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naomihatake · 1 year

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In search of freedom (Ch. 1)

1. They're bad news

Chapter 1 ; Chapter 2

⠀⠀⠀⠀She's been searching for freedom her entire life and everytime she thought it was laying right in front of her eyes, she was mistaken. She was running around the East Blue, seeking herself and her dreams, meeting people she never forgot. No matter how much she traveled, she could only catch a glimpse of peace before realizing everything would crumble at her feet.

⠀⠀⠀⠀Maybe it was destiny that brought her on that ship with three strangers — foolishly, that's what she tried to believe when the moon shined beautifully and hope settled in her chest, squeezed by the same ribcage where feelings were blooming.

Pairing: female!reader x OPLA Zoro Roronoa. This chapter follows the events of the first episode.

Warnings for this chapter: physical violence (fights), mentions of deaths, fluff, some cursing, mentions of tarot and palm readings

Word count: 3,6k

Theme song: “Loreley” by Blackmore's Night (click on the link)

A/N: This is the first part of a fanfiction I was thinking of since first watching One Piece Live Action. I started the anime too and I'm around episode 64 already. I'm using the OPLA course of action for now and I have no idea for an ending, but enough scenarios to write and share. I don't know how far this will go, but I'll have fun writing it and considering how much I like Zoro (born anime and LA), I'm using both of them as inspiration. Sorry for the lack of interaction between reader and Zoro, but I promise things will change.

The reader will be referred to as "Witch" especially in the next chapter, because I have no intentions of using "Y/N". There will be more information revealed about her past and abilities in the next chapter.

I'm open for comments and opinions <3

"Excuse me," she smiled sweetly while swaying away from someone who was standing right in front of her and a table she had to serve for. "Here," she carefully let the plates down.

She received a large smile coming from the young man with dark curls and a straw hat hanging around his neck. His pink haired companion seemed very shy, barely glancing at her before looking back at his plate, thanking in a small voice.

The tavern buzzed with a peaceful energy in the late hours of morning, the big windows letting the warm rays of sun in, lighting up the place. There were men sitting at a few tables, no sign of any other woman except for her and the very owner of that place, who just finished cooking something — were those cookies? It smelled divine.

Her dress fluttered around her knees as she moved away from their table to take other orders, a strand of her hair falling against her cheek after running around for so long. When she finally stopped in her tracks by the bar, intense eyes searched for anyone else who might've needed something. Lucky for her, she could finally breathe for a few seconds, resting her hips against the bar.

However, her eyes fell on the tall figure who just chugged down his throat a shot of alcohol. His green hair made her frown to herself, looking away before she could get caught ogling some stranger. After a few seconds, she looked at him again, this time at the three swords resting against his hip.

Three swords? What can someone do with three swords?

Everyone probably had the same question whenever they saw him for the first time. However, he felt somehow familiar, as if she's heard of someone like that before. A pirate? No, wait, a pirate hunter? The owner told her of so many things and so many people it was impossible to remember each one of them, but she was pretty sure she mentioned some pirate hunter only a few days ago.

Her thought process was interrupted when a man with blonde hair and suit walked by in front of her. Considering the men dressed in white uniforms who entered with him, they must be marines and he was probably their superior — he was walking like he owned the entire port.

She held back from rolling her eyes in annoyance. Her thoughts ran back to what her friend said about pirates last time, the way they argued back and forth about how pirates aren't good. However, she had her own reasons for claiming that not all pirates were ruthless monsters, without elaborating.

She flinched lightly when she heard the thud of a metal plate falling on the floor, snapping her head towards a little girl who was stuttering apologies to the blonde man. Her eyebrows were pulled together at his angry and loud voice mocking the child who had tears in her eyes, fear seeping through her very bones at the exaggerated reaction.

Apparently, they knocked into each other. Oh, there were two cookies on the floor. One of them got crushed under the man's foot.

She smoothly made her way by the side of the little girl, smiling at her as she crouched down to her level.

"Is everything alright, little one? Did you apologize?" the woman's hand squeezed the girl's shoulder warmly.

Rika's only response was a nod.

"Good job. It's alright, I'll help you clean up. Why don't you bring me a broom, hm?" she coaxed the girl with a gentle voice.

Once the girl walked away, she stood up straight again, arching her eyebrow questionably at the arrogant man by her side.

"Is there anything else I could help you with?"

"What, are you working here? If the answer's positive, then you better teach those stupid kids some manners," he huffed.

"You should teach yourself how to behave," she commented right back, her sharp gaze sizing him up and down.

"Take that back. Next time I won't be so nice," the blonde marine grinned.

Oh, and what an ugly grin it was on that fucker's face.

"You dropped my food," a low voice from behind interrupted.

The young woman turned her head towards the voice, confusion written on her face as she made a few steps back, out of his way. It was the green haired man she noticed earlier, now sitting on one of his knees on the cold floor.

Rika came back with a broom almost twice her size, the object quickly taken from her hold by the woman who smiled at her again. While they exchanged glances, the pirate hunter let himself down on one of his knees, taking some of the crushed cookie into his palm.

A sly smile tugged at the woman's lips. A pirate hunter or not, he had more dignity than a marine even in that kneeling position. She was more satisfied to see the little one smiling.

"Your turn," the green-haired man lowered his voice, a dark glare thrown at the astonished marine.

The pirate hunter raised back up and placed the metal plate on the bat, his intimidating height against the arrogant blonde monkey in front of him telling enough.

"Apologize to the girl," he demanded in a relaxed tone.

"Me? It was her fault for bumping into me. The lady should apologize for disrespecting me."

Apologize, my ass, she thought to herself, one step away from bursting out laughing. What did he take her for?

"Do you want a fight or what?" he drew his sword out, a knowing grin curled on his face. "I don't need three swords to fight."

The woman looked down at the little girl who was still by her side, ruffling her hair.

"Why don't you go to your mother, hm? And stay there until I call you back."

Her stern voice didn't give space for arguing; Rika complied, going to the kitchen.

She heard some muttering and next thing she knew, both of the men in front of her had drawn their swords out. Apparently, the green-haired one decided to advance closer to the marine, in an attempt to keep the fight away from the lady.

Hmph. Swordsmen and their unusual gentlemanly behavior.

Squeezing the broom in between her fingers, she moved away, furrowing her eyebrows in a scowl.

"No fights in here, you jerks!" she scoffed.

Expertly, while the other marines attacked one man — how unethical of them — and swords clashed against each other after sharp whistling noises, the woman swept away the cookies on the floor. She faked doing her own duties, like the good employee that she was, throwing careful glances at the fight happening right next to her. If she wasn't careful enough, she could get sliced in two.

"I advise you to get out of the way," she heard the swordsman's voice growling right after he threw a chair into three men, making them fall to the floor.

"You'll destroy the entire place if I do."

Right after saying those words, without anyone noticing in that damned agitation, with a quick movement of the broom, she made one of the marines trip.

Just like the idiots that they were.

"Oh my god, you should be more careful!" she placed a hand over her lips, fake surprise and fear coloring her features.

Who would believe such an innocent being was capable of such malicious actions?

With a strong creak followed by a thud, one marine was thrown into a table that turned the both of them upside down, groans filled with pain vibrating through the tavern.

She was right about them destroying the place.

However, the commotion didn't cause too much distress to the woman still moving the broom around, acting as if she had business with that newly found weapon. It might not be lethal, but she couldn't be spotted while she was intentionally making the marines' jobs harder. In the month she's been working there, she saw more than just one fight and used everything that she saw fit to stop it — be it a broom or a kitchen knife.

Now that she analyzed the fight better, it seemed like the pirate hunter barely even had to draw his sword out of its scabbard, at some point knocking someone's head into the bar. He used his raw strength and the objects surrounding him, thankfully without destroying any of them. The can he threw into another man's stomach seemed so effortless.

That must've hurt, though.

The blonde marine was quickly pulled by the back of his collar, back colliding with the bar, and an angry swordsman towering over him. She didn't hear anything nor paid attention anymore, eyes focused on the tavern that was ruined only half way through.

She sighed after watching both of the men walking out of there, biting her lower lip to hold back a fit of laughter at the marine who stumbled while being dragged by the bounty hunter.

"Why do men always fight in this tavern?" she talked to herself, raising one of the chairs and putting it back in place. "One day of peace is all I want in this port, only one day, and I can't get even that."

She sighed again, only for that long exhale to get stuck in her throat once her eyes fell on the table that was almost sitting in the opposite way rather than how it should be. Once she approached it, stepping by the marine who was trying to get up.

She would never help someone who had less dignity than a dog following some orders from a brainless monkey. Heck, even those animals were smarter.

Instead, she tried to move the table back in its place. Her fingers were so close to gripping at one side of the table before someone appeared at the opposite side. The young man with a straw hat and a square smile she served only a few minutes ago raised the table by himself, carefully arranging it until he was satisfied with its position.

"Thank you so much for the help," she smiled at him. "Be careful where you step, I think a glass also broke."

There were some shreds on the floor somewhere close to the table the young man sat at earlier.

"Thank you for your concern," he smiled just like the first time.

Gosh, has she ever seen such a beautiful soul? His eyes sparkled and the happiness suited him like it did to a little child who has no clue of the harsh world. However, he didn't seem phased or scared by what happened earlier — his hands weren't shaking at all and there was no fear lingering in his stare.

She turned to take the broom and came closer to his companion, who was sitting under the table. She bent her torso to give him a hand, helping him get back to his feet.

"Careful with the glass, check your hands," she warned again.

"I saw what you did there."

She turned towards the straw hat guy, blinking owlishly at him.

"I don't really get what you mean."

She started sweeping the shred of broken glass, not paying attention to the curious and insistent gaze she was receiving.

"You surely do. I'm Monkey D. Luffy and I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!"

Her eyes widened at the second part of his speech, snapping her head back at him. Without even realizing, her fingers were squeezing the broom quite harshly, fingertips going white.

"That's—" she started in a small voice, blinking like an idiot and staring at him.

She's heard that before. She's heard the same dream before and it brought so much suffering.

"That's dangerous," she finally got the courage to continue, still hesitant.

"You're brave for interfering with their fight."

Luffy looked into her eyes as if he could guess the thoughts running through her head, as if he could read her very soul, drinking in her features and reaction.

"You must've seen wrong," she let out a light chuckle, getting a grip on herself. "I'm just clumsy sometimes."

She was thankful she stopped herself from cussing out the Marines, because in less than a second after she finished her sentence, a few other men dressed in white uniforms appeared to help their comrades back to the base. She casted a skeptical eye at each one of them, like silent warnings.

They were pathetic, some of them still stumbling while trying to get up, their swords thrown around carelessly. After they all disappeared from her sight, her shoulders obviously relaxed again.

"I have to admit I hated each second of staying so much with these idiots around," she huffed quietly. "That spoiled child who takes advantage of his father's status was getting on my nerves."

"That's why you helped that swordsman, right?"

Luffy continued with his supposition, not letting go of what he thought he saw — it was the truth, but it would be dangerous to admit.

"I didn't help anyone, really. That was unintentional."

"Don't press it too much, Luffy," his companion's voice trembled.

"Koby, I know what I saw," Luffy pulled his lips into a straight line.

She resumed what she was doing, sweeping at the pieces of glass, seeing almost each one of them in the light seeping through the window.

"If you want to become King of the Pirates, I suppose you also want to get the One Piece, right?"

She was foolish. She was stupid for asking, for getting herself in such business that somehow always ended with too many deaths, with broken dreams. However, something was nagging in her gut. Deep down, it felt so right to ask.

"Yes! I need the Grand Line map for that and I intend on getting from the Marine Base here."

"You're insane, kid," her shoulders shook with her light laughter.

It was a sour sound.

She stopped, leaning her weight into the broom, looking down at the glass in front of her. She shouldn't help them. She should stay in her place if she wanted those young men to survive. What they were trying to do was basically suicide, they just didn't know. Koby seemed to be more fearful, hesitant and so, so shy. Luffy didn't say "us"; he said "I" — the pink-haired guy was not really part of the plan.

Against better judgment, she raised her head at him, promises sparkling in her eyes just like the shreds of glass.

"You can't just ask for that map and I hope you know that. What you want to get yourself into isn't just dangerous, it's like jumping into a suicide mission," her voice strained, pouring all of her hope in her next words: "However, I can help you get inside. Be careful, you have to make sure no one catches you."

"So I was right about you!" Luffy beamed.

"Right about what?"

"That you're brave."

Her lips opened, but no sound came from between them. It was pointless to deny it when he seemed so stubborn about what he saw and believed.

"I think this is a lot to say about someone who's helping you steal secret maps," the side of her mouth curled upwards.

Koby was left astonished. Stealing from the Marines was suicide.

"Listen here, kid," she lowered her voice, stepping closer to whisper. She set her gaze on Luffy's. "You have to get out of there alive, no matter what. Lie if you have to, but I have a feeling you're very bad at that, so be careful. That isn't a place to fool around in. You could get yourself killed in a blink. The Marines are very sneaky."

"There are good Marines and bad Marines," he shrugged. "Maybe I'll meet someone who's willing to help."

"I like your enthusiasm, but that unit base doesn't fit," she shook her head. "Both Captain Morgan and his son aren't the good kind of people."

She squeezed the broom in between her fingers again, an ugly feeling clawing at her throat. She didn't want a kid to die for following his dreams, but freedom was something she always craved.

"I'll tell you a way to get inside the base from underneath. You have to keep your lips sealed — I don't worry about myself, but about the owner and her daughter. I don't want word spreading around."

"You can count on me!" he placed his hand on his heart, as if he sealed the promise there. "Who are you? I want to know who's helping me."

Damned be his sincerity.

"I'll give you my name after you get out of there alive."

She smiled, eyes sparkling with delicious mischief.

"That is a promise. I'll be around the Marine Base and I'll tell you my name after I see you get out of there alive."

That seemed to stir something in Luffy's soul, inhaling with pride. A man of his word, indeed, just like she thought.

"Deal.

•┈┈┈•┈┈┈•┈┈┈

Her name left the lips of a scolding mother, even if it wasn't her mom.

"I saw you." The second time she heard tthat same phrase in one day.

Annie patted the tip of her shoe against the floor repeatedly.

"I was just lucky enough not to get myself in trouble," she shrugged.

However, her eyes fell on the floor, guilty about getting caught like a deer in the light.

"You could've gotten yourself in big trouble!" the owner of the tavern raised her voice.

Rika pouted up at her mother, trying to sweeten her reaction.

"She just wanted to help, just like—"

"Rika," this time, the scolded one firmly spoke her name. "Don't take me as an idol. It's true that something could have happened."

The little girl shouldn't worry about such a bloody world just yet and she wanted to help it for as long as possible. Being stubborn was a death sentence, even if she would always get herself into trouble if it meant to stick to her principles.

She'd rather die on her feet than live on her knees.

"Just because this time everything was fine, it doesn't mean next time will be the same," Annie exhaled loudly, frowning.

"There won't be a next time," the young woman sank her chin in her chest. "I should leave these days. Soon enough, word will spread out about my tarot and palm readings. I don't want to cause you any more trouble."

"You little witch," the usual scolding was replaced with a warm nickname.

She raised her head again, struggling to smile. Leaving after she got attached always hurt.

"That man was Roronoa Zoro, wasn't it?" Annie asked, her body suddenly tensing.

"Most probably," she shrugged. "Three swords, three earrings. He put on quite a show, to be honest," the words were followed by a chuckle.

"I see the way your eyes are sparkling. Don't even think about getting into some conversation with such a troublesome person."

"What could do some adventure to a poor soul like me?" she teased.

"It could bring you six feet under."

•┈┈┈•┈┈┈•┈┈┈

"I'm no witch, you idiots!" she struggled against the harsh grip the two men had on her arms.

She hissed when one of them sank his fingertips in her upper arms, glaring at him.

Shithead marines.

She continued writhing and struggling, stomping her feet into the ground in an awful attempt to stop them. She intended on keeping her promise after she helped the straw hat sneak into their base. She waited for as long as it was necessary after she gathered her things in a bag that hung around her shoulders. She was supposed to leave that place after she made sure the kid was alright and alive.

"God dammit!" she shouted. "How many times do I have to explain I'm not doing anything wrong?!"

"You're lying to people and receiving money, filthy witch. You're a thief," one of the men commented as they continued walking her away from the port.

"I didn't steal shit!" she snapped.

"Watch out!" she heard a familiar voice.

Instantly, she bent her torso down. The man on her right was punched in the face with so much force he released her grip on her and stumbled into the marine on her left, both of them now on the ground.

She didn't even get enough time to process what was happening, something curling around her waist carefully, but so fast. A yelp left her lips when she realized she was being lifted off the ground, turning her head towards the source.

It was the straw hat's arm. He ate a devil fruit, didn't he?

He was on a boat that was sailing a few meters away in the sea and she was being pulled towards him. She also recognized the pirate hunter from earlier and a woman with orange hair, both of them far too relaxed for what was happening.

That guy was made of rubber!

She recognized Koby who just got to his feet after she got past him, her feet finally touching something solid again. She blinked confused at the straw hat.

"You can't bring everyone that you like on this ship," the swordsman let out a hopeless sigh.

She busted out laughing like a maniac, the colorful and rich sound filling the air. Her shoulders shook and she had to place her hand over her stomach, tears gathering in the corners of her eyes. Obviously, her reaction was met with an especially questionable look coming from the swordsman, who most probably thought he got on a ship with another insane human.

"You're insane, kid," she wiped the tears in her eyes with her fingers, still smiling widely.

She hasn't felt such relief in years.

"I guess I gotta fulfill a promise, right?"

•┈┈┈•┈┈┈•┈┈┈

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m1ssunderstanding · 7 months

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Understanding Lennon McCartney Rewatch Part 3.3

John having to get high out of his mind because he knows he's invited Paul to come play with him is so so sad. These are the same guys who used to sit facing each other on a bed playing guitars for hours, and now this is them?

Is John calling Paul “Jack Lemon” a reference to “some like it hot”? Because if so, I have questions. Anyway, when your estranged best friend shows up to hang out with you and a bunch of people, talking about being in love again and getting jizzed on is extremely normal and acceptable behavior.

This jam session is so fucking painful though. Paul's doing his best to just push through and get them to actually play something and John's just too far gone.

My theory: there's two reasons he did this. 1. He's avoidant and the last thing he's going to do is let on how bad he needs John in his life and how scared he is that if John gets back with Yoko that that'll be difficult. And 2. He couldn't live with himself if he didn't. If he'd kept it from John that Yoko wanted him back and later John cried to him about how much he missed Yoko or something? Paul can't have that.

John singing a snatch of Yesterday before a take of “Whatever gets you through the Night”??? Did either of them ever write a song where they weren't thinking about the other? Did they ever have a minute of peace without the other rattling the bars of the cage in his brain?

“Hold me Darling, come on, listen to me. I won't do you no harm.” Duh it's about Paul. Oh my gosh.

And with Bless You I'm always so torn. There are so many obvious references to Paul which the doc points out beautifully, but situationally it could also be about Yoko. Maybe it's about both of them in the same way that don't let me down is about both of them.

Anyway the cosmic visuals are gorgeous.

Why'd you have to phrase it like that though? Twice?

Hall of Fame moment. It's a high point for him career-wise and he chose to pull Paul into his spotlight. Not only to sing Paul's song, not only to name-drop him, but to publicly call him an official romantic title. Not “boyfriend” or “ex-wife” which both could've been much more mocking if that's what he was trying to do. But “fiance”. It's official and respected, but it's still got the lustful, unsettled, connotation that something like “husband” lacks.

Johann Weener, everyone. What a loser.

Everyone who still refers to Lennon Remembers like it's the fucking Bible listen to this. It doesn't go on for the next five years, let alone fifty.

John refusing to walk to blocks to sign the papers when George and Paul flew over the ocean. And only on the basis of astrology. He really didn't want the divorce. My heart aches for him. But he made his bed as they say.

I'm putting on my tinfoil hat again here, but I do just have to point out that one of John's first songs, “Hello, Little Girl,” has a line that goes, “you never seem to see me standing there”. And the earliest draft of WISHST, which was started soon after, answers that line. “I saw you standing there.” (Yes, it said you originally, not her). So maybe. Just maybe. That song wasn't just a Paul song, but a song that John knew Paul had put a message in for him. Okay, I apologize for the insanity. On another note, I do wonder if he ever found out what Paul thought of that.

Interviewer: ≈ at this point, do you like writing by yourself, or do you want to write with Paul again?≈ John: ≈well it's a bit of both. It's the same for Paul. We were talking about it a week ago. Okay, cool. So they definitely talked openly and honestly about potentially writing together again.

John, about their partnership, “There was always the feeling that someone was there if you needed it.” Paired with the gayest picture ever taken and then Paul singing “if I can do anything at all, let me help.” Thanks. I hate it.

John was so excited for New Orleans! What happened? I mean I have my theory based on May's book and the sudden shift in behavior. But it's pretty dark.

You know how crazy Paul is about John in interviews now? How he can't seem to keep John's name out of his mouth? John was worse in the seventies. He's promoting his Rock’n’Roll album, talking unprompted and romantically about how he met Paul, when the interviewer reminds him what relationship he's supposed to be romanticizing right now. So John remembers too and dedicates the album to Yoko who he's just got back together with.

Biconic quote.

Interviewer asks, after John's brought him up, if John's pleased with how well Paul's doing. John expresses his relief that Ringo has "found himself a niche" and then

I really do think that last bit sums up a big chunk of how John feels about Paul, and why he feels alright playing dirty against Paul or slagging Paul off. Why it would have been the furthest thing from his mind that Paul actually struggled or was insecure. Why Paul had to remind him, “I'm only a person like you, love.”

What an insane thing to think, let alone say. What if Julian had heard that? I'm pretty sure Julian and Paul weren't in contact, really at all, until the eighties, right? So John's doing better than he is at this point (I mean he's his dad, he should be). John is insecure about every possible thing and compares himself to Paul in every possible way.

Baby. He needed some serious help. The thing that sucks about being ahead of your time is that you also have to live in a world that's behind your needs.

And then. “There's always a friendly tv channel to turn to that's going to make you feel less alone.” I wonder if Paul “Call Me Back Again, John I know you're not that tired from the baby just let me in the fucking door” McCartney heard this? It's possible with how obsessive they were, but it's also impossible with how busy he kept himself.

Okay, here's the first story we've been missing about Paul experiencing negative emotions. And, of course, as always in this doc, it's paired perfectly with “Don't Let it Bring you Down” which is the musical mission statement of Paul's clenched-jawed smile philosophy.

"I tend to get a bit absolute in my statements." Yes, John. Yes you do. Another quote that Big Lennon fans should keep in mind.

John on the three weeks he took to decide if he wanted to continue the band after the first Hamburg trip: The others were mad because we could've been making money. Yeah, John, Paul suddenly had to work in a factory after he'd thrown away an educated, white-collar career (the first in his family) to be in your band. I'd be pissed too if you just didn't even bother to call. Anyway I just hate how casual John is about it. Someone who never had to worry about money is just never going to get that.

John doesn't even remember a ballpark number of how much they were making. Paul remembers exactly bragging to his professors that he was making fifteen a week in Hamburg. Sorry to go on and on about this right before Paris, but to me it's an important difference between them.

Anyway, the fact that Paris was more than just a vacation for them. The fact that – according to Stuart and John at least – they might not have come back. It's dizzying. They really thought about just running off together. I wonder what made them decide to come back and continue the band.

No offense if you do, but I don't personally believe in this stuff. What would the motivation have been for the tarot reader to tell him that? Either way, fuck him.

Gosh the live version of “Call Me Back Again”. You feel it, physically, how bad he wants this phonecall. And the desperation from such a successful man is fantastic. Literally, John, how did it feel to be the only man in the world that could get Paul McCartney to beg? “Pretty baby” “what can I do?” “Boohoohoo babe.” “I tried the operator, but I just can't get through.”

Reporter at the Wings over America tour: No John Lennon, no George Harrison, and no Ringo Starr, just Paul McCartney. And for everyone here tonight, that seemed to be plenty! Obviously he's loving this praise after all the negative press. Anyone would, and Paul needs it more than most people actually. But I bet part of him is like “stop. Don't say it like that, they already hate me enough as it is.”

How many times has John admitted that he finds Paul attractive? “It was no surprise, you know, when the kids – girls saw him, they go ‘ooh! Ooh!’ right away, you know?”

“I know it's true. It's all because of you.” Playing over this? Are you kidding me? Anyway I've never seen the picture version of this, so I thought I'd screenshot it.

But actually, in a way, the original written lyrics to Now and Then are less depressing than what he sang on the demo. “I know it's true, I'm still in love with you, and if I make it through, it's all because of you,” is obviously sad because they're both married to other people. But at least in that version, John's saying his own personal resilience to life's struggles comes from his relationship with Paul, which is nice. Whereas when John, who is sliding into a self-hating deep depression I'm comparing himself to Paul's phenomenal success, sings “it's all because of you” in a general sense, it almost feels like a callback to the ‘I'm shit and I couldn't do anything but be a Beatle (and ride Paul's boat)’ quote. Which is heartbreaking. I wish he could've recognized his own genius.

But yeah either way it's enough to make your heart heavy. If anyone needs a good cry, just go to the last five minutes of this. That should've been the now and then music video, but Paul's too scared of feelings. Which. You know. Considering how much it affects me, I can't even imagine how much it affects him. So he gets a pass.

“Why must we be alone? It's real love. It's real.”

#mclennon #paul mccartney #john lennon #the beatles #ringo starr #george harrison #understanding lennon mccartney #ulm

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genericpuff · 6 months

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Genuinely I would give anything to hear your thoughts or read more critical analysis of yours on other webcomics writing (*slides you Marionetta* I like the webtoon but there are some things in the writing that I'd like to see be discussed critically more often but the fandom focuses way too much on shipping. sighs..)

Anyway, you probably have been asked this before but are there any webtoons in particular you would recommend? :D

Oh lord, you don't know how many times a week I get asks in my inbox asking for my opinions on webtoons they're reading. It's really sweet that people wanna hear me talk about other works outside of LO, but unfortunately I just don't have the time to read as much as I used to, even keeping up on LO lately is getting really difficult 😅 I'm definitely keeping a list though of works to check out!

That said, I try not to read series on the basis of criticizing them because frankly I just... don't want to spend time reading something if people are only looking for me to rag on it? 😆 Of course I know that's not the only reason, I know there's also just the element of seeing me talk extensively about other works the way that I do with LO, but it's not really something I can turn on and off like that, I have to get really into a series to want to talk about it to that extent. So it often comes down to just luck of the draw :'0

Right now the series I'm keeping up the most on (or have completed and would absolutely 100% re-read):

Alfie (18+, it's porn with plot but the plot is REALLY GOOD , I SWEAR LMAO the art is gorgeous, the characterization is IMMACULATE, and it ironically tackles the subject of purity culture way better than LO ever has lol)

Theia Mania (the creator is often in my comment section / neck of the woods, she's been working on an Abduction of Persephone retelling for a long while now and has also tackled other myth retellings in her style! I always love seeing new pages of her work in my feed :' ) <3)

Tales from Alderwood (if you like fantasy and comedy, this one's great, the plot's really starting to get interesting and it's just got this really great sense of humor about it)

The Black Parade (this one's REALLY interesting, it's a comic-stylized version of My Chemical Romance's The Black Parade, using the songs as narration and sometimes even dialogue to tell a visual story, it's really cool and the art matches beautifully with the lyrics and style of MCR!)

A Tale of Two Rulers (this is a Legend of Zelda fancomic that poses the question, "What if Zelda and Ganondorf got married to solve their political crisis?" It updates a lot slower than most of the other comics I follow but the art and writing is so worth it <3)

Dogs of Future Past (and p much all of Lynx's Undertale comics which can be found in the link, seriously, THESE are the comics you wanna read if you wanna get into Undertale fanworks, they are PEAK)

Tamberlane (this one's an anthro comic, I normally don't read anthro but this one actually gripped me by the throat, the art is gorgeous and the character arcs so far have been great!)

The Mafia Nanny (okay it's legit so funny that I'm including this one here but I've been reading it the last couple days after seeing it basically beat out LO at the top of the trending tab for a couple days, so I figured I'd give it a shot, at first I was like "great more tropey shit" but the more I read it the more it's actually started to get pretty good, I'm holding out and hoping to god it stays that way LOL it's not especially deep or anything like that, but it's really fun and cute to read and the shipping of the main character within the narrative isn't too self-absorbed which I can always appreciate, I'd honestly be 100% fine with it if it didn't turn into a romance)

City of Blank (I talk about this one a lot here, but it's one of my favorite Originals right now, the art is super polished and the writing has gotten INTENSE, go check it out if you want some fun action / sci-fi storytelling!)

Time and Time Again (a time-travelling vampire and his werewolf boyfriend get into all kinds of misadventures, what more could you ask for?)

Touch of Divinity (like the Mafia Nanny, this is one I just started reading, it's got a very interesting premise so far and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes!)

#if i ever do read marionetta then y'all will definitely hear about it LOL #ask me anything #ama #anon ask me anything #anon ama #recommendations #reading reccs #reading recommendations

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azsazz · 3 months

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💐 Dad!Az anon!!

Putting your message here so i can add a read more, but like i said earlier i don't have any words 😭😭 this is def one of the best asks ive ever gotten before and i'm so so so glad you love dad az as much as I do!!

ugh, i love and miss the babies so so much. and i love you too because this message made me feel so many things that i'm still blushing from reading this!!

yes, the kiddies will someday be developed as my OC's...i have plans :)))) 💙💙

Hi Kiers! I have returned, alas, and I have come with me and my complete brainrot. (I am crazy) Without further ado, here is everything I have to say about Daddy!Az and the rest of the Legion. Some might be complete brain rot, while the others fall in the middle or are actually (somewhat) legible literary analyses! just so you know, this is really long. i tried adding a read more button but I don't know if that's available for asks? i distinctly remember it being available... but it is what it is😔

One More: 🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦 SOME MIGHT SAY FIRST IS THE WORST BUT THIS FIRST ONESHOT TO START US OFF?? NOT THE WORST. FAR FROM IT, ACTUALLY. I don’t know if people say it enough, but I adore how you write smut. I have one emotion: 🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦

Family Dynamic: First, I love how your first thought was to go “Oh hell yeah! Daddy!Az! I should make a story about the birthorder of the children!” GOLDEN. your brain has veins with gold flowing through them. COMPLETELY and utterly ASTONISHING how they just come one after the other it’s hilarious?? im reeling😭 AND IRS SO CUTE HOW YOU INCLUDE LIKE LITTLE EXCERPTS OF DOMESTIC LIFE ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THAT’S SO ADORABLE. what gets me most, however, is the last few paragraphs. It’s like, it completely encompasses the reader’s (our) content and it’s so accurate and beautifully worded I can’t help but commend you for it. Plus, Cassian’s immediate “Oh No” gets me everytime😭😭

Keep Me Satisfied: “Going to fuck so many into you, love. A whole litter, I promise.” GET. THE. FUCK. OUT. 🫦 i literally HAVE NO WORDS?? I have no words! I literally have NO words besides the sentence “i HAVE NO WORDS”?? GOT ME FUCKED UP, GOT ME FUCKED OUT, GOT ME FUCKED???? HELLO??? HAS ANYONE EVER TOLD YOU THE WAY YOU WRITE SPICE IS LIKE OTHERWORLDLY TYPE OF IMPRESSIVE?

Hush Little Baby: This is like throwing the first ever blanket I had as a baby straight at me. It’s so familiar, and warm, and It makes me nostalgic because I was once a baby too (weren’t we all?), and I had the same wide eyes Azriel observed in his own babe. This oneshot makes me so happy, & I can’t fully articulate it

Here’s To Tradition Kiers give us a goddamn break or a glass of water to wash down the sugar challenge FAILED MISERABLY i look at nyx, giddy, and wren and all i want to do is CRY and HOLD THEM. I CAN’T EVEN LIKE… I DON’t KNOW HOW TO….ARTICUATE…I WANT TO HOLD. they’re like so little:(((( and im :((( i :((

You Too: I love your writing so much. need I say more. if I do then uhh err rhow do I get my thoughts out what if I just sscream in text AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Can’t You See?: IM CRYINGGGG WREN:( he’s such a sweet, sweet boy and when i first started reading this series i was really excited to see how he’d grow up and it’s just. wow. seeing him so happy makes me so happy. your writing makes me so happy “The little boy even tries to show off his own shadows, “Just like my daddy’s!” He sees both Rhys and Cassian watching with their own fond smiles, silently agreeing with every loving word pouring from the little boy's mouth.” PAUSE. I NEED TO CRY

Concord: I really like how you emphasize the bat babies innocence here. Unlike their fathers, from what I remember because I find it truly hard to focus when i read and like to listen to audiobooks as an alternative, the bat babies have a more stable childhood. theyre surrounded by safe environments, and they see that their parents have these funky little markings on parts of their body and they want to have that too. they hear stories of promises and the like and they want that too. they want what the inner circle have and so they try to ensure they get it and it BACKFIRES ON THEM THEYRE SO:( I feel😞 and WRENNIE ASKING IF NYXIE AND GIDDY CAN STAY FOR SUPPER ?!!!!! I CRY.

come back: 😞😞😞i 😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞love😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞the😞😞😞😞😞😞familyness😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞icryicryicry😞😞😞😞😞😞

Burning Man: Hi! You wound me with your writing sometimes. The utter devastation I feel whenever you write angst is inexplicable! There is truly nothing like it! I did like the comfort right after though. Dad!Az you are my roman empire😞

Promise: GET THE FUCK OUTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT I AM GOING TO CRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY IM SORRU ITS JUST SOMETIMES WHENEVER YOU WRITE ABT THE BABIES THEY’RE LIKE SO WONDERFULLY PORTRAYED.. l CRY I CRY I CRY ITS TAKING EVERYTHING IN ME NOT TO HOLD BAZ RN

Summer Daze: I love how you give us a little peek into Mama’s relationship with the other women, Nes in particular!! i love Nes and i hold her close to my heart so this little peek made me really happy. Especially at how cute her relationship with Cas is, even if its just brushed over:((( its so cute!!!!!! And Azzy kissing Mama’s belly:( that’s so sweet and tender

Two is Better than one: I. LOVE SCENES LIKE THIS. Where a character is thanking and worshipping the person that’s giving them children, blessing them with new life—an extension of love and care; it’s just so intimate and i treasure it and you write it so well it near kills me to stop reading😭 I really really like that addition:(

Taciturn: Punchign wall.😭☹️☹️😭😞☹️😞☹️☹️😭☹️😞☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😞😞😞😞😞😞😞😞 baz they will never make me hate u “How come knoxie doesnt cry like Malos does” HELPPPPPP☹️☹️☹️☹️ “Its okay mommy, i’ll talk for him!” can we get more baz n knox pls. pls. thats truly so sweet.

In the House love built: the way you write smut is so intimate sometimes, and it’s so loving and you encapsulate the bond between mates so well. you’re truly worthy of all the attention you’ve received on this platform

The Calm Beneath The Storm: ☹️ pleaaaase i love how the childrens bonds are so evident and well written too and i just.i just cant properly sayhow much comfort i find in series like this and i cant properly say how much comfort i find in writing like yours ure so good kiers omf

Cuddle Me In: Jax is like living tylenol in a baby im not joking . he fixes ALL my headaches. hes so adorbsicles no one speak to me at all i cry i cry i cry☹️😞☹️😞☹️ punchign. wall

The Rowdy Bunch: Azriel really knows how to man up huh god he’s so fine in rhis one miss kiers u made him sso fine

The HoneyCrisp Grove: 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 ARE YOU KIDDING ME THATS SO ADORABLE

Winter Wind: I just think it’s REALLY funny that you deliver honeycrisp grove and suddenly i get hit in the face with 💥BOOM ZUZU CRYING SO HARD HER VOICE IS HOARSE 💥BOOM MAMA GETTING STABBED BY A DISTANT RELATIVE 💥BOOM “help me” WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME. do u drink your readers TEARS for breakfast (this is my way of saying this story is well written and perfect)

Sticking Together: UGHH THIS IS SO:((( I WOULD LOVE FOR AN EXTENSION ON THIS!! like just seeing the #boys and their journey throughout windhaven would be so sad but also such an exciting read?? I hope we get to see how their bond grew because of it, or how it was maintained:(( i really like this story!!

Snatched: Complete rollercoaster of emotions btw. A bunch of ups and downs and round and rounds and i came out dizzy and dazed and possibly bleeding internally. W Eris I love him in this you portray him so well🙏🙏 And also once again. BAZ AND KNOX. GOD. MAKES ME SICK TO MY STOMACH WITH WARMTH.

No tricks, Just Treats: little knox is so precious to me. like he’s just so sweet. and also i remember you mentioning in the batbabies doc that wren, gideon, and nyx had the same dynamic as rhys, cas, and az so thejr costumes are a pretty good touch:D this is the perfect amount of fluff

In Ribbons:

“Baby, baby,” he begs, raising up as far as he can, voice lined with desperation and hazel eyes wide, “I didn’t mean to–” 🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦🫦 HELLO

Unwrapped: “Zuzu and Jax must be on waking you and your mate duty as they’re already climbing up into your bed. Your oldest daughter, ever the determined one, uses all of her strength to pull herself up onto the plush bed, only slipping once.” ZUZU GET BEHIND ME ILL PROTECT YOU 🤺🤺🤺🤺 HUZZAH shes so cute . i love zuzu so much, shes such a sweetie:(( your stories are like huge rollercoasters tbh one moment az is wrapped in ribbons and then the next the kids are fighting over presents and im here for it!! AND ALSO JAX AND AMREN & jax and rhys mention wow. god i love them i love how you put in effort to establish dynamics not only between the family but between the extended family too!?!

Into The New: I LOVE ZUZ SOOSOSOSMUCH:( she triggers fond memories of my own childhood. The way more of her dynamic with the orher members of the inner circle is expanded on in this story is so so sweet. I LOVE scenes where young characters see love blossom between people and KNOW that its love and WANT it but also at the same time i recall seeing an ask where you mentioned if Zuzu ever had a mate she’d think of herself as unworthy which … which is making me connect dots🙏 im trying to connect dots here cuz I SEE THE VISION but im trying to see the TRUE EXTENT OF THE VISION

Here for You: the Zuzu Rules Shirts?? I love Uncle Rhys😭 he’s so real for that tho. toss me one and watch me wear it with pride ??? i love the little things you add into your stories thatninclude the dynamic between characters:(( and also Zuz here being so happy and fulfilled makes ME happy and fulfilled. shes MY BABY.

Between Me & You: “This one’s for all the Jax girlies” ME🙌 JAX IS MY BOY🙏🙏 but also Baz calling Jax “J” is so corny and brother-core!!! (i dunno how else to describe it but i love it) also Bryaxis and Jax⁉️ FRIENDSHIP⁉️🙏 IM ALL FOR IT and i love how we see remnants of Jax’s journey into being able to control his power:((( i hope we get to see more of him (and Knox and baz . i love knox and baz)sometime!

The SafeGuard: IM TELLING YOU IM CONNECTING THE DOTS⁉️🙏 read:. im tripping over protective father azriel and giggling like a complete fool

Warrior Status: I. LOVE. WHEN. YOU. WRITE. SCENES. LIKE. THIS. ITS SO… IRHFJDJD LIKE WHEN YOU GO MORE IN DEPTH INTO THE LORE AND HOW NEW GEN IS HANDLING THE BLOOD RITE AND HOW THEIR PARENTS TRAIN THEM FOR IT IS MAKING ME HRISIDOOD ITS MAKING ME SO HAPPY but also wow. wow um the tension here is real. i always expect a rollercoaster of emotions whenever i read your writing and yet im blown away every time. i love baz, he seems to be capable of more than even he knows, and i hineslty hope theres more content so we cannall see how he’s faring:)

About Last Night:

“If we get caught,” Gideon defends, before adding as an afterthought, eyebrows furrowed, “And she’s not my girlfriend.” LOUDDDD INCORRECT BUZZER❌❌❌❌❌ W W W WRONGGGGG WRONG. EVERYONE KNOWS‼️ i love how giddy is the one who suggests going to autumn primarily to see his girl. it’s very cassian core to me as much as cassian himself disapproves😭 and KNOX’S LITTLE ‘im sorry’ PLEAAASEE THATS SO FUNNY

Torrential: This was actually the first story I read about the batbabies:) I was like, “oh my gosh who is Knox? I didn’t know there was a book out for next gen………… “ i was like genuinely so confuzzled. and this was like a few weeks ago. i didnt even know rhat Knox was an oc but I had, and still have a raging crush on him😞 I truly hope that you take the next gen and turn them into full fledged original characters of yours, i’d love to see them developed to their full extent especially with the teaser i get in this fic. like hello? Knox? River Keeper?? Okay I see you!! THE WAY YOU PORTRAY KNOX HERE UGHHHHHHHHHH HE’S SO LIKE UGHHHHHHHHHH UGHHHHHHHHHHHHH😡😡😡 (positive)

“His lips pull high into a wicked smile. One side curls higher than the other and it’s the first imperfect thing you’ve noticed about him, yet it still makes your breath hitch.” woo that got me. that got me good. you’re excellent

Our Souls Are Stars & Mine Is Forever Yours: kiers your BEAUTIFUL BRAIN is BRAINING again. this is my favorite scoop of content for the batbabies. Maude & Giddy are truly so adorable, and you really did a good job at sparking chemistry between them both. Maude trying to calm Gideon down, Gideon leading Maude to the famous balcony I CRY. I WEEP. HEAD IN HANDS. I WAILLLL I WAIL IN JOY IM SO? YOURE SO GOOD AT WRITING KIERS HOLY FUCK?!?! YOU NEVER FAIL TO IMPRESS ME

to my heart: ouuuuu… okay i see you kiers….i love this oneshot, it’s like really sweet but in a quiet subtle way and i love it when oneshots are like that. Knox’s banter with Malos, knox waiting for a reply… Kiers genuinely bless your heart

Undercover: Jax, Knox, Baz. you will always be the number one’s of my heart. NOW THAT THAT IS DISCLOSED CAN I PLEASE SAY I LOVE HOW YOU WRITE CHARACTERS PINING. LIKE JAX THIS WHOLE ONESHOT IS JUST “grrrrrrrrrrrrr dont you notice me?? 😡😡” and “wait nevermind its not time yet☹️😞☹️” at the last second and hes just so cute in this oneshot but i feel so bad for him (can we get the batbabies dapping eachother up to commemorate the jax and knox interaction in this fic yall!?!)

Jax uses his powers at a party: Heehehehhehehehehehehhehehehe wowwwwwwwwwwww hes like protecting her from afar heheheheh i giggled

Jax finds out Knox’s mating bond has been found out: I LOVE THE CALL BACK TO THIS IN UNDERCOVER. I want to see how the whole family reacts to Knox’s mating bond in the future, hopefully!! It’d definitely be very chaotic, especially if it’s the whole family!!

Bryaxis calls Jax a friend: “There's this boy at my school. His name is Montauk. He always gives me trouble, pushing and shoving me, calling me names…" Jax trails off, his tiny hands clenching into fists, "But I've felt his true emotions, and he's just a sad, scared little boy too."” :((( the “too” at the end im inconsolable. I want to hold each and every one of your next gen characters. pls.

Uncle Cassian’s reaction to finding out Jax wants to be friends with Bryaxis: Cassian is my spirit animal. and i LOVE the way you portray him 😭 he’s so funny i feel like he’d bark if I told him he was my spirit animal

What if Zuzu had gotten her wings clipped at the Steppes? I CRY I CRY I CRY I CRY. UGHHH how you detail Azriel’s devastation and at the same time Zuzu’s acceptance TEARS THROUGH ME. Zuzu is such a strong character and theres nothing to thank for that other than your immaculate writing skills

Zuzu Gets a Cat but it loves Azriel the Most + Wren, Baz, and Zuzu work together to try and convince their parents to get a second cat: I wholeheartedly believe wren, baz, and zuzu were probably nicknamed the triple trouble primarlt because of their tendency to pull shit like this and i LOVE it its so funny. I love your writing sm

I don’t know if you can tell, but I have an actually very secure AND VERY!! NORMAL attachment to this series. And I don’t have anyone to thank but you for writing it and writing it so beautifully; you truly have a gift and I know that it will get you a bunch of amazing opportunities in the future, or even now. I can feel how much work and effort goes into your writing, and the fact that you share it is an honor in itself and I’m so glad to have stumbled across your blog. You are an amazing writer. I look forward to reading more of your writing, not just for Daddy!Az—although I’d love for more of him—but even without him, I’d still love every piece of yours. I honestly hope the next gen characters become characters you take under your wing and develop, I would love to see more of them and they’re such interesting characters already. They’re so cool. You’re really cool too, Kiers!! I hope you don’t mind it took so long to get back to you, I was balancing cleaning my apartment and binging your writing:D I don’t regret anything. Reading your writing feels like a reward after every hard day. I hope to see more of you on my dash, Kiers!!! Keep writing, with your skills and your beautiful mind—it’ll no doubt help you in the long run. You’re really cool:)

xoxo,

-💐 (the one from about a week ago)

#ask azsazz #daddy!azriel

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my-great-big-book-of-fan-fiction · 6 months

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The Taming of Man: chapter Four - Dragon Shifting!Katsuki Bakugou x F!reader

Ayo, Merula back again and dropping the new chapter? I know I said that this would be up in a few days...like...an hour ago...but I expected it to be much much much longer. While writing, I realized just how much more writing I'd need to do to get to my original goal, and that much just felt cluttered and too much to put in one chapter. Enjoy my wifeys!

Words: 2,210

This is incredibly based on the song The Willow Maid by Erutan, I highly recommend giving it a listen for the best experience.

Warnings: Cursing, reader is She/Her and will be AFAB in later chapters, Shirtless Katsuki, slight misogyny a little if you squint

"Ok, so..." You took the map from Katsuki, placing your finger on the different sections as you name them. "This is Forrmidūl....This is Novia...-" Katsuki scowled a bit at the mention of the place- "This is Positeel...and this is Marina." Katsuki nodded, his impatience showing, but the smile on your face warming him a little.

Each country was painted a different color to show the borders better, and the forest was painted completely white because no one owned it. "This place is big, huh?" You couldn't look away from the map, studying it. It wasn't like you've never seen a map before, but this whole place was new to you.

"And this is just one continent," He said, almost proudly, like he took pride in the fact that his universe was so big. "Where I come from, The entire world is just the one continent," you sighed, almost to yourself, before laying back on the stump and looking up at the tangerine sky. The dress you wore had that difficult corset and giant hoopskirt, making it hard to bend much, but once you laid down you were comfortable. It helped that you took out that headache of a bun, too. "Must be big," he mused, not laying back with you but instead watching you from his seat at the edge of the stump.

"Yeah, No other kingdoms either. Just us." You didn't look away from the empty sky, wanting to catch a glimpse of the first star. You would have to go soon, you've never stayed later than sunset, but you just wanted to see one star. Maybe they were different here. Most things were. You began to hum mindlessly to yourself, that same song you always sung, and Katsuki snorted. "Why'd you always sing that," he asked, a hint of amusement in his husky voice. You shrugged, saying, "It's my country's song. Kinda like a national anthem." Katsuki began to gather his things, sliding his shirt back on and putting the near-full healing potion into his bag. "Well keep singin' it. I need it to get here."

Now it was your turn to laugh derisively, your eyes finally falling on him as he buttoned his shirt up. What a shame to cover something that looked so beautifully sculpted, each scar like the slashing of a mastered pen on pristine paper. Fuck, wait, don't think that. He's a dickhead, an asshole...and kind of your teacher. "Must be my beautiful voice," you said with a sarcastically coy sigh, squirming to get up. He watched you try and turn turtle several times with no avail, laughing before reaching out a calloused hand to help you up. "Yeah right, probably just your dumb faerie magic."

You begrudgingly took his hand, his laughter making your heart swell in a way you didn't understand, before the skin to skin contact shocked you both. It was completely normal, just one of those small static shocks you could get from anywhere or anyone, but for some reason this one sent a shiver down both of your spines. You chuckled nervously, standing straight up and releasing his hand as soon as possible.

"S-so, what should I bring tomorrow," you asked, trying your best to hide how weirdly flustered you felt. He hadn't really thought that far, he honestly didn't expect you to show the first time. "I dunno...same thing," he sighed. He supposed you could never have too many healing potions. You nodded eagerly, before both of you went your separate ways.

For the next week, You simultaneously listened to suitors blather on and on about how great they were, and visited Katsuki for lessons. You learned a lot, sure, like geography and politics, but it soon became too little for you. You had a taste of the outside world, and you wanted more. That's why, at the end of the week and very end of your lesson that day, you asked Katsuki to take you outside the forest.

"Hell no," he scoffed, almost immediately, much to your disgruntlement. "C'monnn," you whined, walking after him in your giant baby-blue dress (The result of your earlier meeting) as he began walking towards the forest edge. "It's too dangerous," he huffed, stopping and turning to you. "I'm magic," you reasoned, fluttering your fingers and producing pink glitter dust to prove your point.

"You know what kinda shit is out there? The kinda fuckin' people out there? It's not all smiles and rainbows, princess," He said sharply, glaring down at you. "I know that, that's why I need a big strong Dragonborne prince to protect me," you teased, hopefully stroking his ego in a playful and endearing way. He scanned your eyes, sternly examining your face with a hard countenance, before turning to keep walking. "No," he barked.

You stood there dumbfounded, blinking rapidly in confusion. You were getting this, whether he liked it or not. "If you don't take me I'll go by myself," you called out quickly, nervously fidgeting with your dress. You needed this to work. He stopped in his tracks, seeming to be thinking. Moments passed, before he turned his head with a pissed expression on his face. "...Be here at noon tomorrow... and don't wear any of that frilly crap!"

You jumped with joy, squealing with happiness. You were about to leave and let him walk out without another word, but instead you zoomed over and tackled him with a hug around his neck. He nearly fell backward, but kept his balance as he stayed stock still, unsure what to do. "Thank you," you whispered, your voice tight with all the excitement you were feeling, before giving him a peck on the cheek and running off to go home. He watched as you jumped into your portal, unmoving as he processed.

His hand gently touched where you kissed him as if by instinct, and he could feel his face getting tomato red by the second. "Damn it," he shouted, clenching his fists and sending flocks of birds flying out of trees, practically rumbling the ground. You and your fucking faerie charm, that had to be it. No way he was just naturally infatuated with you, it had to be magic.

"Do you have to undermine me every day," Ochako sighed, undoing the knots of your corset. You just laughed nervously, mumbling, "About that..."

She froze and drooped a little, clearly anticipating your next words. "About what?" You turned to her as she released you from the rib-crushing confines of your attire, stepping out of and over your dress. "I kinda need- want to go out tomorrow, around noon this time..."

need sounded suspicious, so you quickly changed it to want for a more believable story. "Wh-" Ochako started, before you cut her off with- "And before you say no, remember that I don't have any meetings, or lessons, or plans, and mother is travelling to meet with the dukes, and-"

"fine."

You paused, blinking confusedly as you looked at your handmaid's annoyed face. "...fine?"

She rolled her eyes a bit and sighed with a smile ghosting her face, shrugging. "Yep, You make a good point," she said with amusement, watching your face light up. You brought her in for a tight hug, and she hugged you back. She laughed a bit, saying, "You smell kinda weird."

You pulled back, cocking your head a bit with a confused smile. "Yeah? like what?" She shrugged, thinking a little. "I dunno, kinda like...burnt sugar or something."

burnt caramel, you corrected in your head, before catching yourself. You smelt like Katsuki. Now that she pointed it out, it was all you could smell, the scent of and musk and smoke and caramel. Must've been from that hug from earlier. "Weird," you said nervously, Ochako seeming to be none the wiser as she helped you into your nightgown and blew out your candles, tucking you into bed and leaving you to sleep.

You could do nothing but take deep breaths in from your nose, wanting to catch the scent as much as possible and make yourself blush from embarrassment in the process. What were you doing? It's not like you liked him...It's not like he'd like you back. You chalked it up to the newness of it all, the fact that he was so foreign to you, that he was the one kind of person you were supposed to hate...

"I told you not to wear anything too frilly," Katsuki scoffed, immediately pissed off at the sight of you. "What? This isn't nearly as bad as the other dresses," you argued, gesturing to yourself. You were wearing an ankle length matcha green A-line dress with light green butterfly lace, a structured yet relatively loose corset, and off the shoulder sleeves. Your shoes were the best you had for walking, your sturdiest pair of brown flats. As a princess, you weren't expected to go adventuring, and therefore had no adventuring clothes.

Meanwhile, Katsuki was wearing a linen tunic and pants that looked to be something like a mix between leather and snakeskin, a solid and thick maroon fabric with the slightest bit of a scale imprint and iridescence. He had thick and heavy working boots, no doubt steel-toed, and noticeably made of the same material as his pants, except in brown. "Well 'm not carrying you if your soft little feet get tired," he stated gruffly, gritting his teeth.

"Not like I'd ask you to," you laughed, beginning to walk towards the same part of the forest he always came in and out of. He followed closely behind, the scent of you being pushed into his nostrils by the breeze gently blowing your hair back. As you both approached the edge, right where the green brush meets the damp fog, Katsuki grabbed your arm and held you in place.

"Before we go in there, I gotta tell you about some shit so you don't piss yourself."

You rolled your eyes, sighing with a slight smile. "it's not like I'm a baby, I can handle whatever's in there. Besides, this is clearly fae magic."

...what?

Katsuki blinked a couple times in confusion, his curious demeanor decidedly extremely cute, and his grip on you softened a little. "What do you mean? Fae don't live here."

"Well I know that. This was probably fae magic used to protect the portal." You spoke as if you were explaining things to a toddler, something he hardly appreciated.

"How do you know," he scoffed, clearly not believing you. There was no way. "Look.," you huffed, slipping out of his grasp and reaching out towards the mist. The second your fingertips touched it, the mist parted with a golden glimmer surrounding your hand, the area around it now visible. You pulled back with a cocky smile on your face, cheeky and self assured. "Since it's to protect other fae, it doesn't work on me."

Katsuki was a little red from embarrassment, clearly in the wrong, and he just grumbled with a slight pout. "Well let's hope you keep that confidence," he huffed, grabbing you again and pushing you through the mist. he held you in front of him, and as each part of you passed through, a bubble of clarity surrounded you. Seeing as he was technically attached to you, his hands on your forearms, he got the benefits of this too.

He could now see everything in Nebel, and to be honest...there wasn't much to see. No trees or brush, the ground covered in a thick layer of dense moss and mushroom. You however, you were way more impressed. You excitedly reached down and touched one of the grey little mushrooms before he could tell you no, and to his surprise, it began to glow a bright and bioluminescent blue. You happily plucked it and its little friends, as well as a clump of moss, and put them in your satchel.

"Why're doin' that," he asked harshly, clearly judging you. "I bet they'd be really great for spells," you explained, continuing your trek. You both reached Leben in no time, and now there was no need for Katsuki to grip your arms. He let go as soon as possible, and the absence of warmth made you feel...a little empty. it was stupid and weird, you just brushed it off.

The entire walk, from Nebel to Böse, you were collecting little things. Plants, jewels, sap, literally anything. You made his anxiety peak in Böse especially, when you reached to pick a fucking fire flower. "Hey," he shouted aggressively, reaching out to smack your hand away. He was too late however, and your fate was sealed. You reached out, grabbed the flower by its stem, and of course....nothing happened? It stayed stagnant.

No flames? No hissing? Where were these flowers when he was traveling the forest? You gently plucked it from the ground, took a deep breath, and smelt the spicy-sweet, cinnamon scent of the flora. "What," you said curiously, noticing just how confused he looked. "...nothin'" he finally grumbled, grabbing your hand and pulling you through the last stretch of the woods. Not even the forest could resist your charms.

After mere minutes, you were at the exit of the Farbenreich Forest, your afternoon adventure with Katsuki only beginning.

Ahhhh I did it! Had to push through some writing block at the end there, but I hope my work didn't suffer for it! As always, leave a comment with your thoughts, I loveeee to hear from you guys!

Taglist: @sky-angel1011 @the-galaxy-fiend @chixkadee @faemagic88

#fanfic #fan fiction #katsuki bakugo x reader #bakugou katsuki #katsuki bakugo mha #new writeblr #katsuki bakugo #katsuki bakugou #bakugo katsuki #boku no hero academia #bakugo #fantasy bakugou #mha fantasy au #the taming of man

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bomberqueen17 · 11 months

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The Witch King

This is not like, a coherent review or anything.

Yesterday I was just like possessed with anxiety nonstop the whole day and everything I did seemed to make it worse and i just like spun my wheels and I got some things done but mostly felt worse and worse and more and more stressed, due partly to external circumstances but largely, i think, to nothing in particular. And finally after dinner I was sitting on the couch comfortably and realized you know what, fuck it, I am not going to "try to write" and wind up refreshing tumblr and chatting on discord all night, not while I'm already fretting and stewing like this, i'm going to be miserable and probably get in a fight or something and i don't want that. Fuck it. So I went to the tab I already had open in my browser, which I'd had open for weeks but the time was never right, and I bought the kindle version of Witch King and read it right there in my browser, the whole way through, did not click away or put it down or move or do anything else, and you know what it was fantastic.

I'd read a preview and been like hm i don't know what this is about and read a couple of amazon reviews that were like this was really confusing, some of which concluded so i didn't like it and some of which concluded so i super liked it, and like, I've been a fan of Martha Wells since she put the Element of Fire up for free chapter by chapter on her Livejournal when the rights reverted to her in like 2006 or so, so I knew what I was going to get and also knew that I would not particularly know exactly what I was going to get until I got it, and I also knew I was going to enjoy the ride, but I hadn't wanted to read it in stolen or exhausted moments lest the "this is confusing" bits prove too much.

In the end I found it not in the slightest bit confusing, it was a very straightforward interspersed flashbacks storytelling technique that i thought suited the story beautifully (not to be spoilery but we join a character in medias res with an action scene and it's him trying to figure out who has betrayed him in a complicated political scenario, and in the process of unspooling this he has to revisit the site of where the complicated political scenario was first set up, some sixty (?) years earlier, so he's retracing his own steps and it's really well done I think, introducing new bits of history right as they're relevant to the current storyline-- and just fantastically done, not at all forced, completely natural and compelling, and no the reader isn't told anything they don't need to know but you do get everthing you need to know, there's no unneccessary coyness at all).

So anyway i loved that, and I hope there's a sequel planned but it stands alone just fine if not, I'm already figuring i'll alternate my rereads and do every other chapter each time, so I can do All The Backstory first, then All The Current Timeline story, and that's such a fun way to eke out many many many rereads of a story that like all of Wells' works I will reread until I have chunks of them memorized (anyone who has read my works surely has found whole undigested bits of hers bobbing around in there because I do this so much; I found the phrase weary past bearing in something of mine the other day and was like oh that's moon when ember first shows up i stole that whole emotion wholesale out of the third raksura book yes i did).

Little side notes: Love the aroace qpr vibes with Kai and Zeide, also sort of enjoy the lowkey genderfuckery that comes with a demon who has his own gender then inhabiting bodies that had different genders. Great magic system too, and I love that we first get introduced to how Kai's pain magic works as a like totally fait accompli chunk of didactic worldbuilding and then in a later chapter we get to see the flashback of him inventing it and understand why it works the way it does, that was also so well-wrapped-up.

Anyway-- Definitely recommend this one but probably it is best if you can do it like I did, in one big binge-read. It took me probably three hours and I was trying hard not to read it too fast.

Yeah. Anyway. People assume I'm a big reader. I was, as a kid. I am not now. This is the first new book I've read since probably the spring sometime. I don't casually read things i only read them if I'm going to add them to my Pantheon of Rereads, and that goes for fic too mostly.

#martha wells #witch king #book recs #kind of a book review #sort of

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pallastrology · 6 months

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my astrology-related hot takes

i sure do have some takes. are they hot, tepid, icy? read on to find out, i'd love to hear your thoughts and opinions too <3

i love placidus house system. i know this one is hotly debated and i get it, but for myself, my own chart? i will die on the hill that placidus is the house system for me, and i feel so stiff and awkward when working with whole signs or equal houses in my own chart.

on a similar vein, not everyone agrees with interceptions/duplications (partially due to them not being a thing in some house systems), which, again, i get, but i find them to be fascinating and generally very accurate. trust a libra to be obsessed with chart imbalances, right?

i think it's possible to get lost in all the tiny, interesting pieces of astrology and overlook the basics. i do this myself, especially when i find a new and amazing rabbit hole to go down, but i believe the basics are generally going to be enough for most issues you're looking into, especially if you're looking from a self-reflection/development angle.

sometimes i feel lost as an astrologer in this community because there are many astrologers i follow that appear to have their niche figured out, and write within it so beautifully, while i haven't found my astrological 'calling' yet...

sometimes i'm wary of posts about asteroids because of how hard it can be to find good-quality literature on them. i'm worried i'll be reblogging something that someone just made up (and yes, i know it's all made up by someone, but i mean off the top of their head, without a good deal of knowledge and research behind it).

vedic astrology seems, to me at least, somewhat fatalistic and 'final' compared to western tropical. i'd love to learn more about it but it feels more formal and serious in a way; maybe that's just the articles i've read though..?

i love the astro community here on tumblr but it feels like more of a struggle to get that community feeling now than it did a few years ago. i don't exactly know what the issues are but it's a strange feeling.

i try to be a nice and positive person, but one thing that always ruins my mood is when i see posts or videos that say “(insert placement here) does this extremely toxic thing, like of course they do, they’re (insert placement here)!”. no, actually, being a gemini/eighth house moon/libra rising doesn’t excuse or guarantee awful behaviour. i thought we covered this years ago 🥲

#pallastrology #astro community #astrology #astrology blog #astrology posts #astrology hot takes

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loquarocoeur · 21 days

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Hey lovely! I’m back w another anon, at this point I’ll put an emoji so you know it’s the same person saying hi bc I’m not sending this on my blog name but ashshsjsh.

The asks and your responses on the spanking shit have me wanting to send this ask that I’ve been thinking about, but like. After the end of ‘pushing buttons’ I rlly enjoyed the bit where charles was almost insecure, and max responded the way he did so beautifully about how he loves charles the most bc he’s charles and what about it him he finds so loving and hot and how he was mentioning Charles’s pleasure too and that just. Really made me want to have a fic perhaps on the doms pleasure a bit. Not entirely but if you’d want to I’d love for you to get into charles head and thoughts a bit. It’s hard to explain what I mean because I’m being vague bc I’m embarrassed enough typing this as is lmfao but I hope you kinda get what I mean here? How you were talking about charles headspace in the other ask and everything I just got very Inchrested

I just love this verse and the way you write and maybe I die everytime I see another blog post of yours about some smutty shit! Maybe!

- 🦢 (I’ll make myself the swan emoji anon bc why the fuck not. Hi it’s me I sent the asks like max speaking Italian for maybe one line perfectly and made the suggestion about the ‘monza fic having the hotel tifosi chanting. Idk I just wanted to lyk it was me ahahshsjjs)

Okay hi, hello, I'm here with my thoughts now and absolutely YES, prepare for an essay:

Like idk, I've been meaning and trying to get into Charles' head a bit more since forever, but it is just quite hard nailing him down, he's just a very complex character nowadays with that duality between his 'dom persona' I guess and then absolute golden retriever, head over heels, bend over backwards, and jump when Max says jump sweetheart he is outside of that headspace

It's just there's just so many things from Charles' perspective to think of, you know, specifically talking about sex scenes now:

Like, okay, first of all, he's just a man, Max barely needs to take off his shirt. Like he's absolutely insatiable, he goes insane for a glimpse of Max's stomach, the only time he won't even try to start anything in the shower is if he got an orgasm five minutes ago, so obviously there's the aspect that he just thinks Max is fucking hot, just looking at Max does it for him, and also men are men, it feels good getting their dicks wet I guess

But then there's also obviously the thing that we don't talk about enough in fandom and that's that doms like being dominant just as much as subs like being submissive

And you know it's hard to nail it down and elucidate it, because we don't have enough examples for it, because (and this is also totally fine of course) fandom is just usually very focused on the perspective of more submissive people for probably many reasons which we won't get into rn, but the point is like you have to make this shit up as you go, there's not a script and an easy how-to like there is for writing submissive perspectives because we've all read thousands of those of course

Because like obviously Max technically has as much if not more control over the situation as Charles does with safewords and all, but Charles obviously LIKES being or feeling in control

There's kind of this underlying societal belief that we often get where it's just perceived as inherently bad when someone wants or likes to be in control or in a position of power, which is why I feel we hear the dom perspective waaay less than the sub one, because ironically, the doms are too shy to speak up I guess lol

But you know Charles obviously likes that he can tell Max what to do and he does it, he likes how Max, just as a person, is quite dominant in the way he behaves, he's not a follower, when someone says sit down Max asks why, and he's no different with Charles when they're just them and there's no dom/subness going on, but he likes how when they're in that space and Charles says sit down Max sits the fuck down

And then I think the thing I always emphasized most is how Charles just gets off on seeing Max feel good, like he gets off on making Max feel so good he loses all function, and that comes back to Charles having just as much of a praise kink as Max, but he doesn't need Max to tell him he's doing good, he needs to see it

And then it's just how do I fit all this in and consolidate it with the way that of course, Charles is far from quiet or reserved during sex, he won't shut up actually, but there's these times when, from Max's perspective, you have no idea what's going on in his head, because he has this talent for just turning his face blank

And don't think I as the author somehow know any more than you do when it comes to Max's perspective like guys idk either, I was just there

But yes, I do hope to elaborate on it a bit more in the future🥰❤️❤️❤️

#asks #yours verse

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i-heart-hxh · 2 months

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Hello, how are you? I don't know if you've answered this or not (sorry if you have). Can I ask, why you love Hunterx Hunter (what made this series special to you)? Is it love at first read/watch for you? Do you also Yu Yu Hakusho at least half as much as your love for HxH? Who is the better antagonists & protagonists to you, from HxH or YYH?

P.s

Can you see your top fav characters from YYH being besties with your fav characters from HxH?

Hello!

This is a lot of questions to tackle, so I'll answer some in-depth and quickly touch on others.

It's hard for me to summarize why I love HxH so much, there are a lot of factors! I could go on about it at length easily, but I'll do my best to go over it briefly for this post. I actually didn't fall for it right away--I started it rather lightly and with the expectation that it probably wouldn't fit my tastes, as I'm picky and usually not big on shounen series (with a few exceptions). It wasn't really until late in Chimera Ant Arc that it went from a series I was enjoying but not totally sold on, to a series I love. By the time I finished the 2011 anime, I had cried over it several times and was fully sold. I only became more obsessed from there.

I think the two biggest factors of what make me adore HxH so much boil down to:

How much I love Gon and Killua and their relationship

How brilliant a storyteller Togashi is and how beautifully he writes characters and really just about everything, and how imbued with emotion and insight and philosophy the series is as a result

Both of these aspects are deeply important to me. It defied my expectations of it constantly, and as I've continued to revisit and analyze the series I've only found more and more to love and appreciate about HxH! It really feels like a series that's like a soulmate to me, as silly as that might sound--it just connects for me on so many different levels, and, even after almost 8 years now, I'm still constantly sustained by and enthralled by it.

I do definitely enjoy Yu Yu Hakusho too, although not to the same degree as HxH. You can actually read some of my impressions I wrote up a few years ago (when I first finished it) in this document if you'd like. It's a very charming series with great characters, and I had a wonderful time with it, but because it tends to play the shounen tropes more straight than HxH (HxH subverts and plays with them much more), I found it didn't fit my personal tastes quite as well. I still found a lot to appreciate about it, and it was fascinating watching Togashi's growth as a storyteller and seeing more of his tendencies and interests coming out in the series. I also do think (and this is backed up by things Togashi has said) that the Jump editors had quite a bit more sway over Togashi's decisions with YYH, and that affected his ability to tell the story how he wanted to fully--which lead to him seeking more creative freedom with HxH, and HxH becoming how it is.

Unsurprisingly with my deep and abiding love of HxH, I do connect with the HxH cast more, but I also found the YYH cast memorable, fun, and well-designed! My favorites in YYH are Kurama and, funny enough, Koto. But I like a lot of the characters, they're a good cast. I remember being very touched by the end of the Dark Tournament arc, beautiful stuff.

It's hard for me to envision my favs from both series meeting without putting a lot of thought into it, honestly, hmmm! It's a fun question, but I'm not sure I have a good answer for you right now, sorry!

Thanks for asking!

#hxh #hunter x hunter #yyh #yu yu hakusho #asks #anonymous #my posts

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kechiwrites · 3 months

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Kechi im writing this to you bcs many moons ago i read your bd!simon "white flag" series and could not stop tearing up while reading or thinking about it, its been a while since its last updated but thats alright. A story doesn't need to be completed to be enjoyed. And enjoy it i did even though tears were shed along the way i completely 100% enjoyed it. Many things come to mind when i think about it. I may not be good at analysing what you are trying to convey completely but man do i agree with the vibes. It is one of the most gutwrenching stories i have read in a long while. It felt like experiencing a car wreck and dealing with the aftermath. Its knowing that both drivers were both complicit in causing it to happen. Simon is the first to crash, and much later the reader for accepting simon into her life despite knowing it would worsen the heartbreak, and even worse is simon because he wont leave. What reader should've done is close that part of her life with simon and leave him in the abyss to rot. But she cant. Because shes too weak to not accept simon into her life. And simon just breaks down evey attempt made to impede him. Its catastrophic on so many levels. Theyre both made for each other. I want them to have peace and the domestic life they envision with each other way back then, but i also cant see them ever reach that point because of the hurt they have caused each other. You have made a setup so painful and explore its many consequences so beautifully. Bravo!

Oh my God? Oh my God? Thank you, for taking the time to write this to me. I cannot explain how happy this makes me. I'm so grateful my writing could bring up those feelings and thoughts for you. your thoughts on simon and reader are well informed and very true, (I just LOVE writing cowards). I don't know if baby blue will ever be complete with a nice little conclusion, but I think we're winding down and will see into the future more concretely than before. I wish I could frame this. Guild it in gold.

#seriously #what a lovely thing to read.#i am really worn down from work thibgs lately and this was...SO welcome and heartening. thank you #baby blue fic #ghost x reader #regretsabbadon #kechi chat #baby daddy ghost

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delicatenightfury · 2 years

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Tell Her

2022 Month of Writing: Day 14

Pairing: Thorin Oakenshield x reader

Prompt:

Word Count: 1,441

Author's Note: please don't steal my work! you can choose to respond to the prompt as well, but don't steal my work

Erebor was stunning. The great hall was beautifully lit, shining light on the wealth that the dwarves had in their kingdom. A great feast lay out on the tables, which were surrounded by merry dwarves already deep in their cups. Music and laughter filled the hall, making it feel even more lively. Everyone was enjoying themselves and the celebration.

Everyone except Thorin.

He kept up the appearance of a happy prince, but his mind lay elsewhere. It was hard to believe that while such a celebration went on in front of him, he would rather be somewhere else.

Or rather, with someone else.

His mind drifted off to y/n, and not for the first time that night.

y/n was a truly familiar face to him. She was a servant in Erebor, and had been for many years. She took care of Dís’s chambers and frequently spent time with the princess. Meaning that Thorin saw her quite often.

When he first met her, she had been soft-spoken and reserved. But as they interacted more, she grew out of her shell (with some encouragement from Dís). y/n was brilliant. She brought a warmth to a room that a fire could not. Her smile and laugh never failed to make Thorin do the same. She was well read and knowledgeable, but also very curious. Thorin often found himself telling her stories about his trips he would take with his family outside the mountain.

There were some that might have found the friendship between the young royals and a servant to be odd, unbecoming, or scandalous even. But the Durins had little care. y/n practically grew up with them and because she spent so much time around Dís, she spent time with the princes too.

“You’re distracted,” Frerin said, nudging his brother. “If you don’t smile, people might start to think you’ve turned to stone. They might try to come at you with chisels and picks just to see if you still live beneath the rocks.”

“Very funny,” Thorin replied, chuckling slightly at Frerin’s antics.

“What’s on your mind? Or should I ask who?”

“Hush, brother. You need not concern yourself.”

Frerin lifted his hands in surrender, but smiled.

“Just trying to help.”

He stayed silent after that. Thorin glanced at Frerin for a moment, skeptical of him actually being done. When he didn’t say anything, Thorin turned away. He lifted his cup to his lips and took a drink.

“So you’re sure you’re not thinking of anyone?” Thorin struggled not to choke on his drink. “You all right, Thorin?”

He shot Frerin a glare as he swallowed.

“Fine. If I answer your question, will you stop pestering me?”

“Perhaps. One way to find out.”

Thorin sighed.

“I would rather not be here tonight. And before you ask why,” he shot Frerin a knowing look - his brother already had his mouth open to speak, “I wish I was in better company.”

“Like y/n?”

“...Aye.”

“You know, it seems like you’ve been having these kinds of thoughts a lot lately.”

Thorin looked at his brother, puzzled.

“What do you mean?”

“You just seemed very distracted lately. Father has noticed it. Dwalin and Balin have both made comments. Dís and I have seen it too.” Thorin looked down. He hadn’t realized how much his thoughts had been consuming him recently. He didn’t know that others had taken notice. “Do you want to talk about it?”

Thorin sighed and took another sip of his drink, carefully thinking over his words.

“It’s y/n,” he said.

“Well I figured that.”

“I find myself missing her presence, her intelligence, and her wit. She is fun to be around and is challenging in the best ways. I can’t seem to truly put into words what it is I feel, but my time spent with her never truly feels like enough.”

“So you’ve taken a liking to her.”

“Of course I have. She is our friend.”

“He means more than a friend, you thick headed oaf.” The brothers turned to find that Dís had joined them. She smiled at her oldest brother. “You’re different around her, Thorin. It’s refreshing to see.”

Thorin stood quietly after that. He thought back to all of his shared moments with y/n. He greatly enjoyed those moments he got to spend with her. Sometimes, he even had the opportunity of being with her without Dís being present. Their shared moments were ones he had grown to cherish.

“So what are you going to do?” Frerin asked, bringing Thorin out of his thoughts again.

Thorin looked between his younger siblings, who were staring at him expectantly. He went to say something, but Dís quickly interrupted him.

“If you say anything other than ‘tell her how I feel,’ I’m going to hit you.”

Thorin stared at her for a moment, taken aback by her words.

“I’m not sure what I can say,” he said slowly.

“Tell her what you’re feeling!”

“Despite what I might be feeling for her, I can’t. She is your servant, Dís, and I am a prince. Our father and grandfather would never approve.”

“Except they do.”

“What?”

Frerin smiled.

“I’ve already talked to them. They’ve noticed your behavior as of late and asked me if I knew what was going on. I told them that you fancied y/n.”

Thorin stared at his brother. He could feel the heat rising in his face, though he couldn’t tell if it was from embarrassment or anger.

“Frerin,” he growled.

“She likes you too.”

Thorin stopped again and looked at Dís. She was smiling innocently at him.

“What?”

“What do you think we talk about, Thorin? She’s asked about you countless times and I eventually asked her if she was interested. Funny enough, she’s had similar thoughts to you. You know, the whole ‘I’m a servant, he’s a prince’ argument.”

“We can all see you like each other,” Frerin said. “And if you need more people to say it for you to really believe, then we can definitely find some people to convince you.” Thorin shook his head. “Good.”

“Listen, Thorin.” Dís grabbed her brother’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I understand what thoughts you’re having about the situation. But the people around you can tell how much you love her. And we approve. That should tell you something.”

His siblings gave him a minute to process the information they had given him. It all felt so hard to believe.

Thorin looked back at his siblings, but something behind them caught his eye. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped.

y/n was walking through the crowd, dressed in a beautiful (favorite color) dress. She looked a little uncomfortable, but she had never been part of a celebration like this, so he found it understandable. He also thought she looked cute with the little lost look on her face. Dwalin then approached her, giving her someone familiar to talk to.

“She looks beautiful tonight,” Frerin said suddenly. Thorin glanced at him. “You should go to her.”

“Of course she looks beautiful,” Dís said. “I helped her get ready. Not that she needed much help; I just helped enhance her natural beauty a little bit.” She nudged Thorin with her arm. “But he’s right. Go to her. She knows how you feel about her too. That’s why she’s here.”

Thorin nodded slightly. He couldn’t tear his eyes off her. She looked stunning. Her smile seemed to light up the room as she talked with Dwalin, and Thorin thought he could see her bright eyes from where he stood.

He set down his drink and started walking toward her. He watched Dwalin glance at him, say something to y/n, then step away. y/n turned around and smiled when she saw Thorin approaching her. She curtsied a little.

“My prince,” she said.

“My lady,” he said, giving a bow in response.

“I’m afraid I’m no lady. At least not in the sense you speak of.”

He could sense the underlying meaning behind her words - I’m a servant, you’re a prince.

Thorin gently took her hand and lifted it to his lips, kissing the back of her hand.

“You will forever be a lady in my eyes,” he said. “And if you are willing, be my lady? My love?”

“You’re sure?”

“More than anything. And I’m afraid my siblings will riot if we choose anything less.”

“And we can’t have that now, can we?” y/n smiled at him. “I would love that, Thorin. As long as I get to call you mine as well.”

“I would love nothing more, my love.”

#month of writing #writing prompt #Thorin Oakenshield #Thorin #Thorin Oakenshield x reader #Thorin x reader #hobbit #pre smaug #erebor #frerin durin #frerin #dis durin #fluff #tolkien

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lepus-littlebear · 1 year

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Deer, Flower and Her ( ArTw Fic )

༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀*Sirius x Lee Dam ༘♡ ⋆｡˚ ❀*

' Deer, Flower and Her '

Sirius X Lee Dam 이담 ("Default" Summoner)

✧༝┉┉┉┉┉˚❋ ❋ ❋˚┉┉┉┉┉༝✧

Disclaimer: I don't write fanfics so this is my first attempt at writing one hence I apologize for any mistakes. [Italic text means change in P.O.V from 1st person to 3rd person at the end]

❋

“Pretty, isn’t it?”

A sudden familiar voice breaks me out of my trance. I look back at the man standing by me, his hands behind his back as his never-changing impassive smile is directed at me. My gaze lingers on his face for a second before I nod my head.

“Seeing how long you stared at it….should I say that you want it?”

“Not necessarily. I just think it’s beautifully crafted.”

I look back at the glass flower put in display infront of this arts shop we are at. It reflects the sunlight, making it almost blindingly bright. The single delicate flower stood a bit curved but strongly nonetheless as if it was trying its best to stand against the overwhelming light.

“Indeed. Looks like a lot of time and effort went into it”, Sirius’ gaze also turns to the flower. Beside the small sculpture was a thin piece of paper revealing that it was handmade and crafted out of finest glass by the hands of the famous artist himself. Just under it is written the price….looking at the number of 0s, I sigh internally. Of course.

A light chuckle enters my ear and I look at him again, “Are you sure you don’t want it? Because your expression says otherwise.” Sirius’ eyes twinkle in sparkles of gold and his smile is wider than before.

I avoid his gaze feeling seen as I blurt out my thoughts, “Well, even if I did get it, I don’t think I’m capable enough to protect a glass flower. I’d probably accidentally have it shattered and I don’t want that. It would be upsetting.”

I mean one of the reasons is that I don’t have enough money but he doesn’t need to know that.

“Is that so? But I think summoner could do a pretty good job, at least better than me. If you really want it, I can buy it for you.”

I almost want to accept the offer but then refuse after a moment of thought.

“I can’t make you do that. It’s too expensive.”

“Nothing’s too expensive if it’s for our summoner-”

I cut him off before he can continue, “How about you get it then?”

“Now, now, that defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?”

“Just have it in your room, I’ll drop by every now and then to check on it.” My smile is uncontrollable as my eyes settles on his face waiting for how he’ll reply to such a silly suggestion. Obviously it was a joke but Sirius seems a bit surprised at my words. And then his infamous mocking laugh returns again, “Summoner, you really do say interesting things sometimes.”

He seems genuinely amused but takes a deep breathe and looks at the flower as his eyes turn into a dark shade of purple, “I won’t deny that it’s beautiful but at the same time….it’s weak.”

“Weak?”

“Sure, I actually do want to place it somewhere in my room, seems tempting but it will require a lot of care and precision. One wrong move and it’ll fall to the floor, shattering into many pieces.”

His looming expression vanishes again and the annoying smirk returns, “So, you have to be careful summoner. Beautiful innocent things are pretty and alluring to look at but they are weak. They need to be protected or the world around them will eat them and their purity up.”

“So, that’s what you think about it, huh….” I look down, seemingly in thought about his ‘strange’ mindset.

But why did he tell me to be careful? Was it directed towards being careful around the flower or….

“It looks like you find my thinking weird, summoner. But am I really wrong?”

I stay quiet for a moment despite his taunting and decide to enter the store. Sirius seems perplexed before following me silently with a smile that meant to say ‘I won’.

As my feet take me around the small but bright shop slowly, I state my half, “Not exactly. I can’t argue with you saying you’re completely wrong. Like what you said, beautiful things should indeed be protected. Pretty roses for instance, when someone sees a pretty rose, they’ll pluck it and keep it for themselves not caring that it would wilt and die later on. But I want to say that it isn’t the same in every case.”

I stop to gaze at another glass handicraft in front of me and Sirius follows my line of sight. It was a deer this time. A magical deer to be exact. It was from a play that has gained popularity from the locals since the past month.

I point at the deer, my index fingertip coming in contact with the warm transparent display case’s surface, “Do you remember this?”

Sirius looks closely at the craft and hums in agreement, “Light in the woods, right? We went to see this play together last week.”

I nod lightly, “In the play, we follow the life of a poor abandoned man who was disowned by his family. He wandered the village aimlessly in search for shelter and food. Days went by with him surviving off of shades under trees, inside caves and fruits that nature could offer until…he encountered the magical deer.”

Sirius gaze shifts towards me but I refuse to meet his eyes and continue looking at the deer shining magnificently in the light, “It was the deer of life, every villager wanted to hunt it for it had the power to grant any wish one could desire. The man was ecstatic and aimed his weapon made out of wood and sharp stone but he couldn’t. Because it was too beautiful to be killed. So he just stared at the beautiful being from a distance not being able to hurt it and watched as it disappeared before his eyes and deep into the woods.”

I look back at Sirius with a smile to find that his smirk has wiped off and his eyes are now a pool of gold, “What I want to say is that beautiful things may be vulnerable but they have the power to make home inside of people’s soul and melt their frozen heart.”

He stays silent possibly tracing my features with his eyes that lacked any emotion as of current but in opposition, my smile only grew bigger as I recall his words, “See, like what you said earlier, you wanted keep that flower but you were afraid it would break if something went wrong. Didn’t that flower despite being fragile and weak change your heart? You were uninterested before but it made you want to protect it, care for it.”

A stunned expression I had never seen before appears on Sirius’ face, his eyes change into the color of the clear sky that loomed over this pretty little shop right now. He was at loss of words before scoffing and looking away, “I….I only said that because cleaning the broken shards of glasses would be too much work.”

I chuckle to myself and make my way to exit the store light on my feet, “Sure whatever makes you sleep at night~”

But not before pausing and looking back him, “I just want you to remember that strength does not only come from physical capabilities. Things that may be physically weak may have the ability to create the strongest impact on people, who knows?”

Then, I walk out of the store, my expression a complete contrast as to when I had entered.

What the girl didn’t know was that the man who had agreed to accompany her today stayed rooted on his feet and blankly stared at her small back walking away. His expression as void as a night sky without any stars but then a small chuckle broke out from his mouth, “You…”

He followed her outside curious to what their next stop would be at and what surprises she would bring him again. However, his feet halted again when he was about pass by the same glass flower that started this entire exchange of their views. His stare so heavy it almost threatened to break the flower into pieces.

Days later, if someone walked into Sirius' room, they could be able to spot a certain new furniture. A singular display shelf that was not there at the start and inside the expensive shelf was another craft made of delicate glass.

The flower was meticulously placed inside along with real flower petals spread around it. The craft looked like it was cleaned daily and the shelf was placed isolated from all the other things in the room signaling that the flower inside was possibly of a great importance.

Another day when the long dark haired man gently took out the art to wipe it clean like he did every other day, he smiled almost mockingly at his own feeble actions and soft touches.

“Ability to change people’s hearts despite being weak…hah, maybe you were right.”

✧༝┉┉┉┉┉˚❋ ❋ ❋˚┉┉┉┉┉༝✧

I got this idea after remembering how Lee Dam’s strength mainly relies on her mental strength and also bit of summoning power instead of physical fighting ability. ‘Beautiful things can be weak physically but have great power to make homes inside people’s heart and make them soft.’

#i finally completed it after 2 months of procrastinating #artw #arcana twilight #arcana twilight sirius #arcana twilight fic

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inthedayswhenlandswerefew · 5 months

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MAGGIE I DONT KNOW HOW YOU DO IT 😭😭😭😭 CHAPTER 7 HAS GOT ME SCREAMING CRYING THROWING UP 😭😭😭

I need to share my thoughts if that’s okay

-I didn’t realise aegon was older, I think because I read fics of him as his character age it didn’t register that he was older (this is a good thing because holy shit…. holy shit!!)

-I nearly threw a cup when Aemond asked Io to cut her hair. I honestly hope she doesn’t. Like how dare he ask her to do that after everything she’s done through. My baby

-Ludwika (apologies for my bad spelling?) is my hero. Love her. Let her live a long happy life

-that elevator scene… Maggie how do you write so beautifully?? Genuinely asking??? Your work is phenomenal because it’s so realistic and deep, you write in a way that makes the all pain, the thoughts, the feelings so vivid (sorry to be emotional lol) but it’s so true, your work is incredible, truly beautiful.

-I love the slow burn, I love how your building this relationship with aegon, like it’s so nice to see their relationship blooming. How they’ve gone from despising each other to wanting each other is just incredible. I genuinely cannot wait for them to get together (and I’m already imagining their nice little future together teaching kids math and English and music and just having a lovely old time 🥰🤗)

Okay just realised how long this was so I apologise. But please know I absolutely👏🏻freaking👏🏻LOVE this!! It makes my Sunday’s so much better!! I cannot wait for the next chapter 🥹🫶🏻

Bestie I am so so so thankful for you and your love for this series!! Never ever apologize because I adore reading your comments, I probably enjoy it even more than you enjoy the chapter itself lolololol

I am clearly telling on myself here but I am SO WEAK for a chubby middle-aged Aegon, like sir 😍😍 But I also think it adds to his dynamic with Io, because in many ways she is objectively more intelligent, responsible, and accomplished than Aegon, but there's a side to him that is unexpectedly wise and protective when she needs him to be, in part because he has a lot more life experience. Also she loves his dad bod. She is down bad her short king 🥰👑

Aegon and Io have come a LONG way since Chapter 1 when they were basically telling each other to drop dead! The chemistry (and trust) is growing ever-stronger, but is there any way for these two to truly be together??? It's a quandary... 👀 And the future of the nation is at stake!! And don't forget poor Daeron too!!

As much as y'all already hate Aemond, he might just have a few more tricks up his sleeve... 👀👀👀

Stay tuned for a very special phone call in Chapter 8 🥰💜😉☎️

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kaija-rayne-author · 1 year

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Some thinkee thoughts about 'the scene' and Solas's Romance. Spoilers for DAI Dragon Age Inquisition.

Okay, so, I've finished the base game part of the Solavellan playthrough. I've read a fair bit of responses to it all by now. But there're a few things I haven't yet seen. It's possible I just haven't discovered them, but I found some very salient character/story things in Solas that I want to share.

Please no spoilers on Trespasser or the books. I haven't gotten to them yet. My Inquisitor is non-binary like me, but because of how I RP her, I still use she/her or they/them pronouns for them.

For context, my real life job is an editor, and I'm a multiply published author.

The Solavellan Romance is an absolutely stunning example of a star-crossed lovers relationship. It's incredibly obvious they love one another, but due to Solas's plans and beliefs, they can't be together.

In the line 'in another world' you can sense his longing to set down his burden and just love her.

I can clearly see that it's this world, and this enby he's falling more and more in love with. But she will disappear when he works his plan. He's already in too deep. He just doesn't understand that yet.

That is the chef's kiss of star-crossed lovers. The longing, the subtle desperation, the knowledge of your love, and the deeper knowledge that you can't have it. That the stars are crossing the path of the love and severing any possibility of continuance.

All of that is beautifully crafted into Solas as a character.

I have so much professional and heartaching praise for this perfectly executed star-crossed lovers set up. Patrick Weekes deserves all the props for that. Star-crossed isn't easy to write. I know because I often write it. I have a deep weakness for star-crossed lovers, so I read it a lot too. This one was perfect.

I have to admit I don't understand all the fan reactions hating on Solas or acting as if he doesn't actually love the Inquisitor.

I mean, love or hate him, I don't personally care what people feel about him because it's a very personal thing. I just know how he makes me feel (and thus, my inky too).

But why are people questioning whether he cares about, loves, the Inquisitor? It's written all over him! Every gesture, every facial expression. Every tiny hitch in his breath.

I don't think I've seen his fear mentioned anywhere. Again, I just may have not run across it yet, but for such an integral part of that break up scene, you'd think people would be talking about it. He's running scared, utterly terrified. He's not leaving her for anything else.

Think about it. He's (likely) immortal, or at the very least nigh-immortal. Some estimates of his age are in the 5000 year bracket. From his perspective, he wakes up from a really long nap to find out the world he loved; the world in which he rebelled against the powers that were (who were possibly even his family) to save his people, only to find it has turned into something so unrecognizable that he feels honour bound to rectify his mistake. Honour is a heavy and incredibly important thing to Solas. You can see that in his reaction to Blackwall's revelation.

Solas is ashamed, grieving, planning to fix it but not sure he can. Alone, because he can't count on anyone else. (And his greatest fear is dying alone!) OF COURSE he's scared of falling in love. NOW IS NOT THE TIME must be ringing through him.

Hell, many many people are afraid of falling in love and they don't have a spot on the Dread Wolf's baggage.

Lavellan makes him feel. For a mortal. She draws his fascination away from the fade. Something he's said straight up is something that's never happened and he didn't think was possible. She jeopardizes his plans, yes. But if you've never experienced that kind of love, one thing I will say about it is this... if you fall deeply enough, there is very little that's unthinkable in reaching a place where you can have that love. That's the crux of his motivation in that scene.

That's what made him suddenly break it off. You can see it in the moment he pulls back from the kiss. He's blissed out when he's kissing her. The curve of his eyebrow and the way he has his eyes closed show that clearly. But then it hits him... he can't do this. His eyes widen just a fraction and you can see the moment he realizes he will absolutely lose himself to Lavellan. He would go down the path he's likely seen hundreds of thousands of times, falling in love. So deeply in love that he’d give up everything else for the path that would see him accept the world as it is, something he finds anathema, so he can stay in her arms, keep her, keep her freely offered love. His honour could never allow that.

Our wolfy boy is so terrified he turned tail and skeddadled with said tail tucked between his legs like the wolf he is.

I don't think I've seen even a peep about his fear. The reason he would tell everyone (and himself) for breaking things off with inky is that if his plans succeed, she won't exist anymore. There's foreshadowing on this in his personal quest with the spirit.

He believes so strongly that he needs to fix what he broke that he is cutting his heart out and leaving it on a silver platter because his people need him more than he needs his heart. That's his bedrock belief. And he can't let anything get in the way of that.

He's telling himself he has to let her go because of his plans, but that's just his excuse. Apparently, even immortal elven gods lie to themselves about love.

When he breaks it off with Lavellan, it feels like a shock because it's a shock to him as well. He took her to the waterfall to tell her the truth about himself.

His voice hitches just a little before he switches paths to tell her about the Vellaslin. I'd bet he was going to tell her who he is. But at the ultimate moment, he chickens out.

Wish I could draw better, I've got a hilarious image in my head of Solas as wolf covered in chicken feathers running full tilt away from Lavellan. Who has a silvery leash from her heart to his throat. The guy is lost already, he just doesn't know it.

He surprised them both. The depth of his feelings for her scare the shit out of him. He suddenly knows that he would give up everything for this love. He panics, and he's running scared from committing to the enby he loves.

There's an interesting bit of coincidence in that theme, and it's been used in Dragon Age before. Soilers for DAO

If you ever managed to piss off Alistair in DAO on the kingship path, (I managed it without trying hard 😅) he breaks up with you for much the same reason. His dialogue there includes 'I could get lost in you'. And that is what has sent our wolf running for the hills.

Solas has so very obviously never been in love before. He's hinted at that several times in his dialogue. TBH, I get 'virgin in the real world' vibes from Solas.

He may have had relationships with spirits, he may have done as Blackwall hinted and 'gotten frisky with a spirit in the fade'. But Lavellan is the first time (and Dreadwolf may very well prove me wrong) that Solas feels actual romantic love on the mortal plane. And for a mortal nonetheless! At the WORST possible time.

Another thing I don't see people talking about much, if at all, is how heavily neurodivergent coded Solas is.

I mean, nerdy research expert type dude who has eons of knowledge. (Walking encyclopedia thing, anyone?)

Esoteric artist using ancient methods?

Extreme reaction to an innocuous beverage like tea? (Taste/texture sensitivities anyone?)

Always on the edge of things?

Knows far more than he says?

Always observing, always learning.

He even stims in the cut scenes several times. He's heavily coded as either autistic or ADHD or both.

I've seen complaints that Solas isn't very emotive. But to me, he's screaming emotion with every gesture, every breath. Especially in the dawnlit and waterfall scenes.

I'm not even sure what to call it, animation? Modelling? What kind of name can you give moving artwork like a modern video game? Anyway, whoever took the writing part and made the visuals for Solas, I think, understood neurodivergency and enacted it perfectly.

His emotional tells are there. But, like the character himself, they're subtle.

Given how many complaints I've seen about that topic, I have to then wonder if I can see it better because I'm neurodivergent and my family is too. I'm used to reading neurodivergent people.

That's... that's not me being arrogant. Neurotypical people cannot read autistic and ADHD people very well, if at all. Our body language and facial expressions are so subtle or different that we're often accused of being angry when we're having a good time or are just deep in thought. Heard the term 'resting bitch face'? Yup. That's a common (soooo common) marker for an autistic or ADHD or autistic/ADHD person.

He's heavily neurodivergent coded, maybe that's why I don't have any trouble reading him? Are people just not picking up on all the details I do? (There's no judgement or fault in this. It's just fact. A lot of autistic and ADHD folks can't read NTs either. I can, but it’s something I learned to do vs anything innate. We're wired so differently and speak completely different non-verbal languages.)

During the waterfall scene, before the final part, he's got so much love and awe on his face and in his body language that it's so so obvious he loves Lavellan. I just can't grok the questions of does he or doesn't he. If he didn't, he'd have acted much differently.

It's just as obvious by the end of the scene that he's convinced himself he can't have her. That they can't have each other.

I've absolutely joined the Solavellan hell carousel 😆. I desperately hope Dreadwolf offers some sort of positive closure for Lavellan and Solas. I hope bioware believes in happy endings.

Aaaand my opinion is subject to change after I play Trespasser. I don't know very much of what happens in that, so I may have to eat these words.

#dragon age series #solas #solavellan #solavellen hell #dragon age #dragon age inquisition #dragon age confessions #lavellan #inquisitor lavellan

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