#famous last words? more like famous last slay

[selfryed]

joining the slay parade...if yall care...tee bee aych... :3

[arthurhillmastermind]

George Clarke replied to your story - Part 3

2,388 words. Green circle. Red Circle. what’s the difference?

—————————————

You stared at his message for a moment longer, your heart thudding in your chest. Burr & Co, Camden. Tomorrow. 11 a.m.

Keeping it simple, you typed out your reply:

“Okay :) I’ll see you there.”

You hit send before you could second-guess yourself, then placed your phone face down on the bed like it might explode.

The typing bubble appeared almost immediately.

“see you then”

You opened and liked his message unsure of what you could reply to that.

Okay,” you muttered to yourself, exhaling deeply. “This is happening. You’re meeting George Clarke tomorrow.”

It wasn’t until a moment later that the weight of it fully hit you. You weren’t just running into him at an event or commenting on a video; you were actually meeting him—on purpose. And, judging by the way this conversation had gone, not in a “fan meets creator” way.

Flipping your phone back over, you sent another voice note to the group chat, the panic creeping into your voice.

“Girls, I replied with a simple ‘Okay, see you there,’ but what the actual hell? Like, I’m really meeting George Clarke tomorrow. What if it’s weird? What do I even say?!”

The chat immediately lit up:

“Step one: breathe. You’re gonna be fine.”

“He clearly wants to meet you, so just let it flow!”

“We’re manifesting good vibes for you. Casual slay, remember?”

One of your friends chimed in with a voice note: “Honestly, just treat it like any other meetup. He’s a person, just like you. Worst-case scenario, it’s a funny story. Best case? Who knows!”

You sighed, shaking your head. They were right—there was no point overthinking it. You’d figure it out tomorrow. For now, all you needed to do was find something to wear, get a decent night’s sleep, and try not to spiral. Easier said than done right?

After sending your reply to George, you decided it was time to pull yourself together. The nerves bubbling in your stomach weren’t going to go away by pacing around your room. You grabbed a towel and headed toward the bathroom.

The warm water of the shower helped clear your head, washing away some of the anxiety as you let yourself think through tomorrow. It wasn’t a big deal—you were just meeting someone for coffee. Someone famous. Someone who… okay, focus.

Once you were out of the shower, you stood in front of your wardrobe, towel wrapped around you, trying to decide on an outfit. You wanted something simple, casual, but still put-together. After flipping through a few options, you settled on a classic look: a well-fitted white t-shirt, black high-waisted jeans, and your white trainers. It was easy, comfortable, and left room for you to dress it up with makeup and curls tomorrow.

Satisfied, you laid everything out neatly, feeling a little more prepared.

To relax, you grabbed a book off your nightstand, curled up on your bed, and let yourself sink into the story. It was a welcome distraction, the kind of quiet moment you needed to calm your thoughts before the big day.

The next morning, you woke up early, surprisingly refreshed. After making yourself a quick breakfast of toast, you hopped back in the shower to wake up fully and try to relax. This time, the nerves were back, but you kept reminding yourself to stay calm. Once out of the shower, you decided to curl your hair gently, adding just enough bounce to frame your face. Next came makeup—simple and natural, with a little extra mascara and a touch of blush to brighten your look. Finally, you slipped into your outfit: the white t-shirt and black jeans fit perfectly, striking that balance between effortlessness and style.

You checked your reflection in the mirror one last time, smoothing the hem of your shirt and running your fingers through your curls. Then you grabbed your phone to check the time: 10:30 a.m.

“Alright,” you muttered to yourself. “Let’s do this.”

You slipped your phone into your bag, double-checked you had everything you needed, and headed out the door. The familiar hum of the city greeted you as you made your way to the tube. The journey to Camden felt surreal, the nerves growing stronger with each passing station.

But as the train pulled closer to your stop, you took a deep breath and reminded yourself—this wasn’t a big deal. As you stepped off the tube and made your way toward Burr & Co, your nerves started to creep back in. The streets of Camden were busy as always, and you let yourself get lost in the rhythm of the city for a moment, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other.

Before reaching the café, you opened the group chat and typed a quick message:

“Heading in now. Do not call me—I’m muting you guys.”

The replies started flooding in almost instantly:

“GOOD LUCK BESTIE.”

“You’ve got this!”

“Don’t forget to update us after!”

You rolled your eyes fondly before silencing the chat and slipping your phone back into your bag.

Not even a minute later, your phone buzzed with a new notification. You pulled it out to see a message from George:

“Hey, I’m about to order. What you having?”

Your heart skipped a beat. He was already there. Of course, he was—it was George Clarke, and you’d half-expected him to be casually late or something.

Quickly, you typed back:

“A flat white, please. Thanks :)”

You picked up your pace, your sneakers scuffing lightly on the pavement as you turned the corner. The café came into view, cozy and bustling with life. Through the window, you spotted George almost immediately. He was sitting at a table near the window, his phone in one hand as he leaned back in his chair. His signature hair was curled a little more than you realised, and he looked… well, exactly like himself, which was somehow more intimidating than you’d expected.

Taking a deep breath, you pushed the door open and stepped inside. You walked over to George’s table, your heart thudding in your chest as you pulled out the chair across from him.

“Hello, George,” you said with a small smile, settling into your seat.

He looked up from his phone, meeting your gaze with a sheepish grin. “Hi,” he said, and then, almost immediately, added, “I really can’t lie—I didn’t think you’d actually show up.”

His tone was unexpectedly deflated, and you tilted your head, confused. “What? Why not?” you asked, giggling slightly to break the tension.

George scratched the back of his neck, looking a little awkward. “I mean… I didn’t think you’d even reply to my message, never mind agree to, uh… a date.”

A date? What?

Your mind reeled, but you kept your face as neutral as possible. Was this a date? When had this turned into a date?

“Uh,” you started, stumbling over your words, “I mean, yeah, I was kind of surprised myself…”

You trailed off, unsure of what else to say. George seemed to notice your hesitation because he leaned forward slightly, a glimmer of nervousness in his eyes.

“But,” you continued, your voice steadying, “you’re… exactly my type.”

Where that came from, you weren’t sure, but it seemed to hit the right note. George’s expression shifted into something between surprise and a small, bashful smile.

“Really?” he asked, leaning back in his chair, his grin growing. “I mean, I’m flattered. I kind of thought that you would think i was just, you know, messing with you.”

“Well, you’re here now,” you said, shrugging lightly. “And I guess I am too, so…”

“Guess we’ll see where this goes,” he finished, his voice lighter now, the awkwardness melting away.

The barista called out your drinks, giving you the perfect excuse to pull back and catch your breath. This was already more intense than you’d planned—but a part of you couldn’t help but enjoy the way the morning was shaping up.

You returned to the table, carefully placing George’s latte in front of him before taking your seat again.

“Thank you for this,” you said with a smile, gesturing to your flat white.

“You’re welcome,” he replied, his own grin easy and genuine. “So, how long have you lived here?”

“I moved to London after uni,” you began, wrapping your hands around the warm cup. “Finished my degree, got a job, and now I work in a corporate office. Honestly, I’m not entirely sure how to describe my job half the time.” You laughed, the sound breaking the slight tension.

George chuckled, raising his eyebrows. “Sounds mysterious. Do you enjoy it, though?”

“Yeah, it’s alright,” you said, nodding slightly. “It pays pretty well compared to my friends who work in similar positions, so I can’t complain, really.”

“Ah, the golden trade-off: money versus passion,” he teased, taking a sip of his latte. “Would you trade it for something you love, or are you one of those secretly passionate-about-spreadsheets people?”

You laughed, shaking your head. “Definitely not passionate about spreadsheets. But, honestly? I think I’m okay with where I am right now. It’s stable, you know? Gives me the chance to focus on other things outside work.”

George leaned back, studying you for a moment with a small smile. “Fair enough. Stability’s underrated, I think.”

You nodded, taking a sip of your drink. The conversation felt natural, easy, and you started to relax a little. Whatever this was turning into, it wasn’t as nerve-wracking as you’d feared.

“I’m saving up to pay two years’ worth of rent for the place I’m currently in,” you told him, setting your cup down. “That way, I’ll have some breathing room to look into other options. And I’ve started writing a little bit more, too.”

George’s eyebrows lifted in interest. “You’re a writer?”

You nodded. “Kind of. I tried it at uni and really enjoyed it, but my degree was more business-based, so I never really got the chance to explore it properly.”

“That’s cool,” he said, leaning back slightly and running a hand through his hair. “What do you write?”

“Mostly just little personal things for now. Nothing serious. It’s more of a creative outlet than anything,” you admitted with a small laugh.

“That’s still really cool,” he replied, his expression warm. “It’s good to have something like that outside of work.”

You smiled, but quickly redirected the conversation, feeling like you’d been talking about yourself too much. “Sorry, I’m rambling about me again. What about you? Got anything exciting happening at the minute?”

George shrugged, his lips curving into a half-smile. “Not much, really. Same old stuff—filming, editing, trying to stay on top of things. I’m working on a couple of new video ideas, though, which I’m pretty excited about.”

“Any spoilers?” you teased, tilting your head.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “Nice try. But no, you’ll just have to wait and see like everyone else.”

“Fair enough,” you replied, sipping your coffee. “Guess I’ll have to keep an eye on your channel then.”

“Guess you will,” he said, his grin widening. There was something playful in his tone, but the way he looked at you felt a little more sincere.

The conversation flowed easily, touching on everything from favorite video games to football teams and even dream trips abroad. You found yourself laughing more than you expected, surprised by how much you had in common with George. Despite the initial nerves, it felt like talking to an old friend.

George leaned back in his chair, finishing the last sip of his latte. “You know,” he said, glancing out the café window, “it’s such a nice day. Want to take a walk instead of sitting here?”

You blinked, caught slightly off guard by the suggestion but not opposed to it. “Yeah, sure,” you said with a smile. “Why not?”

“Perfect,” he replied, standing up and grabbing his beanie off the table. He held the door open for you as you both stepped out onto the busy streets of Camden, the city buzzing with life around you.

The crisp air was refreshing, and as you walked alongside him, the conversation picked back up effortlessly. The café had been a nice starting point, but walking together felt more relaxed, like you were slipping into a rhythm that just worked. Walking side by side through the lively streets of Camden, the conversation ebbed and flowed naturally. There was an ease to it that felt almost surreal, but one question kept circling in your mind.

You couldn’t help but wonder: Why had he even viewed your story in the first place?

Feeling a rare surge of boldness, you decided to ask.

“George, can I ask you something?”

“Of course,” he replied, his lips curling into a smile as he glanced at you. “What’s up?”

You hesitated for a second, then just went for it. “How come you viewed my story?”

He let out a small laugh, looking slightly caught off guard. “Erm, well…” He ran a hand through his hair, the faintest hint of pink coloring his cheeks. “I’d seen your profile a few times, and then I noticed I was on your close friends list. I was with Chris and Arthur at the time, so I asked if they were on your close friends too.”

You raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “And were they?”

He grinned. “Nope. Just me.”

“Interesting,” you said, trying to suppress a smile.

“And then,” he continued, his tone a bit lighter now, “I watched your story… and, well, I had to reply.”

You laughed softly, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks. “You really couldn’t resist, huh?”

“Not when it said, ‘this one’s for you.’” He smirked, glancing at you sideways. “I mean, what was I supposed to think?”

You rolled your eyes playfully but couldn’t hide your amusement. “I didn’t even realise you were still on my close friends. It wasn’t actually for you, you know.”

“Sure, sure,” he teased, his grin widening. “But it worked out, didn’t it?”

You shook your head, laughing as you walked on. Despite his cheeky tone, you couldn’t deny he was right. It had worked out.

——————————————————————————

a/n - i’m loving writing this i can’t lie! i could end it here but…. there is a part 4.

tagged: @authortelevision @pretendyoucantseeme

@lovelynikol7

[roguesend]

Davrin and Assan were foretold

If you’ve paid any attention to Thedas lore, you will at least have heard the mention of Garahel, hero of the Battle of Ayesleigh that put an end to the Fourth Blight, canonically said to be the most famous Warden in history prior to the Hero of Ferelden.

The name “Garahel” stands for much of what the Grey Warden Order values most and would prefer to be known for: Pride. Honor. Selflessness. Warden Garahel was a notable elven hero whom even humans must revere for his bravery and sacrifice as slayer of the Archdemon Andoral. �� The Warden’s legendary charm, intelligence, and keen political sense drew countless allies to battle against the darkspawn hordes of the Fourth Blight, a fight that lasted well over a decade. In addition to recruiting Wardens from the Anderfels and Orlais, Garahel negotiated the support of Free Marcher royalty, creating a united army that finally broke the infamous siege of Hossberg, setting into motion the end of the Blight. War and circumstance shaped the young elf into a canny commander. He was very aware that Blights are not defeated by a single hero. He once noted to his sister Isseya that “heroism is just another word for horror.”   Less well documented is the person behind the legend: the golden-haired elf, whose green eyes twinkled as he shared a story, told a joke, or flirted shamelessly. It is written that people from all walks were drawn to Garahel, as his manner and wit drove life’s unpleasantness from their minds and allowed them to think of a better tomorrow.   As a Warden recruit in the Fourth Blight’s early years, Garahel made his first griffon flight in 5:12 Exalted on a beast he’d only just met and would dub Crookytail. The odd griffon was not solid gray like most of his brethren. Crookytail’s feathers were tinted with dusky brown; white patches decorated his chest and belly. One of his ears flopped forward, and he had a distinctive, bushy tail with a prominent kink in it—giving him his name. Nevertheless, Crookytail’s strength, speed, and exceptional ability to find advantageous cracks in darkspawn formations made the beast and his rider one of the Grey Wardens’ best battle teams.   From their first flight, made to rescue the nobles of Antiva City from the pressing darkspawn hordes, to their final battle at Ayesleigh in 5:24 Exalted, where they sacrificed all to slay Andoral, Garahel and Crookytail were said to be inseparable. – The World of Thedas Volume 2, 2015

Does any of this remind you of someone? There is no doubt Davrin and Assan are meant to mirror Garahel and Crookytail.

Davrin stands for pride, honor and selflessness. He is a notable elven hero revered for his bravery and sacrifice, especially if he is chosen to lead the second team in act 3. He is charming, intelligent and sets into motion the end of the Blight by fighting in Hossberg (Wetlands). War and circumstance shapes him into a leader. He is aware that Blights are not defeated by a single hero. We’re all going on about how attractive and witty he is. He goes to battle alongside a griffon he has only just met, and said griffon is more brown than gray or white, with one floppy ear and a bushy tail. Together they make one of the Grey Wardens’ best battle teams, and from their first battle to their last, they’re inseparable.

Garahel had a sister by the name of Isseya, and it’s exactly the Isseya you think it is.

Even during the Fourth Blight, few knew the name of Garahel’s younger sister, Isseya. While her brother was outgoing, charming, and prone to heroism, Isseya was more modest and enjoyed studying and building her formidable magical skills. Her focus and determined nature, however, made her arguably as important to ending the Blight as her brother. He landed the killing blow upon the Archdemon; she helped ensure the survival of those most affected by the horrors of the age after Andoral’s defeat.   One of Isseya’s most important achievements was enchanting makeshift aravels: wagons, boats, any conveyance large enough to fit a number of people. These were fastened together, held above the ground by her skillful magic, and pulled by teams of griffons. Isseya conceived of and executed the first of many journeys using the aravels to move citizens of Wycome out of the Blight’s path and safely to Starkhaven.   Isseya’s other major impact on Thedas reached beyond the Blight and was both a blessing and a curse. As the desperate times called for equally serious measures, she turned to her fellow mage Calien to learn the basics of blood magic to fight the darkspawn. In trying to save a griffon that had been tainted by a darkspawn bite, she used a process similar to a Grey Warden Joining and inadvertently started a chain of events that led to the extinction of all griffons in Thedas.   However, it is rumored that, shortly before she left on her own Calling, Isseya found a way to preserve a clutch of griffon eggs, protected with a complex weave of magical guards. It is written that she hoped a like-minded mage could recover the eggs and perhaps find a way for the mighty griffons to again soar through the skies of Thedas. – The World of Thedas Volume 2, 2015

Not only were Davrin and Assan foretold, the entire Grey Warden storyline was. BioWare planted that seed almost ten years ago as something to potentially return to in the future, and they deliberately tied it into Veilguard.

[raquellemonsta]

Hi girl! Me again!

Still can’t stop thinking abt that amazing tobio fic that u did which I requested, I NEEDD a part two or like a timeskip where they’re datinggg. I’m dying to know what their dating life is like when their pre-dating time is already as hot and fiery as u wrote it!! <3 along w the media n stuff like they’re obv they’re gn be so slay n espesh u write it so i alr know I’m gn love it sm!! So looking forward to it <33

golden (timeskip!kageyama x model!reader)

here it is! I love these two so much. I'm sorry this took so long, oops. disclaimer: you'll have to suspend your disbelief, I know in the manga he technically was 19 when he went to the Olympics but he's aged up here so that both of your career paths make sense. I am very sorry if that takes you out of the story at all </3 I hope you love it anyway!

wc: 2015 words

(part 1)

your relationship with kageyama tobio is nothing short of a dream. everyone can tell just how in love with him you are, and he's just as whipped for you. the two of you are meant for each other.

it's what all the tabloids, your closest friends, and even your parents say to you every-time you see them.

you can't agree more; he's the perfect man for you. tobio is able to understand the weight of being in the spotlight, millions of eyes on you, and he keeps you grounded. he's been your date to every social event, awards show, concert, sporting event, you name it. at the same time, you both are always there for one another, even with no cameras around. tobio's your safe space away from all of the pressures of being famous (and just being human, too). he's anything but a pr relationship, that's for sure.

which is why you're so excited, today of all days especially.

your boyfriend is competing in the 2016 summer olympic games, one of the most impressive feats an athlete can accomplish.

even if tobio can be quiet, not bothering to talk about what it is he's thinking about most of the time, you know that this has been a dream of his since he was a little boy. it's quite literally the farthest he can go in the sport he's loved forever, and he gets to do it with his close friends by his side, too.

your heart swells with pride just thinking about it. you're so happy he has this opportunity.

the unfortunate consequence of it, though, is that you haven't seen him in two weeks. well, that's slightly dramatic. he's able to text you occasionally, but nothings the same as waking up in his arms. other than games, of course, he's restricted to practice and the olympic village.

the only times you've really seen him in-person are watching his games, where you have a limited time afterwards to hug him before he's whisked away from you to start the same cycle over again.

it's been very lonely without him. your friend even sent you a twitter post someone had made about how sad you looked and how 'no one ever sees [you] without [your] boyfriend usually'. you kind of laughed at that, both at the ridiculous picture taken of you and at the fact that the caption might be true.

you miss him so much.

that's why you're both excited and nervous that today is the very last possible match: olympic finals.

entering the (at this point) familiar arena, you make your way to the side designated for japan. your seat is pretty close to the front, but still high enough so that you can see all of the court. that part is important, since your tobio rarely stays in one spot when he's out there.

you pull out your phone, shooting a text to your friend and then one to tobio, despite the fact that he definitely won't see it until after the game. you're pulled out of your focus by a man with a microphone held to your face.

"miss japan! miss (l/n), are you excited to be here today?" he looks at you excitedly, camera aimed at your face.

you can never seem to escape the 'reporters' from random news sites, especially here. it's not too surprising that they want to know your reaction to your boyfriend being in the finals. you don't want to seem rude, though, so once you recover from the shock of being interrupted, you respond calmly.

"of course i am. i'm lucky to have someone i know and love playing, too." you smile at the camera, waving to anyone who will end up watching this (which is always more people than you think). you can practically hear gushiken-san talking about what a great client he has. 'so humble!'

"yes, kageyama tobio. his performance has been amazing these past few games." he looks at you, expectantly.

"i think his performance is always amazing, but i'm also biased," you joke.

the man smiles at you, the two of you going back and forth for a few more questions, mainly about you and your most recent projects (shouldn't they be focused on the event you're at?), along with digging for any possible hints on where you'll be modeling next.

finally, he thanks you for your time and you're left alone. your attention then shifts to the court, where brazil has gone out to warm up.

your heartbeat picks up its pace, nervous and excited simultaneously.

it's almost time.

when the japanese team walks out, your eyes immediately fall onto number 20. even his warmup is flawless. you barely register the time passing, gaze locked on tobio like he's the only man on earth.

the whistle, signifying the end of warmups and for the teams to lineup, brings you back to reality. this is really happening. this is what he's worked so hard for.

this is his destiny.

————

finals. olympic finals. a game away from total victory, or bitter defeat.

his heart has been pounding for the entirety of the last set. tobio has always been able to keep his cool during matches, but something about the pressure of the biggest match in the entire world has managed to creep into his head. it even cost the team a point earlier. a foot fault has rarely ever happened to him before, yet here of all games it would. tobio knows he has to put that behind him, though, especially with the score now.

28-27. match point. and he's up to serve.

slowly moving back behind the line, a chill goes down his spine. the arena feels dead silent, despite the sheer number of spectators. he closes his eyes, pushing out a final exhale as his ears barely register the whistle.

this is it.

his entire life has led up to this exact moment. his serve undoubtedly making or breaking the game, and his reputation. it feels as though the weight of the world is on his shoulders, crushing him and depriving his lungs of air. like sinking deep underwater, he's nearly swallowed whole.

a saving grace is waiting for him, in the form of you. he pictures your beautiful face, smiling up at him like he's the only man in the entire world. like he's invincible.

tobio knows you're watching him right now. what are you thinking? about that missed serve earlier, and how lame he is? no. that thought is quickly swiped away. he thinks of how you'll run up to him as soon as the game is over, win or lose, take him in your arms and kiss him like no one is watching. he can't wait.

with complete precision, he tosses the ball up, going through his footwork as if in slow motion. he's done this a million times before, and yet this is different.

at the apex of his jump, he meets the ball. he swears he can see you now, hands over your mouth, gripping tightly in anticipation. he's sure he's never slammed the ball harder.

the ball drills into the back left corner, shanked by brazil's opposite.

the arena immediately becomes deafening, shouts and cheers erupting from every single side of kageyama as he barely registers that he ended the olympics on an ace. his teammates are crowding him, excited (especially bokuto), and yet all he can think of is you.

the next several minutes are spent awarding the medals, kageyama standing with his team on the first place podium. despite this being one of the greatest moments of his life, his face lacks a visible smile. he's glancing around the arena, searching throughout the crowd.

a tap on his shoulder finally pulls him out of it, though he turns around to be met with the girl he was looking for, you.

his eyes widen for a split second before you basically throw yourself onto him, hugging him so tightly that you can feel the cold medal through your shirt. tobio's arms quickly wrap around you, and even despite the sweat you move closer to him.

"i'm so proud of you." you smile brightly, amazed by this man that you're lucky enough to call your boyfriend. your hands have found their way to his cheeks, thumbs at the edge of his lips.

kageyama's never been big on pda, but he just won an olympic gold medal and has the prettiest girl in the world by his side. he can let a kiss with you slide, especially when you're looking at him like that.

you drown out the cheers and ignore the flashing of several cameras, lost in your love for tobio. it's only you and your lover, locked in a kiss full of emotion and yet simply enough to convey your feelings.

when the two of you pull away, it's like you suddenly remember just where you are, and you feel slightly shy (which is shocking, for you). tobio, on the other hand, is smiling down at you. really smiling, the smile that he told you people always thought was 'creepy', but you loved because you know it's genuine.

unfortunately, the two of you are pulled out of your moment together.

"kageyama, that was absolutely amazing! how are you feeling after such an amazing moment?!" a reporter rapidly speaks, trying to be heard over the loud environment. unlike the one interviewing you earlier, this woman appears to be from a more official american news station, trying to get an interview from the man who won japan the game.

tobio looks between her and the camera, confused, before he leans into the microphone.

"i love my girlfriend," comes his very choppy english. you can't stop yourself from smiling brightly, the camera turning to focus on you behind him.

he pulls you away after that, and you shoot the reporter and cameraman an apologetic look before following after him eagerly.

"thank you, hon." you joke, commenting on his earlier answer to the woman.

he looks to you. "it's true."

you lean up to kiss him again, hands tenderly holding his shoulders.

"i know. you're so sweet to me… can i wear your medal for a sec?" you eye the big circle of gold.

kageyama can only roll his eyes at your quick shift, though he still ends up taking the medal off and over his head, placing it on you like you've just created all of the stars in the sky.

—————

"tobio, what flavor should we get? i'm stuck between strawberry shortcake and fudge brownie." you stare through the glass case at the grocery store, pondering about the endless assortment of ice cream.

in the reflection, you can see your boyfriend aimlessly looking around the aisle, before his eyes catch onto your figure. you catch his lips turn up so subtly that you'd have never noticed it if he wasn't the love of your life.

he ponders your statement for a second, before coming up next to you and opening the case, grabbing both of the cartons you listed. you look up at him, confused.

"why not both?" he turns back to you, small smile still present.

you smile brightly at him, entranced. he's so perfect.

"i love you, tobio."

"i love you, (y/n)."

you let yourself fall into his side (the arm where he's not holding the ice cream, of course), wrapping your arm around his back as he does the same to you.

on your way to the self-checkout, you snatch one of the magazines on the edge of an aisle, plastered with a photo of you and tobio after his medal was awarded. you skim the bubble in the bottom right corner, one questioning any talk of marriage between the two of you.

you jokingly point to the bubble, showing it to your boyfriend.

"what do you have to say to this, hm?"

tobio eyes it, quickly reading before he smiles at you and kisses your head. he turns away to pay for the ice cream, ignoring your question.

"hey!"

"patience…"

[alonetimelover]

M A S T E R L I S T

hello!

welcome to my full masterlist. i hope you'll find something just right for yourself, and maybe you'd like to stay for more.

have a nice time reading,

mila xx

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Over the years YN did several photoshoots of Andrew for different magazines. When the pandemic began fans started to speculate. Finally, Andrew spills the tea during the '10 essentials' video and let people inside his life - very changed life.

♡ BRIT awards - slavic!reader ~7,2k words

After years of being together, six months of being engaged - YN and Harry are letting people know they're in love - it just happens to be BRITs 2023 award show.

♡ Easter Monday - slavic(polish)!reader ~1,3k words

Harry and YN spent their first Easter together. He wants to surprise YN with celebrating it the way she does in Poland - but Harry gets his knowledge from the internet, not the best source.

♡ Warsaw show - social media + blurb - slavic(polish)!reader

Harry plays one of the most important shows during the European leg of HSLOT - show where YN's granny is in the audience.

♡ to feel fulfilled - polish!reader ~ 3,6k words

During the day of the last Love on Tour show Harry intends to do three things: satisfy his fiancée, make granny's dream come true and put on the best performance for his fans.

♡ ...marry me? - polish!reader ~ 1,2k words

Harry is drunk and YN is the angel that he dreamt of.

♡ Let's play tennis! - social media - tennis player!reader

Harry's dating WTA no. 1 tennis player - YN YSN.

♡ Can't hear haters when you're slaying - social media - tennis player!reader

Harry and YN (WTA no. 1 tennis player) are still going strong despite all the bullying they receive.

♡ BLURB - YN and Harry go for a run in London - tennis player!reader

♡ My love, we were in Paris - tennis player!reader ~ 1,7k words

Harry surprises YN after her third win in French Open.

♡ Wimbledon - tennis player! reader ~ 0,9k words

YN lost at Wimbledon, but Harry is still proud of her.

♡ Winning - social media - tennis player!reader

In which YN won Wimbledon, people think they broke up and internet breaking.

♡ Daylight - social media - equestrian!reader

For filming Daylight MV, Harry needed some horse riding lessons.

♡ 'The Higgs professor' - social media - physicist!reader

After being sent a video of Dr YN YSN, explaining Higgs mechanism with Harry's music, Harry finds himself infatuated. Then he meets her at Oppenheimer's after party, and the rest is history.

♡ Dispersion - social media - physicist!reader - part 2

NYC is welcoming one of the most famous physicists, and things seem to look great. More physics in pop terms and more of the sweet couple. For some time.

♡ Fired? - social media - physicist!reader - part 3

The leak is hard on everybody, especially YN. Internet wants to fire her from Oxford. And Harry, Harry is like always there for her.

♡ Recommendations - social media - booktuber!reader

The new series on ynrecommends channel on YT caught Harry's attention. After some time, they are joined at the hip. As friends. Right?

♡ If he doesn't have books, don't sleep with him - social media - booktuber!reader - part 2

The rumours are swirling around Harry and YN on whether they are together. In their usual style, they are confusing, so nobody knows. Till, YN posts that one picture on her IG.

♡ Music videos - social media - famous!reader

Harry and YN have been together since 2013. And from the moment Harry started his solo career, YN is there, in the music videos, or behind the scenes. And if it's not her, it's one of their two babies. Soon to be three.

♡ Third baby - social media - famous!reader

Harry and YN have their third baby and some people still don't know how to behave around a breastfeeding person.

♡ Daddy's house - social media - famous!reader

New Pleasing drop comes with new ambassadors - quite little ambassadors.

♡ Love language - boyfriend!Harry

Harry's love language is physical touch, especially kissing you. Here are just a few types of them. !contains suggestive content!

♡ Kisses - boyfriend!Harry

After establishing their love language, YN and Harry are not shy about it. And YN loves smothering Harry in kisses after his first LOT show.

♡ Popstars - social media - popstar!reader

YN and Harry have been together for years. The problem is, even after being spotted kissing, they won't admit it at the beginning. Oh, there also is Judie and Teddy - their cute, little kids.

♡ Goldie - social media - swimmer!reader

Harry follows a competitive swimmer, YN on IG, and (lies you can imagine) it breaks the internet. YN attends his shows and their relationship just grows.

♡ Happy birthday, rockstar - social media - director!reader

YN's social media posts over the years wishing Joe a happy birthday. (part of an Action! series)

Harry x (ex)director!reader x Joseph Quinn

A story, where Harry and YN fall in love at Sign Of The Times music video set, challenge their relationship over the years, eventually fall apart and the aftermath of that break-up.

social media:

part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4 part 5 part 6

written parts:

▪︎ first date ~2,8k words

A short story about two people being nervous on their first date.

▪︎ tolerate it ~3k words

YN sees how much Harry is distancing. Confrontation happens, unfolding cascade of events and feelings YN has buried within herself. Is this the end?

▪︎ champagne problems (part 2 to tolerate it) ~3k words

YN thinks Harry wants to save their relationship after the argument they've had. He thinks that, too. But the definition of saving can differ.

▪︎ heartbreak anniversary ~3,4k words

Harry holds an emotional conversation with his therapist, and then his family. If it wasn't heart-wrenching enough, Anne and Gemma have some news to share - something to tip the scales at the breaking point.

a/n: headers are made by me. if use, please give credit.

[alarrytale]

I know you are very against the p-word when talking about HL and in the larrie world you are in the minor because most larries think they won´t expose their relationship anyway. I agree that I hate how H hides literally everything behind this term (because he and Louis are closeted) which causes that gf h*rries - when he´s stunting - keeps yelling how the-current-woman-of-the-year is his endgame because tHeY aRe So PrIvAtE which can be easy to ignore but it´s still annoying af. In the morning I read another opinion how HL will keep their relationship in p-word even after they will come out and I came to this theory.

There are openly gay famous men and eventho they are talking about their sexuality openly, they keep their relationships in p-word. Let´s take J.Bailey as an example. Okay, idk for sure if he´s in a relationship rn or not but I think he is but he doesn´t want it to be public - I read a tiny interview with him asking him about all kind of last things he cooked, listened to, read etc and to the question what was the last thing he bought he responded something like "A painting as a gift for a very special person" - I assume that the special person is his boyfriend but he doesn´t want to draw attention to his relationship, doesn´t even want to admit he´s in a relationship. Probably because he wants all attention to his acting and lgbt funds he´s involved in. And so I´m now 50/50 on how much HL would like to expose their relationship even after their CO and admiting their relationship. I am sure they will attend events together, slay on the red carpet looking adorable with their heart-eyes and they will become a power/IT couple and will talk about their love in interviews (because it´s affecting their art/songwriting) but also don´t know if they will want to be detailed about their relationship what might cause that they will be hunted by tabloids and paps and D**xM*oi and making those typical (mostly made-up) tabloid headlines and articles like "Trouble in paradise?", "Close to the breakup because of the work schedule" or eventually if they will become parents to even expose their kids. So maybe they will find a balance in this - yes, they will be open about who they are and who is the love of their lifes but they will keep details in the p-word to prevent that their relationship will become the only thing why they will be interesting to media/gp.

Hi, anon!

Yes, i know i'm in the minority when it comes to being able to differentiate between being closeted and being private. Being openly out doesn’t mean you can’t be private or that you'll lose your privacy. As you illustrate, JB is out and proud, but he isn't hounded by questions about his relationship and doesn’t reveal more than he wants to reveal. He's protecting what he wants to protect just fine while also living his truth in public.

I'm just sick and tired of this fandom calling L and H private people, and claim the reason they're not out as gay to the public is simply because they don't want to, because they don't want to reveal that to the public, because they're private. It's a choice they're making to protect their privacy.

I just want to bang my head into a wall everytime i see this bad take or some take that's similar, all leading back to privacy. To me that's saying that all H and L have done over the years to tell us in the ways they can that they're gay, closeted and that they want freedom and to live their truth; speaking through t-shirts, hinting in songs, RBB and SBB, wearing each others clothes etc is all for nothing, because the fans of today think they're not out because they're private people. Asdfghjkl.

So the p-word is banned on this blog until you all understand the following:

Closeting is forced privacy. They don't have a choice but to be private about their relationship.

Coming out wont breach their privacy, but it will give them the choice of chosing to keep their relationship private or not. A choice they previously didn’t have.

H and L generally aren’t private people. They willingly share most things, except information about their sexuality or their romantic relationships. That's not because they're private people and want to keep that part of their lives private, it's because they're closeted.

I'm pretty sure if they could they'd shout it from the rooftops that they love each other. They've been forced to hide for so long, having their sexuality repressed and not being allowed to touch each other or show that they belong together. They've had to watch their soulmate kiss and pretend with other people. So once they're able to come out, i don't think they'd want to protect the relationship by being private. Why would they? They have a huge fandom that would rejoice, they'd have a general public who'd be thrilled for them. They could be a power couple if they wanted to. All this without it breaking their privacy.

I think H wants to show the world he bagged Louis and wear Mrs. Tomlinson-Styles t-shirts with a smirk on his face. I think Louis would want to do the same. He's used to his own family (over)sharing every life event and being public figures. But hey, maybe that's just me and how i would feel after gaining freedom after repression.

[incomingalbatross]

Laud Rising

I made a thing for the Chesterton Challenge! Day 18: Friendship.

---

“The typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, “What? You too? I thought I was the only one.” — C. S. Lewis

---

As a child in the city of Laudness, Katherine dreamed of wonders. The world was dulled and faulty, with days always too hot or too cold, too long with work and too short for excitement; weeks spent first learning her lessons, then her bookbinder’s trade, as seasons passed by. But everywhere around her -- in stories and games, in sky and flowers, in the hidden corners of houses and streets -- she glimpsed something more hiding behind. She longed to find that more, to get inside all of these things and away from the plodding irritations of the world-as-it-was.

Her mind was filled with wondrous adventures and brave comrades, victories over monstrous evils and gifts beyond imagining. She devoured old legends of her land’s founding, when the city had first been named -- when the Heroes of Laud had raised the nation into a place of liberty, freeing their people from servitude and protecting the land. Somehow, since then, the shine had been rubbed off the world; nowadays even legends and fairy-stories were unpopular, and Katherine found her books by scrounging alone in the city library.

She learned from other books that other people held her longings too -- learned words for it, words like hiraeth and sehnsucht and nostalgia and joy. And she learned, as she grew older, that the world-as-it-was couldn’t be separated from the wonders she glimpsed in it; even that, maybe, the most legendary heroes had once had to deal with blisters, and boredom, and dullness -- but that even so, the thrill of a sunset or a goose-call were just as much a part of her world as the blisters. But even as she learned to accept these things, to weave her dreams into the fabric of daily life without letting them be more than that, it only made some of them only sharper, clearer, more distinct with time.

Because Katherine dreamed of heroism. The more she grew to love the world as it was, to see the longed-for as only hidden under stains in its fabric, the more fiercely she dreamed of fighting for all the good that it held. She burned with the need of it -- but how, how, how? There was nothing so simple as a dragon to slay, in their nation; there were human problems instead, like corruption and falseness and poverty. She was no warrior, anyway, and no leader -- she wasn’t even particularly good with people. She was smart, she’d learned that, but staring at the troubles of the world was more like staring at the Gordian knot than anything else. It needed something other than her mind to fasten on a starting-point, and so she could only freeze in indecision.

But she could see what the world could look like, with those threads untangled -- what it could look like if it were washed clean. And from her books and stories, she could imagine the type of people that could start such a fight.

What she could do was what she had always done; daydream, spinning beauties and wonders together into tales.

So she began, at last, to share the little she had, and told her stories, for want of better things to do.

She began writing: fables and adventures and quests, telling them at first to whoever would listen, then selling them to whoever would print them -- binding them herself, if she had the time and paper. Stories of what the world could be, of the kind of heroes that could fight its evils, cast into the molds of her favorite legends; new tales of the Heroes of Laud, their Captain-King and his wise Queen, the Minstrel and the Steward and all the other famous figures, turned into her new heroes. She put her dreams and longing put out into the world, begging someone to take them up, to do what she couldn’t.

Begging for someone who could see in her dreams all that she could, and more.

Then, one day, a young man knocked on her door. “You printed this,” he said, eyes shining, and held out her first book: The Rising of Laud, half-a-dozen stories inside an amateur cover. “Do you know the author? I haven’t been able to find them yet, but this is their first work --”

“Why do you want to know?” she asked.

He looked down at the book, then back up again. “I’ll sound mad if I tell you the truth,” he said gravely.

Katherine raised an eyebrow, uncertain what to say. “If you do, at least I’ll know you must mean it?” she offered.

“A very good point.” He breathed in, and then said, “I’ve wanted to meet the writer since I first read their stories, because -- they’re the first stories I’ve ever wanted to come true.”

She stared at him.

“They see things truly,” he continued, as if he thought she didn’t understand. As if he weren’t understanding her as he spoke. “It’s -- it does sound mad, I know, but this is what I want to be --” he gripped the book in both hands, looking down at that worn cover “-- what I will be, if I’m allowed, and I just want to talk to the other person I think wants this.” And then he looked her squarely in the eyes, focused and alight with conviction in a way she’d never been -- but the way she’d always wanted to be helped to find.

Her dreams had never had faces, but she thought that her Captain-King would have hd a face like this.

“I do want this,” she said, somehow unhesitating. “I wrote it -- that’s why I wrote it, to call for someone. But…I don’t know how to help.”

He laughed. “You called, I listened,” he said. “Others might too. And after all --” he held up the book again “--the Heroes have to have their Minstrel, right?”

“I can’t sing very well,” Katherine warned, stepping back from the door to let him in.

“That’s not the important part,” he insisted. He held out the book to her, and she took it automatically as he stepped inside. “You said it yourself, in this -- what’s the role of the Minstrel?”

“She has several.”

But she knew which one he meant, even as she spoke. She ended up saying the line in unison with him -- the tenet of the Minstrel, in more than one tale:

“The Minstrel’s role is to tell the Heroes that they will never be alone.”

And after all, Katherine began to remember, that applied in more ways than one -- not just to the Minstrel's audience, but even to herself.

[do-it-jakey-baby]

An Unlikely Encounter

Jake Kiszka x f!reader

Warnings: explicit sexual content, physical assault, profanity, drug use (smoking weed), alcohol consumption, tobacco use

18+, MINORS DNI

TAGLIST: @torniturntomyarrow @ignite-my-fire @hollyco

A/N: As always, please let me know if you’d like to be added to the tag list! I’d also love to hear your thoughts, how you’re finding the series so far and any feedback. 🫶🏻

Chapter 6

“Fucking hell, Y/N! How much shit are you taking with you?”

You look up at Kat, shooting her your dirtiest look possible. You’re sat cross legged on the floor of her bedroom, surrounded by piles upon piles of your belongings.

“I don’t want to get to Nashville and have left something important behind! It’s not like I can just nip home.” You scowl.

“Babe, we’re going to America, not the Bermuda Triangle. It wouldn’t be hard to find anything you need. Plus, Jake would move mountains for you if he could.” She snorts.

“What about you, anyway? Do you really need seven pairs of shoes?”

“You know I need to slay in public. Plus, we’re like, famous now.”

You both crack bewildered smiles at each other. She wasn’t wrong, both of you had been circulating online. You knew the boys were famous, but you didn’t expect their fanbase to be so… pap happy. What was the most interesting was how covert they were at snapping photos of you out and about. There was the odd moment where fans would approach the band and ask for photos, which they always willingly obliged with smiles on their faces. It was evident that they held such love in their hearts for their fans, it was never a chore to interact with them. The people you met were always so nice to you and Kat, too. Complimenting your outfits, telling you how pretty you were. It was quite a pleasant experience for the most part. There was, however, a small percentage that weren’t so happy you were dating Jake & Sam. Kat wasn’t bothered in the slightest, but you on the other hand were more susceptible to the discomfort. You were struggling with the sudden catapult into the limelight, but believed that your relationship with Jake was worth it.

“Right, I’m all done. Need any help fitting the kitchen sink into your suitcase?” Kat winks.

You celebrate the success of packing with a few bottles of wine and a Chinese takeaway. You and Kat curl up onto her sofa together and sink further and further into the bottles whilst you conceptualise the decisions that got you both to this point. By the end of the second bottle, you’re both slurring your words and collapsing into a fit of giggles.

“I know, let’s FaceTime them!” Kat sways, phone in hand.

The familiar ringer sounds twice and then Sam picks up, his face illuminating the screen.

“There’s my beautiful girl. Oh, girls! To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Misssed you.”

“Y/N, did you miss me too?” Sam bats his eyelashes.

“Maybeee a bit, was hoping Jakey was with youuu.”

“Are you both drunk?” He chuckles.

“Noooooooooooo, why on earth would you think that.” Kat comically scratches her chin.

“I heard a very pretty voice saying my name.”

Jake edges into the shot, smirking down at the screen.

“Omygod I could just eat you up.” You breathe.

“Ewwwwwww, Y/N. Not in front of meee!” Kat screeches, jumping on top of you. You both cackle together until you’ve caught your breath.

“A hangover on a 9 hour flight isn’t my idea of a good time.” Jake laughs.

“We just wanted to see you one last timeeee.” You blow a kiss into the screen.

“You two get an early night, we’ll see you in just under 24 hours.” Jake instructs.

“See you soon!” Sam chimes in.

You all wave goodbye and Kat ends the call with an exaggerated yawn. You both plod into her room and collapse into bed, sleep finding you almost instantly.

~

The hangover gods have spared you today, as you both wake up fresh as a pair of daisies. You go over your itinerary once more, just to be extra safe, then load your bags into the back of the Uber. It was around a 45 minute drive to Heathrow, so you popped your headphones on and flicked through your playlists. Jake had been very secretive with your flight plans, telling you both that he’d scheduled the details to come through to your email 3 hours before your departure. You’d tried to argue with him, you liked to be in control and hated not being in the loop, but he wouldn’t budge. You both sat down to grab a coffee at one of the little Cafes within the airport when right on schedule, the email pinged through.

British Airways - Flight BA 244

Departing LHR at 1300 to BNA

Business Class Main Deck

Seat 13J

Seat 13K

“No fucking way, that’s why he was being so secretive!” You huff, rolling your eyes.

“What?”

“He’s booked us business class seats!”

“Fuck yeah!” Kat grins, punching the air.

“That must have cost a bomb!”

“Girl, will you quit it. He clearly wants his princess to be comfortable. Enjoy it, you deserve it.”

You’d seen TikTok videos of people sitting in business class, but you’d never for a second expected to experience it for yourself. Once you’d checked in, which was a breeze thanks to the dedicated area for business class ticket holders, you were ushered into a private lounge. Inside, there was a complimentary buffet with an insane selection of food and drink, plus Champagne chilling on ice and even a cocktail bar with an experienced mixologist on hand. When you boarded, you were taken to your seats and handed fluffy blankets and an amenity kit consisting of luxury toiletries, toothpaste and toothbrush, an eye mask, and socks. You both squealed in excitement every time you discovered something new, such as the noise cancelling headphones, or the fact that your seats fully transformed into beds. The most exciting thing of all though, was the Wi-Fi available on board. It meant that you could keep in contact with the boys whilst in the air, or so you thought. Sam and Josh seemed to keep in constant contact for the first few hours, but you hadn’t heard from Jake. Deciding it wasn’t worth worrying about, you settled in for the long haul. You and Kat had made it through a few films together, and scarfed down some dinner and dessert before you both passed out. By the time you woke up, the Stewardesses were making their rounds to ensure everyone was back upright and buckled in, ready to land. You shook Kat gently and she stirred, before removing her eye mask and wiping the drool from her face.

“Sleep well?” You laugh.

“Like a fucking baby.”

The landing was smooth as you touched down on Nashville soil. Adrenaline was pumping through your veins like white hot lava whilst you waited at luggage claim, it felt like hours had passed before the carousel started turning. As soon as you spotted your bags you sprinted over to them, not even stopping to make sure Kat was following your lead. You grab them both and almost topple over trying to drag them off by yourself. Kat finally makes her way over and retrieves her suitcase from you, then you both head towards pick up. Your hands felt clammy as you approached the crowds of people waiting for their loved ones. You scanned through the faces, until you found one that stuck out like a sore thumb. Josh. Next your eyes landed on Sam. You kept looking, craning your neck, but no one else was there.

Jake wasn’t there.

The room began to spin as you remembered how quiet he’d been during your flight.

Kat began to run over to the two, throwing her arms out and squealing as she squeezed the life out of both of them. You’d stopped in your tracks, still rooted to the same spot. The three of them whipped their heads round, Kat’s face one of confusion, the brothers both mirroring each other with looks of… sadness? Guilt? You couldn’t quite place it. You felt yourself starting to tear up, your mind a frenzy of thoughts. Where was he? Had he changed his mind? Did he regret asking you here?

You were brought back down to earth by a firm pair of hands grasping at your arms.

“Songbird.” Josh smiles, his brow slightly furrowed.

“Where-”

“We’ll explain, but please don’t worry. He wanted to be here more than anything in the world. We’re so happy to see you, sweet girl.” He pulls you into a tight embrace.

The ride to Josh’s place goes by in a blur, with you staring blankly out of the window for most of the journey. You were confused, and with no explanation, your thoughts were spiralling. Josh told you not to worry, but you couldn’t help it. Your boyfriend wasn’t there to pick you up from the airport in an unfamiliar territory, one he’d invited you to indefinitely. You expected to go back to Jake’s place, but were told that you’d be heading to Josh’s. You had asked where Danny was, but were met with grimaces exchanged between Josh and Sam. They promised they’d reveal all when you arrived.

You walked through the door to Josh’s house and set your bags down. It was a beautiful home that captured Josh’s personality perfectly. The interior was mostly white, with floor to ceiling glass windows, faux fur rugs and gold embellishments. His decor was extremely tasteful, it looked expensive but didn’t scream ‘I’m a rockstar who likes to flaunt my money’. Sam and Kat took a seat on one of the plush grey sofas, you opted to sit yourself alone on its twin. Josh exited the room briefly before returning with four glasses and a bottle of red wine. He filled your glass first, handing it to you and watching as you took a hearty gulp. Once he has filled the remainder of the glasses, he perches next to you and looks to his brother. Sam nods and Josh turns back to you, sighing.

“Jake… has had some problems over the last few hours.”

Your throat feels constricted, so you swallow thickly. When that doesn’t ease your discomfort, you opt for another gulp of pinot noir.

“Kate, his… ex-girlfriend decided to make a re-appearance early this morning.” He pauses, running a hand through his fluffy curls. “She’d seen photos of the two of you circulating online, Must have realised that you seemed serious. She tried to win him back over, saying she just wanted to talk and apologise for how awful she’d been to him. He let her in because he still had some of her things from when she left. He brought the box to her and began to explain that he had a new girlfriend, and that you were due to turn up in a few hours so she had to leave, and she lost her shit. Threw a glass vase at him. He called us after she left, when we got there he was struggling to stem the bleeding and was barely conscious. Danny took him to the ER, he told me I needed to stay here so I could pick you up. All he could talk about was you, about how upset he was, how he wanted to see you.”

“What the fuck. Josh, is he ok?! Please tell me he’s ok!” You choked back a sob, your eyes frantically searching Josh’s face for answers.

“He’s ok. Pretty shaken, with a nasty gash on his arm. He’s had to have stitches, but he’s fine.” Josh cups your face in his hand, wiping away your tears with the pad of his thumb.

“Please can I see him?”

~

Jake and Danny had got back from the ER around an hour after you arrived at Josh’s. Jake understandably wasn’t up for guests after the incident, so Danny took him home. You parted ways with Kat, as she was due to stay with Sam. They both hugged you goodbye, then you headed off with Josh. As you entered through the door to Jake’s house behind Josh, you felt sick to your stomach. The lights were off, so Josh flicked them on and left your belongings in the corridor.

“I’m just going to find Jake, you hang tight.”

The house was a stark contrast to Josh’s, with everything in dark hues. Jake favoured mahogany over Josh’s love for pine, and his home was just as dark and mysterious as him. Walking into the house was like being surrounded by Jake, there was no doubt that this was his sanctuary. The ground floor was mostly open plan, with a large hallway spilling out into a kitchen. You found the light switch and flipped it, the room illuminating and revealing the horror hidden within the veil of darkness.

Blood.

Broken glass.

More blood.

You clapped your hand to your mouth as you took in the scene before you. The glass that once formed part of a heavy, ornate vase was thick - that explained the damage done… You were actually surprised it wasn’t worse. On the kitchen island you spot a bouquet of flowers clad in brown paper. They were astonishingly beautiful and comprised of all your favourite species; peonies, lavender, cornflowers, snowdrops, foxgloves, and a few sprigs of eucalyptus. You pick out the card that is tucked neatly into the folds of paper and open it.

My girl,

A thousand bouquets could never be enough for you, but for as long as I am alive I will continue to shower you with the most beautiful of petals. You are my sun, my moon, my stars. Thank you for coming to my home and filling it with your warmth.

All my love,

Jake

You clutch the card to your chest and let the tears that have formed in your eyes fall down onto your cheeks. A noise from the hallway startles you, causing you to lurch backwards in panic. You look up as Josh appears from the hall, his eyes widening at the scene before him.

“That fucking psycho bitch.”

He looks to you and notices the state you’re in, his face immediately softens and he extends his arms out to you.

“Oh, Songbird. I’m so sorry.”

You collapse into his arms as you weep into his chest, hot tears staining his crisp, white t-shirt.

“He wants to see you.” He whispers as he strokes your hair gently.

You pull back, peering at his face and managing a meek nod. He intertwines his fingers with yours and leads you through the hall and down a set of stairs. When he opens the door you’re met with a cosy basement, with a log burner crackling away on the far wall opposite you. A bar lines the left side, with plenty of expensive looking liquor embellishing the shelving. The right side is home to Jake’s instruments, his guitars hanging on the walls and on stands like the most prized of possessions, decorating the space with their charm. There’s a vintage looking record player sat proudly on top of a deep chestnut cabinet, with rows and rows of vinyls stacked intricately in stands. Jake sits in a brown leather arm chair in front of the log burner, a lit joint smoking away between his shaking fingers. His left forearm is bandaged and there are several smaller abrasions visible, scattered across the rest of his arms. Along his hairline, another cut can be seen, the blood now dried and clinging to his strands. He looks up at you, his lip wobbling. You can tell he’s been crying, his face slightly pink and puffy. You begin to make your way over to him, but slow down as you get closer. You’re afraid to trigger him with any quick movements, so you extend your hand to him, a silent plea for consent. His face falls, a tear slipping from his lashes and rolling down his cheek. He nods and you practically sprint the rest of the way, kneeling before him and carefully cupping his face in your hands.

“Jacob. I’m so sorry, baby.” A tear of your own falls, landing on the back of his hand.

“I-“ He begins, choking on his soft sobs. “I wanted today to be perfect. I’ve been dreaming of this day since my eyes first met yours. I can’t believe it’s been ruined. She’s stolen my happiness again.” He drops his head, succumbing to his emotions as the tears flow heavily down his perfect face.

“No. Don’t you say that. I’m here, she hasn’t ruined a thing. I’m here.” You softly nudge his chin back up, looking into his eyes as you speak. You press your lips to his and hope he believes you, that this moment hasn’t been taken from you both. He melts into your touch, kissing you back with a tenderness that steals the air from your lungs.

“Please don’t ever leave.”

~

You put Jake to bed after cleaning his face up, promising you’ll be back as soon as you’ve collected your things. Josh is stood in the kitchen, taking photos of the blood and glass that litters the floor.

“What are you doing?”

“Collecting evidence for the police report.”

“Is he going to press charges?”

“I don’t know, but he sure as hell should.” Josh snarls.

“Thank you for being there for me tonight.” You offer a small smile.

“Always, Songbird. I did it for you and for him. He knew how worried you’d be.”

You wrap your arms around him and he softens, rubbing his hands across your back.

“I’d do anything for you, I hope you know that.”

You peer up at him, his face inches from yours. His eyes flit from yours down to your lips. You inhale sharply, which causes him to pull back and awkwardly clear his throat.

“I’ll leave you to your evening. Take care of him, Songbird. Call me if you need me, I’m just up the road.”

With that, he hastily makes his exit.

What?

You walk across to the kitchen island and pull out a chair. Sitting there with your head in your hands, you re-hash the events of the day over and over.

I need a drink, or a cigarette. Or both.

You pull yourself down from the island, searching the cupboards for reprieve. Successfully finding a low ball and a carafe filled with what you assumed was either whiskey or dark rum, you pad over to the freezer to retrieve a few cubes of ice. You fill your glass and rifle through your carry on to find a packet of cigarettes and your lighter. You take a few moments to decide if you want to nurse your drink slowly or knock it back in one, then your eyes find the sliding door that leads to Jake’s back porch. You find the key hanging on a hook and let yourself out, perching on a wicker chair. You take a hearty gulp from your glass, sighing as the liquor burns down your oesophagus. You set it down on the table in front of you and pull a cigarette from the packet, lighting it and taking a long drag. You hold it for as long as you can, until your head feels all warm and fuzzy, then slowly blow the smoke from your lungs. All sense of time leaves you as you sit, chain smoking. You aren’t even aware of how long you’ve been sat out there until your phone buzzes, the screen lighting up your surroundings and pulling you from your thoughts.

Josh Kiszka: I hope you’re ok, Songbird. Thinking about you.

The butterflies in your stomach took you completely by surprise. You shook your head aggressively, internally berating yourself for the reaction.

He’s your boyfriend’s brother, Y/N! Get it together!

With that, you decided it was time to call it a night. You lock up and carry your bags up the stairs and into one of Jake’s spare rooms, not wanting to disturb him. You get undressed and put on a baggy t-shirt, then quickly wash your face and brush your teeth. You crawl into the spare bed and pull the covers over your weary body. It was uncomfortable, being in an unfamiliar bed by yourself. You toss and turn for around thirty minutes, not being able to find sleep. At around the fourty five minute mark, you give up and head for Jake’s room. You didn’t want to intrude, but you’d feel much better knowing he was next to you. You enter the room and his soft snores immediately calm you. You tiptoe carefully across to the bed, ensuring to be as quiet as possible. You pull the sheets back and slide in, positioning yourself so that you were facing him. He stirs slightly and you hold your breath, not wanting to wake him up. Still asleep, his hands reach for you.

“Mmmm, Y/N. I love you.”

You gasp softly, your eyes widening.

He’s sleeping, he doesn’t mean that.

He reaches again and pulls himself into you, his head resting between the crook of your neck. Sleep finds you soon after, with your mind finally at ease wrapped up in Jake.

~

Bzz bzz

You groan, rubbing your eyes to adjust to the light. You’re laid on your side, with Jake’s arms wrapped around your waist. He’s snuggled close into your back, his legs wrapped in yours. You wiggle forward slightly to grab your phone.

4 missed calls

5 texts

Three missed calls from Kat, one from Josh. All texts bar one were from Kat. You swipe up and reply to Kat.

Hey babe, I’m all good. Just woke up. Speak later?

You put your phone back on the nightstand and gently rub your fingers along Jake’s arm. He stirs and you take the opportunity to turn and face him, manoeuvring carefully to avoid his injuries. His eyes slowly open and his gaze fixes on you.

“Hey, good morning. Did you sleep ok?” You ask.

“Better than I thought I would. Guess that has something to do with you being here.” He tilts his head down and plants a kiss on your forehead, then pulls you in close to him, wrapping his arms around you.

“Thank you for coming, I’m sorry-”

You put your finger up to his lips. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”

He looks down at your finger and presses a kiss to it. You smile at him, then his hands find the back of your head and he crashes his lips onto yours. The kiss is passionate and hungry, filled with lust and want. He brings one hand to your waist and another to your thigh and pulls you into him, his knee slotting into your crotch. You moan gently as he makes contact with your core.

“Jake…”

“Mmmm.” He breathes in between sloppy kisses, trailing down your neck.

“Not now.”

He stops and looks at you, defeated and confused.

“It’s not that I don’t want to. Fuck, I want to. But you’ve been through so much, and you’re hurt.”

“Please.” He whimpers. “I need you, please.”

That’s all it takes for you to give in, and he’s right back on you. Clawing at your shirt, he can’t seem to get it off fast enough. He palms at your bare breasts, then takes your nipple into his mouth. You arch your back at the sensation of his tongue lapping over your sensitive bud.

“You’re really here, in my bed. In my house. I can’t believe it.” He whispers, his fingers dipping into the waistband of your panties.

“I am.”

He flips himself on top of you and discards your underwear on the floor, then drags his fingers through your already slick folds. One thing Jake never fails to do is make you incredibly wet before he’s even started. He begins his assault on your pussy, plunging his fingers in and out, then circling them around your clit. Your moans bounce off the walls as your orgasm quickly creeps up on you, with every sound you make his fingers move faster. He licks a stripe from your collarbone to your ear, sucking the tender skin into his mouth.

“Fuck, Jakeeee.” You whine.

“Cum for me, angel. Cum right on my fingers. Tell me how good it feels.”

“It feels.. it feels so- oh! Fuck!”

Your legs begin to shudder as you let go, the crashing waves of your orgasm engulfing you in pure ecstasy.

When you float down from your high, Jake is lining himself up with your entrance. You move your hand to stop him and he looks down at you, his brows knitting together.

“I think you deserve a thank you now.” Your eyes bore into his and blacken with lust. He looks like a deer in headlights as he nods at you. You motion for him to swap places with you, then you crawl on top of him, rising up onto your knees and sliding down onto him. His face contorts as he bottoms out inside you, pulling his lip between his teeth with a sharp inhale.

“Baby, fuck. You feel so good.”

You start to move your hips in a slow figure of eight. Jake’s hands find your hips and he digs his fingers into the meaty flesh. You lift yourself up and slam down onto him, the tip of his cock knocking against your cervix. You squeeze as you lift back up again, eliciting a hiss from his mouth. You bounce yourself up and down, relishing in the sound of his soft panting and whining. He uses his leverage on your hips to drive up and meet you as you ride him. You throw your head back and lift your hands up cup your breasts.

“I’m gunna cum, shit!” He cries, looking up at you with his perfect, fucked out face.

“Fill me up baby.”

He groans loudly as his cock twitches inside you, still driving up into you to reach his release. The sound of his pleasure fills the room, tipping you over the edge as your walls flutter around him, constricting and pulsing as his cum spurts out into you. You catch your breath and lean down to press your lips to his, then excuse yourself to the bathroom to clean up and brush your teeth, before taking the space next to him in his bed once more.

“Is that what you wanted?” You smirk.

“All I wanted and more, you’re incredible.”

You offer him a shy smile, still not used to being showered in his compliments.

“Do you… want to talk about it?” You ask, running your hand softly across his arm.

His face noticeably falls, pain searing across his eyes.

“Uhh.. I-” He’s cut off swiftly by the buzzing off his phone. He rolls his eyes and picks up the device, frowning as he peers at the screen. He answers and begins to move out of the room, but you manage to catch the first sentence of the conversation.

Good morning, my name is PD Martinez. I’m calling from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. Am I speaking Jacob Kiszka?

You take a deep breath, wringing your hands nervously as you wait for Jake to finish the phone call. When Jake re-enters the room, he’s visibly pissed off.

“Fucking Josh, calling the fucking police.” He mutters, raking his hands through his hair and pacing the room.

You stand and begin to try to soothe him.

“Baby, he’s just being a good brother and looking out for you…”

He whips his head toward you, fury blazing in his eyes. “I don’t need him to look out for me, I don’t need him to call the fucking police. This situation is stressful as it is without a fucking investigation happening in my home. I just want to forget about it!”

He storms out of the room and into the hallway, you follow behind him as he hot foots down the stairs and into the kitchen. He stops just before he reaches the blood and glass still tainting the hardwood flooring, before stepping over it and knocking a fruit bowl that sits on the island flying, smashing into smithereens before him. He drops to the floor, his head in his hands. You aren’t sure what to do, and in true Y/N panic mode you dash back up to the bedroom and grab your phone, hitting dial on Josh’s number. He answers after two rings.

“Morning, Song-”

“Josh, please come over. Now.”

“I’ll be there in 5.”

True to his word, 5 minutes later he’s rushing through the door. You steer him into the kitchen, where Jake is still sat on the floor.

“Brother, what’s going on?”

Jake looks up slowly, his expression vacant. He stares at Josh for a few moments, before inhaling deeply.

“Why did you call the police?”

“Uh, because your ex-girlfriend assaulted you, Jake.” Josh huffs, clearly baffled by the question.

“Do you not think that should have been my decision to make?!” Jake glares, his nostrils flared.

Josh digs around in his pockets and pulls out a tin. He opens it, extracting a pre-rolled blunt, and passes it to Jake.

“Come on, go down to the basement and chill out for five minutes.”

The three of you pile into the basement, Josh starts up the wood burner then joins you and Jake on the armchairs in front. Jake wastes no time lighting up the blunt, toking it harshly. After a few drags, he offers it to you. You’d smoked when you were younger, but hadn’t gotten high in over ten years. Regardless, in that moment you gratefully accepted it. The first toke elicits a chesty cough from your lungs, so you pass it to Josh whilst you recover. You all sit in silence, passing the blunt until there’s nothing left to share.

“Now we’re all nicely medicated, can we talk about this like adults?” Josh points towards Jake. He rolls his eyes, but motions for Josh to continue.

“I did what I thought, and what I still believe is best in this situation. Not only did her actions land you in the ER, but they also worried Y/N. It’s inexcusable behaviour and she needs to be taught a lesson.”

You nod, silently agreeing with Josh’s words. Jake sighs, rubbing his chin.

“I get it, thank you for making the call for me when I couldn’t.”

“Are you going to press charges?”

“I think so…”

~

The next few days are spent in almost constant police presence. The officers were keen to get in and assess the damage as soon as possible, so that Jake could get his kitchen cleaned up and begin to heal from the event. The police took tapes of the CCTV which covered the entrances to Jake’s house, along with the ER department report on his injuries. They took a statement from Jake, Josh, Danny and Sam, with the promise to be in touch. The entire ordeal had done a number on Jake, he was exhausted both physically and mentally. By the end of the first week, things were starting to look up, and Jake seemed to have a new lease of life.

“So, angel. I’ve been thinking, how about we pretend today is your first day in Nashville ans I take you out to dinner?”

“I would love that, Jakey.” You giggle, pulling him into an embrace.

You take your time getting ready, ensuring your hair and makeup are pristine. You give yourself a bouncy bow out, your hair cascading in shiny ribbons down your back. You slip on a black silky, tight-fitting dress which hugs your curves in all the right places, and opt for a deep red lipstick to tie the look together. As you’re perched on the bed slipping on your heels, Jake walks into the room. He’s dressed in all black too, matching your aesthetic perfectly. His black linen shirt is, of course, only buttoned a quarter of the way, showcasing his signature silver pendants which sparkle against his tanned chest. A black blazer adorns his shoulders, his hair falling down onto them in tousled waves against the crisp fabric. His trousers cling to the muscle on his thighs, which makes your mouth water slightly.

“You look amazing, Jake.”

He steps to you and pulls you up onto your feet, twirling you around to get a 360 view of your outfit. “Says the most beautiful woman on the planet. You look positively edible, angel.”

“You can eat me whenever you want.” You wink, snatching the lapels of his blazer in your fists and capturing his lips in a kiss.

“What did I ever do to deserve you?” He breathes.

He drives you to the restaurant which is about fifteen minutes down the road, his hand never leaving your thigh. Once you’ve parked up, he exits the vehicle and walks around to your side, opening the door and extending his hand. The restaurant is probably one of the most extravagant settings you’ve ever dined in, far beyond your usual price range. The decor is almost vintage-looking, with small lanterns embellishing each table, adding to the chic ambience. When you’re shown to your table, he pulls your chair out for you, then sits down and envelopes your hands in his, bringing one to his face and kissing your knuckles. He orders Champagne for the table and you clink your glasses together, a toast to your adventures in the States. The three course meal is absolutely stunning, and undoubtedly the best food you’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. You chat the entire time about your plans, how excited Jake is to have you at his home, and the next leg of the band’s tour which is due to commence in 4 weeks’ time. When you’re finished, Jake pays the bill and you make your way home. You walk through the door to Jake’s house and breathe a sigh of relief, thankful that things are finally beginning to take a turn for the better. You were so excited to spend some quality time with Jake, and for him to show you around. He’d spoken about the possibility of a trip to Frankenmuth, which you were quite nervous about. Meeting Jake’s parents was a daunting thought, but he assured you that they would adore you as much as he does.

You begin to settle in for the evening, slipping into your pyjamas and starting your skincare routine. Your phone buzzes on the bathroom counter as you’re finishing up.

Unknown Caller

You wonder who it could be, but take no chances of missing something important, so you answer and bring your phone up to your ear.

“Are you really in fucking America with him?!” The voice growls from the other end.

“Who- who is this?”

“You really are a disgusting little groupie whore, aren’t you. Running off to the other side of the world like a love sick puppy after a man who will drop you once he’s had his fill.” Pure venom drips from the tongue of the caller, their words coated in malice.

“… Connor, is that you?! You fucking stalker freak!” You scream.

“Clearly my little Instagram account hasn’t deterred you enough, you fucking slut.”

His little Instagram account?…

You drop your phone into the sink as your knees go weak beneath you.

He’s @exposingjake.

[oliverreedmasterass]

Roxanne - 4k words, Jake insists that everyone should participate in a new drinking game, bets are made, and things almost immediately descend into chaos

Heat Above - 4k words, the guys get up to some hijinks and hair trouble on the set of their Heat Above music video 

It’s Been - 3.8k words, Jake picks a pointless fight with Josh and it takes them one week to finally let it go (oddly enough, based on the Barenaked Ladies song, One Week) 

Argh - 3.5k words, Jake, Josh, and Sam are all little kids, indulging in a fun and dramatic game of imaginary pirates

Sunshine - 2k words, 12 year old Jake meets his famous Gibson SG guitar for the first time

It’s Giving - 4k words, my interpretation of what happened backstage before the guys took the stage in Tucson, slaying the house down with their stage makeup

Stage Fright (pt. 1) - 2.7k words, the guys have to work through some nerves before playing new music at the Sacramento DIG show

Stage Fright (pt. 2) - 3.5k words, the aftermath of the last show of the DIG tour, some angst, and a stressful trip to In N’ Out

They Say It’s Your Birthday - 4.4k words, Danny and Sam take the twins to a karaoke bar to celebrate their 27th birthday

Welcome to My Crib - 2.8k words, Greta Van Fleet gives a home tour for Architectural Digest 

Thirst Tweets - 2k words, Greta Van Fleet react to Thirst Tweets for Buzzfeed 

New York Runaway - 800 words, the GVF group chat is popping off when Sam disappears to New York without any explanation 

Sam Kiszka Sees God While Eating Spicy Wings - 7.9k words, Sam goes on Hot Ones and frankly kinda terrifies Sean Evans

GVF Masterclass Group Chat - 1.2k words, a look at the group chat between Oliver Reed, Cal A Bungah, Chip Bunker, and Dr. JMK

Booze Run - 3k words, the GVF guys come up with a game to make their booze run a bit more entertaining

The Greta Van Fleetles - 3.2k words, GVF go on America’s Got Talent, impersonating one of the most popular bands of all time

Addressing Your Questions and Concerns Pt. 2 - 7.6k words, Literally what the title says lol 

Clowning Around - 4.1k words, Oliver Reed is alive, he’s just stuck in a witness protection program because he accidentally stumbled across a ninja clown crime ring

Rising With the Demons Above - 5.2k words, Greta Van Fleet witness a demonic possession and, of course, end up making things like 20x worse

Ready for the Garden - 1.8k words, Jake reflects on his success, and how Greta Van Fleet finally played Madison Square Garden

Turkey Day - 4.3k words, Jake decides he wants to host Thanksgiving this year, and Josh is immediately skeptical that he's up to no good 

Prime Suspects - 8k words, The GVF guys find themselves caught in a heap of trouble. The problem is, they can't quite work out what they did.

Growth - 2.4k words, Danny will go to great lengths to ensure that he can grow facial hair

Nardwuar Vs. Greta Van Fleet - 2k words, The members of Greta Van Fleet agree to do an interview with the Human Napkin himself, Nardwuar, and find themselves ridiculously unprepared for his interview style.

Hexed - 27k words, Jake physically can’t stop singing and dancing and it seems that there must be some dark magic involved. Will the guys be able to get Jake back to normal before their show?

Summer of 69 - 39k words, Greta Van Fleet somehow manage to travel back in time to the Woodstock Art and Music festival

The Frozen Light - 48k words, In the quiet town of Frankenmuth, a string of missing persons cases opens a wider question about who is to blame, drawing a deep divide between the town and its hidden supernatural residents. 

Battle of the Bands - 29k words, A young Greta Van Fleet find hope in a local battle of the bands competition to finally catch their big break.

Episode 1 - 5k words, Josh struggles with writer’s block, Jake is certain he’s being haunted, and Sam and Danny are engaged in an intense prank war

Episode 2 - 6.7k words, The members of Greta Van Fleet deal with loss: Josh loses his beloved notebook (which Sam attempts to find) and Jake and Danny get hopelessly lost in the woods

Episode 3 - 5.9k words, After an incident involving Jake's amp, he's determined to win the cash to buy a replacement. Meanwhile, Josh and Danny choreograph a dance for a music video and Sam's clumsiness makes him see red. 

Episode 4 - 5.8k words, It's media day for the GVF guys! What could go wrong? (everything) Danny struggles to hold back the truth, Jake takes advice from a higher up, and Sam and Josh can't stop saying the wrong thing. 

The One Where They Play Monopoly - 1.5k words, On a slow day, GVF decides to play a friendly game of Monopoly that winds up being anything but that

Greta Van Fleet Go To A Haunted House - 4.7k words, GVF make their way to a haunted house for shits and giggles. 

[tsaiko]

By the end of the month, I am on track to double the number of words I had written for this story. I had forgotten 1) how much I love the format of this (where I'm telling the backstory in one section, and then the current story in the next) and 2) how much I much Ritter is having a not good time in the current story.

---

There was a dragon that had moved into the old gnome warren in the Trumpeter Peaks. The villagers of Applebe weren't really surprised. This would be the third dragon that had taken up residence since the village was founded nearly 200 years ago. All in all, this one had to be the best. It stuck to eating deer and rabbits on the forested slopes, and only occasionally snitched a lamb or two in the spring. Even those sheep could have been lost to wolves and not the dragon.

Maybe.

Still, a dragon was a dragon, and if left alone for years they would only grow bolder. And bigger. Big dragons were a real problem because they could carry off bullocks, horses, and virgins. Bullocks could feed an entire family for a winter. Horses were worth their weight in gold in the farming valleys. Virgins were in short supply as it was in the mountain village. Better to nip this in the bud.

The last time a dragon had appeared, well over a four decades ago, the town had put in a request to the crown to have a knight sent out to take care of the problem. Things had changed, progress had been made. Nowadays towns could contract with a dragon slayer directly instead of waiting months for the crown to deign to acknowledge that there was a problem that they needed to solve.

Luckily for the town of Applebe, one of the most famous dragon slayers hailed from their town. In fact, he lived there now. Unluckily for them, it had been over four years since he'd slain a dragon. Now he lived with his parents once more and helped around their farm.

Sure, he’d sworn off dragon slaying. No one even knew if he’d kept his armor and weapons, but surely something could be improvised. And yes, the king had taken away his knighthood. That didn’t mean his skills in dragon slaying weren’t still there, it a little rusty. He now spent most of his nights getting drunk, but everyone needed a hobby. He also fooled around. A lot.

This is important.

---

"I am not going to marry you."

"What?" Ritter asked as he propped the pitchfork he'd been using to shovel manure against the wall. The air was filled with the scent of horse and shit in the confines of the barn. "The wedding is less than four days from now."

"There's not going to be a wedding," Alysa said. "I'm not marrying you."

"Really? And have you told your parents this?" Alysa had ringlets. Very tight brown ringlets that probably took hours with a hot iron to make every morning. Her family wasn't rich any more, but they had been back when ringlets were in fashion in the capital. Five years ago.

"No, but I'm sure they will agree that I cannot marry you." Alysa held a handkerchief over her nose to block the smell.

"Your parents have already paid for everything. It's not like they have money to just throw around anymore," Ritter said.

If he had had enough sleep, Ritter would have thought before he opened his mouth. He'd spent the night tossing and turning, too hot to sleep. It was the middle of summer. Heat and humidity hung in the valleys. He'd been trained to be polite and courteous in all situations because he was a representative of the court when he was on a quest. But Ritter hadn't slept well the night before and he'd promised to muck the stables this morning, which was why the sun had barely risen and he was ankle deep in muck.

It was really hard to be diplomatic when you were standing in horseshit.

"That's why I'm not marrying you!" Alysa shrieked. One of the dogs started howling outside, and more than one horse snorted and stomped at the sudden sound. Ritter had forgotten how loud females could be when they were truly offended. Like harpies. "You are supposed to be courteous and noble and genteel and... and... you are not! How can you call yourself a knight?"

"I'm not a knight. Not any more. Just like you are no longer a lady." The slap was not totally unexpected.

"How dare you! I am still a lady." Ritter managed to stop himself from correcting her just in time. Given the number of times they'd tossed the sheets when Alysa's parents weren't home, Ritter knew for a fact that his betrothed was no lady. Hell, it wasn't like he was even her first.

Tiredness caught up with him and he stifled a yawn. That only seemed to infuriate Alysa even more. "Cur. Swine. Oathbreaker."

Ritter watched Alysa storm out of the barn, her head held high and her skirts gathered to avoid soiling the edge. He shouldn't get mad. It was the truth at least as far as everyone was concerned. Besides it wasn't like Alysa didn't blow hot and cold by turns all the time. She'd come around in an hour and beg him to take her back.

She didn't. It seemed Ritter was, indeed, not getting married.

[quitefair]

From Sea to Shore: A Josephine Montilyet Lore/Meta Project

Part 1: The History of the Montilyet Family

Introduction

To understand Josephine, we need to understand her family. And to understand her family, we need to understand her family’s history. So, we’re going back, lads. Way back.

To Antiva City. During the Blessed Age (or maybe even earlier, who knows). 

Note: I use House Montilyet and the Montilyet family interchangeably in this. I like the way House Montilyet sounds, its befitting of how politically and economically important they were, whereas the Montilyet family is more relevant to the status of the family during the Dragon Age when we encounter it.

A: The Golden Age of House Montilyet

There are two things (and a bonus thing) you really need to know about House Montilyet during their [mikesmic voice] slay era. Their trading fleet, and their connections within Orlais.

1. Trading fleet

The Montilyets are an old Antivan family, notable for being one of the major naval powers in Antiva as late as the start of the Blessed Age. At their height, if one includes their close relations, their fleet of trading vessels numbered in the hundreds. House Montilyet also had a large contingent of formidable warships, ostensibly at the disposal of the royal navy In reality, they were mostly put to use guarding their merchant vessels in long voyages around the coast. - World of Thedas 2, pages 227-228

Inquisitor: What business are the Montilyets in, exactly? Josephine: We began as merchants. My ancestors founded the first trade routes to Rivain. We once sent entire fleets across the Waking Sea. - Conversation with Josephine in Haven

Things we learn from this: 1. House Montilyet is old Antivan nobility (from at least during or before the Blessed Age)

They’re such well known and old school nobility, that despite Minister Bellise sneering over elevating the Du Paraquettes during Of Somewhat Fallen Fortune (which we’ll get into later), she says this if you choose to offer the Inquisition’s connections to her:

“The Montilyets aren’t what they were, but at least they’re from proper stock.”

Hey, firstly rude. But also shows, in an albeit very cruel way, that despite whatever the history is with House Montilyet, their name is still known to have some weight and standing, even within Orlais.

2. They were once known for their fleet of ships (and hence their trading and mercantile business). They were known to have:

A large number of trading vessels (numbering in ‘the hundreds’)

A large number of warships used to defend these trading vessels (but on paper they were at the disposal of the Antivan navy)

Cool and sexy of them. Certainly a force to be reckoned with.

3. They ‘once sent entire fleets across the Waking Sea’. Hey, you ask me, where exactly is the Waking Sea? What is the significance of this strip of water that I’m going to casually label as the fantasy Mediterranean for no specific reason at all?

Lets take a look at the map shall we?

That’s... a huge area. Stretching from Val Royeaux to Ostwick. There’s major port cities not just in Orlais, but across Ferelden, Nevarra, the Free Marches, and finally up to Antiva.

Rivain’s not on this map but as mentioned above, the Montilyets founded the first trade routes to Rivain. Which I feel that maybe, is kind of a big deal Bioware? That’s some very interesting shit? Anyway, they definitely have trade routes to Rivain. Maybe even beyond that to the Imperium, as we’ll see later.

Which makes their ancient motto of ‘From Sea to Shore, We Tame the Waves’ all the more significant. The pride of being one of the most influential trading powers in Thedas. Dominating shipping from Orlais to Rivain. As if nothing could bring them down. (famous last words)

4. I want to specifically point out the Free Marches (and Kirkwall in particular) because they’re along the fantasy Mediterranean coastlines which are the Shining/Waking seas. But also because canonically, at least one member of House Montilyet has visited the Black Emporium.

"Send my regards to the lady ambassador. Her ancestor visited the Emporium in the Blessed Age. I sold her a candle mounted within the severed hand of a first acolyte of Razikale. I wonder... do the Montilyets still have it in their possession? I should like to see it again." - Xenon the Antiquarian, 9:41 Dragon

Fucking Wack Shit. The severed hand of a first acolyte of Razikale??? As a candle holder??? And that’s just one thing. Who knows what else Xenon sold to the Montilyet family, and vice versa. Absolute mad behaviour.

>

2. Connection to Orlais

The Montilyets always had strong ties with Orlais. Roughly half the family lived in the capital and frequently intermarried with Orlesian nobility. - World of Thedas 2, pages 227-228

Inquisitor: How far do your roots go back to Orlais? Josephine: Very far. The Montilyets used to have vast holdings in Val Royeaux itself. - Conversations with Josephine in Skyhold

Despite what we see in Inquisition, Val Royeux is a port city (as evidenced by our map above). In fact, probably the most important port city in our fantasy Mediterranean, considering how powerful Orlais is. It’s the largest trading port where it is, possibly dealing with sea trade between Nevarra, the Marches and Antiva City. So, it makes sense that the Montilyets would enter into strategic marriages within the Orlesian nobility. Not to mention how Orlesians nobility themselves would want a piece of this delicious (and very rich) Antivan family. For power. For connections. For luxury goods and a stake in the incredibly lucrative sea trade across the Waking Sea.

The connections are so strong that despite Antiva being very heavily Spanish/Italian coded, every single one of Josephine’s named family members have distinctly French/Orlesian names. (i.e. Yves, Laurien, Antoine, Yvette), This is despite their exile from Orlais and being predominantly based in Antiva City in the Dragon Age.

(Safe to say that despite it all, you can take the Montilyet out of Orlais, but you can’t take the Orlais out of the Montilyet.)

>

Bonus: Relation with Rivaini pirates

Their heavily guarded cargo was the target of many a daring Rivaini pirate who wanted to make a name and a profit in one fell swoop. The noble Antivan house became entangled in so many rivalries and vendettas against pirates that their relationships became as complex and bitter as those at any Orlesian soiree. Some Rivaini pirate fleets hold grudges against the family to this day. - World of Thedas 2, pages 227-228

This isn’t mentioned much in game except for in Josephine’s Trespasser epilogue, which I’ll get into later, but is interesting nonetheless.

Can we presume that these feuds began because the Montilyets were the first to establish trade routes between Rivain and the rest of Thedas? Why does this give me very East India Trading Company vs pirates vibes? 

There’s also the thoroughly enjoyable thought of the Montilyet fleet not just partaking in trade, but also in exploration. Would they have contacts with, say, the Lords of Fortune? Dealing in strange and mystical goods like maybe a fucking severed hand of an Old God acolyte????

(Sorry I’m still not over that it’s too fucking fascinating)

B: Downfall of House Montilyet

Two separate events led to the downfall of House Montilyet, aka [mikesmic voice]: their flop era. Let’s take a look at what they are:

1. Exile from Orlais

Okay, I’m going to be real here. A lot of people think they know what happened with the Montilyets. Myself included. But this is what I mean when I gripe about Bioware being super complicated and at the same time, vague about characters revealing backstory. It took me such a long time to understand exactly what went down with the Montilyets, based on in game conversations with Josephine and also reading the World of Thedas and the wiki. There’s no clear and simple statement as to what happened exactly.

So we’re going to go through things step by step, I say to my incredibly stupid brain.

We’ll start with the conversation you have with Josephine in Haven, at the beginning of the game.

Inquisitor: What business are the Montilyets in, exactly? Josephine: We began as merchants. My ancestors founded the first trade routes to Rivain. We once sent entire fleets across the Waking Sea. Inquisitor: But not anymore? Josephine: Ah… no. These days, our vessels are a touch more modest.

A conversation we’ve seen in the discussions above, yeah? She’s being incredibly vague, because at this point she doesn’t know you very well. Which is understandable. I wouldn’t want to divulge my entire family drama to a weirdo I just met.

We learn a little bit more in a later conversation in Skyhold.

Inquisitor: You said the Montilyets used to run an entire trading fleet. What happened? Josephine: There was a scandal in Val Royeux, more than an age ago. The Montilyets were forbidden from trading with Orlais. Our personal fortunes never quite rebounded. Inquisitor: Does anyone in Orlais even remember what that scandal was? Josephine: I doubt it, but the injunction persists. Inquisitor: What exactly happened? Josephine: An affair with a minor lord. Perhaps. Most other details are lost. Inquisitor: Are you saying your family’s livelihood was ruined because of a love affair no one even remembers? Josephine: Essentially. Orlesian politics are full of these unhappy little missteps, Inquisitor.

- Conversations with Josephine in Skyhold

Okay, yeah, more information. Still vague, but better than earlier. But before we discuss further, I want to highlight this section in the World of Thedas 2, which offers another look into what happened.

The loss of their trading fleets started over a question of marriage and fidelity in Val Royeux. The names of the lovers in question have been lost to history, but their indiscretions led to vicious infighting, shocking betrayals, public duels, and eventually exile from Orlais for House Montilyet. Their Orlesian trading contacts were no longer considered valid by the Crown. - World of Thedas 2, pages 227-228

With me so far? From what we can gather from these three segments, I want to summarise the timeline of what went down for my dumbass brain:

A scandal, a love affair with a minor lord - the trigger event for everything that happens next.

Schisms, infighting, bigger and messier drama

Exile from Orlais and trading ban within Orlais

Ooh spicy... a Montilyet had an affair with some other noble family? Who? And it must’ve been serious enough that it caused so much drama, to the point that it ruined the family’s entire standing in Orlais. So many more questions.

Which brings us to Of Somewhat Fallen Fortune.

Inquisitor: Who’s sending these assassins?

Comte Boisvert: The contract was signed by a noble family. The Du Paraquettes.

Josephine: The Du Paraquettes were our rivals. They drove the Montilyets from Val Royeux.

- Of Somewhat Fallen Fortune, at Comte Boisvert’s estate

Inquisitor: Why did the Du Paraquettes hate the Montilyets so much, they set up a permanent assassination watch?

Josephine: There’s not much more beyond what I mentioned before. A Montilyet and a Du Paraquette fell in love. A young couple, pledged elsewhere, attempted to elope. The whole thing ended so violently, it’s a wonder that anybody survived. It’s fortunate the Du Paraquettes’ descendants hold no grudges.

- Conversations with Josephine in Skyhold, after returning from Val Royeaux

Finally we’re getting somewhat of a full picture. Lets go back to our summary above.

A Montilyet and a Du Paraquette fell in love. Each was meant to marry another, possibly for political or trade reasons. They attempted to elope, despite knowing the consequences.

Schisms, infighting, bigger and messier drama

Exile from Orlais and trading ban within Orlais by the Du Paraquettes

Things to also note from the above: in Josephine’s own words, the ‘Du Paraquettes were our rivals’. Does this mean that they was already previously a feud between the two families, which made the drama of the two scions falling in love even worse, ala Romeo and Juliet? Or does it mean that they’re rivals because of what went down after the whole elopement situation? Who knows man.

So, shit goes down. The Montilyets are both exiled from Orlais and banned from trading within the nation. But apparently, the Du Paraquettes thought this was still not enough. They wanted to ensure the Montilyets would never be able to trade in Orlais ever again.

Comte: My contacts obtained a copy of a document in their archives. A contract for a life. [Hands over scroll. Josephine picks it up and reads it while the Comte drinks from his goblet] Josephine: “The House of Repose is hereby sworn to eliminate anyone attempting to overturn the Montilyet’s trading exile in Orlais.”

- Of Somewhat Fallen Fortune, at Comte Boisvert’s estate

They get a motherfucking assassination contract to prevent the Montilyets from ever trading in Orlais. Ever again. Brutal shit man.

Anyway, here we are. Drama and scandal. The Montilyet’s standing in Orlais was completely destroyed and they were kicked out of the country. All is lost.

But wait, I hear you say. That’s just one country. The Montilyets still have their fleet of over a hundred trading vessels. They send entire fleets across the Waking Sea! There’s so many other countries that would still be willing to trade and do business with such an established and formidable House. 

Well my friends. We need to talk about the shitshow I call, putting all your eggs in one basket.

2. Destruction of the Fleet

One year later, the sky itself further crippled their fortunes; the Montilyets sent out an unusually large number of their trading ships with cargo bound for the Imperium. A few days out to sea, a thunderous maelstrom swept across the Amaranthine just as the vessels came around a rocky coastline. The fury of the weather caught even the most seasoned captains off-guard, and lasted a full three days. By the time it let up, the majority of the Montilyets’ ships had been dashed across the rocks or sunk by the waves. The few remaining ships limped back to port. Superstitious sailors refused the Montilyets’ employ, funds could not repair the ships in time to repay their debts, and the Montilyets’ once-splendid fleet became merely a legend. - World of Thedas 2, pages 227-228

We’re not told exactly what happened in the year between the Montilyet’s exile from Orlais, and the destruction of the fleet. We can assume though that it was a huge blow to their finances, because all things said and done, Orlais seems like a very lucrative market for anything trade wise.

It’s also mentioned that they already were in some amount of debt before the ill fated voyage to the Imperium. Debts from where, you may ask? Maybe the current financial situation of the Montilyet family could not support their lifestyle, and despite that instead of cutting back on expenses, they just... took loans?

There’s also the description of the voyage itself - an unusually large number of their trading ships with cargo bound for the Imperium. Was it a last ditch effort to get enough money to pay off their debts? Did they fall into debt building more ships to send on this voyage to Tevinter? Was it a display of pride, attempting to show the world that the Montilyets still have the power, the resources, the numbers to carry out a voyage like this. 

Whatever the reason was for them to send so many ships on a voyage like this, it ended up for the worse.

Whatever ships that managed to return couldn’t be fixed in time to repay existing debts, the hope probably being they could be fixed in time to be sent out on other trade ventures. Money was probably also poured in to even fix said ships. Sailors didn’t even want to work with the Montilyets because of all the bad luck they seemed to bring with them.

Which is how the Montilyets went into decline. Bringing us to...

C: The Montilyets in the Dragon Age

The Montilyets survived, albeit on greatly reduced terms. Today they are a modest trading house, known mostly for their wines and the grandeur of their family estate in Antiva City. - World of Thedas 2, pages 227-228

Inquisitor: But not anymore? Josephine: Ah… no. These days, our vessels are a touch more modest. - Conversations with Josephine in Haven

Things we learn from this:

The Montilyets still exist!

Their main businesses now are wine and maybe some small scale shipping? That one throwaway line from Josephine above about how ‘these days, our vessels are a touch more modest’ implies that they still do have trading ships! Just obviously not comparable to what their fleet once was.

They have a huge family estate in Antiva City. Probably within their vineyards, making it easier to manage their business.

From this, we’re meant to assume that the Montilyets are probably doing pretty well for themselves. I mean, they’re still significant nobility in Antiva and that their name carries a significant degree of weight and trust despite everything.

Inquisitor: How exactly did you and Leliana reconnect in the Inquisition? Josephine: I discovered my family had been overcharging a merchant we traded with for months. Our name carries a great deal of trust in Antiva. I spent weeks arranging a string of favours as suitable recompense. Apparently satisfied, the merchant extended me an invitation to her estate. Leliana greeted me in place of the merchant.

- Conversations with Josephine in Skyhold

So, on first pass, the Montilyets are chill dudes now. They’ve got wine, they’ve got a cool estate.

And then we get to the begining of Of Somewhat Fallen Fortune.

Josephine: I… must explain something first about the Montilyet’s fortunes. Inquisitor: I remember you said your family had been forbidden from trading in Orlais. Josephine: It’s devastated our finances. The Montilyets have, in fact, been in debt for over a hundred years. Inquisitor: I had no idea your family’s situation was so precarious. Josephine: Hardly anyone outside the family does. For generations we’ve done everything to keep creditors at bay. Sold our lands to stave off interest. It’s just… it is infuriating to see my family still reduced to this! I’m to become head of our house. If I sell any more of our land, my family will become destitute. That cannot be my legacy to them.

Apparently the Montilyets are not doing so hot! They’ve been in debt for over a hundred years! Probably still paying off debts from the shitshow that was their lost fleet! They’ve had to sell so much land that if they sell off any more, Josephine worries her family will become destitute!

There’s also the fact that ‘hardly anyone outside the family’ knows about the Montilyets’ current financial situation. There has to be some money thrown around for appearance purposes, perhaps throwing parties and giving donations to the Chantry, stuff like that, things that others would see and assume that hey, these guys must be alright if they can afford to throw money around like that.

But then, they think hardly anybody outside the family knows whats up.

“My dear, you spout nonsense,” an Antivan merchant prince wrote to his cousin, an Orlesian countess who suspected Josephine’s departure was part of a ploy by rivals to undermine her position at court. “Sweet Lady Josephine retains all her wits. It’s no secret that House Montilyet, despite its good reputation, is in gentle decline. The ambassador is risking a leap because she has spotted a fine reward. The question now is whether she topples on the landing.”

- World of Thedas 2, page 229

People know. The creditors probably talk. Hell, I’m sure half the debts the Montilyets owe are to the other noble Antivan houses. And it’s probably super fucking embarassing, and tarnishing to the once good Montilyet family name.

So this is where we must end this section. Understanding the complicated, tumultous Montilyet family history is key to understanding who Josephine is as a character, because her entire in game arc is related to changing her family’s fate! Turning their path towards something better than before!

But before we can talk about Josephine herself, we need to talk about another, very important aspect of her story.

Her immediate family.

See you in Part 2 guys.

Edit: Part 2!

[tessiex17]

Guys so I may or may not be writing another rayman fic!

I genuinely thought the first one would be the only one but here I am ig 😭 BUT HERES A LIL INFO ABOOUT IT AND I WANT UR THOUGHTS.

Okay so it's a clhbdr universe but it's set when rayman is in college so basically it's in America and rayman isn't famous

Ig it's an x reader?? I'm still working on this part. The reader does play a good part in it but I'm not sure whether or not to keep the reader friends with rayman bc there is potential for more spice BUT LIKE IDKKKKK

Also with this I used a fem reader which I didn't do for my last one so I wasn't sure if I should change it or not (need feedback with this)

Here's like a shitty blurb ig : rayman gets a surprise invite to a collage party and decides to attend. While there some shit goes down and y/n saves the day (bc she's slay). Rayman and y/n get to chatting blah blah blah

OKAY SO WHAT DO U GIYS THINK BC IVE ALREADY WRITTEN 1.7K WORDS AND IM NOT DONE YET SO

[phoenixrisesoncemore]

Why Eru Didn’t Trip Gollum: Providence, Free Will, and Con-creation in The Lord of the Rings—Part 3 of 5

| PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 (this post) | PART 4 | PART 5 |

[Go back to PART 2: Catching the Snag]

Part 3: Untangling the Knots

An Alternate Argument

An alternative explanation for Gollum’s fall also attempts to describe it as the direct work of a singular force: a curse placed on him. Evidence for this explanation comes in the form of three exchanges between Frodo and Gollum which essentially bookend their time together over the course of the novel. The first occurs not long after Gollum has accosted Frodo and Sam as they journey towards Mordor. Sam has tied an elven rope around Gollum’s leg as a kind of makeshift leash; desperate to be rid of the rope, Gollum pleads for his release and promises to swear on the Precious (the Ring) to do Frodo and Sam no harm if they will release him. Frodo tries to impress on Gollum that swearing on (or by) the Precious is a dangerous proposition:

‘On the Precious? How dare you?’ [Frodo] said. ‘Think! One Ring to rule them all and in the Darkness bind them. Would you commit your promise to that, Sméagol? It will hold you. But it is more treacherous than you are. It may twist your words. Beware!’ Gollum cowered. ‘On the Precious, on the Precious!’ he repeated. (Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings 617)

Eventually Gollum does swear to “serve the master of the Precious” (618), and this oath is recalled two chapters later when Frodo again attempts to impress upon Gollum the great danger the oath has put him in. Frodo reminds Gollum that the Ring will work to twist Gollum’s oath against him, due in part to the incredible hold over him that it already has. Frodo contrasts his own relative lack of temptation from the Ring with that of Gollum:

‘In the last need, Sméagol, I should put on the Precious; and the Precious mastered you long ago. If I, wearing it, were to command you, you would obey, even if it were to leap from a precipice or to cast yourself into the fire. And such would be my command. So have a care, Sméagol!’ (640)

Similar phrasing will appear again in the last confrontation between Gollum and Frodo before the climactic events at the Cracks of Doom, when Gollum attacks Frodo as Frodo and Sam are climbing Mount Doom, just a short distance away from where the Ring can be destroyed:

‘Down, down!’ [Frodo] gasped, clutching his hand to his breast, so that beneath the cover of his leather shirt he clasped the Ring. ‘Down, you creeping thing, and out of my path! Your time is at an end. You cannot betray me or slay me now.’ Then suddenly, as before under the eaves of the Emyn Muil, Sam saw these two rivals with other vision. A crouching shape, scarcely more than the shadow of a living thing, a creature now wholly ruined and defeated, yet filled with a hideous lust and rage; and before it stood stern, untouchable now by pity, a figure robed in white, but at its breast it held a wheel of fire. Out of the fire there spoke a commanding voice.  ‘Begone, and trouble me no more! If you touch me ever again, you shall be cast yourself into the Fire of Doom.’ (943)

Certainly, this seems terribly prescient! Gollum does touch Frodo again when he wrestles with him and bites off his finger, and almost immediately afterwards he indeed falls into the Fire of Doom. Is there some mechanism at work here, an active cause? Is he “cast” into the fire just as Frodo said he would be?

The Question of a Curse

Curses (here taken to mean the act of speaking words which invoke a real conditional or unconditional effect on the self or another person) appear throughout Tolkien’s Legendarium. The most famous curse in The Lord of the Rings is likely the curse placed on The Dead Men of Dunharrow by Isildur in response to the breaking of their oath to support him during the Last Alliance against Sauron. Other famous curses in the Legendarium include the curse of Morgoth upon Hurin and his family as well as the Doom of Mandos uttered in response to the Oath of Feanor. A full examination of curses in Arda is far outside the scope of this essay, and their nature—for example, whether they describe individual wills having a real effect upon themselves or others or whether they are merely foresight of the playing out of consequences—is a topic of much debate. However, if we accept for the moment that Gollum’s fall is the result of a curse then the next question is: when was Gollum cursed?

The two most likely options seem to be the following: either Gollum curses himself by swearing an oath to “serve the master of the Precious” and then breaking that oath at the Cracks of Doom, or Gollum is cursed on the slopes of Mount Doom when he fights with Frodo and Sam hears a voice issuing from “the wheel of fire.” In either case the curse activates at such a time as to lead to the coincidentally fortuitous destruction of the Ring along with Gollum.

"Endgame on the Mountain” by Ted Nasmith

Let’s further accept (for the moment) that the latter option is the true one. Who then, on the slopes of Mount Doom, is actually doing the cursing? Is it Frodo? Is it Eru? Is it the Ring, itself? It is Frodo who initially speaks, but the voice that speaks the line in question, “you shall be cast,” is coming from out of the Ring. Could it be the Ring doing the cursing?

While I would argue that the Ring is characterized as having some amount of agency[1], we do not see the Ring affect others without command or participation on the part of the wielder in such a direct way (nor do we see it able to speak, though it’s possible the latter is part and parcel of the heightened and theatrical mode of the action as seen through Sam’s eyes). Indeed, we do not see the Ring do anything other than make certain wearers invisible and exert its seductive pull. There is the historical suggestion that it is able to change size at will and make certain decisions about its own fate (falling off Isildur’s hand, leaving Gollum), but that the Ring could curse a being without direction from another will seems unlikely. Which leaves us with Frodo. So is it Frodo actively using the Ring to curse Gollum? There are several factors that suggest it is not, both as regards the mechanics of the plot as well as the themes of the story. I will focus on the former for now.

Frodo’s use of the Ring throughout the novel has been passive: he has either clutched it or placed it upon his finger in order to make use of the invisibility it grants. The last time he did the latter was on Amon Hen, where he recognized that wearing the Ring put him in danger of being seen by the roving Eye of Sauron[2] and so chose to take it off. While the details of the functioning of the Ring are not spelled out anywhere by Tolkien, who wisely leaves the mechanics of its use to speculation, there is a clear sense that what I will be calling “active use” of the Ring (using it to compel objects or persons in accordance with the wielder’s will) has certain requirements. Back in Lothlorien, after Galadriel rejects Frodo’s offer of the Ring, Frodo asks her about the Ring’s use, and why it was that he had not been able to see the thoughts of others by wearing it:

‘You have not tried,’ she said. ‘Only thrice have you set the Ring upon your finger since you knew what you possessed. Do not try! It would destroy you. Did not Gandalf tell you that the rings give power according to the measure of each possessor? Before you could use that power you would need to become far stronger, and to train your will to the domination of others.’ (366)

From this we might argue that the kind of active use of the Ring that seems necessary for, say, cursing someone, would require at least three things: for the user to be wearing the Ring, for them to have some intention toward domination, and for them to have some practice in its use in this way. Frodo, however, is not wearing the Ring while on the slope of Mount Doom, and will not wear it until he enters the Cracks of Doom and claims it for his own.[3] Neither have we seen him practice use of the Ring for domination. Whether he has the intention of domination in this moment is up for debate, but either way it seems clear that at least two of the apparent prerequisites were not in place for Frodo to have used the Ring in an active way, like “cursing” Gollum such that he was compelled to fall into the fire.[4]

Still, these three moments are curious, and the question of what they may mean in the context of the narrative remains. It is in their connection to choice and free will on the part of both Frodo and Gollum that I think we will find our ultimate answer, as well as our way back to the thesis at hand: why Eru didn’t trip Gollum. Let’s first look at a better explanation for them.

Prophecies, Prescience, and Foreshadowing

There can be no doubt that these three moments function dramatically as foreshadowing. Tolkien employs foreshadowing frequently, particularly in regards to the circumstances of the climactic scene. In the second chapter of the very first book Gandalf asks Frodo to try “doing away with” the Ring, which Frodo intends to do by hurling it into the fireplace in Bag End; it is a task Frodo fails to do just as he will also fail to do it when it comes time to toss the Ring into the fire in the Cracks of Doom. Additionally, within the context of the logic of the plot and Frodo’s characterization, these three moments may also be examples of Frodo speaking a meaningful threat: Frodo has already told Gollum where they are going and what they plan to do when they get there; the idea that he might throw Gollum in, too, for good measure, seems a reasonable enough threat to make in context—Frodo was initially prepared to kill Gollum after all. Most importantly for our purposes, however, these moments may also be understood as examples of prescience or prophecy.

Like the climactic scene in the Cracks of Doom, the first and final encounters between Frodo and Gollum are both described in part from Sam’s point of view, and in both Sam perceives Frodo dramatically magnified, momentarily larger and more imposing, either filled with hidden light or robed in white:

For a moment it appeared to Sam that his master had grown and Gollum had shrunk: a tall stern shadow, a mighty lord who hid his brightness in grey cloud, and at his feet a little whining dog. Yet the two were in some way akin and not alien: they could reach one another’s minds. (618)

Then suddenly, as before under the eaves of the Emyn Muil, Sam saw these two rivals with other vision. A crouching shape, scarcely more than the shadow of a living thing, a creature now wholly ruined and defeated, yet filled with a hideous lust and rage; and before it stood stern, untouchable now by pity, a figure robed in white, but at its breast it held a wheel of fire. (944)

We know that Frodo’s time spent as Ring-bearer changed him, honing him spiritually as he struggled long and hard to resist the Ring’s temptation. In “Power and Meaning in The Lord of the Rings,” Patricia Meyer Sparks notes that “in this world as in the Christian one, the result of repeated choices of good is the spiritual growth of the chooser. Frodo’s stature increases markedly in the course of his adventures, and the increase is in the specifically Christian virtues” (61). Back in Lothlorien, Galadriel told Frodo that this process had already begun: “as Ring-bearer and as one that has borne it on finger and seen that which is hidden, your sight is grown keener. You have perceived my thought more clearly than many that are accounted wise” (366).

Like curses, prophecy and foresight—knowledge of the future—appear many times throughout Tolkien’s Legendarium. One of the most well-known examples of prophecy in The Lord of the Rings is that which concerns the fate of the Witch-King of Angmar and is uttered by the reincarnated elf Glorfindel: “Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of man will he fall” (1051). Readers know that this is referring to the fact that The Witch-King will be defeated by Eowyn (a woman) and Merry (a hobbit) during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.

In “Osanwe-kenta,"[5] Tolkien’s essay on the nature of what is essentially his Legendarium’s version of “telepathy,” he provides some insight into the metaphysics of foresight in Arda:

[A] mind can learn of the future only from another mind which has seen it. But that means only from Eru ultimately, or mediately from some mind that has seen in Eru some part of His purpose (such as the Ainur who are now the Valar in Eä). (…) But any mind, whether of the Valar or of the Incarnate, may deduce by reason what will or may come to pass. (…) Minds that have great knowledge of the past, the present, and the nature of Eä may predict with great accuracy, and the nearer the future the clearer (saving always the freedom of Eru). (211)

What we know as “foresight” or “prophecy” in Tolkien’s Legendarium then is either knowledge obtained from a source with connections outside of Eä and therefore outside of Time (from one of the Ainur who existed before Eä or from Eru himself) or is a deduction of future events based on the careful examination of the patterns of the present and the past and a knowledge of Eä’s fundamental nature.

In The Peoples of Middle-earth, Tolkien compares Glorfindel’s spiritual stature as being on a level of that of the maiar (Tolkien’s lesser order of demiurgic angel-gods) (381). Glorfindel’s time in the Halls of Mandos and his noble death in single combat with a balrog have all contributed to the growth in his spiritual stature. It is possible then that Glorfindel had access to some knowledge of possible futures from the Valar directly or even via revelation directly from Eru by virtue of this spiritual growth. I speculate then that Frodo has both grown spiritually (as suggested by his ennobled appearance) to the point that he can better perceive the nature of Eä as well as trends and patterns in the flow of time, and also is privy (to varying degrees and in varying ways) to the knowledge of two maiar: Gandalf—who has shared his suspicions about Gollum’s “role to play” with him—and Sauron—whose being is in a sense incarnate in the Ring hanging around Frodo’s neck. Indeed, this later fact may go some way to explaining why it is the Ring—“the wheel of fire”—that seems to speak prophecy on the slopes of Mount Doom.

According to Tolkien in Unfinished Tales, Sauron sensed that there was some purpose in Gollum’s continued existence, a sense that prevented him from killing Gollum after torturing him for information on the location of the Ring. In “The Hunt for the Ring” Tolkien relates the strange, indomitable nature of Gollum which Sauron sensed:

[Sauron] did not trust Gollum, for he divined something indomitable in him, which could not be overcome, even by the Shadow of Fear, except by destroying him.  (…) Ultimately indomitable he was, except by death, as Sauron guessed, both from his halfling nature, and from a cause which Sauron did not fully comprehend, being himself consumed by lust for the Ring. (322)

If Sauron could sense something about Gollum, then perhaps the Ring, while in Frodo’s possession, could sense it, too. We know Sauron is in rapport with the Ring at all times (Tolkien, Letters 153), whether or not he has it or is aware of its location. It’s possible then that the Ring, itself, “knows” something about Gollum and his future, and that is what is augmenting Frodo in this moment.

One way or another, I believe it makes far more sense to view these moments as examples of prophecy and foresight than curses: in the manner of Glorfindel they foretell an outcome rather than invoke one. Glorfindel did not cause Eowyn and Merry to be able to kill the Witch-king. Likewise, neither Frodo nor the Ring caused Gollum to fall into the fire. But this leads us to our next question: why might a direct, active, intentional or prejudiced “cause” for Gollum’s fall be desired in a reading of the text? And if there isn’t one, does that mean what led to the destruction of the Ring was simply an accident?

Notes in Part 3

A fact that I would argue should be of no great surprise since the Ring can be understood as a secondary incarnation of Sauron.

It is not strictly true that wearing the Ring alone is sufficient to expose someone to Sauron’s gaze: Sam wears the Ring while rescuing Frodo from Cirith Ungol, but Sauron does not see him. Yet, there is a sense that the combination of how often a person uses the Ring, combined with proximity to Orodruin, their intentions when wearing the Ring, and whether they are part of some other “magical” process (such as on Amon Hen) increase the possibility that Sauron will “see” them.

A long post on the method and functioning of the Ring will have to be left for another day. Suffice it to say the distinctions between proximity to/bearing of/wearing of/and claiming the Ring are an interesting topic.

This, of course, assumes that in order to “curse” Frodo would need to use the Ring. As a hobbit unrelated to any particularly powerful bloodline (in the way Aragorn and Isildur were) it seems unlikely to me Frodo alone could curse Gollum in any real and binding way.

I suspect there may be some disagreement over whether “Osanwe-kenta,” a piece which dates to the late 1950s shortly after the publication of The Lord of the Rings, should be considered authoritative for interpreting the events of the novel. Since it was written not long after, in a time period in which Tolkien’s intent seemed to be to bring the greater mythology in line with The Lord of the Rings, and also since Tolkien seemed to view published works with some heightened level of authority, I believe it would have been written with the binding nature of The Lord of the Rings in mind. Whether texts outside The Lord of the Rings (and The Hobbit) should be used to aid in a reading of The Lord of the Rings is a valuable question, but since the inclusion of Letter 192 as an interpretive aid is presupposed in this essay, I see no reason not to consider other texts as well.

[Continue to PART 4: Examining the Threads]

[just-eyris-things]

ALL ABOARD BECAUSE I HAVE THOUGHTS (SOTO STORY + SORROW LOST ACHIEVEMENT SPOILERS) (super long) this image literally me right now btw

In Sorrow Lost achievement, you collect Oracle Cards and after you gather them all you get a reading from Dagda.

Here it comes!

In case the image isn't loading, it's a chat window screen of Dagda and I's conversation:

Dagda: I was never as adept as she with these magics, but if you'd allow it… I could give you a reading? Eyrhys: I'd be honoured. Dagda: Four - five cards are whispering. The Satchel of Fate. The Stag and the Fiend. The Mirror. Dagda: And... The Convoy. Dagda: The Convoy enters while the Mirror reaches into the Satchel of Fate... Dagda: The Stag faces a severe choice. Eyrhys: The Convoy card is blank...? Who is it? Dagda: I think it might be...? No, take a look again.

And here are the cards she's talking about. I am putting them in an order Dagda is reading them.

The Convoy:

The Convoy The Nameless Convoy The page swirls with all of the names you've been called before. Wayfinder, Commander, Champion... They all sting your eyes.

The Mirror:

IV: The Mirror Isgarren, the Wizard of the Tower The sting of a strong gust; the distance he will fall. It is not as he remembered, being alive.

The Satchel of Fate:

X: Satchel of Fate Wizard's Ascent A collection of ideas, spread across the table. Between wars and lovers, they almost always choose war.

The Stag:

IX: The Stag Zojja, the Elementalist of the Ward The words of this card swirl about, unsure what it should tell you. The only words you can make out are "empty," "flight," and "slumber."

And finally, the Fiend:

XV: The Fiend Arina, the Outrider of the Ward The Lady would look upon the other world and see opportunity.

OKAY NOW THAT WE HAVE THE CARDS OUT OF THE WAY. MY VERY MESSY ANALYSIS HERE WE GOOOO

The Commander (the Convoy), the protector of Tyria, has arrived to the wizarding world and joined the battle. Meanwhile, Isgarren (the Mirror) faces choices (Satchel of Fate). Pretty obvious so far. The Satchel card points out the choice between war and love and that the wizard chooses war almost all the time.

This makes me think of the "bigger picture" kind of dialogue when the Commander is asked if they would save the village or slay the dragon. They would save the village. The wizards would slay the dragon. I think here the village could symbolise love - love for all that's alive, love for the 'smaller picture' that makes the bigger picture full. The dragon could be war - by slaying a dragon one leaves a trail of bodies behind. I feel like here the cards are telling us that Isgarren has lost the sight of the "small picture" because he is too focused on the famous bigger picture, he doesn't look at the small details. Perhaps that is because he has lost a piece of himself by living among the wizards, so far from mortals (I mean it is pointed out that nobody has seen Isgarren for generations...), he doesn't remember how it is to care for those little villages that could suffer from the dragon war. And from how I am reading The Mirror - he won't like remembering.

OKAY BUT LET'S GO BACK TO WAR AND LOVE BECAUSE I HAVE THOUGHTS and yes this is messy because the more I write the more thoughts I have, sorry!

So, War and Love. I'd like you to remember the last SotO instance as of the first SotO patch on 22.08.23.

Could it be that "war" here refers to Isgarren's "let's watch Eparch eat his own army" and perhaps "love" means "let's help demons in need"?

Now, I am not a native speaker. So just to make sure, I checked the meaning of convoy to see if I remembered it correctly. The Convoy means a protector of someone important (eg. guards escorting diplomats) or that important someone being protected (eg. trading ships being escorted by warships). So I think we could say that the Commander is both the Protector and, for the sake of my analysis, the Diplomat. Did we not rally all the Tyrian Orders (diplomacy)? Did we not fight Dragons (protector)? and those are only two examples from PERSONAL STORY SO THEY ARE LIKE WHAT, 12 YEARS OLD? There were multiple occassions where we needed to talk to people, there were days where we had to rely on our brute force. The Commander, is more than just a fighter. At least that's my idea of them. But, let's go back to SotO.

So we are both acknowledged fighter and a diplomat. Isgarren does, after all, ask us for our opinion about Peitha, does he not? If we said we're fighting, he would not stop us. If we said we're going to talk - we'd talk. But let's look at what actually happens.

In the story, Isgarren, who initially wants to go for "war", turns to us and asks us if we trust peitha. Regardless of our answer, we end up choosing "love". It feels to me like it's somehow us who influences Isgarren, even if indirectly, to choose the latter option.

So there's that. NOW ONTO ZOJJA and the Fiend, I guess.

Zojja, as the stag, is facing a choice. My question is, does this refer to her considering becoming a wizard, or perhaps it is a choice that is yet to be revealed? Personally I think it might be the latter simply because I got an impression that Zojja has already made up her mind on this one, HOWEVER, the words "empty" "flight" and "slumber" make me think "is this about her emptying her memories, putting her sense of self to sleep so she could spread her metaphorical wings in the wizard department?"

The Fiend Card does not do much in Dagda's reading, she only mentions it. The Card refers to Arina, Frode's daughter. She was sucked in by the rift into the demon realm and from what I see on the card, I think she might be recruited by the demons? Perhaps she might become corrupted and she might be our enemy?

So... yeah. there's that. Thanks for reading and sorry if this is very chaotic to read. My thoughts are racing and I'm bet that if I think about it some more I will have even MORE thoughts. Again, thanks for reading and see you around on this helled website (affectionate).

[vinnymauro]

fanfic tag game

tagged by @userbats & @spoookysix, thank you both!! sorry this took me days to complete

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

7, soon to be 8 and more whenever i finish writing and editing.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

240,340 words across posted works.

3. What fandoms do you write for?

stranger things. bc as i told my mom, it's the only show i'm comfortable with bc of how many times i've watched it. i'd probably write ted lasso if i wasn't so painfully usamerican and anti sport.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

stranger i know so well at 150 kudos don’t, dont, don’t throw it away at 66 kudos pretty eyed, pirate smile at 52 kudos i will love you without any strings attached at 31 kudos tied me to you at 24 kudos

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

i didn't used to but i just started to! i felt ummm weird about it and self-conscious but now i just think it's nice to say thank you<3

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

i don't think i have one!! this one i'm currently writing might actually lmao.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

uhhh i think all of mine are pretty happy tbh. i think the happiest is peps bc i have a headcanon they get married in the front yard of the house so chrissy and barb could be there. also yk halloween graveyard wedding bc nancy caved to eddie's whims.

8. Do you get hate on fics?

no, not outwardly. but i wouldn't be surprised since i write mostly about rarepairs that people hate<3

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

not really. i'll write smut adjacent things and lead ups but not the actual act, no.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

i don't have one currently except for the stranger things x buffy the vampire slayer au that's in my head. i need another btvs rewatch (and to finish this one i'm on but i don't want to watch the last episode ya feel???) and to finish my other current wips. but all i have to say is nancy wheeler as the slayer uhhhh slays?

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

not that i'm aware of, no.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

i have not but it'd be cool!!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

twice. one of my first ever oc fics i once started co-writing with a friend of mine during a sort of all nighter after watching the crow. it did not last long and i ended up writing some more of it myself. and another time with a friend back when i wrote hp fanfic (groans @ past) but that never finished.

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

i don't know if i have one. i have fandom specific ones but an all time favorite is too much to ask!!

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

band fic you'll always be famous!!!!! (ronance one shot from it when????)

16. What are your writing strengths?

i think characterization is like the only thing i have going for me.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

grammar!!! tense switching for sure.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

i usually try to stay away from it bc google translate isn't always to be trusted and then there's like regional specific translations and oof. i doubt myself even with saying like a word or two in a language i vaguely understand.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

i wrote bandfic when i started. mostly about good charlotte and mest. and occasionally early crackfic crossovers where all my favorite band people and skateboarders just uhhhh hung out... it made no sense but i was 11 so. embarrassingly enough the first non-band fic i wrote was harry potter. we all have to start somewhere i guess.

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

peps. it'll always be my favorite ever.

no pressure tags: @stargyles, @rejectofsociety, @sweetpeapod & anyone who sees this and would like to do it<3

[saturns-ringg]

ahhhh I'm doing this and tagging ppl!!! I may not give some info but yeah

middle name: julianne

age: between 13-14 (guess)

bday: april 24

zodiac sign: taurus!!

fave color: purple/dark orange

lucky number: 9!!

pets: cat and dog!!

from: america...

height: 5''6

shoe size: 7 or 7 1/2 in womens

pairs of shoes: 7

last drem: genuinely dont remember...

talents: art and writing

psychic? uh, dunno

fave song atm: wet by dazey and the scouts

favorite movie: spider man across the spiderverse

ideal partner: dunno

want children?: only if I can adopt them, no way I am having a child

church wedding?: noooooo!!!

religious? hellenistic pagan

have you been to the hospital? yes, for MANY ear infections as a kid

ever got in trouble with the law? nooooppeee

ever met any celeberties? only local ones...

baths or showers? showers

what color socks are you wearing? blue

have you ever been famous? yeah, school famous in like 4th grade for "dating" a kid-

would you like to be a big celebrity? not really

what type of music do you like? pov: indie according to spotify

have you ever been skinny dipping? no I will never-

how many pillows do you sleep with? 2, with a bunch of plushies

what position do you usually sleep in? stomach-?

How big is your house? medium-small(?)

What do you typically have for breakfast? toast 🤤🤤

Have you ever fired a gun? no

Have you ever tried archery? yes

Favorite clean word? mischievous

Favorite swear word? bitch

What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without sleep? 20 hours

Do you have any scars? no

Have you ever had a secret admirer? no

Are you a good liar? kind of

Are you a good judge of character? dunno

Can you do any other accents other than your own? cursive, ik it isn't an accent but its funny

Do you have a strong accent? no

What is your favorite accent? british

What is your personality type? enfp-t

What is your most expensive piece of clothing? no idea

Can you curl your tongue? yes

Are you an innie or an outie? innie

Left or right handed? right

Are you scared of spiders? yes

Favorite food? pastaaa

Favorite foreign food? greek hummus

Are you a clean or messy person? messy for sure

Most used phrased? "uhm, actually"

Most used word? slay

How long does it take for you to get ready? about 30 minutes

Do you have much of an ego? sorta

Do you suck or bite lollipops? suck ofc

Do you talk to yourself? all the time

Do you sing to yourself? not really

Are you a good singer? meh

Biggest Fear? being embarassed

Are you a gossip? nah

Best dramatic movie you’ve seen? don't worry darling

Do you like long or short hair? short

Can you name all 50 states of America? kind of

Favorite school subject? english

Extrovert or Introvert? ambivert but more extrovert

Have you ever been scuba diving? no

What makes you nervous? my english teacher/my grades

Are you scared of the dark? yes

Do you correct people when they make mistakes? sometimes

Are you ticklish? yes

Have you ever started a rumor? i don't think so

Have you ever been in a position of authority? nah

Have you ever drank underage? no

Have you ever done drugs? no

Who was your first real crush? a boy I met in the library

How many piercings do you have? one, but I'd like about 4

Can you roll your Rs?“ yes

How fast can you type? decently-?

How fast can you run? not that fast

What color is your hair? brown

What color is your eyes? dark blue

What are you allergic to? I guess just seasonal allergies

Do you keep a journal? no, used to

What do your parents do? dad works at a car paint shop and my mom works in a special ed classroom

Do you like your age? sorta

What makes you angry? the government/stupid people

Do you like your own name? not really

Have you already thought of baby names, and if so what are they? apollo, athena, mae, macy

Do you want a boy a girl for a child? either

What are you strengths? silliness

What are your weaknesses? silliness

How did you get your name? from the song letters to elise by the cure

Were your ancestors royalty? I don't think so, although I think I am semi-related to Ulysses Grant

Do you have any scars? no

Color of your bedspread? white/purple

Color of your room? pink/white, but like aesthetic pink

tagging: @draweronly @rrcenic @moonsgreendawn @toddreblogslotf @kunfire @peachtaglia and any of my other mutuals that I somehow haven't thought of!!!

Get To Know Me Uncomfortably Well

PLEASE DON’T LET THIS FLOP AHHHH

1. What is you middle name? 2. How old are you? 3. When is your birthday? 4. What is your zodiac sign? 5. What is your favorite color? 6. What’s your lucky number? 7. Do you have any pets? 8. Where are you from? 9. How tall are you? 10. What shoe size are you? 11. How many pairs of shoes do you own? 12. What was your last dream about? 13. What talents do you have? 14. Are you psychic in any way? 15. Favorite song? 16. Favorite movie? 17. Who would be your ideal partner? 18. Do you want children? 19. Do you want a church wedding? 20. Are you religious? 21. Have you ever been to the hospital? 22. Have you ever got in trouble with the law? 23. Have you ever met any celebrities? 24. Baths or showers? 25. What color socks are you wearing? 26. Have you ever been famous? 27. Would you like to be a big celebrity? 28. What type of music do you like? 29. Have you ever been skinny dipping? 30. How many pillows do you sleep with? 31. What position do you usually sleep in? 32. How big is your house? 33. What do you typically have for breakfast? 34. Have you ever fired a gun? 35. Have you ever tried archery? 36. Favorite clean word? 37. Favorite swear word? 38. What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without sleep? 39. Do you have any scars? 40. Have you ever had a secret admirer? 41. Are you a good liar? 42. Are you a good judge of character? 43. Can you do any other accents other than your own? 44. Do you have a strong accent? 45. What is your favorite accent? 46. What is your personality type? 47. What is your most expensive piece of clothing? 48. Can you curl your tongue? 49. Are you an innie or an outie? 50. Left or right handed? 51. Are you scared of spiders? 52. Favorite food? 53. Favorite foreign food? 54. Are you a clean or messy person? 55. Most used phrased? 56. Most used word? 57. How long does it take for you to get ready? 58. Do you have much of an ego? 59. Do you suck or bite lollipops? 60. Do you talk to yourself? 61. Do you sing to yourself? 62. Are you a good singer? 63. Biggest Fear? 64. Are you a gossip? 65. Best dramatic movie you’ve seen? 66. Do you like long or short hair? 67. Can you name all 50 states of America? 68. Favorite school subject? 69. Extrovert or Introvert? 70. Have you ever been scuba diving? 71. What makes you nervous? 72. Are you scared of the dark? 73. Do you correct people when they make mistakes? 74. Are you ticklish? 75. Have you ever started a rumor? 76. Have you ever been in a position of authority? 77. Have you ever drank underage? 78. Have you ever done drugs? 79. Who was your first real crush? 80. How many piercings do you have? 81. Can you roll your Rs?“ 82. How fast can you type? 83. How fast can you run? 84. What color is your hair? 85. What color is your eyes? 86. What are you allergic to? 87. Do you keep a journal? 88. What do your parents do? 89. Do you like your age? 90. What makes you angry? 91. Do you like your own name? 92. Have you already thought of baby names, and if so what are they? 93. Do you want a boy a girl for a child? 94. What are you strengths? 95. What are your weaknesses? 96. How did you get your name? 97. Were your ancestors royalty? 98. Do you have any scars? 99. Color of your bedspread? 100. Color of your room?