#I wish they didn't go away when quote reblogging

[shironoegakite]

I have returned to the hellhole, now I need to find my welcome back t-shirt

[seonghrtz]

𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 ✶ nanami kento

꒰ first sight ! ꒱ an invitation to a palace ball gives a young woman hope of reuniting with the dashing stranger she met in the woods.

❛❛ an unlikely encounter in the woods between two desperate souls led to the blossoming of a beautiful friendship ⸻ or perhaps something more. ❜❜

pairing. prince!nanami kento x (cinderella)fem!reader.

contents. cinderella alternative universe, fluff, slight angst, friends to lovers, he fell first he fell harder, royal!au, mentions of death, occ nanami.

amy's note. hi sweetie, this is amy!!! this story was more inspired by the cinderella live action movie (2015). i love this movie and have watched it so many times with my mom that i know it by heart hihihi. also, i had to include the iconic scenes of cinderella and the prince in the garden and the stepmother breaking the crystal slipper!!! and one quote from jane austen's pride and prejudice. in short, just nanami being the prince we deserve!!! i hope you enjoy it and have a good read <3

comments and reblogs are very much appreciated!

𝕺𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐔𝐏𝐎𝐍 𝐀 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄, there was a beautiful, sweet girl called Y/n. This little girl lived a quiet life with her family. Her father was a merchant who traveled frequently and her mother stayed at home, due to her fragile health, teaching her daughter and taking care of her. Although it was a simple life, Y/n was happy and that was enough for her.

However, fate doesn't always have a happy ending for everyone, and her mother eventually passed away due to health complications. And with her last breath, she wished that her daughter would always be kind and gentle, that she would have courage and always want to do good, even when evil tries to prevail. And Y/n promised her mother that her kindness would prevail in the most difficult moments of her life and that she would live a good life.

Not long after her mother's death, the girl's father decided to remarry, looking for a way for his daughter to have a mother figure, not to replace her biological mother, but someone who could be by her side when he couldn't be. Things didn't go well in the family, her stepmother and stepsisters were mean and abusive, taking advantage of her kindness when her father was away on business. And then everything fell apart when the girl's father had an accident on one of his trips and died, leaving his daughter at the mercy of her stepmother and stepsisters' selfish will.

Y/n was reduced to a maid instead of a family member. She was moved from her room to the attic and had to do the housework, washing and cooking all day. She watched as everything her mother believed in and liked gradually disappeared, while things became more her stepmother's style.

One day, tired of everything, the young woman rode into the forest. The wind in her hair and the tears drying on her face felt a little liberating. That same day, she crossed paths with a young man named Kento, who wasn't having his best day either.

An unlikely encounter in the woods between two desperate souls led to the blossoming of a beautiful friendship ⸻ or perhaps something more.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ ✶

Y/n awoke with the sunrise. After years, the young woman had become accustomed to the routine and every morning she rose early to prepare breakfast for her stepmother and stepsisters and then set about cleaning the house. At the very least, doing the chores around the house kept her mind busy.

Just as she was preparing the materials to clean the house, a knock on the front door echoed throughout the house. Y/n left the bucket of water she was holding in a corner and went to the door, surprised by the sudden visit. It was too early for people to leave their homes, and the postman had come the day before.

"Good morning" the young woman smiled politely at the stranger in front of her "What can I do for you?"

"Good morning, miss." The young man fumbled with the bag hanging next to his body and pulled out an envelope, holding it out to the young woman. Y/n took the envelope and watched as the boy said goodbye and walked away without saying another word.

The young woman looked surprised, but shrugged her shoulders. She made her way to the pantry where her stepmother was having breakfast and asked to be excused before entering the room.

"What did I say about coming into the living room while I'm having breakfast?" her stepmother said with a harsh tone.

"Excuse me, but a boy just came by and left this envelope." The young woman placed the envelope on the table and walked away, watching as her stepmother picked it up and opened it.

Y/n waited for a reaction and was startled when the older woman in front of her suddenly stood up from the breakfast table and gave several quick and shouting orders.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, GO WAKE UP MY DAUGHTERS! WE HAVE A ROYAL BALL TO ATTEND AND WE NEED THE BEST DRESSES!”

"A royal ball?" she asked confused.

"The King is giving a ball to find a wife for his son, who will inherit the kingdom, now run along because I need to go into town to find the three best dresses in town! One of my daughters is coming back married that night!"

"Oh, ma'am, that's very kind of you!"

"What?" The stepmother put her hands on her waist.

"The dress..."

"Oh dear, and who says the dress is for you?" the older woman laughed with glee, "Two will be for my beautiful daughters and the other will be for me, I will not spend my money to buy something for you to wear to the ball."

"But could I go to the ball?" she asked hopefully.

"Um..." the stepmother looked the young woman up and down, "If you've done all your chores for the day and have a dress, maybe you could go."

"Ah, thank you, ma'am!" Y/n smiled excitedly at the idea of going to a royal ball.

"Now go wake up my daughters!"

After waking her step-sisters, the young woman watched as the house descended into chaos. The two sisters screamed excitedly at the idea of the royal ball, while their stepmother ordered them to go to the city. Y/n felt true peace only when the house was deserted, just her and the animals in it. And without further ado, the young woman smiled to herself and ran to the stable. Luckily, her stepmother had left just when she had a secret appointment.

On the day she received the news of her father's death, and on the same day she rode aimlessly into the forest, Y/n had met Kento, a young man who had happened to receive tragic news and had ridden into the forest to relax. After the unexpected meeting, the young woman and the man agreed to meet every day in the same place at the same time to talk about their tragedies and successes. However, Y/n had kept these meetings secret, afraid that if her stepmother found out, she would forbid her to meet the boy she knew so little about.

With a slight smile on her face, the young woman rode to the meeting point and was surprised to see Kento waiting for her. Usually, she was the first to arrive, but the euphoria over the news of the ball had delayed her a few minutes.

"Miss." Kento smiled at the sight of her and helped her off the horse.

"Ken, I'm sorry I'm late!" she said, smoothing down the unruly strands that had been messed up by the wind "The invitation to the royal ball ended up stirring things up at home."

"Speaking of the royal ball, will you be attending?" Kento tried to hide the slight hint of hope in his words.

"I still have my doubts about that," she sighed, sitting down on a log next to her horse. "My stepmother said that if I managed to finish all my chores for the day, and if I had a dress, I could go to the ball."

"If they treat you like that, why don't you leave?"

"It's not that easy...not to mention that it's not that bad, other places can be more hostile."

"I see..." the young man sits down next to the woman, "I'd like you to go to the ball so we can have at least one dance.”

The young man's words made her laugh.

"Then I hope you'll save a dance for me."

"I'm saving all the dances for you, you're the only one I want to dance with on the ball night." Kento's words made Y/n feel shy.

"I think there will be many more interesting ladies to dance with." The young woman shifted her gaze to the trees that made up the scenery around her.

"I have no interest in other ladies, none of them can compare to you."

"Kento! You shouldn't say that!"

"Why not? My mother taught me to be honest and I'm just telling the truth," a small smile appeared on his lips.

"Maybe you shouldn't be so direct with your honesty..." The young woman's face burned at the statement of the man next to her.

"Well, I wish you'd come to the ball so we could see each other outside of this forest for once."

"And dance the night away?" she laughed lightly.

"And dance the night away," Kento repeated her question, but this time as a concrete statement, leaving no doubt about his intentions with the young woman on the night of the royal ball.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ ✶

If Y/n said she didn't expect her stepmother and stepsisters to make her day the busiest of her life, running around doing chores and being responsible for every little detail of the preparations for the royal ball, she would be lying.

She'd woken up earlier than usual to get her mother's gown ready for the royal ball, but it wasn't long before her stepmother started barking orders, causing her gown to be forgotten. Cleaning the stairs, feeding the animals in the barn, helping her step-sisters put on their huge, garish party dresses, helping them fix their hair... among other things, Y/n had no time to finish her own dress.

Perhaps her meeting with Kento should only take place in the forest, hidden in secret. There would be no other way, not if her stepmother still had the power to dictate orders and interfere in her life as if she couldn't make her own decisions.

When she finished climbing the stairs that led to the attic where her bedroom had become, the young girl was surprised to open the door and find her mother's dress mended, brand new.

"How…?" Y/n approached the dress, delighted, "Oh, it doesn't matter, thank you to whoever made it!" She smiled excitedly, now she could meet Kento and dance with him all night, just as she had said she would if she could attend the ball.

The young woman took a quick shower to get ready for the ball. There wasn't much to prepare, she fixed her dress to her body, put on her pink shoes with low heels, applied pink lipstick and put on her mother's pearl necklace before fixing her hair. She didn't have much, just as she didn't need much. Y/n was just happy to be at the ball and to have the opportunity to meet her friend. And she preferred to keep it simple.

But her happiness was short-lived...

When she came down to the parlor just as her stepmother and daughters were about to leave for the ball. Looking at the girl in her ball gown, with a happy expression on her face, Madame Tremaine saw the perfect moment to break her like fragile old porcelain.

"What's that?" Her stepmother's superior look didn't intimidate Y/n.

"I'm ready to go to the royal ball!"

"You? The ball?" Drizella laughed anasally, "But not even on the day the pigs fly!"

"Mom, I don't want to be seen with the maid! Look at these rags! They don't even compare to our fancy dresses!" Anastasia commented, looking up and down at the young woman in front of her.

"But you promised I could go if I had a dress and finished my homework," the young woman said, remembering the agreement they had made when they were invited to the ball.

"I don't remember promising you anything," Tremaine circled Y/n like a predator circles its prey. "You must have misunderstood, my dear. Never in my life would I go to such an important ball with a filthy, ridiculous little girl like you." The woman held the young woman's chin tightly, forcing her to look into her cold, hateful eyes.

"I don't understand... I've never done anything to you..." Y/n mumbled, her eyes watering as much from the force her stepmother put on her jaw as from the words spoken to her.

"You're an insignificant, annoying little thing, you know that?" Tremaine let go of Y/n's chin and smiled sideways before reaching for the pearl necklace that adorned the young woman's neck and ripping it off with her own hand, startling her. "Oops!" the woman smiled as she tore the sleeve and front of the dress, making her daughters laugh at the scene and help their mother destroy the dress, "Come on girls, we can't be late for the ball.”

Y/n felt her body shake, and when they were gone, the young woman ran quickly, sobbing, to the garden ⸻ the place where she had so many memories with her family, with her mother, and which Tremaine had never been able to change. She sat down on a bench and began to cry, not just for what had happened a few moments ago, but for everything she had been through these past few years without her family.

"But what is a beautiful girl doing crying instead of having fun at the ball?" The voice of a mysterious person startled Y/n, who was trapped in her own world of memories.

"Who... Who are you?" The young woman looked up, startled, and rubbed her eyes to wipe away the tears.

"Your fairy godmother, dear! Or rather, your Fairy Godfather!"

"What?" The young woman looked at the person before her. He was tall, with white hair, blue eyes hidden behind glasses, and a pair of large shiny wings.

"You can call me Gojo if you prefer, now come on, hurry up, we have a ball to attend!" Gojo said hurriedly, pulling Y/n to get up from the bench.

"But I can't go to the ball like this!"

"What do you mean?" His glasses slipped down his nose.

"My dress is torn, I can't go like this."

"And why didn't you say so before?" Gojo raised an eyebrow, "Do you mind a few casual changes?" He pulled his wand from his pocket and smiled when he saw the young woman nod, "Then let's go!"

Gojo scratched his throat before dictating the dress, which completely transformed. The pink quickly turned to blue, and the single layer became several. The dress became voluminous, shiny and elegant, fit for a princess ⸻ and Y/n couldn't help but feel like one in that wonderful dress.

"Let me see your feet," Gojo ordered.

"What? My feet? Why do you want to see my feet?"

"Are you crazy thinking I won't do my full job? You need a proper shoe for that dress!"

Without questioning the fairy, Y/n lifted the hem of her dress to reveal her pink shoes, which in less than a few seconds had been transformed into a beautiful pair of crystal heels.

"Are they crystal?" the young woman asked in shock.

"The real question is, why not crystal? It's just a little gift, honey," Gojo smiled sideways, "Now hurry up, or you'll miss the first dance! Do you have any pumpkins?"

"Pumpkin? There are some over there." Y/n pointed to one of the corners of the garden.

"Wonderful. We have a pumpkin and some mice, perfect for a carriage and its horses." Gojo smiled proudly before casting another spell, transforming the pumpkin into a huge, detailed carriage and the nearby mice into majestic horses, "Now let's go, you can't be late!" He pulled Y/n into the carriage.

"But what about my stepmother and my step-sisters? They'll recognize me when they see me at the ball!"

"Don't worry about that!" Gojo tapped the young girl's head with his wand, "And remember, sweetie, all this magic here will only last until midnight, no longer."

"Until midnight?" Y/n smiled sweetly, "That's long enough, I don't need more than that. Thank you for everything you've done for me."

"No thanks, sweetie, I'm your fairy godfather, it's just my job. Now go to the ball and have fun, break it out!"

"All right!" Y/n laughed, "Thanks again!"

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ ✶

Y/n was late.

She realized this when she finished climbing the endless stairs that led to the entrance of the ballroom and found the doors closed.

The young woman took a deep breath before opening the doors, allowing a glimpse of the stairs that would lead to the dance floor and where the other guests were gathered. She bowed when she saw the king on a throne at the top of the hall and walked quietly down the stairs, but the people began to spread out, forming a corridor from one side of the hall to the other.

Noticing the person on the other side, the young woman smiled and walked excitedly toward the person in the middle of the hall.

"Ken," Y/n smiled at the sight of the blonde.

"You came." Kento smiled, lost in the beauty of the woman before him.

"You promised me a dance," she smiled at the memory of their last encounter in the forest.

"Then I would like... I mean... allow me the greatest of pleasures by granting me the honor of letting you lead this... first..."

"Dance?" the young woman said, completing the prince's request.

"Yes, dance." Kento smiled awkwardly with a blush on his cheeks and ears as he saw the woman before him nod in agreement.

Gently pulling her by the waist and holding one of her hands, Kento led the dance as soon as the music began, whirling her around the hall. The young prince held her tightly, afraid that this moment would be one of his dreams, for he had found her fragile in the forest at a time when his own heart was fragile.

"Everyone is looking at you." Y/n mumbled sheepishly as she noticed the eyes of the guests watching them dance around the ballroom.

"You couldn't be more wrong." Kento laughed slightly, "They're looking at you."

When the music for the first dance ended, there was no waiting for the next dance to begin. Soon, the ballroom floor was filled with couples happily dancing to the lively music of the orchestra.

"Come with me." Kento whispered in Y/n's ear and led her out of the room.

"So... you're the prince?" The young woman asked even though it was as obvious as sunlight. She wanted an excuse to strike up a conversation as they walked to wherever Kento wanted to take her.

"Not the Prince, but one of the princes that exist in the world," Kento said awkwardly, "There are several... not just me..."

"But aren't you an apprentice, as you told me when we first met?"

"Yes, I'm an apprentice monarch who is still learning his trade." Nanami's words made Y/n laugh briefly, "First of all, I should apologize. Please forgive me for my lies, I imagined you would treat me differently if you knew I was the prince of these lands, I thought you were a good honest girl and now I have proof that you really are."

"So... no more surprises?" the young woman asks the boy, holding out her hand and showing him her little finger.

"No more surprises." Kento gently intertwined his little finger with the young woman's, wishing the world could stop right then and there. "This way, I promise we'll be right there," he said as he led her through the castle's vast garden.

"Won't they miss you at the ball?"

"Maybe," he shrugged, "but I'm not planning on going back just yet."

"Is there a problem?"

“If I go back now, they'll try to push me towards a lady of their choosing." Nanami said dejectedly, maybe he didn't want to talk about his problems, not on such a magical night. "They want me to marry for advantage.”

"Well, I think you should rule your heart," the young woman said with a slight smile.

"Perhaps, but I must listen to and obey the king's wishes."

"He's your father, Kento, I'm sure he'll understand your point of view, you just need the right time"

"I've never shown this place to anyone before," Kento said, changing the subject when they reached the spot he wanted to show the young woman. "It's a secret garden, I thought you might like it.”

"I love it!" Y/n smiled as she explored the area until she came to a swing attached to a tree.

"Please," the young prince said, motioning for her to sit on the swing as soon as he noticed her gaze.

"I don't know if I should," the young woman said shyly.

"Yes, you should."

"No, I shouldn't."

"Yes, you should."

"No."

"Yes!"

"Okay." She shrugged, gave in and sat down on the swing, and Nanami soon began to push her gently.

Y/n had as much fun as Nanami. They'd never met outside the confines of the forest, and even after so many surprises that beautiful night, they couldn't help but feel the magic ⸻ and love ⸻ in the air. There, at that moment, Nanami Kento wasn't a prince about to be thrown to the first rich princess who would sign a contract favorable to the kingdoms, and Y/n wasn't the maid of her stepmother and stepsisters who was constantly being abused. They were just themselves, without their titles, without what defined them, they were just two souls in love, enjoying the time they had left.

When Y/n's crystal shoe accidentally came off her foot, Nanami quickly stopped pushing her on the swing and crouched down in front of her, taking the shoe in his hands. He held up the hem of her dress, revealing Y/n's bare foot, and gently picked it up to put the shoe back on her foot.

"Is it crystal?" Nanami's hand, holding the young woman's foot, unconsciously patted her ankle.

"And why wouldn't it be?" she said gracefully, "Thank you."

"Y/n... would you accept..." The young prince's speech was cut short as the clock struck midnight.

"It's midnight..." The young woman got up from the swing, causing Nanami to get up with her in fright. "I have to go!"

"Wait!" Nanami watched as the young woman hurried past the exit of the garden. "Why do you have to go now?"

"Your Royal Highness is very kind, thank you for the wonderful evening," she said as she walked in quick steps, "I will never forget every second we spent together, it was magical. And who knows, maybe we can meet again in the forest."

"Why are you in such a hurry?"

"It's hard to explain! But I promise we'll meet again!" Y/n smiled as she ran frantically.

"Y/n! Where are you going?" Kento ran after the young woman, but unfortunately, there were several obstacles in his way. It was as if the universe didn't want him to reach her at this moment.

As she descended the castle's long staircase to the exit gates, she lost one of her crystal slippers on one of the steps. Fearing the final chime of the clock, the young woman left the shoe behind, believing that its magic would eventually fade, and it would be nothing more than a lost heel.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ ✶

All the magic vanished when Y/n arrived home, leaving only her little crystal shoe on her foot. The young woman bent down and picked up the only remaining shoe ⸻ since she had lost the other pair ⸻ and smiled as she looked at the shoe in her hands. The fact that it was there proved that it hadn't been a dream, but a real event.

Y/n went up to the attic and on a loose floor ⸻ where she kept some of her mother's things ⸻ she put on the crystal slipper. She knew deep down that something bad would happen if her stepmother found out that she hadn't just gone to the ball, but had danced with the prince.

Ah, the prince.

Not even in her wildest dreams would the young girl imagined that the boy she had met in the forest, and who had been meeting her at the same place at the same time ever since, was actually the prince, the future king, of the kingdom where she lived.

Kento had always been polite and kind to her, always willing to listen and talk about anything. He was already the man of every girl's dreams, and now that she knew his status, it had only been confirmed ⸻ but Y/n didn't want him because of his status

However, apparently he would only remain in her dreams...

The next day, Y/n went back to her routine as if the night before had never happened. She woke up early, prepared the food, took care of the animals in the stable, cleaned the house... Nothing was different, except for her memories and the hidden crystal slipper.

When her step-sisters finally gave her a break and spared her from hearing about the men who had danced at the ball and how a young girl in a blue dress had dared to go straight to the prince after setting foot in the ballroom, Y/n headed for the attic.

In the afternoon, she would go to the forest as usual to meet Kento. The young woman wasn't sure if he would show up that afternoon, but she hoped with all her heart that he would be waiting for her among the trees. As he always did.

As soon as she opened the door to her room, the young woman noticed that some floors were out of place, and when she noticed that her memory box was out of its hiding place, her heart began to beat fast and her palms began to sweat with nervousness.

"Is this what you were looking for?" Tremaine's voice startled Y/n, but her fear was soon replaced by surprise when she saw the slipper in her hand. "Oh dear, don't look so scared. I'm only going to ask you once. From whom did you steal it?"

"I didn't steal it from anyone, it was given to me!"

"Given to you? Oh, for heaven's sake, nothing is ever given, especially to someone like you!"

"I swear it was a gift!"

"So you're going to insist on the lie?" Tremaine let out a bored sigh and walked to the attic exit, tapping Y/n on the shoulder on the way, "Good thing you'll have plenty of time to think... Oh oops!" The woman slammed the crystal slipper into the door frame, shattering it into a thousand pieces.

Y/n's eyes filled with tears as she saw the shattered shoe on the floor, barely noticing Tremaine lock the door. The young woman knelt down and picked up each shard, feeling the tears blur her vision. The first gift she had received after so many years was broken and there was nothing that could fix it. Now only the memories remained.

Y/n sighed, wiped the tears from her eyes with her hands and sat down by the window. She had nowhere else to go, she wouldn't be meeting with Kento like she used to. The only thing she had left were her animal friends to keep her company.

Not long after, the door to the attic was opened, frightening the young woman ⸻ she swore that Tremaine would lock her in there for days, or perhaps just until the next day. But she was soon surprised to see a palace guard instead of her stepmother.

"Miss, please come with me.”

Without saying a word, Y/n followed him down the stairs to the living room. When she reached the living room, she noticed a figure she knew well. His clothes were in perfect condition, with no wrinkles or stains, his blond hair was perfectly styled with not a single strand out of place, and his posture was upright and impeccable. There was no doubt that Nanami Kento was a perfect prince.

"Your Royal Highness," Y/n said, bowing.

"I thought we agreed to treat each other without formalities, Y/n." Nanami turned, his serious expression relaxing slightly as he met the bright eyes of the young woman before him.

"Forgive me." Y/n murmured shyly.

"When you ran away during the ball and didn't show up in the forest as usual, I thought maybe I had disappointed you by revealing my true identity as the prince. I thought maybe I should give you some space, but I couldn't. Your name is engraved on my heart, and you are the only thing that crosses my mind every moment I breathe in and out. Every day I looked forward to seeing you for even a few seconds in the forest, and when you didn't show up today, I felt like my world was about to fall apart. I looked for you all over the kingdom, I went from house to house looking for the owner of the lost crystal slipper, I went to the edge of the forest looking for you. I love you, most ardently. I'm yours with or without the crown". Nanami approached Y/n and held her hand to his chest, making the young woman feel his heart beat faster.

"But Nanami, I'm just a simple farmer's girl, and as much as my heart wants to throw myself into your arms and give myself completely, I don't know if I'm suited for such a responsibility."

"A wise woman once told me that we must rule our own hearts. Please come with me and I will be yours forever.”

"Eternally mine? That doesn't sound so bad..." Y/n murmured, her heartbeat calming down to a feeling that was too good to be true.

"So, what do you say?" Kento smiled slightly.

"I'll be yours, any way you want.”

Then Nanami, overcome by the heat of the moment, passionately kissed the woman of his dreams. The kiss was calm, there was no need to rush, it was tender and addictive.

Y/n smiled as they moved away from each other and felt Kento place something in her hand. The young woman looked down at her hand, noticing the missing pair of her crystal shoes.

"You... you found them," she looked at the shoe in her hands, "I don't have the other pair."

"I can have a thousand crystal shoes made if you want." Nanami said with a serious face, showing that he wasn't joking.

"That won't be necessary." Y/n laughed at his lover's expression. "It's just a reminder that that magical night wasn't just a nice dream."

Kento smiled slightly and hugged Y/n tightly. Finally, after a long time, the girl he had always dreamed of, the girl who had always made his heart race, she would finally be by his side forever, there would be no need for him to run off into the forest, because she would already be within reach.

© seonghrtz, 2024. all rights reserved, please do not copy / steal / translate / modify any of my works !

[ladylamrian]

Hii 🥰

I saw this and thought pink 🩷 You can use the quote / pic in whichever way you want 🩷

Loyal to be Royal 👑

Female Main Character: Alex

Pairing: can be considered as F!MC×NikRyder or F!MC×Garrus, the fae

Summary: Alex feels the pressure of royal life

Word Count: 1.9K words

Rating: General

Warnings: none

-> My complete Nightbound Masterlist <-

A Garrus (fae) fanfic for @teatimemols 🧝🏻‍♂️🧚🏼‍♀️

Taglist: @infactnoimmasitinthemiddle ; @peonierose ; @secretaryunpaid ; @jdstar88 ; @blackcatkita ; @lilyoffandoms ; @liviusofpella ; @mxdanni ; @dutifullynuttywitch ; @mariemarieohcontrary ; @tessa-liam ; @choicesficwriterscreations ; @hopelessromantic1352 ; @rosepetals1 ; @choicesjanuary2024 (Prompt: Relationships)

Some parts beta-read by @peonierose

Thanks @lilyoffandoms for ideas of this prompt

Comments via Reblog wholeheartly welcome

Author's note: Part of Song Lyrics taken and rewritten from Barbie - The Princess & the Pauper 🩷👑

"Hey guys, I'm back.", Alex tiredly spoke as she finally entered Garrus his bar, the Graveyard Shift from the side-door. Krom, Ivy, Nik and Garrus were seated on stools and enjoying their drinks.

"Hey, Alex!! You look exhausted. Everything alright?", Nik asked her with a concerned look on his face as she plopped on an empty stool next to him and rested her head on the wooden table.

"Tired.", she wispered.

"Tired? Awww, poor thing. Did you faes partied hard at the palace or what?", Ivy giggled and gently rubbed her friend's back.

To answer her question, Alex sat upright and faced her friends with a sad expression. "Ivy, that's not it. I'm so tired of all those many rules. I'll never be a perfect royal. All I do is make mistakes. I... I just want to make Thalissa and everyone proud, but I can't. I wish just father was alive. He would have definitly helped me."

"Rook, you're still learning. I know you will be doing well. I just want to say... We... We haven't seen you for days and... well...".

"What we all want to say is that we missed you, Alex."

"I know, Krom. I missed you all too. Sorry, but beeing royalty isn't exactly a piece of cake. I thought it's not going to be difficult and I'll enjoy this wealthy life, but I guess I didn't know what was coming for me. It's so stressful, especially when Lamrian has currently no ruler sitting on it's throne. So it's up to me to handle everything."

"Do you even want this royal life, rook? Can you handle this or...?"

"Oh baby, I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me.", she confidently answered him and winked.

"Oh really?", he raised an eyebrow.

"Nik, I somehow have to. For my father, Lord Elric. I'm alive only because of him and Lamrian is my home. I don't want to disappoint him. I have a duty to fulfill... just like you have, Nik.", she glanced meaningful at him and got serious now.

Yes, what has to be done, must be done. Just like the young nighthunter, Nik Ryder swored after the death of his adopted father to protect everyone from evil and keep the worlds safe.

"Yeah, guess so... I just thought about your well-beeing.", Nik disappointedly looked away, trying to avoid her gaze.

"I know, but I have to prove myself. Some fae nobles are just... Arrrghh!!! Rules, rules and more rules.", she wanted to scream and let her frustrations just out.

"I sadly know what you mean, darling. I've been there too.", Garrus gently smiled at her and layed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Honestly, I feel hopeless actually. They haven't even considered me as Elric's child yet, as the heir of Lamrian, a member of the royal fae court... I'm no fae for them, just an outsider who's responsible for my father's dea..."

"Don't you dare to say that!!", Garrus suddenly bursted out his anger which surprised everyone since it's not his nature.

"Uhhh, Garrus? You okay?"

"I... I... I'm sorry. My apologies for the sudden tone and behavior. But... My fellow fae friend, don't you ever dare to blame yourself for anything. You're innocent and not responsibile for anything. Neither for the death of my duke nor the banishment of young Lord Tialo. Some fae nobles are just like that and they won't change their behavior, so do not allow them treat you like this. They think they're just better than others. Trust me, I've been there too once and I feel you. Of not beeing accepted and..."

Garrus was the heir of a Fae viscount before the Fae cast him out. The friendly fae remained exiled until this day. He was banished for running cons and swindling magic off the upper crust. The Fae court was too uptight for him and he needed his freedom. But until today, still dreaming of returning to the Fae kingdom. His true home.

Garrus lowered his head, remaining silent for a moment in front of his friends who worriedly glanced at his sad expression. It took a few seconds, before the handsome fae snapped out of his thoughts and focused back on his loyal companions.

"I was thinking. My dear Alex, let me help you. Guide you and teach you about the royal life of a fae. Let's show them what we got, darling."

"You would do that? Are you sure?"

"I'll show you, m'lady. But I'll teach you in my style. Some music, please!", Garrus requested and Krom immediately did what he asked. A beautiful, classical melody began to play. Garrus began to sing and dance. Taking Alex her hands in his and twirling around the room as if they were dancing waltz in a dance hall. While dancing he began to demonstrate whatever he was singing whether using his acting skills, body language or showing her something. He started by picking up a silver spoon from a plate.

🎶 To be a royal is to know which spoon to use.

To be a royal is a thousand pairs of shoes.

To maintain a regal gait.

Leave the parsley on your plate.

And be charming but detached, yet amused 🎶

"Wohoooo, Garrus!!!", Ivy excitely cheered and began to whistle.

🎶 To be a royal is to never be confused

Do a plié and never fall

Don't ever stray from protocol

All through the day, there's just one way you must behave

Do keep a grip and never crack

Stiff upper lip and arch the back

Bend from above and always wear your crown and wave

Shoulders back and

Tummy in and

Pinky out and

Lift the chin and

Slowly turn the head from side to side 🎶", he sang while Alex did what he musically requested.

"Like this?"

"Dear, you're Fae-tastic!"

"We're Fae-tastic."

Soon Garrus signaled Krom to turn off the music. The song might be over but there was still a lot to teach.

"That dance was amazing, Garrus."

"Thanks, now listen!! From the way you eat to the way you walk, here's what it takes to have the manners of a royal.", Garrus proudly handed Alex a very big binder over.

"Ooof, it's... really heavy. But you will help me, right?"

"Of course, teaching you about the life among the royal court of the fae is also important. Don't worry that's very simple. Are you up for the task or is that too much for the beginning, darling?"

"I'm ready, Garrus. Challenge accepted!!", she winked.

"First thing, the royal curtsies. They don't need to reach the floor, simply put one leg behind the other, bend your knees, and bow your head slightly. However, deeper curtsies and long pauses are a sign of respect and formality."

Alex does as her fae-friends explained and put one leg behind the other, bend your knees, and bow your head slightly.

"Pfff, that's easy."

"I like your spirit, dear.", he smiled and placed a plate infront of Alex and requested her to take a seat at the table.

"You may not put much thought into how you cut your food, but those nobles take dining etiquette very seriously."

"I know how to eat properly. I'm a grown-up and not a toddler."

She held the knive in the right hand, the fork in the left with the tines facing down and stabbing the food. Then she brought it to the mouth.

"Instead of stabbing the food, balance food on back of the fork, then bring it to the mouth."

"Is it that important, Garrus? I mean, at least I don't mess up my clothes or my face while having a meal. "

"You're right, dear. I don't care either, but... the other faes."

"I know...", she sighted.

"Look, if royals need to use the restroom during a meal, they don't announce their intentions. They simply say, "Excuse me," and leave it at that. If they're not done eating, they cross the utensils so wait staff know not to take the plate. When finished with the meal, they place utensils at an angle, putting the handles at the bottom right of the plate."

Alex took the fork and knife in her hand and started to place them correctly on the plate.

"Wait, you mean that angle?"

"Like 4:20 on a clock you mortals use."

"Hah, I got it! I'm good at this, right? Show me more, Garrus."

"You're a natural, dear. Now let me think what else you might... Ahhh, yes. Now I know. They say your handshake reveals a lot about your personality. Keep direct eye contact with the fae in front of you, grasp their hand firmly but not painfully, shake for one or two pumps (no more!), and shine a royal smile."

"Why two pumps and not more?"

"Yeah, why two? Good question, Alex. Why only two, Garrus? What if I want to give four?", Ivy asked too.

"Wouldn't four be too much.", Krom asked worriedly.

"Yeah Garrus, why two?"

"Quiet, please!! I'm trying to give lectures to Alex. I actually don't know either. Hmmm, let's skip that. Alex, they say that men in the royal family put out a helping hand when their spouses go down a flight of stairs, especially at formal events. The women keep their chins parallel to the ground and hands at their sides. If there's a banister, they rest a hand on it, rather than grab it and keep their toes pointed toward the railing while they walk."

"I know, I know, it's just like in the movies. But this royalty here doesn't need the helping hand of a man, I can do this on my own.", she confidently answered.

"Your spirit is admirable. Another point, royalty are expected to be addressed by their full, given names rather than nicknames given to them by their families and friends. Sooooo...", Garrus nervously glanced at Nik who immediately understood.

"Are you tryin' to tell me something, Garrus? Nobody has a problem if I give Alex nicknames. It's my style, right rook?"

"Uhhhhh... riiiiiiiight, blondie.", Alex rolled her eyes and grinned after giving the blond haired guy a new nickname. It's sure fun.

"Don't call me like that, rook."

"Alright, blondie. Oh, I... I mean, Nik. So Garrus, what's next?", she tried not to laugh and turned her attention back to the young fae.

"Alex, you did well. These are enough lessons for the first day, we'll continue tomorrow. Time to open the Graveyard Shift and letting the customers in.", Garrus suggested while taking out his keys to open his bar. As he was headed towards the front door, Alex stopped him by resting her arm on his shoulder.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I... Thank you, Garrus. For helping me, teaching me. For everything."

"I would do anything for my favorite fae."

"I know, but still. Thanks! And I'll promise you that one day, I'll make sure that your banishment will be lifted. I'm aware of how much you miss your home, Garrus. Soon you'll be free again, I promise."

"Thank you, Lady Alex."

"Please, no formalities. You're my friend. Even when I become a duchess one day, I would never want my friends to call me like this. Without any title, please. Just Alex is fine.", she smiled at him.

[mlmxreader]

Auguries of Innocence | Bane x gn!reader

anonymous asked: Bane: Hiya! Hope alls well 🖤. May I please give you a request to use the following prompts for big tiddy Bane X non-binary, male, or gn!Reader: "Look, you're gonna be alright"+ "I got you, don't worry" Thank you very much 🖤! 🐍anon

summary: when you need him most, Bane is always, and will always, be there for you in any way that you need him to be.

tws: brief nudity mentions, swearing, poetry???

support your fanfic writers by reblogging what you read & enjoy

Bane hadn't expected it. The hammering against his thick metal door, the desperate cries of his name, but when he opened it and he saw you, the surprise soon turned to worry; you were soaked, shivering and shaking as you sat down.

He gave you a towel, and furrowed his brows as he handed you a cup of coffee once you had sat down on the uncomfortable and stiff sofa. He knew for a while that you had been staying with Bruce Wayne, and never really took much notice, until he saw that you had brought a suitcase and a backpack with you.

It didn't take him long to figure out what had happened, and as he sat down opposite you, there was little that Bane could do or say.

"I got you, don't worry," his voice was just a slight grumble, reassuring like a thunderstorm after a scorching summer. "You'll be alright."

You nodded, sniffling as you swallowed thickly and tried to regain some of your composure. "Promise?"

Bane nodded slowly. "Of course. You're more than welcome to stay for as long as you like, I like having you around, you know that, my spectre."

You were shaky as you smiled, unsure of what to do with your hands and what to say, but you knew Bane well enough; you knew that he would never turn you away or turn on you when you needed him, when you needed him above everyone else.

You sipped your coffee, murmuring softly. "Thank you…"

"No one will ever hurt you again," Bane growled, shaking his head. "I will make sure of it. All you have to do is tell me, I don't care if someone was merely rude, or if they punched you - they won't see another day."

"Bane-"

"My spectre," he huffed, glaring at you. "Don't argue."

You put the coffee down between your feet and ran your hands down your face, cupping your mouth. "I'm not. I, I won't. I've… I've had enough arguments today."

Bane sighed, moving closer and moving the coffee cup safely out the way before he knelt down between your legs, his hands on your calves as he groaned softly. The only indication that he would have smiled if he could. "Memory, hither come, and tune your merry notes; and, while upon the wind your music floats."

You furrowed your brows, hands clinging to his mask by instinct as you tried to remember what he was quoting; it was always something old, something that you never would have known if you didn't know him.

His niche intelligence meant that you could listen to him talk for hours; that voice helped more than you wanted to admit, too.

"I'll pore upon the stream where sighing lovers dream, and fish for fancies as they pass within the watery glass."

His hands dragged up to your thighs as he rose slightly, the metal of his mask glittering in the dim lights of what you could only call his lair; Bane never stayed anywhere for very long, but regardless of where he went, he always made sure you could visit if you so wanted to.

If you ever needed him.

He treasured you, was loyal to you.

"I'll drink of the clear stream, and hear the linnet's song; and there I'll lie and dream the day along."

He pressed the cold metal to the side of your neck, knocking the skin slightly in an attempt to mark it but to no avail; every time, he always wished that he could have sunk his teeth into your skin and he could have tasted the salt of your sweat on his tongue. The soft rise and fall of your breath against his lips. Bane wished, he wished and he wished, that such a thing was possible.

"And, when night comes, I'll go to places fit for woe, walking along the darken'd valley with silent Melancholy."

Your breath hitched when you felt the harsh huff of his breath, filtered through the cold mask, against your ear; he had you pinned to that harsh sofa, but you didn't mind, hands on the straps of his tactical vest as you closed your eyes and allowed yourself to become lost in his safety, his security.

Loyalty and dedication. Support and encouragement. The fierce need to defend and to guard. To protect. His hands were rough when he tugged at your shirt, fingertips shining from the dewdrops that had landed on them.

"I think we should take this off, spectre," he breathed out. "Get you into something warm and dry… I think I might have a few things lying around."

"You sure?"

"Of course," Bane agreed, pulling away. "I won't look when you… take what you want to take off."

"I wouldn't mind if you did," you said quietly. "It's nothing you haven't seen before."

He laughed, the sound muffled and hoarse. "But you know I won't if you don't want me to."

He got up and turned around, covering his face with his hands just to make sure that you knew he wouldn't look as you began to strip; you didn't mind at all, Bane had seen everything. You had been together long enough that, when there was time for it, you were happy to share the shower with him.

Helping him wash his back and letting him scrub you down. Bane had always been so good to you.

"Bane," you whispered. "Turn around."

"I shouldn't," he grumbled, taking a step away from you and heading towards his wardrobe.

You couldn't help but to laugh. A pink outline had formed around the contours of his mask. You made him blush; so long being together and you could still make him blush.

You were more than impressed with yourself, if you were honest; Bane was a beast of a man, known for his brute strength and durability, known for being more than brutal even when he didn't need to be.

And yet there he was, blushing like a schoolboy and keeping his eyes tightly closed when he held out one of his shirts and a pair of his trousers for you to wear. You took them, rewarding him with a kiss to the edge of his mask that only made him grumble, the pink outline becoming a harsher colour.

"Are you decent?" He asked after a while, and when you told him you were, he took a seat on the sofa, and stole a swig from your coffee. His eyes raked up and down your body, and he nodded in approval. "You should wear my clothes more often, robin redbreast."

"And why would that be?" You scoffed, raising a brow.

"You look a lot better in them," Bane admitted, tapping his thigh and growling with what you knew to be delight when you sat on his lap. "Now that I have you all to myself, I can actually see."

You rolled your eyes at him, your hands on his broad and strong shoulders as you hummed. But your face fell, and you swallowed thickly when you felt a tightness in your chest. "Y'know, as exciting as it is to actually be able to be your… y'know, Partner in everything but crime… I can't think of why Bruce would-"

"Don't worry about him," Bane hissed. "Look, you're gonna be alright, my little robin redbreast, my spectre… you'll be alright. I'll make sure of it. I'll look after you."

[mcrmadness]

001 About Richy and Igor

002 About Igor specifically (wanna hear your thoughts about him in depth :D)

003 about Monty Python characters? if it's even possible?

(I would gladly hear you on 001 about FuB, but as I'm being absolutely too much, I can understand that you don't do it. It's extra content :D)

((Also, you are free to answer to this ask for only one ask and do the others on separate posts for more clarity !))

I reblogged this ask game before reading any of the questions, and after receiving your ask, I read them and now I have to say that my questions are probably gonna be very, VERY underwhelming ::D So don't get too excited, cos I don't think I'm able to give you the type of answers you might be interested in reading :D But I'll try anyway, but know that you're been warned: boredom alert!!!

001 | Richy & Igor

when I started shipping it if I did: Must have been in 2009 when I found out about die ärzte for the first time. I watched every video I could find, including Richy Guitar. At first I didn't really care about the film, and I wasn't exactly shipping R/I but more of obsessing with the clips because of my new Bela/Farin obsession. I got way more into the ship only during the past 2 or 3 years, when I also started writing fanfiction about them, and then it evolved into drawing doodles and comics too.

my thoughts: Uh, what can I say? Head empty, no thoughts. My brain keeps hyperfixating on this ship for no good reason.

What makes me happy about them: Nothing.

What makes me sad about them: Nothing.

things done in fanfic that annoys me: Anything that doesn't align with my own headcanons or is too far away from the actual canon.

things I look for in fanfic: Nothing. Because it doesn't exist, so I have already given up.

Who I’d be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other: No one else.

My happily ever after for them: Idk.

who is the big spoon/little spoon: Idk.

what is their favorite non-sexual activity: Canon? Music. My headcanons? Fast food.

---

002 | Igor

How I feel about this character: Idk.

All the people I ship romantically with this character & My non-romantic OTP for this character: I honestly don't know if it's romantic or queerplatonic or just platonic, but I only ship him with Richard.

My unpopular opinion about this character: I have none. I don't think there are even popular opinions about this character out there.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: I wish to know where does he live. I keep thinking about that caravan inside the abandoned factory, and I keep headcanoning it as Igor's residence but I wish I knew whose place that actually was (the other option is Hans, but yeah, it's never revealed in the film).

my OTP: Richy/Igor lol

my cross over ship: None.

a headcanon fact: He's head over heels for Richard whether that be platonic or not.

---

003 | send me 5 characters and I will rank them in order of preference

You asked about Monty Python characters. I guess it is possible, but just very very difficult because there are not that many reoccuring characters, and the Flying Circus show ran for 4 seasons and there are several films, so the character count could be in hundreds tbh. Often the skits are also more about the joke and topic and less about characters, even when they're often given names. But as I'm writing this, I can feel a potential list cooking inside my head so, here we go!

The Gumbys. My favourite quote comes from these skits: "My brain hurts!" I can't find that as a gif now, but they are these extremely, extremely stupid characters who shout every line of theirs cos they are so dumb. Here's the Brain Specialist skit where that quote is from too :D

2. The Hell's Grannies. This is just the funniest shit ever and I absolutely love the graffiti they paint as a graffiti and which goes: "Make tea, not love." Here's a link to a video on youtube.

3. Anne Elk (Miss). I just keep rewatching this skit over and over again cos it's so stupid, and the characters just interact with each other in such a funny way, and Graham's character's reactions to Anne Elk are so funny :D

4. Pontius Pilate in Life of Brian. Ok this movie is full of extremely funny characters, and I would like to mention a handful of others, such as the deaf and stupid character and his companion who's stuttering the whole time; and also that man in the pit who hadn't talked at all until Brian accidentally jumped on his foot. But I still have to give this place for Michael Palin's Pontius Pilate just for that Biggus Dickus scene cos it's probably the funniest movie scene I have ever seen. Palin often had the funniest characters, and it's even funnier when you know that the extras and other actors didn't know about his lines so if I'm correct, all of those laughters were genuine reactions to Palin's acting, and he also was so close to losing it at one point :D

5. And you know what? I just HAVE TO link here the French Taunting scene from Monty Python & the Holy Grail, just for you XD "Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!" kills me every time.

+ And you get an extra just because you're French, this skit and their accents in this sometimes live rent free in my head :D

THANK YOU so much for the ask btw! I decided to skip the 001 about FUB cos my answers would have not been much different from the RG one, apart from real people not having a canon, and me not really having any headcanons for them for that same reason. So, it would have not really added anything, or would have been even less than what I now got for the answers for R/I.

Funnily enough, I got way more out of Monty Python. It just shows how I don't get attached to characters really, but live for and from humour, and anything that's funny af to me, I like and makes me happy.

[crowning-art]

TGCF SPOILERS HAHAHAHA :(

So.

Yesterday was a day.

What happened post reading;

Shut my laptop, and started scrolling through tumblr. Its been 30 mins but I haven't liked or reblogged anything. I'm just scrolling and scrolling and my mind is absolutely blank. Nothing is registering. (Denial)

After I while I turn off my phone too and just sat.

My sister asks me if I'm ok. I respond, "Ya, of course, why wouldn't I be?" She gives me a look, "You're crying."

I'm obviously shocked cuz I didn't even register I was crying and I'm like NO lol I'm not crying What are you talking about?? (Anger) Except now I'm full on crying (depression) but it was so weird cuz my eyes were crying but I was laughing SO HARD, like I couldn't stop laughing, and I'm like wtff??? THERE IS LITERALLY NOTHING FUNNY???? and so to distract myself, I searched up why in the absolute hell was I laughing so hard when my heart was literally squeezing in pain cuz like THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME BEFORE?? (Bargaining)

Anyways, I found smt interesting; an article that discussed a study done on opposing emotions, why people say "Aww it's so cute, I want to squeeze it sooo hard', or start laughing when they are nervous, or laugh while crying, and it was really cool what they said;

"If you get into a very high or very low emotion that you're almost to the point of being overwhelmed, you become incapacitated so you can't function well,” Aragón tells me. “Emotional homeostasis is important for people so they can be in control of their cognitive, social, and psychological functions."

In other words, people may laugh when they’re nervous in order to moderate their nervous feelings; likewise, people may cry when they’re happy to recover from distracting giddiness."

Def an eye opener for me cuz I'm just not a crying type of person and I was literally so confused lol But I didn't know this was thing til yesterday so I was likke ohh I should share this!

Anyways, I'm going to be make this post reflect EXACTLY how I felt yesterday lmaooo (acceptance)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

You know that feeling of dread? That looming, heavy weight that you feel on your shoulders as you watch and you watch and you know what's going to happen and as each scene unfolds, it starts making sense and that dread turns into down right horror and all you can do is helplessly watch....

Am I talking about me or Hua Cheng???? Perhaps both :(

I think that anxiousness had started building up when Mu Qing left and I felt so angry but it's like how can you blame him? But the absolute respect I got for this funky lil dude when he comes back with bags of rice and money and I'm I LOVE YOUUU SO MUCHHH YOU DON'T DESERVE THIS AHHH I LOVE YOUUUU

(You too, Feng Xin efbfjefjn I literally want to shrink them and put them in my pocket and protect them from the evil, mean, scary world)

ok...now for the actual stuff......

What absolutely fascinates me is that I have come across so many villains from innumerable books, shows, and movies and I have seen stupid villains, pitiable villains, and down-right psycho ones too, but something about White No-Face hits different.

This is a villain that is truly terrifying. A villian that truly understands what it means to destroy someone. And no, it's not about killing their loved ones, it's not about physical torture, it's about breaking the person inside out. It's about ripping their soul out and gently putting it back, only for them to rip it out with even more viciousness. It's about taking away the one thing that keeps anyone alive...hope. I'm reminded of an arabic proverb that I heard once and really stuck with me;

What is worse than death is that which makes you wish for death.

I think every painful moment in TGCF just embodies this quote so well; when Xianle falls, when Windmaster is confronted with the truth, and now the temple scene and it literally hurts so much to read it and it's so lovely and beautiful how MXTX writes scenes that make you FEEL exactly what the people you are reading about feel.

Like yes Xie Lian was screaming 'It hurts' but I can guarantee that EVERY reader also felt the same as they read that part.

And what makes White No Face terrifying is that he KNOWS his subject, knows him so well, that he first takes away what's beloved to him, which is his kingdom, then his godhood, then his friends, and the final straw? His parents. He breaks him and breaks til there is nothing left to break and then rebuolds it just enough to break it again. He takes away his sanity so agonizingly slowly and you just want to scream as you just watch the descent into hell occur...

Could it be that Feng Xin couldn’t see the mask on his face in the mirror at all?!

Xie Lian blurted, “You don’t see it? There’s something on my face!”

Feng Xin was puzzled. “What thing? What exactly do you mean? I don’t see anything?” Xie Lian looked at the mirror again. “That’s impossible! I…”

However, when he looked again this time, the mask on his face in the mirror had disappeared, and what reflected was that panicking face of his.

And what's crazy is that yes, White NO Face wears the mask of half laughing, half crying, but Xie Lian EMBODIES that. He is always in a state of laughing and crying simultaneously. And it just shows how broken he is.

But you know what's insane???? Xie Lian has never ONCE felt like this with Hua Cheng! It's like somehow, he is suddenly in control of his emotions and feels true sadness, true happiness and not this broken confused mixture of laughing and crying, yknow?

And the comfort he gives him? Xie Lian actually felt comforted by this monster, completely. He actually felt calm and I'm like how incredibly sick and terrifying of a person to destroy someone and then provide them with such a comfort that feels real only to shatter it the next second.

And God, oh God! My heart was dying watching a small, inanimate ball of fire express SO much fear and sadness and agony.

From deep in Xie Lian’s throat there came waves of suppressed sobs, shaking harder and harder. That ball of ghost fire flew to his heart, looking as if it wanted to warm him, but it wasn’t confident that it could help chase away the cold, so it didn’t press close

and this part

A ball of ghost fire flew to his side and moved up and down, like it was nodding in agreement. However, wicked wisps like it were all around, so Xie Lian didn’t notice this particular one.

And my god, the absolute twisted mind of White No Face, like 'YEs Your Highness, YOU said it yourself "I want to save the common people!" So here! Save them!" And it's so goddamn twisted and sick and ridiculous but like how do you argue with that when you YOURSELF proclaimed that proudly?

Watching the struggle unfold, White No-Face mocked, “The common people are here, waiting for you to save them. Please, go ahead.”

And what's worse? Xie Lian is watching people destory his temples, spit on his statues, and here, in one of the last remaining temples of the crown prince, he is on top of an alter, and he is being looked up to and you can HEAR the mocking tone of White No Face like you want to be worshipped? Here, have all these people bow to you! And he is getting that, and it's so sick and horrific;

As they tried to atone for their actions wearing ashen expressions, they bowed many times in front of Xie Lian before returning to the crowd with their child. With thick layers of blood clogging up his throat, Xie Lian was about to throw up until he heard White No-Face snicker beside him.

And just when you think that it couldn't get worse, I could feel the ear-piercing scream that Hua Cheng lets out and I think that was truly the moment when my heart completely shattered.

He couldn’t hear his own heartbreaking scream, but instead, he heard the sound of another heart-wrenching wail, and it seemed as if it came from that ring of flames. Although it didn’t come from him, the pain that he could hear was the same as his, as if he was the one that had made that sound.

This was the birth of a malicious creature, the signs of a Savage ghost taking form!

and I think this scene just shook me most to the core because it put EVERYTHING into perspective, the fear of rejection that Hua Cheng has, the overprotective nature, the way he doesn't spare a glance towards Fengqing, it all makes sense because he has been through HELL and watched beloved go through worse than hell.

He died that day with Xie Lian despite going through a rebirth.

And the literal shivers of rewatching the donghua scene, when he first meets Xie Lian where he is dressed as a bride and his hand reaches out confidently, hesitantly and it's the first time in a long time he is able to be face to face with him and he's looking at him and he's just thinking that from now on, you will never know what pain is. I will never let that happen. and you BELIEVE him and Xie Lian BELIEVED him even though he doesn't believe in anyone anymore...not even himself.

Like all the cute scenes? the gambler's den, the confession, the way Hua Cheng lay beside Xie Lian he reaches out to him but sees the shackles and hesitates, the way they both set up Puqi shrine,

just everything

everything

everything

it's so much.

You just can't see them in the same way anymore. Like I really looked at it from surface level, but there was so much behind every action; every atomic shift in their movements towards one another is accompanied by colossal weight and suffering of the past.

Oh boi, this scene too, like no words. It felt like the world stood still in this moment...

Some kind of power forced him to his feet and he stumbled out to look. He walked for a long time before he finally realized those were the sounds of celebrating the newly-built Imperial Palace, after Yong'an was established as a new kingdom and the royal capital was moved. Even the heavens were celebrating! All the once-citizens of Xianle were now cheering for Yong'an. On the main street, everyone’s faces bore such bright smiles; so familiar. Xie Lian remembered. This was also how the people at the Xianle imperial capital cheered during the Shangyuan Heavenly Ceremonial Procession.

and right by his feet lay the corpses of the King and Queen of Xianle...his parents....his dearest.

Boi deserves to go a little ape-shit but also, isn't that giving in to what White No Face wanted?

The expression on his face was like crying but laughing, like joy and sadness mixed together, and he slowly rose to his feet alongside the wall.

And he KNOWS what he's doing? He wanted Xie Lian on his side? He got him! He goddamn this absolute MONSTER UGHHHHH HE GOT HIM!! WHAT MORE DOES HE FREAKING WNT AAAAHHHHH

But I must say, I can't hate White No Face, because from a literary standpoint, he is such a wonderfully written villain. One of my all time faves just because of how well he was written. Again, just the whole book is so perfect and well-executed beyond a shadow of a doubt.

So ya!

It was ALOT to take in and I just had to let it all out.

[directlyat-thesun-moved]

I posted 14,154 times in 2022

That's 14,154 more posts than 2021!

788 posts created (6%)

13,366 posts reblogged (94%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@on-the-outside

@chaotic-lesbian-but-also-a-tree

@geeky-gay-greek

@sparkycinnamon

@i-dont-know-nor-care-go-away

I tagged 2,290 of my posts in 2022

#asks - 228 posts

#ask game - 113 posts

#important - 65 posts

#rae's random rants - 64 posts

#marvel - 62 posts

#mcu - 60 posts

#anon - 57 posts

#aos - 55 posts

#siya - 53 posts

#agents of shield - 49 posts

Longest Tag: 131 characters

#probably some cliche breakup song like abcdefu or that one that’s like ‘10 you’re selfish 9 you’re jaded 8 the dumbest guy i dated’

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

you know a show is good when every single character gives you extreme gender envy

200 notes - Posted July 30, 2022

#4

Picrew tag game thing cause I love this picrew!!! (yes this is my pfp) here it is

tagging:

@/starsarovndscars, @/homoromoacecase, @/on-the-outside, @/erica-writes-things, @/hmmyescrimejuice, @/princesscat01, @/wholesome-dragon-lady, @/chaotic-lesbian-but-also-a-treeic-lesbian-but-also-a-tree, @/cheeselovinpuffin, and @/bigbendyhorns and anyone else who wants to do it!

again, the link is right here

218 notes - Posted April 1, 2022

#3

This quote thread was a collaboration with @bitrashteddy (we each wrote about half). The first three lines were from @incorectmarvelquotes. (oh and I don't know what happened on April Fools, Valentines Day or the Kitchen Incident unfortunately. that's still under investigation.)

Wade: I wish i had acid

Peter: Wade you shouldn't do drugs :(

Wade: not that kind of acid, i really need to get rid of a body

Peter: oh well in that case, I know where to get some

Natasha: if you raid Tony's stash again I'm telling him.

Peter: again? What do you-

Natasha: Don't think i've forgotten about April Fools'.

Wade, Peter’s #1 fan: What happened april fools?

Peter: I vowed to never speak of it

Wade: wait... how many of the pranks that were blamed on me were actually you?

Peter: 😈

Natasha: I personally lost count after 20... last year

Morgan: fifty thwee.

Peter: where did you come from?

Peter: firstly: traitor, secondly: very bold coming from someone who blamed Wade for the kitchen incident

Natasha: the kitchen- wait. Peter, that was YOU?

Peter: Hey- I was simply an accomplice, it was all Morgans idea

Morgan, putting on her I'm an innocent five year old face: auntie Nat, do you weally think I'd be smart enough to pull something that genius off?

Natasha: At this point I'm ready to believe anything.

Wade, losing his mind: Can we go back to the part where you framed me for the incident AND stole acid?

Peter: Morgan is the one who showed me where the acid was!

Wade: so you're blaming everything on Morgan now?

Peter: ...yes. yes, I am.

Morgan: B- but I didn't do anything!

Peter: Morgan we all know you're not as innocent as you claim to be

Morgan: But- in my defense he asked weally nicely

Natasha: *sighs* Morgan do you want me to teach you karate?

Tony: Nat, I have no context at all for this but you're not teaching my daughter martial arts.

Peter: Is now a good time to confess Wade and I have been teaching her Kickboxing?

See the full post

218 notes - Posted April 18, 2022

#2

Luther, Diego, Allison, Klaus, Five, Ben, Marcus, Fei, Jayme, Alphonso, Sloane, and Christopher: Fuck you, Vanya, you destroyed the world twice and nobody loves you. Viktor: :( Viktor: oh also my name’s Viktor. Everybody: Well. Fuck you Viktor.

281 notes - Posted October 3, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Yelena: Hey Kate, are you there?

Clint, Mr. Hearing Problems: Did you just say 'are you gay?'

Yelena: I said are you there

Kate, emerging from the shadows: Well, I am gay...

based on a real conversation

344 notes - Posted March 21, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[aadagio]

.

Barbenheimer actually wound up being a lot of fun on Friday, despite everything. My neck is still in a lot of pain, and I'm still not 100% sure when that will go away or what I'm going to do about it. I am still extremely stressed and anxious, but I'm trying my best. Craig said I deserve to enjoy things, so I tried and I mostly think I succeeded.

I had originally planned to wear something cute to the movies, despite not having any pink, but when I woke up on Friday I just was not feeling it at all. I just wore jeans and a T-shirt, but I added this zombie Barbie jewelry set I've had for about 12 years now. It's a bloody, dismembered Barbie face set into a pendant necklace, as well as two bloodied and severed Barbie arms fashioned into earrings. They're my favorite pair in the world, and I was glad to give them the perfect time to shine.

We started the day by going to Cinemark to see Oppenheimer at 2 pm. I wasn't feeling that great going in, and ever since Tuesday loud noises have really been jarring for me, so I was feeling nervous about what we were about to see. And it was fucking LOUD. The sound, while incredibly edited and engineered, was definitely hard for me to get through, but overall the movie was so incredible that I really did enjoy the experience of seeing a 3-hour epic like that.

After we got out, my sister drove us all over to the mall where we ate at the Cheesecake Factory for dinner, and I had some lackluster nachos (reminder for myself to never order those again). My head and neck were really hurting at that point, and I was starting to feel fatigued, but I took some Tylenol and pushed through because I knew we had Barbie next and I was so looking forward to that.

After dinner, we walked around the mall for awhile, stopping in Claire's and Spencer's to window shop. Our showtime for Barbie was 8:45, so around 8:30, Craig called an Uber back home and me and Julia waited outside for my friend Heather to join us at the AMC connected to the mall.

We weren't able to take any photos or anything beforehand, since the theater lobby was so packed, so we just headed straight into our showing. It was a smaller theater than what we'd been in for Oppenheimer, but it was packed with people wearing pink outfits. When the Nicole Kidman ad started playing, me and Julia began quietly quoting it along with her, and other people in the audience heard us and either laughed or joined in with us, and the whole theater clapped once it was done playing, which made me feel like I was in great company.

The movie itself was hilarious, incredible, and surprisingly emotional. I never wanted to tear my eyes away from the screen for a single second, even though I inevitably did to look over at Heather or Julia and see their reactions too. It was such a fun one to see with a packed audience - everyone was laughing, clapping and reacting to the in-jokes and quippy moments. Once we got out we found the Barbie Box and the movie poster and took a bunch of photos that didn't turn out super well, but were still fun to take.

Heather wound up giving me a ride home afterward, and we spent the whole drive just reminiscing about our favorite childhood Barbies and dolls in general, and how much we wish we could still play with them.

I was completely exhausted by the time I got home, and I've been exhausted in general this weekend. Just sleeping a ton. I feel like it's all just been catching up to me or something. I have no idea what this week is going to bring, and to be honest I really don't want to think about it. I just want to escape into Barbie movie memes and shitposts, so I guess I'm just going to reblog a bunch of those now until I fall asleep.

[peyton-warren]

Writing Questions Tag Game!

Belated, but tagged by @darsynia, thanks, hon!!

What is your absolute all-time favourite idea you’ve ever had?

As cheesy as it sounds, I will have to say Blinded by the Fog is my all time favorite idea to date. Its a perfect combination of my two current fandoms and where I am in life and in my mental health journey. i was kind of wandering through fanfic until i got the prompt that inspired it - "You are the wife of a soldier who is missing in action and presumed dead. His best friend, who survived the war, offered you comfort and companionship, and over time love blossomed. A year later, you learn that your husband is alive and is coming home. Now you must confess to him that you have moved on—or have you?"- and its all my brain wants to focus on right now. its almost taking over my life, and I'm kind of okay with that. I'm trying to stay away from tropes but at the same time embracing the ones that are part of this story organically. The three main characters really keep surprising me with what happens, and I'm not sure how its going to end to be completely honest even though I have started the Epilogue.

Is there a question you’ve been asked in the past that really stands out to you and you still think about sometimes?

"Why are you cockblocking your own characters?" was a question I got from a fellow writer years ago when she read a draft I wrote and was struggling with the smut portion of it. And because of her pushing me, the completed chapter was some of the hottest stuff I've ever written. I still think of that phrase when I'm struggling with my own brain while writing fic, especially sexy times. I have minimal self-assurance that my writing is any good and often need someone else to validate it before I post or even write an idea I have.

What is your favourite part of being a writer? What parts could you take or leave?

I love putting what I see in my brain down on paper, to see the story and the dialog play out on paper.

The parts I can take or leave is the self worth i struggle with in regards to my writing (it stems beyond that but the question is about writing). I always need validation from someone else its good, worth posting etc, even though I'm the first person to tell someone else to post their writing. Brains are hard and weird.

Another part I'd like to leave is taht the number of reblogs, comments, kudos, recognition of any kind = my writing's worth. Ugh I hate that feeling.

What is your greatest motivation to write/create?

I love writing, i love creating, i love bringing to life the lives of these characters outside the stories we already know about them.

What do you wish you knew when you were first starting out writing?

That writing anything and everything will make me a better writer. That everyone sucks when they start anything. That I dont have to be stellar to have people want to read what I'm writing. And that pushing my characters to fit into an outline I wanted them to follow would result in stalled stories, that wouldn't go anywhere. Its how Two Brothers Walk Into A Bar petered out. I tried to force a relationship that neither character wanted and as much as I loved that story it didn't move forward from that point.

What is your favourite story you’ve written TO COMPLETION? Link it if you’d like and can!

Days of Our Freakin' Camp is my favorite story that I've written to completion. What started out as a drabble grew grew and grew into this 20 chapter story that took me and the readers for a ride along the way. I didn't plan out how it was going to go, it just happened. and I'm so proud of how it turned out.

What is your favourite out-of-the-box quote?

The drugs he had picked up on Whitefall. The ones he was careful to take for fear the others would notice a change in him. Jayne had no choice. He wanted to maintain that he was indeed human and not the monster he had become long before he came to Serenity. The bear reminded him of the human he used to be. Someone with a beating heart who actually felt emotion. Not this cold hearted creature that sat in his bunk, wishing it would all go away.

Which of your characters would you say has the most controversial mindset? Why do you say so and how do you personally feel about their ideals?

Merle Dixon was the hardest for me to write, even though I grew up around people like him and have been around folks of the same small minded mind set most of my life. The more i struggle with my own demons to not be a pushover and just let people have their opinions of the world around us, the more difficult it is to write people like Merle.

If you, when you first started writing, met you now, what would younger you think?

that I am an amazing writer who needs to have more confidence in myself and my writing.

No pressure tags (but I'd love to see your thoughts)- @adulting-sucks, @ronearoundblindly, @joannaliceevans-fanficblog, @geralts-yenn, @raccoon-eyed-rebel, and @jvanilly and @sarahdonald87 - even though I know you two haven't published anything yet.

[aureiki]

Another backstory theory post! This'll likely be the longest since I'm going to do more than 3, infact I'm just finishing off the characters I haven't written about.. So let's go wowowow

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Charles Cuevas

"If you forgot it, then it probably wasn’t important to begin with. None of those memories should ever be kept, anyway."

I've rambled about his backstory before, so you can go back to earlier posts/reblogs of mine to read. I'll only gloss over what we know about him as of now here.

He's been shown a few times to not know how to do basic chores. Like doing laundry or cooking. For a person who hates being looked down upon, it's pretty odd that he never bothered learning to do things as simple as those.

He mentions that his parents never found it important to teach him those things.. which is just weird? Parents *should* teach their children how to do basic chores, it doesn't help that Charles is currently an ADULT. So why is that?

Well, the most obvious assumption is that he had incredibly negligent parents. Not to the degree of straight up ignoring him, but perhaps they were just.. really busy all the time. They didn't have the time to teach him things that they deemed 'unimportant'. He could possibly have grown up around maids/butlers if he was *those* rich kids yk.

Charles seems to have a lot of repressed memories.. Especially with his hemophobia. To quote Veronika, "Trauma acquired in one's childhood can 'disappear' until it is triggered again years later. So someone can spend years unaware that they have trauma, only for it to be triggered and all said unpleasant memories come rushing back in."

So it fits with his HQ, the memory and event that made him how he (sorta) is now, is long gone and forgotten. It's a memory that shouldn't be kept, to be stored and hidden away somewhere. It's described as unimportant, which is *why* it should be forgotten.

Charles was probably always emotionally vulnerable, and that *event* worsened him even more. The arrogant front he has infront of others is just a front, it's likely he knows that he'll be mocked and made fun of again if he were to show how he really is.

Nico Hakobyan

"Why should I own up for the mistakes that someone else made?"

Nico is very socially awkward, afraid to speak up because he doesn't want others to hate or react negatively towards him. Yet at the same time, they've been shown to be brutally honest.

He comes off as.. a little selfish, despite being so shy. They tend to just go with the flow and following what others do. Like how in the prologue they wanted to talk with Teruko and Xander because everyone else did it, and if he didn't that would just make him weird.

His quote is probably related to the guilt/shame theme... (If you squint) Yeah, why *should* you own up to a mistake you didn't make? Well, maybe it's because it was his mistake. Maybe deep regret for what he did, very likely with another person, and he's just convincing himself he did nothing wrong.

He's never really come off as a pushover typa guy to me.. Because he can speak his mind if he wishes to, just super awkward. If he was forced into doing something he didn't want to do, and then a tragedy happened because of it, who wouldnt feel guilty though?

Xander Matthews

"survivor guilt(n): feelings of guilt for having survived a catastrophe in which others died."

Xander's quote is a little different compared to the rest, it's just the textbook definition of 'survivor guilt', but whatever. A lot of Xander's backstory was revealed in the bonus episode (sniffs) so let's go over that again shall we?

Apparently, somewhere in a place called Chariton during May, (took place when he was 14, so presumably 4 or more years ago if he's supposed to be 18 when DRDT starts) there was an infected river where a lot of people had gotten sick from it, and unfortunately died as there was no nearby hospital.

Xander feels guilt for not being able to stop something like that.. Why? Because he was busy studying for his finals, burying his face in books just so he could be someone his family could be proud of. So he could keep his scholarship and not get sent back home.

So Xander was a lot more diligent when it came to school and grades, considering he got a scholarship. He is similar to Min in a way, something that was brought up in the prologue and even Min's own Bonus Ep, but I'll talk about it later.

Why does he feel survivor guilt for it? Because he survived such a horrifying incident? Well, maybe if you look at it that way, sure. But he was never really *involved* with it was he? 'Visiting Graves' that's the name of the episode, whose grave is it though?

With how he suddenly brought up the incident, it's very likely that a person close to him died in that incident. Perhaps it was a death anniversary. No idea who the person is exactly, but definitely a friend or family member.

Xander feels as if he could've stopped that incident, he feels guilty for not being able to do anything, and because of that, many died. Though, I do agree w him not rlly being able to do much.. as he was just a kid.

Min Jeung

"I wanted to save you."

Of all the quotes, Min's one definitely stands out the most. Because it's what she said before she died. Now because of this, it brings up one other theory. Are the HQs what characters say before they die?

Some quotes, such as David's, Nico's, Eden's, and Hu's, do fit with this theme. But it does come off as rather inconsistent with a few other characters, like J, Arei and Veronika (To me atleast.)

Now what about Xander's? He's also dead, but what does survivor guilt have to do with it? Don't forget the rules of the killing game, killing someone and escaping means sacrificing the lives of everyone else. That's what it means to live in this game.

He killed because someone told him to, he really did like Teruko, but he followed orders anyways (odd, considering he's a rebel)

Min wanted to save Teruko, but that ended up killing Xander instead. She never wanted to hurt anyone, she wanted to keep Teruko safe. People making her out to be the bad guy because she's the blackened is understandable, but you gotta realise she is just as much of a victim.

Min also had a Bonus Episode, where it was revealed she isn't technically an ultimate. The title of Ultimate Student was given to her because she spent *her whole life* studying because of some test.

Min would've been around *5 years old* when she had heard of the Ultimate Contest. Her family was poor, and was offered to be sponsored by some big rich company. All they wanted in return, was for Min to pass the test and become the Ultimate Student.

Imagine being 5 years old, and being told to study everyday and night because some company asked you to, in exchange for offering to cover your family's expenses. Min is the Ultimate Student not because she's the smartest, but because she was their ideal student.

Even the smartest of students find the school system absurd. MANY students find the school system absurd. Min knows that everything she's studying for is useless, that it wont be helpful in the future. But she puts up with it anyways, because she wants to be *somebody*. She wants to be talented. That test was her only hope. (Haha get it hope)

At the end of the day, Min's quote doesn't fit in necessarily with her backstory. But I could propose the idea that she left out some parts in her conversation w her classmate. It was mainly centered around her Ultimate, and Hope's Peak. But perhaps an incident occurred where she failed to save someone? Maybe.. Because she couldn't save that someone, that's the reason she got sponsored?

Maybe her goal to becoming an Ultimate was a promise of sorts, she desperately wanted to save that person. But couldn't, so she's honoring their last wish instead. I don't really know, again these are all just theories..

And with that, I'm done! With all the participants, at least. :)

[blushing-titan]

My thoughts on ch. 139

Some of you may be familiar with my previous writings - I usually try to stay as collected as possible, but today's post will be different. Ever since the chapter came out, I've been reblogging a lot of rants and memes about it. Those of you who follow my blog (thank you so much, really happy to have you here! ❤) know that I didn't really enjoy this ending. I want to elaborate more on that in this post - my only advice is to buckle up, because today we may get a bit heated (I apologize in advance for the sassy approach - I usually try to stray away from that, but guess today's post is more of a stream of conciousness/rant) :'D

1. Ymir

Starting up with one of the most controversial things about this chapter. Up to this point, I felt really bad for Ymir. Her life was terrible - she was a young girl, who was enslaved and abused by king Shitz Fritz. After she was forced to run away from his hounds, she acquired the power of titans and used it to help the king's cause. For that, she was awarded with the king's seed (🤢), and eventually became a mother of three girls. Through her entire life, she was treated as a slave and a lesser-being by the king - she also died while protecting him, and her daughters were forced to eat her remains after that (🤢🤢).

It felt so tragic to see her 2000 years later, still walking blindly in the paths. It wasn't enough that she was hurt so badly when she was still alive - she remained enslaved to the abusive king even after she died. I was rooting for her to finally be freed from this nightmare - hence I was so happy when ch. 122 came out and we got this scene:

I was genuinely emotional when I saw her reaction. Finally, someone expressed some authentic care for her and tried to snap her out of this blind state. She would finally think about what she wants and try to free herself from the paths because, as Eren said, she was never a slave or a goddess - just a regular person. It's just like she finally let out all the pain that she's been suppressing for all these years.

Yeah...except, as it turns out, her awakening here changes nothing. She doesn't come to any conclusions, like, perhaps, that she doesn’t want to let herself be hurt and mistreated any longer...or that she should fight for herself, try to change her fate - because, after all, her life belongs to her - not anyone else.

Nothing like this happens. Why? Because, as it turns out, she's in love with king Fritz and needs to be proven by Mikasa that she can break this bond first.

....

💀💀💀💀

Excuse me, but...what?

Okay, first and foremost...am I supposed to believe that, during these 2000 years, no one else has gone against their unhealthy affection to someone toxic and unworthy of their love? No one? 🤡 Come on, we even saw that happen in the manga. What about Historia, who thought that her own mother hitting her was a sign of love? Who wanted to believe that her father was good, despite wanting to turn her into a titan? Where was Ymir when Historia stood up for herself against her father's wishes? Or when she flew up to him and delivered the final blow against him?

On top of that...what a disappointing conclusion to Ymir's story. I hoped that she would take her fate into her own hands, and - for example - be reborn and experience life as a free person, surrounded by people who actually care about her. Free herself from paths and destroy it - not because someone shows her that she can indeed detach herself from it, but simply because she wants to.

Instead, 80% of the world population is gone, because she needed to see that Mikasa is able to "free" herself from Eren in order to do the same.

🤡🤡🤡

2. Abandoned plotlines and plot-holes

Mikasa being a Hizuru princess? Never heard of that. Hallucigenia's fate? Who cares. Eren directing Dina's titan in Carla's direction in order to save Berthold? Nah, who would want any more info on that - guess he just couldn't direct her anywhere else. The Ackerman's headaches? Pfff. The fact that Mikasa shouldn't be affected by the memory altering, but somehow still is in the ending? "I guess she just forgot that she should be immune to this". Why was Historia's pregnancy implied as relevant if it wasn't in the end? So many precious panels wasted on that, when they could be used to help solve some other "unanswered questions" instead. Ehhh...🤷

3. Blatant character assassination

There, I'm saying it once again. I have no idea what happened in this chapter but the characters are off. What about Eren - the one who has always believed that freedom was his birthright, and has been fighting and moving forward for his goals? Yeah, turns out he has no idea why he was doing all of that. 

Remember Kenny's quote - everyone is a slave to something? I thought that this implication was pretty poetic in context of Eren's character. Through all his life, he sought freedom, but ironically, he was a slave to that dream...

...turns out it may have been a bit too poetic for this story because Eren is a slave to destiny. Literally - he's going on auto-pilot in order to reach that one moment in which Mikasa beheads him, so Ymir can watch and understand that she can do the same.

Nice joke...except not. Here go our main character's motivations 🗑

He casually commits unjustifiable crimes against humanity - not because he wants to be free or because he found the world beyond the walls disappointing, (...as we were led to believe). He did that because he doesn't know why - and then, he cries that he doesn't want Mikasa to ever find another guy.

:'))

Turns out Eren was somehow always in love with her too...? Yeah, weird way of showing it. Or should I say - not showing it at all.

If you read my previous writings, you know that I'm not very fond of Eremika. The way I interpreted it while reading the story: it was unhealthy, suffocating and one-sided. I hoped for Mikasa to move on and start thinking about herself for once.

Right, what about Mikasa? Has she finally moved on? Is she content with her life? Are her dreams coming true? What's her daily life after all this? Sadly, I don't have the answers. The thing we are shown instead, is how she's sitting next to Eren's grave and, once again, thanking him for wraping the scarf around her. The only thing that implies that she may be somehow still seeing other people is one bubble of text. After all 139 chapters of hoping for her character developement, that's it.

Keep in mind that all other characters are shown together - with their spouses, families and friends - yet Mikasa is still separated and alone. That's right - after she disappears with Eren's head, she's not shown with anyone else until the end of the manga.

While we're on the topic of others, too...do I have to talk about the scenes in which everyone shows some level of gratitude to Eren...for wiping 80% humanity for them? Because I have no words for this.

One last note: I found the humor to be slightly out of place, too. Seriously, after all these terrible events, with so many unanswered questions and character developement of these two...Reiner is still weirdly simping for (now married) Historia and Jean is called a horse face :') Idk, but it feels somehow surreal after everything that's happened.

4. Conclusion

What else can I say...the final chapter disappointed me and I'm pretty sad about it. I'm happy for the people who liked it, but also can't help but feel like it was very far from perfect. I've been following SnK ever since 2013 and it's a bittersweet moment for me. The series had a lot of amazing moments that I'll definitely remember forever. Meanwhile, I would like to read some of the author's thoughts about the way he chose to end the story - perhaps it would clear some confusion (...although I can't help the fact that my first opinion is already formed).

Thank you very much for reading my thoughts - as always, it means a lot to me! ❤ The images used in this post are obviously not mine!

[thefallenbibliophilequote]

You Are In Love

Loki x Reader

1989, epilogue

"You are in love, true love."

Summary: It's hard to find the one, but even if you do find him it's always going to be a daily struggle to make it work. Can you even make it work after he broke your heart? The answer to that is complicated, but it all started when you found each other again in the stark tower- and that's where our story begins.

Word count: 7,106

Warnings: some angst, some unreliable narrator, fluff, me being a hopeless romantic.

A/N: this is the very end- the epilogue, and it is based on the 1989 deluxe song You Are In Love. I really think this is important to the story despite it being an epilogue because I based some of the things solely because I wanted a scene here to happen, I needed that scene. Okay idk how this got so long, I'm sorry! Also, not me stealing quotes from my favourite book… I cried writing this.

A/N2: thank you to @chrissquares for all the incredible dividers she made for my series, and for @nacho-bucky who beta read it all and managed to put up with me. I appreciate you two so much, I love y'all!

No one is allowed to repost my writing or steal or copy my work! Reblog on tumblr is fine.

Series masterlist

Song on Spotify and YouTube

The room was dark and silent as you got into bed, playing the same thing that has been in your mind for weeks now. You heard him in your head, and saw him in your mind as you went to sleep. It hasn't been long since you first saw Loki, but he plagued your mind. Being asleep did not make him go away. You shut your eyes.

The wind felt cold on your skin but your palm was warm as he held you close. When you looked down you found yourself in a dark golden gown, a smile spread on your lips when you looked into his eyes and he took you to dance with him. You saw nothing but him as he twirled you around, your surroundings did not matter as the whole world stood in silence, the two of you were only focused on each other. You were wonderstruck, dancing around with him and looking at his bright blue eyes, you prayed he won't let you go. He only held you lightly with the palm of his hand and the arm around your waist but you felt enough.

He whispered in your ear terms of endearment and you could feel yourself blush. He twirled you around and out of his reach. You danced around all alone, until you turned around and saw Loki sitting on the back of a car, his hand inviting you. You felt your confusion go away as you climbed up to sit next to him, your jeans barely touched his black pants. Then he talked to you.

"Do you remember?" You heard his voice say to you and you turned your head.

"What?" You sat there when Loki talked to you.

"Look up." You heard his voice say to you and you turned your head up and looked at the stars, and your shoulders brushed. A shudder of warmth coursed through you as you saw the brightest star in the sky. You turned your eyes on Loki and the lights turned out.

You woke up in a shudder, heaving, you looked at the clock that mocked you. 1:58.

You turned to the other side of the bed and hoped sleep would take you quietly this time.

•

Loki walked along the bifrost, his heart was beating and racing, it didn't matter how many times he visited Heimdall, he was still anxious for his answer every time.

"Heimdall," Loki greeted the guardian.

"Prince Loki, are you going to ask the same question every time?" Heimdall looked over at the distressed prince. He remembered seeing him, when he was so young, so happy when he snuck him out at night so he can go to see the human woman he fell so hard for. He remembers Loki coming back in the morning with a smile on his face that he has never seen on him before; he remembers the young innocent prince showing him the necklace he carved especially for you, with his insignia on it; he remembers him being hopeful for the future- with you.

"I just want to know how she is."

Now he is an idiot.

"Just like she was the last time you asked me." Loki merely nodded, looking down on the ground. Heimdall waited for him to ask the other question he always asked.

"Is she- is she seeing someone?" Loki kept his eyes down, he held his breath.

"No." Heimdall tried to comfort the prince but he knew the answer won't do. Loki nodded to him, he never knew if he liked the answer or if he wanted you to find someone and be happy even if it is without him.

"Is she happy?"

"Yes, she is. She is happy and content," Heimdall stepped forward and put a hand on Loki's shoulder. "But it's been four years- don't you think there is a reason why she is still alone?"

"She just hasn't found-"

"She won't find someone who will make her happy like you did."

Loki refused to be selfish like he was in the past with you. Now that he understood what you asked him all those years ago at sunset, he refused to destroy your peace. Yet, he refused to forget you.

"However, your highness, she will not be available forever." Loki finally looked up at him, "and forever is not a lot of time for mortals."

"Then what am I to do about it?" Loki has told Heimdall a great deal about you, he never told his mother about you but since Heimdall was the only one who knew- Loki conversed with him after you had a fight, gushed to him about new midgardian stuff you taught him, and Loki knew that he didn't have to hide you from him.

"Do not sabotage your own happiness, it is not a selfish act if both of you will be happy from it. She will be happy to see you again, I can see that." Heimdall looked into the prince's eyes and hoped he could bring some sense to him.

He almost missed the way his eyes shone for just a moment, before the prince turned away to go back to the palace.

"Thank you, Heimdall, truly." Loki turned to him briefly before turning once again.

He wasn't as uncertain as he thought he would be; he pondered as he made his way across the rainbow bridge.

•

You woke up yet again alone, another sleepless night made you long for something you didn't have, leaving you tired. You reluctantly got out of bed, closing the curtains and concealing daylight and opting instead to turn on the lights. You had a long day ahead of you, so you shook the blue eyes that haunted you from your mind, you could almost see them in the shadow at the corner of your room.

It was just a trick of the light. You checked.

You walked out the door, not before taking a double look at the apartment, it was empty but… it felt wrong. You could almost see a silhouette, you must have been losing your mind, you thought, as you turned out the lights and walked to work. But right before you closed the door you sneaked one last glance, and you could still see it with the lights out.

Work had been tedious, Pepper was busy which meant that so were you, but at least you amused yourself in your breaks. Seeing the competitive supersoldiers spar on the mat sure could bring a smile to your face any day.

You weren't lonely by any means, you were happy with your new family that seemed to adopt you the moment you got the job, you were happy with your job, but from time to time you couldn't help but feel… hollowed. Something was not quite right, something was missing and you couldn't figure it out. Sure, you didn't have a boyfriend but that wasn't it. Every guy that hit on you just seemed wrong, you didn't feel the need to get one. You were satisfied and happy… was that enough?

You buttoned your coat to shield you against the autumn chill as you went back home. Happy suggested driving you, Tony basically commanded it but you sneaked out as he was arguing with someone on the phone, waving Happy goodbye as the elevator doors closed. You felt like walking today.

Autumn air swept past you as you walked, you looked through store windows at the TV, one reporter was talking about how there were sightings of the evil god of mischief. You stood there and stopped to look at it, could you have missed him? You remembered when you saw him at the Avengers Tower- when you first met him at the Tower- he left too soon, you fixed yourself in your own mind and watched as the reporter showed pictures after rambling about how dangerous it is.

Your heavy chest breathed again when you saw the photos- Steve's hair has not been like that in years, this was not recent. You shook your head and continued walking.

You remembered when he passed by you, you remember the chill of him that for some reason gave you warmth. And now in the cold weather you could feel it all over again on your way home. You could imagine it, and it was so real there, him being on your left, you could almost feel him breathing on your neck.

You opened your eyes and looked over your shoulder. He wasn't there.

Long story short, you were sure you were going insane- having an unexplainable crush on a god you met once upon a time, what was it? Four year ago? You hoped your mind would stop listening to your heart this one time.

You met him one time, you talked a bit before he passed by you, meeting him was rare as the glimmer of a comet in the sky- that is what you told yourself at least, when days passed and you remembered him but you didn't see him again.

You shook your head again, shaking him away, you were just chasing shadows and there was no point in that. You knew that and wished logic would calm your racing heart.

•

Loki stepped into the Allfather's throne room and dismissed all the other Asgardians that were there.

"My son, what are you doing?" Odin rose up before he saw the look on Loki's face and with a raised interest he sat down as Loki went up the golden stairs.

"I have a request, it is important to me."

"And you came to ask me to grant it?" Odin raised a brow and studied the god of mischief, doubtful with every moment that went by. This sure is intriguing.

"I am afraid you are the only one that will be able to fulfill my wish." Loki's thoughts were still messy in their silence, scattered in ways he didn't try to collect. He thought about it the whole way to the palace. Even when he was satisfied here, and when he and Thor became true brothers after everything went down… it still wasn't home. It isn't home- it never was since he met you.

"Well do tell me what made you so desperate that you came to me?" Loki took a breath in.

"My love." He breathed out.

"The mortal midgardian girl?" Odin seemed to understand the situation. He never thought it would come from Loki, he never thought anyone would come to him for it, especially not the prince. "What would you want me to do?"

"The one thing only the Allfather is capable of doing." Loki lifted his head up and looked at his father with determination. He was certain with his decision.

•

Loki walked the rainbow bridge feeling different and yet the same all at once- he felt new. But with one weight lifted, another dread took its place.

Heimdall nodded at him with a small smile and Loki found himself returning it, it reminded him of the first night he came back to Asgard after meeting you in Midgard. Heimdall always knew from the start.

He stepped into the Avengers Tower, knowing that by this hour you were probably back at your apartment- at home. He stepped into the living room and found the witch, the billionaire, and the captain there sitting around on the several couches.

"Loki?"

"Captain," The god nodded to him in recognition. He wasn't quite sure what to say.

"What are you doing here?" the god walked around to stand in front of the three avengers.

"I've come to a decision."

"I used to want the Throne, father." Loki continued, "The very one you are sitting on, or the one I'd put on Midgard. As the rightful heir to the throne, and as the King of Jotunheim, I deserve that.

"I was born for it- and so, I used to want the throne. I used to think myself superior to everyone in the nine realms, the mortal midgardians out of all… that was until I met her, my love. When you met your love, father, it didn't change you. You caused ruin and shed blood and now you are sitting on a throne built on that in a world that now I am fit to rule." Loki did not let the Allfather speak in between. He deserved this, he knew that now.

"During the time you were away and under my spell, I made Asgard prosper… look how well it all turned out," he chuckled bitterly. "I used to want the throne but now I realize I just wanted to be acknowledged for my abilities, for my wit, instead of being shadowed to the side- all because you decided to pick up a baby and use it as political gain only to find it useless." Loki took a breath to close his eyes, he remembered it all, he remembered the day he found out about it all, about his glorious purpose his father planned for him.

"And Then I met my love, and she saw everything- all of that-inside me already without me having to prove it to her. She made me realize that I have nothing to prove to you- an abuser who calls himself king.

While Thor is my brother, and I acknowledge that I still am both Odinson and Laufeyson, this is not the home I thought I could make it out to be… by fixing everything else and making the people love me, fear me, acknowledge me. Even when my mother was here, I was not able to be fully myself, not here, not like I was whenever I'd sneak out of Asgard to be with her." Loki smiled, thinking about all of your moments together.

"Those were the sole moments where I felt what a home should feel like- though I never had anything to compare it to, and you made me think that somehow I should be grateful for you- for taking me here instead of dying in the cold, even though you were planning to use me as bait to gain advantage on your opponent.

Then I found her and she warmed her way into my heart and despite it all she still loves me and cares for me and I know that if I ever had a home… it wasn't on Jotunheim or here with my brother- it was with her: In a small apartment in Midgard, surrounded by mortals.

"And so, yes I am the rightful king of Jotunheim and a prince of Asgard, god of mischief… but I also have a home waiting for me in Midgard and I also am in love. And only now I realize all I want I can get, which is the home that I gave up on all those years ago- trying to make this home better. I don't want the throne anymore.

"So now, now I choose her."

"You decided to come back?" The witch leaned forward and asked him, he was about to nod when the captain spoke up.

"What about you saying that you want her to have peace?" Steve crossed his arms and rose up, "You said that as a god you won't be able to give her a peaceful life?"

"Yeah what changed in the last few years?" Tony continued sipping on his drink, casually looking over at the god with an arched eyebrow.

"Well, I came to a few realizations about her and myself which is why I am here now." Loki started, "now I can be what she needs me to be, if she will take me back."

"She still thinks of you, her thoughts are so loud sometimes." Wanda smiles at him, he is still wary with her after she saw inside of his mind. "How did you change then?"

"Well," Loki took a breath. "The ruling god, the Allfather, has the ability to revoke the immortality of a god. And so- I asked my father to take away my immortality."

They stared at him in silence, one in disbelief, one studying him, and one confused.

"So now if I stab you, you will die?" Stark asked and the god rolled his eyes.

"The Asgardian gods were never immortal, we are almost immortal, so even if you had stabbed me before I could have died- I however doubt you would have managed to do any harm to me." Loki dismissed the small man.

"Wait, what about your… magic?" Steve asked and one shrug later an identical Captain America stood in front of him, smirking.

"Patriotism, Justice, god bless America!" Loki shapeshifted back to himself before continuing, "I still have my magic, powers, and the rest of the qualities as the god that I am- that make me way above all of you- I am just not as immortal, and I will be able to live with her properly."

"So, you are like a supersoldier." Steve nodded in understanding, and Loki smiled slightly.

"Yes, but a lot more powerful and better."

Steve shook his head but let out a small laugh.

"So when are you going to see her?"

"Well, I think I wasted enough time already." Loki let out a chuckle, and he didn't even bother hiding the excitement in his blue eyes.

•

Loki hoped his excitement, as well as his nervousness, were hidden- he gave up using illusions around you a long time ago, and it was very long ago but he didn't want to use them now. This time he was going to make it right.

It was weird, not having unlimited time anymore. But his doubts about the decision stopped when you opened the door after hearing his soft knocks.

Your eyes were beautiful, they always were but he missed them terribly, now they were filled with a mix of confusion and excitement. He couldn't help the slight smirk that slipped out across his lips- at least he still had that affect on you.

You had a hard time processing who was at your doorstep, but you could already feel the butterflies blooming in your stomach. So long trying to suppress your weird crush. It seems to be inevitable now that he showed up years later.

When you saw his smirk you realized you must have been staring at him longer than you should have.

"Loki?" his name tasted weird on your tongue, you couldn't place the little spark that flew in your mind, making your head ache a bit.

He brought his hands up and with a light green glow he held blooming flowers in his hand.

"May I come in, love?" you could barely speak with the way his blue eyes shone, like moonlight against the darkness of the night like the suit he wore.

You nodded and stepped back to let him in.

You were certain that when he walked past you and handed you the flowers he had a certain glow to him, like an aura that was visible to the naked eye, it both calmed you down and overwhelmed you, so you looked away.

"These are my favourite, how did you know?"

He turned to look at you and you couldn't help but blush, wonderstruck at the little whispers you could almost hear his eyes hold, a silent question. You couldn't answer.

"I have magic, did you forget, dear?" Loki smiled when you locked the door and turned back to him. "I can read minds."

You laughed, and what a sound it was.

"That's bullshit, I didn't think about flowers now. Can you read what I'm thinking now?" you raised a brow at him, happy to call him on his bluff- you hoped it was a bluff, you'd rather the earth swallow you alive than if he could know what you're thinking while he is here.

"You are wondering what I am doing showing up at your door close to midnight." He took a step towards you. He wasn't wrong. "A little birdie told me."

You let out a nervous chuckle when you saw him standing closer now, but it turned to anger when you understood his words.

"Steve told you?" you went around him contemplating how to kill Steve, Natasha owed you a favor after all; you muttered, "That son of a bitch…"

Loki figured he will go with your answer, it is the easier answer. You came back shortly with a vase and the flowers in the water in it.

"Do not fret, those flowers are special, they have an enchantment on them so they will not die."

At least you didn't have to worry about that, he was so considerate and normal that you almost forgot about the odd situation.

"Why are you here?" You asked and clasped your hands in front of you.

"You told me to come to you if I ever plan to take on the planet again, so here I am." He smiled at you such an honest smile, and you didn't even know why he was so happy, but you knew that smile will linger in your mind like a tattoo kiss. It was so tempting to look at his lips for longer and imagine to yourself what his kiss would taste like. "If I'm honest, you've left quite an impression on me the last time we met."

"Oh?" you hoped the heat in your cheeks was not visible, you bit your lip. "Can I trust the god of mischief to be honest?"

"Of course you can, just trust me." His serious look contrasted your playful one.

"Why do only the untrustworthy people say that?" you mused and smiled at him, hoping to ease whatever tensions you felt brewing in his mind.

"Well, love, that is because the people that you know you can trust don't need to say it." He looked at his shoes and you took the time to really admire him now that he was up close and real.

"Well then, I guess you don't need to say it." You found pride in how he lifted his head and a sly smirk took over. "Do you want something to drink?"

If he was here, after all those years of only imagining him, you could ignore the odd situation just so you could make him stay a little longer this time.

"I'd like that, thank you." You invited him to your kitchen as you made yourself some tea.

"What would you like?"

"Coffee is good." He wondered how far he could take it with you, letting a gentle glow almost reach you when you turned around and he stopped.

"Coffee at midnight?" you questioned him, "Okay, what kind of coffee do you like?"

"I am a god, love, it doesn't affect me the way it affects you," he laughed when you rolled your eyes. "Pick whatever you think I would like."

You nodded at him with a shy smile. You turned away from him and made his coffee as he sat around you at the isle. You felt little tickles in your brain then. You tried to shake them off somehow but when they got stronger you winced at the slight headache.

"Are you okay, love?" god, you were already getting used to the pet name he gave you.

"Yeah, just a headache- nothing tea cannot fix." You laughed and turned back to him and the headache was gone, you couldn't help but wonder if he used his magic to heal your headache. It would be stupid to assume that though, so you stayed silent and took a sip of your tea. You gave him his cup of coffee and your hands brushed- it was one touch but you felt enough to know that he will linger on your skin.

"So tell me," you broke the silence that took over as he kept looking at you with soft eyes. He hummed and urged you to continue, "How can I help you take over earth? Where do we start?"

He laughed and you promised yourself to make sure he will laugh again. And you wanted to hold him, but you held back that urge and relished his familiar- no, comforting presence as you talked through the night.

•

From there you saw Loki around more, at work or when he would invite himself into your house at night or during your day off. You fell so easily into routine with him, he filled the space in your life that used to be vacant, you never really noticed it until he had to go to Asgard for a month to deal with a meeting. He made up for it when he came back though, walking you home that night and the next night, and the one after that…

It did nothing to sooth your crush on the god, it increased it if anything. Whenever you saw him, he would sooth the headaches you were getting lately, you could almost feel the gentle almost featherlike caresses of his magic- it had to be his magic, even if he never said anything, you saw it in his eyes.

You managed to handle it until he followed you around at work- and you were surprised when the Avengers did not even comment on it or flinch.

"You look lovely as ever, my love," he picked the necklace on your neck and your breath hitched at his closeness and the way his fingers brushed your chest and throat, "Always a sight to behold."

"Oh, Loki," you always stammered at his compliments that he shamelessly threw at you, "you're so sweet thank you, I- I have to go now, I need to go to Pepper- I have work, yes work."

You cringed to yourself as you turned around and down the hallway, only to shriek in surprise when Loki suddenly materialized in front of you, causing you to fall… almost.

Loki caught you just before you hit the ground, with a hand around your waist and the other holding your hand and bringing you upwards to him. You didn't dare say a word.

"You know that with a beauty like yours Asgardian princesses could never compare- and for your steadiness I'm certain I could teach you Asgardian ballroom dancing- to help you, of course."

As if it couldn't get worse, your cheeks were heating up, and you were caught in his eyes before he thankfully let you go.

"I assure you I am steady and not clumsy, a person appearing in front of me would catch anyone off guard!" you laughed it off.

"I am not a person, dear, I am a god." At the intense look in his eyes you clutched your hands to your side, holding in a gasp you just nodded and went around him to try and get work done.

If Pepper noticed anything, she didn't comment on it.

•

As the days went on, he became bolder and bolder and you couldn't deny that you loved him courting you this way and knowing that he only has his eyes on you. On some days he was bolder, on others you took the leap to get closer to him when you noticed he was having a bad day, and sometimes he would be so gentle with you the genuine way of it made your heart soar.

It was all gentle touches and intense eyes that you still saw when you closed your eyes in the dark of the night. It was the slowest build up that made you feel like he was always there with you, whether it was in your heart or soul or body, it surrounded you in warmness you didn't know you missed.

And then he asked you out, as you showed him your favourite spot in the park. He just laughed and smiled at you and when you asked why he held your cheeks and asked you out on a date. He wanted it done properly.

So now you stood at your home in your best dress- it was green, you found it in your closet and you liked how it matched the colour of the shirt he often wore.

The doorbell rang so you looked in the mirror one more time, seeing the dress and the necklace he seemed to love. You looked around the dimly lit room and the set table and once you were sure everything was ready- you opened the door.

And there he was in all his glory, you couldn't have stopped the smile you shone at him even if you tried, he seemed to have that affect on you. You could see royalty on him, you could feel it, even when he stood there with a simple black suit.

"Hello dear," he looked you up and down, remembering another night you wore this very same dress, only you didn't wear that necklace, not yet. "You look ravishing."

"As do you, I really like this suit on you." You brushed your hand on his chest, straightening the tie. "Come on in."

Loki stepped into the room, appreciating the memories he has of all of your date nights, even those that you had before the two of you got together. He appreciated every single one of them.

Then he once again looked at you, the candles giving you a glowing aura, making you shine and his breath left him speechless.

The light reflected the chain on your neck, the one he gave you all those nights ago, that faithful night.

"Loki? What are you hiding there?" you laughed at him as you tried to circle him and see what he was clasping behind his back. Only to see green lights as he made whatever it was disappear with a smug smile on his face. "Hey that's not fair!"

He put his hands on your hips and pulled you to him as you tried, and failed, to stay stern.

"You are dating a trickster, love, you brought this on yourself." He laughed at you as a giggle escaped you before you again tried to drop the smile that gave away your true emotions. "It's your fault that you love me!"

His laugh stopped when he saw the wondering look in your eyes and he realized what he had said. Then he backed away from you.

Shaking his head, he laughed it off before putting on a smile that you knew was a cover for his true emotions. He pulled out a golden box, you had never seen something like this before. You knew he was distracting you but chose to let it go- for now, at least.

He looked at you with gleaming eyes, urging you on as you held it and opened it.

You caught your breath when you saw a golden necklace laid inside it. It was fairly simple, but it was golden and even had a glow around it. The pendant of the necklace was a simple circle that held a weird S shaped symbol on it. You looked at Loki as he took it out and held it in his hand.

"What is it, Loki?"

"That, my love, is my symbol. Two snakes circling each other, biting each other's tails, and in a way- they symbolize me."

"That is beautiful, Loki, thank you." You traced the symbol delicately- it was intricate but you could tell it was hand carved. You let him put it on you.

"This way, you will have a part of me wherever you go."

You held back tears and tuned around to face him, jumping in and hugging him close.

"You were right before, you know, I've been meaning to tell you this anyway." You pulled back only by an inch but he went and sat on the couch, so you went ahead and sat on his lap, letting his arms circle you.

"What do you mean?" he asked nervously.

"I love you."

Norns, he was so afraid to tell you back then, but now he wasn't afraid, and all he had to do was wait. He was willing to wait until you were ready, he hoped the light spells he had been casting were doing their work well, he hoped it won't be long.

•

You woke up in your bed, smiling at the golden daylight, you turned around and reached for the other side of the bed, happy to see Loki was still asleep.

It was rare to see him like this- peacefully sleeping. You lightly traced his face, careful with the light bruises he came home with. They were already healing but you still didn't like seeing them. You convinced Loki to let you clean them up, he argued about how he is a god, and yet he let you do it anyway.

"Good morning, beautiful." He murmured, still half sleeping, he grasped your hand in his and kissed the inside of your wrist.

"Good morning, handsome." You smiled at him. "You said I have you for the week, right?"

"I'm all yours, my dear." He pulled you closer now, "I have a few ideas on how to spend these days…"

You laughed and let him kiss you, you were just happy to have him home.

It was a few hours later that morning that you got out of bed, groaning at your sore muscles and chuckling to yourself at the smell of the burnt toast, it was only Sunday.

You put on his shirt and stepped outside to the kitchen.

"Will you ever not burn the toast?" he shrugged at the comment but didn't reply as he tried to break an egg into the pan.

"This is ridiculous." He grumbled to himself. "After all this time and I still don't get it."

"You didn't try to do this that long." You chuckled as he finally gave up and used his magic. "You have only been here with me for like half a year now."

"Right," he fixed himself, quickly coming back to you and serving you your breakfast the way he remembered you used to like.

"Thanks, Loki." You kissed his cheek as he sat next to you. "But how about you take the first bite?"

You bit your tongue to stop yourself from smirking.

"Now, darling, there is no need for that."

"Sure there is, I'll be very amused." You laughed at the look he gave you and how he tickled your side.

"I am not amused."

"You know, for an Asgardian you sound so British."

"False, English people sound like Asgardians." He pointed a fork at you before he ate from your breakfast, you joined in only after he approved of it to your surprise.

You sipped on your tea, sighing at the perfect morning you got to enjoy. That was when you realized that you are in love. In love with a god. You read books after you met him, you knew that this wouldn't last.

"How are your bruises? They seem to be healing okay, do they hurt?" you brushed away a strand of hair out of his face.

"I told you, darling-"

"I know, I know, you're an immortal Asgardian god, you can handle wounds like these." You laughed and hoped he wouldn't see through it. That was the one sentence from the book you read that haunts your brain. It made you remember a sunset, but you've never been with Loki to a sunset, maybe you should go sometime.

"Actually, Asgardian gods are just almost immortal. But I am not immortal anymore." He said, sensing your anxiety, hoping that this information will make it all okay, hoping you will realize that this will last.

"What? Why not?" you should not be delighted by the news, you should be worried of him getting hurt now.

"I decided to give up my immortality, while I still am a god and I assure you I am just as strong as I was before," he took your hand in his and looked into your eyes. "I decided that I want a better, more peaceful, life."

"But why would you-" you shook your head.

"I had my reasons." He kissed the back of your hand,

You nodded to him and looked away, a sinister kaleidoscope of butterflies of hope rose in your stomach.

Maybe some things last forever after all.

•

"I am both terrified and excited." You held onto Loki's arm for support, praying to any god out there that you won't mess it up and stumble.

The gown you were wearing was golden, with a dark glimmer to it, Loki was matching you in his royal suit in black, green, and gold. Loki finally took you to a ball a year into your relationship, you asked to celebrate it here and he complied

Asgard was beautiful, though you were getting a bit lightheaded from it all, it got worse when you entered the ballroom.

"I told you." Loki leaned in to whisper to you as you took in the scenery.

"What?"

"You are more beautiful than any Asgardian princesses in their best dresses." Heat rushed to your cheeks at the compliment, remembering when he so casually said it to you at the tower.

Loki remembered the night he taught you to dance, the one he finally kissed you and told you those same words.

Loki made sure to keep you away from Odin, and put an armor of magic around the two of you, hoping it would ease your headaches. And then you danced in your own little world, around and around until you got tired and Loki took you home.

•

Half a year later you were going to sleep, Loki was right there beside you, holding you close to him as you laid your head on his chest.

"Goodnight, my love."

"Goodnight… I love you."

"I love you too." Your lover kissed your head and then as you closed your eyes you felt the same tingles in your brain that you started to get whenever you went to sleep or even when you went to work.

Soon enough you fell asleep and your dreams took you along.

You wandered along places with Loki beside you. You were there with him on a high hill, staring at the sunset. "I'll treasure this moment forever." You heard him tell you but you didn't hear him- no, it was something else. You smiled at him and suddenly you were in your apartment, and you were smiling as he kissed you, you saw two paper airplanes flying around and he said- talked to you. "I told you my way was better." You heard yourself laughing at him and felt yourself bringing him back to a kiss. You were there with him as you ran through the trees until you stopped and climbed up, where was this again? "Come on, Loki, I now a place we won't be found." You giggled to him- no- you heard yourself giggling. Was this a dream anymore? With the growing headache this must be a nightmare. Since when do you have vivid dreams like this? Your apartment looked different as you danced around it with Loki. "I bet you'll look just as beautiful in an Asgardian dress. Like a true Asgardian goddess." But no- he couldn't have told you that there. You felt ecstatic as he leaned in to kiss you right there, it's your first kiss. No, it wasn't. You felt it all, you knew this was inevitable. Did you know that? Your head was spinning as you saw that golden necklace you found in your drawer. "It has my symbol on it, two snakes circling each other," biting each other's tails. No, you must have read it somewhere. Then you walked towards the spot in the park that you loved, at least that was familiar. "You will get a cold if you keep sitting in the rain, don't you have an umbrella?"Loki looked at you, he seems so much younger, you got shivers from his blue eyes. Your head hurt more and more, you didn't know where you were. All you felt was confusion. You saw the bifrost and there you saw the man with the golden eyes greeting you, he knew you- he knew everything. Did you know? "Do you remember?" Loki came home to you, with a fake smile which turned real when he said "I love you." He loved you. In Asgard yet again, why were you saying goodbye? "Promise you'll get me back, Loki." And then he bowed- but you already knew he was going to do that, the dream didn't have to tell you- "I'll see you around, my love." You remembered.

"I'm going to miss you, even if I won't know it." You did miss him, you missed him all along.

You waked, shot up from Loki's grip, with a hand over your mouth. You could hear the hushed whispers of memories in the silence of the bedroom; you could feel him on the way home even when you had nothing but his necklace; you could see it all now in a kaleidoscope of memories playing with the lights out. You were in love with him- you were in love with him over and over again. You never stopped loving him.

Now you saw it all: yes Loki was your lover, but before that- a lot of things happened before that, he was your best friend.

Loki woke up to the strange look on your face, rising up to be face to face with you. You paused before looking at him and he teared up at what he saw.

"You're my best friend." He saw you- his love- and now you saw him. And he knew what it was, you came back to him.

He took you in and held you close in a hug, laughing as tears ran both of your faces.

"So, 1989." He brought you in for a chaste kiss.

"What?"

"It's been 1989 days since the last time you remembered me." You chuckled.

"Took me that long?"

"It felt like an eternity." You tentatively caressed his cheek.

"Why did you give up eternity for me?" you asked him and he laughed as if it was obvious.

"The only way to survive eternity is to be able to appreciate each moment- and I couldn't do that, not without you." He pressed a kiss to the palm of your hand, "and now- now I get to spend my eternity with you."

You leaned in to kiss him once more, savoring it, you knew: You were ready to fall in love with him all over again.

You lost each other, but you found each other again, and somehow that was everything.

•

Tags: @ayybtch @buckys-other-punk @chaoticpete @madcrazy50 @mishkatelwarriorgoddess @the-departed-potato @rogerrhqpsody @onceupona-happilyeverafter-love @percabethismyotp14

[my-bated-breath]

On an Immensely Popular Post

Disclaimer: What I’m writing here may not be completely accurate -- like most works of art, literature, and even STEM tend to be -- and as a new fan of ATLA, a few of the metas I publish may be obsolete or unintentionally insensitive. That being said, I like to believe that I can contribute something valuable to this fandom. In all my (real) metas, I wish to be as objective as possible and not rely on my biases, fanon, or common “knowledge” that may just be misconceptions. If anyone reading this finds something to be false or contrived, I am always welcome to constructive criticism. What I am not welcome to is senseless hate or bashing.

My first experiences with the ATLA fandom begun a long, long time ago, but the most recent and powerful revival of my love for ATLA started with me actually watching the show and soon after, with me falling into the endless abyss of ATLA metas on Tumblr. Sifting through the well-written analyses and the emotion-based rants had taught me a lot about critical thinking and the power of influence, so now I’d like to present a meta that critiques an extremely popular post with over 60,000 notes. And since it’s so popular, this is the part where I must make yet another disclaimer.

Disclaimer: I hold nothing against lesbians4sokka (whose name has now been changed to comradekatara). They have the right to share what they want, but since this particular post has become so influential that it’s still being reblogged regularly to this day, I believe it is within my right to criticize it - emphasis on “criticize,” which is different from “hate.”

Now that that’s out of the way, let us begin:

Lesbians4sokka/comradekatara covers 3 main subjects in their post, which I will quote/summarize below:

(1) Ma/iko: “...the entire foundation of mai and zuko’s relationship was built on how miserable they were together, and how they would just sit there and hate the world together— letting their misery fester as they enabled each other’s depression— and I think that’s really unfortunate because they would work so well as friends if they weren’t trying to make their dumpster fire of a relationship work.”

(2) Zutara: “similarly, what makes zuko and katara’s dynamic so compelling is that they share the same flaws, only as opposed to mai’s apathy and misery, it’s katara’s rage and guilt that zuko identifies with. they both share trauma over having lost their mothers, and both in a similar way (sacrificing themselves for them) and they both cope with their grief through rage, often misplaced… katara and zuko have a deep & profound friendship, but if they were to be in a relationship, they would only bring out the absolute worst in each other thru enabling each other’s rage and emotion-driven decision making.”

(3) Z/uk/ka: this pairing makes for a healthy and wholesome relationship because throughout the boiling rock, we see that “sokka and zuko make an excellent team, as they balance each other perfectly. sokka thinks big picture, and plans ahead, but zuko will charge into situations.” They inspire each other, they trust each other unconditionally, they become more open and supportive of each other, they share a lot of common interests and narrative parallels, and in general, just make each other happy (which could work both platonically and romantically).

As for my response: I’m sure many of you are expecting me to start to save the “best for last.” That assumption would be incorrect because I actually have the least to say about point 3.

I agree that Z/uk/ka can be a good relationship. Their dynamic is funny, playful, supportive, etc. etc. (there are so many positive adjectives I could use to describe their dynamic, the list could go on forever). And they could make a great couple.

…

What, did you expect more from me? That’s it, I’m done.

I’m not here to attack Z/uk/ka as a ship, because while I can never actively ship it (I’m a sad, narrow-minded exclusive shipper, always had been and always will be) I can objectively appreciate them as one. It’s points 1 and 2 I’m more concerned about.

Now, since we’ve already begun working backward, I’ll begin my critiques on point 2: I could write extensively about the parallels between Zuko and Katara, including but not limited to shared pain and a few shared flaws - and just a few, because their weaknesses diverge in many important places. However, since I’m trying to write as objectively as possible and since Zuko-Katara parallels have already been discussed to death, my analysis will focus elsewhere.

However, something from comradekatara’s post that I would first like to address is this-

[Zuko and Katara] both cope with their grief through rage, often misplaced. in the southern raiders, they both act deeply insensitively towards sokka by acting as if his grief over his mother’s death is somehow less valid simply because he is a lot quieter in his coping mechanisms and doesn’t project his rage & guilt onto everyone else.

- or rather, the idea that Zuko and Katara’s shared pain causes them to act insensitively towards Sokka (and though the post does not mention it, Aang as well).

(Note: these points have already been covered by countless metas before mine, so you can skip/skim this section to read a newer argument in the next section.)

Even ignoring the fact that the Southern Raiders had many out of character moments, Katara’s insensitivity towards Sokka is first and foremost a reaction against his insensitivity towards her.

_____

Dialogue from Season 3, Episode 16 “The Southern Raiders”:

Aang: Um ... and what exactly do you think this will accomplish?

Katara: [Shakes her head in dismay.] Ugh, I knew you wouldn't understand. [Begins to walk away.]

Aang: Wait! Stop! I do understand. You're feeling unbelievable pain and rage. How do you think I felt about the sandbenders when they stole Appa? How do you think I felt about the Fire Nation when I found out what happened to my people?

Zuko: She needs this, Aang. This is about getting closure and justice.

Aang: I don't think so. I think it's about getting revenge.

Katara: [Angrily.] Fine, maybe it is! Maybe that's what I need! Maybe that's what he deserves!

Aang: Katara, you sound like Jet.

Katara: It's not the same! Jet attacked the innocent. This man, he's a monster.

Sokka: Katara, she was my mother, too, but I think Aang might be right.

Katara: Then you didn't love her the way I did!

Sokka: [Hurt] Katara!

_____

While I believe that Aang’s principles of forgiveness are morally sound, the way he pushes his beliefs onto Katara undermines much of her grief. At first, Aang tries to relate to Katara’s experiences by comparing them to his own, but there is a forceful connotation to his dialogue that suggests that Aang considers himself to be the moral authority compared to Katara. Hence, Aang judges Katara (“I think it’s about getting revenge”) without trying to reach out and understand her, forgoing the empathetic common ground in favor of taking on the moral high ground.

Thus, when Sokka tells Katara, “she was my mother, too, but I think Aang might be right,” Sokka is not only saying that Katara should choose forgiveness, he is implying that Aang is the ultimate moral authority on this matter and that Katara should accept that. Moreover, similarly to Aang, Sokka’s opening line, “she was my mother, too,” had the potential to establish common ground between himself and Katara, but the added “but…” places Sokka on the moral high ground against her instead. Of course, when we remember that just two lines ago Aang equates Katara to Jet, Sokka agreeing with Aang seems even more thoughtless and unsympathetic.

So when Katara lashes out against Sokka, ostensibly “acting as if his grief over his mother’s death is somehow less valid simply because he is a lot quieter in his coping mechanisms and doesn’t project his rage & guilt onto everyone else,” it is important to note that Sokka undermines Katara’s louder, more visible way of grieving as well (though that discounts that for most of the show, Katara only uses her grief over her mother’s death to sympathize with others).

Moreover, Katara’s line, “then you didn't love her the way I did!” is hurtful, yes, but it is not necessarily equivalent to “you didn’t love her as much as I did.” Katara’s love for her mother is different from Sokka’s because her pain over her death is different -- after Kya’s passing, Katara had to carry the emotional burden of becoming a pseudo-mother to Sokka (see Sokka and Toph’s conversation in “The Runaway”), a burden that did not cease after she joined the GAang (see the entirety of “The Desert”). To Katara, Kya was not only her mother, but the representation of the childhood she lost and the sacrifice made to protect her life. Sokka simply does not have that same relationship with Kya.

I do not mean to say that Sokka and Aang unfairly taking on the moral authority in this situation means that this authority instead belongs to Katara (and Zuko) - “The Southern Raiders” is filled with questionable moments from all parties involved. However, TSR is an episode that delves into Katara (and Zuko)’s relationship with a mother’s sacrifice, so how Zuko and Katara respond to this specific trauma from their past does not dictate how they respond to painful circumstances in the present/future. Let’s see how this is true.

Sozin’s Comet, Part 1: The Phoenix King

No doubt Zuko and Katara felt some form of frustration upon Aang’s disappearance, so let’s see how they “[enabled] each other’s rage and emotion-driven decision making”:

Here, Katara and Zuko make a decision together that turns out to be calm, rational, and not at all emotionally-driven despite their mutual frustration and worry towards Aang.

Sozin’s Comet, Part 2: The Old Masters

Zuko holds immense pain and self-loathing over betraying Iroh, yet Zuko and Katara’s conversation does not enable/exacerbate negativity from any party involved (since Zuko often translates his grief into anger, and Katara was evidently angry at Zuko’s betrayal). Instead, their conversation is open, encouraging, and constructive.

(Note: this is where the review of points made by previous metas ends.)

Hence, to say that “[Zuko and Katara] would only bring out the absolute worst in each other [through] enabling each other’s rage and emotion-driven decision making” -  when we are given in-canon examples of the opposite being true - would be a sweeping and inaccurate generalization.

But for the sake of argument let’s say that, hypothetically, Zuko and Katara’s relationship would fail because they only bring out the worst in each other. And here’s where the argument falls apart for me - Is the argument here that Zuko and Katara have an incredibly meaningful friendship yet somehow this “friendship” causes them to enable each other, thus encouraging each other’s worst flaws and regressing each other’s growth? Is a healthy friendship - much less a “deep and profound” one - not one where two individuals can learn from each other in positive ways and balance each other’s shortcomings?

Or is it something different we’re saying here? Are we saying that two individuals can have a “deep and profound” friendship and yet the moment their relationship shifts from platonic to romantic, they are terrible for each other?

While many significant platonic bonds are stunted when they become romantic, I still believe it to be common sense that some of the best romantic relationships stem from a platonic foundation. But since much of “common sense” on the internet sees that “sense” is nonsensical and “common” is a nicer way to refer to mob mentality, I have done my research to show how Zuko and Katara could have been an excellent case of a friends-to-lovers relationship.

An excerpt from my meta, “Research Shows that Zutara Would Have Been the Ideal Friends to Lovers Dynamic.” (give it a read if you want to see references to relationship-research and an overanalysis on diction/tone)

The reason why Zutara is framed as a “toxic and unhealthy” relationship is that their romance would be a classic example of the enemies-to-lovers trope, a trope which modern media has not been particularly kind to. However, when executed correctly, enemies-to-lovers can produce a healthy and loving relationship, frequently relying on friendship as an intermediate between the “enemy” and “lover” stages in the most well-executed versions of this trope. Meanwhile, the trope of friends-to-lovers is just as popular as enemies-to-lovers, though the specific dynamic required between two individuals to achieve this transition is not well-known. Recognizing this, Laura K. Guerrero and Paul A. Mongeau, both of whom are involved in relationship-related research as professors at Arizona State University, wrote a research paper on how friendships may transition into romantic relationships…

According to Guerrero and Mongeau, “...scholars have argued that intimacy is located in different types of interactions, ranging from sexual activity and physical contact to warm, cozy interactions that can occur between friends, family members, and lovers…” Guerrero and Mongeau then reference a relationship model where the initial stages (i.e. perceiving similarities, achieving rapport, and inducing self-disclosure) reflect platonic/romantic intimacy through communication while the latter stages (i.e. role-taking, achieving interpersonal role fit, and achieving dyadic crystallization) often see both individuals as achieving a higher level of intimacy that involves more self-awareness.

In the rest of my research-based meta I demonstrate how Zuko and Katara’s platonic interactions in the show fit into the stages of communicative intimacy (i.e. perceiving similarities, achieving rapport, and inducing self-disclosure) that Guerrero and Mongeau describe as being mutual between friendships and romances. As such, crossing the line between friends and more-than-friends most likely would not cause a dramatic shift in the Zutara dynamic since much of Zuko and Katara’s platonic intimacy easily translates into romantic intimacy. I’ll end off with another excerpt from my meta.

Excerpt from “Research Shows that Zutara Would Have Been the Ideal Friends to Lovers Dynamic.”

“...it would be remiss to simply dismiss the Zutara dynamic as one that would instantly become toxic should they pursue a romantic relationship.”

With that little thought in mind, let’s move onto point 3: an exploration of friendship, romance, and why toxicity is not exclusive to the latter.

Let’s start with what I agree with:

“The entire foundation of mai and zuko’s relationship was built on how miserable they were together, and how they would just sit there and hate the world together— letting their misery fester as they enabled each other’s depression...”

I’m not sure how necessary it is for me to elaborate on this point given that it’s already been accepted by comradekatara and perhaps 60,000+ other users on Tumblr (a gross exaggeration but this remains unimportant), but in her essay, “Zuko, Mai, and the Nature of True Intimacy,” Araeph contributes more nuance to the concept of Ma/iko and mutual misery, stating that,

Unfortunately for [Zuko and Mai’s] relationship, Mai is and will always be a pessimist—a character trait, not a character flaw, in her. The key difference lies in how Mai and Zuko use their negative feelings. When Zuko sinks into negativity, he gives up on any actions that will materially change his world for the better; Mai, on the other hand, can remain negative even at the height of her character development, and it does not impede her ability to act.

So while Mai enables Zuko’s depression, Zuko does not necessarily do the same for Mai. Nonetheless, throughout their relationship for the first half of season 3, neither of them communicate constructively or push each other to grow as people.

This may be the third disclaimer I’m making, but I first want to say I have nothing against Mai. However, I do have something against the idea that “[Mai and Zuko] would work so well as friends if they weren’t trying to make their dumpster fire of a relationship work.”

Their relationship is a dumpster fire, yes, but will the flames cease simply if the amount of intimacy in the relationship changes?

comradekatara state themselves that their entire romantic relationship is quite depressing - they are only able to connect through empty physical intimacy and mutual hatred of the world. Without that, there is little left for them to bond over. Once Zuko overcomes his conflicting morality and inaction from the first half of season 3, he becomes someone who is strongly guided by his principles and beliefs. However, for the entirety of the series, Mai is characterized by her moral apathy. To cite from Araeph again,

It is moral intimacy that is the last and worst omission for Mai and Zuko… Zuko’s struggle to find and follow his principles is the most central aspect of his character, yet it is a struggle Mai neither understands nor respects…

Lack of moral intimacy (not sharing the same core beliefs) is something that applies to both platonic and romantic bonds. Thus, just as transitioning from a meaningful friendship to a romance does not inherently create toxicity in a relationship, switching from a romance that exacerbates one (or both, depending on how you interpret it) party’s misery does not necessarily erase the preexisting negativity in a relationship - perhaps some of it may subside, sure, but as long both parties continue to fail at communicating and understanding each other, even their friendship seems bleak at best. In this case, Mai and Zuko may work well as conditional friends, or in other words, friends who are only friends when they have something to mutually be miserable over. And this tiptoes the line of speculation, but they could be a formidable political team. But unless the Ma/iko dynamic shifts drastically in the lovers-to-friends transition, I’m not sure if there’s much potential in a friendship between them.

In conclusion, there is a lot I don’t agree with from comradekatara’s post, but if there’s one takeaway I want to impart onto everyone who’s read this far, it’s this: crossing and uncrossing the line between platonic and romantic bonds is not always a transformative experience for the relationship, and the nature of human relationships is a complex spectrum -- not a light switch that can only be set between healthy and unhealthy.

Thank you all for reading!

[theliteraryflower]

I posted 2,268 times in 2021

11 posts created (0%)

2257 posts reblogged (100%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 205.2 posts.

I added 425 tags in 2021

#literature - 72 posts

#harry potter - 58 posts

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Longest Tag: 106 characters

#also. lily picking up piano and other instruments while in hiding is just something that makes sense to me

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

Rescued by a Viscount

By Wendy Vella

Rate: 4.5/5

Synopsis:

He wasn't like other men, he didn't observe the correct distance when conversing or dancing with a woman, nor did he guard his tongue. In fact, Viscount Kelkirk was the exact opposite of everything Claire strove to be, and she has never known how to handle him. But now she has to learn. And fast.

Miss Claire Belmont’s life is thrown into turmoil when she finds out her brother left something behind in France before he died. Going against her family’s wishes, she is determined to uncover the secret of what it is, and is forced to turn to the one man she vowed to avoid at all costs for help. If anyone can disrupt her well-ordered life and see the vulnerable woman behind the polite facade, it will be Viscount Kelkirk and now they are thrown together, she realizes her fears were justified.

Review:

Well this is new. Like this has been a very unique Regency novel. This is part of the Regency Rakes collection and honestly it was quite tame, for present times, but quite scandalous for the Regency era. We meet Claire and Simon, who are the Duke and Duchess of the last books dearest friends. But Claire can not stand Simon. She finds him obnoxious and too forward, if she only knew that he was the only one willing to help her in her time of need. This book touches themes about grieving and letting go and the lengths one would go for family. Also its quite cute how self sacrificing our leads are even if it gets annoying.  Yes, I am looking at you Claire. Stop running away from people who are trying to help you. In the end they all lived happily ever af-oh there is a third book!

1 notes • Posted 2021-03-27 17:28:52 GMT

#4

Match Fit

By: Amèlie S. Duncan

Rate: 3.5/5

Synopsis: He's cocky, dirty, and demanding. He's a walking wet dream.

He's also mine. Or at least he's pretending to be...

Brooke

Notorious British bad boy footballer Dylan Pierce is scorching hot...

and he knows it.

With a mouth as filthy as his reputation, linking myself with him could ruin my public image.

But showbusiness is all about risk, and as a down-on-my-luck actress,

this could be the break my career needs.

Dylan

Brooke Sullivan is my most difficult opponent yet.

Being seen with a good girl like her may give me a chance at Hollywood stardom,

but I never expected to crave this feisty redhead.

I can't lose my focus--I always keep my eye on the ball,

I'm always match-fit.

And winning her is the most important game I've ever played.

Review: Brooke... sweetie... you are in a relationship with your father... let that sit in. Okay to clarify her dad is like super bossy and uses the excuse of "it's what's best...". And our lovely lead Dylan pretty much is the same. So... Brooke are you okay? You sure? Ok. So this is the story of struggling actress Brooke and how her agent arranges for her to be the fake girlfriend of football star Dylan. Whose reputation as a whore has followed him across the pond. My issue is that he like immediately is like I want to kiss your cat and please eat my roster. He was like so sexually aggressive and she was into it. Which is fine but girl... I hope you had fun for the emotional gymnastics you went through. Dylan wants her but doesn't want to change at first which causes a whole other type of drama. Especially with you are mine thing. The seperation was also a curve ball and very enjoyable but I hated the over possession and the shaming of female characters when they act like our make leads. All in all a good read but I worry. Is toxicity worth a good lay?

1 notes • Posted 2021-02-20 06:22:38 GMT

#3

The War of the Worlds

By: H.G.Wells

Rate: 5/5

Synopsis:

When an army of invading Martians lands in England, panic and terror seize the population. As the aliens traverse the country in huge three-legged machines, incinerating all in their path with a heat ray and spreading noxious toxic gases, the people of the Earth must come to terms with the prospect of the end of human civilization and the beginning of Martian rule.

Inspiring films, radio dramas, comic-book adaptations, television series and sequels,The War of the Worlds is a prototypical work of science fiction which has influenced every alien story that has come since, and is unsurpassed in its ability to thrill, well over a century since it was first published.

Review:

Why did I wait so long to read this book. Like it was amazing and beautifully written. My first experience with this book was through the Steven Spielberg movie. I wish I could turn back time and read this book first. Though the movie was great, I feel that the original story was a million times better. It was more than just about the alien invasion but rather the Hubris of men. The society presented to us thought that they were the most powerful and thus did not have to worry about it. Then just to be proven wrong in the worst way. Everyone knows the ending so it won't be a shock to know that it was the Aliens own Hubris that causes their downfall. All in all way ahead of its time and most certainly worth the read.

1 notes • Posted 2021-01-10 02:26:21 GMT

#2

Duchess by chance

By Wendy Vella

Rate: 4/5

Synopsis:

Daniel, Duke of Stratton, learns of his betrothal to Miss Berengaria Evangeline Winchcomb minutes before his father’s death. Having gambled his fortune away, all the late Duke had left to sell was his son. To save his family’s honor Daniel agrees to the marriage, but society’s favorite bachelor is no longer a charming easygoing man— his father’s betrayal has left him angry and with a thirst for revenge.

Eva learns she is to wed the Duke of Stratton on the way to the church. Inside she feels a flicker of hope that at last she is to leave her horrid family— however that flicker is short-lived as she faces the cold unyielding man who is now her husband.

Review:

Yes.... I'm still on my historical fiction thing. Don't act suprised or like it's not enjoyable. This story was enjoyable but alot more darker than most. Usually, the Lady is a gentle and sweet soul who has suffered very little. Not our Eva. Eva and Daniel didn't know what was coming when their father's decided to play cards. One bad gamble leads to a unwanted marriage between Daniel and Eva. And they didn't know what to expect from each other when they got married but by gosh did they enjoy it. Eva expects more of the same. A hard, cold and abusive husband and Daniel expected  some mousey little chit. They were wrong... so wrong, and with out even realizing it they fall in like and then in love. It was a sweet and at times steamy read. With a new perspective of society and the norms. Great read that again they live happily ever after. 

2 notes • Posted 2021-03-20 17:22:37 GMT

#1

All the stars and teeth

By Adalyn Grace

Rate: 4.5/5

Synopsis: She will reign.

As princess of the island kingdom Visidia, Amora Montara has spent her entire life training to be High Animancer—the master of souls. The rest of the realm can choose their magic, but for Amora, it’s never been a choice. To secure her place as heir to the throne, she must prove her mastery of the monarchy’s dangerous soul magic.

When her demonstration goes awry, Amora is forced to flee. She strikes a deal with Bastian, a mysterious pirate: he’ll help her prove she’s fit to rule, if she’ll help him reclaim his stolen magic.

But sailing the kingdom holds more wonder—and more peril—than Amora anticipated. A destructive new magic is on the rise, and if Amora is to conquer it, she’ll need to face legendary monsters, cross paths with vengeful mermaids, and deal with a stow-away she never expected… or risk the fate of Visidia and lose the crown forever.

I am the right choice. The only choice. And I will protect my kingdom.

Review:

So this is what happens when you put too much pressure on one person. Mistakes happen but... that doesn't mean you can over react either. Amora is preparing to make her performance to prove her worth to the kingdom. But gosh, her support system sucks. You know you aren't supposed to stress people before a big exam. Well these people failed that. So after Amora's presentation goes horribly wrong she gets thrown in prison with the only person on her side is her childhood friend and fiance, Ferrick. Again love him but I am so glad that Amora is straight up with him and us. Love you but not in love with you. Then there is the plots against the kingdom, a very mysterious and sexy pirate and a mermaid who gives me life. So poor Amora has alot on her plate. I loved the world building and though I wished it could have been explored more, I understand that it's hard to do so in a duology. It was a good adventure with various locations and threats and characters that are likeable. Like seriously Vataea, Mermaid queen slaying it up and down. Another thing that I loved that the story was about saving the kingdom it was never about Amora being a girl, or her struggling between Ferrick and Bastian (pirate) but rather her need to save her home. My only complaint is that the end was a bit rushed but still a great read. I can't wait for the sequel. 

12 notes • Posted 2021-03-07 04:10:47 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

[pond-porridge]

I posted 2,342 times in 2021

313 posts created (13%)

2029 posts reblogged (87%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 6.5 posts.

I added 197 tags in 2021

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Longest Tag: 123 characters

#please dont take this as rude i just wanna be funny im not trying to be rude if you think this is rude i am very sorry /srs

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

OK OK OK SHIP DYNAMIC

"I can fix them" *makes them worse*

47 notes • Posted 2021-09-22 23:04:39 GMT

#4

People: oh??????maybe the orange side is Logan?????

Me, who made theories on how Logan is most likely to become a dark side because people actually listen to the dark sides (and we can really see this through Virgil's arch. He was listened to most during the beginning because he was a dark side, he was seen as evil and they believed he was scary, we can also see how much Janus is listened to in general or the fact that everyone literally has difficulty not listening listening Remus), therefore how little people notice him or listen to him can lead to him recognizing that fact.

Just a bonus I feel needs to be mentioned; each dark side has a specific something that helps make sure they're heard:

-Virgil's voice can duplicate and become louder

-Janus can force others to be quiet

-and Remus can- from what I believe happened in the start of DWIT -talk either into people's minds or basically make it sound like he's whispering these thoughts into his ear (either one of those works, I'm not fully sure what happened in that scene).

Logan could envy these. He could wish he had something to make himself louder, to finally make himself heard.

An alternate theory I have is maybe Logan already had these. Maybe he was already a dark side. Maybe he hasn't shown these because he doesn't want to remember that. He doesn't want to be evil again. Maybe he might've been hated even like most dark sides, who knows! Maybe he's just repressing all of that out of bad memories and his fear of that being repeated.

I feel like we should also take a moment to remember what has already happened before. Though not as much as this time, he has in fact snapped before. Him throwing the paper at Roman is a great example, and just look at how he felt after! He apologized, said he didn't know what it was, and instantly said he should leave. It could've been out of panic because he just watched himself go back to how he was before for a few seconds!

Or maybe none of this is true and him feeling ignored and sad made him vulnerable for the real orange side to influence him.

What I'm saying is, I think about this too much and the dark sides need a tired smart boi.

57 notes • Posted 2021-08-03 03:27:33 GMT

#3

i hope you know cpr, because you just took my breath away! :D

Well, I wouldn't mind preforming a few rescue breaths on you~

30%

69 notes • Posted 2021-08-26 18:09:08 GMT

#2

So uhhh

I was zoning out and accidentally thought of an entire God damn Deltarune route.

No clue how I thought about this.

To activate this route, you have to find every hidden berry bush around the game. You could pick the berries and add them to your inventory/key items. You can't get rid of the berries.

The berries description just says "Food. Finally."

You have an option to use the berries when looking at them in your inventory, but if you try to, all it says is "You aren't hungry."

Eventually, you get the option of who to explore with. Choose your favorite to spend more time with them!

-Ralsei

-Susie

-Noelle

-Spamton (...for some reason?)

-Queen

-Berdley

If you chose anyone other than Ralsei, you occasionally chat, but there's no enemies, nothing. They start complaining about how hungry they are. They ask if you have food. You have 3 options

- "No."

- Hand over the berries.

- "We'll find better food."

"No."

If you chose this option, they'll slowly collapse due to starvation.

Hand over the berries.

If you hand over the berries, they'll eat them. Slowly, as you walk, they start to stumble more and more, before being poisoned and falling over, dead.

"We'll find better food."

This leads to them realizing you have berries. This will activate a fight.

If you choose to spare them, they'll get Kris to 1 hp, ending the fight and taking the berries, before running away. You later see them dead on the floor.

If you fight them, you kill them.

If you chose Berdley, both Noelle and Queen will ask where he is. Queen will sound slightly glad he's not nearby.

If you chose Queen, Berdly will ask where she is.

If you chose Spamton, Susie will say a "didn't someone go with you?". The only option is no.

If you chose Noelle, Susie will frantically ask where she is, worried and scared.

If you chose Susie, Ralsei will ask where she is as Noelle panics.

If you chose Ralsei, he doesn't comment on being hungry.

Kris asks if Ralsei is hungry.

Ralsei doesn't answer, all he says is

"Life is fragile, Kris."

There's a long moment of dead silence, before Ralsei talks again.

"Tell me, Kris. If I said yes, would you have poisoned me?"

The options are

- "No."

- "Why would I?"

- "Yes."

"No."

Ralsei responds with "Really?"

You get to choose again.

"Why would I?"

Ralsei responds with "Why wouldn't you? Just answer, please."

You get to choose again.

"Yes."

Ralsei responds with "Oh. Alright." And you continue walking, not bringing it up again.

Ralsei survives. Ralsei is the only person you can choose who will survive.

This route is called the Hunger Route.

85 notes • Posted 2021-10-11 15:41:33 GMT

#1

prinxiety for the headcanons ?

-oblivious as FUCK

-Virgil took a bit to get comfortable and open up with everyone, being comfortable with Roman last, but eventually was the most comfortable with Roman

-they 100% cuddled before even dating they just cuddled and went "yea were just Bros y know" and then later Realized

-people got so annoyed with how oblivious they are they just like,,,,,,,,occasionally purposefully left them alone together often

-ik a lot of people like the "Roman confessed first" concept but imaging Virgil stuttering and confessing and then Roman just interrupts him and kisses him its less of a headcannon more of a concept I think is important and needs to be appreciated

131 notes • Posted 2021-11-03 22:43:47 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

[writerdream22]

⟶ Since I’ve found a good number of prompts from various prompt lists, I decided to make a post that included a few of them! 

⟶ None of these prompts are mine so credits go to their rightful owners!

⟶ If one of these prompts belongs to you, please let me know if you want me to delete them or tag you beside the quote!

⟶ Feel free to reblog this!

“Kiss me.”

“I'm an insomniac. This is just normal”

“Am I finally a hero?”

“Your hair is so soft...”

“I still love you. That's the odd thing”

“I miss her/him. And I know I shouldn't, but I do”

“Jesus Christ, I'm sorry. I don't have my glasses on ”

“Know your place, you fool”

“I have a solution.” “Thank goodness.” “It involves fire.” “Absolutely not.”

“Did you just... agree with me?” “Oh. I wish I could take—” “Nope! You said it! No take-backs!”

“I broke my rules for you”

“It's okay, it's okay! Just breathe. I've got you”

“I should have seen it coming.”

“[friend's name] tried to warn me about you, but i didn't listen, you know.”

“Shut up” “I didn't say anything” “I don't care. Shut up”

“How are you still alive?!” “That's a long story”

“You humans are most amusing”

“I love you, you enormous stubborn pain in the ass”

“A word from you and I’ll set you on fire.” “Wow, someone is in a good mood! You look like you slept five full hours this time!”

“Love is an open door!” “Close it!”

“Oh, to be purged from the knowledge of one's future”

“I don't have time for distractions right now”

“You’re not an awful company when you’re not trying to be obnoxious and ruin my day.”

“What I lack in common sense, I make up for in sarcasm”

“I told you, I'm innocent!” “How come you were the only one there, then?”

“I hate you” “Why? I'm lovely”

“You’ll catch me, right?” “Always”

“I told you that I’d never leave you; I’m not going anywhere”

“If being clumsy was a currency, I’d be a bloody billionaire”

“You don’t have to say that you love me. No one means it anyway”

“How many fights have you been in this week?”

“I like the way your hand fits in mine”

“You can call me whenever you want.. Even if you don’t have a reason to”

“Wait, don’t pull away.. Not yet”

“I'm yours— you know it”

“I’m bad at texting first, so I always end up hoping you will.”

“You look really cute in that sweater”

“I can’t do anything right”

“You own my heart”

“We're not all savages here, sweetheart”

“Let’s run away together”

“Ready for another war?” “Some war. It's only the enemy that's different”

“I need a hug”

“Don't worry, I can handle this”

“You and me are a team”

“I would call you an imbecile but that’d be cruel as you wouldn’t be able to spell it”

“Control your anger or you’ll have me to worry about.”

“My kingdom is in danger. I've come to ask for your aid”

“Are you scared?” “No. I have this terrified look on my face ‘cause I’m having so. much. fun”

“By the way, the Neanderthal fucks out by the gates aren't very good at their jobs!”

“How stupid do you think I am?!”

“It was just a dream, okay? None of it was real”

“Stop it l. I said stop it. Do not even think about eating it!”

“Be careful” “I'm always careful”

“OH you’re jealous!”

“I swear, if you took my leftovers, I'll kill you”

“You are the last thing on my mind when I go to sleep. And the the first thought when I wake up.”

“You don’t have to love me”

“Remind me why we're friends again”

“Eventually, everything connects”

“You could have gotten yourself killed!” “But.. I didn’t?”

“We have a problem” “Let me guess. You caused it?”

“Did you get a haircut?”

“I love this song!”

“So what’s your plan?” “My plan was to follow your plan!”

“Well, this is a nice change of scenery” “It’s a prison cell” “I was being sarcastic”

“He can be a little dumb sometimes.” “I am sitting right here!”

“Well, at least you’re alive” “That is arguable”

“An apple a day keeps everyone away if you throw it hard enough”

“Was the battle axe really necessary?” “A lady should always accessorize”

“Anywhere you go, let me go, too”

“Can we please stop running? I think I’m dying.”

“I could punch you right now.”

“They warned me about you, I should have listened”

“Please don't tell me we're lost”

“Fear is a tool”

“No habla español, fellas?”

“You did a wonderful job convincing people that you love me. I almost fell for it”

“You’re a very rare person to come across I think- “

“At the end of the day, it is what it is”

“Damn the world, and damn you too”

“This is breaking my heart”

“I'm fine. There's nothing for you to worry about”

“I've never believed in destiny”

“I know I should be happy…I did well…I always do well…so why can’t I believe in myself?”

“You were supposed to be my friend. That's all.. that's all I asked of you. To be my friend. To care”

“I think I’m in love with you, and I’m terrified”

“Did you get any sleep last night?”

“I had a thought” “Oh no” “I swear it’s a good one this time!”

“Do you think —” “All the time. I’m a good thinker, you know” “That’s not what I meant”

“Some days I really love my job. This is not one of those days”

“Are you okay?”

“Let me help you”

“I just want you to be happy”

“Come on, I can't go to the party alone”

“Have you ever seen something prettier than this?” “Yeah, you”

“Don't talk to me, someone might think we are friends”

“Pull yourself together. We have work to do”

“Do you think its possible to die from boredom?”

“All I do is drink coffee and say bad words.”

“You come here often?” “Well, I work here. So I think I’d have to say ‘yes’.”

"Like what you see?" "No, there's something on your face."

“Oh, hi.” “Hi!” “Hi.” “You already said that.” “Right.”

“When I say I want to be alone…I usually don’t want to be alone.”

“Get the fuck out of my room!” “It's our room!”

“None of it was real, but I wish it was”

“Just pretend to be my date”

“Let’s go for a walk.” “Its 2 am!”

“Go away, I'm training my mind for battle” “You're playing video games” “Exactly. Training. Now go away, you're distracting me!”

“Why are you here?” “Because I care about you, you asshole”

“You are really drunk right now” “I am not drunk. You are just blurry.”

“It's not a double date. We're just third and fourth wheeling”

“You’re insane” “You love me” “Not right now I don’t.”

“You know what, we make a pretty good team”

“All we can do is our best, and sometimes the best that we can do is to start over.“

“I'm fine” “Are you sure? Because you look like you're gonna faint” “Yeah... you might wanna catch me”

“I knew you wouldn't bring a jacket, so I made sure to color co-ordinate with you so you could wear mine on the way home.”

“Shhhhhh quiet! Someone will hear!” “I don’t care if anyone hears. I want everyone to hear. I'M IN LOVE WITH Y/N!”

“I love you” “A horrible decision, really ”

"I don’t know how many cups of tea it takes to make you happy but so far it’s not twenty seven."

“May the chocolate chips in your cookies always turn out to be raisins”

“This your idea of laying low?”

“I knew you would be here”

“He/she did it” “No he/she did”

“Did you bring us here to die?” “Obviously” “I can't tell if you're being sarcastic or not”

“OH! Are you alright? Are you alright?” “Apart from being trapped under here, and maybe suffering from broken bones and embarrassment beyond what I'm capable of handling... I'm dandy, why do you ask?”

“Aww, you're blushing”