#Hurrah we are all free now

[arinewman7]

Swan Swan H

R.E.M.

*

A pistol hot, cup of rhyme

The whiskey is water, thе water is wine

Marching feet, Johnny Reb

What's thе price of heroes?

[cowboyemeritus]

Day 9

Prompt: Voice Kink

Pairing: Copia/Reader

Tags: also pretty self explanatory

Notes: this one's pretty mild - just lovin' on copia after a show, with a little twist

“Spectacular as always, dear.” Copia gives you an appreciative nod as he crosses the threshold of the dressing room and flops himself down on the couch next to you, clearly exhausted. You’ll have to start getting packed up soon, but for now he deserves a moment to decompress.

“Grazie.” He cringes at the scratchiness in his voice, already so severe just minutes after taking his final bow. You perk up a little at the sound. It stirs something inside you can’t quite place. All you know is that you’re intrigued by it.

“Rest day tomorrow,” you point out. It’s actually a travel day, but what you really mean is the he won’t have to exert himself like he does on stage. That’s the closest thing he gets to a rest while on tour, anyway. Poor thing; being a rockstar is hard work.

Copia nods. You can see he’s looking over at the vanity, where a bag of lozenges is resting against a tumbler of water. He’s got an expectant look in his eyes, silently begging you to have mercy and not make him get up just yet. You oblige, rising to your feet to retrieve the provisions. If he wants them, however, he’ll have to humor you first.

“Are we stopping anywhere? Phantom’s obsessed with the idea of seeing the World’s Largest… Anything.” He just shrugs. Bruh. “Or we could cuddle up and watch a movie. Anything in particular you’ve been wanting to see?” You’re careful to ask an open-ended question this time.

“I will have to think about it.” You must be making some sort of face because he raises an eyebrow. “You are giving me the bedroom eyes, amore.”

“What?” You pump as much fake surprise as you can muster into it. “No. I’m just talking to my Papa.” Putting the pieces together, Copia laughs through his nose.

“This?” He asks, a hand coming to his throat. “Really? I need to be resting.” You give him a sly smile, kicking the ground a little. Your hand worms its way into the bag of lozenges, grabbing a small handful.

“I know, but…” You giggle. “I don’t know! It’s sexy. Like how you sound after we fuck all night.” You pause, grabbing the tumbler. “There’s another idea for tomorrow.” The memory of your last marathon, a last hurrah before months on the cramped tour bus, appears in your mind’s eye, setting off a pounding between your legs. Returning to the couch, you hand Copia his water, but elect to withhold the lozenges for now. He looks so tired, probably too tired for your games, but if he has one mortal weakness, it’s you. He takes a sip, letting his head fall back against the couch. With a relived groan he swallows, the life-giving water helping revive him just a little.

“You can turn even the most innocent conversation into something dirty, mia diavoletta.” He spies the medicinal candies still clasped in your hand and gives you a look. It’s not quite pleading, more of a firm request.

“It’s not my fault. You could read out of Leviticus and it would be hot right now.” Copia chuckles.

“Oh yeah?” The expression on his face says get a load of this. “Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head and honor the face of the old man, and fear thy God.” Sitting up, he reaches for your hand, hoping to snatch up the lozenges, but you’re too quick, whipping it behind your back.

“I’ll honor you all you want,” you say, kneeling between his parted legs. Your free hand finds his perfectly-sculpted thigh, giving the firm muscle a squeeze. Copia grunts, already half-hard. “Just keep talking.”

[two-white-butterflies]

old money | carlos sainz

Description: He falls in love with a crazy rich asian.

Pairing: carlos sainz/heiress!reader

taglist form

Carlos Sainz never felt nervous when he attended press conferences. He never felt nervous before a race - but he felt nervous meeting your family. He grew up in Spain, he's raised in a European way - and you always told him that the Asian way was different.

"Carlito, they'll love you." you comforted him while taking a casual sip of your champagne. He was surprised to enter the airport and find out that his first class seats were upgraded to business class. Courtesy of who your family was. "I don't know how to act around them." he buried his face in the plane provided pillow.

"Hey, we practiced this a thousand times." you added with a playful smile. Your family was going to love him. Yes, he was an outsider but he played a sport that they could actually boast - unlike your sister's boyfriend that was always on reserve. "I'm so nervous," he chuckled.

Carlossainz55: MAD🇪🇸 to SIN🇸🇬 ✈️

1283 comments 238,233 likes

ketchupmustard67: Ariana what r u doing here 😭

kelseyjaja: OMG YOUR IN SINGAPORE???? AAAAAAA

Carlos couldn't believe that you were this rich. He always assumed that money wasn't a problem with you - but he didn't realize that money will never be a problem to you. He tried to buy an apartment in Singapore a few years ago - but he turned it down after realizing how much it costed. After stepping inside your family's penthouse. He couldn't believe how much it costed.

"You're early," your mother smiled - wrapping you in a warm embrace. "Yes, I was under the impression that there's going to be a flight delay - but thank god that there wasn't one." you mumbled, breaking free from her vice-like grip. You leaned into Carlos' body. Placing a hand around his back while you pushed him closer to your mother.

"This is my boyfriend, Carlos." you greeted and he was quick to mumble strings of appreciation. He complimented the house - then your mother's outfit. He was getting all the brownie points.

He let out a sigh of relief when your mother welcomed him inside. He removed his shoes, thanking the maid when she handed him a clean pair of plastic slippers. "We bought this house shortly after Y/N went to college. She's the last one to leave the nest. I was happy because we could finally buy nice things." your mother took a jab at you.

"Feel at home, dinner will start soon." she smiled, leaving the both of you while she walked inside the kitchen.

Carlos was awe-struck.

He adored your mansion in Turks and Caicos. He adored your endless rants about how Bruce Willis used to own the island, but now he couldn't help but adore you. He couldn't help but believe that he was making the right choice - you were humble. He liked that.

"The entire apartment is wow," he whispered in your ears.

"Yep, mama got some help. My grandmother's sister-in-law is an interior designer - but I kinda wished that she asked for my help." you giggled, leaning deeper into his touch.

mysecretaccount55: he met mama's crusty musty dog.

9 comments 192 likes

frederic.arnault: his name is oreo ! - mysecretaccount55: wow i didn't know that 🤣

cheskaarnault: Will be there soon. Please tell mama to wait for us. Sun is still out, dinner is at seven. - mysecretaccount55: nah y u starving me.

notcarlossainz55: Oreo bites 😂 - mysecretaccount55: he has no teeth

Your family was the black sheep of the old money community. You were the only family that seemed to be private and public at the same time. It all started when your older sister, Cheska, married that Arnault guy - it was all anyone could talk about. From Brunei to Palau - all they could talk about was how Frederic's family was the opposite of humble.

'The boy has money, but they're too showy with their wealth.'

'Money can't buy name.'

Your parents assumed that the last hurrah would come from your younger sister, who is currently engaged to a mid-tier basketball player. But they were wrong - because Carlos Sainz was about to enter the frame.

"You play for Ferrari, right?" Frederic inquired while the music faded in the background. "Yes, you were there last time right?" your boyfriend inquired, memorizing Max's complaints about some stuck-up rich dude. "Ahh, oui. It was fun." the man nodded.

"He's not even that kind of french." your younger sister whispers.

You couldn't help but giggle.

Oh, this was going to be eventful.

"That went well," you hummed - walking out of your parent's apartment with newfound joy. "Tiring but surprisingly well," he placed your hand in his pocket.

"I had fun." he smiled.

[buckarooranch]

Howdy partners! ✨

Well, would ya look at that – it's almost Christmas, and we're just one sun away from the big day! We're plum thrilled to unveil a special somethin' for y'all. It's a Western Bridle all dolled up in the Christmas vibe, sportin' a fancy holly on the side. Comes in 6 different styles and two shades of leather. 🤠💖

This here bridle is as festive as a jamboree and bound to have ya hankerin' for Christmas in no time! We're really hopin' you take a shine to this here gift!

Now, as for the last hurrah of the advent calendar, we reckon we don't need to spill the beans much. Think ya can suss it out from them previous gifts? We reckon you're sharp enough to piece it together! 😉🎉

Details:

6 swatches with holly

For Adult/Elder horses

Horse Ranch DLC needed

Website (Free!)

[kemetic-dreams]

1938 - PAULINE JOHNSON and FELICE BOUDREAUX, sisters, were once slaves on the plantation of Dermat Martine, near Opelousas, Louisiana. As their owners were French, they are more inclined to use a Creole patois than English.

"Us was both slaves on de old plantation close to Opelousas," Pauline began. As the elder of the two sisters she carried most of the conversation, although often referring to Felice before making positive statements.

"I was 12 year old when freedom come and Felice was 'bout six. Us belonged to Massa Dermat Martine and the missy's name Mimi. They raise us both in the house and they love us so they spoil us. I never will forget that. The little white chillen was younger than me, 'bout Felice's age. They sho' had pretty li'l curly black hair.

"Us didn't have hard time. Never even knowed hard time. That old massa, he what you call a good man.

"Us daddy was Renee and he work in the field. The old massa give him a mud and log house and a plot of ground for he own. The rain sho' never get in that log house, it so tight. The furniture was homemake, but my daddy make it good and stout.

"Us daddy he work de ground he own on Sunday and sold the things to buy us shoes to put on us feet and clothes. The white folks didn't give us clothes but they let him have all the money he made in his own plot to get them.

"Us mama name Marguerite and she a field hand, too, so us chillen growed up in the white folks house mostly. 'Fore Felice get big enough to leave I stay in the big house and take care of her.

"One day us papa fall sick in the bed, just 'fore freedom, and he kep' callin' for the priest. Old massa call the priest and just 'fore us papa die the priest marry him and my mama. 'fore dat they just married by the massa's word.

"Felice and me, us have two brothers what was born and die in slavery, and one sister still livin' in Bolivar now. Us three uncles, Bruno and Pophrey and Zaphrey, they goes to the war. Them three dies too young. The Yankees stole them and make them boys fight for them.

"I never done much work but wash the dishes. They wasn't poor people and they uses good dishes. The missy real particular 'bout us shinin' them dishes nice, and the silver spoons and knives, too.

"Them white people was good Christian people and they christen us both in the old brick Catholic church in Opelousas. They done torn it down now. Missy give me pretty dress to get christen in. My godmother, she Mileen Nesaseau, but I call her 'Miran'. My godfather called 'Paran.'

"On Sunday mornin' us fix our dress and hair and go up to the missy's looking-glass to see if us pretty enough go to church. Us goes to Mass every Sunday mornin' and church holiday, and when the cullud folks sick massa send for the priest same's for the white folks.

"We wears them things on the strings round the neck for the good of the heart. They's nutmeg.

"The plantation was a big, grand place and they have lots of orange trees. The slaves pick them oranges and pack then down on the barrel with la mosse (Spanish moss) to keep them. They was plenty pecans and figs, too.

"In slavery time most everybody round Opelousas talk Creole. That make the words hard to come sometime. Us both talk that better way than English.

"Durin' the war, it were a sight. Every mornin' Capt. Jenerette Bank and he men go a hoss-back drillin' in the pasture and then have drill on foot. A white lady take all us chillen to the drill ground every mornin'. Us take the lunch food in the basket and stay till they done drill out.

"I can sing for you the song they used to sing:

"O, de Yankee come to put de nigger free,

Says I, says I, pas bonne;

In eighteen-sixty-three,

De Yankee get out they gun and say,

Hurrah! Let's put on the ball.

"When war over none the slaves wants leave the plantation. My mama and us chillen stays on till old massa and missy dies, and then goes live on the old Repridim place for a time.

"Both us get marry in that Catholic church in Opelousas. As for me, it most too long ago to talk about. His name Alfred Johnson and he dead 12 years. Our youngest boy, John, go to the World War. Two my nephews die in that war and one nephew can't walk now from that war.

"Felice marry Joseph Boudreaux and when he die she come here to stay with me. There's more hard time now than in the old day for us, but I hope things get better.

[satanstruemistress]

I don't go here (aew) but I am so intrigued as to what's going on bc I've been seeing posts about it all day where I almost never have before 👀 👀 👀

That’s probably because of me lol. I’d apologize but honestly it’s so good.

Honestly, AEW is my favorite wrestling promotion right now, but people don’t seem to want to give it a chance, because they’re ride-or-die for WWE. And WWE is good! But it’s geared more toward kids, where AEW is geared more toward adults. Idk how much you know about wrestling in general, so I’ll explain the whole thing as thoroughly as possible :)

My favorite storylines right now are: Deranged Blond Cowboy and Afro-goth Vampire wannabe (Hangman Adam Page and Swerve Strickland, respectively) hate each other but are inexplicably unable to free themselves from each other. There’s been stabbings, breaking and entering, blood drinking, body stapling, hanging the cowboy with a chain, and the cowboy stabbing a needle into Swerve’s face.

They’re the fandom’s OTP somehow. (They deserve it). We want them to be tag team champions. They’re wrestling soulmates. (They work together super well, no matter if they’re feuding or a team.) There’s a whole playlist I’ve watched a few times on YouTube, that goes through the whole storyline so far. It’s fantastic.

And: “Blackpool Combat Club gets Poly Divorced, violently.”

There’s a lot of history there, but what it boils down to now is: Bryan Danielson, one of the best wrestlers in the world, ever, needs to retire. He’s got a neck issue that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later, but the owner of AEW wanted him to have one last hurrah, so he basically dragged him kicking and screaming into the storyline where he won the World Title from Swerve (my beloved Afro goth vampire). Danielson said he’s not going to just give up the title, he’s gonna fight until he physically couldn’t anymore, and THEN he’d retire from full-time action.

Danielson has a group he’s in, Blackpool Combat Club (BCC for short) with dudes he’s been friends with for a long time, that was started by their mentor, William Regal who is no longer with AEW. (His irl son is in WWE’s “developmental territory - the proving grounds before they actually go in front of approximately half a zillion people).

Danielson’s BCC buddy Jon Moxley came back from some time off and was like “Hey this isn’t your company anymore” and confused the shit out of fans and coworkers alike.

But anyway, the night Danielson successfully defended the AEW World Title for the first time, his BCC team mates Moxley, Claudio (they’re hard to tell apart at first, both tall bald white dudes) and their protégée Wheeler Yuta, along with “new recruits” The Bastard Pac, and scary lady Marina Shafir. They were celebrating. Smiles, kisses, and hugs all around. Pac even hugged Wheeler.

Which is when we knew something was going down. Pac is, in fact, a Bastard. He’s not a lovey/huggy man. He was holding Wheeler back while Claudio uppercutted Danielson which shook fans EVERYONE. And then Mox grabbed a plastic bag and tried to suffocate Danielson while Wheeler sobbed and cried out for Bryan whilst being held back by Pac and ineffectively comforted by Claudio.

Danielson was escorted out on a stretcher that night.

Blah blah blah, a week or so passes, and we see Wheeler…not doing well. At all. He’s dead-eyed, almost catatonic, but he’s using Danielson’s finisher to win matches.

BCC tries to get through to him, but he’s not interested. He’s sided with Bryan.

OR SO WE THOUGHT.

Last night, Mox won the title but wasn’t actually all that interested in the Big Prize. He shoved it into a bag. He and the rest of the BCC started beating the shit out of Danielson. But here comes Wheeler Yuta and another man named Darby Allin, to the rescue.

Darby and Wheeler chase them off, but Darby’s back is turned, and when he turns to check on Bryan, who was sitting in the corner behind Yuta, Yuta hit Darby with one of Bryan’s finishing moves called the Busaiku Knee.

I’m a little fuzzy on the direct actions, because I was busy staring open-mouthed at the screen, processing, but Darby ended up taped to the ring ropes, and Wheeler suffocated Danielson this time.

As he’s suffocating his mentor, his childhood hero, Wheeler is BEGGING him to stop fighting it. Just let go. Then a bunch of faces (good guys) run from the back, and finally help get them off him. Namely three dudes named Orange Cassidy, Hook, and Daniel Garcia.

Danielson was taken out on a stretcher. AGAIN.

Here’s fan theory: Mox, Claudio, Wheeler, and the rest of them still love Bryan Danielson. They’re doing this to protect him from himself so he doesn’t end up seriously hurting himself or worse. That’s how they got Wheeler to do what he did. None of them are happy about it, they’re not enjoying it. They just think it’s their only option.

But this is a story, it’s not real, so obviously we’re thinking that this is all Bryan’s doing. He’s KNOWN to be a devil who thrives on his fan’s horror. (Which is a positive thing in this business). We think that this, not the title, was his last big hurrah. THIS is how he wants to go out, setting his irl besties up for a MASSIVE heel (bad guy) run, while simultaneously setting up the guys that came running out to help him, to be the next big faces of the company.

…Anyway, yeah. AEW is fantastic. I highly recommend it. There’s also a lot of silly and fun storylines that won’t leave you traumatized lol.

ALSO TEN YEARS A MUTUAL HOLY SHIT.

[linkspooky]

Jujutsu Kaisen, Chapter 221 Thoughts

The question on everyone’s minds, including the main characters, is will Gojo come out of the box crazy? Signs point to no so far, but we’ve only seen a little of what he’s like now that he’s back.. Thoughts and speculation on Gojo’s return and what it means for the story underneath the cut.

1. Nah, I’d Win. 

If I had to say what Gojo’s greatest weakness was, I’d say it was his strength. To be more specific, Gojo is hypercompetent at one thing at the expense of everything else in his life. That’s not to say he’s untalented, Gege’s confirmed in interviews and side amterials that he can cook and take care of himself, that he’s basically good at any hobby he picks up. Its more that Gojo fits so perfectly into the role that society has made for him, that he’s never tried to be anything else, because he doesn’t need to be. 

Gojo is amazing at one thing, and that’s killing curses, and sometimes other sorcerers. He’s the absolute apex of the world, no one will even come close to competing. It doesn’t matter that Gojo might be a good cook, or a good dancer, because the only thing he needs to do is kill what the higher ups point him at. He completes every mission successfully and has almost never had any insecurity or trouble about that. He is at the undisputed top position. 

There’s an interesting parallel between Sukuna and Gojo, where Sukuna similiarly only lives for the pursuit of his own strength. All of Sukuna’s power and confidence comes from the fact that he only cares about winning sorcery battles and that’s it. To lose, to not be the strongest, is tantamount to death to him. A person like Sukuna is baffled that Gojo isn’t running the show. 

Sukuna existed in the Heian era where sorcerers had free run of the place, and people constantly flattered him and paid him tribute so he wouldn’t kill them on a whim. Gojo exists in a much more complex world where sorcerers work in secret, and politics is what largely determines the lives of the sorcerers he works with. 

Gojo’s attitude of strength being the glue-all the fixes everything is very similiar to Sukuna’s, however he exists in a much different era. Gojo is like, a last hurrah to the sorcerers of the Heian era and the peak of sorcery. Kenjaku implies that modern day sorcerery is kind of at a lull and hasbeen for generations, and that a sorcerer like Gojo has not been born in awhile. So, it makes sense that Gojo is the only modern day sorcerer Sukuna seems to care about fighting. 

If Gojo existed in Sukuna’s era he probably would have a lot more political power, and could solve mostthings with a fight, but he doesn’t, and Kenjaku in fact took advantage of that thinking Gojo employs where he has to solve everything himself with his own abilities to trap him in the first place. 

Gojo is strong and competent enough to do practically everything on his own, as long as it’s a problem that can be solved with sorcerery. However, he’s so good at this, so necessary to his society, and everyone around him flatters him so much that Gojo assumes that he can now solve everything on his own even things where sorcery does not matter. 

Which is where we see his failings, because he uses the same strategy for everything. He wants to raise kids to replace the elders? Just teach them how to be strong, that’s all they need to know. 

However, Gojo is raising children for the sake of having political allies to enact his political reform, and yet not a single one of his children even care about the politics of the Jujutsu World. Yuta himself remarks to Geto that he has no idea what’s going on or if the Jujutsu World is unfair he just wants to fight for his friends. Yuji constantly calls himself a mindless cog that only needs to kill curses without thinking. Megumi has the same fatalistic attitude. Maki’s even done the thing Gojo explicitly said that he wouldn’t do, which is just massacre all the higher ups that got in her way. 

Not a single one of them has ever questioned the system they are in or even thought about political reform, because Gojo didn’t raise them to be free thinking people, he raised them to be strong because that’s Gojo’s solution to everything. 

Continuing onward a lot of people have pointed out this parallel, or the tragedy of it, that the first kid Gojo ever took in was Megumi, and now he’s fighting Sukuna in Megumi’s body. However, they haven’t pointed out why it’s so tragic. 

Gojo is the one who recruited Megumi to be a sorcerer. He was a vulnerable orphan with no money before Gojo came into his life. Gojo was supposed to be the one protecting Megumi, that was the deal more or less, Megumi become a sorcerer for Jujutsu High and let Gojo foster his growth, and that will give protection to both Megumi and Tsumiki as they grow up. 

Gojo is the one who got Megumi involvedin the world of sorcery, and look at where it’s led. Megumi hates being a sorcerer, and the reason he let Gojo talk him into it is because Gojo promised Tsumiki’s safety. Now Tsumiki is dead by Megumi’s own hands, and Megumi is possessed. This kid is in danger because Gojo actively got him involved and decided to scout Megumi to his cause. 

When Gojo tries to do things that’s more meaningful than what the higher-ups tell him to do, he fails. He may have had better intentions for Megumi’s life than what ended up happening, but he basically wasn’t anything other than a teacher who came into his life to raise him as a tool that he needed against the higher ups.

If Gojo tries to be anything other than the weapon he was born and groomed into being this is the result. Ideologically, he’s subversive and different from the elders. However, his methodology is pretty similar. He’s slightly more benevolent because he doesn’t actively want children to get hurt and he’s not indifferent to them, but at the same time he’ll also use them as a part of his plans.

 Gojo’s just so indispensable to the society he’s a part of that his entire identity is formed around what his role in that society is. Even when he’s trying to subvert that society he can only go so far. Gojo, much like Sukuna has totally bought into and accepted the idea that being the strongest at Jujutsu makes him isolated, and more special than others, when really he’s the king of a very small kingdom. His entire identity is so entrenched in being the best, that he’s completely blind to his own shortcomings. 

“Are you the strongest because you’re Satoru Gojo, or are you Satoru Gojo because you’re the strongest?” 

If his entire identity derives from being strong, than if he were to ever lose that strength, then he’d be nobody. Which is why we see Gojo fail so hard in situations where the solution isn’t killing someone or executing a curse. 

Sukuna himself says as much as well, if he loses then he’s dead, and even if he survives afterwards he’s reduced to a corpse and he doesn’t care what would happen to him. They are simultaneously the two most selfish and egocentric characters, and yet characters with very little sense of self because they don’t see themselves outside of their abilities and their predetermined role in sorcerer society. 

Which works out fine for Sukuna, because Sukuna’s not interested in the world, or other people at all, he just thinks that the strong should live as hedonistically as possible dominating others by their will. Gojo’s actively trying to do things that require him to be a person, and he’s failing at those things because he’s not enough of a person. 

As I said Gojo’s students reflect Gojo. Yuji says out loud multiple times that he has no purpose in life, that he doesn’t need to think about anything other than following orders and exterminating curses. Gojo has not raised a student that’s going to try to defy the elders or make anything different, he’s raised another Gojo. Someone who is really good at exorcising curses and getting stronger at the expense of everything else. 

So, to return to the original question do I think Gojo’s going to come out of the box crazy? We don’t know yet. However, I think it’s important to look at the fact that Gojo is coming out of the box now to see that all of his methods have failed. The first kid he took in Megumi is now possessed. A lot of the children he took in are either horribly maimed or maybe even dead. Yaga is dead. The elders are either in Kenjaku’s pocket or turned against him and made him a scapegoat. 

Gojo’s failed pretty significantly here, but how does he respond? 

Despite being shown clear evidence that he has messed up and his methods don’t work all the way, it doesn’t look like Gojo is going to reflect on that or change the way he does things. 

Which means we might see Gojo even double down and get worse, on the way he uses his power to try to solve things. After all, we’ve already seen Maki slaughter the Zen’in. What if Gojo loses his patience and decides to rid the elders of Kenjaku’s control in the quickest and bloodiest method possible, going back against entirely what he said in the first ten chapters about how massacres won’t accomplish anythig. 

Gojo says that he has a lot of things to take care of now that he’s unboxed which is why he set the date of the final showdown weeks in advance, here’s my prediction now that he’s been shown that power doesn’t work to solve everything he’s going to double down and for the first time in his life exert his power to try and take control. 

The problem might not be that Gojo came out of the box a different person. The problem may be he came out of the box the exact same before, and he’ll try the same thing even when he’s shown it doesn’t work. 

If this isn’t something that can be settled with a fight then what good is he? 

Who is Gojo Satoru if he’s not the strongest? 

[lululawrence]

lululawrence's fics posted in 2023

Master Fic Masterpost / Buy me a Coffee?

My Other Half Was You (35k) with artwork by @moon-sun-thyme - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

By the age of 30, Louis' entire life trajectory had changed from what he'd thought it would be. He moved back to the town he grew up in and did his best to pull himself and his life back together again.

Four years, seven months, and sixteen days after the day that changed everything, Louis turns a corner and literally runs into the man who just might change it all again.

Gemma's Dad (Could Use A Guy Like Me) (83k) with artwork by @ialwaysknewyouwerepunk - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

The summer before Louis and Gemma's senior year of college was supposed to be their last big hurrah before they graduate college and become Real Adults in the workforce.

As the summer goes on, the adventures and day to day happenings allow Harry and Louis to spend a lot more time together than either of them ever anticipated and Louis finds it more difficult to keep his growing feelings in check than he ever thought it would be. After all, there wasn't a chance that Harry would ever be interested in Louis… right?

Quite the Pickle (1k) - Nick Grimshaw/Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

Nick hated pickles. It was an entire thing for him and he used to get into arguments all the time when his mum insisted he could just remove them and the sandwich would be fine without them.

She never seemed to understand. The flavor was still left behind because of the juices. The scent was still there. The pickle was never fully removed. Not successfully. And now one was sitting on the plate, almost touching his perfectly pickle free sandwich, all whilst leaking it’s flavor and scent all over his chips.

Good thing there happened to be a pregnant man with a craving nearby.

Livin' In A Daydream (3k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

Harry originally had thought that the sock he had pulled out was just another one of Louis’ sport socks he left balled up, but when Harry pulled the cuff out, he realized the actual sole of the sock felt… crusty.

(Gimme a Solution and) Watch Me Run With It (21k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

Harry is getting dangerously close to his breaking point, and that is when things start to change, starting with a favorite childhood sweet a member of the touring crew leaves for him in his dressing room.

You Are A Song (3k) - Nick Grimshaw/Louis Tomlinson

To Louis, Nick felt like poetry in motion. He was a bit of chaos surrounding Louis’ otherwise monotonous days, and Louis was quickly becoming addicted.

Did You Know I Fit In A Dryer? (4k) - Jordan North/Louis Tomlinson

“Oi, mate!”

There was some knocking and after the voice coming from right behind him when he had clearly just seen an empty room, Jordan didn’t think he could be faulted for jumping and screaming a bit.

“Mate, can you help me open the door?”

Were You There On That Christmas Night? (2k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

The one where Harry has some fears regarding the animals present in the school's nativity play.

Team Gaelic FTW (600) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan/Lewis Capaldi

Just another Scrabble Game Night at the Stylinson House…

No Constraints (900) - Greg James/Louis Tomlinson

Louis is really not understanding this particular section of his Vector Calculus course, and his tutor doesn't seem to get what Louis is having a hard time with.

Until he does.

Odds Are That We Will Probably Be... (700) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

From the moment Louis learned no one would survive past the evening, the only thing he knew was that he had to get to Harry.

Damsel in Christmas Distress (5k) - Nick Grimshaw/Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

Nick's door was open. He didn't leave it that way. Maybe his gorgeous neighbor will help protect him from any possible murderers who have made their way into his flat while he was gone.

Merry Louis' birthday, Happy Stylinshaw.

Snow In Love (33k) - Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

An advent fic featuring childhood friends, fake dating turned actual dating, really horrible secret keeping, and a winter weather surprise.

[celestialsister0918]

Fic Writing Review 2023

Thanks for tagging me, @gammacousin!

Rules: Feel free to show whatever stats you have. Only want to show Ao3 stats? Rock on. Want to include some quantitative info instead of stats? Please do this. Want to change how yours is presented? Absolutely do that. Would rather eat glass than do this? Please don’t eat glass but don’t feel like you have to do this either. (Copied and pasted)

Words and Fics

Word Count:

142,081

Fic Count:

6 started. 5 completed

Most Productive Month: February by far, thanks to Kinkuary!

Top Five by Hits

The One He Needs Right Now: Jim Gordon's Kinkuary: 5941

What I'm Thinking About (Sirius x Ginny): 3600

A Window Not Missed (Bruce x Nat): 2107

A Window Closed (Bruce x Nat): 1101

In the Sepulcher by the Sea (Sirius x Severus): 684

Top Five by Kudos

A Window Not Missed (Bruce x Nat): 96

What I'm Thinking About (Sirius x Ginny): 61

A Window Closed (Bruce x Nat): 47

In the Sepulcher by the Sea (Sirius x Severus): 32

The One He Needs Right Now: Jim Gordon's Kinkuary: 24

Fandom events:

Two @trulymadlydeeplyfest fests! 1 in February and 1 in October. Both Harry Potter. I'm so bad at knowing where all the fests are so those are my only two.

Upcoming Plans:

To Complete:

Finish "A Window Closed" (Bruce x Nat)

Start "A Window Opened" (Bruce x Nat)

Start "A Special Election" (Jim Gordon x NEW OC) - I have one chapter written and some dialogue prompts for chapter 2. I'm soooo excited for this one.

Other Ideas:

Continue one-off Sirius and other Gary Oldman character one-shots on Tumblr.

Write a Jackson Lamb piece

Maybe write a Kate Bishop x Yelena Belova one-shot if the mood strikes

Write another Gary Oldman RPF (many dialogue prompts already written). Here's my first Gary RPF if interested... it was set during the Dracula filming. The new one will be set after his divorce from Alex but before Gisele.

Reflection

I took a couple long breaks from writing this year. After finishing "Submissioner Gordon" in December of 2022, I was at a pretty bad low from lack of interaction with that fic. My heart has NEVER been in something as much as it was that fic, so to have so many hits and so little interaction made me think everyone hated it. Yet I continued the story with the Kinkuary prompts, where I wrote a short fic every day for 28 days. Again, I feel like it bombed.

At the same time, I made what I thought would be my last hurrah in the Harry Potter fandom, and it didn't do so great either. I was in a BAD spot comparing myself to other writers, so I took a long hiatus.

During that break, I started watching the entire MCU with my son, start to finish. My brain grabbed onto Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff and would NOT let go. So in May, I began publishing the "Never Say Never" series, where I try to fix their story.

The feedback from the Marvel fandom and Brutasha readers/writers really warmed my heart and got me back in the groove. I am forever thankful to them, because it truly restored my confidence in writing.

I will always be thankful for my Wizarding World series and the Submissioner Gordon/Daddy Issues universe, and my brain loves to revisit those stories and characters. It's just bittersweet because it never really found its audience. However the feedback I got from my foray into the MCU fandom has built my confidence enough that I am able to write in HP and Dark Knight without really worrying what others think. I am just doing it for me and my love for the characters. I know my writing isn't bad--- it's just not a lot of people's cup of tea.

I also want to give a shoutout to the small but steadfast Gary Oldman fandom I have found on Tumblr and Instagram. They've become very dear to my heart, and I love that we can share random thirst posts together when so many others just don't get it.

If anyone is reading this, please share your 2023 stats and reflections as well! I love writers supporting writers. Happy 2024 to you all!

[nostalgiachan]

Baldurian Finger Trap

Second Prompt: One of the companions has been gone from camp for a very long time

Act Three Spoiler Warning

---

“Darling, it’s Minsc,” Astarion sighed, his hand gently landing on Vier’s shoulder. “That lummox would get lost on a straight path, I’m certain. And lest we forget, he’s a grand world-saving hero…twice over, yes? So any poor soul dumb enough to try to jump him on his little outing will get the quite literal spanking of a lifetime.”

Vier reached a hand up to meet Astarion’s. In any other circumstance, she would have agreed with him. But in the last tenday or so, their camp had been met with one attempted abduction, one successful abduction, and multiple visits from a deviless who she was sure would look for any excuse to cause them problems. The party had relocated to a room in the Elfsong Tavern in hopes that it would prove a slightly more defensible location than a wide-open alleyway in the slums by the docks, but that did little to put Vier’s mind at ease. On top of all that, the last time Minsc ‘went missing’, he’d gotten a worm jammed in his skull, and before that, turned into a statue. She trusted him to take care of himself, but there was no denying the man’s a lightning rod of misfortune.

It had been a day since Minsc had headed out into the Lower City on some sort of errand. About the only person who knew where he was headed was Jaheira, who’d lightly scoffed when asked. “Why does everyone seem to think me the man’s keeper now?” she’d replied when Vier asked about him. “He’d said something about taking Boo to the marketplace. Something ‘urgent’, apparently.” She did admit that it shouldn’t have taken him this long to come back from market, and he wasn’t exactly the type to go carousing through the streets and accidentally fall asleep in an alley somewhere.

Vier wasn’t prone to assuming the worst, but in this case, she could no longer take chances. “I know,” she answered Astarion as she ran a thumb over his hand, “but I’d be much more at ease if I knew for certain. I’ll go out to look for him by myself. No sense dragging anyone else along just to soothe my paranoia.”

“Well, I’d be remiss if I let you go looking on your own,” Astarion replied with faux exasperation. “Two sets of eyes will get the job done faster, after all. I do hope you appreciate this.”

“You know I always do, dear.”

. . .

If there was anywhere Vier had expected to ultimately find the Mad Rasheman, it was not facing a stone wall just off the marketplace, two of his fingers jammed in a tiny hole. He looked deep in concentration, attempting to wiggle his hands together, apart, this way and that. He didn’t seem to notice Vier and Astarion as they approached him. The startled roar that escaped the man as Vier spoke up was one for the ages.

“Friends!” he cheered at last when he realized who was speaking to him. “Hurrah for you, that you have finally come to free Minsc and Boo from this dire situation!”

Vier couldn’t keep her clear befuddlement from her face. “What, erm…’dire situation’ is this, precisely?” she asked.

“To put simply,” Minsc began in earnest, “I am stuck. You see, Boo wished for me to take him on a trip to market. He’d heard word someone would be selling a foreign nut he’s grown quite fond of, and he would not stop chewing at my bootstrings until I agreed to buy some for him. Oh, you should have seen his joy as he stuffed his chubby cheeks!”

The mountain of a man practically glowed for a moment as he recalled the sight, but he quickly returned to himself. “But for a split second, I turned my eyes from Boo, that I might pay for his meal, and when I looked back, he had vanished! I cried out for him, looked everywhere I could, but I couldn’t see the tiniest hint of his fuzzy self anywhere!”

For a moment, Vier found herself caught between wanting Minsc to cut to the chase and wanting to listen patiently, deeply curious as to how all of that led to all of this. Her curiosity won out in the end.

“I nearly tore the marketplace apart in my search,” he continued, “but then, I heard it! The cry of a hamster in deep distress! I followed the noise, and came upon this hole in the wall here - and trapped deep inside was Boo! I wondered if perhaps he had developed a nut-induced teleportation ability, but Boo was quick to explain what had happened. As I was paying for the nuts, a young child in the market had mistaken Boo for an escaped pet of hers, and snatched him away! She’d made it quite some distance before realizing he was not, in fact, her beloved Tummytuft, and released him promptly on the other side of this wall.”

“Boo took to his tiny feet as quickly as he could, doing his best to return to me, but he made a fatal mistake. He was feeling far too sluggish to run around the wall, so attempted to take a shortcut through this hole here. But he had gorged himself on far too many nuts, and had grown too bloated to make it through. Thus, when Minsc came upon him, there was only one thing to do! I simply had to reach right in and get him out! But, it seems, my fingers are far too large, and became stuck between Boo’s girth and the stone as surely as if he was covered in sticky glue! And thus, here we are.”

There was hardly a second of silence between them before Astarion could no longer hold back his laughter. “What a wonderfully convoluted predicament,” he snorted. “You’ve been stuck with your fingers in this hole for an entire day?! Absolutely incredible!”

Vier, at least, made the attempt to be nice about it. “I assume you called out for help. Did no one answer?”

Minsc replied, “I most certainly did! And most saw fit to pass me by, notably averting their gazes. The one or two brave souls who did lend a hand, however, had little success in freeing us. In fact, as time has gone on, it seems to have become even harder to make any sort of progress. My fingers may have begun to swell in there, I fear.”

“Oh dear, alright,” Vier sighed, and she swung her supply bag off of back, setting it on the ground and rifling through to produce a brown bottle. “Fortunately, I tend to keep a bit of grease on hand for just such an occasion. Should be able to get you out with just a bit of finesse.” She dipped a small wooden applicator into the grease as she approached the stone wall. “Pardon me, Mr. Boo,” she attempted to speak into small gap between Minsc’s fingers. “You may wish to hold your breath a moment. Don’t want you swallowing any of this. Won’t kill you, but it won’t be pleasant.”

After about half an hour of wiggling, liberal applications of grease, and plenty of moral support from Astarion (read: laughter), Minsc and Boo were finally freed from their stony prison. Boo looked like he’d been through the first layer of the hells, his fur matted with finger sweat and grease, a look of pure frazzlement on his furry little face - or at least as much of one as a hamster could show. He’d be headed straight to a warm bath as soon as they got back to the Elfsong, and Minsc would be getting a healthy dose of ice against his fingers to get the swelling down.

As they tromped their way back to the inn, Vier breathed a sigh of relief. Sure, she’d been right about Minsc being in trouble, but in light of everything they’d faced up until now…well, this was just the low-stakes sort of adventure they needed.

[fictionfixations]

Out of Context TWST

imgs are from:

Prologue Book 1 Fan translation of Cater's ceremonial robes vignette Rook's ceremonial robes vignette Book 5 Book 6 Book 7 Spectral Soiree Tsumderland 2 A Firelit Sky Jade's Halloween Groovification Message

and then i gave up (was gonna go in order after laughing at the first img. now its a mishmash of me randomly remembering some bits i wanted to add, and removing the ones that didnt mesh too well)

recently finished book 6 and starting book 7 so there's a bunch of book 6 imgs in here

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

(note: I can't find the lashing of love line when we encounter Crowley for the first time?? I swear it was there before but now its just not??)

[Lilia: What's this? You'd really turn down my juice?!]

[Vil: WAAAH!]

you get no context whatsoever except that he's sobbing (for three long hours.. its funny i swear). i refuse to show you the visual if you haven't seen it yet.

["I shall even spare it from being served as dinner."]

[Crowley: If you're not satisfied with my offer, I can arrange to have you thrown out again.]

[Grim: Not more lashings of love! We gotta get outta here! Ace: OW!]

[Deuce: Because I'm going to launch you.]

[Epel: You're...hurting me. Please, let go?]

*proceeds to beat everyone up* /hj

[> Then it's kill or be killed!]

[Grim: I'd recognize that collar anywhere. It's the same one that psycho stuck on me at orientation!]

[Cater: Aww yeah, I am getting my paint on!]

[Cater: Even so, he'll have a mom.]

Context because I can't share more imgs: In his Ceremonial Robes vignette, he's basically guessing what people's dorm will be with Trey. When they get to Epel, he goes,

[Cater: He's by far the cutest~! If he had an older sister, don't you think she would be a total stunner?

[Insert Trey's response]

Cater: Even so, he'll have a mom.]

He clarifies that he's joking but still LOL

(this was changed in the eng localization to a comment about washing dishes)

[Vargas: Great sorcery begins with a great physique! Behold the muscles you can build with a diet of raw eggs!]

[> Muscly dog man, sure why not.]

[Ace: A painting? Hard pass! I don't care how cute she is if she's two-dimensional!]

[Riddle: It's not absurd! It's literally the law!]

[Leona: Hey, I'm into it.]

[???: *sniff* *sniff*]

[Floyd: Whaaat? Sorry, can't hear you, man! Hair dryer go brrrr!]

[Deuce: You don't get to call my eggs stupid. You don't get to call ANY eggs stupid!]

[Grim: So you were only a little more annoying than you are now? > I did notice you had that vibe...]

[(Jade) "Oooh, I love it when you flee in terror. It makes me want to chase you!"]

SS from:

But I found what card it's actually from by the wiki

[Malleus: Oh, now I have to clean up your waste? You little scamp.]

[Deuce: For sixteen years, I was so sure...]

[Cater: Ooh, it's almost time! Okay, all you sexy body doubles, that's a wrap!]

[Deuce: I fell and got a boo-boo. Ouchies. *sob*]

[Jade: Oh dear, how did I get into this mess? Don't tell me you planned for me to get caught this whole time...!]

[Jamil: So I made wet burgers.]

[Grim: What if there's an assassin out for our blood?!]

[Lilia: "Lilia. When I woke up this morning, Drago was gone. Now there's this egg in his place. What should I do?"]

[Vil: EEEEE HEE HEE! YEEESSS!]

i cannot explain the utter joy contained within that one voice line. It's just pure exhilaration.

this lives rent free in my brain (along with the kiss. you get no more context besides that)

(it looks funny without the voice attached tho LMFAO. it's like a "Kyaa~! Yatta!" as in like a scream/yell and then 'hurrah/I did it/yes/sweet'! ehh, basically joy when things go well)

there's a limit to how many images you can put in one post. oops.

[digitsofpie]

Ok crazed metropolis soundtrack rant below

So like. I made that post about the intricacies of the Metropolis leitmotifs but I didn't really go in much detail on any of the songs, so... for the hell of it here's an analysis on the leitmotifs of Der Tanz (The Dance)

Now I'm no expert on music theory, but this... THIS... this song is truly a sight to behold.

I was lucky enough to find an ACTUAL FULL VERSION of the sheet music for the entire score! Imslp.org is a lovely site full of public domain sheet music for people to download for free! Hopeful me wanted to see if there was any chance that Huppertz's score was on there, and it is! You can check out the full thing here. Since it's such a long score and there are so many parts, it's written like a piano piece with other specific parts written in at times. It follows the full length 2 hour long score on Spotify, and not the condensed one hour long version. Anyway here we go!!!!

I want to start by saying that this piece, Der Tanz, is very, very intricate! It is pretty much a culmination of many recurring leitmotifs already present in the score, and is like a big hurrah at the end of the Zwischenspiel.

It starts with this:

Those first two measures are devoid of any other instruments besides the steady bounce of the wood block. It seems like a trivial choice, but I found that it is a deliberate one!

Elsewhere in the movie, when Georgy (11811) switches lives with Freder and rides in a car through the city, he encounters the Yoshiwara, the red-light district full of that 1920s glamour and excess. There, you can hear these things: the wood block, the bells/glockenspiel. and a rhythm of two sixteenth notes and three eighth notes (we'll encounter those later).

Both the wood block and the bells give off a vibe of whimsy and carefreeness/carelessness (depending on how you see it), so I find it a wonderful choice in the context of the movie.

Moving on, we encounter what I call the Dance motif/ False Maria motif:

That pattern of descending sixteenth/eighth notes is what characterizes False Maria. You hear it in practically every other scene she's in. such as the scene in which Joh Fredersen commands her to ruin Maria's efforts:

Same pattern, right? It also shows up in "Im Laboratorium - Verwandlung" and in "In Rotwangs Salon," as well as plenty of other songs.

It's a careless, playful motif that I think perfectly symbolizes False Maria, and when twisted right (like in the image above), is sinister as well.

Soon after this motif appears, we get another theme that occurs a LOT throughout the entire score: the Machine Man motif.

See the smaller staff, at the very top? That motif shows up in many places, usually to do with the Machine Man, such as "Der Maschineman," "Im Laboratorium," "Der Aufstand der Arbeiter," Der Scheiterhaufen," and many, many more!

It is a hypnotic and beautiful theme, not unlike False Maria herself. She/ the Machine Man are almost ethereal but unnerving in the way they act, and the theme itself, though graceful, seems to veil the unknown.

At the same time this motif is playing, a rhythm played in the Yoshiwara theme (Die Autofahrt) also plays!

It may be a bit of a stretch, and although the two are in different time signatures (one is cut time (2/2) and the other is 2/4), you can still see a resemblance! All it does is solidify that this is the same area, an upbeat and lively club.

Next is something I only discovered recently! The next motif is what I previously called the Desolation motif, and it shows up here:

In the top part, a series of half notes plays ominously in the background. It not only shows up throughout the Metropolis score, but in other classical music, as well! I was listening to Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique when I noticed that familiar ominous pattern, so I looked it up, and found this:

It's an old pattern found in Gregorian chants, often referenced in classical music to convey death, danger, or as the name goes, an "angry god." I even found that Saturn, the Bringer of Old Age from Holst's the Planets (my favorite movement from my favorite piece) also uses this!

Of course, with all the religious imagery throughout Metropolis, from Moloch to Death itself, you can't really have a soundtrack without referencing this once.

During this sequence, the song plays through the Machine Man motif quietly, then picks up the pace by repeating the False Maria motif with the Yoshiwara rhythm. Then, I heard something interesting!

During rehearsal 48, the Dies Irae motif plays again, harsher and louder, but over that, on the smaller staff, you can hear a piccolo. In the song after this, Der Tod, Death himself plays a piccolo (well, a bone) and it is the primary instrument you hear in that specific song. Even before he shows himself, the score sort of leads up to that by having the piccolo play during the Dies Irae motif.

The song gets louder and faster, culminating in a blast of Dies Irae with a trumpet in the lead. Then, in the center of desolation, it goes right into Der Tod.

That's all the leitmotifs I could pick up, but a song doesn't have to HAVE leitmotifs to tell you something. In fact, the ABSENCE of leitmotifs also speaks just as loudly as having them.

What's something that we, the audience, know that most of the characters don't? That's right: that the woman dancing before them is not Maria, but a robot, a puppet, a mockery of her. So what do you let the audience know through the music? By NOT having any of the real Maria's motifs present!

While listening, I could pinpoint a few of Maria's themes.

(Found in Die Predigt Marias and Freder und Maria, respectively)

As seen in the smaller, upper staffs, Maria's themes are slow, flowing, gentle, majestic, showing her understanding and kind nature. To have these themes not show up at all subconsciously hammers it in how different the two characters are, and when you can't tell which is which, all you have to do is listen to the music. Even when you can't remember what scene happened during whatever track you're listening to, if you recognize the motifs, you can certainly take a wild guess.

Oooookay I've completely run out of things to say about Der Tanz, so. Thanks for reading (if anyone reading this can't read music, im. sorry)

[thewomancallednova]

General spoilery thoughts on "Red Directive"

I really like how happy Burnham is in this first episode. I recently rewatched "The Vulcan Hello" and it's a really nice contrast to "Red Directive", she's so much less restrained and seems so much more content with her job.

Veyr cute marriage proposal, also very very happy to have an entirely non-human inter-species romance in Trek.

Glad we get to keep Book and Tilly.

Admiral Vance continues to be the best admiral.

Do we actually know what the red directive is? Because non of the charcaters seem to go "Wha, I never heard of that," like with the omega directive in Voyager, so I assume it's a known, if rare Starfleet thing?

I'm glad they didn't keep us in the dark about what exactly the mission is for any longer than the first episode.

The start of the episode had very strong "we're all going our seperate ways and this is our last hurrah" vibes. Which, I maean, that is what it is.

That Tilly trying to hit on that poor other officer scene has to be one of the most awkward moments in the whole show

If anything happens to Fred I will kill everybody in this room and then myself.

Oh no.

It wouldn't be an episode of Discovery without a camera spinning engineers talking about how to fix a problem scene, wouldn't it?

I need more Adira and Reno.

Raynor is a really interesting addition. IMO every good show needs a massive jerk, just a huge dick that no one likes and who is entirely annoying to every other character so I love that he exists. Also very happy to see more cultural like diffusion.

Very excited for Stamets having a new thing to be nervous about this season, but I am kinda disappointed that the spore drive won't be mass produced for Starfleet ships (at least it seems that way). I'd love to see how radically different the Trek universe would look like if instant ship transport like that were feasable.

The Progenitor name is originally from either a book or a video (Memory Beta isn't good at citing things, it could be from Captain's Glory, Hidden Evil or STO) so that's a neat little canonization.

I really love the red uniform, it reminds me of the monster maroons.

The Tholians are a republic now and I wish my little crystal spider babies all the best and a very shedai-free world <3

In general really fun episode and entry to the new season. I'm excited to see where the search goes and where all our little guys will end up.

[dahliarosebud]

- Love Is A War Series ~ Aemond x Reader

•  Part 1  Part 2  Part 3  Part 4  Part 5  Part 6

Part 7 Part 8 Part 9

• HOTD MASTER-LIST

• FANDOMS-MASTER-LIST

Warnings: fighting, bad family dynamics, mention of sh, mention of sh scars

Synopsis: It was the night of the dreaded meal, but as you were met with one of Aemond’s gifts your heart melted, however the world wishes for it to be turned to stone. You join the meal full of toasts and hurrahs as you all rejoice in putting aside your conflicts yet, Aemond’s heart still grasp onto the strings of revenge.

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

I smiled as I ran out into the large courtyard looking back as Jacerys chased after you, smiling himself. You slowed as you heard the magnificent beasts lift their heads with a grumble. I stopped in front of Selene. Running your hand over her smooth pale scales. The almost-white glistened in the setting sun.

As beautiful as the day she hatched in my cradle when I were just a child. Bonded for life. Under the crescent moon of old Valyria. I looked back hearing Jacerys’s footsteps grow louder and softer. Eventually they came to stop at the right side of Vermax. Selene bowed her head as I carefully got onto the saddle. It never sat comfortably. 

Always felt wrong to be separated from your dragon. To feel of foreign leather instead of the familiar glistening scales. I turned to the boy he smiled and ceased to pet Vermax getting onto the saddle that sat heavy on the green-Ish dragon’s back.

He frowned watching as your eyebrows creased. “What is wrong?” The question just expressed his perplexed expression further, making you chuckle.

“It doesn’t feel natural. To ride a dragon on a saddle it feels disconnecting as if we have a right to control them. To hinder their abilities.”

I jumped off unshackling the saddle, Selene staying so still I could mistake her for a statue. The thud of boots and worried steps trampled mind, yet you never paused your quick movements the saddle finally dropping from my dragon with a great this onto the hard stones ground.

I reached out fingertips grazing over the once, hidden scales. Jacerys grabbed my wrist spinning me  to face him. I lent your neck back with uncertainty. 

“What are you doing?” he questioned so much fear in his fear it almost scared me.

“Setting her free. I mean you can’t tell me that thing looks comfortable. You can never truly control a dragon. Now remove your hand from my wrist...please?” He squeezed a tiny bit harder before finally letting go. 

I jumped atop the dragon, unbalanced. The dragon riding armour gripped yet slid over the scales. My body jolted as Selene rose to her full height. I rested your hands gently on the ribbed black horns that travelled from the large ones on her head down her neck shrinking in size.

“Are you coming or staying?” My heart sped up as I leant forward. Selene speeding up and lifting her head, I tipped back some. Fear in my eyes. She spread her wings. Dust blowing around us as we began to fly upwards. Selene’s rasped roar echoed the sky and King’s Landing.

I could hear Jacerys’s shout of my name drifting in the wind falling behind me. I kept sliding down your dragon’s back until she evened out. Her soft belly facing the ground dusted over with the cities clouded mist. Worries melting away as the sweat from my brow cooled. The flap of wings accompanied me.

 Softer than Selene’s. Clearly Vermax. The smaller therefore, faster dragon. Eventually they levelled with the two of us. I tipped my head back letting out a bellowing fit of laughter. This is what freedom feels like. The worry melted from his face. Lines no longer ageing him. Giggles of his own met the winds harsh gust. It was truly thrilling.

Leaning forward once again. Softly telling Selene to go as fast as she can in the old tongue. I fell forward with a grunt. My head hitting the bottom of her neck. The horn cutting through the leather and through my flesh. I winced. Cringing at the way it dripped down my sleeve and past my palm.

My eyes watching the way it sticks to her scales. I guided Selene to the beach my body jolting as she landed. I slid from her back. Pain shorting through my arm. Jacerys landed next to me a few seconds after. Eyes catching the blood that trickled from the thin ‘protective’ material.

“Are you alright?” I watched as he dismounted his own dragon. Marching towards me. He softly grabbed my arm. My eyebrows creasing at the shot of pain.

“I’ll be fine. The leather is sticking to me.” Slowly I began to unlace the leather garment. Not missing the way heat rose to the young boy’s face as he quickly turned around.

The heavy material fell to the floor. A sigh falling from my lips. My under shirt now the only thing protecting me from the bitter cold other than my other undergarment. My father won’t be pleased he only got this made for me recently.

I looked up, Jacerys already facing me. “Come on Y/n let’s go home the sun has already almost gone,” he spoke softly already climbing onto Vermax. I walked towards Selene. Her eyes, sorry and pleading. I softly pat her neck as I gently smiled at her. She lowered her body and I climbed on. The leather still sat on the floor in front of us.

“Dracarys,” what a waste. I mean I really quite liked that leather. The clothing was engulfed in an orange flurry of flame. “Let’s go.” I whispered as the dragon-flame-orange illuminated us.

Flying back was better. More stable now than before. This is what dragon riding should be. Freedom and flying under the already emerging stars. We landed back onto the full courtyard. Only to see our parents stood with little to none amusement on their faces.

My father marched up to me as I dismounted Selene. Wishing her a sweet goodbye as she was whisked of to the dragon pits along with Vermax. My father stood in front of me. A glare on his face. Usual posture both hands resting on his sword - dark sister.

“What were you thinking. I come out here looking for you only to fucking find your saddle on the floor and Selene gone” - he paused taking a breath looking down at my arm - “why are you in your undershirt,” he inspected me with a careful eye, “is that blood?”

I picked at my fingers as he grew more furious. His face grew a tiny of thread. Turning to look Jacerys straight into his eyes. An accusing looks on his face. He took a step forward towards the boy. Moron raised his head at his father as if it was a pissing contest. Rhaenyra threw a stern look at my father.

Rolling my eyes. I grabbed my father’s arms. “I caught my arm on one of Selene’s horns. I’m sorry for making you worry father.”

He sighed. Still clearly unhappy about the predicament. “Come now. We are to have dinner with my father and the others.” She grew quiet with the last part.

“Your grandmother Rhaenys has bought a dress with you that is currently in your quarters. I thought maybe you could wear it tonight and your sisters Baela and Rhaena await you,” she smiled.

The walk down the hall was long and bore some. The full stone growing somehow bleaker as time passes. The guards pulled the doors to my chambers open.

I was met with warmth, but no comfort. The dress sat on the bed. It was like Rhaenyra’s dresses off the shoulder and beautiful. Red with embroidered gold a dark trimmed lace corset fashioned to the bodice. Yet, next to it sat a wooden box. Intricate detailing on the top. Swirls and patterns.

 I flipped the latch and opened it. Inside was a ring. Small and delicate. Golden like my necklace the dark emerald sat heavy on the metal. My eyes caught the glinting inscription with in the band. ‘forever yours and forever mine.’ I smiled my eyes creasing with love filled knowing

I threaded the ring onto my finger admiring its glow in the fire’s light. I picked up the parchment that lied beside the dainty brown box. I opened the note cursive filled my eyes, familiar and intricate each detail, just like the broach. 

‘I had this made for you when I heard of your departure this morning. Each day this ring will be a reminder of our love as our necklaces warm our yearning hearts as we await the next full moon.

Forever yours, the sun to your moon

- A’

I refolded the parchment before placing it back into the box, quickly stuffing it under my bed before my father or one of the maids could find it.

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

Awkward silence enveloped the room as we awaited the king. The only noise was the clattering of silverware and the noisy fumbling of gossiping servants. I stared forward scared to look to my right , I could feel Aemond’s piercing eye burn into my head.

The silence finally broke with the screeching scrape of the chair legs against the expensive floor boards, mahogany melancholy. We all stood still in a bubble of silence just accompanied by the rasps of the king and the continuous flutter of the servant girls that continued to bustle around us.

I sat back down hastily, instinctively reaching for the necklace that bravely shone on top of the red dress, shining in the yellow shimmer of candle light. This time it was my father’ s eyes that stared at me, my heart raced and I quickly dropped the necklace opting to stare at the food laid out before us.

“How good it is... to see you all tonight... together.” Viserys squeezed out from his tired lungs.

“Prayer before we begin?” Alicent smiled softly at her husband.

“Yes.” he smiled back fatigued and mellow to the point of exhaustion.

As Alicent droned on I looked to the side through my clasped hands in fake prayer. I observed the way the candle flickered across his pale milky skin and the way his eye lashes fluttered as he tried to pay attention. 

I turned back now looking to my right Luke’s eyes already looking a me, eyebrows creased in confusion. I rolled my eyes at him laughing at the way he muttered under his breath before facing back forward only this time we both were looking at Aemond, well more I was love sick gazing and Lucerys was fearfully observing.

“...and to Vaemond Velaryon may the gods give him rest,” Alicent finished as we all sat back up. I smirked at my father as he silently laughed at Alicent’s last sentence pride smeared across his face. 

“This is an occasion of celebration it seems. My grandsons will marry their cousins, Baela and Rhaena, further strengthening the bond between our houses. A toast to the young princes... and their betrothed.”

“Hear, hear!” my father’s voice trailed his brothers as we all raised our glasses. My wine sloshed as I toasted towards my sisters a wise smile on my face. I know how their hearts must leap in their chests.

“Well done Jace you’ll finally get to lie with a woman,” Aegon whispered. Heleana ducked her head in shame as I looked past her staring at Aegon the vile creature. Baela’s face contorted into one of anger that bubbled under the skin as Jace slammed his cup down onto the table.

“Let us toast as well, Prince Lucerys the future Lord of the Tides.” Viserys smiled fondly at the young boy. 

“Hear, hear!” I said. I will admit some pride swelled with in me, but I’m willing to blame it on the wine that is steadily being drained from my cup. 

The slimy man once again leant over to whisper to Jace not so subtly, or quiet, “You do know how the act is done, I assume?” I rolled my eyes disgusted, it seems Aegon has not changed his ways. “At least in principle. Where to put your cock and all that.” 

“Let it be cousin,” I bargained faking a sweet straining smile on my lips which curved with slight agitated malice.

“You can play the jester if you wish, but hold your tongue before my betrothed.” Jace spoke with a calmness I didn’t believe was achievable with such a man. I swivelled back around in my seat making sure to keep an eye on them especially as my sister turns back around uncomfortable with the situation.

My heart softens at the way the Queen gently rubbed the King’s back worriedly as he leaned on his cane as he rose. My  breath caught in my throat as my uncle peeled the mask away from his face. Fear coiling in my stomach as I watched his empty socket watch me from afar. 

“My won face...is no longer a handsome one. If indeed it ever was, but tonight I wish you to see me not just as your king, but also your father. Your brother. Your husband...and your grandsire. Who may not, it seems...walk for not much longer among you. Not us no longer hold ill feelings in out hearts. The Crown can no longer stay strong if the House of the Dragon remains divided. But set aside your grievances. If not for the sake of the Crown then for the sake of this old man. Who loves you all dearly.” he sorrowfully spoke staring out at us all.

Rhaenyra stood from her chair cup in hand. “I wish to raise my cup to Her Grace, the Queen. I love my father, but I must admit no one has stood beside his side so loyally, as his good wife has. She has tended to him with unfailing devotion, love, honour. And for that she has my gratitude and my apology.”

Alicent gazed up at her in this lost love, “Your words moves me deeply Princess, we both mothers, love our children. We have more in common than we sometimes allow.  I raise my cup to you and to my house. You will make a fine Queen,” we all raised our glasses ceremoniously taking a sip or in Aegons case half a glass.

I nodded along with Helaena as she tells ,me of her children and life as a mother. I jumped as the table shook under my hands as Jace slammed his own down onto the wood. “Jace,” my sister soothed hand on arm brushing lightly over the fitted material.

I snarled under my breath taking a sip of my wine as I watched the beast retreat from its prey a sickening smile on his lips. My eyes flitted up as Aemond stood from his chair, sizing up Jacerys.

The room grew silent again until Jace raised his own cup, “To Prince Aegon and Prince Aemond. We have  not seen each other in years, but I have fond memories of our shared youth. And as men, I hope we may yet be friends and allies. To your families good health dear uncles,” he finished before sitting back down taking a large swig of wine.

He grasped mockingly onto Aegon’s stiff shoulder before giving it a light tap with his fist, “To you as well.” Aegon said defeated as humility rang in his tone. Aemond sat down a look of disappointment as if begging for a fight, a way to get even.

“I would like to toast to Baela and Rhaena. They’ll be married soon. It isn’t so bad. Mostly he just ignores you...except sometimes when he is drunk,” Helaena stretched out with a perky smile. My father’s laugh chuckle out across the room. 

“Good,” the king smiled with pride as he looked over his reconciling family, “let us have some music.” I smiled fondly as Jace and Helaena danced with one another, my heart yearning for Aemond to hold me and dance. We all stood once again as the King was carried his wheezing gasps of pain stalking behind him.

It’s strange to grieve some one who is still with us, my ,mind wondered as we sat. Suddenly, the table slammed ferociously with Aemond’s anger. He stood from his chair quickly his glass clasped in his hand as he raised it to make a toast.

I stared at him worriedly, my eyes flicking between him and Lucerys. “I would like to make a toast. Final tribute. To the health of my nephews: Jace...Luke and Jofferey. Each of them handsome, wise...” the silence poured over us once again. “...strong.”

“Aemond,” his mother warned.

“Come let us drain our cups to these three...Strong boys.” I stared up at him in disbelief.

“I dare you to say that again.” Jace raised his head in pride ready to defend both himself and his brothers also his mother’s honour.

“Why? ‘Twas only a compliment. Do you not think yourself strong?” Aemond pushed further as both men walked towards each other in large strides. I sat cup at my lips as I gulped down my wine, chocking on the liquid as Jace threw a punch.

I jumped up from the table as Aegon slammed Luke down. Cup still in hand as I watched the chaos ensue. I squeezed my eyes shut in disappointment as Aemond pushed Jace to the ground both him and Luke being dragged away by guards.

I drank from my cup once more as my eyes scanned over the room. Jacerys and Lucerys struggled against the guards grip as Alicent scolded her son. “Mm, though it seems my nephews aren’t quite as proud as theirs.” I walked towards my lover as Jace escaped the guards grip, but my father intervened walking between the two boys.

“Go to your quarters. All of you go now.”Rahenyra commanded. I watched beside my father as they all left before my farther stared at me.

“You as well Y/n.” He spoke eyeing me as I stood still hesitant to leave. I chewed the inside of my cheek nervously as I stared at him back.

“Yes Y/n leave or are you going to go with Aemond?” Aegon spoke from behind us. All heads turned to him. My eyes widened with fear.

“What?” Rhaenyra and Alicent said in unified confusion. I gulped thickly at the lump that has lodged itself in my thropat no longer able to breathe as fear choked me close to death.

“Oh you didn’t know? Y/n and Aemond are in love,” he stopped spinning to look around the room happy with everyone’s bewildered faces. My father was seething his eyes wide with rage as they bore inot my own  “I mean I didn’t know until I saw Aemond return late this morning a moon pendant around his neck, similar to the sun that rests on Y/n’s chest, Dorne’s finest I do believe.”

“Is this true? Aemond?” Alicent questioned quietly behind her son. I walked forward intertwining our hands. Aemond turned his head towards me a small smile on his face.

“We didn’t tell you because we knew you would never approve, we were scared,” I looked around the room at everyone until my eyes melt my father’s one’s now filled with betrayal, “we were scared of how you would react we knew you would separate us.” I rasped out in desperation. My chest fluttering with fear as Aemond squeezed my hand comfortingly.

“Get out...” my  father whispered dangerously as he lowered his head in humiliation as he took slow steps towards me.

“Farther,” I whispered back pleadingly, begging for forgiveness and understanding, but it fell onto deaf ears. Familiar pain shot through my veins carried by the bleak ache of adrenaline as I dug my nails into the palm of my -free- hand.

“I forbid you from seeing each other as of tomorrow morning, enjoy your time together,” he managed to squeeze out not looking at either of us.

“Daemon,” Rhaenyra tried to reason pressing a hand to his back. Jumping away as his head snapped up.

“Now...get out. Leave!” he screamed at me. His heat radiated over me in a tidal wave of rage. I leaned back eyes welling up with tears as he nose was inched away from hitting my face. He pointed towards the door red face of anger.

--------

“I’m sorry my love,” Aemond whispered into my hair as his hand played with the (y/h/c) locks at the back of my head. I sighed through my nose. Tucking further into his chest trying to forget my problems.

I squeezed my eyes shut as I tried to forget my father’s face, instead trying to focus on the dull ache in the bottom of my spine as I sank further into his mattress. I fiddled with the duvet cover skimming my fingers over the plush bedding mirroring the way Aemond’s hand skimmed over my waist to the top of my thigh in a slow and steady rhythm.

“I love you,” he said gingerly into my ear. I sat up onto my elbows, his hand leaving my hair to cup my face. I gave a small smile, closing my eyes as he leaned in. Our lips pressing together in a mourning kiss of sweet symphony and sickening sympathy.

Tears began to slip from the corner of my eyes; dripping onto his auburn sheets. He pulled away pressing our foreheads together, thumb wiping away my tears. “I am forever yours just as you are forever mine.” He softly grabbed my wrist pressing my scarred palm to his chest. The ticking of his thumping heart beat under my skin, I looked up into his eye with a grateful and gentle smile.

“I love you too,” I whispered back, his lips pressed to my forehead a smile pinched at either corner. Basking, revelling in the comfort of each other’s warmth.

[mjblue]

hey! i've been reading your fic and i've been loving it

aaaaaand i've got a few things i wanted to ask you:

1. do you have any fancast for the marauders?

2. what're your headcanons regarding their sexuality?

3. can you tell me any of your headcanons about the marauders that you strongly believe and we might see in the story?

(yes, i'm very nosy)

Hi!! Thank you so much for asking, I’m really glad you’re liking my fic!!!

As far as fan casts go, I actually don’t have very many; it’s just not something I think about all that often. The one true exception is Dev Patel as James, bc I really like the idea of James being a cute-but-kinda-geeky-looking child who has a huge glow-up upon reaching adulthood (or would have, if he’d been allowed to be an adult for longer 🙃). I also picture Mary as vaguely Sofia Bryant-ish, and I think Robert Sheehan would do a very good job as adult Sirius if the HP movies were made now (although I picture him slightly differently).

For characters’ sexualities, this is how I’ll be portraying them in my story (although I do like reading other fics with different takes):

James, Lily, and Peter: straight

Remus and Mary: bi (I should note that I’m not sure yet if I’ll be fully exploring Mary’s attraction to women in my story, but that’s what’s in my head for her)

Sirius: gay

Marlene: lesbian

Dorcas: asexual biromantic

(As an aside, I personally identify as an asexual lesbian, and I’ve noticed I have a tendency to unconsciously write all characters as asexual and romantically attracted to women, so as they get older in my story it’ll be a fun challenge to try and not do that✌️)

For other random headcanons, I’m not sure these are necessarily what I feel most strongly about per say (my brain went a little blank on that lol), but here’s a handful of mine that I think are fun (sticking to just the four Marauders):

James likes to draw (in another life, he would have illustrated comics)

Sirius really likes to sing, but he’s terrible at it. Remus would be much better, but nobody knows because he never does it

Peter has a summer birthday. His eighteenth birthday party in the summer of 1978 is everyone’s last big hurrah before the war

Remus is accepted and would have gone to a Muggle university (studying history), but Dumbledore persuades him out of it

(I saw this a long time ago in a fic I can no longer find and it’s kind of corny but I love it) Sirius’s first tattoo is a moon that changes throughout the month to reflect the current phase

In their later school years, Peter joins several extracurricular clubs, and thus winds up with the largest social circle (though not necessarily the tightest one)

James does not know how to pick stylish glasses and consistently wears very unflattering ones (until Lily finally helps him out)

Babies and toddlers make Remus very anxious. He does not know how to talk to children as anything other than miniature adults

Peter’s best subject would be Arithmancy, but he never takes it, because he thinks it would be too hard. As it is, his best subject is Care of Magical Creatures

The cousin Sirius is most similar to on a super basic personality level is actually Narcissa

James likes jazz, easy listening music, and the Beatles

Of the four of them, Sirius is the best-looking on a regular basis, but Remus would look the best in drag

Thanks so much again for asking!!! Hopefully those headcanons were suitably interesting, tbh I had a hard time choosing ones to include (and I know most of my takes are fairly basic lol). Feel free to be as nosy as you like :)

[hershelwidget]

today on pt i discussed a really funny episode idea with a friend

*cracks knuckles*

OK SO EVERY TEACHER IS TRYNA TEACH AT ONCE AND GETS INTO A HUGE FIGHT

highlights (or basically the entire fight because i don’t know when to stop):

————

• Choo Choo runs over like 7 people before crashing into the wall and passing out (the wall somehow holding up and two of those people coming out unharmed)

• Lamp pushes Yellow Guy into the hole that Coffin made when he came in, (Unemployed) Brendon jumps in after him, and then Coffin comes back and now all three of them are just. In the hole the rest of the fight. They place bets on who they think will win :)

��� Warren does his “Ok STOP” bit and instantly gets killed by everyone else

• Electracey comes out of her box, sees the chaos, and goes back in without any questions or second thoughts

• Red Guy is just hanging out in the kitchen and whenever he almost gets hit he just steps out of the way (and also btw this chaos is almost entirely contained in the living room, save for the occasional person getting thrown into the kitchen and then being dragged back out)

• At some point Lamp just sort of falls asleep and is left unbothered the rest of the episode because everyone thinks he’s dead

• Shrignold summons the entire Love Cult and all of them die except for him because Fridge and Spinach Can are frighteningly strong as a duo

• Sketchbook is constantly being used as a weapon and Briefcase is constantly being used as a shield

• Duck was the second person to die and his death was entirely Steak’s fault (ate him), the first person to die was Bread Boy, who although being run over by Choo Choo, was PUSHED in that direction by Duck

• The Twins, despite being children, or perhaps even BECAUSE they’re children, managed to disable nearly everyone and almost won the fight! But then Fridge choked them out :(

• Colin tried to be peaceful the whole time but then Tony got stabbed 37 times with a pencil and Sketchbook nearly damaged Electracey’s box after getting thrown as Tony’s last hurrah and this computer was ready to throw hands. The two people he had beef with were dead though and then Shrignold managed to throw a chair and …

• Fridge and Spinach can almost won but then Shrignold learned how to throw many chairs

————

Not all of these are in order except for the last 3, which did happen last and in that exact order

Some parts have been forgotten because we didn’t discuss them! You are free to interpret those parts as you like! An example would be how Briefcase or Steak died, or why Coffin went back into the hole!

Enjoy this… Experience :)