#I’m gonna have to have another Harry Potter phase

[starlit-rainfall]

I love coming back to a fic I know I’ve read before and hitting edit bookmark and this comes up. Yeah

[leighbaye]

🤎 ₊˚⊹ — give you the world

parring ➵ harry potter x m!reader

summary ➵ enjoying the honeymoon phase in hogsmede.

warnings ➵ n/a

age of parring ➵ 14 - 15

extra ➵ teenage boys grappling the concept of love. credits to @cafekitsune for banners!

harry knew from the moment he woke up that he was going to have a wonderful day. the both of you came up with a plan to have him sneak into hogsmede and have a first date as the both of you officially have the boyfriends title.

as much as harry enjoyed your company, he was nervous to say the least. he thought on how he was gonna have to follow you like a lost puppy as you show him all the best places to visit at hogsmede.

in appropriate winter attire, hidden by his late father’s invisibility cloak, he began to walk. fiddling with his fingers, he did not notice the weasley twins, fred and george, snickering at his obliviousness.

he was making foot prints on the heavy layer of snow, it was like he wanted to get caught.

as soon was the twins finished building their cute snowman, the lunged at harry, dragging him through the snow.

❝ guys leave me alone! ❞ harry cried out.

❝ clever harry. ❞ replied fred, followed along by ❝ but not clever enough. ❞ from george.

❝ besides, we’ve got a better way. ❞

❝ guys cmon, im trying to get to hogsmede! i-i have a date! ❞

❝ we know! with y/n, oh we mean your boyfriend eh? ❞ the twins said simultaneously.

❝ don’t worry, we’ll get you there. ❞

❝ we’ll show you a quicker way. ❞

❝ if you pipe down. ❞

❝ let me go, cmon guys! ❞

❝ now harry, come and join the big boys! ❞

after escaping fred and george with the marauder’s map in his possession, he came out of the recommended one - eyed witch passageway, he found himself in honeyduke’s cellar.

he looked around, checking if the coast was clear, he lifted a tile slightly so only his green orbs could absorb his surroundings.

he lifted himself off the ground, tip toes to stairs that lead up to honeyduke’s. he quickly covered himself with the invisibility cloak as he stepped up, knocking a box of clutter in the process.

harry couldn’t believe his eyes. there were shelves upon shelves of the most succulent - looking sweets imaginable. creamy chunks of nougat, shimmering pink squares of coconut ice, fat, honey - coloured toffees; hundreds of different kinds of chocolate in neat rows; there was a large barrel of ‘every flavour beans’, and another of ‘fizzing whizzbees’, the levitating sherbet balls that ron had mentioned before.

you stood standby, although you and your boyfriend came up with the invisibility cloak hogsmede break in, you never planned where to meet. so made use of your trip to honeydukes to buy yourself some sugar quills.

you dropped some sliver sickles and one galleon on the counter and made your way to the door, only to be pulled by a unknown force, you smiled to yourself knowing it was harry.

it was your turn to drag him, a ❝ oomph! ❞ escaping his lips. coming to a secluded area, harry snatched the cloak off him and reached out, wrapping his arms around your neck.

❝ hey there harry. ❞ you said to him lovingly, wrapping your arms around his waist, with your neck resting on his shoulder.

it hurt your back a bit since the height difference between you and harry was noticeable, regardless of hitting puberty it was like he stunted in growth.

we aren’t gonna tell him though.

you let go and stunned harry by resting your hands on his sides giving them a hard grip.

❝ i’m glad you made it love. ❞ you pecked his check adoringly.

❝ i-im sorry if i took to long, fred and george- ❞

❝ don’t worry about it harry, what matters is that you are here now right? ❞ harry nodded in response.

❝ ready for our honeymoon? ❞ you asked him teasingly and he felt heat rising in cheeks and you intertwined your hand with his.

the both of you made it inside the popular pub, the three broomsticks, choosing a secluded area for the both of you, perhaps to snog comfortably, perhaps not.

you ordered two butter beers with extra cream on yours. you pulled out a sugar quill and handed it to harry

❝ thank you y/n. ❞ harry said softly, ripping into it right away.

❝ my pleasure harry. ❞ you cupped his face and kissed his forehead making his eyes flutter.

the both of you talked about how the term was going with dementors on the loose and his passion for quidditch.

how mesmerizing it was to see, practically the love of your life, ramble about quidditch, expressing his love for it using dramatic hand movements.

you caught him off guard by reaching out for his hand and placing it on your lips.

❝ w-what are you doing? ❞ he yelped out, not even bothering to smack his hand off you.

you kissed each knuckle, smiling against his palm.

❝ you’re so beautiful harry, im such a lucky boyfriend. ❞ you expressed your content in spending time with him alone

he giggled as you let go of his, now pampered, hand. he took a large chug of his last bit of butter beer before putting the glass down.

❝ i could say the same y/n, i mean your so handsome.. ❞ he whispered locking his emerald eyes in contact with yours.

you chuckled. ❝ i know! ❞ you then stood up grabbing your things as he did the same.

❝ oh shit harry, wait! ❞ you gasped quietly.

❝ h-huh, what’s wrong, do i have something on my face? ❞ he looked away embarrassed noticing the sticky feeling of butter on his lips.

you grabbed his chin, forcing him to look up at you and without hesitation you leaned down and kissed him.

harry’s eyes widened as you did so, this was your first kiss, on the lips at that.

he noticed you looked so.. so nonchalant.

you eyes closed, breathing in deeply. he doesn’t know it but, inside you where screaming internally.

harry responded by shutting his eyes and kissing back. which surprised you to say the least.

you let go first, readjusting his glasses for him.

❝ i love you harry. ❞ you whispered in his ear.

before he could respond you walked by him and turned back, pointed to the exit of the pub signaling to leave.

he stood there in a trance, not blinking once. before he could say it back, you had been already opening the door, holding it waiting for him to go though.

❝ w-wait y/n ! ❞

୨⎯ 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡 ⎯୧

[jaeminslattes]

IVE BEEN GOOD TOO i’m seriously enjoying my summer holidays and meeting w friends and all and i’m gonna go summer job hunting next week so yeaahhh 😸 i hope you enjoyed your trip to your home country too 🥹❤️

ALSO I FELT YOU ON THE GROWING OUT OF KPOP STUFF me and oomf on here have been talking about it too 😭😭 i swear i don’t think i’ve actually watched any kpop content and the only stuff i see is from my twt timeline, which i don’t even tweet much on anymore as well cos it just feels like i’m forcing the tweets 😓 football and youtube really got me like sorry haechan i lowkey want hamzahthefantastic more rn.. still tuned in for the music tho (barely because i’ve been listening to western music more too 😭😭😭😭) HAECHAN YOURE LOSING ME!!

YOU SOOOO AHOULD IF YOU WANT TO SERIOUSLY!!! if you have doubt just check the tags for the fandom that you want to write for and see how the usual engagement on that stuff is!! i 100% support you in it, whatever you do :w another oomf also stopped writing for nct and has moved to f1blr so atp don’t be too worried about switching !!!

ANYWAYS ILY I MISSED YOU DONT GET IT i think its gonna be almost a year since we’ve become mutuals on here too, pretty cute 🫂❤️

IM SO HAPPY FOR U BAEEE IM SO SURE ITS FOING AMAIZIGNNGGN !! i hopw u get a job thats easy i donr want u to tire urseld fast 😞

NO LIKE IM SAYINGGG im starting to think it was a pha- [GUNSHOTS] ok but like not phase??? i do listen to kpop time to time or when i get a few songs on my fyp and i feel like the phase was obsessing WITH the groups, not their music, since ots js music in another language. AND I AGREEEE TWT IS WHAT IS KEEPING ME UPDATED AB KPOP 😭🙏🙏🙏 i also be forgetting to listen to kpop sometimes, i feel like its cause im surrounded by ppl who dont listen to kpop so eventually when u dont have ppl to talk to it about smth u kinda grow out of it?? I UNFERSTAND U GIRL DOYO IS LOSING ME TOO 😭🙏🙏🙏

f1blr.. 😅😅 fun fact im into f1 too and i was thinking ab also opening a f1 blog but theres sooo many vlogs i wanna open: a marvel one, a f1 one, dc one, & a harry potter one but i also wanna post on my kpop blog but the message app i have SUCK and it demotivates me sooo much 💔 BUT TJANK UUU SO MUCHHH URE THE BESTTTT MWAH

iMISSED U SO MUCH TOO GIRL. 😭💔💔💔💔💔💔💔 AND IT IS??? THATS SO ADORABLE YAYYY HAPPY ALMOST ONE YEAR TO US THENNN

man i love talking to u like this lets do ir more often :3

[kbade]

ten movies I love

Thanks for the tag @pollyna !

1) Instant Family ( This hilarious heart warming movie is such a great feel good film!)

2) Chronicles of Narnia (I’ve seen all these movies so many times! They never get old)

3) National Treasure 1 & 2 (same as the Narnia movies 😌)

4) HTTYD movies (I grew up with these movies; they’ll always have a special place in my heart)

5) Top Gun: Maverick (the first time I ever saw it in theaters I knew it was forever going to be a favorite of mine)

6) Elvis (Austin Butler was amazing as Elvis! This movie was such a great tribute to ‘the king’)

7) Hocus Pocus (it’s my favorite Halloween movie! I try and watch it once every October)

8) It’s a Wonderful Life (speaking of favorite seasonal movies; I love this movie! I watched it twice in one week last December)

9) all MCU movies (funny story: I’ve seen every MARVEL movie except the phase 1 movies. I keep saying I’m gonna binge watch all of them one day 😅)

10) Harry Potter (another funny story: I’ve read all the HP books but have only seen the first three movies. I’m gonna binge watch all of those one day too)

NPT: @slytherinocicat @shenanigans-and-imagines @agentmalfoy24601 @avictimofthejazz @acrushedrosestillwins

Ten movies I love

Tagged by @mintcaramelhazel and @derpinathebrave.

Thank u so much to both of you, but just so you know I totally cheated because I have the memory of a goldfish so I had to use Letterboxd to write more than one title lol

Notting Hill (peak romantic comedy and if you say it's not true I'm ready to fight you.);

Indiana Jones (even the scary one yes, I'm so excited for the new movie!!!!!!);

The Dig (and fun fact about this movie I only saw it once but it was kinda perfect and I loved it so so much);

Ocean's Trilogy (I could quote along with the actors);

Colossal (and if you miss the riff about this one i have a yt video for you, because it explains it so well);

Pacific Rim (the first one, we don't know the second);

Pride and Prejudice (2005) (I have a date for the annual rewatch of this movie);

Treasure Planet (Max Pezzali singing >>>>>>>>>> the poor fucker in the English version);

The Bourne Saga;

Miss Congeniality.

Now, about the tagging,, @pinkasrenzo; @boringusername3; @bearsinpotatosacks; @kbade123; @strangelove97; @the-ace-with-spades, @midnighterapollo, @runandhideguys, @marvel-is-a-bitch, @redhead-writes, @struggling-with-space and anybody elses who wants to do it :)

[nemiyama]

Alright my friends brought back my Harry Potter phase so I’m gonna talk about two of my favs Sirius and Regulus black

First off I see a lot that Sirius and regulus were like really close as children and close in age which sure yea. From what I know of like their living situation? Of their parents and family it seems very similar to what my own used to be. Me and my brother were similar to them as well (compared I’m not a male like regulus but still) he wasn’t close with me. sure he never let our parents hurt either of us and stood up for me when needed. Most of the time tho? A complete asshole.

Therefore Sirius could have resented regulus for he wasn’t perfect enough for his parents so they had to have another (I believe they are 1-2 years apart?) I know my own brother did. Regulus would have had much pressure from living up to everyone in his family as the youngest. Sirius would have had other pureblood friends as the heir of house black while regulus only had kreacher since he was a replacement. I see that Sirius would not let people harm his brother but he would have done the harm himself. (If Sirius was a troublemaker kid will regulus the golden child it would have been a lot of resentment on both sides for similar and opposite reasons)

When Sirius left for hogwarts regulus was all alone and then he was sorted into gryffindor so he would have had even more pressure to be the perfect child than before. Sirius only talking about how much better hogwarts was how much better his friends were than his old ones. How his new friends were like his brothers. Regulus would have been hurt (I know I felt similar when my brother did those as well) and then finally he goes to hogwarts and he does everything his parents want. Regulus resents Sirius for being able to express himself and not let anyone hold him down from who he is. While Sirius resents regulus for being perfect and having their parents attention (that’s not always negative)

Their relationship worsens over the years and then all they do is fight and bicker. Even at home they can’t be civil. Both jealous of something not realizing they need each other. (When Sirius runs away regulus is heartbroken he has no one left while Sirius has everyone he needs with him)

🥲 My heart

[dameronology]

love in a time of p.t.a. meetings {marcus moreno} - 5/5

v summary: you hadn’t expected to find anything at a stupid p.t.a. meeting - but somehow, you found everything {series masterlist} 

warnings: swearing, one very mild innuendo 

there’s a long message at the end but...this is the last official part and i’m very sad about it. with that said, i hope you enjoy❤️

- j

Being a parent was tiring.

So much so that you hadn’t even made it to bed last night.

In fact, none of you had. The entire household was slumped together on the sofa; Marcus was in the middle, with one arm wrapped around Missy on his left side and the other stretched across you and Jack on his right. You’d completely flopped into his chest, with your kid passed out on you in a similar manner. The dogs (plural - but more on that later) were both stretched across the four of you on your laps, snoozing quietly. It had been a long week, clearly; between the school year coming to an end and the hot weather, you were all worn out. It had been a rush of finishing up projects at school, evenings in the pool and ordering take out. Marcus had been working late and your cooking skills were...well, calling them skills was an overstatement in itself. 

You grumbled slightly as you woke - why the fuck did your neck ache so bad? Right, because you’d fallen asleep tilted sideways. You probably would have stayed passed out for hours more if it hadn’t been for the sunlight streaming through the blinds. The TV ahead of you had stopped now, displaying an are you still watching Friends? message. You’d started watching it at what...six o clock the night before? 

Rubbing your bleary eyes, you sat up. Instead of waking up, Jack simply flopped into your lap, clearly not phased by the sudden movement other than letting out a tiny oof! as he fell. The kid had fallen asleep on the log flumes at Coney Island, so really, it wasn’t a surprise. Plus, him waking up would mean having to get up and make breakfast, which you really weren’t ready for just yet. 

‘D’you know what day it is today?’ Marcus quietly muttered. 

‘One year.’ You peered up at him, a sleepy smile spreading across your face.

‘So where the hell do you think you’re going?’ He pulled you back towards him, broad arm wrapping around your shoulders to trap you against his chest. ‘Happy one year, baby.’

‘Happy one year.’ You leant up to a soft kiss to his lips. 

You stayed like that for a minute, head resting against Marcus as you gently ran a hand through Jack’s hair. It was sort of a moment of...reflection. A lot had changed in the last year and yet somehow, it felt like your life had always been like this. The four of you have had gelled together into a slightly chaotic but ever-loving entity and you loved it. With the combined antics of your energetic children, everything was in disarray practically all the time but you wouldn’t have changed it for the world. It had been the thing you’d had all along and the very thing that Marcus had been looking for; you had been the one to bring it into his life and he had been the one to teach you to appreciate it. 

The two dogs had brought a lot of chaos into your lives as well. After weeks of Missy and Jack insisting that the garden was too big for just Optimus Prime, you’d ended up traipsing to the dog shelter late on a Saturday afternoon. Bumblebee had become a valued member of the Moreno family within a matter of hours. 

‘I love you.’ You murmured. You could feel yourself getting sleepy again. 

‘I love you more.’

‘No, you don’t.’ You pressed a kiss to his shoulder.

‘At least that’s the only fight we’ve had over the last year.’ He reasoned. ‘What time d’we have to be at cook out?’

‘Twelve.’ You replied. Glancing at the screen of your dying Apple watch, you squinted at the screen. ‘It’s just gone eight.’

Every year, the PTA threw a cook out on the school field to celebrate the end of the semester. In previous years, you’d avoided it like the plague but this year you were actually excited. The last one had been in the very early stages of your relationship, and you and Marcus weren’t publicly showing affection when you’d been. There had been a lot of lingering glances across the field and knowing looks at one another but this time, you were solid. Everyone knew they were together and like hell where they gonna say things about you when you were with Marcus Moreno. Whether it’s because they’d suddenly got a newfound respect for you or because they were scared into silence by his reputation, you didn’t know, but you weren’t going to complain.

‘Do you want breakfast, hermosa?’ He asked.

‘Yeah, I’ll help-’

Having heard the b-word, Jack suddenly shot up. He was six now (too old, in your book) and just as much of a tiny, evil genius as ever. He’d upgraded from a Chewbacca onesie to an Ewok onesie, so that was something too, and you were proud of him. 

‘- what’s for breakfast?!’ He demanded. ‘I want waffles.’

‘Then waffles we shall have.’ You stood up, sticking your hand out to him. ‘What about you two?’

‘I want waffles.’ Missy sleepily murmured.

Jack followed you through to the kitchen, swiping his iPad off the side as he did. Despite the fact you’d put it in a nuclear bomb proof case, he’d still managed to crack the screen. There had also been at least five occasions where he’d tried to take it in the pool. And this was the same kid who’d insisted he was responsible enough for his own hamster. 

Marcus breezed into the kitchen a few moments later, pressing a kiss to your cheek and ruffling Jack’s hair as he went by. You heard him rustling around behind you for a few minutes whilst you prepared the food; he came up behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist. He placed a terribly wrapped gift on the counter in front of you, head coming to rest on your shoulder. 

‘Happy anniversary, baby.’ He murmured.

‘Hey.’ You dropped the knife you were holding, turning around to face him. ‘You didn’t have to get me anything.’

‘I know we said we wouldn’t do presents but since you got me a present last night and-’

‘- Marcus!’ You clamped a hand over his mouth. ‘There is a child in the room.’

‘He has his headphones in!’ He protested. ‘Just open it, please?’

‘Of course.’ You smiled. 

‘Jack even helped me wrap it.’ He said. ‘And decorate it.’ 

‘That would explain a lot.’ You replied.

Pulling the paper off it, you felt your heart drop in your chest when you saw what it was. 

It was a bright red photo with random doodles in puffy paint; the photo itself was one of you and Jack from when you’d all gone to New York for the weekend a few months previous. You were stood on top of the Rockerfeller Centre, the Empire State in the distance behind you and Jack on your shoulders. You were both grinning despite how windy it was, and his hat had blown off seconds after the photo was taken.

Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t - ah, dammit.

‘I love it.’ You tried to keep your voice steady, but it wobbled despite your efforts. ‘I love you.’

‘I love you too.’ He flashed you a lopsided grin, pressing another kiss to your forehead. ‘I figured we could hang it up in place of the one he managed to smash last week with the broom stick.’

(He’d recently watched Harry Potter. Don’t ask.) 

‘Of course.’ You gave him one last kiss, before heading over to the empty space on the wall. It fit perfectly in the space, right between the photo of Marcus and Missy, and the sign that said 0 days since Jack’s last incident.

---

Four hours later, and after consuming enough waffles to feed a small army, the four of you finally reached the school. Both of the kids seemed excited to see their friends, but you were a little nervous.  What if people asked questions about you and Marcus? About your divorce? Or Jack’s behaviour, or whether or not-

‘You okay, baby?’ Marcus had suddenly appeared beside you, an arm coming around your waist. You’d been stood on the sidelines of the football field for way longer than you realised. ‘You’ve got eyes like dinner plates.’

‘I don’t know how to interact with these people.’ You murmured back. ‘They’re all...you know.’

‘They’re all what?’

‘Perfect. And shiny.’ You huffed. ‘Look at their cars! There’s not a dent in sight. And their kids aren’t wearing an Ewok onesie to a cook-out in July.’

‘I think Jack is admirable for embracing his unique sense of fashion.’ You could practically hear the smirk in his voice. ‘C’mon! They’re gonna run out of food if you keep longingly staring at their minivans.’

‘You’re right.’ You stumbled slightly as he dragged your hand, pulling you towards the crowd in the middle of the field.

‘I mean if you want a minivan, we can get one.’

‘Moving to the suburbs was already a big deal for me.’ You grumbled. 

Marcus continued to laugh, pulling you closer into his side as you reached the other parents. 

Naturally, he immediately jumped into conversation about one of the other dads with...actually, you weren’t really paying attention. You switched off as soon as you heard the word football. One thing you did notice, however, was his ability to be completely and entirely charming with anyone. You lacked that, normally shying away from talking to strangers. Especially strangers who had previously cast you out for being a single parent and constantly given you the side-eye. The only reason they’d stopped was because you and Marcus were together now.

You tried to remind yourself that it didn’t matter, that their thoughts and feelings weren’t relevant. They shouldn’t have been. You had the best guy in the world by your side and two amazing kids. The people most important to you were the ones whose opinions mattered - and they all thought the world of you. Marcus loved and supported you unconditionally, and Missy thought you were a bad-ass. Jack, though probably a little bias, thought you were the best parent in the world. That was what counted. 

But still, you couldn’t help but feel a little angry. You’d worked your ass off to get where you were, to raise your kid and make him a semi functional human being. You’d single-handedly kept a roof over both of your heads and provided for your family, even when you’d been married to a dead beat husband. 

Things were different now; brighter, happier, filled with more dogs and more love than you could ever have imagined. You didn’t want to linger in the past, not when everything else was moving forward. If anything, being here had just solidified your faith in your relationship. If all you wanted to do was go home and be alone with your partner, then that was a sure sign. 

‘Mum!’ You heard Jack from across the field. ‘Can you get my football out the car?’

‘Duty calls.’ You finally spoke. Marcus had noted how quiet you were, having made a mental note to bring it up later. ‘I’ll be back in a second.’

‘Okay, baby.’ He pressed a kiss to your check. 

The sun beat down on your back as you trudged across the field, Doc Martens kicking up grass around you. Your outfit was cute at least; a pair of denim shorts and an old tank top with one of your boyfriend’s plaid shirts thrown over the top. You hadn’t even realised it was his until the lingering smell of aftershave hit your nostrils when you got in the car. After that, there was no way in hell you were taking it off.

The car park was around the corner from the field -- it was nice to get away for a minute. Even though you’d simply stood beside Marcus like an older man’s sidepiece at a business meeting, just being in the presence of the people and listening to them talk about their kids was exhausting. At least he had been good at pretending to be interested in their sugar free diets and screen time limitations and how their French lessons were going. You, meanwhile, hadn’t even tried to look like it piqued your fancy. You’d been half-tempted to put your sunglasses on so they couldn’t see you roll your eyes. 

Pulling Marcus’ car-keys out your pocket, you opened the boot and began to rifle around. His car was a thousand times more put together than yours, but it still accumulated a bunch of crap. 

You jumped backwards when you heard the gravel crunch behind you. 

Glancing over your shoulder, your eyes fell on Carol. It had been a while since you’d last seen her, but she looked a little worst for wear. What’s more was that she had a cigarette between her lips, despite being the one to run the entire school’s anti-smoking campaign.

‘I didn’t know you smoked.’ You commented, catching her attention as you slammed the boot shut. 

‘Oh!’ She jumped, quickly throwing it onto the floor.

‘Hey, I’m not bothered.’ You leant against the back of the car. ‘A lot of people do it.’

‘I don’t normally.’ She stamped on the remains to put it out, dusting off her bright pink work-out jacket. ‘I’ve just been stressed lately.’

‘Are you okay?’ You raised an eyebrow at her.

‘I’m fine.’ 

You tossed the football between your hands, giving her a nod. ‘If you’re sure.’

With that, you locked the car and began to make your way back towards the cook-out. If you could wear Jack out by playing with him all afternoon, then you might be able to catch some peace and quiet that evening. Then, you and Marcus could celebrate your first anniversary by ordering take out and watching Friends.

(Which is ironically, what you’d done for the last four nights).

‘Y’know, I’ve always been jealous of you.’ You froze when Carol called after you.

‘What?!’ You turned around to face her, confusion etched on your features. ‘Are you talking to someone else, or?..’

‘No, I’m talking to you.’ She muttered. 

‘Why me? I thought you hated me?’

‘Because I was jealous of you.’ She said it as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. 

‘Carol, you’re the perfect one here. You’re married to your high school sweetheart, you’ve got a big-ass house - with a gate! - and your kids are perfectly well behaved. And you drive a fucking minivan!’

‘Oh, please.’ She groaned, falling back against the nearest car. ‘My husband is married to his job and my kids are more interested in their iPads than me!’ 

‘So’s mine-’

‘- you’ve always provided for yourself.’ She continued, cutting you off. ‘Always put your kid first and just did what was best for you without worrying what anyone else thought. That’s..admirable.’

‘Thanks?’ You furrowed your brow. ‘I never really gave it that much thought.’

‘I never thought I’d wish for your life.’ She muttered. 

You gently approached her, placing a hand on her shoulder. With caution, obviously. You know that she had a tendency to be vicious and bite. Like a chihuahua. 

‘My life isn’t perfect.’ You said softly. ‘There’s a difference between happiness and perfect. And if you keep trying for perfect, you’ll never be happy.’

‘That’s deep.’

‘Actually, it’s a quote that you shared on Facebook.’ You snorted. ‘You just gotta appreciate what’s around you. Your house, your kids, your husband.’

‘Maybe you’re right.’ Carol nodded. ‘You’re a good parent. A good person. I’m sorry if I ever made you feel less than that.’

‘I mean...you were an asshole, I won’t lie. You’re nosey as fuck and you got involved with my kid, but I’d probably be doing the same if I wasn’t satisfied with my life.’ 

Okay, so you didn’t mean for that to sound so rude, but who could blame you? The woman had given you nothing but crap. You’d already felt bad for her, but now you felt worst.

‘C’mon.’ You stuck your hand out to her. ‘You have two lovely daughters and a husband waiting for you back on the field....you family waiting for you back on the field.’

Dragging Carol off of the car, you dusted off her arms and forced a smile. It didn’t make you happy that she was miserable, but at least offered an explanation for her behaviour. The fact she’d envied you this entire time didn’t make up for what she’d done - the rumours the spread, the things she said - but it at least helped soothe you a little bit. 

‘Can we be friends?’ She asked quietly, traipsing beside you. 

‘...maybe in a few years.’ 

---

As it turned out, Jack did not pass out early. Instead, the four of you ended up having another night on the sofa -- this time with an extra large pizza, just to celebrate the special night. 

Your head had been spinning since your conversation with Carol. You were glad you finally had closure on the whole thing, but it had completely fried your circuits. She was the queen of the hive, the perfect mum, the perfect wife. Her kids wore matching outfits to school and they never had a hair out of place. Her Facebook was filled with family photos of their international vacations and outings to all their activities. Was she not the blue print?

It made you take a step back and look at your own life, which was something you hadn’t done in a while. In fact, last time you’d done it, you realised you’d weren’t happy with your ex-husband. 

Now, it was the opposite. You were in love with somebody who was better than you could have ever imagined; he wasn’t perfect - he snored and he never did the dishes and he always forgot to put the bins out - but he was everything to you. You had a kid who, although was undeniably a tiny meddler, you loved with your whole heart. You had Missy, who had welcomed you into her life with open arms and embraced the chaos you brought. You had dogs, and a house with a fucking garden. 

You didn’t blame Carol for being jealous because, even though it was from perfect, you didn’t need it to be. You had everything you ever wanted and heck, you would have been jealous of it too if it wasn’t completely and entirely yours. 

For the first time all day, you finally had a moment to yourself. You were stretched out across the couch, feet propped up on a pile of cushions; Marcus’ shirt was still on, only now you had changed out your shorts for leggings and your boots for socks fluffy enough to be dangerous on the wooden floors. 

‘Hey, baby.’ Marcus quietly greeted you, shutting the living room door behind him. ‘Kids are asleep.’

You gave him a doubtful look. ‘Even Jack?’

‘Okay - Missy is asleep and Jack is on his iPad.’

You opened your arms to him, grinning. ‘I’ll take it.’

Marcus dropped onto the sofa, an equally big smile falling onto his face as you wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him down to kiss you. He wound both of his around your waist, lifting you off of the couch and into his lap. It always reminded you of when you’d kissed on your first date -- it seemed like worlds away now. 

‘Has it really been a year?’ You murmured softly, resting your forehead against his.

‘Yeah.’ He shyly smiled at you. ‘I don’t know how I got so lucky.’

‘We both got lucky.’ You reminded him. ‘I got lucky that Carol guilt-tripped me into that fucking meeting.’

‘And I got lucky that you were the person I chose to victimise with my small talk.’ He chuckled. ‘You know you’re my whole fucking heart, right?’

‘Yeah.’ You slowly nodded. ‘And you’re mine.’

You’d completely changed each other’s lives - blown them apart, and used the tiny pieces to rebuild everything back into one. Neither of you had even been looking and you’d still managed to find one another. You’d been hurt before and he’d been patient. He’d lost a lot before and you helped him find it again. What he lacked, you had. What you lacked, he had. 

Above all, Marcus had embraced what everybody seemed to encourage; he saw value in the things you’d been insecure about and when he fell in love with him, so did you. In return, you brought an energy and light to his life that he didn’t even know he needed.  In one another, you found unconditional love and support, and a feeling of security that you’d both lacked for so long.

This was it. And it was everything . 

--

OKAY i’m actually so sad this story is over -- i’ve written over the course of maybe 2 weeks but when i TELL YOU i have become so attached? u better believe it. if you check out the series masterlist, you’ll see that there’s a few little fics i’m gonna write to fill in the gaps that were in the time skips between chapters, so that’s still something to look forward to!

thank so so so much for all your support on this series; it’s been so much fun to write & your comments are what encouraged me to finish it so quickly. 

- jamie xx 

taglist: taglist: @naivara-duneimith @1-2-3-4-5metalfingers @likeshootingstarsinthenightsky @phoenixhalliwell @crazycookiecrumbles @bitchin-beskar @comphersjost @absurdthirst @mjby @parkjammys @kteague @katdante @vonschweetz @cyarikashakira​ @mrsparknuts​ @starryeyedstories​ 

[wlntrsldler]

Hey! For the Taylor Swift / Harry Potter prompt thing could you please do Fred and I Think He Knows? Much thanks!!❤️❤️

PROMPT: based on i think he knows by taylor swift (an installment of my taylor swift x harry potter series. to read more about it, click here) Y/N drunkenly confesses her feelings. 

WC: 2.1K+

HARRY POTTER MASTERLIST

-

i think he knows (f.w one shot)

“Ron,” you hissed from across the table. The boy remained oblivious, munching down on the pile of breakfast he dumped on his plate. He seemed to inhale the food, nevermind with chewing and actually tasting it. He just swallowed it in large pieces to make room in his mouth for some more eggs and hashbrowns. You flicked a piece of balled up napkins towards him, “Ron!”

“Blimey, Y/N,” he finally looked away from his food and shot you an annoyed look. “What the hell is going on with you?” 

“I think he knows,” you whispered, chewing on your bottom lip, nervously. 

“Who? Fred?”

You rolled your eyes, looking over to where the older twin sat a few people away from the both of you, “Who else, you idiot? Yes Fred!” 

“I doubt it,” Ron shrugged, returning to his plate of food, like you were just a distraction to him, not much of a best friend. “He’s an oblivious git. He probably doesn’t know.”

“Probably?!” you half shrieked, half whispered. It was loud enough for the twins to hear, looking at you concernedly. You sent a shy wave their way and hid behind the comfort of your hands. “I want to jump off the Astronomy tower.” 

“Well, he’s gonna find out if you keep acting like this, Y/N,” he stated, obviously. Again, you flicked a balled up napkin his way, not really appreciating his tone with you. He flicked it back, “I’m just saying, stop acting suspicious and just act normal.”

Act normal, you thought, that’s easy enough, right? 

But what the hell does normal even mean?

-

You knew you probably shouldn’t have drank so much. Your tolerance has deteriorated tremendously after not drinking for a year but when Angelina kept offering you shots, you couldn’t refuse. Now, the common room seemed to spin around after each step you took, leading you back to where you started. Right beside the table of half eaten snacks and spiked drinks. 

The Gryffindor team won the Quidditch match today and after a long, hard, school week, the team decided it would be best to blow off some steam with a little party. Fred and George were across the room, surrounded by a group of adoring, young Gryffindors. They gushed around them, complimenting them on their amazing plays in today’s match. You knew they loved the attention with the way Fred couldn’t keep the twinkle in his eye subdued for too long and the way George nudged his brother’s side every time someone reenacted one of their moves. It wasn’t hard to believe that they were some of the most popular boys to ever strut on campus. 

You took baby sips from your cup, watching the older twin intently. He wore a cozy-looking jumper, like his twin, making you think about how nice it would be to sleep in it with his scent filling your senses. His hair was a bit longer than usual, the side of it tucked behind his ear. His laughter was the only thing you could hear despite the loud music that Hermione’s Muggle radio played beside your ear. You were so focused on Fred that you didn’t notice Ron staring at you, trying to hold in his laughter. 

“You’re so whipped.” 

Startled, you clutched your chest and turned to your best friend. You smacked his upper arm, irritated that he always seems to catch you when you’re staring at his brother so hopelessly in love. “Can you shut up?” 

Ron laughed, passing you his drink, “You need to get drunk.” 

“Am I not already?” 

“You’re in your ‘I’ll oggle at Fred’ phase drunk,” he explained, shoving his cup with mysterious liquor into your hand. “I need you at your ‘I have no filter so I say things that I’ll regret or will get me in trouble’ phase drunk. I need a good laugh.”

You narrowed your eyes at him, but took the cup, nonetheless. “Aren’t you already having a field day with how pathetic I am pining after your brother?” 

“Sure,” he shrugged, filling the cup up for you again. “But I want you to insult Pansy like last time. That was good fun.” 

You took the drink in his hand, downing the entire liquid. You grimaced as it burned your throat, in a good way. You chuckled at the memory, sending your best friend a wink, “I’d fight Pansy sober.” 

Four more drinks later, you were at that phase. Ron retired a bit early, mumbling something about wanting to get to the dormitories before Harry could stumble in with Ginny and scar him for life. You ignored him, not really wanting to picture that scene in your head. Now, you were bouncing off the walls, spewing out your deepest secrets to anyone that dared to listen. 

You were having good fun until you tried to refill your cup and a hand grabbed yours, preventing you from doing so. You were about to protest when you looked up and saw a redhead. Usually you would be able to tell the twins apart because you know Fred and you know George, but whatever it was that Ron gave you, made your vision so blurry you couldn’t possibly tell them apart. Maybe you just drank too much tonight. 

“I think that’s enough,” he chuckled, pulling the cup away from you. “Want me to take you back to your dormitory?”

You pursed your lips, trying to figure out which twin it was that’s speaking to you. The harder you tried, the harder it seemed to be. They were both handsome, no doubt about it, but with Fred you usually felt your chest tighten and your mouth going dry. The problem is, you’ve drank so much that you emotionally felt numb and your mouth is already dry from the alcohol in your system. Finally, you decided to guess. It’s a 50/50 shot after all. 

“Sure, Georgie, I’d appreciate that,” you mumbled, walking alongside him towards the way to the girls’ dormitories. “Your arsehole of a brother left me by myself. Can you believe that?” 

Fred was almost offended that you couldn’t tell him and George apart, almost. But he took a look at your inebriated state and decided that he’ll let you slide this time. Plus, he heard a lot about your ‘truth serum’ phase drunk but he was yet to experience it, until today. He found it quite charming, but then again, he always found you charming. 

He’s had a crush on you for so long. One day you walked into the Burrow, and suddenly you were no longer his little brother’s best friend. You were Y/N. And he fell head over heels for you. Fred found you funny and gorgeous and sweet and so adorably cute, that sometimes George would have to hit him in the back of the head to get him to stop daydreaming over you. But alas, he thought you only saw him as your best friend’s brother. 

“I’ve got a lot of brothers, Y/N,” he chuckled beside you, arms at the ready in case you were about to fall over. “You’ve got to be more specific than that, love. You talking about Percy? Ron, maybe? Fred?” 

“Well, Percy is an arse but for a whole different reason,” you started, as if pondering the moments that you personally disliked his brother. This pulled out a snort from Fred because he agreed with you. Percy was an arse. You continued, “But no, I’m talking about Ronald, of course! He just leaves me there at a party that he dragged me into!” 

“Yeah, that’s a dick move, innit?” 

“I’d say so,” you hummed. Before you could stop yourself from talking, the alcohol took over your senses. “I’d never call Fred an arse, you see. I think he’s far too fit to be an arse.” 

As you entered your dormitory, Fred’s eyebrows shot up. Did you just call him fit? He led you to your bed, watching fondly as you plopped down on the cushion, “Is that so?” 

“Definitely,” you chuckled, burying your head into your pillow. “Don’t tell him this, Georgie, but I fancy him. I fancy him a lot.” 

“Do you now?” Fred’s cheeks reddened as he watched you nod and smile up at him, eyes droopy. 

“Yeah, I do,” you sat up, raising your pinky up in the air. “Pinky promise me that you won’t tell Freddie? Or-or use that twin telepathy thing that I think you guys have! Please, Georgie, you can’t tell him. I’ll be far too embarrassed if you do.” 

Unable to fight the smile on his face, he linked your pinkies together, “I promise, Y/N. But I don’t think you’d get embarrassed if he found out. Anyone would be lucky to have you have a crush on them.” 

“You’re sweet, Georgie,” you smiled, already half-asleep. “If only Fred thought the same as you.” 

Fred laughed as you dozed off, leaning against your bedpost. He draped a blanket over your small figure and placed a kiss on your temple before whispering, “He does. Goodnight, love.” 

-

“I’m never drinking again,” you groaned, rubbing your head with your hands. Hermione laughed beside you, ushering you to continue walking to get some breakfast to nurse your hangover. “I can’t believe I told George about my crush on Fred.” 

“Well, he’s bound to find out anyway,” she shrugged as you two sat in front of Ron and Harry. 

“Find out what?” Harry asked, not bothering to greet the two girls with a good morning. And to be honest, with the way you looked like you’d just been pulled out of another dimension, he assumed it has not been a good morning so far. 

Hermione giggled as she filled her plate, “Y/N told George about her crush on Fred last night.”

“Correction,” you interrupted, “Drunk Y/N did. Sober Y/N is regretting that decision.” 

“Wait you told George? When?” Ron asked, eyebrows furrowed. “Did you tell him before he came into my room to show me a prototype for their shop?” 

You stared at Ron like he was stupid, “What are you on? He walked me to my room last night.” 

“No, he was in my room last night.” 

“Well, he can’t be at two places at once, can he, Ronald?” you sighed a hint of attitude in your tone, shaking your head at your friend. The table froze, jaws hanging wide, before you caught on. Oh shit. You gasped, clasping your palm over your mouth, “Please tell me I didn’t.”

Ron erupted in unsympathetic giggles, laughing at your pale complexion, “Y/N, you told Fred you fancied him!” 

Eyes wide, you shook your head furiously, “No I didn’t!” 

“Well now we know why you’re not a Ravenclaw,” Harry added, joining Ron in his laughter fit. 

“Shut it, Potter!” you hissed, dropping your head in your hands. This cannot be happening. “Godric, please can the universe just eat me alive now?”

“Well now, he definitely knows.”

“Ronald, stop it.” Hermione poked your side, a terrified look on her face. “Uh, Y/N?”

“What?” Just as you thought things couldn’t get worse, Fred was walking to where you’re sat. Your heart was jumping in your chest. Your palms grew sweaty and you couldn’t stop your foot from nervously tapping on the floor. Should I run, you thought, or should I just act like nothing happened? 

Before you could make a decision, Fred took a seat beside you. 

“Hello, darling,” he grinned, biting his bottom lip. 

You squirmed in your seat, trying to ignore Ron and Harry’s muffled giggles in the back. You gulped, “Hiya, Fred. How you doin’ today?” 

“Lovely, thanks for asking,” he replied, a smile still etched on his face. He cocked his head to the side, “And yours, love?” 

You swallowed down the butterflies that flew in your stomach. You played with your thumbs, unable to look at him in the eye. “Fine.” 

“Good, good.” 

“Yup.” 

“Well, good talking to you,” Fred got up and dusted his pants, leaving you dumbfounded in your seat. Was that it? Well, you thought, that wasn’t so bad. You turned around, offering him a tight-lipped smile out of courtesy, before turning back around and returning to your food. 

“That was anticlimactic, wasn’t it?” Ron frowned. 

“Oh, Y/N,” Fred stopped and walked over to you again. He leaned down so close that you could smell the mint toothpaste he used that morning. His breath tickled your ear, making you shiver. Fred’s lips touched the skin that connected your neck and your ear, pressing a soft kiss there. Then he whispered, “I fancy you, too.” 

He shot you a wink before walking away. You blushed furiously, fingers raising up to trace the place where his lips once were. Grinning at your friends, you breathed out, “I think he knows.”

TAGS:

@rexorangecouny

[azroazizah]

ayy so I’m gonna rant a little bc yes, I’m absolutely petty over this kind of thing, especially if it includes my OTP™ 

so I heard someone just called me and another fellow soma artist a ‘pedophile’ for ‘sexualizing’ SoMa, apparently, and I just want to sort this out.

Firstly, I don’t enjoy making them sucking faces as 13 yo. I ship them, yes, hardcore. But even in canonverse, I headcanon them hooking up at least when they’re 17-18. I feel uncomfortable seeing them in suggestive situations in their 13 yo appearances.

As you can see above, I mostly make it platonic when I draw them as babs.

Most, if not all, of the intimate poses I’ve drawn them in is with them aged-up. In fact, look at my AUs:

Gangsta. AU : Soul 22, Maka 20 (Soul 17 and Maka 15 the first time they met)

Fullmetal Alchemist AU : Soul 24, Maka 23

Perspective series : Soul 11-25, Maka 10-24 (which is about the evolution of their relationship in canonverse) additionally, my hc of their ages when Spartoi was established is 16 and 15, respectively. And they’re 17 and 16 by the time Kid ascended as Death.

Faerie AU : Soul 23-25, Maka 500+

Gokusen AU : Soul 17, Maka 26 (yes, this addresses the age-gap thing specifically)

Deaf pianist!Soul aka Reverb 2020 : Soul 20, Maka 20

Royal AU 1 : Soul 20, Maka 19

Royal AU 2 : Soul 18, Maka 17

Adult SoMa redesign : Soul 24, Maka 23 (including the adult Black Blood dress)

ATLA AU 1 : Soul 19, Maka 17

Goblin AU : Soul 2000+, Maka 17-27

you see, I don’t like to write/draw them in romantic/sexual relationship as children. That’s why the majority of my art is when they’re older.

Secondly, the statement that Soul and Maka is ‘minor ship’. Yes. They were minors. But news flash: Growth is A Thing. They don’t stay 13 forever. There’s a freaking timeskip for a reason, gosh. It’s just that Soul Eater ended before we could witness their late teenage phases.

‘Aging up’ is not pedophilia or sexualization, last time I checked. It comes with nature when you write a story.

And it’s common even with original creators of other franchises. Harry Potter was 11 in the first novel. Naruto was 12 when he started his story. Ed Elric was 14-16 the majority of his series. But when the author wanted to give them serious relationship? They did it when they were older. They aged them up.

Or is it because we’re not The Author? Would it be better if I draw SoMa sucking faces as tiny lil smooshy babies or in sexualized poses like what Ohkubo did with little Crona’s butt? nah, thanks, I’ll pass

If you’re gonna call SoMa a creepy ship bc they’re minors, then I have bad news for you buddy: like 85% of shounen/shoujo main characters are minors. By saying they’re pedo ship, you actually just called out over half of the entire fandom bc like 75% of existing ships involves the kids.

And the majority of other fandoms too, by the way. That reason is not exclusively applied to SoMa.

Which is, why the ‘aging up’ came to play. Why do you think so many SoMa authors write them in their 20s? It’s just generally healthier and worked out better that way.

Also important: people shipping something doesn’t actually mean they want their ship to bone 24/7 y’know.

Thirdly, me ‘sexualizing SoMa’. Please tell me just which part of my art includes sexualization. Because I don’t think I’ve ever post something even nsfw-ish here. Like, ever. Not even in writing. If I had indeed done it intentionally, I apologize.

Jokes, kissing, yes, but sexualization, good god, no. I’ve said it many times: I both love and hate the actual manga bc there’s parts of gross sexualization in it and I thank Bones forever for taking them out.

Lastly, for the ‘pedophilia’ accusation, I suggest for the person in question to check the actual meaning of the term. because I don’t fancy imagining myself in as much as a suggestive situation with brats, thank you very much. Accusing people of pedophilia is a serious thing. Don’t blabber those words easily.

There’s a reason why I prefer seinen series and why my absolute favorite character of all time is Sakata Gintoki.

If there’s someone who find my previous arts of SoMa ‘sexualizing’, I must advice to check yourself on just why you came to think that way when you see two fictional characters who, apparently, you claimed as ‘minors’, in casual romantic gestures. Especially if the artist gave no indication of their situation being sexual. I have to ask you who is the one being creepy around here.

I don’t think the person in question is gonna read all of this, but in conclusion, just say outright that you hate SoMa as a ship rather than being roundabout with stupid reasons and go out of your way to annoy artists who doesn’t even intend to sexualize them.

PS: if there’s someone who has problems with my art, I prefer them to say it directly to my face instead of harassing my friend about it.

[hamliet]

RWBY and the Philosopher’s Stone

So, I finally watched RWBY after a friend name-dropped several characters and I was like wait... those names are alchemical. I was still pleasantly surprised to find out just how deeply rooted in alchemy the story is, from its characters to its plot structure. 

Background: alchemical structure is a type of story structure that focuses on inner transformation via outward obstacles. You can find it in literary traditions across the world, from Moxiang Tongxiu’s novels to A Song of Ice and Fire to Harry Potter to The Witcher to Trollhunters. Carl Jung incorporated it into his psychology. Daoism plays heavily into Chinese alchemy. The Wizard of Oz, one of RWBY’s main inspirations, is a blatant alchemy allegory. It’s everywhere, so it’s not surprising RWBY is drawing heavily on alchemy, but it is neat to see how blatant the references are. 

Thematically, the goal of alchemy is a metaphorical philosopher’s stone. The philosopher’s stone, in legend, is said to produce an elixir of eternal life, and to be able to transform “baser” metals into gold. 

In stories, when positive, as it usually is, this usually results in a character either overcoming death (see, Harry Potter) and/or transforming the world and others around him (Harry Potter saving his friends, etc.) But the journey from how they get from prima materia (raw material) to the philosopher’s stone? Now that’s the story. 

(When reversed, a metaphorical stone results in something that can destroy everything; see: the One Ring, also Salem, because Salem’s whole thing is that she cheapened the process of life and death, while alchemy states that death is a necessary part of achieving life.)

So, mostly I’m gonna talk about the symbolism I’ve seen so far and make some predictions for what’s likely to happen next in the story, and for the characters.

Each of the four main characters has a name that corresponds to one of the four phases of the Magnum Opus. “Blake Belladonna” refers to the nigredo, or black stage; “Weiss Schnee” to the albedo, or white stage; “Yang Xiao Long” to the citrinitas or yellow phase, and “Ruby Rose” to the final stage, rubedo, or red (Ruby’s name is quite literally taken from that stage). Naming them for these stages shows a dual purpose: while Ruby is the central character, she needs her team around her, and Team RWBY will save the world together. Team JNR is also a part of the stages, but I’ll get to what they represent later on. 

Jung associated each of the major stages with a major archetype. The major stages can be further broken up into a total of seven or twelve or even fourteen stages. Most commonly you’ll see George Ripley’s Twelve Gates referenced, and I believe that’s what RWBY is referencing as well since its allusions are pretty perfect. The "gates” or stages also sometimes overlap, especially when different characters might be at different stages. 

Nigredo: Seasons 1-3 

Alchemy begins by gathering the prima materia, or raw material. The characters assembling in season 1 is more of the gathering than the actual transformative process. But once we hit season 2, we dive straight into the process. 

Calcination occurs during the climax of season 2, during the fight on the train. Season 3 contains dissolution, or the washing of impurities through the exposure of certain secrets (like the fall maiden) as well as the literal dissolution of Beacon Academy, and separation (the end of the season, when Team RWBY is scattered). 

Narratively, Jung associated nigredo with the shadow, with someone’s dark night of the soul, their low point. In historical artistic depictions, often part of nigredo is dismemberment... which happens to Yang when she saves Blake from Adam. See, Splendor Solis: 

The goal of the shadow is that it should be integrated with, accepted, rather than denied. Facing the shadow is a necessary part of growth and ultimate transformation... and the point is, through facing the shadow, hope and light come.  

Peacock’s Tail: Seasons 4-5

Okay, I lied, there are sometimes five phases in alchemy. At the very end of nigredo, just before albedo, there is sometimes a flash of light, of rainbows and colors, that give hope. It’s not quite a phase, more of a moment, but it’s referred to as the peacock’s tail. While this is less plot-related, it does make sense that this is the point in the story where Team RJNR is formed. Why? Because look at their colors:

Ruby: red, black

Jaune: yellow, blue

Ren: green, purple

Nora: white, pink, orange

Between them we’ve pretty much got the full rainbow. 

We also have, in Blake’s arc, the introduction of Ilia Amitola, whose last name is the Souix word for “rainbow.” 

Albedo: Seasons 5-7

Albedo is associated with the anima or animus, or the part of ourselves that we are lacking (it’s generally gendered as the male within a female and the female within a male, but please understand he’s not talking literally and more in terms of traditional qualities ascribed as feminine or masculine that we may repress), which more than fits the fact that this stage begins while team RJNR is literally wandering around a continent called Anima. 

Conjunction is a term in which all the separated parts that can be salvaged from the Nigredo come together. Obviously the main incident for this is the fight at the end of volume 5, but I’d argue it overlaps a bit with volume 4 and even with separation.

The characters are only able to come together again once they’ve accepted aspects of their shadows. Yang deals with hers in Raven and Blake with the White Fang. Nora and Ren’s fight at their home village represents them dealing with their shadow as well, and also relates to conjunction because conjunction is the stage where the first chemical wedding comes into play. A chemical wedding is the joining of alchemical partners, and while I’ll probably discuss ships in another post (there’s a lot of set up alchemy-wise), I’ll just reference the obvious one here: 

The fountain image and a person shooting arrows is some pretty uncannily similar imagery to the fight at Nora and Ren’s home village. 

Next up in albedo is putrefication (focus on death and rotting). We see this with the encounter with the Apathy, who look like skeletons, cause death, etc. We’re also introduced to Maria Calaveras, aka the Grimm Reaper. (Her last name also means “skull” aka the white results of putrefication). 

Congelation requires a lot of water, and we see this in the focus on Atlas, wherein snow (water) is everywhere. The point of congelation is to separate the thin from the thick, the latter of which will of course become the Philosopher’s Stone. We see this through Team RWBY’s break with the Ace-Ops (aka the Aesops), whose simplistic morality and rule-following are not going to bring about character growth or eternal life. 

Citrinitas: Volume 7-?

Citrinitas focuses on the light, or fire. That immediately after congelation, a giant whale brimming with yellow appears in the white-colored Atlas is not a coincidence. Citrinitas is associated with the sage or the wise old man/woman, so Maria and Pietro fill this role. 

The first stage of citrinitas is cibation, which involves feeding with fresh material. I’d actually say that it seems quite possible cibation overlaps with congelation, in that there is a focus on food and on training with the Ace-Ops early in Volume 7. The next phases are sublimation and fermentation. I can see potential for sublimation in that it essentially is when solid becomes air (think of the setting of Atlas), but it’s too soon to say what this means for the plot. 

Fermentation, though... well, things will get worse before they get better. :’) 

Rubedo: 

Finally, Rubedo is associated with the fully individualized self. We can assume each of the main seven will come into their own, confident of whom they are. Oscar should, as well, and probably will have fully control over his body by the end (ie Oz will likely... find rest or whatever).

The stages of rubedo are exaltation (the creation of the stone after two contraries meet), multiplication (the stones’ properties increase), and projection (the stone’s abilities are projected over the entire world, aka presumably RWBY will save the world). 

The most common way to display multiplication is through, well, a lot of couplings. It’s why the main characters ending single seems extremely unlikely to me. Even if it seems a fairy tale ending, well.... *gestures to everything about RWBY being inspired by fairy tales* Fairy tales were also often alchemy based. But ships will get their own meta, because I actually don’t really ship much besides Renora and am for once not super invested in anything, but I can see the set-up for four or five ships.

I also want to highlight the other symbolic names that stood out to me: 

Ironwood. While I know Ironwood references the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz (tin being one of seven metals associated with alchemy), his name also references a second metal: Iron. Tin and Iron are the two of the three basest metals in alchemy (the other is lead). Iron in particular is ruled by Mars, the god of war, meaning it is associated with violence. It’s not a coincidence that pretty much from the second Ironwood is introduced, the concept of war comes up, and his entire character has gone on to be the embodiment of the military and violence. 

Tai Xiao Long. His name literally means “sun,” and Ruby’s mother is defined by her silver eyes (silver being a color traditionally associated with the moon). Ruby is thus considered the child of the Solar King and Lunar Queen, two mythical alchemical figures who together create the “Philosophical Child,” or the personified philosopher’s stone.

Pietro Polendina: his name literally means “stone,” and Penny is his philosopher’s stone. Penny is arguably a reference to copper, another of the seven metals, as copper references compassion and love, which seems like Penny to me. 

Qrow and Raven Branwen: crows and ravens are symbolic of nigredo, or the black phase; death, decay, etc. However, within the story I think Qrow and Raven fulfill this role as the Jungian shadows of hunters as a whole and of Yang. 

Sun Wukong: obviously a reference to the sun. 

Emerald Sustrai: Emerald is a reference to the Emerald Tablet, which in alchemical lore is a tablet containing the secrets of alchemy, as written down by Hermes (in legend). Hermes is, of course, Mercury. Everything about alchemy stems from the Emerald Tablet, so Emerald should be important. In addition, green is the color of the prima materia, so it references Emerald’s arc in being shaped and molded by Cinder. 

Mercury Black: Mercury as the mythological god is the legendary founder of alchemy, so like, he’s important. Mercury is also the third most important metal in alchemy, after gold and silver. It is necessary to achieving the philosopher’s stone so, like Emerald, Mercury is probably important. Mercury is of particular note because mercurial characters are common in alchemical literature: they make stuff happen. Think of Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, for example. Mercury transcends death symbolically (you can see the roots of this in Mercury’s backstory with his assassin father): it is difficult to pin down and can quickly shift from liquid to solid. Thus, in alchemy, mercury can shift between life and death. 

Mercury is also a noted servant of the white queen. I initially thought this a surface reference to Salem’s appearance, and it might be, but Salem is more associated with a black queen in the recurring chess motif, and I don’t see Mercury staying on her side (mercury isn’t fixed, after all; that’s its central tenet), so I kind of wonder if the “white queen” will be later revealed. Or maybe it just is a surface mention.

[aspoonofsugar]

The Maidens: The Cycle of Life and Death

This post is inspired by @hamliet’s alchemy metas... I know nothing about alchemy, but after discussing it with her, this idea came up and I am sharing it on her behalf too.

In short, in alchemical stories (which RWBY apparently is) there are 3/4 phases. Each phase is linked to a specific color:

1) Nigredo (black)

2) Albedo (white)

3) Citrinitas (yellow)

4) Rubedo (red)

That said, often the yellow phase ends up being fused with the red one, so in most alchemical stories there are only three phases. Now, for each phase there is a major death, so there are usually 3/4 key deaths, each one linked to a specific phase.

For example, in Harry Potter there is

a) Sirius BLACK dying

b) ALBUS Dumbledore dying

c) Harry dying and being carried by RUBEUS Hagrid

Let’s highlight that each one of these deaths is especially resonant and important for the story. Sirius dies when Harry discovers about the prophecy. Dumbledore’s death leads to Harry leaving Hogwarts to look for the Horcruxes and finally Harry’s own death leads to Voldemort’s defeat.

What I mean is that the deaths linked to each phase must be resonant and meaningful either in terms of plot or in terms of themes. They must have weight and be felt both by the audience and by the characters.

So far, in RWBY we have had two such deaths:

Pyrrha’s death is linked to Nigredo, while Penny’s to Albedo. Interestingly, both deaths happened to two (supposed to be) Maidens.

This is interesting on multiple levels.

First of all, I have been asked about the Maidens in RWBY here and here. However, Penny’s death helped me gain a new perspective of their overall meaning.

In the first meta I have written this:

In a sense, the story keeps repeating. Salem kills Ozpin, he is reborn and his daughters are victims of the conflict between them.

Because of this, the four Maidens have become one of the many symbols of this endless cycle, which is clealry breaking its protagonists more and more.

This is well conveyed by the Maidens having a season theme. Seasons are in fact linked to the repetition of time aka one of Ozpin’s motifs.

I still think it is a part of the truth, but as for now I think the framing of the series over the cycle is more nuanced. It is a cycle of death and rebirth:

Goodwitch: The Maidens have existed for thousands of years. But much like in nature, the seasons change. No two summers are alike. When a Maiden dies, her power leaves her body and seeks out a new host, ensuring that the seasons are never lost, and that no individual can hold on to that power forever.

Seasons live and die, but new ones are born. It is a death that leads to a new life and that protects life itself since the Seasons are supposed to be Guardians.

This fits with the actual cycle of seasons where “no two summers are alike”, but that also accompanies humans’ lives and makes many human activities possible.

Secondly, both Pyrrha and Penny’s deaths have to do with the theme of choice, which is central to the series:

Ozpin: Maidens choose themselves.

In particular, Pyrrha and Penny’s final choices are two different declination of this idea. At the same time, they are linked to the theme explored by their respective relic as well (in Pyrrha’s case it means that her link to choice is twofold).

1) As the (supposed to be) Maiden of Choice, Pyrrha is given a choice in the Vault of Choice:

Ozpin: You, Miss Nikos... have a choice to make.

(...)

Ozpin: Are you ready? I... I need to hear you say it.

Pyrrha: Yes.

Ozpin: Thank you, Miss Nikos.

She is given some time to think about it and in the end she chooses to accept her new duty. Still, the power is stolen from her and the choice she was given is negated to her:

Pyrrha: But I can help.

Ozpin: You'll only get in the way.

However, this does not stop her:

Red-Haired Woman: She understood that she had a responsibility... to try. I don't think she would regret her choice, because a Huntress would understand that there really wasn't a choice to make. And a Huntress is what she always wanted to be.

Pyrrha’s death is about doing the right thing even if it comes with a high personal cost. She is able to make the choice to keep fighting against an enemy impossible to defeat an arc before our protagonists are strong enough to make it.

This is why... even if she never receives the powers.. Pyrrha is the true Maiden of Choice of the Vale arc. She does not need the powers because deep down being a Maiden is something deeper than that.

Pyrrha embodies the idea that Maidens choose themselves because she chooses to be a Maiden at Heart and dies true to her choice:

Pyrrha: Do you believe in destiny?

2) As the Maiden of Creation, Penny is created anew in the Vault of Creation:

As I have stated in previous metas Creation as a concept is linked to free will. Creations are free to develop and to change independently from their “creators”. This fits Penny’s transformation, who ultimately gives her back the free will that the virus had stolen:

Penny: I...I must...open the Vault. I, I do not want...Ah!

And in the end she uses her free will to make a specific choice:

Penny: Let me choose this one thing.

I have actually a lot more to say about Penny’s death and final choice, but I will write a longer meta about it, so for now let’s just say it has to do with self-actualization.

Penny embodies the idea that Maidens choose themselves because she chooses who she wants to be and how she wants to live.

What is more, her choice has to do with Creation because she saves Winter’s life and also (symbolically) makes her a whole person as well:

Winter: No, Penny, you were always the real Maiden at heart. I was just a machine. Just... following orders.

Penny: You’re my friend.

Winter: Perhaps, but I’m choosing it now. I’ve made it my own. And I take great pride in it.

Winter: You chose nothing. This was a gift.

At the same time, Penny’s sacrifice also saves the people of Atlas and Mantle who are stranded in Vacuo. If Cinder had stolen the power, they would have all died.

As a final note, we are directly told the themes linked to both Pyrrha and Penny’s death back in volume 5:

Ruby: When Beacon fell, I lost two of my friends: Penny Polendina and Pyrrha Nikos. I didn't know them for very long, but that doesn't change the fact that they were two of the most kind-hearted people I have ever met. But that didn't save them. Pyrrha thought that if there was even the smallest chance of helping someone, then it was a chance worth taking. And because of that, she died fighting a battle she knew she couldn't win. And Penny... was killed... just to make a statement.

Pyrrha died to make the right thing.

Penny died the first time as a result of her being objectified, so the second time she herself chose how to end her life in a way she found meaningful.

In short, Pyrrha and Penny’s deaths can be read as the two deaths linked respectively to Nigredo and Albedo. What is sure is that they are meant to be compared and foiled.

All this leads to a question... will we have other two (or one) major death(s) that will be linked to (the yellow and) red phase(s)? Will they be other Maidens?

As for now, I think it is possible, even if not sure obviously.

First of all, I do not know if we are gonna have a death for Citrinitas since from what I understood usually the yellow phase gets conveyed as a part of the Rubedo one. Moreover, if we have it, it might not be linked to a Maiden. After all, another pattern one could find is that both Pyrrha and Penny died at Beacon and so did Ozpin, so maybe he will be the one to die (once and for all?) in the yellow/red phase. However, as for now, I don’t think so and I am gonna theorize that the yellow and red deaths, if they happen, will have to do with the Maidens and will be other declinations of the themes explored above.

As for now, we know nothing of the Maiden of Destruction, so I am not considering her.

Still, there is another Maiden whose arc was left unsolved and who needs to come back in the story:

3) As the Maiden of Knowledge, Raven is told the truth about herself in the Vault of Knowledge:

Yang: Oh, shut up!! You don't know the first thing about strength! You turn your back on people, you run away when things get too hard, you put others in harm's way instead of yourself!! You might be powerful, but that doesn't make you strong.

And it is possible that this self-knowledge will eventually lead her to make a choice, which is what she has failed to do up until now.

If she chooses to sacrifice herself, her death will be a redemptive one and it might come to embody that Maidens choose themselves because they can always change and become true Maidens.

Finally, there is the Rubedo phase, which is the last phase. If we are gonna have a red death, it should be a key one for the whole series and one which leads to its resolution. As for now, I think there is only one character who can pull it off:

4) Cinder is a key character for the whole story. Personally, I think this volume was a turning point for her, but she failed to learn the lessons she needed to learn. What she did was to take these lessons and to twist them in a hypocritical way:

Cinder: I suppose I have only you to thank for one last lesson… Sometimes, if you want to win…you simply can’t do it alone.

And this has made her even more similar to Salem:

Salem: Why....do...you...keep...coming...back?!

Yang: Why do you?!

Penny: Why did you come back?! Why couldn’t you just learn your lesson?!

I would also like to highlight that so far Cinder has failed to learn the lesson of each relic.

In the Vale Arc, it is implied her concept of Destiny and Choice is different from Pyrrha’s. She wants to be “worthy” and to be chosen. Moreover, her idea of agency is linked to stealing others’, just like she stole the Maiden’s power and Pyrrha’s destiny.

In the Mistral Arc, she receives a warning about her Shadow Hand:

Raven: Aura can't protect your arm, it's Grimm. You turned yourself into a monster just for power.

But she chooses to ignore it.

Finally, in the Atlas Arc she manages to make herself anew. She recreates herself, but fails to truly change.

I am expecting all these failures to come back at her with the Vacuo Arc, which is about Destruction and will probably lead to everything coming together to crush Cinder (the people she used, the Shadow Hand, Salem’s true plan).

Once this happens, I think Ruby will save her with her eyes and will offer her that pity she was never shown as a child. This will lead to Cinder’s final choice which might be a synthesis of all the choices made by the Maidens she killed.

It will be a selfless choice, like Pyrrha’s, in contrast to the selfishness she displayed throughout the series.

It will be a self-actualizing choice, like Penny’s, which will free her from Salem’s shadow and influence

It will also be a redemptive choice, where Cinder finally lives up to her name and becomes the true Fall Maiden.

I am also expecting this choice to somehow solve the conflict or to be a part of the reason why the conflict is solved.

It would also be interesting if the Maidens’ sacrifices become progressively more effective in solving the conflict.

Pyrrha’s death is the most pyrric (obviously). She did not manage to stop Cinder, but barely gained enough time for Ruby to arrive and wound the villain. Still, it is a choice who clearly inspired her friends and I think that in the end it will inspire Cinder as well:

Cinder: You know, Neo, someone once asked me if I believed in destiny. And I'm happy to say I still do.

Penny’s death is framed as a sad, but powerful conclusion to her arc and saved both Winter and the people of Atlas and Mantel. It still did not prevent Salem from taking the relics and did not save the Kingdom.

So, maybe Cinder’s death, if it happens, will be key in saving the world.

This would also fit with the idea that we are going through a journey where we are getting to know the four gifts the Gods gave humanity.

Pyrrha sacrificed herself even before our protagonists received Knowledge, Penny did so after both Knowledge and Creation, while Cinder perhaps will do so after the characters have aquired all the four gifts.

[san-fics]

Dramione Bloopers

WARNING: aged-up characters, sexual humor!

4. Dramione x Friends Ao3

[Pansy dumped Theo and he’s depressed. Theo’s apartment, Theo enters from his bedroom.]

Hermione: Hey! You’re wearing pants!

Theo: That’s right! Where are the guys? I’m ready to get drunk and see some strippers.

Hermione: It’s 9:30 in the morning!

Theo: They got a breakfast buffet.

[Hermione’s wand rings and she answers it.]

Hermione: Hello. [Listens] Oh, hey Harry!

Theo: Ooh, let me talk to him!

Hermione: Oh-oh, Merlin!

Theo: Well, can I just…

Hermione: [to Theo] Shh!! [On wand] Wait, what?

Theo: She’s shushing me! It’s my apartment and she’s shushing me!

Ginny: Shhh!! Please! What’s he saying?

Hermione: He’s with Charles in the mountains!

Ginny: What? Oh Merlin! Why didn’t they tell me?!

Luna: [Yells at Theo] What?! Why the hell did they leave on the expedition without me?!

Theo: Okay, I’m going to go stand over there. [Points and moves into the living room.]

Hermione: Why are you so upset?

Luna: After all, I am a magical naturalist and I am interested in all magical creatures! And while I’m wiping my skirt in the ministry Potter is going on expeditions!

Theo: So y’know, uh, when’s he getting back?

Hermione: A couple of days.

Theo: Y’know, I knew something like this was going to happen. Draco is on a mission, and Potter is on an expedition… [He starts to take off his pants, revealing that he is still wearing his sweatpants.]

Hermione: What are you doing?! Theo! You can’t just go back a phase!

Theo: Yes you can. You’re thinking about time, you can’t go back in time. And even that you can, just take the time turner and…

Ginny: Well, look, why don’t you just, why don’t you do your Phase Two strip club thing with us?

Hermione: Yeah, come on, we can be guys!

Theo: [laughs] No you can’t.

Ginny: Come on! Let us be guys! Maybe we want to be guys!

Theo: You don’t want to be guys, you’d be all hairy and wouldn’t live as long. [Starts to go to his bedroom]

Ginny: Y’know you, you just stop being such a wuss and get those off and you come with us and watch naked girls dance around!!

Theo: Okay... [Starts to cry]

Ginny: I’m sorry. [Goes and hugs him]

[Scene: A muggle strip club, Hermione, Ginny and Luna are there with Theo, who isn’t enjoying himself.]

Hermione: [coming back to the stage and sitting next to Theo] Okay, I’ve got some Ones, you wanna put them in her panties?

Theo: No thanks, Mom!

[A man sits down next to Ginny and lights up a cigarette.]

Ginny: Oh, no umm, hi, that-that, you have to put that out, ‘cause I’m pregnant.

The Cigarette Smoking Guy: Well, maybe you and your baby should go to another strip club.

Ginny: Ha-ha, my baby likes this strip club, ha-ha-ha! [The man leaves.]

[The dancer finishes and everyone claps.]

Hermione: Very good, [getting up and sliding a One into the dancer’s hot pants] so good.

Ginny: [doing the same] I really, really enjoyed it. Very exotic.

Luna: [joining them] Ugh, I’m still so upset about Harry researching baby-dragons in the mountains without me!

Ginny: Come on! Look where you are!! Even I forgot about my husband!

Hermione: [to the waitress] When you get a sec, another round of daiquiris.

Ginny: Remember, a virgin for me please.

Luna: Oh! And don’t let me leave without getting the name of that carpet guy.

Theo: Ahh, come on! Y’know what—y’know what, I think I’m just gonna go home and wand-call Pansy.

Ginny: Well, if you think it will help.

Theo: No! That was a test! In a couple of hours I’m gonna get really drunk and wanna wand-call Pansy and you guys are gonna have to stop me! And then after that, I’m gonna get so drunk, I’m gonna wanna apparate to her house…

Luna: You should! How is she?

Theo: Ohhh!!

Hermione: I think somebody needs another lap dance. [Motions for one.]

[Scene: at Theo’s apartment, Theo, Hermione, and Ginny are returning from the strip club.]

Hermione: So, we did okay at the strip club, right?

Theo: Oh yeah, that was great. Thanks to you, the hottest cocktail waitress there is quitting to teach the third grade and another one has discovered she was a witch!

Luna: [entering] I can’t believe it! They even managed to feed a baby dragon…

Theo: All right, well I’m gonna put my sweats back on.

Ginny: Oh no! Wait! Wait! Okay, y’know what, you were right, you were right. We really weren’t great at being guys, but you know why? Because we’re girls.

Theo: Yeah?

Ginny: And do you know what girls are really good at?

Theo: Stripping!

Ginny: No, listening! Sit! Y’know, maybe it would just really, really help if you would just talk.

Luna: Yeah, come on! What’s going on in there? [Pats his chest.]

Hermione: Yeah. And y’know, if you wanna cry, that’s okay too.

Theo: Okay, look, I’m gonna have to ask you all to leave.

Hermione: Come on! Theo!

Theo: Look, forget it. We tried, but Phase Three is a lost cause, Okay? Those strippers were insanely hot, and I couldn’t picture myself with any of them. [Sits back in disgust.]

Hermione: They really were pretty, weren’t they? [Ginny and Luna both agree]

Ginny: Yeah, I really liked that fighter pilot one.

Hermione: Oh, Candy! She was so spunky!

Ginny: Yeah.

Hermione: Y’know, I think if I were going to leave Draco and be with a woman... [Theo is intrigued.] It’d, it’d be with someone like Michelle, she was so oh, she was so petite.

Luna: See, I don’t know, for me it would have to be Chantal.

Hermione: Oh, Chantal!

Luna: Oh my goodness, she had the smoothest skin! I mean when I stuck that dollar bill in her g-string and grazed her thigh…

Theo: [jumping up] Phase Three! I just achieved Phase Three!

Hermione: Really?!

Theo: I am totally picturing you with all those women!

Hermione: That’s-that’s not Phase Three.

Theo: Well, I’m there too!

Luna: Well, are we all together? Like in a group?

Theo: Stop it! You’re killing me! I think I just moved on to Phase Four!

Ginny: Oh! What is that? What is that?

Theo: Where I don’t want to have a relationship ever! I just want to have sex with strippers and my friends!!

[Scene: muggle caffe, Hermione, Luna, Ginny, Draco and Theo are there. Theo is trying to cheer Draco up about missing Phase Two.]

Theo: Come on, let me see that smile.

Draco: I don’t wanna.

Theo: Please?

Draco: I wanted to go to the strip club!

Theo: I know, I know, but you have Granger for that, plus you’re gonna have plenty of chances. There are literally thousands of witches out there just waiting to screw me over.

Draco: Yeah, all right. [Harry enters.]

Ginny: Hey!

Harry: Hey! [gives her a kiss]

Hermione: Hey—ooh so, how was your trip?

Harry: Charles is… incredible. I mean there-there are no words to describe it, I mean the whole weekend was like a dream. The mountains and the dragons!...

Luna: Oh, hey!

Harry: Hey! You were so right!

Luna: What?

Harry: Uh, what you said about magical naturalism being much more interesting than the Auror department…

Luna: Oh, hmm.

Harry: I mean, I, I-I admit I-I wasn’t quite there. But now! I’m there! I’m totally there! I’m-I’m finally where you are!

Luna: Oh, thanks Merlin!

Harry: Yeah, and-and Charles is so great!

Ginny: [under her breath] I’m not sure if I should be jealous of my husband for my brother…

Luna: Happy for you. [She playfully punches him.]

Harry: Happy for you. [He punches her back.]

Luna: No, happy for you! [Hits him harder.]

[Scene: Theo’s apartment, Theo is there and is getting ready to direct a bunch of strippers, Hermione, Luna, and Ginny on what to do in the upcoming orgy of lesbian lust. It’s a dream sequence.]

Theo: All right ladies, here’s what we’re gonna do. [Points to a stripper.] You are gonna take off my clothes. [To another two strippers] You two, go get the oils. [To another stripper] And you just constantly scream at the top of your voice, “Theo’s the king! Theo’s the king!”

Ginny: I-I wanna be with her, [points to the stripper next to her] I like her.

Theo: Oh, that’s fine! Go with your instincts, go with your instincts!

Luna: Wait, now, what am I doing again?

Theo: Come on! Would you please pay attention, I could wake up at any moment!

Draco: What the fuck my woman does in your sex-dream?!

Hermione: Oh, hey, Draco! That’s not what you…

Theo: Granger, I’m sorry you can’t stay, [Hermione is upset about leaving the orgy.] But the rest of us have a lot of work to do. [Draco starts rubbing Theo’s back.] What are you doing? [Draco just nods] All right, listen, I’ve got to wake up!

[lacrimosathedark]

Because I’m thinking about it now I want to ask people: what not-your-first-language words or phrases have you incorporated into your everyday speech? I don’t mean like loanwords, actual words or phrases that aren’t your first language.

Here’s some of mine!

Perdona: Italian, pardon/excuse me. This was incorporated into my personal lexicon after a period of being obsessed with this song. Now I will often say “perdona” instead of “excuse me”

Bienvenue: French, welcome (though for some reason my brain thinks of it as “good evening”). I cannot tell you how obsessed I was with Cabaret as a child. My mother would play the soundtrack all the time and I loved it. Did I realize I was singing about strip clubs and the rise of fascism in Germany? lol nope. But the greeting in this song, “Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome!” always stuck in my head. Willkomen was harder to understand and pronounce as a small American child (or maybe I thought it was just “welcome in”), so I guess “bienvenue” is the one that stuck. (Tangent, even though it is written for, ahem, like-minded characters, I am very upset that right-wingers lay claim to “Tomorrow Belongs To Me” because I always thought it sounded pretty.)

Mon ami: French, my friend. There are many things I could blame for this, but I’m gonna blame the Hetalia fandom. Hamilton brought it back into my vocal dictionary.

No me gusta: Spanish, I don’t like that. Double pronged, I took Spanish in school also while this was a meme. Everyone in my school said this so I just kinda picked it up and it never left.

¿Por qué?: Spanish, why? Again mostly because I took Spanish in school and for some reason it sounds nice to me.

Nani? (何?) : Japanese, what? Another double pronged one, I’ve been passively learning Japanese for ages, and “nani?” has become sort of a meme. I specifically often say “nani the fuck?” when I’m startled or perplexed.

Ee to... (ええと...) and Ano... (あの...): Japanese, um/vague thinking noise. I sometimes find myself mumbling this while thinking. I watched too much anime. I specifically blame Yu-Gi-Oh! for this because Yugi did this a lot if I remember right. Very uncertain boi.

Gomen ne (御免 ねー): Japanese, sorry. Weeb + apologetic = saying this too much. Especially saying “gomennasai” ( 御免なさい ) is more formal and also felt more...cringey somehow. Probably didn’t help that there was a song called Gomennasai that was in English and kinda cringe.

Ne (ねー): Japanese, vague and varied but similar to “hey” or “right?”. I kinda say this long and drawn out. I blame Izaya from Durarara!! for this habit.

*rubs fist on chest in circular motion*: ASL, sorry. My mom taught me and the kids she watched basic ASL so the little ones could communicate when they weren’t good for talking at the moment. I am a very apologetic person and it’s actually become a nervous habit now to rub my chest when I feel bad.

*move flat hand from touching chin outward/downward*: ASL, thank you. I use this one a lot when I’m nonverbal. Simple and I’m grateful people put up with me.

Mum: Just the non-American English pronunciation of mom. I (unfortunately) grew up reading and watching Harry Potter. And had a Doctor Who phase. And adore Good Omens. I kept hearing and reading the word pronounced that way and eventually it just stuck.

I will add more as I remember them, but tell me yours! I want to know your weird language things!

[an-exotic-writer]

not a goodbye, but a new hello!

i think it’s safe to say i’ve stopped writing for bts. (but i still write @qqtxt​ (tomorrow x together), @butterbeerblurbs​ (fred weasley) and @shieldedreams​ (multifandom!))

heyyyyyy guys ;w; this is long overdue but i feel like i should at least write about this haha. i’ve been in and out of tumblr recently and it’s been, oof it’s been AGES. and i’m grateful to all 13k of you that have been here throughout this journey. i still get occasional follows every now and then, which is so heartwarming!!!

but i feel like i should come out and say that i don’t have much interest in writing about bts, exo, or any of the k-pop idols i used to on this blog. [also side note, my url is an-exotic-writer because at the time, exo didn’t have a fandom name and we called ourselves exotics LMAO. and i have too many damned links to change so we’ll just keep this rolling ok] but this blog will still be up should anyone wants to read anything. (note that all smut/mature content was removed - lmao i had a panic time SOZ)

i guess i started falling out of it like, 4 years ago? and slowly when the community of writers i grew up writing with, suddenly left as well, i just felt like i didn’t belong anymore because there’s so many new writers (oh, just to mention that i think it’s AMAZING there’s so many writers for BTS now, it’s INCREDIBLEEE but i just didn’t feel like i know anyone anymore back in 2014 until 2016 where it was a community where everyone kind of knew each other haha, i mean i fell out of the community and slowly with bts as well).

i still love bts in a way i don’t think i’ll ever love another artist, i still love most of their songs. i just don’t keep up with them as much and slowly that fuelled into my interest with writing with them.

and it sucks, because i do try to write for them but it just didn’t inspire me to write anymore. i still have about a hundred drafts written for them, some drabbles, some blurbs, some fully planned fics that would never see the light of day and that’s okay!!! i’m gonna let go of all of that because i truly don’t see myself continuing anymore and i don’t want to put out anything that’s not with my full of heart.

i tried coming back twice, and even both times i failed miserably. i felt like i couldn’t write anything or even try to when my heart wasn’t there anymore. so i really do think it’s time to let go.

so thank you for the past 3 glorious years from 2014 until 2017, and it has been an amazing ride thus far! i’ll still be active on this account because it’s my main! but i’ll be using it to mostly like and follow other people and... read harry potter fics LOL. i’m absolutely in lOVE with fred weasley so i’ll be writing (mostly) about him over @butterbeerblurbs! and i’m starting to write for chris evans characters (and possibly MCU/tom holland) over @shieldedreams​!

i also noticed this was more of what i really wanted to write about when i had a long (and overdue call) with @astaegmatism / @cno-inbminor. she’s truly my ride or die, someone i’ve met on tumblr and since 2014 up until now, we’re still the best of friends (i’d honestly take a bullet for karebun LOL). and when i had a chat with her about how i feel about not writing for bts and wanting to write for harry potter, hearing her encourage me and say that it’s never too late for anyone to get into something, especially not harry potter, i think it made me like, want to go for it???

the both of us went through a phase of ABSOLUTELY adoring bts. writing about them, planning series together, WRITING TOGETHER, staying up late just to watch them, and suddenly realising we don’t write for them as much, i had to understand that it was okay. i admired karebun when she started writing for haikyuu, and ngl i only read haikyuu fics from her because it’s KAREBUN. (ps she goes by K / Kay, karebun is my nickname for her LOL). so i thought, maybe i could try that with hp. and at least if no one reads them, honestly, they’re my guilty pleasure and that’s how it all started with bts in the first place! :D

so when i created the url for hp, and the url i wanted was not taken, i was like ??? and then i purchased the ebooks to start reading and i was like ??? i actually enjoy reading the book HAHAHA sooooo long story short:

TLDR: - this account will be inactive, feel free to unfollow if you wish! - i won’t be deleting any fics! just that i won’t be publishing any bts fics anymore! - txt fics are over @qqtxt​ - hp fics are over @butterbeerblurbs​ - mcu/marvel/chris evans/tom holland stuff (maybe writings) @shieldedreams​ - if you like haikyuu or wonder what i read nowadays, honestly apart from hp fics i search on the tab, it’s karebun’s writing so head on over to @cno-inbminor !

thank you once again and i hope everyone has been safe and healthy!

this isn’t a goodbye but a new hello :)

if you would like to talk as well, my asks are open for anything! be it on here or on my other writing account now hehe. take care my darlings! muah!

[tricksters-captain]

Weasley Twins/Cedric Diggory Imagines - Accidental Meeting - Part 1

AN: So I may have fallen back into my Harry Potter phase at the moment and I came up with a fic idea for a Reader x Cedric and Reader x George Weasley fic and I have the whole thing planned out so I figured I may as well write it down and publish it... And what better way to celebrate the 1st of September; going back to Hogwarts day!

Overall Summary: (Y/n), is a young witch who always kept her head down due to her complicated past; one day she bumps quite literally into one of the most popular boys in Hogwarts, Cedric Diggory, and that’s when (Y/n) plan of keeping her head down seems to go up into the air. Things only seem to worsen when two redheaded twins start to take notice too...

This Chapter: It’s (y/n) 5th year at Hogwarts and things have gone swimmingly until she happens to come across 6th year Cedric Diggory... (Y/n) first day of 5th year suddenly becomes a lot more eventful than she had planned. 

Pairing(s): Cedric Diggory x Reader, (Eventual) George Weasley x Reader, (Platonic) Fred Weasley x Reader, (Platonic) Oliver Wood x Reader

Word Count: 3,947

Warnings: None 

You smiled as you heard the familiar sounds of the train station fill the air with a buzz. You had still yet to reach Platform 9 and 3/4 but even just standing in King Cross brought the familial warmth of knowing you were going back to Hogwarts. 

It didn’t take you long to reach the platform and load your belongings and yourself onto the train. It had been a long and boring summer with your uncle and you were glad to be heading back to the infamous castle. 

You walked through the train until you came across Wood sat inside one of the large compartments of the train with several of his 7th year friends. 

“Bout time you got here, I was starting to think you’d gotten lost and was hiding in the bathroom again.” Oliver stood with a bright smile and hugged you. 

“That happened once, Wood.” You rolled your eyes, waving at the boys sat in the compartment before taking your seat next to Wood. 

Now, from the outside, your friendship with Wood was random and a little confusing considering the fact you weren’t a massive fan of Quidditch... But once people heard the story it soon made sense. 

You had liked to keep your head down from the start of Hogwarts. When you received your letter to attend Hogwarts, you almost didn’t want to, you didn’t want to learn magic only to spiral down a dark path like your parents did. 

Your parents were famed Death Eaters and extremely loyal to he who shall not be named. So, when you opened your letter, you were almost sick with anxiety. After the downfall of Voldemort, your parents were arrested and sent to Azkaban and the worst part was they were the most well known for their crimes and passion for the Dark Lord alongside Sirius, Black, Barty Crouch and Bellatrix Lestrange. 

When you first arrived at Hogwarts, you tried to hide who you were but it wasn’t long until the whispers stirred and the rumours spread which lead to a large group of girls bullying you. 

That’s when Wood came into the picture. 

Wood didn't care for your heritage, he only cared that people were being horrid to you for something you had no control over. 

You belong to Gryffindor house and some of the Gryffindor girls were saying how you belonged in Slytherin and they couldn’t have some bad blooded evil Death Eater in the house.

Wood shut them right down before making sure you were okay and from there, your friendship blossomed. 

Wood was like the older brother you never had and you were forever grateful for him but this year was his final year at Hogwarts. 

“How was your summer? You barely even wrote me.” Oliver asked as he took his seat back beside you. You moved closer to the boy and rested your back against his shoulder as you sighed. 

“Boring. I had nothing to write about.” You shrugged and the other boys in the carriage laughed at your honesty. 

“Well, I had plenty to write about and you missed it all.” Wood argued, just trying to be awkward to annoy you.

“Well then talk! We have a long train journey and it’ll stop me from already opening my new books.” You told him and with that his jaw didn’t stop. 

It had been a few hours and you had zoned out of most of the conversations between the boys and you had in fact cracked open a new book to make the time fly faster when Wood included you again.

“You hear that, (Y/n/n)?” He asked, the mention of your nickname drawing your attention back to the group. 

“What?” You lifted your chin and looked at the boy.

“Since is it my final year, I expect you to be at every quidditch match including the final when we win the cup” He repeated what you had missed with a bright smile. 

“Every match?” You groaned, frowning at the boy. You enjoyed Quidditch but if the weather wasn’t any good or you had some work due close to a quidditch night, you’d rather hit the books. 

“Every match. Last year was your poorest effort yet and you have to make up for it.” Wood practically scolded you. He loved his Quidditch more than anything at Hogwarts so hearing you complain about it was mind boggling for him. 

“I only missed three matches last year.” You defended yourself, 

“Three winning matches.” He argued, his accent thick as he emphasised. 

The conversation was brought to a halt as the train began to slow on the tracks and the lights flickered.

“What’s going on?” Wood asked, looking towards the corridor of the train.

“Maybe we’ve broke down?” You suggested, closing your book as you watched the sky darken outside. 

The air grew colder as the train came to a stop. You pulled your arms around yourself as Oliver stood up to see what was going on. 

Suddenly, a black blur flew past the window, making you feel nauseous with nerves as you realised what was happening.

“It’s a dementor...” You whispered just as you heard the train doors open and felt the whole carriage shake. 

Every carriage of the train seemed silent as the dementors searched the train. You buried yourself into the corner of your seat and Oliver sat beside you, leaning forward protectively. 

“Did they really think Sirius Black would have gotten on the train?” One of Olivers friends asked as the Dementors finally left. 

“He escaped from Azkaban. I’m sure he can sneak onto the Hogwarts Express if he really wanted to.” You spoke plainly. 

The reminder of Sirius Black brought forward the anxieties in you about Azkaban, Death Eaters and your parents. 

You asked Oliver to follow you into the corridor for a private conversation when the train started to move again and he immediately did as asked. 

“Do you wonder if one prisoner can escape Azkaban, can more? At this point, there must be so many dark wizards in there that they can’t keep track of every cell in there?” 

Oliver knew you meant; what if your parents could escape?

“No one is getting out of Azkaban after Sirius Black. The security there will be on high alert. They wouldn’t let it happen again.” Wood held you by the shoulders reassuringly, “(Y/n), you’re safe.” you tried to believe him but the hairs on the back of your neck wouldn’t let you quit worrying. 

“Look, there was a dementor on our train just now. That means one less dementor at Azkaban, doesn’t it?” You crossed your arms over your chest as you lowered your voice so that a passing 4th year couldn’t overhear.

“(Y/n), the ministry canny risk losing anymore prisoners, they already have half of the country’s witches and wizards questioning the safety of their children if they’ve managed to let one prisoner slip. No one else is getting out of Azkaban.” Oliver was right, the ministry couldn’t afford more death eaters escaping their clutches, it would only cause chaos. 

“You might regret saying that so confidently.” You murmured, running your hand through you hair as you looked down the empty corridor. “I think I’m gonna go change into my robes now.” 

Oliver didn’t say much else as you left to find a toilet to change in. 

You shuffled your way down the tight corridor when you clocked a tall handsome boy exiting his compartment with a bag in his hand too. 

Just at that moment, three first years ran past you in their flowing full black robes, forcing you to go fall flat against the boys chest.

The boy caught your wrists steadying you after your stumble. 

“I am so sorry.” You flushed red as you pulled back to see the handsome face was Cedric Diggory from the year above. He was a popular Hufflepuff, liked by everyone and a very good student, not to mention nearly every girl in your year had crushed on him at one point or another.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it.” He smiled at you, still holding onto you without realisation. 

“I was just going in there to change.” You nodded to the toilet door beside you both and he smiled again. 

“Go ahead, you can go first if you like.” Cedric offered.

“Really? I don’t mind waiting.”

“I insist, honestly.” He opened the door for you and you ducked under his arm to go inside. 

“Thank you.” You blushed again as you closed the door and fell against it. 

You shook off the encounter knowing that really it was nothing as you changed into your school uniform. You brushed down your robes as you took one last look in the mirror before leaving the bathroom to see Cedric chatting with some other 6th year. 

You slipped past and returned to your compartment where Wood was also changed and seemingly falling asleep. 

Wood opened one of his eyes and smirked as he pulled out a chocolate frog box from under his arm. 

“You missed the trolley.” He said as he handed you your favourite sweet. 

“You’re too good to me, Wood.” You beamed a large smile as you took it from him and opened it a tad to see the charmed frog inside. 

As the train finally pulled into it’s destination, everyone jumped out their seats ready to get off the train after the long journey. 

You peaked down the corridor to one of the exits to see Cedric dressed in his robes, looking over at you.

When your eyes met his, he started to push past some of the other students to reach you. 

“You know, I never got your name.” Cedric said as he reached you.

“(Y/n). And you’re Cedric, right?” You took his hand as he offered it. 

“Cedric Diggory.” He introduced himself as if he needed to. 

“May I?” You had noticed Cedric’s tie was wonky and you were desperate for him to fix it. You were a bit of a stiff when it came to tidiness, you took after your uncle that way. 

Cedric looked down at his tie where you had gestured and then shrugged, lifting his chin, giving you his permission. 

You reached up and straightened his tie, tightening it to the collar before quickly withdrawing your hands. 

“Diggory.” Wood’s voice startled you as it reminded you he was stood just beside you. “Congrats on making captain this year. I’m looking forward to seeing you on the pitch again.” Oliver shook Cedric’s hand as he took the attention away from you and onto Quidditch. It was his speciality. 

“Thanks man. I reckon we may have a chance at winning this year.” Cedric’s smile was contagious, you found yourself looking away just to stop your own smile. 

“Not while I’m still here, Diggory.” Wood joshed. 

The whistle blew loudly as the doors opened. The 1st years were first to get off, being guided by the head boy and girl as well as Hagrid to the boats where they get their first full view of the castle in the night sky. 

The rest of the school followed, taking the carriages to the castle, you stuck with Wood, sitting beside him in the great hall for the welcoming feast.

You couldn’t help but notice Potter further down the table. You wondered if he knew who Sirius Black was and what he did. Everyone knows that he would be Blacks next target if Black wasn’t in hiding right now. 

Beside Potter were his friends, Hermione and Ron, and then closer to your side of the table was Ron’s bothers, the Weasley twins and then head boy Percy Weasley. 

The table was alive with chatter of what happened on the train with the dementors and you were surprised to hear that Harry Potter fainted after coming face to face with one. 

You glanced around the room as the first years were being sorted into their houses before the feast can begin. You found yourself looking towards the Hufflepuff table and that's when you spotted Cedric, watching the Gryffindor table, searching for you. 

“Who are you looking at?” Wood turned around to catch you staring at Diggory and within that moment, Diggory’s eyes found you too. “I thought you didn’t do boyfriends.” Wood teased you as you both returned your gaze back to the first years. 

“I don’t. He was looking at me.” You tried to defend yourself but Oliver always saw straight through any of your lies. 

“Welcome! Welcome to another year at Hogwarts.” Dumbledore finally announced his welcome as all the first years were sorted and the frog choir had sang. “Now, I'd like to say a few words before we all become too befuddled by our excellent feast. First, I'm pleased to welcome Professor R.J. Lupin, who's kindly consented to fill the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Good luck, Professor.” 

The new professor was young, his face was scarred yet he still remained handsome. You could see his friendly demeanour as he smiled at the students all looking up at him and found yourself actually looking forward to your next DATDA lesson. 

“Our Care of Magical Creatures teacher has decided to retire in order to spend more time with his remaining limbs. Fortunately, I'm delighted to announce that his place will be taken by none other than our own Rubeus Hagrid. Finally, on a more disquieting note, at the request of the Ministry of Magic, Hogwarts will, until further notice, play host to the dementors of Azkaban. Until such a time as Sirius Black is captured. The dementors will be stationed at every entrance to the grounds. Now, whilst I've been assured that their presence will not disrupt our day-to-day activities, a word of caution... Dementors are vicious creatures. They'll not distinguish between the one they hunt and the one who gets in their way. Therefore, I must warn each and every one of you to give them no reason to harm you. It is not in the nature of a dementor to be forgiving. But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times; if one only remembers to turn on the light.” Dumbledore’s speech about the dementors didn’t seem to help the overwhelming nerves inside your chest. 

“You alright?” Wood leaned into you with concern in his eyes. The colour had drowned from your face, not that you had realised. 

“I’m fine. It’s just another year at Hogwarts with some soulless, cold, creepy extra security, right?” You tried to joke but Oliver wasn’t convinced. 

The first years and prefects were the first ones to leave the hall as the first years always had priority when it came to seeing their new common rooms and dormitories. 

You finished off your pudding and left Oliver chatting with his quidditch team about the new tactics he’d been thinking up over the summer. 

You left the great hall, loosening your tie and tossing a hand through your hair as you realised just how tired you were. 

“(Y/n)?” You heard a voice come up behind you and you spun around to see Cedric jogging down the corridor towards you.

“Cedric?” You furrowed your eyebrows, curious to why he was giving you this much attention today. 

“What, um, what are you doing right now?” He asked as he stopped in front of you. 

“Nothing... Heading back to the common room.” You were taken back by his forwardness. 

“Would you... Would you like to, uh, go on a walk with me?” Cedric asked, pointing his thumb over his shoulder. 

“Shouldn’t you be looking after the first years, Mr Prefect?” You had saw him leave earlier with the new Hufflepuff students. 

“They realised the kitchens was right beside our common room so I think they’re preoccupied for now.” Cedric smiled at you and you couldn’t help but smile back. 

“It’s getting late.” You stated, looking up at the night sky from the arch beside you. 

“A short walk then?” Cedric offered his hand. 

Your eyes fell to his palm and you gnawed on your cheek as you contemplated. 

“I don’t bite.” Cedric pushed, his grin never faltering. “I promise.” 

“A short one.” You didn’t take his hand but you walked past him, encouraging him to follow. 

“So, how come we haven’t spoken before?” Cedric asked as he chased after you, his hands in his pockets. 

“I don’t know.” You admitted honestly, “One of the many reasons could be you’re a Hufflepuff, I’m a Gryffindor. I’m 5th year, you’re 6th year. I don’t really have many friends, you have a lot. I like to be alone too. People don’t speak to me that often.” You suggested many reasons but you knew the whole fact was you just barely spent time socialising outside of your friendship with Wood. 

“How come?” Cedric furrowed his brow as he glanced down at you. 

You went quiet as you rounded a corner to enter the courtyard. 

“(Y/n)?” Cedric caught your elbow and brought you to face him.

“People just don’t trust me, I guess.” You pursed your lips into a thin line as you avoided his eyes. 

“Why would they not?” He asked. 

“Cedric.” You looked up at him with a frown, “My name is (Y/n) Seyler.” 

“Seyler? As in...” Cedric didn’t react in fear or disgust but more confusion. 

“As in Lorelei and Mikael Seyler.” Cedric could see the anger flicker in your eyes when you said your parents names. 

“Why would anyone not trust you because of that? They’ve been in Azkaban since you were a toddler.” Cedric seemed genuine about his confusion but you knew that people were judged far too easily at this school by their family names; Weasley, Malfoy, etc.

“People think evil can be inherited. I can’t tell you how happy I was being sorted into Gryffindor, at least I wasn’t following their footsteps then. My father was a Ravenclaw and my mother a Slytherin. I would have even been happy as a Hufflepuff.” You pulled Cedric’s tie out of his jumper and stared at it. 

“What’s wrong with being a Hufflepuff?” Cedric took it from you with a fake hurt on his face. 

“The fact I know Hufflepuffs prefer hanging around with Slytherins than Gryffindors.” You wiggled your eyebrows, it was a known fact throughout the school that if you were a Slytherin you probably had a Hufflepuff as your out of house friend. 

“I guess that’s changing.” Cedric smirked, cocking his eyebrow at you. 

You were speechless at his attempt at flirting but you felt the heat rise to your cheeks. 

“I, um, I better head back to the dorms. Need to unpack and all.” You made up an excuse to excuse yourself.

“I can walk you if you like?” Cedric offered but you had to deny in fear that if you spent much more time with him, someone would notice. 

“It’s okay. Yours is closer from here, it would take longer for you to walk me to the fat lady and then back to your common room. Don’t want to be getting in trouble for being out late on the first night back, do we?” You started to slowly walk backwards as you spoke. 

“I guess that wouldn’t be a great start to the year. Goodnight then, (Y/n).” Cedric nodded his head at you, his soft brown hair bouncing on his head, his smile just as soft.

“Goodnight.” The word came out faster than expected and Cedric just chuckled. 

You turned your back and rushed to the Gryffindor common room. 

Most students were inside now, all heading to their dorms to unpack and relax after the large feast. 

You were greeted by some of the boys in your year who were sat around with the Weasley twins and you politely greeted them back. 

When you reached your dorm, the beds were mostly taken and the girls were nattering about their summer romances and getaways. 

“Hey (Y/n), did you have a nice summer?” Angelina was the one who quietened the girls by speaking to you. 

“It was okay.” You smiled a small appreciative smile at the girl for trying with you. Angelina and Katie were both on the Quidditch team with Oliver so were more friendly with you than most of the girls in your year. 

“Oliver was already talking our ears off at supper about this years Quidditch cup. I don’t know how you sit with him for the whole train journey, he must put you to sleep.” Katie joked which made you and Angelina laugh.

“I’m pretty much immune to his constant chatter by now. I know what and what not to listen to.” You retorted, smiling at the girls. 

“That train journey was pretty scary. The dementors coming aboard was horrible.” Angelina folded her clothes as she spoke. 

“Well, Black breaking out of Azkaban is pretty horrible. If he has any sense he won’t come near Hogwarts.” Katie couldn’t help but let her eyes flicker to you when she mentioned Azkaban but you pretended not to notice. 

“He may not have any sense. Azkaban can drive you mad. The only good thing about that is he’ll caught quickly if he tries to come here.” You kept your eyes down as you unlocked your trunk to find your pyjamas. 

The girls went quiet but soon picked up some other conversation that you weren’t interested in. 

When you felt you had sorted all your belongings out, you slipped on your slippers and went down to the common room. 

Wood was sat on the sofa by the fire. 

“Waiting for me, Oli?” You made yourself known and he grinned up at you. 

“I know your personal schedule way too accurately, Seyler. I was just drawing up some strategies.” Wood showed you his notebook and you just shook your head, taking and closing the book.  

“No more Quidditch talk today, I beg!” You flopped on the sofa beside him, pulling your sweater sleeves up your wrists as you brought your knees up to your chest. 

“Okay... Well, how about we talk about your little evening walk with Cedric Diggory?” 

“How did you find out?” You stared at the boy in disbelief. 

“Percy saw you two together in the courtyard.” He admitted. It was a pain that they shared a room. 

“He asked me to go on a walk with him and I said yes. There’s nothing else to it.” You started, 

“Isn’t he a little old for you, (Y/n)?” Wood asked, almost teasing you. 

“He’s a year older. Anyway, like I said, there’s nothing else to it.” You argued, 

“We’ll see about that, shall we?” Wood rolled his eyes at you which made you whack him.

“I can’t believe it’s your last year.” You tried diverting the conversation to him as you tucked yourself under his arm.

“Finally! I won’t have to spend any more time with you after this year.” Oliver smirked. The cheek of that boy!

“I am a delight!” You whacked him again. 

“You’re a bully. I’ll come up in bruises tomorrow, just you see.” 

“Speaking of tomorrow. We have lessons. We should get to bed, it’s been long day of travelling and if I hear one more of your strategies for this year I may fall asleep on this sofa.” 

“Like I said, a Bully...” Wood stood up and pulled you with him. 

You both returned to your rooms and you fell asleep quicker than expected, the last image in your mind was Cedric with that smile in the train corridor. 

(PART 2 HERE)

[stina-is-a-punk-rocker]

books i actually like

A solid 97% of my ‘book reviews’ (for lack of a better term) are bound to be just me bitching about said book for way too long with way too many expletives, because books I genuinely adore rarely invoke the visceral reaction within me that causes so many of my ‘reviews’ of books I don’t like to be so impassioned and long-winded. Here’s to kicking this dumpster fire off with a little positivity, because that will be little and far in between henceforth.

Harry Potter – J. K. Foul Thing I never understood how someone could appreciate the art and not the artist until Harry Potter. JKR’s dead to me, but the seven original (and only, because I refuse to accept the flaming pile of dog shit that was The Cursed Child as canon) books remain i c o n i c. And you’ll probably witness a LOT of Harry Potter-inspired shitposting on my part if you decide to stick around, because Harry Potter trivia makes up a solid chunk of my personality, and I like to shove my fandoms in other people’s faces. Again, I’m cute like that.

The Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank By some odd coincidence, my mum got me Anne Frank’s diary for my 13th birthday, and I always felt like a Super Special Snowflake because of that. Obviously, I can’t relate to being Jewish and in hiding during WWII, but there’s a lot of Anne’s views and thoughts that… resonated with me (ain’t that the most basic-ass description of a book, ever). There’s always the lingering sadness while reading because you know how her story comes to an end, but it’s a book that’s still stuck with me six years later, and for the rest of my mortal life.

The Book Thief – Markus Zusak Why Must I Adore Books That Give Me Naught but Pain: An Autobiography.

Freak the Mighty – Rodman Philbrick Ditto.

Bad Alice – Jean Ure When I first saw the cover, I expected a lighthearted, cheery book. I was very much mistaken. Duffy, a self-proclaimed ‘oddball’, and Alice, another self-proclaimed ‘oddball’, are easily two of my favorite fictional characters, ever. The subject matter is pretty damn dark and rereading the book as an adult is actually kind of scary, but it’s so well-written and engaging and this sounds like I’m an elementary school teacher writing a report card so I’m just gonna stop here.

Tiger Eyes – Judy Blume A true Relic of the angst-riddled phase of my adolescence (I say as if I am not still going through said angst-riddled phase). I’ve been a fan of Judy Blume’s work since one of the girls in my third-grade class bestowed upon me Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing; growing up, I’ve become more detached from Blume’s work but Tiger Eyes is a book that’s never gotten old for me. Davey, the angst-riddled adolescent protagonist, is also stubborn and headstrong and angry and scarily relatable to myself at her age, though under wildly different circumstances.

Changeling – Philippa Gregory I’ve read a couple of Goodreads reviews on the Order of Darkness series, and I’ve garnered that Philippa Gregory fans (Philippans? Philipinos?) are not fans of the series. I can’t vouch for that, given that I’ve only ever read the said series, and I’m admittedly not a fan of books two through four (which is basically every book of the series published to date, exempting the first), but Changeling is a book I liked enough to attempt to handwrite it in a notebook back when I was 12 (I gave up after, like, two sentences because my hand started cramping), and also to try and write a ripoff, featuring an angsty young preteen girl with (short) wavy black hair and eyes like limpid tears (gee, I wonder who that could be) (my eyes are brown, though; I dunno why I wrote the self-insert to be blue-eyed).

The Secret History – Donna Tartt My first foray into dark academia; sadly, reading The Secret History before any other books in the (sub?)genre made every other book pale in comparison. What’s so special about The Secret History for me is that I hate every main character, with passion. Each and every one of them; not just Bunny, but Richard and Henry and Charles and Camilla and Francis and Julian can all go fuck themselves for all I care- but I find them so fascinating. The story and the way it’s written is pretty over-the-top dramatic and my struggling bilingual arse had to look up every tenth word or so, but I adore it with every fibre of my being. Well, the leftover fibres of my being that aren’t simping over Kim Seungmin.

A Series of Unfortunate Events – Lemony Snicket Does this count as the first step of my emo phase? Shoutout to the girl in seventh grade I sat next to for, like, two weeks, who lent me The Wide Window and got me hooked on the series.

Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll This entire book feels so trippy.

The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett It’s corny and Everything Works Out Swell for the Goody Guys in the End! in period-typical book fashion, but it got me through many a boring class in the spring of my ninth year of personhood, so I’ll always have a soft spot for Mary and Dickon and Colin and the rest of the gang. It also inspired me to Cultivate, and there are two pretty bougainvillea plants in my garden thanks to one Mary Lennox.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post – Emily M. Danforth Cameron Post: the lesbian baddie we all aspire to be.

Vicky Angel – Jacqueline Wilson Yet another shoutout to my seventh-grade seatmate for lending me her copy of Vicky Angel, which I read under my covers like it was a bloody nudie mag.

A Song of Ice and Fire – George R. R. Martin Where’s Winds of Winter, George?

Turtles All the Way Down – John Green Paper Towns used to be my favorite John Green book until I read Turtles All the Way Down last year. I adore John Green’s writing style (maybe not the #deep #woke #sadboi #middleclass #white #male #cisgender #heterosexual #personalityofabreadroll leads in a solid chunk of his books, though) and okay, so maybe Davis fits all of the above, but my true faves are Aza and Daisy and their dynamic.

To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee I keep calling this ‘HOW to Kill a Mockingbird’ in conversations and it gets really fucking inconvenient.

Coraline – Neil Gaiman I just wish I’d read this sooner than I did.

[dukeofonions]

Season Two Episode Ranking

Warning: I get very, very, very, critical in this ranking. Like, angry ranting that’s almost laughable. Should I be getting this worked up over an online series? Eh, probably not. But this is my life and I’ll get outrageously angry over whatever media I want. 

Seriously though, this is all just my personal opinion. I’m not saying you have to agree with me and if you like the episodes that I don’t then that’s perfectly fine. 

I tend to overthink things a lot and I spend most of my time analyzing every little details of this series because what else am I supposed to do at work?

So yeah, this ranking is definitely less positive than the one I did for the first season. But I hope y’all can still have some fun going over it! And if anyone does their own rankings be sure to tag me because I’d love to see them and see how mine compare! 

Anyways, enough of me acting like this is more important than it is, on with the ranking! 

I can’t believe season two only has 12 episodes. Now I went ahead and counted Moving On as one episode in this ranking since my opinions on both parts are pretty similar, but sweet cheese and fish this season started on September 1st, 2017 with Fitting in and right now is left on Putting Others First which came out on May 1st, 2020. And as of me writing this it is now May 2nd, 2021. It’s been a whole year since the last episode and we still have no idea when the finale is coming. 

Like, bruh. 

Also remember how the longest episode in season one was only about 15 minutes long and the shortest one was barely four minutes? 

Well the shortest episode in season two is Crofters- The Musical which is 8:42 seconds. The longest episode is Putting Others First which is a whopping 51:09.

And I wish I could say that the writing was on the same level it was in the first season, but there’s a reason I put that warning up there. 

Well, enough stalling, let’s get this ball rolling.

#11 Embarrassing Phases

There are no words in the English language that can describe the sheer amount of hatred I have for this episode. If I could rank this any lower, I would, which will happen once we finally get the season finale. I don't know how that episode will go but it'll definitely be better than whatever dumpster fire this was.

Like, okay. I have some positives. Roman, Patton, and Virgil's costumes were cool. I won't lie I live for vampire Virgil. And the message about embracing your past "phases" and exploring how they helped made you who you are. That's neat. I like that.

And that's it.

My biggest gripe with this episode is Virgil. He just acts like a complete bitch in this! And I don't mean that in an endearing way he's literally so mean for no reason!

He's all "You guys are trivializing my past!"

In response to them going "Hey Virgil, we're glad you're part of our group now and are proud of how far you've come!"

Like okay, even if it was insensitive to call it a "phase" literally there was no reason for him to get as angry as he did.

Just a simple; "Hey, I don't like it when you refer to what I went through as a phase because it feels like you're not talking it seriously."

Isnt that what this whole show is about? Communication???

It wasn't fun watching him just insulting the others, it was annoying!

Like poor Patton, just trying to help and be encouraging, only for Virgil to keep treating him like dirt.

What did I miss here? Virgil was fine in the last few episodes, so what the heck happened?

Oh and let's not forget the great advice Thomas offers Patton at the end of the episode in regards to handling Virgil: "Don't do anything to get on his bad side or else he'll do bad things to you!"

Okay I'm paraphrasing here but that's basically what he says! And since Virgil is supposed to be a representation of anxiety, this is a horrible message!!!

What happened to finding healthy ways to cope with your anxiety? What happened to keeping it in check so it didn't take over your life?

Yeah I'm definitely gonna make a full post about this one episode later because there's a whole lot more to unpack here. But yeah -10/10

#10 Putting Others First

There is just way too much going on with this episode. They try cramming so much in here that I don't even remember more than half of it.

I remember the opening song, then the Lilypadton fight and everything that happens from there. That's it.

And those are the best parts of this episode, but even that has problems because everything with Janus feels like a completely different episode.

Also the whole way they try to teach about morality is all over the place. How did we go from choosing a wedding over a callback to deciding whether or not you would die for your friends to self care is important?

And while the video game sequences, while utilized well in some places, were way too distracting and it felt like they were just trying to shove as many video game references in as they could.

You could take out just about all of them and the episode wouldn't change. Everything they were used for could have been done just through having the characters talk to each other, and knowing this makes the fact that this video was delayed for so long because of it just makes the whole thing worse.

Like the animations were well done, and I don't want to downplay the hard work the animator did. They were just doing their job after all.

But the trolley scenes (especially the second one) hurt my eyes with all the flashing (would have been nice to have some kind of warning for that) and some of the voice effects (especially on Logan's) were grating and distracting.

I want to rank this episode higher, but it has almost zero rewatch ability and honestly besides the ending, when I first watched this episode I was just kinda let down.

#9 Crofters- The Musical

Okay look, the song is a bop and I adore the fact that Logan and Roman got two episodes in the spotlight, but it's just kinda "meh" to me. Plus I get just a tinge of second hand embarrassment but that's just me.

And I know this is kinda unfair but another reason why this one isn't higher is because of a couple of things. One is that they set up some angst for Roman, he's clearly not doing well and Thomas thinks the best thing to do is tell him that he might get his own jam flavor.

Then he does, and instead of following up on that little plot point from this video, they just rushed out a commercial and completely ignored and potential story telling or character development for Roman.

So yeah "Return of the Jam" is the main reason why I don't like this one as much as I used to. And I actually just got an idea for a new post comparing these two so add that to my to-do list.

#8 Fitting In

I actually skipped this one during my first official watch through for one reason and one reason alone: I wasn't allowed to watch Harry Potter.

But I realized that my parents wouldn't approve of me of watching a gay man's content either so I just said screw it.

And luckily I understood enough Harry Potter references to get what they were talking about and honestly, this episode is a lot of fun.

It's a good follow up to Accepting Anxiety, and a nice way to kick off season two. Virgil is finding his place among the group and everyone is trying their best to make him feel welcome, it's really sweet.

And of course we get the new costumes (which i hadn't even noticed that they were wearing their old costumes at first) and I dunno it just gives off season one vibes and it makes me happy.

#7 Moving On Part One/Moving On Part Two

Yeah honestly my thoughts on both parts of this episode are the same. What can I say? It's really good.

This definitely one of the more emotionally heavy episodes in the series, and we see the characters at their lowest for really, the first time in this series.

I adore Patton's room and how each side gets their own corners. All the little details they add in, including the changing picture in the background, it really gives off that nostalgia feel they were going for.

What I love most about this episode is how (unlike some other episodes) they actually let the emotional moments sink in and don't throw in a joke immediately after. Like the ending is bittersweet, sad almost, and I love that they stuck with the mood up until the episode ended.

Not to say there weren't some jokes here and there (mostly in the first part) but once the mood shifts and things become more serious they let that mood stay. And when there are jokes they all work really well.

This is one episode I've actually watched the least out of season two, so it'll be interesting when I go watch it again to see if any of this holds up.

#6 Why Do We Get Out of Bed in the Morning?

Honestly I only put this one above Moving On because Logan and Roman are my favorites.

This episode is actually one of the weaker ones, which hurts to say because again, favorite characters, but goodness it's all over the place. It feels like a precursor to POF and not in a good way.

Logan and Roman just basically argue back and forth throughout the whole episode, never seeing eye to eye with each other, to the point where I think think the writers realized they couldn't find a way to get these two to agree so they just had Thomas step in and be like, "You guys make a really good team!"

Dude, were you even paying attention? They never even reached a conclusion on their own. And even though they have their little moment at the end, it's all kinda ruined when nothing in their relationship changes.

Yes, in Learning New Things About Ourselves, they acknowledge that there's more work to be done in regards to them, which makes sense. People aren't going to suddenly change overnight.

Yet despite having come to some kind of understanding with each other twice now (both here and LNTAO) in the following episodes they still act like they hate each other! Heck Roman is downright nasty to him for seemingly no reason and I don't really blame him for it.

More like I think the writers just don't know how to develop their relationship and just aren't as interested in them as the others. Logan's been reduced to being Mr. Exposition and apparently Roman's personal issues aren't enough for him to carry a room episode on his own because they felt the need to introduce two new characters before he finally gets it.

Sorry, what was I talking about? Oh yeah, the episode.

There's some funny bits here and there and the little animations are cute (even if unnecessary) but really it's only saving grace is being Roman and Logan centered.

Even though they felt the need to include a cameo from literally every other character because apparently no one has any faith that Logan and Roman can carry an episode on their own.

#5 The Sanders Sides 12 Days of Christmas

This episode is just pure fun. Look, I'm not a big fan of Christmas, even less of a fan of Christmas songs, but my gosh this episode almost makes me appreciate the season.

The way they're all just bickering the whole time, being very confused, and how there's just so much personality from each character even when they're not talking/singing and just being in the background is *chef's kiss* perfect.

There's so many fun little details to pick out during the song and it's fun to go back and watch how each side reacts to different things.

#4 Selfishness vs Selflessness

Gonna be real, this used to be my favorite episode. Until my overly critical brain started finding all kinds of problems in the writing department but I think I’ve been negative enough on this post so I’ll save it for another time. 

Janus steals the show in this one, it’s his first official appearance since his debut and he just soaks up the spotlight. It’s refreshing to have an antagonist in the show again, and he’s the perfect foil for each of the original Sides. 

He knows how to play into Roman’s insecurities, know how to feed into his ego and get him on his side. He’s in direct opposition to Patton, who believes that everything Janus represents is wrong. He’s able to silence Logan and take him out of the conversation, speaking over him most of the time. 

And I guess he and Virgil have some beef I dunno. 

The courtroom scenario is fun, and I love how Janus is the only one who sees how ridiculous it is (even though it was your idea in the first place, Jan) and everyone else seeing it as perfectly normal is hilarious. 

I do like some of the more dramatic moments in this episode, especially that final bit with Janus questioning Thomas until he finally gets him to admit the truth. It was intense and reminded me of the scene where Janus confronts Roman in a similar manner. 

While far from perfect this is still a good episode and I can find a lot to love about it, like Janus in a suit. 

#3 Dealing With Intrusive Thoughts

This episode scared the shit out of me and I loved it.

Okay it didn’t actually scare me. But I stayed up to wait for it to be posted, which wasn’t until 2 or 3 in the morning. So by the time I finally watched it I was half awake and not expecting anything that I witnessed. 

The result was me being terrified of Thomas with a mustache and it prevented me from sleeping. I was over it the next day though and had Forbidden Fruit stuck in my head all day. Which isn’t good when you’re running the register at work and you can’t stop singing it. 

There’s a lot of reason why I love this episode, Remus being the primary thing. His entrance is iconic, the first few notes from his theme play as he creeps up behind the TV, him smiling at Roman all creepily until he whacks him over the head and knocks him out for most of the episode. 

Then we get the song, Forbidden Fruit, which is just great. Slight secondhand embarrassment but seeing the finished product and all they put into it, I can’t help but love it. 

Still miffed that Janus hasn’t gotten a song... specifically a villain song... I won’t ever let that go...

Logan is another highlight in this episode (no surprise) and seeing him go head-to-head against his polar opposite without batting an eye was interesting since I was kinda expecting them to show Logan having trouble dealing with Remus but nope. He handled it like a champ and I love them both. 

Now I am kinda wary as to how they’re going to handle Remus in the future, especially with the intrusive thoughts aspect. It’s a sensitive topic and they’re already screwing up anxiety. But Remus has only been in one episode so far which means I can’t make any solid judgments until he’s appeared in more episodes, so I’ll have to wait and see. 

All in all, great episode! Definitely deserves to be in my top three. 

#2 Learning New Things About Ourselves

This episode made me feel so nostalgic. I freaking love puppets and grew up with Sesame Street and the Muppets, so I’m probably biased towards this episode but to me this is really one of the better written episodes. 

Perfect? Heck no. But really, really good. 

I love that we get to explore a bit more with Logan and Roman’s characters, in a lot of ways this is kind of a Logan episode which has him standing against the other Sides, and it’s really interesting to see just how different he is compared to the three of them and it could just be me but it seemed like he’s becoming more of an outsider and isn’t as close with the original four as he used to be, and this episode is what really kicks that idea off. 

I can also relate to the “Well that’s nice but what do you do for a living?” message, except in my case it’s more like I want to quit my “real job” to pursue what I’m passionate about while people tell me it’ll probably never happen or “Yeah that’s a nice hobby!” So this episode really struck close to home and I just have a lot of sentimental feelings towards this one. 

I love all of the designs for the puppets, they all just fit perfectly and I wouldn’t mind seeing them make a comeback one day. I know that’d be difficult since they’d need a professional to puppet them but hey, one can dream right?

And oh my gosh the song, it just gives off the same feel from Sesame Street and Muppet songs with it’s jazzy feel. And I won’t lie I flipped my lid when Logan and Thomas were in the same shot together. We hadn’t seen any of the Sides share the screen with Thomas yet and the fact that it was Logan, and he was arguing with Thomas and they were singing over each other? Ah I love it!

Also don’t get me started on how Logan’s bit in the song sounds more villainous than the others. I’m not saying anything just a neat little observation. 

I have a lot of happy feelings attached to this episode, so despite the few problems I have with it I could never bring myself to hate it. The only one that tops it is...

#1 Can Lying Be Good?

The episode that started it all. The one that caught my attention and sparked my new fixation on this little series that I had just glossed over before.

I really don’t know what prompted me to watch this episode, other than I wasn’t in the best place and it just happened to pop into my recommendations one day and I figured, “Huh, haven’t watched this guy for awhile. Let’s see what he’s been up to.”

Once the episode was finished my first thought was “Holy shit when did this series start having lore?!”

This episode is probably the closest thing to perfect out of all the season two episodes so far. The writing is clever, pretty much all of the jokes land, and oh my gosh the editing in this one is phenomenal. 

The way they show Roman shifting between himself and Joan throughout the episode is what sticks out the most. Having Roman’s voice coming from Joan, or having them briefly change back to Roman, I love it so much. 

Not to mention Thomas’s ever changing shirt that reflects what he’s thinking/feeling is a neat little detail.

Did I mention this episode is hilarious? The ridiculousness of each scenario that they act out, with all the little inputs from Logan and Virgil who are both trying their best to do their jobs besides not even wanting to be part of it in the first place is adorable. 

And of course, the man of the hour, Deceit. Or Janus as we now know him as. 

Is it weird that I like Deceit more as a name? Probably, but that’s just because I don’t like how early his name was revealed. 

Okay that was my last negative comment. Promise.

Now since I hadn’t watched Sanders Sides in a while I didn’t notice anything off about “Patton” during my first watch. But going back after seeing the rest of the series helped me catch all the little hints they added to clue in the audience that something wasn’t right. 

A lot of it is really subtle, mostly in the acting department, but once you’ve caught on to everything it makes you wonder how you didn’t notice the first time. You can even see Logan and Virgil throughout the episode, knowing that something is off with “Patton” but holding back their concerns until Virgil finally calls Deceit out. 

I’ve rewatched Deceit’s reveal so many times. When he finally drops the act after Thomas makes up his mind not to lie, you can just tell he no longer cares whether Thomas knows or not. Then things get even more tense when Logan is silenced, and everyone knows what’s going on except Thomas. 

The music starts to build up, Thomas is flipping out, then after Deceit taunts him again he finally demands to know what’s going on and BAM there he is!

I love everything about this. 

Like, what else can I say? This episode is brilliant. It really shows exactly what this team is capable of when they’re at their best. The pacing, the build up, the writing, all of it combined together to make the perfect episode.

Season Two has been, interesting. The long waits have caused some problems with the pacing and characters, not to mention the departure of Joan from the writing team with new writers entering the room, not to mention the first welcome now unwelcome arrival of Asides, and with only the season finale left before season three, it makes me wonder just where this series is headed.

I know this series is capable of doing incredible things, season one is still solid and it really holds up even after all this time. But season two just feels like a jumbled mess. Sure, it’s easy to enjoy the episodes individually, but once you try to fit them all together it’s like trying to jam a puzzle piece into a place where it doesn’t fit. 

The best way to describe this season is as an experimental season. Each episode has the team trying something new, sometimes it seems these gimmicks take precedence over the story itself. Of course, some of these can work to the episode’s advantage, while others are just distracting and you’d know you wouldn’t miss them if they were gone. 

It’s a mixed bag that’s for sure. One that has me watching in morbid curiosity as I wait to see whether it’ll crash in the end or blow my expectations out of the water. It really is fun to analyze these episodes, and yes I know I can be very harsh but believe it or not this is how I engage with media that I love.

My hope is that team will learn from season two and try to take a more simple approach with their production once season three roles around. Because if they continue at the same pace they are now I doubt there will be many people around to see this series through. 

And on that note, that was my ranking of season two! I’m actually kinda excited now to go back and rewatch everything, I hope I don’t have to wait much longer to do so but that all depends on when the season two finale comes. Whether it ends up exceeding my expectations or just being “meh” I know it’ll be interesting regardless and I can’t wait to see just how they plan on wrapping this all up before the final season arrives.