#do NOT @ me about characterization or anything please... i am new here!

[sunnihope]

PLEASE tell me about your au with Bill's parents for the love of god. I am SO invested, you have no idea

HOYAAA it's still in the works (mainly bc I've been super busy with schoo... and I've been getting back into actually characterizing Bill somewhat accurately (i hope;;;)) BUT HERES SOME STUFFIES!

This AU officially has a name! FALLEN STARS! Wowie! I'm creative!

So this AU does focus mainly on Bill's relationship with his parents but also his past self. "His past self?? How is that possible!! Insanity!!!"

The AU takes place in Gravity Falls, but it's heavily changed due to Bill's influence - Theraprism did not help Bill, it broke him. Making Bill face his past and try to heal it made everything worse, and instead of moving on, Bill wanted to go back. Bill escapes theraprism and begins total domination 2.0, but not in hopes of making that dimension Party City, but in hopes of making it Euclydia.

Confronting his past made Bill miss it, made Bill want to remember what happened and what his childhood was like - what better way than to recreate that? Earth is a perfect starting point. He's observed it for hundreds of years, he knows the in's and out's of it, he definitely learned from Weirdmageddon - it was perfect.

And it does happen. A corporeal form was all Bill needed, and with a few ropes pulled and a few hands shaken, he had it, and he had the world. It starts immediately, with golden strings descending from seemingly the heavens cascading Earth, pulling at the dimensions and turning mountains and oceans into deserts, flattening the land, and collapsing buildings onto an X-axis. Humans and animals were not spared - many turning into shapes themselves, a morbid version of the Euclydian's that roamed Bill's home dimension.

Gravity Falls was the small oasis of hope. What was once something that kept the weirdness in, it now kept the weirdness out, the pressure of weirdness being much too great for the ring surrounding Gravity Falls to let in. Although Gravity Falls was safe for the time being, that did not stop Bill's influence - and as time went on, Gravity Falls was slowly becoming altered.

With this AU taking place a few years in the future, Stanford and Stanley are still around, albeit rather slow in their older ages. Stanford, having been at the shack for a much needed rest out on the ocean with his twin, was the first to notice the changes of Earth and had begun extensive research on what could be happening. As far as he was concerned, this was an anomally of such great magnitude, something akin to a God's work. Bill Cipher was not on the radar - he was presumed dead, or at least, locked away far, far from Earth and monitored by elite personnel. But after seeing the changes made, it becomes all too apparent just who is behind it all.

Days and months passed with no signs of progress. By then, all the Pines and fellow zodiac members had been notified of what was happening, but even they had no idea on what to do. Nothing could be done if they couldn't find Bill - and he was no where to be found. That was until one evening, when Mabel Pines ventures out on another search to find anything that might help - or just to observe what all has changed and to report on it.

This search proves fruitful, as she finds a small, yellow triangle among the other shapes in town. With large sneakers on his feet and a wandering, large eye, the small triangle looks lost as he waddles around the other shapes. His big eye is full of wonder as he stares at the buildings in the town, and Mabel's own eyes fill with her own wonder as she approaches the child.

Mabel hardly gets a word out before he's firing off question after question about Gravity Falls and her appearance.

Bill Cipher, in his desperation to feel what he did when he was a child, to view how his childhood was, created a new version of himself - one that acted independently and as he once did a trillion years ago. A version of himself that clung to his mother and hid behind his father, a version of himself that looked "up" with stars gazing back at him.

And that wasn't the only Euclydian he created. His mother and father, having been looking for their missing son, pull him into open arms, nearly sobbing at the fear of losing him in an unfamiliar place. The mother, Scalene, pushes her son to her chest, sobbing, "Oh-! Billy, you had me fearing the worse! Don't do that to your mother, my heart won't take it."

Bill's mom and dad act as a guardian to "Billy," protecting him from harm as any parent would do. Euclide, Bill's father, although sweet and kind to Bill, is far more assertive than Scalene. His role in the story is a protector of Billy, to a degree that is more physical than emotional.

Scalene, on the other hand, is there to protect her son from emotional harm. She cares for Billy's well-being and adopts a "motherly" role to Mabel upon their first meeting (as she assumes Mabel is also lost). During the course of the AU, Scalene and Mabel grow very close!

Now! Billy. oh dear. This kid has issues. Despite his mother trying her hardest to protect his mental well-being, it does not stop him from constantly worrying and living in fear. Whereas the stars he once saw twinkling softly in the sky offered some comfort, the large eye that constantly monitored him was eerie and nerve-wracking.

-

The youngest Cipher looks towards the sky, his large pupil dancing across the constellations that decorated the night. It eased his nerves. Being in an unfamiliar environment with beings that towered above him was different. But the stars, the stars were what he remembered them to be.

-

Billy is the only being on Earth that can see Bill hovering above it (a parallel to how Bill was the only Euclydian to see the stars). Humans nor Euclydians can see Bill, and this causes Billy to deal with this alone. It makes him anxious and afraid, but with the help of his parents, he does find peace.

When Billy comes into contact with Mabel, it's an instant connection thanks to Mabel's sweater, and Billy attempts to confide in Mabel about THE GIANT HOVERING EYE IN THE SKY, but is ultimately shot down when Mabel expresses her confusion.

-

Billy grasps at Mabel's sweater, the soft fibers feeling foreign in his small palm. He is meek, small, near unsure of himself as he gazes at Mabel's form on the ground. "Can you see it?"

Through her tears, Mabel gazes at him, confusion clouding her features. It? The black that seeped through her fingers? The human she attempted to save that now lie on the ground as a Euclydian? What was "It?" "...See what?"

Billy's eye creases. He is upset by her own question, and Mabel cowers in on herself as a result. She was frail and vulnerable at the moment, the last thing she wanted was to make this child cry again. But as Billy looks upward, pupil shaking for a split second before it darts to the ground, she realizes he couldn't answer.

-

BOOP! Like i said! Heavy emphasis on Bill's own personal relationships with his mom and dad. Mabel and Dipper also have major roles ofc (with Mabel having direct contact and close access to Scalene and Billy). Dipper is more so at Ford's side trying to find ways to reverse the effects of Bill's influence, but he does become a more major character alongside Mabel.

I should really draw it 💀 BUUUUT IM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AXY AND THE HENCHMANIACS ROLE IN THIS

Also Bill totally rubs it in Axy's face that he's free from Theraprism.

-

Pink flesh meets a black leather-like hand, the fingers grasping at the soft flesh of the God's cheek and forcing him closer. Bill holds out a small crystal, it's glow nearly blinding compared to the stars that hung in the sky. "LOOK AXY! I GOT YA' A MATCHING PARTICLE HAHA!"

[charlybvnny]

Michael's final moment

A Michael_Beloved animatic about his final moments, because he is an underappreciated character, and has so much potential.

A ramble about him under cut.

TWs:

- bugs

- bones

- talk of death and decay

- I think there is a slight flash but I'm unsure? So flashing warning just in case

michael is an underated npc / character and people should utilise his dynamic more often. i will explain:

he's stuck, he has nothing to do, nothing he can do. because he's an npc, his life will never begin because he's not living. people overlook him and don't pay him mind, his own parents don't pay attention to him. it's not that they don't love him, they do, they just don't have the time nor ability to look after him, atleast not properly.

people treat him more like a glorified pet because he is still an npc, no one should, realistically, love him like a son, at most he is a pet. but he's one of, if not the only, npc on the dsmp that is canonically considered a son, not a pet. shroud is technically a pet, yoghurt is i think considered fundy's son? but if you check on the wiki, michael is the only one of actual listing and not just an addition of another. michael is his own person, and yet is still an npc. he can't do anything, and yet is his own someone. he is someone, not someone's addition. he's not tubbo's son, or ranboo's son, he is michael.

and yet he's still stuck in his room. still stuck having to go along with other people's wills. because he is code. he can't do anything but follow his code.

and so with the charactarization of michael, making him his own person, it allows him the ability to think, yet not do. "i think therefore i am" and yet he can't think. not actually. he still has to follow his code. if you hit him, he must attack back, its in the code. so you can characterize and personalise michael all you want, give him hopes, and dreams, give him depth, but in the end, he is an npc. he can't leave his room, he can't make friends, he can't go explore. he is stuck in his room. just like how rapunzel is stuck in the tower.

in this essay i will explain why michael's song is "when will my life begin"-

[shots fired i bleed out as someone drags my body away]

Ok but in actuality, the rotting aspect of Michael is so great for potential in fics;

michael can be used in fics and i'm heartbroken people don't. see, michael is a zombie piglin, he is quite literally rotting. he is a sick, dying child of neglect and no one uses this to their advantage. do no fic writers see the potential devestating catastrophe of michael? how angsty it could be if he's used right?

I like Michael, can you tell 🥺

And you don't even need him to be a piglin in fics either, he could be a dying plant, or an injured yet beloved pet. He has potential please people listen to me 😭🙏

You can make him disability rep, please I love disabled characters in fics (if done right) and there's so much potential here.

I was messaging my friends while making this too, and I was shattering their very souls with my angst, and the thing is, you can shatter your friend's souls with angst too! Please use Michael, even if he's just a side character in your fic, if you got Tubbo, or Ranboo, please include Michael in some form, like a melted candle, or a torn doodle.

Anyways continuing on with angst!

They say the eyes are the route to the soul, and I like to think piglins only die when their souls are damaged. Only when their light fades.

Michael's usually twinkling eyes, now dull and a sullen blue, holding nothing but pure sorrow, and childish hope now shattered. His parents aren't coming. No one is coming. He's going to die alone. He's going to die, without embracing his parents one last time.

His body so decayed and rotten his ribs are fully out, spiders finding a new home where his once beating heart of love was, and yet he allows them to stay, allowing the bugs to feast on his carcass, because it's something. It's another being simply touching him. And so he lets the bugs eat his dying self, because at least it's something, a distressing comfort to accompany his final moments.

He's not alone. Not yet. It's fine. He's not alone. He won't die alone.. he thinks with his last thoughts, salty tears prickling his eye as he tries to comfort himself, just as his parents would if they were here.

I hope you cry, I hope you sob, I hope those silvery drops of sorrow prick your eyes and roll down your cheeks. If you are angry at me, perhaps you should scream into the bottomless pit of my soul, maybe a shard of guilt might scream back one day. Today's not the day though.

[riofann]

1. tempestuous

Authors Note: I am trying something new. I like this story line please give me your feedback. Only reposts and likes please don't steal my work. XOXO Rose

Tempestuous: characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting emotion.

Sunday March 3, 2019 

This wasn't just some little miss understanding, this was sabotage at its core. It's why you found yourself in a random warehouse strapped to the chair bruised and bloody.

Rio was convinced you had been under cutting him for months, that the money you were washing for him was short for the past 4 months. He claimed you had been purposefully giving him fake money mixed with real money, which ended up with him having Mick point a gun to the back of your head as soon as you walked in your home. 

Any attempts to have him show proof that you were not were thwarted by Nick egging Rio on, unbeknownst to you.

You had mentally prepared for death mentally prayed that your mother and father, sisters would heal from this pain along with the rest of your family. You hear footsteps approaching your heart begins to race. You had memorized his gait along with Mick's, this was it. Your death day was here.

There's nothing said but you feel your legs being untied along with your hands, he made sure to leave the head covering on. 

“Get up!” Mick says grabbing your arm

You're too scared to move but a strong grip on your arm forcefully drags you forward.

You’re uneasy as you walk because you didn't know where you were going,  you couldn't see anything. Mick helps you step in the van. The drive is quiet, you sit with your hands on your lap, body shaking at any given moment you could be dead. All the thoughts rush through your mind, your bar, your family, your house, your future, it's giving you a migraine. When the van stops, your mouth dries up you could be on a bridge over water or a remote land with a shallow grave.  

When you step out Mick removes the head cover and your eyes take time to adjust. 

You stood at the park near your home. There's nothing said, you look behind you as Mick gets in the van and drives away. You take in the scene, you can't think of how happy you are to hear children laugh in the distance or the sound of people talking. 

It's all still a shock to you. You look around and find a bench. Slowly you walk towards it. You sit at the most remote corner, no shower for a week, you’re positive you looked like you were unhoused. 

Moments pass before you let the tears flow. The deep wound of betrayal that you felt wouldn't be healed by a simple apology hell you hadn't even received one.

After a while as the sun begins to set you stand up slowly. The walk to your house would normally be 20 minutes but since you are weak it will take longer,  and staying out at night wasn't your plan. 

With unsure steps you begin to walk home. You’re happy to not see any familiar faces at the park. You couldn’t handle any one asking you what happened or you would have implicated Rio. 

When you get home you type in the key code to  enter and find your home in disarray. You deduced that Rio was looking for the money he claimed you were shorting him on. 

You search for your phone and find it in the rubble dead. Your house doesn't feel safe, it feels surreal, like at any moment Rio could be sitting on the corner chair waiting for you with a gun in hand and Mick lurking right around the corner, ready to shoot.

After a little more searching you find the charger and plug it in.

When it turns on you see the many calls missed your workers, your mom, your dad, your sister, your cousin, unknown numbers 

You make the first call “Hello! Y/N?!” You hear your mom scream through the phone

“Hey mom” you greet

“Where the hell have you been?! We've been calling you for the past week and you just ignore us?! We were worried about you!” 

It's all too much you begin to cry she didn't know,  no one knew about what you were doing but Rio and his crew

You gather yourself “I'm sorry mommy”  you cut her off

She pauses, “What's wrong?” 

You take in a deep breath “I'm sorry I disappeared mom I won't do it again” 

“Do I need to come over?” she lived a few states away in Ohio

You panic “NO!...” you take a deep breath again “No! I just I needed time to myself I got stressed I won't do that again I promise” you master up a calm tone

She sighs “okay, but what happened? Did you get hurt?” 

“You know the bar and life I just got overwhelmed” you lie 

“Honey I'm your mother you call me when things get tough you don't just disappear!” we called the police!" She lectures. “I couldn't sleep! Y/N it felt like something wrong happened!” your stomach drops she wasn’t wrong 

“I'm sorry mom I really am I won't do it again” 

“Well I'm coming to see you next week”  

“Mom you don't...”

She cuts you off “Nope I'm coming, something is wrong I know my child!” 

You sniffed “okay” you looked at your shaking hands 

“Okay well let me call you back I gotta get in touch with the police and everyone else let them know you’re alright” 

“Okay mom”

“When I call you better pick up and don't go missing again”

“I promise I won't!” 

“I love you” 

“I love you too” 

You hung up and go through similar conversation with your sister and the manager of the bar 

When it all ends you drag yourself to the shower and take one of the longest showers you’ve ever taken, you couldn't help but sob the entire time. You scrubbed so hard a week with no shower in a dingy warehouse you felt so dirty. 

All trust had been destroyed so much for this “partnership”

You hope to be able to sleep but you can't. Your body is riddled with anxiety, with every sound you hear your  heartbeat spiked. You couldn’t even bring yourself to drink water or eat anything that's in the fridge. You just want to disappear, move to a small town in the middle of nowhere and figure things out. 

You received a text in the middle of the night 

Rio: Business as usual 

You had stared at it for hours 

Business as usual as if all that happened meant nothing. 

How could you get out of this? What could you do to free yourself from this and him? Maybe offer up the bar? But this is something you worked hard on, this bar was one of the top bars in Detroit you weren’t willing to give it up to him. You had to think about what life would look like outside of the bar and what did you want out of life? 

Slowly over the course of the week you clean up the house, you eat something here and there and you drink water when you remember. You’re not sure how you managed to clean up the house in the state it was left in, must have been adrenaline.  Even after your mother insisted something was wrong when she came to visit you, that Friday you  faked the funk. How could you tell her that you were deeply entrenched with a man who has a whole cartel like of criminals on his side? All the questions that would come from that. You would have to explain how Rio essentially twisted your arm to agree and how you stupidly didn't go to the police.

When you finally show up at the bar the following Monday  everyone teases about your disappearance and you play along but you have things to do, books to manipulate money to wash. You lock yourself in the office while you gather the money. You count over 10 times making sure it's right each time. You don’t trust the machine as it counts you run it through verify by hand run it through again verify it then set it aside. You added extra just for good measure because you didn’t trust yourself either. 

Wednesday March 13, 2019 

As you wait for him to show up at your usual pick up spot, you feel sick to your stomach, no more sitting down and waiting for him. All sense of security between you two had crumbled. A car pulls up and you grip the bag tightly. 

It's a strange face

Your phone pings 

Rio: Got busy, you’ll be dealing with Jamal moving forward

The man walks up to you with a smile on his face. “You must be Y/N” You nod, he hands you a yellow envelope you hand him the bag with shaky hands “Good doing business with you” he comments before turning to leave 

“Can you make sure it's all there?” you blurt out 

He laughs at your ridiculous comment “can’t do that out here in public lady, I’ll let Rio know” 

You nod again and watch as he drives away. 

This is your routine now, Rio never confirmed instead he would just add the extra back into your cut. You adjust to this new norm of life. 

You don’t see or hear from him for months, maybe it was for the best after all, you were angry with him you had every right to be. Well things don’t last forever and nothing is written in stone. 

Tuesday June 4, 2019 

Your stomach drops when you walk into your house that night, you feel the day you were kidnapped replaying itself. There was Rio on the corner chair with Mick lurking around the corner. 

“Not here to hurt you mama” he comments lifting his hands up to show that he wasn't there with malicious intent

You hadn’t left the door, in fact you were slowly inching away

“I wouldn’t do that”

“What do you want?” You ask in a shaky voice

“We need to talk” “You can text it” 

“I can’t” 

You sigh and close the door 

“I need your help” he reveals as you enter the living room. You don’t respond

“All that money I gave you, I need it, I’ll pay you back” 

You place your purse down “Why don’t you go get it I’m sure you know where it is”

He smirks because that was true  “don’t be like that mama” he tries to win you over 

“Don’t be like..” you pause “FUCK YOU RIO!” You scream “YOU THINK YOU CAN JUST SHOW UP AND ASK FOR MY MONEY, THE MONEY I WORKED HARD FOR?! WITHOUT AN APOLOGY WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF WHAT YOU DID TO ME!?” 

He rolls his shoulders back “It's just business” “BUSINESS?!” You stomp towards him Mick goes to interfere but Rio stops him. You glare at Mick “WHAT? YOU DON’T THINK YOUR BOSS CAN HANDLE HIMSELF, HE'S THAT MUCH OF A BITCH?!” When you turn to face Rio a blank stare replaces his expression no longer amused by your anger, guess that insult wasn’t taken lightly “I’VE BEEN YOUR PARTNER FOR 2 FUCKING YEARS! 2 YEARS! AND NEVER DID I EVER SHORT YOU. I ALWAYS MADE SURE THAT THE AMOUNT I GAVE YOU WAS RIGHT! AND YOU WHAT? YOUR FUCKING COUSIN” he shifts uncomfortable that you know the details behind the scenes “YEA I FOUND OUT, THE MOTHERFUCKER YOU CLAIM TO BE UNTRUST WORTHY YOU ALL OF A SUDDEN TRUST HIM?!” 

He says nothing “YEA JUST BUSINESS THIS IS WHO YOU ARE AS A PARTNER HUH? YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT LOYALTY AND PRINCIPAL, FUCK EVERYONE ELSE SO LONG AS YOU GOT YOUR MONEY RIGHT?” You pause looking at him waiting to see any sort of remorse, regret, something, anything! However he says nothing, his face is stoic like you were complaining about nothing important. As the tears stream down your face, you accept that this was pointless, he was never going to admit fault and you were never going to be able to step away from this life unless you were dead or in prison.  You take a deep breath, defeated you say  “You know where the money is go get it” you step away and motion towards the direction. He gives Mick a nod. He says nothing else, and you watch as they both leave. As soon as the door closes a loud scream leaves your body as soon as they walk out. How were you going to get out of this? Maybe fake your death or  leave the country to start over in a small village in the middle of nowhere!

Nothing changes after that day, still dealing with Jamal and still trying to find a way out of things. You receive an invitation from Nick to some sort of  masquerade ball in the city to “raise” funds for local charities. Mayor "duties". You assume not attending wasn’t an option.

Saturday July 13, 2019

The day of the ball arrives, you booked a town car for the night. No point in driving yourself and as far as you were concerned if anyone wanted to hurt you they could because you had no safety net after all. 

You step into the space you have to admit Nick went all out planning this event because it looked like a scene from a movie. You find your table and take a seat. You know no one who sits at your table you take a look around and spot Rio. It was easy,  anyone could spot his tattoo from a distance. A few speeches, the auction, then dinner is served proceeding with the party next. You look down at your watch, you had spent enough time at the event and you were hungry. 

If there was anything you learned from Rio and Nick never trust them so the most you did was nibble on your dinner plate and take small sips of your drink. 

“This seat taken?” you hear from behind you making look

You smile “No”

“Great!” he pulls out the chair 

“Hi I’m Alejandro”  he extends his hand to greet you 

You shake his hand  “Y/N Nice to meet you” 

He bows his head “Mucho gusto cariño (nice to meet you dear)”

“So do you work with Rio?” He takes a sip of his drink 

Not again it felt like you were being set up “Why do you want to know?” you finally take him in a man the same age as Rio and Nick rocking a gold canine tooth with many necklaces and rings on his finger. Gold to be exact. He had a thick accent, you assume somewhere from Central America or Spanish speaking country. 

He waves his hand around his head “Rumors go flying around” You nod still unsure of the purpose of this conversation “And Majority of the women here are plus one to their boyfriends or husband wasn’t hard to find you, that dress you came in all alone, heads were turning” he shamelessly looks you over biting his lip

“What do you want?” this conversation needed to end quickly 

He smiles, it makes you uneasy “Oh I don't want anything....” he pauses “It's a shame that they put you through that” you shift uncomfortably “But now you know who they are, the Serraño family. This is how they operate, they are vicious, they don’t care how many lives they destroy, they don’t operate with any principals...” 

You cut him off “I have come to that conclusion” 

He stops and chuckles lightly “Anyway I’m a much better option, I honor my principals and partnerships. I will have people reach out to you next week. Maybe I can take you out to lunch and we can talk.  You don’t have to stick with them” 

You nod but look past him to see Rio staring at both of you. Even the women trying to engage with him were failing due to how his gaze was dead set on you and Alejandro.

Alejandro looked back following your gaze as an additional ‘fuck you’ to Rio he raises his glass as a toast before turning back to face you “Ooop! I’ve been caught” with that he quickly stands up “Talk to you later cariño” 

You decide that this is your cue to leave and make your way out of the building. 

Authors Note: Please leave your feedback, again please don't steal. Only repost, like, or give credit.

Oh I can also start a tag list just let me know.

XOXO Rose

[beneathashadytree]

HEY GUYS! LONG POST HERE, BUT PLEASE READ🙏🏽

I am genuinely appalled by the discourse ongoing in the LNDS fandom these past few days—but above all, I am severely disappointed in what had started out as one of the most inclusive and sweet fandoms I’ve ever been in. I have a few things to say, so in this post I’m trying to put all my thoughts to words. Apologies if I sound harsh, but I’m genuinely livid. Also, please ignore any typos. I’m not wearing my glasses while word-vomiting.

First off, for a fandom that is composed of mostly adults, you guys have been acting terribly childishly. It’s 2024, and yet people are still unironically shaming others for “switching up on their favs” as if a person owes 2D characters any loyalty. Let people enjoy things. The novelty of Sylus and how he’s quite literally 6 months behind the other 3 love interests makes people want to catch up on the enjoyment of him all at once. He’s still such a brand new character and concept, so there’s no wonder everyone’s hyped up over him.

I’ve seen people get genuinely mad at other players and writing whole think-pieces about this. I promise you guys, the company making this game is still benefiting whether you’re pouring your money into Sylus or any one of the previous 3. We’re all happy to have an interesting character pop up among the roster now, and we’re taking our time getting to know him. Doesn’t make any of the first 3 any less loved. I genuinely don’t remember this amount of nastiness when solo events for each of the guys used to drop.

In fact, if the popularity thing is worrying you, going off MLQC (the company’s past game) the character who was last added was—eventually, after the initial hype died down—kicked off to the sidelines in most major events and was given the least content, and was the least favorite of fans.

Secondly, and this has my blood boiling, there is an insane amount of entitlement and rudeness I’ve seen on my timeline concerning how people characterize the men—particularly Rafayel.

Absolutely nothing warrants this shitty attitude towards other creators for how they depict characters in their fics. It seems you guys feel protected behind a screen and think it gives you the right to bully strangers online. Fanfiction is for fantasizing about your favs; for letting your imagination run wild. If this were a character analysis, then yes, maybe I’d agree that inaccuracies are aggravating. However, in fanfiction, there are zero rules, especially when it comes to smut.

Sexual preferences are not equivalent to a person’s whole personality—so whether he’s written as a dom, a sub, a switch, or whatever the fuck you wanna call it, this has nothing to do with his kindness, gentlemanliness, passion, power, ruthlessness, snark, or whatever minuscule aspect of his character makes up his lovely whole and matters to you.

I think this circles back to a lack of ability to separate sexual matters and personality, because how else do people interpret fics depicting him in a certain manner as them erasing his character? They might overlap, but they can very well be mutually exclusive. I’ve seen incredibly sweet and gentle men irl who were absolute doms in bed, and I’ve seen powerful and passionate men who were reduced to tears between the sheets. There is barely any correlation whatsoever, and if anything, claiming otherwise is what I consider piss-poor media literacy and reading-comprehension.

My third point is that for some reason, there have been many, many posts and replies on here where I’ve seen people just straight-up spread pure hate for the characters. Maybe this bothered me in particular because I’m an OT3 (OT4 now!) and absolutely adore all of them, but I find no logical reason for “yucking someone’s yum” when we’re talking about liking the characters of an Otome game—a genre of video games which is made to literally cater to the tastes of as many people as possible.

It’s especially disheartening to see when it’s at a time like this, when new content is about to drop, and you find in the replies of every other post/discussion at least a few people spewing hate and disgust at Sylus. Again, so many people are incredibly excited about him. Why is there a need to rain on everyone’s parade, especially in such an unsolicited manner?

This fandom originally started as a safe space for people of all races, backgrounds, genders, sexualities, and personalities to bond over our mutual love for characters. All I’ve seen on my TL lately (in terms of discussion) is negativity, and it’s such a fucking let-down. I hope whatever the fuck has happened to this fandom cools down after a bit. It’s probably exaggerated and very in-your-face rn, cause more and more people are downloading LNDS, so the probabilities of finding people being nasty are increasing. But I seriously don’t want to grow to resent this fandom and find myself distancing myself from it to protect my peace.

Let’s all remember to be kind towards other players, to not act entitled or bratty about the characters, and to try and mind our own business if we see content that doesn’t suit our tastes.

[xxsinisterbunniexx]

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Hi :3 Welcome to my page!!!!! Have fun here!!!!

You guys can refer to me as Bunnie or Nelly! I’m 22 years old, a big Toby Rogers enthusiast, and emo irl.

My inbox is always open for questions/concerns or nonsense :3

⋆˙⟡♡ Masterlists ♡⟡˙⋆

⋆˙⟡♡Fics♡⟡˙⋆

⋆˙⟡♡Multi Character Headcanons♡⟡˙⋆

⋆˙⟡♡Character specific Headcanons♡⟡˙⋆

I post mostly NSFW fics and headcanons about Creepypastas. I do write sfw, but less often. Per the fandom, sometimes there is mildly graphic or dark content in my writing. Reader discretion is advised.

General note about my writing

So let me start by saying, while I stylize each character a bit, I do try to keep my characterizations close to the original one.

Also, I am aware of the lore and how I am bending it. Yes, I’m aware that most of these characters are not proxies for Slenderman. I like to think of them in two categories: true proxies and willing killers that Slenderman would keep around cause they still get the job done, even if they’re doing it for their own personal reasons.

So like true proxies: Toby, Masky*, Hoodie*

Willing killers: Jeff, Ben, X Virus, EJ

*I’m aware that Masky and Hoodie are not creepypastas and they don’t interact with Slenderman in the Marble Hornets series, and they work against rather than for the Operator.

But listen broksi, it makes it a hell of a lot easier on me to build a cohesive universe if they all just live in the slendy mansion, so that’s what I’m going with.

I do take requests for headcanons and fics! More info below the cut :3

PLEASE READ RULES FOR REQUESTING BEFORE SUBMITTING

About requests

I’m a student!!! So I do take requests but don’t freak out if it takes me a little to get to it. If you’re wondering about the status of a request you’ve sent you can always message me! However:

Do not send me the same request twice.

Also please keep in mind that a request is just that: a request. I like to write things that people want but I have the right to refuse a request for any reason. I am a person.

What I will write

I will write fics or headcanons, please specify which you would like in your request.

For creepypasta, I will only write X readers. I generally write mostly NSFW. If it’s NSFW, it will always be a female reader since I am not comfortable writing anything else (sorry). If it’s SFW, I will try to keep it more neutral, but if gender is mentioned I will always specify in the title.

Characters: Jeff, Toby, Ben, Jack, Cody, Tim, Brian (these are my staples)

WOMEN!

If you request a more obscure creepy pasta I will still do it but keep in mind it may take me longer since I’ll have to do some research on the character! I care a lot about character integrity so if I’m writing for a new character I’ll want to make sure it’s accurate.

What I won’t write

Torture, gore, scat/piss, tentacles, necrophilia, etc. (this is not an exhaustive list)

Anything that makes me uncomfortable!

Characters: laughing jack (he gives me the heebie jeebies idk), slenderman (I’m on the fence about this one, I may reconsider at this at one point)

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[beauty-and-passion]

Lore Olympus: a golden mine of bad writing

As I said, one post wasn’t enough.

There is still a lot to say about this webcomic and in this post I would like to talk about how Zeus, Apollo and Kronos have been treated. Here I will focus on the first two acts only, because the third act is not over, as well as the story. And yes, that means I will write another post when this whole thing is over.

I wanted to focus on these three gods in particular because are treated in a way that baffles me and makes me question what did they ever do to Mrs. Smythe. Tell me, Rachel: was it something personal? Did they do something to your family? What happened?

But maybe you don’t understand my point, especially if you haven’t read the Greek myths at all and you think that these three are just “Unfaithful Guy”, “Rapist” and “Evil Villain Har Har Who Also Wants To Rape”. Seriously, what’s with this weird obsession with raping everyone and with sex? Did Mrs. Smythe ever see anything else in myths, besides sex?

So please, allow me to explain why their characterizations are wrong and boring - and no, not just from a mythological point of view. 

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Zeus: the walking clichè

Making Zeus an asshole is understandable, even if utterly boring and clichè. Oh wow, he's an unfaithful husband and he's vain. Very original. Groundbreaking, I'd say. I’ve never read about him being unfaithful to his wife, not even once in all the 200 million retellings made during the history of mankind.

It's a shame because Zeus is much more than that. He's a mighty ruler with a strong sense of justice: in several myths, he punished the assholes for their wrongdoings. He's very clever and strong. He's also associated with xenia, the custom of offering protection to strangers, which means Zeus is also a protector of foreigners.

I mean, this information alone offers so many new perspectives about him! Just imagine if, instead of hanging around and doing nothing useful aside from being everyone’s favorite punching bag, Zeus fought against every corrupt system of the mortal realm, in order to protect the foreigners and the innocents. It would’ve been so cool to see a different side of him, instead of the same thing over and over again!

But nope, Zeus = unfaithful husband only. Let’s ignore all the other aspects of him, to focus on the one everyone focuses on. Let’s make him the umpteenth version of the same guy, instead of offering a new vision. This will surely make the story worth everyone’s time!

Rachel, this could’ve worked if I was 12 and had never read a retelling in my entire life. But since I’m more than twice that age, seeing Zeus as an unfaithful husband again doesn’t get my interest. And I’m sure this doesn’t only apply to me, but to everyone who already saw at least two retellings of him. Isn’t this story supposed to be new and original? Then why are we still picking from the same old clichè visions of these gods? Where is the writer’s personality and ability?

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Apollo: king of wasted potentials

I am absolutely, completely, 100% baffled at how Apollo has been treated in this story.

It's insulting to see the most beloved Greek god treated as a bidimensional piece of shit. Not only because he doesn't make any sense in the story (why is he here in the first place? Did Persephone and Apollo even interact in any myth?), but also because there are so many different possibilities for him, that seeing him being this is the biggest waste of potential I’ve ever seen.

A brief recap of who Apollo really is: Apollo is the embodiment of the sun. He is the god of arts and crafts. He's the most beautiful god, he embodies the concept of perfect Greek beauty. And he is associated with a lot of cool stuff, like medicine, truth and oracles. Also, like most of the other Greek gods, Apollo had many male and female lovers.

Now, look me in the eye and tell me that, with all of this, your first idea about him is "yeah, let's make him a stupid rapist, so stupid to not realize that hey, maybe forcing a girl to sleep with you will not make her fall in love with you". Oh and let's not forget he randomly decided he wanted Zeus' throne just after the fertility plot point had been introduced Because Yes. And he’s running for president of Whatever-Land Because Yes. Also, he’s currently involved again in another evil plot Because… yeah, you got it.

It’s just so frustrating to see him being the biggest loser of all time, considering how much cooler he could’ve been. Just think about it: we could've had a bisexual musician, who does concerts with his band (the Muses) and has a shit ton of lovers. We could’ve had a heartbroken doctor, who does his best to save everyone because he has not been able to save his own son from death (Asclepius). We could've had a mysterious advisor who can see the future because of his foresight powers.

What did we get instead? A fucking rapist.

Apollo is nothing but wasted potential. He’s an insult to himself, the story, common sense, and the Greek culture. Of all the incredible things he could've been, he became the most insulting of them all. I really cannot bear to see this fucking idiot and his punching-bag face, pretending to be Apollo. He’s not Apollo.

But if there is a guy I can see less than him, then let me introduce you to…

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Kronos: Supreme Master of Wasted Potential

First of all: why is Kronos here? Why does this love story need Persephone to defeat a big bad guy? Just to show how cool and badass she is? Considering that their fight was a joke, it didn't work very well.

But okay, let's say we need a villain Because Yes. Kronos is still a huge waste of potential, probably the biggest waste of potential of the whole series until now. He could’ve been an interesting, multifaceted character, but he became a cartoonish supervillain har-har I want power.

Sigh.

But let’s take a step back and talk about the real, mythological Kronos. His story starts with his parents, Uranus and Gaia. The two had a lot of sons, including Titans (like Kronos) and Hecatonchires (monsters with fifty heads and one hundred arms). Disgusted by their monstrous nature or maybe just out of fear of being overthrown, Uranus chained his sons away into Gaia's womb (aka the Tartarus) so that they could never come out again.

Gaia suffered from this decision, so she devised a plan: she made a stone sickle, gathered her sons and tried to persuade them to castrate Uranus.

All of her sons were afraid of Uranus, Kronos was the only one brave enough to do it. And he was successful: he overthrew his father and became the new ruler of the universe, along with his wife/sister Rhea.

However, after becoming king, he didn't free all of his brothers as his mother wanted, but locked Hecatonchires and Cyclopes away once again. And so, Gaia told him that, one day, he would meet his father’s same fate and be overthrown by one of his own children.

Scared by these words, Kronos devised a plan: every time he had a new child, he took the baby from Rhea and swallowed them. Rhea was desperate and, in order to save her last son Zeus, she sought Gaia's help.

So Rhea gave birth to Zeus in a secret place, then handed Kronos a stone wrapped in clothes: he swallowed it, thinking that it was his son. This way, Zeus managed to escape the same fate as his siblings and was raised in secret, away from his father, until he was old enough to come back and fulfill his destiny.

And now, you may think Zeus overthrew his father with a sword and killed him and nah nah nah, myths are not that stupid and predictable. Zeus didn’t use violence to overthrow his father, but intelligence. He disguised himself to reach Kronos' court and, at the right time, he gave him a drink. That drink was an emetic (given by Gaia), that forced Kronos to throw up everything he swallowed, in reverse order: first the stone he thought was his last son, then Zeus' brothers and sisters.

After freeing his siblings, Zeus did what his father would've never done: he released the Hecatoncheires and the Cyclops to help him in the following battle against Kronos and the other Titans, a battle known as Titanomachy.

The war ended with the victory of the Olympians (i.e. Zeus and his siblings). Many Titans were confined in Tartarus, under the Hecatonchires' control, others were not imprisoned and kept appearing in other myths.

And Kronos? His fate differs depending on the myths. In some versions, he was imprisoned in Tartarus. But according to other, more interesting versions, Zeus forgave him after years, freed him and Kronos became king of the Elysian Fields: the famous earthly paradise reserved for the greatest Greek heroes.

Now. Just look at all of this beautiful, beautiful potential.

We have Gaia, a powerful goddess who overthrew two rulers of the universe, without moving a finger. A goddess strong and clever, but also a mother who wanted all of her children to be free - even the most hideous ones. She could’ve been a tragic figure, a master manipulator, or an evil schemer. Or all these things!

We have the Hecatonchires: fighters so powerful, to turn the tide of any battle. They could’ve been scary and intimidating, but also tragic monsters who just wanted to be accepted. They could’ve taught a beautiful lesson about the importance of accepting the ugly and giving everyone a chance to prove themselves.

Then we have Kronos. And Kronos had everything to be the greatest character.

Think about this concept: Kronos has always been afraid of Uranus, just like his brothers. He was just better at hiding his feelings. And that visceral fear is still inside him, it still haunts him after centuries, just like the memory of how he overthrew his father. And that fear takes the shape of paranoid thoughts about his father coming back to take the throne.

Kronos could’ve seen his father haunting him, but he could’ve also dissociated and seen himself as his father. In his altered state of mind, he could’ve been both the king and the one who overthrows him.

That could’ve made him a truly dangerous, unhinged character. A god who can’t see what’s real anymore, obsessed with the ghosts of his past. A god with nothing to lose and everything to gain. After all, if he kills his children again, the throne would be his once more. And, since he sees himself as himself and as his father at the same time, he would think that he is the "true king" coming back to take his throne.

That could’ve been awesome. Kronos could've been complex, desperate and multifaceted, a villain to pity and to be afraid of. A truly new, interesting version to know and love.

And do you have any idea how incredible Zeus could’ve been in this version? We could see him facing Kronos again, still as strong and determined as when he was young. And while everyone would expect him to kill Kronos, he would use his intelligence once again. He would prove to Kronos (and to everyone else) how intelligence is always superior to violence and how he's a good leader, despite his thousands of flaws.

Also, we could've seen Zeus talking to the defeated Kronos and making him the ruler of the Elysian Fields. We could've had a meaningful ending, in which Zeus understands Kronos' fears and shares his own.

I would’ve adored this, because according to the myth, Zeus was also supposed to be overthrown by a son! Hence why he swallowed Metis (his first wife) while she was pregnant.

The myth never truly clarifies who this supposed "son" is, but according to the different versions, Metis was pregnant not with a son, but with a daughter. A daughter who, one day, would be born, full grown, from Zeus' head. A daughter who would become Zeus' favorite child: Athena.

Honestly? I ADORE the idea that there was never a son to overthrow Zeus, but a daughter. And she would not overthrow his father by violence like her grandfather or by intelligence like her father, but by love. Athena doesn't need to take the throne from her father physically, she doesn't even need to sit on that throne: not when her father loves her more than anything else.

And I love the idea that Zeus is aware of that. He knows his daughter is his weakness. He knows that, if she asks, he will willingly give her that throne, because he loves her too much. And I would've loved to see him sharing these thoughts with the defeated Kronos. It could've been a beautiful moment, to see Zeus talking with the fatherly figure he always missed from his life. It could've led to a beautiful, meaningful ending for a dramatic story.

But can you see the problem here? This concept works for a story about Zeus, not about Hades and Persephone! These two have nothing to do with Kronos! Heck, even Rachel Smythe knows it, considering she had to pull a stupid plot point out of thin air, to explain why Kronos would give a damn about Persephone!

In case you were wondering: yes, the fertility-magical-power-battery-thing is bullshit. Gods don’t need a magical battery to be powerful. And no, fertility goddesses are not rare either: Aphrodite, Demeter, Hera, even Artemis are just a few of the fertility goddesses in Greek mythology. Kronos could’ve picked his favorite from a large pool, instead of becoming an absolute creep with Persephone in the stupidest fight of all time.

And speaking of that, two words on the supposed “fight”. First of all, apologies to all fights for being associated with this thing, because this was anything but a fight: it was a cartoonish conversation accompanied by the umpteenth sexualization of Persephone, who first appeared fully naked, then with a dress so stupid to defy the laws of physics and perspective.

And if you don’t believe me, please see it by yourself: this is how the dress was supposed to be, according to episode 75

This is how it ended up. Apparently, the Fates didn’t predict how huge Persephone’s boobs would be and the neckline didn’t grow accordingly: I feared to see one of them slipping out from it anytime during the “fight”

Also, please appreciate how Persephone is turned to the side, but the dress’ stupidly huge neckline is shown from the front, otherwise we would’ve seen her full naked boobs.

And that stupid neckline kept bothering me throughout the whole “fight”, because it kept changing size. Check the episodes and see it by yourself: sometimes it’s smaller, other times it’s wider and it keeps moving in impossible ways. It drove me insane.

But since we’re talking about drawings, please allow me a very brief parenthesis about them too.

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The drawings are a joke

I am not an artist. I can barely draw a straight line by hand. But I studied art history, perspective, proportions and colors, so I’m not completely clueless.

But you don’t need to be clueless, to notice how bad the drawings became. If you have two eyes and saw another human being in your life before, then you can notice by yourself how bad they are.

It’s not a secret that Lore Olympus’ art style changed over time. In the beginning, this comic was characterized by a lot of straight lines and geometric shapes, alternating and mixing with gentle curves. There were blur effects, colored outlines, a lot of details that gave an overall dreamy, ethereal vibe to every chapter (like the soft glow that accompanied the gods).

But as the story progressed, these elements disappeared. The geometric shapes gave way to an overall “softness” and roundness. The dreamy vibes and blur effects were replaced by sharper, clearer drawings. A distinct black outline now marks every character.

And speaking of characters, they were the ones who changed more. Lore Olympus always had funny, silly faces but the characters were also able to be serious and look natural. Now all we have are grotesque faces: the characters are a collection of caricatures and no one has a normal expression anymore. Check by yourself, by confronting a random episode of the third act with the first one: they’re two different worlds.

The disproportions were common too, since episode one. But at least they were somehow plausible, while now they’re completely absurd. It’s as if Mrs Smythe completely forgot what a human being looks like.

And this is pretty evident in how all characters became a rough draft of the two protagonists: all women got Persephone’s face, all men become buff and huge, with wide-ass shoulders and teeny tiny heads. This is particularly obvious at the end of season 2 / start of season 3, when we see some of the funniest images ever, like Hades with a tiny head and shoulders as wide as the entire USA

Or this hilariously bad image of Zeus with clown shoes and a head as big as his deformed hand.

No excuse can justify these drawings: no one is running after Mrs Smythe, nor forcing her to draw, and people are paying her real money to work on this webcomic. The least she can do is draw something that doesn’t look like a bad distortion of a human being.

Unless this isn’t her drawing, but her staff’s work. In that case, they are still paid to do their job, right? Or do they think this story is a joke and decide to show how much of a joke it is, by turning everyone into a grotesque caricature?

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In conclusion

Lore Olympus is hilarious because of how bad the writing is. It’s a manual example of how not to write a climax for your story. It’s a perfect demonstration of how you can still fail, even with great characters with endless possibilities. It’s a list of all the mistakes you can make as an artist.

If you’re a writer or an artist in general, please check Lore Olympus and study it. Here you will find everything you should never do and all the mistakes you should never make.

As a writer myself, I appreciate Lore Olympus, because I need works that teach me what I shouldn’t do. Good teachers are useful, but bad ones are even more useful, because it’s thanks to them that I can learn and grow and make better stories. Lore Olympus might be a failure from an artistic and writing point of view, but it might also serve as a foundation, from which other people can develop better ideas.

Actually, it already did it! Do you want to read a better story, rose from the disappointing ashes of Lore Olympus? Then check Lore Rekindled and @genericpuff: you will find their work here on Tumblr. They planned everything ahead and it’s pretty clear by reading it. The characters make more sense, the events have a more logical explanation. And the art style is much, much better than the last Lore Olympus.

We will meet again for the third and (for now) final post about this series, a much-needed post about the protagonists of this story: Hades, Persephone and Demeter.

<- Previous post - Next post ->

(How about a coffee? ☕)

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[smehur]

Some Harry/Draco Fic Recs

There is so much great fic in this fandom, I'm struggling to keep track of everything I read and like. I already mentioned some of my early favorites here, but I have since found several more.

In no particular order:

Hermione Granger's Hogwarts Crammer for Delinquents on the Run by waspabi

In which Harry did not go to Hogwarts, but is instead found by a group of seventh year students led by Hermione, and recruited for the war at the ripe age of 17.

I'm not usually a fan of AUs, but this charmed me within the first few paragraphs with irresistible characterization. Harry is a little different than how I imagine him, but the premise allows for it. And the Harry/Draco romance is possibly the sweetest, softest I've seen so far. 10/10 would read again.

In Pieces by dysonrules

Harry returns to Hogwarts as the new DADA instructor, only to find his teaching efforts thwarted by a very familiar ghost.

When I got this rec myself, I wasn't sure I would like it, because, well, the summary spells it out, doesn't it? But I ended up loving it. It's incredibly sweet and tender and sad and hot. I couldn't put it down.

An Emerald In The Sky by corvuscrowned

The hardest part about shagging an Unspeakable is that they’re not allowed to speak of anything. All Draco knows is that Harry works in Time. Harry works in Time, and while he’s out there in all of that time, it is as unforgiving to him as it is to anyone. Somewhere along the way, Draco realizes he's been thinking in lines, when he should have been thinking in circles.

This story moved me like few others. It's a masterpiece of 'show, don't tell' in that elusive way I have never been able to tap in my own writing. It speaks in images, and the images capture incredibly specific, perfectly chosen details that paint years and decades of slowly fading hope. Just the thing for one who considers their own aging and mortality increasingly often.

Take You Home by lq_traintracks (lumosed_quill)

Everybody’s a little fucked up after the war, Draco especially. What starts as hate sex after a night out, eventually turns into something else, something more like comfort. And even though his friends all tell Harry he’s just being used, all Harry’s doing is making sure Draco gets home in one piece. He’s not falling helplessly in love.

From the author of one of my early favorites (Right Hand Red), a hugely enjoyable read that makes love to a post-war Draco (and his long hair in a man-bun that he fastens with his wand). I gulped this down in one sitting.

Hey, Potter by SunseticMonster

Harry returns to Hogwarts for his 8th year, determined not to let Malfoy get to him. But when the snarky teasing starts up again, Harry finds that returning the jibes with compliments has a far more interesting outcome.

I am in love with this premise. It works so well? While I wished for a bit more shipping and a bit less collateral, I still enjoyed this story immensely and went on to read almost everything the author wrote for the pairing.

An Issue of Consequence by Faith Wood

Draco has woken up in an alternate universe. Or he has woken up utterly insane. Nothing else can possibly explain why Harry Potter suddenly seems to think he's Draco's boyfriend.

The light-hearted summary belies the gravity of the plot of yet another favorite tale from the pen of my favorite author. The POV immersion is so deep that I absolutely did not see the resolution of the mystery until it was revealed, and then I was just as shocked as Draco. Fabulous stuff.

A Doll's Tale by Faith Wood

Harry/Draco, as observed by Draco's childhood doll. Please note, this doll is very self-absorbed.

This... broke me a little, lol. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing (too) heavy, angsty or dark about this story. It's as innocent as they get? But it just clicked so well with the idea I've been brewing in my own (yet to be published) writings, of Draco as this... sensitive boy hiding under the guise of confidence and cruelty. And the plot-twist, Merlin. Was it obvious? Maybe, but not to me! It struck me like a (fluffy toy) train and days later, I'm still recovering. I want to take this fic and hug it when I go to sleep.

Actually, I'm in a bit of a pickle, as my instinct is to list pretty much every single thing written by Faith Wood that I've read so far. But that would be silly, so I'll list only one more, as a treat.

Beholden by Faith Wood

Draco Malfoy might not be a killer, but it turns out he's an effective painkiller. If stopping pain was all Draco's touch did, things might not be so complicated, but either way Harry can't afford to be choosy.

I already mentioned this one in that inaugural post I linked at the very top, but: 1) it's now completed and can be safely binged on; and 2) the only thing I said about it back then is that it deals with chronic pain, which was particularly relevant at the time because I was at the peak of sciatica and could relate to poor Harry all too well. But that's just one of the many merits of this incredible story. Now that I'm feeling better, I'd praise it first and foremost for the patient exploration of the characters' inner worlds and the gradual, methodical and inexorable buildup of their feelings and convictions that eventually leads to falling in love. A masterpiece of slow burn. I plan not only to read this again, but to study it in the hopes of improving my own craft.

Tagging the authors I found on here: @dysonrules @faith2wood @corvuscrowned @lqtraintracks and also my friend @kuraiummei who helped me find some of these gems.

Thank you for enriching my life. ❤️

[kurishiri]

02 . . . william & v.s. darius

— this translation may not be 100% accurate or contain creative liberties due to characterization or narrative flow purposes. if you enjoy, please consider reblogging, but don’t repost these or claim these as your own!

— cw: none.

Kate: Wh—? What do you mean, me for a reward——

In response, Will narrowed his eyes, the color of blood, with an alluring smile on his lips.

William: It is a charming idea, although I have no intention of handing our dear little robin over.

W: If I emerge victorious, would you let me do as I like with you, Kate?

Darius, too, wore a smile as bewitching as that of an angel’s, his honey eyes sweetly tempting.

Darius: And should you become mine, I suppose I’d take you back home with me.

D: How about we have so much fun together that returning to England won’t even dare cross your mind again?

Kate: W-wait, hold up, that kind of thing...

This unexpected turn of events sent my heart racing in confusion, when——

The two of them glanced at one another before bursting out into a hearty laughter.

William: Ahaha, it was a joke in good fun, Kate. It’s not in my slightest interest to offer people up as prizes.

Darius: Ahaha, you take everything so seriously, miss fairytale keeper. Color me veeery intrigued.

Kate: Ehh? Okay, that’s enough ganging up on me, you two.

K: That said, though, I am interested in this match, so if it’s alright, could you let me prepare the prize for the winner?

William: What a wonderful suggestion, thank you. Of course I am more than alright with that.

Darius: Agreed, I’m happy with anything as long as you are the one who chooses it, miss fairytale keeper.

Kate: Please leave it to me then!

——From the first throw, the two made a splendid display.

Darius: I expected no less from you, William.

William: I could very much say the same of you. I’ve learned yet another new thing about you today.

Horseshoes were not only heavy, but also bore a shape that made it difficult to throw well,

but both Will and Darius were able to throw them at the stakes they were aiming for with ease.

Kate: Will! Darius! ...You’re both doing really well!

With such clear skill, I could hear exceptionally loud cheering along with murmurs of praise.

“Wow, they make it look so easy,” “I feel like I’m being sucked right in,” “Those two are so cool”...

(They both don’t seem like they’re going to miss a mark anytime soon. At this rate there probably won’t be a winner and... ah.)

It was then my eyes stopped on something a child who had been passing by was selling.

(Okay, that’ll be the reward!)

I chased after the seller to buy the item I had my eye on, and on the way back——

I ran into a store that was selling another thing that could work.

(And with this... it can just be a gift from me to him, not for winning a match, but rather for the memory.)

I went back to where the two were as the match was drawing near the end...

Kate: Here you go! A reward for the winner. ——In other words, the both of you.

I brought out two cups of chilled lemonade.

Darius: Hm? Wait a minute, you wouldn’t know whether the results ended in a tie until the end, yes?

Kate: Ah, about that...

K: From the very first throw, I could see that you and Will were around equal footing.

Darius: ...Ho-oh?

Kate: And I was thinking if there’s no gap in ability, you can only really leave the rest to luck or how strong one’s desire is to win——

William: ...

Kate: But even in luck and desire to win, I felt you two were on equal footing for those as well.

K: So, I took a bet that it would end in a tie, and I prepared two prizes.

Darius: And what were you going to do if it hadn’t ended in a tie?

Kate: Were that to happen, of course the second lemonade would be for me!

William: Ahaha, that is very much like you, little robin.

W: I will graciously take the lemonade then. Here’s to the little robin who has won the bet, cheers.

Darius: I see you have a strong hand in these games as well. Thank you, and cheers.

Seeing the two drinking the lemonade, enjoying it, my cheeks became more lax.

——At that moment.

Something bumped into my back then.

Slightly dirty boy: Be careful where you’re walking!

The boy turned back briefly to spit out those words before quickly leaving.

Kate: S-sorry, you too! Be care——

William: Let’s chase after him.

Kate: Huh?

William and Darius had already begun running after him, and in the next beat I followed after them.

Darius: Miss fairytale keeper, was anything stolen from you, by any chance?

The boy’s back appeared and disappeared among the throng of people, and while chasing after him I checked my pockets, and——

Kate: ! It’s not here!

The present that I had gotten for him was gone.

I paled in realization, and Will, seeing this, whispered in a calm voice.

William: So I see you do hold it. He may be a child with connections to that organization.

W: ——That which is stolen is bound to return to its rightful owner.

Kate: R-right, anyway, let’s get him!

Darius: Hehe, this is just like Fangen.

D: ——Except that the child’s the one who is ‘it,’ I suppose.

The boy skillfully maneuvered his way through, slipping through the small gaps between the crowd of people and wagons.

And I could recognize the route he was taking, so——

Kate: I’ll go around from here to cut him off!

I separated myself from the crowd to block off the path of the boy, who had come out from under a wagon.

Kate: Stop right there!

The boy seemed startled before changing directions, but there...

William: As expected of our little robin.

This time, surprised by Will, he once again changed directions...

...only to run into Darius.

Darius: Seems like it’s your loss. Ah, and over there is the little miss fairytale keeper.

Kate: There’s no use running now!

Now surrounded in three different directions, the boy panicked.

Slightly dirty boy: ...gh, take this!

The boy took a basket adjacent to him and knocked it over.

The plums that were originally stacked like a mountain scattered all across the street, hindering our path.

Kate: Awawa!?

I caught the basket that had fallen with the plums a moment later.

William: Ahh, could you hold it like that, Kate?

Will deftly picked up the plums one after the other, throwing them into the basket I was holding.

Darius: Could you hold the basket toward me as well, miss fairytale keeper?

Darius, too, picked plums up in a carefree manner before tossing them into the basket, not a single one falling back to the ground.

(Wow, these two are really good...)

In that time, the boy had ran into a side street with agile movements.

Kate: Ah, that path——

After the plums were all back in the basket, we continued our chase once again, and as my memory served, we were nearing a place where the path diverged.

Kate: From a distance, it looks like a straight path.

William: So I see. The boy thought to use this to try and deceive our eyes.

Darius: And had you not told us, miss fairytale keeper, we may have very well just gone straight without a drop of hesitation.

D: ——That said, it is also very possible that, on the flip side, he did actually go straight.

William: The boy is also watching the little robin’s movements, after all.

Darius: Then how about we split into two teams here?

William: Indeed. Then you and I can each tackle a path. Which leaves our little robin.

Darius: ——Miss fairytale keeper.

Both of them turned toward me at the same time, and I gave my answer...

to be continued…

will vs darius jude vs nica alfons vs ring

← prev william🌹 → darius🪽 →

full masterlist 🌹🪽

[violentdick]

LOL I REALLY WASNT EXPECTING THAT. but i respect it HARD. and now i reallyyyyy need to know the huge paragraph you’ve written out about it and the rest of the modern Dick icks. please do share. 👀

Well if you want all the icks,I can provide them, but it's going under a read more cause I can keep going on about them for awhile:

So, just to put out three things that matter in regards to me personally in how I see these things; 1) I am one of 4 siblings and my parents are 1 of 5 and 1 of 6 and most of my aunts and uncles and cousins all have 2-4 kids, and most of us are close-knit, so family is sadly a big thing for how I was raised, 2) I am asexual and although not sex-repulsed, I really don't care to see characters I like sexualized just to be sexualized and 3) (the one that will cost me followers), I am white, but my family is part Native-American, Mediterranean (only stating this due to my skin tone which is why one thing gets a hard pass from me) and Bohemian (all we know is we are somehow from Bohemia, but it was never divulged if it was Czech Bohemian or Romani Bohemian as my dad's side was fine with discussing what we were, but never the specifics and since we were had always known these parts of us since we were kids, we never looked into it and given the state of my country, no one is really jumping to get an ancestry test done to find out, cause, we know were these things, none of the culture on my dad's side really survived except in very small things here and there, but none of us ever felt that we had to reclaim anything which I see a lot of people getting those tests do since it is new information to them. It's a really weird situation and all of my siblings have different thoughts on race, for example my sister is constantly mislabeled by others as latina and I get middle eastern a lot, neither of which we are, but we both see ourselves as white. There's still more to it, but that's the minimum info I think is needed for my problems with one of my icks.

So, as a kid, I watched BtAS when I got the remote (three kids trying to enjoy the TV at the same time means you don't always get to watch what you want) and my first movie I remember seeing Batman Returns, and Batman was my favorite except for Power Rangers. So the animate series was my first introduction to Dick and Babs, and every time I saw them on screen together, they acted like me and my siblings and cousins acted with each other and they gave my strong sibling vibes. Then Batman and Robin came out and thankfully I wasn't paying too much attention to the plot of them being an item per every movie ever with two young attractive people in them, as me and my brother were too busy enjoying the ice puns. Now, around this time, I hadn't really been keeping up with the show and not sure if we just didn't have the channel anymore or if the time slot had changed, so I was out of luck on it until we got the internet a few years later and I of course wanted to see if I could find anything about Batman or X-Men, and one of the first things I find out is that Babs had cheated on Dick with Bruce. So now I'm trying to figure out how two people I saw as siblings dated, but how someone who I viewed as a father/mentor figure to Babs sleeping with her and as a wise person once said, "It's porn, it's fine there, but in other media, ew." Now, I didn't hate any of them because of it, but it just squeed me out and had me avoid Batman for a bit, which thanks to Teen Titans coming out around this time, was a lot easier.

Teen Titans was a welcome of breath of fresh air as it gave us one of my favorite couples in comics, Robin and Starfire (I'm not going to discuss the differences between pre-animated Teen Titans Star and post-animated Teen Titans Star as it's its own issue and I like both versions, but I do want more of her original characterization of her since the last three things I read with her were just her being sexualized and a jealous ex who just her and Babs being nasty to each other. Now, I'm not going to say I like how Dick and Kori started dating, as a guy who has had both men and women put me in uncomfortable situations, I don't care for her just macking on him, and if that was how I came across the ship originally, I most likely wouldn't have liked it, but since the cartoon was how I found it and I read later New Teen Titans comics before the first few so I appreciated with what it grew into before seeing that genesis. Also helps that Star is one of my three favorite female DC superheroes). And I am a multishipper, but just they were very solid and they ruined for another of my major icks of "modern" Dick Grayson, his writers.

If I am remembering correctly, Dixon rewrote Babs origins, where at first she was going to a Halloween party dressed as a female Batman but fell into Killer Moth's scheme and found out how much she loved crime fighting and was a PhD holding librarian and eventually a state representative. I looked up the age needed and they said it was 25, while Dick was 16-18 at that time, now age gaps are fine if both are adults and you know, there is no grooming feelings about, but given when she would have met Dick, it gives off grooming to me and absolutely not. Now, Dixon got to write her new origin and I'll be honest I glanced over it because of how much I hated it, she was Dick's high school sweetheart, prom date and became Batgirl because of her feelings towards him, because say it with me class, "Dixon is a misogynistic bigot prick," along with so many other issues with him. But reducing her to only being Batgirl because Robin caused her loins to enflame in pleasure irritates me in so many ways, it's not even funny. Then we have Tom Taylor (I'll get to Greyson, but as much as I hate these guys, Greyson is a special hatred due to how pointed it is), who makes WFA look canon compliant and I describe his writing as "licking the clit of the Zeitgeist and only sells books because of gimmicks, SEO, and pop culture". And then he tries to be woke and culturally sensitive and yet he, I'm just going to use a phrase my friend used to describe a guy at college, "He says he's feminist to get into women's pants at a rally, but I doubt he has talked to one for any reason other than to get his dick wet." And I'll be honest, I only read his Superboy run because I needed it for research and the level of dull and lack of understanding on a lot of things just bothers me and after he blamed Dickkori fans fot trying to cancel the artist for leaving Duke out of that cover and calling Kori nothing but T&A for Dick and what he did to his own creation Bea, all of who are PoC or PoC-written, makes me question his actual beliefs on these topics. Dan Watters is fine, and I enjoyed a few of his other things, but given his first one has him doing pet names with Babs, him dating Babs, that long lost sibling (another topic that I could rant on, but suffice to say The Great North is the only medium that has ever done it in a way that I saw as well done and not just for shock value), but the most egregious thing was him going in as a civilian to the mayor's office without checking the office for others and just starts blabbing about the criminals getting blown up as a stranger is right there and he has no reason to know this stuff. That last thing made me close the book, shake my head and mentally scream, "WHY!!!???" I have been told I'm too picky about things, but I'm not going to support materials that I don't care for. If I wouldn't read a fanfic with stuff I don't like, why would I read something I have to pay for with stuff I don't like? I do think his is more from editorial pushing this crap than him personally, but that's just a gut feeling and I could be wrong, but the mayor office bothered me way too much.

Now, as for the biggest writer issue, Greyson. She is a racist, fetishizing, sexist piece of garbage and I hold nothing but smoldering contempt for her. Her declaring that Dick is handsy so he has to be bisexual because no male would do that without sexual intent. Her statement on how none of the sexual assaults he was victim to couldn't be rape cause, "Guys are just happy when it happens no matter what." I know I don't have to explain any of this being so demonstratively wrong, but as I said before I am asexual and have had people put me in uncomfortable situations before (nothing happened because luckily I'm tall and very good at getting out of situations by luck or by intimidating people (I don't care, if someone is making you feel like that, do what you need to do to get out of there), I have a personal vendetta against these types of statements. But now for the ick that will cost me followers, the Dick being Romani hc. Now, I need to put this out there, I have no problem with others enjoying this hc or presenting it, I have issues with people trying to force it on others, which I have sadly seen people do on fanarts, which yeah don't force your hcs on people. My issue with the Romani heritage is, most of his retcons are terrible and this one could have been done well and if he ever gets a competent writer who does it, my opinion of it is possible to change as my hatred is why it came out of. A short preview of some common stereotypes of Romani people are they are nomadic and most are usually used in stories as either thieves or some form of carnival workers (dancers, fortune tellers, clowns, etc.) so there is no way that she chose specially Romani than any other reason than he was in a traveling circus, which always struck me as a very racist base, but it gets so much worse (I will admit, I have always hc his dad side being from the UK and his mom's side being from the Balkan countries in Eastern Europe, which yes could include some Romani, but again, competent writers can make all the difference). Then we have the Romani smile and the Romani words, which the first one is a play on "A gypsy smile" which isn't a compliment, it literally means smirking like someone up to something, and as far as my research into the Romani language, most people of that ethnicity would prefer for their language to be kept secret due to their history of it being used to screw them over massively throughout history, so putting a language that the natives don't want shared out there for others to read is an absolutely unforgivable act in my eyes (and some might want it to be shared, I', just basing this off what I have seen and heard from native speakers and books about them). But then we get to the part that makes it much worse to me, Greyson specifically made it know she was horny for Dick and thanks to that and her racism, it taints the whole thing in fetishizing ethnicities which I'm sure most people who have had it done can tell you is extremely uncomfortable to deal with. My sister has been told that she's super sexy for a latina and when I was asked what I was, was informed that was why I had such a sexy skin tone, and guess what neither of us appreciated it, cause it's a freaking weird thing to say to another person, especially unprovoked. So all of that mixed together just has always made that hc just uncomfortable to me, but as I feel I have to reiterate, if you enjoy it, I hold no ill will towards you and am happy you can enjoy it, it just isn't for me because the history of it taints it for me.

So TL;DR:

1: Dick and Babs are siblings to me.

2: Writers make him incompetent at his job and reduce women to only to being there due to men (again could go into the 90's and women in comics big time, but I'm a guy and I'm sure enough females have commented it on it and their opinion matters more than mine does on this subject).

3: Fans forcing hcs on others and some people just might have their own specific reasons for not liking what a writer wrote and it can't always just be boiled down to a simple thing and Dick gets it bad in this fandom (lets be honest they all do, but Dick, Damian, Duke and Cass bother me the most.) and then that bleeds back into comics at times to the character's detriment (Tim, Tim, Tim, Tim.)

[burningcheese-merchant]

honestly, i am very much with you about not really liking hollyt/aya.

it feels like. im a hollyberry fan and i rarely if ever see people analyze her character or say something about her, even in the context of that ship. and same thing with pitaya. even on ao3, most of the fics tagged as ho.llytaya just have them as background characters while the main ship is what the story is actually about.

i completely understand your distaste, and my distaste comes from the fact that people treat that ship like it's their obligatory ship to have to prove that they think about characters that don't use he/him pronouns in english.

I'm feeling kind of unhappy today and I let that influence me to ramble semi-coherently. TL;DR is Hollytaya is dumb, boring slop that further perpetuates Pitaya's ongoing character assassination in Kingdom and I deeply resent its popularity, especially when its fans often mock and malign Beast x Ancient when they are literally the exact same shit, but Hollytaya is good and acceptable because (insert lame excuse here). But whatever, I don't really care at the end of the day, I know and like plenty of people who ship it and it's no skin off my nose. My opinions are just that, opinions. You do you, friends. Have fun without me

Man I sound like a grinch beneath this cut don't I lol. Please feel free to skip it if you don't want to deal with that, it's understandable

I just don't really understand Hollytaya. I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone when I first went online after finishing the Red Dragon arc and got bombarded with ship art. I don't see anything and never have. Do I need new glasses or something

You'd think I would like Hollytaya, since it pretty much is just BurningCheese in a different costume. But I don't. In fact, Hollytaya sickens me. It was the first tag I ever blocked on this site lol. I hate even remembering it's a ship that exists at all. It just rubs me in the worst way possible and I struggle to even put how or why into words. It's as though it's simply a trait passed down from my distant ancestors and whatever the reason for it existing was was lost to time eons ago. Some primal repulsion. Fighting a centuries old blood feud when you hardly even remember why anymore.

Pitaya acts like a child. Hollyberry treats him like a child. I do not see how romance could bloom in a dynamic like that. All Pitaya ever does is act like a spoiled brat. A whiny dimwit. And Hollyberry behaves accordingly, in my eyes. Why would you want to date the person you basically have to mother every time you meet. "If you won't stop terrorizing my kingdom I'll never spar with you again" the tone with which she said that to him was like a schoolteacher scolding a tantruming 5 year old. Maybe I have different ears than everyone else idk. (You really don't understand how frustrated I am with how Pitaya is characterized in Kingdom. Look at Ovenbreak, it's like night and day. What the fuck did they do to them. Look how they massacred my boy. And as far as I'm concerned, Hollytaya only serves to further ruin Pitaya's character, because it and every depiction I've ever seen only leans into that character ruination. And I can't even blame people too much for that, because the game itself makes it seem like Pitaya's entire fucking existence revolves around Holly and wanting to fight Holly. There is literally nothing else to him as a person, and Holly honestly isn't even all that much better tbh. Holly is a jolly drunkard who takes nothing seriously and has a happy dandy life while everyone else around her suffers tremendously (I know that's not true, I know there's so much more to Holly, but Holly's development has been massively neglected to the point that she almost seems one-dimensional compared to the other Ancients) and Pitaya is her pet dog. It's a fucking disgrace)

All the fanart is the same. Just the same shit every time. All anyone ever does is make Pitaya a dumb simp and Holly the big strong woman in charge (and always taller than Pitaya for some reason. Why are you all afraid of Tall Pitaya. What's this unconscious need to drag Pitaya as far down beneath Holly as possible in any way possible. They're a fucking dragon, just let them be tall. Holly doesn't lose her worth if she's shorter than Pitaya lol). Never seen a single person ever actually address that Pitaya has committed actual crimes against Holly, her family and her kingdom, and has never said or done anything to apologize or atone. Never seen anyone acknowledge that Holly should have to morally and psychologically struggle with wanting to be with someone that personally threatened to kill her son and granddaughter. Never seen anyone acknowledge that Holly would be shunned by her people for basically romancing their dictator and would-be killer, and her friends would question her sanity and integrity. I can do that shit with GC and BS (and Holly and Eternal Sugar, for that matter), why can't anyone do it for Holly and Pitaya? Hollytaya is the not-yaoi equivalent of yaoi slop to me. It's fucking dumb and boring. I see Hollytaya randomly appear before my eyes somewhere and I remember what was done to ShadowVanilla. Except Shadowvanilla wasn't always slop, it got turned into it by new fans. Meanwhile that is what Hollytaya always was from day 1 and you can't convince me otherwise

Holly and Pitaya have nothing to offer each other romantically. Nothing that a simple friendship can't also provide. I just like them as friends. Brother from another mother. Sister from another mister. I think of them and I remember Mona-Lisa and Jean-Ralphio from Parks and Rec or some funny friend/sibling relationship like that. That's enough for me and I don't understand why it isn't enough for anyone else. (They've repeatedly referred to each other as "friend" anyway. They've already friendzoned each other lol. Sorry to burst everyone's bubble.)

It's one thing to have to endure its unfortunate popularity, and like there's nowhere I can go to escape it and no one to talk to who doesn't like it either. Hollytaya almost feels mandatory to some extent. I feel the phantom sensation of the barrel of a gun burrowing into the back of my head whenever I'm forced to see it again because a mutual or someone I follow reblogged something (and I can't just click "not interested" like I usually do, you can't do that with reblogs). Triply so not only because I ship them both with other characters, but also because I ship Pitaya with Fire Spirit, when the fandom just randomly declared them parent and child and routinely attacks anyone that interprets them differently. This ship makes me feel so alone. Like the one black sheep in a sea of white.

It's another thing to see so many fans be so hypocritical about it. Huge chunk of Hollytaya fans I've seen will turn around and decry Beast x Ancient when that is literally what Hollytaya is. Zero irony or self-awareness. And I mean, fine. Whatever. Be that way. Lord knows I'm not all that different. Just don't be a dick about it. Which a lot of them are lol. A lot of them are the same ones that will actively harass Beast x Ancient fans, because you know. BurningCheese is toxic but Hollytaya isn't. Somehow. For some reason. (I've genuinely tried so hard to understand that and I can't lol. By all accounts, the fandom should hate Hollytaya because it fits the criteria for "toxic" and "abusive". But they don't. It's one of the most popular ships. Because? Because. Just because. No actual reason listed. I get the impression that a lot of people in this fandom don't think things through often lol)

Idk man. PitayaFire is vastly superior to me. Pitaya's and Fire Spirit's deep flaws and hidden virtues mesh so much better together. They have more to give and more to take from each other. The foundation of their relationship is already so fascinating. The fact that this ship is slept on the way it is is so wild to me. Where have any of you been. What's going on with you guys. PitayaFire is peak real estate for angst and tension and character exploration. Why y'all gotta leave me hanging like this. I'm not crazy I swear

But... whatever. I say all of this and end it with "ship what you want it's not my problem". Because it honestly isn't. As annoyed as I sound, I really don't pay ships I don't like much thought unless prompted, like with asks like this one. I blocked the tags forever ago and just click "not interested" if they show up on my dash. I don't go looking for content because it's not for me. And I don't go out of my way to bother anyone who likes Hollytaya or whatever else I don't because that's shitty and a waste of time. They're talking cookies who honestly gives a fuck. Do whatever so long as it isn't adult x minor or something equally inexcusable. I have plenty of friends and mutuals and followers that like Hollytaya and I don't think any less of them for it. I still like and cherish them. I'd be an awfully lonely person if I turned away everyone who liked something I don't. That's a terrible way to live, nobody should do that.

And of course, everyone is welcome to disgree and/or ignore me. I'm just a random weirdo on Tumblr, my opinions aren't the law lol. Doesn't actually mean anything to me if someone doesn't like BurningCheese or PitayaFire, so it shouldn't mean anything to anyone if I don't like Hollytaya. We all have more important things to care about than that

[lostworldss]

Blades 3 Crack Theory

Hear me out.

In Book 2 during one of Nia’s romance scenes, she mentions praying to Ellara, Nifara, and the Mother of Grey for MC to come back.

Now we saw the Mother of Grey/Ash Empress in Book 2, and we learned all the lore about her, Nifara, and the rest of the old gods. Nifara is likely to be the big enemy for Book 3.

But how much do we know about Ellara?

I am going to preface this by saying that I’m not good at remembering all the lore/history from the lore tablets or whichever, so please correct me if i’m wrong with any of this.

But I don’t remember learning much about Ellara specifically. With Nia’s context here, I thought to believe that Ellara was a deity. Perhaps a New God since the lore tablets spoke of all the Old Gods and she wasn’t included.

After checking Book 2 chapter 8, I verified that Ellara is in fact a New God.

This makes sense, considering that Nia prays to her and she has the Temple near Riverbend named after her that we explored.

Also, in the first chapter of the series, in the very beginning scene showing the battle against the Dreadlord thousands of years ago, we see a character named Ellara speaking with Xaius (Elven king/Other New God). Not much information is given about her in the scene, except for her seemingly being in a romantic relationship with Xaius. According the the choices wiki, she is a battle mage and Xaius second in command.

I’m not sure when exactly Ellara and Xaius became New Gods, was it before or after this battle? I’m not sure if they mentioned it before in Book 1. But either way, we can assume this character is The Ellara.

I’m really hoping Book 3 goes into the lore of the New Gods more, especially after learning about the Old Gods previously. Maybe the New Gods can assist us in fighting Nifara.

But back to the actual theory part. For a brief second, lets pivot to something else.

Who is the only character in the party whose family lineage/parents are unknown? (Kade could technically count maybe, but not him).

Who’s familial background is a complete shot in the dark?

Not MC, they have memories of their parents before the raid on their hometown. They were also given different deeper backgrounds based on their race in Book 2.

It’s Nia. She was adopted by the Church of Light as an infant, and she never knew anything about her actual family.

Now, maybe it’s just a funny coincidence, but does anyone else find it a bit interesting that her last name (Ellarious) sounds very similar to the name Ellara? Hmm.

But perhaps it’s a just simply a coincidence.

We could also assume that Ellara is a mage of light magic, since we know that she was a mage that would presumably be using light magic to counter the shadow magic of the Dreadlord. And we know this was after Nifara already separated the world into Light and Shadow realms, so the elves at this time probably didn’t know about True magic. And if Ellara is a god, she must be really good at it.

Hmm. Is there anyone else we know who’s naturally attuned to magic, maybe light magic specifically?

And just one more thing. What does Ellara look like in that screenshot? What colors is she wearing? She seemed to be dressed in a lot of white and gold, and wearing jewelry. Red hair. Hmm.

If you haven’t guessed my theory that I’m hinting at, here it is:

What if Nia Ellarious is a descendent of/related to Ellara???

And I’ll be honest I remember the name being similar thing being a thought in my mind before but I didn’t put any connection to it in my mind I was just like “oh they both kinda sound similar that’s cool.”

But let me enlighten you on on more thing. The suffix “-ious” in the english language means “having/characterized by/to have characteristics of.”

Nia’s last name literally means “to have the characteristics of Ellara.”

ITS BEEN STARING US IN THE FACE THIS ENTIRE TIME.

Also worth pointing out that when we first met Nia in book 1 chapter 1, where were Scholar Vash and her heading to? The Temple of ELLARA

Like you can’t tell me All of this is a coincidence (it probably is).

[riofann]

4. tempestuous

Authors Note: I am trying something new. I like this story line please give me your feedback. Only reposts and likes please don't steal my work. XOXO Rose

Tempestuous: characterized by strong and turbulent or conflicting emotion.

Previous Chapter

Monday October 28, 2019

“Is it all in there?” Alejandro asks

“Seriously? Why am I risking my livelihood for you to question me?” You go to snatch the duffle bag back

He moves his hand away “It was only a question senorita” 

“Well it’s in there now go!” you look around looking for lurkers

He nods, “Carino, I told you we will take care of the Serrano’s!” 

“Uh huh”

He touches your shoulder “I’ll keep in touch” 

“I want my cut in 2 days” you demand

“Por supuesto la jefa” he chuckles before walking away 

Sunday November 10, 2019

You look at the clock as you pass it by on your way to open the door. It was 10:18am in the morning. Who would be at your door now? As always with gun in hand you peep out the peephole and find Rio standing with his hands behind his back

“What are you doing here?”

He shrugs stepping in “I was in the neighborhood”

“Your lovely penthouse loft is on the east side of the city, what can possibly be on the west side that brings you close to my house?” 

“You” he smiles boldly

“What do you want, money or something?” you were irritated you didn’t want to decipher riddles or anything. The expansion had you stressing out and Rio being here wasn’t helping anything

“Nope, it's Sunday. Don’t you go out on Sundays? ” he says taking in your outfit, pajamas with rollers on your head (you were doing your best to stretch out the blowout/silk press you just got)

You roll your eyes “I don’t always go out on sundays plus its too early for that, plus you didn’t come all the way here just to spend a Sunday with me again” 

“Maybe I did”

“Why?”

He shrugs and takes a seat by the kitchen island you sigh and proceed to pour him a cup of coffee “creamer sugar spoon, scones if you want them, bagel if you want cream cheese in the fridge” with that you walk away 

He assumes you’re going to change but when you don’t return for 30 minutes and he realizes he hasn’t heard you moving around he gets up from his seat to find you. He hears the clacking of a key board and follows the sound to your office. 

You look up at him and resume your activities, glasses reflecting the blue light film you had on them. He takes a seat on the chair in the corner of your office and takes it all in. His mind begins to wander.... fantasizing but before he gets too carried away you hear the doorbell ring you and Rio both exchange glances. No one visited you like that. It was only Rio et al and family that visited you and very rarely your friends as you were all busy with life. 

You jump up from your seat and rush towards the front door gun in hand. It's only when you hear your dads voice is when you hide it, stuffing it on the waistband of your pajamas before you open the door. 

Theres a small scream from your mother as the door flies open “AH! Y/N you scared me!”

“DAMN!” your cousin comments  

“Language” your dad scolds 

“We wanted to surprise you were looking for the key and all” Your mother explains 

“You guys, what are you doing here?” you ask as you watch them flood into your home carrying multiple items

“Well honey we want to make sure you’re okay, we are your family and we love you!” 

“Right” you smile, your heart begins to race as you try to figure out what you were going to tell them about Rio

“Oh who’s this?” You hear your dad say as you close the door when you look around the living area Rio stands by the hallway waving his hand

You rush towards them “Oh uh this is Ri-Christopher!” you correct yourself 

“Christopher my father Daniel, mother Francesca, sister Alicia, and older cousin but basically sister Gia” you introduce

Rio goes around shaking their hands before returning to stand close to you. There’s an awkward silence you couldn’t come up with a reason fast enough before Alicia asks

“Are you guys dating?”

“Oh uh...” you rapidly look to Rio for guidance but all he has is this shit eating grin that makes you want to grab his lips and twist them hard “Yes!” how else were you going to explain him being in your home on a Sunday while you had on pajamas and rollers in your hair

“Oh well why didn’t you tell us!?” Gia asks 

“I wanted it to be a surprise you know for Christmas....and all”

“Ohhh well nice meeting you Christopher, we ruined the surprise but now we get to welcome you into the family, Y/N, Alicia, Gia warm up the food we brought while we speak to Christopher” Your mother speaks grabbing Rio by the arm and pulling him towards the couch 

“Oh uh he has to go he was stopping by to drop of something for me I forgot” 

He looks back at you and smiles “Its okay mama, I got time to meet your family, I was wondering when I was going to meet your family so this is perfect” 

“What about Marcus?” You throw out his son, 

It’s quick no one else would catch it a warning sign to you before he resumes smiling “his with his mother he’s okay”

“Oh you have a son? Do tell!” 

You groan internally and turn to go into the kitchen. Alicia and GIa were busy making another pot of coffee

“Let me get dressed, I'll be back.” Thank God you were almost done with admin work for the bar or the next week would have been a nightmare. You quickly email out the schedule and ask the staff at the restaurant to post it in the area it was supposed to be. You send everyone a group message mentioning the schedule was posted and if anything was wrong you would address it tomorrow because today was out of the question. You quickly undo your hair and throw on the clothes you were going to wear while you were doing your sunday reset shopping. 

When you return to the kitchen you find everyone was surrounding Rio taking in all he was saying

“So how did you two meet?” Gia asks

Rio looks at you then smiles “at the bar”

Your mom looks at you then back at him “Oh her bar how lovely you must be a regular!” 

He nods “I am. I love the food, love the bar”

“How long have you two been dating sis?” Alicia asks now all eyes were on you and God that shit eating grin 

“Since the beginning of this year” you keep it vague  

“Almost a whole year and you don’t tell me?” Alicia fakes offense

“I wanted to make sure it was serious you know” you blush looking away

“Girls go help your sister” your dad commands

“Yes sir” they both say in unison 

All the thoughts were running through your head this couldn’t be happening 

“He’s cute” Gia whispers to you as she walks by 

You smile “what did you guys bring” hoping to change the subject you could feel a nasty tension headache brewing 

“You know mom she made potato salad, dad brought ribs for the grill” you nodded “no seriously why didn’t you tell me? Did he know you were missing too?”

You nod “he did and i got a tongue lashing from him too”

“So what's up with that tattoo? I wouldn't picture you to be a businessman if I am being honest” You hear your dad ask 

You freeze 

Rio clears his throat “I got it when i was young, being dumb in the head you know” 

Your dad nods “ever thought of removing it?”

“I have” he glances at you, they have already established what he does for a living? How long did it take you to get dressed? 

Alicia and Gia laugh “this is why i wanted to wait till christmas i would have forced him to wear a turtle neck” you comment

“Its harmless you know how dad is he just wants to show that he is the boss around here” 

You roll your eyes “yea” 

“Is that his G Wagon outside?”

“Yea that is”

Gia whispers “Wow! cha-ching!!” 

Throughout the day you and Rio come up with lies on the spot, sometimes having to step in and support each other in selling the lies. As the day continues it turns to night your adrenaline remains high because at any moment Rio could decide to reveal the truth and you were waiting for that to happen expecting the worst out of him. During dinner he sits by you draping an arm over your shoulder,  at first it shocked you but you played into his hands being cold. 

“You know when Y/N wanted to come here we were so worried about how she was gonna make things work Detroit doesn’t have the best economy but we know that the city is fighting to keep things alive.” your mom comments 

“Yea we thought she should have opened up a fine dining restaurant, that's what she always wanted after graduating college,  she’s good at what she does has she cooked for you” your dad pauses briefly  “I’m sure she has”

“Yea she has talent” 

Your dad continues “We were a little disappointed that she chose the bar route but things seem to be doing well business is always booming” 

You smile 

“Actually she’s thinking of expanding, right mama?” 

You look at Rio stunned 

“Oh really?” Alicia comments

Rio smiles at the group and pulls you in closer “Yea I didn’t know that fine dining was dream of yours mama you can make the second space that and I can help you”

“Oh that sounds wonderful Christopher!” Your mom celebrates loving that you had the support of your very successful boyfriend

“Y/N is that true?” your dad asks noticing the unease in your body 

“Uh yeah! But it's just a thought I’m not sure about logistics managing a bar and restaurant just thinking about it. I was just gonna make another bar but I think I can look into making it a restaurant” 

“With a good team anything is possible!” your dad encourages 

Lifting his glass for a toast Rio adds “Amen to that!”  

“Honey I hope you don’t mind it's late we’ll spend the night then you leave tomorrow is that okay?” your mom asks 

“Oh yea thats fine plenty of room the guest bedrooms are ready for you guys and there’s spare clothes for you guys to wear as well.”

“Great well it’s late I'm sure we are all tired we have caught up on everything met your lovely boyfriend now it's time to sleep”  

You smile at your mother “yea I’ll grab some towels and your clothes for you guys” 

“Dear we should invite him to our Christmas party” your dad comments standing up and going to grab a glass of water from the kitchen 

“Oh right! Y/N You mentioned bringing him around christmas did that include the party?”

“Ohh uh I was just gonna bring him a few days prior so he could be with his son on Christmas” 

“Oh that's right, Mark? Marcus! sorry tired and I’m old” your mother jokes 

“Yes Marcus” he smiles “I can figure something out mama don’t worry about it” 

“Oh are you sure? We don’t want to ruin the tradition you have with your son” Alicia adds 

He smiles at the group “I’m sure” 

There's a comfortable silence before Rio stands up. “Well it was so nice meeting you all its getting late tomorrows a working day” 

Ironically Rio goes around the room giving hugs and saying his goodbye

“I’m gonna walk him to the car” you say as you follow him out the door 

“FUCK!” You exclaim silently  when you two are far from earshot and close to his car 

You hear Rio chuckle

“This is not funny Rio, why did you show up today?” 

“Told you i was in the neighborhood mama” 

“Fuck fuck fuck fuck!”

He opens the door and stands in the space “Alright well goodbye” you couldn’t think of anything else to say your brain was exhausted from coming up with lies 

In a high pitched tone “Our little butterfly just wanted to fly and leave us in Ohio” he repeats the story your mother 

You groan “Shut up”

He smirks looking at you opening his arms “Give me a hug”

You take a step back offended “Why?” 

“Well darling we got an audience so unless you want to go in there and say everything they’ve heard from this morning till” he looks down “11:21PM was a lie I suggest you give me a hug"

You look back and see curtains moving indicating that they were indeed spying on you “Fuck me”

He chuckles and pulls you in by the waist. “It's just a hug I don’t bite”

Your heart races, as you wrap your arms around him, he rocks you both from side to side it makes you hold on tighter to keep your balance. He pulls away slowly “I’ll keep in touch yea?” He whispers close to your ear before leaving a light kiss on your cheek 

You nod “Yea” you take  a step back. You stand back and watch as he pulls away waving one last time when you turn your mother, Alicia, and Gia are all standing by the door

“AWWWW” they say in unison 

“Don’t!”  You scold them as you walk back in

“Your father is in the shower come on we need to have girl talk before im summoned to bed too” 

“Ouch!” You complain feeling the sting of the pinch your mother left “I am your mother why didn’t you tell me you're dating someone?!”

“Yea seriously Y/N” Gia adds

You look up, exhausted from all the questions “You guys I  told you I wanted to make sure it was a serious thing!” you stress 

“He is different from the guys you dated” your mother comments most of the men you dated resembled finance bros 

“I know but change is good, right?” you ask

“Your grandmother will flip over that neck tattoo” she adds 

You groan “I know thats why I was only going to bring him the week before Christmas” 

“Noo he’s so lovely she’ll get over it” Gia comments her fiance had to go through the same thing 

“He treats you right?” Alicia asks 

“Yes” you smile to sell the lie 

“Whats that face” Gia asks knowing you all too well 

“I mean it's a relationship there's always ups and down but yes he does” 

“Okay good!”  

“Does he have a brother?” Alicia asks 

“A cousin but he’s married” 

“Have you met his son” 

You think back to the one occurrence at the park and smile “Yes he’s a cute boy” 

“Nice!” 

“I hope he can make it for Christmas!” Alicia comments 

“Yea so all the aunts can shut up finally” your mother adds 

You all laugh before you hear your dad summoning your mother to bed

She rolls her eyes “gotta go”

Tuesday November 19, 2019 

“So what you wanna talk to me about?” He asks responding in person to your we need to talk text

“Why is my cut short?" You ask standing by your car in the parking lot of your bar

“You keep lying to me I’m gonna start taking cuts till you tell me the truth”

You look at him incredulously “What are you talking about?”

He chuckles “Nah, I’m not playing these games with you Y/N” 

You swallow uncomfortably, it had been a few months since doing business with Alejandro. You should have known it would be too good to be true that Rio had yet to find out. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about”

He nods looking around and in the blink of an eye you feel the back of your neck being grabbed and a gun pointed directly under your chin. There's an immediate sting of pain to the back of your neck your attempts to loosen his grip failed. “I told you for this to work you have to be honest with me hmm?” he speaks with gritted teeth

You look up at him eyes wide not knowing what to say, shocked from how quick his mood changed “I thought I was showing good faith, I’m playing fake house with you while you fuck me over and do business with my enemy?” You say nothing still and feel the grip tighten on your neck you instinctively go to grab it “You better start talking Y/N”

“He thre..” before you can finish you both hear a branch creaking to the woods on the side of you. You both look to the sound and see Alejandro along with his goons stepping out guns aimed at both of you. Immediately Rio lets go of you and aims the guns at them

“Cristobal amigo, it doesn’t have to be like this”

Rio scoffs “You really wanna do this?”

“Carino come” he says with an extended hand

You look to Rio then Alejandro “I don’t want this to happen there's plenty of bars you guys don’t have to do this” you plead with both men

“For the best the Guerrero family is willing to go to war”

Rio laughs “You want a war?”

“We want what is ours”

“That aint Detroit”

“Quien dijo eso (who said that?) we will take what we want” 

Rio nods “remember I gave you a warning” 

He turns to you and leans down and whispers in your ear “goodluck” you feel a chill going down your spine. 

Saturday December 7, 2019 

“Good morning Detroit on this lovely Saturday! We at Channel 4 news hope you are all enjoying your Saturday morning getting some coffee, maybe bagels, eggs, bacon, maybe even a nice cup of OJ right Sharon?” 

“Absolutely Zack I’m enjoying my coffee that's for sure.” 

“Alright! At the top of the news City Counsel.....”  You phase out till you hear 

“Body parts have been found in Lake Superior, authorities say that local fishermen in the town of Ontonagon pulled up what they suspected to be a fish but instead it was the hand of a deceased person. The local fishermen alerted the authorities who responded swiftly. We have our news anchor  Ashley on scene now. Ashley to you” 

“Thank you Zack! Investigators have launched a search of the lake here in Ontonagon. As you mentioned, local authorities have indeed responded swiftly, you see police cars right behind me. What you don’t see is that cadaver dogs have also been around sniffing to see if foul play took place close to the lake. From what I was able to get from the local police, this body part of the deceased appears to be a white male. The local police also confirmed that they searched the missing person reports for the surrounding areas with no success, at this moment authorities do not know who the deceased is but are committed to finding answers. The investigation continues and we hope to find answers for the deceased and their family. Back to you Zack!

“Such sad news to deliver on a Saturday morning, we at Channel 4 will keep the family of the deceased until answers have been provided.” 

“Police reported a shooting on the block of........”

Your heartbeat increases ever since that confrontation with Rio and Alejandro things had changed and you can’t decide if it was for the better or for the worst. As of now all business with Rio ended effective immediately after that night.

Wednesday December 18, 2018

You run up the steps as fast as you can when you find his loft you bang on the door. No answer. You bang on it again. No answer. 

“He’s not here moved out a couple weeks ago” You hear from behind you

“I’m sorry what?” you turn to face the older lady

“He moved out sweety, he’s not in there, no one is. Is everything okay honey?” She asks noticing you’re distressed 

“Its fine thanks” you didn’t want anyone calling the police on your behalf

Wednesday December 25, 2019

“You okay honey?” Your mother asks

“Huh?” you snap to look at her

“I said it’s a shame you and Christopher broke up”

You give a half smile “Oh yea, it is” 

“You okay? You’re jumpy all of a sudden, did something happen?”

You sigh “no just stress”

“Well come here” She opens up her arms  “a good nap will do you good” 

You smile and accept her cuddles.

Authors Note: Please leave your feedback, again please don't steal. Only repost, like, or give credit.

XOXO Rose

Taglist:

@katymae12344, @yinmaggiorebass , @flirtyjen, @wnbweasley, @meadows5, @belezaya, @ffenthusiastt, @rio-reid-whoreee

[tacoteddy22]

A Word with Friends: Davrin week edition (But its actually an EmmRook WIP)

Thanks so much for the tag @davrinsleftpectoral!!!!

This week's word is susurration

Noun

the indistinct sound of people whispering

whispering, murmuring, or rustling. “The susurration of the river.”

In modern usage, we use the word to name a gentle sound characterized by a soft murmuring, persistent whispering, rustling, or even a barely audible buzzing.

Sorry this isn't Davrin related, but the word fit perfectly with a WIP I have going. This is a mondern uni AU with Emmrich and my OC Rook, Remy Ingellvar. She is the LOML and will soon be the same for our dear necromancer.

Tags: Probably late to this party (oops!): @sofiemystique @holdingontojupiter @junejems

“Professor Volkarin! Come! Meet our new teacher!” Myrna waved him over and he sidled up to the group gracefully. The blue eyes of the red-haired woman squinted at him as they had done before, but this time without the excuse of the sun in her eyes. It was this moment Emmrich realized he may have made an error in his assumptions about her.

“Emmrich, this is Professor Ingellvar. She has joined us this year to teach the freshman the proper Watcher rituals as well as their significance and importance,” Myrna gestured to the woman who was most certainly not a student despite her young appearance. To her credit and his surprise, she extended her hand in a greeting.

“Remy Ingellvar, but everyone calls me Rook, thanks to this guy.” Emmrich shook her hand beginning to feel that familiar pit of embarrassment in his stomach.

She pointed her thumb at the dwarf, and he gave a sheepish wave. “Varric Tethras. Former Viscount of Kirkwall and Rook’s mentor.”

“Ok, well mentor is a strong word.” Rook rolled her eyes as another wave of embarrassment hit Emmrich as he recognized both of their names. He cleared his throat and gathered his manners as he shook Varric’s hand and introduced himself.

“Lovely to meet you both! I’m vaguely familiar with both of your histories, I am professor Emmrich Volkarin. And I do apologize for my earlier assumption. I hope you won’t hold it against me?” He queried apologetically to Rook.

Rook waved a hand in dismissal. “Maker, no! It’s no bother. All you did was mistake me for younger than I am. How could I complain about that?”

Emmrich smiled appreciatively at her and turned back to Varric, “And will you be joining us this semester as well?”

“No no, I’ve got to get back to my duties. I just wanted to make sure the kid got all settled in here.” Varric bumped her shoulder with his and looked up proudly at her.

“Thank you, Varric, you’ve done more than enough. I owe you lots of treats from Orlais for all your help.” Rook bent down to give him a hug, and the dwarf hugged her back tightly. He reached up and patted her cheek and waved his goodbyes before leaving. Emmrich was glad for the momentary reprieve of attention on him, and he took a deep breath trying to will his lingering embarrassment away.

“Well since you two have met, I guess I won’t have to find someone to show Ms. Ingellvar around. You wouldn’t mind, would you, Emmrich?” Myrna inquired and Emmrich nearly sputtered out a denial because the last thing he wanted was to continue to bother this poor woman with his idiocy. But he was very curious about Rook’s history and his curiosity stepped in before his shame did.

“I’d be delighted to show you around, Rook. Perhaps in the next day or so once we have had a moment to settle in.” The offer was sincere and Emmrich surprised himself with how quickly he turned from horror to anticipation.

Myrna clapped her hands together excitedly, “Wonderful! Professors, as always, please let me know if you need anything.” She turned on her heel and walked away leaving the two educators alone. Awkward silence followed.

“I really am sorr-“

“So, I’ll let you kn-“

They both spoke at the same time and stopped, laughing awkwardly. She peered up at him with those big ocean eyes and he forgot everything for a split second leaving another silence.

“Why don’t I stop by your office later and we can coordinate the tour. This is my Alma mater, but I’d love to get the staff tour from an…experienced professor.” One corner of her mouth hiked up into a smirk and Emmrich’s mind went blank once more. He managed to say “That would be lovely.” before her smirk turned to a full smile and she walked back to her office - two doors down from his - leaving him in the hallway alone.

His watch beeped an alarm at him, and he scurried to his office to grab his bag. He walked to his first class of students recalling his morning and the embarrassment he felt. Oh, he should have known really. Seeing her up close she was easily at least a few years older than the graduating students - still seemingly far too young to be another professor here. She seemed like she brushed off his error and he was looking forward to meeting her later to arrange for a tour.

He rounded the corner and entered his classroom surveilling the group of students and listening to their susurrations. The room quieted slowly as the students realized their professor had walked in. He loved this day to no end and couldn’t wait to mold these young minds the way his had been shaped so long ago. He clapped his hands together excitedly as he introduced himself.

“Good morning, students! I am Professor Emmrich Volkarin. Welcome to Corpse Whispering 101!”

[boyliker55]

shiguang drabble, s2 spoilers, set after end of s2, gay boys being gay, no beta just vibes (now the names should be correct. just lmk :3)

___

He hears rustling from the bed above him. A little out of place– Lu Guang falls asleep way before Cheng Xiaoshi, and barely moves. He’s a good bunkmate.

But tonight, it’s almost as if he’s making up for all of Cheng Xiaoshi’s peaceful nights of sleep by turning and readjusting and sliding down the ladder of their bunk.  

Maybe water, a midnight snack. Cheng Xiaoshi needs to go to sleep. 

But he feels a slight nudge to his back. So little that it would’ve done nothing to his sleeping form. So he waits, wondering if Lu Guang had just bumped into him. Maybe he wanted to see what would happen. 

He nudges again, saying his name. It’s really weird how Lu always says his name. Strangely soft and gentle, even in the most dire of situations, like he’s cradling a new mug he’s scared to break.

He hums in response.

“Can I sleep here tonight?”

He would make some snarky remark about how he does sleep here— he sleeps here every night, same room. But he knows that’s not what he means. 

“Sure,” he says simply, and scoots over. 

“Cheng Xiaoshi?”

He shifts, careful not to push the other off of the bed. He’s got these eternal bags under his eyes— to which his question has been answered with because I have to deal with you all day. But it’s been worse recently. Every time he looks at Cheng Xiaoshi since their last mission, he looks like he’s about to cry. 

“Yeah, Lu?” He’s got these grey eyes— everyone says they look soulless, Cheng Xiaoshi thinks they’re dreamy, to say the least. 

“What were you gonna say? When Li Tianchen asked what you would do to save me?”

“Why do you ask?” He deflects. 

“Is it so crazy that I want to know?”

“Well— it’s kind of obvious—“

Because I love you is on the verge of falling from Cheng Xiaoshi’s lips. Scarily close. And Lu Guang knows it— Lu Guang knows everything. He stares, and he’s waiting.

“Is it?”

“You seem awfully persistent,” he remarks, deflecting again. His body tenses up in fear of accidentally touching Lu Guang. They’re close, and he’s backed against the wall. Literally. 

“Please.” It’s not even much of an actual word, more of a sigh, a plea characterized only by the pop of his lips and the whistle of the s. He reaches for Cheng Xiaoshi’s hand, only a small touch of their fingers. A contrast from their usual clap. 

“I don’t wanna scare you,” Cheng Xiaoshi says, honest for the first time. 

“I already know you’d save me. What’s so scary?”

Because I love you. I love you. I love you.

Cheng Xiaoshi takes hold of Lu Guang’s fingers, threading them together. He’s always got cold hands, so he brings them to his lips. Not even to kiss, as much as he wants to. Just to feel his own breath against Lu Guang’s hands.

“Is it such a surprise that I’d do anything?” He admits, staring at Lu Guang’s hands. They’re stupidly soft. 

“No. Just seems like a lot.”

When am I not? “Told you it would scare you.”

Lu Guang presses on. “Why?”

“You like asking that—“

“Xiaoshi.”

The usage of his given name brings the confession out of his mouth like a fish latched onto a hook. “Because I’m in love with you. Something crazy like that.” He smiles when he says it, because even in a moment of fear he can’t stop the boyish grin that slides across his lips. 

Lu Guang squeezes his hand, brushes the hair back from his face. “Was that really so hard?” Cheng Xiaoshi can hear the smile in his voice. 

He looks up, finally. He doesn’t want to miss the quirk of his lips that he trusts more than a god. “Uh— yeah, when you look at me like that.”

Lu Guang leans in closer, and Cheng Xiaoshi’s face goes red. “Is that why you can't ever focus when we’re on missions?”

His gaze casts back down to their hands, fidgeting with Lu’s fingers. “Something like that.”

“I love you too, by the way. If it wasn’t obvious enough.” He leans up to kiss his forehead, only a whisper of his lips, and Cheng Xiaoshi freezes where he lies. 

“Damn, that all you needed to fluster you?” Lu Guang continues, curling closer. 

“Yeah, yeah, shut up,” the other responds, wrapping an arm around his back.

[ottiliere]

i have to say, it has been a really long time since i have gotten as excited about a story as i have about the grief complex. seeing more of lynn and cam and the dynamic between the two of them made it impossible for me to read the new chapter at work without grinning like an idiot the whole time. ever since i first read part one, they have lived in my brain-- a testament to how well they're both portrayed, so much meaning in each drawing and sentence-- so much economy of characterization!!!! i'm in love with the way you draw facial expressions. so much emotion and subtlety..! i really liked cam's little conversation with the gas station attendant and seeing his more playful, childish side. i'm very interested to see what else will be revealed regarding the cause of the slow deterioration of the people around our two Noble Heroes. i also think the weird gross little animals are very cute and i hope to see more of them. also, while i don't want to be crass, especially about a story that's so-- i guess, delicately written, with such a light and skillful hand in regards to character dynamics, so please forgive me if this is over the line, but i really think that if cam kicked lynn in the stomach and put cigarettes out on him, ect. until he started age regressing or crying or something like that it would be a net positive for their relationship and would lead to healthier communication between the two of them; this is the only reason i want this to happen, of course. i'm already looking forward to the next chapter! thank you both for making beautiful art.

i'm glad people are enjoying the story, hearing this is always especially pleasant. i do not consider myself a "hater" in any capacity but i am chronically dissatisfied with a lot of the contemporary work i run into in my personal circles...my interests are a bit narrow to begin with, too, so it's kind of an issue. we want to make something good.

i think dane has done a reasonably okay job with the story so far and given the amount of compliments we have received on characterization/dialogue/etc., i'm considering reducing his beatings. he'd thank you for that, i'm sure.

cam's behavior in that scene was maybe meant to be a little meaner than playful, though. how often do you talk to people who act like the attendant was acting? there's something sad about it to me, i can never bring myself to make fun of someone to their face the way cam does.

i don't see anything weird or gross about my cute little animals, but thanks! you can expect to see a lot more of them in later chapters. the ones on display in this chapter were sculpted by dane, herbert, and baja, and painted by dane. we have a growing and very diverse catalogue of their little bodies.

while i respect the desire to remain uncrass, bear in mind that sometimes it's best not to tip your hand. i'm not even sure what crassness you're referring to here - plenty of people seem to want to see lynn hurt, for some reason. violence is rarely the answer...i don't think beating or getting beat on would inspire much desire for healthy communication between these two at all! but I'm sure cam would like it, for a little while. glad you're having fun, thanks for letting me know. we plan to keep at it.

[twodiamondhoes]

haii !! would just like you to know i was internally screaming (/pos) when i got an email for the only silver update and i was hooked the whole time –

sobbing at ranchers thinking they have unrequited feelings for each other, but also laughing a bit and punching the air everytime jealous tango made his appearance because YES GO GET YOUR MAN SIR HE LIKES YOU BACK I SWEAR

scar and cleo !! ooooo i remember the intro to goodtime some chapterss back and cheering the moment i read his mom is "wildfire" bc that HAD to be cleo,,, (i was soooo hoping for it to be them as a cleo girlie)

i love how sus the autumn court's vibes are HSJSJSJ very fitting for the characters we currently know living in it. the way the autumn court is described reminds me of depictions of scar & cleo's characters in the life series, both being arsonists capable of being two-faced when it benefits them or when they want chaos. fitting with what we know about the wither situation so far, methinks.

and etho & jimmy. i already adored their dynamic, but seeing them lean on each other now after the appearance of the gods to them makes me love them more and also curious about the lore behind everything

thank you for another amazing and fun chapter !! super excited for the autumn court, and happy timezone :D

~ ree

ps. oh i remember seeing a post of yours about only silver maybe not being complete on its bday i think ? for the record, pretty sure us readers are very willing to wait, since the world and characterizations you've written are vv much worth it !! please don't pressure yourself o7

Hi Ree!! <33 Ahhhh I'm so happy to hear that!! Highkey I was stressed about this update and I'm so surprised and excited by how much everyone seems to be loving it!!

Ahahaha ahhh I LOVE writing pining and the whole cultural differences aspect paired with the political ramifications facilitates pining SO much. It is such a good opportunity for character moments, and these guys are in some very unique circumstances, so I'm having a BLAST getting to write them pining in ways I normally don't get to do! Normal pining is so much fun, but pining while considering (or, in Jimmy's case, NOT considering) the political position that they're in is new, very fun territory for me LOL!!! And getting to write jealous Tango is the icing on the cake for me. LOVE getting to write that man having emotions!! I know there's only so far I can push him before he will decide to go get his man, but I'm going to enjoy writing the jealousy until then!! 🥰

YES!! My babies, I love everything that's going on in the background of the Autumn Court, and I haven't gotten to explore the Clockers dynamic much, so this felt like a perfect opportunity!! Cleo is one of my favorite hermits, and I am so looking forward to getting to write them, even a little bit!! :D

sfjlsdfj they ARE being real sus XD a big part of it is lore-based. They're not just over here being Strange and Offputting for no reason. They're the secondary Transition season, and I'm pulling a LOT from the place they hold in the seasonal cycle. Autumn is a lot of people's favorite season (cough mine cough) and there is going to be representation of that in here, of it being the last hurrah of warmth before looking out into Winter, but it's also the season of decay, and the Autumn Court leans very heavily into that for very specific (lore based) reasons! Without spoiling too much, LOL! but you're spot on about why Scar and Cleo work so well in the Autumn court, they're both very much the types to think of personal gain over most anything else, and the drive for chaos that they can control is also a huge part of their characters!!

:DD Omg thank you!!! Jimmy and Etho quickly became one of my favorite dynamics in this fic. They are both kind of the only people who can possibly understand the sort of pressure each other's under (Etho more than Jimmy, who has his mother and Gem, technically), but I've been LOVING writing their friendship develop! I mentioned up there that there'll be a bit of a lore explanation, and some of that is going to get to go hand in hand with Jimmy and Etho getting closer and connecting over this experience they've had that no one else in known memory has ever even dreamed of. It's going to be very fun and very hard to write because all I want to do is loredump on y'all about the gods and what happened Way Back When XD

Thank YOU for reading!! I couldn't do this without y'all :3 I am so glad you enjoyed and hopefully I'll be able to get y'all an update soon!! Happy timezone~ <333