#this one belongs to chapter 4 and further so you don't know what it means yet lol

[oblique-lane]

[mimisempai]

I wasn't expecting you 5/5

Chapter Summary - Belonging

The first date…

Notes

Here we go, the last chapter. 

Last chapter, but not the end of the story. I still have a few sweet oneshots in for our two lovebirds. After all, they're only at the beginning of their story.

On Ao3

Rating G -  1978 words

Chap 1 - Chap 2 - Chap 3 - Chap 4 - Chap 5

Crowley left the building where his apartment was and prepared to cross the street to Aziraphale's.

"So? Got a date?"

Crowley turned to Rosie, who had just stopped beside him, and replied in a challenging tone, "What if I do?"

She chuckled and replied, "There's no what if, the whole street knows."

"Then why are you asking?"

"Nervous?"

If there was one thing Crowley had realized quickly, it was that Rosie was one of the sharpest people on the street, and she had figured him out, which was why he didn't try to deny it.

Because he really was nervous.

Taking his silence as an acknowledgement, Rosie said gently, "There's nothing wrong with being nervous, it means you're aware that what's coming up is important. But don't let nervousness keep you from enjoying your date. And I'm going to give you some advice you didn't ask for. Just be yourself."

"What if he doesn't like who I am?"

Rosie shook her head and replied, "He wouldn't have invited you if he didn't. Aziraphale isn't someone who has struck me for his spontaneity when it comes to relationships, so I don't think you have anything to worry about. Come on, don't keep him waiting."

She put her hands on his shoulders and pushed him toward the bookshop. Crowley couldn't help but laugh and walked on as she gave him a final "Good luck!" before walking off on her own.

But despite his new friend's pep talk, it didn't stop Crowley's heart from racing as he reached the door of the bookshop.

He ran a hand through his hair, brushed some invisible dust from the lapel of his jacket, and, after taking a deep breath, decided to knock lightly on the door.

He had only a few seconds to wait before he saw Aziraphale's silhouette through the glass door, which opened shortly thereafter.

He found himself standing in front of a bookseller with even more gloriously disheveled hair than the last time he'd seen him, and an even brighter smile on his face as he said softly, "Good evening, Crowley."

The barista's gaze was caught by the movement of Aziraphale's Adam's apple as he appeared to swallow several times. It made Crowley realize that he wasn't the only one who was nervous, which reassured him and helped him relax a bit.

He returned the other man's smile and greeted him softly, "Good evening, Aziraphale," before handing him a bottle of wine and adding, "Not knowing what we were going to eat, I brought a wine to go with it, and I hear your wine cellar is remarkably well-stocked, so I hope you won't be disappointed."

Aziraphale took the bottle, thinking that in his current state of mind, the wine could have been cheap and he wouldn't have noticed. 

However, he looked at the label and replied, "A very good wine, a very good vintage, and I don't happen to have any in my reserve. Thank you." 

He set the bottle down long enough to take the other man's jacket and hang it on the coat rack, then motioned for Crowley to follow him to the back of the shop where the kitchen was.

Crowley looked around discreetly, intrigued by the fact that Aziraphale's "apartment" was in the shop itself. He couldn't help his curiosity and inquired, "So this is where you live?"

Aziraphale turned to him before replying, "Sort of, downstairs is the kitchen and this sort of dining room," then pointing to the narrow staircase that wound up, he added, "And upstairs is the bedroom and bathroom, as well as another storage room."

As he followed Aziraphale into the kitchen, Crowley noticed the beautifully set table, lit by a candle, and this further reinforced his belief that Aziraphale saw their date tonight in the same light as he did.

Then, suddenly, he forgot everything as an absolutely delicious smell reached his nostrils.

"Holy moly, Aziraphale, that smells amazing!"

Aziraphale chuckled softly and replied with a half-smile on his lips, "Well, let's hope the taste is as good as the smell. A glass of wine while we wait for it to finish cooking?"

Crowley nodded as he leaned against the kitchen counter to watch Aziraphale open the bottle. He was fascinated by the bookseller's movements and the elegance with which he performed such a trivial task.

Then he broke the silence and replied, "Well, if the gossip on the street is true, I don't seem to have anything to worry about. I hear you cook even better than the chef at Justine's restaurant. Her words."

Aziraphale, cheeks slightly flushed at the compliment, poured the wine into two stemmed glasses and handed one to Crowley, saying, "In this case, I'm interested in your opinion, not the street - well, you know what I mean."

Crowley nodded and stepped closer, placing a hand on the bookseller's arm before saying, "I know, and you don't have to impress me. As one of the gossip voices on Whickber Street advised me, just be yourself. That's enough to impress me."

Aziraphale replied sheepishly, "Sorry, I'm a little rusty when it comes to relationships and dating and all that, I have no idea about...uh...standards or codes or anything..."

Crowley replied with a half-smile on his lips, "That makes two of us. As far as I'm concerned, there's no need for codes or rules other than the ones we set for ourselves. For me, the only rule is that we talk."

He realized he was entering uncharted territory, but he continued: "I don't want to guess what you're thinking or talk off the top of my head. I want us to be honest and sincere in this... relationship."

After a few moments of thought, Aziraphale replied quietly, "I quite agree. I've already told you that my family, if you can call it that, was nothing like a family. The stories from the past you told me, what you shared with your parents, I didn't know any of that before I came here to live with my grandfather. I want us to be open with each other." 

Then he suddenly stopped and gasped as if he had just realized something and said in one breath, "Did you just say relationship?"

Crowley chuckled softly, "You noticed? Do you have an objection? "

Aziraphale shook his head so vigorously that Crowley continued to laugh, then became serious again as Aziraphale asked, "Don't you think this is going too fast?"

Crowley took a moment to think and replied gently, "We're moving fast, no doubt, but too fast? I don't know, it feels like it's going at our pace. In a natural way."

Aziraphale nodded, "I agree," then raised his glass in Crowley's direction and said softly, a joyous sparkle in his eyes, "To us and this new... relationship. "

Crowley looked at him intensely and clinked his glass against Aziraphale's as he said in a low voice, "To us."

Then, no longer able to resist, he leaned forward and planted a light kiss on Aziraphale's lips before placing his hands on his shoulders and turning the bookseller around, pushing him toward the baking trays, "Mr. Bookseller, you promised me dinner, so don't make me languish, because this smell is an absolute torture."

Aziraphale chuckled slightly, glad Crowley didn't see him blush slightly. 

The bookseller inwardly admonished himself for acting like a teenager on a first date, but at the same time he couldn't help but revel in the sensations he hadn't felt in so long that he'd forgotten.

"The gossips didn't lie, it was absolutely delicious, Aziraphale".

The little chat before dinner had cleared the air between them and the meal had flown by easily, the conversation had been very natural, and now they were sharing a cup of coffee on the bookshop sofa in the little nook next to Aziraphale's desk.  

Although the sofa was quite wide, they sat quite close together, so close that Aziraphale could feel the warmth radiating from Crowley's body. 

Although pleased by Crowley's compliment, Aziraphale found it hard to concentrate on the conversation, so strong was the urge to hold Crowley's hand, which was only inches from his own, to close the distance between them, to touch him, even just a little. 

But at the same time he had a kind of restraint, not daring to try anything for fear of breaking the charm and ease with which the evening had unfolded since Crowley's arrival.

He looked down at his cup on the coffee table when suddenly Crowley's hand covering his made him jump slightly and turn his head toward him.

Crowley gave a crooked little smile and said quietly, "I hope I'm not presuming?"

Aziraphale shook his head.

"Not at all. Quite the contrary."

"Why don't you tell me what's on your mind, Aziraphale, I'm no fortune teller, but I can see that something is troubling you."

Aziraphale twisted his hand under Crowley's and their fingers intertwined as he took the time to get his thoughts in order before answering. 

A few seconds later, he said softly, "I told you, I haven't done this in a long time. I'm sorry to be like this, and you may find it ridiculously straightforward, but... but I can't do this..."

Aziraphale paused, sweeping the air between them with his free hand, back and forth, then continued, "I can't do this if it's casual."

Fighting the urge to close his eyes, he forced himself to look into Crowley's.

An incredibly gentle expression had appeared on the other man's face as he replied softly, "It's also because I can't stand casual anymore that I wanted to settle down. And I don't know about you, but even more so after tonight, I feel that this... relationship has great potential. I don't want to spoil it."

Aziraphale stifled a small sigh of relief and nodded slowly as Crowley added, "And there's nothing ridiculous about being direct, as we said at the beginning of the evening, we just have to be honest with each other."

Aziraphale immediately replied gently, "I... I want to take my time. I don't want to waste this potential either."

"The important thing is that we agree on what we want or don't want. We have time, I'm not going anywhere and neither are you, as far as I know."

Then Crowley raised his hand and placed it on Aziraphale's cheek, bringing his face close to his and saying softly, "You can say stop whenever you want."

Aziraphale laughed lightly against his lips and replied, a mischievous gleam in his eye, "I don't intend to stop you, but if you don't kiss me right now, I will."

No sooner had he finished his sentence than Crowley closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to his.

At first it was a gentle touch. Just lips and breath meeting. A gentle kiss that lasted a few seconds until Crowley pulled away, but Aziraphale wouldn't let him, and taking the other man's face between his hands, it was he who pressed his lips against Crowley's. 

The kiss had the same sweetness and went on and on, the two men only pulling away to catch their breath until one pulled the other to continue.

Both gently exploring this new bond at their own pace.

Later, when they parted for a longer time, they looked at each other in silence, without embarrassment, until Crowley's arms were around Aziraphale's waist, the bookseller's head resting on the barista's shoulder.

Crowley immediately closed his arms around the his lover, then, resting his chin on his hair, exhaled a contented sigh.

As he felt Aziraphale's breathing steady against his chest, his arms tightening around his waist, the warmth of his body against his own, the softness of his hair under his chin, Crowley felt, for the first time since he'd lost his parents, that he belonged.

_________

Still not beta'd

Still not my native language

Still hoping you'll enjoy this story  🥰

Still thanking you for bearing with me 😝

Ineffable Husbands masterlist : here

[star-liit]

mid-story line tag

(10 lines from the middle of 10 fics & tagging 10 people)

I was tagged by @blackstargazer who has never written a bad line in her life and everyone should read her work!!!

I don't have 10 fics published but I do have 10 chapters of my current WIP published, so here are ten lines from every chapter. Some of these are paragraphs not lines, myyy bad.

I'm tagging anyone who is reading this with work to share, please tag me so I can see 😭❤️

Chapter 1.

“That,” Barty sighed, “is very fucking rude.” Regulus pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yeah, well, you’re very...” he glanced over his shoulder at the closed door, lowering his voice to a hiss, “... fucking annoying.”

Chapter 2.

"You know," Regulus cocked his head, pretending to appraise her, “I think you look like an oil painting, Mummy.” He could practically hear his brother retching through the ether - but it did the trick, earning him a coveted invitation in the form of Walburga patting the lounger beside her.

Chapter 3.

After a beat, he twisted the napkin into a tight ball, trying on a bright voice that didn't belong to him. "Well, maybe next year." There was no reply - though Regulus could still feel Sirius watching him. Maybe he hadn’t heard. Maybe he hadn't understood. Regulus gathered what composure he had left and raised his head, speaking clearly that time. "Maybe you’ll come next year?" Sirius stared back. His lips pressed into a thin line, the corners pulled down just enough to resemble a wince. 

Chapter 4.

"Don’t be fucking dense, you know what I mean…" Barty inhaled sharply; the sound scraped against the receiver, rough and greedy, like fingers raking over skin. "Christ, you’ve got one of those faces - one of those fucking faces - that makes you want to freeze it exactly how it is. Makes you want to just start fucking chiselling or something, before it has a chance to change. All that marble bullshit - Rodin or whoever - I'd never get it right, but I'd fucking try, you know?" The scoff slipped out before Regulus could stop it that time, half instinct, half defence. "Don't laugh at me."

Chapter 5.

If Regulus was lucky - and history suggested he rarely was - then this was Crouch Senior. There was no conceivable universe in which that man, all hard lines and hollow eyes, was the same one who mailed him poetry and waxed lyrical about French sculptors. Then again, if luck had ever truly been on Regulus’s side, he wouldn’t have found himself fawning over a boy with a questionable grip on reality and a fixation on his father in the first place. But Regulus wasn’t in a position to be picky; as the saying went, beggars couldn’t be choosers - and Barty, for better or worse, had chosen him.

Chapter 6.

"What do you even want my number for?" Regulus sighed, reaching across the desk to drag his real phone closer. "You’re not getting to my dad through me, if that was the plan." "Fuck your dad!" Regulus didn’t flinch. His eyes were elsewhere, scanning the wasteland of missed connections. Rabastan hadn’t replied to anything since Tuesday. No read receipts. Just silence. He’d posted, though - an artful bottle of whiskey against a slab of granite. Regulus hovered over the heart. Tapped it. Then tapped again, unliking, grimacing at the pathetic need to be seen. "...going to find you, going to fucking…" Dorcas had posted too - blinding white sand, long legs crossed at the knee, some summer romance cradled against her thigh like a prop.

Chapter 7.

There it was again - that strange distortion, like Barty had picked up a mimic, just out of sync. Regulus sat up a little straighter, his pulse ticking faster as he held the phone further away from his ear. "Yeah," he said slowly. "Yeah, it’s just me." "Thought so," Barty hummed, lazy, almost pleased - like he was smiling into the words. "It’s just your light on."

Chapter 8.

Walburga was already halfway through listing guests. "We’ll have to invite Bella and Rod, of course. Cissa, and that boy - what’s his name?" "Lucian?" Regulus frowned. "Or... Lucius?" "Ridiculous, either way," Walburga sniffed - rather hypocritically, he thought, for someone who had named him Regulus Arcturus.

Chapter 9.

"Happy birthday, by the way," he muttered, eyes still fixed on the cigarette paper. "Should’ve said earlier." "It’s not my birthday," Regulus returned - only realising he’d been holding his breath when he had to let it out on a sigh to speak. The result was unfortunate: it made him sound dreadfully bored. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "It’s next week." A familiar expression flickered across James’s face - one Regulus recognised instantly. The subtle lift of an eyebrow, the faint widening of his eyes, the slight purse of his lips. It was the universal micro-expression for alright, you pedantic little fuck. Regulus was on the receiving end of it more often than he’d like to admit.

Chapter 10.

On the other end of the line, Barty inhaled, slow and deep, like he was holding back a snarling, straining hound. Regulus knew that impatient sound - he’d heard it before, coiled and angry, concealed beneath the surface in his mother’s voice - and he had learned, in the vague, clumsy way children often do, how to patch over the cracks before anything monstrous snaked out.

[c1rcu1t-l0ver-c0pep0d]

W.I.F.E./ Chapter 4: Elopement

Author's note:

I think the title is pretty self-explanatory. Oh yeah, also this is the end of part W.I.F.E.

Reading time: ~ 7 mins

Rating: 15+

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

Sheldon had found an old fisheries store that was for sale in a really good price. It wasn't much to look at and it was across the road from a retirement home (not the best view), but it sure had enough space for everything. He could use the front part of the store as his own store, the back of it could house his laboratory/ workshop and finally, the whole first floor could be the place he and his computer fiancée would call home. It was the perfect place. And as soon as he graduated, he would go and live there with Karen.

• • -- ٠ ✤ ٠ -- • •

And so it happened. Half a year later, Sheldon got his degree and signed the contract to buy the Chum Bucket. He took his belongings, his computer girlfriend and Alex, the family's dog and without further explanations, he left his grandma's house and started a new life, away from everything and everyone. He had never felt happier and he was ready for the next step. When they settled to their new home, he decided to ask Karen to marriage. He maybe was too young to get married, but such things don't really matter when your significant other is a computer. I guess.

Several weeks after they moved in, Sheldon installed a new, more powerful form for Karen. She was now a supercomputer that took over a big part of the laboratory. Almost 77 inches of screen and one of the most powerful processors out there, all for the love of his life. It was the right time. He stood before the gigantic screen and smiled at Karen. He took a deep breath and started his little speech:

- Karen, my sweetie, we've been together like, five years or so and we now have our own home as well. You know, I really like what we have and I don't think this is gonna change anytime soon. So...I was wondering if, you know, maybe you'd like to be my wife.

- Your wife? Like get married? But what if you ever want-

- Yes, like get married and that's it. I want to make what we have official. I want you to own me the way I own you and this probably is the only way this can technically happen.

He lowered his voice and started talking through his teeth: "Besides, it's time people know I'm not a lonely and miserable being who will probably stay that way 'till the day I die." Without really hearing the last sentence, Karen replied: "Oh, baby! This is so sweet!"

- This means you will be my wife?

- I will.

The green line on her screen turned into a smiling face.

· • -- ٠ ✤ ٠ -- • ·

August 1992. Wedding day.

This was the happiest day of his life. Yet, it felt like the most melancholic one. He would marry the woman he loved, but nobody would attend their wedding. His family would freak out if they learned what Karen is to him, let alone learn he was about to marry her. And the only real friend he ever had is now a stranger, because of a stupid paper. Everyone he met after the incident were only temporary in his life. Nobody will ever understand him the way he did.

But Sheldon swore to destroy him if he gets to use that recipe and he would only feel rage and hate for that person if he betrays him like that. But the one who would never backstab him was there with him and that was all that mattered (first law of robotics, babe!).

This was it. He stood before Karen, with his hand on her keyboard. He looked onto her screen and the two exchanged vows:

- Do I, James Plankton take you, Karen, to be my loyal wedded computer wife?

- You do. Do I, Karen, take you, James Plankton, to be my loyal wedded husband?

- Uuhh, you do?

- Affirmative.

Sheldon took a small box out and opened it. Inside was a pair of gold wedding rings and a floppy disk with a note that had "W.I.F.E." written on it with a messy, almost childlike handwriting and something that looked like a heart. It contained a program he wrote himself, to slightly modify Karen's personality and speech, so she processes data and acts and speaks in a way a wife would.

He wore one of the rings and put the floppy disc in Karen's slot.

[On her screen] LOADING...

[On her screen] INSTALL PERSONALITY EXPANSION PACK "W.I.F.E."?

>YES<

>NO

Without a doubt, he pressed "Enter".

[On her screen] INSTALLING...

[On her screen] INSTALATION COMPLETE.

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

The End (of part W.I.F.E.)

[iviarellereads]

The Golden Compass, Part Two: Bolvangar, Chapter 10 - The Consul and the Bear

(THIS PROJECT IS SPOILER FREE! No spoilers past the chapter you click on. Curious what I'm doing here? Read this post! For the link index for His Dark Materials, read this one! Like what you see? Send me a Ko-Fi.)

In which, witches.

John Faa's team decides they'll dock at Trollesund, Lapland's main port, and consult with the witches at their consulate there(1) for their help finding the children. John Faa himself explains this to Farder Coram and to Lyra, once her seasickness had let up a bit.(2) Farder Coram is owed a favour by a witch, for saving her life once. He recounts the story, and how strange he found it to see a woman with no daemon nearby. One of the men guesses that witches' daemons are invisible, but Farder Coram says no, they can separate from their daemons, many miles, compared to humans who must stay close to theirs. At any rate, it's been forty years, but she'll remember him.

The men turn to talking about their fuel and stores, and Lyra tunes out, only wanting to know more about witches. Instead, she wanders the ship and makes the acquaintance of one of the ship's men, Jerry, who teaches her that having a job to do can help with seasickness. Lyra, quite taken with the idea of seamanship, starts doing everything in a seamanlike way.

After two days at sea, Lyra decided that this was the life for her.(3) She had the run of the ship, from the engine room to the bridge, and she was soon on first-name terms with all the crew. Captain Rokeby let her signal to a Hollands frigate by pulling the handle of the steam whistle; the cook suffered her help in mixing plum duff; and only a stern word from John Faa prevented her from climbing the foremast to inspect the horizon from the crow’s nest.

Still, every day they go further north, and since Lyra was a bit of a last minute addition they have to cut down gear to her size. Jerry shows her how to sew, a skill she'd scorned from Mrs. Lonsdale at Jordan, and they make a waterproof bag for the alethiometer as well, which can tie around her waist so it can't be lost.

When the wind picks up and brings back Lyra's seasickness, Pan takes the form of the local wildlife. His glee at gliding over the water is more than enough to distract her, and once he even joins a school of dolphins, though he can't go very far from the ship. On some level, Lyra fears him taking on a sea dwelling form permanently, for it would mean she would be bound to the water forever, never able to go to land. Jerry tells her of an old sailor whose daemon had settled just so, and he was the best navigator of his generation, but he was always a little unhappy because of it.

Lyra says she wants Pan to keep his shape changing forever, but Jerry says someday, she'll want to grow up like other girls, and there can be advantages to a settled form, like knowing what kind of person you are.(4) Lyra asks, well what if it's a shape you don't like? And Jerry replies, then you're going to be disappointed in everything until you come to terms with who you are, and that's a "waste of feeling".

Soon enough, they come to Trollesund. Lyra's belongings all fit in a shopping bag, so she grabs it, and off she and Farder Coram go to the witch consul. Dr. Lanselius, as he's named, has a little green snake for a daemon, as green as his eyes. Farder Coram requests to get in touch with Serafina Pekkala, and for any information he has on the child abductions that have been taking place. Dr. Lanselius and Farder Coram exchange politenesses that Lyra knows have other layers, but she doesn't quite understand fully.

Well, Dr. Lanselius knows how to get in touch with Serafina Pekkala, and with the understanding the information didn't come from him, he gives the name of the local company the Gobblers are operating under: the Northern Progress Exploration Company.(5) He doesn't know where they're taken, but he has heard rumours of what happens to them, only names of procedures: the Maystadt process, and intercision.(6) There are no children in town right now, but the last group moved only the day before yesterday.

Farder Coram has one final question for Dr. Lanselius: if their positions were switched, what would Dr. Lanselius ask of the Consul of the Witches? Dr. Lanselius smiles for the first time since they met him, and says he'd ask how to enlist the service of an armoured bear. Lyra straightens right up in her seat, and Farder Coram says he understood them to be in the employ of the Oblation Board. Not all, says Dr. Lanselius: one is working at the sledge depot here, and may want other employment than he currently has. Iorek Byrnison might well help them on their way.

Dr. Lanselius then turns to Lyra, and asks if she's in possession of an alethiometer. Lyra, wondering how he knew, asks if he'd like to see it. At his affirmative, she takes it out. Dr. Lanselius asks if Lyra also has a book to interpret it with, but Farder Coram interrupts to say no, it's quite tragic that Lyra has the device but not the reading of it. Only, she sees that the other man's daemon is getting riled up a certain kind of way, so she admits that she can read it without a book.

As it turns out, Dr. Lanselius knows a little about the devices. It's said that they came from a Scholar in Prague, who was trying to measure the influences of the planets, making a compass that would respond to the influence of Mars or Venus the way a real compass responds to the idea of North. He failed, but he discovered a mechanism no one can quite explain. The symbols were drawn from the philosophers of the day, as the seventeenth century was rife with symbolism.

Dr. Lanselius hands it back to Lyra, and asks how she can read it without the book. She says she lets her mind go clear and her eyes find the right level, like looking into water. He asks if she could answer a question for him, to let him see her do it. She looks to Farder Coram first for approval, then agrees.

“What shall I ask?” said Lyra. “What are the intentions of the Tartars with regard to Kamchatka?” That wasn’t hard. Lyra turned the hands to the camel, which meant Asia, which meant Tartars; to the cornucopia, for Kamchatka, where there were gold mines; and to the ant, which meant activity, which meant purpose and intention. Then she sat still, letting her mind hold the three levels of meaning together in focus, and relaxed for the answer, which came almost at once. [...] When it had completed the movements several times, Lyra looked up. She blinked once or twice as if she were coming out of a trance. “They’re going to pretend to attack it, but they’re not really going to, because it’s too far away and they’d be too stretched out,” she said. “Would you tell me how you read that?” “The dolphin, one of its deep-down meanings is playing, sort of like being playful,” she explained. “I know it’s the fifteenth because it stopped fifteen times and it just got clear at that level but nowhere else. And the helmet means war, and both together they mean pretend to go to war but not be serious. And the baby means—it means difficult—it’d be too hard for them to attack it, and the anchor says why, because they’d be stretched out as tight as an anchor rope. I just see it all like that, you see.”

Dr. Lanselius calls it remarkable, and says he won't forget the experience. He asks for one more small demonstration: outside the window, Lyra can see a shed with sprays of cloud-pine on the wall. Can she tell which one was once used by Serafina Pekkala? Lyra, eager to show off, agrees again, and rushes out to see the shed. The men stay inside, at the window. Lyra reads the alethiometer, then picks up a certain sprig with no hesitation. Dr. Lanselius nods.

Before she comes back, Dr. Lanselius asks Farder Coram if he knows who Lyra is. Farder Coram says he knows who her parents are, but besides that, no. He only knows that she's special, and strange, and he wouldn't see her harmed.

“The witches have talked about this child for centuries past,” said the consul. “Because they live so close to the place where the veil between the worlds is thin, they hear immortal whispers from time to time, in the voices of those beings who pass between the worlds. And they have spoken of a child such as this, who has a great destiny that can only be fulfilled elsewhere—not in this world, but far beyond. Without this child, we shall all die. So the witches say. But she must fulfill this destiny in ignorance of what she is doing, because only in her ignorance can we be saved.(7) Do you understand that, Farder Coram?”

Coram admits that no, he doesn't. Before he can finish another question, Lyra returns, sad that the cloud pine sprig won't fly for her. Dr. Lanselius says Lyra's very lucky to have such an instrument, and cloud-pine will only fly for witches. Still, he breaks off a twig as a gift for her, which she tucks into her purse next to the alethiometer. Dr. Lanselius wishes them both success as they leave.

Lyra tells Farder Coram that Dr. Lanselius knew the answer about the Tartars before he asked, the alethiometer told her so, with the crucible. Farder Coram says it was still good of her to be polite about it, and he wonders at the tip about the bear.

Together, they go to the sledge depot and learn that the bear is off work at six, but they'll have to be quick to catch him before he goes to the bar and gets drunk. Then they go to the best outfitter in town to get Lyra gear in her proper size, and then return to the ship. John Faa is "keen" to hear about their information gathering, but he has a surprise for them, as well: he's hired an aeronaut, from "the country of Texas" of all places. So, it was lucky to come here after all.

That evening, Farder Coram and Lyra go to meet Iorek Byrnison. He's not satisfied with his situation, but he's stuck. The locals stole his armour. He knows that the gyptians are seeking the "child cutters", and he doesn't like them, so if the gyptians can return his armour, he'll help them, especially if it means he can go back to his natural business of war and stop working like a human.(7)

=====

(1) We've had several types of ghosts, why not witches too? (2) Yeah I still like my homesickness better, but it still works as a metaphor if you consider that she misses the land. (3) The wonder of childhood, the marvels of seeing things for the first time and making them your whole personality for a week. (4) On the one hand yes. On the other hand… a form settling some time in your teens is a lot like all the young-adult "sorting" methods, in that… people DO change as we get older. I've been at least a half dozen different people since I was ten, with very little in common with each other, not in a DID way but just in a "my experiences have changed me" way. Do daemons settle as a guiding principle of who someone can be in adulthood, or is Pullman saying, in this universe, people's natures are fixed? That servants are servants because they're loyal like the dogs their daemons always take? What about the children of servants? How much predetermination is in there? (5) Isn't it incredible how often evil invokes the name of "progress" when they're really doing anything but? (6) What could those names mean? "Intercision" invokes "incision" a cut, the same as "severed child" implies something has been cut off a child. But what are they cutting away, and why aren't the children coming back? (7) Quite the contrast from the other bear we heard of, who wants to BE human.

[pf-spectre]

Chapter 4: Rome’s Downfall

“I mean, What the hell! We worked so long just to get the prototype working at all, and now some thieves think they can just have it?”

The east side of Brastin wasn't busy this morning. It was the weekend, which meant that the street market was all set up. Many vendors jumped on the opportunity for new, cheap and stylish outfits to fit the coming ice age the city folk were convinced was upon them. Bargaining could be heard left and right and the numerous scents coming from the food trucks all mixed into one, enticing any passerby to spend a few bucks on a snack.

Neil and Graham had been walking around aimlessly, trying to get their heads wrapped around this situation, all in their own way.

“Those designs took SO many iterations! And you sure you don't have anything but those lousy outdated model files backed up?” Neil continued from his previous statement. If you had managed to get a look under his tinted glasses you would've seen the visible eye bags permanently giving him a tired look, despite his obvious best effort of a third energy drink of the day in his right hand.

Graham pulled at his cigarette and exhaled some smoke before shaking his head.

“Put it all on the flash drive. You should feel lucky we have a working prototype we can build at all” He glared down at Neil. “I might remember a few crucial details too if you give me the time”

Neil looked around nervously, his hands trembling just the slightest bit as they passed yet another winter coat vendor trying to sell them the ‘future of fashion’.

“Well that really depends on what Andromeda has planned for us. Imagine if she canns the whole project! We'd be doomed!”

The men were informed the previous night that their so dearly important passion project had been stolen. The security cameras didn't get any faces and the few identifying markers could belong to anybody in the city. Their supervisor, Andromeda Rose had informed them that she would like to meet up with them in a certain cafe and discuss further plans, as she rooted for their success despite their not so-efficient work ethic.

Graham looked at the cloudy sky, breathing slowly. “I've got a life back in Pinewell too. With a house and everything. You're the one in trouble if that happens” He said calmly.

Neil scoffed.

He checked the address Andromeda had sent him on his phone and looked around.

“The cafe should be somewhere down that street, I think. We have everything prepared just in case, right? Gotta maximise our chances” He made sure, and Graham nodded, drawing attention to his messenger bag in which he kept his laptop before quickly putting out his cigarette at a nearby trash can.

A small bell rang with the opened door of the small cafe located in a street corner. The smell of coffee and baked goods hit the two men in the face. Not many people sat inside, surprisingly, and pop music could be heard quietly playing through the confines of the room.

Sitting at one of the tables was a middle-aged woman. Her curly black hair with just a few white streaks running through it was tied up in a fluffy pony tail near the top of her head. Her sharp ears were adorned with earrings, where one half was golden and the other had three pieces of shaped clay dangling down in a chain, almost reaching to her shoulders. She was stirring a latte with a fancy stirring spoon as she noticed the men entering the cafe. She waved them over and offered them seats.

“I hope you two don't mind, but I already ordered you something as well”

The men noticed the two extra coffees infront of them. They had had significant time to cool down to a drinkable state.

“Oh, er, of course no!” Neil smiled, one corner of his mouth twitched a little.

“Great.” Dr. Andromeda Rose, General Spectre Researcher and supervisor for the Synthetic Spectre Project noted, before continuing:

“Now you boys know about the situation you find yourself to be in at the moment, right?” Her face showed genuine concern.

“I've managed to convince the guys at the upper levels of your progress, so you will receive funding for a few more months, but if you don't find that device you had been working with before or manage to build a functioning replica, I won't be able to help you either.” She explained calmly to the men before asking “have you managed to recover anything?”

Graham calmly pulled out his laptop out of the bag and logged in. He typed around for a few seconds before turning the screen around to Andromeda, it displaying earlier prototype blueprints and notes to their mechanical components.

“This is the best we could hand over at the moment, but I had more in mind for later too with a mechanical approach to synthesising the energy.” He explained as Andromeda took a sip before leaning closer to the computer screen, examining what was placed in front of her.

“And you can't forget-” Neil chimed in, “the experience we had gained before with our experiments is still in our minds. We could get some new, although less cleanly built prototypes out very soon! Give us a week at most” he chuckled rather nervously. As Graham had been explaining he somehow managed to chug his entire drink, and Graham was just about to start on his.

Neil continued speaking as he grabbed a messy notebook which was filled with paperclips, loose papers and sticky notes hanging out of it.

“I've got a few notes on the biological standpoint of it as well, although I'm not sure if you'd be able to read it, it's still good to prove it exists right?”

He opened on one of the more recent pages, the hand writing on them proving to be illegible. The anatomical drawings and sketches of various ways the mechanisms and a human body would react in conjunction were spot-on though, with each vein portrayed almost with complete accuracy.

“The writing is just labelling and exact explanations, but this is basically the same thing I was going to give you, but a bit more in my style ya know? So we have a working hypothesis and some basic tests on the function already done as well! Although some of these might not be up to date, and I don't remember which ones…” Neil admitted.

“Oh my…” Andromeda mumbled as she tried to look over the pages he was trying to show.

“I should've taken up biology, but this seemed like it could change more in a short amount of time, you know?” Neil added on before taking the notebook out of her hands just as she was reading the pages. Andromeda got a tiny bit startled by him doing so before she pulled herself together again and cleared her throat quietly.

The group of scientists continued chatting about other topics such as the weather conditions and private lives. Andromeda revealed that she had been thinking about getting a pet to combat her loneliness at home, and Graham, a former pet owner himself, gave her some advice. Though, in the end, Andromeda still couldn't settle on the idea. Shame, isn't it?

“As long as you can give me any results showing progress as soon as possible, you should be fine. I will keep you updated on what the guys in the upper seats are saying, but asides from that you can just hope what you had turns back up.” She reminded the men as she paid for them and they packed to go back out and make their way back to wherever they would plan on going next.

“Got your hat! Idiot!” The teenage boy shouted before making his way into an alleyway, almost without being seen.

“Hey! Give that back, meanie!” Lin shouted after him, her voice shaky as if she was nearing tears. She was holding her cursed, crystal-covered arm in place.

“Damn it, Dima, can we not do this in a crowded area?” A third person shouted. They were the oldest.

The group ran through the crowds near the Brastin plaza with great haste. They had had a mission before, but it almost looks like one of them might have been stalling…

“-but you said it could show different characteristics from the traditional spectre? That part could definitely be explored more if that's the case, why didn't you mention that sooner!” Andromeda chuckled, covering her mouth a little. Her ears always pointed downwards when she did that, Neil noticed.

The scientists had been standing still, continuing their conversation before they would eventually part ways. Their respective cars were parked on different streets, but they still had things to discuss.

All of a sudden, someone blazed past Andromeda. She barely caught a glimpse of them aside from their curly black hair and worn out black denim jacket. They were carrying something in their hands, resembling a hat of some so-

Somebody else ran basically head-first into her, the force almost making her trip over!

Once Andromeda had caught herself, she turned around to face the kid who had done this, who frantically was trying to get her hair back in order around her ears and regain her balance.

“Ehhhh- I'm so sorry!!”

The girl looked up at the woman, her hands shaking and her raccoon ears laid back.

A third person showed up, considerably older but still visibly a minor. They looked around to where that first guy ran with an angry expression.

Andromeda kneeled down, trying to make eye contact with the kid and speaking calmly.

“Is everything okay? Can you see and hear me? How many fingers am I holding up?” She tried to go through the usual steps to see if somebody is even really conscious, or what she remembered them to be before Graham stepped forward, talking to the oldest.

“Are you with her? Is there any parent or caretaker you can reach quickly?” He asked in his usual monotone manner.

“Well-” the oldest looked around again, their cat ears up and alert. “It's kind of complicated? They're not quite near…”

The boy came back with a cocky smirk, dangling the hat in his hands before the oldest snatched it from his hands aggressively.

“Where are we even right now? Brastin? Yeah, their parents are practically on the other side of the country.” He laughed.

“So no home either?” Graham checked. The others shook their heads.

“WE CAN PROBABLY TAKE THEM IN. Somehow.” Neil barged into the conversation with a hopeful glint in his eyes. “I mean, Andromeda, you've got space, right? And we COULD use some help with applying the new prototypes. Imagine the presentation!”

Andromeda smiled softly at the idea, ignoring the second part. “I could probably make some room for a few weeks, you're right”

The boy looked at the oldest with a smirk. “THAT’S how you do this. I told you I have a plan B”

“You told me we were going to sleep on the streets if plan A doesn't work out.” They responded.

“So you need the housing for a while? Would you like to stay with us a bit?” Andromeda asked, to which the others nodded.

“Then come with me, and you two-” she pointed at the other scientists. “Get your work in order.”

previous

[freakynami]

Chapter 3 - Part 2

TW/CW; IMPLICATIONS OF SA!!

And yet, they still weren't talking.

One far too stubborn, the other un-budging unless he apologized, so the air remained awkward and the tension between the two thickened, so much even Kenny's axe wouldn't be able to cut it — it was quieter than usual, the only thing being heard was their footsteps, breathing and occasional weapon swaying.

Nonetheless Faelynn tried to get them to talk, essentially trying to calm everything down atleast a little bit, but nope, they wouldn't budge — so she tried to be friendly, atleast to Kenny but was still on edge around her — her feelings were still confused towards the demon and was trying to remain.. civil.. and well, distant, but Kenny wouldn't leave her alone ; always protecting her from threats, asking if she was alright after any fight and staying near her, but still remained cold and quiet. It was Kenny after all. But series didn't change either — Sereia kept being the same old harsh, cold and blank faced and yet not much could be said about them aside from their skin it being from being out of water far too long, and, there wasn't much water from what the group could see.

Evander could still feel the pulling sensation, but it was growing.. as if he was getting closer.

But despite everything they were running low on resources, I mean, being there for that long would cost you a lot of resources and mending — so Evander reluctantly agreed to go into a cave. It was moist, dark and very deep; presumably abandoned and yet there was something wrong.. off.. about it.

There were random markings, claws that didn't look like it belonged to a Agnis or a Betruim or anything like that.. it was deeper, hollow, and just.. off. There were a bunch of tunes and just sigils that didn't make sense, why were they here? Evander payed close attention to those things, but still focused of getting everything they needed, and helping.

It was boring,

This is boring.

They're there already — why not just venture further in whilst you have the chance, right?

That's, exactly what they did, atleast.

It was getting more eerie as they ventured in, finding lots of different things inside, old antique things that looked like it belonged to their parents or grandparents. It was just off.

And Sereia was unusually anxious, looking around when most of the time she's uninterested in many, many things — developing Anhedonia overtime, but this made her anxious for some reason, but it was shrugged off as she was always scared when she was a kid.

And soon they found an old parchment.

"What's this?" — Wrenley asked suspiciously.

Seriea was getting even more anxious

"I don't know.. it looks off." — Faelynn remarked, suspicious of it aswell

....

"Smells off." - Kenny blurted out with a scoff

"Evander could you care to read it?" — Wrenley asked, looking over at Evander, for the first time talking to him — even with an angry tone Evander began to read.

"Long ago, 4 gods lived across the realm, our realm. One being less strong than the others

One fiesty and hotheaded, one blunt and blank the other arrogant and prideful, so prideful

he led a cult which would lead to his banishing, his downfall, his name being Shoviant—

shoviant

Shoviant.

Shoviant.

An oddly familiar name, one might've assumed.

Walking down the corridors of the mansion, your poofy grayish purple colored dress bouncing, your footsteps couldn't be heard — small as you were.

A child.

Yet you could hear the chattering from the room, the sayance — ritual..

What did your parents call it again? Peeking your head over, looking into the room watching mommy and daddy and all the other guests lighting a dead bloody body on fire, the heart being the only thing truly sticking out, the rhyming words you couldn't make out.

You knew you'd be the next to join.

The old grimy man told you so too — daddy's friend was it?

Praying to the god you didn't know each night, remebring the fingers on your skin, plump as you were as a child, you could feel everything.

Now your grown

And your apart of it.

And your friends don't know.. do they S——-

"Sereia?" — Farlynns voice echoed as Evander finished reading the burnt parchment

"Sereia are you alright?" — she repeated the question to her friend again, worried.

"Huh? Oh yea I'm fine.. let's just.. go." — she mumbled, gulping as they started walking back, she hoped the others didn't notice but they did, but, kept quiet — this is the first time she acted like this, it would be rather awkward to bring it up, it's Sereia after all. She doesn't act like this. Yet she could still feel the guilt in her stomach.

They pushed it away, they were fine.

[yeonmuse]

LIP GLOSS AND SECRETS OF SUMMER | Eric Sohn

Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Full Chapter Log

🐚 PAIRING: Surfer Eric x oc

🐚 GENRE | college au| summer love | slow burn| mature topics | strangers to lovers | minor love triangle

🐚 SUMMARY | Upon arriving at her new university Park Naokei herself falling into a world of chaos as drama unfolds with her new found friends. By the time summer break arrives newfound feelings and crushes spark amists the summer fun. Slowly our oc finds herself trapped between the likes of two guys and it all started with her occasional swimming lessons from the one and only Eric Sohn.

🐚 WORD COUNT | 1.4k

🐚 important details ; Nzeka Park (neh- zeh- ka) is our main character. known as Nezza by those she calls friends while her close family calls her NeNe . Her father passed away when she was fifteen leaving her with her stepmother who she believes absolutely hates her guts. The girl has two younger siblings, both boys with the youngest being four his name is Aiki short for aikime while the oldest being eight his name was Juni, she also has an older sister named Kiome that moved away to America when she turned eighteen. Park Naokei is twenty and has a huge scar on the back of her thigh from an accident her family had long ago when she was only 5. Though she doesn't know how to swim, She's in love with the ocean and has been fascinated by it since she was a child.

authors notes: this is a multipart series with more that 20+ parts, there are few mature topics like death mentions and slight angst topics. Other than that this series is full of somer vibes and playful moments between our characters. For those reading thank you so much for coming along this ride even if at some point you stop reading.

*This entire Chapter is a flashback so it will be in blue*

Im Sooah, well known by nearly every girl in school for her closeness with Eric, and her attraction to all of the guys that attended the school. Her mother was a famous world renowned violinist while her father had been one of the hottest actors of his time. Sooah was known by those outside of school for her vocal talents; she had guest starred on many old dramas and variety shows since the age of twelve so from a young age she had been forced into the spotlight. She hated it, she absolutely hated it, it constantly felt like her life wasn't hers. It wasn't until she met Eric and his friends in her senior year of high school that she felt like she belonged somewhere, that she could be her true self.

"Yah Im Sooah, why weren't you in class the teacher keeps forcing us to carry around your notes.'' Sunwoo complains and nags at her before dropping all of her homework and study material onto the table she was sitting at.

"I had to take care of a few things don't be such a brat.'' She responds which earns a scoff from Sunwoo.

"Hey just because you don't do your homework doesn't mean that you should sabotage others and not have them do theirs.'' Eric taunts Sunwoo while throwing his arm over Sooahs shoulder. In his words, Sooah simply sticks out her tongue at Sunwoo.

"Right, Just because you don't care about your homework doesn't mean I shouldn't care about mine.'' She only adds further to sunwoos annoyance.

"Whatever, you two are annoying when you're not bickering.'' Sunwoo responds before crossing his arms over his chest and walking away, leaving the two alone.

"So are you going to Sans party? We can ride together, since you're always complaining about gas money like your parents don't have enough money to buy the empire state building.'' At his joke, sooah simply laughs as she gathers all of her missed works and slips them into her bag.

"I'll actually be studying tonight, so Unfortunately you idiots will have to suck it up and go without me.''

"Who are you and what have you done with Sooah?'' he immediately smacks his hand onto her forehead at which she flicks his head in response.

"Ow, hey i'm just checking your temperature because if you're turning down a party to study you've definitely got to be sick or something." Eric responds while rubbing the spot on his head where she previously flicked.

"I'm fine you idiot. I just have to catch up on the things i've missed the last two days.''

"Whatever if you change your mind you know i'm only a call away.''

"Yeah yeah whatever.'' she throws her bag over her shoulder before waving him off with a smile and leaving the library.

Later that day the ding of her phone pulled her attention away from her studies. She thought that perhaps it was Eric trying to convince her for the hundredth time to go to the party. But as her eyes set upon the contact name a smile spread across her face. It was not Eric that had texted her, but the person responsible for her having missed three days of class.

Throwing her phone off to the side she eagerly made her way down the staircase and out near the willow trees where the girl would usually park.

"I thought you'd be going to the party.'' she spoke with a hint of amusement in her tone as she approached the girl that stood leaning up against her car.

"What reasons would I have to be there if you aren't there.'' The blonde haired girl responds with a pout on her lips.

"Jinsoul~ah, you really aren't going to go just because i'm going? Yeosang will be there.'' Sooah responds teasingly watching as the girl's face blushes bright red.

"How long will you tease me about that, it was so embarrassing.'' at her reaction sooah simply just laughs and pulls Jinsoul into a hug.

"I think it's cute, you had a little crush on Yeosang. Though I gotta say i'm quite glad he just stood there or else i'd have never run into you.'' Her arms wrapped around the girl and for a while they just stared at each other.

"Since you aren't going to the party how about we spend tonight together?'' Sooah asks which causes shock to decorate Jinsouls face

"You aren't afraid of anyone seeing us?''

"Hm, they haven't caught onto anything so far. But we'll be in a private place tonight  anyways, I was thinking that we can go out by the lake behind campus and watch the fireflies.'' Sooah responds while brushing the girl's hair behind her ear.

"But aren't you afraid of them?''

"I'm trying to be cute and you're bringing that up?'' Sooah whines while jinsoul simply just laughs.

"Okay okay i'm sorry. That sounds perfect i'll go get some treats for us then we can have a picnic.''

"Sounds perfect to me.'' With a content smile on her face Sooah pulls jinsoul in closing the space between the two of them and kissing her.

The two girls seemed to be completely unaware of the one person that witnessed their shared kiss.

[elvendria]

NOTICING YOU - E.M x FEM READER Part One

summary:

-What are you doing to me y/n Henderson?- -I could ask you the same Eddie Munson-

y/n Henderson is Dustin's older sister. She's the shy, reserved bookworm you see around the hallowed halls of Hawkins High. She's a cynic. She's seen how those you love can treat you, and knows that true love and soulmates belong only in her books.

At least until a freaky metalhead who happens to be friends with her brother shows up more and more in the most convenient of places.

\\acquaintances - friends - lovers - enemies - lovers//

Ok so I just want to clarify a few things:

Although set in the time of season 4, music up to the current decade will be used, I just find it easier to know what songs to use when I'm not limited to specific timelines

There'll be referneces to songs however some of them may be listed as y/n writing them herself, but I'll put the original singer/songwriter at the end of the chapter

It'll start before the events of season 4, but will gradually move into that storyline over time

(I should also mention that in this fic, Eddie only repeated his senior year once, meaning there's only a year between them instead of two, and Steve hasn't graduated yet)

Ok. Let's jump in.

part one part two part three part four part five part six part seven

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

TW: single mom/absentee dad, shy bookworm reader, fem!reader

word count: 2.2K

August 20th

The thought of walking across the school carpark for the first day of Senior Year felt like walking through the gates of hell. All I wanted to do was run somewhere until the end of the day, and then slowly crawl my way home.

I could barely find the will to get my legs to move out of my 1967 Volkswagen Beetle, my most prized possession. It felt like my legs were encased in cement as a cold sweat ran down my spine at the thought of having to face more than one person every day.

Dad had fixed Betsy before he left all those years ago, I thought it would be junk by now but it runs just like it did when he finished it up and took Dustbin and me out for a test drive. Sure she's bumpy in places, but nothings is ever perfect.

I looked out the driver's side window to a couple running and jumping into each other's arms, kissing all slobbery as if he'd just returned from war when in reality she saw him like two days ago. That, or he was away at camp this summer. And let's be real, he most definitely did not stay celibate for a month or 2 just because he was away from his girlfriend. Either way, she was overreacting and trying to put her claim on him in front of all the other girls in the parking lot.

"What a stupid thing to be doing in public, save it till you get home," I scoffed, but not loud enough for them to hear me, confrontation is not my forte. Running and hiding, now that's something I'm good at.

"You wouldn't be saying that if you had someone to smooch on a Monday morning." Dustin teased from beside you, a grin spreading across his face.

I've always found my brother's smile to be infectious, even when I was in the worst mood possible.

"Alright Dustbin, you've convinced me. This year I'll have so many boyfriends I won't have time to be cynical. Your wish is my command." I feigned a bow towards him, knowing deep down inside, that he was just as nervous as I was.

"If I'm going to be going to high school, you need to stop calling me Dustbin. It was cute when you were 3, but we're grown now." Dustin huffed, crossing his arms and slumping in his seat.

"I don't know, you look like a little kid to me, I mean I could mix you into a batch of newbie middle schoolers and no one would be able to tell the difference. " I felt a swat at my arm, which further instigated my laughter.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a guy turn his head and look at the car, his hair falling below his shoulders. Our eyes met and he quickly turned and walked away, but it was too late.

Eddie Munson had just caught me laughing like a maniac with my brother.

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

After a lot of self encouragement, and a bit of teasing from Dustin, I finally worked up the courage to get out of the car and start walking to the school doors, pleading with myself to turn around once or twice. Somehow I made it to my homeroom and my desk without knowing how, as if my feet had grown tired of the back and forth, the will she won't she, and just decided to move on their own.

Sitting down at the furthest corner of the room, I pulled my white knitted sweater around my arms, carefully listening to my favourite teacher in the whole school."

"Alright students," Ms Collins called out, I'm passing around your timetables now. I'd just like to remind everyone-"

"Sorry I'm late, hellfire club duties and all that, I would say it won't happen again but we both know you don't like liars, Ms C."

"Mr Munson please find your way to an available seat. There's one beside Ms Henderson."

Fuck.

"As I was saying, students will not be allowed to switch classes this semester." Light groans presented themselves around the classroom, and I wanted to join them when I saw my timetable,

Homeroom

Period 1: Biology

Period 2: English

Period 3: History

Period 4: Spanish

Lunch

Period 5: Math

Period 6: Music

Period 7: Chemistry

Period 8: Economics

"Who makes a person cut open a frog first thing in the morning?" I whispered to myself.

"I know right, there has to be some sort of law against it or something, it's disgusting," the deep voice from beside me whispered back. I couldn't move, I could barely breathe. I could feel his body heat beside me. 

Why did this have to be a two-person desk?

I've always found it difficult to talk to people, but I've found it especially difficult to talk to him ever since he was in the middle school talent show. Past friends have said it was a crush but I knew that wasn't true. Crushes were only for hopeless romantics and kids.

I hate myself for it, I don't want to seem like all those people who called him a freak.

But ever since Dad left I told myself I never wanted to get close to anyone, yet here I was, sitting thinking about the time I sat in the wings and watched him play with his band. His hair was really short then and he was skinny. Mom said he was all elbows with the way he was holding his guitar. But that didn't matter to me. Just to see him so involved in the music, it was almost like he'd forgotten everyone else could see him.

I swore that after I went out on the stage, played the piano and sang Hello, Hello by Elton John, I'd go backstage and talk to him. However, I was barely 5 words in when my vision went blurry and I was suddenly running off the stage. I remember running to a classroom-turned dressing room and curling up into a ball, completely and utterly embarrassed. I decided from then on that I wasn't going to speak to Eddie ever, I took it as a sign that I wasn't supposed to. So when he talked to me in homeroom, I felt my lips had been sewn shut and that I was rooted to my seat.

Once the bell rang, I jumped from my seat and practically sprinted out the door on my way to Biology, only realising along the way that Eddie might be in my class. I didn't see his timetable, but he agreed with me about biology, so there's always the possibility.

I sat down at the back of the biology class, tying my dark red hair into a ponytail when a girl sat down beside me. I was right about Eddie being in this class, but he sat in front of me with Steve Harrington, so it wasn't so bad. At least he couldn't directly see me unless he fully turned around, and he had no reason to do that.

The girl nudged me with her arm I turned to look at her as she gave a short, small wave.

"I figured we should introduce ourselves because if we don't then this lab partner business is going to get weird really fast because I don't think I would be able to call you buddy or gal for the whole semester, especially considering I hate using both of those words." She rambled on.

I usually don't make friends with people who could talk for hours, but something about this girl was different. Instead of freaking me out, her rambling made me want to chuckle along with her.

"Oh, you're laughing, thank god because I thought you were going to be one of those people who is all work and no talk and that would get irritating really fast." All you could do was smile back.

"I'm Robin by the way! Robin Buckley," She smiled gleefully.

"Y/n Henderson, a pleasure to meet you, Robin," I said back, returning her small wave from earlier.

"Wait, are you Dustin's sister?" Suddenly Steve Harrington was a part of this conversation, pulling me from the happy little bubble Robin had formed around our Biology desk.

I could see Eddie's head turn slightly and all I could manage was an "Uh hmmm" before Mr Wright came in and Robin told Steve to shut up and turn around.

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

The day flew by, Robin invited me to sit with her at lunch, and although I would've loved to, my special place was calling to me.

Pushing throw a creaky old door near the end of the school, I made my way into the library. Sliding past the textbook section I found myself perusing the fiction aisle, looking for something to get lost in for an hour.

The smell of the old musty pages was like a personal high, and curling up in a beanbag in the far corner of the room was heavenly. I could relax. I'd missed it all summer, you couldn't relax in the public library during the summer, it doubled up as an arts and crafts centre for kids.

I was in the middle of reading something about a girl caught in a war between the underworld and the real world when the bell rang to signal lunch was over. Grabbing my stuff, I rushed out of the library and into someone, sending me backwards, my glasses flying from the top of my head, the price I pay for not putting them back on correctly.

"Oh, shit are you ok?"

No. No No No NO NO NO. This was not happening. I am not running into this man for the third time today.

Eddie bent down to get my glasses while I fumbled to put my books back in my bag, not daring to look him in the eye in case he could see right through me. His friends from Hellfire were there, snickering not so quietly to themselves.

As he handed them to me, I mumbled a "Thanks", before jumping to my feet despite his offer to help me up, and practically running down the hall as I heard the late bell ring. I had Mrs Mayer for Math and she doesn't take kindly to latecomers. I reached my desk before she got to the room, breathing out a sigh of relief as I slumped down in a chair in the back.

The rest of the school day went by in a blur, and before I knew it the bell rang to signal the end of the day. I rushed to my locker to grab the books that I'd need when Dustin and Mike walked up to me.

"You want a lift home, Mike?" I asked, already knowing what the answer would be.

"Thanks, Y/n! Nancy's working after school with the school newspaper." Mike beamed at me.

"Y'know, there used to be a time when you smiled up at me, nowadays I have to crane my neck just to look at you. It's weird. Stop." I said, the three of us walking out to the car that sat like a glowing yellow sun at the back of the car park.

Even my car has to sit in the back.

"I can't help it, it's puberty or something," Mike laughed back.

"Yeah, well next time you feel like taking a growth spurt, let Dustbin do it instead, poor kid is tiny," I chuckled, feeling a sharp nudge in my side.

"I'll get you for that." Dustin retorted, playfully scowling at me.

Clambering into the car, I began to reverse out of my spot when I saw him about to get in his van, he raised a hand and gave a small wave. My knuckles went white from gripping the steering wheel, and instead of waving back, I drove out of the car park and didn't check the rearview until I was sure he wouldn't be in it.

It's just one year, and then it's over, I told myself mentally

"Oh was that Eddie? I was going to tell you, we joined Hellfire club, We might even become friends with him." Dustin cheerfully said.

Just one year.

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let me know if you want to be added to the taglist!

part one part two part three part four part five part six part seven

[poisonedprose]

The Vampire King 2 ♰˚‧

chapter 2 !

warnings: cursing, slight sexual tension(?)

masterlist - @thefailcollection @riffcrusader

prolouge // chap 1 // chap 3 // chap 4 // chap 5

Steve couldn't bring himself to turn around. "Ignoring me, Harrington?" He chuckled. Steve still couldn't turn around. There was no way that voice belonged to who he thought it did. The sticks in the grass began to rustle as the evergrowing amicable voice came closer. "Steve? Did you fall asleep standing up?" He laughed again, this time in the younger’s ear. He now stood mere inches away, his hands snaking around Steve's waist, drawing him closer. Steve screwed his eyes shut and took a deep breath. "It's just me, sweetheart." He whispered in Steve's ear. "Don't call me that." "Ah, so he does have a voice." Eddie mocked and let his hands slide under Steve's shirt. "Stop." Steve command, causing the shorter one's hands to stop in place right about the scars that lay on Steve's torso. "Steve!" The two heard Dustin call from the trailer, Eddie quickly pulling away from Steve to go see the boy he once held close. 

"Hey, Henderson." He smiled. The shock on Dustin's face was evident, clearly not expecting to see the man he thought was dead. "Eddie? Am I hallucinating?" Dustin rubbed his eyes to make sure this wasn't some sick way of grieving. "I'm really here, Henderson. Can't get rid of me that easily." Eddie opened his arms, inviting Dustin in for a hug, which he was going to take before Eddie was pushed away. "Don't touch him." Steve eerily warned as he held Eddie against the side of the trailer. "Jealous?" Eddie winked with a shit-eating grin. "What is your deal, Steve?" Dustin exaggerated. By now, the group had piled out of the trailer in search of Dustin and Steve. "Eddie?" Robin asked as she saw a glimpse of his face. "I'd give you a proper greeting but, Harrington here is a little clingy." He laughed but Steve just stayed in silence. "Take a joke, Steve." "Leave." It was clear to everyone that Steve wasn't joking. "What?" Eddie seemed hurt? Maybe it was disappointment.

"I don't know who you are but this isn't funny." Steve pressed him harder against the wall. "Come on, Steve. I'm still the Eddie you fell in love with." He whispered with a sort of sourness in his voice, careful that the others didn't hear him. "I didn't fall in love with you. Not then, not now." Steve spoke lowly, making it clear that the kiss they shared that one night and the many others that followed, meant nothing to him. The anger in Eddie's eyes almost made the iris' seem red. "So, was it all for nothing? Did it mean anything to you?" He growled in a voice that was almost unrecognizable to Steve. "Leave." Steve commanded again. "Enough!" Nancy exclaimed as Eddie and Steve pulled apart. "We don't have time for this. We need to kill Vecna. We are running out of time. You two can play the 'mommy and daddy get divorced' game later." Nancy instructed. She explained what everyone needed to do and how to do it, pairing people up as she did.

"Sorry to interrupt, sweetheart, but that's never going to work." Eddie explained in a condescending tone. Steve hated to admit that he was right. "You need to go straight for the guy. No beating around the bush bullshit." Eddie explained further, obviously angering Nancy. "Look, we are super happy you are alive, but we have a plan." Nancy tried to remain as calm as she could. "Not a very good one. Trust me, I've been in that hell-like universe for way too long." Eddie sent a mocking sympathetic smile to Nancy. "He's got a point." Will shrugged. "I don't know who you are, but I like you." He smiled at Will who smiled back. "I think Eddie's right." Dustin agreed "What do you think Steve?" Dustin turned his attention to his role model who seemed to be staring at Eddie. At the way his hands were positioned, the way his posture was, and the way his facial expressions changed as he talked. They all looked so real.

"He's a little distracted right now. Try again in 2 to 3 business days." Eddie laughed, which Steve examined just as closely. His voice was deeper, raspier. Granted he spent god knows how long lying on that floor. Ceiling? It doesn't matter. His voice was different and Steve was sure of it. "I don't care." Steve responded still not taking his eyes off of Eddie. "You're making it obvious." Eddie sent him a wink before returning his gaze to the people in front of him. "Well then, Eddie, tell us your big plan." Lucas almost sounded annoyed that the plan was changing. "We just need the freaky telekinetic girl to fight him and win." He said matter of factly. "That's easier said than done." Mike scoffed at Eddie who gave a confused frown. "I am strong but he is stronger." El enlightened him. "Trust me, he's weak right now. I can feel it." El and Will shared a small glace. "But-" Will began before Eleven cut him off. "Then we will do your plan." Eddie looked like he had just had the biggest victory, which Steve picked up on.

Steve didn't know what he was planning or even if he had a plan or if it was actually him, but Steve had this strange feeling. When Steve looked at him, a sense of impending doom lingered in his stomach replacing the butterflies he once felt around the metalhead. Something was off and Steve knew it, but he couldn't figure out just quite what it was. Sure, being in an alternate dimension with nothing to eat or drink practically on the brink of death would change someone, but not in the way he changed. "Eddie. My name is Eddie. Not he." Eddie whispered into Steve's ear as if he could hear Steve's thoughts. Hear Steve replacing every spot for his name with his pronouns. Hear Steve refusing to let the name linger in his mind. "Eddie." Steve repeated, hating the bitterness it left on his tongue. "There ya go." Eddie leaned away from his ear, but not before licking his earlobe. Steve let any and all thoughts dissolve out of his mind for the fear that Eddie could hear them, but surely, that wasn't humanly possible.

[yourfantasyfigures]

Epilogue: The Wormhole

Border: Carnival <completed>

Start here: Prologue: The Invitation

Previous chapter: Mixed Up (Chapter 4)

Masterlist Info AO3

"No, no, it was never mine."

Rating: All Audiences

Words: 1108

Status: Completed

Tags & Warnings of the entire fic: Vampire!au, mystery, found family, hurt & comfort, non-graphic violence, hints towards past trauma, family drama

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the tags/warnings, feel free to contact me. Please let me know if I'm missing any tags.

°°°

We interrupt your program to bring you an update on the events that transpired at Wormhole Carnival, which was suddenly evacuated earlier today.

According to reports, police were informed of a potentially life-threatening incident at one of the attracions. A young man, estimated to be between the ages of 17 and 23 reportedly jumped off a swing ride. When medical professionals arrived to treat possible injuries from the fall, the man was nowhere to be found.

As the police was on site to investigate the peculiar incident, they were alerted to unusual movement of the circus tent that seemed to be threatening to collapse. Securing the tent and searching inside, they found five individuals, all of which belonging to the circus The Invitation.

Seemingly the aftermath of a violent confrontation, the ringmaster was transferred to a hospital where he is receiving treatment.

Police declined to disclose any further details.

Until clarity on what transpired at Wormhole Carnival is achieved, the Carnival will be temporarily closed to ensure the safety of the public.

Thank you and have a good night.

°

"No thank you, I don't want any."

"You should eat something, Ni-ki, it will make you feel better. Look." Jay filled a bowl halfway.

"This one is yours, so just take it whenever you're ready."

He set it down in front of the younger boy who weakly smiled at him, the thank you remaining unspoken but understood nonetheless.

They six others dug in, and upon hearing the overwhelming compliments directed towards Jay who had prepared the meal, Ni-ki couldn't hold back his own curiosity, giving into his rumbling stomach.

When they were all full and too lazy to get up to clear the table, Ni-ki reached into his pocket, then paused.

"Why havent you asked yet?" he wondered out loud.

"What do you mean? Ask what?" Jake asked in return.

Ni-ki vaguely gestured to the hand that was still resting in his pocket.

"What he gave me. I know you're all curious but none of you even alluded to it."

Jake looked around at the others.

"I guess we didn't want to upset you, give you space." Everyone nodded in agreement but Ni-ki let out a huff of annoyance.

"I don't want you guys to treat me like a scared little child that you need to tiptoe around. You don't have to wait for me to bring something up, you can just go ahead and say or ask what you want. And if I'm uncomfortable, I'll say so. I just... I don't want you to constantly protect my feelings or something."

"Okay but me personally, I was just protecting myself from you flinging me across the room but maybe that's just me."

Sunghoon was very amused by his own joke, not even caring that he was the only one laughing. Besides Sunoo, who used his hand to cover his giggle, the others barely reacted, not wanting to further encourage his comedic inclinations.

"Anyways" Jungwon said and turned back to Ni-ki.

"What did he give you in the tent?"

Ni-ki pulled his hand out of his pocket in order to show the others. A thin chain dangled in front of his face, as he showed the others the beautiful amulet.

"Is it yours from when you were a kid?" Jay asked, watching the amulet swing slightly from side to side.

Ni-ki shook his head. "No, no, it was never mine." He mumbled, seeming a bit lost in thought. Heeseung snapped him out of his daydream.

"Does it open?"

Ni-ki smiled as he laid the amulet in the middle of the table.

"Go ahead." He said, looking at Heeseung expectantly.

Heeseung picked it up, careful not to cause any damage.

He opened it, his eyes widening at the pictures he found inside.

"Ni-ki..." he whispered, choking up at what he saw.

They all took turns to look at it before it finally landed in Ni-ki's hands again.

"So is that, is she, I mean" Sunoo struggled to find the right words.

"Yeah." Ni-ki still answered. "That's her. I gave it to her back when I was..." he looked up into the air, trying to remember "Six? Eight? Something like that."

He looked at the amulet again.

"I always thought she took it with her. I know it's ridiculous to hold on to something like that but I just... I understand that she wouldn't want the wedding picture on it, I get leaving him in the past but..."

He closed his eyes as he took a shaky breath, a tear threatening to escape his eyes.

"I don't know, I just really wanted to believe that she would hold on to this and cherish it. She could have taken out their wedding photo and just kept the one with me in it but I guess she didn't want to."

He cleared his voice in hopes of regaining his composure.

"Turns out she gave it to him instead, he probably had it all this time. It makes sense, you know. She was the one who left, it's foolish to assume she would want to take any memory with her."

"It's not foolish" Jake interrupted him. "You're not foolish for thinking or wishing she would take your gift with her. You were a child, for crying out loud. And it's natural to assume she would want to remember her son, so please, stop. Don't make yourself more miserable. You don't deserve this."

Ni-ki reached out to take Jake's hand who took it silently. Ni-ki opened his mouth but no words came out, so he pressed his lips together instead. While Jake was rubbing the back of Ni-ki's hand with soothing motions, the youngest let his head drop, hiding his face from the others.

Because they were all quiet, the sound of Ni-ki's sniffling was unmistakable. It started out quiet, the boy holding it back with all his might, before he broke down.

Tears dropped into his lap and his body began shaking, all of his emotions pouring out.

Jungwon had gotten out of his seat to stand next to the youngest, hoping he could comfort him by running his fingers through his hair. Ni-ki leaned into the touch as his sobs grew louder and louder. He turned in his seat, pulling Jungwon close and burying his face in his stomach.

The others couldn't hold back either, each of them losing their battle against the tears.

They cried together, comforting each other as best as they could.

When they were all out of tears, still sniffling in each other's arms, Ni-ki raised his head.

"I don't.... I don't need them now. You're my only family."

[lostysworld]

A healing touch – Kaz Brekker x reader

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 (final)

Pairing: Kaz Brekker x reader

Warning: OOC (I hope it's not too much in this chapter :D), a little bit of angst.

Summary: something inevitable happens, that causes you to reveal your true feelings

A/N: I hope guys, you'll like it) Also I was hit by the song "Paradise" by Chase Atlantic, and I think it's perfect for them here))

Masterlist

The weather is perfect. Perfect for visiting your friends in the Crow Club. You don't have any plans for the whole day, and not even for helping your parents in the bakery, so you decide to spend this morning with pleasure.

The anticipation of seeing Kaz is so strong, after yesterday's evening, that your fingertips are tingling with joy. Does it mean, he will finally start treating you another way, more...intimate.

But when you come up to the club's doors, two men from Brekker's guard block your way. As you want to ask what the matter is, Jasper appears behind their backs.

– It's okay, guys. Let me settle this, - he claps their shoulders and comes to you.

– What's going on, Jas? - it is strange, that you are not allowed to go further. The boy's glance changes from cheerful to sympathetic one.

– I'm afraid, you are banished, Y/N.

– What?! Kaz banished me?

What you could possibly do to cause such a move from the man. When you left him yesterday's night, everything was alright.

– I want to talk to him.

– Y/N, I don't think-

– He banished me from the club, and, as I suppose, from the Slat too, and if it's his decision, I will not argue. But I only want to know the reason, Jas, - for a second you are peering at each other intensely. – Do I not deserve it?

– You do.

– Lead the way, then.

You may be a ray of sunshine, as others see you, but you also have a strength to fight back, if it's necessary. And now it is the time.

The wooden ladder squeaks under your steps, and you can swear, that Kaz already learns about your presence in the club. Well, he'd better know.

On the last stair you step forwards in front of Jasper, opening the door in Kaz's office. The man is sitting behind his table, showered with different documents. Rapidly he raises his head to meet you in the doorway.

Jasper takes a step back and leaves you two for his own sake.

Brekker furrows, his jaw's clenched.

– As far as I know, you are banished form the club, Y/N.

– We both know, I don't obey your orders.

You look at each other with such anger and rage, but deeply in your chest you still feel resentment towards him.

– What the matter, Kaz, - you throw you hands up, coming closer. Brekker doesn't move, he doesn't even take a step back from you. – Have I done something wrong?

Your eyes are roaming across his face. Kaz looks tired, as if he didn't sleep that night at all, dark circles under his eyes become more visible.

– Nothing, - he stands out of the table, leaning on its side now with arms crossed on his chest.

– Nothing? Is it your answer? - the man is still silent. – Don't want to give me a reason?

Of course he doesn't have to, but you think, he will do it as your friend. Even if you see him as much more than a friend to you.

– Kaz, we are friends-

– Yes...'friends', - his voice is full of unhidden venom, that makes you furious and lost at the same time. – Your friends are downstairs, and you still can meet them outside of the club.

You still don't understand, but something tells you, Brekker won't explain you anything. He has his own strange reasons, and, like everything else about him, you just have to accept this.

The man waves you off.

– If it's all, - he switches his displeased gaze on you. – I still have a lot of work.

Is it the end? He just doesn't want to see you anymore.

– Of course, Mr. Brekker, - he flinches barely visibly from your addressing. – I will no longer bother you.

You comes out, slamming the door behind your back.

Kaz closes his tired eyes rubbing his face. What did you want to hear from him? What could he possibly tell? That he doesn't want you here because of the constant life-threatening? That he serves as a magnet for all killers in Ketterdam, and is afraid that you will pay his price?

You'd better stay in your little shiny bakery and never met him in years.

The sudden urge to abandon it all and stop you from leaving is overweighted by his common sense, and he just throws everything from his table in anger.

Kaz Brekker is never drunk, but now something is driving him to the bottle of whiskey in his drawer.

Even if the man doesn't want to remember this now, the day, when he first met Y/N, is so vivid in front of his eyes.

Flashback.

It is a winter evening, almost night, calm and snowy, and Kaz comes out of the Slat to find Jasper, whom all of them are waiting for discussing the next heist. And why he of all of people, should look for him?

It is cold, and the man shrugs his shoulders. His leather gloves don't bring him any warm at all and his fingertips start freezing.

After a half an hour of wandering across the town, he finally hears that familiar voice and sees Jasper along with a young woman, who the boy is hugging with one arm.

– Why should I search for you, Jasper, while you're having fun with another girlfriend of yours?

Brekker is grim, but after one glance at the girl next to Jas, he feels a bit confused. Her wide y/c eyes seem looking right inside his soul.

– I'm not his girlfriend.

As fast as the boy opens his mouth to explain, the girl cuts him off. Her voice is calm, but the man catches a sparkle of surprise in it.

Jasper waves her to Brekker.

– It's Kaz, he's my boss, - the girl steps forwards and extends her arms for a handshake.

– Nice to meet you, Kaz, - a mischievous sparkle shines inside her gaze. – I'm Y/N.

Her voice rings, not getting lost in a noisy crowd. The way the young woman calls his name sounds...nice, and Brekker blinks for several times to return his previous cold demeanor.

She still stands with her hand awaiting for his reaction, and when Jasper wants to say about Brekker's touch aversion, the man instantly grabs her hand in his and shakes.

– Kaz Brekker, miss.

Her touch is warm, he feels it even through his glove. And all of her radiates with warmness, actually Kaz thinks it's a smell of baked bread.

A knowing grin appears on Jasper's face and he decides to keep quiet instead.

End of flashback.

Slowly you became a part of the team, and Kaz wondered for a thousand of times, how natural your presence was. It felt like the Crows have been knowing you for their whole lives.

And now you are gone, and it is his fault only. But Kaz would better know that you're safe, somewhere far away from him and his doubtful fortune.

The chilly wind becomes colder, as you make your way around Ketterdam, deciding not to come back to the bakery after your fight with Kaz. Otherwise you couldn't escape your mother's questions.

Slowly your anger calms down, and while the night falls on the town, you find yourself near the Slat.

Knowing this area you would never appear here in this time of the day or without any company, like Jas or Inej. Like Kaz.

You shake your head. Kaz kicks you out of his club like you have never belonged there, severing all the ties between you.

You feel yourself like a little naive girl, who is twisted around the finger will all your trust and friendship stuff.

There is no one except you on a narrow dark street, where only one lamppost is lit. Suddenly you hear steps behind you, that are echoing from dull stone walls of slams.

You turn around to see two men coming to you, as cold shiver runs down your spine. No way it can end up well.

You fasten you steps, noticing that the two behind you do the same. When you start running, you already abandon all thoughts about escaping alive.

In the end you bump into a wall, that can mean only a dead end of the street. Perfect, just perfect. Intending to come back while it's not that late, you doesn't notice a dark side street between two old houses, that may be your escape route.

But you still hesitate, and when you refuse to go there, someone's arm grabs you and drags into the alley.

Instantly a gloved hand closes your mouth, in case you want to scream. This familiar glance of Kaz in front of you calms down your rapidly beating heart, that pounds in your throat.

You exhale in relief, and both stand like this until the strangers' step disappear. He is so close to you, there is no an inch of space in between, but his palm. Slowly, he drops his hand, making sure that you won't scream.

He looks at you intensely like this for some minutes, and when the street is empty and silent, Brekker takes a step back.

– What the hell are you doing! - of course you could thank him first, but just can't hold back these words.

– Follow me.

He nods and goes further, not looking at you, trying to bring you to the safe place. After some time you find yourselves at the Slat with no Crows on the first floor.

Without a word you come with him into his room. Honestly, you don't have a slightest idea, what he is going to tell you now, after you morning incident.

The door is closed, and it feels like your freedom is cut off by his own hands.

– When I last saw you, I was a whiny pain in the ass, - you arch a brow at him. – And now you are waiting for me on the streets to save from a pair of thugs.

Brekker is silently watching you and it starts to drive you mad.

– Did you bring me here to keep quite, Kaz? - you watch him turn with his back to you and freeze. – At least tell me, what were you doing-

– That is the reason! - Brekker slams his hand on the table surface, and you flinch. – You think, that I don't care, but it's not true.

– Kaz-

– I banished you from the club, because I simply don't want you dead. Or this day didn't teach you anything?

– So you don't want me here? - your gaze is locked on the man. – You just throw me out.

– Is it the only thing you've heard?

– Than why I'm here now?

You know, he wants you alive, it is his only intention, but it's time for you to settle this. When Brekker doesn't respond, you go on.

– Oh, I can tell you, why, - you take several steps towards him, and the man doesn't move away. – Because I'm much safer here, in the Crow club or in the Slat, doesn't matter. Any place, where you are, I'm safer, Kaz.

– But you...you deserve more than the Crow club or the Slat, - he comes up to you, leaving a short distance between. – You deserve so much more, Y/N, and I can't give you that.

It is enough. Your emotions overwhelm you, and all anger, resentment and longing for the man you love now turn into tears, that are just flowing freely down your cheeks. You know every thing, that Kaz thinks about himself, and you just want him to shut up. Only because he deserves more too.

– I'm not asking for more, Brekker. Why don't you see it?

– Why are you so stubborn? - Kaz shortens the distance, taking his gloves off. He is watching a stray tear on your cheek, but can't force himself to raise his hand and brush it off.

– Because I love you, Kaz. If you want it or not.

The man stays speechless. Not that he doesn't want it, but he just doesn't expect your feelings. He shakes his head.

– It won't end up well.

– It isn't supposed to end, Kaz! - his answer only makes you cry more, as you turn away from him, starting roaming around the room. Why should he always be like this? – Unless you want it to end, of course.

– And what do you want, huh?! - the anger slowly overflows him. – If everything stays like this, that will only give you another reason to hate me in the end, Y/N!

– What do I want? I want to spend my life with you, Brekker, every single moment of it, - you throw your hands up in displeasure. – But as I see, it's not mutual.

Kaz is still silent, and you only have to leave him be. You don't want to hurt him with your words, and knowing that, you'd better go away now.

When you go downstairs, you see Nina and Matthias, but don't even turn to her, calling you. You know, it's rude, but nothing matters now.

[0aurelion-sol0]

"There's no place like gnome."

Stranger Things 3: The Game.

Gnomes 1-10. 🧙‍♂️

IT'S FINALLY HERE!

It's no secret that the Duffers take a lot of inspirations from Pop Culture. From the most well known movies to the more obscure comics, they are always able to sneak a reference somewhere everytime. And they are also able to make it connected to the story.

I've bragged about how the Stranger Things expanded universe in media is one of the best out there compared to many others. I think that the Duffers, the writers or people in the highest places of the marketing are really paying attention to what comes out of the ST franchise because there is no way to have such content with so many details without someone looking into them.

And ST3: The Game is a very good example of that.

So let's start! The first 10 Gnomes out of 50 that you have to find in the game.

BE AWARE THAT THERE ARE SPOILERS BELOW!

"There's elements that could please those who makes metas/analyzes or theories. Especially things related to possible future plot points, easter eggs, references in previous seasons mainly season 3 like unsolved mysteries or unanswered questions and for future seasons such as season 4 like foreshadowing or teasers, trailers or as of lately the sneak peek."

If you have anything you'd like to add, might think I have missed or think it might be referencing something else don't hesitate to share it by commenting or reblogging.

(Say thanks to @hawkinsschoolcounselor for having helped me with some of them. )

_____________________________

Gnome #1: Johnny

"He's here... with an axe."

Overall plot:

"The film's central character is Jack Torrance, an aspiring writer and recovering alcoholic who accepts a position as the off-season caretaker of the isolated historic Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies. Wintering over with Jack are his wife, Wendy Torrance, and young son, Danny Torrance. Danny is gifted with "the shining", psychic abilities that enable him to see into the hotel's horrific past. The hotel cook, Dick Hallorann, also has this ability and is able to communicate with Danny telepathically. The hotel had a previous winter caretaker who went insane and killed his family and himself. After a winter storm leaves the Torrances snowbound, Jack's sanity deteriorates due to the influence of the supernatural forces that inhabit the hotel, placing his wife and son in danger."

So I assume a lot of you know The Shining by Stanley Kubrick. A movie which was adapted from the novel of the same name by Stephen King in 1977.

There's a lot of things that could have served as an inspiration for ST.

A boy/child who has psychic abilities = Eleven has psychic abilities such as telekinesis. Will has his True Sight which consist in seeing what the MF was seeing and feeling.

Now there's also the theme of family and parenthood that is also a big theme in Stranger Things. Especially abusive parenthood such as Brenner, Lonnie and even Hopper to a smaller degree.

In Shining, Jack tries to kill his family with an axe due to supernatural forces that are in the hotel but there's a difference between King and Kubrick. While King specifically said that Jack was heavily influenced by the Hotel, Kubrick shows that Jack always had that sinister violence in him even before they arrived at the hotel.

It's interesting to draw a parallel to Billy and Will, both characters called William who tried to kill their families and other people while being possessed. But Billy compared to Will was shown to have been abusive even before that. Dacre Montgomery also said that he was inspired by Jack Nicholson's performance in the Shining for his character Billy.

Joyce and Jonathan were shown to get ready to fight the monsters by taking an axe.

It's also interesting to note that Jack dies in the snow while a blizzard is happening outside the hotel. Much like the storm of the Mindflayer who is in the Upside Down, the same Mindflayer who "likes it cold". While in the book, the Overlook explodes and burn.

(Cold vs Fire much like everything Upside Down related not liking Fire.)

Also "Johnny" = "Jonathan", it's kind of similar and Jonathan did wield an axe before. Maybe this is teasing parts of Jonathan storyline next seasons ?

The gnome was also found in Mike's basement, Mike who wants to be a writer when he's older just like Jack.

Let's just hope that Jonathan and Mike don't get the same fate as Jack.

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Gnome #2: Christine

"Two bright, beaming lights for eyes."

Overall plot:

"Written by Bill Phillips and based on Stephen King's 1983 novel of the same title, the movie follows the changes in the lives of Arnie Cunningham, an awkward and unpopular teenager, his friends, his family, and his teenage enemies in Rockbridge, California after Arnie buys a classic red and white 1958 Plymouth Fury named Christine, licence number CQB 241, a car that seems to have a jealous, possessive personality – and a mind of its own, which has a bad influence on Arnie. After working on a car in a junkyard owned by Will Darnell, Arnie drops his glasses, starts dressing like a 1950's greaser and develops an arrogant and paranoid personality. He than decides to invite and date the most beautiful girl in highschool, Leigh, who will soon become the next victim of Christine."

I was actually quite surprised by how this story parallels Stranger Things a lot.

First off, Christine is very much like The Mindflayer, a dangerous supernatural being set out to destroy anyone who is in her way, the people who tries to take the things that she thinks belongs to her or threatens her. This is very much relevant to The Mindflayer who after being hurt by the Fire created by the Hawkins Lab was upset and attacked everyone he could. Or as Will putted "Not me, everyone else."

This is very much like Christine who tried to kill Leigh because she was taking her place in the life of Arnie. Christine also tried to kill the bullies of Arnie who after a conflit with him, tried to destroy the car which angered Christine heavily.

The Mindflayer has been described someone who views himself as superior to other species and wants to conquer them, even if it's not his real "goal", the description fits anyone who is possessive and paranoid.

Both the MF and Christine are associated with the color red. Red storm = red color of the car.

Arnie ressembles Will and Billy alot. Will is an awkward and unpopular teenager who after being possessed by the Mindflayer became very different and more violent. Billy was shown to be paranoid, jealous, violent and his look even ressembles the one Arnie takes after repairing Christine.

Both of these boys have the same name as Will Darnell, the owner of a junkyard. Just like the boys in Season 1 who takes shelter in a junkyard, or in season 2 where they fight the Demodogs.

Billy dies, killed by the Mindflayer just like Arnie who was completely possessed by Christine who tried to kill Leigh and Dennis, his best friend after they tried to destroy the car when they realised the supernatural nature of it.

Billy's car ressembles a lot Christine with those lights on. Especially with shots like in the Void or at Starcourt during the night.

Chrissy, a new character that will be in season 4, the most popular girl in Hawkins High like Leigh, has a name that is the diminutive of Christine. It is said that under the perfect surface lies a dark secret. Much like the car Christine, while a beauty is actually a dangerous supernatural being. We'll see if the both of them actually connects in the show.

Also it is set in California where Billy and Max come from and has been rumored by many people due to set leaks (The Surfer Boy Pizza Van.) that it is where the Byers went. I won't get into it in this post but this could be a tease or hint of that IF the set leaks ARE true and not fake to mess with people and the fandom.

Arnie also dies in a car crash having been completely possessed by the evil powers of Christine which is something we see in the sneak peek of ST4. It also reminds of Carrie who has a bully named Chris who she kills in a car crash with her boyfriend Billy aka William.

So will someone die from that car crash ? Who is it ? Chrissy, Joyce, Lonnie ? We can only speculate.

The gnome is also found outside the Wheeler's house where Karen lives near the community pool where Billy works and where the car of Billy is located during the first few chapters of the game. Again, a "bad boy" hitting on the beautiful girl in town. (with a lot of creepy subtext all over it.)

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Gnome #3: Doc

"Always mumbling something about being late."

Overall plot:

"Set in 1985, in the town of Hill Valley, California, the story follows Marty McFly, a teenager accidentally sent back to 1955 in a time-traveling DeLorean automobile built by his eccentric scientist friend Doctor Emmett "Doc" Brown. Trapped in the past, Marty inadvertently prevents his future parents' meeting—threatening his very existence—and is forced to reconcile the pair and somehow get back to the future."

So I don't think I need to explain why this is here given how much it has been shown and mentioned in season 3. But few things are interesting here, the fact that California is mentioned is a big deal for me again. I know you are aware of the set leaks just as I am aware, if we can trust them than this could be a hint of that location.

Next, we have the theme of Time. Now ever since ST4 was announced, clocks and times have been a key feature in the promotion. Who know what this might mean but again, we're not going to develop that in the post.

There is also the whole funny scenes of Robin realising that indeed Marty's mother had tried to "bang" her own son. Now given the nature of the shown, certain images in the show during certain events and certain stories, you know to what it connects and to which theories it connects. Won't develop further on it but it can be used as an element that can go into those theories.

The gnome is also found outside of Starcourt Mall where Robin and Steve talk about "Back to the Future". It is also where Billy has his "Back to te Future" moment with his car going extremely fast just like the DeLorean.

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Gnome #4: Indiana

"Master of Adventure."

Overall plot:

"After arriving in India, Indiana Jones is asked by desperate villagers to find a mystical stone and rescue their children from a Thuggee cult practicing child slavery, black magic, and ritualistic human sacrifice in honor of the goddess, Kali."

Fun fact, on Twitter for ST3 promo, a parody poster of this same movie has been posted here of the official ST account.

Jim is obviously Indiana Jones, the look speaks for itself and when he is in the Tunnels in season 2, there's a lot of Indiana Jones imagery.

And of course Kali as 008, a Hindu goddess but as we will see here, it parallels more the Mindflayer.

In 1935, Indiana Jones survives a murder attempt by Lao Che, a crime boss in Shanghai who has hired him to retrieve the remains of Emperor Nurhaci. With his young orphaned Chinese sidekick, Short Round, and the nightclub singer, Willie Scott, in tow, Indy flees Shanghai on a cargo aircraft. While the three of them are asleep, the pilots (employed by Lao Che) dump the fuel and escape via parachute, leaving the plane to crash over the Himalayas. The three narrowly manage to survive by jumping out of the plane on an inflatable raft.

(I wonder if this could be something we see in season 4 with Hopper where he tries to escape on a plane and ends up crashing somewhere or is betrayed by someone who he asked the help of. Now it's a trio and in season 3, Jim, Joyce, Alexei and Murray are the main group that fits this trio. Jim for all the fighting and crazy shit, Joyce and Alexei are kind of like Short Round, they are the sidekicks of Hopper. Murray the role of Willie Scott since she speaks Chinese and him Russian and that Jim just like Indy finds annoying sometimes. Alexei is also kind of like Willie since he kinda goes along with them.

But if we also look at season 2, El is alot like Short Round since she is kind of an orphan too and has a father figure later on. It could also be Will since Hopper is with him a lot of times through season 2. Also Willie did felt out of her element like Alexei because of course he is Russian. Willie in itself doesn't have a lot in common with Joyce but still it's another connection to Will since she has a name close to the one of her sons. Something that does fit a bit more is Jim and Hopper both escaping death, of course Hopper at the end of season 3 but also during season 3 at the farm where he's being shot at by Gregori and than the car doesn't work and explodes and they have to make their way through the forest.

Willie Scott could also be referenced when El disguise herself as this pretty blonde girl in season 1.

Now however, Scoop Troops does fit certain parts of these trio. All the fighting with Steve like Indiana Jones but Robin got his brain because she cracked the code. Dustin and Erica are kinda like short round (especially Dustin who has kind of the same hat as short round.) and are referenced with all the others as children by Robin. Steve doesn't feel in his element like Willie with the three of them who are nerds just like Erica who also doesn't want to accept it. And Robin just like Willie speaks some languages.)

They ride down the mountain slopes and fall into a raging river, eventually arriving at the village of Mayapore in northern India. The villagers plead for their aid in retrieving the sacred stone (shivalinga) stolen from their shrine, along with their missing children, by evil forces in the nearby Pankot Palace. Indy agrees to do so, hypothesizing that the stone is one of the five Sankara stones given by the gods to help humanity fight evil. (It's kinda like Alexei who turns his back on the Russians, for his life of course and agrees to help Hopper close the gate to save Hawkins and their kids before monsters start to appear or may attack one of their kids. Now the stone could be something similar to the promethium or the two keys who opens the gate and is a highly valuable ressource. It also may be the Flayed who are needed to create the monster for the Mindflayer.)

The trio receive a warm welcome at Pankot Palace and are allowed to stay for the night as guests, attending a lavish, but revolting, banquet hosted by the young Maharajah. The officials rebuff Indy's theory that the Thuggee cult is responsible for their troubles. Later that night, Indy is attacked by an assassin. After Indy kills him, he discovers a series of tunnels hidden behind a statue and sets out to explore them, overcoming a number of booby-traps.

(This could be like when Hopper, Joyce and Murray disguised themselves as Russian soldiers but was than discovered by Grigori who attacks them.

The tunnels could be both groups discovering that there is a secret russian base underground and a gate which explains why there are monsters again in Hawkins but it also be the Source, Brimborn Steel Works, where the Mindflayer is lurking underground where he has cult-like followers who makes sacrifices for him to grow bigger and bigger.

It's also like the Tunnels in season 2 who explains why the soil of Hawkins seemed to literally rot. )

The trio reach an underground temple where the Thuggees worship Kali with human sacrifice. They discover that the Thuggees now possess three of the Sankara stones and have enslaved the children to search for the last two, hidden in the palace catacombs. As Indy tries to retrieve the stones, he, Willie, and Shorty are captured. Thuggee high priest Mola Ram forces Indy to drink a potion that puts him into a trance-like state in which he mindlessly serves the cult. (It's very much like Robin and Steve who after discovering the gate are catched by the Russians and than drugged to answer their questions. But also like the Flayed who drinks the chemicals and serves the Mindflayer like a mindless cult.)

Willie is prepared for sacrifice, while Shorty is put to work in the mines with the other children. Shorty escapes and returns to the temple, where he first frees Indy and, later, the Maharajah from the effects of the potion. Indy saves Willie and retrieves the stones. After freeing the children, Indy fights a hulking overseer and leaves him to be killed by a rock crusher. (Basically Dustin saves Steve and Robin. Willie being prepared for sacrifice is kind of like El prepared for sacrifice by Billy in 3x08 but also frees Billy from the effects of the Mindflayer by making him remember his mother, a pretty blonde woman like Willie and sacrifices himself. And Hopper fights Gregori, a "hulking overseer" and kills him.)

The trio escape from the temple, pursued by Thuggees, and barely escape Mola Ram's attempt to flood them out. They are again ambushed by Mola Ram and his henchmen on a rope bridge above a crocodile-infested river. Indy cuts the bridge, causing several of the henchmen to fall to the crocodiles and leaving the survivors to hang on for their lives. As Mola Ram and Indy struggle, Indy invokes the name of Shiva, causing the stones to glow red-hot and burn through Indy's satchel. Two of them fall out; Mola Ram tries to catch the third, but burns his hand and falls from the bridge and into the river, where he, too, is eaten by the crocodiles. (This can be connected to all the kids fighting in Hawkins with the Spider Monster. But the bridge could also fit for the key in the secret base where Hopper and Gregori fights. The gruesome death of Mola Ram is similar to the gruesome death that Gregori has.)

Indy catches the stone safely and climbs up just as a company of British Indian Army riflemen, sent by the Maharajah, arrive and open fire against the Thuggees to drive them away; the surviving Thuggees are soon cornered and arrested by more soldiers. Indy, Willie, and Shorty return safely to Mayapore with the stone and the missing children. (While it may end well in the movie, we know Billy and multiple people die, the Thuggees unlike the Russians have been captured while the Russians where all able to flee before the US Army arrives and Hopper is presumed dead. Only the children in both stories are alive but are probably traumatized for life.)

All in all we can see that this movie might have had a big influence on the plot of season 3 through many characters and more. It may have some hints about possible events for Hopper in season 4 or even beyond but that's about it for. It's a nice package of comparaisons and references though.

The gnome is found in the Hawkins Community Pool where Billy is. The same Billy who obeys mindlessly the Mindflayer and sacrifices people to it. Just like the Thuggees with Kali.

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Gnome #5: Chunk

"Posed in some odd dance maneuver."

Overall plot:

"In the film, a band of kids who live in the "Goon Docks" neighborhood of Astoria, Oregon, attempt to save their homes from foreclosure and, in doing so, they discover an old treasure map that takes them on an adventure to unearth the long-lost fortune of One-Eyed Willy, a legendary 17th-century pirate. During the adventure, they are chased by a family of criminals who want the treasure for themselves."

So first, let's get this out of the way, Sean Astin who play Bob Newby, our beloved who plays a character named Mikey.

The Goonies is a 1985 American adventure comedy film co-produced and directed by Richard Donner from a screenplay by Chris Columbus, based on a story by executive producer Steven Spielberg. In the film, kids who live in the "Goon Docks" neighborhood of Astoria, Oregon, attempt to save their homes from foreclosure and, in doing so, they discover an old treasure map that takes them on an adventure to unearth the long-lost fortune of One-Eyed Willy, a legendary 17th-century pirate. During the adventure, they are chased by a family of criminals who want the treasure for themselves.

I wonder if this might hint at some Season 4 plot right here. The Hawkins gang faces the threat of Hawkins becoming a literal ghost down and might need to find something to save it. Also Willy like William, again Will is still there.

The Goonies include optimist lead Goonie Mikey Walsh, his older brother Brandon, the inventive Data, the talkative Mouth, and the overweight klutz Chunk.

Rummaging through the Walshes' attic, they come across a 1632 doubloon and an old treasure map purporting to lead to the treasure of legendary pirate "One-Eyed Willy", believed to be located somewhere nearby. Mikey considers One-Eyed Willy to be the original Goonie. (It kinda reminds me of Mike who got mad at Max in season 2 and told her they didn't need another party member. And he mentionned Will first right after him.)

The kids overpower and bind Brandon and make their way to an abandoned restaurant on the coast that coincides with the map; Brandon soon follows alongside Andy, a cheerleader with a crush on him ( there has been cheerleaders that have been reported in season 4 such as Chrissy.); and Stef, Andy's friend. The group quickly discovers the derelict restaurant is a hideout of the Fratelli crime family: Francis, Jake, and their mother. (Maybe it is both a reference to the Russians in season 3 who have a hideout under the mall who have many restaurants. Or the Lab who OBVIOUSLY does a lot of illegal activities. )

The Goonies find a tunnel in the basement and follow it (like the tunnels made by the Mindflayer in season 2), but when Chunk flags down a motorist to go to the sheriff’s station, he gets abducted by the assailants and imprisoned with their hulking, deformed, younger brother Sloth. (This is obviously like Dustin who befriends Dart in season 2, a literal Demogorgon in the making.)

The Fratellis interrogate Chunk until he reveals where the Goonies have gone, and begin pursuit. Chunk is left behind with Sloth, but befriends him. After Sloth frees both of them, Chunk calls the sheriff, and both follow the trail of the Fratellis. (This is very reminiscent of Hopper in season 1 who gets interrogated by Lab agents or Steve and Robin by the Russians.)

The Goonies evade several deadly booby traps along the tunnels, while staying ahead of the Fratellis. Finally, they reach the grotto where Willy's pirate ship, the Inferno, is anchored. (Will also has a ship, the rainbow ship he drew for Joyce, also Inferno literally means Hell just like what Hawkins has been called.)

The group discovers the ship is filled with treasure, and they start filling their pockets, but Mikey warns them not to take any on a set of scales in front of Willy, considering that to be their tribute to him. As they leave the ship, the assailants appear and strip them of their loot. They start to bind the Goonies and make them walk the plank, until Chunk arrives with Sloth and distracts the assailants long enough for the Goonies to jump overboard and swim to safety. (It's the opposite of the season 2 finale, where Dustin has to distract Dart so that the other could pass through the tunnels.)

The Fratellis proceed to grab all the treasure they can, including those on Willy's scales; this triggers another booby trap that causes the grotto to cave in. With Sloth's help, the Goonies and Fratellis barely escape.

The two groups emerge on Astoria's beach, where they reunite with the Goonies' families and the police. The Fratellis are arrested, but Chunk prevents Sloth from also being taken; he invites Sloth to live with him, which Sloth accepts. ("Unfortunately", Dart compared to Sloth probably died.)

As the kids describe their adventure to their parents, the Walshes' housekeeper, Rosalita, discovers that Mikey's marble bag is filled with gems he took from the ship and had not been seized by the Fratellis. Mikey's father triumphantly rips up the foreclosure papers, declaring they have enough money to negate the foreclosure. As the Goonies celebrate, they see the Inferno, having broken free of the grotto, sailing off on its own in the distance. (Could it be hinting at a possible happy ending for Stranger Things ?)

So Fratellis, is similar to fratello which means "brother, fellow, neighbor" which perhaps could be a reference to the Mindflayer who is kind of our neighbor since he is basically in the same places but in the Upside Down. The Mindflayer also has been paralleled to Billy and other abusive father figures. Billy who is the brother of Max. He has also been paralleled to Kali through his anger and him attacking people who hurted him or might hurt him. Could in itself The Mindflayer should be taken or seen as some sort of family figure ? Maybe him being always associated with Will The Wise especially in 2x04 or someone who has the name Will like Billy is a connection. The same Billy who also parallels Russians who just like the Fratellis have secret hideouts.

Though the Fratellis are more motivated by greed which fits Brenner, Lonnie (who tried to use his son's death to gain money.) or Russians most.

Now Willy, Willy is a captain. Maybe it could be hinting at the fact that Will has more importance to the story than we think. There's also Inferno, "Hell" which is Hawkins but also the name of the ship. And Will has a rainbow ship... Could Hawkins be the ship of Will where his adventures are taking place ?

As for the dance... well as you've seen upper in the post: it's the "Truffle Shuffle Dance". It's something that Chunk has to do before entering Mikey's house. It's similar to what Dustin do at the beginning of season 1 to the bullies when he makes his bones crack due to his medical condition, cleidocranial dysplasia.

As for where this gnome is located, it's in Weathertop where Cerebro is located which is fitting since Dustin has a lot of Goonies as inspiration for his character.

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Gnome #6: Elvis

"He's not dead!"

"Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), also known simply as Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines during a transformative era in race relations, led him to both great success and initial controversy." - Wikipedia.

It is a lot known that people in the 80's thought that Elvis Presley was still alive due to his status and the aura he had as a celebrity. However, no matter how appealing this myth may be, he died of an excessive usage of prescription drugs which reminds me of Nancy who said she thought Tom was on drugs when he fired her and Jonathan while he an the Flayed were drinking chemicals. He also died in 1977, the same year "Heroes" by David Bowie came out which is a song that was used two times when we thought a character died when he was actually alive which are Will and Hopper. Will and Hopper both have a lot of rock in their Spotify playlist.

Also, I personally think that Steve has kind of an Elvis Presley aura to him especially in season 1. After all, Steve has a nickname "King Steve" and Elvis Presley is often nicknamed "The King" and both were popular with girls.

Fun fact: Dacre Montgomery who plays Billy who literally becomes the new "King" of Hawkins will play in the biographical music drama "Elvis" about Elvis Presley where he will play a character called "Steve Binder".

Also actor David Harbour also got married with singer Lily Allen by Elvis in Las Vegas.

It's also found hidden behind bushes near the Public Library. Maybe indicating that Elvis is still out there in the world and hiding.

Which also may be a reference to Brenner who has a similar haircut but also about the novel "Suspicious Minds", a prequel of ST taking place in the Lab when Brenner was doing his sinister experiments which is the same title as one of the songs of Elvis. Like Elvis, Brenner is still out there, hiding in Hawkins.

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Gnome #7: Jack

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull gnome."

Again another reference to Shining. So what you are seeing here is a proverb, it means:  "It means that without time off from work, a person becomes both bored and boring."

In Shining, it represents Jack's slow descent into madness. But it could be a reference to Joyce, Jonathan and Nancy who all work their asses off and don't take a lot of time for themselves and so don't have the time to explore anything else than work which also cause for them not to be there when Will got kidnapped. It may also represent Jonathan's words to Nancy in season 1 where he "called out" the boring life she will have and that she will live like her parents so in this case the proverb becomes about societal norms.

Mike just like Jack is an aspiring writer, Mike just like other members of his family falls into these societal norms that are expected like work and overworking in this instance which makes them boring in the eyes of people like Jonathan. "No play" may also reference D&D which Mike started to ignore in season 3 and worried more pointless and superficial things.

Again, hope it doesn't foreshadow anything for these two characters.

This gnome is found in the Library which is fitting considering Jack wants to be a writer.

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Gnome #8: Flynn (Flynn Rider from "Tangled" (2010))

"Looks like he rides well."

Overall plot of Tangled (2010):

"The film tells the story of Rapunzel, a lost, young princess with magical long blonde hair who yearns to leave her secluded tower. Against her abusive foster mother's wishes who kidnappee her when she was young, she accepts the aid of an intruder to take her out into the world which she has never seen."

This story is literally what the boys was arguing about at the end of season 1.

1)The lost knight...

Flynn Rider is actually the son of a king and queen that were from a kingdom that got destroyed by a powerful opal. He was evacuated and placed in an orphanage. He made his reputation as thief.

So Mike and El both parallels this guy, well Mike is a palladin in D&D and he is the son of a wealthy family so he is basically a night. El however also lost her parents like him and has more attributes of a knight in season 1 than Mike.

Flynn is arrogant, which Mike can be a bit sometimes but the both of them can be extremely courageous and care a lot about the people they care about though they are not very strong, nor athletic. Maybe Flynn a bit more.

Also fun coincidence Flynn = Finn, the name of the actor who plays Mike. (almost the same name).

Both him and El run into each other in the woods. Just like Flynn who discover Rapunzel while trying to enter Rapunzel's tower but is knocked out by her who is none other than the...

2)The proud princess...

Well first Rapunzel = Eleven. Both of these girls have magical powers and are used by an abusive and evil parental figure who needs them for their own interest, Mother Gothel used the powers of Rapunzel to stay young forever (like an addiction, a drug) and Martin Brenner aka "Papa". They are both locked away somewhere. El in the lab and Rapunzel in the tower which they both seeked to escape out of. Both believed that these parental figures loved them while it was not true. El also has long blond hair in season 1 like Rapunzel. And both quickly form a relationship with a boy they just met. Both don't know who their real parents are and wants to find them. While Rapunzel has long blonde hair, El had a shaved head.

Also in season 2, El is locked in a cabin in the woods because of Hopper because he believe it is not safe out there which is exactly what Mother Gothel tells Rapunzel. Just like her El disobeys and seeks to discover who her true parents are.

Rapunzel seeks to know what are those floating lights that always appear on her birthday, it is actually her parents who are the king and queen of a kingdom not so far away that do that every year hoping one day she will come back to her. She is a "lost princess". It is very similar to Terry Ives who was communicating through the lights to El.

Rapunzel's power comes out of something that is also connected to something famous in ST.

3) Weird flowers in the cave...

Rapunzel's power come from a flower called "Sundrop flower". = Sunflower which is said by Terry Ives.

This flower can pretty much heal anything including mortal wounds. The Queen got pregnant with Rapunzel but was also terribly sick so she took this flower to heal herself and while doing so, Rapunzel got this ability.

This is very reminiscent of Terry Ives who was pregnant with El and took part in the MKUltra experiences that gave her these powers including certain drugs. She is also "ill" in a way as she is now stuck in a loop. At least from what we saw.

But Rapunzel also parallels another character.

Will Byers. Will could communicate through lights to his mother, just like the parents of Rapunzel and Terry Ives.

The weird flowers could be referencing the sort of vines that entered inside of him in the Upside Down which gave him his "now-memories".

Both had abusive parental figure that would lock them somewhere for whatever reason. (Lonnie with Will in his trunk.)

(Also Hopper may have tried to separate Mike and El but he wasn't like what a Lonnie or Brenner would have been. This is why yes, the situation in season 2 parallels but Hopper truly wished good for El while Brenner and Mother Gothel didn't care for any of these two.)

Same is for Lonnie, he doesn't care about Will.

Since Will is a cleric, both him and Rapunzel have the same time of power. Powers that El doesn't have:

To heal the sick and injured

To revive the dead

To work as a shield

Given this story, it may hint at the fact that Brenner and Lonnie may try to take El and Will for their own greed and purposes.

Since Rapunzel parallels both Will and El, you know what that means for Flynn who parallels Mike.

Flynn in the movie is stabbed by Mother Gothel and dies before cutting the hair of Rapunzel killing Mother Gothel in the process. Rapunzel mourns him and one of his tears heal him.

If Flynn parallels Mike, than something bad could happen to him. If Will does have powers and has feelings for Mike, a supposed death may reveal his powers.

And if he has the same powers as his cleric role, than he could heal those who get hurt or even bring the dead back to life.

If Lonnie sees Mike around Will, given he is homophobic. He may try to hurt him so that he doesn't go near Will again which could lead to him being in grave danger.

Of course all of that is just speculation.

This gnome was found on the parking lot of Starcourt where El decided to break up with Mike and we saw Will smiling in the background.

Also I don't know but... "Looks like he rides well", I mean there's certain undertones to that which are... I don't know how to process that but from what you've just read, Mike apparently rides well. I mean I have nothing against gay sex jokes but still...

Even if it's unintentional, it's how it'll sound on the internet.

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Gnome #9: David

"At 399, he's the oldest gnome around."

So this gnome was already in the first ST official mobile game. And this reminds me a lot of The Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit but also and of course; Dungeons & Dragons.

The World of David the Gnome, originally titled David, el Gnomo (also known as David, the Gnome), is a Spanish animated television series based on the children's book The Secret Book of Gnomes, by the Dutch author Wil Huygen and illustrator Rien Poortvliet. The series was originally created in Spain by BRB Internacional (who were also responsible for the Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds franchise (Like Dart in season 2 and Mike, Lucas and Dustin where very much like the Three Musketeers in season 1.) and other cartoons such as Bobobobs and Around the World with Willy Fog)

The series presents the gnomes as a kind species, of 15 centimetres (6 inches) of height, and between 250 and 300 grams (8 and 10 ounces) of weight depending on gnome body mass. According to their habitat, different types of gnomes are distinguished: the ones of the forest, the ones of the garden, the ones of the farm, the ones of the house, the ones of the dunes, those of Siberia (David = David Harbour = Hopper = Hopper is in Russia), and nomadic "gypsy" gnomes (commonly looked down upon by other gnomes). A gnome's lifespan is usually 400 years, though there is one example of a couple in the Balkans living 550 years.

Gnomes such as the main characters live in pairs in comfortable caves or holes under trees [kinda like Hobbits] (in their case in the company of a pair of mice and a cricket). Their diet is mostly vegetarian. They are helped by the animals of the forest (kinda like Radagast who is the password to Castle Byers who is located in the woods) when travelling long distances or when they need to arrive quickly at a specific location. Gnomes work in various ways to repair the damage inevitably caused by humans. They also have the power of telepathy and mind control. (kinda like El or the Mindflayer, or even Galadriel in The Lord Of The Rings.)

Their main enemies are the trolls, malevolent and clumsy creatures who always make trouble for the other inhabitants of the forest, as well as gnome poachers. They have supernatural powers that are really strong but they have a weakness, if the sunlight gets on them, they turn to stone.(could be referencing all the Upside Down creatures who don't like sunlight and everything hot.) [Also very much like the Hobbit.] Also one of the trolls was voiced by someone who had the name Henderson, like Dustin Henderson. I also think it references a comic where some bullies attack Will and Mike calls them trolls.

Here are the most important characters:

David is a gnome of the forest. David is 399 years old, making him the oldest gnome around (since gnomes live no more than 400 years exactly, except Franklin, the gnome from the west, who lived 550 years), although he possesses exceptional constitution. David is a doctor, and he uses his knowledge of many fields, such as hypnosis and acupuncture, to heal his patients, usually animals, such as his faithful friend Swift the fox, or other gnomes. David also befriends a bird that, when he whistles, immediately arrives to quickly transport him to wherever necessary. For longer trips, he sometimes travels in a basket attached to the neck of the bird. (It may be a reference to clerics who are known to heal their allies and travelling with birds reminds me of Gandald who sometimes has the help of Eagles in some stories.)

Paul is David's twin brother. Not only does Paul have a normal moustache in contrast to David's handlebar moustache but his jumper is a darker shade of blue, he has a bigger nose, his gnome hat is dark blue whereas David's is red, and his trousers and boots are an inverse of David's: David's trousers are brown and his boots are beige, while Paul wears beige trousers and dark boots. (Of course this is a reference to Will and El who have been compared a lot of times throughout the show and who a lot of people in the fandom consider them siblings and twins, Will has a lot of Red in his wardrobe while El has a lot of blue.)

This gnome was found in a secret Russian base underground in Weathertop where Dustin discovers the Russian transmission coming from their main base located under the mall like a cave (like where gnome lives.). There are also gnomes in Siberia and having the name David, the name of Hopper's actor creates a connection since right now Hopper is in Russia. It may also be a nod to the group of kids who are all little gnomes running around the forest with their magical powers.

_____________________________

Gnome #10: Baskin

"Robin's favorite gnome."

Now this is a funny one.

This is a reference to the famous Baskin-Robbins which is a chain of ice cream restaurants that did special ice creams for Season 3 because of Scoops Ahoy. It is Robin's favorite gnome because they literally share the same name.

Baskin could also be a reference to the film of the same name where Five police officers, Remzi, Arda, Yavuz, Apo, and Seyfi, are dining at a restaurant, during which they have a discussion. Their meal is interrupted when they receive a distress call from Inceagac, a town known for being the focus of strange rumors. During the trip Seyfi has a terrifying vision of a bloody figure and accidentally drives their van into the water. Stranded, the officers eventually make their way to Inceagac, where they find themselves in an abandoned building (back in the Ottoman days, this used to be a police station), captured by cult members and are subjected to a number of increasingly bizarre and surreal scenarios. In the end, they realize they have all inadvertently wandered into Hell.

It has alot of similiraties with stories like Silent Hills or Hellraiser, two stories that inspired Stranger Things especially Hellraiser for Stranger Things 4. And it fully embraces the satanic imagery and themes which is something we are going to see with the satanic panic and also has the theme of time, dreams and visions.

We'll see how much season 4 decides to use those sort of elements in the show.

Well this gnome is easy to find. It's in the Scoops Ahoy parlor next to Robin. USS Butterscotch seems to be very popular there

_____________________________

Gnomes 11 - 20 coming soon.

[tales-unique]

MEMORIES OF THE WEST IV

Chapter 4

The first thing that comes to mind when you finally reach Saint Denis is noise. God, you couldn’t believe just how much bustle went on there until you were brought out of it, thrust into the relative peace of the open west. It’s like a constant din in your ear, a gnat humming; irritating. “Take a left here, it ain’t far.” You point down a cobbled street lined with freshly tended hedges and flowers, guiding Arthur easily through the traffic towards the residences. It was nothing like the sprawling farmstead your daddy once owned, but William never could stand the idea of living in the sticks.

Arthur slows the pace, sizing up the large building that comes into view. It's a large block of apartments, he assumes, for the wealthy of Saint Denis. He doesn't like how everyone is on top of one another. No freedom, no space. “So, this brother of yours, what’s he like?” Arthur asks, taking his time down the street. “Besides a sniveling, whiny, mommas boy?” You shrug, “nothing too bad, I guess. I mean, he’s always wanted to be something , y’know? More than the son of a horse breeder. And we had money, but the way he gambled it you’d think it was never ending!” It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth to know that he renounced everything that was honest and hard-working and good about your family in favour of fanciful facades and debt-inducing high-rise living. Not that you'd call this kind of life a rich one. "Daddy's family came over from France a while back and they made their money in coal," you explain, "but he always liked horses and decided to invest in stables and breeding. And he always made sure to be in the thick of it, working with his men." The memories are bittersweet, but you always look back on them fondly. "Sounds like he was a decent man," Arthur hums. You laugh softly and nod. "Yeah. He was," you sigh, frowning, "I just wished it could have stayed like that. Us all out there together, raising horses, living a simple life. We were happy." Arthur knows that feeling all too well and feels a pang of sympathy for you. You don't belong there any more than he does, like a boat cast among endless waves you fight just to break free of the tide and go back to what you know best. "But then momma died, daddy followed her and William," you scowl, "well he sold every last bit of that life to come here !" Arthur is quiet, your anger radiates in harsh waves and he'd rather not fan the fire further. “Well, here we are,” you murmur, throat tight with nerves, “let's go.” Arthur hitches his horse up outside the iron fence and helps you down from the saddle, sharing a look with you before you brush yourself down and hold your head up high. You lead the way inside, beckoning Arthur towards a set of stairs. He notes how you pointedly avoid the front desk and the rakish-looking man with round glasses that sits behind it. He doesn’t ask, instead focusing on the grandeur as you ascend to your floor. The walls are a delicate pastel blue, pristine, with soft white curtains framing each of the high windows. Potted plants decorate the hallways as well as tasteful paintings dotting the walls. Everything is so neat and orderly, nothing at all like the chaotic mismatch of the camp. Arthur's admiration slows his walk, but you find it amusing as you stop and watch him. He catches your slowly spreading smile when his eyes sweep the room and quickly coughs, tipping his hat down to cover his embarrassment as he strides over to you. "C'mon, let's get this over with," he grunts as he passes you, ignoring you smirking as you follow. You take a deep breath when you come to stand in front of a white door that isn't dissimilar to the others in the corridor and Arthur notices a look of panic flit across your face. You’re uncomfortable but it only stops you for a moment before you throw open the door and stride in with the air of a woman much above your station. The interior of the room shares a similar grandeur to the rest of the building, only this time the colour palette is a little more vibrant. Navy blue, saffron, and beige. It’s a little off-putting for Arthur, but he finds that you suit it rather well. There’s calm opera playing from a gramophone in the corner, set atop a polished wood table. Two men sit on comfortable looking loungers watching a third man, who had been pacing upon a floral-patterned rug, had been ranting. All three quickly look towards you and Arthur as you enter, staring at you with wide eyes. “Kitty?” The third asks in disbelief, mouth ajar, and Arthur sees you stiffen as he rushes to you, gathering you up in a tight hug. Your brother William, Arthur presumes. “William,” you sigh, “please don’t call me that,” you snap,

but find yourself melting slowly into the embrace despite your best intentions. You’re incredibly angry at him but even you aren’t made of stone. His dishevelled appearance and red-rimmed eyes betray his worry and you know in your heart that he has been wild with fear while you were missing. “It’s you, i-it really is you!” William laughs, eyes shining. He doesn’t even regard Arthur standing solemnly by the door, silent as the grave. “It is,” you reply, hugging him tightly for a brief moment before pulling back, looking at Arthur over your shoulder, “thanks to some new friends I made.” Arthur tips his hat to your brother, who blinks owlishly at the burly cowboy he has only now noticed is standing in his living room. The other men stare in silence, but narrow their eyes slightly in disgust at such a commoner being allowed in their presence. You purposely ignore them. “Oh,” William swallows, clearing his throat. He steps up to Arthur, offering his hand to shake. “I must thank you for rescuing my sister,” he smiles, but the expression is awkward. “Oh, uh,” Arthur tentatively takes his hand to shake, “you’re welcome mister but it wasn’t me that saved her. My friends Charles and Javier are the ones who did that, I’m just here to bring her home safe.” Skeptical of Arthur's tale, William looks at you for clarification but before he can speak one of the men from the lounger stands up and interjects. “Then where are these men that saved you, darling?” Comes the biting remark. “Why didn’t they bring you home?” Jebediah Kramer, in all his obnoxious glory. He’s an older man, with thin, graying blond hair that is combed over in a futile attempt to hide his hair loss and piercing blue eyes that seem to suck the life out of anyone unlucky enough to be caught under his gaze. The blue dandy suit he wears likely costs more than should be spent on clothes and his shoes are shined so bright they’re blinding. William stumbles over his words, looking to you for aid. He never was a good talker but it’s clear from the way that your bristling where you stand nothing good will come out of your mouth if you speak either. “They were hurt in the shoot out,” Arthur lies smoothly, noticing how all eyes turn to him with varying degrees of shock, “yeah, a band of outlaws got hold of Miss DuBois and they happened by since it's a well known spot for outlaws.” It's hard to hide the impressed smile at Arthur's quick thinking, knowing that you'll ruin the ruse if you slip up. Normally you'd be on edge around a man who can lie so easily but you can forgive it this time, it serves a purpose after all. "I'd be dead if not for them, Jebediah," you add, clasping your hands above your chest in a display of feminine meekness, all misty-eyed, "I was so scared!" The men share looks but William comes to your side once more, wrapping a comforting arm around your shoulders, ushering you to the couch. He coos about how awful it must have been and how they must reward these fine men for their heroic deeds, all while Jebediah stares Arthur down. This is going to be more difficult than either of you first thought.

[twinkleallnight]

Marshmallow

(Part-4) Frozen thoughts

Book: The Royal Romance

Pairing: Liam x MC, Drake x ??

For previous chapters: catch up here

Thank you @bbrandy2002 for pre reading.

Tags: @ao719 @bbrandy2002 @choiceskatie @drakewalker04 @gkittylove99 @hopefulmoonobject @jovialyouthmusic @mrswalkers-blog @mom2000aggie @speedyoperarascalparty @texaskitten30 @no-one-u-know

Frozen thoughts---

There is no going back. I have lost Livy. I am listless as I lumber around the lawns when my phone buzzes. It is Liam. I take the call.

“Yes Liam?”

“Hey, can u distract the Big B?”, he says in a hushed tone over the phone. He is referring to Bastein, the head guard.

“Where are you?”

“In my room. And he is right outside my door. Can you please come over?” he whispers.

“ On my way.”

Bastein, chief of guards, holds a special place in our lives. He was my father’s close friend for most of his life though half his age. But after losing my father, he has been that fatherly figure in my life. Since king Constantine keeps busy in stately affairs, Bastein has been there for Liam and Leo too. As much as he loves us all he makes sure to keep all of his brats--us--in check. Bastein has taken care of the former prince Leo, who had a very risqué lifestyle and always found Liam as very easy one to deal with.

Liam has always been the golden boy. The most well-mannered, obedient and disciplined of us all. He still agrees with Bastein's suggestions. What surprises me is why Liam needs to get rid of him? I sprint towards his room and I am greeted by Bastein’s stiff figure standing in front of Liam’s door. He nods and allows me to enter.

As soon as I see Liam, all the memories from few hours back, come rushing in. He has a mischievous smile on his face, which fades when our eyes meet.

“What’s wrong?”, he voices his concern. I sit down on the couch with a heavy heart, placing my head down in my hands. “Is this the same thing that was bothering you earlier at the lawn party too.” I nod. He sits besides me, a hand on my shoulder. “ Can I help?”

“Yes, it’s Livy.” I gather myself and fill him with all the details.

He is remorseful about what happened. When I finish, he speaks,“ I am sorry. It’s my fault. I should have at least called her. But,” he claps on my shoulder, “ I will make this right. I will make it up to her. Please relax. I promise you.” I gradually calm down after his persistence.

“How are things coming along with the social season and the suitors?”, I ask after some time. I see the playful smile return on his face.

“ Yes, about that...We need to be somewhere right now if you can help me.” He grins.

A look at my wristwatch and it dawns on me, “Oh! I am sorry! I totally forgot. Riley’s Cronut sneak out!”

“Sshhh! Quiet! That man out there has keen ears” Liam says in a muted tone.

“ Okay! Okay!”, I say softly. “ So what’s the plan?”

“ If I move out from the main door, he will surely follow me.”

“So, where do you want to make a getaway from?” I ask him, puzzled.

“From the window?” He looks at me, quite unsure.

“Crown prince of Cordonia wants to sneak out through a window to be with his girlfriend,” I chuckle.

“Oh yes, go on and mock me. Yes, I want... no, I will sneak out to be with her. Now stop giggling like a lass and come over here and help me! Once I am out of here, you walk out of the main door, pretending you are leaving me back in the room so that Bastein doesn’t suspect anything.”

“Sounds good.”

I help him out the window. He lands on the bush down with a thud and an ah and a ooh! I control my laughter and turn back to get out. I make small talk with Bastein appearing normal and then head out to the lawns. Riley, Max and Hana are all busy plucking thorns from all over Liam’s clothes.

“You good there?” I ask, amused.

“Yes, except that I landed on a rose bush full of thorns!” He stares at me.

“ Well, you need to pay the price to sneak out.”

After the clean-up, we walk to Maxwell's SUV and hop in. I take the driver's seat while Liam sits with Riley in the back seat and Hana on Riley’s other side. We get down at a pastry shop near the beach.

Liam takes the ladies to a table while I follow Max to place our orders. As we carry our food to the table, Max makes his signature dance move with a shout-out, “Cronuts here we come!” The girls laugh and we all plunge into the delicacy. Hana, Max and Liam try them for the first time so all the comments start pouring in after the first bite.

“Do you know the recipe, Riley?” asks Hana in her smooth voice. I notice she has a soft and low tone even when we are out of court. I feel like asking her if she always speaks so softly.

“Ahaan!” nods Riley, her mouth full. She is just the opposite of Hana with her heavy commanding voice.

“Please do share with me.” Hana requests politely.

Liam perks up,“ Thank you, that means I don’t have to be punctured with thorns anymore for a sneak out.”

“Oh, Liam, I’m so sorry. I put you through this.” Riley apologizes since it was her mastermind plan to do all of this.

“Riley, I don’t mind the effort if the result is so scrumptious, not to forget the company of my friends.” Liam assures her.

Friends--with that word, I lose track of the conversation. Not all friends, I feel. Livy's forlorn face floats in front of my eyes. I start missing her again.

Absent-minded, I follow the group as they walk out of the shop.

“Bastein, We...I… How did you know?” Liam stutters. I come out of my trance and see Bastein standing tall, right at the exit point.

Riley and Hana giggle, looking at Liam fumble with his words.

“Sir, I have had the honour to train at the hands of your elder brother. I hope you can grant me that much. Liam snickers at the mention of Leo. “The king awaits in his study to talk to you about some urgent matter.”

Liam returns to his stoic self. “ Let’s go back,” he says and turns to the ladies, “ Thank you so much for this little outing. I apologise I will have to cut this short. I will see you tomorrow.”

“Max, I trust you will drive the ladies back to the palace safely. Drake, you may walk lady Hana to her quarters from there.” Liam assigns us the roles and I glare at him. He knows well I don't do well with strangers, especially a lady! I could have escorted Riley; I know her a little but Hana…! I have hardly spoken a sentence or two in these two meetings.

To worsen the situation further, Riley insists on taking the front seat and I have to share the back seat with Hana. We drive down to the palace. While I get out to walk Hana to her quarters, Riley accompanies Max to the parking lot. As he starts the SUV,Riley shrieks, “Full speed ahead!" Hana and I both giggle, then walk away.

“She is a live wire”, Hana says.

“Yeah, may be the right balance for Liam,”

I stop in my tracks realising my remark must have hurt Hana. She is a contender for the same position, after all. “I am sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

Hana kept treading on, “ You don’t need to apologize for something that is obvious. I can sense the heat between them. And believe me, I am perfectly fine with it.”

She sets me back on heel by saying that. “But you are officially a suitor in this social season. How is it that it doesn’t matter to you at all?”

“Grabbing the crown to be a future queen is not the only purpose for some of us. In fact, even Riley is not a crown chaser. Some people live for love!”

“Oh, you mean you have already found someone in your life.” I make my presumption.

“No. There isn’t anyone yet. But when it happens, I wish it to be as strong as what Liam and Riley share. Until then, I aim to prove my worth at working with the state affairs.”

“I understand. The royal court is not a piece of cake and Liam surely needs to build a fresh set of representatives who serve the youth.”

She smiles and turns with a twinkle in her eyes. “Thank you for walking me down. It was fascinating talking to you.” I realise we have reached her room.

“Pleasure is mine, Lady Hana. Hope to see you again soon.” I curtsy and turn on my heels.

My steps get sluggish as I cross Livy's chambers. ‘Is she awake? Is she listening? She said she can make out my footsteps. Should I wait to see if she opens the door and comes back?’ The whirlwind of thoughts push me slowly to my room and I hit the sack without changing my clothes. I drift into a deep slumber without effort, tired of the day’s events.

---------

Morning comes with a new hope. We are travelling to Lythikos today. The snowy north duchy of Cordonia that belongs to Duchess Olivia Nevrakis.

There is much to do before I leave. I quickly pack my bags and then make a run to the stables, instruct my assisting vet for things to be done in my absence. I rush back to my room, load my truck and drive safely to catch up right behind Max's limo. Riley is with him in there.

Liam and Livy had planned an early morning drive as she is the host and I am hoping that they have got time to talk to each other and smooth out the creases.

I can feel the chill just by the sight of the snow after almost an hour-long drive. Max and Riley have already moved inside the cosy chateau. I pull on my jacket before getting out. As I drag my bags up the entrance, I hear her. 'The Guanaco call', I always teased Livy, saying her sharp laughter sounds just like the lama and she hits back saying 'what better comparison can I expect from an animal doc?’

I spin to find her ice skating with Liam at the frozen lake. She is beaming, radiant and glowing again. I feel a surge of fresh energy watching her.

But I am staggered, I stand there, I don’t know for how long, just with my frozen thoughts.

[snicketstrange]

Sugar Bowls theory

This is part 9 of the Strange Interpretation of Jean Lúcio from Brazil

To understand this text, it is necessary to read some my previous texts.

 Strange interpretation of Jean Lúcio about ASOUE — Lemony Snicket's Narration from a Culturally...

There are two sugar bowls that are being sought after by Lemony Snicket and his supporters.

In the letter in chapter 10 of TSS, Lemony wrote:

“I have at last learned the whereabouts of the evidence that will exonerate me, a phrase which here means "prove to the authorities that it is Count Olaf, and not me, who has started so many fires." Your suggestion, so many years ago at that picnic, that a tea set would be a handy place to hide anything important and small in the event of a dark day, has turned out to be correct.”

I believe there are already many theories evidencing that the contents of the sugar bowl is some kind of audio record. And I can say that I fully agree that the sugar bowl that Lemony was looking for many years after the main events certainly contained some kind of media that supports information, and that an audio record is most likely.

Besides, when Mr. Helquist was at Beatrice's house while the fire was being fought, he noticed that there was an incomplete set of tea among the wreckage.

Chapter 11 TUA - “I tried to site for a moment and draw some of the objects that lay in rubble - a glass bottle, portions of a grand piano, a few charred pieces of green wood, he remains of a tea set.”

Probably what was missing was exactly a sugar bowl. This was not the sugar bowl that belonged to Esmé. Beatrice stole from Esmé only the sugar bowl, not the whole tea set. Mr. Helquist probably saw the whole set of tea, except a sugar bowl.

When Lemony wrote the letter, he believed the record would show that it was Count Olaf who set off the fires. But of course, the record will show the truth, whatever it is. Whether it was Count Olaf or someone else, Lemony only found out when that record was available. In another text I will write what I believe that Lemony discovered when he listened to the recording. But now I must answer another question: What was in the sugar bowl that belonged to Esmé?

The Sugar Bowl that belonged to Esmé did not contain a recording. All the evidence indicates that the contents of this sugar bowl granted the person who carried the sugar bowl some kind of power. A power that could be used for evil.

Kit explained it in TPP chapter 2:

“The sugar bowl is on its way to the hotel even as we speak, and I'd hate to think what would happen if our enemies got ahold of it. I can't imagine anything worse, except perhaps if our enemies somehow got ahold of the Medusoid Mycelium."

 Secondly, the content of the sugar bowl is somewhat shameful for the "noble" side of VFD. It is something regarded as a secret. It is something as shameful as the fact that it was the "noble" side of VFD that grew the MM fungus.

But why is this shameful? Because it is a proof of the hypocrisy of the "noble" side of VFD. In the case of MM fungus, it is a great hypocrisy that an organization that preaches peace at the same time develops a biological weapon of mass destruction.

Windershins explained in TGG, chapter 4:

“that sonar detector is like our cave wall, showing us the shape of things much more powerful and terrifying." "… "I don't want you to understand, … That's why I haven't told you why the sugar bowl is so very crucial. There are secrets in this world too terrible for young people to know, even as those secrets get closer and closer.”

In fact, just knowing the contents of the sugar bowl can be dangerous for a young member of the noble party of VFD. Winddershins explained:

TGG chapter 6: "It's not the sugar bowl, it's what's inside it." Aye! I've already said too much!There are secrets in this world too terrible for young people to know! Just think – if you knew about the sugar bowl and you somehow fell into Count Olaf's clutches, there's no telling what he'd do! Aye!"

Probably, if a young man or woman discovered the sugar bowl and then fell into Count Olaf's clutches, this young man or woman could come to support Olaf because he would be convinced that the "noble" side of VFD is not at all noble. Older people would already understand how the world works, and so they could understand that sometimes noble people need to get their hands dirty for a greater good.

Now that we know there were two sugar bowls, we need to think, how did they both get to the hotel? One of the sugar bowls you should know has arrived by means of crows. This sugar bowl probably fell into the pond in front of the hotel when one of the crows was struck by a harpoon. This sugar bowl stayed in the secret library for many, many years until Lemony came to the hotel between the time he was writing TGG and TPP. But how did the Esmé sugar bowl come to the hotel? Where did this sugar bowl come from and where did it go?

The TSS book shows that the sugar bowl was in the VFD HQ. But two volunteers threw the sugar bowl out the window, and left a message about the object inside the refrigerator.

Who was the recipient of the message? JS. What is the content of the message?

"JS, there will be a gathering on Thursday. There is a message for you on the final quatrain of the eleventh stanza of" The Garden of Proserpine, "by Algernon Charles Swinburne." A piece of paper that contained the part of the poem lay nearby: "That no life lives forever; That dead men rise up never; That even the weariest river Winds somewhere safe to sea." On the same paper was written Sugar bowl.

Lemony explained what the last part of the poem meant:

"Eventually, however, it became clear that" the weariest river "refers to the Stricken Stream, which indeed seemed to carry away from the ashes from the destruction of VFD headquarters, and that" winds somewhere safe to sea "refers to the last safe place where all the volunteers, including Quigley Quagmire, could gather. "

Thus, the secret message indicated to JS that the sugar bowl had been launched in the Stricken Stream. And of course, anyone who knows the water cycle, would deduce that the sugar bowl would end up somewhere in the sea.

You must remember, that while Klaus was at Queequeg, he was able to calculate accurately that the sugar bowl went into the GG. That's where things get interesting. After Klaus passed the information to Windershins, Klaus, Violet, Sunny and Fiona slept. Several hours passed. (TGG chapter 5). Finally the submarine arrived at Gorgonian Grotto, but could not advance much inside the GG. Winddershinhs explained:

"the cave got narrower and narrower as we maneuvered further and further inside ... The entrance was the wide end of the cone,

but now it's too narrow for the submarine to travel. If we want to we will have to use something smaller ...

Periscope? "Sunny asked." No, "Captain Widdershins replied." A child. "

This means that a person of tall stature would not be able to walk in the narrowest part of GG. Winddershins was of tall stature, and so he could not go get the sugar bowl. He had to send the teens and sunny to get the sugar bowl. However, this group of young people searched for a long time and did not find the sugar bowl there in GG. Why not? There was one more person in GG that day. Notice what is written in TGG chapter 6:

"They had gazed upward and seen the sharp angles of various vertical flame diversions and other secret passageways Once again, she was led to the marine research center and rhetorical advice service, or even spotted the person who was using one of the passageways now, and probably for the last time, as she made her difficult and dark way toward the Queequeg. instead, all the children could see through their small circular windows was darkness. "

Thus, a person passed in the dark by the young group. They were going to GG. But this woman went down the secret tunnels that linked AA to GG. She certainly found the sugar bowl, and headed toward the Queequeg. She passed the Baudelaires and Fiona in the darkness and made her way to the Queequeg. This woman convinced Winddershins and Phill to leave Queequeg.

It was probably Windershins himself who sent the telegram to this woman, informing her that the sugar bowl was in GG. He must have kept this telegram while the children were asleep. The mysterious woman went down the secret tunnel, using this tunnel for the last time according to Lemony, and went to the submarine.

Lemony wrote the following in Chapter 13 of TGG:

“In the final analysis...Captain Widdershins was wrong about a great many things... He was wrong to abandon the Queequeg, no matter what He heard from the woman who came to fetch him.”

When the children returned from GG to Queequeg, the submarine had not been captured by Carmelita submarine. However, Phil and Widdershins had already disappeared.

Chapter 8 of TGG describes:

The Baudelaire orphans knew that something was wrong the moment they arrived at the submarine, knocked on the metal hatch, and heard no answer from the captain inside... After knocking for several minutes, the worried children had to open the hatch by themselves, a difficult task in the dark, and enter the passageway, quickly closing the hatch behind them... The Baudelaires looked around the room, but it seemed as empty and lonely as the grotto. Without the enormous presence of Captain Widdershins – "enormous presence" is a phrase which here means "large physical size, combined with a vibrant personality and loud voice" – the Main Hall seemed utterly deserted. Fiona took a step toward the door to the kitchen, but then stopped and looked at the wooden table. "Their helmets are gone," she said. "Both Phil and my stepfather were keeping their diving helmets on the table, in case of an emergency." She ran her hand along the table, as if she could make the helmets reappear. "They're gone," she said. "They've left the Queequeg."

The children began to wonder why Widdershins and Phil left the Queequeg. But what they should ask themselves is this: "Where were Winddershins and Phil gone?" Dear reader, let us reason together. We know that the Queequeg was at the bottom of the ocean. We know there were three people in the Queequeg: Winddershins, Phil, and a mysterious, short-stature woman. Winddershins did not go up to AA through secret tunnels because according to Lemony, the last time the tunnels were used was when the mysterious woman went down one of the tunnels and went to the GG and from there to the Queequeg. Besides, Windershins was too tall. They did not go to the Carmelita because this submarine had not yet captured the Quequeeg yet. They wore their wetsuits to leave the Queequeg. Did they decide to swim from the bottom of the ocean to the shore? That would not be possible. Even the Queequeg, which was a motorized submarine, took about a day or two for the Queequeg to reach the coast. And when the Queequeg got there, Kit said she was going to meet Winddershins who had already reached the coast.

My theory is this:

The contents of the sugar bowl that belonged to Esmé was a small musical instrument (probably a whistle) capable of controlling the Great Unknown. The short woman picked up the sugar bowl at GG, swam to the submarine, and persuaded Phil and Winddershins to leave the Queequeg in the mouth of the Great Unknown. (I believe the Great Unknown is a very large and very fast marine beast).

 You must remember that the Sinister Duet use whistles to control their eagles. This is evidence that many ferocious VFD-related animals can be controlled by sounds. You should also remember that the Sinister Duet uses the eagles as a means of transportation. Similarly, by means of a whistle, the Great Unknown can be controlled to transport people. Of course, it can also be invoked to kill people, and even destroy submarines. It is a kind of weapon. This fits perfectly with the fact that whoever owns the sugar bowl will have great power. And the ability to control well-trained fierce animals is one of the issues raised because of the VFD Great Schism. As the Sinister Duet said in TSS chapter 13:

"Look at these creatures!" cried the woman with hair but no beard. "When the schism occurred, you may have won the carrier crows, volunteers, and you may have won the trained reptiles... You may have the carrier crows, but we have the two most powerful mammals in the world to do our bidding – the lions and eagles!"

The more you think about this theory, the more it makes sense. For example, in TPP chapter 10, there is the scene of the mysterious taxi driver. Notice what Lemony wrote:

"I do know who the man was, and I do know where he went afterward, and I do know the name of the woman who was hiding in the trunk, and the type of musical instrument that was laid carefully in the back seat, and the ingredients of the sandwich tucked into the glove compartment, and even the small item that sat on the passenger seat, still damp from its hiding place."

The woman hiding in the trunk, must be the same mysterious Queequeg woman. The small item should be the sugar bowl that belonged to Esmé. This sugar bowl was taken to the hotel by this mysterious woman. And the musical instrument that was carefully placed on the back bench was the contents of the sugar bowl: a whistle, able to control The Great Unknown. (You can search, whistles are musical instruments).

There are more interesting evidences.

Winddershins made it appear that there was a connection between the sugar bowl and the Great Unknown in TGG, when GU first appeared on the radar. Recalling the words of him that I have already quoted in this text (TGG chap. 4):

"What was that third shape?" Violet asked. The captain shook his head again. "Something very bad," he said. "Even worse than Olaf, probably. I told you Baudelaires that there is evil you can not even imagine."

"We do not have to imagine it," Klaus said. "We saw it on the screen."

"That screen is nothing," the captain said. "It's just a piece of

equipment, aye? There was a philosopher who said that all of life is just shadows. He said that people were just sitting in the basement, watching shadows on the cave wall. Aye - shadows of something much bigger and grander than themselves. Well, that sonar detector is like our cave wall, showing us the shape of things much more powerful and terrifying. "

"I do not understand," Fiona said.

"I do not want you to understand," the captain said, putting his arm around her "That's why I have not told you why the sugar bowl is so crucial. There are secrets in this world too terrible for young people to know, even those secrets get closer and closer.

After that, at the end of TGG, after the Carmelita capture Queequeg, look what happened:

Chapter 13:

“The screen looked like a piece of graph paper, lit up in green light, and at the center were both a glowing letter Q, representing the Queequeg, and a glowing eye, representing the terrible octopus submarine that had devoured them. But at the top of the screen was another shape - one they had almost forgotten about. It was a long curved tube, with a small circle at the end of it, slithering slowly down the screen like a snake, or an enormous question mark, or some terrible evil the children could not even imagine.

"What's that cakesniffing shape?" asked Carmelita Spats. "It looks like a big comma."

"Shh!" Count Olaf hissed, putting his filthy hand over Carmelita's mouth. "Silence, everyone!"

"We have to get out of here," Esmé murmured. "This octopus is no match for that thing."

"You're right," Olaf muttered. "Esmé, go whip our rowers so they'll go faster! Hooky, store those uniforms! Triangle Eyes, take the orphans to the brig!"

"What about me?" Carmelita asked. "I'm the cutest, so I should get to something."

"I guess you'd better come with me," the count said wearily. "But no tap-dancing! We do not want to show up on their sonar!"

"Ta ta, cakesniffers!" Carmelita said, waving her pink wand at the three siblings.

"You're so stylish, darling," Esmé said. "It's like I always say: You can not be too rich or too in!"

The two wicked females jumped through the broken porthole and out of the Queequeg, followed by the hook-handed man, who gave the Baudelaires an awkward wave.”

 According to my theory, the GU was around this point because Beatrice, Bill and Windershins had invoked T GU using the musical instrument (probably a whistle).

Olaf refers to the sonar that would be used by "them." This sonar should be a bio sonar, used by some animals for echolocation. Olaf uses the plural "their," because Olaf knows there is more than one animal that has the same shape. Although only one of them, I think, is trained by Lemony and his associates (Or Hangfire many years before).

It is interesting that Olaf and Esmé know that The GU has the ability to listen to low amplitude sounds. Some marine animals like dolphins and whales have bio sonar. Such animals need a good ear. In addition, the name given to the animal was probably Bombinating Beast. This means that the animal makes a sound while hunting. This sound can be used for echolocation

 You must remember the scene where Kit comes to the beach. She told what happened:

TE chapter 13:

"We made a desperate attempt to repair the Queequeg and reach the Quagmires as their aerial battle continued, and arrived just in time to see the balloons of the self-sustaining hot air mobile home pop under the cruel beaks of the escaping eagles. They tumbled down to the surface of the sea, and crashed into the Queequeg. In moments we were all castaways, treading water in the midst of all the items that survived the wreck."... "What happened next?" "I don't know," Kit admitted. "From the depths of the sea a mysterious figute approached–almost like a question mark, rising out of the water." "We saw that on a radar screen," Violet remembered. "Captain Widdershins refused to tell us what it was."My brother used to call it 'The Great Unknown,... I was terrified, Baudelaires. Quickly I fashioned a Vaporetto of Favorite Detritus, as I'd been trained to do." ... I gathered all the books in reach that I enjoyed, tossing the boring ones into the sea, but everyone else wanted to take their chances with the great unknown. I begged the others to climb aboard as the question mark approached, but only Ink managed to reach me. The others ... " Her voice trailed off, and for a moment Kit did nothing but wheeze. "In an instant they were gone–either swallowed up or rescued by that mysterious thing." "You don't know what happened to them?" Klaus asked. Kit shook her head. "All I heard," she said, "was one of the Quagmires calling Violet's name." Sunny looked into the face of the distraught woman. "Quigley," the youngest Baudelaire could not help asking "or Duncan?" "I don't know," Kit said again.

Kit saw the Great Unknown, and she knew exactly what the Great Unknown was. Why did Kit wonder whether the others had been killed or not by the GU? Her doubt was whether the sugar bowl was in the hands of noble people or cruel people. Or if the GU was acting on his own, without any control. If the sugar bowl was not in the hands of noble people, death was certain. Why did Winddershins, who had shown fear in TGG of GU, now preferred to go to the GU despite Kit's insistence on him and the others fleeing? Winddershins knew that the ferocious beast was being controlled through the contents of the sugar bowl. He knew that the mysterious woman was inside the beast's mouth, and that the beast was there to save them.

Why did one of the Quaqmires shout out the name "Violet" when he was about to enter the GU? For when the beast opened its mouth, he saw a woman in the beast's mouth. A woman of short stature. A woman whose physical appearance was similar to Violet. So he found it very strange, and said "Violet?" But it was not Violet. She was just a woman very much like her ...

Beatrice