#chapter: the orchard

[bff-show]

Episode 1 - What’s Cane’s Cup’s Name? [Part 2]

[Previous Part] [Previous Chapter]

“Contest!” The clock says.

“Clock, what are you doing here?” No Way asks.

“I’m so glad you asked No Way!” The clock says, and then proceeds not to speak.

“…Can you explain what is happening?” Suitcase asks.

“Certainly Suitcase!” Clock says.

“How do you know my name?” Suitcase asks.

“Me and a bunch of hosts decided we all had such good contestants that we needed to bring everyone together!” Clock says.

“…You have to be kidding me,” Diary says pinching what would be her nose, if she had one.

“What about us?” GPS asks.

“We loved your shows and thought you deserved to be here too!” Clock says.

“Our what?” GPS asks.

“Your a character in the nightly manor!” Fan says. “Didn’t you know?”

“Huh?” GPS asks.

“Now! Get into 10 teams of three, I mean 3 teams of ten,” Clock says.

“No!” Suitcase says. “I’m not competing again!”

Clock stands in silence. Only blinking.

“How about we be on a team?” Liam asks.

“…Fine,” Suitcase says.

Liam and Suitcase walk down. Bryce and Amelia join them quickly.

“Um, can we join?” No Way asks while he approaches Suitcase with Polka Dot.

“Sure,” Suitcase says. “That means we already have six, anyone else you guys want to have?”

“Maybe GPS?” Bryce says.

“The murderer?” No Way asks.

“Why, you want Sketchpad instead?” Bryce asks.

“Maybe, he reminds me of my friend, Tile,” No Way says.

“Where is he anyway?” Polka Dot asks.

“I think we should be on a team,” Leafy says.

“Better than anyone else,” Taco says. “…Who else?”

“Well I think this team should be as nice as possible. Fern seems nice,” Leafy says.

“I mean that’s not strategically-“ Taco begins to say.

“I heard my name,” Fern says.

“I also heard his name,” Cattail says.

“Would you like to join our team?” Leafy asks.

“Sounds good, as long as Cattail can join too,” Fern says.

“Sounds good!” Leafy says.

“Who else are we getting?” Fern asks.

“I want this team to be nice as possible… how about… hmmmmmm,” Leafy thinks.

“I’m filled with ice,” Cane’s Cup says.

“…No I said nice-“ Leafy says.

“Ice gang!” Cane’s Cup says happily defying the laws of gravity to celebrate.

“Did you hear the word gang?” Spraypaint asks.

“No,” Kit says. “I don’t hear anything anymore,”

“Let’s go over to the Suitcase, she seems easy to tease and she’s a winner,” Spraypaint says.

“What-“ Kit asks before she is dragged by Spraypaint to Suitcase.

“Hey we’re joining your team,” Spraypaint says.

“Well, I guess-“ Suitcase says.

“Cool,” Spraypaint interupts. “This is our team now Kit,”

“Whatever,” Kit says.

“That’s almost the entire team filled up…” Suitcase says. “Wait, where's Fan?”

“Wow that’s so interesting!” Fan says.

“Yeah I know,” Diary says. “I’m just such an interesting person!”

Moonstone gets Diary’s attention by poking her on the back.

“Diary, we should go and find a team,” Moonstone says.

“Oh that's true, bye weird red thing!” Diary says.

“…My name is Fan…” Fan says. “I guess I should find a group…”

“So who should we join?” Diary asks Moonstone as they walk away..

“The only two teams there are is the team who wants to be nice and that team,” Moonstone says, pointing to Suitcase and the others.

“We should go with that team,” Diary says. “I like the look of that candle,”

“…Alright…” Moonstone says.

Moonstone is a bit weirded out by that comment. But listens to Diary and walks toward Suitcase and their team.

“Can we join your team?” Moonstone asks.

“…I don’t know,” Suitcase says. “Have you seen Fan around here?”

“Fan?” Diary asks. “Who’s that?”

“You talked to him a moment ago,” Moonstone informs.

“Oh!” Diary says.

Suitcase is very wary of that comment. Thinking that Diary is a jerk and not like Knife. Fan’s may not be the best but he’s good! Probably better than Diary!

“I’m not letting you on,” Suitcase states.

“What?” Diary says.

Diary and Suitcase begin to argue. While Liam and Moonstone try to break them apart.

“Who else should we get?” Leafy asks.

“Do you three know any ‘nice’ people?” Taco asks.

“…Not Water Bottle,” Fern says.

“Demon Core is nice,” Cane’s Cup says.

Everyone looks confused at Cane’s Cup.

“I said-“ Cane’s Cup says.

“WHAT?” Cattail screams.

“I heard a scream!” Rosey says.

“Hi there!” Leafy says “Are you nice?”

“As long as nobody here is a stuck up jerk,” Rosey says.

“Nope, nobody is,” Leafy says.

“I’m working on it,” Taco says.

“…Good enough,” Rosey says.

“Who else should we bring on?” Leafy asks.

“How about Ring and Vase? They’re nice,” Rosey says.

“That sounds great!” Leafy says.

“Leafy, is this the best idea? I don’t think that’s strategically viable,” Taco says.

“Did someone call my name?” Vase asks.

“AH-!” Taco says, caught off guard by the sudden appearance.

“I bet Vase can add something to the team!” Leafy says. “What do you do Vase?”

“Break easily,” Vase says.

“…Oh…” Leafy says.

“We’re screwed,” Taco says.

“I found Ring!” Rosey says. Dragging her to them.

“Alright, that’s fine,” Taco says. “Two more spots left, we can make this work,”

“And Ring brought Sketchpad with her!” Rosey says.

Taco breaks a bit.

“One more spot left,” Taco corrects herself.

“How about we get Gaty?” Leafy asks.

“…Why?” Taco asks.

“I know her from BFB!” Leafy says. “Plus she’s really nice and I heard she gets along with hosts great!”

“That’s… not a bad idea,” Taco says. “Why not?”

“Gaty!” Leafy calls.

Gaty notices and sees Leafy waving over to her. She walks over.

“What’s up?” Gaty asks.

“You should join our team!” Leafy says.

“I don’t know…” Gaty says.

“We think you would be a valuable asset,” Taco says.

“…Maybe,” Gaty says.

“It’s better than them,” Ring points out.

Ring points to Suitcase’s team who is still in an argument. Gaty looks at them, see no other teams and makes a quick decision.

“Yeah, I think I’ll join you guys,” Gaty says.

“Whether you like it or not, we’re joining this team,” Diary says.

“YOU ARE NOT-“ Suitcase says.

“THE TEAMS ARE SET!” Clock says.

“…Most of us aren’t even in teams yet!” Water Bottle yells.

“Everyone who isn’t in a team will be put into one!” Clock says.

Clock extends his hands which grow rapidly and shoves together Book, Fan, Journal, Milk, Water Bottle, GPS, Feather, Chocolate Milk Carton, Eyepatch, and Plasma Ball.

“That’s the third team!” Clock says.

“She’s on our team?” Suitcase says. “I didn’t even want her on here?”

“Excuse me?” Diary says.

“These are the teams!” Clock says.

Teams:

Team 1: Leafy, Taco, Fern, Cattail, Sketchpad, Cane’s Cup, Gaty, Vase, Ring, Rosey

Team 2: Book, Fan, Journal, Milk, Water Bottle, GPS, Feather, Chocolate Milk Carton, Eyepatch, Plasma Ball

Team 3: Suitcase, Moonstone, Diary, No Way, Polka Dot, Liam, Bryce, Amelia, Kit, Spraypaint

“Now to name the teams!” Clock says. “As per tradition the last thing you say after fifteen seconds will be your name! First up Team one!”

“How about Object Fool?” Cane’s Cup says.

“That’s a horrible name,” Taco says.

“How about we’re all nice and we here for a time, we’ll be: Nice Time!” Rosey says.

Everyone hums in agreement besides Cane’s Cup.

[Nice Time Jingle]

“I think we should’ve named it Lettuce Wrap,” Taco says.

“That was a second suggestion!” Cane’s Cup says.

“That was my third!” Sketchpad says.

“Now for Team two!” Clock announces.

“Guess we’re stuck together,” Plasma Ball says.

“Let’s be called the Alphas,” Water Bottle says.

“No, no, let’s be called The Fans!” Fan says. “I may be biased,”

“Two of us are Milk related, why not the milks?” Feather asks.

“That name stinks,” Milk says.

“The Leftovers,” Chocolate Milk Carton says.

[The Leftovers jingle]

“It’s fitting,” Journal comments.

“Now Team three!” Clock says.

“Oh, I have the best idea!” Diary says. “How about the secret keepers? Now I know what your saying, Diary that’s such a great-“

“STOP TALKING!” Suitcase yells.

[Stop Talking Jingle]

“That’s the teams! Nice Time, The Leftovers and Stop Talking!” Clock says. “Now for the challenge-“

“Wait, what’s the prize?” Fan asks.

“Oh silly me! How could I forget? The prize is simple: Freedom,” Clock says.

“…What?” Fan asks.

“Now for the challenge! Eat this fruit!” Clock says.

Three Durians pop to the three different teams.

“Oh I know how to get this open,” Fern says. He goes to a tree and strikes it. Opening it. “Alright, whose eating?”

“…I’m not eating this,” Water Bottle says.

“We have to break it open first,” Journal says and tries to reach for the durian. Water Bottle takes it away. “Give me the durian,”

“I can break it open,” Water Bottle says.

“Then break it open,” Journal says.

“I’m going to if you could give me a second, nerd,” Water Bottle says.

“Excuse me?” Journal says.

“GIVE ME THE STUPID FRUIT!” Plasma Ball says.

The three fight over the fruit.

“We are going to lose,” Chocolate Milk Carton says.

“Yeah,” Milk says.

“Hey I’m on this team too! Pay attention to me please!” Feather says.

“Can someone break this open?” Suitcase asks.

“I can!” Diary says.

Diary takes the fruit and goes to break it open but slips.

“OWWWWWW!” Diary tells.

“…Can somebody get her?” Suitcase asks.

“I got it,” Moonstone says.

Moonstone walks over to Diary.

“How long does it usually take for someone to eat a durian?” Liam asks.

“Have you ever eaten one?” Bryce asks.

“I ate one once, it was… fine,” Amelia says.

“Can you guys stop talking about fruit and do the challenge?” Polka Dot asks.

“Not much we can do,” Bryce says.

“Owwww!” Diary says.

Taco unhinges her jaw and eats the fruit, even the shell.

“Crunchy…” Taco says and swallows everything. “That's how you do it,”

“Woah!” Leafy says.

“Nice Time wins!” Clock says.

“Wait what?” Diary calls, still trying to get up.

“Viewers both The Leftovers and Stop Talking! are both up for elimination,” Clock says. “You can vote for whoever you want to stay, you only have one vote so make sure you make it count!”

Hey everyone author commenty here! You heard Clock, vote for who you want to stay. It’s vote to save. The contestant with the most votes will stay, the contestants with the least votes will go.

Here’s the link to vote: https://forms.gle/M1oP4P4ZrjeE6mzy7

You can now ask anything to all the characters and the host!

[Previous Part] [Next Episode]

[sugarcoatednightshade]

I haven’t thought of Lily Orchard in years, but she just made a video on dungeon meshi and I wanted to hear what she had to say. I couldn’t even finish it.

It’s clear she hates anime as a genre and is pissed about having to review something she didn’t want to watch, and that anger permeates the whole* review. On top of that, it’s so fucking disingenuous to review a show that’s not even halfway over and then claim it’s thematically disjointed - like 1. Of course it’ll seem that way if you’ve only seen the first quarter of a piece of work, we’re still in the setting up stage, these themes haven’t had time to fully commingle and resolve and 2. Even considering that, dungeon meshi does actually know what it is/where it’s going, and at this point it’s fairly obvious how all the themes/mixed genera’s are gonna fit together.**

*to be fair, I haven’t seen the entire review, so maybe she calms down partway through. I don’t make a habit of watching things I know will upset me, and watching someone make bad faith criticism of something I like would literally ruin my week

Post chapter 65 spoilers below:

**Granted, cookings prominence in the show, while cute*** on its own, didn’t really seem plot relevant to me until around chapter 65 when it was revealed that in order to save falin they would have to eat her dragon half. Y’all, I went fucking feral over that reveal.

***cute meaning: it’s used mostly for worldbuilding at first. That’s really cool if you’re into it, and an integral part of the story ryoko kui is telling, but not technically necessary in every story. There are plenty of storys who spend needless time expositing about the world instead of focusing on the interesting bits, and if you’re only a quarter of the way into DM, I can see how you might think that this is one of those cases.

But obviously, as time passes, the worldbuilding aspects become more important, because the entire show is about worldbuilding. Or more accurately, it’s a deconstruction of the fantasy genera. It spends time setting up familiar tropes and then examines how those tropes would actually play out in a realistic world, setting up and then questioning our expectations for the world in a really nuanced way.

My favorite example of this is how dungeon meshi treats dark/ancient magic.

1. The words ‘dark magic’ and ‘dark elf’ have negative but vague connotations in traditional fantasy. “The thing is bad because it is bad.” It’s a fact we’re primed to believe, but shallow and easy to question

2. We learn that marcille uses dark magic, but that she’s using it for good. “Actually dark magic is forbidden because the people in power were afraid of The Plebs and want to restrict the populaces access to knowledge” is also a common fantasy trope.

3. As we learn more about dungeons and how they intertwine with dark magic, we learn that it does truly have the power to end the world. Not by itself, but because the dimension it pulls power from is populated by beings who would use that bridge of power to enter our world and cause havoc. Holy shit, we think, black magic is actually dangerous and was banned for a reason. Naming it ‘black’ was part of a smear campaign intended to save the public by dissuading them from using it

4. And then we learn that the so called catastrophe scenario has never happened, no demon has ever escaped a dungeon and successfully ended the world. Is this because of the work of the Canaries and ppl like them, or are demons perhaps not as much of a threat as they are made out to be?

And it’s great because there is no one correct answer. We learn things through the characters, whose perspectives are limited and realistic and based on their own life experience. Nobody knows the whole story, and neither do we.

[hopelesslysleepy]

nothing gold can stay (but you)

chapter 4: through the eye of a needle

Summary: There’s a demon searching through pockets. And someone has been waiting…and watching.

Excerpt: Crowley knew he could find the angel, but he had to stop fumbling around like a human looking for car keys. Aziraphale wasn’t just anyone. He was a presence—a constant that Crowley had always been able to sense.

I know what you feel like.

Read the final chapter or start from the beginning.

Thanks and gratitude to the fabulous @alwaystuesday for the gorgeous artwork and for beta reading this fic! I had a frightfully good time collaborating with you. And thanks to the mods @spooky-bang-good-omens for coordinating the Spooky Bang! It’s been delightful to see everyone’s finished projects. 🍎🍂🖤

[kiwinatorwaffles]

hiding in plain sight (the meaning of trust) - chapter 2

SORRY IT'S BEEN SO LONG!!!!! IT'S FINALLY HERE VDHAU FANS

Genre: Comedy/Superhero

Chapter 2 word count: 4,994

Characters (in chapter): Evil X (8), Hypno, xB, Evil X, Worm Man, Etho, Gem (brief), Badtimes (brief)

Chapter summary: in which our previously-mentioned lab rat attends school for the first time and meets some new friends.

[ordinarythingsiflovecaneverbe]

“Hey, Google play Sad Beautiful Tragic”

*opens Ruin and Rising*

Flips to Chapter 16

*begins sobbing*

[ladyespera]

sijad | rhadore

bonus sakura pic by yours truly:

[fruitybashir]

if i dont get at least 5 asks from you after a new chapter id be like oh i fucked up .............. its the metric by which i determine if the chapter was good or bad hahahaha 💖💖💖💖

(yes I stole your reaction pic, sorryyy)

Thank youuuuuuuu I am always scared that I'm being annoying this is great reasurance <3

Now, onto the actual chapter:

The longer the day goes on, the more Bojan seems like himself again, awake and active and talking, talking, talking- … and it should annoy Kris, it really should. It did, just a few months back but there’s none of that now.

I relate to both of them so hard in this scene, I too talk a lot all the time always and I too absolutely adore listening to the people I love talk :D

apple spam under the cut :D

lmaooo like remember when kris yelled at bojan for not shutting up? and look at him now. where did all attitude go huh? 😌

baby steps, baby steps, he thinks he can still get out of it if he just admits hes crushing but thats just the admission that opens possibilities for more hahaha

i cant heeeeeelp it, every time i see bojan with kids im like 😭😭😭😭 he belongs with kids and i can SOOOO see him in daycare/kindergarten like,,,, it is all so clear to me

its just scraps and glimpses into why their dynamic was the way it was at the start and they need to get it all out in the open and clear it up a) for kris to realise he can trust bojan now and bojan isnt that asshole teen anymore and b) for bojan to understand why kris was so cold to him and accept that he had to earn that trust/affection back

also the thing (in this au) was that like. kris had a crush on bojan and then bojan calls him a slur and that not only hits extra hard in the being called a slur department, but also being called that by someone you looked up to (inspired him into music) and that you put on a pedestal and admired etc, that just cuts extra deep, it feels like a betrayal almost

NO SAME THO!! like i couldnt form a dutch sentence if my life depended on it but when i looked them up and thomas helped me figure out what sounded most natural etc, id read them and be like oh yeah. i understand that. all of that. its so weird!!!

oh and one day he will make a home in that <33 one day <33 after theyve got their shit together and become a couple and get married and have children and then kris will have bojan laughing and kissing him on the couch always <33333

[kingedmundsroyalmurder]

Extra cw for racism and ableism. It is quite bad in this chapter.

“No, I don’t, Master. I might think it of some men, but never of you. I don’t for a minute think that you would do her or any woman any wilful wrong. But you may do her great harm for all that. I want you to stop and think about it. I guess you haven’t thought. Kilmeny can’t know anything about the world or about men, and she may get to thinking too much of you. That might break her heart, because you couldn’t ever marry a dumb girl like her. So I don’t think you ought to be meeting her so often in this fashion. It isn’t right, Master. Don’t go to the orchard again.”

You know, this speech of Mrs. Williamson started off so well. Because she's right! Even in a world where Eric is a better person and doesn't have any of his issues towards women, he is at risk of harming Kilmeny. If this passage had ended, 'I know you're going to go home and marry an heiress like your father wants you to' it would be fine! But no, we veer hard back into ableism, with the clearly stated belief that Kilmeny's muteness means that of course Eric can't marry her.

And look. This was written in 1910 and possibly set earlier, since it was cobbled together from an earlier short story. Eric meeting Kilmeny alone without her guardians knowing about it could absolutely ruin her if anyone found out. That is the material harm he is doing here. But Mrs. Williamson's concern is not, 'you could lead her on and destroy her' it's 'if you do lead her on there is no way you could marry her because she's disabled.'

And Mrs. Williamson is framing this as a favor to Kilmeny's mother. Once again, Kilmeny exists only as an extension of her mother. Her own desires aren't even discounted, they are not even considered to exist.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Williamson's warning has made Eric realize that he is in love with Kilmeny. Sure. Fine. If you say so. But, unlike Mrs. Williamson, Eric does not think that Kilmeny's muteness is a reason he shouldn't marry her. What he says instead is,“If I can win Kilmeny’s love I shall ask her to be my wife." Which is possibly the most agency anyone has granted this woman to date! It's not, 'I shall ask her immediately,' it's 'if she should love me back then I shall ask her.'

Look, the bar for people granting Kilmeny agency is so low it may as well be a buried sewer pipe.

So Eric agrees to teach school in Lindsay next year so that he can stay close to Kilmeny and woo her. He is weird and gross about it, as is his wont: "It will be my sweet task to teach her what love means, and no man has ever had a lovelier, purer, pupil.”

You know, when most people say they're going to 'teach someone what love means' they generally mean it as a euphemism for sex. Please do not have sex with Kilmeny, Eric. I don't think she knows anything about contraception and how to protect herself.

Anyway, Eric goes back to Mrs. Williamson and says that he intends to marry Kilmeny if she'll have him. She thinks he is committing himself to a great folly. I don't genuinely understand why Kilmeny being mute is such a big deal to everyone. As far as disabilities go, hers is fairly mild. She has no trouble communicating with anyone. Is speech making really so required for a society wife?

He does agree to go speak to Kilmeny's guardians about it, and thank heavens for that. He even admits that he should have done it earlier, and was just so caught up in things he didn't think of it.

Mrs. Williamson then says something interesting, which is that in her opinion Kilmeny has also not told her aunt and uncle about their meetings, because if she had they would have forbidden them. According to Kilmeny her isolation was mostly her mother's doing, but very clearly Thomas and Janet agreed with it and maintained strict control over her after Margaret's death.

I do not think I like Thomas and Janet Gordon very much.

Mrs. Williamson is also racist about Neil, because of course she is. Neil is ~Foreign~, a word which in this context means Not One Of Us rather than its more conventional meaning of Born Elsewhere. Again, remember, Neil Gordon was born in Lindsay and raised by the Gordon family. He's no more Italian than the Williamsons. But his parents were Italian (and Lord knows if they were actually from Italy or if they too were born in Canada) and so he is forever tainted.

And we finish with Mrs. Williamson thinking to herself that Kilmeny must be very beautiful indeed to have so captivated Eric. Never mind if she's nice or funny or clever or anything else. Clearly she is beautiful, because that's the only thing that matters in the end.

Gods the philosophical and thematic underpinnings of this book are gross.

[mcalhenwrites]

Sometimes you have to write the spanking fics of your heart, not the ones that really fit the characters precisely :) Anyway, here's my Jude get spanked by Alvin for overworking fic :) arujumilla fic

[lifewithaview]

Kiernan Shipka in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018) Chapter One: October Country

S1E1

While Greendale readies for a Halloween eclipse, Sabrina faces a crucial decision and Harvey makes an unexpected declaration.

*When Sabrina, Harvey and Ros are talking in the school yard at a dining table, Sabrina is holding a vintage 1969 thermos from The Archies lunchbox.

[bff-show]

BFF Episode 3 - Crime Pays

[Previous Episode] [Next Episode]

“…What are you doing?” Journal asks.

Suitcase is currently staring at Daddy Long Legs. Which she has been for a few hours now, intensely.

“Waiting for the change,” Suitcase says.

“It’s about that time,” Cane’s Cup says, coming out of nowhere.

Suitcase gives him a half confused half annoyed look before going back to watching Daddy Long Legs. At this point they have gotten the ink river drained and everyone revived. Most people at this time today are talking. Some are sleeping. Fan is suffering technology withdrawals.

“I hate to be that guy but waiting for it to happen won’t make it come faster,” Journal says.

“I don’t care when it comes, I want to see it when it happens,” Suitcase says.

“…For information?” Journal asks.

“If I say yes,” Suitcase says. “Will leave me alone?”

“My bad,” Journal says before walking away.

“I never left!” Cane’s Cup says.

“Can you?” Suitcase says.

“Oh come on we have to stick together! Winner buddies!” Cane’s Cup says.

“…I’m not…particularly proud, of my win,” Suitcase says.

“WHAT?” Cane’s Cup yells. “Not proud… of a win? My win was the best thing that ever happened to me!”

“Good for you,” Suitcase says

As Cane’s Cup keeps talking about his win. Suitcase gives an eye roll before turning her attention back to where she was focused on before.

Only to see a TV in its place. Suitcase’s mouth goes agape. She walks slowly over to it. Surprisingly she’s joined by Vase, but Suitcase doesn’t question that.

They reach the TV. The two look at each other and wordlessly Vase reaches for the knob to turn the TV on. Which she does. The picture comes through and it’s a hand. For a moment, it’s dead silent.

“Hello there! Are you guys ready for the third episode?” The hand speaks by moving it’s mouth. Vase and Suitcase jump away.

“WHAT THE [Team Room 125],” Suitcase says.

[Intro]

“Well hopefully that intro calms you down. So, how’s it going? It’s me, The Man,” The Man moves his hand and words keep magically coming out. “Host of this pretty popular show, Team Room 125, completely revolutionized the OSC, no need to thank me,”

“…The What?” Vase asks.

“I’VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT SHOW,” Fan yells.

“…Well that doesn’t matter!” The Man says. “I will make this the most Team Room 125y episode ever! So the challenge is-“

“The Elimination?” Rosey asks.

“Right… the elimination,” The Man says. “I’ve been told the two teams up for elimination are Nice Time and Stop Talking!”

The two teams sit down.

“First up, Nice Time! Four Votes, Three for Taco,” The Man says.

“Huh, I guess I do have fans,” Taco says.

“Who's gonna get the final vote?” The Man says. “…Alright, done waiting, it’s Leafy with one vote,”

“Yipee!” Leafy says.

“Stop Talking!” The Man says. “You also got four votes,”

“We know,” Suitcase says. “The votes are connected,”

“…Suitcase got one vote,” The Man says. “Someone else got two votes, while someone else got one vote,”

“Please be me,” Moonstone says.

“Not you, it’s between Liam and Fan,” The Man says. “…Fan has the two votes,”

“[Team Room 125]” Spraypaint says, censored.

“Well since that’s all the votes we got… uh I guess… did you do something last time?” The Man asks.

“The most voted person voted one person off, besides people who got votes themselves,” Chocolate Milk Carton says.

“Oh… thanks, I guess we’ll do that. Taco, Fan, who is being voted off?” The Man asks.

Taco looks to Leafy before approaching her, the two whisper to each other.

*Ring,* Leafy says.

*…Are you sure? I know she isn’t… morally the best but she’s statistically good,* Taco says.

*Taco, we’re here to be nice, she is not nice… you can vote whoever you want but if you don’t vote her, that’s a mistake,* Leafy says.

Taco sighs before looking back to everyone. She opens her mouth.

“I choose Ring,” Taco says.

“…Guess I should’ve expected this…” Ring says and goes to sit next to the other eliminated contestants.

“Fan choose Moonstone,” Suitcase says.

“I mean… that is probably the best option,” Fan says. “Also probably not a good idea to keep her away from Dairy. I choose Moonstone,” Fan says.

“…What?” Moonstone says.

“Sorry Moonstone but you're the best option,” Fan says.

“Plus you're disruptive,” Suitcase says.

“I don’t know what to say,” Moonstone says before walking away.

“That’s the elimination, now for the challenge!” The Man says.

“I want to change teams!” Spraypaint says.

“Wait you can do that?” The Man asks.

“Yeah, come on Kit,” Spraypaint says and drags Kit away.

GPS also switches teams.

“Can I come onto your team?” GPS asks Bryce and Amelia.

“Totally,” Bryce says.

“That would be nice,” Amelia says.

“Sure,” Suitcase says.

Spraypaint and Kit stand far away from the other teams.

“We’re making a new team,” Spraypaint says. “I know we would next because Suitcase doesn’t have anyone else to get rid of that she doesn’t like,”

“Okay,” Kit says.

“You can do that?” The Man asks.

“Nobody said we couldn’t,” Spraypaint says.

“…Fine,” The Man says.

[Kit and Spraypaint Jingle]

Teams:

Nice Time: Leafy, Taco, Fern, Cattail, Sketchpad, Cane’s Cup, Gaty, Vase, Rosey

The Leftovers: Book, Journal, Milk, Feather, Chocolate Milk Carton, Eyepatch, Plasma Ball

Kit and Spraypaint: Kit, Spraypaint

Stop Talking!: Suitcase, Fan, No Way, Polka Dot, Liam, Bryce, Amelia, GPS

“As for the eliminated contestants,” The Man says. “They can go up in the… Bottom Left Corner,”

“Really?” Diary asks.

“HEY! Not every idea can be spontaneous and original,” The Man says.

“Fine.” Ring says.

The Four take their exit to the bottom left corner. As The Man sighs before grappling himself back together.

“NOW! Time for the challenge!” The Man says. “You guys have to commit a crime! The first two teams to commit a crime will be safe, the two who don’t will be put up for elimination!”

“You cannot be serious,” Suitcase says.

“I’m extremely serious,” The Man says. “321Go,”

Spraypaint immediately locks eyes with her target, smiling a big smile.

“COME HERE NO WAY!” Spraypaint yells.

No Way sees the writing on the wall and runs away. Screaming as he’s being chased by the others.

“No Way!” Polka Dot says and chases after the two.

“Can we not do this one?” Bryce asks.

“Let’s just find a petty crime to do,” Suitcase says.

“Jaywalking?” Liam asks.

“I don’t see any roads,” GPS says.

“How about piracy?” Fan asks.

“That could work,” GPS says.

“Wait, can we pirate things with you?” Fan asks.

“…Please don’t,” GPS says.

Fan inches closer as GPS inches back before the two take off. Fan chasing GPS, as Suitcase’s frown grows.

“Can we give up now?” Bryce asks.

“Maybe we should’ve kept ring,” Taco says.

“…No, all we need to do is find a way to commit a crime with doing what’s good!” Leafy says.

“Maybe we can do petty crimes,” Rosey says. “Like hanging a clothesline!”

“…That’s not a crime,” Cattail says. “How about we kill someone? Or one of us kills another? We can just recover ourselves, so technically commiting a victimless crime,”

“Wait, do we still have a recovery center?” Vase asks.

“…I’ll go check,” Fern says. “Come on Cattail,”

“Alright,” Cattail says.

The two walk to The Man, still on the TV, not doing all that much.

“Do you have a recovery center?” Fern asks The Man.

“No.” The Man replies.

The two walk back to the others.

“We can’t recover people,” Fern informs.

“How about we steal that knife from Spraypaint?” Vase asks. “That would be a good thing to do while also breaking the law!”

“That’s actually a well thought out idea,” Taco says.

“So let’s go get her!” Cattail says before running off.

“I concur!” Taco says, following Cattail.

“…I also do that!” Leafy says, and she’s followed by everyone else.

“You wanna just kill someone?” Eyepatch asks. To the rest of the group.

They have congregated. Seemingly trying to brainstorm something or looking like they’re trying to brainstorm something.

“How about we just beat someone up?” Milk asks.

“You would know about that wouldn’t you?” Plasma Ball says.

“I’m not even going to try and apologize again,” Milk says.

“Maybe we can get Plasma Ball to assault Milk,” Feather says.

“I don’t want to be assaulted!” Milk says.

“I’m not going to do that…” Plasma Ball says.

“Oh my [Team Room 125] glub you guys are impossible!” Feather says. “I should’ve made my own team too! How about we assault both Plasma Ball and Milk since they won’t listen to me!” Feather says.

“Let’s assault Feather,” Plasma Ball says.

“I agree,” Milk says.

Feather’s smart enough to realize the writing on the wall and she runs away. Followed by Plasma Ball and Milk chasing her down, ready to beat the crap out of her.

“Well how about we commit something lighter? Like stealing?” Book suggests.

“What’s the simplest crime we can commit?” Journal asks.

“Property Damage,” Chocolate Milk Carton says.

“…I don’t think this is anyone’s property,” Book says.

“Maybe we can steal something,” Journal says. “Does anyone have anything to steal off of them?”

Spraypaint continues to chase No Way throughout the forest. Stalking him throughout the way to find where he is and to kill him. All while Polka Dot is trying to stop her and she is failing miserably.

“Come on dude, once you die I won’t have to kill you again!” Spraypaint says.

“AHHHHHHHH!” No Way yells.

“I’m coming!” Polka Dot says trying her best to follow the two. Mainly being in her shapeless form.

“Not if I get her first!” Taco says coming out of nowhere and almost getting Spraypaint.

“Um thanks, but I got it,” Polka Dot says.

“Oh, you do not understand the opportunity bestowed uponst you,” Taco states. “Fortunately, I do and I-“ Taco notices that Polka Dot and the rest are gone. “Phooey,”

“I know her the best!” Rosey says. “I should be able to get her,”

“How well do you know her?” Gaty asks.

“…Not well,” Rosey says.

Rosey runs off and tries to find a way to block off Spraypaint. When she finally does find an opportunity, she goes for it, and fails horribly. She falls on the ground as No Way and Spraypaint walk over her.

“Sorry Rosey!” No Way calls before screaming once again.

“Come on dude this is about to stop being a cool chase and more like a day job. Just let me kill you!” Spraypaint says.

The two keep running as Leafy, Vase. Gaty, Cane’s Cup and Sketchpad follow behind. Along with Polka Dot, taking a different path. While Taco tries to find the rest of her group and potentially the two they’re chasing.

“You could take my straw,” Chocolate Milk Carton says and points to his straw.

“Wait, can it be from our own team? It would probably be too easy to steal it from our own team,” Journal says.

“Smart thinking Journal!” Book says.

“Can we take it just in case?” Eyepatch asks. “We can just win the challenge if that’s the case,”

“No, we need to think of what to do to the other teams,” Journal says.

“Uh huh,” Eyepatch says.

He eyes Chocolate Milk Carton’s straw, really wanting to grab it while Chocolate Milk Carton stands there, unmoving. While Journal and Book continue to think about potential plans to win the challenge.

“Oof!” Gaty says as she falls to the ground after another attempt of trying to get Spraypaint’s knife goes wrong.

“Come on, No Way!” Spraypaint taunts. “LET ME KILL YOU!”

“Let me try!” Leafy says and jumps from a tree.

Only to fall slowly down missing the mark entirely. Taco pulls her down. Sketchpad also fails, he’s way too short to catch up and way too floaty to catch the perp. Leaving Vase. Who is currently behind a tree. She sees No Way pass, waits for a split second and then lurches from the shadows.

The knife falls and so does Spraypaint and Vase.

“Get up,”

“No,”

“Get up,”

“No,”

“Get up,”

“No,”

“Get. Up.” Suitcase repeats.

“No,” Bryce says.

The two continue this charade as the others watch. Liam and Amelia don’t know really what to make of this situation.

“If we lose again,” Liam says.

“Which is likely,” Amelia adds on.

“She’s going to kick Bryce off the team,” Liam says.

“He’s never gotten a vote,” Amelia says. “I mean neither have I but, you know,”

“…We have to win the challenge,” Liam says. “What’s… a dumb law? That we can break,”

“What laws are we even going off of?” Amelia asks.

“I assume wherever the host comes from?” Liam suggests.

“…Do we even know where he comes from?” Amelia asks.

“No,” Liam says.

“Liam, I don’t think we’re going to win the challenge,” Amelia says.

“…[Team Room 125],” Liam replies.

Eyepatch continues to eye Chocolate Milk Carton. Looking for the strength and the opportunity to grab the straw.

“How about we steal something bad? Does anyone have poison on them?” Journal inquires.

“Not that I know of? What if we scam someone?” Book asks.

“Maybe we should kill someone? Recovery must be an option,” Journal says.

“Look at how much trouble Spraypaint is in, either we find someone who wants to die or we can do something else. Like Tax Evasion? Defamation?” Book suggests.

“That last one could work,” Journal says.

Book smiles at that comment.

“Then let’s go do it!” Book says.

Eyepatch gets close to Chocolate Milk Carton and is about to get it when Journal grabs him and pulls him away.

“Come on, your not running away too,” Journal says.

“Why aren’t we taking Chocolate Milk Carton with us?” Eyepatch asks.

“You know he doesn’t talk much only says something kinda insightful sometimes,” Journal says.

“Ayyyyyyy,” Eyepatch says, downturned as he is dragged away.

The three walk away completely leaving their spot to find somebody.

“We will lose,” Chocolate Milk Carton says before becoming silent once again.

“Come back here Feather!” Plasma Ball yells while smiling wide.

Plasma Ball and Milk continue to bond over their shared hatred of Feather. They keep chasing her and trying to catch her as they run through the forest. The two keep slowly gaining on Feather. So close to getting to her and to beat her up.

Close by GPS and Fan are engaged in their own chase through the woods. Fan, doing a worse job of keeping up with GPS, however the latter is still fearful of how the former will use them. Fan hasn’t been completely sane due to the fact he doesn’t have his precious computer and other electronics near him. Close to both of them is Vase and Spraypaint as they struggle for the knife. As the rest of Nice Time and Polka Dot are close by running to them to try to either help Vase or help No Way.

Then they all accidentally find themselves together in the same place. GPS stops at the scene only to try and resume once he remembers Fan chasing after him. Feather does stop and bumps into GPS after stepping over Vase and Spraypaint. Hitting Spraypaint, creating another dent in her can.

This momentary distraction allows Vase to reach for the knife as it slowly comes into her grasp. She gets it and-

“Nice Time is the first team safe because they committed theft to by stealing Spraypaint’s knife,” The Man says.

“Oh wow you helped me, thank you guys!” No Way says.

“Yeah…” Polka Dot says.

Spraypaint gets up lightning fast and steals back her knife even quicker, which she launches into No Way before tackling him and slowly but surely killing him. By repeating stabbing, tearing apart and throwing him.

“Kit and Spraypaint win by Spraypaint committing Assault- Aggravated Assau- Attempted Murde- 3rd degree mur- 2nd degree- 1st- premeditated murder,” The Man says.

“Oh cool, we won?” Kit says appearing out of nowhere.

“…Yeah,” Spraypaint says.

Everyone else backs away in fear from Spraypaint’s display of incredible violence. Well besides The Man.

[Mary had a little lamb starts playing]

“That means that The Leftovers and Stop Talking! Are up for elimination,” The Man. “So viewers vote who you want to stay. It’s vote to stay! Voting ends… June 26th on 12pm UTC-6. So yeah…”

You heard The Man! Author commenty here to tell you to vote! Like before, vote for who you want to stay. The contestant with the most votes will stay, the contestants with the least votes will go. Make sure to vote, we require them for this game to function.

Here’s the link to vote: https://forms.gle/qZXHisnDAjH1CEYP9

Ask questions! Please… we are… starving. If you have trouble on what to ask there’s [this post] which should clear up things. Also if you have any questions, ask them as well.

[Previous Chapter] [Next Chapter]

[beloveds-embrace]

(p5/final part of fae poly 141 x cursed human reader || masterlist || cw: ANGST) peep the chapter title in the masterlist :D

It came as a quiet- one so deep and vast that even the winds forgot to blow.

The castle knew before anyone. It held its breath, the great hearths snuffing down to embers, the stones cooling beneath its bones. The will-o-wisps blinked out, one by one, not in fear, but reverence- so that today, no one will be led astray. The trees along the garden paths stopped their whispering, leaves still mid-quiver, branches creaking as they turned inward toward the heart of the estate.

Thrain raised his head beneath your chamber window.

The stag, so old and rooted in legend no bard had sung his name rightly in an age, stared skyward as snow began to fall. Slow, soundless. Not cold. Each flake shimmered faintly with magic, with memory. With you.

Inside, the chamber was dim and quiet, lit only by the pale glow of starlight seeping through frost-laced glass. The scent of lavender and winter clover hung in the air, soft and faded like a lullaby remembered from childhood. Curtains, woven with moon-silver threads and embroidered with wards to keep the darker dreams at bay, shifted gently in the breeze that wasn’t there. The room itself seemed to breathe slower now, as if matching your rhythm- one long inhale, one longer silence.

You lay nestled deep beneath layers of velvet and fur, of wildflower-threaded quilts and fae-woven linens that shimmered faintly with old enchantments. Johnny had insisted on them each morning, draping warmth around your ever-fragile frame even when spring had melted the snow and kissed new green into the garden paths. It was his way of trying to keep you rooted here- on this side of the veil.

Your breathing was soft and faint. The curse had slowed in its cruel unraveling, tugged back again and again by the desperate, tireless magic John poured into you. Every drop of power he possessed, every ounce of his life force, siphoned away over the years in hopes of buying you another day, another breath, another smile. It worked for a time.

But nothing lasted forever, and John knew that.

He had known before the sun set.

He sat beside you, unmoving, save for the way his hand combed endlessly through your hair- gentle, reverent, trembling. His other hand held yours, your fingers loose and still, warmed only by his touch. Your head rested against his chest, your face tilted toward the hollow of his throat like a child tucked beneath a parent’s chin. You hadn’t spoken in days, not truly. Only murmured fragments- echoes of half-remembered songs, unfinished questions, and once, the name of a star he hadn’t heard in years. You’d sounded so happy… John’s heart had wanted to tear itself apart.

You were quiet now in the way ancient things are quiet. Like a garden gone to sleep beneath snow, like a book with no more pages left to turn.

John whispered stories to you anyway.

He spoke of the first time you met- how he thought you were too stubborn to survive the fae court and too soft to ever bend it. How wrong he’d been. How the court, the world, and even he had been reshaped around your steady, patient will.

He told you how Simon had found you one morning feeding the ghosts of the orchard, and how Kyle still carried your pressed flower charms in his armor. He recounted Johnny’s latest disaster in the kitchens and how you’d once laughed so hard at him you cried- and gods, how he wished he could hear that sound again. He told you all of it, weaving memory into magic and memory again, as if with enough words, he might stitch your soul into staying.

And as he held you, his voice frayed around the edges.

"I love you," he said. Not for the first time. Not for the last. The words cracked like porcelain dropped from too high a shelf. “Still. Always.”

Your breathing, already shallow, paused, and he stilled in turn.

Then, you sighed- just once. A sound as soft and weightless as the falling of a single petal from a long-dead flower, peace in each strand. A sound of release, a breath unburdened.

And then- you were gone.

No thunder nor flash of light, and no violent wrenching. Just absence- the soul's candle guttered in silence.

Your fingers slipped from his. Your warmth, so long faint, faded fully. Your face went still in the most peaceful way, a small smile carved on your cheeks like something ancient had simply returned to the earth it loved. The faintest glow that had always clung to your skina your humanity tempered with magic, your life steeped in love- shimmered once, and then dimmed like a star blinking out.

John did not move.

He couldn’t even if he wanted to.

The grief did not crash into him; it hollowed him, slowly, like the sea does to cliffside stone. He stared down at your face, memorizing what he already knew. The curve of your lips. The flutter of lashes against your cheek. The small scar on your jaw from where you’d once fallen in the Queen’s Gardens.

John did not weep even if several tears tracked down into his beard. His hands, too strong to tremble in battle, now trembled with the soft weight of your body in his arms. He could not weep, for he knew this- this was your peace. He had done his best to find a cure, but- life was not kind.

A low, resonant groan echoed through the castle, neither man-made nor fae.

The very walls- alive with magic older than time itself- mourned you. A wail of stone and a s sigh of timbers. Crystals embedded in the ceiling chimed once and shattered and the lights in the sconces flickered to ash. The wind outside did not howl- but it bent, as if bowing low to the one it had once braided through wildflower hair.

And still, John did not let you go.

He held you through the coming dark, his chest silent but for the uneven quake of breath between shaky breaths, his magic still curled around you like a desperate tether. And for hours, he simply rocked you. As if in this moment, you were still alive. As if holding you long enough might unmake the inevitable.

But death, like magic, answers to no king.

And your body stayed still and at peace.

You had left with no anger in your heart, no hatred nor guilt. You left only love, quiet and worn and fierce- threaded through every inch of the man who now mourned you.

A soul as lovely as yours could never die cruelly.

It simply… drifted home, and John understood that even if he felt something shatter so deeply it echoed across every realm.

You were gone.

No cry and no shudder, just the soft parting of a thread from a tapestry.

Later, it was Simon who walked in first. He did not speak, only looked at John- stone-eyed and trembling, and knelt beside the bed to touch your cooling hand. Kyle arrived moments later, lips parted as if he might beg you to wake. But his voice failed him and so he sat on the floor, pressing a kiss to your palm and weeping quietly into your skirts.

Johnny didn’t believe it.

He shook his head, muttering, “No, no, not yet, not today, she promised she’d stay-” over and over, until Simon caught him and held him still while he sobbed like a child.

The castle keened.

The bellflowers shriveled in their hanging baskets. The ivy browned and curled. The air itself bent with sorrow, and the spirits of the hallways- kindly, playful little creatures- huddled in corners, their small eyes wide with grief.

Outside, Thrain bowed his antlers low and walked slowly through the gates of the high keep. His hooves did not echo and no one stopped him.

He climbed the stairs, impossible though they were for a creature of his size, until he stood in the doorway of your chamber. And all the men- wounded and raw and grieving- stepped aside for they knew.

He had come for you.

With reverence, Thrain knelt beside your bed. He took in your face- still so gentle, still so full of grace, even in death. He pressed his massive muzzle to your chest and for a moment, nothing happened.

Then, with a breath of magic so quiet even the fae barely felt it- your soul slipped free like morning sunlight spilling through an open window.

It rose, soft and warm, radiant with the echo of every kindness you’d ever given. Every time you’d kissed a servant’s brow or sung to the garden or asked a crying will-o-wisp what was wrong. Every time you’d called Thrain your dearest friend, every time you’d held hands with the men, and every time you’d forgiven John with that smile- always that smile.

And Thrain caught your tender soul.

Delicate, light as wind through reeds, and glowing like the first star of twilight. He cradled it in a curl of his antlers, the shadows of your memory flickering through the air around him- your laugh, your hum, your gentle little sighs of thought. He stepped carefully back from the bed.

John sank to his knees, and he still did not cry. There was no breath left in him to do so.

Thrain walked. Out of the castle and through the mourning halls, the bowing dryads, the crumbling roses, the silent sprites. Through the gate, down the weeping forest paths, across the river that had frozen at the moment of your death.

He walked and walked, until no living soul would reach his pace and spot.

And when he reached it, the veils parted for him alone, and he stepped into starlight.

The trees there had no bark, only silver and the roots sang hymns and chants. The sky was soft and black and full of ancient light. Thrain stood at the edge of the great pool of souls, and he bent his head low.

He did not let you fall.

He lowered you with gentleness carved from centuries of patience and pain, until your soul touched the surface of the pool like the caress of a mother’s hand.

And the water welcomed you, for you were a memory that would never die. A memory that caressed the space between his antlers just before he returned alone.

And the men- your men- stood at the gates, waiting, and they bowed their heads as he passed.

And John, still dressed in the clothes he wore when you left him, touched the place in the air where your soul had once lingered and whispered, for the last time:

"I love you."

The castle echoed the words for centuries.

And the world, though emptier, remembered you in everything that still dared to be kind.

“Will you still love me when I forget what love is?”

“Always.”

[kiwinatorwaffles]

hiding in plain sight (the meaning of trust) - chapter 1

happy 2 year anniversary to vdhau! the sequel is finally here!

Genre: Comedy/Superhero

Fic summary: 

As they charge through the darkened rooms, their footsteps echo against the walls, alerting nearby staff. “Who’s there?” one of them shouts. Another one flashes a light down the hall, illuminating the subject mid-run. They’ve been caught. But it won’t matter. “XS-8 is escaping!” the staff shouts. “Catch it!”

In which a teenage lab rat finally escapes into the real world, gets adopted by two shady shop owners, and starts learning to live amongst normal people. There’s only one small issue: they have superpowers, and they have to keep it hidden to avoid being caught again. It’s a lot harder than it sounds.

Chapter word count: 4,394

Characters (in chapter): Evil X (8), Hypno, xB

Chapter summary: in which a lab subject escapes and finds an unexpected new home.

[dottysdokis]

i'm not seeing any posts about it here yet, but they solved the silas birchtree riddle on reddit and there's some pretty juicy lore! first, entering "paranoid" backwards nets this conspiracy board:

then, from the black letters in the corners of some of the pages people pieced together the code "connect the dots", backwards again, gets a whopping 12 page chapter about the ciphertology cult! it's...something.

so in summary, bill puppeted a guy's corpse, became a cult leader, seemingly married over a hundred people, mass-possessed his followers, tried to get them to build his portal. his lone dissenter was a spinster who made anti-bill chick tracts and started a fire. a waco-style shootout ensued, killing silas' already-rotting corpse a second time in a disturbingly detailed manner. at some point he made some of his followers drink the kool-aid too.

entering the lady's name, emmaline butternubbins, into the computer finally gets you the reward for solving all the riddles: hd wallpapers of various graphics from the book of bill. but frankly this is more interesting and fucked up to me.

(alt text under cut, wip)

[Image 1: A cluttered conspiracy board centered on Bill Cipher. Red string and pins connect various newspaper clippings, photos, drawings and pamphlets.]

[Image 2: A history-book style chapter page. Header "LESSER KNOWN AMERICAN CULTS."

"Have you ever heard of Orchard Lake, Kansas? Chances are you haven't. It was erased from every map, book, and historical record, and the US Government's official position on it is "stop calling us or we'll send a drone to your house." (I learned this the hard way.) But if you drive to the exact latitude and longitude of you'll see bullet casings, faded billboards, and bow ties strewn across the desert sands.

That's because Orchard Lake had another name before it was wiped off the record: BillVille.

CHAPTER 3: BillVille

The First Cult In History That Was Right

FIG A: A tumbillweced

As a historian of esoteric religions, I thought I'd discovered the strangest sects America had yct to offer (see "Chapter 3: Kevin's Gate") but that all changed when I found the following items tucked away in an old trunk in an estate sale on the out- skirts of Bootstrap, Missouri."]

[scriptastra]

❋ * 𝐉𝐔𝐍𝐄 𝐏𝐎𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐘 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒 * ❋ ⠀ a bouquet of metaphors ; spilled ink & summer skin

1. I found your name pressed between the pages of june 2. kissed by the sun but thinking of you 3. you were the underline in every chapter I reread 4. we were prose pretending to be permanence 5. a love like wild thyme & cigarette ash 6. I was the orchard. you only wanted the wine 7. I spilled a bottle of rosé and blamed the stars 8. our love—sun-warmed, barefoot, and wildly unafraid 9. I dressed up for the sunset like it was a lover 10. I made tea and forgave myself again 11. we met in the fantasy section—how fitting 12. you annotated my life with quiet affection 13. some days, I date the sky. some days, I marry the moon 14. joy arrived in sonnets and strawberries 15. I became a bouquet in your hands 16. the cicadas went silent when you touched me 17. June wrote your name in sweat down my spine 18. you made me believe in soft landings 19. I became the person I used to write about  20. the sun came back and so did I  21. I found pieces of us in every golden hour 22. you made summer feel like forever 23. I am my own protagonist and today, I got the love arc 24. june was all lavender 25. you and the strawberry moon 26. we almost had forever. we settled for june 27. my love language is long walks through bookstores and glances 28. film photos from that summer 29. aperol spritz ; the summer air ; you and me 30. the last light of june caught on my collarbone, and lingered

[lady-of-ithilien]

I'm not sure if anyone has posted about this previously, but I was re-reading the Houses of Healing chapter in ROTK today, and noticed an interesting detail: the scent of athelas changes for each person upon whom it is used.

When Aragorn uses athelas to awaken Faramir, the text notes that "a living freshness filled the room, as if the air itself awoke and tingled, sparkling with joy." And for the observers in the room, "the fragrance that came to each was like a memory of dewy mornings of unshadowed sun in some land which the fair world in spring is itself but a fleeting memory." (ROTK 865).

Yet, when Aragorn next uses the herb to rouse Éowyn, the observers note something different: "it seemed to those who stood by that a keen wind blew through the window, and it bore no scent, but was an air wholly fresh and clean and young, as if it had not before been breathed by any living thing and came new-made from snowy mountains high beneath a dome of stars, or from shores of silver far away washed by seas of foam." (ROTK 868).

And finally, when Aragorn awakens Merry, the athelas smells "like the scent of orchards, and of heather in the sunshine full of bees" (ROTK 869).

What I think is interesting here is that for each person, the scent is different, and could be seen to evoke a landscape that is dear to them: for Merry, the description of orchards, heather, sunshine, and bees seems quite clearly linked to the Shire. And for Faramir, the "living freshness" and "dewy mornings" might describe the vales of Ithilien.

What's interesting to me is the description Tolkien chose to give Éowyn's version of the athelas, because it doesn't seem immediately connected to any landscape with which we can associate her. An alternative explanation is that Éowyn is consistently paired with winter and ice imagery, so the idea of "new-made, from snowy mountains" could simply be an echo of that same imagery; in a similar vein, the "shores of silver far off" could just be a vague allusion to the blessed lands of Valinor, and not really specific to Éowyn at all. Moreover, either of these images could simply be a poetic way to convey a sense of renewal and cleanliness; i.e. Éowyn being washed clean of the Black Shadow.

However, my pet headcanon is that perhaps the description of Éowyn's athelas is meant to suggest that she has a special emotional connection to at least one of these landscapes. In my mind, this is most likely the mountains; after all, the White Mountains are not far from Edoras and it is conceivable that she either visited there at times, or at least admired them from the valleys below. Perhaps the sight of the high, snowy peaks were a source of comfort and inspiration to her as she struggled against the confines of her life in Edoras. Along those lines, I suppose it's also conceivable that Éowyn visited the sea at some point; or at least that she dreamed of it, and that to her the sea represented an escape from her intolerable situation.

Either way, we'll never know for sure, but this was a fun little detail to read into.