#trysnora

[spadesofgrass]

resting suspicious faces

[spadesofgrass]

The Proposal but M's version ~ Trystan x Nora

Basically what I think would have happened from Nora's pov. This kind of started as a head canon thing but now it's a weird drabble lmao.

WC: 800 / gen.

Nora says no. It's almost too easy to get the words out of her mouth. She thinks it's because she's far too gone. The helpless cruelty.

Trystan almost anticipates it. Their wild goose chase after Bird is almost anticlimactic. The ring now sits on a coffee table in the lavish balcony. It feels out of place.

Nora asks if this is what they want. If they're sure. Trystan thinks yes. He doesn't know how to answer it besides telling her he feels good about it. They've known each other for a while, but it feels like years have passed by.

Trystan asks if this is what Nora wants.

She doesn't know. Her thoughts play around what happened a few hours ago. Mafalda giving her blessings, Ruby and Luke insisting they would make such a cute couple, that sure it hasn't been that long but isn't that what romance really is all about? A fairytale wedding to plan, stolen moments to share, vows, a lifetime together.

She thinks there's a hidden plot. She's never been too keen on putting a label on what they have. Maybe if she was told marriage was the right decision, she'll settle down. Maybe she won't even think about avenging her father's death. Maybe she won't have to. She has a new purpose now. A rusted old weapon forged into a beautiful ring sitting right in front of her.

Trystan might get over his own fears too. After all, a wedding gave them something to look forward to. She asks Trystan again if this is what he's choosing, now and forever. Trystan says it doesn't matter what they think, it's Nora's choice. He's almost disheartened. It isn't fair, she thinks. It isn't fair for anyone.

She asks them if they've ever considered the possibility of Nora dying. Trystan thinks it's a grim thought - if that's the case, then she should consider them dying too. Nonsensical. They're perfect, they're harmonious. Marriage will do them good.

Nora says it's rude to say no. Trystan says he can take it. As long as they're both safe and full and content.

But he can't. He'll have to wear the ring himself - something he'd meticulously chosen for her. It's wrong. It's unfair. It's cold and cruel. It's against everything.

Perhaps a compromise. Trystan must come to an understanding that there is a chance Nora might die or worse, get consumed. They don't understand the nuances, but he's fought for his family, spat at their feet, taken everything from them, losing himself - he gets it. He doesn't get it, but there seems to be something. Is it fear? Concern? Shock? It's unreadable.

Trystan tells her to keep the ring. It doesn't matter if she wants to wear it or not, it's hers and she can do whatever she wants with it. Nora tells him they'll go through with the wedding. Anything is better than nothing. Trystan counters, saying there's no point. Perhaps he was carried away with a wedding he'd fantasized about for a long time. To Juliana. A wedding they should have had. It's wrong to rush.

But keep the ring. Please. At least, as a gift.

What do we ever tell the others? At least let's have a wedding. A celebration.

You think too much of yourself. Maybe there's a chance you won't… I don't know. You're getting too ahead of yourself.

I don't know that. I don't know anything. I don't know if I'll even be good. We can still have a party. You like parties. You've gone through so much just to arrange this. Let's plan the wedding. Let's just be. And we won't have to talk about this again. It's the least I can do for the ring and all.

Will we be happy about it? Will you be?

We won't have to talk about this at all. I will ensure this doesn't happen to you. A happy marriage in the front so at least, people know what I am. The gate is wide open.

Okay.

I love you.

Okay.

Is it fine?

I don't know. I suppose so. Yes. It's fine.

We won't have to talk about this anymore. I promise. I just hope --

Hope for?

It's nothing.

So.

Anyways.

I guess that is all I have to say. It doesn't matter what I think if you aren't already on the same page as I am.

No no, I am completely fine with it. Harmonious and all. I suppose that settles it then. Will you marry me, then?

Okay.

It will be a beautiful wedding, I hope. Maybe sometime in the future we can plan one like that. Something we can deserve and not have to feel horrible about it.

I'm sorry. I hope so too. That's what I meant when--

It's okay. I love you. Do you still want the ring? You don't have to wear it all the time. Maybe just for a few pictures. Do you like it?

I do. I don't know how many times I'm going to keep saying it. It's the most perfect thing.

Is that so?

I think it is best kept in a glass case. Such a strong thing of beauty, you think?

Oddly enough, I do too.

__

Thank you @choicesmc for being my enabler in this lol couldn't have conjured up this without your encouragement!

To an extent I think this fic kind of bridges the gap between book 2 and 3 esp in the context of this fic of mine right here -> for the javelin I'd not meant to throw at you

[spadesofgrass]

I really like the idea of Trystan and Nora not really having a designated 'first kiss' moment or anything - like they, to me, don't ever kiss at all or share your typical intimate moments and instead just take bullets and stab wounds and flames from a fire for each other, fight a bunch, decide they hate each other and it is probably best if they don't have to work together anymore and then proceed to take five more wounds - like nobody's matching each other's freak to this insane degree. The most they do is partake in the most confusing, amorous hand-holding possible - literally queerbaiting but troubled het pairings.

[spadesofgrass]

failmarriage trysnora

[spadesofgrass]

Trystan "I can't in good conscience have kids of my own because one day, they'll grow up, the lines will blur and all I'll ever see in them are the hollowed out faces of a family I left behind a long time ago" Thorne 🤝 Nora "I will never be the kind of person my child would consciously want to look up to and I'll just be a hollow, cheap imitation of somebody. I'd rather not have any, than have them forget me." Rose.

[spadesofgrass]

them! (disgusting!)

[spadesofgrass]

Maybe I am overthinking this a little, but there's something oddly fascinating about Trystan and the Thornes all wearing facades and essentially being caricatures of themselves in Book 2.

(spoilers for Crimes 2 ahead)

You have Trystan who hasn't quite grappled with the seriousness of this investigation and resorts to sex and charmspeak as a cure-all. You have Lydea, intimidating, stern - you never quite see her falter. You have Vasili - supposedly the smart one, the calculative one, the one everyone looks upto. Bas - loud, openly loathing everything and everyone that breathes in front of him. And this recurrent theme of caricatures follows - the family appears exaggerated, almost as if they are all aware of the newcomer - MC and it is through MC's eyes we see them.

For a while I've trifled with the possibility of MC being an unreliable narrator/spectator. They spend a portion of Book 2 trying to paint Lydea guilty, they come off as different and more into believing the first thing that lands on their plate. They try to trail after Bas - basically people who made them feel cold and uninvited. And these ridiculous accusations spiral from then on, until the final confrontation.

And we don't really get to see everyone's masks fall until the coronation and the events prior to it - Trystan is devastatingly silent, Lydea is mortified, surprised, shaken at the fact the crown was offered to her, Vasili - the cunning, clever one uses guns and knives and garottes and anything that he seems to find to kill. Bas is silenced. MC is in the middle, confused, out-of-their-element, forced to face reality. The family's no longer "exaggerated" or "comicky", they're real people and it has always been about who controls the narrative - who's able to have their mask on for the longest time.

And it's Trystan who does. They win this staring contest. They profess their love for MC, they give up everything, victory sex, everything is perfect. The only moment of vulnerability they show is during the murder trial and the coronation - almost as if it is some kind of a death sentence and they're forced to choose their last words carefully, forced to make important expressions. And almost immediately, the facade comes back on. Trystan's a parody and that is their greatest weapon - to never be taken seriously until nobody expects them to stab them in the back (i.e with pawning the crown off to Lydea, a satisfaction with imprisoning their own brother, never taking a definite stance on the Act of Equity, being as ambiguous and unpredictable as possible.)

And MC - a detective, quite literally a seeker of all truths, will never know.

[spadesofgrass]

Trystan and Nora should fight, like physical combat style but the whole scene should read like a waltz. Walk with me here.

[spadesofgrass]

Trystan and Nora taking the exact opposite advice from trying out couple's therapy and adopting another stray dog will always be my treasured headcanon. It is the funniest thing. The therapist tells them they should put down roots, evaluate who they are to each other and maybe sit down and define their relationship and they're like "hmm roots, do you remember any early memories of us in like, some place or something" "oh yeah silver's - we got silver together" "then that means we should probably house another dog and -?" "that is such a valid interpretation this is great I like this"

[spadesofgrass]

Absolutely loving their situationship ✨

Link to the picrew here

(also yes Trys is supposed to have dark brown hair but the colour ended up matching the skintone 1:1 so I opted for black)

[spadesofgrass]

One More Chance (Love?)

WC: 986, Teen

Premise: It's happening all over again and Trystan doesn't know what to do. (Chapter 1, Crimes of Passion Book 3)

A/N: Wanted to write something for Trys so here's.. something lol. Talks about marriage and fear of oceans and family.

The beach is great this time of the day. It's all dark and foggy with a distant, haunting being that attacks you again and again until it is restrained. The waves are poison; it destroys anything in its path. It is a violent monster with watchful eyes, its sight always on Trystan. It isn't the wave that bothers him, it's the way the water beckons to him. Black like tar, its beauty exists only in its soft sounds. The gentle lapping is so loud it drowns everything else around it. There's a kinship there.

The water gets him. The water understands him. The water wants Trystan all to themselves. If only he can't turn back, ever. If only something was there to prevent him from doing so. The water is tempting as it absolves him of all of his guilt and regret. The water is a safe haven for lost souls. And yet there was. Looking back is staring into the eyes of shame. Looking forward? Well, that gives the cold waves something to do.

Trystan presses a hand over their heart. They can't feel anything for a few minutes. And then from somewhere, they hear a small indication of being alive. Thump-thump - it hits them like a wave hitting a boat. A long dream they suddenly wake up from. A heavy realisation. Thump. It goes numb. Thump. Each breath feels like a heavy, drawn out incision. Each breath is a long state at an autopsy report. It's difficult to think about food or the Parliament or duties anymore. It's exhausting, it's painful.

Thump. It is a beautiful scenery. This is a beautiful fucking scenery. This will be the death of me.

“... please repeat after me. I, Trystan Thorne-”

“I, Trystan Thorne.”

“- solemnly swear, under the eyes of my forefathers who came before me-”

“--forefathers--”

“Louder please -- to be worthy of holding the crown-”

“-holding the crown--”

“- and preserve and protect it, in this holy matrimony--”

A giant wave forms and envelopes Trystan within it. It does not absolve him of his sins as he expected it would. Instead it pushes him back ashore. He runs back into it again, only for it to resist him. The water is cold, unkind and unforgiving. Yet he runs back over and over again, expecting it to be his penance and his rebirth all at once. The more time he spends on the beach, the more he feels horrid inside and the more the sea feels painless. Regret is a knife but the water cuts across his fingers, even sharper. The rings are suddenly heavy but he keeps swimming to his salvation.

The Wedding March is loud on the speakers before a team quickly cuts the noise. Guests are far and few. It's supposed to be nice and cozy and tight. Pools of people are scattered around. Parademics arrive on the scene. Mafalda makes phone calls. Uncle Tommy's body is wrapped in a blue tablecloth. Nobody wants to look at it. The blood pours into the concrete and nobody wants to clean it. They take packages of gold tissue paper and gently cover it up. Somehow this facade of a body is more horrifying than a bloodied mess. The rings are carried away. There's talk here about how they've all been cursed. Not a candle in sight.

Trystan finds a mirror. Water in a tall glass is handed to him as the rest of the wedding party moves inside. He looks pathetic. There's an ugly scar across his chest nobody has ever seen - doubt. He puts a hand over his heart again, sensing anything steady midst the rising panic. Thump. Every wedding of his comes with an autopsy report. The regret rises to his mouth like bile. Thump. The water in the glass is almost mocking. It swirls around in the champagne glass like a vicious tornado. Laughing at him for his inability to get out while simultaneously trapping him further inside. Thump. He gulps the drink down only to vomit it back up into the glass.

The Crown haunts him from behind. It kisses the top of his head. Regret claws through Trystan's lungs as his heart beats faster. He opens up the paper in his pocket, only to find nothing there, like perhaps returning to the waters over and over again. He tries to conjure words, perhaps to say something. Anything. He'd Googled up the words to say the previous night, wasn't used to writing vows himself. There's something rotten in him threatening to spill all over the page.

Everyone gets time to freshen up. The police do their questioning. There's nobody home to pick up his frantic calls. The bathroom is lonely, pale and when he feels a chill hang onto his skin, it truly cuts through his face like a knife. Trystan is a forgotten ink blot, a regretful teardrop on Uncle Tommy’s forehead, nothing. Nothing without something in him constantly echoing false promises.

Every scar on his body feels like a failed attempt at faith, at loyalty, at submission. He wishes to tear open his chest. Heavy is the heart that carries this fucking curse. Trystan turns on the light. He hums a prayer but they all feel like lies on his tongue. He practices his vows again, thinking of things to say.

Hope seems to bloat him up from the inside like a drowned corpse. There's a sliver of redemption that might restart his heart. This cursed wretched thing.

A knock at the door. Trystan looks back.

“Are you okay?” a voice.

“I'm - okay. What -”

“Don't- open the door. I have blood all over me.”

“I can --”

“No. Just. Um. People are looking for you.”

“Hold on, let me see you-”

“Don't!” There's resistance on the other side of the door. A hard push. Trystan gives up.

“Are you doing okay, Nora?”

There's nothing but silence. A cold breeze envelops Trystan into a cage.

___

[spadesofgrass]

I think I've finally determined Nora and Trys's respective birthdays 

Nora's 7th Jan 1990 Trystan's 16 Feb 1992 

(more details + timeline below):

According to the zodiac, Nora's a Capricorn and Trystan is an Aquarius.

Capricorns are doers, which means they're all about making it happen. Although they're very selective about who they let into their lives, Capricorns are incredibly gracious friends who pride themselves on honesty and loyalty. One important thing to note: Capricorns definitely don't sugarcoat.

Every Aquarian is a rebel at heart: These air signs don't mesh well with authority-figures, let alone any institution that represents tradition and long-standing convention. Free-spirited and eccentric, you can often spot this air sign through their offbeat fashion sensibilities, unusual hobbies, and nonconformist attitude.

(The above excerpts are from Allure’s ‘The personality of __, explained’)

To talk about their compatibility, I kind of plugged in this into Google and this is what turned up I’m cackling:

Disciplined Capricorn can teach Aquarius the value of structure, and Aquarius can help Capricorn think outside the box. You’re both competitive and controlling in your own ways, and few signs can rival your shared work ethic. The wheeler-dealer light never switches off in either of you. Still, you might be better off as professional partners.

This is so them. Dancing between “we’re better as partners” to “romeo, romeo, where art thou romeo”

Coming to the timeline:

As for my Crimes timeline, here’s what goes:

also this is all just eyeball measurement, so do not @ me for this lol

Crimes 1 takes place in the winter of 2022. I’m thinking after Christmas & New Year’s. I’m thinking late February, early March. 

Crimes 2, late summer of 2022. July/August. It might set Trystan’s coronation to early September if the book spans about a month and a half.

Crimes: The Proposal - I’m thinking sometime early 2023. Let a few months elapse before the proposal.

Crimes 3: Early spring. There’s still some sun, but it is all wintery. Enough for a floral wedding in canon.

[spadesofgrass]

Macbeth and Trystan are one and the same, in a way that their battles with their "cowardice" are one-to-one. We see Macbeth, a little intrigued at the possibility of being king as per the Three Witches' prediction, but we also learn the self-doubt he grapples with, learning Duncan has to die if he ever wanted to be king.

Present fears Are less than horrible imaginings; My thought, whose murther yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man that function - (1.3)

A grim thought to entertain - Macbeth's mind instantly goes to murder, but he's scared of it entirely - deciding it was best to mull it over later.

In Crimes, Book 2, we get this scene. The decision falls to MC (Lady Macbeth) to decide Vasili's fate. (Screenshots are from Youtube, this is not my playthrough)

(THE SNAKE MOTIF AGAIN JESUS FUCK.)

And we get this conversation (I'm too lazy to screenshot so)

Lydea: He's dead. Trystan: It was the only way. (Lydea picks up Vasili's crown) Lydea: This belongs to you.

[spadesofgrass]

Obsessed with the snake/serpent/Ouroboros motifs in Drakovia's fashion. Wouldn't interpret it literally but the way it was littered in places where we require an outfit to engage with the rest of the family and the fact snakes sometimes eat their young - very “welcome to the family” vibes. Perhaps there really is no escape and the people that marry in, are doomed to a similar fate. A nest of vipers, all of them but perhaps there's some truth at the very heart of what they left behind in the dirt. You. They'll mourn you but they'll eat you first. They're really sorry about it.

[spadesofgrass]

"What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature; It is to full o’ th’ milk of human kindness."

On the all-consuming, irrefutable nature of revenge.

Trystan and Nora as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth (Macbeth by Shakespeare)

[spadesofgrass]

I really love finding literature parallels to my characters because it helps me build them more from that point of view, making them really well-rounded but also built from that perspective, so very limited too. A double-edged sword, but something that can cut through which is enough.

Especially encoding Macbeth and Lady M parallels in Trysnora - not necessarily because of the story, but because of the twisted morals both of them possess.

Lady M, much like Nora is very ambitious, someone who isn't really afraid to be ruthless and has this view of the world where anything's either an enabling mechanism or a difficult-to-remove obstacle. Someone who never loses her morality and will go down with the ship if she must. Trystan is Macbeth in a way who wants to control his own odds, someone destined to be a king but extremely adaptable and suseptible to change - someone bold, dominant, sure of themselves but prone to being faltered, withering away. Someone with rigid conscience, yet indecisive, someone ambitious and ridden with guilt. Someone who could be honourable, desperate for help, but is in this too deep. Someone who would rather abstain from the doing and be haunted by its visions.