#their current dynamic is SO obviously only like it is because the plot needs it to be that way

[catcatb0y]

Every time Helluva Boss or Hazbin Hotel has a glimpse of genuinely GOOD WRITING, I go insane. Both of these shows feel like edging to me, like they will tease me with these bangers and then leave me to dry EVERY DAMN TIME.

[hivemuthur]

To Be Known - Ch.1.

viktorxfemale!reader explicit! Modern AU, set in London, current era but not very specific. Uncharted waters for me, because I have no idea how many chapters it will come out as.

Reader is: British, Young Vic (get it?) theatre company director, working class, in her 30s, a control freak, a semi-conscious sub. Viktor is: Czech (as always), working in biotech with Jayce, working class, in his 30s, a control freak, a conscious dom.

MASTERLIST next chapter ->

word count: 4,6K

warnings, or rather this work contains: d/s dynamics between main characters (but who the fuck knows what Mel and Jayce are doing), love (attraction?) at first sight, no strings attached to lovers/strangers to lovers (so like reverse emotional slow burn?), lots of porn, angst, happy resolution. I will be adding kink warnings as they appear in the future chapters.

author’s note: Ok, so, um, hi! A Deer and a Man is ending, so something else has to begin. It’s like… a very freeform thing I’m doing here. Sort of about nothing, just relationships with d/s dynamics, because I want to play around with some kinks and stuff. I’m trying to make it make sense here, but not everything might, since it’s just my subjective take on things. It will have some d/s etiquette but not always, because I��m clumsy and my characters get infected with my clumsiness :v Nothing’s new really (hehe, get it?), some plot, some porn, some feelings. It’s basically me going to IKEA asking you if you wanna come and grab some vegan meatballs and the meatballs are smut in this :v So yeh, hi, welcome to another blurb of a mutlichap work.

Special thanks to my friends @rennethen and @strongfartzemergency for pre-reading this and enabling my brainrot. Artist is @petitesieste, just ahh ♡

Cross-posted on AO3

—

Your eyes glaze over the computer screen, trying to memorize a list of poor souls to probe the next day. An ouroboros of theatre life has reached another mark, one where you must make a million decisions in a short span of time: Which plays will grace the stage, who’s performing in them, who’s directing, and who’s dressing all those people in their fancy costumes? And, most importantly, who’s paying for all of it?

So far, a successful year has set your bar even higher, with the next season looming in the golden light of August evenings. You don’t even have time to warm your bones in it—you have to think ahead, transport your brain to the future, to a cold January, when the real test begins for you. In truth, you don’t have time to do anything beneficial for your bones, and you’ve just learned to accept that your joints crack like dry wood every time you move.

A head peaks through the crack in your door, and you don’t have to look up to know who it is.

“Charlie,” you greet him, your nose still scrunched up by the screen. “I know, I know. I’m going, I just need a second.” You begin to rise from your chair but remain hunched over, extending your arm blindly toward the computer. “Did you bring my shoes?”

“Yes, and I’m not kicking you out,” says Charlie, passing you a pair of ballet flats. “But if you want a driver, well… he’s getting impatient.”

“That’s okay, I can commute,” you smile at him, taking the shoes and glancing at your watch. “It’s only Camden… oh, shit, it’s very late. You should, in fact, kick me out.” After a few hurried jumps while putting the shoes on, you're back to frantically picking up unrelated objects and shoving them into your purse: tissues, lipstick, random notes to review in the morning, and Mel’s gift—a seasonal Young Vic pass for her and her plus one.

“Where are you guys meeting?” he asks, passing you the rest of the things you will obviously want or need. It’s a seamless collaboration with Charlie. Since the very beginning, you two have been sharing a brain, and this is partly why nothing has collapsed yet. On the contrary—both you, as a theatre company director, and Charlie, as an assistant director, have been doing an amazing job, mending together a forthcoming approach and love for theatre. And this is all your head is at, despite the one evening of reprieve where you can share beers with friends in a pub that Mel has chosen completely out of character for herself. Which is why, instead of answering, you ask, “Do you really think we can do Hamlet?”

“Why wouldn’t we be able to do Hamlet?” Charlie parrots, passing you a coat with a raised eyebrow.

“I don’t know, is it not a bit… on the nose? It’s my second year, and my brain’s steamed up so much that I’m doing Hamlet?”

Charlie chuckles softly, as he steps behind you to dress you up. “You are going to do a bitchin’ Hamlet. And now can you please go and have some fun for once?”

“This is fun, Charlie. Hamlet is fun,” you say, holding his arms and giving him a playful shake. “Fun!”

“Calm down, captain,” he grins, rolling his eyes. “Where are you guys going?”

“Ugh… World’s End?”

“World’s End?!” Charlie covers his mouth in feigned horror, his eyes wide. “This is so unlike Miss Medarda!” he whispers, shooting you an incredulous look.

“I know, Mel wanted casual,” you shrug, rolling your eyes. Then, as you move past him, you swat him lightly on the shoulder, seeking another round of uninhibited cackles. “Don’t be mean, Charlie!”

“Sorry, sorry,” Charlie laughs, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Ah, World’s fucking End, who would’ve thought. Let me fetch you a driver, my lady.”

You shake your head and scan your office one last time, making sure you haven’t left anything important behind. Figuratively, of course, since almost everything dear to your heart is actually being left behind. And even though it’s only for a couple of hours, not being in control is frightening.

On the other side of the coin are your friends, with Mel right up front. She’s been there since the very first second of your meeting—right after you yelled at a light technician, making him flinch and nearly fall off the ladder. You had immediately corrected yourself with, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have shouted. But this lightwork is still shit. Please fix it. I ask you kindly.”

That was when Mel grinned, wrapped an arm around your shoulder, and whispered into your ear, “Okay. I want to be your friend.”

Since then, Mel has been one of the main patrons of your theatre company, and you—being a firm unbeliever in your own abilities—are convinced it’s largely her money and pep talks that have granted you the creative freedom that led to you becoming an artistic director. Your worlds collided fast and hard, and, being another person married to her work, she quickly became one of the closest people in your life.

Until Jayce.

Mel, being someone who treats every relationship as an investment, doesn’t limit her influence to the arts. So when her family decided to fund research grants for scientists from the Francis Crick Institute, you knew something was coming as soon as she justified the decision with, “And they are both very handsome.”

You know the urge very well—the ever-nagging need to have everything under control, to oversee every grain of sand that rolls through the waist of the hourglass, every second planned, every schedule so tight there is barely time to breathe. It’s one of the things that bonded the both of you.

So when Jayce came along—with his motivation stemming not from a sickening need for self-accomplishment or a desperate urge to prove something to the world, but from the purity of his own heart and a healthy curiosity—Mel began to crack. And then the disease spread to you.

Now, you actually rest. You spend your free Sundays socializing. You talk about things other than work. You’ve even been on a few unsuccessful dates. And it’s all Jayce’s fault.

You loved him for it immediately—the small crumbs of the outside world granted to you and Mel through his unabashed joy and excitement. Jayce made things fun, and turning your phone off—briefly relinquishing control—became a little less terrifying.

From there, your thoughts drift in different directions until your absent-minded stare at the moving lights outside the car window is interrupted. The driver, in a grumpy tone, informs you that you’ve arrived at your destination. You crack the joints in your hands before thanking him and bidding him goodnight.

The World’s End is all red from the outside, its glow bleeding onto the wet pavement. Through the glass, you spot the back of Mel’s heavily accessorized hairstyle, a head of intricate twists and gleaming accents. You glance at your reflection, and—well. You’ve seen better days.

Your mini skirt has twisted around, placing the slit exactly where you don’t want it, so you yank it back into place, cursing Charlie for not telling you. In the process, you notice a small eyelet in your tights, the hole widening with each step you take. No nail polish to stop it from spreading. You curse yourself for that one. Your shirt is crumpled at the stomach—a reminder of hours spent hunched over your desk. Your necklace has caught a bunch of stray hairs, which you pick out frantically as you stride toward the door. And the rest of your hair? An artistic mess, sculpted by an impatient hand that’s raked through it a hundred times too many today.

Once inside, Mel’s slender hand and a row of her impossibly white teeth beckon you forward as she stands up to give you a hug.

And the inside of The World's End is exactly what you would expect from a Camden pub—big, loud, and brimming with mismatched charm. The walls are cluttered with a collection of art that looks like it was bought in a rush at a local flea market. There's a hum of conversation mixing with the thrum of the music playing in the background, and the space itself is large, almost cavernous. The low ceiling and uneven, wooden floorboards give it an unpolished look that feels welcoming to some, but it's not exactly the kind of place you'd expect to see Mel at.

Mel, in contrast, belongs in a sleek, minimalistic bar, somewhere where the drinks are as carefully curated as the furniture, where everything is perfectly composed. Here, she’s lost in the midst of it all, a little too refined for the space, as if her sharp lines don’t quite align with the pub’s rough edges. The things we do for friends.

“Darling, I’m glad you made it,” she chirps, walking toward you and spreading her arms wide.

“Now I can say I’d go to the end of the world for you,” you murmur into her shoulder, squeezing her tight. Then, pulling back, you present a small envelope. “Happy birthday, love. Here—best possible seats.”

Mel’s brows lift as she takes the tickets, flipping them between her fingers. “You shouldn’t have,” she says, though the gleam in her eye betrays her excitement. “But thank you. You wouldn’t believe who Jayce has managed to drag along,” she murmurs into your ear.

“Oh, it can’t be,” you whisper back, scanning the table over her shoulder.

A few of her closest friends sit huddled together, deep in conversation and laughter. Then, Jayce’s broad frame, unmistakable even in the dim light. And next to him—

A pair of loose shoulders, wrapped in a red shirt stretched between two sharp blades. The nape of his neck, covered in a mess of brown curls. He leans on one hand, nodding along to whatever Jayce is saying, his profile cutting sharp against the glow of the street lights.

Viktor. The last man standing, the one seemingly immune to Jayce’s influence when it comes to making people step out of their comfort zones. And yet, here he is. Of all occasions, it’s Mel’s birthday that has somehow coaxed Viktor out of his self-imposed solitude. A horse you wouldn’t have bet on.

You are led to the table, where all the seats seem to be taken—until Viktor removes his cane from the empty stool beside him and gestures for you to sit between him and Jayce. As you lower yourself onto the stool, you take his hand briefly and say, “The smartest man in the room, finally in the room.”

“You must be talking about Jayce,” he counters, a glint of amusement in his eye. He holds your palm for just a moment longer than necessary before letting go. “I’ve heard much about you.”

“Only good things, I hope,” you reply with a smile—until Mel’s head suddenly pokes between the two of you.

“What’s your poison, honey?” she asks. Only now do you notice her flushed cheeks and the way she’s completely disregarded the concept of personal space, her arm stretching beyond your shoulders to tug playfully at Jayce’s hair.

“A pint of bitter?” you say, startled.

She frowns slightly, but you quickly follow with, “Cheers,” hoping to steer her attention elsewhere. Her eyes squint at you, but she relents, giving Jayce’s back a clingy hug before strolling off to the bar. Only now Viktor’s hand releases yours.

He studies you for a moment before turning to his glass, giving you the chance to take a closer look—

The first two buttons of his shirt are undone, revealing the hollow between his collarbones, skin up to his neck is covered in a satin sheen of sweat. Tendons shift beneath it, blue veins threading along his throat. His hair is faintly damp around the ears, curling and plastering itself to his temples. From the side, his jaw forms nearly a perfect square.

You don’t dare to look higher.

Lower down, though, his sleeves are rolled up carelessly, exposing freckle-specked arms. You spot it by dropping your gaze naturally.

Mel was right. They are both very handsome.

As the birthday gal disappears toward the bar, you are left wedged between the two scientists, the noise of conversation assaulting your ears. Across the table, Amara leans in, her many rings clinking as she refills someone’s glass from a sweating bottle of wine. Beside her, Salo—always overdressed for the occasion, his blonde curls neatly combed back—gestures broadly mid-story, his voice animated. A few seats down, Mion, the youngest among them and always balancing the line between sharp and naive, listens intently while occasionally stealing olives from Mel’s abandoned plate.

"So," Jayce starts, shifting his weight so he can face you properly. “What’s keeping you so busy these days?”

You exhale, stretching your arms along the back of your seat, making your spine pop. “Wrapping up meetings with playwrights, directors, and actors—making sure everything aligns. Managing funding and sponsorships, finalising script choices.”

Salo whistles. “Sounds like a headache.”

“It’s a miracle she’s here at all,” Jayce adds, nursing his beer. “I half-expected her to send a regretful telegram from the depths of her desk.”

That earns a laugh from Amara, who nudges your foot under the table. “And what are the plays, then? What’s in?”

You rest your chin in your palm and do a mock countdown with the fingers of the other. “Further than the Furthest Thing, The Scottsboro Boys, A Streetcar Named Desire—possibly Hamlet.”

Mel, just returning with your beer, lets out a delighted gasp as she sets it down. “Hamlet? Oh, darling, tell me you’re doing it.”

“Calm yourself,” you warn, reaching for your drink. “I said possibly.”

She spreads her hands dramatically. “I can already see it now—the staging, the lighting—”

“Don’t start designing the posters just yet,” you cut in, but she’s grinning too widely to be discouraged. “I can still change my mind.”

“You know that’s a lot for one person,” Viktor remarks, leaning in from your right, his voice lower, meant just for the two of you. His pupils are darker, wider than the number of glasses of wine he’s had would suggest, assessing you from under hooded eyelids.

“I’ve always run through my life,” you say simply, tipping your glass toward him. “I do have help, though.” Viktor clicks his tongue, his mouth curving into a half-smile.

Before you can figure out what it means, Mion suddenly snaps her fingers. “Wait—how did you and Mel meet, anyway?”

Mel waves a hand dismissively. “Oh, I saw her preparing Yerma, and it was love at first sight.”

“Love?” Salo lifts a brow.

“She was standing on stage, sleeves rolled up, arguing over how the chairs should be arranged.” Mel sighs theatrically. “Her diligence. Her eye for detail. I knew I had to have her.”

Jayce snorts. “And by ‘have her,’ you mean ‘fund her.’”

Mel grins. “Exactly.”

The table dissolves into laughter, glasses clinking. Conversations crisscross—Salo and Mion bickering over some technical aspect of stage production, and you don’t have the heart to correct them. Jayce launching into an enthusiastic recounting of an experiment gone wrong. Someone beside you leans in to talk, and for a moment, you lose the thread of conversation.

The haze of smoke, the warmth of alcohol-softened breaths, the layered voices—it all blurs. Next to you, Viktor is speaking, but his words are swallowed by the noise.

The room tilts slightly, or maybe it’s just the drink settling in. Sounds overlap and ring in your ears as exhaustion takes hold and you zone out. Somewhere nearby, a bottle of wine gets passed around, then discarded in the middle of the table, still within your reach. A voice cuts through the fog, softer, closer. Then sharper, clearer than before.

Foreshadowed by Viktor’s hand on your leg—his right palm rests on you, and the moment it does, you tilt toward him, only to find he’s done the same. His fingers press inward, just barely grazing the inside of your thigh. It’s a gentle invasion, entirely unprovocative, something that simply happens—natural. His left arm hovers over your backrest as his mouth nears your ear, and you can feel the tickle of his hair on your cheek.

“Pass me the wine.” A soft command, tilting toward a question at the end, firm and quiet all at once.

You reach for the bottle without looking, your eyes fixed on his throat as he breathes. The moment it comes close, his touch leaves your leg and finds your fingers instead. His skin brushes yours, spreading the sweat from the glass onto your own, and something coils low in your stomach.

“Good…” he murmurs, clipped, as if something else should follow. “Thank you.” And then his warmth is gone, leaving you painfully sober, achingly empty.

It’s one of the most agonising seconds of your life—except this time, there’s something sickly sweet curling around the edges, a lingering undertone that was missing from all the other agonising moments you’ve suffered through.

For the rest of the evening, your attention doesn’t waver, save for the necessary moments to put Mel in the spotlight.

Viktor lingers close. Not close enough to raise any eyebrows—everyone else is too busy bickering and laughing at Jayce’s anecdotes—but enough for you to notice and relish in it. His breath occasionally fans your face when he leans over you for the bottle, his knee bumps yours under the table. He sits tilted toward you, his arm hooked against your stool, and his eyes never leave you, one way or another. He bombards you with questions and answers yours without blinking.

"Where did you study?" you ask, lips glued to the rim of your glass, leaving an stamp of your lipstick there.

"Abroad," he says vaguely, tipping his head. "You?"

"England. Try again," you counter, not looking up, only baring your teeth to the remnants of a cocktail in your hand.

Viktor exhales a quiet chuckle, tilting his glass idly in his fingers before conceding, "Vigilant, of course. Very well—biochemistry at UTC Prague." He pauses, watching your reaction. "Then onward to Francis Crick through MSCA. Now—tell me yours." The last part, a command again, gentle and firm and you find yourself reciting in no time.

"Theatre and Performance at Goldsmiths," you reply, your words a little looser, the alcohol working its way through your veins.

"Ah, how prestigious," he murmurs, voice laced with amusement.

"If you consider five years of bullying that, then yes," you slur, twirling your drink in your glass. His expression sharpens, brows lifting slightly in silent question. You sigh, meeting his gaze. "I got The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art scholarship. Before that, I led an utterly non-prestigious life in Staines."

"Hardworking girl," he purrs, and oh—his hand returns to your thigh, this time less inconspicuous as he drags a long finger up and stops just beneath the hem of your skirt.

"Where do you live?" he asks, his voice dipping lower, quieter, like the answer might be something just for him.

"Hackney," you answer immediately, then, seeing his knowing smile, feel the need to correct yourself. "The bad Hackney. You?"

"Eh, Islington," Viktor says, a hint of sheepishness in his voice.

Your mock jaw drop is immediate. "Unbelievable," you drawl. "And you dare to make fun of my fancy living?"

Viktor smirks, his fingers brushing your thigh before retreating. "You are making it up. But we can share a cab home then."

Something jumps in your chest at the thought of being locked in a tiny space alone with this man. And the cab driver, but, nevertheless. "I suppose we can. When do you want to go?" you ask, as steadily as you can manage right now.

He exhales slowly, then leans in, his breath warm against your ear. "Let's go now."

You have to stop your eyes from rolling in your skull. In fact, with the mix of various alcohols cursing through your veins and the secretive glances he’s been giving you, you’d probably nod vigorously if he offered to fuck you on the bar.

You step away from the table, weaving through the crowded space as you pull out your phone. Your fingers tremble slightly—whether from the drinks or the anticipation, you can't tell. It doesn’t matter. The cab company confirms your ride is on its way, barely three minutes out.

When you return, Viktor is still lounging against the table, his fingers tracing the rim of his now-empty glass. He doesn’t look at you right away, but his body angles toward you the moment you step back into his space. You lean in just enough to let the scent of him—wine, sweet sweat and washing powder—settle into your senses before speaking.

“We have three minutes,” you say casually, as if not stopping yourself from clenching your thighs.

Viktor gives a small, knowing nod and starts shuffling around for his cane and coat. His movements are unhurried, but there’s a quiet efficiency to them, a preparedness that has you smiling.

From across the table, Mel lets out a dramatic sigh. “You’re leaving already? I knew I shouldn’t have sat two workaholics together.”

Jayce snorts into his drink. “At least they lasted this long. I was expecting Viktor to slip out halfway through.”

Viktor hums in vague amusement, fastening the buttons of his coat. “And miss all your storytelling? Impossible.”

Mel rolls her eyes but grins. “Fine, fine. Go, be boring. Just don’t forget—” she waggles a finger at you—“you owe me a Hamlet.”

You laugh, shaking your head. “Goodnight, Mel.”

With that, you feel Viktor’s hand brush lightly against the small of your back—an absentminded gesture, almost cautious, but it sends a thrill down your spine.

It’s raining again, and neither of you has an umbrella, so you huddle together under your purse until Viktor opens the door for you. You fall in with no grace whatsoever and slide your ass across the back seat to make space for him. He steps in slowly, throws his address to the driver, then slumps down beside you, looking at you expectantly.

For a moment, you freeze—until you realise everyone is waiting for your address. Mumbling out the street and number, you lean back, your shoulder blades pressing against his arm.

And oh. You know damn well you won’t be able to let this go beyond tonight—or that you shouldn’t be fucking around where you figuratively eat—but he smells good, and his eyes stay on you, dark and hungry. So you tip yourself into the crook of his shoulder, tilting your head up with an innocently pleading look.

Viktor chuckles, as if something has just been confirmed, and his slender hand finds its way between your thighs. His body shifts subtly, shielding you from the driver, who barely suppresses an eye roll in the rear-view mirror. His lips, burning with alcohol and want, close over yours. His tongue pushes inside, licking slow and deep along the row of your teeth. His fingers travel up your leg, stopping painfully close to where you ache for him most, and squeeze—just enough to brace himself as he leans in further.

You fumble with the buttons of his coat, slipping your hands beneath to tug his shirt free from his trousers. Another warm chuckle rumbles against your lips.

“So efficient,” he murmurs, breaking the kiss to mouth at your ear. His breath is hot when he whispers, “Do you want to fuck here, or will you be a good girl and wait until we get home?”

A strangled moan escapes you, and your own hand flies up to clamp over your mouth. Viktor grins against your skin.

“Good. Quiet,” he purrs, before dragging his tongue in a slick trail down your neck, stopping halfway to suck a bruise into your flesh.

Breath stumbles in your lungs when he stops, lips flushed, wet and red with your smeared lipstick, his teeth barely grazing your skin before he leans back to look at you. His fingers remain firm between your thighs, a teasing pressure that makes your legs tense and tremble beneath his touch.

Whatever has led you to this moment is not your usual behaviour, but somehow, you can’t be bothered to announce it. Long ago—somewhere after shitty date number five, or fifteen—you swore off bad sex for the sake of no sex and peace of mind. You grew tired of partners who were more tease than do, and the ones who assumed you’d thrive on organising everything in bed, just as you do at work.

You crave someone to take that pressure off you. Someone who would simply allow you to be dumb, even just for a few moments. To fuck your brains out so that poor strongest muscle of yours can replenish and breathe before you have to step back into the saddle and lead the chaotic orchestra of theatre technicians, actors, directors, and founders toward whatever critics deem a successful season. To take all the decision-making away and praise you for it.

And you have no guarantee that Viktor will do exactly that—other than the way his roaming hand squeezes your leg so firmly or the way his tongue, insistent and wanting, doesn’t ask permission before invading your mouth. The way he has stared at you the entire night has left you hotter and more bothered than anyone’s scrutiny ever has. And even if this is a mistake, it’s one you are willing to make. Your thighs shake at the thought, and Viktor gasps softly against your lips.

"You're trembling," he murmurs, voice low as the vowels roll thickly off his tongue. His free hand reaches up, pushing your hair aside. He trails his knuckles along your jaw, his thumb pressing lightly against your parted lips. "Cold, or something else?"

You give a breathy laugh, rolling your hips ever so slightly into his palm, chasing that friction. Viktor hums, pleased, before his fingers slip higher—just barely ghosting over the hanging-there nylons shielding your underwear. Your breath catches.

The cab rattles over a pothole, jolting you both, but neither of you pulls away. If anything, it only makes Viktor bolder. He shifts to face you fully, pressing you back into the seat as he kisses you again, deeper this time, his tongue curling languidly around yours. You taste wine and your own spit on him, and it makes you dizzy.

His hand abandons your thigh only to grab your wrist, dragging it to the front of his trousers, where he's already half-hard beneath the layers of fabric. "I want you," he breathes against your mouth, nipping at your lower lip before letting his forehead drop to yours.

You palm him through the material, pressing just enough to make him suck in a sharp breath. The sound alone makes a fresh gush of lust bloom in your knickers.

Then—a pointed cough.

You both jolt as if caught doing something far more illicit than you already are.

"Islington," the cab driver announces dryly, eyes fixed firmly on the road.

Viktor huffs out a laugh, dragging his fingers through his already-mussed hair. "Do you want to come in?" he says, as if you hadn’t just been grinding against each other like reckless teenagers in the back of a cab.

You swallow, pulse still pounding in your ears. "Yes," you nod. "Yes."

“I suppose we will wrap up the ride here,” Viktor says reaching for his wallet and taking out one note too many to make up for whatever the poor man had to endure.

“Yeah, mate, I figured. Have a great night.”

[zvezdacito]

Where Malleus' Character may be headed in Book 8: His place among the housewardens and road to true leadership?

Disclaimer(?): Not the most well-structured text since this was mostly written when I was half-asleep + it's kind of hard to tell what plot Book 8 will have from where Book 7 left off. But I think this was still worth putting out here because I would like to see this idea/something like it happening. ⚠️‼️Also this will obviously contain Book 7 finale spoilers

Since great power and adjacent attributes defined Malleus for so long, even if he's happy it won't stop him from being able to outwardly express emotion anymore, his Book 8 arc will likely be adjusting (he's already somewhat started here by asking assistance to cast spells now) and figuring out who he is as a person. Specifically, Malleus will figure out how to be a leader in ways not relying on these previous advantages (faulty ruling since it just him taking control for everyone)

Malleus has so far been outcasted from the other housewardens + we haven't seen much of him doing housewarden duties in the overall game yet so good time to show it now. So I feel like Book 8 will see his dynamic in the group somehow going from clueless nuisance to the leader of the seven, in time for the Book 7 battle.

Basically a callback to the impression that the twst website art gives off (shown above). Perhaps his center positioning has a deeper meaning than just being the poster boy/final overblotter (excluding what is likely overblot Grim)

Malleus's Dorm Uniform vignette built-up to Book 7 (the social exclusion, uncontrollable strength and magic, Lilia being the only one giving him chances, the 1000-year-understanding thing) and the other housewardens perceiving him as the worst at that responsibility/not like them is the only one not yet explored and "resolved" by the finale. Book 7 ended with most of them still having their doubts about letting Malleus back in, so I think that's perfect set-up for Malleus to be included in them as specifically a leader figure in Book 8. Leona makes a point about how Malleus needs to take initiative in housewarden meetings this time, so what better way than for earning his place as a leader in the group (and not just one who imposes his will on others, but listens and learns)

I think it would be a really compelling character development since it's a great leap from where he's currently at. Maybe he'll go about it by becoming the most transparent one in communication/not being afraid to show the many ways he does lack (since the others usually want to prove their strength instead) and how needs their help supplementing those weaknesses, and encouraging them to criticize him as much as necessary. It would be kinda funny to see them take advantage of his willingness to redeem himself at any cost by being overly nitpicky as like a power trip, but over time I think this would also help them understand where he is coming from too and being more genuinely kind (in the NRC way). Basically him taking the initiative to be open would form a trust that's good for team cohesion, building off what Vil and Idia already started in Book 6 and 7.

Vil became like the leader of the group while they battled at S.T.Y.X, while Idia became like the leader of the NRC dream-hopping group against OB!Malleus. So continuing this pattern, Malleus will gradually earn his fellow housewardens' respect and become their leader against like OB!Grim or whoever. Maybe he'll even rally the public at one point (idk what for since we have no clue what Book 8 lore is yet) and this will connect not only to his own growth but Book 7's ideals of making faefolk and mankind more connected

(Fan translation by Valkyrii on youtube)

Leadership traits I think Malleus has so far:

Takes accountability when he realizes his mistake, is impartial when dealing with disputes

Can be pretty forgiving (like with Rollo)

Gives his greatest effort as the host, as seen with Spectral Soiree and this final ball

Going back to how Book 7 ended, we see him regard all different sorts of people invited to Silver's debutante ball individually but equally. This closes Book 7's theme about different people being able to coexist and truly love each other, but he delivered the greeting as if they were all his people in a way. I think this may be setting up to true leader/king related character development in Book 8, honing these qualities further now that he can't default to power without thinking.

Earning the respect to become such a king instead of it simply being "blessed" to him without guidance or help already comes with him learning to process his feelings rather than just avoiding them and gives him opportunities to actually socialize so he gets better at considering the circumstances of others before he takes action. So when/if something will likely happen to give his magic back to him earlier than 200 years, that's already resolved the problems of him not being able to control his magic power when emotional + he's become the type of person/king who doesn't rely on it or is defined by it at the expense of his personhood anymore.

^ I don't think they will remove his powers for the rest of his main story time because they're still a part of him, since for a story about how differences can't stop you from belonging, it feels kinda wrong that his story will actually conclude with making him even physically more similar to the rest to get along. If you think about it, it's not really the powers themselves that were inherently isolating him, but rather that adults only saw him for authority rather than as a child, so never expected that he needed extra help mastering them first.

His horn breaking is basically just the starting point for him to learn this, a chance to pause he never got before. But I think it will be kinda dumb to nerf him for the rest of his screentime without letting his growth explore this through some inner-child healing first.

That's all... I'm not sure how much of the school year is left for all this since the third years were already talking about their internships. But since Crowley says Lilia and Malleus will be returning to the school the vibe would kinda feel redundant if they came back just to leave for internships again. And I just really think there's lots of potential on exploring that one last part of his dorm vignette + one of the earliest TWST arts actually foreshadowing their final dynamic as a group after all the character development. Kinda funny since Malleus still has both horns there, but I did mention I think something will accelerate its regrowth near the climax of Book 8, so yeah🔥

Also if I had to guess what OB!Grim's (and maybe Yuu too) dilemma is, maybe it's purpose? Like he wants to become all-powerful not genuinely but because he thinks it will make him have a reason to be alive and have people stick by him under the pretense of being like his minions. And Yuu has growing dialogue options (among the few they're allowed to have💀) about feeling useless. So I think Malleus slots in nicely there as someone with his own relationship to utility faced with newfound powerlessness (and him showing Grim there is more to being a truly great mage than the power maybe, and come to terms with what he's really afraid of)

[urinarythreatinfection]

As a Shanks fan I need you to stop tagging your posts and making us look bad. The more you write the more clear it is this is a bad faith reading, bashing while not understanding the writing. Your only precedent on examining these characters is based on stacking morality points on how nice and good they are, rather than their roles in the plot and their thematic relevance as narrative foils, their longstanding history and familiarity, the continued relevance of their intertwined journeys and emotional energy in the story. You seem set on seeing them as abusive when that’s clearly not what Oda means, their character dynamics play a role in telling the story and I assure you it’s not a message of abuse. But of course, there are fans who think Nami hitting the Strawhats is abusive so I shouldn’t be surprised. You can’t even seem to reflect on your own self and realize your own views are infinitely more toxic.

So Buggy left when they were both 15 and traumatized and somehow thats the most unacceptable thing. Yeah, whatever, hate them for petty things, but don’t act like you have some superior understanding when it’s just the most typically shallow reading. Your dislike is your own, but policing others because you lack the ability to comprehend is not okay.

Is this apologizing business really some big thing to cry over? Shanks wanted Buggy to come with him, Buggy turned him down. They were ex-comrades and pirates, obviously Buggy was free to leave and start his own pirate crew, Shanks even said they both should. Many of Buggy’s complaints are just petty things Shanks probably doesn’t even care that much about. But to Buggy it does matter so he cares more about getting closure from that time. Shanks doesn’t even care about the fruit or the map, he’s just glad to see Buggy again. They might fight but ultimately Shanks cares more about Buggy than any petty grudge and is more likely to forgive and apologize for little things, even just jokingly or to appease him, because it’s not a big deal for him to do it. To Shanks, friends are what’s important, so words and actions needed for his friend are a small thing. Villainizing Buggy and resenting his rejection is probably the last thing Shanks would want in that situation. He’s not gonna be a spiteful victim because someone got mad and left of their own free will. He’d rather be a loser who apologizes and begs for his friend.

The whole issue with ‘apologizing’…it’s not a big deal. A lot of times it seems to be treated as a joke. The treasure map is supposed to be seen as a stupid reason not worth getting up in arms about. Buggy being mad over the treasure map is treated as a joke and an excuse as a way to cover up that he really cares about Shanks. But this whole thing just seems like you’re mad when Shanks simps for Buggy and Buggy acts like he typically would. How is it hard to believe that Buggy is important to Shanks and Shanks would express that to him? Are you really so caught up on just hating on Buggy’s personality and him being a regular pirate you can’t stand him being treated like someone important? He’s one of the Four Emperors going after the One Piece and you don’t think his desires and feelings have some significance?

Buggy may have left, but that was all within his rights to do so, even the other Roger Pirates left these kids. For the current Buggy to apologize he’d probably struggle to get over his feelings, but to Shanks why get hung up over petty grievances if it’s for a friend? That’s just their personalities. Sure, Buggy could apologize, but it’s just not like him, and it’s not even that necessary anyways. Obviously knowing Buggy’s character he gets overdramatic and too emotionally invested he can’t let things go, while Shanks will let go of things because he cares. Luffy too learns to forgive and let things go, it’s one of the things he learned from Shanks. We get hit on the head so many times by this kind of message. When Luffy happily bows down and passes up on the opportunity to leave Amazon Lily just so he can save a few people he just met…there’s nothing wrong with giving in and bowing down when it’s not worth it otherwise.

Shanks couldn’t communicate his real reasons and wanted Buggy to join him but got rejected, so as the Captain who was rejected by Buggy who was willing to be part of his crew, it seems like Shanks was the one who lost out. Of course Shanks longs for his friend and would care for him. Luffy would also chase someone if it was his friend. This isn’t an abuser and victim relationship, it doesn’t matter who was wrong because there was never any actual communication. We don’t even know Shanks’ perspective and his reasons, only Buggy’s, so we just see they had their differences and Buggy felt disappointed. They wanted to prioritize different things because that’s how they’ve always been as pirates, not because one is an abuser, they are grown men who used to argue a lot.

If Shanks wanted to truly protect Luffy he would’ve done something like actually reach out to him and communicate to him. Shanks knew the risks when he encouraged Luffy to be a pirate and return his hat. He knew Luffy would be in danger especially with his fruit. That’s how it is in the pirate world, you can’t make it if you don’t put your life on the line and fight others. Luffy had to survive and overcome that if he wanted to get anywhere near the New World, Shanks knew that. He knew people would try to kill Luffy, that’s how the pirate world is, but Luffy would never become strong if he didn’t experience that. Anyways, Buggy is obviously supposed to be a tame joke villain. He didn’t even kill the villagers in Orange Town, the villagers evacuated to a shelter beforehand and he just raids the houses and blows them up.

I think you have this image of Shanks as this delicate abuse victim and Saint-like Christ figure (ironic) when he’s just a pirate who knows he and others have had to make sacrifices. All I can say is, you really think that? Okay, can’t help you there. 

You just seem to really hate Buggy and refuse to accept any positive take on Buggy. You even hate him for harmless things he did as a literal child. You want Buggy to be portrayed as trash and dirt compared to Shanks, but in a ship where fans love both characters and Shanks cherishes Buggy that’s obviously not going to happen. It’s clear that you’re biased so you can’t reasonably have a good take on this, all you do is victimize Shanks. How hypocritical that you complain about others having no insight when you’re way worse.

There’s so much stuff about Shanks fandom to criticize but the fact that you fixate on Shanks caring about Buggy as the worst thing, that’s just mindless hate you shouldn’t be tagging. The best understanding of Shanks I‘ve seen was from shuggy fans, I’m gonna trust them from now on.

Also are you seriously trying to compare your petty hate of a fictional character to speaking out about the literal atrocities done by colonizers of America? Please think before you speak.

Okay im tired of explaining this just as is so im just gonna take bullet points and say my piece and thats it because ive made two posts now explaining as best as I can and still somehow its being misunderstood as me being some sort of toxic Shanks fan thats making them look bad for some reason. This is literally me analyzing him and showing the problems of Shuggy people don't want to accept.

"The more you write the more clear it is this is a bad faith reading, bashing while not understanding the writing." Im not saying this in bad faith. That is why i tagged it as Shuggy. Not for some sort of ragebait or to spew hate i just really want the dynamic of angst fix-it stuff to change or atleast be more popular. And again, I understand the writing perfectly well. I'm rereading the manga and literally have not just been saying whats on the top of my head im looking into it.

"Your only precedent on examining these characters is based on stacking morality points on how nice and good they are, rather than their roles in the plot and their thematic relevance as narrative foils, their longstanding history and familiarity, the continued relevance of their intertwined journeys and emotional energy in the story." If this is how even if Buggy is bad it means they can still be together because they work well i literally agree its the dynamic. I cannot stress this enough i don't know how this isn't going through.

"You seem set on seeing them as abusive when that’s clearly not what Oda means, their character dynamics play a role in telling the story and I assure you it’s not a message of abuse." Oda has included abuse, suicide, addictions in his story and you really think he wouldnt sprinkle in the fact that Buggy was an abusive friend. Im not even saying he 100% was i said at worst. An abusive friendship is different than one thats a relationship too, and again i said at worst.

"But of course, there are fans who think Nami hitting the Strawhats is abusive so I shouldn’t be surprised." What she does was objectively bad, and she's toned it down a LOT post timeskip. Part of her character development that now you can safely say when she hits they either kinda deserve it or she doesn't really go rough with it.

"So Buggy left when they were both 15 and traumatized and somehow thats the most unacceptable thing. Yeah, whatever, hate them for petty things, but don’t act like you have some superior understanding when it’s just the most typically shallow reading. Your dislike is your own, but policing others because you lack the ability to comprehend is not okay." I never said it was the most unacceptable thing, i meant it was the most shitty thing he could do. You mentioned somewhere elsr they were 15, which is true, but as time goes by and Buggy doesnt change that excuse is out the window.

"Is this apologizing business really some big thing to cry over?" Its a major thing, and is something thats used for Shanks to Buggy that is seen as a major thing i dont know why im being posed as overly dramatic when i say it would be way better if it were buggy apologizing to Shanks.

"Shanks wanted Buggy to come with him, Buggy turned him down. They were ex-comrades and pirates, obviously Buggy was free to leave and start his own pirate crew, Shanks even said they both should." You're acting like Buggy turned Shanks down civily and it was not a decision of emotion.

"They might fight but ultimately Shanks cares more about Buggy than any petty grudge and is more likely to forgive and apologize for little things, even just jokingly or to appease him, because it’s not a big deal for him to do it. To Shanks, friends are what’s important, so words and actions needed for his friend are a small thing. Villainizing Buggy and resenting his rejection is probably the last thing Shanks would want in that situation. He’s not gonna be a spiteful victim because someone got mad and left of their own free will. He’d rather be a loser who apologizes and begs for his friend." And this is the problem! this! Just because Buggy cares more than Shanks doesn't mean that Shanks doesn't deserve to be atleast understood. Shanks would rather act like a loser to get Buggy than value himself is literally a toxic behavior for relationships. I beg of you to think of this in real life. Imagine Shanks as some chick and Buggy as the boyfriend and its very very clear that you just brushing it off as "oh well Shanks can handle it" sucks! It sucks! I've seen relationships like that and they suck! Its okay for comedy the same reason Nami's hitting is or Brook's panty loving is but when you're writing or drawing it seriously you can't just paint it as something okay when the reason why Shanks would put himself down for Buggy is because Shanks is mentally unwell! He deserves a Buggy that would actually treat him preciously instead of the now normalized "oh you're trash but ill forgive you I guess" Its not even a point of "oh well Shanks wouldn't mind!" You're right! But YOU should! Because you are the outsider looking in, the one that can look through an objectjve lens where you arent a dependent man that needs any sort of companion.

"He didn’t even kill the villagers in Orange Town, the villagers evacuated to a shelter beforehand and he just raids the houses and blows them up." This literally doesn't matter since Buggy has talked about killing before and I don't even think is true. There was a shelter because he just likely didn't kill all of them, but "just" some. And doing that is pretty bad in of itself.

"Buggy being mad over the treasure map is treated as a joke and an excuse as a way to cover up that he really cares about Shanks." Here with the "oh but Buggy's just a tsundere" If i never do anything for you ever because you made me drop my icecream 10 years ago does me being a tsundere just make it okay. This isn't even fully true. It's not a cover-up Buggy isn't just some little cute tsundere he holds malice. He IS mad about that still its not a cover up because oh well he still cares it can be both, and its mostly just actual anger. Because why else would he bring it up even when he doesn't have to cover up affection.

"Luffy too learns to forgive and let things go, it’s one of the things he learned from Shanks. We get hit on the head so many times by this kind of message" Letting go and liking the person is two seperate things. You're acting like Luffy is just some angel when he has also been shown again to really not like Buggy and some people. In impel down he doesn't want to rescue Buggy but ends up doing so so he can get to Ace "which buggy tries to betray" and in basically every instance where Buggy is brought up around Luffy Luffy has literally only bad things to say about Buggy so idk why you're acting like Luffy is some saint that would forgive anything. Im rereading impel down and he also didn't want to forgive Crocodile, he just needed the help, still doesn't like Crocodile too. Luffy shows dislike, its just not super loud, he shows it through not helping. He even only helped Hachi during pre ts only when Nami said it was okay. Shanks doesn't forgive everything either. The lesson Shanks taught Luffy wasn't "forgjve everyone". Thats what Luffy THOUGHT it was when he was a little kid. But thr actual lesson was just to be more mature, to be careful. To not fight at every chance because you could be endangering others. Difference between forgiving someone and just letting it not bother you so that you can use them, as Luffy has showed.

"Buggy may have left, but that was all within his rights to do so, even the other Roger Pirates left these kids." Rayleigh leaving Shanks was not a good thing for Rayleigh to do, especially since Rayleigh also knows whats going on, but he just left a 15 year old to just deal with it because he wanted to toughen the kid up or something idk, theres a lot of "just suck it up buttercup" in One Piece because thats what Oda thinks is cool and nice and manly, he isn't perfect. Also Buggy did have the right to leave, the problem is that he didn't leave because he wanted to start his own crew or find the one piece himself it was just because of the conflict between him and Shanks. It was not a clear decision.

"If Shanks wanted to truly protect Luffy he would’ve done something like actually reach out to him and communicate to him. Shanks knew the risks when he encouraged Luffy to be a pirate and return his hat. He knew Luffy would be in danger especially with his fruit. That’s how it is in the pirate world, you can’t make it if you don’t put your life on the line and fight others." I agree with this and I also feel it was the right thing to do unfortunately, s Luffy has a huge thing he needs to do even if he isn't aware of what he's doing. However, this is what Shanks chose, Buggy didn't go for Luffy because he wanted to toughen Luffy up he went for Luffy because he hates Luffy and his strawhat that reminds him of Shanks and the fact that he's also developing the same complex with Luffy that he was with Shanks, though not as strong since they aren't really together often.

"But this whole thing just seems like you’re mad when Shanks simps for Buggy and Buggy acts like he typically would. How is it hard to believe that Buggy is important to Shanks and Shanks would express that to him? Are you really so caught up on just hating on Buggy’s personality and him being a regular pirate you can’t stand him being treated like someone important? He’s one of the Four Emperors going after the One Piece and you don’t think his desires and feelings have some significance?" I don't know how you came to the conclusion this is what I think. Im not against Shanks simping for Buggy, I believe Shanks would be a simp in any relationship, this is more about how Buggy reacts in turn. Would be fine if it was just some shyness but its not. Buggy's harmful. I really don't know where i said I don't think Buggy is important. I just hate him as a person. As a character hes funny and a good character objectively and I think that he matters in the story I just don't like him as him. I'm not some person that wishes he would stay unimportant, i never said that. This is not about the story of One Piece this is about Shuggy.

"Shanks couldn’t communicate his real reasons and wanted Buggy to join him but got rejected, so as the Captain who was rejected by Buggy who was willing to be part of his crew, it seems like Shanks was the one who lost out. Of course Shanks longs for his friend and would care for him. Luffy would also chase someone if it was his friend." Would missing out on being a crewmember of a famous crew not be way more of a loss than not getting an already disloyal person as a subordinate. Shanks was important to Buggy too, I don't know why you're acting like Buggy is so precious in comparison to Shanks that its only Shanks that could miss out. Also, my friend, did you miss the ENTIRE ARC WHERE LUFFY LET GO OF A FRIEND BECAUSE HE WAS DISLOYAL!??? Did that just disappear in your mind?? The difference between Buggy and Usopp is that Usopp actually manned up and apologized in order to get on the crew. The entire point of the last scene was that if Usopp did not apologize they were actually going to leave him! Luffy is different from Shanks because Shanks would depend on someone toxic, atleast in the Shuggy that's normalized, while its canon that if a friend was truly toxic and a crewmember was bad that Luffy would leave. Cmon man! Why are you telling me I don't understand the story like I'm stupid when you just completely glossed over water 7 😭

"I think you have this image of Shanks as this delicate abuse victim and Saint-like Christ figure (ironic) when he’s just a pirate who knows he and others have had to make sacrifices. All I can say is, you really think that? Okay, can’t help you there." Its funny how you say ironic when it is ironic. Thats the point. That Shanks is a sacrifice. That is what Oda is alluding to with Shanks if not consiously than unconsious. I beg of you to think about it. A person that has sacrificed everything, their dreams, their friendship, their sanity, and even their limb, for a God of Freedom to help free the world. That is what Shanks is, a sacrifice for the greater good. Just like how they were trying to portray Robin's death/servitude in enies lobby as a sacrifice for the greater good. It is not "ironic" it is the point. It is not the first time Oda has pitted someone as a sacrifice for the greater good.

"You even hate him for harmless things he did as a literal child." Ah yes the harmless actions like creating an entire fake devil fruit to eat so that he can pocket the actual one and sell it for money to use to kickstart his own crew and find treasure on a map that he kept from the same crew that raised him with care and freedom. He didn't just do that on a whim, he planned that shit. It was only stopped by Shanks interruption. If not he would've straight up left the crew that raised him and done what he wanted. Im not saying him being a child doesn't constitute some slack but theres only so much slack you can give when it was so very clearly thought out on his end to betray.

"You want Buggy to be portrayed as trash and dirt compared to Shanks, but in a ship where fans love both characters and Shanks cherishes Buggy that’s obviously not going to happen. It’s clear that you’re biased so you can’t reasonably have a good take on this, all you do is victimize Shanks. How hypocritical that you complain about others having no insight when you’re way worse." ????? You can love both characters of a ship and admit that theyre bad. Crocodile shippers do it all the time. So do people who like all sorts of other villians. Kaido, Crocodile, Akainu, a lot. It really feels like Buggy is the only villian that people ship and use while pretending like he's not been truly horrible. Zosan shippers are more aware of the toxicity that could be between them, and use that as a story point and not something to just brush aside or even romantisize without some sort of angst thing where they know its toxic. And their dynamic isn't nearly as toxic as the normalized Shuggy one. It really feels like you have more bias than me since the plot points so far some of them have clear holes or are ignoring huge things. And again with the Shanks thinking, a toxic relationship can be toxic while the victim thinks everything is okay. A lot of bad relationships stay relationships because of that.

"There’s so much stuff about Shanks fandom to criticize but the fact that you fixate on Shanks caring about Buggy as the worst thing, that’s just mindless hate you shouldn’t be tagging. The best understanding of Shanks I‘ve seen was from shuggy fans, I’m gonna trust them from now on." No. The understanding of Shanks that YOU want is with Shuggy fans. Because when you're a Shuggy fan you get to just deny that anything is wrong with Shanks mentally and that he's just a handsome man that can swoon over his lover and not someone who has very clear faults and mental issues. You can just pretend like Shanks is completely clear of mind so you can use him as a little puzzle piece to fit into anything you want to add a "simp" factor to a ship. Because if you really wanted the "best" understanding of Shanks you'd accept the fact that he is not a completely alright person. He doesn't "brush off" things like they don't matter. They hurt. He just holds it in. With Uta he bit the bullet and left for her sake, but he held it in. When he lost his arm and Luffy despaired we never saw him do anything to show distress over his lost arm, because he held it in. The only time we ever notice that he does feel pain is when he's talking with whitebeard and confesses to the scar on his eye stinging, and surprise surprise, it wasn't to vent his emotions, it was just in attempt to save Ace. Not for himself. He was sad that he's missing an arm, because in the same scene he even says "the scar that hurts most/more is my eye" not "the one that hurts" showing that his arm does hurt. Because losing a dominant arm would hurt anyone. Especially when it lost him Mihawk, another relationship he sacrificed to save something or someone. Yet unlike Buggy Mihawk still is somewhat amicable to Shanks. Mature. Even if he isn't perfect either (ex: completely okay with dying by Zoro's hand and doesn't have any goals now that he achieved world's greatest swordsman. His only friend was Shanks who he left once he couldn't be a suitable rival, showing a dependence on what he knows as Shanks was likely the only one that he had in his life to teach him any sort of friendship).

"Also are you seriously trying to compare your petty hate of a fictional character to speaking out about the literal atrocities done by colonizers of America? Please think before you speak." What the hell did you want me to do. Clearly just saying what I mean isn't working, metaphors are what usually help people finally understand. Yet instead of seeing the metaphor i used you just focused on that it was a cruel one like the point of me using it wasn't to show the cruelness. What other metaphor did you want me to use. You need to learn that a metaphor =/= me saying its the same thing. You brought that up just to make me seem like im a mindless hater that brought up atrocities for nothing. Do you get mad when people who talk about history compare the way slaves were treated to the treatment of cattle too? Since using your logic whatever a metaphor is must mean that you think they're the same thing. A metaphor or comparison is a just a tool. Unless you're gonna send some thing calling me crazy because i used another comparison.

[oblivionsdream]

Ooh yes I love the murderbot diaries! I discovered them this year and I'm so sad that I've read all of them now.

Book recs. Not ones that I read this year for the first time but one's I love and never shut up about.

The first series is called the tarot sequence by K.D. Edwards. It's an incomplete series. Nine books are planned, three are currently out plus a bunch of extra free stories you can find on his website.

If you read and enjoyed aftg you'll probably be fine but I'd still recommend checking out the trigger warnings just incase.

This is so difficult to describe in a way that doesn't turn into a rambling mess but I'll try.

Atlantis is real and was discovered sometime in the 1960s when an astronaut saw it from space. There was a war. Atlantis lost and they now live on Nantucket. The governing body is a bunch of super powerful magic users. They are the major arcana. (Tarot decks are based off of them though humans didn’t know it at the time) they are sort of royalty and have lesser houses belonging to them.

The sun throne, the court of our main character Rune, was raided when he was a teenager and nobody knows who did it. (His secret mission is to find out who killed his people and make them pay.)

His best friend/bodyguard/companion (basically a human baby is aquired and put together with an atlantian baby to protect them and they can feel each others emotions, it's described much better in the books) and Rune are detectives for hire. In the first book they are hired to solve a missing persons case but due to something that happens right at the beginning of the book they have some unforseen circumstances they need to deal with simultaneously.

The other series is the last binding by Freya Marske. The first book takes place in London in 1908. It's dual pov. Robin is mistakenly placed in a small bureau and is suddenly thrust into the world of the magical community. Only problem he had no idea it existed before and something happened to his predecessor but nobody knows what. Also after his first day he has a terrible curse put upon him and he needs his coworkers help to remove it.

A larger conspiracy is uncovered and they’re in a race against time to stop their enemies from succeeding.

What i love about both of these series is the relationships between the characters. They care about each other so much. And not just the romantic relationships. The sibling dynamics are amazing and they are so fleshed out.

And obviously the plot is incredible as are the intricate magic systems. It's also so queer. In the tarot sequence polyamory and being attracted to more than one gender is the norm. And in the last binding all of the main characters are queer and even though it is a dangerous time to be queer it's not all doom and gloom.

I always feel like I don’t do them justice when I try to describe them and I never know how much to say without it venturing into spoiler territory but they are so good!

OMG THE TAROT SEQUENCE IS SO AMAZING. I am eagerly awaiting the next book. It's a terrible shame that it doesn't get as much hype around it because it's just so good. I did a bunch of art for it a couple years ago in the style of tarot cards but I never finished them all. I always think about going back to them. 😂

I also adored Last Binding! I haven't read the other books in the series, but they're on my tbr and I keep meaning to get around to it. I just haven't yet!

[a-cloud-for-dreams]

wdyt about sasha hsr portrayals of female characters, including mc?

i don't think there's really anything new I can add to the current hsr discourse but i think she does a very poor job of writing any other woman than lane. you can take this with a grain of salt because i haven't really been reading hsr as closely as i used to (i started to read hsr updates near the end of DRs so i don't have the time to read it in depth), but i get the vibe that 1) she doesn't really enjoy writing the female characters (again that aren't lane) and that 2) she has the temptation to interweave the female backstories with one of the guys. with anna, that doesn't bother me too much because siblings would obviously share similar experiences compared to two strangers. but there was sm about the way donovan talked about dmitry that made me side-eye her. like that's ur nephew 😭😭 it's like she purposefully made the only female LI "less interesting" compared to the others when a friends-to-lovers dynamic would be such a beautifully stark contrast to the harsh post-apocalyptic environment surrounding them. and i didn't even start on the unnecessary homophobia. where do they have the time to hate the gays™️ KIM THERE'S PEOPLE THAT ARE DYING. Also Kira didn't need to die at all (make her a female LI instead of the you-know-whos)

this may be weird to read for a lot of the people who know me (i literally said hsr was one of my top books to read post updates) and it is!! the MC, the characters, the plot, and the concept have a soft spot in my heart, but i find that S2 is missing the oomf S1 effortlessly had

[emberfcrged]

LET'S GET REACQUAINTED ! hey rpc ! lets be honest, datv brought us all back in one way or another either you're a veteran or new, i'm sure there is stuff that has changed or we don't know each other so let's have a game about it to reintroduce each other ! repost this to do the same & tag some pals if you want !

Name / Penname: Ray for veterans, did you go by something previously ? name &/or penname: nope, always just Ray age & gender ( if comfortable sharing ): 28, female what was your first dragon age muse: Does all of them count? Ha! I guess I would say Maverick though, but he was originally a BG3 muse that I converted over for the DA setting when I started this blog up again. do you have any other darp muses / blogs: Nope, this is my first. what muses / blogs do you have outside of darp: My personal blog is @sambergcrs and tbh I am so inactive on that it's not even funny. It's my general musing & gif making blog because I've spent the last like 12 years or so doing rp groups. I only made my indie last year when BG3 came out and I was ITCHING to write in that universe!! So now I'm here, took a bit of a break over the last like 5 months because of a new job, but I'm back with my Dragon Age obsession reignited (even though I have not finished Veilguard...oops). thedas has two moons: I am unfortunately TERRIBLE at keeping track of lore so truly Bioware I feel you.

single line, para, or novella: Para/Novella. I don't mind what other people do but I am incapable of shortening replies half the time. SORRY. plotting or winging it: I am fine with both but I find I typically reply a lot faster and become more engaged in threads where we've plotted things out. Winging it with memes, starter calls and such are a great way to gauge chemistry and can serve super well as a jumping off point, though. fighting threads, you bold enough for them? They scare me truthfully but I could be down! My writing style is very...internalized as far as my characters go. I can dive into their psyches and write about why they do and feel the things they do and feel all day. So, admittedly I wouldn't say I'm super comfortable with them BUT I am more than willing to as long as we plot something out in detail & my partner is patient with me. what content warnings are on your blog?: Very few, just a general NSFW content may be present. I can always add more, but in general it's just possible smeggsual content and possible violence/gore. what things do you need tagged for your comfort?: I truly don't need anything tagged for my own purposes, but if that changes I will update my rules & let my writing partners know..

shipping preferences: single | multi | no ship | polyship. Wrote up a rule about this earlier this week! I am very versatile, happy to pair my muses up for multiple ships, but when it comes to canon characters I impose a limit. For example, I probably won't ship with more than one or two, say, Fenris' (FYI, I currently don't have any wink wink) because I find coming up with so many different dynamics between multiple portrayals a bit tiring, personally. Also, if my partners have rules I will typically follow them. But! Overall, I'm a ship fiend. Happy to discuss anything and everything. Also, would love more polyship opportunities. shipping boundaries: See above regarding canon characters, but I don't have too many hard boundaries right off the bat. Nothing generally inappropriate, obviously, or outright problematic. I'll always be open to ideas but will enforce my boundaries when they come up, and I hope others will feel comfortable to do the same.

fun facts about yourself that may have changed since in the past ten years( when inquisition dropped )-- damn I mean I graduated high school and college and then went into the working world, got married, moved a bunch, bought a house. It's certainly been a hard journey, especially the past few years or so in dealing with some of my husband's health struggled, but overall it's wild to see how much growth I've had and see how long these games have endured the test of time.

be honest, did you miss darp. come on now: I have never been a part of this community before, but I love it. I've had a great time & I can't wait to interact with more people!

challenge round! put a small top five things unrelated to dragon age ! - i have a 9 year old pitbull/corgi mix named dingo, and a 2 year old tuxedo cat named suki. i would do terrible things for them - i have a degree in television production but now i market forklifts for a living LMAO - hot rod is the greatest movie ever made - diet pepsi is superior to diet coke dont even @ me - go birds!!!!!

tagged by: @alitlantern & @onlyinthedas & i think more a while ago i am SORRY IM SLOW

tagging: you!! bc i cant keep up with who did this already and im shy!!

[yonemurishiroku]

please drop the link for the Nico finds family in Venice au when you're done pretty please 🥺

would be very interested in reading it

I regret to inform you that I, in fact, have nothing regarding this AU except for maybe a few visions that would do much better were I an artist instead of a slow-as-snail writer.

I have some reasonable explanation for the di Angelos - Maria had many siblings, and therefore Nico has many cousins who are actually still alive. One of them being the current head of the family (?) and he recognizes Nico. He has a vague sense of the whole Hades thing, so when Nico tells him the truth, he believes him and welcomes him back to the family. Nico then lives with them as his grandson.

I like to play around and imagine that it's like a big family staying together. And Nico now has an 'older brother' - who is actually his... grandnephew?? idk i probably just made that up. It'd be 10x times funnier if said grandnephew is actually aware of the truth. So they have this weird dynamic of "I'm 70 years older than you, son" - "Not in the adoption papers you are not, grandpa" LMAO. And then maybe - just maybe! - a boyfriend who is friends with said older brother/grandnephew? LOL

My plan, as of currently (which is code word for: all the prompts I can think of), is only an one-scene oneshot (you know, typical me).

Initially, I was going to merge it with another prompt I've got in store - which is about Grover coming across Nico in Italy again when he's traveling the world as the god of the wild. The plot would be quite simple, obviously: Grover lands in Venice, recognizes Nico who is just having a nice morning out with his (new) family, and then spends some time together on a bench sightseeing as they contemplate Nico's life story.

It's a one-time encounter between old friends to reminisce about your past - that sort of thing.

On the other hand, I just realized maybe five minutes ago that Reyna can fit quite well in Grover's place, as well. Mainly because:

1/ She is traveling around, too.

2/ She's close to Nico, too.

3/ She's now a Hunter of Artemis, which is a whole other branch that can connect to Bianca in case I want to go there, too.

Hazel is also a good candidate, though in her case I'd have to modify the plot a little, figuring out a good reason for her to cross the freaking Atlantic, what kind of transportation she'll have to take, their reactions upon reuniting - just. a bunch of things, really. I reckon if I'm going to pick Hazel, I would need to bring Percy too bc 1/ Frank would never let Hazel go that far alone but CJ needs at least a praetor; 2/ It allows for more interesting interactions.

But alas - I hardly have enough willpower for both Hazel and Percy, so there's that.

This is everything I have in mind. I'm sorry if you were expecting a multi-chaptered fanfic bc honestly I can't do longfic and half of the time I say I have an AU - it's like a 2-sentence prompt at best 😭😭😭

[rhea1212]

For the ask game, Rhy?

i literally just did this but I couldn't resist doing another one because I love rhy

How I feel about them:

my glorious king Rhy Maresh. words cannot describe how much he means to me. genuinely my current and longest book crush I've had. he's so sweet, funny, and such a mentally strong and compassionate individual he reminds me of sunshine incarnate. from his introduction I immidiently knew he'd be my top 3 characters. I love how he's the only magic less user in a story full of magical prodigies and yet he has never let that stop him from being helpful (like during the fight with Osaron, how he brought blankets for everyone who was still sleeping outside. I think that's when I was like 'yup, i'm completely in love with him'). also like he just brings a smile to my face every time he's in the story like damn I get why everyone in the story's obsessed with you (bruh I remember Lila only met him once in the first book and she liked him which is quite an acomplishment). like he's such a good brother to Kell and despite all his privilege has never made Kell feel like an outsider and he was so sweet to Lila. Even to Alucard before he knew why he left him he was still there for him when he needed him (but don't get it twisted: Rhy isn't a pushover and he clearly made that clear when Alucard tried pursuing him again in acol). also he's so funnyyyy like and he's selfless too what else can I ask for I would die for him. anyways he's just adorable I wish I could jump in the story and give him a hug. I bet he gives warm hugs too 🥹🥹

All the people I ship romantically with this character:

Alucard. Obviously. They're absolutely perfect for each other (I feel like they're the same person in different fonts too). And they're just so adorable. I love how they're the only two people who could out flirt eachother and keep up with one another. you best believe when I saw their scene together in agos I SCREAMED. also the pirate captain and his prince? iconic.

also Hastra. does anyone else see the vision? LIKE GUYS THINK ABOUT IT I LOVE IT

My non-romantic OTP for this character:

1.) Kell and Rhy are the best duo in this entire trilogy, and that includes romantic duos. they're so sweet, and their devotion and loyalty to one another is to die for. I love their dynamic, their quick banter, and their love for one another. How Kell gave his life for him, and how Rhy risked his entire tournament for Kell like NOBODY DOES IT LIKE THESE TWO !! I could read an entire book about them just fooling around and I would still want more. they are the iconic siblings of the literature world and I'll die on that hill.

2.) wish we had more Lila and Rhy too like I can see them being chaotic besties just from the minimal scenes we had with them. like when Lila saw him crying and she was like "so who do I have to kill?" and Rhy just laughed I melted inside like they're just so like ride or die. or when Rhy was happy in acol that she was the only person that didn't treat him like glass. Lila could use someone who gives her unconditional support and heals her inner child while Rhy could use a friend that would actually engage in his mischief without sulking 24/7 or someone that treats him less like he's someone that needs to be babysat.

My unpopular opinion for this character:

I wish he never married Nadiya. matter of fact I wish that entire plot line of Nadiya existing and being Rhys wife was scrapped. that's actually the one reason why I'm not reading threads because it pissed me off so much why'd he marry someone when he's with Alucard? yeah I get he needs to have an heir and stuff but like can't Kell have a child? couldn't V make him and Lila have a kid? Rhy could've also like, adopted a kid with Alucard. Or they could've had a surrogate, where Rhy would impregnate her and pay her lots of money to give birth to their child and then like idk, go back home? I'm sure he has enough money to make her shush. like now to me its giving Alucard has become Rhy's side hoe which makes me so sad because he gave up so much for him like there's no way he isn't hurt by this.

One thing I wish had happened to this character in cannon:

I wish he had a fight scene. yeah ik it probably wouldn't have worked out since Rhy can't do magic and all the bad guys have insane magical abilities. but like. Lila had no magic in the first book and she had a decent amount of fights. rhy definitely knows his way around a sword as he is a prince and especially because hes a magic less prince. but he could've had a better fight with Osaron, instead of losing so fast. V could've made him tap into his affinity for fire during the battle so he could at least fight. or he could've had like a crazy fight with prince col when he killed Rhys mother like I would've loved to see rhy go batshit crazy on him. I just wish he was less of a damsel in distress sometimes and started smacking people.

ask game here.

[blackstarchanx3new]

On a scale of 1-10 how much do you dislike the canon manga Red?

This turned into a rant lmfao.

Gotta make Red simps hate me more than they already do X'D

Like a 5 at least.

The problem mainly boils down to how I perceive him due to MY OWN PERSONAL READING OF THE TEXT.

So, the start: I'm not a fan of those types of "i'm so cute teehee" characters to begin with but for Red specifically...I just hate how inconsistent and poorly utilized he is.

He just morphs to be whatever the narrative needs him to be instead of having a real character.

He's a plot device more than a character tbh and it's why I struggled SO MUCH with figuring out a direction for him in FSR.

because...all the plot is character driven.

And I literally had no USE for a character who's soul purpose was filling in gaps when there weren't any with this cast.

His behavior isn't ever fully dived into like the other three.

I've mentioned this before: I think they cut a stand alone Red Chapter somewhere in development because the way his scene ends to where we see him later after they split up is SO WEIRD.

Funnily enough I find Dark Link and Red very similar. (Which is a huge problem but I'll get into that some other time)

Except Dark Link's inconsistencies and overall character loops back to his creation and he himself being a conflict of interest in Vaati's mind when he created Dark. he WANTED HIS Link back the only person he felt a connection to who he last had on good terms with, paired with wanting to HURT and destroy the current incarnation of Link.

making a twisted as hell individual who simultaneously embodies Link and is Link's twisted mirror image.

Naive uncertain and full of inner turmoil due to his purpose.

But when Dark REALIZES what he is to the truest extent he has to justify or crumble under the weight of his reality. There's a reason i described early Dark link as "Delusional" because he was.

Red just...doesn't have any of that kind of retrospection or intrigue in cannon.

Dark's innocence comes from his naivete but where the fuck does it come from with Red? (and it's proven to be fake anyway because he's the first one to stab someone who they think is their knight friends buuuuuut-)

Red's just canonically a contradiction with no real point and it's never pointed out in the narrative so like...it's just weird and kinda unnerving.

Like I pointed out, he literally acts like Lil Gideon before the reveal he's a crazy maniac.

Except we never GET the reveal for Red.

Red doesn't have any flaws that aren't him playing up his baby persona and fucking shit up for the others. He's just stupid af sometimes and helpful others without much rhyme or reason.

...Again I've said this before but if he was smart in areas Vio was dumb in (liKE IF THE DIRECTIONS THING WAS MORE OBVIOUSLY A CANNON THING IDK IF VIO BEING DICK WITH DIRECTIONS WAS JUST SMTH THEY ACCIDENTILY REPEATED A FEW TIMES OR A REAL INTENTIONAL TRAIT OF HIS) it could have been a fun dynamic but Vio and Red barely interact.

Honestly most of the dynamics I find myself WANTING with Red revolve around Vio...

And, imo his persona is blatantly fake from how often he just...drops it when the plot requires him to or when...idk it's just not NEEDED?

Him not shedding a TEAR when Shadow dies continues to creep me out.

because everything we know about Red tells us he should at least LOOK sat but he just...isn't.

And you can't be like "Oh but Shadow was their enemy"

bLUE GOT HIS ASS KICKED BY THIS ASSHOLE SO MANY TIMES AND HE LOOKS SAD. WHY DOESN'T RED WHO CRIES OVER KILLING ROCK MONSTERS IT'S CREEPYYYYYY.

Like no, I didn't want Red to dramatically burst into tears and ruin the moment, but dude didn't even look SAD.

Didn't look sad a dude with his face DIED.

Burned Blue's ass after JUST CRYING about him being DEAD and just WALKED AWAY.

Like if he had any depth to him this shit would be dived into but he's as shallow as a puddle and I dislike it strongly.

Like if ANY of this shit was even addressed in the manga I'd like him WAY MORE.

but it feels UNINENTIONAL which is the issue I have with Red as a character.

Long as hell walk to say:

I don't wanna spoil stuff but I do think you could have fresh ideas with Red being VERY DIFFRENT from link but my main issue with him in the actual cannon manga is:

He doesn't feel realistically like a part of Link due to my interpretation of the text and it's storytelling, and the WAY the text WANTS portrays him doesn't line up with his actions, and I don't like it.

[just-a-carrot]

Since we're all talking about Broomtail, I'll also say something:

My friend, when he reminded me that there was a new chapter, I went to watch it.

Carrot, you should know that I almost burst out laughing at Orlam and his comments.

But luckily, I can laugh without a voice, so I had a silent laugh while I was reading:

Here I agree with Orlam... Iggy, thank you for being who you are. I wouldn't have survived if you were different. Stay the same sweet and good boy.

But I'll still say something, if you don't take it as humor:

I like seeing Orlam wanting to help Genzou.

Like, in the Main Game, given the conflict between them, Orlam wanted to not only take revenge on him for the pain that Genzou gave him, but also to find out the reason why he still hates him.

What did Orlam do to make him so mocked, tormented, and insulted by his mother and wish him to do the same as his mother did…

Although, after the reboot, this drama between them is lighter, not so cruel, so they are just friends who argue with each other - but in a friendly way.

And to see how Orlam wants to help Genzou, because:

Seriously. A person - alone, will just go crazy. So, when Orlam sees how Genzou shows his interest in Iggy, of course, he jokes with him, but also understands that he has a chance - not to remain completely alone on the farm.

Also, after Iggy appeared in Genzou's lonely life - it became more alive, and even warmer in the soul, when you understand that you are cared for, not only because of "You sheltered me - and I pay my debt for this", but because of Iggy's sincere care for him.

So, when Orlam sees this situation, he decides to help him, knowing that Genzou is afraid that Iggy might refuse him and distance himself from him (or somehow hurt him) from himself, and his pride - which does not allow him to admit his feelings for him, or even admit that he likes Iggy.

So, even if Orlam likes to annoy others and evoke different emotions with his comments and teasing, he still helps them to be alone (that moment when he said that there could be snakes here, which made Iggy come closer to Genzou).

Just… I like it so much. No, he was somewhat caring in the game(OW, OFW, OC) before, but still… It's so nice to see this side of him. He can both talk about it directly and seriously with Genzou about his current situation, and at the same time be a frivolous and teasing type. And without words, in his own way - help others, letting what needs to happen happen👀🦊✨

ahhhh no I'm the same way, I really like how their dynamic has turned out in this!! I love that BT has given me an opportunity to explore a different dynamic not only between the trio but also between Genzou and Orlam specifically. It's a similar dynamic to OC but also a bit different still simply because of the situation and environment and it's really been a delight for me to write, so I'm really happy that you enjoy it!!

like... hmmm while obviously everything that happened in OW was an essential part of the story and their story in particular was very important to me and a huge crux of the overarching plot, now that I have written it I don't really want to write them like that ever again 🤣 I much more enjoy this type of dynamic they have in BT or in OC hahaha so I'm glad I have these kinds of new outlets to explore the chars in different ways

[redadmiralbutterfly]

I need more roleplay partners

This is an active attempt at making people want to roleplay with me, because I just need more active ones, other than the one that I currently have (they're irreplaceable for sure!)

Now, my main genres are romance (usually the base), fantasy, action, medieval, sci-fi, gore, even angst, just no slice of life. I accept anything MxM, FxF, NBxNB, FxNB, MxNB, shipping OCs is cool, I really lean into the fantasy aspect with my OCs, but I also ship specific things from fandoms (I am quite sure that you will recognise at least one of these, trust me). I find gore completely fine and I come for drama, as long as it doesn't come out of nowhere. I write in a weird mix between semi-lit and literate. If I keep myself short, I either don't know what to write or I am preoccupied with something else at the moment. 18+ stuff is good too, I am 20 (I am a pure bottom, but not all that I roleplay is submissive, most of them stand their ground quite well). I am a very creative person, who will most likely find a plot in anything, so if you want to add things aswell, just let me know! My timezone is MET (Middle European Time), also I am German (I can involve my German speak into the roleplay aswell!)

These are the fandoms that I roleplay (and the pairings that I like the most from each)

♤Dream Daddy (Damien x Robert or Damien x Joseph)

♡Spaloon 1-3 (mainly Agent 12, but also Shiver x Marie and Frye x Callie)

♤Pokemon (dirteatingshipping and researchethicsshipping are my go-to, but I also really like Archie x Ghetsis (and I gave them the shipname eyeseashipping))

♡No Straight Roads (I love the neonnova and rinzuke dynamic)

♤The Stanley Parable (do I even need to say anything? Obviously, stannarrator)

♡Countryhumans (wild takes for this one, but I always preferred AmeGer and Finland x Third Reich)

♤Undertale/Deltarune (There's alot here, but I really like sansby, tuffet, kingdings, papyton and swatchton)

♡Team Fortress 2 (always love fruit scones, gentle surgery and bush medicine (I like being Medic lol))

♤Super Mario/Luigi's Mansion 2-3 (King Booigi and Toedette x Peach, those I love)

♡Jojo's Bizarre Adventure part 3-4 (Jotakak, Josuyasu and Rohan x Mikitaka)

♤Hazbin Hotel/Helluva Boss (I'm obsessed with staticmoth and adamsapple, though I do like stolitz and fizzarozzi aswell)

♡Detroit Become Human (rk1700, Simon x Connor and Simon x Markus, though Connor x Kamski is also good)

♤Yokai Watch (I don't have a preference, I just want to be a yokai, like Goldinyan, not a human lol)

♡Pikmin 1-4 (I love Alph x Loui and Shepherd x Brittany)

♤Super Smash Bros (I'd be Mii Swordfighter, just pair him up with any adult male in the roster)

♡Steven Universe (Pearl x Sapphire/Peridot/Lapis/Rose/Jasper, I just want to be Pearl)

♤My Little Pony (Specifically fluttertwi, pinkidash and rarijack, though raritwi and Celestia/Luna x Twilight are cool too)

♡Sonic (stobotnik, Sonic x Tails, Silver x Tails, Silver x Shadow, just depends on where things go-)

♤Villainous (paperhat is a must, though the Flug x Slug and Black Hat x White Hat double-ups are good too)

♤Star Wars (Obikin, Obimaul and or just me being a battle droid, falling in love with anyone of your choice (I can imagine general grievous being a rather tragic one))

♡Sanders Sides (analogical, royality and demus)

♤Cookie Run Kingdom (licorice cookie x red velvet cookie, purecacao, burningmilk, possibly even throw silent salt in the mix lol)

♡Wander Over Yander (I literally only want to do deathglare and to be Peepers!)

♤The Amazing Digital Circus (royalteeth, the girls and non-binary can be mixed up and Kaufmo x Jax)

♡Kirby game series (metadede, Magalor x Marx, Susie x Taranza, Waddle doo x Bandana Dee and probably more-)

♤The Gaslight District (Honestly, I love Diligence x Temperance/Mud)

If you are interested in roleplaying with me now, you can comment or dm me. If you prefer roleplaying with me on Discord, I can send you my Discord in dms.

[fandsart]

This is old news, but I haven't really reported on it yet. I don't like most Nancy ships because they always seem to revolve around her. I like my ships to be mutually dynamically fulfilling, and a while ago I tried to think of any stranger things character I could see her being good with, and the only one I could think of at the time was Kali. (side note: I didn't look up an official list or anything, so Chrissy wasn't one that I'd thought of at the time, but I was very recently introduced to the idea of them being in a relationship and I kinda like it, maybe even more than kalancy, but that's irrelevant rn)

The reason I haven't really talked about it though is because the only way I'd ever be able to do anything with it is if I thought up an au for it, because I can't so easily just slide that into canon st plotlines. Especially since steddie is my main favorite ship, it's also not something I could just slide as background into there. But I'm not much of an au person so I just figured nothing would come of it, but... well I thought of one

Robin Hood!Kali Maid Marian! Nancy. And obviously Kali has an established gang, which would stand in for the merry men

Now first of all, obviously Nancy is kind of known to be the sharp shooter, but also lots of versions of Robin Hood give them a history from before he becomes an outlaw. So the idea that one of the extracurricular Nancy had to partake in is archery, and it's one of the ones that she actually likes, so she teaches her friend (Kali) to do it

A common Robin Hood plot is around a competition for this golden arrow, often accompanied by a kiss from Maid Marian, so the idea that Kali shows up just to see Nancy again, and marvels as Nancy pulls a Merida, competing herself, taking her agency back in the situation

Maid Marian often has lady in waiting and that's gotta be Barb. Yk that scene in canon where Nancy and Barb are talking about Steve and Barb kind of mocks her like "'We just made out a little.'" I'm thinking we'd get that type of dynamic a little bit, and Barb can go to Nancy as a confidant when Barb realizes Nancy's feelings for Kali. Barb admits that she's been sneaking off with Robin, who is the king's scribe's daughter (Also Robin intends on being the, like, royal translator when the current one retires, and has actually gotten work a few times when they've needed one last second). Now Nancy has a closer confidant in Barb.

Some extra background stuff I got carried away with

I think Steve has to be royalty too. I think he was the prince of a neighboring kingdom and was one of Nancy's suitors at some point, before he did something against his father and was banished. So he stays in Nancy's kingdom. If we want to throw in some background steddie we can have Eddie and Wayne take him in. I think Eddie is in Kali's gang, and maybe eases Steve into it too. I think Dustin, Max, and the Sinclairs are also in the group from pretty early

Robin and Steve meet while working at a soup kitchen, with all the financial issues going on in the kingdom, as is part of the Robin Hood plot

The Byers family work in the stables, and Nancy once had a rebellious relationship with Jonathan, and Mike (who would also be in a similar social position to Nancy, being her brother). I'm honestly not that invested in the B*ler vs m*leven rivalry (censoring because people get intense about it). I think Will doesn't deserve to go through this emotional wringer for Mike, but there's opportunity here

The sheriff in Robin Hood is obviously an antagonist so I'm not gonna be placing Hopper there, I'm going to make him Friar Tuck, even though I don't view canon Hopper as particularly religious, I think the role fits

Instead of the situation being the typical Robin Hood route of "No, royalty is good, but we gotta be loyal to those rightfully in power" where Prince John is just left in charge while his brother, the true king, is on the crusade, we're just going full anti-authority. The kind is in charge and it's Brenner. Idk how royal positions work and I've tried so hard to google. I have no idea if Maid Marian is supposed to be related to the king or not. But I could totally see them related on her dad's side. We're just going with it. The Sheriff is gonna be Mayor Kline

Now obviously the Robin Hood plot is about exploitation which fits into Kali's real motivation, but in Robin Hood it's financial exploitation, so I think El has to be just a victim of child labor through orphanage before Hopper takes her in. I think all of the experiments need to have fallen victim to child labor, and Kali and El were the only ones who actually got out of it. Kali would have probably had to have gotten stuck in it after her childhood friendship with Nancy

[justsurvival]

SHIPPING INFO — answer the following for your muse(s) so people know how shipping works on your blog.

What’s your OTP for your Muse(s)?

multimuse that mainly writes ocs i will ship w anyone n everyone dont ask me to choose my favorite there isn't one (i lie . my favorite is Us. )

What are you willing to RP when it comes to shipping?

all ship dynamics are equally valued here ! yes that includes antagonistic, platonic, etc. i am an angst enjoyer first and foremost and can't lie but i love u hurt / no comfort. fluff is. meh to me? unless it's a brief respite between the horrors. i may write smut i may not. i enjoy talking about it if it comes up, but i defer to my partner's preferences. i love you dynamics between exes i love you older characters i love you mutual obsession and unhealthy / toxic dynamics (**not abusive) i love you mentor/mentee dynamics i love you thinking that everything is going to be fine and it only getting worse i love you becoming something worse than lovers

How large does the age gap have to be to make it uncomfortable?

involving a character under 25, i stick to 5 years. older than 25, i'd like for them to have not known eachother from before the younger was 25. frontal lobe development <3 ummm immortals are. waves hand. more nuanced. im straight up stealing from cupid now sorry smooches

Are you selective when shipping?

eeeeeeeeh ? if you're here on this blog and we are mutuals i will ship with you? like that's as selective as i get. i have some characters that are more ship-selective because they're very hard to ship with, i have too many similar dynamics with them, or some other thing. i generally prefer a good mix of chem + plot to ship. also if ur obviously face chasing... i dont care ? but like. please care about my character and their personality / backstory. thankies.

How far do steamy moments have to go before they’re considered USFW?

i'll be real with you i can't remember the last time i actively wrote something usfw on the dash. i'll dm you if i feel its heading that direction.

Who are other muses you ship your muse with?

is this a safe space to say i do think some of my muses would be fun (terrible) with eachother.

Does one have to ask to ship with you?

yessssnoooo? easiest way is to send a hey lets ship message or waowow im feeling smth between them are u message. i will likely agree with u. also open to being sent shippy inbox prompts if we don't have a ship on the contingency that you still need to explicitly tell me you're interested in shipping. i am autistic i have a hard time picking up things especially through the internet so i appreciate having a clearcut 'i would like ships' message because i generally will otherwise default to a platonic relationship. (this doesn't include those who i have many, many ships with)

How often do you like to ship?

23/6

Are you multiship?

my public characters are multiship, yes, but if we have a dynamic between our characters that is impactful enough to my character's development, i'll go single ship on that. any muses i make specifically for a ship / are listed as private are single ship <3

Are you ship obsessed or ship more-or-less?

obsessed but i always always include non-romantic dynamics in this.

What is your favorite ship in your current fandom?

stares at you with my big brown eyes. i write mostly ocs in original lore.

Finally, how does one ship with you?

please just ask its the easiest way for me otherwise we are gonna dance around it for eternity. holds ur hand. just message me.

[reni-reads]

Reni Reviews

Love Points to You by Alice Lin

Finished: 27th May, 2025

Genre: Romance, Romcom

May be for you if you like: Otome games, art, rivals to lovers, music, bi4bi romance, ace rep, family subplots

Synopsis

Sixteen-year-old Lynda Fan has the skills and the drive to get into the Rhode Island School of Design—but not the money. Her parents are too busy paying off her stepsister's violin lessons to help Lynda get into art school. So when her rich and arrogant classmate, Angela Wu, offers to hire Lynda as a character designer for an otome game—a love story-based video game—she jumps at the opportunity.

Lynda isn’t exactly a romantic, but in pursuit of her dreams, she discovers things she never knew about herself while also finding love with every heart she draws.

Review

This is one of the cutest romance novels I've read in a long time!

The premise had me hooked from the start, and I got even more than I expected! The story focuses a lot on art as a general topic - current art "culture" with online presence and fame, pressure to get into a good school, rivalry, the different options you have with art, and so on. It was great! While I'm myself am no artist, I do have my favorite artists, as well as several friends with an art background, so this angle was super interesting to me. The best thing was the focus on otome games though - even though the protagonist herself isn't much into otome games, her best friend Bora, her sister Josie, and (obviously) Angela are, and the way they talk about it is soooo relatable to me, as I love otome games myself lol. Especially Angela had so many great quibs about otome games, and my personal favorite was: "I play as if I'm Cupid shooting my arrow." because YES that's what I love about any romantic media (such as this book)!

The otome game storyline is a bit delegated into a background story as Lynda's relationship with Angela becomes more relevant - her complicated family dynamic becomes increasingly important too. While I didn't mind it too much, as I was very interested in Lynda's family life, it did disappoint me a little bit. I would have liked more focus on the otome game aspect of it all, since it's the hook of the novel. Overall, the story is very sweet and enjoyable though, with good pacing and developments throughout!

The characters were all well-developed and feel very authentic. Everyone has their flaws, and everyone undergoes believable development!

Lynda, the protagonist, is very practical, determined - and judgemental of anyone who isn't as driven as her. Her resulting lack of empathy annoyed me on occasion but it made sense given her backstory - and she does change a bit! Angela is a great foil for her, because she (even though she's supposed to be an arrogant type-A person) is very reflective and aware of her own faults, while also being endearingly romantic.

The side characters are all great as well - Bora, Lyn's best friend, is a spunky and fun character who tells Lyn off when needed, but she also has her own hobbies, wants and interests and didn't only exist to be a best friend character. My favorite character was Lyn's stepsister Josie - a talented violinist who struggles to find her way amidst pressure and expectations.

There are some other characters (mainly family members) who add some more depth. Overall, the cast is really great with several highlights!

So yeah, I absolutely loved this book, and I think everyone who is into romance and slightly into art or otome games will greatly enjoy this!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Plot and Storylines: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Characters and Relationships: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Writing Style and Narration: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Setting and Worldbuilding: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Entertainment: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[archiveofsouls]

Here we are friends ~ Our current members each chose one of the opens that they are not already connected to and wrote out a possible dynamic they would love to see between the two characters! Obviously these are simply ideas and are subject to whatever plotting happens, but they wanted to show just how eager they are to have new writers join us! It will be under the cut simply because of the length of the post.

Revival/Diana + Apparatus — It's very hard to be fooled by a trick mirror when it's been broken, revealing the secret behind how it works; the illusion simply doesn't convince like it used to. Revival and Apparatus are legacies, products of their families' wishes, demands, and molding hands, and it's no surprise that they grew up in the same social circles, attending the same parties, and charming the same people. They have known each other for a very long time, and despite that fact, they aren't exactly friends. Surely it is difficult to look your mirror image in all but appearance in the eye and not feel some sickening combination of sympathy and self-loathing. While it may not spark much cooperation, perhaps avoidance is the most reliable route—after all, the idea of being known is disconcerting at best, and terrifying at its worst.

Pressure/Lucas + Resurrect — Where Confession goes, Resurrect follows, and standing just to one side is Pressure. Pressure and Confession are roommates for the second year in a row and Resurrect has a habit of showing up unannounced — living with Confession, apparently, means living with Confessions friends and that’s totally fine for Pressure. So fine, in fact, that Pressure has made up a small amenities kit for Resurrect’s use when they crash, coming in with quick comments they forget they don’t need in a space with friends. Pressure has a habit of maintaining a tight control, especially when it comes to their personal space, but it’s starting to slip when Resurrect is present. Whether it’s for better or worse is still open to interpretation.

Vessel/Rowan + Purpose — Vessel and Purpose are two sides of the same coin; one in service of the living, the other of the dead, both endlessly giving of themselves to do their jobs. Comparison within specialties is only natural, and the natural is exactly what Vessel and Purpose harness. but with comparison comes envy, and though there is perhaps little academic rivalry, competition for space within the society’s social hierarchy is plenty between the two. It’s a race to see who can make themselves the most valuable, who can grow strongest and fastest, who can overshadow the other best and cut the lesser off from the sunlight.

Venture/Jack + Creator — They met in the shadows, a place where Venture resides, and one where Creator can slip in and out of. It's not really a friendship, nor are they enemies, but a place where silence is the indulgence; the two recognize something within the other. The need to slip away and disappear, the calling of something new that might pique their interest, but in the daylight they barely speak. When Creator grows bored and they leave Venture behind, it's never for too long. Venture is always sitting there waiting for when Creator inevitably returns.

Generate/Charlotte + Corrupt — It seemed like the most natural thing in the world, rooming with the society's other empath – who better to understand the 3 am panics that come with manipulating other people's emotions? Corrupt fills a unique hole in Generate's life. They're her friend, her study companion, her confessor. She's drawn to them as she is to all puzzles that she can't quite crack. But closeness stokes jeopardy as much as it does comfort – that they know her secrets is unnerving, too. They're more intimately aware of the masks she wears than almost anyone else – they play along, for example, with the fiction that she rooms with someone else for fun rather than for financial necessity. When someone knows your darkest secrets, you should be on your toes. When that person is Corrupt? You should be prepared to run.

Confession/Jo + Threats — It’s a symbiotic relationship — you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. Confession suffers the most intense migraines, pain has haunted their life as long as they can remember. But Threats has the gift to ease that, and they offer it… in exchange. After all… what Confession can do isn’t useless, and for the amount of relief they need, they would be willing to do quite a lot for that kind of reward.