#mother knows best: a tale of the old witch

[nerdasaurus1200]

A recent reblog from @tangledbea just made me realize I never did a masterpost of the books, so in honor of St Patrick’s Day here’s pdfs of all the Tangled books!

Lost Lagoon:

Vanishing Village:

Rise of Flynn Rider:

Mother Knows Best:

What Once Was Mine:

[tangledbea]

If Gothel’s sisters from her prequel ever appeared in the show, who could you see voicing them?

I neither know nor care anything about Gothel's sisters from a noncanonical prequel book that I never read, sorry.

[dramioneasks]

Top 10 Most Favourited (Completed) Fics on FFNET of 2023:

Wilted Rose and Muddy Blood: A Dramione Fic by Raptor.Elephant - M, 25 chapters, Words: 34,001 - Lavender Brown makes a bet with Hermione that she can't win over the Slytherin Prince in a month. Hermione wonders why she agreed... she could never stand a chance of winning, right? Rated for minor adult themes and language. R&R. COMPLETE... FINALLY!

The Education of a Lady by thewanderers'wanderingdaughter - M, 34 chapters, Words: 365,605 - COMPLETE. Fourth and final (for real this time) part in the His Little Bird series. The story of survival, betrayal, and tragedy. A monster took everything from her. Now she's expected to be a willing participant in the world he's built for them. They want her to become one of them. She only wants vengeance, and now that she has her power back, she can make that a reality.

If Only by SarahFraser - M, 25 chapters, Words: 99,891 - Fourteen years after Draco and Hermione break up, Draco accompanies his son, Scorpius, to Kings Cross for his first year at Hogwarts. Thirteen-year-old twins, Mila and Milo, get their first in person glimpse of the father that abandoned them before birth. After Mila confronts her father for abandoning them, Draco seeks Hermione out on the platform to find out what the hell is going

I'm a What? He's My What? Well Hell! by clumsydolphin - T, 18 chapters, Words: 34,168 - This is a very unusual Veela tale! I promise if ya peek inside it's a surprise! Now complete!

Blackmailed by Mistress Lynn - M, 14 chapters, Words: 49.867 - Draco finds out something pertaining to the war that Hermione would do anything to prevent from getting out. How far is she willing to go to protect her secret? DM/HG, Draco M./Hermione G. 7th Year Hogwarts, war AU, Dramione, lots of banter! COMPLETE! WINNER: 2022 Top Dramione Fics on Reddit, 2nd Place Dom!Draco (but he's totally a switch here)

Mother: Unknown by HufflepuffMommy - M, 42 chapters, Words: 108,211 - After the battle, Draco Malfoy was given something he never thought he wanted—a daughter. The only problem? He didn't know who the mother of his child was. Six years after the war, Hermione Granger moves to the states, to a small coastal town in Maine. There, she runs into a familiar wizard—along with his outgoing, precious daughter. NOW COMPLETE!

Fireworks by cleotheo - T, 10 chapters, Words: 25,510 - A party at the end of seventh year results in major life changes for Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, including the loss of their best friend, Ron Weasley. Can a reunion several years later fix the rift, or are some things too broken to ever be fixed? Reunion style story.

Old Friends by cleotheo - T, 10 chapters, Words: 25,453 - When Ron Weasley returns to Wizarding Britain after five years away he is dismayed to find his place in life seems to have been usurped by a certain former Slytherin. But how far will Ron go to get back the life, and the witch, he believes should be his?

Teach Me How to Forget by scullymurphy - M, 20 chapters, Words: 110,321 - Hermione Granger is 27 years old when her life falls apart. Cheated-on, flatless, in a dead end job, she decides to change one thing she can-take a class and try for some career advancement. But change is never easy, especially when an old enemy is the catalyst-and the class instructor.

Designations by sbz0702 - M, 35 chapters, Words: 85,293 - In the aftermath of the Battle of Hogwarts and the end of the Wizarding War, all Seventh- and Eighth-Year students are required to return to Hogwarts to complete their magical educations. When they arrive, they discover that the Ministry has been tampering with nature and biology...and they've all been affected... EWE, non-Canon compliant

[readingcomics-sometimeshiatus]

Sapphic Webtoon Masterlist

One day I thought that maybe it should exist a list with all the sapphic stories of webtoon since is so hard to find.

today I decided to make this list

you can also comment stories that are not listed here!

Sapphic = woman loving woman. although this name means any queer woman (e.g. lesbians, pansexuals, etc.), in this list will only have the ones where the main couple are two woman (or one is not a man).

Last updated: January 23th, 2024

please check up the reblogs to see when the last time was updated if you see this on a reblog!

Originals

Not So Shoujo Love Story (comedy, in progress)

Romance-super-fan Rei Chan is ready for her first boyfriend and she knows just who it'll be: the most handsome boy in school, Hansum Ochinchin. But her plans for the perfect love story are derailed when the most popular girl in class declares herself a rival….for Rei's heart?! This is the year her not so shoujo love story begins!

Nevermore (supernatural, in progress);

There is nothing definitive about life after death, except the involuntary enrollment at the mysterious Nevermore Academy. Now Lenore and Annabel Lee must begin their curriculum to recover the memories of their tragic demise. Between the Dean's macabre demeanor and the tell-tale dangers of Final Exams, both girls must learn to rely on one another and their newly acquired ghost forms, or Spectres, to not only graduate from the academy… but to earn a second chance at life.

Night Owls & Summer Skies (romance, completed);

Despite her tough exterior, seventeen year-old Emma Lane has never been the outdoorsy type. So when her mother unceremoniously dumps her at Camp Mapplewood for the summer, she’s determined to get kicked out fast. However, when she draws the attention of Vivian Black, a mysterious and gorgeous assistant counselor, she discovers that there may be more to this camp than mean girls and mosquitos. There might even be love.

Realta (fantasy, in progress);

When the world was new, the twelve star signs descended to bless humanity with magic according to their date of birth. Fourteen worthy people, called the “Realta,” were given a star from each Sign that allowed them to receive prophecies of the future called “horoscopes” and summon great power to defeat the Fae: beings that tormented humanity. However, much has changed since Elowen was a child. Magic is illegal, the Fae are getting stronger, and the Realta have been forgotten…until our Virgo meets a certain Capricorn.

Muted (supernatural, completed);

On the full moon of her 21st year, the young witch, Camille Severin, is expected to perform the traditional ritual to summon forth a winged demon for her families success and prosperity. But when the ritual goes wrong, it reveals the terrifying truths about herself and the secrets that threaten to tear her family apart.

Mage & Demon Queen (comedy, completed;

Adventurers seek to take the demon queen’s head, but a love-struck young female mage wishes to take her hand. Join us won’t you, for this bawdy tale of love and persistence set inside a real-life RPG.

REVEAL OUT! (romance, will return);

Eeden thought she'd missed out on life: her art career is a disaster, her landlord kicked her out, and worst of all, she's never even had a girlfriend! But life takes a turn when a chance encounter with an old crush sends her back in time. Now she's 18 again and starting college, with a chance to get everything right. Armed with a plan and a crush, Eeden knows exactly how to create the life full of joy she deserves: make it bold, make it beautiful, and most of all, make it gay!!

High Class Homos (comedy, in progress);

Princess Sapphia of Mytilene is not into princes. So, when her parents start putting the heat on her to get hitched, she enlists the help of her equally gay best friend, Prince August of Phthia. But will these two royals be able to pull off a convincing sham marriage? More importantly, will Sapphia ever land a date with the castle maids? Follow these high class homos as they navigate life, love, and (occasionally) their actual jobs.

Finding Wonderland (fantasy, completed);

In Wonderland, Alex is the Ace. When tasked with hunting down the nefarious Black Knave and his scourge of Nightmares, Alex begins to have visions of another world beyond: our world. In reality, Alex is a normal teen who has been placed in a dangerous simulation to draw out a scientist’s lost son. And time is quickly running out.

Aerial Magic (fantasy, completed);

The daily life of an apprentice witch.

Always Human (romance, completed);

This is a story about nanobots, genetic engineering, and two girls falling in love. No matter how technology changes us, we'll always be human.

Savior (fantasy, completed);

Wohn Ku is a vampire that needs human blood to survive. As a tenderhearted child, she led a tortured existence until a girl named Seyeon willingly became her steady blood source. Seyeon stood by Wohn throughout their school years, defending her from bullies. Fast forward to the present where they move in together ahead of their freshman year of college. Seyeon remains fiercely protective of her friend, but Wohn is ready for a fresh start. When a devoutly religious sophomore girl named Juyi showers her with kindness, Wohn emerges from her shell only to realize that Juyi had once been her father’s kidnapping victim, a potential blood source she had refused to bite. Juyi grows closer to Wohn without remembering the incident, fueling jealousy in Seyeon. Will Juyi prove to be a savior washing away Wohn’s guilt, or will she ruin a vampire’s dream of redemption?

CANVAS

My Dragon Girlfriend (romance/slice of life, in progress);

Christy is saved from a bad date by a dragon girl and introduced to world of magical creatures while falling in love with her savior.

Susuhara Is A Demon (slice of life/romance, in progress);

After a perfect girl encounters an infamous delinquent, her life is thrusted into a whirlwind of chaos! Strap in for a ride jam-packed with terribly embarrassing flirting techniques, kick-ass delinquents and existential dread by the buttload! Nothing could possibly go wrong in this perfectly imperfect love story.

Fatal Kiss (romance/supernatural, in progress);

What would you do if your crush was a monster?

The Pirate and The Princess (romance/historic, in progress);

Princess Kirianna has been raised for two purposes; marriage and succession. As a dutiful, intelligent, and optimistic girl, she came to terms with her fate long ago, and simply longs to be content. The last thing she expected was to be pulled into a life of piracy, by a woman in disguise who has a strange grudge against Kirianna's father, and a secret of her own to hide…. Captain is given male pronouns by me until her name drop in Chapter 10!

Eldritch Darling (supernatural/comedy, in progress);

What if we kissed and we were both girls? And one of us was an oblivious human and the other was a dark eldritch abomination creature from beyond the stars??

Deep Sea (romance/fantasy, in progress);

Atarah is convinced : she is not cut out to be a princess. And when her father tells her that the time has come for her to get married, the world of the young princess crumbles: her heart dreams of adventure, and not of an arranged marriage! It is therefore at the worst of times that Atarah meets Robin, a pirate with questionable morals and a tumultuous past. But where will this crazy encounter lead her heart?

The Siren's Light (romance/fantasy, in progress);

I was sinking, the darkness was slowly surrounding me. The depth of the sea was pulling me lower and lower, I could no longer see the moonlight that glowed from above. But, Who was this silver-haired beautiful creature with an alluring voice swimming towards me? "You are a beautiful one." Her voice was so clear and soothing. And before I knew it, She kissed me. Who was this creature you asked? A siren. A flirtatious, annoying siren that changed my life forever. Author: @roseyluv143 (wattpad)

In My Heart (romance/drama, in progress);

Sasaki Mari is a typical delinquent troublemaker whose only goal is to get a boyfriend, but due to her reputation as bully and low grades, all the boys reject her. Then she decides to change her style, and asks for help from the student with the best grades in the class.

My Devotion to You (romance/drama, in progress);

For the past five years, Catalina has spent all-nighters studying and acing exams to become number the one student and prove her place in the academy. Unfortunately, no matter how much she tried…she has been stuck as number two…all because of Valeria Graham. Valerie is tired and does not expect this year to be much different. She will maintain her Top Student title just like her family expects her to. It would be like any other year…right? And so, their final year begins.

My Cat is a Wizard (fantasy/romance, in progress);

Caitlyn is a just an ordinary, struggling student in her final year of university… Or so she thinks. After having her heart broken yet again, her cat suddenly becomes human. She must now juggle the difficulties of school, work, and all the twists and turns life keeps throwing at her: like her cat/roommate being a wizard. Can Cait still fall in love while magic slowly takes over her world?

Honey and Venom (romance/heartwarming; in progress);

An ancient Roman goddess is reunited with her priestess 2000 in the future, but she doesn't remember her! The closer they grow, the more secrets their shared past reveals, all while an ancient adversary lurks in the shadows.

Greta the Red Wolf (supernatural/action, in progress);

An injured wolf pup and an abandoned baby appear at the doorstep of a couple’s home near the woods. The couple decides to take them in, but little did they know that the wolf was actually a werewolf, and the baby a vampire! Despite their shocked human parents, Greta the werewolf and Vincent the vampire had a blissful upbringing. However, as Greta and Vincent grow older, their quiet, peaceful lives are threatened as they discover the secret world of witches, vampires, and werewolves.

RAINBOW! (slice of life/romance, in progress);

Overly imaginative teenager Boo Meadows has always escaped her daily grind by living with her head in the clouds-- for better or worse. But when she meets the girl of her daydreams, it may finally be time to face reality.

Winter Before Spring (drama/romance, in progress);

Hana has recently just fallen in love with her best friend, who just happens to be a girl. After a confrontation with her best friend, Hana accidentally blurts out and confesses her true feelings. Fearing that she would be rejected, her friend accepts her feelings graciously and they start dating. Is this a dream? Hana, overwhelmed with happiness as her wish came true- is suddenly struck down, her world crashing down as she finds out the nasty truth about her best friend.

The Hideout (romance/drama, hiatus);

Nadia is a 18 year old teenage girl that’s finishing high school and working part-time on her aunts coffee shop named “The Hideout” Nadia also happens to not be very lucky when it comes to the love department and that, mixed with overworking herself, has taken a toll on her quite heavily recently. Reading direction is left to right

The Grand Priestess (fantasy/action, hiatus);

Verashana, a powerful sorceress, delves into the past after an incident separates her from her lover, hoping to learn more about the tragedy that occurred. Her hidden memories resurface, and she unlocks a world that she didn't know she was a part of. Now, she must find out where it all started, and where it all went wrong.

Love, Lila (romance/drama, hiatus);

A one-sided love & rivalry between an aspiring ballerina and an artist. Irene comes from a strict and close-minded household which is against her pursuing a career in arts, as a result of her upbringing she became cold, insecure, and distrustful. Then she met Lila, a perfect girl who has everything and is everything Irene wishes to become. But as she gets to know Lila better, she discovers that her privileged upbringing actually hides a traumatic family secret.

Facing the Sun (sci-fi/drama, in progress);

Fear. Grief. Trauma. Guilt. Love, all seen through the eyes of a dysfunctional android prototype well past her estimated lifespan.

I LIKE MY BEST-FRIEND (drama, ongoing);

(since I'm on phone, I'm gonna put this one later)

Unleashed (romance, ongoing);

(since I'm on phone, I'm gonna put this one later)

Pick Me!! (romance, ongoing);

wip

Lotus and the Dandelion (fantasy, ongoing);

wip

The Greenhouse (drama, ongoing);

wip

I want to be your wife! (drama, completed);

wip

Warm Spring Rain (romance; ongoing);

wip

What's A Soulmate (heart-warming; ongoing);

wip

5 More Minutes (romance, ongoing);

wip

Slice of Life (heart-warming, ongoing);

wip

Our Secret (drama, ongoing);

wip

Don't Look at the Sky (fantasy, ongoing);

wip

Somebody to you (romance, ongoing);

wip

[thenightling]

Why Morpheus won’t separate Cain and Abel to save Abel

   Before The Sandman was a thing, long, long ago Cain and Abel were old Horror anthology comic hosts.   Cain hosted The House of Mystery.  Abel hosted the House of Secrets. Cain, Abel, Eve, Lucien, The Hecate, The mad Mod witch, and even Destiny were all old horror anthology hosts.   Cain and Abel were the DC equivalent of the Crypt Keeper and The Vault Keeper from EC comics.   They would antagonize each other but ultimately loved each other and The Crypt Keeper (In this case Cain) usually would best his brother in their competitions and mischief against each other.   In The Sandman they are the personifications of the idea of Cain and Abel.  Lucifer respect's Cain's mark but it's also suggested that they are also Romulus and Remus and in Tales in The Sand we see their forms change based on what the human dreamer expects to see.  They were black for Nada.  Eve even says "I'm not really your mother." to Cain. In the context of The Sandman Morpheus made their existences as comfortable as possible.  Cain and Abel would exist as a pair with or without him. They're a set of architypes.  They are characters of story.   They were likely created by the collective human unconscious, the very idea of who Cain and Abel are supposed to be.  That's why Daniel was able to re-create Abel when The Kindly Ones killed him in a way he would not revive from.

Cain and Abel are two parts of a whole.  They are incomplete without each other and deeply suffer if one is missing. It's not a normal human abusive relationship. They are two parts of a story. Imagine if half your body was missing. That's how one feels without the other. They literally need each other or they feel incomplete. Neil used them as an allegory for domestic abuse but that doesn't mean they can be resolved like an actual codependent domestic abuse situatution.  No amount of therapy can fix them and to sesparate them would only make them suffer far worse than Cain's routine killings.   If Cain isn't there Abel is likely to start killing himself to compensate or seek harm some other way and no amount of therapy will fix that. With Cain however there's the promise that the story will reset within a few hours and they can enjoy some tea together or tell a scary story to a visitor.   Ultimately the real tragedy is that they love each other but Cain is a slave to the story he must act out.   And Abel, being the keeper of secrets, knows this.  It's a compulsion.   When he says Cain can't help it, he means it.  It's not like an abusive husband where he can learn to control himself. He simply MUST fulfil the story.  He has no choice.  The need to kill to Abel will over come him.   Sometimes Cain feels bad about it (that's why he gave him Goldie's egg in the comics).  Sometimes he tries to make light of it like they are back in their horror host days.   Sometimes he tries to do it quickly so they can go back to being kind to each other.  ("I'll see myself out.  It's your turn to make dinner.")  

Morpheus was never cruel to them by keeping them together.   He wasn't "enabling abuse."   Saying you can't forgive him keeping them together is to badly misunderstand the situation.   They would seek each other with or without him. And the collective human unconscious NEEDS them.  They embody a type of story.  Not only that but they are nightmare weavers. They create nightmares.  Cain introduces himself as such when he's nursing Morpheus back to health in The Sandman issue 2 (Chapter 2) Imperfect hosts.   The Dreaming NEEDS them.   Cain creates all the Nightmares that are mysterious.  Abel creates the ones that hide secrets.   They are the keepers of Mystery and Secrets.  

  Caitlin R. Kiernan went even further with her version of The Dreaming (though it’s no longer canon) to suggest that if one went missing humans would go mad.  Without Cain a primal violent urge in humanity would rise and cause a spike self-harm, abuses, and murder.  Cain was, according to her, a vicarious outlet for those darker urges. This is not to say their situation is hopeless.  No.   An ex-friend of mine had a theory that as the collective idea of who Cain and Abel are evolves, so do they.  And that means if a more popular version of them emerges where Cain doesn't want to kill his brother, or stops himself, that version will be what they embody.  So there is a chance that one day they will change. Remember, Merv was once a Turniphead according to the The Tempest.  Creatures of story change according to the collctive idea of that story. Morpheus knew that their story was a tragic and harsh one. He is not the cause of it.  He is, however, the source of their only comfort.   The promise that the story resets, that Abel always recovers and they can still have tea together later.   That they can live side by side MOST of the time peacefully (When Cain isn't fulfilling his compulsive need to kill Abel). Abel, being the keepr of secrets, knows one great secret.   That Cain does love him and can't bear to be without him.   And that's why he puts up with it.   Their story is a cruel one but Morpheus didn't cause it.   What he gave them is the comfort between the routines.  Their big old haunted houses and graveyard where they can have tea and raise gargoyles together.  It's the only comfort he can give them.   To separate them would be far worse. Morpheus has done a lot of terrible and stupid things.  Letting Cain and Abel house The Houses of Mystery and Secrets together is not one of them.

[oraclekleo]

[Pick-A-Pile]Messages for you from the cards

Hello and welcome to a short PAC of mine.

This time I’m not asking the cards about anything in particular. I allow them to deliver the kind of message they feel like you should know now.

If you struggle picking a pile, it might be that none of the messages are supposed to reach you at this moment. If you come back in a month, maybe you pick the pile instantly because then it’s gonna be the time for you to receive the message.

If in general you struggle picking piles, it might be that as well. Sometimes you are not supposed to pick one because the message is not meant for you. Keep that in mind.

Disclaimer:

All my tarot readings are for entertainment purposes only

This is a general timeless reading - take what resonates

May include mature, NSFW, 18+ or triggering content

Minors should not engage with my blog

Tarot is self-development tool (yes, even future spouse readings are self-development tools), it’s not a life manual

Whatever the cards say, you always have a freedom of choice

Never base important life decisions in solely tarot readings

Maintain moderate consumption of tarot readings, it’s like any other addiction, it becomes unhealthy when it’s too much

Masterlist: Pick-A-Pile (PAC) Masterlist

Let's Play: Tarot Games 🎲

Messages for You from the Cards

Pile 01

Cards: 2 of Cups, 10 of Swords, Ace of Coins (Tarot of Tales), 38. The Milk of the Mother Flows, 42. She is Moonlight-Shy (The Solitary Witch Oracle), Star Anise (The Herbal Tea Magic for the Modern Witch Oracle)

There’s an end of discussion leading to important decisions - it’s time to stop analysing and debating and it’s time to start working on your goals.

Relationships are nurturing and lovely, you are rewarded with the same amount of care you have put into them.

Follow your intuition but keep your eyes open - you might have a tendency to romanticise what’s actually not that good in the merciless light of reality.

Someone in your life might present themselves well but they are actually toxic for you. It’s time to show them the door.

Your manifestations are likely to come to fruition now. Whatever you have wished and manifested for will finally materialise in your world.

Meeting your soulmate or just someone very dear to you is suggested.

Now is the time to embrace your personal magick powers. The time of waiting is over, be the best version of yourself now. Devote to your craft.

Your energy is at its peak and flowing easily, your actions now will influence your future many years ahead.

It's a time of good fortune for you - you might want to play the lottery.

Pile 02

Cards: 10 of Wands, 10 of Cups, Ace of Wands (The Light Seer’s Tarot), Cheetah, Lion (The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Oracle), Purification (Sacred Destiny Oracle)

It’s time to de-clutter, purify, clean and cleanse, sort and make space for what’s about to come. New vibrant energy can’t enter your life when it’s clogged with old, stagnant and blocking energy. Clean yourself and space around you. Eat lightly and get rid of things you don’t love anymore.

Time of abundance is ahead of you, especially if you read this in the summer season. Abundance of what you desire will come to you like a summer storm - swiftly and showering down.

Don’t waste your energy and resources. Observe and be smart with your decisions. There are battles worth fighting but there are also those you should avoid. Learn to recognize them.

Your potential and energy are endless but you need a purpose and motivation to use them well. If you are lacking any of these, take a moment to think about your ‘why’.

Your creativity is radiating and burning, you might experience an increase when it comes to brilliant ideas now.

Everything is connected. Use your intellect and imagination to see how people and situations interact. You might feel an urge to start writing a story or poem.

Finally some happiness arrived at your home’s door. You might feel blessed in the circle of your close relatives or friends, maybe celebration is at hand.

If your project or relationship becomes a tedious and tiring one, don’t lose hope and keep going. You are just about to release the burdens and reach fruition of your labour.

It might be about time for you to do something for your community. In relation to the above, you might feel called to release some content for your social media followers, or you might want to donate your old clothes to charity, or maybe you simply bake a cake for your grandma for her birthday.

Pile 03

Cards: V The Hierophant, Knight of Swords, XI Justice (The Slavic Legends Tarot), L The Ram and Dahlia, XII The Lizard and Pitcher Plant (Woodland Wardens Oracle), Hazel (The Wisdom of Trees Oracle)

Set your mental and emotional boundaries, especially when dealing with people. Some dramas have nothing to do with you, don’t waste your energy on them.

If you feel stuck or stagnant, remember the lizard's ability to let go of their tails to escape from predators. Maybe it’s time for you to drop something in order to move forward.

You are determined and focused on your goals and if you maintain like that, you can achieve whatever you want. Be headstrong and gracious at the same time and no obstacle stands a chance against you.

It’s time to establish a little more balance in your life. Which aspects take most of your attention and which ones you neglect recently?

If you are dealing with people and their dramas, remain impartial and unbiased. If you lean to any side, it will only bring more chaos to the situation. Keep a cool head.

Make meticulous plans but don’t get stuck in the planning phase. Once you are done debating, take courage and execute what you have drafted.

Ride the storm - while others hide from challenges, you should see an opportunity to shine against adversity. You have that personal power and charm to lead masses in times of crises.

You might feel the need to study, examine and evaluate rules, norms, laws or customs. Maybe you follow some traditions despite them being a burden to you. Maybe some laws are outdated and only promote injustice. It’s time to take in a bigger picture and work on improvements.

Your older friends or relatives possess wisdom. Come together at this time and learn some crucial information or skills from them. Is inflation giving a hit to your budget? Your elders might know some frugal tricks to help you. Maybe your sensitive skin doesn’t benefit from creams you buy and your grandma has some time proofed home remedy for that. Seek for long-term wisdom instead of quick hecks.

Thank you for reading!

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[richincolor]

Mid-Autumn and Mooncakes

With the Mid-Autumn Festival coming up at the end of September, mooncakes have been on my mind. Several conversations have revolved around the festival and food in my real life and on social media so I started wondering if there were YA books for that. And yes indeed, here are a few books featuring the moon or mooncakes that I've read or have on my TBR.

Retellings Related to the Moon

An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X.R. Pan Little, Brown Books For Young Readers

Hunter Yee has perfect aim with a bow and arrow, but all else in his life veers wrong. He’s sick of being haunted by his family’s past mistakes. The only things keeping him from running away are his little brother, a supernatural wind, and the bewitching girl at his new high school.

Luna Chang dreads the future. Graduation looms ahead, and her parents’ expectations are stifling. When she begins to break the rules, she finds her life upended by the strange new boy in her class, the arrival of unearthly fireflies, and an ominous crack spreading across the town of Fairbridge.

As Hunter and Luna navigate their families’ enmity and secrets, everything around them begins to fall apart. All they can depend on is their love… but time is running out, and fate will have its way.

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan Harper Voyager

Growing up on the moon, Xingyin is accustomed to solitude, unaware that she is being hidden from the feared Celestial Emperor who exiled her mother for stealing his elixir of immortality. But when Xingyin’s magic flares and her existence is discovered, she is forced to flee her home, leaving her mother behind.

Alone, powerless, and afraid, she makes her way to the Celestial Kingdom, a land of wonder and secrets. Disguising her identity, she seizes an opportunity to learn alongside the emperor's son, mastering archery and magic, even as passion flames between her and the prince.

To save her mother, Xingyin embarks on a perilous quest, confronting legendary creatures and vicious enemies across the earth and skies. But when treachery looms and forbidden magic threatens the kingdom, she must challenge the ruthless Celestial Emperor for her dream—striking a dangerous bargain in which she is torn between losing all she loves or plunging the realm into chaos.

A captivating debut fantasy inspired by the legend of Chang'e, the Chinese moon goddess, in which a young woman’s quest to free her mother pits her against the most powerful immortal in the realm. Daughter of the Moon Goddess begins an enchanting, romantic duology which weaves ancient Chinese mythology into a sweeping adventure of immortals and magic—where love vies with honor, dreams are fraught with betrayal, and hope emerges triumphant.

Mooncakes 

Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and Wendy Xu Oni Press [Jessica's Review]

A story of love and demons, family and witchcraft.

Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers' bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town.

One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any town home.

Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery.

When You Wish Upon a Lantern by Gloria Chao Viking

Liya and Kai had been best friends since they were little kids, but all that changed when a humiliating incident sparked The Biggest Misunderstanding Of All Time—and they haven’t spoken since.

Then Liya discovers her family's wishing lantern store is struggling, and she decides to resume a tradition she had with her beloved late grandmother: secretly fulfilling the wishes people write on the lanterns they send into the sky. It may boost sales and save the store, but she can't do it alone . . . and Kai is the only one who cares enough to help.

While working on their covert missions, Liya and Kai rekindle their friendship—and maybe more. But when their feuding families and their changing futures threaten to tear them apart again, can they find a way to make their own wishes come true?

Fake Dates and Mooncakes by Sher Lee Underlined

Dylan Tang wants to win a Mid-Autumn Festival mooncake-making competition for teen chefs—in memory of his mom, and to bring much-needed publicity to his aunt’s struggling Chinese takeout in Brooklyn.

Enter Theo Somers: charming, wealthy, with a smile that makes Dylan’s stomach do backflips. AKA a distraction. Their worlds are sun-and-moon apart, but Theo keeps showing up. He even convinces Dylan to be his fake date at a family wedding in the Hamptons.

In Theo’s glittering world of pomp, privilege, and crazy rich drama, their romance is supposed to be just pretend . . . but Dylan finds himself falling for Theo. For real. Then Theo’s relatives reveal their true colors—but with the mooncake contest looming, Dylan can’t risk being sidetracked by rich-people problems.

Can Dylan save his family’s business and follow his heart—or will he fail to do both?

[laurasimonsdaughter]

I'm watching Good Manners(brazilian fantasy movie, so like spoilers ahead) and now I'm thinking of mothers of mystical beings that are affected during the pregnancy, specifically in the way of a human woman, pregnant with a werewolf baby, who is affected by full moon during the pregnancy. The only other example I can think of the classic "human mother of vampire baby having to drink blood during pregnancy and breastfeeding". At least I think it's classic. Toodles.

The concept of a human mother carrying a vampire baby and needing to drink blood because of it, is certainly popular in modern fantasy! In the folklore surrounding dhampir, I've never seen anything about the mothers having to consume blood, which makes sense because dhampir, though half-vampires generally also don't drink blood. (And from a more historical perspective, just because a grieving woman gets pregnant and gives the explanation that her undead husband visited her, does not mean this woman also felt like suddenly drinking blood).

The werewolf take on this has much more potential for body horror though. Which is why I think it's more common to have the werelwolf "curse" take hold when the child is seven or eleven years old. Even if the mother was a werewolf herself, the practicality of transforming your whole body while pregnant and the baby transforming too is pretty horrifying to think about.

There are a lot of folktales about women having babies with selkies, elves, water spirits, etc. But these stories rarely focus on the pregnancy itself. And maybe that's for the best, honestly. Speaking as someone who went through one, normal human pregnancy is plently weird enough.

There is a lot of folkloric superstition about pregnancy ailments. In some places they say you have to indulge your pregnancy cravings, or your child will "bear a sign" of the lack of it. Having a lot of morning sickness is sometimes said to be a sign you will have a particularly beautiful child (maybe as consolation). And of course there are a lot of protective elements around it. Pregnant people were thought to be particularly vulnerable to being stolen by the fae in some places and in tales from the Philippines several vampiric creatures pray on them. I've also come across mentions of a pregnant woman looking a vampire in the eyes marking her baby for vampirism after death, but I've yet to find an actual source for that one...

Regardless, I think adding a little urban fantasy flavour to supernatural pregnancies could be a lot of fun! Mostly in the cravings department. Whether that's blood, meat, fish, magical fruits or forbidden greenery from a witch's garden. That'd be extra fun if you have a polyamorous setup and no one knows whose kid it is yet, until the pregnant person starts to have very specific cravings and they're all like: "Oh, salmon instead of venison this time? Definitely yours then <3"

[fancylala4]

The Disney Tangled book Mother Knows Best: A Tale of the Old Witch contains more antisemitic tropes than the movie. There are references to Blood Libel in regards to the wicked witches in the story of the book. In Chapter 27, Gothel and her coven literally use Baby Rapunzel for an evil magical ritual involving usage of their blood, with intent to bring Gothel's sisters back from the dead. It's awful. It's truly horrible.

That sounds awful. What were the writers thinking? It’s like this franchise just likes to adds more antisemitic elements to any new media content Disney puts outs. I heard in tv show they also added even more antisemitic tropes to gothel. I would hate to see what the writers would add in the live action version.

[cinderswife]

because i love nothing more than worldbuilding and inventing contexts for Why Characters Are Like That, i've designed cinders' immediate family! the last royal family of perrault was an absolute nightmare politically and socially. it might've been sorted out okay if they weren't being invaded at the same time, but things didn't work out that way.

infodump under the cut <3

cinders' father, king alixander grimsnarl, was the only son of a dwindling dynasty. he was not a very good king; he had the backbone of a sea sponge like his forebears and was a bit too proud of his crown. he'd bend to whoever bribed him the best and let corruption fester among the court (a problem that had been in the family for generations; perrault was the weakest of the five trader planets).

he went through many wives trying to produce an heir, unwilling to acknowledge that the fault was his own or even consider infertility treatments. he wanted his family to live on beyond him; there were many who wanted the throne and he could not allow them to have it.

enter eleanor blazekiss. as the youngest granddaughter of one of the most notable crimelords in perrault, she was ambitious, tired of being overlooked for her siblings and cousins, and knew the grey market witches of the lands quite well. so, at 20 years old she marches up to the 58 year old king and goes "marry me and i can solve your heir problem." alixander, intrigued by this bold and beautiful young woman and desperate for a solution, agreed. they were wed and within months she was pregnant with his heir.

however, the tale isn't as clear cut as one might think. eleanor stole away for the night with a sample of his sperm and his spit and made a deal with a witch to produce a gmo baby. because alixander was fully infertile and trying to make gametes from other dna sources was a nightmare, it was determined that it would be much faster just to clone eleanor and make a few changes to match his dna instead.

basically, cinders is a clone of her mother aside from the color of her eyes, the fact that she was amab, the ability to sprout golden antlers (cinders will discover this much later in her life), and a handful of other purely internal changes.

alixander was overjoyed by his "son" of course and doted on cinders. unfortunately, as old men are wont to do his health got steadily worse. eleanor tried very hard to care for her child, of course, except that she was young and distractible and found she cared far more for the whims and gossip of high society than for the duties of queen and mother. cinders was raised by her nanny and the royal advisors and was somewhat involved with the government since age 5.

also, she fully reneged on her deal with the witch. she thought she'd gotten away with it too! things were going well for her. alixander was retiring and she was going to be given the keys to the kingdom until her "son" was of age to take the throne. however, the day before her coronation she died unexpectedly and tragically.

the public, already on edge due to everything from the king's health to the threat of impending war with king cole, couldn't take this tragedy. what were the advisors supposed to do? well. they have a child who looks exactly like "his" mother and has a decent grasp on politic. also, this 12 year old has been raring for the chance to transition into a woman almost her entire life.

so, they put a child on the throne and lied to the king and the public about everything. queen eleanor the second, later known as cinders, was a decent queen. she had a much stronger backbone, was fully capable of living a double life as prince and queen, and cared deeply about her people. she was also a child, so there were many things she didn't understand and couldn't quite grasp.

well, alixander began to get suspicious. his son was growing into his wife who might or might not be dead, someone was on the throne who wasn't him and he didn't know who, and his former advisors were cagey as fuck. he also didn't get out much.

however, there was someone who could help. (at the time) lady marguerite tremain-moontear was from a lesser noble house that had fallen into ruin. she had two daughters, a husband who'd run off with a younger woman, and a thirst to build a better life for herself and her children.

she met with alixander in secret at first. she was clever and ambitious and found out a key piece of information: queen eleanor the first was dead, and had been for several years. who was on the throne? the gods only knew, she kept her face covered at all times though she was popular among the people.

they decided to marry. not out of love, but because it would be an easy way for them to be in close contact and her daughters would get royal treatment. if she played her cards right, she could even get one of them on the throne.

the only trouble with that was the "prince." see, cinders was Not happy with the new stepmother or her bratty children. they made her home life miserable by making her do all sorts of demeaning tasks and getting on her ass when she didn't complete them herself in a reasonable amount of time when a) they had staff to do that and b) cinders was 15 and rapidly learning what it meant to lead a war.

basically, everything went to hell in a handbasket for cinders when she was 15 because cole's forces had determined that perrault was the weak link in the 5 trader planets and were going really hard on the invasion. at home she was withdrawn and irritable, tired of having to pretend to be a prince forced to entertain the whims of a terrible stepfamily while grappling with decisions that she made where her people were destroyed either way. as queen she became waspish and difficult to work with even when her people's very lives were at stake.

this would last for four years until the truth of her and her advisors' deception became known to king and court. alixander took the throne again, but the court became split between him and the now fully out princess.

they did not survive six months. lady tremain-moontear took advantage of the chaos to betray them to king cole and 19 year old private rose grimm accidentally discovered some secret tunnels into the capitol, the combination of which allowed king cole to win perrault, kill the king, throw cinders into jail, burn down the planet, and make the house of tremain-moontear into the newest noble family of his empire.

at present, the now countess marguerite is working very hard to try to rebuild the ashes of her kingdom. she has the power she wanted, but at what cost? she's been forced to work with the grand duchy of delinore and the aid offered her by grand duchess snow grimm to rebuild. she hates this.

her older daughter belin has stayed loyal by her side, though their relationship is contentious. belin believes she could do a far better job than her mother but is terrified to disobey her. after all, her younger sister yulie has disappeared and now all the weight is on her shoulders.

yulie is... actually doing pretty okay. she, along with abigail stardust (the last living knight of cinders' reign), have taken advantage of snow's refugee programs and are currently living out a quiet if rather broke life on the planet of delinore in a mediocre one bedroom apartment. she's been doing temp admin work and abigail has been doing whatever manual labor she can get her hands on. that being said, yulie has just gotten a job offer as snow's second assistant... things might be looking up for her after all.

[nerdasaurus1200]

Ohhh my god y'all

Okay so I know this book isn't canon to TTS at all but I just discovered "Mother Knows Best", Gothel's prequel book, and apparently in the book Gothel is a triplet and has two sisters.

And here's a picture the author drew of the three of them

Look what Primrose has.

Freckles.

THOSE OF US IN THIS FANDOM WHO SUPPORT FRECKLED CASS, NOW WE KNOW! SHE GOT THEM FROM HER AUNT!

[tangledbea]

Apparently in that Gothel prequel book she's a triplet and had two sisters that died before she could use the Sundrop to save them. I'm curious though, how do you think Rapunzel, Eugene, and Cassandra would react to finding out Gothel had sisters?

Wow, even less interested in that book now. lol

Honestly? I don't think it would particularly bother them, especially Eugene and Cassandra. Because the other women are dead, and have been for hundreds of years. To them, it would be no skin of their nose.

Rapunzel is more likely to wonder what kind of women they were, if they had families, if that means that Cassandra has relatives out there.

[imissthembutitwasntadisaster]

Little Briar was cursed at birth, of course.  You all know the story.  And at the time it caused a great hue and cry, with all the spinning wheels in the kingdom being burnt, and only the most trustworthy maidservants being hired, and the young girl being raised as safely and securely as possible, and being told to never ever go to the room at the very top of the tower, for an old woman spun there and could not be removed, and all who saw her knew in their hearts that she was the Evil Fairy.  Briar looked up the long spiralling staircase and wondered why they thought she might even try – it was far too high for anyone with any sense to climb.  Instead she kept her head down and focused on her education, languages and mathematics and the sciences, literature and history, how to be noble, how to rule.  Everything expected of her as a princess with parents who desperately hoped they could break the curse. 

Except, as the years passed, the hope stopped being as desperate, and eventually was barely even thought of.  The fact is, there’s only so long a curse can be worrying, and as the years passed and the country produced no yarn, it settled into more of a novelty than anything else.  Briar herself unfortunately grew up into being a rather uninteresting girl, small and serious, no spark or shine that called people over to her corner by nature.  But it was alright, because everyone wanted to speak to her anyway.  Few sought her thoughts (she had few to give), but all sought a conversation with the fairy-tale girl, the girl with a witch at her christening, the girl with the shadow of the steel hanging over her head. 

“Maybe I could play outside?” she asked her father when she was about twelve.  Her father shook his head, though he laughed. 

“It’s far too dangerous, little Briar.  You can play with your friends in here!”

“But I don’t have any friends in here—”

“Nonsense! Of course you do!” he boomed, “what about Sophie? Or Margaret?” and he patted Briar on the head.  She pressed her lips together, unable to properly articulate that neither girl really seemed to enjoy her company.  They played with her when she asked, but they never asked her first. Instead she went back to her room and stared and stared out the window at the lands beyond.  At least there would be a state dinner in a few days.  Some new ambassadors were coming and she always got a lot of attention then.     

When Briar was fifteen she overheard her parents talking.  She was passing by their rooms and she paused in the corridor when she heard her name.  

“I worry about Briar, you know,” her mother was saying.  “She’s very quiet, not very… bright.  I don’t know what we’ll do when she needs a husband.” 

Briar’s father surely replied, but Briar didn’t hear it.  She slipped away along the corridor and locked what she had heard away very tightly in a tiny room at the top of a tall spiral staircase at the back of her mind.  It was strenuous work, climbing up to that room, even just in her head.  But still, she managed it occasionally, even when she didn’t want to. 

“I don’t know if anyone even likes me,” Briar said to her mother when she was seventeen.  The Queen scoffed. 

“Of course the people like you,” she declared.  “Why wouldn’t they?” And there the matter ended. 

Now, it was the day before Briar’s birthday and the whole castle was engaged in preparing for the celebrations, or at least the whole castle excepting the girl herself.  Briar wandered around, fairly out of sorts.  She didn’t know who was coming, she expected it was the same people as always but she had never been asked, and she had decided in a fit of stubborn anger not to ask in return.  But just as she decided to return to her rooms her father swept down the corridor towards her. 

“Ah, Briar!” he bellowed, “wonderful, wonderful, such a marvellous occasion.  You ought to put your best foot forward for tomorrow, you know, everyone’s coming.  They’re all so excited!”

“To see me turn eighteen?” asked Briar.  Her father frowned at her tone, half mocking, half exhausted. 

“Now there’s no need to be like that, daughter.  To see the end of the curse, of course! Just think, you won’t be the Cursed Princess anymore.  Isn’t that exciting?” and with that, he motored away to pounce upon some unsuspecting waitstaff and give them unnecessarily detailed instructions on how exactly to arrange the tables.  Briar stood, unmoving, feeling oddly as though all the blood had been drained from her body.  She stood there for a long time.  She thought about the curse, fairy blood and fairy spit, about the courtiers who danced with her just to go and tell their friends that they had touched that fated hand and lived.  She thought about how her mind froze up whenever people were trying to be funny, about the way she had never truly understood mathematics no matter how hard she tried, about how whenever she spoke on poetry or songs or literature people would pat her hand and smile and say very nice dear and then turn away.

She thought about how very, very long a hundred years truly is. 

In Briar’s defence, no one had told her the whole castle would be put to sleep. 

The staircase really didn’t seem that difficult to climb anymore. 

[hummingbird-of-light]

Round 2: Eighth story for @badthingshappenbingo ~

Title: The Tailor, The Princess And The Witch

Fandom: Star Trek (AOS)

Character(s): Robert "Robbie" Scott, Leah McCoy, Original Female Character, Mentions Of Other Characters

Relationship(s): Robert "Robbie" Scott/Leah McCoy

Rating: T

Words: 2,133

Prompt: Going into Hiding

Warnings: Violence, Character Death, Alternate Universe - Fairy Tale

(You can also find this story on AO3)

~ The Tailor, The Princess And The Witch ~

Once upon a time there was a young couple. Both of them were Scottish tailors and they loved each other very much.

It did not take long for their son to be born. A young and healthy lad they named Montgomery after the woman's father. The tailors were very happy and grateful for their child, but as soon as he reached the age of one, he got horribly sick.

The tailors didn't know what to do. They cried and prayed to God for someone to come and save their little boy.

And help came. When the strangest looking woman they had ever seen before knocked at their door and asked them to sew her a dress, the couple was once again wailing about their poor wee boy.

"Stop your tears," the woman said, stepping over to the cradle. She reached out her long and sharp fingers to gently stroke the child's cheek.

"I will heal this son of yours, however, there is a price that you have to pay."

The tailors couldn't believe it. The strange purple-skinned woman really wanted to save their precious child!

"Of course! Anything for our dearest Montgomery!" the mother exclaimed, clinging to her husband who held her close.

"Promise me your second born son. He will be mine. And mine alone. You will raise him to be a healthy, well-fed young man and I will take him once the sun rises on his eighteenth birthday."

The tailors, stupidly thinking that they wouldn't ever get another child being as old as they were, nodded vigorously and so the deal was made.

Their son was miraculously healed from his sickness and grew up fast.

And soon enough, a few years later, his baby brother was born.

Robert "Robbie" Scott, named after his father's father.

And even though his parents still remembered the promise they had made to the witch - that's what they called her now - years ago, they didn't think that she really would show up again.

They lived their lives as a happy family, all together in their wee house on the outskirts of the village.

Unfortunately, the old tailor Scott died on a trip to gather some new fabrics when he was attacked by a pack of wolves. His wife, left alone with both boys, tried her best to feed them, almost starving herself in the process, and as soon as Montgomery was old enough, he left for a new town where he wanted to work. He did not want to be a burden to his mother.

Robbie, however, stayed with her and helped her as best he could. He learned to sew, to cook, to wash - anything to help her so that she could rest.

When the night before his eighteenth birthday came, Robbie and his mother were sitting together by the fire. And the boy noticed that she looked very sad.

"Why are ye sad, a mhàthair? What is wrong?"

And so his mother told him about the witch and about what his father and her had promised that woman.

"I see. Please, a mhàthair. Do not cry. I will leave the house before the sun rises and go into hiding. I will train everyday and in two or three years I'll be strong enough to fight that witch. She will never get me."

So he left.

The night and the woods were dark and cold, but the young Scotsman ran as fast as he could to get away from the place he had called his home for all his life.

If the witch did not find him, she could not take him.

But the dark forest was scary and the young boy had never been out there at night before.

He thought of his poor father, torn apart by wolves. Every sound, every crack that he heard, startled him and soon enough Robbie was too scared to go on. So he hid in a hollow tree.

He would spend the night there.

~

It was early in the morning, but the sun was already shining through the treetops, when Robbie continued his way.

A smile spread across his face and his chest filled with pride as he thought about the fact that he had survived the night in the woods all by himself. Neither the animals nor the witch had found him.

As he happily went his way, a shot rang through the air and once again the young tailor startled, turning his head to look around. Fear washed over his face as he heard a group of dogs chasing through the forest.

Hunters!

As fast as he could, Robbie hurried through the woods, trying his best not to fall. However, he ran out of luck when his foot got caught in a noose and he tripped.

Soon enough the dogs were sniffing and growling at him and for a moment the young Scotsman feared that they would kill him or that they belonged to the witch, but no such thing happened.

Instead their was a voice calling the dogs back.

Robbie raised his head to look at the person coming towards him and his heart skipped a beat.

There, standing right in front of him, was the prettiest lass he had ever seen before. Her long dark brown hair was tied back in a ponytail and she wore noble clothing. A riffle was slung over her shoulder. She tilted her head in confusion, then smiled.

"Now that is a fine deer you found me there, boys. Looks a bit too human to me though," the gorgeous voice joked, scolding the dogs playfully.

Robbie opened his mouth to say something, but he was at a loss for words. A blush crept onto his cheeks as he looked at the bonnie smile.

"Who are you? What are you doing out here in our grove?"

"Y-yer grove?"

And suddenly the Scotsman seemed to realize just who the pretty lass in front of him was. His eyes widened and he bowed down his head.

"Y-yer highness! I'm so sorry! I-I-I did nae mean to step onto yer family's property. I-it was so dark last night a-and I could not see where I was going and-"

He was surprised when a hand touched his shoulder and when he looked up, the princess was kneeling in front of him.

"It is alright. You look quite tired and upset. Why don't you tell me who you are and we will get you someplace warm?"

Robbie blinked a few times, surprised by the girl's kindness. She was a princess! He was just...

"M-my name is Robert Scott, but m-most people call me Robbie. I... am a tailor."

The princess nodded, then offered the boy her hand and helped him up.

"Alright, Robbie. Come with me. On our way to my home, you can explain to me how you ended up out here."

And so it happened that Robbie was saved and taken in by the noble young woman. Princess Leah was the most gorgeous and friendliest girl he had ever met. And so was her family. King David was a generous man and so was his son Leonard, who planned on becoming a doctor. Queen Eleanor took Robbie in as if he were her own son.

Robbie told them about his family and about the witch who was after him and the royal family promised to protect him, saying that he was part of the prophecy they had received years ago from their healer Boyce.

A young Scotsman with chestnut-brown hair would turn up in their grove one day and they were supposed to take care of him to protect their kingdom.

It did not take long until the tailor and the princess fell in love and on the night before their wedding day, the king asked his future son-in-law to take a walk with him.

Together they wandered through the grove and soon enough they reached a small cabin. Robbie had never seen it before.

However, when King David knocked at the door and it opened, the Scotsman's blood froze in his veins at what he saw.

A white-haired woman with purple skin and sharp long fingers. There were darker spots all over her face and when she grinned, Robbie was able to see sharp teeth.

It was the witch! The witch his mother had described to him!

He backed away a few steps, but the king grabbed his arm and held him in his place.

"Here he is. The Scotsman you were promised years ago. He is well-fed and healthy. You have what you want. Now leave my kingdom and release my son from the curse you put upon him!"

The witch only smiled brighter before she snapped her fingers.

"Your son is free now, your majesty. He can leave the castle without dying the second he steps out of it," she explained, before she reached for Robbie's other arm and pulled him inside her cabin.

The last thing the young Scotsman saw was the face of the king he had trusted, before the door slammed close and he was left alone with the witch.

His eyes fell upon the boiling kettle that was hanging over the fire and they widened.

What was that witch planning to do with him? His heart started to race.

Quickly, Robbie rushed to the next best window and tried to open it, but failed horribly.

The next window. Closed.

The next window. Closed.

The sound of the witch laughing filled his ears and he knew that there was no escape from this place.

"Oh, my sweet little boy, you will not leave this place."

Slowly, the witch made her way over to the kettle and added a few herbs and spices, before she turned to the tailor.

"The tailors promised me a well-fed and healthy young man, but I always knew that you would try to hide from me. And I also knew that you'd be thin as a stick."

More herbs.

"So I cursed the young prince when he was just a baby and told the king that the only way to save his son, is to bring me the Scottish boy that would come to him one day. And he did not disappoint me."

A smile crossed the lips of the witch as she licked across them.

"You will make a great meal."

Fear washed over him as Robbie backed away against the wooden wall. He shook his head in disbelief, tears in his eyes.

The king, the queen, Leonard - they had all betrayed him! Even his lovely princess...

It couldn't be true!

"Once I eat you, I will stay young for the next hundred years."

The witch grabbed an axe which was standing next to the boiling kettle and slowly paced through the room. She knew that there was no escaping for her prey. She had all the time in the world to prepare it.

Robbie stayed frozen in his place. He wanted to fight, to scream, to defend himself, but the shock would not let him move.

Leah...

The love of his life had betrayed him. It broke his heart into thousands of pieces.

He sank to his knees, tears falling like rain from his eyes, waiting for the final blow that would end it all. But it never came.

Instead there was a loud shot and when Robbie looked up, the witch was screaming and swearing, tumbling backwards.

There was a huge hole in her stomach and it grew bigger and bigger until finally there was nothing left of her but a puddle of black goo on the floor.

"Robbie! My love!"

The tailor's eyes moved to the open door and he couldn't believe who he saw standing there.

"My heart..."

It really was the princess. It really was his lovely Leah!

She sank to the ground and wrapped his arms around the Scotsman, kissing him deeply.

"Oh Robbie!"

A weak smile formed on the tailor's lips. His love, his Leah, had not betrayed him in the end. For she loved him just as much as he loved her.

The princess told him that she had followed the king and him on their walk, curious as to what they could talk about, and that she had confronted her father as soon as Robbie had disappeared into the cabin.

The king had told her about the horrible curse and the promise and she had not waited any minute longer to go and get her riffle.

Many folks had tried to kill the witch. But all of them had failed. For no one had used their weapon because of true love.

And so it happened that the princess and her tailor were able to marry, freeing both of their families from the curse and the promise.

And they lived happily ever after.

[hannahhook7744]

For the prompts post, here's a few options, you can choose which one.

23: "This was a spectacularly bad plan." (For the Hannah Hook Universe

1: "Do what you have to do." (For A Twist in Their Tales)

17: "A little help would be nice." (For the Invisible Truth.)

Drabble/story 1:

Trigger Warnings: Mention of Death, curses, and threatens of murder. Could also be seen as child abuse.

"This was a spectacularly bad plan" Luke said pained, leaning against part of the Galley after they returned from a witch's cave.

Paler than usual.

Hannah just sighed from the barrel she was sitting on. More exhausted than she had thought was possible due to the chain of events.

Wondering how she was supposed to explain this to the others without getting one of her best friends killed.

Because while yes, it was technically Luke's fault that she'd been cursed to die in five years if she didn't do something 'unselfish' (by the witch's standard) since he did decide to wander into a random cave and pick up a random golden comb she didn't want him to die over what she thought was an overreaction on some crazy old witch's part.

Because honestly?

Who cursed a sixteen year old over a brush?

"Well, it's not like I could just stand there and let you get cursed to die over a brush when you have a girlfriend."

"And taking the blame for the whole incident yourself was better?" The Red head asked in disbelief. "You know Skia and the others are gonna kill me for this, right?"

The pirate captain rolled her eyes.

"No they aren't."

"Ordering them not to isn't gonna stop them this time, Bam Bam."

"No but me lying about the situation is."

"You what—ing about the what now?!"

"I don't like how surprised you look right now—"

"Are you nuts—"

"It's insulting that you've known me this long and still have to ask that—"

"Oh is it really—"

"Wait. Since you and Skia were literally stuck sharing the same mind as me for eleven years does that mean that if I was crazy, you two would be crazy too?" Hannah asked, suddenly cutting him off with a crazed wide eyed look.

"..."

"...""Fuck. Now I need an answer to that shit!"

------------------------------------------------------------

Drabble/story 2:

Trigger Warnings: Attempted murder, curses, child in danger, past character death/murder implied, survivor's guilt, etc.

"Do what you have to do." 

That was the last thing Evie remembered telling Henry before they split up the night before to brainstorm a way to break the curse.

She knew they must have talked about other things before that. She did. 

They had to have. After all, she had just revealed to him that she remembered who she really was now. That she remembered life before the curse their mother cast and that she wasn’t the only one in town who did.

But she just couldn’t remember what they had talked about anymore.

Because she knew none of it mattered now—because her brother was dying now and it was her and her mother’s fault.

Her’s for telling him that. 

And their mother’s for trying to poison Emma when she knew Henry had a habit of running off to see her and doing the opposite of what he was told. 

He was dying. 

Because of whatever was in that apple turnover. 

He was dying and god, he hadn’t even turned eleven yet. 

And it was all her fault. 

Just like it was her fault that Harry was gone and that all her friends were cursed. 

What had she done?

What had she been thinking?

------------------------------------------------------------

Drabble/story 3:

Alma stared. 

And stared.

And the rest of the family stared with her. 

None of them quite sure whether or not what they were seeing was real.

"A little help would be nice." Bruno said awkwardly, a toddler in one arm and a baby in the other. 

A little red toddler covered in rats clinging to one of his legs anxiously and a grumpy boy with black hair who couldn’t been any older than four or five on thr other.

A teenager and two boys not much younger behind him—arms full of pugs and bags and one boy even had a frog in his pocket. 

It was quite the sight. 

“BRUNO PEDRO BOTERO MADRIGAL, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?”

Bruno winced. 

‘Maybe disappearing for a second time without a note less than two years after I returned wasn’t the brightest idea….’

------------------------------------------------------------

Hope you enjoyed!

Consider this part of your birthday gift.

Also I may or may not build on these later.

In case you didn't know:

'The Marvelous Misadventures of Hannah Hook and Co' is a descendants oc story verse featuring Captain Hook's adoptive daughter, Captain Hannah Artemis Hook and (her crew) the Stormbringer Crew.

It delves into the chaotic story of their lives and their adventures.

'A Twist in their tales' is a Once Upon A Time and Descendants fandom fusion-crossover of mine where the descendants kids are born in the world of once upon a time instead and their stories are different than we know.

Evie is Regina Mills (aka the Once Upon A Time version of the Evil Queen) and Henry Mills is her younger adoptive brother.

'The Invisible Truth' is an Encanto and Disney Descendants fandom fusion-crossover where Bruno Madrigal adopts the children of Judge Frollo and Governor Ratcliffe.

Featuring Claudine Frollo, Rick Ratcliffe, their oc siblings, and the oc next gen of the Madrigals.

All of which can be found on my AO3 which has the same name as my account on here.

[adarkrainbow]

I was reading “Contes de loups, contes d’ogres, contes de sorcières: La fabrique des méchants” by Eva Barcello-Hermant (Tales of wolves, tales of ogres, tales of witches: The making of villains). 

It is not the best book by far - it is not a scientific book, it is not a true literary study, it is more of a sociology-psychology book looking at the state of fairytales among youth literature today and how villains are received today in young literature. 

But it still has a few interesting things. For example, Barcello-Hermant’s classifies the fairytale villains as they are received and perceived today in four categories.

1) The Wolf

Barcello-Hermant spends a LOT of time talking about the Wolf, or the Big Bad Wolf, who is according to her one of the most iconic and widespread villains of fairy tales today. Though she does recognize that this is particularly true in France - while fairytales of other countries tend to have different wild beasts. She reminds people that the Vietnamese version of Little Red Riding Hood has a bear instead of a wolf, while in a Louisiana version of “The goat and her seven youngs” it is an alligator that preys on the titular characters. (Personally I also know of other replacements for the wolf - for example how in an Asian version of Little Red Riding Hood it is a tiger that preys on the little girl and her parent figure ; and in the older English version of The Three Little Pigs the predator is a fox, not a wolf). 

2) The Ogre

If you have been following my “What makes an ogre?” series you’ll know the ogre is as iconic as it is complex and nuanced, and far away from the image we have today of just “an orc by another name”. But given this book is about modern literature and the reception of fairytales today, it presents the ogre with its numerous misconceptions: Barcello-Hermant notably explains that the giant and the ogre are just two side of the same coins, and she also places in the category “ogre” the trolls of Nordic tales, as well as the Bluebeard-type of characters. I do not agree with that in principle, but it is true that in today’s world, the ogre, the giant and the troll tend to be fused and confused together as the “ugly, stupid, man-eating giant”

3) The Witch

Barcello-Hermant recognizes that the witch is not a traditonal fairytale villain of French fairytales - in the tales of Perrault and others, it is rather the evil fairy/wicked fairy/old fairy that fulfills the role of the malevolent female wielder of supernatural powers. But the witch is still one of the key antagonists of fairytales today, herself divided into two sub-types. On one side, the hag, the old woman who lives alone in the depths of the wood - the Hansel and Gretel type of witch. On the other hand, the young and beautiful witch who seduces people and usually enters the household of the protagonist - the “Snow White” or “The Six Swans” type of character. 

[ Fascinatingly, if you recall my posts about Benjamin Lacombe’s Grimoire of witches, it is precisely the two fairytale witches he picked up for his portraits - on one side the Hansel and Gretel witch reimagined as a mad sorceress of the Hundred Years War ; on the other the Snow-White witch reinvented as a narcissistic serial killer of the Renaisance].

4) The wicked woman / or the wicked family

In this category, Barcello-Hermant places the evil female antagonist that are not supernatural in nature, and that usually are part of the protagonist’s family. It is the wicked stepmother, the evil sister, or the perverse mother: the type of antagonists we find in “Cinderella” or “Toads and Diamonds”. Though Barcello admits that this category tends to bleed into the others, as the wicked stepmother can become a witch (like in Snow-White) the same way the evil mother-in-law can be revealed as an ogress (like in Sleeping Beauty).