#Gifts from Anne’s friends/Mutuals

[annemissingshoe]

Some of my WH aus

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Psychic and Esper Au: this one of my au, it’s somewhat based on Saiki k, not going to be completely following what happening in the Anime. Might change something. I made a Julie focused au because there are so many aus focuses on Wally, I also thought it would be fun to have Julie be Saiki because why not.

I have no idea what I’m doing with this au anymore but here we are. :0

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Concealed/Eclipse Au: You can see a little of Eclipse sally in the last image. This is more of a Sally foucued Au, In this au there is an entity that is possessing the puppets and the entity likes to prank/play with the puppets, which is a inconvenience to the puppets because they go go around doing things that causing small problems or making them question their sanity. (Also @kursein has guess correctly on which one is Eclipse Sally) Made this au because of the page seen in this post, kinda just got the idea for it

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Altered Timelines au: Basically the backrooms, the wh cast fall through a crack in their universe, ending up in an altered timeline where the cast are different in appearance and maybe personality. (And some don't even exist..)

Yeah I didn't want to rewrite what my friend wrote, I just copied and pasted what they said about our au.

————————————————————————— One of my Multiversal au, Lacuna!Julie: Julie would always leave her au to interact with other aus, one day when Julie came back she found out her au had been destroyed while she was gone, Julie and Poppy are the only survivors of their au. The other characters are dead, she goes to visit her friend’s graves, she knows they're gone but she stil goes to visit to talk to them about current events. Julie tries her best to help others.

I made this au because I wanted an au just for the WH au multiverse. I made more multiversal characters over time. Go there to see the blog. This is just my multiverse au honestly, I saw everyone else making one and I decided to join too. Adding on there are other multiversers that I have made beside Lacuna and her Poppy, some of them do have ask blogs. While others don’t have one yet or won’t have one at all.

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Ascended Sally au: Sally has ascended and trying to force help the others ascend too, unfortunately they won't let her help them. They keep locking themselves inside their houses during the night and don't go into the forest anymore, but that's ok she will find a way to help them ascend too. The others are try to find a way to bring Sally back to normal but they’re running out of hope.

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This is my Main blog, I’m more active over there

Annemissingshoe is my secondary account and I’m not on here that often anymore, you can ask things on the blog below instead since it’s a side blog on my main account, I’ll see way fast than I would on my secondary blog.

keep in mind this my aus, even tho it's based on the og Welcome home, it has nothing to do with the actual canon story of welcome home. Just a couple of aus I made, that's it.

Boundaries and Rules

-fanart is allowed as long it's sfw, if you want to draw fanart go ahead (gore is fine too) and also tag me in the post too, I would love to see the fanart:3

-drawing my aus interacting with other aus is allowed, also with your characters

-shipping my aus with your characters or other aus is allowed it’s depends on what au and character just ask me first before doing that, but Appesect and anything like it is not allowed tho

-character.Ais: Nah.

-have any questions about any of my aus or about go ahead ask, I don't mind answering questions, would love to talk about any of my aus

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About me

-artist

-I have some ocs that I will post here

-fandoms: SU, WH,UT, Omori, Amphibia, Toh, KATAOWB

-joined Tumblr during July

Main Tumblr account/blog: @/annelostshoe

[annelostshoe]

Make sure to Change the look of your blog from default as people will block you thinking you’re a bot

Annelostshoe

• Anne

• Other names: Collie, Vimmy, Marcy, Bonnie

• they/them/she/her

• artist

-fandoms: Steven Universe, Welcome Home, UT, Omori, Amphibia, The Owl House, KATAOWB, Saiki k, Murder Drones and more

-joined Tumblr during July

-Tiktok: annelostshoe

-Pinterest: Annemissingshoe, I don’t post there anymore

Discord: ask lol

My persona( I’m not consistent with this )

-basic Blocklist. Also no 18+/nsfwblogs following this account

moving on, about some of my wh aus

This is my secondary account

AnneMissingshoe

My art blog

Anne-Art-Blog

My side RP blog just for any of my other aus and anything else that I want

Another ask blog

Modicum-Elysian

My wh ask blogs for individual characters

Lacuna!Julie

The Multiverse Menaces

cosmos Mayflower

Kalopsia!Julie

Enamoured!Wally

Heartless!Obsession

Tags

ann intr

anne's things

Anne’s trick or treat:3

Anne’s art abc:3

Gifts from Anne’s friends/Mutuals

Anne inter

Anne’s inter

ann intr

Anne answered asks

wh mv au inter

WH AU inter

Mutual’s wh mv au

[annelostshoe]

istkstkstidzt

it’s my girl, it’s her

thank you 🙏

some practice julie drawings < 3 !!!

Au julies are

Lacuna: @lacunajulie

Sword Fighter: @windflower9500

[zordanna]

𝓑𝓲𝓻𝓭𝓲𝓮

A fluffy fic inspired from this old drawing I did🍃

English is not my first language and I hate writing so don’t expect too much. It’s just a small scene where Sebastian realises he’s in love with my MC, you can imagine yours there too of course! I ain’t stopping you🫡 enjoy I guess?

Sebastian yawned softly as he kept silently reading his history of magic notes while sitting on the carpet and resting his back on the couch, Eleonora was next to him laying fully on it while reading the chapter trying really hard to not fall asleep.

“Ugh I swear I’m failing this time”

She mumbled while flipping pages. Sebastian rolled his eyes and spoke back with annoyance.

“You literally have the highest grades of all the students in our class, shut up-”

Eleonora huffed and gave him a soft nudge with her knee in response.

“Just because the competition prefers wandering in the restricted section more than studying actual subjects. You know- instead of  forbidden ones”

Sebastian groaned and rested his head on the couch seat cushion to look at her better.

“You are a pain in the ass.” He breathed out glancing back at his notes pretending to ignore her.

“The feeling is mutual”

She ruffled his brown curls gaining a soft laugh from him , the boy rested one cheek on the  cushion and gazed at her while his notes ended up spread around the intricated embodied carpet of Russel  living room. Sebastian  glanced at the book and got an idea.

“I can read it for you, if you want, so we both learn something at least”

His proposal sounded quite nice to Eleonora, she gave him the book and set herself comfortable as he cleared his throat. He started reading and he could almost feel her gaze caressing his skin, Sebastian didn’t know how he managed to say the words correctly without fumbling while having that lovely pair of blue eyes staring at him, the warmth of her presence, her sweet scent of lavender and soap pervading his nostrils…Merlin help him!

On the other side Eleonora’s eyes were looking at his freckles, she always thought they looked like a starry sky , sometimes she would find full constellations in them while stealing glances at her friend’s features. She  glanced  at his lashes, was it even legal to have them so long and soft? The way they fluttered while he was  reading, the way the sun was making them shine with a warm orange shade. She was mesmerised. That’s for sure. The words sounded like a sweet lullaby rather than an actual lecture on how their ancestors channeled magic trough the years, her eyes felt heavy and her body a little too relaxed. 

Maybe if she closed her eyes just for a second…yeah that should do it.

Sebastian was reading the last paragraph when he heard  soft snoring coming from his right side ,he turned his head a little to check on Eleonora and a warm smile formed on his lips as he realised she had fallen asleep. He closed the book putting it away before adjusting himself leaning closer to the sleeping girl. He rested his elbow on the couch cushion careful to not disturb her rest, as usual Eleonora needed her afternoon nap.

Memories of their third year flashed in his mind, rainy afternoons spent napping all together on the same couch down in the undercroft between a mess of books and unfinished candies. Anne was still…well Anne. No curse, no pain just Anne, sleeping peacefully while her tiny head would rest on Ominis shoulder as he was  nestled up almost like a cat. Eleonora’s long blonde hair would tickle his nose as he often found himself using her soft curls as a pillow. They always smelled so good it wasn’t his fault they felt so comfy.

Instinctively Sebastian brushed off some of her blonde strands that were framing her face, very carefully as if she was made of porcelain. Her long blonde curls that once were left wild and free were now tied up in that blue ribbon he gifted her almost two years ago.

“You keep wearing it all the time mh?”

He mumbled softly more to himself than to her. The soft blue satin fabric was a bit smudged near the knot after years of wearing it every day, that’s what happens with the things you love most isn’t it? They change. 

Sebastian always questioned why she would refuse to buy another one, a prettier one maybe made from the most expensive silk with embodied details but she always said that one was just perfect. She loved it.

And he loved how beautiful she looked with it. He loved the way it always made her eyes stand out matching their colour, he loved how it swayed like a swallowtail when she would rush around the hallways late for classes trying to not trip on other students. Swallows are a sign of hope and freedom, he was certain that if she had to be an animal she would be one of them. She was always there trying to see the good side of everything, which in his darker days was both infuriating and yet comforting. It was reassuring  having her slapping some sense in his thick skull sometimes, he couldn’t deny it.

He also loved that, her scolding tone, her stubbornness and resolution whenever he was acting like a complete ass. He loved the way she would ruffle his hair to annoy him, he loved how her soft hands were making him feel butterflies flying around his stomach every damn time…

Sebastian’s chocolate brown eyes were fixed on Eleonora’s delicate face as the sudden realisation hit him like a whole bombarda in his chest.

He was falling in love. No. He was in love. Utterly. Undeniably in love. 

He didn’t realise his face was few centimetres away from hers till now, his lips dangerously close to hers. Before doing something stupid and reckless he pulled away slightly and took a moment to gain his composure, his eyes wandered around the luxurious living room of her family’s manor, the paintings of the Russels were almost staring at him, judging him with their cold gaze.

Who was he trying to fool? He was nobody compared to her family, an orphan living in a cottage with his grumpy uncle, it would never be fair to her. Knowing her parents Eleonora had probably her life planned since day one, as her older sister Ofelia once told him they lived in a golden cage with all comforts but still a cage. It was all doomed from the start so- for now it was better to suppress those feelings. To pretend they never had been there.

For now having her friendship was more than he could hope for, Sebastian looked at the big wood carved clock and checked the time, it was getting pretty late, he sighed and with a soft spoken tone called for her.

“Hey…Birdie”

The world would never want them together, that’s what he was telling himself, yet when he saw those blue eyes and that warm sleepy smile greeting him Sebastian thought that the world could burn or destroy itself in that exact moment.

The world would know Lady Eleonora Russel but Birdie. Birdie was just for him and that was all he needed.

“Birdie? What am I a chicken?”

Eleonora said with a snort while sitting up and stretching a bit letting a yawn escape her lips.

“No more like a goose.”

Sebastian retorted with a cheeky grin. She had no idea of what passed by his mind all the short time she was asleep.

“Ouch- did I snore loud?”

“Terribly. I mistaken you for a troll or something at some point.”

Eleonora laughed at  the statement and crossed her arms in a proud stance. 

“Was I annoying you?”

“Terribly.” Sebastian said faking an exasperated sigh.

“Good. I can consider my mission accomplished then”

She added with a chuckle while they both got up to walk towards the kitchen for stealing a snack or two. Luckily her parents wouldn’t be back till next early morning considering their habit to attend balls and ceremonies  maintaining their high social status connections. That was a relief for the two of them but also for the servitude. The house elves were quite fond of Eleonora, a true ray of sunshine in that toxic household.

The afternoon passed by with their usual playful bantering like any other. It was better pretending nothing happened for Sebastian, it was for the best really.

Was it? Only time would tell. For now they were just fifteen, sitting on the kitchen counter munching a stolen slice of lemon tart while yapping about how they were both convinced Professor Garlick was hiding “special plants” somewhere in the greenhouse. 

It was a normal  spring afternoon during the end of the 19th century.

Flowers were blooming , birds were chirping and the air smelled like clean laundry and soap.

Winter was just a distant thought, none of them could ever imagine how everything  would irreversibly change in few months.

Moments like these would be soon turned into distant faded happy memories but for now…it was all that mattered.

[myokk]

✨MASTERLIST✨

(fanart, longfics, oneshots)

Welcome to my blog!!! Here is my masterlist of ALL of my little sketches, artwork, writing, and general brainrot related to Hogwarts Legacy💘

🌿 - Madeleine / Maddy / myokk

🌱 - AO3

🌿 - likes and follows come from my main blog, @oerflink, because this is a sideblog (🥲)

🌱 - Eloise Babbit, my MC and basically the whole reason for this blog🫶 I don’t necessarily view her as the game’s MC, as my fic is quite canon-divergent and she is sweeter than the evil gremlin I played in-game😆💓 [link to her character sheet]

🌿 - my art tag🫶🫶🫶 here you can see basically every drawing I've done since joining the fandom!

Writing:

Before It Felt Like A Sin (AO3 / tumblr - ongoing)

Sebastian Sallow x F!MC, canon divergent, longfic, wip, dual pov Eloise/Sebastian

Summary: Eloise never wanted to be different.

And yet, her differences are what have defined her life up until this point: growing up as a squib in one of the most prominent wizarding families, being exiled to muggle society, and then attending Hogwarts at the age of sixteen.

She finds herself thrust into the life she should have been prepared for from birth but was denied. As she navigates this new life and her new precarious position in her family, she must come to terms with the fact that maybe what she dreamed of her whole life isn't turning out how she ever expected it would.

Tags: slow burn, angst, magical theory, mythology references, pureblood culture, occlumency, legilimency, hurt/comfort, family dynamics, eventual romance, eventual smut, sacrificial magic, blood magic, dark magic rituals, implied/referenced child abuse

[coming soon] - an excerpt from the Ominis longfic I’m working on💘

Oneshots:

clumsy (AO3 / tumblr)

pairing: Sebastian Sallow x f!MC

word count: 9,1k

rating: E

summary: sebastian is clumsy.

or: two stubborn brats make things more difficult than they have to be.

cw: fluff, mutual pining, idiots in love, two really stubborn idiots in love to be exact, sir cadogan guest appearance, anne and imelda are the gremlin best friends every girl needs, smut (18+ ONLY), oral (f. recieving), no y/n

legilimency (AO3 / tumblr)

pairing: Ominis Gaunt x F!MC

word count: 1,7k

rating: m (language)

summary: (His parents and Marvolo insist it’s a gift handed down from Slytherin himself, just like the Parseltongue Ominis despises. It is not. It is a curse.)

or: The Gryffindor student has caught on that Ominis can read her thoughts and decides to get her revenge.

tags: ominis is a natural legilimens, he is entirely too introspective, fluff, no y/n

remembering the snow (AO3 / tumblr)

pairing: Imelda Reyes x Poppy Sweeting

word count: 3,3k

rating: G

summary: Imelda remembers the first time she saw snow.

Her parents always started the story telling her that she cried and cried and cried.

or: a character study on Imelda and how she grew up because I love her & she doesn't get enough appreciation :)

tags: character study, fluff, romance, first kiss, emotional hurt/comfort, I just wanted to write a sweet story & explore Imelda as a character

Illustrated scenes:

(aka where I illustrate little scenes from my longfic and oneshots💓)

🌿 - the summer before Sebastian and Anne’s first year at Hogwarts🥺💓

🌱 - Sebastian hates Eloise’s guts😳

🌿 - Eloise is really, really bad at chess😔 (this scene always makes me laugh SO MUCH)

🌱 - right after the pensieve scene🫶🫶🫶

🌿 - Eloise and Sebastian’s first kiss😇😇😇

🌱 - some angst after their first kiss😇😇😇

🌿 - sebastian overthinks things a lot😔

🌱 - an excerpt from my oneshot, clumsy💘

🌿 - another scene from my clumsy 🫶 I really love writing Sebastian’s pov & this was just so much fun to paint and write😫💓

🌱 - Eloise and her mother😔

[annelostshoe]

Tdktdkxt

awww thank you

I love it 💕💕

✨🧡🌙SEND THIS TO OTHER BLOGGERS YOU THINK ARE WONDERFUL. KEEP THE GAME GOING ✨🧡

Motivation has struck me

*Throws sketches at all of u !*

@annemissingshoe

@2-b-flower

@chocolategothwolfhorse

@lazysimpluna

@roseombre

I wish I could do much more but I'm not home and won't be much available at all during the rest of the holidays (*cries in behind in asks boxes*)

But I've received so much support from you guys this year so I doodled for some of ya

It's just sketches with no colors but I hope you like it 👉👈

[malkaleh]

I really want to do my end of year sappiness post right now so I am going to do it. This year. This year, this year was the year that the fact that I made it is something I have to talk about it, because honestly I wasn’t sure between everything. And in the trauma (the activated Jewish Trauma Genre), in the hate I have also found love. Am Yisrael Chai. We live. I live.

Which is why I have to first send my love to my Jewish Mutuals/Friends and to Jumblr - @cephalopodvictorious @captainlordauditor and just, every one of my Jewish Mutuals and people who have sent kind words. Who have made me, a patrilineal mizrahi jewish woman reconnecting with her heritage and faith because of abuse feel Jewish enough to go to Synagogue.

This year was, despite everything the year I reconnected with old friends (shout to my friends in physical space - E, R, C and C), I took an art class, I swam more, I wrote a bunch of words, I found my love of art again and discovered that I might, might be good at it, I even asked for things like gifts even though it’s Terrifying.

To my saatis. My sisters. My chosen family. Thank you for everything - the phone calls you let me schedule, the chats and the wise words and the blorbos and from some of you the in person hugs (there will be more I will offer hugs to and I will also hug again). @shes-a-voodoo-child @bibliothekara @wheresonichedgehogwnt @pearlsthatwereeyes @star-anise @notabuddhist @kawuli lemonsharks @maevedarlings @ruffboijuliaburnsides @taibhsearachd @blackeyedgirl-writes @armyofthedaegiloth @strangeetudes @findingfeather

@bessemerprocess @sarking @jesidres @kshandra @amadistuff FRIENDS. FRIENDS. Love you to the moon and back - and we are here. We are here.

And @geeoharee - The Sherlock Content <3.

To the Pocket Friends Who Have/Are Becoming(If It’s okay obviously!) Become Friends: @rahabs whose kindness I will never ever forget. To @theladyelizabeth who patiently answers my questions about all kinds of Tudors Things and who is like, The Best. To @nocompromise-noregrets for Ellie, for answering archives questions and just in general. To @gen-is-gone - a saati in the making, holder of correct Doctor Who Opinions forever. To @herawell - the bravest when scared, indulges my OT3 verse. To @miabicicletta - one of the best fic writers, so generous and kind and whose comments make my entire day. @eidetictelekinetic - my favourite Tudors Fic Writer is my Friend Now and is awesome.

@jkthinkythoughts <333333.

@lorata - whose worldbuilding leaves me in awe and who is just, frankly absolutely great.

@isagrimorie because CORRECT DOCTOR WHO AND BEST META

@feuillesmortes for never failing to make me think, to post beautiful poetry and for the best H7/EOY sources and for always, above all being kind.

@hoursofreading @becauseforoncethisisme (special shout out to you <3) @disredspectful (oh my gosh your words)

@anhaga @goshawke @beatrice-otter @alexseanchai <333333

Also @nurselaney for indulging my Thomas/Mihrimah Content and also the women of the SOE.

@sherwoodknights for Scarlet Pimpernel and also Patrick Gibson feels.

@quillington - for correct Anne Boleyn and Scarlet Pimpernel thoughts and also being The Sweetest.

@lordlykisses - kindness and Taylor Swift. And @cleoselene for Taylor Swift and kind words I will also never forget.

To The Cromwell/James Frain Appreciation Brigade - @uncheckedaggression @reallyginnyf (also a fellow hurt/comfort enjoyer) @cinemaocd - thank you <3.

To all the West Wing Discord People - I adore you. Thank you for being so kind and welcoming and wonderful.

And to all my mutuals. Thank you for bearing with me this year, with so much kindness. I know it’s been A Lot but I have, despite everything felt so so loved.

[love-bokumono-fics]

Summer 2024 Bokumono Exchange Wrap Up!

You've seen the posts by now, but here's a collected post of all of the fics made for the Summer 2024 Bokumono Exchange.

You can find all of the fics in the AO3 Collection!

Find all of the posts for the exchange at @bokumonoexchange

Pendant of Embroidered Flower Petals - by EliseDonut; Complete, 1/1, 2.9k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M Fandoms: Trio of Towns Relationship: Lisette/Ludus; Characters: Ludus, Lisette, Siluka, Iluka Additional Tags: Mutual Pining, Gift Giving, Implied Confession Scene, Fluff, Ambiguous/Open Ending, Holly is mentioned like once, Clothing, Pendants, Perfume, Size Kink, Ludus just really likes how small Lisette is and is a little weird about it, its still very T i just can't think of another word for it so Size Kink is what we are using Summary: Ludus wants Lisette to go to the Sealight Night festival with him but Lisette's worried about looking to out of place. So, he takes matters into his own hands to make something she could wear.

Green Dumpling - by mooni404; Complete , 1/1, 8.8k

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences; Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings; Category: F/M Fandoms: Harvest Moon DS Cute Relationships: Pony | Aya | Jill/Doctor | Trent, Referenced - Relationship, Pony | Aya | Jill & Rock & Karen; Characters: Pony | Aya | Jill, Doctor | Trent, Rock, Karen, Nami, Dr. Hardy | Paddock, Elli | Elly, Kasey the Farmer, Cody | Gordy, Gustafa, Cain the Priest, Sara, Marlin | Matthew Additional Tags: Gift Giving, Summer, Stupidity, Implied/Referenced Alcohol Abuse/Alcoholism, Fake Blood, Pranks and Practical Jokes, Apologies, Referenced Elli/Marlin, Referenced Cain/Sara, Implied Nami/Gustafa, Implied Kasey/Candace Summary: Jill has always been immoral, but when she's in love, she crosses the line even more.

I Am A Moth Who Just Wants To Share Your Light - by SymphonicFantasia; Complete, 1/1, 5.8k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M Fandoms: Magical Melody Relationship: Louis the Inventor | Rune/Ann the Inventor; Characters: Louis the Inventor, Ann the Inventor Additional Tags: Bisexual Louis, Mutual Pining, Brief Appearance of Toy from Hero of Leaf Valley, Fluff, Secret Admirer, Festivals, star festival, Crushes, First Dates, Wishes, Confessions, Love Confessions, Idiots in Love Summary: But Ann was a breath of fresh air. She enjoyed listening to the intricate details while he was soldering something together. Sometimes she would even bring up something that might improve it. Ann was… “…amazing,” Louis muttered.

Building Plans - by atbash; Complete, 1/1, 4.3k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/F Fandom: The Tale of Two Towns Relationship: Eileen/Lillian; Characters: Eileen, Lillian, Enrique, Dirk Additional Tags: Flower Day, moon viewing festival, Mutual Pining, Fluff, First Kiss Summary: Eileen wasn’t sure what she was working on, honestly. Usually, she would have found her plan by now. Even if she started a project with nothing more than a vague shape traced inside her head, the piece’s functional purpose would have revealed itself to her along the way, and the specifics of its form would have followed. Not so with this piece.

Spring Reunion - by TheBeckster; Complete, 1/1 , 2.9k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M Fandom: Friends of Mineral Town Relationship: Claire the Farmer/The Kappa; Characters: Claire the Farmer, The Kappa Additional Tags: Summer 2024 Bokumono Exchange, Gift Fic, Cuddling, Fluff, Picnics, Nature, Spring Summary: Claire always looks forward to the arrival of spring.

Spirtual Guidance - by TheDisc (TheDisco); Complete, 1/1, 6.1k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: Gen Fandoms: Trio of Towns Relationships: Inari & Dessie & WitchieInari & Komari, Komari & Ginjiro; Characters: Inari, Komari, Dessie, Witchie, Ginjiro Additional Tags: Transfeminine Komari, Nonbinary Inari, Coming Out, Trans love and acceptance, Misgendering, deadnaming, but only for the first little bit and its not meanspirited, mentions of dysphoria, Family Dynamics, burn-out, Fluff and Angst, very mild angst at the end, using your magic abilities to help local teen realize theyre transgender, Summer 2024, Silly but not crack Summary: A young Komari comes to Inari asking for answers, and Inari takes it upon themself to help her discover her truth—possibly to their own detriment.

You Got Meal - by copernicusjones; Complete, 1/1, 5.3k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Categories: F/M, Gen Fandoms: Grand Bazaar, The Tale of Two Towns Relationships: Dirk | Dirka & Ivan | Juris, Ivan | Juris/Freya, Dirk | Dirka & Gretel | Marl; Characters: Dirk, Ivan, Freya, Gretel Additional Tags: Cooking, Brotherly Bonding, Reunions, Anniversary, Pregnancy, Vomiting, (happens off-page but mentioned), Gretel is Anita in this, mentions of Hansel/Gretel aka Anita/Oliver, Family Fluff, Misunderstandings, so this takes place in Zephyr Town but it's after Dirk moves to Konohan, aso there's lots of ToTT references, Hugs, Reconciliation Summary: On a return visit to Zephyr Town, Dirk is eager to show Ivan just how much he's matured during his time in Konohana by whipping together a delicious dinner for Ivan and Freya's wedding anniversary. And sure, he might not be a Gourmet, but he's skilled enough that he can make something worth serving his brother and sister-in-law. Nothing that they'd dislike, and not anything that would make either of them disastrously ill. No. Definitely not.

Cloudbreak - by tatertotarmy; Complete, 1/1, 1.2k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/M Fandom: Animal Parade Relationship: Wizard Gale | Mahoutsukai/Molly | Hikari; Characters: Wizard Gale, Molly the Farmer Summary: Molly hated cloudy days. Wizard ignoring her during a cloudy day? Infinitely worse.

You Are So Warm; My Wintertime Love To Be - by SymphonicFantasia; Complete, 1/1, 6.5k

Rating: General Audiences; Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply; Category: F/F Fandoms: Magical Melody Relationship: Dia/Gina; Characters: Dia, Gina Additional Tags: Fluff, Established Relationship, Fluff and Angst, Fluff and Mush, Minor pairings, Birthday Fluff, Breakfast in Bed, Girls Kissing, Kissing, Winter, winter activities Summary: Dia has always disliked her birthday. For as long as she can remember, it has never held any special meaning other than the day of her birth. But wonderful, sweet Gina is always there to help make any day better, even in the dead of winter.

[shallowseeker]

Recruiting Dean

Via the Nightmare-land of all his current anxieties.

Zach I - Zach II - Zach III - Say it ain't so - Cas can DIE?! - Bobby, demoralized - Dean and Cas's mutual, pissy fatalism - Love blooming, personal space - You're not much fun, so why am I laughing so hard? - Dean's anixety at being a vessel - Sam: Everybody please panic, I'm a vessel, too!

Disclaimer: I love ALL The End meta, from the ones that look for hidden meanings and the ones where Chuck is hiding incognito in his first-row seats, but I thought this would be a Hella a fun way to ask this question.

///

What if The End is all about Dean and Zach? What is almost everyone IN IT is Zach, tapping into and mocking Dean's churning ruminations and anxieties?

What would that analysis look like? What might we predict? We know that Zach recruited a Jehovah's Witness, and after Dean's call with Sam, Zach entered the motel to try yet another sales pitch.

Zach got into Dean's bedroom. But maybe this time, Zach's going deeper. Perhaps he got into Dean's dreams, too.

In the previous Zach adventures, he tried to give Dean a vision of a loser's life, one Dean wouldn't be able to stand: a corporate yes-man who listened to NPR and steamed his latte like a wuss. Remember his pitch in It's a Terrible Life?

ZACHARIAH: Save people, maybe even the world. All the while you drive a classic car and fornicate with women. This isn't a curse. It's a gift. So for God's sakes, Dean, quit whining about it. Look around. There are plenty of fates worse than yours. So are you with me? You wanna go steam yourself another latte? Or are you ready to stand up and be who you really are?

But just like he will later miss the mark on Adam's personality a bit, he misses on Dean at first, too. Dean cares about family.

"My father's name is Bob, my mother's name is Ellen, and my sister's name is Jo." // "Are you saying my family isn't real?"

///

We'll hear Zach make more pitches to Dean in the beautiful room in Lucifer Rising. Time-honored things that, from his experience, tend to work when recruiting humans, from happy memories to food to TV fantasy to food to sexual adoration:

ZACHARIAH: Try a burger. They're your favorite. From that seaside shack in Delaware. You were 11, I think. DEAN: I'm not hungry. ZACHARIAH: No? How about Ginger from season 2 of "Gilligan's Island"? You do have a thing for her, don't you? DEAN: Tempting. Weird. ZACHARIAH: We'll throw in Mary Ann for free. DEAN: No, no. Let's... bail on the holodeck, okay? I want to know what the game plan is.

///

ZACHARIAH (to a crying Dean): And when it's over... and when you've won... your rewards will be... unimaginable. Peace, happiness... two virgins and seventy sluts.

///

We'll get a whiff of AU Zachariah's tactics with a nervous, broken Kevin Tran in s13, too:

Meredith Glynn had intended a more... grayscale view of Zach's intentions via @spnscripthunt-inactive, but either way is very good. Very Zach:

Who knows why, but in Meredith's version, Zach is convinced that Jack is the way, not Kevin.

Anyhoo, more on the Jack-Zach interactions later. For now, I'm just thinking about the whiff of Zach's and upper Heaven management's style of recruiting tactics through Kevin's words:

LUCIFER: Kevin, what are you doing, getting mixed up with Michael? ... KEVIN: ...Michael's taking me with him to paradise world so I can meet hot women. LUCIFER: I'm sorry. What?

Jack, who had also been tortured (stabbed, burned, drowned) by Zachariah, tried to reach out to Kevin. Mary even more so:

KEVIN: Y-you don't understand... then the end of the world happened, and everyone around me-- my friends, and my… my mom-- they all started to die. ... KEVIN: No! Michael says… that when I get to Heaven-- when he lets me into Heaven-- I'll get to see my mom again. I don't care! You don't understand. I… You don't know the things that I've done. I just want this to be over.

Now, we see the truth. Kevin was never interested in the recruitment line, something-something hot women. Not really. That was just a boisterous shield to hide the deeper pain.

He just wanted to see his mom again.

///

So. When we reach 5x04, we see Zach adjust fire with Dean.

In 5x01, he tried a different, more forceful way of recruiting Dean, making him feel terrible about himself.

...I feel like looking at The End as a nightmare land of all of Dean's anxieties is a really fun way to revisit it.

But before that, if we consider this question, what might we predict for Zach to uncover, based on all the stuff Dean is feeling Weird (TM) and Stressed (TM) about right now?

Based on all the other stuff we've been thinking about, I'll make a small list of potentials, starting with the Bobby-Dean confrontation at the end of last season...

[annelostshoe]

JstydkudtJdyzitixttd

I love this

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[annelostshoe]

*yeets this*

Yayyyyy

thank you Null

[notebookmusical]

books read in 2023

hi, hello! inspired by a few mutuals, i decided to do a reading thread of 2023! you can find my goodreads here, and my bookstagram here! as always, askbox + dms are open if have any questions or would like to chat about books!

january

book lovers by emily henry (reread; ★★★★★)

convenience store woman by sayaka murata + translated by ginny tapley takemori (★★★☆☆)

a wish in the dark by christina soontornvat (★★★★★)

so you want to talk about race by ijeoma oluo (audiobook; ★★★★★)

highly suspicious and unfairly cute by talia hibbert (★★★★☆)

the seven husbands of evelyn hugo by taylor jenkins reid (reread; (★★★★☆)

if not, winter by sappho + translated by anne carson (★★★★★)

when you wish upon a lantern by gloria chao (ARC; ★★★☆☆)

this time it's real by ann liang (ARC; ★★★★★)

love, theoretically by ali hazelwood (ARC; ★★☆☆☆)

hell bent by leigh bardugo (★★★★☆)

everything i know about love by dolly alderton (reread; ★★★★★)

the fraud squad by kyla zhao (★★★☆☆)

masters of death by olivie blake (★★★★☆)

enter the body by joy mccullough (★★★★☆)

the stranger by albert camus (reread; ★★★★★)

you'd be mine by erin hahn (★☆☆☆☆)

a hundred other girls by iman hariri-kia (★☆☆☆☆)

bloodmarked by tracy deonn (audiobook; ★★★☆☆)

fearless by mandy gonazales (★★★★☆)

february

the roommate by rosie danan (★★☆☆☆)

wuthering heights by emily brontë (book club pick; ★★★★☆)

the nanny by lana ferguson (ARC; ★★☆☆☆)

the writing retreat by julia bartz (ARC; ★★☆☆☆)

exes and o's by amy lea (★★★☆☆)

not here to stay friends by kaitlyn hill (ARC; ★★★★☆)

chloe and the kaishao boys by mae coyiuto (ARC; ★★★★☆)

isha, unscripted by sajni patel (gifted; ★★☆☆☆)

conversations on love by natasha lunn (★★★★★)

meet me at the lake by carley fortune (ARC; ★★★★☆)

emily wilde's encyclopedia of faeries by heather fawcett (★★★☆☆)

where echoes die by courtney gould (ARC; ★★★☆☆)

vintage contemporaries by dan kois (gifted; ★★☆☆☆)

how to be perfect: the correct answer to every moral question by michael schur (audiobook; ★★★★★)

half a soul by olivia atwater (★★★★★)

ten thousand stitches by olivia atwater (★★★★☆)

longshadow by olivia atwater (★★★★★)

between the world and me by ta-nehisi coates (audiobook; ★★★★★)

infamous by lex croucher (ARC; ★★☆☆☆)

the lord sorcier by olivia atwater (★★★★☆)

the latch key by olivia atwater (★★★★★)

made of stars by jenna voris (ARC; ★★★★☆)

march

when broadway was black: the triumphant story of the all-black musical that changed the world by caseen gaines (audiobook; ★★★★★)

leave it to the march sisters by annie sereno (ARC; ★★★☆☆)

once more with feeling by elissa sussman (ARC; ★☆☆☆☆)

moorewood family rules by helenkay dimon (ARC; ★★☆☆☆)

fleabag: the scriptures by phoebe waller-bridge (★★★★★)

fake dates and mooncakes by sher lee (ARC; ★☆☆☆☆)

vera wong's unsolicited advice for murderers by jesse q. sutanto (gifted; ★★★★☆)

emma of 83rd street by audrey bellezza and emily harding (ARC; ★★☆☆☆)

how to read now by elaine castillo (★★★★★)

constellations by nick payne (reread; ★★★★☆)

ching chong chinaman by lauren yee

devil in winter by lisa kleypas (★★★★☆)

the passing playbook by isaac fitzsimons ( ★★★★★)

infinite jest by david foster wallace

our wives under the sea by julia armfield (★★★★☆)

mrs. nash's ashes by sarah adler (ARC; ★★★★☆)

study break: 11 college tales from orientation to graduation edited by aashna avachat (★★★☆☆)

the love match by priyanka taslim (★★★★☆)

a lady for a duke by alexis hall (★★★★☆)

love and other consolation prizes by jamie ford (★★★☆☆)

april

spoiler alert by olivia dade (★★☆☆☆)

all the feels by olivia dade (★★☆☆☆)

ship wrecked by olivia dade (★★☆☆☆)

float plan by trish doller (★★★★☆)

yellowface by r.f. kuang

the ex hex by erin sterling (★★☆☆☆)

the kiss curse by erin sterling (★★★☆☆)

siren queen by nghi vo (audiobook; ★★★☆☆)

chloe and the kaishao boys by mae coyiuto (reread; ★★★★★)

wandering souls by cecile pin (gifted; ★★★★★)

heavy vinyl, vol. 1: riot on the radio by nina vakueva & carly usdin (★★★★☆)

heavy vinyl: y2k-o! by nina vakueva & carly usdin (★★★★☆)

never ever getting back together by sophie gonzales (★★☆☆☆)

book lovers by emily henry (reread; ★★★★★)

miss aldridge regrets by louise hare (gifted; ★★★☆☆)

if the shoe fits by julie murphy (★★★☆☆)

blackmail and bibingka by mia p. manansala (★★★★☆)

murder and mamon by mia p. manansala (ARC; ★★★☆☆)

icebreaker by hannah grace (★☆☆☆☆)

alone with you in the ether by olivie blake (reread; ★★★★★)

may

beautiful country: a memoir of an undocumented childhood by qian julie wang (★★★★★)

the other black girl by zakiya dalila harris (audiobook; ★★★★☆)

check & mate by ali hazelwood (ARC; ★★★☆☆)

if i'm being honest by emily wibberley & austin siegemund-broka (reread; ★★★★★)

always never yours by emily wibberley & austin siegemund-broka (reread; ★★★★★)

do i know you? by emily wibberley & austin siegemund-broka (reread; ★★★★★)

romeo and juliet by william shakespeare (audiobook, reread; ★★★★★)

joan is okay by weike wang (★★★★☆)

technically yours by denise williams (ARC; ★★★☆☆)

first position by melanie hamrick (ARC; ★☆☆☆☆)

the boy from kyiv: alexei ratmansky's life in ballet by marina harss (ARC; ★★★★★)

the boy you always wanted by michelle quach (ARC; ★★★★☆)

woman, eating by claire kohda (★★☆☆☆)

immortal longings by chloe gong (ARC; ★★☆☆☆)

heartburn by nora ephron (★★★☆☆)

a merry little meet cute by julie murphy & sierra simone (★★☆☆☆)

the deal by elle kennedy (★☆☆☆☆)

the mistake by elle kennedy (★☆☆☆☆)

the score by elle kennedy (★☆☆☆☆)

the goal by elle kennedy (★☆☆☆☆)

the legacy by elle kennedy (★☆☆☆☆)

open water by caleb azumah nelson (★★★★★)

painted devils by margaret owen (gifted; ★★★★★)

playing for keeps by kendall ryan (★☆☆☆☆)

june

the final revival of opal and nev by dawnie walton (★★★☆☆)

the missing of clairedelune by christelle dabos (audiobook; ★★★★★)

happy place by emily henry (reread; ★★★★★)

iris kelly doesn't date by ashley herring blake (ARC; ★★★★☆)

ghosts by dolly alderton (★★★★★)

you don't have a shot by racquel marie (gifted; ★★★★☆)

thank you for listening by julia whelan (audiobook; ★★★★★)

if you still recognize me by cynthia so (gifted; ★★☆☆☆)

imogen, obviously by becky albertalli (gifted; ★★★★☆)

for never & always by helena greer (ARC; ★☆☆☆☆)

all the dead lie down by kyrie mccauley (gifted; ★★★★☆)

one hundred days by alice pung (ARC; ★★☆☆☆)

much ado about nada by uzma jalaluddin (★★★★☆)

thieves gambit by kayvion lewis (ARC; ★★★☆☆)

deep in providence by riss m. neilson (★★★☆☆)

the burnout by sophie kinsella (ARC; ★★★★☆)

small worlds by caleb azumah nelson (ARC; ★★★★☆)

we ship it by lauren kay (★☆☆☆☆)

foul heart huntsman by chloe gong (ARC; ★★★☆☆)

the memory of babel by christelle dabos (audiobook; ★★★☆☆)

pride and prejudice and pittsburgh by rachael lippincott (ARC; ★★★☆☆)

a british girl's guide to hurricanes and heartbreak by laura taylor namey (ARC; ★★★★☆)

the reunion by kit frick (ARC; ★★★☆☆)

queer by william s. burroughs

when grumpy met sunshine by charlotte stein (ARC; ★☆☆☆☆)

july

the storm of echoes by christelle dabos (audiobook; ★★★☆☆)

will they or won't they by ava wilder (★★★☆☆)

fiona and jane by jean chen ho (audiobook; ★★☆☆☆)

business or pleasure by rachel lynn solomon (★★★☆☆)

teach the torches to burn: a romeo & juliet remix by caleb roehrig (ARC; ★★★☆☆)

a man called ove by fredrik backman (audiobook; ★★★★☆)

exciting times by naoise dolan (audiobook; ★☆☆☆☆)

the hobbit by j.r.r. tolkien (audiobook; ★★★★★)

the year of magical thinking by joan didion (★★★★★)

such a fun age by kiley reid (audiobook; ★★★☆☆)

tis the damn season by kimi freeman (ARC; ★☆☆☆☆)

august

a very nice girl by imogen crimp (audiobook; ★★☆☆☆)

bliss montage by ling ma (audiobook; ★★★☆☆)

the raven boys by maggie stiefvater (reread; ★★★★★)

freshwater by akwaeke emezi (audiobook; ★★☆☆☆)

the dream thieves by maggie stiefvater (reread; ★★★★★)

i'm not done with you yet by jesse q. sutanto (gifted; ★★☆☆☆)

blue lily, lily blue by maggie stiefvater (reread; ★★★★★)

the raven king by maggie stiefvater (reread; ★★★★★)

bellegarde by jamie lilac (gifted; ★★★☆☆)

red, white & royal blue by casey mcquiston (reread; ★★★★★)

some mistakes were made by kristin dwyer (gifted; ★★★☆☆)

september

beta read (★★★★★)

dogs of summer by andrea abreu lópez (audiobook; ★★☆☆☆)

in these hallowed halls: a dark academia anthology edited by maria o'regan and paul kane (ARC; ★★★☆☆)

together we rot by skyla arndt (★★★★☆)

stay with my heart by tashie bhuiyan (ARC; ★★☆☆☆)

before we say goodbye by toshikazu kawaguchi & translated by geoffrey trousselot (ARC; ★★★★★)

the dead romantics by ashley poston (★★★★☆)

the seven year slip by ashley poston( ★★★★★)

you, again by kate goldbeck (★★☆☆☆)

serpent & dove by shelby mahurin (gifted; ★★★☆☆)

harlem after midnight by louise hare (gifted; ★★★☆☆)

witch of wild things by raquel vasquez gilliland (gifted; ★★★☆☆)

the luis ortega survival club by sonora reyes (gifted; ★★★★☆)

blood & honey by shelby mahurin (audiobook; ★★★☆☆)

the picture of dorian gray by oscar wilde (audiobook; ★★★★★)

for the throne by hannah whitten (audiobook; ★★★☆☆)

the wake-up call by beth o'leary (★★★★★)

the book eaters by sunyi dean (audiobook; ★★★☆☆)

october

the moth keeper by kay o'neill (★★★★☆)

a fragile enchantment by allison saft (ARC; ★★★★☆)

just kids by patti smith (audiobook)

cult classic by sloane crosley (audiobook; ★★★★☆)

the atlas paradox by olivie blake (audiobook; ★★★★☆)

the goodbye cat by hiro arikawa (gifted; ★★★★★)

the appeal by janice hallett ( ★★★★☆)

the twyford code by janice hallett ( ★★★★☆)

wildfire by hannah grace (★★☆☆☆)

the roaring by t. katarina tayler (★★☆☆☆)

curious tides by pascale lacelle (audiobook; ★★★★☆)

the tempest by william shakespeare (audiobook; ★★★★☆)

murder on the orient express by agatha christie (audiobook; ★★★★☆)

canadian boyfriend by jenny holiday (ARC; ★★☆☆☆)

november

better than fiction by alexa martin (★★★☆☆)

the christmas appeal by janice hallett(★★★★☆)

kaikeyi by vaishnavi patel (audiobook; ★★★★☆)

finale: late conversations with stephen sondheim by d.t. max (audiobook; ★★★★☆)

cleopatra and frankenstein by coco mellors (★★★★☆)

the undertaking of hart and mercy by megan bannen (audiobook; ★★★☆☆)

december

how to stop time by matt haig (audioboook; ★★★☆☆)

the wake-up call by beth o'leary (reread; ★★★★★)

the break up tour by emily wibberley & austin siegemund-broka (arc; ★★☆☆☆)

bride by ali hazelwood (arc; ★☆☆☆☆)

the getaway list by emma lord (arc; review withheld due to st. martin's press boycott)

same time next year by tessa bailey (★☆☆☆☆)

the mountains sing by nguyễn phan quế mai (★★★★★)

normal people by sally rooney (audiobook, reread; ★★★★★)

the night circus by erin morgenstern (reread;★★★★★)

funny story by emily henry (arc; ★★★★★)

les misérables by victor hugo (★★★★★)

TOTAL BOOKS READ: 202

[la-femme-au-collier-vert]

From the Library of Anne Rice (Part 2)

Cherubs Angels of Love.  Boston: Little, Brown, & Company, 1994. Inscribed. 

Horst His Work and His World.  New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1984. With a note. 

Arroyo, Raymond. The Spider Who Saved Christmas.  Sophia Institute Press, 2020. Inscribed. 

Chester, Laura. Free Rein. Providence: Burning Deck, 1988. Ownership Signature. Inscribed. 

Frankel, Ellen. The Illustrated Hebrew Bible. New York: Steward, Tabori, & Chang. 

Hendrick, Susan & Vilma Machette. World Colors Dolls & Dress.  Grantville, Maryland: Hobby House Press, 1997. Inscribed.

Kepler, Lars.  The Sandman.  New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2018. With a note. 

Laughlin, Clarence John. Ghost Along the Mississippi. New York: Bonanza Books, 1961.  

Link, Luther. The Devil Mask without a Face.  Reaktion Books, 1995. With a note. 

Lopez, George R. and Perron Andrea. In a Flicker.  AuthorHouse, 2015. Inscribed. 

Nelson, Robert S. and Kristen M. Collins.  Holy Image and Hallowed Ground Icons from Sinai.  Los Angeles, J. Paul Getty Museum, 2007. Inscribed. 

Pearson, Dave. Byzantium and Beyond. The Dave Pearson Trust, 2012. With a note. 

Riesem, Richard O.  Mount Hope.  Landmark Society of Western New York, 1995. Inscribed.

Penny, Louise. The Nature of the Beast. New York: Minotaur Books, 2015. Signed and inscribed by Penny to Anne Rice.

Penny, Louise. A Great Reckoning. New York: Minotaur Books, 2016. With Anne Rice ownership signature and inscription.

Penny, Louise. Glass Houses. New York: Minotaur Books, 2017. Advance reading copy. Signed and inscribed by Penny to Anne Rice.

Penny, Louise, Kingdom of the Blind. New York: Minotaur Books, 2018. First edition, signed and inscribed by Penny to Anne Rice.

Penny, Louise.  A Better Man. New York: Minotaur Books, 2019. Signed and inscribed by Penny to Anne Rice.

Cazeau, Jean-Louis and Rick Knowlton. A World of Chess. Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Company, 2017. Inscribed by Knowlton to Anne Rice on the half-title: "You have given me many hours of pleasure with your vampire series! May you enjoy this peculiar corner of world culture I have been exploring...."

Brown, Nancy Marie. Ivory Vikings: The Mystery of the Most Famous Chessmen in the World and the Woman Who Made them. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2015. With Anne Rice ownership signature and annotations in red ink throughout.

Chernev, Irving and Kenneth Harkness. An Invitation to Chess. New York: Fireside Book, 1985. Minor annotations in red ink by Anne Rice throughout.

Ackroyd, Peter. Dickens. [New York]: HarperCollins Publisher, 1990.

Ackroyd, Peter. Dickens. [New York]: HarperCollins Publisher, 1990.

Bloom, Harold, editor. Charles Dickens. New York, Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987.

Cotsell, Michael. Critical Essays on Charles Dickens's 'Great Expectations'. Boston, Massachusetts: G.K. Hall & Co., 1990.

Dickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol. New York, London: W.W. Norton & Company, 2017. Gift inscription on the flyleaf. 

Dickens, Charles. American Notes. Mineola, New York: Dover Publication Inc., 2017.

Dickens, Charles. Bleak House. New York: Everyman's Library, 1991.

Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. New York: Barnes & Nobles Classics, 2004.

Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. New York: Everyman's Library, 1992.

Dickens, Charles. Great Expectations. Norwalk, Connecticut: The Easton Press, 1979.

Dickens, Charles. Hard Times. [New York]: Penguin Classics, 2011.

Dickens, Charles. Little Dorrit. New York: Everyman's Library, 1992.

Dickens, Charles. Nicholas Nickleby. New York: George Routledge and Sons, [1880].

Dickens, Charles. Oliver Twist. New York: Everyman's Library, 1992.

Dickens, Charles. Our Mutual Friend. New York: Everyman's Library, 1994.

Dickens, Charles. The Mystery of Edwin Drood. New York: Modern Library, 2009.

Dickens, Charles. The Old Curiosity Shop. Mineola, New York: Dover Publication Inc., 2003.

Dickens, Charles. The Uncommercial Traveller and Reprinted Pieces. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 1989.

Forster, John. The Life of Charles Dickens, Volume 3: 1852-1870. [Cambridge, England]: Cambridge University Press, 2011.

Goodheart, Eugene, editor. Critical Insights: Charles Dickens. Pasadena, California and Hackensack, New Jersey: Salem Press, 2011.

Hammond, Mary. Charles Dickens's 'Great Expectations.' [London]: Ashgate, 2015.

Ingham , Patricia. Dickens, Women & Language. Toronto, Buffalo: University of Toronto Press, 1992.

Jordan, Joseph P. Dickens Novels as Verse. Madison, Teaneck: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2014.

Jordan, John O. The Cambridge Companion to Charles Dickens. [Cambridge, England]: Cambridge University Press, 2001.

Nelson, A.N. The Mystery of Charles Dickens. [New York]: Harper, 2020.

Pykett, Lyn. Critical Issues: Charles Dickens. [New York]: Palgrave, 2002.

Slater, Michael. Dickens and Women. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1983.

Slater, Michael. The Great Charles Dickens Scandal. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2012.

Tomalin, Claire. Charles Dickens: A Life. [New York]: Penguin Books, 2011.

Tomalin, Claire. The Invisible Woman. New York: Vintage Books, 1991.

Wilson, Angus. The World of Charles Dickens. New York: The Viking Press, 1970.

[romanticgremlin]

Broken Bones, Pistols And Lonely Hearts

Summary: Sebastian tries to find his way home after celebrating his birthday and ends up in some hot water. An unexpected savior steps in and ends up saving him in more ways than one.

(Sebastian X Female Muggle OC)

A large hand claps Sebastian on the shoulder, the fingers of said hand give a squeeze as a friendly grin splays on his blind friend's lips.

“Happy Birthday, my friend.” The blind Slytherin heir says jovially. 

“I still can't believe you gifted me a bloody flat.” He slur slightly. 

Soft laughter comes from the girl of their strange trio.

“Do you need help getting back?” MC says and his voice is suddenly in his throat at how kind she sounds. A part of him wants to look away or scream when Ominis’s hand leaves his shoulder to slide around the girls waist. 

He is desperately trying to remind himself that he is just lonely and irregardless of their once possible mutual attraction during their Hogwarts days, she has always deserved someone better than him. Ominis and her were made for each other.

Still, he swallows thickly and drunkenly forces his gaze from the ring on her right hand that matches the one on Ominis's hand before up to her face. He plasters a genuine smile across his face before he speaks.

“I know the way. You two newlyweds best be getting back. Got things to do, I imagine. Heirs to conceive and what not.” He says with a sloppy wink, causing both of his companions to turn scarlet. 

They bid their goodbyes to each other, and his two best friends disapparate.

He plays with the key to his new flat they had gifted him here in London a couple weeks prior to his birthday and contemplates just going home to sleep the rest of his birthday away. But the thought of walking back to such an empty apartment keeps him firmly in his seat at the bar. 

Maybe another couple drinks first. It is his birthday after all.

 Its Anne's birthday too. 

Thoughts of his estranged twin begin to rise and follow him like his own personal poltergeist, clouding his every thought until later when he's almost blind drunk staggering through the streets of london.

He can't find his damn apartment.

 He's only been there for a week, and he's not familiar with anything.

Why does every goddamn street look the same? 

“Hey, you lost?” A chirpy male voice says. His vision is blurry slightly by the alcohol but he can see the outline of a man, a bit smaller than him.

“Aye. Lookin’ for-...bloody hell-...can't remember the-...the name.” Sebastian says, his scottish accent thickens and coats his tongue more than usual with the alcohol. 

“Ah, it's right over here, mate.” The shorter man takes his arm suddenly in an iron grip, pulling him down an alley before he can protest and remember that he didn't actually tell this man where he lived. 

Stupid. Careless. Immature. 

Should have- 

A fist cracks across his face so hard that he swears he can see stars for a moment. 

Maybe he deserves this.

Two other men emerge from somewhere. He’s fumbling for his wand when he remembers the requirements of his release from Azkaban. 

No unauthorized use of magic.

He curses loudly, and the nauseating taste of blood enters his mouth as it drips down his face from his nose. 

“Give us yer money and that fancy watch I seen you checkin earlier.” the shorter attacker sneers at him. 

He berates himself for relaxing too much. Not noticing them scoping him out earlier. He's not as accustomed to muggle brawling, much better with a wand, but he knows how to throw a punch. He knows enough. He tries to raise his fists in a protective manner. 

“Piss o-” He starts to say until he’s grabbed from behind. The alcohol works both to his advantage and disadvantage as he's able to pull from somewhere enough strength to rip the man from behind him and ram his fist into his face. 

He knows he can't win. He's not dull. 

Yet still he tries. MC once told him that his stubbornness wasn’t necessarily a bad trait and he’s never been prouder to agree with her as his knuckles split with another punch he manages to land in the chaos. Again the alcohol works to his advantage here, dulling the pain as he's thrown to the ground and kicked hard in the ribs. 

“Hey! Leave him alone.” A feminine voice shouts out over the sound of blows landing. He wonders briefly if he's hallucinating. One of the attackers steps to the left. The view of his savior no longer obscured. 

A blonde girl. She looked as if she might blow away in a strong wind, but here she was, strong and confident. Seemingly armed with nothing but her voice. 

Stupid, brave girl. 

His heart hurts at the thought, although he’s not sure why. 

He blinks several times to bring himself back from his disbelief and his adrenaline is still pumping. He takes advantage of their distraction to painfully kick the leg of one of the man closest to him.

He doesn't restrain any power from the kick and he hears a sickening crunch as the man's leg bends sideways. A sick feeling of joy pulls a smile onto his lips as he listens to the man wail in pain after he crumples to the ground. 

The feeling doesn't last long as he receives a swift retaliatory kick from behind him into what feels like his kidney. 

“I said stop!” the feminine voice insists again. 

“What you gonna do about it, girlie?" One of the men attacking Sebastian growls threateningly at the blonde girl.

He tries to get up, chuckling at his own drunken stupidity, he doesn’t want these losers threatening the blonde girl. The adrenaline pumping in him makes him stand up. He sways a little, but he’s determined to show himself as a gentleman. 

“She doesn’t need to do… anything… about it… I’ll deal with you lot.” His breathing is off for some reason and he struggles to speak as he stands. 

"That's sweet of you, but I assure you, I can handle myself." She says.

The sound of a pistol hammer being cocked echoes loudly in the alley. It pulls every face to her. 

Bloody hell.

His eyes widen a bit and he can barely believe what he’s hearing. He looks around the alley, and then back to the blonde, and he blinks trying to fix the blur in his vision and He stares at her in shock, his jaw hanging open. She’s holding a muggle pistol.

"Best get going boys, sod off." She says gesturing with the gun. 

He looks at the attackers, and then back to her. He can’t imagine why she would defend him, though he is grateful. 

“Alright, little lady. You’ve made your point.” The man says, sweating and backing up slowly, his gaze switching between myself and the blonde. 

“This one ain't got nothing worth anything anyways. ‘is watch is busted anyhow, nows that i’m seeing it.” he says. I grit my teeth, feeling pain shoot through me from the exhale I let out. The men grumble a bit before they all turn and run off frantically. 

He laughs a bit to himself,  his voice feels rough.

“Thank you.” he says, genuinely. He gives her what is probably a pathetic bloody (literally) smile and she lowers the gun with a long exhale. 

"You're hurt!" She says quickly making her way to him.

He laughs, and groans at the feel of the harsh action on his ribs.

“Yeah, I’ve taken a bit of a beating.” He chuckles, wincing again. 

The adrenaline rush that once dulled the pain is leaving him now and the pain is coming on strong, and he’s feeling lightheaded.

"Come on." She says and he grunts slightly as she slips her shoulder under his arm, supporting him. 

He’s quite taller than her, and he feels like a big dumb goof. She’s not really dainty or elegant, but she's not sturdy or tough looking either, and yet she saved him. He leans into her slightly as she guides him along with her. 

He's overwhelmed with her. Her skin Is soft and she smells like earl gray tea, strangely. Never something he would considered wanting to breathe in forever, but here he was, seriously considering it. 

He tries to remind himself that he's drunk and lonely and possibly injured in the head.

“There we go.” she encouages. He catches a glimpse of her eyes. They're grayish blue like a storm or the brackish water of the lake at Hogwarts. 

"Up these stairs here." She says softly smiling.

He chuckles at her pretty smile, and nods. He leans harder against her as they walk up the stairs, he feels the heat of her body against him. “M’sorry.” he slurs. 

"I'm Sarah." She says opening a door and helping him inside to what he quickly realizes is a kitchen as she slides him off her into a kitchen chair. 

She’s just-...and her hair smells… good, he feels a little dumb about it all as his mind slowly processes everything going on around him. 

Sarah, huh?

[queens-writings]

Ann Takamaki X "Horse Girl" (Gender Neutral) Reader

You met Takamaki after your mutual friend, Haru Okumura, had introduced the two of you to each other, an1d the two of you immediately hit it off!

Eventually, after a few months of just being friends, the two of you started dating, and things only got better from there.

Ann loves hearing you ramble on, always happy to let you go off on some equine-related tangent. The sound of your voice soothes her, and she listens intently… most of the time.

While you may practically be an encyclopedia of horse facts, you might also have to help Takamaki with studying for school.

The two of you would have a running joke together about how you could definitely be a model if you could ride down a runway… though Ann believes it to be true.

If Ann catches wind of anyone making fun of you for being a “horse girl”, she will immediately come to your defense, and probably being a little bit meaner than she has to be to the other person.

Ann can be a bit overprotective, at times, always making sure you have a safe ride home, or will just walk you home. If she ever dropped you off at home, she’d wait until she saw you walk inside before driving away.

As a gag gift for Christmas, Ann would get you one of those inflatable horse rider costumes that some people have at Halloween. She would find it funny whenever she saw you wear it, but she'd also play into it and talk to the balloon horse as if it were real.

[legacygirlingreen]

February 1897 // Farmer Sebastian Sallow x Reader (part 13)

part 13, full series here

Warnings: Brief mentions of mutual masterbation, sick Anne

Word count: 2,200

Can this be a real thing? Can it?

She had hardly cared for Valentine's Day historically, but to be separated from one’s lover on a day devoted to love itself - was the furthest thing from appealing. Sebastian had promised her that once he had settled in for the night he would spend time with her using the mirror, and although unconventional, she was happy to know that he still prioritized her during this special day.

After they had reluctantly returned from the beach, due to the cold, they had parted with a chaste kiss on her doorstep. Thinking they were alone, she was undoubtedly upset to discover her younger brother had caught the pair, informing her mother instantaneously, which led to a stern discussion on propriety, as well as a playful warning that Sebastian Sallow was a “no good tramp”, before eventually her Mum came around. 

Christmas morning had been wonderful, Sebastian and Anne being entertained by her siblings, as she cooked with her mum. Ominis joined in on the festivities as he had already planned to spend the Yule with the twins in the hamlet, once again thanking her mother for taking him in all those Christmases ago. 

Everyone danced, drank, shared gifts and laughed until the early morning. The only one more happy about the now established courtship than herself, was Anne Sallow. The sick woman had been dreaming of the day when her “idiot brother” would wake up and appreciate the “smart girl next door” for anything other than a friend. The pair also brought comfort to the dying woman as she knew her brother would be loved full heartedly after she passed on… 

Sebastian was very happy to know that the alterations to their relationship had not negatively impacted their dynamic together. He was worried that once they shifted into a romantic entanglement that an element of their friendly banter might be lost, or that other elements of candor may be repressed as friends and lovers often behave differently. The opposite had in fact occurred, as they seemed to draw even closer than previously with the addition of a more amorous affection… 

That had been the most difficult part of their separation thus far. She had imagined that they both would have more self control, given they hadn’t even found the time to have full relations as of yet, and he’d been the one to slow things down on the one opportunity they had in Feldcroft before her return. She had accompanied him around the fields with the sheep late at night, wanting him to take her there in the grass since they were alone, to which Sebastian put a stop to. Any other woman on the planet and he wouldn’t have hesitated about doing so, but he refused to just pound into her like some brute in a field simply due to it being the only opportunity alone they had. 

As she’d gone back to France, she had worried that the distance would quickly snuff out the flame developing, however the phrase “distance makes the heart grow fonder” had never been more accurate. Every waking minute she had was spent daydreaming of her farmboy back in Feld

She had taken to slipping out of her dorm after curfew, as the only place students were allowed past curfew were the lavatories and none of her classmates came out in the middle of the night with the lingering ghosts in the halls. What started as a solo activity for just her seeking release had turned into a mutual one, as she had brought the mirror for a late night chat afterwards and she moved it to see his waiting face on the other end, thus leading to the quiet exchange of moans or her revealing only her unclothed breasts to him on the other side. 

Sebastian had also found it difficult, given physicality had been the driving factor in almost all of his previous relationships. Sometimes he kicked himself for shutting down her advances at Yule time, but he always reminded himself that she deserved better. As much as he would have loved to have pinned her to the ground beneath their willow, and entered her swiftly, he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling in his brain that said he needed to wait. Deciding to listen to it, he continued to be as satisfied as he could be with his left hand and the images his mind could create… 

Given that he was absolutely smitten with the young woman, he spent much time with his beloved sister trying to come up with the most memorable and thoughtful way to make February 14th as special as possible, despite the nearly 2,000 kilometers separating them. Eventually he landed on what he thought was the best idea possible, taking a few weeks to plan it, before the day of. 

Knowing her school schedule was often quite intense, he reserved any activities to occur later in the evening, to allow her plenty of time for class, dinner, study sessions, ballet and other interruptions that could arise. Sending out his unenthusiastic bar owl with plenty of time to arrive on the special day, he sent several notes to be delivered periodically during the day, as well as a large box to be opened late in the evening together. 

Once he returned from the fields for the day, he set off towards his home, finding her youngest sister Lacey at home with Anne, the two cuddled up on the bed together reading a story.  Her youngest sibling had taken a strong liking to Anne, fulfilling a similar role to the one she had as a child before starting school, of nursing his sister. In turn, Anne had grown fond of the much younger girl, treating her almost maternally. At his return, Lacey leapt from the bed, rushing over to him with an enthusiastic smile to show him a piece of parchment she had been working on all day.  

Anne had informed him over dinner one night that the young girl had developed a very sweet crush on Garreth Weasley’s youngest brother Leo, whom she had met on the rare occasion he brought the similarly aged boy on a delivery. Since that night at the y/l/n home, Garreth had profoundly apologized for making a move on the young woman, to which Sebastian laughed, confessing it was the ginger’s actions who inspired him to finally make a move, before the two shared an ale and a laugh. 

Once he had slightly cleaned himself from the day's work, he offered to escort Lacey back to her home given it was getting late. The girl cheerfully hugged his sister before moving to slip on her coat to follow him across the town square. Upon the girl’s return, her mother kissed the young girl’s forehead, before turning to thank him.

“It was getting dark, thank you for saving me a trip across the square Sebastian” she said, appreciative he returned the youngest to the home safely. He nodded, watching as the girl ran off to her room, leaving him alone with the matriarch of the family. Shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other, he pondered if now would be a good time to finally give in and talk to the woman like he’d been intending now for weeks. 

Just as her mother went to close the door he blurted out a very awkward “wait -” as he caught a glimpse of her confused expression, as she reopened the door. 

“Something wrong?” she asked unsure and he shook his head. 

“No, nothing’s wrong, I just- I wish to speak with you on something” he told her, struggling to find the right words and internally kicking himself for not rehearsing this ahead of time. 

“Would you like to come in? I was just about to begin making dinner. You’re welcome to stay if you would like” she offered, a small smile gracing her features. 

“I will come in, but I should head back for Anne soon” he admitted regretfully and she looked to him, sadly acknowledging he had a responsibility to take care of the young woman. 

“Of course. How about you help me cook, and I will give you a portion to take back for the two of you” she countered and he considered it. Knowing whatever the woman cooked would be better than anything he could make. 

“That would be lovely thank you” he said, stepping ahead, allowing her to instruct him through the beginnings of making the meal. Sebastian always did appreciate that her mother preferred to do things the muggle way, without magic and by hand. The results were often better than when conjuration was involved. 

“So… you wished to ask me something I presume” her very astute mother asked, the woman a ravenclaw during her time at Hogwarts and every semblance of the house inquired having pieced together both his nervousness and his flighty appearance. 

“I… I wished- wish to ask you something, and it's quite important given the subject matter. I realize now this may not be the best time, nor the best way to go about all of this but-” he started rambling. Sebastian had always been so charismatic, not to mention eloquent, yet he found himself reduced to awkward speech and uncertainty under the scrutiny in her gaze.  It wasn’t long before her mother cut him off, bluntly asking him.

“Have you found a ring yet?” the woman asked, very cavalier about the whole situation. At her straightforward nature his eyes grew quite large. 

“I.. what?” he asked somewhat stunned by not only how quickly she had pieced it together, but also how normalized it seemed to have been for her mother. 

“I asked, have you gotten a ring yet? I assume you meant to ask my permission to propose do you not? Or have I made a gross miscalculation?” she asked, temporarily worried she had assumed incorrectly.

“No you haven’t…” he admitted, reaching into his coat pocket, pulling out a small box and passing it off to her for examination.  The woman looked at the decorative silver band, similar to the shape of branches that cushioned a simple french amethyst.  

“Very pretty, I am sure she shall love it” the woman confirmed, handing it back to him before continuing to stir a pot on the fire. 

“You really think so? I was very unsure - wait I haven’t properly asked have I?” he said, face red at the realization he hadn’t truly asked permission and the woman laughed quite loudly, snorting as she took in his embarrassed expression. 

“Not officially no, but I wouldn’t worry too much Sebastian. You aren’t a stranger, simply coming up to the house to whisk my daughter away. My mother had always hoped the two of you would grow to care for one another before she had passed, leaving her own wedding ring with the intention to be used if you and you alone needed one. It seems now that won’t be necessary.” she admitted with a shrug, gesturing to the ring box in his hand. 

“So… I have your permission?” he asked unsure as she smiled. 

“Yes, yes you do. Would you prefer to use the ring you have? I presume much thought went into the choice of the style, and I won’t press too much as I imagine it is personal, but the other is here if you change your mind” she offered and he smiled. 

“Thank you. And yes I think I prefer to use what I have as it’s more sentimental but I shall keep that in mind…” he said with a gracious smile. 

At the confirmation of permission he smiled brightly, looking down almost bashfully as he moved back in the space to allow her mother the ability to get to the counter in front of him. 

“She’s loved you since we moved here, you know?” her mother asked playfully. 

“Oh I am fully aware… In my own ways I have always loved her as well” he admitted openly. 

“I know.” her mother said, playing a light hand on his arm as the two continued to prepare dinner in the small kitchen, exchanging lighthearted banter. 

It was then that Sebastian decided it would be nice to finally have a maternal figure in his life again after so many years…

___________________________________________

Later that night as he sat beneath the willow, his pocket watch propped up so that he could see her and hear her through the mirror shard on the other end, they laughed together. 

“I truly can’t wait for you to come home” he said, the words weighted in ways the girl couldn’t possibly understand she responded with a smile. 

“And whys that” she asked playfully, looking as the boyish grin he wore came through her mirror. 

“Can’t a man simply miss his beloved without her questioning why?” he asked as she laughed. 

“Possibly, but perhaps I just want to hear your reasoning…” she retorted.

“It would take a lifetime for me to justify all my reasons… just take my word for it my Love” he assured her. 

“If you say so… How’s our willow doing?” she asked, knowing he had positioned himself under the tree she had conjured all those years ago by accident. 

“Beautiful as ever.” he said, looking up at its branches, admiring the way it was beginning to flower as it did every year this time. 

“I can’t wait to see it again. It’s been far too long” she admitted.

“It’ll be the first place we can go when you return” he told her with a smile, the box in his pocket reminding him that this would be the perfect place to ask…