#faulkner redemption arc????

[nana-glass-chillhop-radio-hour]

I have not been the same since Jon Ware and Muna Hassan put 'the Devil is All Around' by Shovels and Rope on an official TSV playlist. I was not emotionally prepared.

[quinngefail]

Another awful flirt Adam would do is some REALLY stupid shit like “Are you Pikachu? Because I wanna take a peek at you” like the absolute most awful cringe fail shit.

Uh oh...... Looks like someone's been actively working to be a better person, and is paying attention to his daughter and her interestsss :33

Patreon!

[canmom]

tsv episodes 24-27

loved 24. i mean it's a Carpenter centric episode so of course it slaps, and fascinating to see her really confront the shit she has done and how she rationalised it at the time. i think one thing this show does exceptionally well is show how people don't have to be an anime psycho to commit violence - how with the right social pressures you could totally become someone who does the monthly murder before dinner. the setup reminds me of that point in Exordia where Anna goes into hell. time loop lotus flower dream stuff can go a few ways, but these cruel variants are especially interesting. one thing that wasn't entirely clear was the old man and little girl who Carpenter apparently left behind - possibly this is foreshadowing? unless they mean the pox monk and the girl who can't see other people but i don't think so. besides Nana Glass there was another voice of Carpenter's guilt that I didn't recognise, and maybe this is related to whatever is being foreshadowed.

episode 25... was kind of a moving the pieces around episode. the 'snuff gods' were cute - it's interesting to see what the line is for what people consider a truly socially unacceptable god in this setting after we've seen what they'll rationalise. i honestly don't get that much out of the hunter duo - they're not terrible characters but they don't feel like they have the depth of our MCs. i kind of expect at least one of them to get killed off in the finale. but while it was good to see Carpenter and Faulkner reunited, it was less emotional themes and more action.

episodes 26 and 27 though - hoo boy. paige and her dad have a fascinating dynamic, and this season it feels like the real thematic meat lies with this attempt to create a parasitic god that steals martyrs.

and honestly, what a way to make the classic redemption arc => immediate heroic sacrifice beat fresh and sharp again. the white crocus flower imagery is so damn nier, can't get enough of white flowers that symbolise death in fiction lol.

but I'm even more fascinated by the idea that this god punishes all acts of predation, even a whale consuming krill. the inherent violence of animal life was probably not considered in scope. we already have themes of "pollution" by the effects of the war and the churning of gods, and this area seems well on its way to becoming another spiritual chernobyl.

the prisoner, Esther, was also really well handled. though she's a victim of this regime, she still has agency, and a real no bullshit attitude about her situation and the options. although she only appears briefly, she makes a very strong impression.

we're on to the rapid apocalyptic escalation now. this is an insanely good story, just the kind that i love - tightly plotted, thematically sharp, juicy with its imagery. can't get enough of it.

[hislittleraincloud]

Wow, so much wrong.

The Hell do you mean, "reported ass by Bianca"? She wanted to get back with him until he whined about Wednesday during the Rave'N and she then turned her attention to Lucas who, by all accounts since we heard directly from him, was also bitter and pressured by the people around him to fit in. (It's Lucas who deserves the redemption arc, since we saw him being a bully but then watched as Enid brought him out of it, finally (albeit too late since he couldn't stop the prank).)

"Almost immediately after he realized he had been wrong for doing it"

Which show are you guys watching? Are you as delu as the Wenclairs?

Donovan sent Tyler to a boot camp to straighten him out. (And there's nothing in any canon that says that he didn't have his first Hyde transformation during, which would lend to the entirety of the Netflix Hyde canon re: Françoise and Olga.) That's when he 'became soft', but it's also that Tylers father is the sheriff. Those are the reasons why he even stopped hanging out with Carter, Jonah, and Lucas, and from the behavior of all three onscreen we can infer that Tyler was the exact same way before they were all caught assaulting Xavier/destroying his mural.

As for defending Wednesday, the dude was at work. Normal humans, no matter what workplace situation, would try to stop harassment of other customers, and since he was going to drive her to Burlington, of course he stepped in.

But then he killed Rowan because Laurel needed Wednesday alive.

And then attacked/tried to kill Eugene when Eugene witnessed Laurel setting the cave on fire.

The original script age for Tyler is also irrelevant, he wasn't the same age as Wednesday et al in the final casting/shooting. He told Wednesday that he didn't want to be a bitter Normie as an excuse for what he did to Xavier when he was explaining himself at the dance, but all the while he was collecting body parts to resurrect the most heinous anti-Outcast bigot in their town's history. And we know he knew all of that, because we can INFER such from what he hissed in Wednesday's ear (the chilling "You have no idea what's coming...") at the police station, coupled with the implied preparation he was involved in before the ritual where he brought and helped chain up Wednesday/otherwise helped Laurel in the crypt. It was also at the police station where he admitted the true nature of it, and that he had grown to love tearing people apart and tasting their fear.

It was delicious.

Laurel didn't force him to like it. It just came naturally as a Hyde. And it can't be studied safely except in a lab, probably, since Faulkner was killed by a Hyde trying to study it. Hydes are so damn dangerous they were banned from Nevermore, and that's saying something since they openly have vampires, gorgons, and fkn werewolves as a huge part of the school. All of those are traditionally pretty dangerous killers, but not in Wednesday canon...the only dangerous killers are Hydes.

Wednesday is unreliable because her deductions could be wrong, but when she told Donovan "Tyler will turn on you too", she was right, because he did. When Donovan shot at Hyde!Tyler, H!Tyler went straight for Donovan. It was Enid who saved Donovan's life. (Which is another reason why I fucking despise that novelization.) That is the nature of the Hyde. They don't care about "family", they will attack (and really, H!Tyler had no reason to fight Enid after Wednesday escaped, the little bitch could've run away himself, but he chose to fight Enid). Tyler also didn't care about Wednesday the last time he encountered her in the forest and tried to kill her; he was not under Laurel's direction to do so, since she had served her purpose in resurrecting Crackstone.

I get it, fandom is massive on the Fix Its and the redemption arcs (which fandom isn't), but this dude isn't just a cuddly Beast like in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. He's literally the liar and the killer that Wednesday (wrongfully) accused Xavier of being. In terms of canon and W2, I don't see much right now that would make Wyler endgame. Ortega said herself that Tyler's off the table. Wavier was endgame (according to all the hints/clues), but White and fandom fucked that up (mostly White, but his response was poor/slow, which only fed the veracity of the claims). It irritates me that Ortega doesn't seem to care to take heed of the Wednesdays before her who did have love interests (JOEL...why is she ignoring JOEL?) and acknowledge her very average canon attraction to boys/men (men/young men in the musical with Lucas Beineke), though that's a whole other rant.

But I will say this again: I've had to defend your ship in the novelization since that guy injected so much Wenclairish crap in there that the positive comments about Tyler (and Xavier) got lost in the conversation. Am currently (urgh, the compulsion is taking away time from my own story) working to count the instances in which the book deviates from canon. There will be lots of acknowledgement about how m!Wednesday thinks about the boys.

"Tyler and The Hyde" "Tyler's Hyde" "Evil Tyler" UNLESS—

Laurel literally drugged him with chemicals, it could just be simple old mind control.

Also considering Hydes have been around for more, since Faulkner wrote his diary many years before the novel was published.

And that none of the other outcasts have the classic things:

-Werewolfs still have control over themselves when they tranform

-Sirens can walk and talk at the same time

-Gorgons only stone people temporarily

So let's give the boy some credit? He tried his best at helping Wednesday out

[pensivetense]

I don’t think Hayward needs a redemption arc I think he needs a religious fanaticism (sexy flavour not fundamentalist flavour) arc

[shnuggletea]

Chapter 21 is now live on FF and AO3 and chapter 23 is live on Patreon!!!

Love Lost: Strange monsters keep attacking the people of Earth and every time, Usagi can feel it. Following her instincts, she finds herself back in the world of fighting. But she doesn't remember being Sailor Moon in the first place. With the help of Luna and some reincarnated ex-foes, Usagi figures out how to keep those she loves safe. Even if it means leaving them behind. Dark Tree Arch. Want to read it from the beginning? Click here for FF! Here for AO3!!

Hey guys! Sorry, this took a minute. With the Darker Fics Oneshot Challenge I posted last week (working on it since August) and the posting date for Senshi Mini Bang coming up next month (working on it since June) I've been a bit busy. Along with work and posting for work and such.

My Darker Fic is part of a great collection of spooky and dark fics all over the fandom. I did Inuyasha but the Sailor Moon posting date is coming up soon. If you guys are into angst and horror (some kink in there too!) you should make sure to check it out. As well as the ones from other fandoms! I think you can search darker fics? Need to test that...

Now I'm focused on the Mini Bang, which, I'm sure most of you have heard of? It's where artists and writers work together to make something? And it's centered around the Senshi x Shitennou. I realize that's technically another fandom but it's not like you guys are completely in the dark with the characters ^_~ Mine is called Sanguine Potion # 13. I'll put the synopsis below for you guys!

Make sure you check out my Patreon for more works and exclusives! Including how you can vote on the ending for this fic!!! 

Sanguine Potion #13: Galaxia is gone and the world is in order again. Except for the Senshi's favorite couple. Usagi isn't being herself and Mamoru is deep in his work; both of them avoiding the issue that is their broken relationship. When time doesn't help, Minako comes up with an idea: use a love potion spell from an ancient Venusian book she 'borrowed' from Artemis. It takes some convincing, but the girls are all on board. The only problem? The ingredients are items of true love. One from each of them. How are they supposed to get an item from a person that (in their minds) doesn't exist? Can they get their items before it's too late and Usagi gives up completely?

Fanfiction link here!

AO3 link here!

Patreon here!

[ymawgat]

i hope Faulkner thesiltverses never has a redemption arc. i hope Faulkner thesiltverses is never punished for any of the shit he did. i hope Faulkner thesiltverses never ever faces any kind of narrative retribution. i hope in the last episode of the silt verses we see Faulkner thesiltverses getting therapy and eating chocolate and that’s the last time we ever see him

[lack-of-daisy-cow]

This episode just agdkqoufkandks ep 25 you have my heart!! Faulkner calling Carpenter the miracle his god sent for him, the first in a while. MArcO POLO!!! THE FIRST WORDS OF THE WHOLE SERIES COMINF BACK!!!! Also gages flute playing makes saints conscious beings again??? What??? Also gage redemption arc leading carpenter to bring them out into the woods and free the little girl would be so good. Ugh I just love this show with my whole heart omg

[feysandfeels]

Do you think Tamlin should get a redemption arc?

Hi dude! 

Okay please bare with me, I think a more “elaborate” answer here is due.

So as I haves said before, I think SJM writes nuanced characters, because that’s how people are in real life. I think the only flat out bad character was the king of Hybern because there are some people who just plainly suck (and because if I’m not mistaken she wanted to make him a very Tr*mp like character). So ultimately, even Tamlin has nuances and it’s not just abusive and that’s it. The fact for instance that he offered refuge to Alis and her nephews, that he is saddend by the death of Andras: stuff like that shows that he is not the all consuming evil. Through ACOTAR we do see how he actually cares and loves Feyre, Feysand even mention that there is no doubt that he loved her in ACOMAF; the fact that he protected Lucien against his brothers shows care for him. 

The problem to me is that Tamlin was always a bare minimum character, everything he does, he does it to the bare minimum and calls it a day. He doesn’t question himself if he should do more or how to do more and he is not interested in listening how he can be better because #HeDidntWantTheBurdenOfBeingHighLord and as a consequence he just wants to endure the role and not prevail (Thank you Faulkner). This extends to his personal life, he fell in love with Feyre and was a “good friend” to Lucien, but he never wanted to put in the effort to see them as equal, because he has this notion of power that his father and family gave him and didn’t do the hard work of growing out of his father’s discourse and that showed in his abusive tendencies. He has the minimum level of empathy required to do his job and keep his relations mildly happy (because they don’t realize he is doing the bare minimum) and that’s it.

I have always believed that people can change for the best if they want to make the effort to do so. The problem is that most people don’t want to put in the effort to change, because it requires commitment and will and to be able to acknowledge your own faults. So if we are talking in a hypothetical case of do you think Tamlin could change his abusive behaviour, I do think if he went to therapy, worked on himself and apologize to those he hurt, he could move past his abusive self.

The matter for me is more in the do I care for him to have a redemption arc? and the answer here is no, I don’t. It’s like do I want for my abusive ex partner to go to therapy for their sake and the sake of whoever they date so they don’t go through what I went through? yes. Do I want to be there to see their growth? no, I want them far away. I wouldn’t want one of the books or even novellas to be dedicated to Tamlin, I have other characters I rather focus on. 

[kcrabb88]

For the ask thing, Characterisation, Faulkner and critic? 💖

characterization: describe your favorite character(s) you’ve written. 

I can’t pick a favorite but I can talk about one whose been on my mind the past few days as I do pirate book #2 edits, and that’s Michel Delacroix. Transferring him over from my original Sailing by Orion’s Star Les Mis pirate fic to an original novel series, and having a little more space to work with him and get to understand him, has been extremely interesting. Michel does...a lot of truly atrocious things, and it’s because he lets fear color so many of his choices. At his core he’s this like, bisexual, jaded idealist, sometimes snobby emotional disaster of a man, who loves people so much and is horrible at letting them know as he gains more and more power, and he lets 18th century rules and regulations push him into being this person he truly is not, and has to both realize he’s become a bad person even if society calls him a hero and a gentleman, and then figure out what he’s going to DO to change himself. 

I wanted to write a redemption arc for a character who truly sees WHY what they did was wrong and then doesn’t just say they’re sorry, they act on it. They understand why they need to. Michel goes from protagonist to antagonist and then back to protagonist again, which has been fun to work with. I’m working on retooling some scenes with him right now, and I feel like I’m getting to know him so well. 

faulkner: what tropes do you LOVE writing? which ones are your guilty pleasure?

I love legit ANYTHING to do with hurt/comfort. Emotional breakdowns. Someone getting stabbed or shot and people having to take care of them. In either scenario. I write that stuff ALL THE TIME and I love it so much. I also love emotional fight scenes, whether that means two characters who love each desperately shouting at each other with cracked voices or like, characters crying with a sword in their hand. If it’s Dramatic like that, you can be rest assured I’ll write it. 

critic: what’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about writing?

Honestly, probably write what you want to read? Because I have basically no trouble reading my stuff over because I like what I’m writing and would read it if someone else wrote it that way! 

Also, plot does not = a bunch of disconnected action scenes! Plot is character and plot is building your world, and I think a lot of people get that twisted. Character-driven plots, they’re the best. 

[care-devil]

Do you believe there’s a parallel when Matt said to Maggie that he doesn't think it's possible that someone can change for the better, particularly because of a woman, and then later on Matt changes his outlook and attitude for the better partially because of Karen opening up to him and pleading for him to not kill?

See, that one’s definitely complex. When I first watched this season, I definitely thought it was a parallel. But I think it’s even more complicated than that.

Now, I feel like we have to break this down before commenting on it. Buckle up, it’s gonna take a while haha

So, I think you’re referring to 3x03, and more precisely to these bits:

39'32 

Matt: "Do you believe people can change?" 

 Maggie: "I'm still holding out hope." 

Matt: "I don't think we can. Not really. I think we come into this world who we are. And maybe we get a little nicer. Or a little angrier. But we can't change our fundamental nature." 

Maggie: “Well, you’d actually have to try to know.”

Matt: “I was talking about Wilson Fisk.”

 [...] 

41'07 

Maggie: "And according to you, people can't change." 

Matt: "'Cause he's claiming to have changed over a woman." 

Maggie: "I see. Well, if there's anything that can redeem a lost soul, love would have to top the list." 

Matt: "Oh, come on. Even a monster like Fisk?" 

Maggie: "You're talking to a nun, kiddo. Love and redemption are pretty much our sales pitch." 

Matt: "Yeah. Well, I'm not buying."

Here, Matt just came back from his little trip to Fisk’s hotel. And what is really, really interesting, is that right before this scene, we got to see Karen arguing with Ellison about whether or not she should be the one to write something about Fisk getting out of jail. 

“What I give a shit about, is Fisk getting out of prison. We have to do something, I have to do something about this. So don’t tell me to back off, because I won’t.” (Karen, 38′36).

Why is that interesting? Because in the very same episode, in the very scene you mentioned, Matt says he finds it odd that he should regain his hearing just in time to hear that Fisk got out of prison. So that’s a definitely a parallel. And I would go as far as to say that the whole episode is paralleling Matt and Karen. 

1) Karen and Matt: toward the same goal

Here, Karen is hellbent on writing about Fisk because a) she thinks it’s the right thing to do and b) I think she wants to do this for Matt. She might think he’s still alive, she doesn’t know it for sure, and there must be this little voice in her that tells her he’s not coming back, and that the least she can do is carrying out his legacy and corner Fisk. They’re connected. And it’s not a coincidence if the writers decided to have these two scenes follow each other.

Another parallel is, of course, when Matt’s incognito and passes by Karen in front of Fisk’s hotel:

“You’ll never keep Karen safe.”

She can feel his presence, just like he literally felt hers. I know we’ve already talked about this scene, but I think it’s so important. Fisk is Matt’s conscience, he crystallizes Matt’s inner demons, his deepest fears. One of them is losing Karen, or worse: not being able to save her. Get her killed, somehow. He is the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen. He’s got the devil in him. He who’s doubting his purpose, his faith. He’s afraid of tainting her soul, and lose her to another real-life demon, namely Fisk.

This might seem off-topic, but I think it’s important to pay attention to the context (the context being the whole episode), especially because the episode’s title is “No Good Deed.” Now, this might be the English major in me, but “no good deed” can be read a standalone phrase OR as a phrase which needs other words to form a sentence. It’s like something’s missing. Which makes sense, because it’s reminiscent of the well-known phrase “No good deed goes unpunished.” And this echoes such concepts as karma, or redemption. If you think people can’t change... then you don’t believe in redemption. And knowing that Matt’s going though a faith crisis, this is a logical interpretation.

2) Redemption

Redemption is one of the key themes of season 3. Matt’s fighting his demons, but so is Karen, who’s haunted by her past. So is Maggie, so is Father Lantom, so is Dex... Everyone has a past. “The past is never dead. It’s not even past,” William Faulkner said. Well, here, it shows. For all these characters, past = sins, and the only thing that differentiates them is how they choose to deal with that. They ALL embrace their sins and accept the fact that they are sinners who can’t be redeemed (which is part of the Catholic doctrine, all humans are born sinners). But when some think doing more harm won’t change anything (Dex), others try to do some good (Karen, Maggie, Father Lantom) and Matt is trapped between these two options, as he plans to cross the line and kill Fisk but still has morally good intentions. All but the villains are looking for redemption, which is, I think, a way to tell the bad guys from the good guys (even though the lines are very blurry in Daredevil, which is why it’s such a great show). 

But what is redemption, exactly? Well, first know I’m treading carefully here because I’m not a believer and I’ve never been to Sunday school or anything, all I know is from what I’ve read online and in books. But basically, all humans are born sinners because of Adam’s sin, and have to be reborn to have access to God’s kingdom: 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

Knowing this season was heavily inspired by the Born Again arc by Frank Miller, I think that redemption is definitely one of the season’s key motifs. And for most of the season, Matt doesn’t believe he’s worthy of being saved, and neither does Karen, who says “there’s no atoning for what [she] did” (3x11).

So, in 3x03, Matt basically states he thinks nothing can redeem Fisk and, by extension, nothing can redeem him. He makes clear to Maggie he’s talking about Fisk, because she thought he was talking about him... And I think he is, even though he denies it. Take a look at the way the scene was shot:

The focus is clearly on Matt, and even when she’s speaking, Maggie remains blurry in the background. This creates a sense of intimacy, the viewer’s in Matt’s mind. The focus is on Matt’s words, Matt’s face, Matt’s inner stuggle. It wouldn’t be the first time Matt and Fisk are paralleled.

In the second bit, Matt says that one of the reasons why he thinks Fisk can’t change is because the origin of that change sounds ridiculous to him:

"'Cause he's claiming to have changed over a woman."  - Matt

Notice the smirk. Matt doesn’t buy it. It’s already hard enough to believe that such a monster would be capable of love, so changing because of the woman he loves? 

3) The power of love

Love is not powerful enough to change who you are. Love will make you happier, or angrier, but it won’t change you fundamental nature.

See how it works when you include love in that quote?

In my opinion, Matt thinks that way because he considers his own experience. His love life has been a disaster. 

Karen couldn’t change who he was. He told her, in The Defenders, that he didn’t want to change (after lying to her about it): 

Karen: "God. I don’t understand. After everything you’ve worked for? You were finally rebuilding your life."

Matt: "Karen this is my life. I have to go.” (1x07)

With El*ktra, he didn’t have to change who he was, and this is partly why it felt so good to be around her. But if you look at their relationship through the prism of change... She couldn’t change him either. She couldn’t get him to kill Sweeney, for instance. She even tells him she’s glad she couldn’t in 2x08: “There’s a light inside you. I tried to snuff it out in college. I’m so lucky I failed.” So, you see, it goes both ways. And Matt couldn’t get El*ktra to change, despite all his efforts. The one thing that never changed in her is her love for him. But they almost fought until the bitter end. The only thing they could agree on was that they loved each other (and even though I don’t ship them, I can’t deny there’s something truly beautiful and tragic in their relationship, and their last moments together killed me). However... love wasn’t enough to make her change, and it wasn’t enough to make him change. Which why he can’t believe Fisk changed for Vanessa. Which is why he believes love is not THAT powerful.

4) People can’t change... but they can be forgiven.

So maybe Matt is right. Maybe people can’t change their fundamental nature. But one of the teachings of season 3 is that our mistakes don’t have to define us:  “Yeah. You’re right. His mistakes don’t need to define him. Neither do yours.” (Matt to Karen, 3x12). 

That’s a huge change in Matt’s philosophy. I can’t even begin to imagine all the effort it took him to say that. Because he’s made a lot of mistakes. And for him to say that... It must mean that, somehow, he believes this could apply to him as well. 

To conclude, I would say that people can’t change, but they can be redeemed. If not by God, then by people. And that is called forgiveness. 

Here’s the other bit you referred to, from 3x13:

Karen: “That was nice, what you said.”

Matt: “Yeah, it wasn’t just him, you know. It was you, too. You helped me see the truth about myself.”

Karen: “Ouch.That had to hurt.“

Matt: “Well, maybe one of these days, I’ll forgive you, too.”

Karen: “Before my funeral, I hope.”

Matt: “I’m glad you told me, Karen. About Wesley and your brother.”

Karen: “Yeah. Well, uh I couldn’t live with that lie forever.”

Matt: “We’re all just trying to do more good than harm. And I’d say you’re ahead on that score.”

Matt saying that she helped him see the truth about himself echoes this blessed scene from the eulogy:

“For me, personally, he spent many years trying to get me to face my own fears. To understand how they enslaved me, how they divided me from the people that I love. He counseled me to transcend my fears, to be brave enough to forgive... and see the possibilities of being a man without fear.” (Matt, 3x13)

Catholicism is about sins... but it’s also about forgiveness. It’s about darkness, but it’s also about light. So I think that, indeed, seeing that Karen, whom he always put on a pedestal, is also guilty, has even done the thing he swore he’d never do... Must have changed his mind. More than that, I think it has changed him. She shook his beliefs. And, after all, it’s her own love for justice, truth, and people in general, that redeem her. Karen has never been bad at core. She’s made mistakes. Terrible, painful mistakes. Mistakes that cost people their lives. But still, mistakes. Sins have become mistakes, in a way. And mistakes can be forgiven.

In a nutshell, I think that, indeed, this is a parallel. Karen has an impact on Matt, just like Matt has an impact on her. I truly think they make each other better persons. Which is why I love them so much: they are so alike, and yet, have such a hard time understanding each other. 

Thank you soooo much for this question, anon. I hope I answered it! :) 

[cocoartistwrites]

Pulitzer, Faulkner, trope!

pulitzer: tell about/link a piece where you felt your writing was the best.

the best thing i’ve ever written was a poem about Sarajevo and the way you can still feel echoes of the war there.  

faulkner: what tropes do you LOVE writing? which ones are your guilty pleasure?

falling for the bad guy, redemption arcs

trope: what’s a pet peeve you have about writing?

1. people who overwrite (because i used to). 

2. people who write poems 

like this 

that are just prose 

split 

onto lines 

for affect*

3. (*another peeve)  

ask me writerly things!

[ophiaihel]

Faulkner and Playlist for the writer ask 💛

[ faulkner ] what tropes do you LOVE writing? which ones are your guilty pleasure?

ahh, i’m weak for a lot of tropes, tbh. i’m definitely a “chosen one” type of girl, as well as a redemption arc kinda girl. ALSO I’M HERE FOR THE “FEMALE DRESSING AS A MALE” TROPE AND I’M NOT REALLY SORRY! :’)

[ playlist ] answered here!

thank you for the questions!! ;)

ask me some questions!

[hazeywrites]

Faulkner and houghton?

writer asks 📃

faulkner: what tropes do you LOVE writing? which ones are your guilty pleasure?I think my guilty pleasure is redemption arcs. I’ve always been inclined to favour the villains in various works of fiction, and I love the idea of their becoming the main character and getting a chance to redeem themselves. Apparently I enjoy writing the opposite!

houghton: what’s something you love that people compliment your pieces on?Hmm. I’m really not sure with this one. I love being moved by what I read, and I’ve had a few people comment that they’ve been touched by a few little bits and pieces I’ve shared thus far, which is lovely to hear. Of course, I love any compliment at all when it comes to my writing, since it really does mean the world to me.

[shnuggletea]

Chapter 22 is now LIVE on fanfiction and AO3! 

For those of you keeping count, this is twenty-two of twenty-four chapters. Now that the voting has closed, I will be finishing up the finale! Thank you to all of you who voted! I will be getting that chapter to you soon! Chapter 24 will be live on Patreon asap, I have to finish writing it! But! You guys voted so now I can write the finale based on your thoughts!!

Just so people that are interested know, I’m currently working on the next chapter of Enchanted. No, I haven’t forgotten and yes, I am going to finish it someday. Better read it while you can though cause I’m going to turn it into an original and take it off the site pretty much as soon as it’s done!

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Chapter 22

“Your memory feels like home to me. So whenever my mind wanders, it always finds it’s way back to you.” ― Ranata Suzuki

Waking to black hair in the bed with her had been startling until she remembered and realized it was just Rei, her back to her as she slept.

Rising carefully, she managed to remove herself from the bed without waking either black haired guardian within it. Tiptoeing to her dresser, she traded out her PJs for a pair of jeans and a thick sweater. As quietly as possible, she pushed her feet into her boots and pulled on her coat as she left the apartment, all occupants snoring softly inside.

The frozen ground crunched under her soles as she walked, the grass-covered in ice from the morning dew that froze in the cold. Even in the middle of winter and night, the park still looked beautiful, the trees glittering slightly from the frost that covered them. The moon was still up, high in the sky as it slowly made its way down to the other side of the world. It seemed to glitter as well.

Once in the park, it didn't take her long to find him, standing in front of the pond they shared a kiss at in one of their lives. Without a word or hesitation, they wrapped their arms around each other once she neared him. There was no explanation for it, the two of them just knowing to come to this exact spot and knowing the other would be there.

He planted a kiss on her forehead, still holding on to her tight. "I'm sorry I didn't keep my promise to protect you."

"Why didn't you? And why don't I remember any of that?"

He chuckled, "Usako, you were four years old. I'm surprised you remembered your name!"

"But you weren't. If I was four then you were seven. Why didn't you remember and tell me before?"

He stiffened and she felt it all as it rushed through him to her. Her arms around his waist, she pulled him in as tight as she could. "Oh Mamo, I'm so sorry."

Silence fell over them, or at least, they would appear silent to anyone who happened to pass by at such a late hour. The two of them consoling one another with all their might. Him for not being there for her as promised at no fault of his own and her for the loss of his family and memories. She desperately wished she had memories of them for him, to share with him. If only they had gone inside; if she and her mom had gone in just to say 'hi' or let his parents know what he had done….

"Stop, Usako, it's not your fault." She let it go, nodding in understanding. Not wanting to upset him any further. "I wanted to show you something."

Pulling herself from his chest, she found him with a grin and a twinkle in his eyes, reminding her very much of Endymion at that moment. "Really? Haven't you already shown me enough?"

His grin turned to a smirk but said nothing from his link or his mouth. It fell past her face so small and fast, she wasn't sure she really saw it. But then more began to fall, the small white flakes each perfect in their own way.

He released her and she stepped away, watching as the sky turned white. Her hand stuck up in the air, catching a few flakes as if to test if they were real. Then she let them both fly out, catching as many as she could in her palms. She giggled, spinning in the white fluff, it sticking and starting to pile up on the ground already.

Even though she already knew he was, she turned back, finding his eyes on her and her heart raced. "I know what you are doing by the way." He flinched slightly, not sure how he thought he could hide it from her. "But it doesn't matter now, whether I am like Serenity or not."

A smile slowly formed on his face. "And why is that?"

Her heart was beating erratically, barely containing it inside her chest. "You know why."

He made his way to her, the thick snow crunching under his feet and not another sound other than the snow softly hitting the Earth. "I still want to hear you say it."

Her arms across her chest, she did her best to protect herself, even though there was no point. "I don't need to be Serenity because you love me." He nodded, wrapping his arms around her again. "And I love you, Mamoru."

With her heart already pulsing, she actually needed the alarm from her communicator. Mamoru released her just enough for them to look at it together. "Usagi-chan, Youma. Downtown shopping district."

Luna sent the coordinates, even though she didn't need them, already feeling the pull. She pulled the rest of the way free from Mamoru, readying to transform. "What is with these bad guys? Why in the world would they attack that area in the middle of the night?"

"Usako." He grabbed her arm, stopping her from moving or transforming. "This isn't about other people, it's about you."

"What?"

"Think about it. That last attack, they set it up for you. They are targeting you."

A shiver ran through her, a combination of their fears and worries. "Do you think that's why they attacked me in the arcade?"

His head shook, "I don't know. But it didn't feel that way. They must be targeting Sailor Moon and Usagi."

She slumped, looking at the now white ground. "Great… just great."

"I won't let anything happen to you."

"I'm more worried about something happening to you." He tried to pull her back to him, but she twisted free. "We should go. Get there and end this before anything bad happens."

~*O*~

He really should be focusing more on the fight they were racing towards, but all he could do was watch the goddess next to him as they both raced. Leaping from one building to the next, her body arched across the skyline, snow dancing around her. He probably should stop the snow now, it only being an impediment for them in battle. But it made Usagi so happy…

This wasn't going to do, he was far too distracted. Pushing, he cleared his mind of thoughts that weren't helpful at the moment and focused on the throbbing pain in the back of his brain. A reaction to the Earth and the people on it getting wrecked in one way or another.

But none of it prepared him for what they found when they arrived at the scene of the crime. Because it truly was a crime scene. It took him too long to react, grabbing Sailor Moon and pulling her into him to hide her eyes, even though she had already seen it.

Bodies. Everywhere. At least 20 all completely drained of energy.

"Welcome to the party, Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen!"

It was the same voice from before, the one that had taunted them last time. All they could tell for sure was that it was a male voice. Or at least, it sounded male to them as humans. Sailor Moon pulled away from his hold but he kept her close, a hand on the small of her back that was ready to grab and pull or toss if necessary. With their link and his touch on her, he could feel the tension she held in her body. It matched his.

"What have you done, you monsters!"

The heartache and tears Sailor Moon had were felt by him and heard by all in her voice. A high pitched and annoying giggle filled the air, a second creature taking the 'mic'.

"We took what we needed before but this time, for you Sailor Moon, we took it all!"

Rage growled from deep in his belly, the bodies around him that were killed for no reason amplifying his feelings. "How about you show yourselves you freaking cowards?"

"Hmmm… no I don't think we will. Not yet anyway."

He felt like he could spit fire at the both of them, the male in particular who continued to mock them from his hiding spot. But someone else did come out of hiding, a creature that looked like a tree with legs. Brown bark made up the skin of it and branches from the middle and bottom where its legs and arms. Its hair was twigs and leaves, twisting and shaking with every step it took closer to them.

On instinct, he threw Sailor Moon behind him. If the creature was any part of an Earth tree, this would be a short fight. Focusing, he watched as his golden cords fanned out and then wrapped around the monster. But they went no further, unable to penetrate the bark and dig into the Youma and take control. It wasn't from Earth at all.

The monster shrugged off his power, recoiling back to him with a snap and having him step back into Sailor Moon slightly. Then it started to shake, small at first but getting more and more violent until something burst out of its branches on the top of its head. Mixing with the falling snow, dark pink mixed with white, fat petals falling from the sky. Twisting, he wrapped his cape around Sailor Moon, even in her protests and shouts of fear for his safety. She was his priority.

But the petals didn't come near either of them, watching as they floated with a mind of their own only to land on the corpses around them. Attaching themselves to multiple parts and spots on their bodies, he watched in horror as the dead flesh began to twitch, tremor… then stand.

His arms still around her, they took several steps back but were quickly getting surrounded. "Tux…"

"I know, I know."

Pushing her behind him again, he punched a zombie that had gotten too close in the jaw. It hit the ground hard, a sick crunch from its bones, only to get right back up again. Laughter filled the air, his nausea burning his throat or his anger.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to do better than that, Tuxedo Kamen. Unless you want to just give us Sailor Moon?"

"Fuck you!"

Both voices erupted in laughter and his brain began to burn. Spinning on his heel, he found a wide-eyed Sailor Moon, tears brimming and making her blue pools sparkle. "Sailor Moon… they are already dead. Remember that."

Taking his staff, he pulled and unlocked the blade that hid inside it, the metal dull in the dark and early morning. The sharp intake of breath from Sailor Moon was deafening, only making what he had to do that much harder.

"Close your eyes, Usa." He whispered and prayed she obeyed.

But that wouldn't be Usako.

Grabbing it out of his hand, she flung the blade far, only getting a shocked glare shot at her before she ran from him. To make matters worse, the damn things followed her.

"Sailor Moon, cut it out!"

"I can't just let you… cut their heads off!"

He took off after her, kicking and punching as many of the walking dead out of his way as he followed. "They're already dead…"

"It doesn't matter! Think of what it will do to their families? What it will do to you!"

The idea of cutting someone's head off, dead or alive, did make his stomach turn. But it was better than the alternative, them getting Usagi. The nightmares would be nothing compared to the overwhelming pain he would feel if anything happened to her.

For a quick moment, he split from her, grabbing his blade back up and getting to her side. Sailor Moon reached for it to toss it again, but this time he was ready pulling back from her grasp to keep it in his hold. Now their backs were literally against the wall, the high brick wall that surrounded the parking lot they were in was behind them while zombies rounded on the two of them.

"Where the hell is everyone else?!"

Sailor Moon shivered from his tone and he pulled her closer to him, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"It will be okay. I promise I won't let anything happen to you."

"It's not me I'm worried about."

Her voice was shaking, the fear she had for him snaking through their connection. He couldn't stand it, her being so scared, all for him. The ground was quaking under them, his emotions taking control. But for once, he was thankful for it, the ground splitting open before them to create a deep barrier between them and the dead.

Just as they started to breathe easier, the dead began dropping into the hole. One after the other and Sailor Moon shrieked after them. It seemed pointless until they began to pile up. They were all reaching out for them, for Sailor Moon. It was enough to have his stomach turning again.

Not a moment too soon, fire filled the hole and he had to grab Sailor Moon again, covering her eyes. But nothing saved them from the smell. "Someone, kill the goddamn Yoma already!"

Now, ash-covered and charred arms reached for them, a few still on fire as they crawled out of the hole. Sailor Moon was sobbing while he was trying not to vomit. It would have been better if he had just cut their heads off after all.

"So much suffering for just one person…"

The bodies all went limp, the air shifting before them until a man stood before them. Well, not really a man, but he looked like one in a way. "You…"

"Oh? Have we met?"

Shit. This creature had attacked Mamoru not Tuxedo Kamen. He had almost fucked up royally.

"You are the cause of this? Ugly piece of shit like you?"

The creature fell for it, grimacing back at him. There had been two at the arcade the other day…

He felt it too late but still managed to throw Sailor Moon away and across the hole from them. The pink-haired bitch nearly sunk her claws into his blonde and he had to grab hold of her wrists to keep them from sinking into him.

"Tuxedo Kamen!"

"Just go!"

Sailor Moon was still on the ground, staring wide-eyed at the two of them. "Just go, Usako. I'll catch up!"

Their link was truly a blessing and a curse, her not believing him in the slightest and not moving from her spot on the ground save to get to her knees. Pain shot through his shoulder, having been distracted he now had long, pink knives sticking out of it. They appeared to be the monster's nails.

A roar erupted from his throat, now tossing the bitch at her lover who did not catch her correctly, both of them going down. Leaping across the void, he scooped up Sailor Moon and made for the others with her; Mars, Jed, Venus, and Kun going toe to toe with the tree creature. They weren't far and yet, no matter how hard he ran, it was as if they were going nowhere. It was then that Kun looked up at the two of them, his face going pale that he knew something was really wrong.

"Run all you want. Wear yourself out, it will make sucking you dry easier."

Setting Sailor Moon to her feet, he threw a rose, only to have it soar on endlessly as if time and space didn't exist. Or gravity, it hanging in the air as if it had none. "What did you do?!"

The girl shimmered before them, cackling. "Oh, not much. Just put you in a sort of...space vacuum. You're in what we like to call a time bubble, it doesn't really exist in here. And there is no exit."

"What do you want?"

He shoved Sailor Moon behind him but her words still made it out, the answer he knew he didn't want to hear. The male appeared next to his mate, looking Sailor Moon over like dinner. "Your energy was so… effective. And we are in need. So I'm going to have to ask you to give it to us. All of it."

"Will you let him go?"

Twisting, he growled back at her, but Sailor Moon didn't even flinch. "Sure. If you surrender to us!"

The smirk on the female's face told him it was all bull shit. They were going to drain Usagi dry and then him and whomever else they wanted. "Don't fall for it, Sailor Moon. They will never let either of us go."

"Tux…"

She was clawing at his back, pulling hard on his cape. He turned to her as much as he could without taking his eyes off the pair. "Sailor Moon, if you think for one second I'm going to just let you go then you are…."

She screamed, grabbing him and pushing him hard. He had been an idiot, taking his attention from them for a second to look Usagi in her eyes in hopes of bringing his words home. Instead, they had taken advantage and fucking up whatever he had hoped to tell her. His face hit the dirt but he didn't feel it, Usagi's screams making him numb all over in the worst way.

The male had her in his hold tight, pressing her against him, front to front that had him seething all the more. The female tried to stand between him and the two, putting on some sick pout on her face. There was no more control over himself at this point. Because they were touching Usagi, his Usako. So now they had to die.

His skin popped with electricity, it arching out and striking the female. She went sailing but he didn't watch to see where she landed. The male looked, watching the body of his lover go flying. But he held onto Sailor Moon still, now using her like a shield, the fucking coward.

"Let. Her. Go."

The creature shivered for a moment, but then smirked, twisting Sailor Moon around so that she was now facing him. "No. I don't think I will. Because you will never hurt her even if I do."

Sailor Moon whimpered, her arms locked in the creature's hold. She was being foolish, not wanting to strike the guy because he was similar to a human. But he wasn't human and he had killed several innocent people. She needed to snap out of it and take the fucker out!

It happened in slow motion, feeling so helpless as the creature held the woman he loved captive as a shield… and then leaned over to run his tongue over her neck and jaw.

His bones cracked from the pressure, his power surging but having nowhere to go. The creature had pissed him off so much, he wasn't sure he could contain himself and keep from hurting Usagi as well. The look on Sailor Moon's face was one of shock, having turned away from the assault to her skin. But it didn't last, her turning slowly to look at the beast as much as possible.

It was smirking, looking like he might do more to her. But then the monster started to shake, starting in his shoulders and chest and then all the way down to his toes. He could see it, the beautiful coils of Usagi's silver energy as it wrapped and twisted around her capture. The monster only felt the pain, soon losing his hold on Sailor Moon as the agony he had to feel took control of his limbs. Suddenly, his limbs snapped back, going up into the air and bending at an unnatural angle.

"ALI!"

The heart-wrenching scream woke up Sailor Moon, unfortunately, releasing the prick that had just held her for ransom. And she was still too close.

Time slowed again, him reaching for her while the female reached for her simultaneously. Her claws were out, planning on ripping Sailor Moon's heart out and he begged her through their link to move. But she was in shock, drained too, the energy she expended making her slow even though it wasn't much.

The night was just too much for her mind, making her sluggish. He wasn't slow though, grabbing her with just enough time to spin her out of the way and block the blow. Pain shot through his spine this time, the 'nails' digging in and going deep. It felt as if they touched his heart, it tripping over itself. But then he realized, it was the draining of his energy that caused the sensation, it getting siphoned off quickly.

Bright white light filled his vision, the nails getting ripped from him just before he hit the ground. "Mamo!"

She was whispering harshly in his ear, tears streaming down her face. He wiped them away with his gloved hand. "Shhh… it's okay. I'm fine."

He didn't feel fine, his accelerated healing not as quick as he needed it to be as he bled out. And shit, their link was a curse again, her hearing every thought in his weakened state. "Let me take a look…"

"No, Usa. Just get out of here. I'll be fine, I can take them myself."

"You can't even stand!"

She was right, half on the ground (and half in her lap) Usagi was holding him as he laid limp. It was as if his spine was broken.

Oh...it was.

Severed by the creature's claws. But his neck worked, looking around for the threat only to find them limping away. The two of them held onto one another, neither in good enough condition to help themselves let alone one another. They shimmered away so he looked for the other creature, catching it as it turned to dust thanks to a large blast of fire from Mars. Usagi was safe, he could rest now…

"Don't you dare close your eyes, Mamoru. I will NEVER forgive you if you die on me again!"

"I'm just going to… rest for a minute…"

"Mamoru?...Mamoru!...MAMORU!"