#in character. / ( literature muses. )

[heartbeatbookclub]

I think, in a lot of ways, Monika and Sayori are reflections of each other.

Really, I think all of the girls are similar in a lot of their issues (self-esteem, anxiety, etc) and that's something emphasized in a lot of the stories, and a big part of why they all gravitate towards each other and work to create the club as a safe space for all of them, but I think Monika and Sayori in particular are just very much alike.

I think Trust really emphasized this similarity in the reveal of Sayori's poem, Become the Flower.

Prior to shifting focus onto the poem, Monika talks to herself about her real vision for the Literature Club. I think here, Monika points out what Sayori actually meant when she said that Monika was "trying to make the club [she] needs the most, out of anyone", even if she doesn't actually realize that yet. It's pretty clear that when she says that literature is a window to the real self underneath the person who's "forced to always smile and blend in", and is "forced to be perfect", she's really talking about herself.

I think that a lot of Monika's character throughout Trust is expressed more subtly, often in a roundabout way like this. A huge part of the story is centered around Monika's own personal struggles expressing herself, and that trait is pretty well exemplified in this indirect way of talking about her own struggles. I think that the reason why Monika's characterization here is so subtle overall is reflective of this.

And I think it's pretty blatant that this is statement is also meant to be reflective of Sayori, given that we immediately move from this statement onto the poem which reveals to Monika that she's been hiding her own problems. In this way, I think Team Salvato wanted to explicitly point out how similar they really are, and draw your attention to it.

I think that the way that Trust as a story is put together is meant to really emphasize just how similar they are even in their differences; spending a great deal of time focusing on Monika's own problems, to then showcase Sayori as the mirror to them.

I think the two of them make a very interesting pair in that respect, because a big similarity they have is that they very much place others above themselves, so they both end up individually building each other up while they put themselves down. It creates this strange back and forth where they each insist they suck and the other is great, when the reality is that they're both pretty fantastic.

In the statement Monika made to herself about her vision of the club, while it's clear she's talking about herself, she frames it in the context of somebody else getting those benefits out of the Literature Club, rather than herself. Throughout the entirety of Trust, she speaks dismissively of her efforts and her problems alike, while pointing out that Sayori is providing a lot of help. Sayori by contrast spends most of her time hyping her up and points out, explicitly, that Monika doesn't give herself enough credit. She also dismisses her own efforts, pointing out in most things she does, up into the climax, that Monika is a lot better than her at whatever she's doing. And when Sayori's problems are actually revealed, she explicitly says that she doesn't want Monika to worry about her, and that she doesn't want to have this conversation.

I think this all really shows that both of them are averse to tackling their own problems head-on, and I think this comes out of a fear of being vulnerable, since that's directly mentioned several times in Monika's issues openly expressing herself.

I think what makes Monika's particular brand of self-negging quite so disheartening is that she dismisses it out of hand as her being silly and dramatic, and in that way, she doesn't actually address the fundamental problem underlying it, nor does she actually address the statements themselves as incorrect. The amount of time she spends talking down her own problems as something trivial and silly, particularly in comparison to Sayori's problems, are a manifestation of her own desire to avoid the vulnerability of even having these problems, and it's just...heartbreaking. Sayori's denial is its own can of worms, but Monika's ability to so consistently minimize her issues when they are clearly still impacting her is so uniquely troublesome.

I think a big difference between the two of them in that respect is that Monika wears significantly more of her heart on her sleeve, so Sayori finds it a lot easier to directly target Monika's problems than Monika does in the reverse, but their individual habits of avoidance are coming from the same place.

I'm traveling a bit aimlessly in this essay, trying to tie things together nicely as I see them, but there are just a lot of similarities I notice between their actions and the way they think that showcase that they have a lot of the same problems, and a huge theme in Trust is expressing oneself, which both Monika and Sayori struggle to do, in much the same way.

I think a key similarity between the two of them is their tendency to catastrophize over a situation when left alone, mostly revolving around seeing the worst possible scenario for how they could've personally messed up the situation. I'm just rewatching Trust for this little essay, so there are two major moments I see Monika doing this, but I remember Sayori doing this...a few times, actually, throughout the side stories.

I think the spiral Monika goes into after reading Become the Flower is particularly important, as it exemplifies the habit of dismissing her own problems fantastically; in this case, she has an excuse. It's true that Monika's issues with her perfectionism seem silly and trivial in comparison to Sayori's, but that's exactly the thing: She shouldn't be comparing them in the first place! Her problems are real, and they clearly cause her distress, but because Sayori's own issues appear so much more serious than hers, she dismisses them wholesale as her being dramatic and silly. Because Monika's problems seem so small, she doesn't see them for the problems they really are. In the same way, because her own accomplishments and work seem so small, she doesn't see them for the accomplishments they are.

This spiral showcases Monika's biggest problem, the reason why she has such trouble expressing herself, and conversely, the exact same problem Sayori has. She doesn't want to be the center of attention.

Put another way, she doesn't think she deserves to be the center of attention. Her problems are so trivial; her accomplishments menial. Her fear of vulnerability isn't a fear that others will hurt her; it's a fear of being selfish.

Sayori is very similar, in that the reason she actively works to avoid showing any possible sign that anything is wrong is because she doesn't want anyone to worry about her. She doesn't want other people to dedicate time and energy to her.

I think that for both of them, this comes from low self-esteem. Sayori is self-explanatory I think, but I'd say Monika's perfectionism makes it exceptionally difficult for her to really feel accomplished in anything she does, which, coupled with her constant preoccupation with how she appears to other people (I think Monika places very high expectations on herself. I mean, Trust literally starts with her frantically apologizing and saying "I normally don't ever do this!" when Sayori finds her napping) makes it very difficult for her to feel confident in herself.

The fear both Sayori and Monika have in being vulnerable isn't that people will use that vulnerability to hurt them.

It's that people will try to help them.

And I think that's a really big part of why Sayori feels like she can trust Monika with her darkest thoughts, because she understands that they're the same in a lot of ways.

Monika created the club which she needed the most...and it was also the club Sayori needed the most, for the exact same reason.

I think it's kinda easy to overlook a lot of this because of the sheer amount of focus placed onto Sayori and the more explicit issue Monika has (insofar as the plot is concerned), but I think Sayori is exactly what Monika needs just as much as Monika is what Sayori needs.

[note-boom]

Something about bsd abilities and trauma and also literature as escapism to face reality better. Something about Atsushi's fantasy being all about strength and self healing and a rampaging "beast beneath the moonlight" when reality forces him to rely on others to heal and emphasizes his empathy and "weakness." Something about Dazai's escapist fantasy and character trope as something "no longer human" when he actually is very much human. Something about Yosano's fantasy being a world where "thou shalt not die" when reality keeps making her face death. Something about Kunikida's desires to be a "lone poet" against the world with just him and his ideals realised when reality is full of people he can't abandon. Or Kenji escaping into a world where he is "undefeated by the rain" and putting his entire soul into living that dream out. Or Akutagawa being (philosophically) consumed by his "rashoumon" when reality shows he doesn't always have to devour and overtake....

[talentforlying]

i'm about to run off to class but i've been going positively apeshit about shakespeare for the last three hours so like: what shakespeare play would y'all most associate your muses with?? in terms of story themes, related aesthetics, character arcs/tropes, etc?? or see if i can assign them one that fits if you'd like, idk, i'm vibing

[emotinalsupportturtle]

Does anyone have moments when someone is telling you about their real life experiences with relationships or other people and you notice patterns of behaviour you have seen before in literature/media and then you have a sort of Deja vu moment

[monmuses]

Carmen's werewolf form is a very mixed creature with how much of an animal it is. She was the victim of a monster who ruined her family at a young age, and is stuck with holding that trauma until her supposed "death". During the age of cowboys in the late 19th century, she resorted to that sort of job and has since tried her best to keep the beast in.

The only unfortunate thing is she is a hunted animal. Like the "Wolfman", she is an animal that hunts creatures and acts like an animal; her humanity is nearly long gone besides her personality and what's left under the full moon. However, she still is the wolf in a sense with no control over herself. Her introverted personality makes it much harder for her to socialize with others and make friends, knowing well what her status is as a rabid monster.

Her aliased name when in town is Jackie Marlow, but many sheriffs call her he Red Wolf (due to the reddish fur color / hair color she attains). She will end up visiting England as a stowaway later on in her life to get away, but will end up experiencing the same treatment when she was in America.

tl;dr she is aware as a werewolf and as a human, but more beast-like and reverts to a very animalistic nature and cannot control it.

[bohemian-rhapsody-in-blue]

Thank you for all the Macbeth content in my dashboard today, started reading it in English and I love it

Apologies for the two-days-late response (this ask is referring to my Macbeth post spam of two days ago), but that's so cool that you've just started studying the play! I'm so glad you like the Macbeth content as well as the play itself! I read it for a Shakespeare class at my college last semester, and by the end of that semester it had rocketed up to the status of my favorite Shakespeare play (sorry, Hamlet, I still love you!). That's why I was so excited to be participating in a production of it!

I like how plot-driven and fast-paced it is, with a very tight plot, events following each other like boom-boom-boom (unlike something like Hamlet, which has a lot of brooding and rumination), and plot twists that leave the reader SHOOKETH. But at the same time, I also like how nuanced the characters are and what potential they have for backstory. And I love the atmosphere of creepiness, horror, and visceral wrong-ness. It's fascinating to study how Shakespeare ratchets up the tension in not just the plot, and the story of Macbeth's and Lady Macbeth's slowly unraveling (in different directions!), but also the language.

A fun fact for you, as you continue to read the play for your English class, is that most people in the play speak in iambic pentameter as is Shakespeare's norm. This means every line is composed of five iambs, with the stress on the second syllable (ex. "So foul / and fair / a day / I have / not seen"). The witches, on the other hand, speak in trochaic tetrameter. Most, if not all, lines of their dialogue are composed of four trochees, with the stress on the FIRST syllable (ex. "Something / wicked / this way / comes"). Basically, they speak backwards compared to everyone else in the play, emphasizing their wrongness and otherworldliness. How cool is that?! There's also this article I reblogged, in which a team of researchers used computer analysis to determine the creepiest word in Macbeth. I won't spoil for you what the word is, but it's a fascinating analysis!

Anyway, I'm so glad you enjoyed all the Macbeth content that I reblogged yesterday! I hope you also enjoyed this mini-ramble and, most of all, that you continue to enjoy the play!

[majestativa]

A progressively-edited post about my muses, because why not?

Literature:

Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Al-Khansae, Andrée Chedid, Anna Akhmatova, Anne Carson, Antonia Pozzi

Blaga Dimitrova, Brenda Venus

Carmen M. Pursifull, Claribel Alegría, Clarice Lispector, Constance Merritt

Dacia Maraini, Daniela Crăsnaru, Diane di Parma, Dora Maar

Edith Södergran, Eira Stenberg, Excilia Saldaña

Florbela Espanca, Frida Kahlo, Forough Farrokhzad

Georgina Herrera, Gertrud Kolmar, Gioconda Belli, Guadalupe Amor, Gwendolyn MacEwen

Halina Poświatowska, Hélène Cixous, Hilda Hilst

Ingeborg Bachmann

Jorie Graham, Joyce Mansour, Juana de Ibarbourou, June Jordan

Kerstin Söderholm

Lia Sturua, Liliana Ursu, Lillian Olson, Linda Pastan, Lou Andreas-Salomé, Lourdes Vázquez

Marina Tsvetaeva, May Ziadeh, Maya Angelou, Mina Loy

Nabaneeta Dev Sen, Nazik Al-Malaika, Nina Berberova, Nina Cassian

Olga Orozco, Olga Sedakova

Remedios Varo, Renate Druks, Rita Dove, Rosario Castellanos

Sandra Cisneros, Shadab Zeest Hashmi, Sheri-D Wilson, Sheryl St. Germain, Siham Bouhlal, Simin Behbahani, Simone Weil, Stella Díaz Varín, Stephanie M. Wytovich, Sylvia Plath

Unica Zürn

Valentina Saraçini, Valzhyna Mort, Virginia Woolf, Vivian Hansen

Warsan Shire

Zakiyya Malallah

Movies’ Actors/Directors/Performers:

Agnès Varda, Anjelica Huston, Anna Magnani, Audrey Hepburn

Bettie Paige

Dalia Mostafa, Dita Von Teese

Elizabeth Taylor

Faten Hamama

Gemma Chan, Ghada Adel

Haifa Wehbe, Hanan Tork, Hande Erçel, Hema Malini

Jaime Pressly, Joanne Woodward

Kareena Kapoor, Katie Holmes, Keira Knightley, Kim Basinger

Lekaa Elkhamissi, Lucy Lawless, Lucy Liu

Madhuri Dixit, Magda al Sabbahi, Mariam Fakhr-Eddine, Marilyn Manroe, Marlene Dietrich, Megan Fox, Melike İpek Yalova, Menna Shalabi, Meryl Streep, Mia Goth, Michelle Pfeiffer

Nelly Karim, Nicole Kidman

Ola Ghanem

Penelope Cruz

Rachel Weisz, Rita Hayworth, Rooney Mara

Shadia, Sherihan

Thalia, Theda Bara, Tuba Büyüküstün

Vanessa Hudgens

Musicians:

Aaliyah, Asmahan

Chelsea Wolf, Colleen Duffy (Devil Doll)

Elsieanne Caplette (Elsiane)

FKA Twigs, Floor Jansen

Lana Del Rey (Post-Sylvia-Plath Era)

Maria Callas

Sevdaliza, Shana Halligan (Bitter:Sweet), Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation), Simone Simons (Epica)

Tarja Turunen, Taylor Swift (Since Reputation Era)

Warda Al-Jazairia

Characters:

Antigone, Artemis

Chandramukhi

Desdemona, Durga

Electra, Ereshkigal, Eve

Kahina, Kali

Lilith

Magdalene, Medea, Medusa, Messalina, Morticia Addams

Ophelia

Persephone

Shahmaran, Scheherazade

Xena

[darabeatha]

  /  If ur wondering why the hyperfixation on Jason; the reason is bc it was inevitable

[yourjadedmuse]

batshit crazy: most prominent characteristic of female protagonists

[l1tterae]

recommend  me  books  to  read  next.

[ac1nums]

literature muses.

daisy jones and the six.

billy dunne, lead singer of the six, twenty-thirties/forties, sam claflin, bisexual. camila alvarez/dunne, photographer, twenty-thirties/forties, camila morrone, bisexual. margaret/daisy jones, lead singer for the six, twenty-thirties/forties, riley keough, bisexual. eddie roundtree, guitarist/bassist for the six, twenty-thirties/forties, josh whitehouse, bisexual. graham dunne, guitarist for the six, twenty-thirties/forties, will harrison, bisexual. karen sirko, keyboardist for the six, twenty-thirties/forties, suki waterhouse, bisexual. simone jackson, disco queen, twenty-thirties/forties, nabiyah be, lesbian. warren rojas, drummer and stoner for the six, twenty-thirties/forties, sebastian chacon, bisexual.

devil's night series.

emory scott, eighteen/twenty-five depending of the verse, college student/architect who owns a company with damon torrance, have lot of issues and loves to reject boys/girls, bisexual, Reiña Jacinta Silva. 

malibu rising.

nina riva, nepo baby ( unfortunally ) eldest daughter of singer mick riva and mother june riva. love surfing and doesn’t like to be the center of attentions. loves her sliblings so much, she would do anything for them. twenty/thrity, victoria bronova, bisexual.

off campus / briar u.

allie hayes, drama queen of briar and college student, twenty, chloe rose robertson, bisexual. brian crowes, hockey player of briar and college student, twenty, jacob elordi, bisexual. daisy abrahams, hockey player for the girl of briar and college student, twenty, benedetta porcaroli, bisexual. garrett graham, stars of the hockey team of briar and the bruins, twenty, froy gutierrez, bisexual. hannah wells, singer of briar and college student, twenty, diana silver, bisexual. ivana loveslange, influencer of briar and college student, twenty, sahar luna, straight, ship exclusive with. jake connelly, stars of the hockey team of harvard and the bruins, twenty, joshua orpin, bisexual. john logan, stars of the hockey team of briar and the bruins + garagist, twenty, corrado martini, bisexual. sabrina james, baby mama of jamie and law student at harvard and briar, twenty, cindy kimberly, bisexual. demi davis, twenty-one years old girl who loves to show confidence, nailea devora, bisexual. taylor marsh, twenty-one years old, loves educating children from hasting’s elementary school, olivia scott welch, pansexual. conor edwards, surfer and hockey player from briar , twenty-two, neels visser, pansexual. summer heyward-di laurentis, sunshine who’s living her best life at briar, twenty-one, valentina zenere, bisexual.

twilight.

alice cullen, vampire who’s a little bit lunatic at times and psychic, nineteen in apparence but 186+, ashley moore, bisexual. rosalie hale, beauty queen who’s a little bit cold but is a cinamon, twenty in apparence but 73+, samantha logan, bisexual.

the seven husbands of evelyn hugo.

evelyn hugo, porto-rican godess who hated everything about herself so she build an image of perfections, actress, twenty/thirty/forty, ana de armas, lesbian ( closeted at the begining )

the secret circle.

diana meade, witchy woo and student, twenty, shelley hennig, bisexual. faye chamberlain, witchy woo student who loves magic too much for her liking, like making deals with devils, eighteen/twenty-five, bisexual, phoebe tonkin.

the vampire diaries.

damon salvatore, brooding brother who’s obessessed with a evil vampire, +500 years, kaden hammond, bisexual. katherine von swartzschild, she is german who is born during the renaissance era to baron von swartzschild and was turned against her will due to a sickness and is now trying to survive among others. still is manipulative and like to seduce and lure men or women ( she likes both, ) so that she can get what she wants, money, power and glory. +1000 years, bisexual, kennedy walsh.

after.

theresa lynn young, student and writer, eighteen years old girl who tries not to attact attentions but doesn’t suceed, bisexual, olivia dejonge.

offside.

chase carter, twenty-two years, likes to pushes men against ice rinks when they says outrageous and bad things about women, bisexual, elmo o'dwyer. bailey james, twenty-one who got dumped on her birthday and hates her own college, so, likes to hang with the enemy, bisexual, marissa grace long.

the maze runner.

thomas, subject a2, the leader, greenie, chuck’s older brother, runner from the glade, group a, impulsive at times, will do anything for his friends and people in general. seventeen-nineteen. bisexual. dylan o'brien. minho, subject a7, keeper of the runners, is thomas’s and newt’s sidekick, will do anything for his friends, people in general. bisexual, seventeen-nineteen, ki hong lee.

twisted games.

rhys larsen, thirty-one years, former military now a bodyguard, stoic broody and arrogant, is pretty good at his joband tries not to let it get too personal, bisexual, hakan adalı.

pjo.

piper mclean, piper is a demigod, meaning she is the offspring of a mortal and a god. her parentage is revealed later in the series: she is the daughter of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. piper’s father is Tristan McLean, a famous actor. seventeen-nineteen, bisexual, madison bailey. jason grace, jason is a demigod, born to the Roman god Jupiter ( the equivalent of the Greek god Zeus ) and a mortal woman named Beryl Grace. he was raised at Camp Jupiter, the Roman counterpart to Camp Half-Blood, where Greek demigods are trained. like his Greek counterpart Percy Jackson, Jason plays a crucial role in the events that unfold in the series., seventeen-nineteen, bisexual, rudy pankow.

the empyrean series.

catriona cordella, gryphon flier, niece of viscount tearus, syrena cordella's Sister. she goes to cliffsbane academy and is third in line for the throne of poromiel. know for her elegant figure and flawless features, she is also strong and determined. skills are noteworthy, especially in runes and mind work, where she demonstractes exceptional proficiency. twenty-two years, bisexual, bruna marquezine. violet sorrengail, dragon rider, bonded to both tairn and andarna. is in the riders quadrant at basgiath war college and is in second squad, flame section, fourth wing. she is smart but also pretty reckless. twenty-one, bisexual, chase sui wonders .

night shift.

kendall holiday, eighteen year old college girl who parties only on thursday and monday but read books on nights at her shifts to the college library, bisexual, sabrina carpenter.

the idea of you.

acotar series.

hayes campbell, twenty-five years, lead singer of the biggest boyband of the planet, august moon. charismatic, magnetic, is an activist who loves nature and is a hopeless romantic, bisexual, nicholas galitzine.

feyre archeron, twenty something huntress who's ready to do anythng in her power to save and provide for her family, half fearie as well, she's not afraid of showing other how witty she can get. bisexual, alycia debnam-carey.

through my window series.

ares hidalgo, nineteen/twenty-five years old boy who likes his name and hack onto people's wifi. even though he is rich but it's only to interact with others he is obessessed with. bisexual. julio pena.

carrie soto is back.

carrie soto, tennis woman who is her father's blessing, who think love is so overrated and think works is more important than letting her feelings get in the way, twenty-thirty, bisexual, priscilla quintana.

[plutorine]

my earliest encounter with russian literature was in senior year of high school when our 21st century lit teacher told us about God Sees the Truth, But Waits by Leo Tolstoy and my first thought was "wow now THAT'S depressing can't catch me reading anything like that!"

fast forward to present day, 4th year college me who identifies with raskolnikov (minus the double murder and the lack of running water) who's a protag from yet another depressing piece of russian literature

[deliciousangelfestival]

Curses from Ex-Boyfriend || Oneshot

Character: Artist!Bucky x Reader

Summary: Y/N navigates humorous breakups and manages an art gallery. A reunion with first love, Bucky, at an exhibition ignites a whimsical love story woven with unexpected enchantments.

Main Masterlist || support: Ko-fi

Thank you to anyone who gave a like, reblog, and left a comment. It motivated me to write more. 

Y/N sunk into the barstool, her eyes telling tales of another failed relationship. Yolanda, the supportive friend, encouraged Y/N to share the latest misadventure in her love life.

Y/N sighed, "Okay, get this. The first one, Mike, broke up with me because he claimed my choice of pizza toppings was a reflection of our incompatibility. Apparently, pineapple lovers and non-pineapple lovers are destined to fail."

"Then there was Mark," Y/N continued, a smirk playing on her lips. "He couldn't stand the fact that I had a more extensive collection of pokemon than he did. He said it was a sign of divergent life goals."

Yolanda raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Tell me more."

"James, number three," Y/N chuckled, "Simple, he doesn't like dog."

"Alex was next in line," Y/N continued her tone a mix of disbelief and amusement. "He called it quits because he believed my excessive use of emojis in texts was a clear indication of a lack of emotional depth. Can you imagine?"

Yolanda laughed, "You can't be serious! What about the fifth one?"

Y/N sighed again, "Oh, Tom. He said my insistence on arranging our bookshelf by color instead of genre was a deal-breaker. Apparently, a good relationship requires organized literature. Can you believe these reasons?"

"Bucky was the longest, wasn't he?" Yolanda mused, a smile playing on her lips.

Y/N nodded, "Yeah, high school sweethearts, you know? We were the classic emo couple, complete with matching black outfits and moody music playlists."

Curiosity flickered in Yolanda's eyes, "So, why did you guys break up?"

Y/N chuckled, "Dead serious. Bucky was deep into it. I remember one day, he used a spell to try and cancel a math quiz."

Y/N grinned, "Oh, maybe because I'm over with emo and I think because Bucky got into magic, like, real magic. He bought this ancient-looking spell book at a flea market."

Yolanda's eyebrows shot up in disbelief, "Magic? Seriously?"

Yolanda burst into laughter, "Wait, what? A spell to cancel a quiz?"

Y/N nodded, "Yeah, he was convinced he could influence the universe with his newfound magical prowess. The thing is, our math teacher did cancel a quiz that week, but I later found out it was because he had a stomachache."

Yolanda's laughter faded into a look of realization, "Wait, are you saying Bucky's spell worked, or was it just a coincidence?"

Y/N shrugged, "Who knows? But I guess that was the beginning of the end. Bucky's magic phase and my inability to take his magical ambitions seriously eventually led to our breakup."

Yolanda winked, still teasing, "Maybe he enchanted you with a love spell, and that's why your relationships have been so... uniquely challenging."

Y/N rolled her eyes, feigning exasperation, "Please, if Bucky had any magical influence, it would've been to summon more black eyeliner or something."

Yolanda joined in the laughter, realizing the absurdity of her own suggestion. "I guess you're right. Love spells and high school relationships don't really go hand in hand."

As they clinked their glasses together, Y/N couldn't help but feel grateful for Yolanda's light-hearted humor.

Y/N groaned as she woke up with a slight headache, the remnants of the drinks from the previous night's escapade still lingering. Despite the throbbing in her head, she dragged herself to work at the prestigious art gallery where she served as the manager.

As Y/N settled into her office, her boss, the eccentric Madam Madeline, swept in with her fur jacket and oversized glasses, an aura of sophistication surrounding her. Madeline, always on the lookout for the next big thing, had an uncanny talent for discovering hidden gems in the art world.

With an air of excitement, Madeline announced, "Y/N, darling, I've found the next big artist during my travels around Europe. A true visionary! Prepare yourself; this is going to be huge for the gallery."

Y/N, still nursing her headache, tried to focus on Madeline's words. "Really? That's fantastic news. Who is this artist?"

Madeline beamed, "Oh, you'll see soon enough. I've arranged for the gallery to showcase their artwork. We need to get everything ready for the grand reveal. This could be a game-changer for us, my dear."

Despite the pounding in her head, Y/N felt a surge of adrenaline at the prospect of introducing a groundbreaking artist to the gallery's patrons. With a nod and a determined smile, she assured Madeline, "Consider it done. I'll make sure everything is prepared for the big showcase. This artist is going to leave a mark on the art world, and our gallery will be at the forefront."

As Madeline left the room, Y/N rubbed her temples, contemplating the exciting challenge ahead.

The day of the grand art exhibition arrived, and the gallery buzzed with anticipation. Y/N couldn't help but be excited about unveiling the mysterious artist's work. The moment Madam Madeline revealed the artwork, gasps of awe echoed through the gallery.

The paintings were truly impressive, capturing the essence of emotion and movement in each stroke. Yet, as Y/N studied the intricate lines, a sense of familiarity tugged at her. It was only when Madeline dramatically unveiled the artist's identity that Y/N's surprise reached its peak.

"Bucky?" Y/N muttered under her breath, disbelief washing over her. She couldn't reconcile the image of the once-emo high school boyfriend with the sophisticated artist standing before her.

Without the signature eyeliner and long hair covering half his face, Bucky had transformed into an entirely different person.

Madeline, reveling in the dramatic revelation, announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, the brilliant artist behind these captivating pieces is none other than Bucky!"

Y/N's eyes widened as Bucky approached her with a confident smile. "Hey, Y/N. Long time no see."

It took a moment for Y/N to process the situation. "Bucky? The Bucky from high school?"

He nodded, "The one and only. Surprised?"

Y/N couldn't help but laugh nervously, "More than you can imagine. I didn't know you had this side to you."

Bucky chuckled, "Life is full of surprises. Just like art."

As the reality of the situation sank in, Y/N couldn't help but marvel at the unexpected twist of fate.

Intrigued by the transformation in Bucky's life, Y/N couldn't help but ask, "Bucky, where have you been all these years?"

Bucky grinned, a twinkle in his eyes, "After high school, I decided to pursue art more seriously. I entered art school, but it turned out the formal education wasn't for me. So, I packed my bags and hit the road, traveling around the country to draw inspiration from different landscapes and cultures."

Y/N listened, captivated by the adventurous turn in Bucky's journey. "And then?" she prompted.

Bucky continued, "I found myself in Europe, sketching the beautiful landscapes and immersing myself in the art scene. That's where I crossed paths with Madeline. She saw something in my work, and the next thing I knew, I'm back home."

Y/N couldn't hide her amazement. "That's incredible, Bucky. I had no idea you were out there making a name for yourself in the art world."

Bucky smiled modestly, his eyes reflecting a mixture of pride and gratitude. "Yeah, life has a way of surprising you," he remarked. "Art became my language, and every stroke on the canvas felt like a piece of my soul. Little did I know it would lead me here."

As Y/N continued to admire Bucky's work, a comfortable silence settled between them, punctuated only by the soft background hum of the art gallery. The familiarity of their shared past mingled with the newfound understanding of the paths they had taken.

Bucky broke the silence, "You know, Y/N, seeing you again brings back a flood of memories. The art, the laughter, the quirky moments—some things never change."

Y/N smiled, "Indeed, some things don't. Life has a funny way of circling back, doesn't it?"

As Madeline enthusiastically dragged Bucky away to meet other attendees, Y/N found herself momentarily alone, surrounded by the captivating artwork.

Observing Bucky engage with the crowd, Y/N couldn't help but feel a sense of pride for the once-emo high school boyfriend who had evolved into a renowned artist. The whimsical nature of their teenage years seemed worlds apart from the sophisticated individual now navigating the art world.

Y/N strolled through the gallery, and she noticed a subtle but significant detail in each painting – a delicately drawn flower nestled somewhere within the vibrant strokes. The realization struck her like a soft breeze, and she couldn't help but smile. It was her favorite flower, a subtle signature Bucky had left in each masterpiece.

Bucky, engrossed in conversation with other attendees, glanced in Y/N's direction. Their eyes met, and in that fleeting moment, an unspoken understanding passed between them. Y/N felt a warmth spreading within her, realizing that the flowers in Bucky's art were more than just a visual motif.

The language of art spoke louder than words, and Y/N interpreted the message within those flowers in the quiet exchange of glances. It was a silent acknowledgment, a whispered confession that transcended the boundaries of time and distance. Bucky's subtle gesture conveyed, "I still think of you."

As the art gallery hummed with admiration for Bucky's creations, Y/N couldn't help but feel a connection rekindling.

After the event, the air crackled with anticipation as Y/N mustered the courage to approach Bucky. "Bucky, would you mind grabbing a coffee with me? It's been so long, and I'd really like to catch up," she said, her heart pounding with a mix of nerves and excitement.

Bucky, meeting her gaze with a warm smile, replied, "Absolutely, Y/N. I'd love that."

As they sat in the dimly lit cafe, the atmosphere seemed to thicken with unspoken emotions. Conversations veered into shared memories and life's twists and turns. Y/N couldn't shake the feeling that, perhaps, this was a crucial moment—a juncture where destiny hung in the balance.

Later, in the intimacy of Bucky's hotel room, he opened an old sketchbook. Pages turned with a whisper, revealing an old photo of Y/N. Intriguingly, on the adjacent page, a spell was inscribed—an enchantment woven into the fabric of their shared history. The room seemed to pulse with an energy that felt both familiar and intense.

Bucky's chuckle was dark and enigmatic as he muttered, "Damn, it works."

The revelation left Y/N completely unaware. Little did she know that the seemingly whimsical magic from their teenage years had woven a thread connecting their souls, guiding them back to each other after years of divergent paths. As they continued to share laughter and stories, the magic of the past lingered in the air, creating a subtle but powerful force that bound them together.

Author Note:

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If you've got any cool ideas or prompts, whether for this fluff series or any other series, feel free to share them with me!

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[etheries1015]

Hellooo 1st I just wanna say that I love how you write! The fics you post almost always puts a smile on my face when I’m stressed and I just wanna thank you for that <3

Anyways I’ve been accidentally rizzing my friends up lately on accident with sweet words and I ended up thinking what would the biggest tsundere (literally) in twst do with an s/o who’s very generous with compliments and poetic with words and is shameless with how cheesy they can sound sometimes

I’m so sorry if my request is too vague huhu, have a good day! <3

THHAANNKK YOU *SMOOCHES* *GNAWS ON UR LEG* I LOVE U and may happier and less stressful times come ahead for you!

although you didn't specify which character...I picked who I believe to be the top three tsudneres of the game. Heuheuehu.

The prefects muse~

In which you find yourself utterly bemused by him, throwing out compliments and lines of infatuation that leave him a flustered wreck. How does he react to someone as valiantly passionate as you regarding your sweet words of honey?

Featuring: Idia, Riddle, Azul

Idia

Idia convinced himself you were just another introverted loser who had no care in your mind for other people, keeping to yourself, enjoying video games, and always open for degernate hours of playing video games.

what he did NOT know he was signing himself up for, was some sort of weird poet club bullshit. Yet there he was, sitting on the couch of the ramshackle dorm playing away at the new console he had gifted you he could feel your gaze burning the back of his head. Turning around slowly and almost with dread, your shit-eating grin blinded him with words of sweet-sweet cringe.

"Watching you play video games you can truly see how serious you are, it's adorable," Idia groaned with cheeks burning a bright shade of pink, burrying himself into the couch, "Ah~ I wish you would look at me like that, with such passion..."

"ugh..whhyy..." Idia murmured embarrassingly avoiding your gaze and remaining strong in holding himself together at your routine daily compliments.

"I can't help it!" You cried out theatrically, "Idiiaa...I can be like a video game. Play me, too!" That comment broke something inside of him that was supposed to be stayed hidden, his blue hair changing a bright shade of pink to signify the extent of his flustered state. You only giggled at this, as Idia attempted to hold in all self control by taking his hoodie, hoping the couch would just take him then and there.

Over time he became used to the fact that you would openly flirt with him, although that never stopped the second hand embarrassment that came along with it. What he wont tell you, though, that behind the rosey cheeks and tsundere display of dislike for your antics, was a heart that beat quickly and mind that secretly enjoyed your poetic and "old cringy" way of loving him.

Which just means your flirting is working, keep it up! <3 But maybe try to hold back in front of other people, he isn't sure how much more he can keep deflecting their raised eyebrows and teasing remarks...

riddle

Being someone who is well versed in the world of poetry and literature, he could often pin point where some of your lines may come from. His way of deflection is either correcting your sentences, or retorting with the next line. What he DOESN'T know how to deflect, is the string of compliments you give him on a day to day basis. At first he simply thought you were being kind in complimenting the way his hair shone in the sunlight- until Cater pointed out that your remarks were anything but the norm. That's when Riddle took more notice to it, realizing that your lines of poetry was not an exercise of the brain, yet an actual technique to flirt with him.

and it was working.

"Riddle~" You sang in the halls of heartslabyul, skipping much to his annoyance.

"Do not jump around in the halls," He chastised you, "What is it?" You gave him a mischievous smile with a toothy grin to match, clearing your throat and standing straight.

"My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite."

Silence reigned for a few moments as Riddle blinked a few times, squinting his eyes to give you his typical "poker face."

"Is this another one of your attempts to 'flirt' with me?" He asked, you leaning against the wall and running your fingers through your hair in a flirty and playful manner. You nodded eagerly, to which Riddle gave a sigh and walked past you to continue whatever he was doing prior to your poetic interruption. Your jaw slacked open and you skipped (again, to his annoyance) to catch up to him.

"I swear I saw a smile! Turn around and show it to me, Riddle! Was that one good? Did I capture your heart finally?" You giggled, seeing how Riddle was obviously ignoring your feeble cries of searching attention.

Yet you were correct, he couldn't help but find his cheeks as red as a rose and lips curling up in a bashful smile. He would not allow you to see how you affect him, however.

Riddle tends to just ignore your flirting, now that he has come accustomed to it. Even in front of people when you would openly compliment him, Riddle continued sipping his tea seemingly unbothered. Whenever he would get strange looks to find an explanation to your questionable behavior, he simply shrugged.

"Do not mind them, they are always like this."

But at night by his lonesome, he was repeating your words in his head a million times over, that same rose colored tint upon his cheeks and smile with a blanket hard on his grip. Perhaps giggling a time or two to himself...for he never met someone as brazen as you. Not that he was actually complaining, though.

Azul

Flirting with Azul was always a treat. His reactions were the most flamboyant out of the other tsundere boys, he never failed to get some sort of remark and complaint out of his mouth whenever you sang praises his way. He attempted to be calm and collected, but the blush that painted his cheeks betrayed his cool demeanor.

"Is that a new coat, Azul? Ohohoh you do look dashing, If I do say so myself. Did you style your hair? The way it frames your face really brings out your features-"

"Stop, stop stop! Why must you feel the need to shower me in complimets?!" He cried out, burying his face into his arms upon the deak. The pink on his ears was also unforgiving for the poor merman. You chuckled and sat next to him, patting his shouders.

"I can't help it! If I see something I like, I must voice it out. Is it too plain? I can try and be more poetic. Let's see..." You used your hand to pull his chin, forcing his gaze to meet with yours. You inwardly teased him at the vibrant hue of his cheeks and flustered face, keeping it in as you leaned forward to gaze deeply into his eyes.

"Your eyes," you started, "Shine far brighter than any I have seen, even the most silver and sparkly of diamonds pale in comparison to your-"

"e-e-enough! W-what is this?!" Azul pulled away, tucking his head back into his arms and groaning, "Just...go back to what you were doing before! None of this...diamond...and..." He trailed off, words failing him. Azul was not used to such praises from others, he spent his entire life believing the worst every moment he caught glance in a mirror with a life time of self esteem issues. So hearing you so openly compliment him always left the man flustered and blushing, cringing at every moment you tried to stroke his ego.

He never truly get's used to it, only finds ways to ignore you. When you're around others and began to make a sly comment about how his hands look nice or how his skin looks that particular day, he closes his eyes and avoids anyone's gazes with a face full of color that even the coral of the sea could not compare. He often gets teased by his fellow classmates for this, but never actually speaks up in distaste to you. He could never admit just how much your persistent compliments thoroughly means to him, and how with every word he finds himself looking in the mirror with a little more enthusiasm than he once had.

~~~

yes I like to use the headcannon that Idias hair changes color when he has really strong emotions aosdjflkasdjf