#new mermaid lore: they can see ghosts

[marisetcaelum]

@norringtxn cont. from ✧

❝ and why would you be haunting me? i'm not the one who led you to your end. i simply am able to see you while humans are not. i see no reason for me to be treated with malice by the dead. at least - not you. ❞

a brow lifts, amusement tugging at her lips. in truth she did not mind the presence of bygone sailors, so long as they are of the amiable kind. most spirits never appeared near the bay, others only stayed for a short time.

❝ in any case, if you're haunting me, are you not supposed to be frightening? it would appear that you're not doing a very good job of that. needs more pained groaning, claims that i'm going to hell. graphic depictions of my end. that sort of thing. ❞

[punkeropercyjackson]

The Anomalies aka Miles,Percy and Jason headcanons because i keep wanting to talk about how they hang out and work together

So!!Going in,Miles is a dreadhead and transmascfem,Percy is an afrolatina trans woman and Jason is afrolatino and fat.Be respectful ty!!

Dairy Super is their 2000s cartoon protagonists hang out.It's the Prime Earth equivalent to Dairy Queen and it was their first ever place they had a proper convo post-Miles and Percy literally crashing into Jason on his motorcyle as they shot out of their portals on the outskirts of Gotham so it has a special place in their hearts

Usual orders:Salted caramel truffles with a double cheeseburger and fries for Miles,blue cotton candy and blue kryptonian burgers for Percy and frosted animal cookies and a taco salad for Jason.They're regulars and a staple as something of Dairy Super cryptids that let you take pictures of them and show their powers for you if you ask first instead of being rude.Eventually Dairy Super announces a The Anomalies special meal you can earn with coupons

They have schedueld weekly diy sessions-they each have their own collection of diy items they made and gifts from the other two's but their favorites they've made are their 'White Streak Gang' tops,Percy's gray streak having faded and Miles getting his own white streak with Apollo's Blessing for their artistic talent and dedicated-Miles' is a sleveless hoodie,Percy's is a crop top and Jason's is a baggy t-shirt.The sessions were Percy's idea as the most actively punk out of the team!!

Obviously Percy and Jason join in on Miles' art,most notably his grafitti but also literally as he dedicates his sketchbook to them upon their first seperation like he does Gwen.They snatch it up from him and tease him about it like her in Atsv too and he's even more embarrased.They tag with him across New York,Gotham and Metropolis too and he got them into painting and chalk(Jason actually bit into one when he thought nobody was looking and they didn't say nothing because all their autistic asses had done it at some point so no snitches)

They watch Bluey together.Yeah there's no way around it,they simply would.It's where Jason got his nickname for Percy,Bluey,not just because Bluey Heeler is blue but also because she's so Percy-coded and it was Miles' suggestion to watch it so Jason tried to resist but couldn't at both Miles and Percy's Kitty Cat Eyes™️ and Mike,once you see this drop lore for their fave characters and episodes and merch they've stolen /lh /nf

Ghosthunting amd cryptidhunting but actually because they know damn well they actually exist even before Jason's ressurected ass came along.They exorcise when needed but mostly just make new ghost friends and they ask the cryptids questions and help out with their problems if they're benevolent,which they almost always are

Miles is strawberries,Percy is blue raspberry and Jason is cookies and cream.Miles is pink and black,Percy is blue and pink and Jason is red and pink.Miles is a sunflower,Percy is a bluebell and Jason is a rose.Iykyk

Miles is basically a human kamoji in his mannerisms and expressions and it drew Percy and Jason in big time out of wanting to keep around him for how fun and adoptable he is and his hardcore traits underneath only made them love him even more

And vice versa as Miles felt Percy and Jason are trustworthy instantly due to how overtly tough they are but could sense a hidden gooey softness underneath and it's all around a well-balanced dynamic from the start

They go to the beach in diy'd suits made to reflect their aesthetics:Miles' is a cutesy swim trunks and tank top,Jason's is gothic swim suits and no shirt to show off his Lazarus Pit top surgery scars and Percy's is a mermaid themed blue bikini with an attached hoodie.They always make sure to help clean the shore and ocean on each trip but also to have fun by swimming together,sunbathing,getting ice cream and boba if they're lucky,collecting seashells,sandcastle building and even playing with the marine life per courtsey of Percy

Percy carries around motivational stickers so Miles and Jason picked up the habit but completely different kinds from hers-Percy's are ocean based,Miles' are pastel kidcore and Jason's are kidgothic

Miles and Jason do that brothers thing where you throw food in the air for the other to catch with your mouth.They get it 8/10 of the time

Percy does that mom friend thing where she places her hand on the back of Miles and Jason's heads to pull them close to hers in a hug as she closes her eyes

Jason subconciously amps up his scary aura when he senses or at least percieves a threat to Miles or Percy and notably dosen't do it for himself

Jason is basically a portable heater with how warm he always is contrary to the ghostly assumption of him being cold all the time so Miles and Percy plop down on him often even if not their entire bodies and he's not complaining because of how comfy they feel

Miles and Percy do their nails with Miles starting off with just a plain color until Percy got him to embrace his femininity and now they both do real nail art and got Jason to join in by revealing they could do tradgoth styles on him.Miles does multicolor or sunflowers,Percy does sharp and jelly(because jellyfish lmfao)and Jason has them do edgy ahh ones on him

They have matching tamagotchis Margo hacked to be communicators too:Miles' is a cat,Percy's is a shark and Jason's is a bat

Tim and Miles are a thing?????Obviously?That goes without saying,it's not a real crossover if they aren't.Tim and Miles crushed on sight and only didn't get together sooner because teenage boygirls are stupid and they're so cheesy together and so t4t and audhd4audhd too and Tim is also cherokee on Janet's side!!His brown swag bewitched Miles just like her afrolatina swag bewitched him /lh.They put their minecrafts beds next to eachothers and i wanna see TV Girl redraws with them STAT

Bruce:Uh.....Watcha got there? Jason,standing with a hot earthy part-kryptonian part-human half greek-god girl(Percy)and an itsy bitsy ass spider mutant who's technically a quasi-god by virtue of blessing and blue power ring accsess(Miles)and all three of them sipping Batburger milkshakes:Batburger Batidas

[foxwitchaine]

Bright Heavens Institute - A TWST Fan Game

So, it's been a while since I last made the announcement that I was doing a TWST fan game. Has it already been over seven months? Wow, time flies. Unfortunately, due to outside circumstances, I'll be taking the Patreon page down. I'm bummed, yeah, but it's not like it wasn't a learning experience in itself. If anything, I learned I had to plan it out a little better than I did, the fan game itself included.

This does not mean the game is being canceled. Oh, no. Far from it. I'm simply taking some time to reorganize my thoughts, establish a skeleton, and figure out where to go from there. I'll be six feet below the ground before I even think about cancelling this game, and even then I'll find a way to become a ghost and finish it. I'll be nice and share the post I made for those who didn't get to see it, though.

Copied from original Patreon post, with references to Patreon removed:

Hello hello! Fox Witch Aine/Aine Hayes, here. This is a solo project I am working on aside from Miraculous Ladybug, Genshin Impact, and Honkai: Star Rail. It is an entirely nonprofit project done solely out of passion and not for monetary gain. Not like I can even get away with that, with how draconian Disney is about their IPs.

But!

It would actually be pretty nice to share and stoke excitement for this project, as it's become near and dear to my heart. It would mean so much to me if word got out that there's a Twisted Wonderland fan game with an original soundtrack, beautiful Live2D models done in the style of the main game with gorgeous original designs, and a compelling story featuring seven playable characters.

That's right. Seven playable characters. While the game's writing is still in the planning phase (I've since constructed a working plot skeleton), I have a solid idea of the overall plot progression and the personalities of all 30+ girls attending this school.

Did I say "girls" and "school" in the same sentence? I did.

In fact, this entire project is set in a fanmade school called Bright Heavens Institute, featuring all-new original characters aside from the boys and teachers at Night Raven College, Royal Sword Academy, and Noble Bell College. Just like the aforementioned school, Bright Heavens Institute is a magic school. But a school with an all-female student body. The girls are all weird and wonderful and I love them so much. 

The lore of the school goes like this (subject to change in final game):

Bright Heavens Institute was founded by the Queen of the Deep, who worked with a scholar from the surface world to fight back against a mercenary who dared to desecrate her people's way of life.  By fusing with the Abyss Crystal (I gotta come up with a better name some time), the Queen of the Deep harnessed its power to save her people from a volcanic eruption. To honor her memory, the school's founders erected a statue of her and continue her teachings to this day.

Easy enough to understand, I hope.

Just like Night Raven College, the school is separated into seven dorms:

Floraspina - the cottagecore dorm. Based on Bambi, the girls in this dorm are mostly woodland beastwomen. But be warned. They may seem delicate and lovely, but they are not to be trifled with. Every rose has its thorns, after all, and these girls are the very embodiment of that saying.

Vermewilde - the Amazon dorm. Based on Tarzan, the girls in this dorm are an even mix of humans and jungle beastwomen. It is essentially the female equivalent of Savanaclaw, with a heavy focus on sports. Their star athlete Taraji Chalo is also the captain of the school's Spelldrive team.

Sireciel - the pirate dorm. Based on Peter Pan, the girls in this dorm embody the strength, beauty, and spirit of the open sea. There are humans, mermaids, and Fae in this dorm. While the housewarden has an intense focus on propriety and manners, the confidence of these girls is second to none.

Phaluverie - the dream dorm. Based on Winnie the Pooh, the girls in this dorm are a bit spacey. But just like Floraspina, they're not to be underestimated. They have a longstanding rivalry with Octavinelle due to beating a past housewarden in an interschool academics match. The grudge is still carried to this day.

Lanekema - the nerd and geek dorm. Based on Lilo & Stitch, the girls in this dorm focus on engineering and technology. It is essentially the female equivalent of Ignihyde with a Hawaiian theme. While they do collaborate with Ignihyde a lot, there's a noticeable tension between the housewarden and her vice housewarden.

Hypnocreux - the goth dorm. Based on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the girls in this dorm are quite spooky. Nonetheless, under the leadership of their current housewarden, their magical prowess is nothing to sneeze at. Count on them to know the ins and outs of potionology and poisons.

Magigranda - the diva dorm. Based on the Fantasia shorts, the girls in this dorm are the cream of the crop in Bright Heavens Institute. Populated by Fae, half-Fae, and humans, they are the female equivalent of Diasomnia. It helps that their housewarden, a diurnal swan Fae, is engaged to Malleus Draconia himself. That's not to say there aren't dissenters, though...

As you all can see, I have high hopes for the outcome of this project. I'm not expecting it to blow sky-high in popularity, but it would mean a lot if word got out that there is a Twisted Wonderland fan game in the works made completely for free. I'm expecting at least a two-to-three year production time. It's already been in planning since... early 2022, at least. I know for sure I will be releasing the project entirely for free once it is done.

Yes. Free. A fan game with gorgeous graphics and music will be published for download entirely for free. The OST will be released for free on Bandcamp (where you can download the songs) and YouTube (where you can listen for free without downloading), there will be livestreams where you can hang out while I work on the project (once I finish setting everything up). And I will accept feedback and critique if people have something to add to make this even better. I look forward to seeing where this will take me once I can put more focus on it.

Thank you for staying with me for this long. Until next time.

Tagging my mutuals: @neoninky, @animemimi1141

[simpuritysims]

THE PIERCE LEGACY: GENERATION 4/5

Eight years later, here we go again! For everyone that may be around but doesn't remember, or for anyone new who might hop on here, here's the basics of this legacy:

Each generation is focused around a new occult life state. Generation 1 was ghosts, generation 2 was imaginary friends, generation 3 was fairies, generation 4 was werewolves, and generation 5 will be witches. If I manage to stick with it, we'll move onto mermaids, then plantsims, vampires, and the last two gens were still up in the air. Each gen also has a colour, with yellow, green and orange being those of the three surviving generations.

We're going to start off pretty light story wise until the kids are at least children, to see if I can actually get back into it, but then we'll see.

All old posts are still linked on their navigation page, and the summary of the most recent generation's story is specifically here. (Bear in mind it was all written 8-10 years ago, so it's not all very well written and is outright clumsy in places, plus some posts were lost to the censors.)

More details below the cut. (Sorry, this got WAY TL;DR.)

The current family is as follows:

Maylu, Nat and Kain Pierce: Maylu was generation 3's heiress, and is the only non-occult sim left in this family. Nat was her childhood sweetheart, and Kain was another fairy they both met at university. What started as a drunken three-way became asking Kain to help them have kids became a polyamorous relationship.

Alfred and Avery Pierce: Generation 4's heir and spare. 'Twins', of a sort, in that they were born on the same day, even if they're actually half-brothers. Avery is blind in one eye and Alfred has stunted wing growth, both as a result of the same incident in their childhood.

Tessa Pierce (née O'Connell) and Ylva Pierce (née Tate): Generation's 4's spouses! Both werewolves that have rough pasts, as all the wolves do. Tessa and Alfred have been together since they were young teens, Ylva and Avery got together later in their teen years.

Ivory Nein-Russel and Adrian Nein-Russel: Unrelated to the Pierces themselves, but Ivory, Tessa and Ylva are practically sisters. With a little bit of an age gap, Adrian and Ivory fell in love last, but no less deeply, and last we saw they'd just gotten married.

Elanya Pierce, Felan Pierce and Calypso Nein-Russel: Heiress and spares (sort of) of generation 5! Elanya is a fairy, Felan and Calypso are werewolves. Calypso was adopted. They're a bit older than when we last saw them, being treated as more around 3-4 than 1-2.

Then, living elsewhere in town and only here for this picture, there's:

Ella Pierce and Faye Pierce: Spares from generation 4, Ella being Maylu's bio kid and Faye being Nat's, a turned-werewolf and a fairy respectively. Ella grew up a normal sim, but got Dexter to change her when they were teens because she was tired of being the only normal sim. This was more dangerous than expected.

Dexter Pierce (née Richwood) and Obsidian Pierce (née James): Spouses to Ella and Faye, respectively. Both werewolves, who like Adrian were also with the pack since they were kids. Dexter and Adrian have a bit of a rivalry, but they've been working on it.

Xavier Pierce and Cyril Pierce: Cousins to generation 5, Ella and Faye's kids respectively. Xavier is a werewolf and Cyril is a fairy.

I have all sorts of weird random bits of personalised occult lore for this family, but the relevant bits are:

There are very rare instances of occult hunters, and there is, technically, still one out there on the trail of the wolves in this family.

Fairies all start with the tiny little wings that then grow into one of the bigger shapes when they get older. Alfred's were stunted by emotional trauma and never grew.

Fairies can develop something called an adeptnature, which is a talent for a very specific branch of their nature magic. Alfred has one for befriending small animals, Avery has one that lets him sense the weather.

Fairies can have a variety of face markings, like Nat's 'eyeshadow' or the speckles on Alfred and such, that almost always skip a generation.

There are three kinds of werewolves: born wolves, moonborn wolves, and turned-wolves. Tessa, Ylva and Ivory are each of those respectively.

Cottonwood Hills, the town I play in, is a generally very welcoming town for occults but does not believe weresims exist. Maylu is working on proving it so the weres in the family can be open about what they are without issue.

Normal sims cannot learn alchemy. (Obviously they actually can mechanically, but lore wise.)

[jq37]

Twice Upon a Time - Neverafter Eps 4+5

Once Upon a Time and Down Came the Rain

Hey Y’all!

Happy New Year!

As I noted in a post about a week ago, I was home for the holidays with very little access to wifi so I missed a week–a very lore heavy and trippy week–and I am butting up against the drop of a new episode so, as promised at the start of this batch of recaps, I’m gonna do my best to catch us up without burning myself out and hopefully we’ll be back to normal recaps next episode.

So, first up, let’s quickly run through what everyone went through during their resurrections in episode 4: Once Upon a Time.

Pinocchio has perhaps the most harrowing time. After a quick chat with his ghost cricket conscience (bc in the OG tale, he straight up murders him, as one does) he is summoned by his very disappointed “mother”. When he sees her, there is a crack of light in the doorway from where he stole the doorknob but he caves and tells her that he found her house and gives her all the loot he took (knob, photo, knife). He’s really worried about his dad and even MORE worried when the stepmother uses Geppetto's blood to give him more power so maybe he’ll do better protecting Roz this time around (she seems to be on a diff plane with Gepetto, making Gepetto her only source of blood). Pinocchio is now a little more fucked up and he has a crow familiar that he’s not very fond of. Then he’s sent back to life but not *his* life. His stepmother throws him into a different version of the Neverafter (a darker one, which is the running theme of these resurrections) and he fully takes the place of the Pinocchio in this world. Yikes!

Puss in Boots gets a very meta sequence where he meets up with two other tricksters–Fox and Rabbit. They seem to be, in a very literal sense, the archetypal trickers you see in stories like Brer Rabbit or the Fox in Pinocchio (and it’s implied that in other versions of Pinocchio–Puss or really “Cat” is also the cat that leads Pinocchio astray with the Fox). At one point the Rabbit says “We have to work together for the rest of storytelling,” which is super meta. The Fox thinks he’s gotten a little too deep in his attachments to the people he’s messing with (which is maybe proven a bit true when he shows he’s still protective over Tomas) while the Rabbit seems a bit more on his side. Before he’s sent back, he gets some new gear (including wolf tooth daggers called “The Fangs of Isengrim”) and also sees a giant spider web which screams Anansi to me (especially now that I’ve seen ep 5 and know how many cultures Brennan is pulling from here).

Roz gets my fave sequence in which she meets Cinderella (Lou Voice: Another secret Black woman?) who gives this wild info dump. Basically, she says that because of the nature of the Neverafter, princesses tend to have special abilities–most relevant here, the ability to live more “once upon a times” than other people. Cindy and Snow have been looking for Roz for a while and it’s been hard because she spends 100 years of her story asleep and it’s hard to find a window to get to her. Cindy says that the Neverafter began when the Times of Shadow did and the powers that be don’t necessarily like this crossover thing that’s happening. She says that as she died over and over she began to become aware of her past lives and she realized that someone–namely the fairies–had been bending events so that things would always go a certain way. For instance, her mother would always die. So, she’s team free will. Roz is a little naive to all this talk, still hoping for a prince and a happily ever after (with Cindy very endearingly trying to be patient with her) when Roz (with a nat 20 Insight) starts getting flashes of her past lives–good and bad–and it all starts to click with her. Cindy tells her that she should meet up back with her friends. She says that witches can be helpful but she thinks in the end they’ll side with the fairies. She also tells her to look for a dancing mute girl near a beach (the Little Mermaid I’m sure) if she can. Oh and she also warns Roz that there are MANY Once Upon a Times but not UNLIMITED ones and they’re running out. She leaves Roz with some encouraging words about love being real even if their lives have been manipulated and then Roz wakes up covered in briars again. But, this time, she’s way more skilled because she got 7 fairy gifts in this version instead of 3 and she busts her way out via a combo of brute strength and calling swarms of animals to do her bidding. 

Red awakens in a nice sunny forest with the Wolf and we learn that apparently, the Wolf told her to kill him before she got her curse, which is interesting. Anyway, the Wolf seems to be just like, an honestly kind of chill representation of The End. Like, he’s not killing you cause he hates you. He’s killing you cause It’s Your Time. He takes Red to a crossroads and to one path is a story where the woodsman comes and kills the wolf and it’s happier for her (though, she’d still be her in her current state it seems) and to the other path is an even more fucked up version of the story. It’s very Red Pill, Blue Bill. She asks to speak with her Grandma to help decide and the wolf leaves and her Grandma appears. With her Grandma there, she attempts to make a break for it, but when her Grandma starts down the darker path, Red notices her ears are a bit too long and suspects she’s being manipulated by the wolf. This doesn’t seem to quite be the case though. It’s like her Grandma just also has a bit of wolf in her. Or maybe they’re kind of the same person? It’s very trippy. Anyway, her Grandma tells her that her real friends will see the wolf in her and still love her and that she’s not a monster. Red chooses the darker path, of course, and finds herself at the edge of the cliff with a forest below. The Wolf is there again and begins violently dying–he has to die for Red’s story to start (a more violent version of the story btw, where she kills the woodsman which is not great for her psyche lemme tell you). Before he dies, he helps buff Red a bit and also says that there is something/one else connected to him in this version of the story (implied to be the 3 Little Pigs because Red hears snorting and also the Wolf is getting burned, like he does at the end of that story). Red demands answers from whoever is doing this and she wakes up in Pottingham in a stronger version of her body.

Gerrard wakes up floating in water with the shard still stuck in chest cause the narrative hates him. He is found by Turquina (aka the Fairy with the Turquoise hair, aka the fairy that brought Pinocchio to life). He fails horribly to pull it out (Nat 1) and Turq tells him to be careful, treating him with lots of princely deference. She is very helpful on the surface but seems to demonstrate what Cindy was saying about fairies being very manipulative of their narratives. She’s all, “It’s a good thing you were frogged the FIRST time but the SECOND time it shouldn’t have happened, that’s off script and we need to get it right”. Ger is basically on board–except for when she mentions changing Elody back. Then he’s like, “The problem isn’t Elody, the problem is everything else.” Also, when he offhandedly mentions Tim’s book, she seems a bit too eager to know more and he tries to cover it up. Anyway, Turq says the fairies are working really hard to put things right and she needs his shard but she can’t actually touch it so she needs him to take it out then leave it in a moonlit glade and a fairy will come pick it up. Also, she needs to bring him back to life but he’ll come back kinda more fucked up. But that’s OK! she says. It just needs to get worse before it gets better. Turq also says that they need to be careful because Roz may have been in contact with some troublemakers (aka Cindy and co). She says that if Ger helps her with this, the fairies will make helping him and Elody their top priority. He then wakes up in a darker world in a more froglike body with memories of Elody on a totally bloodied horse on the battlefield and knowledge that in this version of the story, instead of kissing him to turn him back to prince, Elody threw his froggy body against a wall. Fairy tales are wild y’all. And the shard is STILL in him because, again, the narrative hates him.

Finally, we come to Tim who is riding on the back of a kind golden goose. She’s strikingly similar to the gander, but…you know..not horrific. She tells him that he’s kind of like her brother and the yin to her yang. She can’t be where he is and visa versa. Good things follow her and bad things follow him. Tim still has his book as everyone else had their key items. The Goose tells him a bunch of info including that some fairies, all witches, and some princesses know what’s going on here. And I’m gonna break out the bullets here just so we can finish off these flashbacks:

The Goose says that the people in the book are happy but it’s not like a permanent solution. 

In the world they’re going to, Jack isn’t his son. It is also the version where Jack does the beanstalk and giant killing thing. 

The book is connected to the Goose and has more power than he can imagine.

Things can be brought out of the book.

Jack has way more stories than most people.

(Question: If Tim had no Jack in this version, I wonder what his first wish was.)

Once their conversation is done, Tim is dropped into his new story. He sees an illustration in his book of 8 fairies, and he knows all his friends are in this world.

Oh, and we never learn about what the red gems are about! Hate that! 

And that’s the quick and dirty rundown of this ep. An important thing I wanna make clear in case it wasn’t. Every character except for Pinocchio is now running around with two sets of memories. Their past life and their new one. Got it? Cool. So now we can jump into episode 5: Down Came the Rain.

This is mostly a setup ep, so we’re gonna do bullet points again.

Everyone meets up in their new forms at a tavern called The Cock and Toad. 

Roz is now followed around by a bunch of woodland creatures in a cloak as her body guard. 

Red’s breath is a lot more big and bad now (she took 2 levels of druid because, as I always say, Emily NEEDS spell slots or she will DIE). 

When Ger comes in, Red takes out the shard with a Nat 20.

Oh, also, everyone is level 3 now!

Everyone kind of catches each other up about what they saw in their visions more or less. Ger is a little cagey about Turq telling him to give her the shard but he’s too sweaty to hide his lie by omission for long and everyone is like nah we gotta put the shard in the book.

When Pinnochio describes the fairy that visited him when he had to lie–the shadowy one–Roz realizes it sounds a lot like the fairy who cursed her. Fairy overlap! I knew it!

Also there is a talking and very sad dish here w/ relationship drama (as in The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon) because this is Brennan and he can’t resist making something very silly very serious. 

Tim gets the Dish to tell him his whole sob story in a corner of the bar and he disappears into the book in motes of golden light. In his book, the words “The Dish Ran Away With the Spoon” appear. Tim also feels like he’s reached the limit of what he can do with the book without giving it the shard. 

At the same time, Pib is outside. One of the items he got from the tricksters is a spider ring that can lead him to any spider. It leads him outside to the Itsy Bitsy Spider. When he helps the little guy out, the spider tells him about a spider queen in the heart of the Lullaby Lands who is martialing her forces and cooking up some kind of dark spell that might be causing the lousy weather. She also seems connected to the gander. Also, he mentions she has magical artifacts (which seems significant considering their quest).

(There’s a mention of Hamelin which means the Pied Piper is liable to make an appearance). 

Speaking of artifacts, everyone gathers in the barn near the tavern to get some privacy to put the shard in the book. 

Roz finds some bear scat in the barn and it’s implied it might be from one of the Goldilocks bears. 

The cow that jumped over the moon is also in this barn because sure. 

Tim puts the shard into the book and the whole Cinderella story appears. Strangely, after the traditional end of the story, there are a couple of blank pages and then a picture of the shard. It’s like something more happened in the story that the book isn’t showing the text for but is showing the image (presumably where she stabs her fairy god mom). It’s also weird because it’s like the safe book is censoring the gruesome true end of the story but the carving of toes and stuff is still fully in there. 

OK, so remember when they were told that once the book had the first thing it needed, they’d have allies? Well here we are at a VERY cool plot twist.

Tim hears scratching in the book like someone else is writing in it and sees the writing of someone who is trapped in a cave and seems to have their own book which they are trying to use to communicate. 

Tim is able to write back to them and realizes that it’s Scheherazade from 1001 Nights!

If you’ve never heard of her, Scher is part of the frame story of the Arabic fairy tale collection 1001 Nights. She basically tells these stories to a king night after night to keep from being killed and at the end they get married. This story collection is where famous Arabic stories like Sinbad and Aladdin come from. I was SO pumped to get to this revelation because it’s so fun and meta. 

Anyway, back to the actual story. 

They exchange names and Scher (who doesn’t recognize Tim and vice versa) says she is trapped in a cave with some friends who include Sinbad (great fighter, annoying companion). They were supposed to meet a guardian who isn’t there. She seems to be in a similar situation to Tim where she’s in a world where things have gone wrong and she recently realized things about the true nature of the world. 

But when Tim asks where she is, plot twist #2! She doesn’t know what the Neverafter is. She’s in a land called The Endless Nights. 

This is ALSO super cool! Ever After to Neverfter and 1001 Nights to Endless Nights? Gosh, Brennan is really doing the coolest things with this narrative this season. This is really healing all my Once Upon a Time trauma AND my multiverse burnout at the same time.

Scher and Tim send each other images of what they look like (Tim’s is super buff because of Ally shenanigans) and Scher is like cool, we can send each other magic. She also sends a pic of the guardian that was supposed to be at the cave and it’s like a stone spider glyph. Pib is like, “Oh, hey I might have some info here,” and fills them in on his spider side quest.

Scher says she’d really appreciate the help and will help them as well once she’s out of the cave. She even mentions wishes and I love me a genie in the mix. Oh and she mentions there’s a dude named Aesop who also might have a book! (Aesop as in Aesop’s fables. Think Tortoise and the Hare and City Mouse/Country Mouse).

Before they head back, Tim (aided by Roz’s Speak with Animals) gets the cow’s life story and he goes into the book. Still no picture but the words “the cow jumped over the moon” appear in the appropriate spot. 

En route, Red gets some Goodberries for everyone. Smart move since they’re heading towards a fight. Each is one HP.

Point of Order–Jubilee doesn’t exist in this version of the Neverafter which is concerning to me. Is the map just gonna keep getting smaller each time they die/fail or is it replaced with something else? Also, even though Jubilee doesn’t exist here, Cole (and Senator the ram) are still in the book.

They reach a crossroads and realize that they’re going to Tuffeton. (Tuffeton as in “Little miss Muffet she sat on her tuffet, eating her curds eating and whey Along came a spider who sat down beside her And frightened miss Muffet away.”)

Crow scouts ahead and sees a grim village with this huge hill. And at the base of the hill is a mine entrance with cobwebs.

Note: Via Cole in the book, Tim can always have Lesser Restoration Prepped. He does so when Pib is the only one to fail a Con check from traveling in the rain and Brennan says it prevents him from getting a red gem (but it wouldn’t have helped after the fact)

They follow Pib’s ring to the center of the mine.

As they’re traveling in the dark, Ylfa inadvertently mentally connects to the mind of a tusked boar. She feels fire and asks if he killed the Big Bad Wolf. The board says, “Friend.” A tear runs down his cheek. He says, “I am trying to–” then she loses the connection. Hmmmm.

This is a little out of order but Tim messages Scher again and she says that (1) the spider guardian she mentioned is someone she was supposed to talk to not fight so I’m wondering if actually is the same spider they’re presumably going to have to fight or maybe more of a good guy spider like Anansi or maybe a spider I’ve never heard of because I’m not as familiar with 1001 Nights. She also says that (2) in the cave she’s in there was a tapestry of a princess with a golden mace which sounds like Elody. That’s interesting because it sounds like multiverse bleedthrough. 

They find a massive spider web in this mine but between Pib’s feline grace and roguish tricks, Red being shapeshifted into a spider, Crow being shapeshifted into a spider, and everyone else being very very careful, they are able to navigate to the center without getting caught! They have the advantage going into the next fight! Let’s hope they can keep it this time because it seems like every time they die, things are gonna get much worse. 

[ginnyxauthor]

VIRTUAL YOUTUBER WIKI

✦ Pairings: None! Platonic! NIJISANJI & other Vtubers x Child! OC

✦ Synopsis: Character Profile of the OC (Virtual YouTuber Wiki)

✦ Further Notice: Unfortunately, my OC is not real and is only a product of the author's imagination.

Nerissa Marinus

✦ BASIC DETAILS

ORIGINAL NAME — ネリッサ・マリヌス

NICKNAME(S) — Hime, Neri-chan, Squishy, SFW Fish, Nemo (Male Alter-ego), Risa (Alter-ego), Imoto (by Finana Ryugu)

DEBUT DATE — Youtube: 2022/12/18

CHARACTER DESIGN — 镜中音

AFFLIATION — NIJISANJI EN

✦ MEDIA

CHANNEL — Youtube

SOCIAL MEDIA — Twitter

✦ PERSONAL DETAILS

GENDER — Female

AGE — Child

BIRTHDAY — March 17

HEIGHT — 132 cm

ZODIAC SIGN — Pisces

EMOJI — 🐚

Nerissa Marinus (ネリッサ・マリヌス) is NIJISANJI EN's very first solo and child female English Virtual YouTuber.

✦ INTRODUCTION VIDEO

【DEBUT STREAM】 TO THE SURFACE WE GO

✦ PROFILE

A jellyfish nereid who spends her time playing with the marine life and her 50+ sisters in the sea. With an innocent mind and a heart as light as a feather, this small nereid is ready to take on whatever the surface has in store for her. Right??

✦ HISTORY

Background

On July 20th, NIJISANJI EN had hinted about introducing their very first solo female Vtuber accompanied by a teaser featuring the new liver's design and voice. What shocked fans the most was that the vtuber is just a little girl!

Nerissa's YouTube channel was created on December 12th, and her Twitter account also created in the same day. Her first tweet was made on December 15th, 2022.

Debut

Nerissa made her debut on December 18th, 2022 as part of a special debut program hosted on the NIJISANJI EN channel, with commentary provided by Finana Ryugu and Uki Violeta. After her debut stream in her channel, Nerissa appeared on the main channel.

✦ FANS AND MASCOT

Nerissa's fans are called Jellybeans.

Her mascot is a jellyfish wearing a cute ghost costume that she stitched herself.

✦ QUOTES

"So this is what the surface looks like!" ‐ Debut Trailer

"Onee-san, you have an egg? Are you a mommy now?!"

"Can you be my big brother?"

"The Jellybeans say that I am the definition of seiso."

"You are my family now!"

✦ TRIVIA

Identity

Species: Sea Nymph

Color: #678D9D

She can speak English, Tagalog, Japanese, a little Spanish, and Fish/Whale.

She can also write and translate Greek and Latin.

Lore

Nerissa Marinus is the youngest daughter of the 'Old Man of the Sea' Nereus and the Oceanid Doris, sister to the fifty (there's definitely more than that) nereids and Nerites. She is famous for her cute, child-like appearance, bright presence, and powerful magical abilities, earning the name 'Hime' from her family.

Despite living far, far longer than most humans, she still retains her innocence, kindness, and curious-like nature. She loves to explore the seven seas, create mischief every now and then, sing and dance with her siblings, and play with the other inhabitants within the ocean, especially with a certain tropical mermaid she calls her 'Onee-san'.

Being the youngest daughter of her family, she was treated like royalty. Fragile. Ready to be broken if touched just once. She hated that. She hated that her family tries to spoil her rotten in order to keep her from leaving. They knew how adventurous she is. She wasn't even allowed to meet and help the sailors that occasionally pass by her home unlike her sisters.

It was sooooo unfair! She internally whined.

Nerissa wanted to be like everyone else, do things herself and explore more than just the seas. She wanted to go beyond them. She wanted to see... the surface.

So, when she heard that her tropical friend had left in order to learn about humans and their culture, she knew what she needed to do.

No, she was not going to consult an evil sea witch for help! She may be naive at times and young in human years, but she wasn't a dummy.

After leaving a note where she knew her family will look first, she grabbed the one thing that reminded her of home — her necklace — and quickly swam to where her friend has gone to, never looking back once. The closer she swam to the surface, the more excited she became.

The moment her head was completely out of the salty sea water, she felt as if she was exploring the Pacific Ocean all over again. But times that feeling by like hundred. Just by looking around her, she knew she was going to like this new place. She couldn't wait to meet the humans and make new friends!

The surface may have its downsides, but this little jellyfish is ready to take on anything the surface has in store for. She just needed to find her tropical friend first.

Likes and Dislikes

Likes: Water, seashells, marine animals, dogs and cats, plushies, desserts, everything Disney, spring and summer, meeting new people

Dislikes: Horror/paranormal, spiders, reptiles (except turtles), sour and spicy foods, thunder and lightning, any form of pain, being alone

Hobbies: Swimming, exploring/traveling, singing, dancing, collecting new things, arts and craft

Favorite anime/manga: Ponyo, Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service, Wolf Children, Ouran High School Host Club, Free!, Tamako Market, Tamako Love Story, A Silent Voice, Horimiya, My Hero Academia, Acchi Kocchi, School Babysitters, Little Witch Academia

Favorite games: Animal Crossing, Minecraft, Pokémon, Kingdom Hearts, Mario Kart, Fall Guys, Just Dance

Favorite shows: Steven Universe, Gravity Falls, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Legend of Korra, Star vs the Forces of Evil, Phineas and Ferb, Winx Club

She is a major fan of the Percy Jackson, Heroes of Olympus, and Harry Potter series.

Miscellaneous

Face Claim: Jellyfish Salad from Food Fantasy

The name Nerissa is a girl's name of Greek Origin meaning "sea nymph" or "from the sea".

Nerissa is the only sea nymph of her family that is part jellyfish. Why is she part jellyfish instead of part mermaid like her siblings remains a mystery to this day.

The piece of jewelry around her neck was given to her by her parents on the day of her birth.

Unlike other jellyfishes, she can feel pain in the same way that humans would. She does possess a brain, a heart, bones, and a respiratory system.

She was born with the bell — the umbrella-like dome — floating above her head, symbolizing her jellyfish side. She would later add seashell clips with a ribbon attached to her bell as she found the clips and the design on the ribbons adorable.

Nerissa could make her bell disappear whenever she wanted by using magic. She does this when she sleeps, although there are times where she forgets to do that and the bell continues floating above her sleeping form.

She is bioluminescent. If she focused hard enough, her whole body will begin to glow, but this will tire her out quickly. Fortunately, her bell is also bioluminescent and it doesn't drain her of her energy, so it's a perfect lamp/night light!

Nerissa doesn't get why she has to wait for her senpais' approval on the book/show/movie/anime/manga that catches her eye before starting it. (It's to protect her innocence.)

She is a very curious and adventurous child that she needs one of her senpais to watch over her in case she runs off somewhere.

She is oblivious to everyone trying to fight for the seat of 'No. 1 Onee-san' or 'No.1 Onii-san'.

She has a huge collection of marine animals plushies and seashell pillows scattered around her bedroom and on her desk.

Fans deemed that Nerissa is NIJISANJI EN'S most favored Vtuber.

✦ EXTERNAL LINKS

Media

Nerissa Marinus 【NIJISANJI EN】 - YouTube channel

@NerissaMarinus - Twitter account

Twitter hashtags

#NerissaMarinus - General Tag

#NerissaLive - Live Tag

#NeriMariArt - Fan art Tag

NSFW? What's that?

#NeriLikesTurtles - Meme Tag

#JellyClips - Clip Tag

#NeriAssets - Assets Tag

#ThumbNeri - Thumbnail Tag

[telekinetictrait]

tell me grey seal, how does it feel to be so wise? to see through eyes that only see what’s real.

so back in march i made a lookbook on my main blog of one of my ocs, and since i have a simblr now, i thought... hey! why not remake her? so... re-meet isolde sulzbach! 

a selkie/mermaid-type creature in 1920s berlin, isolde loves to paint, garden, and bake. a gentle soul, isolde loves her friends more than anything and tends to naturally take on a nurturing role when they have problems. but don’t let that fool you – anyone who has gotten on her bad side can attest that she’s not afraid to use her teeth to solve problems. when she’s not at her job as a secretary, or taking night classes, or tending to her garden, or working her stall at the marketplace, she might be found playing with her rehabilitated hedgehog, ceilpe. despite her gentle nature, isolde tends to fumble often in social situations and tends not to pick up on social cues. you’ll never find her without her beloved teddy bear, siegelchen, who is missing both eyes and one ear.

cc links + her merseal form under the cut!

for her going out and sleepwear outfits, i recolored happylifesims’ 1920s fur coat with a grey seal fur pattern i found on google. there’s only one swatch, but if you want it for some reason, let me know and i’ll upload it!

genetics: 

electrlcity’s soft freckles / aloesim’s mia freckles / spcc’s birthmarks / simstrouble’s marcia hair / softpine’s abracadabra hair

everyday:

sourpunchsims’ nessa necklace / retro-pixels’ the stenographer dress

going out:

magnolianfarewell’s scholar set 

formal:

simsfromthepast’s 1920′s lace dress / waxesnostalgic’s french heels

party:

ladybolet’s old hollywood eyeshadow (tsr download) / sourpunchsims’ nessa necklace / adrienpastel’s mistress dress conversion / waxesnostalgic’s french heels

athletic: 

waxesnostalgic’s shortsleeved plain blouse / waxesnostalgic’s knickerbockers

painting:

waxesnostalgic’s shortsleeved open collar blouse / javitrulovesims’ jane’s new pants

no cc used for gardening outfit!

no other cc used for sleepwear!

swimwear:

waxesnostalgic’s androgynous swimsuit 

hot weather:

sourpunchsims’ nessa necklace / waxesnostalgic’s summer frock

cold weather:

imadako’s winter coat / magnolianfarewell’s scholar skirt / plumbjam’s wool leggings

mer-seal specific:

lamatisse’s lore skintones / valentinakarlova’s seal tails

thank you to @ckisgone​ @aloesim​ @sunflower-petals​ @simstrouble​ @softpine​ @sourpunchsims​ @gilded-ghosts​ @magnolianfarewell​ @simsfromthepast​ @waxesnostalgic​ @its-adrienpastel​ @javitrulovesims​ @imadako​ @lamatisse​ @valentinakarlova​ and of course, where i find everything, @twentiethcenturysims​ !!

[thegempage]

"writing that rosemary au as just rosemary bcus who's gonna stop me." I am forcibly putting you through the ordeal of being known. motherfucker.

jfklasfjkld that's a good one!! i need to get back to that one sometime.

okay this got stupidly long bcus i just decided to spell out this story's entire backstory and subsequently the plotline, i'm putting this under a cut fjdsalkf

honestly the placeholder titles says a lot fjkladsf basically when i was younger i uh. really liked little mermaid aus lmao (the og of this one is one of at least three i wrote in a very narrow timespan). so for a creative writing class i turned in a little mermaid "retelling" of sorts where the witch, who is quite new at being a sea witch, gets approached by one of the mermaid princesses (obv. this is a little mermaid au) about turning human after the princess has a prophetic dream and the witch feels bad about just thrusting this princess who is clearly in over her head into a world she knows little about (esp bcus, as i am reminded of rereading the original version of this, it's kind of implied that the merpeople who try to become human usually just like, die). also, magic is fucking expensive

so they work out a system to basically give the princess like... baby steps? like she first gets the ability to withstand the sunlight, and then she gives up the webs between her fingers, and then the ability to withstand cold, etc etc. and this takes place over a few month so of course they fall in love. the princess gets legs for three days, comes back and waits a while, decides she wants to be a human full time, and the witch is like "that requires true love and that's not really easy to find, you barely know any humans and you can't guarantee that they even know how to magic like that" and of course, bcus this is a little mermaid story, the princess is like "no no it's fine, this girl loves me, give me three days"

spoiler alert: the human does not know how to do that, and also has acquired a new partner in the meantime bcus the mermaid princess disappears for weeks on end and like, they're friends, but -- and so on. but the witch had a plan bcus she can see the future (you have probably guessed who was who by now but if not there's the answer) and she knew that the human plan wasn't going to work out. so she basically turns herself and the princess human permanently, turns over the rest of her sea witch power to her brother, and wow it turns out the dream was about them the whole time! so they dance on the sand and kiss about it

anyway i turned that in for an assignment but it was a rosemary fanfic in disguise and i was like. hey you know what. i'm probably a better writer now than i was in 2015 and i can just write homestuck fanfiction. so i decided to rewrite it as a more in-depth au and now it's about kanaya being one of a handful of mermaid royal heirs (rereading it, also being an heir appears to be a job, bcus she mentions her family sending her letters and that not all of the heirs have families who can send them letters). also the mermaid kingdom is prospit, this is important for later

so now kanaya is like, haunted by the sensation that something is missing from her life and spends a lot of time staring into the abyss that surrounds the castle they live in that is rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of a lost neighboring kingdom bcus she's not that close to being in line for a proper throne seat and one can only get by on cool job descriptions and fashion designing for so long. i know i infodumped to someone about the lore about mertrolls and my future ideas for it but i can't find it, anyway magic happens, kanaya finds rose (and dave, they're both one "half" of a sea witch. there is a secret second document for this one called "the davekat side of that rosemary au"), same kind of idea of "being a human is actually super overwhelming, do you want a trial run first???" over the course of a few months, they grow closer, humans don't know how to do magic and so rose comes in and is like "hey i don't want you to die actually." i think i was planning on there being a little more conversation about that back up plan. if i can find the time i just rambled to someone about the plot line and the politics of the merkingdom i will come back to add that on bcus i remember there being some weird political background stuff bcus mertrolls and merpeople had a trade-off system of heirs and i can feel the place it was in my brain but not the details

anyway thanks for reading and reminding me that i have this au to work on when my brain is less focused on riftdale but not ready for beyond the divide 💙

[wangxianficrecs]

Follower Recs

There are nearly FORTY THOUSAND AO3 stories in the MDZS universe, and I am just a single person with limited time, so....  Here’s a bit of y’all doing my work for me!

~*~

Mojo, I know it'd probably be recced before, but I have to recommend stiltonbasket's Twelve Moons and a Fortnight. It has made me squee of cuteness, hold my breath with suspense, marvel over the worldbuilding and character interactions, and just awed me at how well every original piece of lore and HC ties back to canon. I cried over it, only to cry laughing the next chapter. it kept me going through an entire year of lockdown and is finally coming to an end, and the resolution was magnificent.

*[I’m subscribed to this and keep waiting for Part One to be completed, but instead later parts keep getting posted:  is it completed but not marked?  I am confused.  And eager to read!]*

Twelve Moons and a Fortnight

by stiltonbasket (G, 267k, wangxian, WIP)

Summary:  "Let me get this straight. You really want me to stand in for you while you help Jin Ling settle in at Koi Tower?"

"Who else do I have?" Jiang Cheng snaps, ears turning scarlet as Jin Ling tries to pretend he isn't listening. "Father trained you to serve as my deputy, didn't he? And don't say you don't remember, or I'll break your legs."

"Well, yes," Wei Wuxian manages. "Uh. I'll just let Lan Zhan know I'll be at Lotus Pier until you're back at home, then."

Or, the one where Wei Wuxian spends the year before his wedding as Yunmeng Jiang's acting sect leader, and the cultivation world's greatest love story finds its happy ending with the help of three juniors, a teenage romance, and one very involved (and exasperated) younger brother.

~*~

May I recommend fielty by milkpunch a sort of AU where lwj in order to save his sect from being destroyed by nine after wen rouhans assasination goes to work as a guard to Jin zixuan where he meets wwx the right hand of Jin guanguao... ~ @pastashouldbeeatenwithafork

Fealty

by milkpunch (E, 84k, wangxian)

Summary:  Before, there had been two reigning kingdoms. Both claimed to be blessed by the sun, but with vastly differing views. One, under the name of Wen, was washed red with blood and violence, its soldiers fierce and stoked with a fiery blaze. The other, under the name of Jin, was bathed in golden light and glory, its soldiers proud and heavy with coin and prestige. The two kingdoms went to war for the true honour of having the sun’s blessing, fighting for many long years with many lives lost.

Jin Guangshan, emperor of the Golden Sun Palace, found that the sun favoured him more.

To prevent his kingdom from being crushed, Lan Zhan, second heir to the Lan kingdom, exchanges his freedom for that of servitude to the Jin kingdom. He is appointed as Jin Zixuan's personal guard, but there's more on his plate than just keeping the Jin heir safe. The Golden Sun Palace is not all that it seems, and the dazzling lives of the royals are less perfect than they appear.

~*~

Hey, I was wondering if I could rec a fic to you. My bestie wrote it for the Lunar New Year Wangxian gift exchange and it definitely did not receive the attention it deserves. It's a really fun mermaid/arranged marriage au! ~ @leahlisabeth

More Than This Provincial Wife

by ApprenticedMagician (T, 6k, wangxian)

Summary:  The negotiations surrounding the Lan & Jiang alliance through marriage encountered a few snags in the beginning.

~*~

I love your blog! I saw a recent post where you listed some rec's from other people? [Thank you!  And yes, I always appreciate and am happy to share your recs!]  I just read the WIP A Corpse Called By Name jaemyun and LOVED it! It's a zombie apocolypse AU, where Wei Ying gets bitten by a zombie.... and I don't want to spoil anything from there, but it is amazing! No pressure to put it in your blog, but wanted to send a note just in case. Thanks for all you do!

A Corpse Called By Name

by jaemyun (not rated, 37k, wangxian, WIP)

Summary:  A continuation of zombie drabble!

She loses her brother in a hoard of the undead.

She finds a corpse wearing his face in a convenience store.

The corpse calls her name.

~*~

Hi! I was wondering if I could rec this short fic that I recently found and really liked! The narrative is an inner monologue and I think it captures lwj really well :)

binding me in spells (till my heart's devoured)

by gaysgaysgays (G, <1k, wangxian)

Summary:  His scars are a reminder of his hurt, a reminder that he had healed.

(or a study of lan zhan's scars)

~*~

I found a fic I had recently asked you about, so I thought I'd share it with you: Seasons of Falling Flowers by merakily (http://archiveofourown.org/works/28522326). I rediscovered it completely by accident after listening to spinifex's excellent podfic adaptation. This is the fic where Lan Qiren despises Wei Wuxian until Wei Wuxian catches a cold and Lan Qiren find out about his golden core. That part is about 3/4 of the way through. The fic is wonderful and shows a rigid but surprisingly introspective Lan Qiren. ~ @clmoryel [Oh!  I just read this one yesterday!  Here’s my bookmark.]

Seasons of Falling Flowers

by merakily (G, 40k, wangxian, lan qiren & wei wuxian, podfic)

Summary:  Like a parasite, Wei Wuxian has this way of growing on people when you least expect it.

Over the seasons, Lan Qiren slowly pieces back together his relationship with Wangji and learns to like Wei Wuxian in the process.

(“Will you rejoin your sect?” As soon as the words leave his mouth, Lan Qiren regrets his wording.

He is not surprised when Wangji’s eyes narrow, flashing with offence. “There is no need to rejoin what one has never left. I did not turn my back on my sect. My sect turned their backs on me.”)

~*~

Hi! Can I rec a fic? "bring you home" by Alasse_Irena on AO3 is a modern AU and is one of the most beautiful and atmospheric fics I have read. Thanks for you work running this blog! I have new Wangxian fics to read <3

bring you home

by Alasse_Irena (T, 28k, wangxian)

Summary:  Wei Ying rents a run-down cottage in a small town by the sea, looking for a quiet place to hide after the war.

Lan Zhan has always dreamed of the ocean. He returns to the town where he was born, and where his parents died, to find out why.

Instead, they find each other.

~*~

Good morning lady mojo, I hope you’re having a good day! I wanted to rec a fic, Breathing Firestorm by ladyshadowdrake. It’s 111k and great but barely has any love, which is unfair. You mentioned it in the last ‘in a mood for’ post but I think it should have more of a shoutout because it’s a lot of fun and I liked it a lot. Have a great day ♥️  [Oh!  I was subscribed to this one and saw it had been recently finished.  It’s def. on my list!]

Breathing Firestorm

by ladyshadowdrake (M, 111k, wangxian)

Summary:  After years of a mad quest, Wen Ruohan is finally given proof of a powerful creature living among mortals. He is delighted to find that it truly believes itself to be only a boy named “Wei Wuxian.”

While Wen Ruohan tries to unlock Wei Wuxian’s secret, the sects unite against him. If he can achieve his goal before they arrive, even the combined might of the cultivation world would not be enough to humble him. Meanwhile, Lan Wangji dreams of Wei Wuxian in the Cold Pond Cave, and works tirelessly to rescue him from Wen Ruohan’s clutches. No one is prepared for what awaits the allied sects in Nightless City at the conclusion of the war, and it very well might mean the end of the world as they know it.

~*~

Hi Mojo, firstly thank you for all the hard work you put into running this blog, I’ve found so many fics that I probably would have never come across if it wasn’t for your fic finders posts and your personal review posts.  [Aw, thank you!]

I don’t know if you’ve read this fic before or if it’s been mentioned before on your blog (I’ve done a quick search of your blog and couldn’t see it, so if I’ve missed it I apologise!) but if you’ve got a fic rec post coming up, I would suggest “The shapes a bright container can contain” by litbynosun.

It’s a case fic about 16k words long and set after canon. Whilst it’s not the main focus of the story it does delve slightly into chronic illness of wwx (the ailments of mxy’s body) and lwj (his continuous treatment of his scars) which might cover a few requests in the IITMF posts in future.

Thanks again for all the hard work you do! ~ @dulachodladh

the shapes a bright container can contain

by litbynosun

M, 17k, wangxian

Summary:  "Lan Zhan, look at this," Wei Wuxian calls. "They don't have organs, but they're all… fuzzy."

He gently strokes the corpse's arm -- it's covered in soft, pigmentless downy hair, like a rabbit. Lan Wangji crouches next to him and nods. "Lanugo," he says. Wei Wuxian raises one eyebrow. "They were malnourished for quite a while before death," Lan Wangji elaborates. Wei Wuxian scans the bodies again. Indeed, they both have sunken cheeks, and their abdomens are empty of both organs and fat padding. “That’s a question,” he says. “Did they starve to death, and have their bodies desecrated after they were already deceased? Or were they murdered, and simply starving at the same time?” "We should stay," Lan Wangji tells him. This is not an answer to his question. It is an offer to search for answers.

Or: Wei Wuxian and his family solve a ghost haunting. Wei Wuxain's old enemy, societal injustice, rears its head again.

[darkershining]

Just watched episode 22 of Tropical Rouge Pretty Cure, where the girls go on a treasure hunt.

The episode begins with the girls having breakfast at Manatsu’s house, before they do some exercise with some of the local kids. Manatsu then decides to bring her friends to visit the secret beach she told them about, where they spend some time relaxing, before Asuka decides they should try to learn a bit more about the history of the island. Manatsu’s parents suggest they speak to Granny Tomi, the current island elder who tells stories passed down for generations.

In the villain’s mansion, the Butler checks on the Witch, who is tossing and turning in her sleep. She produces a new Yaraneda Element for creating even more powerful Yaraneda. Butler takes it to Dr. Numeri, telling her it can create Zettai Yaraneda, and telling her that with Chongire taking his summer break, she’ll be entrusted with the next mission. However, he tells her that this mission will be a bit of a different one.

At Granny Tomi’s place, the girls, as well as the three kids from earlier, listens to Tomi tell them about the treasure that is supposedly hidden in a cave on the island. She tells them the treasure was supposedly hidden by a mermaid who lived in the forests, and Tomi mentions that she has always wanted to see the mermaid herself, but has yet to see it. As Manatsu and the others head into the forest to search for the treasure, they ask Laura if she’d know anything about the forest mermaid. Laura notes that mermaids live in the sea, and with Manatsu pointing out that there aren’t really any rivers or ponds in the area, Laura finds it unlikely that a mermaid would’ve lived there.

Dr. Numeri reaches the cave before the girls do, and heads inside shortly before they enter. They begin exploring, but Manatsu feels a bit nervous. They hear strange noises, with Minori pointing out there might be other tourists exploring, and we see that Dr. Numeri has managed to get lost in the caves, getting frightened by noises from somewhere else in the cave. The girls end up coming across Dr. Numeri, but Manatsu doesn’t immediately recognize her and runs off, mistaking her for a ghost. Dr. Numeri however recognizes the girls, and wonders what they were doing there.

Manatsu and the others realizes they’ve been separated from Laura, who instead ends up in a different part of the cave following a nostalgic smell. Dr. Numeri catches up to the other four girls, and realizes they’re also looking for the treasure. She summons the Zettai Yaraneda, using the girls’ flashlight to create it.

Meanwhile, Laura locates the source of the scent, a bracelet resting on top of a silver cup. She hears the sounds of the Zettai Yaraneda being summoned, and takes the bracelet with her as she goes to find the others. The other four transform and begin to fight, having some difficulty as the stronger Yaraneda blinds them with its light. Laura catches up to them, and transforms into Cure La Mer. The monster knocks down a rock from the ceiling, which Cure Coral bounces away with her barrier, before Cure La Mer uses it to break part of the Yaraneda. With it weakened, the other four try to use Mix Tropical to purify it, however, it doesn’t work. As the fight goes on, the bracelet Cure La Mer found turns into a power-up item for Cure La Mer, allowing her to purify the Zettai Yaraneda with a new attack. Dr. Numeri retreats, deciding she can take her vacation now.

The cave begins to flood, so the Cures have to hurry and find the way out. Cure Papaya manages to figure out a way out, but Cure La Mer falls behind as the wall of water comes closer. She manages to change back into her mermaid form, and manages to catch up to the others. Tomi and the three kids see Laura emerging from the cave in front of the moon like how the forest mermaid was described in the legend, and Tomi sheds tears of joy upon finally getting to see the forest mermaid. One of the kids notes that he’ll be sure to remember this day and when he’s older, tell other kids about what they saw. 

At the villains’ mansion, Dr. Numeri reports that the Cures found the bracelet before she did. However, the Butler tells her that the item he actually sent her to find was a cup that had Motivation Power stored inside it, explaining that somebody in the past had tried to open the Fool’s Casket. Elda asks if the Fool’s Casket can really grant their wishes, with the Butler assuring her it can. 

Back at Manatsu’s place, Laura shows that the bracelet she found contains a type of perfume, which was what allowed her to locate it. Asuka comments that with Yaraneda getting stronger, they’ll have to try to get stronger too. Manatsu notes that at least they have the bracelet Laura found, so at least they can use that to purify them.

Another good episode! We get to learn a bit more about Minamino Island, and we even got some more details about what the villains’ goals are, along with some more lore. So, they need to open the Fool’s Casket so they can have their wishes granted. I wonder what their wishes are? Also, I have to wonder if the Butler has an ulterior motive, or if he’s even telling the truth when Elda asks about it. And I’m guessing the silver cup will probably also become another power-up item, this time to give the Cures a new group attack. If there’s Motivation Power in it, that seems logical, considering how they got the Heart Quartet Ring back in episode 10.

I’ll be looking forward to the next episode!

[whereisstevethestove]

Captains that Smell of Salt and Liquor.

Fandoms: Sanders sides and technically the lore behind the Flying Dutchman.

Characters: Virgil, Roman, Remus, Janus, Patton, Logan

Relationships: Logan/Patton, Roman/Virgil

Additional tags: Mer AU, Pirate AU, Human AU, Mixed Latinx Remus, UMMM Siren!Roman, Siren!Virgil, Mer!Janus, Pirate!Logan and Patton.

Word count: 1022

Summary:  Remus is young when he runs to become a sailor.

Notes:  This is actually kinda a prequel to this post (x)

AO3

Remus is young and cocky when he first takes to the open water.  The sea has long called to him from his window in his home of Jamaica, and so the second he’s fifteen, he’s jumping on the first ship that needs an inexperienced half colonizer’s child.

The sea is cruel, she is unforgiving and Remus can see why they call her a female, the wild and reckless way that her moods flip.  It’s something that he points out to Virgil one day, as they’re both hanging from the crows nest, watching for a storm.

“I’d love to wed the sea.”  Remus blurts out and Virgil, with his dark hair and easy laugh just shrugs.

“You’re fucking weird Remus.”

“Maybe.  Do you believe in mermaids?” “Every sailor does.”  Virgil glances back behind him before turning back to Remus and leaning in as if he had a secret to share.  “I’ve kissed one.”

“Really?” “Hmmm, they had the most beautiful red tail I’ve ever seen.  Sharp teeth too, I still have a scar.”

Remus watches as Virgil tilts his head, displaying a clear bite mark, the scar a pale silvery color.

“Did he speak?”

“He said he’d come back for me one day.”  Virgil confirms before turning away.  “Get back to work.  I don’t want to be thrown off at the next port because I was gossiping with you about mer kisses.”

Virgil is twenty and Remus can’t help but follow him around after the mer story, entranced with the idea of making one of the creatures fall in love with him.  Virgil bares the younger well, teaching him everything he can about sailing so the captain of the ship doesn’t have to deal with an over eager teen.

Then one night, the pair are the only two on deck when Virgil’s eyes go glassy and he stares off at the water like it’s the only thing there.

It takes Remus a few seconds to hear it.

Siren song.

Virgil manages to pull them both below deck, but for a week after, Remus’ mentor is sick, and barely eats.  Remus is the only one in the crew to make sure that he doesn’t die, as the others are busy running the ship.

After Virgil gets slightly better he gifts Remus a worn coin.  

“Payment for keeping me alive.”

“There’s no need.”

“Keep it.”  Virgil insists and Remus begrudgingly tucks the coin away with his things, wondering why the older would give him something like that as if it was the most precious treasure in the world.

A month later Virgil is gone in the middle of the night and Remus can hear two sirens singing.

Rumor has it in the morning that a vengeful crewmate threw the unsuspecting man over, but Remus knows that siren can change their mates to be like them and Virgil had told him that only one siren song had ever tempted him.

He wonders what color Virgil’s tail is.  It’s probably purple, or maybe an ink black to match his wild hair.

Years pass,  Remus grows from an overeager boy to a hardened first mate, respectful of the sea and her children as he carries cargo across the wide ocean.  He grows tired of the monotony and at first chance, he runs from the crew he’s been with for almost seven years and joins a more savage crew, one that robs.

The captain and the first mate of this ship are married.   Remus has never met Logan, but his bubbly husband is a great first mate, always leading the crew in songs as they go from destination to destination, only destroying those who are merciless to others.

They’re strange pirates, but he loves it.

Remus is on night watch when he first meets his mer.   He’s looking over the side of the boat when the face pops up, scaled halfway and gold eyes glimmering like the dull coin that Virgil gave him years ago.

“Hello fish.”  Remus grins as the mer’s eyes widen.

“You seem to think I am real?”

“Well, considering my older brother swam off with a siren, I’d say yes.”  Remus calls down casually.

The mer rolls their eyes and dives back under the water and Remus is alone again.  When the morning comes, he tells Patton of the golden creature and the first mate nods.

“You are lucky.”

Remus isn’t so sure.

He stays with this crew until he’s thirty, and then when they dock in a small port in Cuba, he’s off again to go and seek out another life.

He stays onshore for about three days and during this time he hears the whispered rumors of a ship whose occupants never age, a ship that only docks once every seven years and that night is tonight.

So he goes to the docks and watches as the ship sails in, beautiful and old, somehow ancient and new at the same time.

They won’t let him board without payment.

Remus pulls out the coin that Virgil gave him fifteen years ago and the first mate sniffs it before looking at him.

“This is siren touched.”  He mumbles before pocketing it.

“So I’ve heard.”

“You sell your soul to the ship if you stay with us.”  The first mate offers as a warning before stepping aside so that Remus can walk up the gangplank if he choses.

“Perhaps that is my intention.”

“You have a desire to be captain?” “Don’t we all?”

“Welcome to the Flying Dutchman   I suppose.”

“Thank you.”  Remus gives a mocking half bow before boarding.

As it turns out, it’s pretty easy to become captain of the Dutchman.  Before Remus can even draw his sword for the duel, the captain kneels, admitting that he was tired and wished to sever his bind to the ship, so that he could finally rest.

The crew likes Remus.  He adds a new spice to the job, introduces them to the finest kind of liquor and eventually they realize that for being a ghost ship, their captain is usually superstitious.

Of course, they’ve never seen the mer that has started to follow the ship around...

[bittybattybunny]

I'm enjoying the various facts of the RuClipse Aus, mostly because I was planning to do RuClipse month. So Im curious how many you have? I know you got A LOT, I mean, I remember the list you post before and apparently you have more under your sleeve (Im looking at that Regis kills Eclipse D':). Im just curious as which ones are more present in your mind/you have more facts and lore. -from a RuClipse fan

dlkgjsdkgkldsngkladnklgsfd

I JUST

IM SORRY IM JUST BLOWN AWAY I HAVE FUCKING RUCLIPSE FANS

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THE SHEER SHOCK THIS GIVES ME AND DELIGHT

dgfisjkgfjdskg

Speaking of Ruclipse month I’m makign a proper “banner” with teh prompts this is the WIp image

As for Aus!!

this is gonna get long---

Ummmm The lsit wasn’t full full cuz like I have some AUs tied into others and some I’ve made since then... Like i have a number of Aus I don’t talk about since they are mostly JUST RuClipse focus like I have a Kelpie AU in which Arulius is a Kelpie who’s been trying to eat Eclipse since she was a child but winds up falling for her when she’s older because she’s facinating and eventually starts staying with her because humans age too fast. I also have a Red Riding Hood AU that’s cute fluff. Plus my Fairy Cinderella one.

IDK an exact number tbh I’d have to like. Sit and count.  I just like to write them cuz it’s relaxing and I really need that (like man i need relaxing... i had a break down at my day job and my manager had to drive me home by force cuz I wanted to keep working----but that’s because im a severe workaholic with some trauma involved with perfectionism)

Which are my focus/most lore

Right now it’s @eclipseofthehat that’s a big one!!! I’ve been working a lot on the comic scripts and figuring that plot out since I consider that AU kinda my “hub” Au in which everything else is the AU of if that makes sense?

Other than that I’m slightly obsessed with the Nutcracker AU and the Triassic Planet AU but I’m not the main writer on those so I can’t do much lore there.

Well I’m making a shit ton of angst in the Triassic Planet AU but that’s cuz Gin  is as angst fueled as I am.

The thing with me is I get inspired off pretty much anything and can come up with a full damn lore plot in a matter of hours.

Sometimes I go ham on them and they become full-fledged things (like the Lamia AU i have was based off of the simple fact of I was watching Anime, a lamia showed up and I went ‘hey what if’ and now I wrote about 7 short chapters i need to finish) or I just do a snippet (the phantom of the opera au. Like i do have the full plot figured. but I really just wanted to write a small snippet)

I have a lot of like partially written things I just worked on while I was bored, sometimes I sketch things randomly and run off.

I get stressed out pretty easily and over whelmed with day to day stuff so I use this as my escape.

anyhow here’s a smallish list of AUs i have rn I think are new from that list im too lazy to look up:

Under a read more CUZ IT GOT LONGER THAN I THOUGHT

Lawbound (Hattie summoned poor law student Prynce Arulius Law who is dead by his fiancee’s hand and trying to solve his own murder. Chapter one is written to post Im doing the cover. chapter 2 is started. Epilogue is also already written)

Red is the Wolf (Red riding hood au, Eclipse is a young woman who’s slowly become a wolf forest spirit due to being born with too much magic. If she interacts with humans she’ll remains human. however she has a terrible fear of people. Her life gets thrown when she accidentally encounters the Prince in the woods and discovers he’s similar to her but his curse is more damaging. She winds up trying to break his curse while slowly falls for her)

The Snake prince (based off my favorite fable from childhood ‘the enchanted snake’ in which Arulius is a Prince who was turned into a snake for the sin of signing the order to execute the forest guardians. his fiance was unable to bear his snakeness and had him trapped in her basement where he escaped injured. he was found by folklorist Eclipse who is a witch and the lone survivor of the massacre. they have no idea of the other’s identity but this is the one AU he’s pretty open about his feelings and while she’s trying to break his curse they end up in love and eventually she has to do the kings trials and Ru semi breaks his curse and the two flee his father who wants her dead. I actually drew a really cute picture of right after eclipse properly breaks his curse. it’s a super fluffy au tbh)

Sunken Ship (new au from the past week. Eclipse is a sea witch who loves ship wrecks. she met the ghost of Arulius Law, a law student who passed away when his fiance shoved him off the sinking ship. She took his skull back to New york with her so he can try to move on. Bittersweet story of them growing close but he’s dead... but mermaids live a long time. and im a slut for reincarnation)

Whipped Water Horse (this is the kelpie au i talked about above. Arulius is a Kelpie who’s been threatened with a whip by Amaris Nightingale since she was a small child and she doesn’t fear the fae. ends up falling in love with her and saving her several times from her human suitors under the guise of “youre my target so no one can have you” has some major angst and some not so fun stuff nearly happen)

The contractor’s wish (Snatcher is a demon who has to grant the whims of those who form contracts by writing in the book he’s bound to. Eclipse found the book while cleaning her attic out and ends up freeing him without question. he sticks around and slowly recalls being human and how he wound up in his situation while trying to figure what his actual wish is)

Cute Barista (a coffee shop au with a cinderella twist. Amaris is a graphic design student who works at her brother’s cafe “the horizon” and attracted the attention of a law student named Arulius law who visits daily. Her brother tried to get him to piss off but sadly the two actually enjoy chatting with each other. As a peck you to her brother they start going on dates. She’s very down on herself and he’s secretly the reclusive prince who’s been in hiding because he’s afraid of peoples reactions after he was scarred by an accident in his youth. he’s trying to find the best way to tell her the truth but also doesn’t want to scare her away. He’s a single father in this having adopted Harriet while doing volunteer work)

the Art Student’s muse (this one is fully written i just haven’t posted it. Basically, Arulius is an art student who became obsessed with this one nude model they had. Like not persay in a creepy way she just captivated him. he gets a lot of shit from his best friend Vanessa but winds up keeping the model in mind despite not seeing her. In his senior year they cross paths again and she has a break down but they wind up together.)

Swapped (a short one shot chapter in which TLC eclispe wakes up as Moon guardian Eclipse and gets very confused emotions when snatcher kissed her)

Darkrai’s Wish (a pokemon au Ive posted one chapter of already in which Arulius is a darkrai but used to be human and doesnt remember this. he has to deal with being human again thanks to a little jirachi and dealing with the fact he loves Eclipse who has issues cuz he used to be a pokemon)

Wolf bite (Prince Arulius was cursed as a werewolf in his youth. as an adult when he got out one full moon he bit a village girl giving her the curse as well. She winds up nearly being burned at the stake for witch craft and he has her saved and brought to the castle. he’s trying to make it up to her but she’s understandably pissed off. It’s a lot of him trying to get her to be not angry but also they start liking each other and she helps teach him a lot about how the world works because he’s naive and sheltered)

Familiar (Amaris lives in a world magic exists. many people have famialars to help do day to day tasks and the more impressive your family the better. Most meet their famialar when they are children, however, Amaris didn’t. But one day her past returns and she is taking care of a small chubby dragon who to everyone else looks like a deformed ferret and has to learn her magic may not be as limited as thought as well as the truth behind her familiar and the strange young man who keeps stopping by her work with flowers for her)

The Prince’s Pet Snake (this is the lamia au. Eclipse is a dangerous lamia with venom to take down an army. Arulius is a naive prince who thought of her as an animal and came to realize she’s far more human than he thought and being dumb to the fact he loves her despite he’s engaged. Has a sad ending)

Tangled Adventure (tangled au: Arulius law was cursed by his wife and is now trying to find the horizon and the daughter of the moon to break it. he picks up a changling child along the way who’s also searching for the horizon to find out where she came from. they meet the daughter of the moon but it seems to break the curse isnt as simple as they think and after making a deal with her to show her the outside they get into trouble when the queen comes looking for her lost prince)

Going Ghost (a danny phantom au idk if i’ve mentioned at all lol. hat and bow are twins and friends of arulius and they are inspecting a weird floor at his girlfriend's house. he winds up getting stuck when they trigger a gate to the horizon and becomes the snatcher. thankfully MJ and Eclipse where there and can somewhat help him calm down but it’s nuts)

Princess and the Rogue (a fantasy Au in which Eclipse is a runaway princess who became a fighter and teamed up with the rogue Snatcher who was cursed after wooing a noble woman. the two have been traveling for a few years and have one of those totally love each other but wont say it but also the search for the princess is getting intense and his curse is getting worse.)

Undergrounded (this is just my undertale au. )

Skates on Point (an ice skating au. Arulius is part of a famous olypic duo, Amaris is a selective mute woman who teaches at her daoptive father’s rink and an ex-ballet dancer. her brotehr was the gold medalist in the olympics but had to quit when he lost the use of his legs in a car wreck. Arulius is stressed over his realtionship and skating and winds up going to skate at the owl express rink where he sees the young woman skating alone in the morning. the two wind up bonding and spending more time togehter and she with his urging and her brother’s urging starts skating competitivly while he starts show skating under and alias and the two wind up performing togehter and realize they may have a thing. Eclispe is in teh process of adopting two little girls but having issues and ru helps and its jsut a lot of healing for everyone. Chapter 1, 2 and 3 typed as well as various snippets)

The little sea wolf (a little mermaid au but eclipse is the mermaid and a sea witch who winds up befriending teh prince after she saved him from thugs. things get sticky when the mermaid princess fell for him after seeing the sea witch save him from a shipwreck and deamnds to have him. the sea witch beause of teh strain of her magic starts to break down and unless she gains a soul she’ll die. Sena punches ru in this one and its great)

So yeah thats the ones on top my head im sure i probs have more but i cant think

[andrea-lyn]

Ok I’m the worst, but if you wanted to do another Christmas prompt... supernatural fusion sequel...

Yes, I know this says Christmas, but THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU DOUBLE REQUEST. I write both. Wait, no, that makes me look weak (except I am).This is a continuation of cruising through the doom days!**

Liz has a mandate – every year, each of them has topick a non-alien case so their skills stay sharp. Max has a propensity forvampires (which Michael teases him about because it’s so absolutely up hisalley with the whole hard-on for the gothic romantic era) and Isobel lovesrooting out incubi to make them suffer. Michael’s a big fan of the cryptid andLiz likes werewolves.“What about this one,” says Alex when it’s his turn, turning his computerscreen to show off the local news from Colorado Springs.Michael whistles under his breath, digging for some money from his back pocket.Alex eyes him warily, not sure why he’s doing that. “What?”“Max bet me that you’d wanna hunt ghosts your first time out,” Michael says,slapping the bill into Max’s hand (who accepts it with a smug ‘thank you’). “Ikind of thought you’d wanna do something a little more fun. Mermaids, sirens,banshees.”“This is all Michael-speak for him regretting his last choice,” Isobel informshim.Liz is already turning the screen back towards her to take some notes. “What happened at Michael’s last hunt?”“Pixies,” Isobel says with a manic smirk. “They put him under a love spell andhe had exams to write the next day. He professed his love to the teacher’sassistant in front of the whole class before Liz and I could dose him with anantidote,” she shares, laughing warmly. She’s expecting Alex to join in, but his jaw is clicking with jealousy. “Don’t worry,” Michael whispers, kissing Alex’s neck. “I learned my lessonabout going after anything that could make you fall in love with someone atfirst sight, up until I met you.” He bites at Alex’s shoulder playfully,clearly hoping that his charm is working on him.

The annoying thing is that it is.With that out of the way, Alex and Liz get to research, Max packs up the cars,Isobel books them a motel, and they head out to Colorado Springs to hunt down avengeful ghost. The first few days pass without incident. Alex heads to the house that’spurportedly haunted to take a few pictures, Liz reads up on the lore of thisparticular incident, and Michael gets their weapons ready. Then, on the thirdday, Alex comes home to disaster.“What the hell?” Alex exhales, barely managing the words past his grittedteeth. The motel is only so big, and it’s impossible to miss the giant Humvee in theparking lot. Given that there’s only so many people who have that car and wouldturn up at an active hunting ground, Alex isn’t surprised to see his fatherlooming outside a room a few doors down, his disdainful gaze fixed on Alex.Behind him, his brothers are unloading weapons briefcases. “No aliens here, Dad,” Alex says sharply. “Not for you to kill.”“I think there are some,” Jesse replies, as calm as ever. “We’re not here forthem. We were hired by a local client to investigate a haunting.”Money must be tight, because Jesse hates taking cases outside of his wheelhouseunless it’s absolutely necessary. It’s the first time that Alex has seen him since he walked out on him. He’s notsure what he’d been expecting, both to feel and for Jesse to do. It’s somehoweven more infuriating when Jesse eyes Alex up and down, and then decides thathe’s not even worth the trouble of a dressing down, which makes Alex want toburst out and provoke him. “If it’s the one at the Pollard Manor, we were here first,” Alex spits out. “I don’t think that matters. You’re ineffective, clumsy, and you were alwaysthe disappointment,” Jesse informs him. Behind him, he can see Flint snorting,but Alex shoots a glare his way that keeps him moving. “Somehow, I’m notworried.”Alex feels the rage welling up in him and he wants desperately to sling aninsult back at him, but the anger clouds his mind and he can’t think ofanything to say. Instead, he’s left fumbling, standing there while his brothersand father lock themselves in their motel room, leaving Alex feeling like theinadequate youngest son that he is. He slams his hand against the door before digging out his key and headinginside, taking a few deep breaths. Michael’s waiting for him, sitting on thebed, and Alex instantly regrets losing his shit like that, but Jesse has a wayof getting to him that no one else does. “We don’t have to stay,” is the first thing Michael says when Alex comes backinside from his encounter. Alex wonders how long Michael has been lurking, but he’sclearly heard plenty. “This is all practice for us. If Jesse and his boys wantto take this on, we can…”“No,” Alex cuts him off.Michael raises a brow, sprawling back on the motel bed. “Alex,” he warnsquietly. “It’s not healthy for you to be around him like this.”“We were here first,” he insists stubbornly. “When I walked out on him, it wasa whisper and it should’ve been a bang. He deserves to know that I’m betterthan him. He deserves to feel what it’s like having the rug yanked out fromunder you. I want…”“Revenge,” Michael fills in for him. “That’s kind of the problem, Alex.”“It’s not!”“We’re hunting down a vengeful ghost who feeds off that energy.” Michaelgestures to Alex, then to the front of the motel. “Are you telling me that it’snot going to be a problem?”“It’s not.” Alex feels like he might be lying, but he doesn’t want to let hisfather get the better of him.If they leave, then Jesse Manes wins and there’s no way that Alex canlet that happen. He’ll do absolutely anything he needs to make sure he can goon this hunt without causing issues, and he hopes that Michael will be on hisside. He knows that it’s dangerous, what he’s doing, but his father has alwaysclouded his judgment.In this moment, he’s back to being that boy – the one who wants to impress hisfather, no matter what he has to do.“The moment that I think it’s dangerous, we’re leaving,” Michael warns, buthe’s conceding. Alex can hear it in his voice.He nods rapidly, cupping Michael’s cheeks so he can bear in and kiss him toshow his appreciation, bearing him down onto the bed. “Yes,” he promises. “Ofcourse, yeah, anything,” he insists, and presses more kisses to Michael’s neck,tangling his fingers in Michael’s shirt to start yanking it off.There’s a voice in the back of his mind asking him why he’s pushing so much,even though he already knows. The way he’s acting, the defiance he’s wielding,it’s all because he needs some finality and closure to his life with hisfamily.Alex intends to get it, no matter how it happens.*The first visit to the house happens without incident. Michael’s actuallyfairly bored, seeing as it gets to the point that everyone splits up to coverthe rooms, but no one finds anything. They return to the foyer and regroup, with no one reporting any EMF activity oranything remotely haunted. Michael gives Alex an encouraging look. “Hey,” hesays, “Just because we didn’t find anything, it doesn’t mean that your Dad willeither.” Something on Alex’s face shifts then, flinches, and Michael kickshimself for bringing it up.He leans in and rubs Alex’s back, kissing his cheek to try and soothe away thatache. Michael’s feeling a little disappointed himself, if only because if theghost here has already been dealt with, then it’s a long to drive to have todeal with Alex’s shitty family. Liz reaches out to collect all the EMF meters,but Alex beats her to it. “I’ll process the data,” he assures. “You and Max can head out, have somedinner.”Liz hands her meter over with a grateful smile. “Thanks Alex, you’re the best.”Michael guesses that means he’s in for a night of logging and research. Hesulks at Alex, but it doesn’t go anywhere, so clearly there’s no sympathy to behad for him. They go back to the motel and luckily, the Manes family aren’tthere, so Michael doesn’t have to worry about rushing Alex inside before he canget into another provocation with them.The night’s pretty boring, as expected.Alex logs, Michael reads, and nothing even happens because Michael ends upfalling asleep while Alex clicks around the internet, then catalogues theweapons, and then goes back to reading. The next day, things start getting a little weird. Later, he’ll feel like a complete asshole for not putting the pieces together,but at first he thinks it’s just Alex making a statement in front ofJesse. He starts wearing thick eyeliner, goes out to a local store and buys tightleather pants, and there’s a mesh crop top at one point. It’s very emo, but italso is very (wildly, in fact) attractive on him, so Michael doesn’t sayanything. He’s also a big fan of the way Jesse’s face contorts like he’s havingan aneurysm when they run into each other. Michael admires his ass in the tight jeans, he plucks at the skin-tighthenleys, and he lets Alex pin him to the wall and make out with him, even inthe middle of research sessions. There’s been no sign of the ghost since the first visit, but they’ve got timeand Michael’s not really too fussed about it. Then it starts getting really odd.Alex doesn’t want to do any research. Every time they sit down to go over thehistory of the house or books on the subject, he says that he’s bored and he’sgoing out for coffee. One time, he comes back with his shirt untucked andaskew, which makes Michael wary about what’s going on. The weird thing doesn’t stop there.He’s not Alex, not really. At night, he pulls away from Michael’s arms, hedoesn’t play the guitar to lull them to sleep, and Max had caught him trying totake the truck for a joy ride. Something’s going on, and Michael’s starting toget scared.His fear still doesn’t prepare him for what happens next. It’s the middle of the night and he doesn’t know where Alex is. He rubs at his eyes and sits up, trying to see if he’s gone to the bathroom,but there are no lights on and there’s no sign of movement, which means that ifAlex is in the room, then he’s lying real still on the ground. Grabbing hisshirt, Michael pulls on the button-down and manages two buttons before he getsup and tucks the key into his pocket, heading outside. He hears a loud shot,like a car backfiring or a gunshot, but given the rough part of town they’restaying in, it could be dealer’s choice.“Alex,” he says with relief when he sees him a few doors down. “Babe, hey,” hecoaxes. “Are you smoking or something, what are you…?”The smoke isn’t a cigarette.It’s a gun in Alex’s hand and there’s a body on the ground. “Holy shit,”he exhales, gaping at the body. It’s Jesse Manes, bleeding out from his stomachand twisting, writhing around. “Fuck!” he snaps, and he hates that he’s aboutto do this, but he’d never let himself live it down if he didn’t. He storms tothe two doors beside his room, pounding on them. “Max! Isobel! Liz!” He keepspounding his fist, even as Alex swivels to look at them, his hand with the gunraising.Fuck, no.Michael focuses and sends the gun flying out of Alex’s hand. The minute Maxopens the door, Michael bolts into the room for the iron bar, heading back outand giving his boyfriend a pleading and apologetic look.“Michael,” is Alex’s warning, his voice sounding airy and hollow, like he’s noteven there.“Sorry, sweetheart,” Michael tells him, before he knocks him in the back of thehead with an iron bar, sending him crumpling to the ground. With Alex (orwhatever’s wearing Alex as a suit because that’s not his boyfriend) outfor the count, they can focus on Jesse. “Heal him,” he begs Max.“Don’t you put your hands on me,” Jesse spits out.“Look, your kids are out on a hunt, right? You’re not going to a hospitalbecause I can’t explain that a ghost shot you and if you think I’m letting youput Alex in jail for this, you’re stupider than I thought,” Michael snaps athim. “So either you die by Alex’s hand or Max heals you. Your choice, asshole!”There’s a frustratingly long moment where Jesse says nothing, but then hepresses his hands to his bleeding stomach and that seems to coax something outof him. Max doesn’t look any happier to be doing this, but Michael doesn’t need Alex tofeel the guilt of killing his father because he’s been possessed by a vengefulghost. It has to be that, right? If Michael thinks back, he could kick himselffor how obvious it’s been.They’d split up in the house and Alex had made sure to grab the EMF meters. Theonly person who’d know that there’s activity in the house would be the onebeing possessed. The rest all falls into place – the clothes, the actions, theway Alex has been succumbing to it. Watching Max heal Jesse, he bends down tocollect Alex in his arms, bringing him into Max’s room.“Liz,” he says roughly. “I need you to douse some ropes in salted holy waterand then tie him up. Please.”Liz looks at him with alarm, her mouth forming questions that Michael doesn’twant to hear.“Just do it,” he reiterates, feeling exhausted as if he’s the one who’s beenpossessed by a spirit. How could he have missed this? How could this have happened right under hisnose without him knowing? He helps Alex into the chair and when Liz movesforward with the ropes, Michael shakes his head and holds his hands out forthem. He needs to be the one to do this. It has to be. “I’m sorry,” he says again to Alex’s unconscious body, gently shifting hislolling head so there’s a pillow behind him. He cups Alex’s cheek the once,even though he knows that right now Alex isn’t in the driver’s seat. The tenderness means more, somehow, because he’s not the one in control. It’slike Michael needs to send whatever messages he can so that Alex knows thathe’s not fighting this alone.“I’m coming to get you,” he vows stubbornly. “I’m not going to let it haveyou.”He swears he won’t, because he just found Alex. He’s not losing him soeasily.*It takes hours before Alex comes around.He says Alex, but Michael knows it’s not. It all makes sense now, from the waythe hunt had gone cold after their first recon, but also Alex’s strangebehavior that Michael had written off as them not truly knowing one anotherthat well. He’d known that this hunt was a bad idea, but he’d gone along withit because Alex had seemed to need it.Next time, he’s trusting his instincts.“Ready?” Liz asks him quietly, pressing the holy water and the salt to one ofhis hands, the iron to the other. Michael shakes his head, not wanting to deal with the ghost that’s possessingAlex, making a hoe of him. He clutches each item tightly and when Alex startsmaking noises, he steps forward in time to see his eyes go black, opening upand hissing as he wriggles against the ropes.“What did you do to me?”“Salted ropes to keep you snug as a shitty little bug,” Michael says. “Youdon’t have to deal with it, though. Just leave him,” he coaxes. “Get out ofhim, and then you can feel better.”“No.”Michael’s nostrils flare as he inhales angrily. “Get out of him,” he repeats,the only thing stopping him from doing anything more is that it’s Alex. It’sAlex’s face, his voice, and the ghost is using him to make a home, but that’ssupposed to be what Michael gets with him. They’ve only just met, but that’s whatAlex feels like to him.It’s like home. He’s not ready to let a ghost take that away from him. “If you don’t leave, we’ll force you out.” “I like it in here,” the ghost says, wriggling Alex’s shoulders like he’s in awarm and cozy blanket. “He’s full of rage and anger. He wants revenge, always,”it says, and smiles a charming smirk at Michael. “I’m keeping him. We belongtogether. Do whatever you want, but I’m not letting him go without a fight.” Michael’s never seen a ghost make a home of a person. Alex isn’t an object or aplace. He’s a person. The need for vengeance and for retribution must be sostrong in Alex, and his family’s presence here has stoked it. “I’m not sure what’ll work here,” Michael mutters to Liz once he steps aside.“I’ve never seen an infestation of a person before. I’m notsalting and burning Alex.”“We can drive him out. What about an exorcism? He’s already bound with saltedropes,” Liz says. “We’ll tuck some iron in there, douse him with holy water,say the words…eventually, that thing is going to want out.”“Okay,” he says, glancing to Isobel. “I don’t care about finesse anymore. Burnthe house, make sure this thing has nowhere else to go. Take it all down.”Isobel and Max go, leaving Michael and Liz to amp up their aggression. Theypour a bucket of blessed motel-sink water over Alex’s head, tuck iron piecesinto the ropes, and it begins to work. Alex is thrashing around, growlinggutturally, and spitting out curses at them. “He doesn’t want you,” the creature spits out at Michael with Alex’s voice.“You’re only a distraction. You’re something that he’s using to make himselffeel like an adult now that he’s outside of his father’s reach.”“Michael, don’t listen to him,” Liz says quietly.Michael keeps his head down, trying stubbornly not to let it get to him, butit’s like the ghost has seen inside Michael’s head, not Alex’s, and isunearthing every last fear that he’s been keeping buried. “He’ll leave you.” Alex’s lips contort up in an ugly smile and he shakes hishead. “It’ll be pathetic. You, left all alone by this weakling of a man,consumed by his need to get revenge.”“You’re a shitty liar,” Michael spits out at him, shoving one last piece ofiron vindictively into the ropes, knowing that he has to be careful. If he letsthat need for revenge against the spirit consume him, then he could be the nexthost. Instead of thinking about vengeance, he focuses on his love for Alex, andwanting to do right by him. It hurts, still, but he thinks that the hurt comes from a place where Michaelknows this is happening to Alex because Michael couldn’t protect him. He should have been louder about not doing this hunt. He should have never let them split up. “He doesn’t love you. He doesn’t want you.”“You know what?” Michael decides that’s fucking enough. “Get,” Michael says,dousing Alex in holy water, “the fuck,” he continues sharply, digging hisfingers into the bible as he gets ready, “out of my boyfriend!”There are some rites and rituals that Michael knows off by heart and anexorcism of a person’s body happens to be one of them. This isn’t a demon, butMichael’s not exactly feeling picky today, as he begins to chant the words,pressing the iron pieces in Alex’s ropes harder against his skin, having toignore the way Alex yelps and howls.It’s not him, he reminds himself.The ghost will do anything it can to make sure it gets to keep Alex, but it’sout of luck, because Michael found him first. Michael’s panting before hefinishes the exorcism rite, but with one final throw of the remainder of theholy water, the ghost expunges itself from Alex through his mouth, his nose,his eyes, dissipating out into the air. It will try and make for the house again, Michael knows.Hopefully by then, it’ll have been burnt to the ground. Alex slumps over andMichael bolts for his side, landing hard on his knees. His fingers yank on theropes, but Liz’s hiss of caution behind him makes him hesitate. Only for amoment, though, because then he’s looking up into Alex’s warm eyes, not that ofa ghost.“…Michael?” he ekes out.“Yeah, babe?”“Why am I tied up? Are we trying something new and kinky?”Michael laughs with relief and hauls himself up to press his forehead toAlex’s, closing his eyes as he kisses him, fingers sliding through his wethair. He’ll definitely have to go over everything with him, but Michael knowsone thing.No more ghost hunts, not for a while.“I’ll explain later, okay? Let’s just get you out of these ropes and into somedry clothes.”No ghost is going to take Alex from him, not without Michael putting up onehell of a fight. *“Alex, you don’t have to do this.”“I need to.”His eyes are still sunken and his face pale, but Alex’s determination won’t bepushed off. Michael still doesn’t think it’s a good idea, but Alex is alreadymoving forward. The Manes are packing up to leave, which is great news as faras Michael’s concerned. The part that’s not as great is how Alex wants to goout there and talk to them.They’ve just conquered a vengeful spirit. This feels a little like playing withfire just because they didn’t get completely torched the first time. Is Michael going to deny Alex this chance?No. He’s also not about to let him do it alone. “I’m coming with you.” When Alexopens his mouth to argue, Michael gives him a pointed look. “I’m not lettingyou out of my sight until that shitty scared feeling in my stomach goes away.” That feels like it could be days or years, but until then, Michael needsthat closeness. He helps Alex outside, but he waits until all his brothers are in the car tocall out.“Jesse!”Not Dad, and there’s no warmth to it. For a moment, Michael thinks that Jesse is going to leave without acknowledginghis son, but he slides the last weapons case into the back before rounding theHumvee to eye Alex and Michael both, standing there with one hand precariouslyclose to the weapon Michael knows is at his side.He reaches out with his powers, makes sure the safety is on, just so he canfeel safe about this conversation. Jesse waits for them to speak, but whatever Alex has to say, he needs to thinkabout it.It means Jesse gets the first word: “I’m not saying thank you.”Michael can tell that’s directed at him, because Alex gives him a confused look.“After I knocked you out, I made Max heal him,” he says, shooting Jesse afurious look. “You’re welcome,” he says anyway, because he and Max savedJesse’s life using their alien powers, and he thinks that should get rubbed inhis face a little more. Jesse scowls, looking at Alex. “What do you want?”“I want to tell you what I should have said years ago. You forced your beliefson me, your life, and when I didn’t fit it, you punished me,” Alex says. Hewobbles slightly, but Michael’s there for him, supporting him with an arm slungaround his back. “I grew up scared. I felt alone. I felt like I was wrong,until I met Michael and his family.”Jesse’s staring at him impassively, while Flint shouts that they need to getgoing.“What are you trying to say, Alex?”“That I’m done with you. I walked out and escaped the worst monster I’ve everseen, and I was just possessed by a vengeful ghost who wanted to take me overand use me until I was a husk.” Alex cocks his head to the side. “You’re stillworse.”If someone had said that to Michael, he might have crumpled up and used hispowers to let out his rage.Jesse Manes looks at him, then to Michael, and he decides that he’s not worthit. “You’re not a Manes anymore,” is all Jesse says.“I never wanted to be one,” Alex guarantees. “I don’t want to see you again.Next hunt we run into one another, you leave,” he says. “You owe us, after all.You owe Max your life,” he adds with a smug finality that has Jessebristling, but not arguing. If Jesse had the first word, then Alex has the last.Jesse’s gone without any further protest, and when the Humvee has vanished overthe horizon, it’s like the relief courses through Alex, making him crumple. Michael’sthere for him, wrapping his arms around his waist and pulling him in, pressinga kiss to his shoulder. He knows that Alex had looked calm, suave, andcollected, but that Alex is also stronger than his father ever gave him creditfor.“You okay?” Michael asks quietly. “I know that wasn’t easy.”“Nope, definitely not,” Alex agrees, and Michael can see the tears in his eyes.“But I gave a vengeful spirit a home because of my anger at my father. Itwanted to consume me whole because of what I couldn’t let go. I needed to dothat. I needed to call him the monster he was and then I needed to let go.”Michael knows it won’t be that easy. He won’t be able to let him go instantly,but the important part is that he’s taken his first steps down that road.“So,” Alex asks, lump still in his throat from how his words catch, “where arewe going next?”“Home,” Michael says. “We’re going home for a while. You okay with that?”Alex gives him a relieved smile, turning into Michael’s hold so he can pull himin. “That sounds perfect to me. Home,” he echoes. “With my family.”

[fairyfolkreviews]

“The Mermaid Bride and Other Orkney Folktales” Review

Disclaimer: In accordance with FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements: The book reviewed has been purchased by me and the opinions I have expressed are my own. All quotes from “The Mermaid Bride” are the property of © Tom Muir, and illustrations are all by artist  © Bryce Wilson. Images used with permission of © Tom Muir from Orkneyology.

“The Mermaid Bride” is a varied collection of folk tales retold by the author and is as entertaining as it is informative. It’s a hidden gem among the many Scottish folklore books that line the mythology and local interest section of bookstore shelves. I highly recommend it to anyone who wishes to learn more about Orkney's traditional tales and customs. It is also a great choice for children who love fairy tales. The pages are filled with fantastic creatures, lesser known creatures of folklore: selkies, giants, ghosts, fin folk, mermaids, and trows, to name a few. If you are familiar with Norse mythology, you will notice its influence on some of the legends. Vikings had invaded the Orkney Isles and lived there for a time among the natives long ago. Bryce Wilson’s illustrations adorn the book and add even more charm to the stories. They are incredibly detailed and are done in black ink with a stippling effect, creating texture as well as a three-dimensional impression to his pictures.

The book begins with the “Acknowledgements” page, followed by an introduction by the author, Tom Muir. He explains that his purpose for writing this book was to preserve Orkney's heritage and compile as many folk stories as he could find into one place for fear that all the ancient tales would be lost in time. I believe that he has achieved this goal. He may have even composed a classic that will lay on the bedside tables of many Orkney children for their mothers to read to them for years to come. Following the introduction is “The Creatures of Orkney Folklore” section which provides short descriptions of the mythical characters featured in the tales. I recommend you read this section if you are not familiar with Orkney folklore. Otherwise, it will be difficult to understand who or what the supernatural characters are in the tales. After the collection of folk tales, there is a small segment titled “Short Stories from Old Lore Miscellaneous.” and one labelled “Ernest Marwick Papers, Orkney Archives of the Orkney Library, D31.” Ernest Marwick was a folklorist who wrote one of the first books of folklore of the Orkney and Shetland Isles. The last two sections are “BBC Radio Orkney Archives” and the bibliography, which is designated “Notes and Sources.”

The language of the tales is simple to adhere to traditional story-telling. This combined with the author’s unique voice which captures the essence of the settings in which the stories take place and the dialogues between the characters. They preserve the authenticity to these tales as faithful as the ambiance of  the originals. They invoke emotions of love, loss, wonder, caution and even some  humor. Some tales are short, less than a page long, while others exceed three pages. I found that the narration is similar to that of many fairy tales. Most folk tales  have an underlying purpose, theme, or lesson.. My favorite sayings from the book are: "A close tongue keeps a safe head" and "She shaped her own cloth, now let her wear her ill-fitting dress!" The stories are more plot-driven and the protagonists generally do not play a large part and are not particularly well-rounded. Therefore, the choices these characters make and external supernatural forces/entities are what move the narrative forward. Supporting characters are not mentioned much and rarely influence the events which occur. If you keep in mind that you are reading a book of folktales, not a collection of short fiction, you will enjoy the book regardless.There is plenty of adventure to be found: discoveries of hidden islands and an underwater kingdom, the exploration of the wild, rich and untamed Orkney landscape, which is depicted in Mr. Muir's brilliantly.

As much as I adored the book, I’m giving it ★ ★ ★ ★ instead of five because of some minor vexing details:

Toward the end of the book, there is an increase in common grammatical errors (misuse of punctuation, not capitalizing the first words of sentences, etc.). Also, the language in the tales do not seem to flow as smoothly as they did earlier in the book. Everything feels somewhat rushed. Furthermore, some factors in the tales are difficult to comprehend. I understand and appreciate that these folk tales were told this way years ago, but one wonders if the original storytellers at the time had not been improvising or adding elements spontaniously. A good example to support my opinion is the story "Good Neighbours of Greenie Hill," when a stampede of pigs suddenly appears out of nowhere in the house and starts squealing next to a character’s feet, then one of them carries him or her off to see fairies.

Overall, I enjoyed every moment I spent reading this book. I learned a lot about the folklore of Orkney and a little about the customs of the people who lived there in the past. I loved the stories toward the beginning of the book most of all, which are creation myths that portray how Orkney came to be, as well as stories of Mermaids, Selkies, and Fin Folk. But my absolute favorite tale was by far "Lady Odivre;" it was one of the most epic folk tales I had ever read: an oath made by Odin, a heartbroken lady, a brave knight in a faraway land, a Selkie King, and even a scandal!

I recommend this book to anyone interested in folklore, particularly Scottish folklore. I also recommend it to anyone who loved mermaids, selkies, and stories of the sea. The tales of the Orkney Isles are not as well-known as those from the rest of the UK, but they should be. If not for the sake of scholarly research, then for the pure joy that they will no doubt bring you.  If you are interested in this book, you can  find used copies online, but most are overpriced overpriced. Luckily, you can still purchase a new copy directly  from the bookshop linked to the publisher, Orcadian Limited (Kirkwall Press), here.

Resources for research and further reading:

1. Orkneyjar:  http://www.orkneyjar.com/

2. Orkneyology: https://www.orkneyology.com/

3. Orkney Library: http://www.orkneylibrary.org.uk/

4. Marwick, Ernest W. The Folklore of Orkney and Shetland. B.T. Batsford, 1986.

5. Muir, Tom, and Sheila Faichney. Orkney Folk Tales. The History Press, 2014

6. Black, George F. County Folklore. Facsimile ed., III, Folklore Society, 1994.

7. Dennison, Walter Traill, and Tom Muir. Orkney Folklore & Sea Legends. Orkney Press, 1995.

[the-citrus-scale]

The AU Zone: Taking the Strange Out of Hawkins, Indiana

AUs are the lifeblood of fandoms, especially fandoms that have a limited, focused story like Stranger Things. There are only so many things you can do with the show’s canon. Sure, you might feel like they’ve all been done before, and if you want to do them again, that’s fine. But you might also not have any interest in weaving your fanfiction through all of the supernatural happenings and potentially having to invent new lore. If that's the case, AUs are your friend, because there’s still plenty to do with these characters even if you take the strange out of Hawkins, Indiana.

Stranger Things has a great base of established characters and relationships to work with and these dynamics can easily be transferred to any AU setting. It also makes adding original characters simple, because you can just slap a few extra siblings in wherever you’d like. It’s very popular to give Dustin an older sister, Hopper a teenage daughter or son, or Steve a twin, for instance. In terms of the adults, it’s common practice to have a new character show up at Hopper’s police station, or to be a parent in that new family that moves in down the block. This also gives you plenty of pairings to play with too, especially if you want to introduce some more LGBTQIA+ representation into the story, even if you don’t want to introduce any original characters. Regardless of if you choose a canon or an AU setting, the cast and the way they interact with each other remains intact, preserving an aspect of the show that all of its fans will adore.

Since Hawkins is also a richly established setting, it is easy to lift out the supernatural aspects and focus on more mundane happenings as the driving force of the narrative. High school AUs are already popular in most fandoms, regardless of the age of the characters, and Stranger Things has characters in high school, or characters who could easily be aged up and followed to high school. You could even do a college AU the same way. Scoops Ahoy could become the site of an awesome variation of the coffee shop AU trope. You could take it one step further and jump back to the past and have everyone be kids together, because wouldn’t that be the cutest? Who hasn't wanted to see Hopper and Joyce as teens in a flashback? Or you could move into the future and have the current cast grown and now dealing with more adult themes. These types of AUs are also great if you’d like to take the characters in a more fluffy direction and save them from the general violence and mayhem and death that follow them in the source material; a common desire in fandoms where characters are frequently put through the wringer canonically. Not that you can’t have some good old real life angst too. I know some of you like that.

Of course, you still might want some fanciful elements in your AU, even if you’re avoiding the canon lore of Stranger Things. You could do something more realistic, like a noir murder mystery involving Hopper and Joyce. And if you wanted things to be paranormal, you could add a ghost in for good measure. Or you could go with fantasy and make everyone werewolves. Seriously. Look at Steve and Billy’s hair. Aren’t they just asking to turn into giant dogs every full moon? Or Billy could be a mermaid, which is why he needs to spend his summers at the community pool. Do mullets hold up well underwater? If you want to get really wild, move the characters to a Russian space station, or make them all knights and ladies hanging out in a medieval castle. The sky’s the limit here, because there’s just so much to work with. Come on. Who could resist seeing the kids in a world that actually resembled Dungeons & Dragons, which they play so often?

No matter what you choose, fanfiction is your creative sandbox. Even if you think your idea just sounds too crazy, write it. I guarantee you somebody else has had a similar idea and would love to see it brought to life. In addition, AUs are even more fun in a fandom like Stranger Things. Fans have already been through the weirdest plotline imaginable, but they have no idea what could happen if you change the setting, even if what you choose is a simple AU where nothing out of the ordinary happens. What fans want is more of the amazing characters they’ve come to love, regardless of the situation, and it is totally in your power to give them that in so many ways with the power of the AU on your side.

[pontsalin]

Au masterpost

With summaries and links for each! 

There may be aus that I’ve never talked about before, so if you’re interested in hearing more about them, shoot me an ask about it (you can also ask me if you want to hear more about an au I’ve posted about)!

Quirk au (crossover with BNHA)

@ask-vigilante-virgil

Summary: Virgil is a vigilante, fighting the crime at night with his best friend Remy. Everything is fine until Virgil gets caught in something much bigger than he thought.

Info about their quirks:

Virgil, Logan, Patton and Roman

Remy

Deceit and Emile

General info about them (desktop only)

Read from the start (desktop only)

Ships: Eventual LAMP, established remile, eventual RED, past sleepxiety

Tw: Morally grey Patton, unsympathetic Remus, sympathetic Deceit

Monster au

Summary: In a world where monsters exist, but are feared by humans, Logan and Patton create a school for fantastic creatures, to make a safe space where they can learn to control their powers and get a proper education.

Design of the main sides

General infos about them

More lore infos about them

Tag: monster au

Ships: Eventual LAMP, originally analogical and royality, but has been built to be more prinxiety + logicality

Tw: Morally grey Roman, Morally grey Deceit

Shugo Chara au (crossover)

Summary: Thomas wakes up with three eggs in this bed, each one representing an hidden desire. Then a fourth egg. Then a fifth egg? What?

Their design + the backstory

Tag: Shugo Chara au

Ships: None

Somewhat swapped au

Summary: Swap au + Highschool au where the sides are swapped but still keep a part of their canon character. 

Who’s swapped: 

Virgil/ Patton

Logan/ Roman

Remy/ Emile

Deceit/ Remus

Their designs

Tag: Somewhat swapped au

Ships: Slow burn LAMP, eventual remile, platonic demus

Tw: Sympathetic Deceit and Remus

Gem au (crossover with Steven Universe)

Summary: Roman, Logan, Patton and Thomas form the Crystal Gems, defending the Earth against the odd.

Their designs

Tag: gem au

Ships: Eventual LAMP

WlW au (genderbend au)

Summary: Human au where the sides are girls.

Their designs + their body types here

Tag: wlw au

Ships: Prinxiety, loreceit, remile

Tw: Sympathetic Deceit and Remus

Sun and Moon au 

Summary: Au where the sides are spirits of a specific thing, and Thomas is a kid curious about them.

Their designs

Tag: Sun and moon au

Ships: LAMPD, remile, eventual Remy/ Emile/ Remus

Tw: Sympathetic Deceit, morally grey Remus

Fnaf au (crossover)

Summary: Each sides are animatronics living in a circus and entertaining kids.

Their designs + a bit of their story

Tag: fnaf au

Ships: None

Tw: Morally grey everyone

The Greatest Showman au (crossover)

Summary: 

Roman:  P.T Barnum

Patton: Charity Barnum

Logan:  Phillip Carlyle

Virgil:  Anne Wheeler

Deceit: Jenny Lind

Ships: Royality, Analogical

Tw: unsympathetic Deceit

Ghostbusters au

Summary: Logan and Patton are two ghosbusters, catching the troubling ghosts.

Their designs + backstory/ plot

Ships: Eventual moxiety, eventual logince, past anxceit

Spider Virgil au

Summary: Deceit being a snake, and Remus an octopus, so Virgil being a spider (more precisely a chilean rose hair tarantula) would be fitting, right?

Art

Ships: Undecided

Gaming au

Summary: Logan is twitch streamer, Patton has a gaming channel and Virgil and Roman owns together a gmaing channel too. Damien is their editor.

Details of their channels

Ships: Slow burn DLAMP

Tw: Sympathetic Deceit

Witch au

Summary: Logan enters a school for witchcraft and gets to meet other witches, and learns that science and magic are one and the same.

Ships: Undecided

Angel/ Demon au

Summary: Virgil tries to summon a demon, but an angel tries to prevent him from doing it. He’s now roomate with the two of them.

Art

Ships: Prinxiety, eventual moxiety, undecided

Golden soul au

Summary:  Soulmate where your dreams are linked to your soulmate(s). You can't remember their face or name, but when you wake you got golden dust where your soulmate touched you. (Original post)

Roman and Logan are soulmates, except Roman lives in Europe while Logan lives in America. They barely get sleep at the same time, and for the longest time thought the two of them didn’t have soulmates, until Patton (Logan’s friend) shows Roman’s youtube channel to him.

Ships: Logince, moxiety, RED

Unconventional pets au

Summary: Virgil likes pets that aren’t universally loved. He likes spiders, frogs, snakes, mantis etc.

His dads (Logan and Patton) try their best to support him, but Patton’s fear of most of those pets isn’t ideal. Virgil gets to meet another snake lover, Dee.

Logan and Patton are also trying to fix their gay crisis, since they’re both crushing hard on that cute genderfluid baker down the street (Roman).

Ships: Anxceit, established Logicality, future morolo

Tw: Sympathetic Deceit and Remus

Secret Identity au

Summary: Heroes need to hide their faces to preserve their identity. Shenanigans insues.

Powers: 

Logan: Can create portals on flat surfaces

Patton: None. Masters white weapons.

Roman: Invisibility

Virgil: Can control the weather, and has a small orb that changes shape depending on his mood (sad= rainy etc.)

Deceit: Animal shapeshifter

Remus: None. Is the voice that co ordinates them in the mic.

Emile: Blood bending

Remy: Can go into other’s people dreams

Ships: Logicality, Remus x Deceit x Virgil, Roman x Remy x Emile

- Hero! Logan and Hero! Patton make out after the fights, but Logan can’t stand Patton irl.

- Deceit and Remus are dating, and Virgil is very jealous of Remus. Though he really likes the voice that talks to them during fights.

Tw: Sympathetic Deceit and Remus

Creepy au

Summary: Logan is a curious kid. Patton is always smiling. Roman has many friends. Virgil will never leave his brother’s side. Four outcasts dealing with supernatural stuff.

Logan is a young scientist with a lot of motivation.

Patton is a new demon.

Roman sees dead people.

Virgil has a plush possessed by a demon.

Ships: None

Cryptid au

Summary: Roman has a youtube channel where he does urbex with Virgil (bfu style), and make rant videos about how cryptid are beautiful and he’d love to date one. 

Plot twist. Virgil is mothman, and sticks with Roman to protect him since he has a very bad luck and attracts every bad spirits.

Logan has a youtube channel where he debunks myth (from the flat earth to supernatural stuff). He does not believe in anything supernatural, except that his best friend Patton is a fae that has claimed him.

Ships: Prinxiety, Logicality

Mermaid au

Summary: Roman is a human who has always been fascinated by the ocean. Little does the know that his mother was the same.

Roman: Human

Remus: Octomaid

Deceit: Human

Logan: Octomaid

Virgil: Shark mermaid

Patton: Seal mermaid

French Highschool au

Summary: Highschool au happening in France because I’m tired to see every highschool au being in the US.

Logan: S, overworks himself to the point of doing burnouts because he needs to be the best.

Virgil: S,  is ahead of pretty much all classes due to his anxiety. Often beats Logan during tests.

Roman: S, pressured by his parents to go in the scientific course, doesn’t work but still gets good grades. He hates himself each time his executive dysfunction makes him not working.

Patton: ES, tries his best, works a lot but still struggles to get more than average grades.

Deceit: L, average. He gets average grades and work an average ammount of time. He’s the stereotypical L that smokes and is bad at math.

Remus: Redoublant, gets the new school system, struggles to work.

Emile: Biology / science and life of the Earth teacher

Remy: Math teacher

Thomas: French Teacher

Ships: Analogical, roceit, intruality, remile

Patton’s design

Doodles (second and third pics)

Ships: Logince, moxiety, demus

Steampunk au

Summary: The high and middle class live on a floating island, unknowingly (or not) abusing on the people living on the ground.

Deceit: Originally from the lower city, he’s one of the few that knows how to travel down (or up).

Remus: Son of the King, does not know anything about what’s happening bellow. Deceit conviced him to go to the lower city.

Roman: Son of the King, knew what was happening in the lower city, and escaped many years ago. Presumed dead. Patton’s fiancé.

Patton: Comes from the lower city, managed to go on the island as a courtesan. Went back down with Roman when he escaped.

Virgil: From the lower city, one of the greatest engineer of the Kingdom. Made Patton’s prothesis, Deceit’s monocle and his own fake eyes.

Logan: Middle class, works as a cop chasing people escaping the island. Constantly running after Deceit.

Ship: Dukexiety, Royality, Loceit

Sudden Monsters au

Summary: The sides gets transformed one after the other as monsters. A great excuse to talk about feelings and overcome fears.

Virgil: Drider (half spider)

Deceit: Naga

Remus: Octomaid

Roman: Mermaid

Logan: Centaur (but half unicorn)

Patton: Werewolf (is always an humanoid canid, but gets violent during the full moon)

Ships: Moxiety, undecided

Eldritch au

Summary: Virgil meets the monster under his bed. He is actually really sweet.

More talk there

Ship: Dukexiety, eventual Logince

Lost kids au

Summary: Virgil and Remus run away from the orphanage they were in, and decides to sleep in an abandoned house. The creature (Deceit) living there decides to take care of them.

Rpg au

Summary: The sides meet on a mmorpg and creates a team.

Roman: Tank, werewolf 

Logan: Long range dps, elf

Patton: Summoner/ necromancian, human

Virgil: Healer, spider specie

Deceit: Rogue, snake specie

Remus: Short range dps, human

Ships: Established moxiety, slow burn lomus, roceit

Alien Runaway au

Summary: Logan is a scientist working in a space station. An alien arrives, badly injuried. The crew saves him, and keep him safe until he gets better. His name is Roman, and he’s willing to talk (with ASL) only to Logan.

Roman, Remus, Emile and Deceit are aliens.

Logan, Virgil, Patton and Remy are human scientists.

Marvel au

Virgil is Natasha 

Patton is Cap 

Logan is Bruce 

Roman is Thor

Deceit is Loki

Remy is Tony

Ships: Undecided

Overwatch au

May be a crack au. Idk I was just in a ovw mood when I made it.

Roman: D.Va

Logan: Symmetra

Patton: Mercy

Virgil: Reaper (following the theory that Reaper is infiltrated in Talon)

Deceit: Moira or Roadhog

Remus: Junkrat

Fusion au

Summary: Fusion au where the fusions are piece of chess

Doodles

Souleater au

I do not know yet, but it’s somewhere in my mind

Sherlock au

sherlock - virgil

watson - remus

moriarty - roman

irene - patton

mycroft - dee 

lestrade - logan