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thequeenofneverland1 · 1 year ago

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The Hope Of The Mikaelsons Family Part Six

Summary: The Mikaelson family is faced with a new threat as they uncover the truth behind Y/n's abduction by Sheriff Elizabeth Forbes. they’re determined to get answers regarding why she was taken in the first place. However, as they delve deeper into the mystery, they realize that Y/n's life may still be in danger, especially with the looming threat of the Hollow. Now, the family must navigate the dangers of their past and present to protect Y/n from harm and ensure that justice is served for the betrayal they have faced. With the stakes higher than ever, the Mikaelsons must unite, confront their enemies, and face the darkness that threatens to consume them all.

Warnings: Violence and confrontation, Mentioned of Kidnapping and separation from family, Betrayal and deceit, Emotional turmoil and angst and Mention of past trauma and sensitive topics

Caroline's eyes grew tearful as the realization dawned on her. With emotion trembling through her body, she hid her face in her hands. "I'm at a loss for words. It's all too much."

Klaus, despite his usual bravado, approached her with a gentle touch. "Caroline, we understand that this is difficult for you. But we need to think about what's best for Y/n. She deserves to know the truth about her family."

Her eyes red with tears, she gazed up at Klaus. "I am aware. However, how can we inform her? She's just six years old. I do not wish to frighten or perplex her."

He nodded, his expression softening. "We'll handle it delicately. We'll sit her down and explain it to her in a way that she can understand. And we'll be there to support her every step of the way."

She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself."Okay. Okay, we can do this. For Y/n."

Klaus smiled, squeezing her hand reassuringly. "For Y/n. We'll get through this together." And with that, they began to make a plan to share the truth with you, knowing that they would always be there for you no matter what.

You were playing with your dolls in the living room when you heard shouting voices coming from the kitchen.

"Hayley, we can't keep this from her forever. She is entitled to know the reality." Klaus informs her.

"I understand, but she's still very young. How can we explain all of this to a six-year-old?" She returns the favor.

You frowned, not quite understanding what Klaus and Hayley were talking about. But one word caught your attention.

"She's a Mikaelson, Hayley. It's in her blood." He walks back and forth.

Casting a bewildered glance around, you entered Freya's room. “I heard Hayley and Klaus discussing someone being a Mikaelson, Freya. What person were they discussing?”

With a look of surprise on her face, she looked up from her spell book."Oh, Y/n, they were talking about..."

Klaus and Kol stormed into the room before she could say anything further. "Y/n, what are you doing here?"

Kol hurried to be at your side. "We've been looking all over for you!"

You backed away, confused on why they were getting nervous. "I was just asking Freya a question."

Klaus and Kol exchanged a glance, realizing that the secret was about to be revealed.”What were you asking about?"

You paused, not sure if you should go on.”I heard you and Hayley discussing someone being a Mikaelson. Who were you two conversing with?”

Klaus exhales deeply. "Love, you're too young to know, but we'll tell you when you're older."

Just as Klaus was ready to continue, Hayley entered the room. She noticed your expression and the uncomfortable environment. "Klaus, maybe it's time we tell her."

He frowned, shaking his head. "She's not ready. She's too young."

Hayley approached you and dropped to her knees in front of you. "Y/n, we need to talk to you about something important," she stated softly, emotion in her voice.

As a sensitive six-year-old, you raised your innocent eyes to Hayley and recognized the seriousness of the situation. You inquired quietly, a tinge of concern in your voice, "What's wrong?"

Feeling the weight of what she was about to disclose, she inhaled deeply. Her voice quivered with passion, "Y/n, Liz Forbes raised you with love and care, but Klaus and I... we are your real parents," she confessed.

Your little face was filled with confusion as you struggled to take in what was said. "What do you mean?" you murmured, your voice trembling with terror.

You leaped up with tears flowing down your face before Hayley could reply. "I want to go home!" you exclaimed, heartbroken in a tiny voice. "I want to be with my sister!"

Klaus and Hayley exchanged a startled look as they recognized how confused and in pain you were. “We are your family, Y/n.” He reached out to you and pleaded, "We love you."

But you hurried out of the room, tears clouding your eyes, calling out for your sister and yearning for the comforts of what previously felt like home, overcome with emotion and divided between the reality and the familiarity of the one home you had known.

She and Klaus could only watch helplessly as you disappeared around the corner, your small figure fleeing in distress, the weight of the truth about your parentage and the longing for the sister you remembered so vividly clashing within your young heart. The echoes of your sobs lingered in the air, a painful reminder of the fragile innocence shattered by the revelation that had shaken the foundation of your world.

After your abrupt departure, Klaus, Hayley, and the rest of the family gave you some time to cool down, hoping you would eventually return. They didn't realize that you had left the house, driven by the sole desire to find your way back to your sister, the one constant in your young life that brought you comfort and familiarity.

Meanwhile, Kol walked into your room with a tray of dinner, a warm smile on his face. However, his smile faded when he saw that you were nowhere to be found. Panic gripped his chest as he quickly scanned the room, only to find it empty. Without a moment's hesitation, Kol vampire-speeded to the living room where his siblings and Hayley were gathered.

"Y/n is gone," Kol announced urgently, his brows furrowed in concern. "She's nowhere to be found in her room."

Klaus got to his feet, his eyes widening in horror as his maternal instincts went into overdrive. "Look through the entire property! As the seriousness of the situation enveloped the family, he gave an order, "We need to find her before anything happens."

Without a word, the family members split up, each taking a section of the estate to search for you, Their shared unspoken tie as they worry and fear for your safety. The unspoken bond that connected them in their determination to keep you safe now fueled their efforts to bring you back home, where you belonged, enveloped in the love and protection of your true family.

Klaus braced himself as he dialed Caroline's number. He knew this would be a difficult conversation “Caroline, it's Klaus. There's something you need to know," he began, his voice heavy. "Y/n ran away."

There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line. "What happened?" She demanded, her tone sharp.

Klaus hesitated before continuing. "Hayley told her the truth about her and me being her parents. She didn't react well... She said she wanted to go back to living with you."

Her voice trembled with anger and worry. "How could you guys? This is your fault! You scared her off. I hope you're happy now."

Klaus winced as her words stung him. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. “We never intended for this to happen. We just wanted her to know the truth."

She let out a bitter laugh. "You guys should’ve waited for her to be older for her to understand because. now my sister is out there somewhere, alone and scared. I have to find her."

Klaus could hear the anguish in Caroline's voice and he felt a pang of guilt. "She’s my daughter and I will find her," he said. "I'll do whatever to bring her home safely."

Your sister was silent for a moment before she spoke again, her voice slightly calmer. "Fine. But this isn't over, Klaus. We're going to have words when this is all over."

Thirty minutes passed with agonizing slowness. Caroline paced the room, her mind racing with worry. Suddenly, there was a faint knock on the door.

She rushed to answer it, and When she opened the door, she saw you standing there, tears streaming down your face.

Without a word, she pulled you into a tight embrace, relief flooding through your hair. "Y/n, thank goodness you're safe," she whispered, stroking your hair.

You clung to your sister, your sobs muffled against her shoulder. "I'm sorry," you mumbled. "I didn't know what to do."

She just held you tighter, grateful to have you back. “It’s ok honey.”

as your sobs subsided, you pulled back from the embrace, your yes red and puffy. You looked up at your sister, a mix of confusion and hurt in your aze.

“Caroline... is it true?" Your question was hardly audible above a whisper. "Are Klaus and Hayley really my parents?"

With a kind face, she nodded. "Yes, sweetie. It's true. But you have to know, that doesn't change anything between us. You're still my little sister, and I'll always be here for you."

You sniffled, your lower lip trembling. "But why didn't anyone tell me before?”

She sighed. "Y/n, it's complicated. It wasn't until a few days ago that I discovered this information, too.”

Your sister did her best to help you make sense of the bombshell revelation. Using simple language and plenty of patience, she explained the complicated history between Klaus and Hayley, and how they had been separated from you.

You listened intently, your small hands wrapped around a plate of warm cookies. Despite your young age, you were surprisingly resilient and seemed to absorb the information with a calm understanding.

You raised your head and gave her a bright, focused glance. You responded, a smile tugging at your lips, "I understand now. May we give my parents a call? I'd like to see them.”

She felt a wave of pride for you and nodded.”i’ll call them right now."

A short time later, Klaus and Hayley arrived, their faces alight with anticipation. You ran into their arms, hugging them tightly.

“Daddy," you whispered into your father’s shoulder. "I'm sorry I ran away. I didn't understand, but Caroline helped me."

Klaus let out some tears. Because he finally heard the word come out from your mouth. "It's okay, sweetheart," he said, his voice choked with emotion. "I'm just so glad you're safe."

Hayley smiled through her tears, stroking your hair. "We understand, darling. It's a lot to process. But we're a family now, and we'll always be here for you."

Your sister watched from the doorway, tears streaming down her face. She felt a mix of joy and sadness as she watched you reunite with your parents. Even though she was happy for you, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness at the realization that your life was about to change.

Klaus noticed Caroline's tears and walked over to her, pulling her into a hug. "Thank you for everything you've done for Y/n," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. "We couldn't have done this without you."

She sniffed and nodded, wiping away her tears. "I'm just happy she's safe and with her parents now," she said, smiling through her tears.

As your parents and you are about to leave, you turn to them, "Can I say one last goodbye to my sister before we go?"

Klaus and Hayley exchange a look, both sensing the importance of this final farewell. "Of course, sweetheart," Hayley replies, gently. "Go ahead and say your goodbyes."

You run over to her and give her another big hug. "I'm going to miss you so much," you say, your voice quivering.

She smiles, tears in her eyes. "I'm going to miss you too, Y/n. But I know you'll be happy with your family. And don't forget, we can always stay in touch, okay?"

You nod, wiping away your tears. "Okay."

As the door closes behind you and your parents, the weight of the moment suddenly hits Caroline. The tears that she had been holding back come streaming down her face as she drops to her knees, overcome with emotion. She had known this day might come, but nothing could have prepared her for the pain of saying goodbye to you that she had grown to love so deeply.

It’s been six days since you left to live with your real family and your sister has pretended to respond "fine" whenever someone asks her.

Damon leaned in, his voice laced with concern. "Caroline, how are you holding up? It must be hard having Y/n gone."

She took a deep breath, fighting back her emotions. "It's tough, but I know it's what's best for her. Klaus and Hayley are her parents, and she needs to be with them."

Elena placed a comforting hand on Caroline's shoulder. "But how are you feeling? It's okay to not be okay, you know."

She smiled gratefully at her friends. "I'm hanging in there. It helps knowing that Y/n is safe and happy with her family."

As Caroline and her friends reminisce about Y/n, Stefan notices a distant look in her eyes. He leans in, concern etched on his face. "Caroline, is everything okay? It seems like there's something on your mind."

Her gaze snaps back to the present, and she nods slowly. "Actually, there is. I can't help but wonder... How did Y/n end up in my family? What if my mother had something to do with it?"

Stefan's brow furrows. "What do you mean? Do you think your mother might have played a role in Y/n's kidnapping?"

She bites her lip. "I don't know. It just feels like there's something off about the whole situation. And my mother has always been secretive about certain things..."

She continues, her voice growing more animated as she recalls more details. "Remember at Y/n's birthday party, when the bodyguard told me that the Mikaelsons weren't invited? And then, when Klaus's daughter went missing, my mother suddenly showed up with a baby? She told me it was her secret daughter that she was protecting from the supernatural world."

Her friends exchange shocked looks. "Are you saying you think that baby might have been Y/n?" Bonnie asks, her eyes wide.

Determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, she turns to her friends. "I have to find out the truth, one way or another. And if my mother was involved in Y/n's disappearance, she needs to face the consequences."

Her friends exchange looks of solidarity. "We're with you, Caroline," Elena says, her voice firm. "Whatever it takes, we'll help you uncover the truth."

Bonnie nods in agreement. "You can count on us. If your mother has been hiding something this big, she needs to be held accountable."

Caroline smiles gratefully at her friends, feeling bolstered by their support. "Thank you. Let's figure this out together."

You wake up in the middle of the night, with your forehead covered with sweat. You stumble out of bed and made your way down the living room

Hayley and Klaus both immediately rushed over to you, their faces filled with concern.”What's wrong my little wolf?”

You hesitantly begin, "I've been having these really weird dreams. In them, I hear two people screaming and crying about their daughter, but I never know who it is. I just feel this overwhelming sadness and fear, and I can't shake it off."

Your parents exchange a worried look, immediately recognizing the significance of your dreams. They both feel a sense of dread and urgency to figure out what the dreams mean and how they might be connected to your past.

they enter Freya's room, Klaus speaks up, "Freya, we've got a bit of a situation. Y/n has been having these dreams for the past few days, where she hears two people crying for their daughter. We're not sure what it means, but we think it might be connected to her past."

Freya listens intently, her brow furrowed in concentration. "This is certainly a unique case. I'll need to delve deeper into the dreams to unravel their meaning. Are there any specific details or emotions that Y/n has mentioned?"

Hayley chimes in, "She said she always feels a strong sense of sadness and fear. Could this be related to her abduction?"

She nods thoughtfully, "It's possible. Dreams can often be connected to a person's subconscious mind, and Y/n's past trauma could definitely be playing a role here. But dreams can also be symbolic and have multiple meanings. I'll need to use my magic and intuition to try to decipher them."

Klaus looks relieved, "We appreciate your help, Freya. We know that Y/n's dreams may be difficult to understand, but any insight you can provide could be valuable in helping her find some answers."

She turns to Klaus and Hayley, "In order to get a clearer picture of Y/n's dreams, I need all of you to join me in a shared dream state. I'll guide you through the process, but it's important that you all relax and focus your minds on Y/n's experience."

Klaus and Hayley nod in agreement, determined to support their daughter in any way they can.

She continues, "It's important to be open to the experience and to trust in your instincts. The dreamscape can be strange and unpredictable, but it's also a powerful tool for understanding the unconscious mind."

Klaus looks around, taking in their surroundings, "How do we even begin?"

She smiles reassuringly, "Simply close your eyes and focus on Y/n's presence. Imagine being drawn towards her energy, like a moth to a flame. Together, we'll enter the dreamscape and discover what lies within."

As she finishes explaining, you join them with curiosity piqued by their hushed conversation. "What's going on?" You ask, looking between your parents and your aunt Freya with a mix of nervousness and excitement.

She gives you a gentle smile, "We were just discussing how to enter your dreamscape, Y/n. I believe the answers you seek lie within your dreams, and your parents have agreed to join us on this journey."

Your eyes widen in surprise. "You mean we're going to enter my dreams together?"

Freya nods. "Yes, with your parents' presence, we may be able to uncover more details about these recurring dreams and the feelings associated with them."

Klaus wraps a protective arm around you,”Don't worry, love. We're all here for you. Together, we'll face whatever the dreamscape throws our way."

Your voice trembles as you respond, "I'm scared. The dream is always so sad and frightening. What if we see something we can't handle?"

Hayley kneels down to look you in the eye, "Sweetie, I know it's scary, but we're all here for you. We'll face whatever comes our way, together. We love you, and we want to help you understand these dreams."

You bite your lip, still uncertain, "But what if the dreams mean something bad happened to me? I don't want to find out that way."

Freya steps forward, "Y/n, I promise we'll be gentle and respectful throughout this process. But if these dreams hold the key to understanding your past, don't you think it's worth facing your fears to find the truth?"

You took a deep breath and nodded, "Okay. I'll do it. But I want both of you with me the whole time."you looked at your parents, your eyes brimming with fear and trust.

Klaus and Hayley exchange a determined look before Klaus responds, "We wouldn't have it any other way, Y/n. We're your parents, and we stick together. No matter what."

Freya guides your parents and you to a quiet spot and instructs you guys to lie down, "Close your eyes and focus on Y/n's presence. Picture her dreams surrounding you, pulling you into their realm."

The trio takes deep breaths, centering themselves and preparing for the journey into the dreamscape.

Your parents and you settle down in a comfortable spot, each of you guys feeling a mix of nervous anticipation and fear. Freya prepares the magical elements needed to guide you guys into the dreamscape. The room fills with an ethereal glow as Freya begins chanting softly, weaving her magic around the trio.

You close your eyes, feeling a familiar sense of weightlessness as the dream takes hold. You reach out, grasping your parents' hands as you guys are pulled into the memory of the day you were taken.

The dreamscape materializes around them, revealing the bustling streets of New Orleans. They find themselves walking alongside Hayley and Klaus, who are pushing a stroller with baby you inside. Unbeknownst to them, two people are lurking nearby, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Klaus gently ruffles your hair, "I'm just going to grab us some drinks, love. I'll be right back." He kisses your forehead, then heads towards the concession stand.

As Hayley pushes your stroller towards the playground, a stranger approaches them with a friendly smile. "Excuse me," the stranger says, "Could you give me directions to the nearest coffee shop?”

Hayley, still a bit distracted, doesn't notice as the second stranger quickly unbuckles you from the stroller and sweeps you up into their arms.

That stranger gave her a smile and thanked her before leaving and Hayley began to push your stroller and she sat down on a bench at the park. “sweetie are you sleeping? You've been so quiet!!”

Hayley removes the blanket from the stroller, only to discover that you are missing. Panic immediately sets in as Hayley frantically searches for her child, calling out your name in a desperate attempt to find you .”Y/n Where are you??”

“Someone please help me, someone kidnapped my daughter.” Hayley screams for help and begins to chase after the kidnappers, determined to rescue her baby.

Klaus, who had been on his way back with the drinks, hears Hayley's scream and immediately drops everything. He bursts into his vampire speed, desperately trying to catch up to the kidnappers. But even with his supernatural abilities, Klaus can't seem to close the distance fast enough.

The two strangers disappear into the surrounding trees, taking you with them. Klaus and Hayley are left standing in the park, stunned and heartbroken. They know that they need to find their daughter before it's too late.

Klaus and Hayley notice the item, and it triggers their memories of Sheriff Elizabeth Forbes from years ago. The realization of her involvement hits them like a ton of bricks, and they wake up from the dream with a start, gasping for breath.

"She was that one that stole our daughter. I can't believe she lied to our face telling us that she was going to help us find our daughter when she had Y/n this whole time," Klaus says angrily as he looks at Hayley.

With a nod, Hayley murmurs to Klaus, "We need to find that bitch so she could give us some explanation. That dumb ass is going to regret lying to us."

You made fun of your mom. "Mommy, you just used some inappropriate language."

Klaus and Hayley exchanged a look while trying not to laugh, forgetting that your vampire hearing allowed you to hear things from away and closer

She laughs but keeps it to herself. "I apologize; you got me! I suppose I'll have to watch what I say around you more carefully."

He smirks. "Indeed. With your sharp hearing, we'll have to watch our language."

You looked at your father with curiosity. "What's 'sharp hearing' mean, Daddy?"

He smiles at you. "It means that your vampire hearing is very sensitive, so you can hear things from far away or very quietly. It's a special ability that vampires have."

"So I'm like a superhero?" With excitement, you inquired.

"Sort of, Sweetheart.” She responds.

"Cool!" You jumped up and down

Klaus stood in the center of the living room, his siblings gathered around him. His face was etched with anger and frustration.

"We have a situation," he began, his voice low and intense. "Sheriff Elizabeth was the one who told us that she was going to help us find Y/n but she had her this whole time.”

Hayley stepped forward, her eyes blazing with determination. "We need a plan," she said. "We can't just storm into the Sheriff’s office and demand answers. We need to be smart about this."

Kol let out a short, bitter laugh. "Smart? That bitch stole our niece, and she didn’t think about our suffering and that our family nearly broke apart because of it. So Hayley. us being smart went out the window the moment she laid a hand on Y/n."

Elijah raised a hand, his calm demeanor belying the anger simmering beneath the surface. "Kol is right," he said. "Mrs. Forbes’s actions are unforgivable. But we need to approach this with a clear head.”

Rebekah paced back and forth, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. "I say we tear apart this city until we find her," she spat. "That dumb Sheriff will regret the day she ever crossed us and for causing us pain.”

Freya shook her head. "We need to be careful," she warned. "The Hollow is still out there, and it's likely that Liz is working with it. We can't just rush in blindly. We need a strategy."

They all locate the place where Sheriff Elizabeth and her accomplice are hiding. Hayley, eager to confront Elizabeth, insists on joining them, but Klaus intervenes. "Hayley, you should stay with our daughter Just in case something happens."

She shakes her head defiantly. "No, I need answers. I want to know why she stole our daughter from us."

Understanding her determination, Klaus sighs. "I can't deny you the chance to face her. But we can't risk losing Y/n again. Marcel, would you be willing to watch over her while we're gone?"

Marcel steps forward. "Of course, Klaus. I'll protect Y/n with my life."

Your mother gives you a hug and a reassuring smile. "We'll be back soon, sweetheart," she said. "Marcel will take good care of you."

One by one, the Mikaelsons hugged you tightly, promising to return as soon as possible.

Klaus kneels down in front of you, taking your small hands in his own. "I have to go now, my little wolf. But I'll be back soon, I promise."

"Where are you going, Daddy?" You asked

"I have some important business to take care of. But don't worry, I'll be thinking about you the whole time." He tells you

“I'll miss you, Daddy." You tell him back, hugging him.

He gives you a big hug, squeezing you tightly. “I'll miss you too, sweetheart. But remember, I love you with all of my life. And I'll be back before you know it."

"I love you too, Daddy."

Klaus turns to Marcel. "Thank you for doing this, Marcel. We owe you a great debt."

He nods, his face serious. "No need for thanks, Klaus. Protecting Y/n is all that matters. You have my word.I won't let anything happen to her."

Klaus claps Marcel on the shoulder in gratitude, then follows his family out the door. Together, they make their way to Elizabeth's hideout, ready to uncover the truth and ensure justice is served.

Marcel sat next to you on the couch, watching you closely. He noticed a sadness in your eyes

“Hey, Y/n," he said gently. "Would you like to make some cookies?"

You shrugged, your gaze fixed on the floor. "I want brownies," you said quietly.

Marcel smiled. "Brownies it is, then."

An hour later, Marcel tucked you into bed, kissing your forehead and wishing you sweet dreams. As he turned to leave, he caught sight of an urgent message on his phone.

"The Hollow," he muttered, his blood running cold. "It's after Y/n."

As Sheriff Rodriguez attempts to warn Elizabeth, Kol steps forward, his eyes flashing as he uses his compulsion on the Sheriff. "You're going to forget what you saw here and walk away. Now," Kol commands, his voice laced with power.

Instantly under Kol's influence, Sheriff Rodriguez's face goes blank, and he turns and walks away, leaving Elizabeth alone with the Mikaelsons. With the Sheriff no longer a threat, Rebekah blocks Elizabeth's escape route, forcing her to answer for her actions.

"Not so fast, Sheriff," Rebekah says, her tone dripping with menace. "You're going to sit down and answer our questions, or you'll regret it."

Elizabeth, recognizing the danger she's in, reluctantly obeys, sinking into a nearby chair. She glanced nervously at the Mikaelson siblings and Hayley surrounding her, knowing she has no choice but to face their wrath and answer for her actions. She swallows hard, her throat dry as she struggles to find the words. "I... I don't know what you mean," she stammers, trying to feign ignorance.

Elijah, however, is having none of it. "Don't insult our intelligence, Sheriff. We know you were involved in my niece's disappearance. The question is, why?"

Elizabeth remains silent, her eyes darting around the room as she searches for an escape that isn't there. Hayley, her face a mask of fury, leans in close, her voice barely above a whisper. "We're not leaving until you tell us everything. And trust me, you don't want to test our patience."

Sheriff Elizabeth's eyes widen in defiance as she spits out her response. "I don't know what you're talking about! Y/n is my daughter. She's always been my daughter!"

Klaus's face darkens. "Lies," he growls. "You know very well that Y/n is our daughter. You took her from us, and you will tell us why."

Elizabeth remains silent again, her resolve wavering as she realizes the gravity of her situation. Hayley steps forward, her voice cold and steady. "If you won't talk, we have other ways of extracting the truth. And I promise, they won't be pleasant."

Sheriff Elizabeth's bravado turns to cruelty as she sneers at the Mikaelson siblings. "So what if Y/n is your daughter? It was quite amusing to watch you all suffer, wondering where your precious child was. You had it coming, after all the pain you've caused others."

Her words hang in the air, the tension palpable. Klaus's eyes narrow, and Hayley's fists clench at her sides, both of them fighting to control their rage.

"How dare you," Rebekah says, her voice shaking with fury. "You took our child, our niece and our family, for a twisted sense of satisfaction? You're a monster."

Sheriff Elizabeth continues, a cruel smirk playing on her lips. "Honestly, you were all so stupid. How could you not see that Y/n was your daughter right under your noses? It was too easy to manipulate you and keep her hidden for so long."

The Mikaelson siblings exchange furious glances. Klaus steps forward, his voice dangerously low. "You're right about one thing, Sheriff. We were foolish to trust you. But rest assured, you will pay for what you've done. The pain you've inflicted on our family will not go unpunished."

Sheriff Elizabeth scoffs, seemingly undeterred by Klaus's threats. "I'm her mother. She's not going anywhere with you. And even if you try, I'll make sure she hates you for taking her away from me. She's my daughter, and you'll never change that."

Hayley steps forward, her face contorted in anger. "You're wrong, Elizabeth. Y/n knows the truth now, and she's with us. You can't hurt her anymore. And believe me, we'll make sure you never get the chance to do this to anyone else again."

Sheriff Elizabeth, sensing her impending defeat, decides to twist the knife one last time. "You know, the best part of all this was how easy it was to fool you," she says with a cruel smile. "The moment I took her, you were all so desperate, so lost. And that feeling of power, knowing I had what you all wanted, was simply delicious."

Klaus lunges forward, his fangs bared, but Elijah holds him back. "Don't, brother. She's not worth it. We'll make her suffer in ways she can't even imagine. And we'll make sure that justice is served."

Sheriff Elizabeth, still reveling in the pain she's inflicted, continues to taunt the Mikaelsons. "Besides, let's not forget that you didn't even want her in the first place. Remember how you reacted when you found out Hayley was pregnant? You were disgusted, repulsed by the very idea of having a child. So don't pretend that this is about anything other than your own selfish desires."

Hayley's reminder of Klaus's initial rejection. Klaus, his face a mask of guilt and anger, glares at Elizabeth. "That was a mistake, and one I deeply regret. But don't you dare use that as an excuse for what you've done."

Kol, having seen the shock and pain on Hayley and Klaus's faces, steps forward. "Look, I know what my brother did was wrong, but he changed when Y/n was born. She brought a new light into our lives, a hope we didn't even know we needed."

He turns to Elizabeth, his voice hardening. "You don't know the first thing about our family or the love we have for Y/n. She belongs with us, and we will protect her from people like you."

Kol continues, his gaze unflinching as he speaks. "When Y/n was stolen from us, our family nearly fell apart. The loss of our child, our hope, was too much to bear. But now, we have her back, and we won't let anyone tear us apart again."

Klaus and Hayley exchange a look, their resolve strengthened by Kol's words. They turn to Elizabeth, their determination evident. "You've made your choice, Sheriff. Now, you'll face the consequences."

Elizabeth, refusing to back down, rolls her eyes and responds with heavy sarcasm. "Wow, what a touching story. Too bad it won't change anything. Y/n is still my daughter, and I won't let her go without a fight."

As the tension in the room reaches its peak, Rebekah steps forward, a mischievous glint in her eye. "You know, Sheriff, I have an idea. Since you seem so fond of using people's pasts against them, I think it's only fair we return the favor."

She snaps her fingers, and suddenly, all of Elizabeth's darkest secrets begin to spill from her mouth, one after the other. The Mikaelsons watch with grim satisfaction as Elizabeth is forced to confront the truth of her own actions and the pain she has caused.

Suddenly, Klaus's phone began to ring. He silenced it, but it rang again moments later. With a frustrated sigh, he answered it. "Now is not the time, Marcel," he snapped.

But Marcel's voice was urgent. "Klaus, you guys need to come back quickly. I've found out more about the Hollow, and I'm afraid it might go after Y/n."

Klaus's expression darkened. "We'll be right there."

Hanging up the phone, he turned to Hayley and his siblings. "We need to go.”

#the originals x y/n #the originals #the originals x you #the originals imagines #the originals x reader #klaus mikaelson x y/n #klaus mikaelson x daughter!reader #klaus mikaelson x you #klaus mikaelson x reader #klaus mikaelson imagines #klaus mikaelson #hayley marshall x you #hayley marshall x y/n #hayley marshall x daughter!reader #hayley marshall x reader #hayley marshall imagines

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vulptalia · 9 months ago

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Hot take

If you're going to make headcanons at least make them a LITTLE bit sense. Like, for example, "Austria abused Hungary!!" That woman can literally break him like a TWIG and she knows that very well. If you're going to do a VERY serious headcanon (EX. Chronic illness, ED, etc etc) at least do some research, especially if you don't have any of those things, I cannot stress this enough. I'm not asking you to be extremely accurate, I'm just asking that you at least look into the subject because real people suffer through that kind of stuff and it seems dehumanizing to use their condition to make England into an insane psychopath with schizophrenia or Russia an unemotional monster with bipolar disorder.

Right...where to begin.

First of all I feel as if you contradict yourself in this message with preaching about being well researched but then implying that just because a female character is "strong" doesn't mean she couldn't be abused.

I think fandom spaces are a place for reflection and expression, and lots of people in the Hetalia space in particular are young and learning as they go. I agree that heavy-topic head cannons should be researched and developed with real-life circumstances in mind, but also I believe head cannons often open the door to invite research on that specific topic. The head-cannons you mentioned specifically in this ask feel like relics of the 2012 Hetalia fandom (i.e. "psycho" Arthur, extreme bipolar Ivan) these HCs are very 2-dimensional and somewhat insulting but they're also reflective of that era of the fandom. I seriously doubt the modern fandom is perpetuating these HCs without heavily modifying/"fixing" them.

But quite frankly if you want to be strict about it then ALL of Hetalia is dealing with a "VERY serious" cannon. This is the literal personification of people's history over hundreds of thousands of years. That in itself should be handled delicately, but, it often is not and that's alright because for Christ's sake look at the source material these characters come from!!! We're talking about Hetalia here! This is the anime that woobified the second fucking world war (talk abt a sensitive topic!!).

I truly don't think there is extreme harm in taboo head-cannons, and if you think someone is depicting something in bad faith then message them directly!

#i mean this all with love anon #you are right that sensitive topics deserve time and respect #but its been years since ive seen the fandom be self destructive with insulting head cannons haha #and if a few younger fans are making some silly posts then good on them they'll eventually learn and if you feel so inclined to inform...#...them then do so with an open heart!#vulp asks #hetalia

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lostinfantasyworlds · 1 year ago

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Fanfiction Writing Game!! 13, 23, 37!!

Hi @ruddcatha thank you so much for the asks!! 🥰

13. Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what have you been listening to recently?

It's funny because my writing is so heavily inspired by music, and for longer stories I always make a story playlist that I spend tons of time selecting songs with lyrics and music to fit the vibe of the story, but I don't usually listen to music while I'm writing. If I do, I have to listen to either classical/instrumental, lofi, or something else without lyrics. But I'll sometimes listen to part of my story's playlist before writing to get me "in the mood" 😆.

Here are some of the key songs on the playlist for the WIP I've been working on the most lately (If It Kills Me) that really sum up the vibe of the story:

If It Kills Me by Jason Mraz (where the story title comes from, a long time favorite of mine and the perfect best friends to lovers pining song)

The Day After Tomorrow by Saybia

Only One by Yellowcard

The Loneliest by Maneskin

Letters From the Sky by Civil Twilight

23. Is writing the beginning, middle, or end of the story easiest? Hardest?

I actually realized recently that I have a really hard time figuring out how to begin a story. Most of my ideas have come to me as the climactic scenes that occur towards the middle/end, and then I have to figure out a way to get there. Like for If It Kills Me, I’ve been agonizing over how to start it for literal years. It’s only the opening scene/chapter, and a lot of the details I’ve been ruminating over don’t even matter much towards the rest of the story but I’m having such a hard time settling on something 🙃.

I think the middle is usually the easiest for me, because I typically base an idea for a story around one dramatic scene where they finally get together or something like that. I do have one WIP that I only have a beginning for and no middle or end, but the rest are mostly pieces of the middle and/or end.

37. What fic has been the hardest for you to write?

As far as published stories go, Under the Northern Lights for sure was the hardest because it involved SO much research and basically consumed my entire life for over a year. I was learning how to write a long story as I went along and then got progressively more neurotic about editing, so it was pretty mentally taxing by the end.

If I include WIPs, If It Kills Me is giving me a run for my money. I wanted to write an exciting mystery/action type of story with plot twists and big reveals and red herrings and all that, but the plot is so complex that I've been having a hard time figuring out how best to fit all the pieces together so that it makes sense to the reader. It's also a fairly dark story that revolves around grief for a large part of it, so it's emotionally heavy. I love writing angst, but when it comes to sensitive topics that are very real for a lot of us and everyone experiences differently, I want to make sure I handle it delicately and realistically. Finding that balance between driving the emotional aspect home but not wanting to be so depressing that readers abandon the story has been a tricky line to walk.

Thank you again!! 💕

For the Fanfiction Writer Asks

#ask game

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snuggle-fangs · 2 years ago

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Pizza Club Writing Rules

With so many wonderful requests and so many loves to my stories, I think any writer needs a set of rules.

✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️✒️

✅️I Will Write✅️

💔Angst. Yes I do write write Angst, I've so far written two main Angst stories. However, if the request contains sensitive topics such as miscarriage and self-harm the story may take a little while to write as such topics must be handled and written delicately and properly as to not offend or be insensitive. Also, I will give the story a happy ending if such topics are requested. It will feel uncomfortable for me just leave it with no good ending for the characters or reader involved. But I will write, no problem.

❤️‍🩹Hurt/Comfort. I will write stories with themes of hurt and comfort such as heartbreak but character comforting you or reader. It plays into the giving happy endings, so yes I will write these types.

💝Fluff. Yes, I do and will write Fluff stories and stories containing fluff. So if you have a fluffy request in mind, just ask.

❤️‍🔥Spicy/NSFW. Okay, so I'm still new to the whole NSFW and I've only written one headcanon containing NSFW. But don't worry, I will write stories that are on the naughty side but it may be slow but please rest assure that i will write it and I will complete it, so don't worry.

🩷SFW. Want some non-sexual intimacy? More cuddling than doing the deed? I will write SFW stuff if you need it. So no worries. Plays into the fluff category.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️

❌️I Won't Write❌️

🚫Domestic Abuse. No way. Sorry but i won't write a character abusing reader. Nope, the topic is very uncomfortable to me.

🚫Sexual Abuse. Again, no. I will not write that. Sorry but I won't. No way.

🚫Incest. Absolutely not. I don't do that writing. Sorry but again, no way.

❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️❌️

💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

☆•~Rules~•☆

Please be kind when requesting.💖

I may be slow at times so please be patient. 💖

Don't be afraid to be specific with your requests. Just let me know what you want and I'll write it up!💖

💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖

♡~•~♡~•~♡~•~♡~•~♡~•~♡~•~♡~•~♡~•~♡~•~♡~•

🩷All I hope is that you like my stories and that I can write them well. So don't be shy, ask away and I shall answer! Enjoy!🩷

♡~•~♡~•~♡~•~♡~•~♡~•~♡~•~♡~•~♡~•~♡~•~♡~•

#pizza club writing #writing rules #writing #i will write #rules for writing #please understand #thankyou #hope you enjoy

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snarkformysanity · 4 months ago

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Review: The Persian Boy

I'd say I'll try and keep the review spoiler-free, but, well, it's a historical fiction novel, so it's already kinda spoiled. TLDR: this book was brilliant, beautifully written and wonderfully immersive, and handles a number of delicate topics masterfully. An easy A overall.

TW - this book explores a number of topics which could potentially be triggering, and they will be discussed throughout this review. These topics include slavery, racism, and rape (specifically child-rape).

Now, on to the review.

The Persian Boy is a historical fiction novel set in the time of Alexander the Great. Second of a trilogy, I discovered after reading it, but it works well enough as a standalone. This installment follows Bagoas, the titular Persian boy, throughout his life, from the brutal murder of his family when he was about ten, his subsequent castration and life as a sex-slave, and all the way through to his becoming the lover of Alexander the Great. From there, we join Bagoas as he travels with Alexander on his various campaigns, up until the time of Alexander's death. It's written in a kind of memoir style, as an older Bagoas writes about and reflects on his life.

The first thing I want to say about this book is that it establishes the setting magnificently. We're not in Kansas anymore, as the saying goes - from the very start, everything about the book, the events happening, the characters, their thoughts and actions, all of it feels very authentically mid-300s BC. These people do not think like us. They do not hold the same values. Our viewpoint character, Bagoas, says and does and thinks things that we would find abhorrent today, but to him, they are simply matter-of-course, the way the world works. So too with everyone around him.

Take, for example, this excerpt, from some time after Bagoas was taken to serve the King of Persia:

I often wondered if [the King] would have set such store by me if the Queen had not been captive. She was his half-sister, by a much younger wife of their father, and was of an age to have been his daughter. They said she was the loveliest woman in all Asia; of course he would be content with nothing less. Now he had lost her to a barbarian younger than she, and, from his deeds, it would seem hot-blooded. Of course he never spoke of such things to me. Indeed, once in bed he hardly spoke at all.

Yeah, so, a lot to unpack even just in that excerpt, and that's not even getting into the fact that Bagoas is like, 13 at most when he says this. But this is the kind of thing I'm talking about. There's never any question about the things going on here - they simply are, presented as if it's the most natural thing in the world. Every character feels as though they were born and raised here.

Now, this might not be everyone's cup of tea. But the reason I'm pointing it out, apart from the fact that it's done so very well here, is that it's kind of a pet peeve of mine with books. When a setting will be "historical" (or a fantasy based on a particular period of history), but all the nasty, horrible things we humans have done to each other over the years gets glossed over for the sake of not offending modern sensibilities. Or when such things are present, but only villainous characters engage in them - protagonists will always have strangely progressive views for their time, never being allowed to get their hands dirty for fear of losing sympathy. I'm guilty of it myself, in my own writing. It takes a certain level of skill and commitment to pull it off well, and not just be offensive, and Mary Renault clearly has such skill.

This kind of leads into one of the other brilliant things about this book - the way all these sensitive topics are handled. It's always a delicate dance when writing - where is the line between respectful and offensive? Overall, I believe the key is to remember that, on both sides of the horrible things, one is writing about things being done by people, to people. People have reasons for doing the things they do, and reactions when things are done to them. These reasons and reactions will be informed by the context in which they live. In this book, it ties back into the masterful setting - one must commit to the kind of world they create, and remember to inhabit it with people who live and breathe that world. Any wavering, any attempt to water it down, whether by glossing over it or turning it into a cackling evil caricature, and the whole thing crumbles.

I think probably one of the ways this book shows this best is in its treatment of slavery. Bagoas is a slave, who lives in a world where slavery is not only common, but normal. He thinks as a person who was born and raised in such a world thinks - namely, the fact that someone is a slave is as unremarkable to him as someone being a postman or cashier would be to us. He likes or dislikes, respects or disrespects, various slave characters depending on his interactions with them, and they do the same for him. The only time their being a slave colours his opinion of them is in matters of hierarchy and propriety, where their rank (or lack thereof) is relevant.

I'm thinking of this mainly in contrast with other, less skillfully-done examples - I'm currently reading House of Sky and Breath, and, as will become apparent when my chapter reviews of those start rolling out, the way slaves are handled in that book really pisses me off. There, though the book claims they're normal to the setting, the slaves are mostly used as pitiful props for the protagonists to be morally outraged over, and show off what good people they are when they rescue them. The slaves themselves have no response but to fawn over the main characters. Needless to say, that's an utterly disrespectful way to go about it.

Mary Renault does not handle things like that at all. Instead, she approaches all the heavy issues in this book in a tactful, nuanced way, and thus we explore them from angles we in our world would never even consider. Honestly, it's almost worth the read just for that.

But, moving on from that. The centrepiece of this book is of course the relationship between Bagoas and Alexander. Just as with all the other issues in this book, it is very well done and handled in a nuanced manner, with regards to both characters. Bagoas was chosen very deliberately as the POV - he has an outsider's perspective on Alexander and his deeds. He very quickly becomes infatuated with the man (ngl I kinda did too - dude is charismatic af), and hero-worships him in such a way that he's kind of blind to some of his faults, at least initially. He never quite loses that hero-worship feeling, but his views evolve and mature over time. He goes from contemplating the murder of a rival in a fit of jealousy, for instance, to sending said rival to be with Alexander when he realises that that is who Alexander needs to see, despite the jealousy never quite disappearing either.

Bagoas also offers an interesting perspective on the various deeds and exploits of Alexander - namely, the clash between Macedonian and Persian cultures. Each side thinks the other are uncivilised barbarians, after all, and this is a constant source of tension throughout the books. For example, Bagoas, at times, tries to steer Alexander towards behaving more like a Persian king, which has ramifications both good and bad. I love things like this. Too often, books will decide an issue is good or bad, and go all-in on that. This book considers all sorts of ways an event might impact those around it, how one thing might lead to another in different ways for different people. Nuance. It's beautiful.

I also really like the prose in this book, as a small side note. It flows beautifully.

So, that's all the reasons this book is great. If I had to pick a negative, I'd say it can be a bit slow at times. There's no real central plot to drive the story; we're mostly just following Alexander's exploits as they happen. The central thread is very much character-driven, focused on Bagoas and his evolving and maturing feelings towards Alexander. I think part of what contributes to the slowness as well is that there's often not a lot of tension around Alexander's exploits, but, well... that's kind of true to history. He was undefeated. Most of the tension Alexander faces instead comes from within his own army, and it's a much more gradually unfolding thing. But these are pretty minor gripes in the grand scheme of the book.

So, yes, overall, this book easily earns an A. Highly recommend to anyone interested in historical fiction.

#the persian boy #mary renault #review #book review

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1d1195 · 1 year ago

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I LOVE going to target! truly a happy place for me lol I remember when I was a kid I loved going there because my parents would buy us popcorn lol

I fear that if I was a writer I would torture my characters bahha it would be so painfully slow burn it would hurt lol And Sam, you could literally make every story be a "love at first sight" story and I WOULD STILL GOBBLE IT ALL UP! I read your stories because you do have your own creative voice and I just love the way write! Like Im here for the way you make your characters yearn and the way you describe them all together is so good! Plus I mention this often but what really drew me in was that i SEE myself in your MC's! And you're such a sweet person, so why would I not like you and your blog?!

Anyways! YES I USED THE GOVERMENT NAME HAHAH that cliffhanger bestie I should have known it was would be a Sam story without one lol

I actually do love when writers add their take on what 'Harry' as their character the types of quirks he would have! and I kinda just love reading a grumpy/intimidating guy get all flustered over a pretty girl 🤭 Like I LOVE THE INNER THOUGHTS OF A WHIPPED MAN!

Reading that part did trigger something in me but not in a bad way if that makes sense. I once again saw ME in her and it just made me sad how much I wanted to comfort her yet I couldn't even be nice to myself when I've felt like that. BUT you always know how to properly approach topics like this without it feeling like it was thrown in there for "drama"! You did put in waring in there so that is MORE than enough and like i said you do these delicate storylines justice. Trust me, even if I did feel uncomfortable(which i did not), I do have the decision to not read it or skip it so it's not your fault!

Im VERY excited for the next part but when am I not excited!?!

This week has not been my week so there's that! I am blaming the aftermath of the eclipse HAHHA Hope you are treating yourself my love! You deserve it!-💜

That's such a sweet memory hahaha target popcorn

Thank you for all your sweet compliments as always! I love my love at first sight. I think it's partly because I'm already in love with Harry so it's like OBVIOUSLY i would fall in love with him immediately. Right now they're still burning in part 3 I might squeak out part 4 with them burning too but I might cave early 🤭 hopefully it's not too much of a spoiler.

It makes me happy AND sad that you see so much of yourself in my MCs. I think they're often an extension of myself and I know how I feel/write about myself in these MC versions of myself so it does make me sad you may feel the same way as me sometimes. But it makes me happy that you feel seen and that you and I have twin flame vibes 💕

Really a special thanks for the way I approach sensitive topics 😭 it does make me so nervous so just getting feedback that I handled it well is comforting and doesn't make me want to delete all evidence of my writing because of it. I think sometimes when I do delicate storylines there are obviously people who don't like it (I'm lowkey dreading my Love and Dryer Sheets update but I might cram everything in that I have for them into one check-in and be done with them) I don't think a lot of people have the same mentality as you that they have a choice not to read it nor comment on it. I'm so glad you think I'm sweet (I believe I actually am and I hope that doesn't sound conceited) but I think it kinda helps when I write stories like this. I never mean to be rude or unkind--I just want to have realness to my stories and unfortunately men are often trashy in these kinds of story lines.

That's not even going to be the worst cliff hanger in this series

INNER THOUGHTS OF A WHIPPED MAN. COMING YOUR WAY MA'AM 😍 I think this will be one of my more original Harry's hahaha. We'll see :)

I LOVE TO BLAME THE MOON AND STARS ON MY BAD WEEKS anything to not blame myself hahahaha I hope the end of the week gets better though! 💕

xoxo

#💜

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rottinghouseplants · 2 years ago

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Made For Mercy: Chapter 1: Part 2: Devil Town

(warning: this story does contain sensitive topics)

That night somewhere in Uptown San Myshuno, in one of the highrises...

Feng cracked his knuckles with a loud pop before resting his hands on his lap. He smiled, a malicious glint in his eye, while scanning the faces of his "employees" in front of him, lined up like cattle. "Hello. I'm assuming you have an idea why I called this meeting here tonight. I have a very important assignment for you that I need handled immediately." His voice echoed off the walls of the office as he paused, his eyes meeting Akira's. They held a stern gaze for a moment. "Akira, I am to understand that you have obtained some information from the son of the target. Yet, I've heard nothing. I'd love for you to explain that to me."

Akira gulped an audible swallow that seemed to echo in the tense silence. "Listen, boss, I just..Johnny, he's a good guy, and I know that his family is trouble, but...can we solve this some other way?" There was a moment of silence that seemed to last for an eternity packed into only a few seconds.

Feng's face contorted with rage as he slammed his fist against the glass desk in front of him, throwing himself up from his chair. "Are you questioning how I handle my business, Akira? I think you forget your place here! We will solve this, however the hell I decide we solve it." He towered over Akira, his menacing presence filling the room. With a scornful growl, he spat into Akira's face, "You will do well to remember your place, you miserable street rat." He grabbed Akira's hand and squeezed it as tightly as he could while bending the fingers backwards. A sharp pain shot through Akira's arm as Feng spat, "And the next time you forget it, I'll break every finger on your damn hands." He threw Akira's hand down, and stepped back to his desk with a satisfied smirk.

Akira balled his fists, his rage and embarrassment boiling and threatening to overflow. He held himself back, gritting his teeth and clenching his jaw. All the while, Feng held his gaze, ready to deliver a deadly blow. Darling, stepped out of the lineup, gently put their hand up to intervene, diverting Feng's attention. "Boss, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I want to assure you we can handle this," Darling said, their voice low and laced with sincerity.

Feng's venomous scowl softened into a gentle smile as he shifted his gaze towards them. Akira watched from the corner of his eye, his hatred and spite palpable in the air. "Oh, Darling, trust me I am well aware you and Miko can handle this. As for Akira, failure is not an option. One more disappointment, and he will leave this office in a body bag," Feng said, his voice as hard as iron. He turned back to Akira, his face twisted in disgust.

Darling nodded, their posture straightening. "Not a problem, sir. Understood. We're ready to hear the assignment," they said, determination and strength echoing in their voice. Feng took a deep breath and brushed his sleeves off, before turning towards all of them.

Feng's eyes narrowed, smoldering with seething rage. He leaned forward, his voice a menacing hiss as he spoke. "I want you to take Langraab out for good. And if you come back empty handed, you are all dead." The air was thick with tension, like a tightrope stretched over a pit of lava. You could almost feel the heat emanating off of Feng's body. "I've had enough of him and his audacious family getting in the way of my affairs. This is my last message: the next time they meddle, they will all be lost to the Mirage Canyon." Feng exhaled deeply and straightened his suit jacket, his gaze icy and unforgiving as he sauntered back to his desk. Lily followed him, her movements graceful and delicate as she pulled out the chair for him and gently caressed his shoulder before stepping back into her place. "Do not fail this assignment. I'm nothing but good for my word."

Lily stepped forward, her voice low and commanding, as she dismissed the group. "I presume you can see yourselves out."

Darling and Akira stared in horrified awe at the broken figure of Geoffrey Landgraab cowering in the corner, barely recognizable from the face on the billboard. Tears streamed from his eyes as he pleaded for his life, his hands trembling and bloodied from his wounds. "Please.. please! I'll give you whatever you want! Just tell me what you want! I have kids. Two sons! What will they do without a father?" His voice was raw with desperation, each syllable a desperate plea for mercy.

Darling slowly shook their head, and exchanged a deep, sorrowful glance with Akira. "We don't want anything Mr. Landgraab, unfortunately, you have alot of powerful enemies. And your time has just run out." Their voices were cold, but still filled with sympathy.

Akira stepped forward, feeling his insides churn as he saw the terror in Geoffrey's eyes. "Sorry about this, Mr. Landgraab. It's you or me." He could feel the tears pricking his own eyes, feeling the weight of the situation like a heavy stone in his chest. He had no choice in this, and the sorrow of that truth was almost too much to bear.

Two days later in the Art District of San Myshuno...

Rain thrashed against the windows, obliterating the picturesque view of the brightly lit downtown. The TV blared with a breaking news announcement tone, illuminating the otherwise dark apartment living room. Iris sunk into the couch, her discomfort intensifying with each passing moment. "I wonder what's going on.."

Suddenly, a gorgeous redheaded news anchor in a suit jacket filled the screen. The side of the screen read 'Breaking News'. "This is Angela Pleasant from Sim City News with a breaking news story from Oasis Springs. Candidate for Governor, Geoffrey Landgraab has been found dead in the springs of Mirage Canyon. Police are still determining the cause of death, we will keep you updated as we get new information. This is truly a tragedy and we at Sim City News extend our condolences to the family." The reporter closed her eyes and looked down in solemn silence for a moment, "Stay safe out there." The TV cut to a commercial for a new show on SBN.

Iris felt her heart sink into her stomach. Pixel jumped up into her lap, sensing her distress. "What a scary world," Iris whispered, her voice filled with anguish.

#sims 4 story #sims story #sims 4 storytelling #sims 4 stories #creative writing #simblr #sims 4 #long post #madeformercy

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angeldcgs · 1 year ago

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if it had been anyone else pestering him about such a sensitive topic, lou likely would've told them to fuck off and be done with it, a fact that lux had been banking on. he cared too much about them both to abandon the conversation altogether; he wanted them to drop it, but he didn't want to leave. despite his continued resistance, they were getting somewhere. progress wasn't always linear, and change was never easy; sometimes you had to take two steps back before taking one step forward, and that's exactly what his little hissy fit was. one thing she'd learned about lou was that coddling him could sometimes result in the opposite of her intended effect, allowing him to get too comfortable like a spoiled lapdog. it was a sensitive topic with very delicate emotions involved, but that didn't mean he needed to be handled with kid gloves. he was a grown man, he'd need to learn to confront his more difficult feelings at some point, and lux wouldn't always be there to hold his hand through it. in threatening to leave, she'd put some genuine pressure on him to quit whining and actually do something, and just as she'd hoped, it paid off immediately. "i meant what i said." her tone was devoid of its former warmth, matching the detached coldness in her gaze. "i'm bored." she knew just how highly he valued pleasing her, how he'd put her on a pedestal since day one and had been living his life in accordance with her wishes. threatening to leave was akin to a slap across the face, only worse, because he actually would've enjoyed the pain. "are you done throwing a tantrum?" one immaculately groomed brow quirked, sizing him up as if she didn't quite trust his insistence. "tell you what," the last word was drawn out in her posh accent, reaching out to gently cup lou's chin and tilt his head up to face her. "why don't you go in the kitchen and grab us a bottle to share. any liquor you want— surprise me." finally, she graced him with a sly curving smile. "as for the game... griffyn can pick."

being friends for as long as they had, griffyn and lou had had their fair share of fights. mostly petty shit, and their squabbles had never lasted longer than a day or two, much like he hoped this one would. hopefully they'd be over it be the end of the night, all their impassioned bitterness giving way to even more passionate sex, but that might've been wishful thinking on griffyn's part. he didn't want to push lou too far too fast, otherwise he'd clam up and shut down entirely. it was somewhat fascinating watching the way lux played him like a fiddle— they'd only known each other a matter of months, and yet she'd somehow been able to come to read his cues like a picture book for children, finding the exact right strings to pluck like she'd been born with that knowledge. his best friend since childhood became like a completely different person when she worked that feminine witchcraft of hers, a needy puppy just begging not to be abandoned, and he didn't know who to be more in awe of. at the moment, he couldn't take his eyes off lux, beginning to see a side of her that intrigued him more than it should've. now it was his turn to sit back and watch the exchange, up until lux turned her attention back to him, and he snapped out of his revelry back to reality. "a game?" he repeated, words tapering off with a slight chuckle. "we might be a little old for that... but sure. sure! why not? it's like summer camp all over again, huh lou?"

their words affected him so much because he cared, he cared deeply about what the two of them thought about him and it killed him to be so impossibly stubborn. he couldn't laugh along with the jabs, the suggestions of what his kiss with griffyn all those years ago meant and not only couldn't he join in with the joke, the fact they found it something to laugh about at all pissed him off because it meant they had a level of freedom he didn't. was it self-imposed? mostly, a result of his unreachable pursuit of perfection, but it wasn't as much of a choice as they seemed to think it was. griffyn knew how to push his buttons, he always had. there was no way to win against him, they'd keep butting heads until someone got hurt and even if it wasn't him, lou couldn't take that as a success when he knew he was only fighting because he was scared to admit what griffyn was saying was the truth. instead of replying, lou glared across at the other man, heavy-lidded eyes tired from the back and forth yet when lux spoke up, his gaze shot across to her and his eyes softened. "what?" while it hadn't been fun for him, lou had received some comfort in knowing that lux seemed to be enjoying the show, she obviously had grown interested in seeing the boys perform in some way and his discomfort had never been enough prompting to stop him from giving her what she wanted. hearing her say she was bored was like a bullet to the heart, he wasn't giving her what she needed and that meant he was inadequate, he was failing. "no- no no no, what'd you mean?" his voice was high and desperate, a change he didn't notice since falling into a more natural submissive role around her had become like second nature. griffyn might have found such a switch-up embarrassing to witness but lou didn't care about that, he cared about making lux happy. "i'm sorry. it's fine, we can- i'm sorry, i'll stop." his anxiety was palpable but he was quick to try and solve the problem, at least then he'd feel like he hadn't ruined the night with his refusal to play along. "what'd you want to do? should we- do you want another drink or maybe- we could play a game? yeah? let's play a game." a drinking game, ideally, but he was up for whatever lux wanted if it meant her sticking around.

#{ lux laurie — thread }#{ griffyn aimes — thread }#{ lux vs. griffyn vs. lou }#thcophagy

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incorrect-ikevamp-quotes · 4 years ago

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why does jean warn up to mc so quickly? ikevamp makes it clear that jean is a pretty reserved person and doesn't open up or let people in easily but he seems to let mc in quite quickly and it confuses me quite a bit.

Oh boy, where to begin with this one.

Well, I have a lot of Feelings^TM about this, but I'll try to be concise. Essentially, I think Jeanne doesn't recover in the other routes--or the general storyline--largely because he's just a lot to unpack narratively speaking. And without some pretty direct intervention, he has a hard time healing. MC’s direct intervention was meaningful because it was focused, consistent, and adapted to Jeanne’s specific needs. She also doesn’t make light of his experiences which is key; she fully understands that she can’t fathom what he’s been through. There is a very weighty respect and acknowledgement, a seriousness with which she treats his wounds that’s important.

It’s easy to make this a “why is MC nOt LiKe ThE oThEr GiRlS” but honestly that’s just not the sense I get when I look at all the information available to us.

That being said, I also just feel like every person's recovery from traumatic events doesn't really look the same? I mean Leonardo’s cptsd isn’t going to operate the same way Jeanne’s wartime/Inquisition cptsd is going to operate. Some people require very individualized healing, others will often require a large scale group effort to lift them up.

Typically people don't ever just get over what happened to them and never worry about it again, either. It's usually a process of coping; the hope is that with time you find healthy ways to deal with grief and move forward. Therapists aren't magicians, they just help people process painful experiences/thoughts. It's honestly up to individuals to find meaningful ways to implement these tactics.

Tl; dr: My contention is that Jeanne doesn’t open up or choose to stay alive because MC magically heals him, rather his recovery is a convergence of many people’s efforts and hopes that he stays alive. Gilles (he insists that Jeanne must live, asks him to promise), MC (affirms and bolsters that promise), Comte (makes a second life and recovery possible)--and in no small measure Mozart and Napoleon--all make an active effort to buoy him. As people often say, it takes a village to raise a child.

While Jeanne seems to respond most powerfully to MC’s attempts, it feels more like a product of chemistry/compatibility than it does a random cop out. There is no insinuation that only romantic love can heal; after all, MC gets close to him without any romantic intentions at first. They’re just good friends? It’s more that their feelings simply moved in a different direction after a point, which doesn’t necessarily happen all the time. Jeanne is also incredibly moved by Mozart’s love for him as a friend, Comte’s love for him as a father, and even Gilles’ love as a comrade to an extent. If anything, without their input Jeanne’s capacity for romantic love would be questionable at best.

Now, because I can never for the life of me stop analyzing, I have a more large scale outline of my thoughts below. Spoilers for Jeanne’s route:

If we look at Jeanne's life history, he has pretty specific trauma. Most of the harm he endured was a direct result of human rights violations after the war itself. He didn't enjoy fighting and killing people, but he's also very much a man that sees the reality of his position: it's either kill or be killed. His entire goal was to defeat the enemy as efficiently as possible in the hopes of ending conflict, and with his enormous resolve turns the tide. He had no innate interest in inflicting harm, or lack of control when engaging. He isn't pathological about it, and doesn’t dehumanize the other side. He was more "this was an act of necessity, but those are still human beings." So as far as I can tell he has a very strong moral compass and sense of duty, he doesn't show much delusion/confusion in that regard. (Also evident in his conversations with the young orphan boy.) Furthermore, he has been shown to have a sense of humor--cracking jokes with Gilles and boosting morale for his fellow soldiers.

His childhood abandonment is significant (he left his home because he was "not an adequate farmhand and they had no ability to feed all their children") but I don't know if I would consider it a huge trauma point for him. It seems as though he deemed it an act of necessity--not spite. It was simply the way of things, and he couldn't help his wiry constitution. You'd be surprised how common that was once upon a time, tbh... While it's certainly not right or fair, it does appear that in his perception it was the choice he made and he moved on after he became a soldier. Just focusing on what he could do, rather than everything he lacked. For people in his position, they often feel it is useless to linger on what should have been. There’s no time to linger or doubt, life hangs in the balance.

That leaves us with his time under the Inquisition, just before he was slated to be burned alive. I think this is the keystone trauma point for him, because there are a lot of moving parts to his powerlessness here. The first part is that his entire life's mission--ending the war so that people would no longer have to die and/or starve as a result of senseless violence--was just sabotaged. All those years of doing things he never wanted to do (wartime violence) and being forced to leave his family to ensure they didn't all starve, all of it treated like some kind of joke. Like he didn't sacrifice years of his life and sanity to protect a people who were happy to call him a monster and watch him burn alive. The second part is the overt gaslighting and rewriting of Jeanne's personal history (and overall French public perception) for the sake of the King's political agenda. To call him a treasonous danger to the country when he was once lauded a hero. The third portion is the actual physical helplessness of being arrested, starved, and continuously maimed for no reason beyond pure malice. While it's never right to do that to any human being, this was done to a man who prided himself on his stalwart moral code. To abuse and torture him for something egregious that he would never do (at the risk of death) is just another slap in the face to everything he is and believes in.

I just feel like the context clarifies why that period of time would be the tipping point. His entire moral code and life’s work is being called into question and swept aside, as well as his agency? He believes very powerfully in a sense of right vs wrong, what's fair and what isn't fair. Somebody else deciding that for him--and deciding in a way that is openly unfair/incorrect--further makes him lose himself and his sense of reality. A person in that situation begins to doubt if they are good or bad. His belief in god all the more pressing; if he was a good person, why would fate bring him so much suffering? Honorable soldier or not, his blade has drawn so much blood...

People often reference his stilted social skills (and I am of the belief that he is on the autistic spectrum) as a reason why he is so "people-adverse" but tbh? I don't agree. His memories before the onset of this trauma reveal that he was actually a very warm person, and that people were more than willing to fight under his banner. He had friends, and he had comrades--his country loved him. He was the picture of well-meaning civic duty. Just because he doesn’t integrate smoothly into larger social groups or adapt well to socially shifting circumstances, doesn’t mean he just hates people lmao. When people give him the space to exist within his comfort zone and don’t take advantage of him, he thrives. Compounded by that, we also have his actions in the present to further prove what is true and what isn't.

While he is stern with the orphan boy (I'm sorry I can't remember his name, damn it) there is no malice or cruelty in what he has to say. He doesn't punish the kid or do anything out of line. It may not be fair in terms of the adult level of discretion he asks of him, but the kid also didn't have a lot of options realistically speaking lmao. Same thing with MC, she and the orphan boy are nearly identical in how Jeanne treats them. He's a little rough, but the route reveals that his intentions are just a reflection of what he's been through. He truly believes that if a person isn't strong, they won't survive--because his entire life was a series of trying to be strong/reliable because nobody else would. There was nobody to protect him, and nobody to care for him went things went south. It was him and his sword against the world, and even his exceptional skill as a fighter did not protect him from the Inquisition's arbitrary torture. He has lived in a world where good acts can become absolutely meaningless, where following rules and helping people still gets you slaughtered. That's going to take a considerable toll on his mental health: where do you find the will to go on when the next second of your life could mean the devastation of everything that matters to you?

Spoilers: you don't. Or if you do, every minute of the day is a fight to stay alive. That is the point at which we meet Jeanne. Caught in the hellish whirlpool of wanting more, wanting better--but being terrified of the cost. The cost of hoping, only for his entire world to go up in flames again. It's not a small thing, in my view.

If you have any doubts as to whether or not that is the case, I direct you to literally every singular instance in which Jeanne's emotional sensibility goes visibly dark/south. When do these instances happen? When it rains, for one. And when Shakespeare deliberately starts pressing on his sensitivities: about the soldiers he was forced to kill, about the nation that spurned him, how he's truly "wicked" at heart and doesn't deserve to be happy--seconds before flames erupt for the festival. Does that really sound coincidental? I mean lmao. The rain is a painful reminder, but MC transforms that memory into something a little lighter with her bet. He has nothing to lose in her game, all she does is ask for time with him or offers him something if she loses. There's a playfulness there, a restoration of agency and ease that's invaluable to his recovery.

As for Shakespeare's deliberate retraumatization...I can't even begin to explain how damaging that event was. Shakespeare is undermining Jeanne's agency in that he--not unlike the corrupt monarch of Jeanne's era--is twisting Jeanne's beliefs to work against him. He knows full well that Jeanne doesn't feel like he deserves somebody so bright and understanding (we need to remember it's not really a luxury he's had much in life, especially after the war ended). He knows Jeanne has a tendency to impose that strict moral code on himself even more than he does on others. To reaffirm his every worst fear and lurking terror only throws Jeanne into a vicious downspiral. Jeanne doesn't reject MC out of disgust or hate. He rejects her because he literally cannot handle the concept of trying to be happy again, or of burdening her with his constant struggle to move on while he’s in the middle of a bad episode. He knows he won’t be able to stop reliving the past, that every second of his life and breath will be colored by his gruesome memories. He's trying as hard as he can to keep the intrusive thoughts quiet, to move on. But I'm not going to lie to any of you, that is incredibly difficult to do alone.

The next obvious question is, well why can't the other men help him? This isn't to say that they can't--we see how much solace Jeanne finds in Napoleon and Mozart. Even Isaac is gentle with the veteran. But there are limits to how much they can do. Napoleon is struggling with his own wartime trauma, and it's not identical to Jeanne's. Plus there’s a distinct difference in their sensibilities? Napoleon is the type to habitually seek comfort in helping others when he can't help himself, he's not as in tune with answering his own personal feelings and regulating them. (I mean just look at his new ES: he knows what he wants, but it takes a nudge from Isaac for him to go through with it.) He’s very communally reliant in ways Jeanne isn’t; Jeanne is a very private person, and typically prefers one on one from what I can tell.

Mozart is the definition of repression, and if you look at their interactions it's usually Jeanne that's smoothing over Mozart's rough edges. Mozart says as much himself: that he feels like a rotten friend because he knew Jeanne was struggling with a lot of intense trauma, but he didn't know how to unravel it without hurting him in the process. Mozart calls it personal cowardice, but honestly I just feel like they both had too much going on to be able to help each other effectively. (And Jeanne expresses this sentiment too? This idea that he's not angry with Mozart? He knows they're both carrying a lot, he's just touched Mozart cares about him in return.)

Okay, briefly unrelated, but like. Am I the only one that wheezes uncontrollably when Mozart is like "?????? Idk what it is about MC...I don't want her to be scared of me..." in his own main story in the baths. And Jeanne. IS TRYING SO HARD. NOT TO SPILL THE BEANS ABOUT HIM O B V I O U S L Y BEING IN LOVE. THE HILARITY I CAN'T DO THIS. Jeanne was like "yeah....yeah that's rough buddy.......[screams internally, give your boy time Jeanne he's fragile]"

Honestly? That's the thing about Jeanne too--he has incredible self-awareness and hyperarousal-related (I mean the PTSD kind, get your head out of the gutter) awareness to the people around him. He's very, very conscious of the fact that he is surrounded by geniuses when he can't even write his own name. Just because he has the fortitude not to lash out with his insecurities, doesn't mean he never feels stupid or inferior. And it doesn't help when there are people in the mansion who call him--a fucking war veteran from 500 YEARS AGO--nAiVe. He's not naive lmao. He just doesn't know how the world works so many years later, and it's a ridiculously steep learning curve? Leonardo and Comte are nearly 500 years old, but they lived throughout every hour of that time in a linear fashion. It is a big deal to be moved from 1430 to 1890 in the span of a second asynchronously, and then be expected to function without a hitch??? Given the circumstances he adapts well.

That atmosphere--this constant impatience with what he doesn’t understand, his inability to be caught up to speed quickly--is going to hinder his recovery lmao. He feels like a burden most of the time, and agency and freedom are crucial.

Another thing that occurs to me about the mansion's arrangement is that there is a power dynamic, just as any space with people in it has some level of hierarchy (unless you live with miraculously chill people). Jeanne is acutely aware that Comte is the most powerful being in that space, and he is not only hatefully angry at him--but likely afraid too. We have to remember that the biggest betrayal he witnessed in his life was at the hands of a monarch; it was the aristocracy that turned on him and erased the truth. Comte is openly a child that resulted from both that era and that type of lineage, I don't really blame Jeanne for being wary. He intimately knows how willing rich people are to throw normal folks under the bus to suit their ambitions/whims. Comte, while not deliberately threatening, also seems to be painfully aware of this impression he gives off. His "chad persona" as I've mentioned allows him to navigate his life in secret by necessity, but it’s actively damaging to his son. He can't reveal the truth because of Vlad's betrayal, and he's openly unsettled by what it could mean to be honest. Will they wonder about Vlad and find themselves ensnared under his mind control as Charles and Shakespeare are? Will Comte himself be subjected to the mortifying ordeal of being known only to lose them?? That's a risk he isn't willing to take--and that leaves him in a double bind.

What is it that they say, the truth will set you free? This is where MC and Comte come into enormous play when it comes to Jeanne's recovery. One thing to keep in mind is that most of the people in the mansion have their own traumas they're trying to carry, and I feel like a lot of them are unsure how to approach Jeanne. Or if they do, he's very guarded. It takes a lot of consistent effort to get through to him. What does MC do when Jeanne unleashes his harsh worldview on her? She's understandably frightened, but Jeanne isn't malicious (so she chases him around). In fact, he openly avoids and runs away from her--well aware that what he's done is wrong. If anything, he did it on purpose, bringing us right back to Shakespeare's verbal undoing; why does Jeanne attack her in the first place?

LMAO. He attacks her because she essentially says "oh thanks for helping me!" "I am not nice. Watch yourself." "But you seem like a nice guy to me?" "REEEEEE" Does the pattern become a little clearer? When people think kindly of him, his instinct is to shatter that illusion with an impulsive reprehensible act. When people think poorly of him or lash out, what does he do? When that orphan boy starts yelling and screaming, Jeanne is nothing but calm. He explains the situation, and offers the kid a choice, perfectly happy to be the bearer of bad news. This operates on many levels I’m sure, but I have a feeling it has something to do with him being hailed a saint and a war hero only to be tortured and branded a monstrosity (and he probably thinks being a vampire is doubly monstrous). He’s more comfortable being hated because he feels it’s what he deserves in a lot of ways.

Jeanne has a lot of internalized self-hatred because of what he's done, and because of how much harm was inflicted on him outside of his control (he's Catholic and he was tortured, come on this writes itself). If I'm honest, I think that's actually the greater part of why he hates Comte lmao. Comte refuses the very concept of being cruel no matter how much Jeanne lashes out. Sure he lectures him and scolds him, but he never actively limits what's important to him or controls or harms him. Comte fully realizes the tragedy of how Jeanne's life was used by a nation in dire straits, and knows he needs time and acceptance to heal. No matter how dismal or unhappy, Comte doesn't stop--he fully believes Jeanne should have time in his life where he can really live for himself for once. But therein lies the issue, Jeanne doesn't know how to live for himself.

Which brings me to how MC and Comte "heal" Jeanne. I feel like they give him the space he needs to recover, and that's what results in his gentled temperament and happiness. Remember that so much of his main story is MC endlessly chasing after Jeanne. No amounts of his hissing or running or threatening stops her. Even if his refusals are empty of real dislike, they're enough to deter most people. Not MC. She's able to see through to the depths of who he is, and doesn't just use him for her own ends? She actively seeks to teach him (to read and write) to help him settle better in this era, she actively tries to ease his distaste for rain with a well-meaning bet, and she never gives up on him. (Actions mean so much more to him than words in general too, tbh...). Love is more easily defined by work and effort than it is by attraction.

When he has his episode at the festival, sure she's rattled; but that's because she truly believed that he didn't want to be around her anymore. When she notices he really doesn’t want to be followed, she stops like any normal person would. It’s only when she reads his notebook and sees the truth for herself (that he’s given up despite having the same feelings for her) that her determination is rekindled. She doesn't approach him fearfully, doesn't treat him like he's made of glass either. She just wants him as he is--accepts and loves him as he is. Scarred, bloody, exhausted, abrasive, terrified. She doesn't define him by how easy he is to love. That is a huge issue with traumatized people lmao. Because of their maturity, people always just assume they don't need help, or they rely on them to an extent that isn't sustainable. The second they reveal need or that they struggle, people walk away or victim blame them because it’s easier than taking them seriously.

While MC's attempts may be a little more obvious (cherishing his lily field, wearing the hair pin he gave her, careful about his gruesome injury, really listens when he talks about the horrors of his life and accepts that he experienced a level of agony/terror she can never understand, tries to express her feelings no matter his evasion) I think it's also important to consider Comte's large scale effort. I don't say this to undermine MC, I say it because Jeanne's life was defined by a complete lack of security. He left his parents to make their lives easier, he lived in a war that meant life or death any second, and his country's leader branded him a traitor which lead to his endless torture and public execution. Jeanne does not know a life in which safety is the norm. Point blank. He does not understanding going outside and not expecting the worst anymore.

Comte not only understands that level of despair, but treats it with dignity and respect. He fully accepts being hated if it means Jeanne can use that hatred to live on and find a way to heal. And most importantly, when Jeanne begins to move forward with MC and Mozart's help, Comte never once holds it against Jeanne when the truth is revealed. He's not angry, this isn't about reprisal or reparations or revenge. It's just love.

Jeanne doesn't really have a concept of this? His entire life was mostly transactional, defined by strength and efficiency. Nobody gives a damn about your feelings. You either hurl yourself at the problem or die. Nobody is going to help you or carry you or save you. While he may have had a little more support while he was in the military from his fellow soldiers, that support system was ripped away from him during the Inquisition.

One very common sentiment regarding elongated imprisonment and torture is that survival occurs in pairs. It is an undeniable fact that people need others to survive. It is the nature of who we are. Individualism has never proven to be successful, or if it is, its dividends are astronomically minimal when compared to people working together.

What does it mean to be the most reliable, steady person in the room? Usually it just means you don't know how to ask for help when you are no longer capable of maintaining that stance. Napoleon is guilty of it. Leonardo, Comte, and Jeanne all are too. It's part of why MC and Comte's capacity to see what he needs and provide as much as they can is such a big deal. That sort of consistent support (without a constant necessity to beg for help) allows Jeanne to be able to re-integrate into his new reality and find joy. Even if his nightmares and memories never go away, they are now being actively overrun by positive experiences. That's the thing about recovery, really--it tends to be more about drowning out the negative as much as possible and coming to terms with it, than it is about forgetting or never feeling it again. It’s about softening the sharp edges of pain like sea glass.

So is MC magical and randomly got Jeanne to open up? Nah, I don't think so. I think it was a series of persistence and real acceptance of who he is that made him warm up. People really seem to underestimate how deeply affecting understanding is, but that's how damage is undone. Jeanne can't really linger on the idea of his own monstrousness, his unworthiness, a lifetime of misery, when the person in front of him actively listens and cares about him. Makes him laugh and smile and lose himself in warmth for the first time.

If I'm honest, I feel like people also just...underestimate the level of traumatic resurgence that's perpetuated and inflicted by society’s standards in general lmao. This rhetorical structure in which good and bad exist in moral extremes, this idea that people should be able to recover and never experience relapses or periods of sensitivity. The refusal to radically listen to people and their problems, and make active attempts--not matter how small--to mend/ease those hurt feelings. Granted there will always be people in the world who do not want to improve, but I feel like most people want to. It's hopelessness, silence, and stigmatization that remain the true enemies of traumatized/mentally ill people everywhere. And among that population are always war veterans...

#ikevamp #ikemen vampire #ikevamp jean #ikevamp jeanne #ikevamp meta #ikevamp saint germain #ikevamp comte #sorry i have a lot of feelings about this topic kjahsflkjhsjkghfd #but yes!#i think mc being able to help him was more about her sensibility and the mental fortitude/space to be able to care about him as he needed #i don't think it's necessarily that she's SpEcIaL #trauma is a sensitive subject--especially considering he's a war veteran #but i also think it's simple and complex at the same time #simple in the sense that people really do just need consistent support and love to be able to care for themselves again #complex in the sense that support can come in so many permutations and some of them are very delicate and multi-faceted #and thus must be handled with extreme caution in some regards #anywho not that i'm any kind of expert this is just what i understand and see #also in case it wasn't clear i love him and cry every day (look away comte it's my whoring hours)#though i hope this helps??? i went off harder than anticipated lakjhglkj #thank you for the ask!!! <3333 #asks #rambles #not incorrect quotes

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