#liddel!reader

[fbfh]

Curiosity is a Wonderful thing ch. 12

wc: 2.6k

genre: slow burn, little angst, childhood best friends to lovers

pairing: slow burn bff!ben x fem daughter of alice!reader, mal x ben (allegedly), reader flirting with Jay for strategic reasons

warnings: sort of kind of dubcon ish only bc reader uses a truth serum on someone but it's contextually ethical and nothing shady happens, made up wonderland plants by yours truly, reader shakes them feminine wiles to get info in a very sfw way

summary: you brew a special blend of tea with the sole purpose of spilling tea with a friend of Mal's.

song recs: what baking can do - waitress OBC, power and control - marina, something bad - wicked obc

a/n: your outfit (it's the same one as ch11), also HI I MISSED YALL. things have been CONSTANTLY happening and good news is I'm finally on the right dose of adderall so I was able to knock out the last part of this chapter in like 20 minutes or smth lol. ily all and if I missed you in the tag list just hoot n holler at me in the tags!!

also candorcorn root is a made up plant that makes people tell the truth, and neutrestnuts are a made up wonderland chestnut that neutralize things

tags @yesv01@magcon7280 @hopefullhearts @thatawkwardlittlefangirl @sunshineangel-reads @dustyinkpages @inejsknifes @tulipmagnoliaisme @ev3ningrain @yokolesbianism @ma1dita @casey1-2007 @roseidol @eaterof-concrete @enhacatalog @inejghafawifesblog @jjmaybankisawesome @leovergurl @formulas-bitch @starsdotalk @tulipmagnoliaisme @inejsknifes @ficslutt @bwormie @urmomlikeslinotoo @jazhandzzz

Your mind is reeling as you go over the elements of the strategy before you again and again. You have the candorcorn root - from the right side of the plant, of course - in a small pouch. You carry it into the school kitchens, gather the rest of your ingredients, and lay them out in a meticulous sort of mise en place. You let out a long puff of air out of your pursed lips, staying in a deep focus as you begin to do something you’ve done a thousand times before.

Brew a pot of tea.

You brew the candorcorn root into a strong concentrate, so strong it makes your eyes water. You set it aside to boil down as you settle on what the body of this beverage will be composed of. Candorcorn root is known for having a strong, bitter taste - sometimes with a sweet aftertaste depending on the truth that’s revealed, but you’re not counting on a particularly sweet truth under the current circumstances. 

To hide some of the earthy bite, you begin making your own blend of different dried herbs, spices, and tea leaves. You start with a base of English dinner - it’s much too late in the evening for English breakfast, even in tea form - then carefully whisk in a little bit of matcha. Once that’s steeping and nicely blended together, you muddle in a few fresh cranberries. You add in a healthy dose of your favorite Port Royal vanilla to lighten the flavor profile and minimize suspicion. 

Feeling mischievous, you add in a few mint leaves to the mix. After it brews together, you waft the steam into your nose. It smells… irresistible. Your mouth waters, and you scribble down the recipe on a napkin to make again later - sans the candorcorn root concentrate, of course. You check your pocket watch, and the time for action is growing nearer and nearer. You bite the crook of your finger in consideration. 

Your mother always used to tell you, the way to a man’s stomach is through his heart, and the way to his heart is through his chest cavity. You suppose it would be a rather good, sensible decision to have a backup plan of sorts. As bizarre as it is to think, you are aware that not everyone drinks tea - especially not as often as you do. You hum and rock on your heels anxiously, eyes darting around the kitchen as the self imposed deadline you’ve set marches coldly closer. 

“Wait,” you murmur, freezing as you get an idea. 

You begin digging through the kitchens as quickly as you can, looking for a few things. If you can get them together, you won’t need to worry about ensuring the specialty tea is consumed in full. You rifle through cupboards and pantry shelves, gathering chocolate spread, a large box of fluffy, cake-like cookies, hot chocolate powder, and a small jar of currents. You look around some more, huffing in irritated frustration at the lack of proper tea biscuits in the kitchen. 

Your disappointment is short lived, however, when you remember the large supply of tea biscuits you always carry around with you for just this sort of emergency. You reach into your teapot bag and pull out your sewing kit, then proceed to swiftly open it up and dump out all the biscuits it contains. Your sewing supplies is kept in a biscuit tin, of course, otherwise you’d get them all mixed up and find yourself hemming your trousers with snickerdoodles. A preposterous idea, of course, everyone knows that biscotti are best for mending trousers. 

The last crumbs fall and you’re brought back to the task at hand. Or rather, at foot, since that’s where the rest of the crumbs land when you stuff the empty tin back into your bag. You let out a shaky but determined breath, and begin to get to work as swiftly as you can manage. You falter once more, realizing that gloves are most likely in order here. You can only find your backup gloves, white and silky with a little pearl in the center of each wrist, but you suppose they’ll have to do.

It’s with a surgical sort of precision that you begin, soaking the biscuits in the candorcorn root concentrate just long enough to get soft around the edges. You lay out each biscuit meticulously, then slather them in a layer of chocolate spread and thick whipped cream. You repeat the process again and again until you’ve a little stack before you. 

Once satisfied with the deceptive desert before you, you top it off with more chocolate spread and a heavy dusting of powdered cocoa mix, sure that the sugary chocolate will balance out the earthy, bitter taste of the candorcorn root. You garnish the top with a few strategically placed dried currants, spelling out eat me along the top. 

You remove your gloves, careful not to get any candorcorn root on your bare hands, then make up another little pastry. The second one, however, is free of any Wonderland serums or juices, and instead is garnished with a few comfits from the container you keep with you - a habit you’d picked up from your mother. 

You next prepare a perfect cup of your brew, then a second containing your secret ingredient. Gloves, of course, are worn during that second step. Your cup is garnished with a piece of fig, the other with a cherry stuck along the rim of the tea cup, bleeding down onto the side. You place everything onto a silver tray, as tenderly as if you were in the middle of diffusing a bomb, and exit the kitchen with it in your only slightly trembling hands. 

You let out a steadying breath as you ascend the stairs in the great hall, making the turn towards the boys dorms. Stopping at an open window, you let out a whistle, signaling to a waiting bluebird that you’re ready, and to send word to your companions for the evening. You walk down the hall as silently as a ghost, only stopping when you hear rowdy yelling coming from behind a particular door. Your heart pounds in your chest, and after a few thrumming pulses, a large cat pads up to you, accompanied by a doormouse. 

“Alright,” you breathe solemnly, “it’s now or ever.” 

The doormouse skitters up to the knob, slipping into the lock and popping it open with a click. It slides down and scurries to safety, and you do the same, moving a few feet away and hiding in an alcove. The cat, brave and noble, slowly enters the room via the now ajar door. It only takes a few moments for the chaos to ensue. 

The silent, still hallway is filled with a riot of barking and yowling as the cat speeds out of the room like a bolt out of blue. She’s followed, of course, by Duke; and Duke is naturally followed by Carlos. They all shout and skitter down the hall, around the stairs, and deeper into the school until they’re out of earshot. You steady yourself, wait a moment, then poke your head into the room, now only occupied by one person. 

Jay.

“Couldn’t sleep?” You ask coyly from the doorway, blinking up at him. Jay seems surprised to see you, and answers around button mashing his way through the level he’s playing. 

“Uh,” He replies, distracted as he continues to look at the screen. “Yeah.”

He lets out a long string of curses as he takes a nasty hit, hemorrhaging hp when he’s nearly done with the level. There’s still a chance, and he continues to fixate on the screen. 

Perfect, you think.  

Using your foot, you gently nudge the door closed with a click. You reach behind you, flicking the lock closed, and walk forward. 

“I hope I’m not interrupting your winning streak,” you say with a cute smile, deliberately stroking his ego. “I just couldn’t wait until morning to tell you what an amazing job you’ve been doing at tourney.”

That gets his attention. Some of it, at least. 

“Oh, word?” He asks, smirking as he glaces away from the screen a little more. You nod, humming sweetly in response. You keep your eyes trained on him while you reach into your bag and slip on your gloves. You pick up his tiramisu and slink over to his bed, breaking off a moist, chocolaty bite with a fork. 

“Your athletic performance was… nothing short of inspiring.” You say slowly, bringing up the fork to his lips. “I bake when inspired.”

He chuckles, getting that cocky, flirtatious look on his face. He opens his mouth to reply with something you could only assume would be cockier than a spaniel, and in that moment, he presents the perfect opportunity for you to ensure he eats the first bite of your special pastry. He startles a little, then hums in approval at the enticing taste. You hand him the plate and offer him the cherry garnished tea, then remove your gloves, careful not to cross contaminate your dishes from his. 

“This is really good,” Jay says, and you smile more slyly than a Cheshire cat. “So,” you begin, dragging your fingertips across his wrist when he accepts the beverage from you, “tell me.”

You lean in like you’re utterly fascinated by him, like you can’t wait a moment more to learn all there is to know about him. 

“How is it that someone as…” you trail off with a breathy sigh. “Rugged… as you is still flying solo, as it were?”

You take a sip from your cup, gaze locked onto his, scrutinizing each quirk of his brow and twitch of his smirk, searching for anything he might reveal beyond his words.

“Well,” he starts, puffing his chest and acting all cool and nonchalant. “You know, playing the field is a full time job.”

“Both of them.” You hum. He looks at you blankly. You shake your head. 

“Nevermind.” You murmur. You can feel yourself growing antsy. You’re not sure how long your dear cat friend will keep Dude and Carlos distracted, and Jay’s had enough candorcorn root syrup to testify in front of a parliament of owls. It’s time to cut through the detritus and root around until you find what you’re really here for. You set down your teacup, leaning forward.

“Dating must be so hard coming from somewhere like the Isle.” 

He starts to answer, but you don’t pay much mind, continuing your train of thought. 

“It’s just… if someone as enticing as you hasn’t been locked down yet, how is it that Mal managed to get a prince like Ben wrapped around her finger so quickly?”

Jay puffs out his chest, laughing at your flattery and taking another bite of the tiramisu. 

“Well, I’m not really at liberty to say,” he starts, leaning casually and flexing his arms as he stretches. “But let’s just say Mal really worked her magic on him, you know?”

He laughs, and your stomach sinks. You have to remind yourself to manually laugh along with him. 

“Really,” you tease, leaning closer. “And what sort of magic would that be?”

“Oh, you know Mal and her freaky mind control thing.” He chuckles, wiggling his fingers in front of his eyes to mimic when hers glow. 

“But when you’re out on the tourney field…”

He continues boasting about his sportic success, but your mind is entirely elsewhere. Mind control. Of course. You wonder how you didn’t realize it sooner. Mind control, the same trance Mal’s mother used to lure Aurora up to the spinning wheel. Your heart starts thudding painfully in your chest as your mind races, grappling with the ramifications of what this could mean, the danger Ben and all of Auradon could be in. 

You stand up quickly, reaching into your tea pot bag and pulling out a few neutrestnuts you’d snagged from your last trip to Wonderland. You smack one loudly against Jay’s bedpost, cracking it open in one swift movement. Before he can ask what you’re doing - or even realize you’ve stopped listening to his ramblings about tourney - you’ve pushed the nut inside his mouth. 

“There we go,” you say, watching him to ensure he eats it. “There’s your after dinner nut. They’re all the rage in Wonderland.”

It’s a lie, but not one he needs to worry about. You gather up the remaining tiramisu and tea cups, leaving his dorm quickly. The neutrestnut should take effect and neutralize the honesty that comes from consuming candorcorn root, so Jay will be back to rights quite soon and be none the wiser. 

You wrack your mind as you try to figure out where you can learn more about dark fairy magic. Not much is known about it, and what is known is heavily debated by both magic experts and members of the fairy community. You pause, remembering something, something that sits just on the tip of your tongue. The Museum of Cultural History has Maleficent’s staff on display. Maybe there’s some information there, something too specific for the usual library catalogs. 

You check the time on your pocket watch and see the little hand is pointed to the words Hurry On Now Hurry Girl, The Doors Of Wisdom Are Nearly Closed!

Realizing the time pressure cooker of a pickle in which you find yourself, you take off like a bolt of midnight blue, rushing across campus to get to the museum on time. You’re sure you can persuade the guard to let you stay late, being from the Wonderland Embassy and all. When Alice Liddle of Wonderland is your mother, people tend to go along with any strange or unusual requests you make. 

You reach the museum just in the nicknack of time, catching the guard’s eye just as he’s about to lock up. After a rush and babble of explanations, he concedes, letting you in with a concerned nod. You’re not quite sure he’s following what you’re saying, but you’re in, which is really all you’re troubled with at that moment. 

“Oh- uh, I suppose so, Miss Liddel.” The guard agrees. “Just make sure to check in with me before you leave.”

“Thank you so much-” you glance down at his name tag. “Neil. Truly, thank you.”

He nods, accepting your gratitude. Before you can leave, he chuckles lightly.

“Doing some studying for parents day?” He asks with a smile. 

The archive is in your sight, but you stop in your tracks. 

Parents day. 

In the tizzy you’d been swept into you had totally forgotten parents day. Will you have enough time to prepare? You must. There’s really no way around it. Maybe if you can work quickly enough, you’ll be able to get back to your dorm soon enough to get everything ready by morning. You turn to Neil with a smile you hope comes off as sincere and not panicked. 

“Precisely.”

You enter the archive quickly, rushing through titles in hopes of spotting one that reads To Miss Liddel, Within Contains the Answer to All Your Troubles. Just like you’d expected, and unlike you had hoped, that particular book appears to be nowhere in sight. You don’t lose hope, though. You find a treasure trove of old, dusty, complicated books that each contain a little breadcrumb of what you’re looking for. 

You just hope you can gather enough to form a loaf before daybreak.

[fandomtherapy44]

Sober Buddies Ch.1 Help lines and cults

Summary: Y/n is new at college and trying to find a footing in everything. When she meets a guy who introduces her to something that could really help find her path.

warnings : Swearing

WC/ 2.3k

AN/ Hey Ya'll welcome to my serious I'm so excited to make this series. So it will use some plot lines from season six but a lot will change including CJ but his key character notes will still be there. Without further ado enjoy Sober buddies.

I got the divider from

Firefly Graphics

College, was an escape from my life at home, something I had always wanted. And in Boston: my dream since I was a freshman in high school. At Worthington, I had worked so hard to get here, and I finally did. It's about two weeks away from the start of school and today I get to check out my dorm that I’m sharing with two other girls- which should be fun, hopefully. I walked into the room where three beds were barely fitting together. I put my things on the middle bed when the door bursts open. “Uh, who the hell are you?” I turn and a pretty blond girl is standing there. 

“Um, I'm Y/N, your roommate, nice to meet you.” I hold out my hand and she looks down at it like it was covered in shit. “Okay, I'm just going to assume that you're a germaphobe.” 

“Don't mind her, she's Audrey, and I'm Joey.” This girl, a brunette, actually shakes my hand. “Y/N, I'm so happy this worked out!” Audrey looks confused. “Well, she needed a place and thought, why not us?” Joey explained to Audrey, who looked like you had killed her dog in front of her.

“I promise I won't be annoying. I will even let you have the first shower of the morning Audrey.” I tried to appeal to her queen bee side.

“Fine you can stay, but don’t touch my clothes, okay?”

I raise my right hand in the air as if swearing an oath. “I promise and cross my heart and all that.” Hopefully these girls and I can become friends and Audrey won't kill me in my sleep for accidentally grabbing her dress.

It had been a couple of weeks- and it was now one week before school started. Audrey and I hadn't really been besties, but Joey and I had a pretty great rapport going on. I was looking at my classes and trying to get a handle on what I should be studying, when Audrey came bursting in. “Omg oh my gosh, do you know where Joey is?” 

I looked around. Clearly not, I thought. “I don't know Audrey, I think studying at the library, maybe.” Audrey sits down on her bed with a huff.

“Why is she studying? School doesn't even start for another week,” Audrey sighs. I knew that Joey’s English class was stressing her out. 

“Um, probably for her English class, I heard it's super hard.” 

“Right, little Miss Perfect does the super hard class and will probably get all A’s.” I could tell by the tone of her voice that this was mostly a projection of whatever had happened that she needed to talk to Joey about. 

“You know, Audrey, you could always talk to me. I can guarantee you that I've faced a similar problem.” She gives me a dirty side eye but gives in.

“I guess since you're the only one here.” 

“Great, I love being the last choice.” I set down my books and sit down on the ground criss-cross applesauce style. She rolls her eyes at me. 

“Shush my problems, remember.” 

“Yes, I do,” I reply.

“Well, I was at the bar with my boyfriend. His name is Pacey.” I nod my head trying to keep up. “And we were playing pool when this gothic hot chick came walking up- and this is the woman that he wants to live with!” Audrey threw her arms up in a dramatic flare.

“I'm confused, Audrey. Number one: what do you mean by living with her and two: why would that be a problem?” She looks shocked by my answer. 

“What do you mean, ‘what do I mean’? She's hot, he wants to move, and she has space in her apartment.”

“Okay, but I'm still confused as to why it would be bad to move to a better place.” At my response, I notice Audrey is becoming more impatient.

“Because Duh! Y/N, she's hot!”

It seems like this girl has a whole lot of issues- but I'm not one to talk on that. “Look, Audrey, do you trust Pacey?” She doesn't even hesitate. 

“Yes but-” 

“There's your answer.” 

“But-” 

“But, you trust your boyfriend, and that’s what matters, even if the girl is a supermodel. If he's as good as you make him sound, then he won't even look in her direction.” Audrey takes that in. 

“I guess you're right, you know, you're not half bad L/N.” She gives me a little respectful nod. 

“Same to you, Lindell.” 

School was happening tomorrow, and I had thankfully gotten all things done. Now, I had more time to get to know Jen and her grandma, who were really sweet so far. They are sitting at a table and I go to them. “Hey Jen, Evelyn.” I greeted as I sat. 

“Oh please sweetheart, call me Grams, everyone does.” She smiles at me warmly.

“Okay great! If it's okay with you, what are we talking about?” Jen has no problem catching me up.

“Well, Y/N, Grams here has only picked up a math book because of a certain someone who teaches it.” 

“Aww, I think that's cute.” Jen did not agree with me. 

“l think it's a slippery slope. l mean, one minute you're taking an interest, and the next...you're sublimating your own thoughts and desires, and for what? For a chance to participate in the great patriarchal heterosexist fraud…”

“...that is better known as monogamy?” I answer in her pause. She gives me a quick look.

“ls that how you wanna spend your golden years? Folding some man's laundry and pretending to share an interest? l mean, haven't we come further as a sex--?” She stops and looks behind me. And she stares for a second. 

“Hi. I'm sorry, are we bothering you?” Jen asked the stranger behind me. I got curious enough and turned to see one of the most handsome men I had ever seen. “Because if it's not too much trouble, you could get your own conversation.”

“No. Sorry.” He apologized but I had a feeling he wasn't done yet. “I've been sitting there trying to figure out where l met you before… and suddenly I realized I've never met you before.” I chuckle at that. 

“Great. Well, I'm really glad that we got that figured out,” Jen states, blandly.

“I've heard you on the radio.” I knew he wasn't done.

“Jen, you were on the radio? I never knew!” I exclaimed while hitting her arm in excitement. 

“Ow! And you didn't know because it's not important. And you.” She turned back to the guy. “Okay, you got me. I'm busted. l was on the radio. But I'm not anymore, so thank you very much for listening, and bye-bye.” She tried to end the conversation. 

“So, did you get fired, or what?” The man continued.

“What is this, an interview?” Jen looks annoyed.

“I'm just curious.” 

“Well, let's just say that l had some artistic differences with the new management.” Well, that sucks she had to give that up because of a dick in a suit, I thought. “Fine. Then we'll just say that,” Jen concludes.

“Fine.” The man replies. Then Grams comes in for the clutch. 

“Excuse me, young man. Would you care to join us?”

Grams had gone, I assume, to talk to the particular professor teaching math. While the guy had joined us. 

“I'm CJ.” 

“Y/N, and this radio host is Jen.” She rolls her eyes and I nudge her. 

“It's nice to meet you two.” 

“You too, CJ.” We had gotten on the subject of where we were living, and Jen mentioned that she is currently living with her grandma.

“No, l think it's nice.” 

“Yeah, that's what everybody says. ‘Oh, you live with your grandma. That's so sweet,’. How do they know l don't beat her and leave her tied to the radiator all winter?” 

“Ah, so that's the screaming I hear when I come over.” I added in. CJ laughed at my joke.

“ls this a cry for help?” CJ asked Jen. 

“Do l look like l need help?” 

“No. Actually, you look like someone who'd probably be good at giving it.” Jen hears that and immediately gets up and begins leaving, practically running for the hills.

“This has happened to me before. This religion thing is not really–” She is already halfway down the stairs. 

“Ha, just one Second CJ,” I say. He gives me a friendly smile. 

“Sure.” I went after her.

“Jen, wait- we should hear him out.” 

“Y/N, he was totally giving weird vibes. Are you coming?” I looked back and I felt something. 

“I think I'll stay.” 

“Well, call me if you need help out of the cult and remember nine for Joey’s surprise.” 

“Gotcha.” With that, she leaves. I turn back to CJ trying to think of some good reason.

“Hey, uh, so she had to leave for a class.” We sat back down. 

“No she didn't, class doesn't start till tomorrow.” I give a small smile. 

“You're right, sorry.” 

“It's okay I know everyone isn't for the whole ‘helping thing,’ but you're still here.” I looked around and he was right, I was, which was weird for me too. 

“I guess I am- uh, you said something about helping people?” I question. 

“Right- um… no matter how I say this I'm going to sound like a dork. Have you ever heard of The Stand?” He looks at me like he expects me to run away. 

“No, no, I never have. I just moved here from Cali so I don't know a lot of stuff here. What's The Stand?” CJ gets this look of confidence. 

“It’s a peer counseling program.” I think about it. 

“So I help people.” 

“Yes yes exactly! There's an information session tonight at seven.” He hands me a pamphlet on it. 

“I'll be there and maybe I can convince Jen that this is not a cult,” He says, with a small chuckle.

“That would be great! I can't wait to see you there.” He pats my shoulder in a friendly way and he leaves. I felt a sensation of butterflies rising up from my stomach, but I quickly grabbed a fly swatter and squished them. 

I had walked over to Jen’s house. “Hey, was escaping the cult hard?” I sat down on the couch laughing at her joke. 

“Very funny Jen, actually he was talking about the stand. Have you heard about that?” She gives me a comical look. 

“Yes, it's a call line where people call to complain about who's dating who and if the professor is going to give them an A or not.”

“I thought it was a little more serious than that,” I replied. “Well, whatever it is, I'm going to go to the information session tonight. You should come; if CJ was right about anything, it is that you would be good with helping people.” She sighs and glances down.

“Ok fine I'll go. We can pick up Joey’s gift after. And are you sure that you're not doing this just because CJ is ungodly hot?”

“No, I mean it helps, but he's not the reason I'm going to go.” I wish there was something like this when I was going through… no, I'm not going to think about that. I'm here to move on from that.

Jen and I went into the building and it was covered in inspiring posters and quotes. “On the nose much?” Jen commented, scanning the room. 

“I like it, let's get a good seat.” Which wouldn't be hard. There were tons of spots; I guess the word didn't get out. The speaker started and I was trying hard to listen, but Jen- not so much.

“So as l was saying, most of what we do around here. is simply information and referrals. And 99 times out of 100 just reminding someone to take a deep breath and to keep on breathing is enough. Tomorrow will be another day. For you too. Which brings me to our number one rule around here: Never be afraid to ask for a hug at the end of a tough day.” At that Jen left. I leave my bag.

“Jen, wait, wait!”

“I'm sorry Y/N, I can't do that. If you want to stay, great, but I can't. I'll see you later.” She turns to leave. 

“Jen!” I sadly go back to my space on the couch. I go to look at my notes when the space next to me gets seated. 

“You came.” I swung my head and CJ was right there. 

“Yeah, I did.”

“So, there's the coffee maker, and here's the mini fridge that definitely is working.” CJ tells me as he shakes his head, indicating sarcasm.

“Ha, and I definitely won't smell any weird smells from here.” 

“Yes definitely.” We both laughed and I looked at the window and it had gotten dark. 

“Wow, time really does fly.” 

“So, what made you want to stay?” He looks at me with those piercing green eyes.

“Because I know a place like this would have been amazing for me when I was younger, so If I can help someone avoid those feelings that I went through, then I'm for it a hundred percent.” CJ heard me and truly felt I meant it. 

“That's the same reason I did it.” 

“Really? That's so cool!” I exclaimed happily. “So, what do you do for fun? I haven't been here for long, so if you know of any places...” He thinks about it. 

“Yeah I mean the typical places like bars, clubs, parties.” 

“Would you want to go to one together?” I asked abruptly which I never did, especially with people I just met.

“I totally would, but it wouldn't be much fun.” 

“Why?” I asked. He hesitates for a second, pondering something.

“…I don't drink.” 

“Oh my gosh, that's amazing!” I heard what I just said and felt embarrassed. “I'm sorry, that sounded super weird, but I don't drink either.” 

“Wow, it's hard to find a college girl not drinking.” CJ searches my eyes.

“True, but it's what's best for me and I'm sure for you. What about this: we’ll be each other's sober buddies.” 

“Sober buddies?”

“Yeah, when we are at the same parties, we’ll make sure the other won't even look at drinks.” He thinks about it for a second and I look at the clock. “Shit I'm going to be late and then Audrey is going to kill me.” I grab my stuff and run to the door but before I leave I turn back. “CJ sober buddies?” He gives me a smirk and nods. 

“Sober buddies.” 

I will get chapter two out as soon as possible thank you for reading!

[macherkissed]

Hi! I was wondering if I could get some headcanons of Charles & Tiffany (poly), Gomez & Morticia (poly), Alice Liddell, and Nemesis with an S/O who is shy, especially during sex.

Hell yea borther! This is the first time I've written Alice in NSFW, so that may suck, and the first time in a while I've written for Nemmie. I also have a fever and can barely see straight but I got a new keyboard and had to type

How They React to a Shy S/O

Notes/Warnings: GN!Reader, Smut, Polyamory, Shy!Reader, Tiff kind of babies you but she's just like that, mentions of murder and violence, mild-to-moderate dom/sub and sadism, light choking(very brief), mention of virginity loss (Alice), possessive behaviour, Exophilia

Charles Lee Ray and Tiffany Valentine

They certainly are a mixed bag

Chucky will tease you and purposefully try to get you out of your comfort zone, both to get you out of your shell and to get an embarrassed reaction from you. he finds it funny to make you uncomfortable

if you seriously tell him to, however, he will always stop and try to make it up to you.

Tiffany will defend you against Chucky's torment, of course, but she'll verbally tease you about how sweet and cute you are, she'll squish your cheeks and sometimes babytalk you

She'd do that anyway but it makes her giggle to see your reactions

Tiff will also try and guide you into situations you're not comfortable in, but as more of a helping hand and will stick by you

Should anyone else try and tease you or pressure you in any way, they'll both instantly be ready to throw hands. Whoever gets there first is the intimidator, the other only stepping in if they don't get the message.

Charles has been down to kill someone who made you upset and uncomfortable, more than once, and you have to talk him down since Tiff never seems to want to (because she wants to kill them too, but she's internally simmering while Charles is raging)

They have both killed at least three people who were shitty to you, but they'd never tell.

NSFW

Charles likes to be given lap dances and stripteases, regardless of how shy you are. He might even enjoy it more if you're shy; nervously showing yourself off to him, being unsure of your movements, looking to him for guidance. It's exciting to him, part of his sadistic streak

Tiff, meanwhile, thinks it's adorably sexy when you're nervous during sex and will coo at you to make you flush even more, and encourage you to be louder or show off more

If you keep your eyes closed or your face hidden during sex, both of them are the type to try and coax you out of it: Chucky by pinning your hands down and stopping until you look him in the eye, and Tiff by softly asking to see your pretty face until she gets impatient and puts her hand around your throat, growling at you to listen to her

When the two of them get together to tease you? Oof. Tiff may not outwardly seem it but, as seen before, she's just as sadistic as Charles and he only encourages her when they team up

If you get out of your shell even slightly and take any form of control in the bedroom, Charles lets out a low chuckle and will either sit back and enjoy it or try and egg you on to do more (brat taming Chucky???????). Tiffany, meanwhile, is instantly all for it and will play into anything you want with hearts in her eyes.

Sometimes, Charles will prefer to watch you and Tiff together, throwing comments to encourage and fluster you.

Gomez and Morticia Addams

It's easy to be overshadowed as the third in this relationship, with Gomez's full eccentric personality and Morticia's magnetic aura drawing all attention to them, but being shy makes fading into the background easier.

At any point, especially during parties, you can be swept up into a dance by either or both of them to catch people's eyes, both showering you in compliments; "How beautiful you look in the moonlight, my budding thorn." "Cara, nobody can take their eyes from you and Gomez. You move like an enchantment together."

Gomez will see you looking uncomfortable in the crowd so will slide up beside you, take and kiss your hand, and twirl you into a dance until you forget everyone around you, especially when he spins you into Morticia

With Gomez's intense affection, constant kissing and flirting, you can easily get flustered. He will stop if it gets too much, but he says you look so gorgeous when you get shy on him. Morticia is less frantic with her affection, but her words are just as poetic and teasing

They encourage you out of your comfort zone, as does the rest of the family, saying the fear helps you grow and will disappear eventually, but nobody will push you too far

When you start talking passionately about something, they'll both watch you with unfettered joy and love, only chiming in to encourage you to carry on even if it's not something they like

NSFW

They are obviously not the most vanilla couple ever, and one of their newfound pleasures if trying to make you express yourself sexually.

If you're shy about a specific part of sex or even intimacy, they are both very open to conversation and have an extensive library

They'll set the mood and try as much as possible to make you comfortable, with slow flirting through the day and gradual foreplay, and will be fine to pause or stop at any point

They love any noise you let out so will encourage you to be louder and 'sing' for them, using every trick and pleasure point of yours to bring out the most of you

If you feel uncomfortable with anything, they'll understand and either stop or adapt; if you prefer to keep your eyes closed or don't want them to see you, they will turn the lights off and they have blindfolds aplenty; if you want to keep covered up, they'll delight in seeing how much they can do while keeping you dressed up for them; any places you'd rather they not touch are avoided as such

To try and boost your confidence, you know that Gomez will worship your body with his words and hands and mouth until you're trembling, literally waxing lyrical about everything he loves about you (which is everything). Tish, meanwhile, will slowly dress you up and point out everything dark and delicious about you while teasing touches over your body

If you decide to try out any form of taking control, vanilla or otherwise, they are both very eager. Tish is her usual form of almost stoically appreciative, purring at you that you're doing amazing and she loves seeing this side of you. Gomez is more openly excited, complimenting you at every turn and repeating how he's yours to do with as you please, tesoro

Alice Liddell

Alice is quite blunt post-asylum, post-Bumby, which is both a blessing and a curse for you

She'll stick up for you and encourage you to stand up for yourself, but tends to say it in a way that can make you feel back for being shy

It's not that she doesn't understand how you feel, she was a shy child and rarely spoke up even in the asylum, but she also keeps a few of those old words to heart

"Fight or Flight implies a permanent choice. Flight often means putting a fight off to another day." -It seems to be the one piece of advice Radcliffe gave that actually has served her well

Not to say that she's cold and unfeeling to your struggles. She's more than happy to lead you through situations you feel uncomfortable in, praising you with a smile and a kiss when you push yourself

If you push yourself too far and become drained or too nervous, she'll take you out of it and will tell you how proud she is of you

Even the slightest crack in your shell will make her smile and she'll encourage you to open up more, to talk about anything no matter how ridiculous it may seem

She is very much a "They asked for No Pickles' GF

NSFW

At first, she was just as shy as you were at the mere prospect of sex; you were her first after all. Unlike you, however, she soon became comfortable

She understands that you won't tend to initiate sex, even if you+'re needy, but she's also learned your tells

If she's feeling nice, she'll take pity on you and take you to bed, but if she isn't feeling nice then she'll give you the briefest and most teasing of touches, riling you up more and more until you use your word or, even better, act on it

If you take any control in the bedroom, even just by kissing her or touching her without being told to, she'll encourage that spark and hope that you gain more confidence to do more

She's just as blunt during sex as she is in general, and she's picked up a lot of dirty ideas and words that never fail to make you squirm

One of the ways she tries to get you to express yourself is by asking you to repeat words she's saying and refusing to do anything until you do

"Ask me to use my mouth on you, bunny. Ask nicely." "Don't cover your mouth, I want to hear you. You sound so pretty." "If you want something, you have to tell me, love."

Nemesis

You're one of the research scientists working on him, making sure the virus is stable and that he understands his missions before they give him the Big S.T.A.R.S mission.

You've always been shy, even around your coworkers, so they choose you to be the one to go face-to-face with him; they think you won't be seen as much of a threat so less likely to trigger a violent reaction from him

They're right. Where other attempts have ended in death, Nemesis doesn't even raise a fist to you (he growls, but he always growls so he might have just been saying hello)

He's used to people being cautious and quiet around him so he thinks it's just that until he sees how you are around the other scientists. By that time, he sees you almost as a friend, as something small to protect, and thinks the shyness is fear.

He starts to step between you and the other researchers when he can tell you're getting nervous, and even starts pulling you away and over to him eventually.

People worry then that he's getting too attached to you so try to move you away, but he is having none of that

He isn't a conversationalist in the slightest. but he liked hearing you talk so he'll make literally no noise when you start talking so he can hear you better

He doesn't care how quiet you are or how awkward you think you are, he does not judge or stop you and that might even make you become more confident.

NSFW

It doesn't matter how hesitant you are about approaching sex, Nemmie can tell when you want him. He's very observant and has enhanced senses, so he will pull you close and touch you in ways that make you melt

It's easy for him to draw noises out of you. He uses every trick you've taught him, learns from every experience, exploits everything he can to make you tremble and squirm and whine until he's satisfied

When he notices you getting obviously shy or self-concious or anything during sex, he'll become single-minded to get your thoughts away from wherever they're taking you and make you focus on how he's making you feel.

If you'd prefer to do things for him, like go down on him or focus solely on his pleasure, then you have to say it because otherwise he'll easily turn the tables

If you decide to take control, you'll find he's quite malleable, almost submissive. He was made to take orders, after all, and you are one of the few people who has the ability to tell him what to do

No matter what, he loves having your attention on him, even if it is hesitant

[fl3shm4id3n]

𝓐 𝓝𝓮𝔀 𝓦𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓵𝓪𝓷𝓭

ꜱᴏɴɢ: ᴀʟɪᴄᴇ ᴍᴀᴅɴᴇꜱꜱ ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴꜱ - ᴄᴀʀᴅ ᴄᴀꜱᴛʟᴇꜱ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴋʏ

Tw: trauma, mental and physical abuse, orphanage, psychotic break, mental illness, mentions of prostitution, death of family, fires, sever burns, mental hospitals, hallucinations, medication, abuse of authority, electroshock therapy, drugging, murder, self conciseness, reader magically ends up in Pandora.

A/N: I'm playing Alice Madness Returns again, so I wanted to try and write something about it. I'll think about making a part II

Masterlist

The death of your family was an accident, or was it? You were the only one that survived the fire that night. Your cat had guided you out the window when the fire had gone worse. You thought it was your fault in a way, you did turn off all the candles in the house when you had gone to bed. But you also heard noises, of someone walking around and moving things. You had not closed your door all the way, you had let it open just bit, you noticed how the man who is considered a family friend had entered your sisters room. You heard noises as if someone had been struggling and some things being knocked over, then the same man came out. In a panic, he locked your sister's door, taking the lit candle he had with him and took off down the stairs. You heard shattering then the door being opened and closed. That was when the fire started.

You managed to get out of the their with the help of your cat, you watched as your house burn down, in tears. Your family had now been dead, all you could do is cry, but then you saw that same man running away from the crime scene. When people had arrived to the now burned down house. You tried to explain to them what happened, then you mentioned about a man causing everything, but what you didn't know was that the man was there, he was a doctor in a mental hospital. He claimed that it must have been you who started the fire and had made up the man, he had called you Mad. So you had been placed in a mental hospital.

It was terrible, the nurses and doctors didn't seem to help, they only made things worse. First it was the medication, then came in the straight jackets, and the electroshock therapy, their reason was to 'cure' your madness, but they seemed to enjoy causing pain to you and others, at some point they had shaved your hair to prevent you from pulling at it. You knew that they did it out of pure cruelty. As a way to avoid all this torture, you had made up a world in your mind, you called it wonderland. You can do whatever you wanted, have adventures with cats, have tea parties with rabbits, or play crocket with the Queen, but what you didn't know was that your torture will soon catch up to you.

Your mind has been going into ruins, the only thing that most likely kept you alive was your Wonderland, but your once happy place had become the same Hell that you had been living. You didn't know if you'd be able to take it any longer. When you left the Asylum, you were sent to live with who was once your nanny, now she was working as a prostitute and owned the whore house she worked at. Majority of the time you'd be asleep all day and leave at night since that was when the other ladies got to work.

You thought your Wonderland would get better, but no, it was the as when you still at the Asylum. You felt as if your created Wonderland had no salvation, your world had been badly damaged by others who were suppose to help you get better, they only worsen you, not to mentioned a doctor has been desperately trying to get you to forget about the fire that killed your family. Not to mention the other things he'd do the children in the orphanage. Your Wonderland was a disaster, it got to the point where you literally had to fight your madness.

One night had been enough, this torture could no longer go on, it was slowly killing you inside, you needed answers. You needed to know who was responsible for your family's murder. So you began to investigate, you had reopened your own case so that you'd be the one to solve it since that man had convinced the police that it was done by you due to your 'madness'. The more you had found out the this man, you got closer into solving your family's murder, not to mention that he was responsible for your Wonderland's destruction. Now and then you'd slip into Wonderland and look for your memories, something to connect the dots.

After time, you had found out that the man actually had a key, a key that was of your sister's room. Often times she'd tell you about him acting strange around her and she also had told you that she hated locked doors. Now it all came in together, that man had walked into your sister's room, he must have done something to her due to the noises coming from her room and not to mention the fire. He was the one who started the fire, as a cover up for his crimes.

One night you had followed him to an underground train station, to confront him about this. When you manage to reach him, you told him everything that you knew, about your sister's murder, the fire, everything he had done all this years. Abusing his power to harm others. He had said that no one will believe you since you were considered mad, but something still needed to get done. You manage to take the key he still got a hold off, then you pushed him into the train tracks as the train came, instantly killing him. You didn't care if you got caught, you had finally learned the truth about your family's murder.

Once you had stepped out of the train station, everything had been different, you weren't sure if you in Wonderland or back in the real world. Your mind wasn't fully sure anymore, the madness must have got to you. The environment seemed of a forest, a very green and clean place. Much more peaceful, had your Wonderland turn back to normal? You weren't sure, but it didn't matter anymore, you had achieved what you wanted, you found out everything and now you were at peace.

Turn out that you'll never return 'home', you'd be here permanently for sure. Whether in your mind or in the 'real' world, but this wasn't earth for sure. This place was too green in a place where their isn't such green. Everything was grey, polluted, and sick. Even though your wonderland had been damaged, it was safe in your memory.

You walked for hours, exploring this new world you had been put in. You were still trying to figure out if this was reality or your minds playing tricks on you, but it didn't matter anymore. If this was going to be your reality, so be it.

This place felt much nicer, it felt as if you were able to breath the air without needing to wear a mask or risk getting even more sicker then you already were. You had a feeling that this place was not one made by your mind, this was too real. As you walked, you noticed a blue figure on the ground around some grass, you weren't sure if they were a person. But you manage to get a closer look at them, seen they were some form of cat? A blue cat of some kind. You got closer to them, maybe she could tell you about this place.

Now closer, you noticed how it was a girl, her eyes had been closed, perhaps she was sleeping? Should you wake her? Then she opened her eyes and jumped a bit upon seen you. You crawled backwards also startled by her sudden woken state. You saw how her eyes were a bright yellow, she was pretty in your opinion. "Who are you?" she asked, Kiri was surprised to see a human like you out in the open, with out a breathing mask. She must be staring since you looked sickly and malnourished. "I-I'm Y/n L/n" you told her your full name, while she continued to stare at you.

You also noticed how big she was from you. "I'm Kiri, where did you come from?" the girl asked, as she got a better look at you. "I don't know honestly, I just appeared here, my mind may be playing games with me" you admitted as Kiri noticed your distresses state, not mention you looked very sick and malnourished. "Are you okay? How are you feeling?" Kiri asked, gently taking your arm into large hands seen how thin you were.

"I think so? So much has happened that I don't know" you said, now worried. Kiri noticed you getting nervous, not to mention you began to shake. "Don't worry, here let me help you" she said as she helped you up from the ground. Now at full height, she was a giant compared to you, similar to the Mad Hatter, who knows how tall you were, it was obvious that you were small, maybe even smaller than the average human height.

"I'll take you to my home and get you help" she said, taking your small hand into her and beginning to walk. During the walk, Kiri had been asking you questions, some basic questions. Some you avoided since you didn't want to really talk about some topics, all you wanted to do was just relax for once. What caught Kiri's attention was what you were wearing a tattered dress, which was a white and black striped shirt with a black skirt, a dirty white apron, black stocking and black shoes. It was obvious that you were from earth. When she asked about the dark circles around your eyes, you had told her it was makeup. Then a the key which was shaped like the Venus symbol that hanged around your neck.

When you arrived at the home tree, Kiri took you to someone known as Mo'at, her grandmother. She could maybe help you. "Grandmother, I need your help." This woman looked just like Kiri, but older and wiser for sure. Mo'at looked at you both, then at you, noticing that you didn't have a mask on and yet you were still breathing. "What is wrong with her?" Mo'at asked, as Kiri sat you down on a mat for her grandmother to have a look at you. "I don't know, but she looks unwell" she said worriedly as Mo'at continued to look at you. Also noticing your sickly looking self and malnourishment. They talked in a language that you didn't understand.

"Go get your father and mother" Mo'at instructed Kiri in which she left in a hurry while her Grandmother continued to check on you. To your surprise she knew English too, she asked you almost the same questions Kiri did, you didn't want to mention how you got to Pandora or else you'd sound mad for sure. When Mo'at got a look into your eyes, she just knew that you had been and seen things your whole life. She saw how you must have suffered for years, she just knew you were not all okay.

When Jake and Neytiri arrived with Kiri, they saw you sitting on the floor with Mo'at. They had a shocked expression in their faces upon seen you, must be for the same reason Kiri looked at you. For looking sickly, mad even. They talked again in that language that you didn't understand, then the male crotched down to your level, meeting eye to eye with you. You felt smaller then you already were. He then calmly asked "what's your name?" he asked as you responded "I'm Y/n L/n" you said shyly as he spoke again, calmly seen you getting a bit nervous. "It's okay, I won't hurt you, we won't hurt you. We just want to know were you came from" he said.

"I don't know how, I just..." you stopped and looked away from him, nervous again. Not knowing what to say, you wanted to sound normal, be normal. You didn't want to be seen as Mad anymore. "JakeSully" Mo'at called for his attention, Jake then got up from the spot and went over to Mo'at. "That child isn't okay" she said, making Jake a bit confused. "I know, but what do you mean by that?" he asked, as Mo'at responded. "She has been through a lot, she is not okay mentally and physically. Her mind is very damaged" she mentioned, meanwhile Kiri had sat next to you to see if you were okay.

Jake assumed you were from earth due to your state, he remembers seen people like you walking around the streets. Who knows how you got here, but for sure you needed help. Any kind of help. They couldn't just leave you to fend for yourself. Jake was willing to try and helping you.

ₙₑₓₜ ₚₐᵣₜ

[victorluvsalice]

After much editing, the third chapter of "Londerland Bloodlines: Downtown Queensland" is up! Featuring Alice snatching a certain briefcase for Fat Larry; murdering a certain Russian mafia boss for Venus Dare; and questioning a certain homeless fellow to get more information on those plaguebearers. Plus dealing with everyone's favorite annoying ghoul Patty along the way. This one's a bit of a doozy -- I recommend you pace yourself!

[elmart]

A(lice): M(adness)E(nds) (2nd part) WIP # 10 - ....

Here I am as promised.

And, we’re here, at the end of this 2022.

Strange, absurd, decisive year this one.

I won’t talk about my personal life but, artistically, I noticed how Alice took all my creative spaces, while I’m at work break I work on the comic, when I’m at home I work at the graphic tablet at the digital project and,  leafing through my traditional works of the last two years I found that are all for Alice.

Pretty addiction huh? 

As you know I’m working on an alternative version of the ending of AMR, I already uploaded the first part (first post in my account) and this second part reached more than 60 pages.

I remember when I started all the comics of Alice 2 years ago, 

(here where you can find the collection of all of these: https://twitter.com/ElM__Art/status/1416719520220291075)

who knows when I’ll finish it.

The strange sensation of the continuation, an action repeated and repeated that binds you to the past, like a rope tight to your torso that comes from a dark path behind you.

Peculiar I would say.

Who knows what this new year’ll reserve for each one of us, but of one thing I’m sure:

except against 1 only type of storm, I’ll be ready.

Happy new Year readers, let’s all hope and work for the best.

[lovelyyandereaddictionpoint]

Part 2 of Yandere Male Alice x White Rabbit Reader? Tho it dose seem to be going into a nsfw story with how he be acting lol

Not necessarily...

🖤🖤🖤

Yandere Male Alice x White Rabbit Reader | 2

You sighed as you saw his baby blue form from the queen’s balcony. Ever since your ‘relationship’ had begun with the outsider things had been…different. Even the Queen of Hearts turned a blind eye when Alice openly threatened your coworkers. 

“Here he comes…” You sighed out loud alerting the queen who was sipping on her tea. 

“I’ll be finishing up then. If you would escort him up here. I’d like to avoid another….incident like last time.”

“Yes, my queen.” You bowed before excusing yourself from the Queen’s tea room. As soon as you shut the heart doors, you made use of your bunny legs; booking it down the tower stairs. Hopping past the card guards you thankfully were able to meet with Alice before he made it to the second floor. 

“Oh hi, baby! How was work today? Have you eaten yet?” Immediately thousands of questions flew from pink lips as the man tightly held you against his chest. 

You returned the hug if only to signal with your hands to the newbie guards. Thankfully taking the hint they returned to their post and you kept Alice occupied. 

“Uh Alice, the queen wanted to have tea with you.”

Alice grimaced, “Tea? During your lunch?! Has that woman truly gone insane?!” 

You calmed him the best you could, being sure to hold his hand close to your chest. He blushed heavily immediately changing his face from a scowl to a satisfied smile. Riding off his high you dragged him up the steps; chuckling in your head when he tripped trying to keep up with you. Finally arrived at those same heart-shaped doors you knocked on before presenting your boyfriend. 

“Your highness, Alice Liddell.”

You stood at attention letting Alice come into the room. Without looking at him your ears shrunk back with his intimidating visage. In direct competition the queen gives off her own intense aura one that refuses to falter at his entry.

“Hearts. Are you really going to let my bunny work during their lunch?”

Despite the near growling Alice was doing the queen was biting in her response. 

“Please, you come in here without even a curtsy demanding to know what I do with my staff! I don’t have to tell you anything.” 

You watched the vein popping out of his clenched fist as he harshly glared at the Queen of Hearts who kept her face still. In a silent conversation delivered through their respective glares, Alice groaned sitting across from the queen who pridefully sipped her piping hot tea. With the clink of her cup to it’s saucer, she hummed before directing her burgundy gaze to you. 

“Take your lunch (Y/n). And send for the twins; give them instructions to stay outside the room until the tea is red once more.”

“Yes, your highness. Excuse me.”

You bowed quickly, hopping at posthaste with your clock out of your suit pocket. With the door closed and the two finally alone all, if any existed in the first place, platitudes were dropped. The queen let her stone-face wrinkle with disgust as she held her chin up high and crossing her arms. 

“The scent of an outsider is undebatingly repulsive!” 

“Your one to talk…not many would want to be a room with a cannibal while they eat.”

They continued to glare at one another once more before pulling away. Alice looked out the window seeing your white ears bob through the maze as you left to eat your lunch. Alice clenched his teeth determined to see you before your break was over. 

“You deprive me of my special lunch with my bunny…what do you want, Hearts?”

“Don’t act like your not smothering them…but anyway I need to know the extent at which you intend to continue your hunt?”

The pout Alice wore became a wide sadistic smile.

The queen continued, “The only reason none are acutely aware of my tastes is moderation…something you are not showing despite being granted your ‘antidote’.”

“Awwww,” Alice feigned sadness. Gleefully leaning as he spoke,” Must you refer to my love so coldly? With how much I’ve had to do to get your approval for so much as dating them is insane.”

The queen didn’t speak instead letting a shadow cover the half of her face as she turned her head.

Alice went on,“No. Normally a husband wouldn’t have to do so much to appease their inlaws.” 

“...Don’t be presumptuous. I think your wrongly under the impression that we won’t bear our spears towards the only outsider we’ve let change the fate of our world.”

“Oh? But didn’t you try that already? That’s why the dormmouse and the mock turtle no longer exist, don’t you remember?”

A vein began to show on the queens forehead, eventually dissipating as she released her clutch against the folds of her dress. With a sigh of calm she forged on.

“They were acting on their own volition. That was not a collective effort. But depending on your results that may change.”

Alice for once faltered unable to recognize the look in the queen’s eyes. A woman who’d sooner behead someone in an angry fit of rage than actually diffuse the situation. A queen who delighted in a rotten consumption with intentions to behead all who refused to comply. The queen who’s anger nearly destroyed Wonderland…twice.

She was calm. 

And Alice didn’t know why.

“What does that mean?”

“Don’t worry about that now Alice.” Returning his curious wrinkle in his brow with that stone-faced visage of a true queen. She took a sip of her tea pulling away to smile with unsmudged blood red lips.

“ Consider this a warning, Alice Lidell: Wonderland may not be a place of order but it is a place of heart. And we protect our hearts no matter how inconsequential they may seem.”

Before Alice could say any more the door opened showing the youngest twin giving an elegant curtsy that was borderline mocking as she wordlessly beckoned the man in blue. Alice turned again standing to make a point only to be startled by the other twin silently twirling his mini mallet already behind the queen. 

_____________________________________________________________

Finally exiting the tower Alice left in an even worse mood than before. He felt something he no longer associated with when he was in Wonderland. 

Confusion.

He thought he had dispelled it from his system and that the world no longer quivered with unfamiliar haze. But it did. And Alice couldn’t bring himself to happily chase after his bunny, the feeling racked his body with a stillness he hated to remember. 

“Alice? You doing okay?”

The harmony of your voice graced Alice’s ears, snapping his head up in surprise. Twitching in all your rabbit glory Alice spied the cloth-wrapped bundle you gingerly held to your chest. Smelling the aroma of freshly baked bread he tilted his head in curiosity.

“Oh yeah, Duke made some widget bread for Hatter’s. I picked out the widgets for you so you could at least eat something.”

Wasting no time you placed the bundle in his arms before hopping past him to reenter the heart themed tower. Hearing the creak of the door and not its slamming, Alice turned around to see you with your foot in the door. 

“So? Was I right? She didn’t feed you, right?”

Alice had to compose himself. Silently gulping saliva into his mouth he confirmed, blushing at the regression of his actions towards you. Once again unburying the feelings he thought he had overcome. 

“Figured. She’s always forgetting to feed her guests, anyway see you after work!” Blowing a half-hearted kiss you disappeared behind the barrier of those heart-shaped doors. 

Realizing he needed to breath, Alice floored himself now pouting with the bread in his hands. How could he let you go without your lunchtime kiss? But he figured he’d survive with the image of your bunny-cuteness sent in a blown kiss for him…just for him. With a skip in his step Alice began to make his way off the Heart’s property with one thing in his heart and the confusion that gripped him

He wasn’t giving (Y/n) up that was for sure and since his…protective habits were the issue then he’d change things. Just like they wanted. He has the love of his life. If his hunting was the problem he’d move to a different forest. This is his dream after all and who were they to rectify the confused and ‘lost’ Alice Liddell. 

[wondereads]

An Extended List of Retellings

It was recently Tell a Fairy Tale Day (02/26), so here's an updated and expanded list of retellings for all fairy tale- and folklore-obsessed readers!

*Key at the end of the post*

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert (Fairy Tale-esque)

Alice's grandmother is known for her collection of stories that has spawned a cult-like following, spawning plenty of fanatics to follow Alice and her mother around. But this new group is strange, weirder than the rest, and when they take Alice's mother, she must literally dive into the world of her grandmother's stories to save her. (YA, low fantasy)

Damsel by Elana K. Arnold (Fairy Tale-esque)

Ama remembers nothing. All she knows is that she was saved by Prince Emory from a vicious dragon. It seems she will be taken care of for the rest of her life as a pampered princess, but as she learns more about her new home, the more darkness seems to well up around the edges. *read trigger warnings* (NA, high fantasy)

The Frog Princess by E. D. Baker (The Frog Prince)

Princess Emeralda is about to be caught in an unfortunate engagement, but she finds an escape in a talking frog. A frog who claims he is a prince, a perfect excuse to escape a betrothal. What she doesn't expect is being turned into a frog herself with no clue how to change both of them back. (MG, high fantasy)

The Wide-Awake Princess by E. D. Baker (Sleeping Beauty)

Princess Gwen was tragically cursed to fall into a magical sleep, so when her younger sister, Annie, is born, she is given only one christening gift—the ability to resist any magic. When the curse comes true and Gwen falls asleep, Annie sets out to find her sister's true love and wake the kingdom again. (MG, high fantasy)

Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson (Peter Pan)

From an orphanage in London, Peter and his mysterious friend, Molly, arrive at a faraway island. There, pirates and adventures abound, but nothing is as exciting as a precious new substance that can cure wounds, give flight, and keep people young forever. (MG, low fantasy)

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor (Alice in Wonderland)

When Wonderland, land of dreams and imagination, undergoes a bloody coup, Princess Alyss Heart is forced to flee to the real world, taking on the name Alice Liddel. Years later, she is needed to win Wonderland back, but is it time for Alyss' imagination to be saved? (YA, low fantasy)

The Sisters Grimm by Michael Buckley (multiple)

Sabrina and Daphne Grimm have bounced from foster home to foster home before their formerly-unknown grandmother takes them in. She seems like everything two children could want, but Sabrina doesn't trust her. Not only does she serve outlandish foods and have an outrageous amount of locks on her house, but she seems to believe their town is full of fairy tale characters, all with mysteries that need solving. (MG, magical realism)

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani (multiple)

Agatha and Sophie are best friends, but they couldn't be more different. Agatha is ugly and unpleasant and Sophie is pretty and kind, so when they're taken to the School for Good and Evil, it seems obvious who's Good and who's Evil. However, when the girl's places are switched, they must put things to rights. (MG/YA, high fantasy)

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo (The Little Mermaid)

Lira is a vicious siren, known for her collection of prince's hearts. However, a serious mistake of hers leads the Sea Queen to transform her into a human, trapped until she can bring her the heart of Prince Elian. Lira is a practiced killer, but Elian is a trained hunter, and sirens are his prey of choice. (YA, high fantasy)

The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer (multiple)

Alex and Conner have had it rough since their father's death, but they find comfort in their grandmother's book of stories. When she leaves it to them on their birthday, they never expected for it to be a portal to another world. This world is full of all the fairy tales they know and love, but they're trapped there, and ways back are hard to come by. (MG, low fantasy)

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn (King Arthur)

In an attempt to move on after her mother's death, Bree attends an early college program. However, she starts to see things, things her friends can't, and she soon discovers a secret society on campus made up of the descendants of King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable. However, this group, the Legendborn, may be tied to Bree more than she knows. (YA, magical realism)

Midnight Robber by Nalo Hopkinson (Caribbean and Yoruba Mythology)

In a futuristic world modeled off of Afro-Caribbean history and mythology, criminals are sent to the world of New Half-Way Tree. No child has been sent before until Tan-Tan is taken by her father, who is on the run from the law. When Tan-Tan's experience takes a turn for the worse, she finds strength the figure of the Robber Queen from myth. *read trigger warnings* (adult, science fiction/fantasy)

Splintered by A. G. Howard (Alice in Wonderland)

Alyssa is a descendant of the famous Alice Liddel, but it's not all roses and tea parties. Madness runs in the family, and Alyssa has heard bugs and flowers speak to her since she was young. It's only when she's a teenager that she learns it's a curse, and the only way to free her family from it is to return to Wonderland and put the original Alice's mistakes to rights.

Stain by A. G. Howard (very loosely The Princess and the Pea)

Princess Lyra is destined to bring her kingdom, one of perpetual day, and their rival, a kingdom of perpetual night, together. However, when her wicked aunt steals her identity and casts her out, she loses her memories and is taken in by a witch from an enchanted forest. There, she lives in disguise, known as a young boy named Stain. (YA, fantasy romance)

Enchanted by Alethea Kontis (The Frog Prince)

Sunday is the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, a powerfully magic number. Anything Sunday writes comes true, so she takes care to only write what has already happened. She finds someone to share those stories with in a talking frog near her home. Little does she know that the frog is an enchanted prince; specifically, the prince responsible for the death of her older brother.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (Cinderella)

Ella was given a gift at her birth from a fairy, but it's done nothing but make her life miserable. Forced to obey every direct order, Ella loathes her gift of obedience, especially when she is forced to deal with a demanding father and a horrible stepfamily. Ella takes it upon herself to track down the fairy who 'blessed' her with some help from her family's cook, Mandy, and the charming Prince Char. (MG, high fantasy)

Fairest by Gail Carson Levine (Snow White)

Aza is by no means the fairest of them all, but she has the unique gift to imitate others and throw her voice. In the kingdom of Ayortha, which values song above all else, it's an invaluable trait. One the new queen of Ayortha, Queen Ivi, plans to capitalize upon. Ivi lacks singing talent, so she hires Aza to help her deceive the kingdom, but how long can they keep up the charade? (MG, high fantasy)

The Princess Tales by Gail Carson Levine (multiple)

Six stories: The Fairy's Mistake (Diamonds and Toads), The Princess Test (The Princess and the Pea), Princess Sonora and the Long Sleep (Sleeping Beauty), Cinderellis and the Glass Hill (Cinderella), For Biddle's Sake (Rapunzel), and The Fairy's Return (The Golden Goose) (MG, high fantasy)

Ash by Malinda Lo (Cinderella)

Abused by her horrible stepmother, Ash finds solace in stories. Those stories seem to come to life when she encounters a faerie, and her wishes of being stolen away may finally be granted. However, Ash begins to doubt that course when she meets the king's huntress and she finds herself torn between two worlds. (YA, fantasy romance)

Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell (Peter Pan)

Gwendolyn has always thought her mother was crazy for thinking monsters were chasing them, but then she and her best friend are kidnapped. The place they're taken to, Neverland, is full of deception, and Gwen must find out how to get them both home and whole again. (YA, low fantasy)

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (Cinderella)

Cinder is a cyborg in a futuristic world ravaged by sickness and prejudice, but she scrapes by as a mechanic. One day, during a job for no one other than the prince, she discovers information that could tip the balance between the people of earth and the dreaded Lunars. (YA, science fiction)

The Squire's Tales by Gerald Morris (King Arthur)

A series retelling the tales of the Roundtable, beginning with Terence, an orphan who becomes squire to the famous Sir Gawain. Together, they must foil a plot against King Arthur as Terence discovers his own abilities. (MG/YA, historical fantasy)

Uprooted by Naomi Novik (Beauty and the Beast)

Agnieszka is forfeited by her village to the wizard known as the Dragon in exchange for his protection against the horrible Wood. She finds herself more of an apprentice than a servant, but the Wood is stirring, and it's up to her and the Dragon to drive it back. (NA, high fantasy)

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (Rumpelstiltskin)

Miryam has brought her family's moneylending business back from the brink of bankruptcy. All is going well until an ill-timed boast on the roads lures the attention of the king of the Staryk, fae-like creatures made of winter and obsessed with gold. But there's a bigger threat that threatens to consume humans and Staryk alike. (NA, high fantasy)

Queen of Hearts by Colleen Oakes (Alice in Wonderland)

Dinah has trained her whole life to become queen of Wonderland alongside her father, finally earning his love. However, out of the blue, her father brings home her half-sister, his illegitimate daughter. With conspiracies brewing, Dinah must hold onto her throne now that another candidate has entered the picture. (YA, high fantasy)

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh (Shim Cheong)

As their home is ravaged by storms and floods, the people of Mina's village sacrifice a young girl every year, hoping she may be the "true bride" of the sea god. One year, the offered girl is Shim Cheong, Mina's older brother, Joon's, beloved. In an effort to save her, Mina throws herself into the sea to find a fantastical world under the surface. (YA, historical fantasy)

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (The Wizard of Oz)

Amy is a friendless teenager from modern-day Kansas, so a surprise trip to the land of Oz would seem like a blessing. But this version of Oz is twisted, dark, and ruled by none other than the other girl from Kansas, Dorothy herself. (YA, low fantasy)

The Shadow Queen by C. J. Redwine (Snow White)

Lorelai is the crown princess, but she's also a fugitive. Ever since her kingdom was taken by a wicked queen, she and her brother have been forced to run for their lives. She and the queen share one quality, magic, but if Lorelai ever uses it, she'll be guiding the queen straight to her. (YA, high fantasy)

The Blood Spell by C. J. Redwine (Cinderella)

Blue is an aspiring alchemist, hoping to turn other metals into gold to help the people of her city. However, when her father tragically dies and a cruel woman seizes everything Blue knows, she has to turn to her childhood rival, Prince Kellan. Kellan has his own issues, such as a growing pressure to marry, but the worst is the disappearances that seem to rise in number every day. (YA, high fantasy)

Half Upon a Time by James Riley (multiple)

Jack the 13th is supposed to be a hero, save a princess. He thinks that isn't likely to happen until a 'princess' from our world literally falls into his arms. Soon, Jack realizes that this girl's grandmother can be none other than the famous Snow White, but she's been kidnapped, and it's up to Jack and the 'princess', Meg, to save her. (MG, low fantasy)

The Evil Queen by Gena Showalter (Snow White)

Everly lives the life of a normal teenager until she discovers she's not of this world. In this other land of magic, she's a part of a prophecy, one that mirrors the classic tale of Snow White. That would all be great if she weren't destined to become the story's villain, the Evil Queen. (YA, low fantasy)

Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan (Chang'e)

Xingyin's mother, Chang'e has been imprisoned on the moon for years for stealing the Celestial Emperor's elixir of immortality. When Xingyin's magic flares and she is in danger of being discovered, she must flee the moon. She ends up in the Celestial Kingdom, where she works her way up, hoping to find a way to free her mother. (NA, high fantasy)

Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu (The Snow Queen)

The Snow Queen made a mirror meant to show people the worst in the world, and when it shatters, a shard gets stuck in the eye of Hazel's best friend Jack. When the Snow Queen whisks him away, Hazel must travel through a treacherous, wintery forest to save him. (MG, low fantasy)

Malice by Heather Walter (Sleeping Beauty)

Alyce is the infamous Dark Grace, whose powers bring curses and misfortune, unlike her sisters, who can conjure gifts and beauty. She dreams of escaping the prejudiced Kingdom of Briar, but her growing powers and an involvement with the royal family could keep her trapped forever. (adult, fantasy romance)

KEY

MG: middle grade, ages 8-12

YA: young adult, ages 13-18

NA: new adult, ages 18-early twenties

adult: ages 18 and up

high fantasy: fantasy stories set entirely within another world

low fantasy: fantasy stories split between our world and another

magical realism: fantasy stories set in our world, often interwoven with aspects of modern life (not the Latin American literary movement!)

historical fantasy: fantasy stories set in a historical setting of our world

fantasy romance: fantasy stories focused on romantic plotlines instead of other forms of plot

[fbfh]

curiosity is a wonderful thing - ch. 9

wc: 3.2k

genre: slow burn, little angst, childhood best friends to lovers

pairing: slow burn bff!ben x fem daughter of alice!reader, previously audrey x ben, mal x ben???? apparently????

warnings: emotional damage!!! unusual behavior from ben, reader has a lil mini breakdown, reader is a just a tad autistic coded and has kind of a meltdown??? could also be read as emotional distress so interpret how you will

summary: ben gets weird during a tourney game and your gut is telling you something you probably shouldn't ignore.

song recs: twisted - aviva, cradles - sub urban, rabbit heart - florance and the machine, heads will roll - yeah yeah yeahs

a/n: YOOOOOOOOO IT'S GETTIN JUICYYYYYY. also our cat I mentioned in the an of chapter 8 has settled in well. he's so talkitive lol. I LOVE YOU GUYS I HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING HAPPY PRIIIIIDEEEEEEE~~~~~ BEEEEE WHO YOU AARRRREEEE FOR YOUR PRIIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDEEEEEEEE

tags @yesv01@magcon7280 @hopefullhearts @thatawkwardlittlefangirl @sunshineangel-reads @dustyinkpages @inejsknifes @tulipmagnoliaisme @ev3ningrain SORRY IF I MISSED ANYONE YELL AT ME IN THE NOTES AND ILL ADD YOU LOL

You take in a big lungful of the crisp, springtime fresh Auradon air as you crawl out of your rabbit hole and back into Overland. Roots and twigs and grass stick to your skirts, but you don’t mind much. You check your pocket watch in a panic, and scurry to the tourney match. You’re merely a pebble’s throw away, so you reach the bleachers quite quickly. Late, granted, but not too late. Not horribly, irreversibly, all-endingly late. You climb up to your usual spot in the bleachers, only a few seats away from the isle kids. Well, Mal and Evie, really, since Jay and Carlos are out on the field. You try to wave at the girls, but they seem much too preoccupied with the game to notice. You understand their fascination, tourney matches are simply addictive. 

You yourself hadn’t been one for sports - aside from the occasional caucus race - that is, until Ben joined the tourney team last year. He must have spent every spare moment leading up to his first match trying to explain the rules to you with no luck, but the moment the referee blew her whistle, you were enamored watching him play. And it’s simply been that way ever since. No matter what it is, you know it will be a fantastical time if Ben’s the one playing. This seems especially true today. 

Ben tears up the field like an absolute animal - no pun intended - and within minutes has scored yet another goal for Auradon. The Fighting Knights are pulling out all the stops, and through even your unwavering faith in Ben’s athleticism, it’s starting to look like a close call. You pull out a teacup from your bag, the china cool under your fingertips. It’s adorned with a white catchfly and chestnut print, but you don’t pay much attention to it. 

Your eyes are locked on Ben as he races down the field, and you pour the spout of your tea pot shaped bag into the cup. Warm, perfectly brewed rooibos and nettle tea trickles from its spout. You shake it absentmindedly a few times, and some lemon slices and lavender sprigs fall in, floating atop the beverage. You take a sip of the warm, perfectly seasoned herbal tea, nearly choking on it as Jay drags Carlos across the field. You watch with bated breath as they move strategically, setting up Ben to score the perfect winning goal. The ball flies straight into the net, and you jump up, cheering and applauding, not even noticing the rooibos and nettle tea stain on your skirt. The crowd roars right along with you, applauding and cheering deafeningly while the announcer congratulates Auradon Prep on their win. Before he can even finish speaking, Ben grabs the mic from him.

You stop dead in your tracks, brow furrowed.

That’s not like him. 

Not at all. 

“Excuse me, excuse me!” Ben pants, still out of breath as he tries to get the crowd’s focus. “Can I have your attention please?”

The stands quiet as he speaks. 

“There’s- uh, there’s something I’d like to say!”

What in the Knave’s good name is he doing? Your mind races, trying to remember if he’d said anything about something like this. Were there any speeches, any announcements, anything like that he was going to make after the game? You can’t remember him mentioning anything like that. Besides, he always runs his speeches by you first to make sure it comes across the way he intends it too. Even something as small as an opening statement or homework presentation, he always gets your feedback first. You watch the way his eyes dart around, the way he hesitates as he tries to figure out what he’s saying. Your stomach drops. He’s improvising this. This whole situation feels surreal. Most peculiar, and most definitely unlike him. 

After another moment of floundering, he finally addresses the crowd. 

“Give me an M!” 

The crowd complies, shouting out the letter and mirroring the shape he’s making with his arms. 

“Give me an A!” 

“A!” 

While the crowd complies yet again, throwing their arms over their heads in an A shape, your eyes fly over to Audrey. You’re afraid you know where this is going, even though it makes positively less sense than the most twisting turning riddles you’ve ever encountered in Wonderland. Your horrified, bewildered expression is the opposite of her hopeful one, and you realize you’re thinking the same thing. Your stomach sinks in a sick, twisting feeling. Your mind races in a dreamlike panic. 

He can’t seriously be asking Audrey to marry him, could he? 

There’s no way. There’s simply no chance that the Ben you’ve known for longer than you’ve been brewing tea would do something so… impulsive. Everything about Ben is calculated. Well thought through. Ben agonizes over each and every decision, he lies awake at night paralyzed by the potential consequences of each action, each choice not being thought all the way through and analyzed from every possible angle. If proposing to Audrey was even a thought in his mind, he would have told you about it. 

There’s simply no other way. There’s no possibility this was even an option in his mind. Just last week when you had quietly implied that maybe he should consider ending their relationship, his silence spoke louder than any words could have. You had seen that. You saw it in his eyes. There’s no way he could be changing his mind that quickly, and not consulting you - or someone about it? You know you would have gotten wind if he even implied he was toying with the notion. Ben does not flip-flop. So what is… this?

“Give me an L!”

Audrey’s face drops. Yours floods with relief. 

He’s not proposing. 

“C’mon, I can’t hear you!” Ben calls out into the mic, hyping up the crowd. They yell Mal’s name again at Ben’s encouragement. You think you see where he’s going with this. It makes sense - Jay and Carlos each got a big starring moment during the tourney game. Now, Ben is giving a shout out to Mal and Evie so they can share in the glory, and won’t feel left out. It’s a brilliant idea, you realize, but you still can’t figure out why he didn’t plan something like this ahead. Did he realize last minute that Mal and Evie might feel excluded? It’s possible. And right now, it’s the most rational explanation you have for this unusual behavior. Before you can feel too relieved, he leans into the mic. You wait for him to instruct the crowd to give him an E, beginning to spell Evie’s name, and-

“I love you, Mal!”

Your stomach drops. You freeze again, brow furrowed more than before. The world around you spins as you stand in the crowd, disoriented. He says it like a deathbed confession, the words tearing from his throat. Through your confused stupor, you can hear the sincerity, the yearning in his voice. 

What?

You don’t even think to look over at Audrey, but you’re sure as anything her expression is exactly the same as yours - completely and totally shell shocked. Probably moreso, you think, she is his girlfriend after all. But is she? Anymore, that is. You can’t imagine she would want to be after a display like that, after Ben publicly- 

Ben…

Ben. 

His gaze flicks over to you for a split second, not even long enough for you to silently ask him what the hell is going on. But it’s just long enough for you to see a flash of something. A look in his eye. Fear. Confusion. Everything you’re feeling for him right now. His attention is ripped forcefully back to Mal. Whatever was there, you can’t see it now. 

“Give me a beat!” Ben demands overzealously to the band. They start playing something for him, something loud and fast. Ben begins singing Mal’s praises. Literally. You’re still frozen, sick with a cold, confused feeling that makes the world around you feel like a strange dream. Unreal. You begin to question if you are dreaming. Through your dazed state - which you only later realize has begun to be accompanied by hot tears blurring your vision - you could swear you saw Mal and Evie share some sort of look, whisper knowingly. They giggle. Mal pulls a zip top bag of cookies out of her jacket pocket and they both start giggling. Laughing. 

A noise catches your scattered attention and you notice Ben has launched himself into the stands, crowd surfing to get all the way over to Mal. He climbs down, grabbing her waist and pulling her close. It’s so intense, so passionate, so unlike him to do something like that in public. You start to gasp, but you can’t. The stands are so loud, each noise feels like a gunshot deafening you. Your lungs feel like they’re being squeezed from the bottom up like paint tubes, gripped by an artist desperate for the last drops of cadmium yellow deep. 

His hand rests firmly on the small of her back.

Just like it does on yours.

Something sickening twists through you, contaminating your heart and sapping away at your strength. Audrey’s voice cuts through, piercing and shrill as she announces to Ben that Chad is her boyfriend now. You see them kiss in your peripheral vision, eyes still locked on the way Ben’s hand sits on Mal’s back. He doesn’t seem to notice Audrey either, or at the very least, he doesn’t acknowledge her. Normally you’d giggle privately at how much that would irritate her, but nothing so frivolous crosses your mind just then.

“I love you, Mal!” Ben exclaims into the microphone. “Did I mention that?”

He leans closer, aching for her, needing her. But she puts her hands on his chest, trying to keep more distance between them. 

“Mal,” he begs, panting as his breath fans across her face, his cheeks flushed. He grips her tighter, leaning closer until he’s practically dipping her. The crowd watches, shocked at the sight of Prince Ben - who is known for his diplomatic reserve and continuous composure - acting so bold in public. “Will you go to coronation with me?”

“Yes!” Mal’s response comes a little too easily. 

You stare off into space in his general direction, choked with disbelief. You feel so frightened and confused and unwelcome. It’s a cold, isolated feeling of strangeness you’ve been running from since you could walk. You knew what people said about Wonderlandians, what they whispered behind your back when they thought you couldn’t hear. It was always Ben who made that feeling go away. He had seen the change in you, too. The more time you spent together since you were littles, the more he included you and sent disapproving princely looks to anyone who dared to tease you or make you feel like you’re not a part of Auradon, the more it started to work. He saw you relax, saw you believe him when he said he was happy to see you. He saw the shame and paranoia from accepting the fact that everyone around you was teasing you behind your back, spreading lies and rumors fade away. 

Ben watched you grow into yourself the moment he showed you that you were safe to do so. Now, after ten years, that horrible feeling is back and Ben is gone. You turn, rushing out of the bleachers, hopping down to solid ground and turning underneath the stands. You’ve barely stopped before the world caves in around you, and the familiar scent of earth and night and the good kind of confusion envelop your senses, like a hug from your mother. 

You fall down the rabbit hole, and you weep. Shamelessly, loudly, uncontrolled. Your tears fly off into the air above you as you fall, no longer afraid of prying eyes. You cry and cry, losing your sense of time and space as you fall deeper and deeper away from the world that never seems to lose amusement in stinging you when you least expect it. You take in a breath, but before you can let it out as another aching sob, you’re plunged underwater. 

Your eyes flare open in the deep waves around you, the black void of a sky above. You kick yourself up to the surface, gasping as you tread the current carrying you downstream. The water splashes around you, getting into your mouth, and it’s salty. A stork sails by on a little wooden raft, adjusting her captain’s hat. “Well, that would do it!” She exclaims in a thick, Wonderlandian accent. “I was wondering what caused these high tides.” 

She maneuvers her raft towards you and hauls you onto it, her gangly legs wobbling awkwardly as she keeps her balance. She pulls a handkerchief out of her pocket and hands it to you, her long feathers tickling your fingertips. 

“Dry your eyes there, dearie, or else we’ll be having to build a new dam!” 

You sputter an apology, which she dismisses goodnaturedly, and begins singing a confusing sea shanty as she navigates the waves, coming and going as you try to calm yourself. After a few minutes, a particularly large wave pushes you two over the river’s edge and sends you spinning into the forest. 

“Well, there you have it.” She says, taking off her cap and dumping out water, sand, a few shells, and a very irritable codfish. She unties the strings of her raft, gathering up the large sticks used to make it into a bundle, and tucking them under her arm.

“Quite useful, you know,” She says softly, before handing you a piece of nicely shaped paper. It reads The Two Blwo’s Shipping Survise. “And if you ever need something lickety split, I do hope you’ll give me a call.”

She tilts her hat and lopes off through the woods into darkness. 

You plop yourself down on the nearest thing - a large, bioluminescent blue mushroom with little purple spots that makes a sound like a big deep drum when you sit down on it. Several smaller mushrooms varying in size scatter near the base of the one you’re seated on. As you pull your foot up to get comfortable, you graze a few of the litter ones, and let out different tones and types of drums too. Normally this would fascinate you. Normally you would be taking pictures, writing about them in your journal, and trying to learn how to play a song on them - if they’re in the right sort of temperament, of course. But today you don’t even notice.

Your mind is still spiraling, sucked down into a whirlpool of the day’s events. You go over and over what happened, hoping to make sense of it, but unable to really process anything. That was so strange, Ben is acting so strange. Why is he acting like that, you wonder. Did he hit his head? Has he somehow been possessed by a very extroverted poltergeist? Why would he do that? It doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t even make nonsense. Even in Wonderland, there are still patterns, there are still rules and motivations for doing things. Even if those rules and patterns don’t make sense to anyone else, they’re still real. Wonderland is illogical and absurd, but it’s not purely random. 

You rock yourself comfortingly on the bouncy mushroom, the soft noise providing an ambiance that helps you start to think again. There’s no feasible pattern or non-pattern or non-pattern pattern to Ben’s behavior. If there were one, you would be able to find it, especially if you know him as well as you do. And you do. You glance down and see some beetles marching in a line, carrying leaf umbrellas to avoid any more falling tears. You wipe them from your cheeks quickly. 

“My apologies.” You say, your voice polite and fragile. The head beetle chirps, clicking his wings and tipping his hat. He ushers the others past your mushroom quickly, putting their leaf umbrellas onto an umbrella leaf bush nearby. 

A few bread-and-butterflies flitter over, carrying a tray of tea and cakes. They place it before you gently, brewing you a cup of blackberry earl grey with extra honey. You thank them, and they nod, flittering off and leaving a trail of buttery breadcrumbs as their wings flap. They land nearby, listening to you mutter to yourself as the line up to form a loaf. The tea and cakes are delicious, full of jam and honey, and they steady your nerves. You take in another breath, less shaky this time, and begin to think. Not panic, really think. 

“There has to be a reason,” you mumble out loud, “There simply has to be. Ben doesn’t just lose his composure like this. He’s not devoid of sensibilities and decision making. He’s worked so hard to hone his reputation as someone trustworthy, someone full of common sense and compassion, and that… being that person for Auradon is everything to him.”

You place down your tea cup firmly, brow furrowing as your confusion melts away to determination. 

“Everything! He would never do something so… impulsive, and foolhardy, and- and… not like him!” 

You stand up quickly, landing on your feet. 

“I must get to the bottom of this.” You pause. “Or top. Either way.”

You gather your things, fix your hair, and wring out the water from your dress. Even if Ben doesn’t care about his reputation anymore, about his future, the very future of Auradon and all who reside within it, you do. Your loyalty to Ben simply cannot be broken by a day like today.  You won’t let him throw away everything he’s worked towards for no reason. For any reason! If he’s just gone mad, that’s one thing to be dealt with. But there’s a good chance he’ll come back to his senses sooner or later, and you refuse to let everything to hell in a handbasket until he does. 

You are going to figure this out. You’re going to do as much damage control as needed until Ben is back to you and Back to himself. And he is going to come back to himself. You’re sure of it.

Filled with tea cakes and determination, you summon a rabbit hole back to Auradon, and jump through. You flip and twist through the darkness, falling past a bookshelf that floats along with you for a moment, offering a few titles that might prove useful. 

When light breaks the surface and you hear the cracking of polished stone floors, you climb through and emerge into the library. You dust the dirt off yourself and off your hands, setting down your books on a table. You begin to look around, rushing through the library and moving with purpose. You pull book after book off the shelves until you can hardly carry them to the checkout desk. Many of them will be fruitless, you’re sure, but anything is better than nothing in times like these.

“Doing some light reading, Ms. Liddell?” The librarian asks, chuckling at the imposing stack of books you’ve placed before her as she scans through them. 

“There’s nothing light about it, I’m afraid.”She looks up, surprised by the unusual heaviness to your voice, the sharp, focused determination. “Thank you, madam.” You say, grabbing all your books and marching off to your dorm. You have a lot of reading to get through.

[fandomtherapy44]

Sober Buddies Masterlist! CJ Braxton x reader

summary: Y/n is new at Worthington and looking for a fresh start. she meets some friends and a guy who has the same rule as her they don't drink. So when they become Sober buddies tensions rise not just with her friends but between CJ and her. Read to find out more!

AN: So I will probably just be making fanfiction for CJ. The storyline will mainly be in season six.

series warnings: Smut eventually, Alcohol, Alcoholism, swearing, Talk about SA

Chapter one: Help lines and Cults

Chapter two: Email chains and party facts

Chapter Three: Costumes and ghosts

[echantedtoon]

IMPORTANT!!!: Plz Read!!

If this is your first time to this page I welcome you. Please read the rules below before asking anything. Masterlist of works will be underneath.

RULES

-I will not accept nsfw/personal asks. All asks like that will be deleted and blocked.

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-I will age up characters if I write for them, but I WILL keep everything sfw.

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-If I write yandere content it's purely for fictional purposes. I don't support yandere behavior in real life.

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SOCIALS

Ao3

Qoutev

Wattpad

20yrs+ She/her Welcome to my blog. Here you'll mostly find Y/n x Character content however I will also post crackships, cannon x oc, and cannon ships from multiple fandoms I enjoy. I also reblog a lot of self insert and Y/n x Cannon art and stories. Most stories will be cross posted from my other blog @hazbinextgeneration.

Here you can find all my series or works linked.

Villain Recruiters Romance

MHA Oneshots

Pokemon x Y/n

Zoophobia/Hazbin/Etc.

Ocs And Original Content

A Hat In Time Au

Undertale/Deltarune

Sonic Stuff

My Little Pony

Demon Slayer x Y/n

Yandere Games And Visual Novels

Winx Club

One Piece

Scp Foundation

Wally Darling x GN Reader

Barbie Hue x Elina

Bendy x Alice Angel

Cagney Carnation x Rumor Honeybottoms

Amalthea x Schmendrick

Disney Gargoyles Brooklyn x Maggie

Banban x Reader

Boris Airay x Alice Liddell

Sari Sumdac x Bumblebee

Illumi Zoldyck x Reader

Satellite City Yeshua x Reader

Dogday x Reader

Labyrinth Jareth x Sarah

Beetlejuice x Lydia

Ratigan x Reader

Francis Mosses x Reader

The Cat Returns Baron x Haru

Nebarius Kalego x Reader

Lupin the 3rd Goemon Ishikawa the 13th x Reader

Casper McFadden x Kathleen Harvey

Dorothy Gale x Scarecrow

King Boo x Reader

Type F x Reader

King Candy/Turbo x Reader

Fanart

OC x Cannon Playlist

Oc x Cannon Playlist 2

[fl3shm4id3n]

𝓝𝓮𝔀 𝓛𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓫𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓢𝓮𝓪

𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬. 𝐘𝐨𝐮'𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐞𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲'𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐤𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭.

ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ: ꜱᴜʟʟʏ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ x ʜᴜᴍᴀɴ! ꜰᴇᴍ! ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ (ᴘʟᴀᴛᴏɴɪᴄ)

ꜱᴏɴɢ: ᴀʟɪᴄᴇ ᴍᴀᴅɴᴇꜱꜱ ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴꜱ- ᴛᴜɴᴅʀᴀꜰᴜʟ

Tw: past angst, bullying, reader almost goes into Hysteria, reader has powers, reader is 19 years old.

A/N: I'm sure you guys know I'll be writing more about this in the future. I may write one where the reader gets captures by the RDA and she goes into Hysteria then manages to get away.

Masterlist

You had tagged along with the Sully's to go with the Metkayina. They were in danger if they stayed in the forest, the humans had come back to threated Jake and his family. Since he was done with war, he believed it would be best to leave their home to keep the people safe. It was hard seen the family leave everything behind, this was all they ever knew and now they had to leave. You didn't have to leave since they weren't after you, but you went anyway. The Sully's had become your family after they had took you in and helped you, you learned their phrase about sticking together, and that was what you'll do.

The ride to the Metkayina wasn't long, it was only seven hours away. You all flied for four and rested for three. But when you arrived, you weren't very welcome. You had all been surrounded by a crowd, you had been hiding between Lo'ak and Kiri, you noticed how this na'vi were much taller, with wider arms, wider eyes and tails, not to mention they seemed to be more stronger for you, with tattoos on their bodies. They almost reminded you of sailors in a way.

When the Olo'eyktan and Tsahìk came to greet the family, they weren't so sure in allowing you all to stay, since you wee forest people and them reef people. Mainly the Tsahik known as Ronal, this lady seemed as if any little thing can cause her to get mad. She somewhat reminded you of a certain Queen you had to destroy, if she was that mad, she'd probably demand for you and the Sully's heads. She pointed out about their tails and arms been to thin, then came in the five fingered kids, and them contaning demon blood. She did not miss you at all.

Ronal got a good look at you, she was shocked to see a 'demon' up close, not to mention you could breath their air just fine. You were a demon in her eyes for sure, she looked into your eyes the same way Neytiri did when she met you. She felt and saw everything you went through during your youth. Of course Jake jumped into the defense of his children and yours, saying that you were a family friend. The Olo'eyktan and Tsahìk had finally allowed you to stay, but under the condition that you all learn how to be like them, including you. Once settled in, Jake had to talk with the family about staying out of trouble in order to still remain here.

The next day lessons began, you had joined the Sully's with three other Metkayina kids. You remembered the kids of the Olo'eyktan and Tsahìk, Ao'nung and Tsireya, but were introduced to a friend of their's known as Rotxo. When they dived in the water, they seemed to be talking in a type of sign language. You'd learn it for sure.

Mean while you had manage to set foot at the bottom of the ocean, you couldn't explain how you were able to breath underwater and walk on the bottom. As you walked, you saw many sea creatures that you never thought you'd see this close, they were very different from the ones from the Delude Depths, not to mention the underwater buildings and sunken ships, under the sea was lovely to be in. Then you got introduced to the Ilus who were like direhorse, they were very friendly and playful. Sadly you couldn't bond with them but you'd still stick around with them.

Kiri had been minding her own business, admiring the sand since this was her first time ever seen it. Ao'nung and his group of friends decided to go pester her. When you witnessed this, you went over to defend her, only for them to continue their harassment. They surrounded you and Kiri as they continued their teasing. You began to feel angry, you were causing no harm to anyone and they had decided it would be fun to come and pick on people minding their own business. You tried to contain yourself, feeling your fist balling up and your eyes had began to change into a red.

Seems as if Lo'ak had the same idea in stepping in. But he only got teased like you and Kiri, they continued until Neteyam stepped in, making them back down. He warned them about starting to respect his sisters. When you were leaving, Ao'nung had made a comment about your family. Making Lo'ak think of something to do, Neteyam tried stopping his brother but he said he'd got it.

As Lo'ak was showing Ao'nung his 'trick' a fight began, he had punched the Chief's son square in the face, warning him about never bother his sisters again. Now that their was fight caused by Lo'ak, Neteyam had now stepped into the fight. Kiri had comment about this being stupid, you just watched the whole fight. Reminding you of the bar fights that would happen at the Mangled Mermaid, then you and Kiri began to laugh due to the screaming, about a tail being pulled and an ear. It was a pretty funny sigh to see. Of course they got into trouble for fighting, that was the first thing Jake had told them not to do, cause trouble, specially with the chief's son. Even though they did wrong, Ao'nung and his friends had it coming.

It happened again, but this time it happened in the ocean. You had went out for a swim to freshen up your mind, when you had stepped out. Your once blue dress had become one themed like the sea, pink and teal colored scales on the bodice, with two cams on your chest. A small apron with both the symbols of Neptune and the Moon. The string of your necklace was replaced with sea weed, the bow on your back was now of fish bones followed by tail with a light on the end. You no longer wore stockings or shoes, you were now barefooted. Plus your once dark eyeshadow was now more of natural light colors and light tinted lips. Since you basically were adapting to a new environment, you attire changed, it was strange to other but normal to you.

Turns out that you're able to use your abilities underwater just like in the forest. It was strange, but you just had just got used to strange things happening to you. You just stopped thinking about it and dealt with them. Same with the Sully's, they didn't question the strange things that were happening with you, they believed it was a you thing since it wasn't the first time it has happened.

When it came to the Metkayina Trio, they had asked you almost the same questions like the first time you have arrived on Pandora. You answered them as best as you could as well as explain a couple. Tsireya had a huge interest in you since the first day she saw you. She has heard about 'demons' from her parents, but when it came to you, she didn't see you like one. Sure you're a human, but you have no evil or horrible intentions like the ones she had heard off.

Both Rotxo and Ao'nung were skeptical at first, but the more they got to know you, they began to trust you and getting to know you more. They were shocked to know that you were already older then them. At that age in their ways, you'd probably already be married/mated and maybe even expecting for a kid. They had asked you about you growing up, but only the good parts and avoided the other parts. Besides learning about you, they've also asked you about stories about the sea back on earth, you've told them about the Kraken, the Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen along with other see related stories.

You were always taught from a young age to respect your elders, and that's what you did with both Tonowari and Ronal, specially since they were both the Olo'eyktan and Tsahìk. You knew that they hated humans, specially Ronal. You tried to show them your goodwill since you wanted to show them that you weren't like the rest of the humans that they must have heard or encountered.

Just like the Sully's you learned about the Metkayina, maybe even more like you did with the Omaticaya. You learned about what their tattoos actually meant, their rite to passage and how they wielded spears as well as darts. You sucked up this information since you believe it to be important, who knows how long you and the Sully's would be staying here, so it was always good to know things.

ₚᵣₑᵥᵢₒᵤₛ ₚₐᵣₜ, ₙₑₓₜ ₚₐᵣₜ

[victorluvsalice]

For those who were asking if I was ever going to do a multi-chapter Valicer fanfic -- look what lives~ Granted, only the very short prologue of the very first story is up now, but I hope to rectify that very soon. XD Hope you enjoy!

[macherkissed]

The Macherkissed Masterlist

Any Content warnings/triggers will be marked next to the work. If I miss any, just tell me and I'll make sure to correct it.

Scenarios/Headcanons;

How they react to seeing you depressed for the first time (Michael Myers, Poly!Ghostface) [CW: GN!Reader, Depression]

Befriending A Splicer Headcanons [CW: GN!Reader, Weapons Mention]

How they react to you telling them you're pregnant (Betelgeuse, Gomez & Morticia Addams, Yautja) [CW: AFAB!Reader, Pregnancy, One line mention of abortion, Smut Mention, Polyamory, Exophilia]

How they react to your new tattoo (Jason Voorhees, Tiffany Valentine, Norman Bates) [CW: GN!Reader, Tattooed Reader, Needles mention, Slight Smut mention]

Comforting you when your elderly pet is passing (Hellboy, NBC Will Graham, Venom & Eddie Brock) [CW: GN!Reader, mentions of losing a pet, possible triggering subject]

NSFW Headcanons (Mark Hoffman) [CW: GN!Reader, Smut, Fluff, Kink]

How they act with a noise sensitive SO (Betelgeuse, Hellboy, Venom, Yautja) [CW: GN!Reader, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Exophilia]

How they react to a Shy S/O (Chucky & Tiffany, Gomez & Morticia, Alice Liddell, Nemesis) [CW: GN!Reader, Smut, Polyamory, Mentions of violence, mild-to-moderate dom/sub, mentions of sadism, Exophilia]

How they react to you going into labour (Gomez & Morticia Addams) [CW: AFAB!Reader, GN!Reader, Pregnancy, labour, pain and slight childbirth typical gore]

How he reacts to your body tremors (Jason Voorhees) [CW: GN!Reader, Disabled!Reader, Medication mention, Fluff]

Oneshots;

The Reward of Patience (Betelgeuse) [CW: AFAB!Reader, Smut, Pegging]

Wrapped Up in Pretty Ribbons (Billy Lenz) [CW: Fem!Reader, Smut, Non-Con Voyeurism, Slight Somnophilia, Choking]

Those Sweet Lips (Poly!Ghostface) [CW: Fem!Reader, Smut, Threesome, Polyamory, Oral Sex, Some M/M Action]

Recompense (Hannibal Lector) [CW: Fem!Reader, Smut, Oral Sex, Boss/Employee Relationship]

Closest of Encounters (Psycho Goreman) [CW: Fem!Reader, Mature, Kissing, Suggestive, Exophilia]

No Gods or Kings, Only Fontaine (Frank Fontaine) [CW: GN!Reader, Smut, Oral Sex, Slight D/S]

A Moment Alone (Jack Wynand) [CW: GN!Reader, Smut, Ambiguous Penetration, Unprotected Sex, No Aftercare]

Alphabets

Thel Vadam X ADHD!Reader SFW Alphabet [CW: Fem!Reader, ADHD, Fluff, Exophilia, Marriage mention]

[unreliablenarratorpoll]

and here's the long awaited match-ups! for the sake of readability, here it is in text form:

Left Side:

1: The Narrator (Fight Club) VS Richard Papen (The Secret History)

2: Belgarath the Sorcerer (The Belgariad) VS Lain Iwakura (Serial Experiments Lain)

3: Kim Dokja (Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint) VS Greg Heffley (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)

4: Patrick Bateman (American Psycho) VS Drosselmeyer (Princess Tutu)

5: Kuruto Ryuki (AI: The Somnium Files – Nirvana Initiative) VS Ishmael (Moby Dick)

6: Amy Elliot-Dunne (Gone Girl) VS Victor Frankenstein (Frankenstein)

7: Mary Katherine Blackwood (We Have Always Lived in the Castle) VS Odysseus (The Odysseus)

8: Pi Patel (Life of Pi) VS Alice Liddel (Alice: Madness Returns)

9: Jamie Taylor (The Haunting of Bly Manor) VS Jonny d'Ville (The Mechanisms)

10: Harrowhark Nonagesimus (The Locked Tomb) VS Elena Gilbert (The Vampire Diaries)

11: Wei Wuxian (Mo Dao Zu Shi/Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation) VS The Batter (OFF)

12: Charlotte Wiltshire (Hello Charlotte) VS Yuki Takeya (School-Live!)

13: Eleanor Vance (The Haunting of Hill House) VS Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII)

14: Louis de Point du Lac (Interview With The Vampire) VS Harrier Du Bois (Disco Elysium)

15: Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games) VS Will Navidson (House of Leaves)

16: Maebara Keiichi (Higurashi: When They Cry) VS Emperor Kuzco (The Emperor's New Groove)

Right Side:

17: Holden Caulfield (Catcher in the Rye) VS Ethan Frome (Ethan Frome)

18: Kayleigh (We Had To Remove This Post) VS Attolis Eugenides (Queen's Thief)

19: Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson and the Olympians) VS Mapleshade (Warriors)

20: The Narrator (Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo) VS Offred (The Handmaid's Tale)

21: Nick Carraway (The Great Gatsby) VS Zampanò (House of Leaves)

22: Steven Crain (The Haunting of Hill House) vs David Wong (John Dies At The End)

23: Renata Ghali (Planetfall) VS Johnny Truant (House of Leaves)

24: Mfer From Telltale Heart (The Tell-Tale Heart) VS Meursault (The Stranger)

25: Ted (I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream) VS The Narrator (The Stanley Parable)

26: Genly Ai (The Left Hand of Darkness) VS Hiroshi Odokawa (Odd Taxi)

27: Frankenstein's Monster (Frankenstein) VS Varric Tethras (Dragon Age 2)

28: Cadi My Friend Cadi (Real Life) VS John The Apostle (The Bible)

29: Pelafina Heather Lièvre (House of Leaves) VS Johnny Silverhand (Cyberpunk 2077)

30: Rodion Raskolnikov (Crime and Punishment) VS Marco (Animorphs)

31: Flannery Culp (The Basic Eight) VS Daniil Dankovsky (Pathologic)

32: Cecil Palmer (Welcome To Night Vale) VS Mr. Stevens (The Remains of the Day)

[estherdedlock]

I’m afraid I have to dispute the popular theory that Henry asked Richard to do the math on the poison-mushroom formula so that he would have a piece of damning evidence in Richard’s handwriting. It’s an excellent idea and Henry is certainly diabolical enough for it, but Henry never takes Richard’s calculations with him. 

“Hmn,” said Henry, looking over my shoulder at the paper on the desk.

Henry only looks at the paper on the desk. He never touches it, picks it up, or pockets it. I’ve been trying to figure out if he somehow scooped it up along with Richard’s copy of Purgatorio, but that doesn’t seem likely. Richard is sitting at the desk. There’s no way Henry could pick up that paper without Richard seeing him do it. It’s possible that Henry got into Richard’s room later and plucked it out of the wastebasket, but Donna Tartt isn’t one of those writers who would leave something like this out. There would be some kind of hint that this happened, even if it was only in the form of Richard’s mounting paranoia at the end of the book. It’s the whole Chekhov’s Gun scenario: she’s not going to introduce something without using it. If she had wanted readers to suspect that Henry was setting Richard up, she wouldn’t have left that paper on Richard’s desk. (For an example of Tartt using an object to create suspicion, see Richard’s misplaced Liddell and Scott textbook.)

Am I wrong? Did I miss a passage somewhere that suggests Henry walked out of Richard’s room with those calculations?