#steinmarie fic

[ryanthel0ser]

I'd like to take a moment to shoutout the SteinMarie fic that took the candles lesson that Soul and Maka have where they nearly ruin their soul wavelengths and then not only had Stein go through it with Marie during their student days but instead of fighting they end up kissing

Like you cooked so hard there, thank you for the meal, I have not stopped thinking about it, I might re-read the whole thing right now

[savethelastdan]

✨ A fic you wish you could read again for the first time

I Put A Spell on You by DollyPop - one of the best Soul Eater fics back when I used to read Stein/Marie constantly. The ending twist was so satisfying the first time.

[toweroftunes]

Thank you so much for this addition! Seriously 10/10 stuff <3.

How you said "that they encourage each other to be their best selves entirely independent of what they can offer externally."

YES! THAT!!

Marie and Stein are so much more complex and nuanced as a duo than they get credit for, ugh.

You’re the SteinMarie person right? Can you talk about what you like about them and their dynamic? 😊

Hi! Hello! Sorry for the delay in getting to this ask but thank you for asking me!!

Idk if I’m the SteinMarie person, but I guess we could say I’m one of them??

Hmm, I think I could say that there are two parts to why I like them.

One is that they’re both just. Silly.

Stein gets a lot of attention because of his neurodivergence — for not being able to properly connect with or understand people, and his way of going about it being concerning to say the least. But I’d like to point out that Stein is. Silly. He’s a smartass and an asshole. When he first meets Spirit again in the series, he jokes to him about his wife knowing full well that they’re divorced. He also says that he’d switched his toes during surgery. In the NOT series, he makes a replica of a girl’s head to scare said girl’s friends with. And Marie is introduced to us by way of her deciding to marry a toilet, then pummeling said toilet when she suspects even the toilet of infidelity. Furthermore when confronting the man who killed Marie’s ex, Stein spins and dips Marie. Absolutely ridiculous.

The other is that while they might be externally presented as ridiculous, they don’t view each other as such; rather they don’t view each other as solely scary, or solely silly, but they actually perceive one another as serious people. And, yes, this is my own reading of it — I think that Marie and Stein are willing to understand each other in ways that others don’t.

On the surface Stein is a perceived as a genius with low emotional intelligence, and disregard for others. And Marie, on the surface, is an overly emotional person who people perceive as obsessed with finding love, starting a family, etc. However, these two are able to express patience, support, and trust for one another outside of these roles/assignments/perceptions.

When Naigus tells Marie that Stein isn’t capable of love, Marie follows him anyway. Not because she thinks he’s capable or incapable of love, but because she trusts that he did not kill BJ. Because she wants to catch BJ’s killer, and because she doesn’t want Stein to go through it all alone.

Stein, in turn, doesn’t question Marie moving into his lab when Lord Death places her as his partner. Instead he exercises patience and support for her moving across the world, for her putting her life and other goals on hold because she holds herself responsible in her duty as a Death Scythe. He also doesn’t question her investment in others as being frivolous; her investment in finding BJ’s killer isn’t about a romantic option being taken away from her, but about giving BJ justice, which Stein is likewise willing to help her do because, yes their interests align, but also because I think he respects the principal of it (this could also go into a whole tangent on Stein’s mental/ideological support system through partnership but I’ll not get into that now).

Patience. Support. Trust.

I think it’s a common reading that Marie makes him better because of her healing wavelength, or because she knows how to take care of him. I hate this interpretation, tbh. I won’t say that that’s not real or how it’s written, because it is in the sense that Medusa and Marie are foils of one another in a fairly reductive way: Medusa as the villain without motherly/caretaker instinct, one who abuses Crona, corrupts Stein, and Marie as the hero with motherly/caretaker instinct, one who comforts Crona, heals Stein. Her goodness in this sense is tied to her ability to be a caretaker and a mother. Blegh.

Marie's goodness is linked to her own principles of justice and kindness, imo. And Stein isn’t someone who needs to be guided so much as someone who needs his own insecurities around his sense of morality challenged.

Agh, sorry this is so long. And also sorry if it isn’t super coherent? I hope it makes a modicum on sense lol. And again, thank you for the ask!

[dollypopup]

You are obviously THE Stein/Marie person of the Soul Eater fandom. Couple questions if you’d be so kind.

Any fanfics besides your own you’d recommend for Stein/Marie?

Also, would you mind sharing whatever your thoughts are on Stein and Spirit’s relationship?

(I finally finished the manga, so I can dive into your fics at last without fear of spoilers! 😊)

Oh wow! I am? Haha, I just love them so much as a couple! I think they bring out the absolute best in each other, and several years after the fact, I do still get giddy about them as a pair! That warms my heart that so many years later, people think of me when they think of this pairing <3

I have soooo many fanfic recommendations! I made a post ages ago about them, you can find it HERE but since making it there have been several great stories that have come out.

If You Read Anything, Read This

Worthy by @flourchildwrites (the best SteinMarie fic ever written. Period. and I'll say that with my entire chest over and over again. An exploration of them growing up together as Meister-Weapon pair. Poignant, perfectly in character, and so so well written)

Marie's Guide to Dating a Self-Proclaimed Sociopath by @ohmytheon (anything ohmytheon writes that's SteinMarie is a guaranteed BANGER. every single time. other fantastic fics by them include Just Breathe , From Great Heights , Who Did I Think We Were? , and if M and E are more your style, Sexology and there's something at work in my soul (FMA AU!!! brilliantly made)

Some one shots that are fun reads

Fluff

20/20 vision by supine_with_stein (eclaire_and_pocky)

Study Buddy

False Alarm! by benedicteggs

I Simply Must Be Loving You by lukieee

Cold Hands, Warm Heart by thehopelessunromantic (DoctorCannoli)

Kid Fics

Room for Two by MicrosuedeMouse

Paradigm Shift

Father Figure by benjaminfinns

Angst

Not Quite Lichtenberg by Webtrinsic

Becoming Naive by raspberryfanfics

Smut

Stitched by secret_wanderer19

As for Stein and Spirit, I'll put that one under a read more

I have some complicated feelings about Stein and Spirit. I think what Stein did to him is an irreparable harm, honestly, to the point where even at the end of the Manga and Series, Spirit has a lot of complex PTSD to work through regarding him. He's his watchdog, his babysitter, chained to him through circumstance whether he wants it or not. Spirit is a lonely man. I don't know how often that's discussed, but by the end of the series, truly, Spirit has lost everything.

At the start of it, this dynamic is different. Stein is the one who has nothing to his name save his talents when he first comes to and leaves the DWMA, and Spirit is the one who has everything. He has friends, a family. A daughter and a wife and a good job, a good meister. THE best meister, arguably, considering he is Lord Death's weapon. And then he ends it with nothing: a shattered relationship with his daughter he is still in the midst of attempting to fix, an ex-wife who cannot stand to be in the same country as him, friends who roll their eyes at his antics, a dead meister, a dead God.

You contrast this with Stein, who begins with nothing. A belief he cannot love, cannot be close to anyone, who experiments on his partner like a lab rat, distancing himself from the realities of this breach of trust. And then he ends the series with everything Spirit once had, on the up and up. A loving partner, close connections, a position of authority in his workplace, a daughter on the way.

Stein and Spirit are foils, when one is heads up, the other is tails. And I think there's a lot that Spirit wants to say to him that he can't, because he still has fear toward Stein. Very justifiable fear. And in truth, though I think Stein has some form of comradery with Spirit, he doesn't view him as a full person, which leads to a very strained relationship between them, if it can be truly called such. They're drawn together partly against their will, partly through circumstance, partly through the past. They have a lot to work through if they actually want to be friends (something I personally wouldn't consider them), but I think the reality is that Stein wasn't sorry, and that will always be a wall between them that will be insurmountable. He doesn't have remorse for what he did to Spirit, and I think Spirit may always feel some kind of way about 'What was it about me? You could do that to me but not to someone else? To Marie?'

Spirit has a lot to work through, personally, and Stein exacerbates that because he is the wound that Spirit cannot ever fully heal. Stein was, in many ways, Spirit's first heartbreak. Part of why he drinks, part of why he looks for escape in other things, other people. And though time has softened that, though Spirit may show up to a wedding (if there is one) or to visit Baby Shelley (my own HC for the baby girl he and Marie have), there will always have to be some distance there, so Spirit doesn't fully break.

And for Stein? I think Stein considered Spirit his friend at first, and then his warden afterward. Come to check on him to make sure he hasn't found his end at the wrong side of a scalpel. Wandering into his home with deadened eyes and distance on Death's account. At the end, on the Battle of the Moon, when Spirit says he watches out for him more than he does his own daughter, it's not born out of tenderness, but obligation. And with Death dead and the world beginning in new form, I don't think even that will be in place, anymore.

And truthfully? I think that distance is what may truly help him heal.

Thank you so much for your ask! <3 <3

[genericsfan]

so mariemedusa is growing on you hehehehe i have questions for you! Cuz i admit mariemedusa is my guilty pleasure

How does it feel to slowly but sure like mariemedusa?

Any thoughts about that ship?

Any headcanons, if possible?

Are you planning on writing something about it? Maybe a fanfic or something?

Pls do ramble if you want to! I would LOVE to hear your thoughts!

Hehehe cracking knuckles

I’ll admit it’s kinda weird. I’ve always been a proud steinmarier and a Medusa hater so it was a little unexpected when my brain was like “what if they kissed”. But I really enjoy the dynamic between the two and I just really like WLW ships. ANWAY.

I think it’s a really fun dynamic to explore. The way Marie would be completely clueless that the school nurse has other plans and is just head over heels for her. While Medusa is very confused as to why this woman is falling for her and she’s “so evil” that she resents it but can’t help but love the attention she gets from her. She ends up falling for her as well and omg waht if they got married and lived together and cooked food together and and And and ahhh. Domestic bliss my fave

One headcanon that lives in my head is Marie being like super feminine and while Medusa is too. it isn’t to the level Marie is. Medusa trying to sleep with her wife that wants to cuddle but she has curlers in and they are stabbing Medusa in all the wrong places. I want them to get ready for a party in the same mirror together and bond that way. Also Marie is definitely the kind of girl to pass the baby section in a store and look at Medusa like a kicked puppy because she wants one.

Also I would LOVE to write for mariemedusa, I’m just not sure what yet or if I’ll be able to nail their characters. I tried to draw them out of pure homosexual audacity but I gave up. I don’t have an idea of what the fic would be about either. Stay tuned though …..maybe

Thank you for sending in :)

And here take this shit meme I made in literally 1 minute

[beniyasu]

The Tear, The Jacket, and The Promise (Soul/Maka ficlet)

This is a short fic I did last year while I was active on the Soul Eater amino (prompt was: Formal Attire) Anyway enjoy if you happen upon this lol.

"By the power vested in me and Death himself, you may seal your union with a kiss!" 

Marie splayed her hand at the nape of Stein's neck to bring him down to her level. Though the kiss was chaste, promise underlied it and a cacaphony of whistles and claps erupted throughout the church. Maka looked on in elation from the second row, thinking of how Marie looked like a dream with her flowing cream-colored gown, a very pronounced bump flaring the skirt foreward. A little soul dwelled beneath, awaiting its entry into the world, causing Marie's skirt to brush Stein's long legs. 

Even he looked handsome in his own only slightly deranged sort of way. He donned a white tux, per his fiance's request, and a yellow botanniere. (Maka supposed the look balanced out with the big screw jutting out of his head.)

The picture perfect moment of their union was completed by Marie's white-lace eyepatch (made for just this occasion) and her gorgeous, lacey, cathedral-styled train, which cascaded like a pearline waterfall over the altar stairs and charcoal-colored floor.

Some were skeptical about Stein and Marie's engagement. Responses to the coupling in social media comments included, I didn't know that man was even interested in women. Or The only way I see this ending is with a dateline episode: wife and child killed via vivisection! However there was also an outpouring of support for the couple, and everyone who knew the couple had no doubts in their mind that Stein would only protect Marie and their baby. And perchance he did try anything like that, Marie would punch him to the stratosphere without hesitation. 

The couple started to make their way down the aisle while Spirit -the best man- and Marie's sister -the maid of honor- followed; she scurried to carry the train at the bride's wake. Maka's mossy eyes followed the line of the train as it trailed behind Marie like a milky river across the floor, then she shifted her attention to the source of the recessional music- a grand pipe organ at the head of the room just beyond the altar.

Beautiful, as always, Maka thought. She fondly gazed at her best friend and weapon as she listened to his music.

Soul had familiarized himself with the pipe organ ever since Marie pitched the request to him about playing at the wedding. Needless to say, the keyboard virtuoso didn't disappoint. 

So there he was, a sliver of white hair and grey suit at the mahogany organ console.

The hundreds of tall pipes jutting from the organ shined silver while the little pipes that created higher-pitched sounds were copper; and Illuminating just above the pipes where the music streamed out was the Shinigami skull, made up of white and onyx stained glass.

He's come so far… Maka thought as she heard the grand and full sound of Soul's organ-playing. She fully embraced the music he made -albeit it wasn't for her- as it ricocheted off the high-vault ceilings and resonated warmly, and fully, throughout the cathedral.

Without Soul's music, the wedding wouldn't be the same, Maka thought to herself as she observed how the white light that faintly beamed through the Shinigami skull bathed Marie and Stein in a white glow as they made their way down the aisle.

Overwhelmed by the echoing cheers for the newlyweds, the ethereal light and music, and her sentimental feelings regarding her weapon, Maka felt a tap on her shoulder. 

Tsubaki apologized for the intrusion then spoke, "We're heading out a little early to make sure the reception is all ready." 

"You coming with?" Liz gestured towards the side exit, where Black Star and Patty waited.

Maka glanced towards the opposite side of the room then back at the girls. "I'll wait for Soul, we'll meet up with you there!" 

"Figured," Liz smirked. "See ya." 

Maka nodded and waved as the two girls walked away hand-in-hand. 

The room grew larger, emptier, and quieter as everyone in the crowd slowly trickled out of the ballroom. A few guests stuck around to make idle chatter with one another, but overall the crowd was leaving in droves to fully experience a Death wedding, which was usually followed by releasing crows from a cage and taking a branch from a Cypress tree.

The cheering of the wedding guests could faintly be heard from inside Death Cathedral as Maka made her way to the front bench. She took a seat and let the tones of the organ wash over her. 

After the final chord rung out throughout the near-empty cathedral, Maka's claps caromed off the walls.

Soul casually set his hands at his sides and turned to face her, "You're the only one clapping, weirdo."

"And so what? You were amazing! Well, you always are." 

Soul stood and walked over to Maka, "You always say that." His face tinged pink as he descended the small staircase.

"Because it's true," she responded with a fist of conviction. "You learned it so quickly Soul! The sound was so full, like a choir or something." 

"Not gonna lie, it's pretty cool," Soul grinned. "I always admired the way the notes sustain and resonate, the lower notes just shake you up. Not to mention it's nice to look at." He stood before her then glanced towards the majesty of the instrument.

"It's so big. Why does there need to be hundreds of pipes?" 

"You operate stops to get different sounds out of different sets of pipes. Then there's all those pedals, a lot more than piano. Had to wear pointier shoes for that sort of precision." Soul demonstrated by lifting his foot to show the elongated toe of his italian-leather derbies. "You can get all sorts of tones out of it, though." He sat down next to her.

"Yeah, it sounded different the time I heard you practicing, I think," Maka mused. "It had a different timbre…"

Soul laughed, "Timbre?"

"Yeah, timbre! Why's that funny?"  Maka crossed her arms and pouted. "Did I use the word wrong or something?"

Soul leaned back into the bench too, mirroring her, "That was musically… literate of you. You been reading music books?" His eyes widened slightly, looking like cherries in a small pool of milk. 

Maka looked away and bit her lip. "Kind of, I'm reading a novel right now where the protagonist is a musician. I figured since the music theory in the first books I tried went over my head, I should try reading a novel instead. You know, to connect with it more." 

Her eyes boomeranged back to Soul after a few seconds and his parted lips melted into a soft smile. 

"That means a lot to me, Maka." 

Maka's arms slinked atop her stomach and she focused on the soft texture of her chiffon dress to fight the heat rising to her face. "I just wanted to try again... since I didn't try hard enough before to understand you better." 

Soul turned to her, eyes soft.

"Maka, you know me better than anyone," he reached over to place his hand on hers in reassurance. "You don't have to try anything for me." 

What was she supposed to say when he looked at her that way? As he held her hand?

Please don't ever drift away from me… 

Her eyes drifted from their hands to return his gaze, "I just figured since you're really embracing your music these days, that I wanted to understand it better. That's all." 

She smiled at him shakily and Soul removed his hand from on top of hers to rest it comfortably at his side as he shifted closer to lay his head on her shoulder. Usually she'd rest her head on his in return, as they'd grown so comfortable with another throughout the past five years. But her stupid heart decided to go haywire every time he got close to her as of late.

Maka felt the pressure of his cheek at her shoulder, which she deduced to be a grin judging by his tone of voice when he said: "Coolest partner ever."

She chuckled and tried to put herself in the mindset of comfort -of how they always were- by letting her head rest against his.

"I didn't get to tell you earlier," Soul's voice could be felt in her chest. "You had nothing to worry about. The dress looks good on you."

If she could melt and become one with a bench this would be the moment. Instead she quickly recollected their conversation from a few days before. 

"I'm not too sure about the color. Pink just never looks good on me." Maka otherwise loved the style of the dress. It wasn't constricting on her legs, as it was pretty flowy and ended just above her knees. Her armpits would be able to breathe with those fluttery looking short sleeves, and the neckline was modest.

Soul looked at the dress displayed on the website, "What are you talking about? Pink looks just fine on you. Besides, this isn't one of those tacky pinks, it's more of a dusty rose."

"Dusty rose?" Maka snorted. 

She knew Soul had an eye and sensibility for matters like these due to his Evans upbringing, but he never failed to entertain her with his sophistication.

"Yeah. It's a good pink. And that's a nice dress. Up to you."  

Maka didn't know nearly as much about formal wear as Soul did. She thought it was okay to wear clip-on suspenders to a formal event and asked Soul why he needed to purchase button-on ones. Clip-ons don't work as well, not to mention they undermine the value of the tailoring. 

"Well, you helped me pick it out. Of course you think it looks good."

"So you don't like it? Then why did you get it?"

"No- I do like it," Maka corrected. "I've come to trust your eye for these sorts of things…" 

Soul tilted his head back to look at Maka as he responded with a smirk, "You saying I have good taste?" 

"Well, sometimes! At least now you do. Your style was questionable the first couple years of our partnership, though." 

He shook with laughter, "Can't deny that. But I won't ever throw away that varsity jacket. Say what you want but I still think it's sick." 

She wouldn't ever deny that the style was at least uniquely his. Whether it was the result of trying too hard or not. "I'm happy you donated that full-patterned get-up, though. Even had a matching headband. That was the worst offender in your closet." 

"Should've set it on fire, to be honest." 

Maka lifted her left hand and offered it to Soul, "Wanna bet it's still at that second-hand store?"

She initiated the contact, and yet when he met her hand with his, she felt her face get hot again. "I bet it isn't. Any sane shopkeeper would have gotten rid of it." 

"Bet." 

The pair sat in silence as they held hands for a while. Only the lull of the air conditioner permeated the air around them.

"We should head to the reception now." Maka's voice sliced through the silence as she picked up her head.

Soul practically salivated, "Good call. 'm starving." 

No doubt he was thinking of the sashimi at the buffet table. 

Soul stood, and with their hands still interlaced, he pulled Maka up with him. Or rather, at least he tried to. 

He knew there was something amiss when she didn't seamlessly get up with him like she always did. She let out a tiny grunt. 

"Are you stuck?" 

"I- the back of my dress is snagged on something- I think it's a stray nail…" Maka twisted her body and turned her head as much as she could to try to get a good look at whatever her dress had caught onto. 

"Hey- don't move you'll rip it, let me check it out." 

Maka straightened her posture while Soul went to inspect the problem. I feel a slight breeze… don't tell me… 

"Uh, yeah, too late," Soul lifted the material from the stray nail and Maka stood, contorting her body to see what she was dealing with. 

After unsuccessfully trying to see the rip, she reached around and gauged the size of the tear with her fingers. This evoked a squeak. 

"You wouldn't happen to have a sewing kit with you would you?" 

It was only about three inches long but it was no doubt noticable; she could scissor her fingers far too widely and feel too much of her skin.

"Yes Maka, I carry a little sewing kit with me everywhere I go." 

"What should I do?" she held the top of her head in frustration. "I didn't bring a cardigan or anything… maybe we can go home really quickly and I can change! We can make it fast if you transform-" Maka's idea was interrupted by movement. Soul strode toward her and draped the stiff fabric of his finely-tailored grey suit jacket over her shoulders. His scent and his warmth emanated from the jacket.

"Soul-" 

"We aren't going back to the apartment," he tenderly stuffed each of her arms into the sleeves, the material extending past the tips of her fingers by an inch.

"There, problem solved," he spoke softly as he rolled up one of the too-long sleeves into a cuff at her wrist. She gazed at his face in a tiny stupor as he did this. The flush in his cheeks went unnoticed on Maka's part, as she chose to stare at his eyes. His rose petal eyes (soft and scarlet), his wispy white lashes, his touch… she knew each of them so well and yet they had the power to render her dumbstruck. 

"You always know what to do…" she muttered.

Soul finished the other cuff with one last roll, "Well, someone ha-" Then she embraced him, slinking her arms around his torso and stuffing her face in the crook of his neck. 

Maka felt the thrum of his pulse, the collar of his shirt, the silk of his burgundy tie. The way his soul perked when she held him, and how his arms slowly wove around her. 

"Jeez Maka, it was a simple solution, really…" He returned her embrace and his voice was so close. 

"I know but…" she trailed. You know all the simple solutions.

"You know, I only know what to do because you've given me the strength to," Soul spoke softly then pulled away just enough to look at her. "I wanna repay you every day, Maka, for the strength you've given me. A jacket's the very least I could do."

In that moment his red eyes gleamed with sincerity and raw emotion, and his soul oozed affection. 

She stood there, flustered and stunned, while her heart fluttered madly in her chest. 

There was so much warmth in this connection. So much care. It's where she felt the safest. Where she could give up her strength when she needed to and maximize her strength when the situation called for it.

Then, she started to cry. Her face flushed and her teary eyes resembled wet moss as she pulled away. With balled fists she started wiping away the wetness, careful not to get the cuffs damp. 

"Hey," Soul reached over to the front-chest pocket of the jacket around Maka's frame to pull out the pocket square. "Don't get your hands all wet. Here, use this instead." 

He placed it in her hand, and it was so refined with its silkiness and red trim that she almost didn't use it. 

"Heck, if you get snotty, blow your nose in it for all I care," he smirked and Maka chuckled as she wiped her eyes and cheeks dry.

"Thanks Soul," Maka folded it up and stuffed it back into the pocket. "So, you want to repay me? Every day?" 

He shifted his eyes away from her as he reddened and scratched his nape.

Shoving away the thought that her weapon wanted to repay her every day and that he was too cute when he was bashful, Maka grabbed his hand.

"You do that by just staying by my side." 

Before they could start walking down the aisle to the doubledoors, a too-loud grating yell traveled from across the room.

"Oi, lovebirds, we're waiting on you!" 

There stood Black Star, Kid, and Patty, no doubt seeking them out due to their no-show. 

"Finally sealed the deal?" Black Star didn't let up. 

"About time!" Patty's bubbly voice bounced off the walls.

The two could only stand there stunned and flustered. Maka was the first to reply, "We're coming!" She didn't find the necessity in countering their claims. At this point Soul and her let them think what they wanted. The claims weren't new by any means.

Kid's voice joined in, beaming to the heavens, "The buffet table is ready and perfectly symmetrical!" 

"Not when I'm done with it!" Star cackled. 

Kid turned up his nose, "I won't let your symmetry sabotage get to me anymore, Star." 

Patty joined in on the teasing, "After I finish all that yummy dessert on the right side this dress isn't gonna fit me anymore!"

"Not you too Patricia," Kid whined. "You know what- I'm fine! As long as there was just one fleeting moment of beauty…" 

Maka laughed airily at her friends, We've all come a long way haven't we… 

Donning his suit jacket and a smile, Maka started leading the way. "C'mon," she held fast his hand.  

The light coming in from the gaping double doors and the soft beam coming in from the Shinigami stained glass window entrenched Maka in a full sheet of light. 

As they walked to the reception hall, Maka in Soul's jacket and Soul's hand in hers, his grasp didn't falter once.

After all, where else was he going to go, but with her? 

[memethebum]

It’s Sunday, so here’s a Steinmarie-centric chapter for A sealed Prey!

I put this together pretty quickly bc it’s been AGES since I posted another chapter for this AU (definitely blaming all those “oneshots”I’ve been writing hehe) so enjoy!!

——————————————————————-

The first thing Marie noticed was the sharp smell of a cigar as it wafted towards her current location from an unknown distance. The woman blearily opened her eyes and discerned that she was sprawled onto a large sofa in one of the manor’s drawing rooms once shifting her body beneath a warm comforter that had been wrapped around her.

“F-Franken?” Marie called out after sensing a presence near the doorway.

She wasn’t the least bit surprised to find her husband bolting into the room and hastily stubbing a cigar within an ashtray before kneeling in front of the sofa.

A wave of relief immediately washed over the woman once she locked eyes with her husband, although the circumstance still seemed to cause the embers of another affliction to snap within her once more.

“William? Is he alright? And Azusa-“

“Is currently taking a nap in the nursery with William. Both of them are completely fine,” Stein finished before massaging his hand around the center of Marie’s right shoulder.

“That’s-good to hear,” Marie replied as she desperately tried to quell the haunting image of the unknown woman who had planted a sense of fear throughout every corner of their current home.

“Azusa taking a nap sounds a bit…odd though,” she added with a weary smile.

Stein’s expression proceeded to break into a mirthful smirk, causing Marie to notice the layer of exhaustion he was attempting to conceal for her sake.

“Yes, but it’d most likely temper her mood if she were to do it more often. Although, I’d never say that directly to her of course,” he noted, causing Marie to release an airy giggle and gently wrap one her hands on his right bicep.

“Come here,” she offered through a light tug on his arm before rolling the comforter to her feet and lifting herself up into a sitting position.

Her movements had prompted Stein to stand up and help ease his wife towards the edge of the sofa before crawling onto the spot which she had left open for him.

He then let out a small huff before laying his head onto the pillow and gently wrapping his arms around the small of Marie’s back in order to help settle her ontop his large frame.

“Are-are Maka and Soul alright as well?” she yelped abruptly to her husband, who gave her a steady nod in return.

“Azusa sent them to town for some fresh air. Needless to say, those two definitely deserved it,” he elaborated, causing Marie to hum in agreement.

She then let out a heavy sigh the instant her head made contact with his chest, allowing them both to relinquish some of their laden tensions as Marie rolled the comforter over their bodies.

The couples’ heartbeats gradually began to slow into a leisurely pattern, and the women was sure that they would both be fast asleep within a few moments if she wasn’t so eager to begin probing at the most important facet of their relationship.

“Tell me Franken,” Marie suddenly voiced through the hazy silence, causing the man to lower his eyes to meet her gaze.

“You…have to make a promise before I ask the question,” she added as her husband’s pupils began to gleam in a sense of unwavering concentration that seemed to always leave her mesmerized.

Stein offered her a low hum to showcase his curiosity before beginning to massage his hand around the top of her head. Marie had used the opportunity to break their mutual gaze at one another and set her lips into a tight line.

“Please…try to answer this question as Frank N. Stein and not my husband,” she elaborated and watched him still for a few agonizing moments before shaking his head in approval.

“I promise,” her husband replied and left Marie to clutch at the fabric of his shirt before speaking the words into the air between them.

“Do you believe…what I was saying before? About the woman in the wall and how she’ll bring about the death of everyone in the manor? It doesn’t seem to-to align with any sort of scientific theory, so am I going mad?” Marie weakly blurted before shaking her head in confusion.

“I-,” Stein began to start, although the women could tell he had only spoken up in order to diminish the heavy silence that would’ve settled into the room as he considered each of the questions she presented him with.

He released a deep breath before regarding Marie, who had shifted her gaze down to her husband’s shirt in order to give him some space before having to voice a response that would serve as a form of judgement on both her sanity and how it affected the relationship they had built long before their marriage.

“Science…is about uncovering elements of the world that seem to be overlooked by humanity. Theories aren’t set in stone either, so magic can’t really be ruled out of the picture,” he explained, causing Marie’s eyebrows to rise towards her loose bangs as she internalized the words he had just spoken to her.

“That’s the most honest response I can give. Frank N. Stein is always looking to create a better understanding of the world isn’t he?” the man continued with a smirk, causing Marie to further dwell over his answer before giving him a steady nod.

“I suppose looking at things in that manner does make sense,” the woman added, prompting Stein to slowly caress her back as she nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck.

“Even if that weren’t the case, I could never find myself simply dismissing how set you are on all this. Not when we both know…how unsteady I can be at times,” he whispered and was then impelled to slightly flinch as Marie’s cold palms slowly encircled his cheeks.

“I trust you Franken, no matter how large or small the faith you put on your sanity is,” Marie whispered back, causing Stein to move his hand back towards her sleek locks of hair.

“And I’ll never stop trusting you, no matter where it leads me,” he finished before lightly grazing his lips over her scalp.

The pair then fell into silence once more, although Marie could hardly find time to relax as her mind began to sift through the interaction she had just concluded with her husband.

She suddenly found her thoughts tethering into a standstill by the sound of heavy snoring, causing the woman to lovingly gaze up at Stein as his face melted into a serene expression through the coming of sleep.

Oh Franken, you don’t have to shoulder all this weight alone…not when I’m willing and able to do it with you she sighed before resting her cheek onto his chest, which had begun to softly rise and fall through the man’s slumber.

I will catch that bitch and I will protect our family, even if it means I have to go up against a form of madness even more gruesome than this one Marie decided as she felt a source of warmth steadily envelop her chest, almost as if her soul was steeling itself while she had this moment to rest within her husband’s embrace.

[thehopelessunromantic]

Call him a sadist or a sociopath, but Stein couldn't deny that he found a certain amount of twisted pleasure in making others squirm. Even (or especially) if that person happened to be Marie

TLDR: Stein has cold hands. Marie is warm.

(I'm approximately 10 years too late to this fandom, but these dorks give me life.)

[robertphilip]

when do you think stein and marie got together officially?

Sometime between finding Justin and returning to Death City. Like they finally had proof of Stein's innocence, and they were clearly doing better mentally so like... I imagine things would just. Fall into place from there.

Plus, I think it makes sense with Marie and Stein's reactions to Spirit's honeymoon comment, like ma'am what are you so defensive for?? Sir, what are you giggling about??? Be less obvious next time 😩

[hydok]

AUgust Writing Challenge: Day 2 College AU ( prompts found at @augustwritingchallenge ) Fandom: Soul Eater Characters/Ship: Stein/Marie Warnings: none Marie has a problem. She has a lot of problems (boys, school, accidental property damage) but right now her most pressing problem is one she encounters way too often. She’s lost.

The Engineering, Nursing, and Science building is a disaster of a maze, with looping corridors and half-levels and staircases that don't go where anyone expects. It's spring semester of her sophomore year and she's finally tackling her 1000-level bio course. Should she have taken this last spring? Yes. But her suitemate Eruka - who is a literal genius and tackling a double major in mechanical engineering and some kind of math that Marie can't even wrap her head around -  said the ENS was hell to navigate, and Marie took that as the warning it was and doubled up on humanities Gen-Eds instead. Unfortunately, right now she's dealing with the one-two punch of being in class with mostly freshmen, and navigating the ENS. Or, more accurately, sitting on a staircase that she can't even find on her map of the floorplan, staring at what might be labs or might be classrooms or might be offices, with numbers on the doors that don't even go in any particular order. She looks between the sheet in her hand (with clearly written instructions that don't make any sense anymore) and the numbers on the doors. "You look lost," says someone behind her, and she nearly falls off the steps as stands up and turns to look up, and up, and up at the man standing on the stairs behind her. He keeps walking, to stand on the ground a couple steps below her and he's still taller than her, even in her heels. She knows she's short, but this is ridiculous. "Are you a basketball player?" Is what comes out of her mouth, only to be met with a raised eyebrow from the stranger, who’s obviously heard that one before. "No, I'm a forensic science major." His voice is dry, and a little bit accented with something she can't exactly place (German, maybe?). "And you're lost." "This building is worse than I thought it would be," she says, frustrated. He watches her from behind the round lenses of his glasses. His eyes are a striking shade of olive green, and he’s really not handsome at all but there’s something in his expression that makes her feel like he has a sense of humor, which always improves anyone’s face. "I can't find ENS 245 anywhere!" "Well, you're in the wrong part of the building for Gen Bio. Make a left, then go down those stairs to the main entryway. At the bottom of the stairs, walk straight ahead and go up the half stars on your right, then down the hallway and--" he stops, taking in her deer-in-the-headlights expression. "Why don't I just show you."

 "Thank you, you're a lifesaver!" 

[flourchildwrites]

#4 on the fic ask :)

Thanks for the ask, @ruikosakuragi!  I love doing these things even if it means squandering the free time I have when I should be catching up on my writing, reading and reviewing.

4.   What is the last thing that a fic made you google when you were writing it?

I’m diligently procrastinating working on the last chapter and epilogue of Worthy, my Soul Eater SteinMarie fic.  Since it’s a pre-canon fic, there are a few original characters.  One of them is the witch Circe, the antagonist.

The last chapter features a fight between Stein and Marie opposite Circe, and it’s set in Ponza, the suspected island that was called Aeaea in Homer’s Odyssey where the sorceress Circe lived during the winter months.  Specifically, there’s a cave on the island named (according to Wikipedia) Cave of the Sorceress Circe or Grotta della Maga Circe, and that’s where the final fight takes place.

I googled “grotta della maga circe” today to find out more about the cave and see a few pictures for a description.  Apparently, you can only enter by swimming or canoe, and there’s this pinkish and lilac color on the rocks thanks to the presence of certain a type of alga.  Fun grammar fact - alga is the singular form of algae.  I didn’t know that! 

All this is good to appreciate so that when I go completely off the rails writing about furiously glowing stalactites, I’ll know I’m writing pure fiction.  Here’s the rough result:

The entrance to the Grotta della Maga Circe was hewn into the ocean side of a mighty mountain, cast into rock that, in the light of day, was pink to the point of lilac.   But in darkness, the world was bathed in midnight shades of blue and black, save a shimmering light emanating from the mouth of Circe’s den.  The cave’s opening formed a triangular slit with jagged rocks like teeth protruding at odd angles.  Everything about the entrance promised danger within, and Marie’s pulse surged with excitement and terror.

“Still sure you don’t want to wait until morning?” Stein asked, mockingly.

From the front of their rented canoe, the young blonde smirked.  She threw Stein a scathing look and continued paddling.  Their oars pierced the turbulent surface of the Tyrrhenian Sea in synchronized strokes, propelling the teens in the direction of the sole light source.  It beckoned, like a lighthouse of ill-repute and settled any debate regarding Circe’s knowledge of their presence.

“It would be rude to keep our host waiting,” Marie shot back.

Send me Fanfic Asks for Readers AND Writers!

[ohmytheon]

there's something at work in my soul (1)

I can't believe I finished this monstrosity of a fic, but I did it and now I can finally focus on all my other projects without feeling guilty. This is the Soul Eater/FMA AU that no one asked for, but I couldn't get out of my head and I used this year's Resbang as an excuse to write it. What was supposed to be like 20k turned into almost 44k, so wow, that's absurd. Special thanks to @innocentcinnamonbun whose incredible and beautiful artwork you can see HERE. I'm absolutely in love with all and may or may not be using that first one as my phone's background because WOW it's brilliant. I AM IN AWE AND FLOORED. And also a shout out to @dollypopup who inspired me, helped me keep my steam rolling, and is an all-around awesome person and writer, no matter what she says.

Rating: (hard) PG-13 Warnings: depictions of violence and death, blood, unethical and illegal science experiments, kidnapping, scenes of murder, animal death, Madness, body horror, suspense, fear, flashbacks, war, language Pairings: Stein/Marie, minor Maka/Soul, past Spirit/Kami, one-sided Stein/Medusa Summary: (Fullmetal Alchemist Fusion AU)

Years after serving in the horrors of the Ishval War and seclusion, Stein, a State Alchemist whose alchemy is terrifying and unique, is forced to investigate a series of grisly murders alongside his old roommate and closest friend, Lieutenant-Colonel Marie Mjolnir, and former pal, General Spirit Albern. The mission: find and capture the Vector Alchemist, Medusa Gorgon, to stop her horrific alchemy experiments. But things become complicated as Stein journeys down this dark rabbit hole. Not only must he confront the terrible truth about alchemy, but he also must face his own demons, the mistakes of his past, and how his alchemy affected his relationships with Marie and Spirit. Is he any better than Medusa or is he already too far gone? As gruesome as Medusa’s crimes are, he can’t help but be intrigued by the alchemy and Marie can only remind him of his humanity for so long.

Chapter One: Deflagration

Rain was as familiar to him as, well, not a friend. Most would say that he didn’t know what friends were, but rain was a near constant for him in Central. He supposed that some people would find that comforting. Honestly, he didn’t feel one way or another. The rain didn’t soothe him and it didn’t hinder him. He was capable of doing most of his work and research inside anyways.

Currently it had been fifty-five days since Stein last left his home-turned-lab. He only knew that because he had made sure to buy enough food to last him approximately sixty days and he was beginning to come up short. Not that he counted his calories or watched what he ate. He just didn’t like the idea of being interrupted by something as simple as hunger and the need to grocery shop. His work was important, one of a kind. He already slept as little as possible. The government acted like his unending research wasn’t enough as it was.

But then, the government was particularly greedy when it came to alchemy.

Many of his fellow State Alchemists had dropped out of the program after the war ended. Stein didn’t blame them exactly, but he didn’t know how anyone could give up alchemy, something that was a part of him as much as his brain. Then again, he hadn’t been shaken nearly to the point they were. He had simply come back home, stitched up what little was left of his soul after committing so many atrocities, and gone back to his research. And if he had any nightmares, he didn’t sleep much anyways.

Just as he was finishing typing up a report on his latest test, a knock at the door echoed through the hallway. Stein ignored it at first, thinking that it might be one of the neighborhood kids. The older ones liked to bully the weaker kids into knocking on his door and running away in terror should he ever answer. He was considered something of a horror legend to the kids. It didn’t phase him much, but it was sometimes amusing to watch them flee or try to come up with an excuse if he ever caught them.

A minute later though, the knocking continued. It was a persistent and precise tapping on the metal door. The second he recognized it, he knew who was behind the door. Well, not who exactly, more like what. Stein sighed and saved his work before standing up and stretching. He hated being bothered by what he considered watch guards, but he was a Dog of the Military and so he had little to do but respond obediently.

At least they didn’t try to make him wear that irritating military uniform.

Not bothering with the lights, Stein made his way through his sparse lab to the front room. What would’ve been considered a living room by most standards held the barest semblance of one. The only reason he had a couch was because of his last roommate who moved out a little under a year after returning from the war. “Keep it,” she’d told him, “because I know you won’t buy another one.” He hadn’t planned on ever using it, but to be honest, he found himself sleeping on it more than his own bed.

Right as another round of knocking began, Stein unlocked the door and opened it, ready to tell of whatever poor Sergeant or Warrant Officer they’d sent to come fetch him. He had very important work to do, after all. Instead, he was left to stare down in mild surprise at his old roommate.

Marie Mjolnir was as small as he remembered, though not as bright. Her normally shiny blonde hair was a dirty blonde and plastered against her head due to the pouring rain and his house not having an awning to hide under. The blue eyepatch was new; she had left wearing the sparse black one the military had given her like an apology back in Ishval. It matched her uniform, which she somehow managed to make look attractive, despite being the same as every other soldier’s and hiding her curves. Maybe that was just her though.

“Are you going to let me in or are you just going to continue to assess me?” Marie asked.

Read the rest: AO3 (or keep reading and wait for updates)

A very direct question, how so very like her. Despite the fact that he had left her out in the rain and ignored her for a few minutes, she didn’t look mad. She didn’t look happy either though. Considering that she was still wearing her uniform, when he knew for a fact that she slipped out of her uniform the second she came home, this was not a personal visit. This was work. And they had sent her.

Stein stepped aside so that she could traipse inside. She cringed, muttering an apology about the water, but he only shrugged his shoulders in response. It would take little effort to clean it up. Instead of waiting for him, she found the light switch and turned it on to illuminate the room as he closed the door. Even after all these years gone, she didn’t need his help to find her way around the place.

“Do you need something dry to wear?” If it was anyone else in the world, Stein would not have bothered asking. Hospitality was a stretch for him even with her after years of not seeing her, but he knew that she would appreciate the attempt. He did not dwell on why her appreciation mattered. He especially did not dwell on why he had some of her old, dry belongings for her to wear still stored in a box in the back of his closet.

Marie smiled at him in the same sad way she did when she was moving out. “Thank you, but no, I’m afraid I’m here on business.”

“What do the Powers-That-Be require of me now?” Stein asked as he moved to sit on the couch. He sat right in the middle, lounging and throwing his arms on the back. A polite man would have offered her a place to sit, but Stein admittedly felt on edge. The government was requiring his assistance and they had sent Marie to get him, knowing full well what she meant to him. Or at least he thought they did. They had their eyes in everyone’s lives.

“It’s not necessarily you, per say,” Marie told him carefully, “so much as someone you know.”

Stein eyed her. She didn’t appear uncomfortable being under his scrutiny, but she never had been. While every other person averted their gaze from him or skirted around him, she never looked away from his gaze and was always upfront with him. She wasn’t afraid of him, despite his reputation. He wouldn’t have blamed her if she had been; she had seen firsthand exactly what he was capable of.

“What do they want?” Stein questioned flatly.

“You’re familiar with Medusa Gorgon,” Marie said, not sounding a hint bitter. He remembered the times when they were younger and she would desperately try to avoid any conversation about girls with him. Such innocent times seemed so far away, like they weren’t even real. No, this was business for her. “Also known as-”

“The Vector Alchemist,” Stein interrupted. “Yes, I’m familiar with her.”

Marie folded her arms across her chest. “A little more than familiar, I would say. You’ve seen her work, yes?”

“Sure, along with every General that has their hands in the State Alchemist Program.”

“Actually, that isn’t true - or at least it hasn’t been in a while.” Marie sighed. It wasn’t often that the government admitted making a mistake. They liked to pretend that every bump in the road was a step in the right direction, like it was meant to happen. Tell that to the men and women that died during the Ishval War. “She disappeared a month after the last State Alchemist exam, taking all of her research with her. Many felt like she was holding out. You were in contact with her that last month.”

Fixing his glasses so that they reflected off of the light, Stein considered what was being laid before him. It was true that he had been in contact with Medusa the month after their exams, but that hadn’t been the last time he had seen her. That had been eight months ago, a full two months after she’d supposedly disappeared. She had been extremely secretive and they hadn’t met in the same location as before, but many alchemists were quite possessive of their research to the point of paranoia.

Apparently, she had been confident enough in him to show him some of her top secret alchemy research and now the government was expecting him to spill the details. Very smart of them to send Marie, who he hated lying to. He wondered if they had questioned her on her past relationship with him before sending her here.

“They need me to tell her what I know of her research?” Stein fiddled around in his pocket for a pack of cigarettes before pulling out a rather smashed up pack. Despite being a little bent, he found a usable one. “It’s not much, to be honest. She kept all of her work coded. I only saw what she me to see and only because I thought it might tie into my own research.”

“And did it?”

Stein placed the cigarette in his mouth and lit it, taking a long drag and blowing out smoke before answering. “We had different views in the end.”

Apparently that wasn’t the exact answer that Marie wanted to hear, judging by the little frown on her face. Still, she didn’t push him. She knew better than to do that. Anyone else and they would’ve started trying to interrogate him. Marie knew that if he had something to say, he would say it, and if he didn’t want to, he wouldn’t. Alchemists were tricky lots to deal with. Having grown up around them, she knew how to deal with them. Most people in the government did not.

“Regardless, the higher ups don’t really care about what you have to say about her research,” Marie explained, not bothering to wave any smoke away from her face. He was careful to blow in the opposite direction. “They would rather hear about it directly from her.”

Ah, there it was: the kicker, the true reason why they needed him. “I’m the last known person to see her. They need me in order to find her.”

“She trusted you enough to show you part of her research,” Marie pointed out. She didn’t look away from him even now. Marie trusted him too, didn’t she? And yet from the way she spoke about Medusa, she clearly didn’t like this other woman. So what did that say of him? Years had passed since they last saw each other, much longer since he saw Medusa. She had to wonder how much he had changed, especially after the war.

She had offered to stay - if he needed any help - but hadn’t given her a reason to do so. Every now and then, he couldn’t help but wonder if things would’ve turned out differently if he had. No reason to dwell on that though, not with her standing in front of him now gazing at him expectantly. Even though he hated going to Headquarters and talking to his superior officers even more, she wouldn’t have had to push him to come with her. A soft look from that single eye of hers alone would have corralled him into following her.

Pushing himself from off the couch, Stein moved to grab his white jacket when Marie made a slight noise of disapproval. Stein glanced back at her, jacket in his hands, but he didn’t need her to speak to know what she was telling him. He couldn’t help himself; he groaned out loud. “I’m not exactly a proper member of the military. Is it really necessary?”

“Yes, Franken, it is,” Marie huffed. The use of his name was both foreign and familiar. It had been a long time since anyone had said it, but she always had. “Go put on your uniform. And we’re stopping by my place before we head to HQ. I’m not stepping foot in the Fuhrer’s office sopping wet.”

*

Once in the Fuhrer’s office, Stein tugged uncomfortably at his uniform, just barely avoiding Marie slapping his hands away. Even though he was the leader of the country and military, the Fuhrer was an oddly cheerful man made even odder by his very uncheerful nickname, “Lord Death”. The man that had taken over the government after the Ishval War was tall and thin, pale skin stretched thin on a bony face that reminded some people of a skull. He had a white, toothy smile and youthfully cheeky voice, but his dark eyes were sharp and attentive. There was no such thing as hiding from a man like this.

Stein had only met the man once before when he was promoted in a ceremony the month after the war. It had been more for show than anything else. Anyone that knew him would’ve said that Stein didn’t give a damn about how far up he was on the ladder in the military. He’d taken the title of Major for granted after becoming a State Alchemist. The fact that he was technically a Colonel, despite having no subordinates to order around, was laughable. He had only joined the military because of the abilities it granted him with his research. Serving in the war had been an...unfortunate consequence he had considered before taking the initial exam.

During the ceremony, Marie had also been promoted to First Lieutenant, not having the same advantage of having jumped straight to Major like he had upon first joining the military. She had beamed throughout the whole thing, graciously thanking the newly appointed Fuhrer and shaking his hand, even dancing with him at one point - only to cry in her bedroom later that night. He had heard her cries through the walls, torn between leaving her alone and trying to help her, except he hadn’t known how to help her. That was the beginning of the end for them, though he couldn’t say why he thought that or if it mattered now.

The Fuhrer did not look a day older than he did during the ceremony. It had to have been almost five years and yet the man looked no different. Granted, Marie didn’t either, except for being a little more defined and perhaps more subdued, but Stein was certain that he was marginally paler, skinnier, and grayer. Being constantly indoors did not help his appearance.

“Ah, Colonel Stein, a pleasure to meet you again!” the Fuhrer exclaimed, reaching out to shake his hand. Stein was used to having larger hands than anyone, what with his long fingers, but he was curious to see that the Fuhrer’s hand was bigger than his, almost comically out of proportion with the rest of his body. “I knew that if anyone was going to be able to get you out of that dark, creepy lab, it would be Lieutenant-Colonel Mjolnir.”

Stein arched an eyebrow at that and gave Marie an appraising glance.

In response, Marie tilted her chin up. “You didn’t think I would stay where I was, did you?”

“You said that you didn’t want to make the military a career,” Stein pointed out, though not accusingly. Those hadn’t been her exact words. It was more along the lines of her being concerned that it would be more difficult for her to find a husband if she was career military. Men tended to feel...threatened by a woman higher up in the ranks. He wondered if her advancing meant that she had found someone or she had given up. Neither option seemed pleasing for some reason.

Staring back at him almost defiantly, Marie simply told him, “Things change.”

“That they do, that they do,” the Fuhrer cut in. “I can see you all have plenty to catch up on, but time is of the essence. Luckily you two will be working together on this mission.”

Marie whipped her head back to gawk at the Fuhrer. “Pardon me, sir? Together?”

“Mission?” Stein questioned, his brain having even gotten to the ‘together’ part of his statement, freezing mid-tug on his jacket. The last mission he had gone on had been being sent to the frontlines. The higher ups had known better than to ask him to be part of one again, leaving him to his lonely but important alchemy research. Being dragged back into another military mess was not high on his priority list.

“I’m sure the Lieutenant-Colonel informed you that we are searching for Medusa Gorgon in order to learn the details of her research, but that’s not the entire story,” the Fuhrer explained as he sat down behind his desk. Neither Marie nor Stein followed suit, as they had not been given leeway to sit. Stein might abhor the military and all that it stood for and even mock some of the customs, but this was the Fuhrer, after all. “We have been...made aware of crimes committed with the use of alchemy and evidence suggests that it’s the Vector Alchemist’s work. Unfortunately we have little to no idea what we’re up against and any attempt at finding her has either ended with dead ends or, to be frank, dead soldiers.”

“So you decided to send a mad dog to hunt another one?” Stein drawled dryly.

The Fuhrer smiled and it did not come off as kindly as before. “Well, dogs are good at sniffing things out, are they not? And madness has such a particular stench, especially when alchemy is concerned.”

Alchemy was dangerous. There was a reason why the government was so interested in it.

“And the reason for Marie joining?” Stein asked. Marie stiffened at his side, but said nothing. If the Fuhrer had any thoughts concerning Stein’s use of Marie’s first name instead of her military rank or surname, he made no comments. Stein was about as close to a civilian as a State Alchemist could get these days. The anti-fraternization laws were strict, but it had never been of any concern for them before, especially since they had only ever worked together during the war.

“Well, you’re not exactly trained on military protocol or used to being on missions,” the Fuhrer said. “That’s where Mjolnir comes in. She’s going to run the mission.” In other words: she was going to hold his leash. “I imagine that her people skills might come in handy.” The man had the audacity to laugh as he leaned back in his chair and watched the two of them stand awkwardly next to one another. “Besides, I figured you would want to work with her versus a stranger. I know how...prickly you can be towards people.”

That might have been an understatement, but it was true nonetheless. If he had to work with someone, Stein would have only wanted to work with Marie. Everyone else was too squeamish.

*

The train ride out to Eastern took far too long. Stein stayed in their assigned compartment nearly the entire time, buried in his notes as usual, while Marie toured the train. Well, she said she toured the train when he knew for a fact that she merely got lost and forgot which compartment was theirs. When he finally found her while leaving for his one trip to the bathroom, she was peeking into the wrong compartment and apologizing profusely. She was not particularly forthcoming on what she saw and sat across from him silent and red-faced the rest of the trip.

“Our contact is to meet us at the train station rather than HQ to not arise suspicion,” Marie stated as they gathered their belongings and walked off the train.

Stein paused so that he could frown at her. Their contact? So there was to be someone else on this ridiculous mission then? Why hadn’t the Fuhrer told him about this other person? It seemed that the longer this went on, the more questions that came about. How were they find answers if their own government refused to provide any?

“Took you long enough to get here, Little Mjolnir,” a familiar voice called out to them.

Marie squealed in excitement as she rushed past him, dropping her suitcase in the process. Stein was left to stand and process the situation. Being so short and their contact being so tall, she had been forced to jump in order to throw her arms around the neck of him. She was practically glowing with joy as she beamed. Stein, for his part, did little more than pick up her suitcase and carry both of their belongings forward.

“You’re our contact out East?” Stein greeted. “I didn’t think the Fuhrer would let you out of his sight.”

General Spirit Albarn scowled as he hugged Marie. When she let go out of him, he carefully let her down to her feet so that she didn’t stumble. He looked as if he had aged as little as Marie, still youthful in the face and with vibrant red hair almost to his shoulders. The uniform looked good on him, especially those stars on his shoulder. Being promoted to the Fuhrer’s right hand man had done him well - and kept him out of Stein’s field. The two of them hadn’t worked together since the War and for good reason.

It was, after all, thanks to Spirit that Stein knew so much about manipulating the soul via alchemy, whether he had been a willing participant or not.

“I didn’t have much of a choice,” Spirit admitted, his glare at Stein turning into a softer look at Marie, “but certain circumstances have come up.”

“The witnesses,” Marie replied, already commiserating with him. She was much more empathetic than he was. When Stein made no reaction, both soldiers looked at him. “Did you even read the file?”

Stein slid his tongue across his teeth behind his lips and squinted at the sun. That was a sufficient answer enough for them and they both sighed in aggravation. Of course he didn’t. Stein read files only when they suited him and he knew more about the Vector Alchemist than anyone else in the military. They didn’t have anything that he didn’t already know and, even worse, they were lacking sufficient evidence. What else did he need to know?

“Trust me,” Spirit added as they walked out of the train station, “I wouldn’t be working with you if not for her.”

Stein arched a bored eyebrow. “The Vector Alchemist?”

“My daughter,” Spirit ground out irritably.

That was considerably more interesting than Stein anticipated. His other eyebrow rose in response, but he said nothing out loud. The Fuhrer had said that they had been made aware of Medusa’s crimes somehow, which he’d figured was most likely through a witness, and it appeared as if the witness was his old colleague’s daughter. Of course, if Spirit’s daughter was able to recognize Medusa’s work even a little bit, that meant…

“Your daughter is an alchemist,” Stein blurted once his train of thought finished.

Spirit smiled, looking somewhat dazed. “She’s absolutely brilliant, just like her mother.”

“How is Kami doing these days?” Stein asked.

He was not deigned an answer. Both of them knew that Kami was somewhere in Xing, traveling the world in order to learn more about alchemy. She’d been gone for over a year. The last time Stein had seen Spirit’s ex-wife, she’d been slinging a bag over her shoulders and telling him not to bother contacting her. He didn’t know why she felt obliged to tell him that. He wouldn’t have even if she hadn’t told him. She knew that. Maybe it was action itself.

“Arrangements have been made for you at the Mirage hotel near HQ,” Spirit said as if Stein hadn’t spoken. He started to walk out of the train station and they followed him to a military vehicle that was parked outside. “I didn’t think you’d want to stay in the dorms.” Before Marie could say anything, he quickly added, “Only one room, I’m afraid, but two beds. Cliche, I know, but it was last minute. I’m sorry; I’ll work to get it fixed as quickly as possible. I know that Stein is a terrible roommate.”

Honestly, Stein had benefited quite a bit during all the times Spirit had crashed on his couch whenever Kami kicked him out, much to Spirit’s own displeasure, but Marie would never have to worry about the same things as Spirit.

In fact, Marie smiled slightly at the implication. “I never had a problem with him.”

As Stein put their suitcases in the back of the truck, he caught sight of Spirit shaking his head. Spirit had never been able to understand how Marie was able to live with Stein in peace. Along with Kami, the four of them had grown close during the war, the taint on their souls bonding them in ways that even Stein recognized as different and perhaps even important. It had also torn them apart in the end. Stein never wondered what their lives might have been if none of them had been shipped off to the frontlines, but he knew Marie did.

That kind of thing left a stain on a person. He did wonder if that was when her dreams about getting married and living happily ever after had started to dissolve.

Even though Spirit held the front passenger door open for her, Marie shook her head. “I’ll take the back.” She wiggled a foot in the air, looking small even in her military boots. “I’m smaller.”

Spirit did not look exactly pleased at having Stein sit up front with him, but he didn’t complain either. Marie hopped in the back while Stein slid in the front. He’d forced his tall body into odd and uncomfortable positions before, but Marie was all about being a mediator. He had a suspicious feeling that she was trying to force Stein and Spirit together so that they might mend the tattered remains of their old friendship. Stein honestly didn’t know if it was worth it or if Spirit would be a willing participant.

“I’ll drop you off so you can get settled,” Spirit told them as he started the truck. “It’s late and a school night for Maka, so we’ll convene at HQ tomorrow at 8 and conduct Maka’s interview during her study hall.”

It struck Stein as interesting that they weren’t jumping on things immediately, regardless of Maka being in school, but he said nothing. The rest of the drive was silent, which suited Stein. Smalltalk had never been one of his fortes. Manipulating previously unheard of and volatile alchemy on the other hand was, which made him both a better and dangerous fit for this mission. While he had known right from the get go that Medusa was a horrible person, she was also a brilliant alchemist and, horrific or not, he’d like to get a glimpse of her research before handing it over to the government. It wasn’t like the government wasn’t going to try to use it for their own benefit anyways.

They’d used Stein’s alchemy research, after all, to dramatic effect.

Glancing into the rearview mirror, Stein caught Marie gazing at him, but she quickly averted her gaze to outside the window and the passing buildings. His fingers twitched on top of his thighs. How did it always seem like Marie knew when his thoughts were turning darker?

[frankandstein]

I have never colored/drawn anything faster than after I read this amazing fic by @dollypopup who wrote it based off another drawing I did of stein and marie, what a legend

[toweroftunes]

snippet sunday ☀️

Hello!!! It's a six sentence/snippet sunday! Many thanks to @chickycherrycola for the tag! I haven't been visiting the SteinMarie backstory fic lately, unfortunately 😭. So this is from a Jackie POV one shot I've been working on. Kinda a Jackie & Maka friendship fic set during/before the salvage arc? Idk. But here's Jackie snapping a little hahaha:

---

Jackie throws a “HA!” back at Maka, snatching the broom out of her hands. Maka’s eyes drain of that dark, stormy jealousy, and go wide with surprise. “You’re–!” Jackie shouts, pointing the broom at Maka “You’re not the only one with problems, you know! So what, nobody calls you angel?! Nobody calls me angel either!” Though she doesn’t transform, she feels her palms grow hot and set spark to the wood in her grasp like kindling. She sees her fists set aflame in the reflection in Maka’s eyes. “Don’t you think the rest of us are frustrated and angry and lost, too?!”

---

I honestly hope to have this out SOON. Just getting the ending and revisions down has been a little ugh-blegh-ack, ya know?

And I know you've already been tagged, @silluuuu, but I'm tagging you again lol. Also gonna tag @memethebum and @justpocketchange if y'all have anything ya wanna share (no presh, obviously)!

[dollypopup]

FELLOW SHROOM ENJOYER 🫵 that reminds me I had a missing scene steinmarie fic idea where they throw a last defeated hail mary and decide to do peyote they found in the desert LOL

shrooms, my beloved <3

!!!!!! OMG, PLZ WRITE IT. the way i would read everything about that. the way i now want to write more steinmarie. do not do this to meeeeee

[azroazizah]

I gotta say I live for your Soul Eater content, it keeps the fandom alive. But I have to ask if you could recommend any good fanfics? I’ve read all of your own fanfics as well as your past recommendations but other than those I struggle to find good ones out there.

hiiii thank you very much and omg you read mine too? thank you 😭

for another fic recs... hmmmmm..... let’s see.... I must apologize that these are mostly SoMa tho...

Budding Trees by Kittenintheden (M). Kid sends his top two weapon-meister pairs to Hawaii to deal with a band of pre-kishins and impress the local goddess. this is infantblue’s fault that I ended up crying over this fic and I curse her forever bc this fic is. just. that. good. characterizations, dialogues, build-ups, descriptions, banters, sass, all gold.

Chocolat Blanc by Luer de L’aube (M). Hooking up with a stranger at her childhood friend's wedding hadn't been Maka's plan, nor had she planned on being so hung up on him after that night. It had been just sex after all, even if he had been endearingly awkward and cute and had flirted with her via pastries. Maybe she should have at least asked for his last name as well. The pacing is good, and both of them are adorable. And Soul as a pattisier? yes, please.

For Better or For Worse by ilarual (G). What’s two best friends do when one of them is hard on cash and the other getting nagged to settle down by his rich family? Making a marriage contract, of course.

The Stand-in by ilarual (G). Initially, being a resident pianist in the local dance school didn’t include crushing on his coworker and ended up being her dance partner at an important recital, but who was Soul to protest?

also, you should check ilarual’s other works, they’re so good ✨

It’s What I Do by KeybladeBanditJing (K+). Spirit’s thoughts of his daughter and her weapon. The interaction between Spirit and Soul is very good and endearing in this one. I always love them bonding. Honestly we need more Spirit pov in this economy

The Art of Losing by redphlox (T). Anastasia AU. Simply beautiful. This is also one of the resbangs I caught myself thinking every other time.

Caught Dead by redphlox (T). Holes AU. When Maka Albarn takes the fall for a friend’s crime, she is sentenced to Shibusen Juvenile Detention Center in Death City, Nevada. It’s almost bearable thanks to a frustrating - and cute - camper who helps her dig holes under the hot sun.

tbh Julie is one of those authors that you Just Have To Read All of Their Stuff, so go check her other works as well

there's something at work in my soul by ohmytheon (M). SteinMarie Fullmetal Alchemist AU. Years after serving in the horrors of the Ishval War and seclusion, Stein, a State Alchemist whose alchemy is terrifying and unique, is forced to investigate a series of grisly murders alongside his old roommate and closest friend, Lieutenant-Colonel Marie Mjolnir, and former pal, General Spirit Albarn. one of my first ever SteinMarie fic and honestly still one of my faves.

I once again recommend to check this list of authors and read their works bc fuck yeah they’re all 10000/10

I think that’s it for now? might add more when my brain’s coherent enough wwwww anyway thank you very much for asking 💜💜💜