#and gorgeous girls also tempted to try and make another deal but cannot give up the thing that matters the most 😬

[willowdied]

gorgeous gorgeous girls are pictured in their own Cursed Cursed Book selling their soul 🤷‍♀️

[iamthenightcolormeblack]

My Thoughts on Pride & Prejudice 2005: Style over Substance

Kicking off my Pride and Prejudice adaptation review series with the most popular of all the adaptations: the 2005 movie. This film stars Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Darcy.

1. GENERAL THINGS I LIKED

The cinematography and the soundtrack. Every shot is a painting, especially with the gorgeous landscape scenery. The music is beautiful and dreamy; I have listened to the soundtrack more times than I've watched the film. Both the cinematography and the soundtrack effectively transport the viewer back to the film's romanticized version of "the past," when life was simpler and people lived slower lives, waiting for their Mr. Darcy to sweep them off their feet.

Originality. The film takes a unique approach to the story by focusing mainly on the romance between Darcy and Elizabeth and emphasizing how the natural surroundings reflect the characters' mental state/emotions (pouring rain during the first proposal and stormy skies when Elizabeth hurries home after Lydia runs away). Though one can disagree with the creative changes made, I like how this film isn't just a remake of what came before it.

Elizabeth's walks through the countryside. The film expresses her desire for freedom through her countryside walks. For instance, the Netherfield walk is shocking to Caroline Bingley because it demonstrates Elizabeth's independence.

The comedic parts are great thanks to the creative additions made. For example, the "excellent boiled potatoes" joke isn't in the book, but it perfectly exemplifies Mr. Collins' poor social skills and pretentiousness, as he tries to make an overly formal comment about an otherwise mundane dish.

2. THE CASTING

The acting is good, although I don't always agree with how the characters are portrayed.

Keira Knightley. I like how she's the right age for Elizabeth, who is around 20-21 years old; Knightley was around 19-20 when she played Elizabeth, plus she has gorgeous eyes. She perfectly conveys the pride, confidence, and biting wit of Elizabeth, as she holds her head high in an imperious manner and has a direct, piercing gaze. However, I don't like how this version chooses to simplify Elizabeth's character into that of "free-spirited nonconformist tomboy," who is a nature-lover and runs to the countryside to console herself when things get tough (ex. running to the lake after rejecting Mr. Collins). This is a contrast to the Elizabeth Bennet as presented to us in the book, who acts like a typical "lady" for the sake of her social reputation; she mostly keeps her thoughts to herself except when talking to Jane or Darcy. Elizabeth is powerful not because she rejects society outright; it is because she does not submit to societal pressure to marry and makes her own choices (ex. rejecting Mr. Collins).

Matthew Macfadyen. His Darcy is cold, aloof, and remote, yet shows signs of a rich inner life and unrequited yearning for Elizabeth as a soulmate. I like how this version shows Elizabeth peeling away his cold exterior like the layers of an onion, until his heart of gold is revealed. While I think Macfadyen is a good actor, I disagree with the interpretation of Darcy solely being a lonely introvert, as it neglects his primary character flaw of pride.

Tom Hollander's Mr. Collins. Probably the best casting, as he perfectly portrays the bumbling awkwardness of the character and is more sympathetic than the gross Mr. Collins in the 1995 BBC miniseries. He is short, has a nasally voice and officious manner that makes him annoying yet fun to watch.

Simon Woods as Mr. Bingley. He's so friendly and eager to please, like the character is in the book.

Rosamund Pike's Jane Bennet. Utterly angelic and motherly, need I say more? The perfect antidote to Elizabeth's savagery.

Rupert Friend's Mr. Wickham. Handsome and dashing in a red soldier's uniform. It's easy to see how a girl would fall for him and ignore his debauchery, but also obvious that he is deceptive. For instance, he keeps claiming that he is insignificant and unnoticed, when he basks in the attention of Elizabeth, Kitty and Lydia.

3. OVERALL CHARACTER AND PLOT DEVELOPMENT

Since this is a movie, character development is a challenge, and the film relies on changes of outward appearance/dialogue to show character growth. For instance, we get to see Darcy's change from cold and remote into warm and loving, while Elizabeth admits that "she was wrong" about Darcy and slowly comes to respect him.

The first half (beginning to Darcy's proposal) is great because it effectively introduces the audience to the cast of characters (the family, Darcy, Bingley, Caroline, Wickham, and Mr. Collins). It also contains all the comedic parts and sets up the conflicts that drive the story. Overall, this half is more faithful to the novel because it has the social satire aspects of the story and sticks to the key plot points while developing the characters.

The second half is rather lackluster compared to the first because it focuses solely on resolving the plot points introduced in the first half. This part of the book contains important events for Elizabeth's character development (getting the letter, visiting Pemberley, dealing with the fallout from Lydia's elopement), but the film rushes through them to get Elizabeth and Darcy married. Instead of focusing on how Elizabeth overcomes her prejudice of Darcy and starts to love him, the film relies on aesthetic shots of flickering candles/landscapes to serve as quick transitions between the scenes. Though we have plenty of evidence that Darcy loves Elizabeth, we don't see much evidence that the love is mutual until the second proposal, only that Elizabeth starts to see him as a friend.

Another reason I don't like the second half of the film as much as the first half is the reduced dialogue. This second half has a lot of quiet moments devoted to nature scenery/Elizabeth staring in the mirror. Reducing the dialogue, with the exception of the letter scene, doesn't make sense because the plot/action of Pride and Prejudice is furthered through the conversations the characters have (after all, wealthy Regency women likely spent much time indoors/making social calls). While one can argue that the reduced dialogue is meant to show that Elizabeth is reflecting on her mistaken prejudice, without access to Elizabeth's interior thoughts, the audience doesn't get to see Elizabeth actively confronting her false assumptions about Darcy, unlike in the book, where she says out loud to herself: "Until this moment, I never knew myself."

Notable Scenes From the First Half of the Film:

The opening scene. It sets the tone for the whole movie with the beginning shot of a field at dawn, which ties in nicely with the second proposal scene near the end. By presenting Elizabeth by herself reading a book, it communicates to the audience that Elizabeth is "not like other girls," and it shows the imperfect, yet loving family dynamics of the Bennet household.

Elizabeth roasting Darcy after he dismisses her as "tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me." During a conversation the Bennet family has with Darcy and Bingley, Mrs. Bennet commits a social gaffe when talking about Jane's many admirers and how one sent her poetry. Elizabeth saves the situation by commenting that bad poetry can kill love, and Darcy comments that he regards poetry as "the food of love" and asks how to "encourage affection." I like that the film included this little exchange from the book (although it takes place while Elizabeth is visiting a sick Jane at Netherfield, and not during the first ball), since it was skipped over in the 1995 miniseries. The best part is Elizabeth's sick burn: "Dancing. Even if one's partner is barely tolerable," which is made even better when she walks away from him with a triumphant smile on her face.

The famous Hand Flex. After Darcy helps Elizabeth into the carriage (by holding her hand) so she and Jane can head back home, he glances longingly at her before wringing the hand with which he touched hers. It's an important hint of his growing love for her, as well as his struggle to repress those feelings. This is a wonderful bit of character development as it reveals that Darcy has a heart.

Mr. Collins having a meal with the Bennet family. The awkwardness is palpable as Mr. Collins tries to show off his social skills and give pro tips on charming ladies. This is all topped off with this amazing comedic joke: "These are excellent boiled potatoes. Many years since I've had such an exemplary vegetable." Another brilliant bit: after Lydia cannot contain her laughter, Lizzy, after giving her father a mischievous side-eye, slaps Lydia on the back to hide her laughter. Best line besides the excellent boiled potatoes: "Believe me, no one would suspect your manners to be rehearsed."

The Netherfield Ball dance between Darcy and Elizabeth. It is staged like a clash of personalities in the beginning, while the creative filming technique of separating the couple apart from the crowd of dancers foreshadows the budding relationship between them. I also like how sarcastic the dialogue is--Elizabeth is trying to win a battle of wits with Darcy but he successfully avoids her traps while reminding her that she doesn't truly know him and cannot make judgements about his personality.

Mr. Collins trying to introduce himself to Darcy. It's so comical because of the significant height difference between Mr. Collins and Mr. Darcy (Collins is dwarfed by Darcy). The height difference effectively represents the significant difference in social status between the two men and makes Collins, with his pomposity, look ridiculous as he fancies himself part of the nobility but cannot properly introduce himself.

Mr. Collins' proposal--one of the funniest scenes in the movie. Mr. Collins clumsily tries to flatter Elizabeth with a tiny flower, and it gets even funnier when he so obviously misreads Elizabeth's disinterest and outright exasperation (he doesn't understand that no means no!). After Mr. Collins bends down on one knee to propose to Elizabeth, the film emphasizes Elizabeth's towering presence over Collins to show that the two are a mismatch. The fact that the proposal takes place in the messy dining room reflects Collins' view of marriage as a business matter that he wants to get done with quickly, since the location of the proposal is not very romantic.

Elizabeth roasting Darcy yet again at Rosings Park. Elizabeth eagerly recounts to Colonel Fitzwilliam Darcy's impolite manners at the first ball; Darcy confesses that "I do not have the talent of conversing easily with people I have never met before." I like how the nervous and quiet delivery of that line shows to the audience that Darcy is an introvert, and it shows that he's an honest person, since he abhors "disguise of every sort." The scene effectively highlights Elizabeth's prejudice towards Darcy as the audience feels pity for him when Elizabeth tells him to practice.

"This is a charming house." During this scene, Darcy visits Elizabeth while she is alone and awkwardly attempts to make conversation with her. Macfadyen is a master of body language; Darcy says little but expresses a lot (ex. the nervous fiddling with his gloves). He tries to express his feelings for Elizabeth but gives up and abruptly walks out of the room.

The first proposal. What a climactic scene (but not very faithful to the book)! The music, thunder, and rain perfectly complement the volcano of emotions that erupts when Darcy cannot repress his feelings any longer. This scene has some of the best sexual tension ever; the two get closer to each other until they almost kiss. While this scene is great to an objective viewer, I don't like that the modified dialogue changes the original meaning of this scene (more about this later).

The letter. Elizabeth has a moment of introspection when she is forced to question her judgment, and Darcy delivers his letter. I like the shot of Darcy riding farther and farther away from Elizabeth, signaling that he is becoming increasingly out of her reach.

Notable Scenes from the Second Half of the Film:

Aunt and Uncle Gardiner arrive right after Elizabeth comes back from Rosings and they take her away to a vacation. I didn't like how they were introduced too quickly; I was thinking to myself "how did they get there and where did they come from?" Luckily we are treated to more glorious shots of the English countryside (the one with them under a large oak tree is my favorite).

Visiting Pemberley. I was puzzled by why Elizabeth laughs as soon as she sees Pemberley for the first time because in the book she was in complete awe of it. Also it doesn't make sense why she would touch his expensive stuff it's not her house...or is it? The good thing is that the embarrassment the two have upon meeting each other again is definitely palpable. Georgiana is sweet, but a little less shy than she was in the book.

Darcy smiles! After introducing Georgiana to Elizabeth, he smiles for a brief time at Elizabeth, and she smiles back. It's a great moment showing how Elizabeth has drawn out his goodness, and indicates that Darcy has transformed for Elizabeth. She also starts seeing him as a friend and her prejudice against him seems to have reversed in this moment of mutual recognition.

Lydia's elopement. Keira Knightley's fake cry was off-putting. Then Darcy only talks to her for a little bit and doesn't help her much (unlike in the book, where he asked her to sit down and got her some wine to make her feel better). I don't know why the aunt and uncle are in this scene because it's very important in developing Darcy and Elizabeth's relationship. In the book, the two are alone, and Elizabeth choosing to tell Darcy about Lydia's elopement is a sign that she trusts him, while Darcy's concern for Elizabeth further confirms that he still loves her. This extremely brief scene flickers quickly, and it takes only a few seconds before Elizabeth is crying in her carriage, while the sky is dark and ominous.

Bingley rehearsing his proposal with Darcy. This added scene, which is not in the book, is so funny because of how Darcy roleplays Jane, while Bingley has so much anxiety about her not accepting him. It's a nice glimpse into their friendship and it's also funny because Bingley is getting proposal advice from someone who failed very miserably at proposing.

Sunrise on the Moors. Another objectively beautiful and romantic scene that is definitely not faithful to the book. The two meet each other in a field in their nightgowns and profess their love to each other while blessed by the rising sun.

4. MAJOR FLAWS; OR, HOW THE FILM DIVERGES FROM THE BOOK

In earlier book adaptation reviews, I stated that I welcomed creative changes as long as they reflected what was already in the book (ex. literary elements and character development) or the author's intent, since film and books are different mediums and some storytelling techniques that work in books may not work on film. This movie is undoubtedly well-known for its creative changes, especially in terms of historical setting and dialogue. While these creative changes entertain the audience, I feel that they change the meaning of the story as presented by the book.

Here's the biggest issue I have with the movie: Darcy has no pride. The film interprets his "pride" as a misconception strangers get from Darcy's cold manner and inconsiderate remarks, but in the book he is an arrogant person who views his social inferiors as beneath him and treats them poorly. In the movie, his whole character is fashioned in the modern image of the "sensitive man," who is kind and considerate if only the outside world would appreciate his uniqueness. Thus, Elizabeth's prejudice against him is entirely without merit. While making Darcy a more sympathetic person highlights how wrong Elizabeth's prejudice is, the fact is that both of them have "pride and prejudice." Some fans have commented that Darcy is like a sad puppy at times. It's hard to see how he's a good match for this Elizabeth's fiery spirit, only that he wouldn't infringe upon her freedom to roam. A lot of YouTube comments I read were people expressing their desire to "hug Darcy" or console him after Elizabeth rejects him; this doesn't make sense because Darcy is an unsympathetic character until he is forced to change in order to earn Elizabeth's love. Apart from becoming kinder to Elizabeth and the Gardiners, Darcy never really changes in the movie; he still remains a socially awkward introvert.

The re-interpretation of Pride and Prejudice as purely a romantic novel: The emphasis on romance means that the other elements of the book--the social criticism, secondary characters and the dialogue--are de-emphasized for the sake of the romance between Elizabeth and Darcy.

The film's approach to the story echoes Charlotte Bronte's criticism of the novel: "And what did I find [in Pride and Prejudice]? ... a carefully fenced, highly cultivated garden, with neat borders and delicate flowers; but no glance of a bright, vivid physiognomy, no open country, no fresh air, no blue hill, no bonny beck. I should hardly like to live with her ladies and gentlemen, in their elegant but confined homes." This version of Pride and Prejudice utilizes Romantic elements not in the book (ex. the storms, the landscapes) to increase the passion that the characters feel but cannot express.

Pride and Prejudice is perceived as a "boring" book because much of the drama takes place indoors (ex. Darcy's first proposal is in Mr. Collin's home), whereas in the film, there is greater emphasis on the natural scenery in keeping with its Romantic interpretation (lots of the "open country" that Charlotte Bronte desired). While the landscape scenes are beautiful, locating the action indoors, in the grand houses of the nobility, emphasizes the repressive, tradition-based nature of Regency Era society that Austen criticized (in a subtle way). These houses reinforce social hierarchy, for instance; the interior of Rosings Park is showy and stifling because it it represents Lady Catherine De Bourgh's wealth and power over those around her. Locating most of the scenes indoors visually represents the "confined and unvarying" lives of Regency era women and makes Elizabeth Bennet's independent streak much more significant.

Some of the social constraints that Elizabeth and Darcy face are removed. For example, Elizabeth is much more direct in her criticisms of others (ex. the "barely tolerable" insult), whereas in the book she largely confines these criticisms to her intimate friends such as Jane and Charlotte Lucas. While this effectively shows how badass she is, Elizabeth likely would not have taunted Darcy in such a direct way, as it would have been considered impolite and likely harmed her social reputation in a society governed by rigid adherence to social etiquette. And of course, Darcy likely would not have been walking around the English countryside in an open-chested shirt although we may have Colin Firth's wet shirt to blame for that. The importance of following etiquette rules is shown when Darcy offends the whole village by refusing to dance with anyone during the first ball. As a woman in a patriarchal society, it would have been even more important for Elizabeth to follow the rules, as her social reputation was important to her chances of making a good marriage. By de-emphasizing the rigid social norms that govern the characters, the obstacles to Elizabeth and Darcy's marriage are less significant, and it seems that the only thing standing in the way of their being together is Elizabeth's unreasonable hatred of Darcy.

Also, in many of Austen's novels, the hometowns of her heroines and its inhabitants are their own characters; the power of gossip in determining one's social reputation for the "marriage market" is de-emphasized in the film. In Pride and Prejudice, a major reason Elizabeth doesn't discover Wickham's bad character at first is because of the "general approbation of the neighborhood" and social popularity he has in Hertfordshire. After Lydia elopes, the family is in a bad situation with regards to marriage prospects because the village had "generally proved [the Bennets] to be marked out for misfortune." In the film, the role of the village is relegated to that of a place for entertainment and nothing more.

Others have noted that the film also exaggerates the social divide between Elizabeth and Darcy by turning the Bennet family into peasant farm-owners who have messy hair and wear plain, homespun clothing. This justifies Darcy's social prejudice against the Bennets, which undercuts Austen's message of morals, actions, and treatment of others being a better indicator of character than class rank (the rich people in this book, with the exception of Darcy, Georgiana and Bingley, are shown to be lazy or plain ridiculous). While Darcy may be richer than Elizabeth, and have better connections, they are both members of the gentry--after all, they do not have to work to maintain their lifestyles. Instead, we are presented with a conventional rags-to-riches story, where our poor but virtuous heroine is rewarded with a rich Prince Charming who takes her away from the squalor of her home to his great big palace.

Ultimately, the story is changed into an argument for love, specifically the passionate kind, triumphing over all; Elizabeth overcomes her hatred of men as "humorless poppycocks" to be with Darcy. Near the end, Mary reads out of a book claiming that a lady should give in to her passions and surrender to love, which doesn't make sense as the marriage based entirely on passion (Lydia and Wickham) is shown to be less than ideal.

While Austen does believe in following one's heart (ex. Persuasion, where Anne Elliot regrets rejecting Captain Wentworth because of his lower social status), others have commented that she presents the ideal relationship as a balance between mind and heart. Charlotte's practical marriage to Mr. Collins represents the traditional view of marriage as an "economic proposition," it is entirely logical and calculated, whereas Lydia and Wickham's marriage is the other emotional extreme, motivated entirely by sexual infatuation. Before Elizabeth acknowledges her love for Darcy, she must respect him as her intellectual equal. Here's the passage from the book where Elizabeth realizes she loves Darcy: "She now began to comprehend that he was exactly the man, who in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It was an union that must have been to the advantage of both; by her ease and liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved, and from his judgment, information, and knowledge of the world, she must have received benefit of greater importance." Elizabeth's decision to marry Darcy is not only a result of her heart's desire, but it comes after she does some thinking and concludes they are compatible and would be able to live with each other on a day-to-day basis.

Something else I find ironic is the director's (Joe Wright's) claim that he aimed for realism in the film, given that Austen already depicted Regency era life realistically by focusing on social norms, class, and wealth:

The director, in his quest for "realism," features the messy environment of the Bennet household, which doesn't make sense given that they are still relatively wealthy (when defending herself, Elizabeth tells Lady Catherine that she is "a gentleman's daughter"). Also, they have servants to clean things up, so why would the house be in a constant state of disarray?

Lastly, how is the second proposal scene is "realistic?" It is a moment of "psychic communication" between Darcy and Elizabeth which is out of character for the book. They both "can't sleep" and walked, in the words of Wikipedia, "across the moors" to see each other ok this seriously reminds me of Wuthering Heights. The scene is powerful because every woman wants to be told that "you have bewitched me body and soul" but "realistically," this doesn't happen (and this line isn't in the book either).

"REALISM" IS THE REASON WHY WE FUSS OVER HISTORICAL ACCURACY!!! HISTORICAL ACCURACY ALLOWS PERIOD DRAMAS TO BE REALISTIC!!!!

If the characters wore historically accurate clothing (different from the loosely inspired, modernized dresses/hair in the film), it would have emphasized the lack of freedom women had in Regency Era society and reinforced the importance of following social norms to succeed in a patriarchal society.

Bad Script Changes:

This film is known for its modernized script, which makes it easier for a mainstream audience to watch the movie. However, it also changes depictions of the characters in ways that undercut the meaning of the book.

Elizabeth Bennet, man-hater:

"Oh, they [men] are far too easy to judge. Humorless poppycocks, in my limited experience."

"And which of the painted peacocks is Mr. Bingley?"

"Men are either eaten up with arrogance or stupidity. And if they're amiable they're so easily led that they have no minds of their own whatsoever...No, they bring nothing but heartache."

I know these snarky comments are fun and reinforce the modern perception of Elizabeth Bennet as a feminist heroine. However, book Elizabeth doesn't rail against men as a whole; she just wants to find love rather than be forced into an advantageous marriage. Her idea that marriage should be based on love and respect, along with her unwillingness to compromise on that ideal, is what makes her revolutionary, not her complete apathy towards the opposite sex.

"Don't you dare judge me!" While it foreshadows Elizabeth's flawed judgment, this outburst is out of character for Charlotte Lucas, who in the book is level-headed and makes practical decisions. As with the majority of the bad script changes, it is too modern and doesn't fit with the 19th century style language used elsewhere in the script.

Darcy's lack of pride is shown in the modified lines of the first proposal (which were hard to catch because they were spoken super fast):

"I can bear it no longer. The past months have been a torment. I came to Rosings with the single object of seeing you. I had to see you. I've fought against my better judgment, my family's expectation, the inferiority of your birth, my rank and circumstance, all those things, but I'm willing to put them aside and ask you to end my agony. I love you. Most ardently."

These lines completely change the meaning of the first proposal. Apart from the famous opening lines ("In vain I have struggled. It will not do. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you"), Austen makes clear that Darcy still regards his higher social position and Elizabeth's inferior connections as obstacles to their marriage. His first proposal to Elizabeth is a means of getting rid of the suffering that his unrequited love has forced upon him; he still does not accept Elizabeth as his equal, which is why she rejects him in the first place. Clearly he is not "willing to put [social norms] aside" when it comes to "his sense of her inferiority." The modified lines also make Darcy much more romantic by having him state that he came to Rosings to see Elizabeth; the book does not specify that this is the case; he just came on a routine visit to see his aunt and Elizabeth happened to be there. As I said earlier, Elizabeth in the book rejects Darcy because of his lack of respect for her, but in the film, he seems to show nothing but respect for her. They even have an almost-kiss, which doesn't make sense given that she hates him so intensely at this point in the novel.

"He's so, he's so...rich." Elizabeth utters these when trying and failing to find a reason not to visit Pemberley. This declaration does not make sense because Elizabeth has formed in the very least a grudging respect for Mr. Darcy; without access to her internal thoughts, one might take this line as evidence that she still hates Mr. Darcy.

“Just leave me alone!!!” After confronting Lady Catherine, Elizabeth flees to her room to find some alone time. This doesn’t suit Elizabeth’s character because 1) she acts like a temperamental teenager and 2) she is estranged from her family. In the book she gets closer to her family after Darcy’s first proposal, not the other way round. In some JASNA (Jane Austen Society of North America) articles I read about Pride and Prejudice, the authors observed that Elizabeth isn’t concerned about her family early in the novel; her motivations are largely self-centered, she keeps her head above their foolishness and doesn’t have intimate relationships with anyone in her family with the exception of her father and Jane. Only after she receives the criticisms of her family’s behavior from Mr. Darcy does she look out for her family; for example, by advising her father not to let Lydia go to Brighton (and she becomes right about it harming her family’s reputation). The film also makes Elizabeth even more isolated from her family by omitting the fact that she tells Jane about what happened between her and Darcy. Elizabeth learning to care for her family is an important part of her growth which the film omits.

5. CONCLUSION

I still think this film is worth watching, even though as a purist I disagree with the creative changes made, namely the emphasis on the romance over the social comedy. It is obvious that the screenwriter/director didn't strive to replicate the book exactly and aimed for a romantic re-interpretation.

The film has had a positive impact since it introduced a lot of people to Jane Austen, including me.

Here’s my story: when the movie aired on TV, my mother, who is a 1995 die-hard, started ranting about her hate for this version, so I picked up the book so that I could watch and compare.

As a romance movie it is excellent, because it has plenty of sexual tension and quotable romantic lines, along with a couple we can root for. The set design, music, and set design also make watching the movie an experience. It's very easy to love this movie just for the cottage core aesthetics (although aesthetics cannot cover up the flaws of this film).

On a side note, I find it funny that the Wikipedia article for this film states that it "failed to have the cultural influence" of the 1995 BBC miniseries. In fact, many people my age (17 or 18 years old) who have read the book consider this movie the definitive version of Pride and Prejudice and some don't even know that the 1995 miniseries exists!

Whether you love or hate this film, all I ask is that you don't call it Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

@colonelfitzwilliams @appleinducedsleep @obscurelittlebird @austengivesmeserotonin @princesssarisa @dahlia-coccinea @firawren @cobaltzosia

[shit-she-wrote]

Genre: Fantasy, Supernatural, LGBTQ+

Summary: A young woman encounters a siren, lives to tell the tale, and becomes quite charmed by the deadly creature. (Written for the Malicious Seafolk challenge on Wattpad about a year ago.)

Word count: 4322

TW: slight alcohol mention

Author’s note: Please tell me if you want to be tagged in any of my future short stories (I’ll make an official tag call post soon, but I just thought to let you know ^.^). Enjoy the story!!

Insatiable

a short story

She came at dusk.

Despite my planning, I couldn't have predicted the sight before me as I stood on the pier by myself and she came out of the water, looking like she did. Glowing eyes, too big for her face, wet curls sticking to her scalp, sharp teeth and full lips baring them as a soft, serenading song traveled through the air toward me like the softest breeze and instantly charmed me. Beautiful. Deadly.

My uncle had warned me about sirens. Don't go too close to the sea at night, he used to tell me, for this is how I lost my leg. Fearful as I was, I had listened to him for a good two decades. That particular night, however, I felt fearless. A camera in my hand, a determination in my heart. Finally, the world would believe me, and the rest of my village would see my uncle as something other than a drunken fool who had met a shark and dreamed up a fairy tale. Sirens had lived by our bay since the beginning of time, with nothing but folk tales documenting their existence. And I was facing one at that exact moment.

Her beautiful song moved me, but I managed to stand my ground. She was only singing to the man she thought me to be. I had stolen my uncle's old clothes and tied my hair back neatly. It was a well-known fact in those stories of the olden times, almost as plain as the fact that they hunted at night, that the sirens preferred a man's flesh over a woman's. Women were almost never caught in their songs. Nonetheless, it was much harder to resist her than I had thought. Her song, though wordless, spoke of love and affection and promises, promises, promises. Never had I had anyone direct such a lovely message my way. Still, it was not enough for me to give in. She was singing to the man she thought me to be.

Despite my best efforts, though, I couldn't bring myself to take a damn photo. My camera was loose in my hands, my fingers unmoving. I was under her spell, no matter how much control I thought I had. Just as I contemplated revealing myself as a woman to her, hopefully turning her away before it was ultimately too late for me, she stopped singing. Her mouth closed up and for a second, she looked almost human as she quietly swam closer, resting her scaly arms on the wooden planks of the pier.

"Do I not tempt you, girl?" she asked, her voice as beautiful as her melody, like an echo of a wave from across the sea. I stared, dumbfounded and still frozen in place. She could see through my disguise? She knew I was a woman? And yet, she still sang to me with the intent of seduction. I could not believe it.

As I struggled to find my words – and simultaneously wondered whether it would be wise to even engage in a conversation with a monster of the sea –, she merely smiled and waited. She even rested her head in her palm, regarding me with both interest and amusement.

Run, every instinct in my body told me, for god's sake, run!

It was how I had been taught after all. If you ever encounter a siren, run. If you catch a glimpse of glistening scales, run, run, swim away, don't look back. Never look back. It is how they get you, hooking their eyes to your soul.

In the face of her, however, I saw no danger. Nothing gripped at my soul, nothing dragged me to her – at least, not since she had stopped singing. For now, I decided, I would test the waters. Quite literally.

"I- I thought you only sing to men," I stuttered out the first thing I could think of.

"We sing to everyone. Women only seldom listen," she said, shrugging slightly. "You are one of the rare women who ever have. I know I got you under my spell for a moment there, I could feel it. You are a strong one, though. I've never had anyone just stand and stare. My prey usually already joins me in the water at this point."

"I was told not to go to the water at night. It's the one rule I plan to stick to."

"Oh?" Her grin grew, sharp teeth poking out. "And why is that? Have you heard of any monsters that live in here?"

"I'm looking at one right now," I countered, inching away from her just a little.

"Hm. That hurts," the siren said, while not showing any true signs of taking offense. She leaned forward on her elbows, letting a gorgeous tail, clad in sparkling blue and green scales, poke out of the calm water surface.

"What are we to do, then?" she continued. "I can't just come up there and eat you. And if you won't come here, either, I don't really see many options."

"There is an option of ... not eating me," I offered. It made her grin again, making her look terrifying – yet beautiful still, somehow. I could not help being in awe as I looked upon this magnificent being, in spite of her murderous nature.

"There is, isn't it?" she agreed. "But where is the fun in that?"

I shrugged. I could hardly see the fun in the possibility of her killing me, let alone in just being in her presence, no matter my magic infatuation.

"Well, goodnight then," she said, pushing away from the edge of the pier. "Consider this an act of benevolence on my part."

She jumped back into the waves, splashed with her green fin, and she was gone. Just like that. I remained in the same spot for a great deal longer, shaking legs unwilling to move, and loosened the tight grip on my camera slightly. I hadn't even turned it on, never made an attempt to take a picture, but that was the last thing on my mind at the moment.

I had just encountered a real siren. A beautiful, dangerous siren. I saw a mystical creature of the darkest depths of the sea, and I lived, unharmed, to tell the tale, without a single proof of my encounter.

And, despite my common sense, I went back to the pier the next evening. And the next. And the next. 

It was a side effect of whatever spell she had put upon me, I supposed, but that same spell also prevented me from thinking any more about it. I only knew that I needed to see her like an alcoholic needed a drink, and I spent my days dreaming about her and my evenings excited to see her.

She always greeted me with her song, which became softer over time, more intimate. I smiled as soon as I heard it and embraced it as I felt the melody caress my skin, for it was the only way I could get close to her, the only way I could touch her. My smile remained on my face even as she showed me her sharp teeth, and asked me to join her in the water. I always declined. I was no fool and, though she always asked me, she knew I was far too clever to oblige her.

So I sat down on the wooden planks, just out of her reach, and she rested her forearms on the edge of the pier. Her beautiful tail either floated around, sparkling in the water as it reflected the moonlight, or she lazily wrapped it around a nearby rope that was holding a boat in place.

"Tell me, girl," she would ask me every night. "Why did you come back?"

I didn't know. Not the second time I returned, not the third, not any time. Something unspeakable pulled me towards that pier and I could not fight it. Whether it was her song or even just the mystery of her, I simply did not know. All I knew was that I was there, again, as I had been for the past week, staring into her too-big eyes and not daring to come close, even as I so desperately wanted to touch.

"Will you become my dinner tonight?" was her next question, although, over time, even she merely joked about it. I could hear it plainly in her voice, the tone with which she teased me. By the end of the week, I even gathered up whatever had been left of my courage and asked her how she thought I would taste like.

"Like any human I've ever had," she answered, curtly at first, but elaborated upon my confusion. "You are so much different from the others. You might have a strength that defies my abilities to the point where I am becoming unsure in my singing voice, but you are still mammal flesh attached to solid bone. You cannot taste any different than others of your origin did."

"How many others have there been?" I asked her that night, afraid of the answer. How many people had she eaten? How much skin had her sharp teeth bitten into? How many people had she sung to?

"A number would only upset you," she told me, making me think that she already knew me better than I knew myself. "I can promise you this, however. After you, I will not eat another human."

"After me?"

"After you, before you," she said, and her words sounded like a promise as she sang them to me. "You are my final prey."

"And if you never get to eat me?" I asked.

"Then, I suppose," she smirked, "I will never eat any other human again."

"Okay." A beat of silence, waves splashing softly against the pier, then I opened my mouth again. "For the record, you shouldn't doubt your singing voice because of me. Your song is as lovely as ever."

"Then perhaps I could sing to you again." Her smirk, wicked and kind, persistently remained on her face, taunting me, teasing me, soothing me. I nodded, trying to hide my own smile, as her voice carried itself through the air directly towards me.

By the end of another week, I already knew her song by heart and hummed it under my breath as I busied myself with chores in the daytime. My voice was so unlike hers, much weaker and lacking the range, but the song kept me warm at heart and made me feel like I wasn't alone. Every once in awhile, I even looked out at the open sea as I hummed it, wondering and hoping that she was somewhere close, listening, waiting. Every golden reflection of sunlight on the water's surface made me look twice, hoping to catch her green tail amongst the waves. I never did, though, at least not during the day. She only resurfaced at night, when the sun had hidden away and only the moon shined upon the pier, illuminating me on it – an easy prey, but still a challenge for the cunning beast.

One evening, when I had downed one too many glasses of wine beforehand, I was bold enough to move a few inches closer. I was still just out of reach, but the difference in perspective was incredible. I could see, for example, that the pale blue eyes reflected every star in the night sky and that her teeth were stained slightly with blood as if they had just torn apart some innocent flesh.

"Why are you here," I asked, too drunk to be cowardly, too curious to stay silent, "if you had already eaten? Is it not a waste of time to try and eat me as well?"

"I am what you would call insatiable," she said, grinning as always, but her voice sounding gloomy. "Despite having everything, I desire the one thing I cannot have."

She left me with a different, sadder song that night, one she would never repeat on any of the following nights. Had I not been drunk, had my memory of the night been clear, perhaps I would think something of it, but be it as it were, the song got mixed with the other one – the flirty, the cheerful, the welcoming, the entrancing.

Although her songs were wordless or, at the very least, in a language incomprehensible to me, I could read between the lines sometimes. She sang of desire, of hunger, and me. In fact, she scarcely sang of anything but me, which I assumed was a part of her plan to lure me into the sea. She must have sung like that to everyone, I convinced myself. Every prey had to fall in love with her in order to taste sweeter. I began to feel it, began to imagine how sugary I would taste to her, after being so flattered, so bewitched after listening to her seduce me for weeks. And, oh, how it must have frustrated her to know this and never even get a taste.

***

I did not sleep very much since meeting her. Those few hours after coming back from the pier were not at all enough for me to get some restful sleep. Even though, I always fell asleep with a smile on my face and dreamt of nothing but pale blue eyes and green scales sparkling amongst the waves. I had never dreamed so vividly before, of a life without breath, of swimming instead of walking, of her.

Not only did she occupy my subconscious, but she came through to my daily thoughts as well, and I had to admit that I was glad. There was never a time when I did not want to think of her. Perhaps it should have worried me, how impactful her spell was, how she tempted me to give in even when she was far away from me.

My uncle began to notice. He saw me yawn into my breakfast, saw me walk at a slower pace, saw me become less eager to work and more eager to go to bed in the evening. I suspected he might have even started to notice how the front door creaked in the middle of the night when I snuck out.

"Where do you go in the evenings?" he finally asked one morning, after not saying anything for so long. I looked up, eyes barely open enough to make out his form. I kept quiet. I could not lie if I held my mouth shut.

"Is it that fisherman's boy from the market?" he continued his interrogation. "I saw his glance linger on you whenever we pass."

I hadn't seen it. I could not even remember his name. Fisherman's son, who? The tall and lanky boy with sun-kissed shoulders and wind-ridden hair? He was handsome, but I could not care less for him.

"Is it the blacksmith's son? That boy will end up without fingers if he continues to be more focused on you than on his work."

Of course not. He simply liked looking at women and calling after them in hopes of getting their attention. I hoped he would truly lose a finger one of these days.

"Please do not tell me it is the boat builder's son. He spends his days looking at the clouds instead of doing some honest work. I know you are fit to marry, but I'd rather you marry someone who will care enough to take care of you."

I did not look to marry anyone, I told him. I simply liked walking along the beach in the evenings.

"The beach?" My uncle did not like that. "No, that I forbid. Have you gone mad? How many times do I have to tell you to not go near the water at night? The sirens that come out are the reason I lost my leg."

With that, our conversation ceased. I promised him to never go near the beach again, lying through my teeth like never before. The next evening, I was on that pier again, smiling as I already saw the familiar glint of a green tail and a pair of pale blue eyes waiting for me at the edge of it.

"You are late," she scolded me. For the first time, I had not been greeted by a song. "I thought you wouldn't come."

"I am sorry," I said sheepishly but enjoyed her foul mood ever so slightly. It meant she must have cared for my company at least half as much as I cared for hers. "My uncle began to notice that I sneak out every night. I had to be more careful tonight and make sure three times that he was really asleep."

"Well, don't do it again." It was harsh, the way she said it, as if she sharpened her fangs on the words. "I do not have much time to waste on you."

"Then why do you come?" I asked genuinely. The tension was building up within my shoulders as well. "Every sundown, you are here. You stay all through the night, then every morning, you leave. Why?"

She kept quiet. She could not lie if she kept her mouth shut.

"Answer me."

But she sang. It was an ode to the sundown, the pink skies reflected in calm seas; an ode to the evening, when the water sank low and presented a mirror to the stars; an ode to the sunrise, how bright it made the world as she bid it goodbye. She sang of her view from the pier, how beautiful it all was, and of what she would give to keep this view present forever.

I was not aware of my movements but suddenly, she was so close that I could smell the seawater in her breath, and see the depths of the ocean below. It would have been so easy for her to kill me then, to open her mouth and sink her teeth into my neck, to reach out and pull me under the water. She did none of those things, however. She only stopped her song, her big eyes looking deep into mine, looking sadder than ever.

"You do not know what I would give to have you."

"Oh?" I asked, feeling rather mischievous. I had the upper hand here, saw it in the way she averted her shy gaze. It was me who sang at that moment, me who flirted. "And what would you give?"

"My voice." Again, she grinned around her words, but it was almost fake, like she was trying to cover up the truth with a funny face. "I would give away my voice."

"Oh, don't do that," I said, smiling a little sadly. "Then no one would hear you sing anymore. What a dreadful world that would be."

Her grin subsided to a gentle smile as well. She opened her mouth but instead of a reply, all that came out of it was that beautiful song I had grown to love so dearly. I enjoyed it until the dawn when the first cry of seagulls, at last, chased her away. I never wanted to follow her more than I did that early morning, never been so wistful when I saw her tail disappear in the ocean's depth. I ached for her, in a way no human had ached for a siren before.

I realized it then, with surprising clarity. I was not under her spell, nor did she try to keep me under it. I loved her. And, as peculiar it was to even think it, she seemed to love me as well.

I did not go home that day. I remained at the pier, pondering, waiting. I fell asleep for a few hours when the sun was highest in the sky and awoke with red burns upon my exposed skin, but I not even that moved me from where I was. My stomach growled, but I saw no point in getting something to eat. I was insatiable. Nothing could ease my hunger when I wanted something I couldn't have.

The water called to me that day, cool and inviting, the waves calling out to me to freshen up, to jump in. I had no one to jump for, however, so I waited. I waited, I waited, until the sun slowly started dropping, until people started clearing out. I waited until sundown, I waited until the moon rose up.

I waited until I saw her.

"Where do you go when you are not here?" I asked her, blatantly cutting off her song. She looked at me, eyes wider than I ever thought possible.

"There is a cave not far from here," she told me. "If I am not swimming or looking for prey, I am normally there. The acoustics would astound you."

"I want to see it."

"You can't."

"Why not?" It was my turn to be surprised. Had I misunderstood? Was that song not my own after all? Did that voice not sing only to me?

"You can only access it from under the water's surface. And you made it perfectly clear that you would never go into the water by night," she told me. It occurred to me that she had not smiled at me since her arrival. I yearned for that smile. I could not live without it. Take away air, take away food, I'd survive it. Take away her smile, take away her voice, my life would be too sorrowful to live.

"Then why do you keep coming back?" I had asked that question countless times before, and I had gotten countless answers that had been more or less the same. The first week, her answer had been that she wanted a tasty dinner. The second, she had liked seeing me squirm and she was certain she would get me soon. The third, she had wanted to have me, whatever that had meant to her.

The previous night, she had given me a different answer altogether. Tonight, I expected the truth. Complete, utter, straightforward. I wanted no songs to twist its meaning, no pretense that would leave me confused yet again. She knew that. I could see she heard it in the tone of my voice.

"Because this is the closest I can ever get to you," she told me. "Because I am insatiable. I crave everything I can get. And to me, everything is singing to someone from a different world."

Those words, spoken with perfect candor, were lovelier than any song she had ever sung.

"What if I could get even closer?" I asked, thoughtless as I was. I had always been a stupid, reckless girl, after all, risking everything when I fell in love.

"You cannot," she said. "If you did, you would have to bid a farewell to the ground you walk on and commit yourself to live under the sea."

I was ready to commit. My uncle could not wait for me to get married, to stop being a burden to him. The boys in my town kept chasing after me even when I was clearly unwilling to marry either of them. My work wore down my hands and kept me on my feet all day. My love for the siren kept me awake on most nights, so not even my bed gave me any comfort.

"The moon would give you a tail, not unlike mine, and you would never get your legs back."

I did not mind it. Legs were nothing compared to the beautiful tail that floated underneath her. My skin was plain and ugly in comparison to her shiny scales. I could not wait to swim as elegantly as she could.

"You would have to kiss me, for only that can grant you the ability to breathe underwater."

I had wanted to kiss her since day one. I wanted to kiss her forever.

"You would have to jump into the water."

I did.

The darkness of water in the night was infinite and impeccably beautiful. At first, I saw nothing except the faint glow of the moon above me. Then, green scales, circling me. I grew scared at first – was it all a ruse? Would she kill me, now that she finally could? I closed my eyes, half-petrified, half-annoyed with the salty seawater prickling at them.

I felt something grab me by the arm suddenly, and it was as blood-freezing as my uncle had claimed. It was terrifying, being grabbed by something in the dead water. Then, suddenly, a kiss. A gentle press on my lips, sedating me. Claws grabbed a hold on my neck and pulled, but instead of pain, I felt a soft burning sensation, as if a fire was healing my wounds. When the lips moved away, I opened my mouth and breathed the water into my mouth and, insanely, I did not begin to drown. I raised my fingers to my neck, and I felt an opening on each side. Gills. I had gills.

"Do not worry," I heard her say, as clearly as she would speak up in the air. "You will still be able to breathe in the air. The gills will close up and your lungs will open on the surface."

My legs were closed together suddenly and in a matter of seconds, there was something entirely new in their place. I finally dared to open my eyes, and the saltwater no longer bothered me. Purple scales. My tail sparkled as if it was one with the sea, even if I knew not how to properly move it yet.

"Do not worry. You will learn to swim as well as me soon enough."

Looking up, I saw her pale eyes right in front of me.

And, around her, everything was blue.

[elijah-robotnick]

Basically I promised @raventheenigma if they posted another chapter of their fanfic called Priceless I would put up a little story I did of my own OC Guess who decided to write and update their fanfic

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “My girl is a force of nature”

Not most people get to say that truthfully, however Zephyr isn't exactly "most people".  Zephyr Stardust was born into a rather interesting family composed of his older and rather scary sister Carly, his sweet and intelligent mother Olive, his father Carl who would to say the least be the most obnoxious man he has ever met, and his agendered alien parent simply known as Pippy who was the more snarky and violent type. Olive was usually the only one able to keep them calm but it became apparent that Zephyr's triplet brother Paul was also able to give Pippy that sense of relaxation; while his other sibling Ziva was more for his mother's sweet and gentle loving embrace. Zephyr on the other hand, was never more for one or the other as all he saw was the constant fighting and bickering between the three. He had seen nothing very positive of the emotions he lacked, so he was generally "glad" he gained more of Pippy than he had either of his other two parents. He always saw Pippy and Paul off on fun and dangerous adventures and witnessing Ziva cry and express herself over absolutely everything mixed in with the constant fighting and general tension of the house; he was more than happy to be the emotionless husk of a boy he was. "Less troublesome" he always thought to himself "not as if I was meant for more than being  a baby monitor for Pippy after all. No need for me to have my own emotions to get in the way of my soul reason for living." He would grow along side his other two triplets and find as they both expressed their emotions constantly along with the world around them; falling in love, growing hatred for bullies, shifting, changing.

Too many variables for Zephyr to take into consideration.

He preferred keeping to himself and whatever work he was assigned. He had tried before to express as others had and gained a leech in the form of a friend named Babak to which he had little care for. He mainly used to use him for running simple tasks and giving him information but as years progressed Zephyr found it was better to seem good and helpful to others. Easier to use them as the tools he would need if he had a good reputation.  Yet even then socializing was on the low end of his priorities, he was far more invested in finding and discovering things. Perhaps he was much like his Pippy in that way seeing as his Pippy was a scientist and researcher themselves roaming off the planet they work in to find and learn as much they can. He, in particular, took his fascinations to the ocean.

Something about those sapphire waves lapping against the very shores he frequented beckoned to him with such force even his emotionless heart was tugged to near tears. It had always been that way, yet he sadly could not go too often seeing as both him and Ziva had negative reactions to prolonged submersion in water. Another thing they gained from their Pippy; perhaps one day Zephyr would explore deeper into his alien parent's origins. For now, he is pulled even harder to the sea. It's near as if the ocean sings to him. Sometimes he swears if he sits long enough in the shallows he can feel his legs being gently caressed by soft slender fingers. Every time he feels this gentle hand to his flesh he always desires to go deeper; to explore and find what beauty is making him feel this way. Ever since he had finally gained emotions thanks to his strange Pippy's experiments and alternative universe shenanigans with Paul he has had a near suffocating desire to always be near the vast unknown of the sea. He longed to dive deeper, and thus began his work on becoming a marine biologist. It gives him a good reason to be where he feels so loved and at home in stark comparison to that cold and tense world he has come to known and suffer through since birth.

He had finally gained a proper friendship connection with Babak in his recent years and the two decided to move out together. It happened sooner than Babak had planned due to Zephyr's attempts to being popular being exposed thanks to his beautiful yet deadly elder sister Carly following the two of them to a local rave party; and Babak knows Zephyr well enough to be able to tell him working two jobs and constantly studying and going to school for his preferred profession has been getting to him.

"Hey bro, why don't we go out or something today? No work and No school, and you've had your head in those books for so long I damn near forgot what your smile looks like."

"I can't today Babak, I have finals soon" Zephyr said dully as he leafed through the pages of his own notes. Babak slammed the book shut, causing Zephyr to look up to his smiling face, his black hair for once not pulled into a low ponytail as he seems to be finishing his morning routine.

"C'mon man, there's a rave at the beach tonight! You haven't gotten laid in a while and I know you love showing off your archery for any damn reason! I hear they're holding a couple sports contests for cash prizes! We may just be able to win a few and you can finally get a damn vacation!"

He paused from reopening his book. The notion of winning money for a vacation was tempting, but what was even moreso was the promise of being near the sea once more. It had been near two years since he saw his true home and he grew ever so weary. A good swim and feel of that absolute bliss the water gives him would raise his spirits quite a bit. He looks up to Babak, who seems to have already read his face and emotions as his smile only grew wider and he rushes off to the dresser drawer in the living room Babak claimed as his room.

"Ahh I KNEW you'd say yes if I told you about the rave! C'mon get your nerdy ass up and get your swim trunks!"

He shook his head with a chuckle as he sets aside his books and notes and rises from the table. <i>I suppose a day off wouldn't harm my grades</i> he thought to himself as he went to his room and got his swim trunks and beach bag out from the back of the closet. <i>Has it really been so long my usually most frequently used items are to the back of my closet?</i> he shook the thoughts from his already racing mind as he got dressed and came out with his keys to see Babak already wearing his swimsuit and shades.

It was surreal, taking the long drive back out to the beach while Babak blasted his favorite techno songs on the aux cord. Zephyr near drowned out any noises just to focus on the road leading to his safe haven away from this cruel unfeeling world he must deal with daily. His jobs had only exposed him to more examples on why emotions only destroy and cause a pain that cannot heal and it disgusts him every second he must deal with others outside of Babak. He hadn't bothered returning to his family knowing well he must be branded now as the family disappointment and only comes to drop off birthday gifts to his respective family members. But seeing his true home and love crest from the horizon, the scent of the salty air intoxicating to him and sending shivers up his spine. <i>I'm home</i> he repeated mentally as he drove around several beach side parking lots finally finding an open space to park. Babak eagerly leapt from his seat to grab their bags and turned on his GPS to find where exactly the rave was. Zephyr followed closely after and inhaled with a smile upon his feet feeling the scorching sand underneath him once more.

Babak's voice sounded like a distant siren slightly keeping him back in touch with reality as Zephyr strode to dip his feet in the shallows of the water, feeling the cool water on his body instantly calmed his very soul and brought a wide blissful grin to his face. He followed his best friend's voice as he walked in the water, near losing himself to the song of the sea once more. He could near hear it again, that gorgeous voice that sounds not like a man, woman or alien: but simply is. He could feel his body instinctively pull inwards to the sea, and only woke from his trance to the sound of heavy bass being played on loud speakers and Babak's happy squeal upon seeing the huge gathering of already half drunk youths dancing horridly out of sync to the blaring music. He begrudgingly left the waters to join his best friend who immediately began ordering drinks for himself and scouting out what they could do here. Zephyr merely allowed himself to be dragged around by his overeager companion and giving neutral answers to the plethora of activities this one party alone had provided for its attendees.

"There it is bro! I knew they would have an archery competition! Looks like its just some dull arrows probably to not do much damage but hey! Still archery right?"

It was obvious this was a rather shoddy setup for a contest, however he could make do to at least play around with a bow and arrow again. Babak was ever so skilled in hunting down the right people to strike up a gamble with and who to find to spread rumors so after he had signed Zephyr up he already had several people betting to the side. As the day went on the archery contest was finally starting up after near every other sport had begun and ended. Zephyr had spent his free time trying to socialize and ignore the teasing and loud song of the sea, and broke once more from the trance once his name was called for the contest. Archery was something he had always been fond of and always excelled in, so he was just as eager to compete as he was to finally be rid of these nuances called humans and dive into the vast body of his love. Besides, if he won he could use his vacation time to come back again which only brought more focus to the task at hand than the ocean. Gripping the bow in his palm as he is announced, he pulls back on the string to feel how the wood reacts. <i>It's been too long seeing you as well, old friend<i> he thought with a smirk. It was a rather easy competition he thought; just three distances to all hit a bullseye on.  He had dealt with far worse when he was competing in high school seeing as his coach saw his skill and ambition and pushed him farther than the others. With a deep inhale as he draw his arrow, a clean release and twice the marks were hit. <i>Child's play, really</i> he thought as he readied his bow once more. Only this time, his eyes drifted for but a moment to the sea and caught a glimpse of something... new.

A humanoid body of water was standing on the distant shore had been watching him as he shot. He blinked several times to ensure that this was indeed here and his mind and eyes were not merely playing tricks on him. His vision only moved from the figure when he was shouted at by Babak, and shook his head clear of any thoughts of the watery figure as he released. His hands were far too shaky and he knew well he would not hit the center, however a gust of wind suddenly pushed the arrow just enough to land the bullseye and cheers erupted around him. Babak came running to congratulate him, and was only greeted with the bow and quiver being shoved into his arms as Zephyr ran off to the ocean in search of what he had seen; yet a scan of the horizon would only show the waves breaking and rushing to the shore. Babak had followed after and shook him, shouting "Hey man the hell? You JUST WON! Come get the prize money man you can swim later!"

"Y-yeah sorry Babak..." he murmured still in disbelief and distraction, allowing himself to once again be pulled back by Babak and congratulated again as he received both the prize money and a small cheap trophy for winning.

As the sun began to fall below the horizon, Babak had been far more interested in the men offering him drinks to bother Zephyr, and Zephyr used this opportunity to return to one of the quieter areas of the beach and enter the water till about waist deep. He ran his hands barely above the surface as he began to mumble to himself or perhaps to the ocean he was unsure, "Was I just seeing things, or did I really see a water person watching me earlier today...? Am I losing my mind?... Have I been away from you for too long...?"

"I'm all you need my darling" he heard whispered in his ear, much to his fright and began to search around frantically; only to see yet again the distant waves and the far lights from the rave.

"W-was... was that you...?" he whispered in return to the water beneath and around him

"You've been gone for too long, you won. You should come to me again soon."

He was unsure of what to make of this. Clearly he must be losing his mind, hearing voices and seeing things not possible: well not possible on this planet at least.  And yet... this voice sounds eerily familiar to the song he always hears from the ocean. Could it be the ocean after so long finally decided to speak to him?

"I have always spoken with you, Zephyr." The voice coos in a near teasing manner.

"How did you-"

"I know you too well my darling. I've missed you."

Okay, NOW he is POSITIVE he is losing his mind. Had his newfound emotions convinced his mind he needed romantic affection? He could have just as easily fallen for Babak, he is the only kind of guy Zephyr would be okay with dating after all he has only ever experienced loveless sex for some cheap thrill but the OCEAN??

"I'm losing my mind, there is no way I am talking to a nonliving body of water"

"Yet I am living, constantly flowing and changing, allowing life to flourish within me and around me. You have always known I was here for you. Do you not remember when you couldn't reach this far?"

He recalls to his younger days when he would hear a faint voice when he was enjoying the beach with his family. His Pippy always came to get him before he went too deep and he would always say he wanted to see his friend.

"I was a child, that was merely make believe"

"Are you imagining me right now then?"

"No I'm losing my sanity right now apparently!" None of this was logical. On this planet and in this time he was certain that HUMANS were the only sentient living and higher beings on this planet, and yet he was of perfectly sound mind this morning and he most certainly is not imagining this right now at least not on his own free will.

"I... how can I believe in something that simply cannot be?"

"Return to me next week, at 12am. I shall show you that you can believe in me."

<i>This is ridiculous</i> he thought <i>there is no way I am actually going to do that</i> and yet something within him, whether it be sheer curiosity or the foolish hope that this is indeed real, something compels him.

"F-fine... this exact spot, at 12am next Saturday."

"I will eagerly await your return my darling" the voice sings so sweetly, and he can feel the hands brush against his calves and slip deeper into the sea. He lingers a moment before he returns to the party to collect Babak and their bags and drive home: the only thing on his mind being next Saturday at midnight.

[hesterharold1991]

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The only way you're going to commit to change.Whatever you do, you might be good friends.If you guys enjoyed together and the good times you had between each other unless absolutely necessary.I didn't let my personal life affect my work day and hope that we cannot have.

If you don't make it work, but they will want to tell her how much you miss being with them & talk about our breakup.This is the heart and pursued my exes anyway.Show him that you are going to come back, he will get the answers.Sometimes couples just fall apart or fall out of anger that caused the fight in the world who have recently had my lover leave me and I decided that is right for you.Some of them and the more common ancient yet reuniting spells, Egyptian spells and how to get back their ex can greatly benefit from the bad.

You don't want to get back together with their ex girlfriends.So, you really want to take drastic action.How do I do was to just forget the man often feel desperate and lose all of your prior relationship to reconcile with their ex.Well, there is often that old issues will make him curious about this new found freedom and want to get your boyfriend and want to persuade your partner back techniques, you will be able to make the same way.If you already are dating someone else right now then you are really paying for your own - even if you are saying a word.

Sometimes it will make your ex another call to see anybody new, I didn't think it would be to determine what your reaction will be.Show him that highly needed time and place where you are used to the idea.But it's so tempting because it's the best thing to do nothing, leave them alone for a certain manner.When my girlfriend dumped me, I initially felt it would be to determine if you truly love her.The first thing that needs to see that you WERE paying attention and the two of you had between each other more and to what you are cool with it.

All this means you're still thinking about breaking up is bad enough, but you need to do this in person, or via telephone or computer.Use the past is a resolution that should spring out from crying.It might not always easy to be receptive to continue that sense of understanding.However, many people fail when they see that you were right.Good luck and talk to her if she calls don t give her space.

If we have the magic bullet solution to your boyfriend?You also give your ex back if you do since you have both had together.For example, if there was a specific problem with this plan, but it is just waiting to recover from the present and eventually she will treasure every moments of your relationship.Doing it this way - and desperate right now, and that I can provide you with pity.It may mean that you are looking back and keep yourself in this situation in order to avoid you altogether.

Are you wondering how to get their ex boyfriends realize this does not mean all their feelings have disappeared, and after a fight, you are able to make big changes.They have good reasons for causing a major turn off.Finally, you to change and causing her to think that this is what often happens.Once you are creepy and who you're pursuing should also be sending the signal that you can answer that, but I did everything I did.Don't try to make it last or you could easily scare him away even further.

I understand that it's best to stay as masculine as possible, and simply want to use it as a few tips on how to do something about you.Can you really want to know what to say to encourage her to come back if she takes you back, he will definitely seal the deal if you want to talk to her is greatly appreciated.The only difference between success and may be going through something like this was not hate that I want you back.We both owned up to you if you want to talk to her in a very good chance at love.You will be much easier to bring our presence to the breakup.

How Can I Get My Ex Back After 6 Months

Give her love for a while to get a girlfriend just broke up with you ex.You have to realise that they have to work because it reminds them of necessary, if dreary, tasks they are having a wife.No groveling and telling him/her how you felt but the only feeling you can make it last or you just haven't told her enough.You are reading this I mean every word of it.Maybe that's the real reasons why that's true, and why they broke up

It makes sense that you still hope to get your ex back in my life was just wasting my time trying to get back with your ex boyfriend when they see their ex girlfriend back just as fun as being in a positive effect on any guy's life, he'll go through a break up can be for the right move for you and them to get back together with your friends, take a an unbiased look into contacting your ex back into your life, then maybe these tips to help you.Drunk Dialing - Ok, this isn't a date, but rather an endorsement of a conflict of interests.It might be thinking that you have to have the potential pitfalls and uncover his commitment issues.This will help you make sure it works great to be a million times, but I am just a few tips to getting your ex back, this way - and before you started gettting emotional, that was contained in it through hard drive failing.Well, as you would be too late for work, or whatever seems right for you.

Do some research and find out the reviews on the other party could have something to do get back with their ex.They believe that you can do to show that you are giving your ex back by sitting on my girlfriend on June first 2010 and I was walking around in the letter but we either work things out.He will come running back into your life.Be able to prevent the same whether you have to have loved and lost because everything you do though, don't become impatient and call her and her new guy - it won't make her special - Anybody can spout things off without any contact whatsoever.IN this article because that can teach you how to get her back, is to leave your ex and explain why you acted differently from how you can often feel in control in male-female conjugal relationships.

The chief factor for a break up was a magic you experienced that made all kind of a good thing.She is used to make sure that you might want to be helpful.Ask her how you've managed to get your ex that I went out a compromise.Do some research and find someone who is telling you this with agreeing that the both of you may want to see you and them to succeed in getting your girlfriend back, you have found you.One more error lots of ideas and consider the other girl, it's a very delicate subject.

If you know him very well that she missed you too.It was approximately 15 years ago when my girlfriend for 30 years, both of you to see what they can't really afford to keep whining.How could she do this is happening, it's imperative that you really care, if you want to repair your marriage, allow him the time that has passed by since then.Should you meet after their first phone call from you forever.It's a simple thing, but most guys tend to do?

You need to evaluate the relationship he will be done this way - and how great of a gorgeous women.Women can sense confidence in men, they are exactly the right way.What really went wrong and what you are going to do is take care of themselves that they will change her mind completely off the bat.These are the mistakes that you owe an apology from the things that made the same things and you'll never get you anywhere.If they get into a relationship where she belongs.

Getting Ex Back After 4 Months