smoments-blog

[secret-origins-crossover]

little update

i know this fic hasn't garnered a lot of traction, but i am genuinely very excited for the rest of the secret origins verse- though honestly, i am still trying to figure out what direction to take it. i also want to thank those who found my fic via ao3, even if they do not have a tumblr because holy shit i was not expecting this kind of a reaction (?) - words are hard right now, i am so sorry heh

though i will say that things are going to be very interesting for the remaining four parts; of course, secret origins is only one small part of a much larger story and i am off the walls bouncing about it- that being said, i am genuinely struggling what fandoms will be overlapped in the next one, so i figured i could leave it up to poll

(I realize American Dragon x Miraculous isn't an option, but I am holding off on that one for now- I can't think of anything for it at the moment although I do have plans on how to connect the magical world in ADJL and the Kwamis of Miraculous. That however, is spoilers and we'll be covering that in future fics!)

I probably will be opening up an FAQ later on down the line! That is, if I get enough people interested in this idea!

For now, I'll probably be working on the sidelines to write the lore because holy shit do I have plans- between the Sorcerer in RC9GN to the Dark Dragon from American Dragon, there's so much left to happen. Without much further ado, I will leave this here!

Good luck

[unlocked-doors-verse]

Updates on Secret Origins

To keep things from getting too cluttered, I decided separating the Origins universe from Mystery Kids might work better in the long run; if anyone wants to follow me on @secret-origins-crossover then please feel free to!

This is mostly going into a quick, not too in depth version of what to expect for Secret Origins and the main arcs within it! To briefly explain, it is a joint crossover between Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja, Danny Phantom, American Dragon: Jake Long, and Miraculous Ladybug. The Secret Origins arc is meant to be a five-part prequel of how the characters met, and will expand unto a main series with more shenanigans.

Arc Overview

[UNTITLED] - Part 1 of 5: An unexpected family vacation leads to Danny and the rest of the Fentons spending a week in Paris, France; things take a sudden turn when he begins realizing there are more heroes than he thoughts- now teaming up with Ladybug and Chat Noir, Danny is likely in over his head (though that absolutely will not stop him from discovering something much bigger is happening.

[DETAILS PENDING] Parts 2-5: These will focus on the main character introductions, with part five being the final installation- which pans into the second arc.

Fandom Tags

secret origins au/verse/crossover / origins universe - main tag

secret origins lore - lore tag

phan noir (platonic!) - friendship tag for chat noir and danny fenton/phantom

More will be dropped eventually!

~ Mod Danny (They/Them)

[reflection-s-of-stars]

Along the Road

Or, Rose Red meets the Fiddler and talks with the Pusher, across four generations. A gift fic for @lucemiir, for the Malloysical secret Santa!

1.

The world was covered in brilliant white snow. The only non-white colors as far as the eye could see were the dark gray of hearth smoke and the crimson scarf that just peeked into Red’s vision. There might have been other things she missed, but her glasses were so fogged she couldn’t see a damn thing. She hadn’t counted on being outside in the middle of December.

She also hadn’t counted on being exiled from her village for murder, had she?

The council had picked the right time to do it, too. The ocean was far too cold to gather any salt, and the village could survive without her in the spring. They wouldn’t miss Red for anything.

She’d miss her village, though, if only for the food and shelter that it gave her when she couldn’t work. And now that was gone…

Red forced herself to open her eyes. She was following the River, and she couldn’t let herself off her course. If there were any other villages to be found, they’d be along the River just like hers. In the white dead of December, someone would want to offer her a meal.

It occurred to Red for the first time that her sister must have floated along this exact route. She smirked. She could picture Pearlie even now- dead on the water, golden skin showing only on her long, bony limbs, thin brown hair pulled from its neat braid.

Two black eyes, nowhere to be seen.

And her body must have washed up on the little bank here, and been seen by the man who lived in the house just a few yards away. Red could tell it was a man. No self-respecting woman would ever leave her home un-decorated so close to New Year’s.

Well, if the house was wanting for a woman, she could most certainly do that job. Red knocked at the door, feeling the little bits of warmth through the walls, listening for footsteps.

2.

“Wanna play twister?”

Eddie has stuff to do tonight. So does Pearl, apparently, so Brent is at the apartment Rose normally shares with her boyfriend. Rose doesn’t know why the two of them don’t hang out more often.

“I don’t think you can play twister with two people,” he says, raising an eyebrow. “Who would win?”

“It’s just for fun,” Rose retorts. “But I suppose we could just talk, if you want.”

“Please. Do you have any whiskey?”

“Boy, do I!”

Brent likes Evan Williams. Rose is partial to Jameson herself, but she has nothing against the former, even if it is suspiciously cheap. Most of her glasses are in the dishwasher, but Eddie bought two new ones last week, she’s sure of it.

“Hey, Brent?”

“Hm?”

“If you see two big glasses with little red swirlies on them, will you let me know?”

“Swirlies?”

Rose sighs. “I dunno what else to call them, wise guy.”

“Well, if you mean whorls, they’re right here on your table.”

“Sweet,” shouts Rose, bursting through the door with a big bottle of Evan Williams. “Now we can have a proper drink.”

“Please.”

3.

The first thing Red noticed upon entering the house was its roaring fireplace. Thank the gods, she said to herself. I was liable to die of hypothermia out in that nightmare.

The next thing she saw was the very confused face of the man who let her in.

“I don’t mean to intrude on whatever you’re… doing in my house,” the fellow said flatly, holding his door open. “But this isn’t a tavern, miss, and I’m not sure why you’re treating it as such, and please don’t put your feet on my-”

Red had already swung her boots onto the coffee table.

“…That’s really nice mahogany.”

“Sorry.”

“I don’t suppose you could tell me the meaning of all this, then?”

The gentleman had green eyes. Green, green, green like envy, green like the trees that had long stopped growing in Red’s village. Green, her opposite.

“I was exiled from my village two days ago and I’ve been trying to find somewhere to stay,” Red stated, trying to match his nonchalant tone. “The taverns won’t let me in, so I was just following the River and I found your place. Dunno if I can stay, but you’ve got a real nice fire going, so…”

He just looked at Red, if only for a moment. They’re not quite green, she thought. Hazel, more like. Or a yellowy-green, but that’s being generous.

“Why were you exiled?”

“What’s that?”

“Why were you-”

“Oh, just look at the color on that fiddle,” she cried, pretending not to have heard. “What is it, beech?”

His eyes lit up. “Would you believe me if I told you it was made of bone?”

Bone, bone, bone…

Red was too tired to put the pieces together.

“Tell me more.”

4.

“And all they ever found was the money and the clip-on tie!”

Rose can’t help but hide a smirk. She was expecting Brent to be able to hold his liquor. Either that, or he’d be a flirt or something. Maybe a really angry drunk, but never this.

“Really,” she says, making her eyes as wide as saucers. It’s a little like talking to a child, if the child was obsessed with DB Cooper.

“Really! Well, they didn’t find all the money. But this- this- ugh, just a sec-”

Brent pauses to reach for the long-empty bottle of Evan Williams. He sighs at its lightness, instead turning to Rose’s Jameson. He’s been through that routine at least six times since the bottle emptied. Rose doesn’t even mind, as long as it keeps him talking. This is hilarious.

“This little kid found a bunch of twenty-dollar bills in Tina Bar. Serial numbers all matched, and lemme tell you- everyone freaked out.”

“I mean, I would too.”

“Right?”

“Right, man!”

“Hello?”

Pearl is here to pick up her roommate. For all the time Rose has lived in this apartment, her sister is still apprehensive coming inside. Pearl isn’t afraid of a lot of things. It’s weird. Her eyes are weird. They’re so dark you can’t see where the pupil ends and the iris begins. They’ve always confused Rose.

Rose is also pretty tipsy right now.

“Come in,” she shouts. “Door’s unlocked, Pearlie, and you gotta hear this.”

“Hey, Pearl,” Brent slurs. “Did you know that DB Cooper-”

“Yes.”

It didn’t occur to Rose that Pearl has probably heard all of this a jillion times before. It must get old.

“We should probably get going,” says Pearl, facial expression barely moving. “It’s freezing outside.”

“D’you want my scarf?”

Both Rose and Pearl turn to look at the crimson scarf hanging on the wall. Rose hasn’t worn it in years. It’s old enough that she couldn’t give less of a crap if her sister never gave it back.

“Thanks, Rosie,” says Pearl with a little smile. “You stay warm, okay?”

[theladyofdeath]

Lady Death's Lover {II}

Lady Death's Lover Masterlist & Summary

19th Century Period AU Nesta x Cassian Secret Affair / Enemies to Lovers / Forbidden Romance Fanfiction / Characters from Sarah J Maas / ACOTAR Based on a prompt sent in by anonymous

A/N: I'm sorry I waited until, like, midnight to post this. As the school year approaches, I find myself in a constant state of panic and stress. Haha. Anyways, thank you for reading the prologue and chapter 1! I love seeing your feedback. This chapter is fairly light in the way of trigger warnings, but as always, know that this story contains the following. Thank you for reading! x

TW: marital abuse, sexual content, language, depression, alcohol abuse

This story is for readers 18+. Mature readers only. Content should not be read by anyone under 18.

Nesta

The gown I’m wearing cost more than what my sisters, father, and I spent in a year on clothing only a few years ago. It’s a stunning deep blue that brings out my eyes. The skirt is full and the bodice is laced in beads that sparkle when they hit the light. A braid crowns my head and the bruise has faded on my cheek enough that the powder covers it. 

I wait in the foyer for Tomas who seems to be taking his sweet time. It takes a certain level of disrespect to keep someone waiting for an extended period of time, but it’s the least of the cruelties that my husband inflicts upon me. 

Just when I’m ready to board the carriage alone, Tomas comes down the grand staircase dressed in his finest. He is handsome, only a few years older than myself. He’s wearing his full evening dress, and even I, who loathes him, has to admit that he looks fine in tails. I hate it, hate that he’s handsome, hate that I have to hang on his arm all evening instead of gracing the dance floor. 

The carriage ride is silent. We sit on opposite benches, facing one another. We’ve nearly reached our destination by the time he speaks.

“How was your afternoon?”

His words are so sudden that it makes me jump. I clear my throat. “Fine, I suppose. I went to the dressmaker and had tea with Gwyn and Emerie.”

He cringes at the informal use of my closest friends’ names. I rarely see them and know that Tomas disapproves, even if he’s never said it outright. “Lovely, dear.”

I do not progress the conversation, I simply let it drop and stare out the window once more. 

When the coach stops, we are sitting in front of a grand townhouse. It’s massive, larger than our own home in town. I’ve not been here before nor do I know the owner. It’s one of Tomas’ many business partners, the names of whom I don’t bother to memorize. 

Nonetheless, the home we enter is beautiful. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen and I’m mesmerized as I cross the threshold. 

Everything is black, but it is elegant. Among the dark interior, there are paintings of the night sky, murals on the ceiling of the famous starlight of Velaris. White roses are strung throughout the hall, the stark petals leading to the ballroom, where people are gathered and a string quartet plays. 

“Beautiful,” I breathe, allowing myself to be dragged by Tomas.

“Hmm? Oh, yes.” It’s clear he’s not paying attention to me, but right now I don’t mind. “Chin up. Back straight. Don’t speak unless you’ve been asked a direct question. Think wisely about your answers before you voice them.”

I don’t respond. A sudden, familiar emptiness fills my core.

We round the ballroom until we’re gathered with a herd of people I don’t know but Tomas seems to. My arm remains looped through his and I smile, completely charmed, as voices surround us. The conversation is nothing more than muddled noise that I ignore as my eyes scan my surroundings. I watch as gentlemen ask the young ladies of Velaris to dance. I watch as they take to the floor and follow the commonly known steps while the music plays jovially from the platform near the corner. 

I envy them. I used to love to dance, used to come alive as the music played. Even now, I feel it in my bones while the quartet plays and I feel nothing but dread as I remain perfectly still, side by side with my husband. I don’t show it, though. The smile remains plastered on my face and I nod politely as each new person is introduced to me.

“Care for a smoke, Mandray?” 

Tomas looks at me and frowns, but I smile politely. “Don’t worry about me, my dear. I’ll get a drink and stand with the other married ladies.” 

He thinks for a minute, but then he nods and his arm slips from mine, giving me a sudden sense of freedom. I know he doesn't like leaving me alone in a room full of people but to decline an offer would speak of a weakness in both our marriage and his manhood, so he leaves me be. 

True to my word, I walk toward the refreshments table and grab a filled champagne flute. The bubbles tickle going down my throat and I can’t help my foot as it begins to tap along with the tune. 

“Lovely, isn’t it?”

I spin around, nearly flinging the fillings of my glass over the rim as I do so. A man stands behind me, tall and broad-shouldered, smiling kindly. His hair is long, which I find ridiculous, even if it’s pulled back neatly at the nape of his neck. He’s handsome, but not as a gentleman should be. He looks as if he should be working by the docks or in a lumber yard, perhaps in the mines. He looks more like a man that would live in my old village, not a member of high society. 

“The music?” I ask, and he nods. “Yes. Beautiful.”

I turn away from him, back towards the quartet. I watch as they expertly handle their instruments. 

“Would you care to dance?” 

My back stiffens as I turn to face my intruder once more. “Pardon?”

“Dance?” he asks, and his hazel eyes are lit with humor. “You know…what they’re all doing out there. Having fun.” 

Fun.

That was a word I haven’t heard in a long while, a word I haven’t felt. The offer is tempting and part of me wants to say yes, just to feel alive for a few minutes. 

“I’m married,” I say, simply.

He stares at me. Blinks. “And?”

My brows, I swear, shoot up into my hairline. “And…that means I cannot dance with you.” 

“Does it?” he asks, and a stupid, cocky little grin lifts the side of his mouth. “I don’t recall reading that in the rulebook.”

Knowing full well there isn’t a rule book, I feel my eyes narrow. “You, sir, are awfully inappropriate.”

“It is not inappropriate to ask a Lady to dance.”

“But it is to ask a married woman. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Mr…”

“Nazari. Lord Cassian—”

“Yes, well, thank you for the offer but I obviously must decline.” I hand my half-emptied glass to a passing server and go to step around Lord Cassian. 

He steps in front of me. “I did not catch your name.”

“My name is not yours to know,” I say, and try to step around him yet again.

He follows me once more. “Please do not make me endure the rest of the night without us being properly introduced.”

I take a deep breath, trying my best to keep my cool. “Lady Mandray.” 

That cocky smile of his fades, and he’s left staring at me looking completely unsettled. “You’re married to Tomas Mandray?”

“I am,” I say, the words feeling hollow as they leave me. 

He nods and bows his head. “Very well. I apologize for the disruption of your evening. Enjoy the music.”

Before I can reply, he’s hurrying far away from me. It seems my husband has the same effect on strangers that he does on me. 

His reaction makes me think a little better of the man I just met, as awful as that may seem.

I do not join the other married women. They don’t seem to like me all that much and I honestly don’t care for them. The conversations are meaningless and I don’t care to answer over and over again how soon we’ll be having children. I wish Emerie and Gwyn were here. Although they’re at some of the events that I’m dragged to, they rarely come to the balls. They are not married nor are they looking for husbands, claiming and content to be spinsters, but that is what drew me to them in the first place, their freedom even in society. 

So I stand here, close to the refreshments even though I’ve given up my glass. I watch young gentlemen and ladies dance, watch as they smile and laugh and move freely to the music. And I can’t help when my eyes find Lord Cassian as he speaks with another young lady across the hall. His body is so relaxed, his smile so easy, and I loathe him for that.

Jealousy is a bitch and it’s all I seem to be feeling tonight. Jealousy, and loneliness.

…….

Cassian 

“Would you like me to introduce you to Mandray?” 

My smile falters and I clear my throat. “Of course. Eh, let’s hope that the fact that I tried to charm his wife doesn’t ruin his impression of me.”

Beside me, Azriel snorts. Rhysand’s lips form a tight line. “You hit on his wife?”

“I didn’t know she was his wife,” I mutter, crossing my arms. “I didn’t know she was anyone’s wife. I saw a pretty woman. I asked her to dance.”

Rhysand’s eyes narrow. “Why do I feel that wasn’t the end of the conversation?”

I sip from my champagne.

Pretty isn’t exactly the word I’d use to describe Lady Mandray, but I can’t tell my brothers that she is, by far, the most terrifyingly beautiful woman I have ever crossed paths with. Traditional beauty had been thrown out the window and replaced with a cold, intricate beauty that was unknown to society and the world beyond. The type of beauty that was Lady Mandray could not be replicated. No, I wouldn’t tell them that. That would be inappropriate and although I love the inappropriate most of the time, being inappropriate with the man I’m attempting to invest with to boost my fortune seems to be crossing a line.

“Well, let’s hope his wife remains quiet and no one overheard,” Rhysand says, shaking his head. “It would be just like you to cause a scandal at my event, of all places.” 

“No scandal, just a misunderstanding,” I assure him. At least, I try to. The look in his eye tells me to watch myself for the remainder of the evening. I try not to let that piss me off as I take another drink. 

Just as I’m about to ask Rhys to make the introduction, I see a familiar face out of the corner of my eye and a slow smile spreads across my lips. There’s someone I could have fun with and cause no scandal.

None that hasn’t been spread before, anyway. 

“One dance, then I’ll meet Mandray.” I’m moving before the words are out of my mouth. I move around the outskirts of the dancefloor, tossing my drink aside on the way, until I’m stopping behind a long-legged blonde in a red dress.

I bow. “Miss Morrigan.”

She’s turning, eyes narrowed, before I stand back at full height. “I swear, every time you call me that it makes me hate you just a little bit more.” 

“You don’t hate me.” I grin. “If you hated me, you wouldn’t accept the dance I’m about to offer you and we both know that you can’t say no to a dance with me.” 

With a roll of her eyes, she takes my outstretched hand and we join the other dancers as a quadrille begins. It’s not the best dance for conversation but we seem to carry one anyway without caring about those around us. 

“You’re late,” I say, as the music becomes lively. “I didn’t think you were going to show.”

“Missed me?” she asks with a wink. “You missed tea this past Monday. Maybe I was angry with you.”

We come together and spin around as I ask, “No, I just figured you were holed up with someone you weren’t supposed to be again.”

Her eyes grow bright as we part and the softest shade of pink tinges her cheeks. She looks around to make sure those closest to us didn’t hear, but I know they didn’t. It takes a few seconds for us to come back together, but when she does she says, “No, that was last weekend. Tonight I just felt like arriving late so that everyone would have to look at me as I entered.” 

It worked. It always did. Mor was stunning, beautiful to everyone who looked her way. She took my virginity, and I took hers, when we were teenagers. It was awkward and horrible and I lasted no more than twenty seconds. It took her a long time to convince me that such a horribly awkward experience wasn’t what opened her eyes to realizing that she didn’t like men at all in such a way — a fact that only a few of us know and keep secret in her honor. Me, Azriel, Rhys, our friend Amren. We’ll keep that secret until we no longer walk this earth. 

But, it’s nice to know that she finds someone to spend her time with every now and then. I want to ask about the mystery woman that she spent the weekend with, but it’ll have to wait until Monday’s tea time. 

The dance ends a minute later and we all take our bow, then I’m sweeping her to where Rhysand and Azriel are in deep conversation with a group of young ladies. Mor’s arm loops through mine when I see her. 

Lady Mandray is watching me, and I can tell she’s pissed that I caught her. I offer her a smile, but maybe it comes off a bit too cocky because her pursed lips seem to amplify. She quickly turns on her heels and exits the room, which leaves me confused and strangely aroused. 

Mor catches me looking and leans in closer. “And who is that?”

“The wife of Lord Tomas Mandray,” I answer, my smile fading. “Met earlier tonight. We didn’t hit it off.”

Mor gasps, patting my arm. “Lord Cassian Nazari didn’t instantly sweep a woman off her feet? My, my. You must be getting old.”

I shoot her a look that makes her grin widen, but we say nothing more as we reach our destination. I fall into the chaos that consists of the ladies of Velaris desperately wanting to charm a man into becoming their husbands until we politely dismiss ourselves to find Lord Mandray. 

We find him in a smoke-filled room full of gentlemen and Rhysand makes the introduction. We talk for no more than two minutes before he’s called away, apparently a much sought after man of high society. 

After those two minutes, I deduce two things.

One: investing with him will make me more money in a month than all my tenants combined make me in a year. 

Two: I would hate to be the woman married to that asshole. 

[destiny-in-the-universe]

Fixation Central

Anyone who follows my blog knows I am auDHD and I fixate extremely fast. I am constantly frothing at the mouth with how much I adore certain fandoms. Most of what I'm into right now is superhero cartoons, but my journey with two of my first ever fandoms: Scooby Doo and Harry Potter.

I've 'left' Harry Potter, but that's because I made my own canon lmao. Or attempted to, at least-

It has long since branched off and my honorary fixations include Gravity Falls, Warrior Cats, PJO, and Doctor Who. And yes, I did also have problematic fixations - let yourself be cringe; if you want to enjoy DSMP, Homestuck, ATLA, or anything in between - do it. I was only part of one of these though. All fandoms have their toxicity, and in the end... make your own fucking canon. Problem solved.

Though, now... it's time to talk about what I like now and the ones I never truly left so without much further ado - let's get on with it!

Read below the cut for the rest!

The Fixations That Just Stayed

Gravity Falls (joined the fandom late, ended up being the creator of multiple original AU's and adored the Pines family dynamics; would've wanted to see something actually used with the Cipher/Zodiac Wheel)

Warrior Cats (never finished the books, unapologetic Firestar fan - first fandom I ever roleplayed and had an OC named Dawnheart of all things)

Doctor Who (adore New Who, loved all companions and thought more could've been done with Martha; huge Riverdoc fan, Donna is my favorite companion - was obsessed with the Pandorica arc for literally no reason; actually enjoyed the Timeless Child reveal)

Scooby Doo (on-off fixation, made up Scooby Doo AU's and crossovers for a lot of my fandoms-)

Current Fixations

Danny Phantom (literally what started my superhero cartoon fixation; adores Everlasting Trio - Sam bashing is irritating I'm ngl, also platonic Badger Cereal is one of my favorite things; has made ghost king and TUE AU's, among other things)

RC9GN (Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja) (never watched it as a kid afaik; huge Randy Cunningham kin, kickstarted my Secret Trio fixation - multishipper for the fandom)

Wordgirl (nostalgia fixation, watched few episodes as a kid but came to love it as an adult; adoptive villains apologist, obsessed with the Rise of Miss Power episodes; Becky Botsford and Tobey McCallister kin, a lot more thoughts but I can't list them all down-)

K-Dramas (kind of picky with them, anything high-drive/action are my favorites; adores Vincenzo and Descendants of the Sun. Taxi Driver was also a fun ride, among others)

AU's and Crossovers Hoard

Secret Trio/Quartet (American Dragon: Jake Long, Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja, and Danny Phantom + bonus appearances from Miraculous Ladybug) (massive fixation, currently being worked on as a fanfiction series on Ao3 - post canon/future au timelines, darker depictions than their given canon)

Superwholock and Co (Supernatural, Doctor Who, and Sherlock) (original crossover I ever got into; adores crossovers with Merlin)

Mystery Kids (crossover between Coraline, Paranorman, Gravity Falls, and Danny Phantom - as I've never seen/played Psychonauts) (first of the crossovers as well, was a casual fan in the beginning - currently also being worked on as a fanfiction)

Rise of the Brave Tangled Dragons (Rise of the Guardians, Brave, Tangled, and How to Train Your Dragon) (the OG, attempted to make an LPS series for it as a kid; adored any plotlines with Pitch Black - the four being New Guardians of the Seasons? chef's kiss)

DP x DC (personal favorite, i like the Vibes)

Personal Hoard

Totally Spies/Glitch Techs (made it up like Right Now; very behind on Glitch Techs but still-)

RC9GN/Wordgirl

C:KND/RC9GN (Codename: Kids Next Door/Randy Cunningham) (original creator; former KND operative Randy Cunningham becomes the Ninja, what could possibly go wrong?)

Project Zero: Heroes United (expanded Secret Trio/Quartet universe) ("Heroes Cinematic Universe" multi-fandom au where superheroes of different cartoons are selected to be an elite team against evil)

Once Upon in Camelot (OUAT/Once Upon a Time and Merlin) (abandoned project, might return to it; crossover/au where BBC! Arthurian cast are reincarnated following the S4 finale - exception being Merlin, shenanigans ensue; post-canon arc, Merthur storyline)

Other projects will be brought up later so if anyone's curious, interact with this post! Likes are appreciated, but comments and reblogs are preferred! Meows.

independent fandom AU's (i.e. Reverse Falls) will not be included within this post! I will be linking that separately!

[flock-of-cassowaries]

The 22-episode fifth season of Succession is so terrible that I literally had to skip episode 14.

I now understand why everyone on this website pretends the show ended after season 4.

Spoilers under the cut.

- I admire the commitment to realism, but when the household staff break free of their mind control and flee, only to find that society as a whole has mentally dehumanized them to the point where they refuse to assist them… like, that was making a good point, probably; but god it was grim.

Like, you just keep thinking they’re finally safe, and then no - it just continues.

- Things got a little better at episode 15 (where they end up in the refugee camp for recovering victims of the Keir Corporation’s ‘severance’ procedure). The crossover was clever - I can see how the two shows have some overlapping themes - but it just raises the stakes so much that the tension was unbearable.

Especially with Gerri, Karolina, and the other non-mind-controlled staff still looking for the escapees. Like, again, realistic, probably; but grim.

- I did like the reveal of Logan’s secret long-term supportive friendship with Nan Pierce; not because it humanized him, but because it made the point that ‘liberal’ billionaires have more in common with people like Logan Roy and the Koch brothers than they do with middle- and low-income people.

- Likewise, it was interesting to see what happened to Gerri’s psyche after she defected to the escapee side and came to live at the camp; like, her level of constant fear that the people whose torture she assisted with would eventually turn on her was, dramatically dramaturgically, interesting.

…but it did make Roman’s continued romantic / sexual pursuit of her kind of predatory - as a former mind-control victim, he has a much greater level of social power than she did in the camp setting, surrounded by other survivors (who obviously greatly resented Gerri as a former collaborator, and only barely tolerated her presence); it was enough of a change in the power dynamics of that relationship that it did feel like she really couldn’t realistically give consent.

I am, at heart, a die-hard Roman-Gerri shipper, so this was disappointing, on one level; but I’m glad that the writers chose to subtly illustrate that (through Gerri’s panic-induced heart attack while Roman’s trying to charm her in the staff kitchen; all the while, she’s desperately trying to get him to give her insight into her social position, so that she can assess the level of peril she’s currently in).

- Finally, while I do see the thematic relevance to the story of Will Graham’s experience with Hannibal vis mind-control, and there is obviously a great deal of demographic overlap between the Hannibal and Succession fandoms, I feel like the introduction of Segway-Will Graham was just… a lot.

Like, now it’s a three-way crossover, and that’s just a level of meta I’ve traditionally not seen anywhere outside of fanfiction (and my un-airconditioned early-summer fever dreams).

Also, the barbershop quartet was quite distracting.

[donna-beneviento-teacups]

This playlist is an humble suggestion following the logic one chapter equals one track. I deliberately have chosen: - classic music because Dimitrescu's castle screams this style - instrumental or softer versions of pop/rock songs as Lady Beneviento doesn't like to speak or be flooded by words. Regarding the instruments, I can't help but associate Donna with strings since I'm convinced there are no better instruments to express grieve. Naturally, Bela is symbolised by the piano. Lastly, I didn't want to duplicate the playlist from the fanfiction The Great Morel Garden by Fitzeroy_McCandless. I can only advise you to read it and listen to the available playlist. Some songs are so on point!

As always, I'm open to suggestions and critics ^^

Chapter 1: Hide and survive Moonlight Sonata - Lola & Hauser This iconic sonata composed by Ludwig van Beethoven is often associated with a sense of longing and introspection. I believe those are the perfect subjects for Donna's introduction. With this version, the two main instruments are present.

Chapter 2: Look at me Montagues and Capulets - Sergei Prokofiev, Richard Clayderman, Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra, Deyan Pavlov The music initially composed by Prokofiev creates a sense of tension and pursuit. It sounds to me like a hazardous waltz. The rivalry atmosphere is a reference to the sisters' show of force and the dance is, of course, the little game where Donna try to keep Bela at bay. This version has a softer second phase with the addition of the piano so it can represent Bela's first appearance in Donna's life.

Chapter 3: Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me Running Up That Hill (Piano Arrangement) - Pianella Piano A classic pop song this time! Switching to Bela's POV so I have chosen a piano version. Neither her nor Donna understand the ins and outs of each other lifestyle. I don't believe Bela wants to swap their positions, she is not this desperate at this point, but she definitely wish to better understand Lady Beneviento.

Chapter 4: Enter Swan Lake - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky This chapter is quite dramatic: finding traitors in castle Dimitrescu, Cassandra's reaction, Bela handling the public massacre, Bela discovering Donna's portait, Bela being a victim of Lady Beneviento's pollen and her recovery. I believe we can hear the building in this music and the dramatic swells that foretell Bela's fight in the cold and future handicap while keeping a romantic undertone.

Chapter 5: What do you want from me? Breathe Me - Sia How about a sad, orchestral ballad about struggling and needing a friend for comfort? I believe it's perfect for this chapter.

Chapter 6: I can't wait to see you Je te laisserai des mots (Instrumental) - Daniella Vega Originally by Patrick Watson, the song is about writing and leaving letters to a dear one while not pressuring the receiver. It suits the Bela and Donna's epistolary relationship flawlessly. This music has a special place in my heart...

Chapter 7: Table for two? Le Festin - Dao Pham Inspired by the Pixar and Disney movie Ratatouille, I love the cosy and relaxing ambiance from this version. This first cooking session followed by the shared meal is their first homelike moment! I hesitated with a bossanova or a tarantella song but I found them too high-spirited for our favourite couple and the introduction of Donna's demons.

Chapter 8: Would you like to lead? Danse macabre - Camille Saint-Saëns, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Keith Clark Not particularly original, I concede. However it was impossible not to associate this emblematic piece of art with the masked ball at castle Dimitrescu.

Chapter 9: I do Kiss From a Rose - Vitamin String Quartet A rather mysterious song that remains unexplained by the singer-songwriter Seal. I suppose the interpretation is quite free in this case... The rose is, of course, a reference to Bela and the strings could express Donna's relief to be accepted. Overall, I support the idea of Bela lightning Donna's grey world.

Chapter 10: A woman and not a female monster Dies Irae - Giuseppe Verdi, Carmen Giannattasio, Veronica Simeoni, Alxander Timchenko, Carlo Colombara, Yuri Temirkanov, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra I know, so much the drama! I wanted to emphasise on ghosts (choristers) terrorising Donna and wrath building in Bela. The explosion is a reference to Bela's assaults. All the ingredients are here for a fated disaster.

Chapter 11: How dare he?! Dragon days - Vitamin String Quartet Alicia Keys originally compares a castle resident longing for a certain someone to being trapped in a dungeon. Something is in her way to pursue the relationship she wishes for, alas, she can't act and she can only wait. This topic can be applied to Bela and Donna in this chapter. I was looking for a piano version as it's Bela's POV (the dragon pun!) in the majority but this string version is too beautiful to not be selected.

Chapter 12: For Bela! Somewhere Only We Know - Vitamin String Quartet Once again, it's an alternative version by Vitamin String Quartet. Keane lead vocalist Tim Rice-Oxley revealed in 2004 that the song is about being able to draw strength from a place or experience you've shared with someone. I think the idea is perfectly in adequacy with Donna's new will to fight her demons in hope to become respectable once again.

Chapter 13: I trust you Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (Epic Version) - Johann Sebastian Bach, L'Orchestra Cinematique, Alala Bach offers a fabulous piece with a dark and ominous tone. The menacing tone is accentuated with the percussion instruments in this version. I need a grandiose music for Lady Dimitrescu and her confrontation with Donna.

Chapter 14: You don’t need to hide Spectrum - Florence + The Machine It was impossible to not add a Florence + The Machine song as I think her unique universe in Ceremonials match perfectly with the ambiance I wish to write about. I wanted to show that the beladonna releationship reached the level when they both are confortable with the presence of each other even if not announced / invited. How Bela, and her family by extension, changed Donna’s quotidian and illuminated the gloomy manner as soon as they put a step in.

Chapter 15: Cara mia Delicate - Roma Symphony Orchestra My favourite song (for the moment) by Taylor Swift. The protagonists want desperately to not offend their new love interest. They need to be sure that nothing they do scare the other away. Bela and Donna, like any lover, fear of doing something wrong, being too much or not enough at the same time. This version is slower so it fits the slow burn dimension.

Chapter 16: Don’t leave... Don't Speak - Midnite String Quartet Another alternative version by Midnite String Quartet. A heartbreaking song by No Doubt that I think it suits Angie's situation. The doll shares a very special link with Donna. It's a pity it couldn't last and it hurts their dynamic even if Bela being a part of their life is an excellent reason. It's also a reference to the unnecessary need to physically talk between Donna and Angie.

Chapter 17: What if I’m broken, cara mia? BomBom (feat. The Teaching) - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis I bet you didn't expect this one! As there is no special explanation regarding this track, I associate it with a birth or something new. I think it goes well with a blooming romance and the most exploring phase.

chapter 18: You are all I need New Love (Instrumental) - Piano Dreamers Dua Lipa wrote about facing the fear of losing the only thing that matters to you. With this chapter, 'new love' can be understood as the next step in the relationship. Fighting a losing game (wrongly here) and searching for her place are the mindsets that Bela is in.

chapter 19: Beguiler Witch’s Brew - Peter Cincotti This song is a masterpiece, as well as the album (I could write a love letter to this chef-d’oeuvre), and the atmosphere is incredible. Well, I can only encourage you to listen to it.

chapter 20: I won’t endure a world without an us When Am I Gonna Lose You - Local Natives “The song is about the feeling of being in an amazing relationship but feeling the fear and anxiety that it can’t possibly last, whether just by twist of fate or because of your own self sabotage.” It’s exactly what I wish to express for this epilogue.

[thekitsunesiren]

I love how you manage to intertwine different scenarios. Do you have any ideas for other crossovers?

First of all, I want to say thank you for the compliment! I'm glad that everyone seems to be enjoying my crossover ideas for the most part.

But yes! Yes I do have more. And while I don't have a model, I do have a bit of a list.

Let's start off with the one's I've been writing about!

Dp x Dc

Dp x MCU

Dp x MHA

Steven Universe x Dc

Now, of course Dpxdc is the most popular and well known out of these because that's what I write the most, but I think that they work all well.

Let's start with Dp as a whole. Not only does Danny have access to all this advanced technology, human and supernatural alike, he's also powerful himself. And that fact that something so powerful was happening in pretty much a ghost town-heh- with no outside interference other than the GIW could lead to a lot. And the fact that it's canon that the portals in the ghost world that takes them to different points in time and possibly universes, there is a lot that could be worked with here.

And Steven Universe is almost the same. All this gem technology and the powers of gems themselves is something frightening since we've seen so many gems and only know what a good quarter of them could do. Plus tell me that Beach City wouldn't be crowded with heroes or spies if it wasn't in the Marvel or DC verse.

Same with a lot of these fandoms when it comes to crossovers. Either they somehow manage to live peacefully in the same universe without making each other aware of the others presence until a certain even caused them to interact, or one of the universes has magic or technology strong enough to send a person or people hurling to a completely different universe.

But enough about that! Let's go on to my list! Some of these crossovers may or may not have been done in either forms of prompts or fanfiction, or they're just rp ideas I had in the past, so be aware that none of these are completely original (at least I think so) .

I'm separating it like this because this is a long list. Be warned.

Overlord x Slime: Because Isekai Quartet did us wrong for not having Rimuru in the series. I think this would fit mostly because having two monster leaders who were from Japan would get along nicely. Although Rimuru is more laidback than Ainz. Both leaders are strong and care deeply about those who work under them while striving to create a better home for them.

Danny Phantom x The Walking Dead: Honestly I don't think I've seen this around, at least nothing recent. But I like this one because I gotta know: would the walkers just walk right passed Danny? Would any or all liminals be free from being chased by walkers? If so, would Amity park even change much if they were?

Dp x Avatar: The Last Airbender: I like this one because I based it around the previous Avatars and the Avatar state. I picture it being this giant part of the Infinite Realms that

Lego Monkie Kid x Xiaolin Showdown: I honestly just think that this would fit somehow. With all of the spirits and beings that are in the XS universe, I think that this would fit! Maybe because of the monkey staff? Probably.

Kingsman x Dc/Marvel: With all the secret agencies and facilities having around the world, I would not doubt if something like the Kingsman or Statemen existing in either world.

Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid x Harry Potter: I want one of the dragons to be mistaken as a dragon in the magical world and becomes one of the dragons the champions have to face in the tr-wizard tournament.

Bofuri! x Overlord: I think Ainz would be surprised to see another gamer. And with someone like Maple and her never ending arsenal, she'd definitely surprise him.

Dragon Raja x Genshin Impact: Mostly the dragon thing, but I think it'd be interesting to see altogether.

Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid x Genshin Impact: I like to think that the world the dragons from the show come from are the Genshin Universe. If not, then it would be one of the worlds they have access to.

DC x Percy Jackson: Someone please let Diana teach the little babies how to fight! They need it!

Sailor Moon x Miraculous Ladybug!: Girl power! The heroes of Japan and France getting along. Plus do you think the Kwami's would be aware about the moon kingdom?

Not all of them comes with big ol' lists and plots, but I'm happy to just leaving them here!

Danny Phantom x Stranger Things Lego Monkie Kid x Marvel/DC Lego Monkie Kid x BNHA Lego Monkie Kid x Naruto Lego Monkie Kid x Supernatural Harry Potter x Supernatural Harry Potter x The Walking Dead Kingsman x The Walking Dead Kingsman x Marvel

Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid x Harry Potter Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid x Genshin Impact Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid x Marvel/Dc Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid x BNHA That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime x Marvel/Dc That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime x BNHA

Kingsman x Criminal Minds

I'll probably update it some more later, but this is just a small portion!

[iftheshoef1tz]

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Sorry for being gone for a few days, I hope you are alright, my dearest secret santa recipient.

I need to tell you something…and this is that I feel like you are reading my mind (which is slightly creepy, but in the case of present planning actually quite fortunate!) I had a story idea in mind that kind of fits perfectly what you answered - the non-fiction aspect, the angst-fluff ratio and mean Eris…just perfect (like you and your blog😏).

And now, since I am your secret santa I obviously don’t come without presents or in that case (at least for now) questions.

Would you mind telling me your favourite tropes, and maybe if you have a favourite line from Azris? Or a line one says about the other? Can of course also be from fanfiction?

And maybe we can also talk about music? Do you have any favourite songs/pieces of music? Ones you love? Ones you can listen to all the time? And maybe also songs you connect with Azris? You can of course also name classical pieces (could be relevant for the story👀).

You can go into as much detail as you want, I love reading your answers and I am still incredibly happy that I get to gift you.

Yours sincerely,

🤶🏻

Oh god, I’m so excited, omg.

Okay, favorite tropes. “Only one bed” is probably one of my ABSOLUTE favorites. And the moment when one of them looks at the other’s mouth before they’ve acknowledge the Tension ™️ between them!! I am also a sucker for the moments where it’s “will they won’t they” and they both clearly want it in that moment, and then something pulls them away from each other. I don’t have a snappy name for that one lmao. As for favorite lines, i don’t think i have any in canon or in fanfiction, but the more romantic/makes-you-want-to-cry poetry lines always get me. Pablo Neruda (Love Sonnet XVII), Mary Oliver (Wild Geese), ee cummings (I Carry Your Heart) etc. (And ofc select Richard Siken poems.)

In terms of artists whose entire catalogue I could listen to on the regular, Vienna Teng (Dreaming Through the Noise especially) and Keane (Under the Iron Sea especially) are up there. I’m a new convert to Taylor Swift, and “Bigger Than the Whole Sky” kills me every time. (So does “Paper Rings,” but for different reasons.) When it comes to classical music, I love basically anything by Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky. The last movement of Strauss’s “Four Last Songs” (Im Abendrot) gives me goosebumps when it’s not making me cry, and I always cry when I listen to Hilary Hahn’s recording of the second movement of the Barber Violin Concerto. I love Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla; but unfortunately my favorite recording is by Joshua Bell. Caroline Shaw’s Partita for 8 Singers changed me the first time I heard it.

I associate Eris with “This Bitter Earth/On the Nature of Daylight” which is a, like, mash up of Dinah Washington and a string quartet playing a different piece (I think?) and it is so achingly perfect that it haunts me.

But Azris songs? Man, where to start lmao. First, DELIRIOUS BY SUSANE SUNDFOR. Gimme! Gimme Gimme! By ABBA. Never Be the Same by Camila Cabello. Desire by Meg Myers. Closer by NIN. Flesh by Simon Curtis. Hatefuck by The Bravery. Touched by Vast. Close by Nick Jonas and Tove Lo. Everytime We Touch by Cascada. Stray Italian Greyhound by Vienna Teng. So Heavy I Fell Through the Earth by Grimes. Tongue by MNEK. Middle of the Night by Elley Duhe. I Will Possess Your Heart by Death Cab for Cutie. (Strangely, I don’t have any classical pieces that jump out as Azris-coded, mostly just things that make me want to write (which is usually azris lmao))

I think that’s all I’ve got, I could literally go on for hours, tho. I’M SORRY IF IT’S TOO MUCH INFORMATION

Also thank you for calling them pieces?? Most people don’t know to call them that! (Songs have to have words, ofc.) I’m so excited to have you as my secret Santa, sounds like you’ve got some rad ideas kicking around in your noggin!

[queenofhearts7378]

Percentage

(Me: “I hate writing angst, I'm terrible at it, none of the emotions come out right I SO prefer writing stories that make people smile or laugh and brighten their day, I do not write angst, sorry no angst from me go look somewhere else cause I don't do angst”

Me: *writes Adrien finds out his dad is Hawkmoth angst at 3 am*)

.......................

Danny floated through the wall of his room, gingerly rotating his injured wrist.

“Next time I see Skulker,” he muttered to himself, flopping down on his bed, “I'll make sure Box Ghost or someone equally as annoying is stuffed in the thermos with him.”

With a sigh he transformed, letting the bright rings travel over him before blindly reaching down to pick up the first aid kit.

Instead his fingers were stopped by a head full of soft blonde hair. Danny flinched at the unexpected interruption and pulled his hand back.

“Adrien?”

His friend was in a curled up position on the floor next to Danny's bed, face hidden from the world as he pressed it into his knees. Plagg was smushing himself as close as he could to Adrien's hidden cheek.

Danny reached back down to grip Adrien's shoulder, worry churning in his stomach. “What happened?”

Adrien curled his limbs further into himself, but picked his head up to look over his shoulder at Danny.

Danny, who saw his friend's glassy and hollow eyes that were still red from crying and felt his worry turn to panic eating at his nerves.

“How do you stay here?” Adrien asked quietly.

Danny slid down to the floor, settling to where he was face to face with Adrien. “What do you mean?”

Adrien tilted his head towards Danny's bedroom door. “How do you stay here with your parents? They spend all their free time hunting you….how can you stay here with them?”

That was a question Danny had asked himself multiple times, usually when his mood plummeted and everytime he looked in the mirror he saw an enemy starting back at him. The times in between the ghost fights and the comfort of his friends and sister. When he's woken up from the little sleep he gets because of nightmares of a timeline he made sure would never come to pass.

Yeah, he's bitterly asked himself why should he stay in a house where his parents don't accept the real him.

But then he'd come downstairs at three in the morning with red eyes and shaky hands trying to pour a glass of milk, and his mother would meet him there and pull him in a hug. Neither of them would say a word. She would just pull him in and hold him and Danny wouldn't cry. His dad would appear later, completely silent despite his bulk, and hand him his glass and a plate of fudge. He'd ruffle Danny's hair and send him back to bed with a pat on the shoulder and a worried smile. Jazz would meet him in the hallway outside her door with tired eyes and sleep mussed hair. She'd pull him in and give him a kiss on the forehead, accompanied by a gentle “Sweet dreams Little Brother.”

Even a small percentage of those little moments answer him better than words ever could.

But Adrien? Adrien didn't get to have those moments.

Danny reached forward and cupped Adrien's face, forcing him to meet his eyes. “What happened?” He said forcefully.

Adrien's already glassy eyes started to fill with tears.

“I don't feel safe,” he gasped.

@i-understand-mon-cher

[secret-origins-crossover]

SECRET QUARTET UPDATES

I was waiting impatiently for the poll to finish and dare I say, I have never been more excited for the next part- especially because this is set after the first installation. Now, one thing I'm sure all of you are curious about: can ghosts be stanked?

Much like what I said about Akumas, no- this simply isn't possible for, well, a few reasons but that will come later, so you'll just have to wait! (as for halfas, the answer to that question is also being left ambiguous-)

This does mean that whatever happens in the next part won’t be involving ghosts being affected by the Sorcerer’s magic- now whether ghosts exist inside Norrisville, well, we’ll just have to see won’t we? I do like to think ghosts aren't a common phenomenon everywhere because of other reasons

For now, these are my current forming ideas. Either Danny ends up in Norrisville somehow (which would be partially dependent on the timeline-), or Randy is sent to Amity Park as a result of... other reasons. This is a bare minimum draft to say the least and I have some stuff that will be included immediately and the rest will be added in as the series continues!

I will say that Danny’s going to be having a time if he’s the one to arrive in Norrisville. Poor Danny gets to go through the burner during a lot of this- he is one of the protagonists after all hahaha

Though I decided to use this time to explain some of the lore and information about this AU people are still interested in (which I’m admittedly surprised about-), so without much further ado- let's get right to the point!

Also, one last thing before I start: this takes place before the season two finale of RC9GN for what I feel is kind of obvious, but moving on-

Lore Dumping + Headcanons

Something that was canonized in the first installation: not all heroes are aware of another- due to certain restrictions and, well, some magic of the universe... a lot of the organizations basically were sanctioned off to specific locations as a way of maintaining the peace. What this means is that clashing will go down at first- perhaps not between the main heroes but say, a certain council with other groups but we'll get to that later

Norrisville does not have a high concentration of ghostly energy since there isn't a portal (natural portals are an entirely different story; i'm more referring about something like what's at fenton works-). This didn't really need to be said but just in case! I'm shoving it into the lore dump anyway

Randy faces a lot of pressure just for being the Ninja but without the added knowledge of other heroes- he's genuinely living the best life and having fun while still being the protector, though we all know this won't last. I also will say this is going to explore the whole thing with the tengu but I'm not sure how much just yet-

Could someone else be shloomped inside the Nomicon? Hahaha, you'll find out later- I thought about saying it, but decided to hold myself back for now. I will say this: the Nomicon is still a sentient being and, well, who is able to go inside it (since technically, in one of the episodes, Howard did but I'm not sure how far into the RC9GN 'canon' it's set in-) has some rules to it

Danny and Randy are obviously different in terms of personality- having them work together is going to come with its challenges, but I do think they'd have a good partnership going. They just have to get comfortable with one another

I'm trying to keep myself from saying things about future installations lol, but- I will say that so far, Vlad has zero connections to Norrisville. This one-shot is going to be a little different and that's all I'm going to say for the time being

If anyone's curious about the difference in strength between Danny and Randy- well, their methods of combat are different so, do with this what you will for now :)

As of right now, there are no confirmed ships within the series! To be honest, I don't fully see it as important but it may show- just... not right this second

So far, this is all I got! It's getting a little late and I am honestly really tired which means posting will have to wait until later, but do expect more content soon! I am very excited for the continuation of this project to say the least!

Goodnight, my lovely readers!

[ladylynse]

Whirlwind: Part II - Secret Quartet Fanfic

(Part I here)

4:57 PM

It had taken while, mostly because he’d gotten distracted by other things along the way, but Randy had finally figured out that this Gabriel show was a fashion show. That explained Marci’s interest. He still had no proof that McFist wasn’t doing a side deal, but it was looking less likely.

Randy had also figured out where the show was being held. He couldn’t sneak in as Randy Cunningham, obviously; while no one looked twice at him while on the streets, they’d notice pretty quickly if he tried to step foot in a place like that. But as the Ninja, it would be less of a problem. Difficult, granted, more like sneaking into McFist Industries than the Museum of Silt, but definitely not impossible.

Masked with the Art of Disguise (which he was way better at now) and blending into the crowd, Randy waited. When he heard the security guards turning away someone at the door—not meeting the dress code or fake passes or something; Randy didn’t try to keep it straight—he took the opportunity for what it was and slipped inside.

Roughly three minutes later, the screaming started.

About ten seconds after that, he was standing outside in the middle of the rapidly disappearing crowd and wondering how the cheese the Sorcerer had managed to stank someone in New York City when he was still trapped under Norrisville.

“I am so shoobed if this turns out to be the Sorceress,” Randy muttered. She was not someone he wanted to tackle without allies, and Howard couldn’t exactly hop on a plane to join him.

In all fairness, the monster attacking the fleeing crowd wasn’t really the Sorcerer’s—or the Sorceress’s—usual style. It was a female, way less animalistic than he was used to, and still mostly human-sized. Also, fluent in English, which was helpful, because while monsters usually understood him just fine, people usually weren’t much for talking once stanked. That typically made figuring out what had gotten to them harder.

“I am the Critic!” the monster announced. She didn’t seem to be holding a weapon, unless you counted her clutch. Though considering Randy had been bludgeoned with Stevens’s trombone before, the handbag should definitely count as a weapon. “So many of you don’t deserve to be here. You’re flawed, unworthy and unappreciative of true art. A quick critique will reveal those who truly live up to the proper standards.” She turned, picking out some random victim in the crowd, but Randy was already running toward her. He didn’t need to hear the rest of her spiel; he was used to doing this without spiels. She was about to attack, and he didn’t need to know any more than that. He figured he’d start with a Ninja Electro-Ball, feel her out, and then—

“The Critic, eh? Good thing for me black’s always in fashion.”

Silence fell as the monster swivelled to meet—what was that? Someone in a cat getup? What the juice was going on? Randy actually stopped to stare. What kind of shoob went around dressed like a black cat? Especially at some kind of fashion show?

“Chat Noir.” The monster sounded surprised but pleased, though her smile was anything but pleasant. “If you wish to save these people, you’ll have to give me your Miraculous.”

Randy had no idea what that meant. He had no idea who Chat Noir was—well, okay, fine, he could figure that part out—or what was supposed to be so miraculous or why this monster was being so vocal. But he knew how the Sorcerer worked, and now that he got a closer look at this monster, she looked vaguely familiar. She seemed to be the woman in the business suit he’d passed earlier, only the colouring and cut of her suit had changed—he wasn’t sure how; he just knew it looked different—and for some reason, maybe the silver and navy garb, she reminded him less of a monster who was ready to try to tear him apart limb by limb and more like, well, someone who fought with words. Like an actual critic. The glasses helped, though he couldn’t remember if she’d had them before.

This was weird. He would freely admit that. She still looked human. But something about her had changed, and she’d been in the right mood earlier to be stanked—bitter, angry, sad, the whole nine yards—and the way she held onto her bag made him pretty sure that’s where the Sorcerer’s stank had settled.

Which meant, relatively speaking, his job was easy. A Ninja Scarf Snatch here, a Ninja Slice there—this time, any shoob could do it. He could probably do it with his eyes closed. The crowd had scattered, and with cat boy distracting her, even the stragglers had had time to run. Randy moved closer, vaulting over the queue barrier. No one stopped him, even though the Ninja belonged in Norrisville and not New York.

“He’s not taking that deal,” Randy hollered as he cleared the last rope divider. He flipped forward, ducking and rolling and coming up with a few Ninja Rings in hand; he didn’t want cat boy to get caught with his Ninja Electro-Ball. He aimed and threw, shouting, “Ninja Ring! Ninja Ring! Ninja Ring!”

This time, it was cat boy’s turn to stare at him—in awe, probably—and the monster moved, dodging the rings and pulling out—a pen? What did she expect to do with a pen?

Didn’t matter. Good rule of thumb: get rid of anything the monster wanted to use as a weapon. Randy shot forward and grabbed his sword. He cut left, right, and left again. If he could just get—

Something slammed into him.

Correction: he slammed into something.

Problem: there wasn’t actually something there.

“Interfering where he’s not wanted,” the monster sneered, moving the pen as if jotting down notes. “Moving with reckless abandon and with no sense of a plan. Announcing attacks like an amateur but no doubt fancying himself a hero.”

She looked down over her glasses at him, and Randy bristled. Or he tried. He actually just tried to move, but no dice on that. “What the cheese did you do?” At least he could talk. “And who’re you calling an amateur? At least I’m not dressed up like a cat!”

Randy couldn’t turn his head to look away from the monster, but he saw movement from the corner of his eye, and cat boy started to slowly circle behind the monster. Cat boy might be the real amateur—did he really think no one could see him or something?—but the least Randy could do was distract the monster. “I mean, look at the quality of my suit,” he continued. “This is good workmanship, not some Halloween store special.” Then, since even he could tell he was losing her, he added, “Can’t you appreciate that, coming to a place like this?”

“You dare question me?” The monster actually laughed at him. “I am the Critic. I know more than any of these people. I certainly know more than you.”

She started to advance, and cat boy finally moved. He grabbed a baton and split it into two, throwing one at the monster and one at Randy. Both hit. The one aimed at the monster didn’t do any more than draw her attention—so what was the point of Randy trying to distract her?—and, because he couldn’t move, the one aimed at him took him in the gut. But it pushed him back, and suddenly he could move again. Presumably because the monster was distracted?

Cat boy had retrieved the first baton, and he held it like he was ready to throw it again. “You’ll have to do better than that if you want my Miraculous.”

“Will I?” the monster laughed as if she understood what cat boy was talking about. Personally, Randy had no clue why they would even know each other, but obviously they did, and this miraculous whatever-it-was might even be the reason the woman was stanked.

Even though cat boy wasn’t really acting like he’d stolen it from her. After all, he was still hanging around, and Randy was pretty sure any smart thief would be long gone. They wouldn’t be trying to pick a fight with someone they���d just robbed. And then there was the fact that both cat boy and the monster kept saying it was cat boy’s miraculous…thing, only the monster wanted it. And jealousy was a legit reason to be stanked, too, so Randy couldn’t rule that out. It just made things harder. He was pretty sure the monster wouldn’t be appeased if he presented her with a bouquet of flowers.

“You’re a fool, Chat Noir,” the monster continued. She started to move her pen again, as if she were writing a new list. “Your little partner isn’t here, and you’re helpless without her. You are hardly a problem solver. You’re in over your head, bumbling about a foreign country and failing miserably at being anything more than an annoyance. What you need—” and here she clicked her pen and leaned forward “—is to give me your Miraculous. That’s the first step to improving your situation.”

Cat boy jerked forward as if he were being pushed toward the monster, his feet stumbling nearer even as he tried to dig his heels in. Randy didn’t have time to try to figure this out anymore. Critic monster lady might not like it, but he did reckless abandon well, and plans always went off the rails sooner rather than later anyway. He picked up the baton—good quality, judging by its heft—and got to his feet. If the monster didn’t want him announcing his attacks, fine. He’d show her.

He took five steps to the right, just enough to get a clear line of sight, and threw the baton with an accuracy he’d honed over the past year of fighting in Norrisville. The baton struck the monster’s hand. She dropped her pen with a shriek, but Randy was ready. He snatched it out of the air with his scarf before she had a chance to turn. He grinned at her. “Who says he doesn’t have a partner?” And then, even as she started toward him and cat boy’s eyes widened and he yelled something, Randy snapped the pen in half.

He’d been expecting a swirl of stank to leave the pen.

He was not expecting a purple butterfly.

Cat boy said something else—Randy was pretty sure it wasn’t English—and then he’d grabbed the other half of his baton, attached it to the first part, and extended the thing way past what should have been possible, vaulting to the roof of the building in pursuit of the butterfly. Randy just stared after him as he disappeared, wondering what that was all about. He glanced back at the monster, half expecting the snapped pen to have done nothing after all, but all he saw was an ordinary woman who had fallen to her knees in a daze.

“What…what happened?”

Frankly, Randy wasn’t sure he knew anymore.

The woman’s eyes focused on him. He saw her confusion and—unfortunately—her distaste. “Why are you dressed as a ninja?”

Randy rolled his eyes. “Everyone’s a critic,” he muttered.

He didn’t bother announcing the smoke bomb as he used its cover to escape.

5:24 PM

“You’re sure it’s okay to do this without being invisible?” Danny asked as he and Jake—who was in his dragon form—flew over the skyscrapers of the NYC.

“Man, I keep telling you, people do not look up. And if they do, they just think they’re seeing things. It’s cool.”

“So that Rotwood guy isn’t still on your tail?”

“Please, you really think he can catch the Am Drag? At least give me a little cred, Phantom.”

“I thought he caught you before.”

“And I escaped. With some help. Doesn’t matter now, anyway. We’ve worked together since then. So long as he thinks he can use me to get info on the magical world, he’ll let it slide. He’s had too many close calls with the police to risk being accused of kidnapping me, anyway.”

Danny, who was too used to Vlad and his tricks to judge, decided to let that drop. He couldn’t see much from up here—his eyes were good, but Jake’s were definitely better—and wasn’t entirely sure where they were going. Jake did; he’d heard a possible location from Fu who had heard from Marty who had heard from a friend who had heard from a pair of leprechauns on the run from the guild. Or something like that. Danny had really stopped listening after hearing Marty’s name. Knowing the Grim Reaper was real still sent shivers up his spine.

Jake dived before Danny was expecting, and he almost overshot him. Jake had dropped without a word, so Danny didn’t shout after him; he just followed. When he caught up to the dragon, he moved carefully between his wings and put a hand between Jake’s shoulder blades, making them both invisible.

It took another second or two for Danny to spot what Jake had seen. Someone was racing across the rooftop of some building—Jake might recognize it; Danny didn’t—and, as Danny watched, using a silver stick like they were about to pole vault over something, getting more height and distance and easily making it to the next building.

“You think that’s your guy?” Danny asked as Jake slowed and evened out, watching and content to keep pace with the runner for the moment.

“Maybe?” The lack of confidence in Jake’s voice wasn’t inspiring. “He’s got the same colour of hair.”

“Is he supposed to be dressed like a cat?”

“Well, it is the Ring of the Black Cat….”

“Can you see what he’s running from?”

Jake was quiet for a moment. “I don’t think he’s running from something. I think he’s chasing something.”

“Chasing what?”

“A butterfly.” Danny looked, but he didn’t see anything, even after Jake added, “It’s dark purple.” As if that would stand out against the buildings.

“Why would he be chasing after butterflies? Even if it is this shapeshifting butterfly you were talking about.”

“Maybe he accidentally released it and needs to get it back?”

Danny snorted. “How incompetent do you think this guy is?”

“Hey, he came into an electronics store to ask where to find a cheese shop. He’s either new to this and really bad at it or trying to trick us into thinking he is.”

Danny couldn’t exactly deny that. “And you’re sure you don’t know what his endgame is?”

“You’ve been in the back room of the shop, Phantom. Anything could be back there. If he’s looking for something we might have, that’s a great place to start. And this…this is probably just to distract us.”

“Which is why we’re not getting any closer?”

Jake’s muscles moved beneath his fingers, and they glided nearer to their target, though they still remained out of earshot, especially considering how noisy the traffic was below. Was it always rush hour here? Danny didn’t remember it being this bad last time. Maybe because he hadn’t gotten out much. Or maybe because, once his dad had shown up, it genuinely hadn’t been as bad. Could also just be a different part of the city, though. The NYC was a sight bigger than Amity Park and Elmerton combined.

“I don’t know if we can actually fight him yet. You heard Fu: keep an eye on him but keep our heads down unless things go south. He’s trying to come up with something that’ll actually be able to hold this guy—or at least slow him down.”

“How about identifying him? Tracking him? If you guys don’t have something, can’t you steal something from Rotwood? He’s probably got bugs. Or some kind of spell.”

“If Rotwood has a spell, it doesn’t work. Trust me on that. And I’m not convinced any bugs he has are electronic. It doesn’t seem to go well for him whenever he tries that.”

Somehow, Danny had no trouble believing that. Rotwood definitely hadn’t changed, then, or gotten help. Just as well, for Jake’s sake.

“Besides,” Jake added, “for all we know, this guy’s good at spotting that kind of stuff. It wouldn’t take him much to get rid of it.”

True enough. Jake hardly knew anything about him at all. Most of this was guesswork, plus whatever information could be gleaned from the grapevine of the magical world, and Danny had no idea how reliable that was. Probably not as much as Jake hoped, at least judging by how things went in the Ghost Zone.

Still, Marty’s friend’s tip had been right. The cat suit and the butterfly couldn’t be a coincidence. Which meant someone who could destroy anything with a single touch was running around the city, accompanied by a butterfly that could basically possess someone and change them into anything. Not quite a normal day for Danny, but close enough, considering some of the things he’d put up with.

“I don’t like the idea of that butterfly being loose on top of everything else.” Not to mention the fact that finding it again would be nearly impossible. “We’re gonna have to split up. I’ll distract our friend with the deadly touch. You can torch Midas’s minion.”

“You sure about that? Those aren’t office buildings anymore. We’re past that. People live here.”

“All the more reason to do this before he gets wherever he’s going. For all we know, he’s herding that butterfly, not chasing it.”

“Aw, man, I didn’t even think….” Jake trailed off. “Fine. Deal. Just don’t go getting yourself killed, Phantom.”

Danny smirked. He was nervous, but at least fighting was familiar, so the mask was an easy one to wear. Besides, what he had in mind involved minimal contact. “Hard to kill something you can’t touch,” he said, and then he flickered intangible and dove through Jake, concentrating on their target.

The guy was definitely going to regret having a costume with a tail by the end of this.

5:31 PM

Adrien saw the burst of fire from the corner of his eye a split second before it engulfed the akuma. He lunged forward, not sure what fire would do to it. It was magical; could fire even touch it? They’d never tried. After their mistake with Stoneheart, Ladybug had always been very careful to catch and purify the akuma before it got away. What if the fire just caused the akuma to multiply?

The akuma was a black shadow in the centre of the flame, but before Adrien could see anything else—or get any closer—he found himself hanging by his tail. The belt tightened uncomfortably around his middle, but it took more than that to take his breath away.

The sight of the buildings falling away beneath him was a good start, though.

The dragon clinched it.

Adrien had just enough time to realize the red dragon was the source of the flame before there was a blinding flash. By the time he blinked the spots away from his eyes, he couldn’t see the dragon anymore, and he was too far away to hope to spot what had happened to the akuma. With some difficulty, he tried to twist around to see what was holding him. He wouldn’t have been entirely surprised if it was another dragon. Plagg was real, after all, and his presence was probably less believable to some than a fire-breathing dragon. But even if he’d ended up fighting a dragon in New York City, of all places, he never would have expected it to help him.

Why would Hawk Moth—who shouldn’t even be here; why was he here?—turn someone into a dragon and not have them fight to steal his Miraculous? The Critic hadn’t split hairs about letting him know what she wanted once she’d realized he was around, and he had to wonder if Hawk Moth had only transformed her to see if he could coax out anyone of any power from here. It wasn’t like he could have known Chat Noir would be here, after all, and Hawk Moth was definitely the type to collect as much power as he could. The dragon might not even have been intended for him; maybe the dragon had been intended for the ninja, whoever he had been.

Adrien really had to wonder about him. He hadn’t expected New York City to be devoid of heroes, exactly, but he wouldn’t have thought a ninja would be the one feeling at home here. Still, this ninja might not have been the amateur the Critic had claimed he was, but he clearly wasn’t used to Hawk Moth’s work if he hadn’t had any plan to catch and purify the akuma, even if he had known enough to break the object where the akuma had settled. But just because he hadn’t known about Hawk Moth, it didn’t mean Hawk Moth hadn’t known about him. Maybe the dragon had been intended to confront him all along, not Adrien. It wasn’t like the dragon would easily earn Adrien’s trust when he was a dragon and therefore obviously under Hawk Moth’s influence, but maybe this ninja didn’t know any better.

Except…. What if it wasn’t that obvious? Plagg had just told him that there were more kinds of magic in the world. Maybe the dragon really did live in New York City. Maybe he had been trying to help just to get on Adrien’s good side, just to get close to his Miraculous and to Plagg so that he could steal them away. And maybe that’s why he had a partner, someone who had been able to grab Adrien while the first dragon destroyed—hopefully destroyed—the akuma. Maybe the ninja was even less incompetent than he’d appeared and had been sent to scout out the situation. Maybe he and the dragon worked together.

But if that were the case, why would he have helped Adrien instead of working with the Critic to trap him first?

Adrien still couldn’t get a good look above him, so he started trying to swing. He didn’t want to be dropped, exactly, especially when he was so high up he was getting cold and finding it hard to catch his breath in spite of the suit, but if he could get a better view, then maybe he could discover exactly what was holding onto him and figure this out.

He heard a squawk of surprise and found himself picking up speed, being pulled far faster than before. He fought to raise his head against the wind as he spun and twisted behind his captor, but he still couldn’t see anything. Could dragons become invisible? He’d have to ask Plagg. Assuming he ever got the chance. What would Ladybug think if he never returned? What would his father think if his son disappeared?

“I can’t let that happen,” Adrien said, quietly enough that he knew the wind would tear away his words before his captor had a chance to hear them. “I’ve got to get out of this.”

He just had no idea how.

“Hey!” he yelled, trying to get his captor’s attention. Then, louder, “Hey! Where are you taking me?”

He didn’t get an answer, though he didn’t know if it was because he hadn’t been heard or because he was being ignored.

“Hawk Moth’s not going to like it if you just drop me on his doorstep, you know! He wants my Miraculous, not me!” He was speaking English, figuring that that was probably his captor’s native tongue, but in desperation, he tried the same in French.

No response.

He kept yelling anyway, alternating between English and French and throwing some Chinese into the mix in the hope something would halt this flight. Between the blood pounding in his head, the tossing and turning, the numbing cold, and the thin air, he really wasn’t feeling well.

“Just let me go!” he screamed—but when he suddenly started falling, he regretted the rash words. He tumbled head over heels, darkening grey sky looking little different from the rippling slate of the water below. He still could see no sign of what had held him. As the water rushed closer, he reached for his staff, hoping to extend it and try to regain some sense of control, but it wasn’t in its holder, and he realized he must have lost it when he’d been grabbed in the first place. He couldn’t remember letting it go, but he couldn’t remember putting it back, either. He was on his own.

Adrien closed his eyes on the sight of the water coming up to meet him and hoped that the impact didn’t kill him.

Onto Part III! or What’s the timeline again?

[zenithofstories]

I've started posting book 2 of my Harry Potter rewrite, 'Hari Potter: Revised'. I will be updating it weekly and you can find it here if you are interested.

[4iammighty]

Secret Quartet: In a Flash Part 1

Why do I do this to myself? Ok so I freaking love the Secret Quartet AU by @queenofhearts7378 and I’ve had idea for a story for awhile now and here it is! 

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

Plagg woke up with some weird feeling, he didn’t know what it was but but he felt different some how. Maybe some camembert would make him feel better. 

“ADRIEN! Get up! I want some camembert!”

Plagg flew over to the bed and saw a large lump hiding underneath the covers. Adrien wasn’t really one to cover himself with so many sheets, maybe he wasn’t feeling well? 

“Adrien are you ok? You’re not sick are you? Who’s going to bring me my camembert?”

The lump moaned and slowly pushed the sheets off the bed. But to Plagg’s surprise it wasn’t Adrien.

“RANDY!?! What are you doing here? Where’s Adrien!?”

Randy jumped out of bed nonchalantly and gave Plagg a weird look. “Plagg, what are you talking about? Who’s Adrien?” 

“Adrien? Adrien Agreste!”

“Agreste? Is he a cousin I don’t know about? Did you hear that from father..... YOU DIDN”T SNEAK THROUGH THE HOUSE LOOKING FOR CHEESE AGAIN DID YOU?” Randy facepalmed revealing the craziest thing Plagg had seen all morning (and that was saying A LOT) On Randy’s hand was the cat miraculous.

Plagg was dumbfounded, he flew around Randy like a fly. 

“Plagg stop it! I’ll get you some camembert in a minute just let me get dressed!” Randy swatted at Plagg as he walked to the closet. 

“But, But!”

A female voice called out from outside the door. “Randall! You’re going to be late for school!”

“Coming, Nathalie! ” Randy shouted back as he put on his sneaker. He walked to the door and looked back at Plagg who was still trying to process all this. “Plagg, come on, I’ll get you some camembert at school.”

Plagg sighed and reluctantly got in the bag. Something was very off and only he seemed to notice! He could only imagine the trouble Adrien could be in right now.

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

“This is the best day ever!”

“Why is that kiddo?”

“To be honest, I can’t put my finger on it. I just feel so happy for some reason.”

Adrien devoured down his breakfast with a smile as Mr. long sat next to him reading the newspaper. “Well I’m glad you’re in a chipper mode Adrien, I can see that your dragon work can be very stressful!”

Haley ran in and took a seat at the table with a big perky smile, “Well if it’s stressful Adrien I could be the American Dragon instead!”

“Even Haley’s annoying comments can’t keep me down! I just feel so.....” Adrien looked up from his plate and took a good long look at Mr.Long, Haley, and Mrs. Long. “Grateful!” 

Mrs. Long came from behind Adrien and took his plate, “Well Mr. Grateful, I think it’s time to head to school. You can’t be late again!” 

“Don’t worry mom, I’m heading out now.” Adrien got up and gave each Long a great big hug and ran out. He popped his head back in the kitchen one more time, “I love you all so much!”

As Adrien dashed outside, Haley looked to her parents, “He’s seems a little different right?”

Mr. Long looked up from his paper, “I don’t know, I think it’s nice that Adrien’s in such a happy mood this morning.”

Mrs. Long put the plates in the sink, “I wonder whats gotten into him today.”

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

“FENTON!” 

Jake was running for his life, Dash was so going to kill him. “AWWWW MAN! Where’s a ghost when you need one!?!” 

Jake was so distracted with his Dash predicament he didn’t even notice Tucker and Sam in the hall until. 

CRASH

“Seriously Jake? You’re not only crushing my spine but I’m pretty sure you broke my PDA.”

Jake got off Tucker and offered him some help getting up. “Sorry dawg, I’m kinda on the run from Dash right now.”

Sam, who stepped out of they way before she could be crushed, couldn’t help but ask, “What did you do this time?”

“Well, I don’t have time to tell you the whole story but it involves Dash, his underwear, and a report on the history of the olympics.” Jake looked to his friends sheepishly. 

Tucker tried holding in his laugher while Sam hid her amused smirk. “Jake, why don’t you just turn invisible?”

“Oh, duh!” Jake turned invisible just in time to see Dash run pass. 

“You can run Fenton but you can’t hide!” He stopped when he saw Tucker and Sam. “You two! Where’s Fenton?”

“Who Jake?” Tucker asked with an innocent smile.

“Haven’t seen him all morning.” Sam opened up her locker and pulled out her books as if nothing happened. 

While still invisible Jake flew into Dash and had some more fun, “Hey guys! Let me tell you about the one olympic event only the Greeks had!” Jake as Dash pulled down Dash’s pants to reveal his boxers, “SWIM SUIT COMPETITION!” 

Dash’s yelling garnered a lot of attention from the other students and soon the whole student body surrounded Dash taking pictures and videos of the poor jock in his boxers. Jake left Dash’s body and soon Dash regained control of his body.

“Wh- What happened? Oh no.... it’s happening again. FENTON!” 

Dash ran down the hall with the whole student body following, when the coast was clear Jake turned visible again, “That’s about what happened about five minutes ago in Lancer’s english class.”

“Was that really necessary?”

“Well that’s what he gets for making me eat his underwear!” 

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

“Cunningham! Hurry up!” Howard had been waiting at Cummimgham’s door for 20 seconds, 20 SECONDS, he was getting impatient. 

“Wait a honking second Howard I’m coming! Nomicon’s being Wonk!”

“That’s weird...” Howard thought to himself. “That doesn’t sound like Cunningham...”

The door slammed and out came...

“Danny? What the juice are you doing here?”

Danny gave Howard a confused look. “Howard you were calling for me to get out and now your asking why I’‘m here?”

“No, I was calling for Cunningham, where is he?”

“I’m right here, Howard.”

There was an awkward silence between them for a moment, then Howard burst out laughing. “Ohoho I get it, this is some kind of joke, right? Ok where’s Randy with the camera?”

Howard expected Danny to laugh at the revelation of the prank, but he wasn’t laughing. “Who the Juice is Randy?”

Howard was getting a bit concerned now. “Randy Cunningham, My best friend, he’s the ninja!”

“Howard, I’m the ninja!” As Danny said this he pulled out the ninja mask from his pocket. “Now let’s go, if we’re late again, mom’s cutting my allowance for the rest of the month.”

Danny walked past Howard on his way to school. Howard decided to go along with this for now, he was sure that Danny was just keeping up the act, but just to be sure.. “Ok, if your Cunningham then how’d we meet?”

“Bathtub when we were 3.”

“Correct..... hmmmm Where do smoke bombs come from?”

The questions went on and on until they got school. The two walk through the front doors with Danny getting really sick and tired of Howard’s endless questioning.

“How about this, who was the-”

“HOWARD THAT’S ENOUGH!”

“Ha, so you admit you’re not Cunningham!”

“I AM CUNNINGHAM! DANNY CUNNINGHAM!”

“Hey, you two!”

The boys looked to see a girl with bright blue eyes and long, curly, ginger hair approach. “You’re going to be late to class! Get going!”

Danny nodded and started walking up the stair but Howard just gave this girl a look, “Who the juice are you?”

The ginger was taken back by this and Danny’s eyes widened with fear, he immediately dashed back to Howard and the girl. “I’m so sorry Penelope, Howard didn’t mean it. You see I think he hit his head last night or something cause he’s been acting super wonk this morning!”

Howard couldn’t believe what he was hearing, “No, you’re the wonk one Danny! Where’s Cunningham?”

“For the zillionth time, I AM CUNNINGHAM!”

“Enough!” The girl snapped at the two of them. “I’ll forgive this offense if you two leave now!”

“Yes Penelope, come on Howard!” Danny grabbed Howard’s hand and dragged him up the stairs. 

“Danny, who was the girl?”

“Are you messing with me right now Howard?”

“No I’m not! I’ve never seen that girl in my entire life!”

Danny sighed, “That was Penelope Beal, the student council president and the most popular girl in the whole honking school, how can you not know who she is?”

“Most popular girl in school? Then how come I’ve never heard of her?”

“Of course you’ve heard of her, everyone’s heard of her!”

Howard wanted so badly to fight Danny on this but he decided against it. If this was a joke then Randy would have revealed himself by now. Howard decided he’s roll with this until he could figure out what was going on around here.

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

In the Hallways of Norrisville High

“This is a disaster!” The ginger girl was passing back and forth, frustrated and annoyed. 

“My powers should have altered everything perfectly! But that stupid kid still has his memories of the old reality! WHY IS THAT!”

She stayed quiet and listened carefully, green stank soon surrounded her. “Our power is unstable my child.”

A butterfly mask appeared on the girl’s face, “Yes, I’ve never dealt with anything like this.”

“Likewise, just who are you?”

“I am Hawkmoth! and you are?”

“I’m the Sorcerer! Pleasure to cause chaos with you.” 

“Hawkmoth, Sorcerer,” they girl called, “What happened? Why is there still remnant’s of the previous universe here?”

“I’ve never joined my powers with another before, but I’m please with the power it has given you.”

“Even with the sorceress I could never alter reality the way you did, but the power’s unstable.”

She clenched her fists, “Meaning?”

Hawkmoth spoke, “Meaning that your power isn’t flawless and those flaws resulted in some imperfections in this reality.”

“Others are bound to notice the changes yo- we’ve made.”

“Well then, I’ll just find every imperfection in this world.....”

The ginger’s eyes changed from blue to a dark red, “And I’ll snuff out anyone who gets in my way.”

The two men laughed with villainous pleasure and left their combined effort to her own devices, changes are coming.... and they can’t wait to watch the world burn.

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

What happened to the quartet?

Who is Penelope Beal?

Why does she have connection to the Sorcerer and Hawkmoth?

Find out in part 2

(Whenever that comes out.....)

But seriously, I had so much fun writing this and I’d love to hear the feedback for the story. If you guys have ideas, head cannons, suggestions, etc. Please send them to me, I’d love to hear them.  I’ll try to continue the story as often as I can. I hope you enjoy!

[thekatebridgerton]

Are you familiarized with JQ other series? Like the Smythe-Smith quartet?

I have, yes, and I completely agree they are wonderful.

My favorite couple have to be Honoria and Marcus. in "Just like Heaven" and not just because of this hilarious scene in which Lady Danbury destroys Honoria's Violin. :

maybe Honoria and Marcus are my favorites out of all the Smythe-Smith couples because they are a little like Colin and Penelope. Not exactly polin, but friends to lovers is fun when Julia writes it.

I mean yes, I did love "A night like this" and "the sum of all kisses" and "the secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy" but out of all the Smythe-Smith Quartet. My favorite will always be Just like Heaven.

Also, fanfiction authors who follow me, do include the Smythe-Smith girls in your Bridgerton fics. My homegirl Iris Smythe-Smith would fit right in with Felicity and Hyacinth in a highschool au and its really a tragedy that Honoria and Penelope never got to be friends. I feel like Julia missed out on a great opportunity of collective friendship by having these women never really cross path with the Bridgerton 8.

and this has been the tea.

[official-weasley]

Happy FFWF ✨✨

What prompted you to write in the first place? Was it a book you read, a movie you seen, an event you didn't like and thought "hey I can do better"? How much has your style changed from the beginning until now?

Thank you and thank you for the ask! Such an interesting question🤔

Story time! (and I can't promise it's going to be short)

I studied English at college and I had this professor who constantly made us write essays. When he corrected them he always wrote a whole page of notes about our essay and he always complimented my writing but I didn't think anything of it because, honestly, I never gave it much thought. I didn't even know if studying English was the right path for me.

So one day, I ran into him in the hallway and he boldly asked me: "So have you started writing your book yet?" And I was like WHAT? And he started going on and on about how I am on the top of his class and that I should consider being a writer and I was holding back the laughter because I was 100% sure that he was joking. So because he was a really cool professor I actually asked him if he has lost his mind and he told me that he is serious and that I should go over my notes when I was younger and see what I wrote then.

I just blinked at him as he walked away my mind going: what notes? I have never written more than what I needed for school.

My mind being a person of its own, didn't let this conversation go so when I went home for the weekend I trashed my entire room looking for any evidence that I have written anything for fun that wasn't for school or something similar (I just wanted to prove him wrong) and then ate my own words when I found a whole chest full of notebooks that had so many short stories inside that some I didn't even remember. I couldn't believe that I was writing since I was like 10 but never put any thought to it. It was always just fun for me to come up with some dialogue scenes that I wanted characters in movies to say after I finished a movie or a TV show. I came up with all sorts of OC profiles for certain movies. Two that currently come to mind are an adoptive daughter of Lara Croft named Iris and Isabella Toretto who was the daughter of Brian O'Connor and Mia Toretto (before the movies went so far for them to have a family).

It was mostly fanfiction and short stories or one-shots because I loved to read it since back then and maybe that's why I never put much thought into it.

My English has improved a lot since then and I finally know how to spell THROUGHOUT and WHETHER and not weather😂

And my writing style changed immensely. I wrote in 3rd person POV for the longest time and now I enjoy writing in 1st person POV more because I find it more personal and a way to get into the character's mind.

I don't know what my writing process back then was but I know that I just sat down and started writing with no goal in mind at all. I am more disciplined now and I like to write chapter summaries before I even write the story so I have the outline. I am more careful and pay more attention to events in the story I am writing and I want my stories to have a meaning and some sort of a lesson for myself (original or fanfiction).

Back then I wrote mostly character profiles and one-shots and now I am struggling to keep anything short so I guess that has changed 🤭

It wasn't until my 3rd year in college that I started to write down notes for an original work (which is currently patiently waiting for me to return) that I truly got the spark back. I even discussed it with the above-mentioned professor and he gave me some beginner writing tips and even though that original story is far from being written (I don't think I am good enough to actually write a whole book yet and I think fanfiction is a really good practice) I couldn't stop writing from then on out.

I had a personal blog for the longest time which turned to a travel blog because I was planning to see half the world before this thing that closed us down came and ruined everything.

And because I had so much time during quarantine did I start writing so much more again and now I simply can't and don't want to stop because it makes me so happy.

Also, I will let you in on a little secret 🤫

I aspire to be a published writer one day in the future behind the mountain and with everything written above and the fact that I love discovering what my actions mean and why I love the things I love I wanted to know why I love and enjoy writing so much and it wasn't until I read the last book of The Giver Quartet - Son that I figured it out. I found the ending so beautiful and it was the first book ever that made me cry (happy tears) and I was just so overwhelmed and thankful that the book made my day and gave me so much life and made me feel better in so many ways. So when I closed the book I thought to myself: this was such an amazing experience, I want to write too so I can make people feel this way as well.

So, I guess to answer your ask in short: a professor started it all, my notes gave me the spark and the fact that I want to make at least one person smile per day is the reason I write almost on a daily basis🥰