-of air that suddenly carried a scent that was oh-so-very familiar, even blurred with blood and river water and a thin trace of the rotten-sweet stench that set her hackles up and her heart racing before she realised that *he* couldn’t possibly be here if that was all the weight of his scent that she was getting. 

*Oh thank the spirits and ancestors both!*

And, close on the heels of that thought, *But is he still him? It’s been long enough since I last saw him that he could’ve changed, and there’s nothing to say that Caine’s stench is him and not just the way all Turned smell when they start going feral.* 

If it was the latter, she was dead – by Archer’s hand, if not his, because she doubted he’d forgive her for letting his friend (lover? partner? Whatever they were to each other, it wasn’t the bloody *point* right now) go off and lose himself in a way he’d never come back from. 

Then again, she’d probably not forgive herself either.

A few more steps brought them out into Cooper’s Yard, where a single gaslamp mounted high up on one wall was making a fair effort to drive away at least some of the fog. The walls of the workshops on either side rose up higher than she could see, disappearing into the mist that blanketed the top of the buildings, and she allowed herself a brief moment to stop and breathe, taking a deep, smoke-scented lungful of- -of air that suddenly carried a scent that was oh-so-very familiar, even blurred with blood and river water and a thin trace of the rotten-sweet stench that set her hackles up and her heart racing before she realised that *he* couldn’t possibly be here if that was all the weight of his scent that she was getting. *Oh thank the spirits and ancestors both!* And, close on the heels of that thought, *But is he still him? It’s been long enough since I last saw him that he could’ve changed, and there’s nothing to say that Caine’s stench is him and not just the way all Turned smell when they start going feral.* If it was the latter, she was dead – by Archer’s hand, if not his, because she doubted he’d forgive her for letting his friend (lover? partner? Whatever they were to each other, it wasn’t the bloody *point* right now) go off and lose himself in a way he’d never come back from. Then again, she’d probably not forgive herself either.

Fire in the Sky (Argentum in Aqua 3): Chapter 13

In which a reunion occurs
saranadosfiction.com/2025/09/27/f...

New to the serial? Start here: saranadosfiction.com/2018/05/19/a...

#ArgentumInAqua
#GaslampFantasy

🌈📚🪐📚😱
♿♾📚

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“I’ll not ask if you’re alright, because you’re quite clearly not – and, honestly, I’d be surprised if you were under the circumstances. Are you sound enough for combat, if it comes to it?”

*Think that’s about the only way you could have phrased that which didn’t immediately make me want to hit you. Congratulations.* “Yes. I’ve all the same training as you, and more recent battlefield experience to back it. I’m fine.”

“Good. They seem to be flagging – late night guard duty with nothing to guard against and no fires or drinking on the street allowed, by my guess, given the guards at the door went inside a good half hour ago – and the silhouettes with rifles haven’t moved since I’ve been watching them, which argues that we’re looking at cutouts and shadow-play rather than extra bodies. By my guess and my pocketwatch, there’ll be another shift-change in just over an hour, which means if we strike now we can be well away before that happens.”

“Strik- You mean we’re going in?” 

Stupid question, stupid obvious question, but if Archer hadn’t meant what he said, he had one damn chance to clarify that fact and he’d better do it bloody quickly. 

“Yes. Bladework only, quiet as possible, hard and fast once we engage in combat, and no survivors. We don’t have the luxury of being merciful about this, not if we want to keep your cover intact.”

“*Good.*”

“I’ll not ask if you’re alright, because you’re quite clearly not – and, honestly, I’d be surprised if you were under the circumstances. Are you sound enough for combat, if it comes to it?” *Think that’s about the only way you could have phrased that which didn’t immediately make me want to hit you. Congratulations.* “Yes. I’ve all the same training as you, and more recent battlefield experience to back it. I’m fine.” “Good. They seem to be flagging – late night guard duty with nothing to guard against and no fires or drinking on the street allowed, by my guess, given the guards at the door went inside a good half hour ago – and the silhouettes with rifles haven’t moved since I’ve been watching them, which argues that we’re looking at cutouts and shadow-play rather than extra bodies. By my guess and my pocketwatch, there’ll be another shift-change in just over an hour, which means if we strike now we can be well away before that happens.” “Strik- You mean we’re going in?” Stupid question, stupid obvious question, but if Archer hadn’t meant what he said, he had one damn chance to clarify that fact and he’d better do it bloody quickly. “Yes. Bladework only, quiet as possible, hard and fast once we engage in combat, and no survivors. We don’t have the luxury of being merciful about this, not if we want to keep your cover intact.” “*Good.*”

Fire in the Sky (Argentum in Aqua 3): Chapter 12

In which Archer and Mortimer have some unexpected luck
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New to the serial? Start here: saranadosfiction.com/2018/05/19/a...

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Made a fuck of a lot of sense, put like that. Also made him want to get back to Archer even more, because if he’d known and hadn’t thought to mention it – or, worse, had deliberately kept it from him – then there was going to be a fucking *reckoning.* 

*Ain’t saying I’d’ve made a different choice, mind. But I should’ve been able to make that choice knowing everything there was to fucking know about what the outcome’d be.* 

He’d not kill him – not permanently, anyroad. But breaking his nose for him’d be a good reminder that there were sixdamn limits to what Sabbat was prepared to put up with when it came to other people making decisions on his behalf. 

“Guessin’ you didn’t know that,” Cass said, quietly. “If it helps, fair certain that ain’t common knowledge, so whoever-“

“Shut up an’ tell me how t’fuckin’ fix it.”

She sighed. “Ain’t that easy, laddie. Trust me, I’ve tried. What I *can* do for you is give you a good dose of blood an’ a set of dry clothes, plus a place to kip for the night if you’re not in any hurry tae go anywhere.”

Made a fuck of a lot of sense, put like that. Also made him want to get back to Archer even more, because if he’d known and hadn’t thought to mention it – or, worse, had deliberately kept it from him – then there was going to be a fucking *reckoning.* *Ain’t saying I’d’ve made a different choice, mind. But I should’ve been able to make that choice knowing everything there was to fucking know about what the outcome’d be.* He’d not kill him – not permanently, anyroad. But breaking his nose for him’d be a good reminder that there were sixdamn limits to what Sabbat was prepared to put up with when it came to other people making decisions on his behalf. “Guessin’ you didn’t know that,” Cass said, quietly. “If it helps, fair certain that ain’t common knowledge, so whoever-“ “Shut up an’ tell me how t’fuckin’ fix it.” She sighed. “Ain’t that easy, laddie. Trust me, I’ve tried. What I *can* do for you is give you a good dose of blood an’ a set of dry clothes, plus a place to kip for the night if you’re not in any hurry tae go anywhere.”

Fire in the Sky (Argentum in Aqua 3): Chapter 11

In which Sabbat learns more than he’d bargained for about his current condition
saranadosfiction.com/2025/08/27/f...

New to the serial? Start here: saranadosfiction.com/2018/05/19/a...

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Re-upping for the morning crowd/the folks who spend Shabbat offline

Want an introduction first? Start here: saranadosfiction.com/2023/12/11/a...

Want an offline copy of the current draft of the first two books? Go here: finn-mclellan.itch.io

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“I don’t actually know which safehouse we’re supposed to be going to or where it is.”

“Oh, is that all? I know where pretty much all of the ones this side of the river are, so if you can tell me the vague direction-“

“I can do better than that,” Viola said, from behind them. 

Fest jumped, whirling around to face her – and then immediately whirling right back around and almost falling down the stairs in the process, because she was wearing all of nothing and a spray of blood, and he was very certain that staring at naked ladies (even naked werewolf ladies) was something that a gentleman didn’t do no matter how blasé the lady in question was about the whole situation. “How did you- Where did you-?”

“From downstairs, and easily enough once that lot’d decided they didn’t want my opinions on what to do with their prisoners.” She growled softly. “Told ’em the best thing to do with all of that lot was kill ’em and dump the bodies in the river, but apparently they’d rather stand around and debate all day than take the sensible option – no offence meant, Anneke.”

“None taken,” Anneke said, sounding more than a little dazed. “Er… who are you, again?”

“I don’t actually know which safehouse we’re supposed to be going to or where it is.” “Oh, is that all? I know where pretty much all of the ones this side of the river are, so if you can tell me the vague direction-“ “I can do better than that,” Viola said, from behind them. Fest jumped, whirling around to face her – and then immediately whirling right back around and almost falling down the stairs in the process, because she was wearing all of nothing and a spray of blood, and he was very certain that staring at naked ladies (even naked werewolf ladies) was something that a gentleman didn’t do no matter how blasé the lady in question was about the whole situation. “How did you- Where did you-?” “From downstairs, and easily enough once that lot’d decided they didn’t want my opinions on what to do with their prisoners.” She growled softly. “Told ’em the best thing to do with all of that lot was kill ’em and dump the bodies in the river, but apparently they’d rather stand around and debate all day than take the sensible option – no offence meant, Anneke.” “None taken,” Anneke said, sounding more than a little dazed. “Er… who are you, again?”

Fire in the Sky (Argentum in Aqua 3): Chapter 10

In which a rescue goes off surprisingly well, and a kiss… doesn’t (but not, perhaps, in the way you’re thinking)
saranadosfiction.com/2025/08/16/f...

New to the serial? Start here saranadosfiction.com/2018/05/19/a...

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“Ain’t a ganger. Used t’run with one as a kid, workin’ fer m’self now.” *Ain't entirely true, but more'n that'd be information she ain't paid me near enough for.*

“Thief?”

“Cutthroat, fer the most part. Thief when I feel like it.” And before she could raise the question: “Used t’be a second-storey man. Pickpocket, afore that.”

“Ever take an honest job?”

*None of your business, kid.* Might’ve been a rote question – and there was a rote answer to go along with it, which they both knew he was going to give – but she didn’t have the rank to go interrogating him, and he’d already let her take a fucking liberty by claiming uncontested control of the territory. But then again, he was still halfway to freezing to death, and she did have a gang to back her up. *So, play the damn game. However much it fucking galls.* “Never and none, an’ never will.”

“Alright. One more question, stranger.” She leant in closer, pulling her scarf down enough that he could see the tail of the scar ripping through the corner of her mouth, and lowered her voice. “How’d you get Turned?”

“Ain’t a ganger. Used t’run with one as a kid, workin’ fer m’self now.” *Ain't entirely true, but more'n that'd be information she ain't paid me near enough for.* “Thief?” “Cutthroat, fer the most part. Thief when I feel like it.” And before she could raise the question: “Used t’be a second-storey man. Pickpocket, afore that.” “Ever take an honest job?” *None of your business, kid.* Might’ve been a rote question – and there was a rote answer to go along with it, which they both knew he was going to give – but she didn’t have the rank to go interrogating him, and he’d already let her take a fucking liberty by claiming uncontested control of the territory. But then again, he was still halfway to freezing to death, and she did have a gang to back her up. *So, play the damn game. However much it fucking galls.* “Never and none, an’ never will.” “Alright. One more question, stranger.” She leant in closer, pulling her scarf down enough that he could see the tail of the scar ripping through the corner of her mouth, and lowered her voice. “How’d you get Turned?”

Fire in the Sky (Argentum in Aqua 3): Chapter 9

In which Sabbat runs into an unexpectedly familiar face
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Vampires and werewolves in Sacaan (and the world as a whole) There are three sapient species who call Sacaan – and the world as a whole – home, each with their own traditions, history, and quirks of biology. For this worldbuilding post, however, …

Unexpected worldbuilding post (because @stardustrohrig.com mentioned that there wasn't one about vampires and werewolves yet, and I got inspired):

saranadosfiction.com/2025/07/25/v...

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Whatever happened, he wasn’t going to hand Anneke over to the Sinnlenst, which meant he’d somehow have to find a way to either slip free of his escort or otherwise incapacitate them – ideally before they caught sight of the specific priest they’d come here to find, because doing it afterwards was going to be a hell of a lot more difficult – and, if possible, do it without them realising that he wasn’t on their side. 

*Which is probably impossible, and we’re probably going to have to kill them anyway, and why did I think this was in any way a good idea?*

Because the alternative would have been worse, and at least this way he had a chance at solving this without too much in the way of bloodshed. 

*And why would that be important? They’re* Sinnlenst, *in case you’ve forgotten. They’d be perfectly happy to murder you and dump your body in the river if they knew where your loyalties really lay.* 

Because he didn’t want to kill anyone – didn’t want to kill anyone *else* – unless he really bloody had to, not least because murder was still a capital crime, even if none of the others seemed to care about that.

Whatever happened, he wasn’t going to hand Anneke over to the Sinnlenst, which meant he’d somehow have to find a way to either slip free of his escort or otherwise incapacitate them – ideally before they caught sight of the specific priest they’d come here to find, because doing it afterwards was going to be a hell of a lot more difficult – and, if possible, do it without them realising that he wasn’t on their side. *Which is probably impossible, and we’re probably going to have to kill them anyway, and why did I think this was in any way a good idea?* Because the alternative would have been worse, and at least this way he had a chance at solving this without too much in the way of bloodshed. *And why would that be important? They’re* Sinnlenst, *in case you’ve forgotten. They’d be perfectly happy to murder you and dump your body in the river if they knew where your loyalties really lay.* Because he didn’t want to kill anyone – didn’t want to kill anyone *else* – unless he really bloody had to, not least because murder was still a capital crime, even if none of the others seemed to care about that.

Fire in the Sky (Argentum in Aqua 3): Chapter 8

In which Fest and Viola infiltrate a temple
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Fair Winds and a Following Sea [Author’s note: Sabbat’s backstory again, slotting in between A Knack for Murder and Sealed in Blood and Saltwater, as we follow him through the culmination of his transition. Usual con…

So I didn't *mean* to write another short, but then this got into my head and wouldn't leave, so...

Back in Sabbat's backstory, and we're following him through the culmination of his transition:

saranadosfiction.com/2025/07/16/f...

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@argentum-in-aqua · Argentum in Aqua: an LGBTQ+ Gothic gaslamp fantasy trilogy A link archive for the trilogy (Blood on the Snow, Silver in the Ashes, Fire in the Sky). The story itself, as well as short fiction in the same universe, can be found over at https://saranadosficti...

Reminder that if you're reading Argentum and you're on tumblr, I have a sideblog which you can follow for chapter updates (plus AU snippets, occasional lore, and a scattering of reblogs which may or may not be a wee bit spoilery on occasion): www.tumblr.com/argentum-in-...

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*SHIT. SHIT. SHITshitshitshitshitshitshit. FUCK.*

On the one hand, he’d managed to hit the river in something close enough to a dive that he’d not wound up knocking himself out or breaking his neck – growing up on and around docks and ships had its advantages, after all, especially when it came to learning how to survive falling into water even from that kind of a height. On the other, it was fucking *freezing*, knowing how to dive did exactly sod-all when it came to getting the breath knocked out of your body due to sheer fucking cold, and the current had ripped that wound Caine’d given him open even further, so now he was losing even more blood on top of everything else.

At least, he supposed, Caine’d had the good sense to let go of him. Course, that meant he had less than no fucking idea where the other Turned was, but right now that was fairly bloody low on the list of things he was worrying about. Well below, for example, the fact that he desperately fucking needed to breathe.

*SHIT. SHIT. SHITshitshitshitshitshitshit. FUCK.* On the one hand, he’d managed to hit the river in something close enough to a dive that he’d not wound up knocking himself out or breaking his neck – growing up on and around docks and ships had its advantages, after all, especially when it came to learning how to survive falling into water even from that kind of a height. On the other, it was fucking *freezing*, knowing how to dive did exactly sod-all when it came to getting the breath knocked out of your body due to sheer fucking cold, and the current had ripped that wound Caine’d given him open even further, so now he was losing even more blood on top of everything else. At least, he supposed, Caine’d had the good sense to let go of him. Course, that meant he had less than no fucking idea where the other Turned was, but right now that was fairly bloody low on the list of things he was worrying about. Well below, for example, the fact that he desperately fucking needed to breathe.

Fire in the Sky (Argentum in Aqua 3): Chapter 7

In which Sabbat, Viola, and Fest all find themselves in over their heads

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Prelude to a Revolution (This takes place nineteen or so years before the start of Blood on the Snow) In normal years, Sacaan doesn’t have a summer. In the hottest months, where other cities burn in the baking sun o…

Given the weather where I am, an apposite snippet from Sacaan's history - specifically, the long hot summer that led up to the Revolution (and thence to everything that came from that, including, technically, the plot of Argentum): saranadosfiction.com/2023/09/07/p...

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