#overture did NOT do her justice

[rubys-domain]

SHE'S ADORABLE???????

[bardic-inspo]

Time Well Spent

Pairing: Astarion x Evelyn (Named Tav)

Rating: Mature

Key Tags: Holiday traditions, silly fic, fluff, a tiny touch of angst, overtures of future dadstarion

Summary:

“The Winter Solstice is a vampire’s favorite day,” Astarion drawls, fingers stroking pleasantly through her hair. With her ear settled near his sternum, his voice is a lulling, gentle lullaby.  “Do you know why?” “Hm,” Evelyn says, struggling against a yawn. “Because it’s the shortest one?” “Clever girl,” he purrs. “The shortest day. And the longest night.”

Astarion means to make the very most of his solstice spent with Evelyn.

A/N: A server secret santa gift for the ever-lovely @nyx-knox, who is a daily inspiration and a wonderful friend! The Tav (Evelyn) in this fic is hers. I hope I did her justice! Occurs sometime after the final battle with the Netherbrain, and/or in a dream if it better suits Evelyn’s story. :)

Also: Imposing American Christmas traditions on Faerun's solstice for funsies.

ALSO: Huge credit to my wonderful husband for helping me find direction with this fic, and for offering silly (and effective) solutions whenever I got stuck.

Click here to read on AO3 instead

“Well, well,” Astarion smirks with a self-satisfied sway of his hips. “We’re nearly there, aren’t we? Only one more sleep away.”

He looks like sun-kissed marble with the glow of the hearth soaking over his sculpted chest and lining the rest of his bare, stunning figure. 

Evelyn sprawls on the chaise where he left her, still panting with the aftermath of their pleasure. A wayward shiver shudders down her naked spine. Even though her lover may be cool to the touch, he has a way of melting the sharp edges of the cold into something pleasant. Something soothing. Like a dip into a cool pond, his embrace brings a weightless calm she’s come to crave. Without him, the chill has teeth that not even the crackling fire can dull.

Six chimes call out across the city, echoing through the walls of their private suite in the Elfsong. The sun will rise in another hour or so. Astarion pulls the curtains closed over the frosted window, sealing them off from the snow and wind whistling against the panes.

“O-Oh?” Evelyn gasps, teeth chattering. “I never knew you were the festive type, Astarion.”

She was sure that this sojourn to the surface, as Astarion called it, was all for her sake. She’d seen the pitying look on his face when Gale’s transmutation scroll arrived in their Underdark settlement. Evelyn had all but run to the nearest towering mushroom, eyes alight with glee as the spell swapped it for an evergreen. Maybe it was her use of frayed rope as garland that compelled him to humor her. Or, the ‘tree’ shedding all of its needles only a day later.

Although they have a supply line to the surface, Evelyn would hardly strain their resources for extra sugar and flour to celebrate a season that doesn’t even really reach the persistent humidity of their Underdark home. Nevermind the fact that none of the other residents of their settlement could enjoy sugar cut-out cookies or other festive delicacies. Vampire spawn don’t care for caramel and cinnamon. Though, she knows a few who would settle for a good spiced wine.

One such vampire stands before her with such an earnest sparkle in his eye. His excitement sets her heart skipping. Perhaps this visit is as much for Astarion as it is for her. They hadn’t made firm plans, other than seeing Baldur’s Gate steeped in snowfall. But she’s intimately acquainted with the mischief lifting her lover’s perfect lips.

Astarion turns to her again, his smile softening in sympathy. He plucks the plush blanket pooled on the floor where they left it. Spent and shivering as she is, she can’t help the fresh heat that sweeps her brow at the sight of him, lithe and licked in light and shadow, sauntering over to her with an effortless elegance. A low chuckle rumbles in Astarion’s chest as he slips behind her on the chaise and shrouds them both in the blanket.

“It’s not just any holiday, darling,” he hums, sighing contentedly into her hair.

“Enlighten me,” she says, snuggling against his chest. A serene sigh leaks from her lips as she settles.

“The Winter Solstice is a vampire’s favorite day,” Astarion drawls, fingers stroking pleasantly through her hair. With her ear settled near his sternum, his voice is a lulling, gentle lullaby.  “Do you know why?”

“Hm,” Evelyn says, struggling against a yawn. “Because it’s the shortest one?”

“Clever girl,” he purrs. “The shortest day. And the longest night.”

His scent of brandy, bergamot, and rosemary tingles against her nose. They could be anywhere, and it would still be home, so long as the smell of him still surrounds her. Her eyes grow heavy, gradually slipping shut.

“Sleep well, my little sorceress,” he whispers, sealing the sentiment with a tender kiss atop her head. “We’ve quite the night ahead of us, after all.”

Sleep claims her before she can ponder the promise brimming in his words. 

And all too quickly, her dreams are snatched away by familiar hands. Astarion’s touch is firmer this time. He nudges her side insistently.

“Wake up, little sorceress,” Astarion hums in her ear. “We’ve a solstice to celebrate!”

Evelyn groans groggily, turning to tuck back into the covers. She stiffens to the sound of a throat clearing -- one not so near as her lover.

“And,” the warm but stern voice says pointedly, “an old friend to say ‘hello’ to, in addition to a very hearty ‘thank you’. Though, the latter is Astarion’s burden to bear. I have the sense this was hardly your idea, Evelyn.”

Evelyn clutches the quilt for dear life, eyes ripping open to see--

“Gale?!” She blurts.

Sure enough, the wizard stands at the foot of the bed, clad in violet, fur-lined robes, with fresh snowflakes still wetting his windswept hair. Evelyn’s heart leaps. Perhaps this is what Astarion was alluded to -- a surprise solstice reunion with old comrades!

“I’ve already paid you your thanks, wizard,” Astarion says with a scowl. “And it seems it was for naught at all!”

Gale sighs wearily, muttering intelligible words beneath his breath. It sounds an awful lot like a curse, but when he raises his hands, the spell furling between them carries a gentle warmth.

“Astarion!” Evelyn laughs, the flutter of magic brushing her skin with a fleeting, greenish glow. “What’s going on?”

He leans his head against her shoulder. The plaintive pout of his lower lip banishes any inkling she had of chiding his rudeness.

“We’ve only so much nighttime to spend, even on the longest one,” he says earnestly. He fidgets with the sheets bunched in his fist. “I mean to make the very most of our evening together, darling.”

Evelyn huffs softly, but she can’t fight the grin from her cheeks, not with the tentative one creeping over Astarion’s.

“I cast longstrider on you both,” Gale clarifies. “It will help speed you through your festivities. I understand you’ve a lot of them to attend to. I’m less certain Astarion has grasped the concept of quality over quantity.”

He drifts towards the door. Evelyn sits up, still swaddled in the sheets. Melancholy spikes in her chest, the closer her friend slips towards the door.

“Wait!” She sputters. “Gale, I haven’t seen you in ages! Can’t you stay for--”

“No, he cannot!” Astarion interjects. “We've got things to do, darling! Gabbing with Gale is not on the list!”

Evelyn’s jaw drops. The list is literal. Astarion brandishes a curled parchment from his breast pocket. She’d scarcely registered that he’s fully dressed -- and rather handsomely, in a deep burgundy day coat with black trousers. But her admiration is put on hold as her attention sticks to the scroll unfurling down the side of the bed and rolling halfway to the door. Dimly, she recognizes bits of Astatrion’s script: snow angels, sugar cookies, plum pie, mistletoe, hot chocolate...

She blinks, dumbfounded. “You made plans? You made…all of those plans?”

“What can I say?” He preens. “I’m a man of many talents.”

“Including getting Gale to come all the way from Waterdeep so he can make us walk faster?” Evelyn giggles in disbelief.

“And getting him out of our hair after,” Astarion says with a pointed side-eye. The wizard in question shuffles sheepishly for the door.

“Don’t you worry,” Gale groans. “I won’t take up any more of your precious time. Tonight, at least. I expect to see you both tomorrow for supper, or I should consider your debt unpaid!”

“Good!” Astarion smirks, once their friend has taken his leave. “And good riddance! We’re already late to see the lights!”

Without warning, Astarion snatches the sheets, with Evelyn still twined in them, and tugs them towards the edge of the bed. She shrieks as she’s taken overboard, pouring onto the floor with breathless laughter. 

Astarion peers down at her, his face haloed in silver curls. “Do get dressed, dear,” he says, his reproach softened with a smug smile. 

For a moment, she’s mesmerized. But something tugs on the back of her mind; his coat matches his eyes so brilliantly. And his smile doesn’t reach them.

Evelyn emerges into the nipping night air. The street is alive with glowing lanterns, simmering like coals in deep, velvet dark of only four chimes past noon. Her breath clouds in front of her, mingling in the air with the warm scent of cider and spice. Snow lines the avenues, coating the rooftops in a sugary shimmer. The crunch it gives underfoot makes her think of crumbling wafer cookies. 

Hauling every layer they had with them turned out to be a worthwhile effort; her hat, scarf, and boots stave off the worst of the cold from her extremities. The mysterious, fur-lined frock coat she found among her other garments doesn’t hurt, either. It’s the same winey red as Astarion’s, with a stark white fur on the inside so soft, she could melt into it. Fondly, she traces the holly-leaf embroidery across her shoulders with a gloved hand. Astarion hastily snatches it. Evelyn raises a brow as Astarion clutches it tightly, planting a chaste kiss to the leather on her knuckles.

Without warning, he starts off down the street at a jog, his hand still locked with hers, and Evelyn helpless but to follow.

“Astarion! What exactly are we running f-- I -- oh!”

A fizzing sound tears past them. Evelyn tracks the noise, craning her neck up to see dazzling, silver sparks streaking through the sky.

“The lights, darling,” Astarion coos in her ear. Her eyelids flutter to the drag of her lips along its slightly angled edge. The soft sound gives way to a frustrated groan as they come to a crowd clogging the avenue. Evelyn strains, standing on tippy-toes to peer past heads and hats to catch a glimpse of the spiralling magic flaring somewhere in front of them.

“Oh, forget this,” Astarion mutters. “Come on!”

He leads her around the edges of the audience. Her excitement spikes as they duck into a narrow alley and she sees what he intends. Effortlessly, he scales the brick walls to reach the folded ladder on a balcony above. With a few nimble flourishes, the ladder drops down to where she waits. She takes the rungs to the top, and takes Astarion’s hand again once she’s there. With a mischievous grin, he pulls her up above the balcony and onto the angled rooftop.

Her stomach swoops as her feet slide against the slick shingles. A deft grip catches her.

“Steady, love,” Astarion purrs, and she can’t help but blush.

A rosy glow blooms in the air behind him. Eagerly, Evelyn peers past his shoulders to the show unfolding below. Astarion carefully steers them both into a seat along the rooftop. From their vantage point high above the other spectators, she has a clear view of the wizards working their spells at the heart of the crowd. Their magic twines and tangles in mesmerizing patterns. The weave itself dances before her eyes. 

And yet, even in the wake of such sparkling showmanship, Evelyn still finds herself turning her cheek to a vision far more striking.

Emerald greens and vivid reds flash across her lover’s face, glimmering in crimson eyes that seem too busy skimming the crowd to soak in the spectacle he hurried them to. A golden orb bursts overhead, breaking into sizzling cinders and setting a tangy static in the air. The magic crackles pleasantly against Evelyn’s skin, but she’s awestruck by the way it seeps over Astarion. For one wonder of a moment, he’s bleached in radiance. The dark circles beneath his eyes dissolve in the brightness.

As if he’s standing in the sun again.

“There!” He points suddenly, breaking her reverie. 

“What is it?” She asks, following his finger with a slight frown.

Astarion licks his lips. He says the word with the same rolling, hungry growl he uses when a hunt is on his mind. “Gingerbread!”

Evelyn balks at him. “Since when do you eat gingerbread?!”

“I don’t. But you’re going to,” he says firmly, as if the matter’s settled. Before she can manage a word in edgewise, she’s thoroughly unsettled. Astarion scoops her from her seat, deposits her back onto the balcony, and makes it halfway down the ladder again before she’s managed a breath.

“The show isn’t over yet!” She calls after him. “Don’t you want to--”

“Exactly. We’ll beat everyone else to the bakery, and in so doing, be sure that all sorts of delectable things find their way into that gorgeous mouth.”

Well, when he says it like that…how could she say no? Evelyn swallows hard. Her rakish rogue could make a swamp sound like paradise with all the magic in that silver tongue of his. 

She hurries after him, skirting the crowd, and pushing inside the corner patisserie. Astarion’s low, rolling chuckle teases her ears as her eyes flutter shut and a satisfied hum leaks from her lips, unbidden. Sweetness floods her senses: the tartness of sugared plums, the butteriness of fresh pastries, and the warmth of rising dough. Her mouth waters.

“Open up, darling,” Astarion bades her.

She’d follow that man through the hells (again) if he asked. But when she acquiesces to this simple command, it’s heaven she gets in return. Icing melts against her tongue and it's divine. With a plaintive groan, Evelyn takes the cookie from Astarion’s hand and takes a proper bite. 

“Good?” He prompts with a raised brow.

“So good!” She replies emphatically. 

“And this one?”

“Mmmm.” This one is a thin wafer coated in smooth dark chocolate and tingling with peppermint. It’s good enough to get her toes curled inside her boots.  

“You did pay for these, right?” Evelyn asks, brushing crumbs from her coat.

He doesn’t deign to answer. And she doesn’t hesitate to take the third cookie he conjures from seemingly nowhere.

More patrons trickle in, brushing past Evelyn’s shoulders. She shuffles to the side, eyeing Astarion suspiciously as he seems to look anywhere but her. He peers past the shuddering doors, back out into the avenue, searching for something he can’t seem to find.

“Perfect!” Astarion declares abruptly, eyes glinting with fresh mischief. She’s caught in his whirlwind again, his hand latched with hers, dragging her back out into the frosty night.

“Mmmf!” Her protest is muffled by gingerbread. “MMmhariammm!”

This time, he pulls her along down a short footpath to the docks, where the Sea of Swords is sealed in a pearly sheen of ice as far as the eye can see. Her jaw drops slack. Her confusion -- and growing concern -- over Astarion’s hastiness is cast aside in the wake of utter amazement. 

“It’s saltwater,” she says, marvelling at the shimmer. “It never freezes like this!”

Astarion offers a conspiratorial smile. “For just one night, and just a touch of magic, it does. Shall we?”

A flash of silver catches her eye. He snags something from the shrubbery behind them -- a pair of skates for each of them.

“Oh!” Evelyn grins, giddy even though her eyes narrow. “Did you pay for those?”

“These are simply borrowed,” he shrugs, unrepentant.

And, of course, they fit perfectly. Astarion knows her every inch like the back of his hand. Together, they pick their way carefully down to the frozen sea. Astarion glides effortlessly across the surface, as if it were easy as breathing. He turns back, offering a hand and the slight lift of his lips that she loves so dearly.

“If I take your hand,” she says with a sly smile, “promise we won’t go tearing off across the sea Alaron? Or to the other side of the city for at least five minutes? I’m sure it’s beautiful, but I think we have our own piece of paradise right here, hm?”

“Hm,” Astarion echoes, though the humor in his tone doesn’t touch the tight corners near his eyes. “I suppose I can manage that.”

She takes his open hand, and out onto the ice she slides. 

“You must’ve done this before!” She pants against Astarion’s shoulder. 

His other hand presses the small of her back. He leads in fluid, elegant movements. Twined together like this, they could be dancing in some Lord’s pristine ballroom. All the better that out here, away from the hustle and bustle of the city streets, it’s only each other and the quiet woosh of frostfall that keeps them company. 

This corner of the world is calm. Serene. Smooth and stunning as porcelain.

“No, I haven’t,” Astarion chuckles softly. The sound vibrates pleasantly against her ear. “Not that I can remember, anyway. But I am good at it.”

And gods, does he look good when he lets himself savor the moment instead of hunting for the next one. The moonlight casts a glowing, ivory crown around his head. Dimly, she’s aware of others taking to the ice, but she’s too swept up in his tender gaze to care. Footsteps crunch through the snow along the banks. Evelyn’s heart thumps within her ribs. The world smears as Astarion spins her out away from him, and then reels her back against his chest. Her lips tilt towards the cool caress of his lips.

But they don’t meet hers. Instead, a burst of sudden, hard, frigid cold breaks against her shoulder. Evelyn’s hand flies to her mouth, muffling her startled shout.

Astarion bristles, eyes tearing after three figures streaking through the dark: two young boys pelting another, younger one relentlessly with snowballs. The one that hit Evelyn must’ve been a stray. They’ve clearly no care for fairness, or collateral damage.

“Oh, the little scamps!” Astarion fumes. “Shall we show them to pick on someone their own size?”

“Let’s,” Evelyn says, magic coiling in her palm. Wind rushes from her fist, barreling towards the snow banks and carving fresh ammo for their arsenal. By the time they’ve reached the shore, a half-dozen snowballs await them. Evelyn redirects her magic, fanning out the gust until it forms a makeshift barricade of snow for them to crouch against.

Up ahead, the pair haven’t let up on their onslaught of the third. The boy cowers, arms shielding his face.

“Excuse me!” Astarion calls out. “You ought to get over here behind cover, no?”

The pair pause their assault, turning towards Astarion, incredulous.

“Oh, not you!” Astarion snaps irritably.

It’s then their newfound ward realizes his luck; the boy’s eyes widen as they meet Evelyn’s. Hastily, he scrambles towards their makeshift shelter.

“That’s better,” Astarion huffs. “Now,” he tells the boy, placing a snowball into his quivering hand, “take this, and take your revenge.”

It falls short -- or it would have, if not for the gust of wind Evelyn sends after it that sends it splatting against their adversaries’ legs.

“Not quite,” Astarion says gently. “Like this.”

He demonstrates with master precision; a pair of snowballs pelt the older boys square in the chest, sending them staggering back. She thinks he means to press his advantage, but instead, he plants another snowball in the younger boy’s palm. Evelyn watches, mesmerized, as he fixes the child’s grip, guides the boy’s arm back, and thrusts it forward with a measured force. 

The projectile meets its mark against a gangly shoulder.

“Woah,” the child gasps. 

“Cheater!” One of the older boys blurts. 

“You’re not cheating,” Astarion tells their new friend firmly. “You’re just…resourceful. There’s no harm in having help. Now, try another on your own.”

The boy’s brow furrows fiercely in concentration. He reels his arm back, and throws. Smack!

“Better,” Astarion smiles.

In no time at all, the tides of battle turn. The bullies flee in short order, their one-time ally tearing after them with a wild cry, pelting snowballs at their heels. Evelyn laughs herself breathless, watching them dart off into the dark.

Astarion leans back against their snowy fortifications with the sort of sated grin he usually wears after feeding. He looks relaxed. Carefree. Happy.

“You’re good with them, you know,” she says softly. It was on her lips as soon as she thought it -- before she could consider if it was a thought that should be said out loud at all. 

She always relished seeing this soft streak in him. The way he treats children. The way he treated Arabella, and Yenna. It wakes a warmth in her, the same, hopeful lift in her spirit that comes when winter thaws to spring.

She’d never had to worry about censoring herself with Astarion. But now, she babbles for something, anything else to say to staunch the flabbergasted look on his face.

“I beg your pardon?!” He blurts.

“I-I said, ‘is that mistletoe’?”

His eyes narrow, like a predator fixing on its prey. “Mistletoe!”

Oh, no. Evelyn groans inwardly. That must’ve been another word from the list that’s driven him from every moment she’s wanted to linger in tonight. He’s already feverishly untying his skates when she holds up a hand.

“Astarion, wait!” She pleads.

“Wait?” He whines, a faux pout on his lips. “But darling, I’ve been dying to kiss you all night.”

She feels the static building on her skin from his coat brushing hers. It’s a welcome friend, a familiar, pleasant sensation for a storm sorceress such as herself. One that might just make him listen.

“Then why wait any longer, love?” She says, soft and sultry. Her fingers tug along Astarion’s collar as she leans in and hovers.

He doesn’t disappoint; with a hungry groan low in his throat, Astarion dips his lips to hers.

Snap!

The static bursts across their mouths, the pleasure and pain equally brief and tantalizing. Astarion draws back only slightly, his nose nudging hers playfully.

“Is someone starved for attention?” He snickers. More earnestly he says, “You have mine now, love.”

“Astarion,” she says pointedly, “what is this all really about?”

He eases back, tilting his head. “Whatever do you mean?”

Evelyn raises a brow.

He gestures broadly, as if the motion itself is an explanation. When it evidently isn’t, he adds hastily, “Oh, it’s the solstice! It’s merry and joyous and bright, or whatever!”

Evelyn crosses her arms. “I don’t believe you care this much about the solstice.”

His head bobs sheepishly. “Maybe I didn’t before, but you do, and I adore you thoroughly.”

Evelyn dips her head, finding his eyes again. “Then why are we doing more rushing than we are relishing, hm?”

Her heart clenches as his shoulders slump. Ruefully, he meets her gaze. “I-I know it isn’t -- I mean, I know you said this is what you wanted,” he says, gesturing to himself hesitantly, “but the Underdark can’t be everything you wish for. If only for one night, I wanted you to have everything you long for. Everything a vampire spawn can give you, anyway.”

“My rakish, foolish rogue,” she says, throat thick. “The only wish I have left for tonight is that you enjoy it, too. This time is special because it’s ours. It’s spent together. Starting traditions! Making memories!”

She reaches out a hand to cradle his cheek. He leans into the touch at once, lips pressing tenderly to her inner wrist.

“I want to make all of them with you,” he whispers, reverent.

“Maybe not all in one night,” she says with a fond smile. “And maybe we don’t need the mistletoe, hm?”

She gets to taste that tender, secret smile of his as he leans forward and catches her in an eager kiss. Astarion reels her close, the scent of bergamot, brandy, and rosemary caressing her cheek as he cradles her jaw. Her eyes flutter shut, her satisfied hum thrumming from her lips to his.

The snow, the wind, the world around them melts into dull distance. They could be anywhere, but with him at her side, it could only be called ‘home’.

A/N: Per Mr. Megh, 'ladies love pre-planned activities'. 😆 Specific credit to him for pointing out why vampires might like the winter solstice, the idea of dragging poor Gale into this, and setting Astarion on his quest of holiday over-achievement. Divider credit to @firefly-graphics.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING!! <3 <3 <3

[arashi-no-saxlphone]

Asuka saying "We have already killed her" to Sol in Overture is insane, btw. Everything involving Aria is insane (calling the Justice theme "Meet Again" is fucking FUCKED up I've talked about that before) but Asuka using "we" as if the reason Sol had to kill her wasn't due to Asuka costing her her body and autonomy. Like, being taken over by the Universal Will aside, Aria wakes as Justice and immediately fucking FREAKS out because she is a Massive Fucking Command Gear now. Asuka did that to her. Asuka put her in that body and in that position. "We killed her once each" can you fucking imagine what hearing that from Asuka must have felt like for Sol? Can you fucking imagine? Like that goes beyond goading for the sake of keeping Sol after that shit is just fucking CRAZY. And the parallel of Sol goading Ky into a fight by calling Dizzy a monster... and the fact that he was doing that in order to try and prepare himself for a fight with Asuka... there is a non zero chance that those two are going to kill themselves on eachother. Well, I very much doubt Asuka will put up much of a fight actually given that he seems more or less resigned to atonement through execution via Sol (assuming the development he went through in his Strive arcade story doesn't take) but like holy fuck dude. I generally avoid the whole Asuka Frederick and Aria dynamic because it's frankly too dense and I've never felt fully qualified or informed to dive super deep into it but every time I think about it it's like. So fucked. That's on of my favorite little guys but your honor he did do some of that. I will defend him where he needs to be cut some slack but like, even past that, this guy is going to Hell man LMAO

[guiltygearconfessions]

the thing with dizzy and sin is easy to explain. guilty gear wanted legacy characters without aging up their established cast. that’s literally it. it’s why dizzy’s 8, and sin’s 5.

dizzy’s entire existence is canon breaking. people have been debating about her origins and her parentage for decades at this point. old fandom debates like justice is a mom?! how?! is kliff or sol dizzy’s dad? how could justice be dizzy’s mom when she was in an interdenominational seal in between the end of the crusades and missing link’s tournament? was dizzy born in the seal? if so, how did she escape the seal??! if sol is dizzy’s dad then when was dizzy conceived? is sol only dizzy’s dad in the sense he’s the prototype gear and kinda the “father of gears” the way justice is the “mother/juno”? justice is a woman? good for her! rip queen

her storymode intro in ggx+ claims that “she’s three but mentally and physically equivalent to a 20 year old human,” and that doesn’t make sense! she looks like baby’s first deviant art oc but guess what this is guilty gear! all the characters are like that to some extent! sometimes you gotta suspend your disbelief for the sake of the story.

dizzy was created to a character that is a peer to the rest of the cast, but because of her backstory the writers had to BS an origin that does not conflict with the rest of the established cast and setting.

but honestly, if the writers retcon her into to being 40 years old by strive i wouldn’t bat an eye. though some might say, wouldn’t that be a plot hole because that would mean dizzy was alive during the crusades making there be two command gears?!?? to that i say sssshhhhhhh-shut up! just wave it off has her fucking off in the demon forest. her backstory is held together by duck tape and string what’s a little retcon gonna do?

sin is a similar case but with a different intention. the story needed a rebellious teenager that’s in conflict with one of their bio parents like rock howard. but again they can’t age up the established cast too much off screen, though they did give ky a beard in concept art. doing that would make overture even more controversial than it once was. (back then some people straight up thought overture was an AU that was going to discarded when arcsys regains their IPs.) as a result a lot of development happens in such a little time. also fandom estimates of sin’s age in overture started at 5, then as xrd and strive progressed it went down to 3. Like we are just now getting a clear timeline on these guys. we keep aging them back to fit things in.

there’s a reason why barely any of the guilty gear characters have their ages listed as ??? or unknown and it’s the same reason why ky, one of the only characters with a canon age, is now a gear. the franchise wants to avoid aging their cast as much as they can. canon will bend itself over to justify keeping these characters at their current age.

-

[mr-clow]

Overture: The rise of an imperatrix. Part 2:

Carlos was finishing some details with the camera crew while I was standing behind a square barstool covered with a silk sarong over it that gave a really tidy look. He had found a female blazer that suited me, and one of the journalists combed my hair. He might be unorthodox, but he did his job. For my plan, this was the first step, but I knew I would need someone with his abilities, maybe I had found my press minister.

Carlos – General, we are starting now. Three, two, one!

I looked at the camera, letting my madness run amok in my eyes and words, took a deep breath and hoped that this would have the consequences I desired:

I stand before you today not as a politician, nor as a general, but as a mother who has witnessed unspeakable horrors inflicted upon her daughters, her people, and her beloved land. I am Jeanette Iceni, and I carry with me a heart heavy with grief and a soul ablaze with righteous fury.

These invaders from foreign worlds, have shown us no mercy. They have trampled upon our sacred soil, desecrated our homes, and torn apart the flesh and spirit of our families. My heart weeps for what has been done to them, the innocence stolen, the dignity crushed. We have seen our kin subjected to the cruellest of fates, their bodies massacred, their spirits broken, all by the hands of these heartless aliens.

I stand here today, not in grief alone, but in defiance! We shall not bow to the cruelty of these oppressors. No! We shall rise against them, and with the strength of our ancestors and the fire that burns within us, we shall make them rue the day they set foot upon our sacred world!

They thought they could conquer us, subdue us, break us. But they have underestimated the power of a united people who are willing to fight for their freedom, their honour, and the future of their children. We are the descendants of warriors, the sons and daughters of this great world, and we shall not be silenced.

As an old queen of ages, I saw everything that I held dear ripped away by invaders that hold nothing more than greed upon themselves. I will take the name Boudica, as I will not rest until they have paid for the pain they inflicted upon us or until I am dead.

Our vengeance shall be as relentless as the cruelty of the void. We shall strike back with the force of a thousand storms, and every drop of alien blood spilled upon our hands will be a testament to their wickedness and our unwavering resolve.

Let them hear our battle cries echo through the ages! Let them tremble in fear as they face the fury of humanity! We will fight until every alien invader is cast out of our system, cast out of our worlds, until justice is served for the atrocities committed against our kin, our children, and until we can once again hold our heads high in honour.

My people, our struggle is not in vain. It is a flame that shall burn in the annals of history, a beacon of hope for all who yearn for freedom and justice. Let our enemies know that we are not to be trifled with, for we are the indomitable spirit of humanity, and we shall prevail!

Onward, my warriors! Onward to victory and the reclamation of our land, our dignity, and the honour of our children!

I looked at Carlos who looked at me speechless and softly touched the back of the camera man. As soon as he stopped the broadcast, Carlos said “What the hell did I do” to which I only smiled wickedly and fainted.

I woke up with Carlos slapping me, shouts filling the room and a loud sound that made the room reverb. I grabbed Carlos hand instinctively, looked around and pointed to a chair. He helped me to sit, and I move my head towards the door. 

Boudica – Let them in, they are doing their job as you did. Everything else is upon the people you helped me reach and the hearts I touched.

Carlos – You are going to be executed for insubordination. I cannot let you go.

Boudica – You did as you had to. Let them, as I greet death with open arms.

Carlos gave the order to the people holding the door to back off and let them in. As soon as they opened the lock, a brigade of the military forces rushed in, held everyone against the wall and took me as a madman outside the room. I was being dragged through corridors where people saw me with emotions running down their faces. As soon as they stepped into an open space, where refugees were staying, I yelled, for all of them to hear.

“Will this be all? This is the only fight we are going to give? To bow down our heads and dragged ourselves through the mud”

A soldier put his hand on my mouth, stopping me, but it was enough. The sea of people that a second before were lamenting and liking their wounds now had their sight set upon the soldiers that were dragging me. One after the other, they stood up, blocked their path and when one of them tried to move them apart two more appeared to block the path until the soldiers stopped and released me. Scared for their lives, their instinct told them to let me go and retreat.

I won’t say that the revolt was peaceful, but only a hundred lives were lost on it. Less than 48 hours later I was seating on the command room, all the opposition dead and everyone that abandoned their post willingly waiting for a ship to earth.

[gear-project]

Do you think it could be possible that A.B.A.’s creator, Paracelsus, is really Asuka? Though it’s stated that A.B.A. was only conscious for 10 years before leaving Frasco, I don’t believe it’s said how long before her birth Paracelsus was taken away, meaning that she possibly could’ve been growing in a test tube for upwards of 150 years before she was fully conscious. The facts that

Both the Gear Project and Homunculus Project were about creating a new form of artificial life,

Both Asuka and Paracelsus were involved in some way with the military, and

In Asuka’s story mode he makes very Homunculus-esque clones of himself and mentions A.B.A. by name

lead me to believe that Paracelsus could’ve been a pseudonym taken by Asuka, and that he created A.B.A. as a sort of proto-prototype to the Gears without anyone else’s knowledge. Do you have any thoughts and/or know any bits of lore I might’ve missed that could help prove/disprove my theory?

Since you brought up the topic, I'll list a couple differences between Asuka and Paracelsus that aren't immediately apparent but it's what the story has revealed so far:

Paracelsus was taken from Frasco to work for the "Government" (non-specific) but is later revealed (by Xrd Library info) to be the Postwar Administration Bureau / The Conclave as part of the Frasco II Laboratory facility.

When A.B.A. speaks with Crow Kuruwaba (who works with them) while she never actually asks Crow about her creator's whereabouts specifically, Crow states he does know a thing or two about alchemy for creating a new body for Flament Nagel, which is why he has her try to capture Dizzy in her side story in exchange for the help (though this never actually pans out). These events take place after the events of Guilty Gear X, so 2181 or so… this was some time after Flament Nagel and A.B.A. fought with Slayer and lost (Night of Knives side story).

Paracelsus recovered Flament Nagel's Axe-body remains AFTER Slayer defeated him during the course of the Crusades, so sometime before Justice was defeated in 2175… in other words, Paracelsus was still conducting research of his own on Flament Nagel at this time in his OWN lab… the reason this is important is because at this time DURING the Crusades, Asuka was actually imprisoned by GEARS in a Gear Plant until I-No rescued him (this happened in an alternate timeline… after this Asuka left the physical world and began researching the Backyard and created the Cube prior to GG2 Overture's events). Flament Nagel never mentions Paracelsus specifically, only that he was locked up in an Armory for a number of years (and he doesn't ever mention Asuka either…), though it is known that Slayer has spoken with Asuka in later GGXX events post-2180, he never mentions encountering Paracelsus during that time.

Historical Note: Frasco is a reference to the "Homunculus in the Flask" story/theory developed by the historical Paracelsus Alchemist (the real person in OUR history)… and according to some stories, he was born in Switzerland but did most of his research in Germany and France, though much of his research spread to Italy during the Rennaisance. Some fictional stories suggested he accessed a "Forbidden Gate of Knowledge" during his lifetime and disappeared as well.

(For reference, most of Asuka's Gear Project took place in America, so it is unlikely that Asuka was involved in any European Research facilities that we're aware of until he was captured and imprisoned by the Gears sometime around 2182 in the other timeline. That's not to say he never WENT to Europe, we just don't have confirmation of him doing so until after Justice was killed in 2180 by Sol Badguy during the Second Sacred Order Tournament.)

4. Given what we know of the Conclave's and the P.W.A.B.'s extensive research, they did learn quite a bit about the Backyard from interacting with Ramlethal and Elphelt Valentine, Faust's Resurrection Spell, and turning the body vessel of Justice in to the Cradle which allowed them to transport themselves INSIDE the Backyard. The Conclave were also responsible for creating the O.P.U.S. Gears commissioned by Ariels, which are an advanced form of Gear that does NOT disobey orders… the Opus Gears are also likely based on Paracelsus' work as well as research on the Valentines… (likely this also impacted the Phalanx Nine Guard soldiers that Ariels tampered with as well).

5. The Conclave themselves run the organization known as the Sanctus Populi and oppose Asuka R. Kreutz in terms of ideology and it was this ideology that prevented the distribution of advanced Magic knowledge to the rest of the world. Given that Asuka was fighting the Conclave, it is unlikely that he encountered Paracelsus at this time or during the events of Revelator (although he did encounter Chronus some time later after being freed from Bedman's Prison). On the subject of their opposing ideologies, it was never Asuka's intent to hide the knowledge of Magic from the rest of the world… in fact his Radio Show intends to share nothing but facts as part of his Accumulation of Good Will. By contrast, most of the research Paracelsus did is a heavily kept secret and unknown to most of the rest of the world.

Xrd's Library also makes a point to make a distinction between Magic Arts and Alchemy… indicating that the latter is lesser known than the former.

6. Hate to correct you but Asuka does NOT refer to A.B.A. by name… only as "that Homunculus Frasco project" when speaking of the Valentines… it's a HINT to A.B.A. but it's not direct, though we do know Asuka was responsible for Jack-O'Valentine's creation and was still working on I-No's Valentine… we can't really say how much progress he actually made on finishing the real Happy Chaos Valentine.

By comparison, Jack-O' is technically a "superior model" to A.B.A. because of her Valentine status as a "replica of Justice", though the method Asuka used to make Jack-O' is different from the methods that Ariels used to make Ramlethal, Valentine, and Elphelt.

In other words, A.B.A. was created using a completely different method… Alchemy compared to using the Magic of the Backyard to manifest a body. Also, it's made clear in A.B.A.'s bio that her blood is reactive liquid Mercury (Quicksilver as it is also known)… so it isn't anything like the Gear Cell based Magic Conduit system that GEARs use to sync up with the Backyard's Magic Energy.

Asuka also states that his Asuka R# Copies are disposable, so they aren't anything like either A.B.A. or the Valentines in construct, even if they're technically inspired by them... meaning they aren't Gears or Homunculi by themselves... meaning the method he used to make them isn't Alchemy either.

It was a nice theory, but there's a lot of info that disproves it at this time... we'll just have to wait and see what happened to Paracelsus later on.

[nottoxicfr]

Hi. so this is probs gonna be a long ask which i apologize for bc i'm a complete stranger LOL but i've been thinking about your dragon install concept since i saw it last night and i wanted to give you my full opinions on it bc i didn't want to blast your notifs with a wall of text in tags

so, for my personal thoughts (because i definitely think we have overlapping interests here esp since you brought up burning godzilla as an inspiration in that post and godzilla vs destoroyah is one of my favorite movies), i think if i were going to draft a scenario where sol is taken over by the FoC, i'd definitely lean into a more biological feeling, if that makes sense. my main hooks for this thought process are 1. while i can't speak on sin devil trigger bc i haven't played any devil may cry games, that is sort of what burning godzilla had going for it (and godzilla as a series hasn't been adverse to leaning into a more body horror adjacent focus with the king of the monsters, ie with shin godzilla) and 2. i think it makes a really interesting thematic parallel to justice. because obviously justice is like, she isn't a machine strictly but she does have a distinct bio-mechanical element to her, so i think its interesting to make a full gear sol go in the opposite direction and have a more visceral element to his design, if all that makes sense

if this comes off as like, rude or unsolicited at all i do sincerely apologize ^-^; bc i do like your concept a lot! i just have a lot of thoughts on this particular topic and i'm excited to see someone who's as interested in dragon install stuff as i am. peace up

Hey there! I don't get asks very often, so I'm pretty happy to be able to answer any of them.

I think you're right about a Full Gear Sol Badguy needing to lean into the biological features to contrast against Justice being so heavily bio-mechanically designed. She's a big Evangelion (which features beasts being bound in armor) reference in Xrd, whereas I think Sol should be something more like Godzilla or maybe Ultraman. A Kaiju, but depending on the circumstance I think he'd be designed with a more severe sense of horror (if he's a villain) or something a little more subtle (if he's still Sol). Either way, I think he leans into his Overture Dragon Install! Sort of like what you might get if you were to try and design an apex predator.

In the situation where Frederick becomes Justice, or whatever name you'd call him, I would think of a design that suggests that the fire is burning him from the inside out, which I guess is sort of body horror-esque? It would be inflicting a constant pain on his body, which would only serve to make him a more aggressive Command Gear, alongside being possessed by the Pope and blowing up Japan.

I did actually do a Sol-Justice swap once. I tried to make him look like a furnace being overrun by fire! His arms were made of fire. There's parts of that present in the Kaiju Sol too, because I have a tendency to design Sol's more monstrous forms like a physical shell being overwhelmed by its contents!

Admittedly, I'm not a Sol expert. Still, for someone like Sol who strives to keep his innards really far from the surface, something like that would be terrifying to experience. It's more important to be scary to him than it is to the "audience," I think.

"The Flame of Corruption exceeds even this physical vessel," is the description I think I used to describe the way fire explodes out of him, rather than just burning like a Charizard. Though, I should clarify and say the design isn't necessarily caused by the FoC overrunning Sol Badguy's human soul. He's still Frederick/Sol! He's just very on fire.

If I think about the Flame of Corruption as a sentient force influencing Frederick, then I think that the overlay of them would probably affect his psyche. However, if he keeps a cool head, then he'd be able to manage the form.

The design was influenced by the Kaiju fights in FFXVI, specifically Ifrit. At one point he fights a mountain! I thought to myself, "I wish Sol could have fought that giant form of Justice like that." I'd recommend looking up the fight, if you aren't saving the game for later. It's super cool, and if you like Dragon Installs, I think you'll see where the design comes from.

I really want a Guilty Gear Action Game while ArcSys is focusing on GG's franchise growth.

I'm glad to find people who enjoy Dragon Install! All my designs featuring Dragon Install designs do particularly well, so it's good to know we aren't alone.

Thank you for the ask!

[shipcestuous]

Slasher

I’m long overdue to post this. It has been in my drafts for years. 

Slasher is a Canadian anthology horror series. There have been four seasons of eight episodes each so far, with a fifth airing right now. Each season has its own story and cast, centered around a slasher serial killer in a whodunnit style. 

The first season came up on the blog for an interesting father/daughter relationship. Totally non-canon, but a unique dynamic with very interesting development. Spoilers: Katie McGrath's character, Sarah, the main character of season one, finds out that the man who killed her parents when she was still in utero was actually her biological father, Tom. They start to develop an odd sort of relationship, with her relying on him for insight about the new killings that are happening. They have a few sweet moments before he eventually sacrifices himself to save her, which, by the time it happens, is extremely upsetting for her. Tom's killings, while certainly a disproportionate response, were provoked and somewhat sympathetic. Sarah also finds a bunch of video tapes her parents did of her mother having sex with various men, including Tom. So she's seen a video of her mother and father having sex.

The third season, and this is a HUGE spoiler, features a pair of teenage siblings on a killing rampage together to avenge their mother. I didn't find their killings sympathetic at all but they went through a devastating trauma together that no doubt totally warped them. Naturally we couldn't see very many scenes of them alone together because you're not supposed to know until the end what they're up to, but you can see the incredible bond they had.

Ironically, in the fourth season almost all of the characters belong to one family but there wasn’t anything worth talking about that I can remember.

What I really want to talk about is the second season, subtitled "Guilty Party", which was actually my favorite, and not only because it had canon incest (sort of). Five friends who were summer camp counselors together return five years later to the camp - now a commune - to make sure that the mysterious death of a sixth friend remains a mystery. The two groups - the five friends and the members of the commune - begin being picked off one by one by an unknown killer that has to be one of them.

Spoilers for the rest: At the end, when almost everyone is dead, we find out that Judith, a woman in her 40s, seemingly the most sane and composed of the lot, is actually the killer. All along we've seen her pursued romantically by Wren, a much younger man, and their relationship builds until they have sex. He makes very romantic overtures and writes her love letters and she seems unsure but intrigued until she finally gives in. It seems then like Wren is the killer, and Judith finds out and is willing to let him get away with it because she loves him. But then we find that Wren isn't even actually there, it's all in her head, and that he's actually her son, who committed suicide after being convicted for the death of the girl, the sixth friend, who died five years ago. (He didn't do it.) The motive for killing the members of the commune is paper thin - "they were in the way" - but I still think it's the most engaging season. Were Judith and her son incestuous during his life? Maybe, maybe not. He was very into the dead girl, we hear about him asking her out several times and not getting the hint that she wasn't interested, but the five friends likely made him look more obsessed than he was so that he went down for the crime. Before he kills himself, he writes to his mother asking her for justice against the people that he somehow knows must be responsible, and she delivers.

Whether any incest actually physically occurred, it's clear she had incestuous feelings of some kind that manifest themselves in very strange ways.

[waffleweirdo]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FICTIONAL CHARACTER EVER

DAIBA NANA YOU WILL ALWAYS BE FAMOUS

I CANT BELIEVE A MENTALLY ILL BANANA IS MY FAVORITE CHARACTER EVER

Here are some doodles I did while lying on the floor with the first paper and pencil I found because I am not at home, but desperately wanted to draw something to celebrate.

Banana you are wonderful, happy birthday. This is the part where I start just rambling by the way, it might be long and confusing to proceed at your own risk.

I like to phrase it as, “a mentally ill banana” is my favorite character ever, well mostly because it’s funny, but I think Banana is a masterfully marketed character. The way her design, her name, and baking habits all work together to create a surface level impression of her that you then find out isn’t accurate is one thing. But I think the fact that Banana actively wants to be perceived as “everyone’s banana” because she is so lonely and afraid that she is the one actively putting up the front just, so good.

My first exposure to Revue Starlight was through the anime, and obviously that’s where the medium allows the writers to go a bit more crazy than in the plays, but wow the time loop??? Insane. Then Wi(l)d screen baroque??? I just think she’s neat :)

The real reason I love Banana so much though is her loneliness. It’s one of the things I love the most about Revue Starlight, just how flawed the characters are. They struggle and struggle so much, and are constantly fighting against or motivated by these emotions. Im not nearly doing it justice with this short description, but it is incredibly meaningful to me in a way im not entirely sure how to describe. I also just think it’s cool writing! And Nana especially highlights this for me. While obviously supernatural and dramaticized, her journey is the one that connected the most with me and just, yeah.

She loves baking and frogs, and has probably committed many war crimes your honor, she is perfect.

Every time I listen to Saisei Sanbikyoku I start crying.

I don’t have enough time to fully talk about Banana and Junna of even Banana and Hisame or even Banana’s dynamic with Karen or even- you get the point. But I would be remiss not to at least mention Junna and Hisame. I have so many thoughts on Junana (I love Junana), Revue of Hunting drives me crazy, they are two people who are so similar, but still so afraid that they struggle to open up, but deeply understand each other and support each other and just aaaaa. If you’re reading this and you haven’t, please read the Overture manga, it’s so good and the Junana chapters I think perfectly show their relationship. As for Hisame, I just hope she and Banana become good friends again. Their past, oh it’s so, revue starlight writers you are so cruel and so good. All of them deserve hugs.

I’ve rambled long enough, I could keep going so much longer, but I can feel this starting to lose form a bit so, yeah

Happy birthday Daiba Nana!! You are simply the best

[allthemusic]

Week ending: 1st September

A new school year begins, and we have two songs, both promising-looking. One's by an artist we've seen before recently, the other by an artist who (excitingly) I've never even heard of! And it's a woman! We've had quite a long run of men for the last few weeks, so it's nice to get a female voice in there.

Indian Love Call - Slim Whitman (peaked at Number 7)

The name and artist both say "Western theme" to me. I did enjoy Rose Marie, though, and "Indian Love Call" definitely doesn't rule out more of the same kind of vibe, with lots of yodelling and general romantic softness, rather than heartbreak and recriminations. It's an evocative title, and I feel like Slim is more than capable of doing it justice.

Oh, yeah, we start straight away with a yodelling "ooOOOOooo" going up and down. I think this is meant to sound "Indian" (aka Native American) which is probably insulting in many ways, but it is certainly a striking way to start out a song.

Actually, between that and the strummy guitar and weird yowling steel guitar, you've got a delightfully weird soundscape. It's country-tinged, but in a particularly odd, lo-fi way that you wouldn't be hugely surprised to find in some modern and slightly folksy indie track. I think the slight feedback from the mic Slim's singing into on the highest notes maybe feeds into that, too. Either way, it's very distinctive. I can only imagine this drifting out of a radio in 1955.

The lyrics are pretty straightforward, all about how the singer is calling to win over his love. Lots of questioning: When I'm calling you / Will you answer too? Slim's yodelling out into the void and hoping his lover responds in kind. Fair enough.

Interestingly, it's from the same operetta that Rose-Marie was from, which was all about a French Canadian girl who falls for a miner. No "Indian" characters in sight, but apparently this comes from an overture section that sets the scene, and is supposedly referring to a myth about indigenous Canadians calling down from the hills into the valleys to attract the girls they wished to marry. I'm not finding any sources for this, and given that the operetta was from 1924, I suspect that this is of dubious veracity, but it gives an excuse for some pretty cool yodelling, I guess. Of its time, though, for sure.

Ooh, Wikipedia tells me this was used in Wes Anderson's Asteroid City, and yeah, I can see Wes Anderson enjoying the vibe of this particular version. It's weird, and striking, and very much a janky, whimsical artefact from a specific time and place. I need to watch that film, at some point - I almost went when it was in cinemas, but Barbie was also playing. A film whose music will not be showing up for much, much longer!

The Breeze and I - Caterina Valente (5)

Caterina Valente has an excitingly non-British-sounding name, is my first thought, and a bit of research does indeed tell me that she is a multilingual Italian-French star, so that's kind of cool! I'm hoping for a bit of European charm - writing this not too long after Eurovision, I feel like that's not too much to ask!

The opening is certainly full-on and jazzy, with all its trumpets, and then we settle into an extravagant Spanish-sounding flamenco opening, all strummy guitar and Caterina singing a very dramatic, melismatic "la la la la-ah-ah-ah" opening. I could be in deepest Andalucia, right now. Even better, it's followed by some dramatic castanets and fast clapping, and some tumbling, shrill strings. This is camp as heck, and I am here for its energy.

And then, almost as suddenly as it started, it slips into another mode, all clave rhythms and cha-cha-cha muted brass, as Caterina sings about how The breeze and I are saying with a sigh / That you no longer care. Basically, Caterina's love has fallen out of love with her, and her and the wind are in agreement about how sad this is. There's a lot of poetic imagery here, all about how their loved seemed constant as the moon, but is left Ending in a strange, mournful tune. It's again very dramatic and lavish.

Still, you get the sense that this song is less about the specific lyrics and more about the spectacle of it all, hence a break in the middle of it all where Caterina just goes ham on a load of "ooooooooh" notes, singing spectrally high and sliding between the notes in a particularly eerie, echoey way. It's not actually a far cry from the higher-pitched bits of Slim's song, so perhaps high notes were just the thing, this week.

When I mentioned Eurovision, I didn't really expect too much, but genuinely, I reckon this could do reasonably well as a modern Eurovision song, with only a few updates to suit it to modern tastes. And to be fair, the song was originally a massive hit, by the look of things, and was covered by a bunch of people. The internation flavour maybe also comes from its origins - originally a song from Cuban composter Ernesto Lecuona's Suite Andalucía, it was both Latin-influenced and had some deliberate Andalucian vibes, though it was an American who adapted the originally Spanish lyrics into English. So there's that classic Eurovision mix, you know?

Well, neither of those songs were boring. I'm not 100% I liked either of them, but they sure weren't boring, and despite being entirely different songs, they did share a bit of a vibe, with the high-pitched singing and the attempts at an "exotic" kind of style.

Favourite song of the bunch: The Breeze and I

[alstroemeriadissonance]

hellooo i rly enojoyed seeing your thoughts on vyn's personal ssr (sickly one) and i was wondering if youve read chp 3 of his personal story? if so, what are your thoughts on it :00

Vyn's Personal Story Chapter 3? Otherwise known as Vyn's Friendzone Boogaloo?

Vyn getting hit with multiple instances of "he's just my friend!" "you're my close friend!" is really hilarious but really who was even surprised at this point? Vyn's chosen method to break through Rosa's reservations towards him was going through the "Lets be close friends" routine. And he did this several times himself, too.

He sure dug his grave lol. But, to be fair, all things considered that was probably the only way he could get closer to her. Otherwise Rosa would just automatically filter out his overtures as wishful thinking on her part because he just appears to be too good for her.

Way to go for being too perfect, Dr. Sexy.

More serious, spoilery stuff under the cut!

This chapter the best to date imo (barring romance-wise, most probably) because it touches on Vyn's hottest topic: his being a red flag.

Let's admit it: he does check all the tick boxes of potentially doing a 180 in terms of allegiances. But him being one of the main LIs in an otome game makes that as likely as, say, Luke having a 3-year shelf life.

Improbable, but not impossible.

The first few parts of Chapter 3 were bits of exemplary writing: they did a good job of inserting that little bit of doubt of 'what if Vyn is really the bad guy?'

Now, that effect may be diminished for Global players because we have the privilege of knowing what happens in Tears of Themis for the next months or so, given that we're behind CN by a year...

But put yourself in CN player's shoes back when Ch 3 was first released, not knowing about what happens in the Anniversary, or that there would be Vyn cards where he and Rosa are a couple, etc...seeing how Vyn slots in quite perfectly in the perpetrator's profile. It's enough to plant that small seed of doubt of "what if?" and simply entertaining that possibility of Vyn being the perp can throw someone into a loop (for Vyn stans) or completely turn them off (for non Vyn stans).

Not to mention how Vyn effortlessly used PUA techniques on Rosa last Chapter 2 to make a point, as an example.

In any case, fact is Vyn has the capacity to be a bad guy...if he wants to. The clause "if he wants to" is very important--will talk about that in a bit.

We already know how morally grey/neutral Vyn can be by the end of Near and Far, if it serves his goals (goal in this case being prompt, unobstructed justice...just in his own terms).

I wouldn't even touch on False Tears, that hot potato of a card, since a lot of Vyn stans like to wave off his capacity for manipulation, totally neglecting his dictaphone monologue by the end of that card.

Anyway...

IMO, Wesley Dunn was actually correct when he said that he and Vyn are the same. Objectively the same.

Yes, I know that's a hot take, but bear with me.

Barring specifics, both have the same background (we already know just how special Vyn's is, but that doesn't negate the fact that they were both moving in privileged, oppressive circles during their youth), same skills, same level of charisma.

But one thing spells out the difference in how they turned out. This is where I come back to Vyn having the capacity to be a bad guy if he wants to.

See, the difference between him and Wesley are the choices they made; how they used their life experiences and skills. Wesley, we finally learn, used his skills primarily to take revenge at those he deemed wronged him, and he eventually went off the deep end and started harming innocent people to get his jollies. He didn't need to, really, and he didn't do harm directly--he just taught others how--but cause harm he did, lashing out as a way to distract himself from the cold, hard fact that he pushed the only person he loved to suicide.

Now, Vyn. He used his talents to dig himself out of the gilded, fancy hellhole he came from, made himself a totally new persona (and possibly naming himself after his favorite thing, natch), carved a new life with a fulfilling career and devoted following. This is all aside from the fact that he is also devoting much of his effort towards NXX and finding a cure for it.

His choices are never mutually exclusive to the fact that he possesses the very same qualities that enabled Wesley's depravities; we just know that Vyn chose not to go that path. Now, what he did in the ending of Near and Far may be toeing the the line a little bit, BUT let's give our favorite fucked up little man the benefit of the doubt and believe that he believes he did it for the good of everyone involved.

Whew. I sure said some words.

That said...might as well say my hot take about Dr. Sexy: Vyn can be a red flag. Vyn can be sus. But imo that's not a bad thing, really. Because I trust that whatever Vyn does, he truly believes its for the good of everyone involved, somehow. No matter how his choices appear.

I have that much faith in his writers (Hoyo writers), at least.

uggghg sorry for blathering so much. My brain-to-keeb diarrhea is such when it comes to Dr. Sexy. Thanks so much for this ask!!!!!!

[katyakatto]

ive never rly introduced her properly on this site before (cuz i mostly post on twitter and i forget to post here sometimes 💀) but here's my persona katya as she would appear in guilty gear! (this is her design for strive specifically, still coming up w/ an xrd one)

first thing to say abt her is she's ky's sister who tends to isolate herself from him for reasons ill explain now lol

reason for her getting isolated often is due to the homicidal tendencies towards her brother 💀 its been that way since after the crusades when their mother died and a part of her blamed him for it, that side of her ended up getting more malicious as the days went by to the point she cant even be near her brother bc the urge to kill him gets too strong

she was the one who asked for her to get isolated out of care for her brother. despite the fact it looked like she despised him, it was the complete opposite; she willingly locked herself up bc she didnt want her other side to take control and kill ky

one time she was allowed to go out, she had attempted another murder on ky which was the last straw. he decided to just have her go to the zepp so she can be far from him

or did he?

it was actually her idea to be sent off to the zepp as it was the furthest place possible she could think of and began community service there which is how she met potemkin who became the reason she started seeing more light in her life. she did community service for 1 year so she doesnt do anything in strive story mode lol 💀

little timeline that my friend made for her:

ky mom die -> ky joins order/kat joins order -> kat leaves -> justice battle/maybe bounty hunting -> tournament/kat joins -> dizzy-ino part/bounty hunting still -> overture/maybe bounty hunting, but goes to illyria for voluntary confinement underground, in someplace far from dizzy iguess -> xrd/gets out, community service in zepp

hobbies: gardening, drawing

likes: potemkin, fashion, not wanting to kill ky

dislikes: her flower allergies, wanting to kill ky

i dont have much ideas for her gameplay tbh all i know is i want her to be a braindead char bc thats my favorite type to use 🥴

btw in strive her and ky get along now (i imagine her coming back after the main story of strive) and she becomes an actual holy order member (but she doesnt wear the uniform) w/ her bro training her occasionally C:

[mochegato]

Capturing a Dream

Chapter 9 – Who Do You Know

Chapter 1     Chapter 8

*Note: Most of Batman’s dialogue and all of Red Tornado’s is from the show, so, not my words.

This had passed frustrating several rooms ago.  Now, Conner was straight up annoyed.  He searched each room as they passed by them from the hanger to the communications center, searching for any indication of what time it was.  Had there always been this jarring lack of clocks in the Cave?  He could swear he had always been able to tell the time before.  Or maybe it was just that time hadn’t mattered until he was counting down the minutes to Chimera’s return.  As soon as he got the chance, he was going to put a clock in every room in the Cave and start wearing a watch.

She was supposed to be back anytime now.  She was scheduled to fly ridiculously early that morning into whichever city she was supposedly staying in instead of the Cave and Zeta tube into the Cave as soon as she could.  He absolutely had not been pushing to get the Team back as soon as possible after their mission wrapped up so they would be there in time to greet her.  Okay, so maybe ‘absolutely’ was not the correct word there… or ‘not’.  

He hadn’t seen Chimera in person for a little over a week now and he missed her, so nobody can really blame him for being excited to see her again.  But more than missing her, he was worried about her. She had been extremely apprehensive going home.  She had tried to cover it, but he knew her better.  And eventually, after much wearing down as a result of a coordinated effort by him and Robin, she admitted she was nervous of being reminded of the final battle.  He didn’t know how bad the battle was or exactly how badly it had scarred her, just that it had, but if her reaction to the failure exercise was any indication, it was severe.  Being back there without anyone to talk to about it, anyone who could understand her reactions, could be devastating for her.

On top of that, the trip came within a few weeks of Robin’s breakdown after the Haley’s Circus mission and her discovering that Conner had been using shields Lex Luther had given him to enhance his powers.  He had never seen her so angry.  He didn’t think she was capable of that amount of rage and he prayed to whatever god or goddess responsible for watching over them, that she never directed that anger toward him.  He was honestly concerned for Superman the next time she saw him and Conner had kept a close eye on her after she found out to make sure she didn’t go after Lex by herself.  After the anger receded, he could see the disappointment set in.  That was more disturbing than the anger.  While the anger had been jarring, seeing the disappointment in herself for having missed that he had turned to the shields was heartbreaking.  

She looked like she was barely holding it together before she left.  Her phone call on Christmas had done nothing to calm his fears.  She had tried to cover, but he could hear how empty her voice sounded no matter how cheery she tried to make it sound.  He could almost convince himself he imagined it but Robin had been there for the call too and he heard it as well.  He needed her to get back so he could be assured she was okay.  Conner wanted to see her, hold her, feel her in his arms, hear her laugh, so he could make sure she was okay.  He wouldn’t believe she was okay until he could.

Superboy was knocked out of his concentration by Batman’s gravely voice. “…  The mole was Red Arrow.”

“Rolly?” Robin exclaimed in shock.

“No way,” Kid Flash insisted.

“Batman that cannot be,” Aqualad spoke up.  Roy was his best friend.  He would more easily believe himself capable of betrayal than Roy.  “He was Green Arrow’s protégé.  We have all known him for years.”

“Unfortunately, the Roy Harper we have known for the last three years is another Project Cadmus clone,” Batman informed them calmly.  Superboy froze, staring at Batman in shock.  Roy was another clone, like him.  

“We have learned the real Speedy was abducted and replaced immediately after becoming the Green Arrow’s sidekick.  The clone was preprogrammed with the drive to become a member of the League.”  Superboy furrowed his brow.  Had that been their plan for him as well?  If the Team hadn’t rescued him when they had, who knows what they could have made him do.

“We believe when his mission was taking too long, they enlisted someone to help him speed up the process.  With her help, he was finally admitted into the League, at which point his secondary programming kicked in and he attempted to betray the League to Savage,” Batman continued.

“Who was helping him?  Was there a second mole or was it someone assisting from the outside?” Aqualad asked.

“It was a second mole.  His girlfriend, Chimera,” Batman answered unemotionally.

“What?” Superboy exclaimed louder than he meant to, shock and hurt quickly flashing over his face before turning to a glower.

“I was unaware they had started a relationship,” Aqualad stated carefully, a slight furrow in his brow.  Roy had mentioned he was getting very close to Chimera, but had not mentioned that it had progressed to that level.  Not to mention he had thought Chimera was closer with Conner than Roy, but then again, he tended to misread romantic overtures.  But, the idea that Chimera may have betrayed them was disturbing, but then again if Roy could be a mole, could he really be certain of anyone. Certainly the timing of Chimera’s introduction to the Team coinciding with evidence of the mole arising was suspect.

“Chimera isn’t a mole and she isn’t dating Roy,” Robin insisted, whirling on Batman in shock.

Batman nodded.  “We are not certain she was assisting him, but there is more than a little evidence to support the idea that she was.  I’ve been keeping an eye on her since she joined and facts seem to match up.  As for dating, I’m sorry to say she is.  We didn’t tell anyone because she claimed she didn't want to cause strife within the Team, but with this new information, it seems like there was something more to it. We believe she may have been his handler.  She joined the Team to help Red Arrow get into the League and sabotage the Team’s missions subtly.”  His voice was cold.  “Red Arrow has gone into hiding, but we don’t think he’s been able to contact Chimera about it yet.  When she comes back let us know immediately.  Do not alert her that we are aware.”

“There is no way…” Artemis interjected loudly.

“She would never!” Kid Flash exclaimed at the same time.

“Chimera would never betray us like that,” Conner insisted angrily.  How dare Batman suggest Chimera would betray them!  She was like a daughter to him.  She might not realize their relationship was like that, Hell, Batman might not realize it was like that, but Batman treated her like he treated Robin and Conner wasn’t blind enough to miss the protective pats and hair ruffling.  He certainly hadn’t missed how Robin treated her like a sister.  And after all that, Batman would so easily believe the worst of her.

“The clone Roy and Chimera, the Team will apprehend them,” Aqualad stated gravely.

“Negative.  Red Arrow is a member of the Justice League and Chimera was working with him to betray us. We will handle them both,” Batman answered.  He suddenly turned away, bringing his hand to his ear.  “I’m needed in the Watchtower.  Tornado, watch the kids.”  He strode away without further discussion.

“Okay, but we’re going to get to them first, right?” Kid Flash spoke up quietly, so Red Tornado couldn’t hear him.

He looked up quickly, apprehension on his face when Red Tornado hurried toward them before suddenly stopping midstride. They all stared in confusion. “Tornado!” Kid Flash exclaimed, moving to check for any outward signs of a cause.

“What happened to him?” Rocket asked.

Zatanna raised her hands to her temples.  She could feel something strange.  Something was off about the whole situation.  “I’m sensing a low level mystic force at play.  I don’t know if it caused his shutdown, but… come to think about it I was getting the same buzz off Batman.”

“Magic… like Chimera?” Artemis asked.

Zatanna shook her head.  “No. It feels different than Chimera’s magic.”

“Could it be different because it’s a trace, not the full impact?” Aqualad asked.

“No. I’ve sensed Chimera’s faded magic. All the Cave is steeped in it.  I haven’t sensed this before.  Not to mention, Batman said he hadn’t been around Chimera.  How would her magic be on him if he wasn’t and why would she implicate herself?”

“That wasn’t Batman,” Robin said aggressively.

“Robin…” Aqualad started calmly.

“He can still be Batman and wrong,” Superboy growled. “We don’t know if he is being lied to. We just know Chimera isn’t betraying us.”

“Maybe she doesn’t know she’s doing it…” Rocket hedged.  “Batman said Red Arrow didn’t know.”

“That might be an option except he said she’s his handler.  That means she knows what she’s doing.  She’s aware. It isn’t programming.  And he said she’s dating Roy.  Chimera isn’t dating Roy and she isn’t a traitor… And Batman never calls us ‘kids’,” Robin insisted, turning his focus back to examining readouts on Red Tornado.

Aqualad shook his head sympathetically but firmly. “Roy has said he and Chimera were getting close and they wanted to keep the fact secret, which confirms at least that part of what Batman said.  We know very little about her personal life.”

“You know less about mine,” Robin challenged, brooking no resistance.  He knew Chimera.  Maybe he had only known her for a few months, but he knew her and trusted her.  She couldn’t do this.  She just couldn’t.  “I would know if she were dating, especially a team member or hero.  There's a reason she told us she doesn't date teammates. There's…”  He furrowed his brow, trying to figure out how to phrase what he was thinking without revealing Chimera’s secrets.  She did not like to talk about this part of her life.  “…deep seeded trauma there. She didn't just get over that in a few days. She wouldn't start dating Roy without talking to someone. Without NEEDING to talk to someone. Since it's a hero, that means taking to one of us, specifically me or Conner or Artemis.  She didn't talk to me.  Conner?”

Conner shook his head.  “She’s only ever repeated that she can’t date teammates.”

“Artemis?” Robin prompted.

Artemis shook her head and sent a smug look to Aqualad. “Never said a word.  Never even indicated.  Zatanna, Chi, and I had a girl’s night the other day and we had a long talk about dating.  She never mentioned him.”  She glanced over at Zatanna.  “Did she give any indication of dating anybody or liking anyo… Roy?” she quickly corrected herself.

Zatanna looked between the Team anxiously before swallowing and straightening her back.  “No.  No, she didn’t talk about Roy.  And Robin’s right.  She doesn’t date teammates.  Even if she wanted to,” her eyes flicked over to Superboy so quickly anyone not looking for it would miss it, “she doesn’t.  We would know if she went against that.”

Superboy’s head whipped over to them, eyes wide.  Artemis said him, meaning she had mentioned someone else.  Zatanna emphasized that she didn’t talk about Roy, meaning she talked about someone else.  He silently urged either of them to continue talking about that night, release some clues on who she may have mentioned.  Instead Artemis cocked her head to the side and thought for a moment.  “She hasn't been acting different either.  Chi can't keep a secret, other than her identity, to save her life.  Remember Kid Flash’s ‘surprise’ party?  And let’s be honest the identity is probably only still a secret because we haven’t met her in person.  We would know something was going on, even if we didn't know what.”

“Not if she’s been deceiving us from the beginning, if her whole supposed personality was an illusion,” Aqualad noted stoically.

Conner’s brow furrowed in frustration.  Aqualad was seriously proposing Chimera was their enemy.  Chimera had almost died for them.  She’d risked her life and her sanity for them, more than once.  And Aqualad was just turning on her.  One statement and none of what she had done for them mattered. He clenched his fists and stepped forward to yell at Aqualad when Kid Flash’s voice interrupted his movement.  “He’s taken her to the Batcave hasn’t he?  Multiple times?” He glanced up from staring intently at a spot on the floor to look at Robin inquisitively.

Robin nodded in agreement.  “He has.  And he doesn’t let anyone he doesn’t trust completely come into the Cave.”  

“So,” Kid Flash started, “he’s trusted her deeply from the beginning.  He hasn’t ‘been keeping an eye on her’.  And her behavior hasn’t changed… but his has.”

Conner nodded in agreement.  “Which means she’s not the one we have to worry about.”  He glared pointedly at Aqualad, making sure he understood their point.  

“Maybe not about her but for her,” Zatanna offered carefully.  All eyes turned to her waiting for her to explain. “He singled out Chimera for a reason. So either they want our whole team here so they can do to us what they did to Batman, or they are targeting Chimera specifically.”

“Why would they target her?” Rocket spoke up again.

Superboy kept his glare at Aqualad.  “If we’re being honest, she has more power than the rest of us.  They could want to put her at a disadvantage, isolate her.”

“Isolate who?”  The voice floated into the chamber like a kitten’s purr, but cut through the air like a fog horn.

“Chi!” Superboy exclaimed, rushing over to her.

“Hey.” Her smile beamed as she hugged him.

He examined her face quickly.  She was smiling, but she looked exhausted, like she’d been through a grueling mission, one that isn’t dangerous, just draining.  His expression turned concerned.  “How was the trip?  You look tired.”  

Her smile weakened.  “It was good. I missed my friends and family so much.” She slumped against his chest. “Being back was just… a lot.”  She took a deep breath and straightened up. “But it was good.  I’m good.  It’s all… good.”  She let out a defeated sigh, but looked back up with a plastered on smile that lasted until she examined his face, morphing into a concerned frown at the sight.  She raised her hand to run it over his face, but quickly realized what she was doing and dropped it to his shoulder instead with a faint blush.  “How was it here?  How have you been?  How is Robin? How was the mission?”

“I’m fine.  Robin’s fine. It was fine,” Superboy hedged with a strained smile, slinging his arm over her shoulders and guiding her over to the group.

“That was too many ‘fines’ to be true,” Chimera commented apprehensively, looking at him questioningly.

“You really want to throw that stone Ms. ‘all good’?” he commented back with a pointed look.

Her face went slack, her eyes widened at the call out.  “Uh… no,” she admitted turning back toward the group, eyes flicking between them under her lashes.  “Can we not discuss this… now?”

“Later?” Superboy asked hopefully.  He knew her natural inclination was to bury things deep down, until they were so hard to see, she could pretend they never existed.  Internalizing every emotion, every let down.  It was the opposite of his way of handling things. Letting them simmer on the surface, where the slightest touch sent them radiating out into the world around him, usually with screaming or punching.  Chimera hummed noncommittally in response, absolutely no intention of bringing up memories and emotions she wished would disappear.

“It was after the mission that was enlightening,” Aqualad stepped forward.  “We need to talk about Roy.”

His voice was serious and laced with a significance that Chimera didn’t understand.  Superboy’s arm tightened incrementally on her shoulder, pulling her closer to him.  She looked up in time to catch the dark look he was giving Aqualad.  She turned back to Aqualad with a quizzical expression. “Like, Rogers?”

“Rogers?” Aqualad repeated.

Artemis tried to stifle her laugh.  “No, Chi.  Not like Roy Rogers.”

Aqualad looked between them, his brow furrowing in confusion, before he returned his gaze back to Chimera.  “No, Roy Harper.”

“Oh!”  Chimera nodded in understanding.  “Okay…” Her brow furrowed faintly and she looked to the side in thought before looking back at Aqualad with a wince.  “Is that… another actor?  I haven’t really seen many… any westerns.  I really only know who Roy Rogers, John Wayne, and Woody Strode are.  Well, know is a stretch.  I’ve heard their names.”

Aqualad blinked at her a few times, unsure what she was talking about.  “No. Red Arrow.”

Realization rippled across Chimera’s face.  She nodded, her eyes going wide.  “Oh!  Okay. Yeah.”  Robin and Kid Flash talked about Red Arrow a lot, but by his code name, rarely by his real name.  She would never have been able to remember it if she wasn’t prompted first.  Her eyes darted over to Robin to see if he held any answers, but instead of looking back at her, he was glaring at Aqualad as well. She looked back at Aqualad, noticeably more apprehensively.  Her brows furrowed in confusion.  “What about him?”

“Batman said he’s the mole,” Aqualad informed her, watching her reaction carefully.

Chimera’s face immediately fell, her eyes darted back to Robin again.  “Robin,” she whispered.  Her eyes moved over to Kid Flash, next to Robin, and turn pained.  She looked back to Aqualad.  “Is he sure?”

Aqualad nodded.  “Batman said he’s actually a clone of the real Roy Harper programmed to infiltrate the Justice League, but was discovered by Batman before he could do any damage.  

Chimera gasped, eyes entirely focused on Robin and Kid Flash.  “What happened to the real Roy Harper?”

“He didn’t say.”  Aqualad answered.  She tensed to go over to hug Robin and Kid Flash.  Robin and Kid Flash always talked about Roy like he was one of them.  They understood each other in a way few others could.  They would tell stories about him and laugh like their lives weren’t constantly at risk, like they were just normal teenagers.  Those times were some of the few she got to see Robin like the kid he was.

Artemis’ voice cut through her thoughts before she could move.  “But we have reason to believe that isn’t true.”

Chimera turned to her with a hopeful smile. “Really?”  A flash of relief appeared in her eyes.  She couldn’t imagine the toll it would take on Robin and Kid Flash if it was true and she didn’t want to have to see it.  They’d all been in this for a long time together, grew up in it together.  They were like family.  Not to mention she knew he and Aqualad were close as well.  If there was a chance Batman was wrong, they had to investigate it.

“I wanted to let you know because… we know you're dating him.” Aqualad informed her carefully.

Chimera’s eyes snapped back to Aqualad, her mouth hanging open in shock and her body turned rigid.  “That I’m what?” Her voice came out an octave higher than normal.

“Batman told us,” Aqualad informed her calmly. “And Roy has mentioned it as well.”

Chimera flinched back and shook her head.  “What?  I've never even met Red Arrow.  Why would he say that?  Why would Batman?”

“That’s why we have reason to believe Roy isn’t the mole.  Because Batman told us you were dating Roy at the same time he said Roy was the mole. He said they thought you were his handler,” Robin bit out bitterly.

Chimera’s heart stopped.  She gaped at Robin.  Batman… Batman said he thought she was betraying them.  Batman thought she was a traitor.  Batman was her mentor, as much as she had one, or at least she had thought of him as hers.  She had thought he might be more than just a mentor as well, but that must have just been her.  More than that, he was a League founder.  If he thought it, the rest of the League must as well.  They would all believe she was a traitor.  They would all turn on her, even her team.

Her breathing picked up.  She couldn’t handle this.  But she couldn’t even blame them for it.  This was her fault.  This is the price of anonymity.  This was the tradeoff of keeping yourself guarded.  You keep people from knowing you, but then they don’t know you.  They don’t know who you are, so they don’t know who you are and who you’re not.  She never let them know who she is, so of course her team will believe Batman.  

She was going to lose them and even if she proves herself, there will always be that doubt and once you’ve lost that trust, it never fully recovers… as her trip home proved.  Everything seems the same on the surface, but if you pause to examine it more closely, everything is different.  The way they look at you, the way they relate to you, the way they see you, has changed.  Robin wouldn’t trust her anymore.  He’d put up a wall between them, the same one he put up with anyone he didn’t fully trust, keeping them at a distance with a false smile.  And Conner!  He’d pull away too.  Still friendly, but not friends.  Still there, but not the same…

“…imera!  Chimera!”

Chimera felt a squeeze on her shoulder and a hand on her cheek, bringing her back to reality, stopping her descent into panic. She slowly moved her eyes to the arm belonging to the hand on her face and followed it back to its owner, looking up to see Superboy’s soft, concerned eyes.  He gave her a supportive smile and nod to let her know they were on her side. “That’s why we knew he was lying,” Superboy assured her.

Chimera let out a shuttering breath and buried her face in Superboy’s chest.  He wrapped his arms around her protectively, nuzzling into her hair.  “We know you better.  We know you would never do that.  No matter what he said, we know you,” he whispered into her hair.

Aqualad looked between them and nodded once, satisfied for now with her innocence. “Roy… Red Arrow is the key.  We need to find him and see what he can tell us. If Chimera is innocent then he may be as well.  Regardless, we need to find him before the League does.  Artemis, Superboy, Zatanna, you’re with me.  The rest of you, see what you can do about Tornado.”

“Wait, what’s wrong with Red Tornado?” Chimera’s eyes peeked out from Superboy’s chest.

“I’ll stay here,” Superboy responded with a sharp edge to his voice.

“We’re potentially going up against Red Arrow.  We need you with us to bring him in if…” Aqualad took a breath.  “If he decides to fight us.”

“I thought you didn’t think he was the mole,” Chimera asked uncertainly, subconsciously clinging a bit closer to Superboy.  If they still thought Red Arrow was the mole, did they really still think she was his handler as well?

“I don’t…” he looked away in contemplation.  “I don’t know.  But we need to speak with him to figure out what is going on.  Hopefully peacefully and it is best to be cautious,” he added. His voice was even, but anybody familiar with him could hear the strain in it.

Chimera gave him an understanding smile.  Although he didn’t speak about Red Arrow often, and almost never with Chimera, she knew they were close.  Believing his friend capable of something like this must be hurting him deeply. She looked up to Superboy.  “You should go,” she whispered.

“They can handle Red Arrow,” he argued back quietly.  “I can stay until you’re…  I can help with Tornado.”

Chimera shook her head.  “I’ll have Robin.  I’ll be okay until you come home.”  She glanced subtly over to Aqualad.  His shoulders were more tense than usual, his grimace more pronounced.  He was trying to hold it together, but he was suffering. “Aqualad needs you more right now.

Superboy huffed and looked over to Aqualad and the others Aqualad had singled out for a moment before looking back into Chimera’s eyes.  “Fine.  But I don’t like it.”

Chimera rested her head back on his chest, watching the rest of the Team. “Nobody likes what’s happening right now.”  She closed her eyes and squeezed him for a moment.  “Be safe.”

She stepped away from him, avoiding his eyes.  “You too,” he whispered, letting his fingers linger on her as she walked away to join Robin, Kid Flash, and Rocket.

“The problem’s hardware, not software,” Robin mused, examining schematics on a holographic display.  He didn’t even look up when Chimera stopped next to him.  He reached out, giving her a one armed hug.  She slung her arm around his shoulders, returning the squeeze. “But where do we start?”

Zatanna paused on her way out of the room.  “I have an idea.”  She glanced quickly behind her to see how far away the rest of her group had gotten. She bit her lip nervously, not wanting to upset Aqualad with her tardiness.  “Chimera, you remember the android he had in his quarters?”

Chimera perked up immediately.  “Yes! New hardware for his existing software. Brilliant idea, Zatanna.  Good luck with your mission,” she called to Zatanna as she ran to catch up with the rest of her group.  “Hey, Rocket, do your force bubbles move?  Might make moving the body easier.”

<><><><><> 

“I heard we’re dating,” Chimera started out with a sarcastic smile, extending her hand to shake Red Arrow’s.  “It must have been a terrible relationship if I can’t even remember you. I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but I don’t think this relationship is working out for me.  I think we should see other people.”

Red Arrow huffed out a laugh and smiled against his will.  He shook his head and rubbed the back of his neck.  He looked up at her sheepishly.  “Yeah, sorry about that.”

Chimera shrugged and moved past him to sit on a bulkhead.  “Not your fault.  And not the worst end to one of my relationships, so...”  She offered him a smile.  Red Arrow smiled back and moved to sit next to her for the planning meeting, but was cut off by Superboy taking the spot before Red Arrow could sit.

Red Arrow raised an eyebrow at him, but backed down.  He wasn’t looking to start a fight with the only heroes he knew that weren’t under mind control. Instead, he took a seat between Robin and Kid Flash.

“Would anyone care to enlighten us as to why you have Black Canary tied up and gagged?” Aqualad asked, bringing the conversation back to the issue at hand.

“Yeah, about that…” Kid Flash started with a grimace, warily eying the hero that was bound and gagged at their feet.

“Can we start from the beginning?  I don’t think I’m the only one who doesn’t have a clear picture of everything that’s going on,” Chimera requested.

“The entire Justice League is under the complete mental domination of Vandal Savage,” Red Tornado spoke up from his android body.  “Red Arrow seems to have been his means.  His method was something Savage referred to as Starotech.  An alien bio organism infused with nano technology and magic.  It shuts down the mind’s autonomy allowing Savage to reprogram the individual to suit his needs.  Even my inorganic brain was not immune.”

Chimera straightened up in surprise.  “Wait, so Red Arrow was the mole?”

“I was the mole,” Red Arrow confirmed with a grimace.  “I just don’t know why.  If it was the Starotech, then they wouldn’t have needed to have a handler for me or key phrases that would shut me down and ready me for new orders.”

Superboy watched him curiously.  “Batman and Tornado said you were a Cadmus clone, like me.”

Red Arrow sighed and looked down.  “That explains it.  I must have been pre-programmed to infiltrate the League.  I was probably given occasional new orders as well.  I think one of those orders was to focus suspicion on Artemis and Superboy.  More recently, I think Chimera was added to the list, in a much more explicit way.”

“Why?” Superboy straightened, glaring at Red Arrow.  His arms twitched to circle around Chimera and pull her closer to him.

“They didn’t tell me,” he shrugged.  “I never knew why I did any of it.  I wasn’t part of the team, I was a tool.”

“I’m an easy target,” Chimera spoke up quietly.  “He was already implicating Superboy and Artemis.  Robin, Kid Flash, and Kaldur have known each other or of each other for years and see each other regularly enough to know if something was off. Zatanna and Rocket joined after Kaldur started noticing indications of a mole.  That leaves me.  And since you know almost nothing about me, I don’t even have a mentor to vouch for me, it makes doubting me easy.”  

Superboy ran his hands up and down her arm to comfort her.  Chimera leaned into his side slightly, keeping her focus on the conversation.  Superboy looked over to Kid Flash and Red Tornado.  “So where does Black Canary fit in?”

“Oh! Riiiiiight.” Kid Flash awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.  “We were transferring Red Tornado’s consciousness from his regular body to his android body when she interrupted us.  She attacked us and we had to stop her.”

“So she’s infected as well,” Artemis observed.

Aqualad frowned at the ground in concentration.  “If it’s an infection, then we need a cure.  I will contact Queen Mera about creating an immunization based on Starotech.  We have Black Canary we can test the cure on.  Let’s move.”

Robin wormed his way next to Chimera as they moved to the communications hub for the ship.  He pulled her into a quick side hug.  “You know, we don’t need to know everything about each other to trust each other.  And I do trust you.”  He spoke quietly so only she could hear him.

Chimera closed her eyes as she hugged him back. “I trust you too, birdbrain.”

Robin rolled his eyes and shoved her away.  “I take it back.  I hate you.”  Chimera cackled with laughter.  Robin reluctantly joined her, trying to keep his annoyed facade.  They tried unsuccessfully to school their expressions when Aqualad glared at them until Queen Mera answered, drawing his attention away.

<><><><><> 

Waiting was torture.  It always was.  Waiting for something to happen when there was nothing you could do until then except think about the upcoming event, was agony.  Chimera looked around the room.  The Team was scattered each in their own space, waiting for Black Canary and Red Tornado to finish their preparations so they and Red Arrow could go in first and distract Savage, while the Team put the vaccine patches on the rest of the Justice League one member at a time.  

Everyone was in their own head, bodies tense, and emotions on edge.  They were going up against people they’d looked up to their whole superhero careers, parental figures, mentors.  People who taught them how to fight, how to strategize.  They knew more than the Team did and it was still unclear how much of their previous fighting knowledge they retained or if the person controlling them would have to come up with their own moves and techniques.

The Team was clearly dreading the former option, including Chimera.  With so many different powers to go up against, she had cleared out the miracle box so she would have options for which powers to utilize.  Changing was going to be tricky and she was going to have to keep Trixx well fed so she would be able to keep up her illusion of her suit not changing, but there was too much of a possibility for failure not to at least try.

She hoped she was hiding her apprehension better than the rest of the Team.  No matter how much they tried to hide it, Chimera knew their tells.  She knew Artemis set her jaw like that when she was anxious.  She knew Aqualad clenched and reclenched his fists like that when he was nervous.  She knew Kid Flash held his arm like that with his other hand when he was afraid.  She knew Robin stared intently like that when he was apprehensive.  She knew Zatanna bit her lip like that when she was unsure.  She knew Superboy glowered like that when he was worried.  It was slightly different from his many other glowers.  And she didn’t need to know Rocket and Red Arrow to see their nerves in the darting of their eyes.

She looked between them and furrowed her brow until she perked up, something occurring to her.  “So… it’s like a video game, right?”  All the eyes in the room darted to her with a mixture of curiosity and annoyance, but she continued on undeterred.  “I mean, they’re like characters in a video game, being controlled. That means there’s someone with some kind of controller.”  She looked over to Aqualad.  “Do you think there's any way that we could get our hands on that controller?” she asked with a devious glint in her eyes.  “Just for a few minutes?”

“Oh my God!  Yes!” Kid Flash exclaimed, immediately seeing where she was going and excitedly bouncing.  “Can we? Can we, please?”

“We will not take advantage of our compatriots and mentors in such a demeaning way,” Aqualad answered sternly.

“Yeah, yeah morally reprehensible reshmensible.  But, do you think we could?” Kid Flash asked again, his eyes bright.  In an instant he was next to Chimera, both giving Aqualad overly wide smiles.

“No,” Aqualad said firmly.

“Angelic smiles aren’t working,” Chimera noted in a stage whisper.  “Deploy kitten eyes.”  She and Kid Flash immediately switched to sad, pleading eyes, aimed directly at Aqualad who barely noted them before rolling his eyes.  Chimera harrumphed when she realized hers wouldn’t work since she had sunglasses hiding her eyes.  Instead, she elbowed Zatanna who looked confused for a second before grinning and schooling her face to offer her own kitten eyes.

Superboy quickly looked to the ground to hide his smirk, but Artemis and Robin made no attempts to hide her laugh that echoed throughout the room.  “Oh my God, you guys are such dorks,” Artemis eked out between laughs.  

“Yes,” Kid Flash agreed, “dorks who love video games.” He turned back to Aqualad.  “Pleeeeeeeeease.”  He held his hands out in front of him in supplication.

“Are you two going to take this seriously?” Red Arrow snapped.

Chimera rolled her eyes and offered a kind smile. “Come on, tell me you don't want to see Batman punch Green Arrow.”  Her smile turned enticing.  “We can make that happen,” she singsonged at him.

Red Arrow scoffed.  “I don't need remote control to do that.  I just have to tell Batman any of the things Green Arrow has said behind his back and then suggest a spar between them.”

Chimera waved him off.  “Fine.  Green Lantern or Wonder Woman punch Green Arrow,” she offered instead with a knowing smirk.  “I’m not even a protégé and I definitely have JL members I’d like to see get punched a few times.”  She shrugged in an overly casual way.  “Or, you know, one member anyway.”

Red Arrow cocked his head to the side considering the image of Wonder Woman decking Oliver.  “Now that you mention it...”

“Oh my God!” Chimera exclaimed, eyes widening in excitement.  “Dance Party!”

“Yes!” Kid Flash jumped on to her thought process, mirroring her excitement.  “The Flash breakdancing.   Hawkman doing the Carlton.”

Red Arrow looked over to Chimera with an analytical look.  After a few seconds, his face broke into a reluctant smile.  “Batman doing a scene from Phantom of the Opera, that’s angsty, he’d like it.”

“Yes!!” Chimera exclaimed, jumping with excitement that he had joined.

“Green Lantern and Aquaman doing the Kid ‘n Play,” Robin gave a small smirk, nerves still there, but lessening.

“Do you think we can get Martian Manhunter to do the Macarena?” Superboy pondered, coming up behind Chimera and resting his arm on her shoulders.

“It’s our imagination.  We can get them to do whatever we want,” Chimera laughed.

“I would pay to see Wonder Woman do the worm,” Artemis smiled coming up next to Zatanna and bumping her hip with her own.

“Can we get my dad to do something?  What should we get him to do?” Zatanna added with a hesitant smile.

“How about the Running Man?” Rocket offered, joining the rest.

“Green Arrow doing Gangnam Style dance,” Red Arrow gave Chimera a playful smile, joining the group to stand next to Chimera.

“My flute records.  I can take video for posterity,” Chimera grinned back conspiratorially.

“I’ll take you up on that,” Black Canary grinned as she came up behind them.  “I think it sounds like fun.  Plus, I need more blackmail material.  If I come across the opportunity, I’ll let you know.” She winked at them before turning to Aqualad with a serious expression.  “We’re ready to go.”

Aqualad’s expression immediately transformed from light to serious.  He stepped forward to address his team.  “It is time. Are we ready?”  He looked around to the Team waiting for nods from the group. Once he received them he watched Black Canary, Red Tornado, and Red Arrow step up to the Zeta tube.  With them in position, he turned to Chimera. “Open the portal.”

*Note 2: The android body is from the show as is Queen Mera and some scientists coming up with a vaccine in a few hours, so those cheap cop outs are theirs not mine.

Chapter 10

Tags:

@mickylikesstuff @mystery-5-5 @roguishredaxion @vroomtaka @laurcad123 @just-an-observer-ignore-me @emimar7 @moonlightstar64 @maribat-writing-and-prompts @aespades @yokomisaki @glastwime859 @mysticknown @glastwime859 @fan-writtenen @stackofrandomstuff @jalaluvsu @ultimatetornshipper @charme-de-malchan @lozzybowe @deathwishy @too0bsessedformyowngood @kokotaru @ichigorose  @nathleigh @dorkus-minimus @ira-sairain @jayjayspixiepop

[artie5o5]

I am finally writing(!!) - A Short Story Collection “Overture”

I've writing stories for almost all my life, since I learned how to string words together and form a sentence. My first ever memory is crying on the floor of my childhood home, complaining to my mother that I can’t write in the notebook she gave me because it’s not lined (I wasn’t old enough to write in blank paper yet)

And yet, if you asked me to produce a body of my work, all I’d have to show for the years of my writing is one(1) novella I wrote when I was 14 and a thousand unfinished novels that I abandoned after 10 pages.

I had resolved in 2020 that I would commit to finishing things as Neil Gaiman had so wisely adviced. But the only thing I finished in 2020 was a 10k word short story called “Nathaniel O’Neal and the Death of Jenny” I started that story on March 9, 2020 and finished on December 6, 2020. Stephan would’ve had written three whole novels in that timeframe

In 2021, I did not finish anything. I did write parts of short story. In my defence, I had a pretty bad year. (So did everyone, get over yourself)

But... (!!!)... at the end of 2021, I saw this video from Rachel

And this was literally godsend.

I had so many short story ideas just whirling in my mind, I had them scattered between my notion and my google keeps notes. But after watching Rachel's video I decided to finally, actually, dedicate myself to writing something I think I can actually finish.

Writing a novel is a monumental task, and I shall never again dunk on Stephanie Meyer cause she at least finished the Twilight books. I really don't think I have it in me to finish any work of fiction over 20k words.

But short stories I can do.

And I have decided to do it. Below is my notion page of short story ideas that I had accumulated over the last two years. The 2 shorts that I actually did finish, I've choses not to include in this post. These are 11 shorts that I currently think are workable. I have more ideas stored in google keeps - I will only touch that pile once I've finished all these. And and the end of the year, hopefully, we will have a short story collection

Why "Overture"?

Well, my go to mental breakdown song is "Achilles Come Down" by gangs of youth and there is a line there "Overture bold and beyond" and I just like the melody of that line. It's kinda stuck in my head

"Overture" also means "an introduction to something more substantial"

And I would like to imagine, rather arrogantly, that after I've finished this collection - I would emerge out of the other end a better writer and perhaps go on to write more substantial work. Amen.

I would like to just briefly talk about each story and what they're about. I would make individual writing updates in the future. Just to capture my thoughts and process, more like a journal.

1. I See You in every shard of glass

A 19 year old girl who stayed home after high school while all of her cool friends went to fancy east coast school goes on a long drive at midnight with her high school on-again-off-again, currently ex-boyfriend - and realises she might have overly romanticised her entire relationship with him

Originally inspired by Taylor Swift's iconic song "Style". The opening image to me was that of a dreamy James Dean-y boy stopping outside of her house at midnight and from then on I was just gonna write down the plot of the song in fiction. But as I went on writing it kinda got out of hand and became reaally fucked up

I would really love to tell you this has a flimsy, dreamy vibe because I really wanted this piece to have flimsy-dreamy vibes - but girl the vibes are off

CW: Date rape (??!!)

I really don't know if I can write it as respectfully as the subject material demands. I'm really afraid of giving off the wrong message or accidentally ending up victim blaming but there's a lot of nuance to the events that I'm just not a good enough writer to do justice

I've been struggling to write this story for a whole year now (2021 was baaaad). The prose doesn't have the dreamy quality I wanted it to have. The subject matter seems too heavy on my chest like a boulder from hell. But I've decided to just finish in before January 31st. Things could be changed to my liking in edits (hopefully 🤞)

2. Work Song (Working Title)

I don't have a title for it yet, but as you can clearly see - it was inspired by Hozier's work song.

I was just gonna follow the plot beats of the song but again, as I went on the story got progressively fucked up.

The vague foggy image of the story now in my head is this:

A very beautiful young man in his early to mid 20s is rescued by a woman who had very recently lost a child (the child's father never mentioned)

The first few paragraphs is just basically the protagonist telling his buddies (who he now works on a farm/field with) about the hazy fever dreams through which he saw her caring for him after. She never asks him about the drunken state she found him in or how he had gotten there, she never asks him about his past and all that Hozier Work song stuff

But then the plot deviates from the song - he starts to internally think about things that he doesn't say to the audience

There's the church, and she's church going though not strictly a believer so he goes to church with him. Big Shaelin-Hold-Me-Under-Till-I-See-The-Light Vibes

The church talks about the sins of adultery and homosexuality, talks about Soddom and Gomorrah and he clearly gets super agitated

So, Spoiler Alert: the past that his "baby" never asks him about is that he used to be a street hustler. (Trying to channel My Own Private Idaho but can we ever)

Kinda gothic????

The story basically ends on

If the Lord don't forgive me

I'd still have my baby and my babe would have me

When I was kissing on my baby

And she put her love down soft and sweet

In the low lamp light I was free

Heaven and hell were words to me

3. Drown my woes in a lake of fire

Title borrowed from that one Elle King song

I don't know much plot wise - but I want to achieve that History of Wolves vibes

The protagonist is a tween girl, the youngest in her family of 7. Her parents. Her oldest sister, then a brother one year junior, then the twin girls and finally her

She is hella lonely because the twins always gang up on her and exclude her, her olderst sister and brother are close too. But she has no one and nothing but her siblings hand me downs.

I don't know what the catalyst is yet but she drowns her family's pack of dogs, all 5 of them, in a lake that's turned into ice. But she knows where the ice is thin.

4. A girl accidentally kills her parents and her addict older brother gets framed, also accidentally

It's probably gonna be an accidental gas leak. Like she forgets to turn the stove off or something

Her older brother becomes a suspect in the investigation and gets convicted on double homicide

She feels guilty for not speaking up, but she's also unhinged so there's that

5. A PhD student goes to meet a homeless person

I don't have a title for this. Can you tell?

This one came to me in a dream.

I'm not kidding.

There's was a 2nd person narration going on inside my head and I wrote down as much as I remembered upon waking up.

But the material I got was so scattered and meaningless that I had to keep digging at it - like I didn't even brush my teeth, just kept typing on my phone like a maniac

Logline: The story starts with a PhD student taking a cng towards an impoverish area - he struggles with the power hierarchy of his highly beaurocratic world, the mindless selfishness of his fellows and superiors and reaches out to find a human connection

It is the tamest of all my stories. So much so that it feels like it doesn't belong with the rest

6. A 20 something boy goes to a whorehouse and pays a prostitute to pretend to be his sister for one night

Shaelin's Zugzwang meets George Martin's Meathouse man

I only have vibes no plot

7. Let me drown slowly

Another song inspired story. (Thank Dionysius for Alec Benjamin)

I've written like the beginning of it in Google Keeps

Basically the inner monologue of a guy who knows his girlfriend is about to break up with him waiting for it to happen

I haven't started writing yet but I can't wait to see how this innocent song turns into something extremely fucked up, yet again

8. Grave of Bird

A girl has been burying the birds that her cat catches under a tree for years

The tree was a little sapling the same height as her when she was 6, now that she's 16 the tree has far outgrown her

The catch is.... it's not only the birds that are being buried there.

9. Dear Charlotte

I've actually written some parts of it

2nd person, accusatory

Basically Isabel is writing an apology letter to her older sister Charlotte but instead of an apology the letter is bloated with why everything was Charlotte's fault and Charlotte is a horrible human being

18th century Feudal Europe

A Gothic Manor, a pausible ghost of a dead brother

Scandals (!!!)

Painters and Scuptors and rumors of incest

Isabel is jealous and bitter but god is Charlotte unreadable

10. My Immortal

I'm gonna write this in October. (Halloween!!)

Gothic. Supernatural

A human being (pet?) is in love with their vampire but not in a twilight way

More like the vampire needs a human to run their errands through the day until they come alive at midnight

The errand boy/girl serves the vampire in exchange of their supernatural favors and a dim, dim hope that maybe someday the vampire would turn them into a vampire too (A bit like a witch's familiar??)

Again, just vibes, no plot

11.

12. Children in Snow (Working Title)

I was trying to write that half heartedly in 2019. But then last year in 2021 I tried to actually finish it but lol

Sci-fi

A heavily beaurocratic world sends off their unwanted children to be raised by 18-20 year olds (Basically other childrens) in government funded facilities

They have robotic doctors at their disposal, a mechanic robot to repair heaters and stuff like that, a vast physical and digital library, a curriculum to study and artificial robotc teachers, so that when they finally get out into the world world at age 21 they have enough marketable skills to earn a living- everything except human contant

Those who want to persue a University education can sit for a test at 18 and if they pass can then be admitted public unis

Once a month, their supplies are dropped of at a watchtower that is directly in the middle of all 10 such facilities in the area (each facility housing about 50 children)

The oldest in Garfield's facility who chose to stay instead of go to uni go out to gather their monthly supply as usual, but get stuck in a snow storm

Low magic

The characters are ✨ immaculate ✨

But alas no plot- so every time I attempt to write it, it keeps on stretching and stretching but there isn't enough material here for it to be a novel

I want to write this in December. So I'll have to find a new short story idea to write in November

That is All!

I would post writing updates as I write and hopefully, finish stories. If you made it this far, then Thank You Very Much for your time!! I'm really happy you're here..

[magesmiths]

Regency AU: let your heart be your guide

Chapter two: say we'll go slow but we never do

word count: 1,759

Read on AO3 / Chapter 1

Dearest Miss Sewell,

I trust you arrived safely in Bath, though I have yet to hear from you. One can only assume you have spent the past fortnight absorbed in a particularly good book, though I fail to see why that should stop you from fulfilling your promise, I quote, of writing me upon your arrival.

Little has occurred in London since your departure. I look forward to returning to the country soon. Your presence would be welcome.

I hope it is not too much of a task to assure your oldest friend of your continued safety.

Faithfully,

Ava du Mortain

---

My Dearest Ava,

I do apologise for not writing you sooner, Bath has been a more delightful experience thus far than I had anticipated. That is, however, no excuse for my lack of correspondence.

It is a beautiful city, more so than I had remembered. I feel as though I am seeing it through a new set of eyes. And perhaps I am.

In truth, I have written multiple letters. I find myself in raptures and pen lengthy prose that should be seen by none. My dear friend, how can I express to you the past weeks with merely my own words? I cannot do them justice and will spare you the overtures when I know you would rather I get to the point.

I would be more than happy to join you in the country once the season in London is over. I expect to be back in a fortnight, I look forward to being in your company again.

Yours,

Nat

---

Lottie wakes even before the sun the next morning. The anticipation is too much to sleep through, irresistible are the thoughts that feel as though they breathe life into her, all centred on one person.

She had oft considered her lack of interest in the men, wondered why she would rather watch her acquaintances than fawn over the latest potential suitor with them. It had become clearer to her over time, and startlingly obvious when her friendship with one seemed to transcend that which was appropriate for two women. Not - she remembers with a wry smile - that that had gone anywhere beyond a few careful touches of hands and shy, prolonged smiles before the friend was whisked away by matrimony.

No, it was not quite a surprise to her then to meet Miss Sewell and feel the way she did. The only shock had been the fervour with which her affection grows, like ivy crawling through her veins and becoming a part of her. She considers for a moment if that is too sinister a simile, too aggressive for that which makes her feel as though she could fly. And yet it is apt. For ivy is evergreen, it holds with vigour. Ivy is immortal.

(If Lottie were a more pragmatic woman, if perhaps she knew how to hold back a little, if there was a piece of her heart she did not give so willingly; she might protect herself more. She might be able to foresee danger in what she pursues, might even feel this proclamation comes a little too soon after their first meeting. Alas, she could not be herself if she did. If for a moment she concerned herself with feeling too much too soon, she reminded herself of friends who had professed their love for men they had scarcely met and those ended in marriages. No, if anything, the force of her feelings and the taboo nature of them assured her of her own curiosity. These feelings were something and she had to know what it could mean — what it could be.)

When finally, finally, the sun rises and the day can begin, Lottie is beyond having patience. The morning drags, her brother and aunt can provide no relief with their chatter and gossip. She joins in where she can, playing the dutiful, entertaining sister and niece, but a pair of brown eyes continue to occupy her thoughts.

“Charlotte.”

Lottie’s nose wrinkles at the use of her full name as she turns her attention to her aunt. She’s met with two admonishing looks, though her brother’s is more amused than irritated.

“I asked you a question, dear.”

“I apologise, Aunt. What was it you asked?”

Anne sighs and takes a long sip of her tea, watching Lottie over the teacup with narrowed eyes. Lottie’s jaw clenches, but she doesn’t break eye contact. Her aunt’s glare has long stopped having its desired effect.

“I asked if we should be expecting any suitors of yours.”

“Suitors?”

“Yes, dear. A man. One who might finally marry you, burden though it might be.”

“Aunt!” John’s face has always shown every emotion. The shock is in the way his eyebrows are raised, the lines on his forehead prominent, his mouth slightly ajar.

Lottie almost smiles at his shock, he has not needed to learn to delicately hide those emotions when one is being insulted so blatantly. At 25, she barely flinches anymore.

“Well I should hardly be privy to that information. Why would a man inform a woman of his intentions?” Lottie has not needed her brother’s protection from their aunt in years, knows that the only way to silence her is to be just as disrespectful. She stands, folding her napkin and sets it on the table. Her gaze flicks down over the older woman’s attire. “However, if your concern is about looking presentable for the day, Aunt, I’m sure you needn’t concern yourself.”

Her aunt hardly reacts to her words, merely raising an eyebrow and stating, “if you cannot find one yourself, I shall simply find a husband for you, Charlotte.”

Lottie gives a tight smile, bows her head and leaves the room before the other two can say anything more.

The journey to the library, one that should be filled with excitement and anticipation, is marred by the memory of her aunt’s words. The threat of a husband looms, an unknown darkness hanging over her life, her future. Thus far Lottie has been afforded freedoms many of her friends had not, and the good will of her brother kept her protected. But her aunt’s near constant presence these past two years had changed that.

This was not the first time Aunt Anne’s impatience and Lottie’s reluctance (or impertinence as her aunt was fond of calling it) regarding marriage came to a head. Her recent birthday, however, had brought with it a determination. It seemed 25 years may be her aunt’s limit.

Dread seeps in, settling itself in her mind. Seeing Miss Sewell no longer seems like a good idea — what good is any pretence of happiness? — and she almost resolves herself to tell the driver to turn around when the carriage comes to a stop and he announces they have arrived.

Lottie stares at her hands for a moment, clenched together. She can feel her nails pressing small crescent moons into her skin, focuses on that feeling and takes a deep breath. The door opens.

“Miss Fitzwilliam?”

The soft call of her name has Lottie raising her head and seeing the eyes that have featured prominently in her mind for the past two weeks.

And it’s as if her worries melt away upon meeting them again.

“Miss Sewell.” It seems impossible for her name to pass her lips without smiling as she says them. Miss Sewell’s own lips curve upwards in response and a moment passes where they speak no words.

She could not put it to words if asked to describe what it is that passes between them, what feeling it is that settles over her. She knows only that it embraces her, unfamiliar yet distinctly Miss Sewell. Whatever this pull may be, finding out is the only thing she can think of.

“Shall we?”

Miss Sewell gestures to the doorway in front of them and they fall into step next to one another. Their arms brush against one another as they walk, just briefly, barely touching, but enough that Lottie feels a shiver run down her arm afterwards. An accident, or so it might appear, it is hard to tell but regardless, it is another few moments before she can force words from her lips.

“Are you looking for a particular book, Miss Sewell?”

“No, not especially. I find there is no place quite so enjoyable as a library, and I am devoid of my own here in Bath. I thought it might be a pleasant way to pass time in your company.”

“You have your own library at home?”

Miss Sewell smiles down at her. “Oh yes. I have spent quite some time cultivating it.” There is a pause, Miss Sewell’s eyes seem to search her face and Lottie can feel herself warming under her gaze. “You should see it some time, I think you would like it.”

She feels brave, looking into those eyes. “I’m sure I should like anything if it were in your company, Miss Sewell.”

A risk. Only a small one; easy to ignore or misinterpret. A whisper in the wind, thrown out, willing to be caught in sails and brought safely to shore. Lottie feels her heart hammer against her chest as she waits.

They pause in front of bookshelves, not quite so close that they are touching, but near enough that Lottie can feel the warmth emanating from Miss Sewell. Or at least, she fancies that she can, and hopes that in return Miss Sewell can sense her own happiness in their proximity.

“Now we have at least a little more privacy,” her voice is but a murmur, low and for Lottie alone, “could you afford me the privilege of calling me by my name? At least for today. I do tire of ‘Miss Sewell’.”

Lottie feels a smile pull at her lips, hope fluttering within her. “Natalie, then?”

“Nat. If you will.”

“Nat.” Her eyes flick up towards the woman and the smile grows into a grin, matching the one on her companion’s face. “It suits you.” She turns back to look at the books on the shelf, reaching a hand towards them, fingers skirting over the spines as though pondering the titles, though she could not tell you their names if asked. “You could call me Lottie. If you would like.”

There is no immediate acknowledgement of what she has said, but then she hears the soft whisper of her name and she has to close her eyes, basking in the moment.

This, she thinks, this is everything.

[dragonsareawesome123]

My initial thoughts listening to The Prom (2020) Soundtrack

They kept the overture!!!!!!!!!! These new orchestrations!!!!!!!! I’m getting so emotional right now!!!!!!

Meryl Streep’s voice isn’t as powerful as Beth Leavel’s but I think she still sounds great as Dee Dee Allen.

J*mes C*rd*n doesn’t sound as bad as I thought he was going to sound but like...they really should’ve brought back Brooks Ashmanskas.

“Hoosier humping” akdfjalsfkdaslf

“Now let’s go start a fight” THEY DID IT, THEY ACTUALLY DID IT! THEY TOOK OUT THE SLUR!

Jo Ellen Pellman’s voice is so good!!!!!

“Note to self, people suck in Indiana” will always be a mood as someone who lives in Indiana.

‘It’s Not About Me’ will always be iconic and hilarious XD

Ariana DeBose also sounds really good!!!!!!!!!

‘Dance With You’ is truly such an iconic lesbian love duet and Jo and Ariana really do it justice.

It’s so good to hear Andrew Rannells’s singing again. He is truly such a powerhouse.

‘You Happened’ will always be a bop.

Keegan Michael-Key also has a really great voice. But that shouldn’t be surprising considering how great he sounded in Jingle Jangle.

THIS IS NOT A DRILL. THE ‘TONIGHT BELONGS TO YOU (REPRISE)’ IS ON THE SOUNDTRACK!!!!!!!!! My heart breaks for Emma every time I hear it and Jo really sells it.

Nicole Kidman!!!!!! Her voice works so well for ‘Zazz’ <3.

Meryl’s ‘The Lady’s Improving’ is SO GOOD!!!!

‘Alyssa Greene’ made me cry in the broadway show and it’s making me cry now listening to Ariana sing it. Like, the way that her voice went so quiet and soft when she said “your father might come back”???? My heart is breaking so much for Alyssa right now :((((

ANDREW!!!!!!!!

“Exactly. Because that’s the way God made her, Shelby.” THE SASS.

Andrew belting!!!!!!!! HE’S JUST SO GOOD!!!!!

Jo!!!!!!!! ‘Unruly Heart’ is making me so emotional, I just love that song so much and Jo really puts so much heart and emotion into it.

The finale!!!! I’m getting so emotional.

Wait, did they really give J*mes C*rd*n a song about coming out to sing in the credits?????? J*mes C*rd*n?????????? WHO DID THIS????? WHO THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA???????

Overall, I’m pretty happy with the soundtrack! I’ve missed this show so much.