#and i expected it to be like most of the books i read at 10/11

[lichtecht]

i am currently on book 3 but this is my contribution

[themyscirah]

People need to stop putting Batman in everything this is painful

[deliciousangelfestival]

The Malicious Daughter Is Back! - 11

Character : Bucky Barnes x Female!Reader

Summary: It's just a business marriage. Bucky thought it would be easy until he encountered the stepsister of his fiancée. She turned his world upside down.

Chap 1, Chap 2 , Chap 3 , Chap 4 , Chap 5 , Chap 6 , Chap 7 , Chap 8 , Chap 9 , Chap 10, Chap 11, Chap 12 ,-

Main Masterlist || Support : Ko-fi 🙏🏻

Thank you to everyone who has read this chapter. Leave a comment and Reblog, please. I'd love to hear your thoughts. ❤️

Bucky had no idea that someone was making an evil plan against him. He had been advising you on managing Velari’s business for the past few days.

You quickly grasped the management concepts, learning from the best, Bucky. Another reason for your quick understanding was your previous business studies at a prestigious university. However, you couldn't continue your education due to internal conflicts within your family.

That was your biggest regret. You only bark but never bite. You managed to continue your education only because Cassandra sold her jewelry. You will never forget the sacrifice she made for you. You clenched your fists, remembering the heartbreak in her eyes when she sold her cherished possessions.

But still, whenever you tried to rise, life seemed determined to bring you down again. Genevieve used all her connections to prevent you from learning business and management.

You discovered this when you confronted the dean, who said, "Mrs. Sinclair donates a lot to this university, and we don’t want to disappoint her." You had felt a cold rage, your hands trembling as you realized the extent of her influence.

Most prestigious universities denied you. The only place that accepted you was a community college, where you randomly chose to study health and physical education because, at that time, you felt utterly lost and alone.

You just wanted to get a degree, any degree. You sighed, recalling the sense of defeat and the hollow feeling in your chest as you enrolled in a field you had no passion for.

Sometimes not expecting anything gives the best gifts. The lecturer and friends you met were the most supportive and kindest people you had ever encountered. That’s how you got the job as a teacher at Granite Hills Reform School, where problematic, delinquent students from all over the country were gathered.

It was tough at first; your teachers and the principal had warned you to be careful. But you felt like you could make some changes because you knew how the students felt: not being listened to, getting bullied, not being appreciated, and being ignored. You remembered the frustration in their eyes, a mirror of your own past struggles.

Comparing the discipline required for dealing with delinquent students who always gave outrageous excuses, working at Velari seemed easier.

After redefining the clothes' design with Andrea, you felt like the old Velari was back. You never thought redoing the design would be easier than looking at the accountant's records.

It was a mess. You ran your fingers through your hair, your brow furrowed in disbelief.

You scratched your head, unable to believe how much the business was bleeding. Bucky was also reading the numbers. "If you don’t do something, Velari will be closed in two years." His tone was serious, and his eyes met yours with concern.

"Urgh." You threw your head onto the book on the table and hit it a few times in frustration.

Bucky extended his hand and placed it on your forehead. His warm hand held your head gently. "Don’t worry, you can fix this." His touch and reassuring words made you pause, feeling a flicker of hope amid the chaos.

You felt your face warm up. Bucky noticed too. "Are you having a fever?" he asked, concern evident in his eyes.

You quickly moved your head away from his hand and shook your head. "No, I guess I hit my head too hard," you replied, trying to downplay your flustered state.

The chat between you and Bucky didn’t go unnoticed by Andrea, the senior designer. She bit her lip and continued drawing, stealing glances occasionally.

Bucky cleared his throat. "If you want, we could make a press release for a new rebranding for Velari."

"That’s a good idea," you nodded. "Can we also include AstraNova Group in the press release?"

Bucky nodded. "Sure." He looked at his watch and got up. "I’ll send the PR team to help you with the press release."

"Thank you," you said, your gratitude showing in your smile. Bucky smiled back and left the room.

"It was so sweet, I can't even describe it," Andrea remarked, taking off her glasses and smirking at you.

You felt your cheeks warm up again. "It's not..."

Andrea raised her hands in a mock surrender. "I won't tease you, but I saw how he always comes here and even stays with you until late at night. It says something."

You sighed, looking down at your hands. "I don’t know... To be honest, I don’t believe in romance after what I saw happen to my parents."

Andrea nodded sympathetically. "I understand, but not every story ends the same way. Sometimes, you just have to take a chance."

Andrea sighed, then approached you and gently took both of your hands in hers. She looked at you with a mix of concern and nostalgia. She remembered the first time Ophelia brought you to the shop.

You were cheerful, always laughing at the most minor things. But everything changed after Ophelia died, and not even a year later, your father remarried. Understandably, you have trauma around love and opening your heart to another person.

“Give it a chance,” Andrea said softly, squeezing your hands. “If both of you share the same feelings, that’s good. And… if Bucky cheats, I’m sure you could give him a lesson.” Andrea chuckled, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

You chuckled too, the tension easing from your shoulders. It would be a lie if you said you didn't have feelings for Bucky. You glanced down, your cheeks flushing slightly.

Andrea noticed your expression and gave your hands another reassuring squeeze. “You deserve happiness, just like anyone else.”

You nodded, a small smile playing on your lips. "Thanks, Andrea. I'll think about it."

Andrea smiled warmly, patting your hands before letting go. “Good. Now, let’s get back to work. We’ve got a lot to do.”

👗👗👗👗👗

Since his memory returned, Bucky has been practicing touching other people. He started with his parents first. Though he still couldn’t hug them, he could hold their hands without feeling disgusted. His mom and dad were astounded and cried at the same time.

Finally, they could have physical contact with their son again without Bucky feeling nauseated or acting like they were germs. As parents, it was heartbreaking to see him struggle. The kidnapping stole Bucky and their chance to be an average family.

Juliana sipped her tea while watching her son read the newspaper. "So, today you’re going to be the honored guest at Velari?" she asked with a teasing smile.

Bucky nodded, not looking up from the paper.

"I never thought my son could be interested in fashion," she teased again, her eyes twinkling.

"Mom… I’m just… repaying the favor," Bucky replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Yeah… right," Rowan and Juliana murmured together. Because of Bucky’s condition, he never had the chance to have an intimate relationship with someone. He spent his youth only studying. So now, with Bucky and you? They couldn’t be happier.

Bucky wanted to smile at his parents' teasing but held it in. He stood from his seat, adjusting the buttons on his jacket. "I don’t want to be late."

"Why so early?" Juliana asked, looking up from her tea.

Bucky kept walking toward the door where the car was already prepared for him. "I have to stop by her house first."

"Tell her I said ‘Hi’," Juliana called after him, a knowing smile on her face.

Bucky paused at the door, turning slightly to nod before stepping outside. As he approached the car, he couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness, his heart pounding at the thought of seeing you.

🫖🫖🫖🫖🫖

Bucky arrived at your house and, as usual, greeted Cassandra first. She looked much healthier, having gained some weight since the first time he met her. Even with her dementia, Cassandra was always friendly to everyone. She was sitting in the garden with a blanket on her lap.

“Hello, Grandma,” Bucky greeted her warmly.

Cassandra’s eyes widened with recognition. “Ah, Patrick. It’s a beautiful morning, isn’t it? Did you have breakfast?”

Bucky smiled softly, though he didn’t understand why she called him Patrick. After meeting a few times, she started using this name. He had mentioned it to you, but you didn’t know who Patrick was either.

“I’m sorry I made you wait,” you said, walking into the garden while adjusting your earrings.

Bucky fell silent, momentarily mesmerized by how different you looked today. Cassandra noticed, too, and clapped her hands in delight. “You look so beautiful, Ophelia. Did you make the clothes from my design again?”

You bent down and kissed her cheeks. “Yes.” Bringing your mother’s and grandmother’s designs to life was one of your greatest joys.

At least Genevieve and Victoria had never gotten their hands on the earlier designs. Kneeling beside Cassandra, you took her wrinkled hands and looked into her eyes. “I’m going to revive the old Velari.”

Cassandra tilted her head and caressed your hair gently. “I believe in you,” she said softly, her voice filled with warmth and trust.

🚗🚗🚗🚗🚗

The ride to the press release was quiet. You kept silently memorizing the speech you were going to deliver to the journalists and critics. In the fashion world, critics' words held significant weight.

Bucky sensed your nervousness. “Don’t worry. You can do this,” he said, his voice steady.

You took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Yes, I can do this.” Then, you looked at Bucky, feeling a surge of gratitude. You had reached this point mainly because of him.

“Bucky… I…” Your eyes widened when you saw Bucky’s intense focus on you, and he reached for you. “Wait…”

“Get down!” Bucky shouted, dragging your body away from the door. The movement was swift. As the car stopped at a red light, a big SUV suddenly rammed into Bucky’s car.

The car window shattered, showering you with glass. “What the fuck?” you exclaimed, feeling a mix of shock and fear.

Then you realized the person who had shielded you was trembling. You looked up to see Bucky, his face pale, his body rigid.

The traumatic memory of his kidnapping had resurfaced with startling clarity. He had just wanted to go home early from an event hosted by AstraNova, finding the party boring with no kids his age. But that decision had led to his abduction, a memory now mirrored in this moment. The nightmare was returning: the darkness, the cold, and fear.

“Bucky?” you called, trying to snap him out of his frozen state.

‘Bang.’

You hear the door closed from the SUV and see three big guys coming into your car. You saw the driver is fainted. “Shit.”

You touched Bucky's face urgently, trying to break through his fear. "Bucky, look at me! I know you're scared. Me too! But we can't stand still. We have to run. Argh…" Suddenly, strong arms grabbed you from behind.

The person was big and rough, wearing a ski mask. He muttered, "You're a firecracker, aren't ya?" His confidence wavered when you stared directly at him.

You continued kicking and squirming to escape his grasp, but his strength was overwhelming compared to your students'. Where was Bucky?

“Bucky!!!” you screamed, desperately searching for him.

“Don’t worry about him. We just want you,” the abductor sneered as he dragged you toward the waiting car.

Fear surged through you as you realized what was happening—had you just been abducted?

You kept kicking and struggling against the abductor, but he gripped your leg harder. “Be good, or I’ll break your fucking legs…”

“Help!” A voice suddenly cried out, weak and desperate.

You and your abductor both turned toward the sound.

What you saw was beyond anything you could have imagined. Bucky, whose body was smaller than the abductor's, had launched himself into action. With surprising strength and speed, he grabbed the other abductor and threw him in a wide arc.

The abductor struggled, choking and gasping for air. His resistance faded, and he went limp, unconscious. Bucky discarded him like a sack of garbage.

Your abductor's voice trembled with disbelief and frustration. “Fuck, she didn’t mention any of this.”

You were equally shocked. You had never imagined that Bucky possessed such strength and skill.

Unbeknownst to you, Bucky had been quietly preparing himself for such situations. He had learned various martial arts and survival techniques, practicing diligently despite his physical limitations. Unable to spar with others, he had honed his abilities with machines and workout equipment, constantly pushing himself to the highest levels.

Now, faced with real danger, Bucky's training revealed itself. His strength and determination were beyond anything you had ever seen from him.

Andrea echoed in your mind, "If Bucky cheated, you could give him a lesson." If she could witness this moment, she would indeed be astounded.

Taglist:

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Author Note: Hey friends,

If you've been enjoying the content, I've set up a Ko-fi account.

Your support through tips would mean the world and help me keep creating.

Only if you feel like it!

Here's the link: Ko-fi

Thanks a bunch for being fabulous followers!

[2soulscollide]

tips to level up your writing skills

1. read, read, read

okay, I know, everyone keeps saying it... but it's true, and I truly believe the more you read, the better you write, because you come across different writing styles, different voices, new characters, and worlds. This applies to every writer, from amateur to professional.

2. practice makes perfect

another cliché, right.

but hear me out: I feel so much more confident about my writing skills when I write daily, rather than when I write a bit occasionally. you get lots of work done, see your book coming to life, and get better at it.

3. create an outline before you start writing

guysss, I know many people like to go with the flow, but I would recommend planning your novel before writing it, especially if it is one of your first projects.

when I started, I refused to plot my novel because I thought it was a waste of time, and I couldn't plan it all ahead. turns out that I could never finish my novels, because I started to get lost in the plot. as most of you may know, I LOVEEE to plot now!

4. use active voice instead of passive voice

passive voice is alright sometimes. I like to use it, too. but to create an immersive experience for the reader, you should go for the active voice since it creates more impact.

see something like this:

"the letter was written by Marcus who had tears in his eyes." VS "Marcus wrote the letter with tears in his eyes."

such a basic example (don't judge me!!)... but can you notice the difference? it seems so much more expressive.

5. avoid using overly complex language

repeat it after me: short. sentences. are. valid.

don't overcomplicate it! I know it's tempting to write huge sentences sometimes and make your book seem more complex and professional, but sometimes it just doesn't come out as expected, and we end up exhausting our readers.

6. don't just for yourself

this can be a polemic topic. it's quite common to see people saying you should write for yourself, but let's be honest here: if you're trying to get your book published, you should have your target public in mind while developing your book. knowing your audience to know what works and what doesn't work is extremely important. but hey, you must also enjoy what you're writing!

7. use dialogue!!!

I find dialogue so important, and I love it so much! ensure you develop a distinctive voice for your characters to make them seem real to the reader. also, if possible, read the dialogue out loud and imagine if it would work out in real life.

8. don't be afraid to use metaphors

metaphors will turn a "basic" work into something more sophisticated when applied in the right places. you might want to avoid overusing it because it can ruin the experience, but it's something up to you, and what feels better to you.

9. research your topic before writing

okay, this is pretty self-explanatory. if you're writing about a topic or a location you don't know much about, avoid making assumptions or clichés. instead, do some research, take notes, or even ask chatgpt questions to help you.

10. don't be afraid to experiment and try new things

I was a fanfiction writer for a long time and was so scared to try original fiction because it seemed so much different from what I was accustomed to doing. however, once I decided to try something new, I discovered I liked to do it more than fanfiction. you'll never know until you try it!

11. never give up on your writing, keep practicing and learning to improve your skills

it takes time to acquire new skills, so if you're new to writing, please don't give up! It's fun and a long path, and I promise you'll love it, even more, the more you write!

I hope this was helpful! <3 have a nice day

also, i just released a new freebie!!! it's a free workbook for writers with over 90 pages to guide you through the process of plotting a novel. you might be interested in checking it out!! :D click here

[wutheringskies]

Re-reading MDZS; CH 1 - 11

rereading mdzs out loud with my bestie and we're only doing 2 chapters a day, and discussing everything and here are things I never noticed:

1. from the start, the narrative exposes us to how Wei Wuxian is when he's upset: he's unfocused, walking off the wrong way, disliking his reflection, organizing his thoughts, crying but not saying he cried.

2. despite being miserable, when lil apple tries to cheer him up, he thinks "the poor donkey even went out of its way to drag him" and decides to be get up and move on. it's not an in-built setting - it's not a "being born chronically optimistic" but rather a conscious choice.

3. frankly i never noticed just how sombre his tone is in the first couple of chapters. it's quirky and sarcastic but sombre all the same.

4. also, this guy is literally a Lan. like I'm sorry, he probably has a degree in the Lan Sect. he keeps explaining everything about them.

5. Sizhui already made such a huge impression on him that the first thing he thinks of when he sees Jin Ling is that he's of Sizhui's age.

6. Wei Wuxian IS traumatized about Jiang Cheng. His reaction is simply to run off into the distance. He DOES NOT like being around Jiang Cheng, and his opinion about him is not good, as he keeps adding comments about Jiang Cheng's arrogance, his anger, and comparing him to Lan Wangji (knowing JC hates being compared, and I personally think this was something he never allowed himself to do.)

7. Jin Ling was such a jerk under Jiang Cheng and Jin Guangyao's tutelage. Like, sincerely.

8. Lan Wangji does not even acknowledge Jiang Cheng.

9. Also, a comment that my friend and I made: MDZS is a book about Lan Wangji, with Wei Wuxian casually throwing some trauma on the pages in between. Like, goodness, the narration from Wei Wuxian's point of view rarely describes a lot. But come to the point of Lan Wangji and this guy won't shut up. His clothes, his face, his voice, his sword, their meaning, the clan rules, what they stand for - Wei Wuxian tells us more about Lan Wangji and the Lan Clan than about his own life.

10. Wei Wuxian was so in love with Lan Wangji. Since he saw the Lan Clan this guy was on his head. THE FACT WEI WUXIAN CAN RECOGNIZE LAN WANGJI JUST BY 2 STRUMS OF HIS ZITHER after 13 years of being dead!!!

11. When Lan Wangji held his hand, he was breathing hard and his notes on the flute kept cracking

12. Wei Wuxian is so good at meditating btw

13. Wei Wuxian describing Lan Wangji's voice as "deep and magnetic" and "stirring the heart" like bro trust me Jiang Cheng's not feeling any tugs upon his heart, and Jingyi is most probably just scared.

14. Wei Wuxian is such a flirt with women - his best flirting tactic is "give them space" 😂😂

15. Wei Wuxian did not ask, expect or even comment upon the absence of gratitude from the villager clan after saving them and instead even thanked them for providing him with information.

16. Wei Wuxian is so keen on people's behavior. Noticing the orb of souls that could've been saved if people were more focused on their duty than catching a prey like Wen Ning, understanding people's discomfort etc.

17. He's such a good teacher, earning the respect of Lan students just like that, asking good questions, not even complying with his own worship, and appraising them when they get things right and also playfully scaring them with Hanguang-jun's punishment (what a husband)

18. Wei Wuxian has great self esteem but poor self worth, but he's working on the second part.

@zenenini

[please1mistress]

Does the spiral draw you in? Are you sitting comfortably? Yes? Good. Now, I want you to relax... That's it; deeper and deeper. Rest your hands in your lap... Feel your shoulders loosen as your troubles melt away... If you're reading this at work, tune out your noisy co-workers... Now, while staring at the picture below, speak out loud in calm, resolute, and preferably ethereal voice: "I will read this blog post. I will click the "like" button below when I'm finished. I will read this blog post...I will click the "like" button below when I'm finished."

Is it really that simple to hypnotize you? Whether or not you believe in hypnosis, neuroscientists are now showing that the practice does indeed produce measurable effects in the brain. Hypnosis is more of a “natural” state than people imagine. You are experiencing it several times throughout your day and it doesn’t need a swinging watch to put you into a hypnotic sleep! Some people are more receptive to hypnosis than others and can expect to experience rapid changes in a course of hypnotherapy

Answer the following twelve questions in this hypnosis test to see if you and hypnosis are well-suited.

1. When the television is on, can you “switch off” and lose track of what you are watching?

 A. Frequently; “What was the name of that program?”  B. Sometimes  C. Rarely

2. When reading a good book, can you “close off” to any external distractions?

 A. Regularly; “noise, what noise?”  B. Occasionally  C. Never

3. When you go to the cinema or theatre, can you feel emotional when you see something sad?

 A. Frequently; “I’m tearful now!”  B. Sometimes  C. Hardly ever

4. When you close your eyes, how quickly can you fall asleep?

 A. Within 10 minutes (ZZZ…)  B. Within 30 minutes  C. When the alarm goes off!

5. When chatting to a close friend, do you lose track of time?

 A. Nearly always  B. On occasions  C. Can’t stop looking at my watch!

6. When you see someone else yawn, does it become contagious?

 A. Repeatedly, I’m yawning right now!  B. Now and again  C. Rarely

7. Do you salivate when thinking about sucking on or sinking your teeth into a sour, juicy lemon?

 A. Most of the time, “Get me a napkin!”  B. Sometimes  C. Hardly ever

8. When you like a new song, does it keep going round and round in your mind at the most inconvenient moments?

 A. Regularly, “La-la-la…”  B. Occasionally  C. Not very often

9. If you close your eyes, can you visualise a journey from your house to the nearest shop?

 A. Images are clear & detailed  B. Can visualise some details of the journey  C. Vague details; “Is there a shop near me?”

10. Would you (or others) consider you to be a creative person?

 A. Yes, I use my creative skills nearly every day  B. Sometimes  C. Rarely

11. When you drive to a familiar place e.g. work, does your mind switch to auto-pilot?

 A. Nearly every day  B. Sometimes  C. Hardly ever

12. If you see a crowd of people looking at something, do you tend to look in the same direction out of curiosity?

 A. Most of the time  B. Some of the time  C. Rarely

if you answer mostly A or B to most of these questions, then chances are, you are a very good hypnotic subject. Hypnotic subjects tend to have: creativity, focus, curiosity, imagination, suggestibility. The fact you are reading this tells me that deep down you want to be hypnotized. You desire that feeling of dropping and sinking for a strong and powerful hypnotist like myself. It can be as easy as me telling you that you've been hypnotized from the start of this blog, and your minds open to my words deeper each time you read my blog. Now, be sure to re-post this and draw others to me. Good boy or girl.

[snitchcrimsonwrites]

Maybe pt. 8

Pairing: Norm MacLean X Female Reader or OC if you squint

Former friends to a relationship?

Life is pretty easy in Vault 33 until you're trying to rekindle a former friendship and Raiders attack. Now, our main characters are trying to navigate newfound feelings, all while undercovering the mysteries of Vault 33. Stay tuned. Follows the main storyline of season 1; some events may be reordered for plot.

Following the council meeting and Norm's reassignment, the two of you are enjoying a quiet evening together when a single question threatens to dredge up a whirlwind of emotions.

Part 1 Here. Part 6 Here Part 12 Here

Part 2 Here Part 7 Here

Part 3 Here Part 9 Here

Part 4 Here Part 10 Here

Part 5 Here Part 11 Here

Norm was convinced you thought he was a lunatic. 

 One minute, the two of you were relaxing on the sofa. Norm‘s head resting against your lap while you read. The occasional brush of your fingers through his hair threatens to lull him to sleep. The next, he found himself unable to stop ranting and raving, all because of a simple question. How did everything go today? The book you were reading was long since discarded to the side as you gave him your full attention. He went on detailing the events of his day, from his “reassignment” at the council meeting to his first interaction with the raiders locked in the vault reading room. You didn’t interrupt, though he wasn’t sure he could have stopped even if you had. His frustrations with the council and whatever happened in the Vaults were not subtle. Norm always appreciated the candor you two shared when it came to communication. Still, he couldn’t help feeling some unease divulging all of these feelings, unsure of how you’d respond. 

“I’m sorry,” he apologized, putting his hand on his forehead and moving to sit upright. “Seeing how we treated them today, with food and kindness, just sent me over the edge.” Nothing about this situation with the Raiders felt right to him. Four square meals a day and a soft bed weren’t exactly punishment; how was no one else seeing it? 

“Cause it feels like the opposite of justice…” you validated after listening to everything he had to say about his punishment from the council and the situation he experienced with the Raiders. 

“Yes,” his tone laced with utmost seriousness. “We watched people commit some of the most heinous acts we could imagine, and now we’re expected to be the bigger person and move on?” 

You felt the weight of the shared resentment settles between you, the reality of the situation pressing heavily on your shoulders. Memories of recent events resurfaced with a vengeance, emotions that had been buried away over the last few days trying to escape. You took a deep breath, trying to steady yourself, but the feelings of pain and anger were already seeping out uncontrolled. 

“For god’s sake, I had to kill a man with a pipe wrench the other day, and the council just wants to…” you stopped short, your words hanging before you like a poison in the air. You had avoided saying it out loud since that night, hopeful it would help you forget having to come to terms with the actions you took. 

Norm’s eyes widened with surprise. You had implied what had happened after the two of you were separated down Vault 32’s corridor, but he never pressed you for details you weren’t ready to share. He figured you were still processing your actions from the night of the raid but taking another life to save your own- a decision forced on you because of someone else's actions. He knew this was your nightmare scenario. Of course, you both had been reeling this entire time; how had he not noticed until now? He copied your gesture from the days before, offering his hand and intertwining it with yours with a squeeze. You took another deep breath, your eyes locking with Norm’s, raw with shared pain and anger. 

“You shouldn’t have been there alone, and I’ll always hate that part of myself for that.” 

“Don’t, you know full well how rushing into that situation would have gone. We’re here now.” You leaned in, pressing your forehead against Norm’s, a gesture of solidarity and unspoken promise. “We’ll get through this, Norm. One step at a time, together.”

The two of you continued this way throughout the evening, seamlessly shifting between playful banter and serious discussions. There were moments of shared laughter and tears, with deep emotions surfacing. As the hours passed, you both gradually moved from the couch to sprawling across the living room floor. Norm ended up lying on his back, staring at the ceiling, while you found a comfortable spot on your stomach.

“Your turn,” Norm says, encouraging another round of the question game you’ve been playing.

“Hmmm, if you could go back to before and experience one thing, what would it be?”

“Come on,” Norm groans, “there’s no point in...”

“Oh, please. At least try to be a little fun,” you tease.

He laughs and puts his hands up in surrender. “Fine, fine.” He couldn’t help but give in to you. Norm ponders for a minute. “Maybe getting to experience an arcade or comic shop in their heyday, the way they’re portrayed in movies at least. Atomic Command on the Pip-Boy is only so entertaining; something new would be fun. Plus a day to do something I enjoy, with no obligations, maybe meet people who like the same things as me. What about you?”

“The national parks,” you answer immediately, without needing to think. “All of them, any one of them, wouldn’t matter. Even just sitting there to experience them with all my senses, that would be my day,” you say, conjuring up images from the picture books you read as a kid.” It’s heartbreaking seeing how we just squandered... never mind, we don’t need to end tonight on a sour note.”

Norm nods, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Yeah, well, at least we’ve got these moments now. I guess that counts for something.”

You smile, feeling a sense of connection. “Yeah, it really does.”  You stretch and move to stand while announcing, “It’s getting late; I should probably head out.”

“I’ll walk you you back.” 

“Such a gentleman,” you gush, heading out the door. Norm laughs. “I think that’s a sentiment only you and my mom would share.” 

“Well, your mom and I have excellent taste,” you reply with a wink. “Aside from your wit and charm, you’re incredibly thoughtful and caring, Norm. One of the many reasons I enjoy spending time with you.”

He grins a hint of bashfulness in his eyes. “Thanks. You know, you’re pretty amazing yourself. You have this way of making even the simplest moments feel special.”

You feel a warmth spread through you at his words. “That means a lot, Norm.” 

As you both reach the door of your living quarters, you turn to face Norm, a smile resting on your lips.

“Well, here we are,” you say softly.

“Yeah,” Norm replies, a hint of nervousness in his voice. He hesitates for a moment, then takes a deep breath. “Can I... can I kiss you?”

Your heart flutters at his question. “I’d like that,” you whisper, your voice barely audible.

Norm steps closer, his eyes searching yours for any sign of hesitation. Seeing none, he gently cups your face with his hands and leans in. The world seems to slow down as his lips meet yours in a tender, lingering kiss. It's soft and sweet, filled with the promise of more shared moments.

As you pull back, you both smile, your foreheads resting against each other for the second time this evening. “That was nice,” you say, your voice filled with warmth.

“Yeah, it was,” Norm agrees, his eyes shining with happiness. “Goodnight, (Y/N).”

“Goodnight, Norm,” you reply, feeling a contented glow as you watch him walk away. 

—------------------------

Norm is lost in thought, walking home with a faint smile on his face. He rounds the corner of the hallway leading back to his living quarters and nearly collides with Betty Pearson.

“Whoa, Norm! Didn’t see you there,” Betty exclaims, steadying herself.

“Sorry, Betty,” Norm replies, snapping back to reality. “I didn’t see you either.”

She raises an eyebrow and glances at her Pip-Boy. “It’s pretty late to be out for a walk, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, I was just, uh, walking a friend home,” Norm says, trying to sound casual as a faint blush creeps up his cheeks.

Betty’s eyes narrow slightly, a knowing look crossing her face. “I’ve noticed you and (Y/N)  have been spending quite a bit of time together lately.”

Norm shifts uncomfortably, not wanting to reveal too much. “Yeah, we’ve been hanging out. She’s good company.”

Betty smiles, but there’s a hint of something more in her expression. “That’s nice to hear. It’s important to find good company these days. Just remember, people are always watching. It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re with someone special.”

“Thanks, Betty. I’ll keep that in mind,” Norm replies, feeling a bit uneasy as he continues down the hallway, Betty’s words lingering in his mind.

[nobleriver]

When I say I enjoy content focusing on a specific doctorriver dynamic, I’m not saying I like one dynamic over the next. Because I don’t. 10, 11, 12, they’re all the same person at different stages of their life. Consequently, shipping the Doctor and River is like reading the most beautiful, devastating trilogy. Each book holds a different arc of their story.

When I say I want more 10River, I mean I want to see when the sparks began to fly. I want to place under a microscope the moment that burning ember of curiosity morphed into genuine friendship and intellectual and (begrudging) physical attraction. I want to listen and read of their adventures and watch how the Doctor begins to see River as a person in her own light. Not as the dead companion of future him, but the radiant, funny archaeologist he now dares call friend.

And when I say give me 11River, I mean I want to immerse myself in the early and middle stages of their marriage, the good, the bad, the rough, the smooth, as they, like many newly wedded couples, wrestle in their early years to learn how to make this marriage w o r k. I want jealous Doctor, I want the Doctor who caves to his desires and kisses River back as if she’s the only oxygen left on the moon. I want to cackle with glee as the Doctor abandons the idea of ever running away from her because it’s already too late to run. He started falling a long time ago.

And when I say pile on the 12River, I mean I want to see the latter years of their marriage, when they act like that couple that’s been married for 50+ years who says they’ve finally figured out the key to marriage because THEY HAVE. They went through hell, through darkest pits of marriage, through the miscommunications and misaligned expectations, and made it through to the other side. Instead of trying to paper the cracks, they smoothed out the rough t o g e t h e r. They relinquished every survival instinct and exposed their jugulars, their deepest fears and pains, and let themselves be completely naked and vulnerable with the other. They finally did what 10 asked River to do all those centuries ago in the library… they stayed with each other.

[oh-shtars]

RFTS!AU AskBox #4

Me to @signed-sapphire for the legendary number of 50 Questions Galore they sent me:

Heads up though, you might notice there’s certain questions skipped. I’m either not able to answer some of the asks at all OR they’re either some art requests that I haven’t finished and will post in future posts. So I had to skip them for this post unfortunately…. I apologise as such. 😅

Anyways, let’s get speeding through them shall we?

1. How do you plan to show the songs?

It should be question 6 of this post here. :)

……

2. How many songs do you plan to have in RFTS?

4 or more. Depends on what I come up with.

……..

3. What ‘vibe’ would each song have?

Uhhhhhhh, idk tbh. I’m really just going with the flow of what this story brings me. You can’t wait to see what the RFTS!plot has in store? Yeah, me too.

……..

4. Who’s voicing Valentino and the main cast?

For Valentino, I’m not sure. I’m debating whether it should be younger Bambi or Ronno’s VA. But he basically has an actual kid’s voice this time rather than a deep-sounding one. (Because honestly, I found that a bit weird personally). For the the other characters, I don’t really mind the voices they have canonically.

And I think I’ve mentioned this before, but even though Sueño can’t speak, I could hear him singing this in this voice hypothetically.

………..

5. Write or draw any cute interaction between Ashueño!

Mk :3

………

6. I know Asha will have a different outfit by the end, but do you have different designs for anyone else?

Yeah, I do actually. Some characters have a different outfit to better reflect their current context. (Like how Sakina would have work clothes similar to Asha.) But I don’t want to reveal most of them at the moment since I would like to keep them a secret for now.

……

7. Some Gabo doodles, if you don’t mind. I rarely see the short king in any Wish Art.

Fiiiiine.

His design makes a lot more sense if you were me and you knew the context. Take this art with whatever theories you guys can throw at me 😂

……. 10. What made Amaya fall in love with Magnifico? What changed?

Amaya had a family who greatly discouraged her interest in studying magic and potions since it’s against what their family has done for generations. Meanwhile, Magnifico who was adopted as Rosas’ prince, is expected to learn magic but COULDN’T because he struggles to do so since he hasn’t moved on from his trauma.

When these guys were around 16-15 years old, they were mutual best friends. Mag offers Amaya to read from his magic books while he finds comfort in just having a genuine friend who doesn’t remind or push expectations onto him that he hears everyday in the castle. She’s like an escape from the stresses he has in there.

In their future years, Amaya grew to fall in love with someone who promised her the world if she only asked for it. She finds bits of herself in Mag, as both were people with crushed dreams that deserve better. (In their POV anyway.)

Falling in love was not at all what she expected since she used to believe sympathy would only hold her back from exploring the limits of magic. But you know, Amaya’s as much as a tragic character as Magnifico is.

…….

11. Who fell first and who fell harder between those two?

Is it possible to say that RFTS!Magnifico is both?

……..

12. Any fun fact about the Royal Couple? (You can tell who I’m most invested in. lol.)

The only reason Espino, the royal cat, is in the castle is because Amaya wanted him around. Otherwise, if it were up to Mag, that cat is out to the streets. He’s not very fond of animals and he considers them as pests. Though, Espino gets small bonus points from Magnifico just because he keeps the castle clear from mice which he especially hates.

(Good to know you’re enjoying ‘Grand Despair’ while it lasts :)

……

13. This may be weird but…Body Swap! How would Hopes and Dreams react?

Asha would have zero idea how to get star magic under control. Meanwhile, Sueño finds an interesting realisation.

……..

14. What’s your favourite fanart piece of your AU?

I LOVE all of them so much!! They’re all made by very amazing artists!! I’m so happy to see these silly characters I’ve made be brought to life in someone else’s style. 💖💖

Mere words can’t express this joy enough. I hope you all would love the final chapters once they do come out as much as you loved seeing content of them now. X3

……..

15. Are you telling your story via writing or art of word dump?

I’m planning to share it in chapters like how Anny and everyone else has been doing. Plus some more sketches I would keep making of them obviously.

………

17. Draw Ashueño dressed as another Disney couple!

Hehehehehe guess whooo~ 🙃

………

19. Young!Sueño!

Which one? 🙃

Awww, good times back then when the little guy is still figuring out the forms he likes….

…… 20. Young!Royal Couple!

Mini Magnifico would rather drown himself or drink snake venom than call Oliver his dad- ………

22. Give some more lore on Asha’s father. Are you keeping him as close to the source material as possible? Will we see him in flashbacks or something?

You’ll definitely get to see Tomás at certain points in the story. Either in the short prologue, mentions and flashbacks. He’s generally a friendly guy but at the same time, is also assertive to defend what he thinks is wrong. But even though his life was cut short, Tomás ended up inspiring more people than he thinks. Especially his old friend, Sabino, who hasn’t given another wish or attended any more wish ceremonies after his death.

I don’t think we really knew much about Asha’s father at all in the canon movie, but I’ll pretty much be close to what is depicted there already with some more detail on how he made an influence in the lives of those he loves.

………

23. Give Sueño a stuffed toy for him to cuddle with. He deserves it <3

He adores it so much 💖💖

……….

24. More lore about the Astral Realm!

Not all Wishing Stars have the strong desire to venture down into the human realm someday and that’s completely fine. They can still guide their wishmaker from above. But for those who do want to, they need to answer one important question first:

“Why do you grant wishes?”

Since they would be going down to earth by themselves ALONE with none of their elders to guide them this time, their answer to this question serves as their anchor in case they get lost or distracted. Answers do vary and some may be the same among stars, but that’s fine. As long as they’re sincere with all their core on their answer. Some examples may be: “I like to see them reach their very best and reap their deserved rewards.” Or “I like watching them journey and discover themselves.”

……….

25. SNEAK PEAKS!!

This scene is one of my dotpoints I came up with but I’m not so sure anymore if that would still fit in and whether I should scrap it. Regardless, I thought this would be a nice little thing to show you all. Proof that I’m indeed working on it 😅

(Actually, this sounds so cute to draw. Feel welcome to try and do so if you want to, my fellow artists ^^)

…… 26. How does Magnifico’s magic work?

I made a whole post on this :3

………

27. Where did Amaya learn potions?

She’s self-taught mostly. But I also did mention that Mag generously lets her borrow what is meant to be his books of magic soooo, he played a role on that as well.

……

29. What’s Amaya’s opinion on the other Wish AU Mags?

I’m not exactly sure how different her opinions would be on each of them since I think we all decided to have our fun with Magnifico just being a shameless show-off and fun evil villain. I’ll try though.

Amaya would think KOW!Mag reminds her a lot of her own husband, also short-tempered and a disgustingly sweet romantic at times. She’s kind of a play-hard-to-get girl though 😂. One thing she does notice is that what WRTS!, Wish Granted! And KOW!Mag have in common is how loud they are with their ceremonies. Is that a universal Magnifico thing? Eh. There sure is a lot of interesting knowledge to learn from these universes. Hmmm.

TKoRaT!Maggy has that same pained look that falls on RFTS!Mag whenever he’s sulking by himself and needs time alone. Usually it’s because of his old village trauma. It’s an intriguing but ever so familiar cycle she recognises well.

Meanwhile. TFS!Mag is……different, she would say. Not exactly good different. I kinda imagine her eyeing this guy like a cat. This Mag just gives off a very different vibe of non-ruthlessness(?) that she’s not used to.

……..

30. Same for Mag, but vice versa.

RFTS!Mag gets very very very familiar vibes with KOW! And Wish Granted!Amaya. He finds it slightly amusing since it feels like his wife just became a part of some triplets. (He jokingly asked RFTS!Amaya if she had any sisters she never told him. The woman wasn’t amused. She doesn’t really like being reminded of her family.) I’m sorry TKoRaT! And TFS!Amaya, but you’ve made the decision to adopt Asha as your daughter and so he thinks lower of you now. Although…the TKoRaT!couple might just get to redeem themselves for that since they sound interesting enough. They’re going to have the ditch the girl though at some point.

WRTS!Amaya just feels off. He doesn’t know what exactly though? Is he losing his mind or something? Ugh, I think he could use devouring another Wish Bubble just in case…

……..

31. You know what, for Asha and Sueño too!

Oh boy, here we go. 😂

Asha will NOT be able to handle Wish Granted!Star’s energy. It’s so different from the silent but still lively conversations she has with her Starboy. Star just can’t bring himself to stop talking, can he? 😅 Asha thinks WRTS!Aster and TKoRaT!Star are adorable. Cielo may be a bit much at times with his light teasing and flirting, but she’s aware he means well.

I could see Asha’s non-hesitant empathy, patience and genuine concern to Haedus would be a huge comfort for the poor guy. (Trust me, she’s done this plenty before.) She’s a bit surprised to see Naos and Nembus but I think they’d get along just fine. She’s pretty good with playing with kids from her experience with a mischievous Valentino. And lastly, KOW!Aster is a total sweetheart that she jokingly comments could rival Sueño’s. (That comment caught Sueño’s attention quickly lmao.)

MEANWHILE:

Sueño is more hesitant and unwilling at first to approach humans by his own accord. He’ll still keep a short distance buuuut… if they’re just another version of Asha, it can’t be that horrible, right?

KOW!Asha’s drawings are a familiar sight for him and he’s impressed that she could bring her own drawings to life. Same goes for WRTS!Asha with her magic wand. Maybe they’re friendly… Maybe they could both do that together :D He’s neutral with Wish Granted! And Aled’s Asha for now until he gets to know them better.

Sueño recognises that same shyness and timid nature in TKoRaT!Asha. (It’s weird how she does the same thing RFTS!Asha does of turning their head away and hiding behind their hair when he innocently just looks her way.)

And then there’s…….HER. TFS!Asha. Cielo talks about her a lot….😬. But you know, that girl scares him.

Unfortunately, Sueño is staying a relatively farther distance away from the last two Ashas I mentioned. Why? Idk, probably the fact that they’re the daughter of Mag and Amaya-

……….

32. *Gives Sueño an iPad with Duolingo on it* Here my child. Learn Spanish.

I have a feeling you did this so he could finally find out what his name, ‘Sueño’ translates into. Lol, nope. Not yet he’s not.

He still appreciates the gesture though, but the guy got distracted by the other cool features and apps this weird magical mirror-tablet thing(?) had and completely forgot all about the Owl app.

……

33. Will Asha ever attempt to learn Celestial? Maybe with a candle? Like Morse Code? Idk.

Idk. Speaking Celestial is really just stars exchanging screechy sound waves to each other telepathically like words, while their glowing sequences indicates the mood and tone of what they’re saying. Maybe if Asha comes to learn how to harness light magic on her own, she’ll be able to at least convey emotions such as happiness in it by controlling the brightness and duration of each flash.

…….

35. How are you planning out your story?

I usually think of what main message I’m trying to get across first and build the story around it. After some character and world-building stuff (that I keep adding to because procrastination), I put the key scenes I could think of in bullet-point format and then just think up some in-between scenes that could occur between those points.

Usually though, the most usual process is that a random concept/idea pops into my head and then I immediately type it down so I won’t forget it. It’s basically my thing now to organise the giant mess of reminders into comprehensive plot lines.

I’m not writing the story at this point. The story is choosing to expose itself to me XD

Another main thing I do is listen to my Spotify playlist of this AU, read the Wish Artbook, or rewatch a movie that has inspired the RFTS! plot in some way.

……..

36. Are there any kisses in your story?

Hmmmmm….. *glances at Ashueño and Amnifico*

Oh well, since you’ve asked me, I gueeeeess I’m unfortunately now going to have to remove all the kisses I had included since y’all are so desperate to know….. (/jk)

……..

38. Will the Royal Couple have villain transformations?

………..

39. What’s your take on the ‘eating wishes’ thing?

As I’ve mentioned in my last post on how the magic system works in the RFTS!AU, Magnifico eats wish essence to reverse the costly effects of using Curse Magic. To put it simply, he uses them to make him more mentally stable.

.,,,,,,,,

40. What Easter Eggs are you planning to put in your story?

Awwwww, where’s the fun in that? Find them yourselves >:)))

And who knows? Maybe certain fellow creators in the Wish Rewrite Fandom will make a reference in some of the chapters. Keep an eye out 😉

……..

42. What exactly does Asha’s job entail?

Being a king’s apprentice is a way to gain experience and learn how to use magic by the king himself, so you could use the attained knowledge as to however you want. Share the talent with Rosas or Go out into the world.

However, when Magnifico’s reign started, he forbade magic usage other than he and his wife with the claim that it’s for the greater good and safety for Rosas. (He kinda had a point since criminal activity and accidents did decrease in number after that rule.)

Since Mag doesn’t really need an apprentice, Asha is more of an assistant now, following in her dad’s footsteps before her. She’s tasked to do help with whatever Mag might need around his study such as keep the fire going or organise his papers. But Mag doesn’t really like having her around a lot, (since she asks a lot of questions about his wish-keeping system) so he purposefully tells her to go carry out outside tasks such as go into the garden and help the gardeners or something.

……..

43. Did Magnifico make Sueño’s bonds?

If I told you, would that make you more blood-thirsty enough to gather pitchforks and torches for his head? Because if you are, please don’t. I still need this guy to stir up conflict in my story :((

(You can have him all you want though once I’m done with him. Lmao.)

………

44. How was Rosas founded?

Nearly a century ago, the kingdom was first built. I’ve read in the Art book that Rosas was apparently named to reference ‘Beauty and the Beast.’

Like, ok….?

Anyways, I found that roses are meant to represent love, rebirth and beauty. So I decided to add more onto that than just have it as another reference. The kingdom’s founders wanted Rosas to be a place where people who are wary and feel outcasted by their homes can find and start a new beginning. To ‘Rebirth’ and have a second chance to find the ‘beauty and love’ in their lives again,

Blue and white were made the royal colours because the blue was meant to stand for trust and reliability and white for new beginnings. Symbolising the past kings and queens’ responsibility to have their talents in sorcery be used to serve the people who come here. Thus, Rosas’ citizens all are in a variety of different cultures.

……..

45. Over how many days does your story take?

I’m thinking within one month. It’s a race-against-time sort of thing where Asha needs to find out how to confront the Royal Couple before they do something horrible on Rosas’ celebration of its 100th anniversary, which is literally just a month away.

…….

46. What was your favourite part of Wish? Are you translating that to your AU?

I really really loved how Mag’s magic looked and how he went all evil-ish green as a tribute to past Disney villains. If we ignore the awkward transition he had from sympathetic to just plain psychotic, it’s a cool magic display. I kinda wished they went more full out on the final battle because it just felt so underwhelming asf.

I’m keeping the magical final battle but with more magical funsies. :D

…….

47. Least favourite part?

I’m frustrated how bland and empty the character interactions and emotional beats are since those kinds of moments are usually my favourite when it comes to movies.

Magnifico’s tragic loss of his village? “Pfft- What tragedy? We don’t need that in the movie’s 2nd half.”

Asha’s dead father? “Eh. We only needed him for a few mins and he’s non-existent from that point on.”

Valentino claims to be Asha’s helpful animal sidekick. “Did I mention I have a deep voice? Oh, and my butt’s a funny thing too. Did I already mention that my voice is loud and soooo deep??”

Simon’s betrayal? “Oh wow, that was a shock…. Anyways, wanna start a rebellion?”

OMG, Sakina’s wish is back!! “What was the wish about? Idk who cares.”

Asha’s friendship with Star doesn’t even feel that special to me?? GUYS, I felt more chemistry between Rapunzel and Pascal. COME ON, BUILD IT UP. DON’T JUST SAY ‘Awww, you and I are thinking the same thing~’ AND EXPECT ME TO BUY THAT.

……….

48. What’s your favourite aspect of the TFS!AU?

Idk why, but I like how there’s a unique twist in your AU on how Wishing Stars don’t have the best reputation to humans. It’s a nice subversion that makes it stand out a little more. :)) Because usually, the idea of wishing on stars is always seen as a positive thing but that’s not the case in this story. It’s intriguing to watch characters slowly realise that not everything is what it seems.

That, and the hilarious dynamic you’ve got going on between Cielo and Asha and how deep in denial they both are, even though it’s clear as day to the other TFS!cast. 😂

(Wouldn’t it be funny if TFS!Mag and Amaya also noticed? They may be going down a dark path but they’re not blind, girl.)

……..

50. What’s a boring fact about you?

Uhhhhhh…. I like organising stuff by colour for fun...? Like, I used to pour out a box of legos and sort through them as a kind of pastime. I still organise coloured pencils in rainbow order if I could too. 😅 ………

@annymation @uva124 @your-ne1ghbor @ficsinhistory @rascalentertainments @gracebethartacc @spectator-zee

It’s a long read, but I think you guys would enjoy going through it regardless. I hope so anyways.

Btw, thx for all the fun questions Bo! 💖 Might post some more regarding your other doodle requests that I’ve put to the side for now if you don’t mind. :))

[angel-of-the-moons]

Nothing Is Lost

Khonshu x Fem!Reader

Summary:

Thousands of years ago, you were his greatest treasure. Robbed away by a culprit never found.

Separated by life and death, you were destined never to see one another again.

He was doomed to walk an Earth without you, cloaked in silvery shadows as he dispensed justice, returning to guard your tomb like a hulking ghost, a slave to his grief with only his soft words spoken into the dank air of your resting place to provide a break in the painful monotony of his haunting.

He would always mourn you.

He would always love you.

The only mortal to ever make his cold heart beat.

TW/CW: Death, mentions of death, violence, pain, blood, injuries, murder, betrayal, exhaustion, depression, loneliness, mourning, some historical inaccuracies here and there (for plot, and I obsessively read about Egypt on my own but I am by no means an Egyptologist), implied/shown incestual marriages/relationships (c'mon guys it was Ancient Egypt, I'm not gonna pretend those canon events never happened), Some fudged canon MCU!Moon Knight mixed with a few elements from the comics (it's fanfiction, what do you expect?) NSFW, smut, eventual smut, pining, memories, reincarnation, pregnancy, mentions of pregnancy, some OOC Khonshu (depending on how you look at it)

MINORS DNI I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTENT YOU CONSUME

A/N:

This is something that came to me in a mix of a disassociation listening to this song (from which the story gets its name) and a plot facilitated by a Khonshu bot on c.ai (are you guys even surprised at this point?)

The main thought was, "Hey, what if Khonshu is an incorrigible douchebag because of some reason he hasn't disclosed? To anyone, for thousands of years? Why does he look so different from how reliefs depict him in scriptures and tombs? Does he secretly hurt inside and feels so much rage at failing in his duty to dispense justice on the one person he feels deserves it the most?" And this stemmed from all that.

Taglist: @drinkingwithkhonshu @astrosphereblog @themostegotisticalgirl124 @patchesofwork

🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑🌑

Chapter 1: Dust And Echoes

Chapter 2: Stressing My Mind (Mind)

Chapter 3: Knowhere

Chapter 4: Strange Places, Old Faces

Chapter 5: Pomegranates

Chapter 6: Trust Issues

Chapter 7: Modus Operandi

Chapter 8: River's Flow

Chapter 9: The Book Of The Dead

Characters:

Chapter 10: Guilt

Chapter 11: Styx and Stones

Merit (Animated by Me)

Merit (Picrew)

Human Khonshu (My Artwork)

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

reading update: March 2024

March was so !!!!!! so fucking long, but that means that I got to read a lot of books - more than I did in January or February. they're pretty all over the place in terms of quality, but I think they're also all going to be pretty memorable in one way or another. shall we discuss?

what have I been reading?

The Ballad of Perilous Graves (Alex Jennings, 2022) - I bought this novel at Crescent City Books in New Orleans last June, then tucked it away to wait for exactly the right moment. and I'm so glad I did, because it was a gorgeous little flash of NOLA in the middle of a gray midwestern winter funk. this novel is so, SO steeped in celebrating the art, history, and culture of New Orleans, creating a version of the city filled with talking animals, living songs, and moving graffiti that hardly even feels that different than the real New Orleans. and in this book, Nola is distinct from New Orleans; there's some interesting multiverse stuff going on in the city that might be really interesting to my fellow fans of Dimension 20's Unsleeping City and N.K. Jemisin's City We Became. not every part of the book totally worked for me: the parts of the books following the kids - the titular Perilous "Perry" Graves and company - are definitely the strongest, and the actual details of how the plot got resolved got a little muddled for me before the surprisingly abrupt end. but! it must be said that the vibes are immaculate, and vibes will get you really far with me. I want to see a thousand more stories set in this world.

Thank You For Sharing (Rachel Runya Katz, 2023) - with god as my witness this was one of the most boring romance novels I've ever read, and that's saying something considering I literally just read Red String Theory. what I really adore are romances that take place at around an 11 on a scale of 1-10, under circumstances where absolutely no normal person should even be able to contemplate fucking but our protagonists power through because they're horny to a degree that renders them clinically unwell. this book was hovering somewhere around a 2; it's literally just two adults having jobs and hanging out in pretty mundane circumstances. the only thing that really strains my belief is that an otherwise well-adjusted woman is still upset about something that happened at summer camp over a decade ago, but I guess if she wasn't mad about something then the protagonists wouldn't be able to have a conversation about their feelings to show off how good they are at therapy speak.

Africa Is Not a Country: Notes on a Bright Continent (Dipo Faloyin, 2022) - genuinely one of the most excellent pieces of nonfiction that I've read in a hot minute. Faloyin's book consists of interconnected essays that just dazzlingly brilliant, in turns solemn, sardonic, and sly, always ready to offer the audience a little wink as it subverts expectations. Faloyin walks the reader through the history of several African countries, from colonial looting to rocky political regimes to the common tropes that plague modern media with depictions of Africa as universally backwards, impoverished, and struggling. I really felt like I was *learning* while I was reading this book and learning the specifics of so many places that are often portrayed as interchangeable in American media. I really sincerely can't recommend this enough, it's an excellent read.

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon (Kimberly Lemming, 2024) - I can't in good conscience say that I enjoyed this book, but it is kind of a great read if you enjoy updating your housemates on the latest bullshit in your horny fantasy romance. Lemming's in a weird middle ground where she's putting a lot of effort into the backstory of the world that justifies our protagonist (who's named CINNAMON HOTPEPPER!!!!) meeting and hooking up with a demon (who's also a dragon, because all monsters are just a subspecies of demon. I'm not crazy about that but the worst part by far is definitely that his dragon form has hair) but also stops giving a shit about it the second it's not necessary. like (spoilers) but all of the human characters are REALLY chill about finding out that the goddess they've been worshipping for CENTURIES is actually an evil lich? and there's another human character who pretty casually watches the city where she's spent her entire life get razed to the ground by monsters with absolutely zero remorse, which is genuinely bananas. also this book misses SOOOO many opportunities to be really nasty horny because it's so focused on hyping up Cinnamon and Fallon's all-consuming five day spiral into unhinged magical demon marriage. even the "light bondage" promised in the content warning was disappointing; the emphasis was definitely more on the "light" than the "bondage." what does a bitch have to do to find a decent monsterfucker book. for the love of god please.

It Came From the Closet: Queer Reflections on Horror (ed. Joe Vallese, 2022) - I've heard a lot of hype about this book, an anthology of queer writers musing about the queerness that draws them to the horror genre. I was expecting the essays to be of an analytical nature, but it turns out they're much more personal. that's not necessarily a bad thing, but some of these essays ended up falling SUPER flat for me, with weak analogies that felt like the result of authors remembering at the last second that they were supposed to be relating their life to a horror movie somehow. which isn't to say that there weren't high points as well, but overall the collection was low lows and medium highs for me.

Sex Criminals Volume One: One Weird Trick (Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky, 2014) - I'm trying so hard to remember to read comics that aren't 30 year old Batman stories, and my friend Emily lent this to me months ago when I helped them move, so it seemed like high time to get around to checking out Sex Criminals. the premise is fun! what if time stopped when you had an orgasm? then what if you met someone else with the same ability and the two of you could have sex and run around in a time-stopped world together? and then what if you robbed banks? and I'm a huge fan of that. the writing isn't the most gripping thing in the world, and now that it's a decade old I find that it feels very emblematic of the kind of aggressively offbeat, Whedon-ish writing style that felt like it was really unavoidable in the 2010s, which I can't say has aged MAGNIFICENTLY for me. but I'm willing to read more, see where this series goes, and give it the chance to really win me over. stay tuned for Volume Two!

Rental Person Who Does Nothing (Shoji Morimoto, trans. Don Knotting 2023) - I can't decide if I want to sit Morimoto down for dinner to pick his brain or just skip the niceties and put his brain in a jar to study it, but either way this guy definitely has something fascinating going on. tl;dr: in this memoir Morimoto recounts his experiences using Twitter to let other people hire him out as a person who will do nothing. "doing nothing" covers all kinds of things: accompanying people to eat a meal that they felt too self-conscious to eat alone, keeping someone company so they don't get distracted while they should be working, or waving goodbye to a stranger at a train station. he's not paid for this, either, or at least doesn't charge a fixed rate; all the Morimoto asks for is the price of his train ticket to meet clients, who sometimes buy him extra gifts as a thank you. there are so many FASCINATING ideas presented in this book about work and value and interpersonal connection, and yet the book clocks in at under 200 pages. Morimoto isn't here to tell you how to feel about anything he's done, only to present some experiences and let you unravel the meaning for yourself. and I guess that's sort of brilliant. throughout the memoir he's adamant that Rental Person doesn't offer advice or tell anyone what to do, offering only basic responses when prompted. telling someone else what to think or attempting to offer up any wisdom gleaned from his rental work would count as doing something, wouldn't it? I really recommend checking it out for yourself and deciding what you think, especially if you're in a slump seeking something quick, engaging, and easy to read.

[ywpd-translations]

Ride 745: At the window seat

Pag 1

1: The last

2 / 3: 200m!!

Pag 2

1: 150m!!

2: Sugimoto is still ahead!! Danchiku is behind!!

6: There are

Pag 3

1: 100m left!!

Pag 4

1: Issa.... are you watching, Issa

2: I've always been timid

3: I always pushed your back with all my strength

4: And then watched you being all frolic

5: I was satisfied

Hahaha!

Piece of cake!

Pag 5

1: When I was little, during school trips, on the bus

2: I won the window sit

I got it!!

3: I enjoyed looking at how the scenery changed outside the window

Oh, there are cows!!

4: The window seat is super nice!

But I was pushed by my friend

Neh, Danchiku, let's swap seats! Come on, Danchiku

6: Okay

Thanks!!

I gave up my seat

7: In the end

Amazing! What's that tower?

8: our seats stayed like the whole time

9: People also often cut the line in front of me

Sorry, Danchiku!

No, but the line....

Ah, you're so nice, Danchiku, so nice!!

Pag 6

1: After that, the girls scolded me, too

You're too nice, Danchiku!

Yes, yes

Well....

At times like that, you need to flat-out reject them!

Yeah, you're a guy after all

Yeah... you're right... indeed....

2: It bothers us, you know

Is it... my fault...?

3: Is it me....

4: I also yielded with bicycles

Move, slowpoke!!

5: “Move”.....

Ye... yes

Pag 7

1: If you don't want to win, then don't run in races!!

3: Riding was fun, so I started running with bikes, but

4: Indeed....

Want to win.... huh

5: I'm nervous....

I was even late for the start the other day

And I couldn't move forward.....

6: I guess I'll cancel my entry on the next race, then....

I thought I should stop

Pag 8

1: Oi, you

2: At that time....

Ah- ah

My bad....

3: I was thinking while walking... and since the street is narrow

You want me to give way!?

4: Even though I was just walking on the side of the road

5: No

6: You don't have to give up anything

Pag 9

1: Huh

2: You said “my bad”, but you're not at fault

3: I heard there's a guy who goes to the same school as me and who ride bicycles

A guy who runs seriously and practices properly!!

4: I'm looking for that guy

Looking for....

5: He called out to me so self-importantly

Pag 10

1: That guy was Kaburagi Issa!!

Team up with me, and let's become the best in Japan!!

2: The strongest local club team here is called “Team SS”

First, let's join it and train!!

Pag 11

1: That guy was saying things that made no sense, but he had said the two things I wanted to hear the most at that time

2: “You don't have to give up anything”....

“You're not at fault”......

3: So, too suddenly and without really understanding, I said yes

Huh.... yes

Alright, it's decided

4: Danchiku!? It's an unusual name, and that's important!!

It's important?

'cause it sounds kinda cool!!

Huh

5: I still think it wasn't a mistake

What a weird guy....

6: Because Issa never stole my window seat

7: And didn't cut the line in front of me

Waa Danchiku, I'm so behind you!

Haha

Lucky you, dammit

Pag 12

1: And with an overwhelming accuracy, he gave me instructions to move forward!!

Here, Danchiku, move forward!!

Yeah!!

Pag 13

1: It's SS!!

Kaburagi from SS is jumping forward!!

Danchiku is pulling him, that's bad!!

2: Let's win this race!!

Yeah!!

5: That's why I always dreamed of making you “frolic”

Hahaha

6: I pulled you, and you took the finish line

7: That was enough for me

Pag 14

1: But then, after he joined Sohoku, Issa started to say those things

2: Now!! You're next!! Get stronger!!

3: I had no confidence

….. yeah

I wasn't selected for the Inter High during our first year

4: And even when I was chosen for the “Minegayama” race during fall

5: Don't worry, you can win

6: Even though Issa cheered for me, I doubted myself

Yeah

7: Practiced hard, I ran on Minegayama, and somehow I won

Pag 15

1: But right after that, my condition got bad

3: As expected..... right....

Alone, I convinced myself I didn't have what it takes

4: I didn't rely on my heart

It was probably small enough to fit in the palm of my hand

5: I read so many books, trying to make it bigger

Pag 16

1: You can do it, don't worry, you have me with you

I can't wait for the Inter High...!!

You're making so many grains of rice fly around

2: Hahaha

3: When the training camp started, Touji-san gave me a new bike

4: And I became your buddy

5: There's something I noticed

Let's make a special technique

You can do it now!!

7: Ah....

Pag 17

1: I remember something I read in a book

2: “Four things necessary for a person who wants to build up self-confidence”

3: “Find the amazing within you”

“Praise yourself for it”

“Don't deny it”

“Keep polishing it”

4: These are ideals... there's no way anyone can do it

6: I want to meet someone like that, bring them to me...

I thought so, and so that time I put down the book

7: But

Pag 18

1: He was there, right in front of my eyes!!

Pag 19

1: It's been right in front of my eyes the whole time!!

2: The guy who finds the “amazing” in himself, who praises himself for it, and never denies it!!

3: I realized I've been with him for many years!!

4: So I feel like I'm starting to see the process to gain confidence in myself, Issa!!

Pag 20

1: Please look at me, Issa

I'll go to the Inter High!!

2: To prove that my heart is getting bigger, little by little

3: And to make you, who believed in me, even more frolic!!

5: Danchiku is shouting!!

6: He accelerated again!!

7: I'll become much stronger!!

Pag 21

1: Garuaaa!!

2: 50m left!!

They're neck and neck!!

(Thank you @monkeyingaround for beta-ing this chapter!! <33)

[ride-thedragon]

MAKING A CASE FOR GREGORY TO BE EVERYONE'S FAVOURITE BRIDGERTON.

(Jk, this is just an excuse, like who you want)

Is he my favourite?

Yes.

Why?

Well......

1. He wants love.

From the start of the book, we are made aware that he has nothing going on and genuinely wants to find love like his siblings.

2. Friends over food.

The way he meets Lucy is him falling in love with Hermonie Watson(👀) and asking Lucy to dance. She pities him enough to carry him to eat because he showed up late and had to go mingle. Basically, they become acquaintances and friends once they decide to set up Gregory with Hermonie.

3. Bro is in love with Kate.

One of the funnier themes in the book is that he goes from saying something he loves about Kate and then compares it to something Lucy does.

4. Alcohol.

He keeps stealing and drinking Anthony's alcohol.

5. Fist fights.

He fights Lucy's brother, Richard, after compromising Hermonie (deserved, earned).

6. The first time they kiss.

I kid you not, I was in shock, tears almost and the energy after this moment never changes. Like genuinely at any point they would've been wed to each other had one person saw them but what makes if crazier is that the only reason it stopped was because Lucy was engaged and she remembered before it escalated

7. Making it everyone's problem.

After he realises he loves her, he makes it everyone's problem. From comparing her to Francesca to embarrassing Violet publicly , even roping Hyacinth in on hijinks, his story is a family event.

8. The Second time they kiss.

Hyacinth is in the other room, they are in Daphne's home and he has orchestrated a plan to propose to her in a closet.

9. They sleep with each other.

To the TSPWL and WHWW girls, step aside for a moment. Gregory breaks into his unofficial fiancé's home in the dead of night, goes to her room, and is eventually seduced by her. They proceed to sleep together, THE DAY BEFORE HER WEDDING TO ANOTHER MAN. They do so three times holding each other, then sleeping together and so on. She's doing it under false pretences because she isn't going to marry him atp.

10. A love like Violet and Edmund's.

They break the Bridgerton record for most kids. At the time of the epilogue, they have 7 kids and are expecting the 8th, they have twins and end up with 9. It's to the point where the pregnancy impacts Lucy and Gregory let's us know that the amount of kids they have is genuinely due to their lack of restraint.

11. They name their kids after their siblings.

Lucy actually gets to name one after her best friend, but there is a little Daphne and Anthony running around. Also a Kate.

12. Guns.

There is a gun stand off.

13. Kidnapping.

Gregory breaks the law, again.

14. Gay.

Lucy is pinning over Hermione during the first half, her fiance is gay, the uncle never marries......

15. 9 CHILDREN.

I don't want to understate the fact that they have 9 kids in less than 20 years. It was never that serious. She is 33 when they have their last kid. He's 39. They met at 18 and 24 respectively. 9 kids in 15 years.

16. LUCY MY LOVE

Me 🫂 Gregory.

She's darling. Throughout the narrative, it's just her making sacrifices for everyone she loves. For her brother, her best friend, even Gregory, it's consistantly her trying.

17. Blue Mushroom.

Please read the book because Drunk Greg>>>

18. Last one.

My baby boy is a horrible shot.

Let me end it on a mood board for my faves.

We do be on the way to a wedding. It certainly was a journey

[lady-megans-blog]

This post is work in progress!!!

It’s time to consolidate all tasks and put them as reference to each post! That’s the plan! Some of you told me and I see others do it too. So first I will just list all tasks, but please be patient, references are coming so you can go to whatever task you want to see or do today. Remember, as long as you are comfortable and safe, you can do a lot even in limited circumstances, like being fully or partially closeted. Enjoy 😊

Task 1

Task 5

Use nighty https://www.tumblr.com/lady-megans-blog/716775555366862848/task-5

Task 6

Shop with a women https://www.tumblr.com/lady-megans-blog/716956197002084352/task-6

Task 7

Befriend a women https://www.tumblr.com/lady-megans-blog/717156582638665728/task-7

Task 8

Walk your heels https://www.tumblr.com/lady-megans-blog/717309278226186240/task-8

Task 9

Workout in women’s outfit https://www.tumblr.com/lady-megans-blog/717411661601996800/task-9

Task 10

Blend girly in every day https://www.tumblr.com/lady-megans-blog/717837673496264704/task-10

Task 11

Wear jewelry https://www.tumblr.com/lady-megans-blog/718575731171622912/task-11

Task 12

A day at home for her https://www.tumblr.com/lady-megans-blog/719065508577673216/task-12

Task 13

Start blog https://www.tumblr.com/lady-megans-blog/719220104170225664/task-13

Task 14

Make friends https://www.tumblr.com/lady-megans-blog/719654937706004480/task-14

Task 15

Buy girly magazine and read it https://www.tumblr.com/lady-megans-blog/719851105483423744/task-15

Task 16

Watch a nice movie https://www.tumblr.com/lady-megans-blog/719951285679439872/task-16

Task 17

Full makeover

Task18

Expose a little

Task19

Cage and other accessories: deeper in a rabbit hole

Task 20

Sing

Task 23

Make selfie

Task 24

Find a group in your area

Task 25

Shop in a store

Task 26 Make a small talks to guys you like

Task 27

Edge, goon, no cum

Task 28

Learn some dance moves, twerking, funk

Task 29

Crossdress into men’s, feel the difference!

Task 30

Always be playful and gay when you can

Task 31

Choose your role model

[theinquisitxor]

Mid-Year Book Freak-out Tag 2024

Another year, another Mid-Year Book Freak-out Tag! I believe this set of questions originated on booktube, but I see it circulate around all social media. I usually do this set of questions every year. Feel free to copy/paste the questions if you're interested!

I try to only answer 1 book per question (but sometimes I can't decide) and I try to only talk about a book once throughout the set of questions too, so I'm not too repetitive, but it doesn't always happen!

1.Best Book so far in 2024: I'm going to have to say Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer. I read this on audio back in January, and it's stuck with me since. I bought a physical copy and have been reading & marking up the book over the past few weeks. I'm not a religious person, but this book could be my bible lol.

A close runner up is North Woods by Daniel Mason, and the Beartown series by Fredrik Backman.

2.Best Sequel you've read so far in 2024: Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett. This series is just so fun and exactly the type of book I like to read.

3.New Release you haven't read yet, but want to: Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel. I really enjoyed her debut, Kaikeyi and she's an author on my radar now. I'm also interested in Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland.

4.Anticipated Release for the second half of the year: The new T.Kingfisher book, A Sorceress Come to Call in August, as well as A Dark and Drowning Tide by Alison Saft later in the fall.

5.Biggest Disappointment: The Atlas Complex, the third and final book to the Altas series by Olivie Blake. This was a big disappointment and let-down :(

I also found Song of the Huntress and A Winter's Promise to be disappointments this year. Both were books I was anticipating liking a lot, but was let down.

6.Biggest Surprise: The Throne of the Five Winds / Hostage of Empire trilogy by SC Emmett. This became a new favorite fantasy series, and I went into the first book without much of an expectation, but was surprised by how much I liked it.

7.Favorite New Author: I did not read many new (new to me, or debut) authors this year so far, but I did enjoy reading the Greenhollow Duology by Emily Tesh. So I would say Emily Tesh is a new favorite.

8.Newest Fictional Crush: usually I struggle with this question, but this year was easy 😂. It's easily Zakkar Kai from The Throne of the Five Winds without no doubt. Takshin from the same series is also a contender!

9.Newest Favorite Character: Komor Yala from The Throne of the Five Winds, she was such a great main character, and had such a quiet strength and intelligence that made her an instant favorite.

10.Book that made you cry: The Wall by Marlen Haushofer had me crying by the last page. I might not make everyone cry, but it certainly made me emotional.

11.Book that made you happy: A Fragile Enchantment by Alison Saft was one of the first books I read this year, but it was so delightful and had me smiling throughout. I read it in a day and couldn't put it down.

12.Most Beautiful Book you've bought/acquired this year: The Language of Trees: A Rewilding of Literature and Landscape by Katie Holton is such an artistic and unique book.

13.Book you need to read by the end of the year: I've been meaning to do a re-read of the Pellinor series by Alison Croggon for a few years now, maybe I'll get to it this year

[cafeinthemoon]

Ruins - Part XVII

Chapter 17

Wordcount 3,6k

Title Part XVII

Fandom Shuumatsu no Valkyrie / Record of Ragnarok

Pairing Hades x reader

Previous chapters

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8 . 9 . 10 . 11 . 12 . 13 . 14 . 15 . 16

Symbols ⭕ . ➕ . 💛

Warnings: none

Tagging @holdyourwine @lilacshouko @shirayuki-ayumi (If you want to be tagged in any of my stories, just leave a comment on this chapter or send an ask or a message)

N. A.: So the new chapter is finally out, and with a GIF that I've waited so long to use! I'm so happy! I was insecure about how this chapter would be, since we have some news in it - an important conversation between reader and the former human Heracles and a beautiful surprise to her by the end of it - but everything ended up well. I was afraid of not being able to depict this conversation with the depth and the sensibility it deserves, but I realized that, sometimes, the less is more.

So I hope you enjoy this chapter, and my apologies for "abandoning" this ff for all these weeks XD

An entire week has passed since Hermes’ departure, and during it, you’ve been so busy that the most important matters concerning your future were almost solved. But that didn’t mean you were free from anxiety – and, considering the reasons for it now, you couldn’t expect anything less.

You were sitting in silence in one of the Gardens’ bench, staring at a letter opened on your lap. You’ve received a message from Hermes, delivered by the hands of an elf that morning, in which he told you about his encounter with your family and that he was now returning to Valhalla in their company; if they traveled as fast as yourself when you were sent there, they should arrive by the afternoon.

Yes, of course you were happy with the perspective of seeing your relatives again: as much as you loved staying in the sacred lands, you missed them more than you could tell; on the other hand, their presence meant that the things you were trying not to think about would no longer be avoided.

The fact was that you wouldn’t just leave humanity behind: you were also going to leave the entire world you knew to build a life that was inconceivable for anyone of your kind, in a different plane of existence, and then stay like this forever. Yes, all those ages would be shared with the man you loved, and you were willing to see your love growing stronger as they passed, but welcoming this bless would mean saying goodbye to others – saying goodbye to your family and human friends.

You looked down at the letter and sighed.

Will I be able to make this sacrifice? Will I be able to leave them when the time comes?

***

The thoughts of the morning got you distracted for hours, but if you thought you would get rid of them during your study session, you were entirely deceived.

You were quieter than usual, not asking the same lot of questions, except when you couldn’t avoid it; your answers were short as well, sometimes monosyllabic ones. If Hades found that strange, he chose to wait before pointing it out.

There was a moment when you only noticed how long you’ve been staring at the window when his voice brought you back.

– There’s something occupying your thoughts this morning – he observed – Do you want to talk about it?

When you turned back to him, you noticed he just closed the book in front of him, keeping a hand upon its cover. At first, you considered denying it, but since you knew the issue wouldn’t disappear, you just decided to share it at once. You turned to a pile of three or four books at your right and took one of them from the middle of it, opened it and grabbed Hermes’ message. You handed it to Hades, who passed his eyes over the text and immediately recognized his nephew’s calligraphy.

He read the letter in a minute and finished it with a content smile.

– So, they will be here in a few hours, my y/n – he folded the sheet and gave it back to you – Isn’t it a reason to cheer at?

You took the paper and put it back inside the book with a sigh.

– It would be if the circumstances were different.

Hades’ smile faded a bit with those words.

– I don’t understand. What’s going on?

You breathed deep and leaned your arms upon the table, your hands holding each other.

– In the beginning, I could just cheer at the idea of meeting my family here, that’s true. They will love all of this! – you smiled briefly – But now that the time is coming, I can’t stop thinking of what it will mean for them… and for me. You know, after this… I mean, after our marriage and honeymoon and the rest, I will have to leave them.

A few seconds of tense silence passed before you could continue. When you did, your voice was almost a whisper.

– In a few days, I will no longer be one of them. And, after some time, I will still be here, but they will...

You swallowed. You found yourself unable to finish the sentence.

Hades’ response was to organize all the books you had on the table, as if the day’s lesson was over. He then stood up and went to your side, offering his hand.

– Can you come with me for a moment?

You stood up and put your hand on his palm, in doubt.

– Where are we going?

– To meet someone with whom you can talk about this – was his reply – You see, I cannot help you this time, but he can.

***

When you arrived at the Gardens of Women, most of the girls were having their own lessons with their masters. Many of them glanced at you, and some even greeted you with their hands, while the gods nodded respectfully at Hades.

You took a path that led to one of the hills were apple trees were abundant. On the top of one of the first trees, you spotted a cheerful group of students surrounding a tall, young man with red hair and a large smile. Right now, he was lifting one of his students by his arm, and the other girls were laughing out loud. You remembered him from the party: that was the hero who protected Thebes from the divine wrath by drinking ambrosia and challenging the god of war – Heracles, received in Heaven as a son of Zeus himself.

It didn’t take long for you to understand why Hades brought you to him.

He was once a human like me. Since he’s the only one in this condition here now, he’s the most appropriate person to talk about these matters.

All the girls turned to you and fell silent when you approached, but their master walked down the hill with a smile on his face, meeting you in the middle of the way. Once you were on each other’s reach, he offered a strong hand to the King of the Underworld, and this latter answered the greeting with equal enthusiasm.

– Hades-sama! We didn’t have much time to talk since the party – Heracles put his free hand over the handshaking – How are you doing?

– Busy, as always – Hades laughed, having fun with the informal manners of the younger god; and, glancing at his students, – But I can see you’ve been in the same situation.

Heracles followed his gaze with a proud smile.

– You can say that! – he turned back and finally seemed to notice you – So, what brings you here? Specially in such an enchanting company!

You felt your cheeks getting warm as Hades caressed your hair.

– This is y/n s/n, from Midgard – he smiled with his eyes glued on you – She’s my future wife. You probably remember her from the party.

Heracles confirmed it. A slight change in his manners were sensed when he found out he had a future pair before him. He put his hands on his waist.

– Of course I remember her. There was a small misunderstanding in the beginning, but when she came back, she seemed to finally have fun – and, to you, – It makes me happy to see that everything was solved in the end, y/n-san.

Something in the hero’s tone awakened warm feelings of safeness and justice in your heart, so that the only possible reaction for it was opening your best smile and express the deepest gratitude for each of those words.

– Yes, things ended up in the best way for each of us! – you nodded in respect – Thank you for your gentleness, Heracles-sama.

Before Heracles replied, you heard Hades laughing by your side. You frowned.

– What happened, Hades-sama?

– Nothing – he put his hand on the top of your head – It’s just that you should know that his gentleness towards you has first appeared at the party’s night, and I just realized I haven’t told you this story – he glanced at the other man – The thing is that, after you gave me back the hairpin and left the ball room, Heracles almost got into a fight with Adamas, because my brother saw your reaction as extremely offensive, while he believed we couldn’t make any decision without knowing the reasons behind it. I’ve decided to leave this story behind, since everything ended up well, but now that we three are gathered here, I just couldn’t help it.

You looked at Heracles and saw his face taken over by a violent, red shade, something that brought a smile to your lips: seeing such embarrassed expression in a man like him, who was more of a soldier than anything, was unimaginable until you witnessed it. And you thought it was even cute.

– What I did wasn’t but my duty, Hades-sama. Justice must exist for all of us – he tried to justify himself, still blushing; and, looking into your eyes, – I know how it feels to have all fingers pointed at you, while no one to give you the benefit of the doubt.

Even though you just met him, you knew that was true. After all, Heracles himself was one of you.

– I can only agree with you, Heracles – Hades still had that cheerful smile on his lips – But that fight between you would’ve lasted longer than the party itself, and that’s why I told you both to shut up and just brought my y/n back to the party.

That was your time to get embarrassed.

– You… did this, my Lord?

– I did – was his calm reply; he turned to the other god – So, I don’t want to take more of your time, so let me tell you the reason for our visit. Y/n is about to become my wife and the Queen of Hellheim. Because of this, she will have to pass through Psyche’s ritual, which will take place in the same day of our wedding – he caressed your face, remembering the conversation you had at the Library – However, she has some questions concerning the transformation and her future as a goddess that I’m not able to answer. Given you are the only god who has passed through this metamorphosis here at the moment, I thought of asking for your help in this sense, Heracles.

The face of the Greek hero brightened up with the request.

– Of course you can count on me for this, Hades-sama – he promptly replied; and, turning to you, – Y/n, you’re very welcome among my students. Let’s spend this day together, just for you to become familiarized with us, then we can talk with ease.

You soon agreed with the proposal, and it was established that Hades would take you back before the evening.

He said farewell to you with a kiss on your forehead.

– Don’t hesitate to come and tell me if you receive any news from Hermes-sama – you requested.

– Of course, little one. Though I don’t think he will send anything now – he gave you a second kiss – Take care.

You spent a moment observing as Hades walked away through the same path that led you there, only turning away when Heracles invited you to join the other girls.

***

That day in the company of Heracles and his disciples were one of the happiest you’ve lived while you were in Valhalla, though it was way different from what you got used to by Hades’ side: instead of contemplative silences, books and intimate conversations, you had physical challenges, games and cheerful, loud talking, just like you used to have with your sisters in Midgard. You had mixed feelings about that routine, however: there were some days when you would think it was too much, but in other days you would say it was all you needed; sometimes, spending time with people who were so different from yourself, doing distinct activities, was a healthy way to take a rest from being you. In the end, you were tired, but feeling like you were a new person.

And that was precisely the mood you needed to be in for the conversation you were going to have.

All the girls just went back to the lodge, while you stood behind with Heracles, given you should wait until Hades came back to take you. You sat by a bench under a tree and observed the daylight fading as the conversation followed. It wasn’t as long as you imagined it would be, but it was certainly a conversation which you would never forget.

– You say your biggest fear is not the transformation itself, neither it is leaving Midgard – Heracles was saying – That’s impressive, because I feared them more than I like to admit. In my case, the metamorphosis was so painful that I thought I was going to die. But it couldn’t compare to the pain of leaving the people and the land I loved behind to live among the very beings who were wiling to destroy them. It was a real test of patience for Zeus-sama and the others as well.

You smiled.

– Because I was raised in a port city, with people coming and going everyday and things never being the same, I was always enchanted by the idea of leaving my place behind in order to meet new ones, so leaving Midgard is not really a problem for me – you sighed – The problem… is something else.

– Really? And what is it?

You took seconds in silence before replying. Having talked about this with Hades didn’t make it easier to verbalize what you felt now.

– It is to face the fact that, as a goddess, if I left my new house in the next year to pay a visit to my family and all the humans I love, little would be the changes that I’d find. But, if I did this after one, two, three hundred years, I’d still be alive, but they…

You shrugged.

– I see – Heracles whispered.

– I’m not ready to say this kind of goodbye – you turned to him – Heracles-sama… How did you deal with this?

Just like expected, the god spent a moment in silence before letting you know his feelings towards it. This gave you a new perspective on his moral code that deepened the respect you’ve already had for him: the passage of time didn’t soothe his emotions, as if that very part of him was never touched by the powers of the ambrosia, remaining human instead. Should you expect the same to happen in your case?

– I may describe to you my own experience in this sense, y/n-san, but I’m not sure of how much it would help you – he started – Because, you see, this is not a question of only one answer. One’s case is not the same as their pair’s. To me, treasuring the time I’ve spent in the company of the people I loved instead of mourning the days I wouldn’t have them by my side was what gave me the strength I needed to keep going. Despite knowing I would have all the time in the world, I refused to let my mind live in the future and forget what was still in front of me. Of course, it’d hurt when they would finally leave, but I didn’t care if I’d have to carry this pain with me forever – he turned to you with a bright smile – It’d only mean that I didn’t lose what’s most valuable in myself: my love for them!

You nodded.

– That’s an incredible perspective, my Lord. And a beautiful one, too.

He laughed.

– Yes, I know. And, besides, it has been my support while I’ve worked through the ages, when I’ve met countless people who were in need of justice. I’d never succeed in this if it wasn’t for the feelings I hold for my friends of Thebes, with whom everything started.

The colors of the sky were now more vivid, as the daylight diminished, descending at the horizon, and the air got colder. You looked at the path through where you’ve reached the top of the hill and spotted the tall silhouette of Hades walking up toward you. You immediately stood up.

– Hades-sama is back! – and, turning to Heracles, who just stood up too, – I must join him in my way back to the lodge. I still have work to do today. I have to look presentable to receive my family in the next moments.

Heracles’ eyes brightened up with the news.

– Your family is arriving at the sacred lands? This is really amazing!

– Yes! – you cheerfully agreed – Hermes-sama traveled to Midgard to bring them to our wedding.

A few seconds of silence passed, and your smile faded a bit.

– I think this fear will never go away until it becomes reality – you commented – But talking about this with you was clarifying. Thank you for our conversation, Heracles-sama.

He put his large hands over your shoulders.

– And thank you for your time with us, y/n-san.

You were finishing your farewell when Hades reached you with a playful smile on his lips. He stopped by your side and passed his hand on your hair.

– It seems that you’ve really got along – he commented – I’m happy to see that.

– Indeed, y/n-san is an excellent company – Heracles replied with enthusiasm – My students appreciated the time they’ve spent together, and I share their feelings.

– Let me say that I feel the same about you all, Heracles-sama – you gave him a shy smile.

Hades explained that he wanted to go with you to the lodge, then take you to a walk at the Gardens. You agreed, and you both said farewell to Heracles, who would stay for a while at the outside.

– Thank you for everything, Heracles-sama – you inclined your head to him in respect.

– Thank you for staying with y/n, Heracles – Hades passed his arm over your shoulder.

Heracles replied that you didn’t need to thank him and that it was a pleasure to help, and you started your walk back to the lodge.

***

While walked down the hill, a conversation took place.

– You seem to be in a lighter mood now, little one – Hades was saying – Bringing you to stay with Heracles’ girls was indeed a good idea.

You laughed.

– I agree, though it left me tired like I haven’t been in a long time – you grabbed your own clothes and smelled them – Tired and sweaty.

He shrugged.

– Honestly, if you spent your entire day with this young man as your temporary master and didn’t end up with a least a drop of sweat on your skin, it would have been a mistake.

You ended up agreeing with him.

Little after that, you complained that your feet were hurting. Hades’s response was to stop and take you in his arms.

– Hey! – you let out a little scream – I’m not in conditions of being carried right now. Don’t you mind that I’m in need of a good bath?

– I would say that you just need a regular bath, little one – he joked – You would need a good one if you’ve spent fighting legendary creatures.

– You’re exaggerating! – you laughed.

– No, I’m not – he laughed too – And if you complain once more, I’ll give you a bath myself!

Your face heated up with the suggestion, and you hid your face on his chest. After a few minutes, you fell asleep, only waking up when Hades stopped at your room’s door.

– Are you going to take a walk at the Gardens? – he asked – Or do you prefer to stay here and take a rest?

You sighed.

– I’d like to stay indoors, but I know I won’t be able to rest if I do – and, lowering your tone, – I’m still anxious about their arrival.

– Well, if this is the case, a few minutes outside will do you good – he approached and kissed the top of your head – See you.

– See you.

***

It was a pleasing night you found on the outside, with a sky with no clouds and stars shinning vividly upon your heads, and you were glad you weren’t taken over by the physical tiredness.

– I thought of taking you to the lake, but maybe it’s too much for you tonight – Hades had your arm entwined with his while you walked.

– Yes, maybe it is – you replied, looking around – Still, it would be a waste to stay inside the room with such a beautiful night.

You stopped and sat on a bench after a few minutes.

– My only regret is not having brought a treat or at least something to drink – you were saying – I guess we’re going to be forced to walk to the lake anyway!

Hades laughed.

– Really? – he passed his arm around your waist, pulling closer to him – Don’t you want me to carry you there?

You smiled, leaning in to kiss his lips.

– If you carry on with this, I’ll ended up spoiled, my Lord.

After a moment at the bench, you started walking again, this time to the North of the Gardens, a place you knew to be in the same direction of the Gates of Valhalla, through which you and the other girls entered the blessed land. That place, with the golden gate surrounded by dozens of lamps with the shape of rare flowers, was as beautiful as the Secret Garden, though you rarely visit it, and was perfectly visible from the Gardens where you were now.

And that time, you had all the reasons to be happy to see it, for when you looked at the horizon, you saw Hermes crossing the entry followed by a group of people you knew well.

Your beloved family.

Part XVIII