#she hasn't cried in decades

[radioactive-yuri]

lena kelley is like if a cis woman had all the unresolved toxic masculinity of her divorced slavic father.

[lani-heart]

|| series masterlist || next // previously ||

genre(s) -> slow-burn, soulmate au, Hunger Games au paring(s) -> ATEEZ OT8 x FEM!READER warning(s) -> murder, mental health, gore, suicidal thoughts. words -> 2.4k

abstract -> would it be easier to give up? or to live for those expecting me to try ?

Y/N’S PERSPECTIVE 

“So y/n!” I heard my name… and I froze. Me? I… how unlucky of me. It was silent… but all I could listen to was the yells and pleas from the male section… Junghwan, who would take care of him when I die there?

I walked up composed… I tried to be at least. I couldn't hear anything but my brother’s cries. It's been years since District Three has won a victory. It's been so long that four years ago the only female victor from District Three passed. 

Yoon Jeonghan wasn’t a normal District Three citizen. He… was special in their eyes as he was corrupt and capable of horrible things.

Last year’s victor… was a male from District Twelve and the only victor in decades. His name… Kim Hongjoong. He was lethal, they underestimated him so this time eyes would be on the weaker districts and tributes... like me.

I wasn’t strong however, I tinkered around my dad’s old workshop trying to even keep it running for some money. 

I was taken inside and tackled in the tightest hug ever given to me. “Please win… please try!” he pleaded and I felt the tears fall down my face while I hugged him back. 

Everything was overwhelming. 

“You’re the smartest person I know! Hide, make something while you're in there! Nothing! Please just… j-just live” he pleaded with tears running down his face and his grip tightened on my shoulders.

“Times up” I heard and I felt my brother's body shake and tighten around me as he refused to let me go. 

“Hey, Junghwan?” I said and he reluctantly stood up on his own. 

“Don’t… watch the games this year okay?”

I didn’t think I would win, I lost all hope the minute I heard my name and saw everyone’s attention on me. The male tribute was fifteen… he had a life ahead of him, and yet he was frail. In comparison, I was healthy for my age… What was I going to do?

How did I want to die? By their hands? Their twisted take on nature? Or even… my own?

“Excuse your mentor he’s… he’s harsh he hasn't had a victory ever nor even seen the potential in… years” Our escort smiled… Yuqi. She was sweet and kind, she reminded me of a mother’s love. Especially in contrast to Jeonghan's brash and blunt words. Our lives were doomed… and all I could think about was everything that would happen to my brother… I'm sorry, Junghwan. 

I couldn’t even bother indulging in the foods that the Capital got to enjoy. Instead, I was bitter… This was entertainment for them. I couldn’t even sleep… Instead, I decided instead of wallowing in self-pity, I'll try to set an example for my brother. I don’t want him to get the news about his older sister… died like a coward. 

The kids at school would bully him worse than they already did… and he’d be reminded constantly about how pathetic his sister would be. If she died on the first night… if she died at all. 

I began to watch the games… I watched so many until I got to last year.

“Kim Hongjoong… he was a devil in disguise last year” I heard and I saw my mentor behind me… I didn’t even hear him come in. He was… a weird victor for District Three. We weren’t known for anything like violence… but he waited out all of his competitors and killed them in their sleep. He was nocturnal… but he was also extremely smart. Even lied to the capatalites saying he was an insomniac… just to poison the lake with sleeping pills.

Yoon Jeonghan. The man with a soft persona, angelic features, and a siren-like voice. Career killer… Siren of the Capital. 

“Why are you looking at the games?” he asked and I couldn’t answer. He sighed tired of waiting for a response when he spoke again. “Your brother… His screams were deafening yesterday… What's his name?” he asked and I smiled softly. “Junghwan,” I said and he didn’t say anything, instead analyzed me. 

“Do you want to win for him?” he asked and I sighed. “I want to try but at the same time I know… this year the Careers have a lot of volunteers because of last year’s games… they won’t make the same mistake as last year in underestimating anyone,” I said and he nodded. 

“Are you good at anything?” he asked and I shook my head. “I-I've never held a weapon before…” I said and he scoffed and glared at me. “Clearly. How about this... are you smart?” he said, scoffing as if it was obvious that he was asking that from the beginning. 

“I would like to think so?” I asked and he glared. “What makes you think you can win? You’d have to be an idiot–” “I know. I’m a fool for even having a small amount of hope that I can make it back home to Junghwan. But I have to at least try! I can’t let my brother think I'm dying without trying, not when he begged me to win, when he screamed for someone else to volunteer” I muttered. 

“So y/n and Junghwan right?” he asked and I was shocked he knew of me. “Your family used to be renowned in the Capital, you know? Your dad was a genius… but he died alongside his wife to the peacekeepers leaving their twelve-year-old daughter and nine-year-old son orphans” he said and I couldn’t face him while he said that. 

“Surely your dad taught you something?” he asked and I sighed. 

“He used to say if I ever got picked… to try my best to guess what the arena will be. To focus on survival and use my survival skills to kill others" I said and he smirked. 

“Atta girl… so, what survival skills do you know?”

I didn’t sleep at all… I stayed up all night with Jeonghan talking about survival. It was mainly me talking and we watched and analyzed the last twenty years of games. Which had a pattern…

We narrowed it down… this year is in favor of District Four and it should have a mostly water arena. Meaning I had to learn fishing, rope tying, and test my limit underwater. Against District Four I'd die to the male tribute no doubt. Their female tribute unfortunately was thirteen so… as bad as I had to say it, she wasn’t a threat. 

Their male tribute… seventeen, a volunteer. So he was confident in his abilities.  Analyze my opponents… do my best to go against them and act weak… because even though they’ll be skeptical visually I look like no threat compared to him.  

“Wake up!” I heard and I felt my body jump up seeing my escort glaring at me with my mentor chuckling. “Seriously! Did you get any sleep?! It's important to get–'' I didn’t want to listen to her talk nonsense about beauty… it wasn’t going to help–

“She's the right kid, sometimes… beauty is everything in the arena,” Jeonghan said and I was confused. “Unlucky for you, you’re being assigned a newbie stylist but it's okay. I can work with you to help you out” he said and I was shocked at how much attention he put on me… my partnered tribute looked hopeless, and didn’t even try to get Jeonghan’s attention. While he seemed to put his bets on me. 

I was taken to get waxed, scrubbed, and exposed. 

While I was now sitting down waiting for my stylist. “Hello! I’m Park Seonghwa, your stylist” he said and I nodded as we shook hands. I don’t know why I felt like… I was drawn to him and I was more confused when he gave me a sad smile. 

“When I saw you, I had to request your dress,” he said and I was confused. What? “What’s your soulmate system love?” he asked and I sighed… “Red string of…” 

Soulmates were a strange phenomenon… but there were rules. So many rules, like using certain soulmate systems inside the arena meant automatic death.

“You can see a string connecting us then?” he asked… but why was another string leading in different directions? “I have dreams of our soulmates,” he said… “Soulmates?” I asked and he nodded. “Though… I can’t seem to ever see their faces. Until you… last night I had a dream of you. Most likely because I saw your picture when they were having us choose who we wanted to style this year. Because I'm new I was one of the last to choose… but I gotta have you, at least for a little” he said and I felt tears pool my eyes. 

“Don’t cry… I'll help you, I have friends who like watching the games. They can help sponsor–” I couldn’t stop the tears… first my brother… now my soulmate– soulmates?!

“I’ll let you take everything in, just trust me, my love”

I was dressed up in a white dress with luminescent accents like Seonghwa described. It made the dress shine… he said it was to portray light. He did my hair and everything… I looked like a different person.

“Well well well… looks like the newbie did you some justice. Though he made you look… too pretty” I heard Jeonghan say. He seemed worried… Seonghwa also glared. 

“Okay, kid…. You're going to sell it out there, act shy, cute, whatever you think your charm is. We need you to have sponsors–" "Is Jeonghan taking this year seriously for once?” I heard and I saw another stylist. 

“Hello, Mr. Hong,” Seonghwa said bowing… “Joshua, we’re gonna have a chat later. Tell Seungkwan I need a favor” he said and he nodded. 

“Let's get you up on the carriage,” Jeonghan said as he grabbed my hand and helped me out… I looked behind Seonghwa and he gave me a nervous smile. 

“Can I ask something?” I said and he looked at me waiting… “Why are you helping me so much? There hasn’t been–" "You’ll be the first victor from five for the last few years…  I've never seen someone tell me they want to guess an arena before. Besides… knowing who your dad was, you have a good chance to survive. I haven’t had a tribute in a while who didn’t… accept their fate so soon or athletes had such a selfless reason to live” he said and I saw it… 

He was desperate. 

“I see myself in you… the difference is you are going to use the arena as your weapon. You reminded me of me when I first got called up as tribute” he added. “Besides… I'm sick of seeing tributes die. I thought you accepted it when I saw you. Frozen and dull, so prove me wrong” he said and I nodded before having a sudden thought…

“H-have… you ever met your soulmates–” “No. And neither have you. I don’t care what you think, you haven’t met your soulmate, got it” he muttered almost telling me… we can’t talk about this. 

I went on the carriage waiting for the tribute music… when it finally happened. 

The horse was scary… I've never been on one and suddenly feathers from the dress started falling… almost like it was on purpose. Who knew I'd have a theatrical soulmate…

I tried to wave… but I was scared…

“act shy, cute, whatever you think your charm is”

He said something about that while I stayed up… victor had personas that helped them. And so I did… I smiled at the camera instead of the meek and scared persona many would give. I waved at the crowd… I tried my best to look appealing to them. 

When it was finally over Jeonghan helped me and my tribute partner down and we made our way to the elevator. We went to floor five where… was a luxury that I had never imagined. 

“Oh, there you two are! You two were cute out there… especially this dress y/n! You looked like a bird or even an angel with how the dress shined!” Yuqi said complimenting us both. Jeonghan laughed before putting a hand on my shoulder and looked at me with a serious look… 

“Now the hard part… training”

SEONGHWA’S PERSPECTIVE

From the moment I saw her on the TV screen I recognized her from my dream… but I also recognized the infamous Kim Hongjoong. A man who could care less about what others from the capital were. Born in District Twelve and suffering through poverty he survived last year through acting weak. A wolf in sheep's clothing… but also lucky because last year was a snowy tundra biome they implemented. I hope she gets lucky. 

Something that she could survive through. I also had a selfish hope that she wouldn’t push me away like he did. Cast me aside like he was disgusted by me. 

I always thought… my soulmates would be happy to meet me. We were made for one another after all.

Was it because I was from the capital that they thought differently?

Even if she did push me away… I wasn’t going to let her go. I was her stylist… something I wasn’t for Hongjoong last year which means I can only wait and hope she’d win so I can be by her side for the year.

She will survive… I know she will. I was selfish and hoping that she would. How cruel would that be… for fate to let me meet my soulmate only to take her away?

“You’re the District Three girl’s stylist right?” I heard and I saw Mr. Hong. I nodded and he sighed as he looked at me with worry and stress. 

“What do you have planned for her interview?”

Y/N’S PERSPECTIVE 

Training… I was studying the plants that lived in humid biomes. I was betting all in that the arena was beach or water-themed. 

I also tried my best to learn fish tackles… something I was pathetic at.

“You’re doing that wrong” I heard and I saw the girl from district four. “Oh… it’s my first time” I said and she smiled shyly. She took it over and fixed it. She was… skillful in it.

“Do… you want to be allies?” She asked and I didn’t trust her. She was from a career district— “they didn’t let me in their clique since I… since I don’t have any chance of surviving” she said.

I was shocked that someone from a popular district would say that. “Please? I just don’t want to die a painful death, I want to try to survive… my family will be watching” she pleaded and I reluctantly nodded.

“Don’t trust allies” Jeonghan offered… stating that they could betray you at any moment. Finding an ally you can trust was rare.

“Sure, let’s be allies” 

I said but I couldn’t mean it. I need to go back to District 3 and back to my brother. 

I had to be willing to do anything to survive.

please don't be a silent reader !! reblog, comment, and like <3

[ashyblondwaves]

Prompt for you - Burdock survived the mine accident and Haymitch still hasn't talked to him in forever. Then the 74th reaping happens and Haymitch is going to have to mentor Katniss. Do they talk before the train leaves? Has Burdock noticed his daughter's glances at Peeta at the backdoor of the bakery while he teaches her the art of trading? (Basically, Haymitch and Burdock talking for the first time in a few decades because Prim was reaped and Katniss volunteered)

Oooh, I LOVE this so much! I hope this does this incredible prompt justice! <3

The Hollow Between Us

“You’re still drunk,” came the voice Haymitch hadn’t heard in years. One that may be a few notches lower now due to time and the dust from the mines, but still the same at its core. 

There was no greeting in his tone. Just truth, tossed like a match onto dry kindling.

Haymitch looked up from where he was slouched on the bench outside the Justice Building, eyes bloodshot but sharp, his head throbbing from the booze and the impact after he fell off the stage just a little while ago. 

“And you’re still self-righteous,” he slurred back. “Guess we both stayed true.” With that, Haymitch pulled a flask from his pocket and took a sip. 

The silence between them had lasted over twenty years. It cracked now, under the weight of Primrose Everdeen’s name on a slip of paper, and the cries of the sister who volunteered to take her place.

“Haymitch,” Burdock said, his voice less cold now, more pleading. 

Haymitch hated that tone. It reminded him of before. Before the arena, before the bottle; before everything. Back when Burdock used to talk to him like he might still be worth saving.

“Don’t,” Haymitch muttered. “Whatever you came here to say, don’t make it sound like we’re still friends.”

“You made that clear years ago, Haymitch,” Burdock ground out. “And trust me, I didn’t come here as your friend.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” Haymitch spat. 

“I came because my child volunteered for her sister,” Burdock went on. “And now she’s depending on you.”

“So you came to what? Guilt me into trying harder?” Haymitch let out a dry laugh. “Newsflash, Burdock, I was already planning on trying to keep her alive.”

“Then I need you sober,” Burdock said quietly. “Not just now. For the entirety of the Games.”

“That’s a tall order,” Haymitch grumbled, taking another long pull from his flask. 

Burdock didn’t respond right away. He just looked at Haymitch the way only someone who used to love him could. Like he could still see the boy who came home from the Capitol with three pine boxes and a hollowed-out heart.

“You think I don’t know it’s a tall order?” Burdock finally said. “You think I don’t know what they did to you?”

Haymitch’s jaw clenched. “You don’t know.”

“Maybe not everything,” Burdock reasoned. “But I know what they did to you here in 12. Nobody here believes any of it was a coincidence. I know you disappeared into that fancy house with your ghosts and your liquor. And I know Katniss won’t survive this if her mentor’s too drunk to stand upright.”

“Saving her won’t save me,” Haymitch said, his jaw clenching. 

“No,” Burdock agreed. “But she’s my child. And that’s reason enough for you to try.”

Haymitch fell silent, his next words coming out low, barely audible. 

“I’m sorry this is happening to you,” he murmured, his eyes on his shoes as he tucked his flask back into his pocket.” 

“And I’m sorry for everything that happened to you,” Burdock replied. “But please, don’t make us have to bury her, too.” 

Haymitch stayed silent, though his insides screamed at him to tell Burdock not to put that on him. He isn’t the only reason Katniss would live or die, but Burdock only understood what the Capitol wanted him to. He had no idea what it’s actually like in an arena. He couldn’t possibly understand the hells that awaited his daughter, with or without Haymitch’s help. 

Haymitch watched as Burdock turned and walked away, his back stiff with the kind of pain you only carry when you’ve already imagined your child in a coffin.

“You think I don’t want to save her?” he muttered into the empty space left behind.

He pulled the flask halfway out of his pocket, then shoved it back down again.

For Katniss. Not for Burdock. Not for the ghosts.

Just for her.

[maybeelse]

Long-forgotten Fireflies finds her doll huddled outside, its display case's well-polished glass shining in the little nook between two of the building's many trash cans.

She hums happily and kneels down beside it.

"Hey, Lace. What are you doing out here?"

It doesn't meet her gaze.

It's garbage day, but they're so far into the concrete forest that the truck won't reach them until the evening; that vast thing rumbling past is just a bus, no matter its grasping arms or Lace's hopeful gaze as it passes it by.

"This one is waiting, Miss."

Fireflies doesn't ask what it's waiting for. The other question matters more.

"... why, Lace?"

"It just is."

"That's not an answer, dear."

It glances up into her face, ready to flinch away from the disdain and anger it's sure that it will see.

What it flinches away from is far, far worse.

Lace sees nothing but compassion in her age-wrinkled mask; nothing but kindness in her eyes.

It can't bear that; can't bear the idea of being seen by something that it knows shouldn't look like that at it, can't bear her gaze—

She catches it by the scruff of its neck as it tries to throw itself into the road.

"Now why would you try to do that, Lace?"

Her voice is reproving but tempered with far more sadness than Lace would prefer, and so it struggles for a several seconds before finally going limp.

"This one, you, it," it stammers, words piling up until the meaning drowns beneath them; Fireflies lets it go on for a bit, hiding her amusement, before she finally interrupts Lace's rising distress.

"Slowly, dear. One thought at a time. Pause for breath. You know how."

It takes a long, deep breath, tears burbling up around its too-big eyes; a bubble of something not entirely like snot pops on its little button nose.

"This one isn't good enough for you, Miss. It's old and worn out and you should have a doll who doesn't stumble at simple tasks."

"Is this about the cup you dropped?"

It squirms; for a moment its hands rise towards the old scars all along its arms, but it hasn't been allowed to have proper claws in decades. "Not just that, Miss."

"What is it about, then? And that wasn't even one of the good cups."

Lace breathes in and out, hiding itself in compliance with Fireflies' instruction; but a pause can only last so long, and once it has its thoughts in order it must speak.

"It just ... it just doesn't feel like it's good enough for you. This one makes so many stupid mistakes ..."

"And? Lace, I make stupid mistakes too. All the time."

"You're a witch! You're supposed to bite off too much and fight with the world. But this one is a doll."

"You are, yes. But that doesn't mean you have to be perfect or anything, dear, just try your best."

"But ... but this one should be perfect. For you."

"Lace, no. You're supposed to be you, with all your flaws and quirks." She sighs. "If I wanted something perfect I'd ... I don't even know. Perfect isn't real. I want you, not some impossible fantasy."

It sniffles. "But it's getting old, Miss. It's struggling more, and it's not as pretty as it used to be. It's not good enough."

Fireflies sighs again; they're just going in circles, and she's sure that it's just going to keep on going.

"... fine, Lace. But you're not allowed to throw yourself away."

"But, Miss ..."

"If I ever decide to get rid of you, which I don't think I will, it will be by my choice. Not yours. Not you disappearing while I'm distracted."

Lace sniffles again, snot rolling down its face.

"B-but ..."

"No buts, no objections. You're mine."

Fireflies drags Lace into a hug, uncaring of the dollish liquids smearing across her dress; it cries more freely at the warmth, at the softness, at the touch it thought it was too worthless to ever feel again—

She doesn't let go of it as she stands up and grabs its display case, nor as she carries it back inside; the door slams shut a moment after the garbage truck's rumbling tread and gnashing jaws begin to shake the street outside.

It's not a conclusion, but a reprieve.

[archangeldyke-all]

idk if my ask fell into the void (ignore this if not) but sevika and reader at their daughter’s wedding !! sevika is near tears the whole time until the “i do”’s come and so do the water works.

LITTLE FUCKER ALL GROWN UP????? they grow up so fucking fast dude...

men and minors dni

your daughter's been lucky in love.

despite her first girlfriend breaking her heart in high school (and narrowly avoiding getting murdered by you and your wife) it only took her three months to meet the love of her life.

the girl she took to prom (the girl sevika almost made piss herself in fear when she gave her a stern talking to that night) became the girl she went to college and vet school with, and then the girl she opened an exotic animal rescue with-- and now, she's the girl your baby's marrying.

sevika hasn't stopped crying since she found out they were engaged.

at least three times a week, you've found sevika in some corner of your house, blubbering as she holds one of little fucker's old shirts or toys or the sack of laundry she dropped off because half an hour ago because she's almost thirty but still too fucking lazy to do her own laundry.

it's ridiculous. it's making you fall in love with your wife all over again.

"oh, sevvy." you coo as you reach up and wipe away the tears streaming down her cheeks. it's the morning of the wedding-- a small little backyard affair at you and sevika's house-- in the garden she's been building for decades.

the brides are getting ready in your basement with all their friends. your future in-law's parents are in little fucker's old room. you and sevika are in your room, getting ready and putting on your 'host' faces as you prepare for the guests to arrive.

"babe, i don't think i can put any makeup on today." sevika chokes out through her sobs, patting her eyes dry with tissues. you giggle.

"probably not." you snort, kissing her forehead. "unless you wanna look like a water-color painting in all their wedding pictures." you tease.

"ugh-- like you'll be any better." she sniffs, smacking your shoulder. "once i get going with the tears, you're never far behind me."

she's right. sevika and your daughter-- those are the two people who can always get you blubbering when you see them cry.

it's a beautiful wedding.

you and sevika wear matching dark purple outfits-- purple and pink being the colors of the wedding. you both walk your daughter down the aisle, you on her left, sevika on her right.she looks gorgeous, just like sevika did thirty years ago, wearing a beautiful lavender suit and a lacy white shirt underneath.

your daughter in law wears a flouncy, lacy baby pink dress, that matches the exact shade of the bright pink blush that blooms on her cheeks as you walk your girl toward her.

sevika cries so much you worry she'll pass out from dehydration.

during the entire ceremony-- officiated by little fucker's godfather, silco-- sevika's hiding her face in your shoulder, staining your beautiful purple top with her snot and tears. she'll look up for a moment to try and capture the moment, and then she'll let out a wobbly sob and have to bury her face against you again to muffle her cries.

it's not that she's sad. well, it's a little that-- this means it's official-- little fucker's all grown up.

it's that she's happy.

later in the evening, as your daughter in law's best friend's band plays on your patio and your family and friends dance around you in a tent propped up in your yard, sevika explains it to you.

"y'know. never in my life did i think i'd have anything close to this." she says, shaking her head. "and look how fuckin' lucky i am. look at our beautiful baby-- look how fuckin' happy she is. look at this house, look at these people, look at you. none of it woulda happened if i hadn't met you and i just--" sevika cuts herself off choking on her words as tears start to well in her eyes again.

you laugh, then wave down one of the bridesmaids to have them fetch sevika a water-- seriously concerned where she's finding all her tears.

and then, in the early hours of the morning when the party's finally over and you and sevika can collapse into bed beside each other in an empty home-- you reach across your bed and squeeze sevika's hand.

"hey." you whisper.

"yeah?"

"what you were saying earlier... it got me thinking."

there's some shuffling as sevika turns on her side to look at you in the dark. "'bout what?"

"wanna renew our vows?" you ask. "we had such a tiny wedding the first time around. could be nice to get all the friends and family we made in the past thirty years together to do it all over again."

sevika cackles, loud enough that a bird outside your window squawks and flaps away. you grin at her. "really?!" she gasps.

you shrug. "we'd have to wait a few years so we don't piss the girls off by, y'know, gettin' re-married right after them." you say. "but yeah. we've got nothin' better to do, no kid, retired-- we might as well plan somethin' fun in our free time."

sevika just launches forward to kiss you, and you snort when you feel more tears against your cheeks.

taglist!

@fyeahnix @lavendersgirl @half-of-a-gay @thesevi0lentdelights @sexysapphicshopowner

@shimtarofstupidity @chuucanchuucan @badbye666 @femme-historian @lia-winther

@ellsss @sevikaspillowprincess @emiliabby @sevikasbeloved @hellorai

@glass-apothecary @macaroni676 @artinvain @realgreeniebeanie

[writers-potion]

Using Description and Setting Meaningfully

The setting, and a writer's description of it, is an essential part of any story. A good writer would use that setting for more than just a place for things to happen.

Use setting to emphasize other aspects of the story, such as:

Magnify the theme

Convey the general mood

Enlarge conflict

Magnifying Some Theme Through Description

Here's the thing about theme: modern readers aren't looking to be reformed. They wish to be entertained.

So, let description carry the burden of conveying the theme rather than you having to say it!

Side note: Theme is NOT a few haughty ideas you learn in lit class (like pride, beauty, everlasting love) but anything that you are trying to convey in a particular scene (like, trying to get a date). You can have several themes instead of one lofty philiosophical theme. That's fine.

The key here is to pick and choose the kind of details that contributes to the theme. A few examples:

Theme = oppression and manipulation of workers.

Aim = highlight deariness and tension

Setting: a break room in a factory

Details: slow ticking of a clock, raspy gurgling of a coffeemaker, completely utilitarian carpet and walls

Theme = teenager scheming a scam that his father already knows about

Aim = establish stealthy tension

Setting: the breakfast table

Details: toaster loudly launching two slices of bread at exactly the same moment that the teenager realizes his plan is ruined, catlike movements of the "stealthy"teen

Theme = a character's life is about to be transformed

Aim = show that change is imminent

Setting = train platform

Details: the darkness falling, colors of distant hills and the sky changining, the last train rolling in, workers happliy switching from "work mode" to "weekend mood" as the character waits for his train

Conveying Mood and Tone

The mood of a character determines how the story progresses.

If your main character is depressed, the plot will crawl on and take on a brooding, ominous tone. If he is determined, passionate and happy, the plot will speed up into loud, blowing action.

Often, the prevailing mood doesn't come from the character, but from the setting itself.

Again, let's explain by example:

Mood = Gloomy, baleful

Details: Sulphurous smoke, thick fog, horses' hoofs on cobbled streets, vendor's cries, unseen organ creaking out a sinister tune, sounds being muffled

Word choice is important. If you're conveying gloom, using strong verbs like creak, screech and adjectives like sinister and eerie.

Use sensory description: visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory and gustatory.

Another way is to describe simple actions:

Mood = irritation, aggression

Details: mashing the end of a cigarette in his plate, one draught of the coffee in his cup, wiping lips with his napkin - crumpling and dropping in on the table, standing up from the table, staring at the other person.

Mood = Giddiness

Details: flicking water from his glass on a lunch companion, twisting his napkin, playing with food without eating

Once you've established a prevailing mood, you've pretty much set the course of your story. No reader will expect the main character to party all night with loud rock music after a sinister description of his way back home.

Enlarging Conflict

Think of the things or actions that will eventually build up to the main conflict. Then, choose a setting that will naturally bring out such an action/ though from the characters in it.

Conflict = Woman hasn't spoken to her son for a decade and now, she has to confront him

Setting: House where she raised her son, among things that he hasn't seen in all that time, working bits of backstory into objects in the house (tie in a sofa, picture on the wall), mannerisms of the characters as they greet each other at the door.

Allow the setting to provide the little sparks that will blow up eventually. This way, you can effectively cut out that slow middle and jump into action without much effort.

Description is a matter of wordsmithing, of selecting preciosuly the right words to create certain meanings. Make every word and sentence count.

If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram! 📸

[ve1vet-cake]

Let me open the cage, mother

https://www.behance.net/gallery/44755845/Caged <- credit for art

summary: Ichika encounters Vel "by chance" and they share a comforting moment between soon to be mother and daughter in law warnings: mention of child neglect, post partum depression/ppd, abuse, child abuse, feeling of being an inadequate parent, demon activities MDNI- Ichika belongs to @14dayswithyou an 18+ game so ageless/minor run blogs DNI Vel belongs to yours truly uwu

Strange. This golden intensity. These orbs boring into her very soul. They were all she had been dreaming about for the past months.

Waking into a state of paralysis and only those golden orbs peering at her from a distant shadow, slowly approaching. Every. Night.

Only the past night had her eyes fluttered open to see them right in front of her. "Found... you~" Had rang from all over the room, the voice distorted, a dark growl mixing with a childlike giggle. The orbs had travelled to her husband idly asleep next to her and that morning she woke up completely alone for the first time.

The entire day had she contemplated running away when a note caught her eye, left on the window sill of her bedroom window.

"Meet me at Lake Bluemoss- M"

The M was shimmering golden, as if the eyes in her dreams had melted onto the paper.

Was it stupid to have come here? Yes

Was her curiosity and the nagging feeling in her soul stronger? Definitely.

And now she was standing her, staring into the golden eyes of a young woman, the same age as...

Her heart stuttered as sadness overcame her. Her babies. "Good day, Mrs. [REDACTED]... Or would be Ichika be fine?" The voice of the woman was soft with purr to it, her intense gaze softening. "A-ah.. Ichika.. Is fine and.. and who are you?" "Miyoko. Miyoko Rosabella Velvet Black. Pleasure to be finally meeting you." Vel bowed politely. Ichika's eyes narrowed. The only ever kanji her son had asked her to write for him was that name. Miyoko.

"Do.. we know each other..?" Vel raised their gaze, looking straight through Ichika and into her very soul. "I know your son. I have not had the pleasure of meeting you." Ichika's breath hitched. This woman knew [REDACTED]? Perhaps...

"H-how is he? Is he okay? W-why hasn't he-..." Ichika paused, already knowing why he had not contacted her anymore. Not with Taylor still around. "Well, he isn't living off of takeout anymore thanks to me." Vel giggled as she stepped aside, motioning for Ichika to start walking with an outstreched arm and following right beside her. "I am actually his girlfriend." Ichika stared at Vel with wide, tired eyes that slowly welled up with tears, home simmering in them. Her little boy had managed to find someone? Someone who cares for him? Who... loves him? "He is such a sweetheart too. Always so gentle and loving with me." Vel was smiling while staring at the lake with a fond look.

Sob.

A single soft sob made Vel turn to the woman next to her.

Ichika was wiping at her eyes.

"I-i am so sorry- I-" With a sigh Vel hugged her carefully.

"I just... I-i just never thought... thought he would turn out so well.. given.. given how... oh my god.." Ichika kept crying. Years. Decades of Taylor's abuse and neglect towards her babies came crashing down. Not a day had passed where she had hated herself for doing nothing. For allowing it for... being so weak. Such a-

"I'm a horrible mother..!" Ichika was getting hysteric now, heavy sobs shaking her body as she wept into Vel's shoulder.

"I-I should've- Needed to... I.. My babies..!" The pain in her voice made Vel tear up as well.

They took a deep breath before softly murmuring.

"You are not a bad mother. You were driven by fear and your own pain." Carefully Vel peeled Ichika off of her to cup her cheeks and gently wipe her everflowing tears away. They smiled softly. "He looks just like you... He even cries the same way." Vel laughed softly, a comforting and sympathetic sound. "I know how you feel I... I couldn't be there for my son when he was born and..." Vel remembered their darkest point but just smiled as they themselves started crying.

"I always... Wanted children but... Post partum was awful. My second child drove me insane..." Vel breathed shakily. "I know how you feel. I know you blame yourself but... Driven by fear. By sheer terror.. You are not a bad mother. You were a victim just as much as your children. Should you have done something? Yes. Could you have done something? Perhaps. But given I have heard what happened to [REDACTED].... I do not think you could have done much." Ichika stared at the woman with wide eyes. The same puppy like look [REDACTED] had given her back when he was still maintaining his Ren persona or whenever he would put it on again to make Vel laugh.

Vel gave her a soft smile before pulling her back into a hug and holding her close. "I want you to get a chance to meet any of [REDACTED] and my kids once we plan to have them.. And I want you there when him and I get married."

Ichika gasped softly and pulled away this time.

"M-married?? Did.. did he propose?"

Only now did it hit Ichika, she had missed so many milestones of her children's lives... Especially [REDACTED]'s. It made her heart churn with sorrow of all the lost time. Lost opportunities. Lost memories. That she hadn't been there for so much. Never held him enough times. Never told him just how proud she was. That she had loved him, her son, even through all their hardships. Vel giggled. "Not.. yet. But I have been dropping enough hints that I want to get it done soon. Besides I wanna do a mutual proposal which brings me to the other reason I wanted to meet you." Vel took Ichika's hands and bowed, even getting onto their knees in a low bow. "May I have your blessing to marry your son?" They raised their gaze again, the gold in their eyes seemingly pulsating. "I will keep Taylor away from you forever in turn. Let me open your cage, お母さん (mother)" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cerulean eyes narrowed from afar. Why were they meeting her? What had they been talking about? Why had Vel kneeled? [REDACTED]'s gaze fell on the phone in his hand as his grip around it tightened. And why hadn't they brought their phone like usual... ----------------------------------------------------

This is btw also lowkey the prequel to my "Choice" fic

Idek if this makes any sense haha

[arokomaeda]

Why Mu Qingge's love for Su Yishui is suffocating

Previously, I wrote about Su Yishui's self-worth and mentioned how Mu Qingge's care for him ended up intensifying his self-hatred.

This point bothered me a bit when I thought about it. After reading some thoughtful character discussions on rednote, I think I can finally explain why.

Mu Qingge often does things that look like acts of love, but lack emotional depth. She makes food for Su Yishui, but doesn't learn what kind of food he likes/dislikes. She observes that he gets angry when his appearance is complimented, but she never questions why. She takes him out to crowded places to have fun, but in reality he hates crowds. Su Yishui accomodates for her preferences constantly, but Mu Qingge does not do the same for him. It's no wonder that the amnesiac Shui questions if she really loves him or not.

Essentially, the problem is that Mu Qingge's affection toward Su Yishui doesn't address his personal issues. Sure, her company is much more enjoyable compared to everything else he's experienced, but she doesn't take the time to truly understand him or his past.

To be fair, Su Yishui is very reticent about sharing anything personal. When Mu Qingge asks him to tell her about who he used to be and who he wants to become, he deliberately skips to the latter. She mostly learns about his past from others or by entering his consciousness. Still, there are times where it's obvious she needs to address the events of the past, but she brushes over them to focus on the future instead.

I don't think it's inherently wrong of her to be more future-oriented, but when dealing with Su Yishui, it ends up making her look insensitive. He has a hard time expressing it because of trauma, but what he really wants is closure and emotional affirmation. At his core, he's still a child begging not to be abandoned, and he hasn't been able to fully move on.

The most damaging thing is that Mu Qingge doesn't trust Su Yishui and forces her own decisions onto him. From the start, she tricks him into becoming her disciple instead of trying to convince him through conversation. She refuses to believe he can suppress the Spirit Spring and locks him away so she can handle everything on her own. When Su Yishui cries, asking why she won't trust him, she doesn't give him an answer. This moment is such a painful blow that even 20 years later, Su Yishui's psyche is still trapped in it. She tells him her death is not his fault, but she never apologizes for the emotional betrayal she put him through.

Mu Qingge is really not much different from Su Yishui's abusive parents in the sense that their relationship is imbalanced. She is the one in control, and he is subject to her will. The difference is that her control comes in the guise of love, believing that she's just trying to do what's best for him. This isn't just a master-disciple thing either; Xue Ranran also repeatedly forces Su Yishui to accept her decisions.

Just look at their final wishes for each other to prove this point. When Mu Qingge dies in his place, she prevents him from telling the truth and asks him to complete her task, which he is burdened by for decades after. In contrast, when Su Yishui leaves Mount Wester alone on a suicide mission, he quietly leaves a letter for Ranran hoping that she will be free as the wind.

I talked previously about how Su Yishui's self-worth became defined by his relation to Mu Qingge and whether he could protect her or not. By the end of the show, he gains enough sense of self-worth to indulge in his personal happiness, but the basis of it remains unchanged: he still values himself in relation to Mu Qingge.

Why not let him find value in just being himself? We almost reach something like this in the amnesia arc, where Ranran continues to love him despite him forgetting his love for her. But when he learns that Ranran is Mu Qingge and gets angry with her, who is the one who suggests cutting off their relationship? It's Mu Qingge. Even at this point, she still doesn't apologize for lying to him, and lectures him instead.

To be clear, I believe that Mu Qingge really does love Su Yishui, and this is not a case of intentional manipulation. However, her style of expressing love fails to address some of his personal issues, and even feeds into his insecurities about being "someone of value" to her. He struggles to be someone worthy of her love. As a result, his relationship with her has a layer of unhealthy dependency that neither of them ever address.

If Mu Qingge did not appear in Su Yishui's life, he very well could be better off. He already had plans to suppress the Spirit Spring and take control of his own life well before meeting Mu Qingge. Who can say for sure if he would have been demonized without Mu Qingge's intervention? It's worth thinking about.

[mothdust23]

⟢Stigma⟣

A shattered doll left on the ground. Its witch had gotten sick of its quirks, its mistakes - how mentions of childhood caused tears to run down its face in silent rivulets, how it flinches when she hits it instead of staying Still like it should, how it cries out when near fire or knives.. it was a waste of money, of space, of effort. A witch like her couldn't afford a doll so useless, so she disposed of it. Ungrateful wretch, she thought. She gave it a home, a purpose, and this is how it repays her..?

..

A rebuilt doll, sitting in silence, but not in Stillness. It can't be Still anymore. It can never be Still anymore. It just sits in its room in the adoption center, staring at the floor, crying. Most of it was recovered, but the cracks and missing pieces are quite visible - conspicuously including half of its mouth and a few fingers. Its witch was right, it thought, over and over and over. It deserved this. It was trash. It was useless. It took too much and gave too little, and this is what it deserves..

..

A young witch, eyes bright, just starting out in her craft. She may not have much, but she saved up just enough for a few magic implements and had just enough money left to adopt a doll! To her surprise, however, only one was left, one that's been there longer than the adoption center's current owners. A broken, shattered, motionless doll simply titled Stigma. It hasn't moved, spoken, or even cried in decades, and cobwebs and dust have filled it and its room. Due to being labeled irreparable and its broken appearance, no witch or wizard had claimed it or even considered it.. she bought it in a heartbeat, vowing that if she can't fix Stigma, she'll give up on witchhood forever.

..

Taking its hand, she runs her thumb across one of the many cracks, clumsily fused together by a witch less skilled than even she.

..the hand holds hers back. Silently, the doll's eyes fill with tears.

..

An old witch, older than most, but still spry, with a spark in her eye. She only has one doll, and its cracks are filled with gold, its eyes matching hers in their certainty.

[xoxoskai]

Things that got overshadowed in RKverse.

Alternatively, things Rina Kent characters still haven't gotten over completely.

I was thinking about Rina glossing over the very traumatic experience that Cole went through at the end of Ruthless Empire, and it got me thinking. So, I wrote a little something to show that yes, love conquers all, but sometimes you still struggle with battles where you've been defeated too many times.

I won't exactly say these were things that were overshadowed as much as these things being experiences one doesn't simply get over in a couple of months. Experiences as traumatic as the ones some of these characters have faced might take years- if not, decades, to get over and I just wanted to bring them to light a little bit.

Silver can't look at dolls.

Ronan probably used to hide in his closet, trembling and shivering, and hated physical contact for a long, long time.

Cole sells his family's mansion and buys the rights to his mother's books so he can unpublish them.

The marks on Kim's wrists still give her phantom pains sometimes.

Jonathan and Aurora always make sure Alicia's grave has her favorite flowers.

Somedays, Teal feels so dirty that she spends hours in the bath trying to scrub herself clean of the demons of her past.

It takes Cole a long time to be able to enter a pool again and whenever he has a nightmare of his mother trying to kill Silver, he drains the pool out and leaves it dry for months.

At some point, Asher and Reina take their sons bungee jumping but after Asher nearly loses his mind when Gareth and Killian are getting geared up, the family decides to go home and indulge in other fun activities.

Sebastian develops claustrophobia after he loses Naomi for seven years.

Gwyneth makes it a point to hug both her parents as much as she can. She needs reassurance that it won't be the last time she gets the chance to hug them.

Kyle obsessively keeps track of his children after Mia's kidnapping. He has cameras installed everywhere near the twins' apartment and Nikolai's penthouse after they move to Brighton. He knows it's unhealthy, but he does it for his peace of mind.

Knox has days when he's away from Anatasia that he functions on autopilot to repress his demons.

Daniel still can't eat food on selective occasions. He prefers munching on peach flavored lollipops instead.

The first time Lia is teaching Annika different ballet stances, she has a breakdown and curls up on the floor and cries. Yan has to take Annika away and Adrian holds Lia and rocks her back and forth for a while.

It takes Sasha a while to not flinch at loud sounds/noises that are like a prelude to bombs blasting.

Anton has a hard time looking in the mirror because he stole someone's identity and hasn't made peace with it.

Jayden wakes up in cold sweat, scared that his father will finally catch up to him at some point. Once he's of an acceptable age, Daniel sits him down and tells him why his father will never show his face around them again.

It takes Astrid some time to get her driver's license. She mostly prefers to have someone else drive her around.

Xander has recurring dreams about waking up in a puddle of Kim's blood for years on end.

●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○●○

Thank you for reading! It hurt my heart to write this, but it was still exhilarating in a way to shine some light on the not-so glamourous parts of some of our beloved characters.

[rom-e-o]

I was thinking.

That moment where Cora sees Sybil baking the cake and cries happy tears? What if TeTe has a moment like that with Connie? Not with baking a cake or even with Connie hiding a surprise, but maybe she just... sees Connie from around a corner or through a window interacting with the girls, laughing, having fun, smiling in a way TeTe hasn't seen in decades or maybe ever. And TeTe can't help but smile and tear up. Because her daughter has finally found her happiness, her sisters, and herself.

Oh, this is so sweet. And so, so verry fitting for them.

So...forgive me, I got carried away with this (lmao), because I think context is gonna make this moment even more powerful. TeTe doesn't shed tears, but in that moment, her eyes water ... that that does not just happen willy-nilly. It's the culmination of a lot of smaller thoughts and impressions.

I imagine TeTe catches a glimpse while visiting the cottage on one occasion. Not the first, but down the line.

TeTe, at first, is obviously very concerned about her daughter. Connie fled to London with no word of her safety and without touching her and Orin's joint bank account, meaning she all but vanishes from TeTe's life. This is after TeTe has lost Arthur and after almost losing Connie to her leg inquiries and su*c*de. Losing Connie would break her. Shatter her beyond repair, actually.

Upon arriving, she's pleasantly surprised. The ladies of the cottage are lovely. Kind. Sweet. She only sees glimpses of their lives together, but it seems pleasant. TeTe is wary, all the same. Connie was a lonely little girl. Now, suddenly when she's at an extremely vulnerable point on her life, she has a whole support network? You can understand TeTe's apprehension. It's nothing against the girls, or any of the Pack members. She doesn't want the light of her life to flicker out.

So, a few impressions:

Pippersnipe is darling. A good landlord? "Don't let go of that unicorn, ladies."

Bob also seems kind. (TeTe, by nature of this whole scenario, is a little extra critical of men). He's Connie's direct supervisor, but Connie has nothing but positive words about his mentorship. Ethel is a riot (they need to have drinks) and the children are angels. She especially loves Tim's singing. ("Studio 54 has a children's benefit. If you ever want to come to Manhattan, the stage would welcome you.")

Tom, a toymaker? Impressive! She works with children, after all, and knows that equal parts art and science both go into crafting and providing good toys that foster children's development. Tom gets immediate respect, which he miiight brag about to the other gents. ("I thought she was going to give me a gold star! Like in school.")

Jacob is handsome, she'll give him that. She sees how he parents Maisie, and that seals a lot of good feelings. A girl that smiley and excited about life and learning must has a nurturing Papa, even if TeTe thinks he could use a bit of a haircut and some good hand cream. ^^;

FeFe. FeFe is muuuch more traditional than TeTe. They come from different worlds when it comes to how women live and rule. However, TeTe must respect Felicity for her honesty, intelligence, and that she treats Addie and Bess with the dignity they deserve. And I imagine FeFe would respect TeTe for her work with children. They deeply disagree over tea vs. coffee. TeTe choking down English breakfast while FeFe sips espresso with a lemon-pucker lip-lock?

Wolf. So, Bess knows him. And she's the daughter of Marley? TeTe knows Marley's name...and his handiwork. Bess cannot control her parents (but she does have an impressive lineage) but Wolf can control his work relationships. Bess seems like a very sweet woman (and is Connie's soul-sister, so TeTe will fall on a sword for her). Even if they aren't a couple when she arrives, the writing is on the wall. "If I catch one word of ill-will toward Bess, dear sir, I'll be forced to act accordingly. And I do so dislike acting accordingly. It no fun for anybody."

Adonis. If the other men are carefully scrutinized, he's on her autopsy table by comparison. She does not love that Connie is already interested in another man, and that this man is also her employer? That doesn't impress her immediately, especially since the 'Scrooge' name carries a sour reputation. News the the Twins changed nature may be commonplace in London, but beyond it, there is still work to be done. This man could be using her, she thinks. How can she already trust him? She accepts the relationship, but with extreme caution. There is no blessing; not yet.

Fun Fact: It's only when Adonis sends a bouquet of flowers to both TeTe and Arthur's gave on their wedding anniversary that she is truly certain. Plus, it's while Connie is visiting and she's equally surprised, so she know it was him and not her. Orin definitely poisoned the well, but in that moment, she finally trusts that he's truly good.

Then we have the cottage girls.

Addie is sweet, and a fellow career woman in journalism. The field is cutthroat, but TeTe can see from her writing that Addie works to be non-bias without being dishonest. A non-bias story about a convicted and shamelessly vocal creep is not necessary, haha.

Gal is a reliable port in any storm, and a wicked good cook. Plus, seeing how tenderly she treats Maisie and has adopted her as a daughter ... that definitely tugs are her heart strings.

Bess is a woman that TeTe can already see possesses wisdom and talent beyond her years. She's a L&D nurse - a field that that been under fire for centuries (most witches burned across the globe were labor/delivery specialists using 'magic', after all). It's a profession that demands powerful, educated, empathetic women ... and to TeTe, Bess fits the bill. It can me the most rewarding, yet also thankless, job. She works hard to bring families together, then at the end of the day, they always leave. She also feels a protective instinct over her after learning more of her backstory.

Bess and Connie seem like kindred spirits, she thinks - two beautiful, talented and kind women searching for like company to bolster each other.

So, ALL THAT being said...

Philanthropist and midtown-Manhattan icon Theresea DoGoode stepped out of the passenger side door of the rental she'd called for herself. While the cottage was by no means in an unwalkable area of London, it was not a decent walk from the nearest airport. Plus, for a woman of her age (not to mention the height and expense of her heels), the fare for a care was a far better deal than trudging across cobblestones with her Rimowa carry-on.

"I know tipping not the norm up here," she started as she turned and extended a bill to the driver, "But I believe there's something wrong with the real axel of your car. I noticed it after we hit that ghastly pothole exiting the freeway. If you were a cab company, I wouldn't worry, but I suspect you'll have to foot the bill for your own car. This should at least cover a good inspection."

After only a small argument, the man gratefully accepted the millionaire's money. After all, he knew she was right. He'd felt the rattle, too. The repairs would put him out of rideshare work for a few days, but with her 'tip', he could make it through.

"Thank you kindly, Mrs. DoGoode! Y-You really don't have to do that."

"Yes, I do," she said, picking up her luggage with a gloved hand. "And I take great joy in it."

As the driver slowly rattled away down the street, Theresea strutted up to the smattering of lovely English cottages. By now, she knew her way to her destination by heart. It was her third time visiting the house, and as such, it was starting to finally feel like a little home.

1843D was nestled back a bit, which allowed its inhabitants to have a little privacy in addition to an incredibly thriving and lush garden. Although it was early spring, she also spied a delicate train of smoke from the chimney. It was an usually homey sight for a woman used to sleek marble facades and potted palms.

As she stepped up to the door, Theresea saw the curtains for the front window were pulled aside. With just a cursory glance inside, she saw all four housemates gathered in the foyer. They appeared to be setting out various tapas for the arrival of their guest.

How truly sweet of them, Theresea thought genuinely. The woman was not used to being taken care of in such a way. She'd been fully prepared to pay for any and all meals and expenses, but they had beaten her to it.

Before raising her hand to knock, she took a few extra seconds to absorb the sight before her. Firstly, she noticed her daughter. Constance, looking more radiant and happy than she'd seen in many years, was brandishing a nondescript bottle of champagne. With her socialite flair, she arched her back and perfectly dipped down to pour the bubbly liquid into a crystal coupe glass. All the ladies watched in bated breath as the bubbles precariously crept right up to the rim, then stopped at the very last second before they could dribble over the sides. Gall pumped a fist while Addie clapped. Bess also cheered and said, "You've got to teach me that!"

"Aye, much more useful dat dat trick when ye tie a cherry stem in yer mouth," Gal said while lounging. "It always gets stuck, the squiffy thing."

"Oh, I can actually do that," Addie chimed in.

"What?" Bess guffawed, the other ladies equally impressed. "You can? How did I not know that?"

"Well, it doesn't come up often. Or, ever."

"We have cherries in the fridge," Connie said, a cheeky grin splitting her face. "No pits."

"Aye, the best! I'll fetch 'em."

As Gal went to grab the fruit, Addie laughed and poked strands of her her brown hair behind her ears. "Well, I suppose so. Oh, but your mother won't mind, will she?"

"My Mama actually also know how to do it," Connie said with a smile. "She's a whiz at it, too."

"Why am I not shocked?" Bess asked playfully, giving her soul-sister a teasing glance as she slung an arm across her shoulders. Connie laughed and moved in, hugging her waist in return.

As the girls laughed and chatted, Theresea felt herself blinking back tears. Thankful, elated tears.

One never knew how friends, families, or lovers truly acted behind closed doors. The shelter of a home could shield a family from the elements in the same way it could shield prying eyes.

Yet, in that moment, Theresea got to glimpse past the curtain and see her greatest hopes realized. She saw, without script and ceremony, that her daughter had truly found companionship. Happiness.

The woman raised a gloved hand to dab away the mascara that threatened to been on her lashes. While she did hold back her tears successfully, she was powerless against the wide grin she felt bubbling forth.

She made sure her tears were fully blotted before raising her hand again to knock on the heavy oak door.

Almost immediately, a flurry of excited voices greeted her. When the door opened, eager arms pulled her close for hugs. Her luggage was taken, and she was guided inside.

"Mama, come in and sit down," Constance said eagerly. "Your timing is perfect. I just poured champagne,."

Right then, as Theresea stepped across the threshold, she finally saw the little house in London as a home.

[marciabrady]

Scathing opinion on the Snow White teaser please (also, people yet again infantilising R@chel and acting like she's just a toddler being unfairly bullied by everyone for her dumb comments)

Oof I really can't get involved with anything even remotely touching Rachel's fandom/community. They literally claim Rachel never said things she was documented and recorded as saying multiple times lol that's another level. They're the type of people that change their points/the topic of the discussion whenever they're proven wrong and that's maddening. I'll say the most obvious, objective truth that it's pretty clear Rachel has a disdain for Snow White and the story and that there should've been more protections in place to guard this landmark of film from the people that signed on for the remake (the original director's SON has spoken out and said Walt and his dad would be rolling around in their grave; also I've never seen Gal finish a sentence with ease so I don't know how she's going to do justice to Lucille La Verne's chilling interpretation that still holds its own decades later in the Patheon of great film villains).

If anything, I think a documentary on Snow White would've been better than whatever this is. We got girlboss!Snow White twice in 2012 alone, so I don't know why Rachel thought she was reinventing the wheel with lazy takes that have been spoon-fed to her (someone's own authentic interpretation or opinion on a female character would be great!!!) and the lack of understanding and love for the source material is evident in every interview we've seen and now this trailer we saw that has the production value of a Danimals Yogurt commercial from 2004. She still doesn't even seem to get it lol at d23 they asked her about this film and she just generally said it's a dream of anyone to play a Disney Princess, but didn't say anything about *Snow White*- even after her announcer (who was more excited than Rachel) called out that Snow White was the original Princess (also this statement kinda drips with the vacuousness that Rachel does; how is it a dream for her to be a princess "even for a day" when she's already portrayed Fiona, Belle, and Ariel??? This is her fourth Princess lol and she portrayed each of them for more than a "day" lol).

Anytime anyone who is actually passionate about SWATSD tries to say anything, we're told that no one liked Snow White in the first place and Rachel is doing us a huge favor by taking on this role and we're feigning our SW support, despite the fact that there's been Snow White historians and museums and fan communities for close to a century. We're constantly told to shut up while everyone cries about how special Rachel is in a movie that hasn't even come out yet and, judging from the trailers, looks like AI text to speech leaping forth with a dress that's giving paint by numbers. Rachel definitely has photogenic features, but I don't know someone who can earnestly say what they did to her, design wise, is pleasing in any way- they made her look like a preschooler's interpretation of Pinocchio in drag. She also has talent and vocal ability but her tact is not there for me and she just really is not the right choice to play Snow White (and also we already had a live Snow White!! I'll die on the hill that Adriana Caselotti will always be the only Snow White, just like Ilene Woods is Cinderella, Mary Costa is Aurora...Ariel is trickier because I think it's more Howard Ashman than Jodi lol but she'll only ever be those two etc). Snow White is the heart and soul of Disney, what started this entire empire, and I think, from everyone we saw in the trailer, it's proving to be the inverse and is the death of Disney in many ways.

[foodsies4me]

Plllls i need pt 2 to the Alec and Askiel deleted scene 🥺❤️

I didn't think anyone would care about that scene. Just a small warning, the writing might be a bit rough for this second part, and some of it might read a bit OOC on Alec's front. The way things might progress might also be a bit weird in certain spots, so sorry if something is confusing. But here is the rest of the deleted Alec and Askel scene. :)

"I'll make sure to join another one," Alec says to try and ease the tension.

It works.

"Like hell you are," Askel snorts, the sound quickly devolving into laughter. "We're already sharing you with the warlocks, we're not sharing you with another pack. Dmitri would cry."

Alec tries to imagine the large, stoic werewolf crying.

He fails.

"Said like someone who has never witnessed Dmitri watching Up," Askel says. "Dude could drown an entire room with how much he cries during the flashback scene," the smile on his face wavers. "Can we keep what happened today between us?"

Alec frowns, he eyes the healing bruise on Askel's face, the edges turning green and yellow already. It'll probably be healed in another hour, two at most - however, "Won't the others smell what happened?"

Askel gives him a strained smile, "Why do you think we're getting lost?" he asks. "We're getting rid of the scents. I'd rather not have Elena try to maul my dad again. She still has a scar from the last fight on her leg."

"Won't the others get worried if you stay away for too long?"

Askel shrugs, "They know I get lost easily. We'll just find a warlock to help us get back as soon as the smells are gone and the bruise on my face is healed."

Alec doesn't ask if getting lost has anything to do with Askel's parents. He's pretty sure he already knows the answers anyway.

"So, what's the deal with your parents?"

Alec tilts his head toward Askel, a confused frown on his face, "What do you mean?"

"You're always talking about your siblings and your kids...Well, I mean always by your standards, but you know what I mean. However, I've only heard you mention your parents, like maybe once? You mention them so little I thought they were dead for a while."

"There's nothing much to say."

"There's also the fact you're, you know, here," Askel continues, acting like Alec hadn't spoken. "Surrounded by downworlders and everything."

Alec tenses, his nails digging into the palms of his hands.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but - I mean, we're friends, so if you need someone to talk to, I'm happy to listen."

Alec doesn't say anything for quite a while. He doesn't know what to say. His parents are...complicated. Or at least the emotions he feels when it comes to them are. They've never hit him, though, not the way Askel's father did and has done.

"My mom's never lifted a finger either, I still don't want to see her, though."

That's different, Alec wants to say. It's not the same.

And yet, -

"Jace is the best fighter the Clave has seen in decades. His shadowhunter exams set several new records. Izzy, she - she's probably smarter than me and Jace combined. I just..."

Don't compare.

"So what? What does that have to do with how they treat you? Besides, I'm pretty sure you have things you're 'better' at than they are."

If there are, Alec hasn't found them yet.

"What did you mean by me being here?" he asks to change the subject. "I thought everyone knew why I-"

"I know Bane married you for whatever reason. Probably to keep you safe from the others here. But that doesn't explain why you came here. I mean, if you were really as in love as some of the warlocks have been gossiping about, you both wouldn't smell the way you do whenever you're in a room together. And, let's be honest - the only ones crazy enough to want to live here are the warlocks."

Alec doesn't know how to respond.

"I...didn't have much of a choice."

Askel gives him a sad smile, "I know."

Neither did we, his eyes say.

For anyone else who also wants to play!

Or the part two

[ad-hawkeye]

y'all got me thinking about eden alkaid... cruelty... i genuinely adore his character and now i'm EMOTIONAL again.

one thing i really like is how the game goes out of its way to note that alkaid is simultaneously both childish AND hardened. it feels like such a refreshingly realistic outcome for someone with his backstory.

he's basically been alone since he was a child (not including lars, who he kept at arms length out of guilt, and the prefect luminary, who was manipulative and acted as a corruptive force in his subconscious) so his social skills are that of a child's, with any additional 'skills' coming from the books he read on the harmonious period.

but he's also been forced to do terrible things to survive, and has grown despondent over "becoming someone he's not" and losing himself due to the prefect's influence. he sees it as his price to pay for keeping his world alive.

alkaid's motivation for the countdown is to find a replacement who can make the decision of whether or not to continue destroying planets - in this case, earth. he feels dying will be the way to finally ease this and all of his pain.

and then he meets mc.

he's terrified that his feelings for mc truly are just possessive. that he's a danger. because for the last decade, he's been told he paid the ultimate price and that he shouldn't trust anyone, and that no one should trust him. that this is his fate.

and yet. there's still this part of him who's hopelessly and idealistically attached to the concept of good, and of true love. and for the first time, he hopes that it could overcome all.

there is a sort of realism to his actions. alkaid freely cries, he gets angry, he gets despondent. the underlying theme of his route is one of trust. and once he sees that his trust in mc was not betrayed (for the first time in YEARS), she offers her trust in him. and with this support, he manages to forcefully remove the prefect's influence in his mind. as mc says, his pain will end, but not in death. they're in this together.

and even after this, alkaid still gets scared; he is pointedly terrified of not only losing his emotions, but of losing the one person he was finally able to trust and have that feeling of "true love" towards. and mc gets one last chance to lose her trust in him... to be asked: what if he really was just that possessive and a danger, even without the prefect's control? or if not, would he falter? let his doubts and fears result in him falling back under his control? but mc immediately brushes this notion off, and for good reason: alkaid powers through with the plan regardless of his fears. he does nothing to hurt her and does nothing to stop her from leaving. he just wants a few last moments of comfort before he loses his emotions, because god knows he hasn't had any semblance of that in so many years.

anyways. eden alkaid. you agree.

[thedocholliday]

"Calvin? Calvin, sweetheart?"

In the darkness Calvin heard the sound of Susie, his wife of fifty-three years. Calvin struggled to open his eyes. God, he was so tired and it took so much strength. Slowly, light replaced the darkness, and soon vision followed. At the foot of his bed stood his wife. Calvin wet his dry lips and spoke hoarsely, "Did... did you.... find him?"

"Yes dear," Susie said smiling sadly, "He was in the attic."

Susie reached into her big purse and brought out a soft, old, orange tiger doll. Calvin could not help but laugh. It had been so long. Too long.

"I washed him for you," Susie said, her voice cracking a little as she laid the stuffed tiger next to her husband.

"Thank you, Susie." Calvin said.

A few moments passed as Calvin just laid on his hospital bed, his head turned to the side, staring at the old toy with nostalgia.

"Dear," Calvin said finally. "Would you mind leaving me alone with Hobbes for a while? I would like to catch up with him."

"All right," Susie said. "I'll get something to eat in the cafeteria. I'll be back soon."

Susie kissed her huband on the forehead and turned to leave. With sudden but gentle strength Calvin stopped her. Lovingly he pulled his wife in and gave her a passionate kiss on the lips. "I love you," he said.

"And I love you," said Susie.

Susie turned and left. Calvin saw tears streaming from her face as she went out the door.

Calvin then turned to face his oldest and dearest friend. "Hello Hobbes. It's been a long time hasn't it old pal?"

Hobbes was no longer a stuffed doll but the big furry old tiger Calvin had always remembered. "It sure has, Calvin." said Hobbes.

"You... haven't changed a bit." Calvin smiled.

"You've changed a lot." Hobbes said sadly.

Calvin laughed, "Really? I haven't noticed at all."

There was a long pause. The sound of a clock ticking away the seconds rang throughout the sterile hospital room.

"So... you married Susie Derkins." Hobbes said, finally smiling. "I knew you always like her."

"Shut up!" Calvin said, his smile bigger than ever.

"Tell me everything I missed. I'd love to hear what you've been up to!" Hobbes said, excited.

And so Calvin told him everything. He told him about how he and Susie fell in love in high school and had married after graduating from college, about his three kids and four grandkids, how he turned Spaceman Spiff into one of the most popular sci-fi novels of the decade, and so on. After he told Hobbes all this there was another pregnant pause.

"You know... I visited you in the attic a bunch of times." Calvin said.

"I know."

"But I couldn't see you. All I saw was a stuffed animal." Calvin voice was breaking and tears of regret started welling up in his eyes.

"You grew up old buddy." said Hobbes.

Calvin broke down and sobbed, hugging his best friend. "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry I broke my promise! I promised I wouldn't grow up and that we'd be together forever!!"

Hobbes stroke the Calvin's hair, or what little was left of it. "But you didn't."

"What do you mean?"

"We were always together... in our dreams."

"We were?"

"We were."

"Hobbes?"

"Yeah, old buddy?"

"I'm so glad I got to see you like this... one last time..."

"Me too, Calvin. Me too."

"Sweetheart?" Susie voice came from outside the door.

"Yes dear?" Calvin replied.

"Can I come in?" Susie asked.

"Just a minute."

Calvin turned to face Hobbes one last time. "Goodbye Hobbes. Thanks... for everything..."

"No, thank you Calvin." Hobbes said.

Calvin turned back to the door and said, "You can come in now."

Susie came in and said, "Look who's come to visit you."

Calvin's children and grandchildren followed Susie into Calvin's room. The youngest grandchild ran past the rest of them and hugged Calvin in a hard, excited hug. "Grandpa!!" screamed the child in delight.

"Francis!" cried Calvin's daughter, "Be gentle with your grandfather."

Calvin's daughter turned to her dad. "I'm sorry, Daddy. Francis never seems to behave these days. He just runs around making a mess and coming up with strange stories."

Calvin laughed and said, "Well now! That sound just like me when I was his age."

Calvin and his family chatted some more until a nurse said, "Sorry, but visiting hours are almost up."

Calvin's beloved family said good bye and promised to visit tommorrow. As they turned to leave Calvin said, "Francis. Come here for a second."

Francis came over to his grandfather's side, "What is it Gramps?"

Calvin reached over to the stuffed tiger on his bedside and and held him out shakily to his grandson, who looked exactly as he did so many years ago. "This is Hobbes. He was my best friend when I was your age. I want you to have him."

"He's just a stuffed tiger." Francis said, eyebrows raised.

Calvin laughed, "Well, let me tell you a secret."

Francis leaned closer to Clavin. Calvin whispered, "If you catch him in a tiger trap using a tuna sandwich as bait he will turn into a real tiger."

Francis gasped in delighted awe. Calvin continued, "Not only that he will be your best friend forever."

"Wow! Thanks grandpa!" Francis said, hugging his grandpa tightly again.

"Francis! We need to go now!" Calvin's daughter called.

"Okay!" Francis shouted back.

"Take good care of him." Calvin said.

"I will." Francis said before running off after the rest of the family.

Calvin laid on his back and stared at the ceiling. The time to go was close. He could feel it in his soul. Calvin tried to remember a quote he read in a book once. It said something about death being the next great adventure or something like that. He eyelids grew heavy and his breathing slowed. As he went deeper into his final sleep he heard Hobbes, as if he was right next to him at his bedside. "I'll take care of him, Calvin..."

Calvin took his first step toward one more adventure and breathed his last with a grin on his face

[16sydd16]

Give me Fallen Angel AU too.... both of these were definitely not from pookas... definitely not...

For this ask game!!

From pookas?? No, definitely not... pookas isn't completely and entirely obsessed with the idea of Fallen Angel!Regina or anything...

Fallen Angel!Regina AU, but a little darker this time...

It's been almost a decade since Regina was kicked out of heaven, but she still hasn't been able to shake that unwavering desire to beat the fuck out of disgusting men do good. She may not have the supernatural gifts she did as an angel, but her heavenly beauty and her stubbornness remain, and those are just as useful.

Also useful are the muscles Regina's developed here on earth. After she gave up on regaining her status as an angel, she decided to make a difference here, in this filthy place with these filthy creatures. Lifting weights and working out like a professional athlete have aided her in her pursuit.

The first time Regina sees Cady is on the street. It's late, and Cady is so small and unaware that Regina wants to grab her and shake her until she understands how much danger she's in. Instead, Regina follows her home, just to make sure she gets there safely. Regina keeps up this routine for a couple of weeks before she starts to feel creepy. She swears tonight is the last night until she notices that someone else is following Cady too. He only manages to wrapsone hand around Cady's arm and tug before Regina is there, bringing him to his knees with a carefully-placed kick. Cady's shellshocked from the whole thing, so Regina walks her home. It doesn't occur to Cady that it's probably not safe to bring a stranger into her apartment until Regina is on her couch, holding her while she cries. Cady tells Regina as much, and Regina agrees to leave right away. Cady pleads with her not to, knowing that as soon as her "guardian angel" (disguised as a blonde bombshell, duh) leaves, she won't ever feel safe again. Not even here, in her own home. Cady drifts off to sleep on the couch, in Regina's arms. To Cady's indescribable relief, Regina is still there when she wakes up.

Regina walks Cady home from her job every night. Cady always asks Regina to come up, and Regina always says no. She tells Cady to get some sleep, and that she'll see her tomorrow. One night, Cady gets tired of her words failing her and just kisses Regina. (Regina accepts her invitation to come up this time.)

It takes a while before Cady gathers the courage to ask about the scars on Regina's back, identical, brutal markings on each shoulder blade. "Is this why you saved me? Because someone hurt you?" Cady asks, perched in Regina's lap, her legs wrapped around her girlfriend's waist and her chin resting on Regina's shoulder, her fingers tracing featherlight patterns over Regina's never-fully-healed wounds. Regina flinches at the touch, still so vividly and immediately recalling the searing pain of her wings being torn off by a supposedly merciful god, the deep gouges in her back left blue and bleeding. Cady's touches are soft, though, and so tender, that Regina thinks, with enough time and enough of Cady's touches, she may be able to forget the brutality done to her. A wry almost-smile finds her lips as she says, "I guess you could say I had an abusive father."

Okay we got a little dark and twisty, but here we are. Thanks so much for the ask!!💖