#this is just the beginning I have so many drawings of them

[skullsbown]

♱𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭♱

|SMUT, Professor!Sevika (Modern day), College student!reader

| Anal, cunnilingus, thigh humping, degradation (a little bit), spanking (a little bit), age gap (LEGAL!!), 18+ reader

!MDNI! !MINORS DNI!

✮₊⊹₊⋆ ☠︎︎ ⋆₊ ⊹✮

You were currently a student at college, and your last lecture happened to be your favourite class.

And this was for one reason and one reason only.

Professor Sevika.

And you know you can’t be the only one in class, wishing she was plugging up your pussy with her fingers instead of lecturing.

-

You should be taking notes on your laptop, though you can’t help but doodle on the corner of your paper sticking out of your binder. Doodling images of your Professor, drawing her muscles and sexy frame.

You’ve honestly stared at her so many times without a thought in your head that you’ve memorized her body and facial features by heart.

Maybe if life had been different…if you could’ve met her outside of college, maybe in a bar so she can take you to the alleyway in the back to eat your pussy out, till you feel like you’re gonna collapse on her face…

You fantasized about her the whole lecture, you completely forgot to actually listen and take down notes…whatever, it was totally worth it.

Till it wasn’t.

-

You realized that your grades started slipping in her class, your essays have been really lacking any knowledge on the course material, you’ve barely paid attention to research papers, forgetting about them completely. And you’ve been getting average or less marks on your quizzes.

Man this was really bad.

-

You’ve been trying to stay on track with her lessons, taking down notes, though you’d still drift off and let your mind wander about.

Once the class had ended, you started getting ready to head back to your dorm, packing up your laptop and binder. You stepped down the narrow stairs between the rows of the seats, making your way to the front.

Sevika looked up from her laptop, spotting you.

She called out to you, “Stay back. We need to talk.”

You stopped, looking back at her. You were terrified, she looked so serious and her tone was just as scary.

You walked over to her desk, the students leaving the class, now empty.

Sevika took off her reading glasses and set them down on her desk.

She looked up at you, grey eyes piercing into your soul (or that’s what it felt like) “Do you understand the material?”

You cleared your throat, “Yes.”

She raised an eyebrow, she obviously didn’t believe that. “Really? Cause it doesn’t seem like it.”

She was a blunt woman, too blunt maybe.

“Oh..-” before you could give a half-assed excuse, she cut you off.

“Yeah, I don’t wanna hear excuses. What’re you doing while I’m lecturing?” She crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair.

“I-..writing down notes..?” You didn’t really know what else to say, you couldn’t just straight up tell her oh, I’m dreaming about you fucking me into oblivion. Tch..

“Okay, I don’t believe that though.” She said. “You were good in the beginning and then your grades went down tremendously. That’s not good.”

Your gaze left hers, looking at her desk, suddenly interested in the wood.

She noticed this, and she didn’t care for it. “Excuse me, I’m talking.” She said with a no nonsense attitude.

You bit the inside of your cheek, looking at her again. Beautiful yet so terrifying.

“Good.” She sat up straight in her chair. “This isn’t high school, you realize that, right? I’m not gonna be there for you and ‘guide’ you through it. If you fuck up, you fuck up.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I don’t like when I see my students fail. It makes me seem as if I’m a bad teacher.”

You fiddled with your fingers. “You’re not a bad teacher. I’m just…having issues focusing.”

She looked up at you again, nodding. “I see that.”

She sighed, “listen, take my advice. Do your best to focus, take your notes, watch videos when you leave to better explain. If you don’t, you’re gonna fail this class, and I can’t do anything about it.”

“You can either listen or not, it’s your decision. But I am being considerate enough to speak to you about this issue. Many wouldn’t”

You nodded, your gaze not really knowing where to go, you knew you had to get a grip, but how?

Sevika could sense an issue. She closed her laptop, standing up, crossing her arms over her chest.

“I can tell you’re smart, and I thought you were interested in this class. But as your marks have gone down, it seems like you lost that interest.” Her eyes roamed over your expression.

“I wanna see you do better in here, alright? I’m not taking this dump anymore, fix up.” She said sternly.

You nodded. “Okay..I’ll do better, I promise. And I do like this class.”

“Mhm. Prove it to me. Let me see your marks go up, then I’ll believe that.” She took a deep breath, “But for now, you can leave.” She excused you easily. Beginning to grab her stuff.

“Alright. Thank you Professor.”

She just let out a simple hum in acknowledgment.

You turned around and left.

Once you were out of her class, you let out a large sigh of relief, your shoulders sagging and your heart racing.

You couldn’t tell if it was racing cause of how drop dead gorgeous she was, or if it’s cause of her stern tone. Maybe both…probably both.

-

After that conversation, you’d been picking up on your work, forcing yourself to ignore her sexy muscles…her tan skin..those eyes- Jesus Christ! Get ahold of yourself.

Your grades slowly increased, but not enough.

So one day after her lecture, you walked up to her desk once everyone had left.

She looked up at you, her glasses resting on the bridge of her nose. “Yes?”

“I’ve improved” You said with a small smile.

She let out a small scoff, “Yes, kind of.”

“So you believe me?”

She thought about it for a second. “I guess I do.” She sighed.

You nodded, containing the pride.

“Was that all?” She asked, crossing her arms.

“Uhm..no. I wanted to ask you a question.”

“Mhm?” She hummed.

“Do you think you can give me a little boost?” You said nervously.

“A boost?” She questioned.

“Yeah..extra credits?” You rephrased.

She chuckled deeply, taking her glasses off and setting them down. “Extra credits? For what?”

You looked off to the side, “Just to help me out a bit.”

“And you think you deserve these extra credits…for doing what?” She thought your question was stupid.

You sighed. “I don’t know…I’m trying. My attention span is bad, and I’ve fixed it. Isn’t that good?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Sure, it’s good. But not ‘boost’ worthy.”

“I need it. I don’t think I can improve that quick in that little time. I’m improving but..it’s not fast enough.” You were pleading now.

She found this amusing to say the least. Eyeing you up and down, leaning back in her chair with her manspread. “Uhuh…well, I’m not gonna hand over extra credit just like that.”

“Please professor.”

She scoffed, “You’re begging now?”

You got a bit embarrassed at that, maybe you were begging, just a little..what’s so wrong with that? “Maybe..?”

Sevika stood up, looking at you, her arms still crossed. “And you think this ‘begging’ is gonna get you somewhere?”

You huffed, trying not to pay attention to how turned on the height difference made you. “…maybe.”

“Good thing you got the face for it.”

Was that a compliment? You didn’t know, but you knew it made you very fluttery inside.

“But you haven’t convinced me. And I’m very hard to convince, Pretty.” That pet name had totally slipped out. Sevika mentally cursed at herself, this was getting unprofessional. Though she couldn’t help but feel the small pull by you.

Your eyebrows raised. Clearing your throat in the tension of the situation that suddenly raised. “Pretty?” Your clit surprisingly twitched against the cotton of your underwear.

Sevika couldn’t back out now, so she went with it. “You heard me.” She furrowed her eyebrows at the need of repetition.

“You also still have not convinced me.” She looked down on you expectantly.

“I-…don’t know how to do that..?”

Sevika shrugged, “figure it out, I’m waiting. And I’ll let you on a little secret.”

She leaned a bit closer, breath fanning over your face, “I’m not a patient person.”

Your heart raced in your chest, beating fast, matching the beating and twitching of your needy clit.

You didn’t really know what to do- well, you did, but you didn’t know if it’s what she was expecting.

But why not go for it.

You leaned closer to her, your lips barely brushing against hers. Those plump, dark, scarred lips of hers.

Sevika hadn’t expected you to go for it, but she didn’t let her shock show.

She grinned, “Naughty..” she whispered.

She leaned in, kissing your lips hungrily, her hand coming up at the back of your head, tangling in your strands.

You moaned against your lips, your hands clutching at her top. You couldn’t believe it…you really couldn’t.

Her free hand going to your hip, digging your fingers into your skin above the fabric.

She groaned against your lips, her tongue coaxing them to part.

You parted your lips eagerly for her, meeting her tongue with yours, caressing each other.

Her hand on your hip, forcefully bringing you closer to her, your bodies were smushed together.

She was obsessed with your mouth and soft lips, just as you were with hers.

She brought her other hand to your hip, slowly sliding both hands down to the back of your thighs.

She lifted you up, drawing a small gasp from you, quickly swallowed up by her intense kissing.

She lifted you and set you down on her desk, she brought herself closer to you, her body in between your legs.

Her hands went to the desk, resting on either side of your body, trying to get closer to you.

You wrapped your arms around her neck, needing every inch of her. Your tongue swirled against hers, getting sloppier as you both got more and more worked up.

Your tongues explored each others mouths, it was as if you were two horny teenagers.

Sevika suddenly pulled her lips away, her breathing slightly ragged. She then buried her face in the crook of your neck, kissing your soft, hot skin.

You moaned softly.

Kissed down your clothed torso, eventually falling to her knees. She brought her hands to your pants, pausing and looking up at you with a raised eyebrow, silently asking for your permission.

“Do it..need t’feel you..” you said quietly and needy.

She smirked and nodded. “Oh, you’ll feel me alright.”

She pulled down your pants along with your underwear, taking your shoes off as well to get your clothing off of you. She tossed your discarded clothes off to the side.

“I’m gonna eat this pussy so good baby.” She said low, her voice deep and smooth.

Your breathing hitched at her words, you were extremely hot and flustered, your cunt was probably dripping with arousal now.

She grabbed your thighs, pulling them apart. She took a good look at your exposed vulva. “Fuck, you’re so wet.”

She moved her face closer, burying herself into your pussy. She licked gently at your clit, her eyes looking up through her lashes at you.

You moaned, your hand going down to her hair, fisting it as you hold her there.

You were so astonished by the sudden intimacy with your professor, but you’d been dying for this moment to happen. You were so incredibly aroused, you could feel your orgasm already slowly building. It was a bit embarrassing the way your clit twitched with anticipation, your climax was obvious as it neared with the way you leaked against her tongue.

“Oh fuuckk Sevika…right- right there..” you breathed heavily,

Sevika felt a small ego boost as she saw how quickly you were getting to the edge, she moaned softly against your clit, sucking on it as her tongue circled and swirled against it. She gripped the flesh of your thighs harder, fingers digging into the thick skin.

Your hips ground against her mouth when you felt the quick vibration of her moan against you. Your face scrunched in pleasure, your abdomen tight with effort to try and buy some time before cumming too quickly.

“Please- please-..” you couldn’t even finish your sentence.

Sevika’s eyes looking up at you expectantly, wanting you to finish your sentence, wanting to hear you plead. She gripped your thigh harder before smacking it with her hand.

You yelped as the sharp pain bloomed against your thigh, only making you get closer to your orgasm. “Fuck!” You gripped her hair harder, any harder you’d rip her hair right out.

Sevika moaned as you gripped her hair with harsh force, she sucked harder on your clit, making you dangerously close.

Your eyes rolled back, and suddenly that tight coil inside of you snapped. Your thighs shook, trying to close around her head but she held them apart with strength. “UNGH! Oh my fucking god- uhhh Sevika!” Your moans were dirty yet melodic to Sevika’s ears.

She continued licking at your clit, prolonging your orgasm. As it faded, she pulled away, looking up at you. Her lips shiny with your wetness.

“Tasted so fucking good mama.” Her voice was deep and smooth.

“You think so?” Your voice on the other hand was a bit shaken and out of breath.

She grinned, her little tooth gap on display. “I do.”

She stood up, pulling you off the desk. You got down, stumbling a bit, you waited for further instructions.

She sat down on her chair, looking up at you. “Turn around.” She commanded.

You nodded and slowly turned, “now what..?”

“Now, sit that pretty ass down and ride my fucking thigh like a slut.” Her voice was a dark rumble.

You bit your bottom lip hard, you slowly sat down on her thigh.

She gripped your hips, your back facing her. She pulled her down hard onto her thigh, your legs parting painfully, your clit crashing against her clothed leg, causing a moan to escape you.

She had her boot resting on the edge of her chair, keeping her leg raised and bent under you.

You straddled her bare, muscular leg. You could feel her muscles against your throbbing clit.

“Grind that pretty clit on me baby.” She urged you, watching your entire backside.

You moaned softly “Uhuh..” you began to grind on her thigh, your clit rubbing against her. “Oh-!…it feels so fucking good Sev..” you humped her thigh like a dumb bunny.

“Mmm keep humping me, lookin’ so pretty like a desperate fucking whore…” Her words were laced with venom but the best, sexiest kind.

“Uhh yeahhuh! A whore for you..!” The friction that built against the hardness of her thigh and the cloth of her pants against your clit was Heaven.

Her hands wandered, arching your back more for her, spreading your plush cheeks. She touched your anus with her thumb. You let out a surprised sound.

“What’re you doing..?” Your voice whiny.

“Just be quiet and let me make you feel good mama.” She spat on her thumb, rubbing your anus with her wet thumb and slowly pushing it past your tight ring of muscle.

You let out a throaty moan, your hips stuttering as your virgin hole stretched around her thumb. “Oh fuuuck!”

“You like that baby?” She groaned, feeling how tight you were.

You nodded your head urgently, grinding back on her thumb and thigh at the same time. Your creamy arousal sticking to her pants in a streak.

“You like my thumb in this dumb hole?” She thrusted her thumb in and out.

“Yeah- yes! ‘Feels so good baby…ohhh..” Your eyes rolled back, a thin like of drool dribbling from the corner of your mouth down your chin.

You rubbed your clit hard and fast against her leg. If you hadn’t been so horny and excited, you’d be in pain from the amount of rubbing against the fabric.

“Babe- baby…think I’m gonna cum…ohhm’god!!”

She smacked your cheek with her free hand, leaving a hand print against the colour of your flesh, making you yelp and moan, you swallowed hard, your eyes squeezing shut.

She shoved her thumb harder in and out of your asshole. “Cum on me. Cum on me like the attention whore you are.”

“I’m-” you couldn’t even get your words out, poor you, thighs trembling around her hard muscle.

“Cum for me bitch.” Sevika said with a deep groan, spanking your ass cheek again with her free hand.

And with that sharp slap, you came. Your mouth dropped open with a silent moan, humping her hard as your ride out your orgasm.

“Yeahhh just like that…” Sevika moaned low, watching your creamy cum get rubbed all over her thigh, sticking to the black cotton.

You breathed heavily, your eyes opening as you slowed down, you subconsciously clenched around her thumb.

“Mm..” Sevika slowly pulled her thumb out of your tight hole.

“Jesus..” you moaned softly, your humps halting to a stop.

“So perfect, you came so beautifully for me mama.” She gently rubbed your asscheeks, one of them being sore and a bit red from her hard smacks.

-

After regaining control and getting off her thigh, you sloppily put your clothes back on.

Sevika cleared her throat, “Maybe I will give you that extra credit.”

You chuckled. “Well maybe we should do this more often, wonder how many extra credits I can get from these-” she cut you off.

“Uhuh, don’t get ahead of yourself. Now go, you still have that paper due.” She crossed her arms.

“Oh- yeah, sorry.”

Sevika smiled, “mhm, bye.”

“Bye.” You said with a bit of giddy, you had a bit of pep in your wobbly step as you went for the door. You opened the door to leave, but you’re met with another professor, he raised an eyebrow.

You looked at him awkwardly before stepping by him and leaving the building.

The man looked away from your retrieving figure, he walked inside the classroom and saw Sevika cleaning off her leg with a tissue and packing up her stuff. “Was that a student?” He asked.

Sevika jolted slightly, not hearing him come in. She looked up at him. “Yeah.”

“So late?” He looked a bit bewildered. “I thought you hated after class talks.”

She scoffed, “I felt nice.” She shrugged.

The man looked her up and down, “Okay..?”

Sevika rolled her eyes and grabbed her stuff. “Night.” She said before walking out and waiting for him to leave.

“Yeah, night.” The man eyed her before leaving. She shut the door and went to the exit.

She knew what she’d be imagining tonight when she gets her hands on her vibrator after a few drinks.

✮₊⊹₊⋆ ☠︎︎ ⋆₊ ⊹✮

Hiii guys, I would absolutely LOVE it if some of you can send in some asks, I’ve lost creativity and motivation like ten billion different times so YEAH…I’d love to work with different characters and stories (Smut, fluff, angst, kinky smut, etc) so if you wanna see something specific (and if you like my recent art, I’ll maybe even make something based on your request), ASK ME!!😖😖 I need the motivation.

[brazilian-girl02]

Flower little Girl (yandere platonic!Marauders era x fem!Reader)

🍀 Imagine, you are a girl who is in your 3rd year at Hogwarts and your house is Hufflepuff. You are very skilled in the area of ​​Herbology and adored by the house elves in the school kitchen, who even taught you some of the recipes;

🍀 In addition to you not being so well known by other people, having a cordial relationship with your housemates;

🍀 One day when you were in the library going to study, you ended up having to share a table with an older Gryffindor student. She introduced herself in a soft voice, her name is Lily Evans, she helped you with some things in your studies and you got closer;

🍀 Within a few days, she became your friend and I introduced you to her group of friends. First it was Marlene Mckinnon and Mary Mcdonald, two other Gryffindors, and lastly it was a Slytherin named Severus Snape;

🍀 The girls are like the older sisters you never had. Lily, the mother hen, Mary, the tough but kind sister, and Marlene, the punk and protective "aunt". Severus is more discreet than the girls, he helps you with potions and treats you calmer, but he is still very protective;

🍀 Little by little you didn't feel very lonely. until one of the days when you were studying with the girls, more you, Mary and Lily than Marlene, you were approached by the Infamous Marauders;

🍀 You were aware of them, the girls and Severus had mentioned them before. James Potter, the boy with glasses, started making cheesy pick-up lines to Lily, who promptly ignored him but with a slight blush on her cheeks. until a boy full of scars on his face, Remus Lupin you think his name is, seems to notice you entering the girls;

🍀 He smiled slightly and introduced the group to you. After that the Marauders began to keep you company frequently, much to Severus' disappointment;

🍀 For James, you were initially a way to get closer to Lily, but he quickly became attached to you, even if you didn't like Quidditch he would explain everything about it to you. For Sirius, you were an encyclopedia of Herbology, he loves it when you tell random facts and both he and James would spoil you a lot, after all money is not a problem for either of them;

🍀 For Remus, you are a person who needs protection, he has become a worried father when it comes to you, he distances himself when it is close to the full moon out of fear and concern that he might harm you. and for Peter, you were a mirror of himself, a quiet person who was surrounded by extroverted people, he accompanies you to the school kitchen and just like Remus always has a snack, Remus having the sweets and Peter the salty ones;

🍀 Unfortunately, your friendship with the Marauders has drawn attention, both because their clashes with Severus have become more frequent. Having you let yourself be led by the Marauders, your house monitor, Alice Fortescue, begins to "take care" of you... she only joins the girls to take care of you;

🍀 You know that Sirius's family discovered his friendship with you, even though he no longer lives with them, and how do you know? His younger brother simply stares at you as if he were going to disintegrate you;

🍀 Regulus Black never had any interaction with you, but he knew you from the few times Severus accidentally let something slip. He started watching you from afar, but after a while he warmed up to you, he researched to try to prove that you were pure blood and maybe talk his family into adopting you;

🍀 Speaking of the other young people in the Black family, Narcissa proclaimed herself as your "teacher" to teach you everything a Black lady needed to know, with a Bellatrix following you around and hexing anyone who came even remotely close to you that she thought didn't deserve to be in your presence. At least the letters from Andromeda and her husband, Teddy, an ex-Hufflepuff who helped you in your first year, managed to calm you down a little, besides the many drawings of little Nymphadora;

🍀 Now you hope to survive this tug of war until your senior year, so it's going to be a long school life.

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

First of all, I do not support the author of Harry Potter, and I hope you enjoy this reading. I also only know the basics about the Marauders era, so feel free to correct me if I've mischaracterized anyone.

[365emotionlessfaces]

One-shot that I started with much enthusiasm, and unfortunately lost all gumption nine tenths of the way through, so the ending is kinda rushed and kinda cliff-y but kinda not. It’s more of a beginning. I’m sorry if it’s not great 🙃

You Can't Stop Fate

WC:~6.6k

Growing up, your mother forbade any talk of soulmates. You assumed it was because of what your father had done. When you were seven, he just hadn’t come home one day. Or the next day. Or any of the days following. You remember not being allowed to talk about him or soulmates after that.

It was also forbidden to write on your skin. That was a safety issue, though. The one thing she was willing to tell you pertaining to soulmates was that there was a terrible genetic skin condition that ran on your mom’s side, making all of the women of her family allergic to any types of marker or pen inks. The only writing utensil she even kept in the house while you were growing up were pencils! You weren’t close to your mother’s side of the family, and she had begun reminding you of your allergy at such a young age, that by now it was something you believed, mostly, without question. You didn’t have anyone to ask if there had been a cure found or something- anything that would allow you to communicate with your soulmate. Drunk You has been very tempted to just write a message and deal with the consequences later multiple times, but has never been brave enough to go through with it.

The lack of talking about soulmates did nothing to assuage your love for the notion. One day, in middle school, when your class had gone to the library, you had snuck a book about soulmates into the back corner, and had devoured the whole thing over the course of the hour. Every single day after that, you would check for messages, drawings, notes, anything from your soulmate almost obsessively. You would check when you woke up, when you got home from school, and right before bed. Plus, probably a hundred times in between. If you couldn’t write messages to them, you had to be ready for when they sent you something.

They didn’t write anything that year. Or the year after. Or any year until you were eighteen. After you graduated high school, you lost hope. You figured that your soulmate was dead, or probably assumed you were dead because you were never able to write anything, either. Or maybe they didn’t even exist. So, you stopped bothering to check.

In the summer between high school and college, you had grieved the loss of a life you would never have. You had watched as pretty much everyone in your life had interacted with their soulmates on a daily basis. People walking around with little reminder notes or small doodles left by their destined person. Arms and legs full with conversations had by two people, separated only in distance. There were even two kids in your graduating class that had found each other in the third grade!

By the time the start of your first college semester rolled around, you had succumbed to the idea that you’d never find your soulmate. To anyone who had known you in college, they would have described you as a ‘crazy hot genius’ that could have had any girl on campus. You weren’t a genius, you just knew too many random facts. During the day, you focused diligently on your schoolwork. You made sure to study, take notes, and even set up tutoring sessions that usually ended with everyone in attendance having a big study fest. By night, you partied. You allowed yourself to release your frustrations through alcohol, weed, and quite a few of the gorgeous girls on campus.

That’s how your college career went. Grades never slipping, and parties never being missed. Your junior year was different, though. Your mother had passed away, and you tumbled your way through the following months, struggling with your grief. Your grades no longer exemplified that of an intellectual, but merely one of a slightly above-average student. Your second to last year at college started with you being one of the top three contenders for salutatorian, and ended with your grades and GPA getting lost amongst the sea of average achieving academic attendees at the University of Pennsylvania.

A girl from one of your classes, one of the integrated sciences you think, confronted you one night during the summer before your senior year. You were in the library, after a summer study session had ended, packing your things, and planning your outfit for that night’s party in your head.

“I can tell you’re really going through something, and I know we don’t really know each other, but I wanted you to know that you’re literally the only reason I passed Educational Psych. I don’t wanna overstep, but if you need someone to talk to -or talk at, I’m a great listener- I’m here for you,” she had approached you after packing her own things from the study session. She seemed really sincere, and you weren’t sure if it was the fact that you hadn’t actually coped with the loss of your mother, having no one to talk to, or if it was the fact that she had caught you in one of your rare sober moments- it was probably a combination of the two- but you felt the urge to just tell her about everything.

After the past few years, you had made friends, sure, but they were less the type of friends that you could share personal things with, and more the type of friends that you share alcohol and party addresses with. She introduced herself as Janine Teagues, and you returned with your own name. Conversation started and flowed easily, and it wasn’t long before you started venting about your turmoil. It was nice to be able to finally unleash it all. You told her about your affliction that kept you from reaching out to your soulmate and the fact that they hadn’t ever reached out to you. You admitted that when your mother had passed, amongst all of the things you had inherited was a box of photos, and you couldn’t bring yourself to look through them.

She, in turn, admitted that she hadn’t ever received messages from her soulmate. She had sent plenty, but she hadn’t found so much as an accidental pen mark in reply. She also assured you that you didn’t have to look at the photographs until you were ready, should that day ever come. For the first time in your life, you didn’t feel so alone in the Soulmate Department, and instead of going to the party that night, you had gone with your newfound friend to some pizza joint and continued talking about your lives.

Janine quickly became your best friend, and you two finished your last year of college by each other’s side. You partied and drank far less, and were able to get your grades back to the standards you had set for yourself. You didn’t quite make it back to salutatorian standards, but you were proud of yourself. Your best friend graduated alongside you, and, in hopes of sticking together, you both applied to and got hired at the same school. You even got apartments in the same building.

Melissa Schemmenti hated the whole soulmate thing, and has since she was in her early twenties. She had spent her whole childhood writing message after message, only to get assolutamente nulla, diddly squat in return. Kristen Marie always told her that her soulmate probably already knew who she was and didn’t like her, and that’s why she got no answers.

When she met Joe at twenty three, he was so sweet and romantic in the beginning, he convinced her that she didn’t need to find her soulmate to have a happy relationship, so she stopped writing on her skin. After they married, he began to tell her that someone like her could never have a soulmate. Melissa had been able to overcome most of the terrible things that Joe had convinced her of, but that idea stuck around. After almost fifty years on this planet, and not so much as a smiley face to prove they were alive, she couldn’t shake the idea that maybe she really wasn’t good enough to have a soulmate.

So she spent the years after her divorce having plenty of short lived relationships, trysts, and one night stands with hot men and women alike. If she couldn’t find her soulmate, she sure as hell was gonna have some fun. By the time you and Janine were hired into Abbott, her ‘booty call’ roster was full and there were a lot of metaphorical notches in her bedpost.

The longer you taught at Abbott, the shorter her roster got, until eventually there wasn’t a single person on it. She couldn’t understand why, but she slowly lost interest in her admirers, and couldn’t be bothered to answer their texts or calls anymore. She would deny that it had anything to do with you because she definitely did not like you. At all.

After the obligatory three months following your arrival at the school, she finally learned your name, but decided to call you anything but. She criticized every move you made, fussing at your food, complaining about your clothes- though Janine was a victim of that, too-,and attacking your non-Philly accent. It was difficult for you when you first started, but having Janine by your side, and a few of the other teachers warming up to you, you grew to ignore her insults. She didn’t stop throwing them, though.

Five years later, and you started to take the digs as affection. There’s no way that someone could have such intense emotions about who you were as a person, and not care, even just a little bit. She hurled stings at Janine, Jacob, and Janine’s new boyfriend, Gregory, and you knew that Melissa cared for them. Hell, she let Jacob move into her house!

Melissa became a really great friend. Sure, you were undeniably attracted to her, and, sure, she made you question everything you thought you knew about needing a soulmate. She had a smile that lit up the room, eyes so green you could swear that they were real emeralds, and fiery red hair that was as flaming as her attitude. You’ve known her for just over half a decade, and you’ve lost count of how many new swear words you learned. Melissa just shows she cares by bullying.

But she bullied all of her friends at the school, and there was no way she was attracted to everyone. A few of them, sure, but Gregory? No way. And Jacob? Absolutely not! They were just friends, and there are a lot of days when you have to remind yourself that that’s all you are, too.

It was the last day of school and you were preparing your little kindergarteners for Move Up Day. You had stopped in this morning to make sure Alex was still keeping his word, and coming to school, and chatted with Janine about the party she had planned.

“I’ve got everything set. It’s gonna be perfect,” she told you excitedly, and you had to try not to roll your eyes. She had already explained her system to you this morning, clarifying what and who each station was for, and while you loved your best friend, sometimes she could be a bit much. You had a feeling in the pit of your stomach that tonight was going to be a disaster.

The following few hours went as normally as they possibly could. The little ones may not have truly understood what was going on, but the big kids were buzzing with the excitement of the last day, and the small children fed off the energy of their elders. You helped your kiddos get into their tiny little graduation gowns and hats. Melissa popped her head in every time she passed by.

“Their caps are crooked,” she said the first time. By the time you had turned to sass her back, she was gone, leaving only a cameraman trailing behind her, so you just rolled your eyes with a soft smile, and returned to helping the kids fit into their outfits.

An hour later you heard her voice again. “You should let the kids design your next dress. It might actually catch some looks then.” The kids were coloring some paper graduation cords you had printed out. You let out a slight chuckle. You knew she only picked on your clothes when she thought they looked nice.

“Seems to be catching your attention just fine,” you replied with a smirk. You weren’t sure, but you could have sworn she blushed a little, but she was on her way back to her own class before you could get a good enough look.

By the time lunch rolled around, you were ready for her next quip. You had prepared yourself for any plethora of smart remarks she could have. Unfortunately, you weren’t able to experience any of the redhead’s comments. Your phone dinged as you were about five feet from the door of the break room, and you stopped in your tracks.

There staring back at you was a message from someone claiming to be your mother’s sister. You had just enough time to read the text before the same number was calling you. You panicked, and answered the phone.

“Hello?” After you answered, the woman on the other end confirmed that you were really the person she was looking for.

“My name’s Dana. I don’t know if you remember me? I was the one wearing orange at your mother’s funeral,” you vaguely recalled a woman who stood out during your brief stop into your mother’s wake. You hadn’t stayed very long, unable to stand being around people who didn’t even know your mother the way they would say they did, but you did remember seeing the one person dressed in your mother’s favorite color.

You took one glance at the doorway of the break room. You could hear Melissa’s voice over everyone, and if you weren’t on the phone with a woman who was technically your aunt but also was someone you had no memory of ever meeting, you would have been grinning from ear to ear. You could hang up and go enjoy lunch with your friends, or you could continue this conversation with a stranger and find out why she would call after so many years. You sighed and turned to head back towards your classroom.

“Uh, yeah. Can I… help you?”

“Well, uh, I’m sorry if this is awkward,” her voice was surprisingly cheery for someone anticipating an awkward encounter. “But my mom- your grandmother passed away recently, and while I was going through her things I found a letter that your mom had written to her when your father left. It, uh, it says that she told you that you were allergic to ink, and that it was hereditary. It only affects us women,” she paused for a moment.

Your heart felt like it was trying to rip its way out of your chest as you practically begged her to continue, “My- Uh, yeah?” You huffed before continuing. “Yeah. Pens, markers, tattoos. Can’t touch any of ‘em.” You reached your desk and dropped into your chair as you finished speaking.

“It’s just not true. I don’t know if that does you any good, but I- I just couldn’t let you go on without knowing the truth. It wouldn’t be right of me.”

The world around you suddenly seemed to be spinning a little faster. Your chest started to feel heavy. Unable to catch your breath, you reached forward and put your free hand on your desk.

How could this be possible? Why would your mother lie to you? How did it take you this long to learn the truth?

You had so many questions running through your head, you couldn’t keep them straight. You closed your eyes in an attempt to stop the questions from appearing, and you felt tears run down your cheeks.

“Hello?” Her voice startled you. You had no idea how long you had been quiet. Had she been talking this whole time? You opened your eyes and raised your head to scan the room. Still empty.

“Uh, yeah-” You cleared your throat. “Sorry, I, uh- Thank you. For telling me, I mean.” You weren’t really sure what to say or how to respond. A bubbling feeling was coming from your throat, like a scream trying to build up enough force to escape.

You said your goodbyes, and you stood. Looking around, the walls seemed to be getting closer. You looked at the door, wondering if you’d make it to the hallway in time before the walls completely closed in and crushed your being horrifically, left for a large group of five year olds to discover. You shook the thought out of your head as best you could, but made a run for it, just in case.

As you flew through the threshold, you entered the hallway and crashed right into Mr. Johnson, followed by a large camera.

“You alright?” He asked.

“I have a terrible headache,” you lied, and judging by the look on the camera person’s face, it wasn’t a good lie. “I need someone to take over my class for the rest of the day. Would you be willing?”

“Sure. I’m working on my mind control, and I could use some test subjects.” He smiled gleefully before making his way into your classroom to prepare for the end of lunch. You didn’t have time to unlock that Mr. J backstory right now. You followed him back into your room to grab your things, told him where your lesson plans were-even though you knew he wasn’t even going to look at them- and what time nap time was, and headed to Ava’s office to let her know you’d be taking the rest of the day off.

“You’re still gonna be at the party though, right?” was all the response she had. Once you had given her the affirmative, she didn’t care what you did.

The first thing you did once you got home was throw yourself hysterically onto your bed, disturbing your cat, Nicky. Sure, it didn’t help your situation, and it definitely made Nicky look at you like you kicked him, but dang it, sometimes it felt good to be dramatic about things. As soon as your body stopped moving, your mind started. So did the tears.

Did your mom lie because your dad left? Did your dad leave because your mom wanted to lie to you?

You hadn’t felt any burning questions or feelings about your dad since your high school days, but now it felt like everything was trying to rush back. Your head was pounding, and you knew the crying would exhaust you into a nap, so you wiped your tears and headed to the kitchen, trying to temporarily situate your brain on any other topic.

Rummaging through your pantry and refrigerator and not finding much, you settled on making yourself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It was halfway through making that sandwich that you realized that Melissa had brought some of her mouthwatering ziti in for lunch today, and the realization put you on the verge of tears once more.

“But that’s my favorite!” You whined out loud. Nicky, who had followed you to the kitchen, meowed in response.

“Yeah, I know it was my fault for leaving, but you would not believe the day I had.” You finished making your sandwich, put the knife in the sink, and stood at the counter to eat your sandwich. Nicky waited until you were looking at him again before meowing, as if he were making sure you were paying attention to what he was saying.

“Well, apparently, our grandma died… The one we don’t know… We have an Aunt Dana… Oh! Get this! We’re not allergic to pen and marker inks and mom just lied to us and we could have reached out and found our soulmate forever ago!” You spoke between bites of your sandwich, progressively getting louder and louder until you were yelling.

Nicky had run off as you started yelling, and when you made the realization that you were the reason he ran, the guilt was the last emotional straw on the camel’s back. Your body started to wrack with heaves and sobs causing you to drop the half eaten sandwich on the plate in front of you. You leaned on the counter to keep your balance, but it did you no good, so you turned around, hitting the counter with your back, and slid down until you hit the floor. Hugging your knees, you just bawled until you felt like you could never cry again.

As you stood to take care of your plate, you caught a glimpse of the clock and realized that crying all the tears in your body had taken a little over an hour. Once your plate was sitting in the sink, you realized you had left your phone in your purse so you decided to grab it before heading for a nap.

You reached your hand into your purse, and it fumbled around looking for your phone. Once it had reached its desired item, you yanked your hand out causing your purse to fall, and some of its contents to spill on the floor. You grumbled, but stopped to clean your mess anyway. As you picked it all up, you stopped as you held a red pen in your hands. It was the only ink pen you owned, and you used it for grading papers. You had always been extremely cautious and careful not to allow even a single speck of ink to touch your skin, and yet as it sat here in your hands, you were experiencing, for the first time, temptation to allow just that.

‘It’s the only way to know for sure,’ you thought. You carefully uncapped the pen, and held it out slightly to get a good look at it.

This small thing had caused you so much anguish in your life, all because of an alleged lie. If it was a lie, you’d have a whole new box of emotions to deal with regarding your mother and your entire life. If it wasn’t a lie… well, then you sure hoped they found Nicky a good home.

Determined, you tried to figure out what to write. If it was going to be your first, and possibly last, message to a soulmate that may or may not exist, it had to be good. You spent ten minutes trying to come up with ideas, only to shoot them down as quickly as they popped up. You had to put something, even just to find out whether you truly were allergic or not.

After deciding that no words would be good enough, you decided to draw a flower. You started in the middle of the back of your hand, and began drawing the petals outward. The closer you got to the edges of your fist, the more it resembled a mandala. When you were done, you were quite pleased with yourself. You held it out to get a good look at it, and decided it was one of the better flowers you had drawn.

You waited. No redness. No itchiness. You weren’t breaking out into hives. No swelling. You waited a few minutes more before the tears began again. Your entire life had been a lie. All concocted by the woman who was supposed to protect you.

Not knowing how else to cope, you made your way to your bedroom and under your covers, all the while, tears streaming down your face. Nicky jumped up and curled himself up into the pillow next to your head, and he was the last thing you saw before falling asleep.

The first thing you saw when you woke up was Janine’s face.

“What the f- Janine?!” You screamed as you sat up.

“I’m sorry. I know you said the key was for emergencies only, but you went home early and didn’t text me. I asked Ava about it and she said she had no idea what was going on in your life, and then when I tried calling you on my way home, you didn’t answer so I decided it was an emergency because how was I supposed to know if you were still alive? You weren’t answering me! You always answer me, and you know how my head gets and-” She finally noticed your hand. “What is that? How are you not dead? Do I need to take you to the hospital? Are you-”

“Janine,” you cut her off. “I’m sorry I didn’t answer your texts or calls. I was sleeping. I, uh- My mom lied about my allergy,” you said, rubbing said sleep from your eyes.

“She lied? What? Why would she do that?” She sat at the foot of your bed, eyes alarmingly wide.

You chuckled spitefully. “When you find out the answer, could you tell me, too? I’m dying to know.”

“Sorry, it’s just- that’s huge. Lying about an allergy to keep you from your soulmate? It sounds like some straight up villainy.”

“Right, though?” For the first time in a very long time you looked at your arms and hands for a reply from your soulmate, and sighed when there was nothing. “I dunno. I probably missed my chance or something. I just wish I could reach out to my dad, and see if he has any answers.”

Janine stood suddenly. “The box.”

“What?”

“The box of pictures! Maybe it has pictures of your dad or something with his name on it. Maybe if you have a name, you can reach out to him.”

You looked at her skeptically.

“It can’t hurt, but only if you’re ready,” she added. You supposed she was right. The most it would do would bring up the grief of losing your parents, right?

You made your way across the room to your closet, and started to dig through. All the way at the back, the box full of pictures sat exactly where you had set it years back, untouched and unopened. You pulled it out and placed it on the bed next to your friend. You took your place on the bed, and then looked to Janine for encouragement. She nodded, and you opened the box to commence the task of finding your father.

The photos at the top were high school photos. Your graduation, senior photos, and prom. The deeper you dug, the younger you were in the pictures. You finally got to pictures that consisted of a toddler that had to be you, and a man that was clearly your father.

“Wait. What’s that on your arm there?” Janine pointed at the picture in your hand. You pulled the photograph closer to your face, trying to get a good look at your arm.

“It says ‘I hope I meet you someday.’ Janine!” You gasped and reached for her arm. “Do you know what this means? I have a soulmate!” You stopped and thought for a moment. “Or had a soulmate, but either way! Janine!”

You had a soulmate. They were real. You weren’t sure how many more discoveries you could make before your heart just gave out.

You scrambled through the rest of the pictures, hoping to find another featuring you with any messages from your soulmate, but in all the other photos, your skin was clear of any marks. Janine helped you pick through them, but she, too, came up empty handed. The last thing in the box was a single piece of notebook paper, folded in half with your name scrawled across the front. You took hold of it, opened it, and began reading the long-forgotten letter out loud.

“My dearest child, I hope that one day you can forgive me. I hurt your mother in a way I will never be able to repair. I have found my soulmate. Your mother and I were young when we met, and we believed that our love would be enough. We had decided that we didn’t need soulmates if we had each other. I didn’t mean to find my soulmate. I wasn’t looking for him, I promise. But after we found out, we couldn't deny what had happened. It wouldn’t have been fair to him, to me, or to your mother for life to have continued the way it was. I love you, my child, and I hope that someday in the future, we’ll meet again, and I can apologize properly. Until then, love Dad.”

“Woah,” Janine was practically reeling from shock, and it wasn’t even her dad.

“So, my mom lied to me about the ink allergy because my dad found his soulmate and broke her heart,” you were officially over today. “Alright, that’s it. I need a distraction from my life right now,” you started putting all the pictures back in the box haphazardly. Janine didn’t move, so you pulled the photos out of her hand to add to the rest. “I’m gonna shower, get dressed, and then we’re gonna go get your apartment ready for the party.”

Janine agreed, and left you to take care of the box. Instead of shoving it to the back of your closet again, you put it in your living room. Finding your father would be an adventure for a new day.

The weight of the day made you feel as if it had been weeks since you had showered. You decided that was your first step. Stepping into the steaming water, you sighed as your brain tried working through the events of the day. You thought about Melissa and how your soulmate had grown to become a rarely passing thought because of her. You couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sadness at the thought of Melissa. A part of why she had accepted you was your shared lack of a soulmate. If she found out that you really did have a soulmate, she may stop talking to you altogether.

You scrubbed your body, and your feelings morphed into guilt as your thoughts turned to the idea of taking a chance and trying to sleep with Melissa at least once before starting your search for your soulmate. You figured that any type of relationship was out of the question. Especially now that you know for sure that you have a soulmate, there was no way that you couldn’t at least attempt to communicate with them, given the information learned today. You sighed and decided that you couldn’t do that to her. It just wouldn’t be fair.

Looking down at your hand, you frowned slightly and began scrubbing the pen ink off., and when it was gone, you finished your shower by washing your face.

You stepped out of the shower and dried yourself off quickly to avoid the cold air on your wet skin. You slipped into your bedroom, greeted by Nicky, and started rifling through your closet for something to wear to the party. A little black number caught your eye, and you pulled it out. You turned to the bed where Nicky laid, watching you, and held the dress up to your body.

“Whatcha think, Nicky boy?”

He gave you an enthused meow in return.

“What? Just because I’m not gonna try to get laid tonight doesn’t mean I can’t look nice,” you defended yourself.

He meowed again. He was always so judgemental.

“Oh, whatever. What do you know? You don’t even have a job.” You tossed the dress onto the bed, next to your boy, and he got up to leave, clearly offended that you brought up his unemployment. You continued getting ready. You dried your hair and put it up in a loose updo, and put on some light makeup. You threw on your dress and admired the way it made you look in the mirror. It definitely left nothing to the imagination, and the deep cut neck made your cleavage unavoidable.

You made your way over to Janine’s apartment, and you didn’t even have to knock. The door flew open just as your knuckles were about to connect to it. “I was waiting for you,” she said with a bright smile. She held up a bottle of wine. “Wanna pregame?”

“Of course I do,” you couldn’t have hidden your enthusiasm if you had tried. You took the bottle from her as you entered, and she made her way to retrieve the glasses. When she returned to the couch, you poured yourself a healthy helping and poured Janine the same amount. She immediately started talking about the plan for her party again, and you took the chance to take a few large sips of your drink.

After a while, the conversation turned into her recounting her day. “-and then Melissa freaked out, and I mean that she was full on panicking. She had gloves on for the rest of the day.”

“Wait, I’m sorry. I zoned out for a second. What happened?” Janine looked at you, and you thought you saw a hint of pity in her expression, and it frustrated you slightly, but you didn’t have time to dwell because she repeated herself.

“I guess one of the kids got sick, like, really sick after lunch, and it was all over her room and she had to clean it up. Said she went through three rolls of paper towel, and a whole bottle of bleach, but Mr. Johnson said he didn’t see that much paper towel in any of her trash cans because if he had he would have charged her for it. She wore the gloves the rest of the day. Gregory asked her about the gloves, and she said that you never knew when the next person was gonna throw up. It was ridiculous.” She chuckled a little and you looked at the time. Janine had recounted her itinerary for the night so many times, you practically had it memorized, so you knew that Melissa and Barb would be here any moment now.

Downing the rest of the wine in your glass, you stood and grabbed the remaining quarter bottle of wine. “Speaking of her, she and Barb should be here any minute, so we need to put this away, and act like we’re still setting up.”

She nodded and finished off her wine, handing the glass to you and standing from the couch. As a knock came from the door, you made your way to the kitchen. There on a small table was a smorgasbord of alcohol, so you placed the wine among them. Noticing a bottle of tequila, you picked it up, grabbed a shot glass, and poured yourself a shot. After downing it quickly, you heard footsteps approaching, so you turned to see a member of the camera crew.

You said hello and grabbed a shot glass to offer to him. He agreed, and together you took another shot. You started to feel that warm feeling in your stomach, and knew that you had to wait a little bit for your next drink. You thought you heard another knock on the door, but the camera man asked you about why you had left school early, and you couldn’t come up with an excuse fast enough to see if you were right about the door.

You could come up with a lie, however.

“I had a family emergency.” It wasn’t technically a lie. It felt like an emergency, and it did pertain to family.

Your eyes shifted to the doorway as Janine passed by, followed by Barb, Melissa, and the other cameraman. You couldn’t help the way your eyes were glued to Melissa’s figure. When you turned back to the cameraman, he was giving you a knowing look. You rolled your eyes, but you could feel the heat creeping up your neck. It had been long enough since your last shot, right?

You quickly took another shot of tequila, just as another knock came, and this time you were sure you heard it. By the time you made it back into the living room, the guests let themselves in and found their ways to their respective interest spots. They weren’t anyone you recognized, but you were thankful for the escape from the prying cameraman.

Janine, the cameraman, and the two veteran teachers returned just as another knock came on the door. Janine rushed to open the door and revealed Gregory and Jacob, followed immediately by Ava, who made her way directly towards you.

“You feelin’ any better?” When you nodded in affirmation, she grabbed your arm and began pulling you back towards the kitchen. “Good, ‘cause we’re drinking,” she sounded exasperated with the party already. She led you back to the kitchen and forced you to toss three more shots into your already buzzed body. By the time the two of you returned to the living room, the party was officially in full swing, and there were people talking and mingling everywhere. As you scanned the room for a certain redhead, you noticed the same thing you’ve noticed in every room you’ve walked into since you were young: the soulmates. Drunk soulmates scattered across Janine’s apartment, the majority of which were using each other as canvases. You didn’t see Melissa, though. You turned to the woman beside you and spoke abruptly.

“Ava, I want a mustache.”

“What?” The look of shock and disgust on Ava’s face was enough to have you laughing. Between your giggles, you explained that you meant that you wanted her to draw a mustache on your face. After a slight amount of convincing (and possibly another shot or two), she agreed to draw you a mustache.

She brought the marker to your upper lip, and you felt the cold tip of the marker swipe down your lip a few times. Your eyes flitted to the doorway as Melissa walked into the room, just as Ava asked, “You want Al Sharpton or Steve Harvey?”

You weren’t sure if it was the shock of seeing Melissa with half a mustache, or the humor of Ava’s question, but you laughed and turned your head sharply causing the marker to travel almost parallel to your lip and halfway across your cheek. When you looked up again, and saw that Melissa now had a mark across her face too, your head began to swim. You had so many thoughts and questions almost immediately, but the only thing you could do was stare at her like a deer in the headlights.

When you regained control of your limbs again, you excused yourself from Ava’s company and quickly headed for the door. You didn’t know what you were going to do next, but you knew that you didn’t want to do it drunk. You made it to the hallway outside Janine’s door, and propped yourself against the wall to take a breather. It didn’t last long before familiar footsteps approached. You knew who it was before you looked up to meet her eyes.

“I didn’t think I had one,” she said quietly. “An’ I thought you were allergic to ink?”

You chuckled slightly and looked up to meet Melissa’s gaze. “It’s a long story. Can I tell you over coffee?” You hoped her smile was a confirmation, but as she reached her hand out, you knew it was going to be an interesting night.

[apoloadonisandnarcissus]

“All that she had desired in her youth came to her hand”: Sauron and Galadriel in Tolkien legendarium

We have several opinions floating around concerning the interactions between Galadriel and Sauron in the books, so let’s take a deep dive into Tolkien legendarium and see what Tolkien wrote about them, and how what’s happening in “Rings of Power” connects with that.

This is the face of a Maia who’s having a revelation: according to Charlie Vickers, Sauron sees Galadriel as a “useful tool” on his masterplan, but that’s a topic for another post.

Galadriel and Sauron not only met in Tolkien legendarium, but there’s a strange (and unexplainable) mental connection between them, as Galadriel reveals to Frodo in “Fellowship of the Ring”. Many wrongly assume this was due to the One ring, but Galadriel could still perceive Sauron’s mind (and vice-versa) when Sauron no longer had it. And this is exactly what the showrunners of “Rings of Power” are trying to come up with an explanation for, as J.D. Payne said, back in 2022:

“That character [Halbrand] was always Sauron from the very beginning. [It was] one of the initial sparks and ideas and in our opinion, right or wrong, is that Galadriel talks about Sauron in the books in a way that indicates that she knew him maybe really well. [...] has been a thing where he's been reaching after her for a long time and there's been this sense of back and forth between them. We found that in the writers' room endlessly fascinating, and we said, 'Like, there's an entire history between them. He's not just some eye in the sky who's looking at her from afar; there's a relationship. And so we said, How could you have a relationship between the Dark Lord and Galadriel, you know, in a way that was good, really let them get to an interesting place?”

Then we have the issue of Tolkien passing. Tolkien, as both his letters and his son Christopher confirm, was working on Galadriel’s story at the time of his death, and, as such, it’s unfinished, and that’s why we have so many “plot holes” on her story: Tolkien wasn’t able to give us the answers. One month before his death, Tolkien wrote (Letter 353): “I meant right away to deal with Galadriel, and with the question of Elvish child-bearing — both of which I have given much thought.” The “100 years Elven pregnancies” were revealed in “Nature of Middle-earth”, published in 2021 by a Tolkien scholar, but we got no answer to the most flagrant plot-holes in Galadriel’s story, especially her interactions with Sauron.

First Age

There’s no indication of any interaction between Galadriel and Sauron during the First Age. Sauron was Morgoth’s chief lieutenant, first in charge of Angband, and later of Tol-in-Gaurhoth (former Tol Sirion, which belonged to Finrod). Galadriel was obviously aware of Sauron, since he’s the responsible for her brother’s death at the hands of his werewolves, as told in both “The Silmarillion” and “The Lay of Leithian”.

In “Unfinished Tales” we are told Galadriel took no part in the wars against Morgoth: “In the years after they [Galadriel and Celeborn] did not join in the war against Angband, which they judged to be hopeless under the ban of the Valar and without their aid; and their counsel was to withdraw from Beleriand and to build up a power to the eastward (whence they feared that Morgoth would draw reinforcement), befriending and teaching the Dark Elves and Men of those regions”

From “War of the Jewels”; “Morgoth endeavoured to cast an evil light upon all that Thingol and Melian had done (for he hated and feared them most)”, and we know from “The Silmarillion”, this “evil light” was casted by Sauron: “Beyond lay the wilderness of Dungortheb, where the sorcery of Sauron and the power of Melian came together, and horror and madness walked.”

Galadriel lived in Doriath for a while, not only due to her husband, a “kinsman of Thingol”, but from “The Peoples of Middle-earth” we know she was a “handmaid of Melian the Immortal in the realm of Doriath”. From “Morgoth’s Ring”: “Yet Galadriel, his sister, dwelt never in Nargothrond, but remained in Doriath and received the love of Melian, and abode with her, and there learned great lore and wisdom concerning Middle-earth”, and in “The Grey Annals” we are told “but Galadriel did not depart [Doriath], and remained long with Melian, for there was much love between them”.

Galadriel learned “great lore and wisdom” from Melian, and in “Unfinished Tales” we are told “she [Galadriel] looked upon the Dwarves also with the eye of a commander, seeing in them the finest warriors to pit against the Orcs. Moreover Galadriel was a Noldo, and she had a natural sympathy with their minds and their passionate love of crafts of hand, a sympathy much greater than that found among many of the Eldar: the Dwarves were "the Children of Aul," and Galadriel, like others of the Noldor, had been a pupil of Aulë and Yavanna in Valinor."

Galadriel love for the Dwarves is similar to that of Celebrimbor; “Celebrimbor had "an almost 'dwarvish' obsession with crafts"; and he soon became the chief artificer of Eregion, entering into a close relationship with the Dwarves of Khazad-dûm, among whom his greatest friend was Narvi. […] Both Elves and Dwarves had great profit from this association: so that Eregion became far stronger, and Khazad-dûm far more beautiful, than either would have done alone” (“Unfinished Tales”), although this should be conflicting with the bad blood between the Sindar and the Dwarves (they killed Thingol, which would lead to the eventual destruction of Doriath, which, most likely is the explanation of her husband’s hatred for them) but, apparently, her Noldor ancestry prevailed. That’s the explanation Tolkien provides.

In the same book, we are told “being brilliant in mind and swift in action she [Galadriel] had early absorbed all of what she was capable of the teaching which the Valar thought fit to give the Eldar', and she felt confined in the tutelage of Aman.” Which makes sense with her will to learn from Melian, not only “power” but also how to be the ruler of a kingdom: “Galadriel, the only woman of the Noldor to stand that day tall and valiant among the contending princes, was eager to be gone [from Valinor]. No oaths she swore, but the words of Feanor concerning Middle-earth had kindled her heart, and she yearned to see the wide untrodden lands and to rule there a realm at her own will. For the youngest of the House of Finwe she came into the world west of the Sea, and knew yet nought of the unguarded lands.” (“Morgoth’s Ring”).

Second Age

“But eventually Galadriel became aware that Sauron again, as in the ancient days of the captivity of Melkor, had been left behind. Or rather, since Sauron had as yet no single name, and his operations had not been perceived to proceed from a single evil spirit, prime servant of Melkor, she perceived that there was an evil controlling purpose abroad in the world, and that it seemed to proceed from a source further to the East, beyond Eriador and the Misty Mountains.” (“Unfinished Tales”)

In “Rings of Power”, it’s also Galadriel who perceives Sauron was left behind, and vows to hunt him down. The show connected this with her brother’s death at the hands of his servants.

In “Unfinished Tales” we are told Galadriel and Sauron met at Eregion, when he was poising as Annatar: “He [Sauron] perceived at once that Galadriel would be his chief adversary and obstacle, and he endeavoured therefore to placate her, bearing her scorn with outward patience and courtesy”. And Christopher Tolkien adds: “No explanation is offered in this rapid outline of why Galadriel scorned Sauron, unless she saw through his disguise, or of why, if she did perceive his true nature, she permitted him to remain in Eregion”.

In the show, Galadriel and Sauron didn’t met at Eregion (more on the “Númenor issue” later), but it was at Eregion she started to suspect Halbrand might not be who he claimed, so we have the same core story with a different make-up.

In “Nature of Middle-earth” we are told “when Sauron visited Eregion he sees quickly that he has met his match in Galadriel - or at least that in her he would have a chief obstacle. So he concentrated on Celebrimbor; and soon had all the Smiths of Eregion under his influence." This is the route the show followed in 1x08 and S2.

Sauron was in Eregion, working alongside Celebrimbor and the Gwaith-i-Mirdain, for almost three centuries. So, indeed, Galadriel just allowed him to stay there and forge the rings of power. Because in one version of the legendarium she’s the Lady of Eregion and resides there. Which is probably why RoP went with Galadriel allowing the Three to be forged after finding out Halbrand was Sauron, in 1x08, and kept it a secret from both Celebrimbor and Elrond.

On the notes to this chapter ("Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn"), Christopher Tolkien writes it’s not decisive that Galadriel wasn’t deceived by Sauron-Annatar fair form:

"Sauron endeavoured to keep distinct his two sides: enemy and tempter. When he came among the Noldor he adopted a specious fair form (a kind of simulated anticipation of the later Istari and a fair name: Artano "high-smith," or Aulendil, meaning one who is devoted to the service of the Vala Aule. (In Of the Rings of Power, p. 287, the name that Sauron gave to himself at this time was Annatar, the Lord of Gifts; but that name is not mentioned here.) The note goes on to say that Galadriel was not deceived, saying that this Aulendil was not in the train of Aule in Valinor, "but this is not decisive, since Aulë existed before the 'Building of Arda,' and the probability is that Sauron was in fact one of the Aulean Maiar, corrupted 'before Arda began' by Melkor.”

In his letter 131, Tolkien only mentions Gil-galad and Elrond as utterly rejecting Sauron, right from the start: “But many of the Elves listened to Sauron. He was still fair in that early time, and his motives and those of the Elves seemed to go partly together: the healing of the desolate lands. Sauron found their weak point in suggesting that, helping one another, they could make Western liddle-earth as beautiful as Valinor. It was really a veiled attack on the gods, an incitement to make a separate independent paradise. Gil-galad repulsed all such overtures, as also did Elrond. But at Eregion great work began - and the Elves came their nearest to falling to 'magic' and machinery. With the aid of Sauron's lore they made Rings of Power (power' is an ominous and sinister word in all these tales, except as applied to the gods).”

This might look contradictory because we have conflicting informations, but since Galadriel’s story was left unfinished, we have pieces of the puzzle missing. There’s a plot hole here. Because we have Galadriel and Sauron’s unexplained mental connection, where they can look into each others minds (Ósanwe).

“I say to you, Frodo, that even as I speak to you, I perceive the Dark Lord and know his mind, or all of his mind that concerns the Elves. He gropes ever to see me and and my thought.”

According to Tolkien on his essay “Ósanwe-kenta” this bound is only possible if both parties are receptive and it can only be created in certain conditions (family, friends, lovers, times of need, figures of authority). Galadriel was able to employ Ósanwe on Frodo and the Fellowship most likely because of their shared grief of Gandalf’s “death”, and she and Elrond communicate this way because of their kinship. Which is why J.D. Payne talked about how Galadriel most likely knew Sauron really well.

The most likely scenario is that Galadriel and Annatar-Sauron might have had a friendship at first, because of their shared goal: “his [Sauron] motives and those of the Elves seemed to go partly together: the healing of the desolate lands. Sauron found their weak point in suggesting that, helping one another, they could make Western Middle-earth as beautiful as Valinor.” (Tolkien Letter 131)

This is already present in “Fellowship of the Ring” book, after all, when she tells Frodo:

“[Sauron] suspects, but he does not know – not yet. Do you not see now wherefore your coming to us is as the footstep of Doom? For if you fail, then we are laid bare to the Enemy. Yet if you succeed, then our power is diminished, and Lothlórien will fade, and the tides of Time will sweep it away. We must depart into the West, or dwindle to a rustic folk of dell and cave, slowly to forget and to be forgotten.”

In his Letter 131, Tolkien talks about how the Elves became obsessed with the “Fading” during the Second age (which is what we saw in Season 1 of RoP): “A sort of second fall or at least 'error' of the Elves. There was nothing wrong essentially in their lingering against counsel, still sadly with the mortal lands of their old heroic deeds. But they wanted to have their cake without eating it. They wanted the peace and bliss and perfect memory of 'The West, and yet to remain on the ordinary earth where their prestige as the highest people, above wild Elves, dwarves, and Men, was greater than at the bottom of the hierarchy of Valinor. They thus became obsessed with fading, the mode in which the changes of time (the law of the world under the sun) was perceived by them. They became sad, and their art (shall we say) antiquarian, and their efforts all really a kind of embalming - even though they also retained the old motive of their kind, the adornment of earth, and the healing of its hurts.” And this is what made them align with Sauron-Annatar.

In “Unfinished Tales”, this obsession with the “fading” is shared by both Galadriel and Celebrimbor (Galadriel mostly), which can provide evidence for Galadriel accepting Sauron-Annatar’s lore and welcoming him, at first:

“She [Galadriel] said to Celebrimbor, the chief of the Elven-smiths: 'I am grieved in Middle-earth, for leaves fall and flowers fade that I have loved, so that the land of my dwelling is filled with regret that no Spring can redress.’ 'How otherwise can it be for the Eldar, if they cling to Middle-earth?' said Celebrimbor. 'Will you then pass over Sea?' 'Nay,' she said. 'Angrod is gone, and Aegnor is gone, and Felagund is no more. Of Finarfin's children I am the last. But my heart is still proud. What wrong did the golden house of Finarfin do that I should ask the pardon of the Valar, or be content with an isle in the sea whose native land was Aman the Blessed? 'What would you then?' said Celebrimbor. 'I would have trees and grass about me that do not die.. must then Middle-earth fade and perish for ever?'

Which is the route “Rings of Power” followed in Season 1, with Galadriel and Sauron (in disguise) as allies in a common goal and friends:

But something else must have happened. Because of Tolkien Letter 320: “Galadriel was a penitent: in her youth a leader in the rebellion against the Valar (the angelic guardians). At the end of the First Age she proudly refused forgiveness or permission to return. She was pardoned because of her resistance to the final and overwhelming temptation to take the Ring for herself.”

Why is Galadriel a “penitent” when Tolkien confirmed everywhere she took no part in the Oath of Feänor nor his rebellion? Why she needs to be pardoned by the Valar? What did she do? We don’t know. Only that she’ll follow the Virgin Mary example in her “penitence”, where she needs to let go of her pride, ambition and vows to fight Sauron until the end.

“The Exiles were allowed to return - save for a few chief actors in the rebellion, of whom at the time of The Lord of the Rings only Galadriel remained. At the time of her Lament in Lórien she believed this to be perennial, as long as the Earth endured. Hence she concludes her lament with a wish or prayer that Frodo may as a special grace be granted a purgatorial (but not penal) sojourn in Eressea, the solitary isle in sight of Aman, though for her the way is closed. Her prayer was granted - but also her personal ban was lifted, in reward for her services against Sauron, and above all for her rejection of the temptation to take the Ring when offered to her. So at the end we see her taking ship.” (“Unfinished Tales”)

In the same book, we are told Galadriel thought it was “her duty to remain in Middle-earth while Sauron was still unconquered”. On a side note; Christopher Tolkien didn’t believe Galadriel was banished from Valinor, but Tolkien himself speaks of her “ban” and how Galadriel herself believed she would never be allowed to return to Valinor, so whatever she did must have been messy.

In “Rings of Power” is this connected with “Sauron lives because of you?” or something else? Because we had Galadriel making this vow right at the end of the First age, in the show, and at the beginning of Season 2, already.

In "Unfinished Tales", we are told Galadriel refused the Valar’ pardon and doesn't return to Valinor. But something is also revealed:

"Pride still moved her [Galadriel] when, at the end of the Elder Days after the final overthrow of Morgoth, she refused the pardon of the Valar for all who had fought against him, and remained in Middle-earth. It was not until two long ages more had passed, when at last all that she had desired in her youth came to her hand, the Ring of Power and the dominion of Middle-earth of which she had dreamed, that her wisdom was full grown and she rejected it, and passing the last test departed from Middle-earth for ever.”

And Christopher Tolkien adds:

This last sentence relates closely to the scene Lothlórien when Frodo offered the One Ring to Galadriel (The Fellowship of the Ring II 7): "And now at last it comes. You will give me the Ring freely! In place of the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen."

Galadriel’s “youth” is used in two instances: when she was a leader in the rebellion against the Valar and the One ring was everything she desired. And yes, these two things have to be connected because Galadriel took no part in the Oath of Fëanor, nor in any of the events that resulted from there during the First Age, as Tolkien confirms in his Letter 353: “Galadriel was 'unstained: she had committed no evil deeds. She was an enemy of Feanor. She did not reach Middle-earth with the other Noldor, but independently. Her reasons for desiring to go to Middle-earth were legitimate.”

What happened? We don’t know. It probably had something to do with the One ring, since Galadriel resisting this final temptation with Frodo is so significant to her character arc in the legendarium and to earn the Valar’ pardon.

From Tolkien letters, Galadriel perverted her “Art” into “power” but we don’t know how or why: “Their [Elves] 'magic' is Art, delivered from many of its human limitations: mor effortless, more quick, more complete (product, and vision in unflawed correspondence). And its object is Art not Power, sub-creation not domination and tyrannous re-forming of Creation. The 'Elves' are 'immortal, at least as far as this world goes: and hence are concerned rather with the griefs and burdens of deathlessness in time and change, than with death. The Enemy in successive forms is always 'naturally' concerned with sheer Domination, and so the Lord of magic and machines; but the problem: that this frightful evil can and does arise from an apparently good root, the desire to benefit the world and others - speedily and according to the benefactor's own plans - is a recurrent motive. His was a sub-creative Fall, and hence the Elves (the representatives of sub-creation par excellence) were peculiarly his enemies, and the special object of his desire and hate - and open to his deceits. Their Fall is into possessiveness and (to a less degree) into perversion of their art to power.” (Tolkien Letter 131)

"Galadriel's power is not divine" (Tolkien Letter 156)

"magic', a motive easily corruptible into evil, a lust for domination [...] Power" is an ominous and sinister word in all these tales, except as applied to the gods" (Tolkien Letter 131)

Galadriel and Sauron’s scene in 2x08 is called “The Fall of Galadriel”: “The Fall” (or corruption) is one of the core themes of Tolkien legendarium. Unsure what (or if) this can mean in the future seasons.

During the War of Sauron and the Elves and from “Unfinished Tales”, Sauron also suspected Galadriel had one of the Three Elven rings, and moved towards Lindon with that purpose (while in other versions she already resides in Lothlórien):

“Now Sauron's immediate purpose was to take Lindon, where he believed that he had most chance of seizing one, or more, of the Three Rings; and he called in therefore his scattered forces and marched west towards the land of Gil-galad, ravaging as he went.”

“Concerning the Three Rings Sauron could learn nothing from Celebrimbor; and he had him put to death. But he guessed the truth, that the Three had been committed to Elvish guardians: and that must mean to Galadriel and Gil-galad.”

In “Rings of Power”, Sauron not merely suspects, he knows Galadriel and Gil-galad have Two of the Three. And him attacking Lindon has been teased in Season 2 finale: “Sauron’s armies are roving across Eriador. All Middle-earth is within his reach now. Even Lindon.”

In “Unfinished Tales” we are also told: “After Eregion's fall Celeborn led this migration to Lórien, while Galadriel joined Gil-galad in Lindon”. We know Celeborn is still missing from the show, and Galadriel has no connection with (future) Lothlórien, yet. It’s uncertain which version of the legendarium, the show will follow.

We also know the Elves take their rings off when Sauron forges the One and that’s how the smiths of Eregion knew they were deceived. However, in “Unfinished Tales”, we are told the idea of them not being used came from Galadriel herself: “Galadriel counselled him [Celebrimbor] that the Three Rings of the Elves should be hidden, never used, and dispersed, far from Eregion where Sauron believed them to be.”

In “Rings of Power” this interaction between Galadriel and Celebrimbor was adapted about the Nine rings of power, because this happens after Celebrimbor discovers Annatar is Sauron. Although it can also fit 1x08 when Galadriel tells Celebrimbor (and Elrond): “The powers we forge today must be for the Elves alone. Untouched by other hands.”

However, it’s Elrond who takes the rings to Lindon in 2x01. And, in the show (so far) Galadriel has been using Nenya… a bit too much. It’s unsure if they’ll follow this route of having Galadriel as the one to say the Elves can’t use the Three (anymore) and why.

Galadriel’s role for the rest of the Second age is all over the place, because we have different versions of when she arrived at (future) Lothlórien; in one version she’s already there at the time of the Fall of Eregion; in another is right after, in another is after the War of the Elves and Sauron, and other during the Third age when she perceives Sauron might rise again. In some versions she gets there alone, in others with Celeborn. There’s no way of knowing which version the show will follow.

“During the Third Age, Galadriel became filled with foreboding, and with Celeborn she journeyed to Lórien and stayed there long with Amroth, being especially concerned to learn all news and rumours of the growing shadow in Mirkwood and the dark stronghold in Dol Guldur.” (“Unfinished Tales”)

The “Númenor issue”

Indeed, we have no reference in the legendarium for Galadriel ever have been to Númenor, like in “Rings of Power” Season 1. So, where does this comes from?

From “Unfinished Tales”, after War of Elves and Sauron we are told; “the narrative returns to Galadriel, telling that the sea-longing grew so strong in her that (though she deemed it her duty to remain in Middle-earth while Sauron was still unconquered) she determined to leave Lórinand and to dwell near the sea.”

To me, the most likely explanation is the show connecting her dwelling by the sea with Númenor. Since Patrick McKay talked about how their idea was for Galadriel to meet Sauron while he was “repentant and lost”, them bringing the sea (water) into their first interactions in the show might be connected to Sauron’s “repentance era”:

“Water is represented as being almost entirely free of Morgoth” […] “He [Morgoth] cursed the Sea, saying: 'Slime of Ulmo! I will conquer thee yet, shrivel thee to a stinking ooze. Yea, ere long Ulmo and Osse shall wither, and Vinen crawl as a mud-worm at my feet!' With that suddenly he passed from Avathar and went to do his will.” (“Morgoth’s Ring”). “Melkor hated the Sea, for he could not subdue it.” (“The Silmarillion”).

But why place Galadriel in Númenor? And why have her meet Sauron in “human form” (Halbrand)?

Alan Lee drawing of Sauron arriving at Númenor, as prisoner.

“Upon that ship which was cast the highest and stood dry upon a hill there was a man, or one in man's shape, but greater than any even of the race of Numenor in stature... And it seemed to men that Sauron was great; though they feared the light of his eyes. To many he appeared fair, to others terrible; but to some evil.” (“The Lost Road and Other Writings”)

In his Letter 246, Tolkien describes Sauron’s physical appearance in the Third age: “Sauron should be thought of as very terrible. The form he took was that of a man of more than human stature, but not gigantic. In his earlier incarnation [Second age] he was able to veil his power (as Gandalf did) and could appear as a commanding figure of great strength of body and supremely royal demeanour and countenance.”

Contrary to the popular headcanon, Sauron wasn’t in “Elf form” (Annatar) when he arrived at Númenor, since the description Tolkien gives us is that one a “man”, a very tall man. Which makes more sense with his “King of Men” title: “Sauron, the lieutenant of the Prime Dark Lord, who had fallen back into evil and was claiming both kingship and godship over Men of Middle-earth.” (Tolkien Letter 156)

The only explanation I can find is it’s their idea to have Galadriel return to Númenor around the time of the Fall, to have it align with the legendarium. Otherwise, I honestly have no idea of any other connection.

After dwelling by the sea, we are told in “Unfinished Tales”, Galadriel “passing again through Moria with Celebrían she came to Imladris, seeking Celeborn. There (it seems) she found him, and there they dwelt together for a long time; and it was then that Elrond first saw Celebrían, and loved her, though he said nothing of it”. And it’s around this time the first White Council is held, when Gil-galad gives Vilya to Elrond. This is before the War of the Last Alliance, and Sauron is rebuilding physical form at this time.

About Celebrían’s birth, we are told in “Unfinished Tales”: “The time and place of Celebrian's birth, whether here [Lake Nenuial] or later in Eregion, or even later in Lórien, is not made definite”. In “Nature of Middle-earth”, it’s suggested she was born early in the Second age, after Galadriel refused to return to Valinor. We don’t know how the show will deal with this, it depends on the return of Celeborn. The showrunners have only confirmed she has not been born yet.

Concerning the rest of the Second age, Galadriel is connected to Rivendell, Dol Amroth and Lothlórien, but there’s no mention of her during the War of the Last Alliance, when Sauron is defeated. Hosts of Lothlórien are mentioned in the final battles, but connected to other characters (not her or Celeborn).

Third Age

As said above, Galadriel perceived Sauron could rise again during the Third age, and concerned herself in finding any trace of him to stop him, like she did at the start of the Second age:

“In her wisdom Galadriel saw that Lórien would be a stronghold and point of power to prevent the Shadow from crossing the Anduin in the war that must inevitably come before it was again defeated (if that were possible); but that it needed a rule of greater strength and wisdom than the Silvan folk possessed. Nevertheless, it was not until the disaster in Moria, when by means is beyond the foresight of Galadriel Sauron's power actually crossed the Anduin and Lórien was in great peril, its king lost, its people fleeing and likely to leave it deserted to likely occupied by Orcs, that Galadriel and Celeborn took up their permanent abode in Lórien, and its government. But they took no title of King or Queen, and were the guardians that in the event brought it unviolated through the War of the Ring.” (“Unfinished Tales”)

In the same book, we have a sort of showdown between Galadriel and Sauron near Dol Guldur, when Borondir Udalraph (a man from Gondor) companions were killed in an ambush near Dol Guldur, but Borondir escaped with luck and the speed of his horse.

“But this great host was not threatened or assailed during its long journey down the Vales of Anduin. Such folk of good or evil kind as saw it approach fled out of its path for fear of its might and splendour. As it drew southward and passed by southern Mirkwood (below the great East Bight), which was now infested by the Balchoth, still there was no sign of men, in force or in scouting parties, to bar their road or to spy upon their coming. In part this was due to events unknown to them, which had come to pass since Borondir set out; but other powers also were at work. For when at last the host drew near to Dol Guldur, Eorl turned away westward for fear of the dark shadow and cloud that flowed out from it, and then he rode on within sight of Anduin. Many of the riders turned their eyes thither, half in fear and half in hope to glimpse from afar the shimmer of the Dwimordene, the perilous land that in legends of their people was said to shine like gold in the springtime. But now it seemed shrouded in a gleaming mist and to their dismay the mist passed over the river and flowed over the land before them. Eorl did not halt. "Ride on!" he commanded. "There is no other way to take. After so long a road shall we be held back from battle by a river-mist?" As they drew nearer they saw that the white mist was driving back the glooms of Dol Guldur, and soon they passed into it, riding slowly at first and warily; but under its canopy all things were lit with a clear and shadowless light, while to left and right they were guarded as it were by white walls of secrecy. "The Lady of the Golden Wood is on our side, it seems ,” said Borondir.

In “Unfinished Tales”, it’s revealed Gandalf “persuaded the [White] Council to attack Dol Guldur first, before he [Sauron] attacked Lórien. We did, and Sauron fled.” This was around “The Hobbit” timeline.

During the War of the Ring, "Three times Lórien had been assailed from Dol Guldur, but besides the valour of the elven people of that land, the power that dwelt there was too great for any to overcome, unless Sauron had come there himself." (Appendix B, "The Return of the King")

Which is another mystery; why didn’t Sauron go there himself to destroy the one he considered his “chief adversary”? Lothlórien became one of the resistance hotspots against him, after all. Did he had something better to do in Mordor? People to torture, Orcs to feed to Shelob?

Galadriel and Celeborn welcome the Fellowship at Lothlórien, and Galadriel gives them gifts which will help them in their quest. She “passes the test” by resisting the One ring, and, as Tolkien says, earns the Valar pardon and will take the ship to Valinor.

“Gently are you [Frodo] revenged for my testing of your heart at our first meeting. You begin to see with a keen eye. I do not deny that my heart has greatly desired to ask what you offer. For many long years I had pondered what I might do, should the Great Ring come into my hands, and behold! it was brought within my grasp.”

“And now at last it comes. You will give me the Ring freely! In place of the Dark Lord you will set up a Queen. And I shall not be dark, but beautiful and terrible as the Morning and the Night! Fair as the Sea and the Sun and the Snow upon the Mountain! Dreadful as the Storm and the Lightning! Stronger than the foundations of the earth. All shall love me and despair!”

She was shrunken: a slender elf-woman, clad in simple white, whose gentle voice was soft and sad. "I pass the test," she said. "I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel."

The importance of Galadriel resisting the One ring is stressed by Tolkien in his letters:

“The disappearance of the temptation of Galadriel is significant.” (Letter 210)

“In the 'Mirror of Galadriel', it appears that Galadriel conceived of herself as capable of wielding the Ring and supplanting the Dark Lord [...] Galadriel's rejection of the temptation was founded upon previous thought and resolve.” (Tolkien Letter 246)

“Her [Galadriel] personal ban was lifted, in reward for her services against Sauron, and above all for her rejection of the temptation to take the Ring when offered to her. So at the end we see her taking ship.” (Letter 297)

“She [Galadriel] was pardoned [by the Valar] because of her resistance to the final and overwhelming temptation to take the Ring for herself” (Letter 320)

In Appendix B of “The Return of the King", after resisting the One ring and before returning to Valinor, we are told of Galadriel’s actions:

“Though grievous harm was done to the fair woods on the borders, the assaults were driven back; and when the Shadow passed, Celeborn came forth and led the host of Lórien over Anduin in many boats. They took Dol Guldur, and Galadriel threw down its walls and laid bare its pits, and the forest was cleansed.”

Galadriel returns to Valinor, while her husband remains on Middle-earth with Thranduil and Elrond’s sons: “But after the passing of Galadriel in a few years Celeborn grew weary of his realm [East Lórien] and went to Imladris to dwell with the sons of Elrond” (Appendix B; “The Return of the King") and “There is no record of the day when at last he [Celeborn] sought the Grey Havens, and with him went the last living memory of the Elder Days in Middle-earth.�� (LOTR, “Prologue”, Note on the Shire Records)

As for Sauron, many wrongly assume he was sent to the Void after the destruction of the One ring. Mostly because that's what the Eldar loremasters believe in "The Silmarillion". But that's not Tolkien tells us in his Letter 131: "There was another weakness: if the One Ring was actually unmade, annihilated, then its power would be dissolved, Sauron's own being would be diminished to vanishing point, and he would be reduced to a shadow, a mere memory of malicious will."

Which is what Gandalf tells Frodo in the "Fellowship of the Ring" book: "If [the One Ring] is destroyed, then [Sauron] will fall; and his fall will be so low that none can foresee his arising ever again. For he will lose the best part of his strength that was native to him in his beginning, and all that made or begun with that power will crumble, and he will be maimed for ever, becoming a mere spirit of malice that gnaws itself in the shadows, but cannot again grow or take shape. And so a great evil of this world will be removed."

Sauron's spirit remains in Arda after the One ring is destroyed; which is connected to his Ainur nature, after all. He's powerless and unable to take on physical form, though.

I would also like to bring this description from "Return of the King" when the One ring gets destroyed: "And as the Captain gazed south to the Land of Mordor, it seemed to them that, black against the pall of cloud, there rose a huge shape of shadow, impenetrable, lightning-crowned, filling all the sky. Enormous it reared above the world, and stretched out towards them a vast threatening hand, terrible but impotent: for even as it leaned over them, a great wind took it, and it was all blown away, and passed, then a hush fell."

We have a "great wind" taking Sauron's spirit away which opens a lot of possibilities. Manwe is the Valar of winds and skies, so can it be he sent some of his Maiar to capture Sauron and bring him to Valinor? Eönwë, maybe? After the mess of the Second and Third ages, the Valar would probably want to capture Sauron if they got the chance, I would say. So, it's entirely possible that Sauron was imprisoned within the Halls of Mandos. Until the end of days, Dagor Dagorath, probably.

[skypieschaos]

Sprites Reveal Part 1

Today's reveal is the upgraded pixel art of the characters, if you look at the first version of grian I showed off as a chibi its very different from the new and improved art - that I learnt in 1 night. But I waited to get a few more characters drawn before the big reveal [minus the fact I showed off Grian and BigB yesterday-

Grian is grian, he got his wings on his ears and he has a mini animation in the game, He will have 3-4 sprites planned so this is just one of them. He was the first drawn because I knew how I wanted to draw him since his appearance on the title screen and character selection where different looking from the chibi.

Martyn looks very funky to me haha, He also gets 3-4 sprites like Grian, Ren and Scar do. Though he definitely may go through a second round of redesigning because the colouring is a bit off. He hasnt been animated yet because of that reason unlike the rest lol.

Rendiggitydog! I ended up realizing half way through drawing him that I have to make many versions of his sprite when I was just planning to make grian and martyn have multiple sprite designs as its the characters you can play as, but as he second leads in Martyn's POV, he is a special exception like Scar :]

After discovering Ren had to have multiple sprites, I ended up realizing Scar has a minimum of FIVE different sprites thanks to his shirtless-ness . Luckily for me, I made the Poncho on a separate layer... Scar's scars on his face comes after grian blows him up so this is pre-explosion.

Scott was fun to draw, originally I was drawing Jimmy first then I thought he looked too much like scott so he turned into scott haha.. But the sprite did get edited a bit in the actual program, thats why it has a checkered background here

Jimmy is like Martyn, he may be getting revised but I needed to use a sprite for him while I create the set of the Hobbits/flower husbands. I know I will redesign him to at least not look very uncanny to me haha...

Yesterday BigB was shown, but I gotta say, he probably is my favourite sprite so far. I ended up making his sprite too big and had to scale it down in code, He will have a quest in the beginning as he is the first person you meet, no matter who you choose to play as. .

. And those are all the sprites being revealed at the moment! I'll reveal more when I get further on.

[cinnamon7girl7]

"THROUGH THE SILENCE, I WILL RETURN TO YOU – PART 5."

♡ — Summary: I thought I had it all — Satoru’s love, Megumi’s warmth, and Suguru’s trust. But even the strongest love can break when truth hides behind silence. One betrayal changes everything; pain drives them apart, yet memories and a love still alive won’t let them go. Now, Satoru fights for a second chance, and she must decide if, after all the hurt, love is still worth it. ♡ — Author's note: This is the fifth part of this story. I recommend reading the first four chapters (one, two, three, and four) so it makes more sense. This is the final chapter of this story, I’m very happy that you liked it as much as I did. I’ll be uploading the epilogues. Also, if you want, you can send me story ideas. Enjoy the last chapter!

Chapter 5: Returning to You

The rain hammered against the windows as if it knew what was happening in your chest. Outside, the world kept turning, indifferent. Inside you, time had stopped at the exact moment you closed that door, leaving Satoru with eyes full of tears and a shattered heart.

Seven days had passed.

Seven days without hearing his voice.

Seven days without his laughter slipping between the sheets in the morning.

Seven days without his clumsy attempts to make breakfast for you and Megumi.

Seven days... since everything broke.

And yet, every corner of your house brought him back.

You sat on the couch, a blanket over your legs and a cup of tea in your hands. Megumi was in his room, drawing silently. He hadn’t asked many questions since that night. He just looked at you with those eyes that said more than any words could. It hurt to see him so quiet. It hurt to see that even he, who was just beginning to heal, had felt the crack that had opened between you and Satoru.

You were the one who had taught him that love was trust. That bonds couldn’t hold on secrets.

And now you were the one trying not to break completely.

The days passed, and although you didn’t answer his calls, Satoru’s messages kept coming. Some short, like a whisper that didn’t dare to raise its voice:

Just tell me you’re okay.

I miss your voice.

Forgive me.

Tell me how I can make it right.

Others longer, disorganized, as if he wrote them in the middle of desperation, guilt, and the love he still had for you.

But you didn’t reply. You couldn’t. Because you knew that if you did, a part of you would want to run back into his arms again.

And it still hurt. It still burned that he hid something so important from you… him, who had always promised there would be no secrets between you.

And yet… every night you wondered if he was okay.

If he was sleeping.

If he was eating.

If he still wore your ring hanging from that little chain he never took off.

One ordinary afternoon, Suguru knocked on your door.

You were surprised to see him. With his black scarf covering part of his face, his hair tied back, and his eyes downcast, as if it was hard for him to look at you. You had always trusted him. He had always been more than your best friend; he had been your brother in this strange life, so full of battles and curses. But he had also kept silent. He had also been part of that deception.

— Can I come in? — he asked softly.

You nodded.

He sat on the sofa, facing you. For a few seconds, silence enveloped you both. Only the soft ticking of the wall clock could be heard.

— I’m not here to defend him — he finally said, with his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped together —. I know what he did was wrong. Very wrong. But… I think you should know some things.

You stayed silent, waiting.

— Satoru never wanted to marry anyone else. He never considered it. He only went to those meetings because the clan pressured him. He… just wanted to protect what you two have. He thought if he gave in a little, they would leave him alone. And for a while, it worked. But he never had the courage to tell you. For fear you would think he doubted you… or believe he was capable of betraying you.

You looked at him with your heart tight.

— Suguru… — you whispered, barely.

— He was a coward. I know — he admitted, not defending his friend —. But he never stopped loving you, Tiny. Not for a second.

The name only he used made you close your eyes for a moment. As if the pain felt sharper hearing how he used to call you when things were simple.

— And why didn’t you tell me? — you asked softly, but with a sadness that weighed heavy.

— Because it wasn’t my story to tell — he answered honestly —. And yes, I was a coward too.

You tilted your head, watching the steam from your tea fade away. You wanted to hate them both. But more than hate, what you felt was that damn mixture of disappointment, pain, and love. Because yes… you still loved him.

— I’m not here to convince you of anything — Suguru continued, standing up —. I just wanted you to know the whole truth. What you do with it… depends only on you.

Before leaving, he put something on the table. A white envelope. It didn’t have your name on it, but you recognized the handwriting. It was from Satoru.

You didn’t open it.

Not yet.

That night, Megumi curled up next to you.

— “Mom?” —he called you in a soft voice.

You looked at him, gently running your fingers through his hair. He still called you that, even though the world felt upside down.

— “Do you think Dad loves you?” —he asked, with a seriousness far beyond his age.

Your throat tightened. Every word hurt.

— “Yes,” —you answered, swallowing hard— “but sometimes… love isn't enough.”

He hugged you tighter, as if he were afraid you might disappear too.

— “Then teach him how to love the right way,” —he whispered, leaving you speechless.

The next day, you didn’t know why you did it, but you opened the envelope.

Inside, there was a letter. And something else: a photo.

It was a snapshot of the three of you — you, Satoru, and Megumi. You were at the beach. Megumi was laughing, his face covered in sand, you were holding a melted ice cream, and Satoru was looking at you as if the entire universe lived in your smile. That photo… Suguru had taken it.

The letter was handwritten. Shaky. The ink was smudged in some places, as if there had been tears on the paper.

My love: I don’t know how to begin something that hurts even to think about, and yet here I am, writing to you with trembling hands because spoken words are no longer enough, and because the fear of losing you forever is stronger than any pride I might still have. I failed you. I can’t disguise it, I can’t justify it. It doesn’t matter if I believed I was protecting you, if I thought it was better for you not to know. Silence is a form of hurt too… and you didn’t deserve any kind. Since you came into my life, everything changed. You taught me what calm feels like in the middle of chaos, warmth in the middle of winter. You are the only person who has touched my soul without fear, who has loved my light — but also my shadows. You are my home. You have been since the very first moment, even before I understood it. And sometimes, when you love someone so deeply, you think hiding the storms will protect them. But I was wrong. I kept something from you that you had every right to know, and the worst part… is that I hurt you when all I wanted was to protect you. You know? They gave me the ring the day you left. I didn’t know how to give you something worthy of you. I imagined a thousand ways to ask you: at home, with Megumi, surrounded by everything we’ve built… or in one of those places where the world seems to stop when we’re together. But in the end, I gave you nothing. Not because I didn’t feel it, but because I ruined it. I want to marry you. I want to see you wake up every day, I want to fight with you over silly things and then make up laughing. I want to raise Megumi by your side, watch you be a mom, and also just be you. My partner, my best friend, my love. And even if you say no. Even if you can’t look at me the same. Even if your eyes no longer shine when they see me… I’ll wait. Not because I deserve your forgiveness, but because there’s no one else in this world I want to give all that I am to. Thank you for loving me. For staying so long, for every mochi you made even when the first ones turned out bad, for every tender look, for every night when you were my peace. And if one day you decide to come back, I won’t ask for explanations. I’ll just hold you, and I promise I’ll never hide anything from you again. You are my most sacred truth. Always yours, Satoru

Your chest burned. You didn’t know if it was from rage or from love. Maybe both. Because it hurt. Everything hurt.

And yet…

There you were, reading that letter over and over again.

And you knew something was about to happen. You could feel it. You could sense it.

And you weren’t ready.

But at the same time… you couldn’t ignore it anymore.

Three days later, you got a message.

It wasn’t from Satoru. It was from Megumi. Well, from his number, but you knew there was no way your son had written something like that without help.

“Mom, I want you to come with me somewhere. It’s not far. It’s not dangerous. I just want you to come. Please.”

And a dropped location.

You sighed. Your heart beat as if it had a memory of its own.

You didn’t know if you were ready.

You didn’t know if you wanted to go.

But you knew you had to.

You arrived at sunset.

It was a park you used to visit when Megumi was little. A hidden one, with tall trees, wooden swings, and an open field filled with wildflowers that grew without permission. That place held memories in every corner.

In the distance, you saw him.

Satoru was standing with his back to you. He wore his blue jacket — the one you liked the most — and the wind tousled his white hair like it was an open page.

When he heard your steps, he turned around. He wasn’t wearing the blindfold. His eyes, bluer than ever, shimmered with fear… and hope.

—Thank you for coming —he said, voice low, almost broken.

You didn’t reply. You just looked at him. You waited.

—I don’t want you to think this is a trap. I didn’t come to convince you of anything. I just… I want to give you something.

He pulled a small box from his pocket. It wasn’t a ring. It was older, made of wood, with hand-carved inscriptions.

He opened it. Inside were small folded notes.

—They’re memories —he said, voice trembling—. Things I wrote about you… since the day I met you. I wanted to give them to you before. But I was scared. Today, I’m not afraid to say what I feel. Only afraid of losing you for good.

He handed you the box and took a step back.

—I’m going to stay here. You can leave if you want. I won’t stop you. I just wanted you to know that everything I lived with you was the most real thing in my life.

You looked at the box again. You picked a note at random.

“Today I saw her laugh as if the world didn’t hurt. I felt saved.”

Another one.

“She taught me how to make mochi. I burned myself, made a mess, but she laughed so hard I wanted to fail again just to hear her one more time.”

And another.

“Megumi called her mom. She cried. And in that moment, I knew she no longer belonged only to me… she belonged to the entire universe we were together.”

Your hands trembled.

Your heart shattered and rebuilt itself with every sentence.

Satoru was there. Waiting.

And you… you didn’t know what to say.

—Why did you do this to me? —you asked finally—. Why didn’t you tell me the truth from the start?

—Because I’m an idiot —he said, with painful honesty—. Because I thought I could handle it all on my own. Because I was scared of losing you if I said something you couldn’t bear to hear.

—And what did you do? You lost me anyway.

He lowered his gaze.

—I know. But even if I have to spend the rest of my life trying to deserve a second chance… I will. Because not a single day goes by that I don’t regret that silence.

You stepped closer. Your eyes were shining. He extended a trembling hand, but didn’t touch you. He just left it there, waiting.

—I broke you —he whispered—. And if you tell me no, I’ll understand. But if there’s a part of you… even a small part… that still loves me… then I beg you, let me come back to you.

Your breath caught.

You looked at the box, his eyes, his hands, his tears… and you remembered everything.

The beginning. The hugs. Megumi calling you “mom.” The fights. The kitchen covered in flour. The beach. The letters. The pain. The love.

—No —you said, and Satoru broke.

—Please… —he whispered, falling to his knees—. Just tell me what I have to do.

—No, Satoru —you repeated—. I don’t want to go back to that.

He closed his eyes. His heart dropped to the ground. But before he could say another word, you leaned down, cupped his face in your hands, and added, with tears running down your cheeks:

—I want to come back to you… but to the real you. No lies. No silence. No fear.

And then you hugged him. You hugged him so tightly that you nearly took his breath away.

Satoru sobbed into your neck, whispering “thank you” again and again, as if he couldn’t believe it.

—I love you —you said.

—And I love you —he replied, burying his face in your hair—. More than anything. More than everything.

And when Megumi saw you from a distance, sitting on a bench, he smiled in silence.

His family was whole again.

Satoru took your hand and led you to the very place where you had kissed for the first time.

There, surrounded by flowers and with the sky opening between the clouds, he gave you something else. A little box, this time with a ring. But not like before. Not an engagement ring. It was one engraved with a word that meant more than any promise: Trust.

—I don’t want this to represent a future. I want it to represent the present. What we are now. What we’ve built, and what we can still keep creating. Will you walk with me, one step at a time?

You took the ring. You put it on your finger. And you kissed it.

—Always.

[ran-gogh]

Some upcoming drawings :) stay tuned for when I I actually find some motivation to colour and render these bitches.

I swear something in the air has made everything topsy turvy bro. Usually I’m like dragging myself to get the sketches over and done with because personally I find the colouring bit a lot more entertaining and fun then the beginning stages but recently it has been the complete opposite??? Like I have so many ideas that I just want to get them down as quickly as I can but then I can’t be assed to finish them which is totally cool and not infuriating at all :/

[sillygoofyqueer]

OKAY OKAY OKAY I HAD A DAY OFF FROM EDUCATION BECAUSE THE ILLNESS HAS STRUCK ME DOWN. HOWEVER, LADS, WE'VE GOT MORE MAD SCIENTIST AU TO YAP ABOUT. Right, so, shenanigans may be going on during the war camp of the Sunshot Campaign, but there is still a war going on. Nie Mingjue and Lan Xichen decide that it's the best time to start advancing to take back the land that was taken by the Wen and, while the battles are still gruelling as all hell, Wei Wuxian is a literal demon on the battlefield. The rumours say that he clambered up from the depths of the most uninhabitable place in the world and bloodshed followed every step he took. The Wen and Jin both cower at the mere mention of the Yiling Patriarch appearing to take back control over those that left him to a fate worse than death, and when the low, howling melody of a flute rings out across the battlefield, you can see them begin to falter, looking around in panic to try and catch a sight of the monster before the dead rise to follow his commands. He doesn't even deign to draw his sword once against them.

It's not just Wei Wuxian gaining popularity through these battles. Alongside the aggressive stance of Sandu Shengshou and the elegant but unyielding blows of Hanguang-Jun, there is a more surprising legend joining the ranks. An archer whose arrows always strike true, often burning with spiritual flame to cause even more damage to the unfortunate soul the man's eyes have landed upon in the fleeting moment. Fèng bǐ zhǔ (鳳匕主- Phoenix Dagger Master) is possibly one of the most skilled archers in the Sunshot Campaign, dark eyes sharp and observant to pick out the biggest potential dangers that have dodged the fierce blades of the battling warriors. Rumours say he has killed many men with a single arrow (yes it was being used as a dagger but that's still cool as hell), and his blade tipped bow has felled many souls without the requirement of arrows. The wind seems to follow his command with how he guides his arrows into the bodies of his enemies. Wen Ning thinks it's all a bit over the top, but how could his family ever just brush off such a thing?!

With all these legends in the making, the Wen and Jin are obviously getting more concerned about their chances of winning the war. They thought they had this literally in the bag because they weren't aware of the single teenager that had been thrown away, weren't aware of how easily he could change the tides of the battle. Even then, there's other teenagers gaining names for themselves that they didn't think would ever reach so far in life. Viewed as little brats who were just bits of dirt to be brushed aside for the main goal of power and control of the entire Jianghu. They're learning all of this information, Jin Guangshan is realising that he threw his lots in with the wrong guy and is severely regretting his decision. Wen Ruohan is getting very frustrated because FENGBI-ZHU?? You mean, his NEPHEW?? The one who was being held hostage?! So it's safe to say that he's pissed off. You know who he has within his possession? UH OH!! THE DAFAN WEN!!!

There is a suspicious lull in battle that nobody expected, one that has everyone braced for a sudden, violent attack of sorts. Wen Qing, who has been using Wei Ying's crows to get messages to the Dafan Wen for updates, suddenly loses all contact with them. These are warning signs for a very very bad thing happening. Wen Qing brings this information to Lan Wangji, not wanting to worry her didis about it, and he takes it straight to his gege at her request because his gege can help with this. They forget that there is a certain twelve year old who eavesdrops for fun around the camp, and one who will immediately tell his gege everything he hears, especially if it's explicitly linked to their family. Wei Ying tells Wen Ning, and they do what two teenagers who are extremely worried about their family would do. They sneak OUT of the war camp and INTO WEN TERRITORY.

Lan Wangji is the first to notice Wei Ying missing, of course he is, looking around and finding a strangely worried looking Xue Yang peering around the camp himself. He asks his new didi where Wei Ying is, and Xue Yang is actually sheepish and panicked because he's TWELVE and his gege is missing right after he told him about a potentially awful situation. He immediately spills everything to Lan Wangji because he honestly didn't expect both Wei-gege AND Wen-gege to go MIA the moment he turned his back! Lan Wangji is obviously like "oh shit fuck no" and goes to his gege because this is bad. Wen Qing goes fucking insane the moment that she hears the news that two of her moronic didis have seemingly gone into enemy territory without even letting her know, without even seemingly strategising. This is fucking awful, and she can't go running after them because she can't just leave Xue Yang without anyone - he is just as important as her other didis now, even with his stupidity sometimes.

Meanwhile, Wei Ying and Wen Ning are rushing to Dafan on their swords, obviously. The only reason they aren't immediately shot down by patrolling Wen guards is because the clouds are good cover and the crows are far too happy to assist in distracting the guards so they can get past denser populations. They didn't really think much before they went off, grabbing a few days' food and medical supplies in case of danger. Wen Ning's bow is heavy on his back, and Chenqing is practically buzzing in response to the resentful energy thrashing around in its master's chest with every breath that he takes. The boys don't talk much, brains flashing wildly between "this was such a stupid idea" and "our family is in danger and we have to help them." This urgency is what propels them faster, forgoing sleep as much as possible without losing their instincts - they don't have time to stop, they can't even think about considering stopping until they finally land in Dafan Village.

It is deadly silent. There is usually always something or other going on in the village, but there is nothing. There is familiar char upon the wood making up the usually lively homes, a scent of smoke filling the senses the moment they step into this ghost village. It's a silent, cautious walk through the streets, the damage only getting worse the further in they get. Wei Ying catches a much, much more familiar scent beginning to rise to the forefront of the smoke, and he shares a very panicked look with Wen Ning, who can't smell it, but can definitely see the blood splattering the stone stairs and soaking into the dirt beneath their feet. Wen Ning is the first to start sprinting, yelling out the names of his beloved family with every corner turned, and Wei Ying is close behind, all thoughts of secrecy gone as they hurtle towards the centre of the village, desperate to find them just roughed up as a warning or something. A threat, maybe.

Instead, they find a pile of corpses. Discarded like rubbish, left to rot away in the centre of their precious village, the one place they were supposed to be truly safe. Blood permeates the air, covering the scene like an almost morbid decoration, and there's a distinct smell of burnt flesh with every breath. Wen Ning can't look for even a second longer than necessary before he's stumbling away, emptying the contents of his stomach - he has seen shit from the war, but nothing hits like seeing his family like this - and a sort-of-scream, sort-of-anguished-groan escapes him. Wei Ying, however, cannot look away. He stares emptily at the sight in front of him, everything else fading to a distant, muffled mess. This is all his fault, he knows it. This physically cannot be happening. He stumbles forwards, hands reaching to - what? He doesn't know, but he's gently scooping up the first corpse he can get a proper grip on, going to get them out of an undignified pile.

Wen Ning is having a mental breakdown but starts trying to help out, not wanting to leave his family in such a state. Wei Ying is basically disassociating as he starts laying out these bodies on the floor, murmuring apologies for the indignity the whole time. He's worked with corpses before, he's very methodical with it, and he tries not to look too much at their faces as he gently rests them upon the blood soaked ground. He's so focused on being careful with everything he does that it's hard to realise that there's something shifting around in the pile of corpses. He actually thinks it's a possible walking corpse trapped within its confines at first, but then he scoops up yet another body one of his aunties and realises that its holding something in its arms, clutched to its chest. He goes about laying out the body, familiar red smeared upon his robes as he finally removed its arms from its chest and finds these big, blinking eyes staring out at him from within a dirty, mudded blanket.

[phightingheadcanons]

Handwriting headcannons bc I'm thinking about how 3 specific people write bc of something I'm drawing that involves another one of my phighting ocs (no clue if this has been done before but oh well I guess-)

Katana has like really neat hand writing. Like, that shit is immaculate. Perfect. Amazing. Perfectly legible 110% of the time.

Scythe has like really bubbly or flow-y handwriting. Like, her handwriting is probably half-cursive with some letters being connected to eachother and some not, but it always manages to look amazing and awesome and pretty. Also completely legible 110% of the time. The only exception being if she is like dead tired or trying to write while like super sick or drunk or smth idk.

Broker probably had writing that more scratch-y but is also still really easy to read and actually look at. Like, the lines of his letters and stuff is just like a lot more straight-edged and sharp if that makes any sense.

Subspace I feel like has chicken scratch handwriting that he and only he can read. I feel like the Biografts can too but that's only because he's like specifically programmed all of them to be able to read his handwriting. The only other real person that might have the tiniest bit of a chance at reading Subspaces handwriting is Medkit, and that's mostly before the accident. Even Medkit would probably have trouble reading current time Subspace handwriting.

Vinestaff i feel like would only write in cursive. And really slowly and loopy cursive too. It look really pretty, but there's so many big loops and curves in so many letters that basically only Shuriken and Slingshot can actually read it lmao

Medkit has doctor handwriting. Yknow how a doctor signature for a medication just looks like a skightly snuggly line with like maybe a spike or bump thing at the beginning or end of it? Yeah everything he writes looks like that. All of it. Everyone fucking hates it. Scythe especially(bc i headcannon that she has to double checking his paperwork alot as like a higher-in-the-command-chain thing)

Banhammer has really big handwriting. Like he wouldn't be able to write properly in a college-ruled notebook. He needs minimum wide-ruled, and even then a single letter takes up like 2 lines. Big hands means big handwriting i guess idk-

Slingshot i feel like would have really bubbly and just like visually appealing handwriting. He has his own handwriting as the font for his café type visually appealing. Kind of like the Bradley Hand font (may or may not be my favorite visually appealing font but that's not the point-)

I want to say that Biografts write in like, Arial or something stupid like that but I don't think they would actually write lmao

Uuuh I can't think of anything else rn and it also may or may not be 12:30 in the morning as I'm typing this- (Also katana scythe and broker may or may not be connected to the oc i mentioned- anyways-)

- 🌌✨️ anon

i'd write this out based off what u said but im terrible at mimicking handwriting and esp cursive, so

tbh based hcs, methinks the true eye would force u to use cursive for like documents and stuff

[zenkindoflove]

Hello!! I have a few Elucien related asks for funsies:

- What do you think draws you to Elucien as a ship?

- Do you have a favorite Elucien head canon that you’d love to read in their book?

- If you read fan fic, do you remember what your first Elucien fic was? Or do you have one you are currently reading you’re loving?

- Would you prefer to read a super angsty, drama-filled Elucien book that tears at the heartstrings, or more of a romantic comedy with lots of banter and fluff? Or a combination?

Feel free to share these question prompts with your fave Elucien accounts or anyone else you think would like to participate and spread the positive vibes!

What a very kind ask, anon! I always love these cute things.

- What do you think draws you to Elucien as a ship? I've always been attracted to arranged marriage tropes in romance and fanfiction. Lucien was my favorite character from the start, and while reading ACOMAF, I really was hoping there would be some character that seemed promising as his love interest. When his bond snapped to Elain the way it did - so suddenly and without them knowing each other - and then the angst of ACOWAR with her still being in love with her fiancé but tied to Lucien with a bond she didn't understand - OH I WAS COOKED. It was exactly the kind of dynamic I never knew I wanted for Lucien, speaking to a base desire of the kind of set ups I like to read. Elain tends to fall into a category of female characters I'm really drawn to in fiction too so it was all so perfect. As of where they are in canon now, I am desperate for them to interact more. SJM has really been slow burning them and I NEED IT.

- Do you have a favorite Elucien head canon that you’d love to read in their book?

I really love the idea of them having a more tentative, awkward, slow build sort of romance where they are feeling each other out in the beginning as they get to know each other, and there is always this undercurrent of tension and chemistry, desiring each other while fighting those feelings, even if on the outside it seems like they are still stilted and distant. And then as they both start to reveal more of themselves, the speed at which their emotions unravel grows and grows!

I also really like some different tropes I've seen in fics with them like Elain touching his scars, feeling each others emotions, their magic being tied together in some way, Lucien feeling warm to the touch - so many things but beggars can't be choosers.

- If you read fan fic, do you remember what your first Elucien fic was? Or do you have one you are currently reading you’re loving?

I honestly have no idea what the first fanfic was that I read. LOL. As soon as I finished the series, I immediately went to AO3 and just started filtering and reading as I always do when I have a new obsession. My pattern is always to go through a period binge reading and it all blurred together. I do remember I really enjoying certain authors and fics though. Some that I really recommend that are from that early time when I was binge reading are:

Instincts by @spiritedstars / moononastring

Solstice Traditions by @infinitefolklore / infinitefolklore

i would stay forever (just say don't go) by @crazy-ache / crazyache

When @crazy-ache reached out to me, we really bonded over our shared vision, headcanons, and preferences for Elucien. I love all of her fics and we have written a few fics together. So a lot of my Elucien fanfiction experience in general has been defined by our collaborative relationship! And she has become an amazing friend to me.

- Would you prefer to read a super angsty, drama-filled Elucien book that tears at the heartstrings, or more of a romantic comedy with lots of banter and fluff? Or a combination?

Always a combination. I think you need both to have a full experience of their relationship dynamics and also angst makes the fluff sweeter, and without fluff, then you don't have much pulling you through to the happy ending. When I write them in my fics, I always try to play around in both spheres. The drama tends to be more internal than external, though often there is a lot of antagonistic forces at play for them from the outside, driving them either together or away from each other. So I really like the idea of that playing a big role in their book. Maybe just when they start to really express their love for each other, something happens that separates them, and they desperately need to save each other.

[juliet-017]

OMG This was so manacled coded it killed I need to marry you rn Marls and if yall don't already follow her pls do RNNNN

“I hate you,” he whispered, and then, just a second later—his lips crashed on yours. And it was even better than what you had imagined all these nights in the library—how your lips moved in sync with his, how eager he was to feel more of you, hands slipping under your blouse, leaving goosebumps in their wake. How you leaned into his touch as though this wasn’t the son of the most feared wizard of Great Britain, probably the entire world.

Mmm this was js hot and cutsie idk I love hate fucks

“I hate you too.” You replied, a grin tugging at the corner of your lips.

Hehe this was so cute and silly he can throat fuck me until i can't talk

How, in free periods, he’d always come to find you. Push you into the nearest classroom, lock the door behind you. Lips on yours before you could even complain. Ripping your blouse open because he was too damn impatient to unbutton it—and you’d scold him for it every single time—and he would just do it again next time.

YESYESYES I NEEEEED 💳💥💳💥 please me next

“There is a simple spell to repair it. There is no spell to spend more time making you feel good, sweetheart.”

Mmm I love it when he's cocky

Tom was always careful with you.

Except if you outscored him on an exam. Then, he wasn’t as careful.

You didn’t mind that, though.

Rough sex for outscoring him while he praises you're beautiful brain

Okay time jump

“Fucking hell.” He mutters under his breath and doesn’t waste another second thinking. He draws his wand and turns around. Spells fly in all directions, and you duck—the room lighting up in green, red, buzzing with electricity.

YESYESYES I'd suck him right then and there

He finally looks at you. Not like he did back at Hogwarts. He looks different now. Sharper features, older, more mature, with a scar right above his left eyebrow. You want to ask what happened, want to trace it with your finger, want to kiss it.

:(( angst

“You told me you wouldn’t take any unnecessary risks. That you would be careful.” He raises his voice, and it almost breaks. “Merlin, you fucking promised me.”

THIS IS KILLING ME MARLS OMG

“They took you from me. They let you get these ingredients when they knew how dangerous it was. You almost died at my hands. Because of them. You left me for them. I offered you a safe house, far away from here. Yet, they convinced you to stay. If you believe even for a second that I would shy away from killing them— think again.”

YESSSSSS I love this sm the whole "I'd burn the world down for you" AUGH

Old habits.

DIE SCREAMINGGGGGG 💔(I'm sorry I had to)

“No. You don’t get to run from me anymore. You’ll stay right here and take it. Take it like the good girl I know you are.”

It's all over the screen omgomgomg

“Am I hurting you?” he asks, concern visible in his eyes as they search yours. “I am sorry. I shouldn’t have— I will stop.”

You hold onto his arm when he begins to pull away, shaking your head no.

“No. Please don’t. Please don’t stop.” You plead as his eyes scan your face. “Just don’t— I haven’t— you know.”

AHHHHH I can't do anything but scream and kick my feet and giggle

“Come for me, pretty girl. Let it all out.” He tells you, and that’s all it takes to push you over the edge. You whimper-moan as the knot in your lower abdomen snaps, eyes rolling to the back of your head as your walls pulse, clamping down tight, drawing a low groan from him.

"Pretty girl"... :floor_please:

“Fuck— so long— been waiting so long for this— “ he drawls, and with one more rough thrust, he spills inside of you—deep, painting your walls white with his release.

MMMMMMM

“Cruciatus Curse? Have treated many people with the same symptoms.” You say softly, thumb easing along his index finger.

:(( more angst? Rlly Marls? Going to have to divorce you /silly

“I promise.”

Crying good tears now omgggg

oneshots | ᴀꜱꜱᴀꜱꜱɪɴ!ᴛᴏᴍ x ꜰ!ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

⚔︎ You Promised.

Short Summary: he is ruthless when he kills, doesn’t show an ounce of mercy. Cold and quick with it—if you are lucky. Because for most captured Order members, he likes to drag it out. Not because they are the only remaining resistance against his father. He’s stopped caring about that a long time ago. No. They took something from him. The only person he has truly ever cared about. You.

Warnings: 18+ only! mentions of death, violence, murder. Tom is Voldemort’s son. dub con if you squint? brief rough sex, praise, unprotected piv, creampie

A/N: I think I bent the meaning of assassin a tiny bit. Anyway, this is my participation for week three of @acourtofchaos’ Festival of AUs!

wordcount: 3,1k

You were aware going out to hunt that one rare potion ingredient that night was a mistake. Yes, it was only available during full moons and then only for two to three hours—but you knew for a fact that you wouldn’t be the only one looking for it. And running into Snatchers really wasn’t something you wanted to risk.

But when Harry himself came asking whether you could look for them that night, you knew how urgent it was. The Order was so close to running out of healing potions, and if you denied—

You sighed and agreed.

Later that night, you and three others made your way to the Forbidden Forest, the only place nearby where you could find the rare flowers you were looking for. Not too deep into the forest, you find what you were looking for—blooming in bright purple, surrounded by fireflies. The forest was eerily quiet at that time, except for the crunch of branches each time you took a step and the occasional screeches of birds nearby. Though, when you heard the distinctive sound of apparition somewhere not too far away, you stilled, froze. You tried to convince the others to leave, as you’d surely have enough for the month to come—yet nobody wanted to listen, there were more—just a few more—just a little further into the forest—

Until you were surrounded by the very people you warned them about before you left.

Outnumbered by at least five.

There was nothing you could do—your wand was taken faster than you could react. And without a wand—you were helpless.

—

Hours later, and you all find yourselves lined up in a basement—knees scraping against the cold, rough ground beneath you. Hands tied behind your back, scratchy cotton material secured over your head, blocking your vision.

This is it. You are going to die today.

Back when rumours spread that most killings are done by one single person, you didn’t believe them. Surely no human could muster up the strength to kill day in, day out.

Right?

Except—

No.

Tom wouldn’t.

Couldn’t have—

However, the longer you are left waiting, the more time you have to think about it all—you haven’t seen him since you left Hogwarts, since the war started. It’s been more than a year, and a lot has happened since. A lot has changed. He might have changed.

Then, your thoughts slip to just Tom.

How people, including yourself, would be afraid to even look at him—Voldemort’s son.

How he’d always be top of the class—except for that one time you were.

And the next time too.

How it would turn into a rivalry, a bitter fight over who would score higher on the next exam.

How most of your nights were spent in the library from that point on.

Tom would be there too. Never leave before you did.

How he would steal glances at you from the other side of the library.

How glances would turn into stares, stares that you noticed, that made your cheeks grow hot, that made you question whether you actually hated him as much as you told yourself you did.

And how that hatred turned into something completely different when you outscored him on a Defence Against the Dark Arts paper. His subject. The one nobody had ever even come close to him. When you smirked at him as soon as you realised, and he had this unreadable expression etched on his face.

How, as soon as that class ended and everyone had left, he pushed you against the cold stone wall of the corridor. Accused you of cheating. Accused you of Merlin knows what.

“I hate you,” he whispered, and then, just a second later—his lips crashed on yours. And it was even better than what you had imagined all these nights in the library—how your lips moved in sync with his, how eager he was to feel more of you, hands slipping under your blouse, leaving goosebumps in their wake. How you leaned into his touch as though this wasn’t the son of the most feared wizard of Great Britain, probably the entire world.

Fuck, you wanted this more than anything else.

And when you broke apart—both of you gasping for air—he would breathe a soft “Merlin, I hate you so much.”

“I hate you too.” You replied, a grin tugging at the corner of your lips.

And you’d kiss again.

How from that point on, you’d study together. You were just trying to help each other—that’s what you told anyone asking. Tom would always tell you how nobody could know.

Students started giving you strange looks. Because how could you possibly spend time with someone who seemed to care about no one and nothing except himself and his studies?

They didn’t know. It was better that way, you told yourself.

How, in free periods, he’d always come to find you. Push you into the nearest classroom, lock the door behind you. Lips on yours before you could even complain. Ripping your blouse open because he was too damn impatient to unbutton it—and you’d scold him for it every single time—and he would just do it again next time.

“There is a simple spell to repair it. There is no spell to spend more time making you feel good, sweetheart.”

And with his lips trailing kisses down your neck, sucking marks into your skin, right at the spot he knew would have your knees grow weak—any rational thought left your brain in an instant.

He’d kiss down the valley between your breasts, fingers slowly making their way underneath the lace of your panties, preparing you for him.

He treated you like you were made of glass—which even surprised you sometimes. The quiet, nerdy boy who’d have witty answers to all questions. Who’d only have to look in the direction of students nearby to silence them, make them leave.

Tom was always careful with you.

Except if you outscored him on an exam. Then, he wasn’t as careful.

You didn’t mind that, though.

It all had to stay a secret, he liked to remind you of it. That nobody could know, not even your best friend, who would pester you with questions if you came back past curfew from one of your “study sessions”. You couldn’t tell her. Nobody. Not even your parents, who didn’t know anything about the wizarding world. You wondered if it was because of that. Judging by the way the corner of his mouth twitched whenever you mentioned your muggle parents, you had your answer.

Your love was forbidden—but so, so delicious.

—

You hear the door to the basement creak open, and what you guess to be five Death Eaters approach you with heavy footsteps.

You don’t know if you are lucky or unlucky when they pass you, instead start on the other side of the line.

Make you witness the death of some of your closest friends.

Their blood-curdling screams and unheard pleas as they are left bleeding to death on the cold, wet stone floor.

Because—whoever does the killings—and you are pretty certain it is only one of them—doesn’t use their wand, but a knife.

Too many killing curses are known to have long-term effects, after all.

But with each victim more—you feel as though they do it with pleasure.

And Merlin, you weren’t ready to die that way.

You don’t have much time left to think about it before a firm hand tugs at the material over your head, tilting your head backwards.

“Last one.” An unfamiliar voice remarks somewhere to the left of you, and not even a second later, you feel the cold, unyielding metal of a knife press against your throat.

You don’t want to give whoever it is the satisfaction of any reaction—but when the sharp blade scrapes against your skin, drawing the first drops of blood—you can’t help the soft, pained whimper escaping your lips.

As if stunned, the hand holding the knife stills, and they let go of your head.

Instead, the material covering your face is cut, and you blink a few times as your eyes adjust to the different lighting—and when they focus, your heart skips a beat.

You are met with a pair of dark brown eyes you would recognize under thousands of others—his.

Tom’s.

“Fucking hell.” He mutters under his breath and doesn’t waste another second thinking. He draws his wand and turns around. Spells fly in all directions, and you duck—the room lighting up in green, red, buzzing with electricity.

Then—silence.

For just a moment.

He takes your hand in his, and the next second you apparate away, finding yourself in a small, cozy place hidden somewhere in the woods. The wound on your skin burns, but he doesn’t let you touch it.

“Let me do this.” He insists, and with just two or three spells muttered, it stops bleeding and the pain fades.

You study him for a moment. It’s really him.

“Tom.” You whisper. Silent, careful.

He finally looks at you. Not like he did back at Hogwarts. He looks different now. Sharper features, older, more mature, with a scar right above his left eyebrow. You want to ask what happened, want to trace it with your finger, want to kiss it.

Kiss him.

His eyes are cloudy now, and he’s lost the spark he used to have whenever it was just you two. And—he has become what he promised you he wouldn’t.

Just like his father.

Maybe they were right, after all.

His grip on your shoulder tightens, and you wince softly as the rough wood bites into your back.

“You told me you wouldn’t take any unnecessary risks. That you would be careful.” He raises his voice, and it almost breaks. “Merlin, you fucking promised me.”

He sounds more disappointed than angry when he says it.

He’s right. You did promise him. Right before the war, you promised each other two things. One, you’d be careful, wouldn’t take any risky tasks, would do anything to stay alive. Two, he would come back for you. Would find you after the war. Although he was aware that the chance of both of you surviving was rather slim.

You shake your head softly.

“It was always supposed to be like this, Tom. Us. Enemies. We fight for two very different things.”

He scoffs softly at that.

“You think I still care about any of this? He’s ill. He’s dying. Barely gets up nowadays.” Tom takes a step back, and you swallow. “He has been using me for— this for months. And if you think—“ his hands clench into fists as the muscles in his fingers twitch at the mere thought, and he pauses briefly. “If you think I get any better treatment than others when they don’t act according to his instructions, you are mistaken.”

You sob.

“You killed them. All of them.”

He takes your face into his hands.

“They took you from me. They let you get these ingredients when they knew how dangerous it was. You almost died at my hands. Because of them. You left me for them. I offered you a safe house, far away from here. Yet, they convinced you to stay. If you believe even for a second that I would shy away from killing them— think again.”

Tears are streaming down your face by the time he is done.

“I chose this, Tom. Nobody forced me.” You hiccup. “This was my choice, and my choice alone.”

One of his hands slips to your neck. They are cold. Not warm like they used to be when they roamed over your bare skin. You miss the warmth.

He pulls you closer again, eyes narrowing at your words.

“And fuck— a part of me wants to hurt you for this. Punish you. But I— I can’t.”

His gaze drops for a second, and his voice softens.

“I missed you. I thought of you every day, wondered whether you were doing alright. Wondered whether you were thinking of me too.”

You exhale a shaky breath, trying to find the right words. Of course you did too.

“Tom, I—“

The corner of his mouth twitches.

“You have moved on, haven’t you? Found someone else.”

Your heart aches at his words.

“No!” You gasp, shaking your head. “I didn’t. I wouldn’t—“

Then, without letting you finish your sentence, he pulls you closer to kiss you. Soft at first—giving you space to draw back—but when you don’t, he holds you close, kisses you like it’s the first time all over again.

When you separate, there is this all-too-familiar fire behind his eyes—the one he used to have. And as much as you wanted to—

“We have a lot to talk about.” You try, but he merely shakes his head.

“That can wait. Let us have this.”

Before you get to object, his lips are on yours once more, and he guides you towards the bed in the centre of the room without once breaking the kiss.

Shirt torn open, button of your pants clinking as it drops to the floor.

Old habits.

“I hate you,” you murmur against his lips, and his mouth lifts into a smirk. “I hate you so much.”

It all happens quickly after that. Moments later, you are on the bed and he’s on top of you, trailing kisses down your neck—just like he used to do.

Then, you feel him pressing against you—already hard, tip swollen and leaking. You gasp when he swipes through your folds and instinctively squirm at the contact—but Tom is quick to reposition you, pinning your hands above your head with ease.

“No. You don’t get to run from me anymore. You’ll stay right here and take it. Take it like the good girl I know you are.”

He doesn’t wait much longer. He’s been waiting too long for this, and now that he’s finally got you back—he is going to utilize every single second he would get to spend with you before he’d have to leave again.

He pushes inside with one singular thrust. Doesn’t give you time to adjust.

And God—it’s been a while. You forgot how big he is—the burn of the stretch so overwhelming that your nails dig into his back and your breath catches in your throat.

He doesn’t feel you tensing beneath him. Doesn’t spot the strained look on your face. Instead, he has already set a rhythm. Hips slamming against yours so harshly, the headboard hits the wall with each thrust.

You don’t want him to stop. You really don’t. But when he shifts his angle to reach even deeper—a strained whimper slips from your lips, and you squeeze your eyes shut.

The moment Tom hears the soft sound spilling over your lips, he lifts his head and stills inside of you.

“Am I hurting you?” he asks, concern visible in his eyes as they search yours. “I am sorry. I shouldn’t have— I will stop.”

You hold onto his arm when he begins to pull away, shaking your head no.

“No. Please don’t. Please don’t stop.” You plead as his eyes scan your face. “Just don’t— I haven’t— you know.”

Tom gives you a tight nod, taking it slower with you after that. Carefully giving you inch after inch, kissing along your jaw. Praising you for how well you are doing for him.

“Forgot how amazing you feel wrapped around me like this,” he mutters, pressing a kiss to your shoulder as his hips stay flush against yours for a second—before he continues his slow and steady thrusts.

His hand slips between the both of you when he feels your walls flutter around him, rubbing your clit in tight circles—just how he knows you like it.

“Tom— Tom, please—“ you moan against his lips, and he rests your legs on his shoulders, allowing him deeper, brushing against that one sweet spot that has you see stars with every single thrust of his hips.

“Come for me, pretty girl. Let it all out.” He tells you, and that’s all it takes to push you over the edge. You whimper-moan as the knot in your lower abdomen snaps, eyes rolling to the back of your head as your walls pulse, clamping down tight, drawing a low groan from him.

He helps you through it, prolongs your pleasure for as long as possible—then, gently, shifts your legs to either side of him, allowing him to lean in close once more. And when he’s close, cock twitching inside of you—

“Where— where can I—“ he rasps, hot breath against your neck, and your legs lock around his waist, keeping him pressed against you.

“Inside. Inside, please.”

“Fuck— so long— been waiting so long for this— “ he drawls, and with one more rough thrust, he spills inside of you—deep, painting your walls white with his release.

His body rests on top of yours after, catching his breath. None of you talk, not until he rolls off to lie beside you, and he takes your hand in his.

You look at him when you feel the muscles in his fingers spasm.

“Cruciatus Curse? Have treated many people with the same symptoms.” You say softly, thumb easing along his index finger.

“I told you. It doesn’t matter to him.” He retorts, voice calm as though it were the most normal thing in the world.

“Oh, Tom. I am so sorry.” You whisper, pressing a soft kiss to his temple. You rest your head on his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath you—eyelids slowly fluttering closed as his fingers brush through your hair.

It’s not long until he wakes you, though.

“I am being called,” he tells you, sitting up after placing your head on the pillow next to you, and your gaze drops to the mark on his arm. “Means they found the bodies.”

You too sit up, taking his wrist in your hand as you look up at him. “Please don’t go. I don’t want them to hurt you because of me.”

“If I don’t, they’ll be here within the next five minutes. Neither you nor I would want that. You will stay here.”

Your hand grips his tighter.

“You’ll be back?”

He gives you a nod. “Yes.”

“Promise?”

He smiles softly, pressing a kiss to your forehead.

“I promise.”

thank you for reading! feel free to reblog and leave feedback <3 — masterlist. | oneshots.

©2025 viperify. please do not copy, translate or claim my work as your own.

[mh2o29]

aight pack it up guys

[tubbytarchia]

gg buddy am I right (ethubs doodle that I don't know what to do with)

[luv-again]

hi !! no, this was a very interesting read from the perspective of a long time fan ! i've only been down this track for a couple years now and i shipped shadamy as a kid (with no context to who these characters were, mind you), so hearing shadow's line in particular kind of pinged "evidence" in older me and things kicked off, haha. i always feel like such a moron when i interact from a shipper from day dot, so excuse me if i sound like a total idiot, i know nothing lol i just like to yap

i do believe you are right on that front, as i was scrubbing through the audio for lines to draw from, i was thinking, "okay, maybe. if you squint and tilt your head the right way." ultimately, that's kind of the thing with most sonic ships : you have to put on your magnifying goggles to be able to see something that might be considered 'tangible' for the ship because sega sure as hell isn't going to canonise any (or most, rather). but that's the extent of my knowledge there. shadow's not being as harsh on amy does lean towards the 'soft spot' idea most of us have established and whether that be intentional in the game or not, us shadamy fans do like to take our crumbs however and wherever we can

i find most shadamy fans do see them better paired in their adult lives (i'm not much different, i just like to ponder on varied Scenarios where they may or may not be an item, depending on the situation). from a canonical perspective, which is more so where you're coming from, shadow at this stage in the franchise definitely does not have the emotional maturity to let anyone in and be vulnerable with. from many a-rumour, i've heard the 2010s was a turbulent time for sonic. i do agree with him finding amy intriguing, and that's always been something i held onto early on. shadow 05 also does a good job of backing this up. because surely someone like her can't be that sweet and not have knives up her sleeve, right ? to better clear things up, i kind of just looked at these lines from the angle that shadamy had some substance already, as opposed to seeing it as is in canon. it's a headcanon after all ! i'm grasping at straws and dancing in delulu land, but i am well aware of my biases

and honestly, shadow is very much on his way there !! dark beginnings and shadow gens did absolute wonders for the redemption of his character from the past decade's massacre. i like to think that haughty attitude of his from that era is a defence mechanism to keep people at arm's length. shadow knows he's not perfect; he knows he's been led astray, messed things up, hurt people quite seriously. his imperfections eat him up inside. in dark beginnings he hates he's not been able to cure maria yet. despite his imperfections and failures and whatever shadow is shown to be capable of moving beyond, to pick himself up and say, "that's not who i am," and grow beyond that. i haven't talked about it in depth, but shadow is the perfect representation of enlightenment and spiritual elevation. and we've had a good few round-about plotlines to support this. but that's a sidetrack to trek someplace else

amy, however has been shadow's only real kick-start (other than of his own volition) to grow as a person, to see the bigger picture. rouge gives it a good crack where she can, but i think something scares to break that shell, whereas amy has no fear of that. one of my favourite things about this ship is they both give each other the space to become the best versions of themselves, no matter how many stages of metamorphosis that might take. amy has a natural knack of weaving into the hearts of the 'immovable object' and we love her for it

i fear that is very true. there's a ton of factors as to why shadow was portrayed how he was and one, a few or all of those could be correct. i stand by my salt grain statement, none of this can be taken too seriously

and exactly with his interactions with team dark. it's complicated. this game's dialogue further complicates it if you want to look at it seriously. but at the end of the day, it's just a game both in-world and to us as players, so- 🤷‍♀️

oh for sure. reducing shadow down to rude little edgelord did absolutely nothing for his character or the perception thereof. let him be snarky, sassy and silly in situations where it's not serious because i think he deserves to have some fun quips ! but characters should be multifaceted and for shadow especially it's just about remembering he has them. sa2 and 06 are always prime examples of his nature where he was less of these things and was still a dynamic character. i'm glad they're beginning to rectify this in recent instalments, it's so important for shadow to be more than a stock character in a melodrama. his essence is in what's undefined

well, callousness and aversion is hardly a good foundation for a relationship and i myself wouldn't root for them if either decided to spit in each other's faces for no good reason. but in this very specific case of the original post, i feel i've laid out where i was coming from the best i can with my tired brain so i won't reiterate in fear of being annoying. our views differ because of the angles from which we look ! (also, understandable. i feel amy is slowly being treated better nowadays but ooohhh, what i would give for an official year of amy . . .)

sorry if my response got too tangential to yours or got too rambley !! and thank you for this, i find people's different views/takes very interesting to me and it's even cooler when we can discuss them civilly like this ! love to you friend ! 💕

The “well struck Amy” is rotating in my mind. How would banter go between Shadamy?

And what would be the source for the banter?

okay. i tried to answer this at an earlier time but my entire response deleted 🤩 BUT i decided to take some extra time to put some special care in (aka adding ✨️ pictures !! ✨️). anyway, you have no idea how much this rotates in mine !! idk if this is common knowledge, but team sonic racing is genuinely the reason i rediscovered shadamy and fell into the sonic fandom in the first place. i grew up on the sonic racing games, they hold such a special place in my heart 🥹🩷

so behold, as bee talks, at length, about tsr and how this can best be interpreted for further shadamy banter because she has no self-control or sense of brevity

under the cut <3

shadamy banter

shadow and amy’s connection pre-tsr is only a small handful of interactions based on acts of kindness, trust and respect. but then this game comes along and gives us something else : playful banter

amy is a lot harder to speak on, as her playful jibes extend to the majority of the cast (a true feast for your multishipping needs <3) but she gets the opportunity to unleash her more competitive side, which i feel is somewhere between hardcore and social in this game. with shadow, a lot of her lines aren't too harsh on him, but when they are,, she's actively wanting him to give it back. i'll do a few little dialogue dissections further down, since what and how she speaks to him is quite interesting

as for shadow, the difference is a lot clearer and HE is the reason why i'm on the shadamy train. what he says to amy is just— i'll get to that. his wit in tsr alone is nothing short of caustic. he rips into his opponents with little care - telling them to suck it up or dishing out backhanded comments. but amy ? oh, he puts a little more care into his words with her. he knows and means exactly what he says and he's even a little smug ! he can get into teasing with her without being downright mean (actually, in retrospect i that might be a lie. in my gameplay experience he's never been rude to her). this side of shadow was almost completely lost after sa2 and heroes, so for his character alone, these little moments where he can be a little silly again is so great (my blorbo, my scrunkly <3)

now who would i be if i didn't do full-on voice line dissections (it's the english/actor kid in me, i fear). of course my word is not gospel and i am just cherry-picking lines and looking at them through the shadamy lens, so feel free to take my analyses with a grain of salt if you want :)

if you want to listen to the audio yourselves, here's some voice clips provided by TrailBlazer1 on youtube : amy // shadow

amy lines

she's so egging him on. if it were anyone else, i'm sure they wouldn't get away with it, but amy ?? oh, she can prod away with him. she wants him to retaliate in this low-stakes situation. she's inviting him to the fun !! she's the cutest <3

look at the competitive edge coming in ! maybe she's trying to tell him she's more than capable of crushing him (which i'm sure he's aware of). it's both a warning and an encouragement to face her

ooohhh boy. her tone in this one is lower, level; challenging. this girl wants the "ultimate life form" to live up to the name, to back up what he preaches and— no way this wouldn't kick him into gear. that's such a splinter under the skin type of comment. if anyone can get through to shadow, it's amy (i am very much a broken record on that one lmao). think what you want about this statement but i'm also giving it the innuendo eyes 👀

shadow lines

oh come on, shadow full well knows amy isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. shadow in any other case treats her like a lady better than most. this is a tease, a pisstake, if you will 🤭 point is, i don't think he's actually all that mad about her giving him a good one-two on the track

okay, in all fairness this seems a tad rude, but hear me out. shadow's obviously regarding amy's poor performance here. BUT. i like to think he holds amy in high regard — an equal, dare i say — and seeing her show anything that's sub-par probably disappoints him as much as it would as if it were him in her place. i want to interpret this one as pushing her to be the best she can be because he knows she's a worthy opponent / ally

when i said he was the reason i'm on the shadamy train, THIS was the comment that sold me. go ahead, tell me this isn't banter. tell me this isn't teasing. tell me this isn't a blatant innuendo. do WHAT, shadow ? want to explain that one to the class or— ? jokes aside, not only is he teasing her, he enjoys getting a reaction from her, else what does he mean by "i can do this all day" ? no, he wants to. what he'd do to get amy to react so animatedly . . . he wants to be the one eliciting these reactions from her.

. . . or something. like i said, salt grains, but that's the subtext i get

long and unwanted dribble aside, what would further shadamy banter look like ?

TL;DR : i think it best comes through where they can be competitive and not too serious about it. see reckless challenges, teasing jabs and subtle innuendos ;)

this "well-struck" comment from the crossworld previews really sits right with me overall, shipping goggles or not. shadow still shows he respects amy and treats her as an equally formidable opponent and that's something i really love about their dynamic : they never undermine or underestimate each other

all in all, i am so excited to see what crumbs crossworlds has for us !! i am itching with all the possibilities. it's so nice to see these two cut loose and interact, however briefly <3

thank you so much for these asks as always, they really fuel my chatty side hehehe >:)

[ineed-to-sleep]

And what if I said I scrapped like half of this comic, rewrote it and started redrawing it 👉🏻👈🏻 :3

[sysig]

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