#the other side of the coin • [ writings ]

[an-entity-i-think]

"I have a secret."

Arthur looks up from a report and glances across the room absentmindedly to Merlin holding a dagger he was polishing in his lap as he watches Arthur with a tilt of his head.

Arthur huffs a laugh, "Is it that you're secretly a girl?"

Merlin's lips tick upward for just a moment before continuing his stare.

Arthur watches him for a few moments, and then puts his quill down.

"You have a secret." Arthur repeats seriously.

Merlin just smiles, a small one, "I have a secret. It's an important one. But I can't tell you the secret. And I can't tell you why I can't tell you."

Arthur squints his eyes as Merlin looks down to keep polishing.

"Are you in danger?"

Merlin pauses to think which makes Arthur clench his fists in worry, not that he'd say that.

"...I suppose," He says slowly, thinking over his words, "But it's to my understanding- at this time at least -that it's no more or less dangerous for me whether you know or not. I do think it may be more dangerous for you if you know though."

Arthur hums and watches Merlin's face but sees nothing but earnestness as they meet eyes across the room.

"And why do you tell me this?"

Merlin just smiles again, but bigger this time, "I've decided I trust you with it. I trusted you before of course," he add hurriedly as if Arthur would ever think otherwise,

"But I just realized that I trust you with this, too. And this is something I've never trusted anyone enough to share it with- before I mean. And if it comes up, well, I'd rather be able to tell you that I can't tell you then to lie to you. So, this is me telling you there's a secret."

Arthur looks thoughtfully before raising one eyebrow along with a ghost of a smirk on his face, "So you have a secret you can't tell me. But you trust me with it. When do I get to hear the secret?"

Merlin leans his head on his hand as he looks sideways at him impishly, "I will tell you no lie if you ask."

Arthur hears the unspoken words bright as day:

I'm not going to say anything by myself cause I don't think it's time yet, but I will tell you the truth regardless if you so choose.

Arthur hums to himself before nodding once and then twice, ignoring the giddiness in his heart.

Picking up his quill again, he says, "You missed a spot," so he can hear his manservant squawk from across the room, "I'm not finished yet, you prat!"

They meet gazes one more time with matching fire in their eyes and grins on their faces before resuming their activities.

It's nice to be trusted.

Magical Reveal Sequel: Here

[wander-clover]

Forced Normalcy

[glambots]

Kind of a personal HC, but I really like the idea that Moon speaks in "we/us" pronouns and Sun speaks with "I/He" pronouns. Moon is constantly of the mind-set that he's a part of the DCA and no matter how badly Sun wants to pretend that he can, he can't just erase him from existence. And Sun, of course, wants to do what he can to try and separate himself from Moon as much as possible. Sure, he's technically him, but He's the other him, which makes him not as bad, right?!

[hiraya-rawr]

Alright, let's talk about Kaeya's red flag.

tw// toxic relationship ramble, not a character analysis // he keeps testing you

Kaeya doesn't believe in genuine people— it's just the way things are. One way or another, there's always an underlying goal or a mask on a face. It isn't a pessimistic or paranoid thought, he just believes that people function on benefits— similar to how he functions.

(Diluc might just be the only genuine person he believes in. His brother is a special case— anyone else though? No.)

So the day you, his little side crush for funsies, confesses your feelings, he's quick to test just how genuine your feelings are. What do you want from him? How much are you willing to take?

Oh? You won't mind him hanging around other people in the taverns, right? After all, he's done that way before you came into his life. It isn't quite his fault when drunk flirts cling to him.

He drinks a lot too. And his activities as cavalry captain are rather ambiguous, reaching the odd hours of the night. Are you asking him to change for you? To be more transparent? Isn't that a little too much? He loves you, he really does! But you're demanding quite a lot, y'know?

The start of a relationship with Kaeya can be rocky. He tests you, as if unbelieving that you'd genuinely want him. He tests your patience when you'd wait up for him to come back from "work", he tests your pride when he teases you, subtly humiliating you for staying in something so blatantly unstable.

"I don't even need to treat you well yet you're here."

He would tell you he loves you but he'd also take it back in an instant. The type to smile at you and ask "Why are you even with me, hmm? Could it be you like these types of rendezvouses? Isn't that rather shallow of you?"

And you'd bite your lip and stay quiet because you still love him and this isn't like the Kaeya you knew before at all. Regardless, it isn't always tense between you— most of the time, Kaeya lovingly stares at you. He holds your hand, tightly, as if afraid you'd let go first. He'd bring you gifts and take you out and all the other things a lover does.

You only need to make Kaeya realize you're being genuine, and he'd drop down his walls for you.

[grendelsmilf]

also i think making the mundane guy version of pb a sweet, earnest baker who came up with the candy kingdom as a gimmick for his pastries instead of an arrogant stem bro with an IQ of a gazillion was a very good call. being a loner genius who thinks the miserable puzzle of existence can be solved through science and self-isolation is very a charming look on a woman (at least, i think so) but is almost always extremely insufferable when applied to a man.

[gothicprep]

thinking about how i used to read r/nosleep pretty often from the time I was like 17 to the time I was around 22, and I think I’ve concluded that there are no good “creepypastas” that don’t completely bend the genre to the point of almost entirely discarding it.

i think my favorite thing ever posted there is “left/right game” and like. sorry. if you take out the bookends that are meant to qualify it for the board – which are the least necessary parts of it – it’s just an experimental science fiction epic.

when I think creepypasta, I think camp horror. or dubious literacy. not that.

[queen0fm0nsterz]

I think the way the Lady and the Thin Man became a lot more enjoyable to me as a duo when I stopped believing Six to be the Lady needs to be studied in a lab

[wildflowerteas]

writing chapter titles is one of my favorite things ever. i put it off to the very end so it's like wrapping a neat little bow over everything i've put together oh it's so satisfying

[woahjo]

whenever i tell a guy im talking to or considering going out with about my favorite author and they realize she is a feminist contemporary writer and a woman they always have this little "oh..." moment that literally makes me feel insane. and then the next question is almost always "have u read (insert male author who writes women like cardboard)?" like! valid question! but i can tell you lost interest the second i revealed that i primarily read and enjoy books by female authors!

[immortalconclusions]

One thing that's very unique about Anne's writing is that she was able to tell some of the most profound and impactful stories in the Chronicles in such a short span. Think about it, the following three stories have captured the hearts and minds of fans more than any others and they're so short in comparison to the length of the books they are in!

The (happy) Rue Royale years - 10 pages

Nicki and Lestat - 27 pages

The Devil's Minion - 28 pages

How is that possible? I would say 80% of book fanfic is based on one of these three chapter fragments. They're all self contained and galvanize meaning to the rest of the text they're in. It's really kind of amazing.

[imogenkol]

— WIP SUNDAY

tagged by @inafieldofdaisies and @detectivelokis thank you!!

no pressure tags (and also tagging from the wip wednesday I missed last week! Sorry for any double tags too!): @marivenah @socially-awkward-skeleton @jinfromyarikawa @voidika @aceghosts @simonxriley @nokstella @risingsh0t @corvosattano @shegetsburned @shellibisshe @roofgeese @adelaidedrubman @sstewyhosseini @florbelles @jacobseed @jackiesarch @minaharkers @indorilnerevarine @chuckhansen @queennymeria @shadowglens + anyone else who wants to share a wip!

been loosely working on some post murder attempt confrontation lately

Luthen stood before them and appeared unbothered by the presence of Imogen. She hadn’t quite pegged him for a fool at first. Even in the moment she realized his betrayal, she wondered what grander scheme he had in play. Now at the sight of his true arrogance, she was not so sure that Luthen’s intelligence was up to par. It made her feel annoyed at herself for not coming to that conclusion sooner. 

Oh well. She would make him sorely regret his egotistical motivations.

In the span of an instant, Imogen ignited her saber and lunged in a full swing. She stopped her attack mere inches from hitting its mark and expected to see something in Luthen crack. 

He remained unfazed and held her furious glare. “What will it be?”

“Imogen,” Bix warned. Her hand cautiously reached out like how she might soothe a cornered predator. “Let’s just leave.”

“This coward attempted to have me killed,” Imogen said calmly, the words dripping with malice. “He tried to take me from you.” 

The aura of her crimson plasma blade hovered so close to Luthen’s neck that his skin started to singe. He did not flinch – did not so much as blink. “Do you know why?” he asked.

Imogen had every mind to strike him down. To cause a fear that ran within him so deep that it finally shattered his steadfast composure. Or more simply, to get even. “Enlighten me.”

“This rebellion needs heroes,” Luthen explained, his tone methodical. “And do you know what makes a hero? Someone who is willing to sacrifice everything for the cause, not just their decency. You are not a hero, you are a broken tool from a lost time. I used you until you were useless to me and I tried to kill you because I knew you would never let go of your impulsive need for control. The Empire still has roots in you, Imogen. That is something I cannot allow into this alliance.”

Strangely, her first thought drifted to Cal Kestis. The two of them would have become weapons disguised as peacekeepers for the Republic had the Order not fallen. Even after the destruction, they clung to the conditioning of their childhood – albeit in dramatically different ways. And yet, after all this time, they both had developed into something more than just broken tools without purpose. If the Empire still had roots in her, then the Jedi must have as well.

She glanced at Bix, who stared the older man down with an edge that burned as intensely as the saber. Hardly anyone believed Imogen possessed the capacity for change. In fact, no one besides her did. But the way Imogen’s chest seized every time she looked at her mechanic was proof that she could.

Imogen switched her lightsaber off. “What if I were to prove you wrong?”

The hint of a smile flashed across Luthen’s face. “You wouldn’t be the first.”

[an-entity-i-think]

Sequel to "I Have A Secret"

When the magical creature finally dropped, everything paused for the tiniest of moments.

Well, paused for Merlin who had a small moment to breath in relief that he stopped the creature right before it was about to swipe Arthur with a fatal blow.

Sir Kay, on the other hand, who saw the incriminating golden eyes like everyone else in the small group, didn't pause at all, turned his body towards Merlin already preparing to swipe his sword.

"No!" Gwaine yells from too far away.

Ducking quickly, barely missing the sharp edge, Merlin doesn't even stutter before running to Arthur and then hiding behind him while breathing heavily as he stands back to back with the prince while curling his hands into the cloth of the blonde's breeches.

Arthur finally blinks and seems to unfreeze from where he'd stood since he'd almost been killed by the beast and then saved by his apparently magical manservant.

"Huh."

He surveys the situation.

Merlin has magic and is currently hiding behind him. Sir Leon is looking at them unsure, Sir Gwaine looks like he's ready to kill Sir Kay and also maybe him or Merlin by the way he keeps looking at them.

Feeling the trembling warmth pressed against his back, he very calmly lifts his sword.

"Gentleman. What seems to be the problem?"

He pointedly keeps his sword up in a way that can be used in any direction, but Sir Kay gives him an appalled look anyways, but Leon stares at him for a moment before nodding to himself and putting his sword down.

Sir Gwaine on the other hand, looks at Merlin in frantic worry, looking like he wants to start inching forward.

Arthur feels like Gwaine is probably safe but he doesn't know for sure, so he gives Gwaine a Look anyway which... obviously gives him a scathing glare back.

"Your Highness," Sir Kay looks at him with worry and Merlin (still behind him) with anger, "He's a sorcerer."

Everyone seems to hold their breath in front of him, but Arthur just looks at them for a few more seconds in blankness.

Did they think he just... didn't notice? He squints his eyes.

Looking side to side, Arthur just deadpans, "I mean... yeah. I thought that was pretty obvious with the golden eyes and yelling a spell two seconds ago."

Merlin snorts behind him. The hands still entwined with his breeches seem to loosen as Arthur feels the back against his own start breathing easier.

Arthur's lips try to trick upward, but he tries to keep them down.

Gwaine, still quite clearly running on adrenaline, looks back and forth between them before landing on Merlin, "Merls, are you sure you want to be standing there, right now?"

They both look at him with tilted heads.

Merlin hesitantly replies, "Um... yes?"

His hands squeeze for just a moment, making Arthur frown at Gwaine.

Gwaine, just squints his eyes, before pressing forward, "And you're not scared? You're okay?"

Blinking owlishly, "Uh. I mean. I was scared that Arthur was going to die? And I guess I was scared of Sir Kay for a second. But... I'm doing pretty good..." There's a small pause, "...How are you?"

Sir Leon lets out an uncharacteristic snort before covering his mouth as he tries to hold back a laugh to himself.

Gwaine sputters, "I meant scared of the Princess!"

They, again, both look at him in confusion, "Arthur? Why would I be scared of Arthur?"

Sir Kay and Gwaine both seem to bluster in the same way (for opposite reasons?)

"Cause he's the prince!"

"He's just Arthur."

Arthur makes an offended face, "I'm not JUST anything, Merlin!"

Merlin finally lets go so he can watch him as he smirks, "Oh yeah? What do you want to be instead of Arthur then? I guess if we count a few minutes ago, you can be a damsel in distress instead~"

Arthur looks back at him with a sputter, "You can't talk to me like that! I'll put you in the stocks!"

Merlin just smiles at him mischievously, "Oh of course, Sire. My apologies, Sire. Just maybe you should double check your next stew for vermin instead of bird."

"If you put rats in my stew one more time, I'll make you eat it."

"-oh, going on a diet, Sire? I've been telling you you need it..."

Arthur huffs to himself, putting one hand on his hip while pointing his sword to Merlin with his other, dramatically.

The others skip a breath.

Merlin just rolls his eyes with a bored look like it's happened a million times. (It has)

"I'm going to have the kitchens poison your next meal!"

"Not if I do yours first!"

"At least then I'll have a break from all your prattling!"

Merlin gasps in mock offense as he takes a staggering step back, "How dare you! What about the children?"

Arthur snorts so loud, he drops his sword as he covers his mouth wheezing as Merlin raises his arm in victory and grins like he won something.

"Who are the children?"

Sir Kay interrupts with a disbelieving huff, "Sire. Sorcerer. Against the law."

Arthur looks at him like he's stupid, even though he's the one who looks a little stupid still bent over trying to catch his breath, "It's just Merlin."

Gwaine and Leon share a laugh between themselves, now completely calm, used to the bickering.

"And besides, it's really on me. I didn't ask," Arthur shrugs like this makes complete sense to everyone. He goes to pick his sword back up, as Merlin nods and steps behind him to look over his shoulder with his hands entwined behind him.

Arthur pretends he doesn't miss the warmth, but the breath on his neck is a close second.

"Didn't ask what, Sire?" Leon asks curiously, as he and Gwaine seem to lean forward, even as Sir Kay stays stock still like he's rebooting.

Arthur looked up at him a little startled, "Oh. Merlin told me he had a secret ages ago. I just didn't ask, cause he didn't want me to."

"Wait wait wait- he told you he had a secret?" Gwaine guffaws.

Merlin steps forward to lean his chin on Arthur's shoulder as he wraps his arms around Arthur's waist, "Of course! I try to tell Arthur everything. He's my best friend!"

Arthur pretends he isn't blushing, as he hums noncommittally.

The other three trade glances.

Arthur just nods to himself, even as his free hand absentmindedly holds onto one of Merlin's wrists around his wait.

The other three raise their eyebrows.

"Anyways. Obviously, there will be no speaking of this to my Father." He looks up stern and serious for the first time in this entire conversation.

Leon and Gwaine nod happily, while Sir Kay takes a moment, before nodding reluctantly and murmuring to himself, "I'm repressing this as we speak."

Leon looks at Kay with interest, while Gwaine just watches in amusement as Arthur's blush comes crashing back when he visibly realizes he's been gently caressing Merlin's wrist unconsciously.

Merlin just looks at Gwaine's smirk over Arthur's shoulder, before squeezing Arthur's waist once and letting go to start walking beside him, vehemently trying to hide his own blush now, too.

Both of them start continuing their walk back to the citadel, looking away from each other, even as their arms brush against each other with how close they walk.

The other three follows them casually.

Sir Kay blinks, before turning to Leon with a whisper, "Did I miss something? What happened with the beast?"

Leon just looks at him unable to hide how impressed he is with the skill of Repression, making Sir Kay even more confused, belatedly answering the question, "...Prince Arthur killed the beast, of course."

Sir Kay just blinks, "Of course."

[wonkyjaw]

Okay but as horrid as Riko is… if he’d ever been met with an ounce of kindness he would have gotten a redemption arc. The whole point of the Foxes is that people deserve and should receive second, third, fourth, as many chances as they need. I mean, just look at Seth. In a story like that I think it’s a disservice to dismiss the fact that Riko deserved those chances too. He had all the privilege in the world so long as it stayed within his gilded cage. He was just as stuck as Neil and Kevin and Jean. That didn’t give him the right to do what he did, but he had his own abusers and his own neglect and Kevin was likely the only person in his life to ever even try to be nice to him and view him as a person and Kevin is Kevin (meaning if it was not exy, then it likely did not matter). I just think that if Riko was treated with kindness in the face of all his nastiness he might have found his way eventually.

I just see so much of Akito (Fruits Basket) in his character. He was told he was king, pressured to be the best or else, and ignored by the people he craved the attention and love of the most and beneath all that pressure he became cruel and reactive. The only real difference between Riko and Akito is Akito was given that unconditional acceptance and forgiveness (no matter how ‘undeserved’) and was forced to confront how wrong past actions had been. Akito got a redemption arc.

[beepborpdoodledorp]

I’m conflicted because I tend to see a lot of people (both non-Wildchip fans and even some casual fans of the ship) complain about the only content of WB and Chip being content shipping the two of them together, and while objectively I absolutely do agree there’s been a persistent problem with boiling down WB and Chip to just their relationship w/ each other (and honestly that’s just a problem with the CRK shipping community as a whole and honestly I’d wager to guess that’s a large reason as to why so many people look at it with disdain), there’s always the monkey brain side of me that whenever I see these complaints my tunnel vision brought on by constantly scouring the Wildchip tags and being in a constant state of being starved for content kicks in and it just goes ‘:(’ 

[bridges-to-ashes]

A blink of an eye, a brief turning away amidst their soft-spoken conversation, just a few seconds in which they had let their guard down-

...

..

.

Their scream is loud enough to echo within their own skull, even as their voice cracks, even as the plates already stacked on the counter shatter on the floor, followed by a few jars of spices, a dirty pan, a cutting board - anything in reach, really, anything that will break louder than their heart, anything that will drown out the sound of their sobs.

[bombusbombus]

Just two clever, quiet men hiding in their own shadow