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stormdash2 · 1 month

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How Sally Acorn and The Freedom Fighters can work in a Sonic game.

This is a little essay I want to make on how Sally Acorn and The Freedom Fighters can potentially work in a Sonic game.

Brief summary. Sally Acorn is a character from the Sonic the Hedgehog Archie comics, and is especially known for being in the Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon, dubbed by fans as Sonic SatAM.

The characters of Sally Acorn, Bunnie Rabbot, Rotor the Walrus and Antoine D'Coolette are characters exclusive to this show as well as the spin-off comics. They are part of a group known as The Freedom Fighters, which also consists of Sonic himself as well as Tails. Their goal is to liberate their world from the tyrannical Doctor Robotnik, better known as Doctor Eggman, the main antagonist of the games.

These characters were made for the show, but I believe they can work in the game setting. It just requires a bit of tweaking to have them fit the Sonic Team vision, and this is how I would go about it.

Let's start with the gameplay, as that is the most important part of a Sonic game obviously, or any video game for that matter. Now, obviously in most Sonic games, Sonic is playable. In those games he runs at high speeds, hence his name. The gameplay reflects that perfectly. This has been a thing since the first Sonic game on the Sega Genesis.

Any games where one of his friends are playable usually have that friend running at high speeds. Examples include Tails in Sonic 2. When he's tagging along with Sonic, he's keeping up with his speed, or on his own, he has to show that same speed in gameplay.

This continued through the Genesis games with the introduction of Knuckles, and into the Adventure games with characters like Shadow. Some characters do have slower gameplay, like Amy Rose does in Sonic Adventure, but it's still speedy in its own right. Amy definitely has quite a boost in speed by Sonic Heroes.

The point I'm getting at is this. If Sally were to be in the games, there's two ways to go about it. One way is making her an NPC. Sally does not have the speed or abilities that the game cast have. So putting her in a traditional Sonic level would make her feel out of place.

Could she be given powers? Absolutely. But I feel like it messes with her charm. Her being a normal character should not be a bad thing. No one had a problem with Batman being in the Justice League. Sally has plenty of strengths, even if not in gameplay. She can appear in cutscenes, give orders, or anything. Not every major character in a video game is playable, and that extends to the Sonic franchise. Tikal didn't need to be playable to be important in Sonic Adventure 1 after all.

If anyone was going to be playable in a Sonic level, it would be Bunnie Rabbot. She has the cybernetically enhanced limbs and could speed and power her way through a Sonic level.

However if Sally were to be playable, an option would be to give her specifically designed levels that focus on her slower gameplay. It could even be stealth based. Think about the levels in the game, Sly Cooper. Sally could sneak around and gather intel to assist her team, and use stealth takedowns on enemies, or just fight.

Another feature would include having Nicole present in some form, either as a computer or in her Lynx form. She can even have a role similar to Omochao in which she would explain the controls or give hints throughout the levels.

Option two is this. A Sonic RPG. We've already had Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, but I think another Sonic RPG is due. Especially given that Sega owns Atlus, who are famous for the Persona franchise. An RPG is a great way to introduce The Freedom Fighters.

With an RPG gameplay, you don't have to worry about how characters can keep up or not. Everyone is at an even playing field. This is assuming that it's a turn-based RPG, like Persona, or the original Final Fantasy games. (And Sonic Chronicles too of course).

Most RPGs don't have that many people in a single party, so you'd still need to pick and choose. Chronicles was generous with eleven characters. So I'll bump it to twelve. My picks would be Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Shadow, Rouge, Silver, Blaze, Sally, Bunnie, Antoine and Rotor. We can have cameos from characters like Rosie, Dulcy, Uncle Chuck and Lupe. This in addition to the game characters of course.

The RPG route could be interesting, as it could allow for a mechanic known as The Affinity System. This system has been used in Final Fantasy 7 and Tales of Symphonia, and is particularly featured in Fire Emblem, and even the Sega owned Persona.

The affinity system allows for character bonds to grow through gameplay and side quests. This could be a fun way to show how friendships develop among the Sonic characters, and be a good way to show a bond when it comes to the Freedom Fighters. There's another reason that I will get into in a bit.

Another idea is to make a fighting game. It would be a Sonic Fighters type deal where characters from across the Sonic Universe could fight. And why limit it there? Sega could feature characters from across the multiverse, which includes SatAM.

Sega has what it takes to make a Sonic 3D Fighter after all. They have the Virtua Fighter team with nothing to do. Honestly it'd be funny if characters like Akira Yuki or Jacky Bryant made playable appearances.

Then again, having humans fighting Mobians (or whatever Sonic's game franchise calls these characters) might be troubling. Anyone who remembers the Star Wars characters in Soul Calibur 4 knows from experience how hard it is fighting a small character like Yoda.

Still, a fighting game featuring Sonic characters can work. It again puts them on even ground, and power doesn't need to match. You see games like Dragon Ball FighterZ or the Marvel vs Capcom games having crazy looking matchups that don't make sense, but it's a game so you don't have to think too hard on it. So long as the characters fit, then it's fine.

Be it a 3D fighter, or a 2D fighter, either way it could be fun to see the Freedom Fighters in a fighting game.

This mainly applies to the SatAM Freedom Fighters. Anyone from Archie could be troubling given the copyright issues. Not all characters have this, those like Fiona Fox and Mina Mongoose could theoretically come back. It depends on what Sega wants, but if they were willing to bring them back, that would be a plus. Mina and Fiona deserve a better story than they got in Archie Comics, and being adapted by Sega could be the fresh start they need.

I'm not opposed to other making it into the games, be it Cosmo from Sonic X, or Tangle and Whisper from IDW. They can all co-exist in the Sonic gaming franchise along with other characters.

Now to get to characterization. There's a difference between Sonic in the games, and Sonic in SatAM and the comics. Japan portrays Sonic as very humble compared to how the West Portray him.

In Archie, Sonic is very full of himself and a bit egotistical. He's very likely to smack talk someone. He's got a larger ego, and plays up the who superhero thing.

This is opposite of what Sonic Team sees Sonic as. Yes in the Japanese versions of Sonic Adventure 1 and 2, he had something of an ego, and was rude, but he became pretty humble by the end of SA2 and from there, he's had a friendlier demeanor.

Why do I bring this up? In SatAM, Sally's thing was constantly telling Sonic what to do and keeping him from being immature. Sally wouldn't need to do that in the games because Sonic is already mature, so their dynamic changes.

Also, Sonic is not really one to be bound by this stuff. He's not a superhero type like Western Media likes to portray. (A misunderstanding he has in common with Goku). He always does his own thing.

Now I know I said Sonic's not a superhero, but I will use them to make the comparison. While the Freedom Fighters are duty bound like The Avengers, Sonic and his friends are like The Fantastic Four. They're more explorers than heroes, they just happen to do good things.

So while Sonic is chill and more mature than in the games, Sally can still find Sonic irritating since like SatAM and Archie, he does what he wants. Difference is that Western Sonic would brag about doing what he wants while Game Sonic just does it without the need to explain himself.

Sonic and Sally would have different dynamic. I can see her trying to get him to do what she wants him to do, but he's giving her a hard time. But he's nicer than Archie, and he's usually more respectful to girls, so he may try to explain himself at some point, only if he wants to.

Romance would not likely be there either. Sega does not want Sonic in a relationship, and honestly if they do go that route for him, he'd likely be with Amy.

I can see Sally crushing on Sonic, but it would be one-sided. He wouldn't return the affection and Sally may eventually give up. But the respect would still be there.

Also bear in mind, if Sally does become part of the games, that doesn't mean she'll be a main character. At most she'd be a side character and only appear when needed.

Backstories would need to change too. Sally may not be a Princess this time around, but Knothole can exist on an island where Sally is the mayor's daughter or something. Keeps it political for her and she is somewhat a Princess. It can even be a nickname.

Roboticization doesn't exist in the games, so Bunnie being a cyborg would either be due to an accident, or it could be an Iron Man situation where she was given robotic limbs. Rotor could build them.

Antoine could just be a knight. He may or may not be married to Bunnie at first, but that's not something I want to see rushed, so it's better off being alluded to. If anything, just say they're dating.

Nicole is tough. The original plans for her was that she was once Mobian, then had her brain uploaded into that computer. She gains a physical form again, but comes back as a child and becomes a daughter figure to Sally.

Nicole could essentially be Sally's little buddy like Tails is for Sonic if they choose to go that route.

Or she could be older and just be Sally's best friend, or even her sister either by blood or via adoption. I would personally go with the adoption route, it adds a bit more to their friendship without having to add too much exhibition.

It could be a simple game, either one of the classics, because the Freedom Fighters just fit well in those, or modern, which works too. Whether they already knew Sonic or just met him is another thing to consider.

If you go with them already knowing him, it'd need to be done carefully. Like Sonic met them once but didn't stick around. He lost contact with them because they couldn't keep up. Sonic's friends stick around because they could keep up.

But that's their relationship. Sally may not have a deep bond with Sonic, or Tails for that matter, but such is the way it is for Sonic games.

Though going back to the affinity thing I mentioned for the JRPG, theoretically that can be used as an excuse to have romance. Build a bond and slowly have the two fall in love. It doesn't even need to be with Sally though, you can have Sonic fall for Amy. You can have Sonally or Sonamy, and the best part, it doesn't need to be canon. Both can be what-ifs, similar to Final Fantasy when it came to Cloud with Tifa or with Aerith. Or the many possible Fire Emblem pairings.

This could be Sega just testing the waters to see how romance would be handled. If they want, they can even give Sonic an option to be with Blaze. Sonaze fans should be happy too.

Even so, let's say Sonic is meant to be with Amy. Personally, I say don't pair Sally with anyone. Though if she absolutely had to be paired with someone, I'd say maybe Mighty or Ray since they're game characters who can fit the Freedom Fighter aesthetics well. (Personally, I vote for Ray. Chipmunk and Squirrel.)

Oh, and I suppose I should discuss her wardrobe. I'll keep it simple, I don't see why Sega would need to give her clothes, I always found that double standard weird. Why is it okay for guys to go without pants but it's not okay for girls? I don't think any other game or franchise with anthro characters have that issue. Either everyone worse mostly clothes or no one did.

But if Sega feels the need to put clothes on her, then fine, no big deal. Just make sure they look good. Don't force it like the reboot did.

But that's my take. Sally can work in the games with effort, and Sega just needs to try. The key is getting her popular enough for Sega of Japan to consider her. But Honestly, having Sally in the games would be a great service. Sega has done great services lately, such as bring back Sonic's friends for games like Superstars and promising to bring back older franchises like Jet Set Radio and Streets of Rage.

I know SatAM has a different vibe from the games, but considering Sega's fine with The Diamond Cutters in IDW that do similar stuff like the Freedom Fighters do, and the fact that Sonic Forces had this rebellion thing, Sega's willing to go this route.

Mario has done similar with characters like Pauline in Mario Odyssey and Daisy in Super Mario Bros wonder. Sonic needs to keep up this kind of momentum. Let's keep up this momentum. We'll Rally for Sally as they say.

Thank you for reading.

#sonic the hedgehog #sally acorn #sonic satam #freedom fighters #bunnie rabbot #archie sonic

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littlemissaddict · 2 years

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Psycho - Eddie Munson x Fem!Reader

Summary: She's Jason Carver's ex and she's finally rediscovering who she is thanks to a certain metalhead. Very loosely based on the song Psycho by Taylor Acorn.

Word Count: 4622

Reposting to see if I can get it to show in tags.

Walking into the cafeteria and seeing Jason with his arm slung around Chrissy’s shoulders, not two days after she had broken up with him, only confirmed to her that she had made the right decision. His smug grin had her sick to her stomach, so much so that she was tempted to leave right then and there as she was no longer interested in her lunch but she couldn’t. It would only give Jason the satisfaction to think that he had won when he really hadn’t.

Rolling her eyes as she made an attempt to pass the table unnoticed but of course he noticed her. Since the break up it was like she couldn’t get any peace from him; walking to her locker - there he was; passing him to get to her seat in class - grabbing her arm, anything to have a dig at her about how she lost the best thing to ever happen to her and it seemed that right now would be the same.

“There she is the sorry little soul that let me go” he sneered, glancing around the table where the rest of the basketball team and cheer team sat, revelling in the way that they all laughed at his words. Given that she used to be a part of the cheer team, she had hoped that at least a couple of them would ignore Jason’s words but no, it seems like all the bonds she’d created with them were all fake. What a surprise, she thought as she fought the urge to roll her eyes.

“What do you want, Carver?” she spat, her words laced with poison as she waited impatiently for what he had to say, wanting more than anything to just walk away and have nothing to do with him ever again.

“Just thought you should know that you’ve been replaced so there will be no more need for your little stalker act” he smirked, leaning back in his chair and throwing his arm around Chrissy’s shoulders again. She noted how uncomfortable Chrissy looked and she felt for her, she really did but it wasn’t her fault she got sucked in by his fake charm, hell even she fell for it until she realised that’s just what it was, fake. Now though she was facing Jason’s wrath for hurting his ego but she didn’t care, she’d spent years trying to force herself to fit the mould of what he wanted her to be and she was done with it.

“Oh is that what you think this is, one of those ‘if I can’t have you then nobody can’” she enquired, tilting her head to the side and forcing her eyes to look as innocent as possible, “because it’s not, this is a fuck you Jason Carver, now leave me in peace” she spoke, unable to hide the roll of her eyes as she marched off to find an empty table far away from his stupid face.

Vaguely aware of the stares from those on his table and the surrounding tables, she kept her head high because the last thing she wanted to do was to show weakness to that prick.

The music room was always quiet on a Friday after classes had finished, most kids wanting to leave as soon as possible but she liked the quiet it gave. Even more so now, her notebook open on the table in front of her as her pen scribbled down the thoughts as they appeared. It had been a while since she’d played or even attempted to write but with the events of the past week it seemed that the inspiration that came out of it was the only good thing to have happened that week.

Eddie hadn’t meant to stand in the doorway watching her like some kind of creep. He’d been on his way to the drama room to set up for Hellfire but to get there he had to pass the music room; he also didn’t expect there to be anyone still at the school this late and especially not for anyone to sound as though they were pouring their heart out over a guitar.

Now the music was definitely not heavy enough for his taste but he was a musician through and through so he couldn’t help but admire the talent coming from in the room which was why he’d stopped in the first place. What he definitely didn’t expect to see was Jason Carver’s ex, hunched over the guitar, definitely not looking like herself or how she’d always presented herself in all that peppy getup. No, her clothes, dare he say it looked a lot more like his own, dark jeans and top with a denim jacket over the top and battered converse on her feet. If this was the real her then Eddie wanted to get to know her, not the show she put on for anyone else but he wasn’t going to be able to do that if her first impression of him was from him watching her without her knowledge.

Clearing his throat as he stepped into the room, she looked up, wide eyed at being caught, even more so when she saw that it was none other than Eddie Munson that caught her.

“Didn’t know you played” he spoke, brow arched in curiosity as he tried to make himself appear less intimidating than he usually did, knowing it was the first time that they’d have spoken and he didn’t know anything about her so he didn’t want to scare her. Though he didn’t need to be worried, she wasn’t as meek as she let on, or as she’d played on to keep on Jason’s good side.

“There’s a lot you-anyone” she corrected herself, “don’t know about me” she replied, no bite in her words but not necessarily all that friendly either as she was still unsure of his intentions. She kept the guitar against her body as he came closer, not that she expected him to do anything but it was more of a comfort, a barrier she supposed, between them.

Eddie perched on the table across from her as if sensing her hesitancy and the last thing he wanted was to make her uncomfortable and it seemed to work, her hold on the guitar loosened. “Yeah, like what” he asked, his curiosity as genuine as his wanting to get to know her.

“That I’m not like everyone thinks I am, the whole way I’m perceived is a mask I created to get through high school but I’m tired, I don’t want to live that way anymore” she revealed, the truth that she’d kept hidden for so long finally out there and it was like a weight was lifted from her even if she’d only confessed it to someone who she didn’t think even cared.

Eddie was shocked by her words; from the outside it seemed like she had the perfect life, good grades, good friends, a boyfriend her parents could be proud of but he should know not everything was how it seemed in this town. “So how do you want to live?” he asked cautiously, his hands pulling at the frayed edges of the rips in his jeans but his eyes never left hers.

“I just want to be me” she sighed, eyes meeting his own and he could see the pain and the pressure behind them of trying to be something she’s not, giving way to relief of being able to move on to finally be free from it.

“Okay how about we start now” Eddie smiled, leaning forward to extend a hand to her in an over-the-top formal way in hope of getting her to smile, “I’m Eddie”

She smiled, accepting his hand and shaking it slowly as she spoke her name back to him, slowly beginning to feel some semblance of her old self.

Eddie didn’t stay long after that as a curly haired boy popped his head into the room looking for his dungeon master, he apologised with a smile claiming that duty calls as he made his way out of the room following the freshman. She could hear them bickering as they made their way down the hall and it made her smile, hopefully this was the beginning of something, something new and real where she didn’t have to hide who she was anymore.

The next few weeks passed in a blur, aside from the occasional jibes from Jason and her spending most of her time at school alone now that most of her friends had turned her back on her, nothing in her life had really changed. School was still the same, she was working her ass off trying to do everything she could to make sure she graduated in the spring so that she could move on from this hell hole. Although the only thing she seemed to look forward to was the time she spent in the music room on a Friday, where Eddie had seemed to make it his mission to come find her before inevitably being called away by the same young freshman each time.

Today, he was already there when she arrived. He looked antsy as if there was something he wanted to ask but couldn’t bring himself to. She didn’t want to push him, knowing he’d ask eventually and when he did, she was surprised he hadn’t asked sooner.

“That song you always play, what is it?” he asked, he’d been wanting to ask from the moment he first heard her playing it but he always remembered a little too late and Dustin was already insisting it was time to go. Although he didn’t give her much time to answer before he was speaking again, “because I swear the music has been stuck in my head and I’ve been asking around but no one seems to have heard it before”

“They won’t have” she says plainly, fighting the smile that plays on her lips at the thought that he remembered it, “because I wrote it” she reveals.

The shock slowly spreads across his face, his eyes blown wide, mouth hanging open but it’s quickly replaced by an overwhelming sense of excitement, “Can I hear it” he asks, face falling when she shakes her head. “Why not?” he pouts, big brown eyes staring at her and she almost caves.

“Because it’s not ready” she answers, only she’s not one hundred percent honest, the song has been ready for weeks but every time she plays it, it just doesn’t feel right. Eddie’s eyes are searching hers trying to figure it out, she relents under his gaze, “okay it’s ready but it’s supposed to be this big ‘fuck you’ song but it’s just too soft” she says, her shoulders slumping in defeat as she sinks further into her chair.

“So, you want something heavier?” he asks, just to clarify before he makes his offer and when she nods, he makes his play, “How about a metal band?”

She huffs out a laugh at his words as she stares at him, trying to figure out if he’s just trying to cheer her up or if he’s being serious but when she sees there’s no teasing in him at all she knows he means his words. “and where am I supposed to find a metal band?” she asks with a roll of her eyes with her arms crossed over her chest.

“Sweetheart, you are looking at the lead singer of the one and only Corroded Coffin” he smirks, “a metal band and completely at your service” he adds and for good measure he plays into the theatrics that he knows always gets a laugh from her as he sweeps his right arm across his torso, bending at the hips in a bow before standing back up.

“Yeah, okay” she laughs along with him.

“Good, sit with us at lunch on Monday and we can work out the details” he says before right on cue, Dustin is calling for Eddie and she’s left on her own again.

Monday comes and she’s a little worried about joining the Hellfire table for lunch, not because of what anyone in the school would think of her because she’s beyond caring now, no she’s worried about what the rest of his group would think. Eddie has been a real friend to her lately and she doesn’t want that to change just because his friends don’t like her. She’s not left with much chance to ponder it anymore as a familiar face pops up beside her as she closes her locker.

“Eddie seriously” she laughs, a hand on her chest in an attempt to calm her beating heart from the scare he’d given her by popping up unannounced.

He laughs, though not unkindly as she steadies herself. “You ready?” he asks and she nods following him through the crowds of students, though her being with Eddie doesn’t go unnoticed, especially as the pass the basketball team’s table. Snickers and catcalls erupt from them as they pass and she doesn’t miss the way Eddie’s eyes find her, checking to make sure she’s okay but she smiles at him as she keeps her head held high, silently urging him to keep moving and thankfully he does.

When they reach the Hellfire table, all chatter stops as they turn to look at her. She can feel herself growing more nervous by the second as all her previous worries come flooding back, until Eddie smacks a couple of them on the back of the head and they seem to remember their manners. As Eddie takes his usual seat the boy next to him, who she recognises as the curly haired kid that comes to get Eddie on a Friday, has begun shuffling everyone on the bench along so that she has the seat next to Eddie. She smiles in thanks to him as she sits down, Eddie looking proud as punch to have her finally sitting with them so long as they boys keep in check.

“So we finally meet the mysterious girl that has kept Eddie late to our meetings” he smiles from beside her and she can tell straight away that this kid is a handful just by the smirk on his face, “I’m Dustin” he adds, sending a wink Eddie’s way afterwards and she can’t help but smile as they go around the table introducing themselves. The older ones seem a little more suspicious of her than the younger ones but she puts that down to them knowing her as Jason Carver’s ex, even the words leave her with a bad taste in her mouth and she wasn’t the one bearing the brunt of his bullying until now it seems.

“Look at what we have here” Jason’s voice sounds from behind her and she feels her jaw clench as he drops a hand to rest on her shoulder. Out of the corner of her eyes she can see the boys around the table tense, Eddie’s the only one who seems unaffected by Jason’s presence. “Little miss perfect has downgraded herself to sit with the freaks” he sneers as his friends’ snort with laughter from beside him.

Plastering a sweet smile onto her face, she turns to face him while brushing his hand from her shoulder, “The only downgrading I ever did was to myself while I was with you so really I’ve upgraded” her voice was sweet as she spoke, a complete contrast from the bite of her words.

“You’re insane if you think that these freaks can give you more than I can” Jason spat, his eyes darkening with anger as he wasn’t used to being spoken back to especially by her.

Beside her she could feel Eddie straightening in his seat, he couldn’t care less when he was called a freak or any of the other hurtful words were being directed at him but when they were directed at his friends or anyone that he cared about that’s when he wanted to get involved. She found it sweet but she didn’t want him starting a fight in the middle of the cafeteria, so with a gentle hand placed on top of his to stop him she turned her attention back Jason, “I’m glad you’ve realised now I think your girlfriend is looking for you” she replied, not giving up on her sweet demeanour as she can tell how much it’s annoying him.

“You really are a psycho, aren’t you?” he says, shaking his head as he frowns, not missing the small touch between her and Eddie which winds him up even more, knowing that she’s left him for the freak.

Once Jason and his friends have left, she turns to find the whole table staring at her. Hiding her face in her hands is her first reaction but Eddie is quick to pull them away, “Now that was fucking metal” he smiles, the table agreeing with him as they all chip in their amazement, all of them even Jeff and Gareth who were unsure at first seeming to be warming up to her which makes her wonder what she was worried about to begin with.

The following Saturday she’s bundled into the front seat of Eddie’s van on her way to Gareth’s for an impromptu session to work on her song with the metal band she was promised.

“Are you sure they don’t mind?” she worriedly asks Eddie for what feels like the thousandth time since she climbed in the van.

Eddie chuckles softly at her, “They wouldn’t have agreed if they did, besides after your little display at lunch they want to see what else you can surprise them with” he teases, knowing she was still a little embarrassed about that but at least it showed that she was genuine in her separation from Jason.

The truth was it had taken the band a little persuasion on Eddie’s behalf to get them to agree to this as Jeff was adamant the he wasn’t going to be playing no love song and even though Eddie had no idea what the song was about he had reassured them that it wasn’t going to be a love song, hopefully he was right.

Pulling up outside Gareth’s, Eddie reassured her once again that it was going to be fine and as they climbed out the van, she could already hear the sound of the band practising and she had to admit they sounded good. Eddie sidled up beside her, passing her, her guitar as he stood with his own in hand, not even hearing him get them out of the back of the van as she was too busy listening to the boys play.

“I know they’re good” he chuckled, leading the way to the already open door of the garage.

All three of them stopped playing as the two of them came into view. “Ah nice of you to join us” Gareth teases, from behind his drum kit as his hand comes up to brush his hair out of his face.

“So little miss songwriter, what do you have for us today” Jeff asks, praying to god Eddie was right about it not being a love song.

“I can show you but bear with me it doesn’t make much of an impact played on an acoustic so afterwards you can put your own spin on it” she rambled, suddenly feeling nervous about playing for them because it had been a while since she had played for anybody other than herself, “or you can say no” she added with a small smile.

Eddie’s smile was encouraging as she began to play but when she started to sing, boy was he blown away. He figured she could sing but nowhere near as good as she was and it seems the boys agreed with him, all of them wearing the same surprised look as himself. He had to admit that she was right about the song though, considering she’d wrote it as a ‘fuck you’ on her guitar it sounded so sweet and floaty, it needed something behind it, it needed the boys. When she finished, the group was quiet until they weren’t.

“Man, you can sing”

“Didn’t think that you would write something like that, you usually sound so sweet”

“So do you think you can do anything with it” she asked hopefully, she was feeling like she was floating from all the kind words they were saying.

“Uh-uh you got work to do” Eddie joked, stopping her hands as she attempted to put the guitar down, “show me and then we can try it” he nodded, the others picking up their own instruments ready for their instructions.

By the time she left on Saturday evening her song had already started to sound the way she’d pictured it, not that she would do anything with the song apart from maybe ask the guys if they didn’t mind her recording it to keep for herself. Or at least that’s what she thought anyway because come lunch on Monday they were asking her if she wanted to perform with them at The Hideout as a one off. She was unsure at first, one because the song wasn’t ready although unbeknownst to her, they had gotten together the Sunday to practise some more until they believed it was and secondly because she had never performed on stage like that, despite their reassurances that the audience consisted of five drunks.

She gave in though and come the following night as she stepped into The Hideout with the rest of the band that it wasn’t just going to be the usual crowd of drunks, all of them surprised including the staff behind the bar as it had never been this packed on a Tuesday night. Though from the chatter it became clear she was the reason, apparently word had spread that Jason Carver’s ex was performing with Corroded Coffin and everyone, including Jason himself had been curious enough to see the show.

“You can perform with us every week if this is the crowd we are going to get” Jeff laughed gleefully as they stood side stage, preparing to go on.

Eddie agreed but now wasn’t the time for her to hear it as she stood, nervously beside him, her hands fiddling with the hem of her t-shirt as her breaths came out short and fast. He feared she was going to have a panic attack so he tried to think of something, anything to get her mind off performing even if just for a minute. He didn’t have much but sliding off his jacket and laying it over the amp next to him he shrugged off his plaid shirt, manipulating the fabric so that he could wrap it around her waist.

His unexpected touch startled her, making her jump as his hands worked. “Eddie wh-what are you doing” she asked softly, glancing around to see if the others were watching, not that it would have changed anything.

“You gotta look the part, sweetheart” he winked, finishing the knot in the arms of the shirt before pulling his leather jacket back on, “much more metal now” he nodded, a smile working his way across her face as she mumbled out a thanks before it were time for them to go on.

They had decided beforehand to keep her song until last, which she was kind of regretting now considering the size of the audience was much bigger than they’d anticipated, she’d rather get up there first and get it done with. That doesn’t mean to say that she won’t relish in the look on Jason’s face when he realises that it’s about him.

Watching from the side of the stage as the band played their heart out, hoping to make an impression on those in the crowd that has them coming back, she could see the looks on their face how much they enjoyed it, they all looked like natural performers to her and she just hoped it rubbed off on her when it was finally time to go on.

Hearing Eddie say her name, she wiped her clammy palms on her jeans trying to avoid Eddie’s shirt though she assumed he wouldn’t mind if she did accidently considering it would be a lot sweatier if he’d continued to wear it. Eddie flashed her a warm smile as she made her way up to centre stage where he was making quick work of lowering his mic stand for her since he was quite a bit taller than her and when that was done, he nodded to the band to give them the go ahead before they launched into her song.

It started slow, Eddie’s guitar and the slow beat of Gareth’s drums;

I’ve never been one of the crazy ones Never been the girl to leave you like thirty missed calls I’m not a villain but you made me one So I’m throwing knives at pictures of your face on the wall It seems like boys like you all love to say That chicks like me are just insane But boys like you give men a shitty name So let’s play a game

As the chorus kicked in, the whole band began playing as she finally felt comfortable, jumping around like she’d seen Eddie do a few times as she allowed herself to get lost in the song.

Where I throw a little brick through your pretty little face You’re easy on the eyes but you’re easier to hate An angels gonna fall if you come around If my names still on your tongue then I’ll rip it out Since I’m already the bad guy in your head I’ll hit you with my car and I’ll leave you for dead I’ve always like the view from the high road But baby for you I’ll be a psycho

She could see the surprised looks on faces in the crowd and no doubt by the end of this there would be rumours that she had been corrupted by Eddie and joined his 'cult’ but she really could care less as this was the most fun she’d had for such a long time.

Maybe you’ll end up in a body bag If I can’t have you then nobody can Cause I watch all the documentaries I know just where to hide it I’ll put you in a box six feet deep And wait till you wake up inside it

Searching the crowd of familiar faces as she sings through the chorus again until she finds the one person whose reaction she wanted to see, locking eyes with him for the next two lines just to mess with him;

I’ve never been one of the crazy ones I’m not a villain but you make it so damn fun

Breaking eye contact as the chorus comes in one final time, this time her eyes find Eddie who is smiling wildly beside her. The adrenaline coursing through her veins is like nothing she’s ever felt before and it’s making her want to do something crazy, she just hopes that the crazy thing she is thinking of is not going to be something she’s going to regret. As the music fades around her, the song coming to an end, she reaches for Eddie who envelopes her in his arms as if it’s nothing though when she presses her lips to his, his whole body tenses. Realising what a huge mistake she’s just made, she’s off and running down the steps and through the back door, not even stopping when she gets outside. She just keeps running until she’s home, out of breath but home safe away from her mistake.

#eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x reader fluff #eddie munson x reader angst #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson angst #eddie munson oneshot #eddie munson drabble #eddie munson #angst with a happy ending #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things

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broken-clover · 1 year

Text

(Over)Analyzing the Cards in Johnny’s Joker Trick (Part 1)

New character, new minute details to overly scrutinize and pretend have meaning!

As of Strive, Johnny’s Joker Trick Instant Kill has been retooled into an Overdrive, and with it, everyone now has a unique card taken from existing card suites. Are they randomly assigned? Or do they fit into some symbolic meaning? Let’s pretend its the latter!

Due to the sheer amount of characters and limited number of face cards, a handful of them overlap. It’s a little surprising that there’s no numeral cards or aces included, as those do have some symbolism based on the numbers, but maybe that in itself is already symbolic, that he views his opponents with relative seriousness, or just that he doesn’t both doing anything less than off the highest caliber.

Also to be noted that a lot of card symbolism is looser than something like tarot and doesn’t necessarily have as much concrete meaning, so I’m not gonna pretend this isn’t anything other than speculation and fiddling around. We’re bringing in some Cartomancy and a lot of the info I found could be a little muddled, if not contradictory

For the sake of cleanliness and coherency, let’s go by hierarchy. I’m also gonna be breaking this into two halves for the sake of length and not having a million character tags

The Joker- solely belongs to Happy Chaos. Batman jokes aside, this makes for an obvious one. Happy is the wild card, the unpredictable element. Though it was originally designed to be a trump card for Euchre, not it performs a variety of functions based on the game being played. It can be the highest-ranking, lowest-ranking, or serve some other technical function in a game. The value and usage of a joker card varies wildly based on the context, which fits Happy well (interestingly, Johnny doesn’t use the Joker card despite the design being based on himself)

Kings

King of Clubs- Shared between Ky Kiske and Zato-1. Contemporary King of Clubs cards are designed after Alexander the Great, which fits well for both the reigning monarch of Illyria and the former puppetmaster of the Assassin’s Guild. A lot of the symbolism I found involved leadership qualities such as intuition and determination. The suit itself is generally associated with nature, thanks to it being interpreted as a clover or as acorns, which may draw in some motifs about growth and change, which may also have some relevance with Ky’s ascent to the throne and subsequent abdication, and the dissolution of the Guild.

King of Diamonds- Held solely by Leo. In contemporary design this one is based of of Caesar, and while the man hopefully has little to do with the tyrannical behavior or assassination, there may be a form of connection in terms of battle prowess. It tends to be shown a little more negatively, either in terms of his domineering power or his sense of haughtiness. There’s also an association with wealth, which while not necessarily specific to Leo, it may fit in him being a powerful king and his association with the color yellow/gold

King of Hearts- Curiously, shared between Potemkin and Johnny. Johnny’s is an obvious choice, he sees himself as a king of romance and chivalry. Potemkin, however, has never been shown in a romantic light, unless it pertains to his patriotic love for his nation. Generally, the card has motifs of kindness, benevolence, and consideration, and both are shown as relatively mature gentleman-types, who care much for others. In an interesting bit of trivia, the King of Hearts is also sometimes called the ‘suicide king’ as it appears to be driving the sword into his own head. Fittingly, both Johnny and Potemkin both die trying to protect others in non-canonical endings, Johnny being murdered by Testament after trying to protect Dizzy in XX and in the drama CD, and Potemkin getting in the way of an attempted assassination in AC

King of Spades- Shared between Chipp and Bedman/Delilah. Design-wise, the most well-known iteration is based off of the biblical King David, known for his act of singlehandedly slaying the goliath with a stone. Though the two of them aren’t on the same end of the moral spectrum, both Chipp and Bedman are characterized by fighting difficult odds for their own sake and the sake of helping others. The spade suit more generally has an association with violence, as it can be interpreted as a blade (in addition to a leaf or a trowel), and both are known for their usage of blades and get into a lot of physical altercations. Interestingly, Bedman is the only King card who hasn’t held any canonical position of authority. Likewise, Chipp’s is self-bestowed

#guilty gear #johnny #ky kiske #happy chaos #leo whitefang #potemkin #chipp zanuff #bedman

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thatsthewrongwallcraig · 8 months

Text

The Boyfriend Experience

Summary: It's all fun and games until somebody falls in love!

Pairing: callboy!Clay Roach x afab!CEO!Reader

Word Count: ~1.8k

Content Warnings: Porn With A Side Dish Of Plot 18+!, Drinking, Oral (F Receiving), Clay Being A Tease, Sex Work, Hair Pulling, Pet Names, Poorly Hidden Feelings, Emotional Constipation

A/N: This one is for @spookyorchid 🖤 Sending you lots and lots of love, hun 🫶🏻

Tagging the horny horde: @crypticsewerslut @quicksilversg1rl @cc-lover @milaeth @roryculkinsgf @spookyorchid @arch1viste @whoareyoi @angelsanarchy @blueberrypancakesworld @rocketqueen-world @lifelessvessel @doddernix @svgarcaine @amayalul @basementgrl222 @kristennero-wallacewellsver @iiheartsai @fan-goddess @shady-the-simp

Slow, slow hands

Like sweat dripping down our dirty laundry

No, no chance

That I'm leaving here without you on me

- Slow Hands by Niall Horan

You couldn't wait to get your sore feet out of those heels that had been tormenting your every step since around lunch, they looked absolutely fantastic, though. Trying to shift your weight away from the thin stiletto connecting your foot with the floor underneath, you stepped into the elevator and pressed for the 10th floor, holding your purse tight to your body.

The men standing right next to you with his hands shoved into his pockets didn't go without you noticing. Shiny brown hair that reached his shoulders, the upper part neatly tied into a small bun to not look completely out of place in contrast to a slim-fitting, black button-up shirt. You tried to keep a straight face but a small, quick smirk escaped regardless.

Not a word was exchanged whilst the elevator made its way further up and the silence was equally kept as both of you got out on the same floor. He knew and respected the fact that you needed your time to cool off after a whole week of keeping a company afloat. Opposed to the calm, the beeping of your key card against the electric lock seemed almost harsh.

Only a few swift steps left until you could finally step out of your heels. You tossed them off your aching feet with such vigor that they clinked against the shelf your key card found its home for now, right next to an already prepared red envelope. You nearly groaned out loud as the pressure gradually eased off and you felt nothing but smooth, neatly waxed acorn tiled against your soles.

Right after tossing your purse next to the shelf, you headed into the kitchen area of your loft apartment in the search to quench your thirst for a hefty glass of wine. Instead of bothering with actually pouring one, you raised the bottle straight to your lips and took a long swig.

“Rough week, huh?” Mid-gulp you turned your head to the side where Clay leaned against the door frame, arms loosely crossed in front of his chest and an understanding smile playing around his lips.

“Massive understatement.”, You returned after swallowing the fruity, rich red, “Remember Alice?”

“Your new secretary that started last month? Yeah, what's with her?” Clay raised his brows slightly.

“Had to kick her out already. Missy got blackout drunk at the outing on Wednesday and started getting a bit too touchy with Jake from finances before puking all over the restaurant restroom.” With the memories of that evening resurfacing, you pinched the bride of your nose and sighed.

“I really liked her, you know? But that's downright unacceptable behavior.“, You treated yourself to another swig of wine before holding the bottle towards Clay, “Want some?”

“Certainly not opposed to it.”, He took you up on the offer, helping himself to a sip as well, “Wow, if that has been your Wednesday I can imagine how the rest of the week went. However, I'm sure I can make you relax a little, no?”

“Oh, I'm certain. You never disappoint, honey.” The smile forming on your face was genuine and so was the bubbling buzz that caused your stomach to flip whenever you did so much as just look at him but that he didn't need to know of at all.

“Always glad to hear that, ma'am.” The cocky smirk he threw your way jolted right down amidst your thighs and you couldn't help it.

“Ma'am?”, You pushed yourself from the counter and took a step towards him, “That's a new one.”

“Thought I switch it up a little. Like the ring to it?” The smirk on his lips grew up to a full fledged grin as he equally strode forward, meeting you halfway.

“Certainly not opposed to it.” You teased, your eyes roaming over his chest, admiring the way the fabric stretched across it before looking back up into his glacier blue eyes.

The need to get simply get lost in them tugged at your heartstrings but you held yourself tethering at the edge, trying to keep your composure and this client-seller relationship intact.

“Whatever pleases you, ma'am.” Clay lowered his voice to a gentle whisper, seducing you right away with just his voice before leaning in and pressing a deep kiss to your lips.

The taste of the wine accompanied by that of menthol cigarettes slipped into your mouth alongside his daring tongue stroking across yours, exploring curiously. Fuck, you couldn’t just allow him to sweep you off your feet so easily. There were boundaries that had to be kept at all times but the ones protecting your heart had been crumbling all over the place for weeks now.

You reciprocated the kiss whilst forcefully holding back from pressing your whole front against his. Instead, you teared yourself from the kiss with an artificial smile adorning your face.

“I reckon you want my tongue somewhere else, hm?” Without hesitation Clay followed you out of the kitchen, leaving the bottle of halfway finished wine behind.

“Not only eye candy but smart as well.” You quipped, taking a comfortable seat on your sofa and leaning back whilst spreading your legs and allowing your skirt to ride up your thighs.

“Always at your service, ma'am.” Clay stated, placing himself between you and the sofa table, not breaking eye contact once whilst lowering down on all fours.

“I know, you're such a good boy for me. Now come here and let me forget about that week for a little.” As the words were rolling over your tongue, you felt the heat creep into your face and your cunt throbbing around nothing…for now.

The sight in front of you was one for sore eyes. It had your breath hitching as Clay made his way towards you, nimble fingers shooting up to pull your lace thong to the side. Just the way his fingertips ghosted over your swollen clit elicited a moan to trickle from your lips.

“ ‘M gonna take good care of you.” He cooed, his warm breath breezing over already and thoroughly soaked folds right before leaning in.

“Shut up, boy.” You managed to huff out, the sensation of his tongue parting you until it worked its way up to where you needed it to be taking over rapidly.

It rendered you reckless with desire in mere seconds and thus you didn't hold back from burying your hand in his tied-back hair, dishevelling the bun by shamelessly pulling at it to shove his face into your aching cunt. At that Clay groaned out, the vibrations against your core sending a shiver down your spine. In this instant you couldn't care less about the shitshow that was your workplace this week. Fuck Alice and all the damage control you've had to do because of her. For now all that mattered was Clay's skilled tongue drawing languid circles around your pulsing clit as his lips gingerly closed down around it.

“Feels so fucking good.” You murmured, allowing your head to loll back and your eyes to flutter shut in waves of bliss.

Clay knew how to handle you properly, doubling the pleasure coursing through your veins with two fingers which slid inside of you, caressing, massaging you from the inside in slow, careful strokes just right as you liked them to.

Clay hummed in approval, the full width of his tongue lapping at you, nudging all the right places with each bold lick. This was without a singular doubt the highlight of your week; every Friday at 7pm sharp. No fuzz, no beating around the bush, just blowing off the steam accumulated throughout the week and then both of you moved on with your life's until next week. Absolutely no strings attached, you lied to yourself to keep your face not only towards Clay but to yourself as well. Meaningless banter, an orgasm, a few hundred bucks and then dash. Uncomplicated unlike an actual relationship you had no time for anyways.

“Uh-Huh, right there.” You sunk deeper into the sofa, your breaths rendering more shallow one by the next one as you sensed the pleasure coaxing you past the point of no return.

Each flick of his tongue brought you closer to ecstasy until you kept yourself from holding it together and instead plunged right into the fireworks going off from every nerve ending in your body. Not really giving a damn about his ability to catch a breath, you shoved Clay's face against you, rocking your hips at his tongue as you rode your orgasm until the very last contraction ebbed away and left you satisfied.

“Delivered as always.” You pulled Clay off of you by his bun, astray strands of wavy hair falling into his face as he wiped his lips with the back of his hand.

“My pleasure.” He returned as he pulled your thong back into place before straightening up again.

The both of you exchanged quick glances, you nodded your head towards the shelf, gesturing towards the envelope.

“There's a little extra for you in there.” You pulled your skirt back down as the words suggested to him that it was time to leave now.

“Oh, you spoil me, ma'am.” Clay took the notion and turned to leave you to your weekend.

"Outstanding performance deserves recognition.” Your eyes followed his every step and, before you could push it right back where it was meant to stay, your stomach dropped in a surge of longing.

The need to have him stay, to curl up next to him whilst dozing off in post-orgasmic bliss took the reign for a split second.

“See you in a week, handsome.” You forced the words out of you to snap back into the reality of things.

“Looking forward to it.” Clay blew you a kiss before he threw the door shut on his way out.

#clay roach #clay roach smut #clay roach x reader #rory culkin #city on a hill #rory culkin fanfic

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hufflepuffwritingstuff2 · 11 months

Note

I saw these tags you had on your reblog of your story in which Hero is turned into a fae and Villain helps them change back. Could we have this continuation, please?

Aw of course you can Lily! Sorry that it took so long to get this written, but it's here now!

Part 1

Hero’s eyes fluttered open to sunlight filtering in from the tower window. Hero sat up and noticed their surroundings had grown considerably smaller than before. Hero reached behind their back to check for their wings but felt nothing except air.

“Sleep well?”

Hero turned to see Villain leaning against the door frame.

“I would hope you slept well, considering you did so for three days straight.” Villain said.

Hero rubbed their eyes groggily.

“Am I back to normal?”

“For the most part,” Villain replied, striding across the room. “There were some… unforeseen side effects.”

“Such as?”

“Well…”

Hero heard a sharp popping sound from behind them. They turned and saw their wings from before, now large enough to match their full size.

“I tried everything to get rid of them, Hero, but like I said, fae magic is incredibly difficult to reverse.”

Hero wasn’t listening. They watched as their wings caught the rays of the sun and refracted them into little rainbows that danced across the room. Hero sat entranced as their wings fluttered softly in the breeze from the open window. Hero concentrated hard. Their wings slowly retracted and slid underneath Hero’s skin. It was as if they were never there.

“Well, that’s one way to solve the problem,” Villain remarked.

Hero concentrated again and stared as their wings slowly slid out with a pop. Their wings slid back in, then out. In, and out. In, and out.

“Hero!”

Hero stopped playing with their wings and turned back to Villain.

“Hm?” Hero asked.

“Are you going to sit there staring at your wings all day or are you going to get up and come with me?”

“Where are we going?” Hero asked.

Villain turned to go down the spiraling staircase. Hero stared for a few minutes, then followed them down the staircase into a large kitchen. Villain scurried about the kitchen, grabbing various ingredients and measuring tools.

“What are you making?” Hero asked, tilting their head.

“Breakfast,” Villain replied, not looking up from their work.

“And you’re rushing to make it because?”

“You were just turned into a fae, then returned to your normal size. Your stomach was already empty when it was the size of an acorn, now that it’s at a regular size you’re bound to be starving.”

“I didn’t know you cared.”

“I cook when I’m stressed, it’s not that deep,” Villain added, “I might as well feed someone while I’m at it.”

After a few minutes, Villain had made all kinds of breakfast foods, ranging from omelets to cinnamon-sugared oatmeal to various pastries. They looked at Hero expectantly.

“Well sit down,” Villain said.

Hero, a bit startled, did as they were told. They took a pastry and bit into it. The berry filling stained the inside of their mouth a wine-red, and the flavors danced on their tongue as they ate.

“Villain,” Hero said, “where did you learn to bake like this?”

“I’ve picked up a few skills over the years,” Villain admitted, “what you’re eating right now was actually a failed potion recipe.”

Hero stopped eating, staring at Villain with wide eyes and a mouth full of pastry.

“Relax,” Villain said, “I said it was a failed recipe, it’s harmless.”

Hero, satisfied, finished eating the pastry.

When breakfast was finished, Hero went to go down the spiraling staircase to the entrance.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Villain asked.

“Uh…home?” Hero said uncertainly.

Villain shook their head.

“We still have tests to run, I may have gotten you back to your normal size, but if I’m right, giant wings are the least of your worries.”

Hero groaned dramatically.

“Villainnnnn,” they whined.

“No whining,” Villain said, “you’re staying with me until we know everything that’s changed about you.”

Hero grumbled, sitting back down at the table.

“Good, now, let’s get started,” Villain said.

Patreon

Ko-Fi

Tags: @mythixmagic @infinityshadows @fishtale88 @thelazywitchphotographer @the-beasts-have-arrived @princessofonwardsworld @surplus-of-sarcasm @memepsychowhowantsuperpower-blog

#writeblr #writing #creative writing #snippet #hero x villain #heroes and villains #as requested #fantasy #hero x villain fantasy #fae hero #human villain

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murfeelee · 1 year

Text

Critical Role INSP Pt2: C3 (Bells Hells CAS Set)

This set includes 32 recolorable CAS items for TS3, inspired by Campaign 3 of Critical Role: Bells Hells.

Crystals as Hair (HIGH POLY) V3 [BETA]

Cut Crystal as Head ACC V2 (found under Glasses)

Nails as Earrings

Cracked Rock or Glass BODY & FACE Tatts (REQ CmarNYC tatt mod)

DA2 Persuasion Maul as ACC (and Misc Decor)

TSM Blacksmith Vest SLEEVELESS [BETA]

ATS3 Female Beanie as ACC UNISEX (found under Glasses)

CR3 Chetney INSP RTA Tattoo

Danjaley/Dragon Valley Top RETEXTURED

CR3 Dorian INSP Chest Wings ACC (found under Necklaces)

CR3 Dorian INSP Boot Wings ACC (found under Socks)

CR3 Dorian INSP Gradient Cloak ACC (found under Bracelets)

TSM Corset Gathered Dress for Fauns (Frankenmesh) V3b

Deer Ears ACC 3 Tilted (with/without Flower) (found under Earrings)

Flowery Horns Frankenmesh ACC (found under Glasses)

Mitarasi Ankle Flowers ACC for TW3 Succubus Legs (found under Socks)

CR3 Fearne INSP Stave ACC (GLOWS) V2 (found under Rings)

4t3 Shanty Top REDONE SHEER V3

Suspenders Y/AF ACC (SN EP REQUIRED fit/fat morphs) (found under Necklaces)

Sheer Skirt ACC V2 (SN EP REQUIRED fit/fat morphs) (found under Garters)

Hand Veins as BODY Tattoo (REQ CmarNYC tatt mod)

Camkitty/Dragon Valley Pauldron LEFT ONLY as ACC (found under Necklaces)

Mitarasi Wrist Flowers LEFT ONLY as ACC V2 (found under Bracelets)

Gramsims Stylus Hair REDONE V2

EA Peasant Top REDONE V2

Hammer as Hairpin ACC (found under Glasses)

TSM to TS3 Pickaxe as Hairpin ACC (found under Glasses)

NA Bloody Hands as BODY Tatt 1 & 2 (REQ CmarNYC tatt mod)

FLAWS: The items marked as [BETA] have visible flaws (higher than my normal level of flaws, yes, shaddup) that I couldn't figure out how to fix or got too fed up to bother with anymore. Feel free to fix them or ditch them. Sorry I suck!

Enjoy!

Download set (package files) : Mediafire | Simfileshare

Descriptions & preview pics under the cut:

For in-game pics of most of this stuff, just consult my sims 3 Critical Role tag. All of it is pretty self explanatory, but I wanted to explain one thing or two, and point out exactly what FLAWS are present:

ASHTON

The Crystal Hair [BETA] was one of the hardest pieces of CC I've ever messed around with.

FLAWS: The mesh sits HELLA awkward on the head, and the clipping/floating through the skull in some areas is bad on some head shapes. Also, a weird texture glitch on the skull might randomly pop up in CAS, not Live Mode, and IDKY. *sigh* This is what I get for trying something different.

The Cut Crystal as Head ACC & DA2 Persuasion Maul as ACC (and Misc Decor) all have recolorable variations with a clear & opaque texture. The Nails as Earrings are self explanatory. The Cracked Rock or Glass BODY & FACE Tatts as usual REQUIRE CmarNYC's tatt mod at MTS.

CHETNEY

I made the ATS3 Female Beanie Unisex and tweaked the textures a bit. The CR3 Chetney INSP RTA Tattoo is a regular EA tattoo.

FLAWS: For the life of me, I CANNOT fix the janky bone joints under the armpits on the Blacksmith Outfit. So...avert your eyes (or just use the regular Blacksmith Outfit with the sleeves). U_U

DORIAN

I was surprised by how well the Chest & Boot Wing ACCs came out, considering those were my own meshes (for once).

For the Dragon Valley Top I just retextured Danjaley's edit by tweaking the RGBY mask a bit. It's not great, but oh well. Neither is the Cape Accessory.

FEARNE

The Horns ACC is a mashup of X X X. The Stave ACC is a mashup of X X and I made the acorn glow with the ghost/plumbbot shader. IIRC the Horns and Ears ACCs have different sliders, one for the Hat Slider and one for Glasses sliders, but if I didn't do that...oops?

The Faun Outfit is a frankenmesh of the TSM corset dress @aprilrainsimblr converted and the TW3 Succubus outfit converted here. I added a few different RGB control variations as I was playing around with different options.

IMOGEN

I took the Shanty Top converted here and lowered the vest mesh as it sat too high on sims' waists, lightened the too-dark Multiplier, and made the sleeves sheer. The Suspenders and Skirt both REQUIRE the SN EP for the fat/fit morphs.

LAUDNA

I made @natalia-auditore's different accessory Bloody Hands as Body Tatts that REQUIRE CmarNYC's tatt mod at MTS, to reduce the amount of layered ACCs that cause texture blurring.

The Stylus Hair is an edit I did of Gramsims' Stylus hair (X), to add Laudna's signature white streak, fix the joints, and lower the polys a bit (it's still high though). (I used a hairline makeup for the baby hairs--IDER which one.) The Top is an edit from one of EA's, tweaking the waist mesh and changing the RBGY mask & overlays. I couldn't decide if I liked the Hammer or Pickaxe ACC, so I just threw in both.

Oryn

The Left Pauldron ACC is just the left side separated from the Dragon Valley top (Camkitty's mesh edit made my life easier), same with the Mitrasi Wrist Flower ACC.

___________________________________

And that's that!

Enjoy!

Download set (package files) : Mediafire | Simfileshare

#sims 3 cc #sims 3 conversion #sims 3 critical role #sims 3 clothes #sims 3 accessory #sims 3 tattoos #sims 3 hair #sims 3 fantasy

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pinkskytwst · 1 year

Text

Of Princesses and Queens

Epel/Reader (not Prefect) Riddle/Reader (not Prefect)(End Pairing)

Reader gender is not specified but the term 'princess' is used the same way Riddle and Vil are called 'Queens'. It's not meant to be a term tied to their gender.

Warning: ANGST, near death experience with ice.

(I shamelessly stole Jack's death scene from Rise of the Guardians)

===================

It was inevitable that you and Epel would be friends.

You were literally the only two people under the age of forty in your entire village and for the sake of both your sanities, you clung to each other like lifelines.

Growing up in the country in a community centered around the prosperous but ultimately uninteresting apple orchard meant that the two of you had to create your own entertainment. Learning to climb trees together was one of your first clear memories – along with the subsequent fall that left you with a broken leg and Epel with a sprained shoulder from where he had tried to grab you.

The moment you healed up you were both at it again until playing tag among the branches was your go-to game.

With your mom’s and Epel’s grandfather’s help you were able to create what you both decided was the best tree house to ever exist. It had winding steps, a second story, a ‘look out’ post that was accessible by a hanging bridge, a trap door with a climbing rope, a swing big enough for two, enough pillows and blankets to create a nest more than big enough for the both of you, and best of all a sign that read in large letters ‘no old people aloud’.

Princes would be jealous of your treehouse.

Your dad nearly laughed himself sick when he saw the sign and Epel’s nana just sighed and insisted that you at least add a protective railing around the ledges.

Epel tried to argue that you weren’t babies but no one said ‘no’ to his nana and your mom was nice enough to help add what was needed for the woman’s approval.

The both of you practically lived in that treehouse.

When you weren’t in lessons or helping around the orchard, the two of you were having grand adventures high off the ground in imaginary worlds you created.

“Nah, pirates are lame.” You rolled your eyes as Epel gasped in utter offense. “We should be knights! They’re super cool and tha’ book I got from pop has all these neat facts about fighting dragons and saving princesses!”

“But we don’t have any dragons to fight!” Epel insisted in a huff, crossing his arms over his chest, wooden pirate sword clutched in his smaller fist.

“Well, we could go fight Silas’s turkey!” you argued back stubbornly, using your taller status to try and bully your friend into playing your game instead.

You had been playing pirates for weeks, you wanted to play something else! Besides, that turkey was a bloodthirsty monster!

“But pirates are cool!” Epel shot back, just as determined, his pout and scrunched up nose the same expression that your dad always cooed over whenever he saw it.

You inwardly scoffed, Epel wasn’t that cute.

Just a little.

“Oh, fine.” You huffed, throwing your hands into the air. “Then let’s at least go look for treasure.”

Instantly Epel lit up, nearly sparkling with his wide, beaming smile and gapped tooth.

Maybe a little more than a little.

“Yeah! Come on!” he said, snagging your hand and pulling you towards the trap door.

When the sun had finally set and his grandpa came out to call you in, you were both curled up in your nest and surrounded by your ‘loot’ of strangely shaped apples, a dried snakeskin, pile of acorns sorted into ones with and without ‘hats’, a stick in the shape of a corkscrew, and a particularly sparkly rock that you thought looked cool.

Epel grumbled as you trudged after the old man that was basically your grandpa, the smaller boy limp on your back and face smooshed into your hair.

Being country kids, you and Epel were no strangers to injuries. Scrapes and bruises were common, and you had lost two teeth after a particularly stupid stunt involving a prank gone wrong with a neighbor's stubborn mule. Thankfully one was still a baby tooth and was replaced naturally anyway, but the other had to be magically regrown and you STILL remembered the lecture your pop had given you about that.

The point was, that the both of you had a very skewed view regarding safety and were far too used to situations that would have caused city parents to grasp their pearls and balk.

That was why, during a normal winter day when you were thirteen and Epel had just turned fourteen, neither of you hesitated when you went out to your favorite hill to sled and caught sight of the creek frozen over.

Well, it was called ‘the creek’ but it was actually a small river that wound around the edges of the northern part of the forest, past his family’s orchard. It was a decently calm one and ice skating was normal when it froze over, so you both jumped on the idea.

Typically, an adult would check to make sure the ice was thick enough, but you weren’t babies anymore and Epel loved to ice skate. He was way too impatient to wait long enough for you to text your dad to come and check for you.

It was getting harder and harder to deny him anything, and so when he begged to be pushed around on the ice with the sleds you agreed.

Everything was fine at first, walking on the ice wasn’t exactly easy so you didn’t get very far from the edge as you tried to push him. As you re-adjusted to the skill, though, you were able to push him farther.

Epel was laughing and climbing off his sled to switch places with you when he slipped.

The sled glided away from him and he hit the ice hard.

A crack of ice spiderwebbed out from under where your friend was on his hands and knees and your laugh died in your throat.

The world stilled to a terrifying silence as your gazes met, his filled with sudden panic and yours with something so sharp and grasping you couldn’t begin to name it.

“It’s okay…” you whispered, somehow afraid if you spoke too loudly everything would fall apart.

Epel swallowed thickly, tears beading at the corner of his eyes as he tried to control his breathing, tried not to move as each tiny shift drew more snaps and tiny breaks to shoot across the ice.

“It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.”

The words were tumbling out of your lips desperately like a mantra, not sure if you were trying to calm Epel, yourself, or beg whatever deity was watching to not let your friend fall.

“I’m going to save you. I’m the hero this time, remember? Heroes save the princesses. You’re pretty like a princess, so it’ll be fine. You’re safe.”

You honestly weren’t even sure what you were saying at this point as you tried desperately to figure out a way to get to the lavender haired boy without putting more weight on the ice and causing it to break.

“I’m not a princess.” Epel managed weakly, voice warbling unevenly.

“Sure, you are. You’re a princess and I’m the manly hero.” You said firmly, spying a fallen branch that looked just long enough. “And manly heroes always save the princesses, right? That’s how the stories always go. Princesses never get hurt.”

You darted over and snatched up the branch before hurrying back to the ice and carefully stepping out as close as you could. You needed to be able to reach him.

The ice began to creak ominously under your boots, but it didn’t crack so you continued to slide yourself over until you could hold out the branch close enough for Epel to reach it.

Your heart was pounding in your ears.

“Hold onto it, ya got it? See, see it’s going to be okay.”

Epel wrapped his mitten covered fingers around the branch and clung to its rough surface desperately as he eased up on his knees.

“Come on, I’ll pull you. It’s okay. I’ll save you-“

You felt it more than heard it. A shutter through the ice below your boots.

You swung as hard as you could manage, putting all your weight against slinging Epel to the riverbank.

You felt the world drop out from beneath you, felt the freezing water engulf you to your very bones, stealing your breath.

You thought you heard your name being screamed but then you were being dragged down and only knew darkness.

It was sheer luck that one of your neighbors had been out hunting and heard Epel’s screams.

It was sheer luck she was able to use her weak water magic to drag you from the depths of the river and onto the snow-covered shore while also holding back the small boy from simply leaping in after you. It was luck that you hadn’t been under more than a minute or two.

It was luck that she was able to get you breathing again.

Your stay at the hospital lasted only a couple of days but Epel refused to leave your side for weeks.

He clung to you, large blue eyes swimming with guilt and tears he refused to let fall.

All he could think of was the determination and terror that had washed over your face when you yanked him towards the safety of the snow.

Of that instant of relief, he had seen in your eyes even as the ice gave way beneath you.

You were the bravest person he knew and neither of you had ever shied away from adventure or danger. He had walked proudly at your side knowing that you were best friends, and you could trust him to have your back. You never looked at him any different for being shorter or ‘cute’ as some of the other residents cooed. You never doubted that he could handle himself just as well as you could. He never doubted he could protect you if you needed it.

You were both wrong.

If he had been better, if he had been more like you – fearless and determined and strong – you wouldn’t have had to save him.

He wouldn’t have had to watch your still body with too-blue lips be dragged from the ice.

Wouldn’t have felt his world disappear beneath him with the earth-shattering terror that had sent him to his knees.

Wouldn’t have realized what it felt like for his heart to shatter while it still beat in his chest and know that the only possible way it would heal was if your own started beating again as well.

Wouldn’t have suffered the agonizing moments that dragged on like an eternity that clawed at his lungs and prevented him from breathing until you gave a sputtering gasp and clung to him as you coughed up lungful’s of water and mucus.

He wouldn’t have realized how weak and useless he was.

“Don’t ever do that again.” He whispered one night while you were both bundled up in your bed, fireplace crackling and more blankets than normal layered over you.

You couldn’t handle the cold as well as you used to.

He made sure never to go anywhere – no matter the weather – without a thick sweater tied around his waist or tucked in a bag. Just in case.

You gave a small snort and pinched his cheek.

“What are you talking about, of course a hero saves the-“

“I’M NOT A PRINCESS!” he snapped, voice hissed and full of disgust.

His chest heaved, arms trembling, but his eyes were dry.

He had sworn on the day in the hospital – when your first words were asking about his safety – that he was never going to cry again.

He would never make you worry about him again.

“I’m not a princess, ya got that!? I don’t need you protecting me! I don’t need you saving me! I’m not weak! Call me that again and I’ll punch ya!”

You blinked up at your best friend and could only manage a small nod.

“Okay.” you agreed with a whisper.

Epel glared at you like he was expecting you to say more, argue, or something, but when he saw that you didn’t plan on it, he relaxed somewhat. The tension easing from his shoulders as he flopped down and tugged the blankets over your heads again. He created a cocoon to trap in the warmth and fight off the small shivers he could feel starting to work down your spine again.

He tugged you against him so that your head was tucked under his chin, despite you still being taller.

“Good. I’m the hero from now on so don’t you forget it.” He snapped, burying his face into your hair, and tightening his hold around you, determined to fight off any chill you might get.

Determined to not let you wake up cold or alone.

“I won’t. Promise.” You whispered softly against his neck, arms wrapping around his waist and holding him back just as tightly.

You never doubted him. Even after he failed you, you never doubted him.

He was going to become a man that could live up to your trust.

The kind of man you deserved to have protecting you instead of the other way around.

He failed you once.

He’d never fail you again.

It was a relief to Epel that he had magic. Oh, he knew he had some, you both wouldn’t be able to fly brooms without a little bit of magic at least. But to have enough to be accepted into Night Raven College was something he had silently worried over.

If he wasn’t powerful enough to go with you – because, of course, you would be amazing enough to be accepted – how could he get strong enough to protect you?

Your matching letters on thick, ebony parchment and written in silver ink appeared at your houses on the same morning.

Epel hadn’t even bothered to put on shoes as he raced out the back door and sprinted across the fields and the orchards to the treehouse. He scampered up the rope, through the trap door and hurled himself inside but he was the first one there.

Nearly vibrating he scrambled up to the lookout and paced around the small balcony until he saw your figure sprinting through the knee length grass. He let out a whoop of excitement as he could see something dark in your hand and began wave his arms around wildly to show off his own.

He could hear your delighted laughter and wasted no time darting back down to the main ‘base’ room. By the time you had pulled yourself up the rope he was helping to yank you up through the trap door and causing the both of you to go tumbling into the nest together.

“Wediditwediditwedidit!” you babbled, throwing your arms around him.

“Night Raven here we come! Whoooo!” Epel crowed, kicking his feet in the air as he felt you laughing into his shoulder. “We’re gonna be the most powerful mages Twisted Wonderland has ever seen!”

When you had both tired yourself from the flood of excitement and adrenaline, you were both sprawled out on the blankets with your still messy bedhead resting on his stomach as you both stared up at the ceiling of your sanctuary. You knew every board and knot of wood, had watched it darken with age but not weaken over the years. Had worked together to repair the shingles that had been blown off by a particularly bad storm.

He began running his fingers through your hair, easing the tangles out absently as a warm sort of quiet settled around you both.

“…Pel?” your voice drew him from his thoughts.

“Yeah?”

“Are you nervous?”

“’Course not! I’m not afraid of anything!” he replied habitually.

There was a small pause.

“I am.” You whispered, so soft he almost missed it completely.

He blinked widely, propping himself up on his hands and looking down at you as you flushed darkly and looked away.

Epel opened his mouth to insist there was nothing for you to be worried over but something about the look in your eyes made him hesitate. He watched you for a moment before laying back down again and returning to untangling your hair.

“Why are ya nervous?” he finally asked.

You didn’t answer at first, shifting better so it was easier for him to continue running his fingers through your hair.

“…What if I’m not good enough?”

Epel didn’t understand. The thought was ludicrous to him and the mere idea that you would actually believe something like that just didn’t compute in his mind.

You were amazing. You were…you were…you. He didn’t have words to explain how wrong it was for those words to leave your lips.

“I’ll beat the shit out of anyone who tries to say you aren’t.” he all but growled, his hackles raising at the mere thought of someone saying something like that to you.

You gave a small laugh, and it warmed his chest knowing you weren’t doubting him in the slightest.

“Try not to get us expelled on the first day.” You teased.

“Oi! You say that like I’d get caught!”

“You always get us caught! What about when we tried to hide in Carroway’s truck to-“

“Hey! We agreed not to talk about that again!”

Your laughter sounded better than the pensive tone from before, so he didn’t protest too much. He did tug on a piece of your hair though, playfully.

“Seriously, if someone messes with you just tell me and I’ll take care of it.” He said.

You tilted your head faintly to smile up at him.

“I know you will.”

Because you trusted him.

And he wasn’t going to let you down.

When you were placed into Heartslabyul while Epel was sent to Pomefiore you were disappointed.

When Epel stormed over to you the next morning at the breakfast table you were saving a seat for him at, you could only stare.

You friend was…he looked…

“I’m joining your house.” He snarled as he dropped down beside you, painted lips pulled back and narrowed eyes lined in indigo.

You blinked, unable to form words for a moment before clearing your throat and managing a weak sort of smile.

“I-I don’t know if that’s a good-“

“I am not staying there! I can't!” he ranted, slamming his fists – nails painted the same shade as his eyeshadow – on the table.

“Our Housewarden is really strict and I don’t think you can just-“

“Epel! What did I tell you about running!” a smooth, cultured voice said sharply, making you turn to look up at one of the most beautiful people you’ve ever seen.

“I’m not staying in Pomefiore!” Epel spat back stubbornly, spine straight as he glared daggers at the tall blonde looming over the two of you.

The blonde heaved a sigh like he was suffering the start of a migraine, lightly rubbing at his temple before his gaze flickered down to you.

You in your vibrant – garish - Heartslabyul uniform and the crooked heart you had painted on the corner of your mouth with uncertain hands. His expression shifted minutely and the tilt of his lips with the rise of a perfectly sculpted eyebrow spoke volumes of just what he thought of you.

Or rather how little he thought of you.

As in not at all.

You swallowed and quickly stood, offering what you hoped was a polite smile and bow of your head.

“Hello, I’m-“

“I do not care.”

Your words died as his attention returned to Epel and he wrote you off completely, forgetting your very existence as unnecessary and unsightly.

“I certainly won’t be allowing you to leave for a house with such low standards.” He replied coolly. “Now come, you’re better off making friends with your fellow-“

But Epel snarled and was suddenly in front of you, glaring up at who you could only assume was his Housewarden.

“Don't talk about them like that.” He growled, hands clenched, and you could smell the flowery shampoo from his soft curls.

His eyes sparked and even though you could see over his head – he never did quite catch up to your height – you were absolutely certain he was ready to throw himself at the guy.

The blonde eyed him carefully and must have seen something in his expression or determination because he simply gave another tired sigh.

“Oh, very well, I will allow you to remain friends but you won’t get out of the skin care routine and if you’re going to be seen around this…potato then you should at least bring them with you. Perhaps I can make something of them so they won’t be a complete embarrassment to your reputation and our dorm.” He said, waving his hand slightly before spinning on his heels and sauntering off.

You could only blink, too stunned to really respond, and watched your best friend turn to face you.

“We’re going to the headmaster and I don’t care what I have to do but I’m not staying there.”

Epel was staying in Pomefiore.

The headmaster said that he had to have at least two weeks where the mirror had placed him before he was given the chance to go through the time consuming process of switching dorms.

Every time you were able to see each other he complained non-stop about his Housewarden and his overbearing nagging while you shared your laments about the red headed tyrant that ran yours.

“Maybe we can move to Scarabia…” you muttered with a weak smile during one of the evenings you were allowed to spend with Epel in his dorm room – with the caveat that you went through his skin care routine and makeup practice along with him. “Their Housewarden seems nice.”

Epel readily nodded, reaching out for the liner he had chosen specifically for you, to match the color of the heart you painted on the corner of your mouth every day.

“And they have cool uniforms, I’ll look way more manly in those than these.” He glared, reaching out to your face.

You had been close since you could learn to walk and touch was nothing new to you, but somehow, suddenly, sitting there with your -maybe too pretty – friend holding your chin felt different. The way his large eyes focused on you, leaned in a little closer than normal and began sketching out the shape of the heart on your skin and over your lips. The way his thumb brushed over them absently to fix a mistake. The way he smirked proudly when he was done and looked up to you to throw in your face how much better he was at this than you-

You both froze.

It wasn’t that you thought your friend was any more beautiful with the makeup than he had always been, or that the luxurious uniform accentuated it more than the work clothes when you would both swing around branches to harvest apples.

It was that shadow that had been there since the ice broke beneath your feet was pushed back. His chin held a little higher. His gaze fiery and more determined than you had ever seen him except for that night where he refused to be a Princess.

A bit of the confidence that you had always loved about Epel was starting to bloom again, despite his rantings about his annoying Housewarden. Vil Schoenheit had the highest standards for his students and especially the one that he was grooming as his protégé. Self-assuredness was a requirement and he certainly wasn’t about to let Epel have a weakness so easily exploited.

It stole your breath away and suddenly you had a very strong suspicion about why your heart fluttered every time he touched you now.

“I-I should go.” You stammered, scrambling to your feet and snagging your backpack from where you had dropped it by his bed. “Housewarden Rosehearts will be calling curfew soon and I don’t want to be collared.”

You fled before Epel could answer.

Epel did not end up leaving Pomefiore.

You didn’t end up leaving Heartslabyul.

Or rather, you weren’t allowed.

Vil had firmly declared Epel as his successor for Housewarden and with everything that happened in Heartslabyul…well you didn’t exactly get a chance to try. And then, you really didn’t want to anymore.

After the strange magicless student and their monster ‘saved’ your Housewarden somehow, it was like your dorm changed overnight. The rules remained but they were more flexible, your fellow students more quick to laugh, and the overall atmosphere lighter.

You liked your dorm mates and Housewarden now.

You enjoyed the movie nights in the lounge and the tea parties in the afternoon. You liked taking care of the hedgehogs and flamingos. You liked doing homework with your dormmates and helping Trey-senpai bake and doing makeup tutorials with Cater-senpai. Spending an afternoon painting the roses with the other first years and trying to keep Ace and Deuce from wreaking havoc in the gardens.

It was so different than your life back home but it wasn’t bad.

The etiquette was strange at first but it was also kind of fun, like rules to a game, and you really looked up to Riddle-senpai after he had apologized to you and the rest of the dorm. He was so confident and always knew what to do and what to say. He didn’t let anyone speak down to him because of what he looked like.

He reminded you of Epel, but lately you had been doing your best not to think about your best friend and so focusing on being the best Heartslabyul student you could be was easier.

You had even started experimenting with adding a little more makeup to your ‘look’ the way Cater-senpai suggested.

Not a whole lot but he made sure to point out that your eyes were ‘way viral’ – whatever that meant – so he showed you how to use liners and eyeshadow along with the heart that you had perfected on the corner of your lips.

You even worked up the courage to ask Vil-senpai for his suggestion on colors and he had sat you down for more than an hour and walked you through color matching and seasonal shades while Rook-senpai waxed poetic in the background.

He was strict and straight to the point about what he suggested you work on, but it wasn’t the cruelness that you had felt from Riddle-senpai before and so it was easy to brush off any hurt that might have come from it. Epel had always been blunt too so you were hardly a stranger to such words. You knew how to listen to what was behind them.

You knew he never meant to hurt your feelings and you were beginning to think that Vil-senpai was the same way. Or maybe, at least, that he didn’t always mean the acerbic insults he could come up with at a moment’s notice.

You could ignore it.

What wasn't easy to brush off was the look Epel shot you when he found you in his Housewarden’s room. Chin in his hand and eyeshadow being carefully applied.

“Epel! Look, we-“ you started excitedly when you noticed the lavender haired boy in the doorway.

You were having a particularly good day so far, had done well in class, gotten a head pat from Trey-senpai, and Vil-senpai had given you some good tips that you wanted to share with your friend. You thought, maybe, you could work up the courage to do HIS makeup this time. And maybe if you asked Rook-senpai he could give you help on how to tell Epel how you felt about him.

It was a terrifying thought but also electrifying.

How would it feel to hold his hand, not just as a friend? How would it feel to kiss him? Would he blush like he did when he was flustered, or would he smile at you? Would he let you wear his extra jersey to the Magift games? Would he let you take him on a date to Mostro Lounge?

“Would you just STOP, Vil!?” your friend cut you off, glaring daggers at the taller blonde and grabbing your wrist to pull you away from the vanity you had been sitting at. “No one likes your stupid makeup! They look ridiculous!”

You froze, the warm bubble in your chest disappearing as if it was never there.

“Epel, lower your voice and watch your manners.” The blonde glared, looking actually, honestly angry for the first time as his violet eyes flickered to you and then back to your best friend.

“No! You don’t get to force what you want on them! They don’t need your girly makeup or the stupid outfits!”

You liked the outfits that Vil had made him.

“Epel stop.”

“Monsieur pomme sauvage, perhaps you should-“

“Not everyone’s like you Vil.” He spat, derision dripping from his lips. “And you’re not going to drag them into all this useless shit you keep pushing on me! I’m not going to let you turn them into some kind of pathetic princess for one of your stupid shows! They’re not weak like that! I’M not weak like that! So FUCK OFF!”

Epel spun to face you, to drag you out of the room away from his now eerily silent Housewarden.

He froze when saw your expression.

You don’t know what he saw but you suspected it had something to do with the hollow feeling in your chest.

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

You saw something in his eyes that you were too hurt to understand at the moment.

You silently pulled your wrist from his hold and without a word, left the room. Left the dorm.

He didn’t come after you.

You had known Epel as long as you could remember.

You knew he hadn’t meant what he said.

You knew he didn’t think you were weak or silly or ridiculous.

But things had started to change while you were at NRC. You had started to change, grow and experience things you never had before. Cultures and habits so different from your small country home. A home you still loved, still wanted to return to, but one that you could now see wasn’t the whole world as you had once thought it to be.

You didn’t like everything here. You didn’t like how certain foods were restricted to certain days in Heartslabyul – that did seem silly to you – and you could agree that Vil-senpai was a little too strict on what he expected of his housemates’ presentation to be at all hours of the day.

But there was so much that you did like.

You liked being creative with makeup and trying clothes that had certainly never been available in the stores near your town. You liked learning dances and practicing with the other first years and Riddle-senpai. He was stern but kind, now, and never degraded you for not knowing the different waltzes and ballroom dancing that were so common in his Queendom. You liked how pretty things could be with lace tablecloths and polished tea sets.

It was new and interesting and lovely.

But Epel hated it.

Epel hated all of it and while he had regained a lot of his stubborn determination that he once held, he didn’t see what you saw. He didn’t want to be anything like Pomefiore or Heartslabyul. He wanted to be in Savanaclaw where he could prove how strong he was.

You didn’t think he needed to prove anything.

But he still hated it.

You realized there had never been a chance to see him where he hadn't complained about something he didn’t like about Pomefiore or his Housewarden.

Complained about his love of makeup.

Complained that he was vapid and shallow, only caring about looks.

Complained that Vil was hardly a man at all with how he dressed.

So many things that he hated.

So many things that you were starting to like.

But then…did that mean he wouldn’t like you anymore?

If you admitted to liking the makeup and enjoying tea parties where you laughed with friends over pastries…

Would he hate you too?

“Sometimes,” Cater-senpai had said as he patted your head. “People change. Sometimes that change brings people together…sometimes it pushes them apart.” He glanced over to where Trey-senpai was helping their housewarden with the hedgehog pens. “There’s not much you can do about that but stay true to yourself.”

“But I…I don’t know who I am without Epel.”

“Then maybe you should find out.”

Epel didn’t text you.

For a week neither of you called or texted or interacted with each other at all.

It was…it hurt.

You hated it.

The other Heartslabyul boys didn’t miss your dispirited mood and did their best to spend time with you. Ace, Deuce, Jaq, Kai, Hachi, and Sei dragged you into every ‘first years only’ get together they had. Trey always seemed to need an extra pair of hands in the kitchen whenever he saw you. Cater would insist that you were the only one that could help him with his Magicam videos.

And Riddle-senpai decided that you needed extra tutoring and so would spend evenings going over homework with you – sometimes with the other first years or Trey and sometimes just the two of you.

It left you with little chance to miss Epel except when you were alone in bed, shivering as you couldn’t quite warm up despite the heavy velvet blankets.

But…you started to have fun again.

It was nice having friends, so many friends that were there to tease and support you. To urge you into what you liked and to try new things but also didn’t hold back from playfully insisting that you were the ‘Heartslabyul Princess’ now.

The one time Riddle-senpai heard that he blushed such a dark shade of crimson that you were afraid he would pass out.

You wished you could share it with Epel. You wished he could see all the great things you saw.

“Then you should show him.”

You glanced up to see Riddle watching you from across the table, expression serious and thoughtful.

“Tell him how you feel and what makes you happy. If he does not accept that…then he is not good enough for you.”

Those words didn’t make sense at all to you. Epel was the best. He was amazing in so many ways, he was…he was Epel.

If anything, you weren’t good enough for him.

“If he cannot see you as you are and respect that, love you for it, then he is a fool.”

“Ah, there you are little potato.”

You looked up from where you had been wandering down the halls in the direction of the library. Vil and Rook stood before you, perfect as always. You thought you saw a flash of something in the Housewarden’s eyes, but it was gone too quickly to understand.

“Vil-senpai, Rook-senpai, it’s nice to see you. Did you need my help with something?” you asked, uncertain why they would approach you when you hadn’t been around their little ‘apple’ for weeks.

“Nothing of consequence.” Vil assured as he pulled a liner from his pocket.

It was the exact shade of crimson that he had decided was best for your complexion before Epel had interrupted you.

You blinked as he held it out and then placed it in your hand.

“I simply noticed that your lines are not as smooth. Your old one must have started to dry out so you this one instead and be sure to put the cap back on securely after each use.”

Your eyes widened as you looked up at the gorgeous upper-classman and stammered what you hoped was a ‘thank you’. It must have at least been passable since the Housewarden’s glossy lips pulled into a bemused smile before he moved to continue on past you.

“W-wait!” you said suddenly, not really sure why you were doing this.

You could just text.

You could call.

But you were terrified.

Vil paused to glance back at you, an elegant eyebrow arched in question.

“Vil-senpai, is….I-I mean…” you swallowed thickly, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks. “H-how is…”

When it was obvious you couldn’t manage to finish what you were trying to say, he simply gave a soft huff of a sigh.

“Seeing as how you are not nearly as troublesome as your fellow dormmates, I suppose I will allow you to continue to visit Pomefiore. So long as you act accordingly, of course.”

Your heart leaped in year chest and Rook flashed a cheeky smile your way.

“Oui, we have quite missed your lovely visits, petit coeur.” He winked. “Our talented magift team will be practicing this afternoon but I’m sure a treat of the apple pie you baked last time would be greatly enjoyed.”

A bright smile bloomed on your face and you quickly nodded.

“Y-yes! Yes, I’ll be there!” you said quickly before spinning on your heels and darting back the way you came.

You had some baking to do after all and not very long to make it perfect.

Maybe you could talk to Epel and figure this all out.

It would be okay.

Epel didn’t know if he hated Vil more…or himself.

He tried so many times. Opened your text thread so often and typed out so many different apologies he had stopped keeping count.

And each time he had frozen.

Each time his thumb had hovered over the ‘send’ but been unable to gather the courage to press it.

The expression on your face would flash through his memory and he would desperately erase whatever he had been trying to say, knowing none of it would be good enough.

Growing up together you had squabbled before, of course. It was what kids did.

With it just being the two of you, though, there had been no other choice but to make up if you didn’t want to be friendless for the rest of your lives.

And none of the fights had been like…this.

Nothing he had ever said or did had caused you to look…had hurt you so deeply.

Like he had grabbed one of Rook’s hunting knives and stabbed it into your chest with his own two hands.

What could he say, what could he do to make up for that?

He didn’t even really get it.

He didn’t understand why you were warming up to Vil or Rook. He didn’t get why you were so willing to eat lunch with the other Heartslabyul boys when he was right there. Why you let Cater paint you up and then plaster your picture all over his Magicam page with tags like #Heastlabyulprincess or #twocuteiestoocute for everyone to see. Why you didn’t mind when your Housewarden would stand so close to you while fixing your uniform.

Why did he have to fight everyone else off just to enjoy some time alone with you now?

You were his best friend!

He was your best friend!

Wasn't he?

Why did you care about these other guys now over him?

Couldn’t you see how much he loved you? How much he wanted to be the perfect guy for you? Wanted to make you proud to be with him and hang on his arm. Wanted you to know that he would protect you like you had protected him?

Did you not think he could?

Did you not think he was good enough?

Had watching Vil paint him and dress him up like a doll make you think that he wouldn’t be able to keep you safe? That he would leave you to go with Vil into some celebrity fantasy that his annoying Housewarden kept blabbering on about? As if he could possibly be happy with all this frilly shit instead of a small cottage with you near the orchard that he would inherit, and you would both care for together?

Clearly, he had to prove to you that you were what he wanted. That no matter what stupid house he had been put into or the stifling rules that the tyrant was strangling you with, he would be the same. He wouldn’t let it change who he was. He would always be the boy you had grown up with and held against nightmares and picked leaves out of your hair when you would both jump into piles of them during the fall.

He would be the anchor for you in this ridiculous school that obviously didn’t see how amazing you were just as you always had been.

He would prove it to you.

He just needed to make himself better first. He needed to learn what he could from the strong students at NRC and prove to them all that he wasn’t the delicate little flower that Vil was trying to turn him into.

He tried talking with Rook first, of course, since he was the most easily accessible – and really the guy was rather terrifying despite that ridiculous haircut and personality – but he could only understand about a third of the weirdness he spouted off so Epel gave up on that avenue quickly.

Leona was the second person he tried attaching himself to. The prince was everything he wished he could be. Tall, strong, fearsome. No one would dare try to say he was weak and even if they did they would regret it.

Unfortunately, the Savanaclaw Housewarden wasn’t the mentoring type and even though he was the magift captain all of his ‘training’ and help revolved around the game and that was it. He barely gave Epel the time of day outside of the field. He even tried bugging Ruggie for hints of what the lion might suggest but the hyena just rolled his eyes and brushed him off like all the rest.

It was only when he stubbornly attached himself to Jack’s side and refused to let go of the wolf’s track jersey until he agreed to give him pointers, that he was able to make progress.

“I don’t get what you’re trying to do.” The therianthrope admitted as he ran his hand through his hair exasperated. “I’m not trying to be ‘manly’ or whatever. I’m just being me. If you’re trying to get stronger, though, I guess working out more and doing weights might help.” He shrugged. “I jog with Vil-senpai in the mornings. You’re welcome to joi-“

“No!” Epel snapped angrily, not wanting to have to spend even more time around the older teen than he already did.

Jack rolled his eyes.

“Fine, whatever, I weight lift every other day and there’s a gym in Savanaclaw. If you want to join me it shouldn’t be a problem as long as you don’t keep trying to pick fights with my housemates. Leona-senpai is getting annoyed at all the noise.”

Epel beamed up at his new friend, nearly bouncing on his toes.

“Great! I’ll be there!”

You might not be talking with him at the moment but just wait, he’ll be super manly when you did and he’ll sweep you off your feet!

“So who is it that you’re trying to impress? Not that I care or anything.” Jack said after one of their now regular workouts together, running a towel over his face.

Epel sputtered, face flaming as he quickly hid it in his own towel with the excuse of wiping off the sweat that had gathered.

“N-no one! Why would you think I’m trying to impress anyone!? I just want to get stronger!” he said, though the unusual pitch of his voice gave his lie away easily even if Jack couldn’t practically smell it on him already.

The wolf raised an eyebrow down at the shorter boy and Epel stubbornly looked away, draping the towel around his neck and busying himself with fixing the short ponytail he had pulled his hair into.

“Sure.” The wolf snorted under his breath. “Then who are you not trying to impress? Your Housewarden? That Heartslabyul friend of yours?”

“Why would I want to impress Vil!?” he hissed instantly, ruffling at the very idea.

It only made him look like an angry little kitten.

“So it’s the little heart princess?”

“Princess!? Don’t call them that!” he snapped back. “They’re not like Vil, okay! They’re strong and brave! They wouldn’t be a princess.”

Jack just wrinkled his nose at him.

“What are you talking about? Vil isn’t weak and what in the Seven’s kind of fairytales have you been reading?” he asked dryly. “More than half of our school’s founders were fierce Queens that no one could stand up against.”

He gave a derisive snort.

“That’s different, Jack. Besides, it’s not going to matter because I’m going to get stronger and then join Savanaclaw with you. Then I won’t have to worry about Vil or whatever stupid play or modeling practice he comes up with.”

“I thought you said the Headmage said you couldn’t change houses.” The wolf asked as they exited the Savanaclaw mirror and started towards Pomefiore.

He usually followed him to at least give a hello to Vil before he started on his afternoon run.

“Yeah, well I’ll change his mind.” Epel said firmly, tilting his chin up stubbornly as they stepped through the mirror and started up the perfectly manicured walk to the elegant castle.

“Right, well, when you join Savanaclaw you’d better be ready for initiation. They’re not going to go easy on someone with a face like yours.” He warned.

“Oh yeah, well they’ll just find out what I can do!” Epel grinned viciously, already imagining himself in the leather and yellow uniform.

How cool he would look and how he could impress you by taking down all the therianthrope and taller humans that wanted to bully him for his face. The same ones that he knew would try to tease you for the Heartslabyul tea parties and makeup. He’d show them how cool you were too and then you could come with him! You’d look great in leather!

He just had to figure out the best way to words things so that you’d know how sorry he was for not being able to make Vil leave you alone.

Epel’s day dreams were cut off, though, when he started towards the grand staircase up to the dorm room floors and heard your voice call out to him. He froze, not having expected to see you so suddenly and definitely not at his dorm around the other Pomefiore students.

He looked over to see you coming from one of the side parlours. Your smile was small and unsure but warm as always. Clearly awkward but at least not with that hollow look in your eyes anymore.

“Hi, Pel.” You said, your gaze flicking over to Jack for a moment before back to him. “I…uh, Vil-senpai said you would be out of practice but then Stefan said you had gone to Savanaclaw to meet a friend. I’m not…interrupting, right?”

“N-no, not at all! This is Jack, Jack meet my best friend.” He said quickly, telling him your name before focusing on you again. “I just wasn’t expecting you. It’s…nice to see you.” He admitted, something in his chest settling as he hadn’t seen you in so long and it felt like a breath of fresh air having you beside him again.

Warmth flooded your eyes and he watched the little heart on the corner of your mouth dimple that made him wonder why people thought he was cute when you were right there.

Still, he saw the clear signs that his Housewarden had gotten his hands on you. Your eyes were lined even more elaborately than usual with a mix of crimson and gold. Your heart was shimmery as if an extra layer had been added to your normal design. Your hair was even up in a style that he had seen Cater post on his Magicam.

Epel had watched the video of the older teen’s hands brush through and fix your hair while narrating what exactly he was doing and what kinds of hair types the style would go with until he had it memorized. The only reason he hadn’t watched it on mute was every now and then you’d make a comment or laugh at one of Cater’s jokes and he had missed the sound of your laugh so much it physically hurt.

He remembered how Cater’s fingers had lingered along your neck or tucked accessories into place so gently and he couldn’t help but scrunch his nose.

“Come on, you can come up to my room and get all that mess off you.”

He saw Jack wince out of the corner of his eye and quickly make an exit, but he was focused on you. He reached for your hand but you wouldn’t let him pull you up the stairs.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, glancing into the parlour where he could see his Housewarden and Rook chatting quietly around an overly decorated table with tea and what he thought was apple pie.

He was surprised that Vil actually allowed such an unhealthy food in his dorm.

“Epel…I wanted to talk with you.” You finally said, pulling his gaze back, though your smile was a little more uncertain before.

“Sure, come on, you can spend the night. Nan sent me some of our normal soap so you wash off that flowery shit.” He said, hoping to entice you to stay with him.

It’d be like back home. He could hold you close and keep you warm like a real boyfriend would.

He could ask you to let him be your boyfriend.

He didn’t understand why your smile kept fading.

“Epel…I know you don’t like Pomefiore. I know you don’t agree with what Vil-senpai is trying to teach-“

“Force.” He interceded.

“…force you to do. I talked with him. He said maybe we can try different things. You don’t have to do everything exactly like him. We can find our own styles together and-“

“I have a style!” he pointed out, feeling a bit defensive now.

Why had you been talking with Vil and not him?

Why did you seem to want to be around everyone else except him?

“I know you do, Epel, and I like you the way you are. That doesn’t mean we can’t try things though, right? It’s like the lemon crisps Trey-senpai made. Riddle-senpai said it’s best to try it so you can find out what you like and don’t like. I didn’t like it but I’m glad I tried it at least. I tried the treacletarts even though I didn’t think they looked good and I ended up really liking them. Maybe if you tried different things you could find some things you do like. Things that we can do together and-“

“Is Vil forcing you into this? Hm?” he finally snapped, gripping onto your hand tighter. “You shouldn’t listen to him, you know. He wants to turn you into one of his little dolls. He wants to use you as an accessory and then throw you away. You don’t need any of that stuff! You don’t need to stay in Heartslabyul. We can go to Savanaclaw together and-“

“But I like it!”

He blinked.

“What?”

Your fingers trembled in his.

“I like learning about makeup, Epel.” You said softly, eyes hurt and unsure but also not backing down. “I like baking with Trey-senpai and trying different hairstyles. I like seeing the different kinds of clothes that Vil-senpai designs even if I don’t want to wear them all. I like dancing and reading and tea parties. I like magift and flying. I like climbing trees. I like playing croquet with the flamingos and hedgehogs. I like it and I don’t want to stop or leave.”

Epel’s chest was tightening, and he didn’t understand why you were saying this.

“But you look better without it.” He said desperately, trying to make you understand.

Wishing you would see what he saw. How people were changing you.

He just wanted his best friend back.

He wanted things how they used to be.

“Then why are you trying to change?” you finally ask in a small voice. “You keep saying how you’re going to get ‘stronger’ and ‘manlier’. What if I like you the way you are too?”

Epel’s nose wrinkled again in disgust.

“Stop teasing me. Don’t you think I know what others say about me? How even people from our town still call me ‘cute’ when I’m already sixteen!? I’m not a kid! I’m not some pretty princess that’s going to dress up and smile for a camera! I’m not going to let them talk about me like-“

“THEN STOP CARING ABOUT WHAT OTHERS THINK!” your voice broke, wobbling as Epel just didn’t understand.

“I never thought you were weak or less ‘manly’ than anyone else!” you added, neither of you noticing that the other Pomefiore students had been quickly ushered out of the foyer by their Housewarden and Vice-Housewarden. “You're the one that thinks that! You are the one that’s trying to force me to do what you want, not Vil-senpai!”

Epel’s eyes widened as you pulled your hand away again.

He felt your fingers slipping from his grasp and his breath went with it.

You were shivering.

“I don’t want you to change into something you don’t want to be…I don’t want you to force yourself to be something you’re not.” You whispered, lip trembling. “But I’m not going to let you force me to be something you want, either.”

“I…wait, stop, it’s okay. I don’t mind you liking that stuff! Really!” he said desperately, grabbing at your shoulders to prevent you from leaving. “I think you’re cute with or without makeup! It’s fine! And if you want to stay at Heartslabyul that’s okay too! You-…you could spend the night over in Savanaclaw with me sometimes! And you can try all the stuff you want before we go home! I don’t mind! Really! We can tell nana and your pop and I bet they’ll all laugh about it! It’ll be great and it’s okay if you’re a princess, right? You’d make a much better princess than me anyway and-“

“So…it’s okay to be a princess?”

“Yes! Yes definitely!” Epel said, trying to figure out what the right thing to say was.

What he needed to say to make you stay.

To not lose his best friend.

“But it’s only okay if I’m the princess.” Your tone was…he wasn’t sure.

Something was wrong and he could tell but he didn’t know why he was suddenly so terrified. Why it felt like you were already out of his reach.

“I-…”

“Because you don’t want to be a princess because they’re weak. They’re silly and shallow. It’s okay if I’m one though. It’s okay if I’m silly and shallow and weak.”

“That’s not…that’s not what I meant.” He swallowed thickly, realizing that maybe…maybe he should have listened more to Rook and watched how he said things…

“I know what you meant.”

No. No you didn’t understand. You didn’t understand how much he needed you to be with him. How he just wanted you back. How he wished neither of you had come to NRC at all.

You could have stayed at his orchard for your entire lives. You could have gotten married and grown old together and maybe even had kids someday or adopted. He would have made you so happy. You would have been so much happier than the hurt and resigned state you were now.

He wouldn’t have had to feel you letting go.

“Wait…” he whispered as you took a step back and out of his grasp. “You can’t leave…please, you can’t…”

“You don’t get to tell me what I can and can’t do, Epel.” You said sadly. “Besides, I’m sure you’ll forget about me soon…it’s not like you seem to like who I am anymore, anyway.”

Epel couldn’t move. He couldn’t speak. He couldn’t breathe.

Just like he had been on the riverbank years ago, he could only watch as you disappeared from view.

But this time there was no one there to drag you back to him.

Because he was the one who pushed you away.

That winter break he slipped wordlessly out the back door, ducking his head away from the worried looks his grandparents sent him.

The trudge to the treehouse was unusually silent with a fresh blanket of snow heavy on the ground with only the crunch of it under his boots breaking it.

He climbed up the rope and pushed open the trapdoor, hearing it creak in protest after being unused for so long.

He would need to oil the hinges.

Things were exactly as they had been left. The blankets still rumpled in the corner, a couple of books you had been reading stacked on the small end table, the sparkly rock that you had found while treasure hunting still decorating the shelf above the window.

But you weren’t there.

After the argument you had had, the other Heartslabyul boys had apparently named him enemy of the state and done everything they could to keep him from being able to talk to you. To apologize. To do something to make you see just how sorry he was and how much he missed you.

He even tried talking to Rook about how to get you to understand how much he needed you.

The hunter just gave him a sad, almost disappointed look.

“Aa, but that is the thing, pomme sauvage.” He said gently, patting his shoulder. “Have you asked them what they need?”

He hadn’t been able to answer.

He put in the request to move to Savanaclaw again, and this time Vil did not refuse it.

He was glad about that. It made it easier. And Savanaclaw was great! Really! He loved how free it was and hanging out with the others and he could focus on training for magift and working out with Jack. The uniform was way more comfortable and so cool!

It didn’t seem to matter anymore when he watched the Heartslabyul Housewarden slide off his uniform jacket to drape around your shoulders.

He suddenly didn’t care that no one forced him to fix his hair in the mornings before class when he watched the red head escort you with all the chivalry of a knight.

It was all pointless as he watched you smile and laugh, bringing a softness to your Housewarden’s face that only you seemed to be able to cause. Listen to you chatter about random things the way you used to with him, only for it to be directed at Riddle now instead.

Watched as he treated you so kindly but with so much respect, like an actual princess.

Watched as you leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

You had gotten permission from your parents to stay with some of the other Heartslabyul boys over the break.

He only learned about this because they had told his grandparents.

Epel crawled over to the blankets and didn’t even bother shaking them out before wrapping them around himself and trying to block out the world.

You should have just let him fall through the ice.

It would have been less painful.

==================

Whelp I did not mean for this to become so long and rambly but it just kept going and getting angstier. (Blame Ciel, they supported the angst brainrot) This really was supposed to be a cute fluffy Childhoodfriend! AU but turned into kind of a character analysis-ish on Epel's views on masculinity and such. I don't hate Epel but he's a dumb teenage boy with a complex and he doesn't always know how to see past his own views. Hopefully he'll grow!

Tell me what you think <3

#pinkskytwst #twisted wonderland #twst wonderland #disney twst #twst fanfic #twst vil #twst rook #rook hunt #vil schoenheit #twst epel #epel felmier #epel x reader #twst riddle #riddle/reader #epel/reader #riddle rosehearts

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