#finnian thorne

[wingsofithil]

Cauldron save you. It seems FINNIAN THORNE has been teleported to the Dusk Court, the BODYGUARD from DAWN is said to be LOYAL and is said to describe themselves with THE DANCE BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARKNESS, A SHADOW IN THE CROWD, THE HEART OF A LION, and with all of this in mind their DETACHED  nature always seems to get them into trouble. may the mother hold them as they navigate this unthinkable time.

Finnian Thorne never quite fit in. Born to a proud Illyrian warrior father and a humble seamstress mother, his very existence was a blend of two worlds that didn’t quite mesh. His father, a man who had once been part of the fierce Illyrian bloodline, was the first in his family to break away from tradition—leaving the harsh landscapes of Illyria to settle in the Dawn Court. There, he fell in love with a fae woman, and their union produced children that was as much light as he was shadow.

Finnian grew up in Dawn Court, but with his Illyrian heritage, he always felt like an outsider. In the Illyrian lands, he was never quite enough of an Illyrian warrior to blend in with his more hardened kin. And in Dawn Court, he was an oddity—a striking mix of Fae grace and Illyrian strength that didn’t quite match the soft, shimmering ideals of the Court.

But his father, ever the pragmatist, taught him to embrace what made him different. “Use it to your advantage, boy,” he’d say with a smirk, “The world will notice you anyway. So make them remember you.” And Finnian did. He followed his father's advice, heading to Illyria and working his way up through the ranks to become a formidable warrior. No longer an outcast, he lived among the fiercest, most skilled fighters of the land, learning discipline, honor, and how to wield a blade with deadly precision. Yet, even in the heat of battle, Finnian’s true nature—his quiet, observant nature—set him apart from the others. He was a man of action, but rarely one to speak, preferring to watch and wait for the right moment to strike.

After years away, Finnian returned to Dawn Court when he received word that his mother had fallen ill. His parents had long since split, and his siblings were all busy with their own lives and families in different Courts. As the youngest, and the one closest to his mother, the responsibility fell on him. While the world had moved on, Finnian’s life had slowed, becoming simple, steady—his days filled with tending to his mother’s needs, running errands, and ensuring the safety of his client as their bodyguard. He lived quietly, content in the stability of his current life.

For Finnian, simplicity was enough. Still, with the winds of change beginning to stir, Finnian can’t help but feel a nagging sense that something greater is on the horizon. The tides are shifting, and though his life has always been rooted in the safety of his responsibilities, he wonders if it’s time to prepare—to finally answer the call that’s been whispering in the back of his mind. The world has a way of pulling people from the shadows, and Finnian Thorne is a man who knows when to step out into the light.

[princessbutler1316]

Indications about the fact that the final arc of Black Butler will have a part in France, more specifically at Notre Dame Cathedral

Besides the fact that the last episodes of the first season also had a part in Paris, France and is considered non-canonical, has some very strong evidence

Undertaker have something going on in France...

BoC OP have the Notre Dame Cathedral

Like I said in here:

But another fact that, this one passed almost imperceptible and how I LOVE documentaries about religion (I'm agnistic, but I love documentaries about sects and religion)

The most recently one on Netflix talking about sacred artifacts including the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ, that Finnian is using on Chapter 204.

So, What does this have to do with France or the Cathedral?

Guess where the crown of thorns is currently?

Yes, in the Cathedral (the fire didn't destroyed and it's there for centuries)

So, Paris here we go

[abybweisse]

Ch204 (p1), Cover and title pages

As I mentioned before, in spoiler posts, Snake and Finny are wearing variations on the costumes they wore to the Halloween party in ch120... which was less than two months ago (for them).

Snake's witch/wizard costume now looks more like he's a student at Hogwarts, while Finny's vampire outfit now looks inspired by Anne Rice characters.

But I also mentioned the glasses and the crown of thorns, which have been added to the costumes and hold separate meanings from the costumes. I see Snake's glasses as an indication he has trouble seeing the truth about Doll as an enemy. And that Finny wears that crown of thorns because of the burden he bears, the feelings of guilt he has for not telling Snake that his friends died... and how Finny had a part in their deaths.

[grelleswife]

Memories of peaceful nights: Kuroshitsuji 120 vs Kuroshitsuji 204

[unboundprompts]

Name ideas with like a pirate/sea vibe/theme if that make sense?

Character Name Ideas that have Pirate / Sea Vibes

-> feel free to comment suggestions, I'll do my best to add them to the list.

Male:

Ronan

Thorne

Finnian (Finn)

Caelum

Arlen

Merrick

Kai

Leander

Cormac

Cassian

Seamus

Bram

Alaric

Ryder

Dorian

Eldric

Hawke

Carver

Lucian

Varek

Female:

Marella

Selene

Coral

Moira

Seraphine

Ondine

Delphine

Elara

Maris

Lorelei

Isolde

Lyra

Anya

Thalassa

Mira

Astrid

Freya

Sabine

Lirienne

Isla

Gender-Neutral:

Harbor

Reed

Vale

Morgan

Rowan

Calypso

Storm

Neriah

Mariner

Sol

Ripley

Cove

Astra

Salem

Kitt

Finn

Jules

Zephyr

Lennox

[umthisistheonlyusernamenottaken]

A ballad of beasts Neslin (au)

Man or beast, I would love him with all my heart. Thorns and all.

SO, it's official! I'm going to start writing my fic 'A ballad of beasts' !!!

I want to thank everyone who reblogged/ replied to my initial post encouraging me! This fic only exists because of you amazing people!

I've got the plot pretty much figured out, so now I just have to hope that the writing gods don't abandon me while I write this 🙏🏼 Will be posting this to Ao3 as well as updating here!

(The first chapter is still nowhere near fully finished, but here's a little sneak peek!

p.s. I've changed a few minor things about the plot, which you will see below!)

{chapter one snippet}

“Tamlin! Little brother! Happy name day!”

Tamlin stiffened, his fingers tightening around his glass. Ignoring him hadn't worked, as his brother's voice continued to call out. He tossed it back, hissing at the burn. Gwaine’s arm swung roughly around his shoulder, nearly knocking him off of his feet. To any passers by, they would appear like two brothers having a friendly altercation.

“Gwaine,” he gritted out.

“Are you enjoying the festivities, dear brother?” 

“Not as well as you appear to be.”

His breath reeked of sour cherries and barley. Evidently, he’d already been sampling the wide variety of spiced drinks and spirits on offer at the banquet.

His eldest brother’s laugh sent a nauseating cloud of stench towards his nose.

“Oh, why so glum, little bum? You turn five hundred today, that’s almost a male grown!”

He did not deign to dignify that with an answer. Gwaine didn’t seem to mind,  already setting to fill the silence with his loud, brash tones.

“Finni! Come join us, you bastard!”

Tamlin swore under his breath. One brother was already a curse, a second was a damned plague.

“Tamlin.”

“Finnian,” Tamlin answered resignedly. 

“Finni! I was just telling Tamlin here that he ought not to be so glum! Not when father has such a wonderful surprise waiting!”

Tamlin glanced over sharply. “Father has a surprise?”

That was laughable in and of itself for a multitude of reasons. The High Lord of Spring was decidedly not notorious for his spontaneous name day surprises.

Finnian merely smirked.

“Oh, I won’t spoil it for you, it’s rather good,” Gwaine said, miming stitching his mouth shut.

Tamlin sighed, “Wonderful. Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll-”

“Aht aht aht! Not so quick, little Tam,” he chastised, darting out an arm to keep him from skulking away.

“The fun has barely begun!”

 Gwaine spun him around just as the doors to the great hall blew open, and a fanfare proclaimed to Tamlin’s great dismay,

“General Amarantha Casimir of Hybern!”

“Father’s esteemed guest,” Gwaine said gleefully.

She entered the hall with a retinue of attendants; young girls dressed in robes white as a swan’s wing, each carrying a corner of her gown’s train. Thousands of bejewelled strings had been woven together in imitation of a spider’s web, and the fabric flowed down to the marble floors, the little gems hissing with each of her long strides. The low cut gown was underlaid with a diaphanous black silk, for what little it did to hide her sensuous figure. She ascended the dais, bowing to the High Lord and Lady of Spring. 

Tamlin turned away.

Finnian smirked, “I am sure tonight will be very… eventful.”

“Yes, most definitely a night to remember.”

Tamlin glared at his brothers, irritated, “What in Prythian are you two on about? What do you mean?”

“Well, you shall see soon enough,” Gwaine gave Tamlin’s chest two solid pats before sidling off with a cackle; as Tamlin predicted, towards the banquet table. Between the two of them, his brothers would empty the casks and barrels before the night was through.

He was about to walk away when Finnian leaned in close, murmuring in his ear.

“I wonder, brother. What would it be like to bed a female like that? Would you fuck her from behind? Or would she bend you over and mate you like her whore?” 

Tamlin recoiled. His reaction only made Finnian’s smirk widen and he continued in a low voice, his hand still firmly wrapped around Tamlin’s wrist.

“Doomed be the male who takes her to wife, don’t you agree? I wonder what our father was thinking. Certainly not of you.”

Tamlin pulled away more forcefully, and Finnian let him go, his eyes never once leaving the younger male’s face.

“What the hell are you-”

His brother’s words dawned on him then, and it felt as though his lungs had frozen in his chest, “What?” Breathing seemed impossible.

“Finnian, what do you mean?” his voice cracked with urgency. He took hold of his brother’s tunic and shook, not that it budged him at all.

“Finnian!”

“Oh, didn’t you hear?” Finnian asked with mock concern. His rain-cloud eyes were sharp with cruel delight.

“You’re to marry the Hybernian bitch.”

The floor fell out from under him, and he barely registered his brother walking away.

No, no, no, Mother and Cauldron above, no.

When he finally dared to turn back to the dais, Amarantha was already staring at him. 

She raised her glass, filled to the brim with black wine, and smiled with a mouth of dripping fangs.

[hisbutleronhiatus]

It has been 58 days since the Kuroshitsuji hiatus was announced.

Finnian scratched himself on a thorn while trimming the rosebushes. Thankfully, the tearful gardener was quickly patched up by Mr. Sebastian (to hear the anxious butler fret, fuss over, and comfort the lad, you’d think he had been mortally wounded), and his face was wreathed in smiles when the demon consoled him with a biscuit freshly-prepared for that day’s tea.

Sebastian promptly received a hug that would have pulverized the spinal cord of any mortal manservant.

[azuresins]

The first thing I noticed in the chapter 204 cover art was both Finny's thorns and, the way his hairclips are arranged like Roman Numeral Eleven. (XI)... This is also a reference to Jesus Christ, which. Seemed like Yana wanted us all to know for absolute certain, that this thorn crown is specifically a Christian reference and wants us to really notice, and for us to compare Finny to Jesus. Which is interesting to me, because in the picture Finny is dressed like a vampire... I can't help but wonder, if Christ's resurrection, is meant to enter our mind, too. ...? The dead can't come back to life that we know of in the context of the manga so far, but there are Bizarre Dolls (I forgot no one calls them Weird Barbies except me and I almost typed that and left it in), and there are Death Gods, both of these are beings that were human, once and have died (more or less). We don't know anything about vampires, but now I have to wonder what Yana has in mind for Finny's fate...

Is he... fated to be die, and come back...?... is that too good (or terrible??) to be true...? Finnian is my favorite, and I know I'm actively trying to talk myself out of the hope that he's not just going to die, and thats it. But, still. That seemed a highly specific choice. There's nothing to suggest any human character will be a Grim Reaper definitively and I certainly can't make that claim off of one thing she's drawn, but Finnian in particular, always kind of gave me pause simply because. He's the gardener. He uses garden tools every day. What if that was some kind of foreshadowing, since all the grim reapers in Kuroshitsuji use a variety of garden tools and not just typical scythes ... is it possible? The only others we've seen garden to that degree, are Grelle (...lol) and Sebastian. For a human character we've known for a long time, to undergo that human to death god transformation, in real time? Before our eyes? We haven't seen that, yet. That could be interesting... but would she do that, and would she choose someone like Finnian (or any of the other servants) for that part? I don't know, but. I am looking directly at this art and I am suspicious of it. If nothing else, it's scratched my brain. Is it possible fanfic fodder, if nothing else? Yes. I feel like I'm repeating myself a lot, but I stand by that I think Finnian is extremely important and paramount to this story, there's more to him than most think... It's also worth mentioning by contrast, Snake, is dressed as a Hogwarts Wizard, right. Except... Snake, really DOES actually TALK to snakes. In that context, this frames that reference a bit interestingly... because to talk to snakes, would mark someone as a respected, feared, and powerful wizard in the context of the series he's making reference to. Our snake isn't a powerful wizard (I mean, that we know of, we really don't know much about snake yet), but that's not the point I'm trying to make. In that series talking to snakes isn't a good thing, but, it still makes his outfit interesting-- because he can actually do that. Talk to snakes. What does Finny, then, have in common with a vampire with a Jesus complex? "Super human" quality? Abused by humans? Guilt? Unwavering loyalty, to the point of martyrdom? ... is that all? Is there anything else? ???

[mysticstarlightduck]

"How Cuddleable Are Your OCs" Tag

Jumping on the open tag by @willtheweaver (here)!

Rules: Answer the above question using a scale from 1-10 and with context

I'll go with the cast of Song of Thorns and The Forgotten Ones (the WIP, which I finally named, that I talked about in this post)!

SONG OF THORNS

Roselyn - It depends on her mood! If she is happy and generally in a good mood she gives the best hugs! But if she's upset or tired she prefers to be alone. 7/10

Renn - If you are someone he loves and trusts, 8/10 best cuddle buddy in the world, but is physically cold like ice (vampyrs, and thus half-vampyrs/dhampyrs are cold-blooded, literally, they are poikilotherms). BUT if he doesn't know you then 1/10 will stab.

Kane - Surprisingly, Kane loves cuddles. But he is far too introverted and often too harsh to let anyone close enough. If he somehow miraculously trusts you enough, the cuddles will be the best! He also wears soft clothes, and fur cloaks and smells really good (like a mix of flowers and firewood) 9/10

Orianna - Too restless and energetic to stay in one place for too long lmao, wouldn't have the patience to stay cuddling for more than 5 minutes. 3/10

Jasen - Is the kind of ambivert who needs to be around people he loves to recharge. Loves cuddles, especially close to the fireplace and with two cups of herbal tea and chocolate. 10/10

Alaric - Eh. Doesn't really mind, but doesn't really want cuddles either. Is more of a "just staying together in the same room chilling is enough" kind of person. 5/10

Tarrant - NOPE. NOPETY NOPE. Tarrant doesn't like prolonged physical contact and has a lot of reasons why he doesn't really like to cuddle for too long. Likes hugs, but that's as far as he'll go when it comes to physical contact. 1/10

Aiden - Likes hugs and cuddles, but is super chill about it and understands that Tarrant has reasons not to like that kind of affection. Will only hug you if they really, really trust you. 6/10

Cyriel - Looks like she could kill you, secretly wants all the cuddles in the world. Unless she's in a bad mood, cause then she just might get a little stabby. 7/10

Dimya - Loves cuddles but falls asleep halfway through and moves a lot while sleeping (a.k.a whoever is cuddling him has a 50% chance of accidentally getting hit by a rogue elbow every 5 minutes throughout the whole night) 5/10

THE FORGOTTEN ONES

Arzhel - Too mistrustful and too paranoid to let anyone he doesn't know extremely well too close, and is generally not that big of a fan of physical affection as a whole, though he may cuddle with his brother or a very close friend if they seem to be in need of a hug. 5/10

Elodie - Loves cuddles and hugs but loves it a bit too much and is a bit too lonely. May not let go until it is almost concerning but means no harm. Constantly cuddles her adoptive siblings 7/10

Aisling - Claims she's too busy raising a revolution against an Inquisition to have time for hugs. Secretly too cuddle deprived and needs one badly at this point. 6/10

Daragh - After what he went through under Magister Emmerick? Do You Have A Death Wish? If not, don't try to hug him. It would be best to keep to polite conversations and handshakes only when necessary, for both of your sakes 0/10

Finnian - Loves cuddles, has plenty of fluffy blankets, and smells faintly like vanilla cologne because hygiene is very important to him. Overall best cuddle buddy 10/10

Vivaldah - Hasn't had a cuddle in way too long and probably would feel awkward to ask for one. Too worried about etiquette and revenge to consider the need for a cuddle. 4/10

SUPERNOVA INITIATIVE

Jack - Gives the best hugs! He loves to cuddle while watching a movie, with blankets and hot chocolate (he always has bottles of hot chocolate ready because it's his favorite beverage lol) 12/10

Cassiopeia - Mostly cuddles with Jack, because he's her older brother and she feels safe with him, but as she learns to trust their friends a bit more she sometimes, on rare occasions, can be found cuddling with Artemis or Vesper (though the latter would never admit it) 8/10 - Likes to receive cuddles better than to give them.

Deimos - In the past? 9/10 best cuddle buddy in the whole galaxy. Right now? After all the hell he has gone through and all the wrongs he's done and the pain he's caused? 5/10 probably feels too guilty to let anyone near him and thinks he deserves to be left alone after all he's done.

Vesper - 3/10 More machine than human - because she is a cyborg, she has updated most of her "human self" into robot parts. This means she is mostly made of metal and servos, sentient, tactile metal but still metal (though she does have some artificial robot skin over it, the metal can still be felt). So kinda tough to cuddle with. Either way, she is probably way too murderous to let most people get even close to her. Cassie is an exception because Vesper finds her endearing (she reminds Vesper of someone from her past she wants to protect).

Aleks - 8/10 Likes cuddles, loves hugs, but is probably too anxious and jittery to be in one place for too long, and will worry the entire time if the other person is "comfortable enough."

Pax - 10/10 Will try to cuddle you if you let him. If you don't he will respect it but be a bit sad. Mostly he just wants a friend to spend quality time with. And to get lots of cuddles.

Ethean - 6/10 Eh. It depends. As a fighter pilot he doesn't really have the free time for most things and usually prefers to spend what time he has doing things he considers "productive". Probably feels he is wasting precious time any time he stops to relax and the Impostor Syndrome anxiety kicks in. Can be persuaded to receive cuddles by the right people though.

Artemis - 7/10 - Wants to pretend he is tough and that he can handle anything alone and thus that he "doesn't like to hug" to uphold the Edgy Reputation. In reality, melts at the first sign of kind physical affection and will spend hours cuddling, if its the right person (Cassie, who is his girlfriend).

Noctus - "What are 'cuddles'? What is the meaning of this? I am confused, unhand me this instant human -! Oh, wait, I kinda like this. This is nice... Stay, I like this." Is how I imagine the interaction would be like 8/10

Tagging (gently): @sleepy-night-child, @kaylinalexanderbooks, @smol-feralgremlin, @oh-no-another-idea, @littleladymab,

@winterandwords, @eccaiia, @sarahlizziewrites, @illarian-rambling

@agirlandherquill, @anoelleart

@leave-her-a-tome, @writernopal, @anyablackwood, @unstablewifiaccess, @forthesanityofstorytellers

@i-can-even-burn-salad, @cakeinthevoid

@lassiesandiego, @thepeculiarbird, @clairelsonao3, @memento-morri-writes, @starlit-hopes-and-dreams and OPEN TAG

[i-can-even-burn-salad]

Happy STS, Elli! This is a basic one but I'm trying to warm back up to participating in writeblr again: what are your characters' favorite things to drink and what does that say about them?

Happy ST... M! Thank you for the ask! :D

That's a good question. I have to put things here that they can reasonably acquire, which for some of them surely limits the selection. Also no promises on the "what does it say about them" front.

Second Chances - Nuisance - Undeserved - Glass Shards - Fancy Boots:

Merridy: Hot chocolate. She has a sweet tooth. Definitely no projecting going on here.

Damien: Herbal teas, mostly. His health is pretty fucked, and he has many herbs to help with small issues where it isn't worth it (Damien ffs) to think about medication.

Riordan: I really can't think of a preference. This man eats/drinks anything (except for meat).

Cedric: Whatever too expensive alcohol I have no idea about because I don't drink. He likes a bit of luxury, and something to help him deal with the stressful life as a criminal (poor bby 😂)

Valadan: Coffee. Black, obviously. Definitely not overly sweetened milk, even if it never quite tastes the same as what's left in a bowl when he had sugared oats for breakfast, which Damien made for him when everything was still (mostly) all right. Definitely not.

Josephine: Actually coffee, if you can still call it that when more than 50% of it is milk. Got into it while studying, and now there are a lot of nice memories attached to it, too :)

Till Death:

Eilis: Tea, mostly nettle or rosehip or whatever else she finds. Water gets a bit boring, and she has no other options.

Finnian: Eilis could boil him an old shoe and he'd declare it his favorite.

All of our Lives:

Ross: Fruit juice. My boy has a sweet tooth, too. A luxury he left behind without hesitation, now fruits are expensive enough even if you use them whole.

Irina: Give her a few years before she considers having a favorite, having clean and reliable water is an upgrade already 😅

Sweet Little Lies:

Laurent: Man, I don't know. I've only written a novella about him. I think my man would like a beer. He doesn't like sweet things, and despite often drinking coffee when working late at night, he doesn't like it much, either.

Aurelia: Tea, most often sage tea. Preparing tea after a long day is a ritual she likes a lot.

Thorns:

Caldyn: Clean water. He doesn't like it when it tastes of anything, and there are very few other options in the jungle. After a certain incident *cough* torture *cough* where he almost died from the lack of water, it's something he makes sure to always have access to.

Breannan: Flavored water. He likes mint, because a little leaf goes a long way and it's hard to kill the plants. He likes the little comforts to ground him in reality—flavors, lights, touches.

[red-room-boy]

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OPENING FILE

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WARNING: CLASSIFIED INFORMATION ONLY VISIBLE WITH SECURITY CLEARENCE CLASS 8 AND UP

--------- OPENING.... LOADING.....

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NOTE: THIS FILE HAS BEEN ACCESSED AND ALTERED BY AN UNAUTHORISED INDIVIDUAL, PROCEED WITH CAUTION

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SUBJECT: Widow X NAME: Alina Sunover Kit Holloway SEX: F M AGE: 17 HAIR COLOUR: Black EYE COLOUR: Brown Identifiable features: Subject has a red room mark tattooed on the right side of its neck. It has a small braid on the lower part of its hair which is longer than the rest. It has distinct scars covering its body, specifically on the right side of its face CURRENT WHEREABOUTS: Fuck you ALIASES: Kit Sunover, Kit Holloway, Alina Holloway, Widow X THREAT LEVEL: High, aproach with caution ABILITIES: Enhanced strength and senses, combat training, stealth, manipulation, survival instincts, technology prowess WEAKNESSES: Aversion to sudden noises and lights, anxiety, distrust, rebelliousness AFFILIATIONS: The Red Room (previous), HYDRA (previous) Trigger words: Sunlight, brother, thorn, ruby, poster, ineffable, oddity, virus, six, truth NOTES: Subject refers to itself by 'Kit' and answers to male pronouns. Subject is aware of red room and HYDRA inside knowledge and must be captured or terminated to prevent crucial information from falling into enemy hands. Subject was exposed to an experimental mind control prototype as part of a HYDRA experiment. This failed, which has made it aggressive, paranoid, distrustful and uncooperative. Use force where necessary.

Subject’s memory from before its transfer to the red room program has been wiped, however it has started to regain its memories. Specifically those of its biological brother Finnian, the 'Ghost Blade' who was under our control until recently.

Subject has been taken in by fellow ex-Red Room member Daniella Romanoff and her family, caution is advised

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END OF FILE

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[blackbutler-readerinsertsandjunk]

Hey ! You are awesome so I’d like to request —- A FREE BEE FOR YOU!! Any character, any situation, just something you’ve been dying to write or maybe a cute lil idea you’ve had? I love your world building so I know I won’t be disappointed. I hope this doesn’t come across as extra work, but if so then your free bee could be to just take it easy and not write if you want :) have a nice day 💜

FREE THE BEES-

aaaaanywaaaaaay!! this is like handing me a blank check, I hope you know XD

sooooo since you said you love the worldbuilding... I've been wanting to write one of my OCs more, this is Marlowe who's a genderfluid under-butler at the Phantmohive estate!

and, well, this is what happened when Finny first came to stay there :D

also all I heard was "angst me Mommy" so I sincerely apologize but also it's not that sincere =)

The Phantomhive estate is quiet when MARLOWE wakes up.

They sit straight up in bed, unsure of what exactly woke them. A glance over at Mey Rin’s bed reveals that the maid is still asleep, and barely snoring, so it couldn’t have been her. It wasn’t a nightmare of patchwork memories, either.

All they can think of is that perhaps they’re on edge after a new arrival to the manor. A young man that their master gave the name FINNIAN, who has the same loss of hope and want for it in his eyes that Marlowe had once upon a time. (The same that they think Mey Rin and Bard must have had too, and maybe even Sebastian, when they were first taken in.)

This is the first time since they’ve been in Ciel’s employ that someone new has joined the servants’ ranks. It’s only been about six months, so despite being settled in, they’re relatively new themself; twenty-four years of life behind them and the best in front of them. Finnian looks to be at least five years their younger, maybe more than that.

As they slip out of bed, their mind flickers back to the introduction they and the rest of the staff had with him. His hair is incredibly short, like someone cut all of it away and it’s only beginning to grow back. He seems hesitant to make any big movements or show any big emotions.

They remember what it was like when they were swept away to the manor. They were nervous about talking to Mey Rin and Bard. All they could do was follow Sebastian round like a lost puppy, taking his orders and mimicking his actions in the hope that they could become someone worthy of being saved.

They can recall washing seven years’ worth of the East End off them, scrubbing so hard their skin turned red. Changing into the masculine clothing provided for them and the sheer relief at being reminded that they wouldn’t be forced into a dress, because that was not a butler’s uniform.

… The world can be so cruel. Knowing what they went through before they got here, it makes them wonder what poor Finnian has been through.

Their simple silver lighter and a cigarette are both drawn from their bedside drawer while they head out the door. If they can’t sleep, they might as well smoke.

It’s of course not proper to do so inside the young master’s home, especially given his condition, so they always go outside to kill a cigarette. The garden has been their small sanctuary for it during breaks; practically as soon as they step onto the grass, they’re striking their lighter to start the cigarette.

They’ve got a few puffs in when they suddenly hear shaky breathing that isn’t their own. Marlowe looks over toward the rosebush, and their eyes widen when they see Finnian crouched beside it.

He’s just barely missing all the thorns, curled in on himself with tears in his eyes. It’s the picture of someone in distress if ever Marlowe has seen one, and it tugs at their heartstrings.

It wasn’t too long ago that this was them. They recall being up one night sobbing in fear that they’d be kicked out for asking Ciel to refer to them as ‘he’ one day… only for Mey Rin to hold them and stroke their hair and reassure them that wouldn’t happen. Bard once saw their hands tremble as they were looking in envy at his cigarette, and he gave it to them, seemingly able to realize another person who was desperate to numb their pain with something.

Even Sebastian was a comfort, strict as he is. It’s a sharp, powerful memory ― their tears spilled over their cheeks, berating themself for having made a small mistake. And Sebastian’s hands came to rest firmly on their face, and that stern voice of his cut through all their horrible thoughts.

“What did you tell me when you first came here… that you would try hard even if you stumbled? That you would fall nine times, and get up ten? You are no longer that helpless, dirty urchin from the street, Marlowe. You’re better than that now. You are a Phantomhive servant. Straighten your back, fix your mistake, and do what you promised me you would do: make me proud.”

These people have had faith in them. Their fellow servants are becoming their friends, and their master expects the best from them because he knows they’re capable of it.

Marlowe cannot look at someone who was just as lost as they were and simply pretend not to see the suffering. Everyone else here has made them feel welcome. They want to do the same for Finnian. He deserves to be comfortable in his new home.

They quietly walk over, the grass rustling under their feet, and lower themself down to sit on his other side. He startles at the abrupt presence, but all he does is look over them with wide eyes.

Awkwardly, they offer their cigarette in his direction. Though, it doesn’t appear he’s one to smoke. “Oi… want a drag?”

“N… no…” His voice is so small. He shakes his head at them, and scrubs at his tears with the heel of his palm. “M… Marlowe… why are you out here?”

They shrug. “Woke up. Started thinkin’. Decided I needed a smoke. Wot are y’ doin’ out ‘ere?”

He blinks, and the quick, in-and-out staccato of his breathing becomes even more apparent now that they’re closer. “I… I guess the same…? Minus the s-smoking.”

“That right?” They take a drag before blowing out a thin stream of smoke, away from Finnian. “Wot y’ thinkin’ ‘bout that led y’ outside?”

He stiffens up. The tears start to pool at the bottoms of his eyes again, and he buries his face in his hands. “I… I like it here… but… I woke up… ‘n’ I just… felt like I had t’ get outside for a minute. I-I felt… I felt trapped.”

Trapped? In a way, they get it. Except, it feels like something a little different with him. They take another puff, then give his shoulder a nudge with theirs. “I ain’t gonna judge if y’ wanna talk ‘bout it, Finnian. Get it out so it don’t eat y’ up.”

For a long minute, he’s silent aside from his unsteady breathing.

“The… place I was at before. They were doctors. Doin’ experiments on us. They kept us inside, we weren’t allowed to go out.” Marlowe can feel his entire body shuddering with the force of a bad memory. His voice gets progressively harder to understand as he keeps talking, because the crying starts to take over, although they think they get all the important parts.

“I woke up ‘n’ I felt… I felt like I was… in a cage… even though I had room… ‘cause there were walls keepin’ me in! It’s s-stupid, I know it ain’t like it was… but I j… I just… felt like I was… like I was gonna die if I stayed in there… my heart was beatin’ so fast I could feel it in my ears, ‘n’ it was like I c-couldn’t breathe ‘n’…”

Marlowe finishes their cigarette, and tosses it beneath their foot so they can at least attempt to grind it out. No sparks catch on the grass, so it’s fine. They’ll check it again before they take Finnian inside.

With one arm, they drape around his shoulders and gently pull him against their shoulder so the poor boy can cry and be miserable in peace. They notice there’s almost no hesitation when he leans in, pressing his face against them.

Inside, they’re a powder keg waiting to explode. Why does the world have to be like this? Why do people have to be so terrible?

What they went through was bad enough. Finnian’s been through hell, literally being experimented on? Kept inside for his whole life? He’s been tortured. It’s to the point that he’s here, in a safe place, a warm bed and food and people who accept him, and he can’t relax because his mind is telling him something bad is going to happen simply because he’s got four walls and a roof around him.

Anger roils and bubbles inside them as they tuck Finnian’s head under their chin. Like they think they can protect him from his own thoughts and fears.

“Fuckin’ bastards, puttin’ y’ through that,” they mutter. It’s not fair to compare the horrible pasts of anyone here, but at least they can say they’d probably rather have the predictability of their father’s belt and their mother’s starving disapproval than what Finnian’s been through. They suddenly feel grateful for the abuse their parents foisted on them.

That’s fucked up, ain’t it? That’s so fucked up. What I went through was bad too, but… this poor kid.

They hold him as close as they think they can without making him feel confined. That’s part of the problem, right? Too tightly and it will only make things worse.

“Get it out. ‘S alright. Ain’t nothin’ wrong with wot y’re feelin’.” They try to keep their voice soft so they don’t set him on edge.

It’s difficult when they’re so full of rage at what they world has done to him.

And he just continues to wail, holding back the noise as best he can and sobbing into their shoulder. Like he’s used to trying to suffer quietly.

That pisses Marlowe off even more.

“’S alright, Finny,” they repeat, and they don’t know quite why they shorten his name like that. “Y’re safe. Ain’t nothin’ ‘r nobody gonna ‘urt y’ while I’m ‘ere.”

A hiccup comes from him as he lifts his eyes up just briefly. There’s a look on his face that’s almost a smile. “… Finny…? I-I… I like that…”

Of course, just like that, he goes right back to crying as soon as they return the smile.

“Oi, yeah. Don’t worry, Finny.” Their fingers sift lightly through the sparse strands of hair that are poking out from his scalp.

“Stay out ‘ere as long as we need t’.”

Because everything else be damned, they’re going to make sure he feels safe here.

[ofcourtfables]

𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒏𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒍. 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒏𝒐 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏. welcome REMI, you have been accepted into ofcourtfables. please have your account in within the next 24 hours or you risk your roles and face claims. also take a moment to look over our checklist.

rebecca ferguson, cis woman, she/her, 40 /400 , high fae ’ ― cauldron save you. it seems elowen ironvale has been teleported to the dusk court, the acolyte from summer is said to be intuitive and is said to describe themselves with a vessel of divine whispers, wrapped in the silence of ancient wisdom, and a gaze which pierces the veil between worlds, and with all of this in mind their withdrawn nature always seems to get them into trouble. may the mother hold them as they navigate this unthinkable time. ; * summer temple acolytes for lavania dragomir wc

madison bailey, cis woman, she/her, 26 / 260 , fae ’ ― cauldron save you. it seems tala wildhart has been teleported to the dusk court, the stablehand from day is said to be practical and is said to describe themselves with covered in the court's dust, walks the fields with the grace of a whispering breeze, always tending to the creatures who call this land home, and with all of this in mind their stubborn nature always seems to get them into trouble. may the mother hold them as they navigate this unthinkable time.

iain de caestecker, cis man, he/him, 35/ 350 , half-illyrian/half-fae ’ ― cauldron save you. it seems finnian thorne has been teleported to the dusk court, the bodyguard from dawn is said to be loyal and is said to describe themselves with the dance between light and darkness, a shadow in the crowd, the heart of a lion, and with all of this in mind their detached nature always seems to get them into trouble. may the mother hold them as they navigate this unthinkable time. * bodyguard for erilyn galathenea wc

[abybweisse]

I have to revisit this comparison post, after reading this thread by @azuresins and others.

I might have been onto something with the "martyr complex". More than I intended, actually.... I recommend checking out that thread for the information about blackthorn and Snake's snake in that artwork for ch204.

But instead of talking about Jesus and sacrifice, or Celtic myths of sacrifice, I'd like to talk about numerology. The Harry Potter series sure uses it... a lot. Jesus and self sacrifice, too, for sure. But let's discuss numerology now.

Here we have 11 discussed as a Master Number.

For Finny, this 11 could pertain to his intuition and insight without much thought. It makes sense when you consider how perceptive he really is (knows he brought Sebastian iris bulbs, not blooming plants, for example) but decides not to think too hard about it. If this is the case, he's always on the verge between greatness and destruction. That tracks. He's sensitive, energetic, sometimes shy, and often impractical. Definitely a dreamer.

This site goes more into Master Number 11 as a gateway between the physical and the spiritual.

Instead of Finny having to die and come back, perhaps he can help others cross between realms? If not to that extent, he might at least help others (like Snake) achieve some deeper understanding of themselves and their higher purpose. What if he could talk the staff ladies or even Doll into giving up?? 🤔

Finny does come across as highly sensitive and empathic. In this way, he's a lot like Violet... who is full of Master Number 11 vibes. Violet even seems to have premonitions in his drawings. But that is another topic, which I've discussed before.

I'd love for Finny to guide and support Snake towards making the right decisions for the greater good.

The intensity of Finny's emotions definitely causes him to struggle sometimes, and it might be part of why he turns out to be such a successful test subject for the drugs he was given before. Going berserker mode shows him teetering over the edge into the destructive side of this number.

One more about 11. He also possesses an uncanny ability to gaze at people and influence them (just look at Sebastian fall for it in ch5).

But that last link for 11 also talks about how that can be reduced to 2. And Finny's hair pins are usually arranged as II and III. In numerology, 2 is a feminine, even goddess, aspect (mentioned in the first website link I gave). In the last website, 2 is referred to as a follower. Well, once he joins the Phantomhive household and starts wearing those hair pins, he is very much a follower. This part of the last website has information on numbers 1 through 9. Thanks to his usual placement of the hair pins, he has 2, 3, and 5. The "S-012" on his neck would also be reduced to a 3 in numerology.

2: The moon, feminine aspects, intuition, kindness, adaptability, and a desire for peace, but also indecision. A follower.

3: Flourish in a beautiful environment (like gardens!), youthful, upbeat, has a zest for life, and loves to communicate and make new friends.

5: Full of zest, brightens others' moods, adaptable, peaceful, and likes a challenge.

11. Highly intuitive, sensitive, insightful, and empathetic. An individual entity and a leader. But prone to destruction.

But keep in mind that his 2, 3, and 5 have all been replaced by that Roman Numeral 11 on the cover of ch204. Master Number 11 is not easy to master, but perhaps Finny will come into his own now. Hopefully the only destruction will be to F. O. L. Orphanage... and not to Snake or himself....

Ch204 vs ch120, Spoiler

The cover art for ch204 actually harkens back to what Finny and Snake wear to the Halloween party in ch120.

In both cases, Snake dresses as a witch/wizard, while Finny dresses as a vampire.

It's just that this time, Snake's outfit looks like he attends Hogwarts, while Finny looks like an Anne Rice character with a martyr complex. 😏 And neither one looks happy at all. 😢 They look exhausted and close to tears.

Well, Finny can remove that crown of thorns as soon as he tells Snake the truth about how his other circus friends died (at least the ones that came to Phantomhive Manor). He can get that burden off his chest and feel some relief.

And Snake can remove those glasses as soon as he realizes that Doll isn't there to help any of those orphans. Faced with reality, he should see that Doll and the others needed to be stopped, at just about any cost.

[grelleswife]

What if Finny ends up giving Doll his blood too at some point and it turns out to be much better than the usual blood she was getting because of his super strength and stuff?? And so he helps her recover much much faster and then almost died and thus the thorn crown symbolism?? 😭

Hi, anon! Although I see where you’re coming from (Finny’s crown of thorns on the Chapter 204 cover is a blatant reference to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross), such a move would constitute a major tactical error for the Phantomhive household. Finny knows that Doll is a former member of the Noah’s Ark Circus, the troupe that he helped slaughter when they infiltrated the estate. Lending aid to someone with ties to an enemy organization and ample reason to wish vengeance upon his young master would be the height of folly.

Even the mighty gardener would probably be weakened immediately after donating blood, forcing him to lay in bed recuperating while a reinvigorated Doll would be left free to wreak havoc…or even strike out to make an attempt on O!Ciel’s life before Finny could stop her. Finnian’s no strategist, but, despite his naïveté, he should have enough common sense to avoid such an obvious blunder. All the noble gestures in the world couldn’t persuade Doll to forgive the Phantomfam for the deaths of her own family.

In addition, (bizarre) Doll is currently in the process of receiving a fresh transfusion, which would render an offering from Finny moot; as one of the orphanage caretakers notes, Ginny was killed to restock her supply of Canopus “radiance.” But, admittedly, the woman also mentions that “things are taking longer this time,” which could indicate that Doll is starting to deteriorate and/or require greater quantities of blood to maintain her sham life. We’ll have to put a pin in that until more chapters are released, but it’s worth bearing in mind.

Furthermore, I’m not certain that Finny has Canopus blood…although, given his similarities to the Corgi class kids (i.e. physical aptitude), it’s a definite possibility. He could even be a universal donor. We’ll need to hang tight and patiently wait for additional lore in the meantime.

My theory is that Finnian might be called upon to make a sacrifice (but please not the ultimate one, Yana! 😭🙏) to save the F.O.L. kids from their terrible fate. Depending on how deep the Messianic parallels run, one of the conspiring orphans involved in the escape attempt could prove themselves to be a Judas, stabbing the gardener in the back and defecting to Undertaker’s side. Until we have irrefutable proof, however, I’m clinging to the hope that our boi will pull through.

[wingsofithil]

Elowen Ironvale. Acolyte/Former High Priestess. High Fae. 40/400. Summer Court.

Tala Wildhart. Stablehand. Fae. 27/270. Day Court.

Finnian Thorne. Bodyguard. Half-Ilyrian/Half-Fae. 35/350. Dawn Court.