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bloomzone · 4 months ago

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2025 : #4 BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

「 Listen to me. YOU are in full control of your destiny. No one else. Not your parents, not your friends, not your circumstances. YOU . The moment you take full responsibility for your life is the moment everything changes. 」

✒️..Too many people say, “I can’t do it because my family didn’t support me,” or “I wasn’t given the same opportunities as others.” Let me tell you something: success doesn’t care about your excuses. It doesn’t care about your setbacks. Success is about what you do with what you have.You can’t change where you started, but you can change where you’re going. Life isn’t about waiting for things to happen; it’s about making them happen. And that starts with one simple belief: YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKE

1 Why You Need to Believe in Yourself

Think about it—every single person who has achieved something great didn’t start out with all the answers. They didn’t wake up one day and suddenly OMG BRO I'M RICH OR OMG BRO I'M A CEO . No, they struggled. They failed. They doubted themselves. But the difference? They didn’t quit.They believed in their ability to learn, to grow, and to figure it out along the way. And so can you !!! you’re going to face challenges. THAT'S LIFE . There will be days when you feel like giving up, when the pain seems too much, and the road ahead feels impossible. But those are the moments that define you. Those are the moments where you choose—do you give in to doubt, or do you rise above it?

2 Take Full Responsibility

Stop blaming your situation. Stop waiting for someone to save you. Nobody’s coming to rescue you. This is your life, and you have to own it. Look in the mirror and ask yourself, “Am I giving my all? Am I showing up for my dreams?” If the answer is no, then it’s time to make a change.You owe it to yourself to show up every day. Not for anyone else IT'S YOUR LIFE. Not for approval but because you believe in your potential. Because you know deep down that you’re capable of more.

3 One Step at a Time

I’m not asking you to figure it all out today. Success isn’t about giant leaps it’s about consistent steps. Focus on the next 24 hours. What can you do today to get closer to your goals? Forget about next month, next year—handle today.SET DAILY GOALS - WEEKLY GOALS - MONTHLY GOALS .. When you start taking it one day at a time, everything becomes manageable. You’ll realize that the mountain you’re climbing isn’t as impossible as it seems. But you have to start. You have to put one foot in front of the other.

4 Struggle Is Part of the Process

Don’t shy away from struggle. Embrace it. Without struggle, there’s no progress THERE IS NO FUCKING PERSON THAT DON'T MAKE MISTAKES WE ARE HUMAN AFTER ALL Without setbacks, there’s no growth. Every obstacle you face is an opportunity to become stronger, to become better, to become the person you’re meant to be.And when it gets hard—and trust me, it will—remember this: the future you is counting on you. The version of you that’s thriving, that’s living the life you dream about? They’re waiting for you to make the tough choices now.

5 Stay Focused

What do you want YOU ! Not what someone else wants for you. What do you want YOU NOT THE SOCIETY NOT UR FRIENDS NOT UR TEACHERS ! Once you know the answer, block out everything else. Block out the negativity. Block out the doubts. Block out the people who say you can’t. Stay locked in. Keep your eyes on the prize. if it were easy, everyone would do it. But it’s not easy. It’s hard. It’s painful. It requires sacrifice. But it’s worth it. Every single tear, every single late night, every single failure—it’s all worth it when you finally achieve what you set out to do.

So, believe in yourself. Not just today, but every single day. Even when it feels impossible. Even when the world seems to be against you. Because the only thing standing between you and the life you want is your belief in your ability to create it.This is your time. This is your moment. The question is: will you step up and take it?Stop making excuses. Start making progress. Believe in yourself, and watch how your life transforms. I'm proud of u !

@bloomzone 📇

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solelifauna · 5 months ago

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When you say the love interest might be worse, does that mean "being mean to reader" wise or "being possessive over the reader" wise?

ERMMM...both I'd say. The love interest for the Werewolf AU is Jon Kent. He's about the same age as the reader and older than Damian by one year (From the time-skip space mission that he went on that aged him). But bro, this boy is fucking nuts.

Yes, Kryptonians aren't werewolves in this universe, but Lois Lane is. And a strong one at that, coming from a military family and all that jazz. So Jon Lane Kent is literally one of the strongest beings on earth, being half-kryptonian and half-werewolf.

Now i know what youre thinking.

But wouldn't Jon also be outcasted from werewolf society/wouldn't the bats not like him cause he's a half-blood?

WRONG!!! Yes, Jon is a half-blooded werewolf, but the other half is Kryptonian, one of the strongest species in the universe. If anything, his breeding makes him a very respected figure and the Bats definitely find him worthy. He and Damian are still the best of friends.

Now Jon's relationship with (Y/n). Yikes. Funnily enough, it was (Y/n) who started crushing on Jon first. She'd see him around the manor often, and she'd watch as he interacted with the Waynes or messed around with Damian. From what she could see, he seemed nicer than her family, so maybe she could be friends with him right? Plus, he's super cute!

And of course, this doesn't end well. I mean, this is a dark au. First off, Superman doesn't quite see humans as equals. Werewolves, they have his respect, and all the other races too. Yes, Clark Kent's adoptive parents were humans, and yes he loved them, but they were weak. Fragile even. And he made sure to instill that teaching in Jon as well.

Did Jon love his grandparents? Absolutely, but that meant that Ma and Pa stayed confined to Smallville and their house. They were too weak, they needed to be protected.

Lois also helped push Werewolf culture onto him as well. Weaker werewolves and humans were subservient to the stronger, and if necessary, could be killed and eaten. Jon didn't quite get the eating part, finding it quite gross actually, until he had his first taste of flesh. And, yikes, the boy was hooked.

In his mind, humans were either things to be taken care of (like pets) or food.

What's even more scary is that he's sweet around his family and friends, but those he deems as lesser? Well, let's just hope you don't catch him in a bad mood or piss him off. Which is why when weak, pitiful, abandoned (Y/n) Wayne comes up to him, he's insulted.

Why on earth did you even think you were worthy of talking to him?

Yes, he's seen you watching them, lurking around the manor, keeping your distance. It was quite annoying actually, he could practically hear your heart leaping out of its chest every time you saw him. He knew your intentions, trying to make friends with him.

He just looked down at you, eyes pooling with something nobody could explain, whilst you smiled at him and made small talk. Or tried to make small talk.

"Damian, should I snap her neck? Or is your family still insistent on the old laws?" Jon says.

You freeze, eyes widening in fear. Ah...you've made a severe lapse in judgment.

So much for a new friend.

"You know what? How 'bout I just go?" You quip nervously before trying to run off.

It's too bad Damian grabs you by the back of your shirt, basically choking you in the process. You let out a strangled noise as your body loses balance and lurches backward. When Damian lets go, your having a mad coughing fit, trying to get as much air as you could into your lungs.

Damian only makes an annoyed sound while Jon watches, a sick type of glee in his eyes. "When the time comes friend, you may feast with us. Now (Y/n), apologize to Jon."

You do not even have to think twice about that. "I'm sorry-I'm sorry! I shouldn't have approached you, I'm sorry." And at this point, you're crying. (reader is 14 when this happens)

And god doesn't that make Jon smile. He wouldn't deny, that you were pretty (I mean, you do have half of Bruce Wayne's DNA). But as much as he'd consider coveting you, you weren't worth that honor, no, he'd much rather taste your sweet, sweet flesh. (He could practically smell it wafting off you).

But alas, he'd have to wait.

But of course, in normal yandere fashion, he goes from wanting to eat you to wanting to eat you. The obsession starts to change around (Y/n)'s 16th birthday party that the Waynes throw. It's customary that all children do some public ball or whatever, so this was yours. Jon and his family are there obviously, and you're there as well, looking as miserable and tired as usual (and still somehow being the most beautiful thing in the building). However, he sees you light up in a way he's never seen you do before when your (what he's guessing) friends show up. They're human. They're weak, like you.

Seeing you interact with them, hearing you talk normally(super-hearing, duh) without fear, watching the way you laughed...He realizes he wants. And he wants bad.

Looks like you've got a new problem now.

Anyways, this is all I got!! I don't want to spoil the story more than I already have, but yeah, say hello to "absolutely bonkers Jon Kent". Hope you enjoyed!!!

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dreamsteddie · 30 days ago

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The Cost of Love

Written for the @stmarchmm day 14 prompt “second chance romance” | Tags: Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Rock Star Eddie Munson, Alpha Eddie Munson, Omega Steve Harrington, Cw: Buying Someone in the Name of Love, Not as Creepy as it Sounds - Also on Ao3

Bat divider -@popmilky

The thing about being an Omega that sucks is that you very rarely get to make decisions for yourself.

Somewhere along the line, society decided that Omegas were too weak, too reliant on their packs, to make their own future.

For a lot of things, it was up to the luck of the draw whether or not an Omega got to choose anything or themselves. If they were born into a kind, loving pack who cared about their well being, then chances were high they could live their life in relative peace. If they weren’t well, their only chance at freedom was to find a good Alpha and try to convince them to take you on.

Otherwise, you would live the rest of your life under someone else’s thumb.

Steve had that, once. An Alpha who saw him, who never tried to stifle him, who held him close but never down. They had two wonderful years together. They’d met in Steve’s junior year, fresh off a rejection, all alone. Packless. Eddie had scooped him up, taken him under his wing, and they’d almost instantly fallen in love.

They were inseparable.

Until they weren’t.

Because no matter how dedicated, how in love they both were, Steve was still under the legal guardianship of his parents. He thought they were being sneaky. Thought by the time they found out, it would be too late. But someone caught them, saw them sitting just a little too close at the diner or sharing candy in the darkness of the movie theater and called his parents. That’s all it took.

One day, he was falling asleep in the arms of the Alpha he was planning to mate as soon as he was 18, the next he was being locked in his all but abandoned bedroom on his weekly trip to switch out his clothes. His parents wasted no time in shipping him off, finding a ‘suitable’ Alpha to set him straight and make him a good Omega.

It felt like he was being torn apart.

The only saving grace was that this Alpha had no interest in mating him, he was only interested in an attractive, young Omega to hang off his arm after his last mate passed. It made Steve sick just to think about it, the Omega that came before him, how easily she had been forgotten and replaced. It didn’t really matter, though. None of it mastered. At the end of the day, even if he wasn’t mated, he was legally bound to his position. His parents had sold his future away for their own gain.

He wonders, every day, if Eddie thinks of him. He wonders if he knows what happened, or he’s out there thinking that Steve just up and left him. On his worst days, he wonders if Eddie found himself a new mate.

Those days, he doesn’t bother to get out of bed, and his Alpha knows better than to try by now.

This has been his life for six years, and these days, he can almost pretend he’s ok. One month in, his Alpha put him on rejection blockers, tired of his new toy constantly scenting like rotten, sad Omega. They helped, made the ever-present ache in his chest feel distant. Made him feel distant.

Today was another party. Some gala or fundraiser or whatever that required him to put on a dress and hold on to his Alpha’s arm. Steve hated them, hated that Eddie wasn’t the one he was holding on to, that he wasn’t the first one to pick out a pretty dress for him to wear, but by now he was used to it.

All the signs and gift bags told him today was a music charity event. Something for underprivileged children who deserved a creative outlet. The thought of it made his chest squeeze painfully, even through the blockers. It was exactly the kind of thing Eddie would have loved.

He’s thinking so hard about him that for a moment, he thinks he sees him out there in the crowd of actual VIPs. He catches sight of dark curly hair and a lanky frame and he feels his heart leap, but he quickly shoves it down. There’s no way Eddie would be here at an event like this. He turns away, tuning in to the conversation his Alpha is having with another benefactor.

They're getting ready to move into the dining room when things change. All these events are the same. Drop off your coat, mingle in the foyer, eat an overpriced meal, listen to a speech, applaud for the entertainment, mingle again, go home, and rest your aching feet.

But this time is different, because one moment he’s getting ready to finally sit down and give his feet a rest from these heels, and the next there’s a gentle hand around his wrist.

And a voice he’d know anywhere.

“Steve?”

And a face he could never forget how to love.

“Eddie?”

He can feel his Alpha tighten his hold on him, trying to pull him into the next room. Steve doesn’t care, he digs his heels in and makes him stop. He’s not leaving Eddie behind. Not now, not again. He can see the other Alpha, his real Alpha, look him up and down. Steve wonders if he looks different, he tries not to look in the mirror too long these days.

“Can I help you, sir?” His Alpha asks, posturing like he’d have any chance if Eddie decided to challenge him. At 53, his Alpha is getting a little pudgy in the middle and, more importantly, has given up on the gym in the last two years. Eddie looks mad enough to take on a bear. His eyes don’t leave Steve, but he can feel his hand tighten where he hasn’t let go of Steve’s wrist.

Eddie doesn’t respond, just keeps staring at Steve, the scent of pissed off Alpha starting to fill the space around them. It should probably make Steve cower, but it just makes him feel safe. Complete in a way he hasn’t been in six years. Eddie’s gaze travels, taking in his face before trailing down and getting stuck on his untouched mating gland. Steve watches as the Alpha’s nostrils flare wide, finally turning to Steve’s Alpha, lifting up to his full height to posture back. People are probably watching them, but Steve doesn’t care.

“How much?” Eddie asks, which, what?

“Excuse me?” His Alpha asks, clearly confused.

“How much, to buy your marriage contract?” Eddie says, clearly losing patience. Steve’s breath caught in his throat, not even the blockers could stop the feeling of molten hope rising in his chest. He wants to say something, to beg his Alpha to let him go, but he holds his breath instead. Doesn’t want to risk drawing too much attention to himself.

Steve’s Alpha laughs, that stupid rich-person laugh that always makes the Omega grind his teeth. “I really don’t think that’s appropriate, son. And anyway, I wouldn’t let this one go for anything less than a million, which I highly doubt is within your price range.” He gives Steve a tug as he says this, drawing him in and lifting a hand to his face to stroke his cheek. It’s a move that Steve hasn’t flinched at in years, but with Eddie watching, he can’t help but tilt his head away in shame. “Such a pretty face shouldn’t be wasted,” his Alpha finishes.

Eddie’s hand is gripping him hard enough to bruise. Steve kind of hopes it does. His Alpha was right; the Eddie Steve knew could never afford that price, and even if he could, Eddie had always been surprisingly frugal. He wouldn’t waste it all to buy an Omega he hasn’t seen since they were teens.

“One and a half million.”

“What?” This time, it’s Steve who speaks. And oh, there’s that look. That look Eddie used to give him every morning, every time they kissed goodnight, every time they scented. Eddie still loves him, even after all this time. He still wants Steve.

“Now young man, I really don’t think you should make jokes like that. You clearly don’t belong here,” his Alpha says, referring to Eddie’s dirty docs and ripped jeans. He probably thinks he’s one of those underprivileged youths.

Eddie drags his eyes away again, baring his fangs mean and smug. “You really don’t give a shit about who you donate to, do ya buddy?” He says, leaning in to leverage his superior height. “This is my god damn charity dip shit. Lead singer and founding member of Corroded Coffin, at your service.”

Oh. Steve thinks. Of course.

Because Steve had always known, even if he could never really say he understood it, that Eddie was talented. Extremely talented. Of course he’d gone out and made a name for himself. He’s probably been out there gaining fans and winning awards while Steve lived under his rock, kept away from the real world. Shielding himself from the light of day.

He couldn’t be prouder.

Something must bloom in his scent because Eddie is turning that look back at him with that look again. “I can cut you the check right here, right now. I’ll walk you to the bank right now if that’s what you want, but I’m not leaving here without Steve.” It’s the assurness in his voice, the finality to his declaration that wakes Steve up fully.

He’s allowed himself to become a passenger in his own life, floating between the days when he could have been running. Maybe trying to escape, even if the law was against him. Meanwhile, Eddie has been out there, presumably, loving him through the last six, miserable years.

He can’t let this opportunity pass him by. He won’t.

People are definitely staring now, stopping to stare at the person they’re all here to support making a scene, but Steve doesn’t let that scare him. He rips his arm out of his Alpha’s grip, turning his back to Eddie, taking solace in the warmth of his shadow, letting it fuel him. “You can keep my dowry,” he says, facing his Alpha. This small man who owns him. Steve used to think of himself as strong, large for an Omega and defiant to society's expectations for him to be dainty and sweet and empty. “I’ll sign it over to you, but I’m going with Eddie.” He can feel Eddie’s hand on his upper arm, letting him know he’s there with him.

His Alpha, his hopefully soon to be former Alpha, is giving him an appraising look. Not the one he gave him that day he picked him up from his childhood home, like he was a lamb ripe for the slaughter. This look is like the ones he’s seen on the days his Alpha brought him into the office to show him off, like he's weighing the pros and cons of a major deal. It means he’s taking them seriously. “One and a half? Plus the full dowry? Are you willing to put that in writing?”

Steve can feel Eddie’s heart beating where he’s pressed himself flush with Steve’s back, his scent blooming sugary spice with his excitement. Eddie catches him waving his arm behind him, making some kind of gesture to someone in the crowd. “I’ll have my lawyer draw up the papers right now.” A pretty blond draws up to Eddie’s side and if it wasn’t for the way Eddie has wrapped his arms around his waist, Steve might feel worried about him whispering in her ear.

There’s a serious look on her face, which is quickly overtaken by wide eyes and a sharp gasp, her eyes turning toward the Omega. “Steve? Your Omega?” And oh, that makes Steve want to purr, the fact that this lady has heard of him. The idea that Eddie has been talking about him all these years.

Her face firms, her position as a high-profile lawyer evident in her stance. “Sir, if you’ll follow me, I can get those papers drafted right away. Would you prefer a check or a direct wire transfer?” Her smile is sweet but leaves no room for argument. This is really happening

Holly shit this is happening.

Not in his wildest dreams did Steve ever think he would be free. He’d resigned himself to keeping his memories of life with Eddie at the forefront of his brain and staying on the rejection blockers for the rest of his life.

Now, it’s looking like he won’t have to content himself with memories anymore. Maybe he can have the real thing. He’s almost afraid to breathe, afraid to turn around, like the whole thing will be an elaborate dream. Like any pressure from his expanding chest will make the arms around his waist turn into a fine vapor.

“Hey, let’s get you out of here, sweetheart,” Eddie whispers in his ear, picking up on his distress.

Steve should probably say no. Should probably let Eddie go in there and be a part of his own charity event and get a grip. Maybe step out for some fresh air. But he doesn't. He lets himself turn to face his Alpha, his real Alpha, his only Alpha, and take a breath.

“Take me home Alpha. We have a lot to catch up on.”

#march mating madness #Stranger things #steddie #Steve Harrington #Eddie Munson #Alpha Eddie Munson #Rock Star Eddie Munson #Omega Steve Harrington #This one really fought me #this is the kind of cheesy romance I love to read #but so seldome write #not because I am ashamed #but because I lack the skills #anyway #have this!#fanfiction #dreamer speaks #Not super jazzed with the ending #but I needed to Stop

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lookingforuravity · 24 days ago

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CHAPTER 1: WHO I AM

now playing ♫ dreams by fleetwood mac

word count: 530 words

series masterlist | next chap.

“It's a leap of faith to love people and let yourself be loved. It's closing your eyes, stepping off a ledge into nothing, and trusting that you'll fly rather than fall.”

— The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, Sangu Mandana

As much as I tried to, I couldn't fight off the small grin that made its way onto my face. I loved reading about love, I loved watching love, I loved love.

The bus ride was a bit bumpy, which made it hard for me to read the words of my book but I could make out most of it. My fingers trailed over the pages as I started to skim through the rest of the chapters. My heart would always swell when I'd read about the stolen glances, the longing touches, it made me feel so lightheaded.

But as much as I loved it, seeing how effortless love was in fiction rather than my own life was frustrating, to say the least. Even if something was pulling the characters away from each other, they always found a way to go back to one another. So how come every guy my age was a prick?

It could be that my expectations are too high. I mean, nowadays how many guys on this earth live up to my standards? It must be that I'm searching for something that may not exist, but I can't help it. The thought of someone doing so much for me because they love me made my palms sweaty and butterflies fly in my stomach.

Daydreaming was a bad habit of mine. It wasn't just an occasional thing that would happen now and then. It happened to me multiple times a day, where I'd craft these scenarios in my head that could never happen. In my restless dreams, I'd meet a guy who would give everything and more just to be with me, and I get so lost in these thoughts that I’d forget it's not true.

Because in reality, I've never experienced that. I've never had a boyfriend, no one to kiss me or hug me if I felt sad. I did feel like a bit of a loser, I'm 17 years old and I haven't had my first anything. It has gotten to a point in my life where I've accepted the fact that the love that I craved so deeply was only fiction.

But how could I settle for anything less than what my heart wanted?

I sighed as I rested my head against the window of the bus, my eyes trailing over the scenary as it made its way to my stop. The buzzing of my phone pulled me out of the dream world I created. I lifted up my phone and saw a text from Mina.

I’ve never been one to party. In all honesty, I'd much rather stay home and watch romantic comedy movies while I wallow in self-pity. But can i really meet the man of my dreams if i stay in my cocoon all day?

No, unfortunately, I cannot.

TAGLIST [36/50]: @ditsyngel @shibuyablonde @lotusstarr @katsulina @wonubby @kalulakunundrum @tamishadawn @bangersplusmash @erenjaegerswifeee @r9yri @aa-soo @shewki @rednicotine @jaguarthecat @katsuisbaby @snoozebunz @h0ngh0ngh0ng @megumismyhusband @jazoewazoe @ac333s @ikissfade @icey-wonders @bakunianadecorazon @marvel-z0mbie @tjbfingfh @d4rlinxs @bokutosmeatythigh @harryzcherry @holobean @grim-reapers-wife @ahahadumbo @qyuin @happinessisabutterflie @bluepartywobblernickel @eternallyshifting @luvvwritess

©LOOKINGFORURAVITY 2025 | please do not copy, translate, or repost my work onto other platforms!

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youvebeengalindafied · 3 months ago

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This is all @polyarmy and @fiyeroba ‘s fault for making me sad about Glinda again so now I’m posting my whole Glinda Meta here (originally an obnoxiously long dm sent to @gamorahww who is a patient saint)

You’ve asked for it, and now you get……The Glinda Meta™

First: I have been obsessed w/ Glinda's character for like 15 years. She is my roman empire. But I also really LIKE her as a flawed character - something that the fandom has always seemed to be a little uncomfortable with.

She is, to me, what Jane Austen once wrote about Emma:

“I am going to write a heroine whom no one but myself will much like.”

Full meta character analysis under the cut. Uh. Strap in.

(This gets a lil long sorry, but PLEASE HEAR ME OUT -)

To me, the interesting thing is what actually - ACTUALLY - motivates Glinda to act the way she does is so much greater and deeper than a simple desire for success/fame/popularity.

Like obviously in literature/critique of narrative, we have this idea of protagonists vs supporting characters. Supporting characters might have philosophies or goals that drive them (think Nessa and Boq) but those philosophies and goals are usually not developed into self-contradictory nuance the way a protagonist's motivations are. They’re just facts about the character.

And in my option, a big problem in the wicked fandom is that everybody seems to treat Glinda as a supporting character whose motivations are easy to digest. To most fans, she's either the girlfriend who is there to support Elphaba's story by being "loving but conflicted." Or to critics she's entirely selfish and cruel (even as she's fun and interesting), and therefore a semi-antagonist

But if you step back and treat Glinda as a true antihero protagonist of Wicked (for the sake of the mental character study), you see that she's not actually motivated by love or popularity or even success....what drives her is desperation.

Glinda sees her world as a place that cannot be changed and will only work to destroy those who cannot correctly operate in it. And she is SO DESPERATE to avoid that. Elphaba's fate is actually her worst fear - she cannot break away from society and leap to a new fate, because she is the ultimate cynic who thinks there is no way that could possibly work. In fact, it's an enormous testament to her love (however you want to intepret that) of Elphaba that she's even willing to consider leaving during Defying Gravity. For a brief moment, her immense, incredible faith in Elphaba is almost enough to overcome her complete desperation to survive the horrible world she thinks she's in.

And that obviously means that she's not as noble as Elphaba or as brave as Fiyero as a character - she cannot make the choice to leave when both of them do at different points - but that's because she's the most "human" character in the story. Most people are not brave enough to become international terrorists, even in the face of great evil. We might join in a developed cause, but to knowingly walk towards what is likely one's death to change a system you know you’ll actually have very little effect on...that takes a very special kind of person. And while Glinda is a GOOD person, she is too much a cynic and too desperate to survive her crazy world to become that impossible standard of the Rebel or the Hero. She's just a flawed, scared girl, in circumstances she never dreamed she’d be in.

And then the craziest thing happens:

Rather than showing Glinda that she should have been brave and done what E and F did, the narrative instead goes and basically confirms all her darkest fears: Elphaba rebels...and her revolution fails, and Glinda loses her best friend to bitter hatred and insanity for most of Act 2. Fiyero decides to leave and do the right thing by going with Elphaba....and he is almost immediately murdered in a horrible, violent way as punishment for it. This can only reinforce for Glinda that the State/the System/the World is all-powerful, and she must bow to it.

But that's the most fascinating moment for her character, because the very moment she realizes the absolute overwhelming power of the system (March of the Witch Hunters) is also the very moment that chooses to die rather than perpetuating it. She leaves the City to approach Elphaba - whom Glinda thinks POSSIBLY WANTS TO KILL HER - and BEGS Elphaba to not die. Begs Elphaba to stop her self-sacrificial madness. Begs Elphaba to allow Glinda to sacrifice herself instead ("Then I'll go, I'll tell everybody the truth!" "No! They'll just turn against you!" "I DON'T CARE!" - this girl who is entirely motivated by survival is straight up throwing it all on the line ready to walk to her death at the hands of a mob with wide open, unblinking eyes)

And obviously, in doing so, she is making the same choice that Fiyero did earlier in the story, But the huge difference is that Fiyero is a classic case of a "dead from the beginning" character, and he does not have the same motivations as her. He starts as a nhilist already embracing death in Dancing Through Life and his character is not somebody who is desprate to survive - his character is driven by a desperation for a faith. And Elphaba (and her cause) is his faith that he happily martyrs himself for.

By contrast, Glinda is terrified of the system that is trying to kill her, and she is desperate to survive it. She sees the way it takes everything form her, again and again, destroying everything she loves - Elphaba, Fiyero, her own sense of goodness…

(And she is extremely genre-aware that she is in a tragedy: her world isn't fair, and she knows that Elphaba will fail. She knows this will all go wrong.)

But Glinda still has such strength of character that she - in the end - overcomes all of her fear, all of her weaknesses, and humbles herself at the pyre to join the people she loves so much in their fate. She both offers to die for Elphaba and she takes up Elphaba's work and dedicates her entire life to it, consequences be damned. And that comes from a place of ultimate love and goodness, despite all of her flaws and all the temptations dissuading her.

Because Glinda is not Elphaba or Fiyero - she isn't a starry-eyed optimistic rebel or a man with a obsessive, loving faith. She is just a girl. Just Emma. And she is extremely flawed, and has so many fears that push and pull at her in a way the other main characters do not experience. But despite being so painfully, humanly defective, her goodness allows her to do the right thing in the end.

tl;dr - the greatest thing about Glinda’s character is that she is flawed, and she is weak and makes all the wrong choices. But in the end, she humbles herself completely - to the point of offering her own life for Elphaba and taking the whole weight of the world on her shoulders despite all her fear - because she is ultimately good.

And thus in the end, she becomes the person that Elphaba so clearly sees her as throughout the story: good, caring, and able to make real change in the world. She will now try desperately to fully live up to Elphaba's incredible faith in her. And it's so heartbreaking and tragic, but also one of the best character arcs ever.

So I guess it's less "wants to stay safe in her bubble" and more "she sees no option other than to stay safe. The State/System is all-powerful and there is nothing she thinks she can do to change that. But the beauty of the character lies in her decision to step out of that bubble anyways."

—

BONUS: Glinda’s flaws in relation to her relationship with Elphaba

(Or why Gelphie is a devastating ship (romantically or not) but not in the way you think)

This section dedicated to the SJB/AA performance that just BREAKS ME.

Elphaba basically sees Glinda through some WILDLY rose-tinted glasses (which is just. such a fascinating insight into elphaba’s character). Which is why a good chunk of the fandom accepts it as fact that Glinda is ~not actually all that flawed~ or is somehow being forced to make the decisions she is (she is not. the narrative point of Fiyero’s character is to prove that lol)

Glinda is very much complicated and does make some truly terrible decisions. Elphaba just sees and believes the good in her, despite everything she does (because it’s also a fact of the story that - either platonically or romantically - she’s clearly a little in love with Glinda. (The passes she gives that girl…)). I don’t think her weird thing about Glinda is particularly rational, but it is undeniably all-consuming.

And that makes their relationship feel VERY human. Their flaws don't make them unworthy of each other’s love and respect and friendship. Elphaba's love of Glinda is pretty crazy in light of how much Glinda’s morals and choices differ from her own, but that’s the kind of love that real, sometimes illogical people have. Anybody trying to prove the logic or compatibility of the characters is kinda missing the point - it doesn’t make sense, and THAT’S how you know it’s love.

(Brief aside: similar to Elphaba’s obsession with Glinda, Fiyero is also irrationally obsessed with Elphaba. I mean, she kinda sucks at the whole revolution thing (she's trying!!) and he's clearly starry-eyed ignoring a LOT of her flaws lol. In contrast - for better or worse, Glinda does see Elphaba's flaws and calls them out, just as Elphaba sees Fiyero's flaws and calls him out. It’s a nice little circular relationship)

But…but….is it gay???

Sure. I think so - but I’m a lesbian who has shipped it since I was a preteen lol. But that’s also NOT THE POINT, and focusing on only the romantic angle of their relationship REALLY ignores just how layered and complex it is.

Taking off my squee shipping glasses for a minute: they’re fundamentally just two people in some version of an EXTREMELY intense relationship. I honestly think Glinda reads as a little terrified of how insanely intense her relationship is with Elphaba. She fears walking down that road and fully falling into that intense, all-consuming love. (And we literally learn why later through Fiyero’s ‘death’ and Elphaba’s insanity - love makes you do some crazy things, and Glinda can’t afford that in this world.)

Regardless of whether you interpret them romantically or not - it’s clear they’re very intense about each other and Glinda is very afraid that Elphaba is her weakness. Unfortunately, Elphaba is also her soulmate and the love of her life, and she’ll always come back again. That fact will ruin Glinda’s life in the end, but it will have been worth it for all the love that was there

#Glinda Upland #Wicked #gelphie #don’t worry I know what I’m doing. i think.#I’ve been her biggest fan and defender since the mid-aughts lmao #gonna also tag this #thropple #gliyeraba #(I’d tag fiyeraba but it’s only somewhat analyzed here)

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wherestoriescomefrom · 3 months ago

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every single time this happens people drag out the same trite talking points, out in a single file and like clockwork - but for what it's worth, no you didn't have a mystical sixth sense that neil gaiman was out doing terrible things to people who were his fans. no, there is nothing in him that is fundamentally wrong and evil about him (much as i would like that to be the case), no, you actually cannot separate the art from the artist as anyone would like to do in these situations, and no, making authors and celebrities out to be bigger or better than they are is also perhaps not at fault (and talking points like this always veer dangerously close to blaming victims).

gaiman was an author. an author of considerable power and clout, and his behaviour was perfectly in line with those who are powerful and have a lot of clout. the way in which structures of knowledge recreate situations like this is not new - it happens every few years in universities, when professors take advantage of their students sexually or otherwise. an author like neil gaiman was just another powerful node of the system that produces knowledge, and we have been trained to respect that (for some reason. well for many reasons, but we don't have time to get into that). as long as their is currency attached to producing knowledge - ie, the currency of being a well respected author - there is going to be adverse advantage for those who have that currency.

gaiman abused and assaulted women who were financially dependent on him - he could only do this because he was rich and powerful. and every single author who has that currency has the same advantages, can wield similar control over their victims, and this is not something we can do anything about. we can talk about pushing people off their pedestals (as if that is going to do something), but until the system keeps rewarding you for being on a pedestal, you are going to have the higher ground that allows you to crush whoever sits beneath you. and i know, this is less than a solution than those people who are willing to engage with everyone's hurt feelings about how another author turned out bad - and what if we could stop putting people on a pedestal? but that's the truth.

i'm so tired man. i'm so tired of seeing the same, tired takes. i know it sucks that the answer is to not keep recreating systems of knowledge that make single people out into the holders of great truth - and capitalism sucks, and all these adverse incentives exist for someone to be a rich and famous author - but someone is going to have to acknowledge that this happening every few years with our favourite authors, artists, actors not because we're putting them on pedestals and won't someone please separate the art and the artist and couldn't you tell that his art was evil all along??? it's happening because - IP laws exist, because authors make money off of their intellectual property, and if they make enough money and garner enough respect for the knowledge production they do (no matter how that respect is garnered), there is going to be a class artsy people who have more power, and that means they can exploit it if needed. i know they feel like our friends - because they make art we like, but they are part of the intellectual elite, and just like billionaires, that is a class of society with power and the means to exploit it.

i know that feels like a leap when you're more concerned about good omens being renewed, but i need everyone to just. just have some perspective. there was this quote on my blog which gaiman had written, about love - for two of his friends getting married. and because he clearly respected those people, it was a beautiful quote, completely in disharmony with how he treated those women, the ones he did not respect. the ones he financially abused with his wife and sexually abused by himself. and i want you to know, that no matter how beautiful the quote was, i deleted it from my blog because he was raping that woman while he wrote it.

#hello void this is ridiculosity #neil gaiman #why am i tagging this i hope no one sees this forever

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greeneyessmize · 10 months ago

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Debling is not a bad man. He is not a "bad" option. He's forthright, shows attraction to Pen, has interest in her intelligence, and has a sense of humor that compliments her own. Yes, he also has oodles of money and a title.

But, he isn't giving her even the slightest promise to try for love. He's going to be gone 3 years at a time. And Penelope is the richest woman in London, per the books and likely the show as well.

These last three things mean he is also not a good option for Penelope.

She wants love. She is very clear with him about this, both when they discuss romance books and in their final dance. His replies are that he is happy she has a passion for her reading and then that she is beautiful.

While Pen says she values her privacy, what she actually values is her independence. Privacy allows you to keep a secret. Independence allows you to openly be yourself.

Pen. Does. Not. Need. Money. She needs an escape from her overbearing mother and petty sisters. She is choosing to marry in society so that she can still participate in it, and thus continue LW, but she has more than enough money to leave England entirely should she wish.

Colin is entirely in step with Pen as soon as he understands that he loves her. They were already best friends with all the humor, warmth, and affection that comes with that bond. He adores that she is so smart and witty. He is seriously so very attracted to her as evidenced by him going feral not long after their kiss.

He's not going to leave her behind. Even book Colin is very clear, Penelope is his home. And he will not be parted from her willingly. They would travel together, never apart.

He has money of his own, but no title. Penelope doesn't need either of those things as mentioned above. But he is a part of society, which is a nice bonus for her LW work.

Colin loves Penelope with all of his heart and soul. He gave it to her on a platter without her even needing to ask. He just had to know he loved her to give her all of him.

I think it's inevitable that Penelope will have independence to be herself with Colin, too. It's their destiny. Will it be a struggle? Yes. Will it hurt? Undoubtedly. But Colin and Pen are meant to be equals. That is what friends to lovers has to contain. Friends to lovers is balance, harmony, a dance.

Picking between Debling and Colin is like picking between a beautiful maze like mansion with too many rooms where sighs echo off of gorgeous furnishings but is so, so empty and cold and the small cottage that fits just right and is filled with cozy warm fuzzy feelings with a blooming garden outside and an always warm hearth and a sweet little sofa with your favorite comfy blanket and it is always Sunday morning with no chores to do.

Even if Penelope had been presented both options side by side, which she wasn't, she always would have picked Colin. Pen was only picking Debling when she felt to her very bones that Colin was not an option. Then Debling removed himself as an option which made Penelope believe she had no options at all until the carriage scene.

To Pen her choices were: haunted maze mansion or nothing then cottage of her dreams or nothing. Of course she was going to reluctantly accept the mansion over nothing and of course she was going to leap at her dream cottage as soon as she knew it existed.

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willowed-wisp · 4 months ago

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gladiator [ könig ]

part two

König would make the perfect Ancient Roman gladiator, and you happen to be the daughter of his trainer.

You thought it was barbaric- absolutely heinous. Yet, what were you, a woman, supposed to do in a patriarchal society where women only had one use.

So you had to sit on your hands, your mother hated the habit. You weren’t even allowed to argue with her, lest your father get involved…

Your parents weren’t terrible people- just unfortunate enough to be wrapped in a system too big for any family to endure.

The Roman Empire, grand and faulted. Corruption laid thick and violence ran rife.

Thats why conformity was a must and keeping your heads down was a close second.

Which was impossible in the wealthy echelons… blood knew blood until it had to be spilled.

Bloodshed was senseless. You were only watching onto the warring combatants in the arena below you because your father trained them- forcing you to acquaint yourself with the way of life.

Not squeamish in the slightest- you just thought it was abhorrent and you also had… other reasons.

Joining your father since you were a teenager- watching gladiators come and go.

Traded off or killed.

No in between for those poor souls.

Though, your father painted them out to be wretches, only training them to avoid execution by order of the emperor. For so long you thought the same.

Until HE arrived… a couple years older than yourself. You didn’t know much about the handsome, expressionless boy.

That didn’t mean you weren’t intrigued. Grappling your curiosity by the neck and choking it down. He was a dead man.

That didn’t exactly happen, he was fast for his build. The tallest man you had ever seen and not to mention what he had you feeling as a seventeen year old, bound for an arranged marriage. He grew to become successful and quite renowned in the Roman Empire as unbeatable.

They called him ‘Rex’, meaning ‘king’. And he ruled the Colosseum. Whatever he was faced with, with upside triangles in paint beneath his eyes, he conquered it. You pondered how he hadn’t bought his freedom, or had earned it. He would make an impressive military general…

You had shared looks. It was purely because you were around the same age. Not because of the half-lidded gaze he faced you with or how statuesque his body stood… let alone in the heat of combat.

Towering over you- swamping you… no.

There was just something about Rex that left you intrigued.

That night you agreed to a soirée from some socialites in your family’s circle. Meeting place- the ruins that were by your villa on the outskirts of Rome.

The only catch was to wear a mask- and so you did. Weaving through backstreets and the footpath down the grassy hill. Met with torchlight and… naked bodies. Not uncommon for the majority but irregular for you. Stuck out like a sore thumb in the sea of flesh.

Heart leaping from your chest- two hands on your shoulders, “You shouldn’t be here, little miss Silvanus…” How did somebody recognise you? Face met with a broad chest… you’d know that maimed, chiselled frame anywhere. Appearing in your dreams… never this close before in reality.

How had he gotten out of the jails beneath the Colosseum? “Rex… how- ?”

“I slip the guards some money and they let me out until sunrise,” You could get him in trouble punishable by mutilation or death. Warmth from those lips against your neck, “Now how did YOU end up here? This isn’t the place for someone like you…” Your cheeks were inflamed, his smirk spoke as much looking down at you. Normally so stoic and unspeaking, must be the wine.

Palm against his chest- cut nails grazed slightly. Light teal peered down at your hand. Aching in your chest as those eyes met yours.

You had meant to push him away, now finding yourself reeling the gladiator back in. “I’m going to leave, I don’t know anyone here,” with care his hand caught yours.

“No, live your life. And you know me, I’ll be your escort for the evening…”

“Don’t be a fool. We’ve never spoken before- we don’t know each other…” a shining look beamed down at you.

Holding out his looped arm- scattered blanched lumps amongst his veins, “Trust me. Nothing bad is going to happen, unless I have a death wish…”

You had been dubious, but the wine rushed to your head… stripping any clothes you had on. Remembering the dancing with Rex, his hands on your bare waist. The only thing between you and him was the loincloth he wore.

You were just eighteen then… and accompanied your father to train on the daily from then on. Passing glances between you and Rex grew more frequent.

He hadn’t been inappropriate with his hands, even in your wayward state. That left you with many questions not enough answers to fulfill them about the famed gladiator.

You needed to get some air, away from the crowded stadium. Navigating the maze, bumping into rock… “Fuck!” relieved seeing his helmed face, blood dripping from a cut on his neck. “Thank God, it’s just you. Are you alright?” Not able to help but reach up. Thumb nearly touching the wound, he clasped your hand in his own. Dropping both to the side.

“Just a cut…” It wasn’t just a cut but you knew he could take care of himself- he’d survived this long. Rex’s neck craned- lips brushing your ear… a reflection of that night. “Come to the ruins at midnight…” Soft against you- a hand at your waist for that glimmer of a second. Then you acted like strangers.

You had become adept at scaling your balcony and down the ivy in relative silence. Your parents none the wiser as their daughter appeared as a wisp in the wind- flowing sheer material tousled on the hill.

So you found yourself stargaze on a slab of crumbled slabs, balmy flurries on your skin. “The Lion…” Hefty palms so forbearing when guiding your pointing hand along the stars above you.

“Thank you, Rex…” You didn’t see the wince when you spoke his name.

He did drop your hand from his, “That’s the name they gave to me when they took me away…” Revenant and hallowed…

“You’re not from Italia?” Body on its side, looking down at that face. So at peace but trouble all the same.

His head shook, “The Romans call it Noricum. When they arrived at my village, they thought I’d make a good gladiator… so here I am…” It wouldn’t take a genius to note the dejection in his tone…

You took his hand in yours, finally looking your way instead of up- away from the tragedy that was mankind and their conquests, “So what IS your name? Where you come from, what do they call you?” A solemn look on his face- maybe hindrance. But he trusted you.

“König… it means ‘king’…” So not entirely different from the name he was given in the Colosseum. They meant the same.

You didn’t say that to him, not even a word. Thumb brushing against the new wound on jawline- avoiding after one swipe. Your face all he saw, “Well, I’m glad I’ve met you König…” Lips pressed against his, chapped but nothing that bothered you. Taken aback when he sat up, mouth agape and he swept in. Deepening the feeling, a pang in your chest while steadying yourself on his solid middle.

His brandished hands were intoxicating against the soft skin of your jaw, anchoring you where he needed you. He broke the symmetry you shared, “You’re an amazing woman…” Hooking a leg over his hips, oh… that’s how he yearned for you. “It’s wrong, isn’t it? A peasant with a noblewoman…” Nails scraping along his glorious skin… all yours for the taking then and there. You were on top of him, felt his intention and he could see the lust in your eyes.

“I’m just Y/N, and you’re just König… not a noblewoman or Rex the gladiator…” A sharpe inhale from the man beneath you as the straps of your stola dropped. As if he’d never seem a pair of breasts before. Another tone dripped from him with your hand reaching past the fabric to his hardness.

Whatever Gods listened, may they help you… you’d seen many before- men in Rome weren’t afraid to be in the nude but this was a brute.

He knew it wasn’t a good idea, lining yourself up over that large tip. The etching on your face, the squeak of your voice… “Gods be merciful…” You could take it. He remained still while you sucked him in constricted walls.

“Relax,” Fingers rubbed your thighs, tingles spurring down to your core. Looking into his eyes was the main help- his face… the sweat caught on his brow, down into those thickets of blond that had grown up since you’d met him. “It’s just me, my love…” You sank down further after hearing that… tears prickled… finding some kind of pleasure in that overwhelming burn.

That night you saw more than stars, raging breath matching your panting. Stilling yourself against König, limp in his capable arms. Picking up the pace when you begged for it.

Moaning obscene nonsense as his came inside of you, going for another round against the desecrated marble pillar. Hands on his broad shoulders. Screaming his name, not the one they had given to him.

You repeated that routine every Day of Venus, the fifth day of the week.

Tongue exploring every inch of your body, fingers collapsing you over the edge. A few more scratches on his back…

It was that way, until he won the sword… earning his freedom. Released from your father’s hands and the city’s.

König, known by all as Rex, was a free man- rich from the earnings he had stored in those five years. Famous and taken on by the Roman military.

You supposed he had forgotten about your times together… not hearing from him for half a cycle. Until one day he was at your family’s villa for a dinner, seated across from each other at the marble slabbed table. Icy sage staring at you, “General Rex, I’m sure you remember my daughter…”

A grin slack on his face, “I believe so, Y/N, wasn’t it?”

He had you against your bedroom door that night, apologising for the absence while rutting into your legs- wide open for his thickness.

Then it was marriage celebrations a mere week later.

Splitting your legs apart, revealing your sex. Ravenous was an understatement, but he had to control himself, “I’m never leaving these legs.” Thrusting his hips forward, “Never.”

You didn’t know if the gladiator had conquered you or if you had conquered you…

König the only thing you could mumble when he split you in two.

————

masterlist

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