#not because of anything in the story but because I hated the reminder that narnia was no more

[e-louise-bates]

My mother brought my childhood set of The Chronicles of Narnia with her on this visit. As you can see from the spines, I literally read these books to pieces. They are getting a place of honor on my bookshelves now!

[artist-issues]

I love your post detailing greta gerwig's changes in her adaptation of little women, but isn't Narnia definitely flavored with some universalism? In the Last Battle, a worshipper of Tash ends up in heaven because he's like "truly seeking the face of God" essentially even if he knew Aslan by the wrong name because his culture only exposed him to Tash. Also, I was raised protestant so I don't know if catholics have a different idea about what counts as universalism or not, but basically I'm not so sure if this will get in the way of her working on the films, especially if she does the Magicians Nephew. Unrelated, I wonder how they're going to go about adapting the Horse and his Boy without it being lambasted for racism etc lol

I think "flavored" with Universalism is a good way to describe The Last Battle--and only The Last Battle, and only that bite of the meal that deals with the young Calormene. Because my understanding of Universalism is that they believe all people, regardless of their beliefs contradicting Biblical Christianity, go to heaven and are not condemned for choosing to be god-of-their-own-life.

You can't quite look at C.S. Lewis' entirety of work and believe he was a Universalist in that sense. He certainly believed in the Biblical truth of Hell. Otherwise, specifically in Narnia, there would be no "Darkness on Aslan's Left Side" that all the creatures who fear and hate him disappear into at the end of the world. That seems like a pretty straightforward representation of Judgement.

I think the whole thing with Emeth the Calormene is interesting. From the language Lewis uses, it seems like he's trying to say something about the posture of a heart more than the name one swears by. Emeth is confused that he's been allowed into the True Narnia because "all my life I have served Tash." But Aslan basically looks at the heart; he says if Emeth had been serving Tash, his deeds and his heart would match Tash. It actually seems more like Emeth didn't know who Tash was at all, or he would have been performing vile works to please Tash. Aslan also says Emeth would never have kept "seeking" for so long if his heart had been serving Tash, which implies that Tash is easier to know than Aslan.

All of that is fascinating (I do think it is the theologically weakest, if not worst, part of the Chronicles of Narnia series.) But I don't think it has anything to do with Universalism as we know it today. Unitarian Universalism is just "Believe whatever you want as long as your belief system doesn't judge other people's belief systems, and you'll be fine with 'God.'" Lewis certainly didn't subscribe to that unbiblical worldview, even with the Calormene in the Last Battle.

I don't know what you mean about the Magician's Nephew.

The real problem with Greta Gerwig is not that she claims Unitarian Universalism. It's that she can't tell a story that is faithful to the original books; she has to transpose it into her own values. So, for example in what we're talking about, if she were doing "The Last Battle," she'd certainly cut out The Darkness on Aslan's Left Side scene, and maybe even reduce the whole conversation between Aslan and Emeth to "all are welcome!" But the main thing she'll do is elevate Susan, Lucy, Jill, Aravis, and Polly to a disproportionate degree.

Finally, I would just say, I'd love for somebody to explain to me what makes The Horse and His Boy racist. (With a reminder that nobody on this website knows my race, so nobody can claim that race-based unconscious bias is what's keeping me from seeing it.)

Lewis invented his own race that, yes, is heavily influenced by Western-Arabian-Nights-interpretations of Middle Eastern cultures. But the Calormenes don't serve Allah, they serve Tash and other gods. The Calormene characters are not all ugly. The Calormen food is not all disgusting. Aravis is a Calormene, and she is a heroine and a main character. Not even every Calormene is even evil, or the enemy of Narnia, though the nation is. What, just because a non-white nation is depicted in Narnia and you can see what culture their fantasy culture is based on, that makes it racist? How? Because Lewis doesn't even write all Calormenes as good or evil, he writes them as humans. Explain to me how that's racist.

(I mean, not you, @childlessoldcatlady, I'm enjoying answering this question. I just meant, someone explain it, now that I'm on the subject. Thanks for the question. I'm Protestant, too.)

[witchthewriter]

hello, i hope you're having a good day. i was wondering if i could request a match up, hopefully that's not too much trouble.

fandoms: marvel, chronicles of narnia, stranger things

level complete: level 3

intro ig??: my pronouns are he/they, and i'm pansexual. i've always said my type is sad, strong (it doesn't have to be physically) and maybe stupid (like an emotional himbo), if that helps out any.

i'm black, but my skin is kinda light. i currently have my hair in locs and the ends are dyed blonde on one half (the rest is black), it's quite long now, a little past my shoulders. i'm also about 5'10. i have dark brown eyes.

personality summery: introvert, intellectual, cagey w new people, menace/dumb w friends, compassionate about world issues, artistic, poetic, maybe even dramatic, probably socially challenged, indecisive, escapist, vulgar, usually pretty burnt out

interests: music (i listen to those medieval remixes of modern songs a lot,,, and abba), writing, fantasy, mythology, night (i am nocturnal), singing, baking, cooking, painting, ceramics, superheros, history, video games, animated media, shiny things (even if they're worthless), cryptids, animals

what else?: i hate the sound of styrofoam, i have ptsd, i'm dyslexic (who decides they like writing while being unable to read? i don't really know), i just have a lot going on mentally in general, i speak a good amount of spanish and french, i like lots of foods people would consider to be gross, i wear glasses, i paint my nails, i'm very clumsy, i injured my left knee permanently

last but not least, i am a pisces sun, aquarius moon and taurus rising.

okay, that's all. hope you're taking care of yourself. thank you so much!

Want one? Here be the rules 🦋🌈

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬

𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

I ship you with Eddie Munson! The man, the myth, the legend. He would be such a lovely boyfriend, oh my god how he would dote on you. Always buying you things, and you would have to tell him to stop because he doesn't have a lot of money.

𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑛𝑠

・You guys would spend a lot of time either in the trailer or his van. He would love if you read to him, not only does he enjoy the sound of your voice, but it gives him inspiration for his campaigns.

・He would die if you spoke to him in spanish. I mean literally, he would be putty in your hands

・He would love it when you wore his clothes, especially the Hellfire shirts, and sometimes you even take his leather jacket

・Would definitely teach you guitar!!!!

𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐥

𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

You and Peter would be the cutest couple. He'd love to pick your brain and get to know you. Your personality kinda reminds me of MJ a bit, so I know that you would get along because your dynamics would most definitely fit.

𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑛𝑠

・You weren't surprised to figure out he was Spiderman, and you brought it up so nonchalantly that Peter choked on the sandwich he was eating.

・He always brings you little gifts; a knick knack of his travels, a part of Tony's suit. But your favourite gifts are the stories that he brings back for you.

・You make him blush a lot with the things that you say, even if they aren't a compliment or anything to do with him. Sometimes you're just so honest that he's taken aback

・Peter likes to wrap his arms around your waist while standing behind you

𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚

𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛

I think you and Edmund would fit together so well. He understands you in a way that other people don't. Even when you feel like the villain, he will remind you that the world isn't black and white, and even if you make a mistake, you can try again.

𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑛𝑠

・He takes you down to the lake and rolls up his pants. He'll wade in the water, beckoning you to join him

・Ed gives great advice, he's gone through a lot and has become very wise

・Would definitely teach you how to defend yourself, and I have a feeling that you would be great with a bow and arrow

・You make him snort with laughter whenever you make commentary

[thefallenbibliophilequote]

The Pink Note

Bucky x Reader

Summary: it's important for writers to remember why they are writing in the first place, so you gave Bucky a note, to remind you when you need it. This is the story of that note.

Word Count: 3,880

Warnings: Steve will not approve of this language, hydra, injuries, some angst but this is fluffy fluff.

A/N: I had this in my notes for forever and you can thank Sam here for bringing me to finally write this one. I honestly love this one so much, I love my past self for getting this idea. I basically had the entire outline and scenes in my notes smh. @ayybtch

--

 "Buckaroo your human is here!" Tony declared as he got off of the elevator with you, placing your luggage next to you as you waited for your friend.

"Thank you so much Tony for letting me stay here."

It's a weird thing to have an Avenger as a friend, a supersoldier at that. He goes off on missions and you are left with your normal life, having to keep living as if your friend isn't in a life endangering situation right now, and knowing Bucky he is probably being stupid in one way or another.

It was fun though, to have a friend from the 20s, it just means that you have every excuse to watch your favourite films because he hasn't seen them. He hasn't seen Narnia for fuck's sake! You watched it with him just last week, telling him all about it and gushing over the books because he was listening to every word you said. He just wanted to get up to speed with a world that flew by him.

It was a funny thing, you met him at a bookstore, he was confused and you- knowing the whole place like the palm of your hand- took him with you and showed him the books he was looking for, you couldn't help but recommend some yourself and you have been best friends ever since.

"Ah it's not a problem. Any friend of Frosty is a friend of mine. Are you sure you don't want your own room?" you shrugged him off.

"Bucky has a whole apartment, the couch there is heaven and if I can minimize the amount of intrusion then I will."

"You do remember I'm a billionaire, right?"

"Yes Tony I remember. Seriously thank you though, I refuse to be in that apartment while they do the construction in the building." You let out a shriek as two big hands came behind you and pulled you up in the air. "Stupid stealth spy shit, Bucky put me down!"

He only laughed at you, not letting you go.

"Is this a way to talk to your very generous host?" you turned your head to look at his smirk, you put your arms around him in a hug and smiled up at him.

"I was very nice to Tony." Your grin was intact as his turned into an offended one, his mouth opened in shock. He looked between you and Tony who was smirking mischievously.

"Oh you're just an annoying little brat aren't you? I am offended to my core."

"I am, what are you going to do about it?" you challenged, you didn't pay attention to tony who just groaned and left, tired of your banter.

When Bucky smiled you knew it was over. He just picked you up and threw you over his shoulder and smirking at your protest, one hand holding you in place and the other taking your suitcase.

"Did you know we have a pool here?"

 It was needless to say that when you walked into Bucky's floor you were drenched, while he was squeaky clean beside you.

"Welcome to my humble room!" it was larger than your apartment and he knew that.

"I am going to kill you, but before I do that I am going to go to your bed and ruin your sheets."

"And how exactly are you going to do that?" he taunted as you strode to his bedroom.

"I'm extremely wet, how do you think?" you only heard it when you saw his smirk.

"Is that so?"

"Oh don't you dare go there, you know that is not what I meant, oh my gods I hate you so much." He laughed but you still went to his bedroom, curling under the warm sheets. You knew exactly on which side he slept, it smelt like him, so you made sure to squeeze the water out of your hair there.

"I prepared you a warm bath," you heard him say from the door, you turned to look at him. "Come on, you're going to catch a cold if you stay there."

"Fine, my job here is done anyways. Have fun trying to put on new sheets."

"Doll you know I can't put them on normally."

"I know." You gave him a quick hug before you went to the bath was waiting for you. You couldn't lie and say that you walked there quickly because of the cold rather than the blush that coloured your cheeks. You hated when he called you that.

 It took you a little while but you got used to life in the tower, the kitchen was too crowded way to early in the morning for you, but at least Bucky made you productive in that regard? Procrastination was your go to as a writer, but this novel was important to you so you did your best effort.

So now Bucky woke you up after he got back from his run with Steve, making your morning start at 6am. Then you're having breakfast with the almighty Avengers, which are not so almighty in the kitchen. You were thankful for being able to do your job from home, you got rid of your responsibilities so you could finally be able to plan out your novel.

By planning out your novel you meant making a mess of too many papers and sticky notes with rushed handwriting that somehow was only understandable to you. Even genius AIs and spies wouldn't be able to decrypt your organized mess.

Sometimes you were in Bucky's room, and sometimes in the common room for a change of scenery.

"Y/N Y/L/N!" you heard Clint scream your name from the living room while you were in the kitchen, pouring yourself a drink. You reached the living room to see Clint and Sam leaning over and looking at the huge whiteboard you had on, the chapters organized on it.

"What do you think you're doing?" you asked them, people weren't supposed to read your novel, especially not your first draft.

"You can't just kill her off!"

"Hey, I can do whatever you want with my characters, now scatter because I found a plot hole and I need to work on it." You smirked as the two walked away from the desk you set up for yourself.

"Just saying, maybe if you keep your characters alive you wouldn't have a problem." You smacked Sam's shoulder when they passed by you.

"Keep annoying me and I'll make you a character and torture your character."

You sighed to yourself and got to work, comparing your notes and trying to find a way to make your novel work.

 It's been three days since, and you honestly didn't know why you even bothered anymore, it wasn't working, you just couldn't find the solution.

You've added colorful sticky notes to the board, some simply had song names on them, and some had dialogues. Bucky walked into his floor, he loved seeing the focused look you had when you worked, with your bottom lip bitten and your eyes sharp, you were too cute like this. He stopped in his place when he saw what you were wearing. His red Henley looking like a dress on you, stopping probably a little too short than what it should. He assumed you wore shorts, but he couldn't see and he didn't know what he'd prefer.

"Is that my shirt?" you nodded absentmindedly, still looking at your notes as he walked over to where you stood.

"If you didn't want me to steal it, don't leave it out in the open."

"It was in the closet." That earned him a small smirk.

"The closet was in my eyesight, my point stands." Your smirk soon fell. "I just don't even know-"

You looked at Bucky then, holding his gaze. He suddenly grew shy at your stare. He studied you, after all this time a trained assassin, the winter soldier… couldn't analyze a girl.

"What's up with all the sticky notes?" he cleared his throat and it seemed to snap her out of it.

Sometimes the answer comes out of nowhere and is standing right in front of you.

"They help remind me of stuff." Then you looked at his icy blue eyes before turning around. He saw you scrabble something on a pink post-it note, and then you turned around and put it on his forehead.

"It's going to fall you know." He laughed, which only made the note that much closer to falling. You cursed at him, but you had a certain look in your eyes that he'd never seen before.

"Keep it, I need you to remind me of it," you said simply before an alarm went on in your head and you outstretched a hand as if to stop him. "But don't read it!"

As it began to fall, he folded it and without looking at it he put the pink note in his pocket.

That's where it all started.

 It's been there for days now. He moved the note from pocket to pocket, sometimes you will come into a room and ask him for it, only to give the note back to him, still folded, a few minutes later. Alongside that same unexplainable look which seemed to disappear only a moment later.

On and off missions he still took it with him, always in the pocket in his gear or in his pants. He didn't know why he did it, but it felt important. For such a small note, it felt like it held the entire world. At least for your world, so it was for his too.

 "Hey there Bucky boo," you laughed when he grumbled on the other side, he absolutely hated that nickname. "How are you doing?"

"I am really tired actually, doll."

"Oh no, did something happen? Bucky-"

"No, Sam is just being an annoying little shit." You heard then noises from the phone, you couldn't help but shake your head at their childish behaviour. Bucky finally went to a quieter place. "I'm okay doll, really."

He pulled out the little pink note as he talked to you, a soft smile spread on his face.

"Are you going to be back soon?" you picked on your nails, waiting for his answer. He just got lost in the note, testing he put it against the light yet still seeing nothing.

"I'm afraid it's going to take a little longer than expected. Some things changed- but before you say anything, I'll be just fine. Am I surrounded by idiots? Yes." He relished in the laugh you gave him at that. "But I am a supersoldier, so it balances out."

"Okay fine, I'm going to leave you to it. Bye."

"Bye, doll." He put the note back in its place. And went back into the room they were staying in.

"Man, you're whipped, you know that right?"

"Eat shit, Wilson."

 It's been thirty minutes now that you were sitting in the dining room table, your fingers on the keyboard and you were looking at the computer with determination, yet whenever he passed by you, he saw a blank page in front of you.

The page was mocking you, you could hear it. Locked in a staring contest the computer won when you saw a cup of tea being put on the table next to you, and then the pink note was in the palm of your hand.

"Maybe take a break after this, but I thought this might help." He didn't see the smile on your face as your eyes followed him when he walked back to the kitchen, Natasha however was more observant. When you saw her looking at you with a smirk you cleared your throat and went back to writing.

It's been thirty minutes and he actually liked the sound of your typing on the keyboard, he could hear it from a room away.

“As I was saying,” Wanda tried to get the group’s attention. The monthly movie night is some serious talk. “We watched Lord of The Rings together, we watched Narnia together- it’s only fair that we will marathon Harry Potter together now.”

That caused a new fight about what movie they should watch next, but Bucky couldn’t care less, he focused his ears on your typing.

When it stopped, you entered the kitchen with an empty cup which you put in the sink before giving him the note back and a hug. He was glad the discussion was over when you came.

 "Psst, Bucky wake up," he barely woke up and just looked at your silhouette as the light from the living room shone behind you. "I need it."

Without a word he took the note out and handed her the note, he stretched around a little, still half asleep when he saw the hour on the clock. Before you could get away from him, he took the covers off, brought his hands around you and pulled you to him. Your back to his chest, he didn't let you protest as he turned around to his side, bringing you with him.

"Shh, sleep." He pulled the covers over you and put the note back in place.

"But Bucky I need to work."

"No, you are my teddy bear now, and I am going to sleep and you need sleep too." You knew there was no getting out of his grip, especially when he was somehow already asleep.

Tiredness soon washed over you too and you let it take you.

 You were awakened by a loud crash, you heard gunshots and panicked voices outside and a red alarm shone brightly in the dim lights of the floor.

"Bucky?" you called out to him, and he got out of his room already with a rifle and daggers.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y what's going on?" he came to you and put a comforting hand on your shoulder which you clutched when you saw the smoke that came from beneath the door.

"It seemed that hydra has infiltrated the building, Sergeant Barnes. Captain Rogers is asking for your assistance." You barely had time to react before Bucky went towards the door.

"Bucky wait-"

"Stay here doll, go to my room and lock the door. F.R.I.D.A.Y let me know if anyone is getting through this door."

"Wait, what about you?" it was weird to have an Avenger friend, you were constantly worried about him, but you never saw him actually in action. You enveloped him in a big hug, afraid to let go, but he let go.

"I'll be okay doll, just stay here and I'll come back as soon as I can." You bit you lip, holding back what you wanted to say. Nodding to him, he left and you went to his room, shutting the door.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y, can you tell me if something happens to him?"

"I will, Miss Y/N."

 It was hard to calm yourself down when you still heard everything that was happening between the gunshots and the screams. The anxiety was killing you, and so you didn't think.

"F.R.I.D.A.Y, what floor is Bucky in?" you got out of the bed.

"Miss, I don't think that is a good idea. Sergeant Barnes told you to stay inside."

"Please, I just need to see him." You waited a bit before the AI gave you his location.

The minute you walked outside of the safety of Bucky's room you smelled the heavy smoke and you put your hand up to cover your mouth and nose.

Maybe it was better that you got out of the room, if the fire spread than it would probably be safer to get out of the building. You mused in your thoughts as you went down the stairs.

You got to the floor Bucky was supposed to be in, and it was quiet. Too quiet. You hesitantly looked into one to the rooms, backing away when you saw dead agents there.

Okay maybe it was better if you had stayed in your room.

"Bucky?" you called out, your tears watering a bit when another cough took over. You walked into a larger room and saw the fire there, spread all over it. The bottles with the different chemicals were falling from the shelf. "Bucky!"

You just hoped he wasn't hurt. He had to be here somewhere. Deciding to run back you collided with someone and fell on the floor. You looked up and saw someone you definitely did not know, and when you saw the red sign on his shoulder you cursed and started to back away.

The bastard only smiled and pulled out his weapon. But before he could do anything a shot was heard with a shout of your name.

The agent went down and in the far end of the hallway you saw Bucky. Getting up you ran towards him as he ran towards you, but before you could reach him, you heard the explosion before it knocked you down. Then everything went black.

 "Bucky, you need to rest." Steve put a hand on his friend's shoulder. You've been unconscious for almost two days, Bucky hasn't left the spot right next to your bed. The infirmary was cold, Steve handed Bucky the blanket he asked him to bring, he gently put it on you. Then he went back to sitting again.

"I'm fine Steve, I'm not going anywhere. Can you please ask people to leave us alone?" the blond nodded and exited the room, leading his friends away from there.

Bucky brought his hand to yours, finger pressing on the back of your wrist, taking comfort in the steady pulse. He hated you for going out of the room when he told you to stay there. He hated himself for not getting to you sooner. He's going to talk to Tony about improving F.R.I.D.A.Y to not listen to idiots.

He laid his head on the bed next to your hand when a thought crossed his mind. His metal arm let go of you and went to his side pocket. There it was, the pink note, unharmed.

He stared at it, he couldn't see the writing on it as it was folded, then he looked at you and slowly he decided to open the note.

Holding his breath, not knowing why, he gently unfolded it until he could see what was written inside all those days ago.

Give them a happy ending.

He let out a sigh, the words alone bringing him comfort when his mind caught on to what the note said and his breath hitched yet again, trying to process and think about the meaning.

So there he sat, alternating between looking at the note and at you; his lips gently resting on your knuckles in a soft kiss.

He folded the note and put it in his pocket.

 You woke up the next morning. Bucky had his head resting next to your leg, hand entwined with yours. You squeezed his hand slightly to wake him up.

"Hey there Bucky boo." You smiled at him faintly, his eyes fluttering open until you saw those blue eyes focused on you, and it was instantly followed by a smile.

"I hate it when you call me that." He said before he attacked you with a bone crushing hug. He let go of you when you winced a bit. "Sorry, doll."

"Bucky, what happened?" your memory not really working at the moment, and by your aching headache you assumed it wasn't good.

"You gave me a heart attack that's what. Gosh Y/N I told you to stay in my room."

"There was a fire."

"We both know that's not why you went outside."

"I'm sorry. This was the first time I saw you actually be in danger. I was too worried to stay there."

"Well, I'm too worried to leave here. Just rest for now, Bruce will be here soon." You rested your head on the soft pillow again, bringing up the soft blanket and breathing it in.

The next time you opened your eyes, Bruce was there with you. You smiled at him, Bucky sat there listening to you talk to Bruce, only letting you go when Bruce strictly told him he needed to so he could run tests.

"I'm tired, can I please go home Bruce? Bucky will keep an eye on me." You just wanted to sleep in a normal environment.

"Yes, only because I have a feeling he won't let you out of his sight." You laughed at that but Bucky was dead serious, coming to help you when you got up despite your protests of trying to slap his hand away.

"I'll make sure she's okay Bruce. Thank you for everything."

You thanked the good doctor with a hug before you went upstairs. After you got ready for bed you all but yelled at Bucky to leave you alone and go to sleep in his bed. About 10 minutes have passed before he left you in the living room with your soft blanket and the comfortable sofa. Sleep took you instantly. Bucky? Not so much.

He mustn't have been sleeping for long, but it felt longer that it should, he hadn't had a nightmare this intense in a while, then he heard your voice.

"Hey, Bucky it's me, you're okay. It was just a bad dream, you're safe, okay? Are you with me?" the dream felt too real but you were here in front of him, safe and sound. Your hand was cupping his cheek, he didn't realize he was crying. He took your other hand and felt for the steady beat of pulse.

"Stay with me, please doll, stay here." He begged you, and hesitatingly you nodded and got under the blankets with him. He did not hesitate to pull you closer and bury his face in the crook of your neck, his arms circling your waist.

"It's okay, I'm here." But it was hard to sleep when he was holding you like this, and by his breaths on your neck he was awake too. You started to play with his hair, hoping it'll help him relax but he rather looked up at you with emotions you didn't even want to begin to hope to see.

"Doll?" he pulled back and rested his head in the pillow in eye level right next to you.

"Yeah?"

"I just want you to know that," he smiled a bit to himself when he felt the edges of the little note. "You're my happy ending, doll."

He said it as if it was the simplest thing in the whole universe, the one thing that made sense in the world, and to him is was.

You were certain now of the way he looked at you, nothing was there but love and adoration that you saw so clearly despite the darkness of the night. His eyes still found a way to shine.

You couldn't look away, even when blush spread on your face, which you was sure he saw based on the smile that lit his face, he came closer then. It took you another moment of confusion before you understood what he said. But despite the embarrassment you couldn't help but smile back at him.

"I told you not to read that."

 Tags: @callmeluna  @sstanbarnes  @buckys-other-punk @drabblewithfrannybarnes @easygoingtheatre @that-one-person  @justab-eautifulmess @onceupona-happilyeverafter  @wipplogg  @supraveng  @bucky-the-thigh-slayer  @ayybtch

[softyoongiionly]

BlackHeart Bakery

Who says Halloween can’t be romantic?

Pairing: Emo! Jungkook x Reader

Word Count: 3.7k

Genre: fluff

A/N: HI OMG IM SO SORRY THIS IS LATE. I love you, I hope you like it. I’m sorry it isn’t longer but, I still can’t wait for you to read it.

-you never imagined that the quirky lil bakery down the street from your university would change your life  

-But it did

-“Omg shut up, you’re so dumb.”

-“Rawr xD”

-“Did you just say rawr xD out loud??? That totally defeats the purpose of its existence...”

-“Don’t cite the deep magic to me witch, I was there when it was written.”

-“And now you’re quoting the chronicles of narnia- alright just go back to sleep you big dummy...”

-“Mmm but you married a big dummy so what does that say about you”

-“Jungkook don't spoil it oh my god!”

-“Like they don’t know what’s coming already- spoiler alert losers! I get the girl.”

-“I hate you...”

-“Mm yeah- I love it when you talk dirty to me baby. The last time you said that- we ended up fuc-“

-“Ok! That’s enough! Our story begins...”

-Jungkook’s bakery was quite famous around your city

-If people didn’t come for the gaudy Halloween decorations  

-They came for the music  

-Exclusively pop punk, if you’re wondering

-It was like 2009 everyday  

-Which was comforting, considering the world has gotten a little

-Tricky

-Since then

-But anyways

-If they didn’t come for the music or the decorations

-They came for the AMAZING espresso  

-And the spooky themed treats

-But if you’re being honest

-You think the main thing that keeps them coming back

-Is Jungkook  

-If his sweeping black hair didn’t get you

-Or the adorable cheeky twinkle in his eyes

-It was the tattoos and the piercings  

-He looked like he walked right off of a black veil brides music video set  

-He was hot

-This was obvious

-But he didn’t seem to think so

-You had come to the conclusion that he was oblivious  

-he shoved his feet into his big black doc martens every morning  

-Slipped on his beaded bracelets and studded chokers

-Pulled his fall out boy t-shirt over his

-Massive

-Tattooed

-Biceps

-And just thought hm

-I’m pretty average I guess (lol)

-That’s a direct quote from him btw

-Men truly are hopeless

-Jungkook opened the bakery two years ago

-He had mentioned to you that he had saved up money from his 3 part time jobs to put a down payment on the building  

-Which was wedged between a sex shop

-And a thrift store

-And honestly his bakery

-Blackheart Bakery, if you’re being specific  

-Fits right in

-Jungkook refuses to hire new staff

-“They won’t do it right.” He whined to you one day

-“One time I tried to hire this guy and he put the sugared googly eyes on the cookie skeletons ALL WRONG”

-“How do you put googly eyes on wrong?” You had giggled

-“you just do- i- See? This is exactly why I can’t hire anyone...”

-You had started chewing on the end of your pencil in the midst of your laughter

-It was an unconscious habit

-And it makes Jungkook shift uncomfortably, his hands moving off of the top of your table

-“Don’t do that...” he had muttered, smirking to himself as he walked back behind the counter  

-he did that a lot

-He’d mutter something  

-Mildly flirtatious under his breath and then  

-Just walk away

-It was quite confusing

-But honestly you had a feeling he was just a filrty person  

-You certainly weren’t the only girl he smirked at

-Not that you pay attention

-Ok  

-Maybe you do  

-Kinda  

-Pay attention  

-but it’s not your fault!!!!  

-You just  

-Can’t help but feel a little jealous

-You kiiiiiinda have a little thing for him

-Ok

-Maybe it’s a big thing  

-Maybe it’s a massive

-Gigantic

-Towering  

-Crush  

-But look at him!!!

-You simply couldn’t be blamed

-It was his fault  

-Yep

-That’s what you’re going with

-It was Jungkook

-And his tight t shirts

-His ripped jeans

-His dangly earrings

-His tattoos

-His big

-Stupid boots

-Ugh ok

-Focus  

-You have work to do

-The whole reason you began coming to Jungkook's cafe was so you -could find a consistent place to study for your exams

-You were in school to become a teacher :)  

-And teachers have to study very very hard  

-Educating the youth is no easy feat  

-Jungkook had asked what you were studying during the first week you arrived at his spooky house of baked goods

-“Oh I’m an education major”

-“Ahh so you’re getting an education about...education.” He concludes

-“I love it.”

-“So meta.”

-“Are they educating you on the disparities between impoverished children and wealthier children?”

-His wide eyes were brimming with genuine curiosity  

-You kind of got a kick out of how candid he was about such heavy conversation topics

-“Not as much as they should be but, I’m actually writing a paper on a similar topic right now...”

-This caused a brilliant grin to come over his face

-It was almost blinding really

-And it made your heartbeat all wonky  

-“Of course you are. You look smart like that...”

-He had backed away from your table then, seemingly satisfied

-Had you passed the vibe check?

-“I’ll leave you to your paper.” He nodded to your laptop but as he walked away, he pivoted back towards you on and the heel of his combat boot, “welcome to Blackheart Bakery by the way, let me know if I can get you anything.”

-Another brilliant smile is sent your way  

-“Thank you.” You had smiled back, sending a tiny wave his way

-Which in turn, made HIS heartbeat all wonky  

-You’re cute

-Like really cute

-And despite how often it may seem like his eyes are elsewhere

-They are ALWAYS on you

-Every chance he gets he is glancing your way

-Smirking to himself at how endearing you are

-Brow furrowed

-Lips pouted in concentration  

-Completely oblivious to his gaze

-He has to remind himself to look away  

-He doesn’t want to be a creep

-“Creepy men deserved to get kicked in the teeth...”

-He’s said this to you before when another patron had made you uncomfortable

-Jungkook kicked him out immediately  

-“If you don’t leave, I’ll have no choice but to kick you in the teeth. One, because I can’t compromise my personal philosophy and two because you’re making my favorite customer uncomfortable.”

-Oh look there goes your heartbeat again

-WONKY

-The guy leaves in an angry rush, flipping Jungkook off in the process

-Saying something about leaving a bad Yelp review  

-He doesn’t care tho

-He definitely doesn’t want to be a creep

-You’re just so  

-Pretty

-Ugh

-He rolls his eyes at himself behind the espresso bar

-The latte in front of him neglected  

-In need of a bit of foam

-“Focus Jeon, she’s just a chick...”

No wait

-“She’s just a woman. A woman who I respect, like I respect all women...”

-He’s been watching a lot of feminist theory on YouTube

-He likes staying educated  

-And also fuck the patriarchy

-The man waiting for his drink has arched a brow at this point, wondering if his barista has lost his mind

-“Uhhh medium...” he checks the cup for his awful hand writing, “ghostly toasted marshmallow latte!”

-“Thanks.” The guy mutters, throwing a judging look Jungkook's way  

-He gives him a lazy salute as the guy struts away with a briefcase in tow

-“Thaaanks.” Jungkook mocks him, his face scrunching up in annoyance  

-Stupid man

-With his stupid briefcase  

-As Jungkook is pulling out a batch of cream cheese frosting stuffed pumpkin muffins  

-Or as Jungkook calls them

-PUNK-in Muffins

-Movement at the counter catches his eye

-is that

-”oh shit...” He grunts, hastily wiping his hands on his apron and rushing over to the counter

-normally he would meander

-stroll

-or even slump to greet any new guests at this hour

-and by this hour

-he means 45 minutes before closing

-Jungkook’s bakery is open til midnight on weeknights

-9pm on Sundays

-and 3am on Saturdays (for the culture of course, gotta keep it spooky)

-tonight happens to be a Friday night and the person awaiting his assistance is

-you

-”You’re still here?” He gawks, the black polish on his nails glimmering as he punches in a few keys on the register

-You offer him a tired and slightly amused smile, “No. Y/N died around 4:30, you’re speaking to her ghost. Please leave your message after the tone.”

-Jungkook cracks a smile, his palms resting on flat on the counter, “Do ghosts check their voicemails?”

-“Oh of course not but, I will be checking yours because you have access to caffeine.”

-Jungkook laughs

-no...he giggles  

-and it’s fucking cute

-but you digress

-“I feel like I should cut you off...this is your 4th latte; I’m pretty sure you’re 80% caffeine at this point...”

-“Noooo, don’t do that.” You whine slumping against the counter, “I just need to finish this one page...”

-He quirks a brow as he scribbles something on your cup, unimpressed with your statement, “You said that three hours ago. I’ll make you another one but I’m not putting an extra shot in.”

-Your face turns up in protest but he click his tongue against his teeth , shaking a manicured finger at you

-“Ah ah- nope. I don’t want to hear it. You either take that or I’m making you a hot chocolate and shutting the buildings power off.”

-With a dramatic sigh, you concede

-“Ugh fine. Here-” You go to hand him your debit card but he shakes his head

-“Put that away.”

-You want to protest but given the fact that he’s made the rules thus far during this interaction, you doubt you’d be able to stop him.

-A smile appears on your face then, appreciative of his generosity

-“Thank you.”

-He merely grins, waving you off before rolling up the sleeves of his black Blink 182 shirt

-as soon as his tattoos are out

-all the moisture leaves your mouth

-you try your hardest not to stare at him

-expertly, he eases the espresso shots into the milk, tongue poking between his lips in concentration

-and you

-being sleep-deprived

-and a little loopy

-decide to  

-flirt????????

-if you could even call it that

-which you could but you shouldn’t

-“For the record, when I finally dig my way out of this of mountain of death I’m stuck in, I will definitely take you up on that hot chocolate...”

-Jungkook’s brow quirks at the tone of your voice, his hands suddenly itching with nerves

-was that

-was that flirty?

-should he flirt back?

-“My hot chocolate is legendary. You won’t be disappointed.” His lips display a small grin as he places the lid atop your finished latte, “Also mountain of death is a great name and I WILL be stealing it.”

-You giggle

-again

-“and I WILL be suing you for copyright.”

-He laughs now, wiping up the bit of milk he spilled

-the sinewy muscles in his forearm tensing and untensing

“Good luck getting me to show up to court.”

-and that’s kinda how it was between you and Jungkook

-for like six months

-it was a little bit flirty but never anything to push either over you over the edge.

-and speaking of being on edge

-recently, you had gone from vacationing in your timeshare on the edge

-to signing a 35 year mortgage contract  

-4 bedrooms

-2.5 bathrooms

-of pure

-unrelenting

-stress

-you could feel it in the middle of your back

-shoving itself up between your shoulder blades

-your body seemed to ache with it

-the worst part being

-it was Halloween

-You should be out with your friends, having fun

-wearing itchy costumes and drinking sugary drinks

-but instead, your headed towards the bakery to work

-Jungkook was behind the counter, smiling happily at a family dressed like the cast of scooby doo

-from what you could see he was wearing a skeleton onesie

-his jet black hair tousled perfectly above his head

-he looked adorable

-(and hot)

-He notices you instantly, his face turning up in surprise

-you offer up a small wave and head over to your table

-you know he’s going to say something about you being there but

-you don’t really have much of a choice

-this work has to be done

-it takes him a second to spot you but when he does

-he seems to perk up

-his smile brightening as he looks back towards his customer

-as you’re setting everything up, you feel a presence (not the spooky kind) at the end of your table

-it’s Jungkook and he has your regular order in one hand, along with something wrapped in skeleton-patterned parchment paper

-“I know, I know.” You acknowledge before he’s even able to chide you for being here

-He smirks “What are you doing studying on the holiest day of the year??”

-You giggle

-“The holiest day of the year huh?”

-“Of course. Halloween is the one night a year that the homies can dress like total -sluts and no one can say anything about it.”

-This makes you giggle again

-“And you went with slutty skeleton huh? I love it- it’s like as naked as you can possibly get.”

-He chuckles, gesturing to his costume

-His floppy black hair getting in his face

-“Damn right baby.”

-The way he grins tells you the pet name is a joke

-But the deepening of his voice gets to you anyway

-“Thank you for this. I promise I’ll get out of your hair early tonight.”

-“The only thing I’m worried about getting out of my hair is this white spray paint. You’re welcome to stay as long as you want.”

-He’s put a streak of white spray paint in his raven locks

-Why? You’re not certain

-Does it look good on him, like everything else does?

-Absolutely

-Its been a few hours since your night of studying began

-Jungkook’s dropped off two free lattes since you’ve arrived  

-As well as a slice of his ‘I write cinnamon not tragedies’ bread

-Which was equally hilarious and delicious

-You caught him glancing over at your table a few times but you didn’t think anything of it

-He’s probably just checking to make sure that no one needs your table

-His bakery is packed most nights but Halloween is a special night at Blackheart Bakery

-He has a trick or treat counter set up with free (homemade) candy

-A photo op complete with a fake haunted house backdrop

-A Halloween playlist

-And a bunch of discounts on his signature lattes and food

-you watch him amongst the chaos

-He is completely unfazed

-He seems elated at the amount of customers he has

-he grins and laughs at something a man dressed like Thor says at his counter

-he seems entirely in his element

-you realize that the denial tactics you’ve been trying out haven’t been working

-because this floppy haired, tattooed, slutty skeleton/baker kind of has a hold on your heart

-you’ve been friends for a long time now

-he always makes sure you’re taken care of

-he always asks if you’re ok

-he always gives you this little grin

-it feels like a secret sometimes

-but maybe it’s been his way of letting you know where he stands

-he’s been bringing you lattes and pastries for months now

-he never charges you full-price

-he always reminds you not to work too hard

-he

-fuck

-he likes you doesn’t he?

-you look back over at the counter to see him bending over and handing a skeleton cookie to a little girl dressed like Captain Marvel

-he laughs at something she says

-his eyes focused entirely on her and whatever she seems to be proclaiming to him  

-your heart goes wonky again

-alright

-enough is enough

-you’re doing this  

-Jungkook’s done so much of the work thus far

-it’s time for you to seal the deal

-and if he rejects you, well…

-you can just crawl into a hole and never come out again

-easy peasy

-You can feel his eyes on you as you get up to take your place in line

-luckily there isn’t anyone else behind you

-rejection with an audience would certainly be worse

-Jungkook has his witty comment ready for you as you approach the register

-“I know for a fact you haven’t finished your third latte and I’m not making you another one until-“

-“I’m not here for another latte.” You laugh, trying to ignore the thrashing of your heartbeat

-“No? Well, are you finally going to try my Welcome to the Blackened Chicken Parade Burger then? I’ve been asking you for like three weeks…”

-god he’s fucking cute

-“I’m here to ask you out.”

-Jungkook swears he feels his heart stop

-“You’re here to…”

-He repeats the first part of your response as his he didn’t hear you

-his black fingernails anxiously tapping against the countertop

-“I’m here to ask you out- on a date.”

-Jungkooks face seems to go through various stages of confusion before a shy smirk presents itself on his pretty mouth

-“Me? You’re asking me-“ He places a hand on his chest, “-out on a date?”

-“Yes!” You laugh, slapping the counter a bit too hard, your nerves getting the best of you, “Are you down?”

-He shakes his head but his answer contradicts his movements

-“So down, beyond down. There is no one on Earth who is more DOWN than I am. Yes. My answer is yes. 50000% yes.”

-you can’t help the smile on your lips

-“great. So are you free next Friday then?”

-He grins with his teeth this time, nodding emphatically  

-“Consider the shop closed.”

-and so it was

-you returned to your table moments later  

-feeling on top of the world

-you did it

-you asked Jungkook out

-and he said yes

-and now you

-NOW YOU HAVE A DATE WITH JUNGKOOK

-LOOK AT YOU GO

-TAKING CHARGE

-you try your best to engage with your studies but with Jungkook on your mind

-its really hard

-roughly two hours later, things at the bakery have finally started to slow down

-“Hey uh- Y/N?”

-Jungkook's voice that pulls you out of your studying trance

-he’s standing at the entrance of his back room, waving you over with his hand

-and who are you to deny him?

-you make your way over there, annoyed at the instant increase in your heartrate

-he stands awkwardly to the side and gestures to the boxes on the metal rack

-“I just remembered that I’ve never given you a tour of the place. I give all my regulars a tour of the stockroom and my office and uh-”

-he cuts himself off and clumsily cups your cheek

-he pulls you into a kiss

-a really good kiss

-his lips are so warm

-he smells like cinnamon

-you could literally die happy

-The ridiculous nature of his first attempt to kiss you, makes you giggle into his mouth

-you feel him smile, his hands smushing your cheeks together as he pulls away

-“Ok I lied. There is no tour. I’ve just been watching you focus on your computer for the last two hours and you’re just really fucking cute and-”

-this time, it’s you who cuts him off

-“You better give me an actual tour next time. How else am I going to steal your secret recipes?”

-he scoffs in mock offense

-“Ah ha! So that’s the only reason you asked me out huh? Should I be calling you Plankton instead of Y/N? Ew no wait- that would make me Mr. Krabs and he’s a dirty capitalist...”

-You laugh, “Oooh good point. Guess you’ll just have to be Karen, my computer wife.”

-This makes him laugh now and the sound warms your soul

-“I could live with that- I like your last name better anyways.”

-with another kiss, your adventure with the emo baker of your dreams begins

-It may have been Halloween but it sure felt like Christmas to you

[intoanothermind]

Beauty Queen - Chapter 3

B E A U T Y  Q U E E N

Synopsis: You are the Ice Princess of Narnia during the Long Winter. Your sister Jadis, the White Witch, hates that you’re always helping Narnians escape prision. She decides to hunt you down and you have to run away from the palace. What happens when you find the four humans lost in Narnia?

- Edmund Pevensie x reader

Masterlist

<Chapter 2 | Chapter 4>

( Just to remind you that the dialogues were translated from Brazilian verson, so you might find them a bit different. Gif from Google.)

—-

C H A P T E R  T H R E E

The four Pevensie looked at each other, confused and suspicious. What could have made that noise? The noise repeated, but this time it was followed by a muffled voice calling for help. Unknown to all but Edmund. Feeling his heart almost leaping out of his body, Edmund ran to the door, which was secured by a chair. He removed the chair and opened the door, finding the handle on the other side completely frozen. He barely looked up and a girl threw herself into his arms, sobbing.

“Y/N, are you okay?!” he asked, concerned, and hugged her against his chest, protectively.

“No.” she answered before sobbing again and Edmund feel tightness in his heart to see the red blue eyes. She parted slightly from him, and looked at the chair that held the door. She laughed bitterly, before murmuring.  “I can’t believe that a chair won against the ice...”

“Edmund, who is she?” asked Susan.

“A friend. Y/N.” he answered quickly, embarrassed.

“What happened here?” asked Lucy to Y/N without realizing his brother’s embarrassment.

Y/N said nothing, but pointed to something behind her. Nailed to a wall by a rustic arrow was an old, worn parchment. The yellow papyrus looked torn on the sides. Peter tore off the parchment and started or read aloud to everyone.

“The Faun Tumnus is accused of high treason against His Imperial Majesty Jadis, Queen of Narnia, for harbouring enemies and fraternizing with humans. Signed: Maugrim, Commander of the Secret Police. Long live the Queen!” Peter finished reading, looking scared to everyone there, who reflected the same expression .

Lucia starts to sniff.

Susan took the papyrus, giving a quick check.

“Enough.” Susan said. “Now we really have to go.”

“But what about Mr. Tumnus?” asked Lucy.

“If he was arrested just for being with a human I don’t think we have much to do.

“You don't understand it, do you?” said Lucy, sadly. “I was the human. She must have found out that he helped me.”

“We better call the police.” said Peter.

“They are the police!” said Susan.

“I need to fix this...” whispered Y/N, but the others could still hear it.

The four turned to her, and Susan grimaced. She didn't know why, but she hadn't had a particularly good impression of that girl.

“Now, what does that have to do with it?” She asked rudely, but Y/N was so tormented by something that she didn’t even notice what the eldest had said, nor the disapproving look that Edmund gave her sister.

“Y/N. Y/N!” Edmund called the girl’s attention twice, but she only focused on it when she him shaking her gently by the shoulders. “What happened?”

“Tumnus! He was giving me shelter for a few weeks... And then... They came here and took him. I tried to stop it, but Tumnus locked me in that room before they saw my presence. Because they couldn't see me and Tumnus said that I would be important.”

“Who are you?” asked Peter curiously. “What does this story have to do with it?”

Y/N, for a second, thought about telling them. But she couldn't. Not yet, not when Edmund was there. What would his reaction be when he learned that she was the sister of the one who brought all the chaos? Or, possibly in his mind, did he offer him a throne? No! She couldn't have any chance to lose! She’s been, all these years, all these decades, bailing the Narnians out of the prison with a few simple tricks. Who knows, maybe she could help with something big? After all, now she was also wanted!

“That doesn’t matter now, we don’t have too much time before they come back to search” she the said hurriedly, but was interrupted by something that came from outside.

A bird. Calling their attention too humanly for the Sons of Adam and the Daughters of Eve.

“Did that bird do "pst" to us?” asked Susan, taken aback.

Y/N smiled, knowing she was a reliable Narnian and went outside, even though Edmund tried to hold her wrist to stop her. The Pevensies looked at each other, afraid, before following the girl. Y/N looked around for someone, and then behind a rock, came out just who she imagined.

“It... It's a beaver!” Lucy to be amazed.

The beaver approached them, sniffing, and Peter took a step forward. He crouched down and held out his hand, making a strange noise with his tongue.

“Come here! Clan, clan, clan...” He moved closer, extending his hand at the height of the beaver's snout.

“I won't smell it, if that's what you want.” said the beaver, causing all eyes widen.

Except for Y/N, who smiled and crouched in front of the beaver. “Hello, Mr. Beaver!”

“Princess Y/N, it’s been so long!” exclaimed the beaver.

Princess?, asked Edmund, a bit frightened with with the situation. Who, after all, was that mysterious girl?

Y/N smiled more widely at the beaver's greeting. She knew virtually all Narnians who were still fighting for Aslan's cause against the Witch and had always been friendly with them. They might no consider Jadis the Queen of Narnia, but they had great respect for Y/N and has regarded her as the true monarch, fairer and more honor level than the older witch.

“Yes, I had to stop a little with the help while I was with Tumnus, so they couldn’t track me.” she said, and the others were even more confused and curious.

“I understand.” The beaver asserted, and passed the gaze on the humans, still distant, afraid. “Lucy Pevensie?”

“Yes” she replied, approaching the beaver. He handed her a white handkerchief and deposited it in her hand. “It's the tissue I gave to Mr. Tu...”

“Tumnus.” completed the beaver. “He gave it to me before they took him.”

“Is he okay?” asked Lucy.

The beaver looked around and whispered.

“Follow me.” He turned and left, imagining that they would follow him.

Y/N immediately followed, but turned when she realized the others hesitation.

“What are you going to do?” Susan asked, holding Peter’ arm.

“He said he knew the faun.” Peter defended himself.

“He's a beaver.” said Susan, as if it was the most obvious thing. “It shouldn’t say anything at all!”

“It’s also true that there shouldn’t be any humans here, yet here you are.” sair Y/N, getting angry with Susan behaviour.

Edmund looked questioningly at Y/N, suspicious whether or not they should trust the beaver.

“Hey, relax! He's a friend!”

“Is everything okay?” asked the beaver, appearing again over a boulder.

“Yes.” Peter replied, turning to him. “We're only talking.”

“It is better to talk in a safe place.” whispered the animal disappearing again behind the stones.

“The trees hear.” Lucy said, looking around.

“And believe me, it will not be good for them to hear us here.” Y/N completed, walking back behind the beaver, but this time, with the four of them on her heels 

[retvenkos]

Could you do Edmund Pevenise, Jo March, and Annabeth Chase for the three trope thing?

okay, so hear me out: fake dating with annabeth chase. you cannot tell me this doesn’t have potential, because it does. i’m not sure the reason as to why the two of you had to fake date, but annabeth approached you with the idea, and she was  d e t e r m i n e d  to make it as believable as possible because her competitiveness and her pride won’t allow her to give this fake relationship anything less than 100%. annabeth goes hard on this fake relationship, and if you had feelings for her before, there are definitely becoming a problem now because wow annabeth is breathtaking and wow annabeth is really selling this fake relationship,,, does she maybe......? because you definitely,,,, i mean, it’s not a big deal, but,,,,,, you would die for this woman and would do anything to have her hold you in her very strong but still so soft arms.

now, for the wonderful jo march i have to go for the spice and give her an enemies to lovers because let’s get one thing straight - when jo makes up her mind about someone, she’s made up her mind. and you? she knows you - she knows everything about you - and she knows that she most definitely hates you. why? well,,,,, at this point she’s forgotten but her hatred? that transcends time, space, and reason. and sure, you might make friends with beth by some fluke (or manipulation - jo definitely thinks it’s manipulation) and beth is the best judge of character and there’s literally zero reason for jo to hate you, but she is vehement in her stance. and you, on the other hand, don’t hate jo???? and it’s making it increasingly difficult for jo to dislike you so much when you don’t have a single problem with her and are actually quite liked among her family, but jo is determined to stand her ground. and maybe one day you ask her about it, and she says it’s her duty to hate you, and you tell her that, well, then it’s your duty to forgive her and like her anyway, and jo just,,,,, short circuit because,,,,, you like her???? .........how ridiculous! no one has ever liked jo in her entire life! this has to be some kind of trick, right? but,,,,, the more time jo spends with you (quite against her will, she’ll remind you) the more fond of you jo becomes. and maybe you are patiently waiting for jo to come to the realization that she loves you, and maybe laurie and her sisters are tired of hearing her lovestruck rants about you, and maybe one day you tell her that you love her - even though her hate for you is terribly annoying - and maybe she just starts loving you back.

okay,,,, so now we have to talk about a slow burn with the incomparable edmund pevensie. why a slow burn, you ask? because, edmund deserves a love story that transcends time and space, and by placing you in narnia and allowing you to go back to england with the pevensies allows just that. so CLEARLY the two of you have history - literal years that the two of you spent together in narnia, where your entire existence was a will they/won’t they with the pevensies meddling in between ruling narnia. when you come back to england, though, you need to adjust to this new life and, of course, all of you do so together. this only strengthens your bond, and while edmund insists to his siblings that this only complicates matters, it only really brings the two of you together and you are basically a couple without ever having to make labels? like,,, the amount of love and care and affection the two of you have for the other is astounding and lucy swears she’s choking on it - the air is thick with your love. and ohmygod the pevensies are waiting forever for the two of you to just finally kiss, and who knows? maybe it happens when you are in narnia a second time, saving your beloved home once again, fighting side by side...

send me 3 characters and i will choose the trope enemies to lovers/fake dating/slow burn

[smokeybrandreviews]

Smokey brand Reviews: True North

The Golden Compass sucks. i saw that wet fart when i was younger, on a whim, and was thoroughly disappointed. Sh*t didn’t make a lick of sense to me. That film was my first introduction to the His Dark Materials and it soured me on the entire franchise. Like most of the movie-going crowd because it flopped like a fat man into a public pool. The thing abut that movie is that it felt like another entry into the Narnia Chronicles, and abhor that franchise. I’ve hated them since i was forced to read them when i was in the third grade. They were terrible, and that was before i become aggressively areligious. Afterward? Bro. Suffice it to say, when the BBC adaption was announced, it was hard pass for me. And then my mom got HBOMax.

I was seeing a ton of ads for season two, a strong focus on Lyra and John Parry. Th more i saw of those Youtube ads, i don’t watch television anymore, the more i became intrigued. Eventually, i bit the bullet and did some research on he show, itself. Yo, i was SO glad i opted to give this thing a chance. The cast was amazing. the principal characters, all some of my favorite actors but, more than that, the plot was mad intriguing. It was so clever and unique and so far removed from Narnia wank, it could be considered anti-Narnia almost. How the f*ck did that movie get so much wrong? Suffice it to say, i gorged on that first season like a fat kid gorges chocolate cake. I finished it last night and these are my impressions.

The Outstanding

First and foremost, i absolutely have to praise Dafne Keen in this, man. She is Lyra Silvertongue, heroine and main character of the entire Dark Materials series. This success of this show rests on the shoulders of the then fourteen year old and she carries that sh*t like a champ. There is a wit and wisdom that Lyra carries which belies her age and Keen taps into that effortlessly. She played Laura Kinney in Logan a few years back, keeping pace with Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, so i knew she was skilled in her craft but i never imagined she’s be able to carry such demanding fair, so early in her career. I’d say she was the best thing about this show but that’s not really true. The level of quality in this thing is just that profound.

Ruth Wilson plays Marisa Coulter, Lyra’s mother, and, holy sh*t, is she incredible in the roll. Look, i love Wilson, even when she is in less than quality productions like The Affair. That show was bogus. What wasn’t bogus was her stint as Alice Morgan on Luther. I absolutely fell in love with her on that show and Ms. Coulter gives me all of the Alice vibes, just far more cruel. If Alice was calculating and aloof, the Coulter is deceitfully cruel and i love every second of it. You can tell there is a sadistic streak, straight up wrath, just below the surface and Wilson captures that skin deep veneer in a gently terrifying manner.

James McAvoy comes through and delivers yet again with his detached and insidious Lord Asriel Belacqua. It’s always a pleasure seeing this man do his job and, admittedly, he’s not in this first season much but the time that he is, McAvoy dominates. This is a desperate, desperate, man who knows he is right and will do anything to accomplish his goal. This single-minded drive reminds me so much of Sosuke Aizen from BLEACH and, like Aizen, Lord Asriel literally threw away everything to achieve that goal. It’s wild seeing Professor X go full Magneto and love it!

Line-Manuel Miranda is in this as the snarky Lee Scoresby, Texan Aeronaut, extraordinaire. Look, Manuel is a brilliant artist, i can’t take that away from him. He’s exceptional in Hamilton and on the stage but that’s a completely different skill set. There is a way you have to perform, to project, on stage that doesn’t translate to film and Manuel is still trying to get a handle on that. He’s not terrible in this role, mind you, but he’s just serviceable. However, the chemistry he has with Keen is something special. You can tell they get along strongly and that genuine interactions shines through in their performances together.

The rest of the cast is just as strong, specifically Kit Connor and Joe Tandberg as Pantalaimon and Lorek Brynison, respectively. Ariyon Bakare, Clarke Peters, Anne-Marie Duff, Lucian Msmati, Amir Wilson, Ruta Gedmintas, Will Keen, and Lewin Lloyd all turn in incredibly strong performances, for what they were given. A lot of these characters deserved a bit more screen time, a bit more fleshing out, but i am okay with what we did receive. This ain’t their story, it’s Lyra’s.

I just need to take some time and praise this show for how properly gorgeous it is. I mean, the level of production on this thing is rather profound, you knew that in the opening scene during the flood, but moreso as the world begins to expand. I know a lot of this stuff is filmed on sets and what not but, my goodness, are they elaborate and detailed. That whole arctic run was brilliant. It’s particularly intriguing when you understand how well the CG effects were used in regards to budget. The whole “show don’t tell’ adage definitely comes into effect for this serial and it’s all the better for it.

I am absolutely in love with the narrative, man. Never mind the actual plot in the books, the adaption presented is one of the best I've seen in a long a while. My goodness, the world being built is so enthralling, so captivating, i hate that i slept on this show, this series, for so long. I understand that this is one interpretation of the novel events but I'm still infatuated with every second of it.

The writing in this show is on point, for sure. It feels organic, it feels real. I know this is a series of books, decades old, but that goes a long way to proving the pedigree of this adaption. This doesn’t feel out of place or trite or try hard. It works beautifully, except for when Manuel is delivering dialogue outside of his scenes with Keen, and that is a real joy to watch.

There is a distinct focus on diversity displayed throughout this show so far and i love it. This is a reflection of the world in real time and more, big budget, shows need to show this reality. The difference between this and, say, Disney Star Wars or current Doctor Who, is the fact none of the representation in Materials feels forced. It feels organic, intrinsic to a story about entire worlds. You need this level of diversity for this story to be taken even remotely seriously in the modern day and i commend the production for handling this so well.

The Okay

I’ve never read the books so i can only judge this thing on what i glean from the wiki and what i see in the show. While i am completely smitten with what has been resented, the show feels like an abridged version of what we get in the books. I know for all adaptions that’s true but this feels like a legit highlight real of the greatest hits. I can’t say for sure but the adapted screenplay feels like it’s trying to load up on plot as much as possible, in as short a time as possible. Makes for an interesting view but, as a cat who understands storytelling, it feels like a patchwork of content.

This thing has some pretty brisk pacing. Again, i don’t know from where this first series is adapted but it definitely feels like they were in kind of a hurry to get. I mean, it really doesn’t but once sh*t gets started, it never looks back at all. It feels like that, at certain times, we should have definitely sent more time on an interaction or with a relationship. Lyra’s time in the Magisterial and Bolivar, particularly, seems rushed to me.

It’s uncomfortable how many times they make Dafne get naked. Obviously, they don’t show anything and it’s all inferred but, like, gross.

The Verdict

I loved this show, man. Absolutely adored every second of it. The BBC, when it really wants to, can produce some brilliant film. Luther, Sherlock, War of the Worlds, are all favorites and now His Dark Materials can be confidently added to that list. This show is gorgeous to watch, the production values on full display. Sweeping cinematic vistas both real and composite, permeate this rather cleverly effect heavy adaption. The performances, alone are enough to keep you coming back for more but this is, genuinely, one of the most gorgeous shows I've ever seen. Speaking of performances, everyone is excellent but the anchor is definitely Dafne Keen. Her Lyra Silvertongue is the linchpin of this entire show and she bares that weight brilliantly. I forget sometimes that she’s only fifteen, especially considering the talent she with whom she shares the screen. Ruth Wilson, James McAvoy, and Lin-Manuel Miranda all have capitol roles in this first season and they relish their time on camera, especially Wilson. I’ve been a fan of hers since that brilliant run on Luther as Alice Morgan so seeing her, here, has been giving me the best type of deja vu. His Dark Materials is f*cking outstanding, man. I can gush about this thing ad nauseam but this essay would definitely turn into a novel and no one wants that. If you have HBOMax, definitely give this a go. It’s one of the best shows out, has a full eight hours to binge in season one, and another four, so far, in season two. Sh*t is dope and i highly recommend a proper watch.

[ruffboijuliaburnsides]

I think part of the problem with the discussion around kudos/likes vs comments and/or reblogs for fanfic is that like... people are acting like kudos mean anything. ‘Cause the thing is, your hit count only counts the number of people who OPENED your fic, not who finished it.  I leave kudos and kudos alone on a lot of fics essentially as “well, I finished reading this and I didn’t actively hate it, and don’t think you should stop writing”.  I will kudos fics that I don’t even particularly enjoy personally if the person clearly has a handle on *writing*, and it didn’t actively turn me off, because you know what, I’m *not* just a hit count, I actually read the whole thing you wrote., even if I don’t have anything to comment about.

We moved away from comment culture when fandom started leaving livejournal, I think, and that’s a shame.  Comments are why most fanfic writers write.  To know that you loved it.  To know you cared enough about what you’d just read to type ANYTHING into a comment box and press “submit”.  Tumblr and twitter likes are often just anything a person finds moderately amusing/interesting/useful/etc, and kudos are often essentially the same thing for fics.  You could literally leave a comment on one of my fics that is nothing but a single heart emoji, and it would still mean more to me than a kudos would.

But to illustrate the power of comments, a couple of thoughts.  

1) a writer in the Narnia fandom that I like had left a big series of theirs essentially untouched for years because they couldn’t jive where canon went with the development they’d created in the characters, and it took a commenter telling her that it seemed like she was going in a direction that was diametrically opposed to the final message of the original canonical message of the stories for her to really realize that she needed to take this into full AU territory in order to finish it, and she’s been writing (slowly and steadily) to complete the story since then.

and 2) last december I re-read one of my favorite world of warcraft AU fics.  It’s technically a sequel to a Jaina/Sylvanas AU, focusing entirely on OCs in a theoretical “age of sail” future for Kul Tiras, and it’s fantastic.  My first read-through I’d left a comment saying how much I loved it, but on this, my third read-through, I decided to leave long comments every chapter or so detailing my emotions, my thoughts, new things I’d noticed since my first reading, etc.  The author started responding to me about a week after I started leaving the comments, in big bursts, and I’d respond to her, and a few days later, she posted (2 or 3 years after she’d completed writing this fic, ftr) an epilogue to the epilogue, that included some POV from the MC’s girlfriend, and some *delicious* smut, and an author’s note about how they’d been reminded why they’d loved this story that they’d totally burned out on a couple years ago thanks to the sheer number of words they wrote.

Y’ALL, COMMENTING THOUGHTFULLY ON A FIC ENDED WITH ME (and everyone else who loved/loves it) GETTING A FINAL EPILOGUE THAT IS PERFECT AND SWEET AND ROMANTIC AND WONDERFUL AND EVERYTHING I’D MISSED IN THE ORIGINAL STORY.  It was fucking fantastic and I know that I definitely had something to do with it.

contrast this to both myself and my wife.  We both stopped writing fic because we... just weren’t getting any responses other than kudos, which are vague and impersonal.  It’s hard to motivate yourself to write when you can’t tell if people actually LIKE your fic, or if they just think “eh, it wasn’t awful”, which are two totally different responses.  

my point is, COMMENT ON FIC THAT YOU LIKE.  Comment if you’re not super fond of this fic particularly but you love the author’s other work (or at least comment ON their other work).  Comment just to say “i fucking loved this” even if there’s nothing else you can conjure to express your feelings.  You would be *amazed* how much that fucking inspires further content

[softlass27]

So... I had a couple of comments on my Robron foster parenting fic from last week, asking for more of this universe. I don’t know if I’ll ever properly write it as a full story, but what I do have are some little character profiles for each of the kids mentioned, as well as their ages when the Home Farm move takes place :)

Seb (11)

So Aaron and Robert had many (so many) discussions about – and with – Seb before they started fostering. They were initially very worried about the risk of Seb feeling neglected or sidelined by them bringing more children – some of whom may require extra care and attention – into the home. Robert was especially concerned about this, considering his own bad experiences when his parents took in Andy.

But Seb, being the good (fantastic) kid that he is, takes it all in his stride. For the most part, he loves having a big family, even if its not the most conventional. He was already pretty mature for his age, so he understands why sometimes the other kids might need some extra support with things. Before he came to live in Emmerdale permanently, his home life with Ross and Rebecca wasn’t exactly stable (thank god his dads got him out of there – he has a feeling that’s what gave them the fostering idea in the first place), so he knows a little of what it’s like to come from a difficult environment.

As much as he’s cool with his living situation, he does occasionally ask for a bit of one-on-one time with his dads, which they will go above and beyond to give him no matter what’s going on with the family.

Rather enjoys being the eldest – and therefore the leader – of the bunch. Aaron says he gets that from Robert.

Very witty for his age, and never without a good comeback. Robert says he gets that from Aaron.

Really likes cooking with Robert, and has been ever since he was just a wee boy.

Once showed his parents a 10-slide powerpoint presentation on why he and Eddie should get a super-cool race car bunkbed from Ikea.

Eddie (10)

Eddie is, well… loud. A chaotic boy. But a very sweet one.

He has ADHD, so he struggles a little at school and gets into trouble every now and then (mainly for talking), but for the most part his teachers can’t help taking a liking to him. 

Eddie loves attention, but he’s harmless in the way he seeks it. Telling jokes, presenting pictures he’s drawn (he loves comic books and often likes to create his own), showing off a new trick on his bike or skateboard. It’s rare for his foster family to go longer than a day without someone hearing him shout, “Hey, watch this!” Aaron and Robert often have to gently remind him to use his inside voice, and not to railroad the others when they’re trying to say something or pick an activity.

More than anything, Eddie just wants to be noticed. He never got much of that with his mum, who fails to turn up for their supervised visits more often than not. It’s agonising for Aaron and Robert to watch him be let down by her over and over again, trying so hard to cover up his hurt by shrugging and saying it doesn’t matter, then acting like there’s nothing wrong by throwing himself into playing video games with Seb as soon as they get home. But one of them will normally find him curled up crying a few hours later, and it takes lots of cuddles, ice cream and a super hero movie to make him feel better.

Eddie’s only six months younger than Seb, which Robert was initially worried about (again, his memories of Andy coming into play there), but the two of them are thick as thieves. They’re kind of chalk and cheese personality-wise, but they actually balance each other out pretty well.

Will do literally any dare he’s given. This has led to more than one trip to A&E and more than one grey hair for Robert.

Theme parks are his favourite places in the world.

Would live on pizza if he could.

Clumsy as hell. Never put anything breakable in Eddie’s reach.

Lottie (7)

Lottie is by far the shyest, quietest of the kids. She didn’t bring any toys or games with her, but she did bring a small backpack of books that she clung onto like a lifeline. This gave Robert (as we all know, an avid reader) something to bond over with her, and he soon discovered that a way to get Lottie talking was to ask her which books she likes.

The answer, as it happens, is anything fantasy-based. The Narnia series, The Hobbit, Peter Pan, most fairy tales… anything with some magic and maybe a princess and she’s sold. They have a feeling her books have been a bit of an escape from reality for her in the past, so they make sure her bedroom has a nice little bookcase so she can keep them close.

Her favourite thing after reading is playing in the garden or around the village. Sometimes with the others but again, she’s quite happy in her own little world. Before coming to live in Emmerdale, she’d been brought up in a cramped flat in a city centre, surrounded by traffic and concrete. So living in somewhere like the Yorkshire Dales (and all the space that comes with it) is a total novelty to her. She takes to it like a duck in water though, loves the green fields and the streams and the animals. She’ll spend hours running around in the dirt (usually spreading it all over the house when she gets home, too) and becomes a proper country girl. Robert gets her the complete Beatrix Potter collection, combining her two loves.

Because she’s so content with her nose in a book, Aaron and Robert do have to prompt her to join in with the others sometimes. But once she’s been given a nudge, she’ll usually put down whatever she’s reading and interact with her foster family. She does like having fun with the others, she just likes to have her space, too.

Aaron and Robert have lost her in Waterstones more than once.

The biggest cuddler, and the most likely to crawl into Aaron and Robert’s bed on a weekend morning.

A huge fan of beans on toast, and therefore prefers Aaron’s cooking to Robert’s.

Cannot do maths. Will never be able to get the hang of maths. Thinks maths is the stupidest thing ever invented.

Has just one or two friends at school and likes it that way.

Takes it upon herself to be the one to read Tasha’s bedtime story most nights.

Mike (6)

Mike was initially the most… difficult in terms of behaviour. He was too small to do much damage, but his first few weeks with them involved a fair bit of biting and scratching, and he got very easily wound up. Lots of tears and mood swings.

Aaron was so good with him. Robert was too, but from the beginning Aaron had a real knack for calming Mike down when he was distressed. It took several months to really get him settled (he tried to run away more than once – not that he got very far in their tiny village), but with a lot of patience and the right support, they figured it out in the end.

Now Mike is much calmer, and much happier. He still has his moments, but he never lashes out like violently like he used to. He gets some additional help from the school, and Aaron and Robert both have a lot of meetings with his teachers to check in on everything.

As mentioned in the original fic, he’s really not great with the dark. But they’ve managed to work their way from him needing the big light on at night, to his bedside lamp, down to a single nightlight, so he’s getting there.

Absolutely idolises Eddie, and tries to copy everything he does. Aaron and Robert are both praying this hero worship will transition from Eddie to Seb, just so they can have a slightly easier life.

Also adores their ginger tabby cat, Pumpkin (named by Seb when they got her one October). All the kids love her, but she and Mike have a Special Connection, and when he gets home from school, he will not rest until he’s tracked Pumpkin down, snuggled up with with her and told her all about his day. He finds her purrs very calming.

Loves a good LEGO model. Him and Robert will spend hours on them.

Karate-obsessed. He’s been into it every since his first lesson, but has to be told more than once that he is not to try out any moves on his foster siblings.

Will inevitably lose most things. Toys, gloves, crayons, homework, shoes (one time while he was wearing them – Aaron and Robert still can’t work that one out)… he simply cannot keep track of where anything is.

Hates reading and never picks up a book unless he has to for English homework. Lottie is scandalised by this. Scandalised. 

Natasha (Tasha) (4)

The baby of the group, and the youngest Aaron and Robert have ever fostered, which they were initially a little hesitant about. When they first brought her home just after she’d turned 3, she had very limited speech for a child her age. Even her crying was near-silent.

But with time, effort, and some speech therapy, she comes along leaps and bounds. Once she starts picking words up from her foster parents (as well as the nonstop chatter from the other kids), she doesn’t stop, it’s amazing how fast she gets the hang of it. Now it’s a miracle if they can get her to stop talking.

A very big fan of Postman Pat.

Will do almost anything for a chocolate biscuit.

Steals Aaron’s hoodies and uses them as blankets.

Has the biggest eyes anyone has ever seen, and her foster parents are dreading the day she works out that this helps her get away with stuff.

Can usually be seen wearing fairy wings.

Likes to sit on the floor and watch the washing machine when it’s on.

[thewoodlandqueen]

The Pevensies After Narnia

Summary: Returning home from Narnia was more difficult than any of the Pevensies could have ever imagined. 

Words: 2,236

A/N: Based off this post of mine

“You wouldn’t believe us if I told you, sir.” Peter said looking up at the Professor with a small smile.

The Professor smiled in return and tossed the ball back to Peter. “Try me.”

So they did. The Pevensies told the Professor about all of their adventures in Narnia and in return the Professor told them of his. That first week back from Narnia was a joyous time. Sharing stories with the Professor, having hot running water again, eating their favorite foods, listening to the radio, and using lights. The modern pleasures they had since forgotten were discovered for what felt like the first time all over again.

It wasn’t until a week later that Peter uttered the words no one dared to speak. “What about our people?” Lucy’s face fell and Edmund went still.

“They’re well taken care of.” Susan said smoothing her skirt and looking over at her older brother. “Mr. Tumnus, Oreius, and the Beavers are more than capable.”

“We never got to say goodbye.” Lucy said, her big blue eyes glossing over with tears.

“We didn’t even want to leave.” Edmund said, his voice back to a squeaky high-pitched child’s voice.

“Come now.” Susan said looking around at her sad siblings. “We should all be happy to be back. Besides the fact that we had our adventure at all is what matters.” She nodded satisfied with her answer.

Then so began Susan’s bitter quest to forget Narnia and accept the fact that she was back home. Out of all of the Pevensie children, Susan had the least difficult time adjusting to life back in England. She often scolded Peter for wanting to go back and said that he was a bad influence for Edmund and Lucy. Logically, to Susan, burying herself in a good book could be as great an adventure as her time in Narnia.

Peter on the other hand disagreed. He wanted nothing more than to return back to Narnia as High King. It wasn’t because he missed the power and attention, but because he missed helping people. Ever since he was little Peter had plans of being a Doctor because he wanted to help others. As High King of Narnia his guidance and wisdom stretched out over oceans. Now that he was back home as Peter Pevensie from Finchley, the most good he could do was keep up his studies and watch over his younger siblings.

Edmund missed Narnia just as much as Peter did, but he kept it more to himself. Chess comforted him since he spent many hours in Narnia poured over a board with Oreius. His voice was no longer deep and steady, and his sharp jawline was lost and in its place a smooth pudgy chin. Being a child again reminded him of how awful he used to be. It was this childlike form that he fought with Peter, teased Lucy, and so selfishly sold out his family to the White Witch.

Lucy was the only Pevensie who dared to try and reenter the Wardrobe. Many times she pulled open the wooden door and stepped inside in hopes of feeling the hot summer breeze rustle through her hair. She spent a lot of time with the Professor telling stories and begging to hear more of his. Her hope of returning was what kept her in high spirits. Though there were times when she would burst out in a fit of anger. She was a warrior, a queen, and not being able to reach the top cupboard for a teacup was beyond frustrating. It was times like these when Peter would step in and without a word grabbed the teacup and handed it to her with a smile.

In fact the whole family dynamic changed. Peter and Edmund had never been closer. They spent lots of time together playing chess or in the library and never fought once. Lucy relied heavily on her older brothers for protection and support. When she wasn’t tall enough, not strong enough, or considered too little to have input they stepped in on her behalf. Susan pulled away from the other three and preferred to pick up her life where she left off and remember Narnia as beautiful memories. It wasn’t that Susan didn’t love Narnia; she just felt the best way to move forward was to focus on the present. Someone in the family had to.

What the Pevensie’s weren’t prepared for is how their life experience would affect their interactions with others. Mrs. Mcready in particular. What had been fifteen years for them had only been about fifteen minutes for her. For the life of that poor woman she couldn’t figure out the sudden change in the children and why their behavior was so strange all of a sudden.

The first noticeable incident was when she scolded them for breaking the Professors window. “You children need to learn some respect for this house. The stain glass is priceless and now, a gaping hole in it and a dismantled suit of armor. What do you have to say for yourselves?”

Edmund was the first to step forward, the diplomat in him ever prevalent. “We’re sorry, it was only an accident. I suppose I should avoid playing cricket for a while.”

Peter not wanting Edmund to share in the fault alone spoke next. “It was my fault really, I pitched that nasty curve ball.”

Mrs. Mcready didn’t know what to say. This was the last thing she expected to hear. “Well then, see that it doesn’t happen again.” She nodded before walking off awkwardly.

A few days later a dear friend of the Professor stopped by. “Children!” She called upstairs. “Come say hello to our guest.” It only took a moment for all the children to materialize and come to greet the mystery guest. “This is the Professor’s friend Ms. Plummer. Say hello now.”

The four Pevensies all bowed to the visitor before exchanging an awkward look. “Lovely to meet you.” Lucy nodded at the silver haired woman.

“My, what polite children the Professor is housing.” Mrs. Plummer smiled.

Mrs. Mcready didn’t say anything, she was too alarmed at Lucy’s adult pleasantries. Perhaps it was just a fluke, or she had misheard her. It wasn’t until dinner a few days later when Lucy asked for the salt that it was confirmed that Lucy was talking ever so strangely.

“Mrs. Mcready would you be so kind as to pass me the salt?” Lucy said taking a sip of her pomegranate juice.

“My dear child where on earth did you learn to talk like that?” Mrs. Mcready said grabbing the saltshaker and passing it to Susan who in turn set it in front of Lucy. Lucy hadn’t spoken like this when she first arrived.

Lucy looked up from her drink startled. “Uh…I don’t know…” She said looking to her siblings in a panic.

“Lucy and I have been practicing etiquette for school.” Susan spoke up. “We’ve never been to a private school before and we want to make a good impression.” Mrs. Mcready nodded but still wasn’t convinced.

Dinners actually became a great source of confusion for Mrs. Mcready. The Professor started having dinner with the Pevensie children which was odd in its own since he had earlier proclaimed that he never wanted to be disturbed by the children. Now dinner was lively and full of a bunch of rubbish.

“Tell me again where the Beavers lived.” The Professor said raising his glass to the children.

“Oh they had the cutest little dam!” Lucy exclaimed.

“You could see the White Witch’s palace from it.” Edmund added.

“I still can’t believe you had the misfortune of going head to head with her.” The Professor shook his head. “She was something else even in the short time I knew her.”

“You have no idea.” Peter shook his head.

“Children!” Mrs. Mcready scolded. “Don’t encourage him.” She said hinting that the Professor may have been going crazy, which she surly believed.

The rest of that summer was rather strange. The children all grew very fond of quite obscure activities and under the Professor’s orders, Mrs. Mcready was supposed to see to it that they had a chance to participate.

“Mrs. Mcready?” Edmund asked one day while she was organizing books in the library.

“Hmmm?” She responded glancing over her shoulder.

“Might I take a trip down to the stables?” Edmund asked fiddling with his fingers nervously.

“The stables?” Mrs. Mcready asked setting down the books she was sorting and placing her hands on her hips. “Whatever for?”

“I wanted to see the horses.” Edmund said shyly. There was no easy way to tell anyone that he desperately missed his animal companion, Phillip. “I like them.”

Mrs. Mcready didn’t know what to say. Normally uncharacteristic of Edmund but with how strange all the children had been acting, this wasn’t that strange. “Alright then off you go.”

Edmund’s face lit up and he put down the book he was reading before dashing out the door. He spent many hours in the stables in the coming weeks before school started. He’d smile, pet the horses, and speak softly to them as he dreamed of riding his own horse into a mighty battle.

Edmund wasn’t the only one missing his Narnian opportunities. Susan actually missed having her bow. So when she asked Mrs. Mcready if they had one for her to use along with a target, they materialized a day later. Susan found comfort in the feeling of her bow releasing the arrow and sinking in deeply to the target. It grounded her, and when she was missing Narnia a little extra, it was an easy activity to lose herself in.

When the school year started things became even more difficult for the Pevensies. Susan and Lucy were to be sent to a different school than Peter and Edmund. So in other words, the first time the family was to be separated since their fifteen years in Narnia. The other thing was that all of the children felt as though they didn’t need school. In Narnia the children continued their studies in Narnian history, combat, battle strategies, agriculture, and an endless list of other incredibly useful subjects. So school seemed silly. Lucy hated it the most.

When she was at school, she felt so small. There were girls taller than her and stronger than her who made it known. The gossip bored Lucy because she was years in wisdom beyond her age and whose hair looked funny didn’t matter to her. She had been in battle, dined with Lords, made laws, and ruled an entire kingdom. The schoolyard was below Lucy and despite her protests, she was forced to be a child again even though she had known adulthood.

Susan didn’t struggle with this as much. She felt almost the same as before she went to Narnia. Susan had always been more mature for her age. She had to be. The war forced both her and Peter to grow up to take care of their younger siblings. At school she buried herself int books and her studies. To Susan, this was home and if she wanted to succeed, she needed to accept that.

Edmund, like Susan, accepted the fact that he was a kid again but, like Peter he missed Narnia dearly. He missed his horse. He missed his deep commanding voice settling disputes. He missed his life. Like the rest of his siblings he excelled in his studies and impressed all of his teachers. Somehow, just like Peter had taken care of Edmund, Edmund ended up taking care of Peter. The eldest Pevensie found himself in all sorts of disputes and comprisable situations.

Peter took it the hardest. He was High King. He felt like he abandoned his people and lost himself. This only got worse the longer the schoolyear went on. The first noticeable correction that needed to be made was Peter’s signature. After being handed an academic conduct contract to be signed Peter absent-mindedly began signing High King Peter. He had to stop himself short and in frustration tore the paper to shreds before asking for a new one. There would be nights when he would stand in front of the mirror and wonder who he had become. He missed his broad shoulders and sharp jawline. He grew angry, irritable, and frustrated. He missed his life.

All of the Pevensie children had been deeply changed by their time in Narnia.

By the time the school year was over and they returned back to the Professor for summer, something dark had taken root in all of them. Lucy regressed back to the little girl she had been before she had discovered Narnia. Edmund’s sass slowly crept back into his every conversation. Susan never spoke of Narnia but to scold her siblings for wishing their life away. Then there was Peter who was no longer a lost king, but a troubled teenage boy who got into fights and was labeled disobedient. The school year had worn them down and after being treated like a child again, that is what they all became.

That is until that faithful day at the train station next school year something magical happened. Then every happy feeling the Pevensies had locked away came flooding back and the past year of torture was left behind on the beach of Cair Paravel. They were home again.

[padfootagain]

The King And You (V)

Part 5 : Alex

 You all chose this series to be updated for my 3.6k followers event, so here we go with a new chapter! I hope you all like this! Tell me what you think about it :)

Word Count : 3183

The sun came kissing rooftops and tickling tired eyelids way too soon. After explaining to Caspian how to use the bathroom (you thought the man truly was ridiculous playing that role non-stop, but you played along anyway), you were now taking breakfast together.

"If you need a computer or anything, go to a library," you advised him. "I'm sure they'll help you find the address."

"Thank you again. For everything."

"I hope you can find your friends."

"I hope so as well."

He took a spoonful of cereal, and seemed to not enjoy it as much as you did yours. But he didn't complain, and took another spoonful anyway, which made you smile. What a strange man you had found tumbling in your life.

In the early hours of the morning, right before the sun would come up and yet when the night was getting lighter again, the shadows slowly running away from the streets of New York, Caspian had tried to calmly analyse the situation.

If he needed to find the Pevensies, he needed first to find a way to find them. They were clearly not known in this world, contrary to the situation in Narnia, and Caspian couldn't merely ask around to people he didn't know. The city he had fallen into also seemed to be gigantic, according to the travel from the police station to your apartment. He knew the trip in your car was only a short distance for the scale of the city, when he had found it long, and thus he didn't dare to imagine the complete size of it.

He also needed to find a map of the city, because it was so large. He needed to find his way across it to find the Pevensies.

Of course, the thought that the Pevensies were not in this town had occurred to him. He guessed he would find a way to get there anyway. He needed to learn the information on their location first, and then he would find a way to go wherever he needed to go. He had to take one step at a time.

Soon the cornflakes were all eaten and the milk drunk, and it was time to bid Caspian farewell. He had picked up his bag, secured his sword at his belt and wrapped his long cloak around his frame. You were standing before your front door together, exchanging a smile.

"Well, good luck then, Caspian," you bid him goodbye, offering him your open-palm.

He took your hand, but instead of shaking it, gently pulled it up to his lips, and dropped a delicate kiss on your knuckles.

You felt a strange feeling in your heart at the gesture, a good feeling and yet indescribable.

"Thank you, Y/N. For everything you've done. Your kindness will never be forgotten, and I do wish the best for you."

You didn't know what to reply to that. Caspian was still holding your hand while you stared at each other, and for some unknown reason, you couldn’t look away from his dark eyes… In the shy light of the morning sun, his eyes were pitch black, and you could barely see where the pupil finished and iris started…

You jumped as someone knocked on your door. You checked your watch, but it was just half-past eight.

Who the hell could come to your flat at such an early hour in the morning, uninvited?

The sort of spell that seemed to prevent you from looking away from Caspian's eyes seemed to break at the sharp noise, and you turned to the door.

You hated yourself for opening it as you recognized your ex-boyfriend on the threshold.

"Hi, Y/N!"

"Alex, what are you doing here?"

Your tone was harsher than annoyance, almost angry, and Caspian had no doubt you knew the man well. Maybe he had once been your friend.

No matter what part of your past you might have in common with this stranger, Caspian reckoned it was the moment for him to leave.

"Farewell, Y/N,”"Caspian spoke again, giving you a nod and stepping towards the door.

Alex glowered at Caspian.

"Ha… I see… You've replaced me already," he told you, nodding at Caspian with a rather disrespectful look.

You rolled your eyes.

"Even if it was true, and it's not what you think it is, we're not together anymore, Alex," you snapped at him.

So, you and… Alex… had been… courting…?

Caspian swallowed, clenched his jaw a little in discomfort, and made a start for the door again. But Alex blocked the way, moving to stand right in front the doorway.

"But I would love to learn more about whoever you're replacing me with."

You heaved a sigh. You knew that side of him, it was the side that had made you break up with him in the first place. The asshole part. And your previous day had been too weird and you were too tired to deal with him now.

"We're not together. And what did you come here for anyway?"

"Do you remember that it's Cassie's birthday this Saturday? We were supposed to go together, so I wanted to know at what time I could come and pick you up."

"Alex, seriously?" you heaved an angry sigh, and glared at him. "Obviously, we're not going together at her birthday, as we're not together anymore. I broke up with you, remember? I also asked you to stop coming here. And you could have just texted me about this instead of coming here to knock on my door so early in the morning!"

"For some people, it's not even that early."

"I don't have to go to work, I work at home, to me it's early. I like sleeping. Remember that part?"

"How could I forget? How many of my jumpers did you ruin with your paint again?"

You opened your mouth to reply but he raised a soothing hand before you could speak another word.

"I'm sorry, I didn't come to bicker," he apologized, taking a couple of deep breaths to calm down. "I wanted to talk to you. Like adults."

"Since when do you behave like an adult?"

"Since always."

You snorted. By your side, Caspian was more and more uncomfortable with each second that flew by. You finally noticed how he felt, and gently pushed Alex out of the doorway.

"He has to go, let him pass," you asked Alex, who stood a little straighter as Caspian took a step further once more.

Alex ignored your gesture and instead, stood right before Caspian, torso to torso. He was a few centimetres shorter than Caspian, so he had to look up to star at him right in the eyes. But he didn't back down.

"I am sorry, sir," Caspian spoke in a quiet voice. "I must depart, now. Would you have the amiability to let me pass?"

Alex froze for a second, before exploding with laughter.

"What?!" he was laughing so loudly, you were expecting for your numbers to storm out of their apartments to have a word with you. "Where did you find that one?"

The muscle of Caspian's jaw jumped, and you couldn't help but notice it…

"Sir, please…" he started, but Alex interrupted him again.

"No but really, Y/N… I mean… he looks like a tramp!"

"Alex!"

"Was he worth it at least? The night you spent together? Was it worth it?"

Caspian's eyes grew round in outrage at the insinuation, and you saw something change in his features. His jaw that was before clenched out of discomfort was now clenched out of anger. He stood even straighter, in a proud posture that reminded you of those of noble men. There was pride and wrath both burning in his eyes, that had seemed to darken as his fury ignited. When he spoke again, his voice was deep and low but was also turned into fire with untold threats.

"Sir, I reckon that Y/N does not consider you welcome in her home. I must insist on you leaving her alone. We have both many things to do, and I personally have lost enough of my time on your childishness and vain antics. Now, turn around and leave."

"You don't tell me what to do," Alex spat back, but Caspian replied with a chuckle.

"Considering your manners in general and your behaviour now, no wonder why Y/N thought better than trusting her heart to you."

"What did you just tell me?"

"I said that you look like the kind of despicable men who do not deserve women with such good hearts and natures as Y/N."

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

Caspian took a step closer, his chest touching Alex's.

"I am a man who is more than you could ever be. Do you want to know why? Because when a woman tells me to leave, I do."

He turned to you again, his expression switching from anger to softness too fast for you to see the transition.

"Y/N, would you mind helping me find the right way?" he asked, offering you his hand.

But his eyes also told you that leaving with him now was the only way to get rid of Alex. And you couldn't deny that you were welcomed for the chance to escape. You still hesitated to take his hand…

Alright, alright, here I am again, ready to save the day! Let me explain the three possibilities that are offered to you :

Plan A : you take Caspian's hand (may I also point out that they are large, and seem a little calloused, but by the way he offers his hand to you now, you can be certain that the touch will be soft. You know… just in case you were wondering…). By doing so, you will have a chance to escape the Alex Problem. Good plan.

Plan B : you let Caspian go and try to reason with Alex. Will end up in a major argument. Your neighbours will be so angry at you, they might all sign a petition to get you evicted. Not a good plan.

Plan C : you let Caspian go and go back to your apartment and just wait for Alex to leave. He is stubborn as hell. He will drive you mad by knocking non-stop on your door or shouting your name at the top of his long, and you will have to give in. Will end up in the same terrible argument that plan B. Not a good plan.

Do I really have to give you more arguments? Or will you take the damn hand, now?

Ha… thank you! You know the narrator is not supposed to influence the story, in theory, right?

But thanks to me, the decision was taken, and you were ready to run far away from Alex.

"Of course," you nodded, grabbing your purse, your coat and putting your shoes on in a hurry, before you locked the door and followed Caspian down the stairs.

"You know, some men would have punched you for this kind of talk," Alex told Caspian as the two of you started to walk down the stairs.

Caspian froze, and turned to Alex once more, a calm expression on his face, although his gaze was cold.

"Would you like to try?" he asked in a calm voice, almost so calm it was daring Alex to do it.

But Alex didn't bite. Instead, he remained silent, standing before your apartment, while you and Caspian walked down the stairs and finally came out in the street.

"I think you should go for a walk and come back once he has left," Caspian gave you a knowing smile.

"Well, actually… I have nowhere to go. So, I can give you a ride, if you'd like. Let's say that I'm paying my debt about Alex."

Caspian gave you grin.

"Thank you. I cannot deny that I can use… a ride."

"Stop it, you're almost getting out of character!" you laughed at him, and he smiled too, but didn't laugh though.

You drove him to a library, guessing that he could use the computers there.

There was silence in your old car for a while, the loud engines sounding even more deafening than usual. The sun was still a little cold and pale in the sky, a few lazy clouds darkening more and more as they collided against the firmament, their water mingling. You wondered if it would soon rain. After all, it was Autumn…

You stopped at a red light, and finally heaved a sigh. With the air leaving your lungs, it felt like all the tensions in your body had vanished as well.

"I’m sorry. About Alex. I didn’t know he would show up like that."

"There is no need for you to apologise. The blame is entirely his."

"He… yeah, I guess. He’s not always like this though."

"Disrespectful?"

"A complete jerk."

Your words made him chuckle and blush a little. His laugh woke up yours with ease, and you were soon both laughing while you drove through the streets of New York again. On each sides of the streets, trees were losing their orange, red and yellow leaves, letting them fall onto the pavement. Strangers walked in one direction or the other, hurrying in the cold, their scarves tightly wrapped around their necks and hands buried into the pockets of their warm coats.

"He didn’t take our break up very well," you went on as your laughter had waned. "He’s still mad at me for him."

"I have to admit that I can only fail to see what you found worthy of your affections in him."

"He's a lot of fun, when he's not a jerk. That was a major good point."

"I think you deserve better than someone who can offer you only one 'good point', though. You are a very kind woman."

"Well, you could hardly say anything else, I'm driving you around."

"That's quite right, too," he laughed.

"But then, I don't know…" you heaved another sigh. "Maybe he didn't really understand why I broke up with him, and that's why he's like that now. Why he insists."

"I rather think his pride is damaged, but not as much as his heart."

"What do you mean?" you asked back with a frown.

"He obviously loves you dearly."

Your expression darkened, your hands tightening around the wheel.

"Well, he never said anything about that…"

"His mistake. Though it doesn’t change the truth."

"Well, if he loved me so much, he could have said it. He should have."

"If he didn’t show you his love enough for you to know about his feelings without him having to say the words, then he most definitely made mistakes."

Silence settled in the car again as you stopped to let pedestrians cross the street.

"Are the two of you engaged?" Caspian broke the stillness around you.

"I told you I don’t have a husband."

"Being engaged is not being married."

"We weren’t."

He slowly nodded. Just courting then. Although, judging by Alex’s words, it involved a lot more than the practice did in Narnia.

"Are you married?" you asked him back.

"I am not."

"Girlfriend?"

"There is no one."

"Who broke your heart?" you asked with a teasing tone that made him smile despite himself.

"I just… haven't met the right person yet."

"I have to admit that I really doubt that whole… 'someone is made for you' thing exists. I mean… it's good for the fairytales, but it's not true."

"You don't think love exists?"

"I think love… as it is shown to us in books and movies and stories and songs… no, no it doesn't exist. I've never felt like that. Being ready to do anything for someone, from sacrifices to crazy plans… no, it doesn't exist. All you can hope for is to find someone who is ready to stay with you. And… and that's it. There isn't any firework, any big gesture of romance, any wild promises. The only thing there is to win is stability in a chaotic world, and that's all."

"It is a rather cold view of the world."

"I'm not a child anymore. Although, you're telling stories for a living, so I guess you can only keep on believing in romance."

You reached the parking lot behind the library, and nodded towards his bag, sword and cloak.

"You can leave all these in the back of the car. No need to draw too much attention, if you don't mind. I've had enough crazy talks for one day with Alex's show."

And as you had nothing better to do for now anyway, you accompanied him inside the building.

It wasn’t the biggest library in town, but it was the closest to your home. The building could have used a little renovation, yet it still stood tall in the street, its red bricks darkened by pollution.

You ignored the shelves filled with books and strode towards one of the five computers on free access. You chose the right website to get information such as an address and phone number, and Caspian was silently grateful that you had come to help him. He had no idea whatsoever of what a computer was and how to make it work.

"What’s your friend’s name again?"

"Pevensie. Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie."

"All in the same family?"

"Indeed."

He pulled a chair to sit by your side. But as you entered your research, you didn't find anything.

"No one around by that name, apparently."

You tried several social media like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, but there again, there was nothing to be found.

You didn't give up though, and with a little patience, you did find one person named Pevensie. Agatha Pevensie.

"She lives not too far from New York. In a little town though, not sure you can go there by train or bus. Here's her address. Maybe they're from the same family, and she can know about your friends."

You handed him a pen and a piece of paper so he could write it down, and Caspian was quick to figure out how to make the pen work. Although, there was something strange in him again.

He had spent most of the time of your research carefully examining the computer. You caught him several times looking at the sides of the screen, and even behind it, as if he wondered how it worked. And there was something in his features, in the fear in his eyes, in the visible anxiety painted all over his frame, that made you doubt that he was faking it all. But how could he not know what a computer was?

But then, he had seemed to discover pens too. Something was so strange about him. Yet, when he looked at you, you didn't feel frightened in the slightest. You could only read kindness in his eyes when Caspian looked at you.

He wrote down the address without noticing the way you studied him now.

Still… was this whole story about acting true?

**********************************

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[sirene312]

oh GOD guys…. You have no idea the crusade i had to went through just to be sitting here, with my dear computer working again, and enjoying the joy of 1.9 Mbps internet connection speed. First thing on the front page of my dash was three shitposts on a row, new niche memes, and good ‘ol fandom drama. god how I missed this hell site. 

In case anyone wants to know what happened, I will put behind a ‘read more’ the story of a missing computer part that quickly become a detective mission, that dragged me unwillingly into the wild ride I didn’t signed for when pressing ‘buy’ on an online store.

TL;DR at the end bc this is very long. English is not my first language so please bear with me! 

Okay, some of you may know a bit about me since apparently i don’t have a “dude shut up! Stop oversharing your woes!!!” button on me but hey here are some things to know about me in case you are curious: I live in Venezuela and not having internet is my personality trait, living in my country is very hard, hard like trying to play the Rainbow Road of Mario Kart but you have butter on your hands, your eyes are closed and you are running on the rain while there is a 8.0 earthquake happening. That hard. I work as a freelance graphic designer and make art commissions so me and my family can survive the economic crisis on my country, having internet and a working computer is a really big deal, like literally we eat thanks to it. Now you see how that would led me to spend a whole month chasing and stressing over a stupid part my computer needed.

Back in December, remember last season of “what’s troubling Sirene now?” where i spend almost a month without internet and then yay internet is back! for like two days? well, after Christmas there was a sudden power cut one night and i was on my computer working on a commission but since this is now a common occurrence i didn't think anything of it …until next day when i tried to switch my computer ON it didn't. I tried everything to revive it, grabbing anxiously my hair, walking on circles, and pressing continuously the power button, you know everything, but it was in vain. It’s dead, Jim. As you can imagine i had a breakdown when i realized i won’t be able to work anymore and needed to buy a new power supply since this one was toast…and was without internet friggin again. AGAIN. I survived till now using my crappy phone data but heavy apps hardly load, tumblr/ao3/twitter sometimes loaded if i refreshed them like a madman. 

My computer is a tiny model and has a power supply that apparently is made by beavers in Narnia, because is so uncommon that the only stores that sell them are on my Capital city two states away from where i live. Knowing this, there is not other alternative for me but to use a online store and shipping the package here, in theory sounds simple right? a reminder that this is a third world country, where everything is falling apart and barely holding it together with chewing gum and prayers, what are the odds of something going wrong hmm….

Okay, this happened in the week after Christmas and before New Year's Eve, so of course all stores in my country decided to go on vacation and return on January. I impatiently waited for two online stores to be back on business that have the power supply i need, they were physical stores too so i thought i would be safe. i liked one more than the other and, as i told my friends, i felt like a telenovela protagonist that was on a love triangle with two galanes but the hotter one was in coma and the other just had 3 episodes in, meaning that the better rated store was still offline and the other was online but only had like 3 products sold …not very reassuring but i desperately needed to start working again so i went with that one. Big mistake.

Everything started on Tuesday, January 14. 

Mercado Libre is a page where people sell things like Amazon, this is where the seller of the power supply was, after you click on buy, you can see the seller info and a chat to talk to them, i wrote but there was not immediate response so i called, i spoke to a woman and she told me to text her on WhatsApp, that should have been my first red flag, if the app had a perfect chat option there why text outside of it?? 

whatever, i went and text her, asked when would she send the package and she told me “tomorrow” the shipping company she was going to use is called “Zoom” (remember that name bc it will be mentioned a lot) when you send something they give the sender (the store) a tracking number the sender should give YOU in order for the shipping office (Zoom) in your city to give you the package. (this number is important)

this was my first time buying anything online so i didn’t know any of that just vaguely knew how it worked, so i asked her if she the next day would give me the tracking number or the shipping company would call me when my package was on the shipping center? and she told me “both, i will give you the number and they are going to call you” I said perfect, thank you very much and thought ‘hey that went well!’ 

Unknown to me, for the next 10 days i was going suffer a weird and painful skin reaction on both hands, and man…it was bad (tw graphic description of a skin condition ahead) the skin on the palm of my hands completely fell off, and it burned like i had scraped my hands on the sidewalk and someone was pouring lemon juice on them. Ouch. as you can imagine all my attention was on what was going on with my hands. I still don’t know what could have caused that severe reaction.

With difficulty texted the woman on Monday 20 i asked again for the tracking number but she said “i’m waiting for the bike delivery guy to give me the number but your package was sent” so she -the store seller- dont go personally to Zoom to send the packages and some else does, i tell the woman again to give me the number as soon as she has it, bc Zoom has an app you can check your package rute and status with that number, she said “okey amiga”.

That week, i could barely lift a fork i was suffering from whatever it was that happened to my hands until my mom found an Aloe Vera plant and i started to rub that gooey, viscose gel thingy on my hands and was slowly getting better, (seriously guys, Aloe Vera plants are a godsend keep one or 10 at home) by the time i suddenly remembered about the package it was Friday 24 the woman didn’t text me anything like she said would do and i didn’t receive any calls either all week, so friday i text her asking again for the tracking number and oh yes finally she has it! My happiness was short lived because……THE PACKAGE WAS RETURNED.

Something occurred and there was an error on the address or something (I triple checked all my personal info was in order before i gave it to her -thanks anxiety!- so i know it was not on me) i was so furious if only the woman had given me the friggin number sooner that week, i would have realized there was something wrong and would have gone to the Zoom on my city where the package was being held before it was returned to the capital. She told me she would send again my package that Friday BUT Zoom only works mon-fri not weekends. Now I need to wait till monday to receive my thing. great.

Monday 27 rolls in and that week i proceeded to text the woman EVERY SINGLE DAY asking if she had sent my package, i hated being a nuisance texting so much but it was necessary, money is getting short and we need food. 

On Wed 29 I even texted her a desperate plea, i told her please i need my power supply to start working again! and you know how she responded? BY LEAVING ME ON SEEN. i called her until she answered and she told me “oh i sent it today” she assured me, in the most unsure voice she could muster, that she totally did it.

So I went the next day to the Zoom office and surprise! it was a lie, she didn’t send anything, nada! again asked her for the new track.num. and she told me “amiga the thing is that …the package has not arrived here. is still in your State.“ [*record scratch*] hmm whAT?

I immediately called Zoom and asked them to tell me where my package is? Where is it!?, it’s still in my city or in the Capital?? So they gave me a number for the returned package to check on the app and…said it arrived at the Capital Fri. 24. Not only that but it was marked as "given to the client” aka the sender. 

Now I realize this woman has been lying to me. For a whole week. I text her screenshots of where the package was and she tells me that supposedly the package is not on Zoom there and insists it is here in my State. A friend knows someone that works on Zoom that checks their database and confirms that no, is not here anywhere and that definitely arrived in the Capital. even shows that a man named A. Rodriguez was the one that picked up the package. Who is this man?? what's going on?

here's a meme i sent my friends in the group chat while i was trying not to freak out about all this. 

This has become a "she-said, he-said" situation because the woman keeps insisting Zoom is the one at fault about the whereabouts of my missing package but Zoom says Hold it! And slaps continuous evidence that shows the places where the package has been at all times. 

Meanwhile I’m like “where the hell is my power supply??? All I want is to work. Why is this happening to me?” ;_;

So far what we know:

Package arrived in my city but was returned to the city of origin (the Capital) on Friday 24.

The following week the store seller lied to me and would everyday promise to send the package again to me. and never did.

On Thursday 30 the woman tells me that the package never arrived from my city and she’s waiting for it to “arrive” but the shipping office tells me the package was returned a week ago on Fri. 24 so it’s impossible that it has not arrived. not for nothing they are called ZOOM they deliver fast.

the app even says “given to the client”, and one thing I know for a fact, is that it is near impossible to pick up a package from there without the friggin tracking number, they won’t even give you info about it without it. so it’s very unlikely that a random person just walked away with it.

so we have two possibilities: 

1. Someone from Zoom stole it. Ok, feasible. Corrupt people working on this kind of service in my country steal things of value all the time. still i doubt this was the case, the company seemed really concerned and would try their best to help me find my package giving me all the info i requested, even the name of the person who took it. 

2. the store seller lied again and the man who took the package is the same bike delivery guy that transported it there in the first place. That's how they were able to take it from there so easily. She denied knowing anyone named A. Rodriguez but she has lied before so i don’t trust her word. To me, this is the more likely scenario for what happened to the package. 

February comes and still I have no idea where is my package and the woman keeps making excuses as to why she “hasn’t found it” she again leaves me on seen after I asked for information, next day I called her non stop because now I’m pissed and i want answers, she finally text me that she will send another power supply since she “couldn’t find the first one” no further explanation whatsoever, and tells me will send it on Friday, but remember that Zoom don’t work on weekends so the new package will be staying on the Zoom office until Monday, my friend tells me that is not good what if the thief works there and steals it again? so I asked the woman to send it on Monday and she tells me that only Tuesdays they send all their stuff to be delivered….now she tells me the store have a specific delivery day? Now? 

I’m not happy about waiting for more days but there is nothing i can do about it so February 11 is here and I send the woman a text telling her to take a photo of the receipt with the tracking number so the story of the first package won’t repeat, and guess what? The woman left me on seen!! you don’t know how that blue seen mark got me shook. that stressed me so bad that finally I had enough, my friends encouraged me to cancel the order and ask for a refund, I stopped texting her on WhatsApp and left a ultimatum on the Mercado Libre chat, that way I had proof on that page of the fraud this woman was pulling on me and could get her banned there. I should have done that before but the need to repair my computer blinded me and was what kept me trying so hard to get my power supply. Desperation can drive you to make foolish decisions. 

After my ultimatum, the woman changed her tune and was very solicitous, and replied super fast, even said on the chat “let it be noted we are a serious company and always answered all your messages” yes, she said THAT, can you believe the audacity, the nerve? I immediately reply “since you didn’t answer any of my texts yesterday, can’t fault me for expressing here my concern about my purchase.”  Then I said very politely but with finality that if she did not send me the photo of the receipt with the tracking number the next day I would not hesitate bitch to ask for a refund. And what do you know? Worked like a charm. The next day the first thing in the morning on my phone was a photo of the receipt.

 SO yes this unnecessary long story has an anticlimactic but happy end after all! Next morning I happily went to the Zoom office and after a whole month of countless lies, unanswered texts, blood, sweat, and tears, I picked up mypower supply. Reunited at long last! This happened on February 14. Valentine’s Day. Love -and being persistent af- always wins! 

TL;DR I bought online a new power supply, the seller tried to scam me or something bc lied about how my purchase was “lost” saying the shipping company was the culprit. Sending me on a wild goose chase trying to find my package. i had to threaten her with a refund to get her to send me finally my power supply.

[meanwhileinthebroomcloset]

Mhm...  This post was meant to be much shorter, honestly. Not to mention it got super personal, which was not my intention. It actually made me a bit teary-eyed and I’m usually an emotional constipated dumbass. 

Am I ready for the potential backlash this is going to cause? Eh, probably not. Am I going to engage in the discourse this can cause? Ah, you wished. I have more to waste my energy on. I didn’t write this post to argument with anyone, anyway. 

Gonna risk it, still.

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

Isn’t it kind of ironic that it was witchcraft that made me fully return to Catholicism?

I mean, I kind of never left, hence the ‘’fully’’ in that sentence. But now I really know who I am. Although I don’t think Catholicism is the most accurate label (Christo-pagan, perhaps?) it’s the one I grew up with, and the one that comes more naturally to me.

Studying the beginning of it all, the commentaries of Pagans and Jewish writers at the time are just so fascinating and honestly beautiful.

Then everybody started chasing and killing each order, and it sure wasn’t fascinating anymore.... ‘’Stop being murderous revenge-driven assholes’’ I angrily mutter into my book, while frying my brains for High Middle Ages exams.

And then it split into Catholicism and Arianism (not that Arianism! The no-holy-trinity-on-my-watch one), and that was a totally different can of worms. Then Rome got pissy and the Orthodox Church officially became a thing that existed.

Man, why is religion so messy?

Faith is such a strange thing. So much power, so much potential for good and evil and everything in between. I started losing mine some years ago. 

Contrary to some horror stories you may hear, especially from people who are now no longer Christian, I was raised in a pretty open environment.

‘’Don’t be mean, have faith, give second chances... Here are the commandments. They’re perfectly acceptable, see?’’

‘’Yes, there are different religions, but you should always respect them and the people that believe in them. Remember, Jesus was Jewish. Here’s some historical context... ‘’

‘’What the hell kid, nobody here is going to hell. Also, you’re five, there are no children in hell. No, the cops also won’t... Lord give me patience... Are you sorry? Did you apologize? Are you going to try to not repeat it? Great! Then it’s all fine and dandy!’’

‘‘Man, we are definitely all going to hell... At least since we’re all gonna be there, we could form a basketball team. The devil can be the referee. He will be an awful one, but hey, we’re in hell’‘

‘’I know the bible says the earth was created in seven days, but when that story was written, people didn’t know dinosaurs were a thing. Science is cool, and we are not in the middle ages. ‘’

‘’Blind faith is dangerous, kid.’’

‘’Thinking thoughts and acting upon them are two very different things.’’

‘’Yes, the second mom in that Solomon story was willing to see another kid die for the sake of an argument... sometimes people are that bad.’’

‘’God is perfect. People aren’t. That’s the world we live in and it’s okay.’’

‘’There are people who do terrible things in name of religion or say they’re doing it because the bible says so. Don’t believe them. There’s no excuse for murder and abuse.’’

‘’Yeah, Portugal is very enthusiastic when it comes to Catholicism... ’’

Pretty good summary of religion in my childhood.

Still, I found my faith waning. I didn’t really know why and I’m still a bit iffy talking about that.

‘’What did witchcraft do, then?’’

 Well for once, it reinforced my ideas on how faith worked, and how strangely powerful it can be. Being skeptical is healthy but completely closing yourself off because something isn’t completely clear is too radical and you're just doing the equivalent of closing your eyes to the less brighter lights.

My god, I can hear the hardcore atheists coming...

Can I remind you there are more things in life that will not provide the proof you want, but that won’t mean they aren’t there? Relationships. Relationships are too complicated to have straight answers, a lot of the times. People hide their feelings, they fake them, express them and react to them differently. There are so many things we don’t understand or know about yet, like space and organisms that live on this Earth.

Sometimes what you need is a different approach to see they exist! It’s one of the things I learned with witchcraft.

There was also the religion itself. As I worked on my magic, I started seeing magic around me again. Not just with gods I had never considered and the one I was leaving behind, but with the faith I had always known.

The affection when someone says ‘’Our Lady’’ when talking about the Virgin Mary, my family calling upon Saint Barbara when thunder comes, children screeching excitedly because the Compasso has arrived to give us the news that Jesus has come to life again in Easter, the marble cemeteries, the comforting prayers, the masses I couldn’t ear because the local church’s echo is terrible, those boring long-ass weddings (oh my god, how many blessings do two people need?!), the loving dedication I see in every saint carved, my church's priest’s good humor... I never owned a rosary, but I always like the ones my aunts and grandparents keep.

I found Christian and Catholic witches on this site and I finally got to my conclusion. It’s really there. I just needed a different approach to it!

These things made me believe again, but also in new things.

‘‘But you can’t do that! You can’t combine magic and christianity’‘ 

Oh, watch me. And also watch the centuries of cunning women and witches in European history and those still alive today. The women that make ‘’mezinhas’’ and other types of favors in Portugal sure as hell are doing witchcraft, but you can bet your ass they don’t think they’re any less Catholic than anyone else. They don’t care about your opinions and I will hopefully do the same.

Relationships with deities are personal, and my relationship with God, Jesus and all of them is no different in that regard. I am a witch, I am human, I am catholic. I’m a follower, not a fucking mindless sheep.

You know what? I always compared God to Aslan. The lion wasn’t always there for Narnia, he wanted his people to solve their problems on their own. Get their independence, as a good parent does. They both don’t come up all mighty, that’s a posture reserved for evil and people who need a good slap in the face. They come to your level. God may come through one of the less eldritch abomination looking angels, though...

‘‘Well, if you have god, you shouldn’t need anything more. He's everthing. Why are you also a witch?’‘

Excuse me, do I look like a goddamned saint to you?! What part of human did you not understand?

And before you bitterly start quoting the Old Testament, let me remind you that it’s Old for a reason. Christ came to this earth to give us new rules since he technically saved us and things became different. That’s why Jewish people follow the Old Testament, for them, the messiah hasn’t arrived yet. Not to mention that to them that testament is not Old, it’s just the Torah.

You can keep quoting the bible to me all you want. But in my short twenty years of life, I was thankfully able to learn a few things. One of them is that the world isn’t black and white. Yes, I know this sounds obvious but there are some really dumb people out there. Also, this is the hellscape that we call tumblr.

Anyway, as I have mentioned several times before, I’m a never-ending knowledge seeker I found the world beneath my feet is not pure myth and I want to explore it. Look at me go.

I keep a critical mind with everything. Faith and religion are not an exception. I’m not overly skeptic about faith itself, but I am of its writings, interpretations, translations and etc... I study history, it’s a skill you naturally develop.

And there’s quite a few plot-holes, characterization differences and much more. It was written by humans that couldn’t do a cohesive collaboration even if their lives depended on it. Godphones sometimes don’t get a good reception. There’s a ton of cultural context to unpack. I hear people saying all the time that taking the bible’s words literally is one of the most stupid things you can do.

And when I say people, I mean priests, clergy, theology students, etc... I didn’t hear this from my drug dealer in the street corner..

...... I don’t have a drug dealer.....

Anyway...

There are many problems with the catholic church. There are many problems with a ton of catholic and christians out there. I will never deny that. Shit needs to get fixed and maybe even chucked into the trash.

But I still believe in God, I still believe in the saints but I also still believe there are more gods and spirits out there. And those things are separate.

I have no interest in converting you. I’m just yelling into the void.

If you are one of those that no longer is a christian, or catholic because some dipshits banged self-hate onto your head, I’m really sorry. I hope you heal well and get the help you need in your new faith or lack of it. Banging the ten commandments back onto their heads repetiedly and tell them to actually read the damn book is optional, though.

In the end, if you are (or are trying) to be good, you deserve respect and freedom to worship whoever or whatever you want. You don’t need to be perfect, you can just strive to be the best you can be in your situation.

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

And now back to our schedueled programing.

[fangirlandiknowit101]

For the writer's ask game, All Odd numbers 😁 no need to answer all if too many. Just wanna hear ur ideas on somee 😁imiss your fanficssss

omg idk if i love you or hating for asking so many questions in one goXD Aww i’m still writing, just veeery slowly... and i’ve had a few very rough weeks (mostly bc of work) so i haven’t had much energy or motivation at all - trying to get back into it so i can write the whole weekend!

1.  Do you listen to music when you write?

Sometimes. It depends! Sometimes it helps get into the mood or avoid distraction, but sometimes the music makes me think of other plot ideas which is highly distracting *sweats* Lately, i’ve listened a lot to imagine dragons while writing!

3.  Computer or pen and paper?

computer. i have some notebooks with old stuff written down, barely readable. why did i write plotlines in pink?? can’t read it at all lol

5.  How much writing do you get done on an average day?

haha.. on average it’s like, nothing. but if i actually have time to write that day, it can be anything from 200 words to 4,000. usually i don’t get to more than 4K in one day for some reason (unless i switch fics to write on lol). maybe 1,000 words is a fairly accurate average!

7.  Standalone or series?

usually standalones. i’ve only written one sequel in my life and it’s not even finished (Missing pieces)

9.  Current WIP

The sun within me, Lessons in love, For You My Sun, Sugar Star are the ones waiting for new chapters. i’ve got a couple unpublished/unfinished WIPs in my folder... we’ll see if i manage to finish them at some point but i don’t really dare to describe them in case someone would actually want to read them

11.  Books and/or authors who influenced you the most

hmm tough question. i grew up reading authors like David Eddings, Eoin Colfer, Tamora Pierce, i went down and checked my bookcase and those three are actually the ones still on display haha. of course i read books like harry potter and narnia etc. too. lots of fantasy basically - and lots and lots of horse books, but i don’t think you can tell in my writing lol. Ender’s game by Orson Scott Card is a favorite, as well as the hobbit and The name of the wind by Patrick Rothfuss. when i studied Finnish in university i had to branch out and read books i would never choose myself, and that really influenced me to broaden my perspective so to say. last book i read was probably Wayward son by Rainbow Rowell (i’m a sucker for sad gay vampires apparently). i also read a ton of murder mysteries like agatha christie when i was younger.

plus, all the manga i read - dragon ball and naruto and love hina and yaoi and god knows what

13.  Describe your writing process from idea to polished

oh dear. i usually get an idea that goes sth like “wouldn’t it be hilarious if...” and then it spirals out of control. like, my first long fanfic, Results of a shitty day, was literally me saying “you know what? i want to write a long drama fic like all those other cool authors do” and there was no plan besides at all at first.

i tend to just write a first chapter and then have a general idea of what i want to explore - a certain character growing a certain way, or a certain trope, or just the one scene that won’t go away. For The sun within me, it was literally “hey what if i wrote naruto and sasuke in the road to ninja universe” and for Lessons in love it was “man i really want a fic where Yurio is Viktor’s son and they’re fanboys of Yuuri’s skating”, and me rambling to a friend in the car about it until i was forced to sit down and write it. i definitely make up the plot as i go. every time i decide the plot in advance i end up changing it anyway (yes, this happens even for oneshots sometimes). i love planning though - so much that i constantly re-plan the stories and plan the chapter while writing it too. 

15.  How do you deal with writer’s block?

badly. i’m a procrastinator. usually i switch between stories, if that doesn’t work, i try to write sth new, usually that doesn’t work and i end up reading fics until i’m convinced i can never write as well as other people can. and then i just have to take a break until my brain goes ping! and i can write again.

17.  What writing habits or rituals do you have?

i think the only habit i have is getting easily distracted. *cough*

19.  How do you keep yourself motivated?

i’m constantly writing in my head - daydreaming if you want to call it that. typing is very difficult, but i’m usually motivated by the fact that there’s nothing better than to sit down after a long day and just enjoy a really good fic about your OTP, and since people enjoy my writing i can’t just quit and rob them of this. i can’t just enjoy fandom without paying back when i actually have the possibility to do so. it usually works!! also, when i type, the story takes shape in a way it doesn’t in my head, which is actually really cool so i read my own stuff now and then just to remind me of this. 

21.  Who is/are your favourite character(s) to write?

Sasuke

23.  Favourite author

hmm i don’t have just one. or do they mean fanfic author? well i wouldn’t be able to choose either way!

25.  Favourite part of writing

when i manage to type a scene the way i pictured it in my head. and when i just write without a plan and things start to make sense!

27.  Favourite line/scene

actually, every single scene in The sun within me is my favorite lol

29.  Favourite villain

does Sasuke count? no? i’ll say Baz in the Carry On series

31.  Least favourite part of writing

the first sentence of a fic or chapter. getting started is the hardest!!

33.  Have you ever killed a main character?

i wrote a drabble with naruto and sasuke in the afterlife once. i don’t think i’ve actually killed anyone???

35.  What scene/story are you least looking forward to writing?

the next chapter for Lessons in love is giving me a lot of trouble currently :(

37.  First sentence or your current WIP

This is the first sentence of chapter 16, Lessons in love: Their last full day in Hasetsu passes in a blur.

And this is the first sentence if a yoi smut fic i’ll post when i finally finish ch 16 for LiL:  The metro is always crowded at this time, and Yuuri hates it.

Don’t tell anyone i’m working on yet another smut fic for yoi.

Aaaand this is the first sentence of a sasnar fic i’m writing on when i’m too tired to actually write anything seriously:  Sasuke was surprised to find that he was not the only one to be summoned to the Hokage’s office.

I know it was an earlier question, but i actually have something like 17 WIPs in my WIP folder that are not posted in any part yet, of which most will probably never see the light of day. 

39.  Weirdest character concept you’ve ever had

hmm i don’t know

41.  Any advice for new/beginning/young writers?

i have much advice. but i don’t think any of it is very original. the most important thing - there’s no such thing as failure when you’re writing fanfic. write what you want and when you want, the only way to get better is to keep writing! i just re-read an old story to see if it was worth editing and copying over onto ao3, and realized i had used the word “pinkette” to describe sakura. we all start somewhere... and if you ever look back on old fics, focus on how much you enjoyed writing the fic, not if it’s good or not!!

43.  What do you do if/when characters don’t follow the outline?

if they don’t, it’s generally because they’re right and i’m not. forcing them back into the outline only makes for awkward writing. i always go along with it to see where it goes - sometimes it ends up somewhere much better than planned, sometimes you realize you’ve made mistakes way back in the fic and now you’re stuck with the choice of changing the plot or going back to rewrite. 

45.  How much world building do you do?

i actually hate world building. and describing things like scenery and places and clothes. i’ve had to really force myself to work on it. but i also make sure that i only give the absolute necessary information and then slip in the rest in bits and pieces where it fits. but since i mostly write in already set worlds, it’s usually not that necessary. 

47.   Best way to procrastinate

look at fics and put them in my marked for later and then procrastinate reading them by working on WIPs that are not my published WIPs and then procrastinate those WIPs by finding new fics to read and then maybe re-read my own fics. oh, and scrolling through social media

(i don’t actually have a lot of time to procrastinate bc it’s usually work-take care of horse-shower and dinner-sleep)

49.  Which character would you most want to be friends with, if they were real?

Phichit. so much fun!!!

Wow, that was a lot of questions and a lot of fun!! Sorry for the super long post you have to scroll by lol

Thank you for asking!!!

[intoanothermind]

Midnight Queen - Edmund Pevensie

Word Count: 3.4k words

-- Edmund Pevensie x reader

Synopsis: Edmund just couldn’t resist meeting up with an commoner every midnight.

Masterlist

You know, he wanted things to be different.

All he wanted was to tell everyone that he loved her. But he couldn’t. Narnia was not as easy to deal with as it seemed, especially as he was one of the four ruling kings - the four most famous. What would they say if King Edmund came with the news that he was in love with a commoner? He always compared Narnia to the times of monarchy in his homeland. If a royal appeared with someone who wasn't one, the scandal was set. And he didn't want that in Cair Paravel. Especially when the law says that Peter should get married first.

But of course Edmund never imagined that he would fall in love. And in such an unusual way.

. 

Edmund could no longer stand that festivity. He didn't want to have to go on to that ball that was meaningless to him. What drives a person to dance in the middle of winter, as if it was something to celebrate? Edmund wish to understand what goes through his brother’s head. What Peter saw as a celebration of what winter would no longer be, Edmund saw as a reminder of what he almost allowed to remain. Years passed, and he still blamed himself for the choices he made in the past. He would never forgive himself for that and would always regret it.

Edmund sighed, giving up on the idea of letting his sisters knowing he was leaving the room. No one had paid attention to him since the ball started, and it wouldn't be now that they would. It already came to terms with it. So he simply exited through the main gate of the hall. He paced through the gardens slowly, watching the flowers around him as he had seen Lucy doing now and then. Outwardly, he looked like a calm and calculating king, but only he knew what really went on the inside.

Sighing again, Edmund sat on the far bench in the garden, resting his head in his hands. But the sound of a branch cracking near him caught his attention. He looked around for the origin of the sound and saw some movement in some branches not too far away. He ran in time to catch a girl who fell off a branch and held her tightly to prevent her from going straight to the ground.

“Are you alright?” He asked, really worried about the petite girl’s state still in his arms.

. 

Edmund smiled at the memory that invaded his mind. At first glance, she looked really fragile. But that was just appearance.

. 

“Yes, I am, thank you.” The girl said roughly, jumping from Edmund's arms in a perfect jump.

Edmund looked closely at her features, her black hair, and her blue eyes. Something about her had puzzled him at first glance. Her delicate face might confuse her with a princess, but her robes denied this theory. However clean and well-groomed the beige dress was, the peasant seam work was clear. And for some reason unknown to Edmund at that time, he sympathized with the girl. Maybe her fragile appearance, maybe her attempt to sneak in, maybe her harsh way of treating him, maybe her mesmerizing blue eyes or just the fact that she seemed braver than he was to stand up to things.

“What's your name?” asked an interested Edmund.

“Y/N.”

“I am...”

“I know who you are.” She interrupted almost immediately.

But Edmund wasn’t taken aback.

“What are you doing here?” Edmund asked, even tough he already knew the answer.

And he clearly saw the moment her already pale skin paled even more. And she was clearly looking for an escape.

Edmund smiled. “What do you think about coming in with me?”

“What?!”

“Yeah, want to join me at the ball?”

“B-but they...” she looked for an excuse but Edmund prevent her from continuing.

“I don't care what they think.”

And for the first time, that was true.

. 

Edmund remembered pretty well Peter's reaction to his appearing with Y/N in that room. It hadn’t been the best, but after he had insisted for a moment, the blonde had given in. And from that day on, he would always insist on her. That was one of the only certainties he had in life. And his urges wouldn't stop there.

. 

“Edmund, are you sure?” Y/N asked one day. “I don’t want to cause you any trouble.”

It was one of the days they would meet up. Y/N had unexpectedly become his best friend. They danced at that ball perfectly, delighting everyone, and talked until the end of the event. Since then, they had begun to meet in the woods around the castle at midnight. Sometimes they talked, sometimes they would walk, and sometimes they would be quiet, just enjoying each other's company.

“I still don't understand where did you get the idea that you brings me trouble!” complained Edmund, rolling his eyes.

It was already two o'clock in the morning - they never passed one o’clock - and Edmund insisted on taking the girl to the village near the castle. It was close, but not so much.

“I don't know, Eddie.” She said, blushing and feeling a little uncomfortable. “You’re at the risk of your brother catch you meeting with a commoner. I know King Peter is kind, but that goes against all the laws already imposed before.”

Edmund took a deep breath and took Y/N's hand in his, causing her to stop shaking almost instantly with the warmth of his hand.

“I told you, Y/N.” he said, minimally smiling while playing with the fingers of the girl. “I don’t care what they say.”

And without leaving much time for her to answer, he pulled her hand directing them to the stables.

. 

Edmund lifted his head to the ceiling and smiled slightly as he closed his eyes, trying to remember all the sensations that midnight had brought him. The feeling of his hands around Y/N's thin waist as he lifted her to Phelipe's horse saddle. The sensation of being behind her, supporting her body against his chest and enveloping her in his arms. He remembered being afraid that she would fall, but Y/N seemed to ride even better than him. Perhaps she had spent her life doing that, but what had been most recorded in Edmund's mind about that particular day was what had happened when he left her home.

. 

“Good night, King Edmund.” Y/N teased. She was about to go through the door of his simple little house, having a half malicious smirk on her lips.

Edmund rolled his eyes.  “I already told you there’s no need to call me that!”

Y/N laughed, knowing how annoyed he would get when she called him that. But she also knew how handsome he looked with his flushed cheeks.

“Alright, have a good night, Eddie.” She repeated.

Edmund smiled this time, and approached to give a gentle kiss on the girl's cheek. But it seems that there was some calculation error and Y/N also turned around with the Y/Ne intention. So, seconds later, when both their lips touched, just enough so that they noticed what had happened and they departed quickly, both flustered.

“Uh... Well...” Edmund started, scratching the neck in a clear sign of discomfort. “Good night, Y/N. See you tomorrow.”

Edmund then leaned over and kissed Y/Nmanhta's cheek. This time, on the right target.

. 

But Y/N hadn’t appeared at the midnight after that. Neither in the other, nor in the other after that, nor another two days after that. It had been like this for almost a week and Edmund was already a nervous wreck. He was afraid she had ignored him on purpose because of the night they kissed. It wasn’t like Edmund didn’t like it, but it just wasn’t the right time to get involved. At least not for him. He'd discount his mood on anything he saw. Was it a corner broken vessel, the lack of appetite for the delicious food of the palace’s cooks, writing reports without the needed precision...

Several of these factors happened throughout the week, and Peter had even asked what had happened. Edmund didn’t mean to tell him about his encounters, so he told him it was just tiredness. Of course the blond didn’t believe in sorry excuse of story, but gave him time off from their obligations. Free time that Edmund used to ride to the village where Y/N lived.

. 

Edmund knocked at the door of the simple village house, afraid of his theories for Y/N distancing herself. He hated to think that she had been avoiding him because of their kiss. Simple for outside observers, but for Edmund it was the missing detail for him to finally understand about his confused feelings. It had been months since they met and had been hiding, but since then Edmund couldn't stop thinking about the girl.

Amazing was also the fact that, since then, he had stopped thinking about his mistakes. Mistakes that he would blame himself to this day if the dark blue-eyed girl hadn’t appeared in your life. But that day, at that ball, his torments became different. Why he couldn’t stop thinking about that girl? She had nothing special, no land, no titles, nothing! And maybe that was why she intrigued him so much. And since the last day they saw each other, Edmund had been able to organize his thoughts and finally come to the conclusion that he loved this commoner.

“Edmund, what are you doing here?” The girl's voice distracted him from his thoughts and he felt his heart clenching.

He flashed a smile at her, but it soon faded when he saw the girl's slightly fragile and sad appearance.

“Y/N? What happened? When you didn’t show up in the woods, I was worried.

Y/N gave him a slight smile.

“Come in.” she invited, giving him space to go in.

Edmund came in, a little uncomfortable, but soon felt at home when noticing the simple appearance the house also exuded inside. He loved the luxurious comfort of Cair Paravel castle, but couldn't help but feel comfortable with the old-fashioned living room as well.

“What happened, Y/N?” He asked again to the girl, who was now standing in front of his and her head down.

“My dad.” She said, averting her gaze to the closed door that was on the opposite wall.  “He’s sick, I had to take care of him.”

Edmund smiled with compassion and then put his hand on his belt.

“Good thing I always bring Lucy's potion for emergencies.” He said, smiling with a bit of mischief and taking the bottle from his robes.

Y/N's eyes widened. “What?! No! You don't have to use this with us!”

“Y/N.” Edmund said, approaching her and holding her chin in his free hand. “I already said that for you I would do anything.”

Edmund was proud to see a shy smile spread between Y/N's flushed cheeks, and he smiled.

“Now take me to your father, I have a commoner to save.”

. 

Edmund opened his eyes, but the smile didn’t leave his face. He didn't know if he would have the courage to leave this room to have his serious talk with Peter, but it was necessary. But without his best memories of the best times with Y/N, he wouldn’t gather the courage to do so. It was a difficult decision, almost impossible, but for Y/N he would do it. So he was at that moment alone in his room, mustering up the courage.

That day he was after her, he managed to cure the commoner. He was a kind young man, but his hard work and the constant sun had aged him irreversibly. But still, he had a young spirit. He chatted happily with Edmund, as if he didn’t realize that he was in the Y/Ne room as one of the kings of Narnia. As would his daughter do. Edmund liked the man even better when he said that after Y/N had met him, she had become a more open, receptive, and friendly person. Edmund was invited for dinner sometime in that simple house with the two of them, and he didn’t refuse.

But a memory that would never fade from his memory would come a few weeks after his first dinner in that house. He never imagined that he would know paradise until he saw her that way.

. 

Bare back, wet hair and white skin. It was all Edmund saw, but it was enough for him to think of inappropriate thoughts with the bathing woman's body. After all, what had happened to him as he left before midnight to wait for her in the woods? Well, he was feeling guilty, but how would he know that Y/N was bathing in the river near the meeting point? He had been lucky that the girl didn’t realize his presence.

. 

Edmund controlled his mind to avoid inappropriate images. He didn't need to be excited right now. So, therefore, decided to launch the web of thoughts in another direction. Their first kiss, maybe?

. 

“What are you doing?” Asked Edmund, laughing when he saw Y/N sprawled among the fallen leaves after tripping over a protruding root.

“What does it look like I'm doing?” She answered sarcastically, but hiding a slight smile at the corner of her lips. “The very comfortable floor and leaves in the hair are the latest fashion in the village!” He mocked.

Edmund rolled his eyes but smiled. “You look beautiful anyway.”

It was Y/N's turn to roll her eyes - blushing, of course. Edmund reached out to help her to her feet, but didn’t imagine the girl's mischief smirk until he was lying on her, hearing her angelic laughter. When it stopped, their eyes met. Blue in brown and brown in blue. It might seem strange, but for them it was the perfect match. Just like their lips together, as they were seconds later. And of course neither of them walked away.

. 

Since that day, kisses and more kisses have been going on. Whenever they saw each other, whenever they said goodbye, whenever they shut up and whenever they talked too. The kisses became such a vice between them that it was almost humanly impossible to live a second without feeling each other's lips.

. 

As soon as he saw her, Edmund took her in his arms and kissed her with passion. It was a wild, longing kiss, obliterating any feeling that overwhelmed their hearts. A kiss never experienced by them, but that meant the world.

“Wow!” Y/N commented, separating her lips from his due to breathlessness, but moving away completely. “Was that all you miss?”

“You have no idea.” Edmund answered, giving light kisses of pleasure on the target girl's neck.

“But we haven't seen each other in just two days!” Y/N laughed, closing her eyes to prolong the sensations that Edmund's lips caused on her skin.

“It seemed to me like eternity.” Said Edmund finally, before taking her lips in another kiss.

. 

Maybe it was one of their last nights together. At least until Susan shows up with the two princesses.

. 

Edmund was holding on not to grab her there in front of everyone. Especially since she wore the Y/Ne dress she had on the night they met. And that, Edmund would never forget. But it was easy to forget that they couldn't meet, much less fraternize. He and Peter were there to meet the requests of the commoners of the nearest villages; and that included Y/N and his father, who were in the midst of all those people in front of the kings throne.

“Calm down, please!” Asked Peter, probably for the tenth time at that time. It was hard to please everyone. “We'll try to meet everyone, won't we, Edmund?”

But Edmund had eyes only for her. He always had eyes only for her, and it hurt her to know that they couldn't make official whatever there was between them. That was all Edmund wanted. He could see that Y/N was starting to get a little uncomfortable with the staring, after all, they were being obvious. But he couldn't help it, especially when he saw her whisper something to her father and he would say something that made her blush even more.

But something caught the boy's eye, and it wasn't his brother trying to call him. It was the giant doors of the Throne Room that brought with them their sister Susana and two blond girls who were immediately identifiable as royalty.

“Susana?” Asked Pedro, confused. “What is happening?”

Susan smiled. “These are Loren and Annelise. They are the pretending princesses to have yours and Edmund's hands.”

At this moment, Edmund's world break as much as Y/N's heart.

. 

Edmund hated to remember that after that, Y/N had only appeared in the woods at midnight just once more. They fought - and fought ugly. Edmund wanted to throw it all away and run away with her, even though he knew it would destroy his reputation and would be branded a traitor and a coward. The worst wasn’t the fight they had itself. But the last words he'd heard from Y/N's mouth.

Go, stay with Loren. Do what is right.

Edmund took a deep breath and walked toward the door. He would be doing the right thing to talk to his brother.

~ * ~

“Peter!” Edmund shouted for his brother the moment he saw him at the end of one of the castle corridors.

“Say it, brother.” Peter smiled at her, stopping to wait for him.

“I have some doubts.” Edmund began, not knowing exactly what to say. “I, even though I'm a secondary king, have the Y/Ne rights to change laws as you, don't you?”

“You are not a secondary king.” Said the blonde, putting his hand on the younger man's shoulder. “Always had and always will have the Y/Ne authority as me.”

“So what would you say about me altering the marriage laws only with nobility and about the first born having a duty to arrange himself first?” Asked Edmund, afraid of the answer.

Peter, however, broke everything the dark haired man would expect by smiling.

“You love that commoner, don't you?” He answered with another question. Edmund, even afraid of the reaction his response would cause his brother, nodded in confirmation. “Then go after her.”

~ * ~

As soon as Y/N opened the door of her house, Edmund took her in his arms and kissed her with fervor and longing like never before.

“Edmund!” Y/N exclaimed as soon as they were separated by the lack of breath. “Why are you here?!”

Edmundo took a deep breath, still holding her, and felt the words spurt out of his mouth.

“Y/N, I have no idea how to do that, because I've never had to do this before. Actually, I'm a man, men are not creative. But if there is one thing I created in my mind, it was my future several years from now. And in every moment, I had you by my side. From the moment we met, I fell in love with you. I even convinced my brother to change the marriage laws. This is all because I love you, all because you were part of the future I imagined for myself. And you asked me to do the right thing myself, so I'm trying. What do you think of helping me with what’s right, of realizing the vision of the future I made for myself; be forever my midnight queen?” Edmund took a deep breath again before releasing the question that the possibility of a negative tormented him. “Y/N, will you marry me?”

And by the smile Y/N had opened, the answer would never be negative.