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moonlitlex · 1 year ago

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i have so much to say abt chalice of the gods so im just gonna copy paste my review from goodreads here. you can also read it on goodreads

ok. i promised i would hate this book. and i do. i hate this book. i also hate rick riordan. in addition, i hate capitalism. i promise that’s relevant.

let’s talk about the book now. i’ll cover the things i love first. i love percy jackson. i love grover. i love annabeth. i love sally. i love paul. i love percy annabeth and grover together. all of these things are very obvious and self-explanatory. percy is hands down THE main character of all time. i have nothing bad to say about him. his literal fatal flaw is loyalty. he’s actually perfect and has no flaws. this is expected from the son of sally jackson, the perfect person. paul is sweet and kind to sally and that’s really all that matters. annabeth is awesome and supportive and so is grover and they’re all besties forever. you get it. you’ve read percy jackson.

the jokes are better than before. there are definitely some legitimately funny jokes in this book, which i was really missing from the last few rick riordan installments. and i don’t think this is because rick suddenly got funnier. i think it’s because this style of joke works for percy. of all of rick’s protagonists, percy seems the most natural fit for these jokes.

sally is great. grover and annabeth are generally on form. so is percy, as much as can be expected from rick riordan at this point. i will elaborate on this later.

now to complain. this is the stupidest premise i’ve ever heard of. percy is a high school senior. he is going to go to new rome university. he needs 3 divine recommendations. this is already a stupid premise but don’t worry, it gets worse. poseidon reveals that the reason percy needs these recommendations is that it’s a special requirement for him specifically made by zeus. and the reason he gets to have this stupid requirement is that he’s a child of the big three and shouldn’t exist.

hello. zeus. yes, lord zeus, it’s me. alexis.

what the absolute FUCK are you saying.

this doesn’t MAKE SENSE. the only reason percy shouldn’t have existed was that the gods had a stupid pact to not have any kids because of a stupid prophecy. two things here. one - that prophecy is OVER. everything turned out fine. thanks to percy jackson. you’re welcome, gods of olympus. two - percy has literally saved olympus TWICE now. two times. this is genuinely such a dumb and made up reason to send percy on a quest that i can’t even turn my brain off and enjoy it. it’s not fun. leave percy alone. LEAVE HIM ALONE.

it’s literally insane how stupid this setup is. rick keeps writing books about how the gods are horrible and take advantage of the demigods and the demigods live terrible lives. in this book, percy has LITERALLY saved olympus TWICE and motherfucking zeus (literally) had to be talked down from making him get 25 letters of recommendation to 3. this is AFTER percy spent 3 years in pjo almost being killed and got his memory wiped for 6-8 months depending on which book you read in hoo and then got sent on a quest to save the entire world AGAIN. this CHILD got like a 2-4 month break (depending on which book you’re reading) and he woke up with no fucking memory and had to spend like 2 more months fighting monsters and the literal primordial earth goddess. and now he has to go on literally pointless quests that someone who didn’t just get back home from saving the actual world could ALSO just do. because he needs to get some fucking letters of recommendation.

look. genuinely. percy jackson should snap at this point in the story. this boy should’ve snapped like at least 5 books ago. at minimum. rick wrote the perfect setup to show us percy’s instant descent into madness. he should LOSE it. all the gods have done for the ENTIRE time he’s known he’s a demigod is treat demigods like disposable tools. this is the point in the story where percy goes. wow. luke was right. you guys are all assholes who don’t care about us even a little bit. i am NOT saying what needs to follow is a fanfic-esque dark!percy story where he successfully destroys olympus or something. what i AM saying. is at bare minimum this is where percy goes you know what fuck you i hate you guys and washes his hands of being a demigod at least temporarily. at the very least he should sit back and think yeah, i don’t really want to go to new rome university. it’s not worth it. i will just go to a different university. look. it’s percy jackson. he can literally one shot all but the most fearsome monsters (typhon, the giants, a drakon, etc). he is literally going to be 100% completely fine going to mortal university AND he wont have to deal with zeus’s annoying ass.

listen. MY percy jackson wanted to kill smelly gabe as a 12 year old because he abused his mother. MY percy jackson doesn’t like bullies. MY percy jackson challenged ares to a fight just on the basis that ares was a fucking asshole.

MY percy jackson is not going on useless fucking quests to go to new rome university of all places.

which reminds me. why DOES he want to go to new rome university. this is percy jackson. he LOVES new york. why is percy “what did they do to my city” jackson going to university ACROSS THE COUNTRY from the city he loves. why is he doing that. and hey look. sally and paul (and soon estelle) are ALSO going to be in new york. so like WHY is he leaving for real. percy my fatal flaw is loyalty jackson. IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE OK! it’s percy he is seriously not going to have issues with common monsters attacking him. we literally saw him fight off titans and giants a fucking hellhound isn’t gonna get his ass. WHY is he leaving. it does NOT make sense.

there’s this scene ok. where sally tells them she’s pregnant. and percy’s like oh my god…. i’m going to be in california…. and my sister is going to be here…. and i was just sitting there going. yeah bro. why are you going to california. i literally do not understand. you literally are from nyc. you live here. your family is here. your friends from chb are like a short pegasus ride away. there are like 50 universities in new york. just go here. why are you leaving. you are percy jackson. being a new yorker is literally one of your defining traits. stay here. WHY AR EYOU LEAVING I DO NOT UNDERSTAND PERSEUS

and listen. if your argument is that annabeth is going to be in nru. why the FUCK is ANNABETH going to nru!!!!! WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT!!!! EXPLAIN IT!!!! percy LITERALLY says annabeth is such an overachiever she’s already run out of ap classes to take. he literally says that. why the fuck is this girl going to nru where let’s be real her admission is guaranteed. annabeth is 100% someone who would want to go to an ivy. and would you fucking believe it there’s an ivy right here in nyc. like let’s be fucking realistic here. annabeth started her architecture career at SIXTEEN designing the city the fucking GODS live in. so like. don’t you think she’d want to be a bit more challenged. don’t you think she’d want to go to a university that is actually recognizable to mortals. annabeth did NOT love new rome that much like did richard forget what he wrote. this girl was freaking out about new rome until percy said he only likes it because they could live together there. she literally does not care about new rome and she is WAY too ambitious and academically inclined to be happy with going to some small as uni 99% of employers have never heard of.

this isn’t even the worst character assassination in the book. that award goes to the way rick wrote percy. percy. my darling percy. my beloved percy. perseus jackson. light of my life. as i said before, he is MOSTLY on form. the him really wanting to cali thing is definitely ooc for him but it is NOTHING compared to the sheer amount of times rick portrays percy as stupid in this accursed novel. his internal monologue is constantly shit like i’m always so behind annabeth and omg i’m being so dumb right now and annabeth calls me seaweed brain because i’m an idiot and blah blah fucking blah.

dick riordan has forgotten that perseus jackson is, in fact, not stupid at all. he is INCREDIBLY clever. he is just not particularly academically inclined/not very book smart and it would also be perfectly understandable given the fucking books that riordan wrote to interpret that as percy being very discouraged from engaging with his studies. he genuinely enjoys chiron’s class at yancy because chiron is an engaging teacher and encourages him. he spends 90% of his time in pjo deducing what’s going on with extremely limited information because rick decided none of the characters can tell him anything because of plot and exposition reasons. in son of neptune he literally just coasts on having sherlockian (not bbc that’s a whole other angry review) powers of deduction. to the point where the characters around him are amazed at how he’s figuring stuff out. literally in house of hades annabeth’s pov’s are constantly her commenting on how she gives percy shit for being a dumbass but he’s actually really clever.

it genuinely feels like at some point during the writing of mark of athena rick decided to just slowly start making various fanon ideas canon. percy being stupid is very commonly accepted fanon because he doesn’t realize how smart he is (and fans don’t realize he’s an unreliable narrator) and the fans also love to infantilize characters with more in your face adhd (leo is another victim of this phenomenon). we’ve spent 5 books in percy’s head and he doesn’t think he’s particularly clever so it makes sense to ignore the mountains of evidence pointing towards his quick and creative thought process in favour of haha percy is dumb jokes.

the wild thing is, percy isn’t even that hard on himself in pjo. he obviously doesn’t see himself in the same way we later come to find out other people see him (mainly thinking about hazel and frank in son of neptune, which is the only time in hoo he genuinely feels like the same character as pjo percy) but he’s not really dealing with crazy self doubt and self esteem issues. he does have his down on himself moments but they’re all extremely understandable given the context because he literally faces impossible odds in every single pjo book. at one point he’s disappointed he couldn’t tell that ares and luke manipulated him… like yes bestie that’s a very valid thing to feel upset and betrayed about. it doesn’t mean that he’s actually stupid though and genuinely he comes across more as humble and not realizing just how awesome and cool and interesting he is than anything else. percy consistently shows that he is really clever. half of pjo is percy figuring out a new and interesting way of defeating his enemies and the other half is percy figuring out how to bait his enemies into a duel to improve his odds. it’s horrible what rick does to percy in his internal monologue.

it’s to an insane degree. yes i realize i have already written 500 words about percy not being stupid alone but i must stress how egregious this is. it’s literally characters who have previously acknowledged percy’s intelligence who start remarking about how he’s stupid. in house of hades percy and annabeth get out of fucking TARTARUS and reyna makes a jab about how percy wouldn’t be able to find his way out of a paper bag without annabeth. that is an INSANE thing to say for reyna and for rick. rick has not written a stupid character so it’s weird to make that something a character does without really trying to show them being wrong. from reyna’s perspective, this is a guy she was complimenting a few short weeks ago. this is a guy she immediately wanted to make a leader at the camp that she loves and is her home. this is guy she barely knows and she pretty much immediately proposes to him. WHY would she suddenly start making jokes about how dumb he is? it’s not like she actually knows him better now. he came to the battle with reinforcements and basically immediately dipped after the feast. how are we to accept reyna treating our beloved perseus in this horrific manner? we simply cannot. it is unnacceptable. this is inaccurate.

it’s so WRONG to do this to percy. yES I UNDERSTAND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR TOO LONG. I DON’T CARE. PERCY JACKSON IS MY BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE UNIVERSE AND I NEED TO DEFEND HIM FROM THIS SLANDER. I AM ONLY PARTIALLY JOKING. listen. liSTEN. this is the guy whose signature move is manipulate your enemy into dueling with you when you’re outnumbered or outmatched. he very coolly manipulated bob into killing his own brother (btw this was very hot and sexy and clever and attractive perseus is king of gaslight gatekeep girlboss). he is NOT stupid. he is impulsive. he is extremely oblivious about some things. he is NOT stupid. i watched perseus jackson grow up for 5 books and he is not stupid. i always say this. i always say that percy is not stupid and richard riordan refuses to listen to me.

there are such horrendous lines as “i am a guy of limited talents. if i can’t kill it with water, a sword, or sarcasm, i’m basically defenseless.” richard how DARE you say this about my beloved perseus. he is NEVER like this. he literally would never say that. even at absolute worst percy’s internal monologue was “this plan is stupid and will get us killed. but it’s the plan i have.” he’s NOT a being defenseless guy. what hte fuck are you saying. richard did you read your own books. RICHARD. DID YOU. at one point he says that he is constantly several steps behind annabeth’s thought process. he has literally never thought this before and it is also untrue. richard. i hate you. read your own fucking books oh my god.

ok. i think i have sufficiently harped on the fact that percy is not stupid. now i will complain about another thing. and this was just in one part but it bothered me and this is my review so i get to talk about whatever i want. if you don’t like it read someone else’s review. don’t hate read my review. i didn't charge you money to read it

at one point, percy has to wrestle a god who hercules once wrestled. and annabeth says something about hercules brute forcing it. and look. i GET that hercules was freakishly strong. i get that. i understand it. but when annabeth says hercules just brute forced it they’re both like ah shit i can’t do that. perseus. beloved. you ripped the minotaurs horn off its head with your bare hands as a 12 year old with no training. you are literally insanely strong as is. that is an insane thing for a 12 year old to be able to do. hell, that would be an insane thing for a grown adult to do. i don’t think rick realizes how op percy is. he was so caught up in making percy cool (which is, you know, extremely understandable and right and correct percy jackson is the coolest man in fiction for a reason i get it) that he forgot that he made percy extremely unbelievably powerful too. with the curse of achilles he was potentially matching minor gods in power level. he fights while sustaining mini-hurricanes and explodes glaciers and shit.

some more things. the prose is… acceptable. the plot reads like a fever dream. there is a smoothie shop called himbo juice that annabeth percy and grover are evidently regulars at. and there are. himbos. that serve. juice. so you can imagine what this fever dream looks like. like the last couple rick riordan releases, this one reads like published fanfiction too, just with better quality of writing than the sun and the star.

there are some WEIRD continuity errors in here. one of them is fairly minor but i still noticed it - percy says his father compared his mother to a princess. this is not true. poseidon compared sally to a queen. specifically, he called her “a queen among women”. i know this because i am sally jackson’s number 1 fan.

more egregiously, however, is annabeth’s yankees cap heebie jeebies. percy puts on annabeths’s cap and gets the heebie jeebies while using it. and then he goes wow annabeth. you never told me that using the cap is like this. and annabeth is like yeah well. power is like that. richard. riordan. did you fucking FORGET that percy has, in fact, worn annabeth’s cap before. and it was literally completely. once again, richard, did you read your own books.

one more good thing - when percy fights geras/gary, who is the god/personification of old age, the way he does it is by imagining him and his friends getting older and embracing it. this was a genuinely good and sweet moment and it was very touching. the trio’s talks about this after the fact are also absolutely a return to form from riordan. for like, a few paragraphs. but still.

the biggest problem is just how obvious it is that this book is a cash grab. we had pjo. then we had a sequel series. then we had ANOTHER sequel series. and now we’re getting random standalone novels that are extremely unnecessary and don’t add anything. rick riordan has dollar signs in his eyes. these are not stories that make sense. these are not stories rick genuinely wanted to tell. these are stories that are being told because the purpose of publishing books now is to maximize profit. (sidebar - i told you the capitalism thing would be relevant. you should believe me more often. smh) the only reason rick is still writing these books is that they make money. they feel extremely empty and hollow.

percy is trapped as a teenager forever because rick refuses to let him age up. percy accepting old age would make FAR more sense for a percy who’s in his 20’s and just now realizing that he lived past all the shit he thought was going to kill him and he has a real life that he likes and he could actually grow old now. but percy must be a child for marketing purposes, so he stays a child. the world itself is trapped in a cycle of the gods promising they’ll be better and the gods literally not changing at all. and for the sake of the book series, it can’t change. if we had real change in the world, that would actually mean something, silly. we can’t have consequences. we have to reset every 5 years like a fucking comic book so that we can make infinite money. this is the infinite money glitch irl. just make trash that doesn’t need to be made. the end point of capitalism is making trash no one asked for that has no artistic merit just because you can make money off of it.

by the way, dr emily wilson’s iliad translation, which was also out on the same day, is LESS expensive than this book. this cashgrab nonsense novel is MORE expensive than a book a professor in classics who has a phd spent 4 years on. this is just wrong. the fun and stupid cashgrab book should NOT be more expensive than a book that someone spent 4 years meticulously translating from ancient greek. it’s just so clear and in your face. trials of apollo absolutely felt like a cashgrab but at least there was SOME semblance of effort there. this is literally just the most plain and simple cashgrab novel you can make.

hey. you know the infinite monkey theorem? the infinite monkey theorem is that a monkey hitting keys at random on a typewriter keyboard for an infinite amount of time will almost surely type any given text including shakespeare. richard riordan is a monkey with a typewriter. you get it. you’ve read percy jackson.

rick riordan struck gold with pjo. it’s genuinely to this day one of my favourite things i’ve ever read, flaws and all. it’s FUN. it’s COOL. it’s THEMATICALLY COHESIVE. the characters grow and change. they feel like real people with personalities. it literally doesn’t even matter how op percy is because THAT’S how good of a character he is. he is so compelling that you want to read about him anyway even though you can tell right from the minotaur fight that this kid can decimate whatever opponent he has. the books are funny and moving because you can genuinely connect to these characters. the more i read rick riordan’s work, the more certain i am that pjo was a fluke. i don’t think he knows what he’s doing. i think he should retire from writing.

unfortunately for me, richard riordan seems to have no intention of retiring. he has announced another percy jackson book that will be released next year. i assume there will be at least 2 more books based on the setup in this one.

rick. listen. i know you’re listening because what else will you do with your time. rick, why are you doing this. hasn’t percy been through enough. when will it end. give it a rest. stop it. get some help. at the very least, read your own books before writing percy. i am right about him and you are wrong about him. you are the author and i’m killing you right now. i am strangling you and i am hitting you with weapons. all at once. i am very proficient at causing deaths. (this is a metaphor referring to roland barthes’ death of the author. i wish no bodily harm to richard riordan).

this book is… alright. percy is my smart king. sally jackson is queen of my heart. it’s a fun read but you do have to turn your brain off completely and read through some serious percy defamation.

[edit: i am downgrading this book to one star (was at 2). the more i think about it, the more angry i am. there is literally a paragraph tailor made to rub jason's death in our faces. it's about how he looks forward to getting old being married to piper and having grandchildren. it's a very low blow. jason is literally rick riordan's biggest missed opportunity and he's rubbing in how poorly he treated jason even after killing him off for apollo's character development.

annabeth still keeps putting percy down because rick doesn't realize how mean she is i guess. she's still scared of him. canonically. which is a really weird and fucked up thing to write imo. this relationship doesn't seem healthy in canon (they are healthy in my head, however, because i know what women are like) but rick refuses to address it or let them break up. i LOVE annabeth. i love her. but she is an extremely flawed character and rick never treats her as such. and it just makes it exhausting to read about her.

percy IS on form but it genuinely feels like he's tlt percy, not post hoo percy. his inner voice sounds way more immature than it has for most of pjo and in son. riordan also repurposes the "look, i didn't want to be a half-blood" line from tlt to make a dumb little joke about how high school is hard. it was a GOOD opening line. it immediately set the tone and told us so much about percy in literally just a handful of words. now it's a joke about how being a senior in high school sucks. it's this mcu-esque allergy to being sincere that pjo never had.

there is BARELY any grover in this book. i love grover so much that i was cheering any time he was there, but there is very little of him. he's in like 2 or 3 scenes and has his own side plot going on with juniper and being bad at understanding what his girlfriend wants or whatever. extremely unnecessary and not what i want for grover. this book kind of ends up feeling like it's about annabeth but from percy's perspective. she gets good moments at percy's expense. percy spends the book monologuing about how annabeth is way smarter than him and all he has is his sick ass water powers and the best swordfighting skill in 300 years, both of which are very downplayed. percy explodes a river and it's treated like this crazy freaky scary thing but two years ago in universe he made a volcano erupt and everyone was like yeah this makes sense percy is that powerful. in son he explodes a glacier and it's just a normal tuesday for him. he literally doesn't even react to it. and now we're supposed to believe his exploding and purifying a river feat is some unbelievable feat.]

in conclusion, i want a refund. no i did not purchase this book. however, i would like to be reimbursed about $5000 in emotional damages. i will also be suing richard riordan for defamation on percy’s behalf. good night new york city. and my beloved perseus jackson who lives in new york city.

#alexis.exe #pjo #cotg crit #rr crit #cotg spoilers #cotg #i hope yall who dont want negative stuff have the crit tag blacklisted lol dont come at me

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bluelockhalloweek · 1 year ago

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Blue Lock Halloweek 2023 Prompts are here—can’t wait to see what y’all create!

👻 Reblog with your favorites prompts & share with your Blue Lock crew!

👻 Find the event on Twitter @/BllkHalloweek

👻 See below for more info, typed-out prompts, & prompt examples if you need clarification or inspiration

👻 Feel free to mix and match, and take prompts as literally or as tangentially as you want!

👻 Work doesn’t have to be specifically Fall / Halloween themed as long as it fits a prompt. (If you’re writing a superhero fic for “Mask,” don’t feel like you have to stick a 🎃 in a corner unless you want to.)

👻 Work can be as lighthearted, scary, or spicy as you want as long as you follow the updated guidelines!

👻 Thank you to everyone who submitted prompts, & credit to the anons who suggested The Witching Hour & Mischief Night! A lot of suggestions were already on my longer list or were very similar, or might be better saved for next year. If your favorite isn't on the list, the “Free Prompt” finale is your day!

👻 Find event Archive of Our Own here!

👻 The event is on Tumblr, Twitter, and AO3, so share your contribution on all three!

Blue Lock Halloweek (+ 2!): October 23 - October 31, 2023

Monday 23: Pumpkin spice + Do you believe in magic?

Tuesday 24: Masks + Heartbeat

Wednesday 25: Things that go bump in the night + Festival

Thursday 26: Firelight + Dark Waters

Friday 27: Paranoia + The Witching Hour

Saturday 28: Monster’s Ball + Hunter’s Moon (actual full moon date & name!)

Sunday 29: Angels & Demons + Castle

Monday 30: Spirit + Movie / Mischief Night (actual night)

Tuesday 31 🎃: Sweet Tooth / Sucker + Free Prompt!

Now for Prompt Examples + Explanations

I’ve had people ask for prompt examples in past events I’ve hosted and this event is open to any language, so here you go! These are the quick brainstorming notes (now expanded with links & definitions) I took while narrowing down the list to be sure the final prompts were unique enough / without toooo much overlap, and covered enough areas. Only some of maaaany interpretations—go wild!

Your host is a fic-writer with ADHD, so…you’ve been warned.

Day 1:

Pumpkin Spice: Cozy Autumn vibes. Putting up Halloween decorations, carving Jack-o-lanterns, coffee / tea shop, pumpkin patch, scented candles, baking, fall sangria, sweaters and beanies and flannels, momijigari (Autumn Hanami 🌸, basically) / admiring gorgeous fall foliage, fresh hot apple cider in an orchard. Itoshi Bros and their love of turtle/mock-neck sweaters. Pumpkin Farmer Aiku and Karasu scarecrow!

Do you believe in magic?: Revealing their magical powers for the first time. Crystal ball, tarot. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, etc. AU. Non-literal magic in relationships (feeling understood, chemistry, humor matching up perfectly, etc). Wands, spells, magical objects, magical creatures, etc.. Making a wish. Alexis "The Magician" Ness.

Day 2:

Masks: Costumes, super heroes, putting up a front, acting like something you’re not, classic masked Halloween meet-cute, secret / concealed identities, spies, ninja and samurai and assassins (Karasu and Otoyaaa!) Niko hiding his eyes / face.

Heartbeat: Racing heart from excitement, fright, romance, spice. No heartbeat like undead, zombie or vampire, etc.. Skip a beat, beat faster, beat slower (calm and comfort). Chigiri on the run from zombies, zombie Lorenzo!

Day 3:

Things that go bump in the night: unexplained (scary or otherwise) noises in the night, whispers or voices, ghosts and other supernatural entities, haunted house / place, anything scary, …spicy. Spooky Owl outside Rin’s window.

Festival: String lights illuminating festival stalls, costumes, traditional attire (Aryu looking stylish!), food and drink, games, Isagi devouring fried fair food. Fall Music festival. Mid-Autumn Festival (with all the pretty lanterns and mooncakes 🥮), Harvest / Fall Fests in general. Bobbing for apples, caramel / candy apples, carnival rides and games, Ferris wheel. Oktoberfest; Kaiser and/or any Bastard München player in Lederhosen—please, I’m begging!! Fun house / haunted house. Day of the Dead festivities.

Day 4:

Firelight: Cauldrons, brewing potions. Candles, rituals, bonfires. Autumn camping trip, s’mores, spooky firelight shadows outside the tent, got lost on a hiking trip & have to make a fire to keep warm! Torches, candles, lanterns lighting the way in a definitely not-haunted place. Hell, your favorite circle (Dante’s Inferno) 😈

Dark Waters: merpeople, sirens, sea monsters, kraken, pirates (Kurona and Raichi, Bachira 🐬!), sharks, shipwreck, ghost ships, stranded on a deserted island, haunted lakes, lake spirits, Autumn fishing trip, swamp monsters, bogs and marshes, willowisps, alligators, snakes. Loch Ness Monster

(Fire and water, light and dark)

Day 5:

Paranoia: Fear and suspicion, feeling like someone’s watching and you just can’t shake it (...Ego and his cameras), feeling like you’re losing your mind, etc.. Doesn’t have to be all bad! Maybe there was a misunderstanding before a fun surprise.

The Witching hour: Wiki / dictionary. Depending on whom you ask, the hour is either midnight or 3am - 4am. Supernatural entities / practitioners of dark arts are the most active and powerful. These entities might feel compelled / drawn out into the world. Magic and danger, inexplicable happenings! Humans ought to be at home and safely tucked in bed at this late hour, or else... Fun fact, the Orionid meteor shower peaks juuust before this event starts (in my hemisphere, at least) but continue until November, and the best time to view meteor showers is generally around the witching hour (after midnight / 3-4am). Can also mean the time in which people get up to no good or questionable stuff.

Day 6:

Monster’s Ball: Monsters, creatures. Bachiraaa. Halloween party, masquerade, nightlife (going out in costume—or not—to bars and clubs). Reo buying a round. Literal ⚽ ball (Lil Isagi trick-or-treating in Noa’s kit), Halloween Practice (like in high school or college when your coach let you have a fun practice in costume before a holiday—absolute chaos and so fun!). Whatever chaos and debauchery y’all can imagine. Just follow the event guidelines and tag accordingly! Green eyed monster (jealousy), Cinderella’s Ball (Sae and Shidou!)

Hunter’s Moon: The date of the actual full Hunter’s Moon—lucky us! Sometimes called the Blood Moon. Full moon, werewolves, moonlight, on the hunt or being hunted, spells and rituals, Tsukimi / moon viewing + Tsukimi dango 🎑, moon myths and gods. Celestial things, Kurona and Isagi planetary hotline / astronauts, aliens.

(Monster vs Hunter day, ha)

Day 7:

Angels and Demons: Demon and priest, hell, listening to the angel or the devil on your shoulder (making a questionable decision because it’s tempting), devilish fun or spells, sin, temptation, a deal with the devil. Ohhh, Sae and Shidou, your night has come! 😈

Castle: fairytales, knights, vampires, dungeons, Royalty (King Barou, Emperor Kaiser!). Also super Sae and Shidou.

Day 8:

Spirit: ghosts, haunted houses, GhostBusters, spirit entities like yokai, Ghost Adventures. Gagamaru as a friendly Yokai! Shaman. Possession, possessed or cursed objects. JJK. Ouija board game! Monk Igaguri.

Movie Night: Watching a scary (or not scary) movie, series, anime, etc. So many movie/show Alternate Universes. Sendou living his Hollywood dreams. Barbie please!!! Nagi nodding off halfway through. The guys as a character from their favorite movie listed in the Egoist Bible.

Mischief Night: Wiki page. The night before Halloween for hijinks, pranks, scaring each other! Toilet papering Ego’s house. Can be more sinister, too.

Day 9: Halloween!

Sweet tooth / sucker: Trick-or-Treating, candy corn, so much candy, caramel corn, vampires or anything with fangs, bite, ‘sucker’ like 🍭 or vampires, or…

Free day / AU (alternate universe) Palooza!:

Whatever Halloween stuff you want that doesn’t quite fit a prompt! Just listing some of the things I would draw (if I could) or write (if i had time):

Video game au for Hiori! Pokemon! Ego as a gangly cowboy, ⚽️ bolo tie and all. Barou as the "Cowardly" Lion in the Wizard of Oz. And finally, artists, if you're reading this, please, please consider Noel Noa (of the 🇫🇷 French National 🥖 Team!!) dressed as Bonjour Man from Life Lessons with Uramichi Onii-san (clip, manga cap). Please Omg. This image has literally been haunting me since starting this event and the manga/anime (even the dub!) is soooo funny. And technically, Bonjour Man is a cursed spirit sooo 👻

Okay, that's it. Hope y'all have fun. Please reblog and spread the word 🧡🖤

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druidx · 1 year ago

Text

Find the Word Tag - Alexis Dalliance vs the Evil of Titan - Part 2

I have a lot of Find the Word tag games. So I decided to put them all together to make me edit the Alexis Dalliance vs the Evil of Titan, a NaNoWriMo novel from 2012 based on the first TTRPG campaign I participated in the Fighting Fantasy World of Titan setting.

There was a total of 145 words to find so I've split these into batches of ~50. I've not removed any duplicates, and where there's not an exact match I've used synonyms instead.

I've grouped the words by the original tagger - though some of these are old enough the tagger has changed URLs...

Fair warning before you click:

I have tried to keep the snips short, but at ~8,320 words, this post is 'colour of the sky' long.

Well, if we're sitting comfortably, I'll begin.

➤ @autumnalwalker

Advice (Instruction)

The group once more reached the gates of Castle Dire “Ho there!” Richard hollered up at the guards stationed above. “We return on the instruction of Corporal Janz, bringing the gift from my lord, Zharradan Marr, to his Lordship Balthus Dire.” A cautious face popped up over the battlements. “Good Gods,” said Janz. “Is that it?” Alexis clenched her jaw at his tone. “Yes, it is,” Richard yelled back. “Now let us in, if you please.” “Alright, alright. Keep your pants on.” Janz vanished from view.

Alright

Alexis woke from where she’d curled up under a table. As she crawled out from under the table, she found Victor still drinking, helping himself to a barrel of ale with its top stoved in. “I’m going a-bed,” she declared, her words slurring together. “You should do the same.” Victor grinned, singing something unintelligible in an off-key warble. Alex waved a wagging finger at him. “You better pay for that barrel you’re draining.” “Course!” Victor beamed at her. “We were ordered t’see Yazty and the Cap’n. You better be at Townhall by noon. Got it?” “Aye, aye, sir!” Victor gave her a lazy salute. “Well, alright. I’m going t’bed,” she said and left him to it.

Bite

Back at the inn, Alexis hitched the horses outside and went in, finding Richard in the middle of breakfast. As soon as he saw her, he unfolded himself from the low seating, and they met in the middle of the carpeted space. “Alexis-” Brown hair flopped into his face as he bowed his head, his shoulders slumping with relief. “I… I thought you might have left us.” Awkwardly, he places a hand on her shoulder. “Psh. Never,” she said. “You’d trip the first trap you found and get yourself killed if I wasn’t here.” Despite her flippant words, Alexis squeezed his hand and grinned. He smiled back. “Probably.” “Definitely.” Together they returned to his table, and Richard took a bite from his flatbread. "I’ve sent Bast and Victor to get trail rations and other supplies. Um. I’m afraid Goregut won’t be joining us. He’s decided he’s quite fond of the desert and has joined a mercenary band. He left with a caravan at first light.” His brown eyes regarded her over the bread, lips pursed in a silent question. “Oh.” Alex’s hand found the necklace of bone Gorgut had given her. “A shame. I should have liked to have said goodbye. I guess this means we have an extra horse then.”

Connection

Victor turned away from where he’d been poking at the bottom of a wall and grinned. “Why, Rock to Mud, of course.” “And what is that?” Richard asked. “A spell. If I use it on the base of the walls, the unworked stone here, see? The foundations will collapse, the temple will fall in on itself, be swallowed by sand, and we can be on our merry way.” He dusted his hands off with a grimace. “I don’t know about you, but the heat and dust and significant lack of beer is becoming increasingly tedious.” "I don’t see any other options,” Alexis said. “All right then, let's do that.” Bastet stood, walking over to the tunnel connecting the chamber with the outside, and Alexis joined her. “Whenever you’re ready,” Richard said, motioning the other two up the tunnel to give Victor room to work.

Duck

Victor continued, unfazed, “It seems we were expected, presumably by Yaztromo’s mysterious source. The chappy over there said he would only speak to us together." "Let’s not leave him waiting then," Richard said, leading the way across the street towards the man in question. The man lifted his chin as he saw them cross and ducked down the alley behind him. He led them, keeping his distance, as the alley jinked back and forth, past the occasional body or sack of detritus. He stopped, finally, next to an unremarkable wooden door. Alexis squinted. In the gloom opposite the obvious door was another of dark metal, recessed into the dank brick.

Initially (Introduce)

"Where in the hell are we?" Alexis asked. Despite the guard, Bastet stood up and went to the bars to look around. "What are you doing? Get her back from there. Do you want to get us all in trouble?" came a new voice, hissing from the corner. Alexis turned. In the faint light of the torches, she could just pick out the pale, emaciated form of an elven woman. Her wide, fearful eyes were fixed on Bastet. “You’d better come away,” Alexis said, poking Bastet in the leg. “I’d guess we’re in some kind of drow-run mine,” Bastet said as they sat next to the woman. “Yes,” she said. “We’re on the outskirts of the Darkwood Forest. They have us mining for moonstones.” Alexis held out her hand, introducing herself and Bastet. "I’m Nassurae Talloth," the woman said, ignoring Alexis’ hand. "Now, please, you must get some sleep. Don’t make the guard come back.” Alexis and Bastet glanced at each other as Nassurae moved to the back of the cell, cuddling down with her fellows. “I can’t do anything without my tools,” Alexis said. “We may as well get some rest then,” Bastet said. “I was never stationed at a place like this, but I’ve heard the rumours. We’ll need all the strength we can muster to survive.” So saying, she laid down. Alexis followed suit, trying to get comfortable on the cold, stony ground.

Not

As Richard paid for their meal, Alexis rolled the map up, stuffing it into her pack. “Let’s see if we can drag those two away from their entertainment,” Richard said dryly. Alexis glanced out. The tiles had been put away in favour of a pack of cards and a bottle of pale golden liquor. Bastet now sat, engaging in a drinking contest with a burly half-orc woman. Alexis snorted, and they left the tent. Richard was ahead of her, striding over, no doubt with an admonishment on his lips, when Alexis felt the back of her neck prickle. She stopped, looking around, as twiclings shifted around her. The crowds parted, just for a moment, and she spotted people in what appeared to be clerical vestments. She squinted. Except, something wasn’t quite right… One of them twisted, looking straight at her. “Shit…” He nudged his companion and pointed. “Richard!” she yelled and ran. Today was a day when being small worked in her favour. Alexis shot through the crowds, darting this way and that, winding through the legs of people and animals alike. But though it might help her lose the cultists, she’d also lose her backup. Eventually she was going to run out of legs to hide behind and have to face the cultists on her own – a prospect she did not look forward to.

Once

The blanket of night was once more drawing over as the group approached the flickering lights of Castle Dire. A blanket was thrown over Three and coin exchanged with the duty guards to smuggle him through the gates and into the city. While Richard and Victor stayed in a shadowy nook with Three and their mounts, Alexis and Bastet ventured into the bustling city to find a place for the night. They followed the smells of late-night street food stalls to a place where the cobbled road turned to dirt and the pub signs creaked and flaked as they swung. Two men, in the midst of a fight, tumbled out of one of the myriad drinking houses, followed by a small cheering crowd. In Thieves Cant, Bastet signalled that it advertised stables as well as room and board. A female orc came blundering out after the two humans, grabbing them by the collar. As the pair watched, the orc slammed the two men together, dropping them in a lump at her feet. Their coin purses were removed, the orc yelling for them to never darken her door again. Alexis tilted her head towards the establishment, eyebrows raised in question. Bastet gave a shrugging nod. Silently, they split up – Bastet into the inn, and Alexis to retrieve their fellows.

Pass

“So, how are repairs going?" she asked as the barman began to draw their drinks. "Good. Very good," he replied. "We’ve been one of the first they’ve set to work on. Can’t think why.” He winked as he set Richard’s beer on the counter and moved to draw Alexis’. “Now the pub’s passed to me after old Finnley lost his life in all the troubles, I’m thinking to rename her. Fresh start and all.” He put Alexis’ drink down. “That’ll be a silver bit for the beers and meals then.” “Oh really?” Alexis gave a puckish smile and slid a gold piece over the counter. ”Are you taking name suggestions?” The bartender gawped. Then his hands flashed, hurrying to hide the coin. “You keep tipping like that, love, you can name her yourself.” Alexis grinned broadly, sending another gold after the first. “I think The Plot Hook has a nice ring to it myself. How about you?” “Aye, my lady, aye,” the barman said, eyes wide, pocketing the coin. “I’ll have the sign writers in first thing tomorrow.” “Excellent,” Alexis said, still grinning, and jumped from the counter. The barman passed down her beer. “Food’ll be out in a jiffy.”

Recommendation (Charge)

Richard came back in. He took one look at his empty plate and Alexis rubbing her full belly, and sighed. With a wave to the server for more food, he took his seat.

"Those are fine-looking beasts. Well kept and well trained," he said. "The trader must have charged you a fortune." Alexis gave a small, secretive smile. When Richard raised an eyebrow at her, she laughed, a rare tinkling sound. "Actually, no. We, ah…” Heat rose to her cheeks, and she glanced away, still smiling. “He enjoyed our conversation and cut the price on that account." Both of Richard’s eyebrows shot up and he gave her a long, incredulous look before laughing. “I’m glad you’re on my side,” he said with a grin.

Sat

Richard knocked on the Captain’s door From within came Hengar’s voice, "Come in." Inside the cramped office, Hengar was sorting slates on his desk, Yaztromo behind him, looking out of a window. Hengar looked up from his slates and grinned. "Ah, just the rabble-rousers I was hoping to see. You did a very thorough job of giving half the town a hangover. The other half seem to still be inebriated." Hengar gave them a smirk. "I trust that you, my elite squad, are feeling fit as fiddles, and are keen to continue your duties?" The group glanced at each other, sharing trepidation looks. Alexis nodded carefully. "Ye-es?" The Captain sat back in his chair, steepling his fingers and his expression sobered. "Good. Because I’m afraid I have some troubling news for you. The demon Myurr is as tenacious as he is evil. The Eye of Myurr cult has risen again, this time in its ancestral homeland – the swamps of Silur Cha. I’ve had word from the local militia in the area that there has been unusual activity concerning the lizardman population. This has been confirmed by Yaztromo’s colleagues, who’ve also provided intel about a temple in the depths of the swamp which may be used as another portal staging ground. I’ve agreed to send you down there as you’re the only ones in the militia network with the skill and experience to tackle this.” Hengar sighed. “I don’t suppose you’ve kept hold of that nifty little device that you told me about?"

Think

“I’ve not had chance to scout this level completely,” Alexis told the group as they gathered in the stairwell, “but I’m confident there’re no patrols. We should remain quiet and vigilant all the same.” “Agreed,” Ithanor said. With that, Alexis led the party out and along the long dim corridor. Here racks of equipment lined the walls. Alexis steered clear, but Victor, close to the back, paused next to one. “I could do with a sword," he muttered and tugged at a shortsword. The rack toppled and fell. Metal hit stone in a cacophonic tangle. Everyone froze, hands on weapons. The last sounds of spinning metal tapered off and their breath rasped harshly in the silence. Alexis strained her hearing. “I think we’re in the clear,” she whispered. Ithanor shot a glare at Victor. "Do not do that again.” Victor backed away from the rack, the sword still in his hand. "Sorry! Sorry," he said. “At least I got a weapon?” “Could we please continue?” Nathardrin asked, gesturing to Alexis. “Dalliance?” Alexis nodded. “C’mon.”

Under

Presently, the Captain was refreshed and began speaking. "I have a proposition for you all," he told them. "As you may know, we have started this recruitment drive on information that Firetop Mountain, a dwarven settlement a few leagues away, has become overrun by goblins under the leadership of an evil wizard named Zagor. However, I am reluctant to lay siege to this place or approach it under the banner of war without knowing what I am sending my troops into. "You four have recently come to my attention as potential candidates for a special mission, especially you, little one." He stopped and looked pointedly at Alexis before continuing. "The basic is this: I would like you four to infiltrate Firetop Mountain and gather reconnaissance. This is completely voluntary and if you wish, you may leave this room now."

Wake

Morning – or what Alexis presumed to be so; it was impossible for her to tell from underground – came, and Alexis was woken by Nassurae. As she came awake, scrubbing tiredly at her eyes, she saw that Bastet was being woken by another elven woman. "Come, little one. You need to wake up now," Nassurae said, encouraging Alexis to stand. "They will be bringing food soon. If we do not eat it quickly enough, they will take it before we have finished." Alexis nodded. "Will we be able to see our friends when they take us down to the mine?" "Yes," said Nassurae. "But you will not have any opportunity to talk to them. The work is gruelling. You won't have the breath for talking, if you can even get close enough without the guards seeing. They're very strict – if they see the slightest flagging, they will whip you" Alexis nodded. "I'll have to manage. My friends and I have to find a way to escape. We have people relying on us." Nassurae looked like she was about to say something else but then the guards banged on the bars of their cage.

➤ @oh-no-another-idea

Black (Blackguard)

"Why?" he asked. "What did I ever do to you? For that matter, what did the people of Toreguard do to you?" The Blackguard laughed. "In answer to your second question: nothing. But it got your attention, did it not?" He took another step towards them and Richard did the same, drawing his sword. "As to your first question," the Blackguard continued. "You killed my master and mentor. Twice no less! I should thank you for that, but there was still so much I had to learn. And you took that from me!" So saying, Alexis saw rage cloud his eyes and he launched himself at Richard. Their swords clashed and Alexis found herself moving. "Just because he’s here for Richard, doesn’t mean we can’t help our friend!" she yelled, reaching for her crossbow. Bastet put her hand on Alexis’ arm. "No, we shouldn’t interfere. This is a personal journey. Richard needs to do this by himself." "Screw that!" Alexis said, loading her bow.

Deep

"My lord," the steward said, dipping to one knee and bowing. "I present to you emissaries from your brother in wickedness, Zharradan Marr. They bring you a gift of Marr’s design." "Oh ho?" said Dire, standing to stride down the dais towards them. Where Zagor had been the husk of a man long since departed, and Zharradan covered in so many bodily modifications he was more machine than person, Dire was the direct opposite of his brothers. He wore a well-tailored and debonair robe of azure and gold, cinched at the waist with an exquisitely tooled belt; the robe skimmed the ground as he walked towards them. His neatly trimmed hair and beard were a deep, shimmering black, and the nails that traced his cheek in a thoughtful brush were even and manicured.

Hair

"Hail and well met, fair maiden," came a voice from her left. Alexis glanced over to see an elf come from a small, brightly coloured tent. For a moment, she could only stare, jaw slack. The elf was stunning. Hair like golden honey dripped down his back and shoulders, partly plaited and ornamented with beads of turquoise and lapis. Eyes, the deep green of herbs, smouldered from behind pale lashes. His chest was bare, water droplets caught in soft curls of hair shimmering like dewdrops across his tanned skin. Alexis sucked in a breath, biting her lip and the elf flicked a skein of hair over his shoulder, revealing solid biceps cross-crossed with scars. "Hail and well met," she managed to murmur.

Hands

"I shall be sending an extra man with you," Hengar said, waving forward a human with coppery hair. "Since you’re to make your final approach to the fort on foot, Corporal Durnin here will bring your mounts back to town." "We’d best get going then," Nathardrin said, swinging himself up onto a blue roan. Yaztromo stood next to a chestnut mare, speaking softly to her before mounting. Ithanor cupped his hands, helping Alexis to mount up in front of the wizard, before swinging himself onto a handsome grey charger. Richard stood in front of the mount assigned to him, looking at it with some distrust. The bay shook her mane at him. Richard nodded and, with some difficulty, mounted up. With everyone astride, they set out, leaving Toreguarde in the dust.

Ink

Mess

The clamour of the wake-up bells drilled into her skull. Cursing and groaning, Alexis dragged herself to the Mess Hall, wishing her mouth didn't taste like a desert. She dropped down onto an empty bench, resting her head on the rough wooden table. A cup of strong chicory coffee and a plate consisting mostly of grease, with a side of bread and meat, landed in her eyeline. She rocked her head, following the arm to the amused face of Richard. "How do you not have a hangover?" she asked, glaring up at him through one squinting eye. "Because I didn't drink nearly as much as you or the others," he said smugly. "But you were wasted!" Alexis said, wincing at the loudness of her own voice. "I saw you." "No, you only saw what your wobbling vision allowed you to see. Now, eat up. We’ve got a busy day ahead of us, and we still need to go and wake the other two."

Midnight

Once they were all seated, with a small glass of brandy each, he addressed them properly. "What has my elite squad been up to these past months?" Captain Hengar asked. “I send you off to gather intel about the Eye of Myurr cult, and hear nothing of you until you show up in High Creek.” Alexis took a breath, sharing a side glance with Richard. “It’s, ah. Been a… bit of a time, yes. Port Blacksands then…” she said, and between the four of them, they launched into the full tale. Food was brought as morning turned to afternoon, and again as the evening turned, along with fresh bottles of brandy. Each added their own words to the winding story, and even after the tale was done, Hengar asked follow-up questions, having them retell parts he wanted clarity on. By the time they finally finished, it was gone midnight. “Thank you,” Hengar said, “for your patience in explaining this extraordinary affair. I’ve got a lot to think about with this information. Please, get some rest. We’ll talk more about our next steps on the morrow.” With that, they were ushered from the office and back to the barracks, to collapse into deep and dreamless sleep.

Murmur

The sun had barely risen by the time Richard was waking Alexis. After breakfast, the cook handed them packets of prepared trail rations, and they made their way out to the courtyard, where they found the most unusual sight. Next to a pair of horses, there stood a large dog and an oxen. The stable hand saluted them, as Bastet and Victor came sauntering into the yard. "Sirs," said the stable hand, "I took the liberty of sending a runner to wake your friends and bring them here. I have also prepared mounts for you all." Alexis nodded. "Very good, Private… ah?" "Keld. Ceri Keld," said the stable hand. "Thank you, Private Keld." Alexis put her hands on her hips. "What I would like to know, however, is what the hell is that cow doing here?" "Ah…" Keld paled. "I’m not sure, ma’am. It just… sort of… trotted in, and lowed every time one of the other mounts was saddled. So we saddled it, and it went quiet." Alexis raised an eyebrow. "Richard…?" "Umm, yes. This may be my fault," he said. "I do seem to recall, fuzzily, that I left last night and, umm, called for it. I had a feeling, I needed a mount for my paladin-ness. And, well. Oxen are good strong beasts." He walked over. Cow and elf regarded each other, then Richard reached out and gave it a pat on the head. "I shall call him ‘Benevelor’ because he is a holy cow." Victor sniggered a bit before Bastet elbowed him in the ribs. Alexis sighed and shook her head. "Well, it’s nice to meet you, Ben," she said and patted the cow on the leg. it looked at her curiously and then turned away. Richard frowned at her, as she and the others took to their mounts. "It’s Benevalor," he murmured grumpily. "Shall we get this show on the road, lady and gents?" Alexis asked and with that, Richard mounted, with some difficulty, and the four of them set out to Trolltooth Pass.

Sass (cheek)

The pair made their way to the bar – a simple plank supported by several barrels – and were greeted by a rotund human with a thatch of whitening hair. “Ah! ‘Tis our heroes. Welcome home!” he greeted them with a beaming smile. “And what can I get for you fine folks this evening?” Alexis used Richard’s arm to bounce onto the counter. “Dinner and an ale each, if you please.” The barkeeper frowned, his gaze flicking between Alexis and Richard. “A bold little one you’ve here, sir, eh? Though she’s a mite-” He trailed off catching sight of Alexis’ deepening scowl and Richard’s frantic head shaking. His mouth worked as a tense air filled the pub. “I’ll just be getting that for you then.” “You do that,” Richard said, tapping the counter. Alexis blew out her cheeks as the barkeeper turned away.

Shark (Astute)

"Why don't we take this discussion into my tent?" he asked. "It seems so gauche to discuss business out here." "Ah… I would rather not. No offence, but one can never be too careful. You’re charming and beautiful. But so too is a dryad before it strikes." The elf pursed his lips and, with a small sigh, looked away. "Ah, so astute and practical." He turned back. "Very well. Four fine steeds and one fine pony to go to the Pagan Plains." The elf reached behind his head, putting his full chest on display, and bundled his hair into a bun as he walked to the corral. With an unnecessary leap, he vaulted inside, causing a horse to wicker and shy away.

Smile

In the silence, every displaced rock sounded like a boulder, and every tinkle of the picks in the lock sounded like the rattle of chains from the Pit. Alexis breathed slow and even as she felt her way around the inside of the crude lock. But as seconds seemed to stretch for hours she struggled to keep the wave of anxiety from overwhelming her. Bastet was keeping a lookout, but Alexis found little comfort in that fact. What if she missed a signal, what if she couldn’t move fast enough? Never before had so many relied on her skills. Never before had it meant the difference between life and death. The sudden clunk of the lock seemed to reverberate through the darkness. Alexis glanced over at where she knew Bastet stood. The drow flicked a skein of white hair as she turned, her hands flashing the all-clear. Alexis let out a controlled breath and pushed open the cell door, once again waiting for Bastet’s hand signals. When the corridor remained still and silent, the pair slipped out. Nassurea pulled the cell door closed behind them, and Alexis gave her a reassuring smile. Bastet nudged her arm, and Alexis nodded. With one last look at Nassurea’s wide eyes, Alexis took off down the corridor towards the other cells.

Son (child)

CW Slavery

"Bastet, what is the meaning of this?" Richard said, tone hard. "This is Brian. I bought him," Bastet said, preening with the satisfaction of a cat who’d gotten the best bit of fish. Alexis shot Richard a look, trying to convey with the out-jutting of her chin, Now do you believe me she’s Pit-spawn? Richard’s jaw tensed. “You bought him.” “I wasn’t, y’know, gonna keep him,” Bastet said with a derisive huff. She shot Alexis a cold look. “That would be evil.” She returned her attention to Richard. “I was gonna let him go.” Richard crossed his arms. “Alright. Do it now then.” Bastet opened her mouth. “I assume they gave you a key? Get him out of those chains.” “Fine,” Bastet whined like a petulant child. From her brassiere, she plucked a key. The man looked at her with unrestrained hate as she unlocked the heavy manacle around his neck.

Sprint (dart)

The main corridor of the fort was dark, filled with dancing shadows from the smoking torches. From the side passage, the corridor marched both left and right, sharply turning away from her at either end. With a glance, Alexis noted the corridor as empty. Cautiously she padded out to the left, passing under each puddle of light with quick, light steps. At the corner, raucous laughter drew her attention towards a door on the outside of the corridor. With another swift check that no patrols were about to discover her, she darted over, peeking through the wide keyhole. The room inside was well lit by large windows, filled with all manner of green-skins at banqueting tables, hurling food and sloshing ale, tormenting each other with good-natured abandon. Though she wrinkled her nose at the waste of good food and beer, Alexis was pleased to see they were off-duty, and thus less likely to chance on her or her companions.

➤ @spacetimewraithwrites-archive

Cord

Ithanor set to searching the body for Zagor’s phylactery, while the others investigated the room. "Do you think this is it?" he asked, holding up a tubular object on a leather cord. Victor set down the book he was flicking through and walked over. “May I?” Ithanor nodded, holding it out. Victor took it, holding it by the cord as he muttered something under his breath and snapped his fingers. “I think so," he said, handing it back. “It does have a magical aura. We should destroy it anyway. If it was around that abomination’s neck, it can’t be anything good.” “Right.” Ithanor scratched his chin. "How?" Victor opened his mouth, took a breath, and closed it again with a frown. He walked around Ithanor, stroking his chin. Eventually, he stopped and looked at Ithanor. "Hit it with your hammer," Victor said, tone faintly questioning.

Fail

Night was falling by the time they reached Coven, coating the squat buildings in shadows. People – humans and dwarves both – hurried past with suspicious eyes as they made their way up the main street towards the Inn, a tall edifice carved, like the other buildings, from the sharp rock face of the Moonstone Hills and advertised by a swaying sign of a long, greenish tooth. If the outside had been impressive, the inside failed to live up to the standard set. It stank of stale beer and stale bodies, the villagers speaking in hushed tones. Richard went straight to the counter, ordering them rooms and dinner, with Bastet and Victor trailing behind him to order beers. Alexis veered away to read the noticeboard, keeping her ears pricked for any conversation about the fort spanning the pass, or the monster therein. After they’d eaten, Victor took to wandering between the tables, showing off his prestidigitation and other parlour tricks. Alexis trailed behind him, collecting the odd coin and listening hard for any gossip they may help them, but all she heard was related to the daily lives of the villagers. Not long after Victor wrapped up his ‘show’, she headed to bed.

Fault

(Word edited out for better prose)

CW screen readers, unusual dialogue punctuation

Alexis and Bastet approached the door, swaddled in the armour of their enemy. Two goblins stood on either side. One was picking his nails, the other humming some kind of ditty. ⟨Hey up.⟩ The goblin picking his nails stopped, twitching his ears. ⟨What’re you doing here?⟩ Alexis puffed out her chest, summoning her courage from her boots, and prayed she didn’t forget a word or trip over her tongue speaking the goblin’s language. ⟨Whaddya mean, what are we doing here?⟩ she asked, as brazenly as she could. ⟨What’re you two still doing here? It’s your break, innit? Go on, skedaddle.⟩ The goblin lifted his chin, narrowing his eyes. ⟨You’re early.⟩ ⟨Yeah?⟩ Alexis put her hands on her hips. ⟨Dunno what to tell you, mate. Bigboss sent us up here. If he got the times wrong, then that’s on him, innit?⟩ The goblin titled his head, red eyes still narrowed, but the one humming the ditty had stopped, and was leaning forward, twitching his ears. ⟨You really wanna quibble a few extra hours free time? I was you, I’d just take it, mate. 'Specially since they cracked a cask just as we left.⟩ The ditty-singer smacked the nail-picker. ⟨C’mon, lad. S’better than standing around up here. Anyone asks, it ain’t us what’s gotta sort it out.⟩ The nail-picker sniffed, his long nose wobbling. ⟨Fine.⟩ The two left their station and headed down the stairs. Alexis almost felt sorry for what was waiting for them. Almost.

Favour

The ship lurched. Bastet looked up from where she was stowing her pack, gazing out of the porthole. "It looks like we’re on our way," she said. “I’m gonna go check on the boys.” Alexis hummed and Bastet left. Even though Alexis had always been a wanderer with no real home since she’d left the Forest of Night, she still felt a pang of sadness as she watched the quayside slip away. It was going to be a long time before she saw Toreguard or Allansia again. Alexis climbed up on the chest, pressing her hands on either side of the porthole and gazing down at the jumping white flecks caused by the boat’s movement. “Greg,” she whispered. “I’m finally travelling on your favoured domain. No, I know I’m not skating the waves as you would. But, since we’re here, please keep an eye on us during this long journey. Thank you, amen.”

Glow

Alexis and Nathardrin stepped forward, loosing off a round of arrows each, then fell back to let Richard and Ithanor charge forward. The fighters began to pound the hell out of the drow, dropping three before they moved out of the way to let Victor, his hands glowing ferociously and chanting like the wind, cast a sphere of flame that levelled the remaining two.

Make

The wind whistled through the cracks in the door. "A what?" asked Alexis. "A lich. It is an undead creature who has crafted unholy and powerful magics upon itself, removing its soul from the confines of its Titan-bound shell, and placing it inside another item. Until this ‘phylactery’ is broken, the lich can not be truly killed." The group looked at each other. "I had heard of these such beasts, but thought never to encounter one," Ithanor said. "How will we know what the phylactery is, what will it look like?" Alexis asked. "I do not know, I am afraid," Yaztromo said. "They come in many forms, often some item that is important to the owner. It should be on his body, however. All you must do is destroy it and we will be free of his tyranny. Come. There is much to do. We should make ready."

Mark

They waited in the late afternoon sun, Bastet leaning back in her saddle, and Victor playing with a pack of cards. The groaning of wood reached them, quietly at first, then louder as the great gate began to creak open. A platoon of guards appeared in the arch. One, his open helm decorated with curling markwork, stepped forward and saluted. “Ma’am. We’re here to escort you and the gift directly to the castle and Lord Dire.” He looked up at Three. “Is that it?” “It is,” Alexis said, her voice dripping with ice. “And it is to remain in my custody until we are met with Lord Dire. The guard nodded. “Very well, my Lady."

Minute

“You know, we could leave them here?” Alexis suggested. “They still give me the heebie-jeebies, and I just think that maybe-” “Alexis,” Richard snapped, his face creasing into a ferocious frown. “There is nothing wrong with either Victor or Bastet. They’re perfectly normal people. Besides, we need them and their blades. Don’t bring it up again.” “O-okay,” Alexis said, leaning back in her seat, surprised by the vehemence in his voice. “Jeeze, I was only thinking out loud.” His hand landed on the table, rattling the crockery, as he leaned in, still scowling. “Don’t.” Alexis stared, open-mouthed, as he stood. “You have twenty minutes to finish your breakfast, then I expect to see you in the barracks.” With a sharp about-turn, Richard strode off, leaving Alexis hunched into her seat, and reaching for her coffee to calm her frayed nerves. She took a slug of the drink. It had to be the lack of sleep making him crotchety. She dug into her breakfast. Yeah, that had to be it…

Miss

Crackling stacks of papyrus, held down by painted stones, and rolls of parchment lay across the stall’s table. Idly, she picked up one of the rolls, peeking at its contents – a map, of some kind. “Can I help you, little miss?” Alexis looked up to see she was being addressed by an elf, skin and hair like roasted bark, dressed in a squat hat and brightly patterned robe “Yes. I’m looking for a map of the desert. I need to find a particular temple.” “Oh ho! Treasure seekers! Adventurers!” The man grinned widely, spreading his arms to gesture at the stall. “You have come to the right place, little miss. You will not find better maps of this dry and dusty land, than at Hassan’s World of Treasure!”

“It’s too powerful. There would be Titan-shattering consequences if it were to be destroyed. And I mean that in its most literal sense.” Victor wrapped his arms around his shoulders. “No. You keep it for now. We’ll give it to Yaztromo. He’ll know what to do with it.” Alexis looked down at the dagger in her hands, eyes widening, breath coming in little gasps, and slowly moved it away from herself. “Richard?” she said in a panicked voice. “It’s just an item,” he said soothingly. “Just... pop it in your pack for now.” Fighting the urge to drop the thing and run, Alexis shucked her pack and buried the dagger the furthest down she could manage. Once she was satisfied, Alexis rose, slinging her pack on, feeling as if it were a hundredweight heavier. “What now?” she asked. “Now, we need to get our mounts and get the hell out of here,” Richard said, moving to help Bastet bring Victor to his feet. “There’s bound to be more dirty rotten cultists running around this place, and I do not want to run into them.”

Morning

Over breakfast the next morning, Richard set down his mug and cleared his throat. “Um. I heard a worrying rumour about my home village last night,” he said. “Would anyone mind if, before reporting back to Captain Hengar, we took a trip to High Creek. I found someone with a bit more information about the rumour, and I’m very worried that something isn’t right there.” Alexis shook her head. “That’s fine with me,” Victor said. Bastet nodded. “Me too.” "Thank you," Richard said with a smile.

Old

When Richard, Bastet, and Goregut showed up at the stables, Victor explained what Bloodbeard had told them about their mounts. Goregut had walked, and Bastet sold hers the moment she could find the stable master. Richard stood stroking the neck of his ox. “Benevelor, my faithful friend, I must send you away for a little bit.” The ox lowed disconsolately, butting it's snout into Richard’s shoulder. “I know old friend, I know. I will call for you as soon as I can. It won’t feel like any time has passed at all, I promise.” The oxen lowed again, and with a heavy sigh, Richard stepped back. He straightened his back, and held his hand out, palm up. “Benevalor,” he said, “I bid thee away to the celestial realms, until a time when I can call for you again." The ox was surrounded by a suffusion of golden light, and with one last dismal moo vanished in a flash of light.

Out

(Edited the word out for better prose)

The pub was looking a lot better than the last time Alex had seen it. The charred wooden pillars had been sanded down, patched up, and varnished. The barrels and haybales masquerading as furniture had been replaced by sturdy chairs and tables. The floor was now stone flags, and the counter was a lovingly crafted piece of art. "Roderick!" she called to the barman as she vaulted up onto a freshly upholstered stool. "Beer me up, man!" Roderick grinned and pulled her a jar of the house special. "Well now, if it isn’t our very own hero. How have you been, milady Dalliance?" he asked, handing her her beer. "Oh, you know.” Alexis flipped a hand. “Running around, saving the world, drinking substandard ale." She took a sip of her beer and smacked her lips. “Damn, but it’s good to be home.” Roderick blushed. “Thankee kindly, m’lady.” Alexis winked. "And you, my friend? How has business been? Did you find a lass to let you be her husband yet?" "Oi you," he said with a blushing smile. Over his shoulder to called into the kitchens, “Nadia-Rose? Are you free a spell?” A woman appeared at the doorway, wiping her hands on her apron. “Yes, love?” She had coppery skin and shining eyes under a cloud of wispy brown hair. “I’d like you to meet someone,” Roderick said, waving her over. Nadia-Rose smiled as she came to the counter, her cheeks dimpling, bringing with her the smell of bread and stew. "Alexis, this is my lovely new bride Nadia-Rose. My darling, this is Alexis Dalliance. When she can, she’s one of my best regulars."

Salt

“Don’t just stand there, ye daffies!” Bloodbeard called, waving them up the gangplank “Come aboard, my lovelies.” Richard led the way, carrying the heavy pouch of money they’d pooled together. “Your payment, as promised, Captin.” “Thankee kindly, lad,” Bloodbeard said, making the vast pouch vanish into his greatcoat. “Mate Arts!” A man with bronzed skin bringing with him the scent of salt and tar appeared with a snappy salute. “Aye, Cap’n?” “Arts, show these lubbers to their quarters, then report back to deck. We’ll be setting the sails in half a turn of the clock."

Scream

Once more Merickson coughed, breath rattling now. “Ah, child. If only it were that easy.” He cupped her face. “I betrayed everything for my own selfish need. That can never be forgiven.” “It can. It can!” Alexis cried, twisting to look at Richard. “Tell him!” Richard looked down at them, face impassive as a stone, eyes like gimlets, trained on Merickson. "You are forgiven, if you want to be," he said, voice flat. "I am beyond forgiveness," Merickson said, and before she could do anything, he put his hands over Richard’s and plunged the sword deeper within himself. "No!" Alexis screamed. "No!" She shook the Blackguard. "No…" Richard withdrew his weapon and wiped the blade. Gently he pulled Alexis away from the body. "It was his choice," he said softly. "But it was wrong and you could have stopped it!" Alexis sobbed. The rain mingled with her tears. She swiped at her face, pushing wet strands of hair away. "It may not seem like it," Richard told her, "but he returned to himself in the end. You had a part in that. In your own way, your forgiveness of his terrible acts let his spirit move on. You should be proud."

Sing (Song)

Richard stood and clasped Ithanor’s free hand. "Of course we’re not upset! I wish you all the best with your new life. We shall see each other again, I am sure of it." Richard grinned, clapping Ithanor on the back. Alexis stood up on her stool and walked along the bar counter to Ithanor. "Fair fortune, my friend," she said and hugged him. "Now finish the goddamn speech!" Laughter rippled through the assembled townspeople. Ithanor guffawed and raised his glass again. "To Toreguard! Fair fortune attend her and her people!" he cried. "Fair fortune!" the crowd called back. The room settled back into laughter and eating, snatches of song stirring as the beer flowed.

Sink (sunk)

"I hit my head as I fell," Victor said, indicating the poorly wrapped gash. "I don’t remember anything." Richard nodded. "I found him unconscious, draped over a bit of wood. He’s lucky though – a moment later and he would have sunk. I managed to drape him over a lost barrel, and swim us both away from the ship."

Smile (Beam)

Alexis blushed and bowed back. "The pleasure is mine, I can assure you. How’s business, Roderick? While I was out shopping earlier, I noticed the town’s starting to look like its old self again.” “Oh aye, things are booming,” Roderick said. “I’d dare say that fire did us a world of good. Everyone has been getting upgrades. You may’ve noticed the town hall and library are stone-clad and tile-roofed now.” “I did indeed. And there’s so many more shops and services.” “There’s been many folks moving in from the villages around, lots of new talents too. Your mate Ithanor’s been struggling to get housing up fast enough. Nadia and I have been helping out with getting the new folks settled, and all this cash flow means we’ve been able to expand the pub too. Your investment’s doing the town right well, milady.” Alex beamed. “I’m so pleased to hear that. From what I can see, everything is working out great. I’m really happy our home is doing so well.” “Oh aye,” Roderick lifted his chin behind her. “Looks like we’re not the only ones who want a chinwag.” Alexis turned to see Ithanor waving. “Ah, yeah. I’d better go say hi,” she said to the couple. "Congratulations again on your marriage.” “Thank you, milady.” Nadia reached across the counter to clasp Alexis’ hands. “You've done a world of good for our town. I hope your luck stays just as strong.” Alexis ducked her head. “Thank you. I try my best.” With that, she slid off the stool and went over to see Ithanor.

Soak

Mid-way into the journey, the clouds covered over and the Captain looked anxiously at the sky all the long day. The seamen were jittery too, making distracted mistakes, and dropping their tools. Mid-afternoon Bloodbeard ordered everything to be tied down and the sails to be furled, except for the main mast. It wasn’t until evening chow when the winds picked up, large globs of rain hammering into the deck and soaking anyone foolish enough to not have an oilcloth.

Sour (Acidic)

(Edited the word out for better prose)

“Those who would come to Atlantis need to prove themselves worthy of our time,” the apparition said. “Ahead you will find three tests: one of your wits, one of your knowledge, and one of your courage.” “Oh, great,” Alexis muttered. “They bring us here and they still make us fight our way to them.” Richard shot her a look, but they carried on. Alexis went ahead followed by Richard and Victor, then Bastet and Goregut. Their going was slow, as Alexis paused them several times, studying the path and disarming traps. They were so close to the end of the Test of Wits when Alexis made a mistake. The trap she was disarming instead triggered, sending an enchanted arrow to strike her down. Alexis staggered to her feet. “I think I’m-” The arrow dripped a viscous green slime, the leather cuirass smoking where the slime touched. “I’m… Ung!” Alexis doubled over and dropped to the floor.

Tree

They stood on the edge of the swamp, gazing into its shadowed depths. The stench from the mire rose high in the air, followed by clouds of tiny biting insects. “We’ve got to go in that?” Bastet asked, grimacing. “Unfortunately so,” Richard said. “Does anyone have any ideas?” Alexis wrapped her arms around herself. “I don’t like it here,” she said. “But it’s full of trees,” Victor said from where he was investigating a large fallen log with Gorgut. “Aren’t those kinda your thing?” “It doesn’t feel right,” Alexis said with a shake of her head. “It’s a swamp. What were you expecting?” Bastet said. “There’re swamps back home. They didn’t feel like this. This feels… sick. Like it’s being poisoned.” “Indeed it is, little maid.” The group jumped at the voice, soft and sad. The treetops rustled and from a low branch jumped a gnome in a pale green robe.

Trick

The next day went the same. The drow woke them early, they received their slop and were taken down to the mine in chains, the menfolk not long behind. Richard was stationed several people down from where Alexis stood at the end of the women’s chain. Through a game of whispers, she shared the plan with him. “It could work,” he sent back. “If she can distract them long enough for you to get our weapons, Ithanor and I can deal with the rest.” “The tricky part will be finding our equipment,” she sent back. The line went quiet as the guards made their patrols. Once they’d left, a message came back, “The men have prepared shivs. They know the guards' rotations. We strike in the early hours, before feeding time. Just get us out – we’ll manage until we have our weapons.” “How will I know when that is?” Alexis asked. The man in line next to her smiled. “Ask Nassurae. She’ll be able to help you with that.” “Right. One last thing – Bastet will need a shiv. She needs to be able to protect herself while ‘entertaining’.” The man nodded, sending the message up the line. A few moments later he said, “We’ll get one to her.” Alexis nodded. Perhaps they’d pull this off after all.

Try

(Word edited out for better prose)

"We need to get everyone out now," Ithanor said, panting. "Before they send more troops." "Nathardrin, Bast and Victor,” Richard said, “go retrieve the rest of our equipment." “Aye,” Nathardin said, and the three of them took off. "All the cages are open," Alexis said. "I’ll go on ahead, make sure the way is clear." “Be careful!” Ithanor said as she set off.

Behind her, Alexis could hear the murmurs of her friends encouraging the other prisoners out of their cells. She ignored them, putting all her efforts toward finding the way out. So far their jailbreak had gone unnoticed, but it couldn’t remain so for long. She kept her ears open listening to the corridors ahead for sounds of discovery, and a watchful eye for the glint of metal from a guard’s blade.

Young

(Avoiding the 'red shirt' issue)

"This acolyte will transport you back to the temple, and assist you in sealing this portal forever." A young man stepped forward. He wore dusky rose robes which stood out starkly against his dark skin and dark hair. His eyes were like birchwood, and he smelt, incongruously to Alexis’ newly-remade nose, like fresh snow. "What’s your name, Acolyte?" Bastet asked. The boy stuttered. “I don’t have one, Miss. Acolytes give up their names on admission to the order.” “What was your name, then?” “I do not recall it. Our names are returned when we reach a high enough proficiency to be worthy of them.” “Well, we have to call you something. In my culture, not having a name is bad luck. If you don’t have a name then you’ll die a gruesome death the moment you’re in peril. Such as,” she flipped a hand, “entering a temple to a demon filled with murderous cultists.” The boy paled. "It’s fine. We won’t let that happen," Bastet said. "We shall call you… Cee Jay." The young man sighed. "Very well, miss. To you and your friends, I shall be Cee Jay.”

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bloodiedmedic · 1 year ago

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SEND ME A SYMBOL(S) FOR WHAT YOU’RE INTERESTED IN // ✦ - enemies to lovers, ☢ - slowburn, π - partners in crime, ☤ - one muse having to patch the other up , ✖ our muses work together and there’s a lot of tension and maybe we do the only one bed plot idk ➽ - one muse doesn’t have anyone else to turn to (Another list with way too many ideas because these are all such great picks and it's hard to decide but what we've discussed maybe, a sort of stockholm slowburn that could go either way with Alexis forced to work for Roman or forced to go to him if certain 'old friends' pop up from their past and over time become a partners in crime type deal situation and stuff idk???)

So, I love all of that, and to be honest my first thought is "Why not all of that together?" There's no reason Roman can't force Alexis to work for him, and Alexis lowkey hates him/the situation making them not quite enemies but close to. The whole thing tbh would have to be a slowburn if we wanted things to evolve organically so yes absolutely, and partners in crime I feel like is almost a given to be honest. One bed plot would be fascinating both because "tension", but also because Roman being trans and Alexis being weird about their own gender and yea.

Side note it'd be funny if the entire time Roman assumed Alexis used he/him (or even that they are AMAB) and Alexis just couldn't be bothered to correct the overly tall obviously violent crime lord until something happened to make it relevant like a one bed plot. Because Alexis doesn't always correct people, and when they aren't in a good place generally presents quite masc.

And than not having anyone else to turn to would be a BEAUTIFUL way to have things start shifting in their relationship. A stockholm syndrome thing, and Alexis getting their bloodlust indulged but than also ending up having to go to Roman and just being like "Soooo ahhhhh people are hunting me and I kinda have to leave and run and not be here sooooo" because they 100% assume Roman won't do anything to help them... but Roman does help, and Alexis is just "...there is NO WAY that him helping me here makes me feel, anything, right? There, there isn't, right?... fuuuuuck."

So, short answer is yes. Let's do it.

#masquenoire #munanswers

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alexis-vaughn · 2 years ago

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Plotted starter for @kinslcyer

She knew him. She didn’t remember exactly from where but she was certain that she had seen that face before. The same color of his eye that only crossed her gaze for a second since he kept standing in the back with a hood covering half of his face and an eyepatch she for sure didn’t notice in the past but definitely in her dreams. “You’re speaking on behalf of your master. Or lord, however you call it where you come from. Why is he not asking for my service on his own?” Her reputation as a red witch must have traveled way further than she assumed, but Alexis never enjoyed when self named bold men showed their real coward faces by sending others to do their dirty work. In this case she wasn’t sure though… Maybe the silver haired man was just too inexperienced with women? His nervousness by constantly looking over his shoulders could definitely be a sign of it.

The fact that she had saw him before in a vision or maybe in her past definitely helped to give him a chance, so Alexis smirked and folded her hands in front of her hips to straighten her back and bring up a calm expression. If someone wanted her, they had to do more than send a stranger to her who offered her a home that could maybe mean her slaughter. She had kids to take care of after all, so the reason to leave must be big enough to convince her. “Let him speak for himself. I wanna hear what he has to say.” And who he is she could have added but swallowed to not give away that she was maybe willing to follow him if he was someone who was worth it and played a role in her life her dreams indicated before. To find that out the only way was to see his face and hear him speak and if his words were shallow then she could easily command her loyal foster kids to have him served for dinner. Or at least for a little fun.

#Alexis x Aemond #kinslcyer #v: fire & blood #I know it’s not super long but I definitely imagine this working for their first meeting 👀#him searching her to join the court and she’s definitely testing him #give her your best charm aemond Alex is a tough one 😏#hope you like it if you want anything changed let me know

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giannaread · 9 months ago

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The ugly princess pt.2

Please read part one before you read this part.

April 5th 1876, Me, My husband, and my two daughters are on the train heading to Veins, Fiesta. I stare at the window yearning that things will get better. I will be leaving Mastla, I will be leaving the country of Jorphine, even though that country is so deep in poverty, there is something about that country I love… I will go home, not in my castle, we won’t live in the rich area, just the place where common people live, which will be way better than living in Jorphine. You know as much as I hate my family, I must say that they did a good job of keeping the people of Fiesta out of poverty. As i’m thinking the train stops. We stop at Miesta, Jolie. We will have to stay here for the night then head the next day to Veins,Fiesta.

“Get off the train everyone, we have people who need to get on!” Says the train conductor. I get my two kids while Nick(My husband) gets our stuff. So this is the city where my sister(Alexis) lives with her husband and her four kids. We hope off the train and we walk around a bit looking for a taxi and lord, the stereotypes weren’t wrong. The Women in Miesta are gorgeous. They all have such beautiful delicate features with long, thick and healthy gorgeous hair. The city was crowded, people were moving fast. The city was gorgeous and clean, anyways despise how advanced this city is we still couldn’t find a taxi for me and my family so we can head to our hotel. So we had no choice but to take the bus which won’t get us exactly to our destination and we have a ton of stuff so we don’t even know if they will allow us on. We headed to the bus stop. We are at the bus stop and I see some girl give me a dirty look. I guess it’s because of the way I look so I just ignore her and head on the bus. As i’m taking my seat, the girl comes up to me and says “I feel like you’re are not supposed to be here, I mean you look familiar, you know I used to work for royal family in Fiesta and they have a missing girl.” oh well i’m not her i’m from Jorphine. “I say”in panic hoping she doesn’t know who I am. “hm, but you look just like her” Says the girl in a suspicious tone. Nick comes and tells the girl that she needs to move out of his seat and the young girl does move away from us. The bus moves and it starts to go, 15 minutes pass and we get off the bus, I get off and I get an alert on my phone, It says “🚨 THE MISSING PRINCESS IS IN MIESTA, JOLIE🚨” I froze, looking around, I knew what the girl did, she reported me, i’m finished, not only am I pregnant and stressed but now they are going to start looking for me. Me and my husband stare at each other, wondering what should we do….

#writing #reading #bad writing #creative writing

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grelleswife · 3 months ago

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However, like a pile of tinder catching fire from a tiny match, Lizzy was emboldened by the maid’s outburst.

“Whether you like it or not, Mother, these babies are on their way, and we can’t dwell on principles when we need to focus on what’s practical!” she exploded. “I’ll admit that I wasn’t too pleased with Sebastian either, when I first learned the news. But he literally went to hell and back to find a cure when Mey first got sick…and later, when that didn’t work, he stuck his neck out by asking another, more powerful demon to help her! They may not have exchanged vows yet, but they’ve already proven that they’ll stand by each other in sickness and in health. Isn’t that what marriage is all about?”

Frances let out a huff, though the steely glint in her eye lost a touch of its sharpness.

Alexis patted her arm.

“Your sense of honor is among your most shining virtues, dear, but I think this situation warrants a flexible approach,” he said gently.

“A lax one, you mean,” she grumbled, before pausing to mull over her next words as she locked eyes with Mey Rin.

“Under most circumstances, I would not tolerate being addressed in such a manner…but you’ve got pluck. I’d react in much the same way if someone spoke ill of my Alexis,” she conceded. “And if you’re dead set on plighting your troth to this demon, I suppose there’s no help for it.”

“Indeed I am!” the maid shot back, positioning herself in front of Sebastian as if preparing to shield him from another offensive move by the marchioness.

Shaking her head in resignation, Frances curtly told the demon, “Well, if that is how it is to be, I expect you to do right by her, butler, and properly attend to your duties as a husband and father. Is that clear?”

“Of course, your ladyship,” he stammered, with the plaintive gaze and subdued mien of a cat drenched in a rainstorm.

A tense silence descended upon the assembled company, until, thoroughly fed up with the whole kerfuffle, Astre sighed wearily, “Now that that’s settled, can we please get everyone situated in their rooms—preferably without stabbing additional members of my staff? Sieglinde and Wolfram will be stuck out there all evening if we keep yammering on.”

Sebastian piped up, “My lord, I can—”

“No. You and Mey Rin go rest. I’ll ring for Tanaka to see to it.”

“Come on, honey,” the maid added firmly, standing up and tugging the butler’s sleeve to curtail his objections.

Casting a nervous glance at Lady Frances, he reluctantly obliged, limping out of the room with his mate, each wrapping an arm around the other’s waist for support.

“Shall I use my powers to take us back to your room, carissima?” he asked her once they’d made it into the hall. “It might be more comfortable for you than walking the whole way.”

Eyeing his bloodstained shirtfront, she anxiously replied, “Are you sure that won’t tire you out?”

“Certainly not. I have one hell of a capacity for endurance,” he winked.

Mey pursed her lips, not fully convinced, but reluctantly acquiesced. Nothing wrong with taking a shortcut when they were both still frazzled.

He pulled her closer…and, the next instant, they were seated on Mey Rin’s bed, the demon wheezing as he slumped forward.

“Sebastian!”

The maid gripped his arm to keep him steady.

Ooo, why hadn’t she put her foot down?! This wasn’t the time for her hard-headed devil to push himself to the point of exhaustion, no it wasn’t.

“I—I suppose I…might have…overextended…just a tad…” he panted.

“That’s exactly what I was worried about!”

He winced, the amber hue of his tea-brown eyes turning dull, and Mey instantly regretted snapping at him.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered forlornly. “Lady Frances was justified in her censure of me…no matter how I strive, my love is a curse that brings you pain time and again…”

But then he gasped when Mey Rin flung her arms around his neck, letting the demon’s head come to rest against her shoulder as she cried, “You stop that, you do!!! Our courtship ain’t all daisies and petunias like in the storybooks, but I don’t want that—I want you, Sebastian. Even with the pain along the way, your love’s made me the happiest I’ve ever been, yes it has. I don’t regret a thing.”

[ confess ] With Sebamey (because I also feel like trying to write Mey Mey for once~) "Se-Sebastian.. I.. I h-have somethin' I really wanna tell you." The maid squeaked out, hands grabbing the ends of her maid skirt and squeezing as she stood on the spot, trembling. "I-I.. I-I think I.. I m-m-might l-l... l-li... " She covered her eyes with both hands then. "IthinkI'minlovewithyou!!" And then instinct made the girl try to run.

Well. Sebastian was very much aware that Mey Rin fancied him, but he’d hardly expected a full-blown confession. To his chagrin, the demon realized it made him feel different than previous declarations of “love” from idiotic mortals. He knew how to handle lust and selfish greed. The depravities humans committed for the sake of a conventionally attractive physique disgusted him. But the shy, adoring look Mey Rin had given as she stared up at him wasn’t tainted by such lowly appetites. It was intriguing (though he sensed that that didn’t fully describe the peculiar excitement coursing through him). The demon’s hand shot out and grabbed her by the wrist.

“A moment, Mey Rin. Did you say just now that you were in love with me?”

#kuro rp #kuroshitsuji #mey rin #sebastian michaelis #o!ciel #elizabeth midford #frances midford #alexis leon midford #sebamey #cielizzy #apparently it’s been 10 months since this thread was last updated 🙈#so sorry for the delay!#but it feels good to be inching closer to the sebamey wedding #just had to spice things up with some angst first 😉

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screadingchallenge · 2 years ago

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Behind the Keyboard Volume 33

Behind the Keyboard is a series of interviews with different Schitt’s Creek fanfic authors. The series will last as long as there is interest (from authors) and capacity (from me). If you are an author from the Schitt’s Creek fandom who would like to participate, send a DM to this account.

Each author was given ten questions. The first five questions are the same for every author, the last five will vary.

This is the last author interview I have in my queue. If you'd like to do an interview, let me know! (Or if you did the questions, but I missed you, please let me know that too!)

Let’s meet our next author:

@hullomoon / hullomoon

How many fics have you written?

This took a little longer to figure out since I have to separate the podfics and then the fics that I podded but didn’t write but are posted together. So, the answer is 135 fics.

When did you publish your first fic on AO3?

July 31, 2019!

Describe your writing process from “Oh, I have an idea” to pushing publish on AO3.

Unless it’s super short work (under 1k) I’ll have a at least a paragraph giving the rough details. I think the most detailed outline was for all that i have are these to remember you, simply for the fact that it involves time travel and there’s no way I could write that without an outline. Then I throw on a playlist and write, usually in the evenings or on weekends. If it’s for a fest I’ll kick it over to a beta. After leaving it alone for at least a day I’ll come back to do edits. Stare at an ao3 draft page for an hour while I think of title and then hit publish.

Tell me about your most recent fic? What do you love about it? Is there anything you think you could have done better?

if only i could have a puppy! I love that I got to involve most of the town and lean more into the comedic tone of the show. The only thing I could have done better/wanted to change would be to add more reactions from the townsfolk. I feel like Ronnie would love Rothko.

What advice would you give to someone who’s thinking about publishing their fic for the first time?

Your first fic will be bad, but you’ll love it anyways. And I don’t say this to be a dick, but especially if you start writing more you’ll look back and notice all things you could have done differently or bemused at your own choices. I think that’s the beauty of any craft though, that as you improve you’ll reflect on your own work and see the improvement.

There’s no better feeling then posting your first fic, take a minute to enjoy the moment, you’ll only get it once.

Alexis is trapped in a drug lord’s palace and you have to convince her captors to read your fic in order to free her. What’s your best sales pitch for your favorite fic?

It seems only fair to rec an Alexis-centric fic and my wlw space heist, and the stars look very different today is the perfect choice.

Tell me about a story that you wish you could write but that you’re not quite ready to tackle.

There’s a couple of WIPs that I’m itching to write but either I’m blocked by motivation or time. I do have a David/Patrick, Downton Abbey inspired one that I’ve had the idea for since Tropefest but it’s gonna take a while before it reaches fruition.

What’s one question you would like to ask Dan Levy about writing?

What do you do when you feel like your motivation is gone? Y’know just asking for a friend…

What are your three favorite tropes?

Only One Bed, Found Family, and Enemies to Lovers

Do you write for any other fandoms? Which ones?

The only one that’s published is a Check, Please! fic, although I’m hoping to write/post some in October for A League of Their Own! I might eventually branch out more and if that’s the case the fandoms that I pod for are a good indicator of ones I’d write for.

#behind the keyboard #meet the authors #sc fanfic #schitt’s creek #schitts creek

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pridepages · 2 years ago

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Made to Fit: A Lady for a Duke

I just finished A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall. I have thoughts...

Here there be spoilers!

If your main complaint about Bridgerton was that it’s just too CisHet, I have some good news for you!

A Lady for a Duke is the story of Viola Carroll. Viola was born into the world that only saw her as the future Lord Marleigh. Viola came to realize that wasn’t who she was, but she despaired of being able to show anyone her identity. But when Viola and her childhood friend Justinian de Vere, Duke of Gracewood, enlist to fight in the Napoleonic Wars, Viola sees an opportunity. ‘Lord Marleigh’ can be lost in the battle of Waterloo like so many other soldiers. Viola can then come home as herself. Viola’s family--her brother Bartholomew “Badger,” now Lord Marleigh and his wife, Louise--embrace her without question. Viola takes up residence as Louise’s lady companion. Viola is now out to live as herself, but she did not count on the heartbreak and grief of her ‘death’ devastating her old friend Gracewood. So when their paths cross again some years later, Viola determines to help pull Gracewood out of his spiral. Along the way, the two will see each other for who they really are. And they learn that the love shared between them is capable of growing, changing, and sustaining them throughout their lives.

This book is pure Trans Joy. Alexis Hall has said that the purpose of the book was “to write a historical romance with a transgender heroine in which the fact that the heroine is transgender is not the main source of conflict or narrative tension.” In a sense, that worked. Viola is never confused about who she is. She’s never tormented by who she is. “I am not a joke, and I am not a mistake. I was born Lord Marleigh, but I am Viola Carroll.” And she absolutely is: no one ever refers to Viola as anything other than her name or as a woman. Even when the past is spoken of, Viola’s old presentation is referred to by the title that she once held: “Marleigh.” No other name or identifier is spoken or thought of in reference to her. It’s such a small technique, but it speaks volumes.

And though Viola is devastated that her choices necessarily caused Gracewood pain, she refuses to apologize for doing what she must to set herself free...even if that meant keeping some secrets. When Gracewood asks how he is meant to forgive Viola for her abandonment, she says “You’re not. Because I will not ask for it. And I do not want it.” She refuses to make a “sweet and simple denial of everything she had fought to be.” Like Pride and Prejudice’s Mr. Darcy, it becomes up to Gracewood to do better. And to his absolute credit, he quickly does: “he had not stopped to wonder how it felt to live in a world that rendered such a telling necessary...Her strength abashed him, as it always had. Her valour moved him. And it was in that moment that he at last understood...Viola Carroll lived. She always lived. And it was he who had not recognized her.” So, obviously, the next step is for him to realize that he’s in love with her and has to marry her.

This is where it becomes apparent that while the conflict of the story is not about the fact that Viola is trans, the fact that she is influences the story and brings forward a thoughtful reflection on the fact that for much of history our lives have been determined by the bodies we were born into. Many times during the events of the novel, Viola is forced to reflect that under the guise of “Marleigh” she had certain freedoms. There were places she was allowed to go that Viola now cannot. There are intimacies, like being alone with Gracewood, that are frowned upon now that she’s out. If the world sees her as a woman, then the world will be fearful for her ‘virtue,’ and demand that she act, dress, speak, and live in a pre-scripted ‘feminine’ manner. Some of those mandates she doesn’t mind. The reader frequently receives descriptions of the clothing that Viola wears because in these carefully crafted outfits, Viola is able to create herself--to present the woman she feels inside to the world. (Adorably, Gracewood also appreciates what she wears, seeing exactly what Viola is doing and appreciating how beautiful she is: “it made him want to take her apart with the same carefulness with which she put herself together.”)

But Viola’s joy in herself is tempered by fear. She fears that embracing her identity shuts her out of any romantic life. Society, she is sure, will never permit her to marry. Intimacy is frightening because as a woman attracted to men, what if men cannot find joy in her body and still see her as a woman? Gracewood is determined to prove her wrong on both counts: “My soul calls to yours and yours to mine, and that will never change...I love you as a man loves a woman, but we both know that love is not bound by such narrow terms. So instead let me simply tell you that I love you. I love you with the unfading flame of my friendship. With every drop of ardour in my blood...I love you as I believe in what is right and hope for what is good. I love you with everything I am and ever was--and if you let me, with every day that comes, and every self that I could ever be.”

It’s a love confession to rival Darcy or Knightley. Don’t we all wish to be loved like that? Completely as we are and for every evolving self we will become?

And, without apology, we get a heartfelt, joyful, detailed sex scene. For all Viola’s hesitance, Gracewood doesn’t blink. He’s been topped by women before and it doesn’t make him less of a man. And Viola is very, very into it. “This body can fight. And ride. And sew. And play the pianoforte badly. It is mine. And it deserves any carnal acts I want to indulge with it. And if you find it beautiful, Gracewood, I will let you. Because I don’t see why it can’t be.”

Sweet. Subversive. Stunning.

Historical fiction is often criticized for its adherence or defiance of ‘accuracy.’ Accuracy, some might say, would make Viola right: there is no future for her and Gracewood beyond living openly as a scandal, a duke and his mistress who would never be allowed to be husband and wife. But, in the end, Gracewood takes all the license that this world gives rich, white, straight men and uses it to defy expectations. He proposes to Viola. He promises to make her homes where she can always feel safe in the love they will create with a family of children that they will adopt. He will help her build the life she has always wanted and he will do so because society can try to set the rules, but in their case: “masters of the ton have nothing we want, while the things that they want--wealth and power and influence and pedigree--I have in abundance. It is for them to live up to our standards. Not the contrary.” Historical accuracy means that men like Gracewood were basically above the law. So if he wants to marry his trans wife? He’s gonna marry his trans wife. And no one is going to have the guts to say anything about it. We love a good script flip.

Today, as in Regency times, bodies have so much influence--too much, really--on how we are treated by the world and how we have to navigate to safely live our lives. But that doesn’t mean that we should stop looking for ways to live freely as our best and truest selves. Like Gracewood says: “Bodies are made to fit...Whatever shape they take.” Our bodies aren’t who we are. Our bodies are a gift to help us live our lives, so we’ll never stop fighting for space. Our bodies are made to fit the world: any and everywhere we choose to take them.

#a lady for a duke #alexis hall #queer lit #lgbt reads #trans character #trans #trans literature

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broxklynn · 4 years ago

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The End Of My Candy Love

Warning!

Alright, so. This post will contain a lot. First of all, it's gonna be really sloppy. I'm very emotional person and I easily get attached to games, movies and stuff. I know it's a bit weird, but yeah, I'm a weird person. Anyway, that's why there's a warning: there's gonna be a lot of sloppiness, grammar mistakes (at least I think so, specially since english isn't my native languange) and it's probably going to be long. So, if you're intrested in reading my thoughts about everything - good luck.

First Adventure

I first heard about "My Candy Love" in 2015, six years ago. So, I was basically a baby (I'm pretty young). And I started playing a year after, I got totally obssesed with Lysander and I fell in love, seriously, haha. I was into writing back then, but I couldn't find any ideas on "what to write?" and MCL gave me just that - inspiration (that's most likely why I'm just a romance freak).

My Story

You know, I was a child so I couldn't really pay for AP, but I always found some kind of way to get them. But then I got my phone I just used money from that, geez, I was nuts. The old AP system was so iconic, looking for Nathaniel, finding Kiki, I'm gonna miss it.

Anyway, I got along with Castiel pretty well (which suprises me 'cause I found about walkthroughs in 2017, like year after, so maybe it was because I was a brat?), but I adored Lysander. Oh, I also loved Ken (I was so sad when he went away) and Nathaniel. After I met Armin, I liked him too.

Again, being a child and playing a game like this I came across all diffrent kinds of emotions. I was laughing, crying, dying from embaressment (this thing with Nath and locker room, aaa) and getting seriously mad (Deborah's arc, Priya, Charlotte). I remember impatiently waiting for new episode to come out or crying my eyes out during Lysander's amnesia plot. Jesus. I loved the way Castiel was teasing Candy, I loved this cute-clumsy Kentin, I loved the old Nathaniel, I loved Armin and most of all - I loved my precious Lysander. I adored the interactions between characters, how funny or cringy they were and how much fun I had. I even like this secret-dating plot even when it got on my nerves. I still remember staying up late to watch videos like "lysander illustrations" and stuff. I also really enjoyed reading MCL manga and I spent hours trying to translate it from Spanish to English or my native languange (funfact: I still haven't finished it! I don't know where to find those mangas) or trying to draw something from the game up ending up terribly failing. Anyway, I was crying during the prom thing, my Candy was so grown-up, I got emotional, haha. So, 40 episode came in. I was pretty excited 'because, me, being extremely naive (I got to say, I've never had a problem with Beemoov before, I started playing MCL in 2016 and Eldarya in 2017, so there were no major issues with them, only the price of PA, I think) thought that my Lysander is going to propose (I was a child, ok?) and maybe, there's going to be a second season with us living together. Haha, how naive I was. Whole episode 40, really got me tearing up, I was a wreck, seriously (When Kentin couldn't take Candy's bra off I lost it or this whole ananas thing in Castiel's route, omg). But I finished it feeling happy. I truly enjoyed spending my time on this game. But, then this whole university thing came out. And the fact, that Lysander, Armin and Kentin won't be with us foe the next season. I spent entire vacation crying (I was a kiddo, ok?) and being mad at everyone. I felt like I got robbed. It was horrible.

"A New Chapter"

I was one of these people who just couldn't accept the change. Not in the world. Never. They stole my Lysander, Kentin and Armin from me and changed AP system to some kind of bullshit. God, I was mad. Really mad. Seeing Castiel was quite nice, but I didn't fill the void of my baby. But, oh, my, God. When I saw Nathaniel I just couldn't believe. I said I was mad? Then I was furious. I really liked the old Nathaniel, he had his own vibe, his backstory, his character and it was just, damn, amazing. But they changed him completely, for what? They wanted the second Castiel? Yeah, they got it. Priya as a love interest was quite a good move, tho. I even though I didn't like her (in highschool or in university) I liked the idea of adding a female interest. But the thing that hurted me, was the fact that Lysander was taking care of the farm. Like, no! He didn't want that. He didn't like the countryside. He had such a potential to become a author and Beemoov didn't let him. God, that broke my heart. Anyway, I didn't spent a single penny on MCLUL, but I have to say - I kinda enjoyed it. You know, it was the guily-pleasure kind of thing. I didn't like it as much as I liked highschool, but there were some good or funny moments. I loved Rayan's kiss scene. I adored Chani. Or Hyun making us watch "Toy Story". Nathaniel's ulgy green hair or all these crazy threesomes. I liked it. Kinda. I hated Nath tho. The ending, hm, it was okay, I guess? I do feel sort of nostalgic thinking about it 'cause I got some nice memories from it, in the end. But yeah, going on.

Love Life

Oh. My. Lord. I was so sceptical about it. Like, I was sure that, at this point they're going to do "My Candy Love Mid-Life Crises" next or some other shit. But in the end, I "kinda" like it. It wasn't good like highschool or fresh like university, but I was nice to see new chapters with our annoying-cringy Candy, that I love (btw, I started playing other otome games and I realized that Candy wasn't that bad). Meeting Eric was nice, even tho, this whole cheating plot really got me ragging. Like, damn, Beemoov, seriously? And if you going this, why not with old LIs? Just kidding. Anyway, I truly enjoyed meeting Dan and Eric, the two of them were quite a characters. I won't forget them, hah. I was happy with single ending, 'cause I think about it as a "open ending" when my Candy can go back to my baby and everything's going to be alright.

Regrets & Complaints

Now, now. Where do I start? AP system was a freaking nightmare. Replacing old Nathaniel with some kind of weird Castiel was a nightmare. Removing Lysander, Nathaniel, Armin and Kentin was a nightmare. Not finishing plots was a nightmare. And why in the whole Love Life I haven't seen Amber once? Why Alexy never mentioned Evan like they're not brothers? Why Castiel doesn't care that I was dating his bestfriend? And why, in the world, after changing the system finding Kiki is so damn easy? Why AP is so expensive? So many questions!

All The Good Times

But, I got to say. I will never forget this bitchy Castiel, cookie-monster Ken following us around. Or cute Nathaniel. Castiel buying Candy some kind of weird McDonald's. Or Lysander's parents exposing him having crush on Candy. Or seeing Kentin kissing Amber (ew). This super akward-funny sex ed lesson. Deborah's arc and losing my shit over it. Or Thomas (this weird child) stalking my Candy and her LI in the park. And Lysander asking us how to hide a body, aaa. Or Armin telling us he loves us. Or Kentin. And Cookie ripping this huge teddybear apart. Or the water fight in Kentin’s spin off. And crushing on Alexy and later on finding out he’s gay. Or spin-the-bottle game and Lysander getting jealous. Or Dake, being a creep for entire game straight. Or guessing what was guy's surnames. And for sure, I will never forget this demonic Kiki dog.

What it worth it?

In the end, yes. Have I ever told you that I want to become a professional writer? Silly dream, I know, but writing is a huge passion of mine, and well, my first story was based off My Candy Love (it is cringy as hell, but I feel kinda nostalgic thinking about it). All these years spending on playing game that I wasn't supposed to be playing was amazing. It was one of the best experiences I had in life and I will never, ever forget that.

What now?

Well, Beemoov is working on a new game and I'm kinda optimistic. I know, it's really naive of me, but I want to believe that they won't f*ck this up, this time. And going back to Sweet Amoris, well, I truly missed this place! And the teachers... And Kiki. I wonder, when it will be released and will Beemoov finally open up about telling us surnames and ages of love interests. Anyway, I want to believe they learnt from their mistakes.

In the end. Thank you, My Candy Love, for creating so many memories. I will be forever grateful.

(I just re-read this post and it seems like I have really love-hate relationship with this game)

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liblib620 · 4 months ago

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We always knew Zane was evil from the first episode we met him. I mean, maybe not evil, but we definitely knew he wasn’t good. I really don’t think it was spoiling anything.

Also, I think we’re forgetting how Zane was in the on the Shadow Knight’s plan. Of course, season 1 motivations and plans are really hard to track down since it’s all from Aphmau’s pov, but we do know Zane had access to SK magic of some kind with what he did to Alexis. And you’re telling me this man who knew exactly how to get to the Irene Dimension also didn’t know that Aaron, the lord of the village he brought down himself, had Shad’s relic? I mean, these are all vague connections to the SK, but like I said season 1 motives and methods are hard to find just by the nature of how the story was told.

Also (Warning for rebirth ep 4 spoilers): It was revealed Zane was working with Gene and the SK so yeah. Don’t tell me Zane has no connection to the SK plot line.

Okay so i rewatched the first episode of rebirth and have... thoughts.

generally negative, but some positive.

I've already expressed my hatred of the first 50 seconds, but something else i'll mention about the opening is that it really... diminishes Zenix... and it is one of my least favourite things in the world.

The first three characters we ever see on screen in the OG are Zenix, Garroth and Vylad. And i think it's really interesting how these three are all characters who have both worked for and against Aphmau's favour throughout MCD. But the major point is that they're all important, though have varying degrees of on-screen relevance. And even when they're not physically present, they have a big significance to the plot.

them being the first characters we see is a big deal. They've been around since the beginning and were likely to remain important until the finale, if we ever got it. Them showing up FIRST, even before Aph (because we do see Vylad momentarily before Aph), is a huge deal. It sets them up really for their later significance.

But This is taken away from Zenix in Rebirth.

We see 4 characters before Aph in rebirth, but i like to work in 3s, so we will ignore Hyria for this point. i don't like her inclusion in this moment anyways so. boo.

We meet Vylad first, which I'm actually entirely okay with. It makes sense. Of all of them, he is probably the most significant for how MCD turns out as he was the one who led Aph to PD. But... then we get a little flash of... Zane... of all characters.

And not only does this little Zane moment spoil that he's evil, it is just fucking infuriating. Is he an incredibly important (and iconic) MCD villain? Yes... but i don't actually think he was significant to the level that Zenix was. And maybe that's controversial... but he only got Garroth's SECOND face reveal... Zenix gave us Garroth's first. And i just cannot fuck with a second-place bitch taking such a significant spot in the intro.

MCD is not about the Ro'Meaves. It's not even, as a whole, about the conflict of O'Khasis trying to take over Ru'Aun... It's always been about the Shadow Knights, and their little reign of terror, and trying to bring back Shad. O'Khasis was a significant plotpoint, sure, but MCD was never going to end with defeating O'Khasis... it was gonna end with defeating the SKs... 'The King' in earlier episodes is the prototype of Shad... we see SKs are villains constantly. Shad is introduced as the Big Bad before we even know O'Khasis exists...

So why is Zane there?

It gives a very O'Khasis Conflict-centric idea of MCD that isn't accurate at all. Even when Zane is a major issue, he is still contributing to the SK storyline... He is literally spending S1 trying to reform Shad's relic...

and i dont... i don't understand why Jesson did it other than fanservice...

it just pisses me off.

I can get more into this, and why i think Zenix deserves to get that recognition more than Zane (and i do understand the scene is Vylad trying to express why he's putting Aph in PD, but it's about what Jesson was trying to tell us too), but i am very angry and will just insult Zane the whole time.

So i'll simplify it to: Vylad/Zane/Garf intro is very O'Khasis-centric. Zenix/Garf/Vylad intro shows us some of the most major characters in MCD and foreshadows their later significance, as well as sets up that both O'Khasis and Shad are major threats.

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dracereads · 2 years ago

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So Apparently I'm on an Alexis Hall Binge

So you’re going to get some observations. So I’m going to start with a generalization. Every romance novel ever written usually follows some sort of generic plot outline. You can literally take any romance novel in history and use the same outline. What I really have observed with Alexis Hall is he has a very specific and unique way of handling his [Why We Won’t Work Until You Fix This] (aka the first third of his book) and I absolutely adore it.

In all of his novels so far the crux of the problem is introduces as one of the main characters wronging the other. ex: In Boyfriend Materials Luc breaks up with Oliver after having an emotional breakdown. In Something Fabulous, Valentine has a confrontation with Bonny about being queer and having unrealistic wishes, and in A Lady for A Duke, Gracewood feels betrayed by Viola because Viola went to go live her truth after an opportunity to do so.

These are all varying degrees of either the protagonist having issues or is being somewhat selfish.

What I love here is the precedent. The NEXT scene is from the perspective of the wrongdoer. And They do have themselves a serious consideration over their actions. Also, there’s usually no self-flagellation or trying to justify themselves to themselves. It’s very much I am going to admit the wrong that I did and acknowledge it. ex: Valentine realizes he’s being cruel, Luc comes to realize that Oliver and his past experiences are different and that he needs to apologize in order to help start to move on from his trauma, and Gracewood realizes Viola has been through too much and that he needs to get over himself because he had no right to demand what he did of Viola knowing what she’s been through.

The Next STEP IS ALWAYS a sincere apology. There is no waffling about with the main character trying to defend themselves or offer a insincere apology to “make the problem go away.” They ALWAYS make the decision that love is worth more than the sum of their flaws and their hurt.

Usually after apologized to, the wronged party always ACCEPTS the apology too. There’s no lording it over the main character. Forgive but not forget. It’s so emotionally healthy and nontoxic I forget that people can be like that.

There is no relationship UNTIL the apology happens. The Conflict always moves the plot forward onto the next stage where it should be. And there’s no regressions or picking at old wounds. It’s Very Nice and refreshing to see Novels written like this. I’ve struggled through so many romance novels where the author thinks it’s inventive for the characters to pick at old wound over and over. Where the Act 2 is basically the same issue as Act 1 but reworked in a slightly newer fashion. Alexis’ is always very much a new issue with a new section of the plot coming to shine. It’s probably why I like his stuff so much. Also Tumblr Post Editor Old and New Hates this post klsdfkjdsf

#Alexis Hall #Drace Discusses Writing #a rare live post from me #hottakes and hotcakes

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jobrookekarev · 4 years ago

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I Remember it All Too Well Chapter 5

Chapter Five of Six: Whispers Of ‘Are you sure?’

Words: 6500

Chapter Summary: Jo and Alex’s eyes meet across the hall at a wedding reception. The heat between them reaches a boiling point as they finally get back together and later discuss how they want to repair their relationship.

Story Summary: Alex knew from the moment he signed the divorce papers that leaving Jo and Seattle was the worst mistake of his life. As Alex works his way back to Seattle, he sees Jo again four times before she allows him back into her life. Or the four times Alex saw Jo after their divorce, and the one time they finally got back together with her, plus a soft epilogue.

Fandom: Grey’s Anatomy

Relationship: Alex Karev/Jo Wilson, Atticus Lincoln/Amelia Shepherd, and Winston Ndugu/Maggie Pierce.

Characters: Jo Wilson, Alex Karev, Eli Stevens, Alexis Stevens, Meredith Grey, Zola Grey-Shepherd, Bailey Grey-Shepherd, Ellis Grey-Shepherd, Atticus Lincoln, Amelia Shepherd, Winston Ndugu, Maggie Pierce, Scout Lincoln Shepard, Cormac Hayes, Liam Hayes, and Austin Hayes.

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences.

Additional Tags: Regret, Longing, Pining, Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Wedding, Parenting, Fluff, Heavy Kissing but that’s it, Implied Sex.

Read at AO3

Read at FFN

AN: Hey guys, heads up before you begin reading this that there has been a change to the ratings, to Teen And Up Audiences for reference to and implied sex.

……………………………………………………………………

Alex looked around the reception hall as Maggie and Winston’s wedding came to a close. The bride and groom were completely enraptured with each other. As the party fizzled out around them, they just kept on dancing. He was happy that Maggie and Winston felt comfortable having him and his kids at their wedding. Eli and Alexis had played with Meredith’s kids and the rest of the Grey-Sloan kids the entire night. While Alex had sat at a table with Meredith and Hayes as they all conversed warmly.

As the kids wound down Alexis, Eli, and Bailey laid on the floor watching the tablet and falling asleep on each other, until Alexis crawled in his lap. Alex smiled at her and put his arms around her as he held his daughter. Alexis wrapped her arms around his neck and laid her little head on his shoulder.

“Are you ready for bed, sweet girl?” Alex asked, as he rubbed her back and held her close.

“No,” Alexis mumbled, clearly exhausted and Alex knew that her eyes were closed.

“Alright, I think we’re ready to head up for the night?” Meredith said appearing next to him with Ellis in her arms and Zola training behind her, the only one who was still fully awake.

“Mom can’t I stay down here with Austin and Liam?” Zola asked as Hayes and the boys appeared next to them.

“Sorry Zola, these two are headed up as well,” Cormac said, subtly putting his arm on Meredith’s back.

The two of them thought that no one would notice when they started dating, but it was currently the worst kept secret at the hospital. Alex was happy for Meredith, and she and Hayes were good together.

“We don’t have to go to bed once we get up there, do we?” Austin asked as he grabbed his suit jacket from the back of his chair.

“I don’t want to go to bed either,” Zola said as she grabbed the basket she had used for the flowers.

“How about this?” Meredith said to her. “Since you’re the only one awake and you’re older now, I think it would be okay if you and the boys put on a movie after you help us get everything upstairs?”

“Deal!” Zola instantly agreed as she reached down to grab the tablet from Eli and Bailey.

“Come on boys,” Alex said as the boys slowly got up half-asleep.

Liam and Austin agreed and they all helped to put away their plates and cleared the table. Grabbing stray jackets, and purses, and the little mint chocolate wedding favors Maggie and Winston had put out.

“Did you have a good time buddy?” Alex asked Eli, as he put his hand on his son’s back Eli leaned into him and gripped his dress shirt while they walked.

“Yeah, can we hang out with Bailey, and Zola, and Ellis all the time?” Eli’s sleepy voice whispered up to him as he looked up at Alex with big brown eyes.

“I don’t know about all the time, but how would you like to have a sleepover with them tonight?”

“Un huh,” Eli said as he leaned into Alex further.

Alex paused and leaned down, shifting Alexis to one arm as he picked up Eli. The one thing he learned about having twins was that what he did with one child he needed to do with the other. Sometimes that meant carrying two sleepy six-year-olds at once. Luckily for Alex, he had always been strong enough to carry them both. It was something he relished doing when he could as they were getting a bit old to be carried around and he had missed out on carrying them around when they were babies. Eli sighed in his arms and Alex could tell that he would be asleep by the time they got back to the hotel room.

As part of the wedding package, Alex, Meredith, and Amelia had a three room suite that made the wedded festivities with six kids easier. They put all of the little kids down in Meredith’s room and she said she’d take the extra queen in his room. Alex quickly got his kids changed into pajamas. They woke up again but quickly fell back asleep as he tucked them into the bed next to Bailey and Ellis, with the rollaway left empty for Zola.

True to her word, Zola helped them put her siblings to bed, before going out into the main room where Hayes and the boys were picking out a movie. Alex walked out into the main room, just in time to see Amelia and Link come in. Amelia was carrying Scout and Link had Asher as the boys held hands.

“Did you two steal an extra baby?” Meredith asked in delight as she walked over and put her hand on Asher’s back as he smiled at her.

“No,” Link said and he and Amelia paused. “These two threw a fit when we tried to separate them, so Jo said we could take him up and she’ll come to collect him later.”

“Well that’s not a problem, is it Asher?” Meredith said with a smile as she helped Link and Amelia put the boys down in their room.

Alex smiled as he watched Asher lay his head on Link’s shoulder, fighting sleep as they disappeared into the room. He settled on the couch next to Zola as they scanned through the movies before Meredith came over and tapped on his shoulder.

“Hey I think I forgot my purse downstairs could you please go grab it, it’s at the bar,” Meredith said with a smile as she bit her lip.

“Yeah, no problem,” Alex said, getting up as Meredith took his place next to Zola.

He quickly rushed downstairs and went over to the bar to ask the bartender if he had Meredith’s purse. The bartender nodded and handed him the blue clutch that Meredith had and Alex took a second to look around the room before he went back up. The party was still in full swing and quite a few couples including Maggie and Winston were still dancing.

As he looked around again he caught sight of Jo as she sat at a table sipping the last of her wine and people watching like he was. All night he had been trying not to stare at her, but he couldn’t help the way his eyes were drawn to her. Jo had even caught his eyes halfway through the reception and smiled at him, which only encouraged him. Alex blamed his staring on the alcohol and the fact that the twins were down for the night in the hotel room upstairs. Jo was the most beautiful woman in the room, although he would never say that aloud, lest he offend Maggie.

She just looked so gorgeous in that little black dress. Alex was reminded of the way she looked at Bailey’s wedding all those years ago. She always wore black to weddings. It was a simple neutral color that fitted her so well. The short dress hugged to her hips with an open back and v-neck that allowed for ample cleavage. Her brown hair fell in loose curls and her dark mascara and eyeliner made her brown eyes pop.

He couldn’t help but imagine what Jo looked like without her dress on. It had been a full year since they had slept together and lord knows that his body had changed. Alex felt older, there were wrinkles around his eyes and more gray hairs on his head and beard, but Jo was still the same beautiful woman that he remembered.

Jo caught him staring and Alex took in a breath as she held his gaze. Ever since things had become more amicable between them, the two of them had exchanged lust filled looks. It was only a matter of time before the heat between them reached a boiling point. As she looked over at him, she had hot and heavy eyes. It was the same way they used to stare at each other across the halls of the hospital. That look of lust sent them to the nearest room with a lock so they could tear each other’s clothes off. His body craved her. Alex missed her, more than anything, but he decided to stay where he was and see what Jo would do. He wanted things to be on her terms.

Jo licked her lips, they were wet and swollen and he could almost taste her lips on his tongue. Something made her bold and she walked over to him. She took a step towards him, and then another. The closer she got the more he could remember the way her hair felt as he ran his fingers through it. He remembered how his scruff felt against her soft skin and the way her lips lingered on his neck. He remembered the way his hands held her waist and how her arms wrapped around his neck. He missed the weight and the warmth of her body on top of him.

Jo took another step forward until they were only inches apart and he inhaled the sweet scent of her perfume. It was still the same one that he had gotten for her last minute on their first anniversary, but she had loved it. Since then, it had become her signature scent. Alex was surprised she still used it, but then again he still wore the same cologne that she always bought for him.

Jo stared into his eyes as they stood only inches apart from each other. They were so close, yet so far away. Alex rubbed his hands on his suit pants in a desperate attempt to keep them from her waist. He waited for her to make the first move. If anything was going to happen between them, he wanted Jo to decide what it was.

Jo put her hands on his shoulders, running them up to his neck and tilting her head before she moved to trace her fingers down his chest. The ache in his soul that he had for her was like a pain in his chest that had been torturing him from the moment he stepped on the plane to leave Seattle. A piece of him was missing, but the second she touched him he felt whole again.

Alex thought she would kiss him then, but instead, Jo grabbed his tie and pulled him out of the reception hall. He followed her like a lovesick puppy. Alex knew he had a stupid infatuated smile on his face as he jogged to keep up with her. His eyes were glued to the open back of her dress and he put a hand on her back, feeling her bare skin under his hand as he moved to walk next to her.

As soon as they were out in the hall Jo let go and pushed him up against the wall. Her hands are on his face, but for a second Jo just stared at him. Her brown eyes were wide and so full of love and lust, but she hesitated for a moment. All Alex could do was watch her and wait. Then, she tilted her head, closed her eyes, and slowly brought her lips forward as she kissed him. At first, it was just a peck, as if she was testing the waters, but then her lips met his in a frenzy. It was desperate and full of lust, and Alex loved it.

It was the kiss that he had been longing for since he got back. It took a second for him to react, but then he realized that it wasn’t a dream. He closed his eyes and leaned into her touch. It was the kiss Jo used to give him when she wanted him to make love to her all night long. She couldn’t seem to get enough of his lips and she just kept kissing him over and over. They would only pull back to breathe before they dived back in.

The moment their lips touched Alex found himself falling down the rabbit hole and into her love. Jo wrapped her arms around his neck just like she used too and Alex put his hand on her waist and pulled her close. Her body still felt the same, so soft and warm as his fingers brushed against the bare skin of her back. Jo melted into their kiss and Alex moaned as he tasted her lips. She tasted like the lipstick that she always wore for special occasions and the Chardonnay that she had been drinking.

Their hands seemed desperate to touch each other and to relearn each other’s bodies. Her body was still so much the same and yet so new to him. Alex trailed his hands up to tangle in her hair as they kissed before he moved them back to her shoulders. Alex moved down around to her chest as Jo pushed herself into his hands. Jo moved her hands down to his chest as well, undoing the buttons on his dress shirt. Her fingers seemed desperate for his bare skin and the second she touched his chest, she sighed into his lips.

Jo pulled back suddenly and Alex looked into Jo’s eyes, they were filled with lust. Her pupils were blown so wide he could barely see the honey brown of her irises. Jo’s face was flushed and the red blush continued down her neck. Her hair was a wild mess from where his fingers were tangled in it. He figured he didn’t look any better and he could tell his hair was sticking out and his shirt was undone from where her fingers were still on his chest.

They heard laughing coming from inside the hall and Alex looked around the hallway. They were alone, but just behind the door, they could hear the other people talking at the reception. Now that it was later in the evening, there was bound to be more people headed their way. Besides, Alex didn’t want his first time with Jo in over a year to be in the hallway of a hotel. He wanted to lay her down on a bed and see her body and all its glory before he worshiped her.

“My room is empty. Asher’s upstairs with Link and Amelia,” Jo said as she dug her fingers into his lapel.

“Wait, Jo are you sure?” Alex said staring into her eyes and seeing her blown pupils. He knew she had been drinking and he had too, but he wanted to be sure.

“I’m more sure of doing this than I was kissing you the first time,” Jo said looking into his eyes as her lust had given way to a soft gaze.

“The twins are asleep with Meredith’s kids in our shared suite,” Alex said, still staring into Jo’s eyes.

The fire lit between them again and Jo nodded with a smirk as she pulled him away with her. Instead of just letting her drag him along, Alex grabbed her hips and walked beside her. As they headed towards the elevators, Jo giggled as he leaned in to nip at her earlobe. They kissed the entire way to her hotel room and Jo kept fumbling with her key card as Alex held her hips against his and kissed her neck.

Jo’s room was a simple one bed hotel room, but Alex couldn’t tell you anything more about it as they went straight to the bed. Alex closed his eyes as he kissed Jo, she pushed him backward until his legs hit the mattress and she pushed him back as he fell. Alex pulled Jo down with him, his arms wrapped around her waist, and his fingers digging into the skin of her back. Then Jo pulled away, she leaned back and stood up as he got up on his elbows to watch her. They both stared at each other for a moment and Alex was still breathing heavily from their kissing and their run up to the hotel room.

As they continued to stare at each other for a moment he wondered if she would ask him to leave. Alex sat up and folded his hands as he looked at her. Jo took a single step forward in between his legs and put her hands on his neck. She held his head and Alex’s hands went to her hips, gently holding her. Jo tilted her head to the side as she leaned down, but she didn’t kiss him just yet. Instead, she stared into his eyes as if they held all of the answers in the world. In reality, Alex didn’t know anything other than that he was sitting there in her hotel room and she had a hesitant look across her face.

“I slept with Jackson,” Jo admitted and Alex’s head shot up as he looked at her. Jo looked down at her hands and she chewed on her lip before she continued. “It was after the divorce when I was still waiting to get approved to be a foster parent. I was trying to figure out how to be single again and I didn’t know how to have sex with anyone who wasn’t you, so I asked Jackson to help me. It was only supposed to be a one-time thing, but we ended up being friends-with-benefits for a few months. However, I haven’t slept with anyone since, well since you got back.”

“That’s good,” Alex just nodded, he wasn’t sure what to think about it, but he was okay with it. “I’m glad he was there for you.”

Jo let out a full laugh as she placed her hands on his shoulders. “You’re glad?”

“What?” Alex said he wasn’t sure how to react to the news that Jo had sex with someone else, but he didn’t expect Jo to laugh either.

“I don’t know,” Jo said, as she continued to giggle. “I guess it’s just weird. You and I were together for eight years. Other than that time with Schmitt, I have only been with you for eight years. And then I tell you I've been with someone else and then I don't know, I thought you'd be jealous or mad.”

“I slept with Izzie so I'm not really in a position to judge you,” Alex blurted out as Jo suddenly grew quiet. He looked down at his hands on her waist because he couldn’t bear to see the look of betrayal that would be across her face, but e couldn’t do this without her knowing. “She kissed me before the divorce was finalized, but we didn’t start sleeping together until I got word that you had filed the divorce papers. I lied in the letter, I didn’t leave you because I loved Izzie, I didn’t love her at all. I thought I could, but I didn’t, but she was there and she wanted me and we were trying to be a family and I don’t know, it was stupid. We slept together for a while until the pandemic started, but we haven’t slept together since then.”

Looking back, Alex wasn’t even sure why he had tried to be with Izzie at all. He thought he did it because they were trying to be a family and make things work between them, but things quickly fizzled out. He wasn’t in love with her. Izzie wasn’t Jo, he didn’t love her like he loved Jo, like he lusted for Jo. Alex was in love with Jo and he had been for the past nine years. He loved her because Jo didn’t try to mold him into a good man or the perfect father, she loved him just as he was. Jo made him feel secure and loved more than anyone else and Alex wanted Jo now because he loved her.

“When I read your letter, I figured you were already sleeping with her. So I’m glad it didn’t start until after our divorce. I hate that you were with Izzie and that you cheated on me, by kissing her,” Jo said running her hands up to hold his face and tilted his head up to look at her. “But I forgive you, Alex, and I’m ready to start over with you.”

“If it makes you feel better, I pretty much broke down when she kissed me and the first time we had sex,” Alex said, mortified as he remembered how he had burst into tears as he realized what he was actually doing and how much he missed Jo.

“Oh God, I did the same thing,” Jo said, putting her hand over her mouth. “I pretty much snotted in Jackson’s mouth as we started making out and then I cried on his couch for the rest of the night.”

“You did?” Alex asked with a little laugh, relieved that he wasn’t the only one who had trouble moving on.

“Yes I just, I thought I was ready, but I wasn’t and the second he didn’t kiss me like you did I just cried,” Jo said, shaking her head.

“Izzie didn’t hold me like you did. She didn’t wrap her arms around my neck like you did,” Alex said as he pulled her close and Jo wrapped her arms around his neck the way she always did.

“Like that?”

“Yes,” Alex whispered and sighed into her touch as she leaned in to almost kiss him. “Jo, are you sure you want to have sex with me?”

Jo looked up from his lips to his eyes and glanced at him with more clarity. She suddenly softened with a smile and closed her eyes as she leaned down and finally whispered to him. “Yes.”

……………………………………………………………………

They laid together as they recovered from their tryst. Jo laid her cheeks on his chest as Alex wrapped his arms around her. He ran his fingers through her hair, as he pulled it to the side, lest it get trapped between their sweaty bodies. Jo seemed to relax and almost melted into his arms. They let themselves lay together for a little while as their hearts slowed down and their breathing even out. Alex looked down at Jo in his arms once again as she closed her eyes she seemed completely content. She must have felt his eyes as she picked up her head and smiled at him before he tilted her chin up to kiss her again.

However, they couldn’t lay there forever and fall asleep in each other’s arms like they used to. Alex got up and started the cleanup, he got a warm rag and brought it over to her. In the past when Jo tried to walk right after, she would stumble around like a baby deer, and as cute as it was, he’d rather let her rest. He went into the bathroom and got cleaned up and washed his hands before he walked back over to her.

Jo was still lying in bed and she gave him a lazy smile when she caught his eyes and Alex couldn’t help but stare at her. He got back in bed and crawled over to her as he laid down next to her. Alex looked down at Jo next to him as she smiled and he reached out to pick up her hand. He pulled it up to kiss her palm, he couldn’t help the way his lips needed to be on her skin. The touch of affection was warmly received as Jo hummed and rolled over to cuddle against his chest, putting one leg over his legs.

“I missed you so much, every night I slept without you in Kansas I just tossed and turned,” Alex said as he put one arm around her shoulders and held her close.

Jo laid her head on his chest as her fingers danced across his skin. “I didn’t sleep in our bed for a month after you left. I just slept on the couch, because although it still held memories of you, the bed was just too big and empty. I missed you so much, Alex.”

Alex leaned in and kissed her again before he pulled back and let himself hover only inches away from her lips. “I won’t go anywhere if you don’t want me to.”

Jo closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she pulled away to sit up. “I want you back in my bed and I want to love you, Alex, I do, but.”

It was a desperate whisper that flowed from Jo’s lips, and it seemed like she truly wanted to be with him again.

“But you don’t trust me,” Alex said, as he laid back and watched her close her eyes and nod. “If you let me, I can be a man you can trust to love you and not abandon you. I made that mistake once and I won’t do it again. I want the opportunity to prove that to you and earn back your trust.”

“It’s just that, we had just gotten married again, we were trying for a baby and you just left. I get why you did it, but it was so easy for you,” Jo said, the painful expression across her face was one that grabbed his heart and squeezed it. “I love you, and I want to trust you again, but I don’t know how, at least not yet.”

Alex nodded as he took in her words. “Not yet, that’s not never?”

Jo looked back at him, from where she was fidgeting with her fingers. “Not never.”

“Can we try dating or can I at least see you regularly?” Alex asked, tilting his head as he looked into her eyes. “I love you, Jo, and I want the chance to love you, if you’ll let me.”

Jo looked away, staring at the abstract painting on the wall. Alex watched as her shoulders rose and fell as she took a deep breath before looking back at him with a nod.

“Okay.”

Out of everything that Jo had ever done for him, this was the one thing that surprised him the most. After everything he put her through she was willing to let him back into her life. Jo laid back down and put her hands around his neck as she pulled him in to kiss her. Alex happily kissed her lips again. He never wanted to stop kissing her, but she pulled away.

“But that’s going to start with us taking things slow. We can still sleep together, but you need to go back to your own room tonight,” Jo said, with a smile as she sat up and got out of bed.

“You’re right, we need to do this right and take things slow,” Alex said, with a nod as he got up as well. “It’s not just us anymore we have kids. You have your son and I have my twins. We need to make sure that they’re comfortable with us being together too.”

Jo smiled and Alex dipped his head as he smiled too. She did walk around like a baby deer as she grabbed a pair of sweats from her suitcase. Alex slowly gathered his boxers and the pieces of his suit. His eyes lingered on her as he watched Jo as she walked around and got dressed. Alex smiled to himself knowing that this wasn’t the last time he would get to see her.

“Speaking of the children,” Jo said as she pulled her hair out of the collar of the sweatshirt she pulled on. “I should go get Asher, he’s not used to being away from me overnight and I’m sure your kids miss you too.”

“Yeah, the twins are slowly getting used to Meredith and everyone else but I don’t think they’d be comfortable if they woke up without me there.” Alex nodded as he buttoned up his shirt again.

The two of them shared a smile, before Jo disappeared into the bathroom and he finished getting dressed. They were parents now and it was strange, but it came so naturally to them. There was still a hint of regret that they weren’t parenting together, but perhaps that could change. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror and he still looked a little disheveled. Jo came out of the bathroom and smiled as she reached up to run her still wet fingers through his hair. The water smoothed away the tufts of hair she had made stick up earlier and the gesture made Alex smile. It was so easy and natural for her to do. It made him forget that she hadn’t fixed his hair in a year.

Alex grabbed Meredith’s clutch and walked towards the door before looking back at Jo who had grabbed a baby blanket and had followed him to the entryway. Suddenly they both realized they were going to the exact same room, at the exact same time. All of their friends would know they had slept together especially considering that Alex promised he would only be a few minutes, but instead more than an hour had passed.

“Why don’t I go up ahead of you and then you can come in a few minutes. I love Meredith, but I think she’d never let it go if she found out we’d slept together,” Alex said as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Meredith hadn’t always been Jo’s number one fan, but a year before their wedding that changed. Ever since Alex returned to Seattle, she had been urging him to make things right with Jo. And by make things right, she hinted that they should get back together. Her not-so-subtle hints were something Alex had been ignoring in favor of waiting for Jo to decide how she wanted to interact with him. He would probably never hear the end of it if Meredith knew she was right.

“Yeah, that’s probably for the best and I should warm up a bottle for Asher. He can’t go back down without it,” Jo said with a nod as she went back to the kitchenette and pulled out a bottle and formula.

“Yeah, the baby days,” Alex said, with a smile as he watched Jo make the bottle.

Jo looked up and caught his eye before she returned his smile with a soft smile of her own. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry you never got that with the twins.”

“You’re not the one who has to apologize for that Jo,” Alex said and he reached out and filled up the bottle with water while Jo measured out the formula. “Besides, I’m happy that I’m in their lives now.”

“Yeah, I watched you with them this evening. I remember you let Eli eat the rest of your baked potato when I know it’s your favorite and you danced with Alexis as she stood on your toes. You looked so happy with your kids and I was so happy that you got the chance to be in their lives.”

“I saw you with Asher too. You were holding him as you swayed back and forth and danced with him. You always have such a wonderful smile when you’re looking at him and I’m glad you have a family too, Jo.”

Jo was standing there, next to him at the kitchenette with a baby blanket over her shoulder, shaking the bottle in her hand as she prepped the bottle warmer. It was everything Alex had ever envisioned when he imagined what it would have been like to have a baby with Jo. Seeing her with her baby was all of those dreams come true, the one piece that was missing was him. He wanted Jo in his life and in his kid’s lives too, he wanted to meet Asher as well and he wanted the five of them to be a family.

Alex wanted to do what he should have done from the beginning and be a father to Alexis and Eli with Jo by his side. He wanted Alexis and Eli to get to know Jo, and for her to be a part of their lives. He wanted to meet Asher and be a part of his life too. He wanted them to be a family.

Alex wanted to go to the park with Jo and the kids. He wanted to sit in the sandbox and build sandcastles with Asher and Jo would push Eli on the swings while Alexis moved between the two of them, never able to decide where she wanted to be. He wanted waffle Sundays with Jo, both of them in their pajamas as he made the waffles and she made them coffee and chocolate milk for the kids. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss her in their home with their children around them. He wanted his life with Jo and he knew that it wouldn’t happen in an instant, but he knew where to start.

“Do you want to like, go out Saturday or something?” Alex asked fumbling over his words, he was so nervous because he wanted this so bad.

“Yeah, I’d like that,” Jo said, a light blush appearing across her cheeks as she looked down and focused on putting the bottle in the warmer.

“Good, I’ll talk to you Monday and we can schedule something,” Alex said with a nod as he tried to keep his excitement inside, but he just couldn’t hide the smile that spread across his face

“Yeah, sounds good,” Jo agreed, sharing his smile as she finally looked up at him.

Alex couldn’t help how he was already head over heels in love with her again. He had always been in love with her and he was so happy to have the chance to love her again.

Alex went up to the hotel room and wasn’t surprised when Zola snapped at him for taking so long, but Meredith just gave him a knowing smile, especially when Jo came up a few minutes later to get Asher. However, neither she nor anyone else said anything about his disappearance.

Alex watched her cradle the sleepy baby in her arms and get him settled with the bottle. He loved watching Jo with Asher. Sometimes he’d find himself walking by the daycare at lunchtime, just to try and catch a glimpse of them. Just before she left Jo caught his eye and smiled at him. Alex couldn’t hide the smile that stretched across his face visible for everyone to see.

He was so grateful that Jo was even given him the chance to see her again and he was over the moon about what happened tonight. She had kissed him, they had slept together, and she was going to let him date her. Alex knew that it was going to take a lot to rebuild their relationship. But, he was determined to do everything he could to prove to Jo that he was worthy of her trust.

……………………………………………………………………

The vomit never seemed to end as Jo leaned over the toilet and produced the bile that was left in her stomach. She had been feeling nauseous and had thrown up a few times in the past few days, but she seemed to get the worst of it today. This morning she had woken up and had to make a mad dash for the toilet down the hall and she hadn’t stopped throwing up since. Suddenly she heard Asher cry and tried to get up, but she was dizzy and nauseous and she had to sit back down before she dry heaved again.

“Aunt Jo, Asher’s crying,” Zola said as she came into the bathroom, but lingered by the door, hesitant to get near her.

“I know Zola, can you get your om please, and ask her to pick up Asher for me?” Jo said, leaning against the toilet bowl.

“Okay,” Zola said quickly leaving the bathroom.

Jo listened to Zola knock on Meredith’s door. Meredith got up and Jo let out a sigh as Meredith got Asher and his cries stopped. Jo closed her eyes and laid her head on her arm.

“Hey Zola said you were puking your guts up and you look pretty disgusting,” Meredith said as she appeared in the doorway with Asher on her hip.

Jo just groaned and looked up at Meredith. She hated being sick, especially knowing that it wouldn’t end anytime soon, but at least it seemed to end for now.

“Mama,” Asher said, leaning out to her.

Jo smiled and reached out for him as Meredith brought him over. However, before Meredith could even put him in her arms she got a whiff of his dirty diaper and leaned over to dry heave in the toilet. Asher fussed when Meredith didn’t put him in Jo’s arms and Meredith tried to settle him. Jo pulled back after she finished heaving, but knew she couldn’t take him right now.

“Can you change him and get him settled,” Jo asked as she sat back against the wall. “I’ll be fine soon, I just need a minute.”

“Yeah of course, do you want some meds or something? Whatever you’ve got it looks pretty bad. Is Asher sick too because if not I’ll take him to the daycare for you so you can stay home and rest?” Meredith offered soothing Asher as he fussed still leaning out to Jo.

“I don’t need a day to rest, I just need a few minutes,” Jo said, she knew from how things have been the past few days that once she got her stomach settled she would be fine, until sometime around lunch.

Jo cursed the universe for getting her into this position. Of all the crazy and stupid, things she had ever done this had to be the top one. She was frustrated and nervous and excited all at the same time. She loved Alex, but this was something else. They had been dating for the past month and a half and he was working to rebuild her trust. They were taking it slow, but things were about to go from 0 to 60 in an instant. They hadn’t even met each other’s kids yet and Jo wasn’t sure about her place in his life.

“Jo if you’re sick it’s no big deal, you can take a day to rest,” Meredith said, setting her with a look. “I’m pretty sure all of your patients would appreciate you not getting them and their newborns sick.”

“I’m not sick,” Jo insisted, looking over at Meredith. She wasn’t sure about telling her, but it would all come out eventually and she needed Meredith’s help. Especially as, regardless of how she and Alex were still working things out, she had decided to keep it. “I’m pregnant and Alex is the father.”

Jo watched as Meredith’s jaw dropped in shock. It was pretty much the same expression Jo had on her face when she got her blood work back a few days ago. Alex Karev had gotten her pregnant and now Jo was having a baby with her ex-husband.

……………………………………………………………………

AN: I promised a soft epilogue and I do intend to make good on that, but I couldn't resist the urge to add another baby to this. I can promise it will go over well and there will be a happy ending.

#alex karev #jolex #grey's anatomy #grey's anatomy fanfic #otp: home and heart #meredith grey #eli stevens #alexis stevens #my fanfiction #my writing #my work #jo wilson #IRIATW

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