#in fact that's basically what the prologue i'm writing right now is: me putting a magnifying glass on interesting Tumblr posts

[kadoodles-on-ao3]

So uh... How do you feel about Nikol's existence?

I technically shouldn't know who that is yet but... I do. And. Well. You can probably guess by how you worded this ask hahaha.

Not surprised at all, if you like them as a couple then good for you and hope you're enjoying the DLC, you don't need me on your side because they're canon so that can satisfy you content-wise plus my opinions are silly and don't matter, etc etc, all I've said before applies here.

Honestly, if anything, the only unique thing I have to add here* is how his design really demonstrates how much Shulk and Fiora look like siblings lmao. There's even a (really cool!) fan mod to alter Fiora's hair and skin color to look more like her (actual) brother, so I'm not alone in seeing this haha.

So, Nikol. He sure does exist. Dude looks just like Shulk because his dad and mom both look like Shulk so what else could he look like. That's about all the thoughts I have haha (at least until I actually play more of 3 and see what he's like).

Non-ask-related ramblings under the cut because it's me, of course I rambled haha.

As I really don't like to nor want to rain on anyone's parade, as well as enjoy talking about the ship I like (because of course), I've made an effort to mentally retrack my train of thought (? idk how else to describe it lol) whenever my NOTP comes up by converting it into an opportunity to talk about my OTP instead of complaining. (See also my comment on What If We Kissed In The Weapons Development Lab where I mentioned going back into my fic and adding more details of Shulk being enamored by Melia whenever I came across Shiora while writing it lol.)

So, Shulkelia kids! I'm personally not one for creating OCs, in general or for media I like. Not that I dislike them or even the thought/process of making them! It just doesn't come to me as easily or interest me as much as digging into canon details and playing around with them. But I did come up with a couple rough concepts for what they might look like and how their parents might decide on their names... if they even would want to have kids in the first place, that is, I'm still unsure about that haha. But fanfiction can be whatever you want it to be and that's the fun of it, so maybe sometime I'll try developing those small ideas into something more (especially if it's something people are interested in reading)! If anything I'm most attached to my little blurbs I wrote about how they and their kids would interact with Reyn and Sharla and their kids, lots of cute potential there :)

(*Well, I can add something more, and I originally was going to do it! Not to contradict my whole don't-like-raining-on-anyone's-parade point, but again I want to stress, my intention with this is I just really enjoy analyzing details and understanding why I react to things in the way that I do. But I did mention to a previous ask that I have in-game writing reasons for why I dislike Shiora, it's not just personal experience from my life outside of the fandom or in observing it. In fact on my first playthrough of the game I was all for it and even saved a bunch of fanart of the two together on my phone, I see it when scrolling through my gallery all the time! It really fascinates me how drastically my perspective shifted after just one small moment at the very end of the game, and then on replaying it everything fell apart like a house of cards to me, wild stuff I can't compare the experience to anything else haha. Anyway if anyone's interested in seeing my take on that aspect of their writing, once again, feel free to send me an ask about it!)

[strawberrysnoopy]

ACT ONE: The Photo-shoot, Part Two

prologue, part one

warnings: basic stuff (infidelity, mentions of sex and masturbation, ada slander, yadda, yadda), i also don't know how an er really works so..., brief mention of disordered eating habits but not an eating disorder (if that makes sense), foreshadowing (in the same chapter), almost sex but not yet sugar, blah blah, blah. I also can't write fight scenes so whatever. Also I promise that this will be the last dinner party esque scene in a while lol.

tags: @heylesamis, @sweetserial, @iloveyousomuch1989, @galactict3a, @m1sery-busin3ss, @ssulfurr, @julia13123, @nic-stars, @stillhavingdaddyissues, @greywardensaywhat thank you anons for your submissions and helping motivate me to continue this series!

Leon sat beside you in the emergency room, holding up an ice pack to his eye. You hated that out of all things to be concerned about right now, you were staring at his thick biceps and his veiny forearms like some cheap whore. The nurses who saw the both of you come in had looked at Leon first, so you were justified in staring. At least a little. "How's the eye?" You asked, reaching over and pulling the ice pack back a little so you could see the damage. A few capillaries in his eye had burst open, making his eye look all bloody and gross. The beginnings of a dark bruise were beginning to form. "Hurts. But nothing I haven't felt before." True, he was a government agent assigned to save the world over and over again: so this might be just a blip in his entire career. You nod, patting his arm and settling back into your seat beside him. Tonight hadn't been what you anticipated at all. You just wanted a cozy dinner with Leon and your husband to ease his loneliness. He was cooped up in his house and you knew he would neglect to feed himself. Leon wouldn't really consider himself a lonely man. He had friends to bide his time with when Ada was gone doing a mission. Your husband was one of those people, and of course, by instinct: the invite of friendship was gracefully extended to you. However, Leon would really hate to admit that you're the better in maintaining the friendship than your husband ever was. You were the one to start inviting him over for dinner when Ada was gone because you knew he'd probably put some half-assed attempt in feeding himself everyday. Not that he didn't know how to cook (he was quite an excellent one, in fact), he felt that it was kind of pointless if you ate when there wasn't someone to share the meal with.

Tonight was one of those nights for him. You texted him earlier this afternoon, offering him dinner and the company of friends. He could practically hear your soft voice from over the phone: the kindness you radiated with your mere presence lighting him up like the Fourth of July. Of course he had to accept your invitation, it's not like he had plans: other than sitting in his boxers, drinking and stare at the ceiling while he laid in bed. You were rather quick to trot over to the door when Leon came knocking. There was a stupid grin plastered on your face and with the way your eyes looked at him with a bright, glimmering shine glazing over them. "Leon!" You squeal, capturing him into your arms and swaying him back and forth. A low and rumbly chuckle escaped his throat while he hugged you, arms finding their home around your waist. Your husband's off somewhere in the house, if you had to guess accurately: by the fridge, contemplating how plastered he was planning on getting tonight in the shortest amount of time. Perhaps he'd go a little slower tonight, but you don't have much hope in him with the fact Leon's there. It might encourage him. Who knows.

"I appreciate you having me over tonight. So nice of you to make sure I'm never lonely." Among other things. But he's not squealing too soon. Your eyes longingly rake over his body, and god, the gall of this man to not appear in your life sooner and sweep you off of your feet. Noticing he's wearing something different, he smiles at you and pinches your cheek, muttering the same nickname he always called you.

Silly Girl.

God, fuck this man to the highest degree, you curse to yourself. And his attire?! Oh fuck him. You tried not to notice his attire. It was that of a somewhat dorky husband. Perhaps that’s what attracted Ada, perhaps that’s what made her hate him so much. Regardless, you loved the somewhat silly outfit on him of a gray sweatshirt he’s had since police academy, the lip of his boxers visible from above his jeans if he stretched his arms up (maybe bless your eyes and existence with the token appearance of his happy trail), and some semi-baggy jeans with his beat up shoes. He was a handsome man, and he seemed to know it. Yet, he still had enough a heart to be humble. Dinner was served quickly, everyone taking their seats at the table. Leon had praised you on your cooking skills with words (and a hand patting your thigh under the table. Hot.) The conversation was light-hearted, cheerful, but most of all, refreshing. The table had even gotten to the topic of firsts: obviously dancing over the first time any one of you had sex but you had a sneaky feeling your tipsy turning drunk husband would bring it up. "So, who was your first kiss, Leon?" You asked, taking a bite of the braised rib on your plate (that you worked your ass off on, might we add) while your head slowly turned over to meet his gaze. "Some girl in like...4th grade. She kissed me first. I don't even remember her name." You laugh, jokingly raising your hand to signal you were the same. "Anyone after that?" Leon shakes his head. "Just some college girls and Ada." The table falls silent, the sound of forks scraping against the plate and quiet chewing beginning to get on your nerves due to the fact nobody was speaking. "And after that?" Your husband chimes in and you realize you would rather just have the sounds of chewing and forks scraping than having him say something stupid. Leon shakes his head, assuming whatever your husband was trying to imply was a joke, but you knew better and you had a feeling he knew better as well. "Oh, come on, Leon. You're telling me you haven't at least kissed another woman after marrying Ada." He fights back an eye roll. You laugh. "Can't say I have." "No? Seriously. That's what makes relationship so healthy. Just a once in a while business trip where you're drowning in pussy." Your mouth dried. Blink and you'd miss it, Leon's cool facade cracks and shatters, a scowl overtaking his face. "Well. I'll have to think about that sometime." You look at him, noticing that he was threatening to say something. Something ballsy. Something that might, quite literally, have your soaked panties flung across the room. The look in your eyes was daring him to say it. The fucked part of you wanted to hear it.

"What if someone fucked your wife? Would it be any different?" And just like that, you're on fire. Of course you found it hot. Because his best friend, who is not supposed to have any romantic feelings towards his friend's wife mind you, was actually standing up for you. "The fuck you just say to me?" Leon gets up from his seat with a death glare that could kill any man but oh lord, you? You're fucking living for this. "You heard me. What if I fucked your wife? Would it be any different?" Your eyes widen, head snapping over to Leon. Oh, he wanted to fuck you? He wanted to fuck you? Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy shit! Within minutes, your husband tackles Leon and tries punching him but if you think he's winning this fight, you are sorely mistaken. Leon was a government agent and in seconds, he's on top of Ezra beating the lights out of him. After the shock (let's be honest here, giddiness) passes, you pull Leon off of your husband, mumbling to him to calm down. You were surprised when he had apologized and asked to take your husband to the emergency room.

Leon sat beside you in the emergency room, holding up an ice pack to his eye. You hated that out of all things to be concerned about right now, you were staring at his thick biceps and his veiny forearms like some cheap whore. The nurses who saw the both of you come in had looked at Leon first, so you were justified in staring. At least a little.

"How's the eye?" You asked, reaching over and pulling the ice pack back a little so you could see the damage. A few capillaries in his eye had burst open, making his eye look all bloody and gross. The beginnings of a dark bruise were beginning to form.

"Hurts. But nothing I haven't felt before." True, he was a government agent assigned to save the world over and over again: so this might be just a blip in his entire career. You nod, patting his arm and settling back into your seat beside him. Tonight hadn't been what you anticipated at all. You just wanted a cozy dinner with Leon and your husband to ease his loneliness. He was cooped up in his house and you knew he would neglect to feed himself. "I'm sorry." He murmured to you, referencing the least important elephant in the room. "About him...cheating on you. If it's any consolation, I'm sure he's not—" You interrupt him.

"He is. It's nothing I don't already know." He nodded, finally taking your hand in his own and running his calloused thumb across the soft and vastly explored top half of your hand. Your husband cheated on you. Something you had dreaded for so long when you first met him but now the fact was spoken into the air just felt like...relief. Like you didn't have to play the guessing game anymore. You weren't acting in a role of a dumb, clueless housewife bobbling around with her mouth and legs open if your husband so chose to have mercy on your needs and finally have mediocre sex with you. "And I also want to apologize for what I said. About fucking you. I wouldn't actually do that to you, yeah? I was just pissed he said that stuff to you." You both know it's bullshit. You both know he wants to fuck. You both know he sleeps with Ada wishing it was you. You pat his arm. "It's okay." A nurse arrives into the waiting room, clipboard totted on her side and a much too relieved poker face gracing her features. "Your husband is alright. We admitted him for a few days to monitor his status, make sure nothing odd pops up. Just needed a few stitches and painkillers so he should be fine." The both of you took that as a cue to take off for the night. Although Leon had been wondering if you'd even visit him in the hospital after the whole cheating confession thing, probably not. Getting up from your seats, Leon takes you by the hand and walks you out to your car. The night air was a soothing chill against your skin, the warmth of Leon's palm bursting through the layers of cold your body temperature had managed to build up. "If you ever decide to....y'know...divorce him. You can always stay with us for a bit while you get back on your feet." His hand rubbed up and down your arm, soothing you like you had lost something very special to you. Which you had: your husband. But that was long ago and the admission was a long time coming: the band-aid had been ripped off of your skin and the pain had subsided. "Thank you." You whisper. He nods. His eyes flicker down to your lips, hand moving from the side of your cold arm to your cheek. His thumb caresses your bottom lip and moving dangerously close to the inside of your mouth. In his eyes, they're zoned out, almost like he's reminiscing of Ada. But you're not Ada. You're you. And that's what has him writhing with lustful agony. But the problem was that there was still a woman he was betrothed to and as much as he hated it, he had a duty to be loyal to her. He hadn't ever broken that loyalty to her and he's not starting anytime soon. With a sigh, he pulls away from you. "I'll see you around, yeah?" He doesn't even let you respond before he awkwardly pats your arm and leaves you alone in the hospital parking lot, leaving you wanting for more. "...Bye." You mumble, getting into your own car to drive home. But on the ride home, Leon's left you wondering. Wondering what would happen if he had just thrown caution to the wind and kissed you. But he was right. You were both married. The most tragic thing of all being that it's not to each-other.

[ladykailitha]

Batshit Soulmates Part 6

The second one today. I'm trying to get through my backlog because I have almost twenty chapters that are finished and ready to be posted. And that isn't counting the fact that with my daily goal of 400 words a day, I'm definitely going to have more than that the longer it takes for me to post.

This here is my schedule for the next two weeks, but as I said, since I'm always writing, that "return to one chapter a day" on the 11th? That's probably a pipe dream. So I might end up adding a fourth day to my posting schedule so that I can at least put out a chapter a week for each of my WIPs.

We'll see.

For this chapter we have fun times at the Wheelers (heavy sarcasm), that talk and a cliffhanger? Yeah, a cliffhanger.

In Medias Res| Prologue|Pt 1| Pt 2|Pt 3|Pt 4|Pt 5|

****

They had been traveling awhile when Eddie decided to get the lay of the land by getting higher.

Which was great in theory until he saw the vast expanse of...shit he didn’t even know how to describe it other than evil. And it stretched as far as he could see.

He turned around to get back down when Nancy called out.

“Don’t step on the vines!”

Eddie froze. “Uh what now?”

“They’re connected to the Upside Down,” she said with a huff.

Eddie looked to Steve to translate.

“They’re part of a hive mind,” Steve explained. “You step on a vine and basically you’re stepping on Vecna and basically everything else in this hell hole.”

“Shit!” Eddie hissed as he tried to come up with a way to get down without waking up the whole Upside Down to their presence.

“I was thinking that now would probably be a good time to get my guns,” Nancy murmured.

Eddie finally decided that fuck it, he was just going to by pass all the vines jump down.

He landed deftly on his feet and as he pulled up his jeans a little he said, “You, Nancy Wheeler, have guns at your house? Guns as in plural?”

Robin pointed excitedly at her. “I know, isn’t she bad ass?”

“I have a Russian pistol,” Nancy said with a cock of her head, “and a revolver.”

Steve huffed out a laugh. “You almost shot me with that one.”

Nancy smiled back and with a teasing lilt to her voice replied, “And you almost deserved it.”

TWAP!

Steve stepped back with the force of a denim vest being thrown in his face. He looked up at Eddie in shock.

“For your modesty, dude.”

Steve looked down at the vest in confusion. “Wha–”

Just then there was great big roar and the ground shook. Robin tumbled into Eddie and Steve barely managed to catch Nancy before elbowed him in the side.

Steve and Nancy were able to keep on their feet but Robin and Eddie fell to the ground.

Eddie looked at Robin and then back at where the noise came from.

“Guns are really starting to sound good right now,” Eddie muttered.

Robin looked back at him and nodded. “Oh yeah.”

Eddie was rubbing his shin as Robin’s heel had kicked it on her way down but his brain turned off when he saw Steve walk by as he pulled on Eddie’s vest.

Shit. He had miscalculated on that one. He hadn’t wanted Nancy Wheeler to ogle his soulmate but he didn’t take in the fact on how hot Steve would look wearing his battle vest. He only barely managed to help Robin to her feet before he was hoping forward to catch up with Steve.

His little lizard brain lighting up with, “Hot boy! Must follow hot boy now,” as his feet danced around the vines to be by Steve’s side.

And just maybe Steve wanted it too, because as Eddie fell in step next to him, Steve blushed and ducked his head.

Eddie grinned up at him as they made their way through the darken forest of the Upside Down.

****

Eddie kept looking over at Steve, who was looking like he had merely taken a tumble in gym instead of being eaten alive.

And yeah that was hot, it was also worrying as fuck. Eddie was starting to think that maybe Steve wasn’t a dick, the dude was just traumatized.

Robin and Nancy walked slower behind them to give them some privacy. Finding your soulmate in the middle of the end of the world, again, sucked.

“Hey, I wanted to thank you for saving my ass back there,” Steve said, softly.

Eddie bumped their shoulders together. “You saved your own ass, man. What you did there was very Ozzy.”

“Who?” Steve asked, confused.

“Ozzy Osborn? Black Sabbath?” Eddie prompted. Steve’s confusion only deepened. “He bit the head off a bat on stage.”

“Wha?” Steve said, rearing his head back. “I don’t know you’re talking about.”

Eddie smiled faintly. “It’s okay. All I was saying that that was a very metal thing you did back there.”

“And metal is...good?” Steve asked, unsure.

Eddie chuckled. “Very.”

“Thanks,” Steve said, grateful the dirt and grim of the Upside Down hid his blush.

They walked on for a few moments in silence. “I was so jealous of you, by the way.”

Steve reared back his head. “Me? Why?”

“Dustin talks about you all the time, man,” Eddie said. “Like all the time. Never shuts up about you, in fact. The kid worships the ground you walk on. Called you a badass on more than one occasion.”

Steve scoffed. “Dustin thinks I’m badass?”

“Oh, yeah,” Eddie said thoughtfully. “I think I just couldn’t accept that Steve Harrington was a good dude, you know? Rich parents, popular, good with girls, not a douche? There was no way. It just flies in the face of life, the universe, and everything. Including my very own Munson doctrine.” He twisted the rings on his fingers nervously.

Steve reached out and gently took his hand.

Eddie took a deep breath and let out it slowly. “I’m still jealous because you’re the real deal. I’m learning that outside DnD, I’m no hero. I see danger and I turn and run. Or at least that’s what I discovered about myself this week.”

Steve squeezed his hand. “Hey, give yourself a break. There was nothing you could have done about Chrissy, okay?”

Eddie let out a shuddering sigh. “The truth is that if those two ladies hadn’t dived in after you, I would still be up in that boat. I don’t know how you managed to get the loyalty of two of the smartest girls in school, especially with one of them being your ex, but holy shit dude. Nancy just dived in no hesitation.”

But before Steve could answer another rumble ripped through the Upside Down.

“Jesus!” Steve hissed as Eddie said, “Here we go again!”

They clutched each other as they struggled to remain on their feet. Steve looked up at Eddie and his breath stopped in his chest, tightening like a vice.

They were so close that Steve could taste their mingled breathes. He yearned to just lean forward and–

Robin tapped his shoulder. “Come on, let’s get to Nancy’s before another quake hits us.”

****

When they got to Nancy’s room, their hope for salvation turned to ash like the dust falling from the sky.

“What do you mean they don’t exist?” Eddie hissed.

Nancy looked like she was going to cry. “The Upside Down is stuck in 1983. Most likely the day Will vanished and I didn’t get my guns until after.”

Even Robin looked disappointed at not being about to see Nancy’s guns.

It truly seemed like all was lost when Steve suddenly stopped.

“Holy shit!” he cried. “Can you hear that?”

Nancy and Robin shared a glance.

“Hear what?” Nancy asked.

“Dustin!” Steve said happily. “I can hear Dustin! And Lucas! And Max!” He giggled.

“It’s like they in the walls!”

Eddie grimaced. The pain must be really getting to the guy if he was hallucin–

But then he could hear it too. Steve and Eddie shared a look and they turned, booking it for the door.

They thundered down the stairs and they noticed the golden light glittering around the chandler.

But now the girls could hear the kids too. It sounded like they were in trouble.

All four them were drawn to the light. It was warm and comforting. And god, Eddie couldn’t stop touching the light.

“It’s warm,” he muttered.

The other three reached up and touched the glittering glow. Steve and god, how Steve seemed to watch to reach out to him as well.

“Does anyone know Morse code?” Nancy asked, trying to figure out how to communicate with the right side up.

Steve shook his head and even Robin wasn’t clueless.

Eddie licked his lips. “Um...does SOS count?”

Nancy nearly screamed at him, but let Eddie do his thing. They managed to communicate with Dustin, Erica, and Max, who had somehow gotten themselves under house arrest. Or whatever the hell the cops wanted to call keeping children against their will.

They managed to find a way to communicate with them through Holly’s LiteBrite. And so Dustin rambled at a million miles per hour about gates and murders and Vecna.

“Does anyone understand what he’s talking about?” Nancy asked.

Everyone shook their heads. So she simply sent back a single question mark.

“How many times do I have to be right on the money before you guys trust me?” Dustin screamed.

Steve sighed. “Jesus Christ, this kid has to get his ego in check.”

Eddie leaned over so that he could talk to Steve around Nancy.

“It’s his tone, right?” Eddie asked.

“Yes!” Steve agreed, happy that he had someone who understood what a menace Dustin was at the best of times.

Basically it boiled down to needing to get to the nearest gate. Eddie’s trailer.

“Which great and all,” Eddie huffed. “But let me tell you, Forest Hills is no easy walk from here.”

Nancy looked around at them like they were stupid. “The kids left their bikes here. There should be four of them in the garage.”

Steve rolled his eyes. But they all dutifully followed her out to the garage.

The bikes were tiny. God, are they minuscule. They all climbed onto the bikes and rode all the way to the trailer park.

And if Eddie hung back to watch Steve’s ass all the way there... fuck you, no he didn’t. The view didn’t hurt, though.

They made it his trailer and they laid down the bikes in front of it. Eddie began to shake. Frozen in fear. He couldn’t go back in there. They couldn’t make him.

They could find another ga–

Suddenly there was a warm hand on his shoulder. “I know you don’t want to go in there. But we need to get back to the Right Side Up, breathing the shit down here isn’t good for you.”

Eddie gulped, but nodded.

“I’ll be right beside you,” Steve continued softly. “If you need to, take my hand.”

Eddie instantly latched on to Steve’s hand as he led the group into the Upside Down version of Eddie’s home.

He stumbled a bit as he saw the great, big, red, pulsating...wound.

“Shit!” he whispered, a little awed and a lot scared. “That’s where she died. Like right where she died.”

Steve squeezed his hand gently. “I’m sorry, Eds. We just need to find a way to contact the kids and get us out of here, okay?”

Eddie looked around at his home and just wanted to cry. Nothing was where it was supposed to be and yet exactly where it was supposed to be. And that really fucked with his head.

Nancy looked up at the gate. “It’s too high. There’s no way we can get to it without help.”

Steve and Robin looked around trying to see it there was something that could be used to pry it open from below.

Eddie knew he should help them. He knew where things were kept. But he just couldn’t move. All he could do was stare up at that red wound in his ceiling pulsating with a sick twisted form of life.

Just then something poked through it and Eddie screamed. He didn’t mean to, but the sound had escaped his mouth before he even knew what it was.

What it was when Steve got him calmed down enough to actually see it, was a shovel.

It didn’t make him feel any better, until that curly little mop of hair stuck through the now decent sized hole in the ceiling.

“Henderson!” he cried in relief.

“There you are!” Dustin called back. “Do you think that you guys can work it open from your end while we work it open from our end?”

“Is everyone okay?” Steve asked.

“Yeah, we’re fine,” Dustin said. “Let’s get you guys out of there, okay?”

Between them, they were able to get the Gate open and a mattress set up to catch their fall.

“What are those stains?” Robin sneered.

Eddie looked up at them and licked his lips. “I, um... I don’t know what they are, honestly.”

Robin’s lip curled. “Gross.”

The truth was that Eddie really didn’t know. He had gotten it used a couple of years ago when his old mattress fell apart. They could have been there from its previous owner for all he knew.

“So who’s going up first?” Steve asked.

“Not you, pretty boy?” Eddie teased.

Steve blushed. “I want to make sure everyone else gets up there okay.”

Robin eyed the sheet rope and then said, “I’ll go.”

Steve nodded and watched carefully as Robin scaled the rope. She flipped around and landed on the mattress with a flomf!

Dustin helped her to her feet.

“That was quite fun actually.”

Back in the Upside Down, Eddie looked at Nancy and Steve, but neither one moved, so he shrugged. “I guess that means I’m next.”

This was Eddie’s least favorite part of gym, climbing rope ladders. He didn’t ever see the point. Though getting detention for pointing out it was part of the military industrial complex was one of his best days in that class, so...

Up he went. It wasn’t that he couldn’t climb the damn thing, he just loved ranting about having to.

“Okay, Nancy,” Steve said. “You’re next.”

But she didn’t answer. Steve turned to her but she was just standing there. He called out to her again.

“Nancy?”

Eddie’s head immediately popped back over the gate. “Shit!”

Steve shook her shoulders, but she remained immobile.

No, no, no, no...

Not Nancy!

****

Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Epilogue

Tag List: @mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @emly03

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@tinyplanet95

[yannysif]

Sooo I know I disappeared for a bit again, but this time I was basically doing my own shonen protagonist training arc - been consuming a TON of tutorials and practicing in general, only a few of them are even remotely worth sharing, like this one! I'm not very happy with it, but at the same time, I put in too much effort to let it go to waste so I thought, why not attach a drabble with this because I need to practice my writing alongside my art too..

And so here's a short story of sorts that would take place in the prologue (it won't be exactly like this in-game since I'll have choices and variations to incorporate) hope you enjoy!

"Would you like to dance?"

You look at Lucien as if he's grown an extra head, as he extends his hand to you, waiting. The two of you were taking a stroll in his gardens after dinner, and you were in-between feeling at peace in the environment, and incredibly nervous as you were walking alongside Lucien Lockhart, trying to wrap your head around the fact that he was no longer just your favorite character beyond a screen, he was living, breathing, right next to you, you.

You were quietly taking in the foliage under the moonlight, reveling in the novelty of it, never having had the chance to see such a gorgeous garden at night (but really, everything was new when you were in an entirely different world) when he sprung the question on you.

You could feel his quiet amusement to your reaction, as you stare holes into the palm of his hand, wondering if it was worth taking it, to risk making a completely fool out of yourself in the process, in front of him, and so soon after meeting him? No, you couldn't-

"You are always welcome to say no, please don't feel pressured to do anything you don't want to."

Doesn't that just lay on the pressure even more!? But as you look at him and his gentle expression, like you could do no wrong, it felt easier to go along with it. And the moment you placed your hand in his, you felt it was the right choice seeing his face light up from that action alone.

He gently pulls you into position, one hand still holding yours, the other on your waist. He looked for all the world, content, as if it was enough for him just to hold you, have you near. He gives you one last questioning look, silently asking if it's alright to keep going. You can't back out now; you give him a nod, not trusting your voice.

It took all of 2 seconds to step on his foot. Oh this was a terrible idea what were you thinking-

You were brought out of your down-spiral by the sound of your name, prompting you to look up, at his face, his ever present smile when he's near you, immediately providing you with reassurance.

"Don't overthink it, just trust me."

Trust him.

Wasn't that a lot to ask from someone who's practically a stranger? But then again, maybe you weren't. After all, the two of you knew about the other this whole time, when you assumed it was a one-way street. In fact, you think he knows you better (knows you well, too well) than most of the people in your life. You could see it in all the little considerations he made for you in your short time together.

So you couldn't help but want to trust him.

You take a deep breath to ground yourself, and as you do, you could hear music drifting in the air, faint, but present. It was from the musicians Lucien had hired to play during dinner (to welcome you, he explained, when you said it was a bit too much fanfare for someone like you. He promises the next dinner onward would be simpler, for you. You couldn't help but feel a little wonder, at the assured promise of future dinners spent together, like it was only natural.)

So they were still playing, you hadn't noticed from your nervousness, but it made it feel a little less awkward to have some music to dance to.

You set your shoulders, resolute, as you gaze back at Lucien. He gives you a knowing smile, and begins to move again.

Trust him.

And so you do. You let yourself loosen up, trusting him to lead, to go where he pushed and pulled. It takes a moment, but soon the two of you fall into a rhythm, dancing to the music, and soon everything else fell away. You couldn't help the smile that tugged at your lips; you were doing it, you were dancing! And when Lucien smiles back at you, eyes filled with nothing but pride and admiration for you, you could feel happiness swell from within you.

"I'm going to spin you, ok?"

The next moment, he gently pulls your arm up and leads you in a twirl, and you couldn't help but feel a little silly(a little giddy) as you enact a scene you could only imagine before.

"Once more"

That was all the warning you get when this time, he lets go of your hand to instead place both on your waist. You couldn't help the gasp ripped out of you when he lifts you for a spin, impossibly stronger than he appeared, but soon devolved into delighted laughter as you grab his shoulders, weightless in the air.

You've never felt freer than you did at this moment.

[chiropteracupola]

I am on a foth kick and I would like very much to know about to keep it real and green knight, if you have things you want to share!

to keep it real is currently in a weird state where it doesn't quite know what it wants to be, since it's certainly not the fic I set out to write, but I don't want to abandon the original idea entirely. the original idea would have been a mostly plotless practice scene based on the 'his wife has filled his house with chintz' post/poem, featuring Ewen visiting Keith at Stowe House in some nebulous future, but I got a little carried away with setup, writing interactions with Francis, and attempting to research the location itself.

the trouble with houses that keep getting used is that they do very much keep getting updated, and frankly, it's a little more effort than I'd like to put in right now just to figure out exactly which ostentatious bits of architecture would have been there at the time that Keith would have been! there appears to be some kind of 3d model of the house that might get looked at later on, but I'm still trying to wrap my head around a) figuring out how the ground-plan has changed since the mid-eighteenth century, and b) the sheer scale of these gardens (for the record, I'm using a garden I'm more familiar with as a reference point for the size, and it's only a seventh of the size of this place. yikes and other such exclamations.)

due to the nature of this particular story, I'm going to want a pretty detailed interior design plan for the room, since it's the sort where I'm essentially making what amounts to a dollhouse in my head. so that's taking a while! someday I will pick this thing up again because It Compels Me, but right now I really do not know when that will be.

the green knight story is based on an idea from @tgarnsl, and is basically exactly what it sounds like - a Gawain and the Green Knight AU with Keith, Ewen, and Alison.

it's been slow going writing it, as I'm having trouble settling between my usual writing style and the more poetic, kenning-heavy style that I use for things like Rat Piper, as well as the fact that I thought it would be very funny to get it done by Christmas and that very much Did Not Happen. and then there's the fact that the name Keith simply doesn't sound right to me in the sort of quasi-medieval setting I've been working with - well, there's not really any way out of that one that I like, so that's just something that I'll have to figure out as I go along. or probably I'll just leave him there, all incongruous as he is.

and since you've read all the way through that, here's the prologue for that particular tale:

His mother’s hand is on his shoulder, and his father’s sword is belted at his side, its bright blade so, so, much lighter than it looks.

“Go and do it, won’t you, Keith?” He doesn’t need to be asked. Every eye in the hall is on him, and he steps forward, and lets one knee bend so that he can dip just far enough to take the offered weapon. His fingers are on the axe-handle — good! — and in one smooth motion, he’s up again and that shining arc of steel is cutting through the air with a sound like church-bells. In that half-second before steel meets skin, the strange knight smiles, and tips his head a little to one side, his loosened collar slipping to show a line of pale skin.

Keith strikes true.

He steps back, his footsteps crisp as if against frosted-over ground. A thick slap of meat against stone, a flare of iron-scent in the air, a gasp from the assembly. The head rolls to a stop at Keith’s feet, the seeping blood staining the toes of his shoes as the strange knight falls to his knees.

But what is this? This man so lately slain is reaching out a hand for balance, reaching out towards Keith as he slowly, slowly pulls himself upright. His head is in his hands, gold-green hair trailing over lichen-pale fingers, but his blood runs down red, red, red to splatter on the rushes at Keith’s feet. Keith looks down, the axe now heavy in his hands, and watches as the stain sinks and blurs into the shadows, red turning back to green. His hands tighten on the haft of the axe, its weight solid but not at all reassuring.

Now, Keith no longer has to look up to meet the Green Knight’s eyes, for he holds his head just at the right height for Keith to see. And for all that this man is bleeding and headless, impossible and out of place, he smiles like the sun.

[roxanneminerals]

Cold Reunions Ch. 1

^Still hate that title but I'm bad at names. Well titles, really. If I could just call this thing 'Kevin,' I would.

You know what, fuck it. Kevin Chapter 1.

I absolutely despise this chapter and looking at it makes me wish I couldn't read. Okay maybe that's hyperbole, but I'm not happy with it. See, my problem is I have these scenes I know I want to happen, but I never know how to get characters from A to B. Also exposition is annoying and I know there's a way to do it well but I'm not a writer. Anyway I'm not going to spend anymore time on it or look at it ever again. It's your problem now 🫵

Anyway if you somehow stumbled upon this, this is my Pokémon swsh Crown Tundra fancomic/fic thing. Basically it's a three-year timeskip from the DLC (see, when I first started writing this, that's how long it'd been in real life 😌). Peony, Peonia, and Gloria return to the Tundra to each get away from their problems, but only seem to find more to be worried about as Peony starts to remember strange things about their last visit, and his recently released, supposedly reformed brother. All the while, dark clouds gather above the Max Lair as odd rumblings emerge from its depths...

I don't think I actually put a description on the prologue, so there ya go. Rest is under the cut. Don't accidently click it or you'll be scrolling for a while. My bad.

Oh also AO3 scared me so I'll just be posting here from now on.

By the time Peony stepped foot off the train with their luggage, the girls were already dashing out the door, chanting about their trip to the Max Lair. Clearly, Gloria had gotten over her funk. He fought the urge to chase after them, remembering his promise to Nia. Besides, she was practically an adult at this point, she should've been able to make her own decisions… right? The realization that he would soon technically be the parent of an adult child did not comfort him, so he did his best to shake it off. He decided to hang back and follow them at a pace, just to make sure they got to their destination safely.

As he trudged out of the station, he felt like a beast of burden, backpack on his back, duffel bag slung over his shoulder, and suitcase in hand. The noon sun shone brightly over the tundra, causing the snow to glitter and granting a faint glow to the few remaining leaves that hung lazily from the surrounding trees. Stepping past the fence which encircled the station, Peony was met with the familiar face of the Freezington mayor.

"Ah, Mr. Peony! I'm so glad your family could join us this year for the Solstice Festival." The old man beamed. Peony didn't remember him being so chipper. In fact, he had seemed a tad prickly last time they visited, though that very well could've been his imagination. "Your daughters just ran past," he added. "I believe they were headed to the Max Lair."

"Hiya! Chuffed t'see ya, Mr. Mayor! It's my daughter and her friend, actually." Peony corrected, setting down his suitcase to shake the man's hand. "And I know, they're coming to the inn later."

"Ah, I see. Well, allow me to help with your bags."

"Oh! No need! That one's a tad--" Before Peony could finish, the old man had effortlessly lifted the suitcase at his feet. "--heavy. How did you...?"

"M'lad, I've been a farmer since I could walk."

"O-oh, right." Still a bit taken aback by the seemingly frail man's sudden show of strength, Peony bit his tongue as the two began their trek to the village. In the silence, he became acutely aware of an odd sensation of being watched, or rather, observed. It felt more analytic than malicious, like a scientist gathering data instead of a predator stalking its prey. Of course, being watched was being watched, and Peony silently kicked himself for his useless philosophizing about distinctions. Before he had time to dwell on the thought any longer, the feeling was gone, and the old man spoke up.

"A lot has changed since you folks last visited. Ever since, we've been having harvests like I haven't seen since I was a lad. Some of the more superstitious villagers have started to see the lot of you as a sort of good-luck charm, and who can blame them? Seems like our King has finally returned."

“I've been called a lot of things in my day, but lucky charm's a new one!" Peony laughed, pretty sure the man was joking, but it was hard to tell his expression behind his thick coke-bottle glasses and wool hat.

Indeed, the village looked in far better shape than on their last visit. Despite the thick blanket of snow which already covered the ground, the fields in the center of the field glowed golden with grain, which one elderly woman worked away at with a sickle, while another hauled the bushels off for threshing. In another patch, an old man worked diligently at cutting pumpkins from the vine. Next to him, a wheelbarrow overflowed with the orange and green gourds.

"Ah, here we are." In the midst of their conversation, Peony hadn't realized they had already made it to the inn. As the mayor fumbled with his keys, he continued to look around absentmindedly, his eyes landing on the wooden statue standing at the edge of the fields.

He had nearly forgotten about the region's big-headed harvest deity, but looking at the effigy filled him with a strange mix of nostalgia and unease. Without thinking, he found himself wandering towards it. Upon close inspection, he realized that the once bare and snow-covered statue had been cleaned and adorned with wreaths, candles, and incense. In front of it sat some of the finest looking vegetables from the harvest, presumably as an offering. He looked into the carved eyes of the wooden creature and for a moment, he could almost remember–

"Admiring our King, eh?" The old man's voice snapped Peony back to reality.

"Oh, aye. Looks like they're doin' rather well for themselves these days, yeah?"

He smiled. “Since our harvests have improved, some of the villagers have taken up worship of our King again by making offerings to their statue. Some have even tried to travel to the old shrine, though the path's proved too treacherous for us geezers." He paused, looking up at the great tree atop the snowy summit overlooking the village. "It's a shame so many of our ancestors' practices have been lost to history, though..." His eyes rested on Peony's face as if looking for something, but all he got in return was a blank stare. He turned his attention back to the Inn. "I've unlocked the door for you."

Peony followed the man inside, feeling immediately awash with warmth as the building's central heating met his face. It was only about noon, but he felt the overwhelming urge to curl up and take a nap by the fireplace.

"Your key is on the dining table, there are extra towels and linens in the closet upstairs, and I've gone ahead and taken the liberty of leaving some staples in the kitchen. Oh! And here,” The mayor reached into his coat pocket, retrieving a pamphlet decorated in shades of blue and white and handing it to Peony. On the front page was a drawing of the same weird statue as outside. “Here's some information on our festival," the mayor explained. “It's been years since we last held one, so we had to compile information for tourists and locals alike!” He chuckled. "You remember where my home is, correct? As with last time, please don't hesitate to call if you need anything." Half-listening as he leafed through the flier, Peony nodded.

"I believe that is all," the mayor continued. "I hope to see you folks Friday evening!"

“Ta, Mr. Mayor!”

With that, he took his leave. Peony set his backpack down by the door and headed to the dining room to grab the key before he forgot and locked himself out. To his surprise, aside from the expected key, sat two large gift baskets, one filled with all manner of fresh vegetables, and the other with a myriad of locally made sweets, breads, candles, soaps, and commemorative jumpers for each of the party. They certainly hadn't received this level of hospitality on their first visit, Peony thought, though it dawned on him that, last time, they hadn't expected Galar's Champion to be staying with them. He decided then that they should travel with Gloria more often.

[scolopendress-tag]

I said I'd make a post detailing my kid Asra working for Lucio theory in this post so here it is! 

So Let's get STARDED.

So! To start off, how it began. We do know when Asra and Muriel were kids, Lucio came to them each seperately with a deal.

Essentially: work for me, or I'll hurt your friend.

This was the sentiment he repeated for both of them. So, not wanting the other to be harmed, they both agree - unaware of the other's deal.

For Muriel, it was playing heel/excecutioner at the coleseium. For Asra, it was doing... Well, we never know, aside from he worked under Lucio. But that's what we are here to discuss in any case.

Continued under the read more, for the sake of people's dashes.

Now presumably, if I got my timeline right, Asra at this time would've been around 12 or 13. We don't know much about how Asra was when he was younger, other than that he has certainly changed.

It's also worth noting that it's not amiss to say they were both also still homeless at the time, and the hut hadn't come into the play until after.

Asra was still living on the streets.

This all isn't overly important for any of my claims later, but perhaps someone else could make something of it. It does provide us with some framing for the situation as a whole, though.

Now onto Asra's time under Lucio. I don't know that we have any indication of how long it was, but presumably at least a year if not more.

We do also know that Lucio knew who Asra was. Both in that he knew Aisha and Salim had a kid, and that he knew Asra was said kid.

This is bring this up because we know Aisha and Salim were incredibly talented, and likely incredibly powerful. Lucio wouldn't settle for any run of the mill magician or alchemist for the work he needed. So he must've had some idea that Asra may take after that power as well.

To top it off, he also interacted and talked with the dock kids he also used, (two of which would actually later become palace guards,) and seeing as this is seemingly how he learned of Muriel, it's not off to think that this is also how he heard of Asra again to start. The kids knew of Asra's magic, and roughly where he was, and could've even continued talking about both Muriel and Asra to Lucio for unknown amounts of time.

So now Lucio knows that the kid of his two powerful practitioners of magic is not only still around, but taking after them as well.

If Muriel's intimidating size and physical power are what drew Lucio to him, why wouldn't Asra's considerable metaphysical power and talents draw Lucio in as well?

We know how much Lucio loves power, and that he has an interest in magic because of it, as mentioned in the main story. (no ss sorry... If you have one send so I can add. )

Plus, homeless kid in a vulnerable spot. Easy pickings.

That's what I think this whole thing was about, really. It's all power. Though Asra likely didn't have the full scope of power he does in the current game, he was probably still considerably talented, and was only getting better.

What Lucio specifically probably wanted from Asra then was either to be taught how to use that power, to use Asra for things that required it, and/or use his power for entertainment akin to how he used Muriel.

I think out of these however, using him for his power was most likely. Why? (And teaching him now, more on that further down)

(Sorry for bad quality lmao it's a small image. Also thanks to @8-bit-space for showing these to me like months ago. As you can see I can't stop thinking abt it)

These are screenshots from the old prologue. While they're not canon any more, there's reason to believe they still hold merit as to how Lucio feels about Asra.

Two things to me are major here. First is the "powerful potent magic," and how it's the "real deal," equating to a large part of how he views Asra yet again tying back to a heavy interest in his power. Now, you could argue this relates to using his powers in the palace during the plague, but the second point stands out even more to me.

"The one who broke him for me?"

What this implies to me is that Lucio could never quite get all the way through to Asra or control him when he was younger, and he's been dying to do so. He wanted Asra broken, presumably so that he'll become essentially a tool for him to use for his skill and not put up a fight- something Asra likely did as a child.

Because it seems that Lucio for the most part relied on control through fear when it came to Asra, threatening to hurt Muriel, lying to him about how he executed his parents, likely other things as well. But things seem to point to that never quite working like he had hoped.

This could allude to this as well. Though "impossible" is something Asra's been called a few times, namely also by Julian, there's no reason to assume Lucio wasn't also including his work with him as a kid in "always". Impossible to hate could be his draw to Asra for his power, his talent, his skills, the prospect of which I'm sure Lucio found practically mouthwatering. Impossible to love could be his stubbornness or reluctance to do what Lucio wants, always pushing against him or being hard to deal with, both as a kid and during the plague.

And lines like this, where he calls him a coward. I find it hard to relate this to the plague ritual as he was for the most part willingly helping with that, so it could be resenment for when Asra eventually ran off as a kid, unwilling to put up with him any longer, or his reluctance to do certain things for him then in general.

We know, and it has even been mentioned by a character within the canon, that Asra can be incredibly stubborn, to back that up. Plus, he could've been even harder to work with then both being a kid and as I mentioned earlier he has changed from how he was then, so he could've had more spunk to him or such.

This also easily means that what Lucio was trying to get Asra to do then was something Asra was quite obviously opposed to. Being used for his power is already degrading enough, but there could be more to it.

You'll notice in the post that was linked at the top (the reason I'm writing this) I mentioned pushing Asra to his physical limits and magical extremes. This could be one of the reasons for a push back.

If Lucio was having Asra do things for him involving magic, it's not out of pocket to assume he'd practically run him into the ground- I'm sure he really wouldve loved testing the limits of what Asra could REALLY do.

Wether it be huge expendure of power all at once, or tons of smaller things one after the other, it would absolutely take it's toll. We are shown a few times that using magic can exhaust someone, and I don't remember if this is shown in canon ever (tell me if so!) but pushing it even further could definitely lead to other things such as passing out, (Or nosebleeds, for the aesthetic,) alongside likely being incredibly painful and draining, both mentally and physically.

Basically, abusing his powers and the body that commanded them. It's also possible that the stubborness to work with Lucio could also be partially percieved because of this- Lucio taking Asra's literal physical inability to continue as defiance.

Another reason for push back from Asra would be making him do morally compromising things. This is a little more vague, but intimidation is a common headcanon I see for what Lucio made Asra do, and that could tie in here. Other things could be meddling in things and business he shouldn't, but again, it's a vague thing. Make of it what you will. Fucked up stuff all around.

[EDIT - TEACHING LUCIO]

(THANK YOU @tea-tye for showing me these, and credits to @hangedman-magician for the video they came from!!!!!!!)

...I cannot BELIEVE I forgot this, I KNEW I was missing something. Especially when I was fairly certain I remember Lucio being obsessed with the idea of magic. SO, MOVING ON,

There's not terribly much to pick apart here as it's rather direct- Asra saying he has in fact tried to teach Lucio magic. So in my eyes this solidifies that this was a component of Asra's time under Lucio. I still think my points about Lucio treatment (pushing Asra to his limits) stand, as well.

This can also tie in the stubborness mentioned as, well, can you imagine teaching Lucio? Asra backs this up by saying nothing he has ever said stuck with Lucio, and you know how Lucio gets when things don't go his way. He would've blamed his inability to learn on Asra, likely.

Looking to other quotes mentioned: the 'broke him' line still rings to me like he was trying to use Asra in other ways, and the 'coward' line could go either way from refusing to teach Lucio certain things, or refusing to do certain things for Lucio when he was merely being used. The "impossible" line could also go for others, as trying to teach someone like Lucio would've undoubtedly caused some head butting.

This is certainly really exciting and interesting to me as it gives a more complete picture on the exact situation at hand here. I still stay by my reasoning for Lucio simply using Asra as well on top of being taught because it seems highly likely that Lucio would've been too impatient to learn to do certain things himself, and like I said as well, I don't doubt he also just wanted to see what Asra was REALLY capable of. Something he could've saw as a tantalizing insight into the kind of power he could aquire of this kid would just... work with him.

NOW we have a MUCH clearer answer as to what exactly Asra was likely doing under Lucio, or at this point, almost certainly doing. It's a sad picture for Asra of course, but with this you can draw some interesting points as to how he could've been affected by this, as I'm sure it would've left some kind of imprint on him.

Sure it may not have been as traumatic as what Muriel went through, but when you look at it, it's hard to say it DIDN'T leave it's scars. If we consider all the points presented in this post truth we have:

A 12/13 yo homeless child, threatened with his friend's life to work for the Count that he knew was the one responsible for orphaning him and making him homeless in the first place.

Said child believing his parents are still alive, and as we see in Travel at Night, could very likely still be trying to find them. In a situation like Asra's that glimmer of hope probably was a big deal in helping him push on. This may also be a reason he agreed on top of Muriel's safety.

While working under the count, he is told that his parents were executed, no doubt devastating. The manner in which this was mentioned is up for debate, and could affect exactly how it was taken. Options could be Lucio joking or bragging about it (treating it as trivial or an accomplishment), or using it to threaten Asra, (as in I killed your parents, I'll kill you too,) both would work when it comes to controlling by fear.

It is also mentioned that Lucio told him the reason for his parents execution is that they messed up his gold arm, so Asra also has the knowledge that his parents were killed over something so unbelievably trivial.

Being used as a source of power and nothing else, both for teaching and pure work/entertainment, all for the man who killed his parents, day after day.

Being pushed to physically painful and mentally draining limits, expending so much energy that he completely exhausts himself, day after day.

Likely taking all sorts of verbal abuse from Lucio, day after day.

Like mentioned earlier, it seems clear that Lucio wanted to break Asra, so some other form of trying to chip away at his psyche to make him more convenient for Lucio is likely as well.

Those points alone, to yet again a CHILD no less, seem more than enough to cause some traumatic impact, and depending on certain specifics of what exactly went on during that time, it could be worse. I may make a post looking into the long lasting effects of this on Asra, I may not. It would mostly be headcanon regardless. If you want to add your hc relating to this situation though, I'll gladly reblog it!

And now that we are closing out, it's time to revise my summary. So, without further ado, THIS is what I think was going on during this time.

Lucio knows of Asras existence and parentage.

Lucio learns Asra is around and that he's got power.

Lucio LOVES power, so he threatens Asra into working for him.

Lucio uses Asra for his power and to be taught how to use it for himself.

While using Asra for his knowledge and power, runs him into the ground by pushing his limits to physical and magical degrees, possibly even moral.

Asra pushes back against a lot of this, or is at least percieved to, frustrating Lucio.

Lucio does what he can to try and control Asra even more, primarily via fear, but can't seem to crack him.

Eventually it's too much, and Asra leaves. Likely when the plague hit like Muriel, but it's possible it could've been somewhat sooner. Lucio is PISSED, because he wanted that magical power all to himself.

Less related, I can see Lucio trying to brush it off and pretending to be fine with it, excuse being "he was too difficult to work with, anyways," or something.

...And then... years later, as far as Lucio sees it, Asra comes crawling back- and he's tamed down to a degree! He's actually working with him. Lucio might not know what or who did it, but Asra is finally broke for him, and I'm sure he was absolutely ecstatic to have that power back in his hands- and more than ever before.

Think of all of this as you would like!

At the end this is all still speculative, so definitely feel free to make your own points or say if you feel any different abt anything- expansions or counters on this theory/headcanon welcome!

And if you also have any other screenshots or info not here that could add to the theory or change the outlook of certain things definitely add them!!! I feel like I'm missing stuff for sure, and my memory has probably muddled some things (hopefully I didn't get anything wrong, though.)

And @asrascherry thanks for the offer in helping word my hcs also! I forgot to say that. This one is just so long I wouldve felt bad bringing it all to you 😔 it's probably still messy as a result but I tried lmao (worried it's repetitive or unclear 😬)

Uh yeah! That's mostly it for NOW.

+All the love to Asra for going through so much I'm so sorry bb,,

Thanks for reading!

[tamabbyboi]

~Prologue~

While fighting you were hit with a quirk that knocked you out immediately, but were you really knocked out? Suddenly you find yourself being thrust into a literal fairytale, only able to wake up once you find your happy ending. After the prologue choose which fairytale you live out and who you live it with!

Fairytale Phenomenon masterlist

Main masterlist

Warnings: cursing!!

Word count: 350

It was a dark and stormy night...

Nah, just kidding! It was 8am! Which is way too early to be doing what you're doing right now!

As if simply existing at this hour wasn't exhausting enough, you were fighting with all your might, landing hits on your enemy left and right.

Despite your battle success thus far, you weren't invincible, and that fact was made apparent when you were knocked out by an embarrassingly large hit from someone whose quirk let out a shining ray of light, the last thing you laid eyes on before your vision went dark and you lost consciousness.

Immediately after passing out you found yourself in a dark abyss, the only presence other than yourself the person whose quirk you were under.

Okay what the fuck.

"Welcome Y/N."

Okay what the FUCK.

"Don't be shocked! This is simply an effect of my quirk! I'm not even real, and neither is this place! It's all in your head!"

"So where's my body?!"

"I'm sure your colleagues will eventually bring you to some sort of medical care, they only think you're in a coma after all!"

"They're still fighting and I'm just lying there useless?!"

"Yup!"

Okay. What. The. F U C K.

"Well then how the hell do I wake up?"

"Oh! This part's fun!" You were quickly losing patience, you didn't have time for the quirk wielder's peppy attitude, you needed to get back out there and help your team.

"My quirk is called fairytale: It puts people to sleep until they beat the story it puts them through. You are about to be transported into an alternate reality in which you live out a fairytale! You won't wake up until you get your happy ending with your prince!"

"With my what?"

"Oh Y/N, I'm in your head, remember? I know all about your little crush!" You couldn't believe the situation you were in. This is a dream right? A simple delusion? You don't actually have to live a fairytale?

"Oh! It's starting! You got lucky, this time it's-"

To be continued...

A/N: I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS!!!! AHHHH!!!! I have so many Disney movies to watch for research ASDMLSKS. Basically this is the universal prologue, then there's a masterlist which will link each character's oneshot! There will eventually be a route for all 10 characters I write for! This might take me a while tho, so bear with me here. I'm gonna be pretty busy for about the next month, so the first oneshot may not come out very soon but this idea lives in my mind rent free and I decided to go ahead and write the prologue and post it!!

Tags: @luluwiie @fandomsgotmefucked

To be tagged in future parts fill out this form or send me an ask or pm! You can ask to be tagged for certain characters or for all of them! (Those who I tagged here won't be tagged in future unless they ask to be, I don't want to spam!)

[phoenixtakaramono]

Hi! :) I was reading your post about SQH in TUT and it got me thinking. Since this version also wrote SVSSS, when he transmigrates does he realize his "dream" was real? Also, you hinted that he recognizes SY as the same person who transmigrated into SQQ, so now I'm wondering if he tells SY that, and how SY would react to learning he's the protagonist of SVSSS in another universe. I just love thinking about how meta this could potentially get, haha.

Can't wait to find out more! Keep up the good work!

(Follow-Up Post to: Part I, Part II)

@the-legend-of-chel 👏👏👏 Luv, good to see you in my Asks! I’m glad to hear that you’re looking forward to finding out more in The Untold Tale! And thanks for your support and encouragement. 💖

(TUT ch1 - Excerpt)

You’re right. There is a lot of meta potential with older!Airplane Shooting Towards the Sky being the MXTX equivalent in this AU—or, rather, I like to imagine him growing up to be the Stephen King equivalent of modern day China with a prolific portfolio of written works (novels and short stories, and extras). In canon, he churned out a great number of words per chapter and in a speedy amount of time! Do you guys know how miraculous that is, as a writer? I envy him so much! To be able to churn out that much content in a short amount of time, and in a scheduled regimen, is amazing! That’s basically my angle having written this into the prologue of TUT. That’s partially the reason why I wrote ch1. I liked the idea of paying homage to SVSSS and saying that it’s an actual book series in TUT universe that Airplane wrote (as funny as the idea would be, I wasn’t about to let SY be the one to write it, lol, for intellectual property reasons since the PIDW characters belong to Airplane, which would necessitate SY changing names and character appearances if he published what we know as irl SVSSS, so the best I can give SY is saying he wrote his own PIDW fanfic which basically launched his novelist career because he’d realized, hey, I actually have a knack for writing and the ever so spiteful I feel like practically every writer has had this thought before: fine, if I don’t see what I want to read, then I’ll write it myself!)

(TUT ch1 - Excerpt)

We’re approaching TUT spoiler territory so skip below if you don’t wish to be spoiled.

TUT (Meta) Spoilers

I personally love meta. If I’m to be writing a lovestory to SVSSS, there will be attempts at meta thrown into TUT. And this is one of them:

Airplane did “dream” about canon SVSSS. He basically “dreamt” about his favorite black powder fan, Peerless Cucumber

changing events of Airplane’s biggest regret Proud Immortal Demon Way. (As a writer, it embarrasses me to read my old writing. So I imagine it could be the same for Airplane.) As an author, Airplane recognized what he dreamt had potential to be a commercial success as a danmei transmigration story so basically every time he woke up, he would write pieces of what he remembers in a dream journal when the memory was fresh in his brain. It also allowed Airplane the opportunity to show his readers through the perspective of SY! Shen Qingqiu what Airplane had originally wanted to write, but integrated in a way that blends seamlessly into the reading experience. He would’ve thought it was a bit weird and strange that his brain dreamt about his past critic—whom he’d considered a small celebrity in the PIDW forums back then—aka his anti-fan-turned-accomplished-novelist in the writing industry, so he felt embarrassed that his unconscious brain must have thought very highly of the man.

So Airplane omitted any mention of Peerless Cucumber from the final draft of SVSSS (if he mentioned both “Shen Yuan” and “Peerless Cucumber,” then even SY would be like, Hey, wait one moment....). This detail will be included in a later chapter, but did you know the name “Shen Yuan” has come up in other works? Let’s ignore the variations on the Chinese written characters for the name “Shen Yuan.” There was the evil older brother character Shen Yuan from The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage, a side character named Shen Yuan from a C-drama (I think he was an old minister?), and there’s even an irl visual artist named Shen Yuan. Shen Yuan (Shen Garden) is also a famous romantic garden in Shaoxing, known for the love story between Lu You and Tang Wan.

(Shen Yuan Garden - Trip Advisor Review)

Basically “Shen Yuan” in itself is not a particularly uncommon name in China (imo I would not say it’s super popular either). So when SY saw his name mentioned once or twice in Airplane’s SVSSS—aka rebooted PIDW—during his read-through, he was like, Huh, what a strange coincidence. And then dismissed it as circumstantial and thought nothing of seeing his name come up in a cutsleeve novel as the new protagonist, haha. It’s like a book written by Anne Rice; one of the titles coincidentally has the same name as mine. Now, obviously the book and main character is not based or inspired by me; I just coincidentally share the same name. If I see books which have characters with my same first name, generally I like to read them and sometimes even collect them for my bookshelves. Because there’s something just so fun and interesting about seeing your own name in a fictional piece of work.

There’s also meta joke potential about Airplane dreaming of himself being transmigrated into the cannon fodder Shang Qinghua and seeing the romantic miscommunications between the younger version of himself (his self-insert essentially) and the fictional Mobei jūn character. I can certainly say seeing such dreams would make Airplane question his sexuality and awaken something dormant in him, haha. He’d realize he might not be not as straight as he thought he was, if his brain was capable of dreaming of SY!SQQ being crushed on by LBH, and SQH being crushed on by MBJ and essentially following MBJ around calling him “my king” this and “my king” that. He’ll be sweating bullets when he meets this world’s version of MBJ, because Airplane will definitely remember how the younger Self-Insert version of himself acted toward MBJ in the SVSSS world. (It’s the classic “Just because I dreamed about it happening doesn’t mean it’ll happen here, right? ...Right? Cucumber brother, you’re a fortuneteller! Please check our eight characters for me! I have to know my marriage compatibility with Mobei jūn!”)

In a later chapter, there will be the reveal where Airplane tells Shen Yuan that he “dreamt” of a universe where a younger version of Shen Yuan—having choked on mantou (馒头) (paying homage to the donghua) or just being transmigrated in general after raging at a younger ASTTS’s writing (paying homage to the books)—transmigrated into the Shen Qingqiu we know from SVSSS who married Bing mèi. Because I think it will be hilarious when TUT’s SY finds out about the true source of Airplane’s inspiration, and he’ll naturally freak out over the fact that this is the very same Bing gē from Airplane’s Bing-gē vs Bing-mèi extra and that he’s essentially somehow stumbled on the same path as the alternative younger SY!SQQ “from Airplane’s imagination.” I will leave this open to interpretation if this does show up (it’s just an idea I’m playing with) but I might hint that there might be a higher power at play which allowed Airplane a peek into another universe—which manifested as his dreams.

I very much like this dynamic (we might see this exchange, verbatim, in a future chapter in TUT):

SY/ LBH —> He gave him a disdainful gaze.

Airplane cried inwardly at the oppression and the feeling of being wronged.

Haha, none of this is really Airplane’s fault^ though. It’s a fun parallel and if I’m still motivated when we get to the wedding and consummation chapter, we might see an epilogue where SY and Bing gē from TUT meets SY!SQQ and Bing mèi maybe. Because I think it’ll be funny with the two LBHs getting into a shouting/ fighting match about who has the “superior Shen Yuan” while the two SYs just shake their heads at their silly husbands (and potentially TUT’s SY, as the older party, can impart his fortunetelling wisdom and advice to SY!SQQ).

Personally I can’t wait when we get to those chapters, because I know it’ll be entertaining to write, haha. Personally TUT is a fun project because there’s just so much meta potential that can be incorporated and I have a lot of fun imagining the scenarios.

*Note: like always, keep in mind that these are just my current thoughts. Details are subject to change; things aren’t considered official until they show up in the final draft on AO3. :)

The Novelists’ First Impressions

The first impression SY and Airplane will have of each other will be fun. Because in their perspective, written in my notes it’s essentially like:

(Airplane seeing SY):

His first reaction was shock. Shock because the mere mortal he used to be could not conceive so much charisma being emitted by this guy.

This is definitely a man who had put all of his stats into CHARISMA.

(SY seeing Airplane):

He's suspiciously good looking in ways that normal people are not.

Ah, the Cucumberplane friendship in TUT is going to be so much fun. Not only are these two older souls who transmigrated (both are mid-aged in this universe), they’re both accomplished novelists in their own right in the writing industry. Which means with these two being celestial beings, there’s so many clichés we can playfully poke fun at.

It also makes me laugh because imagine being SY, and seeing a guy (mortal!Airplane) who exudes the same energy as these two imperial princes GIFs:

[cocastyle]

Wonderwall - O N E

Pairing - Steve Harrington x reader

Word Count - 7,001

A/N - and here is the first official chapter of this series! sorry it took so long to put up! I’ve had a pretty busy couple of weeks and this past weeks has been one of the worst ones I’ve had in a long time. but writing always does make me feel better so I sat down and just wrote this! reminder that this is a slow burn so it’s gonna be a while before anything happened between the reader and Steve, but for now, their friendship will be growing to help build a foundation for their future relationship. anyways, I hope you all like this :))

if you would like to be added to the series tag list, let me know!

W O N D E R W A L L

Intro Prologue Season One 1 2

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1 | The Vanishing of Will Byers [Part 1]

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November 1983

Stares. Everywhere she walked, all she could feel and see were the stares. It was like everyone in the school had their eyes trained on the girl which wasn't really hard to believe. After all, she was the talk of the town.

Y/N Marie Hopper, the girl who had been hospitalized for three months and whose parents were dead while her brother was missing. Not to mention it was her first official day of school at Hawkins High.

She was the new girl who every single one of them had seen plastered in the news on repeat and who had even had a full page article devoted to the horrible accident that had taken place months before.

Y/N tried to ignore the gazes and was pretty much successful, but it was the whispering that got to her. It was an annoying buzzing in her ear that never went away as she moved down the hall and all she could do was just keep her head low as she made her way to her locker.

Her breathing was a little shaky as she walked and everyone could see the way her hands gripped onto the straps of her backpack like her life depended on it, her knuckles pale from how hard her grip was.

For a moment, Y/N felt like she was back walking the school hallways of her middle school. However, back then she had Thomas by her side.

"I don't know about this, Thomas. They're all staring," Y/N whispered as she glanced at her twin before letting her eyes flicker around the hallway and at the few gazes being sent in their direction.

Thomas looked down at his sister and ran a hand through his messy brown hair before giving the girl a small smile, the kind of smile of his that warmed her heart and made her feel safe.

"It's going to be okay, Y/N," Thomas assured her with a small laugh. "Trust me. They don't care."

"I don't know. I mean. . .how am I supposed to survive when we don't even have any classes together?" Y/N asked, her eyes wide as she looked at her brother in fright.

"Y/N," Thomas sighed. "You're going to be okay. It's not like I won't see you forever. It's only for a couple of periods and then I'll see you at lunch."

"But-" Y/N began, but she was cut off by her twin suddenly stopping in front of a room that she quickly realized was her first class of the day. Her eyes widened and she glanced at Thomas who gave her a tiny smile as he reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder.

Before she could blink, the boy had leaned forward to press a small kiss to her forehead in goodbye. "You're going to be fine," Thomas assured her before winking at the girl. "I'll see you later, okay?"

Then, before Y/N could protest, Thomas was walking down the hall and towards his own first period, leaving the girl to stare after him as she whispered softly, "Bye."

Y/N blinked a few times to rid herself of the memory, her eyes pricking with tears at the thought of her brother. She would give anything to have him by her side right now. All the teasing and the annoying jokes, she would go through it every day just to see her brother's face and to feel the warmth of his smile once again.

The girl managed to get rid of her tears by the time she had reached her locker and she gulped slightly as she moved to put in her combination, hundreds of eyes staring at her as she did.

Y/N hesitated for a second before looking over her shoulder and at the people staring at her. It was then that their trance seemed to break and everyone was quick to look away while Y/N rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to her locker.

The girl let out a huff of frustration when the locker refused to open and she yanked on her locker a few times before letting out a groan and leaning her forehead against the cold metal in defeat.

"Need some help?" a voice inquired, a hint of amusement in their tone.

Y/N froze before slowly standing back up, her gaze instantly locking on the boy that stood in front of her. He radiated confidence as he leaned against the lockers with a smile on his face, an eyebrow raised in amusement while his brown eyes flickered over her face. He ran a hand through his voluminous chocolate locks and titled his head slightly in question. It was then that Y/N remembered that he had asked her something.

"Oh," Y/N said, her face reddening slightly as she looked down. "Uh, yes. . .please."

The boy gave her a small smile before turning to the locker. Y/N watched in silence as he jiggled the lock three times before turning and hitting his elbow against the metal just right, the locker door instantly popping open and making the young girl look at him in surprise.

"Woah. How did you-?" she trailed off as she looked at the boy surprised.

"I had this locker last year," the boy explained with a shrug.

"Well thank you," Y/N said as she nodded at the boy in thanks. She then took her backpack off and began to unpack some of the things she didn't need at the moment while the boy watched her curiously.

"I'm Steve. Steve Harrington," the boy finally decided to say, licking his chapped lips while Y/N stood up. He gave her a curious look and titled his head as if he were trying to figure her out. "And you are?"

Y/N wouldn't lie and say she wasn't surprised that Steve didn't know who she was because she was, but something about knowing that the boy didn't know about her or her past made her smile.

"I'm Y/N. Y/N Hopper," she said with a smile before zipping up her backpack and grabbing her schedule which she had placed inside her locker. She then closed her locker door before looking at Steve who had a look of shock on his face. Y/N internally winced. So he did know who she was.

"Hopper?" Steve questioned while Y/N hesitantly nodded her head. "Like Officer Hopper?"

"Yeah, he's my uncle," Y/N explained, her shoulders relaxing slightly once she realized Steve might actually not know who she is.

"Sounds like fun," Steve joked earning a small laugh from Y/N, a sound she hadn't heard leave her lips since the accident.

"He's not that bad," Y/N assured him before she glanced down at her schedule. "Shit. Um. . .do you happen to know where Mr. Barkley's room is? He teaches English."

"Yeah, I know where Barkley is. Actually, his class just happens to be next to mine so I'll just walk you there if you don't mind," Steve said, a small smile on his face.

Y/N couldn't help but smile back, thankful to have met one nice person within her first five minutes at Hawkins High. "That would be great. Thank you," Y/N sighed in relief before she fell into line beside Steve.

As they walked down the hallway, Y/N got more stares than usual. However, she didn't seem to notice since she was too busy focusing on what Steve was telling her. He basically gave her a rundown of the school and all the important people that she needed to know or avoid as they walked down the hall and by the time they had reached her classroom, Y/N felt like she knew more about the people around her than they did about herself.

"Here's Barkley's room, so I guess I'll leave you to it," Steve said as he turned to the girl. "Maybe I'll see you around?"

"Maybe," Y/N joked before giving the boy a small smile. "Thanks again, Steve."

"Anytime, Y/N," Steve said before the two nodded at each other in goodbye. Y/N then disappeared into her class while Steve stared after her curiously. He could tell something was off with the way she held herself and her name sounded so familiar, but he just couldn't put a finger on it.

"Yo, Steve!" a voice exclaimed as a hand came down onto his shoulder. Steve jumped slightly in surprise before turning to see his best friend Tommy Hagan standing there with a confused look on his face as well as a smile.

"Oh, hey, man," Steve greeted as he turned his attention towards the boy, already forgetting about Y/N.

"What were you doing with the new girl? You do know who she is, right?" Tommy questioned, looking both confused and intrigued.

Steve gave the boy an exasperated look as he sighed and asked, "What are you talking about?"

"That's Y/N Hopper, man. She's the girl whose family got in that huge wreck on the outskirts of town. Her parents died and her brother has been missing ever since. She only just got cleared from the hospital like two weeks ago," Tommy explained while a look of realization flickered across Steve's face.

That was why she had seemed so familiar. Because she was the one he had seen all over the news about a month ago. He frowned slightly and looked back towards the door Y/N had walked through moments before, a feeling of guilt and sadness washing over him as he sympathized for the girl.

The bell ringing brought Steve back out of his thoughts and his eyes widened as he looked down to his watch. "Aw, man," Tommy sighed. "Listen I've got to get to class, but—Wait. Don't you have class like on the other side of school?"

"Yep," Steve muttered with a huff before patting Tommy's shoulder. "See you later, man."

And with that, Steve Harrington bolted down the hallway and towards his class which wasn't in the room right beside Y/N’s like he had told her, but was in fact all the way on the other side of the school.

Steve never would understand why he had decided to walk Y/N to class that day when he could've just as easily told her where it was, but in all honesty he didn't even care that he was late to class that day.

- - -

Y/N stared blankly at the class in front of her, twenty or so sets of eyes locked onto her as everyone waited expectantly for her to speak. Being her first day of school and having come in towards the end of the first semester, Mr. Barkley had thought it would be best if she introduced herself to the class. Y/N hadn't even had time to object before she was shoved to the front of the class, leaving her in the predicament she was in now.

"Uh. . .hi," Y/N finally said, her voice coming out small and slightly frightened. Taking in a deep breath, the girl gripped her notebook a little harder and continued. "I'm Y/N Hopper and I just moved here from Kentucky. I don't exactly know what else to say, so yeah."

The class just stared at her with wide eyes, some of them whispering to each other and making her eyes prickle slightly as she tried not to cry. Y/N knew that they all knew who she was and she could tell by the whispers that nothing they said about her was good.

"Very good. Well, welcome to Hawkins, Miss Hopper," Mr. Barkley said as he walked up and placed a gently hand on the girl's shoulder. His eyes scanned over the classroom before he smiled and looked to the girl. "You can go take a seat next to Nancy Wheeler." He then gestured towards an area where a girl waved ever so slightly.

Y/N nodded and kept her head low as she moved across the classroom and to the empty desk that would now end up being her own. She sat down and was instantly met with the brown haired girl that had waved at her and a short read head girl turning to look at her.

"Hi. As Mr. Barkley said, I'm Nancy and this is Barb," the brunette said, blue eyes staring back at her intently. Y/N couldn't help but notice how flawless the girl looked and she mentally frowned, suddenly feeling more self conscious than before.

"You said your name was Y/N, right?" the red head, Barb, asked. Her brown eyes flickered between Nancy and herself behind a pair of thick glasses and she gave her the tiniest of smiles while Y/N stared at her freckled face a little alarmed.

Y/N quickly cleared her throat and sat up more before nodding, "Uh, yeah."

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Y/N," Nancy smiled. Her eyes flickered over the girl's face before she gave her a slight questioning gaze, "Are you already planning on sitting with anyone at lunch?"

"Not yet," Y/N said, her voice small as her shyness began to take over. She usually didn't have to deal with it, but without Thomas by her side to speak for her, it was like she was curling back up into her shell.

"Well you should totally sit with us. We have an empty seat and we would love to have you," Nancy told her while Y/N looked at her in surprise. They wanted her to sit with them?

"Please say yes," Barb pleaded. "I could use someone to help save me from the third wheeling I'm doing at the table with Nancy and her boyfriend."

"He's not my boyfriend," Nancy practically hissed at the girl before noticing Y/N’s wide eyed stare. "But yes, please say you'll sit with us."

Y/N was silent for a moment as she processed all that was going on. Her gaze shifted between the two girls and their warm smiles were enough to have her shoulders relax slightly. She didn't even know what she was doing before she nodded ever so slightly and whispered, "Yeah, okay."

Nancy and Barb's smiles widened and they began to whisper to each other and to Y/N while Mr. Barkley rambled on about a new book the class would be reading starting the following week.

Y/N couldn't help but smile softly at the two girls and their excitement before she remained silent the rest of class. So far the people at Hawkins High were really nice and maybe, just maybe, she would end up liking it here.

- - -

School proved to be harder than she thought it was going to be. It's not that the classes were hard for her, which they weren't seeing as Y/N had been an A plus type of student since she first walked into a school. No, it was the being alone with her thoughts that were getting to her.

Having no one to listen to except for her teachers who lectured about topics she already knew meant it was quite easy for the young girl's mind to drift off into space. That was the worst possible thing that could happen to her since all she could think about were her parents and her brother.

She kept seeing the accident—the shattered glass, the blood dripping from her parents, and the door on Thomas' side of the car shaking in the breeze. She could still smell it all—the sharp scent of metallic that had seemed to punch her straight in the gut, the smell of gasoline that had mixed with the blood in the air to create a combination that Y/N would never forget.

It was all she could think about and every time she blinked it was like she was back in the car, watching in horror as the car flipped in the air and her family's screams rattled in her head.

Every class of the day ended with Y/N snapping out of her thoughts by the ringing of the bell, her hands gripping onto the edges of her desk so tightly that her knuckles were white. She left every class in a hurry, not giving anyone the chance to talk to her in fear that they might mention the accident that she knew they were dying to question her about.

A school day had never felt as long as that one and it was only when everyone began to shove past the girl and towards the cafeteria that Y/N realized it was time for lunch and she was only half way through her day.

The girl was shaking as she walked into the lunchroom, the whole room falling silent at the sight of her before the faint sound of whispering filled her ears. It took all in the girl to not break down right there and her heart ached for her brother who would've been by her side.

Y/N hadn't even realized that her breathing was starting to pick up or that her heart was beating so fast that it could've jumped out of her chest. It wasn't until a cheerful voice called out her name that she snapped out of it and it was like her breath was caught in her throat as the young girl turned to the person who had called out to her.

There Nancy Wheeler sat, a big smile on her face as she waved at the girl from where she sat at a table with her friends. Y/N stared at her like a deer caught in headlights and Nancy gave her a sympathetic smile before quickly getting up from her table and walking over to the girl.

"You're still sitting with us, right?" Nancy asked as she walked over to the girl, instantly locking their arms together and causing everyone to finally pull their eyes away from Y/N Hopper.

Y/N’s mouth opened and closed for a minute as she tried to find the right words to say. Unable to find any, the girl just nodded and Nancy sent her a sweet smile before pulling her towards the lunch table.

"Guys," Nancy announced as she walked up to her friends, "this is Y/N. She's going to sit with us today."

A chorus of 'hi's filled the air and Y/N smiled back weakly, her eyes flickering over the group. She noticed Barb who was smiling back at her before her eyes glanced over two people, a couple by the looks of it, who she didn't know. But then she caught sight of the last person and her smile became just slightly more genuine at the sight of Steve Harrington sitting there, an amused look on his face as he stared at Y/N in curiosity,

"Y/N, you already know Barb, but this is Tommy Hagan, Carol Perkins, and Steve Harrington," Nancy introduced, not knowing that Y/N had already met one of the three. Y/N nodded weakly in greeting before Nancy was pulling her down into the empty seat she had saved next to Barb.

Y/N set her lunchbox down on the table before shyly looking up at the group. To her surprise, Nancy sat down beside Steve who smiled at the girl before pressing a soft kiss to the side of her head, an action that made Nancy blush.

"So, Y/N," Steve said, snapping the girl out of her thoughts as he turned his attention away from Nancy and towards her. "How's your first day been?"

Y/N gulped slightly, knowing that the only reason it had been bad was because she couldn't stop thinking about her brother and her parents. Not wanting to explain, the girl merely shrugged before whispering, "It's been okay, I guess."

Y/N could practically feel the sets of eyes on her and glanced to her left to see Carol and Tommy staring at her with both curious and judgmental looks in their eyes.

Carol's icy blue eyes seemed to be staring straight into her soul as she twirled a piece of her red hair that had fallen in front of her pale face with her fingers. She blew a small bubble with the gum she was chewing and it popped before she asked in a bored tone, "You're Hopper's niece, aren't you? The one everyone's been talking about?"

Y/N paled slightly, her stomach growing a bit queasy at those words. "Uh. . .y-y-yeah, Hopper's my uncle. I don't know about the whole everybody talking about me thing," Y/N admitted as she shyly looked down at her fingers as she messed with the small piece of thread that was hanging from her shirt sleeve.

"Don't say that. You're all anyone can talk about!" Tommy exclaimed causing Y/N to glance at him and take in his freckled appearance. His brown eyes were filled with mischief as he looked at her, the slight look of amusement making his lips turn up into a smirk. "I mean, with the whole accident and all, how could anyone not talk about you?"

Y/N froze at that, her body becoming rigid as her hands balled together. "W-W-What?" she whispered, her voice barely audible to the group and causing Steve to frown as his eyes narrowed in his friend's direction.

"What even happened anyways? Your Pops not know how to drive or something?" Carol asked as she glanced at her nails in disinterest.

"Babe, the brother is the one you should be asking about," Tommy pointed out as he nudged his girlfriend before wrapping an arm around her shoulders. He then glanced at Y/N. "What happened to him anyways? He's been missing for a couple of months now, right?"

They were being insensitive about the topic and everyone at the table knew it. It was as if they were purposely trying to get Y/N to leave and the girl could barely handle the questions being thrown her way, her face growing paler by the minute as her eyes began to gloss over.

"What? Cat got your tongue?" Tommy questioned in amusement.

"It's no use, Tommy. He's probably dead anyways," Carol muttered and that was enough to make Y/N grab her things and jump out of her seat.

"Y/N-" Nancy began as she went to reach out for the girl, but the girl was already bolting out of the cafeteria, not caring that all eyes were once again on her.

Tommy and Carol watched her leave with small smirks on their faces before turning back around towards the table to find Nancy, Barb, and Steve glaring at them. It was that fact that Steve was glaring at them that had them furrow their eyebrows in confusion and ask, "What?"

In the hallway, Y/N was desperately trying to keep her cool, biting her lip just to hold back a sob as she shoved past people and tried to find the nearest bathroom. It wasn't long before she found it and luckily for her there was no one inside.

Y/N was quick to walk in, slamming the door shut behind her and leaning against the closed door as she let out a small sob. Tears began to stream down her face and Y/N mentally cursed herself for being so weak and for allowing a few questions like that to affect her so much.

It was like the more she tried to calm herself down, the more she couldn't breath. So Y/N stumbled over to the sink, her hands instantly gripping onto the cool metal as she shakily breathed in and out. Her whole body was shaking from her sobs and she squeezed her eyes shut only to see the car accident replaying in her head.

Her eyes instantly shot open and she looked up at herself in the mirror. She didn't even recognize the person staring back at her. For the girl she remembered being was totally different from the broken girl that stared back at her.

She watched as her reflection's lips began to quiver, her eyes filling with more tears as she realized just how alone she was. All she wanted was her family back. . .She wanted her brother back.

The bathroom door opening was enough to make Y/N straighten up, forcing herself to hide just how broken she was as she quickly wiped the tears away from her face. She couldn't do anything about the red of her eyes or the tear stains on her sleeves, so Y/N pretended as if nothing was wrong as she turned to glance at the newcomer.

She saw Nancy peaking her head out from around the corner and Y/N sighed before turning away now embarrassed, sniffing slightly as she took her sleeves and began to dab around her eyes. Nancy took this as a sign that she could come in, so the girl stepped into the bathroom and made sure the door closed behind her before standing behind Stephanie.

A silence fell among the two and Y/N continued to face away from Nancy, silently wondering why the girl had followed her to the bathroom. She didn't actually care, did she?

"Tommy and Carol are assholes," Nancy finally said, the sudden statement being enough to make Y/N chuckle weakly as she nodded her head in agreement. She didn't speak as she heard Nancy walk towards her before a soft hand was placed on her shoulder.

It took Y/N a minute before she finally allowed herself to turn her gaze towards Nancy. She was expecting the same pitied look most people gave her, but was surprised when she was only met with a kind smile and curious eyes. But what surprised her even more was when Nancy asked, "Would you want to come over tonight? We can get to know each other and you could even spend the night if you want."

Y/N would be lying if she said she wasn't surprised by Nancy's question because she was so shocked that she about chocked on the air she was breathing. "You. . .you don't even know me," Y/N pointed out a little harshly, her eyebrows furrowing.

She instantly realized how rude she was after receiving an invitation that no one had ever offered her before, not even her old friends back home, and winced. "I could be a murderer," Y/N quickly added, hoping to lighten the mood with her small joke.

Nancy chuckled softly and shrugged as she said, "That's a risk I'm willing to take." She then let her eyes flicker over the girl and the look was enough to make Y/N blink in surprise at the amount of worry and care in her eyes. "Besides, you look like you could use a little time away from home."

Y/N wasn't quite sure how Nancy knew that or how she managed to make her relax, but she did and Y/N even found herself smiling. It may have been a sad smile, but it was a smile nonetheless. "You don't know how right you are," Y/N admitted in such a small voice that Nancy felt her heart ache for the girl.

"So you'll come over?" Nancy questioned, perking up slightly as she gave the girl a hopeful look.

Y/N was silent for a moment as she allowed her eyes to flicker across Nancy's face, looking for any sign of hesitance or to see if she got a feeling that Nancy was hiding something. What she was met with was the same feeling she got when she was around her brother—a feeling that made Y/N realize that maybe someone actually cared.

How that was possible after having only known Nancy for half a day would always stun Y/N, but in that moment she wanted nothing more than to push that question aside and accept the hand that was being offered to her.

After all, a night away from her uncle and the house that was way too empty for her liking was exactly what she needed.

Y/N was silent as she nodded and Nancy let out a small squeal before rushing forward and hugging her in excitement. The girl didn't have time to even blink before Nancy was pulling away to give Y/N her address.

Y/N blinked in response but smiled softly as she said, "I'll have to tell my uncle and he won't get home until after dinner, but I'll head over right after that."

"Sounds like a plan," Nancy grinned as she linked her arm with Y/N’s. "Now come on. Let's go eat outside, shall we?"

With that, the two girls walked out of the bathroom together side by side. And for the first time since the accident, Y/N felt happy.

- - -

A small shiver sent down the girl's back had Y/N halting in place as she closed her eyes, the shudder racking her body while the cold breeze blew against her. It was almost winter so Y/N understood why it would be as cold as it was, but boy did she long for summer where she didn't have to worry about freezing to death. Not that boiling was much better.

Once she had collected herself, Y/N opened up her eyes once again and stuck her tongue out as she concentrated on lining the flyer just right that she could put a staple at the top. Once the staple had dug its way into the wood of the post, Y/N put another staple at the bottom of the flyer before taking a step back.

Her eyes flickered over the flyer, hesitating slightly on the picture of her brother before she gulped at the big black words that read 'Missing.' She could feel her throat starting to constrict, a sign that tears were on their way, so Y/N was quick to look away and begin walking down the street.

She stopped wherever she could find a place to put up the flyer about her brother's disappearance. It was the next best option for finding the boy, even if everyone knew who he was now that he was a part of the biggest news story the town had ever seen.

That wasn't enough to stop her from making the flyers and hanging them up though. Y/N just had a feeling that if she kept him in the minds of others through her flyers, then maybe. . .just maybe, if someone happened to see him, they would call. Maybe Thomas would be found.

Y/N had reached a new post and struggled to get a flyer from the giant stack she was carrying without dropping the others or the stapler. Before she knew it, a small pair of hands had grabbed the stack for her, holding it out so that she could grab the top flyer without trouble.

The young girl hesitated as she took the flyer before letting her gaze fall on the young thirteen year old boy standing before her. His big brown eyes stared at her from below his bowl cut and his bright smile was just barely brighter than the orange vest that hugged his small frame. He had a small sparkle in his eyes that made Y/N relax slightly and she gave the boy a small look before whispering, "Thank you."

The boy's smile widened and Y/N stared at him one last time before turning and stapling the flyer onto the post in front of her. It was then that she turned back towards the boy, gently taking the pile of flyers from him as he stared up at her.

"I'm Will," the boy finally said, his smile wide as he held out a hand.

"Y/N," she replied, a hint of amusement in her voice as she shook the boy's hand. "Thanks for your help."

"It's no problem," Will assured her with a small shrug. "I was just waiting for my brother to finish up in the store anyways and thought I be more useful helping you rather than standing there watching you struggle."

Y/N chuckled softly and nodded at the boy. "Well, I appreciate it," she told him.

"You know," Will began as he let his eyes flicker over to the flyer. "Your brother's lucky to have someone like you. If I went missing, I hope someone would try looking for me as hard as you are for Thomas."

Y/N didn't know why the words hit her as hard as they did, but her eyes teared up slightly as she looked at the kind boy. "Thank you," she whispered again while Will just smiled at her.

He then glanced back at the store that Y/N assumed his brother was in and sighed before saying, "I wish my brother would hurry up. I was supposed to be at my friend's house ten minutes ago. We're about to start a new campaign for our Dungeons and Dragons game and I cannot miss it."

Y/N perked up slightly at that, a smile on her face as she looked at the boy in amazement. "Dungeons and Dragons? I love that game," she told him.

Will's eyes lit up and he practically jumped with joy as he asked, "Really?"

Y/N nodded and gave the boy a look of disbelief as she said, "It's only the best game of all time."

Will's smile grew and he opened his mouth to talk more when a voice suddenly yelled out, "Will!" The two fell quiet as they looked over to see a boy around Y/N’s age walking out of the store and towards the two.

"Will, you can't just walk out on me like that," the boy sighed while Will gave him a sheepish look.

"I'm sorry, but I was just trying to help Y/N," Will explained as he gestured towards the girl. His brother's gaze then flickered over to Y/N as if he hadn't noticed her before and his eyes widened slightly, something that told Y/N he knew exactly who she was.

"Hi," Y/N greeted as she held a hand out. "Your brother was just helping me put up a flyer which I am extremely thankful for. I'm Y/N Hopper."

"Jonathan Byers," the boy said with a small nod as he shook the girl's hand a little hesitantly. "You're the new girl, right? I think you're in my history class."

Y/N nodded at that and smiled once she realized that Jonathan was in fact in her history class. She was pretty sure he sat two rows behind her actually. They obviously hadn't talked, but she had caught a glimpse of him when their teacher made her introduce herself in front of the class.

Jonathan gave the girl a sad smile as he shoved his hands into his pockets. "I'm sorry about your brother," he whispered, the pity in his voice making Y/N inhale sharply.

"Oh," Y/N whispered as she shuffled awkwardly in place. "Thanks."

Will frowned once he realized the girl's sudden mood change and watched as she glanced at her flyers. He could tell she wanted to continue putting them up so that she could find her brother, so Will quickly tugged on his brother's sleeve and said, "Jonathan, we need to go. I'm already late!"

Jonathan sighed and glanced down at his little brother before looking up at Y/N and giving her a small nod. "Uh. . .I'll see you at school I guess," Jonathan said, although both knew they probably wouldn't talk to each other.

"Yeah, of course. It was nice meeting you both and thank you for helping, Will," Y/N said as she sent the younger boy a small smile in his direction.

Will quickly returned it before grabbed his brother's hand and beginning to drag him away. "Bye, Y/N! Maybe next time I see you, we can play Dungeons and Dragons!" Will exclaimed with a wave, but Y/N didn't have time to response before Will had already pulled Jonathan out of hearing range.

Y/N stared in the direction Jonathan and Will had gone before smiling softly and looking down at the flyers in her hands. It was at the sight of her brother's picture that she remembered why she was out there and the young girl let out a small sigh before continuing on her way down the street.

This was going to take a while.

- - -

Y/N didn't get home until after dinner, but thankfully her uncle wasn't home yet which meant she didn't have to explain why she was out for so long.

It's not that she wanted to hide it from her uncle, but sometimes just not talking about anything related to the accident, her parents, or her brother was easier. Jim Hopper wasn't the best when it came to feelings and the two both knew it, especially now that Y/N had been living with him for the past couple of months.

The girl couldn't even find it in herself to eat dinner, so she merely took an apple from the kitchen before heading to her room to pack a few things for the night at Nancy's. She was just putting a change of clothes into her bag when the front door opened up. She could hear the sound of her uncle's footsteps as he walked into the house and let out a loud sigh, the relief of finally being home evident.

She knew it wouldn't be long before he came to check on her, so she wasn't surprised when she heard a small knock on her door a couple of minutes later before Hopper's voice called out, "Kid?"

"Come in," Y/N said before she heard her door creak open. She glanced back in time to see her uncle take off his hat as he stepped inside and the two made eye contact for a split second before Y/N turned back around and continued packing her bag.

Hopper furrowed his eyebrows and watched the girl silently before finally asking, "You going somewhere?"

"This girl in my class offered for me to spend the night," Y/N said, the surprise evident in her voice. She hesitated before looking back at Hopper. "But I'll go only if it's okay with you. Do you mind?"

"No," Hopper said a little too quickly, his eyes wide as he stared at his niece. "No, not at all. You can go." In all honesty, if it had been under any other circumstance, he probably would've told her to stay home. But this was his niece he was talking about and he had always had a soft spot for her. And the fact that one of Y/N’s new friends was already wanting to get to know her more and inviting her over for a sleepover was enough to make him feel happy for the kid. "Who. . .who is it?"

"Her name is Nancy Wheeler," Y/N explained and Hopper nodded, already knowing who the girl was and knowing that her family would keep Y/N safe for the night.

A silence followed the two as Y/N turned and went to grab the last item for her bag. Hopper watched her as she hesitated, her fingers dancing across a dark green sweatshirt that he knew had belonged to Thomas. It wasn't a surprise that Y/N had it. She had always been stealing Thomas' sweatshirts since the two were kids and now that he was missing, she couldn't go anywhere without one of his sweatshirts hidden in her bag and wrapped around her tightly.

Hopper let his eyes flicker up to his niece's face and he smiled sadly at the sight of her utter sadness that crossed her face. Letting out a small sigh, Hopper began to walk towards her as he whispered, "Kid."

Y/N instantly snapped out of whatever trance she had been in and grabbed Thomas' sweatshirt before stuffing it into her bag. She had zipped up the backpack before Hopper could even blink and turned to him with a haunted look in her eyes. "I'm already late, so I'll just head on over I guess. I'll see you tomorrow after you get home from work, okay?" Y/N said a little rushed before she went to speed past her uncle.

Hopper sighed, not surprised by the girl's reaction. She usually did this when she knew he wanted to talk about the accident and Thomas. Not wanting to talk about it, she always found some excuse or pretended to be too busy at the moment to talk to him. But Hopper knew she was going to break one day and a part of him was always afraid it would happen when he wasn't around.

"I can drive you," Hoper suggested, but Y/N instantly tensed in response and blurted out, "No!"

A heavy silence fell among the two and Y/N sighed before relaxing her shoulders and turning to look at Hopper. "I mean, no, thank you. I can just walk," she assured him.

Hopper stared at her in silence for a moment before hesitantly nodding his head, not liking that she wanted to walk alone all the way to Nancy's house, but knowing he wouldn't be able to get her into the car. Not after what had happened.

"Okay, then. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then. You be safe, okay? Call me if you need anything," Hopper told her.

Y/N nodded and gave the man a weak smile. "Will do. Thanks, Uncle Jim," she said before turning and quickly walking out of the house. Hopper stared after her silently before letting out a soft sigh and turning to go change out of his work clothes.

From the other side of the front door stood Y/N who was taking in a few deep breaths to try and calm herself down. She was quick to take off her backpack and unzip it before pulling the green sweatshirt out. It was only when she had Thomas' sweatshirt wrapped around her frame that she felt herself relax.

She allowed herself to stand there for a moment, basking in the feeling of Thomas' sweatshirt wrapped around her like a hug as his scent lingered in the air. It was then that she pulled out the small slip of paper she had put in her pocket that held the address and directions to Nancy's house.

And with that, Y/N began her walk to Nancy's house, totally and blissfully unaware of the events that would occur that night after she went to bed.

* * *

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[seolhe]

I was wondering,,, why do you say the dark wife is one of the worst books you've read? I read it a few years ago, and I dont remember anything about it tbh, so I'm curious

Oh boy, where do I start? I had a lot of problems with this novel, both as a Greek myth retelling and from a writing standpoint. Now, keep in mind that I read thisabout 2 years ago, so I might be forgetting some small details here and there, but I’ll try to explain the main reasons it bugged me so much. So buckle up, because this is gonna be a long one.

Characters: All the characters are two-dimensional and poorly developed. None of them have any amount of nuance or depth.Zeus is moustache twirling villain who is evil for the sake of being evil. Hades is as good as Zeus is evil, endlessly noble and selfless and devoted. I genuinely can’t remember a single defining trait of Persephone? She’s such abland and generic protagonist, nothing really stands out about her in my memory other than her obsessive pining over Hades and hatred of Zeus. A lot of this feels like it’s pulled straight from the shallow and occasionally downright inaccurate readings of Greek myths that have become so popular in recent years, especially on places like tumblr (Zeus as an evil rapist, Hades as a pure cinnamon roll, Persephone descending willingly into the Underworld, etc.).But there are also more confusing takes on these characters, like turning chaste virgin goddess Athena into a self-centered, promiscuous lesbian (not to say that being a lesbian or being promiscuous is bad, it’s just such a strange interpretation of Athena’s character that doesn’t make any sense)And don’t even get me started on poor Charis! Charis, Persephone’s first lover in the book, exists solely to be raped and killed by Zeus. She’s fridged to show us that Zeus is BAD and giving Persephone a reason to hate him. The author’s treatment of this character is lazy and offensive. I’m sure this is something that won’t bother all readers, but as someone with a deep love for the mythology, I found the portrayal of the Greek gods franklyinsulting. Plot:“Three thousand years ago, a god told a lie.”Here we run into a big problem with the narrative. We’re told from the very prologue that the story of Hades and Persephone we’re familiar with is a lie, a narrative created by Zeus, and this is Persephone’s attempt to set the record straight.These are the first lines of our story: “I am not my mother’s daughter. I have forfeited my inheritance, my birthright. I do not possess the privilege of truth. The stories told by fires, the myth of my kidnap and my rape, are all that remain of me. Forever I will be known as the girl who was stolen away to be the wife of Hades, lord of all the dead. Andnone of it is true, or is so fragmented that the truth is nothing more than ashadow, malformed. The stories are wrong. I am not who they say I am.I am Persephone, and my story must begin with the truth.Here it is, or as close as I can tell it.”Well, this doesn’t really make any sense when, at the end of the story, Zeus is defeated and thrown into Tartarus. Why does this narrative survive into modern day when Hades and Persephone won? Why is Persephone only able to tell her story now, after thousands of years without Zeus in power? Speaking of Zeus and lies, the justification for the whole “What, Hades is awoman?!” thing really doesn’t make any sense. We’re told that Zeus calls Hades “lord” of the dead as a joke, Hades even refers to it as a “slur” in the story. The reason given for this is that Hades is only attracted to women. Well, if that’s the case, why doesn’t that same logic apply to Athena, who’salso shown to be attracted only to women? Or to Persephone for that matter? Same-sex attraction, even between women, is never shown to be frowned upon in their society, so why would Zeus single out Hades for her attraction to women? And why do all the other gods apparently go along with that “joke” to the point that Persephone literally didn’t know Hades was a woman until she meets her in person? And why, again, did this idea of Hades being a man survive into modern day? The story is constructed so poorly on so many different levels. There are so many threads that are just dropped entirely. For example:- The story starts with Demeter confidently proclaiming that Persephone will become the queen of the gods, setting up this big rivalry between her and the daughters of Hera and Aphrodite. This plot never goes anywhere, in fact, I don’t think it’s ever brought up again after the first chapter, and Demeter basically spends the rest of the book cowering before Zeus. - There’s a significant plotline about Pallas having Persephone try to deliver a message to Athena, a plotline that is unceremoniously dropped without anyresolution. After all the build-up, there’s a throwaway line about Pallas giving the note to Persephone right before the big showdown with Zeus, and that’s the last we hear of it. We never see it delivered, we don’t get to see Athena’s reaction to it, we don’t know how this impacts Pallas, if at all. In fact, Pallas basically doesn’t show up at all after this point. Then there’s the main conflict of the story: Zeus wants Persephone, and as we’re told over and over and over, Zeus always gets what he wants (the author really beats this into our heads). We’re never really given any motivation for any of Zeus�� actions, so this conflict feels weak and contrived. It doesn’t help that we get so much build-up for what a terrible threat he is, and then Persephone defeats Zeus, the most powerful god, feared by all, in like… two pages? It’s such a weak and anticlimactic end to the story.

There was also some sort of convoluted plan concocted by Zeus to, idk, have the dead rise up and overthrow Hades? For some reason? Again, we never get any clear motivation from Zeus. As far as I can remember, we’re never told why he hates Hades so much, or why he wants to overthrow her. I don’t even remember if the author explained what Zeus was going to do with the Underworld without Hades there to rule. I’m sorry, I genuinely can’t even remember the details, but it was just reallybadly set up and, once again, easily solved in a few pages.And that’s really the main problem with the story, everything is so easily solved. Our good guys all get happily ever afters with no sacrifices and no consequences for anything, and there’s always a quick and easy solution to any threat or conflict. Mythology:So how does it hold up as a Hades and Persephone retelling?Well, not great, imho. A lot of classical elements are incorporated into this retelling, but they’re stripped of any meaning or importance to the plot. The pomegranate? It’s there at their wedding, but it never figures into the greater narrative.Demeter causing famine by bringing infertility to the fields? She does freeze the world in this story, threatening everlasting winter, but unlike in the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, it’s not an act of agency on her part, refusing to submit to the will of Zeus and fighting to be reunited with her daughter. Nah. She’s just being manipulated by Zeus and it’s used as a cheap reason to tear our lovers apart.And somehow, I don’t even know why seeing as it doesn’t tie into Demeter freezing the earth or Persephone eating the seeds of the pomegranate, butPersephone is still forced to spend half the year on earth and half in theUnderworld.In the epilogue, we see her in modern day New York*, acting as psychopomp (for some reason???), happily guiding the souls to the afterlife, which we’re told is her duty for the half of the year she spends above ground. I’m just so confused as to what the author was even going for here. Where did this come from? It doesn’t originate in the original myths, but it’s also not explained (as far as I can remember) in the book.*This isn’t a problem with the book per se, and it’s 100% a matter oftaste, but I personally really dislike it when mythological figures appearin a modern setting, especially when the author has to put them in anAmerican setting rather than the geographical location of their origin, whetherthat’s Greece or Egypt or Scandinavia or what have you. Romance: Hades and Persephone are destined soulmates and instantly fall in love pretty much the moment they first set eyes on each other, which doesn’t allow for any growth or progression of their relationship. They’re instantly deeply and madly in love with each other and their feelings never change over the span of the story. They spend most of their time together staring lovingly into each others eyes and when they’re separated for literally 3 days Persephone basically spends her entire days languishing in despair.It’s ridiculously melodramatic and cheesy, which again, personal taste thing,I’m just really not into. Other writing issues: - The worldbuilding is pretty much non-existent. The story doesn’t feel grounded in any particular time period or cultural context, and you never get any sense of the setting, or how the world works and what this society is like.  - The pacing was really poor, either dragging or exploding into rushed action. - A lot of page time is spent on describing things that doesn’t really further the plot or has any thematic relevance. One example would be the garden of metal and precious stones Hades made for Persephone. It’s cool I guess? But what purpose does it serve? We also waste a lot of time which could be better used developing the characters or moving the plot forward on watching Persephone play with puppy Cerberus or petting Hades’ horses (see poor pacing). - There’s a lot of talk about Persephone having some sort of grand destiny, and that her actions have been prophesized. This is never properly explained and it only serves to weaken Persephone’s story arc, stripping her of agency by implying that she doesn’t really have a choice in the matter. Prophecy and destiny are story elements that have to be handled delicately and are easy to screw up, and they’re just dealt with so clumsily here.  - Also the writing was just… not very good.I’m sure there are more things I could dig up and complain about, but I feel like this is probably too long and rambly already, so I’ll stop here.

Obligatory disclaimer:This is obviously just my personal opinion. There are a lot of people who love this book (going by Goodreads ratings, I am clearly in the minority) and I am genuinely happy for them! I also mean no disrespect to the author who seems like a genuinely lovely person. 

[plumtreeforest]

hey plum, this is the anon that asked for your name and your header lol. i'm asking again now! if it isn't too much trouble, could you make a k-pop mood master list? for example, what kpop songs you listen to when you feel sad, pick me up songs, happy songs, songs that fire you up, etc. thank you so much!!

Ugh Oooooh, really interesting request! Haha Imma warn y’all now, since I stan very few groups (bc if I stan more I’m gonna end up buying all their albums and essentially turn broke huhu) so there won’t be as much variety as you expect, but I’ll do my best!

(huhuh it’s like 80% BTS tho I apologize that’s really all I listen to nowadays esp with comeback season so close. Note that I had to stop yself at some point or else this list would have like maybe a hundred songs LOL)

WHEN I’M SAD AND FEEL LIKE WALLOWING A BIT

These are also the songs I like writing angst too. Haha 10/10 very effective.

Lonely by SISTAR

It’s literally their disbandment song. Tears all around.

Tomorrow, Today by JJProject

A song about being lost and not knowing what to do next. It’s ok to not know the next step. It’s ok to just spend a few days being sad about it.

Fine by Taeyeon

Taeyeon sings the best songs about finding difficulty moving on. I love her.

Dagaone by VIXX

Another song about falling out of love. It’s so scary how easily that can happen, really, but when it does, what else is there to do?

Love is Not Over by BTS

J-Hope’s I’m not okay is me throughout this whole song.

Autumn Leaves by BTS

The instruments and the voices and the general heartbreaking theme of a love gone cold. I love it.

One of These Nights by Red Velvet

The MV is hauntingly beautiful, consider the fact that they dedicated it to the Sewol tragedy makes it even sadder.

Lost Stars by Jeon Jungkook (covered from Maroon 5)

God this song was sad enough when Maroon 5 sang it but Jungkook only makes it sound more heartbreaking. I remember someone made a mock MV to this cover using clips from the HYYH era and it made me so emotional.

11:11 by Taeyeon

Another Taeyeon favorite. That Na na na na part always sells it for me.

WHEN I’M FIRED UP AND GETTING READY TO FACE AN AWESOME DAY

Like it says, I wake up and I’m pumped, ready to go. I just need a matching soundtrack as I dance around my room preparing for a good day ahead.

Also these are the songs that make me feel like an unbeatable badass when I listen to them.

Fire by BTS

DUH???

21st Century Girls by BTS

“You’re worth it. You’re perfect. Deserve it. Just work it.” Who won’t get pumped up just from that? Ugh Namjoon’s voice in this one is to die for.

Hola Hola - KARD

Ahh, this song reminds me of summers and chill hang outs and just generally having fun.Makes for a great morning tune.

All Night - Girls’ Generation

Just girls having a fun night out, about to party. I love listening to this (and dancing along) in the shower.

Boombayah by BLACKPINK

ANOTHER SHOWER JAM.

As If It’s Your Last by BLACKPINK

DAMN MY PRINCESSES LOOKING SO GOOD AND FEELING THEMSELVES AND LISA WITH THAT RAP YES YOU PRETTY AND NASTY YES BABY ANYTHING YOU WANT YOU GO GIRLS.

Energetic by Wanna One

It’s literally a song about being energetic what more can you want for a pump up song haha.

Basically any of the Cyphers by BTS (YES EVEN CIRCLE ROOM CYPHER THAT WAS A TRIP HAHA)

These songs were made as tracks dissing the people who disrespected them and didn’t believe in them and hey look at them now. Honestly just listening to the rapline spit fire gets me turnt everytime.

Come Back Home by BTS (covered from Seo Taeji)

Just. Just listen to it. This shit be fire.

We On by BTS

“I don’t know you and you don’t know me so please shut up. Don’t worry about me, I’m better than you.” Gee knowing that Kookie was a fetus when this came out makes the line even more badass.

Not Today by BTS

You didn’t think I’d leave this out, did you? Damn this song has powered me through many productive days. Best.

Dope by BTS

DOUBLE DUH???

Jump by BTS

Needless to say, this song makes me want to jump until my head hits the roof.

Rise of Bangtan by BTS

That intro by Yoongi then all that magic that comes after? Damn.

Fun Boys by BTS

JA! WASSEO! A HEUNGTAN SONYEONDAN

WHEN I’M DOWN AND NEED A LITTLE HAPPY PILL

Different from the above in the sense that these are happy songs or hopeful songs, when I need a gentler lift from my rough moods. This is the kind of songs I listen to when I had a bad day but am looking forward to better days

Serendipity by BTS

God this song+MV combo is so beautiful and ethereal to watch and listen to. Whenever I feel a little off I just close my eyes and put it on loop and I find myself smiling, feeling a little bit more motivated to continue the day.

Butterfly (Prologue Mix) by BTS

Ever since the Young Forever repackage came out, I found myself listening to the prologue mix more than the original. It just has a more solemn, nostalgic feel to it compared to the original. Plus the Prologue MV is also pretty sad and nostalgic it just gives me all the feels. Plus I’ve associated this song with a lot of happy memories. (And that bridge tho)

So Far Away by BTS (Suga, Jin, Jungkook)

This song this song this song. Ugh no joke it has helped me through a lot, given me hope through my toughest moments. Words simply can’t describe how much this song means to me. I find this version to be more hopeful and cathartic compared to the original.

A Supplementary Story: You Never Walk Alone by BTS

Some days you just need people alongside you to help keep you going. This song encapsulates those feelings perfectly. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your friends when you want help. THey’re called your friends for a reason.

Two! Three! by BTS

Whenever I’ve had a rough day this song cheers me right up. Things may be hard, but we just have to hope for better days.

Epilogue: Young Forever by BTS

I’m always so weak for songs about wanting to stay young forever. This was my graduation feels jam.

Tomorrow by BTS

This is my go-to “things won’t always work out, but you just have to keep going” song. The lyrics are amazingly vivid.

Whalien 52 by BTS

I’m a super nerd about the 52Hz whale and when I saw that BTS made a song about it, I fell in love immediately. This is the song I listen to when I’m savoring my solitude. Some days, you just gotta be alone, y’know.

Spring Day by BTS

This song is about missing someone who’s far away, wanting to be with them. I’m in an LDR, and this song just keeps me going for the hard days.

Last Dance by BIGBANG

I know this song seems sad, but there’s that super hopeful tone about coming back and meeting again, and that’s what gets me so much.

[kickuptheband]

Have you seen the show? If you have - would you mind writing down what happens like the full thing with spoilers, please? I'm really curious about it but I can't seem to understand all that happens from the Papermill audio I have.

i’ll do my best! firstly — there have been quite a few changes between paper mill and broadway, but i’m going to talk about the broadway version since it’s the most current. i’m not going to go into huge detail on every scene, mostly because that would get really long, but i’ll try to explain (my interpretation of) the main story as best i can.

behind a cut because of all the spoilers. super spoilery. you have been warned!

act one.it starts with a prologue, flashing back to the war, an echo of the story donny tells julia about michael’s death in act 2. and then it’s 1945, cleveland, donny is coming home from the war, and everyone is saying that life will be just like it was before, except he can’t sleep, he drinks, he has terrible memories—and despite all of his talent, he can’t get a decent gig, not even at the clubs he was playing in his teens. but he hears about a “tribute to the troops” swing band radio contest hosted by nbc/mgm, where the winners will get to be in a movie. because it’s about the troops, and he’s a veteran, he decides to put together a band of other vets: jimmy (sax; navy, his ship exploded and he was in the water with his dead friends), davy (bass; army, liberated dachau and is an alcoholic because of it), nick (trumpet; was a pow and has huge anger issues), wayne (trombone; marines, has mental health issues/probably ocd), and johnny (drums; was hit by a shell leaving him with severe amnesia, chronic pain, and cognitive problems).

donny also promised michael that he’d look in on his wife if anything happened to him, so he finally works up the courage to visit julia, who invites him for dinner so they can look at some photos of michael from the war. he hears julia sing in church and invites her to sing with the band — first as a guest appearance, then as backup/duets (because she’s a gold star widow, it doesn’t ruin his all-vets gimmick). julia shows donny some poems she wrote in the time after michael’s death, and donny sets one of them to music, love will come and find me again. she agrees to let this be their song for the state-wide contest, which is being held in cleveland.

they win the contest for ohio, which should guarantee them a spot in the new york final. however, it’s not as easy as that; not only will they be forced to participate in ANOTHER preliminary in new york, they have to pay for everything themselves, and call nbc in advance to tell them they’ll be there — because nbc care more about selling the product they’re sponsored by than the contestants. obviously, this is very upsetting for donny & the band, they get pissed off, and the act 1 finale, right this way, is donny deciding that this isn’t going to stop them, they’ve been through too much, and they’re going to find a way to raise the money so they can go first class, because they deserve it after everything.

act two.the first part of act 2 is primarily taken up with them trying to raise enough money to go to new york first class, and stay at a fancy hotel; they’re playing gigs almost constantly, donny and julia come up with a song about cleveland, i got a theory, to raise more, and they’re still nowhere near their total, but donny refuses to let them go any other way than first class, because it’d be letting them & michael down. julia finally grows tired of waiting and pushes donny into telling her how michael died — it was a friendly fire incident, where the conditions were awful, donny accidentally dropped a grenade, told michael to get out of the trench, and the grenade went off; he thought michael had gotten out, but he hadn’t. julia is (understandably) upset by this and doesn’t show up for a gig, leaving the guys to perform alone and them all to wonder if new york is even gonna happen now.

but julia forgives donny, writing a poem about how the war has affected all the guys in the band. donny sets this to music, but it’s so personal and real that they can’t perform it, so she rewrites it into the first welcome home, about a guy returning home from war to his girl. during this time, all the cleveland clubs have been raising money for the band (i assume one of the owners overheard the guys talking about money, though i’m not sure), and have bought them first class train tickets and rooms at the astor, so they can go to new york in style. after a night out in nyc, donny and julia have what would traditionally be the “kiss” moment, except they talk about the fact that this is life, not a movie, so they don’t kiss.

at the studios, they pass the prelim so they can perform on the main show, but jimmy (who is studying law) reads the contracts and discovers at the last minute that nbc/mgm are trying to screw them over. like, literally the last minute; they’re on in 2 more numbers. if they perform love will come and find me again, mgm will own the song outright, they’re only obligated to use the band as walk-ons, and if the band ever wants to perform the song again, they have to pay mgm royalties. for their own song. yep. so the band is upset, and in the end donny decides that they need to slap the contest people in the face: perform a song they’d never dare to put on the big screen, to show everybody listening what it’s really like to be a veteran (that it’s not just like it was before). there’s a this is life reprise here, which talks about how this will take guts but it’s worth it, and also where donny tells julia that he’s madly in love with her, and then they have their Big Kiss moment.

so the band perform the original welcome home, the painful one about what each of the guys goes through every goddamn day, and obviously they don’t win the contest — which is a good thing too because the film sucks, and the end of the show is basically the band talking about how bad the movie is, and then there’s a finale which wasn’t in paper mill, a reprise of nobody. the band now has a “newest record”, which implies they’ve got a record deal, they’re on an international tour, and they still play a lot of gigs at home in cleveland.

[saranel]

Thanks for the update to TEF! Love ALL your fics! I'm wondering if you think there would even be any attraction between Urayoru if they never grew up together? Would he even have made it to Captain? Would they have been friends, anyway? Thanks and looking forward to your answer :)

Tyyyy!

And I love your question, because one of the things that makes the UraYoru relationship so special has always been their connection since childhood.  So what happens when you take that away?

For starters, I believe we’d be looking at two different people.  Not radically so, but to put it in the words of one of my favorite quotes about relationships:

“The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed.” – Carl. G. Jung  

(THE AU I DIDN’T KNOW I NEEDED UNDER THE CUT)

If TBTP is any indication, Kisuke in his youth was a far more reserved person than the behatted trickster Ichigo first meets.  And bear in mind that this is a Kisuke already influenced by Yoruichi, so I can only imagine how much shier he must’ve been as a young boy.  What’s interesting, however, is the slow reveal that Kisuke in TBTP was still the same deep down, he simply lacked some of the confidence that was most likely the product of his tenure as a Captain.

I don’t believe Kisuke’s playful (and darker) side was the result of his association with Yoruichi; I believe that she drew out what was already there, lying dormant.  Kisuke and Yoruichi are kindred spirits in many ways, but differ in the way they express themselves: where she will make no apologies about her brazen nature and openly tease someone, Kisuke is a manipulator who employs subterfuge to produce the same result, and not only enjoys it, but also feigns innocence –however poorly- after the fact.  

One of the aspects of Kisuke’s personality I enjoy the most is the occasional peek into his more sinister side.  And as much as Yoruichi seems to encourage it and even share it at times, I think that with Kisuke, it goes much deeper.  In fact, I firmly believe that a friendless Kisuke could have easily become someone dangerously close to Aizen.  It’s not that Kisuke doesn’t have a moral compass, or that his friends and loved ones act like it, but rather Kisuke strives to be better because of them (see: his completely new attitude toward Ichigo once he starts to truly care about him). 

There’s also the matter of motivation to consider.  Fun though the anime version of TBTP was, we have no idea how Kisuke and Yoruichi came to the decision to nominate him for Captaincy.  Our only clue comes from Kisuke’s reflection after his first day, where he muses out loud that Yoruichi was right:

This implies that Kisuke did need a bit of convincing, but the quote he repeats explicitly states that Yoruichi’s main argument was that becoming a Captain would be ‘interesting.’  At no point does Kisuke say anything to the effect of: “Yoruichi-san was right; it’s high time I stop messing around.” What this tells me is that Kisuke, like many a genius before him, was bored.  As averse as he seems to be to assuming responsibility, he’s a natural leader when he’s confident, and I’m willing to bet Yoruichi, who knew him so well, also knew that this was the kind of challenge he needed to truly shine.  

Even more tellingly, Kisuke wastes no time in going forward with his plan to create the SRDI, which tells me it must’ve been on his mind for a while.  But a Third Seat simply doesn’t have the necessary clout to get an organization like the SRDI approved by the Powers That Be, which leads me to believe that this was yet another reason Yoruichi wanted him to get the promotion.  I can easily picture Kisuke talking her ear off for years beforehand about his sole ambition.

What I’m getting to with all this prologue is that a mind like Kisuke’s would not have been content to remain idle for long, with or without Yoruichi’s intervention.  Sooner or later, one of his superiors would have taken notice, so I think he would’ve made Captain anyway, even without Yoruichi there to give him a swift kick up the ass nudge.  Personally, I would love to picture him as a dark horse of sorts from the Fourth Division.  Y’all know how I feel about Kisuke’s bloodlust, and the idea that Unohana could have discovered him, so to speak, as a Kidō genius and a secret zanjutsu badass (now even more so because of her tutoring) makes me beyond giddy.  Just try and picture him as the deceptively meek underling from the healer squad who suddenly shows up for the Captain Exam and jaws start dropping all around when he whips out Benihime.

On the friendship front, since Yoruichi is out, this means that Kisuke didn’t grow up in the Shihōin estate and thus never met Tessai, either.  So I see him as a pretty withdrawn kid who only barely socialized during his Academy years, got a little better at it as an active Shinigami, and just because their friendship gives me life, I like to picture a possible scenario in which he struck a friendship with Shinji before he made Captain.  Which would’ve helped bring him out of his shell a bit.

As for Yoruichi… I think that Kisuke’s absence from her life would have marked her in deep, but not easily noticeable ways.  I’ve spoken before about my headcanons re: the Shihōin Clan and how the pressure to live up to their expectations affected Yoruichi’s life.  Personality-wise, I don’t think Kisuke was as big an influence to Yoruichi as she was to him, in the sense that I think she was already a spunky, outspoken kid.  If anything, perhaps she learned to exert a small measure of control over herself earlier on than she would have without him.

I do, however, believe that Kisuke was a massive catalyst in the way Yoruichi balanced duty and personal desires, because I think that the Training Grounds he built for them was the first true taste of freedom Yoruichi ever had.  And without it, I can picture her having a much more tumultuous relationship with her family, and a far rockier path to becoming the head of her clan.  And given how both Kisuke and Yoruichi do not trust easily, their absence from each other’s lives would’ve made them even less likely to open up, in the sense that their relationships (both platonic and romantic) would’ve been far more superficial.  For Yoruichi, I believe the exceptions were Kūkaku and Tessai (and perhaps Kaien, to a lesser extent), which would’ve made her a significantly less lonely child than Kisuke, but still without someone who understood her intimately.

So basically, I believe that without Kisuke, Yoruichi would still strive for the same excellence in her career and reach Captaincy before he did, though perhaps later than she did in canon, since they both also lacked a good sparring partner.  Yoruichi’s proficiency with Kidō would not be quite at the same level, and similarly, Kisuke’s hand-to-hand combat and Shunpō prowess would’ve suffered as well.  Not to a terrible degree, since I think both were talented enough to excel even on their own, but they wouldn’t have become the legends they were until after they met in this ‘universe.’

On a personal level, Yoruichi would, as mentioned above, appear more or less the same person to the unknowing eye, but would have an even harder time opening up to anyone.

So what would happen when a meeker Captain Urahara met this version of Captain Shihōin?  Well… sparks for one thing ;)  Chemistry is something you either have or you don’t.  It can’t be forced, and those two have it in spades, so there’s no reason to think they wouldn’t in this universe as well. 

I don’t think Yoruichi would have been very impressed with Kisuke upon first glance.  That is beyond finding him cute, because c’mon:       

In order for her to actually take notice, she would have to be afforded a peek into his darker side, and the way I can see it happening is either during a joint mission, of sorts, or better yet, during his Captain’s exam.  Cute little woobie shuffling into the exam room all smiley and puppy-like, then he pulls out Kannonbiraki and Yoruichi is all: “HOLD THE FUCK UP.”

Which, of course, piques her curiosity and leads her to try to get to know him a bit.  Perhaps by getting him to talk about the SRDI, and talking about the inventor side of her own family. And by the time they’re done talking, she’s more stunned and impressed by his genius than she’d like to admit.  Kisuke, in comparison, is a goner the second he hears her laugh, this is not even up for debate.

The way I see romance blossoming in this scenario is a little ass-backwards, to be honest xD As in Yoruichi finds him interesting enough to take him to bed and sees it as a completely casual affair, whereas Kisuke is 1000% smitten and tries to win her over bit by bit.  Which he does, of course, but it takes a while, because Yoruichi is a stubborn, stubborn woman.

I can even picture them being non-exclusive at first (mostly on her side) and then her slowly coming to the realization that she’s only really interested in him, so the prospect of seeing other people gradually loses its appeal until it vanishes altogether.

…………………..

……………

……You realize, of course, that now I must write this AU.

…………..Dammit.