#Tiffany Tomb

[lavender-moon03]

Tiffany Tomb

She's my Cleric in DnD. She's a wood elf who doesn't actually care about her religion, she's chaotic neutral, which I'm using to mean she does whatever benefits herself most in any situation. She's based on my sim with the traits; klyptomanic, hot-headed, clumsy, and has the musical genius aspirations.

[noahsbookhoard]

📚February 2024 Book Review (Part 2/3)📚

Second batch of books read in February! I have mixed feelings about this one: there's really really good (the 3rd of the book I had a book crush on this month) and there's... less good.

Histoire de coming out by Baptiste Beaulieu and Sophie Nanteuil

A practical and empathic guide for friends and family in the event of a loved one's coming out, full of testimony from LGBTQ+ people and their relatives.

I only discovered Baptiste Beaulieu late last year but I already really admire him: he is a general physician, openly gay man and father of "the most beautiful baby in the world". He is also really funny, caring, and generally a good person who isn't afraid to speak out when he think something is wrong.

He wrote several novels but he also coedited this guide with Dr Sophie Nanteuil, and even though I already came out (non too successfully) to my parents I wanted to see what advice they would give.

They cover pretty much every aspect and every possible reaction to a child's coming out (it is very parent focused but not only). They even have a testimony from a parent who never accepted their child's identity, got angry and cut contact.

I think the strength in this guide is that it only focuses on the coming out part: there is next to nothing on queer history or the subtleties of queer identities, but when your child just came out to you you might not care about Stonewall or the nuances between pan and bi people: what you need and what this book has, is sympathy for the parent's feeling, patient how-to on what (not) to say/do and insight on how your child might be feeling (the statistics on suicide among queer youth without family support are chiling)

A worthy read, even if I don't get to use it I wish I could have.

Harrow the Ninth (The Locked Tomb #2) by Tamsyn Muir

After the events of Gideon the Ninth, Harrow ascended to Lyctorhood. However she lacks many Lyctor's ability and lost part of her memory in the process. Mystery unfurled when she receives letters written to herself before the memory loss and when a newcomer makes Canaan House unsafe.

I absolutely loved Gideon the Ninth so I had really high hopes for book 2 and I am not disappointed!

However I was completely lost when I started reading, as I was expecting to find a narrative style similar to book 1. The second person narration was unsettling enough but it took me a while to understand the when where and what (that was on purpose certainly, but that explains why reviews for this book are either excellent or really bad). Even more confusing to was the chapters with Harrow and her rewriting of the event of Gideon the Ninth: I hadn't read the book that long ago but I felt like it had been ages and I remembered it all wrong!

Had it been any other book I might have thought twice before continuing. But this is Tamsyn Muir, she earned the benefit of the doubt: I read on, quite certain it would eventually make sense.

I won't spoil anything because Harrow the Ninth is best experienced in all its unsettling glory: the tense atmosphere fit really well with both Harrow's discomfort and pain and with the escalating uneasiness in Canaan. The answers to it all treacle down at just the right pace to keep the reader on edge and the more it goes the more in love I fell with the wolrdbuilding.

My only regret was the noticeable lack of Gideon and Palamedes for most of the novel, but with that ending the author is more than forgiven. Also the memes. The only reason I hadn't put Nona the Ninth on top of the TBR right after finishing this on was because I needed to stretch the pleasure while waiting for Alecto the Ninth's release date.

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Violet Sorrengail, daughter of the famed General Sorrengail wants to follow into her mother and sister's footsteps and become a Rider, a soldier chosen by a dragon and flying with them into battle. To achieve this she will have to survive the very dangerous training at the Academy and, even more dangerous, avoid Xaden Riorson, who hates Violet's mother and Violet herself. Or maybe not?

Do I really have to do this?

I read this book because my sister messaged me saying "You HAVE to read it it's GREAT!" So as the loving sibling I am, I put it on top of the TBR and started as soon as I finished Harrow the Ninth.

Let's be diplomatic: this book has an audience since it's been a tiktok succes, taste is subjective and personal and my opinions do no reflect the quality of the book, only my experience reading it. I'm not on tiktok and not into romantasy in general, so I wasn't the target audience. And I did no research before diving in, this book and I started on the wrong foot.

Now to be less diplomatic if it wasn't for my sister this book would have flown through the window after page 42 (specifically).

I found the world building very bland (and was put off by the kingdom being named Navarre: it exists, it’s in Spain and last I checked there's no dragon in Pamplona). The author uses one of the worst way to introduce lore I've ever read: The Protagonist Infodumps When She Is In Mortal Peril. There might have been some interesting details put into the classification of dragons but I can't take any interest in it when the main character is currently dangling from the Climbing Wall of Doom.

The main character, Violet, has plot harmour 5 inches thick: she is supposed to have a physical disability but it only interferes when the plot wants it too and she is always saved in the nick of time (although I do not suffer from EDS, so I can't really judge the quality of the representation). Every little task and exercise in her school is a death trap and at some point I just stopped worrying she might get killed because students can just murder each other in the corridors. There's other way to create tension than "... or you will DIE"

I was uninterested in the character because they have the personality of papier maché. The only ones who are a bit less shallow (yet unterly unoriginal, I felt like reading Twilight but with dragons) are the main love triangle and they are absolutely unsufferable. The characters also all talk exactly the same way: Sarcastic Quipping TM is fun when one or two people at most do it, but they all do dragons included! I couldn't stand any of the character except on and he frickin dies!

I read it all, which proves I love my sister, but definitely not enough to read the sequel. You owe me one, sis.

The Wee Free Men (Discworld #30) by Terry Pratchett

Tiffany Aching always saw things a little differently from everybody else; according Miss Tick, a travelling teacher, that makes her a witch just like her Granny. When her little brother is taken by the Queen of the fairies, the young witch-in-training must save him and in her qusst she can count on the help of the Nac Mac Feegle, rowdy but courageous fae folk.

This is my first time reading the Discword series and contrary to every advice in the entire Terry Pratchett fanbase, I am reading them in chronological order. So far it's been a blast! I do not regret this reading order, even if it's not the best one to start with.

Therefore when my reading led me to the first Tiffany Aching book, I had no doubt it would be a really great young reader book. Still I wasn't expecting to cry but damn, missing your grandma is a universal feeling and Sir Terry Pratchett nailed it.

I would have like Tiffany when I was a kid: she is smart, brave, curious, she sees right through the adults. She reminds me a little of Roal Dahl's Matilda. The Nac Mac Feegle are really funny and endearing: they are just as enjoyable as an adult when you get all the jokes as for children who will find the accent and banter amusing. That makes me want to check the french translation to see how Patrick Couton handled the scottishness.

What I love in the plot is how simple it appears (the quest to a magic world with supernatural allies to save an sibling) yet it has that Pratchett twist, his character's cleverness and the art of the little sentences that have you pause and think for a minute.

I would definitely give it to a child if I ever have any. Even if they start shouting "Craven!" that would be worth it.

[shimmywhenyoucantbounce]

Mary Katherine Blackwood Phoebe Lichten Fran Bow Dagenhart Gideon Nav Reverend Daughter Harrowhark Nonagesimus the girl with braids Parker Kaywinnet Lee Frye Trisanna Chandler Evumeimei Dingsai Molly Grue Tiffany Aching September Lye Juliet Capulet Ace McShane Aspen Ralvath Kim Ross my beloveds all

what are some of you guys woman/girl blorbos. like female characters you are utterly obsessed with

[vixlenxe]

FFXIV finding a way an in lore way to be like 'don't worry, you don't have to farm for new currency, gil works on both worlds' is awesome.

We're not happy about the tombstones tho.

[artifacts-archive]

Flask

Roman, Syria, 3rd-4th century

The iridescent sheen on this flask, an artificially created effect sought after by 19th-century glassmaking innovators such as Louis Comfort Tiffany, was not actually intended by or known to their makers. Because of their association with luxury and precious oils and perfumes, these vessels were often buried with their owners in tombs, the chemical conditions of which, over time, have caused the surfaces to deteriorate, resulting in the shimmering, often opalescent, hues that appeal to the modern eye.

[hbyrde36]

It's Only Forever

R: Mature | WC: 5203 | | Ch 7/8 | Read on AO3

[Penny Art - Eddie's Introduction] [Penny Art - The Ball]

[SissayeRys Art Link]

Ch 1 Ch 2 Ch 3 Ch 4 Ch 5 Ch 6

Chapter 7: Thirteen O'Clock

Steve woke with a sudden, violent jolt. 

Heart pounding, his eyes snapped open wide, taking in the details of his bedroom ceiling through bleary eyes as he tried to shake off the sensation of falling.

It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. It happens to everyone, and Steve more than most with his lifelong fear of heights—that moment when you’re just dozing off and out of nowhere your whole body jerks and you feel like you’ve plummeted off a ten story building to land hard on the pavement below.

Tick, tock.

Huh. 

Steve raised his arm, pulling back the sleeve of his wash-worn yellow sweatshirt to tap at the watch on his wrist. Had it always been so loud?

He sat up, feeling groggy and a little confused, swinging his legs—with sneakers still laced to his feet and everything—over the side of the bed, no memory of deciding to take a nap. He must have come back upstairs at some point and laid down, tired from practice and having yet another fight with Dustin, and accidentally fallen asleep.

Which meant that all of the hazy recollections and insane shit that was swirling around in his head like a goddamn tornado had just been a dream. That was… a relief, he supposed, and it made more sense than the alternative. Goblins weren’t real, neither were magical ever-changing labyrinths or half-dwarves, talking worms or friendly hairy giants with surfer-boy accents, and certainly not Goblin Kings. No matter how attractive they were. 

Even if he could still feel the ghost of Eddie’s lips on his own. 

Steve shook his head, trying to clear away the feeling and the lingering fog. He should probably go check on Dustin, see if their pizza ever arrived and make sure the kid ate. He’d been a bit too harsh on the little guy earlier, if he was honest. It really wouldn’t kill him to be a better big brother and just play the stupid nerd game every once in a while.

Crossing to the door, Steve yanked it open, but instead of being faced with the upstairs hallway of his childhood home, he was knocked back by a tsunami of miscellaneous junk and garbage pouring in through the opening.

It reminded him instantly of when Robin made that door to get them out of the oubliette, accidentally finding a broom closet before finding the way out.

Suddenly everything came back into sharp focus. The stark reality of what he’d been through, no longer fuzzy at all. 

What the—

Robin. 

The peach. 

It must have done something to him. He couldn’t believe it—it wasn’t a dream, it was all wonderfully—terribly real.

And as usual, he was running out of time.

He didn't quite know what to think about the ball, and everything that had happened between him and Eddie while his memories had taken a holiday. He wasn’t even sure how he’d managed to escape that place, but there was no time to dwell on it now. He had to find a way out of this tomb of trash and get back on course.

“Steeeeeeevieeeeeee!”

The sound of his name being called by a familiar voice from somewhere up above made its way through the garbage heap, thanks to a small gap between an old tire, and what might have been an antique tiffany lamp, where Steve could just barely see a little daylight. 

“Down here!” He called back, beginning to claw through the debris when a pair of arms forced their way through. Argyle’s huge hands wrapped themselves around his waist, lifting him carefully out.

When Steve was finally free, the gentle giant crushed him to his chest, while a whining Jonathan clung to his leg, embracing his calf as though he were hugging him around the middle all the same.

“How’d you get down there? We've been looking for you everywhere, brochacho!” 

“Look, Steve. We’ve almost made it!” Jonathan said, tugging on Steve’s pant leg as he swiveled around to point at a spot behind them. “Those are the gates to the Goblin City!”

Steve turned, staring in disbelief—they were standing on top of a pile of forgotten trash at the edge of what looked like a massive junkyard. But following Jonathan's line of sight, he found that it was true. Not a hundred yards away stood a small city, surrounded by smooth stone walls.

“Robin?” Steve asked quietly, glancing from one friend’s face to the other.

Argyle and Jonathan both shook their heads sadly, wearing matching looks of sympathy. They may not have known exactly what happened, but they’d clearly figured out she had something to do with it.

Steve nodded, mostly to himself, and pushed ahead to lead the way, not sure what else to say about it. 

Yes, she’d betrayed him—again—but he couldn’t help caring about her now. Besides, this was Eddie’s doing, not hers. She’d only done what she was ordered to do, he was sure of it.

“Let’s go, quickly,” Steve called back over his shoulder. “We don’t have much time.”

The gates were made from a pair of heavy wooden doors with thick iron rings for handles, set into a wide stone archway. A comically oversized iron crown with six curved prongs sat on its peak, the only decoration.

A single guard who had fallen asleep at his post seemed to be all that stood between Steve and his companions, and the city beyond.

It all felt a little too easy as Argyle forced the big doors open, their movement all but silent on well oiled hinges, and the three of them snuck inside. 

Steve should have known the other shoe was about to drop.

Almost as soon as the first set of gates closed behind them, another even bigger set—the real gates to the city, he assumed—made of shiny and oddly bulbous metal, slammed closed in front of them, cutting them off before they could pass through the city limits. As the two halves came together, the reason for their strange appearance became clear—to create the visage of a massive goblin warrior wielding an equally huge axe.

“Who goes there?” A distorted and slightly robotic sounding voice boomed through the enclosed space.

If all of that weren’t ominous enough, then the enormous warrior began to move, freeing itself from its slot in the doors and raising its weapon.

Steve gulped.

Any hope, however pathetic, that what he and Eddie shared at the ball had been real was officially squashed. If Eddie had felt even a fraction of what Steve had—did—he wouldn’t still be fighting to keep him from his brother like this.

The great mechanical goblin stepped forward, bringing his axe down on them in a wide sweeping arc. Luckily, the creature… robot… thing… moved so slowly that it was easy enough to dodge its hits for now, but Steve knew they couldn't keep this up forever. They had to find a way past it.

Argyle must have sensed the urgency too, hauling Jonathan up onto his back before jumping high into the air to grab onto one of the metal goblin’s arms. Jonathan scampered up to Argyle’s shoulder, leaping the last few feet to latch on to the machine’s other arm. 

While their tandem attack did manage to make the metal giant drop his axe, he was still able to quickly shake them off. They tumbled to the ground in a heap of flailing limbs, hair, and fur, thankfully with Jonathan landing on top of their two-creature pile, both of them unharmed.

Steve stood in front, shielding them as they recovered and stood, and raised his eyes back to their enemy to see its next move only to spot Robin crawling her way across the high city walls that flanked the inner gate, making her way towards them.

“Robin!” Steve cried out, but she didn’t look down.

She jumped, landing right on top of the metal goblin’s head, tearing it from the rest of the body and tossing it to the ground below with a hollow clang. 

It truly was some kind of machine. Sitting inside its helmet of a head, now exposed to the light, was a much smaller goblin, a live one, operating what was essentially a moving suit of armor with knobs and levers. 

Robin grabbed for the controls, managing to switch the thing off while the small goblin slapped at her repeatedly. His efforts were mostly ineffective given their difference in size, until she got a little too close to the edge of the machine. 

She lost her balance, falling out of the small cockpit, but not before grabbing the little guy up by the scruff of his neck, determined to take him down with her. 

When they hit the ground Steve rushed to Robin’s side, making sure she was okay before checking over the goblin. The small creature’s eyes shot open, and he screamed in terror when Steve reached for him, launching himself to his feet and fleeing in a blur.

“I’m so sorry, Steve. Eddie made me give you that peach,” Robin rushed out as Steve helped her to her feet. “But, that’s not an excuse. I knew it was wrong. I should have resisted, no matter what he threatened me with. It wasn’t worth losing your friendship. I won’t ask for your forgiveness, I know I don’t deserve it. I just had to come back and make sure—”

“I forgive you,” Steve cut her off, scooping her up into his arms and squeezing her tightly. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

She collapsed in his hold, pressing her face into his chest. “I’m glad you’re okay too.”

“Those were some pretty sweet moves,” Argyle said, moving closer to pat Robin gently on the head.

Jonathan raced in circles around the three of them, his fluffy tail wagging with abandon. “Yeah! It’s good to have you back.”

Reluctantly, Steve eventually had to let her go so she could turn to their furry friends, smiling sheepishly. 

“Thanks.” Robin blinked away tears that they all pretended not to see, before clearing her throat. “Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go get Steve’s brother back!”

The four of them pushed through the second set of gates and into the city with their guards raised, ready for the next fight. They passed home after unusual home, small cottages mixed in with multilevel bungalows, all built on precarious angles with stone and brick, and all appearing as quiet and empty as the streets outside.

“Where is everyone?” Steve asked. Not really expecting an answer. His companions were all looking around too, as confused as he was. 

“I don’t know.” Robin shook her head. “But I think if we cut up this alleyway it’ll take us to the main road through downtown, and lead us straight up to the castle.”

They walked single file, with Argyle insisting on taking the lead, down the narrow space between two of the larger buildings Steve had seen so far, only for the big guy to stop abruptly just before they could all spill out onto the next street.

“Hey, why’d we stop?” Robin called out from the rear.

“Uh… dudes?” 

Steve turned sideways, plastering himself against the side of the building to squeeze around Argyle and see what the problem was.

Lining the street on either side were dozens, if not hundreds, of goblins of all shapes and sizes. From tiny infants in their mother’s arms, their pointed ears sticking out from beneath swaddling blankets, to withered gray-bearded goblins, hunched over as they leaned on walking sticks made from gnarled wood. 

All eyes turned in his direction as Steve took a few careful steps out onto the road, swallowing hard as he took in the sheer size of the display, stretching all the way to the castle sitting on high at least a mile away in the distance.

Robin appeared at his side, whispering from the corner of her mouth. “What are they doing?”

Steve could feel Argyle and Jonathan move up to his back as he shook his head. “This is weird.”

It was like they were the stars of an eerily quiet parade. As the four of them walked up the middle of the main drag, none of the onlookers said a word or tried to stop them, they simply watched with open curiosity.

In no time they were at the base of the castle steps, and Steve braced himself, turning to face his friends. 

“I guess this is it. Wish me luck.”

“What do you mean?” Robin asked, eyes narrowed.

“I’ll never be able to thank you all enough for getting me here, but I have to go the rest of the way alone.”

“But, why?” She asked.

“I think that’s just how it's done,” Steve said.

Jonathan tilted his head with a hum. “Oh, well if that’s how it’s done—”

“Screw that,”Robin snapped. “We’re coming with you.”

“Robin… it’ll be okay—I’ll be okay.”

She frowned, arms crossing over her chest. “Fine. I don’t like it, but fine. I’ll stay out here if that’s what you want, but I'm not leaving.”

“Me too!” Argyle agreed.

Jonathan barked. “Me three!”

Steve tipped his head at them all and turned to go.

“Hey, Steve?” Robin called out. “Should you need us—”

He looked back over his shoulder, smiling even though his throat was suddenly painfully tight. 

“I’ll call.”

The castle halls, much like the streets below, were similarly lined with goblins. Though, these were dressed more like soldiers than the more common folk who’d stood watch on the way through the city. 

One by one, as Steve passed, the guards pointed him on, using their spears as arrows to show him the way to the very heart of the castle. 

Its center. 

Which housed, not some showy throne room like Steve was expecting, but a breathtaking atrium with a wide open air ceiling. 

The space was perfectly round, with arched entrances to the north, south, east, and west. A tranquil pond full of colorful fish sat in its middle, fed by a small waterfall, surrounded by lush green foliage and flowers in bloom that Steve had never seen before—that he wondered if they even existed in his world. The rest of the room was dotted with ornately carved benches and thick velvet cushions.

Steve was so distracted with taking it all in that he nearly missed it, his watch, falling suddenly silent as all of its hands came to rest on the thirteen with a final tick. 

“No-no-no. I’m here!” He shouted to the empty room. “I did it. It might have taken me every single second you gave me but I did it. Now, give me my brother back!”

Steve heard the footsteps before he saw anyone. 

Light and quick, the set of feet seemed to be racing towards him from the northern entrance. He rounded the pond, unsure whether to ready himself for some kind of face-off or what, when Dustin came charging through the doorway and flung himself right into Steve’s arms.

Tears sprung to his eyes as he clutched the younger boy to his chest, relief quickly overtaking the shock, hitting him like a tidal wave, so hard he might have fallen to his knees if Dustin hadn’t been holding him back just as tightly.

With a final squeeze Steve pulled back, searching his little brother over from head to toe. He looked… fine. Unharmed. Happy, even, gazing up at Steve with sparkling eyes and a wide gummy smile. 

“I’m so glad you’re finally here! I missed you! I knew you could do it, I told them! I did! This is the coolest thing that’s ever happened to us! I can’t wait to hear all about your adventures. Did you make any friends? I bet you did, and I—”

“Wait a second,” Steve cut in. “Aren't you mad at me?”

“Are you kidding?! This place is like a dream come true! Magic is real! All those things I thought were made up actually exist! And I never would have known if it wasn’t for you!”

“But—”

Steve was interrupted by another set of footsteps headed their way, echoing through the same hall Dustin had just appeared out of. They both glanced up as the sound grew nearer and finally stopped, to see a figure standing in the shadows, hesitating in the doorway.

Dustin turned back to Steve, a smirk playing on his lips as he patted him on the arm. “I’ll let you two talk.”

“Wait—” Steve began, but before he could stop him, Dustin was already walking off with the confidence of someone who knew exactly where they were going.

Steve reeled. 

He’d expected to find his little brother shaken and terrified, locked up in a tower or some creepy dungeon in the bowels of the castle, but Dustin seemed comfortable in its walls—beyond comfortable. The kid made it sound like he was having the time of his fucking life!

What the hell had been going on here while Steve was busy fighting his way through the labyrinth?

The figure in the shadows took a few tentative steps forward—into the atrium, and into the light.

He wore a pair of white vintage Reeboks and black jeans that looked like they’d seen better days, a little bit faded and ripped at the knees. His white t-shirt was emblazoned with a devil’s head logo Steve didn't recognize, partially obscured by a worn black leather jacket, and finally a denim vest, a little big through the shoulders, and covered in various pins and patches of old bands. 

It was a far cry from his usual Goblin King regalia, but it suited him just as much, maybe more so. Even his hair was different, still curly and a little wild but much less voluminous and untamed, framing a freshly washed face, bare of its usual makeup.

“Eddie?”

Eddie dipped his head in a shallow nod. “I’m sorry about all the trouble down at the gates. You and your friends got there before I could get the word out to stand down.”

“W-what…” Steve trailed off, looking the other boy up and down several times. “What’s going on?”

“This is me. The real me. I couldn’t let you go without… I mean, If this is the last time we’re ever going to see each other, I wanted to meet you as myself.”

“I don’t understand.”

“It happened in the Spring, 1986,” Eddie began, biting nervously at his plush bottom lip.

“I’d just turned nineteen, and I was taken by the Goblin King, same as Dustin. Except no one was there to fight for me. My old man said good riddance. I’m sure he thought it was a happy accident, or an acid trip. He didn’t care where I'd been taken, or by who. If I was alive or dead. The king took pity on me. It turned out he was kind underneath all the–” Eddie gave a wry smile, gesturing down at himself as though he were still wearing the fancy linen, leather, and cape. 

“He gave me rooms, free run of the castle, the labyrinth, and after a short time he asked if I would take his place. I didn’t know for a long time if I'd made the right decision or not. But now I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I wouldn’t change anything. It all led me here. Without that exact course of events I never would have seen you playing basketball that day.”

With a flourish of his hand Eddie produced one of his crystal balls, rolling it through his fingers with the usual practiced ease. The now familiar move was a little funny to see performed by someone in streetwear. 

Eighties era metalhead streetwear at that.

“That’s another thing I need to come clean about,” Eddie went on. “I watched you. Before you ever wished Dustin away. I would sit on the throne and watch you out there living your life, and you were so—you are—so beautiful, Steve. I was an idiot, lying to myself about who I was, who I thought you were, how I felt about you. And I'll understand if you hate me for it. For spying on you, for kidnapping Dustin, or any of the other things I've done and let happen to you while you’ve been here. But you deserve to know the truth.” 

Eddie stepped in close, reaching out to take one of Steve's hands into his. 

Steve let it happen. He was frozen to the spot, trying to reconcile the Eddie who’d appeared in Dustin’s window, threatening to take him away forever, with the Eddie he’d met at the ball, so weak in the face of Steve’s flirting but also charming in his own right, and finally with the Eddie in front of him now, sweet, open, and a little scared. 

“This is who I am. Some dumb kid from Indiana who stumbled into a life full of magic, and got in way over his head, all caught up in who he thought he was supposed to be, and who is desperately and completely in love with you.”

Love.

The word reverberated through Steve’s mind, and the part of him that had fallen for Eddie at the ball wanted to believe, but—

“I-it was real?” He asked.

Eddie nodded, raising Steve’s hand to his lips just like he had in the middle of the dance floor. “The ball was a vision but everything else, what I said, what we did, everything I felt, and what I hope you felt too—that was all very real.”

With a soft kiss Eddie released his hand, reaching inside his own shirt to free his necklace, the same one Steve had seen him wear every time they’d crossed paths, and pulled it up over his head. 

For a moment Eddie was still, the pendant sitting heavy in his palm, and Steve could finally see what the symbol on it was meant to be. A swirling infinity, carved right into the gold.  

Then, without another word, Eddie squeezed his eyes shut, his fingers closing tightly around the amulet. He screwed his face up in concentration, the tip of his tongue poking out from between his lips, as his fist began to glow with a mystical light.

As quickly as it had come the light faded, and there in Eddie’s palm, strung on the same length of leather cord, was no longer the pendant, but two polished rings. 

One silver, one gold.

“I know this is fast, and more than a little insane. And I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to leave this place and never look back, but I could not live with myself if I didn’t at least ask you to stay. Live here with me, and share my power.”

Steve hesitated, his head swimming. “W-what about Dustin?” 

“He’s free to do as he wishes. He can stay, or he can go.”

“Really?”

“I’m already breaking all the rules for you, sweetheart. And nothing bad has happened so far, so what’s one more? Whatever you decide, we’ll find a way.”

“We?”

A flash of strawberry blonde hair caught Steve’s attention out of the corner of his eye. A girl, who looked to be about his age, bounded into the atrium, her pale pink dress flowing out behind her.

She skidded to a stop right in front of him, cooing as she reached up to pinch his cheek.

“You’re even more adorable in person!”

“Chris,” Eddie whined.

She rolled her eyes. “Sorry, not sorry.”

Eddie threw Steve an apologetic look. “This is Chrissy, she’s my best friend and right hand—everything. She practically lives in the castle library. I wouldn’t know how to do half of what I can do without her.”

Chrissy beamed, winking up at Steve. “There has to be a way for Eddie to control travel to and from the Labyrinth, I just have to find it.”

“I can help with that,” a voice called out from the west archway, the same side Steve had come through when he first arrived.

Robin. 

“What are you doing here?” Steve asked as she made her way to his side.

“I got worried, so I followed you.”

And maybe he should have been annoyed that she didn’t do as he asked, but Steve was too happy to see her familiar face while he was so far out of his depth to care. 

“Have you been eavesdropping this whole time?” He asked warily. 

“Maybe,” she admitted, elbowing him sharply in the side. “Why didn’t you tell me about this ball?”

“There wasn’t exactly time,” he hissed, “a-and I didn’t know…”

“Hi there!” Chrissy’s sudden and very bright, bubbly voice was too loud in the open space as she sidled up to Robin. 

“H-hi,” Robin stuttered out, her face instantly going redder than a ripe tomato.

That was… interesting. 

“You said you could help?” Chrissy asked.

Robin only nodded dumbly, lips parted.

Chrissy giggled, trying to hide it behind her hand. “Can you read goblin?”

Robin swallowed audibly. “Y-yeah, I’m good with languages.”

“Great!” Chrissy took Robin by the arm, winding it through her own and immediately began to lead her away. “Come on, I’ll show you around.” 

Robin looked back at Steve wide-eyed, mouthing silently, “oh my god, she’s so hot!”

Steve gave her a little finger wave, glancing over at Eddie who seemed equally amused, both of them stifling a snicker as they watched the two girls go.

“So, what do you say?” Eddie asked when they were alone again. 

“Can I have a little time?”

“Of course. Take as much time as you need.” Eddie carefully pulled the necklace back over his head, the two rings tinkling lightly as they fell together against his chest. 

Steve couldn’t help staring at the twin pieces of jewelry, the shining promise of a new life, if he decided to take it. “It’s a lot to think about.”

Eddie shrugged, his mouth curling into a crooked smile as he raised a hand to gently cup Steve’s cheek.

“It’s only forever.”

Steve took a long walk around the grounds to clear his head, eventually finding Dustin sitting in the back garden, sprawled out on the lush grass, soaking in the last of the day’s fading sunlight.

He settled down on the ground next to the younger boy and gazed out at all the greenery and colorful trees. It was beautiful here, and now that he knew they were safe, that in reality he and Dustin had both been safe all along, being in this place no longer filled him with dread. Instead he felt a strong sense of inner peace. Like maybe, after a lifetime of pretending to be something he wasn’t, he’d finally found where he belonged.

“So…” Dustin prompted after a long moment of silence between them.

“Hmm?” Steve hummed absently, a little lost in his own head trying to figure out how to broach the topic of one or both of them uprooting their entire life for a fantasy world. No matter how he thought about wording it, it sounded completely nuts.

“What do you mean, hmm?” Dustin scoffed. “Did you take Eddie’s offer? Are you going to stay here with him?”

Steve snapped his head to the side, gaping at his brother. “You knew he was going to ask me?!”

Dustin nodded, chuckling a little to himself. “He came to talk to me a little while ago and said the deal was off. He wanted my permission, or blessing, or whatever to ask you to stay with him. I said no way in hell, of course. I mean, sure I've been having a good time playing with the goblins, and this place is really cool, but… I didn’t understand what changed. He said he’d fallen in love with you.” 

“I still refused, told him that was his problem, but then he—” Dustin held out his palm, tongue between his teeth in mock concentration as he mimed the way Eddie rolled his crystal ball over his hand, “showed me the two of you at this masquerade ball.”

“Oh my god,” Steve groaned, feeling his entire face flush.

Here he was worried about how he was going to explain falling for the boy who’d kidnapped his brother, and Eddie had already shown him more than he ever needed to see. 

“What’s wrong with you—oh.” Dustin scrunched his nose up in disgust. “Eww! No, he didn’t show me any of that. But I did see you smiling and dancing together. And the way you were looking at him… Steve, I’ve never seen you look so happy. I told him I still didn’t think you’d go for it, but that he was welcome to ask.”

“I didn’t answer him yet,” Steve admitted, quietly.

Dustin grinned. “That’s not a no.”

“No, it’s not a no.” Steve couldn’t help returning his brother’s smile, though his own was a little more reserved. “But it’s not a yes either.”

“Do you want to say yes?”

Steve looked down with a shrug, tucking his knees into his chest. “What about you, Dusty?”

“Don’t worry about me. Just this once, don’t worry about what anyone else wants, or thinks you should do. What do you, Steve Harrington, want?”

“I want… him. I know it’s crazy but I think I fell in love with him too, and I—I like it here. There’s nothing for me back home. Mom and dad… I'm just a failure to them now, they won’t care if I'm gone.” Steve took a deep, steadying breath, raising his head to meet Dustin’s eye’s again. “I want to stay.”

“Good. I’m happy for you, big bro.”

“What about you?”

“Part of me wants to stay too. It would be so cool to live here with you and Eddie and the guys, but—”

Steve raised an eyebrow. “The guys?”

“Yeah! I made friends with these awesome goblins. They even let me give them names I could pronounce—Mike, Lucas, and Will! I've been teaching them all kinds of games. I think I could have them ready for D&D in no time if I stuck around. But… I have to go back. Mom and dad… I know they’re not always the best parents but we can’t both abandon them. And I'm only thirteen, I should really finish school. And obviously I can’t leave my Suzie-poo behind.”

“Suzie?” Steve asked.

“My girlfriend from summer camp? Seriously, Steve?! Do you ever listen when I tell you things?”

“I didn’t know she was real!”

Dustin pretended to be offended for all of five seconds before the two of them dissolved into hysterical laughter, leaning on each other as the sky continued to darken.

“You gonna go back in there and tell him?” Dustin asked.

“Maybe I should let him sweat it for a little while, what do you think?”

“He deserves it, honestly.” 

Steve pushed himself to his feet, offering his little brother a hand up.

“Does this mean we’ll never see each other again?” Dustin asked, his voice smaller and sadder than Steve had ever heard it.

“Oh, buddy,” Steve pulled the younger boy in for another bone-crushing hug. “I’d never let that happen. I promise.”

Chapter 8: Home At Last

Permanent taglist(open): @penny00dreadful @pearynice @hitlikehammers @bookworm0690 @wonderland-girl143-blog 

@goodolefashionedloverboi @themagicalari @awkwardgravity1 @rocknrollsalad

Fic taglist(open): @strangererotica @paintsplatteredandimperfect @xegany @devondespresso @3vilpurpl3d0t

@Ravenfrog

Let me know if you'd like to be added or removed!

[loveandmurders]

hiii i was soo happy to read an amber freeman fic cuz theres not a lot so thank you, do you think you could write for her again? like pre-ghostface amber and reader fluff?

Hello darling! It's true Amber deserves more love, so I hope you'll enjoy this <3

LIFE USED TO BE SO SOFT (Amber Freeman x gender neutral reader)

Warnings: no proof reading, fluff.

It was Halloween, and you were really excited about it. Your girlfriend, Amber, too. And you both couldn’t wait for tonight fun.

You had planned quite a lot of stuff to do together, like each year, because it was your favourite holiday to both of you. First you had spotted a party near your house which was happening in a so-called “haunted house”. You thought it could be very fun to spend some time there, and you hoped for good music and some drinks. 

Then, when you would both be tired of this, you planned a little walk hand in hand, especially into the cemetery of the town. You knew you wouldn’t be the only one there, but it was alright, you could always hide in the darkness and make out until you would be on your own once again. You would try very hard to not get too heated on anyone’s tomb, because it wouldn’t be very respectful… But sometimes love and desire were making you do crazy stuff, and it wouldn’t be your fault, right? 

And finally, to finish off the night, you were going to watch movies together, in bed, with your favourite snacks and soda, all cuddled up against each other. Of course, the first movie you were going to watch was Stab, because Amber was absolutely obsessed with it, and especially of Billy Loomis and Stuart Matcher. You often teased her about it, but you didn’t mind. You were yourself completely obsessed with the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, so you couldn’t really say anything about it.

Amber had pleaded with you so you could both dress up as Ghostface, and hence incarnate Billy and Stu. After a lot of kisses and sweet words, she convinced you to let go of your idea to dress as Tiffany Valentine/Charles Lee Ray to put on the robe and mask of Ghostface. You had never seen her that excited before and it totally made your heart melt with happiness and cuteness. Amber could be so adorable when she was like that, like a puppy.

At least, you wouldn’t need to care about any kind of makeup or hairstyles or anything. You just put sport clothes underneath, to be able to run and freely move around, and to not get too cold either. You didn’t really know where Amber found those costumes but you didn’t really care. The mask was surprisingly comfortable, and you could see and breathe without troubles. Even better, you could move around without fearing to lose the mask. You were a little bit surprised when Amber showed you how to switch the voice changer. It felt like it was a real Ghostface costume. You asked her how much she paid for those, but she chuckled.

“A killer needs to keep their secret” she replied with a little wink and you playfully rolled your eyes at her antics.

“I’m gonna start to be afraid of you, if you keep talking that way” you teased back and she wrapped her arms around your waist, softly nuzzling her nose against yours, her eyes shining with love for you.

“Nah, you know I love you too much to hurt you” she whispered and it sounded a lot like a promise.

“I love you too, always and forever” you replied which made her brightly smile at you.

You loved how passionate she was. She was so fierce too. And you found this so attractive. Actually, you met at the cinema during a horror movie projection. You were sitting next to each other and you quickly realised you were both having the same reaction, and rooting for the slasher on screen. You invited her to have a drink at the end of the movie and she happily agreed. You got along so well, and then everything between the two of you happened so naturally. You were made for each other and you were both certain of this. She was a very caring girlfriend to you.

You played around with the voice changer and you had to admit it was really fun! No one could guess it was the two of you that way. And you did feel like you were truly one of the characters of Stab.

Amber also gave you a knife to finish the costumes off. They were real knives and it worried you. You didn’t want to walk around with a weapon in your hands. You knew that the cops were always on edge with Halloween and you didn’t want to hurt someone or yourself by accident. She tried to tell you it was alright, but you refused and bought retractable knives for the two of you. Amber seemed very disappointed but she finally agreed. 

You truly hoped she took the knife you got her, and not the real one. You noticed that sometimes she seemed to not make the difference between reality and fiction. Sometimes, she was so engrossed with her Stab’s obsession, that she didn’t seem to realise that real people died. It was a little bit scary, but you still loved her with everything you had.

As usual, Halloween evening went by so fast. You screamed, you laughed, you danced, you kissed your girlfriend in dark corners, you scared people off, and you playfully threatened others for candies.

Under the full moon, you walked in the darkest streets you could find, so you could be on your own with Amber. You heard in the distance some excited screams and loud music. You really loved this atmosphere. 

Amber never let go of your hand. Not because she was afraid - it seemed like nothing could scare her - but because she wanted to make sure you were truly there, with her. Sometimes, she thought you were too good to be real. But you didn’t know about such thoughts.

You finally removed the mask, so you could enjoy the fresh air on your face. She looked up at you and you smiled down at her. You were so happy to have her in your life. Things seemed so perfect and you hoped that nothing would ever happen to the two of you. You wished to never wake up from this beautiful dream.

“Enjoyed yourself, baby?” you asked “Ready to go watch some movie together now? My feet start to hurt” you added. You just wanted to go back home now. She turned on the voice changer of the mask she was still wearing.

“It’s all a movie. Life’s one great big movie.” she hummed and you playfully rolled your eyes at her, like you often did.

“Only you can’t pick the genre” you ended the quote and she happily squealed next to you. She squeezed your hand.

“You remember it so well!” she praised and you laughed.

“I don’t know how many times you made me watch that movie, but it’s certain that I know all the lines by heart now. Hope you are proud of you” you teased as you wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She snuggled against your side and let her head fall on your shoulder as she trusted you to bring her back home.

“I love you” she hummed as she removed the mask

“I love you too” you kissed her cheek and she hugged your side even more closely. 

She stayed quiet after that. You were never too sure what she was thinking then, but you weren’t too worried. Your girlfriend was a good person, just a little bit obsessed that was it. Even though you sometimes wondered when she said stuff like “Billy and Stu must have had so much fun. I mean the real ones. They understood everything so well.”

But you loved her too much to believe she could kill anyone. Especially not you.

[jiangwanyinsimp]

An Incomplete (and Very Long) list of thing Edwin Payne missed while he was stuck in Hell

This list emerged because I was talking about how he would have missed the end of World War One and then the list kept going. It is not complete or in order, and is provided simply for posterity

ww2

spanish flu

the hindenburg disaster

the rise of public radio

Irish independence

fast food as a concept

the hinterkaifeck murders

the extinction of the california grizzly

the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb

television

jet aircraft

supersonic aircraft

the moon landing

THE OFFICIAL FOUNDING OF THE SOVIET UNION

the jazz age

surrealism

the first woman to swim the english channel

the BBC

Amelia Earhart

Tintin

the discovery of Pluto

the crash of airship R101

the founding of porsche

the geneva convention

UK abandonment of the gold standard

the discovery of 22 elements on the periodic table

technicolor

Australia starting and losing the Emu war

the creation of the Royal Christmas message

the Great Depression

FM radio

the first canned beer

pre-sliced bread

the recognition of stress as a biological condition

the extinction of the thylacine

the destruction of the Crystal Palace

the first full feature length animated film (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)

the nylon bristle toothbrush

Batman

the last use of the guillotine for an official state execution

Gone With the Wind (the book AND the film)

the founding of Greggs

Looney Tunes

the discovery of the Lascaux cave paintings

Agatha Christie's works

Cheerios

the discovery of nuclear fission and all subsequent nuclear discoveries

the airplane ejection seat

The Little Prince

LSD

the lifting of the prohibition of married British women working as teachers

the disappearance of flight 19

the first formula one grand prix

Mensa

the invention of the magic 8 ball

the Doomsday Clock

the AK-47

the first commercial microwave

the Kinsey reports

the first time Idaho Fish and Game parachuted beavers into the wild

humanity's entry to space

the beginning of the broadcast of the Archers (the longest running present day drama by number of episodes)

the Korean War

the polio vaccine

the first nuclear powered submarine

The Lord of the Rings

Moomins

transistor radio

the TV dinner/ready meal

ICBMs

the entire life of Elvis Presley

Kermit the Frog

My Fair Lady (the film and musical adaptations)

Grace Kelly's wedding

the Entire Life Of Marilyn Monroe

the Beat Generation

Eurovision

Helvetica typeface

the peace symbol

the Cod Wars

computer games

Dyatlov Pass incident

Barbie

Missile Mail

the Declaration of the Rights of the Child

the MOSFET

particle accelerators

the Beatles

the recovery of the Vasa

the first Six Flags

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Catch-22

the Vietnam War

Silent Spring

The Rolling Stones

the night of the long knives

Vatican II

James Bond

the Cuban Missile Crisis

Thích Quảng Đức's self-immolation

the "I Have A Dream" speech

JFK Assassination

the smiley face

Mary Poppins (1964)

IntelSat

the last British execution

high speed rail

the first time "fuck" was said on british tv

the Moors Murders

the Grateful Dead

the British parliament decriminalizing homosexuality

most of the literary career of Pablo Neruda

Fleetwood Mac

the Parker Morris Standards

the end of steam passenger travel in the UK

Led Zeppelin

Earth Day

the first temporary artificial heart

the first person to row an ocean solo

Woodstock

the Zodiac Killer

the nationalization of Rolls-Royce

decimalisation of UK currency

the first e-book

the first microprocessor

DB Cooper

the first email

the Biological Weapons Convention

Watergate

the start of the Troubles

The Joy of Sex

all attempts to climb Mount Everest and the eventual first ascent

ABBA

the invention of the Rubik's Cube

the Moorgate tube crash

the first Cricket World Cup

the global eradication of Smallpox

Star Wars

the Tenerife airport disaster

the discovery of the rings of Uranus

Red Rum winning three Grand Nationals

the Concorde

the start of the broadcast of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Jonestown

Synthetic insulin

the Thorpe affair

the release of God Save the Queen by the Sex Pistols

Monty Python

the election of Margaret Thatcher

Star Trek

Iron Maiden

the incident where the dingo ate a baby in Australia

the end of iron and steel production in the UK's Black Country

the first London Marathon

Charles and Diana's wedding

the church of England votes to elect women to holy orders

the 1981 UK tornado outbreak

the first child born by IVF

the Falklands War

the raising of the Mary Rose

the invention of ciabatta bread

the discovery of the Titanic

the King's Cross Fire

Top Gun

Lockerbie bombing

[mothmiso]

Morocco (2) (3) by hey tiffany!

Via Flickr:

(1) (2) Saadian Tombs     

[the-ardent-dilettante]

make a poll of your favorite female characters (no limits - as many or as little as you want) and see which your followers like the most!

-tagged by @violant-apologia (thank you!!)

Tagging uhhh... I think this has mostly gone round the entirety of flumblr but if you have been tragically overlooked, consider yourself tagged!

Also some non flumblr people: @euvangelos @zoeydotexe @literatureismyentirepersonality

[heathtrash]

tww drabble exchange team! i have here a list of media that i’m very fond of for secret drabble purposes (i.e. any hallowe’en costumes or maybe crossover if you can make it work?? some of these are definitely here for costume purposes only). i realise that not everyone knows all the stuff i’m into and i don’t even talk about all of these on a daily basis. i hope you can find some common ground so we can be unwell about these characters together! you can go with a very subtle reference or like a full-on whatever your brain comes up with, as per my chaos request

you can use these however you wish—individual characters as costumes (or random crossover)—or couples costumes. ship them cross-media if you like??? with media that contains m/f, cross-dressing is very welcome unless stated otherwise (in which case i probably don’t want the male character(s)). anywhere i’ve put a ship name, assume the individual characters are up for grabs too

i’ve probably forgotten something, so if you’re like, “what about _?” send me an anon and i’ll let you know if it’s something i like or don’t mind receiving a reference for!

101 Dalmatians (Cruellanita)

Battlestar Galactica (Starbuck)

Beauty & the Beast (cross-dressed)

Buffy (Buffy/Faith, Willow/Tara)

Carmen Sandiego (series. i love Julia Argent SO much. you have no idea. also Carmen of course. and whatever their ship name is)

Carol (Carol/Therese)

Charmed

Critical Role (Imodna, Vexleth, Beaujester, Beauyasha. no m/f cross-dressing here actually)

The Devil Wears Prada (Mirandy only)

Discworld (any of the witches (main series. I don’t know Tiffany Aching yet) - i don’t ship them but they’re fun. also Susan Sto Helit hhhhhhh)

Doctor Who (except 10th Doctor. Jenny/Vastra, 13/River, 13/Missy)

Downton Abbey (Lady Mary/Baxter my beloved)

Dracula (novel. the ladies. idk. i love vampires)

Dragon Age (only played origins so far but i love Leliana, Morrigan, Wynne)

Enchanted

Frozen (Elsamaren. Elsa & Anna only if they’re not portrayed by a romantic ship)

Gentleman Jack

GLOW (Ruth/Debbie but i love all these gays)

Hacks (Deborah/Ava)

Hades (the game. idk i love Nyx, Artemis, Aphrodite. all of the ladies)

His Dark Materials (Marisa Coulter/Mary Malone only)

Homestuck (if you pick this you’re so cursed (affectionate). Rosemary or any f/f ship. but heck, anything if you’re this committed)

The Incredibles (Edna Mode, Helen Parr)

Jane Austen (any novel)

Jane Eyre

Kim Possible (Kim/Shego)

Lady Dimitrescu

Lady Felicia Montague from Father Brown

A League of Their Own (any)

Little Witch Academia (i love Ursula Callistis)

The Locked Tomb (Griddlehark, any)

Lolly Willowes

Maleficent/Briar Rose

The Marvellous Mrs Maisel (Miriam/Susie)

Mary Poppins

Mass Effect (Liara/femshep, Chakwas/femshep, any f/f)

Matilda (Jennifer Honey)

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (Phryne, Mac)

Ms Valerie Frizzle

The Mummy (Evelyn/cross-dressed Jonathan. or better yet, Evelyn/Meela from Returns)

Nintendo (Zelda, Link, Rosalina, Samus, Peach, Daisy)

Orlando (character by Virginia Woolf)

Phantom of the Opera (Christine/cross-dressed Phantom)

Rebecca (Mrs Danvers/Rebecca, Mrs Danvers/narrator)

Ride the musical

Sailor Moon (any f/f but i’m also into the idea of cross-dressed Tuxedo Mask)

Scooby-Doo (Velma/Daphne)

She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (Catradora but any f/f ships)

Star Trek (Kiradax, J7, Jadzia Dax/Lenara Kahn, Christine Chapel/anyone, literally whatever f/f)

Star Wars (movies/series. Dedra Meero/Arihnda Pryce. Padmé Amidala/Satine Kryze. Sabine Wren/Shin Hati. i do not know what happens in the majority of the novels. any other f/f you can imagine or some fun cross-dressing)

Steven Universe (Pearl my beloved. anything f/f but i’m not that interested in Steven or the human characters)

Tangled (Cassunzel)

Ugly Betty (i don’t have any ships idk)

Wednesday and The Addams Family (Wednesday/Enid, Morticia/cross-dressed Gomez)

The Well of Loneliness

The Wheel of Time (Moiraine/Siuan)

Wicked (Gelphie)

The Witcher (Yennaia)

Wuthering Heights

Xena/Gabrielle

non-fandom specific:

any legendary historical ladies (Joan of Arc, Julie d’Aubigny)

any generic costumes that aren’t gross (i.e. poacher/prey animal, ball and chain. basically anything that has you asking if the cishets are okay)

[honeysound]

Love beyond decay.

Everywhere Everything - Noah Kahan // First Frost - Jon Shireman // In a Week - Hozier & Karen Crowley // The Tomb and the Rose - Victor Hugo // Specimen C - Tiffanie Turner // So We’ll Go No More A Roving - Lord Byron // ARCHEOMODENA // Music when Soft Voices Die (To --) - Percy Shelley

[bihanspookies]

Fav female character poll!

Rules: make a poll of your favourite female characters (no limits - as many or as little as you want) and see which your followers like the most!

Tagged by: @roofgeese @chadillacboseman @meatgrinderminefield

NP Tags: @malicedragoness @luna-di-fuoco @valyrra

[balkanradfem]

Favourite Fictional Women poll: FINAL LIST nominations + RULES (nominations closed)

Books:

Elphaba (Wicked)

Hermione (Harry Potter)

Minerva McGonagall (Harry Potter)

Luna (Harry Potter)

Bellatrix Lestrange (Harry Potter)

Sophie (Howl's Moving Castle)

Bella Swan (Twilight)

Lucy (The Chronicles of Narnia)

Susan (The Chronicles of Narnia)

Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)

Elizabeth Bennet (Pride and Prejudice)

Jo (Little Women)

Alanna (The Song of the Lioness)

Ichigo (Kamikaze Girls)

Momoko (Kamikaze Girls)

Phryne Fisher (Phryne Fisher Detective Novels)

Clarice Starling (Silence of the Lambs)

Robin Ellacott (Cormoran Strike)

Baru Cormorant (The Masquerade Series)

Gideon (The Locked Tomb)

Harrowhark Nonagesimus (The Locked Tomb)

Tattersail (Malazan Book of the Fallen)

Lyra (His Dark Materials)

Lisbeth Salander (The Millenium Trilogy)

Daja Kisubo (Circle of Magic)

Éowyn (Lord of the Rings)

Honor Harrington (Honor Harrington)

Zahrah (Zahrah the Windseeker)

Clair (Outlander)

Margo (The Magicians)

Camille Preaker (Sharp Objects)

Brienne of Tarth (A Song of Ice and Fire)

Cersei (A Song of Ice and Fire)

Daenerys Targaryen (A Song of Ice and Fire)

Arya (A Song of Ice and Fire)

Sansa ( A Song of Ice and Fire)

Rhaenyra Targaryen (Fire and Blood)

Eileen Dunlop (Eileen)

Romy Silvers (The Loneliest Girl in the Universe)

Lúthien (Sillmarilion)

Lady Sotofa (Echo series)

Esme Weatherwax (Discworld)

Angua von Überwald (Discworld)

Susan Sto Helit (Discworld)

Tiffany Aching (Discworld)

Nina Hill (The Bookish Life of Nina Hill)

Keladry (Protector of the Small series)

Shay (Uglies)

Cassie (Animorphs)

The Groke (the Moomins)

Tooticky (the Moomins)

Maximum Ride (Maximum Ride)

Auri (Kingkiller Chronicles)

Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables)

Emily Starr (Emily of New Moon)

Penelope (Circe by Madeline Miller)

Rose Hathaway (Vampire Academy)

Katsa (Graceling)

Yennefer of Vengerberg (Witchier)

Dr. Scarlet Clarke (They Never Learn)

Inej Ghafa (Six of Crows)

Ronja (Ronja)

Violet (Asoue)

Medea (Greek Mythology)

Medusa (Greek Mythology)

Jude (Folk of the Air)

Agatha (Girl Genius)

Annabeth Chase (Percy Jackson)

Carrie (Carrie)

Movies

Miss Honey (Matilda)

Matilda (Matilda)

Barbie (Barbie's universe)

Ellen Louise Ripley (Alien)

Evelyn O'Connell (The Mummy)

Peggy Carter (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Sarah Conner (Terminator)

Cruella de Vil (Cruella)

Yzma (Emperor's New Groove)

Dr. Ellie Sattler (Jurrasic Park)

Harley Quinn (DC universe)

Amy Dunne (Gone Girl)

Jennifer (Jennifer's Body)

Maude Lebowski (Big Lebowski)

Eurodia Holmes (Enola)

Amy Adam (Arrival)

Ginger Fitzgerald (Ginger Snaps)

Mary Mason (American Mary)

Elsa (Frozen)

Mulan (Mulan 1998)

Beatrix Kiddo (Kill Bill)

O-Ren Ishii (Kill Bill)

Trinity (Matrix)

Sidney Prescott (Scream movies)

Dani Ardor (Midsommar)

M3gan (M3gan)

Aila (Rhymes for Young Ghouls)

Princess Kida (Atlantis: The Lost Empire)

Mother Aughra (Dark crystal)

Elizabeth Swan (Pirates of the Carribean)

Marla Grayson (I care a lot)

Heloise (Portrait of a Lady on Fire)

Diana (Wonder Woman)

San (Princess Mononoke)

Zeniba (Spirited Away)

Chihiro (Spirited Away)

Wlle Woods (Legally Blonde)

Rey (Star Wars)

Princess Leia (Star Wars)

Haley Graham (Stick it)

Cruella (101 Dalmatian)

Kiki (Kiki's Delivery Service)

TV Shows

Xena (Xena the Warrior Princess)

Gabrielle (Xena the Warrior Princess)

Callisto (Xena the Warrior Princess)

Buffy (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Faith Lehane (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Willow (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Sabrina (Sabrina the Teenage Witch)

Morgana Pendragon (Merlin)

Catharine Cawood (Happy Valley)

Donna Noble (Doctor Who)

Martha Jones (Doctor Who)

Female Doctor Who (Doctor Who)

Kaya (Supernatural)

Charlie Bradbury (Supernatural)

Claire (Supernatural)

Veronica Mars (Veronica Mars)

Anna Clare (Being Human)

Poussey Washington (Orange is the New Black)

Sister Michael (Derry Girls)

Orla (Derry Girls)

Hayley (Hard Candy)

Vilanelle (Killing Eve)

Eve (Killing Eve)

Anne Lister (Gentleman Jack)

Ann Walker (Gentleman Jack)

Kim (Kim Possible)

Daria Morgendorffer (Daria)

Temperance Brennan (Bones)

Kim Wexler (Better Call Saul)

Katara (Avatar The Last Airbender)

Azula (Avatar The Last Airbender)

Toph (Avatar The Last Airbender)

Krosh (Kid Cosmic)

Guinan (Star Trek New Generations)

Bo-Katan Kryze (Star Wars)

Dong Eun (The Glory)

Leslie Knope (Parks and Recreation)

April Ludgate (Parks and Recreation)

Rosa Diaz (Brooklyn 99)

Dana Scully (X Files)

Kathryn Janeway (Star Trek: Voyager)

Calamity Jane (Deadwood)

Flea (Fleabag)

Michonne (The Walking Dead)

Trixie (Call the Midwife)

Sister Monica Joan (Call the Midwife)

Regina Mills (Once Upon a Time)

Emma Swan (Once Upon a Time)

Ruby Lucas (Once Upon a Time)

Mulan (Once Upon a Time)

Samatha/Sam Carter (Stargate SG-1)

Kira Nerys (Star Trek: Deep Space 9)

Jadzia Dax(Star Trek: Deep Space 9)

Eleanor (The Good Place)

Annalise Keating (How to Get Away with Murder)

Cheryl Blossom (Riverdale)

Miranda Bailey (Grey’s Anatomy)

Lizzie McGuire (Lizzie McGuire)

Catherine the Great (The Great)

Dolores Abernathy (Westworld)

Maeve Millay (Westworld)

Lorelai (Gilmore Girls)

Paris (Gilmore Girls)

Morticia Addams (Addams Family)

Elisa Maza (Gargoyles)

Vera Bennett (Wentworth (2013)

Joan Ferguson (Wentworth (2013)

Constance Hardbroom (The Worst Witch (1998)

Princess Bubblegum (Adventure Time)

Marceline the Vampire Queen (Adventure Time)

Monica (Friends)

Phoebe (Friends)

Maisel (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)

Shiv Roy (Succession)

Hannah (Please Like Me)

Lupe (A League of Their Own)

Jess (A League of Their Own)

Shahrzad (One Thousand and One Nights)

Michael Burnham (Star Trek Discovery)

 Emperor Phillipa Georgiou (Star Trek Discovery)

Dee Reynold (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)

Kara Thrace (Battlestar Galactica)

Donna (Twin Peaks)

Laura palmer (Twin Peaks)

Audrey(Twin Peaks)

Marwa (What we do in the Shadows)

Nadja (What we do in the Shadows)

Love Quinn (You)

Allison (Orphan Black)

Cosima (Orphan Black)

Nyota Uhura (Star Trek: The Original Series)

Lisa Cuddy (House MD)

Leela (Futurama)

Bean (Disenchantment)

Pam (Archer)

Grace (Grace and Frankie)

Frankie (Grace and Frankie)

Helga Pataki (Hey Arnold)

Anime/Manga

Sophie (Howl's Moving Castle)

Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon)

Hotaru - Sailor Saturn (Sailor Moon)

Michiru – Sailor Neptune (Sailor Moon)

Haruka – Sailor Uranus (Sailor Moon)

Rei – Sailor Mars (Sailor Moon)

Homura (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

Sakura Kinomoto (CardCaptor Sakura)

Tomoyo Daidouji (CardCaptor Sakura)

Onpu (Ojamajo Doremi)

Motoko Kusanagi (Ghost in the Shell)

Striga (Castlevania)

Carmilla (Castlevania)

Misa Amane (Death Note)

Asuka Langley Soryu (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

Riza Hawkeye (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Shinobu Kocho (Demon Slayer)

Utena (Revolutionary Girl Utena)

Nana Osaki (Nana)

Hachi (Nana)

Jean (Claymore)

Clare (Claymore)

Theresa (Claymore)

Helen (Claymore)

Deneve (Claymore)

Casca (Berserk)

Haruno Sakura (Naruto)

Yosano (Bungo Stray Dogs)

Tome Kurata (Mob Psycho 100)

Nikaido (Dorohedoro)

Nia (Dorohedoro)

Maki Zen'in (Jujutsu Kaisen 0)

Yuno Gasai (Mirai Nikki)

Ichigo Momomiya (Tokyo Mew Mew)

Zakuro Fujiwara (Tokyo Mew Mew)

Historia Reiss (Attack on Titan)

Mikasa Ackermann (Attack on Titan)

Games

Nancy Drew (Nancy Drew)

April Ryan (The Longest Journey)

Kate Walker (Syberia)

Zelda (Legend of Zelda)

Impa (Legend of Zelda)

Urdosa (Legend of Zelda)

Evie Frye (Assassin's Creed)

Senua (Senua's Sacrifice)

Aloy (Horizon Zero Dawn)

Elisabet Sobeck (Horizon Zero Dawn)

Serena (Skyrim)

Frea (Skyrim)

Morrigan (Dragon Age Origins)

Kreia (Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II)

Kassandra of Sparta (Assassin's Creed Odyssey)

Heather Mason (Silent Hill 3)

Reika (Fatal Frame)

Rei (Fatal Frame:The Tormented)

An Shiraishi (Project SEKAI)

Nene Kusanagi (Project SEKAI)

Ena Shinonome (Project SEKAI)

Jesse Faden (Control)

Almalexia (The Elder Scrolls)

Billie Lurk (Dishonored)

Emily Kaldwin (Dishonored)

Cecelia (Dishonored)

Lizzy Stride (Dishonored)

Delilah Copperspoon (Dishonored)

Lohse (Divinity: Original Sin II)

Sebille Kaleran (Divinity: Original Sin II)

Siva (Divinity: Original Sin II)

Malady (Divinity: Original Sin II)

Dallis the Hammer (Divinity: Original Sin II)

Toriel (Undertale)

Undyne (Undertale)

Alphys (Undertale)

Commander Shepard (Mass Effect)

Tali'Zorah nar Rayya (Mass Effect)

Liara T'Soni (Mass Effect)

Aria T'Loak (Mass Effect)

Nyreen Kandros (Mass Effect)

Shala'Raan vas Tonba (Mass Effect)

Matriarch Aethyta (Mass Effect)

Yuna (Final Fantasy X)

Abby (The Last of Us)

Ellie (The Last of Us)

GLaDOS (Portal)

Chell (Portal)

Dr. Suvi Anwar (Mass Effect Andromeda)

Leliana (Dragon Age)

Parvati Holcomb (The Outer Worlds)

Chloe Price (Life is Strange)

2B (Nier Automata)

Comics

Stephanie Brown (DC comics)

Cassandra Cain (DC comics)

Zatanna Zatara (DC comics)

Elektra Natchios (Marvel comics)

Fanfiction

Ebony Dark'ness Raven Dementia Way

Web comics

Vriska Serket (Homestuck)

Jaden (Leasebound)

Antimony Carver (Gunnerkrigg Court)

Fictional Movies

Katya (Goncharov)

Podcasts

The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives In Your Home from (Welcome to Nightvale)

Plays

Lady Mabeth (Macbeth)

Clytemnestra (Oresteia)

Miscellanous

Hatsune Miku (Vocaloid)

RULES:

All fictional women from a category will be randomized, and put into polls

Whoever gets 50 votes automatically proceeds into the next round. There won't be only one winner for each poll!

We will do one category at the time. We'll start with books.

We'll decide on a winner of each category, and then whoever had the most votes, will proceed into the Final 10.

I'll calculate how many votes each woman got, so that at the end of the voting, you can see how many other women also adored your favourite ones :)

This also means that once you vote, if there's someone else you also want to see in the finals, you can reblog and let your followers know who already has enough votes, and who needs more in order to proceed. I'll also sometimes reblog polls announcing that a certain character has made the cut, and now others need your attention. We're trying to see which ones are loved and adored enough to actually get a lot of votes, even with competition. The voting starts at the end of nominations!

(POLLS ARE COMING SHORTLY)

[kissedbyghosts]

Nothing Here Is Dead

It was an early morning in late September and the monuments were waiting for the first blush of dawn.

I intended to visit a friend there but had brought my camera to shoot the rising sun.

I drove up a thin black ribbon past ancient stones and gnarled giants to greet the amber glow from the crest of a mighty hill.

The trees there were all fat and happy, their crooked roots sunk hungrily into the silent, sleepy tombs.

I hadn’t been well (and neither had the world) but I felt a certain vigor returning and the morning air resurrected me.

Unfortunately, I had been away too long and I could no longer locate his headstone.

It was just a small plaque anyway. So insignificant and unobtrusive. So unlike him when alive.

I laughed at the comparison.

The last time I visited I had brought his ghost a beer and some cigarettes.

A lot had changed since then and I was no longer a person he would recognize.

Of course, he would always be beautiful. And 27.

Had it really been so long?

Though the dead may rest there, there was so much life in that place. It was a green explosion, even with the new yellows of Fall’s intimation burning at the edges.

I passed a great old oak sporting an early burst of mistletoe.

It made me think of the god Balder and how the pretty, yet parasitic plant, had been used by Loki to kill the god of joy, a being loved by all. Oh how the nine worlds had wept when he passed away!

I told myself stories then about my fallen friend as the lens poured light from an ancient star into my insignificant little head.

Then I remembered that all of this is made of an endless fire.

Ashes are memories, I thought, but that flame lives on.

I was painting with light that morning while the light was painting me.

Nothing here is dead, I thought.

I packed my gear and drove home.

I smiled, because my friend rode with me, nestled warmly in my heart and sprouting from my head like little white berries in a golden hour.

©️ JM Tiffany 3/31/2024

[altschmerzes]

5 and 19 for the writer asks!!

5. have you ever made a playlist about something you were writing as an elaborate means to procrastinate when you could have been actually writing and if yes drop a link, son

yes, i absolutely positively have. every time a project gets Too Big And Involved it ends up with a playlist. like you knowwwww it's a whole Thing when it gets a playlist. i don't have links to drop but i can compile some of them if anyone is interested and promises not to clown on me for my cringe music taste 😂

19. what are some books or authors that influenced your style the most?

tamsyn muir's locked tomb has had a huge influence on my style. this is obviously like, especially super the case when i'm writing locked tomb fic lmao but it holds over generally, also. there's a kind of, like... specificity and sharpness to it that i have tried to incorporate versions of into my own work, reflecting on what worked about it so well and why. she has such a grasp of like. really long-sticking phrases, she described something as looking like chopped-up jewelry once, and i think about that a lot. also, the greenwing and dart books by victoria goddard have impacted me too, i think, in the way they convey characterization particularly through what a person passively thinks about or comments on and the things they think are normal and what they think are weird. one of the things i like the most about her books is the way she conveys what's important to a character, as well as characterization and character dynamics more broadly.

i think historically, terry pratchett and patricia c wrede massively impacted me when i was younger.

pratchett particularly in the way he phrased things and constructed like... his writing has a very strong knack for evoking a powerful and lasting emotion. there are a few feelings that i've been gripped by for a long time from his tiffany aching books specifically. like, there's the unfairness of the bit about the woman that everyone thought was a witch and mistreated her, and the construction of The Witch as a whole. there's a bit i can't remember exactly but it was something like "it was enough that she was all alone, it was enough that she looked strange because she had no teeth" and the sense of just. intense 'it's not fair' has stuck with me forever. and the melancholy and regret of the... prayers left for granny aching after her death - granny aching mind my sheep, granny aching find my lamb. please find our girl becky what ran away i'm sorry. and then the righteous indignation and determination of - all witches are selfish, so turn selfishness into a weapon. make all things yours. make all hopes and wishes yours. walk the gale for them. mind the sheepfold. my land, my dreams, my brother, how dare you try to take these things because they are mine. i have a duty. etc. the way he struck such a powerfully lasting impression with those scenes, and with such small points of focus sometimes, man. that left an imprint on me and i have been striving to hit that same kind of like. leaving an impression with the powerful conveyance of a feeling.

and then wrede just. man her writing is fun. it is so, so fun to me, and the way she built the worlds she wrote in were just... wildly entertaining and fun and sincere at the same time, and that's something i think i've been chasing in my own work ever since. i'm not very good at fun sometimes, and so i think about that a lot.