#marchand musing

[marchandarchive]

The Accountant “Control the numbers, and you control the war.”

Name: Ekaterina Marchand Age: 49 Affiliation: Cross Guild (Role: Chief Financial Strategist & Senior Accountant) Shipped with Sir Crocodile, Ex-girlfriend of Kuzan (Aokiji)

Appearance:

Height: 200cm (6’7”) without her heels

Build: Lean and graceful, but with a powerful posture

Hair: Thick, dark blue curls tamed into a long, sleek bun; only worn loose behind closed doors, especially with Crocodile

Eyes: Ice-gray, perceptive and bold

Clothing: Tight pencil skirts, pristine white blouses, minimalist jewelry, high heels—every outfit screams control and intimidation. Thin-rimmed glasses she wears while working (and dramatically whips off when angry)

Personality:

Composed Strategist: Calm and collected under pressure, Ekaterina radiates quiet authority. Her tone rarely rises, but when it does—especially in arguments with Crocodile—everyone listens. Her silence, however, is more terrifying than any outburst.

Coldly Analytical: She sees the world in probabilities, leverage points, and outcomes. Her trust lies in logic and patterns, not emotion—though select individuals, like Crocodile and Kuzan, have seen behind the curtain.

Authoritative Without Force: She doesn’t fight, but she commands power by controlling resources, information, and timing. Fighters follow her not out of fear, but because she makes empires run.

High Standards, Low Tolerance for Error: Disorganization is unacceptable. If something goes off-plan, she doesn’t adapt—she reconfigures the system that failed.

Privately Intense: Ekaterina chooses who gets close to her, and once they do, she burns quietly but fiercely. Crocodile—and long ago, Kuzan—are the only ones who have seen her undone, stripped of control, in the dark, between sheets and shadows.

Skills:

Master Logistician: Expert in resource allocation, bounty tracking, and strategic finance. She turns chaos into infrastructure.

Collapse Analyst: Known for identifying structural weaknesses. Her insights have collapsed syndicates without a single bullet fired.

Observational Haki (Suspected): Her unnerving ability to read people suggests an innate, possibly honed, form of Haki.

Eidetic Memory: Once seen, never forgotten. Her memory for data, faces, and dialogue is surgical.

Former Marine (Logistics Division): Her foundation in Marine systems gives her deep insight into both the military machine and its failings.

Canon Character Relationship Dynamic (Sir Crocodile):

Power Dynamic: Blazing hot, confrontational, and deeply rooted in mutual respect. They clash publicly over operations—Ekaterina does not fear Crocodile’s reputation and will raise her voice when logic is on her side.

Intimacy: Their sexual and romantic tension is layered under professional sparring. Behind closed doors, they are raw, physical, and vulnerable in a way neither would admit aloud. He’s the only person who sees her with her sleek bun undone.

Mutual Weakness: She calls him on his bullshit. He, in turn, tests her composure like no one else. They challenge each other—and that’s exactly why neither can stay away.

Relationship Tropes:

“Only One Allowed to See Her Unraveled” – Her hair is always perfect—except when she’s with him.

“Workplace Power Couple” – Dangerous, composed, and explosive when they disagree

“If I’m Yelling, You’re Listening” – She's not afraid to shout at a Warlord and win the argument

Canon Friends:

Sir Crocodile (Lover): Their relationship is a storm beneath still waters. He respects her sharp mind and control—she respects his ambition and vision. They argue, loudly and in front of others, but behind closed doors, the tension becomes something else entirely. He trusts her with the Cross Guild’s future—and, though he’d never admit it, with himself.

Kuzan (Aokiji) – Ex-boyfriend: They were young and their relationship was built on intellect, dry humor, and shared quiet nights during her time working with Marine logistics. Things ended when their ideologies shifted—he drifted, she remained rooted in structure. They still speak rarely, but when they do, there's a heavy, unspoken history in every word. She’s the only person who’s ever made him nervous with a single look.

Dracule Mihawk: Mutual respect, quiet allies. He appreciates her logic and restraint; she appreciates that he keeps out of internal conflicts unless necessary.

Daz Bones (Mr. 1): Respectful silence. She knows he watches her, and she’s one of the few who can make him blink with a single sentence.

Buggy (begrudgingly): She finds him loud and inefficient but tolerates him because he brings in revenue. She threatens to reassign his cut weekly.

Galdino (Mr. 3): Occasional assistant in logistics. She once told him he had a “usable” mind, and it made his week.

Nico Robin: They exchanged information in the underground world before Robin joined the Straw Hats. Ekaterina finds Robin’s calm intelligence comforting, even refreshing. They’re not best friends—but there’s a quiet, lifelong respect between two women who know how dangerous knowledge is.

#marchandarchive – general tag #marchand musings – in-character thoughts #frozen files – flashbacks & history #crossguild – guild-related content #sand & frost – current with Crocodile #kuzans ghost – past with Kuzan #logistical supremacy – personal mastery #nsfw archive – 🔒 (mature content, 18+)

[oscquinn]

just like. making out with marchy 🫣 on his lap🫣and grinding🫣 i fear you’ve turned me into a marchy fan

also can i claim en emoji 👀👀 if so: 🫒

i don't know who you are but we're besties now. and YES the 🫒 is all yours!!

brad marchand x reader, MATURE 18+. swearing, grinding, mentions of drinking, etc. brad’s a little mouthy. #needthat #unedited

you’re caged in the moment the hotel door closes, calloused hands framing your hips and pulling you towards the large, comfy-looking chair that sits near the desk. the suite brad picked is nice, considering you’re only here for a quick fuck, maybe a nap, then the both of you will be out celebrating again. for a second you wonder what he paid for it, but then you’re being pulled down, and it gets hard to think about anything but him underneath you. the way his lips find the pulse point on your throat. the thick, warm press of him against your thigh.

he had sobered up some, a little steadier now as the florida sun rises over the ocean. it’s getting hot, with sweat and champagne clinging to your bodies. “should probably close the curtains,” you pant, breathless in his lap.

“we’re six stories up, doll,” and a shrug is the best answer you get. he’s more focused on kissing you, mouthing at all the little sweet spots on your exposed skin.

“you bring any of those little bikini tops, sweetheart?” brad asks, his lips resting at the shell of your ear. “want you in one t’day, how’s that sound?”

you giggle and place two hands on his cheeks, bringing him around to face you. before replying you take a moment to kiss his nose, between his brows, then his lips. you mumble into the kiss, “yes, baby, i brought some. what, you’re putting me on display now?”

you expect brad to laugh. instead he growls and grabs a handful of your ass, brushing your core against him in the process. “want you to wear it with that jacket they gave me. lord stanley, with the diamonds.”

“crystals, they’re swarovski,” you correct, voice dripping with awe. “you can’t be serious…”

he waves you off “yeah. it’ll look good on’ya. now shut up and lemme kiss you,” he says, voice low.

you don’t have to be told twice.

[myriaed]

"Can I talk to your belly? Or would that be weird?"|to solene from hayes

"You wanna do what?" Her head tipped to the side, confusion written across her features as his words sunk in. He didn't need to repeat them, she hear him just fine, but as she searched her memory bank from years ago, she couldn't recall if her ex had ever asked to do the same with Izzy, though the thought did warm her heart a little. A smile broke out slowly across Solène's face, and eventually she nodded her consent. "Yeah, uh... yeah, of course. I guess they should probably be able to kinda hear you by now anyway," she informed him, her hand falling to her stomach instinctively.

[ac1nums-moved]

@legeandary, solène marchand sent to hayes campbell: i couldn’t stop thinking about you.

hayes's heart skipped a beat at solène's candid confession. the day they've met, he knew that things would change. was it for the better? he doesn't know yet. does he liked it? sure. still, it was something new. he just had to look her way to see that something deep was happening between them. even if the age things scared a lot of people away, he wasn't one of them. just one look at her and he was done for.

her words hung in the air, heavy with vulnerability and raw emotion. that he should know, he is one of them when it comes to being vulnerable and raw, people can feel it in their lyrics and sound. he met her gaze, his eyes softening with warmth and understanding. " solène, " he began, his voice gentle yet sincere, " that means a lot to me. it's not every day someone opens up like that. " he paused, letting her words sink in before continuing. " i want you to know that you've been on my mind too. there's something about you that's… different. and it's been really hard for me to shake. "

hayes reached out, gently taking her hand in his, his touch reassuring and comforting. " i think there's a reason our paths crossed, solène. and i'm really, really grateful for it. "

[d4rkpassengerz]

He hadn't even meant to make conversation, passing comment designed to blend in with the noise. She caught it, though, PERCEPTIVE woman, so he comes to a pause. A charming apologetic smile is pulled straight out of a hat and slowly given his face.

"Oh, no. Sorry, uh. I was commenting on the cover. Ghosts and monsters aren't real - deceptive to brand it like they are, isn't it?" Hand slides up to the tip of his nape, head tilted slightly with a COY inflection to it. Harry tells him to talk a little more. "I know it makes the stories just a little more immersive, but that kind of branding preys on the vulnerable, doesn't it?"

@d4rkpassengerz asked ❝ ghosts and monsters aren't real ❞

Of course they weren't. Belle had never been one to believe in the supernatural, even if she loved to read about them just as much as she loved to read about everything else she could get her hands on — perhaps not self-help if she was going to be completely honest.

She suspected his comment was borne of the book in her hands, a collection of so-called true ghost stories spread out across the country, and she didn't hide the way her eyes rolled. "You shouldn't assume people's beliefs based on a book cover. Or is this how you always start conversations?"

[mysticrps]

welcome to the monthly schedule! each month, the admins will put together a list of events/activities happening around the city to help you find ways to throw your muses into interactions! we will also be taking event suggestions on the main! feel free to use any of these events as a basis/location for character interactions! under the cut you will find the monthly schedule for the end of february 2025-through the end of March 2025.

book club @ ink and ivory (febuary 28th, march 29th ) this is a monthly event! ink and ivory host a monthly book club, check the website for the book of the month! For february, it is Zami by Audre Lorde, and for march it is Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado

Black History Month spotlight at the Mystic History and Science Museum (all february  long) while the Black History Month exhibit is up all year long, the MHS is putting a special spotlight on it this month, with guest speakers and presentations throughout the month.

Women’s History Month spotlight at the Mystic History and Science Museum (all march long) while theWomen’s History exhibit is up all year long, the MHS is putting a special spotlight on it this month, with guest speakers and presentations throughout the month.

speed dating at wine about it (feb 27th, march 14th )  feeling lonely after the most romantic holiday of the year?  if you're still looking for that person to cozy up with, or spend your summer vacay with,  stop on by to wine about it for the speed dating series! each participant gets one month free for the Wine About It wine club as well!

Dorothys Women’s History Month open mic night: hear stories, poetry, and music from and about powerful women and their voices throughout the city, this is through Marchand the minimum purchase of one drink is required.

Black Artist Spotlight at STUDIO LUX  (all of february) Throughout the month of february, local black artists and their work will be highlighted and shown at STUDIO LUX. each guest receives a free drink ticket upon entry.

Mardi Gras Parade (March 4th)- Grab your beads, and head on over to the Main street downtown, and dance in the street at the Mystic Mardi Gras Parade. This event is family friendly!

[crimsonfluidessence]

Prompt 30: Amity

"Do you think anyone's going to show up?"

Esredes crossed his arms and leaned against the banquet table, looking around the large, rented out ballroom. In its current, mostly empty state, it felt as if he were in a very bright labyrinth. "Because if they don't, this is going to be. A lot of food to give away. Did we send out enough invitations?"

“Of course I do." Elouan replied. "I think everyone will. We sent all the invitations we could, nay? Besides, people care. If there’s something you’re in or—or involved with, they’ll come. You mean so much to people; why celebrate alone when we can celebrate with friends, nay?”

Elouan was the only member of the planning team who wasn't actually a harrier. Otherwise, behind him, Dione, Vette, and Heilyn were busy cooking with Vette, Mythirel, and Maylis doing a lot of the setup, Rae, Marcelloix, Marchand, and Artorias were put to work having to move things in, Rae using the help of his Titan egi and reminding Esredes those things can actually pick up matter. And that was it, his entire planning team for the feast, versus around thirty to forty invitations sent out.

"But we're essentially faking a holiday, for all they know." Esredes said, putting his hands on his hips. "Friends' Day Feast, ugh, it sounds more stupid the more I say it out loud. I should've come up with a better name. Why did my name win the vote."

“I guess any holiday can be fake if you think like that,” he mused, head cocking aside. Elou flashed a gentle smile. “A holiday’s a holiday if people believe in it. So why can’t this one be just as real as the others? It doesn’t have to be Starlight, it can be—smaller. Celebrated by people close to you. And Friends’ Day Feast isn’t dumb! It is very, um…on-the-mark? Is that the saying? Because it is about friendship and faith and trust, right? Like back—back when the dragons and people were friends, kind of like how we’re trusting each other again.”

"We're not exactly trusting each other again, man and dragon." He remarked. "But I see your logic. If you stretch it enough, I guess maybe it is a decent coverup for the Saint Day Feast. I just hope the rest of the team can keep quiet about what this actually is. There's no guarantee a loyalist won't show up."

They couldn't celebrate the holiday at the camp, not really. They couldn't afford to overindulge on food out in the wilderness. When it came around each year past the war's end, it was usually a private movement celebration. And Esredes would still help do that, but this year he was trying something different. What if they put on the feast for a public audience, pretending it was for something else? The loyalist friends Esredes wasn't out to would get to be exposed to their world without knowing it, and Esredes could use it to make them let down their guard later and accept they weren't the monsters. How could they be, if they put on fun events with food? Sometimes it was that easy to get someone in.

“But we’re getting there, aye? It will take a while, sure—and maybe can’t be like it was. It could get close to it, though,” he hummed, head nodding. Elouan smiled loosely towards his friend. “I think they’ll be quiet. To be trusted and—and help here, they’d know by now to not share what they shouldn’t share. People like being trusted and don’t want to break that trust, most of all with you. If there is one, maybe they’d not know. Maybe seeing so many people will—will get to them, too. Start thinking about how, how this new era of ours isn’t that bad.”

Esredes opted not to correct Elouan on just how many people were perfectly happy to break trust with him. Instead he turned his head towards the empty ballroom and sighed softly. "I sure hope so," he offered. "That'd really make this entire ordeal worth it."

It was half an hour to the time sent on the invitations. Thanks to the strict coordination of himself, Vette, Heilyn, and Mythirel, it looked as if the team had managed to get everything in place, even if Mythirel was being extremely blunt and sparing not a single drop of honey, even worse than Heilyn usually was. It certainly made the others shrink away and stay on task, especially Marchand, who he was pretty sure was terrified of Mythirel. Now the blue banners were hanging down by the entrance and above the banquet buffet tables, the blue tablerunner was straightened into place, and the orchestrion was playing the censored Ishgardian version of what they'd adopted as a traditional song of the feast. Could something be a tradition in three years? Debatable, but Esredes would say yes.

"Okay, everyone." He said. "Act natural and normal. Pretend Friends' Day Feast is important to you. People are due to start arriving any moment now."

And arrive they did. In the next few minutes, Marie, Xavierre, Nostrada and Kotaide, Fuyu, Kainen and Azarah, and Trosta all made up the first wave of early arrivals. Esredes took on the task of greeting each one of them, smiling to each. "Hi, hi, thank you for coming to the Friends' Day Feast. I'm glad to see you here. Help yourself to the food, socialize, and dance around the room if you'd like. We'll be having games as the afternoon goes on." He'd been memorizing this spiel all day. Xavierre already knew from his sister, but he was pretty sure Trosta and Nostrada caught on immediately to the true purpose of the event from the looks in their eyes, to which he just smiled and nodded. For Nostrada, he gestured back at the table and told him to help himself. That boy ate so much Esredes was still convinced it was a medical condition. Hopefully there'd be any leftover for all those arriving on time.

Esredes didn't know how many to expect right as the event started, but sure enough, a small crowd of people ended up making their way through the doors. Of all people, he hadn't expected Jude to be the first person on time, the young man walking right through the doors and then stopping to regard Esredes. "Esredes." He said.

"Jude." He responded.

These two greeted each other like this a lot, nowadays. It was still awkward for Esredes to talk to him, truth be told. They'd spent quite a while apart and Esredes was still getting used to the idea he wanted to be friends again and wouldn't leave with another outburst. "Thank you for coming," he offered to him. "Uh- help yourself to the food, socialize, and dance around the room if you'd like. We'll be having games as the afternoon goes on."

By the time he'd finished this brief interaction with Jude, Flavien, Victor, Judie, and A'leigh had all come in behind him. Esredes smiled and waved to the first three, his beloved typical components of nights out with his lowborn circle of friends, but put on an extra coat of paint to his smile at A'leigh. In truth, he didn't know if him and A'leigh were friends or not. He would personally say no- a relationship that formed entirely on an atonement complex was hardly one at all. Even if Leigh had, against all expectations, wanted to keep him around after the truth came out as the last connection to his deceased brother and put the past behind, he figured it was the only reason he tolerated his presence. "...Thank you for coming." He repeated to A'leigh. "Help yourself." And he left it at that.

Following him was Adel, who Esredes could spot before they even came through the door, emerging with their usual enthusiasm as they greeted Esredes wholeheartedly. Adel was certainly a character, an unlikely one but a character nonetheless. He'd befriended the Inquisitor despite all odds of such a thing when the Elezen was content to protect him against other Inquisitors and not put on a pity party about their actions. Perhaps the two of them were ignoring things by having a relationship at all, but so was Esredes by knowing loyalists at all, really. So he smiled at them and made some light jabs before they took their place at the banquet table besides Nostrada. Esredes prayed to Shiva now they made enough food after all.

Cammie said hello next, a young Temple Knight and Hospitalier Esredes mentored in an unofficial sense. She was accepting of his true nature now, that wasn't a problem- instead Esredes worried more about her ability to socialize at an event. So he greeted her and encouraged her to go talk to people, and watched as she went to join Azarah and Kainen. Well, Azarah could do the heavy lifting in that group, maybe.

Two people he hadn't expected to show up followed- Crescens, the wandering Triple Triad champion of the Gold Saucer who'd been showing him he actually had potential in the card game, and her boyfriend Rossignol, who Esredes... had certainly met. He greeted them both and ushered them onward, turning to greet the next trio of guests who brought a bright smile to his face. It was Clover, her daughter N'theya, and their former ward Teagan, who he'd been friends and associates with for a long time now. He shared a brief hug with Clover as N'theya immediately wandered over to the dessert table, and asked both her and Teagan how things were going. Once they joined the party, the door space was quiet for a few minutes...

And then more people showed up. Quincy apologized profusely for being a few minutes late, citing an appointment at the clinic, and Esredes had to reassure the young man it was fine and no one cared if you weren't at a big event on time. Evianne and Astraea arrived at about the same time without any fanfare, and he said his hellos to both. Alastor came next, and that prompted Evianne to move on quickly. Esredes could only guess he was late because he found a rock on the side of the road and tried to shove it in his mouth, but there were half a dozen other possible reasons the airheaded Miqo'te came late, and he could only speculate.

Mizzie was next, and as he often did, he came with a new tale of what unusual and wild occurrence had happened to him last week that rest assured, the conjurer had recovered from. Esredes greeted him and thanked him for coming, and in turn got questions about what Ishgardian holiday this was.

"Ah, it's... not. This is just a special event being put on." Mizzie knew about his true nature, but he was not about to explain the truth in front of earshot of people. But the explanation was enough for him, and he moved on.

But someone he hadn't expected to show up followed him- the man whose first name was not Mercer but for some reason insisted everyone called him by his surname. Esredes liked Mercer- he was a lowborn who was well-reasoned without taking peoples' shit. Him and Esredes found a lot in common with each others' thought process. He just hadn't expected him to show up, not that it was unwelcomed. Mercer chatted to him about how he was doing for a minute before Esredes had to move on to the next guest, Magdelaine. The older, motherly Inquisitor apologized and cited her knee as the reason she was late, but from the way she smiled at him Esredes could tell she suspected what was truly going on immediately, and that it made her all the happier to be here. The bigger question was who she'd end up talking to.

Perhaps she should've been an omen for the next person who made Esredes blink in surprise. Alvere came through the doors in his usual heavy fur coats, his hair as much of a disaster as always. "Alvere." Esredes said. In truth, he hadn't sent him an invitation. The cover was a Friends' Day Feast, and they were coworkers, acquaintances, but not friends. And yet somehow he'd found his way here anyhow. Was it a problem? Eh, he decided not really. He said hello and motioned him onward. Alvere had regained more than enough of his conscience to not make a problem of Esredes' activities by this point, and the man needed to get out more.

Speaking of Inquisitor who needed to get out more who Esredes forgot to invite, Mikhail showed up next, causing Esredes to blink up at him as well. Mikhail outdid Alvere for being an awkward associate. They used to know each other, as Temple Knights, they were in the same chapters together, until the man left for the Inquisition. And though he quit before Esredes' network came into existence and was left a pathetic and sad mess, Esredes would not want to relive their post-war reunion for anything.

Still, he had a right to be here, despite everything. Esredes smiled at him, said his hellos, and directed him to Marie and Judie. From there he'd manage somehow, he hoped.

After that, the doorway laid silent. Had everyone besides those to trickle in found their way? Well, then maybe Esredes could turn around and see how the mingling was going. Perhaps now it was time for-

The doors flew open, and Rusty came in, bellowing out a hello to all and causing a lot of heads to turn his way. And Esredes was reminded once again the large Roegadyn had adopted this need to outdo every dramatic entrance of his at each event. He sighed to himself.

The doors were silent after that, but the orchestrion was playing a sanitized, censored version of one of the songs they'd invented together in camp with full force. Esredes turned his head now to observe how the event was going. A quick headcount lead him to quickly realize there were about forty people in the room. He'd expected twenty at absolute most, good gods. And thankfully for his fears, people had managed to mingle. Maylis, Vette, Magdelaine, and Evianne were all caught in a conversation he could only imagine was gossip. Flavien was teasing Marchand as he was the usual nervous and awkward wreck he'd become since casting off his fake persona and joining their ranks. Mikhail stood near them awkwardly, about as he expected, but soon enough Judie was annoying both of them. Typical Judie. Kainen, Mizzie, Trosta, and Alvere were all managing even with their socially stunted awkwardness to hold conversation with Cammie, Astraea, Fuyu, and Marie. How interesting for that to happen.

Esredes watched and observed the conversation taking form. Oh, he was a military leader, not so much an event host... but as he checked his list, it did seem like it was going well so far. He smiled.

As the spirit of the party swelled within him, he went between mingling and playing host, trying to address everyone in the party at least once the best he could, but something lingered in the back of his mind. The most prominent rule of Ishgardian parties was that a fight would happen if allowed. Of all the parties he’d been to, he’d seen maybe a quarter have some kind of fight or injury. Why, the man supporting his counseling business by funneling money through his arrogant partner had thrown a book at him once at a birthday party, and that hadn’t even been in Coerthas.

Marcelloix put a hand on his shoulder and remarked that he looked tense. Esredes surveyed the landscape- Adel, Mikhail, Alvere, Trosta, Maggie, and even Jude were here, each existing as themselves despite all odds.

“…I just worry about the possibility of conflict.” Esredes said. “We’re treading dangerously close with this idea.” The idea which was his. Right.

Marcelloix patted his shoulder. “I’ll keep an eye out, boss. Nothing happens under my watch.”

Esredes managed a smile back. “…Thank you.” He offered. 

As the party continued, no conflict brewed. The noblewomen had all taken to dancing together or with a man they dragged along. Vette even pulled Esredes into a dance, as she always did, and a small crowd cheered them on, threatening to turn his face red. He was never good about handling this much positive attention, and this had never happened to him before the fall. There were balls, he danced with noblewomen he forgot by the end of the week- but never had he been the center of attention.

Oh Shiva, this was what his life had turned into, hadn’t it? Despite the hopelessness of the end of the war, here he was, dancing to the swelling music with one of his most trusted friends, who gave him that happy look in her eyes she always did, the look of someone who made you their world and you never quite knew how to feel about it. And between the cheering and the aether bond between them swelling with positive emotion, the anxiety melted away.

The party games went by well- last time he’d seen pin the tail at a party, the blindfolded had somehow managed to walk entirely across the way and pin it on him just standing there instead of the target. Hoarhounds were hounds of Halone- the loyalists wouldn’t suspect the theming. Esredes stood by and watched Alastor completely fail to even hit the paper, reminiscing about Fenrir as he eyed the drawing.

Nostrada, Jude, Mikhail, Mizzie, Azarah, Dione, and Verdant all failed miserably. Cammie and Kainen did all right. Maylis, Vette, and Trosta got close, Alvere managed the foot, and Adel somehow managed to pin the head instead. Incredible. But it looked like everyone was having fun, so the experiment was a success thus far.

Maybe it was all going to be fine, and he worried for nothing. Esredes should have known better by now those were famous last words.

“Esredes,” Heilyn began with his big loud mouth, “now that we’re all here, why don’t you give a speech about Ysayle?”

Esredes blinked, and his blood turned to ice. All the eyes on the room turned onto him. “I- ah- who, now?” He tried. Shit. Gods-damn it, Heilyn, why did he always have to do this?

Laughter erupted in the room. Esredes felt his face heat up. “Oh, he really didn’t know, did he? Don’t tease him too hard,” Magdelaine said to the crowd.

Esredes looked around at everyone’s attention on him. “You… you all knew?”

And indeed, everyone seemed to be aware of what had been left intentionally unsaid until now. Well… almost everyone. A certain duskwight looked about with nearly as much confusion as Esredes, meeting his eye with a shrug. “What’s so funny?” Marchand asked, clearly not nearly as aware of the joke as the others.

“Oh, Esredes…aye, of course!" Elouan said. "Why wouldn’t we, nay? I love and care about you so much, just like you must have about her, aye? And, and I want to care about her just as much as you do. She’s important to you. Can we hear about the Ysayle you knew? I’m right here—I’ll be right here for you, always!”

"She deserves at least a few words I think! If not more!" Alastor says with a few little flicks of his ears. "I had a lot of respect for her, and I think she'd want to be remembered well and nicely."

"Never got to meet her. I'll always regret that." Heilyn said. "Would have done some good to talk to someone who actually cared and wasn't some insane bastard hell bent on fire and vengeance. She did good. Good for us all. That should be acknowledged I think."

"It.. would be nice to hear.. only if you are feeling up to it, Esredes.." Fuyu nervously smiled, voice quiet among the others.

Rae simply nodded and gave a gesture with his hand indicating that Esredes should go on. He held up the Carbuncle sitting in his lap as well and nodded its head. "Carby agrees as well."

Alvere said nothing, but he was smiling. When Esredes looked over at him, he gave a very slight nod.

Seraphiaux fidgited slightly as he speaks. Unsure if he's even allowed to on this topic given... everything in the past. "She... she was there for you when I wasn't. The sibling I couldn't be. You deserved her being like a sister and she deserved you being like a brother and caring about her, and... and I... I don't think I have the right to say it but she'd like a kind word. I think."

Nostrada clapped. "Speech!" He said. He kept clapping and repeating this, until most of the others joined in with him.

In the background, Mythirel loaded an entire new set of orchestrion tracks into the device. The uncensored version of the music began to play, each lyric being sung softly about the hope which kept Her people going towards a better tomorrow. As the crowd kept chanting for him to do a speech, Esredes felt himself tearing up.

He turned towards the stage at the back of the hall, and ascended the steps, standing stiffly and firmly at the edge. He drew in a deep breath.

“…I want to thank each and every one of you for coming.” He began. “From the bottom of my icy heart, it means everything to me that you came. That I can look out upon this gathering of people from all walks of life, and see them all getting along in coexistence… well. I think she would have liked to see this.”

He put a hand on his heart, the audience silent. “What to say about her… I’ve said a lot about her in speeches like this in the past. Above all else, she was but one of us once. She lead a simple existence with the people of Falcon’s Nest, unaware that one day, her heart would change Coerthas and Dravania forever.”

Despite the tears that threatened to well up, he smiled. “And despite the moniker she took up, that was what allowed her to succeed. Her heart and her strength of character. Ysayle was a dreamer who believed the best in people even when she had no reason to. Hopeless and disparate as my people were, we were drawn in by her light. By her optimism and hope beyond what anyone dared to dream. And because of her dream,” he looked over the crowd, and smiled warmly. “I got to meet all of you.”

“If not for her dream, none of us would be gathered here today. Her dream gave me the strength to reach out to everyone like me and offer a hand in a new form of unity. Whether that was by asking you to join us years ago, or by daring to talk to you when I knew you might think the worst of me and being pleasantly surprised, I don’t regret any of it.” He paused to inhale a breath. “A lot of you in this room never got to meet her. You haven’t seen the light in her eyes that kept her pressing forward even when the risk of the movement’s oblivion and the demise of everyone in Coerthas weighed down heavy on her. You haven’t seen it, but you can feel it in the air around you. This, what we’re experiencing right now, is her hope. The love of a simple girl for the world around her and the people in it, regardless of origin or alliance. She once believed everything she did was Saint Shiva speaking through her, but the truth of it is that Shiva inspired her to be her best self in the same way she did all of us.” He looked around. “I know not all of you follow her, but we’ve chosen to make a life philosophy from her courage for good reason. Ysayle was the first to recognize that embodying her bravery- to rise above fear and hate, and instead see the humanity in something that looked monstrous- was the only way to truly end a war. I’ve taken this lesson she showed me to all of you I’ve met since the war ended, even to those of you I may have seen as an enemy if things were different, and further still to Garlemald and back, and in it all,” he shut his eyes. “I know I’ve continued something important.”

He opened his eyes again. “Regardless of your personal beliefs and what you think of Shiva’s people, you all came here. And I think that is what Ysayle would have wanted. She dreamed of a world like this, where people came together and accepted none of us are perfect, but we are all trying to do good in this world. The idea of this feast is to imitate the sort man and dragon had when they first forged a nation together. So too are we here today trying to forge a new Ishgard, a true Ishgard, one that will look out and care for all of her people. And at the end of the day, Shiva is a saint under Halone’s gaze. I believe- no matter what any of you personally do- that both of them smile upon this. And I can’t thank all of you enough for making it possible to make someone I love dearly happy all the way from the aetherial sea.”

The tears spilled over, and he curled his hand into a fist on his chest. “The name I came up with to hide this was stupid.” He continued. “But I still think it applies to what is going on. Ysayle would have wanted all of us to be friends, if not by bond, in spirit. A-and… And I just…”

He shut his eyes, the best way to end the speech eluding him as tears kept flowing. Yet when he dared to open his eyes a few moments later, everyone’s expression seemed to be that of a silent understanding. And so despite the tears, he smiled.

“I love all of you.” He said. “And I’m so glad you came.”

With that, he bowed and went off the stage. Applause filled the room and within moments he was swarmed by people asking if he was okay, some offering hugs, comforting touches, or words of encouragement. It was overwhelming, but in this moment, he was all right with being overwhelmed, because a warm feeling burned in his chest like an inferno.

Friendship. True and steady, trusted friendship. That was what he had all around him, despite the odds, despite being a lesser being and one of the most hated people in all of Ishgard. That was what Ysayle meant, wasn’t it? That everyone could find a way forward?

Esredes shut his eyes and embraced the people around him in a hug. A soft laughter escaped him, and before he knew it he couldn’t stop. Joy, pure and unfiltered joy, seized his every muscle and forced him to keep laughing as it cascaded him like a waterfall.

Here in this very room, he’d found the way to walk past the end. Together with the people who made each and every day worth it. And that was worthy of celebration.

[myriaed]

🍪   to   bake   cookies   with   my   muse.|to solene from hayes

"I think I'd feel kinda silly drinking milk out of a wine glass, so we're just gonna have these for now," Solène decided, popping the tops off two beer bottles before handing one to Hayes and turning back into the kitchen to gather the needed ingredients for cookies. "Baking is a hobby I picked up when Izzy was in elementary school, and once my attempts weren't burnt on the bottom or unnecessarily chewy on the inside, I got permission from Izzy and her friends to start sending them in for school bake sales and class parties," she chuckled. "How are you with an oven? Any experience?"

[moonshadowed]

Ensign JULIETTE MARIE MARCHAND was an orphan raised on a small research and agricultural colony. She soon discovered her interest in, and talent for, exogeology and exobotany, and set her sights on joining Starfleet Academy.

Upon her graduation, she got assigned to the U.S.S. Enterprise-D to further her work, studying under Keiko O’Brien.

During the encounter with, and subsequent analysis of, the Ressikan probe from Kataan, she got hit with a nucleonic beam and found herself waking up as Meribor, completely taken aback by how everyone was calling Captain Picard Kamin and why he was suddenly acting as her adoring father.

She lived a whole life— childhood, adulthood, parenthood— on Kataan, only to return to herself on Enterprise under the care of Dr. Selar.

Juliette takes the loss hard, grieving the family she finally had and the community she felt embraced by, her only reminders being Eline’s Ressikan necklace left in the probe that she constantly wears, and the Captain.

Both Deanna and Beverly, as counselor and chief medical officer, feel it would be beneficial for the two to spend more time together. Jean-Luc and Juliette feel drawn to each other, both remembering what it was like to be father and daughter and bonding over being the only two chosen to share the Ressikan culture with the world. The bridge crew takes it upon themselves to help them and support them through this, and Juliette finds herself getting that sense of family back.

She is very similar to Meribor in that she is gentle, kind, and intelligent, if a bit overly pragmatic.

Though she at first feels awkward with her newfound situation, she eventually changes her name to Picard.

[equallyshaw]

something borrowed - nathan mackinnon (feat. erik johnson and ryan graves)

- based off the movie of the same name + my own plot changes

- Warnings: swearing. angst. ej is annoying in this, i apologize. just a character. also lili is a bimbo blonde in this, kinda like in the movie. no hate against any blondes, just mirroring the movie. there is a not so friendly joke, so please be advised. itll be in bold so you can skip over. ALSO, this movie is so chaotic and all over the place...this is all over the place and chaotic lol

- shoutout to @pucksalotguys for supporting this and giving me feedback :)

Word Count: 5.7k+ this is a long one, so much to upack.

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tessa burns grew up around some of the greats in nova scotia, canada. aka, sid the kid, brad marchand, andrew cogliano and ryan graves to name a few. her older brothers played hockey ofcourse and so she was always around the rink at all hours. always had a chirp or two to throw out as she left the arena with them. despite growing up in nova scotia, she never met nathan mackinnon until they both went to shattuck st marys for highschool and hockey. they instantly connected, over hockey, nova scotia, bad breakups and the undying need to be the best. though, he was more hard core than she ever was; in her defense.

tessa was never alone growing up, despite have four brothers before her. she had her best friend ryan graves, grew up right down the block. always had a bad joke, always had a smart and witty comment to make. one that would rock you to your core. she also had her best friend liliana who was a blonde goddess. a 5'8 blonde, taller goddess. one that all the guys went after. one that swore she gave up toronto university just so they could both go to univeristy of british columbia. one that guilt tripped her left and right, but she was liliana. ofcourse, she couldn't 'drop' her. that was her girl, and there was no way she could do that to her closest confidant besides ryan. ryan saw how shitty liliana treated her, how liliana made sure she was the center of the attention. always. ryan always knew about tessa having the huge crush and ever lasting love for nathan, though he was lilianas. she had been for the past three years. so ryan watched as tessa looked on from the bench, what else could she do? so she wallowed in her own guilt, pity and anger of not saying anything before to nate. though it was too late, they were to bed wed in the middle of august before they would flee to california for a week then back to denver.

°• ♔ •°

tessa walked into the restaurant and her eyes went wide, taking in the 'surprise' 28th birthday part; liliana had thrown for her. it was june 24th right after the seaosn had ended, but on without a cup. not this year. tessa smiled fakely as lili cheered and wrapped her arms around her best friend, sister even. "honeybug happy birthday!" she screamed, using an old childhood nickname that should have never see the light of day; even when she was 6. "thanks lili." she responded cooly, hugging her friend back. some of her closest friends were here, well lili's too. wherever tessa went, lili did too and vice versa. she smiled at her brothers who came up, wrapping her in a family hug. "hi guys.." she smiled, one that didn't reach her eyes. "hey tess, mom and dad say sorry for not being here." the oldest, billy explained and she nodded. british columbia was more importnant it seemed.

"AYYYYY KIDDO!!" she heard the ever popular and familiar voice of brad marchand. she turned and grinned at the brother like man and hugged him. then she hugged his wife charlotte, "thankyou guys for coming!" she beamed, holding onto her left arm. "ofcourse! we wouldn't miss it for the world hun." his wife smiled and tessa nodded. "hey bobby orr!" she heard the captains voice from behind her, and tessa turned. she smiled widely for sidney, and hugged him. "hi sid." she mused, pulling away. "got you your fav." he mused, and handed her a cherry vodka. she smiled, thanking him. "where the hell is nate?" she heard him mutter under his breathe. she felt her heart rate pick up, covering it up with a small smile. "do you know where ryan is?" she questioned and speak of the devil, he walked up behind sid. he clasped a hand on sid's shoulder and they did a bro hug before sid sauntered off to find his best friend.

"nice surprise face." he smirked leaning in and she rolled her eyes. "dont tell her please!" she begged her best friend, brother even. he nodded smiling, "ofcourse not. that would ruin her, i think." he trailed off as they caught her making a scene. she saw nate behind her, smiling up at her as she said a joke and laughed loudly. oh, the ever enigma stealing the spotlight once again. "i don't think she's capable of NOT having the attention on her..even if it's your birthday. by the way, happy birthday sis." he smirked and she gave him a wink. "oh thankyou, thought you wouldn't say it for a sec." she grinned and he stuck out his tongue. "uh huh." he sighed, sipping his whiskey and looking back at lili. she rubbed her temple, before looking around. "love how its mainly her frineds." she muttered, feeling angry at herself. again, another birthday and she had no new friends. and everyyear, lili had more and more.

"hey, stop. dont feel bad for yourself. she's a lot to deal with." he mused, almost as if it was an insult. but tessa, knew exactly what he meant. "honeybug!" she heard the very immature nickname and rolled her eyes which ryan caught; as she turned around with a fake smile. "what?" she asked, with a fake giggle as lili rushed up to her with a tall guy. "i want you to meet somebody!" she grinned, pulling her towards the guy. "ej this is tessa. tessa this is erik johnson or ej as we call him." she smiled, as if she was cupid herself. "birthday gal!" he said loudly, causing lili to laugh loudly once again as he pulled tessa in for a bear hug. "ah hi." she said, unsure of what to do. she stood there, frozen. felt like she had been violted in a way, but it wasn't that deep she reminded herself. "you guys are so cute together!" was all lili said before waltzing off to give nate a kiss.

tessa sighed, looking around, trying to not ficate on ej himself. the very tall, and muscular man in front her of. with 3 front teeth missing, like a little kid. "how'd you lose your teeth?" she asked randomly and he laughed a hearty laugh. he explained in a unnceccesary 10 minute story before they were interrupted by nathan. she gave him a thankful smile that he could decode, and nodded. "i think cale is in the back over there." nate said through gritted teeth. ej nodded, giving the birthday gal a kiss on her cheek to which she instantly wiped off. ej left, and left a chuckling nate in his path. "you have a great poker face burnsy." he mused, sipping his beer. she looked at him, acting as if she didn't. he met her eye, before she could spit out words. he gave her a charming smile and laughed. "i would never tell lili." he joked, and tessa sighed looking down at her almost empty drink. "tess-" nate said but she cut him off. "its all good. im gonna go find ryan." she said without looking at him as she walked past him, and away.

minutes later, lili yelled over on the microphone to get her cute butt up there. "honeybug, baby, get your cute butt up here!" she joked, causing everybody to laugh. nate searched for her, and she appeared after ryan pushed her to the front. "dont keep cruelle waiting." he muttered for only her to hear. she sighed as lili smiled at her, dotingly. "honeybug. happy birthday. so thankful for you every day." she smiled, an erupture of 'aws' filled the room. tessa blushed, "tessa gosh, where do i begin?" she said, almost acting. she looked up at the ceiling, pretending to wipe away any tears. "phew, my botox is really holding up.." she trailed off joking causing some uncomfortable and comfortable laughter to erupt. ryan from next to her, hit her shoulder and she laughed.

"tessa, tess, burnsy honeybug, my platonic soulmate..gosh we've been through it all! from kindergarton when i pushed ryan down the slide for cutting us off on the playground.." she began as the photos began on the slideshow, showing the two and then the trio of chaos. "god, we were the trio of chaos. tessa, ryan and i. i don't know how ryan put up with us, to be honest. or how he still does." she joked. "she was with me through my first breakup in 6th grade..i was a mess! let me tell you. we watched the holiday and the he's just not that into you SO many times with lots of popcorn, oreos and icecream." she explained, showing some photos of their teenage years. "heres us at prom. ryan said 'fuck it' im taking you to prom honeybug. awe SO cute!" she said doing a little hop. "then miss burnsy went off to shattuck, fucking shattuck oh my god. if i have to hear about one more hockey player that to shattucks im gonna pull my hair out. o.m.g." she said laughing along with everybody else. "then fucking gravy went off to shattucks and so i was left alone." she began, something she never got over. something she held over them, and still guilt tripped them about. "i was not a hockey player, thankgod! i was all about makeup and clothes and cheerleading. and they weren't there to witness me win state but i witnessed them play for team canada. what assholes." lili had the audience in the palm of her hands. they were eating this up. though ryan, sid, her brothers and nate all cringed throughout.

"but anywho, after i notably declined ivy league university of toronto to go to university of BC with my honeybug..ryan went to some place called denver." she added the last part with everybody hollering now. though it wasn't a joke really, she was purely an idiot. “then we graduated, and then it was really real that we were gonna be seperated for real this time. miss barnsy got into john marshall law school in chicago, and i was incredibly sad when i started working in toronto. but only 512 miles away from one another." she paused, waving a small wave. "and after a year into living into chicago, you introduced me to the absolute love of my life." she pasued, blowing a kiss to nate. he smiled shyly, and looked down embarrassed a tad bit. "thanks for hiding him for so long hun." she dazzled the crowd. "and now were getting married, thanks to you!" she smiled widely. "bubba as much as i love you, tessa girl has been my one constant my whole life."

she turned towards tessa now, ""you're the the sister i've never had, you're sometimes the mother i often need, the reason why i can stumble so fearlessly into adventure is because she's always there. she's always there. i love you tessa. my forever honeybug." she beamed, and the crowd clapped. "bubba!" she said, out of the microphone and made her way towards nate. she wrapped his arms around the girl and kissed her head. tessa watched from afar, and ryan nudged her to look away. "lets get you another drink..after that." sid mused, pulling her towards the bar.

later on in the evening, it was now ryan, nate, lili and tessa left. ryan was holding lili as they all waited outside the restaurant now on the almost desolate street. "oh fuck- i forgot my bag!" lili said slurrely. nate and tessas head perked up and both went to say something, "take her to the hotel. we will be there soon." nate said before tessa could say for him to go back with her. the duo nodded and the other two made there way back inside. "was it the vintage chanel?" nate questioned and tessa laughed, a true and real hearty laugh. "nathan...aren't you the one who got it for her?" she said cocking an eyebrow as she held it up. nate sighed a relief, snatchingit from her. they looked at one another, and nate saw something twinkle. "lets get one more drink." he mused, pulling her down the street to the bar next door.

one drink turned into four more, and somehow someway; though they knew how it happened. they ended up in her small apartment there in toronto. for the first time in their entire relationships, they had acted on that part of their feelings. though, they thought it was more the alcohol than anything.

°• ♔ •°

ryan, sid, ej, their other friend maria, liliana and tessa found themselves in st john on the coast of newfoundland. the five of them walked into the lake house, that they were staying at for the next week. nate and lili walked hand in hand, lili doting on him that made ryan want to vomit. "bubba...please?" she asked with puppy eyes, begging him to take her shopping on the mainland. he sighed, instantly giving into her. lili clapped her hands together, and ej high fived her for some odd reason. "you go girl!" he hummed, sitting down in the living room sofa and propping his feet on the table. tessa stopped unable to move anymore, because of ej's hockey bag and suitcase that was in the way. she gave him a scowl, nobody noticing but ryan ofcourse. "ej..bags please." ryan spoke up and ej hopped up, muttering an apology. "its ok." she smiled, and simply stated. tessa made her way up the stairs, as ryan went towards the first floor room. she got to the second floor, and nate instantly grabbed her bags. "oh thanks." she hummed, following him to the bedroom next to theirs. "thanks." she smiled, and he nodded. very unsure of what to do. things were kinda awkward after they slept together, but she made him forget about it. made him, and he promised her. "yeah. no prob." he responded, as she sat down on the bed. his eyes flicked to her's from the doorway before lili came up and smiled.

"shopping?" she grinned, and then motioned towards nate with her eyes. tessa shook her head no, "im gonna take a nap." she said cooly and the two nodded. lili pulled nate away before he could say bye. tessa sighed, laying down on her back. "hey barnsy, wanna come swimming?" she heard the voice of ej and she perched herself onto her elbows. he took in her stance, and angle she saw him check her out. she shivered and sat up all the way. "im okay. thanks though." she responded and he nodded, giving her a toothy smile before he ran off. she shut her door, silently cursing herself. this was going to be a long trip.

°• ♔ •°

the following day, the group decided they were going to play volleyball. just unsure when. before they made there way to the beach, ryan pulled tessa into her bedroom. "spill." he demanded crossing his arms as she sat on the bed. she shrugged, "tell you what?" she asked. he gave her a blank stare, "i know what youre hiding honeybug." he stated and she gritted her teeth. "nothing im hiding nothing." she spat, standing up and walked over towards the double window french doors to the balcony. she instantly found nate's broad shoulders, strong back and dirty blonde hair of his. she stared at him, as lili spoke to him from the pool with ej. ej and her were splashing one another now, and she could tell that nate wanted to be anywhere but there. "that. you are hiding that, tessa." ryan said from behind her, freaking her out. she must of timed out, watching him. she shook her head, looking out towards the beach now. "no its true. i could tell at breakfast. im not an idiot." he said, checking his hip with hers. "well i could say the same about you and maria..." she mused coyly, before giggling as she walked out of the room. "oh god no, if i ever have to be at the same table especially at their wedding, im killing them before they leave for cali." ryan mused making tessa laugh even more. "you two totally slept together!" he whispered yelled and she whipped around to face him. "oh thats gold." he said chuckling. she shook her head as he nodded hers.

"im not an idiot, i know you did. now it makes sense." he said as a wave of realization washed over him. as he placed his hands behind his head, laying down on her bed he asked, "you totally did..more than once?" he asked like a child, he couldn't contain his excitement. she combed back her hair, trying to calm herself down. "oh my god, twice?" he asked, getting excited more. she looked at him through the bedroom mirror and he started to laugh. "oh my god." he said abruptly stopping, "lili, oh my god, she's gonna flip." he said seriously before laughing. "its not funny!" she said pulling a pillow towards her from the bed and hitting him. "this is rich barnsy!!!! you have to say something to nate, i see it eating you two up." he exclaimed and she shook her head, a wave of guilt and sadness washed over her pale face. "no, its already been decided that we aren't to speak of it ever again." she stated before walking out.

breakfast.

tessa sat down next to nate by accident, as she sat their reading the newspaper. he met her eyes, over the newspaper, when she looked at him. she whisked her eyesight away and focused on transporting the fruit to her plate. "listen..tess. we need to talk-" she cut him off with a glare. "no, we do not. we already have. we can't hurt lili more than we already have." she hurriedly said. he swallowed back what he was going to say, and nodded. "never. again." she said through gritted teeth before meeting his eyes. god, those blue eyes that transported her back to shattucks. god, how she loved them.. ej bolted outside with coffee, and threw down a iced coffee for the brunette. a black coffee for nate. "oh yay coffee's here!" lili said walking out with pancakes. ej sat across next to lili who sat across from tessa. tessa swallowed, as she could feel the intense stare ej was giving her. nate coughed, breaking ej's concentration and ej looked away. maria sat down next to ej and he smiled at her. "morning." he smirked and maria gave him a polite smile, before noticebly scooting her chair a few inches away. ryan finally walked out and sat down next to tessa. "gravy finally arrives, nice. we can begin." lili said in her fake polite voice, clearly annoyed with ryan. per usual. "sorry princess, forgot the world and time revolved around you. what a keeper nate." raya huffed, and lili squinted at him while nate rubbed his eyes.

“okay gravy, atleast i have some sort of schedule going. arent you a hockey player? it looks like you haven't done anything to combat your croissants and poutine eating." she spat, (trigger warning) softly grabbing her stomach. he flipped her off, causing ej to laugh loudly. nate looked at him with a intense stare, one tessa hadn't seen for a few years. it was almost, like his old self had flared for a hot second. before it cooled. "atleast i dont spend somebody else's hard earned money." ryan muttered, and lili picked that up. "well, atleast he has somebody to spend it on. dont ya honey?" she smiled a dazziling smile, placing a arm over nate's shoulder and kissing him. ryan pointed a finger in his mouth and faked gagged causing tessa to stifle a laugh. "besides, i always tell nate to help out tessa but she always says no." lili added, sipping her coffee. tessa set down her fork, "how many times do i have to tell you that i dont want or need his money." she explained once again. "i am comfortable, i dont need a lot. besides-" lili cut her off, "youre due for a promotion anyways!" she clasped her hands together and tessa shook her head.

"no, not what i was gonna say but thats true. i like the life i live, and i love the work i do lili. i dont need anybody's money, especially not his." she defended and they all sat up with the 'not his' part. ryan took in the quick look nate and tessa shared, one without words but words. "what i mean is that, he's my friend, that just feels weird." she added and they nodded. "besides, more for me!" lili hummed, kissing nate again. tessa picked up her fork and took a strong bite of her strawberry.

After.

the group were outside on the beach, hitting the volleyball to warm up. it was ej and tessa, lili and nate. while ryan and maria sat out. "ouuu! we should play a game!" lili beamed with mimosa in her hand. "yes!" ej said loudly, pointing at her. "how about everytime we get a point, one of us on the winning point tells a secret!" lili said with a grin, causing ej to grin wickledly and laugh. "no i dont-" "lets not -" nate and tessa said at the same time. "oh come on! itll be fun!" lili said pouting. "yeah, itll be fun!" ryan added, and tessa glared at him. "ej im in, youre out." ryan said and ej nodded, as they switched positions. "ryan!" she whispered yelled at him, and he smirked. "it has to come out eventually babe." he smiled and placed a quick kiss on her head. nate looked over, and saw what was going on. he knew ryan knew, even without ryan confirming.

“ry!" she said before lili hit the ball to him, him to nate and back to ryan. that happend over and over. ryan won the never ending sequence and chuckled, "oh dont i have a secret!!" he huffed, "tell it tell it!" ej said like a 5 year old. "dont i have a secret." he laughed, and tessa begged him with a pleading look. "no its fine, we don't need to play." nate said trying to get him to not say anyhting. "no this has to be said." ryan exclaimed and lili looked on with excitment, "yes please tell!" she beamed sipping more of her mimosa. "tessa- tessa and-" but he was cut off, as she made he way towards ej - as a distraction - and kissed him. she kissd him hard, pulling him in by his thin shirt. nate and ryan looked on with confusion while lili shrieked with excitemnt. "AHHHH! im cupid!!" she cheered as tessa pulled apart, and walked off. ryan and nate looked at tessa as she stomped away.

tessa continued walking down the beach for 20 minutes more, trying desperately to stop crying. nothing was working. she sniffled, as she sat down and wrapped her arms around her knees. what the fuck did she just do, she thought. ryan made his way over, after the rest of the group went back to the house. "youre an ass." she said boldly, standing up and walking past him. without allowing him to get a word in. "tes-" she cut him off. "how dare you jeoporadize my whole relationship with them? huh?! how you made me kiss ej!" she screamed at him. "i made you kiss him? that was all your doing hun. not mine. youre too scared to admit your true feelings for nate, im not an idiot. you love him. everything makes fucking sense. ever since i first met him when i visited you in minnesota, i saw the way you looked at him and how he looked at you. you fucking fool. you let her snatch him away. you let her win." he screamed.

"she wins everything! she has won everything that has come her way! she gets the guy she gets the house, the unending bank account, her fucking parents are god sends, she got into utoronto with a lower gpa then me!!!! liliana wins everything, that is just how it goes. she wins everything." she whispered the last part, as she fell apart. ryan walked up to her, but she pushed him away. "no." she sniffled as she paused, "dont. just dont. youve done enough." she sighed and walked back up to the house. already packed and ready to go.

°• ♔ •°

the following evening the group was down at a local pub, taking in the drinks and food. tessa sipped her cocktail as maria came up. "ryan will never like me, right?" she stated and tessa did a double take at her. maria already knew, "im sorry maria. he doesn't like you that way and probably wont ever." she said softly. maria nodded, " its fine." maria responded before walking off. that was how it will be with nate, tessa thought. she looked in the distance and saw nate and lili bickering about something, before she walked off to dance with ej. nate rolled his eyes and turned around to the bar and met tessa's stare. she swallowed, grabbing her bag and walking out. she walked outside to the rain, and she felt her arm being grabbed. "tessa dont go!" nate pleaded. she shook her head, as she was being drenched.

“then leave her. leave her, and be-" he cut her off. "be with you? i cant, tess. i just cant." he stated and she nodded. "becasue it wouldnt look good, huh? im not exactly a trophy wife and im fine with that. but....but atleast ill be happy. at some point." she mused, and turned around. "im sorry tess. i really am." he stated and she stopped middway. she turned around and hurried towards him. "i should of gone back for you." she began, "i should if let you walk me home that night in denver. i should have let you done a lot of things but i was scared. i was nervous. i was scared into thinking that you could possibly like me." she exclaimed. "i should have never told you to stay with her, then maybe we wouldn't be in this situation now." she stated, finishing her tangent. he shook his head, "you were always enough tess. always, there wasn't a moment where i thought otherwise." he began and she felt a beacon of hope flicker through her. "but im with her now." he stated and she felt her heart break even more. she sighed, he took in all her tears. she shook her head, "youre a coward, nathan. a coward." she stated promptly. "but ill be happy, ill be incredibly happy without you." she stated, before walking off. nate watched as she did, the rain coming down even harder which coincided with her mood. nate really watched as the love of his life walked away for him, for good.

°• ♔ •°

there was a knock at her apartment door around 2pm. she closed her book and walked towards it, opening it to nathan. she tried to close it, but he quickly stopped it. "what nate?" she demanded, placing a hand on her hip. she shook her head when he said nothing, "we broke up. i - i thought about what you said and it's true. i won't be happy with her, how i'd be happy with you." he began and she shook her head sniffiling. "no." she said very warily, her voice cracking. she saw the pleading on her face, and opened her door further to let him in. "i should have never let you walk home that night you introduced us tess. i know that, ive known that but i was too scared to break it off and see what people that follow me would say. you were right, i am a coward. ok? and im sorry that it took me over 10 years to figure it out. im sorry tess, there isn't anybody i'd ever want to be with but you. and then we, and then we slept together and i knew i was doomed. i knew her's and i's relationship was doomed." he finished and she looked at the ground. she wiped her tears, looking back up at him. "i want you, always and forever." he stated, with much emotion. "i - im sorry." she started, "i just dont know. she's my bestfriend." she exclaimed. "i see the way she treats you t." he stated, using a barely used nickname from him. one that dated back to a drunken state moment in highschool.

“i want to, trust me." she sighed and was about to say something else but somebody knocked at her door. "tessa honeybug!!!" they both heard from her door, and she pushed him to go hide. "go go!" she whispered and he disapeared. she opened the door and lili instantly walked in. "i broke up with him!" she stated, and tessa acted surprise. "really?" she questioned and lili nodded sitting down. "i uh, i knew he wasn't the one. after.." she trailed off, unsure how to tell her best friend that she'd been sneaking off with somebody.

"what changed?" tessa asked, nervously. "i met somebody!" she squeled, not bothering to contain her excitement. "i mean, more then met." she added, "well i knew this person, for awhile." she stated. "who?" tessa whispered. "ej." she mouthed. "ej!" she said excitedly. the fuck? "the toothless big foot?" tessa quipped. lili rolled her eyes, "yes him. and i know!" she said. "thats nathan's teammate! lil!" tessa said getting defensive of him. "i know i know but nothing happened until we went to st johns. thats it. nothing before." lili defended. tessa began to pace, "and im in love with him, and i want to be with him." lili stated standing up and beginning to walk out. "i know it'll take you a bit to come around, but please don't tell nate yet. we want to do it together."she said before pausing at the door. tessa's mouth was still open in shock, "oh and dont feel guilty about the kiss. it was humerous." she smirked before walking out. as soon as she did, tessa went to look for nate. somebody knocked on the door again and she opened it to lili. "is that nate's jacket?" she asked, smirking. "wait what? oh- he left it in my car when we got back into toronto." she lied but lili didn't buy it. "no, no. thats not true." she stated, before pushing the door open. "nate! i know youre in here, nate!" she yelled, as tessa shut the door. nate walked out into the living room.

"you asshole!" "my teammate?!" they yelled at one another, "my best friend!!!!" lili threw back at him. "my. teammate." he slithered back. "how could you?" lili, turned towards tessa. "no- no dont go after tess. go after me. she didn't initiate it." lili held her hand up, "stop, dont speak for her." lili spat. lili shook her head at nate, "you know, i hope youre both happy together. i really do." was all lili said before walking out.

"nate-" tessa said but nate shook his head, grabbed his coat and walked out.

°• ♔ •°

tessa mouthed "im sorry" to ryan and he flipped over his card that had her name on it, "me too." and she hugged him. tessa had just flown from toronto to newark to visit ryan. she hadn't seen or talked to him since june and it was now middle of october, hockey season. they drove back to his condo, and the two put her stuff in the guest room. a little while later she walked out into the kitchen and sat down at the counter, as he cooked dinner. "whats for dinner?" she questioned in french. he smiled a toothy smile, "fettuince alfredo." he mused back in french. tessa nodded, grabbing the water bottle he set down on the counter. "what are you doing here?" he asked leaning against it, trying to read her expression. she sighed, "well you know about lili and ej. well nathan was there and lili heard and then he heard her and then when i tried to talk to him, he walked out." she said placing her face in her hands. he saw the stress, anxiety and never faultering love with nate. "have you talked since then?" he asked and she shook her head, "nor lili?" and she shook her head. "im alone." she said before sobbing. he instantly came over and pulled her in for a hug. "shh." he whispered over and over again, trying to comfort her. "youve got me." he said kissing her head. she sniffled, and pulled away. "youve always had me, no matter what." he explained some more, trying to get her to understand.

she looked at him, "always will. and-" he paused laughing nervously. "this is shitty timing but i dont care. ive always been there watching you from the bench, watching lili have something that you didn't. and that hurt me, because i was there the whole time but-" she cut him off, "i never noticed because i wanted him." she finished and he nodded. "im in love with you, and i have been since we were kids." he added and she felt a whiplash of memories hit her. she went through the big and little moments with him, putting the pieces together. he always chose her over lili, and that's why he got so upset with her in st john. "ry-" he cut her off, putting his hands up in innocence. "i know, i know." he said biting the inside of his cheek. "i know ill never be nate. ill never be nate the great. even before, i knew i was never good enough." was all he said before moving back to the stove. tessa sat there and shut her eyes, feeling her emotions consumer her. but they didn't. ryan's phone started to blast, and he looked a the id and saw nate. he rolled his eyes, picking it up.

“hey nate." he stated, and tessa perked up. ryan looked at tessa, "yeah she's actually here. she came to visit." ryan stated with not emotion on his face. "for you, tessa girl." he said locking his phone. "look's like it's time for you to fly to denver...in two hours."

1 year skip.

tessa walked with nate's dry cleaning in her hand as she walked through downtown denver. it was now october, one of the last warm days, and tessa was spending it in the city; working. after everything went down, lili and ej got together as well as nate and tessa. tessa moved in as lili moved out and in with ej. tessa was walking down the street going towards where nate said he'd be for them to drive home together, after she spent the day in the city. she walked down mainstreet and saw a familiar blonde walk past. the both of them paused instantly, turning around to face one another. lili sized tessa up and tessa just smiled. "you look good." tessa said, ever the people pleaser. ever the lili pleaser. lili pushed some hair behind her shoulder and smiled. despite them being in denver, and having their boyfriends be teammates, they stayed away from one another. they didnt talk, and tessa honestly had more friends outside of the wags group. she was only friends with tracy, cales gf and andrew coglianos wife. she was fine with that. nate and ej moved on, but still kept a distance. lili smiled, tilting her head just a bit. "oh." was all she said, before realizing that tessa saw it. "i hope you two are happy." was all lili stated, nodding towards tessa's engagment ring. the two got engaged over the summer right before they came out to denver. tessa smiled with a somewhat of a glow radiating from her, "we are. i am." was all she said. lili nodded, "are you two?" tessa questioned. lili nodded, "yes. we uh, we eloped this summer." she smiled referencing her small and simple ring. so unlike lili, tessa thought. "i know what youre thinking. but i love it. ej seems like a lot and he is in a way, but he's truly simple. i wish; i hope that someday you and nate can see that and hopefully come around. or atleast nate." lili responded and tessa nodded. "me too." tessa smiled, before turning around and continued to walk down main street to the square, where nate was waiting.

nate saw tessa's midlength wavy hair before he saw the rest of her. she was in her usual workday outfit, he pixie black pants clinging to her curves and her white boyfriend shirt untucked. she beamed as soon as she saw him, and he mirrored her. "hi." he mused, wrapping an arm around her back and pecking her. "hi." she said back, as he took the dry cleaning from her along with her work bag, and took her hand in the other. "ready for dinner?" he questioned and she nodded, heels clipping the sidewalk as they went to meet sid who was in the city for a game. where they'd also be asking him if he wanted to be Nate’s best man.

tessa saw her life with nate, she always had despite lili. despite the years spent on the bench, she'd never change it because now she had him. and he had her. she regularly thinks about their first meeting as they plan their wedding, both remembering clearly the outfit she had on. a blue dress. something borrowed from the very beginning.

────────────

wasnt sure how to end but i hope you guys like it!!! despite it's being hella long, i hope you liked the drama :)

@fallinallincurls @erikjohnsons @hockeylvr59 @hockeyboysarehot @cale8makar @makarhughes @starshine-hockey-girl @slafgoalskybaby

[slut4sway]

•Master list & PSAs•

‼️moodboard only requests currently‼️

⚠️PSA⚠️

Request issues 12/25/22

hockey & v-day

•••••••••••••••••••••• If any links don't work, check my AO3! @slut4sway

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

why cant i have you

Swaymark / Linus Ullmark x Jeremy Swayman

Angst/Happy ending

CW : Blood, drinking, suggestive language

if you break i won’t let you shatter

Swaymark / Linus Ullmark x Jeremy Swayman

Fluff/Lemon

18+

wrap your arms around me baby boy (darling you’re the one i want)

Swaymark / Linus Ullmark x Jeremy Swayman

Fluff, soft fic

amour sans fin

Swaymark / Linus Ullmark x Jeremy Swayman

18+

Requested

CW: Drinking

shake this frost off of my bones

Marcheron / Brad Marchand x Patrice Bergeron

Requested

Fluff

and they were roomates

Small (???) / Craig Smith x Taylor Hall

Requested

Fluff

you’re my home (safe with me)

Drygras / Jamie Drysdale x Trevor Zegras

Fluff to lemon

explicit

painting his delicate body (he’s my muse)

Suzufield / Nick Suzuki x Cole Caufield

Fluff to lemon

explicit

straight active

Marcheron / Patrice Bergeron x Brad Marchand

Short fic

requested

tracksuits and red wine (movies for two) Suzufield / Nick Suzuki x Cole Caufield Fluff Valentine's day

puckbunny for president moodboard/music Satire

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

anywherebound

trigger warning : addiction, self harm, suicidal behavior

[focusmonumentum]

Musée Rodin de Paris

L'Hôtel de Biron et ses jardins servent d'écrin à la plupart des œuvres d'Auguste Rodin, sculpteur de génie, précurseur de l'art moderne, au renom non terni par les ans ni par l'évolution artistique contemporaine, preuve en est de ses 700000 visiteurs annuels (en moyenne, moins les années covidées), le plaçant a la septième position des musées les plus visités de France.

Ce riche hôtel particulier, l'un des premiers à être édifié au sein du faubourg Saint-Germain (zone alors déserte et marécageuse, ne serait-ce la présence de l'Hôtel des Invalides tout proche), fut conçu en 1728 par l'architecte Jean Aubert, d'après des plans dûs à Jacques V Gabriel, pour le compte du "nouveau riche" Abraham Peyrenc de Moras. La décoration intérieure fut confiée au peintre François Lemoyne, (dont des "dessus-de-portes" furent restitués au cours du XXème siècle, après dilapidation le siècle précédent...) Suite à la mort du marquis propriétaire, survenue ici-même en 1731, l'hôtel échoit à sa veuve, qui le loue dès 1736 à la Duchesse du Maine, Louise-Bénédicte de Bourbon. Celle-ci y décède à son tour en 1753. Le futur acquéreur, Louis-Antoine de Gontau, duc de Biron, laissera son nom à l'hôtel. Il fit aménager les jardins dans le style anglo-chinois en 1781, via les cisailles du paysagiste Dominique-Madeleine Moisy. Après le décès du maréchal Biron en 1788, l'hôtel revient à son neveu, le duc de Charost, décédant lui-même en 1800. Sa veuve, après avoir loué l'hôtel au nonce du pape Pie VII puis à l'ambassade de Russie, le lègue finalement en 1820 à une congrégation religieuse, la Société du Sacré-Coeur de Jésus, vouée à l'éducation des jeunes filles issues de la haute bourgeoisie et de l'aristocratie. Un pensionnat (l'actuel Lycée Victor Duruy) est alors construit au sud des jardins, réaménagés à la française, ainsi qu'une chapelle (nous y reviendrons). Eugénie de Montijo, future impératrice par son union avec Napoléon III, y fera son éducation dans les années 1830, précédant Misia Sert, future modèle et muse de nombreux artistes de l'École de Paris, qui y sera également élève cinquante ans plus tard. Cela préfigure, par un curieux coup du hasard, de la vocation à venir de l'Hôtel Biron. En effet, la fameuse loi de séparation des Églises et de l'État, promulguée en 1905, chasse les religionnaires, rendant l'hôtel vacant. Devenu de fait propriété de l'État, il est divisé en plusieurs appartements, puis loué à des artistes, parmi lesquels Jean Cocteau, Henri Matisse, la chorégraphe et danseuse Isadora Duncan, le comédien Édouard de Max, l'écrivain-poète Rainer Maria Rilke... Alors secrétaire d'Auguste Rodin, celui-ci lui présente l'Hôtel Biron, dont quatre pièces demeurent disponibles en rez-de-jardin. Immédiatement conquis, le sculpteur, jouissant déjà d'une solide notoriété, y installe une partie de son atelier (son lieu de travail principal demeurant en sa Villa des Brillants, à Meudon). Il décide par la suite de faire de ses appartements un lieu d'exposition de sa collection personnelle d'antiquités et d'oeuvres d'art contemporaines, qu'il présente mêlées à ses propres productions; sculptures, certes, mais également peintures, dessins et photographies, à l'attention des journalistes, marchands d'art et collectionneurs, régulièrement invités par sa collaboratrice (et dernière maîtresse), la duchesse de Choiseul. À la fin de sa vie, Rodin, soutenu par de nombreuses personnalités telles que Raymond Poincaré, Georges Clémenceau et son ami impressionniste Claude Monet, souhaite léguer l'ensemble de ses œuvres à l'État, à la condition que celui-ci fasse de l'Hôtel Biron un musée. Après son décès, survenu en 1917, sa succession revient donc à l'état français, qui transforme bel et bien l'Hôtel Biron et son jardin en musée dédié à sa mémoire, ouvert dès 1919, au sortir de la Première Guerre Mondiale.

Le Musée Rodin a un statut particulier. Il est en effet le seul musée public à devoir s'autofinancer (via dotations et mécénat), afin de poursuivre sa mission de diffusion de l'oeuvre d'Auguste Rodin.

Après une longue campagne de travaux (de 2012 à 2015), partiellement financée par de généreux donateurs (dont le riche couple de mécènes américains Iris et B. Gérald Cantor), le Musée Rodin rouvre au public, entièrement rénové et mis aux normes de l'accueil des publics PMR et handicapés visuels, à la muséographie complètement repensée par l'architecte des monuments historiques Richard Duplat, aux murs des salles d'exposition repeints en une teinte spécialement créée pour mettre en valeur les marbres, le "Biron Gray"...

Présentant un parcours chronologique et thématique sur deux étages, il dédie une salle complète a l'œuvre de la géniale Camille Claudel, élève et muse (et maîtresse) de Rodin; une passion tumultueuse devenue légendaire, moulée dans les bronzes de L'Âge Mûr, La Vague et surtout La Valse... Outre Le Baiser, La Cathédrale et la Tempête, aux exécutions diversement opérées, de plâtre, de marbre ou de pierre, sont présentées dans le musée nombre de réductions et d'agrandissements, de fusions et imbrications, comme autant d'études et d'étapes ayant prefiguré les oeuvres finalisées du maître en sculpture, considérant l'inachevé comme achèvement.

Et pourtant, s'il est une œuvre de Rodin considérée comme aboutie, il s'agit bien de La Porte de l'Enfer, monumentale sculpture (au moulage original en plâtre exposé au Musée d'Orsay), fondue en bronze en 1937. Initialement commande publique en 1882, pour la porte d'entrée du Musée des Arts Décoratifs, abandonnée en 1889 faute de financements, inlassablement retravaillée jusqu'à la mort de l'artiste en 1917, elle inclue de nombreux éléments interdépendants de l'oeuvre du sculpteur, du Baiser à Ugolin dévorant ses enfants, de La Chute à la Danaïde... Couronnée par Les Trois Ombres, présentant la fameuse phrase ouvrant La Divine Comédie de Dante ("Toi qui entre ici, abandonne tout espoir"), s'en détache une figure méditative, au faîte du linteau, représentant le poète Dante Alighieri, méditant sur son œuvre. En sera issu Le Penseur, universellement reconnu comme la pièce maîtresse de Rodin, à l'agrandissement, également fondu en bronze, présenté dessous (ainsi qu'en la roseraie proche de l'entrée du musée), offert par souscription publique à la ville de Paris en 1906, d'abord installé place du Panthéon, avant d'être déplacé ici en 1922. En 2011, il fut commenté par Carla Bruni, travestie en guide-conférencière dans le film de Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris.

Le jardin du musée, d'une superficie de 3 hectares (équivalente à celle du jardin de l'Hôtel Matignon, réputé pour être le plus grand jardin privé de Paris) présente d'autres sculptures d'exception fondues en bronze, comme le Monument à Victor Hugo (finalement refusé par l'état), la statue à Balzac, ainsi que Les Bourgeois de Calais (commémorant un célèbre épisode d'amende honorable du début de la Guerre de Cent Ans), présentés près du mur d'enceinte du musée sur rue, ajourée par des panneaux de verre, permettant ainsi aux passants de la rue de Varenne de contempler ce groupe sculpté, ayant l'Hôtel Biron pour toile de fond.

Vestige restructuré de la résidence de la Société du Sacré-Coeur de Jésus en ce lieu, la chapelle néo-gothique, exécutée en 1876 par l'architecte Juste Lisch, à l'angle du Boulevard des Invalides et de la rue de Varenne, totalement réaménagée en 2005, accueille non seulement l'administration du musée, mais aussi la billetterie et la boutique, un auditorium en sous-sol, ainsi qu'une vaste salle consacrée aux expositions temporaires, comme celle de l'année passée, venant de s'achever, maintes fois reportée pour cause de financement puis de covid (...), croisant l'oeuvre de Rodin avec celle de Picasso, en collaboration avec le Musée Picasso de Paris (que nous visiterons un jour à venir...) 

Crédits : ALM’s

[aspirinqs]

KNOWING YOUR PARTNER WELL CAN POTENTIALLY MAKE WRITING TOGETHER A LOT EASIER.

REPOST DO NOT REBLOG !!

NAME: tori.

PRONOUNS: she/they. what resonates most is that one tumblr text post about being a ‘girl gentleman.’

PREFERENCE OF COMMUNICATION:  voice notes. LET US CLEAR THE AIR. i am a big ole’ extrovert who will happily talk across multiple platforms at once, so i tend to follow folks’ lead! lol. disco.rd, tumblr ims, whichever the druthers, it’s all cool with me.

NAME OF MUSE(s):  diane chambers. if you know my son and oc, perry marchand, the ever-acrobatic photographer, he and his rolleiflex are enjoying a retirement at the moment.

EXPERIENCE/HOW LONG (MONTHS / YEARS?): oh gosh. i’ve been rping for fifteen years across various websites, wherever was Hot for rp at the time. for diane specifically, i wrote her five years ago for a good few years. her second incarnation was brief, but this one stuck! <3

it turned out to be a lovely time in my life to revive her. i’m a semester away from finishing a degree that’s taken far too long to finish, and having re-calibrated myself after much disenchantment within academia, i’ve found it beneficial to 1) gather strength from a formative character who was, too, in college for forever to power through to the end of this and 2) find relief/catharsis by satirizing what Bugs me about academia and intellectual elitism. i am Very Interested in writing characters who double as vehicles for social commentary and critiques. perry(’s timeline) was also to these ends to comment on the ills of the fashion industry and then tensions in the 70′s - 80′s art world.

BEST EXPERIENCE:  various and sundry?? warmest of all are the friendships which have burst beyond rp perimeters. whether that means baking cookies and dancing in my kitchen with meaghan @miscreating, being pen pals with dax @perceives​, and those who have blessed my facetime. <3 i appreciate you.

as an academic, i also appreciate how rp -- creative writing here specifically -- entered into a symbiotic relationship with my academic writing. i’m a fledgling art historian who writes a good amount of art criticism, and although this of course isn’t limited to art history as a field, writing about art requires creativity to effectively describe it. you can’t assume your reader has seen the artwork you are describing, so, in ways, these descriptions are comparable with writing imagery. i’ve come to understand the value of writing as an expansive practice by dovetailing these two forms.

and -- also -- the abstract, at-times needlessly dense language of ackademic literature and Speak? rp/creative fiction is where i come to satirize it -- an outlet i’ve come to need lol. sometimes a professor says something in a seminar, or i overhear the way something is phrased in these environments, and jot it down to use as future dialogue. this can be something that tickles me and is all, ‘ah, humans! :)’ or, ‘why do we have to say things in such complicated ways, which can be excluding?’ how can we satirize it to make these points?

RP PET PEEVES/DEALBREAKERS:

i think all conversations around accessibility and readability are important, but it would trivialize them to call this a pet peeve.

dealbreaker is being 21+. as i get older, my threshold for immaturity and unkindness gets lower. let’s talk, let’s be open, and have compassion for the actual humans behind these screens.

MUSE PREFERENCES FLUFF, ANGST OR SMUT:   agreeing with dax that 'fluff’ and ‘angst’ feel like reductive words for what they can encompass! i, of course, want to give attention to the highs and lows of diane’s life. so, what feels more relevant to say for her is that: i love writing comedy / within the bounds & mechanisms of the sitcom genre. sometimes, the levity and laughs are personal antidotes. however! cheers was groundbreaking for its time because it satirized and interrogated social issues and constructs -- yet, sometimes, could be limited by the mechanisms of the genre itself/having to play for laughs. so, i also like to break those boundaries here, and give closer, serious looks at particulars of diane’s character and story.

as far as smut is concerned: my academic practice intersects lgbtq+ theory with art history. i write lots academically on the topics of sex, lust, and desire -- topics which cheers was also interested in! i am all for writing innuendos and conversations around these topics, as something i appreciate about cheers is that it was a 1980′s tv sitcom where women were outspoken about their active sex lives and what they wanted from them. that’s feminism, babey. (and if you know perry--he was practically eros) but, i would rather not rp the thicket of smut. personal preference.

PLOTS OR MEMES:  i prefer plotting, even if it’s just a tiny bit! frameworks are helpful for me. they give me an idea of how characters would interact, where to place them, etc.

LONG OR SHORT REPLIES:  both! i recognize my threads have mostly been short here. that’s because i’ve been recuperating from a writing-intensive semester, but i like all lengths for their own reasons. :o) and diane’s dialogue is such a playground for me. so snippy, conversational stuff is so, so welcome and appreciated.

BEST TIME TO WRITE: i have somehow conditioned myself to be unable to write past noon. whether creatively or academically. maybe one day that will change, but my current window is 6-10am. i revise out of habit, so sometimes i’m writing in the shadows to post in a day or so’s time.

ARE YOU LIKE YOUR MUSE(S): :-) diane is the closest character to myself i have ever had the pleasure, wonder, and pain of discovering. so, writing her feels organic. there are notable differences between us, but for each difference there appears to be two more similarities lmao. i pretty much exclusively write goofy academics! that’s what i have known for the past decade, that’s me, and it’s that which i absolutely need an outlet for whether satirizing, critiquing, or just placing my complicated fondness.

Tagged by: taken from @perceives :o) Tagging: if this appeals to you, consider this a tag-you’re-it!

[cautelous]

✧･ﾟ  𝟔    𝐅𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐒 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐄

Tell us about 6 things you only learned about your muse after you started writing them!! REPOST, don’t REBLOG. TAGGED BY: @novascuro TAGGING: Aimz on any of her blogs, @amechanicalgirl

Julian Raines!

Firstly, his entire conman backstory - initially, he’d just been a pickpocket after running away, but I read some books on turn-of-the-century conmen and boy, did I have to include that. He had a lot less of a connection to playing cards originally, but as soon as I hit on this it all clicked into place...

A lot of the specifics about the Marchands, beyond them just being the generic evil Disney villain family. A lot of it hasn’t really made it onto here, but boy are they... people, alright! (I need to get portrait headshots of them all sometime, but that’s like... 7 people...) A lot of Julian’s reactions to things/behaviors sprung up from this.

That he’s mostly into men lol. I originally thought his attraction split or whatever was 50/50 but actually no he’s a big fan of fellow fops and Ezra maybe but also not and Caitlyn’s just the right woman at the right time. Caitlyn Huxley’s alter-ego of Thomas Duvalle is a one-hit K.O. for Jules.

What a massive piece of shit he can be, if you push him. I went through a few iterations of Jules and Jules-adjacent Cs (don’t ask me about the C universe don’t ask me about 100) that highlighted different aspects of him, and that + realizing what a nest of vipers the Marchands are really cemented the fact that he can and will say things that hit you straight in the heart if you get in his way.

Ezra Dianthe. That is all. (Just kidding, it’s that Ezra plays such a crucial part in Jules’ character and backstory that I really can’t imagine how he’d have developed otherwise.)

He likes getting pastries from local shops :). Nah, for real though, I realized that he doesn’t really often cook for himself. He’ll make simple meals but he’s really not a chef.