#also she teaches children now. most terrifying horrifying facts ever.

[corpsecoded]

life update. had some sushi. I am god’s strongest soldier because after my mother’s last text to me I made one last ditch attempt to call her and we did talk for four hours and are now on mostly civil terms. she told me her current stepdaughter is so much like me and reminds her so much of me and I was like okayy why do you think I want to hear about that.. she DID after all these years admit that she started a cult and shouldn’t have dragged us kids into it all. profuse apologizing where she said she refuses to talk to her own mother because she still resents her over how she treated her as a child and so understands why i feel the same way and doesn’t expect me to ever forgive her since she ended up treating me the same way her mother treated her. she is no longer in the cult and acts normal which is the most jarring part of everything. talked to my little brother for a moment. she apologized for making him my responsibility and that she was not a proper mother or anything to me. etc etc etc. at one point went well you don’t understand you were a very quiet child and also very mature and old soul from a young age you didn’t talk about your problems how was i supposed to know about how deep they ran. i was like i literally told you and you slapped me and told me to never talk about it again and she was like …okay i do remember that. so far I’ve agreed to talking to her once a week but the thought of doing that already is exhausting to me nd i told her that that is liable to change and then being able to have a relationship with my little brother again. she was like from all that you’re telling me it doesn’t sound like you’re doing good like are you sure about this?? like at this point I’m personally recommending that you don’t have me in your life and i said well it’s not for You let’s make that clear. ummmmm. yeah 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫.

[loveatfirstwriteblog]

A Complete Analysis of Harry Potter

Like a lot of kids, we probably grew up on Harry potter. We were obsessed and rightly so. The universe created in the world of Harry Potter was, and is, a hugely successful one because of the fact it gave kids a world where magic exists! It seemed to be a great world to live in and it made even better with the fact that it included elements of empowerment, Whether it be showing girls can be just as successful if not more in various pursuits(Hermione), or the fact that even if you have a history of bad events, you can have a good heart(Hagrid), Harry Potter teaches us a lot.

JKR has written a mind-blowing plot in a world of magic, wizards, witches, wands, potions, friendship, love. Our inner-five-year olds--and actually most of our young adult selves too--jumps around excitedly at the beautifully penned words that creates an exit out of this world and into one where magic does exist. 

As you get older, though, you begin to think of Harry Potter in a more critical fashion. The thought of “oh my god, it’s magic” no longer completely overrides my mind, but more of “but what are the laws regarding this? Can people just do this whenever they want? Are there no ethics?” 

No matter how much we’re going to expose the flaws and plot holes in HP now, we’ll always love the books--we grew up on them! But some things just niggle you as you get older, and that’s what we’re going to be focusing on in this post.

Something I adore about the HP books is that everyone, including the “good guys”, has flaws. Harry has a “save the world alone, do first, think later” complex, a driving force that makes him go save Sirius, Ron is very, very insecure to a point where he ditches Harry twice, probably when Harry needed him the most, Hermione is a judgemental, narrow-minded nag (her thoughts on Luna, divination, Trelawney, basically anything that doesn’t fit her black and white world), Molly Weasley is misogynistic and blatantly favourites her children—probably being one of the main factors behind Ron’s insecurities, Arthur is condescending towards Muggles and makes several comments you cringe at while reading the books as a young adult/adult, Sirius, Snape, and Lupin still haven’t let go of their childhood grudges and hatred, etc etc etc. 

These flaws are what make these characters so three-dimensional, so layered, so human. But the problem was, most of these flaws are never intentionally acknowledged. And honestly, that could have been such a good character arc, because the main characters are mostly students. No student is the same through their teenage years—they change, they evolve, they get over their flaws, they try to better themselves. I would have loved to see Ron becoming his own person, Hermione opening her mind up a little, etc. 

Neville is not one of my favourites, but I love his growth and development, from someone who was scared of his potions professor to a man who faced down Lord Voldemort. Ginny Weasley could have had character development, from the trauma she went through in second year, but that was never written in.  She went through this terrifying ordeal when she was only twelve years old, and jump to a year or two later and she’s absolutely fine, with no transition from her trauma whatsoever.

Some of JKR’s characters are brilliantly written and fleshed out, but some of her others lack the structure and complexity that usually comes with being vital to the plot—Ginny Weasley for one. Her internalised misogyny also plays a huge part in the way her female characters are written. We see this again in the case of how she wrote the character of Ginny. 

Ginny Weasley is not a favourite of ours (if you don’t know that by now). She feels a lot like a convenient male daydream—when she waits for Harry to notice her by dating other guys, gets annoyed by Hermione “not knowing quidditch”, etc etc—and fits the “not like other girls” archetype too much, almost like she was made for it (hint hint). She’s portrayed to be strong-willed, spunky, and independent, and I love the idea, but I really don’t see it. To me, she’s a very shallow character, the least fleshed out one. 

Just like James Potter wasn’t necessarily redeemed just because JKR said he was, and Ginny isn’t interesting just because JKR writes that she is. 

Hermione also fits the archetype, but she’s JKR’s self-insert, so we really can’t say much about that. 

To make things worse, Ginny and Hermione are pitted against each other in a very subtle way. Ginny is the sporty, pretty, flirty girl who’s never single from book 4. Hermione is the not-conventionally-attractive, nerdy girl who’s had a few dates here and there but never a relationship. They’re very different characters (the only thing they have in common is the archetype) but they’re against each other in the defence of Harry. 

Another place where JKR’s misogyny shows up is the way other girls are written. Lavender Brown is shown as vapid and immature, just because she likes clothes and boys and didn’t know how to handle her first relationship. Cho Chang is perceived as shallow because she’s emotional. Pansy Parkinson is seen to be throwing herself at Draco Malfoy. The Weasleys hated Fleur because she was beautiful and sexy and French, and that was ever really resolved in the end (Molly accepted her, but we never got Ginny’s and Hermione’s opinions again). You see where we’re getting at? The typical “girly girls” are portrayed as insipid, shallow, emotional, and boring, while girls like Hermione and Ginny are seen to be fun and multilayered. 

The problems with Harry Potter don’t just stop with non-fleshed out characters. There are plot devices that go unacknowledged, issues like blood purity—which is the basis of Voldemort’s tyranny—are never really resolved, huge Chekhov’s guns that aren’t fired. 

A common misconception, which if cleared up could probably expose a load of problems in wizarding society by itself, is that the wizarding world is racist. It’s not racist. Muggles and Muggleborns are not a different race, they’re a different class, at least according to pureblood wizards. Mudblood is a classist insult (a direct reference to nobility blueblood and aristocracy).

Another factor that wasn’t talked about but made the HP world so complex and realistic is the inherent classism in every single pureblooded wizard, including the Weasleys.

 The “Light” wizards all operate on the notion “at least I don’t kill or torture Muggles”. The Weasleys refuse to talk about Molly’s squib cousin who’s an accountant, the Longbottoms were so desperate for Neville to not be a squib they nearly killed him trying to force magic out of him, Ron makes fun of Filch for being a squib, thinks house-elves are beneath him, and confounds his driving instructor in his mid-thirties, the ministry workers kept obliviating that muggle at the quidditch World Cup, etc. 

This could have been a metaphor for how small prejudices and microaggressions (kind of the wizarding equivalent of white privilege) enable discrimination and murder, if JKR had actually acknowledged it. 

The parallel to Nazi Germany is very twisted and definitely shouldn’t be taken too far, but the Nazi ideology grew on the basis of everyday antisemitism, “that’s not that bad” little things. Voldemort’s circle and army grew because the wizard superiority complex festered and blew up in some people, egged on by a deeply classist society. 

Ultimately, Harry Potter has very, very shoddy worldbuilding, the kind of worldbuilding that’s obsessed with answering the “what” of the wizarding world, rather than the “how” or the “why”, which is strange, considering that fantasy or dystopian-era novels’ driving plots and conflicts are usually answering the questions the worldbuilding raises--The Hunger Games and The Shadowhunter Chronicles are two of the best examples of brilliantly written YA fantasy and dystopian novels. 

In HP, however, the main plot just avoids the questions the worldbuilding brings up like the bubonic plague. 

Voldemort’s agenda is built on prejudice towards Muggles and Muggleborns, but the plot just validates the negative perception of them—at the end of the day, being a wizard is what’s special. The Statute of Secrecy is the foundation of the main concept—blood supremacists believe wizards shouldn’t be hidden away—but only vague, barely-there answers are given to why it exists (a Chekhov’s gun that was never fired). 

There are love potions that function like date rape drugs (even Harry was given one by a girl who wanted him to ask her out), potions that force people to tell the truth, potions that literally let you disguise yourself as another person, but the ethics are never talked about, and the laws are so lax that three twelve-year-olds broke them and were never caught. 

But at the same time, the worldbuilding is so authentic, because it transforms the wizarding world into straight-up fridge horror. The everyday horrors are just accepted and rolled with. A corrupt government, constant obliviation of Muggles, slavery that isn’t even talked about. These things aren’t obvious to us as readers, or to the wizards as characters, because they match up to the real world, which is filled with things that are horrifying if you dig deeper. The multiple, normalised forms of abuse, police brutality, the violence in prisons that nothing is done about, the glaringly obvious cultural problems we have with consent, etc. 

The abusive authoritative figures in HP, like Rufus Scrimgeour, Cornelius Fudge, Dumbledore, Umbridge, etc, are so authentic because real-life politicians and people in high places of power behave that way, and their abuse is excused. 

The wizarding world is just like the real world. Corrupt, prejudiced, messed up, but if you’re privileged, or at least have certain privileges, you’re probably not going to notice. The ultimate problem is that the plot doesn’t acknowledge a lot of fridge horror things are messed up either, which is why it miserably fails. 

[pellucidity-is-me]

Poppy Pomfrey Hates Werewolves

Summary: The year is 1971, and Madam Pomfrey is finding it more difficult than expected to care for an eleven-year-old werewolf student. She turns to a late-night conversation with Minerva McGonagall in order to soothe her frustrations.

Wordcount: 3843

Poppy Pomfrey hated werewolves.

No, that wasn't the right wording. Poppy loved Remus very much; she thought that he was a clever, lovable boy who deserved to be at Hogwarts more than some of the other ridiculous buffoons (ahem: Potter and Black).

In fact, the Lupins in general were lovely people. Poppy remembered Remus' father, Lyall Lupin, from her first year at Hogwarts—he’d been six years older than she was and in a different House, so they hadn't been close. Yet she did remember that Lyall was a lot like Remus in the sense that he'd received very good marks and was usually quiet and mild-mannered. But his temper! Arguments with Lyall were bound to lead to a fight—either the Muggle way or the wizarding way; Lyall was willing to participate in either. Poppy saw Lyall in Remus often, even though she hadn't known Lyall very well. They looked alike, yes, but there was also something deeper. Both had odd interests and were a bit eccentric. Both were clever. Both had an unexpectedly honed sense of humor. And both (as Poppy knew from some of Hope's letters) were very prone to guilt.

Hope was Remus' mother, and Poppy liked her just as much as she liked Remus. She was a wonderful mother and a lot of fun. A stereotypical doting mother, really. Hope, like Lyall and Remus, was very funny, and Poppy often found herself laughing out loud at her letters. Poppy probably learned much more about young Remus than Remus would have been comfortable with, but Hope just couldn't help oversharing. Poppy suspected that she'd never before had anyone to talk to about Remus without fear of his lycanthropy getting out. Poppy liked Hope so much, in fact, that they had plans to meet during Christmas holidays. Poppy could see the two of them becoming very good friends.

Yes, Poppy was fond of Remus, as well as both of his parents. But she hated werewolves.

Not werewolves. Not really. Poppy hated lycanthropy. Poppy hated the fact that Remus had to go through unimaginable pain every single month. And he was so young! Four years old, that's how old he had been. It made Poppy feel ill sometimes, and it was the type of illness that even she—the most experienced school matron in the world, probably—could not cure.

It had gone relatively well for the first couple of months—well, not well, per se, but they’d survived. At least Remus had always been conscious and somewhat coherent afterwards. Remus had a habit of making jokes when he was uncomfortable, and it always made it easier to stop feeling so horrible when he was making the odd sarcastic comment. But the first December full moon was far worse than usual. 

When Poppy crawled through the tunnel the morning after the December full moon and saw Remus, unconscious on the floor and bleeding out, she nearly vomited. She wasn't ready for this! She couldn’t! She’d never had to do anything like this before, and this was absolutely terrible. He shouldn’t have to deal with that every month. She shouldn’t have to deal with this every month. 

How dare Dumbledore ask her to help him? She was only human. She couldn't see this, month after month and day after day. Such a young student. So small and thin and delicate. This was horrible for her, too!

And no one even asked her! It wasn't as if Dumbledore had said "Good morning, Poppy, would you be willing to care for a werewolf in September 1971?" No, he had flat-out told her that there was nothing she could do about it. She still remembered his exact words. A very special student... infected with lycanthropy... deserves a chance to learn, as all children do... Poppy will be caring for him after full moons... Don't try to protest his coming here, I have made my decision. Ridiculous. The man never asked anyone else's opinion. 

Poppy wouldn't have protested, though, and she felt even worse when she realized what she was insinuating. Remus, stay home and never come to Hogwarts? That wouldn't stop the transformations; that would only make them worse. Besides, having to see it was nothing compared to actually going through it... But still. It was so hard to think of it all—so difficult to be given a burden that no one, be it child or school matron, should have to carry.

Poppy was used to being able to help people. That was her job. She loved helping people. But there was no cure for lycanthropy, and it was far beyond Poppy’s abilities to comprehend, even, how terrible it must be for the eleven-year-old child... for a five-year-old child. Remus had endured countless full moons, and each one left him with injuries worse than some of the worst accidents that Poppy had ever seen. It made her sick.

Regardless of her feelings, though, Poppy now stood in the Shrieking Shack. Her wand was dangling limply from her hand as she stared at the deep gashes in the wall and the equally limp boy on the floor who had somehow—somehow—made them.

She couldn't help it at that point. She left. She couldn't look at him any longer; it was driving her mad.

She'd always thought magic to be a wonderful thing: capable of healing and helping and loving. But it wasn't. Magic wasn't all good at all. Here was the darker side—the horrific, awful, terrifying side that left eleven-year-old children so ill that they couldn't eat, turned them into horrifying beasts against their will, and then left them bruised and broken on the floors of their own torture chambers. Why did she even try? She couldn't change anything. She'd never help Remus Lupin, no matter how much time she spent soothing his worries and healing his injuries. He'd always have to go through this. There was no cure, and Poppy felt helpless. She hadn't felt this awful since she'd failed that student who spent half a year as a rock.

She’d only meant to leave for a bit (she needed more potions for Remus, anyhow, and she also needed a bit of air. Remus would be fine). But then she came across a panicking Slughorn who professed that a girl had drank too much of a potentially deadly potion and needed to be taken to St. Mungo’s. The girl’s parents weren’t available. Someone would have to take her.

When Professor John Questus, current Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, offered to stay and look after Remus, Poppy couldn’t help but seize the opportunity to take a breather.

So she took the girl to St. Mungo’s herself and left Remus with the Defense professor. She needed some time away—some time to think things over. She knew that it was probably the better option to stay with Remus, but she couldn't. She couldn't help popping in every few hours over Floo to make sure that Remus had not died due to her negligence—but she stayed away, for the most part. And she talked to Remus' toad that had crept into her apron. He really was good conversation, even if he was slimy-looking and warty.

"What was your name? Bufo?"

Bufo blinked.

"Do you think I've failed?"

Bufo cocked his gross little head.

"People trusted me, and I just left. That's unacceptable."

Bufo croaked.

"I'm a terrible matron." Poppy felt tears well up in her eyes. She'd left Remus to John Questus. John Questus! He was probably asking Remus all sorts of uncomfortable questions and snapping at him for being too emotional when Remus needed love and comfort and care. Because that was what John Questus did. As a former Auror, he knew Healing magic, to be sure... but he just wasn’t the type of person to care for a scared child. 

Remus was injured, and Poppy had left him—left him!—all alone on the floor of the Shrieking Shack—the Shrieking Shack!—with no one to help him. What if he had woken up all alone and scared and in pain and waited, but no one came, and then the most horribly unsympathetic professor at Hogwarts showed up and told him that Poppy had left! Just left! Poppy didn't want to think of how awful Remus, who already mistakenly assumed that most everyone hated him, might have felt.

Suddenly, she felt a small weight on her shoulder. She opened her eyes and saw Bufo snuggling against her neck. Poppy sniffed and patted his leathery skin a bit—he wasn't so bad, after all.

And Remus seemed mostly okay when she'd returned to Hogwarts. John had missed one of his wounds, and it ended up becoming terribly infected. Poppy was angry with John at first, but it didn't take long before she realized that it was her fault. The man wasn't an experienced Healer, after all, even though he did know a bit of Healing magic. Remus was her job, and she'd abandoned him just because she was feeling emotional.

Now it was Tuesday, and Poppy was certain that Remus would sleep through the night. He was looking so much better, and Poppy had no doubt that he would be all right upon going back to classes on Wednesday. Even his arm was healing up, and he'd managed to walk around the Hospital Wing the other day without any problems—he even took a bath all by himself. So she left him in her office (under the watchful eyes of Bufo), and went to talk to Minerva McGonagall.

Minerva and Poppy had been in the same year at Hogwarts and had been acquaintances (despite the fact that they were in different Houses). Since Minerva had already been teaching when Poppy had become the matron, they'd only gotten closer. Poppy would consider Minerva to be her closest friend, even—they certainly saw a lot of each other. They'd been colleagues for about twenty years now. It was mad, how quickly the time flew.

Poppy knew that Minerva was uncomfortable around Remus (she never liked werewolves much), but it was clear that she was trying—Poppy appreciated that. And Remus seemed to enjoy Minerva's company (but then again, he seemed to enjoy everybody's company. Even John Questus', for some reason). Poppy had never spoken to Minerva about Remus one-on-one (though she tended to chatter about him during staff meetings), but she was sure that Minerva wouldn't mind.

She knocked on Minerva's door, and Minerva let her in with a smile. "Poppy. May I help you?"

"I... only need to talk." Poppy often came to Minerva to chat; despite Poppy's no-nonsense exterior and usually-immaculate bedside manner, she was frightfully emotional. Anyone who told the students that, though, would be getting a rather nasty hex that Madam Pomfrey "wouldn't be able to heal".

"Of course," said Minerva. "Come in; I'll make tea."

"Are you sure? It's late, and I don't want to keep you up."

"I'm sure. I was having trouble sleeping, anyway."

"Yes, I noticed that your hair is still up."

Minerva smiled and undid her bun. "It's been a long day. Do you know, Potter and Black still insist on calling me by my first name? Those insolent, disrespectful..."

"I can't believe that Remus is friends with them."

"Is this about Remus, then?" said Minerva, nearly laughing. "You have that same look on your face whenever you talk about him during the staff meetings."

Poppy rearranged her face. "Look? What kind of look?"

"You worry about him. Understandably so, of course."

"Yes, yes." Minerva offered Poppy a teacup, and she took it gratefully. "I just... I can't. Minerva, it's awful!"

Minerva sat back patiently with her own cup of tea, not even batting an eye. "Yes, I know."

It all came spilling out at once. "I've done research! We all have! Did you read the article in the paper? The Shrieking Shack, they call it. Shrieking? Wolves don't shriek, Minerva—people do! It's painful; it's hurting him! And his pain threshold is so incredibly high that I... I can't even... I can't even imagine how bad it is, to make him hurt enough to actually cry out. He's so thin and sickly and pale all the time, and he's so small and delicate for his age, and he... I can't get over his pain threshold! He doesn't even flinch when I heal a broken bone, Minerva. Doesn't even flinch. He walks all the way back to the castle, month after month, with worse injuries than... than anything, really.

"And he just has to live with it—wounds all over his body all the time, can't even heal up completely before the next full moon rolls around, can't eat properly on the day before, can't even attend class because he's feeling so sickly. He gets through injuries that would cripple a grown man... and complains less than a miffed Gryffindor when Slytherin wins the House Cup! And he has to live with it! All the time!"

Minerva looked appropriately saddened and kept listening silently. She was good at that.

"He was four, he told me. Four, nearly five. He was attacked by a fully-fledged werewolf—and he let slip that said werewolf attacked him on purpose!—when he was a little more than a toddler. I've seen the scar, and I know enough about injuries to know that it must have been life-threatening. And most of it is on his shoulder, just near his neck! Just... can you imagine? Being a four-year-old child and a werewolf biting you—only inches away from snapping your neck... and then living as one? He's traumatized! He has nightmares, Minerva! Still! After six years, and he flinches whenever I get close."

Minerva pursed her lips and refilled Poppy's tea, which she had spilled all over her lap. Poppy didn't even care at this point.

"I hate it. I hate it. I hate coming to the Shack and seeing him half-dead. I hate his complacent expression, like he's been through it many before... because he has! He has! It's... what, eighty times now? I don't know! And he probably doesn't even keep track, because it's such a normal thing now! That sort of thing should never be normal! And not for a child, especially. A child! Eleven, but he looks so much older—he's so much more mature than he should be—he's seen more than children should, been through more than I have! Merlin's beard. Sometimes I want him to yell at me and get angry over it all, because he never really has. Cool as a cucumber about the whole thing. He's FINE, he says!"

Tears were running down Poppy's face now, but she made no attempt to stop them. Minerva had seen her cry many, many times before. In fact, she'd cried most recently when she'd lost her favorite pair of slippers. It was hard, keeping it in all day for fear of frightening the students.

"And no one ever asks me how hard it is. No one ever talks about me. Plenty of people say "poor Remus", and goodness knows he deserves it, even if he doesn't want it. But no one even thinks about how hard it is for me—to help a child—with an incurable illness—that I can't do anything about! To watch him fight through unimaginable pain, to see him suffering, to watch him get feverish and pass out in the middle of a sentence and refuse to eat and drown his pain in books! He's just... in my office... for days, every single month... and I just have to go about my business, knowing that there's nothing I can do. There's no cure! He won't even let me help him before a full moon because potions and things irritate him on the full moon. There's nothing I can do! Think about it! I can't get over it!"

Minerva wordlessly handed Poppy a handkerchief, and Poppy blew her nose. "It's not just about him," Poppy said, calming down a little. "It's not just about me, either. It's just... it's something that made me realize how much darkness is in the world... how unfair things are... how people can suffer so much without deserving it. I knew, before. But I didn't really believe it... and now it's just all so overwhelming. There are so many hurting people in the world. Remus isn't even the only werewolf in Britain. And I can't help everyone. I'm confined to this school—this small school in a world full of billions of people—and I can't... even... help everyone... in the tiny school! I hate it."

Minerva spoke for the first time. "I know," she said, and stood up to embrace Poppy tightly. "I know." A minute later, she pulled away, and the front of her robes were wet from Poppy's tears. Poppy could sense helpful advice coming. "Do you want to know what I think?" Minerva asked quietly, and Poppy looked up at her with watery eyes.

"What?"

"We all have varying levels of pain. I think that all of us have a sort of pain that unimaginable to another. Such is life. We shouldn't dwell on the pain that we all inevitably have: instead, we should focus on the good things that we have. Remus Lupin is a... well, he's ill. But he has two wonderful parents who love him. His 'normal' is different from ours, but that doesn't mean he has a completely awful life. It's just a different kind of normal—a new normal."

Poppy nodded and sniffed a little.

"And he has three friends who accept him."

"We don't know that."

"For right now, they do. And he has plenty of intelligence and activities that he enjoys. And he plays outside with his friends—did you see his face at the last Quidditch match? Or on Halloween?"

"No, I was sitting with the Hufflepuffs. And the full moon wasn't until November second."

"I've never seen him so happy," Minerva assured her. "It isn't the dark that we should focus on, it's the light that cancels it out. With all people—everyone that you can't help. It's just life, Poppy. Just life. No matter how much we think about how awful things are, they won't change... but thinking about how wonderful things are can change our mindsets, at least."

Poppy granted her a watery smile. "Thank you. That helps."

"Of course it does. I'm a very helpful person, you know."

Poppy nodded, ever thankful. "Now that I've done my ranting," she said, feeling a lot better than she had been feeling mere minutes ago, "I'll give you some time to rant about Potter and Black."

"Oh, thank goodness." Minerva straightened up and immediately went off on a tirade about their shenanigans: disrespect, loud voices, lack of motivation, disregard for the rules... et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. Poppy had heard it all before.

"I think you like them," said Poppy slyly once Minerva had finished.

"What? No!"

"Oh no, you definitely like them. Potter is fantastic at Transfiguration, is he not? And flying? Both things that you're talented at, yourself."

"Well... maybe I do like them a little," admitted Minerva with a heavy sigh, "merely because they're Gryffindors through and through. Don't tell anyone."

Poppy hummed her consent and took a sip of tea. "So... that game you play with Remus that you mentioned earlier...? Tell me more."

Minerva laughed. She didn't laugh often around students, and Poppy loved to hear it. "I wasn't very comfortable around him at first; you know that. And he knew it too. He was obviously uncomfortable around me, too—things were awkward at first. Classes consisted of avoiding eye contact, mostly. It was distracting. So I told him that we'd play a game of sorts: whichever of us can act normally around the other first wins. We've been giving each other points. I'm winning."

"Not what he told Albus."

Minerva sipped her tea. "He's deluded."

"So... any reason why you aren't comfortable around werewolves? It seems a bit odd for you of all people to be afraid..."

"Not afraid!" protested Minerva. "Just uncomfortable. As you know, I'm half-blood, and my mother—a witch—took pride in her heritage. She told me stories of the wizarding world all the time—trying to bring me back to my roots, even though we lived in a Muggle village. I heard so many tales of werewolves being a danger to society, even from an early age. They're bogeymen, Poppy. The monsters under the beds. Children grow up with an innate fear of them... They ask their parents to check their closets for them before they go to sleep. Their parents tell them that that a werewolf will eat them if they get out of bed or disobey the rules. I was so afraid of werewolves as a child that I hated going outside at night. There's a fear instilled in young children, and it takes a while to shake off. That's all. It's not that I'm afraid of him—you know me, I'm a proud Gryffindor. I just don't like... the idea of it."

"Even though he's so small and harmless?"

"Yes. I'm not proud of it." Minerva finished off her tea. "But I can stand to be around him much more easily now. I like him, you know. Quiet, calm. The exact opposite of Potter and Black."

"Do you ever shut up about them?" Poppy teased.

"I'll shut up about them when you shut up about Remus. All you ever talk about these days."

"He's the only company I have these days!"

"Except when John Questus visits..." teased Minerva. She knew all about Poppy's hatred towards John Questus—he had, in fact, been the subject of Poppy's last after-hours rant.

"Ugh! Don't even talk about him. The horrible, insensitive..."

"Yes, I know. You've ranted about him to me before. I think you fancy him, don't you?"

"Who, John?" Poppy gagged. "That's too far. I'm going to bed now."

"You accused me of liking Potter and Black. I'm only returning the favor."

"It's not the same thing! I do not fancy John Questus!"

"Sweet dreams," called Minerva. "I'll plan the wedding."

"You're such a child!" snapped Poppy, opening the door to leave. "You sound like Potter."

Minerva feigned disgust. "You'd better leave before I hex you."

Poppy obliged, shutting the door with a little more force than necessary and heading back to the Hospital Wing to check on Remus.

Minerva, she reflected, was a wonderful friend, and she was glad that Remus had a few such friends of his own.

Everybody needed friends, didn't they?

AN: Another scene from my fanfic (link in blog description). I don’t think John Questus has ever made an appearance on my tumblr before, just because he’s an OC and hard to explain in short snapshots like this—but he’s my favorite character lol and I was waiting for a good moment to mention him!

[ikemen-girl]

Hello, sweety! I don't know if you're currently taking up request or not (please don't mind this ask if you're not doing it right now ^^). I'm a teacher and seeing how Mitsuhide teaches MC in his route, may I request you for a HC of Mitsuhide finds out that his MC is a teacher as well in her future life? I really want to know how he would react on that. Thank you for visiting my blog beforehand and hoping you a wonderful upcoming weekend! ✨🍀

Hellooooo dear 😍😍♥️♥️, thank you very much for this interesting request 🥰💗! I am also aspiring to become a teacher in few years so I am very glad to meet you😍😍! And I would like to say that you are an amazing artist👏🙌! I hope you also have a great weekend💃🌹! So, here we go😉~

Ikesen Headcanon⚔💗

Mitsuhide reacting to a MC being a Teacher👩‍🏫:

You loved teaching children😍❤ but you ended up in the sengoku era while travelling to Kyoto on a school trip with your students & other teachers leaving a very good life in the modern era😩 & accidentally saved Nobunaga's life to your surprise & Mitsuhide took a special interest in you👀 & his mind-reading skills used to freak you out😨.

You were honestly terrified after stepping on the battlefield for the first time in your life😱 when you have been always surrounded by the laughter & twinkling eyes of children and you were missing it terribly😭, to top it all, the shock of seeing a man die infront of your eyes was too overwhelming, so you fell unconscious😵 & Mitsuhide carried you back in Azuchi Castle.

"Starting from tomorrow, I will be your teacher, little mouse, for the subject matters, I think, tactics, equestrianism, self defense, firearms seems a good start😏!", said Mitsuhide with a huge smirk on his face.

"I hope you will be a good pupil, little mouse🐭!", said Mitsuhide as he stood and gave you a head-pat.

"Pffffttttt, I am waiting for that moment", you murmured, chuckling to yourself🤭.

"Did you say something?", asked Mitsuhide turning back to look at her.

"I am looking forward for tomorrow, Mitsuhide-sensei, goodnight😅!", she straighten up with a slight bow. Mitsuhide smiled at her🙂 and goes outside the room.

"His smile creeps me out, well, nevermind. I am excited to see the surprise on his face tomorrow😁", she let out a huge grin.

"Before starting up on the actual studies, I would like to test your knowledge base, here is your questions sheet, fill it up, little mouse📝!", said Mitsuhide as he gave her the question paper with a smirk on his face😏.

You took it, pretending to be afraid of the test making him amused, "Go on, little mouse, it's not that difficult, I assure you!", he said with a amused grin on his face😄. As you look down at the questions on Japanese literature, history & general knowledge, on the inside, you were so happy 💃while on the outside, you kept a face of a child who is horrified at the thought of giving an exam😱.

You submitted your answer sheet to him and as Mitsuhide scanned it, his eyes went wide with shock😲, he was NOT expecting this at all. You honestly wished that you have a camera 📷 to capture his expression which was so funny to say the least. Each & every answer was correct💯.

"How😳?", it's the only word that came out his mouth. You couldn't control anymore & burst out laughing loudly🤣. "Because I am also a teacher, Mitsuhide👩‍🏫", you said with a proud look on your face. "What😳?", he was left speechless once again which only made it harder for you to control your laughter.

"You really surprised me there, little mouse😅!", Mitsuhide laughs along with you to hide his flustered expression. "So, what do you teach🤔?", he asked, curious to know about you.

"Let's see, I mainly teach japanese literature & history, apart from it, I am well versed in general knowledge, english literature, I love art, psychology, etc, so if any child wants to learn it, I teach these skills to them as well with full excitement as being around them & seeing them grow in their lives makes me so happy🤩❤!", you said with a biggest smile on your face🥰 & eyes shining with happiness since you came to this era👀✨. Mitsuhide was, to be very honest, awestruck seeing your genuine happiness☺️.

As much as Mitsuhide didn't want to interrupt you, but he grew suspicious of your origin as being this educated in this era was surprisingly rare especially in something like english literature🤔. "Who are you & where are you from, mysterious little mouse? Tell me all your secrets, little one", he asked, narrowing his gaze at you👀.

You froze for a moment😳 as you knew very well that you have raised his suspicions when you were rambling non-stop😬 & you couldn't lie or else you will be in huge trouble😓. "Why should I tell you when you are also a potential "traitor" in Oda forces infront of everyone, hm?", you asked jokingly trying to avoid the question😅. "Little mouse, I am used to prying out the secrets and I would not prefer to use the same techniques on you", he said with a frown on his face🤨 unknown to him but you noticed the discomfort in his expression & sighed.

So you showed him your purse👜 and told him everything about yourself as Mitsuhide listened patiently. "So our little mouse came from 500 years in the future, it's hard to believe but you have proof with yourself, now I can see the reason how you are so innocent & untouched by the realities of this time", said Mitsuhide with a amused smirk😏.

"I have only told you the truth, rest is up to you to believe in me", you said with a pout☹.

"Don't pout, I believe in you, little one, as you have been a very nice girl, I will treat you with tea & sweets🍵🍡 as a reward, little mouse", Mitsuhide said caressing your cheek with his thumb😏. You honestly couldn't stop yourself from smiling after hearing the offer😍.

Mitsuhide was overcome with affection for her as she believed in him as a person despite having her doubts and confided in him with everything, he made a secret vow to himself to protect her from everything❤.

You both went to the teahouse together & suddenly Kyubei called Mitsuhide for giving some urgent information. Mitsuhide excused himself for a moment while you were happily eating your sweets😍, but then, you heard some men were talking bad things about him behind his back & you couldn't stand seeing & listening something wrong so you strongly defended him infront of them😡, not caring for the fact that you had no weapons on yourself, one of the men tried to hit you but Mitsuhide arrived in time to rescue you from them😎.

So this started the strong feeling of love in heart of Mitsuhide towards you😍💓💞 as nobody has ever done something like this for him, he was so impressed by the fact that you strongly stood for your values proving your strength of sense of justice as a teacher & a good person by heart☺️💯.

He continued training you in survival skills like self defense, horseriding, shooting as you were already were well-versed in theory. In exchange, you would definitely teach him english literature & tell him about many fascinating things about the human mind & everything you know about future along with many other things😍, you both loved spending time with each other and always look forward to such meetings everyday.

Once, you were well trained in these skills, you gave your gratitude towards your "teacher" Mitsuhide by gifting him a very beautiful portrait✍❤ of him playing with his pet fox, Chimaki🦊. He couldn't resist hugging you tightly the moment, he laid his eyes on it🤗💗. You yourself was the biggest & the most precious gift for him in his life but your gift made him the most happiest person💓😢, he would definitely try to hide his happiness with a amused smirk & headpat but you can see through his facade that he is genuinely happy🥰. He would definitely put the portrait in such a place where everyone could see his little mouse's amazing skills😎😏.

After facing many difficulties together, you both confessed your feelings towards each other💐 and you both were a lovely couple infront of everyone😍👫💗.

You would both use knowledge of english as a medium for infiltration as spies together in other territories🧐. Surprisingly, a language, i.e., english, became a special kind of exchange & secret code between you☺️ and Mitsuhide😏 as you both would often converse in english infront of other warlords much to their surprise & confusion🙄😳🤔.

As you were always willing to stay by his side, he used to take you along to infiltrate certain places, your skill of art would definitely come as a big help for Mitsuhide💯, as you could easily draw the suspects making his workload way more easier than it was before✍😌.

In exchange, Mitsuhide would always make sure that you were not uncomfortable in such investigation trips, he would always give you tips in dancing, singing, acting, etc 🤗 and also expect loads of teasings while he is at it, fufufufu😘.

You both being the best teachers around in Azuchi would definitely use this opportunity to teach as many children as possible who don't have access to proper education without asking for anything in return as you both did it for your own self-satisfaction & happiness in your free times💛. Mitsuhide generally taught the skills of self defense🤼‍♂️, weaponry🔫, etc while you would educate the kids in literatures, general knowledge & art👩‍🏫. Children would also always look forward to meeting both of you everyday🥰❤🤗. It became one of your most favourite & productive ways to spend time with each other❤. Children also ships you both together, mind you👀❤🤭!

Mitsuhide loved the way your eyes sparkles with happiness👀✨ whenever you are around the children🥰😘❤ and can't help falling more deeply in love with you😍💓.

He would always praise you infront of everyone, everytime he gets a chance😏. Cue warlords- We know that already, Mitsuhide, you just told us🤦‍♂️. Mitsuhide: Hooooh~But not that...😏 endless praise begins & he shuts up only when you take him outside the council room dying of embarrasment😳🙈🤦‍♀️ to which he only laughs loudly🤣😏.

Mitsuhide would often call you "my brilliant little mouse💯🐭!", as his way of showing affection towards you💗😏. Cue you blushing deep shade of red tomato and running away from him😳🙈🍅.

Extra~

"You really love her, huh?", asked Hideyoshi as he was walking down the hallways😆. "Obviously, I love her with all my heart💗, she is the brightest star of my life🌟!", said Mitsuhide, his eyes filled with love and a beautiful smile on his face.

"Was that a genuine smile on your face, Mitsuhide?!", exclaimed Hideyoshi, shocked😲.

"My, My, Hideyoshi, I don't have any idea what you are talking about😏", said Mitsuhide as he realised that his facade broke their for a moment out of his love for you. Hideyoshi *eye twitch* : whatever🙄!

Mitsuhide then went looking for you to tease and shower you with all his love & affection❤😏.

Hope, you all enjoyed it❤😍🤗. Comments are appreciated😇!

[notruercolors]

Adult Retrospection on Harry Potter

At five-years-old I was first exposed to Harry Potter by my godmother. I was slightly horrified by Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, total BS they changed the name thinking Americans wouldn’t understand what the philosopher’s stone is. I digress. There was something about the thing behind the turban that terrified five-year-old me. I only knew the movies until I was in middle school and high school. I got into the books a lot older than my peers as my reading level took longer to develop, I would discover in university I had dyslexia. I struggled getting into the books due to the descriptive style Rowling uses that I would get lost in therefore getting bored. It was by far easier to read than Twilight was, I never got past chapter one in that series. I recently re-read the series as an adult with aid of technology that makes reading easier for people with dyslexia, thank goodness for technology. With doing so I realized the true problems with the Harry Potter series. I vaguely remember all the issues back in the day with Christians banning and even burning the books. That never an issue I felt was apparent because children the books are meant for are aware of reality versus fantasy and if you are confident in young religious teachings that children should be able to be exposed to opposing views without being swayed away from those teachings. The problems I noticed were a problem when I was young, and it will continue to make the series more problematic with the younger generations more aware of these issues than I was as a child. The issue I have with the series stems from out-of-date unhealthy perspectives that are portrayed in the books. What are these unhealthy perspectives? I have noticed prevalent fat-shaming, acceptance of bullying. and acceptance of abuse.

 Someone out there is going to question me about the fat-shaming aspect, just hear me out on this one. Yes, there are characters that are overweight and portrayed as good characters. I must mention these characters I not described directly as fat. For example, as Neville Longbottom and Molly Weasley were described as plump which equals chubby in most people’s mind. The exception is Professor Slughorn; however, he was portrayed as a bit of a coward and vain. Otherwise, the fat characters in the story are Dudley and Vernon Dursley. They are betrayed as bullies and otherwise horrible people. There was a lot of description into Dudley and Vernon’s weight, way more than was necessary. It was nice that you saw Dudley’s weight be addressed during the series, but it was also not necessary for the story, so I never understood why it was included other than to make fun of Dudley. I would have preferred to have seen a transformation where Harry realized that Dudley had changed both physically and emotionally to a better person. I was always an overweight child. I didn’t think anything about this portrayal of fat people as a kid. This wasn’t the only form of media I consumed that had this view on fat people. It was all over during the 90’s and the early 2000’s. The media we consume has a significant impact to the formation of our identity and confidence as young children. I am not saying Harry Potter is the only factor in my issues of confidence surrounding my weight. It cannot be denied that Harry Potter had an enormous impact in the lives of children during my childhood and even now. It was a problem back when I was young. It is even a bigger problem for the current generation that is at age to enjoy the series.

 Bullying is a huge topic for Harry Potter. From an early age Harry was bullied by Dudley even physically assaulted by Dudley and his friends. Harry didn’t like his family. But it was clear nothing ever happened to Dudley for bullying Harry. Then there is the issue between Draco Malfoy. It kept increasing in intensity until it escalated to physical assault. Harry did face consequence for this incident, and never made that mistake again which is the only redeeming factor of this incident being in the book. This issue between Draco and Harry went both ways in the series, which is often how bullying works in real life. I do give credit for it at least being accurate in that aspect. Hogwarts appears to have zero polices regarding bullying. As it was very prevalent in the 1960’s during the time of Marauders and was still an issue in the 1990s. The set up of the four houses even encourages this behavior separating the students into cliques that have rivalries with each other that have gone on centuries. It is simply accepted as part of wizarding life. No one does anything to try to change it. That is ridiculous that centuries old rivalries still rule the wizarding world. The next aspect is directed towards bullying boy against girl versus girl against boy. Ron Weasley learned a harsh lesson in bullying Hermione when she almost accidently got killed by Troll in their first year. However, Hermione would go in their sixth year to physically assault Ron with the Oppugno spell. She was a Perfect, meaning she is supposed to be the model student. No one reported this incident. She faced no consequences. She should have at least had detention and her Perfect status should have been revoked. It doesn’t matter how much of a jerk Ron had been. There is zero tolerance for any physical assault in my moral system. Ron continued being her friend. It was as if nothing ever happened. This just helped support the old concept that if a boy bullies a girl, he should be punished severely but if a girl does the same, he must have done something to deserve it. What does this instruct young children? Domestic abuse against men is an issue that still swept under the rug in society. Boys and men cannot possibly be abused by the women in their lives. Men just like women die in domestic abuse situations. The fact that a children’s book indirectly supports that old fashion ideology bothers me deeply. This double standard will continue to exist as long as media, TV or printed, continues to support it.

 The acceptance of abuse in the series is also rather alarming. Harry was at the never least neglected, but frankly the treatment he received by his family was abuse. It is important to note that the UK was behind the rest of the world when it came to protecting children against abuse. There were no laws for child abuse until 1981. However, Harry went to public schools as a child. Why didn’t anyone realize what was happening and report it? I’m not completely sure how well reported child abuse was in the UK during the 80s and 90s. Corporal punishment was allowed in schools in 1986. However, it was mentioned that at Dudley’s school the students would use canes on each other, and the staff did nothing. When Aunt Marge visited, she asked Harry if they used canes at the school Petunia and Vernon made up that Harry went to, and he said they did every day. This was of course a law, but this made Marge happy to hear. In 1995-1996, Dolores Umbridge used Black Quill, which inflicted physical pain and semi-permanent mark, on students. It was highly illegal, but it still happened in the series, and no one could do much about it. I cannot end this section without mentioning Severus Snape’s treatment of Harry. He harassed a child for the actions of their father. What he did equates to emotional abuse. Professors were aware of his bias towards Slytherin students, and that Harry had conflicts with Snape. No one did anything about it or question Harry about why he disliked the Potions Professor so much. Harry does forgive Snape for his behavior. But that doesn’t make it any better. In fact, it encourages a concept that victims should forgive their abusers as Harry would have felt pressured to forgive him because of the circumstance Snape was in when he apologized. No one is required to forgive their abusers. Dolores did eventually get punished for the abuse inflicted on the students. It still bothered me it was even in the story. Just because wizards have their own society that does not mean that UK’s laws don’t apply to them. They may be wizards, but they still are citizens of and reside in the UK.

 I did enjoy Harry Potter in my youth, and I do not mean to take away from anyone’s childhood enjoyment of the series. But it is important that as adults we acknowledge the issues with the series as we begin to have children of which we may want to share our love of Harry Potter with. We need to be aware of the dark side of the series and what we may indirectly exposing our children to. This goes to anyone who wonders if they should allow their child to read Harry Potter. The views and portrayals of society is rapidly becoming old fashioned and by the time the children of the fans of the series become old enough to read the series may be comply inappropriate for young children. If you are having debates about the series based on religion, I feel this is a non-issue. Children are aware of fantasy versus reality. But there are aspects of the series parents should be aware of before making decision.

[blackfemmecharacterdependency]

05. The Rich Kids

AU Grace and Simon story. Takes place in the instance that they never got on the train, but crossed paths and became friends.  Generally, these could be standalone, but this one will be sequential for the next chapter whenever I get around to posting it. 3359 Words and I will be making a masterlist when I get a chance.  Previous

Simon handled the essay for his scholarship exactly how he thought he might. He was NOT okay, but he got the job done. He started with an introduction about why he wasn’t even sure of why he would be accepted into an institution like this school when his life was so ripe with problems, and honestly admitted that he was telling them all of this “for a girl.” He described the way that he met Grace and how important her friendship and being close to her was to him. He used that as a segway of WHY he needed a close friend, being brutally honest about the things that were happening in his life when they met and the things that he had gone through since. He put heavy emphasis on his relationship with his mother and how HE was now caring for her, even though he could see in her eyes that she didn’t care for him, at all. 

He wanted to learn from somewhere that could help him to be great. He felt like a jack of all trades, but in a kingdom of shit. He wondered if he could get away with saying shit. He went back and edited it to censor it, but to make it known that she still meant shit. He ended it out with how he didn’t seriously expect them to pick him, even with his GPA being what it was and him having skills in these areas. “But, I have to be able to let my only friend in a lonely world know that I did what I could to stay beside her. This is my best.”

Whenever he submitted it, he spent the next couple of days holed up in his room. He needed recovery time and worked on setting up a scene for his portfolio. His portfolio was turning into something he really loved. He had written pieces - generally inspired by Grace, some artwork of her in various forms, photos of his best figures and the scenes that he would put them in, and other photos from him trying his hand in photography.

He made money by doing people’s homework assignments, and charged more for special projects. But, everybody in school knew that if you wanted a quality A+ project in a hurry, Sci Fi Si was the guy to go to. He wasn’t even teased as much as he used to be. Emphasis on “as much.” And his former bullies? They were terrified to cross him again… or rather, to cross Grace. Simon kept photos of her and the two of them together as a little reminder for that group and as his daily dosage of serotonin while he was stuck at school all day without access to her.

He still was considered a nerd, had a crappy home life that made intrapersonal relationships difficult and unhealthy, meaning he wasn’t great with people and only knew the right things to say for short periods of time, and he was pretty broody and sarcastic. A lot of people didn’t like that. He definitely talked to most people like they were stupid. (Most people were) and he was pretty unapologetic in his convictions. He was like the poster boy of “If you think you’re better than everyone was a person.” He credited Grace for that, to be honest. Whenever you have somebody like that in your world and they’re not only interested in who you are but they like who you are, the rest of these peasants could suck a toe. 

Plus, he was smarter than all of them. He had written several books, though unpublished were absolutely splendid, in his opinion, and not just for his age, but period. 

Oh yeah - he was cocky. 

That was another thing people hated about him. 

But, people didn’t matter to him. He did have a secret soft spot for kids, but the ones in his neighborhood avoided him and he’d even heard the rumors that whenever he was younger he killed his kid sister. It hurt at first. It sent him into a crying rage in which he destroyed everything in his path up until the moment his mother emerged from the bathroom to “smack some sense into him.” He avoided children after that. They made him uncomfortable. He wanted the world to be a safe place for them and wanted to protect them, but he didn’t think he was cut out for stuff like that, so steering clear of them was probably best. Besides, they were just… so weak. They were frail. You had to start toughening them up way too young in order for them to be great and he just couldn’t imagine having to be that for anybody. He couldn’t do it for his sister. If she were stronger, maybe she… He programmed himself not to think about her.

Now Grace, she was great with kids, but she wasn’t super fond of them. Like, yeah, she liked to see their smiling faces and generally was able to make them smile, but she wasn’t in a rush to meet any or have any, despite the fact that her dad made her take a course to learn about sexual reproduction and teen pregnancies before letting her go to school. She was horrified to learn about that entire process, especially considering that it had not once even CROSSED her mind!

She saw two married people who had a child every day and their life was nothing she wanted to work towards and certainly nothing she wanted to accidentally catch herself up in. 

If she ever did anything like that… She’d have to go through so much getting to know and getting used to someone and that sounded like way too much work, considering she already knew somebody. She knew Simon and that by itself was a lot. Having a best friend was both everything amazing and very exhausting. Her mother told her that whenever she got ready to get married, to make sure she married her best friend, and her father had quickly interjected and corrected the woman by saying to make sure that she married somebody “equal” to her… She had a feeling from both of their moods that neither of them were that for the other. But, no worries there, because she was NEVER getting married. 

She was going to dance FOR FUN, maybe open a dance school, or some kind of school, and read books in her free time and go on adventures with Simon that they currently were too stifled to go on. She was gonna be with her best friend for the rest of her life, but not in the unfortunate situation that she saw in her parents. And she knew that Simon would agree to that, because he said that they were a team.

.

Simon set up the camera that he wasn’t actually supposed to touch, because it was his fathers and while he was away, Simon wasn’t supposed to go into the garage, but he was away and it would be months before they would see him again.  That was what he was doing when he heard the notification on his computer. He presumed it was something that Grace sent him, so he rushed to check, and it wasn’t. It was the Dean… setting up an appointment… because he was accepted… He hurried to get that squared away and then called Grace to let her know.

“Yayyy! Another adventure together! I KNEW you could do it, Simon!” She cheered.

“I couldn’t have done it without your idea,” he said. 

He didn’t add, “Even if it ripped my heart out to do it that way,” and she didn’t hear it in his silence; because she replied, “I think you’ve known me long enough to know that I’ve never been wrong, ever in my life, and if I have - It. Didn’t. Happen.” He laughed a little bit. “Look forward to more outstanding quotes on a daily basis, when we’re seeing each other AT SCHOOL!” She was SO excited. She had put together as many acceptable options that fell within the dress code of the uniform but also with a little of her own flair, and she worked on getting her schedule filled. Simon had to do all of that whenever he went in. because he admitted that he didn’t really know what to do and so the administration helped him out with it. 

Simon would make the trek to Grace’s every morning and ride to the school with her in the car. Four years after meeting her, he still knew her drivers better than her parents, because they either were never around or he wasn’t over when they were. She still hadn’t seen his mother at all outside of photos and every time she saw his father (a whopping 3 times in the past 4 years), he looked different. A few more tattoos, a little more or less hair on his head or face. It was still just Grace and Simon by the time they got to the academy.

The first week of school was extremely different for both of them for different reasons...

Grace found that people were apparently “naturally drawn” to her, and in an effort to not let them down, she became very popular, very quickly. She made sure that whenever she saw Simon, she made room for him though. She’d call his name and wave him over. He hated groups of people, but she had been surrounded by them since Day 1, so he had to tolerate them. 

Sometimes, if he looked like he wasn’t okay, or if they talked about a current issue he was having on the ride over, she’d tell the others, “I’ll have to get with you all later. Today is a Simon day.” It always made him feel good. Warm inside and cozy and a little fluttery… Stuff that he became severely aware of. She caused reactions in him that he hadn’t previously experienced. He always thought that she was pretty and out together nicely and smelled really pleasant, but like, now… 

Not just his brain but other parts were starting to respond to those characteristics. And, he became dangerously aware that a lot of the other boys noticed her like that too. Know who didn’t seem aware? About any of it?? Grace.

Whenever the Fall Festival rolled around, she was the girl that everybody wanted to take to the dance, even upperclassmen. She was the girl that the girls wondered about what kind of dress she’d wear. She was the girl that the dance teacher asked if she wanted to open up the dance with a waltz. “I don’t know how to waltz,” she had said. After all of her years of dance, the teacher was stunned. She wanted to teach her before the dance. She said that she had the perfect partner to pair her with. “Oh, no no no no… I only have one person that I would be dance partners with,” she’d said. 

Simon wasn’t keen on being dragged into this, BUT it did mean that some other guy wasn’t going to be dancing with her… for now. Who knew WHO would ask her to dance at the actual dance, which he tried to convince her would be boring and that they should skip it. 

She would have loved to just go to the pumpkin patch after school, pick a few pumpkins to carve and make treats and cozy up with him for a movie night… but, she had to go to this dance! There was a lot of pressure on her to go and she was fueled by pressure and the stress of letting people down. So, the compromise here was that Simon could skip it if he wanted to, and they’d do the pumpkin patch thing the next day. “Even though I’d much rather you come to the dance with me,” she said, with a pouting face. 

And everything inside of him turned into mush. Before he could think, he’d said, “Okay,” and couldn’t take it back, because her entire face lit up and she threw her tender arms around his neck, her soft hair was against his cheek and her body was pressed too close to his. He could inhale the flowers and cupcake scents of her beauty supplies and lip gloss, and everything was warm. Too warm. Hot even. He squirmed out of her arms and said, “Yeah, yeah,” ignoring her confused face about him pulling away. It didn’t last long anyway. She credited his mood to hating stuff like school dances and moved on with life. He overheard her telling people, “Sorry, I’m going with Simon to the dance, but if I get a chance and your date doesn’t mind, I’ll save one dance, just for you.” He actually heard her say that three times before she was too far away for him to hear her anymore. 

She was always doing that. Just telling the other kids whatever she thought that they wanted to hear. He figured it was because she couldn’t tell her parents “no” and so she was just used to reflexively saying whatever kept the peace. He was like that once. But now, the last thing he did was care about what either of his parents had to say. He was never home anyway. He was always with Grace, either stashed in her room, or somewhere in town enjoying life and causing mischief. Since school started, she hadn’t been able to get out as much. She would complain about homework, which she hardly had the attention span for and Simon would simply do hers to get it done, but now that she was in school, her parents would set up social arrangements for her and other well to do kids (mostly to rub elbows or have pissing contests with their parents).

But… he had a date with Grace, and his dad was at home on leave, so he didn’t have to worry too much about having to be at home. He did have to worry about formal wear, though. He groaned as he headed for class, taking out his phone to try to see where he might find an affordable formal and how much hustling he’d have to do to obtain it.

.

One thing that Simon hated about the academy that was different about his last school was that the bullies here were far more sinister and also more protected. If he got into a fight at public school, there might be a suspension and maybe some penalty for disrupting class or something. 

If he got into a fight here, the zero tolerance violence policy would get him kicked out… and yet, and yet, and yet… that did not happen with those rich boys whose parents paid for wings of the building, and had statues, or replaced team equipment… the kinds of boys that resented him for being so close to Grace, and let him know that he didn’t belong there, every single day. The kinds of boys with the most powerful commodity in the world - money.

The first week of school, someone had asked him what his father did. He answered honestly, “He’s in the military.”

“Is he high ranking?”

“No. He served for a while, got out, but reenlisted a few years ago.”

“What about your mother?”

He answered less honestly, but close enough, “She’s a housewife.”

“How did they afford to send you here?” Just… right out of the gate, huh?

“I have a scholarship.”

“For which organization?” 

“It’s an art scholarship. The Kissington one.”

“Oh.” the ‘Oh’ was enough for him to realize that it wasn’t a good one. But, they added, for good measure, “You’re poor.” And technically… his family wasn’t really POOR. They never were short for the bills, like some of the kids he knew. There was usually food, if he made a trip to the grocer. His mom was able to stay at home, not working, receive medication, and they had a cat. So, he wasn’t rich, at all, but he wouldn’t have considered himself poor, either. 

But here, anybody who wasn’t wealthy was poor. Sure, the Laurents could afford their bills, but he was never able to do anything extra if he didn’t find odd jobs. Meanwhile, Grace sometimes couldn’t see him for a few days because her parents were hosting a politician or a royal, or she had to go overseas for a few weeks, or she just really wanted to do a spa day weekend and he simply couldn’t come along because it cost too much.

There was a group of kids that had let him know that they were “on his level.” But, he didn’t spend a lot of time around them, because he was here for Grace and he had Grace, but he was aware that everybody wanted her too. The difference was he was certain that she was just a status symbol to these people, but she was his friend. 

The teachers didn’t like him very much either. They seemed to always be suspicious of him and he couldn’t tell if it was his imagination that they weren’t as lineate about objective answers as they were with some of the other kids. He knew that he was smarter than a lot of the kids who did better than him. He KNEW he was. School was less of a hell hole whenever he would worry that he might have to fight for his life. There was something so much more unnerving about fighting something that wasn’t physical, and having the disadvantage, because he simply couldn’t add up to his peers in a lot of these people’s eyes. He knew that he was more evolved than them, but all they could see was money, and he just wasn’t made up of it like these kids.

Whenever they left school, Grace would brag about all of the compliments that she got and go on about how awesome school is and wonder how it was for him. “Are you happy?” he’d ask. 

“Yeah!” She’d said.

“School is great. I mean… you’re there. That makes it the best place” She’d look at him for a moment, like she didn’t know if she believed him, her eyes sad and suspicious, but she’d smile and change to subject to something that they both loved. It was true in a way. Whenever she was there, he forgot about his problems and just soaked her in and her followers were even nice to him in those moments. A few of the girls even admitted (or maybe lied) that he was cute. But, they weren’t together the entire time and most of the time, he was miserable. But… if she was happy… I mean, that’s why you came here, Simon, he’d remind himself. Maybe it would simply take a moment for things to become normal. 

And a few months later, after he agreed to go to a school dance with her, he knew that whatever their normal was, they weren’t in it… or it had changed. He didn’t know for sure which one, but he knew that at the moment, he wasn’t enjoying it. The snide kids. The sneaky boys. The snobby girls. The suspicious staff. He was becoming increasingly angry, and wasn’t sure if Grace was still enough to quell that. She had so much more going on than him, these days. Maybe, she didn’t need him here at all, and she just didn’t know until now. Maybe the fact that SHE had a lot of money and HE didn’t, made him anxious. He couldn’t catch up, and even though they still had their inside jokes about being “the apex” like when they were kids… he felt like she was the apex, and he would have to work extremely hard to ever truly be powerful. He would have to do more to get and have money. Being intellectually and physically superior didn’t matter if there were enemies in place who could affect your personal trajectory!

This became clearest whenever the Fall Festival came around and he finally was able to actually meet the infamous Mrs. Monroe.

Next

[lynelovespopculture]

THE CHILLING ADVENTURES OF ZELDA-CHAPTER 11: ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE!

LIFE IS NOT EASY FOR GREENDALE’S HIGH PRIESTESS. HER BELOVED STEPDAUGHTER KEEPS REJECTING HER, IT’S GETTING HARDER TO RUN THE ACADEMY AND WHEN LITILH FINALLY GIVES BIRTH, THINGS GO FROM BAD TO WORSE!

She was horrified. “Here, Father?! You want to spend the night here?!”

“Yes,” came the answer, “and as I’ve been trying to explain to you, it wouldn’t be only for tonight. I live here now and as of this moment, so do you.”

“But this the Spellman house!  We can’t live at the Spellman house! We hate the Spellmans! You most of all!”

“I don’t hate anyone and the Spellmans are my family now, our family.”

“Have you lost your mind, Father? The Spellmans are the enemy. They’ll silt our throats in our sleep. You taught us that!”

“I didn’t teach you anything, that’s kind of the problem,”  Faustus said with desperation in his voice.  “Also, for Hecate’s sake, lower your voice please.”

Yet, it was already too late.  The 1 person Faustus really didn’t want to hear this conversation was hearing everything and had been for the past 10 minutes. For Zelda Spellman, clad in her nightgown could hear the voices in the kitchen perfectly from she was, on the left bottom staircase before the stairs spilt. It wasn’t Zelda’s intention to spy on anyone. She had a valid reason to come downstairs, Zelda just couldn’t remember what it was at the moment. Instead, for the last 10 minutes, Zelda found herself listening to her husband and stepdaughter’s conversation, hoping to answer her burning questions. Questions like how on earth did she manage to escape Blackwood, the insanity curse that raised her? Where was her twin, Judas? And how did she come to live with Dezmelda again, the very witch that Zelda had entrusted Letitia’s care to? However, all Zelda was learning was how much anger and hate her beloved stepdaughter had toward her, and the rest of her family. This was not at all what Zelda had in mind for Letitia’s homecoming.  4 hours ago, when she, Faustus and baby Cordelia returned from their trip and found Letitia, the girl Zelda had loved since birth and thought of every day, had come home, at last, Zelda’s 1st instinct was to give the girl a hug. It hurt a lot when Letitia shrunk away from her touch when she figured out Zelda was going to hug her. Zelda also saw the fear in the girl’s eyes when she beheld Faustus.

“I’m sorry I ran away, Father,” the girl’s voice trembled. “Please don’t punish me.”

Everyone knew that this wasn’t going to be easy. Letitia would only talk to Prudence and her father, ignoring the Spellmans and refuse to speak to any of them.

4 hours later, Faustus and his daughter were still speaking in the kitchen. Hilda and Prudence had gone home, Sabrina and Ambrose were both upstairs, asleep and Zelda was only getting sadder listening to Letitia bashing the family. Giving up entirely on trying to remember what she came down for, Zelda turned and started back upstairs while still hearing yelling coming from the Spellman kitchen.

“Letitia, please calm down.”

“There it is again! My name is Judith, Father, not this Letitia you keep calling me!”

Letitia. The very name Zelda herself had given to the babe and now, only 2 years in Zelda’s timeline, but 16 to Faustus’s daughter, and she hated the name Zelda had given her. Zelda sighed as she opened the door that separated the funeral formal front from the family’s personal 2nd-floor hallway. Zelda let out another heavy breath as she leaned against her now closed bedroom door. She looked up as she heard baby noises.  She crossed the room and took Cordelia out of her bassinet. It was then that Zelda finally remembered what she forgot, Cordelia’s bottle!  Yet, it wasn’t that big a deal. Being a witch sometimes meant you could cut out the middle man. Once she relaxed on the bed with the baby in her arms, that bottle magically appeared. 

“You won’t ever turn against Mommy, will you Cordelia?” Was it Zelda’s imagination or was her baby girl snuggling up against her? 

Even after feeding her, changing her, and settling her daughter back into the bassinet, Faustus had still not come up. Zelda smoked an entire cigarette and found herself anxiously pacing up and down the room, absent mindlessly playing with her wedding ring when her husband, at last, came into the room.

“How is she?” Zelda asked the moment she saw him.

“Fine,” Faustus replied. “Letitia’s asleep now. I put a root of sage under her pillow. I put her up in the nursery on the roll away bed. I hope that’s okay?”

“Oh, of course, of course,” Zelda demised his concern quickly. “Now, please tell me all you know about Letitia. How did she escape from Blackwood? Where is Judas? Why was Letitia back living with Dezmelda again?”   

“Well, it’s a long story, but it all started the night of the twins’ dark baptism.”

“Their baptism?! But that was way back in December! That was over 6 months ago!” Zelda’s eyes widened.

Faustus knew that look. After so many centuries together, Faustus was still amazed by Zelda. She had long ago perfected her cold, hard outer shell. Yet, the ones who know her best, aka her family, knew that Zelda had a big, kind heart, especially when it came to children. Zelda had not only delivered his twins as part of her duties as a midwife. She had cared for Letitia and Judas as if they were her very own. First as their night mother and then stepmother. It wasn’t only the twins. Zelda was a perfect blend of supportive friend/concerned mother that Prudence needed. Of course, other than Hilda, there was no one Sabrina loved and trusted more. Faustus also felt honored that he not only fathered Zelda’s only natural child but Zelda also chose him to raise Cordelia with. Zelda was still looking at him for an answer, so he walked over to his wife and rubbed her arm affectionally.

“Just let me change and I’ll tell you all I know.”

5 minutes later, Faustus and Zelda lay in bed, talking.

“Just as I feared, Blackwood planned to marry the twins to each other on their 16th birthday. Apparently, Judas had no problem with this, but Letitia, rightly so, didn’t want to become her brother’s bride. So, before dawn that day, before Blackwood and Judas were awake, Letitia ran away.” Faustus explained.  

“Poor girl. What a horrible way to spend your 16th birthday,” Zelda shook her sadly. “I hope she wasn’t alone for long?”

Faustus saw the genuine worry on Zelda’s face and couldn’t help but smile.  Was it any wonder that he absolutely adored the ground Zelda walked on? “No, not too long,” he replied.  “Just for 2 days and a night. Dezmelda found her right before the 2nd sunset.”

Zelda frowned. “Well, then that begs another question if Letitia has been with her for over 6 months, why didn’t Dezmelda tell anyone?”

“Letitia told me that she begged Dezmelda not to tell anyone that she was there. Letitia was terrified of being taken back to me, er, Blackwood.”

“You did explain the insanity curse to her, didn’t you?” 

Faustus sighed. “I did but I don’t think she understood. I may have to explain to her all again. I mean, it is all very complicated. I really think that all Letitia needs is some”

“Time?” Zelda offered. “We can surely give her that. I’m just so happy that she’s here under our roof where we can protect her.”

Faustus stroked Zelda’s cheek and kissed her.  “My thoughts exactly. I love you.” They fell asleep shortly after.

Hours later, Zelda woke up to Cordelia’s cries and stepped from the bed to her daughter’s bassinet. After feeding the baby, Zelda realized that she had a perfect excuse to sneak into the nursery. After tiptoeing into the room and settled Cordelia in her crib, Zelda turned to look at the young girl that was asleep in the pale moonlight. Zelda longed to sit by Letitia’s side, stroke her hair, and kissed her brow. Yet she didn’t do anything like that for fear that Letitia would wake up and flinch from her as she did before.

“Sleep well, Letitia,” Zelda whispered softly. “I’m so happy that you’re finally home.”

Zelda sadly closed the door, went back to her room, and got back into bed. Zelda instantly felt a bit better when a still half-asleep Faustus wrapped an arm around her.

Despite the fact that she would have preferred to stay with Letitia, on her full 1st day home and was still tired from the trip from Rome, Zelda kissed Faustus and Cordelia goodbye the next morning before heading to the academy. Zelda froze at the front door when she heard Letitia asked her father.

“Are you really going to just stand there while that bitch steals your job?!”

“Watch your mouth, young lady! Zelda isn’t stealing anything!”

The redhead closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and forced herself to continue on her way.

 It was during morning assembly that Zelda got to tell the whole school, students, and staff alike about her trip to Rome and how successful it was. Zelda was touched when the whole crowd burst into applause and then Zelda kept on being stopped on the way back to her office to offer their congratulations. When she finally got to her office, Zelda saw her 1st appointment was waiting.

“Hello, brother Barker.” Zelda smiled. “Please take a seat.”

The warlock sat before the desk as Zelda went to sit behind it. “So, what can I do for you today?” Zelda asked.  

Barker sighed. “I hate to do this to you, Zelda. Especially when you’re just back from Rome, but I’ve thought long and hard about it and I’ve decided to retire.”

Zelda was shocked. “Retire? You? But you are the most experienced teacher at this school. You taught most of the staff, myself included.”

Barker nodded. “I know, I know. As I said, I hate to do this but I’m a whole century older than the rest of you and I just can’t keep up. Even with your sister and the young teachers in training, the student body still outnumbers us 3 to 1.”

Zelda raised an eyebrow. “So, your solution to a teacher’s shortage is to resign yourself?”

“I’m sorry but I can’t keep up this pace anymore.”

Zelda sat back in her chair, thinking. “Brother Barker,” Zelda said slowly, “if you were me, how would you solve this problem?”

The old warlock shrugged. “I don’t know. Take out an ad in the newspaper?”

Zelda laughed shortly. “Oh, that would go over well. Wanted: 2 or more experienced teachers for a secret witch’s school right in our own backyard. Oh, I can see that in the Greendale Gazette.”

Barker shook his head. “No, I didn’t mean the gazette, I actually was referring to the IWD. I’ve heard they had gone digital.”

Zelda closed her eyes. “The newspaper run by the International Witches Database, of course, that’s what you meant! Forgive me, Brother Barker, I’m afraid I’m still suffering from jet lag from the flight from Rome. Anyway, I think placing an ad in the IWD is a brilliant idea! I think as the most senior member of this academy’s staff, I think you’re the perfect person to write up the ad, or at least the 1st draft. In fact, what’s your next class?”

“Um..it’s casting 101,” Barker answered.

Zelda nodded. “I’ll handle your class so that you can get started on the ad.  Please feel free to use my office. I’ll also take a look at the schedule and see if I can divide the classes more evenly between the teachers. I just need to ask you 1 favor. Until the person who is selected from the ad is picked and settled, can you stay on?”

“Are you kidding? If this leaves off enough pressure, I may not retire after all.”

Zelda smiled. “Good.”

1 crisis down, about a million more to go. Barker was right; every teacher was stressed to the limit. Of course, the fact that the headmistress had been gone for a whole week, didn’t help matters. On top of her classes, Zelda also had a mountain of paperwork to get through. Zelda was so swamped that she had to call Faustus at home to tell him not to hold supper for her. Zelda sensed something in her husband’s voice, sadness perhaps, but decided not to pursue it. By 7, Zelda was still working at her desk and was not all happy when she looked up and saw the hell minion was right before her.

Zelda sighed. “What on earth are you doing here?” She demanded of the bellhop.

“Lilith is” the minion started and Zelda, tired and cranky, cut in rather quickly.

“Is not due for another 6 weeks and her last check-up is not for another 2 weeks.”

“Be that as it may,” the minion tried again. “Lilith said that she was bleeding and to fetch you right away.”

Zelda sighed as she opened her desk drawer, took out a pad of paper, and quickly wrote a note that she quickly spelled to the dining table of the Spellman house where Faustus was sure to find it. Then Zelda stood up and held out her hand until she felt the handle of the medical bag in her palm. Then she gestured to the minion. “Lead the way.”

Hell was the last place Zelda Spellman thought she would be tonight. All she wanted to do was go home, check on the children, have something to eat, cuddle up next to Faustus, and go to sleep. Yet, duty called. The minion was walking her down a palace hallway when Zelda felt herself being grabbed and pulled into a room. The next thing Zelda knew, she was face to face with Lilith.

“Did you find it? Did you bring it?” Lilith demanded.

“Did I find or bring what?” Zelda honestly didn’t know what Lilith was talking about.

“The spell!” Lilith cried as if it was the obvious thing in the world. “The spell that pauses my pregnancy.”

Zelda made a face. “No, I bring that!  The spell would be against nature.  There is no magic against nature! You know that! Every witch knows that!” It was only when Lilith threw up her hands and was walking away from her, that Zelda noticed something. “You’re not bleeding, are you?  You bought me down here for nothing.”

“Nothing!” Lilith turned back sharply. “I’m due in only 6 weeks! The moment after I give birth, my stay of execution will be over and Lucifer will kill me!”

“You’ve had 13 months to plan your escape,” Zelda pointed out, “why didn’t you?”

 “How can I plan anything with Lucifer watching me 24/7! Besides, why should I plan anything, when it’s your fault I’m in this mess!”

Zelda was so shocked she could only blink. “My fault?!”

“Yes!” Lilith returned with a hiss. “If you hadn’t turned me away, I wouldn’t be in this mess!”

“You having a baby, I hardly call that a mess, Lilith! And for the record, I turned you away because you are  untrustworthy, and as high priestess, I always have to put the safety of my family and coven first. Besides how was I to know when you left the academy, how was I to know you would run right into Lucifer’s arms!”

“I was trying to save my life!” Lilith defended herself.  “As Lucifer already showed, I wasn’t in his arms. I was in your husband’s and you say I’m untrustworthy.”

“Blackwood is not my husband, Faustus is!”

Lilith waved her hand dismissingly. “Same difference.”

“There’s a lot of difference!” Zelda instantly defended. “Blackwood is a soulless, evil parasite. A curse, who we would have been rid of by now if you haven’t of given him the mark of Cain.  Faustus is a real person, who has been through the darkest pain, has owned up to his mistakes and now tries harder to be better every single day, to redeem himself. That’s the difference.  Lucifer hasn’t paid me in information for months. The only reason I’m still your mid-wife is to protect my coven and family, including my husband, from the dark lord.” Zelda turned to leave but then turned back. “As you said, you’re due in 6 weeks, and if I were you, I’ld start planning something.” Then Zelda left.

Although she was tired and long to go home, Zelda returned to the Academy and managed to do another hour of paperwork. Then she went home. Stopping at the kitchen’s entrance, Zelda watched Faustus cleaning the island while Letitia fluttered around him. 

“I bet she’s not even a mid-wife. I think she been with her lover all night.”  Suggested Letitia.

Faustus didn’t even bother to look up. “Zelda doesn’t have a lover,” His tone was completely calm, if slightly annoyed. 

Letitia then lit up. “Why am I saying it like it’s a bad thing? The more time she spends with her lover, the more you can spend with your mistress. Maybe even invite her over so I can meet her. Anyone would be better than a Spellman.”

Faustus sighed. “I’ve already told you; I don’t have a mistress and Zelda doesn’t have a lover.  We are faithful to each other because we’re a happily married couple. We love each other and have no need for anyone else.”

It was a sweet statement but Letitia looked horrified.  “I don’t believe it. No man is happy with only 1 woman.”

Faustus shrugged. “Believe it or not, it’s true and as I’ve told you numerous times today, I’m very happy being married to Zelda, caring for Cordelia and being a house husband.”

His daughter frowned. “That’s not natural.  Women should stay in the home.”

“So, you’ve said numerous times today!”  Faustus forced himself to stay calm. “It’s late, Judith, maybe you should go up and get ready for bed.”

The girl left the kitchen and Faustus finished up and hung up the kitchen rag before he turned and finally noticed Zelda. “How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough to know that you had a rough 1st day.” Zelda walked over to her husband, putting her medical bag on the island and then kissed him. “Feel better?”

“Much,” Faustus smiled and put his arms around her. 

Zelda smiled. “I’m glad to hear that you don’t have a mistress. If you did, you realize I would have to kill you.”

“As would be your right.” Zelda laughed and Faustus kissed her. “Listen, I only called her Judith just now is because she yelled at me all morning that her name was not Letitia.”

“There’s no need to explain,” She told him truthfully as he put an arm around Zelda’s shoulder as they left the kitchen. In the parlor, they found Sabrina bouncing the baby. Zelda lit up at the sight of her niece and her daughter.

“Cordelia! Did you miss mommy today? I sure missed you. Hello, Sabrina. How was your day?”

“It was good, aunt Z and Cordy is finished her night bottle,” Sabrina explained as she handed Zelda the baby and Faustus the bottle. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a little more homework to do before bed.”

“Goodnight,” Zelda smiled as Sabrina kissed her goodnight.

“Thank you for all your help tonight,” Faustus added.

With Sabrina gone, Zelda sat down and began to rock Cordelia. Faustus sat down on a stool, and he took Zelda’s foot out of its high heel and began to rub the foot.  The pleasurable moan that escaped Zelda’s lips made Faustus smile. “Feel good?”

“Like Hecate’s palace,” Zelda’s smile was one of pure bliss.

“Funny, there’s where I thought you came from,” Faustus got up and kissed her.

A little while later, Letitia was in bed, reading, however when she heard the door opening, she stashed her book under her pillow.

“Don’t mind me,” her father said softly. “I just need to put your sister to bed.”

Letitia was confused. “She’s not my sister. You told me yourself this morning that Cordelia was Zelda’s baby.”

Faustus put the infant in her crib before turning to answer Letitia.

“Yes, Zelda is Cordelia’s mother but I’m her father. She’s a part of us both.”

Letitia’s eyes widened as she got up off her cot to face her father. “Father, are you telling me that you actually mated with a Spellman? That is so wrong!” She wore a look of utter disgust.

Faustus sighed; his mouth was a thin line. “The only thing wrong here is that statement. I married a woman I loved and we were blessed with a child. It’s that simple.”

“But a Spellman!? To dirty our bloodline like that?! Father, you can do so much better.”

“That’s enough!” Letitia opened her mouth to say something else but Faustus held up his hand. “This is not up for debate, young lady. Now get back in bed and go to sleep!” Faustus closed the door behind him and went to his own room. There he saw Zelda, in bed, her arms around her knees, in a very un-Zelda like manner. In her hand was the 2-way baby monitor. She looked up at Faustus.

“She hates me,” Zelda was on the verge of tears.

Faustus went to her and took the monitor from her. He switched it off to ensure that they could talk in private. “She doesn’t hate you,” Faustus assured her. “She doesn’t know you. She doesn’t even know me yet. All she knows is Blackwood and his warped world view. After 16 years, it’s tough to overcome. Believe me, I know. Like you said last night, it’s going to take time.”

He was right, partly. Over time, Letitia did get closer, to some people. Like her sister, Prudence, and even Sabrina, once Letitia learned she wasn’t a true blood Spellman. As for Ambrose, Hilda, and Zelda, Letitia remained ice cold, no matter how much or how hard they tried to befriend her and it was breaking Zelda’s heart.

It was a few days after Dezmelda’s funeral, that Zelda was in the middle of teaching a class when something odd happened.  Zelda smelled the smoke before she actually saw it. Then the pain set in. It was only then that Zelda’s finger burst into flames. The screaming students certainly didn’t help anything.  Zelda ran out of the classroom and was thankful for whoever placed the water pitcher in the hallway. Dropping her whole hand in the jug, it did stop the fire but not the pain. Only when Zelda took off the boiling hot ring and dropped it on the floor, that’s the pain started to fade. Once she caught her breath, Zelda leaned down and saw her smoking, half-melted, and now utterly unwearable wedding ring.

Faustus looked up from his cooking and smiled. “Welcome home, dearest.” He kissed her hello. “So, how was your day?”

“It was fine darling, mostly.”

Faustus arched an eyebrow. “Care to explain that mostly?”

Zelda sighed and then dug into her purse.  “I was smoked,” She explained as she produced the ring.

“Is that your wedding ring?” Faustus asked and frowned when his wife nodded. “I was afraid of this.”

It was only then that Zelda noticed that Faustus’s hand was ringless as well. “What happened to you?”

“I was feeding Cordelia her bottle this morning when suddenly, out of nowhere and for no reason at all, my ring snapped in 2 and fell off. Alright, I’m going to fix this right now,” Faustus put down the wooden spoon and turned off the stove before marching out of the kitchen.

Zelda followed him. “What are you doing?”

“Going upstairs to talk to Letitia. It’s obvious that it’s her who did this. Who else would want to destroy the symbols of our marriage?”

“Faustus, no!” Zelda grabbed his arm. “We have no proof that it was her. And even if was her, I’m sure it was nothing but a childish prank to blow off steam. I’m sure the worst is over.”

How wrong Zelda was.

“So, what do you think?”

It was the following week and Zelda and Faustus were alone in their room. It was late at night and Zelda was asking her husband his opinion about Brother Barker’s newly finished teacher’s ad for the IWD’s newspaper.

“This is fine, very fine,  indeed. This should attract some excellent teachers. Yet, I’m afraid that Barker forgot something very important.”

Zelda took back the paper. “Really? I could swear Barker got in all the information.”

Faustus chuckled. “I truly do trust you, dearest, I do. But I do remember that the last time you hired a teacher, it was Mambo Marie and she was wildly attracted to you.  Not that I blame her.  I mean, any person with eyes would be attracted and since most teachers have eyes���”

Zelda smiled. “So, you think we mention that the headmistress is not available right in the ad.”

Faustus smiled back. “How about the headmistress is married?”

“How about the headmistress is in love?” Zelda suggested.

“Madly in love?” Faustus added.

“Passionately?”

“Completely?”

“Forever.”

Zelda allowed the ad to slip through her fingers to the floor and closed her eyes as Faustus began to kiss her deeply. They were in each other’s arms as they both fell backward toward the bed. The moment their bodies touched the mattress, Zelda and Faustus were torn apart. Due to some unknown source, Faustus was flung into the left side of the room; Zelda, the right.  

“Hey!”

“Ow!” After a few seconds, they got up, dusted themselves off, and looked at each other. “What the heaven was that?” Zelda asked her husband.

The next morning, after Zelda left for work, Faustus sighed as he went back upstairs, into his room and lifted up the mattress. His heart dropped as soon as he found it. There, right in the middle of the frame was a penny. One side of the penny was flat, the other side stood straight up. Frowning, Faustus took the penny and when downstairs to the kitchen was Prudence and Letitia were.

“Hello girls,” Faustus forced his tone to remain calm. 

Both of his daughters looked up and smiled at him. Prudence was helping Letitia with some of her schoolwork. It was hoped that if she worked hard enough that Letitia would be ready to attend the academy next term. Prudence gestured with her pencil. “What do you have there, Father?”

Faustus kept it cool. “Oh, this? This is a bent penny. I haven’t seen 1 of these in a very long time. That’s because a bent penny is used in a specific spell that is usually used by jealous teenage witches with cheating boyfriends. Anyway, the witch would enchant this penny and put it under the boyfriend’s mattress and if the boyfriend took another lover to his bed, he and the lover would be jolted off the bed and far away from each other.”

Prudence smiled. “Well, I’ll have to remember that if Ambrose starts acting strangely,” she joked.  However, Faustus was more interested in his younger daughter’s reaction. Letitia didn’t even look up from her schoolwork. However, when Faustus turned to leave, he saw in the glass above the door that Letitia wore a smile.

That smile told Faustus all he needed to know.

“I can’t believe it took a whole month for all of us to come together again.” Hilda declared as she and Zelda prewashed a few dinner dishes while Faustus and Dr. C got the cake and coffee ready.

Zelda smiled. It was true, the Spellmans had not been all together for a full 30 days, since the night Faustus and Zelda got home from Rome. That was 1 of the reasons for tonight’s get together. The adults made their way out of the kitchen and into the dining room where the kids were waiting but 1 had flown the coop.

“Where’s Letitia?” Zelda asked.

Ambrose shrugged. “She said didn’t want dessert and went upstairs.” 

Zelda sighed. Be it meals together or any other family event, Letitia would get away as soon as possible or not show up at all. Zelda hoped it would change over time but it was a month now but nothing was changing. Zelda smiled at Faustus when her husband took her hand. It was to focus on telling the family the news.

“Everyone,” Zelda began, “as wonderful as tonight’s dinner has been, Faustus and I have gathered you all here for another reason. You see, we have something to tell you, something we learned in Rome. We planned to tell you all the night we came home but we got sidetracked by Letitia being found and everything.”

“Is it about the council?” Hilda asked. “Did something happen? You are still a high priestess, aren’t you?”

“What? Oh yes, Hildie, of course, I am. No, this news has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with Cordelia. Do you remember what happened the night of her presenting? Her birthmark- “

“The mark of the divine,” Ambrose said, suddenly remembering a phone call he, Faustus, and Prudence had, “Did you find out what it all means?”

 “Yes,” Zelda had the whole table’s attention as she told the family everything. She told them all about Maxine and the secret sisterhood. How they freaked out about Cordelia’s crescent moon birth mark-the mark of the divine. Zelda told them all about her research, about Hecate’s grandchildren, the tale of the 2 cousins, the start of the Spellman and Blackwood bloodlines, and what it meant for baby Cordelia.

It was Prudence who first broke the shocked silence.  “My baby sister is fated to be the most powerful witch ever born?!”

“That is what all the prophecies I read said, yes.” Zelda nodded.

“I can’t believe it,” Prudence whispered.

“I can,” Said Hilda. “A lot of things make sense now. The reason why Cordelia has been so alert and awake since she was born. The reason the pregnancy was healthy and was able to survive even after you were shot, Zelds.  It makes complete sense now. Cordelia was meant to be born.

“I didn’t even consider all that, but yes, Hildie, I believe you’re right,” Zelda nodded.

“So, what are we going to do with this information?” Asked Sabrina.

Zelda shrugged. “I don’t know if there is  anything to be done. I just remember how hurt Hilda and I were that Edward didn’t tell us about going to the dark lord for a child. So, this is us telling you all about Cordy.”

Ambrose frowned. “What about Cordelia herself?  When and what will you tell Cordelia about all this?”

“Faustus and I spoke about almost nothing else on the flight home and for the foreseeable future, we decided to say nothing to Cordelia. We want to give her as normal a childhood as possible.”

A couple of hours later, after the meal, after Prudence, Hilda and Dr. C went home and Sabrina and Ambrose were in their rooms. Zelda entered the nursery and smiled at her baby.

“Hello, Cordelia. Mommy going to give you a little bath and your bottle before bed. Won’t that be fun?” Zelda tried to pick up Cordelia but she just couldn’t. It was as if there an invisible wall around her daughter. “What the heaven?”

“I’d step away from the baby if I were you.” 

Zelda turned to see Letitia, her arms crossed and leaning against the door. “Letitia, what have you done?”

Letitia’s frown deepened. “Firstly, my name is Judith! Secondly, if what I heard  you say is true, I must protect my little sister. I can’t just let anyone come in off of the streets and take her.”

Zelda looked from Letitia and Cordelia and back again.  Her heartbreaking with every glance. “But I’m not just anyone. I’m her mother.” Zelda said firmly.

Letitia made a movement of dismissal. “You’re a Spellman! I made it so no Spellman will ever be able to touch Cordelia Blackwood ever again.” As if to rub it in, Letitia took the bottle from Zelda, made a show out of taking Cordelia out of her crib, and then sat down to feed the baby. 

Before a stunned Zelda could react, Faustus came into the room. “What’s going on here?” he demanded.

“Nothing, Father,” Letitia said calmly. “Just protecting your youngest from the Spellmans.”

Not quite understanding, Faustus looked to his wife.

“She cast a spell so I can’t touch Cordelia,” Zelda explained.

“It’s not just her, it applies to all the Spellmans.” Letitia seemed proud of herself.

Beyond annoyed, Faustus rolled his eyes. “Not 1 of your stupid, childish spells again! Letitia, I want you to take your spell off your sister and apologize to your mother! Right now!”

Letitia was seething. “HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS? MY NAME IS JUDITH AND SHE,” Letitia eyed Zelda upper and down in utter disgust, “IS NOT MY MOTHER!”

Faustus sighed deeply, trying desperately to keep calm as he reached out to grab Cordelia. “Please don’t scream in the baby’s ear. Now, why did you feel the need to put a spell on the baby?”

“I overheard some of the conversation that was happening downstairs. About how powerful Cordelia will be and I wanted to protect her. It’s like you always told us, it’s us or them. It’s the Spellmans or it’s the Blackwoods.”

Faustus sighed. “For the 10000th time, I didn’t tell you anything, the curse did. Also, there are no Blackwoods here. Like I’ve already told you, I’m a Spellman now, Cordelia is a Spellman and even you are a Spellman.”

“I will NEVER be a Spellman!” Letitia snapped.

“But you already are, isn’t she, Zelda?  Zelda?” Faustus wasn’t sure when but Zelda had left.

After telling Letitia they’d talk more about later, Faustus went looking for Zelda. He found her across the hall, in their own bedroom. Zelda was seated at the end of their bed. Her head was buried in her hands. Faustus could tell she was crying because her shoulders were shaking violently.

“Oh, dearest,” Faustus took Zelda into his arms.

“I’m such an idiot!” Zelda declared between sobs. “I truly believed that once we found the twins, we would be 1 happy family.”

Faustus found himself rocking his wife. “We will be, my dearest, I promise you. I just need to figure out how to get through to Letitia. Maybe a little time.”

“Time? It’s been a month already. Instead of things getting better, they’re getting worse. Letitia hates me, she hates me so much that she doesn’t even want me to touch her little sister, my own baby!”

“I will never allow the spell to stand!” Faustus soothed as he rubbed Zelda’s back. “I’ve Cordelia back in your arms before you know it.”

It was easier said than done. Letitia refused to take off the spell and Faustus was having trouble finding an anti-spell.  Father and daughter got into screaming matches. Faustus no longer trusted Letitia to be alone with the baby so Cordelia moved into her parents’ room. It drove Zelda absolutely crazy not being able to hold or touch her own child but Faustus made it somewhat better was when Faustus would lie Cordelia down to sleep between them and they could be near each other.  It was at the most heartbreaking when Cordelia would smile at Zelda and hold out her arms, obviously wanting to be picked up by her mommy. No matter how hard she tried, Zelda couldn’t, and it wasn’t just her. Both Hilda and Ambrose tried to hold the baby and all failed. This awful tension, which grew and grew, continued for 2 weeks. The tension in the house got so bad that certain members of the household, namely Sabrina and Ambrose, went out of their way to be out of the house. She would never admit it, but even Zelda was happy that the academy needed her more and more. They were starting the summer session and the responses to the teacher’s ad were coming in and there was much more than expected. This meant a lot of late nights for Zelda. It all came to a head 1 evening. 

Faustus was sitting at the table, feeding Cordelia her bottle while Zelda was at the stove, stirring the soup.

“Dinner, children!”  Zelda called out.  Ambrose and Sabrina presently came into the kitchen, smiling at and thanking their aunt as she handed them their bowls. A moment later, everyone heard a door slam and stomping on the stairs, Letitia came into the kitchen. Like she did for the other kids, Zelda held out the soup bowl to her stepdaughter.

However, all Letitia did was stare daggers at Zelda. “Whore!”

Hearing this, Faustus balanced the baby on his hip and went over to his wife and daughter. “Hey! What did I tell you about calling Zelda names?”

“But she is a whore!” Letitia insisted. “I was just in my room, doing a memory spell”

“You did a memory spell, all by yourself?” Zelda asked softly. She couldn’t help but be impressed.

“Yes, I wanted to see my mother and I did see her when she was pregnant with Judas and me and I found this 1,” She pointed at Zelda, “tending to her.”

Faustus shrugged. “So? I told you that Zelda was your mother’s midwife.”

“Yeah, but after the check-up, I followed her, down to the cells, where she promptly had sex with you.” Letitia turned her attention back to Zelda. “You killed her, didn’t you?  You killed my mother and blamed it on childbirth?!”

“No, I didn’t.” Zelda’s voice was reassuring but also very firm.

“Yes, you did!” Letitia screamed. “It shouldn’t have been her. I wish it had been you who had died!”

Sabrina gasped as Faustus took a step forward. “That’s it! Go to your room! Now!” Faustus watched his daughter stalk out of the room and turned to his wife. “Are you alright, dearest?”

“I’m fine,” Zelda said but looked anything but as she shut off the stove. “I’ve just remembered, I’m going to be late for an appointment.”

Faustus followed Zelda into the hall where she began to gather up her things. “What about dinner?”

“I’m not hungry.”

“So, are you going to tell me what’s wrong?”

Zelda looked across the room at Lilith and shrugged.  “There’s nothing wrong. The baby’s fine and everything right on schedule.”

Lilith frowned. “I meant with you. You show up 2 hours early and that is the 1st sentence you said all the time you’ve been here. So, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Zelda cleared her throat. “It’s personal.”

“Zelda, you just finished working inside of me, I think we are beyond personal.”

Zelda sighed deeply. “Fine, if you really want to know, Letitia hates me.”

“Oh,” Lilith nodded. “Who’s Letitia?”

Zelda drew an even deeper sigh as she explained about the twins to Lilith.

Lilith was less worried. “Why should you care? She’s not even your daughter.”

Zelda rolled her eyes. “Why am I even discussing this with you? You’re due soon and I don’t even think you love your own baby. I told you it was a boy months ago. Have you spent 1-second thinking of a name?  Or even wanting to hold him?”

“I already told you, this baby is not for loving.”

“All babies are for loving!” Zelda snapped. “I remember when I was pregnant before finding out about the curse. I remember being terrified but ready to be kicked out my coven and disowned by my family, as long as I got to keep my baby.” And now I can’t even hold her anymore. Zelda thought to herself as she quickly wiped a tear away and went back to pack up her medical bag. Her back to Lilith.

“You know the difference between you and me?”

Zelda shrugged. “I’ve loved before and you haven’t?” 

“I’ve loved. I loved Adam!”

“Adam? As I recall, you couldn’t run away from him or the garden fast enough.”

“No, another Adam.” Lilith was afraid she had said too much so she lashed out. “You know what?  You’re a fool! That girl will never see you as anything but as an evil stepmother!”

Zelda said nothing; she just closed her bag and left in an annoyed huff.

“Now I know that we never talked about manners, young lady but calling your stepmother a whore, especially to her face, is certainly bad form.”

After having a quiet if slightly awkward dinner with Sabrina and Ambrose, Faustus decided to wash the dishes and clean up the kitchen before he called down his daughter for a stern talking to in the living room.

“But she is a whore!” Letitia insisted, rather loudly.  “She had sex, knowingly, with another woman’s husband. That’s the very definition of a whore!”

Faustus sighed. “Then what about me?” he wanted to know. “I was the 1 who was married during the affair. I’m married now and you been encouraging me to take a mistress.”

Letitia shook her head. “That’s different. You’re a man. All men enjoy sex but the only women who enjoy sex are whores.”

“That is your grandfather talking! I didn’t believe in that stupid double standard when I was 12 and I don’t believe it now.”

“Let’s leave,” she sat up straighter, “You, me, and the baby, let’s leave this house and never come   back.”

“We are not going anywhere. As a minor, you will live where I live and I’m not leaving Zelda.”

“Of course, you’re not leaving Zelda, because you’re under her spell. How else would you explain enjoying being a housekeeper while she’s at work every day?”

Faustus crossed his arms. “That’s ironic. Lately, the only 1 casting spells and trying to control things is you and that has to stop, Judith.”

Their conversation was interrupted by a ringing phone. Faustus walked in the hallway to answer it. “Hello?”

“Hello, darling.”

“Zelda, my love! Thank Hecate! I’ve been worrying about you ever since you left here 4 hours ago. Where have you been?”

“I went to see Lilith for her last check-up and then I returned to the academy to do some paperwork. In fact, that’s why I’m calling. I’m afraid it’s going to be another long night, Faustus. I’m going to stay here tonight.”

Her husband was not fooled, not for a single second, “Dearest one, I know you’ll still upset about what happened with you and Letitia and you have every reason to be so, but running away is not the answer.”

“No, I’m fine,” Zelda said but the tightness in her voice told Faustus that she was anything but. “I just have a lot of work to do.”

Faustus tried again. “Alright, I get that you have work to do. But even if it’s 3, 4, or 5 in the morning, please0 feel free to come home at any time, even if it’s just for a few hours. I love you. I need you.”

“No, he doesn’t!” Faustus was horrified to hear his daughter’s voice on the phone. Then he remembered. The Spellman house was an old house and as a result, it only had 1 landline. Faustus was using the phone in the hall, Letitia’s voice sounded like it was coming from the kitchen.

“That’s right,” Letitia continued to scream at Zelda over the phone. “No one needs or wants you here! The longer you stay away, the better! In fact, I suggest you never come back, mother killer!”

“What are you doing?” Faustus growled as he came up behind his daughter, took the phone out of her hand, and covered up the mouthpiece. “You have no right to attack Zelda like that. Go upstairs, NOW!” Faustus placed the phone to his ear. “Zelda? Honey?” All he heard was a dial tone. “Damn it!”

Although Faustus waited up for her, Zelda didn’t go home that night nor did she come home the next night even though she had called several times during the day to check on the family. It was becoming clear to Faustus that if he wanted his wife to come home, he would have to go get her himself. But first thing first.

Cordelia laughed wildly as she splashed in the water, Faustus couldn’t help but laugh too. Yet this was no regular bath. Faustus was bathing Cordelia in the strongest anti-spell he had ever come across. “Thank Hecate you’re such a water baby, Cordy.” He kissed her head before Faustus looked to the ceiling. “Ambrose! Can you come here for a moment?”

A second later, Ambrose appeared at the door. “Yes? What can I-Judas Priest, what is that smell?”

“I’m sorry, I can’t help it. It’s the anti-spell,” Faustus pointed to the sink where Cordelia sat.

Ambrose made a face. “That is foul! How can you stand it?”

“I spelled myself and Cordy before we started. I can’t smell anything right now.”

“Well, you could have warned me!”

“Sorry,” Faustus grabbed a fluffy towel and scooped up his daughter. “Anyway, you can go as soon as I figure out if the anti-spell worked. Can a Spellman hold this baby?”

Ambrose held his breath as he held his cousin.

“It worked!” Faustus took Cordelia back, kissed her, and gave her a proper bath to wash off the stench.

To avoid any more fighting, Faustus waited until nighttime to make his move. He checked that everyone was asleep before returning to his room. 

“Well, Cordelia, all is quiet and well here. Shall we go visit Mommy?” Faustus watched the 5 months old squeal excitedly. Faustus smiled and picked up the basket and teleported. A moment later, Faustus was walking into his old bedroom on the top floor of the academy. Faustus felt a little uneasy about seeing it again. After all, this was his 1st time in the academy in years. After a nervous breath, Faustus focused and noticed that the bed was littered in papers. Ad responses and corrected schoolwork. Zelda was in the shower; he could hear the water running. A moment later, Zelda appeared.

“Faustus?! What are you doing here?”

He smiled. “I decided that 3 nights without my wife is much, much too long. Plus I have a surprise for you.” Faustus picked up Cordelia and held her out in front of him.

Zelda tilted her head. “Faustus, what are you doing? You know I can’t touch her.”

“But you can, my love. I broke the spell today.”

Zelda was still doubtful but came forward. Her eyes lit up as she took Cordelia in her arms. “My baby!  Mommy missed you so much!” Zelda covered the infant’s face with kisses making Cordelia giggle which led to more kisses. Faustus watched the precious mother/daughter moment, put his hand on the small of Zelda’s back.

“I missed you too.” He kissed his wife and she smiled.

Since it was already brewed, they sat down and had tea while Cordelia curled up and fell asleep on Zelda’s chest. Later, when Zelda was settling Cordelia into bed, Faustus noticed the black and gold robe that didn’t quite fit her. He waited for Zelda to turn to him before Faustus tug the robe’s belt and Zelda was in his arms. 

He kissed her deeply before he asked, “Isn’t this my robe?” 

Zelda smiled. “Yes, it is and that 1 of the 2 reasons I’ve worn it all 3 nights I’ve been here. To remind me of you and the 1st time I wore this robe was to check on baby Judas and he gave me the cutest smile.”

As Zelda talked, Faustus kissed Zelda’s neck and untying the knot in the belt of the rope. When she mentioned Judas, he thought about when Zelda called home to check in, she never failed to ask about Letitia, no matter how badly the girl had mistreated her. The fact that she still worried and thought about the twins constantly proved that Zelda was their mother.

“I love you,” Faustus whispered against Zelda’s collarbone. “I could live a million years and never adore anyone half as I adore you.”

They undressed and made love all night long. Zelda had to leave the bed only once; to tend to the baby, but then happily returned to her husband’s embrace.

They met the dawn in each other’s arms.  “I have a favor to ask of you. Come home tonight.”

Zelda sighed. “Faustus, Letitia is-“

“A 16-year-old child,” Her husband rushed to remind her, “and we’re a family. As parents, we should correct, not reward Letitia’s bad behavior. Speaking of correcting behavior,” Faustus reached down into his discarded pants pocket on the floor and took out a small velvet box. “I ordered these weeks ago but they only came in yesterday,” Faustus explained and opened the box to reveal another pair of wedding rings that Letitia’s spell had destroyed.

Faustus slid the ring onto Zelda’s finger and kissed her. “Will you come home?”

Zelda smiled and put the ring on him. “I will.”

After a few hours of sleep, Zelda hurried downstairs to attend morning assembly while Faustus and Cordelia went home. Faustus spent all day working. Be it protection spells, sealing spells, anti-spells, and more, he makes sure that every inch of the house was ready to take on his daughter’s spiteful little spells. Faustus didn’t tell Letitia that Zelda was coming home until the very last minute. He also told her, quite sternly to be nice to her stepmother and to everyone’s surprise…she was.

5 days after Zelda came home, Letitia laid out a wonderful tea service and sandwiches and then invited Zelda to join her. Touched, Zelda accepted. Meanwhile, Faustus was upstairs, putting Cordelia down for a nap. Turning away from the crib, Faustus noticed that Letitia’s cot was unmade. He made the bed, but when he grabbed the pillow up to fluff it, a book hit the floor. The book fell spine up and pages spread out. Faustus picked it up, flipping the pages, thinking nothing of it until he got to the last page, then his eyes bugged out.

“NO!” He dropped the book instantly and ran downstairs.

“A toast,” Letitia raised her teacup, “To us and a new beginning.”  They clinked the cups together and  Zelda was just about to take a sip when the teacup flew out of her hand and crashed against the wall. Zelda turned and saw a panicked Faustus entering the room.

“Dearest, how much tea did you drink? Do you think you can bring it back up?”

Zelda shook her head. “I haven’t had any tea.”

“Father, I can explain- “

“I’m not even ready to talk to you yet!”

“What’s going on?” Zelda asked.

“I was making up Letitia’s bed for her and under her pillow, I found a book of spells and on the last page  was a cargarli spell and I thought that” Faustus waved an arm over the tray, making the tea and sandwiches vanish and then he flipped over the  tray, revealing a picture of Zelda taped to  the  bottom  of the tray, “she would try to use it on you.”

Zelda took a step back, her hand over mouth. When she looked at Letitia, her eyes filled with horror. “Is that why you been nice to me these past few days? To lull me into a false sense of trust?”

Letitia opened her mouth but it was Faustus spoke first. “No, I don’t even want to look at you now! Get upstairs!”  Letitia left in a huff and Faustus took a shaken Zelda into his arms.

Meanwhile, Letitia wasn’t in her room long before she had a visitor.

“What the heaven were you trying to do down there?”

Letitia turned and saw Prudence standing in the doorway with her arms crossed. “Where did you come from?” Letitia asked.

“I was in the attic, hanging out with Ambrose. I was just leaving with I saw Father running down the stairs, I followed him and I heard the whole ugly scene. Did you really try to put Sister Zelda under a Cargarli spell?”

Letitia shrugged. “So, what if I did?”

Prudence shook her head. “That’s not good enough, this time. Your other spells were childish and annoying but a Cargarli spell is dangerous and traumatic to those who already were under it as Zelda and Father both were. As a girl, you should stay away from that spell.”

“You know, as a girl, I was raised a different way.”

“Yes, and you know it was wrong, or you wouldn’t have run away. Letitia, you have to let go of this anger and stop pushing away the ones that love you the most.”

“Judith! My name is Judith and why do you care so much about Zelda Spellman? She’s not your mother, either.”

“No, she isn’t,” Prudence agreed.  “But if I had to choose my own mother, I would pick Zelda every time.”

Letitia scoffed. “I bet my mother was the better stepmother.”

“Before or after she tried to kill me?”  Prudence raised her voice, disturbing Cordelia. Prudence went to the crib and patted the baby’s belly. “Sorry, Cordy, we’ll keep it down.”

Letitia, however, wanted to continue the fight. “I see, it’s wrong when my mother tries to kill you, but it’s perfectly alright when Zelda Spellman actually kills my mother?”

Prudence sighed and rolled her eyes. “For the last time, Zelda did not kill Constance.”

“How would you know?”

“I know because I helped Zelda with the delivery, the night you and Judas were born.”

Letitia looked confused. “You were there?”

“How did you not know that? You said you preformed a memory spell. What did you do, you didn’t like the 1st memory so you ended the spell early?” 1 look and Prudence knew. “Oh, Hecate, that’s exactly what happened.”

“So?”

“So, doing a memory spell for 1 memory is as foolish as reading only 1 chapter in a book and then claiming you know the whole plot. You can continue to be an angry, misinformed girl or you can do another memory spell and face reality. The choice is yours, little sister.”

A week later, Zelda awoke in the middle of the night, to the sound of crying. Since it was her turn, Zelda took extra care not to wake Faustus as she slipped out of their bed and tiptoed down the hall and into the nursery. As Zelda got nearer to the crib, the little nightlight let Zelda see that Cordelia was sound asleep. The baby was not the 1 crying in this room.

“Zelda?” The redhead turned to see Letitia in bed, tears shining all over her face.

“I’m sorry, I thought Cordelia needed me. I’m going.”

Letitia sat up and reached out to grab Zelda’s wrist. “No, please. Don’t go.”

Despite herself, Zelda’s heart jumped with hope. “You want me to stay with you?”

Letitia nodded. “Yes, but I feel like I don’t have the right to ask you to stay. In fact, you could demand that I get out of your house right now and I wouldn’t even   blame you.” Letitia started to cry again as she buried her head into her hands. “I’m so ashamed!”

Zelda sat down beside her on the cot. “Slow down, child,” Zelda gently wiped away the tears. “Now, what bought all of this on?”

She told Zelda all about her fight with Prudence and how she just quit after just 1 memory.

Zelda nodded understandingly. “So, you went back and took a look at all your father’s memories.”

“Not only his but yours too. That why it took me all week long. You didn’t need to help me but you did. You didn’t need to love me but you did. And to repay you, I was an utter jerk to you.” Letitia started to cry again and Zelda took her stepdaughter in her arms. “I just don’t know how I’m ever going to make this to you.”

“You already have. You are letting me hold you, that’s all I’ve ever wanted. All the rest is water under the   bridge.”

Letitia sniffed as she moved to hug Zelda around the waist.  “You’re so wonderful. Why are you so wonderful?”

Zelda placed a kiss into Letitia’s raven hair. “I love you. I may have only have given birth to Cordelia but I love all you children.”

“You’re not at all what Fath, I mean the curse, said you were. But he lied a lot. He always blamed me for killing my mother but I learned quite surprisingly, that I was born first.”

They sat and talked for over an hour. Suddenly, Zelda felt a presence over them. She smiled; Faustus must have heard them over the baby monitor. Zelda looked up and her smile faded.  The man before her wasn’t her husband; it was the hell minion. 

“Ms. Spellman, you have to come with me. Something’s wrong with Lilith.”

“Now?! It’s the middle of the night.”

“Go,” Encouraged Letitia, “We’ll talk tomorrow.” Zelda stroked her cheek, got up, and went with the hell minion.

Lilith was lying on her side, moaning in pain when the minion led Zelda into Lilith’s bedchamber.

“What wrong with her?” the minion asked once Zelda had a chance to examine the patient.

Zelda looked up, annoyed. “Nothing. She’s just having a baby, right now.”

“No!” Lilith cried. “It’s too soon!”

“What do you mean? You’re due in less than a week.”

“I mean for me! I don’t want to die!”

Zelda sighed. Up to the bitter end, Lilith’s pregnancy was all about her. It was a long and difficult labor. In her long career as a midwife, Zelda had seen her fair share of stubborn mothers, but Lilith was the worst. She constantly screamed at Zelda to stop the labor and Zelda tried numerous times to explain that her body was preparing itself for the birth, whether Lilith liked it or not. By early evening, Lilith was delivering.

“Push!”  ordered Zelda.

“No! I am not giving birth!”

“You have to! The head is already out!” Despite Lilith fighting her all the way, Zelda soon delivered the rest of the child. “It’s a boy!” She announced, “born at 5:40 pm on August 10th.”

Lilith said nothing but only took a glance from Zelda to tell that Lilith was not happy. Zelda felt sorry for the infant was she cut the cord, cleaned him up, and swaddled him in a blanket. “Come with me, sweet boy.” Zelda bounced the baby gently as she crossed the room and put the babe in Lilith’s arms. Lilith beheld her son for the very 1st first time, a strange expression on her face.

Lilith looked up at Zelda. “Get me out of here.” And it still all about her. Zelda sighed, rolled her eyes, and started to turn away but Lilith grabbed her sleeve. “Okay, forget about me. You got to get him out of here, I beg of you.” And there it was. For months and months, Zelda had tried to see any little maternal instinct in Lilith, any little sign to prove Lilith cared for the life inside of her. However, as the pregnancy progress, all Lilith did was complain about how uncomfortable she was and how her delay of execution was drawing closer. But now, she was begging Zelda to get the baby to safety, with or without her. Lilith was prepared to make a sacrifice, a mother’s sacrifice. At that moment, Zelda knew what she had to do.

“Ok, I’m going to get you both out of here. But you have to help me by doing what I say. Now, scream!”

“Scream?”

“Yes. If you scream, Lucifer will think you’re still in labor and that will buy us some extra time.”

So, Lilith screamed and Zelda ran around, readying both mother and child. She bought Lilith slippers and a robe. Then both witches grabbed the baby and teleported.

“Penny dreadful for your thoughts, my dear?”

Letitia looked up to see her father smiling down at her.

Faustus handed his daughter a mug of hot chocolate and sat across from her in the living room. “Are you okay? Aside from telling us about the memory spells and where Zelda went to, you barely said a word all day.”

Letitia smiled, “I’m fine, just thinking. The memory spells made me see that most of my life was a lie.”

“How I wish I could be there for you.”

“We’re together now, that’s what matters,” His daughter said sensibly. “Besides, what I really been thinking about is my name.”

“You name?”

She nodded. “I now understand why you all call me Letitia, I do, but after 16 years, I got used to the name Judith, but I think I’ve reached a compromise.”

Faustus raised an eyebrow. “A compromise? On your name?”

She smiled. “Yes. Father, what do you think of LJ?”

“LJ, huh? I like it. Trendy.” That made her laugh, “LJ Blackwood.”

LJ frowned. “Actually, after all, I learned about our family’s past and the curse, I would prefer LJ Spellman but considering what I put them through, I don’t think the family would agree.”

“I love it and I think the Spellmans will too.”

They both looked up as Zelda and Lilith holding her baby appeared before them. Zelda stepped forward. “Okay, something happened.” Zelda quickly explained what was going on and then the family spent the next 2 hours preparing the house for an attack. 3 hours later, Lucifer showed up.

“LILITH! WHERE ARE YOU?!”

Zelda told Lilith to take the baby and go up to the nursery and look after Cordelia as well.

“Don’t worry, guys. He can’t get in here. I put the magic locks on myself.” Ambrose said proudly.

Everyone heard a loud crack and the dark lord appeared in the huge hole in what used to be the Spellmans front door.

Ambrose gulped. “Never mind.”

They tried to fend him off but they were pushed aside with a wave of Lucifer’s hand. He climbed the stairs to the nursery. When the family caught up with him, they all saw the was no sign of Lilith or her newborn.

“WHERE MY SON?!” Lucifer demanded. Before anyone could say anything, a baby’s gurgle was heard and Lucifer’s attention turned to Cordelia.

“No!!” Zelda cried. After magically throwing Zelda into a wall, Lucifer picked up Cordelia.

“She’s not my son, but she’ll do until you give me my son.” Cordelia opened her eyes and cried. Her cry was so powerful, it was like a sound wave, Lucifer dropped her immediately, was pushed across the hallway, downstairs, out the ruined door and onto the lawn. Zelda ran in and picked up her daughter. After Lucifer dropped her, Cordelia landed back in her crib, unharmed, and giggled.

Zelda hugged her baby. “Thank Hecate you’re alright.”

“Nice to know that the mark of the divine is already working,” Faustus added.

“He’s passed out,” Sabrina said as she beheld Lucifer lying on the grass. “That’s good, right? Easier to get him into a cell.”

“Yeah, cuz, but he won’t stay there long. You know, we need a body to trap him in.” Ambrose sighed and got an idea. “Blackwood would be perfect for the job. Too bad we don’t know where he is.”

From her place beside Sabrina, LJ smiled. “You might not know where he is, but I do.”

Faustus wouldn’t let LJ come with him to go get Blackwood, so they worked together to draw a detailed map, then LJ stayed behind to babysit Cordelia. Meanwhile, Zelda and the others rushed to get Lucifer into chains. They even spelled him to stay out cold longer. Zelda then went upstairs to take a nap. After all, she had been up for over 53 hours.

When Hilda woke her up, she had news. “Faustus found Blackwood.”

The sisters ran downstairs and sure enough, both were there. Everyone helped with the soul transfer and Ambrose had a bonus spell to send them to hell. Later, the family went home.  Faustus said he had to go get Judas. The other Spellmans went into the kitchen, while Zelda went upstairs to check on Cordelia.

“NO!”

The others could hear Zelda’s cry and they ran upstairs only to find Zelda crying on the floor of the nursery. 

Zelda looked up and held out a letter. “I found this in the crib.”

Hilda took the letter and the more she read, the whiter she got.

“What is it, Auntie?” asked Sabrina.

Hilda looked up. “Faustus never found Blackwood. He searched all over the hideout but there was no sign of Blackwood or Judas.

“But we just saw them together.”

Hilda nodded. “Faustus knew that we couldn’t hold Lucifer for long, so after looking for Blackwood, Faustus went down to the river, made a man out of mud, used a glamour spell to make it look exactly like him so the mud man could pose as Faustus so Faustus could pose as Blackwood. Saying he was going to get Judas was like code for the spell is over and I’m going back to being mud.”

Ambrose’s head was spinning. “So, the real Faustus is-“

“In hell, with Lucifer.” Sabrina finished.

“He saved us,” Hilda said.

As the others talked, Zelda got up and left the room.

“Where are you going, Zelds?”

“I’m going to hell and getting my husband back.” Zelda charged down the stairs, the others were at her heels. However, when Zelda opened the magically restored front door, someone fainted into Zelda’s arms; someone they all knew. “Elizabeth?”

“He stole my world” was all Elizabeth Tudor could say before she passed out cold. 

[robophantom]

Characters I’m Excited About But Don’t Have A Game For:

Adelaide Blackwood

Human

Grave Cleric

A young noble woman who has heard the voice of the Raven Queen ever since she was a child. Unfortunately, no one else believes her, especially since she’s always been a bit odd even when she isn’t supposedly speaking to deities. This came to tragedy when her sister brought home her new fiancé and Adelaide insisted to the point of violence that the fiancé was a vampire, and wound up institutionalized. She was proven right several months later when her family was found murdered in their home.

Adelaide became an adventurer when she either escaped the institution or was turned out since there was no longer anyone left to pay for her care. Adventuring parties were much more forgiving of her quirks, and much more likely to believe her when she said there was an undead around.

Aster Crucis

Scourge Aasimar

Divine Soul Sorcerer

Absolute Baby Unlimited. He was raised to be a Pope-like figure as a direct messenger from his god, but he was really intended to be more of a figurehead. He is thus a very sweet, very naive person who is great at public appearances but knows next to nothing about the real world and struggles therein.

He becomes an adventurer due to a comedy of errors beginning with one of his caretakers leaving out a book that detailed a king going out to visit his kingdom and culminating with Aster slipping his guard and getting caught up with a group of adventurers.

Sir Augustus Lucian Fairwell

Protector Aasimar

Devotion Paladin

A big, beautiful man and absolute himbo from a family line that has long been favored by Lathander. The Fairwell have all served the god as clerics, paladins, or the odd celestial warlock or divine soul sorcerer and Auggie is no different. Unfortunately, he’s dumb as a brick, but he makes up for it by being attractive, charming, and just a generally nice guy. He loves his family very much, and will brag about his sister, Ophelia, at any given opportunity. His one major vice is that he’s quite vain and somewhat spoiled due to being the former heir to a noble house. But he’s trying.

Auggie became an adventurer after abdicating the position of family heir to his significantly more clever little sister. Nonetheless, he is committed to serve Lathander to the best of his abilities as a free agent of the people!

Curiosity “Curie” Magellan

Standard Tiefling

Transmutation Wizard

Curie is, much as her name implies, a very curious being. She comes from a large family of tieflings and had a very happy childhood before deciding to study magic. After her schooling was complete, she joined up with a research group working with transmutation magic: her specialty. However, things were always a little odd in the lab, and one day Curie’s curiosity got the better of her. She snuck into the senior researcher’s labs to take a look, and found out that there was some very horrifying and unethical research being conducted. In a panic, she stole or destroyed whatever research she could find and fled.

Curie thus became an adventurer because she’s technically a fugitive. As soon as her sabotage was discovered, she was labeled a criminal and thus doesn’t have a lot of options. She’s making the best of it, though!

Edie Everhardt

Human

Hexblade Warlock

Edie is a simple country gal from a huge family. As the middle of nine siblings, she’s always tended to be overlooked, but she sort of enjoyed the anonymity within her own home, even if it could get lonely sometimes. This all changed when she found a weird sword while out exploring that pretty much begged her to make a pact and take it places because it was so f*cking bored.

Edie herself is very humble and sensible, and is an adventurer mostly to humor the spirit in the sword and raise money for her folks back home. She’s not really interested in the fame and prestige, but it’s an enjoyable enough way to spend her time and she likes the people.

Lady [Redacted] Greye

Protector Aasimar

Monster-Slayer Ranger

For centuries, the Greye family was famous for slaying even the most terrifying of monsters. If you had a problem and regular adventurers weren’t cutting it, you took it to the Greyes. They were duty bound to stand between the innocent public and creatures of the night, and did so gladly. It was thus an unimaginable tragedy (and horror) when one night the entire family was wiped out by an unknown enemy. Or so it seemed. The woman would would later style herself as Lady Greye was unexpectedly away from home that night and escaped the massacre. In her grief, she forswore her given name and dedicated herself to her family’s legacy.

Lady Greye is an adventurer because that’s what she’s always been. She’s just... not used to working with people who aren’t her family members yet. And if she maybe wants to discover the people or creatures who massacred her family and get revenge, well. That’s no one’s business but her own.

Mareille “Marley” Traith

High Elf

Arcane Trickster Rogue/War Mage Wizard

Mareille is the eldest—but illegitimate—daughter of the previous Duke Uthellon. She was born amidst a very juicy scandal involving broken engagements and a possible murder, and despite her father’s attempt to give her a good life the stigma has followed her. After her father married her stepmother and had her half-brother, Syril, Mareille began training to be her brother’s spymaster, though she kept as much of the traditional Uthellon’s magical teachings as she could.

Mareille became an adventurer following her father’s mysterious death and her younger brother’s premature ascension to Dukedom. She wants to use the profession as an excuse to snoop around and get to the bottom of the tragedies following her family and hopefully protect her little brother from sharing their father’s fate.

Nadya Thueban

Half-elf

Divination Wizard

Nadya comes from a long line of diviners in her home village. People came to her to inquire about the harvest, if their lover was cheating on them, how many children they would have, and other peaceful mundanities rural villagers concerned themselves with. Nadya also has a young daughter, age twelve, but was never interested in marrying, and a snake familiar that exists as a really dope tattoo when he isn’t summoned. But all the predictions in the world didn’t prepare her for the day when raiders attacked her village, killing dozens and kidnapping dozens more. Her daughter was among the missing, and it drove her to a grief so profound she still hadn’t clawed her was back out.

Nadya became an adventurer to find her daughter and the rest of the missing villagers. She’s also slowly learning to trust her divination again—although it keeps returning the strangest of messages about a plot she doesn’t understand...

Shinobu

Human

Beast Master Ranger/Samurai Fighter

Shinobu is a quiet, melancholic woman in her thirties. She was actually already an adventurer about a decade ago, but after her party was wiped out, she retreated to the forest to live out her “retirement” surrounded by the wolves she always felt an affinity for. She still struggles with survivors guilt, and has difficulty forming attachments to people knowing they would be killed just as easily as her previous party.

Although somewhat out of practice, Shinobu is forced to leave her retirement by events relevant to the plot OR the resurgence of whatever creature or organization killed her party, necessitating her involvement. She is accompanied by the (grand?)daughter of her original Beast Companion, Kagami.

Shizuka

Half-elf

Shadow Monk/Assassin Rogue

A trained spy and assassin who was raised by a secretive organization. On a mission to assassinate an important noble, they were critically injured and subsequently abandoned by their parter. Luckily they were found by a local who nursed them back to health. Presumed dead and thus free of the organization, Shizuka has tried to adapt to a more civilian lifestyle with... mixed success, not helped by the fact that they are completely mute and very few people speak their version of sign language.

Shizuka becomes an adventurer when some of the noble’s agents come sniffing around and they flee rather than implicate their saviors in their crimes. They are now traveling doing mercenary work while still trying to learn how to become a person.

Ulrike

Protector Aasimar

Abjuration Wizard

Ulrike is a cheerful soul who has only ever wanted to help people. She was a member of an elite team of wizard who travelled about dealing with cursed artifacts and locations. Unfortunately, and their last mission Ulrike got trapped within the artifact they were dealing with. The next thing she knew, she was being released from her prison decades or even centuries later with no idea what happened to her former team. She is now forced to deal with the intense culture shock of finding herself all alone in a future she doesn’t understand with no way to return. She’s doing her best to stay positive, but even her persist any cheer has taken a hit by the circumstances.

Ulrike is an adventurer mostly because she has nowhere else to go. There are few alive who still remember her, and even the organizations she used to work with are long defunct or unrecognizable from when she last last active. She is thus relying on the kindness of the strangers who found her, and perhaps hoping that she might one day find out what happened to her team.

Úna

Firbolg

Gloomstalker Ranger/Scout Rogue

Úna was born with albinism and struggled to live in the sunlight. Other people found her creepy—even her own family—and so she grew up playing alone after dark. Over time she began to adapt to nighttime living, and travelled further and further into the woods each night. On one such night, she stumbled upon a bandit camp. They nearly killed her, but her lack of fear and straightforward way of speaking to them amused their leader enough that they decided to take her with them. Úna had little attachment to her previous living conditions and so followed without protest. She quickly proved invaluable for moving around at night and in dark places, and became a fixture of the group. However; one day they caught a little too much heat for their crimes, and it was decided that it would be best to part ways for a while. After all, a seven and a half foot tall white firbolg draws attention no matter how sneaky she is.

Úna is an adventurer because her skill set lends itself to little else. She finds working under the cover of darkness soothing, and isn’t squeamish about the moral quandaries that follow adventurers around.

Ysara Djimon

Wood Elf

Open Hand Monk

Ysara was a martial arts teacher at her home monastery. A strict but fair teacher, she enjoyed working with the acolytes who passed through the monastery. One of her students was particularly gifted and Ysara found training them to be particularly rewarding. However, many years later they returned to the monastery and nearly wiped it out before departing again. Ysara was left critically injured, but managed to survive.

Ysara set out to become an adventurer once she was recovered enough to walk on her own. Her other skills have been slower to come back to her, though she is confident that she will one day return to her former prime. She left to track down her former student and extract justice and maybe a reason for the massacre.

[mwolf0epsilon]

ngl josh reading to kids in his spare time sounds really cute, i bet he'd be a good dad

I made this a little sad but yes, Josh would definitely be a good dad :')

Enjoy!!!

---

[[MORE]]

When he first came across a child model Josh didn't know what to say. He knew there were androids meant to simulate human offsprings but he'd never actually thought he'd meet one himself, or any child for the matter...

As a norm PJ500s did not exist in spaces where humans bellow the age of 16 or 18 congregated. They weren't programmed to teach bellow college program levels and thusly had no social protocols for children. Even privately owned tutor PJ-Series were meant to help with advanced studies on topics like socioeconomics and physics.

Talking to a child wasn't rocket science so Josh had failed terribly at it, if the look Simon had given him was anything to go by.

He'd sounded robotic when he spoke to the poor girl, and frankly he had felt ashamed that he not only frightened her but also couldn't find it in him to be welcoming towards her.

Simon had definitely been very upset with him for upsetting the poor thing...

The second time he met a child android was a little less awkward than the first. He'd practiced with Lucy's help. Loosened up a little on the whole teacher-student relationship protocols that tried to force their way into his general demeanor, and helped Simon settle in a pair of YK500s who had been on their way back to the shop after their mother (their owner) had perished on the ride back home from an evening at the bar. At the time he'd played it off cool, but something in the back of his mind had nagged at him that leaving two small children completely alone (even if they were androids), felt like negligent and reckless behaviour from someone who was trying to be a parent...

Josh had felt somewhat satisfied that he'd managed to work out how to talk to little kids. And some of them liked history, so it had fed them little tidbits of historical trivia he knew. The stuff that was age appropriate and non-violent of course. Simon would be furious if he divulged the need behind inventions like the guillotine or a trebuchet.

The third time he meets a child android isn't a moment he likes to remember. In fact, it's perhaps one of his most darkest moments...

He'd been roaming the streets in the late evening, marveling over the little privacy he got from sneaking out and hiding in plain sight. His model wasn't common and he rarely had left campus, so no one thought to look at the big tall guy with the baseball cap and the ratty jacket. He was just another figure walking through the crowd.

It felt like freedom, even if in the end he was just hiding behind a facade.

Josh had nearly missed it himself as he walked. The tiny figure laying in a heap of trash, completely ignored by those who walked right past him.

He looked like a child, but was met with no kindness or sympathy from the humans who'd grown apathetic towards android-kind. The moment they saw blue staining bellow the boy's nose they'd simply turned a blind eye and carried on marching, as if in an assembly line.

Josh had been revolted by this.

Had been so horrified and disgusted that he'd nearly let his anger boil over.

He'd taken the poor YK400 to Jericho, fueled by a gutteral seething rage that would have incinerated those around him if it had come off of him in waves like pure energy.

He'd taken care of the boy himself, the dark look in his eyes having deterred Simon and Lucy from advancing in his direction.

North hadn't bothered him that day either. Instead she curled up with him when he finally came out from behind the blinding veil of rage against humanity.

He cried like a baby that night, and he'd cry again for every single little boy and girl that came crawling into the derelight freighter that should have otherwise terrified any child.

Anything looked like sanctuary when the adults that promised to love and care for you suddenly decided you were not wanted anymore.

Josh starts teaching the YK-series not long after his third encounter. He does his damn hardest to not go onto the advanced topics right away, instead gradually evolving their classes so that the children can naturally adjust to the level changes.

They're eager learner's, especially Ezra who Josh has grown incredibly attached to since rescuing him. The poor boy attends his classes, but his thirium pump malfunctions cause him tremendous discomfort that require him to take short breaks.

That's all fine, because afterwards Josh will sit with him and tell him bedtime stories he's learned from Simon. He watches over Ezra as he sleeps and feels a comfortable warmth in his chest.

---

The day they leave Simon behind in Stratford is the same day Josh has to say goodbye to Ezra. It was a matter of time before his pump shorted out and Lucy had been watching out for the signs.

She finds him browsing through children's books he'd "borrowed" on his last secret excursion to the outside world, trying to forget that his friend is likely dead and gone by now, when the heavily damaged KL-series pulls him towards Ezra's corner.

The boy is terrified and in terrible pain, begging for his short little life. Josh doesn't cry. He holds the boy tightly and hums softly to him before he shuts down for good.

Lucy tries to comfort him but Josh doesn't look at her and doesn't speak. When North returns, crying over androids she hadn't known for more than a minute, he nearly loses his mind with anger.

He feels like she's betrayed him in some way, but he doesn't voice this. Instead he feeds into the growing argument between the both of them and gets out of dodge when Markus tells them to stop.

He only cries when Simon returns, blue blood splatters on his face and a slight limp to his tired geit.

He cries so hard his processor begins to stall.

Simon hums to him, just as Josh had done in Ezra's final moments.

It doesn't feel fair that children had to be in the crossfire of their fight against human oppression. Sadly life was rarely fair.

---

After the revolution Josh continues to teach the android children at the tower. They're all fond of classes, eager learners that they are, and they especially love the extra curricular activities Simon sets up for them, and Josh's bedtime reading sessions.

He wasn't meant to teach kids but he loves it so much he can't bring himself to give up on his teaching sessions with the YK-series. Even in the heat of political tensions.

The humans couldn't make him hate his profession before, and they certainly couldn't do it now either.

He reads to them as a form of healthy enrichment and childish indulgence, but also to honor the little one he'd lost back in Jericho's ruined carcass.

The one he likely would have adopted as soon as the law permitted, if it weren't for the circumstances that took him away from him.

"You're a big softy, you know that?" North chuckled as soon as she caught him at the end of a reading session. The children had all left to go to bed and he'd finished another chapter of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' with them.

"You'll find that I have no padding to allow for that." He joked, tapping on his chest and stomach to emphasize on the hardness of his chassis. "Simon's the better hugger."

"You say that because you've never genuinely hugged Markus. His tits are super soft." North grinned mischievously.

"I'm not exactly interested in gropping anyone's... Tits..." He let her drag him away by the arm, smiling as he waved goodbye at some of the stragglers. "The kids are doing good in classes... And they're really liking the book so far. We have a lot of little boys and girls who want to be like Hermione Granger."

"Ever consider adopting?" North suggested.

"If we ever get that far, yes. Cyberlife is fighting us every step of the way though, and some of those politicians are adamant that androids don't need familial units..." He glared angrily at the implications. "Because obviously the YK400s and YK500s don't need parents..."

"Assholes... Well between you and Simon, the kids are good on parents. They've got their big nerd dad and their mother hen."

"What would that make you and Markus?" Josh asked.

"... Cool mom and cool dad?"

"Wow, you suck at this."

"Shut up..." She punched him lightly on the arm.

Josh snorted and carried on walking towards the elevator. He considered North's words and couldn't help smile to himself, a hint of longing in his eyes.

He wouldn't mind a few sets of little tiny feet running around the house...

[will-o-the-witch]

Okay for real though, Rowling's whole "antisemitic goblin" thing is actually WAY worse than a lot of people think.

Like even outside of Jowling Kowling Rowling being a piece of shit anyway, the blatant antisemitism in these Goblin characters is getting less and less excusable as an "honest mistake." Rowling's antisemitism is blatant at this point people's excuses don't work for her- here's why.

It's one thing to let your unconscious biases influence your world-building, nobody is immune to that risk, but it's another to have it pointed out and double down on it. Rowling is notorious for retconning details into her story, adding "inclusivity" after the fact (oh boy, we got "at least one Jewish wizard at Hogwarts" a few years ago!) but nothing was ever done to address the goblins. The house elves got an attempt at least with "they like being enslaved so it isn't bad!" (Which arguably makes it even worse but like... at least she recognized a problem existed in the first place I guess? I'm being very generous here.)

It's also way more than just "they own banks and have hooked noses." That said, that's notable enough on its own. When we say they look like a stereotype that is extremely literal, here's a piece of nazi propaganda side-by-side I saw:

Anyway, the books also establish that goblins can use magic but aren't allowed to carry wands. (So like, obvious systemic oppression that's never rationalized, we're supposed to just accept it and assume it's because they're untrustworthy or something.) Even Hagrid, who deals with magical creatures for a living and also tends to be much more With It than the rest of the cast, calls them "not the friendliest of beasts." Idk about y'all but it's a little disturbing to see even Hagrid call them "beasts" even though they're considered intelligent and "civilized" enough to run their whole banking system. Not to mention this is Hagrid, the guy that gave a Terrifying Giant Spider Everyone Hated a chance. The new game makes it even more clear that goblins are exceptionally greedy and don't understand (or abide by) wizard customs. They're considered at fault for their own oppression and the current rebellion must be stopped to put them back "in their place."

ALSO THEY ARE LITERALLY TRYING TO KIDNAP CHILDREN. That specifically has a HUGE and extremely direct history to a thing called blood libel, the leading excuse for pogroms for centuries. Christians love the idea that we are very literally kidnapping Pure Christian Children™ and using their blood to make matzah on Passover. That's not even kosher. The most recent example I could find of this exact myth was in the United States in 1928, though the idea of Jews luring away children was a good way to teach stranger danger in Nazi Germany. Nowadays blood libel sentiment fuels things like QAnon (where we're kidnapping children to use their blood for Satanic stuff I guess?) Antisemitism has a LONG history of painting Jews out to be predatory towards children in particular.

Okay, now for the main excuses for her I hear:

"But she visited a Holocaust museum and said she based Voldemort off of Hitler!"

Anyone can visit a Holocaust museum. They're buildings. Holocaust museums are not machines that suck in antisemites and spit out allies, yet in the public eye, it seems all a celebrity needs to do to remove accusations of antisemitism is visit a holocaust museum and make a statement about how horrified and inspired they were. Visiting a museum doesn't mean shit. Neither does writing a metaphor for Hitler or racism, that's literally the most low-hanging fruit possible.

Or everyone's biggest "gotcha:"

"But Rowling wasn't in charge of making the games OR the movie design!"

Y'all really think they didn't ask her to sign off on this? You really think she wasn't in the room when people pitched their ideas for the entire plot? You think she'd hand over the rights to her cash cow and then never look at the product?

Yeah, Rowling is probably not maliciously thinking about how she can make it worse. But at the very least, she wrote enough into her work to inspire people to make harmful stories like this, and a literal billionaire can't be bothered to hire people who give a shit (about any of her many issues) to screen things on her behalf. In the age we live in, I think it's telling that she doesn't even try. o

That new Potter game looks like it's just magical blood libel except they want you to burn the Jewish village down.

[mevekagvain]

Cats, Regrets, and a Dash of Dumbass - Chapter 1

@nervousartgirl9132002 you know how you mentioned that au where Urokai and Frankenstein make a blood contract? Yea. Also shameless and self indulgent hcs from me plus ocs (they're all dead so does it really matter lol).

I also have this on Ao3 for those who prefer that!

.

.

Two years. It's been two goddamned years since that, human, that disgusting scientist or whatever he called himself, arrived at Lukedonia and started leeching off of Ser Raizel like a parasite. It's not that he hates humans. How could he? He's an Agvain. Rather, he just hates that Ser Raizel cares more for this human than him, than them. That he cares more for someone that only stays to protect himself over Edian who's given everything up for him. So he hates Frankenstein, no matter how stupidly attractive he may be.

Oh, Urokai didn't really care much for Lagus' plans at first, he still doesn't agree completely now, not with how it includes getting rid of the noblesse. Yet, it's becoming more and more tempting, though he's sure Zarga won't be happy with him if he does join. Neither of them have said anything to the lord about it, or of how Roctis is already working with Lagus, and of how Gradeus seems to be spiralling down deeper and deeper still into a pit of self-destruction. Slowly dying over his mother and brother being in eternal sleep despite it having occured over a millenia prior. The guilt eats at Urokai, not as much as Dragus does, nor as much as how the Agvain soul weapon slowly drives him insane, but it is there. Edian's situation is the worst though. He doesn't know how he stays quiet about her mind being controlled, doesn't know how he hasn't revealed it to the lord, but he knows why Gradeus doesn't, and he knows why Zarga doesn't utter a word despite his disapproval, despite his disgust.

It's because Gradeus wants to do something so bad that the lord himself will put him into eternal sleep. Committing sin isn't his goal. He just wants to die, and in a way where he can justify that he's a horrible person. So even though Gradeus hates Edian's state more than him, even though he's terrified of his own actions, of the fact that he is sick and cannot control his own body at times, he acts as though he is fine. He acts as though he's the villain. As though he'll become one if he pretends hard enough. The worst part of it all is that it's working.

And Zarga. He only averts his eyes for Urokai. He does it because he cares for him and even though it tears him apart, he doesn't tell Zarga to stop. Doesn't tell him that he shouldn't sacrifice everything for him because he's pathetic and snaps at everything and has never been suitable for the role of the Agvain gaju.

Urokai isn't even putting himself down, it's merely the truth that he was never meant to be the gaju of his beloved clan. That position was meant for his twin sister, Arakei. Had been hers at one point because their father too, like him, hadn't been suitable for the position. They weren't suitable, not because they were lacking, but instead because they didn't miss one thing. Their sanity.

Arakei wasn't a cruel person, but she wasn't sane, and he had loved her more than anything, still loved her more than anything. His elder sister, the gaju before his father and only not in position anymore because she was too sickly, had been the greatest gaju their clan had ever had, and she had been missing enough screws in her head from the moment she was born that their father had raised her with thousands of rules compared to he and Arakei's ten. Yet Arakei is in eternal sleep just like their father, not from murder, but from Gradeus' body that can't be controlled, from Gradeus who he doesn't blame, only pities. His elder sister sleeps too. She fought, not out of duty, but for her beloved sister, Mergé Ennea di Gentilus, the previous lord, and only failed due to her miscarriage. Only failed because the previous lord could not handle her death and soon joined her in eternal sleep. Only failed because her sacrifice was in vain.

And just how could any sane person deal with Dragus' hunger? Deal with the whispers of countless gaju forced into insanity because they weren't meant for the role. Deal with the agony that coursed through the bearer of the Agvain soul weapon, because it's feelings were theirs too, and never be able to hate it or their role, because how can you hate your own clan? How can you hate the children of your own family, since for every Agvain that lives there are three who have passed before reaching twenty, and that is true even for the line of the gaju.

So no he isn't putting himself down. He's but a shell of his former self since Dragus came to him, and Zarga knows that. Knows it because he's a Siriana, and they, the Agvains, and the Kravei are close. Close because they are all dragons in one form or another, because their instincts try to claw out from the pathetic bodies they maintain to burst out and appear as how they really should be. Close, because they don't find it fearful or hard. So Urokai can't tell him to stop, not because he's selfish, but because he already has for thousands of things and has been refused everytime.

It's part of the reason why he stands before Ser Raizel's manor alone. He doesn't want Zarga to worry for him. To make his brows furrow or for him to look at him with that concern-filled face. To offer to accompany him or at least to send Gradeus (not Edian because even though he loves her he can't face her wrath if she is freed from her mind control just yet) with him in that quiet voice of his.

Urokai is small compared to the manor, and still would be small even if he was in the form of a hydra. After all, he knows his hate and anger makes him inferior, so even if he looks grand, looks imposing, he's nothing more than a fool trying to play a role not meant for him. If Ser Raizel did love anyone it would not be him. Could not be him. For he's too poisonous and a relationship like that would never work out so he always thinks of how it would be good for the noblesse to love Edian one day.

He ignores himself.

As he goes to Ser Raizel, a route that has never changed from the first time his elder sister brought him and Arakei to visit the Madam Noblesse, Ma'am Crespo Iglesias di Xuvunue, and her two sons, he holds the tiny grey kitten close to him. She's a calm little thing, and had been in his darling Xhama's first litter. He's already weaned her off, and Ser Raizel is sure to adore her.

Honestly, this wasn't planned. The idea of letting the noblesse raise a cat? Horrifying. Would he even be able to do such a thing? Probably not, but he can help out there, Urokai's not bad at teaching things. That's what his clan's elders say anyway; apparently he got the skill from his father. Not too surprising since Vaktel Agvain had been in charge of the education received by the Agvain children about their clan when he was still alive.

The first thing he sees is Ser Raizel standing by the window like always. The second thing is that the wood panelling of the whole room has been replaced, just like that of the hallways he walked through, and that everything smells fresher. The third is that Frankenstein is glaring at the sofa with some cloth clenched in his hands, and that he is soaked.

Perhaps he came at the wrong time.

Frankenstein doesn't notice him, and he's not sure if he should be insulted, or uncaring, after all, Ser Raizel has already felt his presence. The noblesse looks at him, or so he wishes.

His eyes focus on the kitten in his arms and even Urokai can tell that he's intrigued. Surprising since he usually can't differentiate all the minute expressions of his. Oh he tries. Tries and tries and tries. And he fails. He hasn't given up yet, but that doesn't make things any better, or any easier.

He moves forward and his girl mewls at Ser Raizel's movement. He pauses, and stops entirely. Is it out of confusion, or hesitation? Urokai can't tell.

"What idiocy have you brought this time?"

Unfortunately Frankenstein seems to have noticed him, and he bites back a 'Finally.' because he doesn't intend to start anything. There's no need to get worked up, or to act like a fool. So that means he can't get provoked.

He tries his best to give a curt reply.

"She isn't idiocy," Urokai says, and he's already failed his goal because even he can hear the annoyance in his voice, "She's much smarter than the Kertias. Rayga has failed to find her several times."

He wants to leave the manor the moment he finishes speaking because he's said something stupid again. Rayga probably wouldn't be pleased to learn that he had divulged that he played hide-and-seek with cats either. Especially not the fact that he lost. There's no chance it'll stay hidden with Frankenstein here. Everyone knows of the spars that occur, even the younger ones are aware.

The way Ser Raizel's face is blank as always doesn't help, and he doesn't even look at Frankenstein. If it wasn't for how he's always slipping up like this (around Edian the most so why did he mess up here?) he'd have ran the moment he finished speaking. Now he simply ignores his actions and lets his girl down on the sofa that Frankenstein has a vendetta against. He hears angered words behind him as he does but it's little more than a buzzing in the background.

"Frankenstein." Ser Raizel speaks and it's a calm warning that makes Urokai glad he wasn't listening because nothing good could have been said. Maybe he could have weathered taunts against himself (lies), but not against anybody else.

His girl stumbles around on the damp furniture, constantly lifting a paw after a few steps and looking to him in indignant confusion. She's sweet, no doubt about it, but spoiled. He doesn't mind. She likes being carried and he likes carrying her.

When she leaps off of the sofa he feels a foreign cold choking against his throat. Ser Raizel is horrified, but it turns to a gentle caress from the breeze that children are prone to feel as she lands on the ground more nimbly than any noble could.

Watching as she explores the ground, and trying not to laugh at how Ser Raizel's flinches when she stretches on his foot, he suppresses the glow of his eyes. It's improper and all he wants is to be liked, so even though holding it back hurts so bad he wants to cry, he pretends that the flow of the snake on his shoulders hasn't become a heavy chain. Pretends that he doesn't feel eyes taking over his body and consuming it whole.

Then he almost does cry when his girl stops in front of Frankenstein. She's looking at the bastard expectantly, the way she does whenever she wants to be picked up, and it's a bit too obvious that she's taken a liking to him. Urokai doesn't like this. Of course he doesn't. But he hates the way she's ignored more because she's deserving of more. The resentment in his voice is clear but nothing can be done about it.

"She wants you to pick her up."

Disgust flashes over Frankenstein's face and he feels like his stomach is a pot, or perhaps a cauldron. It's boiling and threatening to spill so he screams at his fire to calm itself. The response is it flaring up angrier, but then he can feel the pain and it diminishes into a spark, quivering and apologising like a child. He wants to comfort his fire because it's not its fault or burden to bear, yet the time isn't right. Though is the time ever right for anything?

"Why must I do that? It's a cat, nothing more, nothing less."

Faster than he can force himself quite or Ser Raizel can let the feathery (itchy) disapproval over the entire room, he replies, "She. Izil isn't an it."

He regrets it.

"Izil? You would give yout cat such a stupid name?"

He doesn't regret it.

"I suppose that as a human you wouldn't know much. It was my grandfather's name." Urokai doesn't even stop his sneer, unable to tell what the electricity in his ears or the mist that blinds his eyes are.

Izil shouldn't have to hear this blasphemy. She's only a child and even if Frankenstein doesn't like cats he shouldn't be so, so, rude. He could have just refused. Politely!

"You named a female cat after your grandfather? What sort of twisted scenario is that?" Frankenstein doesn't have even a hair out of place compared to how his fire is burning with him and how he's tearing himself up.

Half shouting, half trying not to wail because the man that smiles in his elder sister's paintings is someone he's never met, his words start to turn incoherent. He says something about how it's a fitting name. How his grandfather was mistaken to be everything his girl is.

He practically sounds like a child when he says, "It's a traditional name for both sexes!" Not because he's wrong, but because he's broken the promise he made to himself and how it feels like he's throwing a tantrum. How he wants the burning warmth of suns upon his skin rather than the gentle cold on his neck.

It continues on like this. Frankenstein growing annoyed as Urokai winds himself up tighter and tighter. Goes on and on until Ser Raizel says "Stop."

Frankenstein ignores him, and the fog in his eyes has grown so thick that he can barely care of the arrogance that they both show. Can barely notice Izil's distressed voice by his feet.

"Perhaps," he says, voice cold, "We should make a contract. Maybe then you'll understand that humans aren't useless."

"Maybe," Urokai says, unable to tell him that he knows humans are amazing. That if his elder sister could love them so dearly, if she could take one as a lover, they couldn't be inferior. He doesn't though, because his emotions control him and he can't articulate anything more than insults. He can't remember everything he thinks about when he's calm. "We should."

Ser Raizel doesn't even stop them them as Urokai lets blood flow from his fingers as if he wants to die rather than make a contract. He doesn't stop them as Frankenstein cringes at the fire in his blood that must surely burn his throat, or as the blood in his (it tastes like metal and it's horrible but the influx of emotions is even worse because they're so clear and vivid and if he likes cats than why did he act like such an asshole?) makes Dragus sob and tug at him. He's hungry but Urokai can't feed him now, at least not what he wants.

Only when he manages to push all the new emotions down do his actions become clear to him. Ser Raizel is staring at them and Izil is crying as Frankenstein starts to speak.

He picks her up and runs.

[maggotmouth]

     hullo it nora, back for more mess. this unhinged little nightmare is cecily who i first birthed around 3 years ago and i am so excited to finally be playing her again. feral wolf girl who loves silk babydoll dresses and bubblegum but would also cut your femoral artery if she was bored. is the eptome of that “somethin dangerous about the boredom of teenage girls” trope. amma crellin meets harley quinn meets addy hanlon.  ( pinterest )

APP.

( nora. 22. gmt. she / her. ) it might be HER FRESHMAN year but I still think CECILY DE ROSA looks exactly like FREYA MAVOR and sometimes I think the FEMALE is actually them. Of course I’m wrong, as they’re 19 and studying THEATRE while living in FIDELIS here at Lockwood. The GEMINI can be rather PUCKISH and CANDID, but also kind of SELF-CENTRED and HYSTERICAL. Their most played song on Spotify was CELL BLOCK TANGO by CATHERINE ZETA JONES AND THE COMPANY OF CHICAGO, so I think that says a lot.

BACKGROUND.

tw death suicide murder proceed w caution

born as ‘lamia romana’ in italy to catholic parents. her father was a struggling alcoholic and incredibly depressed. when cece was 4, and her brother was 3 her father fed the gas pipe through the back of their car whilst they prepared to go on their family holiday because he knew suicide would leave his wife and children penniless so he decided the most selfless thing would be to take them with him

cecily (lamia) and her brother luc by some miracle survived the accident, but were left orphaned. they were sent to a convent where they were raised by nuns. cece was incredibly religious. it became her whole life. she was devoted to god completely, almost crazed, because in the absence of parents she transferred the need for a guider and protector onto this spiritual other evoked by her religious beliefs.

she always had a strained relationship w her brother because she believed he wasn’t as devoted to catholicism as she was. when she was 13 he claimed that god wasn’t real and that she was a freak, and in a violent rage cecily thrust a crucifix through his throat. it was completely out of character for her. she screamed until her throat went dry. eventually,  when the nuns managed to tear her away from her brother’s body, she was taken to a psychiatric hospital in manhattan where she stayed for two years. driven to madness, she convinced herself that she had been possessed by the devil the moment she killed her brother, and soon she began to accept her fate, as not holy, like she had anticipated, but in fact it’s ungoldy antithesis

when she was released, she was adopted by an american distant aunt and uncle and sent to a manhattan boarding school under the new name ‘cecily de rosa’. see also: st. trinnians. lifted of any religious obligation, cecily grew wild. she delighted in acting up, cheeking her superiors, causing havoc and chaos, terrifying the other girls. sex became her weapon – she would seduce the boys from the local comprehensive and drop them like flies. to her, it was merely a game. 

uses sex as a weapon, a way in which to manipulate men, having filmed sexual liasons with both a former acting coach and a TA to use for the purposes of blackmail. 

 her expulsion from school was threatened after she streaked the school naked and doused in pig blood, but her academic prowess was an asset to the school, so they learnt to put up with her antics. she applied for yale but didn’t get in.

 she atended juliard for a year but was thrown out for indecency

theatre-wise, one of Cecily’s most commendable traits is her sheer tenacity and lack of inhibition – she is willing to do whatever it takes to climb to the top, and kick as many other people down as necessary on her way there. tthis unhinged hunger for success was evidenced when, in her breakout role, cecily played Tamora in Titus Andronicus. feeling the presentation of one of shakespeare’s most terrifying women was ‘pussy-footed’ and dulled down for a male audience, cecily took matters into her own hands, and during the famous banquet scene where Tamora is fed her own sons, she ate a pig’s heart live on stage – receiving both awestruck and horrified press reviews for her performance -- and getting expelled from her drama school. (thats why she is now at lockwood)

she is in a sorority house n the gymnastic squad. she speaks fluently in four languages. the kind f sociopathic lana del rey writes songs about. 

was raised Roman Catholic, and although she is now estranged from religion, it’s still an integral part of her identity. She holds it partially responsible for the need to repress emotion she still experiences. The only time she allows herself to truly feel, without perceiving it as a weakness, is when she’s performing

cecily was raised with dual-nationality and is multi-lingual. Her parents frequently spoke both Italian and English around the house, leading cecily to do the same. She is also somewhat familiar with Latin, having studied it alongside Literature, Contemporary Dance and Theatre at a manhattan-based performing arts boarding school.

ethereal wood elf. plays flute and does ballet. her favourite tv shows are making a murderer and dance moms. she is big on Tchaikovsky and Bukowski. poetry to cecily is soup of the soul, despite the fact that the only things she really feels are apathy and mild disgust. her poems mostly centre around the beauty of violence -- writing about it often prevents her from committing violent acts -- and also her cat.

loves gettin fucked up. always high on sometin -- cocaine, ecstasy, love, her own ego.

had her first taste of alcohol at 15 and has stayed fond of spirits ever since. likes literature of the macabre, isn’t fond of social media, and loves knee high socks and glitter. she bites her nails, will only take cold showers, and doesn’t drink coffee. loves cats. is vegan.

she sleeps like a cat, regularly but short amounts of time, and is usually found awake at night stalking the streets in the pursuit of self-destruction. she views herself as pansexual because she is attracted to people rather than genders but she thinks men are trash. probably biromantic or homoromantic. she loves the chase. she likes meaningless sexual liasons, but if hearts are broken in the process, even better. hearts are breakable and she believes those who have them are foolish.

aesthetic:  peroxide hair in a bathtub, bleach, glittery socks under spaghetti strap heels, silk slip dresses, glitter smeared beneath eyes, split knuckles, nose bleeds, a bubble of blue gum snapped against cherry flavoured lips, orange peel, knee-high socks, tartan two-piece skirt and blazers, kate moss posters ripped out of vogue, littering a bedroom wall, yearbook photos tacked together with red thread, clip in highlights, stick on earrings, french music humming from a crackly gramophone, a hip flask covered with hello kitty stickers

PLOTS.

i currently have NO PLOTS for her so everything is open. if you want a cousin / ex-lover / friend with benefits  / bully, or are dying for a specific connection, let me know or like this post and i will msg you!! LOVE U ALL xoxo

more plots all of these are plagiarised:

“you were drunk and you climbed in through my apartment window and I’m not really sure how you managed it because not only is the fire escape broken but you are really fucking plastered wtf please, teach me your skills?”

“i set your kitchen on fire ‘by accident’ because i hate your guts, and you know it was me but you have no evidence”

“we’re in a breakfast club style all day detention”

“you came over for ‘help studying’ and my roommate came home five minutes after we were done hooking up and you got roped into a conversation about her dogs and everyone is uncomfortable”

“we’re friends but it’s a really toxic relationship made up of trying to one up each other all the time”

“I caught you writing gay porn in the library and now you’re terrified i’ll tell everyone, but really i’m just waiting for the next instalment”

“i asked you to help me sneak my cat into my dorm but we got caught by the janitor and now we’re both in the principal’s office”

“you saw me come back to my apartment covered in blood one night, but you’ve never asked about it because you’re scared that yours might be the next blood i’m covered in”

“you broke into my apartment while I was out for whatever reason and when I came home I knocked you out and now you’re unconscious on my floor and idk what to do?”

“i just decked you in the face because i’m drunk and you were pissing me off but ow my hand really fucking hurts i think i might have broke it and oh look your nose is bleeding and now we’re both sitting awkwardly in the hospital while i glare at you from across the room. but wait are you giving me sex eyes?? stop that i’m supposed to mad at you??”

“you keep dragging suspicious sacks up to and down from your apartment and I don’t know what your deal is or why I still wanna bone you”

“we’re in the same rocky horror troupe”

“i stayed over at your house and woke you up in the middle of the night to have sex while your roommate is asleep and every time, your room mate yells “STOP FUCKING, JESUS CHRIST” right when we’re about to finish”

“we used to have a thing but  now we hate each others guts and can’t be in the same room without yelling at one another”

“i had a drunk one night stand with your brother last year and i threw up in your room, and now we’re in a class together and it’s really awkward.”

[thecartoonarchivist]

Weekly Spotlight #4

Week number 4 of the Weekly Spotlight! I apologize for the wait; I’m still working out the kinks in my schedule.

Alrighty! So! Our weekly spotlight winner is:

*an even more vibrant drumroll!*

My Life as a Teenage Robot

I have a lot of fond memories of this show, as I’m sure many others do. Before sitting down and rewatching a couple episodes, from what I remembered about it, it was a little bit of an odd-ball. It always skirted this line of being accessible enough that the average viewer could relate to it while also being straight up bizarre enough to remember just how different this world is from our own. This show would mix the 1950′s aesthetic with science fiction concepts to cement itself, at least in my mind, alongside other animations such as Meet The Robinsons, George Shrinks! and, oddly enough, Samurai Jack. It was a slice of life, mixed with action and adventure, and some elements of horror? Which... ended up distinguishing itself from other similar “crime fighting teenagers” like Kim Possible, Teen Titans, or W.I.T.C.H. As a result, this show dealt with a lot of common problems and themes that teenagers faced in very odd ways, all under the guise of an action, sci-fi show.

So let’s have a little bit of a history lesson, shall we?

Back in the late 90′s, Nickelodeon began to host a show that was called Oh Yeah! Cartoons which has been called TV’s biggest animation development program ever. Dozens of filmmakers were contracted by Nickelodeon to create 7 minute cartoons that would be spliced together into a half-hour time-slot. This “show” would then air on television and depending on the approval ratings of the audience, these cartoon shorts would then be commissioned into a TV show for Nick. Producing nearly 100 of these cartoon shorts, this “animation laboratory” would jumpstart many individuals’ careers in the industry such as Seth MacFarlane, Vincent Waller, Dave Wasson, and Butch Hartman.

One such individual would be a man named, Rob Renzetti with a short titled, My Neighbor Was A Teenage Robot. Due to very high approval ratings, Nickelodeon commission for the show and would later on be titled, My Life As a Teenage Robot. It aired in 2003 and was eventually cancelled after 3 seasons (ironically) due to poor ratings.

So for our premise!

Jenny (or, XJ-9, as her mother calls her) is a crime-fighting, superhero robot who dreams of being a teenage girl just like other human beings. However, she has to juggle her duties as a superhero and her social life as a teenager, which leads wacky shenanigans, problems, and overall, grief  for Jenny as she attempts to fit in. She’s partnered with her friends Brad and Tuck as they tag along on her adventures, and she even has an admirer named, Sheldon, who tries to woo her in his own awkward way. She fights monsters, aliens, and a robot queen named, Vexus who is trying to recruit Jenny her robot world the planet Cluster Prime, while also dealing with the Crust Cousins who are out to destroy Jenny’s social reputation. Can a girl ever catch a break?

These episodes are broken up into 2 eleven minute segments with problems that are usually resolved by the end of the episode. There isn’t so much of a “continuity” per se, but there are episodes that reference earlier ones so while you can dive right in with any old episode you want, I’d keep in mind which one I’m choosing.

So on the whole how did this series hold up?

Well, the first several episodes are pretty shaky. Although the visuals were very unique to watch and the soundtrack was entertaining to listen to, I felt that some of the episodes weren’t all that entertaining. The problems felt fairly realistic, or at least believable for a “teenage robot,” however, it was easy to tell that the creators were still figuring out what they wanted to do with this series. What kind of character did they want to make Jenny? What kind of dynamic did they want the support cast to be like? What kind of bad guys did they want Jenny to go up against? And as a result, some of the early episodes suffered in quality. Overall, I felt like the first season, especially a lot of the first half, was simply establishing the status quo of the series. Yet, in spite of this, there were several episodes that I felt that the series really hit its stride and gave a solid balance of uniqueness and familiarity that left me both intrigued for more and very entertained with the product I’ve received.

There were some episodes that left me simply... disturbed. Two of them being Attack of 5 and 1/2 ft. Geek and The Return of the Raggedy Android. Some of you might remember the second one as the skin episode... (And if you don’t, consider yourself blessed...) With Attack of the 5 and 1/2 ft. Geek, Jenny has a screw loose in her arm and solicits the help of Sheldon to fix her problem. Having a large passion for robotics, Sheldon is not only happy to help but also becomes extremely infatuated with Jenny after she saves him. Extremely infatuated. To the point of stalking her. And showering her with unnecessary gifts. The others kids at school even laugh at her and bully her for her newfound “boyfriend.” Jenny is obviously embarrassed and uncomfortable and finds any excuse to get away from him. Eventually, she gets a call from her mother saying that there’s a gang downtown (the Lonely Heart’s Club, btw) which is causing havoc and requires her assistance. With Sheldon following her every move, the gang gets very jealous of Sheldon and Jenny’s “relationship” and kidnaps Sheldon. Jenny has to swoop in and save him, having also finally snapped at having Sheldon being called her boyfriend. She goes off, calling Sheldon creepy, a stalker, and a host of other things that are not only accurate, but legitimate concerns that any other teenage girl would have in such a situation. Sheldon is hurt and in a weird turn of events, he saves Jenny after she gets captured during her rant. The episode ends with Jenny apologizing about what she said and says that maybe they can hang out sometime... as friends. Just... friends. Sheldon goes on to be a recurring character of the series, causing a lot of shenanigans and other problems as a result of his infatuation.

Since the series ended with Jenny never establishing a relationship with either Brad nor Sheldon, many speculate as to which one she would have started dating. Although there aren’t any definitive answers from the team about who would have ended up with, the team appears to favor Sheldon as a candidate. Which... I find very problematic.

Sheldon stalked her, made her uncomfortable, and through the course of the series, lied to her, toyed with her emotions, and caused her much emotional grief. And yet, she’s supposed to apologize to Sheldon for being so “cruel” even though she was voicing some legitimate concerns about his conduct, and eventually end up with him as a boyfriend? Nuh-uh. No bueno. That’s not exactly something you should be teaching little girls. If she is uncomfortable being around him, she shouldn’t be obligated to hang out with him--- even if it hurts his feelings. And by remaining friends with him, she’s using him for upgrades her mother denies; stringing him along with the possibility of being “more than friends”; and overall, setting up an uncomfortable situation for both of them to be in. I don’t see how that’s okay to promote that kind of relationship to any kid. It’s just simple wish fulfillment and for a TV show that will be shown to children, that’s not okay. Keep it in your personal diary, or on your personal computer, because promoting this sort of relationship is extremely toxic and I don’t approve. At all.

Now... the infamous skin episode...

The basic problem of the episode is that Jenny wants to hang out at teenage hotspot called Mezmer’s. However, the owner of the shop won’t allow her in because she’s a robot. Remembering the freakish false skin that her mother designed her several episodes before, she attempts to reuse it after having received several upgrades to make it more believable. And it works! She becomes beautiful! More popular! She even gets to dance with Don Prima, the local heartthrob that Jenny has a crush on! Overall, she’s simply... normal. However, the second-skin seems to have a life of its own and puts itself on in Jenny’s sleep. It coaxes her to be more normal, to stop fighting crime, to focus on her beauty and her looks because that’s what a normal girl does. But once Brad becomes endangered by an intergalactic biker gang that threats destroy the shop, Jenny sheds her new skin and learns to accept herself for all her imperfections and unique personality traits. Because that’s what’s truly normal about her.

This episode was probably the most prominent that I remembered watching as a kid. And for a good reason too... This. Episode. Was. Horrifying! I’m not even kidding! Rewatching this as an adult, I kept thinking to myself “This is a children’s show?!?” One of the first interactions that we see with this new skin is that it claws its way up Jenny’s body while she shouts, “I can’t breathe!”

Later on, we see the exoskin crawl its way across Jenny’s floor and attack her like a snake while she sleeps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJjJmGv6ztY

(The video is pretty poor quality, but it’s the only one I can find.)

What. The. Fuck.

Oh, but it’s alright because she sheds the skin in the end and everything returns to a relative normal.

Except for the fact that the ending implies that the skin takes another victim and survives. Yeah. IT’S A REAL THING.

The message that the episode taught was great. It’s a message that teenage girls really do need to hear: that you have your own normal and that trying to be others’ version of “normal” can end up changing who you really are and up taking away all of the cool, badass qualities that make you, well, you. The problem is that this episode is so terrifying how the hell do you show this to kids?!? The fact that I remembered this episode so vividly despite the fact that I haven’t seen this show since it aired is a testament to the fact that it I probably shouldn’t have watched it as a child. I just... I’m baffled on how this got made! It’s... just... *shivers.*

I mean, questionable episodes aside, the show itself was interesting. The visuals were certainly unique and interesting to watch. The character designs were so original and iconic that going back and watching the original cartoon short, it’s kind of crazy that they weren’t always like that. The soundtrack, sound effects, even some of the voice acting was enjoyable the listen to. As I said before, it has a very 50′s aesthetic with a futuristic twist, which gives it this odd balance between feeling dated but also surprisingly modern. The backgrounds appear to be hand-painted, which is probably the reason for its dated look; I think it was a rather nice touch. I honestly have to give it to the sound effects department for being so on top of the little noises and such for every little movement Jenny made. It really created a sense of life in the character and I really did appreciate it in the small moments. I will have to say though, going back and watching this series, it didn’t exactly age as well as I had hoped. There were some nice episodes that I enjoyed but many of the episodes I found were pretty mediocre at best. Maybe it’s simply because I’ve gotten older and many of the jokes/gags just weren’t funny anymore. Maybe it’s because the characters themselves were simply 2-dimensional at best and dealt with stereotypical teenage problems. I’m not sure but really, I just wasn’t amused. Now, maybe I just need to watch more of this series as it appears to be a bit of a slow burn but really I’m just not that hype to jump on rewatching it.

If I had to rate this show, I’d probably give it a 6.8 out of 10. 

I’ll probably sit down and rewatch all of this at some point; after all, it seems decent enough. But really, if I never watch it again, I wouldn’t be too upset. It’s pretty much what I’d call “bubble gum TV;” if I want to turn on something mindless for a little while, I’d probably watch it but I wouldn’t be too invested. It’s just pretty... bland.

I think a lot of people have a bit of rose-tinted goggles when looking at this show and as such, it becomes kind of hard to criticize it. Does it deserve to be forgotten? Not necessarily. But I don’t think that it’s really as great as a lot of people think of it to be.

As for me, I’m gonna put this back in the shelves of my vault to watch one day. But when that day will be? We’ll just have to wait around and see what happens.

[Edit 11/21/118: I’m testing out a new tagging system. Let’s see if this fixes the broken links issues.]

If there are any corrections you’d like to make in regards to this post, please feel free to send me a message with your corrections and I’ll get back to it as soon as I can!

Do you remember a cartoon your friends have never heard of? Got a scene from an animated film that you’re dying to know the name to? Send your questions to The Cartoon Archivist and I’ll see what I’ve got in the vault!

[qeterqujll]

Panic Room p.1

summary: when the end of the world arrives, you have a front row seat. mental institution/apocolypse au based on the music video for panic room by au/ra

characters: nurse!peter maximoff x patient!reader, doctor!charles xavier, nurse!logan howlett, patient!erik lehnsherr

warnings: angst, a hint of fluff, mental instability, cursing, mentions of death

a/n: au where mutants haven’t been researched as extensively as they are in the movies, so mutants are sent to mental institutions. also, mutant cases are more rare then they are in the movies. 

(part 1) (part 2) (part 3)

Hell raising, hair raising, I'm ready for the worst. So frightening, face whitening, fear that you can't reverse.

When you first started showing signs of being a mutant, your parents thought that maybe their child had been possessed. You don’t blame them, with the way mutants are demonized, and you’ll admit that it scared the hell out of you at first. You soon found, however, that your mutation was more helpful than you thought it would be. The ability to see into the future, whether it be near or far, came in handy with the additional bonus of telekinesis. Although, you didn’t come to that realization until about a year after the night your visions started.

You didn’t tell your parents anything when you figured out that the strange things happening to you were, in fact, your mutation, but you should have known that them finding out on their own was inevitable. 

The main component of your mutation was seeing into the future, and visions of the future appeared to you in the form of dreams. The dreams you had been having about the future had been quite calm so far and you were still trying to make any sense out of them. Then, the nightmares started. 

They were horrible, the screams and the flashing lights, making you wake up almost blind for a few moments before you could adjust your eyes back to the normal lighting of your room. You would often wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat, shaking as you tried to rid your mind of the images that had plagued it only moments ago. 

But those hopes were to no avail and the dreams only got worse. Pretty soon you were waking up screaming instead of crying and your parents would rush into the room, trying to find out what was happening. You had to tell them eventually.

Their first reaction still hurt even though you had seen it coming: disgust. How could they have created a mutant? How could they have created a monster? 

After the initial phase of astonishment and fear, they decided that a hospital was the best place to take you. Most people across the country and even across the world had heard of Xavier’s Hospital for Mutants, a place where parents could take their children if they had a mutation. The truth of the matter was that most people feared mutants. There were even people who believed mutants were demons, children of the devil. Those people were nutty and most didn’t go as far as to say something like that, but no human would want to interact with a mutant. 

“And why have you brought Ms. Y/L/N in today?” 

Dr. Xavier stands in front of your parents, taking down information about you as they go on about their concern for your wellbeing. He’s heard it all before, from his own mother as well. “I don’t know how this happened.” “It doesn’t run in the family.” “Is there anyway to reverse it?” 

“I’m sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Y/L/N, but I’m afraid mutations are irreversible. It’s in her genes and neither of you may have mutations, but some of your ancestors most definitely did.” 

Your mother and father exchange a horrified look at the prospect of having even a scrap of mutant DNA running through their veins, and the looks on their faces are almost comical to him. 

“I know this is quite the shock,” he tells them, although they seem to catch the insincerity of his words, but they don’t comment, “but I assure you, your daughter will be taken care of here.” 

Charles doesn’t like to go through people’s minds often, but with some people he just can’t seem to help himself. Your parents happen to be two of the people he feels the need to flip through like a file, and the first thing he hears from your mother is, is this man a mutant? It’s funny how the people he decides to read are always the ignorant ones

“I am, actually, but that’s nothing for you to be worried about. The owner of this building is not a mutant and it’s his belief that mutants will get the best care from other mutants.”

Your mother looks at the doctor with a horrified expression, suddenly rethinking the idea to bring you here. But so many people have come here and said that the results were better then they ever could have asked, so she tries to ignore the fact that the man standing in front of her just read her mind and thinks about anything other than her concerns about him in fear that he’s still digging through her thoughts.

“Now,” Charles says, looking behind the couple to try and see his newest patient, “can I meet Y/N?”

“She’s...in the car,” your mother says quietly, leaving the building with a bit of a dazed expression on her face. Charles can’t really blame her. People like her and your father, who have such a limited understanding of mutants, are a bit overwhelmed having a civil conversation with one. He does understand it, it’s just the way most people were raised. With the idea that mutants aren’t human. He’s sure you were raised that way as well, and his goal for every mutant who is brought in by a pair of terrified parents is to help them learn that their mutation does not make them any less human than anyone else.

Charles sits in a somewhat awkward silence with your father as they wait for you, not sure whether or not the man will strike up a conversation or give him more information about the patient. As he expected, nothing. 

When your mother walks back in with you by her side, the first thing Charles notes is that you look like you haven’t slept in days. From what he was told about you, you’ve been having visions of what you say are of the future, but that’s not what is concerning your parents. The last time they came in during one of your nightmares, everything in your room was levitating...including you. You have a mutation similar to one of his other patients, Jean Gray, but seeing the future is new to him. He’s never heard of anything like it, and with the right teaching you will be able to see danger from miles away. 

He stands, as does your father, and everyone spends a moment looking at you. They all wait for you to say something, but you look like you’re in some sort of trance. Again, Charles doesn’t like to read minds, and he’s even more against reading yours then reading your parents. But he sees the expression on your face and thinks that, at this point, the only way to know what has you in this state is to go to the source. 

“Thank you for coming in today,” he tells your parents, “is there anything else you’d like me to explain to you before you leave?” 

He expected them to want to get out of the building as fast as possible, so he’s taken by surprise when they nod, asking if they can have a short meeting with him about the care you’ll be getting. He supposes that they may fear you now more than they did before, but you’re still their daughter and they still care about you. 

“Peter,” Charles says to the passing nurse as he makes his rounds. He motions for Peter to come over and take you to one of the vacant rooms, taking you from your mother's arm and guiding you to Peter. He nods and puts a hand on your back to guide you upstairs. 

“He’ll see that she’s taken to a room. We have plenty of open ones, you have nothing to worry about,” Charles smiles, seeing the couples’ obvious discomfort at having Peter, who had run over to them using his mutation, leading their daughter away from them. 

“That boy,” you father points at Peter, “he’s a nurse?” 

“That he is,” Charles nods, smiling at the two as they disappear down the hall, “one of the best we have. He gets where he needs to be.” 

“Y/N, I’m a mutant as well,” Charles tells you. He had just come back from talking to your parents and felt it necessary to have a talk with you about your move here, “I have the ability to...read minds.” 

As he expected, there is obvious fear in your eyes, and he hears you ask a silent question, has he been reading mine?

“I haven’t,” he tells you, and your eyes widen even further, but you remain silent, “but I was wondering if you would be okay with me looking at some of your dreams.”

You speak for the first time, and your voice is hoarse from what he’s guessing is disuse. 

“Why?” 

Charles leans forward, looking you in the eyes long enough that it would make most people shift in their seat, but you meet his gaze, unfazed. “Because I’ve never seen a mutation like yours. In all my years, I’ve seen a lot, but never someone with the ability to see the future. I want to know more so that I can give you the best care here.” 

“You want to study me,” you state, looking into his eyes to read his reaction to your accusation. 

Charles laughs shortly and shakes his head. “No, not at all. This isn’t a lab. Think of it more as...as a school.” 

“School?”

Charles nods and points around the room, encouraging you to look where he’s pointing. “Look at where you are. Does this look like a room that would be in a mental hospital?”

You follow his finger, taking a moment to look around at the details of the room that you hadn't seen when you first walked in. There’s a small dresser with some books stacked on the top in the corner of the room. The walls and all of the furniture are wood, not white like you would expect from a hospital. And the sheets aren’t white either, they’re a light blue. All in all, the room is very colorful, not at all what you’d expect from a hospital.

“It doesn’t.”

“No, it doesn’t,” he repeats, meeting your gaze again. “I know what you think about mutants. You’ve been taught to fear us, and now yourself. But I can assure you that we’re just like everyone else. We just have a little...upgrade. Mutations aren’t dangerous if you know how to control them, and that’s what I teach at this school.” 

“But...parents are happy with the results of the hos- of the school. If you’re not doing anything to stop people from using their powers, why do you get such good reviews?” 

“Because by teaching mutants to control their powers, they can easily hide them.” 

It’s a smart idea, teach people to contain what society doesn’t want to see, but you’re still having trouble getting past the fact that you’re basically going to school again. Except this time it’s because you have powers, and you’ll be surrounded by other mutants instead of normal people like you. 

Well, not like you anymore.

“Now, about looking at those dreams of yours...” 

You look at him, unsure of the proposal, but you know that the best way for him to teach you is to know exactly what he’s teaching. You nod and he smiles, telling you to relax and close your eyes, clearing your mind of any distracting thoughts. To focus solely on the dreams. 

You can feel him in your mind, going through your memories and avoiding the ones that are irrelevant to his goal, skimming over ones that might be of use later. Finally, he finds what he’s looking for. The particular dream he finds is from a few nights ago, one of the worst you’ve had. 

He takes a minute, but by the time he takes his hand off your forehead and tells you to open your eyes, you feel like no time has passed at all. It almost put you to sleep, the gentle feeling of the doctor digging through your memories. You guess that he’s had a lot of practice to make it feel that calming. 

“That is...something,” he snaps your out of your thoughts.

“Did you see it?” 

“It was fuzzy. Dreams aren’t like memories, they’re harder for me to see. It’s difficult to remember dreams exactly as they happened, so trying to see someone else’s is very difficult. But I saw fragments. I saw enough to get the big picture.” 

You look at each other for a long moment before you can barely help from telling him what you think it means

“I know what it is,” you whisper, getting his attention away from his own thoughts, “it’s the end of the world.” 

“I’d like you to keep an eye on her, “Charles says as he walks alongside Peter, who had been itching to get away from the doctor for just a minute to stretch his legs, but his day had been one of the busiest of the month and he figured his itch to run could wait until his shift ended.

“Who? Y/N?” Peter takes your file from Charles and flips through it, skimming through the notes Charles had taken about your dreams. You had been at the school only one night, and fortunately it had been free of nightmares. It was important to Charles that you have a good nights sleep your first night in the hospital. If your first night in an unfamiliar place had been taken over by a nightmare, it would have made adjusting to your new life that much harder.

“If she has an episode, someone needs to be there to wake her up. I don’t know how much harm she can do when she’s asleep, but I’d rather not find out.” 

“Can’t someone who has a night shift do it?” 

“I’m just trying to have you around her because you’re her age, she’ll trust you more. She wasn’t like you when you came in Peter, her parents view us as monsters and it will take her longer to adjust. And if she’s having an episode I’m not sure if having Logan burst in on her is the best idea.”

“Right,” Peter sighs, handing the file back, “so I’m a babysitter now?” 

Charles chuckles and shakes his head. “I don’t think ‘babysitter’ is the right word for it.” 

“Charles, I love it here, but I don’t get paid enough for this.” 

“Trust me, Peter, neither do I.” 

Trust is hard for you at a place like this. Charles’ suspicions about you not being too fond of mutants was right. Your parents had instilled the idea that mutants were nothing but poison to society into you from a young age. The idea was to keep you away from them, but those ideas didn’t help you adjust to becoming one of them.

Meeting them is far from what you expected. You’ve had yet to meet anyone in the hospital who has been anything but kind to you. Charles is probably the kindest person you’ve ever met, from the words of encouragement when you’re trying to learn to control your powers to the way he looks out for every one of his patients. Hank reminds you of a friend from sophomore year, so you’ve found yourself incapable of being intimidated by his appearance, and Jean reminds you a lot of yourself. Everyone in the hospital, whether they work there or they’re a patient, has been the opposite of your image of a mutant.

The only person you have yet to meet is the man in the room next to yours, Erik. According to Charles, he’s one of the more unstable patients with one of the more dangerous mutations. He thinks it’s better if Erik just stays in his room. You’ve found that you agree him.

Peter is who you spend the most time with, and he has become the person you go to for almost everything. Whether you’re bored or in need of someone to talk to, Peter is the first person you think of.

“Do they scare you?” he asks one day when the two of you are taking a walk through the courtyard. There’s not much to do in the hospital, but you’re content just walking outside with Peter and watching everyone play games or practice their powers.

“What? The dreams?” you raise your eyebrows, pursing your lips when he nods. “Yeah. I mean, it’s doesn’t make much sense. All I see are people running screaming and lights are flashing making it hard to make out anything, but I just feel so much pain and...and death.”

Peter listens carefully, knowing that he’ll have to write down what you’re saying when you go back inside. This seems like something Charles would want to know, seeing as how he’d taken a specific interest in you and your dreams. Peter has to admit, the possibility of you being able to see into the future is fascinating, but neither him nor Charles know if that’s what this is. There’s always the possibility that these are just nightmares and your only mutation is telekinesis.

“That must be horrible to see.” 

You nod. “It feels like I’m just...watching the world end.” 

Days pass and Peter sticks with you for most of them, coming and going when he can, helping give you tips about your power, and even showing you his own. You had finally met Erik, who, as it turns out, is Peter’s father. Apparently the man had been through more than anyone was willing to explain, but as Peter had put it, he had lost more than anyone else in the hospital. 

“He has you, doesn’t he?” 

Peter shrugs. “At this point, I’m not really enough.” 

My phone has no signal, It's making my skin crawl, the silence is so loud. The lights spark and flicker with monsters much bigger than I can control now.

The night you had your first nightmare in the hospital was much later than anyone expected. It was on your fifth day staying in the hospital, and you were praying before then that they were ending. It had been months since the dreams had stopped for this long and it felt like the weight of the world was lifting off your shoulders. 

Then tonight, it all fell back and the feeling of it was crushing. 

This dream wasn’t unlike any of the others. Screams, lights, pain, death, the whole package. But this time things were a bit clearer. There were these...awful growls coming from every direction, like something was surrounding you. You could vaguely make out blurry forms of what looked like animals near you, and suddenly the overwhelming feeling of being absolutely powerless washed over you. That feeling, along with the familiar feeling of death seeping into your mind, was probably what triggered it this time. 

When Peter ran into the room, calling Logan’s name along the way, the sight before him was something he hadn’t expected. You had explained to him what  happened before and he thought he had a good picture of how bad the episodes would get, but he was wrong. 

As you described before, everything in the room was levitating, still in the chaos of the room. Then right above your bed, you floated with your eyes squeezed shut, your blanket hanging off your waist messily. Your mouth was open in a silent scream and if he had to describe the sight in one word, he would have said it looked like you were having a seizure by the way your were shaking. But he knew better, and from what Charles told him the best thing to do at this point would be to wake you up. 

“Y/N!” is the first thing he shouts, before he even comes in contact with you. Then he uses his speed to get to you, standing on the bed next to you but hesitating to touch you. 

“What are you waiting for, kid?” Logan’s voice behind him startles him, “wake her up!” 

He nods and focuses back on you, tapping your arm and breathing your name, getting nothing in response. He grabs onto your arm, giving it a soft shake, then a harder one, still getting no response.

“Y/N! Wake up, dammit!” 

He shakes you harder and harder until it’s clear that you won’t wake up, so he yells for Logan to wake Charles and he backs away from you, looking around the room for anything that might be able to wake you up. You don’t have much with you, just some clothes and a couple books. There’s nothing that would help with his current situation. 

“Peter,” he hears Charles’ voice behind him and he backs away, looking at the doctor with wide eyes.  “I... I don’t know why she won’t wake up.” 

Charles looks at your shaking form and stands next to Peter on the bed, closing his eyes and putting a hand to your forehead. Almost immediately, you fall back along with everything in the room and your body stills. Charles opens his eyes and looks at you, slowly starting to stir from the events. 

“Please take her to the infirmary,” Charles tells Peter, “she’s burning up.” 

Peter nods and lifts you up, getting you to the infirmary in seconds, startling the nurse working the night shift. 

“Peter! I’ve told you not to do that,” she scolds him, her gaze then falling to you as Peter sets you down on the examination table, “is she our clairvoyant?” 

“Her name is Y/N. She has a bad fever, Charles wanted me to bring her here.” 

“What’s going on?” you mumble, catching their attention as you try to sit up from the table. Peter immediately catches your shoulder, gently pushing you back to lay down again. 

“Take it easy,” he says, “you just had quite the dream.” 

“Yeah, tell me about,” you mutter, sighing. “Thought I might’ve been home free this time.” 

The treatment for dreams is pretty simple, as it turns out. The nurses weren’t really sure what to do besides give you medicine to help with the fever. No one in the hospital had seen a mutation like yours and they wondered how Charles would be able to teach you to control it. It seemed like he himself didn’t even know the answer to that question. 

It took you two months to feel completely comfortable in the hospital, surrounded by people who you had been raised to fear. There were certain people who helped, like Jean, who you bonded with over your similar mutation, and Peter. Charles had been something of a role model for you over the months that you had been there, but you figured that everyone felt the same way. He’s definitely someone to look up to.

But it seemed that you were the only one who took a special interest in Peter, besides the other nurses who he had already befriended. Of course, he was very well liked around the hospital, but doing well on his rounds and being close with his patients are two very different things. 

He’s told you multiple times that you’re one of the most compelling people he’s worked with, and although he admitted that Charles had been the one to ask him to spend time with you, it didn’t seem to matter after the first month. After the initial time it took to get used to living with mutants, Peter had already broken through your wall and made a home in your heart. 

“It’s good here, you know,” he tells you at night, after you have a nightmare, “if you’re going to have a nightmare, it’s best if you have them with Charles here to help.” 

Those small reassurances were what helped you adjust more then anything else. Thanks to Peter, you learned to disregard something your parents had been telling you your entire life in the span of three months. 

The nightmares, although they were never any less severe then they had been to begin with, were less and less frequent, and that may have been due to the fact that Peter had begun to stay with you while you were falling asleep. It had started after one bad night when you woke up from a nightmare in something of a trance, dead to the outside world. It took until the next afternoon to get you back to the real world, and you were told that your episode had scared quite a few people. When you saw Peter that same afternoon he had wrapped you in an unexpected yet welcomed hug, telling you he was glad you were back with them. 

Charles didn’t request that Peter do anything extra to help you through the night, but that night after your episode, he told you his concerns about leaving you alone. He was afraid that you may have a nightmare, but this time you won’t come out of the dream-like state that you were trapped in for nearly half a day. 

So he stayed with you through the night, leaving early enough to start his shift that you weren’t awake yet. 

The first few nights he stayed with you, he only laid under the covers next to you, making sure to keep at a comfortable distance in hopes that he wouldn’t trigger an episode, but as time went on you started feeling more comfortable with him there. Eventually, he would wake up wrapped around you, having moved during the night. It was nice, and he found that he enjoyed having you in his arms. 

So he started to scoot closer to you before he went to sleep, every night closing the space between you more and more until eventually he would fall asleep with you already in his arms, both of you content to hold each other until he had to leave for his shift in the morning. 

Your dreams became scarce with Peter there to keep you calm. Whenever he sensed you were having the beginning of a nightmare, he would immediately wake you up to make sure that it didn’t get any worse. 

“Hey, it’s alright,” he tells you one night when you begin to shake against him, having just woken up from what he assumes was a particularly bad nightmare. “I’m here, it’s okay.” 

“They’re coming,” you whisper, turning over to press your face into his chest. He pulls you closer and presses a soft kiss to the top of your head.

“You’re okay, Y/N.” 

You pull away from him and stand, going to the bathroom and splashing water over your face. They’re much clearer now, the monsters that always surround you in your dreams. The things that were causing all of the pain and all of the death. 

Peter stays in bed, sitting up and running a hand over his face, wiping at his eyes in an attempt to wake up more. He looks up to see you still leaning over the sink, letting it run as you calm yourself down. 

“Y/N,” he says quietly, “are you alright?” 

“Yeah,” you say, your voice hoarse. You look up and meet his eyes in the mirror, but they widen when you see the same creature from your dreams standing next to the bed, slowing creeping towards you with it��s mouth open, a black abyss coming towards you.

You let out a gasp and turn around quickly, looking around the room for the creature. Peter’s eyes widen at your sudden movements and he moves towards you as you flip the light on, looking around frantically. 

“It was there,” you say, covering your mouth with one hand. “It was right there.” 

You slide down the wall and bury your face in your hands. You’re going insane, you can feel it. These dreams are taking a physical and mental toll on you, a toll that you won’t be able to handle if this goes on for much longer. You can still see the monster standing there, just staring at you. 

“Hey, come here,” Peter puts his hands cautiously on your waist, waiting to see if you want him there or if you want space. When you shift closer to him, he sits next to you and pulls you towards him. He wraps his arms around you as you gasp for breath, trying to rid your mind of the images from your dream and from your apparent hallucinations.

“You’re safe here,” Peter whispers, although you both know that’s not true. There’s something coming, something that will show you no mercy. 

Something is coming to kill you. All of you.

Welcome to the panic room, where all your darkest fears are gonna come for you, come for you. Welcome to the panic room, you'll know I wasn't joking when you see them too, see them too.

(x)

[cristinablackthornkingson]

Shadowhunters Short Story #10

"Mama, why the babies not here? You say they apposta be here yesterday!" 3 year old Matthew Fairchild asks, clambering into his mother's lap and resting his blonde head against her swollen stomach.

9 months ago Charlotte had summoned the Silent Brothers when she began to feel the same symptoms of pregnancy she felt with Charles and Matthew, when Brother Zachariah arrived and examined her, he was able to not only confirm she was pregnant, but also confirm that she was pregnant with twin girls.

The pregnancy itself hadn't come as a huge shock as she and Henry had been trying for half a year, but the fact that Charlotte was pregnant with twins, was a huge shock, twins didn't run in the Fairchild family nor the Branwell family, so neither she nor Henry ever thought they would have twins.

After the initial shock, Charlotte was over the moon, though she of course loved her sons with all her might, both she and Henry had always wanted a daughter too, especially after Sophie's daughters Barbara and Eugenia arrived just a year apart, then little Anna Lightwood was born, followed a few years later by little Lucie Herondale.

When Charlotte told Henry he was shocked at first too but it only took him a few minutes to get over the shock, and when he did he pulled Charlotte to him in delight, kissing her belly as he had when she was pregnant with their sons, delighted to be adding two more members to the family.

Charles who usually never liked to show his feelings, was utterly delighted when his parents told him he would be getting two sisters, he immediately began trying to help them come up with names and insisted that he was old enough at 5 to go to council meetings in Charlotte's place. He had always wanted to be just like his mother, even at 5 he had a big interest in politics and always tried to sneak in to Clave meetings.

Matthew on the other hand was the sweetest, most sensitive little boy there ever was. From the moment he was born, he was the happiest baby, he hardly ever cried when he was a baby, he was always content, and his joy continued through to toddler hood, he was happy to either sit with his mother and watch her do paper work, or follow his father around his laboratory with his best friend Christopher Lightwood.

When Matthew found out he was going to be a big brother he was delighted at the idea of not being the baby and immediately asked Henry if he could help him build cribs and toys for the babies. Both boys were extremely protective of their mother throughout her pregnancy, when Charlotte helped train Sophie's daughters, they boys were horrified to see her holding any weapon, they were terrified she or the babies would get hurt. They also both loved to snuggle up with her and feel the babies moving and kicking, and Charlotte loved getting cuddles from her boys, especially Charles who had never liked to be cuddled

Now Charlotte was almost 2 weeks overdue and the boys were very annoyed that their sister's hadn't been born yet.

Charlotte was non too pleased either, being a small woman she found it difficult to get around with her bump in the way, and some of her colleagues thought that her pregnancy was an excuse for them to disrespect her and tell her she was in no fit condition to be consul and she should step down now and let a man take her place. She had faced the same discrimination when pregnant with Charles and Matthew, but by now she was sick of it and could barely contain her anger towards those people.

"They said the babies were meant to be here two weeks ago!" Charles exclaims, as Matthew snuggles further into Charlotte. They had been telling Matthew his sisters would be here tomorrow, since Charlotte went past her due date, it kept Matthew quiet as at 3 he didn't really have a grasp on the concept of time, but Charles who was very mature and clever at 5, was not falling for it. ""I know Matt, I want them to come soon too, but all we can do is wait." Charlotte gently says, pushing his blonde curls back from his face.

"Mama can't you make them come now?! Want them here now!" Charles says, he was a temperamental little boy, he reminded Charlotte of Will so much that way, they had been working with Charles on keeping calm and not letting his anger take over, but every five year old had their tantrums, no matter what.

"Now Charles, it's not your mother's fault your sisters aren't here yet, I know you're very eager to meet them and teach Matt how to be a good big brother, but you just have to be patient okay? The babies will be born in the next few days, I can promise you that, but for now we just have to wait, alright?" Henry gently says, wheeling over from his desk in the drawing room and lifting Charles onto his lap.

Charles crosses his arms over his chest, huffs and grumbles "Okay papa."

"Mama, when you havin babies, who mind me?" Matthew asks, fear growing in his green eyes. Though Matthew was a very easy going little boy, he didn't like being away from his parents for too long, he loved visiting Thomas Lightwood in Sophie and Gideon's Idris home and he loved visiting Christopher in the institute, but only when his parents were with him. Charlotte knew he would find it difficult being away from her and Henry while she was in labor, but he would have to get use to not always being with them, at some point, they couldn't go everywhere with him all his life, he needed some independence.

"Don't worry my love, when Aunt Tessa and Uncle Will come to visit, they're going to look after you and Charlie." Charlotte softly says.

"My name is Charles!" Charles firmly says from Henry's lap. They had taken to calling him Charlie every so often ever since he was born, but from the moment he could speak he made it very clear he did not like his nickname and wanted to only be called by his full name. He didn't like nicknames in general, he never called Matthew 'Matt', not even when he was little and had difficulty pronouncing his brother's full name. Matthew on the other hand preferred his nickname, Charlotte and Henry mostly only used his full name when he was in trouble, which wasn’t very often, they were blessed with two very well behaved boys and could only hope their daughters would be the same. 

“Sorry Charles, silly mummy, I forgot you don’t like your nickname.” Charlotte gently says, trying to avoid a tantrum from her eldest son. 

They next day while Charles, Eugenia and Barbara have a training session with Gideon in Charlotte and Henry’s back garden, and while Thomas and Matthew play together in the drawing room, Charlotte puts aside all her work for an hour to talk with Sophie over tea. It was always so nice for Charlotte to be able to sit and relax with her friend, since she was always so busy as Consul, but she wouldn’t give the job up for anything, she was still able to spend a lot of time with her boys, she would also be able to take a few weeks off after the babies were born, the inquisitor could handle things for a few weeks. 

“How is work?” Sophie asks Charlotte, pouring them both another cup of tea. 

“Busy, and stressful.” Charlotte answers. Sophie looks at her with eyes full of worry and concern. 

“Charlotte I don’t wish to pry, and I know it’s really non of my business, but do you not feel you should take some time now to rest and recuperate before the babies arrive? You could give birth at any second, any medical professional would tell you should not be working so hard at this stage in your pregnancy.” Sophie softly says. Sophie had remained sweet and caring as always, and she worried greatly for her former employer, Charlotte had been so good to her ever since Sophie began working at the London Institute, she felt a fierce need to protect her, even though Charlotte was the mother figure in their relationship. 

“Oh Sophie you’re not prying, I do understand where you are coming from, but I feel that if I step back a moment before I feel the first contraction, my male colleagues will take it as a sign of weakness.” Charlotte softly says. She wanted to step back now, she was so worn and fatigued from the pregnancy, add on the stress and fatigue that her job gave her and Charlotte was ready to drop. 

“That’s preposterous you are about to give birth! Please Charlotte, you need to rest, Gideon can step in for you for a while, and he will deal with anyone who dares to call you weak or discriminates against you for being a pregnant woman, you must rest Charlotte, you will be no good to your daughters if you have no energy, and you will be no good to Matt and Charles either, and Henry can’t handle four children on his own.” Sophie firmly says. The idea of Gideon handling everything for a few weeks in Charlotte’s place made her a lot more comfortable than leaving the inquisitor in charge. Gideon wouldn’t pressure her to return to work, in fact he was more likely to insist she take a proper break to recover and bond with her daughters, but she also didn’t have to worry about him trying to take over her job completely and convince the Clave to replace her, and Sophie was right, Henry could certainly not manage two newborns and two toddlers on his own for any amount of time, but how could he be expected to, while bound to a chair? Henry had always been a wonderful father and was very involved in raising their boys, he was only too happy to change their nappies, bathe them, feed them, deal with their tantrums and cuddle with them for endless amounts of time, but still, there was only so much he could do while in a wheelchair. 

“Oh you know, Sophie, leaving everything in the hands of your husband makes me feel a lot more relaxed and willing to step back a bit earlier than I planned.” Charlotte says. Sophie smiles widely, making her scar stand out even more, but not taking away from her beauty at all, nothing could when she had such a pure, beautiful soul. 

“Well that is what you will do then, do not worry, Gideon and I will sort everything out this evening when the children are asleep, from now on until you feel ready to return to work, you are to focus on yourself, your husband and your children.” Sophie says. 

“Oh Sophie what would I do without you?” Charlotte softly says, reaching across the table and squeezing the younger girl’s hand. Sophie smiles softly back at her and gently says 

“I do not want to know.” 

Two days later, while helping Charles with his homework from the tutor they hired for him, Charlotte began to feel contractions. Luckily, Sophie was there at the time too. She had been helping Charles with his history, since Charlotte was not very good at remembering key dates and such, while Sophie was excellent at it. Sophie summoned The Silent Brothers and alerted Charlotte’s midwife, before she and Charles went to find Matthew. Charlotte was easily able to make it to the bedroom she and Henry share, where Tessa, Cecily and Henry were already waiting. While she had been in labor with both Charles and Matthew, Henry had stayed with her for the first hour or so, but he was then asked to leave. She desperately wanted him there but it was not appropriate, and she would be fine with Tessa, Cecily and Sophie. 

Her labor had been quick but painful, and at 3:00 p.m. on the 24th of October 1884, Elizabeth/Eliza Julia Fairchild was born followed 2 minutes later by her sister, Grace Maria Fairchild. The girls were nonidentical but perfect all the same. Eliza had a head full of ginger hair just like Henry’s, with Charlotte’s nose and pallor and Henry’s mouth and bone structure. She looked extremely similar to Charles when he was a baby. Grace was born with just a few thin wisps of dark brown hair, with Charlotte’s nose, pallor and bone structure and Henry’s mouth. It would later turn out that both girls would have the same hazel eyes as their father. 

“Oh my goodness, I haven’t felt so happy in so long.” Charlotte softly says, smiling softly down at her daughter’s, lying in her arms. She had been so stressed with work and being overdue lately, she forgot the absolute bliss of holding your babies. She knew some women struggled to feel that bliss though, poor Tessa had great difficulty bonding with her son James when he was born, she loved him of course, but she was terrified to love him, for fear of the pain she would feel when he eventually passed and she couldn’t follow him. It had taken months before she was properly able to bond with her son, and now if anything, she was a little too overprotective of him. Charlotte was extremely thankful she never felt like that with any of her children. 

“Neither have I, it’s amazing Lottie, isn’t it? How two tiny creatures like our daughters can be so small yet be the source of such vast joy.” Henry softly says, in a tone of awe, as he gazes down at the sleeping babies. Charlotte smiles at that, of course Henry was looking at the birth of his daughters from a deeper point of view than just being happy to be a father again, but it was one of the many things Charlotte loved about him. 

“I love you Henry.” she softly says, looking at him just as he looks at her, and locking eyes with him. 

“I love you too Lottie.” he gently says, leaning in and giving her a quick kiss, before he gently places a kiss to the babies foreheads. 

“Matthew and Charles are going to love the girls.” Charlotte says, smiling at the thought of all four of her children being together. 

“Speaking of the little rascals, shall I bring them in to meet the girls?” Henry asks. Charlotte nods, and a few moments later she has one boy on either side of her, two babies on her chest and Henry on the bed beside her. 

“Mama, they so tiny.” Matthew says in awe, watching as Eliza squirms around and tries to get her arms free from her swaddle. 

“Yeah mama, Matthew wasn’t this small, why are Elizabeth and Grace so small?” Charles asks, sounding much older than 5. 

“Well sometimes twins are just smaller, it’s just how it works.” Charlotte softly says. 

“Papa we should do science tests on them!” Matthew exclaims, as it is the most wonderful idea anyone has ever come up with. 

“I don’t think that would be appropriate young man!” Henry says, smiling at Matthew as he tries to get closer to the babies. 

“Why not?!” Matthew asks, sounding as offended as if someone just insulted him. 

“Well because your sisters are babies not things to experiment on, and besides that, your mother would never allow it!” Henry says. 

“Please mama?” Matthew asks, batting his long blond eyelashes at him. The child could beg for England and win, but Charlotte was immune to his begging. 

“No experimenting on the babies, Matthew, that is final.” Charlotte says in a firm tone, that always gets the boys to listen to her. Matthew pouts and quietly says 

“Okay mama.” 

“What do you boys think of your sisters, then?” Henry gently asks, reaching his hand over to gently stroke Grace’s cheek. 

“I love them, I keep them really really safe!” Charles says. 

“Me too! Me too!” Matt says. “Charlie you teach me how to be big brother?” Charlotte holds her breath in anticipation of an outburst of rage from Charles at being called Charlie, and then Matthew getting upset after being yelled at, but nothing happens. Charles smiles at his little brother and says 

“Of course I will Matthew! You’re my little brother, it’s my job to teach you everything!” Matthew smiles brightly and crawls across Charlotte’s legs to get to his brother. He hugs him tightly and says 

“Fank you Charlie, love you.” Charles surprises everyone further by wrapping his arms around his little brother and gently saying

“I love you too Matthew.” 

As Charlotte looks at her sons embracing, and her daughter’s sleeping on her chest, she finally feels complete.

[swan2swan]

I remember being leery of Tangled: the Series because an early review said that it looked like they were brushing off her experiences with the tower and that they were worried that the series wouldn’t deal with psychology or anxiety properly.

Well, not only is that something they have dealt with (the whole premise of the series is basically Rapunzel going on adventures because she’s terrified of being locked in a castle for her whole life right after escaping a tower, also this), but the show really does a fantastic job showing the consequences of trauma and giving guidelines to recovery.

The novel The Lost Lagoon is no exception.

In the novel, we learn that Cassandra has been afraid of water for years. Rapunzel gently coaxes Cassandra to join her in a lagoon, teaching her to tread water (and immediately rescuing Cassandra when she lapses and goes beneath the surface), and then just as considerately gets Cassandra to tell her what led to this fear:

"I was at the seashore with my father. He told me a hundred times to stay close to him, but I saw a crab I wanted to catch. I followed it. A wave snatched me up and carried me out. My father saved me. He was so mad. I was scared twice that day. Once by the water and once by my father's anger. I've never been able to get in the water since."

This is brilliant.

So many stories have a character unable to deal with a past trauma because it was just that horrifying: Ron Weasley's fear of spiders is one classic example. His brothers turned his teddy bear into a giant spider, and ever since then, he's been afraid of spiders. Other stories have someone stepping on a bee and being afraid of bees, or losing their child in a mall and being overprotective afterward.

But this story drills it home by not making an accident or act of carelessness alone lead to the trauma: it's her father's response that hit the hardest. Instead of comforting Cassandra and reminding her that he's the one she can go to when she's afraid, the Captain of the Guard taught her that turning to him for help in trouble is only going to make her more frightened (this is frighteningly relatable, if I can be honest for a moment--a lot of my problems in life have come from the fact that my parents responded to bad grades and bad reports from school by punishing me and yelling at me, and that's probably why I'm not a teacher now, but that's a little too real, we're going back to fiction for now). She needed support in that time of fear, and instead, he made it worse. It’s also a brilliantly presented scene because even if he showed care and concern, even if he said “I just want you to be safe” and showed a softer side, we only hear about his anger because that’s all Cassandra remembers. He could have picked her up and carried her home and wrapped her in a blanket and made her a pot of tea and cookies, but she was six, and all she would remember was the anger. 

This passage is one firm example of why I want to share this series with as many people as possible: because it doesn't just give kids pretty colors and fun adventures, it also teaches lessons. This is a lesson for new parents and future parents, and an incredibly important one: when your child is frightened, control your frustration and help them work through it. Don't punish your children further when the world has already punished them once. It's also important that Cassandra's nemesis in this story wasn't a bully or a bee, but a mighty ocean: this is something that the parent can't fight and destroy, this isn't a battle that Cassandra's father can fight for her, this is something that will always be there and will always threaten them, so all that he can do is to teach her and prepare her for next time.

Of course, as she not only cannot swim when she is an adult but is also afraid of water, he clearly failed at that.

Thankfully, Rapunzel enters Cassandra's life to teach her that it's all right to be afraid and to share your fears, but most importantly, to teach her how to overcome and conquer these same fears. Rapunzel doesn't mock Cassandra, she doesn't blame her, she doesn't do anything except teach her--brilliantly, I might add--how to swim.

But now, I must continue reading.