#oh also Gabriel from the Books of Beginning! him for sure | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

nerdalmighty · 1 year ago

Note

What are your top picks for your favorite Good Omens fanfics? 👀

-AnnTickwittee

Oh my dear AnnTickwittee, THANK YOU for this ask. There are a bunch of great ones out there but here are some I've loved recently! Also, everyone PLEASE feel free to leave more recs in comments or reblogs or tags! I LOVE a good fic!

Weirdly, most of my faves were written before S2 premiered - PLEASE recommend me some good S2 stuff, and ones you'd consider staples in the GO fandom - I've missed out on a LOT of great content - help me find it/catch up! (Note: All fics listed below are COMPLETE and feature happy endings.)

---

Summary: AU, retelling of “Beauty and the Beast”. Quite honestly, sending Aziraphale off into the forest to be held hostage by a giant snake in a cursed castle isn’t even the worst thing Gabriel’s ever done to him, and at least it means a change of scene. But then neither the snake nor the castle turn out to be quite what he’s expecting…

My Review: Fave fave FAVE at the moment! I discovered this one from this tiktok, fully thinking it was going to be a silly little romp and was instead met with beautiful prose, adorable banter, and moments that literally made me go "AWW" out loud (which I NEVER do). I meant to read a few chapters per night before bed and then accidentally read the whole thing in one go. I stayed up until 4am reading and then woke up 4 hours later STILL thinking about it. Aziraphale is the perfect lead in this one, with Crowley as the wily yet lovable snake that lives in a cursed/enchanted castle with some familiar faces. CLASSIC pining ensues. The author does a great job of world building and character development and I find myself wishing I could read it again with fresh eyes. It's beautiful and adorable and I can't recommend it enough. Favorite quote: "'I love him,' he said. 'Let me in.' And the gates swung open before him."

---

Summary: In good weather, one can see the lighthouse at the Rock from the shore: a dot on the horizon, a distant star flashing red and white and red again. It’s been dark for a fortnight, of course—ever since the incident that every newspaper had breathlessly written about, that the paper-boys on the corners had shouted themselves hoarse over. This is where Aziraphale is headed: it is his duty, after all, to find out what happened, to make sure that the beacon can be safely lit once again. He does not expect Crowley to follow him to the windswept isle, to the lonely lighthouse at what could just as well be the edge of the world. Crowley follows him anyway.

My Review: THIS ONE! This one is a good old fashioned mystery! The humans believe this lighthouse is haunted, especially since its last three keepers vanished without a trace, but Aziraphale and Crowley know that can't possibly be the case. As such, they decide to investigate for themselves. It's an adorable slow burn period piece that had me weeping at certain points with twists and turns abound, and I really liked how the author handled the mystery and lore! Deep lore is tough to do convincingly and I found myself believing everything the author said. I can't tell you how thrilled I was when I KIND OF clocked what the author was going for with their mystery. Their explanation for everything was far better than anything my monkey brain could have come up with. Also that S2 ep of OFMD that featured a lighthouse in the beginning came out after I read this fic and I got all giddy thinking about Aziracrow here. I literally don't think I'll ever see a lighthouse again and not think of this gorgeous fic. EDIT: Also, here's a YouTube video that appeared in my recommended shortly after I read this. It's super interesting that disappearances like this have happened in real life 😱

---

Summary: Two months after the failed apocalypse Aziraphale finds the first dark feather growing in his wings. A story about middle grounds, ineffable plans, and what happens when the world doesn't end.

My Review: Another fic I found on Tiktok. The edit itself was so gorgeous I decided to give it a go and was not disappointed. It was written before S2 was even announced so it takes some liberties with fanon (Crowley was Raphael in the canon of this world, etc), but it's a lovely, relatively quick read. Crowley and Aziraphale are on their own side, finally, and soon, others join their ranks. All while God watches from afar. The prose is beautiful and I come back to the tiktok all the time (I saved it onto my phone lol). It was also fun to go back and rewatch the tiktok after reading and realize that the editor stitched together parts from each chapter into something new and amazing. It's not a romantic fic, not in the way the others are; it cares more about the aftermath of an apocalypse and shades of gray and how the universe came to be in the first place. I love the POV of God reminiscing on creation and thought it was very well written. Absolutely loved this one! (@anntickwittee, this was the fic I was referring to in the tags of this post, which is probably what prompted you to leave this ask in the first place! 😊)

---

Summary: When Crowley drops a bomb on a church, Aziraphale falls in love with him. This should be a secret, but unfortunately, Aziraphale's never been much good at keeping them.

My Review: A one-shot expanding on the 1941 minisode (2019) BEFORE the S2 minisode canonically expanded on it. Recap: Aziraphale's just realized he's in love with Crowley (thank you Michael Sheen for that AMAZING acting choice) and this fic is the author's interpretation of what might have happened after the show cut away from the burning church. I was floored by how many parallels made it from this fic into the actual show both directly and indirectly (Aziraphale says "Not as such" at one point and I'm pretty sure I burst into tears and/or yelped loudly). It's got a good bit of angst to it, the same kind from S2 that makes you scream "WHAT ARE YOU DOING! HE'S RIGHT THERE!" with a happy ending that helped heal my shattered heart. I definitely cried reading this one (affectionate). It's extremely fluffy at the end which EYE LOVE, so if that's your thing, I highly recommend! Favorite Quote: "'I’m afraid I’m quite terribly in love with you,' Aziraphale said unceremoniously. Crowley, who had been in the process of sitting up, promptly fell off the sofa."

---

Summary: After Aziraphale goes back to Heaven with the Metatron, Crowley reflects. And 4,400 years ago in 2407 BC, in the city of Uruk in ancient Sumer, he and Aziraphale fall in love with humanity, and each other. - “What are you doing here?” asked Aziraphale. Crowley lifted an eyebrow and felt himself start to smile. “I should ask you the same. What are you thinking, coming here with your wings out and the blessed light of Heaven raining down upon you? You’re scaring the mortals.” Aziraphale blushed. Crowley dutifully looked away. It felt disrespectful not to.

My Review: This one-shot is a love letter to history and humanity. I think I found it on twitter? Unfortunately I don't have a link to the tweet or the author's tumblr. What I really love about this one is that the author adds footnotes like the original Good Omens book does. You can absolutely feel the love and care that went into writing and researching for this particular fic, which I can really appreciate as a fellow writer. (For all my Bildad the Shuhite stans out there, this story takes place after, but the vibes are VERY SIMILAR. If you even care.) Crowley and Aziraphale are in Uruk to keep an eye on the humans as they try to build a structure tall enough to reach God (the Tower of Babel). Theoretically, they can both return to their respective sides, but opt to stay on earth (with each other) for 10 years to watch the construction unfold. Pining ensues, NSFW ensues, and as the author puts it, "now featuring Aziraphale as a little country girl tending her sheep ♥" I highly recommend if you want to be sucked into another time period/biblical story and feel MANY different feelings (with a happy ending!)

---

I have more bookmarked that I could absolutely recommend if anyone is interested, but these 5 are just the ones that have stuck out to me the most recently!! Believe me, I could go ON, but this post is long enough for now.

If you DO read any of these, please chat with me about them, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Happy reading!

#i've been WAITING to make something like this #thank you SO MUCH #my blog isn't OFFICIALLY a good omens account but I've wanted to post fic recs for such a long time #please please PLEASE send me fic recs if you have them!#i've got a fever and the only prescription is more good omens fics #anntickwittee #thanks for the ask!#good omens #fic rec #good omens fic rec #crowley #aziraphale #ineffable husbands #aziracrow #anonymous #answered #mine #emma blabs #long post #ao3 #archive of our own #great show #love them #:)#you ever wish you were more articulate #you ever wish you could convey to someone else how badly you need them to consume this particular piece of media #and feel the exact same things that you did #and then maybe they could help articulate the wistful longing you're filled with after consuming that particular piece of media #yeah #that

69 notes · View notes

celestiall0tus · 4 months ago

Text

Tales of Bloody Bug and Chat Noir - Chapter 65 - Never the Same

Beginning || Previous || Next

Adrien sat in the meeting room of their realm. He flipped through the pages of the grimoire of information he’s read before. He glanced up at Plagg, who lay curled up in the center of the table. A random flare of frustration tore through him seeing Plagg relaxed and sleeping. He fought to return his attention to the grimoire, but he stared at the pages blankly.

Adrien let out a frustrated sigh as he pushed the book away. He put his head down on the table and covered it with his arms. Plagg meowed, but Adrien ignored it. He preferred to fester on the frustration that could tear him apart. He just wanted to scream out in annoyance and claw at his own skin just to relieve a hint of the frustration that had been plaguing him for weeks.

“Well, well, didn’t expect to find you here,” Alix remarked.

Adrien gasped and sat up as Alix sat beside him. “What are you doing here?”

“Oh, let’s see. You weren’t home, with no text or note to where you were, so I came to see if you were here.”

“S-sorry. I guess, I don’t know. I guess I didn’t.”

“Are you ok? I know things have been a little weird since Gabriel arrived.”

“I don’t even know what I am right now. I feel ok, but I also don’t. You know?”

“Do you want to talk?”

“I… I suppose I do. I just… I can’t make any sense of what’s going on anymore. On top of all that, I feel like I’m losing control of so much, including myself.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let’s start with the fact that Mayura, Nathalie, whatever, was telling the truth all this time. Everything she said about Gabriel and herself to the both of us was true. Which means Gabriel has always been bastard. That’s not even getting into his justification of becoming Hawkmoth, letting me be assaulted, and everything after that.”

“That’s… yeah, that one stings.”

“And! And don’t forget how he did this all because of my mom, to bring her back so she could raise me instead of himself. I give him that he was never the most present in my life, but he was still there. He was still my father, and I needed him, but he wasn’t there. I hate to say it, but Nathalie and my old bodyguard were more parents before Alim came along. And I can’t speak for my bodyguard, but I know now that Nathalie was just manipulating me because of who I was and what I could be used for.”

“Add to the fact that we had found Emilie’s corpse in Mayura’s little nest, likely with a score to settle with her too.”

“That was… that was unpleasant. I would like to know what exactly Mayura had planned, but I think it best not to know. It was probably twisted and horrid at a guess.”

“Most likely, but is that all that’s bothering you?”

Adrien sighed. “There’s also Gabriel in general. I know he’s trying to be, I don’t, present? He certainly gets overshadowed by Alim, and Alim isn’t even trying. He’s just being, well, his usual self, and I can tell Gabriel is jealous with the constant attempts to one up Alim. Again, I know he’s trying, but it’s extremely annoying.”

“Then talk to Gabriel. Tell him how you feel.”

“Please. That’s never worked out in the past. Why would now be any different?”

“See if he really is committed to change. He should at least hear you out and be willing to listen. If not, then you have Dad.”

“Yeah, I suppose. But that’s all small in comparison to Felix’s constant attempts to win back Kagami. Especially when those attempts border on, no wait, his attempts are stalking. I just… I know Felix isn’t an idiot. He’s brilliant, but why is he resorting to this? Doesn’t he know better?”

Alix snorted. “Please. That fool is too proud and sure of himself. Likely gets that from his father. No way in hell he gets that from Amelie.”

“I… I wouldn’t be surprised. As long as I could remember, Colt was the one that raised Felix, much to Aunt Amelie’s dismay. There would be moments I’d see her with Felix, but mostly I saw Felix with Colt. Even back then he felt… cold. Very cold. My mom even made a point to keep me away from Colt whenever possible.”

Alix grimaced. “Well, maybe you should help him then. As much as I’d hate to lose this bet, if it bothers you, help him. You managed to pull Sabrina, and Kagami may be a whole different beast, but I’m sure you could help him. Better than I could at least.”

“Maybe, but I don’t know. It feels a little weird since she was originally engaged to me. Not to mention that Felix won her heart just fine before by being himself. Now I just… I don’t know. It really just irks me. Plus, how he tries to drag you along. It’s not fair to you.”

Alix shrugged. “Eh, it’s amusing when he gets shot down every time. Though I do wonder, is it the fact Felix is trying to win Kagami’s heart, or the fact that you’re still hung up on Sabrina? Not saying it’s a bad thing. It’s only been, what, just about two months since that whole thing? I would normally expect you to still be grieving, however these aren’t normal circumstances. Given what Plagg did, I’m a little worried for you. You know, worried you’ll be like Luka after I turned him down, and Mayura stole his grief away.”

“That’s another problem I’m dealing with. I… I know I miss Sabrina. I know that I loved her, despite what Plagg did. My memories tell me that, even if I don’t feel that way and the pain is gone. But I still feel… angry? Maybe not angry, but upset and annoyed. I want her to still be here. I didn’t want her risking her life. I know we’re heroes, and it comes with the territory, but why did it have to be her? We had so many plans, things we wanted to do, and now they’re all just up in smoke. Worst of all, I had just been released from those horrid memories of Volpina and Heart’s Design. I was finally able to kiss her. I was going to be able to love her as she deserved, but now I can’t, and I’m frustrated over that.”

Alix raised a brow. “Frustrated how?”

“I… it’s just little moments where my mind randomly wanders to Sabrina. Yes, I think about how she’s gone, all the missed opportunities, but I think about being close to her, kissing her, and sometimes more. And then the reminders that she’s gone sinks and that frustration just feels so much worse, and I don’t know where it’s coming from. One moment I’m fine, then something reminds me, or I just randomly think about it, and boom! I get hit with that brand of nagging frustration.

Alix smirked and snorted before she burst out laughing. “Oh, sweet summer child. Well, no, that’s not entirely fair. You were assaulted, so I can’t fault you for not thinking like that before.”

“I don’t understand. What are you getting on about now?”

“Adrien, you might be expressing a little sexual frustration.”

Adrien’s face flushed red. “W-what? No! I mean… how? I’ve never… I never considered… we didn’t… I was… I don’t understand.”

“Look, I just know Dad told me some years ago that it is a natural response to unfulfilled desires. Said desires that we’re going to feel as we become adults and our bodies change. I never really had trouble myself and thought Dad was full of shit, but I also didn’t really have anyone I wanted because I never considered anyone until Rose. It wasn’t until Rose that I started to feel those surface and struggled with them as I didn’t want to push. Yes, Rose and I were together, but we’re not necessarily in love. Not the way she was in love with Juleka or you were with Sabrina. I’m just… the little more than a friend, but not the partner, partner.”

“What did you do with those feelings then?”

“I tried to distract myself from them for a small time until I caved and talked to her about them. I was scared, worried I was pushing a touch too far. I’m lucky that it’s Rose, the ever-understanding Rose. She listened to me, and we took things further and further each time until we, well, we fucked, alright? And I know your situation is different since you had that trauma, and then you were free of it only to lose your girl. Especially since you lost Sabrina. I also wager that’s contributing to the frustrations you’re feeling towards Felix’s pursuits of Kagami given how he likes to talk like he’s not a sad, pathetic little virgin.”

“What should I do then? Felix isn’t going to stop any time soon, nor do the random thoughts, and I don’t like having them. There’s also the added frustration of Gabriel and trying to start over again and be a family. He’s trying, I’m trying, but I still see the bastard he was that caused all this. There’s just so much of everything, and I don’t know how to deal with any of it.”

“Story of my life. What have you been doing to cope anyway?”

“Well, I thought maybe I could try and find a way to help the kwamis. I still want to set them free so they can all be like Tikki, Plagg, and Fluff. I’ve read what feels like everything in this grimoire but can’t find a way to fix them. At least, I don’t see a way to like what Mayura did to Tikki, Plagg, and Fluff. And, well, it’s been adding to the frustration. Again, I just feel like I’m losing all control of everything. What I can do, how I feel, what I know, everything.”

“Why didn’t you just say so?” Tikki’s voice echoed.

Adrien raised a brow as a woman with brown skin, black voluminous hair tied back into pigtails, purple eyes, and dressed in a red dress, black gloves and stockings, and red shoes appeared. He jumped back as she smiled.

“What the hell?” Adrien exclaimed.

“Oh, right. Plagg likes to stay as a cat, doesn’t he? Well, surprise, they can take human forms,” Alix commented.

“What? Since when?” Adrien asked.

“Oh, very recently. See, we’ve slowly been regaining all our abilities since being factory reset. Not only can we use our powers again without consequence, shapeshift into more and more impressive beings, but we’re also regaining access to the powers and things we lost being chained and shackled. Though I’m sure you were aware of some of that thanks to Plagg,” Tikki explained.

“This is… unbelievable. You were all able to do these things and they were taken away from you?”

“Unfortunately, but that’s what happens with you mortals. You fear what you don’t understand. Even with Eve’s best efforts to ensure that the other humans understood, they never did. Hence why they betrayed her and stole us all, just to shackle and bend us to their whims. Now we’re free again! Well, some of us.”

“But you can help change that, right?”

“Oh! Yes! Let me see the grimoire.”

Adrien handed Tikki the grimoire. Light washed over it in waves before they died away. She smiled and handed it back to him.

“There you go. You’ll find new information has been recorded. Just focus on ‘factory reset,’ and you’ll find what you’re looking for.”

Adrien’s eyes widened as he opened the grimoire. He focused on factory reset like Tikki instructed. The pages filled with images of the miraculous jewels with points highlighted on each of them.

“Maybe I should explain. I remember the points that Mayura hit my earrings with and recorded them. The grimoire has knowledge of every other jewel and has applied that knowledge to all of their jewels. Pretty neat, huh?” Tikki remarked.

“This is incredible. So, with this, we can reset the rest of the kwamis? We can liberate them?” Adrien asked.

“Sure enough. They will take time to get back to full power. It’s feeling like two months as per your mortals concept of time. Maybe more. It all really depends on how much the Order messed with the jewels and just how much resetting needs to be done. Oh! And you’ll need these.”

Tikki snapped her fingers and created a rolled-up toolkit. Adrien unrolled it to find a variety of tools he vaguely remembered being in Eve’s possession. One tool stuck out as he recognized it as the one Mayura had used on the jewels.

“Made a set of these long ago for Eve when she set out to make more anchors for more kwamis. Not only will you be able to reset the kwamis, you’ll be able to craft new jewels. Providing you have the materials, but I can help with that easy enough,” Tikki explained.

“This is amazing! We need to get started then. We should call all the heroes. We need to-!” Adrien started.

“Hold up. Maybe before we announce this to everyone, practice first. We have a handful of jewels without holders. Maybe, in freeing them, they can choose their holders in our place. Let it be the second act we return to them that was stolen. And it gives you something to better distract you from your frustrations. And give you something you can somewhat control.” Alix cut in.

“I… you have a point. Alright. Let’s start with the ones we have.”

Alix nodded as she left. Adrien carefully studied the points of the jewels when Alix returned with the bee, turtle, fox, and the monkey miraculous. Alix laid them out on the table as Adrien slipped off the pig miraculous. He held it up as he turned to the page with the pig. He studied the points before he grabbed the tool Mayura had used. He took a deep breath, held up the tool, and hit the points on the anklet.

Adrien held his breath as he waited when the anklet flashed. His eyes widened as Daizzi materialized, her body glitching before it stabilized. She groaned and fell, about to hit the table when he caught her.

“Woah! That was strange. What happened?” Daizzi asked.

Tikki peered over Adrien’s shoulder. “How do you feel, Daizzi?”

“I… I don’t know. Something feels different, I guess,” Daizzi answered.

Adrien grimaced. “Does that mean it didn’t work? Did I mess up? It wasn’t instant like with Mayura. I had to have messed up.”

“Maybe. Hard to say. No one has done this except for Mayura. She likely had a lot of practice with Duusu. And, unfortunately, I can only convey what I personally felt. It’s on you after that,” Tikki commented.

Adrien pursed his lips, then let out a frustrated groan and slammed his head on the table.

“Ok, easy, Adrien. Why don’t we put this down and go do literally anything else?” Alix suggested.

“Yeah? Like what?” Adrien countered.

Alix opened her mouth when Kim’s voice cut her off.

“There she is. Our fearless leader!”

Alix and Adrien looked up as Kim joined them.

“What are you doing here?” Alix demanded.

“You weren’t answering any of the texts I had been sending you, so I-,” Kim started.

“I was ignoring you for a reason. I should have realized you were too stupid to realize that,” Alix hissed.

“Details, details. Anyway, I came to ask you out on a date tomorrow.”

“No.”

“Now, now, hear me out. I’ll be taking you to the pool. Friend of mine, another hot redhead like you that’s into me, offered to get a free pass to the pool if I hang out with her. So, I figured, why don’t we make it a date?”

Adrien’s face twisted in disgust while Alix deadpanned. She rolled her eyes as she hummed.

“Fine,” Alix said.

“Fuck yeah! See you tomorrow around noon, hot stuff,” Kim cheered.

Alix rolled her eyes as Kim left. Adrien waited until he heard the door close before he erupted.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Did you not just hear the same shit I did? How could you justify giving him the-?”

Alix held up a finger as she sent a text. Adrien raised a brow, ready to question her again, when his phone buzzed. He looked down at it to see a message from Chloe sent out in mass to everyone save Kim. Chloe demanded to know everyone’s swimsuit sizes for a pool visit tomorrow at noon.

“What-? What is this? What is going on?” Adrien asked.

“On my search for you, I swung by Le Grand Paris thinking you were with Chloe. While you weren’t, I did get to see that the first wave of product for the fashion shit for heroes day had arrived with the swimsuit collection. Audrey, being the businesswoman she is and Chloe learning all too well from her and the late Andre, struck a deal with me as Bug. They are to get pictures of us modeling the swimwear for Audrey’s magazine. And by us, I mean you and I.”

“Why just us?”

“Because we’re the heroes that have been here since the beginning. We were the heroes that saved who we could, which is more than we give ourselves credit for. We’re beacons, Adrien. People are looking to us for that hope to keep moving forward.”

Adrien pursed his lips. “I… I guess I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it. So, you made the deal for tomorrow?”

“Not exactly. I told them I’d let them know a day that’d work for me, and I just told Chloe that I could do tomorrow if we make it a group event, plus some. Still eager to please Audrey, or whatever reason, Chloe is pulling strings. So, be ready for a pool day tomorrow.”

“I suppose it won’t be so bad, but what did you mean about plus some? Who else are you inviting?”

“Well, there’s Nino, obviously Kim’s friend is going to be there, and I’m inviting Marinette.”

“Wh-what? Why? Absolutely not!” Adrien roared.

“Adrien, I understand you have bad history, and I’m not asking you to socialize with her, but Alya wanted to give Marinette one more chance. She wanted Marinette to have the turtle where Nino refused it. I told Alya to give me her final word on Marinette’s progress, but with Alya gone, I don’t know. I feel I wouldn’t be doing right by her if I didn’t honor her wishes.”

“That’s noble and all, but I’m not working with Marinette. Not after everything she’s done.”

“Then don’t. I will handle Marinette myself. You won’t have to worry about her. Besides, if she’s chosen by the kwamis of their own volition, are you really going to tell them no and that they’re wrong to choose a holder?”

“I… that’s not fair. I-!”

“You want what’s best, but it may mean dealing with those who have hurt you. Think of the heroes that find our just who Bloody Bug is.”

“It’s not the same.”

“Not even for Chloe finding out her hero is the same girl that almost killed her?”

Adrien opened his mouth, then shut it. “Fine. You handle Marinette, but she’s to stay away from me.”

“Will do. And thank you.”

“Not like I had a choice.”

Alix snorted. “There’s always a choice, Adrien. We’re just sometimes not left with many options when the few led to shit. Just like you staying here stewing in your frustrations.”

“Well, I don’t have much else to do. Besides, I’d rather this than facing all them back home.”

“Well, unfortunately, you’re not staying here.”

“Make me leave.”

“Ok. Tikki! Let’s drag his sorry ass to Chloe.”

“What?”

Tikki grinned and scooped Adrien up as she held him over her head.

“Woah! H-hey, let me down!”

“Nope, nope, nope! We’re going to see the blonde bitch and get one of those cute swimsuits. Oh, and one for you too, I guess,” Tikki remarked.

Adrien yelped as Tikki ran off with him. He turned back as Plagg jumped onto Alix’s shoulders before Alix ran to catch up. Frustration tore through him again, but he resigned himself to his fate and was dragged away.

Patreon || Discord || Ko-Fi

#miraculous ladybug #miraculous #miraculoustalesofladybugandcatnoir #miraculous au #au #alternate universe #fanfiction writer #fanfiction #fanfic #bloody bug au #adrien agreste #tikki #plagg #alix kubdel #le chien kim

9 notes · View notes

drconstellation · 1 year ago

Text

I've had this sitting in my drafts box going now where for a while, but thought I'd drag this pair of cheeky bastards out today and clean them up.

So I originally saw someone do a post about Aziraphale making a "tongue-in-cheek" gesture to Crowley about "the Clue" when he was asking to take the Bentley to Edinburgh in S2E2. Just "pop up there myself and investigate." This is just after he just "popped up" from behind the Bentley to investigate whether he could take it himself to Edinburgh? That's bold of you, you cheeky angel!

He's already been teased by Crowley for calling it a Clue with a capital C, (and why we should be wary of Clues)

but Aziraphale is pretty sure he on to something here, as shown to us by the following few seconds (see screenshots below, note there is another tongue-in-cheek moment here at the beginning), just after the archangels leave the book shop in S2E2 having questioned him over the cause of the 25 lazurii miracle. He puts on the single of "Every Day" he got from Maggie to listen to while he examines newspaper clippings from around the world in different languages, each of them reporting about this strange occurrence in Edinburgh where a jukebox "miraculously" seems to turn every record put into it into Buddy Holly's "Every Day:

The parallel "tongue-in-cheek" moment from Crowley happens in S2E1, during the chat with Lord Beelzebub in Hell, while he is lounging across the two thrones that they have installed in their office (and if you are wondering about the thrones there is a nice little post about them here).

Here's what Beelzebub is saying just beforehand:

Well, that's one way of putting it...Crowley knows Gabriel has "vanished" not once, but twice! Firstly in body and secondly his memory has vanished, too. Oh boy. But Crowley is in a dangerous situation here so he's he's acting in his cool-but-alert mode.

Then Crowley uses this lovely, slightly archaic, expression:

"It's a big universe, lots of places an archangel on the lam could have a wonderful time and never be seen again."

"On the lam" is a term that means "in flight from the authorities." In flight? Get it? Go Roger the Stunt Fly! Bwahahaha! Tongue in cheek, indeed, Crowley. *snort*

I would also hazard a guess that the second half of that sentence is a second ref to the Hunting of the Snark in S2E1 (I propose that there one to do with the Eccles cakes here). Gabriel has gone hunting his Snark and accidentally tripped up in front of a Boojum, and has "softly and suddenly vanish[ed] away, and [may] never be met with again."

#good omens #good omens 2 #good omens meta #good omens analysis #aziraphale #crowley #gabriel #beezlebub #everyday #roger the stunt fly #on the lam #hunting of the snark #tongue in cheek #cheeky bastards #well this post certainly didn't end up where I thought it was going #but it was fun anyway

19 notes · View notes

tonydaddingham · 9 months ago

Note

Wait, what is the "batshit Jim is Jesus" theory, please? Because I have thoughts and I thought I was the only one thinking them

hi hello!!!💕 oh god okay where do i begin

tbh this is largely pure speculation, but something that i can genuinely see happening to the extent of attempting to write a fic about it but to be specific, i think some kind of fuck-up happened in heaven, and an amnesiac jesus has managed to wind his way inside jim, in the place of gabriel.

im gonna try to keep this as tight as possible but bear with me:

it kinda started with the thought that the second coming will have gone wrong in s3. and the subsequent thought that a reason why everyone is left floundering is because they lose jesus. and they might have lost jesus because he's already come to earth. getting biblical with it, both matthew 24:36 and 24:43-44 kinda solidified this for for me - if we accept that GO will continue to play around with scripture.

perhaps a bit of confirmation bias, but the rest of matthew 24 was also interesting, particularly when you consider the signs of the second coming as matthew warns:

24:27: For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

24:40: At that time there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.

24:41: Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.

and there's then the other apocalyptic elements of war, and famine, trials and tribulations, that are meant to herald the second coming - which is what i think potentially could end up being the backdrop for s3 (ie. the second coming has happened, and it just so happens to coincide with the world going to hell in a hand basket. literally). after all, jim's ep3 monologue was certainly posed as a prophesy of sorts, not a recollection.

then take into account the deleted scene where there was meant to be a prophetic dream(?) sequence of the bookshop being the only thing left standing in an apocalyptic wasteland. idk if it was ever confirmed...(?), but im reasonably certain that that dream would have belonged to jim.

there are also a lot of background elements that indicate that people have started to go missing. whether that's linked or not, idk, but seems interesting... like they've been raptured.

so then my thoughts turned to - well, does that mean, for whatever reason (heavenly user error, escape, god messing around etc), that jesus is now roaming around on earth? or has something gone wrong there too? possibly, bc then i remembered the opening jim scene, and the rest of his appearances in the show.

a lot of jesus imagery. especially imagery of the crucifixion.

the first shot of 2023 coming down from the clouds, and jim descending from heaven in the lift, tomatoes symbolising spilled blood, crowd gathered to watch the spectacle, seeks out sanctuary in the bookshop (eden).

quotes his mother in a tongue-in-cheek manner ("who told you i was naked?"), "but you know Me, you recognise Me" / "i know Someone who looks like You" (re: john 14:9-11), dresses his blanket in a very 'biblical' way, like a robe.

is very eager to help and is very kind, has an affinity for books and stories (themselves possibly representing the tree of life/the concept of immortality), offering out of food for free (ref to feeding the five thousand or the last supper, take your pick!!!), sacrifices himself for the shopkeepers meeting, arms outstretched etc.

im sure there's loads ive missed out, but these are the ones off the top of my head!

there's also the lovely callback to gabriel being the messenger to mary etc. aziraphale, if we accept him to parallel israfil, may be the angel to herald the second coming, but the fact that gabriel inadvertently is kinda the one to deliver it? brilliant

and lastly, because this promo image still has me floored: jim walking on water. and i cant really think of any discernible reason why the water would be included otherwise, other than to allude to jesus:

now that im fairly convinced about the What - as far as i can be with a tinfoil-hat, crackpot theory anyway - but now it's more about trying to figure out the How. these will be piecemeal bits that will join up together, so hang on there:

what seems to be clear is that jesus (if we accept jesus = jim) does not have his memory. he has no idea who he is, and this stays pretty consistent and believable throughout the season. there's a moment ive referenced plenty of times before, but it's so important imo:

(contd) which tells me a couple of things - main thing for me being that not only is memory erasure a canonically confirmed concept, but the suggestion of using the heavenly pda to access gabriel's memory suggests it's somewhat digitised... almost like it's a file that could be deleted or moved. but it potentially seems like that can only happen when someone is in heaven. and is it different for angels vs humans? or - if we accept the idea that jesus = god - a deity?

as for jesus not remembering something - maybe it was an error in the system that made him move into the gabriel real estate? and lose his memory in the process, by some kind of file corruption?

another thing is the issue with power in hell, namely that things seem to be going a bit sideways. the lesser demons are on half rations, and the whole outfit is severely understaffed. ive explored it more here, but it seems that whichever way you look at it, humans may not actually be in heaven. so, if human souls aren't being looked after by angels, where are they? my thought is similar to the above gabriel file thing: that human souls are being stored in the system* somewhere, awaiting 'upload' once heaven has finally defeated hell, and the kingdom hath in fact come.

*this then led me to the thought that maybe the system itself is the book of life, but that's a slight aside/only tangentially relevant.

so perhaps the corrupted jesus' 'file' somehow got uploaded to gabriel when he transferred himself into the fly? and maybe the box has something to do with it? idk.

it would also make sense for the 25-lazarii miracle. there was a lot of emphasis that aziraphale and crowley held hands with jim, and the effort it took to 'hide gabriel' was like a mini-nuke detonating. but a) its an interesting choice to refer to the miracle unit of measurement as a lazarus (and smaller denominations), and b) gabriel was in the fly - but they were holding hands with someone. so, for me, it's sensical that perhaps the issue in s3 is that not only has jesus come early, but they've inadvertently hidden him... an apt mirror to adam in s1. and if jesus is still somehow knocking about in gabriel in s3, it's a good narrative excuse to bring him and beelzebub back.

im going to stop rambling there but i may well come back and add bits - alternatively, if ive missed stuff, feel free to add!!! but! that's where im kinda at with the theory that the second coming has already come, and it's come somehow in the form of gabriel 🥰

#good omens #ask #second coming/last judgement theory

12 notes · View notes

soulofapatrick · 2 years ago

Text

Call me your Baby Girl - Gabriel Luna x Reader (slight OC)

Summary: Bella posts a behind the scenes photo dump that has you and Gabriel admitting your feelings for one another

Words: 3.2k

Warnings: F!receiving oral; handjobs; teasing

Notes: Gabriel needs some stories too! I absolutely adore Pedro but just look at this man... he is fucking perfect and needs the same appreciation - also I needed a fc for the insta posts but can be ignored (each nine is one post)

Y/N’s POV

“I come bearing gifts,” Gabriel sits next to me as I pull myself up from my nap on the couch, the blanket still wrapped around me as I take the coffee from my co star, leaning my head on his shoulder as I try to wake up. He just shifts a bit so he can wrap his arm around my shoulder so I can lay comfier. We’re filming for The Last of Us and it’s very non stop, especially in the below freezing temperatures of Canada so I’ve found myself falling asleep a lot. Nobody seems to mind, Pedro and Gabriel just keep checking up on me as I don’t do too well in the cold, even wrapped up and with a blanket.

“I love you,” I mumble to the Texan, pressing an innocent kiss to the first bit of skin I can find which is his neck, feeling him shiver beneath me, “If you’re cold, we can-“

“It’s okay, ‘m not cold.” He murmurs, pressing a kiss to the side of my head before pulling me closer. He pulls out his phone and begins surfing social media while I just people watch, sipping my coffee which is exactly how I like it. Crew and cameramen are buzzing around and preparing the set for the next few scenes we’ll be filming today, technically I can go back to the hotel if I want as I’m done for the day but I like the company and busyness of everything compared to just sitting in my hotel room, waiting for one of my team or fellow actors to come and get me for dinner.

My coffee cup empties too quickly for my liking and Gabriel’s chuckling, warm and loving when I shake the empty cup and grumble before putting it on the floor by the sofa. His safe arms wrap around my waist and pull me back against his chest with a surprising shriek but I don’t pull away or struggle because I’ve had the biggest crush on Gabriel since I met him at the table reads. He’s just such a warm-hearted and open person that I couldn’t help falling for him and Pedro knows, of course he knows. Pedro very quickly learnt how to read me like a book which is both parts frustrating and nice as I don’t really have to tell him how I’m feeling but it means he can pick up on things like me becoming flustered around Gabriel.

Pedro’s been trying to get me and Gabriel alone together a lot the last week calling it bonding time as we’re filming episode six and I play Gabriel’s character’s wife - Maria. It’s my first big role in a show and for it to be in a show like this? I have been shitting myself ever since I got the casting call telling me I got the job. I met Pedro and Bella first and oh I would die for sweet Bella. They quickly became a younger sibling figure to me and they can be found in my trailer a lot as they finds it a safe space and I really don’t mind the company. They're vert sweet and funny, always cracking jokes and making up nicknames for everyone. Their bond with Pedro’s bond is to die for and I just love watching them interact, the way he calls them his ‘Bellie’. Someone needs to give Pedro a baby girl of his own I swear, he is such a girl dad, adopting strays as he goes along but the bond he and Bella has? That’s for life, for sure.

“What’s going on up there?” Gabriel squeezes my sides a little to get my attention and I’m turning to face him, smiling softly as he tilts his head in curiosity. His hand captures mine and all I can focus on is the way his thumb rubs across my knuckles comfortingly when there’s a loud bang from whatever they’re filming now as I can’t not jump. I’ve always hated loud noises and the team quickly found that out when it took a few tries filming certain scenes as I would jump but the set crew never got angry at me, telling me it could all just be added to the blooper reels. I’ve never been on such a nice set with so many kind and thoughtful people before as most directors want to get the shooting done and I’ve met some who are very anal about it all.

“I like your curls.” I blurt out, raising a hand to twirl a strand around my finger, “Don’t ever get rid of them.”

“Yes ma’am.” It’s my turn to shiver when he speaks in that deep southern twang. It always has me melting on the spot, especially when he says pet names like ‘baby girl’, it just rolls of his tongue like honey and I’m jelly at his feet. If he called me baby girl I’d do anything he said. Pedro found this out when Gabriel was talking to Neil and was told to say a line that included the pet name. I grabbed Pedro’s arm and he took one look at me before throwing his head back in a hearty laugh that had me smacking his arm and turning a shade of scarlet. The things Gabriel does to me without knowing it.

The knock at my trailer door scares me until Gabriel pokes his head in with a cheeky grin on his face as if he’s done something he shouldn’t have. Before he can speak my phone buzzes, pausing for a second or two before it starts buzzing again and doesn’t stop. Someone’s tagged me in something and the fans are going crazy and I don’t really want to touch my phone until the notifications slow down so I reach for Gabriel’s phone as he sits next to me.

Bella’s posted a photo dump from the last two episodes and on the last slide is a picture of what I know is me and Gabriel asleep on one of the set’s sofas, his arm thrown around my waist and face buried in the back of my neck but our faces are cut off as if to protect our identities. It hasn’t worked out as well as Bella’s tagged us in the picture. I should be mad but I can’t be because Gabriel’s looking at me, umber eyes full of warmth and something else. They flick down to my lips and back up, tongue darting out to wet his bottom lip and I’m putting his phone down to cup his cheek in my hand. My thumb ghosts over his damp bottom lip and he drags a gasp from me when he draws it into his mouth, tongue cautiously brushing across the pad of it.

I don’t think I breath until he’s holding my face in his hands, letting my thumb go so he can bring his face close to mine, lips hovering over mine. I close the gap, letting my eyes fall shut and just take in the softness and sweetness of his velvety lips moving against mine. No fireworks go off or anything cliche but I think I fall a little more with how gentle and caring his kisses are, his hands holding me as if I’ll disappear if he lets go. All I can focus on are his lips on mine and the fact he’s kissing me, why is he kiss me of all people?

“Someone told me you like being called baby girl.” He whispers when we part, voice low and I can’t stop the moan leaving my throat, causing him to smirk proudly while I turn my head away in embarrassment. His thumb and forefinger grip my chin, making me look at him again, “You don’t ever stop making sounds like that for me baby girl.”

He’s capturing me in another kiss, this one with more passion and want as he gently lays me back, fitting between my legs perfectly. It’s nice, the weight of his body settling over mine like it’s meant to be there. My heart flutters when his hand that’s not holding his full weight off of me trails featherlight down my sides until it slips under my shirt and massages the skin lovingly. It draws a whimper from me, his lips turning into a smile and breaking away from mine to trail scorching kisses down my neck, biting hard when he finds that soft spot just below my jawline, causing my breath to hitch. There’s nothing rushed about this, just exploring my body as if trying to memorise it and find all the parts that make me whine.

I want his lips on mine again so, with a random burst of confidence I tangle a hand in his soft curls and draw him back up into a kiss. He comes willingly, a low sound leaving his own throat when I accident tug at his hair and I store that away for another time. He’s so hot and this is the beginning of what I’ve dreamed of but I don’t want to rush any of it, I’m pressing my hands to his chest and he understands, pulling back and hovering over me with concern on his soft features.

“I don’t want to rush anything,” I cup his cheek, smiling as he leans into the touch, “I-I don’t know how you… I want this… I want us but slow.”

“I can do slow baby girl,” He moves so we’re laying, facing each other instead. He reaches out and brushes a stray hair out of my eyes, “I would wait forever if you needed that baby girl.”

Fuck.

It’s been a few weeks of Gabriel and I sneaking around now, not ready to tell our cast mates or the world about us yet but somethings different today. Waking to see him still asleep, face soft and peaceful with a gentle smile on his perfect cupid bow lips has my heart aching to tell the world he’s mine. This sight is mine and mine alone and I want to scream it from the rooftops.

He’s letting out a small sound of surprise when he’s awoken by my lips on his and my hand caressing his cheek, his eyes fluttering open to reveal the deep umber colour, “Well, good morning to you baby girl.” He’s rolling on his back, pulling me on top of him and I sit up so I’m straddling him, wetting my lips at the sight of him below me and the feel of his firm hands on my hips.

“Shower,” I’m blurting out and his brows crease before his just watches my hands run down his chest, nails dragging a little and it draws a gasp from him, “We have to be on set later so we should shower.”

“We?” He asks, voice rough from sleep and eyes slipping over my body, only covered by one of his tee shirts and a pair of my underwear. He’s surging up, moving those strong arms to wrap around me instead when I nod, capturing me in a deep kiss that has my lips parting in surprise. It gives him the opportunity to swipe his tongue over mine, my heart fluttering and hands finding his hair. The sound he lets out is dirty and I’m nibbling at his bottom lip, a gasp ripped from me when he secures me against him and climbs out of bed, heading for the bathroom. The counter cold under my bare legs, Gabriel chuckling when I refuse to unwrap them from around his waist, grabbing the back of my neck and drawing me up into a dirty kiss, “I gotta turn the shower on if we plan on getting in.”

Slowly, I unwind my legs, watching the way the muscles in his back ripple under his sun kissed skin as he turns away and leans into the shower to turn the water on and find a suitable temperature. Soon enough he’s back between my legs, freckles standing out on his cheeks and I just want to stare at them forever but his nimble fingers are fiddling with the hem of my shirt, umber eyes searching my face for any hesitation. It takes a deep breath from me before I’m raising my arms for him to rid me of my shirt and there’s a hitch in his breathing. I can’t look at him, wrapping my ams around my middle self-consciously but he’s pulling them away, rough pads of his fingers trailing over the bare skin. Daring a glance at him I almost cry as he’s admiring my body the way you would a world famous painting, lips slightly parted and chest rising and falling quickly, eyes full of …love. He glances up, meeting my shy gaze before he’s moving forwards, lips covering my nipple and drawing a soft sound from me as I arch into the pleasurable feeling. My hands fly to his shoulders when his hand moves to roll the erect bud of my other nipple between the pads of his fingers.

“G-Gabriel.” I gasp out when he moves his lips a little higher, beginning to scatter hickeys up my chest and neck, in places only he’ll see as well place I’ll never be able to cover up. The knowledge he wants to show me off to the world like that heightens all pleasure he’s giving me, his lips brushing down my stomach and teeth grazing my hips now. His hands are guiding me off of the counter as he lowers to his knees, fingers dipping into the waistband of my underwear. I think I almost come then and there when he looks up at me, lip between his teeth, umber eyes almost black and blown out, silently asking for permission. I just tangle my hand in his luscious curls, tugging enough to elicit a moan from him and my underwear are on the floor before I can reach.

I’m tensing instinctively when his warm breath ghosts over my wet and aching core, his fingers kneading the flesh of my thighs to get me to relax before he dives between my legs like a starved man. The moan he lets out sends shocks through my core and up my spine, blanking my mind and I’m having to grip the counter for stability. His tongue licks a broad stripe between my folds and I stifle my moan but he’s pulling back, voice husky, “I wanna hear you baby girl, moan for me.” Fuck. Two fingers are suddenly plunged into my aching core, causing my back to arch up and I think my eyes roll back into my head when Gabriel focuses his attention on my clit, swirling his tongue over it before sucking, hard. My hand tugs at his hair as my thighs begin to tremble at the building climax, hips trying to move away but his hands press my hips against the counter, holding me in place as he hums against my sensitive clit. My walls begin fluttering around his deft fingers, a moan escaping me so dirty I’m blushing and my thighs are clamping around his head as I ride the waves of pleasure. His mouth and fingers not stopping until my hips are struggling to shimmy away from oversensitivity.

“Fuck me darlin’ I could stay between your legs forever.” His voice is so wrecked I’m feeling all hot and bothered again, especially with the way he scatters sweet kisses back up my body until he’s crowding me against the counter and drawing me into a dirty kiss, my hands flying to this firm and defined chest. I run my nails lightly down his abs like before, watching the skin raise and red lines follow in their wake. His head falls to my shoulder when I push his boxers low enough for him to kick off and stroke the thick length once. I’m not ready for the blow job stage so I lick my hand before wrapping it around his length, watching the way the angry and red head is leaking precum that I smear with my thumb. His nails dig into my hips as his lips press panted and open mouthed kisses as I begin to jerk him off, listening to the sounds he makes it gauge how to move my hand. His hips bucking up with every down movement of my hand until his thighs are flexing over and over again, my name drawn from his lips in a moan and he’s spurting thick ropes over my stomach and chest.

“Shower time I think,” I mumble and he huffs a laugh, nodding against my shoulder as he catches his breath. He doesn’t let me go as he guides me into the shower both of us happy and sated.

Gabriel’s settled above me, lips moving lazily against mine and hands kneading any flesh he can get them on. We’re due back on set any time soon but neither of us could wait until later, very much understanding what the honeymoon phase means now. My makeup artist wasn’t very happy with the hickeys she had to spend extra time hiding but she didn’t question me about who gave them to me unlike Coco. Coco is Pedro’s hair stylist who is currently in charge of doing my hair as well as my hair stylist - Ollie - is sick. Coco grills me, trying to make me crack on who has been giving me these hickeys but I just spent the time glaring at her in the mirror until she gave up with the warning that she will find out.

“Wish I could mark your pretty skin sweet girl,” Gabriel groans, fingers scratching lightly down my stomach to my hips and I want it too. I love the feeling of his lips all over my skin, scorching it and marking it as his. He pops the button on my jeans, fingers dipping and rubbing over my clothed heat, a smirk on his lips when they press against my chest, “Look at you, already so wet for me.”

“G-Gabriel!” I whine, arching my back off the bed and rocking my hips down to get some kind of friction as he teases me, fingers just missing my clothed clit with every rub over my folds.

“Hey Y/N- OH MY GOD!” Gabriel’s quickly moving, placing his body between me and whoever opened the door. I’m peaking over his shoulder to see Pedro standing there with mouth dropped open in shock before he seems to regain his composure, “Was gonna ask if you wanted to join me and Bella for lunch but seems you’re busy. Happy you two finally dealt with the sexual tensions.” The trailer door shuts and I can’t stop the laughter bubbling up, Gabriel quickly joining me until we’re laughing so hard our chests ache.

“Guess it’s no longer a secret.”

“Shall we declare it to the world?”

“Sneaky post slipped into photo dumps?”

“Sneaky post.”

------------

TAGS: Tag List Form

@iraot @gemimawrites @pedropascalsrealhusband @twopercentmilk @sxnshinebxcky @nelsoomon @urnewghostfriend @sonhee-a @dizzyforyou-blog @grooveandshit @reyas-world @canpillowscry @jell0buss-37 @androgynousgaz @not-a-unique-snowflake89 @kalllistos @mediocrewallflow3r @certifiedhunter @alexis-doggy-76 @thesapphirequeen

59 notes · View notes

sugar--brown · 2 months ago

Text

Transidentity in Arsène Lupin

/!\tw suicide mention/!\

Alright! It's late and I'm sick again! So let me rambles!

When I was a kid, I read the adventures of Arsène Lupin (gentleman burglar, go check it out it's free and in public domain). And now, I re-read them as an adult with a fresh gaze.

And oh god! There is this huge queer elephant in the room at all time! I wasn't educated enough as a kid but goddamn...

Let me give you an example. In the last book written by the author's canon (Maurice Leblanc), there is a short story titled "Le piège infernal" (The hellish trap). Here's a quick summary (spoilers duh):

The story begins with a theft on a racetrack: Nicolas Dugrival, a gambler carrying a large sum of money, has his wallet stolen by a supposed police inspector, who turns out to be a thief. Despaired by this loss and humiliation, Dugrival kills himself. Dugrival's widow, driven by a desire for revenge, swears to find and punish Arsène Lupin, whom she suspects of being the culprit. Helped by her nephew Gabriel, she sets a sophisticated trap for Lupin by exploiting his curiosity and his reputation. Lupin, trapped, is injured, captured and sequestered in a secret room of their apartment. There, he endures interrogations and the implacable hatred of Madame Dugrival, who seeks to extort money from him while preparing his execution. Despite several murder attempts, Lupin escapes death thanks to mysterious interventions.

Alright, lets take a break here. You see, Gabriel - the nephew - is the one who injuried Lupin and also the one who takes care of him to make sure he doesn't die.

During the few weeks together, Lupin jokes and plays and talks to him like a friend. This is important.

Here's a few example:

“Ah! It's you, the boy, he whispered, all my compliments, my little one. You have the safe and delicate dagger.” “You scare me,” he said. “If you have sworn to execute me, don't be embarrassed. But laugh! The idea of death has always seemed to me the most comical thing in the world. Whereas with you, old man, it becomes macabre. Good evening, I prefer to sleep!” “When will the convalescent be discharged for the first time? Is the little car ready? But laugh, animal! You look like a weeping willow who is about to commit a crime. Come on, a laugh for Dad.” “Ah! he said to his guard, this time it's the big game. The chicken is going to be bled. Is it you who operates on me, the angel Gabriel? In that case, my old man, make sure your razor is very clean! Antiseptic service, please.”

Notice anything? Hang on, it's not the end.

At the end of the short story, Gabriel and his aunt let Lupin for dead, stuck and doomed to end in prison at best. Until a woman appears and frees him. Who is this woman?

She poured milk into a cup, and as she handed it to him, her lace parted, leaving her face exposed. “You ! It’s you!… he stammered. Is it you who are here?… was it you who were?…” He looked amazed at this woman whose features offered such a striking analogy with those of Gabriel, whose face, delicate and regular, had the same pallor, whose mouth had the same hard and antipathetic expression. A sister would not have presented such a resemblance to a brother. Without a doubt, it was the same being. And, without believing for a moment that Gabriel was hiding under women's clothing, Lupin, on the contrary, had the deep impression that a woman was near him, and that the adolescent who had pursued him with his hatred and who stabbed was really a woman. For the more convenient exercise of their profession, the Dugrival couple had accustomed her to this boy's disguise.

Plot twist! Gabriel was a woman all along and had been dressed as a man for... what? Being a better thief? Fooling everyone? It's unclear. And why doing it at home in private? Why around Lupin who was destined to be killed?

And the next part is even more confusing.

And, as she also went away, he held her by a fold of her dress. “No… no… you have to explain to me first… Why did you save me? Did you come back without your aunt knowing? But why did you save me? Out of pity?” She was silent, and, with her chest erect and her head slightly thrown back, she retained her enigmatic and hard air. However, he thought he saw that the shape of her mouth showed less cruelty than bitterness. Her eyes, her beautiful black eyes, revealed melancholy. And Lupin, without yet understanding, had a confused intuition of what was happening inside her. He grabs her hand. She pushed him away, in a burst of revolt in which he felt hatred, almost repulsion. And as he insisted, she cried out: “But leave me!… leave me!… don’t you know that I loathe you?” They looked at each other for a moment, Lupine disconcerted, she quivering and troubled, her pale face colored with an unusual blush.

Gabriel is clearly disgusted by Lupin's touch and is deeply upset by the situation. But he saves Lupin none the less.

What does Lupine conclude?

He no longer knew what to say, now that he understood the whole adventure, and that he could evoke the young woman at his sick bed, caring for the man she had injured, admiring her courage and her cheerfulness, attaching herself to him, falling in love with him, and, three times, undoubtedly despite herself, in a sort of instinctive impulse with attacks of resentment and rage, saving him from death. He remained thoughtful for quite a long time. The image of the young woman obsessed him. Then he replayed in his mind this whole curious, moving and tragic story, in which he had been so close to succumbing, and, taking a mirror from the table, he contemplated for a long time, with a certain complacency, his face which the illness and the anxiety had not damaged too much. “What it is, however,” he murmured, “to be a pretty boy!”

No.

No, I'm sorry but no.

Gabriel didn't fall in love with Lupin because he's so sexy. That doesn't make sense. This is Lupin's ego talking!

No. My theory is: Gabriel is a trans man. The excuse given by the narrative is wobbly at best. And his reaction when someone touches his body, his anger and frustration, his deep confusion... This is a trans man able to live as such but also unable to get out of the closet.

Gabriel is a trans and saved Lupin because he treated him like a man, giving Gabriel gende euphoria.

Sadly, the story was written during the twentieth century... But still! The stories are so queer, I wouldn't be surprised if the author was in the closet or knew queer people.

#tw sui implied #arsène lupin #maurice leblanc #ramblies #rambles #ramblings #lore and theories #lore analysis #queer #transgender #transmasc

2 notes · View notes

sonkitty · 1 year ago

Text

The Sideburns Scheme Post #8

NEW VERSION OF THIS POST HERE, PLEASE READ THIS ONE INSTEAD (OR BOTH):

The Sideburns Scheme Post #8 v2

Original:

Crowley, Good Omens 2, Episode 1, The Arrival, finding out Gabriel is in the bookshop

Sunglasses off! Snake eyes time!

The images are brightened and saturated again.

Are the sideburns even? How long are the sideburns?

Yes, they are even and they are both long. The left one might become thicker, as in more hair, between moving away from the window and in a more centered area of the bookshop first floor.

Good luck finding that out or anything regarding the top hair with how the scene is structured due to the lighting, blurring, and angles. I can't confirm it.

Is the brighter red streak visible?

Oh yes. This scene wants you to know it's there despite the dim lighting of the scene itself. We get close enough views multiple times.

Is the hairstyle different from the present day Crowley scene before it?

Yes, it is quite different actually though we don't see it as much from the top as from the front. The sideburns are longer for a start, but it's also become more collected and tidy. The top front swoops further upward, like it did in earlier scenes, with a little tilt to Crowley's right.

Additional Notes:

There is so much going on with this scene, but I guess I should focus on hair first.

The sideburns are long, and they will always be long when Crowley is with Gabriel or Gabriel and Aziraphale. It's one of the most consistent patterns.

Now, I didn't go over the "Before the Beginning" scene at the start because I'm more interested in the "present day"scenes and not interested enough for the others, well, to make posts about them anyway. However, that scene exists and showed us an angel who eventually becomes Crowley. That character had long sideburns.

So, why does Gabriel's presence make Crowley's sideburns long for the audience to see? None of the other characters react to his sporadic hair changes, sideburn length changes or not, and Crowley himself never shows an awareness it's happening either. But we get to see it. If the Metatron is editing the Book of Life, why is he telling us about Crowley's constant hairstyle changes and care so much given the utter contempt in a single glare at Crowley we see in episode 6? Is he that obsessed? If he's not editing it to that extent, who/what wrote it initially to that extent? If the characters are trapped in a time loop that keeps resetting to create the story we're given, why are the sideburns reacting based on character presence and space but with little acknowledgment of chronology? If memories are being stitched together to create a new story, why don't those memories care about such an obvious inconsistency? Is it a key to direct the memories on what to do? He's not in every scene! Sure, Crowley can change how he looks whenever he wants for whatever reason he wants, but like...is this subconscious? Who, in this fictional world, is trying to tell us what they mean? And you know, what do they mean?

I still don't know, but when I ask seriously in my head "Why Crowley? What's so special about him, besides my own current obsession, but within the context of this story?" The first thing that leaps to mind is the continual hints about his past angel status and most specifically the hint that Crowley was a "first order" archangel. Gabriel is almost always referred to as the "Supreme Archangel," not a "first order" archangel. However, in episode 6, "first order" are the words Gabriel uses when the camera pans to Crowley's face. I don't think "first order" is used any other scene.

So, maybe Crowley was a past first order archangel before his fall and maybe that's going to matter at some point.

Plus, you know, that past angel had long sideburns.

All the "why" rambling aside, I think it also relates to the space Crowley shares with Aziraphale in the given context of this scene. The bookshop is "technically" Aziraphale's bookshop, but Crowley is always welcome in it. However, Gabriel's presence changes the meaning of that space, not for the entirety they are in it throughout the story but enough that the longer sideburns are always on if there is going to be a scene of just Crowley and Gabriel or just Crowley, Aziraphale, and Gabriel. All such scenes take place in the bookshop from start to finish of the season.

Once humans get involved later with the ball, the medium or long sideburns will actually alternate depending on what is happening in the presented story.

I am going to point out as well, the sideburns can and do slightly foreshadow what I've ended up calling qualifying encounters. They are long before Crowley knows Gabriel is there. And they are there, in my assumption, because this is a scene that has Crowley, Gabriel, Aziraphale, and no one else, in the bookshop.

Non-hair things:

This scene is fascinating. Crowley is terrified instantly. We've seen him terrified before but that included trying to stay composed nonetheless when it came to Hastur and Ligur and not being able to really run when Satan was coming. This context is different, and Crowley is caught completely off-guard, also unusual. Aziraphale had been confused and only took a step back when Gabriel asked to come in. Crowley doesn't have that chance, so he has to just instantly back away.

There is zero doubt in Crowley's head that this being is Gabriel with something having happened to him whereas earlier Aziraphale told Gabriel who knew someone who looked a lot like him. I mean, I'm sure Aziraphale was relatively sure himself, but he gave and acknowledged that inkling of doubt, that there could be something else.

Not Crowley though.

And even though Beelzebub later refers to the fly holding all of Gabriel's memories as "all your you", we know bare minimum there are some things in this being that Crowley, and only Crowley, was able to tap into. That "institutional problem" part sounded like a little bit of Gabriel's actual memory to me, no purple eyes needed for it either.

This scene is also doing that weird blocking and blurring thing I'm starting to notice. The characters interact but are blurred at times when supposedly on screen together. A lot of times only one of the characters is on screen, the audience left to assume it's because of distance and focus of who's talking or reacting. This entire scene is Aziraphale, Crowley, and Gabriel yet all three are never on screen at the same time. When Gabriel shows up, the blur switches between him and Crowley, ensuring both are not clear when we see them briefly in the same part of the scene together.

Tag: crowley s2 hair project

Post #1 (meeting with Shax in St. James' Park)

Post #2 (meeting with Shax in the street)

Post #3 (phone call with Aziraphale in the Bentley)

Post #4 (entering the coffee shop)

Post #5 (revisiting park scene for zoom and blur weirdness)

Post #6 (being in the coffee shop)

Post #7 (crossing the street from the coffee shop to the bookshop)

#crowley s2 hair project #good omens #good omens 2 #good omens s2 #crowley #david tennant

8 notes · View notes

x-ceirios-x · 5 months ago

Text

City of Lost Souls, Chapter 15: Magdalena

please see the masterlist for notes about this series/collection of works

It was decided, though not without a great deal of arguing, that in order for the summoning of Raziel to take place, Team Good would need to find a fairly secluded location. “We can’t summon a sixty-foot angel in the middle of Central Park,” Magnus observed dryly. “People might notice, even in New York.”

“Raziel is sixty feet tall?” Simon said. He was slumped in an armchair he’d pulled up to the table with Rowan perched on the arm of it. There were rings under their eyes, he noticed; they, like Alec, Magnus, and Simon—were exhausted. They had all been awake for hours, poring through books of Magnus’s so old that their pages were as thin as onionskin. Both Rowan and Alec could read Greek and Latin, and Rowan had a particular interest in demonic languages, but there were still many only Magnus could understand. Early on, he’d made a phone call to someone and it hadn't gone well, which put a damper on his mood. Maia and Jordan, realizing they could be more help elsewhere, had left for the police station to check on Luke. Meanwhile, Simon had tried to make himself useful in other ways—getting food and coffee, copying down symbols as Magnus instructed, fetching more paper and pencils, and even feeding Chairman Meow, who had thanked him by coughing up a hairball on the floor of Magnus’s kitchen.

“Actually, he’s only fifty-nine feet tall, but he likes to exaggerate,” said Magnus. Tiredness was not improving his temper. His hair was sticking straight up, and there were smudges of glitter on the backs of his hands where he had rubbed his eyes. “He’s an angel. I hoped you would have figured that out by now.”

Rowan shot him a pointed glare. “Valentine raised an angel in his cellar. It’s a valid question—”

“Because Valentine is just WAY MORE AWESOME than me,” snapped Magnus. “Look—”

“If I knew you were going to be this bitchy, Magnus, I would have quit coming over ages ago,” Rowan said, irritation beginning to rise in their voice, too. Simon reached forward for their hand, hoping to calm them somehow, but it was too late. “The only reason I’m still here is to make sure he—” they gestured towards Simon— “doesn’t die, and to save my brother, in case anyone forgot he was wrapped up in all of this, too.”

“I am just as worried about Jensen as you are—”

“Oh, are you?” they snapped. “Says the guy that disappeared from our lives for eight years because he didn’t think to use a tracking spell—”

Magnus roared but another voice cut through the conversation, silencing them both. “Enough!” Alec demanded, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Leave the family drama for another day. It’s not going to help us to hash anything out now.” He stared at both of them, his blue eyes inflamed with anger, and both seemed to listen to him. Magnus slumped back against the couch. “Ithuriel was a lower-ranked angel and didn’t take up as much space as Raziel would. If you were to summon a higher rank angel, Michael, or Gabriel—”

“I couldn’t make a spell that would bind them, even momentarily,” said Magnus in a subdued voice. “We’re summoning Raziel in part because we’re hoping that as the creator of Shadowhunters, he will have a special compassion—or, really, any compassion—for your situation. He’s also of about the right rank. A less powerful angel might not be able to help us, but a more powerful angel…well, if something went wrong…”

“It might not just be me who dies,” said Simon.

Magnus looked pained, and Alec glanced down at the papers strewn across the table. Rowan hid their expression from him, their shoulders squared away from him, but they reached back for his hand. He took it, lacing his fingers through theirs. “I can’t believe we’re really summoning an angel,” they said. “My whole life we’ve sworn on the Angel’s name. We know our power comes from angels. But the idea of seeing one…i can’t really imagine it. When I try to think about it, it’s…”

A silence fell across the table. There was a darkness in Magnus’s eyes that made Simon wonder if he had ever seen an angel. He wondered whether he ought to ask, but was saved deciding by the buzzing of his cell phone.

“One second,” he muttered, and got to his feet. He flipped the phone open and leaned against one of the loft’s pillars. It was a text—several—from Maia.

Good news! Luke is awake and talking. It looks like he’s going to be okay.

Relief poured over Simon in a wave. Finally, good news. He flipped the phone shit and reached for the ring on his hand. Clary?

Nothing.

He swallowed his nerves. She was probably asleep. He looked up to find three of the people at the table staring at him.

“Who called?” Rowan asked.

“It was Maia. She said Luke’s up and talking. That he’s going to be okay.” There was a chatter of relieved voices, someone mentioned calling Andy, but Simon was still staring down at the ring on his hand. “She gave me an idea.”

Rowan looked at him curiously, a hesitancy in their voice as they spoke. His ideas had been downright suicidal as of late. “What is it?”

“What do we need to summon Raziel? How much space?” Simon asked.

Magnus paused over a book. “A mile around, at least. Water would be good. Like Lake Lyn—”

“Luke’s farm,” Simon said. “Upstate. An hour or two away. It should be shut up now, but I know how to get there. And there’s a lake. Not as big as Lake Lyn, but…”

Magnus closed the book he was holding. “That’s not a bad idea, Seamus.”

Rowan waved him off. “A few hours?” they asked. “We could be there by—”

“Oh, no,” said Magnus. He pushed the book away from him. “While your enthusiasm is boundless and impressive, peanut, I’m too exhausted to properly cast the summoning spell at the moment. And this isn't something I want to take risks with. I think we can all agree.”

“So when?” Alec asked.

“We need a few hours of sleep at least,” Magnus said. “I say we leave early afternoon. Sherlock—sorry, Simon—call and see if you can borrow Jordan’s truck in the meantime. And now…” he pushed his papers to the side. “I’m going to sleep. Peanut, Simon, you’re more than welcome to use the spare room again if you like.”

“Different spare rooms would be better,” Alec muttered.

Rowan looked at Simon with questioning eyes, but he was already reaching into his pocket for his phone. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll be back by noon, but for now there’s something important I have to do.”

1 note · View note

kuromimel · 6 months ago

Text

annnnnnd I finished the vampire lestat, and I loved it!!! here's some of my (not spoiler free) notes about the book:

☆ dionysius in san fran, the vampire armand and on the devil's road from paris to cairo are my favourite chapters

☆ personally.....I think gabrielle and lestat's relationship could do without the weird oedipus-ian vibe and yknow, just have them be normal vampire mother and son but idk maybe anne was feeling quirky 🤪🤪 when she wrote this book

☆ armand my sweet, traumatised vamp, I also loved how gabrielle and lestat were in essence saying be gay make art towards the end of the vampire armand chapter, and trying to encourage him to be his own person and separate himself from his old ways and embrace new possibilities, relationships and to exist and live for HIMSELF (in the end he's like.....fine ok)

☆ louis and lestat reunion 😭😭 not as gutwrenching as the show but it was still really sweet, they seemed to be on really good terms (even louis going to his show!!! before they were ambushed by vexed vampires but HE WENT TO HIS SHOW)

☆ marius: please do not share any of the secrets I have told you about, about my life, about akasha and enkil, about the Keltoi, nuffin

lestat: ok yeah sure

lestat in 1984: I am the vampire lest-

☆ poor nicki man....I feel bad for him, and I've seen a lot of ppl say that lestat's hesitation to turn claudia is because he's experienced having someone dear in his life who should not have become a vampire become one and end up becoming so mentally unwell and unstable and how that deeply affected lestat, and I didn't understand the severity of it until I read the book and oh man

☆ magnus is fucking weird, man.....he's just a strange halloween decoration looking guy who decided after traumatising lestat to become a human s'more

☆ also I love akasha she's so cunty muwah

☆ a final note bc I can't remember much else, I feel so so so bad for lestat at the beginning and yet so happy for him: his entire life before vampirism he was forbidden by his family to pursue anything that he loved, from the monastery to the theatre troupe; he wanted his life to mean more than just what he was born into and what he had to be and from the moment he left to go to Paris his life changed for both the worst and the better and over a century later he's on stage performing and doing something he not only loves but chose for himself without being reprimanded or punished for what was considered his only real "sin" in the early years of his life - being content and happy in the path of his own choosing

and now onto queen of the damned yeehawww

#the vampire lestat #tvl

1 note · View note

lxvenderhxzehv · 8 months ago

Text

"oh now quite the opposite.. " she smiled softly. It had gotten to the point where she had gone just to see him. At the time she didn't realize it was crush she had on him. She just assumed she enjoyed his presence. He made her smile and laugh. But she never would have thought. She moved closer to him wrapping her arms around his waist as he pulled out his cigarettes. "You did, but I did too" she giggled a little "I wanted you to stare so I guess...I can make an exception...." She reached for the crystal ash tray on the counter and brought it closer signaling that she wasn't about to let him go just yet. And she wanted to smoke she wanted him to stay right there and do it. Clinging to him like he was a tree and she was sloth. She had never been clingy before. But now that she had so much too loose....she was scared and has a reason to be. Any Chang to hold him close like this she was going to take. She scoffed "You're telling me you were scared of little old me" she looked at him with doe eyes once more. He should be, she didn't know anyone who did half the dumb shit she did. Slapping mercy being the icing on the cake for dumbest things she had ever done. But she would never do anything to harm him. God she would do anything in the world to keep him safe. "girls are scary I get it" she said with laugh.

"This town has a weird way of bringing people together I think...." She mentions. "Lach was just my teacher until suddenly he wasn't and now he's my dad...." At last in her eyes he was. "Cal was my boss and then next thing I know he's like a brother to me...." She shrugged "Myles is my family too. Just like cyan, sissy....you" she said with warm cheeks. "I begged and wished for a family that actually loved me and suddenly I have a over abundance of it." She smiled Brightly. Josie smirks at him "Exhausted from unpacking....right..." She slaps his chest playfully and heads to the fridge to bring everything out before grabbing the bread and the plates "I have all he faith into. Just be careful... please" there is a seriousness to her voice. The first aid kit was on Deck just in case something went wrong. She begins to spread the condiments.on the bread and spreading it with the butter knife she had set aside. "Hey, you always deserve that second Chance....." They all did. Still she felt like she didn't, she didn't deserve him, or his Love. She needed to remind herself that, that was her father talking. She was trying to Better. For G, he deserved a good girlfriend. And she was going to die trying to be just that. "baby..." She said softly going to him as he talked about his father, the book, how he treated him "no one Should be punished for wanting to escape..." He cupped his face. "my dad tried to burn a lot of mine..." She said softly. "Only time he ever waisted alcohol was the drench my books in it and light them on fire...." She said with a sigh. She feels her cheeks flush a bit at the mention of Gabriel also liking her "I probably would have liked him too..." She smiled softly. She knew of him back then. She had made a mental note if how hot he was but that was all 13 year old Josie brain could think of at the time. "We should check on him, make sure everything is okay after the flood...leave some fresh flowers? Wouldn't have to stay just a quick stop" she suggested.

He still seems somewhat surprised at the admission she always found him attractive whenever that fact comes up, the same way he'd been stunned to be informed that Wren had similarly enjoyed any shift they shared at the grocery store since his presence meant there was 'at least something worth staring at that wasn't the wall.' Cyan too had been pretty firm about the idea that G was a 'prettyboy' that would have done well on whatever an 'onlyfans' was- It's nice, he guesses, to know that his worst enemy in most places was his own self-doubt. "You know I always worried that I was like, weirding you out, or something." He reasons, as he follows her to the kitchen, checking the time on his phone before, after a moment of consideration, grabbing his box of cigarettes from the dresser- he could surely catch one more smoke in the meantime, ever-avoidant of smoking in the house, despite the knowledge that Josie likely wouldn't begrudge him the activity, so long as he shared. "Because I like, definitely had a staring problem, and talking to you was really hard when I was sober, because yanno you're... well." He motions to her as they settle in the kitchen.

She admits they were both pretty rough when they'd become friends, and he nods. "Well, I don't like to attribute anything to any sort of... higher power, you know? But maybe it was just the right time." He insists. "I've... not been this okay for a long time." Stable. Comfortable. His delusions present, but brought to heel through careful trial and error- and the willingness of others to keep him from shunning kindnesses. It's already becoming harder to remember a time before he was surrounded with friends- a time before the way he feels safe now. "Man, you know we could probably do pasta for dinner, we're gonna be worn out, I'd much rather just make up some leftovers and crash out on the couch once we're done with all these boxes- so why don't we do somethin' quick for lunch- sandwiches? I can definitely cut up the lettuce and a tomato for something without starting a small-to-medium kitchen fire." He's poking through boxes deposited near the kitchen, producing Lenore's food bowl and placing it in the floor carefully. "there, now the Queen's moved in." he laughs, rifling through the box's contents. "I am glad, you know, that uh, for all the chaos that came from it, that we got here when we did." He admits. "It... I dunno. Feels a lot like I'm finally making good on what Gabriel left behind." He speaks of himself somewhat divorced again- the version of him left to rot under a great tree in the woods outside of Huntsville. "Like I'm uh... finally worth the second chance, I guess." He pulls a battered looking old gameboy from the box and a water-damaged copy of King's Different Seasons. "Ah, this must be the stuff from my cubbyhole from Esth's place." He straightens. "Hid everything I wasn't supposed to have in there when I was a teenager. Should have seen the chewing out I got from my old man the time he caught me with this." He lifts the book slightly, leaning himself in the doorframe of the kitchen to watch Josie work on lunch. "For what it's worth? I think Gabriel would have liked you as much as I do." He chuckles. "Would have probably been even more terrified to talk to you though."

#thread (Josie and G)#mobile

11 notes · View notes

aziraphales-library · 2 years ago

Note

Hello! Thank you for everything you do. This blog has been life line. I was looking for some creative human or fantasy aus? Something like outside the norm. Take your time and no rush! thank you so much for everything :)

Hi and you’ve welcome! Here are some fun and different human/fantasy AUs for you...

Among The Living by ineffablefool (T)

Crowley pulled the Bentley up to the corner and checked his watch. He was early, because speed limits were only that if you were willing to be limited, so the guy might not be ready yet. Crowley could wait. Not like he had anything else to do. The passenger door opened. “Oh, my,” said a gentle, precise voice. “Are you Crowley? Only, this is an awfully nice car for a rideshare.” (Crowley is a rideshare driver. Aziraphale is a passenger. Crowley is pretty sure his instant crush can't go anywhere because he also has a spooky secret, but fortunately for him, he's in the Soft Zone(TM).)

Ghost gardener by Joseph_Amadeus (T)

The Fell brothers buy a castle - and they get their fill of the castle experience when it turns out that the castle is - haunted. It's not a ghost, so maybe haunted is not the right word... Anyway, Gabriel doesn't have any time for this, so it's up to the butler and Aziraphale to sort things out and find a boyfriend for Aziraphale.

The Serpents Writer by Vincent_Van_Crow (T)

All Aziraphale wanted to do was enjoy his quiet life, writing his fanfiction and enjoying days spent with his friend Anathema. But life isn’t as quiet as he thinks, and wonders and fantasy begin to come alive around him. Will he continue to write after things begin to change? And what of his handsome prince? Where will this all lead Aziraphale?

The Fallen Prince by NightValeian (T)

Ezra Fell had read The Trials of the Serpent King numerous times throughout his lifetime. He could quote nearly every line by heart and owned multiple versions of the entire series, including a recently obtained first edition of The Fallen Prince.

Upon opening the cover, Ezra finds himself within the pages of the book and traveling alongside Anthony J. Crowley, the exiled king of Eden, while he marches the path towards the redemption of his throne.

Playing With Fire by JoyAndOtherStories (T)

Crowley was sure of exactly one thing: He and his new next-door neighbor were not going to get along.

He wasn’t sure of much else in his life, if he were honest with himself (something he generally tried to avoid, but he was having a moment).

Not that Crowley cared. He was here to make music, not friends. At the moment, Crowley was much more concerned with how he was going to get home, balancing the three plants he’d just bought from the local garden center, without getting soaked in the sudden summer downpour that had just let loose in Tadfield.

“Bloody, blinking lead balloons,” Crowley swore.

“I beg your pardon?” came a posh, fussy, old-fashioned voice to his right.

Crowley looked in that direction, straight into the posh, fussy, old-fashioned face of his next-door neighbor, holding a posh, fussy, old-fashioned umbrella over both of them.

Playing With Fire: An AU with art by smolalienbee and writing by JoyAndOtherStories that’s a little more than it seems! Featuring Ace Ineffable Partners, a bit of adventure, magical creatures, and a very happy ending. Created as part of the Good Omens Reverse Big Bang organized by Do It With Style Events!

Angel in Cinders by ShesAKillerQueen98 (M)

(Good Omens Cinderella AU) Ever since Aziraphale's mother remarried, his life has been nothing but misery. Before she died, she told him to have courage and greet the world with kindness, even if it doesn't give him the same kindness back. Lately, Aziraphale has been finding it harder to follow that advice. But when the royal family announces a masquerade ball to celebrate the birthday of the youngest prince, who bears a striking resemblance to a mysterious young man he met in town, things go from bad to worse. All he wants is to attend the festival. But perhaps with a little luck, and perhaps some magic, he can find happiness.

- Mod D

#good omens #ineffable husbands #human au #fantasy au #mod d

68 notes · View notes

nxrthmizu · 4 years ago

Text

Crash and Burn

fandom | miraculous ladybug

genre | salt, lila salt

pairing | n/a

w.c | 3.2k

author's note | hey remember that lila salt fic i promised? this isn't it but this is something i made today so yep. please accept this as an apology for yknow. me promising to write and. not doing it.

Enough was enough.

“Marinette, stop accusing Lila! She just wants to make friends!”

“Take the high road.”

“Be a good model student, Marinette.”

Enough. Was. Enough.

Marinette had the connections, the power, the choice to make Lila’s entire world crumble apart. The only thing that stood between the liar’s demise was the tiniest pinch of morality and self-restraint— And no, that self-restraint did not come in the form of Tikki. Even the kwami, who had to be an aggregation of all the good and nice things in the world, was fed up and ready to retaliate.

“What a joke.” Lila cackled, tossing a chunk of her sausage hair over her shoulder flamboyantly. The two girls were in the bathroom, with Lila smirking in front of the sink and Marinette a little distance away from her. “You can make my world crumble? What is this, a threat?”

“A promise.” Marinette corrected. “Stop telling lies. Come clean to every one. No more lying about knowing celebrities left and right, no more making excuses about not being able to take your own notes, no more making up ‘diseases’ just so your life gets a little more convenient. To be frank, I really don’t care what happens to you— But by making these empty promises to introduce my classmates to great ‘celebrities’, you’re ruining their futures. Stop.”

“And what are you going to do if I don’t?” Lila sneered, face twisted into an ugly grin. “You going to cry in front of the class? Try and convince them that I, the one they adore— That I am lying?”

“No.” Marinette’s eyes were clear when she met Lila’s. The clouds of self-doubt that used to hover over the bright, shining star inside her soul had now dissipated, letting the bluenette emit a confident, glowing appearance as she met the liar head on. “I’m just going to keep my promise.”

──────── ⋆⋅❉⋅⋆ ────────

Lila headed off to a modelling shoot after school, pleased at the prospect of spending more time with Adrien. There were a couple tendrils of Marinette’s words hanging behind in her mind— Did the girl mean what she said? Did she actually… Was she actually capable of causing Lila’s downfall? … Surely not. Marinette may have once been the ‘Everyday Ladybug’, but there was no way she was that competent, there was no way the girl was capable of plotting.

The Italian hummed, brushing away thoughts of the annoying bluenette from her mind. She was going on a photoshoot— One that was going cause the rise and burst of her career, the one that was going to make her name a globally-known one. Unfortunately for Lila, her plans were going to be derailed quite soon— In fact, as soon as Gabriel Agreste’s car rolled into the parking lot of the shoot location.

“Explain this, Mlle. Rossi.” Gabriel’s nostrils flared as he pointed to the tabloid article on his tablet. The Italian girl froze, the headlines seared into her eyes, big and black and bold, shooting poison right into the core of her body, paralysing her cell by cell starting from her heart. “What is the meaning of this?”

‘Adrien Agreste Reported To Be Harassed by Fellow Model’— The image under the caption was one that was clearly taken by a hidden photographer. The picture was framed with leafy foliage, which suggested that the camera was tucked up in a tree. Despite the distance, it was quite obvious in the image that Adrien was reeling away, disgusted and uncomfortable as a faceless woman in an orange blazer, back turned to the camera— Invaded his personal space.

The subtitle was the cream on the cupcake.

‘Witnesses State Gabriel Agreste Ignorant of Workplace Harassment’.

──────── ⋆⋅❉⋅⋆ ────────

As if things couldn’t quite go down a worser path, Lila returned home to a fuming mother and an unexpected visitor.

“Lila! You come here right this instant!” The diplomat demanded as soon as the front door opened, her daughter shrinking slightly at the tone and pitch that her mother was using. The last time her mother had been this angry— Well, it was when she got expelled from her last school. “I can’t believe what you’ve done! If it weren’t for your kind classmate, lord knows how long you would’ve continued with this!”

The Italian meekly followed her mother into the living room, eyes widening until they were as large as saucers, mouth agape at the last person she expected to see sitting on the couch.

Marinette smiled kindly, waving at the girl, looking every bit the part of the innocent, pure, kind child that every parent wanted to have. Before Lila could release a torrent of questions about what the hell Marinette Dupain-Cheng was doing in her living room, her mother charged on, beginning to take out her anger on her daughter while a literal angel sat on the sofa, cradling a box of pastries from her family’s bakery.

“Your friend here tells me that you’ve been taking absences from school to go on trips to help humanity!” Mme. Rossi exploded, waving her arms around madly. “She says she’s here to share her notes from the classes you’ve missed! You’ve never left Paris this year! What’s this I hear about flying off to the kingdom of— What was it called again, Marinette dear?”

“Achu.” Provided the bluenette helpfully, the diplomat’s expression instantly softening when she talked to the other teen in the living room.

“Ah, yes. Thank you, dear.” The woman turned back to her daughter, instantly snapping on a mask of anger in a matter of a fraction of a second. “What’s this about flying off to this kingdom of Achu to help homeless orphans with some random prince?”

“Um…” Lila piped up, wriggling as her brain churned at 200 lies per hour, trying to whip up a cover of some sort.

“I’m not done! Your friend here is such a helpful child that she even went as far as to ask her family doctor is there’s a cure for your… Lying disease!” Mme. Rossi practically roared, breathing flames as if she were an intimidating dragon, her daughter flinching away from the heat. “I’ve never heard of anything more ridiculous! And then there’s the fact that you lied to your classmates about having tinnitus?!”

“I actually do have tinnitus!” Lila cut in forcibly, widening her eyes to make herself look more pitiful. “I was just afraid to tell you because I didn’t want you to worry!”

“Bullshit!”

“Um… Sorry to interrupt, Mme. Rossi,” Marinette piped up, the diplomat instantly cooling down as she faced the bluenette, a soft smile tracing the Italian woman’s lips. “But it’s getting rather late and my parents would love me home soon. I also have some tests to revise for tonight, so I think I should get going.”

“Oh, of course, dear.” Mme. Rossi hastily got up to help the bluenette to the door, shooting a warning glare at her daughter— ‘Sit still and don’t you dare go anywhere’, the glare read. “Feel free to come over again anytime you want, dear. I’m not home often, but you are such a sweet child. I’m sure Lila could learn a lot from you.”

“Thanks for having me as well, Mme. Rossi. I really like your home. I left the pastries on the counter— Make sure to warm the curry puffs before you eat them.” Marinette returned the smile, bowing slightly to the older woman as a sign of respect.

“Thank you for the pastries as well, Marinette. I ought to visit your parents’ bakery sometime when I’m free.” Mme. Rossi opened the door kindly for the bluenette, waving the girl off with an affectionate smile. Her parents must be so lucky to have such a sweet little thing like her, Mme. Rossi sighed internally, turning the key so she locked the door. And she seems to be a high-scoring student as well.

──────── ⋆⋅❉⋅⋆ ────────

Lila seethed, having been grounded by her mother. As far as Mme. Rossi was concerned, there was a boarding school not too far away from their current residence, and by the next week, the Italian girl would be transferred over. Lila had never hated Dupain-Cheng as much as she did in that moment.

Still furious, the Italian snapped her laptop open, too angry to bother with the fact she might’ve scratched the surface. Clicking into the web browser, she started to type in the words ‘Ladyblog’— That was, before a news article caught her eye.

‘Jagged Stone Interview Reveals Underage, Obsessed Fan’.

What on Earth…

As soon as Lila clicked into the link, the news footage from the interview immediately begin to play. The date stamp on it showed that it had aired last night— Which meant that she would’ve missed it, since her mother was too busy yelling at her to turn on the television to watch Nadja Chamack’s daily news.

“As soon as I heard this rumour about some underage teenage girl claiming that she had saved my cat on an airport runway, I called Penny and asked her to book a slot for me to clarify this,” Jagged Stone said grimly, dressed in more formal attire as he sat in the comfortable, cushioned chair of the news station, with Nadja nodding equally seriously beside him. “Let me clarify— I’ve never owned a cat. I’m allergic to fur. The only pet I’ve had was Fang, and he’s an al-li-ga-tor. Not a cat. Whatever the girl is claiming, she’s obsessed and making up stories.”

“It’s also kind of bewildering that she saved it on an airport runway,” Nadja continued, shaking her head in disappointment. “That kind of thing only happens in dramas— It’s too dangerous for anyone besides authorised workers to be on airport runways.”

“Right, right!” Jagged agreed instantly. “The whole rumour is just really baffling.”

“M. Jagged, may I ask what kind of effect these rumours have on a celebrities’ career?” Nadja continued, leading the conversation on like a professional.

“Well, rumours that circulate around tend to have really bad effects, and the worse ones can hang around for a long, long time. Tabloids are often spun off from rumours, baseless and with no evidence. Those tabloids will never truly disappear, so they can leave a mark on a celebrity’s reputation as some people will believe anything— Even things they read from un-cited tabloids.”

“That is simply terrible. Have you ever had any cases of rumours created by underaged teens before this?”

“I’ve had quite a number, but none of them really got as big as this one. From what Penny has found from digging around, the teen girl managed to spread the rumour through her school and onto a once-popular blog.” Jagged explained. “Penny has also found out that the same girl has claimed that I’ve written songs for her to thank her for saving my cat! I would never write songs and dedicate them to an underaged girl— Trust me. If I could do such a thing, I’d already have written a dozen in honour of my niece— She’s my favourite designer.”

Nadja smiled at that sentence. “Then—“

The news footage cut off abruptly as Lila slammed her laptop shut, too upset to continue watching.

──────── ⋆⋅❉⋅⋆ ────────

On the other side of Paris, Alya was pacing around her room frantically, wondering why on earth Lila wasn’t picking up on her calls. She’d left at least four dozen messages to the Italian, who was absent from school that day. There had been a couple whispers here and there about why she was missing— Rose had suggested another impromptu trip to Achu.

Lila’s absence wasn’t the weirdest part of the day, however.

That award would go to Marinette, who walked into class with a smile, the slightest sprinkles of delight colouring her bluebell eyes when she spotted Lila’s empty seat.

Growing in frustration, Alya threw herself onto her bed, phone clattering onto the mattress with her. Within the next few minutes, however, her phone suddenly started exploding with notifications. Excited at the prospect of Lila finally texting back, Alya turned on her phone, only to be disappointed by the notifications all clamouring from the class group chat.

Kim had sent a link to the chat— Without hesitation, Alya clicked into it, frowning when she saw Nadja and Jagged appear on the screen. Throughout the interview, the colour on the Ladyblogger’s face only paled by the second until she was as white as a sheet, and if it were halloween at that time, she would’ve won the best costume award for being a ghost.

There must… There must’ve been a mistake.

A notification from Lila’s number made the blogger perk up, instantly clicking into the conversation— But her newfound hope didn’t last very long.

[Lila]

Hi, Alya. This is Lila’s mom. She’s currently grounded right now. Is there anything important you need to tell her?

[Alya]

Oh, nothing much… I just wanted to ask where she was.

[Lila]

She’s at home.

[Alya]

Okay, thanks.

Flopping onto her bed, Alya begin thinking, revising over the past few months like it was an old clip. Lila’s exciting adventures and interactions with celebrities of every kind— Lila going overseas and face timing the entire class— Lila letting her in on the secrets of being Ladybug’s friend…

… Marinette trying to tell them that Lila was lying…

──────── ⋆⋅❉⋅⋆ ────────

The class was awfully silent the next day. Adrien was absent as well— A social worker was looking into his home life as a result of the tabloid that arose. Things for the blonde could either get better or worse from then on, as the matters were still foggy and things hadn’t cleared up yet. The blonde maintained contact with his friends, however, calling and texting them whenever he could.

“Class, settle down.” Mlle. Bustier stepped into the class, looking very tense and uncomfortable. “Today, we will have a guest, so please be on your best behaviours, alright?”

Just as the teacher finished speaking, a tall, regal-looking Italian woman entered the classroom, a cowering principal and a meek-looking Lila in tow. The class brightened slightly at the sight of their friend— But by the way she wasn’t looking into their eyes… Things weren’t going to be good.

“Good morning. I am Mme. Rossi, Lila’s mother.” The woman begin speaking, her firm and no-nonsense tone instantly making every student sit straight, their eyes too afraid to look anywhere else but the Italian diplomat. “It has come to my attention that my daughter has been taking absences from school to do charity work— And I have to clarify that this is a lie. Lila has been doing nothing but holing herself up in her room, lying to me and saying that there are no classes due to akumas.” The Italian diplomat glowered at Damocles. “What’s even more baffling is the fact that neither her homeroom nor the principal bothered to check up with me despite a student having extended periods of absence with no note or email written whatsoever.”

The class was so quiet that they could hear the quiver of Mlle. Bustier’s trembling lip.

“In addition, I’ve been kindly told that Lila has claimed to have a lying disease, which is the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard this week.” It was impossible to miss the way the Italian diplomat was glaring daggers at both Mlle. Bustier and Damocles. “No one bothered to look it up online to see if it’s actual disorder, nor did anyone call me to confirm and ask for a doctor’s note, which is standard procedure.” Chills burst over the room, making every one shiver as the woman hissed out her words.

“Mme. Rossi, we didn’t want to disturb your busy schedule—” Damocles begin, only to be blown backwards from the sheer intensity of Mme. Rossi’s glower.

“M. Damocles, standard procedures exist for a reason. Unless you’d like to tell me about any other things you’ve been letting my daughter get away with?”

“N— No, Mme.”

The Italian diplomat continued on her war path. “My daughter also claimed to have tinnitus, am I correct?”

“Y— Yes, Mme.” Mlle. Bustier answered when it seemed like no one was going to.

“And I heard that the class seating arrangement was shifted to accommodate for that?” The homeroom teacher didn’t dare answer this time, for it seemed like whatever she said would be the incorrect answer. “And apparently, my daughter has also been faking broken wrists and requesting for her classmates to complete her work for her.” Mme. Rossi was practically breathing flames at that point, “And I am incredibly upset at the lack of action from the homeroom teacher.”

No one could breath.

“I have many concerns about the running of this schooling facility, and I expect to discuss this with M. Damocles privately after this. However, there is still something to be done.” Mme. Rossi swept her gaze towards her daughter, who found the floor incredibly interesting at that point of time. “Lila? Something you’d like to say to your classmates?”

“… I’m sorry for lying to you.” Lila mumbled resentfully.

“Louder, Lila. No one can hear you.”

“I’m sorry for lying to you!” Lila swallowed, bursting like an explosion that had finally been triggered, tears in her eyes and fists hatefully curled. “I’m sorry for lying about my diseases and injuries. I’m sorry for making you do my work,” She spat. “Sorry for causing any inconveniences.”

Mme. Rossi raised an eyebrow at her daughter. “Is that all?”

Lila glared at her mother, who was completely unfazed. “Oh, so you want an apology from me? Fine!” She turned to the class, a maniacal glint in her eyes as she sneered at the class, a few gasps puffing from around the room as they caught their first glimpse of the liar that resided in the ‘harmless’ shell of Lila Rossi. “I’m sorry that you are all such idiots that you all fell for everything. I’m sorry that Marinette has such terrible, untrusting classmates that turned their backs on her even though she was still a goody-two shoes till the end, even though she still wanted to help you sorry peasants. I’m sorry that you were all so goddamn gullible! There! Good enough for you?”

Shock was etched into the faces of every human in the classroom— Including Mlle. Bustier, M. Damocles, and Mme. Rossi themselves. Clearly, that part of the apology had not been part of the plan.

“Did I miss something?” Said a sweet voice, followed by the presence of a bluenette, her hair tied in a half-up. A royal blue blazer decorated her lithe form, accompanied by a smart-looking white blouse and a black plaited skirt. Formal had never looked so good on anyone— And if someone didn't know better, they'd think that the bluenette was a young lawyer, emerging victorious from her first successful case.

“Marinette!” Alya exclaimed.

“I’m sorry that you’re such an annoying, little, pest.” Lila bit in the girl’s face, disdain colouring her features as she ignored her mother’s enraged gasp behind her.

The bluenette simply smiled, unaffected by the liar who had crashed and burned like the liar once wished upon her. Marinette Dupain-Cheng stood at her full height, the perfect image of grace and poise as she maintained her composure, quite unlike her nemesis, who thrashed under her mother’s restraining hands.

“And I’m sorry that you didn’t take my promise to heart.”

this can count as adrien redemption depending on you cause ehhh i dont like how passive he is but i havent caught up with the recent episodes, he might have become better. idk.

also where the hell is my miraculous taglist i cant find it so eep. no tagging ppl ig oops

#miraculous ladybug #the tales of ladybug and chat noir #marinette dupain-cheng #lila rossi #lila salt #rossi salt #ml class #ml salt #ml class salt #marinette deserves better #badass marinette #lila rossi lies #lila's lies are exposed #adrien agrete #alya cesaire #cady writesss «

858 notes · View notes

newtalot · 3 months ago

Text

But wait, I’m not done yet!

This will probably be my last reblog that talks about the beginning of the story, the rest will probably just be my thoughts on the books, which will probably include spoilers

So Gabriel is whisked off to The Crucible, where he’ll receive his training, luckily it turns out his friend Reylan is here too, he’s a bit of a womanizer, but he’s kind where it counts. There’s also a rich kid and are those bodyguards? Better steer clear of that guy. Gabriel follows the rest of the recruits through “processing” and joins the rest in front of the stage, where they’ll finally find out what this is all about.

An old man walks out who looks kinda similar to that rich kid from earlier, oh boy. The gist of the speech is that they’ve all been gathered to receive training for the “Reclaimer Project”. The fact of the matter is that the world is ending, the way things are going Earth won’t be able to sustain human life in a few years. The plan is to send 1000 highly trained young people from around the world up into space to spend 1000 years in cyrosleep, after which they will go down and “reclaim” the newly inhabitable Earth. Of course this isn’t the only contingency plan currently in progress, but it is the most promising.

There are currently 5000 recruits in the Crucible, and the training they’ll undergo will shave that number down to the 1000 required, which seems steep, even if people drop out out, which means walking off into the desert, there’s no way they’ll get under that number right? Surely the training won’t be as dangerous as everyone says, they’re just trying to scare us right?

But Gabriel is determined to be the best he can, and if he’s going to do that he needs a rival, someone who can push him to do better, and that rich kid looks like a good choice, nothing could possibly go wrong with that.

Gabriel starts at the very bottom, Rank F-0, every 10 ranks you go up a letter. For reference, most of the recruits are D ranked, with the highest currently being in C rank. Gabriel certainly has his work cut out for him.

Since I’m in a posting mood this night at 1:11 am, I might as well make the most of it and spill as much of my thoughts as possible out into the void that is tumblr

Anyway, before The Darkness Outside Us I read every currently published book in the Reclaimer series by Waldo Rodriguez

Here’s the cover of the first book

Now that I’ve caught the attention of anyone mindlessly scrolling, I’ll explain what it is and why I’m interested in it despite it not being gay (a tragedy I know). The book is a Sci-Fi “Progression” book which basically means it borrows a lot from the LitRPG genre without actually being an RPG. The book borrows concepts from a lot of popular Sci-fi, mostly Warhammer, and sprinkles in some magic, at least for the first 4 books.

Here’s the complication, there’s currently 6 books and there will probably be 6 more, and each of them are over 200k words, which means there’s currently over 1.2 millions words with just as many on the way. If this doesn’t faze you, you’re quite brave, just the sort of person we want to brave The Crucible. And you’ll have a lot to look forward to since after the first 4 books the genre switches from Sci-fi Fantasy to Fantasy Sci-fi, I’ll let you find out what I mean by that, or you can look at the reblogs I’ve made of this where I go into it more since this is getting quite long winded.

#book recommendations #litrpg #reclaimer #waldo rodriguez #Crimson Ascent #newt’s rambles

8 notes · View notes

tabbyclaw · 3 years ago

Text

Beloved

My contribution for day 1 of @mayura-may !

The knock on the door is soft and hesitant, which is enough to tell Nathalie who's on the other side of it. Doctors, when they're unavoidable, have crisp knocks accompanied by too-friendly voices announcing themselves. The driver, for all his surprising gentleness, always makes the door frame shake just a little bit. Gabriel... well, he does knock, most of the time, but it feels like a formality when he does it. Nathalie double-checks her various devices to make sure she hasn't left anything sensitive open and sits up a little straighter. "Come in, Adrien."

Adrien slips into the room like he's afraid of being noticed, closing the door behind him and staying close to it. looking like an intruder in his own home. A sheepish look. "Am I interrupting anything?"

She tries for an encouraging smile, because even if this is her private sanctuary -- her gilded cage -- it's also her place of business, and Adrien is still her business. She was very clear about that with Gabriel. (What she said was I am still capable of doing my job. What she meant was don't take him away from me, not on top of everything else I've lost.) "Not at all," she tells him, setting her tablet down and gesturing him closer. "I was just doing some... personal research." More specifically she was scouring the internet for new podcasts, because being bedridden is boring, but his arrival is an even more welcome distraction. She's already closed her laptop, but now she puts it aside entirely and gestures for him to come closer. "What is it?"

The invitation is enough for some of his tension to unwind, and while he's still cautious he does step forward with a look that feels a little more normal. "I've been reading this," he says, gesturing to the book she's only just noticed he's holding. "It's just for fun, not for school, but I was hoping you could still help me with some of the parts I don't understand?"

A thin coil of dread curls in Nathalie's stomach at the thought of what sort of thing a sheltered teenage boy might be encountering in his reading material and being confused by, and she has to bite her lip not to immediately respond with Go ask your father. Which would be the worst possible answer for so many reasons. She holds her hand out for the book and braces herself for the worst.

Adrien leans awkwardly over the bed, trying to hold the book open for her, but both of them are straining to reach each other and eventually Nathalie just shifts herself sideways and makes room for him to sit next to her on the bed. He does so like he's trying not to breathe on her too hard, like she's something fragile he can't get too close to. "You're not going to hurt me," she tells him, the slightly chiding tone in her voice based more in her own feelings about her new and delicate state than anything he's done wrong. She tries to smile as he bumps up against her, leaning towards him to make her point. "I won't be broken quite so easily." He doesn't smile back.

The trouble with the book -- actually a collection of short stories -- is simpler than Nathalie had worried but also stranger. Everything in the story that has Adrien so confused seems to be spelled wrong, with the wrong vowels and too many Rs and half the articles mistaken or missing. The two of them lean in together, puzzling over it, and finally Nathalie lets out a little snort of laughter as she understands. "Oh, why would you write it like that," she says with a shake of her head. When Adrien gives her a look that says he still doesn't understand, she touches a line on the page. "Read it aloud, just as it's written. And think about Jagged Stone."

That just makes him look more confused, his entire face furrowing, but he trusts her, the way he always does, and he begins to read in a halting and uncertain voice that grows a little stronger as he starts to get into the rhythm of it. Eventually he laughs too, and it sounds more like relief than anything else. "It's an accent," he realizes. "The narrator is American."

"Yes, and someone thought this was the best way to show that." Nathalie sighs and shakes her head. It's not funny, exactly, but it feels like it's been years since she was last lighthearted about anything, especially with Adrien. To keep the mood up she attempts the next passage herself, twisting her voice around all of the not-quite-right sounds and occasionally struggling to work out what that word is even supposed to be, and soon she and Adrien are reading aloud to each other in tandem, stumbling and snickering, and it's still not actually funny but it feels like maybe Adrien needs a moment of levity just as much as she does, so it's worth it just for that.

And then, in a moment when they're both catching their breath -- and Nathalie is coughing, just a little, but this one's a manageable spell -- Adrien finally seems to relax. He's been perched on the edge of the bed like a bird poised for flight, ready to flee at the slightest sound or any hint that he's not welcome here, and now he settles in and rests his head against her shoulder like he's perfectly comfortable, and like this is perfectly normal.

Like he probably used to do with his mother, when he was small and she would read to him in bed.

Nathalie freezes, all the lightness of the moment gone in the face of this sudden closeness that she's in no way prepared for. Even before the chaos of the past year this would have been unlike him; she likes to think the two of them get along all right, and that he knows he can come to her if he needs her, but he's never sought her out for comfort or even companionship. Not that she ever encouraged him to, not with her walled heart so carefully guarded that she's practically forgotten how to open it up. That was never her job, it was never her place, and she was never going to be what he needed, anyway. She still isn't what he needs, but now she's what he has.

She wants him to know that she knows that, wants him to know that she's making an effort even when it doesn't look like it because she doesn't know what she's doing. She wants to say I know it's hard for you right now, but I promise your father and I are trying to make it better. She wants to say When we were younger your mother told me I was going to make the perfect 'fun aunt' for her kids someday and I wanted to believe her even though I knew better.

She wants to say I love you. I'm sorry I'm so bad at it.

She doesn't say any of it, of course, because a world in which Nathalie Sancoeur is capable of opening her mouth and letting her entire heart pour out of it is a world so far removed from this one that she can't imagine this moment even taking place there. But she does the best she can with what she has and who she is, and she scrunches down further into the pillows to give him room to curl up next to her. She rests the point of her chin on the top of his head for a moment and then sighs, her breath ruffling his hair. "Let's read another one."

#miraculous ladybug #nathalie sancoeur #adrien agreste #mayuramay2022 #fanfiction #deleted and reposted for minor errors #if you're not watching the French version #you are missing out on Jagged Stone's American accent #I love him #and am simultaneously afraid that's what I sound like when I speak French

25 notes · View notes